The Coolidge examiner., 1933-07-28
CHAPTER XIV
In the Valley Of Death From Which
Unfortunately Valiant Figure
Emerges and Another Disappears.

Emer9es and Another Disappears.
g PRINKLED with blood. sore with
- wounds, their faces blackened,
their garments torn, General Ar
mold and Colonel Cabot strobe
wearily into camp. The god Of war
had covered them in the day of
battle. The valiant, the fearless
and the masterful have a miracu-
lous gift In passing through the
dark valley. Death would seem to
love best those who are afraid. The
men began cheering. Praise of Ar
nOld's valor was running through
the line. General Gates was jeal-
Gus, Arnold was growing with an
ger at the neglect which had pre-
vented q complete victory. Eager
to continue the fight at sunrise. he
was forbidden to do so. There were
high words between the two gen
erals. Arnold was denied any fur
ther part In the battle and under
officers were commanded 70 disre-
gard his orders. Arnold's conduct
was undoubtedly hlgh-handed and
exasperating. He refused to give up
his command and threatened any
man who tried to take ii into ac-
ton. Thus jealousy and bitter
politics had begun to paralyze the
army.
Burgoyne's force was In a bad
way. 1t had failed. Many Of its
best officers were dead or wounded.
The tickle Indians decimated by
Morgan's sharpshOoters had found
the white mans love too costly and
too painful. They were deserting.
The Canadian militia were stealing
out of the camp and making tracks
for home. The supply OF food was
vanishing. The British machine was
In need of oil and repairs. Why
hadn't Howe come on with his
army? He was not even yet thuu-
dering to get through away down
In the Highlands OF the lower Hud-
son. Burgoyne retreated. waiting
for the help that could not reach
him. Gates followed and surround
ed him.
In this time OF waiting, a mas
senger brought a letter to Colin
Cabot II was from Rachel Bowl
by. II said:
Il am in Doctor Parmly's camp
For more than a month have been
here trying to pull Pat out OF the
deep pit she is in. She clings to
me and II she were my own child
could not love her more. The
smallpox passed and then she fell
into a burning fever. Out of her
head most of the time and thinks
you are here. The doctor gives me
little hope. He says that In three
days we shall know. AS soon as
possible | shall come down the riv.
er at night and try to get around
the British. shall have to take Ia
the bush above them and hurry on
down the east shore with my little
birch-bark canoe on my back until
| get TO safe water. am eager 10
return to my neglected children.
Across the river from Bemis heights
is a wooded hill | will time nv
trip TO reach II about ten O'Clock
at night and probably on the ninth
or tenth OF October. If the news
is good | will light two torches.
If 1t Is bad only one So If you
will keep watch from half past nine
to half past ten those two nights
you will know all that can tell
you and may God help us whatever
happens"
The tone OF the letter was dis.
couraging. Was it to end for him
in bitter loss and encouragement Z?
He had little hope of good news
when on the night of October ninth
he climbed a tree near Arnold's
headquarters and sitting on a lofty
limb looked eastward through the
darkness. 1t was a clear, still, cold
mOonless night. Never had he so
felt the beauty and mystery of the
calm, peaceful, shining, infinite deep
above him. Suddenly a flicker Of
light far away. Then two flaming
torches glowed side by side in the
darkness. Thank God, Pat was
better. She was on the way to good
health again.
A long time he sat in silence look
ing up at the heavens and thinking.
The lights Here again was an
astonishing fulfillment The mys-
terry began to vanish as he thought
of it. Mrs. BOwlby had naturally
sought to follow the letter of the
predictiOn-so she had used lights
the only means of swift communi-
cation.
Suffering for food, Burgoynes
army had to break through or sur
render. II renewed the fight. When
the firing began, the forbidden. i'm
petuous Arnold spurreu his horse