The regiment was wrecked, and the assault for the time was over.
Rolf had plied his rifle with the rest, but it sickened him to
see the horrible waste of human valour. It was such ghastly work
that he was glad indeed when a messenger came to say he was
needed at headquarters. And in an hour he was crossing the lake
with news and instructions for the officer in command at Burlington.
Chapter 81. The Battle of Plattsburg
In broad daylight he skimmed away in his one man canoe.
For five hours he paddled, and at star-peep he reached the dock
at Burlington. The howl of a lost dog caught his ear; and when he
traced the sound, there, on the outmost plank, with his nose to
the skies, was the familiar form of Skookum, wailing and sadly
alone.
What a change he showed when Rolf landed; he barked, leaped,
growled, tail-wagged, head-wagged, feet-wagged, body-wagged,
wig-wagged and zigzagged for joy; he raced in circles, looking
for a sacrificial hen, and finally uttered a long and
conversational whine that doubtless was full of information for
those who could get it out.
Rolf delivered his budget at once.
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