HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1940-10-17, Page 6PAGE SIX
THE S + + ORTH NEWS
THURSDAY, '.O'.CT,OBE'R 17, 194e
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From
he
I bade Voban come to me at the
little house behind the church that
night at ten o'clock. and by then I
should have arranged some plan of
action. I knew not whether to trust
Gabord or not. I was sorry now that
3 had not tried to bring Clark with
me. He was fearless, and he knew
the town well; but he laeked discre-
tion. and that was vital,
After two hours of waiting. people
began assembling. when out of the
desultory tiring from our batteries
there came a shell, which burst even
at the entrance of the noble building.
tore away a portion of the wall. and
ktdl ,; ed wounded a number of
j -eerie. Than followed a panic tend
the 7 ecl.ie ewae'tnegl past Where 0
1:«t :'•f e1diers were clearing the
ttt::. 1 saw Alixe led irons the
, 1.a.rclt by her father. I longed to Ieap
it there among thein and claim
ft;t that thought was madness,
1 shonid have been food i'r
-n a trice; so 1 kept my place.
XXVI.
That evening at eight o'clock. Jean
Labrouk was buried. A shell had durst
not a dozen pares from his own dour.
within the eansecreted ground of the
cathedral. and in a hole it had made
i e was laid, the only mourners his
wife and his grandfather. and two
soldiers of his company sent by Gen-
eral Bougainville to bury him. I
watched the ceremony from my loft,
which had one small dormer window.
It was dark. but burning buildings
in the lower town made all light
about, the place. I could hear the
grandfather mumbling and talking to
the body as it was lowered into the
ground. While yet the priest Was
reading prayers. a dusty horseman
eame riding to the grave and dis-
mounted.
"Jean," he said, looking at the
grave, "Jean Labrouk, a man dies
well that dies with his gaiters on.
oho!-
Gabord looked at the soldiers. look-
ed at the wife, at the priest, then
spread out Ms legs and stuck his
hands down into his pockets, while
his horse rubbed its nose against his
shoulder. He fixed his eyes on the
grave and nodded once or twice mus-
ingly.
"Well." he said at last. as if he
had found a perfect virtue, and the
one or only thing that might be said,
"we11. he never eats his words. that
ean'-"
A moment afterwards he came into
the house with Babette, leaving one
of the soldiers holding his horse. Af-
ter the old man had gone, I heard him
say. "Have you heard about Monsieur
Doltaire?"
When she had ar-swered yes. he
continued: "Master Doltaire can't
change it till cock -pheasant Moray
come rocketing to 's grave.'
'Has she asked help of you?" said
the :wife.
"Truly. but I know not what she
says, for I read net. but. I know her
pecking. Here it is. Put yon must be
secret."
Looking through a crack in the
floor. 1 could plainly see Them. She
took the letter front biro and read
aloud:
"If Gabord the soldier have a gond
heart still. as ever he had in the past.
he will again help a pour. at'iendlese
woman. She needs hire. for at eight
o'clock tomorrow nightsite will be
taken away tinder the ytcrtection of
Doltaire. Will he trot carte eo her ''be-
fore that time
For e: moment after t.rie reading
there was silence tend I _'cr lei see the
woman looking at him curiously.
"What will you do?" the asked.
"My faith. there'; a raft to crack.
,for I have little time. Tbis letter but
reached nee two hours ago,. and I
know not what to do, but, as I eland
scratching my head. here comes.
word from General Menicelm that I
must ride to Master Devil Doltaire
with a: letter. and I' must And him
wherever he be, and give it straight.
So forth I come; and I must be at
my post again by morn, said the Gen-
eral."
"It is after eight o'clock now, and
she will be already started on her
way." said the woman tentatively.
"ether he answered, "So that is
what Master Devil Doltaire want.?
'Gabord' quoth he, 'you shall come
with ole at ten o'clock, bringing three
stout soldiers with you from the gar-
rison. Here's an order on Monsieur
Ramesay, the commandant. Choose
you the men, and fail me not. or you
will swing aloft, dear Gabord." Sweet
lovers of hell, but. Masters Devil shall
have swinging too one day." He put
his thumb to his nose, and spread his
lingers out.
