Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-16
CHAPTER XVI.


got no help in our mystery. Starting
west, in the woods. on our way to the
harbor. We stopped here and there to
listen, but heard only wood-thrush and
partridgethc fife and drum of nature.
That other music had gone out of
hearing We had no compass, but D'ri
knew the forest as a crow knows the
air He knew the language of the
trees and the brooks. The feel of the
bark and what he called the lean Of
the timber" told him which way was
south. River and stream had way
of telling him whence they had come
and where they were going. but he had
no understanding of n map. remem-
Der, after we had come to the harbor
at dusk and told our story. the gen
eral asked him to indicate Our landing
place and our journey home on big
map at headquarters. D'ri studied the
map brief while. There was look
of embarrassment on his sober face.
"Seens so we come ashore bout
here" said he, dropping the middle
finger Of his right hand in the vicin-
lty Of Quebec. Then We travelled
aw-a-a-ay hellwards over n this ere
direction" With that Illuminating re-
mark he had slid his finger over some
700 leagues of country from Quebec to
Michigan.
They met us with honest JOY and no
little surprise that evening as we came
into camp. Ten OF our comrades had
returned, but as for ourselves, they
thought us in for a long stay We
said little of what we had gone
through outside the small Office at
headquarters, but somehow it began to
travel passing quickly from mouth to
mouth. until it got to the newspapers
md began to stir the tongue of each
raw recruit. Gen. Brown was there
that evening, and had for me, as al
ways, the warm heart of a father. He
heard our report with a kindly SYM
pathy.
Next morning I rode away to see
the Comte de Chaumont at Leraysvillc
I had my life, and a great reason TO
be thankful, but there were lives dearer
than my own to me, and they were yet
In peril. Those dear faces haunted
ne and filled my sleep with trouble.
rode fast, reaching the chateau at
luncheon time. The count was reading
In a rustic chair at the big gate. He
came running to me. his face red with
excitement.
"M'sieur lie Capitaine!" he cried, my
hand in both of his, II thought you
were dead
And SO have been-dcad as
cat drowned in well, that turns up
again as lively as ever. Any news of
the baroness and the young LADIES'"
"a letter. said he. Come. get off
POUR horse. shall read to you the let
ter
Tell mellow were they taken?"
was leading my horse and we were
walking through a deep grove.
"Eh bien, am not able to tell said
he, shaking his head soberly. You re-
member that mornng-well, have
90 men there for two days. They are
armed, they surround the Hermitage.
they keep a good watch. The wasp he
Is very troublesome, but they see no
soldier They stay, they burn the
smudge. BY and by | think there is
nothing to fear. and | bring them
home, but | leave three men. The
baroness and the two girls and their
bervants they stay awhile to pack the
trunk. They are coming to the cha
teau. 1t is in the evening; the coach
ls at the door; the servants have start
ed. Suddenly-the British! l do not
know how many. They come out of
the woods like lightning. and bang.
bans! bang! they have killed my men.
They take the baroness and the Misses
de Lambert. and they drive away with
them. The servants they hear the
shots. they return, they come, and they
tell lis. We follow. We find the
coach; it is in the road, by the north
trail. Dieu! they are all gone! We
travel to the river, but" here he
lifted his shoulders and shook his head
dolefully--"we could do nothing"
The general may let me go after
them with a force of cavalry" | said
VI want you to come with me and talk
to him"
mo. no, my capitaine!" said he; "it
would not be wise. We must wait
We do not know where they are.
have friends in Canada; they are done
their best. and when we hear from
them-eh bien, We shall know what is
necessary"
told him how had met them tina.
oight in Canada and what came OF 1t.
"Thcy are cruel people. the Eng.
lish," said he. Il am afraid to tind
them will be matter of great diff
Guilty"
But the letter."
"Ah, the letter." he interrupted, feel.
ing in his pocket. "The letter is no
much. 1t is from Tiptoes - from
LOuigOn. 1t was mailed this side O
the river at Morristown You shall
see; they do not know where they are.
He handed me the letter. read 1
with an eagerness could not conceal
It went ns follows:
my Dear Count: II this letter reache
you, 1t will. ! hope. relieve your anx
lefty We are alive and well, but where
am sure ] have no better idea than 1
were baby just born. We came her
with our eyes covered after long rid
from the river, which We crossed in tn
night. I think 1t must have taken u
three days to come here. We are shu
up In q big house with high walls an
trees and gardens around it--a beautifu
place. We have fne beds and everything
10 eat only we miss the bOuil- la baisSe