Remember my Fugitives poem from last Christmas? In what's becoming a tradition of sorts, I offer you up a Rebellion in Northwoods themed Christmas poem...or is that a Christmas-themed Rebellion poem? Either way, here is the story of book two told in the cadence of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.


‘Twas the day of Rebellion, when all through the camp,
not a creature was stirring, under gray skies so damp.
The fort was calm with the arrival of Barnes,
but I knew in my heart that he meant us all harm.

The red coats were gathering by the mess hall,
The governor’s speeches sent chills through us all.
And Cess in her tuque, and I in stocking cap
had issues to work through from a day that ‘twas crap.

When across the fort there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
From inside the building, I watched pounding feet;
my friend carried to Doc, wrapped up in a sheet.

The cloud-covered sun was ghastly and hollow,
giving no peace to us all worrying below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but my other friend beaten for showing no fear.

The wicked red coats, batons so angry and quick;
I knew in a moment it wasn’t a trick.
More rapid than eagles, to assist I came,
and they rose up and beat me and called me by name.

Now outsider! Now rebel!
Now Winnkotan scum!
This doesn’t concern you!
Now jail time will come!
Dragging me off the ground,
over toward the jail.
Now hauling us both away,
my friend, he did wail.

My weary head pounded in the hospital room.
Cesswi brought my breakfast, and it helped with the gloom.
Then o’er to the courthouse in the red coats’ paws,
in shackles and chains to face up to their laws.

And then, in an instant, I heard in the fort
a blast shaking windows and rattling the court.
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Out the back door the magistrate went with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
Several other red coats were guarding his back,
and he looked like a mastermind leading his pack.

The fires--how they twinkled! The bombings, how scary!
The fort was engulfed, the glow like a cherry!
A man shot, his mouth drawn up painfully so.
The blood stains contrasting with white as the snow.

The keys to our shackles held tight, gritted teeth.
The smoke it encircled the mess hall like a wreath.
More shots rang out; a deep churning in my belly.
The ground shook with blasts, like a bowl full of jelly.

We searched the camp for Cesswi, pulled items off shelf,
And I jumped when I saw her, in spite of myself.
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head
Soon gave me to know we had something to dread.

We spoke not a word, but went straight to our work,
and looked for a way out, then turned with a jerk.
O’er by the north wall, I smelled smoke with my nose.
The choppers attacked, stirring fear to my toes.

We sprang to our feet, to my team gave a whistle,
and away we all flew like the down of a thistle.
And they heard us exclaim, 'ere we moved out of sight,
"Happy Rebellion to all, and to all a safe night!"