Presently he seemed to note some-
thing in tate woman's eyes, for he
spoke - ulntost sharply to bet'. "Jean
1,abrottk was honest man, and kept
faith with comrades."
"And I keep faith too, comrade,"
'141, the aliittvel'.
"Gabord's 0 brute to doubt you," he
rejoined quickly, and ire drew from
his pocket a piece of gold and made
her tape it, though she much resisted.
Meanwhile my mind etas matte up.
I saw. 1 thought, through "Master De-
vil's plan, and I telt, too. that Gabord
would not betray ate. In any case.
Gabord and I meld fight it out. If
he opposed ate, it was his life or
mine, for ton touch was at stake. and
all my plans were now changed by
his astounding news. At that mom-
ent Voban entered the roost without
knocking. Here was my true, and so.
to prevent explanations, I crept
quickly down, opened the door, and
came in an them.
They wheeled at my footsteps; the
woman gave a Little cry. and Gabortl's
band went to his pistol. There was a
wild sort of look in his face as though
he could not trust Itis eyes. I took no
notice of the menacing pistol. but
went straight to hint and held out my
hand.
"Gabord;" said I, "you are not my
jailer stow."
"I'll be your guard to citadel." said
he, after a moment's dumb surprise.
refusing my outstretched hand.
"Neither guard nor jailer any more,
Gabord," said I seriously, "We've had
enough of that, my friend,"
The soldier and the jailer had been
working in him, and his fingers trifl-
ed with the trigger. In all things be
was the foeman first. But now some-
thing else was working in him. I saw
this, and added pointedly, "No more
cage, Gabord, not even for reward of
twenty thousand livres."
He smiled grimly, too grimly, I
thought, and turned inquiringly to
Babette. In a few words she told hint
all. tears dropping from her eyes.
"If you take him. you betray me."
she said; "and what would Jean say.
if he knew?"
"Gabord," said I• "I come not as a
spy; I come to seek my wife, and she
counts you as her friend. 1)o harm to
me, and you do harm to her. Serve
me. and you serve her. Gabord, you
said to her once that I was all honor-
able start."
He poi up bis pistol. "Aho. you've
put your head in the trap. Stir, and
click goes the spring.
of adventure apart front the great
matter at stake.
In a few minutes we came to the
designated place and halted outside.
waiting for Doltaire. Presently a
messenger came. and looking sharply
at ns all, he ordered two to wait there
and Gabord and myself to come with
him. He informed us that Doltaire
had been et riously wounded, itow
badly he could not say. A woman.
Madame Cournal, bad struck hhn
the breast with a dagger in a jealous
rage.
Seigneur Duvurney had been sorely
wounded when he was testing the lire
organs for the i'ftt', 1111(1 one exploded
too :soon. This word he also brought.
Alixe was safe for a time, at least.
_perhaps forever, thank God! ---from
the approaches of Monsieur Doltaire.
As 1 sped through the streets, 1 could
not help hut think how Alixe would
now be able to care for her wounded
father without fear of Monsieur Dol-
taire. lily mind was at ease concern-
ing her.
1 cattle soon to the -St. John's date,
for 1 had the countersign front Ga-
bond, and dressed as I was I had no
difficulty in passing. Outside 1 saw a
small cavalcade arriving from Reim-
port. way. 1 drew back and let it pass
me, and then I saw that it was a
company of soldiers bearing the
Seigneur Duva.rney to the Intendancy.
An bone afterwards, having passed
the sentries, 1 stood of 0 lonely point
of the shote of the Lower Town, turd,
seeing no one near, I slid into the
water. As I did so I hoard a challenge
behind me,'and when 1 made no ans-
wer there came a shot, another, and
another, for it was thought, 1 doubt
not, that I was a deserter, I was
wounded' in the shoulder and had to
Swint with one arm; but though bonts
were pit out from the shote, 1 10nu-
aged to evade them and to get within
hail of our fleet. Challenged there, I
answered with my mime. A boat, allot
out from among the ships, and soon 1
was hauled into it by Clark himself;
atn<l that night 1 rested safe upon the
Terror of France.
