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diff --git a/old/10434.txt b/old/10434.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d11413 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10434.txt @@ -0,0 +1,17942 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wyandotte, by James Fenimore Cooper + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + + + + +Title: Wyandotte + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: December 11, 2003 [eBook #10434] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYANDOTTE*** + + +E-text prepared by Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders + + + +Wyandotte; + +or, + +The Hutted Knoll. + +A Tale. + +Complete in One Volume. + +By J. Fenimore Cooper. + +1871. + + + + + + + "I venerate the Pilgrim's cause, + Yet for the red man dare to plead: + We bow to Heaven's recorded laws, + He turns to Nature for his creed." + + Sprague. + + + + + + +Preface. + + + +The history of the borders is filled with legends of the sufferings of +isolated families, during the troubled scenes of colonial warfare. +Those which we now offer to the reader, are distinctive in many of +their leading facts, if not rigidly true in the details. The first +alone is necessary to the legitimate objects of fiction. + +One of the misfortunes of a nation, is to hear little besides its own +praises. Although the American revolution was probably as just an +effort as was ever made by a people to resist the first inroads of +oppression, the cause had its evil aspects, as well as all other human +struggles. We have been so much accustomed to hear everything extolled, +of late years, that could be dragged into the remotest connection with +that great event, and the principles which led to it, that there is +danger of overlooking truth, in a pseudo patriotism. Nothing is really +patriotic, however, that is not strictly true and just; any more than +it is paternal love to undermine the constitution of a child by an +indiscriminate indulgence in pernicious diet. That there were +demagogues in 1776, is as certain as that there are demagogues in 1843, +and will probably continue to be demagogues as long as means for +misleading the common mind shall exist. + +A great deal of undigested morality is uttered to the world, under the +disguise of a pretended public virtue. In the eye of reason, the man +who deliberately and voluntarily contracts civil engagements is more +strictly bound to their fulfilment, than he whose whole obligations +consist of an accident over which he had not the smallest control, that +of birth; though the very reverse of this is usually maintained under +the influence of popular prejudice. The reader will probably discover +how we view this master, in the course of our narrative. + +Perhaps this story is obnoxious to the charge of a slight anachronism, +in representing the activity of the Indians a year earlier than any +were actually employed in the struggle of 1775. During the century of +warfare that existed between the English and French colonies, the +savage tribes were important agents in furthering the views of the +respective belligerents. The war was on the frontiers, and these fierce +savages were, in a measure, necessary to the management of hostilities +that invaded their own villages and hunting-grounds. In 1775, the enemy +came from the side of the Atlantic, and it was only after the struggle +had acquired force, that the operations of the interior rendered the +services of such allies desirable. In other respects, without +pretending to refer to any real events, the incidents of this tale are +believed to be sufficiently historical for all the legitimate purposes +of fiction. + +In this book the writer has aimed at sketching several distinct +varieties of the human race, as true to the governing impulses of their +educations, habits, modes of thinking and natures. The red man had his +morality, as much as his white brother, and it is well known that even +Christian ethics are coloured and governed, by standards of opinion set +up on purely human authority. The honesty of one Christian is not +always that of another, any more than his humanity, truth, fidelity or +faith. The spirit must quit its earthly tabernacle altogether, ere it +cease to be influenced by its tints and imperfections. + + + + + +Chapter I. + + "An acorn fell from an old oak tree, + And lay on the frosty ground-- + 'O, what shall the fate of the acorn be?' + Was whispered all around + By low-toned voices chiming sweet, + Like a floweret's bell when swung-- + And grasshopper steeds were gathering fleet, + And the beetle's hoofs up-rung." + + Mrs. Seba Smith. + +There is a wide-spread error on the subject of American scenery. From +the size of the lakes, the length and breadth of the rivers, the vast +solitudes of the forests, and the seemingly boundless expanse of the +prairies, the world has come to attach to it an idea of grandeur; a +word that is in nearly every case, misapplied. The scenery of that +portion of the American continent which has fallen to the share of the +Anglo-Saxon race, very seldom rises to a scale that merits this term; +when it does, it is more owing to the accessories, as in the case of +the interminable woods, than to the natural face of the country. To him +who is accustomed to the terrific sublimity of the Alps, the softened +and yet wild grandeur of the Italian lakes, or to the noble witchery of +the shores of the Mediterranean, this country is apt to seem tame, and +uninteresting as a whole; though it certainly has exceptions that carry +charms of this nature to the verge of loveliness. + +Of the latter character is the face of most of that region which lies +in the angle formed by the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson, +extending as far south, or even farther, than the line of Pennsylvania, +and west to the verge of that vast rolling plain which composes Western +New York. This is a region of more than ten thousand square miles of +surface, embracing to-day, ten counties at least, and supporting a +rural population of near half a million of souls, excluding the river +towns. + +All who have seen this district of country, and who are familiar with +the elements of charming, rather than grand scenery it possesses, are +agreed in extolling its capabilities, and, in some instances, its +realities. The want of high finish is common to everything of this sort +in America; and, perhaps we may add, that the absence of +picturesqueness as connected with the works of man, is a general +defect; still, this particular region, and all others resembling it-- +for they abound on the wide surface of the twenty-six states--has +beauties of its own, that it would be difficult to meet with in any of +the older portions of the earth. + +They who have done us the honour to read our previous works, will at +once understand that the district to which we allude, is that of which +we have taken more than one occasion to write; and we return to it now, +less with a desire to celebrate its charms, than to exhibit them in a +somewhat novel, and yet perfectly historical aspect. Our own earlier +labours will have told the reader, that all of this extended district +of country, with the exception of belts of settlements along the two +great rivers named, was a wilderness, anterior to the American +revolution. There was a minor class of exceptions to this general rule, +however, to which it will be proper to advert, lest, by conceiving us +too literally, the reader may think he can convict us of a +contradiction. In order to be fully understood, the explanations shall +be given at a little length. + +While it is true, then, that the mountainous region, which now contains +the counties of Schoharie, Otsego, Chenango, Broome, Delaware, &c., was +a wilderness in 1775, the colonial governors had begun to make grants +of its lands, some twenty years earlier. The patent of the estate on +which we are writing lies before us; and it bears the date of 1769, +with an Indian grant annexed, that is a year or two older. This may be +taken as a mean date for the portion of country alluded to; some of the +deeds being older, and others still more recent. These grants of land +were originally made, subject to quit-rents to the crown; and usually +on the payment of heavy fees to the colonial officers, after going +through the somewhat supererogatory duty of "extinguishing the Indian +title," as it was called. The latter were pretty effectually +"extinguished" in that day, as well as in our own; and it would be a +matter of curious research to ascertain the precise nature of the +purchase-money given to the aborigines. In the case of the patent +before us, the Indian right was "extinguished" by means of a few +rifles, blankets, kettles, and beads; though the grant covers a nominal +hundred thousand, and a real hundred and ten or twenty thousand acres +of land. + +The abuse of the grants, as land became more valuable, induced a law, +restricting the number of acres patented to any one person, at any one +time, to a thousand. Our monarchical predecessors had the same +facilities, and it may be added, the same propensities, to rendering a +law a dead letter, as belongs to our republican selves. The patent on +our table, being for a nominal hundred thousand acres, contains the +names of one hundred different grantees, while three several parchment +documents at its side, each signed by thirty-three of these very +persons, vest the legal estate in the first named, for whose sole +benefit the whole concession was made; the dates of the last +instruments succeeding, by one or two days, that of the royal patent +itself. + +Such is the history of most of the original titles to the many estates +that dotted the region we have described, prior to the revolution. +Money and favouritism, however were not always the motives of these +large concessions. Occasionally, services presented their claims; and +many instances occur in which old officers of the army, in particular, +received a species of reward, by a patent for land, the fees being duly +paid, and the Indian title righteously "extinguished." These grants to +ancient soldiers were seldom large, except in the cases of officers of +rank; three or four thousand well-selected acres, being a sufficient +boon to the younger sons of Scottish lairds, or English squires, who +had been accustomed to look upon a single farm as an estate. + +As most of the soldiers mentioned were used to forest life, from having +been long stationed at frontier posts, and had thus become familiarized +with its privations, and hardened against its dangers, it was no +unusual thing for them to sell out, or go on half-pay, when the wants +of a family began to urge their claims, and to retire to their +"patents," as the land itself, as well as the instrument by which it +was granted, was invariably termed, with a view of establishing +themselves permanently as landlords. + +These grants from the crown, in the portions of the colony of New York +that lie west of the river counties, were generally, if not invariably, +simple concessions of the fee, subject to quit-rents to the king, and +reservations of mines of the precious metals, without any of the +privileges of feudal seignory, as existed in the older manors on the +Hudson, on the islands, and on the Sound. Why this distinction was +made, it exceeds our power to say; but, that the fact was so, as a +rule, we have it in proof, by means of a great number of the original +patents, themselves, that have been transmitted to us from various +sources. Still, the habits of "home" entailed the name, even where the +thing was not to be found. Titular manors exist, in a few instances, to +this day, where no manorial rights were ever granted; and manor-houses +were common appellations for the residences of the landlords of large +estates, that were held in fee, without any exclusive privileges, and +subject to the reservation named. Some of these manorial residences +were of so primitive an appearance, as to induce the belief that the +names were bestowed in pleasantry; the dwellings themselves being of +logs, with the bark still on them, and the other fixtures to +correspond. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, early impressions and +rooted habits could easily transfer terms to such an abode; and there +was always a saddened enjoyment among these exiles, when they could +liken their forest names and usages to those they had left in the +distant scenes of their childhood. + +The effect of the different causes we have here given was to dot the +region described, though at long intervals, with spots of a semi- +civilized appearance, in the midst of the vast--nay, almost boundless-- +expanse of forest. Some of these early settlements had made +considerable advances towards finish and comfort, ere the war of '76 +drove their occupants to seek protection against the inroads of the +savages; and long after the influx of immigration which succeeded the +peace, the fruits, the meadows, and the tilled fields of these oases in +the desert, rendered them conspicuous amidst the blackened stumps, +piled logs, and smooty fallows of an active and bustling settlement. At +even a much later day, they were to be distinguished by the smoother +surfaces of their fields, the greater growth and more bountiful yield +of their orchards, and by the general appearance of a more finished +civilization, and of greater age. Here and there, a hamlet had sprung +up; and isolated places, like Cherry Valley and Wyoming, were found, +that have since become known to the general history of the country. + +Our present tale now leads us to the description of one of those early, +personal, or family settlements, that had grown up, in what was then a +very remote part of the territory in question, under the care and +supervision of an ancient officer of the name of Willoughby. Captain +Willoughby, after serving many years, had married an American wife, and +continuing his services until a son and daughter were born, he sold his +commission, procured a grant of land, and determined to retire to his +new possessions, in order to pass the close of his life in the tranquil +pursuits of agriculture, and in the bosom of his family. An adopted +child was also added to his cares. Being an educated as well as a +provident man, Captain Willoughby had set about the execution of this +scheme with deliberation, prudence, and intelligence. On the frontiers, +or lines, as it is the custom to term the American boundaries, he had +become acquainted with a Tuscarora, known by the English +_sobriquet_ of "Saucy Nick." This fellow, a sort of half-outcast from +his own people, had early attached himself to the whites, had acquired +their language, and owing to a singular mixture of good and bad +qualities, blended with great native shrewdness, he had wormed himself +into the confidence of several commanders of small garrisons, among +whom was our captain. No sooner was the mind of the latter made up, +concerning his future course, than he sent for Nick, who was then in +the fort; when the following conversation took place: + +"Nick," commenced the captain, passing his hand over his brow, as was +his wont when in a reflecting mood; "Nick, I have an important movement +in view, in which you can be of some service to me." + +The Tuscarora, fastening his dark basilisk-like eyes on the soldier, +gazed a moment, as if to read his soul; then he jerked a thumb +backward, over his own shoulder, and said, with a grave smile-- + +"Nick understand. Want six, two, scalp off Frenchman's head; wife and +child; out yonder, over dere, up in Canada. Nick do him--what you +give?" + +"No, you red rascal, I want nothing of the sort--it is peace now, (this +conversation took place in 1764), and you know I never bought a scalp, +in time of war. Let me hear no more of this." + +"What you want, _den_?" asked Nick, like one who was a good deal +puzzled. + +"I want land--_good_ land--little, but _good_. I am about to +get a grant--a patent--" + +"Yes," interrupted Nick, nodding; "I know _him_--paper to take +away Indian's hunting-ground." + +"Why, I have no wish to do that--I am willing to pay the red men +reasonably for their right, first." + +"Buy Nick's land, den--better dan any oder." + +"Your land, knave!--You own no land--belong to no tribe--have no rights +to sell." + +"What for ask Nick help, den?" + +"What for?--Why because you _know_ a good deal, though you own +literally nothing. That's what for." + +"Buy Nick _know_, den. Better dan he great fader _know_, down +at York." + +"That is just what I do wish to purchase. I will pay you well, Nick, if +you will start to-morrow, with your rifle and a pocket-compass, off +here towards the head-waters of the Susquehannah and Delaware, where +the streams run rapidly, and where there are no fevers, and bring me an +account of three or four thousand acres of rich bottom-land, in such a +way as a surveyor can find it, and I can get a patent for it. What say +you, Nick; will you go?" + +"He not wanted. Nick sell 'e captain, his own land: here in 'e fort." + +"Knave, do you not know me well enough not to trifle, when I am +serious?" + +"Nick ser'ous too--Moravian priest no ser'ouser more dan Nick at dis +moment. Got land to sell." + +Captain Willoughby had found occasion to punish the Tuscarora, in the +course of his services; and as the parties understood each other +perfectly well, the former saw the improbability of the latter's daring +to trifle with him. + +"Where is this land of yours, Nick," he inquired, after studying the +Indian's countenance for a moment. "Where does it lie, what is it like, +how much is there of it, and how came you to own it?" + +"Ask him just so, ag'in," said Nick, taking up four twigs, to note down +the questions, _seriatim_. + +The captain repeated his inquiries, the Tuscarora laying down a stick +at each separate interrogatory. + +"Where he be?" answered Nick, taking up a twig, as a memorandum. "He +out dere--where he want him--where he say.--One day's march from +Susquehanna." + +"Well; proceed." + +"What he like?--Like land, to be sure. T'ink he like water! Got +_some_ water--no too much--got some land--got no tree--got some tree. +Got good sugar-bush--got place for wheat and corn." + +"Proceed." + +"How much of him?" continued Nick, taking up another twig; "much as he +want--want little, got him--want more, got him. Want none at all, got +none at all--got what he want." + +"Go on." + +"To be sure. How came to own him?--How a pale face come to own America? +_Discover_ him--ha!--Well, Nick discover land down yonder, up +dere, over here." + +"Nick, what the devil do you mean by all this?" + +"No mean devil, at all--mean land--_good_ land. _Discover_ +him--know where he is--catch beaver dere, three, two year. All Nick +say, true as word of honour; much more too." + +"Do you mean it is an old beaver-dam destroyed?" asked the captain, +pricking up his ears; for he was too familiar with the woods, not to +understand the value of such a thing. + +"No destroy--stand up yet--good as ever.--Nick dere, last season." + +"Why, then, do you tell of it? Are not the beaver of more value to you, +than any price you may receive for the land?" + +"Cotch him all, four, two year ago--rest run away. No find beaver to +stay long, when Indian once know, two time, where to set he trap. +Beaver cunninger 'an pale face--cunning as bear." + +"I begin to comprehend you, Nick. How large do you suppose this pond to +be?" + +"He 'm not as big as Lake Ontario. S'pose him smaller, what den? Big +enough for farm." + +"Does it cover one or two hundred acres, think you?--Is it as large as +the clearing around the fort?" + +"Big as two, six, four of him. Take forty skin, dere one season. Little +lake; all 'e tree gone." + +"And the land around it--is it mountainous and rough, or will it be +good for corn?" + +"All sugar-bush--what you want better? S'pose you want corn; +_plant_ him. S'pose you want sugar; _make_ him." + +Captain Willoughby was struck with this description, and he returned to +the subject, again and again. At length, after extracting all the +information he could get from Nick, he struck a bargain with the +fellow. A surveyor was engaged, and he started for the place, under the +guidance of the Tuscarora. The result showed that Nick had not +exaggerated. The pond was found, as he had described it to be, covering +at least four hundred acres of low bottom-land; while near three +thousand acres of higher river-flat, covered with beach and maple, +spread around it for a considerable distance. The adjacent mountains +too, were arable, though bold, and promised, in time, to become a +fertile and manageable district. Calculating his distances with +judgment, the surveyor laid out his metes and bounds in such a manner +as to include the pond, all the low-land, and about three thousand +acres of hill, or mountain, making the materials for a very pretty +little "patent" of somewhat more than six thousand acres of capital +land. He then collected a few chiefs of the nearest tribe, dealt out +his rum, tobacco, blankets, wampum, and gunpowder, got twelve Indians +to make their marks on a bit of deer-skin, and returned to his employer +with a map, a field-book, and a deed, by which the Indian title was +"extinguished." The surveyor received his compensation, and set off on +a similar excursion, for a different employer, and in another +direction. Nick got his reward, too, and was well satisfied with the +transaction. This he afterwards called "sellin' beaver when he all run +away." + +Furnished with the necessary means, Captain Willoughby now "sued out +his patent," as it was termed, in due form. Having some influence, the +affair was soon arranged; the grant was made by the governor in +council, a massive seal was annexed to a famous sheet of parchment, the +signatures were obtained, and "Willoughby's Patent" took its place on +the records of the colony, as well as on its maps. We are wrong as +respects the latter particular; it did not take _its_ place, on +the maps of the colony, though it took _a_ place; the location +given for many years afterwards, being some forty or fifty miles too +far west. In this peculiarity there was nothing novel, the surveys of +all new regions being liable to similar trifling mistakes. Thus it was, +that an estate, lying within five-and-twenty miles of the city of New +York, and in which we happen to have a small interest at this hour, was +clipped of its fair proportions, in consequence of losing some miles +that run over obtrusively into another colony; and, within a short +distance of the spot where we are writing, a "patent" has been squeezed +entirely out of existence, between the claims of two older grants. + +No such calamity befell "Willoughby's Patent," however. The land was +found, with all its "marked or _blazed_ trees," its "heaps of +stones," "large butternut corners," and "dead oaks." In a word, +everything was as it should be; even to the quality of the soil, the +beaver-pond, and the quantity. As respects the last, the colony never +gave "struck measure;" a thousand acres on paper, seldom falling short +of eleven or twelve hundred in soil. In the present instance, the six +thousand two hundred and forty-six acres of "Willoughby's Patent," were +subsequently ascertained to contain just seven thousand and ninety-two +acres of solid ground. + +Our limits and plan will not permit us to give more than a sketch of +the proceedings of the captain, in taking possession; though we feel +certain that a minute account of the progress of such a settlement +would possess a sort of Robinson Crusoe-like interest, that might repay +the reader. As usual, the adventurers commenced their operations in the +spring. Mrs. Willoughby, and the children, were left with their +friends, in Albany; while the captain and his party pioneered their way +to the patent, in the best manner they could. This party consisted of +Nick, who went in the capacity of hunter, an office of a good deal of +dignity, and of the last importance, to a set of adventurers on an +expedition of this nature. Then there were eight axe-men, a house- +carpenter, a mason, and a mill-wright. These, with Captain Willoughby, +and an invalid sergeant, of the name of Joyce, composed the party. + +Our adventurers made most of their journey by water. After finding +their way to the head of the Canaideraga, mistaking it for the Otsego, +they felled trees, hollowed them into canoes, embarked, and, aided by a +yoke of oxen that were driven along the shore, they wormed their way, +through the Oaks, into the Susquehanna, descending that river until +they reached the Unadilla, which stream they ascended until they came +to the small river, known in the parlance of the country, by the +erroneous name of a creek, that ran through the captain's new estate. +The labour of this ascent was exceedingly severe; but the whole journey +was completed by the end of April, and while the streams were high. +Snow still lay in the woods; but the sap had started, and the season +was beginning to show its promise. + +The first measure adopted by our adventurers was to "hut." In the very +centre of the pond, which, it will be remembered, covered four hundred +acres, was an island of some five or six acres in extent. It was a +rocky knoll, that rose forty feet above the surface of the water, and +was still crowned with noble pines, a species of tree that had escaped +the ravages of the beaver. In the pond, itself, a few "stubs" alone +remained, the water having killed the trees, which had fallen and +decayed. This circumstance showed that the stream had long before been +dammed; successions of families of beavers having probably occupied the +place, and renewed the works, for centuries, at intervals of +generations. The dam in existence, however, was not very old; the +animals having fled from their great enemy, man, rather than from any +other foe. + +To the island Captain Willoughby transferred all his stores, and here +he built his hut. This was opposed to the notions of his axe-men, who, +rightly enough, fancied the mainland would be more convenient; but the +captain and the sergeant, after a council of war, decided that the +position on the knoll would be the most military, and might be defended +the longest, against man or beast. Another station was taken up, +however, on the nearest shore, where such of the men were permitted to +"hut," as preferred the location. + +These preliminaries observed, the captain meditated a bold stroke +against the wilderness, by draining the pond, and coming at once into +the possession of a noble farm, cleared of trees and stumps, as it +might be by a _coup de main_. This would be compressing the +results of ordinary years of toil, into those of a single season, and +everybody was agreed as to the expediency of the course, provided it +were feasible. + +The feasibility was soon ascertained. The stream which ran through the +valley, was far from swift, until it reached a pass where the hills +approached each other in low promontories; there the land fell rapidly +away to what might be termed a lower terrace. Across this gorge, or +defile, a distance of about five hundred feet, the dam had been thrown, +a good deal aided by the position of some rocks that here rose to the +surface, and through which the little river found its passage. The part +which might be termed the key-stone of the dam, was only twenty yards +wide, and immediately below it, the rocks fell away rapidly, quite +sixty feet, carrying down the waste water in a sort of fall. Here the +mill-wright announced his determination to commence operations at +once, putting in a protest against destroying the works of the beavers. +A pond of four hundred acres being too great a luxury for the region, +the man was overruled, and the labour commenced. + +The first blow was struck against the dam about nine o'clock, on the 2d +day of May, 1765, and, by evening, the little sylvan-looking lake, +which had lain embedded in the forest, glittering in the morning sun, +unruffled by a breath of air, had entirely disappeared! In its place, +there remained an open expanse of wet mud, thickly covered with pools +and the remains of beaver-houses, with a small river winding its way +slowly through the slime. The change to the eye was melancholy indeed; +though the prospect was cheering to the agriculturist. No sooner did +the water obtain a little passage, than it began to clear the way for +itself, gushing out in a torrent, through the pass already mentioned. + +The following morning, Captain Willoughby almost mourned over the works +of his hands. The scene was so very different from that it had +presented when the flats were covered with water, that it was +impossible not to feel the change. For quite a month, it had an +influence on the whole party. Nick, in particular, denounced it, as +unwise and uncalled for, though he had made his price out of the very +circumstance in prospective; and even Sergeant Joyce was compelled to +admit that the knoll, an island no longer, had lost quite half its +security as a military position. The next month, however, brought other +changes. Half the pools had vanished by drainings and evaporation; the +mud had begun to crack, and, in some places to pulverize; while the +upper margin of the old pond had become sufficiently firm to permit the +oxen to walk over it, without miring. Fences of trees, brush, and even +rails, enclosed, on this portion of the flats, quite fifty acres of +land; and Indian corn, oats, pumpkins, peas, potatoes, flax, and +several other sorts of seed, were already in the ground. The spring +proved dry, and the sun of the forty-third degree of latitude was doing +its work, with great power and beneficence. What was of nearly equal +importance, the age of the pond had prevented any recent accumulation +of vegetable matter, and consequently spared those who laboured around +the spot, the impurities of atmosphere usually consequent on its decay. +Grass-seed, too, had been liberally scattered on favourable places, and +things began to assume the appearance of what is termed "living." + +August presented a still different picture. A saw-mill was up, and had +been at work for some time. Piles of green boards began to make their +appearance, and the plane of the carpenter was already in motion. +Captain Willoughby was rich, in a small way; in other words, he +possessed a few thousand pounds besides his land, and had yet to +receive the price of his commission. A portion of these means were +employed judiciously to advance his establishment; and, satisfied that +there would be no scarcity of fodder for the ensuing winter, a man had +been sent into the settlements for another yoke of cattle, and a couple +of cows. Farming utensils were manufactured on the spot, and sleds +began to take the place of carts; the latter exceeding the skill of any +of the workmen present. + +October offered its products as a reward for all this toil. The yield +was enormous, and of excellent quality. Of Indian corn, the captain +gathered several hundred bushels, besides stacks of stalks and tops. +His turnips, too, were superabundant in quantity, and of a delicacy and +flavour entirely unknown to the precincts of old lands. The potatoes +had not done so well; to own the truth, they were a little watery, +though there were enough of them to winter every hoof he had, of +themselves. Then the peas and garden truck were both good and plenty; +and a few pigs having been procured, there was the certainty of +enjoying a plenty of that important article, pork, during the coming +winter. + +Late in the autumn, the captain rejoined his family in Albany, quitting +the field for winter quarters. He left sergeant Joyce, in garrison, +supported by Nick, a miller, the mason, carpenter, and three of the +axe-men. Their duty was to prepare materials for the approaching +season, to take care of the stock, to put in winter crops, to make a +few bridges, clear out a road or two, haul wood to keep themselves from +freezing, to build a log barn and some sheds, and otherwise to advance +the interests of the settlement. They were also to commence a house for +the patentee. + +As his children were at school, captain Willoughby determined not to +take his family immediately to the Hutted Knoll, as the place soon came +to be called, from the circumstance of the original bivouack. This name +was conferred by sergeant Joyce, who had a taste in that way, and as it +got to be confirmed by the condescension of the proprietor and his +family, we have chosen it to designate our present labours. From time +to time, a messenger arrived with news from the place; and twice, in +the course of the winter, the same individual went back with supplies, +and encouraging messages to the different persons left in the clearing. +As spring approached, however, the captain began to make his +preparations for the coming campaign, in which he was to be accompanied +by his wife; Mrs. Willoughby, a mild, affectionate, true-hearted New +York woman, having decided not to let her husband pass another summer +in that solitude without feeling the cheering influence of her +presence. + +In March, before the snow began to melt, several sleigh-loads of +different necessaries were sent up the valley of the Mohawk, to a point +opposite the head of the Otsego, where a thriving village called +Fortplain now stands. Thence men were employed in transporting the +articles, partly by means of "jumpers" _improvised_ for the +occasion, and partly on pack-horses, to the lake, which was found this +time, instead of its neighbour the Canaderaiga. This necessary and +laborious service occupied six weeks, the captain having been up as far +as the lake once himself; returning to Albany, however, ere the snow +was gone. + + + + + +Chapter II. + + All things are new--the buds, the leaves, + That gild the elm-tree's nodding crest, + And even the nest beneath the eaves-- + There are no birds in last year's nest. + + Longfellow. + +"I have good news for you, Wilhelmina," cried the captain, coming into +the parlour where his wife used to sit and knit or sew quite half the +day, and speaking with a bright face, and in a cheerful voice--"Here is +a letter from my excellent old colonel; and Bob's affair is all settled +and agreed on. He is to leave school next week, and to put on His +Majesty's livery the week after." + +Mrs. Willoughby smiled, and yet two or three tears followed each other +down her cheeks, even while she smiled. The first was produced by +pleasure at hearing that her son had got an ensigncy in the 60th, or +Royal Americans; and the last was a tribute paid to nature; a mother's +fears at consigning an only boy to the profession of arms. + +"I am rejoiced, Willoughby," she said, "because _you_ rejoice, +and I know that Robert will be delighted at possessing the king's +commission; but, he is _very_ young to be sent into the dangers of +battle and the camp!" + +"I was younger, when I actually went into battle, for _then_ it +was war; now, we have a peace that promises to be endless, and Bob will +have abundance of time to cultivate a beard before he smells gunpowder. +As for myself"--he added in a half-regretful manner, for old habits and +opinions would occasionally cross his mind--"as for myself, the +cultivation of _turnips_ must be my future occupation. Well, the +bit of parchment is sold, Bob has got _his_ in its place, while +the difference in price is in my pocket, and no more need be said--and +here come our dear girls, Wilhelmina, to prevent any regrets. The +father of two such daughters _ought_, at least, to be happy." + +At this instant, Beulah and Maud Willoughby, (for so the adopted child +was called as well as the real), entered the room, having taken the +lodgings of their parents, in a morning walk, on which they were +regularly sent by the mistress of the boarding-school, in which they +were receiving what was _then_ thought to be a first-rate American +female education. And much reason had their fond parents to be proud of +them! Beulah, the eldest, was just eleven, while her sister was +eighteen months younger. The first had a staid, and yet a cheerful +look; but her cheeks were blooming, her eyes bright, and her smile +sweet. Maud, the adopted one, however, had already the sunny +countenance of an angel, with quite as much of the appearance of health +as her sister; her face had more finesse, her looks more intelligence, +her playfulness more feeling, her smile more tenderness, at times; at +others, more meaning. It is scarcely necessary to say that both had +that delicacy of outline which seems almost inseparable from the female +form in this country. What was, perhaps, more usual in that day among +persons of their class than it is in our own, each spoke her own +language with an even graceful utterance, and a faultless accuracy of +pronunciation, equally removed from effort and provincialisms. As the +Dutch was in very common use then, at Albany, and most females of Dutch +origin had a slight touch of their mother tongue in their enunciation +of English, this purity of dialect in the two girls was to be ascribed +to the fact that their father was an Englishman by birth; their mother +an American of purely English origin, though named after a Dutch god- +mother; and the head of the school in which they had now been three +years, was a native of London, and a lady by habits and education. + +"Now, Maud," cried the captain, after he had kissed the forehead, eyes +and cheeks of his smiling little favourite--"Now, Maud, I will set you +to guess what good news I have for you and Beulah." + +"You and mother don't mean to go to that bad Beave Manor this summer, +as some call the ugly pond?" answered the child, quick as lightning. + +"That is kind of you, my darling; more kind than prudent; but you are +not right." + +"Try Beulah, now," interrupted the mother, who, while she too doted on +her youngest child, had an increasing respect for the greater solidity +and better judgment of her sister: "let us hear Beulah's guess." + +"It is something about my brother, I know by mother's eyes," answered +the eldest girl, looking inquiringly into Mrs. Willoughby's face. + +"Oh! yes," cried Maud, beginning to jump about the room, until she +ended her saltations in her father's arms--"Bob has got his +commission!--I know it all well enough, now--I would not thank you to +tell me--I know it all now--_dear_ Bob, how he _will_ laugh! +and how happy I am!" + +"Is it so, mother?" asked Beulah, anxiously, and without even a smile. + +"Maud is right; Bob is an ensign--or, will be one, in a day or two. You +do not seem pleased, my child?" + +"I wish Robert were not a soldier, mother. Now he will be always away, +and we shall never see him; then he may be obliged to fight, and who +knows how unhappy it may make _him_?" + +Beulah thought more of her brother than she did of herself; and, sooth +to say, her mother had many of the child's misgivings. With Maud it was +altogether different: she saw only the bright side of the picture; Bob +gay and brilliant, his face covered with smiles, his appearance admired +himself, and of course his sisters, happy. Captain Willoughby +sympathized altogether with his pet. Accustomed to arms, he rejoiced +that a career in which he had partially failed--this he did not conceal +from himself or his wife--that this same career had opened, as he +trusted, with better auspices on his only son. He covered Maud with +kisses, and then rushed from the house, finding his heart too full to +run the risk of being unmanned in the presence of females. + +A week later, availing themselves of one of the last falls of snow of +the season, captain Willoughby and his wife left Albany for the Knoll. +The leave-taking was tender, and to the parents bitter; though after +all, it was known that little more than a hundred miles would separate +them from their beloved daughters. Fifty of these miles, however, were +absolutely wilderness; and to achieve them, quite a hundred of tangled +forest, or of difficult navigation, were to be passed. The +communications would be at considerable intervals, and difficult. Still +they might be held, and the anxious mother left many injunctions with +Mrs. Waring, the head of the school, in relation to the health of her +daughters, and the manner in which she was to be sent for, in the event +of any serious illness. + +Mrs. Willoughby had often overcome, as she fancied, the difficulties of +a wilderness, in the company of her husband. It is the fashion highly +to extol Napoleon's passage of the Alps, simply in reference to its +physical obstacles. There never was a brigade moved twenty-four hours +into the American wilds, that had not greater embarrassments of this +nature to overcome, unless in those cases in which favourable river +navigation has offered its facilities. Still, time and necessity had +made a sort of military ways to all the more important frontier points +occupied by the British garrisons, and the experience of Mrs. +Willoughby had not hitherto been of the severe character of that she +was now compelled to undergo. + +The first fifty miles were passed over in a sleigh, in a few hours, and +with little or no personal fatigue. This brought the travellers to a +Dutch inn on the Mohawk, where the captain had often made his halts, +and whither he had from time to time, sent his advanced parties in the +course of the winter and spring. Here a jumper was found prepared to +receive Mrs. Willoughby; and the horse being led by the captain +himself, a passage through the forest was effected as far as the head +of the Otsego. The distance being about twelve miles, it required two +days for its performance. As the settlements extended south from the +Mohawk a few miles, the first night was passed in a log cabin, on the +extreme verge of civilization, if civilization it could be called, and +the remaining eight miles were got over in the course of the succeeding +day. This was more than would probably have been achieved in the virgin +forest, and under the circumstances, had not so many of the captain's +people passed over the same ground, going and returning, thereby +learning how to avoid the greatest difficulties of the route, and here +and there constructing a rude bridge. They had also blazed the trees, +shortening the road by pointing out its true direction. + +At the head of the Otsego, our adventurers were fairly in the +wilderness. Huts had been built to receive the travellers, and here the +whole party assembled, in readiness to make a fresh start in company. +It consisted of more than a dozen persons, in all; the black domestics +of the family being present, as well as several mechanics whom Captain +Willoughby had employed to carry on his improvements. The men sent in +advance had not been idle, any more than those left at the Hutted +Knoll. They had built three or four skiffs, one small batteau, and a +couple of canoes. These were all in the water, in waiting for the +disappearance of the ice; which was now reduced to a mass of +stalactites in form, greenish and sombre in hue, as they floated in a +body, but clear and bright when separated and exposed to the sun. The +south winds began to prevail, and the shore was glittering with the +fast-melting piles of the frozen fluid, though it would have been vain +yet to attempt a passage through it. + +The Otsego is a sheet that we have taken more than one occasion to +describe, and the picture it then presented, amidst its frame of +mountains, will readily be imagined by most of our readers. In 1765, no +sign of a settlement was visible on its shores; few of the grants of +land in that vicinity extending back so far. Still the spot began to be +known, and hunters had been in the habit of frequenting its bosom and +its shores, for the last twenty years or more Not a vestige of their +presence, however, was to be seen from the huts of the captain; but +Mrs. Willoughby assured her husband, as she stood leaning on his arm, +the morning after her arrival, that never before had she gazed on so +eloquent, and yet so pleasing a picture of solitude as that which lay +spread before her eyes. + +"There is something encouraging and soothing in this bland south wind, +too," she added, "which seems to promise that we shall meet with a +beneficent nature, in the spot to which we are going. The south airs of +spring, to me are always filled with promise." + +"And justly, love; for they are the harbingers of a renewed vegetation. +If the wind increase, as I think it may, we shall see this chilling +sheet of ice succeeded by the more cheerful view of water. It is in +this way, that all these lakes open their bosoms in April." + +Captain Willoughby did not know it, while speaking, but, at that +moment, quite two miles of the lower, or southern end of the lake, was +clear, and the opening giving a sweep to the breeze, the latter was +already driving the sheets of ice before it, towards the head, at a +rate of quite a mile in the hour. Just then, an Irishman, named Michael +O'Hearn, who had recently arrived in America, and whom the captain had +hired as a servant of all work, came rushing up to his master, and +opened his teeming thoughts, with an earnestness of manner, and a +confusion of rhetoric, that were equally characteristic of the man and +of a portion of his nation. + +"Is it journeying south, or to the other end of this bit of wather, or +ice, that yer honour is thinking of?" he cried "Well, and there'll be +room for us all, and to spare; for divil a bir-r-d will be left in that +quarter by night, or forenent twelve o'clock either, calculating by the +clock, if one had such a thing; as a body might say." + +As this was said not only vehemently, but with an accent that defies +imitation with the pen, Mrs. Willoughby was quite at a loss to get a +clue to the idea; but, her husband, more accustomed to men of Mike's +class, was sufficiently lucky to comprehend what he was at. + +"You mean the pigeons, Mike, I suppose," the captain answered, good- +humouredly. "There are certainly a goodly number of them; and I dare +say our hunters will bring us in some, for dinner. It is a certain sign +that the winter is gone, when birds and beasts follow their instincts, +in this manner. Where are you from, Mike?" + +"County Leitrim, yer honour," answered the other, touching his cap. + +"Ay, that one may guess," said the captain, smiling, 'but where last?" + +"From looking at the bir-r-ds, sir!--Och! It's a sight that will do +madam good, and contains a sartainty there'll be room enough made for +us, where all these cr'atures came from. I'm thinking, yer honour, if +we don't ate _them_, they'll be wanting to ate _us_. What a +power of them, counting big and little; though they 're all of a size, +just as much as if they had flown through a hole made on purpose to +kape them down to a convanient bigness, in body and feathers." + +"Such a flight of pigeons in Ireland, would make a sensation, Mike," +observed the captain, willing to amuse his wife, by drawing out the +County Leitrim-man, a little. + +"It would make a dinner, yer honour, for every mother's son of 'em, +counting the gur-r-rls, in the bargain! Such a power of bir-r-ds, would +knock down 'praties, in a wonderful degree, and make even butthermilk +chape and plenthiful. Will it be always such abundance with us, down at +the Huts, yer honour? or is this sight only a delusion to fill us with +hopes that's never to be satisfied?" + +"Pigeons are seldom wanting in this country, Mike, in the spring and +autumn; though we have both birds and beasts, in plenty, that are +preferable for food." + +"Will it be plentthier than this?--Well, it's enough to destroy human +appetite, the sight of 'em! I'd give the half joe I lost among them +blackguards in Albany, at their Pauss, as they calls it, jist to let my +sisther's childer have their supper out of one of these flocks, such as +they are, betther or no betther. Och! its pleasant to think of them +childer having their will, for once, on such a power of wild, savage +bir-r-ds!" + +Captain Willoughby smiled at this proof of _naivete_ in his new +domestic, and then led his wife back to the hut; if being time to make +some fresh dispositions for the approaching movement. By noon, it +became apparent to those who were waiting such an event, that the lake +was opening; and, about the same time, one of the hunters came in from +a neighbouring mountain, and reported that he had seen clear water, as +near their position as three or four miles. By this time it was blowing +fresh, and the wind, having a clear rake, drove up the honeycomb- +looking sheet before it, as the scraper accumulates snow. When the sun +set, the whole north shore was white with piles of glittering icicles; +while the bosom of the Otsego, no longer disturbed by the wind, +resembled a placid mirror. + +Early on the following morning, the whole party embarked. There was no +wind, and men were placed at the paddles and the oars. Care was taken, +on quitting the huts, to close their doors and shutters; for they were +to be taverns to cover the heads of many a traveller, in the frequent +journeys that were likely to be made, between the Knoll and the +settlements. These stations, then, were of the last importance, and a +frontier-man always had the same regard for them, that the mountaineer +of the Alps has for his "refuge." + +The passage down the Otsego was the easiest and most agreeable portion +of the whole journey. The day was pleasant, and the oarsmen vigorous, +if not very skilful, rendering the movement rapid, and sufficiently +direct. But one drawback occurred to the prosperity of the voyage. +Among the labourers hired by the captain, was a Connecticut man, of the +name of Joel Strides, between whom and the County Leitrim-man, there +had early commenced a warfare of tricks and petty annoyances; a warfare +that was perfectly defensive on the part of O'Hearn, who did little +more, in the way of retort, than comment on the long, lank, shapeless +figure, and meagre countenance of his enemy. Joel had not been seen to +smile, since he engaged with the captain; though three times had he +laughed outright, and each time at the occurrence of some mishap to +Michael O'Hearn the fruit of one of his own schemes of annoyance. + +On the present occasion, Joel, who had the distribution of such duty, +placed Mike in a skiff, by himself, flattering the poor fellow with the +credit he would achieve, by rowing a boat to the foot of the lake, +without assistance. He might as well have asked Mike to walk to the +outlet on the surface of the water! This arrangement proceeded from an +innate love of mischief in Joel, who had much of the quiet waggery, +blended with many of the bad qualities of the men of his peculiar +class. A narrow and conceited selfishness lay at the root of the larger +portion of this man's faults. As a physical being, he was a perfect +labour-saving machine, himself; bringing all the resources of a +naturally quick and acute mind to bear on this one end, never doing +anything that required a particle more than the exertion and strength +that were absolutely necessary to effect his object. He rowed the skiff +in which the captain and his wife had embarked, with his own hands; +and, previously to starting, he had selected the best sculls from the +other boats, had fitted his twhart with the closest attention to his +own ease, and had placed a stretcher for his feet, with an intelligence +and knowledge of mechanics, that would have done credit to a Whitehall +waterman. This much proceeded from the predominating principle of his +nature, which was, always to have an eye on the interests of Joel +Strides; though the effect happened, in this instance, to be beneficial +to those he served. + +Michael O'Hearn, on the contrary, thought only of the end; and this so +intensely, not to so say vehemently, as generally to overlook the +means. Frank, generous, self-devoted, and withal accustomed to get most +things wrong-end-foremost, he usually threw away twice the same labour, +in effecting a given purpose, that was expended by the Yankee; doing +the thing worse, too, besides losing twice the time. He never paused to +think of this, however. The _masther's_ boat was to be rowed to +the other end of the lake, and, though he had never rowed a boat an +inch in his life, he was ready and willing to undertake the job. "If a +certain quantity of work will not do it," thought Mike, "I'll try as +much ag'in; and the divil is in it, if _that_ won't sarve the +purpose of that little bit of a job." + +Under such circumstances the party started. Most of the skiffs and +canoes went off half an hour before Mrs. Willoughby was ready, and Joel +managed to keep Mike for he last, under the pretence of wishing his aid +in loading his own boat, with the bed and bedding from the hut. All was +ready, at length, and taking his seat, with a sort of quiet +deliberation, Joel said, in his drawling way, "You'll follow _us_, +Mike, and you can't be a thousand miles out of the way." Then he pulled +from the shore with a quiet, steady stroke of the sculls, that sent the +skiff ahead with great rapidity, though with much ease to himself. + +Michael O'Hearn stood looking at the retiring skiff, in silent +admiration, for two or three minutes. He was quite alone; for all the +other boats were already two or three miles on their way, and distance +already prevented him from seeing the mischief that was lurking in +Joel's hypocritical eyes. + +"Follow _yees_!" soliloquized Mike--"The divil burn ye, for a +guessing yankee as ye ar'--how am I to follow with such legs as the +likes of these? If it wasn't for the masther and the missus, ra'al +jontlemen and ladies they be, I'd turn my back on ye, in the desert, +and let ye find that Beaver estate, in yer own disagreeable company. +Ha!--well, I must thry, and if the boat won't go, it'll be no fault of +the man that has a good disposition to make it." + +Mike now took his seat on a board that lay across the gunwale of the +skiff at a most inconvenient height, placed two sculls in the water, +one of which was six inches longer than the other, made a desperate +effort, and got his craft fairly afloat. Now, Michael O'Hearn was not +left-handed, and, as usually happens with such men, the inequality +between the two limbs was quite marked. By a sinister accident, too, it +happened that the longest oar got into the strongest hand, and there it +would have staid to the end of time; before Mike would think of +changing it, on that account. Joel, alone, sat with his face towards +the head of the lake, and he alone could see the dilemma in which the +county Leitrim-man was placed. Neither the captain nor his wife thought +of looking behind, and the yankee had all the fun to himself. As for +Mike, he succeeded in getting a few rods from the land, when the strong +arm and the longer lever asserting their superiority, the skiff began +to incline to the westward. So intense, however, was the poor fellow's +zeal, that he did not discover the change in his course until he had so +far turned as to give him a glimpse of his retiring master; then he +inferred that all was right, and pulled more leisurely. The result was, +that in about ten minutes, Mike was stopped by the land, the boat +touching the north shore again, two or three rods from the very point +whence it had started. The honest fellow got up, looked around him, +scratched his head, gazed wistfully after the fast-receding boat of his +master, and broke out in another soliloquy. + +"Bad luck to them that made ye, ye one-sided thing!" he said, shaking +his head reproachfully at the skiff: "there's liberty for ye to do as +ye ought, and ye'll not be doing it, just out of contrairiness. Why the +divil can't ye do like the other skiffs, and go where ye're wanted, on +the road towards thim beavers? Och, ye'll be sorry for this, when ye're +left behind, out of sight!" + +Then it flashed on Mike's mind that possibly some article had been left +in the hut, and the skiff had come back to look after it; so, up he ran +to the captain's deserted lodge, entered it, was lost to view for a +minute, then came in sight again, scratching his head, and renewing his +muttering--"No," he said, "divil a thing can I see, and it must be pure +con_trair_iness! Perhaps the baste will behave betther next time, +so I'll thry it ag'in, and give it an occasion. Barring obstinacy, 't +is as good-lookin' a skiff as the best of them." + +Mike was as good as his word, and gave the skiff as fair an opportunity +of behaving itself as was ever offered to a boat. Seven times did he +quit the shore, and as often return to it, gradually working his way +towards the western shore, and slightly down the lake. In this manner, +Mike at length got himself so far on the side of the lake, as to +present a barrier of land to the evil disposition of his skiff to +incline to the westward. It could go no longer in that direction, at +least. + +"Divil burn ye," the honest fellow cried, the perspiration rolling down +his face; "I think ye'll be satisfied without walking out into the +forest, where I wish ye war' with all my heart, amang the threes that +made ye! Now, I'll see if yer con_trair_y enough to run up a +hill." + +Mike next essayed to pull along the shore, in the hope that the sight +of the land, and of the overhanging pines and hemlocks, would cure the +boat's propensity to turn in that direction. It is not necessary to say +that his expectations were disappointed, and he finally was reduced to +getting out into the water, cool as was the weather, and of wading +along the shore, dragging the boat after him. All this Joel saw before +he passed out of sight, but no movement of his muscles let the captain +into the secret of the poor Irishman's strait. + +In the meanwhile, the rest of the flotilla, or _brigade_ of boats, +as the captain termed them, went prosperously on their way, going from +one end of the lake to the other, in the course of three hours. As one +of the party had been over the route several times already, there was +no hesitation on the subject of the point to which the boats were to +proceed. They all touched the shore near the stone that is now called +the "Otsego Rock," beneath a steep wooded bank, and quite near to the +place where the Susquehannah glanced out of the lake, in a swift +current, beneath a high-arched tracery of branches that were not yet +clothed with leaves. + +Here the question was put as to what had become of Mike. His skiff was +nowhere visible, and the captain felt the necessity of having him +looked for, before he proceeded any further. After a short +consultation, a boat manned by two negroes, father and son, named Pliny +the elder, and Pliny the younger, or, in common parlance, "old Plin" +and "young Plin," was sent back along the west-shore to hunt him up. Of +course, a hut was immediately prepared for the reception of Mrs. +Willoughby, upon the plain that stretches across the valley, at this +point. This was on the site of the present village of Cooperstown, but +just twenty years anterior to the commencement of the pretty little +shire town that now exists on the spot. + +It was night ere the two Plinies appeared towing Mike, as their great +namesakes of antiquity might have brought in a Carthaginian galley, in +triumph. The county Leitrim-man had made his way with excessive toil +about a league ere he was met, and glad enough was he to see his +succour approach. In that day, the strong antipathy which now exists +between the black and the emigrant Irishman was unknown, the +competition for household service commencing more than half a century +later. Still, as the negro loved fun constitutionally, and Pliny the +younger was somewhat of a wag, Mike did not entirely escape, scot-free. + +"Why you drag 'im like ox, Irish Mike?" cried the younger negro--"why +you no row 'im like other folk?" + +"Ah--you're as bad as the rest of 'em," growled Mike. "They tould me +Ameriky was a mighty warm country, and war-r-m I find it, sure enough, +though the wather isn't as warm as good whiskey. Come, ye black divils, +and see if ye can coax this _contrairy_ crathure to do as a person +wants." + +The negroes soon had Mike in tow, and then they went down the lake +merrily, laughing and cracking their jokes, at the Irishman's expense, +after the fashion of their race. It was fortunate for the Leitrim-man +that he was accustomed to ditching, though it may be questioned if the +pores of his body closed again that day, so very effectually had they +been opened. When he rejoined his master, not a syllable was said of +the mishap, Joel having the prudence to keep his own secret, and even +joining Mike in denouncing the bad qualities of the boat. We will only +add here, that a little calculation entered into this trick, Joel +perceiving that Mike was a favourite, and wishing to bring him into +discredit. + +Early the next morning, the captain sent the negroes and Mike down the +Susquehannah a mile, to clear away some flood-wood, of which one of the +hunters had brought in a report the preceding day. Two hours later, the +boats left the shore, and began to float downward with the current, +following the direction of a stream that has obtained its name from its +sinuosities. + +In a few minutes the boats reached the flood-wood, where, to Joel's +great amusement, Mike and the negroes, the latter having little more +calculation than the former, had commenced their operations on the +upper side of the raft, piling the logs on one another, with a view to +make a passage through the centre. Of course, there was a halt, the +females landing. Captain Willoughby now cast an eye round him in +hesitation, when a knowing look from Joel caught his attention. + +"This does not seem to be right," he said--"cannot we better if a +little?" + +"It's right wrong, captain," answered Joel, laughing like one who +enjoyed other people's ignorance. "A sensible crittur' would begin the +work on such a job, at the lower side of the raft." + +"Take the direction, and order things to suit yourself." + +This was just what Joel liked. _Head-work_ before all other work +for him, and he set about the duty authoritatively and with +promptitude. After rating the negroes roundly for their stupidity, and +laying it on Mike without much delicacy of thought or diction, over the +shoulders of the two blacks, he mustered his forces, and began to clear +the channel with intelligence and readiness. + +Going to the lower side of the jammed flood-wood, he soon succeeded in +loosening one or two trees, which floated away, making room for others +to follow. By these means a passage was effected in half an hour, Joel +having the prudence to set no more timber in motion than was necessary +to his purpose, lest it might choke the stream below. In this manner +the party got through, and, the river being high at that season, by +night the travellers were half-way to the mouth of the Unadilla. The +next evening they encamped at the junction of the two streams, making +their preparations to ascend the latter the following morning. + +The toil of the ascent, however, did not commence, until the boats +entered what was called the creek, or the small tributary of the +Unadilla, on which the beavers had erected their works, and which ran +through the "Manor." Here, indeed, the progress was slow and laborious, +the rapidity of the current and the shallowness of the water rendering +every foot gained a work of exertion and pain. Perseverance and skill, +notwithstanding, prevailed; all the boats reaching the foot of the +rapids, or straggling falls, on which the captain had built his mills, +about an hour before the sun disappeared. Here, of course, the boats +were left, a rude road having been cut, by means of which the freights +were transported on a sledge the remainder of the distance. Throughout +the whole of this trying day, Joel had not only worked head-work, but +he had actually exerted himself with his body. As for Mike, never +before had he made such desperate efforts. He felt all the disgrace of +his adventure on the lake, and was disposed to wipe it out by his +exploits on the rivers. Thus Mike was ever loyal to his employer. He +had sold his flesh and blood for money, and a man of his conscience was +inclined to give a fair penny's-worth. The tractable manner in which +the boat had floated down the river, it is true, caused him some +surprise, as was shown in his remark to the younger Pliny, on landing. + +"This is a curious boat, afther all," said Pat. "One time it's all +con_trar_iness, and then ag'in it's as obliging as one's own +mother. It _followed_ the day all's one like a puppy dog, while +yon on the big wather there was no more _dhriving_ it than a hog. +Och! it's a faimale boat, by its whims!" + + + + + +Chapter III. + + "He sleeps forgetful of his once bright flame + He has no feeling of the glory gone; + He has no eye to catch the mounting flame + That once in transport drew him on; + He lies in dull oblivious dreams, nor cares + Who the wreathed laurel bears." + + Percival. + +The appearance of a place in which the remainder of one's life is to be +past is always noted with interest on a first visit. Thus it was that +Mrs. Willoughby had been observant and silent from the moment the +captain informed her that they had passed the line of his estate, and +were approaching the spot where they were to dwell. The stream was so +small, and the girding of the forest so close, that there was little +range for the sight; but the anxious wife and mother could perceive +that the hills drew together, at this point, the valley narrowing +essentially, that rocks began to appear in the bed of the river, and +that the growth of the timber indicated fertility and a generous soil. + +When the boat stopped, the little stream came brawling down a ragged +declivity, and a mill, one so arranged as to grind and saw, both in a +very small way, however, gave the first signs of civilization she had +beheld since quitting the last hut near the Mohawk. After issuing a few +orders, the captain drew his wife's arm through his own, and hurried up +the ascent, with an eagerness that was almost boyish, to show her what +had been done towards the improvement of the "Knoll." There is a +pleasure in diving into a virgin forest and commencing the labours of +civilization, that has no exact parallel in any other human occupation. +That of building, or of laying out grounds, has certainly some +resemblance to it, but it is a resemblance so faint and distant as +scarcely to liken the enjoyment each produces. The former approaches +nearer to the feeling of creating, and is far more pregnant with +anticipations and hopes, though its first effects are seldom agreeable, +and are sometimes nearly hideous. Our captain, however, had escaped +most of these last consequences, by possessing the advantage of having +a clearing, without going through the usual processes of chopping and +burning; the first of which leaves the earth dotted, for many years, +with unsightly stumps, while the rains and snows do not wash out the +hues of the last for several seasons. + +An exclamation betrayed the pleasure with which Mrs. Willoughby got her +first glimpse of the drained pond. It was when she had clambered to the +point of the rocks, where the stream began to tumble downward into the +valley below. A year had done a vast deal for the place. The few stumps +and stubs which had disfigured the basin when it was first laid bare, +had all been drawn by oxen, and burned. This left the entire surface of +the four hundred acres smooth and fit for the plough. The soil was the +deposit of centuries, and the inclination, from the woods to the +stream, was scarcely perceptible to the eye. In fact, it was barely +sufficient to drain the drippings of the winter's snows. The form of +the area was a little irregular; just enough so to be picturesque; +while the inequalities were surprisingly few and trifling. In a word, +nature had formed just such a spot as delights the husbandman's heart, +and placed it beneath a sun which, while its fierceness is relieved by +winters of frost and snow, had a power to bring out all its latent +resources. + +Trees had been felled around the whole area, with the open spaces +filled by branches, in a way to form what is termed a brush fence. This +is not a sightly object, and the captain had ordered the line to be +drawn _within_ the woods, so that the visible boundaries of the +open land were the virgin forest itself. His men had protested against +this, a fence, however unseemly, being in their view an indispensable +accessory to civilization. But the captain's authority, if not his +better taste, prevailed; and the boundary of felled trees and brush was +completely concealed in the back-ground of woods. As yet, there was no +necessity for cross-fences, the whole open space lying in a single +field. One hundred acres were in winter wheat. As this grain had been +got in the previous autumn, it was now standing on the finest and +driest of the soil, giving an air of rich fertility to the whole basin. +Grass-seed had been sown along both banks of the stream, and its waters +were quietly flowing between two wide belts of fresh verdure, the young +plants having already started in that sheltered receptacle of the sun's +rays. Other portions of the flat showed signs of improvement, the +plough having actually been at work for quite a fortnight. + +All this was far more than even the captain had expected, and much more +than his wife had dared to hope. Mrs. Willoughby had been accustomed to +witness the slow progress of a new settlement; but never before had she +seen what might be done on a beaver-dam. To her all appeared like +magic, and her first question would have been to ask her husband to +explain what had been done with the trees and stumps, had not her +future residence caught her eye. Captain Willoughby had left his orders +concerning the house, previously to quitting the Knoll; and he was now +well pleased to perceive that they had been attended to. As this spot +will prove the scene of many of the incidents we are bound to relate, +it may be proper, here, to describe it, at some length. + +The hillock that rose out of the pond, in the form of a rocky little +island, was one of those capricious formations that are often met with +on the surface of the earth. It stood about thirty rods from the +northern side of the area, very nearly central as to its eastern and +western boundaries, and presented a slope inclining towards the south. +Its greatest height was at its northern end, where it rose out of the +rich alluvion of the soil, literally a rock of some forty feet in +perpendicular height, having a summit of about an acre of level land, +and falling off on its three sides; to the east and west precipitously; +to the south quite gently and with regularity. It was this accidental +formation which had induced the captain to select the spot as the site +of his residence; for dwelling so far from any post, and in a place so +difficult of access, something like military defences were merely +precautions of ordinary prudence. While the pond remained, the islet +was susceptible of being made very strong against any of the usual +assaults of Indian warfare; and, now that the basin was drained, it had +great advantages for the same purpose. The perpendicular rock to the +north, even overhung the plain. It was almost inaccessible; while the +formation on the other sides, offered singular facilities, both for a +dwelling and for security. All this the captain, who was so familiar +with the finesse of Indian stratagem, had resolved to improve in the +following manner: + +In the first place, he directed the men to build a massive wall of +stone, for a hundred and fifty feet in length, and six feet in height. +This stretched in front of the perpendicular rock, with receding walls +to its verge. The latter were about two hundred feet in length, each. +This was enclosing an area of two hundred, by one hundred and fifty +feet, within a blind wall of masonry. Through this wall there was only +a single passage; a gateway, in the centre of its southern face. The +materials had all been found on the hill itself, which was well covered +with heavy stones. Within this wall, which was substantially laid, by a +Scotch mason, one accustomed to the craft, the men had erected a +building of massive, squared, pine timber, well secured by cross +partitions. This building followed the wall in its whole extent, was +just fifteen feet in elevation, without the roof, and was composed, in +part, by the wall itself; the latter forming nearly one-half its +height, on the exterior. The breadth of this edifice was only twenty +feet, clear of the stones and wood-work; leaving a court within of +about one hundred by one hundred and seventy-five feet in extent. The +roof extended over the gateway even; so that the space within was +completely covered, the gates being closed. This much had been done +during the preceding fall and winter; the edifice presenting an +appearance of rude completeness on the exterior. Still it had a sombre +and goal-like air, there being nothing resembling a window visible; no +aperture, indeed, on either of its outer faces, but the open gateway, +of which the massive leaves were finished, and placed against the +adjacent walls, but which were not yet hung. It is scarcely necessary +to say, this house resembled barracks, more than an ordinary dwelling. +Mrs. Willoughby stood gazing at it, half in doubt whether to admire or +to condemn, when a voice, within a few yards, suddenly drew her +attention in another direction. + +"How you like him?" asked Nick, who was seated on a stone, at the +margin of the stream, washing his feet, after a long day's hunt. "No +t'ink him better dan beaver skin? Cap'in know all 'bout him; now he +give Nick some more last quit-rent?" + +"_Last_, indeed, it will be, then, Nick; for I have already paid +you _twice_ for your rights." + +"Discovery wort' great deal, cap'in--see what great man he make pale- +face." + +"Ay, but _your_ discovery, Nick, is not of that sort." + +"What sort, den?" demanded Nick, with the rapidity of lightning. "Give +him back 'e beaver, if you no like he discovery. Grad to see 'em back, +ag'in; skin higher price dan ever." + +"Nick, you're a cormorant, if there ever was one in this world! Here-- +there is a dollar for you; the quit-rent is paid for this year, at +least. It ought to be for the last time." + +"Let him go for all summer, cap'in. Yes, Nick wonderful commerant! no +such eye he got, among Oneida!" + +Here the Tuscarora left the side of the stream, and came up on the +rock, shaking hands, good-humouredly, with Mrs. Willoughby, who rather +liked the knave; though she knew him to possess most of the vices of +his class. + +"He very han'som beaver-dam," said Nick, sweeping his hand gracefully +over the view; "bye 'nd bye, he'll bring potatoe, and corn, and cider-- +all 'e squaw want. Cap'in got good fort, too. Old soldier love fort; +like to live in him." + +"The day may come, Nick, when that fort may serve us all a good turn, +out here in the wilderness," Mrs. Willoughby observed, in a somewhat +melancholy tone; for her tender thoughts naturally turned towards her +youthful and innocent daughters. + +The Indian gazed at the house, with that fierce intentness which +sometimes glared, in a manner that had got to be, in its ordinary +aspects, dull and besotted. There was a startling intelligence in his +eye, at such moments; the feelings of youth and earlier habit, once +more asserting their power. Twenty years before, Nick had been foremost +on the war-path; and what was scarcely less honourable, among the +wisest around the council-fire. He was born a chief, and had made +himself an outcast from his tribe, more by the excess of ungovernable +passions, than from any act of base meanness. + +"Cap'm tell Nick, now, what he mean by building such house, out here, +among ole beaver bones?" he said, sideling up nearer to his employer, +and gazing with some curiosity into his face. + +"What do I mean, Nick?--Why I mean to have a place of safety to put the +heads of my wife and children in, at need. The road to Canada is not so +long, but a red-skin can make one pair of moccasins go over it. Then, +the Oneidas and Mohawks are not all children of heaven." + +"No pale-face rogue, go about, I s'pose?" said Nick, sarcastically. + +"Yes, there are men of that class, who are none the worse for being +locked out of one's house, at times. But, what do _you_ think of +the hut?--You know I call the place the 'Hut,' the Hutted Knoll." + +"He hole plenty of beaver, if you cotch him!--But no water left, and he +all go away. Why you make him stone, first; den you make him wood, +a'ter; eh? Plenty rock; plenty tree." + +"Why, the stone wall can neither be cut away, nor set fire to, Nick; +that's the reason. I took as much stone as was necessary, and then used +wood, which is more easily worked, and which is also drier." + +"Good--Nick t'ought just dat. How you get him water if Injen come?" + +"There's the stream, that winds round the foot of the hill, Nick, as +you see; and then there is a delicious spring, within one hundred yards +of the very gate." + +"Which side of him?" asked Nick, with his startling rapidity. + +"Why, here, to the left of the gate, and a little to the right of the +large stone--" + +"No--no," interrupted the Indian, "no left--no right--which side-- +_inside_ gate; _outside_ gate?" + +"Oh!--the spring is outside the gate, certainly; but means might be +found to make a covered way to it; and then the stream winds round +directly underneath the rocks, behind the house, and wafer could be +raised from _that_, by means of a rope. Our rifles would count for +something, too, in drawing water, as well as in drawing blood." + +"Good.--Rifle got long arm. He talk so, Ingin mind him. When you t'ink +red-skin come ag'in your fort, cap'in, now you got him done?" + +"A long time first, I hope, Nick. We are at peace with France, again; +and I see no prospect of any new quarrel, very soon. So long as the +French and English are at peace, the red men will not dare to touch +either." + +"Dat true as missionary! What a soldier do, cap'in, if so much peace? +Warrior love a war-path." + +"I wish it were not so, Nick. But _my_ hatchet is buried, I hope, +for ever." + +"Nick hope cap'in know where to find him, if he want to? Very bad to +put anyt'ing where he forget; partic'larly tomahawk. Sometime quarrel +come, like rain, when you don't tink." + +"Yes, that also cannot be denied. Yet, I fear the next quarrel will be +among ourselves, Nick.--The government at home, and the people of the +colonies, are getting to have bad blood between them." + +"Dat very queer! Why pale-face mo'der and pale-face darter no love one +anoder, like red-skin?" + +"Really, Nick, you are somewhat interrogating this evening; but, my +squaw must be a little desirous of seeing the inside of her house, as +well as its outside, and I must refer you to that honest fellow, +yonder, for an answer. His name is Mike; I hope he and you will always +be good friends." + +So saying, the captain nodded in a friendly manner, and led Mrs. +Willoughby towards the hut, taking a foot-path that was already trodden +firm, and which followed the sinuosities of the stream, to which it +served as a sort of a dyke. Nick took the captain at his word, and +turning about he met the county Leitrim-man, with an air of great +blandness, thrusting out a hand, in the pale-face fashion, as a sign of +amity, saying, at the same time-- + +"How do, Mike?--Sago--Sago--grad you come--good fellow to drink Santa +Cruz, wid Nick." + +"How do, Mike!" exclaimed the other, looking at the Tuscarora with +astonishment, for this was positively the first red man the Irishman +had ever seen. "How do Mike! Ould Nick be ye?--well--ye look pretty +much as I expected to see you--pray, how did ye come to know _my_ +name?" + +"Nick know him--know every t'ing. Grad to see you, Mike--hope we live +together like good friend, down yonder, up here, over dere." + +"Ye do, do ye! Divil burn me, now, if I want any sich company. Ould +Nick's yer name, is it?" + +"Old Nick--young Nick--saucy Nick; all one, all to'ther. Make no odd +what you call; I come." + +"Och, yer a handy one! Divil trust ye, but ye'll come when you arn't +wanted, or yer not of yer father's own family. D'ye live hereabouts, +masther Ould Nick?" + +"Live here--out yonder--in he hut, in he wood--where he want. Make no +difference to Nick." + +Michael now drew back a pace or two, keeping his eyes fastened on the +other intently, for he actually expected to see some prodigious and +sudden change in his appearance. When he thought he had got a good +position for manly defence or rapid retreat, as either might become +necessary the county Leitrim-man put on a bolder front and resumed the +discourse. + +"If it's so indifferent to ye where ye dwell," asked Mike, "why can't +you keep at home, and let a body carry these cloaks and bundles of the +missuses, out yonder to the house wither she's gone?" + +"Nick help carry 'em. Carry t'ing for dat squaw hundred time." + +"That what! D'ye mane Madam Willoughby by yer blackguard name?" + +"Yes; cap'in wife--cap'in squaw, mean him. Carry bundle, basket, +hundred time for him." + +"The Lord preserve me, now, from sich atrocity and impudence!" laying +down the cloaks and bundles, and facing the Indian, with an appearance +of great indignation--"Did a body ever hear sich a liar! Why, Misther +Ould Nick, Madam Willoughby wouldn't let the likes of ye touch the ind +of her garments. You wouldn't get the liberty to walk in the same path +with her, much less to carry her bundles. I'll answer for it, ye're a +great liar, now, ould Nick, in the bottom of your heart." + +"Nick great liar," answered the Indian, good-naturedly; for he so well +knew this was his common reputation, that he saw no use in denying it. +"What of dat? Lie good sometime." + +"That's another! Oh, ye animal; I've a great mind to set upon ye at +once, and see what an honest man can do wid ye, in fair fight! If I +only knew what ye'd got about yer toes, now, under them fine-looking +things ye wear for shoes, once, I'd taich ye to talk of the missus, in +this style." + +"Speak as well as he know how. Nick never been to school. Call 'e +squaw, _good_ squaw. What want more?" + +"Get out! If ye come a foot nearer, I'll be at ye, like a dog upon a +bull, though ye gore me. What brought ye into this paiceful sittlement, +where nothing but virtue and honesty have taken up their abode?" + +What more Mike might have said is not known, as Nick caught a sign from +the captain, and went loping across the flat, at his customary gait, +leaving the Irishman standing on the defensive, and, to own the truth, +not sorry to be rid of him. Unfortunately for the immediate +enlightenment of Mike's mind, Joel overheard the dialogue, and +comprehending its meaning, with his native readiness, he joined his +companion in a mood but little disposed to clear up the error. + +"Did ye see that _crathure_?" asked Mike, with emphasis. + +"Sartain--he is often seen here, at the Hut. He may be said to live +here, half his time." + +"A pritty hut, then, ye must have of it! Why do ye tolerate the +vagabond? He's not fit for Christian society." + +"Oh! he's good company, sometimes, Mike. When you know him better, +you'll like him better. Come; up with the bundles, and let us follow. +The captain is looking after us, as you see." + +"Well may he look, to see us in sich company!--Will he har-r-m the +missus?" + +"Not he. I tell you, you'll like him yourself when you come to know +him." + +"If I do, burn me! Why, he says _himself_, that he's Ould Nick, +and I'm sure I never fancied the crathure but it was in just some such +for-r-m. Och! he's ill-looking enough, for twenty Ould Nicks." + +Lest the reader get an exaggerated notion of Michael's credulity, it +may be well to say that Nick had painted a few days before, in a fit of +caprice, and that one-half of his face was black, and the other a deep +red, while each of his eyes was surrounded with a circle of white, all +of which had got to be a little confused in consequence of a night or +two of orgies, succeeded by mornings in which the toilet had been +altogether neglected. His dress, too, a blanket with tawdry red and +yellow trimmings, with ornamented leggings and moccasins to correspond, +had all aided in maintaining the accidental mystification. Mike +followed his companion, growling out his discontent, and watching the +form of the Indian, as the latter still went loping over the flat, +having passed the captain, with a message to the barns. + +"I'll warrant ye, now, the captain wouldn't tolerate such a crathure, +but he's sent him off to the woods, as ye may see, like a divil, as he +is! To think of such a thing's spakeing to the missus! Will I fight +him?--That will I, rather than he'll say an uncivil word to the likes +of her! He's claws they tell me, though he kapes them so well covered +in his fine brogues; divil burn me, but I'd grapple him by the toes." + +Joel now saw how deep was Michael's delusion, and knowing it +_must_ soon be over, he determined to make a merit of necessity, by +letting his friend into the truth, thereby creating a confidence that +would open the way to a hundre'd future mischievous scenes. + +"Claws!" he repeated, with an air of surprise--"And why do you think an +Injin has claws, Mike?" + +"An Injin! D'ye call that miscoloured crathure an Injin Joel. Isn't it +one of yer yankee divils?" + +"Out upon you, for an Irish ninny. Do you think the captain would +_board_ a devil! The fellow's a Tuscarora, and is as well known here +as the owner of the Hut himself. It's Saucy Nick." + +"Yes, saucy Ould Nick--had it from his very mout' and even the divil +would hardly be such a blackguard as to lie about his own name. Och! +he's a roarer, sure enough; and then for the tusks you mintion, I +didn't see 'em, with my eyes; but the crathure has a mouth that might +hould a basket-full." + +Joel now perceived that he must go more seriously to work to undeceive +his companion. Mike honestly believed he had met an American devil, and +it required no little argumentation to persuade him of the contrary. We +shall leave Joel employed in this difficult task, in which he finally +succeeded, and follow the captain and his wife to the hut. + +The lord and lady of the manor examined everything around their future +residence, with curious eyes. Jamie Allen, the Scotch mason mentioned, +was standing in front of the house, to hear what might be said of his +wall, while two or three other mechanics betrayed some such agitation +as the tyro in literature manifests, ere he learns what the critics +have said of his first work. The exterior gave great satisfaction to +the captain. The wall was not only solid and secure, but it was really +handsome. This was in some measure owing to the quality of the stones, +but quite as much to Jamie's dexterity in using them. The wall and +chimneys, of the latter of which there were no less than six, were all +laid in lime, too; it having been found necessary to burn some of the +material to plaster the interior. Then the gates were massive, being +framed in oak, filled in with four-inch plank, and might have resisted +a very formidable assault. Their strong iron hinges were all in their +places, but the heavy job of hanging had been deferred to a leisure +moment, when all the strength of the manor might be collected for that +purpose. There they stood, inclining against the wall, one on each side +of the gateway, like indolent sentinels on post, who felt too secure +from attack to raise their eyes. + +The different mechanics crowded round the captain, each eager to show +his own portion of what had been done. The winter had not been wasted, +but, proper materials being in abundance, and on the spot, captain +Willoughby had every reason to be satisfied with what he got for his +money. Completely shut out from the rest of the world, the men had +worked cheerfully and with little interruption; for their labours +composed their recreation. Mrs. Willoughby found the cart of the +building her family was to occupy, with the usual offices, done and +furnished. This comprised all the front on the-eastern side of the +gateway, and most of the wing, in the same half, extending back to the +cliff. It is true, the finish was plain; but everything was +comfortable. The ceilings were only ten feet high certainly, but it was +thought prodigious in the colony in that day; and then the plastering +of Jamie was by no means as unexceptionable as his stone-work; still +every room had its two coats, and white-wash gave them a clean and +healthful aspect. The end of the wing that came next the cliff was a +laundry, and a pump was fitted, by means of which water was raised from +the rivulet. Next came the kitchen, a spacious and comfortable room of +thirty by twenty feet; an upper-servant's apartment succeeded; after +which were the bed-rooms of the family a large parlour, and a library, +or office, for the captain. As the entire range, on this particular +side of the house, extended near or quite two hundred and fifty feet, +there was no want of space or accommodation. + +The opposite, or western half of the edifice, was devoted to more +homely uses. It contained an eating-room and divers sleeping-rooms far +the domestics and labourers, besides store-rooms, garners, and +_omnium gatherums_ of all sorts. The vast ranges of garrets, too, +answered for various purposes of household and farming economy. All the +windows, and sundry doors, opened into the court, while the whole of +the exterior wall, both wooden and stone, presented a perfect blank, in +the way of outlets. It was the captain's intention, however, to cut +divers loops through the logs, at some convenient moment, so that men +stationed in the garrets might command the different faces of the +structure with their musketry. But, like the gates, these means of +defence were laid aside for a more favourable opportunity. + +Our excellent matron was delighted with her domestic arrangements. They +much surpassed any of the various barracks in which she had dwelt, and +a smile of happiness beamed on her handsome face, as she followed her +husband from room to room, listening to his explanations. When they +entered their private apartments, and these were furnished and ready to +receive them, respect caused the rest to leave them by themselves, and +once more they found that they were alone. + +"Well, Wilhelmina," asked the gratified husband--gratified, because he +saw pleasure beaming in the mild countenance and serene blue eyes of +one of the best wives living--"Well, Wilhelmina," he asked, "can you +give up Albany, and all the comforts of your friends' dwellings, to be +satisfied in a home like this? It is not probable I shall ever build +again, whatever Bob may do, when he comes after me. This structure, +then, part house, part barrack, part fort, as it is, must be our +residence for the remainder of our days. We are _hutted_ for +life." + +"It is all-sufficient, Willoughby. It has space, comfort, warmth, +coolness and security. What more can a wife and a mother ask, when she +is surrounded by those she most loves? Only attend to the security, +Hugh. Remember how far we are removed from any succour, and how sudden +and fierce the Indians are in their attacks. Twice have we, ourselves, +been near being destroyed by surprises, from which accident, or God's +providence, protected us, rather than our own vigilance. If this could +happen in garrisons, and with king's troops around us, how much more +easily might it happen here, with only common labourers to watch what +is going on!" + +"You exaggerate the danger, wife. There are no Indians, in this part of +the country, who would dare to molest a settlement like ours. We count +thirteen able-bodied men in all, besides seven women, and could use +seventeen or eighteen muskets and rifles on an emergency. No _tribe_ +would dare commence hostilities, in a time of general peace, +and so near the settlements too; and, as to stragglers, who might +indeed murder to rob, we are so strong, ourselves, that we may sleep in +peace, so far as they are concerned." + +"One never knows that, dearest Hugh. A marauding party of half-a-dozen +might prove too much for many times their own number, when unprepared. +I _do_ hope you will have the gates hung, at least; should the +girls come here, in the autumn, I could not sleep without hanging the +gates." + +"Fear nothing, love," said the captain, kissing his wife with manly +tenderness. "As for Beulah and Maud, let them come when they please; we +shall always have a welcome for them, and no place can be safer than +under their father's eyes." + +"I care not so much for myself, Hugh, but _do_ not let the gates +be forgotten until the girls come." + +"Everything shall be done as you desire, wife of mine, though it will +be a hard job to get two such confounded heavy loads of wood on their +hinges. We must take some day when everybody is at home, and everybody +willing to work. Saturday next, I intend to have a review; and, once a +month, the year round, there will be a muster, when all the arms are to +be cleaned and loaded, and orders given how to act in case of an alarm. +An old soldier would be disgraced to allow himself to be run down by +mere vagabonds. My pride is concerned, and you may sleep in peace." + +"Yes, do, dearest Hugh."