Daring Deeds of American Heroes With Biographical Sketches

meet them. There was a momentary halt. The drum and fife paused for an instant. The father, suppressing a strong and evident emotion, said, " God be with you all, my friends! and, John, if you, my son, are called into battle, take care that you behave manfully, or else let me never see your face again." A tear started into every eye, and the march was resumed. ARNOLD'S MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. About the same time that Canada was invaded by the usual route from New York, a considerable detachment of. the American army was brought thither by a new and unexpected passage. Arnold, who conducted this bold undertaking, acquired thereby the name of the American Hannibal. He was sent, by General Washington, with a thousand men, from Cambridge, with orders to penetrate into that province, by ascending the Kennebec, and then, after crossing the mountains which divide Canada from Maine, by descending the Chaudiere to the St. Lawrence. Great were the difficulties, and severe the privations, they had to encounter, in marching 800 miles, by an unexplored way, through an uninhabited country. In ascending the Kennebec, they were constantly obliged to struggle against an impetuous current; and were often compelled, by cataracts, to land, and haul their batteaux up rapid streams, and over falls of rivers. They hadto contend with swamps, woods, and crag-gy nountains. At some places, they had to cut their way for miles together, through forests, so embar rassed, that their ...