rolf in the woods-第63章

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possible　give　timely　notice　of　raiders　in　force。



The　Americans　were　averse　to　employing　Indians　in　warfare；　the

British　entertained　no　such　scruples　and　had　many　red…skinned

allies。　Quonab's　case；　however；　was　unusual；　since　he　was

guaranteed　by　his　white　partner；　and　now　he　did　good　service；　for

he　knew　a　little　French　and　could　prowl　among　the　settlers

without　anyone　suspecting　him　of　being　an　American　scout。



Thus　he　went　alone　and　travelled　far。　He　knew　the　country　nearly

to　Montreal　and　late　in　July　was　lurking　about　Odletown；　when　he

overheard　scattered　words　of　a　conversation　that　made　hin　eager

for　more。　〃Colonel　Murray　…　…　twelve　hundred　men　　four　hundred

men　〃



Meanwhile　Rolf　was　hiding　in　the　woods　about　La　Colle　Mill。

Company　after　company　of　soldiers　he　saw　enter；　until　at　least

five　hundred　were　there。　When　night　came　down；　he　decided　to　risk

a　scarer　approach。　He　left　the　woods　and　walked　cautiously　across

the　open　lands　about。



The　hay　had　been　cut　and　most　of　it　drawn　in；　but　there　was　in

the　middle　of　the　field　a　hay…cock。　Rolf　was　near　this　when　he

heard　sounds　of　soldiers　from　the　mill。　Soon　large　numbers　came

out；　carrying　their　blankets。　Evidently　there　was　not　room　for

them　in　the　mill；　and　they　were　to　camp　on　the　field。



The　scout　began　to　retreat　when　sounds　behind　showed　that　another

body　of　soldiers　was　approaching　from　that　direction　and　he　was

caught　between　the　two。　There　was　only　one　place　to　hide　and　that

was　beneath　the　haycock。　He　lifted　its　edge　and　crawled　under；

but　it　was　full　of　thistles　and　brambles；　indeed；　that　was　why　it

was　left；　and　he　had　the　benefit　of　all　the　spines　about　him。



His　heart　beat　fast　as　he　heard　the　clank　of　arms　and　the

trampling；　they　came　nearer；　then　the　voices　became　more

distinct。　He　heard　unmistakable　evidence　too　that　both　bodies

were　camping　for　the　night；　and　that　he　was　nearly　surrounded。

Not　knowing　what　move　was　best　he　kept　quiet。　The　men　were

talking　aloud；　then　they　began　preparing　their　beds　and　he　heard

some　one　say；　〃There's　a　hay…cock；　bring　some　of　that。〃



A　soldier　approached　to　get　an　armful　of　the　hay；　but　sputtered

out　a　chapter　of　malediction　as　his　bare　hands　touched　the　masses

of　thistle　and　briers。　His　companions　laughed　at　his　mishap。　He

went　to　the　fire　and　vowed　he'd　stick　a　brand　in　it　and　back　he

came　with　a　burning　stick。



Rolf　was　all　ready　to　make　a　dash　for　his　life　as　soon　as　the

cover　should　take　fire；　and　he　peered　up　into　the　soldier's　face

as　the　latter　blew　on　the　brand；　but　the　flame　had　died；　the

thistles　were　not　dry；　and　the　fire　was　a　failure；　so；　growling

again；　the　soldier　threw　down　the　smoking　stick　and　went　away。　As

soon　as　he　was　safely　afar；　Rolf　gathered　a　handful　of　soil　and

covered　the　red　embers。



It　was　a　critical　moment　and　his　waiting　alone　had　saved　him。



Two　soldiers　came　with　their　blankets　and　spread　them　near。　For　a

time　they　smoked　and　talked。　One　of　them　was　short　of　tobacco；

the　other　said；　〃Never　mind；　we'll　get　plenty　in　Plattsburg；〃　and

they　guffawed。



Then　he　heard；　〃As　soon　as　the　colonel〃　and　other　broken　phrases。



It　was　a　most　difficult　place　for　Rolf；　he　was　tormented　with

thistles　in　his　face　and　down　his　neck；　he　dared　not　change　his

position；　and　how　long　he　must　stay　was　a　problem。　He　would　try

to　escape　when　all　was　still。



The　nearer　soldiers　settled　to　rest　now。　All　was　very　quiet　when

Rolf　cautiously　peeped　forth　to　see　two　dreadful　things：　first；　a

couple　of　sentries　pacing　up　and　down　the　edges　of　the　camp；

second；　a　broad；　brilliant；　rising　moon。　How　horrible　that　lovely

orb　could　be　Rolf　never　before　knew。



Now；　what　next？　He　was　trapped　in　the　middle　of　a　military　camp

and　undoubtedly　La　Colle　Mill　was　the　rendezvous　for　some

important　expedition。



He　had　ample　time　to　think　it　all　over。　Unless　he　could　get　away

