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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-10-03, Page 6PAGE SIX roam The Yes, you are my confidant in this. 1 do not fear you. Your enemy is boned in hollow". your friend may seek to serve bimself." Again he laughed. "As if 3. Tinoir Doltaire— note the agreeable eombivation of Peasant and gentleman in my name— who held his hand from ambition for large things in France, should stake a lifetime on this foolish hazard! When I play. Captain Moray, it is for things large and vital. Else 1 remain the idler. the courtier --the son of the King" • "Yet you lend your vast talent the more I thought. there came a feeling genius of those unknown possibilities, that somehow 1 had been trieked. to this. monsieur—this little business At this distressful moment a mess. of exchange of prisoners.' I retorted age- came from the General. and I irnmcatly, went to his tent. trying to calm my- - "That "le my whirr. --a etc : i curt• seer. but overcome with apprehension. esy-:. 1 was kept another half hour wait- Deme: - said i;"yea sed ., sur tE and then. corning to hint, he General; E, iestfened me tensely for a little A wicked light ehe•n e his eyes, time about Doltaire and I told hint I choose tc pass that 1y. for the the whole story briefly. Presently his moment" said he- "I am sorry yen secretary brought ale the commission forgot yourself: it were. boder for ter my appoiutmant to special service you and me to be eowteons till aur on the General's own staff. hour of reckoning. Shall we not meet ' -"Your first duty.' said his Exee1- to purpose some day?". he said, with eney. "will be to --reconnoitre; and a sweet hatred in his tonet if yon come back safe,- we will talk "With all my heart." further." 'But where?" While he was speaking i kept loo -k• "In yonder town:" said 1. perming. ing at the Itat of prisoners which still lay upon his table. I know not why it was. but the last three names held my eyes. Eaeh of the other names I knew, and their owners also. When 1 looped close. 1 saw that where one name was written now another name had been written and then erased. I saw also that the writing was recent. Again,- where "Halboir" was written there had been another name, and the same process of erasure and sub- stitution had been made. It was not so with the last name. I said to the General at once, "Your Excellency, it is possible you have been tricked." I pointed out what I had noted. He nodded. "Will you let me go, sir?" said 1. "Will you let me see Ibis exchange?" "I fear you will be too late," he an- swered. "It is not a vital matter, I fi`it'?aG 4 $ti a }rttht *ktiil, , 4 ', t?, sYIest sist?.lel ' qie„ was left alone. Presently 1 saw a boat shoot out from the shore below, and he was in it. Seeing ate. he waved a hand in an Ironical way. I paced up and down, sick and distracted, for half an hour or more. I knew not whether he lied concerning Alixe, but my heart was wrung with misery, for indeed he spoke with an air of truth, Dead! dead! dead! "ln uo tear of your batteries now." he had said. "Done with the world!" he had said. What else coded it mean? Yet, the He laughed provokingly. "You are melodramatic," he rejoined. sl could hold that town with one thousand men against all your army and five times your fleet-" "You have ever talked and nothing done," said 1. "Will you tell me the truth?" "Yes, in private the truth you shall hear," he said. "The man is dead," "If you speak tiilE. he was murd- ered," I broke can. "You knew well why!" "No, no." he answered. 'He was put in prison, escaped, made for the river, was pursued. fought. and was killed!" "Will you answer Inc one ques- tion?" said I. "Is my wife well? Is she safe? She is there set among vil- lainies." "Your wife?" he answered, sneer• fancy." THE SEAFORTH NEWS the boat that left the admiral's ship before it reached the towel. War leaned upon its amts and watched a strange duel. There was no authority in any one's ]land save; My own to stop the boat, and the two armies must avoid firing, for the peo- ple of both nations were here in this space between --ladies and gentlemen in the French boat going to the town„ Englishnteu and a poor woman or two coating 10 oto' own fleet. My men strained every muscle, but the pace was impossible—it could :net lost; and the tourers in the French haat hung over their oars also with ent11118i0sm. AVit11 the glass of the of ]leer near ale ---Kingdom of Ainstrut- 1'1's Regiment --1 could 110w see Dol- taire standing erect in the boat, urg- ing the boatmen on. All round that basin, on shore and Miff and 1110 utuins, thousands of veteran righters --Fraser's, Otway's, Townsend's, Murray's; and on the other side the splendid soldiers of La Sarre, Languedoe, Hearn, and Gut enne--watcited in silence. Well they might. for in this entr'acte was the little weapon forged which opened the door of New France to England's glory. So may the little talent or op- portunity make possible the genius of the great. The pain of this suspense grew so. that I Imaged for some sound to break the stillness; but there was nothing for minute after minute, Then, at last on the halcyon air of the summer day floated the Angelus from the cathed' tat tower. Only a moment, in which one could feel, and see, also the French army praying, then came from the ramparts the sharp, inspiring toll of a drum, and presently all was still again. Nearer and nearer the boat of prisoners approacbed the stone steps of the landing, and we were several hundred yards behind, I motioned to Doltaire to stop, but he made no sign. I saw the cloaked figu, ee near him, and 1 etrained my eyes, but 1 could 001 note their faces. My men worked on ardently, and pre. semi;' we gained. But I saw that it was impossible to reach them before they set foot au shore. Now their boat came to the steps, and one by one they hastily got. out, Then I call- ed Doltaire to stop, The air was still, and my voice carried distinctly. Sud- denly one of the cloaked figures sprang towards the steps with arias outstretched, calling aloud, "Robert! Robert!" After a moment, "Robert, my husband!" rang out again, rod then a young officer and another took her by tbe arm to force her away. At the sharp instigation of Doltaire, some companies of marines filed in upon the place where they had stood, leveled their muskets on as, and hid my beloved wife from my view. I re- cognized the young officer who had put a hand upon Alixe. It was her brother Juste. "Alixel Alixe!" I called, as n1y boat still came on. "Save me, Robert!" carne the ang- uished reply, a faint but searching sound, and then no more. Misery and mystery were 10 my heart all at once. Doltaire had trick- ed me. "Those batteries can not harm her now!" Yes, yes, they could not while she was a prisoner in our camp, I swore that I would be within that town by the morrow, that I Would fetch my wife into safety, out from the damnable arts and devices of Master Devil Doltaire, as Gabord had called him. The captain of the marines warned us that another boat's length would fetch upon us the fire of his men. There was nothing to do but to turn back, while from the shore I was re- viled by soldiers and by the rabble, So, as my men rowed back towards our fleet 1 faced my enemies, and looked towards them without moving. I was grim enough that moment, God knows; I felt turned to stone. I did not stir when—ineffaceable brutality —the batteries on the heights began to play upon us, the shot falling round us, and passing over our heads, and musket -firing followed. "Damned villains! Faithless brutes" cried Kingdon beside me. I did not speak a word, but stood there defiant, as when we first had- turned back. Now, sharply, angrily, from all our batteries, there came reply to the French; and as we came on, with only one man wounded and one oar broken, our whole fleet cheered us. 3 Steered straight for the Terror of France, and there Clark and I, he swearing violently, laid plans. XXIV That night, at nine o'clock, the Terror of France, catching the flow of the tide, with one sail set and IS gentle wind, left the fleet and came slowly up the river, tinder the bat- teries of the town. In the gloom we Passed lazily of with the flow of the tide, unquestioned, soon leaving the citadel behind, and ere long arrived safety at that point called Anse du Pillion, above which Sillery stood. The shore could not be seen distinct- ly, but I knew by a perfect instinct the cleft in the hillside where was the path leading up the mountain. I bade Clark come up the rive' again two nights hence to watch for my signal, which was there agreed upon. If I did not come, thea, with General Wolfe's'consent, he must show the General this path up tbe mountain. He swore that all should he as I ing. "If you mean Mademoiselle Duv- arney, she is not there." Then he added solemnly and slowly: "She is in no fear of your batteries now—she is beyond them. She is not there," he added again in a law voice. "She is dead'?" 