The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-19
William Tell

nall-Dfeed girl OF Swan Island Jumped
from his lap and drawing herself proudly
up, her beautiful, dark eyes aflame and
her face quivering with emotion, she
cried: mo, no! although l am sorry you
do not believe fully in the faith of Christ:
yet you are unselfish, brave and loyal to
your country, and love you. will fol-
low you" she continued, as her dark eyes
shone, 'even if we have only the skies to
cover us and die in this awful wilderness
by your side.' Burr pressed her to his
heart and rained kisses upon her lips
again and again. No sound broke the
stiffness save the bowling of the storm
outside and the sitting of the snow which
eddied within the loosely closed entrance
Of her tent
When daylight broke over the encamp-
ment it was still showing, but not so hard
as during the night, and the weather was
milder. Arnold was everywhere among
his sick and suffering soldiers, cheering
them on and rousing their dropping
opll lSo w IuSII Tie SlOIIIl was
nearly over and that they would now
press on again and soon reach the French
settlements in Canada and leave the mis-
cry Of the wilderness forever behind
them. Again the army set up cheer
for their brave and fearless leader and
just as the hungry soldiers were prepar-
ing their scanty breakfast a report of a
rifle was heard in the distance, and soon
after they sent up another cheer for the
brave and beautiful princess, who had
brought down a large deer with her rifle
which went to help feed the hungry army
at their morning meal.
At the break of day Arnold had sent
two swift runners up the river to over
take Morgan, with orders for him to halt
and wait for his arrival. Some four
hours later these runners overlook Nor
gan, ''the bravest of the brave" about
three miles this side of Lower Pond or
Lake, and when they handed him the
dispatches from Arnold and told him of
the awful hardships and sickness and
death which had overtaken the main
army down the river the hard lines
around his mouth softened and he fun
bled for minute with the sword which
dangled at his side. In the meantime
the dark clouds had rolled away and the
snow looked beautiful sparkling in the
sunlight. Arnold had given orders early
in the morning to bury the dead, and
leaving the sick and feeble soldiers with
Col. Enos he pressed forward up the
river with his wet and hungry army.
The next day he overlook Morgan, and
all the following day, which was quite
pleasant, he rested and fed his army as
best he could. But towards night it
turned cold and began'to snow again, and
the next day a bowling snow storm swept
through the wilderness. 1t was the worst
the army had yet encountered. Tents
were blown down and a number of SOL
diers were frozen to death. ooh, my
God, cried Private John Warner, SOL
der in Morgan's advanced guard, as he
rushed inside his tent, nearly blinded
with snow and found his wife nursing
her frozen fingers. "Our soldiers are
dying and freezing to death in this
frightful storm in these wilds. We shall
never live to reach Quebec, Jennie" he
cried, looking at his brave wife as he
wiped the snow from his eyes and the
ice from his beard. Il wish," he con-
tinued, as he threw his cap into corner
of the tent, 'that l had never joined
this expedition of floods, cold and fam
ine." "For shame, James Warner, -
cried his heroic wife as she rose and
confronted him with fire in her eyes.
''Never let me hear you utter such
words again and she stamped her foot
-''never! l had rather you should die
here in the wilderness than to turn trait
or or a coward to your country. but you
are all upset in this awful Storm she
continued, more gently as she brushed
his thick, dark hair back from his fore.
head. CHOW lay down under these heavy
blankets and get some rest" and the
faint-hearted soldier did as his wife re.
quested and was very soon sleeping
soundly.
The next morning the storm was not
so severe, and as Arnold sat in his tent
eating a rather scanty breakfast, fol-
provisions were running low, and he en-.
deavored to cheer his officers by telling
them the sun would soon be shining anc
they could again push on towards Que
bee, two snow-mufled figures appeared
at his tent entrance and saluted. II.
this General Arnold's headquarters?'
they inquired. eyes," replied the sen
tinel with some SURPRISE" this is hi!
tent" "Can we speak with him." the,
asked. Certainly" replied the senti
mel, follow me, and as he entered thu
tent and saluted, he said: Colonel, these
! soldiers desire to speak with you. ;