My hurt proved more serious than
I had Looked for and the day alter my.
escape I was in a high fever, General
Wolfe hineseli, leaving heard of my
return, sent to inquire after me, .lie
also was 111, and our forces were cic-
pressed in consequence; for be had
a power to inspire theta not given to
any other of our accomplished gener-
als. He forbore to question ate about
the state of the town and what I had
seen; for which I was glad. My adven-
ture had been of a private nature, and
such I wished it to remain. The Gem
et'al desired me to come to pith Its
soon as I was able, that 1 might pro-
ceed with him above the town to re-
connoitre, But for maty a day this
was impossible, for my wound gave
me much pain and I was confined to
My bed.
Yet we on the Terror of France
served our good General, too; for one
dark night, when the wind ivas fair,
we piloted the remaining ships of Ad-
miral Holmes's division above the
town. This move was made on my
constant assertion that there was a
way by which Quebec might be taken
from above; and when General Wolfe
made known my representations to
his officers, they accepted it as a last
resort; for otherwise what hope had
they? At Montmo'enei our troops
had beenrepulsed; the mud flats of
the Beauport shore and the St.
(.'shades River were as good as an
army against use the Upper Town
and Citadel were practically impreg-
nable; and for eight miles west of
the town to tiee cove and river at (lap
Rouge there was one long precipice,
broken in but one spot; but just there
I was sure, men could come up with
"I must have my wife." I contin-
ued. "Shall the nest you helped to
make go empty?"
I worked to hint to snch purpose
that all bristling with war at first. he
was shortly won over to my scheme.
which I disclosed to Itim while the
wife matte us a cup of coffee. 'Through
all our talk Voban had sat eyeing us
with a covert interest, yet showing
no excitetttent. He lead been unable
to reach Alixe. Her father and broth-
er wnnld he going their ways—Juste
to General Montcadm and the Seign-
eur to the French camp. Thee Alixe
did not know that I was in the city.
An hoer after this f was marching
with two either men and, Gabord, to
carry oat. Doltaire`s ordere.. ehressee
in the ordinary costume of a French
soldier. got from the wife of Jean Lie
hrouk. in manner and speech though
I was somewhat dull. my fellows
thought, I was enough Tike a peasant
soldier to deceive them. and my
speech -was more fluent than their
own. I was playing a desperate game;
yet, I liked it, for it had a fine spice
stiff climbing, as 1 had clone. Bougain-
ville eame to Cap Rouge now with
three thousand men, for he thought
that this was to he our point of at-
tack.
ttack. Along the shore from Cap
Rouge to Cape Diamond small britt-
cries were posted, such as that of
Lanvy's at Anse do Fonlon; but they
were careless, for no conjectures
might seem so wild as that of bring
ing an army up where I had climbed.
"Tut, tett," said General Murray.
when he came to me on the Terror
of France, atter having, at my sug-
gestion, gone to the south eho'e. op-
posite Anse tin Foalon, and scanned
the faint line that. marked Lite pat -
row cleft on the cliff side --"tut, 'int,
man," said he, "'tis the dream of a
cal or a. damned mathematician,"
Once, atter all was store, be said to
me that cats and mathematicians
were tho only generals.
With a belligerentpride Clark
showed the way up the river one ev-
ening, the batteries of the town giv-
ing us plunging shots as we went
past, and ors at Point Levis answ-
ering gallantly. To me it was a good
if at most tuts, s time: good, in that
I was having some sort of compensa-
tion for my own sufferings in the
town; noxious, because no single
word came to me of Alixe or her ;e-
ther, and all the time we were pouring
dearth into the place.
Bttt this we threw from deserter's,
that Vandreuil was Governor and Bi-
got Intendant still; by which it would
seem that. on the ntoutetataus night
when Doltaire was wounded by Mad-
ame Comma), he gave back the goy
ernn'ship to Vautlrettil aed reinstated
Bigot. Presently, frmu an officer who
had been captured as he was setting
free a fire -raft to ran • 1O110(1g the
boats of our fleet,. I heard: that. I)olt-
aire had been confined in the Int m d -
ante, front a wound given by a 51.u1115
sentry. Titus the trite story had been
kept from the public, From him. too,
I learned that nothing was known of
the Seigneur Duverney and his (laugh.
