The Republican journal., 1910-05-26
William Tell

forward. The boats manned bv the sol.
diers shot down the swift, dark waters
of the Chaudiere like arrows, and wher
they reached the rapids nearly all were
thrown on the rocks and broken to pieces
and many of the weak and starving sol
diers were drowned. Great fires were
built along the banks of the river anc
the soldiers dried their clothing and afte,
eating little of the mouldy bread the
men staggered along down the river,
straining their eyes and listening at
every step for the return of Arnold's
picked men with provisions.
I Two days had passed since the starving
army left the mouth OF the Chaudiere
and no relief from Arnold was yet ir
sight. So weak had the soldiers become
that they We're obliged to harness them.
selves together in pairs to draw logs and
bushes to build fires to keep them from
freezing. Arnold's bitter days in the
wilderness were another Valley Forge
of the Revolution, the story which has
never been fully written.
ooh, my dear" cried Burr as he enter
ed Jacataque's tent on the second night
of the march along the Chaudiere,
"what anguish and miseries our poor SOL
diers are suffering; why some of them
are boiling their moose skin moccasins
for a little nourishment. rs it posi-
BILE, y cried Jacataque jumping to her
feet. Yes" replied Burr as he folded
the beautiful princess in his arms and
looked into her dark, hungry eyes, 'our
army is starving. No other nation in
the history of the world" he continued
with much earnestness, 'can show more
heroic example of devotion to their leader
andj to-, the cause Of freedom. But,
darling" cried Burr as he pushed back
the beautiful dark locks which fell about
her pale face, and kissed away her tears,
1--WE will be brave. We cannot fail be-
cause the provisions Arnold has promised
will soon be here. - mo, this army
shall not PERISH cried the princess.
God will help US in our great hardships
and perils in these awful, lonely wilds. -
So saying she strapped her powder horn
and pouch to her person, caught up her
rifle and, turning toward Burr, she said
Come dear, lets see if we cannot bring
down a deer The night was cold and
clear and two hours later the camp was
thrown into commotion by the glad shout
that Jacataque had shot large deer.
Quickly was the precious meat cooked
and eaten by the poor, starving soldiers
and when morning came, with hardly a
mouthful of food for their breakfast
they staggered on, listening with eager
ears for the shout of Arnold's men with
relief. But no sounds did they hear save
the cold blasts of the early winter, which
shook the tree tops, and the groans of
the sick and starving soldiers who were
fast sinking under their terrible hard
ships. About noon Private John Warner
and begging his comrades to delay their
march for a while his brave wife hurried
back up the river in search for him, but
as several hours passed and she did not
return his company again took up their
weary march north. After several
hours search this brave woman found
her husband dying alone near a half
frozen creek which emptied into the
Chaudiere. With piteous tears she
pressed his pale, worn face to her bos-
ON and sobbed out her grief. WHO
be We, - feebly whispered the dying SOL
der to his wife 81 am Jemina, your
wife, come to serve you,' replied this
noble woman as she administered slim
ulant. Then kindling fire quickly she
made him little broth; but, alas, it was
too late, for James Warner was dying.
He however, recognized his wife and
feebly pressed his hand to her brow.
''Oh dear, brave wife," he whispered
sadly, "All will soon be over with me,
for | am dying; but death in this dark
hour is sweeter to me now that you are
by my SIDE" Then with a look of agony
on his death-stricken face he whispered
feebly: Forgive me for my lack of cour-
age and unkind words. You will not for
get me. - ''No, no, never" his brave
wife cried, sobbing convulsively. "Give
my love to the dear ones far away in the
old homestead in Pennsylvania and tell
them to love and fear God and that you
stood nobly by my side in my last, great
sorrow and death in the dark, stormy
wilderness. But bark, =" he whispered, 81
hear sweet music, and see the angels. "
Then with deep drawn Sigh he closed
his lips forever. His heroic wife dropped
on her: knees and with an outburst of
tears exclaimed: ooh my dear husband,
my dear husband. Thank God that your
last hours were touched by the spirit of
Christ. Then raising her trembling
hands towards Heaven she PRAYED fer