"This Indian brings a bit of genuine news," said the Colonel to
Cummings. "An attack is to be made upon us at Chestnut Hill, two miles
west of here."
"An attack by whom?" the Captain asked.
"By a company of recruits made up of Yankees and disaffected Canadians
from the lumber camps. They have heard that we are a squad of soldiers
taking supplies to Quebec, and have undertaken to surprise us and
capture the booty."
"They will have their hands full," said Cummings.
"That's what they are aiming at," chimed the Chaplain, with whom
negative virtues were always at a discount.
"We'll fill more than their hands," sternly responded the Colonel, as he
turned to Cummings. "You had better send orders to Captain Payne to join
us in full force with all possible speed."
In the meantime Sir George called a halt where they were. The place was
well sheltered, and could readily be protected against attack. He also
sent scouts forward to ascertain the strength and equipment of the
invading force, with instructions to report as soon as possible.
But another Indian runner had carried the news to the marching force,
and very soon a messenger arrived from Captain Payne. The soldiers were
crossing Pecktawick Lake, only a mile away, and would be with them
immediately. In a few minutes the men of the two companies were in
sight, coming out on a double quick from a turn in the road.
Sir George acted with alacrity; not a minute was lost. In a few brief
words he explained the situation and gave his orders. Then the men
marched ahead--a small, well-stationed force being left to protect the
women and sleighs.
On their way they met the returning scouts with the news that the
invaders numbered about a hundred rough-looking, but well-armed fellows.
It was a bold move for a company of recruits to attempt to arrest the
march of double their number of veterans, notwithstanding the rich booty
at stake. Presumably, however, they did not know the strength of their
opponents, and the prize that might be obtained was a tempting one.
Sir George now divided his force into right and left flanks, with
central attack. Payne to take the former, and Cummings the latter; each
to push his men quickly over the hard snow, while Sir George himself led
the main force over the beaten road.
After arranging details, the Colonel gave the final order.
"We must carry the hill, no matter what it costs. The centre to do the
first firing, then the flanks. Now, right and left, march!"
The men had been under steady tramp for hours, the last half-mile on the
run, and were going into action without food; but they were eager for
the fray. Allowing the flanks to advance first, on account of the
density of the woods and the unbroken snow, Sir George led on his men.
A quick march brought them to the foot of the hill, and on the top could
be seen a number of blue coats and peaked hats bobbing among the trees.
Sir George at once widened out, but it was none too soon, for a volley
of bullets whistled through them. Two or three of his men dropped, and
among them Corporal Jenkins. Lieutenant Smith, too, had his arm
disabled.
"By heaven, this is too much!" exclaimed Sir George. "They shall pay for
it. Double quick; but not a shot must be fired till I give the order."
The men, scattering wide of each other among the trees, hurried on;
while orderlies took charge of the dead and wounded.
The Yankees, stimulated by the success of their first shot and meeting
with no response, hurried to the edge of the hill to fire again. Then
came Colonel Head's command:
"Halt, fire!"
The aim was well taken. The heavy storm of bullets riddled the men of
the attacking force, and some of them fell. Almost at the same moment
volleys were fired from the right and left flanks. The combined attack
was a surprise and staggered the Southerners.
"Quick, charge!" cried the Colonel. Then the men bounded forward. The
irregularity of the ground, the up-hill work, the trees and the snow
prevented precision of movement, but with a shout the order was obeyed.
Finding themselves hemmed in on three sides by a larger and better
equipped force than their own, the Americans fired another volley and,
picking up some of their wounded, beat a retreat.
It was Captain Cummings who commanded the left division, and seeing the
direction that the Yankees were taking, he tried to head them off. But
the ground was too uneven, and he contented himself with a parting
fusilade.
By this time Sir George had reached the summit of the hill, only to find
it vacated. On it, however, were several dead bodies, as well as a
couple of wounded men whom, in the hurry of retreat, their comrades had
deserted. Soon the main body was joined by the flank divisions, and as
it was unlikely that the attack would be renewed, the order was given to
return to the improvised camp.
In the list of casualties, Corporal Jenkins and a private were killed,
while several others, including Lieutenant Smith, were wounded; but it
was the loss of Jenkins that grieved his comrades most, for they had not
forgotten the death of his wife on the _North King_.
With the bodies of their own men waiting for burial, there was not much
mirth at mess that day. Still, they were glad that the fight was over,
and that with so little delay they could continue the march. The grave
being dug, Jenkins and the dead soldier were sorrowfully consigned by
the Chaplain to their last resting-place.
"What about the dead on the hill?" Captain Payne asked of Sir George.
"That's for their comrades to say when we are gone," was his answer.
"But about the prisoner with compound fracture of the leg?" asked Dr.
Beaumont. "He's not in good condition to travel even by sleigh."
"Oh, but he must!" exclaimed Sir George. "The man's alive, and we've got
to take him, whether we will or no. What of the other fellow and of our
own men?"
"Lieutenant Smith is the worst; he has a serious flesh wound of the
forearm, but no broken bones. The other Yankee is suffering more from
loss of blood than anything else and able to travel if we can find room
for him."
"Well, arrange them as best you can, Doctor, but we must start at once.
Bateese tells me that there is another lumber camp twelve miles further
on our way. Perhaps we can reach it to-night."
"Excellent," returned the Doctor. "We can leave our prisoners there, _et
maintien le droit_."
The idea was well received by Sir George and, late as it was, they
continued the journey. The sun was already sinking in the west, and it
would take hours after dark to reach the camp. Still, the march could be
accomplished, for the moon was in its second quarter and all danger of
renewed attack was believed to be over. The surprised party of untrained
invaders already regretted their rashness, for they realized the
strength of their opponents as well as the inutility of following them,
as every mile now carried them further into Canadian territory.
So the order was given for the sleighs to again take the lead and report
as quickly as possible at the lumber camp of the prospective arrival of
the troop.