before　day　he　would　surely　be　discovered。　His　uniform　might　save

his　life；　but　soldiers　have　an　awkward；　hasty　way　of　dealing

summarily　with　a　spy　　then　discovering　too　late　that　he　was　in

uniform。



From　time　to　time　he　peered　forth；　but　the　scene　was　unchanged　

the　sleeping　regiment；　the　pacing　sentries；　the　ever…brightening

moon。　Then　the　guard　was　changed；　and　the　sentries　relieved

selected　of　all　places　for　their　beds；　the　bank　beside　the

hay…cock。　Again　one　of　them　went　to　help　himself　to　some　hay　for

a　couch；　and　again　the　comic　anger　as　he　discovered　it　to　be　a

bed　of　thorns。　How　thankful　Rolf　was　for　those　annoying　things

that　pricked　his　face　and　neck。



He　was　now　hemmed　in　on　every　side　and；　not　knowing　what　to　do；

did　nothing。　For　a　couple　of　hours　he　lay　still；　then　actually

fell　asleep。　He　was　awakened　by　a　faint　rustling　near　his　head

and　peered　forth　to　see　a　couple　of　field　mice　playing　about。



The　moon　was　very　bright　now；　and　the　movements　of　the　mice　were

plain；　they　were　feeding　on　the　seeds　of　plants　in　the　hay…cock；

and　from　time　to　time　dashed　under　…　the　hay。　Then　they　gambolled

farther　off　and　were　making　merry　over　a　pod　of　wild　peas　when　a

light　form　came　skimming　noiselessly　over　the　field。　There　was　a

flash；　a　hurried　rush；　a　clutch；　a　faint　squeak；　and　one　of　the

mice　was　borne　away　in　the　claws　of　its　feathered　foe。　The

survivor　scrambled　under　the　hay　over　Rolf's　face　and　somewhere

into　hiding。



The　night　passed　in　many　short　naps。　The　bugle　sounded　at

daybreak　and　the　soldiers　arose　to　make　breakfast。　Again　one

approached　to　use　a　handful　of　hay　for　fire…kindler；　and　again

the　friendly　thistles　did　their　part。　More　and　more　now　his　ear

caught　suggestive　words　and　sounds　　〃Plattsburg〃　　〃the

colonel〃　　etc。



The　breakfast　smelt　wonderfully　captivating　　poor　Rolf　was

famished。　The　alluring　aroma　of　coffee　permeated　the　hay…cock。　He

had　his　dried　meat；　but　his　need　was　water；　he　was　tormented　with

thirst；　and　stiff　and　tortured；　he　was　making　the　hardest　fight

of　his　life。　It　seemed　long；　though　doubtless　it　was　less　than

half　an　hour　before　the　meal　was　finished；　and　to　Rolf's　relief

there　were　sounds　of　marching　and　the　noises　were　drowned　in　the

distance。



By　keeping　his　head　covered　with　hay　and　slowly　raising　it；　he

was　safe　to　take　a　look　around。　It　was　a　bright；　sunny　morning。

The　hay…cock；　or　thistle…cock；　was　one　of　several　that　had　been

rejected。　It　was　a　quarter…mile　from　cover；　the　soldiers　were　at

work　cutting　timber　and　building　a　stockade　around　the　mill；　and；

most　dreadful　to　relate；　a　small　dog　was　prowling　about；　looking

for　scraps　on　the　scene　of　the　soldiers'　breakfast。　If　that　dog

came　near　his　hiding…place；　he　knew　the　game　was　up。　At　such

close　quarters；　you　can　fool　a　man　but　not　a　dog。



Fortunately　the　breakfast　tailings　proved　abundant；　and　the　dog

went　off　to　assist　a　friend　of　his　in　making　sundry　interesting

smell　analyses　along　the　gate　posts　of　the　stockade。







Chapter　76。　The　Duel



This　was　temporary　relief；　but　left　no　suggestion　of　complete

escape。　He　lay　there　till　nearly　noon　suffering　more　and　more

from　the　cramped　position　and　thirst；　and　utterly　puzzled　as　to

the　next　move。



〃When　ye　don't　like　whar　ye　air；　git　up　without　any　fuss；　and　go

whar　ye　want　to　be；〃　was　what　Sylvanne　once　said　to　him；　and　it

came　to　Rolf　with　something　like　a　comic　shock。　The　soldiers　were

busy　in　the　woods　and　around　the　forges。　In　half　an　hour　it　would

be　noon　and　they　might　come　back　to　eat。



Rolf　rose　without　attempting　any　further　concealment；　then

stopped；　made　a　bundle　of　the　stuff　that　had　sheltered　him　and；

carrying　this　on　his　shoulder；　strode　boldly　across　the　field

toward　the　woods。



His　scout　uniform　was　inconspicuous；　the　scouts　on　duty　at　the

mill　saw　only　one　of　themselves　taking　a　bundle　of　hay　round　to

the　stables。



He　reached　the　woods　absolutely　unchallenged。　After　a　few　yards

in　its　friendly　shade；　he　dropped　the　thorny　bu