THE
KEEPERS OF THE PASS
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[When
the Iroquois were moving in overwhelming force
to obliterate the infant town of Montreal, Adam
Daulac and a small band of comrades, binding
themselves by oath not to return alive, went
forth to meet the enemy in a distant pass between
the Ottawa river and the hills. There they died
to a man, but not till they had slain so many
of the savages that the invading force was shattered
and compelled to withdraw.]
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NOW
heap the branchy barriers up.
No more for us shall burn
The pine-logs on the happy hearth,
For we shall not return.
We've
come to our last camping-ground.
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Set axe to fir and tamarack.
The foe is here, the end is near,
And we shall not turn
back.
In
vain for us the town shall wait,
The home-dear faces yearn,
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The
watchers on the steeple watch,—
For we shall not return.
For
them we're come to these hard straits,
To save from flame and
wrack
The little city built far off;
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And we shall not turn
back.
Now
beat the yelling butchers down.
Let musket blaze, and
axe-edge burn.
Set hand to hand, lay brand to brand,
But we shall not return.
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For every man of us that falls
Their hordes a score shall
lack.
Close in about the Lily Flag!
No man of us goes back.
For
us no morrow's dawn shall break.
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Our sons and wives shall
learn
Some day from lips of flying scout
Why we might not return.
A
dream of children's laughter comes
Across the battle's slack,
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A
vision of familiar streets,—
But we shall not go back.
Up
roars the painted storm once more.
Long rest we soon shall
earn.
Henceforth the city safe may sleep,
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But we shall not return.
And
when our last has fallen in blood
Between these waters black,
Their tribe shall no more lust for war,—
For we shall not turn
back. |
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In vain for us the town shall wait,
The home-dear faces yearn,
The watchers in the steeple watch,
For we shall not return.
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