ter; (blit they had meldeuly disap-
peat•ed from the Intendance, its if the
earth had swallowed them; and that
even Juste Durttt'uey knew nothing of
tltMn, and. was in consequence, great-
ly distressed
At last all of Admiral Holle's div-
ision was got above the town, with
very little damage and I never saw a
lean sal elated, so profoundly elated
as Clark over his shale in the busi-
ness. He was a daredevil, too; for the
day that the last of the division was
taken up the river, 1511110/1 my per-
mission or the permission of the ltd•
mire} or any one else, he took the
Terror of France almost up to Beu-
gainville's earthworks in the cove at
t'ap Rouge and insolently emptied his
six swivels into them, and then came
out and stood down the river, When
I asked what he was doing—for I was
1110' well enough to conte of deck --
he said 11e was going to see bow
n (1111(eys could throw nuts; when 1
dressed him, he said he had a will to
bear the cats he the eaves; and when
1 became severe, he added that he
would bring the Terror of France up
past the batteries of the town in
broad daylight, swearing that they
could no more hit hint than a woman
could a bird on a flagstaff. I did hot
relish this foolish bravado, and I for-
bade it; but presently I consented on
condition that he take ole to General
Wolfe's camp tit Montmorenci first;
for now I felt strong enough to be
again on active service.
Clark tgok the Terror of France up
the river in midday, running peril-
ously close to the batteries; and
though they pounded at him petul-
antly. foolishly angry at his contemp-
tuous defiance, he ran the gauntlet
safely, and coming to the flagship.
the Suthereland, saluted with his six
swivels, to the latigltter of the whole
fleet and his owtt profane joy.
"Mr. Moray," said General Wolfe,
when I saw his, racked with pain,
studying a chart of the river and
town which his chief engineer had
just brought trim, "show me here this
passage In the hillside."
I slid so, tracing the plains of
Maitre Abraham, which 1' assured hint
would bo good groutd for a pitched
battle. He nodded; then rose. and
walked up and down for a time, think-
ing. Suddenly he stopped, and fixed
his eyes upon ale,
"Mr, Moray," said he, "it would
seem that you. angering La Pompa-
dour. brought down this war 1111011
us." He paused, smiling in a ch'y way
as if the thought amused him, as if,
indeed, he doubted it; but for that I
cared not, it was au honor I could
easily live without.
1 bowed to his words, and said,
"Mine was the last straw, sir."
Again he nodded, and replied,
"Well, well, yon got us into trouble;
you must show us the way out," and
he looked againat the passage I ha<i
traced upon the chart. "You will 1'e -
main with me until we meet our
enemy on these heights." He pohlted
to the plains of Maitre Abraham.
Then he turned away, and began
walking up and down again. "It is the
last chancel" he said to himself in a
tone despairing and yet heroic,
"Please God! please God!" ho added,
PROFESSIONAL CARDS
MEDICAL
SEAFORTH CLINIC
Dr. E. A. McMaster, M.B., Graduate
of University of Toronto.
3, D, Colquhoun, M.D., C.M., Grad.
(tate of Dalhousie University, Ha.ifax,.
Tho Clinic is fully equipped witle
complete and modern x-ray and other
up-to-date diagnostic and tbereuptic
equipment.
Dr. Margaret If, Campbell, M.D.,
L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases in:
Infants and Children, will be at the
Clinic last Thursday in every month
from 3 to 6 p.m.
Dr. F. J. R, Forster, Specialist in
Diseases of the Ear, ltiye, Nose and
Throat, will bo 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.
"Yon will speak nothing of these
plans," he said he me at last, half
mechanically. "1Ve must make feints
of lauding et Cap Rouge—feints of
landing everywhere sieve at the one
Possible place; confuse both Haug -1
eluents and Montcahrl;'tire out their
01111101 with wtttcllings and want of
sleep; and then, on the auspicious
night, matte the great trial."
1 had remained respectfully stand-
ing at a little distance Front him. Now
he stuldenly came to ole, and, press-
ing 1ny hand, said quickly, "Von have
trouible. Air. Moray. I am sorry for
you. But maybe it is for better things
to come!"