--Then the matron proceeded through the rooms, +expressing her satisfaction at the care which had been had for her +comfort, in her own rooms in particular. + +Sooth to say, the interior of the hut presented that odd contrast +between civilization and rude expedients, which so frequently occurs on +an American frontier, where persons educated in refinement often find +themselves brought in close collision with savage life. Carpets, in +America, and in the year of our Lord 1765, were not quite as much a +matter of course in domestic economy, as they are to-day. Still they +were to be found, though it was rare, indeed, that they covered more +than the centre of the room. One of these great essentials, without +which no place can appear comfortable in a cold climate, was spread on +the floor of Mrs. Willoughby's parlour--a room that served for both +eating and as a sala, the Knight's Hall of the Hut, measuring twenty by +twenty-four feet--though in fact this carpet concealed exactly two- +thirds of the white clean plank. Then the chairs were massive and even +rich, while one might see his face in the dark mahogany of the tables. +There were cellarets--the captain being a connoisseur in wines-- +bureaus, secretaries, beaufets, and other similar articles, that had +been collected in the course of twenty years' housekeeping, and +scattered at different posts, were collected, and brought hither by +means of sledges, and the facilities of the water-courses. Fashion had +little to do with furniture, in that simple age, when the son did not +hesitate to wear even the clothes of the father, years and years after +the tailor had taken leave of them. Massive old furniture, in +particular, lasted for generations, and our matron now saw many +articles that had belonged to her grandfather assembled beneath the +first roof that she could ever strictly call her own. + +Mrs. Willoughby took a survey of the offices last. Here she found, +already established, the two Plinies, with Mari', the sister of the +elder Pliny, Bess, the wife of the younger, and Mony--alias Desdemona-- +a collateral of the race, by ties and affinities that garter-king-at- +arms could not have traced genealogically; since he would have been +puzzled to say whether the woman was the cousin, or aunt, or step- +daughter of Mari', or all three. All the women were hard at work, Bess +singing in a voice that reached the adjoining forest. Mari'--this name +was pronounced with a strong emphasis on the last syllable, or like +Maria, without the final vowel--Mari' was the head of the kitchen, even +Pliny the elder standing in salutary dread of her authority; and her +orders to her brother and nephew were pouring forth, in an English that +was divided into three categories; the Anglo-Saxon, the Low Dutch, and +the Guinea dialect; a medley that rendered her discourse a droll +assemblage of the vulgar and the classical. + +"Here, niggers," she cried, "why you don't jump about like Paus dance? +Ebbery t'ing want a hand, and some want a foot. Plate to wash, crockery +to open, water to b'ile, dem knife to clean, and not'ing missed. Lord, +here's a madam, and 'e whole kitchen in a diffusion." + +"Well, Mari'," exclaimed the captain, good-naturedly, "here you are, +scolding away as if you had been in the place these six months, and +knew all its faults and weaknesses." + +"Can't help a scold, master, in sich a time as dis--come away from dem +plates, _you_ Great Smash, and let a proper hand take hold on +'em." + +Here we ought to say, that captain Willoughby had christened Bess by +the sobriquet of Great Smash, on account of her size, which fell little +short of two hundred, estimated in pounds, and a certain facility she +possessed in destroying crockery, while 'Mony went by the milder +appellation of "Little Smash;" not that bowls or plates fared any +better in her hands, but because _she_ weighed only one hundred +and eighty. + +"Dis is what I tell 'em, master," continued Mari', in a remonstrating, +argumentative sort of a tone, with dogmatism and respect singularly +mingled in her manner--"Dis, massa, just what I tell 'em _all_. I +tell 'em, says I, this is Hunter Knoll, and not All_bon_ny--here +no store--no place to buy t'ing if you break 'em; no good woman who +know ebbery t'ing, to tell you where to find t'ing, if you _lose_ +him. If dere was only good woman, _dat_ somet'ing; but no fortun'- +teller out here in de bushes--no, no--when a silber spoon go, +_here_, he go for good and all--Goody, massy"--staring at something +in the court--"what he call _dat_, sa?" + +"That--oh! that is only an Indian hunter I keep about me, to bring us +game--you'll never have an empty spit, Mari', as long as _he_ is +with us. Fear nothing; he will not harm you. His name is Nick." + +"De _Ole_ Nick, massa?" + +"No, only _Saucy_ Nick. The fellow is a little slovenly to-day in +his appearance, and you see he has brought already several partridges, +besides a rabbit. We shall have venison, in the season." + +Here all the negroes, after staring at Nick, quite a minute, set up a +loud shout, laughing as if the Tuscarora had been created for their +special amusement. Although the captain was somewhat of a martinet in +his domestic discipline, it had ever altogether exceeded his authority, +or his art, to prevent these bursts of merriment; and he led his wife +away from the din, leaving Mari', Great Smash, and Little Smash, with +the two Plinies, in ecstasies at their own uproar. Burst succeeded +burst, until the Indian walked away, in offended dignity. + +Such was the commencement of the domestication of the Willoughbys at +the Hutted Knoll. The plan of our tale does not require us to follow +them minutely for, the few succeeding years, though some further +explanation may be necessary to show why this settlement varied a +little from the ordinary course. + +That very season, or, in the summer of 1765, Mrs. Willoughby inherited +some real estate in Albany, by the death of an uncle, as well as a few +thousand pounds currency, in ready money. This addition to his fortune +made the captain exceedingly comfortable; or, for that day, rich; and +it left him to act his pleasure as related to his lands. Situated as +these last were, so remote from other settlements as to render +highways, for some time, hopeless, he saw no use in endeavouring to +anticipate the natural order of things. It would only create +embarrassment to raise produce that could not be sent to market; and he +well knew that a population of any amount could not exist, in quiet, +without the usual attendants of buying and selling. Then it suited his +own taste to be the commander-in-chief of an isolated establishment +like this; and he was content to live in abundance, on his flats, +feeding his people, his cattle, and even his hogs to satiety, and +having wherewithal to send away the occasional adventurer, who entered +his clearing, contented and happy. + +Thus it was that he neither sold nor leased. No person dwelt on his +land who was not a direct dependant, or hireling, and all that the +earth yielded he could call his own. Nothing was sent abroad for sale +but cattle. Every year, a small drove of fat beeves and milch cows +found their way through the forest to Albany, and the proceeds returned +in the shape of foreign supplies. The rents, and the interests on +bonds, were left to accumulate, or were applied to aid Robert in +obtaining a new step in the army. Lands began to be granted nearer and +nearer to his own, and here and there some old officer like himself, or +a solitary farmer, began to cut away the wilderness; but none in his +immediate vicinity. + +Still the captain did not live altogether as a hermit. He visited +Edmeston of Mount Edmeston, a neighbour less than fifty miles distant; +was occasionally seen at Johnson Hall, with Sir William; or at the +bachelor establishment of Sir John, on the Mohawk; and once or twice he +so far overcame his indolence, as to consent to serve as a member for a +new county, that was called Tryon, after a ruling governor. + + + + + +Chapter IV. + + Hail! sober evening! Thee the harass'd brain + And aching heart with fond orisons greet; + The respite thou of toil; the balm of pain; + To thoughtful mind the hour for musing meet, + 'Tis then the sage from forth his lone retreat, + The rolling universe around espies; + 'Tis then the bard may hold communion sweet + With lovely shapes unkenned by grosser eyes, + And quick perception comes of finer mysteries. + + Sands. + +In the preceding chapter we closed the minuter narrative with a scene +at the Hut, in the spring of 1765. We must now advance the time just +ten years, opening, anew, in the month of May, 1775. This, it is +scarcely necessary to tell the reader, is bringing him at once up to +the earliest days of the revolution. The contest which preceded that +great event had in fact occurred in the intervening time, and we are +now about to plunge into the current of some of the minor incidents of +the struggle itself. + +Ten years are a century in the history of a perfectly new settlement. +The changes they produce are even surprising, though in ordinary cases +they do not suffice to erase the signs of a recent origin. The forest +is opened, and the light of day admitted, it is true; but its remains +are still to be seen in multitudes of unsightly stumps, dead standing +trees, and ill-looking stubs. These vestiges of the savage state +usually remain a quarter of a century; in certain region they are to be +found for even more than twice that period. All this, however, had +captain Willoughby escaped, in consequence of limiting his clearing, in +a great measure, to that which had been made by the beavers, and from +which time and natural decay had, long before his arrival, removed +every ungainly object. It is true, here and there a few acres had been +cleared on the firmer ground, at the margin of the flats, where barns +and farm buildings had been built, and orchards planted; but, in order +to preserve the harmony of his view, the captain had caused all the +stumps to be pulled and burnt, giving to these places the same air of +agricultural finish as characterized the fields on the lower land. + +To this sylvan scene, at a moment which preceded the setting of the sun +by a little more than an hour, and in the first week of the genial +month of May, we must now bring the reader in fancy. The season had +been early, and the Beaver Manor, or the part of it which was +cultivated, lying low and sheltered, vegetation had advanced +considerably beyond the point that is usual, at that date, in the +elevated region of which we have been writing. The meadows were green +with matted grasses, the wheat and rye resembled rich velvets, and the +ploughed fields had the fresh and mellowed appearance of good husbandry +and a rich soil. The shrubbery, of which the captain's English taste +had introduced quantities, was already in leaf, and even portions of +the forest began to veil their sombre mysteries with the delicate +foliage of an American spring. + +The site of the ancient pond was a miracle of rustic beauty. Everything +like inequality or imperfection had disappeared, the whole presenting a +broad and picturesquely shaped basin, with outlines fashioned +principally by nature, an artist that rarely fails in effect. The flat +was divided into fields by low post-and-rail fences, the captain making +it a law to banish all unruly animals from his estate. The barns and +out-buildings were neatly made and judiciously placed, and the three or +four roads, or lanes, that led to them, crossed the low-land in such +graceful curves, as greatly to increase the beauty of the landscape. +Here and there a log cabin was visible, nearly buried in the forest, +with a few necessary and neat appliances around it; the homes of +labourers who had long dwelt in them, and who seemed content to pass +their lives in the same place. As most of these men had married and +become fathers, the whole colony, including children, notwithstanding +the captain's policy not to settle, had grown to considerably more than +a hundred souls, of whom three-and-twenty were able-bodied men. Among +the latter were the millers; but, their mills were buried in the ravine +where they had been first placed, quite out of sight from the picture +above, concealing all the unavoidable and ungainly-looking objects of a +saw-mill yard. + +As a matter of course, the object of the greatest interest, as it was +the most conspicuous, was the Hutted Knoll, as the house was now +altogether called, and the objects it contained. Thither, then, we will +now direct our attention, and describe things as they appeared ten +years after they were first presented to the reader. + +The same agricultural finish as prevailed on the flats pervaded every +object on the Knoll, though some labour had been expended to produce +it. Everything like a visible rock, the face of the cliff on the +northern end excepted, had disappeared, the stones having been blasted, +and either worked into walls for foundations, or walls for fence. The +entire base of the Knoll, always excepting the little precipice at the +rivulet, was encircled by one of the latter, erected under the +superintendence of Jamie Allen, who still remained at the Hut, a +bachelor, and as he said himself, a happy man. The southern-face of the +Knoll was converted into lawn, there being quite two acres intersected +with walks, and well garnished with shrubbery. What was unusual in +America, at that day, the captain, owing to his English education, had +avoided straight lines, and formal paths; giving to the little spot the +improvement on nature which is a consequence of embellishing her works +without destroying them. On each side of this lawn was an orchard, +thrifty and young, and which were already beginning to show signs of +putting forth their blossoms. + +About the Hut itself, the appearance of change was not so manifest. +Captain Willoughby had caused it to be constructed originally, as he +intended to preserve it, and if formed no part of his plan to cover it +with tawdry colours. There it stood, brown above, and grey beneath, as +wood or stone was the material, with a widely projecting roof. It had +no piazzas, or stoups, and was still without external windows, one +range excepted. The loops had been cut, but it was more for the benefit +of lighting the garrets, than for any other reason, all of them being +glazed, and serving the end for which they had been pierced. The gates +remained precisely in the situation in which they were, when last +presented to the eye of the reader! There they stood, each leaning +against the wall on its own side of the gateway, the hinges beginning +to rust, by time and exposure. Ten years had not produced a day of +sufficient leisure in which to hang them: though Mrs. Willoughby +frequently spoke of the necessity of doing so, in the course of the +first summer. Even she had got to be so familiarized to her situation, +and so accustomed to seeing the leaves where they stood, that she now +regarded them as a couple of sleeping lions in stone, or as +characteristic ornaments, rather than as substantial defences to the +entrance of the dwelling. + +The interior of the Hut, however, had undergone many alterations. The +western half had been completed, and handsome rooms had been fitted up +for guests and inmates of the family, in the portion of the edifice +occupied by the latter. Additional comforts had been introduced, and, +the garners, cribs and lodgings of the labourers having been +transferred to the skirts of the forest, the house was more strictly +and exclusively the abode of a respectable and well-regulated family. +In the rear, too, a wing had been thrown along the verge of the cliff, +completely enclosing the court. This wing, which overhung the rivulet, +and had, not only a most picturesque site, but a most picturesque and +lovely view, now contained the library, parlour and music-room, +together with other apartments devoted to the uses of the ladies, +during the day; the old portions of the house that had once been +similarly occupied being now converted into sleeping apartments. The +new wing was constructed entirely of massive squared logs, so as to +render it bullet-proof, here being no necessity for a stone foundation, +standing, as it did, on the verge of a cliff some forty feet in height. +This was the part of the edifice which had external windows, the +elevation removing it from the danger of inroads, or hostile shot, +while the air and view were both grateful and desirable. Some extra +attention had been paid to the appearance of the meadows on this side +of the Knoll, and the captain had studiously kept their skirts, as far +as the eye could see from the windows, in virgin forest; placing the +barns, cabins, and other detached buildings, so far south as to be +removed from view. Beulah Willoughby, a gentle, tranquil creature, had +a profound admiration of the beauties of nature; and to her, her +parents had yielded the control of everything that was considered +accessary to the mere charms of the eye; her taste had directed most of +that which had not been effected by the noble luxuriance of nature. +Wild roses were already putting forth their leaves in various fissures +of the rocks, where earth had been placed for their support, and the +margin of the little stream, that actually washed the base of the +cliff, winding off in a charming sweep through the meadows, a rivulet +of less than twenty feet in width, was garnished with willows and +alder. Quitting this sylvan spot, we will return to the little shrub- +adorned area in front of the Hut. This spot the captain called his +_glacis_, while his daughters termed it the lawn. The hour, it will +be remembered, was shortly before sunset, and thither nearly all the +family had repaired to breathe the freshness of the pure air, and bathe +in the genial warmth of a season, which is ever so grateful to those +who have recently escaped from the rigour of a stern winter. Rude, and +sufficiently picturesque garden-seats, were scattered about, and on one +of these were seated the captain and his wife; he, with his hair +sprinkled with grey, a hale, athletic, healthy man of sixty, and she a +fresh-looking, mild-featured, and still handsome matron of forty-eight. +In front, stood a venerable-looking personage, of small stature, +dressed in rusty black, of the cut that denoted the attire of a +clergyman, before it was considered aristocratic to wear the outward +symbols of belonging to the church of God. This was the Rev. Jedidiah +Woods, a native of New England, who had long served as a chaplain in +the same regiment with the captain, and who, being a bachelor, on +retired pay, had dwelt with his old messmate for the last eight years, +in the double capacity of one who exercised the healing art as well for +the soul as for the body. To his other offices, he added that of an +instructor, in various branches of knowledge, to the young people. The +chaplain, for so he was called by everybody in and around the Hut, was, +at the moment of which we are writing, busy in expounding to his +friends certain nice distinctions that existed, or which he fancied to +exist, between a tom-cod and a chub, the former of which fish he very +erroneously conceived he held in his hand at that moment; the Rev. Mr. +Woods being a much better angler than naturalist. To his dissertation +Mrs. Willoughby listened with great good-nature, endeavouring all the +while to feel interested; while her husband kept uttering his "by all +means," "yes," "certainly," "you're quite right, Woods," his gaze, at +the same time, fastened on Joel Strides, and Pliny the elder, who were +unharnessing their teams, on the flats beneath, having just finished a +"land," and deeming it too late to commence another. + +Beulah, her pretty face shaded by a large sun-bonnet, was +superintending the labours of Jamie Allen, who, finding nothing just +then to do as a mason, was acting in the capacity of gardener; his hat +was thrown upon the grass, with his white locks bare, and he was +delving about some shrubs with the intention of giving them the benefit +of a fresh dressing of manure. Maud, however, without a hat of any +sort, her long, luxuriant, silken, golden tresses covering her +shoulders, and occasionally veiling her warm, rich cheek, was +exercising with a battledore, keeping Little Smash, now increased in +size to quite fourteen stone, rather actively employed as an assistant, +whenever the exuberance of her own spirits caused her to throw the +plaything beyond her reach. In one of the orchards, near by, two men +were employed trimming the trees. To these the captain next turned all +his attention, just as he had encouraged the chaplain to persevere, by +exclaiming, "out of all question, my dear sir"--though he was +absolutely ignorant that the other had just advanced a downright +scientific heresy. At this critical moment a cry from Little Smash, +that almost equalled a downfall of crockery in its clamour, drew every +eye in her direction. + +"What is the matter, Desdemona?" asked the chaplain, a little tartly, +by no means pleased at having his natural history startled by sounds so +inapplicable to the subject. "How often have I told you that the Lord +views with displeasure anything so violent and improper as your +outcries?" + +"Can't help him, dominie--nebber can help him, when he take me sudden. +See, masser, dere come Ole Nick!" + +There was Nick, sure enough. For the first time, in more than two +years, the Tuscarora was seen approaching the house, on the long, +loping trot that he affected when he wished to seem busy, or honestly +earning his money. He was advancing by the only road that was ever +travelled by the stranger as he approached the Hut; or, he came up the +valley. As the woman spoke, he had just made his appearance over the +rocks, in the direction of the mills. At that distance, quite half a +mile, he would not have been recognised, but for this gait, which was +too familiar to all at the Knoll, however, to be mistaken. + +"That is Nick, sure enough!" exclaimed the captain. "The fellow comes +at the pace of a runner; or, as if he were the bearer of some important +news!" + +"The tricks of Saucy Nick are too well known to deceive any here," +observed Mrs. Willoughby, who, surrounded by her husband and children, +always felt so happy as to deprecate every appearance of danger. + +"These savages will keep that pace for hours at a time," observed the +chaplain; "a circumstance that has induced some naturalists to fancy a +difference in the species, if not in the genus." + +"Is he chub or tom-cod, Woods?" asked the captain, throwing back on the +other all he recollected of the previous discourse. + +"Nay," observed Mrs. Willoughby, anxiously, "I _do_ think he may +have some intelligence! It is now more than a twelvemonth since we have +seen Nick." + +"It is more than twice twelvemonth, my dear; I have not seen the +fellow's face since I denied him the keg of rum for his 'discovery' of +another beaver pond. He has tried to sell me a new pond every season +since the purchase of this." + +"Do you think he took serious offence, Hugh, at that refusal? If so, +would it not be better to give him what he asks?" + +"I have thought little about it, and care less, my dear. Nick and I +know each other pretty well. It is an acquaintance of thirty years' +standing, and one that has endured trials by flood and field, and even +by the horse-whip. No less than three times have I been obliged to make +these salutary applications to Nick's back, with my own hands; though +it is, now, more than ten years since a blow has passed between us." + +"Does a savage ever forgive a blow?" asked the chaplain, with a grave +air, and a look of surprise. + +"I fancy a _savage_ is quite as apt to forgive it, as a +_civilized_ man, Woods. To you, who have served so long in His +Majesty's army, a blow, in the way of punishment, can be no great +novelty." + +"Certainly not, as respects the soldiers; but I did not know Indians +were ever flogged." + +"That is because you never happened to be present at the ceremony--but, +this is Nick, sure enough; and by his trot I begin to think the fellow +has some message, or news." + +"How old is the man, captain? Does an Indian never break down?" + +"Nick must be fairly fifty, now. I have known him more than half that +period, and he was an experienced, and, to own the truth, a brave and +skilful warrior, when we first met. I rate him fifty, every day of it." + +By this time the new-comer was so near, that the conversation ceased, +all standing gazing at him, as he drew near, and Maud gathering up her +hair, with maiden bashfulness, though certainly Nick was no stranger. +As for Little Smash, she waddled off to proclaim the news to the +younger Pliny, Mari, and Great Smash, all of whom were still in the +kitchen of the Hut, flourishing, sleek and glistening. + +Soon after, Nick arrived. He came up the Knoll on his loping trot, +never stopping until he was within five or six yards of the Captain, +when he suddenly halted, folded his arms, and stood in a composed +attitude, lest he should betray a womanish desire to tell his story. He +did not even pant but appeared as composed and unmoved, as if he had +walked the half-mile he had been seen to pass over on a trot. + +"Sago--Sago," cried the captain, heartily--"you are welcome back, Nick; +I am glad to see you still so active." + +"Sago"--answered the guttural voice of the Indian, who quietly nodded +his head. + +"What will you have to refresh you, after such a journey, Nick--our +trees give us good cider, now." + +"Santa Cruz better,"--rejoined the sententious Tuscarora. + +"Santa Cruz is certainly _stronger_" answered the captain +laughing, "and, in that sense, you may find it better. You shall have a +glass, as soon as we go to the house. What news do you bring, that you +come in so fast?" + +"Glass won't do. Nick bring news worth _jug_. Squaw give _two_ +jug for Nick's news. Is it barg'in?" + +"I!" cried Mrs. Willoughby--"what concern can I have with your news. My +daughters are both with me, and Heaven be praised! both are well. What +_can_ I care for your news, Nick?" + +"Got no pap-poose but gal? T'ink you got boy--officer--great chief--up +here, down yonder--over dere." + +"Robert!--Major Willoughby! What can _you_ have to tell me of my +son?" + +"Tell all about him, for _one_ jug. Jug out yonder; Nick's story +out here. One good as t'other." + +"You shall have all you ask, Nick."--These were not temperance days, +when conscience took so firm a stand between the bottle and the +lips.--"You shall have all you ask, Nick, provided you can really give +me good accounts of my noble boy. Speak, then; what have you to say?" + +"Say you see him in ten, five minute. Sent Nick before to keep moder +from too much cry." + +An exclamation from Maud followed; then the ardent girl was seen +rushing down the lawn, her hat thrown aside; and her bright fair hair +again flowing in ringlets on her shoulders. She flew rather than ran, +in the direction of the mill, where the figure of Robert Willoughby was +seen rushing forward to meet her. Suddenly the girl stopped, threw +herself on a log, and hid her face. In a few minutes she was locked in +her brother's arms. Neither Mrs. Willoughby nor Beulah imitated this +impetuous movement on the part of Maud; but the captain, chaplain, and +even Jamie Allen, hastened down the road to meet and welcome the young +major. Ten minutes later, Bob Willoughby was folded to his mother's +heart; then came Beulah's turn; after which, the news having flown +through the household, the young man had to receive the greetings of +_Mari'_, both the Smashes, the younger Pliny, and all the dogs. A +tumultuous quarter of an hour brought all round, again, to its proper +place, and restored something like order to the Knoll. Still an +excitement prevailed the rest of the day, for the sudden arrival of a +guest always produced a sensation in that retired settlement; much more +likely, then, was the unexpected appearance of the only son and heir to +create one. As everybody bustled and was in motion, the whole family +was in the parlour, and major Willoughby was receiving the grateful +refreshment of a delicious cup of tea, before the sun set. The chaplain +would have retired out of delicacy, but to this the captain would not +listen; he would have everything proceed as if the son were a customary +guest, though it might have been seen by the manner in which his +mother's affectionate eye was fastened on his handsome face, as well as +that in which his sister Beulah, in particular, hung about him, under +the pretence of supplying his wants, that the young man was anything +but an every-day inmate. + +"How the lad has grown!" said the captain, tears of pride starting into +his eyes, in spite of a very manful resolution to appear composed and +soldier-like. + +"I was about to remark that myself, captain," observed the chaplain. "I +do think Mr. Robert has got to his full six feet--every inch as tall as +you are yourself, my good sir." + +"That is he, Woods--and taller in one sense. He is a major, already, at +twenty-seven; it is a step I was not able to reach at near twice the +age." + +"That is owing, my dear sir," answered the son quickly, and with a +slight tremor in his voice, "to your not having as kind a father as has +fallen to my share--or at least one not as well provided with the means +of purchasing." + +"Say none at all, Bob, and you can wound no feeling, while you will +tell the truth. _My_ father died a lieutenant-colonel when I was a +school-boy; I owed my ensigncy to my uncle Sir Hugh, the father of the +present Sir Harry Willoughby; after that I owed each step to hard and +long service. Your mother's legacies have helped you along, at a faster +rate, though I do trust there has been some merit to aid in the +preferment." + +"Speaking of Sir Harry Willoughby, sir, reminds me of one part of my +errand to the Hut," said the major, glancing his eye towards his +father, as if to prepare him for some unexpected intelligence. + +"What of my cousin?" demanded the captain, calmly. "We have not met in +thirty years, and are the next thing to strangers to each other. Has he +made that silly match of which I heard something when last in York? Has +he disinherited his daughter as he threatened? Use no reserve here; our +friend Woods is one of the family." + +"Sir Harry Willoughby is not married, sir, but dead." + +"Dead!" repeated the captain, setting down his cup, like one who +received a sudden shock. "I hope not without having been reconciled to +his daughter, and providing for her large family?" + +"He died in her arms, and escaped the consequences of his silly +intention to marry his own housekeeper. With one material exception, he +has left Mrs. Bowater his whole fortune." + +The captain sat thoughtful, for some time; every one else being silent +and attentive. But the mother's feelings prompted her to inquire as to +the nature of the exception. + +"Why, mother, contrary to all my expectations, and I may say wishes, he +has left _me_ twenty-five thousand pounds in the fives. I only +hold the money as my father's trustee." + +"You do no such thing, Master Bob, I can tell you!" said the captain, +with emphasis. + +The son looked at the father, a moment, as if to see whether he was +understood, and then he proceeded-- + +"I presume you remember, sir," said the major, "that _you_ are the +heir to the title?" + +"I have not forgot that, major Willoughby; but what is an empty +baronetcy to a happy husband and father like me, here in the wilds of +America? Were I still in the army, and a colonel, the thing might be of +use; as I am, I would rather have a tolerable road from this place to +the Mohawk than the duchy of Norfolk, without the estate." + +"Estate there is none, certainly," returned the major, in a tone of a +little disappointment, "except the twenty-five thousand pounds; unless +you include that which you possess where you are; not insignificant, by +the way, sir." + +"It will do well enough for old Hugh Willoughby, late a captain in His +Majesty's 23d Regiment of Foot, but not so well for _Sir_ Hugh. +No, no, Bob. Let the baronetcy sleep awhile; it has been used quite +enough for the last hundred years or more. Out of this circle, there +are probably not ten persons in America, who know that I have any +claims to it." + +The major coloured, and he played with the spoon of his empty cup, +stealing a glance or two around, before he answered. + +"I beg your pardon, Sir Hugh--my dear father, I mean--but--to own the +truth, never anticipating such a decision on your part, I have spoken +of the thing to a good many friends--I dare say, if the truth were +known, I've called you the baronet, or Sir Hugh, to others, at least a +dozen times." + +"Well, should it be so, the thing will be forgotten. A parson can be +unfrocked, Woods, and a baronet can be unbaroneted, I suppose." + +"But, Sir William"--so everybody called the well-known Sir William +Johnson, in the colony of New York--"But, Sir William found it useful, +Willoughby, and so, I dare say, will his son and successor, Sir John," +observed the attentive wife and anxious mother; "and if _you_ are +not now in the army, Bob is. It will be a good thing for our son one +day, and ought not to be lost." + +"Ah, I see how it is, Beulah; your mother has no notion to lose the +right of being called Lady Willoughby." + +"I am sure my mother, sir, wishes to be called nothing that does not +become _your_ wife; if you remain Mr. Hugh Willoughby, she will +remain Mrs. Hugh Willoughby. But papa, it _might_ be useful to +Bob." + +Beulah was a great favourite with the captain, Maud being only his +darling; he listened always to whatever the former said, therefore, +with indulgence and respect. He often told the chaplain that his +daughter Beulah had the true feelings of her sex, possessing a sort of +instinct for whatever was right and becoming, in woman. + +"Well, Bob may have the baronetcy, then," he said, smiling. "Major Sir +Robert Willoughby will not sound amiss in a despatch." + +"But, Bob _cannot_ have it, father," exclaimed Maud--"No one _can_ +have it but _you_; and it's a pity it should be lost." + +"Let him wait, then, until I am out of the way; when he may claim his +own." + +"_Can_ that be done?" inquired the mother, to whom nothing was +without interest that affected her children. "How is it, Mr. Woods?-- +may a title be dropped, and then picked up again?--how is this, +Robert?" + +"I believe it may, my dear mother--it will always exist, so long as +there is an heir, and my father's disrelish for it will not be binding +on me." + +"Oh! in that case, then, all will come right in the end--though, as +your father does not want it, I wish you could have it, now." + +This was said with the most satisfied air in the world, as if the +speaker had no possible interest in the matter herself, and it closed +the conversation, for that time. It was not easy to keep up an interest +in anything that related to the family, where Mrs. Willoughby was +concerned, in which heart did not predominate. A baronetcy was a +considerable dignity in the colony of New York in the year of our Lord, +1775, and it gave its possessor far more importance than it would have +done in England. In the whole colony there was but one, though a good +many were to be found further south; and he was known as "Sir John," +as, in England, Lord Rockingham, or, in America, at a later day, La +Fayette, was known as "_The_ Marquis." Under such circumstances, +then, it would have been no trifling sacrifice to an ordinary woman to +forego the pleasure of being called "my lady." But the sacrifice cost +our matron no pain, no regrets, no thought even: The same attachments +which made her happy, away from the world, in the wilderness where she +dwelt, supplanted all other feelings, and left her no room, or leisure, +to think of such vanities. When the discourse changed, it was +understood that "Sir Hugh" was not to be "Sir Hugh," and that "Sir +Robert" must bide his time. + +"Where did you fall in with the Tuscarora, Bob?" suddenly asked the +captain, as much to bring up another subject, as through curiosity. +"The fellow had been so long away, I began to think we should never see +him again. + +"He tells me, sir, he has been on a war path, somewhere out among the +western savages. It seems these Indians fight among themselves, from +time to time, and Nick has been trying to keep his hand in. I found him +down at Canajoharie, and took him for a guide, though he had the +honesty to own he was on the point of coming over here, had I not +engaged him." + +"I'll answer for it he didn't tell you _that_, until you had paid +him for the job." + +"Why, to own the truth, he did not, sir. He pretended something about +owing money in the village, and got his pay in advance. I learned his +intentions only when we were within a few miles of the Hut." + +"I'm glad to find, Bob, that you give the place its proper name. How +gloriously Sir Hugh Willoughby, Bart., of The _Hut_, Tryon county, +New York, would sound, Woods!--Did Nick boast of the scalps he has +taken from the Carthaginians?" + +"He lays claim to three, I believe, though I have seen none of his +trophies." + +"The Roman hero!--Yet, I have known Nick rather a dangerous warrior. He +was out against us, in some of my earliest service, and our +acquaintance was made by my saving his life from the bayonet of one of +my own grenadiers. I thought the fellow remembered the act for some +years; but, in the end, I believe I flogged all the gratitude out of +him. His motives, now, are concentrated in the little island of Santa +Cruz." + +"Here he is, father," said Maud, stretching her light, flexible form +out of a window. "Mike and the Indian are seated at the lower spring, +with a jug between them, and appear to be in a deep conversation." + +"Ay, I remember on their first acquaintance, that Mike mistook +_Saucy_ Nick, for _Old_ Nick. The Indian was indignant for a +while, at being mistaken for the Evil Spirit, but the worthies soon +found a bond of union between them, and, before six months, he and the +Irishman became sworn friends. It is said whenever two human beings +love a common principle, that it never fails to make them firm allies." + +"And what was the principle, in this case, captain Willoughby?" +inquired the chaplain, with curiosity. + +"Santa Cruz. Mike renounced whiskey altogether, after he came to +America, and took to rum. As for Nick, he was never so vulgar as to +find pleasure in the former liquor." + +The whole party had gathered to the windows, while the discourse was +proceeding, and looking out, each individual saw Mike and his friend, +in the situation described by Maud. The two _amateurs_-- +_connoisseurs_ would not be misapplied, either--had seated themselves +at the brink of a spring of delicious water, and removing the corn-cob +that Pliny the younger had felt it to be classical to affix to the +nozzle of a quart jug, had, some time before, commenced the delightful +recreation of sounding the depth, not of the spring, but of the vessel. +As respects the former, Mike, who was a wag in his way, had taken a +hint from a practice said to be common in Ireland, called "potatoe and +point," which means to eat the potatoe and point at the butter; +declaring that "rum and p'int" was every bit as entertaining as a +"p'int of rum." On this principle, then, with a broad grin on a face +that opened from ear to ear whenever he laughed, the county Leitrim-man +would gravely point his finger at the water, in a sort of mock-homage, +and follow up the movement with such a suck at the nozzle, as, aided by +the efforts of Nick, soon analyzed the upper half of the liquor that +had entered by that very passage. All this time, conversation did not +flag, and, as the parties grew warm, confidence increased, though +reason sensibly diminished. As a part of this discourse will have some +bearing on what is to follow, it may be in place to relate it, here. + +"Ye're a jewel, ye be, _ould_ Nick, or _young_ Nick!" cried +Mike, in an ecstasy of friendship, just after he had completed his +first half-pint. "Ye're as wilcome at the Huts, as if ye owned thim, +and I love ye as I did my own brother, before I left the county +Leitrim--paice to his sowl!" + +"He dead?" asked Nick, sententiously; for he had lived enough among the +pale-faces to have some notions of then theory about the soul. + +"That's more than I know--but, living or dead, the man must have a +sowl, ye understand, Nicholas. A human crathure widout a sowl, is what +I call a heretick; and none of the O'Hearns ever came to _that_." + +Nick was tolerably drunk, but by no means so far gone, that he had not +manners enough to make a grave, and somewhat dignified gesture; which +was as much as to say he was familiar with the subject. + +"All go ole fashion here?" he asked, avoiding every appearance of +curiosity, however. + +"That does it--that it does, Nicholas. All goes ould enough. The +captain begins to get ould; and the missus is oulder than she used to +be; and Joel's wife looks a hundred, though she isn't t'irty; and Joel, +himself, the spalpeen--he looks--" a gulp at the jug stopped the +communication. + +"Dirty, too?" added the sententious Tuscarora, who did not comprehend +more than half his friend said. + +"Ay, dir-r-ty--he's always _that_. He's a dirthy fellow, that +thinks his yankee charactur is above all other things." + +Nick's countenance became illuminated with an expression nowise akin to +that produced by rum, and he fastened on his companion one of his fiery +gazes, which occasionally seemed to penetrate to the centre of the +object looked at. + +"Why pale-face hate one anoder? Why Irishman don't love yankee?" + +"Och! love the crathure, is it? You'd betther ask me to love a to'd"-- +for so Michael would pronounce the word 'toad.' "What is there to love +about him, but skin and bone! I'd as soon love a skiliten. Yes--an +immortal skiliten." + +Nick made another gesture, and then he endeavoured to reflect, like one +who had a grave business in contemplation. The Santa Cruz confused his +brain, but the Indian never entirely lost his presence of mind; or +never, at least, so long as he could either see or walk. + +"Don't like him"--rejoined Nick. "Like anybody?" + +"To be sure I does--I like the capt'in--och, _he_'s a jontleman-- +and I likes the missus; she's a laddy--and I likes Miss Beuly, who's a +swate young woman--and then there's Miss Maud, who's the delight of my +eyes. Fegs, but isn't _she_ a crathure to relish!" + +Mike spoke like a good honest fellow, as he was at the bottom, with all +his heart and soul. The Indian did not seem pleased, but he made no +answer. + +"You've been in the wars then, Nick!" asked the Irishman, after a short +pause. + +"Yes--Nick been chief ag'in--take scalps." + +"Ach! That's a mighty ugly thrade! If you'd tell 'em that in Ireland, +they'd not think it a possibility." + +"No like fight in Ireland, hah?" + +"I'll not say that--no, I'll not say that; for many's the jollification +at which the fighting is the chafe amusement. But we likes +_thumping_ on the head--not _skinning_ it." + +"That your fashion--my fashion take scalp. You thump; I skin--which +best?" + +"Augh! skinnin' is a dreadthful operation; but shillaleh-work comes +nately and nat'rally. How many of these said scalps, now, may ye have +picked up, Nick, in yer last journey?" + +"T'ree--all man and woman--no pappoose. One big enough make _two_; +so call him _four_." + +"Oh! Divil burn ye, Nick; but there's a spice of your namesake in ye, +afther all. T'ree human crathures skinned, and you not satisfied, and +so ye'll chait a bit to make 'em four! D'ye never think, now, of yer +latther ind? D'ye never confess?" + +"T'ink every day of _dat_. Hope to find more, before last day +come. Plenty scalp _here_; ha, Mike?" + +This was said a little incautiously, perhaps, but it was said under a +strong native impulse. The Irishman, however, was never very logical or +clear-headed; and three gills of rum had, by no means, helped to purify +his brain. He heard the word "plenty," knew he was well fed and warmly +clad, and just now, that Santa Cruz so much abounded, the term seemed +peculiarly applicable. + +"It's a plinthiful place it is, is this very manor. There's all sorts +of things in it that's wanted. There's food and raiment, and cattle, +and grain, and porkers, and praiching--yes, divil burn it, Nick, but +there's what _goes_ for praiching, though it's no more like what +_we_ calls praiching than yer'e like Miss Maud in comeliness, and +ye'll own, yourself, Nick, yer'e no beauty." + +"Got handsome hair," said Nick, surlily--"How she look widout scalp?" + +"The likes of her, is it! Who ever saw one of her beauthy without the +finest hair that ever was! What do you get for your scalps?--are they +of any use when you find 'em?" + +"Bring plenty bye'm-by. Whole country glad to see him before long--den +beavers get pond ag'in." + +"How's that--how's that, Indian? Baiver get pounded? There's no pound, +hereabouts, and baivers is not an animal to be shut up like a hog!" + +Nick perceived that his friend was past argumentation, and as he +himself was approaching the state when the drunkard receives delight +from he knows not what, it is unnecessary to relate any more of the +dialogue. The jug was finished, each man very honestly drinking his +pint, and as naturally submitting to its consequences; and this so much +the more because the two were so engrossed with the rum that both +forgot to pay that attention to the spring that might have been +expected from its proximity. + + + + + +Chapter V. + + The soul, my lord, is fashioned--like the lyre. + Strike one chord suddenly, and others vibrate. + Your name abruptly mentioned, casual words + Of comment on your deeds, praise from your uncle, + News from the armies, talk of your return, + A word let fall touching your youthful passion, + Suffused her cheek, call'd to her drooping eye + A momentary lustre, made her pulse + Leap headlong, and her bosom palpitate. + + Hillhouse. + +The approach of night, at sea and in a wilderness, has always something +more solemn in it, than on land in the centre of civilization. As the +curtain is drawn before his eyes, the solitude of the mariner is +increased, while even his sleepless vigilance seems, in a measure, +baffled, by the manner in which he is cut off from the signs of the +hour. Thus, too, in the forest, or in an isolated clearing, the +mysteries of the woods are deepened, and danger is robbed of its +forethought and customary guards. That evening, Major Willoughby stood +at a window with an arm round the slender waist of Beulah, Maud +standing a little aloof; and, as the twilight retired, leaving the +shadows of evening to thicken on the forest that lay within a few +hundred feet of that side of the Hut, and casting a gloom over the +whole of the quiet solitude, he felt the force of the feeling just +mentioned, in a degree he had never before experienced. + +"This is a _very_ retired abode, my sisters," he said, +thoughtfully. "Do my father and mother never speak of bringing you out +more into the world?" + +"They take us to New York every winter, now father is in the Assembly," +quietly answered Beulah. "We expected to meet you there, last season, +and were greatly disappointed that you did not come." + +"My regiment was sent to the eastward, as you know, and having just +received my new rank of major, it would not do to be absent at the +moment. Do you ever see any one here, besides those who belong to the +manor?" + +"Oh! yes"--exclaimed Maud eagerly--then she paused, as if sorry she had +said anything; continuing, after a little pause, in a much more +moderated vein--"I mean occasionally. No doubt the place is very +retired." + +"Of what characters are your visiters?--hunters, trappers, settlers-- +savages or travellers?" + +Maud did not answer; but, Beulah, after waiting a moment for her sister +to reply, took that office on herself. + +"Some of all," she said, "though few certainly of the latter class. The +hunters are often here; one or two a month, in the mild season; +settlers rarely, as you may suppose, since my father will not sell, and +there are not many about, I believe; the Indians come more frequently, +though I think we have seen less of them, during Nick's absence than +while he was more with us. Still we have as many as a hundred in a +year, perhaps, counting the women. They come in parties, you know, and +five or six of these will make that number. As for travellers, they are +rare; being generally surveyors, land-hunters, or perhaps a proprietor +who is looking up his estate. We had two of the last in the fall, +before we went below." + +"That is singular; and yet one might well look for an estate in a +wilderness like this. Who were your proprietors?" + +"An elderly man, and a young one. The first was a sort of partner of +the late Sir William's, I believe, who has a grant somewhere near us, +for which he was searching. His name was Fonda. The other was one of +the Beekmans, who has lately succeeded his father in a property of +considerable extent, somewhere at no great distance from us, and came +to take a look at it. They say he has quite a hundred thousand acres, +in one body." + +"And did he find his land? Tracts of thousands and tens of thousands, +are sometimes not to be discovered." + +"We saw him twice, going and returning, and he was successful. The last +time, he was detained by a snow-storm, and staid with us some days--so +long, indeed, that he remained, and accompanied us out, when we went +below. We saw much of him, too, last winter, in town." + +"Maud, you wrote me nothing of all this! Are visiters of this sort so +very common that you do not speak of them in your letters?" + +"Did I not?--Beulah will scarce pardon me for _that_. She thinks +Mr. Evert Beekman more worthy of a place in a letter, than I do, +perhaps." + +"I think him a very respectable and sensible young man," answered +Beulah quietly though there was a deeper tint on her cheek than common, +which it was too dark to see. "I am not certain, however, he need fill +much space in the letters of either of your sisters.' + +"Well, this is _something_ gleaned!" said the major, +laughing--"and now, Beulah, if you will only let out a secret of the +same sort about Maud, I shall be _au fait_ of all the family +mysteries." + +"All!" repeated Maud, quickly--"would there be nothing to tell of a +certain major Willoughby, brother of mine?" + +"Not a syllable. I am as heart-whole as a sound oak, and hope to remain +so. At all events, all I love is in this house. To tell you the truth, +girls, these are not times for a soldier to think of anything but his +duty. The quarrel is getting to be serious between the mother country +and her colonies." + +"Not so serious, brother," observed Beulah, earnestly, "as to amount to +_that_. Evert Beekman thinks there will be trouble, but he does +not appear to fancy it will go as far as very serious violence." + +"Evert _Beekman_!--most of that family are loyal, I believe; how +is it with this Evert?" + +"I dare say, _you_ would call him a _rebel_," answered Maud, +laughing, for now Beulah chose to be silent, leaving her sister to +explain, "He is not _fiery_; but he calls himself an _American_, +with emphasis; and that is saying a good deal, when it means he +is not an _Englishman_. Pray what do you call yourself, Bob?" + +"I!--Certainly an American in one sense, but an Englishman in another. +An American, as my father was a Cumberland-man, and an Englishman as a +subject, and as connected with the empire." + +"As St. Paul was a Roman. Heigho!--Well, I fear I have but one +character--or, if I have two, they are an American, and a New York +girl. Did I dress in scarlet, as you do, I might feel English too, +possibly." + +"This is making a trifling misunderstanding too serious," observed +Beulah. "Nothing can come of all the big words that have been used, +than more big words. I know that is Evert Beekman's opinion." + +"I hope you may prove a true prophet," answered the major, once more +buried in thought. "This place _does_ seem to be fearfully retired +for a family like ours. I hope my father may be persuaded to pass more +of his time in New York. Does he ever speak on the subject, girls, or +appear to have any uneasiness?" + +"Uneasiness about what? The place is health itself: all sorts of +fevers, and agues, and those things being quite unknown. Mamma says the +toothache, even, cannot be found in this healthful spot." + +"That is lucky--and, yet, I wish captain Willoughby--_Sir Hugh_ +Willoughby could be induced to live more in New York. Girls of your +time of life, ought to be in the way of seeing the world, too." + +"In other words, of seeing admirers, major Bob," said Maud, laughing, +and bending forward to steal a glance in her brother's face. "Good +night. _Sir Hugh_ wishes us to send you into his library when we +can spare you, and _my lady_ has sent us a hint that it is ten +o'clock, at which hour it is usual for sober people to retire." + +The major kissed both sisters with warm affection--Beulah fancied with +a sobered tenderness, and Maud thought kindly--and then they retired to +join their mother, while he went to seek his father. + +The captain was smoking in the library, as a room of all-_head_- +work was called, in company with the chaplain. The practice of using +tobacco in this form, had grown to be so strong in both of these old +inmates of garrisons, that they usually passed an hour, in the +recreation, before they went to bed. Nor shall we mislead the reader +with any notions of fine-flavoured Havana segars; pipes, with Virginia +cut, being the materials employed in the indulgence. A little excellent +Cogniac and water, in which however the spring was not as much +neglected, as in the orgies related in the previous chapter, moistened +their lips, from time to time, giving a certain zest and comfort to +their enjoyments. Just as the door opened to admit the major, he was +the subject of discourse, the proud parent and the partial friend +finding almost an equal gratification in discussing his fine, manly +appearance, good qualities, and future hopes. His presence was +untimely, then, in one sense; though he was welcome, and, indeed, +expected. The captain pushed a chair to his son, and invited him to +take a seat near the table, which held a spare pipe or two, a box of +tobacco, a decanter of excellent brandy, a pitcher of pure water, all +pleasant companions to the elderly gentlemen, then in possession. + +"I suppose you are too much of a maccaroni, Bob, to smoke," observed +the smiling father. "I detested a pipe at your time of life; or may +say, I was afraid of it; the only smoke that was in fashion among our +scarlet coats being the smoke of gunpowder. Well, how comes on Gage, +and your neighbours the Yankees?" + +"Why, sir," answered the major, looking behind him, to make sure that +the door was shut--"Why, sir, to own the truth, my visit, here, just at +this moment, is connected with the present state of that quarrel." + +Both the captain and the chaplain drew the pipes from their mouths, +holding them suspended in surprise and attention. + +"The deuce it is!" exclaimed the former. "I thought I owed this +unexpected pleasure to your affectionate desire to let me know I had +inherited the empty honours of a baronetcy!" + +"That was _one_ motive, sir, but the least. I beg you to remember +the awkwardness of my position, as a king's officer, in the midst of +enemies." + +"The devil! I say, parson, this exceeds heresy and schism! Do you call +lodging in your father's house, major Willoughby, being in the midst of +enemies? This is rebellion against nature, and is worse than rebellion +against the king." + +"My dear father, no one feels more secure with _you_, than I do; +or, even, with Mr. Woods, here. But, there are others besides you two, +in this part of the world, and your very settlement may not be safe a +week longer; probably would not be, if my presence in it were known." + +Both the listeners, now, fairly laid down their pipes, and the smoke +began gradually to dissipate, as it might have been rising from a field +of battle. One looked at the other, in wonder, and, then, both looked +at the major, in curiosity. + +"What is the meaning of all this, my son?" asked the captain, gravely. +"Has anything new occurred to complicate the old causes of quarrel?" + +"Blood has, at length, been drawn, sir; open rebellion has commenced!" + +"This is a serious matter, indeed, if it be really so. But do you not +exaggerate the consequences of some fresh indiscretion of the soldiery, +in firing on the people? Remember, in the other affair, even the +colonial authorities justified the officers." + +"This is a very different matter, sir. Blood has not been drawn in a +_riot_, but in a _battle_." + +"Battle! You amaze me, sir! That is indeed a serious matter, and may +lead to most serious consequences!" + +"The Lord preserve us from evil times," ejaculated the chaplain, "and +lead us, poor, dependent creatures that we are, into the paths of peace +and quietness! Without his grace, we are the blind leading the blind." + +"Do you mean, major Willoughby, that armed and disciplined bodies have +met in actual conflict?" + +"Perhaps not literally so, my dear father; but the minute-men of +Massachusetts, and His Majesty's forces, have met and fought. This I +know, full well; for my own regiment was in the field, and, I hope it +is unnecessary to add, that its second officer was not absent." + +"Of course these minute-men--rabble would be the better word--could not +stand before you?" said the captain, compressing his lips, under a +strong impulse of military pride. + +Major Willoughby coloured, and, to own the truth, at that moment he +wished the Rev. Mr. Woods, if not literally at the devil, at least safe +and sound in another room; anywhere, so it were out of ear-shot of the +answer. + +"Why, sir," he said, hesitating, not to say stammering, notwithstanding +a prodigious effort to seem philosophical and calm--"To own the truth, +these minute-fellows are not quite as contemptible as we soldiers would +be apt to think. It was a stone-wall affair, and dodging work; and, so, +you know, sir, drilled troops wouldn't have the usual chance. They +pressed us pretty warmly on the retreat." + +"_Retreat_! Major Willoughby!" + +"I called it retreat, sure enough; but it was only a march _in_, +again, after having done the business on which we went out. I shall +admit, I say, sir, that we were hard pressed, until _reinforced_." + +"_Reinforced_, my dear Bob! _Your_ regiment, _our_ +regiment could not need a reinforcement against all the Yankees in New +England." + +The major could not abstain from laughing, a little, at this exhibition +of his father's _esprit de corps_; but native frankness, and love +of truth, compelled him to admit the contrary. + +"It _did_, sir, notwithstanding," he answered; "and, not to mince +the matter, it needed it confoundedly. Some of our officers who have +seen the hardest service of the last war, declare, that taking the +march, and the popping work, and the distance, altogether, it was the +warmest day _they_ remember. Our loss, too, was by no means +insignificant, as I hope you will believe, when you know the troops +engaged. We report something like three hundred casualties." + +The captain did not answer for quite a minute. All this time he sat +thoughtful, and even pale; for his mind was teeming with the pregnant +consequences of such an outbreak. Then he desired his son to give a +succinct, but connected history of the whole affair. The major +complied, beginning his narrative with an account of the general state +of the country, and concluding it, by giving, as far as it was possible +for one whose professional pride and political feelings were too deeply +involved to be entirely impartial, a reasonably just account of the +particular occurrence already mentioned. + +The events that led to, and the hot skirmish which it is the practice +of the country to call the Battle of Lexington, and the incidents of +the day itself, are too familiar to the ordinary reader, to require +repetition here. The major explained all the military points very +clearly, did full justice to the perseverance and daring of the +provincials, as he called his enemies--for, an American himself, he +would not term them Americans--and threw in as many explanatory remarks +as he could think of, by way of vindicating the "march _in_, +again." This he did, too, quite as much out of filial piety, as out of +self-love; for, to own the truth, the captain's mortification, as a +soldier, was so very evident as to give his son sensible pain. + +"The effect of all this," continued the major, when his narrative of +the military movements was ended, "has been to raise a tremendous +feeling, throughout the country, and God knows what is to follow." + +"And this you have come hither to tell me, Robert," said the father, +kindly. "It is well done, and as I would have expected from you. We +might have passed the summer, here, and not have heard a whisper of so +important an event." + +"Soon after the affair--or, as soon as we got some notion of its effect +on the provinces, general Gage sent me, privately, with despatches to +governor Tryon. _He_, governor Tryon, was aware of your position; +and, as I had also to communicate the death of Sir Harry Willoughby, he +directed me to come up the river, privately, have an interview with Sir +John, if possible, and then push on, under a feigned name, and +communicate with you. He thinks, now Sir William is dead, that with +your estate, and new rank, and local influence, you might be very +serviceable in sustaining the royal cause; for, it is not to be +concealed that this affair is likely to take the character of an open +and wide-spread revolt against the authority of the crown." + +"General Tryon does me too much honour," answered the captain, coldly. +"My estate is a small body of wild land; my influence extends little +beyond this beaver meadow, and is confined to my own household, and +some fifteen or twenty labourers; and as for the _new rank_ of +which you speak, it is not likely the colonists will care much for +_that,_ if they disregard the rights of the king. Still, you have +acted like a son in running the risk you do, Bob; and I pray God you +may get back to your regiment, in safety." + +"This is a cordial to my hopes, sir; for nothing would pain me more +than to believe you think it my duty, because I was born in the +colonies, to throw up my commission, and take side with the rebels." + +"I do not conceive that to be your duty, any more than I conceive it to +be mine to take sides against them, because I happened to be born in +England. It is a weak view of moral obligations, that confines them +merely to the accidents of birth, and birth-place. Such a subsequent +state of things may have grown up, as to change all our duties, and it +is necessary that we discharge them as they _are_; not as they may +have been, hitherto, or may be, hereafter. Those who clamour so much +about mere birth-place, usually have no very clear sense of their +higher obligations. Over our birth we can have no control; while we are +rigidly responsible for the fulfilment of obligations voluntarily +contracted." + +"Do you reason thus, captain?" asked the chaplain, with strong +interest--"Now, I confess, I _feel_, in this matter, not only very +much like a native American, but very much like a native Yankee, in the +bargain. You know I was born in the Bay, and--the major must excuse +me--but, it ill-becomes my cloth to deceive--I hope the major will +pardon me--I--I do hope--" + +"Speak out, Mr. Woods," said Robert Willoughby, smiling--"_You_ +have nothing to fear from your old friend the major." + +"So I thought--so I thought--well, then, I was glad--yes, really +rejoiced at heart, to hear that my countrymen, down-east, there, had +made the king's troops scamper," + +"I am not aware that I used any such terms, sir, in connection with the +manner in which we marched in, after the duty we went out on was +performed," returned the young soldier, a little stiffly. "I suppose it +is natural for one Yankee to sympathize with another; but, my father, +Mr. Woods, is an _Old_ England, and not a _New_-England-man; +and he may be excused if he feel more for the servants of the crown." + +"Certainly, my dear major--certainly, my dear Mr. Robert--my old pupil, +and, I hope, my friend--all this is true enough, and very natural. I +allow captain Willoughby to wish the best for the king's troops, while +I wish the best for my own countrymen." + +"This is natural, on both sides, out of all question, though it by no +means follows that it is right. 'Our country, right or wrong,' is a +high-sounding maxim, but it is scarcely the honest man's maxim. Our +country, after all, cannot have nearer claims upon us, than our parents +for instance; and who can claim a moral right to sustain even his own +father, in error, injustice, or crime? No, no--I hate your pithy +sayings; they commonly mean nothing that is substantially good, at +bottom." + +"But one's country, in a time of actual war, sir!" said the major, in a +tone of as much remonstrance as habit would allow him to use to his own +father. + +"Quite true, Bob; but the difficulty here, is to know which _is_ +one's country. It is a family quarrel, at the best, and it will hardly +do to talk about foreigners, at all. It is the same as if I should +treat Maud unkindly, or harshly, because she is the child of only a +friend, and not my own natural daughter. As God is my judge, Woods, I +am unconscious of not loving Maud Meredith, at this moment, as tenderly +as I love Beulah Willoughby. There was a period, in her childhood, when +the playful little witch had most of my heart, I am afraid, if the +truth were known. It is use, and duty, then, and not mere birth, that +ought to tie our hearts." + +The major thought it might very well be that one child should be loved +more than another, though he did not understand how there could be a +divided allegiance. The chaplain looked at the subject with views still +more narrowed, and he took up the cudgels of argument in sober earnest, +conceiving this to be as good an opportunity as another, for disposing +of the matter. + +"I am all for birth, and blood, and natural ties," he said, "always +excepting the peculiar claims of Miss Maud, whose case is _sui +generis_, and not to be confounded with any other case. A man can +have but one country, any more than he can have but one nature; and, as +he is forced to be true to that nature, so ought he morally to be true +to that country. The captain says, that it is difficult to determine +which is one's country, in a civil war; but I cannot admit the +argument. If Massachusetts and England get to blows, Massachusetts is +my country; if Suffolk and Worcester counties get into a quarrel, my +duty calls me to Worcester, where I was born; and so I should carry out +the principle from country to country, county to county, town to town, +parish to parish; or, even household to household." + +"This is an extraordinary view of one's duty, indeed, my dear Mr. +Woods," cried the major, with a good deal of animation; "and if one- +half the household quarrelled with the other, you would take sides with +that in which you happened to find yourself, at the moment." + +"It is an extraordinary view of one's duty, for a _parson_;" +observed the captain. "Let us reason backward a little, and ascertain +where we shall come out. You put the head of the household out of the +question. Has he no claims? Is a father to be altogether overlooked in +the struggle between the children? Are his laws to be broken--his +rights invaded--or his person to be maltreated, perhaps, and his curse +disregarded, because a set of unruly children get by the ears, on +points connected with their own selfishness?" + +"I give up the household," cried the chaplain, "for the bible settles +that; and what the bible disposes of, is beyond dispute--'Honour thy +father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the +Lord thy God giveth thee'--are terrible words, and must not be +disobeyed. But the decalogue has not another syllable which touches the +question. 'Thou shalt not kill,' means murder only; common, vulgar +murder--and 'thou shalt not steal,' 'thou shalt not commit adultery,' +&c., don't bear on civil war, as I see. 'Remember the Sabbath to keep +it holy'--'Thou shalt not covet the ox nor the ass'--'Thou shalt not +take the name of the Lord thy God in vain'--none of these, not one of +them, bears, at all, on this question." + +"What do you think of the words of the Saviour, where he tells us to +'render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's? Has Caesar no rights +here? Can Massachusetts and my Lord North settle their quarrels in such +a manner as to put Caesar altogether out of view?" + +The chaplain looked down a moment, pondered a little, and then he came +up to the attack, again, with renewed ardour. + +"Caesar is out of the question here. If His Majesty will come and take +sides with us, we shall be ready to honour and obey him; but if he +choose to remain alienated from us, it is his act, not ours." + +"This is a new mode of settling allegiance! If Caesar will do as we +wish, he shall still be Caesar; but, if he refuse to do as we wish, then +down with Caesar. I am an old soldier, Woods, and while I feel that this +question has two sides to it, my disposition to reverence and honour +the king is still strong." + +The major appeared delighted, and, finding matters going on so +favourably, he pleaded fatigue and withdrew, feeling satisfied that, if +his father fairly got into a warm discussion, taking the loyal side of +the question, he would do more to confirm himself in the desired views, +than could be effected by any other means. By this time, the disputants +were so warm as scarcely to notice the disappearance of the young man, +the argument proceeding. + +The subject is too hackneyed, and, indeed, possesses too little +interest, to induce us to give more than an outline of what passed. The +captain and the chaplain belonged to that class of friends, which may +be termed argumentative. Their constant discussions were a strong link +in the chain of esteem; for they had a tendency to enliven their +solitude, and to give a zest to lives that, without them, would have +been exceedingly monotonous. Their ordinary subjects were theology and +war; the chaplain having some practical knowledge of the last, and the +captain a lively disposition to the first. In these discussions, the +clergyman was good-natured and the soldier polite; circumstances that +tended to render them far more agreeable to the listeners than they +might otherwise have proved. + +On the present occasion, the chaplain rang the changes diligently, on +the natural feelings, while his friend spoke most of the higher duties. +The _ad captandum_ part of the argument, oddly enough, fell to the +share of the minister of the church; while the intellectual, +discriminating, and really logical portion of the subject, was handled +by one trained in garrisons and camps, with a truth, both of ethics and +reason, that would have done credit to a drilled casuist. The war of +words continued till past midnight, both disputants soon getting back +to their pipes, carrying on the conflict amid a smoke that did no +dishonour to such a well-contested field. Leaving the captain and his +friend thus intently engaged, we will take one or two glimpses into +different parts of the house, before we cause all our characters to +retire for the night. + +About the time the battle in the library was at its height, Mrs. +Willoughby was alone in her room, having disposed of all the cares, and +most of the duties of the day. The mother's heart was filled with a +calm delight that it would have been difficult for herself to describe. +All she held most dear on earth, her husband, her kind-hearted, +faithful, long-loved husband; her noble son, the pride and joy of her +heart; Beulah, her own natural-born daughter, the mild, tractable, +sincere, true-hearted child that so much resembled herself; and Maud, +the adopted, one rendered dear by solicitude and tenderness, and now so +fondly beloved on her own account, were all with her, beneath her own +roof, almost within the circle of her arms. The Hutted Knoll was no +longer a solitude; the manor was not a wilderness to _her_; for +where her heart was, there truly was her treasure, also. After passing +a few minutes in silent, but delightful thought, this excellent, +guileless woman knelt and poured out her soul in thanksgivings to the +Being, who had surrounded her lot with so many blessings. Alas! little +did she suspect the extent, duration, and direful nature of the evils +which, at that very moment, were pending over her native country, or +the pains that her own affectionate hear? was to endure! The major had +not suffered a whisper of the real nature of his errand to escape him, +except to his father and the chaplain; and we will now follow him to +his apartment, and pass a minute, _tete-a-tete,_ with the young +soldier, ere he too lays his head on his pillow. + +A couple of neat rooms were prepared and furnished, that were held +sacred to the uses of the heir. They were known to the whole household, +black and white, as the "young captain's quarters;" and even Maud +called them, in her laughing off-handedness, "Bob's Sanctum." Here, +then, the major found everything as he left it on his last visit, a +twelvemonth before; and some few things that were strangers to him, in +the bargain. In that day, toilets covered with muslin, more or less +worked and ornamented, were a regular appliance of every bed-room, of a +better-class house, throughout America. The more modern "Duchesses," +"Psyches," "dressing-tables," &c. &c., of our own extravagant and +benefit-of-the-act-taking generation, were then unknown; a moderately- +sized glass, surrounded by curved, gilded ornaments, hanging against +the wall, above the said muslin-covered table, quite as a matter of +law, if not of domestic faith. + +As soon as the major had set down his candle, he looked about him, as +one recognises old friends, pleased at renewing his acquaintance with +so many dear and cherished objects. The very playthings of his +childhood were there; and, even a beautiful and long-used hoop, was +embellished with ribbons, by some hand unknown to himself. "Can this be +my mother?" thought the young man, approaching to examine the well- +remembered hoop, which he had never found so honoured before; "can my +kind, tender-hearted mother, who never will forget that I am no longer +a child, can she have really done this? I must laugh at her, to-morrow, +about it, even while I kiss and bless her." Then he turned to the +toilet, where stood a basket, filled with different articles, which, at +once, he understood were offerings to himself. Never had he visited the +Hut without finding such a basket in his room at night. It was a tender +proof how truly and well he was remembered, in his absence. + +"Ah!" thought the major, as he opened a bundle of knit lamb's-wool +stockings, "here is my dear mother again, with her thoughts about damp +feet, and the exposure of service. And a dozen shirts, too, with +'Beulah' pinned on one of them--how the deuce does the dear girl +suppose I am to carry away such a stock of linen, without even a horse +to ease me of a bundle? My kit would be like that of the commander-in- +chief, were I to take away all that these dear relatives design for me. +What's this?--a purse! a handsome silken purse, too, with Beulah's name +on it. Has Maud nothing, here? Why has Maud forgotten me! Ruffles, +handkerchiefs, garters--yes, here is a pair of my good mother's own +knitting, but nothing of Maud's--Ha! what have we here? As I live, a +beautiful silken scarf--netted in a way to make a whole regiment +envious. Can this have been bought, or has it been the work of a +twelvemonth? No name on it, either. Would my father have done this? +Perhaps it is one of his old scarfs--if so, it is an old _new_ +one, for I do not think it has ever been worn. I must inquire into +this, in the morning--I wonder there is nothing of Maud's!" + +As the major laid aside his presents, he kissed the scarf, and then--I +regret to say without saying _his_ prayers--the young man went to +bed. + +The scene must now be transferred to the room where the sisters--in +affection, if not in blood--were about to seek their pillows also. +Maud, ever the quickest and most prompt in her movements, was already +in her night-clothes; and, wrapping a shawl about herself, was seated +waiting for Beulah to finish her nightly orisons. It was not long +before the latter rose from her knees, and then our heroine spoke. + +"The major must have examined the basket by this time," she cried, her +cheek rivalling the tint of a riband it leaned against, on the back of +the chair. "I heard his heavy tramp--tramp--tramp--as he went to his +room--how differently these men walk from us girls, Beulah!" + +"They do, indeed; and Bob has got to be so large and heavy, now, that +he quite frightens me, sometimes. Do you not think he grows wonderfully +like papa?" + +"I do not see it. He wears his own hair, and it's a pity he should ever +cut it off, it's so handsome and curling. Then he is taller, but +lighter--has more colour--is so much younger--and everyway so +different, I wonder you think so. I do not think him in the least like +father." + +"Well, that is odd, Maud. Both mother and myself were struck with the +resemblance, this evening, and we were both delighted to see it. Papa +is quite handsome, and so I think is Bob. Mother says he is not +_quite_ as handsome as father was, at his age, but _so_ like +him, it is surprising!" + +"Men may be handsome and not alike. Father is certainly one of the +handsomest elderly men of my acquaintance--and the major is so-so-ish-- +but, I wonder you can think a man of seven-and-twenty so _very_ +like one of sixty odd. Bob tells me he can play the flute quite readily +now, Beulah." + +"I dare say; he does everything he undertakes uncommonly well. Mr. +Woods said, a few days since, he had never met with a boy who was +quicker at his mathematics." + +"Oh! All Mr. Wood's geese are swans. I dare say there have been other +boys who were quite as clever. I do not believe in _non-pareils,_ +Beulah." + +"You surprise me, Maud--you, whom I always supposed such a friend of +Bob's! He thinks everything _you_ do, too, so perfect! Now, this +very evening, he was looking at the sketch you have made of the Knoll, +and he protested he did not know a regular artist in England, even, +that would have done it better." + +Maud stole a glance at her sister, while the latter was speaking, from +under her cap, and her cheeks now fairly put the riband to shame; but +her smile was still saucy and wilful. + +"Oh nonsense," she said--"Bob's no judge of drawings--_He_ scarce +knows a tree from a horse!" + +"I'm surprised to hear you say so, Maud," said the generous-minded and +affectionate Beulah, who could see no imperfection in Bob; "and that of +your brother. When he taught _you_ to draw, you thought him well +skilled as an artist." + +"Did I?--I dare say I'm a capricious creature--but, somehow, I don't +regard Bob, just as I used to. He has been away from us so much, of +late, you know--and the army makes men so formidable--and, they are not +like us, you know--and, altogether, I think Bob excessively changed." + +"Well, I'm glad mamma don't hear this, Maud. She looks upon her son, +now he is a major, and twenty-seven, just as she used to look upon him, +when he was in petticoats--nay, I think she considers us all exactly as +so many little children." + +"She is a dear, good mother, I know," said Maud, with emphasis, tears +starting to her eyes, involuntarily, almost _impetuously_-- +"whatever she says, does, wishes, hopes, or thinks, is right." + +"Oh! I knew you would come to, as soon as there was a question about +mother! Well, for my part, I have no such horror of men, as not to feel +just as much tenderness for father or brother, as I feel for mamma, +herself." + +"Not for Bob, Beulah. Tenderness for Bob! Why, my dear sister, that is +feeling tenderness for a _Major of Foot_, a very different thing +from feeling it for one's mother. As for papa--dear me, he is glorious, +and I do so love him!" + +"You ought to, Maud; for you were, and I am not certain that you are +not, at this moment, _his_ darling." + +It was odd that this was said without the least thought, on the part of +the speaker, that Maud was not her natural sister--that, in fact, she +was not in the least degree related to her by blood. But so closely and +judiciously had captain and Mrs. Willoughby managed the affair of their +adopted child, that neither they themselves, Beulah, nor the inmates of +the family or household, ever thought of her, but as of a real daughter +of her nominal parents. As for Beulah, her feelings were so simple and +sincere, that they were even beyond the ordinary considerations of +delicacy, and she took precisely the same liberties with her titular, +as she would have done with a natural sister. Maud alone, of all in the +Hut, remembered her birth, and submitted to some of its most obvious +consequences. As respects the captain, the idea never crossed her mind, +that she was adopted by him; as respects her mother, she filled to her, +in every sense, that sacred character; Beulah, too, was a sister, in +thought and deed; but, Bob, he had so changed, had been so many years +separated from her; had once actually called her Miss Meredith-- +somehow, she knew not how herself--it was fully six years since she had +begun to remember that _he_ was not her brother. + +"As for my father," said Maud, rising with emotion, and speaking with +startling emphasis--"I will not say I _love_ him--I _worship_ +him!" + +"Ah! I know that well enough, Maud; and to say the truth, you are a +couple of idolaters, between you. Mamma says this, sometimes; though +she owns she is not jealous. But it would pain her excessively to hear +that you do not feel towards Bob, just as we all feel." + +"But, ought I?--Beulah, I cannot!" + +"Ought you!--Why not, Maud? Are you in your senses, child?" + +"But--you know--I'm sure--you ought to remember--" + +"_What_?" demanded Beulah, really frightened at the other's +excessive agitation. + +"That I am _not_ his real--true--_born_ sister!" + +This was the first time in their lives, either had ever alluded to the +fact, in the other's presence. Beulah turned pale; she trembled all +over, as if in an ague; then she luckily burst into tears, else she +might have fainted. + +"Beulah--my sister--my _own_ sister!" cried Maud, throwing herself +into the arms of the distressed girl. + +"Ah! Maud, you _are_, you _shall_ for ever be, my only, only +sister." + + + + + +Chapter VI. + + O! It is great for our country to die, where ranks are contending; + Bright is the wreath of our fame; Glory awaits us for aye-- + Glory, that never is dim, shining on with light never ending-- + Glory, that never shall fade, never, O! never away. + + Percival. + +Notwithstanding the startling intelligence that had so unexpectedly +reached it, and the warm polemical conflict that had been carried on +within its walls, the night passed peacefully over the roof of the +Hutted Knoll. At the return of dawn, the two Plinys, both the Smashes, +and all the menials were again afoot; and, ere long, Mike, Saucy Nick +Joel, and the rest were seen astir, in the open fields, or in the +margin of the woods. Cattle were fed, cows milked fires lighted, and +everything pursued its course, in the order of May. The three wenches, +as female negroes were then termed, _ex officio_, in America, +opened their throats, as was usual at that hour, and were heard singing +at their labours, in a way nearly to deaden the morning carols of the +tenants of the forest. _Mari'_ in particular, would have drowned +the roar of Niagara. The captain used to call her his clarion. + +In due time, the superiors of the household made their appearance. Mrs. +Willoughby was the first out of her room, as was ever the case when +there was anything to be done. On the present occasion, the "fatted +calf" was to be killed, not in honour of the return of a prodigal son, +however, but in behalf of one who was the pride of her eyes, and the +joy of her heart. The breakfast that she ordered was just the sort of +breakfast, that one must visit America to witness. France can set forth +a very scientific _dejeuner a la fourchette,_ and England has +laboured-and ponderous imitations; but, for the spontaneous, +superabundant, unsophisticated, natural, all-sufficing and all-subduing +morning's meal, take America, in a better-class house, in the country, +and you reach the _ne plus ultra_, in that sort of thing. Tea, +coffee, and chocolate, of which the first and last were excellent, and +the second respectable; ham, fish, eggs, toast, cakes, rolls, +marmalades, &c. &c. &c., were thrown together in noble confusion; +frequently occasioning the guest, as Mr. Woods naively confessed, an +utter confusion of mind, as to which he was to attack, when all were +inviting and each would be welcome. + +Leaving Mrs. Willoughby in deep consultation with Mari' on the subject +of this feast, we will next look after the two sweet girls whom we so +abruptly deserted in the last chapter. When Maud's glowing cheeks were +first visible that morning, signs of tears might have been discovered +on them, as the traces of the dew are found on the leaf of the rose; +but they completely vanished under the duties of the toilet, and she +came forth from her chamber, bright and cloudless as the glorious May- +morning, which had returned to cheer the solitude of the manor. Beulah +followed, tranquil, bland and mild as the day itself, the living image +of the purity of soul, and deep affections, of her honest nature. + +The sisters went into the breakfast-room, where they had little lady- +like offices of their own to discharge, too, in honour of the guest; +each employing herself in decorating the table, and in seeing that it +wanted nothing in the proprieties As their pleasing tasks were +fulfilled, the discourse did not flag between them. Nothing, however, +had been said, that made the smallest allusion to the conversation of +the past night. Neither felt any wish to revive that subject; and, as +for Maud, bitterly did she regret ever having broached it. At times, +her cheeks burned with blushes, as she recalled her words; and yet she +scarce knew the reason why. The feeling of Beulah was different. She +wondered her sister could ever think she was a Meredith, and not a +Willoughby. At times she feared some unfortunate oversight of her own, +some careless allusion, or indiscreet act, might have served to remind +Maud of the circumstances of her real birth. Yet there was nothing in +the last likely to awaken unpleasant reflections, apart from the +circumstance that she was not truly a child of the family into which +she had been transplanted. The Merediths were, at least, as nonourable +a family as the Willoughbys, in the ordinary worldly view of the +matter; nor was Maud, by any means, a dependant, in the way of money. +Five thousand pounds, in the English funds, had been settled on her, by +the marriage articles of her parents; and twenty years of careful +husbandry, during which every shilling had been scrupulously devoted to +accumulation, had quite doubled the original amount. So far from being +penniless, therefore, Maud's fortune was often alluded to by the +captain, in a jocular way, as if purposely to remind her that she had +the means of independence, and duties connected with it. It is true, +Maud, herself, had no suspicion that she had been educated altogether +by her "father," and that her own money had not been used for this +purpose. To own the truth, she thought little about it; knew little +about it, beyond the fact, that she had a fortune of her own, into the +possession of which she must step, when she attained her majority. How +she came by it, even, was a question she never asked though there were +moments when tender regrets and affectionate melancholy would come over +her heart, as she thought of her natural parents, and of their early +deaths. Still, Maud implicitly reposed on the captain and Mrs. +Willoughby, as on a father and mother; and it was not owing to _them_, +or anything connected with their love, treatment, words, or +thoughts, that she was reminded that they were not so in very fact, as +well as in tenderness. + +"Bob will think _you_ made these plum sweetmeats, Beulah," said +Maud, with a saucy smile, as she placed a glass plate on the table--"He +never thinks I _can_ make anything of this sort; and, as he is so +fond of plums, he will be certain to taste them; then _you_ will +come in for the praise!" + +"You appear to think, that _praise_ he must. Perhaps he may not +fancy them good." + +"If I thought so, I would take them away this instant," cried Maud, +standing in the attitude of one in doubt. "Bob does _not_ think +much of such things in girls, for he says ladies need not be cooks; and +yet when one _does_ make a thing of this sort, one would certainly +like to have it _well_ made." + +"Set your heart at ease, Maud; the plums are delicious--much the best +we ever had, and we are rather famous for them, you know. I'll answer +for it, Bob will pronounce them the best he has ever tasted." + +"And if he shouldn't, why should I care--that is, not _very +much_--about it. You know they are the first I ever made, and one +may be permitted to fail on a first effort. Besides, a man _may_ +go to England, and see fine sights, and live in great houses, and all +that, and not understand when he has good plum sweetmeats before him, +and when bad. I dare say there are many _colonels_ in the army, +who are ignorant on this point." + +Beulah laughed, and admitted the truth of the remark; though, in her +secret mind, she had almost persuaded herself that Bob knew everything. + +"Do you not think our brother improved in appearance, Maud," she asked, +after a short pause. "The visit to England has done him that service, +at least." + +"I don't see it, Beulah--I see no change. To me, Bob is just the same +to-day, that he has ever been; that is, ever since he grew to be a +man--with boys, of course, it is different. Ever since he was made a +captain, I mean." + +As major Willoughby had reached that rank the day he was one-and- +twenty, the reader can understand the precise date when Maud began to +take her present views of his appearance and character. + +"I am surprised to hear you say so, Maud! Papa says he is better 'set +up,' as he calls it, by his English drill, and that he looks altogether +more like a soldier than he did." + +"Bob has always had a martial look!" cried Maud, quickly--"He got that +in garrison, when a boy." + +"If so, I hope he may never lose it!" said the subject of the remark, +himself, who had entered the room unperceived, and overheard this +speech. "Being a soldier, one would wish to look like what he is, my +little critic." + +The kiss that followed, and that given to Beulah, were no more than the +usual morning salutations of a brother to his sisters, slight touches +of rosy cheeks; and yet Maud blushed; for, as she said to herself, she +had been taken by surprise. + +"They say listeners never hear good of themselves," answered Maud, with +a vivacity that betokened confusion. "Had you come a minute sooner, +master Bob, it might have been an advantage." + +"Oh! Beulah's remarks I do not fear; so long as I get off unscathed +from yours, Miss Maud, I shall think myself a lucky fellow. But what +has brought me and my training into discussion, this morning?" + +"It is natural for sisters to speak about their brother after so +long----" + +"Tell him nothing about it, Beulah," interrupted Maud. "Let him listen, +and eaves-drop, and find out as he may, if he would learn our secrets. +There, major Willoughby, I hope that is a promise of a breakfast, which +will satisfy even your military appetite!" + +"It looks well, indeed, Maud--and there, I perceive, are some of +Beulah's excellent plums, of which I am so fond--know they were made +especially for me, and I must kiss you, sister, for this proof of +remembrance." + +Beulah, to whose simple mind it seemed injustice to appropriate credit +that belonged to another, was about to tell the truth; but an imploring +gesture from her sister induced her to smile, and receive the salute in +silence. + +"Has any one seen captain Willoughby and parson Woods this morning?" +inquired the major. "I left them desperately engaged in discussion, and +I really feel some apprehension as to the remains left on the field of +battle." + +"Here they both come," cried Maud, glad to find the discourse taking so +complete a change; "and there is mamma, followed by Pliny, to tell +Beulah to take her station at the coffee, while I go to the chocolate, +leaving the tea to the only hand that can make it so that my father +will drink it." + +The parties mentioned entered the room, in the order named; the usual +salutations followed, and all took their seats at table. Captain +Willoughby was silent and thoughtful at first, leaving his son to +rattle on, in a way that betokened care, in his view of the matter, +quite as much as it betokened light-heartedness in those of his mother +and sisters. The chaplain was rather more communicative than his +friend; but he, too, seemed restless, and desirous of arriving at some +point that was not likely to come uppermost, in such a family party. At +length, the impulses of Mr. Woods got the better of his discretion, +even, and he could conceal his thoughts no longer. + +"Captain Willoughby," he said, in a sort of apologetic, and yet simple +and natural manner, "I have done little since we parted, seven hours +since, but think of the matter under discussion." + +"If you have, my dear Woods, there has been a strong sympathy between +us; I have scarcely slept. I may say I have thought of nothing else, +myself, and am glad you have broached the subject, again." + +"I was about to say, my worthy sir, that reflection, and my pillow, and +your sound and admirable arguments, have produced an entire change in +my sentiments. I think, now, altogether with you." + +"The devil you do, Woods!" cried the captain, looking up from his bit +of dry toast, in astonishment. "Why, my dear fellow--this is odd-- +excessively odd, if the truth must be said.--To own the real state of +the case, chaplain, you have won _me_ over, and I was just about +to make proper acknowledgments of your victory!" + +It need scarcely be added that the rest of the company were not a +little amazed at these cross-concessions, while Maud was exceedingly +amused. As for Mrs. Willoughby, nothing laughable ever occurred in +connection with her husband; and then she would as soon think of +assailing the church itself, as to ridicule one of its ministers. +Beulah could see nothing but what was right in her father, at least; +and, as for the major, he felt too much concerned at this unexpected +admission of his father's, to perceive anything but the error. + +"Have you not overlooked the injunction of scripture, my excellent +friend?" rejoined the chaplain. "Have you left to the rights of Caesar, +all their weight and authority? 'The king's name is a tower of +strength.'" + +"Have not you, Woods, forgotten the superior claims of reason and +right, over those of accident and birth--that man is to be considered +as a reasoning being, to be governed by principles and ever-varying +facts, and not a mere animal left to the control of an instinct that +perishes with its usefulness?" + +"What _can_ they mean, mother?" whispered Maud, scarce able to +repress the laughter that came so easily to one with a keen sense of +the ludicrous. + +"They have been arguing about the right of parliament to tax the +colonies, I believe, my dear, and _over-persuaded_ each other, +that's all. It _is_ odd, Robert, that Mr. Woods should convert +your father." + +"No, my dearest mother, it is something even more serious than that." +By this time, the disputants, who sat opposite each other, were fairly +launched into the discussion, again, and heeded nothing that +passed--"No, dearest mother, it is far worse than even _that_. +Pliny, tell my man to brush the hunting-jacket--and, see he has his +breakfast, in good style--he is a grumbling rascal, and will give the +house a bad character, else--you need not come back, until we ring for +you--yes, mother, yes dearest girls, this is a far more serious matter +than you suppose, though it ought not to be mentioned idly, among the +people. God knows now they may take it--and bad news flies swift +enough, of itself." + +"Merciful Providence!" exclaimed Mrs. Willoughby-"What _can_ you +mean, my son?" + +"I mean, mother, that civil war has actually commenced in the colonies, +and that the people of your blood and race are, in open arms, against +the people of my father's native country--in a word, against me." + +"How can that be, Robert? Who would _dare_ to strike a blow +against the king?" + +"When men get excited, and their passions are once inflamed, they will +do much, my mother, that they might not dream of, else." + +"This must be a mistake! Some evil-disposed person has told you this, +Robert, knowing your attachment to the crown." + +"I wish it were so, dear madam; but my own eyes have seen--I may say my +own flesh has felt, the contrary." + +The major then related what had happened, letting his auditors into the +secret of the true state of the country. It is scarcely necessary to +allude to the degree of consternation and pain, with which he was +heard, or to the grief which succeeded. + +"You spoke of yourself, dear Bob," said Maud, naturally, and with +strong feeling--"_You_ were not hurt, in this cruel, cruel +battle." + +"I ought not to have mentioned it, although I did certainly receive a +smart contusion--nothing more, I assure you--here in the shoulder, and +it now scarcely inconveniences me." + +By this time all were listening, curiosity and interest having silenced +even the disputants, especially as this was the first they had heard of +the major's casualty. Then neither felt the zeal which had warmed him +in the previous contest, but was better disposed to turn aside from its +pursuit. + +"I hope it did not send you to the rear, Bob?" anxiously inquired the +father. + +"I _was_ in the rear, sir, when I got the hurt," answered the +major, laughing. "The rear is the post of honour, on a retreat, you +know, my dear father; and I believe our march scarce deserves another +name." + +"That is hard, too, on king's troops! What sort of fellows had you to +oppose, my son?" + +"A rather intrusive set, sir. Their object was to persuade us to go +into Boston, as fast as possible; and, it was a little difficult, at +times, not to listen to their arguments. If my Lord Percy had not come +out, with a strong party, and two pieces of artillery, we might not +have stood it much longer. Our men were fagged like hunted deer, and +the day proved oppressively hot." + +"Artillery, too!" exclaimed the captain, his military pride reviving a +little, to unsettle his last convictions of duty. "Did you open your +columns, and charge your enemies, in line?" + +"It would have been charging air. No sooner did we halt, than our foes +dispersed; or, no sooner did we renew the march, than every line of +wall, along our route, became a line of hostile muskets. I trust you +will do us justice, sir--you know the regiments, and can scarce think +they misbehaved." + +"British troops seldom do that; although I have known it happen. No +men, however, are usually more steady, and then these provincials are +formidable as skirmishers. In that character, I know _them_, too. +What has been the effect of all this on the country, Bob?--You told us +something of it last night; complete the history." + +"The provinces are in a tumult. As for New England, a flame of fire +could scarce be more devastating; though I think this colony is less +excited. Still, here, men are arming in thousands." + +"Dear me--dear me"--ejaculated the peacefully-inclined chaplain--"that +human beings can thus be inclined to self destruction!" + +"Is Tryon active?--What do the royal authorities, all this time?" + +"Of course they neglect nothing feasible; but, they must principally +rely on the loyalty and influence of the gentry, until succour can +arrive from Europe. If _that_ fail them, their difficulties will +be much increased." + +Captain Willoughby understood his son; he glanced towards his +unconscious wife, as if to see how far she felt with him. + +"Our own families are divided, of course, much as they have been in the +previous discussions," he added. "The De Lanceys, Van Cortlandts, +Philipses, Bayards, and most of that town connection, with a large +portion of the Long Island families, I should think, are with the +crown; while the Livingstons, Morrises, Schuylers, Rensselaers, and +their friends, go with the colony. Is not this the manner in which they +are divided?" + +"With some limitations, sir. All the De Lanceys, with most of their +strong connections and influence, are with _us_--with the _king_, +I mean--while all the Livingstons and Morrises are against +us. The other families are divided--as with the Cortlandts, Schuylers, +and Rensselaers. It is fortunate for the Patroon, that he is a boy." + +"Why so, Bob?" asked the captain, looking inquiringly up, at his son. + +"Simply, sir, that his great estate may not be confiscated. So many of +his near connections are against us, that he could hardly escape the +contamination; and the consequences would be inevitable." + +"Do you consider that so certain, sir? As there are two sides to the +question, may there not be two results to the war?" + +"I think not, sir. England is no power to be defied by colonies +insignificant as these." + +"This is well enough for a king's officer, major Willoughby; but all +large bodies of men are formidable when they are right, and nations-- +these colonies are a nation, in extent and number--are not so easily +put down, when the spirit of liberty is up and doing among them." + +The major listened to his father with pain and wonder. The captain +spoke earnestly, and there was a flush about his fine countenance, that +gave it sternness and authority. Unused to debate with his father, +especially when the latter was in such a mood, the son remained silent, +though his mother, who was thoroughly loyal in her heart--meaning loyal +as applied to a sovereign--and who had the utmost confidence in her +husband's tenderness and consideration for herself, was not so +scrupulous. + +"Why, Willoughby," she cried, "you really incline to rebellion! I, even +I, who was born in the colonies, think them very wrong to resist their +anointed king, and sovereign prince." + +"Ah, Wilhelmina," answered the captain, more mildly, "you have a true +colonist's admiration of _home_. But I was old enough, when I left +England, to appreciate what I saw and knew, and cannot feel all this +provincial admiration." + +"But surely, my dear captain, England is a very great country," +interrupted the chaplain--"a prodigious country; one that can claim all +our respect and love. Look at the church, now, the purified +continuation of the ancient visible authority of Christ on earth! It is +the consideration of this church that has subdued my natural love of +birth-place, and altered my sentiments." + +"All very true, and all very well, in _your_ mouth, chaplain; yet +even the visible church may err. This doctrine of divine right would +have kept the Stuarts on the throne, and it is not even English +doctrine; much less, then, need it be American. I am no Cromwellian, no +republican, that wishes to oppose the throne, in order to destroy it. A +good king is a good thing, and a prodigious blessing to a country; +still, a people needs look to its political privileges if it wish to +preserve them. You and I will discuss this matter another time, parson. +There will be plenty of opportunities," he added, rising, and smiling +good-humouredly; "I must, now, call my people together, and let them +know this news. It is not fair to conceal a civil war." + +"My dear sir!" exclaimed the major, in concern--"are you not wrong?-- +precipitate, I mean--Is it not better to preserve the secret, to give +yourself time for reflection--to await events?