1 gasped. "My wife is dead?" "Enough of that,. he answered with cold fierceness. "The lady saw the folly of it all, before she had done with the world. You—you. monsieur! It was but the pity cf her gentle heart, of a romantic nature . You— you blundering alien. spy. and se- ducer!" With a gasp of anger 1 struck him in the face. and whipped out my sword. But the officers near came in- stantly between us, and I could see that they thought me mess and 11: - mannered, to do this thing before the General's tent, and te en envoy. Doltaire stood still a moment. Then presently be wiped a little blood from his month, end said: "Messieurs, Captain Morey's anger was justified; and for the blow. he will justify that in some happier time—for me. He said that I had lied. and I proved him wrong. I called him a spy and a seducer—he has yet to prove me wrong. As envoy I may not fight him now, but 1 may ;ell you that I have every cue is send him to tell one day. He will do me the credit to say that it is not cowardice that stays Inc'. "If no coward in the way of fight- ing. coward in all other things," I retorted instantly. "Well, well, as you may think." kis turned to go. "We will meet there, then?" he said, pointing to the town. "And when?" He shrugged bis shoulder as to a boyish petulance, for he thought It an idle boast. "To•niorrow? Then come and pray with me in the cathe- dral, and after that we, will cast up accounts—to-morrow, he said, with poignant and exultant malice. A mo- ment afterwards he was gone, and 1 "Perhaps to me most vital," said I, and 1 explained my fears, "Then go, go," he said kindly, 110 quickly gave directions to have me carried to Admiral Saunde's's ship, where the exchange was to be effect- ed, and at the same time I was hand- ed a general passport. In a few moments we were hard on our way. Now the batteries were sil- ent. By the General's orders, the bombardment ceased while the ex- change was being effected, and the French batteries also stopped firing. .4 sudden quietness seemed to settle on land and sea, and there was only heard, now and then, the note of a bugle from a ship of war. The water in the basin was moveless, and the air was calm and quiet. This heraldry of war was all unnatural in the gold- en weather and sweet-smelling land. 1 urged the rowers to their task, and we flew on. 'tie passed another boat loaded with mel, singing boist- erously a disorderly sort of song called "Hot Stuff." set to the ah' "Lilies of France." It was out of touch with the general quiet: "When the gay Forty -Seventh is dashing ashore. While bullets are whistling and cannons do roar, Day. Montcaim, 'Those are Shit'ieys—I know the lapels,' 'You lie.' says Ned Botwood, 'we swipe for Lascelles! Though our clothing is changed, and we scout powder puff, Here's at you, ye swabs—here's give you Hot Stuff!" While yet we were about two miles away. 1 saw a boat put out from the admiral's ship, then, at the ealne mo went, one from the Lower Town, and they chew towards each other. I caw- ed my men to their task, and as we were passing some of Admiral Sated- errs ships, their sailors cheered us. Then came a silence, and it seemed to me that all our arnly and fleet, and that a Beaupo't, and the garrison of Quebec, were watching us; for the ramparts and shore were crowded. We drove on at an angle, to intercept TESTS MODELS Wince tunnel at National Research Council in Ottawa war planes are tested. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1940 where models of wished; and indeed you would have thought that he and his Terror of France were to level Quebec to the water's edge. I stole softly to the shore in a boat. which I drew up among the bushes, hiding it as well as I could in the dark, and then, feeling for my pistols and knife, I crept upward, coating presently to the passage in the moun- tain. I toiled on to the summit with- out a sound of alarm from above. Pushing forward, a light flashed from the windmill, and a man, and then two men, appeared in the open dom. One of them was Captain Laney. whom I had very good reason to re- member, The last time I saw hint was that fatuous morning when he would have had me shot five minutes before the appointed hour, rather than en- dure the cold and be Rept from his breakfast. I itched to call him to ac- count then and there, but that would have been foolish play. I was outside the belt of light falling from the