I thanked him stumblingly, and a
moment later left him, to serve hint
on the morrow, and so on tln•ouglt
many days. till, in diver's perils, the
camp at Motttmorenci was abandon-
ed, the troops were got aboard the
ships, and the General took up his
quarters on the Sutherland; from
which, one notable day, I sallied forth
with ]rim to a point at the south shore
opposite the Anse do Toulon, where
he 51111 the thin crack in the cliff
side. From that moment instant and
final attack was his purpose.
The great night came, starlit and
serene. The campfires of two armies
spottei the shores of the wide river,
and the ships lay like wild fowl in
convoys above the town from where
the arrow of fate would be sped,
Darkness upon the river, and fireflies
upon the shore. At Beanpo't, an un-
tiring General, who for a hundred
days had snatched sleep, booted and
spurred, and in the ebb of a losing
game, longed for his adored Candia(,
grieved for a beloved daughter's
death, sent cheerful messages to his
aged mother and to his wife, and by
the deeper protests of his love Yore -
shadowed his own doom. At Cap
Rouge, a dying commander, limper -
tutted and valiant, reached out a fin
ger to trace the last movements in a
desperate campaign of life that open-
ed in Flanders at sixteen; of which
the end began when he took from his
bosom the portrait of bis affianced
wife, and said to his old schoolfellow,
"Give this to her, Jervis, for we shall
sleet 110 more."
Canadian Corvette Takes To The Water
e -
Canada's major naval programme involves the construction of about 65 speedy corvettes and some 30 mine-
sweepers, at a cost of approximately $52,000,000. One of these sleek corvettes is here shown taking to the water at
a recent launching.
JOHN A. GORWILL, B.A.,M.D.
Physician and Surgeon
In Dr. H. H. Ross' office. Phone 5 J
DR. F. J. R. FORSTER
Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Graduate in Medicine, University
of Toronto. Late Assistant New York
Ophthalmic and Aural Institute,
lvloorefield's Eye, and Golden Square
throat hospitals, London, Eng, At
Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third
Wednesday in each month from 2 to
4 p.m. Also at Seaforth Clinic first
Tuesday in each month. -53 Waterloo
St., Stratford. Telephone 267.
MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.D,
London, Ontario
Graduate Toronto University
Licentiate of American Board of Pedt-
atrics, Diseases of Children
At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday af-
ternoon, each month.
AUCTIONEER
GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed
Auctioneer for the County of Hurott.
Arrangements can be made for Sale
Date at The Seaforth News. Charges
moderate and satisfaction guaranteed
F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auction-
eer for Perth and Huron Counties:
Sales Solicited. Terms on Application.
Farm Stock, chattels and real estate
property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell.
Phone 634 r 6. Apply at, this office,
HAROLD JACKSQN
Licensed In Huron and Perth Coun-
ties. Prices reasonable; satisfaction
guaranteed, For information, write or
phone Harold Jackson, 658r12, Sea -
forth central; Brucefleld R.R.1.
Watson & Reid
REAL ESTATE
AND INSURANCE AGENCY
(Successors to James Watson)
iMAIN 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. Mcllercher, R,R.1, Dublin; John
E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brueefleld; J. F.
Pruetet> Brodhagen; Jaynes Watt,
Blyth; Wm,. Yeo, Holmesviile.
DIREOTORS
Alex Broadfoot, Seaforth; William
Knox, Londesboro; Chris Leonhardt,
Dublin; James Connolly, Goderdch;
Thomas Moylan, Seaforth; W. R.
Archibald, Seaforth; Alex McEwing,
Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton;
Hugh Alexander, Walton.
Parties desirous to effect insurance
or transact other business, will be
promptly attended to by applications
to any of the above named officers
addressed to their respeotive post -
offices.
The newlywed salesman, accomp-
anied by Itis wife, entered the din-
ing -room of the hotel which he used
to frequent, His order included roast
chicken, but there was some delay.
"Where's my chicken?" he de-
manded somewhat irritably.
The waiter replied in a husky .un-
dertone: "Sorry, but if you mean the
little girl with blue eyes and fluffy
hair, she doesn't work here now!"
Want and For Sole Ads, ill ;week 251c