--I can discover no +necessity for this haste. Should you see things differently, hereafter, +an incautious word uttered at this moment might bring much motive for +regret." + +"I have thought of all this, Bob, during the night--for hardly did I +close my eyes--and you cannot change my purpose. It is honest to let my +people know how matters stand; and, so far from being hazardous, as you +seem to think, I consider it wise. God knows what time will bring +forth; but, in every, or any event, fair-dealing can scarcely injure +him who practises it. I have already sent directions to have the whole +settlement collected on the lawn, at the ringing of the bell, and I +expect every moment we shall hear the summons." + +Against this decision there was no appeal. Mild and indulgent as the +captain habitually was, his authority was not to be disputed, when he +chose to exercise it. Some doubts arose, and the father participated in +them, for a moment, as to what might be the effect on the major's +fortunes; for, should a very patriotic spirit arise among the men, two- +thirds of whom were native Americans, and what was more, from the +eastern colonies, he might be detained; or, at least, betrayed on his +return, and delivered into the hands of the revolted authorities. This +was a very serious consideration, and it detained the captain in the +house, some time after the people were assembled, debating the chances, +in the bosom of his own family. + +"We exaggerate the danger," the captain, at length, exclaimed. "Most of +these men have been with me for years, and I know not one among them +who I think would wish to injure me, or even you, my son, in this way. +There is far more danger in attempting to deceive them, than in making +them confidants. I will go out and tell the truth; then we shall, at +least, have the security of self-approbation. If you escape the danger +of being sold by Nick, my son, I think you have little to fear from any +other." + +"By Nick!" repeated half-a-dozen voices, in surprise--Surely, father-- +surely, Willoughby--surely, my dear captain, you cannot suspect as old +and tried a follower, as the Tuscarora!" + +"Ay, he is an _old_ follower, certainly, and he has been +_punished_ often enough, if he has not been _tried_. I have +never suffered my distrust of that fellow to go to sleep--it is unsafe, +with an Indian, unless you have a strong hold on his gratitude." + +"But, Willoughby, he it was who found this manor for us," rejoined the +wife. "Without him, we should never have been the owners of this lovely +place, this beaver-dam, and all else that we so much enjoy." + +"True, my dear; and without good golden guineas, we should not have had +Nick." + +"But, sir, I pay as liberally as he can wish," observed the major. "If +bribes will buy him, mine are as good as another's." + +"We shall see--under actual circumstances, I think we shall be, in +every respect, safer, by keeping nothing back, than by telling all to +the people." + +The captain now put on his hat, and issued through the undefended +gateway, followed by every individual of his family. As the summons had +been general, when the Willoughbys and the chaplain appeared on the +lawn, every living soul of that isolated settlement, even to infants in +the arms, was collected there. The captain commanded the profound +respect of all his dependants, though a few among them did not love +him. The fault was not his, however, but was inherent rather in the +untoward characters of the disaffected themselves. His habits of +authority were unsuited to their habits of a presuming equality, +perhaps; and it is impossible for the comparatively powerful and +affluent to escape the envy and repinings of men, who, unable to draw +the real distinctions that separate the gentleman from the low-minded +and grovelling, impute their advantages to accidents and money. But, +even the few who permitted this malign and corrupting tendency to +influence their feelings, could not deny that their master was just and +benevolent, though he did not always exhibit this justice and +benevolence precisely in the way best calculated to soothe their own +craving self-love, and exaggerated notions of assumed natural claims. +In a word, captain Willoughby, in the eyes of a few unquiet and bloated +imaginations among his people, was obnoxious to the imputation of +pride; and this because he saw and felt the consequences of education, +habits, manners, opinions and sentiments that were hidden from those +who not only had no perception of their existence, but who had no +knowledge whatever of the qualities that brought them into being. +Pope's familiar line of "what can we reason but from what we know?" is +peculiarly applicable to persons of this class; who are ever for +dragging all things down to standards created by their own ignorance; +and who, slaves of the basest and meanest passions, reason as if they +were possessors of all the knowledge, sensibilities and refinements of +their own country and times. Of this class of men, comes the ordinary +demagogue, a wretch equally incapable of setting an example of any of +the higher qualities, in his own person or practice, and of +appreciating it when exhibited by others. Such men abound under all +systems where human liberty is highly privileged, being the moral +_fungi_ of freedom, as the rankest weeds are known to be the +troublesome and baneful productions of the richest soils. + +It was no unusual thing for the people of the Hutted Knoll to be +collected, in the manner we have described. We are writing of a period, +that the present enlightened generation is apt to confound with the +darker ages of American knowledge, in much that relates to social +usages at least, though it escaped the long-buried wisdom of the Mormon +bible, and Miller's interpretations of the prophecies. In that day, men +were not so silly as to attempt to appear always wise; but some of the +fetes and festivals of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors were still tolerated +among us; the all-absorbing and all-_swallowing_ jubilee of +"Independence-day" not having yet overshadowed everything else in the +shape of a holiday. Now, captain Willoughby had brought with him to the +colonies the love of festivals that is so much more prevalent in the +old world than in the new; and it was by no means an uncommon thing for +him to call his people together, to make merry on a birth-day, or the +anniversary of some battle in which he had been one of the victors. +When he appeared on the lawn, on the present occasion, therefore, it +was expected he was about to meet them with some such announcement. + +The inhabitants of the manor, or the estate of the Hutted Knoll, might +be divided into three great physical, and we might add moral +categories, or races, viz: the Anglo-Saxon, the Dutch, both high and +low, and the African. The first was the most numerous, including the +families of the millers, most of the mechanics, and that of Joel +Strides, the land-overseer; the second was composed chiefly of +labourers; and the last were exclusively household servants, with the +exception of one of the Plinys, who was a ploughman, though permitted +to live with his kinsfolk in the Hut. These divisions, Maud, in one of +her merry humours, had nick-named the three tribes; while her father, +to make the enumeration complete, had classed the serjeant, Mike, and +Jamie Allen, as supernumeraries. + +The three tribes, and the three supernumeraries, then, were all +collected on the lawn, as the captain and his family approached. By a +sort of secret instinct, too, they had divided themselves into knots, +the Dutch keeping a little aloof from the Yankees; and the blacks, +almost as a matter of religion, standing a short distance in the rear, +as became people of their colour, and slaves. Mike and Jamie, however, +had got a sort of neutral position, between the two great divisions of +the whites, as if equally indifferent to their dissensions or +antipathies. In this manner all parties stood, impatiently awaiting an +announcement that had been so long delayed. The captain advanced to the +front, and removing his hat, a ceremony he always observed on similar +occasions, and which had the effect to make his listeners imitate his +own courtesy, he addressed the crowd. + +"When people live together, in a wilderness like this," commenced the +captain, "there ought to be no secrets between them, my friends, in +matters that touch the common interests. We are like men on a remote +island; a sort of colony of our own; and we must act fairly and frankly +by each other. In this spirit, then, I am now about to lay before you, +all that I know myself, concerning an affair of the last importance to +the colonies, and to the empire." Here Joel pricked up his ears, and +cast a knowing glance at 'the miller,' a countryman and early neighbour +of his own, who had charge of the grinding for the settlement, and who +went by that appellation '_par excellence_!' "You all know," +continued the captain, "that there have been serious difficulties +between the colonies and parliament, now, for more than ten years; +difficulties that have been, once or twice, partially settled, but +which have as often broken out, in some new shape, as soon as an old +quarrel was adjusted." + +Here the captain paused a moment; and Joel, who was the usual spokesman +of 'the people,' took an occasion to put a question. + +"The captain means, I s'pose," he said, in a sly, half-honest, half- +jesuitical manner, "the right of parliament to tax us Americans, +without our own consent, or our having any members in their +le_gys_la_toore_?" + +"I mean what you say. The tax on tea, the shutting the port of Boston, +and other steps, have brought larger bodies of the king's troops among +us, than have been usual. Boston, as you probably know, has had a +strong garrison, now, for some months. About six weeks since, the +commander-in-chief sent a detachment out as far as Concord, in New +Hampshire, to destroy certain stores. This detachment had a meeting +with the minute-men, and blood was drawn. A running fight ensued, in +which several hundreds have been killed and wounded; and I think I know +both sides sufficiently well, to predict that a long and bloody civil +war is begun. These are facts you should know, and accordingly I tell +them to you." + +This simple, but explicit, account was received very differently, by +the different listeners. Joel Strides leaned forward, with intense +interest, so as not to lose a syllable. Most of the New Englanders, or +Yankees, paid great attention, and exchanged meaning glances with each +other, when the captain had got through. As for Mike, he grasped a +shillelah that he habitually carried, when not at work, looking round, +as if waiting for orders from the captain, on whom to begin. Jamie was +thoughtful and grave, and, once or twice, as the captain proceeded, he +scratched his head in doubt. The Dutch seemed curious, but bewildered, +gaping at each other like men who might make up their minds, if you +would give them time, but who certainly had not yet. As for the blacks, +their eyes began to open like saucers, when they heard of the quarrel; +when it got to the blows, their mouths were all grinning with the +delight of a thing so exciting. At the mention of the number of the +dead, however, something like awe passed over them, and changed their +countenances to dismay. Nick alone was indifferent. By the cold apathy +of his manner, the captain saw at once that the battle of Lexington had +not been a secret to the Tuscarora, when he commenced his own account. +As the captain always encouraged a proper familiarity in his +dependants, he now told them he was ready to answer any questions they +might think expedient to put to him, in gratification of their natural +curiosity. + +"I s'pose this news comes by the major?" asked Joel. + +"You may well suppose that, Strides. My son is here, and we have no +other means of getting it." + +"Will yer honour be wishful that we shoulther our fire-arms, and go out +and fight one of them sides, or t'other?" demanded Mike. + +"I wish nothing of the sort, O'Hearn. It will be time enough for us to +take a decided part, when we get better ideas of what is really going +on." + +"Doesn't the captain, then, think matters have got far enough towards a +head, for the Americans to make up their minds conclusively, as it +might be?" put in Joel, in his very worst manner. + +"I think it will be wiser for us all to remain where we are, and +_as_ we are. Civil war is a serious matter, Strides, And no man +should rush blindly into its dangers and difficulties." + +Joel looked at the miller, and the miller looked at Joel. Neither said +anything, however, at the time. Jamie Allen had been _out_ in the +'forty-five,' when thirty years younger than he was that day; and +though he had his predilections and antipathies, circumstances had +taught him prudence. + +"Will the parliament, think ye, no be bidding the soldiery to wark +their will on the puir unairmed folk, up and down the country, and they +not provided with the means to resist them?" + +"Och, Jamie!" interrupted Mike, who did not appear to deem it necessary +to treat this matter with even decent respect--"where will be yer +valour and stomach, to ask sich a question as _that_! A man is +always reathy, when he has his ar-r-ms and legs free to act accorthing +to natur'. What would a rigiment of throops do ag'in the likes of sich +a place as this? I'm sure it's tin years I've been _in_ it, and +I've niver been able to find my way _out_ of it. Set a souldier to +rowing on the lake forenent the rising sun, with orders to get to the +other ind, and a pretty job he 'd make of marching on that same! I +knows it, for I've thried it, and it is not a new beginner that will +make much of _sich_ oare; barring he knows nothin' about them." + +This was not very intelligible to anybody but Joel, and _he_ had +ceased to laugh at Mike's voyage, now, some six or seven years; divers +other disasters, all having their origin in a similar confusion of +ideas, having, in the interval, supplanted that calamity, as it might +be, _seriatim_. Still it was an indication that Mike might be set +down as a belligerent, who was disposed to follow his leader into the +battle, without troubling him with many questions concerning the merits +of the quarrel. Nevertheless, the county Leitrim-man acknowledged +particular principles, all of which had a certain influence on his +conduct, whenever he could get at them, to render them available. First +and foremost, he cordially disliked a Yankee; and he hated an +Englishman, both as an oppressor and a heretic; yet he loved his master +and all that belonged to him. These were contradictory feelings, +certainly; but Mike was all contradiction, both in theory and in +practice. + +The Anglo-Saxon tribe now professed a willingness to retire, promising +to _think of the matter_, a course against which Mike loudly +protested, declaring he never knew any good come of thinking, when +matters had got as far as blows. Jamie, too, went off scratching his +head, and he was seen to make many pauses, that day, between the +shovels-full of earth he, from time to time, threw around his plants, +as if pondering on what he had heard. As for the Dutch, their hour had +not come. No one expected them to decide the day they first heard of +argument. + +The negroes got together, and began to dwell on the marvels of a battle +in which so many Christians had been put to death. Little Smash placed +the slain at a few thousands; but Great Smash, as better became her +loftier appellation and higher spirit, affirmed that the captain had +stated _hundreds_ of thousands; a loss, with less than which, as +she contended, no great battle could possibly be fought. + +When the captain was housed, Serjeant Joyce demanded an audience; the +object of which was simply to ask for _orders_, without the least +reference to _principles_. + + + + + +Chapter VII. + + We are all here! + Father, mother, + Sister, brother, + All who hold each other dear. + Each chair is fill'd--we're all _at home_; + To-night let no cold stranger come: + It is not often thus around + Our old familiar hearth we're found: + Bless, then, the meeting and the spot; + For once be every care forgot; + Let gentle Peace assert her power, + And kind Affection rule the hour; + We're all--all here. + + Sprague. + +Although most of the people retired to their dwellings, or their +labours, as soon as the captain dismissed them, a few remained to +receive his farther orders. Among these last were Joel, the carpenter, +and the blacksmith. These men now joined the chief of the settlement +and his son, who had lingered near the gateway, in conversation +concerning the alterations that the present state of things might +render necessary, in and about the Hut. + +"Joel," observed the captain, when the three men were near enough to +hear his orders, "this great change in the times will render some +changes in our means of defence prudent, if not necessary." + +"Does the captain s'pose the people of the colony will attack _us_?" +asked the wily overseer, with emphasis. + +"Perhaps not the people of the colony, Mr. Strides, for we have not +_yet_ declared ourselves their enemies; but there are other foes, who +are more to be apprehended than the people of the colony." + +"I should think the king's troops not likely to trouble themselves to +ventur' here--the road might prove easier to come than to return. +Besides, our plunder would scarce pay for such a march." + +"Perhaps not--but there never has yet been a war in these colonies that +some of the savage tribes were not engaged in it, before the whites had +fairly got themselves into line." + +"Do you really think, sir, there can be much serious danger of +_that_!" exclaimed the major, in surprise. + +"Beyond a question, my son. The scalping-knife will be at work in six +months, if it be not busy already, should one-half of your reports and +rumours turn out to be true. Such is American history." + +"I rather think, sir, your apprehensions for my mother and sisters may +mislead you. I do not believe the American authorities will ever allow +themselves to be driven into a measure so perfectly horrible and +unjustifiable; and were the English ministry sufficiently cruel, or +unprincipled, to adopt the policy, the honest indignation of so humane +a people would be certain to drive them from power." + +As the major ceased speaking, he turned and caught the expression of +Joel's countenance, and was struck with the look of intense interest +with which the overseer watched his own warm and sincere manner. + +"Humanity is a very pretty stalking-horse for political orations, Bob," +quietly returned the father; "but it will scarcely count for much with +an old campaigner. God send you may come out of this war with the same +ingenuous and natural feelings as you go into it." + +"The major will scarce dread the savages, should he be on the side of +his nat'ral friends!" remarked Joel; "and if what he says about the +humanity of the king's advisers be true, he will be safe from _them_." + +"The major will be on the side to which duty calls him, Mr. Strides, if +it may be agreeable to your views of the matter," answered the young +man, with a little more _hauteur_ than the occasion required. + +The father felt uneasy, and he regretted that his son had been so +indiscreet; though he saw no remedy but by drawing the attention of the +men to the matter before them. + +"Neither the real wishes of the people of America, nor of the people of +England, will avail much, in carrying on this war," he said. "Its +conduct will fall into the hands of those who will look more to the +ends than to the means; and success will be found a sufficient apology +for any wrong. This has been the history of all the wars of my time, +and it is likely to prove the history of this. I fear it will make +little difference to us on which side we may be in feeling; there will +be savages to guard against in either case. This gate must be hung, one +of the first things, Joel; and I have serious thoughts of placing +palisades around the Knoll. The Hut, well palisaded, would make a work +that could not be easily carried, without artillery." + +Joel seemed struck with the idea, though it did not appear that it was +favourably. He stood studying the house and the massive gates for a +minute or two, ere he delivered his sentiments on the subject. When he +did speak, it was a good deal more in doubt, than in approbation. + +"It's all very true, captain," he said; the house would _seem_ to +be a good deal more safe like, if the gates were up; but, a body don't +know; sometimes gates be a security, and sometimes they isn't. It all +depends on which side the danger comes. Still, as these are _made_, +and finished all to hanging, it's 'most a pity, too, they +shouldn't be used, if a body could find _time_." + +"The time _must_ be found, and the gates be hung," interrupted the +captain, too much accustomed to Joel's doubting, 'sort-o'-concluding +manner, to be always patient under the infliction. "Not only the gates, +but the palisades must be got out, holes dug, and the circumvallation +completed." + +"It must be as the captain says, of course, he being master here. But +time's precious in May. There's half our plantin' to be done yet, and +some of the ground hasn't got the last ploughin'. Harvest won't come +without seed-time; for no man, let him be great, or let him be small-- +and it does seem to me a sort o' wastin' of the Lord's blessin's, to be +hangin' gates, and diggin' holes for that--the thing the captain +mentioned--when there's no visible danger in sight to recommend the +measure to prudence, as it might be." + +"That may be your opinion, Mr. Strides, but it is not mine. I intend to +guard against a visible danger that is _out_ of sight, and I will +thank you to have these gates hung, this very day." + +"This very day!--The captain's a mind to be musical about the matter! +Every hand in the settlement couldn't get them gates in their places in +less than a week." + +"It appears to me, Strides, you are 'playing on the music,' as you call +it, yourself, now?" + +"No, indeed, captain; them gates will have to be hung on the mechanic +principle; and it will take at least two or three days for the +carpenter and blacksmith to get up the works that's to do it. Then the +hanging, itself, I should think would stand us in hand a day for each +side. As for the circumvalley, what between the cuttin', and haulin', +and diggin', and settin', that would occupy all hands until after first +hoein'. That is, hoein' would come afore the plantin'." + +"It does not appear to me, Bob, such a heavy job as Joel represents! +The gates are heavy, certainly, and may take us a day or two; but, as +for stockading--I've seen barracks stockaded in, in a week, if I +remember right. You know something of this--what is your opinion?" + +"That this house can be stockaded in, in the time you mention; and, as +I have a strong reluctance to leave the family before it is in +security, with your permission I will remain and superintend the work." + +The offer was gladly accepted, on more accounts than one; and the +captain, accustomed to be obeyed when he was in earnest, issued his +orders forthwith, to let the work proceed. Joel, however, was excused, +in order that he might finish the planting he had commenced, and which +a very few hands could complete within the required time. As no ditch +was necessary, the work was of a very simple nature, and the major set +about his portion of it without even re-entering the house. + +The first thing was to draw a line for a trench some six or seven feet +deep, that was to encircle the whole building, at a distance of about +thirty yards from the house. This line ran, on each side of the Hut, on +the very verge of the declivities, rendering the flanks far more secure +than the front, where it crossed the lawn on a gently inclining +surface. In one hour the major had traced this lines with accuracy; and +he had six or eight men at work with spades, digging the trench. A gang +of hands was sent into the woods, with orders to cut the requisite +quantify of young chestnuts; and, by noon, a load of the material +actually appeared on the ground. Still, nothing was done to the gates. + +To own the truth, the captain was now delighted. The scene reminded him +of some in his military life, and he bustled about, giving his orders, +with a good deal of the fire of youth renewed, taking care, however, in +no manner to interfere with the plans of his son. Mike buried himself +like a mole, and had actually advanced several feet, before either of +the Yankees had got even a fair footing on the bottom of his part of +the trench. As for Jamie Allen, he went to work with deliberation; but +it was not long before his naked gray hairs were seen on a level with +the surface of the ground. The digging was not hard, though a little +stony, and the work proceeded with spirit and success. All that day, +and the next, and the next, and the next, the Knoll appeared alive, +earth being cast upward, teams moving, carpenters sawing, and labourers +toiling. Many of the men protested that their work was useless, +unnecessary, _unlawful_ even; but no one dared hesitate under the +eyes of the major, when his father had once issued a serious command. +In the mean time, Joel's planting was finished, though he made many +long pauses while at work on the flats, to look up and gaze at the +scene of activity and bustle that was presented at the Knoll. On the +fourth day, towards evening, he was obliged to join the general "bee," +with the few hands he had retained with himself. + +By this time, the trench was dug, most of the timber was prepared, and +the business of setting up the stockade was commenced. Each young tree +was cut to the length of twenty feet, and pointed at one end. Mortices, +to receive cross-pieces, were cut at proper distances, and holes were +bored to admit the pins. This was all the preparation, and the timbers +were set in the trench, pointed ends uppermost. When a sufficient +number were thus arranged, a few inches from each other, the cross- +pieces were pinned on, bringing the whole into a single connected +frame, or bent. The bent was then raised to a perpendicular, and +secured, by pounding the earth around the lower ends of the timbers. +The latter process required care and judgment, and it was entrusted to +the especial supervision of the deliberate Jamie, the major having +discovered that the Yankees, in general, were too impatient to get on, +and to make a show. Serjeant Joyce was particularly useful in dressing +the rows of timber, and in giving the whole arrangement a military air. + +"_Guid_ wark is far better than _quick_ wark," observed the +cool-headed Scotchman, as he moved about among the men, "and it's no +the fuss and bustle of acteevity that is to give the captain pleasure. +The thing that is well done, is done with the least noise and +confusion. Set the stockades mair pairpendic'lar, my men." + +"Ay--dress them, too, my lads"--added the venerable ex-serjeant. + +"This is queer plantin', Jamie," put in Joel, "and queerer grain will +come of it. Do you think these young chestnuts will ever grow, ag'in, +that you put them out in rows, like so much corn?" + +"Now it's no for the growth we does it, Joel, but to presairve the +human growth we have. To keep the savage bairbers o' the wilderness +fra' clippin' our polls before the shearin' time o' natur' has gathered +us a' in for the hairvest of etairnity. They that no like the safety +we're makin' for them, can gang their way to 'ither places, where they +'11 find no forts, or stockades to trouble their een." + +"I'm not critical at all, Jamie, though to my notion a much better use +for your timber plantation would be to turn it into sheds for cattle, +in the winter months. I can see some good in _that_, but none in +_this_." + +"Bad luck to ye, then, Misther Sthroddle," cried Mike, from the bottom +of the trench, where he was using a pounding instrument with the zeal +of a paviour--"Bad luck to the likes of ye, say I, Misther Strides. If +ye've no relish for a fortification, in a time of war, ye've only to +shoulther yer knapsack, and go out into the open counthry, where ye'll +have all to yer own satisfaction. Is it forthify the house, will we? +That we will, and not a hair of the missuss's head, nor of the young +ladies' heads, nor of the masther's head, though he's mighty bald as it +is, but not a hair of _all_ their heads shall be harmed, while +Jamie, and Mike, and the bould ould serjeant, here, can have their way. +I wish I had the trench full of yer savages, and a gineral funeral we'd +make of the vagabonds! Och! They're the divil's imps, I hear from all +sides, and no love do I owe them." + +"And yet you're the bosom friend of Nick, who's anything but what I +call a specimen of his people." + +"Is it Nick ye 're afther? Well, Nick's half-civilized accorthin' to +yer Yankee manners, and he's no spicimen, at all. Let him hear you call +him by sich a name, if ye want throuble." + +Joel walked away, muttering, leaving the labourers in doubt whether he +relished least the work he was now obliged to unite in furthering, or +Mike's hit at his own peculiar people. Still the work proceeded, and in +one week from the day it was commenced, the stockade was complete, its +gate excepted. The entrance through the palisades was directly in front +of that to the house, and both passages still remained open, one set of +gates not being completed, and the other not yet being hung. + +It was on a Saturday evening when the last palisade was placed firmly +in the ground, and all the signs of the recent labour were removed, in +order to restore as much of the former beauty of the Knoll as possible. +It had been a busy week; so much so, indeed, as to prevent the major +from holding any of that confidential intercourse with his mother and +sisters, in which it had been his habit to indulge in former visits. +The fatigues of the days sent everybody to their pillows early; and the +snatches of discourse which passed, had been affectionate and pleasant, +rather than communicative. Now that the principal job was so near being +finished, however, and the rubbish was cleared away, the captain +summoned the family to the lawn again, to enjoy a delicious evening +near the close of the winning month of May. The season was early, and +the weather more bland, than was usual, even in that sheltered and +genial valley. For the first time that year, Mrs. Willoughby consented +to order the tea-equipage to be carried to a permanent table that had +been placed under the shade of a fine elm, in readiness for any _fete +champetre_ of this simple character. + +"Come, Wilhelmina, give us a cup of your fragrant hyson, of which we +have luckily abundance, tax or no tax. I should lose _caste_, were +it known how much American treason we have gulped down, in this way; +but, a little tea, up here in the forest, can do no man's conscience +any great violence, in the long run. I suppose, major Willoughby, His +Majesty's forces do not disdain tea, in these stirring times." + +"Far from it, sir; we deem it so loyal to drink it, that it is said the +port and sherry of the different messes, at Boston, are getting to be +much neglected. I am an admirer of tea, for itself, however, caring +little about its collateral qualities. Farrel"--turning to his man, who +was aiding Pliny the elder, in arranging the table--"when you are +through here, bring out the basket you will find on the toilet, in my +room." + +"True, Bob," observed the mother, smiling--"that basket has scarce been +treated with civility. Not a syllable of thanks have I heard, for all +the fine things it contains." + +"My mind has been occupied with care for your safety, dear mother, and +that must be my excuse. Now, however, there is an appearance of +security which gives one a breathing-time, and my gratitude receives a +sudden impulse. As for you, Maud, I regret to be compelled to say that +you stand convicted of laziness; not a single thing do I owe to your +labours, or recollection of me." + +"Is that possible!" exclaimed the captain, who was pouring water into +the tea-pot. "Maud is the last person I should suspect of neglect of +this nature; I do assure you, Bob, no one listens to news of your +promotions and movements with more interest than Maud." + +Maud, herself, made no answer. She bent her head aside, in a secret +consciousness that her sister might alone detect, and form her own +conclusions concerning the colour that she felt warming her cheeks. +But, Maud's own sensitive feelings attributed more to Beulah than the +sincere and simple-minded girl deserved. So completely was she +accustomed to regard Robert and Maud as brother and sister, that even +all which had passed produced no effect in unsettling her opinions, or +in giving her thoughts a new direction. Just at this moment Farrel came +back, and placed the basket on the bench, at the side of his master. + +"Now, my dearest mother, and you, girls"--the major had begun to drop +the use of the word 'sisters' when addressing _both_ the young +ladies--"Now, my dearest mother, and you, girls, I am about to give +each her due. In the first place, I confess my own unworthiness, and +acknowledge, that I do not deserve one-half the kind attention I have +received in these various presents, after which we will descend to +particulars." + +The major, then, exposed every article contained in the basket, finding +the words "mother" and "Beulah" pinned on each, but nowhere any +indication that his younger sister had even borne him in mind. His +father looked surprised at this, not to say a little grave; and he +waited, with evident curiosity, for the gifts of Maud, as one thing +after another came up, without any signs of her having recollected the +absentee. + +"This is odd, truly," observed the father, seriously; "I hope, Bob, you +have done nothing to deserve this? I should be sorry to have my little +girl affronted!" + +"I assure you, sir, that I am altogether ignorant of any act, and I can +solemnly protest against any intention, to give offence. If guilty, I +now pray Maud to pardon me." + +"You have done nothing, Bob--_said_ nothing, Bob--_thought_ +nothing to offend me," cried Maud, eagerly. + +"Why, then, have you forgotten him, darling, when your mother and +sister have done so much in the way of recollection?" asked the +captain. + +"Forced gifts, my dear father, are no gifts. I do not like to be +compelled to make presents." + +This was uttered in a way to induce the major to throw all the articles +back into the basket, as if he wished to get rid of the subject, +without further comment. Owing to this precipitation, the scarf was not +seen. Fortunately for Maud, who was ready to burst into tears, the +service of the tea prevented any farther allusion to the matter. + +"You have told me, major," observed captain Willoughby, "that your old +regiment has a new colonel; but you have forgotten to mention his name. +I hope it is my old messmate, Tom Wallingford, who wrote me he had some +such hopes last year." + +"General Wallingford has got a light-dragoon regiment--general Meredith +has my old corps; he is now in this country, at the head of one of +Gage's brigades." + +It is a strong proof of the manner in which Maud--Maud Willoughby, as +she was ever termed--had become identified with the family of the +Hutted Knoll, that, with two exceptions, not a person present thought +of her, when the name of this general Meredith was mentioned; though, +in truth, he was the uncle of her late father. The exceptions were the +major and herself. The former now never heard the name without thinking +of his beautiful little playfellow, and nominal sister; while Maud, of +late, had become curious and even anxious on the subject of her natural +relatives. Still, a feeling akin to awe, a sentiment that appeared as +if it would be doing violence to a most solemn duty, prevented her from +making any allusion to her change of thought, in the presence of those +whom, during childhood, she had viewed only as her nearest relatives, +and who still continued so to regard her. She would have given the +world to ask Bob a few questions concerning the kinsman he had +mentioned, but could not think of doing so before her mother, whatever +she might be induced to attempt with the young man, when by himself. + +Nick next came strolling along, gazing at the stockade, and drawing +near the table with an indifference to persons and things that +characterized his habits. When close to the party he stopped, keeping +his eye on the recent works. + +"You see, Nick, I am about to turn soldier again, in my old days," +observed the captain. "It is now many years since you and I have met +within a line of palisades. How do you like our work?" + +"What you make him for, cap'in?" + +"So as to be secure against any red-skins who may happen to long for +our scalps." + +"Why want _your_ scalp? Hatchet hasn't been dug up, atween us-- +bury him so deep can't find him in ten, two, six year." + +"Ay, it has long been buried, it is true; but you red gentlemen have a +trick of digging it up, with great readiness, when there is any +occasion for it. I suppose you know, Nick, that there are troubles in +the colonies?" + +"Tell Nick all about him,"--answered the Indian, evasively--"No read-- +no hear--don't talk much--talk most wid Irisher--can't understand what +he want--say t'ing one way, den say him, anoder." + +"Mike is not very lucid of a certainty," rejoined the captain, +laughing, all the party joining in the merriment--"but he is a sterling +good fellow, and is always to be found, in a time of need." + +"Poor rifle--nebber hit--shoot one way, look t'other?" + +"He is no great shot, I will admit; but he is a famous fellow with a +shillaleh. Has he given you any of the news?" + +"All he say, news--much news ten time, as one time. Cap'in lend Nick a +quarter dollar, yesterday." + +"I did lend you a quarter, certainly, Nick; and I supposed it had gone +to the miller for rum, before this. What am I to understand by your +holding it out in this manner?--that you mean to repay me!" + +"Sartain--good quarter--just like him cap'in lent Nick. Like as one +pea. Nick man of honour; keep his word." + +"This does look more like it than common, Nick. The money was to be +returned to-day, but I did not expect to see it, so many previous +contracts of that nature having been vacated, as the lawyers call it." + +"Tuscarora chief alway gentleman. What he say, he do. Good quarter +dollar, dat, cap'in?" + +"It is unexceptionable, old acquaintance; I'll not disdain receiving +it, as it may serve for a future loan." + +"No need bye'm-by--take him, now--cap'in, lend Nick dollar; pay him to- +morrow." + +The captain protested against the _sequitur_ that the Indian +evidently wished to establish; declining, though in a good-natured +manner, to lend the larger sum. Nick was disappointed, and walked +sullenly away, moving nearer to the stockade, with the air of an +offended man. + +"That is an extraordinary fellow, sir!" observed the major--"I really +wonder you tolerate him so much about the Hut. It might be a good idea +to banish him, now that the war has broken out." + +"Which would be a thing more easily said than done. A drop of water +might as readily be banished from that stream, as an Indian, from any +part of the forest he may choose to visit. You brought him here +yourself, Bob, and should not blame us for tolerating his presence." + +"I brought him, sir, because I found he recognised me even in this +dress, and it was wise to make a friend of him. Then I wanted a guide, +and I was well assured he knew the way, if any man did. He is a surly +scoundrel, however, and appears to have changed his character, since I +was a boy." + +"If there be any change, Bob, it is in yourself. Nick has been Nick +these thirty years, or as long as I have known him. Rascal he is, or +his tribe would not have cast him out. Indian justice is stern, but it +is natural justice. No man is ever put to the ban among the red men, +until they are satisfied he is not fit to enjoy savage rights. In +garrison, we always looked upon Nick as a clever knave, and treated him +accordingly. When one is on his guard against such a fellow, he can do +little harm, and this Tuscarora has a salutary dread of me, which keeps +him in tolerable order, during his visits to the Hut. The principal +mischief he does here, is to get Mike and Jamie deeper in the Santa +Cruz than I could wish; but the miller has his orders to sell no more +rum." + +"I hardly think you do Nick justice, Willoughby," observed the right- +judging and gentle wife. "He has _some_ good qualities; but you +soldiers always apply martial-law to the weaknesses of your fellow- +creatures." + +"And you tender-hearted women, my dear Wilhelmina, think everybody as +good as yourselves." + +"Remember, Hugh, when your son, there, had the canker-rash, how +actively and readily the Tuscarora went into the forest to look for the +gold-thread that even the doctors admitted cured him. It was difficult +to find, Robert; but Nick remembered a spot where he had seen it, fifty +miles off; and, without a request even, from us, he travelled that +distance to procure it." + +"Yes, this is true"--returned the captain, thoughtfully--"though I +question if the cure was owing to the gold-thread, as you call it, +Wilhelmina. Every man has some good quality or other; and, I much fear, +some bad ones also.--But, here is the fellow coming back, and I do not +like to let him think himself of sufficient consequence to be the +subject of our remarks." + +"Very true, sir--it adds excessively to the trouble of such fellows, to +let them fancy themselves of importance." + +Nick, now, came slowly back, after having examined the recent changes +to his satisfaction. He stood a moment in silence, near the table, and +then, assuming an air of more dignity than common, he addressed the +captain. + +"Nick ole _chief_" he said. "Been at Council Fire, often as +cap'in. Can't tell, all he know; want to hear about new war." + +"Why, Nick, it is a family quarrel, this time. The French have nothing +to do with it." + +"Yengeese fight Yengeese--um?" + +"I am afraid it will so turn out. Do not the Tuscaroras sometimes dig +up the hatchet against the Tuscaroras?" + +"Tuscarora man kill Tuscarora man--good--he quarrel, and kill he enemy. +But Tuscarora warrior nebber take scalp of Tuscarora squaw and +pappoose! What you t'ink he do dat for? Red man no hog, to eat pork." + +"It must be admitted, Nick, you are a very literal logician--'dog won't +eat dog,' is our English saying. Still the _Yankee_ will fight the +Yengeese, it would seem. In a word, the Great Father, in England, has +raised the hatchet against his American children." + +"How you like him, cap'in--um? Which go on straight path, which go on +crooked? How you like him?" + +"I like it little, Nick, and wish with all my heart the quarrel had not +taken place." + +"Mean to put on regimentals--hah! Mean to be cap'in, ag'in? Follow drum +and fife, like ole time?" + +"I rather think not, old comrade. After sixty, one likes peace better +than war; and I intend to stay at home." + +"What for, den, build fort? Why you put fence round a house, like pound +for sheep?" + +"Because I intend to _stay_ there. The stockade will be good to +keep off any, or every enemy who may take it into their heads to come +against us. You have known me defend a worse position than this." + +"He got no gate," muttered Nick--"What he good for, widout gate? +Yengeese, Yankees, red man, French man, walk in just as he please. No +good to leave such squaw wid a door wide open." + +"Thank you, Nick," cried Mrs. Willoughby. "I knew you were _my_ +friend, and have not forgotten the gold-thread." + +"He _very_ good," answered the Indian, with an important look. +"Pappoose get well like not'ing. He a'most die, to-day; to-morrow he +run about and play. Nick do him, too; cure him wid gold-thread." + +"Oh! you are, or were quite a physician at one time, Nick. I remember +when you had the smallpox, yourself." + +The Indian turned, with the quickness of lightning, to Mrs. Willoughby, +whom he startled with his energy, as he demanded-- + +"You remember dat, Mrs. cap'in! Who gib him--who cure him--um?" + +"Upon my word, Nick, you almost frighten me. I fear I gave you the +disease, but it was for your own good it was done. You were inoculated +by myself, when the soldiers were dying around us, because they had +never had that care taken of them. All I inoculated lived; yourself +among the number." + +The startling expression passed away from the fierce countenance of the +savage, leaving in its place another so kind and amicable as to prove +he not only was aware of the benefit he had received, but that he was +deeply grateful for it. He drew near to Mrs. Willoughby, took her still +white and soft hand in his own sinewy and dark fingers, then dropped +the blanket that he had thrown carelessly across his body, from a +shoulder, and laid it on a mark left by the disease, by way of pointing +to her good work. He smiled, as this was done. + +"Ole mark," he said, nodding his head--"sign we good friend--he nebber +go away while Nick live." + +This touched the captain's heart, and he tossed a dollar towards the +Indian, who suffered it, however, to lie at his feet unnoticed. Turning +to the stockade, he pointed significantly at the open gateways. + +"Great danger go t'rough little 'ole," he said, sententiously, walking +away as he concluded. "Why you leave big 'ole open?" + +"We _must_ get those gates hung next week," said the captain, +positively; "and yet it is almost absurd to apprehend anything serious +in this remote settlement, and that at so early a period in the war." + +Nothing further passed on the lawn worthy to be recorded. The sun set, +and the family withdrew into the house, as usual, to trust to the +overseeing care of Divine Providence, throughout a night passed in a +wilderness. By common consent, the discourse turned upon things noway +connected with the civil war, or its expected results, until the party +was about to separate for the night, when the major found himself alone +with his sisters, in his own little parlour, dressing-room, or study, +whatever the room adjoining his chamber could properly be called. + +"You will not leave us soon, Robert," said Beulah, taking her brother's +hand, with confiding affection, "I hardly think my father young and +active enough, or rather _alarmed_ enough, to live in times like +these!" + +"He is a soldier, Beulah, and a good one; so good that his son can +teach him nothing. I wish I could say that he is as good a +_subject_: I fear he leans to the side of the colonies." + +"Heaven be praised!" exclaimed Beulah--"Oh! that his son would incline +in the same direction." + +"Nay, Beulah," rejoined Maud, reproachfully; "you speak without +reflection. Mamma bitterly regrets that papa sees things in the light +he does. _She_ thinks the parliament right, and the colonies +wrong." + +"What a thing is a civil war!" ejaculated the major--"Here is husband +divided against wife--son against father--brother against sister. I +could almost wish I were dead, ere I had lived to see this!" + +"Nay, Robert, it is not so bad as that, either," added Maud. "My mother +will never oppose my father's will or judgment. Good wives, you know, +never do _that_. She will only pray that he may decide right, and +in a way that his children will never have cause to regret. As for me, +I count for nothing, of course." + +"And Beulah, Maud; is she nothing, too? Here will Beulah be praying for +her brother's defeat, throughout this war. It has been some +presentiment of this difference of opinion that has probably induced +you to forget me, while Beulah and my mother were passing so many hours +to fill that basket." + +"Perhaps you do Maud injustice, Robert," said Beulah, smiling. "I think +I can say none loves you better than our dear sister--or no one has +thought of you more, in your absence." + +"Why, then, does the basket contain no proof of this remembrance--not +even a chain of hair--a purse, or a ring--nothing, in short, to show +that I have not been forgotten, when away." + +"Even if this be so," said Maud, with spirit, "in what am I worse than +yourself. What proof is there that you have remembered _us?_" + +"This," answered the major, laying before his sisters two small +packages, each marked with the name of its proper owner. "My mother has +her's, too, and my father has not been forgotten." + +Beulah's exclamations proved how much she was gratified with her +presents; principally trinkets and jewelry, suited to her years and +station. First kissing the major, she declared her mother must see what +she had received, before she retired for the night, and hurried from +the room. That Maud was not less pleased, was apparent by her glowing +cheeks and tearful eyes; though, for a wonder, she was far more +restrained in the expression of her feelings. After examining the +different articles, with pleasure, for a minute or two, she went, with +a quick impetuous movement, to the basket, tumbled all its contents on +the table, until she reached the scarf, which she tossed towards the +major, saying, with a faint laugh-- + +"There, unbeliever--heathen--is _that_ nothing? Was that made in a +minute, think you?" + +"_This!_" cried the major, opening the beautiful, glossy fabric in +surprise. "Is not this one of my father's old sashes, to which I have +fallen heir, in the order of nature?" + +Maud dropped her trinkets, and seizing two corners of the sash, she +opened it, in a way to exhibit its freshness and beauty. + +"Is this _old_, or _worn?_" she asked, reproachfully. "Your +father never even saw it, Bob. It has not yet been around the waist of +man." + +"It is not possible!--This would be the work of months--is _so_ +beautiful--you cannot have purchased it." + +Maud appeared distressed at his doubts. Opening the folds still wider, +she raised the centre of the silk to the light, pointed to certain +letters that had been wrought into the fabric, so ingeniously as to +escape ordinary observation, and yet so plainly as to be distinctly +legible when the attention was once drawn to them. The major took the +sash into his own hands altogether, held it opened before the candles, +and read the words "Maud Meredith" aloud. Dropping the sash, he turned +to seek the face of the donor, but she had fled the room. He followed +her footsteps and entered the library, just as she was about to escape +from it, by a different door. + +"I am offended at your incredulity," said Maud, making an effort to +laugh away the scene, "and will not remain to hear lame excuses. Your +new regiment can have no nature in it, or brothers would not treat +sisters thus." + +"Maud _Meredith_ is not my sister," he said, earnestly, "though +Maud _Willoughby_ may be. Why is the name Meredith?" + +"As a retort to one of your own allusions--did you not call me Miss +Meredith, one day, when I last saw you in Albany?" + +"Ay, but that was in jest, my dearest Maud. It was not a deliberate +thing, like the name on that sash." + +"Oh! jokes may be premeditated as well as murder; and many a one _is_ +murdered, you know. Mine is a prolonged jest." + +"Tell me, does my mother--does Beulah know who made this sash?" + +"How else could it have been made, Bob? Do you think I went into the +woods, and worked by myself, like some romantic damsel who had an +unmeaning secret to keep against the curious eyes of persecuting +friends!" + +"I know not what I thought--scarce know what I think now. But, my +mother; does she know of this _name_?" + +Maud blushed to the eyes; but the habit and the love of truth were so +strong in her, that she shook her head in the negative. + +"Nor Beulah?--_She_, I am certain, would not have permitted +'Meredith' to appear where 'Willoughby' should have been." + +"Nor Beulah, either, major Willoughby," pronouncing the name with an +affectation of reverence. "The honour of the Willoughbys is thus +preserved from every taint, and all the blame must fall on poor Maud +Meredith." + +"You dislike the name of Willoughby, then, and intend to drop it, in +future--I have remarked that you sign yourself only 'Maud,' in your +last letters--never before, however, did I suspect the reason." + +"Who wishes to live for ever an impostor? It is not my legal name, and +I shall soon be called on to perform legal acts. Remember, Mr. Robert +Willoughby, I am twenty; when it comes to pounds, shillings, and pence, +I must not forge. A little habit is necessary to teach me the use of my +own _bona fide_ signature." + +"But ours--the name is not hateful to you--you do not throw it aside, +seriously, for ever!" + +"_Yours_! What, the honoured name of my dear, dearest father--of +my mother--of Beulah--of yourself, Bob!" + +Maud did not remain to terminate her speech. Bursting into tears, she +vanished. + + + + + +Chapter VIII. + + The village tower--'tis joy to me!--I cry, the Lord is here! + The village bells! They fill the soul with ecstasy sincere. + And thus, I sing, the light hath shined to lands in darkness hurled, + Their sound is now in all the earth, their words throughout the world. + + Coxe. + +Another night past in peace within the settlement of the Hutted Knoll. +The following morning was the Sabbath, and it came forth, balmy, +genial, and mild; worthy of the great festival of the Christian world. +On the subject of religion, captain Willoughby was a little of a +martinet; understanding by liberty of conscience, the right of +improving by the instruction of those ministers who belonged to the +church of England. Several of his labourers had left him because he +refused to allow of any other ministrations on his estate; his doctrine +being that every man had a right to do as he pleased in such matters; +and as he did not choose to allow of schism, within the sphere of his +own influence, if others desired to be schismatics they were at liberty +to go elsewhere, in order to indulge their tastes. Joel Strides and +Jamie Allen were both disaffected to this sort of orthodoxy, and they +had frequent private discussions on its propriety; the former in his +usual wily and jesuitical mode of sneering and insinuating, and the +latter respectfully as related to his master, but earnestly as it +concerned his conscience. Others, too, were dissentients, but with less +repining; though occasionally they would stay away from Mr. Wood's +services. Mike, alone, took an open and manly stand in the matter, and +he a little out-Heroded Herod; or, in other words, he exceeded the +captain himself in strictness of construction. On the very morning we +have just described, he was present at a discussion between the Yankee +overseer and the Scotch mason, in which these two dissenters, the first +a congregationalist, and the last a seceder, were complaining of the +hardships of a ten years' abstinence, during which no spiritual +provender had been fed out to them from a proper source. The Irishman +broke out upon the complainants in a way that will at once let the +reader into the secret of the county Leitrim-man's principles, if he +has any desire to know them. + +"Bad luck to all sorts of religion but the right one!" cried Mike, in a +most tolerant spirit. "Who d'ye think will be wishful of hearing mass +and pr'aching that comes from _any_ of your heretick parsons? +Ye're as dape in the mire yerselves, as Mr. Woods is in the woods, and +no one to lade ye out of either, but an evil spirit that would rather +see all mankind br'iling in agony, than dancing at a fair." + +"Go to your confessional, Mike," returned Joel, with a sneer--"It's a +month, or more, sin' you seen it, and the priest will think you have +forgotten him, and go away offended." + +"Och! It's such a praist, as the likes of yees has no nade of +throubling! Yer conscience is aisy, Misther Straddle, so that yer belly +is filled, and yer wages is paid. Bad luck o sich religion!" + +The allusion of Joel related to a practice of Michael's that is +deserving of notice. It seems that the poor fellow, excluded by his +insulated position from any communication with a priest of his own +church, was in the habit of resorting to a particular rock in the +forest, where he would kneel and acknowledge his sins, very much as he +would have done had the rock been a confessional containing one +authorized to grant him absolution. Accident revealed the secret, and +from that time Michael's devotion was a standing jest among the +dissenters of the valley. The county Leitrim-man was certainly a little +too much addicted to Santa Cruz, and he was accused of always visiting +his romantic chapel after a debauch. Of course, he was but little +pleased with Joel's remark on the present occasion; and being, like a +modern newspaper, somewhat more vituperative than logical, he broke out +as related. + +"Jamie," continued Joel, too much accustomed to Mike's violence to heed +it, "it does seem to me a hardship to be obliged to frequent a church +of which a man's conscience can't approve. Mr. Woods, though a native +colonist, is an Old England parson, and he has so many popish ways +about him, that I am under considerable concern of _mind_"-- +concern, of _itself_, was not sufficiently emphatic for one of +Joel's sensitive feelings--"I am under considerable _concern of +mind_ about the children. They _sit under_ no other preaching; +and, though Lyddy and I do all we can to gainsay the sermons, as soon +as meetin' is out, some of it _will_ stick. You may worry the best +Christian into idolatry and unbelief, by parseverance and falsehood. +Now that things look so serious, too, in the colonies, we ought to be +most careful." + +Jamie did not clearly understand the application of the present state +of the colonies, nor had he quite made up his mind, touching the merits +of the quarrel between parliament and the Americans. As between the +Stuarts and the House of Hanover, he was for the former, and that +mainly because he thought them Scotch, and it was surely a good thing +for a Scotchman to govern England; but, as between the _Old_ +countries and the _New_, he was rather inclined to think the +rights of the first ought to predominate; there being something opposed +to natural order, agreeably to his notions, in permitting the reverse +of this doctrine to prevail. As for presbyterianism, however, even in +the mitigated form of New England church government, he deemed it to be +so much better than episcopacy, that he would have taken up arms, old +as he was, for the party that it could be made to appear was fighting +to uphold the last. We have no wish to mislead the reader. Neither of +the persons mentioned, Mike included, actually _knew_ anything of +the points in dispute between the different sects, or churches, +mentioned; but only _fancied_ themselves in possession of the +doctrines, traditions, and authorities connected with the subject. +These fancies, however, served to keep alive a discussion that soon had +many listeners; and never before, since his first ministration in the +valley, did Mr. Woods meet as disaffected a congregation, as on this +day. + +The church of the Hutted Knoll, or, as the clergyman more modestly +termed it, the chapel, stood in the centre of the meadows, on a very +low swell of their surface, where a bit of solid dry ground had been +discovered, fit for such a purpose. The principal object had been to +make it central; though some attention had been paid also to the +picturesque. It was well shaded with young elms, just then opening into +leaf; and about a dozen graves, principally of very young children, +were memorials of the mortality of the settlement. The building was of +stone, the work of Jamie Allen's own hands, but small, square, with a +pointed roof, and totally without tower, or belfry. The interior was of +unpainted cherry, and through a want of skill in the mechanics, had a +cold and raw look, little suited to the objects of the structure. +Still, the small altar, the desk and the pulpit, and the large, square, +curtained pew of the captain, the only one the house contained, were +all well ornamented with hangings, or cloth, and gave the place +somewhat of an air of clerical comfort and propriety. The rest of the +congregation sat on benches, with kneeling-boards before them. The +walls were plastered, and, a proof that parsimony had no connection +with the simple character of the building, and a thing almost as +unusual in America at that period as it is to-day in parts of Italy, +the chapel was entirely finished. + +It has been said that the morning of the particular Sabbath at which we +have now arrived, was mild and balmy. The sun of the forty-third degree +of latitude poured out its genial rays upon the valley, gilding the +tender leaves of the surrounding forest with such touches of light as +are best known to the painters of Italy. The fineness of the weather +brought nearly all the working people of the settlement to the chapel +quite an hour before the ringing of its little bell, enabling the men +to compare opinions afresh, on the subject of the political troubles of +the times, and the women to gossip about their children. + +On all such occasions, Joel was a principal spokesman, nature having +created him for a demagogue, in a small way; an office for which +education had in no degree unfitted him. As had been usual with him, of +late, he turned the discourse on the importance of having correct +information of what was going on, in the inhabited parts of the +country, and of the expediency of sending some trustworthy person on +such an errand. He had frequently intimated his own readiness to go, if +his neighbours wished it. + +"We're all in the dark here," he remarked, "and might stay so to the +end of time, without some one to be relied on, to tell us the news. +Major Willoughby is a fine man"--Joel meant _morally_, not +_physically_--"but he's a king's officer, and nat'rally feels +inclined to make the best of things for the rig'lars. The captain, too, +was once a soldier, himself, and his feelin's turn, as it might be, +unav'idably, to the side he has been most used to. We are like people +on a desart island, out here in the wilderness--and if ships won't +arrive to tell us how matters come on, we must send one out to l'arn it +for us. I'm the last man at the Dam"--so the _oi polloi_ called +the valley--"to say anything hard of either the captain or his son; but +one is English born, and the other is English bred; and each will make +a difference in a man's feelin's." + +To this proposition the miller, in particular, assented; and, for the +twentieth time, he made some suggestion about the propriety of Joel's +going himself, in order to ascertain how the land lay. + +"You can be back by hoeing," he added, "and have plenty of time to go +as far as Boston, should you wish to." + +Now, while the great events were in progress, which led to the +subversion of British power in America, an under-current of feeling, if +not of incidents, was running in this valley, which threatened to wash +away the foundations of the captain's authority. Joel and the miller, +if not downright conspirators, had hopes, calculations, and even +projects of their own, that never would have originated with men of the +same class, in another state of society; or, it might almost be said, +in another part of the world. The sagacity of the overseer had long +enabled him to foresee that the issue of the present troubles would be +insurrection; and a sort of instinct which some men possess for the +strongest side, had pointed out to him the importance of being a +patriot. The captain, he little doubted, would take part with the +crown, and then no one knew what might be the consequences. It is not +probable that Joel's instinct for the strongest side predicted the +precise confiscations that subsequently ensued, some of which had all +the grasping lawlessness of a gross abuse of power; but he could easily +foresee that if the owner of the estate should be driven off, the +property and its proceeds, probably for a series of years, would be +very apt to fall under his own control and management. Many a patriot +has been made by anticipations less brilliant than these; and as Joel +and the miller talked the matter over between them, they had calculated +all the possible emolument of fattening beeves, and packing pork for +hostile armies, or isolated frontier posts, with a strong gusto for the +occupation. Should open war but fairly commence, and could the captain +only be induced to abandon the Knoll, and take refuge within a British +camp, everything might be made to go smoothly, until settling day +should follow a peace. At that moment, _non est inventus_ would be +a sufficient answer to a demand for any balance. + +"They tell me," said Joel, in an aside to the miller, "that law is as +good as done with in the Bay colony, already; and you know if the law +has run out _there_, it will quickly come to an end, here. York +never had much character for law." + +"That's true, Joel; then you know the captain himself is the only +magistrate hereabout; and, when he is away, we shall have to be +governed by a committee of safety, or something of that natur'." + +"A committee of safety will be the thing!" + +"What is a committee of safety, Joel?" demanded the miller, who had +made far less progress in the arts of the demagogue than his friend, +and who, in fact, had much less native fitness for the vocation; "I +have heer'n tell of them regulations, but do not rightly understand +'em, a'ter all." + +"You know what a committee is?" asked Joel, glancing inquiringly at his +friend. + +"I s'pose I do--it means men's takin' on themselves the trouble and +care of public business." + +"That's it--now a committee of safety means a few of us, for instance, +having the charge of the affairs of this settlement, in order to see +that no harm shall come to anything, especially to the people." + +"It would be a good thing to have one, here. The carpenter, and you, +and I might be members, Joel." + +"We'll talk about it, another time. The corn is just planted, you know; +and it has got to be hoed _twice_, and topped, before it can be +gathered. Let us wait and see how things come on at Boston." + +While this incipient plot was thus slowly coming to a head, and the +congregation was gradually collecting at the chapel, a very different +scene was enacting in the Hut. Breakfast was no sooner through, than +Mrs. Willoughby retired to her own sitting-room, whither her son was +shortly summoned to join her. Expecting some of the inquiries which +maternal affection might prompt, the major proceeded to the place named +with alacrity; but, on entering the room, to his great surprise he +found Maud with his mother. The latter seemed grave and concerned, +while the former was not entirely free from alarm. The young man +glanced inquiringly at the young lady, and he fancied he saw tears +struggling to break out of her eyes. + +"Come hither, Robert"--said Mrs. Willoughby, pointing to a chair at her +side--with a gravity that struck her son as unusual--"I have brought +you here to listen to one of the old-fashioned lectures, of which you +got so many when a boy." + +"Your advice, my dear mother--or even your reproofs--would be listened +to with far more reverence and respect, now, than I fear they were +then," returned the major, seating himself by the side of Mrs. +Willoughby, and taking one of her hands, affectionately, in both his +own. "It is only in after-life that we learn to appreciate the +tenderness and care of such a parent as you have been; though what I +have done lately, to bring me in danger of the guard-house, I cannot +imagine. Surely _you_ cannot blame me for adhering to the crown, +at a moment like this!" + +"I shall not interfere with your conscience in this matter, Robert; and +my own feelings, American as I am by birth and family, rather incline +me to think as you think. I have wished to see you, my son, on a +different business." + +"Do not keep me in suspense, mother; I feel like a prisoner who is +waiting to hear his charges read. What have I done?" + +"Nay, it is rather for _you_ to tell _me_ what you have done. +You cannot have forgotten, Robert, how very anxious I have been to +awaken and keep alive family affection, among my children; how very +important both your father and I have always deemed it; and how +strongly we have endeavoured to impress this importance on all your +minds. The tie of family, and the love it ought to produce, is one of +the sweetest of all our earthly duties. Perhaps we old people see its +value more than you young; but, to us, the weakening of it seems like a +disaster only a little less to be deplored than death." + +"Dearest--dearest mother! What _can_ you--what _do_ you +mean?--What can _I_--what can _Maud_ have to do with this?" + +"Do not your consciences tell you, both? Has there not been some +misunderstanding--perhaps a quarrel--certainly a coldness between you? +A mother has a quick and a jealous eye; and I have seen, for some time, +that there is not the old confidence, the free natural manner, in +either of you, that there used to be, and which always gave your father +and me so much genuine happiness. Speak, then, and let me make peace +between you." + +Robert Willoughby would not have looked at Maud, at that moment, to +have been given a regiment; as for Maud, herself, she was utterly +incapable of raising her eyes from the floor. The former coloured to +the temples, a proof of consciousness, his mother fancied; while the +latter's face resembled ivory, as much as flesh and blood. + +"If you think, Robert," continued Mrs. Willoughby, "that Maud has +forgotten you, or shown pique for any little former misunderstanding, +during your last absence, you do her injustice. No one has done as much +for you, in the way of memorial; that beautiful sash being all her own +work, and made of materials purchased with her own pocket-money. Maud +loves you truly, too; for, whatever may be the airs she gives herself, +while you are together, when absent, no one seems to care more for your +wishes and happiness, than that very wilful and capricious girl." + +"Mother!--mother!" murmured Maud, burying her face in both her hands. + +Mrs. Willoughby was woman in all her feelings, habits and nature. No +one would have been more keenly alive to the peculiar sensibilities of +her sex, under ordinary circumstances, than herself; but she was now +acting and thinking altogether in her character of a mother; and so +long and intimately had she regarded the two beings before her, in that +common and sacred light, that it would have been like the dawn of a new +existence for her, just then, to look upon them as not really akin to +each other. + +"I shall not, nor can I treat either of you as a child," she continued, +"and must therefore appeal only to your own good sense, to make a +peace. I know it can be nothing serious; but, it is painful to me to +see even an affected coldness among my children. Think, Maud, that we +are on the point of a war, and how bitterly you would regret it, should +any accident befall your brother, and your memory not be able to recall +the time passed among us, in his last visit, with entire satisfaction." + +The mother's voice trembled; but tears no longer struggled about the +eyelids of Maud. Her face was pale as death, and it seemed as if every +ordinary fountain of sorrow were dried up. + +"Dear Bob, this is too much!" she said eagerly, though in husky tones. +"Here is my hand--nay, here are _both_. Mother must not think this +cruel charge is--_can_ be true." + +The major arose, approached his sister, and impressed a kiss on her +cold cheek. Mrs. Willoughby smiled at these tokens of amity, and the +conversation continued in a less earnest manner. + +"This is right, my children," said the single-hearted Mrs. Willoughby, +whose sensitive maternal love saw nothing but the dreaded consequences +of weakened domestic affections; "and I shall be all the happier for +having witnessed it. Young soldiers, Maud, who are sent early from +their homes, have too many inducements to forget them and those they +contain; and we women are so dependent on the love of our male friends, +that it is wisdom in _us_ to keep alive all the earlier ties as +long and as much as possible." + +"I am sure, dearest mother," murmured Maud, though in a voice that was +scarcely audible, "_I_ shall be the last to wish to weaken this +family tie. No one can feel a warmer--more proper--a more _sisterly_ +affection for Robert, than I do--he was always so kind to +me when a child--and so ready to assist me--and so manly--and so +everything that he ought to be--it is surprising you should have +fancied there was any coldness between us!" + +Major Willoughby even bent forward to listen, so intense was his +curiosity to hear what Maud said; a circumstance which, had she seen +it, would probably have closed her lips. But her eyes were riveted on +the floor, her cheeks were bloodless, and her voice so low, that +nothing but the breathless stillness he observed, would have allowed +the young man to hear it, where he sat. + +"You forget, mother"--rejoined the major, satisfied that the last +murmur had died on his ears--"that Maud will probably be transplanted +into another family, one of these days, where we, who know her so well, +and have reason to love her so much, can only foresee that she will +form new, and even stronger ties than any that accident may have formed +for her here." + +"Never--never"--exclaimed Maud, fervently--"I can never love any as +well as I love those who are in this house." + +The relief she wanted stopped her voice, and, bursting into tears, she +threw-herself into Mrs. Willoughby's arms, and sobbed like a child. The +mother now motioned to her son to quit the room, while she remained +herself to soothe the weeping girl, as she so often had done before, +when overcome by her infantile, or youthful griefs. Throughout this +interview, habit and single-heartedness so exercised their influence, +that the excellent matron did not, in the most remote manner, recollect +that her son and Maud were not natural relatives. Accustomed herself to +see the latter every day, and to think of her, as she had from the +moment when she was placed in her arms, an infant of a few weeks old +the effect that separation might produce on others, never presented +itself to her mind. Major Willoughby, a boy of eight when Maud was +received in the family, had known from the first her precise position; +and it was perhaps morally impossible that _he_ should not recall +the circumstance in their subsequent intercourse; more especially as +school, college, and the army, had given him so much leisure to reflect +on such things, apart from the influence of family habits; while it was +to be expected that a consequence of his own peculiar mode of thinking +on this subject, would be to produce something like a sympathetic +sentiment in the bosom of Maud. Until within the last few years, +however, she had been so much of a child herself, and had been treated +so much like a child by the young soldier, that it was only through a +change in him, that was perceptible only to herself, and which occurred +when he first met her grown into womanhood, that she alone admitted any +feelings that were not strictly to be referred to sisterly regard. All +this, nevertheless, was a profound mystery to every member of the +family, but the two who were its subjects; no other thoughts than the +simplest and most obvious, ever suggesting themselves to the minds of +the others. + +In half an hour, Mrs. Willoughby had quieted all Maud's present +troubles, and the whole family left the house to repair to the chapel. +Michael, though he had no great reverence for Mr. Wood's ministrations, +had constituted himself sexton, an office which had devolved on him in +consequence of his skill with the spade. Once initiated into one branch +of this duty, he had insisted on performing all the others; and it was +sometimes a curious spectacle to see the honest fellow, busy about the +interior of the building, during service, literally stopping one of his +ears with a thumb, with a view, while he acquitted himself of what he +conceived to be temporal obligations, to exclude as much heresy as +possible. One of his rules was to refuse to commence tolling the bell, +until he saw Mrs. Willoughby and her daughter, within a reasonable +distance of the place of worship; a rule that had brought about more +than one lively discussion between himself and the levelling-minded, if +not heavenly-minded Joel Strides. On the present occasion, this simple +process did not pass altogether without a dispute. + +"Come, Mike; it's half-past ten; the people have been waiting about the +meetin' 'us, some time; you should open the doors and toll the bell. +People can't wait, for ever for anybody; not even for your church." + +"Then let 'em just go home, ag'in, and come when they're called. +Because, the ould women, and the young women, and the childer, and the +likes o' them, wishes to scandalize their fellow cr'atures, Christians +I will not call 'em, let 'em mate in the mill, or the school-house, and +not come forenent a church on sich a business as that. Is it toll the +bell, will I, afore the Missus is in sight?--No--not for a whole +gineration of ye, Joel; and every one o' them, too, a much likelier man +than ye bees yerself." + +"Religion is no respecter of persons"--returned the philosophical Joel. +"Them that likes masters and mistresses may have them, for all me; but +it riles me to meet with meanness." + +"It does!" cried Mike, looking up at his companion, with a very +startling expression of wonder. "If that be true, ye must be in a +mighty throubled state, most of the live-long day, ye must!" + +"I tell you, Michael O'Hearn, religion is no respecter of persons. The +Lord cares jist as much for _me_, as he does for captain +Willoughby, or his wife, or his son, or his darters, or anything that +is his." + +"Divil burn me, now, Joel, if I believe _that_!" again cried Mike, +in his dogmatic manner. "Them that understands knows the difference +between mankind, and I'm sure it can be no great sacret to the Lord, +when it is so well known to a poor fellow like myself. There's a +plenthy of fellow-cr'atures that has a mighty good notion of their own +excellence, but when it comes to r'ason and thruth, it's no very great +figure ye all make, in proving what ye say. This chapel is the +master's, if chapel the heretical box can be called, and yonder bell +was bought wid his money; and the rope is his; and the hands that mane +to pull it, is his; and so there's little use in talking ag'in rocks, +and ag'in minds that's made up even harder than rocks, and to spare." + +This settled the matter. The bell was not tolled until Mrs. Willoughby, +and her daughters, had got fairly through the still unprotected gateway +of the stockade, although the recent discussion of political questions +had so far substituted discontent for subordination in the settlement, +that more than half of those who were of New England descent, had +openly expressed their dissatisfaction at the delay. Mike, however, was +as unmoved as the little chapel itself, refusing to open the door until +the proper moment had arrived, according to his own notion of the +fitness of things. He then proceeded to the elm, against which the +little bell was hung, and commenced tolling it with as much seriousness +as if the conveyer of sounds had been duly consecrated. + +When the family from the Hut entered the chapel, all the rest of the +congregation were in their customary seats. This arrival, however, +added materially to the audience, Great Smash and Little Smash, the two +Plinys, and some five or six coloured children, between the ages of six +and twelve, following in the train of their master. For the blacks, a +small gallery had been built, where they could sit apart, a proscribed, +if not a persecuted race. Little did the Plinys or the Smashes, +notwithstanding, think of this. Habit had rendered their situation more +than tolerable, for it had created notions and usages that would have +rendered them uncomfortable, in closer contact with the whites. In that +day, the two colours never ate together, by any accident; the eastern +castes being scarcely more rigid in the observance of their rules, than +the people of America were on this great point. The men who would toil +together, joke together, and pass their days in familiar intercourse, +would not sit down at the same board. There seemed to be a sort of +contamination, according to the opinions of one of these castes, in +breaking bread with the other. This prejudice often gave rise to +singular scenes, more especially in the households of those who +habitually laboured in company with their slaves. In such families, it +not unfrequently happened that a black led the councils of the farm. He +might be seen seated by the fire, uttering his opinions dogmatically, +reasoning warmly against his own master, and dealing out his wisdom +_ex cathedra_, even while he waited, with patient humility, when he +might approach, and satisfy his hunger, after all of the other colour +had quitted the table. + +Mr. Woods was not fortunate in the selection of his subject, on the +occasion of which we are writing. There had been so much personal +activity, and so much political discussion during the past week, as to +prevent him from writing a new sermon, and of course he was compelled +to fail back on the other end of the barrel. The recent arguments +inclined him to maintain his own opinions, and he chose a discourse +that he had delivered to the garrison of which he had last been +chaplain. To this choice he had been enticed by the text, which was, +"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's," a mandate that would +be far more palatable to an audience composed of royal troops, than to +one which had become a good deal disaffected by the arts and arguments +of Joel Strides and the miller. Still, as the sermon contained a proper +amount of theological truisms, and had a sufficiency of general +orthodoxy to cover a portion of its political bearing, it gave far more +dissatisfaction to a few of the knowing, than to the multitude. To own +the truth, the worthy priest was so much addicted to continuing his +regimental and garrison course of religious instruction, that his +ordinary listeners would scarcely observe this tendency to loyalty; +though it was far different with those who were eagerly looking for +causes of suspicion and denunciation, in the higher quarters. + +"Well," said Joel, as he and the miller, followed by their respective +families, proceeded towards the mill, where the household of the +Strides' were to pass the remainder of the day, "well, this is a bold +sermon for a minister to preach in times like these! I kind o' guess, +if Mr. Woods was down in the Bay, 'render unto Caesar the things that +are Caesars,' wouldn't be doctrine to be so quietly received by every +congregation. What's your notion about that, Miss Strides?" + +_Miss_ Strides thought exactly as her husband thought, and the +miller and his wife were not long in chiming in with her, accordingly. +The sermon furnished material for conversation throughout the remainder +of the day, at the mill, and divers conclusions were drawn from it, +that were ominous to the preacher's future comfort and security. + +Nor did the well-meaning parson entirely escape comment in the higher +quarters. + +"I wish, Woods, you had made choice of some other subject," observed +the captain, as he and his friend walked the lawn together, in waiting +for a summons to dinner. + +"In times like these, one cannot be too careful of the political +notions he throws out; and to own the truth to you, I am more than half +inclined to think that Caesar is exercising quite as much authority, in +these colonies, as justly falls to his share." + +"Why, my dear captain, you have heard this very sermon three or four +times already, and you have more than once mentioned it with +commendation!" + +"Ay, but that was in garrison, where one is obliged to teach +subordination. I remember the sermon quite well, and a very good one it +was, twenty years since, when you first preached it; but--" + +"I apprehend, captain Willoughby, that '_tempora mutantur, et, nos +mutamus in illis.'_ That the mandates and maxims of the Saviour are +far beyond the mutations and erring passions of mortality. His sayings +are intended for all times." + +"Certainly, as respects their general principles and governing truths. +But no text is to be interpreted without some reference to +circumstances. All I mean is, that the preaching which might be very +suitable to a battalion of His Majesty's Fortieth might be very +unsuitable for the labourers of the Hutted Knoll; more especially so +soon after what I find is called the Battle of Lexington." + +The summons to dinner cut short the discourse; and probably prevented a +long, warm, but friendly argument. + +That afternoon and evening, captain Willoughby and his son had a +private and confidential discourse. The former advised the major to +rejoin his regiment without delay, unless he were prepared to throw up +his commission and take sides with the colonists, altogether. To this +the young soldier would not listen, returning to the charge, in the +hope of rekindling the dormant flame of his father's loyalty. + +The reader is not to suppose that captain Willoughby's own mind was +absolutely made up to fly into open rebellion. Far from it. He had his +doubts and misgivings on the subjects of both principles and prudence, +but he inclined strongly to the equity of the demands of the Americans. +Independence, or separation, if thought of at all in 1775 entered into +the projects of but very few; the warmest wish of the most ardent of +the whigs of the colonies being directed toward compromise, and a +distinct recognition of their political franchises. The events that +followed so thickly were merely the consequences of causes which, once +set in motion, soon attained an impetus that defied ordinary human +control. It was doubtless one of the leading incidents of the great and +mysterious scheme of Divine Providence for the government of the future +destinies of man, that political separation should commence, in this +hemisphere, at that particular juncture, to be carried out, ere the end +of a century, to its final and natural conclusion. + +But the present interview was less to debate the merits of any disputed +question, than to consult on the means of future intercourse, and to +determine on what was best to be done at the present moment. After +discussing the matter, pro and con, it was decided that the major +should quit the Knoll the next day, and return to Boston, avoiding +Albany and those points of the country in which he would be most +exposed to detection. So many persons were joining the American forces +that were collecting about the besieged town, that his journeying on +the proper road would excite no suspicion; and once in the American +camp, nothing would be easier than to find his way into the peninsula. +All this young Willoughby felt no difficulty in being able to +accomplish, provided he could get into the settlements without being +followed by information of his real character. The period of spies, and +of the severe exercise of martial-law, was not yet reached; and all +that was apprehended was detention. Of the last, however, there was +great danger; positive certainty, indeed, in the event of discovery; +and major Willoughby had gleaned enough during his visit, to feel some +apprehensions of being betrayed. He regretted having brought his +servant with him; for the man was a European, and by his dulness and +speech might easily get them both into difficulties. So serious, +indeed, was this last danger deemed by the father, that he insisted on +Robert's starting without the man, leaving the last to follow, on the +first suitable occasion. + +As soon as this point was settled, there arose the question of the +proper guide. Although he distrusted the Tuscarora, captain Willoughby, +after much reflection, came to the opinion that it would be safer to +make an ally of him, than to give him an opportunity of being employed +by the other side. Nick was sent for, and questioned. He promised to +take the major to the Hudson, at a point between Lunenburg and +Kinderhook, where he would be likely to cross the river without +awakening suspicion; his own reward to depend on his coming back to the +Hutted Knoll with a letter from the major, authorizing the father to +pay him for his services. This plan, it was conceived, would keep Nick +true to his faith, for the time being, at least. + +Many other points were discussed between the father and son, the latter +promising if anything of importance occurred, to find the means of +communicating it to his friends at the Knoll, while Parrel was to +follow his master, at the end of six weeks or two months, with letters +from the family. Many of the captain's old army-friends were now in +situations of authority and command, and he sent to them messages of +prudence, and admonitions to be moderate in their views, which +subsequent events proved were little regarded. To general Gage he even +wrote, using the precaution not to sign the letter, though its +sentiments were so much in favour of the colonies, that had it been +intercepted, it is most probable the Americans would have forwarded the +missive to its direction. + +These matters arranged, the father and son parted for the night, some +time after the house-clock had struck the hour of twelve. + + + + + +Chapter IX. + + Though old in cunning, as in years, + He is so small, that like a child + In face and form, the god appears, + And sportive like a boy, and wild; + Lightly he moves from place to place, + In none at rest, in none content; + Delighted some new toy to chase-- + On childish purpose ever bent. + Beware! to childhood's spirits gay + Is added more than childhood's power; + And you perchance may rue the hour + That saw you join his seeming play. + + Griffen + +The intention of the major to quit the Knoll that day, was announced to +the family at breakfast, on the following morning. His mother and +Beulah heard this intelligence, with a natural and affectionate +concern, that they had no scruples in avowing; but Maud seemed to have +so schooled her feelings, that the grief she really felt was under a +prudent control. To her, it appeared as if her secret were constantly +on the point of exposure, and she believed _that_ would cause her +instant death. To survive its shame was impossible in her eyes, and all +the energies of her nature were aroused, with the determination of +burying her weakness in her own bosom. She had been so near revealing +it to Beulah, that even now she trembled as she thought of the +precipice over which she had been impending, strengthening her +resolution by the recollection of the danger she had run. + +As a matter of necessary caution, the intended movements of the young +man were kept a profound secret from all in the settlement. Nick had +disappeared in the course of the night, carrying with him the major's +pack, having repaired to a designated point on the stream, where he was +to be joined by his fellow-traveller at an hour named. There were +several forest-paths which led to the larger settlements. That usually +travelled was in the direction of old Fort Stanwix, first proceeding +north, and then taking a south-eastern direction, along the shores of +the Mohawk. This was the route by which the major had come. Another +struck the Otsego, and joined the Mohawk at the point more than once +mentioned in our opening chapters. As these were the two ordinary +paths--if paths they could be called, where few or no traces of +footsteps were visible--it was more than probable any plan to arrest +the traveller would be laid in reference to their courses. The major +had consequently resolved to avoid them both, and to strike boldly into +the mountains, until he should reach the Susquehanna, cross that stream +on its flood wood, and finding one of its tributaries that flowed in +from the eastward, by following its banks to the high land, which +divides the waters of the Mohawk from this latter river, place himself +on a route that would obliquely traverse the water-courses, which, in +this quarter of the country, have all a general north or south +direction. Avoiding Schenectady and Albany, he might incline towards +the old establishments of the descendants of the emigrants from the +Palatinate, on the Schoharie, and reach the Hudson at a point deemed +safe for his purposes, through some of the passes of the mountains in +their vicinity. He was to travel in the character of a land-owner who +had been visiting his patent, and his father supplied him with a map +and an old field-book, which would serve to corroborate his assumed +character, in the event of suspicion, or arrest. Not much danger was +apprehended, however, the quarrel being yet too recent to admit of the +organization and distrust that subsequently produced so much vigilance +and activity. + +"You will contrive to let us hear of your safe arrival in Boston, Bob," +observed the father, as he sat stirring his tea, in a thoughtful +way--"I hope to God the matter will go no farther, and that our +apprehensions, after all, have given this dark appearance to what has +already happened." + +"Ah, my dear father; you little know the state of the country, through +which I have so lately travelled!" answered the major, shaking his +head. "An alarm of fire, in an American town, would scarce create more +movement, and not so much excitement. The colonies are alive, +particularly those of New England, and a civil war is inevitable; +though I trust the power of England will render it short." + +"Then, Robert, do not trust yourself among the people of New England"-- +cried the anxious mother. "Go rather to New York, where we have so many +friends, and so much influence. It will be far easier to reach New York +than to reach Boston." + +"That may be true, mother, but it will scarcely be as creditable. My +regiment is in Boston, and its enemies are _before_ Boston; an old +soldier like captain Willoughby will tell you that the major is a very +necessary officer to a corps. No--no--my best course is to fall into +the current of adventurers who are pushing towards Boston, and appear +like one of their number, until I can get an opportunity of stealing +away from them, and join my own people." + +"Have a care, Bob, that you do not commit a military crime. Perhaps +these provincial officers may take it into their heads to treat you as +a spy, should you fall into their hands!" + +"Little fear of that, sir; at present it is a sort of colonial scramble +for what they fancy liberty. That they will fight, in their zeal, I +know; for I have seen it; but matters have not at all gone as far as +you appear to apprehend. I question if they would even stop Gage, +himself, from going through their camp, were he outside, and did he +express a desire to return." + +"And yet you tell me, arms and ammunition are seized all over the land; +that several old half-pay officers of the king have been arrested, and +put under a sort of parole!" + +"Such things were talked of, certainly, though I question if they have +yet been done. Luckily for yourself, under your present opinions at +least, _you_ are not on half-pay, even." + +"It is fortunate, Bob, though you mention it with a smile. With my +present feelings, I should indeed be sorry to be on half-pay, or +quarter-pay, were there such a thing. I now feel myself my-own master, +at liberty to follow the dictates of my conscience, and the suggestions +of my judgment." + +"Well, sir, you are a little fortunate, it must be acknowledged. I +cannot see how any man _can_ be at liberty to throw off the +allegiance he owes his natural sovereign. What think you, Maud?" + +This was said half in bitterness, half in jest, though the appeal at +its close was uttered in a serious manner, and a little anxiously. Maud +hesitated, as if to muster her thoughts, ere she replied. + +"My feelings are against rebellion," she said, at length; "though I +fear my reason tells me there is no such thing as a natural sovereign. +If the parliament had not given us the present family, a century since, +by what rule of nature would it be our princes, Bob?" + +"Ah! these are some of the flights of your rich imagination, my dear-- +Maud; it is parliament that has made them our princes, and parliament, +at least, is our legal, constitutional master." + +"That is just the point in dispute. Parliament may be the rightful +governors of England, but are they the rightful governors of America?" + +"Enough," said the captain, rising from table--"We will not discuss +such a question, just as we are about to separate. Go, my son; a duty +that is to be performed, cannot be done too soon. Your fowling-piece +and ammunition are ready for you, and I shall take care to circulate +the report that you have gone to pass an hour in the woods, in search +of pigeons. God bless you, Bob; however we may differ in this matter-- +you are my son--my _only_ son--my dear and well-beloved boy--God +for ever bless you!" + +A profound stillness succeeded this burst of nature, and then the young +man took his leave of his mother and the girls. Mrs. Willoughby kissed +her child. She did not even weep, until she was in her room; then, +indeed, she went to her knees, her tears, and her prayers. Beulah, all +heart and truth as she was, wept freely on her brother's neck; but +Maud, though pale and trembling, received his kiss without returning +it; though she could not help saying with a meaning that the young man +had in his mind all that day, ay, and for many succeeding days--"be +careful of yourself, and run into no unnecessary dangers; God bless +you, dear, _dear_ Bob." + +Maud alone followed the movements of the gentlemen with her eyes. The +peculiar construction of the Hut prevented external view from the south +windows; but there was a loop in a small painting-room of the garret +that was especially under her charge. Thither, then, she flew, to ease +her nearly bursting heart with tears, and to watch the retiring +footsteps of Robert. She saw him, accompanied by his father and the +chaplain, stroll leisurely down the lawn, conversing and affecting an +indifferent manner, with a wish to conceal his intent to depart. The +glass of the loop was open, to admit the air, and Maud strained her +sense of hearing, in the desire to catch, if possible, another tone of +his voice. In this she was unsuccessful; though he stopped and gazed +back at the Hut, as if to take a parting look. Her father and Mr. Woods +did not turn, and Maud thrust her hand through the opening and waved +her handkerchief. "He will think it Beulah or I," she thought, "and it +may prove a consolation to him to know how much _we_ love him." +The major saw the signal, and returned it. His father unexpectedly +turned, and caught a glimpse of the retiring hand, as it was +disappearing within the loop. "That is our precious Maud," he said, +without other thought than of her sisterly affection. "It is _her_ +painting-room; Beulah's is on the other side of the gateway; but the +window does not seem to be open." + +The major started, kissed his hand fervently, five or six times, and +then he walked on. As if to change the conversation, he said hastily, +and with a little want of connection with what had just passed-- + +"Yes, sir, that gate, sure enough--have it hung, at once, I do entreat +of you. I shall not be easy until I hear that both the gates are hung-- +that in the stockade, and that in the house, itself." + +"It was my intention to commence to-day," returned the father, "but +your departure has prevented it. I will wait a day or two, to let your +mother and sisters tranquillize their minds a little, before we besiege +them with the noise and clamour of the workmen." + +"Better besiege them with _that_, my dear sir, than leave them +exposed to an Indian, or even a rebel attack." + +The major then went on to give some of his more modern military +notions, touching the art of defence. As one of the old school, he +believed his father a miracle of skill; but what young man, who had +enjoyed the advantages of ten or fifteen years of the most recent +training in any branch of knowledge, ever believed the educations of +those who went before him beyond the attacks of criticism. The captain +listened patiently, and with an old man's tolerance for inexperience, +glad to have any diversion to unhappy thoughts. + +All this time Maud watched their movements from the loop, with eyes +streaming with tears. She saw Robert pause, and look back, again and +again; and, once more, she thrust out the handkerchief. It was plain, +however, he did not see it; for he turned and proceeded, without any +answering signal. + +"He never _can_ know whether it was Beulah or I," thought Maud; +"yet, he may fancy we are _both_ here." + +On the rocks, that overhung the mills, the gentlemen paused, and +conversed for quite a quarter of an hour. The distance prevented Maud +from discerning their countenances; but she could perceive the +thoughtful, and as she fancied melancholy, attitude of the major, as, +leaning on his fowling-piece, his lace was turned towards the Knoll, +and his eyes were really riveted on the loop. At the end of the time +mentioned, the young soldier shook hands hastily and covertly with his +companions, hurried towards the path, and descended out of sight, +following the course of the stream. Maud saw him no more, though her +father and Mr. Woods stood on the rocks quite half an hour longer, +catching occasional glimpses of his form, as it came out of the shadows +of the forest, into the open space of the little river; and, indeed, +until the major was within a short distance of the spot where he was to +meet the Indian. Then they heard the reports of both barrels of his +fowling-piece, fired in quick succession, the signals that he had +joined his guide. This welcome news received, the two gentlemen +returned slowly towards the house. + +Such was the commencement of a day, which, while it brought forth +nothing alarming to the family of the Hutted Knoll, was still pregnant +with important consequences. Major Willoughby disappeared from the +sight of his father about ten in the morning; and before twelve, the +settlement was alive with the rumours of a fresh arrival. Joel knew not +whether to rejoice or to despair, as he saw a party of eight or ten +armed men rising above the rock, and holding their course across the +flats towards the house. He entertained no doubt of its being a party +sent by the provincial authorities to arrest the captain, and he +foresaw the probability of another's being put into the lucrative +station of receiver of the estate, during the struggle which was in +perspective. It is surprising how many, and sometimes how pure patriots +are produced by just such hopes as those of Joel's. At this day, there +is scarce an instance of a confiscated estate, during the American +revolution, connected with which racy traditions are not to be found, +that tell of treachery very similar to this contemplated by the +overseer in some instances of treachery effected by means of kinsmen +and false friends. + +Joel had actually got on his Sunday coat, and was making his way +towards the Knoll, in order to be present, at least, at the anticipated +scene, when, to his amazement, and somewhat to his disappointment, he +saw the captain and chaplain moving down the lawn, in a manner to show +that these unexpected arrivals brought not unwelcome guests. This +caused him to pause; and when he perceived that the only two among the +strangers who had the air of gentlemen, were met with cordial shakes of +the hand, he turned back towards his own tenement, a half-dissatisfied, +and yet half contented man. + +The visit which the captain had come out to receive, instead of +producing any uneasiness in his family, was, in truth, highly +agreeable, and very opportune. It was Evert Beekman, with an old +friend, attended by a party of chain-bearers, hunters, &c., on his way +from the "Patent" he owned in the neighbourhood--that is to say, within +fifty miles--and halting at the Hutted Knoll, under the courteous +pretence of paying his respects to the family, but, in reality, to +bring the suit he had now been making to Beulah for quite a +twelvemonth, to a successful termination. + +The attachment between Evert Beekman and Beulah Willoughby was of a +character so simple, so sincere, and so natural, as scarce to furnish +materials for a brief episode. The young man had not made his addresses +without leave obtained from the parents; he had been acceptable to the +daughter from the commencement of their acquaintance; and she had only +asked time to reflect, ere she gave her answer, when he proposed, a day +or two before the family left New York. + +To own the truth, Beulah was a little surprised that her suitor had +delayed his appearance till near the close of May, when she had +expected to see him at the beginning of the month. A letter, however, +was out of the question, since there was no mode of transmitting it, +unless the messenger were sent expressly; and the young man had now +come in person, to make his own apologies. + +Beulah received Evert Beekman naturally, and without the least +exaggeration of manner, though a quiet happiness beamed in her handsome +face, that said as much as lover could reasonably desire. Her parents +welcomed him cordially, and the suitor must have been dull indeed, not +to anticipate all he hoped. Nor was it long before every doubt was +removed. The truthful, conscientious Beulah, had well consulted her +heart; and, while she blushed at her own temerity, she owned her +attachment to her admirer. The very day of his arrival they became +formally betrothed. As our tale, however, has but a secondary +connection with this little episode, we shall not dwell on it more than +is necessary to the principal object. It was a busy morning, +altogether; and, though there were many tears, there were also many +smiles. By the time it was usual, at that bland season, for the family +to assemble on the lawn, everything, even to the day, was settled +between Beulah and her lover, and there was a little leisure to think +of other things. It was while the younger Pliny and one of the Smashes +were preparing the tea, that the following conversation was held, being +introduced by Mr. Woods, in the way of digressing from feelings in +which he was not quite as much interested as some of the rest of the +party. + +"Do you bring us anything new from Boston?" demanded the chaplain. "I +have been dying to ask the question these two hours--ever since dinner, +in fact; but, somehow, Mr. Beekman, I have not been able to edge in an +inquiry." + +This was said good-naturedly, but quite innocently; eliciting smiles, +blushes, and meaning glances in return. Evert Beekman, however, looked +grave before he made his reply. + +"To own the truth, Mr. Woods," he said, "things are getting to be very +serious. Boston is surrounded by thousands of our people; and we hope, +not only to keep the king's forces in the Peninsula, but, in the end, +to drive them out of the colony." + +"This is a bold measure, Mr. Beekman!