door, and stealing round I cane near to windmill ou the town side. I was not surprised to see such poor watch kept. Above the town, up to this time, tbe guard was of a Perfunctory sort, for the great cliffs were thought impregnable; and even if surmounted, there was still the walled town to take, surrounded by the St. Lawrence, the St. Charles, and these massive bulwards, Presently Laney stepped out . into the light, and said, with a hoarse laugh, "Blood of Peter, it was a sight today! She has a constant fancy for the English filibuster, 'Robert! my husband!' she bleated like a pretty lamb, and Doltaire grinned at he'." "But Doltaire will have her yet." "Ile has her pinched like a mouse in a weasel's teel'b," "Illy faith, mademoiselle hes no sweet road to travel since her mother died," was the careless reply. I almost cried out. Here was 11 blow which staggered ate. Her mother dead! Presently the scoff e' continued: "The Duvarneys would remain in the city. and on that very night, as they sit at dinner, a shell disturbs them, a splinter strikes madame, and two days later she is carried to her grave." They linked arms and walked on. It was a dangerous business I was set on, for I was sure that I would be hung without shrift if captured. As I discovered afterwards, l had been proclaimed, and it was enjoined on all Frenchmen to kill me if the chance showed Only two things could I depend on: Voban, and my disguise, which was very good. From the Terror of France 1. had got a peasant's dress. and by tabbing my bands anti face with the stain of butternut, cutting again my new -grown beard, and wearing a wig, I was well guarded against discove'Y. How to get into the city was the cpleatiel By the SL Charles River and the Palace Gate, and by the St. Louis Gate; not far from the citadel, were the only ways. and both were difficult. I had, however, two or three plans, and these 1 chewed as 1 travel- led across Maitre Abraham's fields.. and came to the main road from Sitt- ers, to the town. Soon I heard the noise of clattering hoofs, and jointly with this I saw a figure rise up not far ahead of me, as if waiting for the coning horseman. I drew back. The horseman passed me, and, as he came on slowly, I saw the figure spring suddenly Train the roadside and make a stroke at tbe horseman. In a moment they were a rolling mass upon the ground, while the horse trotted down the road a little and stood still. I never knew PROFESSIONAL CARDS MEDICAL SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. McMaster, M.B., Graduate of University of Toronto, J. D. Colquhoun, M.D., C.M., "Grad• uate of Dalhousie University, Halifax. The Clinic is fully equipped with complete and modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic and thereuptic equipment, Dr. Margaret 1K. Campbell, M.D., L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases in Infants and Children, will be at the Clinio last Thursday in every month from 3 to 6 p.m. Dr. F. J. It.. Forster, Specialist in Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the first Tuesday in every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Free well -baby clinic will be held on the second and last Thursday in every month from 1 to 2 p.m. the cause of that encounter—robbery or private- hate, or paid assault; but there was scarcely a sound as the two men struggled. Presently there was groaning, and both lay still. 1 hurried to them, and found one dead, and the other dying, and dagger wounds in both; for the assault had been at such close quarters that the horseman had had no chance to use a pistol My plans were changed on the inst- ant. I drew, the military enat, boots. and nap off the horseman, and put them on myself; and thrusting 010 hand into waistcoat—for he looked like a courier --I found a packet. This I put into my pocket, and there, making for the horse which stood quiet in the road. i mounted it anti rode on towards the town. Striking a light, I found that the packet was ad- dressed to the Governor, A. serious thought disturbed ate: I could not get into the town through the gates with- out the countersign. I rode on. anxi- ous and perplexed. Presently a thought pulled me up. The courier was insensible when ] left him, and be was the only person who could help me in this. are• preached myself for leaving- hint while he was still alive. "Poo' devil," thought I to myself, "there is' Seine One whom his heath will hurt. Ill' must not die alone. He was no enemy