White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-03-30
By Irving BaehelIer
Copyright 1882. by Irving Bachelor
WNU Service
CHAPTER VI-Continued


also wooden scraper set upon broad
runners when not in use. The drlv-
ers found water for their teams under
the ice roof of pond. Soon shelter
was built of poles covered with boughs
of spruce and hemlock. The snow be-
meath it was overlaid with deep mat
of balsam. In little time the wood
choppers had fire blazing in front
Of the shelter and the cook had begun
his work. teamster had shot a deer
that morning and there was food a.
plenty. The brawny, happy men
amused themselves with singing and
storytelling as they rested under the
long shelter warmed by fire into
which the snow fell kissing.
Colin got news of Mrs Bowlby. who
had moved to the fort with her chill
dren for the winter and who spent
part of every day hunting and trap
ping in the forest.
THAT womern Is half horse" said
a man of the mountain country.
"'Fraid O. nothin'. Has killed pan.
Their an lynx this winter an seven
teen deer. She can bring buck in on
her back an eat him fer supper.
Hansome as picter an neat as a
pin an p'lite as minister. but 1t don't
do to git her vexed."
The night was so cold that even the
oxen were bedded with boughs and
some Of the teamsters slept between
the beasts to keep warm When the
fire sank low, Colin had to get up and
rake out the embers and stand leaning
over them while he beat his sides for
comfort. He had doubled the mares
cover with one Of his own blankets
and was feeling the need Of 1t. He en-
wed the mountaineers sleeping with
frosty boards and with no apparent
sense of discomfort. He put wood on
the fire and went back to his bed
smiling as he said to himself. 81 won
der If the future generations will ever
know about these days and nights"
The cattle believing for food and
water were sufficient reveille before
daylight The transfers began to yoke
their teams and take them to the pond
for water. The snow had ceased.
The fire was rekindled The feeding
had begun. A corps Of shovelers
working with pine torches were cut
ting a tunnel in deep snow. After
breakfast four teams of oxen hitched
to scraper were wallowing as they
slowly hauled it up the hill. Often
the patient beasts we're helpless in the
white depths. Then the shovelers be-
gan to tunnel the drift around them
and ahead. ..-,-~
The sky was clear and the sun shin
ing when the scrapers halted at the
summit and looked down upon a
broad clearing. Colin toiled along
behind them on his mare. freezing
wind blew in his face. The white
slopes, sown with frost crystals which
caught and held the sunlight, shone
with dazzling prlsmatic rays A fox
out on a quest for supplies had made
the forest edge to henhouse on
farm in the valley. The road below
was fairly clear for distance. The
guns were coming up behind and halt
ing while the teamsters put chains on
their runners to help In holding their
loads on the long down-hill slant
They made less than four miles that
day. and at night the men were housed
by an accommodating farmer. many Of
them sleeping on the floors with fam.
ing wood in the fireplaces. The cattle
had been watered at the farmers we'll
and turned into the stable yard where
a shed sheltered them Some of the
men with poor foot-cover were dis
qualified for work by frozen toes.
Colin went to another house where
men and teams were hired to work
through the night as far east as pos
sible with shovels and the scraper.
Aided by this forework, the train
made about eight miles the next day.
So the guns of Ticonderoga crept
along over the hills and through the
valleys on their way to new duty at
Dorchester heights. Captain Cabot
was wont to say, 'They seemed to
have left their old home with reluct-
ance and to be sternly resisting the
strength of the oxen"
Meanwhile in Boston Pat was hav.
Ing her first great adventure. She had
been in communication with Revere
since the time Of Collins departure.
Mrs. Shipman, the wife of oyalist,
who had been prominent in the social
life of the city. was their intermediary.
She was from Virginia. where years
before, after Washington had returned,
hero, from the unfortunate Brad
dock campaign she fell In love with
him although then engaged to marry a
wealthy New Highlander visiting in
Alexandria. The young officer was not
then heart free. according to credible
reports, and nothing came of 1t save
an undying memory in the mind of
the girl She married and went to live
in Boston. Her home was a romantic
mansion on Roxbury neck. 1t was
built by one Corwin. who was clan
destinely in love with the sister of his
wife. In constructing the house ne