--a very bold step to take against +Caesar!" + +"Woods preached about the rights of Caesar, no later than yesterday, you +ought to know, Beekman," put in the laughing captain; "and I am afraid +he will be publicly praying for the success of the British arms, before +long." + +"I _did_ pray for the Royal Family," said the chaplain, with +spirit, "and hope I shall ever continue to do so." + +"My dear fellow, I do not object to _that_. Pray for all +conditions of men, enemies and friends alike; and, particularly, pray +for our princes; but pray also to turn the hearts of their advisers." + +Beekman seemed uneasy. He belonged to a decidedly whig family, and was +himself, at the very moment, spoken of as the colonel of one of the +regiments about to be raised in the colony of New York. He held that +rank in the militia, as it was; and no one doubted his disposition to +resist the British forces, at the proper moment. He had even stolen +away from what he conceived to be very imperative duties, to secure the +woman of his heart before he went into the field. His answer, in +accordance, partook essentially of the bias of his mind. + +"I do not know, sir, that it is quite wise to pray so very willingly +for the Royal Family," he said. "We may wish them worldly happiness, +and spiritual consolation, as part of the human race; but political and +specific prayers, in times like these, are to be used with caution. Men +attach more than the common religious notion, just now, to prayers for +the king, which some interpret into direct petitions against the United +Colonies." + +"Well," rejoined the captain, "I cannot agree to this, myself. If there +were a prayer to confound parliament and its counsels, I should be very +apt to join in it cordially; but I am not yet ready to throw aside +king, queen, princes and princesses, all in a lump, on account of a few +taxes, and a tittle tea." + +"I am sorry to hear this from you, sir," answered Evert. "When your +opinions were canvassed lately at Albany, I gave a sort of pledge that +you were certainly more with us than against us." + +"Well then, I think, Beekman, you drew me in my true outlines. In the +main, I think the colonies right, though I am still willing to pray for +the king." + +"I am one of those, captain Willoughby, who look forward to the most +serious times. The feeling throughout the colonies is tremendous, and +the disposition on the part of the royal officers is to meet the crisis +with force." + +"You have a brother a captain of foot in one of the regiments of the +crown, colonel Beekman--what are his views in this serious state of +affairs?" + +"He has already thrown up his commission--refusing even to sell out, a +privilege that was afforded him. His name is now before congress for a +majority in one of the new regiments that are to be raised." + +The captain looked grave; Mrs. Willoughby anxious; Beulah interested; +and Maud thoughtful. + +"This has a serious aspect, truly," observed the first. "When men +abandon all their early hopes, to assume new duties, there must be a +deep and engrossing cause. I had not thought it like to come to this!" + +"We have had hopes major Willoughby might do the same; I know that a +regiment is at his disposal, if he be disposed to join us. No one would +be more gladly received. We are to have Gates, Montgomery, Lee, and +many other old officers, from regular corps, on our side." + +"Will colonel Lee be put at the head of the American forces?" + +"I think not, sir. He has a high reputation, and a good deal of +experience, but he is a humourist; and what is something, though you +will pardon it, he is not an American born." + +"It is quite right to consult such considerations, Beekman; were I in +congress, they would influence _me_, Englishman as I am, and in +many things must always remain." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Willoughby," exclaimed the chaplain--" +right down rejoiced to hear you say so! A man is bound to stand by his +birth-place, through thick and thin." + +"How do you, then, reconcile your opinions, in this matter, to _your_ +birth-place, Woods?" asked the laughing captain. + +To own the truth, the chaplain was a little confused. He had entered +into the controversy with so much zeal, of late, as to have imbibed the +feelings of a thorough partisan; and, as is usual, with such +philosophers, was beginning to overlook everything that made against +his opinions, and to exaggerate everything that sustained them. + +"How?"--he cried, with zeal, if not with consistency--"Why, well +enough. I am an Englishman too, in the general view of the case, though +born in Massachusetts. Of English descent, and an English subject." + +"Umph!--Then Beekman, here, who is of Dutch descent, is not bound by +the same principles as we are ourselves?" + +"Not by the same _feelings_ possibly; but, surely, by the same +principles. Colonel Beekman is an Englishman by construction, and you +are by birth. Yes, I'm what may be called a _constructive_ +Englishman." + +Even Mrs. Willoughby and Beulah laughed at this, though not a smile had +crossed Maud's face, since her eye had lost Robert Willoughby from +view. The captain's ideas seemed to take a new direction, and he was +silent some little time before he spoke. + +"Under the circumstances in which we are now placed, as respects each +other, Mr. Beekman," he said, "it is proper that there should be no +concealments on grave points. Had you arrived an hour or two earlier, +you would have met a face well known to you, in that of my son, major +Willoughby." + +"Major Willoughby, my dear sir!" exclaimed Beekman, with a start of +unpleasant surprise; "I had supposed him with the royal army, in +Boston. You say he has left the Knoll--I sincerely hope not for +Albany." + +"No--I wished him to go in that direction, at first, and to see you, in +particular; but his representations of the state of the country induced +me to change my mind; he travels by a private way, avoiding all the +towns of note, or size." + +"In that he has done well, sir. Near to me as a brother of Beulah's +must always seem, I should be sorry to see Bob, just at this moment. If +there be no hope of getting him to join us, the farther we are +separated the better." + +This was said gravely, and it caused all who heard it fully to +appreciate the serious character of a quarrel that threatened to arm +brother against brother. As if by common consent, the discourse +changed, all appearing anxious, at a moment otherwise so happy, to +obliterate impressions so unpleasant from their thoughts. + +The captain, his wife, Beulah and the colonel, had several long and +private communications in the course of the evening. Maud was not sorry +to be left to herself, and the chaplain devoted his time to the +entertainment of the friend of Beekman, who was in truth a surveyor, +brought along partly to preserve appearances, and partly for service. +The chain-bearers, hunters, &c., had been distributed in the different +cabins of the settlement, immediately on the arrival of the party. + +That night, when the sisters retired, Maud perceived that Beulah had +something to communicate, out of the common way. Still, she did not +know whether it would be proper for her to make any inquiries, and +things were permitted to take their natural course. At length Beulah, +in her gentle way, remarked--"It is a fearful thing, Maud, for a woman +to take upon herself the new duties, obligations and ties of a wife." + +"She should _not_ do it, Beulah, unless she feels a love for the +man of her choice, that will sustain her in them. You, who have +_real_ parents living, ought to feel this fully, as I doubt not you +do." + +"_Real_ parents! Maud, you frighten me! Are not _my_ parents +_yours?_--Is not all our love common?" + +"I am ashamed of myself, Beulah. Dearer and better parents than mine, +no girl ever had. I am ashamed of my words, and beg you will forget +them." + +"That I shall be very ready to do. It was a great consolation to think +that should I be compelled to quit home, as compelled I must be in the +end, I should leave with my father and mother a child as dutiful, and +one that loves them as sincerely as yourself, Maud." + +"You have thought right, Beulah. I do love them to my heart's core! +Then you are right in another sense; for I shall _never_ marry. My +mind is made up to _that_" + +"Well, dear, many are happy that never marry--many women are happier +than those that do. Evert has a kind, manly, affectionate heart, and I +know will do all he can to prevent my regretting home; but we can never +have more than _one_ mother, Maud!" + +Maud did not answer, though she looked surprised that Beulah should say +this to _her_. + +"Evert has reasoned and talked so much to my father and mother," +continued the _fiancee_, blushing, "that they have thought we had +better be married at once. Do you know, Maud, that it has been settled +this evening, that the ceremony is to take place to-morrow!" + +"This is sudden, indeed, Beulah! Why have they determined on so +unexpected a thing?" + +"It is all owing to the state of the country. I know not how he has +done it--but Evert has persuaded my father, that the sooner I am his +wife, the more secure we shall _all_ be, here at the Knoll." + +"I hope you love Evert Beekman, dearest, dearest Beulah?" + +"What a question, Maud! Do you suppose I could stand up before a +minister of God, and plight my faith to a man I did not love?--Why have +you seemed to doubt it?" + +"I do not doubt it--I am very foolish, for I know you are conscientious +as the saints in heaven--and yet, Beulah, I think _I_ could scarce +be so tranquil about one I loved." + +The gentle Beulah smiled, but she no longer felt uneasiness. She +understood the impulses and sentiments of her own pure but tranquil +nature too well, to distrust herself; and she could easily imagine that +Maud would not be as composed under similar circumstances. + +"Perhaps it is well, sister of mine," she answered laughing, though +blushing, "that you are so resolved to remain single; for one hardly +knows where to find a suitor sufficiently devoted and ethereal for your +taste. No one pleased you last winter, though the least encouragement +would have Brought a dozen to your feet; and here there is no one you +can possibly have, unless it be dear, good, old Mr. Woods." + +Maud compressed her lips, and really looked stern, so determined was +she to command herself; then she answered somewhat in her sister's +vein-- + +"It is very true," she said, "there is no hero for me to accept, unless +it be dear Mr. Woods; and he, poor man, has had one wife that cured him +of any desire to possess another, they say." + +"Mr. Woods! I never knew that he was married. Who can have told you +this, Maud?" + +"I got it from Robert"--answered the other, hesitating a little. "He +was talking one day of such things." + +"What things, dear?" + +"Why--of getting married--I believe it was about marrying relatives--or +connections--or, some such thing; for Mr. Woods married a cousin- +german, it would seem--and so he told me all about it. Bob was old +enough to know his wife, when she died. Poor man, she led him a hard +life--he must be far from the Knoll, by this time, Beulah!" + +"Mr. Woods!--I left him with papa, a few minutes since, talking over +the ceremony for to-morrow!" + +"I meant Bob----" + +Here the sisters caught each other's eyes, and both blushed, +consciousness presenting to them, at the same instant, the images that +were uppermost in their respective minds. But, no more was said. They +continued their employments in silence, and soon each was kneeling in +prayer. + +The following day, Evert Beekman and Beulah Willoughby were married. +The ceremony took place, immediately after breakfast, in the little +chapel; no one being present but the relatives, and Michael O'Hearn, +who quieted his conscience for not worshipping with the rest of the +people, by acting as their sexton. The honest county Leitrim man was +let into the secret--as a great secret, however--at early dawn; and he +had the place swept and in order in good season, appearing in his +Sunday attire to do honour to the occasion, as he thought became him. + +A mother as tender as Mrs. Willoughby, could not resign the first claim +on her child, without indulging her tears, Maud wept, too; but it was +as much in sympathy for Beulah's happiness, as from any other cause. +The marriage in other respects, was simple, and without any +ostentatious manifestations of feeling. It was, in truth, one of those +rational and wise connections, which promise to wear well, there being +a perfect fitness, in station, wealth, connections, years, manners and +habits, between the parties. Violence was done to nothing, in bringing +this discreet and well-principled couple together. Evert was as worthy +of Beulah, as she was worthy of him. There was confidence in the +future, on every side; and not a doubt, or a misgiving of any sort, +mingled with the regrets, if regrets they could be called, that were, +in some measure, inseparable from the solemn ceremony. + +The marriage was completed, the affectionate father had held the +weeping but smiling bride on his bosom, the tender mother had folded +her to her heart, Maud had pressed her in her arms in a fervent +embrace, and the chaplain had claimed his kiss, when the well-meaning +sexton approached. + +"Is it the likes of yees I wish well to!" said Mike--"Ye may well say +_that_; and to yer husband, and childer, and all that will go +before, and all that have come after ye! I know'd ye, when ye was +mighty little, and that was years agone; and niver have I seen a cross +look on yer pretthy face. I've app'inted to myself, many's the time, a +consait to tell ye all this, by wor-r-d of mouth; but the likes of +yees, and of the Missus, and of Miss Maud there--och! isn't she a swate +one! and many's the pity, there's no sich tall, handsome jontleman to +take _her_, in the bargain, bad luck to him for staying away; and +so God bless ye, all, praist in the bargain, though he's no praist at +all; and here's my good wishes said and done." + + + + + +Chapter X. + + Ho! Princes of Jacob! the strength and the stay + Of the daughters of Zion;--now up, and away; + Lo, the hunters have struck her, and bleeding alone + Like a pard in the desert she maketh her moan: + Up with war-horse and banner, with spear and with sword, + On the spoiler go down in the might of the Lord! + + Lunt. + +The succeeding fortnight, or three weeks, brought no material changes, +beyond those connected with the progress of the season. Vegetation was +out in its richest luxuriance, the rows of corn and potatoes, freshly +hoed, were ornamenting the flats, the wheat and other grains were +throwing up their heads, and the meadows were beginning to exchange +their flowers for the seed. As for the forest, it had now veiled its +mysteries beneath broad curtains of a green so bright and lively, that +one can only meet it, beneath a generous sun, tempered by genial rains, +and a mountain air. The chain-bearers, and other companions of Beekman, +quitted the valley the day after the wedding, leaving no one of their +party behind but its principal. + +The absence of the major was not noted by Joel and his set, in the +excitement of receiving so many guests, and in the movement of the +wedding. But, as soon as the fact was ascertained, the overseer and +miller made the pretence of a 'slack-time' in their work, and obtained +permission to go to the Mohawk, on private concerns of their own. Such +journeys were sufficiently common to obviate suspicion; and, the leave +had, the two conspirators started off, in company, the morning of the +second day, or forty-eight hours after the major and Nick had +disappeared. As the latter was known to have come in by the Fort +Stanwix route, it was naturally enough supposed that he had returned by +the same; and Joel determined to head him on the Mohawk, at some point +near Schenectady, where he might make a merit of his own patriotism, by +betraying the son of his master. The reader is not to suppose Joel +intended to do all this openly; so far from it, his plan was to keep +himself in the back-ground, while he attracted attention to the +supposed toryism of the captain, and illustrated his own attachment to +the colonies. + +It is scarcely necessary to say that this plan failed, in consequence +of the new path taken by Nick. At the very moment when Joel and the +miller were lounging about a Dutch inn, some fifteen or twenty miles +above Schenectady, in waiting for the travellers to descend the valley +of the Mohawk, Robert Willoughby and his guide were actually crossing +the Hudson, in momentary security at least. After remaining at his post +until satisfied his intended prey had escaped him, Joel, with his +friend, returned to the settlement. Still, the opportunity had been +improved, to make himself better acquainted with the real state of the +country; to open communications with certain patriots of a moral +calibre about equal to his own, but of greater influence; to throw out +divers injurious hints, and secret insinuations concerning the captain; +and to speculate on the propriety of leaving so important a person to +work his will, at a time so critical. But the pear was not yet ripe, +and all that could now be done was to clear the way a little for +something important in future. + +In the meantime, Evert Beekman having secured his gentle and true- +hearted wife, began, though with a heavy heart, to bethink him of his +great political duties. It was well understood that he was to have a +regiment of the new levies, and Beulah had schooled her affectionate +heart to a degree that permitted her to part with him, in such a cause, +with seeming resignation. It was, sooth to say, a curious spectacle, to +see how these two sisters bent all their thoughts and wishes, in +matters of a public nature, to favour the engrossing sentiments of +their sex and natures; Maud being strongly disposed to sustain the +royal cause, and the bride to support that in which her husband had +enlisted, heart and hand. + +As for captain Willoughby, he said little on the subject of politics; +but the marriage of Beulah had a powerful influence in confirming his +mind in the direction it had taken after the memorable argument with +the chaplain. Colonel Beekman was a man of strong good sense, though +without the least brilliancy; and his arguments were all so clear and +practical, as to carry with them far more weight than was usual in the +violent partisan discussions of the period. Beulah fancied him a Solon +in sagacity, and a Bacon in wisdom. Her father, without proceeding +quite as far as this, was well pleased with his cool discriminating +judgment, and much disposed to defer to his opinions. The chaplain was +left out of the discussions as incorrigible. + +The middle of June was passed, at the time colonel Beekman began to +think of tearing himself from his wife, in order to return into the +active scenes of preparation he had quitted, to make this visit. As +usual, the family frequented the lawn, at the close of the day, the +circumstance of most of the windows of the Hut looking on the court, +rendering this resort to the open air more agreeable than might +otherwise have been the case. Evert was undecided whether to go the +following morning, or to remain a day longer, when the lawn was thus +occupied, on the evening of the 25th of the month, Mrs. Willoughby +making the tea, as usual, her daughters sitting near her, sewing, and +the gentlemen at hand, discussing the virtues of different sorts of +seed-corn. + +"There is a stranger!" suddenly exclaimed the chaplain, looking towards +the rocks near the mill, the point at which all arrivals in the valley +were first seen from the Hut. "He comes, too, like a man in haste, +whatever may be his errand." + +"God be praised," returned the captain rising; "it is Nick, on his +usual trot, and this is about the time he should be back, the bearer of +good news. A week earlier might have augured better; but this will do. +The fellow moves over the ground as if he really had something to +communicate!" + +Mrs. Willoughby and her daughters suspended their avocations, and the +gentlemen stood, in silent expectation, watching the long, loping +strides of the Tuscarora, as he came rapidly across the plain. In a few +minutes the Indian came upon the lawn, perfectly in wind, moving with +deliberation and gravity, as he drew nearer to the party. Captain +Willoughby, knowing his man, waited quite another minute, after the +red-man was leaning against an apple-tree, before he questioned him. + +"Welcome back, Nick," he then said. "Where did you leave my son?" + +"He tell dere," answered the Indian, presenting a note, which the +captain read. + +"This is all right, Nick; and it shows you have been a true man. Your +wages shall be paid to-night. But, this letter has been written on the +eastern bank of the Hudson, and is quite three weeks old--why have we +not seen you, sooner?" + +"Can't see, when he don't come." + +"That is plain enough; but why have you not come back sooner? That is +my question." + +"Want to look at country--went to shore of Great Salt Lake." + +"Oh!--Curiosity, then, has been at the bottom of your absence?" + +"Nick warrior--no squaw--got no cur'osity." + +"No, no--I beg your pardon, Nick; I did not mean to accuse you of so +womanish a feeling. Far from it; I know you are a man. Tell us, +however, how far, and whither you went?" + +"Bos'on," answered Nick, sententiously. + +"Boston! That has been a journey, indeed. Surely my son did not allow +you to travel in his company through Massachusetts?" + +"Nick go alone. Two path; one for major; one for Tuscarora. Nick got +dere first." + +"That I can believe, if you were in earnest. Were you not questioned by +the way?" + +"Yes. Tell 'em I'm Stockbridge--pale-face know no better. T'ink he fox; +more like wood-chuck." + +"Thank you, Nick, for the compliment. Had my son reached Boston before +you came away?" + +"Here he be"--answered the Indian, producing another missive, from the +folds of his calico shirt. + +The captain received the note which he read with extreme gravity, and +some surprise. + +"This is in Bob's handwriting," he said, "and is dated 'Boston, June +18th, 1775;' but it is without signature, and is not only Bob, but Bob +Short." + +"Read, dear Willoughby," exclaimed the anxious mother. "News from +_him_, concerns us all." + +"News, Wilhelmina!--They may call this news in Boston, but one is very +little the better for it at the Hutted Knoll. However, such as it is, +there is no reason for keeping it a secret, while there is _one_ +reason, at least, why it should be known. This is all. 'My dearest +sir--Thank God I am unharmed; but we have had much to make us reflect; +you know what duty requires--my best and endless love to my mother, and +Beulah--and dear, laughing, capricious, _pretty_ Maud. Nick was +present, and can tell you all. I do not think he will extenuate, or +aught set down in malice."' And this without direction, or signature; +with nothing, in fact, but place and date. What say _you_ to all +this, Nick?" + +"He very good--major dere; he know. Nick dere--hot time--a t'ousand +scalp--coat red as blood." + +"There has been another battle!" exclaimed the captain; "that is too +plain to admit of dispute. Speak out at once, Nick--which gained the +day; the British or the Americans?" + +"Hard to tell--one fight, t'other fight. Red-coat take de ground; +Yankee kill. If Yankee could take scalp of all he kill, he whip. But, +poor warriors at takin' scalp. No know how." + +"Upon my word, Woods, there does seem to be something in all this! It +can hardly be possible that the Americans would dare to attack Boston, +defended as it is, by a strong army of British regulars." + +"That would they not," cried the chaplain, with emphasis. "This has +been only another skirmish." + +"What you call skirmge?" asked Nick, pointedly. "It skirmge to take +t'ousand scalp, ha?" + +"Tell us what _has_ happened, Tuscarora?" said the captain, +motioning his friend to be silent. + +"Soon tell--soon done. Yankee on hill; reg'lar in canoe. Hundred, +t'ousand, fifty canoe--full of red-coat. Great chief, dere!--ten--six-- +two--all go togeder. Come ashore--parade, pale-face manner--march-- +booh--booh--dem cannon; pop, pop--dem gun. Wah! how he run!" + +"Run!--who ran, Nick?--Though I suppose it must have been the poor +Americans, of course." + +"Red-coat run," answered the Indian, quietly. + +This reply produced a general sensation, even the ladies starting, and +gazing at each other. + +"Red-coat run"--repeated the captain, slowly. "Go on with your history, +Nick--where was this battle fought?" + +"T'other Bos'on--over river--go in canoe to fight, like Injin from +Canada." + +"That must have been in Charlestown, Woods--you may remember Boston is +on one peninsula, and Charlestown on another. Still, I do not recollect +that the Americans were in the latter, Beekman--you told me nothing of +that?" + +"They were not so near the royal forces, certainly, when I left Albany, +sir," returned the colonel. "A few direct questions to the Indian, +however, would bring out the whole truth." + +"We must proceed more methodically. How many Yankees were in this +fight, Nick?--Calculate as we used to, in the French war." + +"Reach from here to mill--t'ree, two deep, cap'in. All farmer; no +sodger. Carry gun, but no carry baggonet; no carry knapsack. No wear +red-coat. _Look_ like town-meetin'; _fight_ like devils." + +"A line as long as from this to the mill, three deep, would contain +about two thousand men, Beekman. Is that what you wish to say, Nick?" + +"That about him--pretty near--just so." + +"Well, then, there were about two thousand Yankees on this hill--how +many king's troops crossed in the canoes, to go against them?" + +"Two time--one time, so many; t'other time, half so many. Nick close +by; count _him_." + +"That would make three thousand in all! By George, this does look like +work. Did they all go together, Nick?" + +"No; one time go first; fight, run away. Den two time go, fight good +deal--run away, too. Den try harder--set fire to wigwam--go up hill; +Yankee run away." + +"This is plain enough, and quite graphical. Wigwam on fire? Charlestown +is not burnt, Nick?" + +"Dat he--Look like old Council Fire, gone out. Big canoe fire--booh-- +booh--Nick nebber see such war before--wah! Dead man plenty as leaves +on tree; blood run like creek!" + +"Were you in this battle, Nick? How came you to learn so much about +it?" + +"Don't want to be in it--better out--no scalp taken. Red-man not'in' to +do, dere. How know about him?--_See_ him--dat all. Got eye; why no +see him, behind stone wall. Good see, behind stone wall." + +"Were you across the water yourself, or did you remain in Boston, and +see from a distance?" + +"Across in canoe--tell red-coat, general send letter by Nick--major +say, he _my_ friend--let Nick go." + +"My son was in this bloody battle, then!" said Mrs. Willoughby. "He +writes, Hugh, that he is safe?" + +"He does, dearest Wilhelmina; and Bob knows us too well, to attempt +deception, in such a matter." + +"Did you see the major in the field, Nick--after you crossed the water, +I mean?" + +"See him, all. Six--two--seven t'ousand. Close by; why not see major +stand up like pine--no dodge he head, _dere_. Kill all round him-- +no hurt _him_! Fool to stay dere--tell him so; but he no come +away. Save he scalp, too." + +"And how many slain do you suppose there might have been left on the +ground--or, did you riot remain to see?" + +"Did see--stay to get gun--knapsack--oder good t'ing--plenty about; +pick him up, fast as want him." Here Nick coolly opened a small bundle, +and exhibited an epaulette, several rings, a watch, five or six pairs +of silver buckles, and divers other articles of plunder, of which he +had managed to strip the dead. "All good t'ing--plenty as stone--have +him widout askin'." + +"So I see, Master Nick--and is this the plunder of Englishmen, or of +Americans?" + +"Red-coat nearest--got most t'ing, too. Go farder, fare worse; as pale- +face say." + +"Quite satisfactory. Were there more red-coats left on the ground, or +more Americans?" + +"Red-coat so," said Nick, holding up _four_ fingers--Yankee, so; +"holding up _one_. Take big grave to hold red-coat. Small grave +won't hold Yankee. Hear what he count; most red-coat. More than +t'ousand warrior! British groan, like squaw dat lose her hunter." + +Such was Saucy Nick's description of the celebrated, and, in some +particulars, unrivalled combat of Bunker Hill, of which he had actually +been an eye-witness, on the ground, though using the precaution to keep +his body well covered. He did not think it necessary to state the fact +that he had given the _coup-de-grace_, himself, to the owner of +the epaulette, nor did he deem it essential to furnish all the +particulars of his mode of obtaining so many buckles. In other +respects, his account was fair enough, "nothing extenuating, or setting +down aught in malice." The auditors had listened with intense feeling; +and Maud, when the allusion was made to Robert Willoughby, buried her +pallid face in her hands, and wept. As for Beulah, time and again, she +glanced anxiously at her husband, and bethought her of the danger to +which he might so soon be exposed. + +The receipt of this important intelligence confirmed Beekman in the +intention to depart. The very next morning he tore himself away from +Beulah, and proceeded to Albany. The appointment of Washington, and a +long list of other officers, soon succeeded, including his own as a +colonel; and the war may be said to have commenced systematically. Its +distant din occasionally reached the Hutted Knoll; but the summer +passed away, bringing with it no event to affect the tranquillity of +that settlement. Even Joel's schemes were thwarted for a time, and he +was fain to continue to wear the mask, and to gather that harvest for +another, which he had hoped to reap for his own benefit. + +Beulah had all a young wife's fears for her husband; but, as month +succeeded month, and one affair followed another, without bringing him +harm, she began to submit to the anxieties inseparable from her +situation, with less of self-torment, and more of reason. Her mother +and Maud were invaluable friends to her, in this novel and trying +situation, though each had her own engrossing cares on account of +Robert Willoughby. As no other great battle, however, occurred in the +course of the year '75, Beekman remained in safety with the troops that +invested Boston, and the major with the army within it. Neither was +much exposed, and glad enough were these gentle affectionate hearts, +when they learned that the sea separated the combatants. + +This did not occur, however, until another winter was passed. In +November, the family left the Hut, as had been its practice of late +years, and went out into the more inhabited districts to pass the +winter. This time it came only to Albany, where colonel Beekman joined +it, passing a few happy weeks with his well-beloved Beulah. The ancient +town mentioned was not gay at a moment like that; but it had many young +officers in it, on the American side of the question, who were willing +enough to make themselves acceptable to Maud. The captain was not sorry +to see several of these youths manifesting assiduity about her he had +so long been accustomed to consider as his youngest daughter; for, by +this time, his opinions had taken so strong a bias in favour of the +rights of the colonies, that Beekman himself scarce rejoiced more +whenever he heard of any little success alighting on the American arms. + +"It will all come right in the end," the worthy captain used to assure +his friend the chaplain. "They will open their eyes at home, ere long, +and the injustice of taxing the colonies will be admitted. Then all +will come round again; the king will be as much beloved as ever, and +England and America will be all the better friends for having a mutual +respect. I know my countrymen well; they mean right, and will do right, +as soon as their stomachs are a little lowered, and they come to look +at the truth, coolly. I'll answer for it, the Battle of Bunker's Hill +made _us_"--the captain had spoken in this way, now, for some +months--"made _us_ a thousand advocates, where we had one before. +This is the nature of John Bull; give him reason to respect you, and he +will soon do you justice; but give him reason to feel otherwise, and he +becomes a careless, if not a hard master." + +Such were the opinions captain Willoughby entertained of his native +land; a land he had not seen in thirty years, and one in which he had +so recently inherited unexpected honours, without awakening a desire to +return and enjoy them. His opinions were right in part, certainly; for +they depended on a law of nature, while it is not improbable they were +wrong in all that was connected with the notions of any peculiarly +manly quality, in any particular part of christendom. No maxim is truer +than that which teaches us "like causes produce like effects;" and as +human beings are governed by very similar laws all over the face of +this round world of ours, nothing is more certain than the similarity +of their propensities. + +Maud had no smiles, beyond those extracted by her naturally sweet +disposition, and a very prevalent desire to oblige, for any of the +young soldiers, or young civilians, who crowded about her chair, during +the Albany winter mentioned. Two or three of colonel Beekman's military +friends, in particular, would very gladly have become connected with an +officer so much respected, through means so exceedingly agreeable; but +no encouragement emboldened either to go beyond the attention and +assiduities of a marked politeness. + +"I know not how it is," observed Mrs. Willoughby, one day, in a +_tete-a-tete_ with her husband; "Maud seems to take less pleasure +than is usual with girls of her years, in the attentions of your sex. +That her heart is affectionate--warm--even tender, I am very certain; +and yet no sign of preference, partiality, or weakness, in favour of +any of these fine young men, of whom we see so many, can I discover in +the child. They all seem alike to her!" + +"Her time will come, as it happened to her mother before her," answered +the captain. "Whooping-cough and measles are not more certain to befall +children, than love to befall a young woman. You were all made for it, +my dear Willy, and no fear but the girl will catch the disease, one of +these days; and that, too, without any inoculation." + +"I am sure, I have no wish to separate from my child"--so Mrs. +Willoughby always spoke of, and so she always felt towards Maud--"I am +sure, I have no wish to separate from my child; but as we cannot always +remain, it is perhaps better this one should marry, like the other. +There is young Verplanck much devoted to her; he is everyway a suitable +match; and then he is in Evert's own regiment." + +"Ay, he would do; though to my fancy Luke Herring is the far better +match." + +"That is because he is richer and more powerful, Hugh--you men cannot +think of a daughter's establishment, without immediately dragging in +houses and lands, as part of the ceremony." + +"By George, wife of mine, houses and lands in moderation, are very good +sweeteners of matrimony!" + +"And yet, Hugh, I have been very happy as a wife, nor have you been +very miserable as a husband, without any excess of riches to sweeten +the state!" answered Mrs. Willoughby, reproachfully. "Had you been a +full general, I could not have loved you more than I have done as a +mere captain." + +"All very true, Wilhelmina, dearest," returned the husband, kissing the +faithful partner of his bosom with strong affection--"very true, my +dear girl; for girl you are and ever will be in my eyes; but _you_ +are one in a million, and I humbly trust there are not ten hundred and +one, in every thousand, just like myself. For my part, I wish dear, +saucy, capricious little Maud, no worse luck in a husband, than Luke +Herring." + +"She will never be _his_ wife; I know her, and my own sex, too +well to think it. You are wrong, however, Willoughby, in applying such +terms to the child. Maud is not in the least capricious, especially in +her affections. See with what truth and faithfulness of sisterly +attachment she clings to Bob. I do declare I am often ashamed to feel +that even his own mother has less solicitude about him than this dear +girl." + +"Pooh, Willy; don't be afflicted with the idea that you don't make +yourself sufficiently miserable about the boy. Bob will do well enough, +and will very likely come out of this affair a lieutenant-colonel. I +may live yet to see him a general officer; certainly, if I live to be +as old as my grandfather, Sir Thomas. As for Maud, she finds Beulah +uneasy about Beekman; and having no husband herself, or any over that +she cares a straw about, why she just falls upon Bob as a _pis +aller_. I'll warrant you she cares no more for him than any of the +rest of us--than myself, for instance; though as an old soldier, I +don't scream every time I fancy a gun fired over yonder at Boston." + +"I wish it were well over. It is _so_ unnatural for Evert and +Robert to be on opposite sides." + +"Yes, it is out of the common way, I admit; and yet 'twill all come +round, in the long run. This Mr. Washington is a clever fellow, and +seems to play his cards with spirit and judgment. He was with us, in +that awkward affair of Braddock's; and between you and me, Wilhelmina, +he covered the regulars, or we should all have laid our bones on that +accursed field. I wrote you at the time, what I thought of him, and now +you see it is all coming to pass." + +It was one of the captain's foibles to believe himself a political +prophet; and, as he had really both written and spoken highly of +Washington, at the time mentioned, it had no small influence on his +opinions to find himself acting on the same side with this admired +favourite. Prophecies often produce their own fulfilment, in cases of +much greater gravity than this; and it is not surprising that our +captain found himself strengthened in his notions by the circumstance. + +The winter passed away without any of Maud's suitors making a visible +impression on her heart. In March, the English evacuated Boston, Robert +Willoughby sailing with his regiment for Halifax, and thence with the +expedition against Charleston, under Sir Henry Clinton. The next month, +the family returned to the Knoll, where it was thought wiser, and even +safer to be, at a moment so critical, than even in a more frequented +place. The war proceeded, and, to the captain's great regret, without +any very visible approaches towards the reconciliation he had so +confidently anticipated. This rather checked his warmth in favour of +the colonial cause; for, an Englishman by birth, he was much opposed at +bottom to anything like a dissolution of the tie that connected America +with the mother country; a political event that now began seriously to +be talked of among the initiated. + +Desirous of thinking as little as possible of disagreeable things, the +worthy owner of the valley busied himself with his crops, his mills, +and his improvements. He had intended to commence leasing his wild +lands about this time, and to begin a more extended settlement, with an +eye to futurity; but the state of the country forbade the execution of +the project, and he was fain to limit his efforts by their former +boundaries. The geographical position of the valley put it beyond any +of the ordinary exactions of military service; and, as there was a +little doubt thrown around its owner's opinions, partly in consequence +of his son's present and his own previous connection with the royal +army, and partly on account of Joel's secret machinations, the +authorities were well content to let the settlement alone, provided it +would take care of itself. Notwithstanding the prominent patriotism of +Joel Strides and the miller, they were well satisfied, themselves, with +this state of things; preferring peace and quietness to the more +stirring scenes of war. Their schemes, moreover, had met with somewhat +of a check, in the feeling of the population of the valley, which, on +an occasion calculated to put their attachment to its owner to the +proof, had rather shown that they remembered his justice, liberality, +and upright conduct, more than exactly comported with their longings. +This manifestation of respect was shown at an election for a +representative in a local convention, in which every individual at the +Hutted Knoll, who had a voice at all, the two conspirators excepted, +had given it in favour of the captain. So decided was this expression +of feeling, indeed, that it compelled Joel and the miller to chime in +with the cry of the hour, and to vote contrary to their own wishes. + +One, dwelling at the Hutted Knoll, in the summer of 1776, could never +have imagined that he was a resident of a country convulsed by a +revolution, and disfigured by war. There, everything seemed peaceful +and calm, the woods sighing with the airs of their sublime solitude, +the genial sun shedding its heats on a grateful and generous soil, +vegetation ripening and yielding with all the abundance of a bountiful +nature, as in the more tranquil days of peace and hope. + +"There is something frightful in the calm of this valley, Beulah!" +exclaimed Maud one Sunday, as she and her sister looked out of the +library window amid the breathing stillness of the forest, listening to +the melancholy sound of the bell that summoned them to prayers. "There +is a frightful calm over this place, at an hour when we know that +strife and bloodshed are so active in the country. Oh! that the hateful +congress had never thought of making this war!" + +"Evert writes me all is well, Maud; that the times will lead to good; +the people are right; and America will now be a nation--in time, he +thinks, a great, and a very great nation." + +"Ah! It is this ambition of greatness that hurries them all on! Why can +they not be satisfied with being respectable subjects of so great a +country as England, that they must destroy each other for this phantom +of liberty? Will it make them wiser, or happier, or better than they +are?" + +Thus reasoned Maud, under the influence of one engrossing sentiment. As +our tale proceeds, we shall have occasion to show, perhaps, how far was +that submission to events which she inculcated, from the impulses of +her true character. Beulah answered mildly, but it was more as a young +American wife: + +"I know Evert thinks it all right, Maud; and you will own he is neither +fiery nor impetuous. If _his_ cool judgment approve of what has +been done, we may well suppose that it has not been done in too much +haste, or needlessly." + +"Think, Beulah," rejoined Maud, with an ashen cheek, and in trembling +tones, "that Evert and Robert may, at this very moment, be engaged in +strife against each other. The last messenger who came in, brought us +the miserable tidings that Sir William Howe was landing a large army +near New York, and that the Americans were preparing to meet it. We are +certain that Bob is with his regiment; and his regiment we know is in +the army. How can we think of this liberty, at a moment so critical?" + +Beulah did not reply; for in spite of her quiet nature, and implicit +confidence in her husband, she could not escape a woman's solicitude. +The colonel had promised to write at every good occasion, and that +which he promised was usually performed. She thought, and thought +rightly, that a very few days would bring them intelligence of +importance; though it came in a shape she had little anticipated, and +by a messenger she had then no desire to see. + +In the meantime, the season and its labours advanced. August was over, +and September with its fruits had succeeded, promising to bring the +year round without any new or extraordinary incidents to change the +fortunes of the inmates of the Hutted Knoll. Beulah had now been +married more than a twelvemonth, and was already a mother; and of +course all that time had elapsed since the son quitted his father's +house. Nick, too, had disappeared shortly after his return from Boston; +and throughout this eventful summer, his dark, red countenance had not +been seen in the valley. + + + + + +Chapter XI. + + And now 'tis still! no sound to wake + The primal forest's awful shade; + And breathless lies the covert brake, + Where many an ambushed form is laid: + I see the red-man's gleaming eye, + Yet all so hushed the gloom profound, + That summer birds flit heedlessly, + And mocking nature smiles around. + + Lunt. + +The eventful summer of 1776 had been genial and generous in the valley +of the Hutted Knoll. With a desire to drive away obtrusive thoughts, +the captain had been much in his fields, and he was bethinking himself +of making a large contribution to the good cause, in the way of fatted +porkers, of which he had an unusual number, that he thought might yet +be driven through the forest to Fort Stanwix, before the season closed. +In the way of intelligence from the seat of war, nothing had reached +the family but a letter from the major, which he had managed to get +sent, and in which he wrote with necessary caution. He merely mentioned +the arrival of Sir William Howe's forces, and the state of his own +health. There was a short postscript, in the following words, the +letter having been directed to his father:--"Tell dearest Maud," he +said, "that charming women have ceased to charm me; glory occupying so +much of my day-dreams, like an _ignis fatuus_, I fear; and that as +for love, _all_ my affections are centred in the dear objects at +the Hutted Knoll. If I had met with a single woman I admired half as +much as I do her pretty self, I should have been married long since." +This was written in answer to some thoughtless rattle that the captain +had volunteered to put in his last letter, as coming from Maud, who had +sensitively shrunk from sending a message when asked; and it was read +by father, mother, and Beulah, as the badinage of a brother to a +sister, without awaking a second thought in either. Not so with Maud, +herself, however. When her seniors had done with this letter, she +carried it to her own room, reading and re-reading it a dozen times; +nor could she muster resolution to return it; but, finding at length +that the epistle was forgotten, she succeeded in retaining it without +awakening attention to what she had done. This letter now became her +constant companion, and a hundred times did the sweet gill trace its +characters, in the privacy of her chamber, or in that of her now +solitary walks in the woods. + +As yet, the war had produced none of those scenes of ruthless frontier +violence, that had distinguished all the previous conflicts of America. +The enemy was on the coast, and thither the efforts of the combatants +had been principally directed. It is true, an attempt on Canada had +been made, but it failed for want of means; neither party being in a +condition to effect much, as yet, in that quarter. The captain had +commented on this peculiarity of the present struggle; all those which +had preceded it having, as a matter of course, taken the direction of +the frontiers between the hostile provinces. + +"There is no use, Woods, in bothering ourselves about these things, +after all," observed captain Willoughby, one day, when the subject of +hanging the long-neglected gates came up between them. "It's a heavy +job, and the crops will suffer if we take off the hands this week. We +are as safe, here, as we should be in Hyde Park; and safer too; for +there house-breakers and foot-pads abound; whereas, _your_ +preaching has left nothing but very vulgar and everyday sinners at the +Knoll." + +The chaplain had little to say against this reasoning; for, to own the +truth, he saw no particular cause for apprehension. Impunity had +produced the feeling of security, until these gates had got to be +rather a subject of amusement, than of any serious discussion. The +preceding year, when the stockade was erected, Joel had managed to +throw so many obstacles in the way of hanging the gates, that the duty +was not performed throughout the whole of the present summer, the +subject having been mentioned but once or twice, and then only to be +postponed to a more fitting occasion. + +As yet no one in the valley knew of the great event which had taken +place in July. A rumour of a design to declare the provinces +independent had reached the Hut, in May; but the major's letter was +silent on this important event, and positive information had arrived by +no other channel; otherwise, the captain would have regarded the +struggle as much more serious than he had ever done before; and he +might have set about raising these all-important gates in earnest. As +it was, however, there they stood; each pair leaning against its proper +wall or stockade, though those of the latter were so light as to have +required but eight or ten men to set them on their hinges, in a couple +of hours at most. + +Captain Willoughby still confined his agricultural schemes to the site +of the old Beaver Pond. The area of that was perfectly beautiful, every +unsightly object having been removed, while the fences and the tillage +were faultlessly neat and regular. Care had been taken, too, to render +the few small fields around the cabins which skirted this lovely rural +scene, worthy of their vicinage. The stumps had all been dug, the +surfaces levelled, and the orchards and gardens were in keeping with +the charms that nature had so bountifully scattered about the place. + +While, however, all in the shape of tillage was confined to this one +spot, the cattle ranged the forest for miles. Not only was the valley, +but the adjacent mountain-sides were covered with intersecting paths, +beaten by the herds, in the course of years. These paths led to many a +glen, or look-out, where Beulah and Maud had long been in the habit of +pursuing their rambles, during the sultry heats of summer, Though so +beautiful to the eye, the flats were not agreeable for walks; and it +was but natural for the lovers of the picturesque to seek the +eminences, where they could overlook the vast surfaces of leaves that +were spread before them; or to bury themselves in ravines and glens, +within which the rays of the sun scarce penetrated. The paths mentioned +led near, or to, a hundred of these places, all within a mile or two of +the Hut. As a matter of course, then, they were not neglected. + +Beulah had now been a mother several months. Her little Evert was born +at the Knoll, and he occupied most of those gentle and affectionate +thoughts which were not engrossed by his absent father. Her marriage, +of itself, had made some changes in her intercourse with Maud; but the +birth of the child had brought about still more. The care of this +little being formed Beulah's great delight; and Mrs. Willoughby had all +that peculiar interest in her descendant, which marks a grandmother's +irresponsible love. These two passed half their time in the nursery, a +room fitted between their respective chambers; leaving Maud more alone +than it was her wont to be, and of course to brood over her thoughts +and feelings. These periods of solitude our heroine was much accustomed +to pass in the forest. Use had so far emboldened her, that apprehension +never shortened her walks, or lessened their pleasure. Of danger, from +any ordinary source, there was literally next to none, man never having +been known to approach the valley, unless by the regular path; while +the beasts of prey had been so actively hunted, as rarely to be seen in +that quarter of the country. The panther excepted, no wild quadruped +was to be in the least feared in summer; and, of the first, none had +ever been met with by Nick, or any of the numerous woodsmen who had now +frequented the adjacent hills for two lustrums. + +About three hours before the setting of the sun, on the evening of the +23d of September, 1776, Maud Willoughby was pursuing her way, quite +alone, along one of the paths beaten by the cattle, at some little +distance from a rocky eminence, where there was a look-out, on which +Mike, by her father's orders, had made a rude seat. It was on the side +of the clearing most remote from all the cabins; though once on the +elevation, she could command a view of the whole of the little panorama +around the site of the ancient pond. In that day, ladies wore the well- +known gipsey hat, a style that was peculiarly suited to the face of our +heroine. Exercise had given her cheeks a rich glow; and though a shade +of sadness, or at least of reflection, was now habitually thrown +athwart her sweet countenance, this bloom added an unusual lustre to +her eyes, and a brilliancy to her beauty, that the proudest belle of +any drawing-room might have been glad to possess. Although living so +retired, her dress always became her rank; being simple, but of the +character that denotes refinement, and the habits and tastes of a +gentlewoman. In this particular, Maud had ever been observant of what +was due to herself; and, more than all, had she attended to her present +appearance since a chance expression of Robert Willoughby's had +betrayed how much he prized the quality in her. + +Looking thus, and in a melancholy frame of mind, Maud reached the rock, +and took her place on its simple seat, throwing aside her hat, to catch +a little of the cooling air on her burning cheeks. She turned to look +at the lovely view again, with a pleasure that never tired. The rays of +the sun were streaming athwart the verdant meadows and rich corn, +lengthening the shadows, and mellowing everything, as if expressly to +please the eye of one like her who now gazed upon the scene. Most of +the people of the settlement were in the open air, the men closing +their day's works in the fields, and the women and children busied +beneath shades, with their wheels and needles; the whole presenting +such a picture of peaceful, rural life, as a poet might delight to +describe, or an artist to delineate with his pencil. + + "The landscape smiles + Calm in the sun; and silent are the hills + And valleys, and the blue serene of air." + +_The Vanished Lark_. + +"It is very beautiful!" thought Maud. "Why cannot men be content with +such scenes of loveliness and nature as this, and love each other, and +be at peace, as God's laws command? Then we might all be living happily +together, Mere, without trembling lest news of some sad misfortune +should reach us, from hour to hour. Beulah and Evert would not be +separated; but both could remain with their child--and my dear, dear +father and mother would be so happy to have us all around them, in +security--and, then, Bob, too--perhaps Bob might bring a wife from the +town, with him, that I could love as I do Beulah"--It was one of Maud's +day-dreams to love the wife of Bob, and make him happy by contributing +to the happiness of those he most prized--"No; I could never love her +as I do _Beulah_; but I should make her very dear to me, as I +ought to, since she would be Bob's wife." + +The expression of Maud's face, towards the close of this mental +soliloquy, was of singular sadness; and yet it was the very picture of +sincerity and truth. It was some such look as the windows of the mind +assume, when the feelings struggle against nature and hope, for +resignation and submission to duty. + +At this instant, a cry arose from the valley! It was one of those +spontaneous, involuntary outbreakings of alarm, that no art can +imitate, no pen describe; but which conveys to the listener's ear, +terror in the very sound. At the next instant, the men from the mill +were seen rushing up to the summit of the cliff that impended over +their dwellings, followed by their wives dragging children after them, +making frantic gestures, indicative of alarm. The first impulse of Maud +was to fly; but a moment's reflection told her it was much too late for +that. To remain and witness what followed would be safer, and more +wise. Her dress was dark, and she would not be likely to be observed at +the distance at which she was placed; having behind her, too, a back- +ground of gloomy rock. Then the scene was too exciting to admit of much +hesitation or delay in coming to a decision; a fearful species of +maddened curiosity mingling with her alarm. Under such circumstances, +it is not surprising that Maud continued gazing on what she saw, with +eyes that seemed to devour the objects before them. + +The first cry from the valley was followed by the appearance of the +fugitives from the mill. These took the way towards the Hut, calling on +the nearest labourers by name, to seek safety in flight. The words +could not be distinguished at the rock, though indistinct sounds might; +but the gestures could not be mistaken. In half a minute, the plain was +alive with fugitives; some rushing to their cabins for their children, +and all taking the direction of the stockade, as soon as the last were +found. In five minutes the roads and lanes near the Knoll were crowded +with men, women and children, hastening forward to its protection, +while a few of the former had already rushed through the gateways, as +Maud correctly fancied, in quest of their arms. + +Captain Willoughby was riding among his labourers when this fearful +interruption to a tranquillity so placid first broke upon his ear. +Accustomed to alarms, he galloped forward to meet the fugitives from +the mill, issuing orders as he passed to several of the men nearest the +house. With the miller, who thought little of anything but safety at +that instant, he conversed a moment, and then pushed boldly on towards +the verge of the cliffs. Maud trembled as she saw her father in a +situation which she thought must be so exposed; but his cool manner of +riding about proved that he saw no enemy very near. At length he waved +his hat to some object, or person in the glen beneath; and she even +thought she heard his shout. At the next moment, he turned his horse, +and was seen scouring along the road towards the Hut. The lawn was +covered with the fugitives as the captain reached it, while a few armed +men were already coming out of the court-yard. Gesticulating as if +giving orders, the captain dashed through them all, without drawing the +rein, and disappeared in the court. A minute later, he re-issued, +bearing his arms, followed by his wife and Beulah, the latter pressing +little Evert to her bosom. + +Something like order now began to appear among the men. Counting all +ages and both colours, the valley, at this particular moment, could +muster thirty-three males capable of bearing arms. To these might be +added some ten or fifteen women who had occasionally brought down a +deer, and who might be thought more or less dangerous, stationed at a +loop, with a rifle or a musket. Captain Willoughby had taken some pains +to drill the former, who could go through some of the simpler light- +infantry evolutions. Among them he had appointed sundry corporals, +while Joel Strides had been named a serjeant. Joyce, now an aged and +war-worn veteran, did the duty of adjutant. Twenty men were soon drawn +up in array, in front of the open gateway on the lawn, under the +immediate orders of Joyce; and the last woman and child, that had been +seen approaching the place of refuge, had passed within the stockade. +At this instant captain Willoughby called a party of the stragglers +around him, and set about hanging the gates of the outer passage, or +that which led through the palisades. + +Maud would now have left the rock, but, at that moment, a dark body of +Indians poured up over the cliffs, crowning it with a menacing cloud of +at least fifty armed warriors. The rivulet lay between her and the Hut, +and the nearest bridge that crossed it would have brought her within +reach of danger. Then it would require at least half an hour to reach +that bridge by the circuitous path she would be compelled to take, and +there was little hope of getting over it before the strangers should +have advanced. It was better to remain where she could behold what was +passing, and to be governed by events, than to rush blindly into unseen +risks. + +The party that crowned the cliffs near the mills, showed no impatience +to advance. It was evidently busy in reconnoitring, and in receiving +accessions to its numbers. The latter soon increased to some seventy or +eighty warriors. After waiting several minutes in inaction, a musket, +or rifle, was fired towards the Hut, as if to try the effect of a +summons and the range of a bullet. At this hint the men on the lawn +retired within the stockade, stacked their arms, and joined the party +that was endeavouring to get the gates in their places. From the +circumstance that her father directed all the women and children to +retire within the court, Maud supposed that the bullet might have +fallen somewhere near them. It was quite evident, however, that no one +was injured. + +The gates intended for the stockade, being open like the rest of that +work, were materially lighter than those constructed for the house +itself. The difficulty was in handling them with the accuracy required +to enter the hinges, of which there were three pairs. This difficulty +existed on account of their great height. Of physical force, enough +could be applied to toss them over the stockade itself, if necessary; +but finesse was needed, rather than force, to effect the principal +object, and that under difficult circumstances. It is scarcely possible +that the proximity of so fierce an enemy as a body of savages in their +war-paint, for such the men at the mill had discovered was the guise of +their assailants, would in any measure favour the coolness and tact of +the labourers. Poor Maud lost the sense of her own danger, in the +nervous desire to see the long-forgotten gates hung; and she rose once +or twice, in feverish excitement, as she saw that the leaf which was +raised fell in or out, missing its fastenings. Still the men +persevered, one or two sentinels being placed to watch the Indians, and +give timely notice of their approach, should they advance. + +Maud now kneeled, with her face bowed to the seat, and uttered a short +but most fervent prayer, in behalf of the dear beings that the Hut +contained. This calmed her spirits a little, and she rose once more to +watch the course of events. The body of men had left the gate at which +they had just been toiling, and were crowding around its fellow. One +leaf was hung! As an assurance of this, she soon after saw her father +swing it backward and forward on its hinges, to cause it to settle into +its place. This was an immense relief, though she had heard too many +tales of Indian warfare, to think there was any imminent danger of an +attack by open day, in the very face of the garrison. The cool manner +in which her father proceeded, satisfied her that he felt the same +security, for the moment; his great object being, in truth, to make +suitable provision against the hours of darkness. + +Although Maud had been educated as a lady, and possessed the delicacy +and refinement of her class, she had unavoidably caught some of the +fire and resolution of a frontier life. To her, the forest, for +instance, possessed no fancied dangers; but when there was real ground +for alarm, she estimated its causes intelligently, and with calmness. +So it was, also, in the present crisis. She remembered all she had been +taught, or had heard, and quick of apprehension, her information was +justly applied to the estimate of present circumstances. + +The men at the Hut soon had the second leaf of the gate ready to be +raised. At this instant, an Indian advanced across the flat alone, +bearing a branch of a tree in his hand, and moving swiftly. This was a +flag of truce, desiring to communicate with the pale-faces. Captain +Willoughby met the messenger alone, at the foot of the lawn, and there +a conference took place that lasted several minutes. Maud could only +conjecture its objects, though she thought her father's attitude +commanding, and his gestures stern. The red-man, as usual, was quiet +and dignified. This much our heroine saw, or fancied she saw; but +beyond this, of course, all was vague conjecture. Just as the two were +about to part, and had even made courteous signs of their intention, a +shout arose from the workmen, which ascended, though faintly, as high +as the rock. Captain Willoughby turned, and then Maud saw his arm +extended towards the stockade. The second leaf of the gate was in its +place, swinging to and fro, in a sort of exulting demonstration of its +uses! The savage moved away, more slowly than he had advanced, +occasionally stopping to reconnoitre the Knoll and its defences. + +Captain Willoughby now returned to his people, and he was some time +busied in examining the gates, and giving directions about its +fastenings. Utterly forgetful of her own situation, Maud shed tears of +joy, as she saw that this great object was successfully effected. The +stockade was an immense security to the people of the Hut. Although it +certainly might be scaled, such an enterprise would require great +caution, courage, and address; and it could hardly be effected, at all, +by daylight. At night, even, it would allow the sentinels time to give +the alarm, and with a vigilant look-out, might be the means of +repelling an enemy. There was also another consideration connected with +this stockade. An enemy would not be fond of trusting himself +_inside_ of it, unless reasonably certain of carrying the citadel +altogether; inasmuch as it might serve as a prison to place him in the +hands of the garrison. To recross it under a fire from the loops, would +be an exploit so hazardous that few Indians would think of undertaking +it. All this Maud knew from her father's conversations, and she saw how +much had been obtained in raising the gates. Then the stockade, once +properly closed, afforded great security to those moving about within +it; the timbers would be apt to stop a bullet, and were a perfect +defence against a rush; leaving time to the women and children to get +into the court, even allowing that the assailants succeeded in scaling +the palisades. + +Maud thought rapidly and well, in the strait in which she was placed. +She understood most of the movements, on both sides, and she also saw +the importance of her remaining where she could note all that passed, +if she intended to make an attempt at reaching the Hut, after dark. +This necessity determined her to continue at the rock, so long as light +remained. She wondered she was not missed, but rightly attributed the +circumstance to the suddenness of the alarm, and the crowd of other +thoughts which would naturally press upon the minds of her friends, at +such a fearful moment. "I will stay where I am," thought Maud, a little +proudly, "and prove, if I am not really the daughter of Hugh +Willoughby, that I am not altogether unworthy of his love and care! I +can even pass the night in the forest, at this warm season, without +suffering." + +Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, in a sort of mental soliloquy, +a stone rolled from a path above her, and fell over the rock on which +the seat was placed. A footstep was then heard, and the girl's heart +beat quick with apprehension. Still she conceived it safest to remain +perfectly quiet. She scarce breathed in her anxiety to be motionless. +Then it occurred to her, that some one beside herself might be out from +the Hut, and that a friend was near. Mike had been in the woods that +very afternoon, she knew; for she had seen him; and the true-hearted +fellow would indeed be a treasure to her, at that awful moment. This +idea, which rose almost to certainty as soon as it occurred, induced +her to spring forward, when the appearance of a man, whom she did not +recognise, dressed in a hunting-shirt, and otherwise attired for the +woods, carrying a short rifle in the hollow of his arm, caused her to +stop, in motionless terror. At first, her presence was not observed; +but, no sooner did the stranger catch a glimpse of her person, than he +stopped, raised his hands in surprise, laid his rifle against a tree, +and sprang forward; the girl closing her eyes, and sinking on the seat, +with bowed head, expecting the blow of the deadly tomahawk. + +"Maud--dearest, _dearest_ Maud--do you not know me!" exclaimed +one, leaning over the pallid girl, while he passed an arm round her +slender waist, with an affection so delicate and reserved, that, at +another time, it might have attracted attention. "Look up, dear girl, +and show that at least you fear not _me!_" + +"Bob," said the half-senseless Maud. "Whence come you?--_Why_ do +you come at this fearful instant!--Would to God your visit had been +better timed!" + +"Terror makes you say this, my poor Maud! Of all the family, I had +hoped for the warmest welcome from _you_. We think alike about +this war--then you are not so much terrified at the idea of my being +found here, but can hear reason. Why do you say this, then, my dearest +Maud?" + +By this time Maud had so far recovered as to be able to look up into +the major's face, with an expression in which alarm was blended with +unutterable tenderness. Still she did not throw her arms around him, as +a sister would clasp a beloved brother; but, rather, as he pressed her +gently to his bosom, repelled the embrace by a slight resistance. +Extricating herself, however, she turned and pointed towards the +valley. + +"Why do I say this? See for yourself--the savages have at length come, +and the whole dreadful picture is before you." + +Young Willoughby's military eye took in the scene at a glance. The +Indians were still at the cliff, and the people of the settlement were +straining at the heavier gates of the Hut, having already got one of +them into a position where it wanted only the proper application of a +steady force to be hung. He saw his father actively employed in giving +directions; and a few pertinent questions drew all the other +circumstances from Maud. The enemy had now been in the valley more than +an hour, and the movements of the two parties were soon related. + +"Are you alone, dearest Maud? are you shut out by this sudden inroad?" +demanded the major, with concern and surprise. + +"So it would seem. I can see no other--though I did think Michael might +be somewhere near me, in the woods, here; I at first mistook your +footsteps for his." + +"That is a mistake"--returned Willoughby, levelling a small pocket spy- +glass at the Hut--"Mike is tugging at that gate, upholding a part of +it, like a corner-stone. I see most of the faces I know there, and my +dear father is as active, and yet as cool, as if at the head of a +regiment." + +"Then I am alone--it is perhaps better that as many as possible should +be in the house to defend it." + +"Not alone, my sweet Maud, so long as I am with you. Do you still think +my visit so ill-timed?" + +"Perhaps not, after all. Heaven knows what I should have done, by +myself, when it became dark!" + +"But are we safe on this seat?--May we not be seen by the Indians, +since we so plainly see them?" + +"I think not. I have often remarked that when Evert and Beulah have +been here, their figures could not be perceived from the lawn; owing, I +fancy, to the dark back-ground of rock. My dress is not light, and you +are in green; which is the colour of the leaves, and not easily to be +distinguished. No other spot gives so good a view of what takes place +in the valley. We must risk a little exposure, or act in the dark." + +"You are a soldier's daughter, Maud"--This was as true of major +Meredith as of captain Willoughby, and might therefore be freely said +by even Bob--"You are a soldier's daughter, and nature has clearly +intended you to be a soldier's wife. This is a _coup-d'-oeil_ not +to be despised." + +"I shall never be a wife at all"--murmured Maud, scarce knowing what +she said; "I may not live to be a soldier's daughter, even, much +longer. But, why are _you_ here?--surely, surely _you_ can +have no connection with those savages!--I have heard of such horrors; +but _you_ would not accompany _them_, even though it were to +_protect_ the Hut." + +"I'll not answer for that, Maud. One would do a great deal to preserve +his paternal dwelling from pillage, and his father's grey hairs from +violence. But I came alone; that party and its objects being utterly +strangers to me." + +"And _why_ do you come at all, Bob?" inquired the anxious girl, +looking up into his face with open affection--"The situation of the +country is now such, as to make your visits very hazardous." + +"Who could know the regular major in this hunting-shirt, and forest +garb? I have not an article about my person to betray me, even were I +before a court. No fear for me then, Maud; unless it be from these +demons in human shape, the savages. Even they do not seem to be very +fiercely inclined, as they appear at this moment more disposed to eat, +than to attack the Hut. Look for yourself; those fellows are certainly +preparing to take their food; the group that is just now coming over +the cliffs, is dragging a deer after it." + +Maud took the glass, though with an unsteady hand, and she looked a +moment at the savages. The manner in which the instrument brought these +wild beings nearer to her eye, caused her to shudder, and she was soon +satisfied. + +"That deer was killed this morning by the miller," she said; "they have +doubtless found it in or near his cabin. We will be thankful, however, +for this breathing-time--it may enable my dear father to get up the +other gate. Look, Robert, and see what progress they make?" + +"One side is just hung, and much joy does it produce among them! +Persevere, my noble old father, and you will soon be safe against your +enemies. What a calm and steady air he has, amid it all! Ah! Maud, Hugh +Willoughby ought, at this moment, to be at the head of a brigade, +helping to suppress this accursed and unnatural rebellion. Nay, more; +he _may_ be there, if he will only listen to reason and duty." + +"And _this_ is then your errand here, Bob?" asked his fair +companion, gazing earnestly at the major. + +"It is, Maud--and I hope you, whose feelings I know to be right, can +encourage me to hope." + +"I fear not. It is now too late. Beulah's marriage with Evert has +strengthened his opinions--and then" + +"What, dearest Maud? You pause as if that '_then_' had a meaning +you hesitated to express." + +Maud coloured; after which she smiled faintly, and proceeded: "We +should speak reverently of a father--and such a father, too. But does +it not seem probable to you, Bob, that the many discussions he has with +Mr. Woods may have a tendency to confirm each in his notions?" + +Robert Willoughby would have answered in the affirmative, had not a +sudden movement at the Hut prevented. + + + + + +Chapter XII. + + From Flodden ridge + The Scots beheld the English host + Leave Barmore wood, their evening post, + And heedful watched them as they crossed + The Till by Twisal Bridge. + + Scott + +It was just at this instant that most of the women of the settlement +rushed from the court, and spread themselves within the stockade, Mrs. +Willoughby and Beulah being foremost in the movement. The captain left +the gate, too, and even the men, who were just about to raise the last +leaf, suspended their toil. It was quite apparent some new cause for +uneasiness or alarm had suddenly awoke among them. Still the stack of +arms remained untouched, nor was there any new demonstration among the +Indians. The major watched everything, with intense attention, through +the glass. + +"What is it, dear Bob?" demanded the anxious Maud. "I see my dearest +mother--she seems alarmed." + +"Was it known to her that you were about to quit the house, when you +came out on this walk?" + +"I rather think not. She and Beulah were in the nursery with little +Evert, and my father was in the fields. I came out without speaking to +any person, nor did I meet any before entering the forest." + +"Then you are now first missed. Yes, that is it--and no wonder, Maud, +it creates alarm. Merciful God! How must they all feel, at a moment +like this!" + +"Fire your rifle, Bob--that will draw their eyes in this direction, and +I will wave my handkerchief--perhaps _that_ might be seen. Beulah +has received such signals from me, before." + +"It would never do. No, we must remain concealed, watching their +movements, in order to be able to aid them at the proper time. It is +painful to endure this suspense, beyond a doubt; but the pain must be +borne in order to ensure the safety of one who is so very, very +precious to us all." + +Notwithstanding the fearful situation in which she was placed, Maud +felt soothed by these words. The language of affection, as coming from +Robert Willoughby, was very dear to her at all times, and never more +than at a moment when it appeared that even her life was suspended, as +it might be, by a hair. + +"It is as you say," she answered gently, giving him her hand with much +of her ancient frankness of manner; "we should be betrayed, and of +course lost--but what means the movement at the Hut?" + +There was indeed a movement within the stockade. Maud's absence was now +clearly ascertained, and it is needless to describe the commotion the +circumstance produced. No one thought any longer of the half of the +gate that still remained to be hung, but every supposable part of the +house and enclosure had been examined in quest of her who was missing. +Our heroine's last remark, however, was produced by certain indications +of an intention to make a descent from one of the external windows of +the common parlour, a room it will be remembered that stood on the +little cliff, above the rivulet that wound beneath its base. This cliff +was about forty feet high, and though it offered a formidable obstacle +to any attempt to scale it, there was no great difficulty in an active +man's descending, aided by a rope. The spot, too, was completely +concealed from the view of the party which still remained on the rock, +near the mill, at a distance of quite half a mile from the gates of the +stockade. This fact greatly facilitated the little sortie, since, once +in the bed of the rivulet, which was fringed with bushes, it would be +very practicable, by following its windings, to gain the forest unseen. +The major levelled his glass at the windows, and immediately saw the +truth of all that has here been mentioned. + +"They are preparing to send a party out," he said, "and doubtless in +quest of you, Maud. The thing is very feasible, provided the savages +remain much longer in their present position. It is matter of surprise +to me, that the last have not sent a force in the rear of the Hut, +where the windows are at least exposed to fire, and the forest is so +close as to afford a cover to the assailants. In front there is +literally none, but a few low fences, which is the reason I presume +that they keep so much aloof." + +"It is not probable they know the valley. With the exception of Nick, +but few Indians have ever visited us, and that rarely. Those we have +seen have all been of the most peaceable and friendly tribes; not a +true warrior, as my father says, ever having been found among them. +Nick is the only one of them all that can thus be termed." + +"Is it possible that fellow has led this party? I have never more than +half confided in him, and yet he is too old a friend of the family, I +should think, to be guilty of such an act of baseness." + +"My father thinks him a knave, but I question if he has an opinion of +him as bad as that. Besides, _he_ knows the valley, and would have +led the Indians round into the rear of the house, if it be a place so +much more favourable for the attack, as you suppose. These wretches +have come by the common paths, all of which first strike the river, as +you know, below the mills." + +"That is true. I lost my way, a few miles from this, the path being +very blind on the eastern route, which I travelled as having gone it +last with Nick, and thinking it the safest. Fortunately I recognised +the crest of this mountain above us, by its shape, or I might never +have found my way; although the streams, when struck, are certain +guides to the woodsman. As soon as I hit the cow-paths, I knew they +would lead me to the barns and sheds. See! a man is actually descending +from a window!" + +"Oh! Bob, I hope it is not my father! He is too old--it is risking too +much to let him quit the house." + +"I will tell you better when he reaches the ground. Unless mistaken-- +ay--it is the Irishman, O'Hearn." + +"Honest Mike! He is always _foremost_ in everything, though he so +little knows how anything but digging ought to be done. Is there not +another following him--or am I deceived?" + +"There is--he has just reached the ground, too. This might be spared, +did they know how well you are guarded, Maud. By one who would die +cheerfully to prevent harm from reaching you!" + +"They little dream of that, Bob," answered Maud, in a low tone. "Not a +human being in that valley fancies you nearer to him than the royal +armies are, at this moment. But they do not send a third--I am glad +they weaken their own force no further." + +"It is certainly best they should not. The men had their rifles slung +when they descended, and they are now getting them ready for service. +It is Joel Strides who is with Mike." + +"I am sorry for it. _That_ is a man I little like, Bob, and I +should be sorry he knew of your being here." + +This was said quickly, and with a degree of feeling that surprised the +major, who questioned Maud earnestly as to her meaning and its reasons. +The latter told him she scarce knew herself; that she disliked the +man's manner, had long thought his principles bad, and that Mike in his +extraordinary way had said certain things to her, to awaken distrust. + +"Mike speaks in hieroglyphics," said the major, laughing, in spite of +the serious situation in which he and his companion were placed, "and +one must never be too sure of _his_ meaning. Joel has now been +many years with my father, and he seems to enjoy his confidence." + +"He makes himself useful, and is very guarded in what he says at the +Hut. Still--I wish him not to know of your being here." + +"It will not be easy to prevent it, Maud. I should have come boldly +into the valley, but for this accidental meeting with you, trusting +that my father has no one about him so base as to betray his son." + +"Trust not Joel Strides. I'll answer for Mike with my life; but sorry +indeed should I be that Joel Strides knew of your being among us. It +were better, perhaps, that most of the workmen should not be in the +secret. See--the two men are quitting the foot of the rocks." + +This was true, and Robert Willoughby watched their movements with the +glass. As had been expected, they first descended into the bed of the +rivulet, wading along its shore, under the cover of the bushes, until +they soon became concealed even from the view of one placed on a height +as elevated as that occupied by Robert and Maud. It was sufficiently +apparent, however, that their intention was to reach the forest in this +manner, when they would probably commence their search for the missing +young lady. Nor was it long before Robert and Maud plainly saw the two +adventurers quit the bed of the stream and bury themselves in the +forest. The question now seriously arose as to the best course for the +major and his companion to pursue. Under ordinary circumstances, it +would have been wisest, perhaps, to descend at once and meet the +messengers, who might soon be found at some of the usual haunts of the +girl; but against this the latter so earnestly protested, and that in a +manner so soothing to the young man's feelings, that he scarce knew how +to oppose her wishes. She implored him not to confide in Joel Strides +too hastily, at least. It might be time enough, when there was no +alternative; until the true character of the party then in the valley +was known, it would be premature. Nothing was easier than to conceal +himself until it was dark, when he might approach the Hut, and be +admitted without his presence being known to any but those on whom the +family could certainly rely. The major urged the impossibility of his +quitting Maud, until she was joined by the two men sent in quest of +her, and then it would be too late, as he must be seen. Although he +might escape immediate recognition in his present dress, the presence +of a stranger would excite suspicions, and compel an explanation. To +this Maud replied in the following manner: Her customary places of +resort, when in the woods, were well known; more especially to Michael, +who was frequently employed in their vicinity. These were a little +water-fall, that was situated a hundred rods up the rivulet, to which a +path had been made expressly, and where an arbour, seat, and little +table had been arranged, for the purposes of working, reading, or +taking refreshments. To this spot the men would unquestionably proceed +first. Then, there was a deep ravine, some distance farther, that was +often visited for its savage beauty, and whither she more frequently +went, perhaps, than to any other place. Thither Michael would be +certain to lead his companion. These two places visited, they might +infallibly expect to see the men at the rock, where the two were then +seated, as the last spot in which Maud might naturally be expected to +be found. It would require an hour to visit the two places first named, +and to examine the surrounding woods; and by that time, not only would +the sun be set, but the twilight would be disappearing. Until that +moment, then, the major might remain at her side, and on the sound of +the approaching footsteps of the messengers, he had only to retire +behind a projection of the rocks, and afterwards follow towards the +Knoll, at a safe distance. + +This plan was too plausible to be rejected; and giving Robert an hour +of uninterrupted discourse with his companion, it struck him as having +more advantages than any other mentioned. The party near the mills, +too, remaining perfectly quiet, there was less occasion for any change +of their own, than might otherwise have been the case. So far, indeed, +from appearing to entertain any hostile intention, not a cabin had been +injured, if approached, and the smoke of the conflagration which had +been expected to rise from the mills and the habitations in the glen, +did not make its appearance. If any such ruthless acts as applying the +brand and assaulting the people were in contemplation, they were at +least delayed until night should veil them in a fitting darkness. + +It is always a great relief to the mind, in moments of trial, to have +decided on a course of future action. So the major and Maud now found; +for, taking his seat by her side, he began to converse with his +companion more connectedly, and with greater calmness than either had +yet been able to achieve. Many questions were asked, and answers given, +concerning the state of the family, that of his father and mother, and +dear Beulah and her infant, the latter being as yet quite a stranger to +the young soldier. + +"Is he like his rebel of a father?" asked the royal officer, smiling, +but as his companion fancied, painfully; "or has he more of the look of +the Willoughbys. Beekman is a good-looking Dutchman; yet, I would +rather have the boy resemble the good old English stock, after all." + +"The sweet little fellow resembles both father and mother; though the +first the most, to Beulah's great delight. Papa says he is true +'Holland's come of', as they call it, though neither mamma nor I will +allow of any such thing. Colonel Beekman is a very worthy man, Bob, and +a most affectionate and attentive husband. Beulah, but for this war, +could not be happier." + +"Then I forgive him one-half of his treason--for the remainder let him +take his luck. Now I am an uncle, my heart begins to melt a little +towards the rebel. And you, Maud, how do the honours of an aunt sit +upon your feelings? But women are all heart, and would love a rat." + +Maud smiled, but she answered not. Though Beulah's child were almost as +dear to her as one of her own could have been, she remembered that she +was _not_ its aunt, in fact; and, though she knew not why, in that +company, and even at that grave moment, the obtrusive thought summoned +a bright flush to her cheeks. The major probably did not notice this +change of countenance, since, after a short pause, he continued the +conversation naturally. + +"The child is called Evert, is it not, _aunt_ Maud?" he asked, +laying an emphasis on 'aunt.' + +Maud wished this word had not been used; and yet Robert Willoughby, +could the truth have been known, had adverted to it with an association +in his own mind, that would have distressed her, just then, still more. +_Aunt_ Maud was the name that others, however, were most fond of +adopting, since the birth of the child; and remembering this, our +heroine smiled. + +"That is what Beulah has called me, these six months," she said--"or +ever since Evert was born. I became an aunt the day he became a nephew; +and dear, good Beulah has not once called me _sister_ since, I +think." + +"These little creatures introduce new ties into families," answered the +major, thoughtfully. "They take the places of the generations before +them, and edge us out of our hold on the affections, as in the end they +supplant us in our stations in life. If Beulah love me only as an +_uncle_, however, she may look to it. I'll be supplanted by no +Dutchman's child that was ever born!" + +"_You_, Bob!" cried Maud, starting. "You are its _real_ +uncle; Beulah must ever remember _you_, and _love_ you, as +her _own_ brother!" + +Maud's voice became suddenly hushed, like one who feared she had said +too much. The major gazed at her intently, but he spoke not; nor did +his companion see his look, her own eyes being cast meekly and +tremblingly on the earth at her feet. A considerable pause succeeded, +and then the conversation reverted to what was going on in the valley. + +The sun was now set, and the shadows of evening began to render objects +a little indistinct beneath them. Still it was apparent that much +anxiety prevailed in and about the Hut, doubtless on account of our +heroine's absence. So great was it, indeed, as entirely to supersede +the hanging of the remaining leaf of the gate, which stood in the gap +where it belonged, stayed by pieces of timber, but unhung. The major +thought some disposition had been made, however, by which the inmates +might pass and repass by the half that was suspended, making a +tolerable defence, when all was closed. + +"Hist!" whispered Maud, whose faculties were quickened by the danger of +her companion; "I hear the voice of Michael, and they approach. No +sense of danger can repress poor O'Hearn's eloquence; his ideas seeming +to flow from his tongue very much as they rise to his thoughts, chance +directing which shall appear first." + +"It is true, dear girl; and as you seem so strongly to wish it, I will +withdraw. Depend on my keeping near you, and on my presence, should it +be required." + +"You will not forget to come beneath the windows, Bob," said Maud, +anxiously, but in great haste; for the footsteps of the men drew +rapidly near; "at the very spot where the others descended." + +The major bent forward and kissed a cheek that was chilled with +apprehension, but which the act caused to burn like fire; then he +disappeared behind the projection of rock he had himself pointed out. +As for Maud, she sat in seeming composure, awaiting the approach of +those who drew near. + +"The divil bur-r-n me, and all the Injins in Ameriky along wid me," +said Mike, scrambling up the ascent by a short cut, "but I think we'll +find the young Missus, here, or I don't think we'll be finding her the +night. It's a cursed counthry to live in, Misther Strides, where a +young lady of the loveliness and pithiful beauty of Miss Maud can be +lost in the woods, as it might be a sheep or a stray baste that was for +tasting the neighbour's pastures." + +"You speak too loud, Mike, and you speak foolishness into the bargain," +returned the wary Joel. + +"Is it I, you mane! Och! don't think ye 're goin' to set me a rowin' a +boat once more, ag'in my inclinations and edication, as ye did in ould +times. I've rung ye into yer ma'tin', and out of yer m'atin', too, +twenty times too often to be catched in that same trap twice. It's Miss +Maud I wants, and Miss Maud I'll find, or ---- Lord bless her swate +face and morals, and her cha_rack_ter, and all belonging to her!-- +isn't that, now, a prathy composure for the likes of her, and the +savages at the mill, and the Missus in tears, and the masther mighty +un'asy, and all of us bothered! See how she sits on that bit of a sate +that I puts there for her wid my own hands, as a laddy should, looking +jist what she is, the quane of the woods, and the delight of our eyes!" + +Maud was too much accustomed to the rhapsodies of the county Leitrim- +man to think much of this commencement; but resolute to act her part +with discretion, she rose to meet him, speaking with great apparent +self-possession. + +"Is it possible you are in quest of me?" she said--"why has this +happened?--I usually return about this hour." + +"Hoors is it! Don't talk of hoors, beauthiful young laddy, when a +single quarther may be too late," answered Mike, dogmatically. "It's +your own mother that's not happy at yer being in the woods the night, +and yer ould father that has moore un'asiness than he'll confess; long +life to the church in which confession is held to be right, and dacent, +and accorthing to the gospel of St. Luke, and the whole calender in the +bargain. Ye'll not be frightened, Miss Maud, but take what I've to tell +ye jist as if ye didn't bel'ave a wo-r-r-d of it; but, divil bur-r-n +me, if there arn't Injins enough on the rocks, forenent the mill, to +scalp a whole province, and a county along wid it, if ye'll give 'em +time and knives enough." + +"I understand you, Michael, but am not in the least alarmed," answered +Maud, with an air of great steadiness; such, indeed, as would have +delighted the captain. "Something of what has been passing below have I +seen; but, by being calm and reasonable, we shall escape the danger. +Tell me only, that all is safe in the Hut--that my dear mother and +sister are well." + +"Is it the Missus? Och, she's as valiant as a peacock, only strick down +and overcome about your own self! As for Miss Beuly, where's the likes +of her to be found, unless it's on this same bit of a rock? And it's +agraable to see the captain, looking for all the wor-r-ld like a +commander-in-chaif of six or eight rijiments, ordering one this-a-way, +and another that-a-way--By St. Patrick, young laddy, I only hopes them +vagabonds will come on as soon as yourself is inside the sticks, jist +to give the ould jontleman a better occasion to play souldier on 'em. +Should they happen to climb over the sticks, I've got the prattiest bit +of a shillaleh ready that mortal eyes iver adorned! 'Twould break a +head and niver a hat harmed--a thousand's the pities them chaps wears +no hats. Howsever, we'll see." + +"Thank you, Mike, for the courage you show, and the interest you take +in all our welfares--Is it not too soon to venture down upon the flats, +Joel? I must trust to _you_ as a guide." + +"I think Miss Maud would do full as well if she did. Mike must be told, +too, not to talk so much, and above all, not to speak so loud. He may +be heard, sometimes, a dozen rods." + +"Tould!" exclaimed the county Leitrim-man, in heat--"And isn't tould +I've been twenty times already, by your own smooth conversation? +Where's the occasion to tell a thing over and over ag'in, when a man is +not wanting in ears. It's the likes of you that loves to convarse." + +"Well, Mike, for my sake, you will be silent, I hope," said Maud. +"Remember, I am not fitted for a battle, and the first thing is to get +safely into the house. The sooner we are down the hill, perhaps, the +better it may be. Lead the way, then, Joel, and I will follow. Michael +will go next to you, in readiness for any enemy, and I will bring up +the rear. It will be better for all to keep a dead silence, until it be +necessary to speak." + +This arrangement was made, and the party proceeded, Maud remaining a +little behind, in order that the major might catch glimpses of her +person, in the sombre light of the hour and the forest, and not miss +the road. A few minutes brought them all upon the level land, where, +Joel, instead of entering the open fields, inclined more into the +woods, always keeping one of the many paths. His object was to cross +the rivulet under cover, a suitable place offering a short distance +from the point where the stream glided out of the forest. Towards this +spot Joel quietly held his way, occasionally stopping to listen if any +movement of importance had occurred on the flats. As for Maud, her eyes +were frequently cast behind her, for she was fearful Robert Willoughby +might miss the path, having so little acquaintance with the thousand +sinuosities he encountered. She caught glimpses of his person, however, +in the distance, and saw that he was on the right track. Her chief +concern, therefore, soon became an anxiety that he should not be seen +by her companions. As they kept a little in advance, and the underbrush +was somewhat thick, she had strong hopes that this evil would be +avoided. + +The path being very circuitous, it took some time to reach the spot +Joel sought. Here he, Mike, and Maud, crossed the rivulet on a tree +that had been felled expressly to answer the purposes of a rustic foot- +bridge; a common expedient of the American forest. As our heroine had +often performed this exploit when alone, she required no assistance, +and she felt as if half the danger of her critical situation had +vanished, when she found herself on the same side of the stream as the +Hut. Joel, nothing suspecting, and keeping all his faculties on the +sounds and sights that might occur in front, led the way diligently, +and soon reached the verge of the woods. Here he paused for his +companions to join him. + +Twilight had, by this time, nearly disappeared. Still, enough remained +to enable Maud to perceive that many were watching for her, either at +the windows above the cliff, or through different parts of the +stockades. The distance was so small, that it might have been possible, +by raising the voice, even to converse; but this would be an experiment +too hazardous, as some hostile scouts, at that hour might very well be +fearfully near. + +"I see nothing, Miss Maud," observed Joel, after taking a good look +around him. "By keeping the path that follows the edge of the brook, +though it is so crooked, we shall be certain of good walking, and shall +be half hid by the bushes. It's best to walk quick, and to be silent." + +Maud bade him go on, waiting herself behind a tree, to let the two men +precede her a short distance. This was done, and the major stole up to +her side unseen. A few words of explanation passed, when the young lady +ran after her guides, leaving Robert Willoughby seated on a log. It was +a breathless moment to Maud, that in which she was passing this bit of +open land. But the distance was so short, that it was soon gotten over; +and the three found themselves beneath the cliff. Here they passed the +spring, and following a path which led from it, turned the edge of the +rocks, and ascended to the foot of the stockades. It remained to turn +these also, in order to reach the so recently suspended gates. As Maud +passed swiftly along, almost brushing the timbers with her dress, she +saw, in the dim light, fifty faces looking at her, and thrust between +the timbers; but she paused not, spoke not--scarcely breathed. A +profound stillness reigned on the Knoll; but when Joel arrived at the +gate, it was instantly opened, and he glided in. Not so with Mike, who +stopped and waited until she he had been in quest of entered before +him, and was in safety. + +Maud found herself in her mother's arms, the instant the gate was +passed. Mrs. Willoughby had been at the angle of the cliff, had +followed her child, in her swift progress round the stockade, and was +ready to receive her, the moment she entered. Beulah came next, and +then the captain embraced, kissed, wept over, and scolded his little +favourite. + +"No reproaches now, Hugh"--said the more considerate wife, and gentle +woman--"Maud has done no more than has long been her custom, and no one +could have foreseen what has happened." + +"Mother--father"--said Maud, almost gasping for breath--"let us bless +God for my safety, and for the safety of all that are dear to us--thank +you, dear Mr. Woods--there is a kiss, to thank you--now let us go into +the house; I have much to tell you--come dear sir--come dearest mother, +do not lose a moment; let us all go to the library." + +As this was the room in which the family devotions were usually held, +the auditors fancied the excited girl wished to return her thanks in +that mode, one not unfrequent in that regulated family, and all +followed her, who dared, with tender sympathy in her feelings, and +profoundly grateful for her safety. As soon as in the room, Maud +carefully shut the door, and went from one to another, in order to +ascertain who were present. Finding none but her father, mother, +sister, and the chaplain, she instantly related all that had passed, +and pointed out the spot where the major was, at that moment, waiting +for the signal to approach. It is unnecessary to dwell on the +astonishment and delight, mingled with concern, that this intelligence +produced. + +Maud then rapidly recounted her plan, and implored her father to see it +executed. The captain had none of her apprehensions on the subject of +his people's fidelity, but he yielded to the girl's earnest entreaties. +Mrs. Willoughby was so agitated with all the unlooked-for events of the +day, that she joined her daughter in the request, and Maud was told to +proceed with the affair, in her own way. + +A lamp was brought, and placed by Maud in a pantry that was lighted by +a single, long, narrow, external window, at the angle of the building +next the offices, and the door was closed on it. This lamp was the +signal for the major to approach, and with beating hearts the females +bent forward from the windows, secure of not being seen in the night, +which had now fairly closed on the valley, to listen to his approaching +footsteps beneath. They did not wait long ere he was not only heard, +but dimly seen, though totally out of the line of sight from all in the +Hut, with the exception of those above his head. Captain Willoughby had +prepared a rope, one end of which was dropped, and fastened by the +major, himself, around his body. A jerk let those above know when he +was ready. + +"What shall we do next?" asked the captain, in a sort of despair. +"Woods and I can never drag that tall, heavy fellow up such a distance. +He is six feet, and weighs a hundred and eighty, if he weighs a pound." + +"Peace," half-whispered Maud, from a window. "All will be right in a +moment." Then drawing in her body, the pale but earnest girl begged her +father to have patience. "I have thought of all. Mike and the blacks +may be trusted with our lives--I will call them." + +This was done, and the county Leitrim-man and the two Plinys were soon +in the room. + +"O'Hearn," said Maud, inquiringly--"I think you are my friend?" + +"Am I my own!