Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-15

tdlH present III WnOIn lney Hdu Coiih
dence. From doubt they sunk to fear
and fled disgracefully from the bloody
scene. Alas! II Arnold had been there
to excite them by his sublime fury. and
shame them by his desperate example
how different might have been his own
fate! How changed the destiny OF
Canada! But he, the hero then, albeit
the traitor afterwards, was laundering
against an impregnable height on an
other side Of the town, and chatting like
"a lioness deprived of her whelps. be-
cause, with mortal means, he could not
accomplish feat beyond any mortal
strength.
Raoul Audigier was nearly choked
by feelings of bitter contempt as he
marked the hesitation, and then the
hasty retreat of the Americans. To
him 1t was perfectly apparent that one
determined charge was all that was
needed to win the mighty prize they
were throwing away in their cowardly
panic. He knew the ground and the
defences well, having served In the
garrison when 1t was occupied by the
French, and was pursuaded that the
remaining difficulties were light in
comparison with those that had been
overcome. Ten minutes before his
heart was beating proudly In anticipa-
tion of tearing Gown the hated flag of
England from itg lofty eminence. Now
this confident hope was rudely crushed
at the very moment he believed Its
realization inevitable, and to his utter
amaZement he witnessed the terror
stricken flight of armed men from a
victory already won. In tone Of min
gled sarcasm and irony, he addressed
himself to the only companion who
had not deserted him.
you and l might take this fortress,
captain, but 1 doubt our ability to hold
1t. There Is no alternative, I believe,
save TO follow the example of your gal
liant countrymen."
1t was indeed high time to beat re-
treat. The British had returned to the
block house, and opened a heavy fire
on the fugitives. Burr, unwilling to
leave his bleeding commander to the
insults Of the foe. lifted the dead hero
in his arms, and trudged along through
the deep snow with his glorious burden.
Close upon his heels passed the fierce
pursuers, but he clung to that inani-
mate body as the mother clings to her
sucking babe, until his strength was
exhausted and he literally sunk be-
meath it's weight.
The hopes Of the morning had been
fearfully blasted and throughout that
day dismay reigned over the American
camp. Arnold was wounded, and his
men repulsed on the other side Of the
town. In every quarter disaster had
befallen them. and the baffied troops
shook off the restraints Of discipline,
and gathered in gloomy knots to dis
cuss and lament their losses.
The contemptuous opinion Raoul Au-
diger had formed Of the republican SOL
diers was not improved by the demor-
alization that followed their repulse.
Toward evening he approached the
tent Of Burr.
81 have come" he said, ito bid you
good-by, captain, and to wish you
higher honors than you are likely to
win while associated with the rabble
gang about you"
"This is sudden, and unexpected"
answered Burr II hoped that you
would remain with us to the end"
Il hoped myself. captain; but it cam
not be. One nights experience Of the
mettle of your troops is enough for an
old soldier like me. l. Is difficult at
my age to learn new lessons. and l
don't think / could make much prog
ress in the art Of running. away-an
art in which your soldiers have attain
ed a degree Of proficiency I have no
to equal. In the next battle
I should almost certainly be killed. In
a good cause and to subserve a useful
end, that is a fate at which / should
not murmur; but l object very Sc
riously to being called to the judgment
bar in the company Of men whose
wounds were all taken behind"
1t was to no purpose Burr attempted
to explain that the flight Of the Amer
cans could not justly be attributed to
any want of personal courage or devo-
ton to the cause; that Ii was one or
those sudden and unaccountable panics
by which all new levies are liable to
be afflicted, and for which there was
much excuse in the fall Of their gen.
eral, and the absence Of any COM
manding spirit to take his place. He
insisted that the same men would, the
next day, march up the same gorge
and brave five times the danger freely
and fearlessly, under Arnold's lead.
Il hope so, captain; and for your
sake will try to believe 1t. Still.
there is no inducement for me to re-
main. When last nights story is told,
you hldy nave "cli-h hiShCio -, pos 'SN'
will have no partisans among our peo-
pie. 1t is this that stings so deeply.
whenever l think of that dastardly
flight. If | had not witnessed 1t my
self, | could not have believed that
men with boards upon their chins could
behave so wretchedly. Why, a band
of peasants, carrying no other weap-
ons than fails and pitchfOrks, might
have exterminated the garrison, so
completely were they taken by sur
prise. AS it is. whatever success may
attend you elsewhere, the fate OF Can
ada is sealed God bless you!" he
continued, extending his hand. Il
know you to be a soldier, and brave
one. | grieve that | am not able TO
say as much for your comrades.
shall seek the convent of Father Pierre
and If the prayers of a good man may
avail you anything, l doubt not that
his will follow your wherever you co.
Burr grasped his offered hand.
"Good-by," he said, my brave and
faithful friend. 1 respect your feel
ings too much to complain of the bit
terness of your language. When next
you hear of me, trust the tidings
VIII be of happier import"