of mine." I went back, and, getting from the horse, stooped to him, lift• eel ttp his head, and found that he was not dead. I spoke in his ear. He moaned, and his eyes opened. "What is your name?" said I. "Jean—Labrouk," be whiepe'ed, Now I remembered him. He was the soldier whom Gabord had sent as messenger to Voban the night I was first taken to the citadel. "Shall I carry word for you to any one?" asked I. Thee was a slight pause; then he said, "Tell my—Babette—Jacques Do- brotte owes me ten francs—and—a leg of mutton. Tell—my Babette—to give my coat of beaver far to Gabord he soldier. TelI", . ,he sank back, but raised himself, and continued: "Tell my Babette I weep with he•....Ah. mon grand homme tee Caivaire—bon soar!!" He sank back again, but I roused him with one question more. vital to me. 1 must have the counter- sign. "Labrouk! Labrouk!" said I sharp. JOHN A. GORWILL, B.A.,M.D. Physician and Surgeon In Dr. H. H, Ross' office. Phone 5J DR. F. J. R. FORSTER Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto. Late Assistant New York Ophthalmic and Aural Institute, Moorefreld's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospitals, London, Hug. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 2 to 4 p.m, Also at Seaforth Clinio first Tuesday in each month. -63 Waterloo St., Stratford, Telephone 267. MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.D. London, Ontario Graduate Toronto University Licentiate of American Board of Peds. atrics, Diseases of Children At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday at- ternoon, each mouth, AUCTIONEER GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron, Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News, Chargee moderate and satisfaction guaranteed ly. He opened his dull. glazed eyes. "Qui ver la?" said I, and I waited anxiously. Thought seemed to rally in him. and staring—alas! how helpless and how sad: that look of a man brought back for an instant from the Shadows —his lips moved. "France," was the whispered reply. "Advance and give the counter- sign!" I urged. "Jesu—" he murmured faintly. I drew from my breast the cross that Mathilde had given me, and pressed it to his lips. He sighed softly, lifted his hand to it, and then fell back, neve' to speak again. After covering his face and de- cently laying the body out, 3 mount- ed the horse again. Glancing up, I saw that this bad business had be- fallen not twenty feet from a high Calvary at the roadside. I was in a painful quandary. Did Labrouk mean that the countersign was "Jest," was that word the brok- en prayer of his soul as it Jrnu'ried forth? So strange a countersign I had never heard. 3 rode on, tossed about in My mind. So much hung on this. If I could not give the countersign, I should have to fight.nly way back again the road I came. But I must try my luck. So I went on, heating tip my heart to confidence; and now I F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auctions ser for Perth and Huron Counties Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 034 r 6. Apply at this office, HAROLD JACKSON Licensed in Huron and Perth Coun• ties, Prices reasonable; satisfaction guaranteed. For information, write or phone Harold Jackson, 668112, Sea - forth central; Brucefield R.R.1. Watson & Reid REAL ESTATE. AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. The McKillop Mutual Fire Insurance Co. HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Wm. Knox, Londesboro; Vice President, W. R. Archibald, Seaforth; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. McIieraher, R.R.1, Dublin; John E. Pepper. R,11.1, Brucefield; J. F. Procter, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt, Dublin; James Connolly, Goderich; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth; W. 11.. Archibald, Seaforth; Alex MoEwing, Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton; Hugh Alexander, Walton. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by application&. to any of the above named officers - addressed to their respective post - offices. came to the St. Louis Gate. A tiny fire was burning near, and two senti- nels stepped forward as 1 rode boldly on the entrance. "Qui va la?" was the sharp call. "France," was my reply, in a voice es like a peasant's as possible. "Advance and give the counter- sign," came the demand. Another voice called from the dark- ness of the wall: "Come and drink, comrade; I've a brother with Bougain- ville."