--Is it yees, is the question? Well, jist wish for a +tooth, and ye may take all in my head for the asking. Och, I 'd be a +baste, else! I'd ate the remain of my days wid not'ing but a spoon to +obleege ye." + +"As for you, Pliny, and your son here, you have known us from children. +Not a word must pass the lips of either, as to what you see--now pull, +but with great care, lest the rope break." + +The men did as ordered, raising their load from the ground, a foot or +two at a time. In this manner the burthen approached, yard after yard, +until it was evidently drawing near the window. + +"It's the captain hoisting up the big baste of a hog, for provisioning +the hoose, ag'in a saige," whispered Mike to the negroes, who grinned +as they tugged; "and when the cr'atur squails, see to it, that ye do +not squail yerselves." + +At that moment the head and shoulders of a man appeared at the window, +Mike let go the rope, seized a chair, and was about to knock the +intruder on the head; but the captain arrested the blow. + +"It's one of the vagabond Injins that has undermined the hog, and coome +up in its stead," roared Mike." + +"It's my son"--answered the captain, mildly--"see that you are silent, +and secret." + + + + + +Chapter XIII. + + And glory long has made the sages smile, + Tis something, nothing, words, illusion, wind-- + Depending more upon the historian's style + Than on the name a person leaves behind. + Troy owes to Homer what whist owes to Hoyle + The present century was growing blind + To the great Marlborough's skill in giving knocks, + Until his late Life by Archdeacon Coxe. + + Byron. + +Major Willoughby's feet were scarcely on the library floor, when he was +clasped in his mother's arms. From these he soon passed into Beulah's; +nor did his father hesitate about giving him an embrace nearly as warm. +As for Maud, she stood by, weeping in sympathy and in silence. + +"And you, too, old man," said Robert Willoughby, dashing the tears from +his eyes, and turning to the elder black, holding out a hand--"this is +not the first time, by many, old Pliny, that you have had me between +heaven and earth. Your son was my old play-fellow, and we must shake +hands also. As for O'Hearn, steel is not truer, and we are friends for +life." + +The negroes were delighted to see their young master, for, in that day, +the slaves exulted in the honour, appearance, importance and dignity of +their owners, far more than their liberated descendants do now in their +own. The major had been their friend when a boy; and he was, at +present, their pride and glory. In their view of the matter, the +English army did not contain his equal in looks, courage, military +skill, or experience; and it was treason _per se_ to fight against +a cause that he upheld. The captain had laughingly related to his wife +a conversation to this effect he had not long before overheard between +the two Plinys. + +"Well, Miss Beuly do a pretty well"--observed the elder, "but, den he +all'e better, if he no get 'Merican 'mission. What you call raal +colonel, eh? Have 'e paper from 'e king like Masser Bob, and wear a +rigimental like a head of a turkey cock, so! Dat bein' an up and down +officer." + +"P'rhaps Miss Beuly bring a colonel round, and take off a blue coat, +and put on a scarlet," answered the younger. + +"Nebber!--nebber see dat, Plin, in a rebbleushun. Dis got to be a +rebbleushun; and when _dat_ begin in 'arnest, gib up all idee of +'mendment. Rebbleushuns look all one way--nebber see two side, any more +dan coloured man see two side in a red-skin." + +As we have not been able to trace the thought to antiquity, this +expression may have been the original of the celebrated axiom of +Napoleon, which tells us that "revolutions never go backwards." At all +events, such was the notion of Pliny Willoughby, Sen., as the namesake +of the great Roman styled himself; and it was greatly admired by Pliny +Willoughby, Jun., to say nothing of the opinions of Big Smash and +Little Smash, both of whom were listeners to the discourse. + +"Well, I wish a colonel Beekman"--To this name the fellow gave the true +Doric sound of _Bakeman_--"I wish a colonel Beekman only corprul +in king's troops, for Miss Beuly's sake. Better be sarjun dere, dan +briggerdeer-ginral in 'Merikan company; dat _I_ know." + +"What a briggerdeer mean, Plin?" inquired Little Smash, with interest. +"Who he keep company wid, and what he do? Tell a body, do--so many +officer in 'e army, one nebber know all he name." + +"'Mericans can't hab 'em. Too poor for _dat_. Briggerdeer great +gentleum, and wear a red coat. Ole time, see 'em in hundreds, come to +visit Masser, and Missus, and play wid Masser Bob. Oh! no rebbleushun +in dem days; but ebbery body know he own business, and _do_ it, +too." + +This will serve to show the political sentiments of the Plinys, and may +also indicate the bias that the Smashes were likely to imbibe in such +company. As a matter of course, the major was gladly welcomed by these +devoted admirers; and when Maud again whispered to them the necessity +of secresy, each shut his mouth, no trifling operation in itself, as if +it were to be henceforth hermetically sealed. + +The assistants were now dismissed, and the major was left alone with +his family. Again and again Mrs. Willoughby embraced her son; nor had +her new ties at all lessened Beulah's interest in her brother. Even the +captain kissed his boy anew, while Mr. Woods shook hands once more with +his old pupil, and blessed him. Maud alone was passive in this scene of +feeling and joy. + +"Now, Bob, let us to business," said the captain, as soon as +tranquillity was a little restored. "You have not made this difficult +and perilous journey without an object; and, as we are somewhat +critically situated ourselves, the sooner we know what it is, the less +will be the danger of its not producing its proper effect." + +"Heaven send, dear sir, that it fail not in its effect, indeed," +answered the son. "But is not this movement in the valley pressing, and +have I not come opportunely to take a part in the defence of the +house?" + +"That will be seen a few hours later, perhaps. Everything is quiet now, +and will probably so remain until near morning; or Indian tactics have +undergone a change. The fellows have lighted camp-fires on their rocks, +and seem disposed to rest for the present, at least. Nor do I know that +they are bent on war at all. We have no Indians near us, who would be +likely to dig up the hatchet; and these fellows profess peace, by a +messenger they have sent me." + +"Are they not in their war-paint, sir? I remember to have seen +warriors, when a boy, and my glass has given these men the appearance +of being on what they call 'a war-path.'" + +"Some of them are certainly in that guise, though he who came to the +Knoll was not. _He_ pretended that they were a party travelling +towards the Hudson in order to learn the true causes of the +difficulties between their Great English and their Great American +Fathers. He asked for meal and meat to feed his young men with. This +was the whole purport of his errand." + +"And your answer, sir; is it peace, or war, between you?" + +"Peace in professions, but I much fear war in reality. Still one cannot +know. An old frontier garrison-man, like myself, is not apt to put much +reliance on Indian faith. We are now, God be praised! all within the +stockade; and having plenty of arms and ammunition, are not likely to +be easily stormed. A siege is out of the question; we are too well +provisioned to dread that." + +"But you leave the mills, the growing grain, the barns, even the cabins +of your workmen, altogether at the mercy of these wretches." + +"That cannot well be avoided, unless we go out and drive them off, in +open battle. For the last, they are too strong, to say nothing of the +odds of risking fathers of families against mere vagabonds, as I +suspect these savages to be. I have told them to help themselves to +meal, or grain, of which they will find plenty in the mill. Pork can be +got in the houses, and they have made way with a deer already, that I +had expected the pleasure of dissecting myself. The cattle roam the +woods at this season, and are tolerably safe; but they can burn the +barns and other buildings, should they see fit. In this respect, we are +at their mercy. If they ask for rum, or cider, that may bring matters +to a head; for, refusing may exasperate them, and granting either, in +any quantity, will certainly cause them all to get intoxicated." + +"Why would not that be good policy, Willoughby?" exclaimed the +chaplain. "If fairly disguised once, our people might steal out upon +them, and take away all their arms. Drunken men sleep very profoundly." + +"It would be a canonical mode of warfare, perhaps, Woods," returned the +chaplain, smiling, "but not exactly a military. I think it safer that +they should continue sober; for, as yet, they manifest no great +intentions of hostility. But of this we can speak hereafter. Why are +you here, my son, and in this guise?" + +"The motive may as well be told now, as at another time," answered the +major, giving his mother and sisters chairs, while the others imitated +their example in being seated. "Sir William Howe has permitted me to +come out to see you--I might almost say _ordered_ me out; for +matters have now reached a pass when we think every loyal gentleman in +America must feel disposed to take sides with the crown." + +A general movement among his auditors told the major the extent of the +interest they felt in what was expected to follow. He paused an instant +to survey the dark-looking group that was clustering around him; for no +lights were in the room on account of the open windows, and he spoke in +a low voice from motives of prudence; then he proceeded: + +"I should infer from the little that passed between Maud and myself," +he said, "that you are ignorant of the two most important events that +have yet occurred in this unhappy conflict?" + +"We learn little here," answered the father. "I have heard that my Lord +Howe and his brother Sir William have been named commissioners by His +Majesty to heal all the differences. I knew them both, when young men, +and their elder brother before them. Black Dick, as we used to call the +admiral, is a discreet, well-meaning man; though I fear both of them +owe their appointments more to their affinity to the sovereign than to +the qualities that might best fit them to deal with the Americans." + +"Little is known of the affinity of which you speak[*], and less said +in the army," returned the major, "but I fear there is no hope of the +object of the commission's being effected. The American congress has +declared the colonies altogether independent of England; and so far as +this country is concerned, the war is carried on as between nation and +nation. All allegiance, even in name, is openly cast aside." + + [* The mother of the three Lords Howe, so well known in American + history, viz: _George_, killed before Ticonderoga, in the war of + '56; _Richard_, the celebrated admiral, and the hero of the 1st + June; and Sir _William_, for several years commander-in-chief in + this country, and the 5th and last viscount; was a Mademoiselle + Kilmansegge, who was supposed to be a natural daughter of George I. + This would make these three officers and George II. first-cousins; + and George III their great-nephew _a la mode de Bretagne_. + Walpole, and various other English writers, speak openly, not only of + the connection, but of the family resemblance. Indeed, most of the + gossiping writers of that age seem to allow that Lord Howe was a + grandson of the first English sovereign of the House of Brunswick.] + +"You astonish me, Bob! I did not think it could ever come to this!" + +"I thought your native attachments would hardly endure as strong a +measure as this has got to be," answered the major, not a little +satisfied with the strength of feeling manifested by his father. "Yet +has this been done, sir, and done in a way that it will not be easy to +recall. Those who now resist us, resist for the sake of throwing off +all connection with England." + +"Has France any agency in this, Bob?--I own it startles me, and has a +French look." + +"It has driven many of the most respectable of our enemies into our +arms, sir. We have never considered you a direct enemy, though +unhappily inclining too much against us; 'but this will determine Sir +Hugh,' said the commander-in-chief in our closing interview--I suppose +you know, my dear father, that all your old friends, knowing what has +happened, insist on calling you Sir Hugh. I assure you, I never open my +lips on the subject; and yet Lord Howe drank to the health of Sir Hugh +Willoughby, openly at his own table, the last time I had the honour to +dine with him." + +"Then the next time he favours you with an invitation, Bob, be kind +enough to thank him. I want no empty baronetcy, nor do I ever think of +returning to England to live. Were all I had on earth drummed together, +it would barely make out a respectable competency for a private +gentleman in that extravagant state of society; and what is a mere name +to one in such circumstances? I wish it were transferable, my dear boy, +in the old Scotch mode, and you should be Sir Bob before you slept." + +"But, Willoughby, it may be useful to Robert, and why should he not +have the title, since neither you nor I care for it?" asked the +considerate mother. + +"So he may, my dear; though he must wait for an event that I fancy you +are not very impatient to witness--my death. When I am gone, let him be +Sir Robert, in welcome. But, Bob--for plain, honest Bob must you remain +till then, unless indeed you earn your spurs in this unhappy war--have +you any military tidings for us? We have heard nothing since the +arrival of the fleet on the coast." + +"We are in New York, after routing Washington on Long Island. The +rebels"--the major spoke a little more confidently than had been his +wont--"The rebels have retreated into the high country, near the +borders of Connecticut, where they have inveterate nests of the +disaffected in their rear." + +"And has all this been done without bloodshed? Washington had staff in +him, in the old French business." + +"_His_ stuff is not doubted, sir; but his men make miserable work +of it. Really I am sometimes ashamed of having been born in the +country. These Yankees fight like wrangling women, rather than +soldiers." + +"How's this!--You spoke honestly of the affair at Lexington, and wrote +us a frank account of the murderous work at Bunker Hill. Have their +natures changed with the change of season?" + +"To own the truth, sir, they did wonders on the Hill, and not badly in +the other affair; but all their spirit seems gone. I am quite ashamed +of them. Perhaps this declaration of independence, as it is called, has +damped their ardour." + +"No, my son--the change, if change there is, depends on a general and +natural law. Nothing but discipline and long training can carry men +with credit through a campaign, in the open field. Fathers, and +husbands, and brothers and lovers, make formidable enemies, in sight of +their own chimney-tops; but the most flogging regiments, we used to +say, were the best fighting regiments for a long pull. But, have a +care, Bob; you are now of a rank that may well get you a separate +command, and do not despise your enemy. I know these Yankees well--you +are one, yourself, though only half-blooded; but I know them well, and +have often seen them tried. They are very apt to be badly commanded, +heaven cursing them for their sins, in this form more than any other-- +but get them fairly at work, and the guards will have as much as they +can wish, to get along with. Woods will swear to _that_." + +"Objecting to the _mode_ of corroboration, my dear sir, I can +support its substance. Inclined as I am to uphold Caesar, and to do +honour to the Lord's anointed, I will not deny my countrymen's courage; +though I think, Willoughby, now I recall old times, it was rather the +fashion of our officers to treat it somewhat disrespectfully." + +"It was, indeed," answered the captain, thoughtfully--"and a silly +thing it was. They mistook the nature of a mild and pacific people, +totally without the glitter and habits of military life, for a timid +people; and I have often heard the new hands in the colonies speak of +their inhabitants with contempt on this very head. Braddock had that +failing to a great degree; and yet this very major Washington saved his +army from annihilation, when it came to truly desperate work. Mark the +words of a much older soldier than yourself, Bob; you may have more of +the bravery of apparel, and present a more military aspect; may even +gain advantages over them by means of higher discipline, better arms, +and more accurate combinations; but, when you meet them fairly, depend +on it you will meet dangerous foes, and men capable of being sooner +drilled into good soldiers than any nation I have met with. Their great +curse is, and probably will be, in selecting too many of their officers +from classes not embued with proper military pride, and altogether +without the collaterals of a good military education." + +To all this the major had nothing very material to object, and +remembering that the silent but thoughtful Beulah had a husband in what +he called the rebel ranks, he changed the subject. Arrangements were +now made for the comfort and privacy of the unlooked-for guest. +Adjoining the library, a room with no direct communication with the +court by means of either door, or window, was a small and retired +apartment containing a cot-bed, to which the captain was accustomed to +retire in the cases of indisposition, when Mrs. Willoughby wished to +have either of her daughters with herself, on their account, or on her +own. This room was now given to the major, and in it he would be +perfectly free from every sort of intrusion. He might eat in the +library, if necessary; though, all the windows of that wing of the +house opening outward, there was little danger of being seen by any but +the regular domestics of the family, all of whom were to be let into +the secret of his presence, and all of whom were rightly judged to be +perfectly trustworthy. + +As the evening promised to be dark, it was determined among the +gentlemen that the major should disguise himself still more than he was +already, and venture outside of the building, in company with his +father, and the chaplain, as soon as the people, who were now crowded +into the vacant rooms in the empty part of the house, had taken +possession of their respective quarters for the night. In the meantime +a hearty supper was provided for the traveller in the library, the +bullet-proof window-shutters of which room, and indeed of all the +others on that side of the building, having first been closed, in order +that lights might be used, without drawing a shot from the adjoining +forest. + +"We are very safe, here," observed the captain, as his son appeased his +hunger, with the keen relish of a traveller. "Even Woods might stand a +siege in a house built and stockaded like this. Every window has solid +bullet-proof shutters, with fastenings not easily broken; and the logs +of the buildings might almost defy round-shot. The gates are all up, +one leaf excepted, and that leaf stands nearly in its place, well +propped and supported. In the morning it shall be hung like the others. +Then the stockade is complete, and has not a speck of decay about it +yet. We shall keep a guard of twelve men up the whole night, with three +sentinels outside of the buildings; and all of us will sleep in our +clothes, and on our arms. My plan, should an assault be made, is to +draw in the sentinels, as soon as they have discharged their pieces, to +close the gate, and man the loops. The last are all open, and spare +arms are distributed at them. I had a walk made within the ridge of the +roofs this spring, by which men can run round the whole Hut, in the +event of an attempt to, set fire to the shingles, or fire over the +ridge at an enemy at the stockades. It is a great improvement, Bob; +and, as it is well railed, will make a capital station in a warm +conflict, before the enemy make their way within the stockade." + +"We must endeavour not to let them get there, sir," answered the +major--"but, as soon as your people are housed, I shall have an +opportunity to reconnoitre. Open work is most to the taste of us +regulars." + +"Not against an Indian enemy. You will be glad of such a fortress as +this, boy, before the question of independence, or no independence, +shall be finally settled. Did not Washington entrench in the town?" + +"Not much on that side of the water, sir; though he was reasonably well +in the ground on Long Island. _There_ he had many thousands of +men, and works of some extent." + +"And how did he get off the island?" demanded the captain, turning +round to look his son in the face. "The arm of the sea is quite half-a- +mile in width, at that point--how did he cross it in the face of a +victorious army?--or did he only save himself, while you captured his +troops?" + +The major coloured a little, and then he looked at Beulah and smiled +good-naturedly. + +"I am so surrounded by rebels here," he said, "that it is not easy to +answer all your questions, sir. Beat him we did, beyond a question, and +that with a heavy loss to his army--and out of New York we have driven +him, beyond a question--but--I will not increase Beulah's conceit by +stating any more!" + +"If you can tell me anything kind of Evert, Bob, you will act like a +brother in so doing," said the gentle wife. + +"Ay, Beekman did well too, they said. I heard some of our officers +extolling a charge he made; and to own the truth, I was not sorry to be +able to say he was my sister's husband, since a fierce rebel she would +marry. All our news of _him_ is to his credit; and now I shall get +a kiss for my pains." + +The major was not mistaken. With a swelling heart, but smiling +countenance, his sister threw herself into his arms, when she kissed +and was kissed until the tears streamed down her cheeks. + +"It was of Washington I intended to speak, sir," resumed the major, +dashing a tear or two from his own eyes, as Beulah resumed her chair. +"His retreat from the island is spoken of as masterly, and has gained +him great credit. He conducted it in person, and did not lose a man. I +heard Sir William mention it as masterly." + +"Then by heaven, America will prevail in this contest!" exclaims I the +captain, striking his fist upon the table, with a suddenness and force +that caused all in the room to start. "If she has a general who can +effect such a movement skilfully, the reign of England is over, here. +Why, Woods, Xenophon never did a better thing! The retreat of the ten +thousand was boy's play to getting across that water. Besides, your +victory could have been no great matter, Bob, or it would never have +been done." + +"Our victory was respectable, sir, while I acknowledge that the retreat +was great. No one among us denies it, and Washington is always named +with respect in the army." + +In a minute more, Big Smash came in, under the pretence of removing the +dishes, but, in reality to see Master Bob, and to be noticed by him. +She was a woman of sixty, the mother of Little Smash, herself a +respectable matron of forty; and both had been born in the household of +Mrs. Willoughby's father, and had rather more attachment for any one of +her children than for all of their own, though each had been reasonably +prolific. The _sobriquets_ had passed into general use, and the +real names of Bess and Ma_ri'_ were nearly obsolete. Still, the +major thought it polite to use the latter on the present occasion. + +"Upon my word, Mrs. Bess," he said, shaking the old woman cordially by +the hand, though he instinctively shrunk back from the sight of a pair +of lips that were quite ultra, in the way of pouting, which used often +to salute him twenty years before--"Upon my word, Mrs. Bess, you +improve in beauty, everytime I see you. Old age and you seem to be +total strangers to each other. How do you manage to remain so comely +and so young?" + +"God send 'e fus', Masser Bob, heabben be praise, and a good conscience +do 'e las'. I _do_ wish you could make ole Plin hear _dat_! +He nebber t'ink any good look, now-a-day, in a ole wench." + +"Pliny is half blind. But that is the way with most husbands, Smash; +they become blind to the charms of their spouses, after a few years of +matrimony." + +"Nebber get marry, Masser Bob, if dat be 'e way." + +Then Great Smash gave such a laugh, and such a swing of her unwieldy +body, that one might well have apprehended her downfall. But, no such +thing. She maintained the equilibrium; for, renowned as she had been +all her life at producing havoc among plates, and cups, and bowls, she +was never known to be thrown off her own centre of gravity. Another +hearty shake of the hand followed, and the major quitted the table. As +was usual on all great and joyous occasions in the family, when the +emotions reached the kitchen, that evening was remarkable for a +"smash," in which half the crockery that had just been brought from the +table, fell an unresisting sacrifice. This produced a hot discussion +between "The Big" and "The Little" as to the offender, which resulted, +as so often happens, in these inquiries into the accidents of domestic +life, in the conclusion that "nobody" was alone to blame. + +"How 'e t'ink he _can_ come back, and not a plate crack!" +exclaimed Little Smash, in a vindicatory tone, she being the real +delinquent--"Get in 'e winder, too! Lor! _dat_ enough to break all +'e dish in 'e house, and in 'e mill, too! I _do_ wish ebbery plate +we got was an Injin--den you see fun! Can nebber like Injin; 'em so +red, and so sabbage!" + +"Nebber talk of Injin, now," answered the indignant mother--"better +talk of plate. Dis make forty t'ousand dish you break, Mari', sin' you +war' a young woman. S'pose you t'ink Masser made of plate, dat you +break 'em up so! Dat what ole Plin say--de nigger! He say all men made +of clay, and plate made of clay, too--well, bot' clay, and bot' +_break_. All on us wessels, and all on us break to pieces some day, +and den dey'll t'row _us_ away, too." + +A general laugh succeeded this touch of morality, Great Smash being a +little addicted to ethical remarks of this nature; after which the war +was renewed on the subject of the broken crockery. Nor did it soon +cease; wrangling, laughing, singing, toiling, a light-heartedness that +knew no serious cares, and affection, making up the sum of the everyday +existence of these semi-civilized beings. The presence of the party in +the valley, however, afforded the subject of an episode; for a negro +has quite as much of the _de haut en bas_ in his manner of viewing +the aborigines, as the whites have in their speculations on his own +race. Mingled with this contempt, notwithstanding, was a very active +dread, neither of the Plinys, nor of their amiable consorts, in the +least relishing the idea of being shorn of the wool, with shears as +penetrating as the scalping-knife. After a good deal of discussion on +this subject, the kitchen arrived at the conclusion that the visit of +the major was ordered by Providence, since it was out of all the rules +of probability and practice to have a few half-clad savages get the +better of "Masser Bob," who was born a soldier, and had so recently +been fighting for the king. + +On the latter subject, we ought to have stated that the captain's +kitchen was ultra-loyal. The rude, but simple beings it contained, had +a reverence for rank and power that even a "rebbelushun" could not +disturb, and which closely associated, in their minds, royal authority +with divine power. Next to their own master, they considered George +III, as the greatest man of the age; and there was no disposition in +them to rob him of his rights or his honours. + +"You seem thoughtful, Woods," said the captain, while his son had +retired to his own room, in order to assume a disguise less likely to +attract attention in the garrison than a hunting-shirt. "Is it this +unexpected visit of Bob's that furnishes food for reflection?" + +"Not so much his visit, my dear Willoughby, as the news he brings us. +God knows what will befall the church, should this rebellion make +serious head. The country is in a dreadful way, already, on the subject +of religion; but it will be far worse if these 'canters' get the upper +hand of the government." + +The captain was silent and thoughtful for a moment; then he laughingly +replied-- + +"Fear nothing for the church, chaplain. It is of God, and will outlast +a hundred political revolutions." + +"I don't know that, Willoughby--I don't know that"--The chaplain did +not exactly mean what he said--"'Twouldn't surprise me if we had +'_taking_ up collections,' '_sitting under preaching,' 'providentially +happening,' 'exercised in mind_,' and '_our Zion_' finding their way +into dictionaries." + +"Quite likely, Woods"--returned the captain, smiling--"Liberty is known +to produce great changes in _things_; why not in language?" + +"Liberty, indeed! Yes; '_liberty_ in prayer' is another of their +phrases. Well, captain Willoughby, if this rebellion should succeed, we +may give up all hopes for the church. What sort of government shall we +have, do you imagine, sir?" + +"Republican, of course," answered the captain, again becoming +thoughtful, as his mind reverted to the important results that were +really dependent on the present state of things. "Republican--it +_can_ be no other. These colonies have always had a strong bias in +that direction, and they want the elements necessary to a monarchy. New +York has a landed gentry, it is true; and so has Maryland, and +Virginia, and the Carolinas; but they are not strong enough to set up a +political aristocracy, or to prop a throne; and then this gentry will +probably be much weakened by the struggle. Half the principal families +are known to be with the crown, as it is; and new men will force them +out of place, in a revolution. No, Woods, if this revolution prosper, +the monarchy is done in America, for at least a century." + +"And the prayers for the king and royal family--what will become of +_them_?" + +"I should think they must cease, also. I question if a people will +continue long to pray for authorities that they refuse to obey." + +"I shall stick to the rubrics as long as I have a tongue in my head. I +trust, Willoughby, _you_ will not stop these prayers, in your +settlement?" + +"It is the last mode in which I should choose to show hostility. Still, +you must allow it is a little too much to ask a congregation to pray +that the king shall overcome his enemies, when they are among those +very enemies? The question presents a dilemma." + +"And, yet, I have never failed to read that prayer, as well as all the +rest. You have not objected, hitherto." + +"I have not, for I have considered the war as being waged with +parliament and the ministers, whereas it is now clearly with the king. +This paper is certainly a plain and forcible document." + +"And what is that paper? Not the Westminster Confession of Faith, or +the Saybrook Platform, I hope; one of which will certainly supersede +the Thirty-nine Articles in all our churches, if this rebellion +prosper." + +"It is the manifesto issued by congress, to justify their declaration +of independence. Bob has brought it with him, as a proof how far +matters have been carried; but, really, it seems to be a creditable +document, and is eloquently reasoned." + +"I see how it is, Willoughby--I see how it is. We shall find you a +rebel general yet; and I expect to live to hear _you_ talk about +'our Zion' and 'providential accidents.'" + +"Neither, Woods. For the first, I am too old; and, for the last, I have +too much taste, I trust. Whether I shall always pray for the king is +another matter. But, here is the major, ready for his sortie. Upon my +word, his masquerade is so complete, I hardly know him myself." + + + + + +Chapter XIV. + + He could not rest, he could not stay + Within his tent to wait for day; + But walked him forth along the sand, + Where thousand sleepers strewed the strand. + + _Siege of Corinth_. + +It was now so late that most of the men of the Hut, and all the women +and children, were housed for the night, provided no alarm occurred. +There was consequently little risk in the major's venturing forth, +disguised as he was, should care be taken not to approach a light. The +great number of the latter, streaming through the windows of the +western wing of the building, showed how many were now collected within +the walls, and gave an unusual appearance of life and animation to the +place. Still, the court was clear, the men seeking their pallets, in +readiness for their coming watches, while the women were occupied with +those great concerns of female life, the care of children. + +The captain, major, and chaplain, each carrying a rifle, and the two +former pistols, moved rapidly across the court, and passed the gate. +The moveable leaf of the latter was left unbarred, it being the orders +of the captain to the sentinels without, on the approach of an enemy, +to retire within the court, and then to secure the fastenings. + +The night was star-light, and it was cool, as is common to this region +of country. There being neither lamp nor candle on the exterior of the +house, even the loops being darkened, there was little danger in moving +about within the stockades. The sentinels were directed to take their +posts so near the palisades as to command views of the open lawn +without, a precaution that would effectually prevent the usual stealthy +approach of an enemy without discovery. As the alarm had been very +decided, these irregular guardians of the house were all at their +posts, and exceedingly watchful, a circumstance that enabled the +captain to avoid them, and thus further remove the danger of his son's +being recognised. He accordingly held himself aloof from the men, +keeping within the shadows of the sides of the Hut. + +As a matter of course, the first object to which our two soldiers +directed their eyes, was the rock above the mill. The Indians had +lighted fires, and were now apparently bivouacked at no great distance +from them, having brought boards from below with that especial object. +Why they chose to remain in this precise position, and why they +neglected the better accommodations afforded by some fifteen or twenty +log-cabins, that skirted the western side of the valley in particular, +were subjects of conjecture. That they were near the fires the board +shanties proved, and that they were to the last degree careless of the +proximity of the people of the place, would seem also to be apparent in +the fact that they had not posted, so far as could be ascertained, even +a solitary sentinel. + +"This is altogether surprising for Indian tactics," observed the +captain, in a low voice; for everything that was uttered that night +without the building was said in very guarded tones. "I have never +before known the savages to cover themselves in that manner; nor is it +usual with them to light fires to point out the positions they occupy, +as these fellows seem to have done." + +"Is it not all _seeming_, sir?" returned the major. "To me that +camp, if camp it can be called, has an air of being deserted." + +"There is a look about it of premeditated preparation that one ought +always to distrust in war." + +"Is it not unmilitary, sir, for two soldiers like ourselves to remain +in doubt on such a point? My professional pride revolts at such a state +of things; and, with your leave, I will go outside, and set the matter +at rest by reconnoitring." + +"Professional pride is a good thing, Bob, rightly understood and +rightly practised. But the highest point of honour with the really good +soldier is to do that for which he was precisely intended. Some men +fancy armies were got together just to maintain certain exaggerated +notions of military honour; whereas, military honour is nothing but a +moral expedient to aid in effecting the objects for which they are +really raised. I have known men so blinded as to assert that a soldier +is bound to maintain his honour at the expense of the law; and this in +face of the fact that, in a free country, a soldier is in truth nothing +but one of the props of the law, in the last resort. So with us; we are +here to defend this house, and those it contains; and our military +honour is far more concerned in doing that effectually, and by right +means, than in running the risk of not doing it at all, in order to +satisfy an abstract and untenable notion of a false code. Let us do +what is _right_, my son, and feel no concern that our honour +suffer." + +Captain Willoughby said this, because he fancied it a fault in his +son's character, sometimes to confound the end with the means, in +appreciating the ethics of his profession. This is not an uncommon +error among those who bear arms, instances not being wanting in which +bodies of men that are the mere creatures of authority, have not +hesitated to trample the power that brought them into existence under +foot, rather than submit to mortify the feelings of a purely +conventional and exaggerated pride. The major was rebuked rather than +convinced, it not being the natural vocation of youth to perceive the +justice of all the admonitions of age. + +"But, if one can be made auxiliary to the other, sir," the son +remarked, "then you will allow that professional _esprit_, and +professional prudence, may very well march hand in hand." + +"Of that there can be no doubt, though I think it far wiser and more +soldier-like, even, to use all proper precautions to guard this house, +under our actual circumstances, than to risk anything material in order +to satisfy our doubts concerning the state of that camp." + +"But the cabins, and all the property that lies exposed to fire and +other accidents, including the mills? Is it not worth your while to let +me make a little excursion, in order to ascertain the state of things, +as connected with them?" + +"Perhaps it would, Bob"--returned the father, after a little +reflection. "It would be a great point gained, to send a man to look +after the buildings, and the horses. The poor beasts may be suffering +for water; and, as you say, the first thing will be to ascertain where +our wild visiters really are, and what they are actually bent on. +Woods, go with us to the gate, and let us out. I rely on your saying +nothing of our absence, except to explain to the two nearest sentinels +who we are, and to be on the look-out for us, against the moment we may +return." + +"Will it not be very hazardous to be moving in front of the stockade, +in the dark? Some of our own people may fire upon you." + +"You will tell them to be cautious, and we shall use great +circumspection in our turn. I had better give you a signal by which we +shall be known." + +This was done, and the party moved from under the shadows of the Hut, +down to the gate. Here the two soldiers halted for several minutes, +taking a deliberate and as thorough a survey of the scene without, as +the darkness permitted. Then the chaplain opened the gate, and they +issued forth, moving with great caution down the lawn, towards the +fleets. As a matter of course, captain Willoughby was perfectly +familiar with all the lanes, ditches, bridges and fields of his +beautiful possessions. The alluvial soil that lay spread around him was +principally the result of ages of deposit while the place was covered +with water; but, as the overflowing of the water had been produced by a +regular dam, the latter once removed, the meadows were free, from the +excessive moisture which generally saturates drained lands. Still, +there were two or three large open ditches, to collect the water that +came down the adjacent mountains or bubbled up from springs near the +margin of the woods Across these ditches the roads led, by bridges, and +the whole valley was laid out, in this manner, equally with a view to +convenience and rural beauty. A knowledge of all the windings was of +great use, on the present occasion, even on the advance; while, on the +retreat, it might clearly be the means of preserving the lives, or +liberties, of the two adventurers. + +The captain did not proceed by the principal road which led from the +Hut to the mills, the great thoroughfare of the valley, since it might +be watched, in order to prevent a hostile sortie against the camp; but +he inclined to the right, or to the westward, in order to visit the +cabins and barns in that quarter. It struck him his invaders might have +quietly taken possession of the houses, or even have stolen his horses +and decamped. In this direction, then, he and his son proceeded, using +the greatest caution in their movements, and occasionally stopping to +examine the waning fires at the rock, or to throw a glance behind them +at the stockade. Everything remained in the quiet which renders a +forest settlement so solemn and imposing, after the daily movements of +man have ceased. The deepest and most breathless attention could not +catch an unaccustomed sound. Even the bark of a dog was not heard, all +those useful animals having followed their masters into the Hut, as if +conscious that their principal care now lay in that direction. Each of +the sentinels had one of these animals near him, crouched under the +stockade, in the expectation of their giving the alarm, should any +strange footstep approach. In this manner most of the distance between +the Knoll and the forest was crossed, when the major suddenly laid a +hand on his father's arm. + +"Here is something stirring on our left," whispered the former--"It +seems, too, to be crouching under the fence." + +"You have lost your familiarity with our rural life, Bob," answered the +father, with a little more confidence of tone, but still guardedly, "or +this fragrant breath would tell you we are almost on a cow. It is old +Whiteback; I know her by her horns. Feel; she is here in the lane with +us, and within reach of your hand. A gentler animal is not in the +settlement. But, stop--pass your hand on her udder--she will not stir-- +how is it, full or not?" + +"If I can judge, sir, it is nothing remarkable in the way of size." + +"I understand this better. By Jupiter, boy, that cow has been milked! +It is certain none of our people have left the house to do it, since +the alarm was first given. This is ominous of neighbours." + +The major made no reply, but he felt to ascertain if his arms were in a +state for immediate service. After a moment's further pause the captain +proceeded, moving with increased caution. Not a word was now uttered, +for they were getting within the shadows of the orchard, and indeed of +the forest, where objects could not well be distinguished at the +distance of a very few yards. A cabin was soon reached, and it was +found empty; the fire reduced to a few embers, and quite safe. This was +the residence of the man who had the care of the horses, the stables +standing directly behind it. Captain Willoughby was a thoughtful and +humane man, and it struck him the animals might now be turned into a +field that joined the barn-yard, where there was not only rich pasture, +but plenty of sweet running water. This he determined to do at once, +the only danger being from the unbridled movements of cattle that must +be impatient from unusual privation, and a prolonged restraint. + +The major opened the gate of the field, and stationed himself in a way +to turn the animals in the desired direction, while his father went +into the stable to set them free. The first horse came out with great +deliberation, being an old animal well cooled with toil at the plough, +and the major had merely to swing his arm, to turn him into the field. +Not so with the next, however. This was little better than a colt, a +creature in training for his master's saddle; and no sooner was it +released than it plunged into the yard, then bounded into the field, +around which it galloped, until it found the water. The others imitated +this bad example; the clatter of hoofs, though beaten on a rich turf, +soon resounding in the stillness of the night, until it might be heard +across the valley. The captain then rejoined his son. + +"This is a good deed somewhat clumsily done, Bob," observed the father, +as he picked up his rifle and prepared to proceed. "An Indian ear, +however, will not fail to distinguish between the tramping of horses +and a charge of foot." + +"Faith, sir, the noise may serve us a good turn yet. Let us take +another look at the fires, and see if this tramping has set any one in +motion near them. We can get a glimpse a little further ahead." + +The look was taken, but nothing was seen. While standing perfectly +motionless, beneath the shadows of an apple-tree, however, a sound was +heard quite near them, which resembled that of a guarded footstep. Both +gentlemen drew up, like sportsmen expecting the birds to rise, in +waiting for the sound to approach. It did draw nearer, and presently a +human form was seen moving slowly forward in the path, approaching the +tree, as if to get within its cover. It was allowed to draw nearer and +nearer, until captain Willoughby laid his hand, from behind the trunk, +on the stranger's shoulder, demanding sternly, but in a low voice, "who +are you?" + +The start, the exclamation, and the tremor that succeeded all denoted +the extent of this man's surprise. It was some little time, even, +before he could recover from his alarm, and then he let himself be +known by his answer. + +"Massy!" exclaimed Joel Strides, who ordinarily gave this doric sound +to the word 'mercy'--"Massy, captain, is it _you!_ I should as +soon thought of seeing a ghost! What in natur' has brought you out of +the stockade, sir?" + +"I think that is a question I might better ask you, Mr. Strides. My +orders were to keep the gate close, and for no one to quit the court- +yard even, until sent on post, or called by an alarm." + +"True, sir--quite true--true as gospel. But let us moderate a little, +captain, and speak lower; for the Lord only knows who's in our +neighbourhood. Who's that with you, sir?--Not the Rev. Mr. Woods, is +it?" + +"No matter who is with me. _He_ has the authority of my commands +for being here, whoever he may be, while you are here in opposition to +them. You know me well enough, Joel, to understand nothing but the +simple truth will satisfy me." + +"Lord, sir, I am one of them that never wish to tell you anything +_but_ truth. The captain has known me now long enough to understand +my natur', I should think; so no more need be said about _that._" + +"Well, sir--give me the reason--and see that it is given to me without +reserve." + +"Yes, sir; the captain shall have it. He knows we scrambled out of our +houses this afternoon a little onthinkingly, Injin alarms being skeary +matters. It was an awful hurrying time! Well, the captain understands, +too, we don't work for him without receiving our wages; and I have been +laying up a little, every year, until I've scraped together a few +hundred dollars, in good half-joes; and I bethought me the money might +be in danger, should the savages begin to plunder; and I've just came +out to look a'ter the money." + +"If this be true, as I hope and can easily believe to be the case, you +must have the money about you, Joel, to prove it." + +The man stretched forth his arm, and let the captain feel a +handkerchief, in which, sure enough, there was a goodly quantity of +coin. This gave him credit for truth, and removed all suspicion of his +present excursion being made with any sinister intention. The man was +questioned as to his mode of passing the stockade, when he confessed he +had fairly clambered over it, an exploit of no great difficulty from +the inside. As the captain had known Joel too long to be ignorant of +his love of money, and the offence was very pardonable in itself, he +readily forgave the breach of orders. This was the only man in the +valley who did not trust his little hoard in the iron chest at the Hut; +even the miller reposing that much confidence in the proprietor of the +estate; but Joel was too conscious of dishonest intentions himself to +put any unnecessary faith in others. + +All this time, the major kept so far aloof as not to be recognised, +though Joel, once or twice, betrayed symptoms of a desire to ascertain +who he was. Maud had awakened suspicions that now became active, in +both father and son, when circumstances so unexpectedly and +inconveniently threw the man in their way. It was consequently the wish +of the former to get rid of his overseer as soon as possible. +Previously to doing this, however, he saw fit to interrogate him a +little further. + +"Have you seen anything of the Indians since you left the stockade, +Strides?" demanded the captain. "We can perceive no other traces of +their presence than yonder fires, though we think that some of them +must have passed this way, for Whiteback's udder is empty." + +"To own the truth, captain, I haven't. I some think that they've left +the valley; though the Lord only can tell when they'll be back ag'in. +Such critturs be beyond calcilation! They outdo arithmetic, nohow. As +for the cow, I milked her myself; for being the crittur the captain has +given to Phoebe for her little dairy, I thought it might hurt her not +to be attended to. The pail stands yonder, under the fence, and the +women and children in the Hut may be glad enough to see it in the +morning." + +This was very characteristic of Joel Strides. He did not hesitate about +disobeying orders, or even to risk his life, in order to secure his +money; but, determined to come out, he had the forethought and care to +bring a pail, in order to supply the wants of those who were now +crowded within the stockade, and who were too much accustomed to this +particular sort of food, not to suffer from its absence. If we add, +that, in the midst of all this prudent attention to the wants of his +companions, Joel had an eye to his personal popularity and what are +called "ulterior events", and that he selected his own cow for the +precise reason given, the reader has certain distinctive traits of the +man before him. + +"This being the case," returned the captain, a good deal relieved at +finding that the savages had not been the agents in this milking +affair, since it left the probability of their remaining +stationary--"This being the case, Joel, you had better find the pail, +and go in. As soon as day dawns, however, I recommend that all the cows +be called up to the stockade and milked generally. They are feeding in +the lanes, just now, and will come readily, if properly invited. Go, +then, but say nothing of having met me, and--" + +"Who else did the captain say?" inquired Joel, curiously, observing +that the other paused. + +"Say nothing of having met us at all, I tell you. It is very important +that my movements should be secret." + +The two gentlemen now moved on, intending to pass in front of the +cabins which lined this part of the valley, by a lane which would bring +them out at the general highway which led from the Knoll to the mill. +The captain marched in front, while his son brought up the rear, at a +distance of two or three paces. Each walked slowly and with caution, +carrying his rifle in the hollow of his arm, in perfect readiness for +service. In this manner both had proceeded a few yards, when Robert +Willoughby felt his elbow touched, and saw Joel's face, within eighteen +inches of his own, as the fellow peered under his hat. It was an action +so sudden and unexpected, that the major saw, at once, nothing but +perfect coolness could avert his discovery. + +"Is't you, Dan'el"--so was the miller named. "What in natur' has +brought the old man on this tramp, with the valley filled with Injins?" +whispered Joel, prolonging the speech in order to get a better view of +a face and form that still baffled his conjectures. "Let's know all +about it." + +"You'll get me into trouble," answered he major, shaking off his +unwelcome neighbour, moving a step further from him, and speaking also +in a whisper. "The captain's bent on a scout, and you know he'll not +bear contradiction. Off with you, then, and don't forget the milk." + +As the major moved away, and seemed determined to baffle him, Joel had +no choice between complying and exposing his disobedience of orders to +the captain. He disliked doing the last, for his cue was to seem +respectful and attached, and he was fain to submit. Never before, +however, did Joel Strides suffer a man to slip through his fingers with +so much reluctance. He saw that the captain's companion was not the +miller, while the disguise was too complete to enable him to +distinguish the person or face. In that day, the different classes of +society were strongly distinguished from each other, by their ordinary +attire; and, accustomed to see major Willoughby only in the dress that +belonged to his station, he would not be likely to recognise him in his +present guise, had he even known of or suspected his visit. As it was, +he was completely at fault; satisfied it was not his friend Daniel, +while unable to say who it was. + +In this doubting state of mind, Joel actually forgot the savages, and +the risks he might run from their proximity. He walked, as it might be +mechanically, to the place where he had left the pail, and then +proceeded slowly towards the Knoll, pondering at every step on what he +had just seen. He and the miller had secret communications with certain +active agents of the revolutionists, that put them in possession of +facts, notwithstanding their isolated position, with which even their +employer was totally unacquainted. It is true, these agents were of +that low caste that never fail to attach themselves to all great +political enterprises, with a sole view to their own benefit; still, as +they were active, cunning and bold, and had the sagacity to make +themselves useful, they passed in the throng of patriots created by the +times, and were enabled to impart to men of similar spirits much +available information. + +It was through means like these, that Joel knew of the all-important +measure of the declaration of independence, while it still remained a +secret to captain Willoughby. The hope of confiscations was now active +in the bosoms of all this set, and many of them had even selected the +portions of property that they intended should be the reward of their +own love of freedom and patriotism. It has been said that the English +ministry precipitated the American revolution, with a view to share, +among their favourites, the estates that it was thought it would bring +within the gift of the crown, a motive so heinous as almost to defy +credulity, and which may certainly admit of rational doubts. On the +other hand, however, it is certain that individuals, who will go down +to posterity in company with the many justly illustrious names that the +events of 1776 have committed to history, were actuated by the most +selfish inducements, and, in divers instances, enriched themselves with +the wrecks of estates that formerly belonged to their kinsmen or +friends. Joel Strides was of too low a class to get his name enrolled +very high on the list of heroes, nor was he at all ambitious of any +such distinction; but he was not so low that he could not and did not +aspire to become the owner of the property of the Hutted Knoll. In an +ordinary state of society, so high a flight would seem irrational in so +low an aspirant; but Joel came of a people who seldom measure their +pretensions by their merits, and who imagine that to boldly aspire, +more especially in the way of money, is the first great step to +success. The much talked of and little understood doctrine of political +equality has this error to answer for, in thousands of cases; for +nothing can be more hopeless, in the nature of things, than to convince +a man of the necessity of possessing qualities of whose existence he +has not even a faint perception, ere he may justly pretend to be put on +a level with the high-minded, the just, the educated, and the good. +Joel, therefore, saw no other reason than the law, against his becoming +the great landlord, as well as captain Willoughby; and could the law be +so moulded as to answer his purposes, he had discreetly resolved to +care for no other considerations. The thought of the consequences to +Mrs. Willoughby and her daughters gave him no concern whatever; they +had already possessed the advantages of their situation so long, as to +give Phoebe and the miller's wife a sort of moral claim to succeed +them. In a word, Joel, in his yearnings after wealth, had only faintly +shadowed forth the modern favourite doctrine of "rotation in office." + +The appearance of a stranger in company with captain Willoughby could +not fail, therefore, to give rise to many conjectures in the mind of a +man whose daily and hourly thoughts were running on these important +changes. "Who _can_ it be," thought Joel, as he crawled along the +lane, bearing the milk, and lifting one leg after the other, as if lead +were fastened to his feet. "Dan'el it is not--nor is it any one that I +can consait on, about the Hut. The captain is mightily strengthened by +this marriage of his da'ter with colonel Beekman, that's sartain. The +colonel stands wonderful well with our folks, and he 'll not let all +this first-rate land, with such capital betterments, go out of the +family without an iffort, I conclude--but then I calcilate on _his_ +being killed--there must be a disperate lot on 'em shot, afore +the war's over, and _he_ is as likely to be among 'em as another. +Dan'el thinks the colonel has the look of a short-lived man. Waal; to- +morrow will bring about a knowledge of the name of the captain's +companion, and then a body may calcilate with greater sartainty!" + +This is but an outline of what passed through Joel's mind as he moved +onward. It will serve, however, to let the reader into the secret of +his thoughts, as well as into their ordinary train, and is essentially +connected with some of the succeeding events of our legend. As the +overseer approached the stockade, his ideas were so abstracted that he +forgot the risk he ran; but walking carelessly towards the palisades, +the dogs barked, and then he was saluted by a shot. This effectually +aroused Joel, who called out in his natural voice, and probably saved +his life by so doing. The report of the rifle, however, produced an +alarm, and by the time the astounded overseer had staggered up to the +gate, the men were pouring out from the court, armed, and expecting an +assault. In the midst of this scene of confusion, the chaplain admitted +Joel, as much astonished as the man himself, at the whole of the +unexpected occurrence. + +It is unnecessary to say that many questions were asked. Joel got rid +of them, by simply stating that he had gone out to milk a cow, by the +captain's private orders, and that he had forgotten to arrange any +signal, by which his return might be known. He ventured to name his +employer, because he knew he was not there to contradict him; and Mr. +Woods, being anxious to ascertain if his two friends had been seen, +sent the men back to their lairs, without delay, detaining the overseer +at the gate for a minute's private discourse. As the miller obeyed, +with the rest, he asked for the pail with an eye to his own children's +comfort; but, on receiving it, he found it empty! The bullet had passed +through it, and the contents had escaped. + +"Did you see any _thing, or person_, Strides?" demanded the +chaplain, as soon as the two were alone. + +"Lord, Mr. Woods, I met the captain!--The sight on him came over me +a'most as cruelly as the shot from the rifle; for I no more expected it +than I do to see you rise up to heaven, in your clothes, like Elijah of +old. Sure enough, _there_ was the captain, himself, and--and--" + +Here Joel sneezed, repeating the word "and" several times, in hopes the +chaplain would supply the name he so much wished to hear. + +"But you saw no savages?--I know the captain is out, and you will be +careful not to mention it, lest it get to Mrs. Willoughby's ears, and +make her uneasy. You saw nothing of the savages?" + +"Not a bit--the critturs lie cluss enough, if they haven't actually +tramped. _Who_ did you say was with the captain, Mr. Woods?" + +"I said nothing about it--I merely asked after the Indians, who, as you +say, do keep themselves very close. Well, Joel, go to your wife, who +must be getting anxious about you, and be prudent." + +Thus dismissed, the overseer did not dare to hesitate; but he entered +the court, still pondering on the late meeting. + +As for the two adventurers, they pursued their march in silence. As a +matter of course, they heard the report of the rifle, and caught some +faint sounds from the alarm that succeeded; but, readily comprehending +the cause, they produced no uneasiness; the stillness which succeeded +soon satisfying them that all was right. By this time they were within +a hundred yards of the flickering fires. The major had kept a strict +watch on the shanties at the report of the rifle; but not a living +thing was seen moving in their vicinity. This induced him to think the +place deserted, and he whispered as much to his father. + +"With any other enemy than an Indian", answered the latter, "you might +be right enough, Bob; but with these rascals one is never certain. We +must advance with a good deal of their own caution." + +This was done, and the gentlemen approached the fires in the most +guarded manner, keeping the shantees between them and the light. By +this time, however, the flames were nearly out, and there was no great +difficulty in looking into the nearest shantee, without much exposure. +It was deserted, as proved to be the case with all the others, on +further examination. Major Willoughby now moved about on the rock with +greater confidence; for, naturally brave, and accustomed to use his +faculties with self-command in moments of trial, he drew the just +distinctions between real danger and unnecessary alarm; the truest of +all tests of courage. + +The captain, feeling a husband's and a father's responsibility, was a +little more guarded; but success soon gave him more confidence, and the +spot was thoroughly explored. The two then descended to the mills, +which, together with the adjacent cabins, they entered also, and found +uninjured and empty. After this, several other suspected points were +looked at, until the captain came to the conclusion that the party had +retired, for the night at least, if not entirely. Making a circuit, +however, he and his son visited the chapel, and one or two dwellings on +that side of the valley, when they bent their steps towards the Knoll. + +As the gentlemen approached the stockade, the captain gave a loud hem, +and clapped his hands. At the signal the gate flew open, and they found +themselves in company with their friend the chaplain once more. A few +words of explanation told all they had to say, and then the three +passed into the court, and separated; each taking the direction towards +his own room. The major, fatigued with the toils of a long march, was +soon in a soldier's sleep; but it was hours before his more thoughtful, +and still uneasy father, could obtain the rest which nature so much +requires. + + + + + +Chapter XV. + + ----"I could teach you, + How to choose right, but then I am forsworn; + So will I never be; so may you miss me; + But if you do, you'll make me wish a sin + That I had been forsworn."---- + + _Portia_. + +Captain Willoughby knew that the hour which preceded the return of +light, was that in which the soldier had the most to apprehend, when in +the field. This is the moment when it is usual to attempt surprises; +and it was, in particular, the Indian's hour of blood. Orders had been +left, accordingly, to call him at four o'clock, and to see that all the +men of the Hut were afoot, and armed also. Notwithstanding the deserted +appearance of the valley, this experienced frontier warrior distrusted +the signs of the times; and he looked forward to the probability of an +assault, a little before the return of day, with a degree of concern he +would have been sorry to communicate to his wife and daughters. + +Every emergency had been foreseen, and such a disposition made of the +forces, as enabled the major to be useful, in the event of an attack, +without exposing himself unnecessarily to the danger of being +discovered. He was to have charge of the defence of the rear of the +Hut, or that part of the buildings where the windows opened outwards; +and Michael and the two Plinys were assigned him as assistants. Nor was +the ward altogether a useless one. Though the cliff afforded a material +safeguard to this portion of the defences, it might be scaled; and, it +will be remembered, there was no stockade at all, on this, the northern +end of the house. + +When the men assembled in the court, therefore, about an hour before +the dawn, Robert Willoughby collected his small force in the dining- +room, the outer apartment of the _suite_, where he examined their +arms by lamp-light, inspected their accoutrements, and directed them to +remain until he issued fresh orders. His father, aided by serjeant +Joyce, did the same in the court; issuing out, through the gate of the +buildings, with his whole force, as soon as this duty was performed. +The call being general, the women and children were all up also; many +of the former repairing to the loops, while the least resolute, or the +less experienced of their number, administered to the wants of the +young, or busied themselves with the concerns of the household. In a +word, the Hut, at that early hour, resembled a hive in activity, though +the different pursuits had not much affinity to the collection of +honey. + +It is not to be supposed that Mrs. Willoughby and her daughters still +courted their pillows on an occasion like this. They rose with the +others, the grandmother and Beulah bestowing their first care on the +little Evert, as if _his_ life and safety were the considerations +uppermost in their thoughts. This seemed so natural, that Maud wondered +she too could not feel all this absorbing interest in the child, a +being so totally dependent on the affection of its friends and +relatives to provide for its wants and hazards, in an emergency like +the present. + +"_We_ will see to the child, Maud," observed her mother, ten or +fifteen minutes after all were up and dressed. "Do you go to your +brother, who will be solitary, alone in his citadel. He may wish, too, +to send some message to his father. Go, then, dear girl, and help to +keep up poor Bob's spirits." + +What a service for Maud! Still, she went, without hesitation or delay; +for the habits of her whole infancy were not to be totally overcome by +the natural and more engrossing sentiments of her later years. She +could not feel precisely the reserve and self-distrust with one she had +so long regarded as a brother, as might have been the case with a +stranger youth in whom she had begun to feel the interest she +entertained for Robert Willoughby. But, Maud did not hesitate about +complying. An order from her mother to her was law; and she had no +shame, no reserves on the subject of contributing to Bob's comfort or +happiness. + +Her presence was a great relief to the young man himself, whom she +found in the library. His assistants were posted without, as sentinels +to keep off intruders, a disposition that left him quite alone, anxious +and uneasy. The only intercourse he could have with his father was by +means of messages; and the part of the building he occupied was +absolutely without any communication with the court, except by a single +door near the offices, at which he had stationed O'Hearn. + +"This is kind, and like yourself, dearest Maud," exclaimed the young +man, taking the hand of his visiter, and pressing it in both his own, +though he strangely neglected to kiss her cheek, as he certainly would +have done had it been Beulah--"This is kind and like yourself; now I +shall learn something of the state of the family. How is my mother?" + +It might have been native coyness, or even coquetry, that unconsciously +to herself influenced Maud's answer. She knew not why--and yet she felt +prompted to let it be understood she had not come of her own impulses. + +"Mother is well, and not at all alarmed," she said. "She and Beulah are +busy with little Evert, who crows and kicks his heels about as if +_he_ despised danger as becomes a soldier's son, and has much amused +even _me_; though I am accused of insensibility to his perfections. +Believing you might be solitary, or might wish to communicate with +some of us, my mother desired me to come and inquire into your wants." + +"Was such a bidding required, Maud! How long has an order been +necessary to bring _you_ to console _me_?" + +"That is a calculation I have never entered into, Bob," answered Maud, +slightly blushing, and openly smiling, and that in a way, too, to take +all the sting out of her words--"as young ladies can have more suitable +occupations, one might think. You will admit I guided you faithfully +and skilfully into the Hut last evening, and such a service should +suffice for the present. But, my mother tells me we have proper causes +of complaint against you, for having so thoughtlessly left the place of +safety into which you were brought, and for going strolling about the +valley, after we had retired, in a very heedless and boyish manner!" + +"I went with my father; surely I could not have been in better +company." + +"At his suggestion, or at your own, Bob?" asked Maud, shaking her head. + +"To own the truth, it was, in some degree, at my own. It seemed so very +unmilitary for two old soldiers to allow themselves to be shut up in +ignorance of what their enemies were at, that I could not resist the +desire to make a little _sortie_. You must feel, dear Maud, that +our motive was _your_ safety--the safety, I mean, of my mother, +and Beulah, and nil of you together--and you ought to be the last to +blame us." + +The tint on Maud's cheek deepened as Robert Willoughby laid so heavy an +emphasis on "_your_ safety;" but she could not smile on an act +that risked so much more than was prudent. + +"This is well enough as to motive," she said, after a pause; "but +frightfully ill-judged, I should think, as to the risks. You do not +remember the importance our dear father is to us all--to my mother--to +Beulah--even to me, Bob." + +"Even to _you_, Maud!--And why not as much to _you_ as to any +of us?" + +Maud could speak to Beulah of her want of natural affinity to the +family; but, it far exceeded her self-command to make a direct allusion +to it to Robert Willoughby. Still, it was now rarely absent from her +mind; the love she bore the captain and his wife, and Beulah, and +little Evert, coming to her heart through a more insidious and possibly +tenderer tie, than that of purely filial or sisterly affection. It was, +indeed, this every-day regard, strangely deepened and enlivened by that +collateral feeling we so freely bestow on them who are bound by natural +ties to those who have the strongest holds on our hearts, and which +causes us to see with their eyes, and to feel with their affections. +Accordingly, no reply was made to the question; or, rather, it was +answered by putting another. + +"Did you see anything, after all, to compensate for so much risk?" +asked Maud, but not until a pause had betrayed her embarrassment. + +"We ascertained that the savages had deserted their fires, and had not +entered any of the cabins. Whether this were done to mislead us, or to +make a retreat as sudden and unexpected as their inroad, we are +altogether in the dark. My father apprehends treachery, however; while, +I confess, to me it seems probable that the arrival and the departure +may be altogether matters of accident. The Indians are in motion +certainly, for it is known that our agents are busy among them; but, it +is by no means so clear that _our_ Indians would molest captain +Willoughby--Sir Hugh Willoughby, as my father is altogether called, at +head-quarters." + +"Have not the Americans savages on their side, to do us this ill +office?" + +"I think not. It is the interest of the rebels to keep the savages out +of the struggle; they have so much at risk, that this species of +warfare can scarcely be to _their_ liking." + +"And ought it to be to the liking of the king's generals, or ministers +either, Bob!" + +"Perhaps not, Maud. I do not defend it; but I have seen enough of +politics and war, to know that results are looked to, far more than +principles. Honour, and chivalry, and humanity, and virtue, and right, +are freely used in terms; but seldom do they produce much influence on +facts. Victory is the end aimed at, and the means are made to vary with +the object." + +"And where is all we have read together?--Yes, _together_, Bob? +for I owe you a great deal for having directed my studies--where is all +we have read about the glory and truth of the English name and cause?" + +"Very much, I fear, Maud, where the glory and truth of the American +name and cause will be, as soon as this new nation shall fairly burst +the shell, and hatch its public morality. There are men among us who +believe in this public honesty, but I do not." + +"You are then engaged in a bad cause, major Willoughby, and the sooner +you abandon it, the better." + +"I would in a minute, if I knew where to find a better. Rely on it, +dearest Maud, all causes are alike, in this particular; though one side +may employ instruments, as in the case of the savages, that the other +side finds it its interest to decry. Men, as individuals, _may_ +be, and sometimes _are_, reasonably upright--but, _bodies_ of +men, I much fear, never. The latter escape responsibility by dividing +it." + +"Still, a good cause may elevate even bodies of men," said Maud, +thoughtfully. + +"For a time, perhaps; but not in emergencies. You and I think it a good +cause, my good and frowning Maud, to defend the rights of our sovereign +lord the king. Beulah I have given up to the enemy; but on you I have +implicitly replied." + +"Beulah follows her heart, perhaps, as they say it is natural to women +to do. As for myself, I am left free to follow my own opinion of my +duties." + +"And they lead you to espouse the cause of the king, Maud!" + +"They will be very apt to be influenced by the notions of a certain +captain Willoughby, and Wilhelmina, his wife, who have guided me aright +on so many occasions, that I shall not easily distrust their opinions +on this." + +The major disliked this answer; and yet, when he came to reflect on it, +as reflect he did a good deal in the course of the day, he was +dissatisfied with himself at being so unreasonable as to expect a girl +of twenty-one not to think with her parents, real or presumed, in most +matters. At the moment, however, he did not wish further to press the +point. + +"I am glad to learn, Bob," resumed Maud, looking more cheerful and +smiling, "that you met with no one in your rash sortie--for rash I +shall call it, even though sanctioned by my father." + +"I am wrong in saying that. We did meet with one man, and that was no +less a person than your bug-bear, Joel Strides--as innocent, though as +meddling an overseer as one could wish to employ." + +"Robert Willoughby, what mean you! Does this man know of your presence +at the Knoll?" + +"I should hope not--_think_ not." Here the major explained all +that is known to the reader on this head, when he continued--"The +fellow's curiosity brought his face within a few inches of mine; yet I +do not believe he recognised me. This disguise is pretty thorough; and +what between his ignorance, the darkness and the dress, I must believe +he was foiled." + +"Heaven be praised!" exclaimed Maud, breathing more freely. "I have +long distrusted that man, though he seems to possess the confidence of +every one else. Neither my father nor my mother will see him, as I see +him; yet to me his design to injure you is _so_ clear--_so_ +obvious!--I wonder, often wonder, that others cannot view it as I do. +Even Beulah is blind!" + +"And what do you see so clearly, Maud? I have consented to keep myself +incog. in submission to your earnest request; and yet, to own the +truth, I can discover no particular reason why Strides is to be +distrusted more than any one else in the valley--than Mike, for +instance." + +"Mike! I would answer for _his_ truth with my life. _He_ will +never betray you, Bob." + +"But why is Joel so much the object of your distrust?--and why am _I_ +the particular subject of your apprehensions?" + +Maud felt the tell-tale blood flowing again to her cheeks; since, to +give a simple and clear reason for her distrust, exceeded her power. It +was nothing but the keen interest which she took in Robert Willoughby's +safety that had betrayed to her the truth; and, as usually happens, +when anxiety leads the way in discoveries of this sort, logical and +plausible inferences are not always at command. Still, Maud not only +thought herself right, but, in the main, she _was_ right; and this +she felt so strongly as to be enabled to induce others to act on her +impressions. + +"_Why_ I believe in Strides' sinister views is more than I may be +able to explain to you, in words, Bob," she replied, after a moment's +thought; "still, I _do_ believe in them as firmly as I believe in +my existence. His looks, his questions, his journeys, and an occasional +remark, have all aided in influencing the belief; nevertheless, no one +proof may be perfectly clear and satisfactory. Why _you_ should be +the subject of his plans, however, is simple enough, since you are the +only one among us he can seriously injure. By betraying you, he might +gain some great advantage to himself." + +"To whom can he betray me, dear? My father is the only person here, in +any authority, and of him I have no cause to be afraid." + +"Yet, you were so far alarmed when last here, as to change your route +back to Boston. If there were cause for apprehension then, the same +reason may now exist." + +"That was when many strangers were in the valley, and we knew not +exactly where we stood. I have submitted to your wishes, however, Maud, +and shall lie _perdu_, until there is a serious alarm; then it is +understood I am to be permitted to show myself. In a moment of +emergency my unexpected appearance among the men might have a dramatic +effect, and, of itself, give us a victory. But tell me of my +prospects--am I likely to succeed with my father? Will he be brought +over to the royal cause?" + +"I think not. All common inducements are lost on him. His baronetcy, +for instance, he will never assume; _that_, therefore, cannot +entice him. Then his feelings are with his adopted country, which he +thinks right, and which he is much disposed to maintain; more +particularly since Beulah's marriage, and our late intercourse with all +that set. My mother's family, too, has much influence with him. They, +you know, are all whigs." + +"Don't prostitute the name, Maud. Whig does not mean rebel; these +misguided men are neither more nor less than rebels. I had thought this +declaration of independence would have brought my father at once to our +side." + +"I can see it has disturbed him, as did the Battle of Bunker's Hill. +But he will reflect a few days, and decide now, as he did then, in +favour of the Americans. He has English partialities, Bob, as is +natural to one born in that country; but, on this point, his mind is +very strongly American." + +"The accursed Knoll has done this! Had he lived in society, as he ought +to have done, among his equals and the educated, we should now see him +at the head--Maud, I know I can confide in _you_." + +Maud was pleased at this expression of confidence, and she looked up in +the major's face, her full blue eyes expressing no small portion of the +heartfelt satisfaction she experienced. Still, she said nothing. + +"You may well imagine," the major continued, "that I have not made this +journey entirely without an object--I mean some object more important, +even, than to see you all. The commander-in-chief is empowered to raise +several regiments in this country, and it is thought useful to put men +of influence in the colonies at their head. Old Noll de Lancey, for +instance, so well known to us all, is to have a brigade; and I have a +letter in my pocket offering to Sir Hugh Willoughby one of his +regiments. One of the Allens of Pennsylvania, who was actually serving +against us, has thrown up his commission from congress, since this +wicked declaration, and has consented to take a battalion from the +king. What think you of all this? Will it not have weight with my +father?" + +"It may cause him to reflect, Bob; but it will not induce him to change +his mind. It may suit Mr. Oliver de Lancey to be a general, for he has +been a soldier his whole life; but my father has retired, and given up +all thoughts of service. He tells us he never liked it, and has been +happier here at the Knoll, than when he got his first commission. Mr. +Allen's change of opinion may be well enough, he will say, but I have +no need of change; I am here, with my wife and daughters, and have them +to care for, in these troubled times. What think you he said, Bob, in +one of his conversations with us, on this very subject?" + +"I am sure I cannot imagine--though I rather fear it was some wretched +political stuff of the day." + +"So far from this, it was good natural feeling that belongs, or ought +to belong to all days, and all ages," answered Maud, her voice +trembling a little as she proceeded. "'There is my son,' he said; 'one +soldier is enough in a family like this. _He_ keeps all our hearts +anxious, and may cause them all to mourn.'" + +Major Willoughby was mute for quite a minute, looking rebuked and +thoughtful. + +"I fear I do cause my parents concern," he at length answered; "and why +should I endeavour to increase that of my excellent mother, by +persuading her husband to return to the profession? If this were +ordinary service, I could not think of it. I do not know that I ought +to think of it, as it is!" + +"Do not, dear Robert. We are all--that is, mother is often miserable on +your account; and why would you increase her sorrows? Remember that to +tremble for one life is sufficient for a woman." + +"My mother is miserable on _my_ account!" answered the young man, +who was thinking of anything but his father, at that instant. "Does +Beulah never express concern for me? or have her new ties completely +driven her brother from her recollection? I know she can scarce wish me +success; but she might still feel some uneasiness for an only brother. +We are but two--" + +Maud started, as if some frightful object glared before her eyes; then +she sat in breathless silence, resolute to hear what would come next. +But Robert Willoughby meant to pursue that idea no farther. He had so +accustomed himself--had endeavoured even so to accustom himself to +think of Beulah as his only sister, that the words escaped him +unconsciously. They were no sooner uttered, however, than the +recollection of their possible effect on Maud crossed his mind. +Profoundly ignorant of the true nature of her feelings towards himself, +he had ever shrunk from a direct avowal of his own sentiments, lest he +might shock her; as a sister's ear would naturally be wounded by a +declaration of attachment from a brother; and there were bitter moments +when he fancied delicacy and honour would oblige him to carry his +secret with him to the grave. Two minutes of frank communication might +have dissipated all these scruples for ever; but, how to obtain those +minutes, or how to enter on the subject at all, were obstacles that +often appeared insurmountable to the young man. As for Maud, she but +imperfectly understood her own heart--true, she had conscious glimpses +of its real state; but, it was through those sudden and ungovernable +impulses that were so strangely mingled with her affections. It was +years, indeed, since she had ceased to think of Robert Willoughby as a +brother, and had begun to view him with different eyes; still, she +struggled with her feelings, as against a weakness. The captain and his +wife were her parents; Beulah her dearly, dearly beloved sister; little +Evert her nephew; and even the collaterals, in and about Albany, came +in for a due share of her regard; while Bob, though called Bob as +before; though treated with a large portion of the confidence that was +natural to the intimacy of her childhood; though loved with a +tenderness he would have given even his high-prized commission to know, +was no longer thought of as a brother. Often did Maud find herself +thinking, if never saying, "Beulah may do that, for Beulah is his +sister; but it would be wrong in me. I may write to him, talk freely +and even confidentially with him, and be affectionate to him; all this +is right, and I should be the most ungrateful creature on earth to act +differently; but I cannot sit on his knee as Beulah sometimes does; I +cannot throw my arms around his neck when I kiss him, as Beulah does; I +cannot pat his cheek, as Beulah does, when he says anything to laugh +at; nor can I pry into his secrets, as Beulah does, or affects to do, +to tease him. I should be more reserved with one who has not a drop of +my blood in his veins--no, not a single drop." In this way, indeed, +Maud was rather fond of disclaiming any consanguinity with the family +of Willoughby, even while she honoured and loved its two heads, as +parents. The long pause that succeeded the major's broken sentence was +only interrupted by himself. + +"It is vexatious to be shut up here, in the dark, Maud," he said, "when +every minute _may_ bring an attack. This side of the house might +be defended by you and Beulah, aided and enlightened by the arm and +counsels of that young 'son of liberty,' little Evert; whereas the +stockade in front may really need the presence of men who have some +knowledge of the noble art. I wish there were a look-out to the front, +that one might at least see the danger as it approached." + +"If your presence is not indispensable here, I can lead you to my +painting-room, where there is a loop directly opposite to the gate. +That half of the garrets has no one in it." + +The major accepted the proposal with joy, and forthwith he proceeded to +issue a few necessary orders to his subordinates, before he followed +Maud. When all was ready, the latter led the way, carrying a small +silver lamp that she had brought with her on entering the library. The +reader already understands that the Hut was built around a court, the +portion of the building in the rear, or on the cliff, alone having +windows that opened outward. This was as true of the roofs as of the +perpendicular parts of the structure, the only exceptions being in the +loops that had been cut in the half-story, beneath the eaves. Of +course, the garrets were very extensive. They were occupied in part, +however, by small rooms, with dormer-windows, the latter of which +opened on the court, with the exception of those above the cliff. It +was on the roofs of these windows that captain Willoughby had laid his +platform, or walk, with a view to extinguish fires, or to defend the +place. There were many rooms also that were lighted only by the loops, +and which, of course, were on the outer side of the buildings. In +addition to these arrangements, the garret portions of the Hut were +divided into two great parts, like the lower floor, without any doors +of communication. Thus, below, the apartments commenced at the gateway, +and extended along one-half the front; the whole of the east wing, and +the whole of the rear, occupying five-eighths of the entire structure. +This part contained all the rooms occupied by the family and the +offices. The corresponding three-eighths, or the remaining half of the +front, and the whole of the west wing, were given to visiters, and were +now in possession of the people of the valley; as were all the rooms +and garrets above them. On the other hand, captain Willoughby, with a +view to keep his family to itself, had excluded every one, but the +usual inmates, from his own portion of the house, garret-rooms +included. + +Some of the garret-rooms, particularly those over the library, drawing- +room, and parlour, were convenient and well-furnished little +apartments, enjoying dormer-windows that opened on the meadows and +forest, and possessing a very tolerable elevation, for rooms of that +particular construction. Here Mr. Woods lodged and had his study. The +access was by a convenient flight of steps, placed in the vestibule +that communicated with the court. A private and narrower flight also +ascended from the offices. + +Maud now led the way up the principal stairs, Mike being on post at the +outer door to keep off impertinent eyes, followed by Robert Willoughby. +Unlike most American houses, the Hut had few passages on its principal +floor; the rooms communicating _en suite_, as a better arrangement +where the buildings were so long, and yet so narrow. Above, however, +one side was left in open garret; sometimes in front and sometimes in +the rear, as the light came from the court, or from without. Into this +garret, then, Maud conducted the major, passing a line of humble rooms +on her right, which belonged to the families of the Plinys and the +Smashes, with their connections, until she reached the front range of +the buildings. Here the order was changed along the half of the +structure reserved to the use of the family; the rooms being on the +outer side lighted merely by the loops, while opposite to them was an +open garret with windows that overlooked the court. + +Passing into the garret just mentioned, Maud soon reached the door of +the little room she sought. It was an apartment she had selected for +painting, on account of the light from the loop, which in the morning +was particularly favourable, though somewhat low. As she usually sat on +a little stool, however, this difficulty was in some measure obviated; +and, at all events, the place was made to answer her purposes. She kept +the key herself, and the room, since Beulah's marriage in particular, +was her sanctum; no one entering it unless conducted by its mistress. +Occasionally, Little Smash was admitted with a broom; though Maud, for +reasons known to herself, often preferred sweeping the small carpet +that covered the centre of the floor, with her own fair hands, in +preference to suffering another to intrude. + +The major was aware that Maud had used this room for the last seven +years. It was here he had seen her handkerchief waving at the loop, +when he last departed; and hundreds of times since had he thought of +this act of watchful affection, with doubts that led equally to pain or +pleasure, as images of merely sisterly care, or of a tenderer feeling, +obtruded themselves. These loops were four feet long, cut in the usual +bevelling manner, through the massive timbers; were glazed, and had +thick, bullet-proof, inside shutters, that in this room were divided +in equal parts, in order to give Maud the proper use of the light she +wanted. All these shutters were now closed by command of the captain, +in order to conceal the lights that would be flickering through the +different garrets; and so far had caution become a habit, that Maud +seldom exposed her person at night, near the loop, with the shutter +open. + +On the present occasion, she left the light without, and threw open the +upper-half of her heavy shutter, remarking as she did so, that the day +was just beginning to dawn. + +"In a few minutes it will be light," she added; "then we shall be able +to see who is and who is not in the valley. Look--you can perceive my +father near the gate, at this moment." + +"I do, to my shame, Maud. He should not be there, I am cooped up here, +behind timbers that are almost shot-proof." + +"It will be time for you to go to the front, as you soldiers call it, +when there is an enemy to face. You cannot think there is any danger of +an attack upon the Hut this morning." + +"Certainty not. It is now too late. If intended at all, it would have +been made before that streak of light appeared in the east." + +"Then close the shutter, and I will bring in the lamp, and show you +some of my sketches. We artists are thirsting always for praise; and I +know you have a taste, Bob, that one might dread." + +"This is kind of you, dear Maud," answered the major, closing the +shutter; "for they tell me you are niggardly of bestowing such favours. +I hear you have got to likenesses--little Evert's, in particular." + + + + + +Chapter XVI. + + Anxious, she hovers o'er the web the while, + Reads, as it grows, thy figured story there; + Now she explains the texture with a smile, + And now the woof interprets with a tear. + + Fawcett. + +All Maud's feelings were healthful and natural. She had no exaggerated +sentiments, and scarcely art enough to control or to conceal any of the +ordinary impulses of her heart. We are not about to relate a scene, +therefore, in which a long-cherished but hidden miniature of the young +man is to play a conspicuous part, and to be the means of revealing to +two lovers the state of their respective hearts; but one of a very +different character. It is true, Maud had endeavoured to make, from +memory, one or two sketches of "Bob's" face; but she had done it +openly, and under the cognizance of the whole family. This she might +very well do, indeed, in her usual character of a sister, and excite no +comments. In these efforts, her father and mother, and Beulah, had +uniformly pronounced her success to be far beyond their hopes; but +Maud, herself, had thrown them all aside, half-finished, dissatisfied +with her own labours. Like the author, whose fertile imagination +fancies pictures that defy his powers of description, her pencil ever +fell far short of the face that her memory kept so constantly in view. +This sketch wanted animation, that gentleness, another fire, and a +fourth candour; in short, had Maud begun a thousand all would have been +deficient, in her eyes, in some great essential of perfection. Still, +she had no secret about her efforts, and half-a-dozen of these very +sketches lay uppermost in her portfolio, when she spread it, and its +contents, before the eyes of the original. + +Major Willoughby thought Maud had never appeared more beautiful than as +she moved about making her little preparations for the exhibition. +Pleasure heightened her colour; and there was such a mixture of frank, +sisterly regard, in every glance of her eye, blended, however, with +sensitive feeling, and conscious womanly reserve, as made her a +thousand times--measuring amounts by the young man's sensations--more +interesting than he had ever seen her. The lamp gave but an indifferent +light for a gallery, but it was sufficient to betray Maud's smiles, and +blushes, and each varying emotion of her charming countenance. + +"Now, Bob," she said, opening her portfolio, with all her youthful +frankness and confidence, "you know well enough I am not one of those +old masters of whom you used to talk so much, but your own pupil--the +work of your own hands; and if you find more faults than you have +expected, you will have the goodness to remember that the master has +deserted his peaceful pursuits to go a campaigning--there--that is a +caricature of your own countenance, staring you in the face, as a +preface!" + +"This is like, I should think--was it done from memory, dear Maud?" + +"How else should it be done? All our entreaties have never been able to +persuade you to send us even a miniature. You are wrong in this, Bob"-- +by no accident did Maud now ever call the major, Robert, though Beulah +often did. There was a desperate sort of familiarity in the _Bob_, +that she could easily adopt; but the 'Robert' had a family sound that +she disliked; and yet a more truly feminine creature than Maud Meredith +did not exist--"You are wrong, Bob; for mother actually pines to +possess your picture, in some shape or other. It was this wish that +induced me to attempt these things." + +"And why has no one of them ever been finished?--Here are six or eight +beginnings, and all, more or less, like, I should think, and not one of +them more than half done. Why have I been treated so cavalierly, Miss +Maud?" + +The fair artist's colour deepened a little; but her smile was quite as +sweet as it was saucy, as she replied-- + +"Girlish caprice, I suppose. I like neither of them; and of that which +a woman dislikes, she will have none. To be candid, however, I hardly +think there is one of them all that does you justice." + +"No?--what fault have you to find with this? This might be worked up to +something very natural." + +"It would be _a_ natural, then--it wants expression, fearfully." + +"And this, which is still better. That might be finished while I am +here, and I will give you some sittings." + +"Even mother dislikes _that_--there is too much of the Major of +Foot in it. Mr. Woods says it is a martial picture." + +"And ought not a soldier to look like a soldier? To me, now, that seems +a capital beginning." + +"It is not what mother, or Beulah--or father--or even any of us wants. +It is too full of Bunker's Hill. Your friends desire to see you as you +appear to _them_; not as you appear to your enemies." + +"Upon my word, Maud, you have made great advances in the art! This is a +view of the Knoll, and the dam--and here is another of the mill, and +the water-fall--all beautifully done, and in water-colours, too. What +is this?--Have you been attempting a sketch of yourself!--The glass +must have been closely consulted, my fair coquette, to enable you to do +this!" + +The blood had rushed into Maud's face, covering it with a rich tell- +tale mantle, when her companion first alluded to the half-finished +miniature he held in his hand; then her features resembled ivory, as +the revulsion of feeling, that overcame her confusion, followed. For +some little time she sate, in breathless stillness, with her looks cast +upon the floor, conscious that Robert Willoughby was glancing from her +own face to the miniature, and from the miniature to her face again, +making his observations and comparisons. Then she ventured to raise her +eyes timidly towards his, half-imploringly, as if to beseech him to +proceed to something else. But the young man was too much engrossed +with the exceedingly pretty sketch he held in his hand, to understand +her meaning, or to comply with her wishes. + +"This is yourself, Maud!" he cried--"though in a strange sort of +dress--why have you spoilt so beautiful a thing, by putting it in this +masquerade?" + +"It is not myself--it is a copy of--a miniature I possess." + +"A miniature you possess!--Of whom can you possess so lovely a +miniature, and I never see it?" + +A faint smile illumined the countenance of Maud, and the blood began to +return to her cheeks. She stretched her hand over to the sketch, and +gazed on it, with intense feeling, until the tears began to stream from +her eyes. + +"Maud--dear, _dearest_ Maud--have I said that which pains you?--I +do not understand all this, but I confess there are secrets to which I +can have no claim to be admitted--" + +"Nay, Bob, this is making too much of what, after all, must sooner or +later be spoken of openly among us. I believe that to be a copy of a +miniature of my mother." + +"Of mother, Maud--you are beside yourself--it has neither her features, +expression, nor the colour of her eyes. It is the picture of a far +handsomer woman, though mother is still pretty; and it is perfection!" + +"I mean of _my_ mother--of Maud Yeardley; the wife of my father, +Major Meredith." + +This was said with a steadiness that surprised our heroine herself, +when she came to think over all that had passed, and it brought the +blood to her companion's heart, in a torrent. + +"This is strange!" exclaimed Willoughby, after a short pause. "And +_my_ mother--_our_ mother has given you the original, and told +you this? I did not believe she could muster the resolution necessary +to such an act." + +"She has not. You know, Bob, I am now of age; and my father, a month +since, put some papers in my hand, with a request that I would read +them. They contain a marriage settlement and other things of that sort, +which show I am mistress of more money than I should know what to do +with, if it were not for dear little Evert--but, with such a precious +being to love, one never can have too much of anything. With the papers +were many trinkets, which I suppose father never looked at. This +beautiful miniature was among the last; and I feel certain, from some +remarks I ventured to make, mother does not know of its existence." + +As Maud spoke, she drew the original from her bosom, and placed it in +Robert Willoughby's hands. When this simple act was performed, her mind +seemed relieved; and she waited, with strong natural interest, to hear +Robert Willoughby's comments. + +"This, then, Maud, was your _own_--your _real_ mother!" the +young man said, after studying the miniature, with a thoughtful +countenance, for near a minute. "It is _like_ her--like you." + +"Like _her_, Bob?--How can you know anything or that?--I suppose +it to be my mother, because I think it like myself, and because it is +not easy to say who else it can be. But you cannot know anything of +this?" + +"You are mistaken, Maud--I remember both your parents well--it could +not be otherwise, as they were the bosom friends of my own. You will +remember that I am now eight-and-twenty, and that I had seen seven of +these years when you were born. Was my first effort in arms never +spoken of in your presence?" + +"Never--perhaps it was not a subject for me to hear, if it were in any +manner connected with my parents." + +"You are right--that must be the reason it has been kept from your +ears." + +"Surely, surely, I am old enough to hear it _now_--_you_ will +conceal nothing from me, Bob?" + +"If I would, I could not, now. It is too late, Maud. You know the +manner in which Major Meredith died?--" + +"He fell in battle, I have suspected," answered the daughter, in a +suppressed, doubtful tone--"for no one has ever directly told me even +that." + +"He did, and I was at his side. The French and savages made an assault +on us, about an hour earlier than this, and our two fathers rushed to +the pickets to repel it--I was a reckless boy, anxious even at that +tender age to see a fray, and was at their side. Your father was one of +the first that fell; but Joyce and _our_ father beat the Indians +back from his body, and saved it from mutilation. Your mother was +buried in the same grave, and then you came to us, where our have been +ever since." + +Maud's tears flowed fast, and yet it was not so much in grief as in a +gush of tenderness she could hardly explain to herself. Robert +Willoughby understood her emotions, and perceived that he might +proceed. + +"I was old enough to remember both your parents well--I was a +favourite, I believe, with, certainly was much petted by, both--I +remember your birth, Maud, and was suffered to carry you in my arms, +ere you were a week old." + +"Then you have known me for an impostor from the beginning, Bob--must +have often thought of me as such!" + +"I have known you for the daughter of Lewellen Meredith, certainly; and +not for a world would I have you the real child of Hugh Willoughby--" + +"Bob!" exclaimed Maud, her heart beating violently, a rush of feeling +nearly overcoming her, in which alarm, consciousness, her own secret, +dread of something wrong, and a confused glimpse of the truth, were all +so blended, as nearly to deprive her, for the moment, of the use of her +senses. + +It is not easy to say precisely what would have followed this tolerably +explicit insight into the state of the young man's feelings, had not an +outcry on the lawn given the major notice that his presence was needed +below. With a few words of encouragement to Maud, first taking the +precaution to extinguish the lamp, lest its light should expose her to +a shot in passing some of the open loops, he sprang towards the stairs, +and was at his post again, literally within a minute. Nor was he a +moment too soon. The alarm was general, and it was understood an +assault was momentarily expected. + +The situation of Robert Willoughby was now tantalizing in the extreme. +Ignorant of what was going on in front, he saw no enemy in the rear to +oppose, and was condemned to inaction, at a moment when he felt that, +by training, years, affinity to the master of the place, and all the +usual considerations, he ought to be in front, opposed to the enemy. It +is probable he would have forgotten his many cautions to keep close, +had not Maud appeared in the library, and implored him to remain +concealed, at least until there was the certainty his presence was +necessary elsewhere. + +At that instant, every feeling but those connected with the danger, was +in a degree forgotten. Still, Willoughby had enough consideration for +Maud to insist on her joining her mother and Beulah, in the portion of +the building where the absence of external windows rendered their +security complete, so long as the foe could be kept without the +palisades. In this he succeeded, but not until he had promised, again +and again, to be cautious in not exposing himself at any of the +windows, the day having now fairly dawned, and particularly not to let +it be known in the Hut that he was present until it became +indispensable. + +The major felt relieved when Maud had left him. For her, he had no +longer any immediate apprehensions, and he turned all his faculties to +the sounds of the assault which he supposed to be going on in front. To +his surprise, however, no discharges of fire-arms succeeded; and even +the cries, and orders, and calling from point to point, that are a +little apt to succeed an alarm in an irregular garrison, had entirely +ceased; and it became doubtful whether the whole commotion did not +proceed from a false alarm. The Smashes, in particular, whose +vociferations for the first few minutes had been of a very decided +kind, were now mute; and the exclamations of the women and children had +ceased. + +Major Willoughby was too good a soldier to abandon his post without +orders, though bitterly did he regret the facility with which he had +consented to accept so inconsiderable a command. He so far disregarded +his instructions, however, as to place his whole person before a +window, in order to reconnoitre; for it was now broad daylight, though +the sun had not yet risen. Nothing rewarded this careless exposure; and +then it flashed upon his mind that, as the commander of a separate +detachment, he had a perfect right to employ any of his immediate +subordinates, either as messengers or scouts. His choice of an agent +was somewhat limited, it is true, lying between Mike and the Plinys; +after a moment of reflection, he determined to choose the former. + +Mike was duly relieved from his station at the door, the younger Pliny +being substituted for him, and he was led into the library. Here he +received hasty but clear orders from the major how he was to proceed, +and was thrust, rather than conducted from the room, in his superior's +haste to hear the tidings. Three or four minutes might have elapsed, +when an irregular volley of musketry was heard in front; then succeeded +an answering discharge, which sounded smothered and distant. A single +musket came from the garrison a minute later, and then Mike rushed into +the library, his eyes dilated with a sort of wild delight, dragging +rather than carrying his piece after him. + +"The news!" exclaimed the major, as soon as he got a glimpse of his +messenger. "What mean these volleys, and how comes on my father in +front?" + +"Is it what do they mane?" answered Mike. "Well, there's but one maning +to powther and ball, and that's far more sarious than shillelah wor-r- +k. If the rapscallions didn't fire a whole plathoon, as serjeant Joyce +calls it, right at the Knoll, my name is not Michael O'Hearn, or my +nature one that dales in giving back as good as I get." + +"But the volley came first from the house--why did my father order his +people to make the first discharge?" + +"For the same r'ason that he didn't. Och! there was a big frown on his +f'atures, when he heard the rifles and muskets; and Mr. Woods never +pr'ached more to the purpose than the serjeant himself, ag'in that +same. But to think of them rapscallions answering a fire that was ag'in +orders! Not a word did his honour say about shooting any of them, and +they just pulled their triggers on the house all the same as if it had +been logs growing in senseless and uninhabited trees, instead of a +rational and well p'apled abode. Och! arn't they vagabonds!" + +"If you do not wish to drive me mad, man, tell me clearly what has +past, that I may understand you." + +"Is it understand that's wanting?--Lord, yer honour, if ye can +understand that Misther Strhides, that's yon, ye'll be a wise man. He +calls hisself a 'son of the poor'atin's,' and poor 'ating it must have +been, in the counthry of his faders, to have produced so lane and +skinny a baste as that same. The orders was as partic'lar as tongue of +man could utter, and what good will it all do?--Ye're not to fire, says +serjeant Joyce, till ye all hear the wor-r-d; and the divil of a wor-r- +d did they wait for; but blaze away did they, jist becaase a knot of +savages comes on to them rocks ag'in, where they had possession all +yesterday afthernoon; and sure it is common enough to breakfast where a +man sups." + +"You mean to say that the Indians have reappeared on the rocks, and +that some of Strides's men fired at them, without orders?--Is that the +history of the affair?" + +"It's jist that, majjor; and little good, or little har-r-m, did it do. +Joel, and his poor'atin's, blazed away at 'em, as if they had been so +many Christians--and 'twould have done yer heart good to have heard the +serjeant belabour them with hard wor-r-ds, for their throuble. There's +none of the poor'atin' family in the serjeant, who's a mighty man wid +his tongue!" + +"And the savages returned the volley--which explains the distant +discharge I heard." + +"Anybody can see, majjor, that ye're yer father's son, and a souldier +bor-r-n. Och! who would of t'ought of that, but one bred and bor-r-n in +the army? Yes; the savages sent back as good as they got, which was +jist not'in' at all, seem' that no one is har-r-m'd." + +"And the single piece that followed--there was one discharge, by +itself?" + +Mike opened his mouth with a grin that might have put either of the +Plinys to shame, it being rather a favourite theory with the +descendants of the puritans--or "poor'atin's," as the county Leitrim- +man called Joel and his set--that the Irishman was more than a match +for any son of Ham at the Knoll, in the way of capacity about this +portion of the human countenance. The major saw that there was a good +deal of self-felicitation in the expression of Mike's visage, and he +demanded an explanation in more direct terms. + +"'Twas I did it, majjor, and 'twas as well fired a piece as ye've ever +hear-r-d in the king's sarvice. Divil bur-r-n me, if I lets Joel get +any such advantage over me, as to have a whole battle to himself. No-- +no--as soon as I smelt his Yankee powther, and could get my own musket +cock'd, and pointed out of the forthifications, I lets 'em have it, as +if it had been so much breakfast ready cooked to their hands. 'Twas +well pointed, too; for I'm not the man to shoot into a fri'nd's +countenance." + +"And you broke the orders for a reason no better than the fact that +Strides had broken them before?" + +"Divil a bit, majjor--Joel had _broken_ the orders, ye see and +that settled the matter. The thing that is once broken is broken, and +wor-r-ds can't mend it, any more than for bearin' to fire a gun will +mend it." + +By dint of cross-questioning, Robert Willoughby finally succeeded in +getting something like an outline of the truth from Mike. The simple +facts were, that the Indians had taken possession of their old bivouac, +as soon as the day dawned, and had commenced their preparations for +breakfast, when Joel, the miller, and a few of that set, in a paroxysm +of valour, had discharged a harmless volley at them; the distance +rendering the attempt futile. This fire had been partially returned, +the whole concluding with the _finale_ from the Irishman's gun, as +has been related. As it was now too light to apprehend a surprise, and +the ground in front of the palisade had no very dangerous covers, +Robert Willoughby was emboldened to send one of the Plinys to request +an interview with his father. In a few minutes the latter appeared, +accompanied by Mr. Woods. + +"The same party has reappeared, and seems disposed to occupy its old +position near the mill," said the captain, in answer to his son's +inquiries. "It is difficult to say what the fellows have in view; and +there are moments when I think there are more or less whites among +them. I suggested as much to Strides, chaplain; and I thought the +fellow appeared to receive the notion as if he thought it might be +true." + +"Joel is a little of an enigma to me, captain Willoughby," returned the +chaplain; "sometimes seizing an idea like a cat pouncing upon a rat, +and then coquetting with it, as the same cat will play with a mouse, +when it has no appetite for food." + +"Och! he's a precious poor'atin'!" growled Mike, from his corner of the +room. + +"If whites are among the savages, why should they not make themselves +known?" demanded Robert Willoughby. "Your character, sir, is no secret; +and they must be acquainted with their own errand here." + +"I will send for Strides, and get his opinion a little more freely," +answered the captain, after a moment of deliberation. "You will +withdraw, Bob; though, by leaving your door a little ajar, the +conversation will reach you; and prevent the necessity of a +repetition." + +As Robert Willoughby was not unwilling to hear what the overseer might +have to say in the present state of things, he did not hesitate about +complying, withdrawing into his own room as requested, and leaving the +door ajar, in a way to prevent suspicion of his presence, as far as +possible. But, Joel Strides, like all bad men, ever suspected the +worst. The innocent and pure of mind alone are without distrust; while +one constituted morally, like the overseer, never permitted his +thoughts to remain in the tranquillity that is a fruit of confidence. +Conscious of his own evil intentions, his very nature put on armour +against the same species of machinations in others, as the hedge-hog +rolls himself into a ball, and thrusts out his quills, at the sight of +the dog. Had not captain Willoughby been one of those who are slow to +see evil, he might have detected something wrong in Joel's feelings, by +the very first glance he cast about him, on entering the library. + +In point of fact, Strides' thoughts had not been idle since the +rencontre of the previous night. Inquisitive, and under none of the +usual restraints of delicacy, he had already probed all he dared +approach on the subject; and, by this time, had become perfectly +assured that there was some mystery about the unknown individual whom +he had met in his master's company. To own the truth, Joel did not +suspect that major Willoughby had again ventured so far into the lion's +den; but he fancied that some secret agent of the crown was at the Hut, +and that the circumstance offered a fair opening for helping the +captain down the ladder of public favour, and to push himself up a few +of its rounds. He was not sorry, therefore, to be summoned to this +conference, hoping it might lead to some opening for farther +discoveries. + +"Sit down, Strides"--said captain Willoughby, motioning towards a chair +so distant from the open door of the bed-room, and so placed as to +remove the danger of too close a proximity--"Sit down--I wish to +consult you about the state of things towards the mills. To me it seems +as If there were more pale-faces than red-skins among our visitors." + +"That's not onlikely, captain--the people has got to be greatly given +to paintin' and imitatin', sin' the hatchet has been dug up ag'in the +British. The tea-boys were all in Indian fashion." + +"True; but, why should white men assume such a disguise to come to the +Knoll? I am not conscious of having an enemy on earth who could +meditate harm to me or mine." + +Alas! poor captain. That a man at sixty should yet have to learn that +the honest, and fair-dealing, and plain-dealing, and affluent--for +captain Willoughby was affluent in the eyes of those around him--that +such a man should imagine he was without enemies, was to infer that the +Spirit of Darkness had ceased to exercise his functions among men. Joel +knew better, though he did not perceive any necessity, just then, for +letting the fact reach the ears of the party principally concerned. + +"A body might s'pose the captain was pop'lar, if any man is pop'lar," +answered the overseer; "nor do I know that visiters in paint betoken +onpopularity to a person in these times more than another. May I ask +why the captain consaits these Injins a'n't Injins? To me, they have a +desperate savage look, though I a'n't much accustomed to red skin +usages." + +"Their movements are too open, and yet too uncertain, for warriors of +the tribes. I think a savage, by this time, would have made up his mind +to act as friend or foe." + +Joel seemed struck with the idea; and the expression of his +countenance, which on entering had been wily, distrustful and prying, +suddenly changed to that of deep reflection. + +"Has the captain seen anything else, partic'lar, to confirm this idee?" +he asked. + +"Their encampment, careless manner of moving, and unguarded exposure of +their persons, are all against their being Indians." + +"The messenger they sent across the meadow, yesterday, _seemed_ to +me to be a Mohawk?" + +"He was. Of _his_ being a real red-skin there can be no question. +But he could neither speak nor understand English. The little that +passed between us was in Low Dutch. Our dialogue was short; for, +apprehensive of treachery, I brought it to a close sooner than I might +otherwise have done." + +"Yes; treachery is a cruel thing," observed the conscientious Joel; "a +man can't be too strongly on his guard ag'in it. Does the captain +ra'ally calcilate on defending the house, should a serious attempt be +brought forward for the day?" + +"Do I! That is an extraordinary question, Mr. Strides. Why have I built +in this mode, if I have no such intention?--why palisaded?--why armed +and garrisoned, if not in earnest?" + +"I s'posed all this might have been done to prevent a surprise, but not +in any hope of standin' a siege. I should be sorry to see all our women +and children shut up under one roof, if the inimy came ag'in us, in +airnest, with fire and sword." + +"And I should be sorry to see them anywhere else. But, this is losing +time. My object in sending for you, Joel, was to learn your opinion +about the true character of our visiters. Have you any opinion, or +information to give me, on that point?" + +Joel placed his elbow on his knee, and his chin in the palm of his +hand, and pondered on what had been suggested, with seeming good-will, +and great earnestness. + +"If any one could be found venturesome enough to go out with a flag," +he at length remarked, "the whole truth might be come at, in a few +minutes." + +"And who shall I employ? Cheerfully would I go myself, were such a step +military, or at all excusable in one in my situation." + +"If the likes of myself will sarve yer honour's turn," put in Mike, +promptly, and yet with sufficient diffidence as regarded his views of +his own qualifications--"there'll be nobody to gainsay that same; and +it isn't wilcome that I nade tell you, ye'll be to use me as ye would +yer own property." + +"I hardly think Mike would answer," observed Joel, not altogether +without a sneer. "He scurce knows an Indian from a white man; when it +comes to the paint, it would throw him into dreadful confusion." + +"If ye thinks that I am to be made to believe in any more Ould Nicks, +Misther Strhides, then ye're making a mistake in my nature. Let but the +captain say the word, and I'll go to the mill and bring in a grist of +them same, or l'ave my own body for toll." + +"I do not doubt you in the least, Mike," captain Willoughby mildly +observed; "but there will be no occasion, just now, of your running any +such risks. I shall be able to find other truce-bearers." + +"It seems the captain has his man in view," Joel said, keenly eyeing +his master. "Perhaps 'tis the same I saw out with him last night. +That's a reliable person, I do s'pose." + +"You have hit the nail on the head. It was the man who was out last +night, at the same time I was out myself, and his name is Joel +Strides." + +"The captain's a little musical, this morning--waal--if go I must, as +there was two on us out, let us go to these savages together. I saw +enough of _that_ man, to know he is reliable; and if he'll go, +_I_'ll go." + +"Agreed"--said Robert Willoughby, stepping into the library--"I take +you at your word, Mr. Strides; you and I will run what risks there may +be, in order to relieve this family from its present alarming state." + +The captain was astounded, though he knew not whether to be displeased +or to rejoice. As for Mike, his countenance expressed great +dissatisfaction; for he ever fancied things were going wrong so long as +Joel obtained his wishes. Strides, himself, threw a keen glance at the +stranger, recognised him at a glance, and had sufficient self-command +to conceal his discovery, though taken completely by surprise. The +presence of the major, however, immediately removed all his objections +to the proposed expedition; since, should the party prove friendly to +the Americans, he would be safe on his own account; or, should it prove +the reverse, a king's officer could not fail to be a sufficient +protection. + +"The gentleman's a total stranger to me," Joel hypocritically resumed; +"but as the captain has belief in him, I must have the same. I am ready +to do the ar'nd, therefore, as soon as it is agreeable." + +"This is well, captain Willoughby," put in the major, in order to +anticipate any objections from his father; "and the sooner a thing of +this sort is done, the better will it be for all concerned. I am ready +to proceed this instant; and I take it this worthy man--I think you +called him Strides--is quite as willing." + +Joel signified his assent; and the captain, perceiving no means of +retreat, was fain to yield. He took the major into the bed-room, +however, and held a minute's private discourse, when he returned, and +bade the two go forth together. + +"Your companion has his instructions, Joel," the captain observed, as +they left the library together; "and you will follow his advice. Show +the white flag as soon as you quit the gate; if they are true warriors, +it must be respected." + +Robert Willoughby was too intent on business, and too fearful of the +reappearance and reproachful looks of Maud, to delay. He had passed the +court, and was at the outer gate, before any of the garrison even noted +his appearance among them. Here, indeed, the father's heart felt a +pang; and, but for his military pride, the captain would gladly have +recalled his consent. It was too late, however; and, squeezing his +hand, he suffered his son to pass outward. Joel followed steadily, as +to appearances, though not without misgivings as to what might be the +consequences to himself and his growing family. + + + + + +Chapter XVII. + + "I worship not the sun at noon, + The wandering stars, the changing moon, + The wind, the flood, the flame; + I will not bow the votive knee + To wisdom, virtue, liberty; + There is no god, but God for me, + Jehovah is his name." + + Montgomery. + +So sudden and unexpected had been the passage of Robert Willoughby +through the court, and among the men on post without the inner gates, +that no one recognised his person. A few saw that a stranger was in +their midst; but, under his disguise, no one was quick enough of eye +and thought to ascertain who that stranger was. The little white flag +that they displayed, denoted the errand of the messengers; the rest was +left to conjecture. + +As soon as captain Willoughby ascertained that the alarm of the morning +was not likely to lead to any immediate results, he had dismissed all +the men, with the exception of a small guard, that was stationed near +the outer gait, under the immediate orders of serjeant Joyce. The +latter was one of those soldiers who view the details of the profession +as forming its great essentials; and when he saw his commander about to +direct a _sortie_, it formed his pride not to ask questions, and +to seem to know nothing about it. To this, Jamie Allen, who composed +one of the guard, quietly assented; but it was a great privation to the +three or four New England-men to be commanded not to inquire into the +why and wherefore. + +"Wait for orders, men, wait for orders," observed the serjeant, by way +of quieting an impatience that was very apparent. "If his honour, the +captain, wished us to be acquainted with his movements, he would direct +a general parade, and lay the matter before us, as you know he always +does, on proper occasions. 'Tis a flag going out, as you can see, and +should a truce follow, we'll lay aside our muskets, and seize the +plough-shares; should it be a capitulation--I know our brave old +commander too well to suppose it possible--but _should_ it be even +_that_, we'll ground arms like men, and make the best of it." + +"And should Joel, and the other man, who is a stranger to me, be +scalped?" demanded one of the party. + +"Then we'll avenge their scalps. That was the way with us, when my Lord +Howe fell--'avenge his death! cried our colonel; and on we pushed, +until near two thousand of us fell before the Frenchmen's trenches. Oh! +_that_ was a sight worth seeing, and a day to talk of!" + +"Yes, but you were threshed soundly, serjeant, as I've heard from many +that were there." + +"What of that, sir! we obeyed orders. 'Avenge his death!' was the cry; +and on we pushed, in obedience, until there were not men enough left in +our battalion to carry the wounded to the rear." + +"And what did you do with them?" asked a youth, who regarded the +serjeant as another Caesar--Napoleon not having come into notice in +1776. + +"We let them lie where they fell. Young man, war teaches us all the +wholesome lesson that impossibilities are impossible to be done. War is +the great schoolmaster of the human race; and a learned man is he who +has made nineteen or twenty campaigns." + +"If he live to turn his lessons to account"--remarked the first +speaker, with a sneer. + +"If a man is to die in battle, sir, he had better die with his mind +stored with knowledge, than be shot like a dog that has outlived his +usefulness. Every pitched battle carries out of the world learning upon +learning that has been got in the field. Here comes his honour, who +will confirm all I tell you, men. I was letting these men, sir, +understand that the army and the field are the best schools on earth. +Every old soldier will stick to that, your honour." + +"We are apt to think so, Joyce--have the arms been inspected this +morning?" + +"As soon as it was light, I did that myself, sir." + +"Flints, cartridge-boxes and bayonets, I hope?" + +"Each and all, sir. Does your honour remember the morning we had the +affair near Fort du Quesne?" + +"You mean Braddock's defeat, I suppose, Joyce?" + +"I call nothing a defeat, captain Willoughby. We were roughly handled +that day, sir; but I am not satisfied it was a defeat. It is true, we +fell back, and lost some arms and stores; but, in the main, we stuck to +our colours, considering it was in the woods. No, sir; I do not call +that a defeat, by any means." + +"You will at least own we were hard pressed, and might have fared worse +than we did, had it not been for a certain colonial corps, that +manfully withstood the savages?" + +"Yes, sir; that I allow. I remember the corps, and its commander, a +colonel Washington, with your honour's permission." + +"It was, indeed, Joyce. And do you happen to know what has became of +this same colonel Washington?" + +"It never crossed my mind to inquire, sir, as he was a provincial. I +dare say he may have a regiment--or even a brigade by this time; and +good use would he make of either." + +"You have fallen far behind his fortunes, Joyce. The man is a +commander-in-chief--a captain-general." + +"Your honour is jesting--since many of his seniors are still living." + +"This is the man who leads the American armies, in the war with +England." + +"Well, sir, in _that_ way, he may indeed get a quick step, or two. +I make no doubt, sir, so good a soldier will know how to obey orders." + +"From which I infer you think him right, in the cause he has espoused?" + +"Bless your honour, sir, I think nothing about it, and care nothing +about it. If the gentleman has taken service with congress, as they +call the new head-quarters, why he ought to obey congress; and if he +serve the king, His Majesty's orders should be attended to." + +"And, in this crisis, serjeant, may I ask in what particular service +you conceive yourself to be, just at the present moment?" + +"Captain Willoughby's, late of His Majesty's ---th Regiment of Foot, at +your honour's command." + +"If all act in the same spirit, Joyce, we shall do well enough at the +Knoll, though twice as many savages brave us as are to be seen on yon +rocks," returned the captain, smiling. + +"And why should they no?" demanded Jamie Allen, earnestly. "Ye're laird +here, and we've no the time, nor the grace, to study and understand the +orthodoxy and heterodoxy of the quarrel atween the House of Hanover and +the houses of these Americans; so, while we a'stand up for the house +and household of our old maister, the Lord will smile on our efforts, +and lead us to victory." + +"Divil bur-r-n me, now, Jamie," said Mike, who having seen the major to +the gate, now followed his father, in readiness to do him any good turn +that might offer--"Divil bur-r-n me, now, Jamie, if ye could have said +it better had ye just aised yer conscience to a proper praist, and were +talking on a clane breast! Stick up for the captain, says I, and the +Lord will be of our side!" + +The serjeant nodded approbation of this sentiment, and the younger +Pliny, who happened also to be within hearing, uttered the sententious +word "gosh" and clenched his fist, which was taken as proof of assent +also, on his part. But, the Americans of the guard, all of whom were +the tools of Joel's and the miller's arts, manifested a coldness that +even exceeded the usual cold manner of their class. These men meant +right; but they had been deluded by the falsehoods, machinations, and +frauds of a demagogue, and were no longer masters of their own opinions +or acts. It struck the captain that something was wrong; but, a +foreigner by birth himself, he had early observed, and long known, the +peculiar exterior and phlegm of the people of the country, which so +nearly resemble the stoicism of the aborigines, as to induce many +writers to attribute both alike to a cause connected with climate. The +present was not a moment however, nor was the impression strong enough +to induce the master of the place to enter into any inquiries. Turning +his eyes in the direction of the two bearers of the flag, he there +beheld matter for new interest, completely diverting his thoughts from +what had just passed. + +"I see they have sent two men to meet our messengers serjeant," he +said--"This looks as if they understood the laws of war." + +"Quite true, your honour. They should now blindfold our party, and lead +them within their own works, before they suffer them to see at all; +though there would be no great advantage in it, as Strides is as well +acquainted with every inch of that rock as I am with the manual +exercise." + +"Which would seem to supersede the necessity of the ceremony you have +mentioned?" + +"One never knows, your honour. Blindfolding is according to the rules, +and I should blindfold a flag before I let him approach, though the +hostile ranks stood drawn up, one on each side of a parade ground. Much +is gained, while nothing is ever lost, by sticking to the rules of a +trade." + +The captain smiled, as did all the Americans of the guard; the last +having too much sagacity not to perceive that a thing might be +overdone, as well as too little attended to. As for Jamie and Mike, +they both received the serjeant's opinions as law; the one from having +tried the troops of the line at Culloden, and the other on account of +divers experiences through which he had gone, at sundry fairs, in his +own green island. By this time, however, all were too curious in +watching the result of the meeting, to continue the discourse. + +Robert Willoughby and Joel had moved along the lane towards the rocks, +without hesitating, keeping their little flag flying. It did not appear +that their approach produced any change among the savages, who were now +preparing their breakfasts, until they had got within two hundred yards +of the encampment, when two of the red-men, having first laid aside +their arms, advanced to meet their visiters. This was the interview +which attracted the attention of those at the Hut, and its progress was +noted with the deepest interest. + +The meeting appeared to be friendly. After a short conference, in which +signs seemed to be a material agent in the communications, the four +moved on in company, walking deliberately towards the rocks. Captain +Willoughby had sent for his field-glass, and could easily perceive much +that occuired in the camp, on the arrival of his son. The major's +movements were calm and steady, and a feeling of pride passed over the +father's heart, as he noted this, amid a scene that was well adapted to +disturbing the equilibrium of the firmest mind. Joel certainly betrayed +nervousness, though he kept close at his companion's side, and together +they proceeded into the very centre of the party of strangers. + +The captain observed, also, that this arrival caused no visible +sensation among the red-men. Even those the major almost touched in +passing did not look up to note his appearance, while no one seemed to +speak, or in any manner to heed him. The cooking and other preparations +for the breakfast proceeded precisely as if no one had entered the +camp. The two who had gone forth to meet the flag alone attended its +bearers, whom they led through the centre of the entire party; stopping +only on the side opposite to the Hut, where there was an open space of +flat rock, which it had not suited the savages to occupy. + +Here the four halted, the major turning and looking back like a soldier +who was examining his ground. Nor did any one appear disposed to +interrupt him in an employment that serjeant Joyce pronounced to be +both bold and against the usages of war to permit. The captain thought +the stoicism of the savages amounted to exaggeration, and it renewed +his distrust of the real characters of his visiters. In a minute or +two, however, some three or four of the red-men were seen consulting +together apart, after which they approached the bearers of the flag, +and some communications passed between the two sides. The nature of +these communications could not be known, of course, though the +conference appeared to be amicable. After two or three minutes of +conversation, Robert Willoughby, Strides, the two men who had advanced +to meet them, and the four chiefs who had joined the group, left the +summit of the rock in company, taking a foot-path that descended in the +direction of the mills. In a short time they all disappeared in a body. + +The distance was not so great but these movements could easily be seen +by the naked eye, though the glass was necessary to discover some of +the details. Captain Willoughby had planted the instrument among the +palisades, and he kept his gaze riveted on the retiring group as long +as it was visible; then, indeed, he looked at his companions, as if to +read their opinions in their countenances. Joyce understood the +expression of his face; and, saluting in the usual military manner, he +presumed to speak, in the way of reply. + +"It seems all right, your honour, the bandage excepted," said the +serjeant. "The flag has been met at the outposts, and led into the +camp; there the officer of the day, or some savage who does the duty, +has heard his errand; and, no doubt, they have all now gone to head- +quarters, to report." + +"I desired my son, Joyce--" + +"Whom, your honour--?" + +The general movement told the captain how completely his auditors were +taken by surprise, at this unlooked-for announcement of the presence of +the major at the Knoll. It was too late to recall the words, however, +and there was so little prospect of Robert's escaping the penetration +of Joel, the father saw no use in attempting further concealment. + +"I say I desired my son, major Willoughby, who is the bearer of that +flag," the captain steadily resumed, "to raise his hat in a particular +manner, if all seemed right; or to make a certain gesture with his left +arm, did he see anything that required us to be more than usually on +our guard." + +"And which notice has he given to the garrison, if it be your honour's +pleasure to let us know?" + +"Neither. I thought he manifested an intention to make the signal with +the hat, when the chiefs first joined him; but he hesitated, and +lowered his hand without doing as I had expected. Then, again, just as +he disappeared behind the rocks, the left arm was in motion, though not +in a way to complete the signal." + +"Did he seem hurried, your honour, as if prevented from communicating +by the enemy?" + +"Not at all, Joyce. Irresolution appeared to be at the bottom of it, so +far as I could judge." + +"Pardon me, your honour; uncertainty would be a better word, as applied +to so good a soldier. Has major Willoughby quitted the king's service, +that he is among us, sir, just at his moment?" + +"I will tell you his errand another time, serjeant. At present, I can +think only of the risk he runs. These Indians are lawless wretches; one +is never sure of then faith." + +"They are bad enough, sir; but no man can well be so bad as to +disregard the rights of a flag," answered the serjeant, in a grave and +slightly important manner. "Even the French, your honour, have always +respected our _flags_." + +"That is true; and, yet, I wish we could overlook that position at the +mill. It's a great advantage to them, Joyce, that they can place +themselves behind such a cover, when they choose!" + +The serjeant looked at the encampment a moment; then his eye followed +the woods, and the mountain sides, that skirted the little plain, until +his back was fairly turned upon the supposed enemy, and he faced the +forest in the rear of the Hut. + +"If it be agreeable to your honour, a detachment can be detailed to +make a demonstration"--Joyce did not exactly understand this word, but +it sounded military--"in the following manner: I can lead out the +party, by the rear of the house, using the brook as a covered-way. Once +in the woods, it will be easy enough to make a flank movement upon the +enemy's position; after which, the detachment can be guided by +circumstances." + +This was very martial in sound, and the captain felt well assured that +Joyce was the man to attempt carrying out his own plan; but he made no +answer, sighing and shaking his head, as he walked away towards the +house. The chaplain followed, leaving the rest to observe the savages. + +"Ye're proposition, serjeant, no seems to give his honour much +satisfaction," said the mason, as soon as his superior was out of +hearing. "Still, it was military, as I know by what I saw mysal' in the +Forty-five. Flainking, and surprising, and obsairving, and +demonstrating, and such devices, are the soul of war, and are a' on the +great highway to victory. Had Chairlie's men obsairved, and +particularised mair, there might have been a different family on the +throne, an' the prince wad ha' got his ain ag'in. I like your idea +much, serjaint, and gin' ye gang oot to practise it, I trust ye 'll no +forget that ye've an auld fri'nd here, willing to be of the pairty." + +"I didn't think the captain much relished the notion of being +questioned about his son's feelin's, and visit up here, at a time like +this," put in one of the Americans. + +"There's bowels in the man's body!" cried Mike, "and it isn't the likes +of him that has no falin'. Ye don't know what it is to be a father, or +ye'd groan in spirit to see a child of yer own in the grip of fiery +divils like them same. Isn't he a pratty man, and wouldn't I be +sorrowful to hear that he had come to har-r-m? Ye've niver asked, +serjeant, how the majjor got into the house, and ye a military sentry +in the bargain!" + +"I suppose he came by command, Michael, and it is not the duty of the +non-commissioned officers to question their superiors about anything +that has happened out of the common way. I take things as I find them, +and obey orders. I only hope that the son, as a field-officer, will not +out-rank the father, which would be unbecoming: though date of +commissions, and superiority, must be respected." + +"I rather think if a major in the king's service was to undertake to +use authority here," said the spokesman of the Americans, a little +stiffly, "he wouldn't find many disposed to follow at his heels." + +"Mutiny would not fare well, did it dare to lift its head in this +garrison"--answered the serjeant, with a dignity that might better have +suited the mess-room of a regular regiment, than the situation in which +he was actually placed. "Both captain Willoughby and myself have seen +mutiny attempted, but neither has ever seen it succeed." + +"Do you look on us as lawful, enlisted soldiers?" demanded one of the +labourers, who had a sufficient smattering of the law, to understand +the difference between a mercenary and a volunteer. "If I'm regimented, +I should at least like to know in whose service it is?" + +"Ye're over-quick at yer objections and sentiments," said Jamie Allen, +coolly, "like most youths, who see only their ain experience in the +airth, and the providence o' the Lord. Enlisted we are, a' of us, even +to Michael here, and it's in the sairvice of our good master, his +honour captain Willoughby; whom, with his kith and kin, may the Lord +presairve from this and all other dangers." + +The word master would, of itself, be very likely to create a revolt to- +day, in such a corps as it was the fortune of our captain to command, +though to that of "boss" there would not he raised the slightest +objection. But the English language had not undergone half of its +present mutations in the year 1776; and no one winced in admitting that +he served a "master," though the gorges of several rose at the idea of +being engaged in the service of any one, considered in a military point +of view. It is likely the suggestion of the mason would have led to a +hot discussion, had not a stir among the savages, just at that instant, +called off the attention of all present, to matters of more importance +than even an angry argument. + +The movement seemed to be general, and Joyce ordered his men to stand +to their arms; still he hesitated about giving the alarm. Instead of +advancing towards the Hut, however, the Indians raised a general yell, +and went over the cliffs, disappearing in the direction of the mill, +like a flock of birds taking wing together. After waiting half an hour, +in vain, to ascertain if any signs of the return of the Indians were to +be seen, the serjeant went himself to report the state of things to his +commander. + +Captain Willoughby had withdrawn to make his toilet for the day, when +he saw the last of his son and the overseer. While thus employed he had +communicated to his wife all that had occurred; and Mrs. Willoughby, in +her turn, had told the same to her daughters. Maud was much the most +distressed, her suspicions of Joel being by far the most active and the +most serious. From the instant she learned what had passed, she began +to anticipate grave consequences to Robert Willoughby, though she had +sufficient fortitude, and sufficient consideration for others, to keep +most of her apprehensions to herself. + +When Joyce demanded his audience, the family was at breakfast, though +little was eaten, and less was said. The serjeant was admitted, and he +told his story with military precision. + +"This has a suspicious air, Joyce," observed the captain, after musing +a little; "to me it seems like an attempt to induce us to follow, and +to draw us into an ambuscade." + +"It may be that, your honour; or, it may be a good honest retreat. +_Two_ prisoners is a considerable exploit for savages to achieve. I +have known them count _one_ a victory." + +"Be not uneasy, Wilhelmina; Bob's rank will secure him good treatment, +his exchange being far more important to his captors, if captors they +be, than his death. It is too soon to decide on such a point, serjeant. +After all, the Indians may be at the mills, in council. On a war-path, +all the young men are usually consulted, before any important step is +taken. Then, it may be the wish of the chiefs to impress our flag- +bearers with an idea of their force." + +"All that is military, your honour, and quite possible. Still, to me +the movement seems as if a retreat was intended, in fact, or that the +_appearance_ of one was in view." + +"I will soon know the truth," cried the chaplain. "I, a man of peace, +can surely go forth, and ascertain who these people are, and what is +their object." + +"You, Woods! My dear fellow, do you imagine a tribe of blood-thirsty +savages will respect you, or your sacred office? You have a sufficient +task with the king's forces, letting his enemies alone. You are no +missionary to still a war-cry." + +"I beg pardon, sir"--put in the serjeant--"his reverence is more than +half right"--here the chaplain rose, and quitted the room in haste, +unobserved by the two colloquists--"There is scarce a tribe in the +colony, your honour, that has not some knowledge of our priesthood; and +I know of no instance in which the savages have ever ill-treated a +divine." + +"Poh, poh, Joyce; this is much too sentimental for your Mohawks, and +Oneidas, and Onondagas, and Tuscaroras. They will care no more for +little Woods than they care for the great woods through which they +journey on their infernal errands." + +"One cannot know, Hugh"--observed the anxious mother--"Our dear Robert +is in their hands; and, should Mr. Woods be really disposed to go on +this mission of mercy, does it comport with our duty as parents to +oppose it?" + +"A mother is all mother"--murmured the captain, who rose from table, +kissed his wife's cheek affectionately, and left the room, beckoning to +the serjeant to follow. + +Captain Willoughby had not been gone many minutes when the chaplain +made his appearance, attired in his surplice, and wearing his best wig; +an appliance that all elderly gentlemen in that day fancied necessary +to the dignity and gravity of their appearance. Mrs. Willoughby, to own +the truth, was delighted. If this excellent woman was ever unjust, it +was in behalf of her children; solicitude for whom sometimes induced +her to overlook the rigid construction of the laws of equality. + +"We will see which best understands the influence of the sacred office, +captain Willoughby, or myself;" observed the chaplain, with a little +more importance of manner than it was usual for one so simple to +assume. "I do not believe the ministry was instituted to be brow-beaten +by tribes of savages, any more than it is to be silenced by the +unbeliever, or schismatic." + +It was very evident that the Rev. Mr. Woods was considerably excited; +and this was a condition of mind so unusual with him, as to create a +species of awe in the observers. As for the two young women, deeply as +they were interested in the result, and keenly as Maud, in particular, +felt everything which touched the fortunes of Robert Willoughby, +neither would presume to interfere, when they saw one whom they had +been taught to reverence from childhood, acting in a way that so little +conformed to his ordinary manner. As for Mrs. Willoughby, her own +feelings were so much awakened, that never had Mr. Woods seemed so +evangelical and like a saint, as at that very moment; and it would not +have been difficult to persuade her that he was acting under something +very like righteous superhuman impulses. + +Such, however, was far from being the case. The worthy priest had an +exalted idea of his office; and, to fancy it might favorably impress +even savages, was little more than carrying out his every-day notions +of its authority. He conscientiously believed that he, himself, a +regularly ordained presbyter, would be more likely to succeed in the +undertaking before him, than a mere deacon; were a bishop present, he +would cheerfully have submitted to his superior claims to sanctity and +success. As for arch-bishops, arch-deacons, deans, rural deans, and all +the other worldly machinery which has been superadded to the church, +the truth compels us to add, that our divine felt no especial reverence +since he considered them as so much clerical surplusage, of very +questionable authority, and of doubtful use. He adhered strictly to the +orders of divine institution, to these he attached so much weight, as +to be entirely willing, in his own person, to demonstrate how little +was to be apprehended, when their power was put forth, even against +Indians, in humility and faith. + +"I shall take this sprig of laurel in my hand, in lieu of the olive- +branch," said the excited chaplain, "as the symbol of peace. It is not +probable that savages can tell one plant from the other; and if they +could, it will be easy to explain that olives do not grow in America. +It is an eastern tree, ladies, and furnishes the pleasant oil we use on +our salads. I carry with me, notwithstanding, the oil which proves a +balm to many sorrows; that will be sufficient." + +"You will bid them let Robert return to us, without delay?" said Mrs. +Willoughby, earnestly. + +"I shall bid them respect God and their consciences. I cannot now stop +to rehearse to you the mode of proceeding I shall adopt; but it is all +arranged in my own mind. It will be necessary to call the Deity the +'Great Spirit' or 'Manitou'--and to use many poetical images; but this +can I do, on an emergency. Extempore preaching is far from agreeable to +me, in general; nor do I look upon it, in this age of the world, as +exactly canonical; nevertheless, it shall be seen I know how to submit +even to _that_, when there is a suitable necessity." + +It was so seldom Mr. Woods used such magnificent ideas, or assumed a +manner in the least distinguishable from one of the utmost simplicity, +that his listeners now felt really awed; and when he turned to bless +them, as he did with solemnity and affection, the two daughters knelt +to receive his benedictions. These delivered, he walked out of the +room, crossed the court, and proceeded straightway to the outer gate. + +It was, perhaps, fortunate to the design of the Rev. Mr. Woods, that +neither the captain nor the serjeant was in the way, to arrest it. This +the former would certainly have done, out of regard to his friend, and +the last out of regard to "orders." But these military personages were +in the library, in deep consultation concerning the next step necessary +to take. This left the coast clear, no one belonging to the guard +conceiving himself of sufficient authority to stop the chaplain, more +especially when he appeared in his wig and surplice. Jamie Allen was a +corporal, by courtesy; and, at the first summons, he caused the outer +gate to be unlocked and unbarred, permitting the chaplain to make his +egress, attended by his own respectful bows. This Jamie did, out of +reverence to religion, generally; though the surplice ever excited his +disgust; and, as for the Liturgy, he deemed it to be a species of +solemn mockery of worship. + +The captain did not reappear outside of the court, until the chaplain, +who had made the best of his way towards the rocks, was actually +stalking like a ghost among ruins, through the deserted shantees of the +late encampment. + +"What in the name of Indian artifice is the white animal that I see +moving about on the rocks?" demanded the captain, whose look was first +turned in the direction of the camp. + +"It seems an Indian wrapped up in a shirt, your honour--as I live, sir, +it has a cocked hat on its head!" + +"Na--na"--interrupted Jamie, "ye'll no be guessing the truth this time, +without the aid of a little profane revelation. The chiel ye see yan, +yer honour, is just chaplain Woods." + +"Woods--the devil!" + +"Na--na--yer honour, it's the reverend gentleman, hissel', and no the +de'il, at a'. He's in his white frock--though why he didn't wear his +black gairment is more than I can tell ye--but there he is, walking +about amang the Indian dwellings, all the same as if they were so many +pews in his ain kirk." + +"And, how came you to let him pass the gate, against orders?" + +"Well, and it is aboot the orders of the priesthood, that he so often +preaches, and seeing him in the white gairment, and knowing ye've so +many fast-days, and Christmas', in the kirk o' England, I fancied it +might be a bit matter o' prayer he wished to offer up, yan, in the +house on the flat; and so I e'en thought church prayers better than no +prayers at all, in such a strait." + +As it was useless to complain, the captain was fain to submit, even +beginning to hope some good might come of the adventure, when he saw +Mr. Woods walking unmolested through the deserted camp. The glass was +levelled, and the result was watched in intense interest. + +The chaplain first explored every shantee, fearlessly and with +diligence. Then he descended the rocks, and was lost to view, like +those who had preceded him. A feverish hour passed, without any symptom +of human life appearing in the direction of the mills. Sometimes those +who watched, fancied they beheld a smoke beginning to steal up over the +brow of the rocks, the precursor of the expected conflagration; but a +few moments dispersed the apprehension and the fancied smoke together. +The day advanced, and yet the genius of solitude reigned over the +mysterious glen. Not a sound emerged from it, not a human form was seen +near it, not a sign of a hostile assault or of a friendly return could +be detected. All in that direction lay buried in silence, as if the +ravine had swallowed its tenants, in imitation of the grave. + + + + + +Chapter XVIII. + + To deck my list by Nature were design'd + Such shining expletives of human kind; + Who want, while through blank life they dream along, + Sense to be right, and passion to be wrong. + + Young. + +The disappearance of Mr. Woods occasioned no uneasiness at first. An +hour elapsed before the captain thought it necessary to relate the +occurrence to his family, when a general panic prevailed among the +females. Even Maud had hoped the savages would respect the sacred +character of the divine, though she knew not why; and here was one of +her principal grounds of hope, as connected with Robert Willoughby, +slid from beneath her feet. + +"What _can_ we do, Willoughby?" asked the affectionate mother, +almost reduced to despair. "I will go myself, in search of my son--they +will respect _me_, a woman and a mother." + +"You little know the enemy we have to deal with, Wilhelmina, or so rash +a thought could not have crossed your mind. We will not be precipitate; +a few hours may bring some change to direct us. One thing I learn from +Woods' delay. The Indians cannot be far off, and he must be with them, +or in their hands; else would he return alter having visited the mills +and the houses beneath the cliffs." + +This sounded probable, and all felt there was a relief in fancying that +their friends were still near them, and were not traversing the +wilderness as captives. + +"I feel less apprehension than any of you," observed Beulah, in her +placid manner. "If Bob is in the hands of an American party, the +brother-in-law of Evert Beekman cannot come to much harm; with British +Indians he will be respected for his own sake, as soon as he can make +himself known." + +"I have thought of all this, my child"--answered the father, +musing--"and there is reason in it. It will be difficult, however, for +Bob to make his real character certain, in his present circumstances. +He does not appear the man he is; and should there even be a white +among his captors who can read, he has not a paper with him to sustain +his word." + +"But, he promised me faithfully to use Evert's name, did he ever fall +into American hands"--resumed Beulah, earnestly--"and Evert has said, +again and again, that _my_ brother could never be his enemy." + +"Heaven help us all, dear child!" answered the captain, kissing his +daughter--"It is, indeed, a cruel war, when such aids are to be called +in for our protection. We will endeavour to be cheerful, +notwithstanding; for we know of nothing yet, that ought to alarm us, +out of reason; all may come right before the sun set." + +The captain looked at his family, and endeavoured to smile, but he met +no answering gleam of happiness on either face; nor was his own effort +very successful. As for his wife, she was never known to be aught but +miserable, while any she loved were in doubtful safety. She lived +entirely out of herself, and altogether for her husband, children, and +friends; a woman less selfish, or one more devoted to the affections, +never existing. Then Beulah, with all her reliance on the magic of +Evert's name, and with the deep feelings that had been awakened within +her, as a wife and a mother, still loved her brother as tenderly as +ever. As for Maud, the agony she endured was increased by her efforts +to keep it from breaking out in some paroxysm that might betray her +secret; and her features were getting an expression of stern +resolution, which, blended with her beauty, gave them a grandeur her +father had never before seen in her bright countenance. + +"This child suffers on Bob's account more than any of us"--observed the +captain, drawing his pet towards him, placing her kindly on his knee, +and folding her to his bosom. "She has no husband yet, to divide her +heart; all her love centres in her brother." + +The look which Beulah cast upon her father was not reproachful, for +that was an expression she would not have indulged with him; but it was +one in which pain and mortification were so obvious, as to induce the +mother to receive her into her own arms. + +"Hugh, you are unjust to Beulah"--said the anxious mother--"Nothing can +ever cause this dear girl, either, to forget to feel for any of us." + +The captain's ready explanation, and affectionate kiss, brought a smile +again to Beulah's face, though it shone amid tears. All was, however, +immediately forgotten; for the parties understood each other, and Maud +profited by the scene to escape from the room. This flight broke up the +conference; and the captain, after exhorting his wife and daughter to +set an example of fortitude to the rest of the females, left the house, +to look after his duties among the men. + +The absence of Joel cast a shade of doubt over the minds of the +disaffected. These last were comparatively numerous, comprising most of +the native Americans in the Hut, the blacks and Joyce excepted. Strides +had been enabled to effect his purposes more easily with his own +countrymen by working on their good qualities, as well as on their bad. +Many of these men--most of them, indeed--meant well, but their +attachment to the cause of their native land laid them open to +assaults, against which Mike and Jamie Allen were insensible. Captain +Willoughby was an Englishman, in the first place; he was an old army- +officer, in the next; and he had an only son who was confessedly in +open arms against the independence of America. It is easy to see how a +demagogue like Joel, who had free access to the ears of his comrades, +could improve circumstances like these to his own particular objects. +Nevertheless, he had difficulties to contend with. If it were true that +parson Woods still insisted on praying for the king, it was known that +the captain laughed at him for his reverence for Caesar; if Robert +Willoughby were a major in the royal forces, Evert Beekman was a +colonel in the continentals; if the owner of the manor were born in +England, his wife and children were born in America; and he, himself, +was often heard to express his convictions of the justice of most of +that for which the provincials were contending--_all_, the worthy +captain had not yet made up his mind to concede to them. + +Then, most of the Americans in the Hut entertained none of the selfish +and narrow views of Joel and the miller. Their wish was to do right, in +the main; and though obnoxious to the charge of entertaining certain +prejudices that rendered them peculiarly liable to become the dupes of +a demagogue, they submitted to many of the better impulses, and were +indisposed to be guilty of any act of downright injustice. The perfect +integrity with which they had ever been treated, too, had its +influence; nor was the habitual kindness of Mrs. Willoughby to their +wives and children forgotten; nor the gentleness of Beulah, or the +beauty, spirit, and generous impulses of Maud. In a word, the captain, +when he went forth to review his men, who were now all assembled under +arms within the palisades for that purpose, went to meet a wavering, +rather than a positively disaffected or rebellious body. + +"Attention!" cried Joyce, as his commanding officer came in front of a +line which contained men of different colours, statures, ages, dresses, +countries, habits and physiognomies, making it a sort of epitome of the +population of the whole colony, as it existed in that day--"Attention! +Present, arms." + +The captain pulled off his hat complacently, in return to this salute, +though he was obliged to smile at the array which met his eyes. Every +one of the Dutchmen had got his musket to an order, following a sort of +fugleman of their own; while Mike had invented a "motion" that would +have puzzled any one but himself to account for. The butt of the piece +was projected towards the captain, quite out of line, while the barrel +rested on his own shoulder. Still, as his arms were extended to the +utmost, the county Leitrim-man fancied he was performing much better +than common. Jamie had correct notions of the perpendicular, from +having used the plumb-bob so much, though even he made the trifling +mistake of presenting arms with the lock outwards. As for the Yankees, +they were all tolerably exact, in everything but time, and the line; +bringing their pieces down, one after another, much as they were in the +practice of following their leaders, in matters of opinion. The negroes +defied description; nor was it surprising they failed, each of them +thrusting his head forward to see how the "motions" looked, in a way +that prevented any particular attention to his own part of the duty. +The serjeant had the good sense to see that his drill had not yet +produced perfection, and he brought his men to a shoulder again, as +soon as possible. In this he succeeded perfectly, with the exception +that just half of the arms were brought to the right, and the other +half to the left shoulders. + +"We shall do better, your honour, as we get a little more drill"--said +Joyce, with an apologetic salute--"Corporal Strides has a tolerable +idea of the manual, and he usually acts as our fugleman. When he gets +back, we shall improve." + +"When he gets back, serjeant--can you, or any other man, tell when that +will be?" + +"Yes, yer honour," sputtered Mike, with the eagerness of a boy. "I'se +the man to tell yees that same." + +"_You_?--What can _you_ know, that is not known to all of us, +my good Michael?" + +"I knows what I sees; and if yon isn't Misther Strhides, then I am not +acquainted with his sthraddle." + +Sure enough, Joel appeared at the gate, as Mike concluded his +assertions. How he got there, no one knew; for a good look-out had been +kept in the direction of the mill; and, yet here was the overseer +applying for admission, as if he had fallen from the clouds! Of course, +the application was not denied, though made in a manner so unexpected, +and Joel stood in front of his old comrades at the hoe and plough, if +not in arms, in less than a minute. His return was proclaimed through +the house in an incredibly short space of time, by the aid of the +children, and all the females came pouring out from the court to learn +the tidings, led by Mrs. Strides and her young brood. + +"Have you anything to communicate to me in private, Strides?" the +captain demanded, maintaining an appearance of _sang froid_ that +he was far from feeling--"or, can your report be made here, before the +whole settlement?" + +"It's just as the captain pleases," answered the wily demagogue; +"though, to my notion, the people have a right to know all, in an +affair that touches the common interest." + +"Attention! men"--cried the serjeant--"By platoons, to the right" + +"No matter, Joyce," interrupted the captain, waving his hand--"Let the +men remain. You have held communications with our visiters, I know, +Strides?" + +"We have, captain Willoughby, and a desperate sort of visiters be they! +A more ugly set of Mohawks and Onondagas I never laid eyes on." + +"As for their appearance, it is matter of indifference to me--what is +the object of their visit?" + +"I mean ugly behaved, and they deserve all I say of 'em. Their ar'nd, +according to their own tell, is to seize the captain, and his family, +in behalf of the colonies." + +As Joel uttered this, he cast a glance along the line of faces paraded +before him, in order to read the effect it might produce. That it was +not lost on some, was as evident as that it was on others. The captain, +however, appeared unmoved, and there was a slight air of incredulity in +the smile that curled his lip. + +"This, then, you report as being the business of the party in coming to +this place!" he said, quietly. + +"I do, sir; and an ugly ar'nd it is, in times like these." + +"Is there any person in authority in a party that pretends to move +about the colony, with such high duties?" + +"There's one or two white men among 'em, if that's what the captain +means; they pretend to be duly authorised and appointed to act in +behalf of the people." + +At each allusion to the people, Joel invariably looked towards his +particular partisans, in order to note the effect the use of the word +might produce. On the present occasion, he even ventured to wink at the +miller. + +"If acting on authority, why do they keep aloof?--I have no such +character for resisting the laws, that any who come clothed with its +mantle need fear resistance." + +"Why, I s'pose they reason in some such manner as this. There's +_two_ laws in operation at this time; the king's law, and the +people's law. I take it, this party comes in virtue of the people's +law, whereas it is likely the law the captain means is the king's law. +The difference is so great, that one or t'other carries the day, just +as the king's friends or the people's friends happen to be the +strongest. These men don't like to trust to _their_ law, when the +captain may think it safest to trust a little to his'n." + +"And all this was told you, Strides, in order to be repeated to me?" + +"Not a word on't; it's all my own consait about the matter. Little +passed between us." + +"And, now," said the captain, relieving his breast by a long sigh, "I +presume I may inquire about your companion. You probably have +ascertained who he is?" + +"Lord, captain Willoughby, I was altogether dumbfounded, when the truth +came upon me of a sudden! I never should have known the major in that +dress, in the world, or out of the world either; but he walks so like +the captain, that as I followed a'ter him, I said to myself, who +_can_ it be?--and then the walk came over me, as it might be; and +then I remembered last night, and the stranger that was out with the +captain, and how he occupied the room next to the library, and them +things; and so, when I come to look in his face, there was the major +sure enough!" + +Joel lied famously in this account; but he believed himself safe, as no +one could very well contradict him. + +"Now, you have explained the manner in which you recognised my son, +Strides," added the captain, "I will thank you to let me know what has +become of him?" + +"He's with the savages. Having come so far to seize the father, it +wasn't in natur' to let the son go free, when he walked right into the +lion's den, like." + +"And how could the savages know he _was_ my son? Did they, too, +recognise the family walk?" + +Strides was taken aback at this question, and he even had the grace to +colour a little. He saw that he was critically placed; for, in addition +to the suggestions of conscience, he understood the captain +sufficiently to know he was a man who would not trifle, in the event of +his suspicions becoming active. He knew he deserved the gallows, and +Joyce was a man who would execute him in an instant, did his commander +order it. The idea fairly made the traitor tremble in his shoes. + +"Ah! I've got a little ahead of my story," he said, hastily. "But, +perhaps I had best tell everything as it happened--" + +"That will be the simplest and clearest course. In order that there be +no interruption, we will go into my room, where Joyce will follow us, +as soon as he has dismissed his men." + +This was done, and in a minute or two the captain and Joel were seated +in the library, Joyce respectfully standing; the old soldier always +declining to assume any familiarity with his superior. We shall give +the substance of most of Joel's report in our own language; preferring +it, defective as it is, to that of the overseer's, which was no bad +representative of his cunning, treacherous and low mind. + +It seems, then, that the bearers of the flag were amicably received by +the Indians. The men towards whom they were led on the rocks, were the +chiefs of the party, who treated them with proper respect. The sudden +movement was explained to them, as connected with their meal; and the +chiefs, accompanied by the major and Strides, proceeded to the house of +the miller. Here, by means of a white man for an interpreter, the major +had demanded the motive of the strangers in coming into the settlement. +The answer was a frank demand for the surrender of the Hut, and all it +contained, to the authorities of the continental congress. The major +had endeavoured to persuade a white man, who professed to hold the +legal authority for what was doing, of the perfectly neutral +disposition of his father, when, according to Joel's account, to his +own great astonishment, the argument was met by the announcement of +Robert Willoughby's true character, and a sneering demand if it were +likely a man who had a son in the royal army, and who had kept that son +secreted in his own house, would be very indifferent to the success of +the royal cause. + +"They've got a wonderful smart man there for a magistrate, I can tell +you," added Joel, with emphasis, "and he ra'ally bore as hard on the +major as a lawyer before a court. How he found out that the major was +at the Hut is a little strange, seein' that none of us know'd of it; +but they've got extraor'nary means, now-a-days." + +"And, did major Willoughby admit his true character, when charged with +being in the king's service?" + +"He did--and like a gentleman. He only insisted that his sole ar'nd out +here was to see his folks, and that he intended to go back to York the +moment he had paid his visit." + +"How did the person you mention receive his explanations?" + +"Waal, to own the truth, he laugh'd at it, like all natur'. I don't +believe they put any great weight on a syllable the major told 'em. I +never see critturs with such onbelievin' faces! After talking as long +as suited themselves, they ordered the major to be shut up in a +buttery, with a warrior at the door for a sentinel; a'ter which they +took to examining me." + +Joel then proceeded with an account--his own account, always, be it +remembered--of what passed between himself and the strangers. They had +questioned him closely touching the nature of the defences of the Hut, +the strength of the garrison, its disposition, the number and quality +of the arms, and the amount of the ammunition. + +"You may depend on't, I gave a good account," continued the overseer, +in a self-satisfied way. "In the first place, I told 'em, the captain +had a lieutenant with him that had sarved out the whull French war; +then I put the men up to fifty at once, seein' it was just as easy to +say that, as thirty or thirty-three. As to the arms, I told 'em more +than half the pieces were double-barrelled; and that the captain, in +particular, carried a rifle that had killed nine savages in one fight." + +"You were much mistaken in that, Joel. It is true, that a celebrated +chief once fell by this rifle; even that is not a matter for boasting." + +"Waal, them that told me on't, said that _two_ had fallen before +it, and I put it up to nine at once, to make a good story better. Nine +men had a more desperate sound than two; and when you _do_ begin +to brag, a man shouldn't be backward. I thought, howsever, that they +was most non-plussed, when I told 'em of the field-piece." + +"The field-piece, Strides!--Why did you venture on an exaggeration that +any forward movement of theirs must expose?" + +"We'll see to that, captain--we'll see to that. Field-pieces are +desperate dampers to Indian courage, so I thought I'd just let 'em have +a six-pounder, by way of tryin' their natur's. They look'd like men +goin' to execution, when I told 'em of the cannon, and what a history +it had gone through." + +"And what may have been this history, pray?" + +"I just told 'em it was the very gun the captain had took from the +French, about which we've all heer'n tell; and that, as everybody +knows, was a desperate piece, havin' killed more than a hundred +reg'lars, before the captain charged baggonet on it, and carried it +off." + +This was a very artful speech, since it alluded to the most +distinguished exploit of captain Willoughby's military life; one of +which it would have been more than human, had he not been a little +proud. All who knew him, had heard of this adventure, and Joel +cunningly turned it to account, in the manner seen. The allusion served +to put to sleep, for the moment at least, certain very unpleasant +suspicions that were getting to be active in his superior's mind. + +"There was no necessity, Strides, for saying anything about that +affair"--the captain, modestly, interposed. "It happened a long time +since, and might well be forgotten. Then, you know we have no gun to +support your account, when our deficiency is ascertained, it will all +be set down to the true cause--a wish to conceal our real weakness." + +"I beg your honour's pardon," put in Joyce--"I think Strides has acted +in a military manner in this affair. It is according to the art of war +for the besieged to pretend to but stronger than they are; and even +besiegers sometimes put a better face than the truth will warrant, on +their strength. Military accounts, as your honour well knows, never +pass exactly for gospel, unless it be with the raw hands." + +"Then," added Joel, "I know'd what I was about, seem that we had a +cannon ready for use, as soon as it could be mounted." + +"I think I understand Strides, your honour," resumed the serjeant. "I +have carved a 'quaker' as an ornament for the gateway, intending to saw +it in two, in the middle, and place the pieces, crosswise, over the +entrance, as your honour has often seen such things in garrisons--like +the brass ornaments on the artillery caps, I mean, your honour. Well, +this gun is finished and painted, and I intended to split it, and have +it up this very week. I suppose Joel has had it in his mind, quaker +fashion." + +"The Serjeant's right. That piece looks as much like a real cannon as +one of our cathechisms is like another. The muzzle is more than a foot +deep, and has a plaguy gunpowder look!" + +"But this gun is not mounted; even if it were, it could only be set up +for show," observed the captain. + +"Put that cannon up once, and I'll answer for it that no Injin faces +it. 'Twill be as good as a dozen sentinels," answered Joel. "As for +mountin', I thought of that before I said a syllable about the crittur. +There's the new truck-wheels in the court, all ready to hold it, and +the carpenters can put the hinder part to the whull, in an hour or two, +and that in a way no Injin could tell the difference between it and a +ra'al cannon, at ten yards." + +"This is plausible, your honour," said Joyce, respectfully, "and it +shows that corporal Strides"--Joel insisted he was a serjeant, but the +real Simon Pure never gave him a title higher than that of +corporal--"and it shows that corporal Strides has an idea of war. By +mounting that piece, and using it with discretion--refusing it, at the +right moment, and showing it at another--a great deal might be done +with it, either in a siege or an assault. If your honour will excuse +the liberty, I would respectfully suggest that it might be well to set +the quaker on his legs, and plant him at the gate, as an exhorter." + +The captain reflected a moment, and then desired the overseer to +proceed in his account. The rest of Joel's story was soon told. He had +mystified the strangers, according to his own account of the matter, so +thoroughly, by affecting to withhold nothing, that they considered him +as a sort of ally, and did not put him in confinement at all. It is +true, he was placed _en surveillance_; but the duty was so +carelessly performed, that, at the right moment, he had passed down the +ravine, a direction in which a movement was not expected, and buried +himself in the woods, so very effectually that it would have baffled +pursuit, had any been attempted. After making a very long _detour_, +that consumed hours, he turned the entire valley, and actually reached +the Hut, under the cover of the rivulet and its bushes, or precisely +by the route in which he and Mike had gone forth, in quest of Maud, +the evening of the major's arrival. This latter fact, however, Joel +had reasons of his own for concealing. + +"You have told us nothing of Mr. Woods, Strides," the captain observed, +when Joel's account was ended. + +"Mr. Woods! I can tell the captain nothing of that gentleman; I +supposed he was here." + +The manner in which the chaplain had left the Hut, and his +disappearance in the ravine, were then explained to the overseer, who +evidently had quitted the mill, on his return, before the divine +performed his exploit. There was a sinister expression in Joel's eyes, +as he heard the account, that might have given the alarm to men more +suspicious than the two old soldiers; but he had the address to conceal +all he felt or thought. + +"If Mr. Woods has gone into the hands of the Injins, in his church +shirt," rejoined the overseer, "his case is hopeless, so far as +captivity is consarned. One of the charges ag'in the captain is, that +the chaplain he keeps prays as regulairly for the king as he used to do +when it was lawful, and agreeable to public feelin'." + +"This you heard, while under examination before the magistrate you have +named?" demanded the captain. + +"As good as that, and something more to the same p'int. The 'squire +complained awfully of a minister's prayin' for the king and r'yal +family, when the country was fightin' 'em." + +"In that, the Rev. Mr. Woods only obeys orders," said the serjeant. + +"But they say not. The orders is gone out, now, _they_ pretend, +for no man to pray for any on 'em." + +"Ay--orders from the magistrates, perhaps. But the Rev. Mr. Woods is a +divine, and has his own superiors in the church, and _they_ must +issue the commands that he obeys. I dare to say, your honour, if the +archbishop of Canterbury, or the commander-in-chief of the church, +whoever he may be, should issue a general order directing all the +parsons not to pray for King George, the Rev. Mr. Woods would have no +scruple about obeying. But, it's a different thing when a justice of +the peace undertakes to stand fugleman for the clergy. It's like a navy +captain undertaking to wheel a regiment." + +"Poor Woods!" exclaimed the captain--"Had he been ruled by me, he would +have dropped those prayers, and it would have been better for us both. +But, he is of your opinion, serjeant, and thinks that a layman can have +no authority over a gownsman." + +"And isn't he right, your honour! Think what a mess of it the militia +officers make, when they undertake to meddle with a regular corps. Some +of our greatest difficulties in the last war came from such awkward +hands attempting to manage machines of which they had no just notions. +As for praying, your honour, I'm no wise particular _who_ I pray +for, or _what_ I pray for, so long as it be all set down in +general orders that come from the right head-quarters; and I think the +Rev. Mr. Woods ought to be judged by the same rule." + +As the captain saw no use in prolonging the dialogue, he dismissed his +companions. He then sought his wife, in order to make her acquainted +with the actual state of things. This last was a painful duty, though +Mrs. Willoughby and her daughters heard the truth with less of +apprehension than the husband and father had anticipated. They had +suffered so much from uncertainty, that there was a relief in learning +the truth. The mother did not think the authorities of the colony would +hurt her son, whom she fancied all men must, in a degree, love as she +loved. Beulah thought of her own husband as Bob's safeguard; while Maud +felt it to be comparative happiness to know he was unharmed, and still +so near her. + +This unpleasant duty discharged, the captain began to bethink him +seriously of his military trust. After some reflection, and listening +to a few more suggestions from Joyce, he consented to let the "quaker" +be put on wheels. The carpenters were immediately set at work to +achieve this job, which the serjeant volunteered to superintend, in +person. As for Joel, his wife and children, with the miller, occupied +most of the morning; the day turning, and even drawing towards its +close, ere he became visible, as had formerly been his wont, among the +men of the settlement. + +All this time, everything without the palisades lay in the silence of +nature. The sun cast its glories athwart the lovely scene, as in one of +the Sabbaths of the woods; but man was nowhere visible. Not a hostile +Indian, or white, exhibited himself; and the captain began to suspect +that, satisfied with their captures, the party had commenced its return +towards the river, postponing his own arrest for some other occasion. +So strong did this impression become towards the close of the day, that +he was actually engaged in writing to some friends of influence in +Albany and on the Mohawk to interpose their names and characters in his +son's behalf, when the serjeant, about nine o'clock, the hour when he +had been ordered to parade the guard for the first half of the night, +presented himself at the door of his room, to make an important report. + +"What now, Joyce?" demanded the captain. "Are any of our fellows +sleepy, and plead illness?" + +"Worse than that, your honour, I greatly fear," was the answer. Of the +ten men your honour commanded me to detail for the guard, five are +missing. I set them down as deserters." + +"Deserters!--This is serious, indeed; let the signal be made for a +general parade--the people cannot yet have gone to bed; we will look +into this." + +As Joyce made it matter of religion "to obey orders," this command was +immediately put in execution. In five minutes, a messenger came to +summon the captain to the court, where the garrison was under arms. The +serjeant stood in front of the little party, with a lantern, holding +his muster-roll in his hand. The first glance told the captain that a +serious reduction had taken place in his forces, and he led the +serjeant aside to hear his report. + +"What is the result of your inquiries, Joyce?" he demanded, with more +uneasiness than he would have liked to betray openly. + +"We have lost just half our men, sir. The miller, most of the Yankees, +and two of the Dutchmen, are not on parade; neither is one of them to +be found in his quarters. They have either gone over to the enemy, +captain Willoughby, or, disliking the appearance of things here, they +have taken to the woods for safety." + +"And abandoned their wives and children, serjeant! Men would scarcely +do that." + +"Their wives and children have deserted too, sir. Not a chick or child +belonging to either of the runaways is to be found in the Hut." + + + + + +Chapter XIX. + + "For all the Welshmen, hearing thou wert dead, + Are gone to Bolingbroke, dispersed and fled." + + _Richard III_ + +This was startling intelligence to receive just as night had shut in, +and under the other circumstances of the case. Touching the men who +still remained, captain Willoughby conceived it prudent to inquire into +their characters and names, in order to ascertain the ground he stood +on, and to govern his future course accordingly. He put the question to +the serjeant, therefore, as soon as he could lead him far enough from +the little array, to be certain he was out of ear-shot. + +"We have Michael O'Hearn, Jamie Allen, the two carpenters, the three +niggers, Joel, and the three Dutchmen that last came into the +settlement, and the two lads that Strides engaged at the beginning of +the year, left," was the answer. "These, counting your honour and +myself, make just fifteen men; quite enough yet, I should think, to +make good the house, in case of an assault--though I fear everything +like an outwork must be abandoned." + +"On the whole, these are the best of our men," returned the captain; "I +mean the most trustworthy. I count on Mike, Jamie, and the blacks, as +being as much to be relied on as we are ourselves. Joel, too, is a man +of resources, if he will but do his duty under fire." + +"Corporal Strides is still an untried soldier, your honour; though +recruits, even, sometimes do wonders. Of course, I shall reduce the +guard to half its former strength, as the men must have some sleep, +sir." + +"We must depend very much on your vigilance and mine, to-night, Joyce. +You shall take the guard till one, when I will stand it for the rest of +the night. I will speak to the men before you dismiss them. An +encouraging word, just now, may be worth a platoon to us." + +The serjeant seldom dissented from any suggestion of his commanding +officer, and the scheme was carried out on the spot. The lantern was so +placed as to permit the captain to see the heterogeneous row of +countenances that was drawn up before him, and he proceeded: + +"It seems, my friends," he said, "that some of our people have been +seized with a panic, and have deserted. These mistaken men have not +only fled themselves, but they have induced their wives and children to +follow them. A little reflection will show you to what distress all +must be reduced by this ill-judged flight. Fifty miles from another +settlement of any size, and more than thirty from even a single hut, +beyond the cabin of a hunter, days must pass before they can reach a +place of safety, even should they escape the savage foe that we know to +be scouring the woods. The women and children will not have sufficient +art to conceal their trail, nor sufficient strength to hold out against +hunger and fatigue many hours. God forgive them for what they have +done, and guide them through the difficulties and pains by which they +are menaced! As for us, we must determine to do our whole duty, or, at +once to retire, with the consent of each other. If there is a man among +you, then, who apprehends the consequences of standing to his arms, and +of defending this house, let him confess it frankly; he shall have +leave to depart, with all that belongs to him, taking food and the +means of subsistence and defence with him. I wish no man to remain with +me and mine, but he who can do it cheerfully. The night is now dark, +and, by quitting the Hut at an early hour, such a start might be gained +over any pursuers, as to place him in comparative security before +morning. If any such man is here, let him now speak out honestly, and +fear nothing. The gate shall be opened for his march." + +The captain paused, but not a soul answered. A common sentiment of +loyalty seemed to bind every one of the listeners to his duty. The dark +eyes of the negroes rolled along the short rank to see who would be the +first to desert their master, and grins of delight showed the +satisfaction with which they noted the effect of the appeal. As for +Mike, he felt too strongly to keep silence, and he muttered the passing +impressions aloud. + +"Och!"--growled the county Leitrim-man--"Is it a good journey that I +wish the runaways? That it isn't, nor many a good male either, as they +trudge alang t'rough the woods, with their own consciences forenent +their eyes, pricking them up to come back, like so many t'ieves of the +wor-r-ld, as they are, every mother's son of 'em, women and all. I'd +nivir do _that_; no, not if my head was _all_ scalp, down to +the soles of my fut, and an Injin was at every inch of it, to cut out +his summer clothes of my own skin. Talk of religion amang sich +crathures!--Why, there isn't enough moral in one of thim to carry him +through the shortest prayer the Lord allows a Christian to utter. Divil +burn 'em say I, and that's my kindest wish in their behalf." + +The captain waited patiently for this soliloquy to terminate; then he +dismissed the men, with a few more words of encouragement, and his +thanks for the fidelity they, at least, had shown. By this time the +night had got to be dark, and the court was much more so, on account of +the shadows of the buildings, than places in the open air. As the +captain turned aside to give his last instructions to Joyce, he +discovered, by the light of the lantern the latter held, a figure +standing at no great distance, quite dimly seen on account of its +proximity to the walls of the Hut. It was clearly a man; and as all the +males able to bear arms, a single sentinel outside the court excepted, +were supposed to be in the group that had not yet separated, the +necessity of ascertaining the character of this unlooked-for visiter +flashed on the minds of both the old soldiers at the same instant. +Joyce raised the lantern, as they moved quickly towards the motionless +form, and its light glanced athwart a pair of wild, glowing, dark eyes, +and the red visage of an Indian. + +"Nick!" exclaimed the captain, "is that you?--What has brought you here +again, and how have you entered the palisades?--Do you come as a +friend, to aid us, or as an enemy?" + +"Too much question, cap'in--too much like squaw; ask all togeder. Go to +book-room; Nick follow; tell all he got to say." + +The captain whispered the serjeant to ascertain whether the watch +without was vigilant, when he led the way to the library, where, as he +expected, he found his wife and daughters, anxiously waiting his +appearance. + +"Oh! Hugh, I trust it is not as bad as we feared!" cried the mother, as +the captain entered the room, closely attended by the Tuscarora; "our +men cannot be so heartless as to desert us at such a moment!" + +The captain kissed his wife, said a word or two of encouragement, and +pointed to the Indian. + +"Nick!" exclaimed all three of the females, in a breath. Though the +tones of their voices denoted very different sensations, at the +unexpected appearance of their old acquaintance. Mrs. Willoughby's +exclamation was not without pleasure, for _she_ thought the man +her friend. Beulah's was filled with alarm, little Evert and savage +massacres suddenly crossing the sensitive mind of the young mother; +while Maud's tone had much of the stern resolution that she had +summoned to sustain her in a moment of such fearful trial. + +"Yes, Nick--Sassy Nick," repeated the Indian, in his guttural +voice--"Ole friend--you no glad see him?" + +"That will depend on your errand," interposed the captain. "Are you one +of the party that is now lying at the mill?--but, stop; how did you get +within the palisades? First answer me _that_." + +"Come in. Tree no good to stop Injin. Can't do it wid branches, how do +it widout? Want plenty of musket and plenty of soldier to do _dat_. +Dis no garrison, cap'in, to make Nick afeard. Always tell him +too much hole to be tight." + +"This is not answering my question, fellow. By what means did you pass +the palisades?" + +"What means?--Injin means, sartain. Came like cat, jump like deer, +slide like snake. Nick great Tuscarora chief; know well how warrior +march, when he dig up hatchet." + +"And Nick has been a great hanger-on of garrisons, and should know the +use that I can make of his back. You will remember, Tuscarora, that I +have had you flogged, more than once, in my day." + +This was said menacingly, and with more warmth, perhaps, than was +prudent. It caused the listeners to start, as if a sudden and new +danger rose before their eyes, and the anxious looks he encountered +warned the captain that he was probably going too far. As for Nick, +himself, the gathering thunder-cloud is not darker than his visage +became at the words he heard; it seemed by the moral writhing of his +spirit as if every disgracing blow he had received was at that instant +torturing his flesh anew, blended with the keenest feelings of +ignominy. Captain Willoughby was startled at the effect he had +produced; but it was too late to change his course; and he remained in +dignified quiet, awaiting the workings of the Tuscarora's mind. + +It was more than a minute ere Nick made any reply. Gradually, but very +slowly, the expression of his visage changed. It finally became as +stoical in expression as severe training could render the human +countenance, and as unmoved as marble. Then he found the language he +wanted. + +"Listen," said the Indian, sternly. "Cap'in ole man. Got a head like +snow on rock. He bold soldier; but he no got wisdom enough for gray +hair. Why he put he hand rough, on place where whip strike? Wise man +nebber do _aat_. Last winter he cold; fire wanted to make him +warm. Much ice, much storm, much snow. World seem bad--fit only for +bear, and snake, dat hide in rock. Well; winter gone away; ice gone +away; snow gone away; storm gone away. Summer come, in his place. +Ebbery t'ing _good_--ebbery t'ing _pleasant_. Why t'ink of +winter, when summer come, and drive him away wid pleasant sky?" + +"In order to provide for its return. He who never thought of the evil +day, in the hour of his prosperity, would find that he has forgotten, +not only a duty, but the course of wisdom." + +"He _not_ wise!" said Nick, sternly. "Cap'in pale-face chief. He +got garrison; got soldier; got musket. Well, he flog warrior's back; +make blood come. Dat bad enough; worse to put finger on ole sore, and +make 'e pain, and 'e shame, come back ag'in." + +"Perhaps it would have been more generous, Nick, to have said nothing +about it; but, you see how I am situated; an enemy without, my men +deserting, a bad look-out, and one finding his way into my very court- +yard, and I ignorant of the means." + +"Nick tell cap'in all about means. If red-men outside, shoot +_'em_; if garrison run away, flog garrison; if don't know, l'arn; +but, don't flog back, ag'in, on ole sore!" + +"Well, well, say no more about it, Nick. Here is a dollar to keep you +in rum, and we will talk of other matters." + +Nick heeded not the money, though it was held before his eyes, some +little time, to tempt him. Perceiving that the Tuscarora was now acting +as a warrior and a chief, which Nick would do, and do well, on +occasion, the captain pocketed the offering, and regulated his own +course accordingly. + +"At all events, I have a right to insist on knowing, first, by what +means you entered the palisades; and, second, what business has brought +you here, at night, and so suddenly." + +"Ask Nick, cap'in, all he right to ask; but, don't touch ole flog. How +I cross palisade? Where your sentinel to stop Injin? One at gate; well, +none all round, t'other place. Get in, up here, down dere, over yonder. +Ten, twenty, t'ree spot--s'pose him tree? climb him. S'pose him +palisade?--climb him, too. What help?--Soldier out at gate when Nick +get over t'other end! Come in court, too, when he want. Half gate half +no gate. So easy, 'shamed to brag of. Cap'in once Nick's friend--went +on same war-path--dat in ole time. Both warrior; both went ag'in French +garrison. Well; who crept in, close by cannon, open gate, let pale-men +in. Great Tuscarora do _dat_; no flog, _den_--no talk of ole +sore, dat night!" + +"This is all true enough, Wyandotte"--This was Nick's loftiest +appellation; and a grim, but faint smile crossed his visage, as he +heard it, again, in the mouth of one who had known him when its sound +carried terror to the hearts of his enemies--"This is all true, +Wyandotte, and I have even given you credit for it. On that occasion +you were bold as the lion, and as cunning as a fox--you were much +honoured for that exploit." + +"No ole sore in _dat_, um?" cried Nick, in a way so startling as +to sicken Mrs. Willoughby to the heart. "No call Nick dog, dat night. +He _all_ warrior, den--all face; no _back_." + +"I have said you were honoured for your conduct, Nick, and paid for it. +Now, let me know what has brought you here to-night, and whence you +come." + +There was another pause. Gradually, the countenance of the Indian +became less and less fierce, until it lost its expression of malignant +resentment in one in which human emotions of a kinder nature +predominated. + +"Squaw good," he said, even gently, waving his hand towards Mrs. +Willoughby--"Got son; love him like little baby. Nick come six, two +time before, runner from her son." + +"My son, Wyandotte!" exclaimed the mother--"Bring you any tidings, now, +from my boy?" + +"No bring tidin'--too heavy; Indian don't love to carry load--bring +_letter_" + +The cry from the three females was now common, each holding out her +hand, with an involuntary impulse, to receive the note. Nick drew the +missive from a fold of his garment, and placed it in the hand of Mrs. +Willoughby, with a quiet grace that a courtier might have wished to +equal, in vain. + +The note was short, and had been written in pencil, on a leaf torn from +some book of coarse paper. The handwriting however, was at once +recognised as Robert Willoughby's though there was no address, nor any +signature. The paper merely contained the following-- + +"Trust to your defences, and to nothing else. This party has many white +men in it, disguised as Indians. I am suspected, if not known. You will +be tampered with, but the wisest course is to be firm. If Nick is +honest, he can tell you more; if false, this note will be shown, even +though it be delivered. Secure the inner gates, and depend more on the +house itself, than on the palisades. Fear nothing for me--my life can +be in no danger." + +This note was read by each, in succession, Maud turning aside to +conceal the tears that fell fast on the paper, as she perused it. She +read it last, and was enabled to retain it; and precious to her heart +was the boon, at such a moment, when nearly every sensation of her +being centred in intense feeling in behalf of the captive. + +"We are told to inquire the particulars of you, Nick," observed the +captain; "I hope you will tell us nothing but truth. A lie is so +unworthy a warrior's mouth!" + +"Nick didn't lie 'bout beaver dam! Cap'in no find him good, as Indian +say?" + +"In that you dealt honestly, and I give you credit for it. Has any one +seen this letter but ourselves, yourself, and the person who wrote it?" + +"What for ask? If Nick say no, cap'in t'ink he lie. Even fox tell trut' +some time; why not Injin? Nick say no." + +"Where did you leave my son, and when?--Where is the party of red-skins +at this moment?" + +"All pale-face in hurry! Ask ten, one, four question, altogeder. Well; +answer him so. Down here, at mill; down dere, at mill; half an hour, +six, two, ten o'clock." + +"I understand you to say that major Willoughby was at the mill when you +saw him last, and that this was only half an hour since?" + +The Tuscarora nodded his head in assent, but made no other reply. Even +as he did this, his keen eyes rolled over the pallid faces of the +females in a way to awaken the captain's distrust, and he resumed his +questions in a tone that partook more of the military severity of his +ancient habits than of the gentler manner he had been accustomed to use +of late years. + +"You know me, Nick," he said sternly, "and ought to dread my +displeasure." + +"What cap'in mean, now?" demanded the Indian, quietly. + +"That the same whip is in this fort that I always kept in the other, in +which you knew me to dwell; nor have I forgotten how to use it." + +The Tuscarora gazed at the captain with a very puzzling expression, +though, in the main, his countenance appeared to be ironical rather +than fierce. + +"What for, talk of whip, now?" he said. "Even Yengeese gen'ral hide +whip, when he see enemy. Soldier can't fight when back sore. When +battle near, den all good friend; when battle over, den flog, flog, +flog. Why talk so?--Cap'in nebber strike _Wyandotte_." + +"Your memory must be short, to say this! I thought an Indian kept a +better record of what passed." + +"No man _dare_ strike Wyandotte!" exclaimed the Indian, with +energy. "No man--pale-face or red-skin, _can_ give blow on back of +Wyandotte, and see sun set!" + +"Well--well--Nick; we will not dispute on this point, but let bye-gones +be bye-gones. What _has_ happened, _has_ happened, and I hope +will never occur again." + +"Dat happen to Nick--Sassy Nick--poor, drunken Nick--to Wyandotte, +nebber!" + +"I believe I begin to understand you, now, Tuscarora, and am glad I +have a chief and a warrior in my house, instead of a poor miserable +outcast. Shall I have the pleasure of filling you a glass in honour of +our old campaigns?" + +"Nick alway dry--Wyandotte know no thirst. Nick, beggar--ask for +rum--_pray_ for rum--_t'ink_ of rum, _talk_ of rum, _laugh_ for rum, +_cry_ for rum. Wyandotte don't know rum, when he see him. Wyandotte +beg not'in'; no, not his scalp." + +"All this sounds well, and I am both willing and glad, chief, to +receive you in the character in which you give me to understand you +have now come. A warrior of Wyandotte's high name is too proud to carry +a forked tongue in his mouth, and I shall hear nothing but truth. Tell +me, then, all you know about this party at the mill; what has brought +it here, how you came to meet my son, and what will be the next step of +his captors. Answer the questions in the order in which I put them." + +"Wyandotte not newspaper to tell ebbery t'ing at once. Let cap'in talk +like one chief speaking to anoder." + +"Then, tell me first, what you know of this party at the mill. Are +there many pale-faces in it?" + +"Put 'em in the river," answered the Indian, sententiously; "water tell +the trut'." + +"You think that there are many among them that would wash white?" + +"Wyandotte _know_ so. When did red warriors ever travel on their +path like hogs in drove? _One_ red-man there, as Great Spirit make +him; by his side _two_ red-men as _paint_ make 'em. This soon +told on trail." + +"You struck their trail, then, and joined their company, in that +manner?" + +Another nod indicated the assent of the Indian. Perceiving that the +Tuscarora did not intend to speak, the captain continued his +interrogatories. + +"And how did the trail betray this secret, chief?" he asked. + +"Toe turn out--step too short--trail too broad--trail too plain--march +too short." + +"You must have followed them some distance, Wyandotte, to learn all +this?" + +"Follow from Mohawk--join 'em at mill. Tuscarora don't like too much +travel with Mohawk." + +"But, according to your account, there cannot be a great many red-skins +in the party, if the white men so much out-number them." + +Nick, now, raised his right hand, showing all the fingers and the +thumb, at each exhibition, four several times. Then he raised it once, +showing only the fore-finger and thumb. + +"This makes twenty-two, Nick--Do you include yourself in the number?" + +"Wyandotte, a Tuscarora--he count _Mohawks_" + +"True--Are there any other red-men among them?" + +"Oneida, so"--holding up four fingers only. After which he held up a +single finger, adding--"Onondaga, so." + +"Twenty-two Mohawks, four Oneidas, and a single Onondaga, make twenty- +seven in all. To these, how many whites am I to add?--You counted them, +also?" + +The Indian now showed both hands, with all the fingers extended, +repeating the gestures four times; then he showed one hand entire, and +two fingers on the other. + +"Forty-seven. Add these to the red-skins, and we get seventy-four for +the total. I had supposed them rather stronger than this, Wyandotte?" + +"No stronger--no weaker--just so. Good many ole womans, too, among +pale-faces." + +"Old women!--You are not speaking literally, Nick? All that I have seen +appear to be men." + +"Got beard; but ole woman, too. Talk--talk--talk;--do not'in'. +_Dat_ what Injin call ole woman. Party, poor party; cap'in beat 'em, +if he fight like ole time." + +"Well, this is encouraging, Wilhelmina, and Nick seems to be dealing +fairly with us." + +"Now, inquire more about Robert, Hugh"--said the wife, in whose +maternal heart her children were always uppermost. + +"You hear, Nick; my wife is desirous of learning something about her +son, next." + +During the preceding dialogue, there had been something equivocal in +the expression of the Indian's face. Every word he uttered about the +party, its numbers, and his own manner of falling in with it, was true, +and his countenance indicated that he was dealing fairly. Still, the +captain fancied that he could detect a covert fierceness in his eye and +air, and he felt uneasiness even while he yielded him credence. As soon +as Mrs. Willoughby, however, interposed, the gleam of ferocity that +passed so naturally and readily athwart the swarthy features of the +savage, melted into a look of gentleness, and there were moments when +it might be almost termed softness. + +"Good to have moder"--said Nick, kindly. "Wyandotte got no squaw--wife +dead, moder dead, sister dead--all gone to land of spirits--bye'm-by, +chief follow. No one throw stone on his grave! Been on death-path long +ago, but cap'in's squaw say 'stop, Nick; little too soon, now; take +medicine, and get well.' Squaw made to do good. Chief alway like 'e +squaw, when his mind not wild with war." + +"And _your_ mind, Wyandotte, is not wild with war, now," answered +Mrs. Willoughby, earnestly. "You will help a mother, then, to get her +son out of the hands of merciless enemies?" + +"Why you t'ink merciless? Because pale-face dress like Injin, and try +to cheat?" + +"That may be one reason; but I fear there are many others. Tell me, +Wyandotte, how came you to discover that Robert was a prisoner, and by +what means did he contrive to give you his letter?" + +The Indian assumed a look of pride, a little blended with hauteur; for +he felt that he was manifesting the superiority of a red-man over the +pale-face, as he related the means through which he had made his +discoveries. + +"Read book on ground," Nick answered gravely. "Two book alway open +before chief; one in sky, t'other on ground. Book in sky, tell +weather--snow, rain, wind, thunder, lightning, war--book on ground, +tell what happen." + +"And what had this book on the ground to do with my son, Wyandotte?" + +"Tell all about him. Major's trail first seen at mill. No moccasin-- +much boot. Soldier boot like letter--say great deal, in few word. First +t'ink it cap'in; but it too short. Den _know_ it Major." + +"This sounds very well, Nick," interrupted the captain, "though you +will excuse me if I say it is going a little too far. It seems +impossible that you should know that the print of the foot was that of +my son. How _could_ you be certain of this?" + +"How _could_, eh? Who follow trail from house, here, to Hudson +river? T'ink Nick blind, and can't see? Tuscarora read _his_ book +well as pale-face read bible." Here Nick looked round him a moment, +raised his fore-finger, dropped his voice, and added earnestly--"see +him at Bunker Hill--know him among ten, six, two t'ousand warrior. Know +dat foot, if meet him in Happy Hunting Ground." + +"And why my son's foot, in particular? The boot is often changed, can +never be exactly like its predecessor, and one boot is so much like +another, that to me the thing seems impossible. This account of the +boot, Nick, makes me distrust your whole story." + +"What distrust?" demanded the Indian like lightning. + +"It means doubt, uncertainty--distrust." + +"Don't believe, ha?" + +"Yes, that is it, substantially. Don't more than _half_ believe, +perhaps, would be nearer to the mark." + +"Why, ole soldier alway distrust; squaw nebber? Ask moder--ha!--you +t'ink Nick don't know son's trail--handsome trail, like young chief's?" + +"I can readily believe Nick might recognise Bob's trail, Hugh"-- +expostulated Mrs. Willoughby. "He has a foot in a thousand--you may +remember how every one was accustomed to speak of his beautiful foot, +even when he was a boy. As a man, I think it still more remarkable." + +"Ay, go on, Nick, in this way, and my wife will believe all you say. +There is no distrust in a mother's partiality, certainly. You are an +old courtier, and would make your way at St. James's." + +"Major nebber tell about foot?" asked Nick, earnestly. + +"I remember nothing; and had he spoken of any such thing, I must have +heard it. But, never mind the story, now; you saw the foot-print, and +knew it for my son's. Did you ask to be admitted to his prison? or was +your intercourse secret?" + +"Wyandotte too wise to act like squaw, or boy. See him, widout look. +Talk, widout speak--hear, widout ear. Major write letter, Nick take +him. All done by eye and hand; not'in' done by tongue, or at Council +Fire. Mohawk blind like owl!" + +"May I believe you, Tuscarora; or, incited by demons, do you come to +deceive me?" + +"Ole warrior look two time before he go; t'ink ten time before he say, +yes. All good. Nick no affronted. Do so himself, and t'ink it right. +Cap'in _may_ believe all Nick say." + +"Father!" cried Maud, with simple energy, "I will answer for the +Indian's honesty. He has guided Robert so often, and been with him in +so many trying scenes, he never _can_ have the heart to betray +him, or us. Trust him, then he may be of infinite service." + +Even captain Willoughby, little disposed as he was to judge Nick +favourably, was struck with the gleam of mamy kindness that shot across +the dark face of the Indian, as he gazed at the glowing cheek and +illuminated countenance of the ardent and beautiful girl. + +"Nick seems disposed to make a truce with _you_, at least, Maud," +he said, smiling, "and I shall now know where to look for a mediator, +whenever any trouble arises between us." + +"I have known Wyandotte, dear sir, from childhood, and he has ever been +my friend. He promised me, in particular, to be true to Bob, and I am +happy to say he has ever kept his word." + +This was telling but half the story. Maud had made the Indian many +presents, and most especially had she attended to his wants, when it +was known he was to be the major's guide, the year previously, on his +return to Boston. Nick had known her real father, and was present at +his death. He was consequently acquainted with her actual position in +the family of the Hutted Knoll; and, what was of far more consequence +in present emergencies, he had fathomed the depths of her heart, in a +way our heroine could hardly be said to have done herself. Off her +guard with such a being, Maud's solicitude, however, had betrayed her, +and the penetrating Tuscarora had discerned that which had escaped the +observation of father, and mother, and sister. Had Nick been a pale- +face, of the class of those with whom he usually associated, his +discovery would have gone through the settlement, with scoffings and +exaggerations; but this forest gentleman, for such was Wyandotte, in +spite of his degradation and numerous failings, had too much +consideration to make a woman's affections the subject of his +coarseness and merriment. The secrets of Maud would not have been more +sacred with her own brother, had such a relative existed to become her +confidant, than it was with Saucy Nick. + +"Nick gal's friend," observed the Indian, quietly; "dat enough; what +Nick say, Nick mean. What Nick _mean_, he _do_. Come, cap'in; +time to quit squaw, and talk about war." + +At this hint, which was too plain to be misunderstood, captain +Willoughby bade the Indian withdraw to the court, promising to follow +him, as soon as he could hold a short conference with Joyce, who was +now summoned to the council. The subject of discussion was the manner +in which the Tuscarora had passed the stockade, and the probability of +his being true. The serjeant was disposed to distrust all red-men, and +he advised putting Nick under arrest, and to keep him in durance, until +the return of light, at least. + +"I might almost say, your honour, that such are orders, sir. The advice +to soldiers carrying on war with savages, tells us that the best course +is to pay off treachery with treachery; and treachery is a red-skin's +manual exercise. There is O'Hearn will make a capital sentinel, for the +fellow is as true as the best steel in the army. Mr. Woods' room is +empty, and it is so far out of the way that nothing will be easier than +to keep the savage snug enough. Besides, by a little management, he +might fancy we were doing him honour all the while." + +"We will see, serjeant," answered the captain. "It has a bad +appearance, and yet it may be the wisest thing we can do. Let us first +go the rounds, taking Nick with us for safety, and determine +afterwards." + + + + + +Chapter XX. + + "His hand was stay'd--he knew not why; + 'Twas a presence breathed around-- + A pleading from the deep-blue sky, + And up from the teeming ground. + It told of the care that lavish'd had been + In sunshine and in dew-- + Of the many things that had wrought a screen + When peril round it grew." + + Mrs. Seba Smith. + +The desertions gave not only the captain, but his great support and +auxiliary, the serjeant, the gravest apprehensions. A disposition of +that nature is always contagious, men abandoning a failing cause much +as rats are known to quit a sinking ship. It is not a matter of +surprise, therefore, that the distrust which accompanied the unexpected +appearance of the Tuscarora, became associated with this falling off in +the loyalty of the garrison, in the minds of the two old soldiers. + +"I do think, your honour," said Joyce, as they entered the court +together, "that we may depend on O'Hearn, and Jamie, and Strides. The +latter, as a matter of course, being a corporal, or serjeant as he +calls himself; and the two first, as men who have no ties but such as +would be likely to keep them true to this family. But here is the +corporal to speak for himself." + +As this was said, corporal Strides, as the serjeant persisted in +terming Joel, on the ground that being but one step higher himself, the +overseer could justly claim no rank of greater pretension, approached +the captain, taking care to make the military salute which Joyce had +never succeeded before in extracting from him, notwithstanding a +hundred admonitions on the subject. + +"This is a distressing affair, captain Willoughby," observed Joel, in +his most jesuitical manner; "and to me it is altogether onaccountable! +It does seem to me ag'in natur', for a man to desart his own household +and hum' (Joel meant '_home_') in the hour of trial. If a fellow- +being wunt (Anglice 'wont') stand by his wife and children, he can +hardly be expected to do any of his duties." + +"Quite true. Strides," answered the confiding captain, "though these +deserters are not altogether as bad as you represent, since, you will +remember, they have carried their wives and children with them." + +"I believe they have, sir--yes, that must be allowed to be true, and +that it is, which to me seems the most extr'or'nary. The very men that +a person would calcilate on the most, or the heads of families, have +desarted, while them that remain behind are mostly single!" + +"If we single men have no wives and children of our own to fight for, +Strides," observed Joyce, with a little military stiffness, "we have +the wife and children of captain Willoughby; no man who wishes to sell +his life dearly, need look for a better motive." + +"Thank you, serjeant," the captain said, feelingly--"On _you_, I +can rely as on myself. So long as I have _you_, and Joel, here, +and Mike and the blacks, and the rest of the brave fellows who have +stood by me thus far, I shall not despair. _We_ can make good the +house against ten times our own number. But, it is time to look to the +Indians." + +"I was going to speak to the captain about Nick," put in Joel, who had +listened to the eulogium on his own fidelity with some qualms of +conscience. "I can't say I like the manner he has passed between the +two parties; and that fellow has always seemed to me as if he owed the +captain a mortal grudge; when an Injin _does_ owe a grudge, he is +pretty sartain to pay it, in full." + +"This has passed over my mind, too, I will confess, Joel; yet Nick and +I have been on reasonably good terms, when one comes to remember his +character, on the one side, and the fact that I have commanded a +frontier garrison on the other. If I have had occasion to flog him a +few times, I have also had occasion to give him more rum than has done +him good, with now and then a dollar." + +"There I think the captain miscalcilates," observed Joel with a +knowledge of human nature that would have been creditable to him, had +he practised on it himself. "No man is thankful for rum when the +craving is off, sin' he knows he has been taking an inimy into his +stomach; and as for the money, it was much the same as giving the +liquor, seem' that it went for liquor as soon as he could trot down to +the mill. A man will seek his revenge for rum, as soon as for anything +else, when he gets to feel injuries uppermost. Besides, I s'pose the +captain knows an injury will be remembered long a'ter a favour is +forgotten." + +"This may be true, Strides, and certainly I shall keep my eyes on the +Indian. Can you mention any particular act, that excites your +suspicion?" + +"Don't the captain think Nick may have had suthin' to do with the +desartions?--A dozen men would scarce desart all at once, as it might +be, onless someone was at the bottom of it." + +This was true enough, certainly, though Joel chose to keep out of view +all his own machinations and arts on the subject. The captain was +struck by the suggestion, and he determined to put his first intention +in respect to Nick in force immediately. Still, it was necessary to +proceed with caution, the state of the Hut rendering a proper watch and +a suitable prison difficult to be obtained. These circumstances were +mentioned to the overseer, who led the way to the part of the buildings +occupied by his own family; and, throwing open the doors, +ostentatiously exhibited Phoebe and her children in their customary +beds, at a moment when so many others had proved recreant. His +professed object was to offer a small closet in his own rooms as a +prison for Nick, remarking he must be an ingenious savage indeed, if he +could escape the vigilance of as many watchful eyes as would then be on +him. + +"I believe you, Strides," said the captain, smiling as he walked away +from the place; "if he can escape Phoebe and _her_ children, the +fellow must be made of quicksilver. Still, I have a better prison in +view. I am glad to see this proof, however, of your own fidelity, by +finding all your family in their beds; for those are not wanting who +would have me suspect even _you_" + +"Me!--Well, if the captain can't count on his own overseer, I should +like to ask such persons on whom he _can_ count? Madam Willoughby +and the young ladies isn't more likely to remain true than I am, +myself, I should think--What in reason, or natur', or all lawful +objects, could make _me_----" + +Joel was about to run into that excess of vindication that is a little +apt to mark guilt; but, the captain cut him short, by telling him it +was unnecessary, recommending vigilance, and walking away in search of +Nick. + +The Indian was found standing beneath the arch of the gateway, upright, +motionless, and patient. A lantern was kept burning here, the place +being used as a sort of guard-house; and, by its light, it was easy to +perceive the state of the still unhung leaf of the passage. This leaf, +however, was propped in its place, by strong timbers; and, on the +whole, many persons would think it the most secure half of the gate. +Captain Willoughby observed that the Indian was studying this +arrangement when he entered the place himself. The circumstance caused +him uneasiness, and quickened his determination to secure the Indian. + +"Well, Nick," he said, concealing his intention under an appearance of +indifference, "you see our gates are well fastened, and steady hands +and quick eyes will do the rest. It is getting late, and I wish to have +you comfortably lodged before I lie down myself. Follow me, and I will +show you to a place where you will be at your ease." + +The Tuscarora understood the captain's object the instant he spoke of +giving him comfortable lodgings, a bed being a thing that was virtually +unknown to his habits. But, he raised no objections, quietly treading +in the other's footsteps, until both were in the bed-room of the absent +Mr. Woods. The apartments of the chaplain were above the library, and, +being in the part of the house that was fortified by the cliff, they +had dormer windows that looked toward the forest. The height of these +windows the captain thought would be a sufficient security against +flight; and by setting Mike and one of the Plinys on the look-out, to +relieve each other at intervals of four hours, he thought the Tuscarora +might be kept until the return of light. The hour when he most +apprehended danger was that which just precedes the day, sleep then +pressing the heaviest on the sentinel's eyelids, and rest having +refreshed the assailants. + +"Here, Wyandotte, I intend you shall pass the night," said the captain, +assuming as much courtesy of manner as if he were doing the honours of +his house to an invited and honoured guest. "I know you despise a bed, +but there are blankets, and by spreading them on the floor, you can +make your own arrangements." + +Nick made a gesture of assent, looking cautiously around him, carefully +avoiding every appearance of curiosity at the same time, more in pride +of character, however, than in cunning. Nevertheless, he took in the +history of the locality at a glance. + +"It is well," he said; "a Tuscarora chief no t'ink of sleep. Sleep come +standing, walking; _where_ he will, _when_ he will. Dog eats, +den lie down to sleep; warrior always ready. Good bye, cap'in--to- +morrow see him ag'in." + +"Good night, Nick. I have ordered your old friend Mike, the Irishman, +to come and sit in your room, lest you might want something in the +night. You are good friends with Mike, I believe; I chose him on that +account." + +The Indian understood this, too; but not an angry gleam, no smile, nor +any other sign, betrayed his consciousness of the captain's motives. + +"Mike _good_" he answered, with emphasis. "Long tongue--short +t'ink. Say much; mean little. Heart sound, like hard oak--mind, like +spunk--burn quick, no too much strong." + +This sententious and accurate delineation of the county Leitrim-man's +characteristics induced a smile in the captain; but, O'Hearn entering +at the moment, and possessing his entire confidence, he saw no use in +replying. In another minute the two worthies were left in possession of +the bed-room, Michael having received a most solemn injunction not to +be tempted to drink. + +It was now so late, the captain determined to let the regular watches +of the night take their course. He held a short consultation with +Joyce, who took the first ward, and then threw himself on a mattrass, +in his clothes, his affectionate wife having done the same thing, by +the side of her daughters and grandson in an adjoining room. In a short +time, the sounds of footsteps ceased in the Hut; and, one unacquainted +with the real state of the household, might have fancied that the peace +and security of one of its ancient midnights were reigning about the +Knoll. + +It was just two in the morning, when the serjeant tapped lightly at the +door of his commanding officer's room. The touch was sufficient to +bring the captain to his feet, and he instantly demanded the news. + +"Nothing but sentry-go, your honour," replied Joyce. "I am as fresh as +a regiment that is just marching out of barracks, and can easily stand +the guard till daylight. Still, as it was orders to call your honour at +two, I could do no less, you know, sir." + +"Very well, serjeant--I will just wash my eyes, and be with you in a +minute. How has the night gone?" + +"Famously quiet, sir. Not even an owl to trouble it. The sentinels have +kept their eyes wide open, dread of the scalping-knife being a good +wakener, and no sign of any alarm has been seen. I will wait for your +honour, in the court, the moment of relieving guard being often chosen +by a cunning enemy for the assault." + +"Yes," sputtered the captain, his face just emerging from the +water--"if he happen to know when that is." + +In another minute, the two old soldiers were together in the court, +waiting the return of Jamie Allen with his report, the mason having +been sent round to the beds of the fresh men to call the guard. It was +not long, however, before the old man was seen hastening towards the +spot where Joyce had bid him come. + +"The Lord ha' maircy on us, and on a' wretched sinners!" exclaimed +Jamie, as soon as near enough to be heard without raising his voice on +too high a key--"there are just the beds of the three Connecticut lads +that were to come into the laird's guard, as empty as a robin's nest +fra' which the yang ha' flown!" + +"Do you mean, Jamie, that the boys have deserted?" + +"It's just that; and no need of ca'ing it by anither name. The Hoose o' +Hanover wad seem to have put the de'il in a' the lads, women and +children included, and to have raised up a spirit o' disaffection, that +is fast leaving us to carry on this terrible warfare with our ain +hearts and bodies." + +"With your honour's permission," said the serjeant, "I would ask +corporal Allen if the deserters have gone off with their arms and +accoutrements?" + +"Airms? Ay, and legs, and a' belonging to 'em, with mair that is the +lawfu' property of the laird. Not so much as a flint is left behind." + +"Then we may count on seeing all the fellows in the enemy's ranks," the +serjeant quietly remarked, helping himself to the tobacco from which he +had refrained throughout the previous hours of the night, Joyce being +too much of a _martinet_ to smoke or chew on duty. "It's up-hill +work, your honour, when every deserter counts two, in this manner. The +civil wars, however, are remarkable for this sort of wheeling, and +facing to the right-about; the same man often changing his colours two +or three times in a campaign." + +Captain Willoughby received the news of this addition to his ill luck +with an air of military stoicism, though he felt, in reality, more like +a father and a husband on the occasion than like a hero. Accustomed to +self-command, he succeeded in concealing the extent of his uneasiness, +while he immediately set about inquiring into the extent of the evil. + +"Joel is to join my watch," he said, "and _he_ may throw some +light on this affair. Let us call him, at once, for a few minutes may +prove of importance." + +Even while speaking, the captain crossed the court, accompanied by the +serjeant and mason; and, ceremony being little attended to on such +occasions, they all entered the quarters of Strides, in a body. The +place was empty! Man, woman, and children had abandoned the spot, +seemingly in a body; and this, too, far from empty-handed. The manner +in which the room had been stripped, indeed, was the first fact which +induced the captain to believe that a man so much and so long trusted +would desert him in a strait so serious. There could be no mistake; +and, for a moment, the husband and father felt such a sinking of the +heart as would be apt to follow the sudden conviction that his enemies +must prevail. + +"Let us look further, Joyce," he said, "and ascertain the extent of the +evil at once." + +"This is a very bad example, your honour, that corporal Strides has set +the men, and we may expect to hear of more desertions. A non- +commissioned officer should have had too much pride for this! I have +always remarked, sir, in the army, that when a non-commissioned officer +left his colours, he was pretty certain to carry off a platoon with +him." + +The search justified this opinion of the serjeant. A complete +examination of the quarters of all the men having been made, it was +ascertained that every white man in the Hut, the serjeant, Jamie Allen, +and a young New England labourer of the name of Blodget excepted, had +abandoned the place. Every man had carried off with him his arms and +ammunition, leaving the rooms as naked of defence as they had been +before they were occupied. Women and children, too, were all gone, +proving that the flights had been made deliberately, and with concert. +This left the Hut to be defended by its owner, the serjeant, the two +Plinys and a young descendant of the same colour, Jamie Allen, Blodget +and Mike, who had not yet been relieved from his ward over the Indian; +eight men in all, who might possibly receive some assistance from the +four black females in the kitchen. + +The captain examined this small array of force, every man but Mike +being up and in the line, with a saddened countenance; for he +remembered what a different appearance it made only the previous day, +when he had his gallant son too, with him, a host in himself. It added +mortification to regret, also, when he remembered that this great loss +had been made without a single blow having been struck in defence of +his precious family, and his lawful rights. + +"We must close the gate of the court, and bar it at once, Joyce," the +captain said, as soon as fully apprised of the true state of his force. +"It will be quite sufficient if we make good the house, with this +handful of men; giving up all hope of doing anything with the stockade. +It is the facility offered by the open gateway that has led to all this +mischief." + +"I don't know, your honour. When desertion once fairly gets into a +man's mind, it's wonderful the means he will find to bring about his +wishes. Corporal Strides, no doubt has passed his family and his kit +through both gates; for, being in authority, our people were hardly +disciplined enough to understand the difference between a non- +commissioned officer _on_ guard and one _off_ guard; but, +there were a hundred ways to mischief, even had there been no gate. +Jamie, take one of the blacks, and bar the inner gate. What is your +honour's pleasure next?" + +"I wish my mind were at ease on the subject of the Tuscarora. With +Nick's assistance as a runner and spy, and even as a sharp-shooter, we +should be vastly stronger. See to the gate yourself, serjeant, then +follow me to Mr. Woods' room." + +This was done, the captain waiting for his companion on the threshold +of the outer door. Ascending the narrow stairs, they were soon on the +floor above, and were happy to find the door of the Tuscarora's prison +fastened without, as they had left it; this precaution having been +taken as a salutary assistance to O'Hearn's sagacity. Undoing these +fastenings, the serjeant stepped aside to allow his superior to precede +him, as became their respective stations. The captain advanced, holding +the lantern before him, and found an empty room. Both Nick and Mike +were gone, though it was not easy to discover by what means they had +quitted the place. The door was secure, the windows were down, and the +chimney was too small to allow of the passage of a human body. The +defection of the Irishman caused the captain great pain, while it +produced surprise even in the serjeant. Mike's fidelity had been +thought of proof; and, for an instant, the master of the place was +disposed to believe some evil spirit had been at work to corrupt his +people. + +"This is more than I could have expected, Joyce!" he said, as much in +sorrow as in anger. "I should have as soon looked for the desertion of +old Pliny as that of Mike!" + +"It is extr'or'nary, sir; but one is never safe without in-and-in +discipline. A drill a week, and that only for an hour or two of a +Saturday afternoon, captain Willoughby, may make a sort of country +militia, but it will do nothing for the field. 'Talk of enlisting men +for a year, serjeant Joyce,' said old colonel Flanker to me, one day in +the last war--'why it will take a year to teach a soldier how to eat. +Your silly fellows in the provincial assemblies fancy because a man has +teeth, and a stomach, and an appetite, that he knows how to _eat_; +but eating is an _art_, serjeant; and military eating above all +other branches of it; and I maintain a soldier can no more learn how to +eat, as a soldier, the colonel meant, your honour, than he can learn to +plan a campaign by going through the manual exercise.' For my part, +captain Willoughby, I have always thought it took a man his first five +years' enlistment to learn how to obey orders." + +"I had thought that Irishman's heart in the right place, Joyce, and +counted as much on him as I did on you!" + +"On me, captain Willoughby!" answered the serjeant, in a tone of +mortification. "I should think your honour would have made some +difference between your old orderly--a man who had served thirty years +in your own regiment, and most of the time in your own company, and a +bit of a wild Hibernian of only ten years' acquaintance, and he a man +who never saw a battalion paraded for real service!" + +"I see my error now, Joyce; but Michael had so much blundering honesty +about him, or seemed to have, that I have been his dupe. It is too +late, however, to repine; the fellow is gone; it only remains to +ascertain the manner of his flight. May not Joel have undone the +fastenings of the door, and let him and the Indian escape together, in +common with the rest of the deserters?" + +"I secured that door, sir, with my own hands, in a military manner, and +know that it was found as I left it. The Rev. Mr. Woods' bed seems to +have been disturbed; perhaps that may furnish a clue." + +A clue the bed did furnish, and it solved the problem. The bed-cord was +removed, and both the sheets and one of the blankets were missing. This +directed the inquiry to the windows, one of which was not closed +entirely. A chimney stood near the side of this window, and by its aid +it was not difficult to reach the ridge of the roof. On the inner side +of the roof was the staging, or walk, already mentioned; and, once on +that, a person could make the circuit of the entire roof, in perfect +safety. Joyce mounted to the ridge, followed by the captain, and gained +the staging with a little effort, whence they proceeded round the +buildings to ascertain if the rope was not yet hanging over the +exterior, as a means of descent. It was found as expected, and +withdrawn lest it might be used to introduce enemies within the house. + +These discoveries put the matter of Michael's delinquency at rest. He +had clearly gone off with his prisoner, and might next be looked for in +the ranks of the besiegers. The conviction of this truth gave the +captain more than uneasiness; it caused him pain, for the county +Leitrim-man had been a favourite with the whole family, and most +especially with his daughter Maud. + +"I do not think you and the blacks will leave me, Joyce," he observed, +as the serjeant and himself descended, by the common passage, to the +court. "On _you_ I can rely, as I would rely on my noble son, were +he with me at this moment." + +"I beg your honour's pardon--few words tell best for a man, deeds being +his duty--but, if your honour will have the condescension just to issue +your orders, the manner in which they shall be obeyed will tell the +whole story." + +"I am satisfied of that, serjeant; we must put shoulder to shoulder, +and die in the breach, should it be necessary, before we give up the +place." + +By this time the two old soldiers were again in the court, where they +found all their remaining force, of the male sex; the men being too +uneasy, indeed, to think of going to their pallets, until better +assured of their safety. Captain Willoughby ordered Joyce to draw them +up in line again, when he addressed them once more in person. + +"My friends," the captain commenced, "there would be little use in +attempting to conceal from you our real situation; nor would it be +strictly honest. You see here every man on whom I can now depend for +the defence of my fireside and family. Mike has gone with the rest, and +the Indian has escaped in his company. You can make up your own +opinions of our chances of success, but my resolution is formed. Before +I open a gate to the merciless wretches without, who are worse than the +savages of the wilderness, possessing all their bad and none of their +redeeming qualities, it is my determination to be buried under the +ruins of this dwelling. But you are not bound to imitate my example; +and, if any man among you, black or white, regrets being here at this +moment, he shall still have arms and ammunition, and food given him, +the gates shall be opened and he may go freely to seek his safety in +the forest. For God's sake let there be no more desertions; he that +wishes to quit me, may now quit me unmolested; but, after this moment, +martial law will _be_, enforced, and I shall give orders to shoot +down any man detected in treachery, as I would shoot down a vicious +dog." + +This address was heard in profound silence. No man stirred, nor did any +man speak. + +"Blodget," continued the captain, "you have been with me a shorter time +than any other person present, and cannot feel the same attachment to +me and mine as the rest. You are the only native American among us, +Joyce excepted--for we count the blacks as nothing in respect to +country--may feel that I am an Englishman born, as I fear has been the +case with the rest of your friends. Perhaps I ought not to ask you to +remain. Take your arms, then, and make the best of your way to the +settlements. Should you reach Albany, you might even serve me +essentially by delivering a letter I will confide to you, and which +will bring us effectual succour." + +The young man did not answer, though his fingers worked on the barrel +of his musket, and he shifted his weight, from leg to leg, like one +whose inward feelings were moved. + +"I believe I understand you, captain Willoughby," he said, at length, +"though I think you don't understand me. I know you old country people +think meanly of us new country people, but I suppose that's in the +nature of things; then, I allow Joel Strides' conduct has been such as +to give you reason to judge us harshly. But there is a difference among +_us_, as well as among the English; and some of us--won't say I am +such a man, but actions speak louder than words, and all will be known +in the end--but _some_ of us will be found true to our bargains, +as well as other men." + +"Bravely answered, my lad," cried the serjeant, heartily, and looking +round at his commander with exultation, to congratulate him on having +such a follower--"This is a man who will obey orders through thick and +thin, I'll answer for it, your honour. Little does he care who's king +or who's governor, so long as he knows his captain and his corps." + +"There you are mistaken, serjeant Joyce," the youth observed, firmly. +"I'm for my country, and I'd quit this house in a minute, did I believe +captain Willoughby meant to help the crown. But I have lived long +enough here to know he is at the most neutral; though I think he rather +favours the side of the colonies than that of the crown." + +"You have judged rightly, Blodget," observed the captain. "I do not +quite like this declaration of independence, though I can scarce blame +congress for having made it. Of the two, I think the Americans nearest +right, and I now conceive myself to be more of an American than an +Englishman. I wish this to be understood, Joyce." + +"Do you, sir?--It's just as your honour pleases. I didn't know which +side it was your pleasure to support, nor does it make any great +difference with most of us. Orders are orders, let them come from king +or colonies. I would take the liberty of recommending, your honour, +that this young man be promoted. Strides' desertion has left a vacancy +among the corporals, and we shall want another for the guard. It would +hardly do to make a nigger a corporal." + +"Very well, Joyce, have it as you wish," interrupted the captain, a +little impatiently; for he perceived he had a spirit to deal with in +Blodget that must hold such trifles at their true value. "Let it be +corporal Allen and corporal Blodget in future." + +"Do you hear, men?--These are general orders. The relieved guard will +fall out, and try to get a little sleep, as we shall parade again half +an hour before day." + +Alas! the relieved guard, like the relief itself, consisted of only two +men, corporal Blodget and Pliny the younger; old Pliny, in virtue of +his household work, being rated as an idler. These five, with the +captain and the serjeant, made the number of the garrison seven, which +was the whole male force that now remained. + +Captain Willoughby directed Joyce and his two companions to go to their +pallets, notwithstanding, assuming the charge of the look-out himself, +and profiting by the occasion to make himself better acquainted with +the character of his new corporal than circumstances had hitherto +permitted. + + + + + +Chapter XXI. + + "For thee they fought, for thee they fell, + And their oath was on thee laid; + To thee the clarions raised their swell, + And the dying warriors pray'd." + + Percival. + +The distaste for each other which existed between the people of New +England and those of the adjoining colonies, anterior to the war of the +revolution, is a matter of history. It was this feeling that threw +Schuyler, one of the ablest and best men in the service of his country, +into the shade, a year later than the period of which we are writing. +This feeling was very naturally produced, and, under the circumstances, +was quite likely to be active in a revolution. Although New England and +New York were contiguous territories, a wide difference existed between +their social conditions. Out of the larger towns, there could scarcely +be said to be a gentry at all, in the former; while the latter, a +conquered province, had received the frame-work of the English system, +possessing Lords of the Manor, and divers other of the fragments of the +feudal system. So great was the social equality throughout the interior +of the New England provinces, indeed, as almost to remove the commoner +distinctions of civilised associations, bringing all classes +surprisingly near the same level, with the exceptions of the very low, +or some rare instance of an individual who was raised above his +neighbours by unusual wealth, aided perhaps by the accidents of birth, +and the advantages of education. + +The results of such a state of society are easily traced. Habit had +taken the place of principles, and a people accustomed to see even +questions of domestic discipline referred, either to the church or to +public sentiment, and who knew few or none of the ordinary distinctions +of social intercourse, submitted to the usages of other conditions of +society, with singular distaste and stubborn reluctance. The native of +New England deferred singularly to great wealth, in 1776 as he is known +to defer to it to-day; but it was opposed to all his habits and +prejudices to defer to social station. Unused to intercourse with what +was then called the great world of the provinces, he knew not how to +appreciate its manners or opinions; and, as is usual with the +provincial, he affected to despise that which he neither practised nor +understood. This, at once, indisposed him to acknowledge the +distinctions of classes; and, when accident threw him into the +adjoining province, he became marked, at once, for decrying the usages +he encountered, comparing them, with singular self-felicitation, to +those he had left behind him; sometimes with justice beyond a doubt, +but oftener in provincial ignorance and narrow bigotry. + +A similar state of things, on a larger scale, has been witnessed, more +especially in western New York, since the peace of '83; the great +inroads of emigrants from the New England states having almost +converted that district of country into an eastern colony. Men of the +world, while they admit how much has been gained in activity, available +intelligence of the practical school, and enterprise, regret that the +fusion has been quite so rapid and so complete; it being apparently a +law of nature that nothing precious that comes of man shall be enjoyed +altogether without alloy. + +The condition in which captain Willoughby was now placed, might have +been traced to causes connected with the feelings and habits above +alluded to. It was distasteful to Joel Strides, and one or two of his +associates, to see a social chasm as wide as that which actually +existed between the family of the proprietor of the Knoll and his own, +growing no narrower; and an active cupidity, with the hopes of +confiscations, or an abandonment of the estate, came in aid of this +rankling jealousy of station; the most uneasy, as it is the meanest of +all our vices. Utterly incapable of appreciating the width of that void +which separates the gentleman from the man of coarse feelings and +illiterate vulgarity, he began to preach that doctrine of exaggerated +and mistaken equality which says "one man is as good as another," a +doctrine that is nowhere engrafted even on the most democratic of our +institutions to-day, since it would totally supersede the elections, +and leave us to draw lots for public trusts, as men are drawn for +juries. On ordinary occasions, the malignant machinations of Strides +would probably have led to no results; but, aided by the opinions and +temper of the times, he had no great difficulty in undermining his +master's popularity, by incessant and well-digested appeals to the envy +and cupidity of his companions. The probity, liberality, and manly +sincerity of captain Willoughby, often counteracted his schemes, it is +true; but, as even the stone yields to constant attrition, so did Joel +finally succeed in overcoming the influence of these high qualities, by +dint of perseverance, and cunning, not a little aided by certain +auxiliaries freely obtained from the Father of Lies. + +As our tale proceeds, Joel's connection with the late movement will +become more apparent, and we prefer leaving the remainder of the +explanations to take their proper places in the course of the +narrative. + +Joyce was so completely a matter of drill, that he was in a sound sleep +three minutes after he had lain down, the negro who belonged to his +guard imitating his industry in this particular with equal coolness. As +for the thoughtful Scotchman, Jamie Allen, sleep and he were strangers +that night. To own the truth, the disaffection of Mike not only +surprised, but it disappointed him. He remained in the court, +therefore, conversing on the subject with the "laird," after his +companions had fallen asleep. + +"I wad na hae' thought that o' Michael," he said, "for the man had an +honest way with him, and was so seeming valiant, that I could na hae' +supposed him capable of proving a desairter. Mony's the time that I've +heard him swear--for Michael was an awfu' hand at that vice, when his +betters were no near to rebuke him--but often has he swore that Madam, +and her winsome daughters, were the pride of his een; ay, and their +delight too!" + +"The poor fellow has yielded to my unlucky fortune, Jamie," returned +the captain, "and I sometimes think it were better had you all imitated +his example." + +"Begging pairdon, captain Willoughby, for the familiarity, but ye're +just wrang, fra' beginning to end, in the supposition. No man with a +hairt in his body wad desairt ye in a time like this, and no mair 's to +be said in the matter. Nor do I think that luuk has had anything to do +with Michael's deficiency, unless ye ca' it luuk to be born and +edicated in a misguiding religion. Michael's catholicity is at the +bottom of his backsliding, ye'll find, if ye look closely into the +maiter." + +"I do not see how that is to be made out, Allen; all sects of the +Christian religion, I believe, teaching us to abide by our engagements, +and to perform our duties." + +"Na doubt--na doubt, 'squire Willoughby--there's a seeming desire to +teach as much in a' churches; but ye'll no deny that the creatur' o' +Rome wears a mask, and that catholicity is, at the best, but a wicked +feature to enter into the worship of God." + +"Catholicism, Jamie, means adherence to the catholic church--" + +"Just that--just that"--interrupted the Scot, eagerly--and it's that o' +which I complain. All protestants--wather fully disposed, or ainly +half-disposed, as may be the case with the English kirk--all +protestants agree in condemning the varry word catholic, which is a +sign and a symbol of the foul woman o' Babylon." + +"Then, Jamie, they agree in condemning what they don't understand. I +should be sorry to think I am not a member of the catholic church +myself." + +Yersal'!--No, captain Willoughby, ye're no catholic, though you are a +bit akin to it, perhaps. I know that Mr. Woods, that's now in the hands +o' the savages, prays for the catholics, and professes to believe in +what he ca's the 'Holy Catholic Kirk;' but, then, I've always supposed +that was in the way o' Christian charity like; for one is obleeged to +use decent language, ye'll be acknowledging, sir, in the pulpit, if +it's only for appearance's sake." + +"Well--well--Jamie; a more fitting occasion may occur for discussing +matters of this nature, and we will postpone the subject to another +time. I may have need of your services an hour or two hence, and it +will be well for every man to come to the work fresh and clear-headed. +Go to your pallet then, and expect an early call." + +The mason was not a man to oppose such an order coming from the +'laird;' and he withdrew, leaving the captain standing in the centre of +the court quite alone. We say alone, for young Blodget had ascended to +the gallery or staging that led around the inner sides of the roofs, +while the negro on guard was stationed at the gateway, as the only +point where the Hut could be possibly carried by a _coup-de-main._ +As the first of these positions commanded the best exterior view from +the inside of the buildings, the captain mounted the stairs he had so +recently descended, and joined the young Rhode Islander at his post. + +The night was star-light, but the elevation at which the two watchers +were placed, was unfavourable to catching glimpses of any lurking +enemy. The height confounded objects with the ground on which they were +placed, though Blodget told the captain he did not think a man could +cross the palisades without his being seen. By moving along the staging +on the southern side of the quadrangle, he could keep a tolerable look- +out, on the front and two flanks, at the same time. Still, this duty +could not be performed without considerable risk, as the head and +shoulders of a man moving along the ridge of the building would be +almost certain to attract the eye of any Indian without. This was the +first circumstance that the captain remarked on joining his companion, +and gratitude induced him to point it out, in order that the other +might, in a degree at least, avoid the danger. + +"I suppose, Blodget, this is the first of your service," said captain +Willoughby, "and it is not easy to impress on a young man the +importance of unceasing vigilance against savage artifices." + +"I admit the truth of all you say, sir," answered Blodget, "though I do +not believe any attempt will be made on the house, until the other side +has sent in what the serjeant calls another flag." + +"What reason have you for supposing this?" asked the captain, in a +little surprise. + +"It seems unreasonable for men to risk their lives when an easier way +to conquest may seem open to them. That is all I meant, captain +Willoughby." + +"I believe I understand you, Blodget. You think Joel and his friends +have succeeded so well in drawing off my men, that they may be inclined +to wait a little, in order to ascertain if further advantages may not +be obtained in the same way." + +Blodget confessed that he had some such thoughts in his mind, while, at +the same time, he declared that he believed the disaffection would go +no further. + +"It is not easy for it to do so," returned the captain, smiling a +little bitterly, as he remembered how many who had eaten of his bread, +and had been cared for by him, in sickness and adversity, had deserted +him in his need, "unless they persuade my wife and daughters to follow +those who have led the way." + +Respect kept Blodget silent for a minute; then uneasiness induced him +to speak. + +"I hope captain Willoughby don't distrust any who now remain with him," +he said. "If so, I know I must be the person." + +"Why you, in particular, young man? With you, surely, have every reason +to be satisfied." + +"It cannot be serjeant Joyce, for he will stay until he get your orders +to march," the youth replied, not altogether without humour in his +manner; "and, as for the Scotchman, he is old, and men of his years are +not apt to wait so long, if they intend to be traitors. The negroes all +love you, as if you were their father, and there is no one but me left +to betray you." + +"I thank you for this short enumeration of my strength, Blodget, since +it gives me new assurance of my people's fidelity. You I _will_ +not distrust; the others I _cannot_, and there is a feeling of +high confidence--What do you see?--why do you lower your piece, and +stand at guard, in this manner?" + +"That is a man's form, sir, on the right of the gate, trying to climb +the palisades. I have had my eye on it, for some time, and I feel sure +of my aim." + +"Hold an instant, Blodget; let us be certain before we act." + +The young man lowered the butt of his piece, waiting patiently and +calmly for his superior to decide. There was a human form visible, sure +enough, and it was seen slowly and cautiously rising until it reached +the summit of the stockade, where it appeared to pause to reconnoitre. +Whether it were a pale-face or a red-skin, it was impossible to +distinguish, though the whole movement left little doubt that an +assailant or a spy was attempting to pass the outer defences. + +"We cannot spare that fellow," said the captain, with a little regret +in his manner; "it is more than we can afford. You must bring him down, +Blodget. The instant you have fired, come to the other end of the +stage, where we will watch the result." + +This arranged, the captain prudently passed away from the spot, turning +to note the proceedings of his companion, the moment he was at the +opposite angle of the gallery. Blodget was in no haste. He waited until +his aim was certain; then the stillness of the valley was rudely broken +by the sharp report of a rifle, and a flash illumined its obscurity. +The figure fell outward, like a bird shot from its perch, lying in a +ball at the foot of the stockade. Still, no cry or groan gave evidence +of nature surprised by keen and unexpected anguish. At the next instant +Blodget was by captain Willoughby's side. His conduct was a pledge of +fidelity that could not be mistaken, and a warm squeeze of the hand +assured the youth of his superior's approbation. + +It was necessary to be cautious, however, and to watch the result with +ceaseless vigilance. Joyce and the men below had taken the alarm, and +the serjeant with his companions were ordered up on the stage +immediately, leaving the negro, alone, to watch the gate. A message was +also sent to the females, to give them confidence, and particularly to +direct the blacks to arm, and to repair to the loops. + +All this was done without confusion, and with so little noise as to +prevent those without from understanding what was in progress. Terror +kept the negroes silent, and discipline the others. As every one had +lain down in his or her clothes, it was not a minute before every being +in the Hut was up, and in motion. It is unnecessary to speak of the +mental prayers and conflicting emotions with which Mrs. Willoughby and +her daughters prepared themselves for the struggle; and, yet, even the +beautiful and delicate Maud braced her nerves to meet the emergency of +a frontier assault. As for Beulah, gentle, peaceful, and forgiving as +she was by nature, the care of little Evert aroused all the mother +within her, and something like a frown that betokened resolution was, +for a novelty, seen on her usually placid face. + +A moment sufficed to let Joyce and his companions into the state of +affairs. There now being four armed men on the stage, one took each of +the three exposed sides of the buildings to watch, leaving the master +of the house to move from post to post, to listen to suggestions, hear +reports, and communicate orders. + +The dark object that lay at the foot of the palisades was pointed out +to the serjeant the instant he was on the stage, and one of his offices +was to observe it, in order to ascertain if it moved, or whether any +attempts were made to carry off the body. The American Indians attach +all the glory or shame of a battle to the acquisition or loss of +scalps, and one of their practices was to remove those who had fallen, +at every hazard, in order to escape the customary mutilation. Some +tribes even believed it disgrace to suffer a dead body to be struck by +the enemy, and many a warrior has lost his life in the effort to save +the senseless corpse of a comrade from this fancied degradation. + +As soon as the little stir created in the Hut by the mustering of the +men was over, a stillness as profound as that which had preceded the +alarm reigned around the place. No noise came from the direction of the +mill; no cry, or call, or signal of battle was heard; everything lay in +the quiet of midnight. Half an hour thus passed, when the streak of +light that appeared in the east announced the approach of day. + +The twenty minutes that succeeded were filled with intense anxiety. The +slow approach of light gradually brought out object after object in the +little panorama, awakening and removing alike, conjectures and +apprehensions. At first the grey of the palisades became visible; then +the chapel, in its sombre outlines; the skirts of the woods; the +different cabins that lined them; the cattle in the fields, and the +scattering trees. As for Joyce, he kept his gaze fastened on the object +at the foot of the stockade, expecting every instant there would be an +attempt to carry it off. + +At length, the light became so strong as to allow the eye to take in +the entire surface of the natural _glacis_ without the defences, +bringing the assurance that no enemy was near. As the ground was +perfectly clear, a few fruit-trees and shrubs on the lawn excepted, and +by changing positions on the stage, these last could now be examined on +all sides, nothing was easier than to make certain of this fact. The +fences, too, were light and open, rendering it impossible for any +ambush or advancing party to shelter itself behind them. In a word, +daylight brought the comfortable assurance to those within the +palisades that another night was passed without bringing an assault. + +"We shall escape this morning, I do believe, Joyce," said the captain, +who had laid down his rifle, and no longer felt it necessary to keep +the upper portions of his body concealed behind the roof--"Nothing can +be seen that denotes an intention to attack, and not an enemy is near." + +"I will take one more thorough look, your honour," answered the +serjeant, mounting to the ridge of the building, where he obtained the +immaterial advantage of seeing more at the same time, at the risk of +exposing his whole person, should any hostile rifle be in reach of a +bullet--"then we may be certain." + +Joyce was a man who stood just six feet in his stockings, and, losing +no part of this stature by his setting up, a better object for a sharp- +shooter could not have been presented than he now offered. The crack of +a rifle soon saluted the ears of the garrison; then followed the +whizzing of the bullet as it came humming through the air towards the +Hut. But the report was so distant as at once to announce that the +piece was discharged from the margin of the forest; a certain evidence +of two important facts; one, that the enemy had fallen back to a cover; +the other, that the house was narrowly watched. + +Nothing tries the nerves of a young soldier more than the whizzing of a +distant fire. The slower a bullet or a shot approaches, the more noise +it makes; and, the sound continuing longer than is generally imagined, +the uninitiated are apt to imagine that the dangerous missile is +travelling on an errand directly towards themselves. Space appears +annihilated, and raw hands are often seen to duck at a round shot that +is possibly flying a hundred yards from them. + +On the present occasion, the younger Pliny fairly squatted below the +root Jamie thought it prudent to put some of his own masonry, which was +favourably placed in an adjacent chimney for such a purpose, between +him and the spot whence the report proceeded; while even Blodget looked +up into the air, as if he expected to _see_ where the bullet was +going. Captain Willoughby had no thought of the missile he was looking +for the smoke in the skirts of the woods, to note the spot; while +Joyce, with folded arms, stood at rest on the ridge, actually examining +the valley in another direction, certain that a fire so distant could +not be very dangerous. + +Jamie's calculation proved a good one. The bullet struck against the +chimney, indented a brick, and fell upon the shingles of the roof. +Joyce descended at the next instant, and he coolly picked up, and kept +tossing the flattened bit of lead in his hand, for the next minute or +two, with the air of a man who seemed unconscious of having it at all. + +"The enemy is besieging us, your honour," said Joyce, "but he will not +attack at present. If I might presume to advise, we shall do well to +leave a single sentinel on this stage, since no one can approach the +palisades without being seen, if the man keeps in motion." + +"I was thinking of this myself, serjeant; we will first post Blodget +here. We can trust him; and, as the day advances, a-less intelligent +sentinel will answer. At the same time, he must be instructed to keep +an eye in the rear of the Hut, danger often coming from the quarter +least expected." + +All this was done, and the remainder of the men descended to the court. +Captain Willoughby ordered the gate unbarred, when he passed outside, +taking the direction towards the lifeless body, which still lay where +it had fallen, at the foot of the stockades. He was accompanied by +Joyce and Jamie Allen, the latter carrying a spade, it being the +intention to inter the savage as the shortest means of getting rid of a +disagreeable object. Our two old soldiers had none of the sensitiveness +on the subject of exposure that is so apt to disturb the tyro in the +art of war. With sentinels properly posted, they had no apprehensions +of dangers that did not exist, and they moved with confidence and +steadily wherever duty called. Not only was the inner gate opened and +passed, but the outer also, the simple precaution of stationing a man +at the first being the only safeguard taken. + +When outside of the palisades, the captain and his companions proceeded +at once towards the body. It was now sunrise, and a rich light was +illuminating the hill-tops, though the direct rays of the luminary had +not yet descended to the valley. There lay the Indian, precisely as he +had fallen, no warrior having interposed to save him from the scalping- +knife. His head had reached the earth first, and the legs and body were +tumbled on it, in a manner to render the form a confused pile of legs +and blanket, rather than a bold savage stretched in the repose of +death. + +"Poor fellow!" exclaimed the captain, as the three approached the spot; +"it is to be hoped Blodget's bullet did its commission faithfully, else +the fall must have hurt him sadly." + +"By Jove, 'tis nothing but a stuffed soldier!" cried Joyce, rolling the +ingeniously contrived bundle over with his foot; "and here, the lad's +ball has passed directly through its head! This is Injin deviltry, sir; +it has been tried, in order to see whether our sentinels were or were +not asleep." + +"To me, Joyce, it seems more like a white man's clumsiness. The fellow +has been made to resemble an Indian, but people of our own colour have +had a hand in the affair." + +"Well, sir, let that be as it may, it is lucky our youngster had so +quick, an eye, and so nimble a finger. See, your honour; here is the +pole by which the effigy was raised to the top of the palisades, and +here is the trail on the grass yet, by which his supporter has crept +off. The fellow seems to have scrambled along in a hurry; his trail is +as plain as that of a whole company." + +The captain examined the marks left on the grass, and was of opinion +that more than one man had been employed to set up the decoy figure, a +circumstance that seemed probable in itself, when the weight of the +image and the danger of exposure were remembered.--Let that be as it +might, he was rejoiced on reflection that no one was hurt, and he still +retained the hope of being able to come to such an understanding with +his invaders as to supersede the necessity of actual violence. + +"At all events, your honour, I will carry the quaker in," said Joyce, +tossing the stuffed figure on a shoulder. "He do to man the quaker gun +at least, and may be of use in frightening some one of the other side, +more than he has yet frightened us." + +Captain Willoughby did not object, though he reminded Joyce that the +desertions had probably put the enemy in possession of a minute +statement of their defences and force, including the history of the +wooden gun. If Joel and his fellow-delinquents had joined the party at +the mill, the name, age, character and spirit of every man remaining in +the garrison were probably known to its leaders; and neither quakers +nor paddies would count for much in opposing an assault. + +The captain came within the gate of the palisades last, closing, +barring, and locking it with his own hands, when all immediate +apprehensions from the enemy ceased. He knew, certainly, that it would +probably exceed his present means of resistance, to withstand a +vigorous assault; but, on the other hand, he felt assured that Indians +would never approach a stockade in open day, and expose themselves to +the hazards of losing some fifteen or twenty of their numbers, before +they could carry the place. This was opposed to all their notions of +war, neither honour nor advantage tempting them to adopt it. As for the +first, agreeably to savage notions, glory was to be measured by the +number of scalps taken and lost; and, counting all the women left in +the Hut, there would not be heads enough to supply a sufficient number +to prove an offset to those which would probably be lost in the +assault. + +All this did the captain discuss in few words, with the serjeant, when +he proceeded to join his anxious and expecting wife and daughters. + +"God has looked down upon us in mercy, and protected us this night," +said the grateful Mrs. Willoughby, with streaming eyes, as she received +and returned her husband's warm embrace. "We cannot be too thankful, +when we look at these dear girls, and our precious little Evert. If +Robert were only with us now, I should be entirely happy!" + +"Such is human nature, my little Maud"--answered the captain, drawing +his darling towards himself and kissing her polished forehead. "The +very thoughts of being in our actual strait would have made your mother +as miserable as her worst enemy could wish--if, indeed, there be such a +monster on earth as _her_ enemy--and, now she protests she is +delighted because our throats were not all cut last night. We are safe +enough for the day I think, and not another night shall one of you pass +in the Hut, if I can have my way. If there be such a thing as +desertion, there is such a thing as evacuation also." + +"Hugh!--What _can_ you, _do_ you mean! Remember, we are +surrounded by a wilderness." + +"I know our position reasonably well, wife of mine, and intend to turn +that knowledge to some account, God willing, and aiding. I mean to +place old Hugh Willoughby by the side of Xenophon and Washington, and +let the world see what a man is capable of, on a retreat, when he has +such a wife, two such daughters, and a grandson like that, on his +hands. As for Bob, I would not have him here, on any account. The young +dog would run away with half the glory." + +The ladies were too delighted to find their father and husband in such +spirits, to be critical, and all soon after sat down to an early +breakfast, to eat with what appetite they could. + + + + + +Chapter XXII. + + Yet I well remember + The favours of these men: were they not mine? + Did they not sometimes cry, all hail! to me? + So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve + Found truth in all but one; I in twelve thousand none. + + _Richard II_. + +That which captain Willoughby had said in seeming pleasantry he +seriously meditated. The idea of passing another night in the Hut, +supported by only six men, with more than ten times that number +besieging him, and with all the secrets of his defences known, through +the disaffection of his retainers, was, to the last degree, painful to +him. Had his own life, alone, been at risk, military pride might have +tempted him to remain; but his charge was far too precious to be +exposed on account of considerations so vain. + +No sooner, therefore, was the breakfast over, than captain summoned +Joyce to a consultation on the contemplated movement. The interview +took place in the library, whither the serjeant repaired, on receiving +his superior's orders. As to the party without, no apprehension was +felt, so long as the sentinels were even moderately vigilant, and the +day lasted. + +"I suppose, serjeant," commenced captain Willoughby, "a soldier of your +experience is not to be taught what is the next resort of a commanding +officer, when he finds himself unable to make good his ground against +his enemy in front?" + +"It is to retreat, your honour. The road that cannot be passed, must be +turned." + +"You have judged rightly. It is now my intention to evacuate the Hut, +and to try our luck on a march to the rear. A retreat, skilfully +executed, is a creditable thing; and any step appears preferable to +exposing the dear beings in the other room to the dangers of a night +assault." + +Joyce appeared struck with the suggestion; though, if one might have +judged from the expression of his countenance, far from favourably. He +reflected a moment ere he answered. + +"Did your honour send for me," he then inquired, "to issue orders for +this retreat, or was it your pleasure to hear anything I might have to +say about it?" + +"The last--I shall give no orders, until I know your opinion of the +measure." + +"It is as much the duty of an inferior to speak his mind freely, when +he is called for an opinion, captain Willoughby, as it is to obey in +silence, when he gets nothing but orders. According to my views of the +matter, we shall do better to stand our ground, and try to make good +the house against these vagabonds, than to trust to the woods." + +"Of course you have your reasons for this opinion, Joyce?" + +"Certainly, your honour. In the first place, I suppose it to be against +the rules of the art of war to evacuate a place that is well +provisioned, without standing an assault. This we have not yet done. It +is true, sir, that our ranks are thinned by desertions; but I never +heard of a garrisoned town, or a garrisoned house, capitulating on +account of a few deserters; and, I take it, evacuation is only the next +step before capitulation." + +"But our desertions, Joyce, have not been _few_, but _many._ +Three times as many have left us, if we include our other losses, as +remain. It matters not whence the loss proceeds, so long as it is a +loss." + +"A retreat, with women and baggage, is always a ticklish operation, +your honour, especially if an enemy is pressing your rear! Then we have +a wilderness before us, and the ladies could hardly hold out for so +long a march as that from this place to the Mohawk; short of which +river they will hardly be as safe as they are at present." + +"I have had no such march in view, Joyce. You know there is a +comfortable hut, only a mile from this very spot on the mountain side, +where we commenced a clearing for a sheep-pasture, only three summers +since. The field is in rich grass; and, could we once reach the cabin, +and manage to drive a cow or two up there, we might remain a month in +security. As for provisions and clothes, we could carry enough on our +backs to serve us all several weeks; especially if assisted by the +cows." + +"I'm glad your honour has thought of this idea," said the serjeant, his +face brightening as he listened; "it will be a beautiful operation to +fall back on that position, when we can hold out no longer in this. The +want of some such arrangement has been my only objection to this post, +captain Willoughby; for, we have always seemed to me, out here in the +wilderness, like a regiment drawn up with a ravine or a swamp in its +rear." + +"I am glad to find you relishing the movement for any cause, serjeant. +It is my intention at present to make the necessary arrangements to +evacuate the Hut, while it is light; and, as soon as it is dark, to +retreat by the gates, the palisades, and the rivulet--How now, Jamie? +You look as if there were news to communicate?" + +Jamie Allen, in truth, had entered at that instant in so much haste as +to have overlooked the customary ceremony of sending in his name, or +even of knocking. + +"News!" repeated the mason, with a sort of wondering smile "and it's +just that I've come to bring. Wad ye think it, baith, gentlemen, that +our people are in their am cabins ag'in, boiling their pots, and frying +their pork, a' the same as if the valley was in a state of +tranquillity, and we so many lairds waiting for them to come and do our +pleasure!" + +"I do not understand you, Jamie--whom do you mean by 'our people'?" + +"Sure, just the desairters; Joel, and the miller, and Michael, and the +rest." + +"And the cabins--and the pots--and the pork--it is gibberish to me." + +"I hae what ye English ca' an aiccent, I know; but, in my judgment, +captain Willoughby, the words may be comprehended without a dictionary. +It's just that Joel Strides, and Daniel the miller, and the rest o' +them that fleed, the past night, have gane into their ain abodes, and +have lighted their fires, and put over their pots and kettles, and set +up their domestic habitudes, a' the same as if this Beaver Dam was ain +o' the pairks o' Lonnon!" + +"The devil they have! Should this be the case, serjeant, our sortie may +be made at an earlier hour than that mentioned. I never will submit to +such an insult." + +Captain Willoughby was too much aroused to waste many words; and, +seizing his hat, he proceeded forthwith to take a look for himself. The +stage, or gallery on the roofs, offering the best view, in a minute he +and his two companions were on it. + +"There; ye'll be seein' a smoke in Joel's habitation, with your own +een; and, yon is anither, in the dwelling of his cousin Seth," said +Jamie, pointing in the direction he named. + +"Smoke there is, of a certainty; but the Indians may have lighted fires +in the kitchen, to do their own cooking. This looks like investing us, +serjeant, rather more closely than the fellows have done before." + +"I rather think not, your honour--Jamie is right, or my eyes do not +know a man from a woman. That is certainly a female in the garden of +Joel, and I'll engage it's Phoebe, pulling onions for his craving +stomach, the scoundrel!" + +Captain Willoughby never moved without his little glass, and it was +soon levelled at the object mentioned. + +"By Jupiter, you are right, Joyce"--he cried. "It is Phoebe, though the +hussy is coolly weeding, not culling the onions! Ay--and now I see Joel +himself! The rascal is examining some hoes, with as much philosophy as +if he were master of them, and all near them. This is a most singular +situation to be in!" + +This last remark was altogether just. The situation of those in the Hut +was now singular indeed. Further examination showed that every cabin +had its tenant, no one of the party that remained within the palisades +being a householder. By using the glass, and pointing it, in +succession, at the different dwellings, the captain in due time +detected the presence of nearly every one of the deserters. Not a man +of them all, in fact, was missing, Mike alone excepted. There they +were, with their wives and children, in quiet possession of their +different habitations. Nor was this all; the business of the valley +seemed as much on their minds as had been their practice for years. +Cows were milked, the swine were fed, poultry was called and cared for, +and each household was also making the customary preparations for the +morning meal. + +So absorbed was the captain with this extraordinary scene, that he +remained an hour on the staging, watching the course of events. The +breakfasts were soon over, having been later than common, and a little +hurried; then commenced the more important occupations of the day. A +field was already half ploughed, in preparation for a crop of winter +grain; thither Joel himself proceeded, with the necessary cattle, +accompanied by the labourers who usually aided him in that particular +branch of husbandry. Three ploughs were soon at work, with as much +regularity and order as if nothing had occurred to disturb the +tranquillity of the valley. The axes of the wood-choppers were next +heard, coming out of the forest, cutting fuel for the approaching +winter; and a half-finished ditch had its workmen also, who were soon +busy casting up the soil, and fashioning their trench. In a word, all +the suspended toil was renewed with perfect system and order. + +"This beats the devil himself, Joyce!" said the captain, after a half- +hour of total silence. "Here are all these fellows at work as coolly as +if I had just given them their tasks, and twice as diligently. Their +unusual industry is a bad symptom of itself!" + +"Your honour will remark one circumstance. Not a rascal of them all +comes within the fair range of a musket, for, as to throwing away +ammunition at such distances, it would be clearly unmilitary, and might +be altogether useless." + +"I have half a mind to scatter them with a volley"--said the captain, +doubtingly. "Bullets would take effect among those ploughmen, could +they only be made to hit." + +"And amang the cattle, too," observed the Scotsman, who had an eye on +the more economical part of the movement, as well as on that which was +military. "A ball would slay a horse as well as a man in such a +skairmish." + +"This is true enough, Jamie; and it is not exactly the sort of warfare +I could wish, to be firing at men who were so lately my friends. I do +not see, Joyce, that the rascals have any arms with them?" + +"Not a musket, sir. I noticed that, when Joel first detailed his +detachments. Can it be possible that the savages have retired?" + +"Not they; else would Mr. Strides and his friends have gone with them. +No, serjeant, there is a deep plan to lead us into some sort of ambush +in this affair, and we will be on the look-out for them." + +Joyce stood contemplating the scene for some, time, in profound +silence, when he approached the captain formally, and made the usual +military salute; a ceremony he had punctiliously observed, on all +proper occasions, since the garrison might be said to be placed under +martial law. + +"If it's your honour's pleasure," he said, "I will detail a detachment, +and go out and bring in two or three of these deserters; by which means +we shall get into their secrets." + +"A detachment, Joyce!" answered the captain, eyeing his subordinate a +little curiously--"What troops do you propose to tell-off for the +service?" + +"Why, your honour, there's corporal Allen and old Pliny off duty; I +think the thing might be done with them, if your honour would have the +condescension to order corporal Blodget, with the two other blacks, to +form as a supporting party, under the cover of one of the fences." + +"A disposition of my force that would leave captain Willoughby for a +garrison! I thank you, serjeant, for your offer and gallantry, but +prudence will not permit it. We may set down Strides and his companions +as so many knaves, and----" + +"That may ye!" cried Mike's well-known voice, from the scuttle that +opened into the garrets, directly in front of which the two old +soldiers were conversing--"That may ye, and no har-r-m done the trut', +or justice, or for that matther, meself. Och! If I had me will of the +blackguards, every rogue of 'em should be bound hand and fut and laid +under that pratthy wather-fall, yon at the mill, until his sins was +washed out of him. Would there be confessions then?--That would there; +and sich letting out of sacrets as would satisfy the conscience of a +hog!" + +By the time Mike had got through this sentiment he was on the staging, +where he stood hitching up his nether garment, with a meaning grin on +his face that gave a peculiar expression of heavy cunning to the +massive jaw and capacious mouth, blended with an honesty and good- +nature that the well-meaning fellow was seldom without when he +addressed any of the captain's family. Joyce glanced at the captain, +expecting orders to seize the returned run-away; but his superior read +at once good faith in the expression of his old retainer's countenance. + +"You have occasioned us a good deal of surprise, O'Hearn, on more +accounts than one," observed the captain, who thought it prudent to +assume more sternness of manner than his feelings might have actually +warranted. "You have not only gone off yourself, but you have suffered +your prisoner to escape with you. Then your manner of getting into the +house requires an explanation. I shall hear what you have to say before +I make up my mind as to your conduct." + +"Is it spake I will?--That will I, and as long as it plase yer honour +to listen. Och! Isn't that Saucy Nick a quare one? Divil burn me if I +thinks the likes of him is to be found in all Ameriky, full as it is of +Injins and saucy fellies! Well, now, I suppose, sarjeant, ye've set me +down as sin riding off with Misther Joel and his likes, if ye was to +open yer heart, and spake yer thrue mind?" + +"You have been marked for a deserter, O'Hearn, and one, too, that +deserted from post." + +"Post! Had I been _that_, I shouldn't have stirred, and ye'd be +wanting in the news I bring ye from the Majjor, and Mr. Woods, and the +savages, and the rest of the varmints." + +"My son!--Is this possible, Michael? Have you seen _him_, or can +you tell us anything of his state?" + +Mike now assumed a manner of mysterious importance, laying a finger on +his nose, and pointing towards the sentinel and Jamie. + +"It's the sarjeant that I considers as one of the family," said the +county Leitrim-man, when his pantomime was through, "but it isn't +dacent to be bawling out sacrets through a whole nighbourhood; and +then, as for _Ould_ Nick--or Saucy Nick, or whatever ye calls +him--Och! isn't he a _pratthy_ Injin! Ye'll mar-r-ch t'rough +Ameriky, and never see his aiquel!" + +"This will never do, O'Hearn. Whatever you have to say must be said +clearly, and in the simplest manner. Follow to the library, where I +will hear your report. Joyce, you will accompany us." + +"Let him come, if he wishes to hear wonderful achaivements!" answered +Mike, making way for the captain to descend the steps; then following +himself, talking as he went. "He'll niver brag of his campaigns ag'in +to the likes of me, seeing that I've outdone him, ten--ay, forty times, +and boot. Och! that Nick's a divil, and no har-r-m said!" + +"In the first place, O'Hearn," resumed the captain, as soon as the +three were alone in the library--"you must explain your own desertion." + +"Me!--Desart! Sure, it isn't run away from yer honour, and the Missus, +and Miss Beuly, and pratthy Miss Maud, and the child, that's yer +honour's m'aning?" + +This was said with so much nature and truth, that the captain had not +the heart to repeat the question, though Joyce's more drilled feelings +were less moved. The first even felt a tear springing to his eye, and +he no longer distrusted the Irishman's fidelity, as unaccountable as +his conduct did and must seem to his cooler judgment. But Mike's +sensitiveness had taken the alarm, and it was only to be appeased by +explanations. + +"Yer honour's not sp'aking when I questions ye on that same?" he +resumed, doubtingly. + +"Why, Mike, to be sincere, it did look a little suspicious when you not +only went, off yourself, but you let the Indian go off with you." + +"Did it?"--said Mike, mus'ng--"No, I don't allow that, seein' that the +intent and object was good. And, then, I never took the Injin wid +_me_; but 'twas I, meself, that went wid _him_." + +"I rather think, your honour," said Joyce, smiling, "we'll put +O'Hearn's name in its old place on the roster, and make no mark against +him at pay-day." + +"I think it will turn out so, Joyce. We must have patience, too, and +let Mike tell his story in his own way." + +"Is it tell a story, will I? Ah!--Nick's the cr'ature for that same! +See, he has given me foor bits of sticks, every one of which is to tell +a story, in its own way. This is the first; and it manes let the +captain into the sacret of your retrait; and how you got out of the +windie, and how you comes near to breaking yer neck by a fall becaase +of the fut's slipping; and how ye wint down the roof by a rope, the +divil a bit fastening it to yer neck, but houlding it in yer hand with +sich a grip as if 'twere the fait' of the church itself; and how Nick +led ye to the hole out of which ye hot' wint, as if ye had been two +cats going t'rough a door!" + +Mike stopped to grin and look wise, as he recounted the manner of the +escape, the outlines of which, however, were sufficiently well known to +his auditors before he, began. + +"Throw away that stick, now, and let us know where this hole is, and +what you mean by it." + +"No"--answered Mike, looking at the stick, in a doubting manner--"I'll +not t'row it away, wid yer honour's l'ave, 'till I've told ye how we +got into the brook, forenent the forest, and waded up to the woods, +where we was all the same as if we had been two bits of clover tops hid +in a haymow. That Nick is a cr'ature at consailment!" + +"Go on," said the captain, patiently, knowing that there was no use in +hurrying one of Mike's peculiar mode of communicating his thoughts. +"What came next?" + +"That will I; and the r'ason comes next, as is seen by this oder stick. +And, so, Nick and meself was in the chaplain's room all alone, and +n'ither of us had any mind to dhrink; Nick becaase he was a prisoner +and felt crass, and full of dignity like; and meself becaase I was a +sentinel; and sarjeant Joyce, there, had tould me, the Lord knows how +often, that if I did my duty well, I might come to be a corporal, which +was next in rank to himself; barring, too, that I was a sentinel, and a +drunken sentinel is a disgrace to a man, sowl and body, and musket." + +"And so neither of you drank?"--put in the captain, by way of a +reminder. + +"For that same r'ason, and one betther still, as we had nothin' _to_ +dhrink. Well, says Nick--'Mike,' says he--'you like cap'in, and +Missus, and Miss Beuly, and Miss Maud, and the babby?' Divil burn ye, +Nick,' says I, 'why do ye ask so foolish a question? Is it likes ye +would know? Well--then just ask yerself if you likes yer own kith and +kin, and ye've got yer answer.'" + +"And Nick made his proposal, on getting this answer," interrupted the +captain, "which was--" + +"Here it is, on the stick. 'Well,' says Nick, says he--'run away wid +Nick, and see Majjor; bring back news. Nick cap'in friend, but cap'in +don't know it--won't believe'--Fait', I can't _tell_ yer honour +all Nick said, in his own manner; and so, wid yer Pave, I'll just tell +it in my own way." + +"Any way, Mike, so that you do but tell it." + +"Nick's a cr'ature! His idee was for us two to get out of the windie, +and up on the platform, and to take the bedcord, and other things, and +slide down upon the ground--and we _did_ it! As sure as yer honour +and the sarjeant is there, we did _that same_, and no bones broke! +'Well,' says I, 'Nick, ye're here, sure enough, but how do you mane to +get _out_ of here? Is it climb the palisades ye will, and be shot +by a sentinel?'--if there was one, which there wasn't, yer honour, +seeing that all had run away--'or do ye mane to stay here,' says I, +'and be taken a prisoner of war ag'in, in which case ye'll be two +prisoners, seem' that ye've been taken wonst already, will ye Nick?' +says I. So Nick never spoke, but he held up his finger, and made a sign +for me to follow, as follow I did; and we just crept through the +palisade, and a mhighty phratty walk we had of it, alang the meadies, +and t'rough the lanes, the rest of the way." + +"You crept through the palisades, Mike! There is no outlet of +sufficient size." + +"I admits the hole is a tight squaze, but 'twill answer. And then it's +just as good for an inlet as it is for an outlet, seein' that I came +t'rough it this very marnin'. Och! Nick's a cr'ature! And how d'ye +think that hole comes there, barring all oversights in setting up the +sticks?" + +"It has not been made intentionally, I should hope, O'Hearn?" + +"'Twas made by Joel, and that by just sawing off a post, and forcin' +out a pin or two, so that the palisade works like a door. Och! it's +nately contrived, and it manes mischief." + +"This must be looked to, at once," cried the captain; "lead the way, +Mike, and show us the spot." + +As the Irishman was nothing loth, all three were soon in the court, +whence Mike led the way through the gate, round to the point where the +stockade came near the cliffs, on the eastern side of the buildings. +This was the spot where the path that led down to the spring swept +along the defences, and was on the very route by which the captain +contemplated retreating, as well as on that by which Maud had entered +the Hut, the night of the invasion. At a convenient place, a palisade +had been sawed off, so low in the ground that the sods, which had been +cut and were moveable, concealed the injury, while the heads of the +pins that ought to have bound the timber to the cross-piece, were in +their holes, leaving everything apparently secure. On removing the +sods, and pushing the timber aside, the captain ascertained that a man +might easily pass without the stockade. As this corner was the most +retired within the works, there was no longer any doubt that the hole +had been used by all the deserters, including the women and children. +In what manner it became known to Nick, however, still remained matter +of conjecture. + +Orders were about to be given to secure this passage, when it occurred +to the captain it might possibly be of use in effecting his own +retreat. With this object in view, then, he hastened away from the +place, lest any wandering eye without might detect his presence near +it, and conjecture the cause. On returning to the library, the +examination of Mike was resumed. + +As the reader must be greatly puzzled with the county Leitrim-man's +manner of expressing himself, we shall relate the substance of what he +now uttered, for the sake of brevity. It would seem that Nick had +succeeded in persuading Mike, first, that he, the Tuscarora, was a fast +friend of the captain and his family, confined by the former, in +consequence of a misconception of the real state of the Indian's +feelings, much to the detriment of all their interests; and that no +better service could be rendered the Willoughbys than to let Nick +depart, and for the Irishman to go with him. Mike, however, had not the +slightest idea of desertion, the motive which prevailed on him to quit +the Hut being a desire to see the major, and, if possible, to help him +escape. As soon as this expectation was placed before his eyes, Mike +became a convert to the Indian's wishes. Like all exceedingly zealous +men, the Irishman had an itching propensity to be doing, and he was +filled with a sort of boyish delight at the prospect of effecting a +great service to those whom he so well loved, without their knowing it. +Such was the history of Michael's seeming desertion; that of what +occurred after he quitted the works remains to be related. + +The Tuscarora led his companion out of the Hut, within half an hour +after they had been left alone together, in the room of Mr. Woods. As +this was subsequently to Joel's flight, Nick, in anticipation of this +event, chose to lie in ambush a short time, in order to ascertain +whether the defection was likely to go any further. Satisfied on this +head, he quietly retired towards the mill. After making a sufficient +_detour_ to avoid being seen from the house, Nick gave himself no +trouble about getting into the woods, or of practising any of the +expedients of a time of real danger, as had been done by all of the +deserters; but he walked leisurely across the meadows, until he struck +the highway, along which he proceeded forthwith to the rocks. All this +was done in a way that showed he felt himself at home, and that he had +no apprehensions of falling into an ambush. It might have arisen from +his familiarity with the ground; or, it might have proceeded from the +consciousness that he was approaching friends, instead of enemies. + +At the rocks, however, Nick did not deem it wise to lead Mike any +farther, without some preliminary caution. The white man was concealed +in one of the clefts, therefore, while the Indian pursued his way +alone. The latter was absent an hour; at the end of that time he +returned, and, after giving Mike a great many cautions about silence +and prudence, he led him to the cabin of the miller, in the buttery of +which Robert Willoughby was confined. To this buttery there was a +window; but, as it was so small as to prevent escape, no sentinel had +been placed on the outside of the building. For his own comfort, too, +and in order to possess his narrow lodgings to himself, the major had +given a species of parole, by which he was bound to remain in duresse, +until the rising of the next sun. Owing to these two causes, Nick had +been enabled to approach the window, and to hold communications with +the prisoner. This achieved, he returned to the rocks, and led Mike to +the same spot. + +Major Willoughby had not been able to write much, in consequence of the +darkness. That which he communicated, accordingly, had to pass through +the fiery ordeal of the Irishman's brains. As a matter of course it did +not come with particular lucidity, though Mike did succeed in making +his auditors comprehend this much. + +The major was substantially well treated, though intimations had been +given that he would be considered as a spy. Escape seemed next to +impossible; still, he should not easily abandon the hope. From all he +had seen, the party was one of that irresponsible character that would +render capitulation exceedingly hazardous, and he advised his father to +hold out to the last. In a military point of view, he considered his +captors as contemptible, being without a head; though many of the +men:--the savages in particular--appeared to be ferocious and +reckless. The whole party was guarded in discourse, and little was said +in English, though he was convinced that many more whites were present +than he had at first believed. Mr. Woods he had not seen, nor did he +know anything of his arrest or detention. + +This much Mike succeeded in making the captain comprehend, though a +great deal was lost through the singular confusion that prevailed in +the mind of the messenger. Mike however, had still another +communication, which we reserve for the ears of the person to whom it +was especially sent. + +This news produced a pause in captain Willoughby's determination. Some +of the fire of youth awoke within him, and he debated with himself on +the possibility of making a sortie, and of liberating his son, as a +step preliminary to victory; or, at least, to a successful retreat. +Acquainted with every foot of the ground, which had singular facilities +for a step so bold, the project found favour in his eyes each minute, +and soon became fixed. + + + + + +Chapter XXIII. + + Yet I well remember + The favours of these men: were they not mine? + Did they not sometimes cry, all hail! to me? + So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve + Found truth in all but one; I in twelve thousand none. + + Willis. + +While the captain and Joyce were digesting their plans Mike proceeded +on an errand of peculiar delicacy with which he had been entrusted by +Robert Willoughby. The report that he had returned flew through the +dwellings, and many were the hearty greetings and shakings of the hand +that the honest fellow had to undergo from the Plinys and Smashes, ere +he was at liberty to set about the execution of this trust. The +wenches, in particular, having ascertained that Mike had not broken his +fast, insisted on his having a comfortable meal, in a sort of servants' +hall, before they would consent to his quitting their sight. As the +county Leitrim-man was singularly ready with a knife and fork, he made +no very determined opposition, and, in a few minutes, he was hard at +work, discussing a cold ham, with the other collaterals of a +substantial American breakfast. + +The blacks, the Smashes inclusive, had been seriously alarmed at the +appearance of the invading party. Between them and the whole family of +red-men there existed a sort of innate dislike; an antipathy that +originated in colour, and wool, and habits, and was in no degree +lessened by apprehensions on the score of scalps. + +"How you look, ole Plin, widout wool?" Big Smash had reproachfully +remarked, not five minutes before Mike made his appearance in the +kitchen, in answer to some apologetic observation of her husband, as to +the intentions of the savages being less hostile than he had at first +imagined; "why you say dey _no_ murder, and steal and set fire, +when you know dey's Injin! Natur' be natur'; and dat I hear dominie +Woods say t'ree time one Sunday. What 'e dominie say _often_, he +mean, and dere no use in saying dey don't come to do harm." + +As Great Smash was an oracle in her own set, there was no gainsaying +her dogmas, and Pliny the elder was obliged to succumb. But the +presence of Mike, one who was understood to have been out, _near_, +if not actually _in_, the enemy's camp, and a great favourite in +the bargain, was a circumstance likely to revive the discourse. In +fact, all the negroes, crowded into the hall, as soon as the Irishman +was seated at table, one or two eager to talk, the rest as eager to +listen. + +"How near you been to sabbage, Michael?" demanded Big Smash, her two +large coal-black eyes seeming to open in a degree proportioned to her +interest in the answer. + +"I wint as nigh as there was occasion, Smash, and that was nigher than +the likes of yer husband there would be thinking of travelling. Maybe +'twas as far as from my plate here to yon door; maybe not quite so far. +They 're a dhirty set, and I wish to go no nearer." + +"What dey look like, in 'e dark?" inquired Little Smash--"Awful as by +daylight?" + +"It's not meself that stopped to admire 'em. Nick and I had our +business forenent us, and when a man is hurried, it isn't r'asonable to +suppose he can kape turning his head about to see sights." + +"What dey do wid Misser Woods?--What sabbage want wid dominie?" + +"Sure enough, little one; and the question is of yer own asking. A +praist, even though he should be only a heretic, can have no great call +for his sarvices, in _sich_ a congregation. And, I don't think the +fellows are blackguards enough to scalp a parson." + +Then followed a flood of incoherent questions that were put by all the +blacks in a body, accompanied by divers looks ominous of the most +serious disasters, blended with bursts of laughter that broke out of +their risible natures in a way to render the medley of sensations as +ludicrous as it was strange. Mike soon found answering a task too +difficult to be attempted, and he philosophically came to a +determination to confine his efforts to masticating. + +Notwithstanding the terror that actually prevailed among the blacks, it +was not altogether unmixed with a resolution to die with arms in their +hands, in preference to yielding to savage clemency. Hatred, in a +measure, supplied the place of courage, though both sexes had +insensibly imbibed some of that resolution which is the result of +habit, and of which a border life is certain to instil more or less +into its subjects, in a form suited to border emergencies. Nor was this +feeling confined to the men; the two Smashes, in particular, being +women capable of achieving acts that would be thought heroic under +circumstances likely to arouse their feelings. + +"Now, Smashes," said Mike, when, by his own calculation, he had about +three minutes to the termination of his breakfast before him, "ye'll do +what I tells ye, and no questions asked. Ye'll find the laddies, +Missus, and Miss Beuly, and Miss Maud, and ye'll give my humble +respects to 'em all--divil the bit, now, will ye be overlooking either +of the t'ree, but ye'll do yer errand genteely and like a laddy +yerself--and ye'll give my jewty and respects to 'em _all_, I +tells ye, and say that Michael O'Hearn asks the honour of being allowed +to wish 'em good morning." + +Little Smash screamed at this message; yet she went, forthwith, and +delivered it, making reasonably free with Michael's manner and +gallantry in so doing. + +"O'Hearn has something to tell us from Robert"--said Mrs. Willoughby, +who had been made acquainted with the Irishman's exploits and return; +"he must be suffered to come in as soon as he desires." + +With this reply, Little Smash terminated her mission. + +"And now, laddies and gentlemen," said Mike, with gravity, as he rose +to quit the servants' hall, "my blessing and good wishes be wid ye. A +hearty male have I had at yer hands and yer cookery, and good thanks it +desarves. As for the Injins, jist set yer hearts at rest, as not one of +ye will be scalp'd the day, seeing that the savages are all to be +forenent the mill this morning, houlding a great council, as I knows +from Nick himself. A comfortable time, then, ye may all enjoy, wid yer +heads on yer shoulters, and yer wool on yer heads." + +Mike's grin, as he retreated, showed that he meant to be facetious, +having all the pleasantry that attends a full stomach uppermost in his +animal nature at that precise moment. A shout rewarded this sally, and +the parties separated with mutual good humour and good feeling. In this +state of mind, the county Leitrim-man was ushered into the presence of +the ladies. A few words of preliminary explanations were sufficient to +put Mike in the proper train, when he came at once to his subject. + +"The majjor is no way down-hearted," he said, "and he ordered me to +give his jewty and riverence, and obligations, to his honoured mother +and his sisters. 'Tell 'em, Mike,' says he, says the majjor, 'that I +feels for 'em, all the same as if I was their own fader; and tell 'em,' +says he, 'to keep up their spirits, and all will come right in the ind. +This is a throublesome wor-r-ld, but they that does their jewties to +God and man, and the church, will not fail, in the long run, to wor-r-k +their way t'rough purgatory even, into paradise.'" + +"Surely my son--my dear Robert--never sent us such a message as this, +Michael?" + +"Every syllable of it, and a quantity moor that has slipped my memory," +answered the Irishman, who was inventing, but who fancied he was +committing a very pious fraud--"'Twould have done the Missuses heart +good to have listened to the majjor, who spoke more in the +cha_rack_ter of a praist, like, than in that of a souldier." + +All three of the ladies looked a little abashed, though there was a +gleam of humour about the mouth of Maud, that showed she was not very +far from appreciating the Irishman's report at its just value. As for +Mrs. Willoughby and Beulah, less acquainted with Mike's habits, they +did not so readily penetrate his manner of substituting his own +desultory thoughts for the ideas of others. + +"As I am better acquainted with Mike's language, dear mother"-- +whispered Maud--"perhaps it will be well if I take him into the library +and question him a little between ourselves about what actually passed. +Depend on it, I shall get the truth." + +"Do, my child, for it really pains me to hear Robert so much +misrepresented--and, as Evert must now begin to have ideas, I really do +not like that his uncle should be so placed before the dear little +fellow's mind." + +Maud did not even smile at this proof of a grandmother's weakness, +though she felt and saw all its absurdity. Heart was ever so much +uppermost with the excellent matron, that it was not easy for those she +loved to regard anything but her virtues; and least of all did her +daughter presume to indulge in even a thought that was ludicrous at her +expense. Profiting by the assent, therefore, Maud quietly made a motion +for Mike to follow, and proceeded at once to the room she had named. + +Not a word was exchanged between the parties until both were in the +library, when Maud carefully closed the door, her face pale as marble, +and stood looking inquiringly at her companion. The reader will +understand that, Mr. Woods and Joyce excepted, not a soul at the Hut, +out of the limits of the Willoughby connection, knew anything of our +heroine's actual relation to the captain and his family. It is true, +some of the oldest of the blacks had once some vague notions on the +subject; but _their_ recollections had become obscured by time, +and habit was truly second nature with all of the light-hearted race. + +"_That_ was mighty injanious of you, Miss Maud!" Mike commenced, +giving one of his expressive grins again, and fairly winking. "It shows +how fri'nds wants no spache but their own minds. Barrin' mistakes and +crass-accidents, I'm sartain that Michael O'Hearn can make himself +understood any day by Miss Maud Willoughby, an' niver a word said." + +"Your success then, Mike, will be greater at dumb-show than it always +is with your tongue," answered the young lady, the blood slowly +returning to her cheek, the accidental use of the name of Willoughby +removing the apprehension of anything immediately embarrassing; "what +have you to tell me that you suppose I have anticipated?" + +"Sure, the like o' yees needn't be tould, Miss Maud, that the majjor +bad me spake to ye by yerself, and say a word that was not to be +overheerd by any one else." + +"This is singular--extraordinary even--but let me know more, though the +messenger be altogether so much out of the common way!" + +"I t'ought ye 'd say _that_, when ye come to know me. Is it meself +that 's a messenger? and where is there another that can carry news +widout spilling any by the way? Nick's a cr'ature, I allows; but the +majjor know'd a million times bhetter than to trust an Injin wid sich a +jewty. As for Joel, and _that_ set of vagabonds, we'll grind 'em +all in the mill, before we've done wid 'em. Let 'em look for no +favours, if they wishes no disapp'intment." + +Maud sickened at the thought of having any of those sacred feelings +connected with Robert Willoughby that she had so long cherished in her +inmost heart, rudely probed by so unskilful a hand; though her last +conversation with the young soldier had told so much, even while it +left so much unsaid, that she could almost kneel and implore Mike to be +explicit. The reserve of a woman, notwithstanding, taught her how to +preserve her sex's decorum, and to maintain appearances. + +"If major Willoughby desired you to communicate anything to me, in +particular," she said, with seeming composure, "I am ready to hear it." + +"Divil the word did he desire, Miss Maud, for everything was in +whispers between us, but jist what I'm about to repait. And here's my +stick, that Nick tould me to kape as a reminderer; it 's far bhetter +for me than a book, as I can't read a syllable. 'And now, Mike,' says +the majjor, says he, 'conthrive to see phratty Miss Maud by +herself'----" + +"_Pretty_ Miss Maud!" interrupted the young lady, involuntarily. + +"Och! it's meself that says _that_, and sure there 's plenty of +r'ason for it; so we'll agree it's all right and proper--'phratty Miss +Maud by herself, letting no mortal else know what you are about. +_That_ was the majjor's." + +"It is very extraordinary!--Perhaps it will be better Michael, if you +tell me nothing but what is strictly the major's. A message should be +delivered as nearly like the words that were actually sent as +possible." + +"Wor-r-ds!--And it isn't wor-r-ds at all, that I have to give ye." + +"If not a message in words, in what else can it be?--Not in sticks, +surely." + +"In _that_"--cried Mike, exultingly--"and, I'll warrant, when the +trut' comes out, that very little bit of silver will be found as good +as forty Injin scalps." + +Although Mike put a small silver snuff-box that Maud at once recognised +as Robert Willoughby's property into the young lady's hand, nothing was +more apparent than the circumstance that he was profoundly ignorant of +the true meaning of what he was doing. The box was very beautiful, and +his mother and Beulah had often laughed at the major for using an +article that was then deemed _de rigueur_ for a man of extreme +_ton_, when all his friends knew he never touched snuff. So far from +using the stimulant, indeed, he never would show how the box was +opened, a secret spring existing; and he even manifested or betrayed +shyness on the subject of suffering either of his sisters to search for +the means of doing so. + +The moment Maud saw the box, her heart beat tumultuously. She had a +presentiment that her fate was about to be decided. Still, she had +sufficient self-command to make an effort to learn all her companion +had to communicate. + +"Major Willoughby gave you this box," she said, her voice trembling in +spite of herself. "Did he send any message with it? Recollect yourself; +the words may be very important." + +"Is it the wor-r-ds? Well, it's little of _them_ that passed +between us, barrin' that the Injins was so near by, that it was whisper +we did, and not a bit else." + +"Still there _must_ have been _some_ message." + +"Ye are as wise as a sarpent, Miss Maud, as Father O'Loony used to tell +us all of a Sunday! Was it wor-r-ds!--Give _that_ to Miss Maud,' +says the majjor, says he, 'and tell her she is now _misthress of my +sacret._" + +"Did he say this, Michael?--For heaven's sake, be certain of what you +tell me." + +"Irish Mike--Masser want you in monstrous hurry," cried the youngest of +the three black men, thrusting his glistening lace into the door, +announcing the object of the intrusion, and disappearing almost in the +same instant. + +"Do not leave me, O'Hearn," said Maud, nearly gasping for breath, "do +not leave me without an assurance there is no mistake." + +"Divil bur-r-n me if I 'd brought the box, or the message, or anything +like it, phretty Miss Maud, had I t'ought it would have done this har- +r-m." + +"Michael O'Hearn," called the serjeant from the court, in his most +authoritative military manner, and that on a key that would not brook +denial. + +Mike did not dare delay; in half a minute Maud found herself standing +alone, in the centre of the library, holding the well-known snuff-box +of Robert Willoughby in her little hand. The renowned caskets of Portia +had scarcely excited more curiosity in their way than this little +silver box of the major's had created in the mind of Maud. In addition +to his playful evasions about letting her and Beulah pry into its +mysteries, he had once said to herself, in a grave and feeling manner, +"When you get at the contents of this box, dear girl, you will learn +the great secret of my life." These words had made a deep impression at +the time--it was in his visit of the past year--but they had been +temporarily forgotten in the variety of events and stronger sensations +that had succeeded. Mike's message, accompanied by the box itself, +however, recalled them, and Maud fancied that the major, considering +himself to be in some dangerous emergency, had sent her the bauble in +order that she might learn what that secret was. Possibly he meant her +to communicate it to others. Persons in our heroine's situation feel, +more than they reason; and it is possible Maud might have come to some +other conclusion had she been at leisure, or in a state of mind to +examine all the circumstances in a more logical manner. + +Now she was in possession of this long-coveted box--coveted at least so +far as a look into its contents were concerned--Maud not only found +herself ignorant of the secret by which it was opened, but she had +scruples about using the means, even had she been in possession of +them. At first she thought of carrying the thing to Beulah, and of +asking if she knew any way of getting at the spring; then she shrunk +from the exposure that might possibly attend such a step. The more she +reflected, the more she felt convinced that Robert Willoughby would not +have sent _her_ that particular box, unless it were connected with +herself, in some way more than common; and ever since the conversation +in the painting-room she had seen glimmerings of the truth, in relation +to his feelings. These glimmerings too, had aided her in better +understanding her own heart, and all her sentiments revolted at the +thought of having a witness to any explanation that might relate to the +subject. In every event she determined, after a few minutes of thought, +not to speak of the message, or the present, to a living soul. + +In this condition of mind, filled with anxiety, pleasing doubts, +apprehensions, shame, and hope, all relieved, however, by the secret +consciousness of perfect innocence, and motives that angels might avow, +Maud stood, in the very spot where Mike had left her, turning the box +in her hands, when accidentally she touched the spring, and the lid +flew open. To glance at the contents was an act so natural and +involuntary as to anticipate reflection. + +Nothing was visible but a piece of white paper, neatly folded, and +compressed into the box in a way to fill its interior. "Bob has +written," thought Maud--"Yet how could he do this? He was in the dark, +and had not pen or paper!" Another look rendered this conjecture still +more improbable, as it showed the gilt edge of paper of the quality +used for notes, an article equally unlikely to be found in the mill and +in his own pocket. "Yet it must be a note," passed through her mind, +"and of course it was written before he left the Hut--quite likely +before he arrived--possibly the year before, when he spoke of the box +as containing the evidence of the great secret of his life." + +Maud now wished for Mike, incoherent, unintelligible, and blundering as +he was, that she might question him still further as to the precise +words of the message. "Possibly Bob did not intend me to open the-box +at all," she thought, "and meant merely that I should keep it until he +could return to claim it. It contains a great secret; and, because he +wishes to keep this secret from the Indians, it does not follow that he +intends to reveal it to me. I will shut the box again, and guard his +secret as I would one of my own." + +This was no sooner _thought_ than it was _done_. A pressure +of the lid closed it, and Maud heard the snap of the spring with a +start. Scarcely was the act performed ere she repented it. "Bob would +not have sent the box without some particular object," she went on to +imagine; "and had he intended it not to be opened, he would have told +as much to O'Hearn. How easy would it have been for him to say, and for +Mike to repeat, 'tell her to keep the box till I ask for it--it +contains a secret, and I wish my captors not to learn it.' No, he has +sent the box with the design that I should examine its contents. His +very life may depend on my doing so; yes, and on my doing so this +minute!" + +This last notion no sooner glanced athwart our heroine's mind, than she +began diligently to search for the hidden spring. Perhaps curiosity had +its influence on the eagerness to arrive at the secret, which she now +manifested; possibly a tenderer and still more natural feeling lay +concealed behind it all. At any rate, her pretty little fingers never +were employed more nimbly, and not a part of the exterior of the box +escaped its pressure. Still, the secret spring eluded her search. The +box had two or three bands of richly chased work on each side of the +place of opening, and amid these ornaments Maud felt certain that the +little projection she sought must lie concealed. To examine these, +then, she commenced in a regular and connected manner, resolved that +not a single raised point should be neglected. Accident, however, as +before, stood her friend; and, at a moment when she least expected it, +the lid flew back, once more exposing the paper to view. + +Maud had been too seriously alarmed about re-opening the box, to +hesitate a moment now, as to examining its contents. The paper was +removed, and she began to unfold it slowly, a slight tremor passing +through her frame as she did so. For a single instant she paused to +scent the delightful and delicate perfume that seemed to render the +interior sacred; then her fingers resumed their office. At each +instant, her eyes expected to meet Robert Willoughby's well known +handwriting. But the folds of the paper opened on a blank. To Maud's +surprise, and, for a single exquisitely painful moment, she saw that a +lock of hair was all the box contained, besides the paper in which it +was enveloped. Her look became anxious, and her face pale; then the +eyes brightened, and a blush that might well be likened to the tints +with which the approach of dawn illumines the sky, suffused her cheeks, +as, holding the hair to the light, the long ringlets dropped at length, +and she recognised one of those beautiful tresses, of which so many +were falling at that very moment, in rich profusion around her awn +lovely face. To unloosen her hair from the comb, and to lay the secret +of Bob Willoughby by its side, in a way to compare the glossy shades, +was the act of only a moment; it sufficed, however, to bring a perfect +conviction of the truth. It was a memorial of herself, then, that +Robert Willoughby so prized, had so long guarded with care, and which +he called the secret of his life! + +It was impossible for Maud not to understand all this. Robert +Willoughby loved her; he had taken this mode of telling his passion. He +had been on the point of doing this in words the very day before; and +now he availed himself of the only means that offered of completing the +tale. A flood of tenderness gushed to the heart of Maud, as she passed +over all this in her mind; and, from that moment, she ceased to feel +shame at the recollection of her own attachment. She might still have +shrunk a little from avowing it to her father, and mother, and Beulah; +but, as to herself the world, and the object of her affections, she now +stood perfectly vindicated in her own eyes. + +That was a precious half-hour which succeeded. For the moment, all +present dangers were lost sight of, in the glow of future hopes. Maud's +imagination portrayed scenes of happiness, in which domestic duties, +Bob beloved, almost worshipped, and her father and mother happy in the +felicity of their children, were the prominent features; while Beulah +and little Evert filled the back-ground of the picture in colours of +pleasing softness. But these were illusions that could not last, for +ever, the fearful realities of her situation returning with the greater +consciousness of existence. Still, Bob might now be loved, without +wounding any of the sensitiveness of her sex's opinions; and dearly, +engrossingly, passionately was he rewarded, for the manner in which he +had thought of letting her know the true state of his heart, at a +moment when he had so much reason to think only of himself. + +It was time for Maud to return to her mother and sister. The box was +carefully concealed, leaving the hair in its old envelope, and she +hurried to the nursery. On entering the room, she found that her father +had just preceded her. The captain was grave, more thoughtful than +usual, and his wife, accustomed to study his countenance for so much of +her happiness, saw at once that something lay heavy on his mind. + +"Has anything out of the way happened, Hugh?" she asked, "to give you +uneasiness?" + +Captain Willoughby drew a chair to the side of that of his wife, seated +himself, and took her hand before he answered. Little Evert, who sat on +her knee, was played with, for a moment, as if to defer a disagreeable +duty; not till then did he even speak. + +"You know, dearest Wilhelmina," the captain finally commenced, "that +there have never been any concealments between us, on the score of +danger, even when I was a professed soldier, and might be said to carry +my life in my hand." + +"You have ever found me reasonable, I trust, while feeling like a +woman, mindful of my duty as a wife?" + +"I have, love; this is the reason I have always dealt with you so +frankly." + +"We understand each other, Hugh. Now tell me the worst at once." + +"I am not certain you will think there is any worst about it, +Wilhelmina, as Bob's liberty is the object. I intend to go out myself, +at the head of all the white men that remain, in order to deliver him +from the hands of his enemies. This will leave you, for a time--six or +seven hours perhaps--in the Hut, with only the three blacks as a guard, +and with the females. You need have no apprehension of an assault, +however, everything indicating a different intention on the part of our +enemies; on that score you may set your hearts at rest." + +"All my apprehensions and prayers will be for you, my husband--for +ourselves, we care not." + +"This I expected; it is to lessen these very apprehensions that I have +come to tell you my whole plan." + +Captain Willoughby now related, with some minuteness, the substance of +Mike's report, and his own plan, of the last of which we have already +given an outline. Everything had been well matured in his mind, and all +promised success. The men were apprised of the service on which they +were to be employed, and every one of them had manifested the best +spirit. They were then busy in equipping themselves; in half an hour +they would be ready to march. + +To all this Mrs. Willoughby listened like a soldier's wife, accustomed +to the risks of a frontier warfare, though she felt like a woman. +Beulah pressed little Evert to her heart, while her pallid countenance +was turned to her father with a look that seemed to devour every +syllable. As for Maud, a strange mixture of dread and wild delight were +blended in her bosom. To have Bob liberated, and restored to them, was +approaching perfect happiness, though it surpassed her powers not to +dread misfortunes. Nevertheless, the captain was so clear in his +explanations, so calm in his manner, and of a judgment so approved, +that his auditors felt far less concern than might naturally have been +expected. + + + + + +Chapter XXIV. + + "March--march--march! + Making sounds as they tread, + Ho-ho! how they step, + Going down to the dead." + + Coxe. + +The time Maud consumed in her meditations over the box and its +contents, had been employed by the captain in preparations for his +enterprise. Joyce, young Blodget, Jamie and Mike, led by their +commander in person, were to compose the whole force on the occasion; +and every man had been busy in getting his arms, ammunition and +provisions ready, for the last half-hour. When captain Willoughby, +therefore, had taken leave of his family, he found the party in a +condition to move. + +The first great desideratum was to quit the Hut unseen. Joel and his +followers were still at work, in distant fields; but they all carefully +avoided that side of the Knoll which would have brought them within +reach of the musket, and this left all behind the cliff unobserved, +unless Indians were in the woods in that direction. As Mike had so +recently passed in by that route, however, the probability was the +whole party still remained in the neighbourhood of the mills, where all +accounts agreed in saying they mainly kept. It was the intention of the +captain, therefore, to sally by the rivulet and the rear of the house, +and to gain the woods under cover of the bushes on the banks of the +former, as had already been done by so many since the inroad. + +The great difficulty was to quit the house, and reach the bed of the +stream, unseen. This step, however, was a good deal facilitated by +means of Joel's sally-port, the overseer having taken, himself, all the +precautions against detection of which the case well admitted. +Nevertheless, there was the distance between the palisades and the base +of the rocks, some forty or fifty yards, which was entirely uncovered, +and had to be passed under the notice of any wandering eyes that might +happen to be turned in that quarter. After much reflection, the captain +and serjeant came to the conclusion to adopt the following mode of +proceeding. + +Blodget passed the hole, by himself, unarmed, rolling down the +declivity until he reached the stream. Here a thicket concealed him +sufficiently, the bushes extending along the base of the rocks, +following the curvature of the rivulet. Once within these bushes, there +was little danger of detection. As soon as it was ascertained that the +young man was beneath the most eastern of the outer windows of the +northern wing, the only one of the entire range that had bushes +directly under it, all the rifles were lowered down to him, two at a +time, care being had that no one should appear at the window during the +operation. This was easily effected, jerks of the rope sufficing for +the necessary signals to haul in the line. The ammunition succeeded; +and in this manner, all the materials of offence and defence were soon +collected on the margin of the stream. + +The next step was to send the men out, one by one, imitating the +precautions taken by Blodget. Each individual had his own provisions, +and most of the men carried some sort of arms, such as a pistol, or a +knife, about his person. In half an hour the four men were armed, and +waited for the leader, concealed by the bushes on the border of the +brook. It only remained for captain Willoughby to give some +instructions to those he left in the Hut, and to follow. + +Pliny the elder, in virtue of his years, and some experience in Indian +warfare, succeeded to the command of the garrison, in the absence of +its chief. Had there remained a male white at the Knoll, this trust +never could have devolved on him, it being thought contrary to the laws +of nature for a negro to command one of the other colour; but such was +not the fact, and Pliny the elder succeeded pretty much as a matter of +course. Notwithstanding, he was to obey not only his particular +_old_ mistress, but both his _young_ mistresses, who exercised +an authority over him that was not to be disputed, without doing +violence to all the received notions of the day. To him, then, the +captain issued his final orders, bidding him be vigilant, and above all +to keep the gates closed. + +As soon as this was done, the husband and father went to his wife and +children to take a last embrace. Anxious not to excite too strong +apprehensions by his manner, this was done affectionately--solemnly, +perhaps--but with a manner so guarded as to effect his object. + +"I shall look for no other signal, or sign of success, Hugh," said the +weeping wife, "than your own return, accompanied by our dearest boy. +When I can hold you both in my arms, I shall be happy, though all the +Indians of the continent were in the valley." + +"Do not miscalculate as to time, Wilhelmina. That affectionate heart of +yours sometimes travels over time and space in a way to give its owner +unnecessary pain. Remember we shall have to proceed with great caution, +both in going and returning; and it will require hours to make the +_detour_ I have in view. I hope to see you again before sunset, but a +delay may carry us into the night. It may even become necessary to +defer the final push until after dark." + +This was melancholy intelligence for the females; but they listened to +it with calmness, and endeavoured to be, as well as to seem, resigned. +Beulah received her father's kiss and blessing with streaming eyes, +straining little Evert to her heart as he left her. Maud was the last +embraced, He even led her, by gentle violence, to the court, keeping +her in discourse by the way, exhorting her to support her mother's +spirits by her own sense and steadiness. + +"I shall have Bob in the Hut, soon," he added, "and this will repay us +all for more than twice the risks--all but you, little vixen; for your +mother tells me you are getting, through some caprice of that variable +humour of your sex, to be a little estranged from the poor fellow." + +"Father!" + +"O! I know it is not very serious still, even Beulah tells me you once +called him a Major of Foot." + +"Did I?" said Maud, trembling in her whole frame lest her secret had +been prematurely betrayed by the very attempt to conceal it. "My tongue +is not always my heart." + +"I know it, darling, unless where I am concerned. Treat the son as you +will, Maud, I am certain that you will always love the father." A +pressure to the heart, and kisses on the forehead, eyes, and cheeks +followed. "You have all your own papers, Maud, and can easily +understand your own affairs. When examined into, it will be seen that +every shilling of your fortune has gone to increase it; and, little +hussy, you are now become something like a great heiress." + +"What does this mean, dearest, dearest father? Your words frighten me!" + +"They should not, love. Danger is never increased by being prepared to +meet it. I have been a steward, and wish it to be known that the duty +has not been unfaithfully discharged. That is all. A hundred-fold am I +repaid by possessing so dutiful and sweet a child." + +Maud fell on her father's bosom and sobbed. Never before had he made so +plain allusions to the true relations which existed between them; the +papers she possessed having spoken for themselves, and having been +given in silence. Nevertheless, as he appeared disposed to proceed no +further, at present, the poor girl struggled to command herself, +succeeded in part, rose, received her father's benediction, most +solemnly and tenderly delivered, and saw him depart, with an air of +calmness that subsequently astonished even herself. + +We must now quit the interesting group that was left behind in the Hut, +and accompany the adventurers in their march. + +Captain Willoughby was obliged to imitate his men, in the mode of +quitting the palisades. He had dressed himself in the American hunting- +shirt and trowsers for the occasion, and, this being an attire he now +rarely used, it greatly diminished the chances of his being recognised, +if seen. Joyce was in a similar garb, though neither Jamie nor Mike +could ever be persuaded to assume a style that both insisted so much +resembled that of the Indians. As for Blodget, he was in the usual +dress of a labourer. + +As soon as he had reached the bottom of the cliff, the captain let the +fact be known to Old Pliny, by using his voice with caution, though +sufficiently loud to be heard on the staging of the roof, directly +above his head. The black had been instructed to watch Joel and his +companions, in order to ascertain if they betrayed, in their movements, +any consciousness of what was in progress at the Hut. The report was +favourable, Pliny assuring his master that "all 'e men work, sir, just +as afore. Joel hammer away at plough-handle, tinkerin' just like +heself. Not an eye turn dis away, massa." + +Encouraged by this assurance, the whole party stole through the bushes, +that lined this part of the base of the cliffs, until they entered the +bed of the stream. It was September, and the water was so low, as to +enable the party to move along the margin of the rivulet dry-shod, +occasionally stepping from stone to stone. The latter expedient, +indeed, was adopted wherever circumstances allowed, with a view to +leave as few traces of a trail as was practicable. Otherwise the cover +was complete; the winding of the rivulet preventing any distant view +through its little reaches, and the thick fringe of the bushes on each +bank, effectually concealing the men against any passing, lateral, +glimpse of their movements. + +Captain Willoughby had, from the first, apprehended an assault from +this quarter. The house, in its elevation, however, possessed an +advantage that would not be enjoyed by an enemy on the ground; and, +then, the cliff offered very serious obstacles to anything like a +surprise on that portion of the defences. Notwithstanding, he now led +his men, keeping a look riveted on the narrow lane in his front, far +from certain that each turn might not bring him in presence of an +advancing party of the enemy. No such unpleasant encounter occurred; +and the margin of the forest was gained, without any appearance of the +foe, and seemingly without discovery. + +Just within the cover of the woods, a short reach of the rivulet lay +fairly in sight, from the rear wing of the dwellings. It formed a +beautiful object in the view; the ardent and tasteful Maud having +sketched the silvery ribbon of water, as it was seen retiring within +the recesses of the forest, and often calling upon others to admire its +loveliness and picturesque effect. Here the captain halted, and made a +signal to Old Pliny, to let him know he waited for an answer. The reply +was favourable, the negro showing the sign that all was still well. +This was no sooner done, than the faithful old black hurried down to +his mistress, to communicate the intelligence that the party was safely +in the forest; while the adventurers turned, ascended the bank of the +stream, and pursued their way on more solid ground. + +Captain Willoughby and his men were now fairly engaged in the +expedition, and every soul of them felt the importance and gravity of +the duty he was on. Even Mike was fain to obey the order to be silent, +as the sound of a voice, indiscreetly used, might betray the passage of +the party to some outlying scouts of the enemy. Caution was even used +in treading on dried sticks, lest their cracking should produce the +same effect. + +The sound of the axe was heard in the rear of the cabins coming from a +piece of woodland the captain had ordered cleared, with the double view +of obtaining fuel, and of increasing his orchards. This little clearing +was near a quarter of a mile from the flats, the plan being, still to +retain a belt of forest round the latter; and it might have covered +half-a-dozen acres of land, having now been used four or five years for +the same purpose. To pass between this clearing and the cabins would +have been too hazardous, and it became necessary to direct the march in +a way to turn the former. + +The cow-paths answered as guides for quite a mile, Mike being +thoroughly acquainted with all their sinuosities. The captain and +serjeant, however, each carried a pocket compass, an instrument without +which few ventured far into the forests. Then the blows of the axes +served as sounds to let the adventurers know their relative position, +and, as they circled the place whence they issued, they gave the +constant assurance of their own progress, and probable security. + +The reader will probably comprehend the nature of the ground over which +our party was now marching. The 'flats' proper, or the site of the old +Beaver Dam, have already been described. The valley, towards the south, +terminated at the rocks of the mill, changing its character below that +point, to a glen, or vast ravine. On the east were mountains of +considerable height, and of unlimited range; to the north, the level +land extended miles, though on a platform many feet higher than the +level of the cleared meadows; while, to the west, along the route the +adventurers were marching, broad slopes of rolling forest spread their +richly-wooded surfaces, filled with fair promise for the future. The +highest swell of this undulating forest was that nearest to the Hut, +and it was its elevation only that gave the home-scene the character of +a valley. + +Captain Willoughby's object was to gain the summit of this first ridge +of land, which would serve as a guide to his object, since it +terminated at the line of rocks that made the water-fall, quite a mile, +however, in the rear of the mills. It would carry him also quite beyond +the clearing of the wood-choppers, and be effectually turning the whole +of the enemy's position. Once at the precipitous termination caused by +the face of rock that had been thrown to the surface by some geological +phenomenon, he could not miss his way, since these rugged marks must of +themselves lead him directly to the station known to be occupied by the +body of his foes. + +Half an hour served to reach the desired ridge, when the party changed +its march, pursuing a direction nearly south, along its summit. + +"Those axes sound nearer and nearer, serjeant," Captain Willoughby +observed, after the march had lasted a long time in profound silence. +"We must be coming up near the point where the men are at work." + +"Does your honour reflect at all on the reason why these fellows are so +particularly industrious in a time like this?--To me it has a very +ambuscadish sort of look!" + +"It cannot be connected with an ambuscade, Joyce, inasmuch as we are +not supposed to be on a march. There can be no ambuscade, you will +remember, practised on a garrison." + +"I ask your honour's pardon--may not a sortie be ambushed, as well as a +march?" + +"In that sense, perhaps, you may be right. And, now you mention it, I +think it odd there should be so much industry at wood-chopping, in a +moment like this. We will halt as soon as the sounds are fairly abreast +of us, when you and I can reconnoitre the men, and ascertain the +appearance of things for ourselves." + +"I remember, sir, when your honour led out two companies of ours, with +one of the Royal Irish, a major's command, of good rights, to observe +the left flank of the French, the evening before we stormed the enemy's +works at Ty--" + +"Your memory is beginning to fail you, Joyce," interrupted the captain, +smiling. "We were far from storming those works, having lost two +thousand men before them, and failed of seeing their inside at all." + +"I always look upon a soldierly attempt, your honour, the same as a +thing that is done. A more gallant stand than we made I never +witnessed; and, though we were driven back, I will allow, yet I call +that assault as good as storming!" + +"Well, have it your own way, Joyce.--The morning before your storming, +I remember to have led out three companies; though it was more in +advance, than on either flank. The object was to unmask a suspected +ambush." + +"That's just what I wanted to be at, your honour. The general sent you, +as an old captain, with three companies, to spring the trap, before he +should put his own foot into it." + +"He certainly did--and the movement had the desired effect." + +"Better and better, sir.--I remember we were fired on, and lost some +ten or fifteen men, but I would not presume to say whether the march +succeeded or not; for nothing was said of the affair, next day, in +general orders, sir--" + +"Next day we had other matters to occupy our minds. It was a bloody and +a mournful occasion for England and her colonies." + +"Well, your honour, that does not affect our movement, which, you say, +yourself, was useful." + +"Very true, Joyce, though the great calamity of the succeeding day +prevented the little success of the preceding morning from being +mentioned in general orders. But to what does all this tend; as I know +it must lead to something?" + +"It was merely meant as a respectful hint, your honour, that the +inferior should be sent out, now, according to our own ancient rules, +to reconn'itre the clearing, while the commander-in-chief remain with +the main body, to cover the retreat." + +"I thank you, serjeant, and shall not fail to employ you, on all proper +occasions. At present, it is my intention that we go together, leaving +the men to take breath, in a suitable cover." + +This satisfied Joyce, who was content to wait for orders. As soon as +the sounds of the axes showed that the party were far enough in +advance, and the formation of the land assured the captain that he was +precisely where he wished to be, the men were halted, and left secreted +in a cover made by the top of a fallen tree. This precaution was taken, +lest any wandering savage might get a glimpse of their persons, if they +stood lounging about in the more open forest, during the captain's +absence. + +This disposition made, the captain and serjeant, first examining the +priming of their pieces, moved with the necessary caution towards the +edge of the wood-chopper's clearing. The axe was a sufficient guide, +and ere they had proceeded far the light began to shine through the +trees, proof in itself that they were approaching an opening in the +forest. + +"Let us incline to the left, your honour," said Joyce, respectfully; +"there is a naked rock hereabouts, that completely overlooks the +clearing, and where we can get even a peep at the Hut. I have often sat +on it, when out with the gun, and wearied; for the next thing to being +at home, is to see home." + +"I remember the place, serjeant, and like your suggestion," answered +the captain, with an eagerness that it was very unusual for him to +betray. "I could march with a lighter heart, after getting another look +at the Knoll, and being certain of its security." + +The parties being both of a mind, it is not surprising that each looked +eagerly for the spot in question. It was an isolated rock that rose +some fifteen or twenty feet above the surface of the ground, having a +width and depth about double its height--one of those common +excrescences of the forest that usually possess interest for no one but +the geologist. Such an object was not difficult to find in an open +wood, and the search was soon rewarded by a discovery. Bending their +steps that way, our two soldiers were quickly at its base. As is usual, +the summit of this fragment of rock was covered with bushes; others +shooting out, also, from the rich, warm earth at its base, or, to speak +more properly, at its junction with the earth. + +Joyce ascended first, leaving his rifle in the captain's charge. The +latter followed, after having passed up his own and his companion's +arms; neither being disposed to stir without having these important +auxiliaries at command. Once on the rock, both moved cautiously to its +eastern brow, care being had not to go beyond the cover. Here they +stood, side by side, gazing on the scene that was outspread before +them, through openings in the bushes. + +To the captain's astonishment, he found himself within half musket shot +of the bulk of the hostile party. A regular bivouac had been formed +round a spring in the centre of the clearing, and bodies of trees had +been thrown together, so as to form a species of work which was rudely, +but effectually abbatied by the branches. In a word, one of those +strong, rough forest encampments had been made, which are so difficult +to carry without artillery, more especially if well defended. By being +placed in the centre of the clearing, an assault could not be made +without expensing the assailants, and the spring always assured to the +garrison the great requisite, water. + +There was a method and order in this arrangement that surprised both +our old soldiers. That Indians had resorted to this expedient, neither +believed; nor would the careless, untaught and inexperienced whites of +the Mohawk be apt to adopt it, without a suggestion from some person +acquainted with the usages of frontier warfare. Such persons were not +difficult to find, it is true; and it was a proof that those claiming +to be in authority, rightfully or not, were present. + +There was something unlooked for, also, in the manner in which the +party of strangers were lounging about, at a moment like that, +seemingly doing nothing, or preparing for no service. Joyce, who was a +man of method, and was accustomed to telling off troops, counted no +less than forty-nine of these idlers, most of whom were lounging near +the log entrenchment, though a few were sauntering about the clearing, +conversing with the wood-choppers, or making their observations +listlessly, and seemingly without any precise object in view. + +"This is the most extr'or'nary sight, for a military expedition, I have +ever seen, your honour," whispered Joyce, after the two had stood +examining the position for quite a minute in silence. "A tolerable good +log breast-work, I will allow, sir, and men enough to make it good +against a sharp assault; but nothing like a guard, and not so much as a +single sentinel. This is an affront to the art. Captain Willoughby; and +it is such an affront to us, that I feel certain we might carry the +post by surprise, if all felt the insult as I do myself." + +"This is no time for rash acts or excited feelings, Joyce. Though, were +my gallant boy with us, I do think we might make a push at these +fellows, with very reasonable chances of success." + +"Yes, your honour, and without him, too. A close fire, three cheers, +and a vigorous charge would drive every one of the rascals into the +woods!" + +"Where they would rally, become the assailants in their turn, surround +us, and either compel us to surrender, or starve us out. At all events, +nothing of the sort must be undertaken until we have carried out the +plan for the rescue of Major Willoughby. My hopes of success are +greatly increased since I find the enemy has his principal post up +here, where he must be a long half-mile from the mill, even in a +straight line. You have counted the enemy?" + +"There are just forty-nine of them in sight, and I should think some +eight or ten more sleeping about under the logs, as I occasionally +discover a new one raising his head.--Look, sir, does your honour see +that manoeuvre?" + +"Do I see what, serjeant?--There is no visible change that I discover." + +"Only an Indian chopping wood, Captain Willoughby which is some such +miracle as a white man painting." + +The reader will have understood that all the hostile party that was +lounging about this clearing were in Indian guise, with faces and hands +of the well-known reddish colour that marks the American aborigines. +The two soldiers could discover many evidences that there was deception +in these appearances, though they thought it quite probable that real +red men were mingled with the pale-faces. But, so little did the +invaders respect the necessity of appearances in their present +position, that one of these seeming savages had actually mounted a log, +taken the axe from the hands of its owner, and begun to chop, with a +vigour and skill that soon threw off chips in a way that no man can +successfully imitate but the expert axe-man of the American interior. + +"Pretty well that, sir, for a red-skin," said Joyce, smiling "If there +isn't white blood, ay, and Yankee blood in that chap's arm, I'll give +him some of my own to help colour it. Step this way, your honour--only +a foot or two--there, sir; by looking through the opening just above +the spot where that very make-believe Injin is scattering his chips as +if they were so many kernels of corn that he was tossing to the +chickens, you will get a sight of the Hut." + +The fact was so. By altering his own position a little on the rock, +Captain Willoughby got a full view of the entire buildings of the +Knoll. It is true, he could not see the lawn without the works, nor +quite all of the stockade, but the whole of the western wing, or an +entire side-view of the dwellings, was obtained. Everything seemed as +tranquil and secure, in and around them, as if they vegetated in a +sabbath in the wilderness. There was something imposing even, in the +solemn silence of their air, and the captain now saw that if he had +been struck, and rendered uneasy by the mystery that accompanied the +inaction and quiet of his invaders, they, in their turns, might +experience some such sensations as they gazed on the repose of the Hut, +and the apparent security of its garrison. But for Joel's desertion, +indeed, and the information he had carried with him, there could be +little doubt that the stranger must have felt the influence of such +doubts to a very material extent. Alas! as things were, it was not +probable they could be long imposed on, by any seeming calm. + +Captain Willoughby felt a reluctance to tear himself away from the +spectacle of that dwelling which contained so many that were dear to +him. Even Joyce gazed at the house with pleasure, for it had been his +quarters, now, so many years, and he had looked forward to the time +when he should breathe his last in it. Connected with his old commander +by a tie that was inseparable, so far as human wishes could control +human events, it was impossible that the serjeant could go from the +place where they had left so many precious beings almost in the keeping +of Providence, at a moment like that, altogether without emotion. While +each was thus occupied in mind, there was a perfect stillness. The men +of the party had been so far drilled, as to speak in low voices, and +nothing they said was audible on the rock. The axes alone broke the +silence of the woods, and to ears so accustomed to their blows, they +offered no intrusion. In the midst of this eloquent calm, the bushes of +the rock rustled, as it might be with the passage of a squirrel, or a +serpent. Of the last the country had but few, and they of the most +innocent kind, while the former abounded. Captain Willoughby turned, +expecting to see one of these little restless beings, when his gaze +encountered a swarthy face, and two glowing eyes, almost within reach +of his arm. That this was a real Indian was beyond dispute, and the +crisis admitting of no delay, the old officer drew a dirk, and had +already raised his arm to strike, when Joyce arrested the blow. + +"This is Nick, your honour;" said the serjeant, inquiringly--"is he +friend, or foe?" + +"What says he himself?" answered the captain, lowering his hand in +doubt. "Let him speak to his own character." + +Nick now advanced and stood calmly and fearlessly at the side of the +two white men. Still there was ferocity in his look, and an indecision +in his movements. He certainly might betray the adventurers at any +instant, and they felt all the insecurity of their situation. But +accident had brought Nick directly in front of the opening through +which was obtained the view of the Hut. In turning from one to the +other of the two soldiers, his quick eye took in this glimpse of the +buildings, and it became riveted there as by the charm of fascination. +Gradually the ferocity left his countenance, which grew human and soft. + +"Squaw in wigwam"--said the Tuscarora, throwing forward a hand with its +fore-finger pointing towards the house. "Ole squaw--young squaw. Good. +Wyandotte sick, she cure him. Blood in Injin body; thick blood--nebber +forget good--nebber forget bad." + + + + + +Chapter XXV. + + "Every stride--every stamp, + Every footfall is bolder; + 'Tis a skeleton's tramp, + With a skull on its shoulder! + But ho, how he steps + With a high-tossing head, + That clay-covered bone, + Going down to the dead!" + + Coxe. + +Nick's countenance was a fair index to his mind; nor were his words +intended to deceive. Never did Wyandotte forget the good, or evil, that +was done him. After looking intently, a short time, at the Hut, he +turned and abruptly demanded of his companions,-- + +"Why come here? Like to see enemy between you and wigwam?" + +As all Nick said was uttered in a guarded tone, as if he fully entered +into the necessity of remaining concealed from those who were in such a +dangerous vicinity, it served to inspire confidence, inducing the two +soldiers to believe him disposed to serve them. + +"Am I to trust in you as a friend?" demanded the captain, looking the +Indian steadily in the eye. + +"Why won't trust? Nick no hero--gone away--Nick nebber come ag'in-- +Wyandotte hero--who no trust Wyandotte? Yengeese always trust great +chief." + +"I shall take you at your word, Wyandotte, and tell you everything, +hoping to make an ally of you. But, first explain to me, why you left +the Hut, last night--friends do not desert friends." + +"Why leave wigwam?--Because wanted to. Wyandotte come when he want; go +when he want. Nick go too.--Went to see son--come back; tell story; +eh?" + +"Yes, it has happened much as you say, and I am willing to think it all +occurred with the best motives. Can you tell me anything of Joel, and +the others who have left me?" + +"Why tell?--Cap'in look; he see. Some chop--some plough--some weed-- +some dig ditch. All like ole time Bury hatchet--tired of war-path--why +cap'in ask?" + +"I see all you tell me. You know, then, that those fellows have made +friends with the hostile party?" + +"No need know--see. Look--Injin chop, pale-face look on! Call that +war?" + +"I do see that which satisfies me the men in paint yonder are not all +red men." + +"No--cap'in right--tell him so at wigwam. But dat Mohawk--dog--rascal-- +Nick's enemy!" + +This was said with a gleam of fierceness shooting across the swarthy +face, and a menacing gesture of the hand, in the direction of a real +savage who was standing indolently leaning against a tree, at a +distance so small as to allow those on the rock to distinguish his +features. The vacant expression of this man's countenance plainly +denoted that he was totally unconscious of the vicinity of danger. It +expressed the listless vacancy of an Indian in a state of perfect +rest--his stomach full, his body at ease, his mind peaceful. + +"I thought Nick was not here," the captain quietly observed, smiling on +the Tuscarora a little ironically. + +"Cap'in right--Nick no here. Well for dog 'tis so. Too mean for +Wyandotte to touch. What cap'in come for? Eh! Better tell chief--get +council widout lightin' fire." + +"As I see no use in concealing my plan from you, Wyandotte,"--Nick +seemed pleased whenever this name was pronounced by others--"I shall +tell it you, freely. Still, you have more to relate to me. Why are +_you_ here?--And how came you to discover us?" + +"Follow trail--know cap'in foot--know serjeant foot--know Mike foot-- +see so many foot, follow him. Leave so many" holding up three fingers +"in bushes--so many" holding up two fingers "come here. Foot tell +_which_ come here--Wyandotte chief--he follow chief." + +"When did you first strike, or see our trail, Tuscarora?" + +"Up here--down yonder--over dere." Captain Willoughby understood this +to mean, that the Indian had crossed the trail, or seen it in several +places. "Plenty trail; plenty foot to tell all about it. Wyandotte see +foot of friend--why he don't follow, eh?" + +"I hope this is all so, old warrior, and that you will prove yourself a +friend indeed. We are out in the hope of liberating my son, and we came +here to see what our enemies are about." + +The Tuscarora's eyes were like two inquisitors, as he listened; but he +seemed satisfied that the truth was told him. Assuming an air of +interest, he inquired if the captain knew where the major was confined. +A few words explained everything, and the parties soon understood each +other. + +"Cap'in right," observed Nick. "Son in cupboard still; but plenty +warrior hear, to keep eye on him." + +"You know his position, Wyandotte, and can aid us materially, if you +will. What say you, chief; will you take service, once more, under your +old commander?" + +"Who _he_ sarve--King George--Congress--eh?" + +"Neither. I am neutral, Tuscarora, in the present quarrel. I only +defend myself, and the rights which the laws assure to me, let +whichever party govern, that may." + +"Dat bad. Nebber neutral in hot war. Get rob from bot' side. Alway be +one or t'oder, cap'in." + +"You may be right, Nicholas, but a conscientious man may think neither +wholly right, nor wholly wrong. I wish never to lift the hatchet, +unless my quarrel be just." + +"Injin no understand _dat_. Throw hatchet at _enemy_--what +matter what he say--good t'ing, bad t'ing. He _enemy_--dat enough. +Take scalp from _enemy_--don't touch _friend_" + +"That may do for _your_ mode of warfare, Tuscarora, but It will +hardly do for _mine_. I must feel that I have right of my side, +before I am willing to take life." + +"Cap'in always talk so, eh? When he soldier, and general say shoot ten, +forty, t'ousand Frenchmen, den he say; stop, general--no hurry--let +cap'in t'ink.' Bye'm-by he'll go and take scalp; eh!" + +It exceeded our old soldier's self-command not to permit the blood to +rush into his face, at this home-thrust; for he felt the cunning of the +Indian had involved him in a seeming contradiction. + +"That was when I was in the army, Wyandotte," he answered, +notwithstanding his confusion, "when my first, and highest duty, was to +obey the orders of my superiors. Then I acted as a soldier; now, I hope +to act as a man." + +"Well, Indian chief alway in army. Always high duty, and obey +superior--obey Manitou, and take scalp from enemy. War-path alway +open, when enemy at t'other end." + +"This is no place to discuss such questions, chief; nor have we the +time. Do you go with us?" + +Nick nodded an assent, and signed for the other to quit the rocks. The +captain hesitated a moment, during which he stood intently studying the +scene in the clearing. + +"What say you, Tuscarora; the serjeant has proposed assaulting that +breast-work?" + +"No good, cap'in. You fire, halloo, rush on--well, kill four, six, +two--rest run away. Injin down at mill hear rifle; follow smoke--where +major, den? Get major, first--t'ink about enemy afterwards." + +As Nick said this, he repeated the gesture to descend; and he was +obeyed in silence. The captain now led the way back to his party; and +soon rejoined it. All were glad to see Nick, for he was known to have a +sure rifle; to be fearless as the turkey-cock; and to possess a +sagacity in the woods, that frequently amounted to a species of +intuition. + +"Who lead, cap'in or Injin?" asked the Tuscarora, in his sententious +manner. + +"Och, Nick, ye're a cr'ature!" muttered Mike. "Divil bur-r-rn me, +Jamie, but I t'inks the fallie would crass the very three-tops, rather +than miss the majjor's habitation." + +"Not a syllable must be uttered," said the captain, raising a hand in +remonstrance. "I will lead, and Wyandotte will march by my side, and +give me his council, in whispers. Joyce will bring up the rear. +Blodget, you will keep a sharp look-out to the left, while Jamie will +do the same to the right. As we approach the mills, stragglers may be +met in the woods, and our march must be conducted with the greatest +caution. Now follow, and be silent." + +The captain and Nick led, and the whole party followed, observing the +silence which had been enjoined on them. The usual manner of marching +on a war-path, in the woods, was for the men to follow each other +singly; an order that has obtained the name of 'Indian file,' the +object being to diminish the trail, and conceal the force of the +expedition, by each man treading in his leader's footsteps. On the +present occasion, however, the captain induced Nick to walk at his +side, feeling an uneasiness on the subject of the Tuscarora's fidelity +that he could not entirely conquer. The pretext given was very +different, as the reader will suppose. By seeing the print of a +moccasin in company with that of a boot, any straggler that crossed the +trail might be led to suppose it had been left by the passage of a +party from the clearing or the mill. Nick quietly assented to this +reasoning, and fell in by the side of the captain without remonstrance. + +Vigilant eyes were kept on all sides of the line of march, though it, +was hoped and believed that the adventurers had struck upon a route too +far west to be exposed to interruption. A quarter of a mile nearer to +the flats might have brought them within the range of stragglers; but, +following the summit of the ridge, there was a certain security in the +indolence which would be apt to prevent mere idlers from sauntering up +an ascent. At all events, no interruption occurred, the party reaching +in safety the rocks that were a continuation of the range which formed +the precipice at the falls--the sign that they had gone far enough to +the south. At this period, the precipice was nearly lost in the rising +of the lower land, but its margin was sufficiently distinct to form a +good mask. + +Descending to the plateau beneath, the captain and Nick now inclined to +the east, the intention being to come in upon the mills from the rear. +As the buildings lay in the ravine, this could only be done by making a +rapid descent immediately in their vicinity; a formation of the ground +that rendered the march, until within pistol-shot of its termination, +reasonably secure. Nick also assured his companions that he had several +times traversed this very plateau, and that he had met no signs of +footsteps on it; from which he inferred that the invaders had not taken +the trouble to ascend the rugged cliffs that bounded the western side +of the glen. + +The approach to the summit of the cliff was made with caution, though +the left flank of the adventurers was well protected by the abrupt +descent they had already made from the terrace above. This left little +more than the right flank and the front to be watched, the falling away +of the land forming, also, a species of cover for the rear. It is not +surprising, then, that the verge of the ravine or glen was attained, +and no discovery was made. The spot being favourable, the captain +immediately led down a winding path, that was densely fringed with +bushes, towards the level of the buildings. + +The glen of the mills was very narrow; so much so, as barely to leave +sites for the buildings themselves, and three or four cabins for the +workmen. The mills were placed in advance, as near as possible to the +course of the water; while the habitations of the workmen were perched +on shelves of the rocks, or such level bits of bottom-land as offered. +Owing to this last circumstance, the house of Daniel the miller, or +that in which it was supposed the major was still confined, stood by +itself, and fortunately, at the very foot of the path by which the +adventurers were descending. All this was favourable, and had been +taken into the account as a material advantage, by Captain Willoughby +when he originally conceived the plan of the present sortie. + +When the chimney of the cabin was visible over the bushes, Captain +Willoughby halted his party, and repeated his instruction to Joyce, in +a voice very little raised above a whisper; The serjeant was ordered to +remain in his present position, until he received a signal to advance. +As for the captain, himself, he intended to descend as near as might be +to the buttery of the cabin, and reconnoitre, before he gave the final +order. This buttery was in a lean-to, as a small addition to the +original building was called in the parlance of the country; and, the +object being shade and coolness, on account of the milk with which it +was usually well stored at this season of the year, it projected back +to the very cliff, where it was half hid in bushes and young trees. It +had but a single small window, that was barred with wood to keep out +cats, and such wild vermin as affected milk, nor was it either lathed +or plastered; these two last being luxuries not often known in the log +tenements of the frontier. Still it was of solid logs, chinked in with +mortar, and made a very effectual prison, with the door properly +guarded; the captive being deprived of edged tools. All this was also +known to the father, when he set forth to effect the liberation of his +son, and, like the positions of the buildings themselves, had been well +weighed in his estimate of the probabilities and chances. + +As soon as his orders were given, Captain Willoughby proceeded down the +path, accompanied only by Nick. He had announced his intention to send +the Tuscarora ahead to reconnoitre, then to force himself among the +bushes between the lean-to and the rocks, and there to open a +communication with the major through the chinks of the logs After +receiving Nick's intelligence, his plan was to be governed by +circumstances, and to act accordingly. + +"God bless you, Joyce," said the captain, squeezing the Serjeant's hand +as he was on the point of descending. "We are on ticklish service, and +require all our wits about us. If anything happen to me, remember that +my wife and daughter will mainly depend on you for protection." + +"I shall consider that as your honour's orders, sir, and no more need +be said to me, Captain Willoughby." + +The captain smiled on his old follower, and Joyce thought that never +had he seen the fine manly face of his superior beam with a calmer, or +sweeter expression, than it did as he returned his own pressure of the +hand. The two adventurers were both careful, and their descent was +noiseless. The men above listened, in breathless silence, but the +stealthy approach of the cat upon the bird could not have been more +still, than that, of these two experienced warriors. + +The place where Joyce was left with the men, might have been fifty feet +above the roof of the cabin, and almost perpendicularly over the narrow +vacancy that was known to exist between the rocks and the lean-to. +Still the bushes and trees were so thick as to prevent the smallest +glimpse at objects below, had the shape of the cliff allowed it, while +they even intercepted sounds. Joyce fancied, nevertheless, that he +heard the rustling bushes, as the captain forced his way into the +narrow space he was to occupy, and he augured well of the fact, since +it proved that no opposition had been encountered. Half an hour of +forest silence followed, that was only interrupted by the tumbling of +the waters over the natural dam. At the end of that weary period, a +shout was heard in front of the mills, and the party raised their +pieces, in a vague apprehension that some discovery had been made that +was about to bring on a crisis. Nothing further occurred, however, to +confirm this impression, and an occasional burst of laughter, that +evidently came from white men, rather served to allay the apprehension. + +Another half-hour passed, during which no interruption was heard. By +this time Joyce became uneasy, a state of things having arrived for +which no provision had been made in his instructions. He was about to +leave his command under the charge of Jamie, and descend himself to +reconnoitre, when a footstep was heard coming up the path. Nothing but +the deep attention, and breathless stillness of the men could have +rendered the sound of a tread so nearly noiseless, audible; but heard +it was, at a moment when every sense was wrought up to its greatest +powers. Rifles were lowered, in readiness to receive assailants, but +each was raised again, as Nick came slowly into view. The Tuscarora was +calm in manner, as if no incident had occurred to disconcert the +arrangement, though his eyes glanced around him, like those of a man +who searched for an absent person. + +"Where cap'in?--Where major?" Nick asked, as soon as his glance had +taken in the faces of all present. + +"We must ask that of you, Nick," returned Joyce. "We have not seen the +captain, nor had any orders from him, since he left us." + +This answer seemed to cause the Indian more surprise than it was usual +for him to betray, and he pondered a moment in obvious uneasiness. + +"Can't stay here, alway," he muttered. "Best go see. Bye'm-by trouble +come; then, too late." + +The serjeant was greatly averse to moving without orders. He had his +instructions how to act in every probable contingency, but none that +covered the case of absolute inaction on the part of those below. +Nevertheless, twice the time necessary to bring things to issue had +gone by, and neither signal, shot, nor alarm had reached his ears. + +"Do you know anything of the major, Nick?" the serjeant demanded, +determined to examine the case thoroughly ere he came to a decision. + +"Major dere--see him at door--plenty sentinel. All good--where cap'in?" + +"Where did you leave him?--You can give the last account of him." + +"Go in behind cupboard--under rock--plenty bushes--all right--son +dere." + +"This must be looked to--perhaps his honour has fallen into a fit--such +things sometimes happen--and a man who is fighting for his own child, +doesn't feel, Jamie, all the same as one who fights on a general +principle, as it might be." + +"Na--ye 're right, sairjeant J'yce, and ye'll be doing the kind and +prudent act, to gang doon yersal', and investigate the trainsaction +with yer ain een." + +This Joyce determined to do, directing Nick to accompany him, as a +guide. The Indian seemed glad to comply, and there was no delay in +proceeding. It required but a minute to reach the narrow passage +between the cliff and the lean-to. The bushes were carefully shoved +aside, and Joyce entered. He soon caught a glimpse of the hunting- +shirt, and then he was about to withdraw, believing that he was in +error, in anticipating orders. But a short look at his commander +removed all scruples; for he observed that he was seated on a +projection of the rocks, with his body bowed forward, apparently +leaning on the logs of the building. This seemed to corroborate the +thought about a fit, and the serjeant pressed eagerly forward to +ascertain the truth. + +Joyce touched his commander's arm, but no sign of consciousness came +from the latter. He then raised his body upright, placing the back in a +reclining attitude against the rocks, and started back himself when he +caught a glimpse of the death-like hue of the face. At first, the +notion of the fit was strong with the serjeant; but, in changing his +own position, he caught a glimpse of a little pool of blood, which at +once announced that violence had been used. + +Although the serjeant was a man of great steadiness of nerves, and +unchangeable method, he fairly trembled as he ascertained the serious +condition of his old and well-beloved commander. Notwithstanding, he +was too much of a soldier to neglect anything that circumstances +required. On examination, he discovered a deep and fatal wound between +two of the ribs, which had evidently been inflicted with a common +knife. The blow had passed into the heart, and Captain Willoughby was, +out of all question, dead! He had breathed his last, within six feet of +his own gallant son, who, ignorant of all that passed, was little +dreaming of the proximity of one so dear to him, as well as of his dire +condition. + +Joyce was a man of powerful frame, and, at that moment, he felt he was +master of a giant's strength. First assuring himself of the fact that +the wounded man had certainly ceased to breathe, he brought the arms +over his own shoulders, raised the body on his back, and walked from +the place, with less attention to caution than on entering, but with +sufficient care to prevent exposure. Nick stood watching his movements +with a wondering look, and as soon as there was room, he aided in +supporting the corpse. + +In this manner the two went up the path, bearing their senseless +burden. A gesture directed the party with Jamie to precede the two who +had been below, and the serjeant did not pause even to breathe, until +he had fairly reached the summit of the cliff; then he halted in a +place removed from the danger of immediate discovery. The body was laid +reverently on the ground, and Joyce renewed his examination with +greater ease and accuracy, until perfectly satisfied that the captain +must have ceased to breathe, nearly an hour. + +This was a sad and fearful blow to the whole party. No one, at such a +moment, thought of inquiring into the manner in which their excellent +master had received his death-blow; but every thought was bent either +on the extent of the calamity, or on the means of getting back to the +Hut. Joyce was the soul of the party. His rugged face assumed a stern, +commanding expression; but every sign of weakness had disappeared. He +gave his orders promptly, and the men even started when he spoke, so +bent on obtaining obedience did he appear to be. + +The rifles were converted into a bier, the body was placed upon it, and +the four men then raised the burthen, and began to retrace their +footsteps, in melancholy silence. Nick led the way, pointing out the +difficulties of the path, with a sedulousness of attention, and a +gentleness of manner, that none present had ever before witnessed in +the Tuscarora He even appeared to have become woman, to use one of his +own peculiar expressions. + +No one speaking, and all the men working with good will, the retreat, +notwithstanding the burthen with which it was encumbered, was made with +a rapidity greatly exceeding the advance. Nick led the way with an +unerring eye, even selecting better ground than that which the white +men had been able to find on their march. He had often traversed all +the hills, in the character of a hunter, and to him the avenues of the +forest were as familiar as the streets of his native town become to the +burgher. He made no offer to become one of the bearers; this would have +been opposed to his habits; but, in all else, the Indian manifested +gentleness and solicitude. His apprehension seemed to be, and so he +expressed it, that the Mohawks might get the scalp of the dead man; a +disgrace that he seemed as solicitous to avoid as Joyce himself; the +serjeant, however, keeping in view the feelings of the survivors, +rather than any notions of military pride. + +Notwithstanding the stern resolution that prevailed among the men, that +return march was long and weary. The distance, of itself, exceeded two +miles, and there were the inequalities and obstacles of a forest to +oppose them. Per severance and strength, however, overcame all +difficulties; and, at the end of two hours, the party approached the +point where it became necessary to enter the bed of the rivulet, or +expose their sad procession by marching in open view of any who might +be straggling in the rear of the Hut. A species of desperate +determination had influenced the men in their return march, rendering +them reckless of discovery, or its consequences; a circumstance that +had greatly favoured their object; the adventurous and bold frequently +encountering fewer difficulties, in the affairs of war, than the +cautious and timid. But an embarrassment now presented itself that was +far more difficult to encounter than any which proceeded from personal +risks. The loving family of the deceased was to be met; a wife and +daughters apprised of the fearful loss that, in the providence of God, +had suddenly alighted on their house. + +"Lower the body, men, and come to a halt," said Joyce, using the manner +of authority, though his voice trembled "we must consult together, as +to our next step." + +There was a brief and decent pause, while the party placed the lifeless +body on the grass, face uppermost, with the limbs laid in order, and +everything about it, disposed of in a seemliness that betokened +profound respect for the senseless clay, even after the noble spirit +had departed. Mike alone could not resist his strong native propensity +to talk. The honest fellow raised a hand of his late master, and, +kissing it with strong affection, soliloquized as follows, in a tone +that was more rebuked by feeling, than any apprehension of +consequences. + +"Little need had ye of a praist, and extreme unction," he said. "The +likes of yerself always kapes a clane breast; and the knife that went +into yer heart found nothing that ye need have been ashamed of! Sorrow +come over me, but yer lass is as great a one to meself, as if I had +tidings of the sinking of ould Ireland into the salt say, itself; a +thing that niver _can_ happen, and niver will happen; no, not even +at the last day; as all agree the wor-r-ld is to be burned and not +drowned. And who'll there be to tell this same to the Missus, and Miss +Beuly, and phratty Miss Maud, and the babby, in the bargain? Divil bur- +r-n me, if 't will be Michael O'Hearn, who has too much sorrow of his +own, to be running about, and d'aling it out to other people. Sarjeant, +that will be ver own jewty, and I pities the man that has to perform +it." + +"No man will see me shrink from a duty, O'Hearn," said Joyce, stiffly, +while with the utmost difficulty he kept the tears from breaking out of +a fountain that had not opened, in this way, for twenty years. "It may +bear hard on my feelings--I do not say it will _not_--but duty is +duty, and it must be done. Corporal Allen, you see the state of things; +the commanding officer is among the casualties, and nothing would be +simpler than our course, were it not for Madam Willoughby--God bless +her, and have her in His holy keeping--and the young ladies. It is +proper to deliberate a little about _them_. To you then, as an +elderly and experienced man, I first apply for an opinion." + +"Sorrow's an unwelcome guest, whether it comes expected, or without any +previous knowledge. The hairts o the widow and fairtherless must be +stricken, and it's little that a' our consolations and expairiments +will prevail ag'in the feelin's o' natur'. Pheeloosophy and religion +tall us that the body's no mair than a clod o' the valley when the +speerit has fled; but the hairt is unapt to listen to wisdom while the +grief is fraish, and of the severity of an unlooked-for sairtainty. +_I_ see little good, therefore, in doing mair than just sending in a +messenger, to clear the way a little for the arrival of truth, in the +form o' death, itsal'." + +"I have been thinking of this--will you take the office, Jamie, as a +man of years and discretion?" + +"Na--na--ye'll be doing far better by sending a younger man. Age has +weakened my memory, and I'll be overlooking some o' the saircumstances +in a manner that will be unseemly for the occasion. Here is Blodget, a +youth of ready wit, and limber tongue." + +"I wouldn't do it, mason, to be the owner of ten such properties as +this!" exclaimed the young Rhode Islander, actually recoiling a step, +as if he retreated before a dreaded foe. + +"Well, sairjeant, ye've Michael here, who belangs to a kirk that has so +little seempathy with protestantism as to lessen the pain o' the +office. Death is a near ally to religion, and Michael, by taking a +religious view o' the maither, might bring his hairt into such a +condition of insensibility as wad give him little to do but to tell +what has happened, leaving God, in his ain maircy, to temper the wind +to the shorn lamb." + +"You hear, O'Hearn?" said the serjeant, stiffly--"Everybody seems to +expect that you will do this duty." + +"Jewty!--D 'ye call it a jewty for a man in my situation to break the +hearts of Missus, and Miss Beuly, and phratty Miss Maud, and the babby? +for babbies has hearts as well as the stoutest man as is going. Divil +bur-r-n me, then, if ye gets out of my mout' so much as a hint that the +captain's dead and gone from us, for ever and ever, amen! Ye may send +me in, for ye 're corporals, and serjeants, and the likes of yees, and +I'll obey as a souldier, seem' that he would have wished as much +himself, had the breat' staid in his body, which it has not, on account +of its l'aving his sowl on 'arth, and departing with his corporeal part +for the mansions of happiness, the Blessed Mary have mercy on him, +whether here or _there_--but the captain was not the man to wish a +fait'ful follower to afflict his own wife; and so I'll have not'in' to +do with such a message, at all at all." + +"Nick go"--said the Indian, calmly--"Used to carry message--carry him +for cap'in, once more." + +"Well, Nick, you may do it certainly, if so disposed," answered Joyce, +who would have accepted the services of a Chinese rather than undertake +the office in person. "You will remember and speak to the ladies +gently, and not break the news too suddenly." + +"Yes--squaw soft heart--Nick know--had moder--had wife, once--had +darter." + +"Very well; this will be an advantage, men, as Nick is the only married +man among us; and married men should best understand dealing with +females." + +Joyce then held a private communication with the Tuscarora, that lasted +some five or six minutes, when the last leaped nimbly into the bed of +the stream, and was soon concealed by the bushes of one of its reaches. + + + + + +Chapter XXVI. + + "Heart leaps to heart--the sacred flood + That warms us is the same; + That good old man--his honest blood + Alike we fondly claim." + + Sprague. + +Although Nick commenced his progress with so much seeming zeal and +activity, his speed abated, the moment he found himself beyond the +sight of those he had left in the woods. Before he reached the foot of +the cliff, his trot had degenerated to a walk; and when he actually +found he was at its base, he seated himself on a stone, apparently to +reflect on the course he ought to pursue. + +The countenance of the Tuscarora expressed a variety of emotions while +he thus remained stationary. At first, it was fierce, savage, exulting; +then it became gentler, soft, perhaps repentant. He drew his knife from +its buckskin sheath, and eyed the blade with a gaze expressive of +uneasiness. Perceiving that a clot of blood had collected at the +junction with the handle, it was carefully removed by the use of water. +His look next passed over his whole person, in order to ascertain if +any more of these betrayers of his fearful secret remained; after which +he seemed more at ease. + +"Wyandotte's back don't ache now," he growled to himself. "Ole sore +heal up. Why Cap'in touch him? T'ink Injin no got feelin'? Good man, +sometime; bad man, sometime. Sometime, live; sometime, die. Why tell +Wyandotte he flog ag'in, just as go to enemy's camp? No; back feel +well, now--nebber smart, any more." + +When this soliloquy was ended, Nick arose, cast a look up at the sun, +to ascertain how much of the day still remained, glanced towards the +Hut, as if examining the nature of its defences, stretched himself like +one who was weary, and peeped out from behind the bushes, in order to +see how those who were afield, still occupied themselves. All this +done, with singular deliberation and steadiness, he arranged his light +dress, and prepared to present himself before the wife and daughters of +the man, whom, three hours before, he had remorselessly murdered. Nick +had often meditated this treacherous deed, during the thirty years +which had elapsed between his first flogging and the present period; +but circumstances had never placed its execution safely in his power. +The subsequent punishments had increased the desire, for a few years; +but time had so far worn off the craving for revenge, that it would +never have been actively revived, perhaps, but for the unfortunate +allusions of the victim himself, to the subject. Captain Willoughby had +been an English soldier, of the school of the last century. He was +naturally a humane and a just man, but he believed in the military +axiom that "the most flogging regiments were the best fighting +regiments;" and perhaps he was not in error, as regards the lower +English character. It was a fatal error, however, to make in relation +to an American savage; one who had formerly exercised the functions, +and who had not lost all the feelings, of a chief. Unhappily, at a +moment when everything depended on the fidelity of the Tuscarora, the +captain had bethought him of his old expedient for insuring prompt +obedience, and, by way of a reminder, he made an allusion to his former +mode of punishment. As Nick would have expressed it, "the old sores +smarted;" the wavering purpose of thirty years was suddenly and +fiercely revived, and the knife passed into the heart of the victim, +with a rapidity that left no time for appeals to the tribunal of God's +mercy. In half a minute, Captain Willoughby had ceased to breathe. + +Such had been the act of the man who now passed through the opening of +the palisade, and entered the former habitation of his victim. A +profound stillness reigned in and around the Hut, and no one appeared +to question the unexpected intruder. Nick passed, with his noiseless +step, round to the gate, which he found secured. It was necessary to +knock, and this he did in a way effectually to bring a porter. + +"Who dere?" demanded the elder Pliny, from within. + +"Good friend--open gate. Come wid message from cap'in." + +The natural distaste to the Indians which existed among the blacks of +the Knoll, included the Tuscarora. This disgust was mingled with a +degree of dread; and it was difficult for beings so untutored and +ignorant, at all times to draw the proper distinctions between Indian +and Indian. In _their_ wonder-loving imaginations, Oneidas, +Tuscaroras, Mohawks, Onondagas, and Iroquois were all jumbled together +in inextricable confusion, a red man being a red man, and a savage a +savage. It is not surprising, therefore, that Pliny the elder should +hesitate about opening the gate, and admitting one of the detested +race, though a man so well known to them all, in the peculiar situation +of the family. Luckily, Great Smash happened to be near, and her +husband called her to the gate by one of the signals that, was much +practised between them. + +"Who you t'ink out-dere?" asked Pliny the elder of his consort, with a +very significant look. + +"How you t'ink guess, ole Plin?--You 'spose nigger wench like Albonny +wise woman, dat she see t'rough a gate, and know ebbery t'ing, and +little more!" + +"Well, _dat_ Sassy Nick. What you say _now?_" + +"You sartain, ole Plin?" asked Mistress Smash, with a face ominous of +evil. + +"Sartain as ear. Talk wid him--he want to come in. What you t'ink?" + +"Nebber open gate, ole Plin, till mistress tell you. You stay here-- +dere; lean ag'in gate wid all you might; dere; now I go call Miss Maud. +She all alone in librarim, and will know what best. Mind you lean ag'in +gate well, ole Plin." + +Pliny the elder nodded assent, placed his shoulders resolutely against +the massive timbers, and stood propping a defence that would have made +a respectable resistance to a battering-ram, like another Atlas, +upholding a world. His duty was short, however, his 'lady' soon +returning with Maud, who was hastening breathlessly to learn the news. + +"Is it you, Nick?" called out the sweet voice of our heroine through +the crevices of the timber. + +The Tuscarora started, as he so unexpectedly heard those familiar +sounds; for an instant, his look was dark; then the expression changed +to pity and concern, and his reply was given with less than usual of +the abrupt, guttural brevity that belonged to his habits. + +"'Tis Nick--Sassy Nick--Wyandotte, Flower of the Woods," for so the +Indian often termed Maud.--"Got news--cap'in send him. Meet party and +go along. Nobody here; only Wyandotte. Nick see major, too--say +somet'ing to young squaw." + +This decided the matter. The gate was unbarred, and Nick in the court +in half-a-minute. Great Smash stole a glance without, and beckoned +Pliny the elder to join her, in order to see the extraordinary +spectacle of Joel and his associates toiling in the fields. When they +drew in their heads, Maud and her companion were already in the +library. The message from Robert Willoughby had induced our heroine to +seek this room; for, placing little confidence in the delicacy of the +messenger, she recoiled from listening to his words in the presence of +others. + +But Nick was in no haste to speak. He took the chair to which Maud +motioned, and he sate looking at her, in a way that soon excited her +alarm. + +"Tell me, if your heart has any mercy in it, Wyandotte; has aught +happened to Major Willoughby?" + +"He well--laugh, talk, feel good. Mind not'ing. He prisoner; don't +touch he scalp." + +"Why, then, do you wear so ominous a look--your face is the very +harbinger of evil." + +"Bad news, if trut' must come. What you' name, young squaw?" + +"Surely, surely, you must know that well, Nick! I am Maud--your old +friend, Maud." + +"Pale-face hab two name--Tuscarora got t'ree. Some time, Nick-- +sometime, Sassy Nick--sometime, Wyandotte." + +"You know my name is Maud Willoughby," returned our heroine, colouring +to the temples with a certain secret consciousness of her error, but +preferring to keep up old appearances. + +"Dat call you' fader's name, Meredit'; no Willoughby." + +"Merciful Providence! and has this great secret been known to +_you_, too, Nick!" + +"He no secret--know all about him. Wyandotte dere. See Major Meredit' +shot. _He_ good chief--nebber flog--nebber strike Injin. Nick know +fader, know moder--know squaw, when pappoose." + +"And why have you chosen this particular moment to tell me all this? +Has it any relation to your message--to Bob--to Major Willoughby, I +mean?" demanded Mauo, nearly gasping for breath. + +"No relation, tell you," said Nick, a little angrily. "Why make +relation, when no relation at all. Meredit'; no Willoughby. Ask moder; +ask major; ask chaplain--all tell trut'! No need to be so feelin'; no +you fader, at all." + +"What _can_ you--what _do_ you mean, Nick? Why do you look so +wild--so fierce--so kind--so sorrowful--so angry? You must have bad +news to tell me." + +"Why bad to _you_--he no fader--only fader friend. You can't help +it--fader die when you pappoose--why you care, now, for dis?" + +Maud now actually gasped for breath. A frightful glimpse of the truth +gleamed before her imagination, though it was necessarily veiled in the +mist of uncertainty. She became pale as death, and pressed her hand +upon her heart, as if to still its beating. Then, by a desperate +effort, she became more calm, and obtained the power to speak. + +"Oh! is it so, Nick!--_can_ it be so!" she said; "my father has +fallen in this dreadful business?" + +"Fader kill twenty year ago; tell you _dat_, how often?" answered +the Tuscarora, angrily; for, in his anxiety to lessen the shock to +Maud, for whom this wayward savage had a strange sentiment of +affection, that had grown out of her gentle kindnesses to himself, on a +hundred occasions, he fancied if she knew that Captain Willoughby was +not actually her father, her grief at his loss would be less. "Why you +call _dis_ fader, when _dat_ fader. Nick know fader and +moder.--Major no broder." + +Notwithstanding the sensations that nearly pressed her to the earth, +the tell-tale blood rushed to Maud's cheeks, again, at this allusion, +and she bowed her face to her knees. The action gave her time to rally +her faculties; and catching a glimpse of the vast importance to all for +her maintaining self-command, she was enabled to raise her face with +something like the fortitude the Indian hoped to see. + +"Trifle with me no longer, Wyandotte, but let me know the worst at +once. Is my father dead?--By father, I mean captain Willoughby?" + +"Mean wrong, den--no fader, tell you. Why young quaw so much like +Mohawk?" + +"Man--is captain Willoughby killed?" + +Nick gazed intently into Maud's face for half a minute, and then he +nodded an assent. Notwithstanding all her resolutions to be steady, our +heroine nearly sank under the blow. For ten minutes she spoke not, but +sat, her head bowed to her knees, in a confusion of thought that +threatened a temporary loss of reason. Happily, a flood of tears +relieved her, and she became more calm. Then the necessity of knowing +more, in order that she might act intelligently, occurred to her mind, +and she questioned Nick in a way to elicit all it suited the savage to +reveal. + +Maud's first impulse was to go out to meet the body of the captain, and +to ascertain for herself that there was actually no longer any hope. +Nick's account had been so laconic as to leave much obscurity, and the +blow had been so sudden she could hardly credit the truth in its full +extent. Still, there remained the dreadful tidings to be communicated +to those dear beings, who, while they feared so much, had never +anticipated a calamity like this. Even Mrs. Willoughby, sensitive as +she was, and wrapped up in those she loved so entirely, as she was +habitually, had been so long accustomed to see and know of her +husband's exposing himself with impunity, as to begin to feel, if not +to think, that he bore a charmed life. All this customary confidence +was to be overcome, and the truth was to be said. Tell the fact to her +mother, Maud felt that she could not then; scarcely under any +circumstances would she have consented to perform this melancholy +office; but, so long as a shadow of doubt remained on the subject of +her father's actual decease, it seemed cruel even to think of it. Her +decision was to send for Beulah, and it was done by means of one of the +negresses. + +So long as we feel that there are others to be sustained by our +fortitude, even the feeblest possess a firmness to which they might +otherwise be strangers. Maud, contrary to what her delicate but active +frame and sweetness of disposition might seem to indicate, was a young +woman capable of the boldest exertions, short of taking human life. Her +frontier training had raised her above most of the ordinary weaknesses +of her sex; and, so far as determination went, few men were capable of +higher resolution, when circumstances called for its display. Her plan +was now made up to go forth and meet the body, and nothing short of a +command from her mother could have stopped her. In this frame of mind +was our heroine, when Beulah made her appearance. + +"Maud!" exclaimed the youthful matron, "what has happened!--why are you +so pale!--why send for me? Does Nick bring us any tidings from the +mill?" + +"The worst possible, Beulah. My father--my dear, dear father is hurt. +They have borne him as far as the edge of the woods, where they have +halted, in order not to take us by surprise. I am going to meet the--to +meet the men, and to bring father in. You must prepare mother for the +sad, sad tidings--yes, Beulah, for the worst, as everything depends on +the wisdom and goodness of God!" + +"Oh! Maud, this is dreadful!" exclaimed the sister, sinking into a +chair--"What will become of mother--of little Evert--of us all!" + +"The providence of the Ruler of heaven and earth will care for us. Kiss +me, dear sister--how cold you are--rouse yourself, Beulah, for mother's +sake. Think how much more _she_ must feel than we possibly can, +and then be resolute." + +"Yes, Maud--very true--no woman can feel like a wife--unless it be a +mother--" + +Here Beulah's words were stopped by her fainting. + +"You see, Smash," said Maud, pointing to her sister with a strange +resolution, "she must have air, and a little water--and she has salts +about her, I know. Come, Nick; we have no more time to waste--you must +be my guide." + +The Tuscarora had been a silent observer of this scene, and if it did +not awaken remorse in his bosom, it roused feelings that had never +before been its inmates. The sight of two such beings suffering under a +blow that his own hand had struck, was novel to him, and he knew not +which to encourage most, a sentiment allied to regret, or a fierce +resentment, that any should dare thus to reproach, though it were only +by yielding to the grief natural to their situation. But Maud had +obtained a command over him, that he knew not how to resist, and he +followed her from the room, keeping his eyes riveted the while on the +pallid face of Beulah. The last was recalled from her insensibility, +however, in the course of a few minutes, through the practised +attentions of the negresses. + +Maud waited for nothing. Motioning impatiently for the Tuscarora to +lead the way, she glided after him with a rapidity that equalled his +own loping movement. She made no difficulties in passing the stockade, +though Nick kept his eyes on the labourers, and felt assured their +_exeunt_ was not noticed. Once by the path that led along the +rivulet, Maud refused all precautions, but passed swiftly over it, +partially concealed by its bushes. Her dress was dark, and left little +liability to exposure. As for Nick, his forest attire, like the hunting +shirt of the whites, was expressly regulated by the wish to go to and +fro unseen. + +In less than three minutes after the Indian and Maud had passed the +gate, they were drawing near to the melancholy group that had halted in +the forest. Our heroine was recognised as she approached, and when she +came rushing up to the spot, all made way, allowing her to fall upon +her knees by the side of the lifeless body, bathing the placid face of +the dead with her tears, and covering it with kisses. + +"Is there no hope--oh! Joyce," she cried, "_can_ it be possible +that my father is actually dead?" + +"I fear, Miss Maud, that his honour has made his last march. He has +received orders to go hence, and, like a gallant soldier as he was, he +has obeyed, without a murmur;" answered the serjeant, endeavouring to +appear firm and soldier-like, himself. "We have lost a noble and humane +commander, and you a most excellent and tender father." + +"No fader,"--growled Nick, at the serjeant's elbow, twitching his +sleeve, at the same time, to attract attention. 'Serjeant know +_her_ fader. He by; I by, when Iroquois shoot him." + +"I do not understand you, Tuscarora, nor do I think you altogether +understand _us_; the less you say, therefore, the better for all +parties. It is our duty, Miss Maud, to say 'God's will be done,' and +the soldier who dies in the discharge of his duty is never to be +pitied. I sincerely wish that the Rev. Mr. Woods was here; he would +tell you all this in a manner that would admit of no dispute; as for +myself, I am a plain man, Miss Maud, and my tongue cannot utter one- +half that my heart feels at this instant." + +"Ah! Joyce, what a friend--what a parent has it pleased God to call to +himself!" + +"Yes, Miss Maud, that may be said with great justice--if his honour has +left us in obedience to general orders, it is to meet promotion in a +service that will never weary, and never end." + +"So kind; so true; so gentle; so just; so affectionate!" said Maud, +wringing her hands. + +"And so brave, young lady. His honour, captain Willoughby, wasn't one +of them that is always talking, and writing, and boasting about +fighting; but when anything was to be _done_, the Colonel always +knew whom to send on the duty. The army couldn't have lost a braver +gentleman, had he remained in it." + +"Oh! my father--my father,"--cried Maud, in bitterness of sorrow, +throwing herself on the body and embracing it, as had been her wont in +childhood--"would that I could have died for you!" + +"Why you let go on so," grumbled Nick, again. "_No_ her fader--you +know _dat_, serjeant." + +Joyce was not in a state to answer. His own feelings had been kept in +subjection only by military pride, but they now had become so nearly +uncontrollable, that he found himself obliged to step a little aside in +order to conceal his weakness. As it was, large tears trickled down his +rugged face, like water flowing from the fissures of the riven oak +Jamie Allen's constitutional prudence, however, now became active, +admonishing the party of the necessity of their getting within the +protection of the Hut. + +"Death is at a' times awfu'," said the mason, "but it must befall young +and auld alike. And the affleection it brings cometh fra' the heart, +and is a submission to the la' o' nature. Nevertheless we a' hae our +duties, so lang as we remain in the flesh, and it is time to be +thinking o' carryin' the body into some place o' safety, while we hae a +prudent regard to our ain conditions also." + +Maud had risen, and, hearing this appeal, she drew back meekly, assumed +a manner of forced composure, and signed to the men to proceed. On this +intimation, the body was raised, and the melancholy procession resumed +its march. + +For the purpose of concealment, Joyce led the way into the bed of the +stream, leaving Maud waiting their movements, a little deeper within +the forest. As soon as he and his fellow-bearers were in the water, +Joyce turned and desired Nick to escort the young lady in, again, on +dry land, or by the path along which she had come out. This said, the +serjeant and his companions proceeded. Maud stood gazing on the sad +spectacle like one entranced, until she felt a sleeve pulled, and +perceived the Tuscarora at her side. + +"No go to Hut," said Nick, earnestly; "go wid Wyandotte." + +"Not follow my dear father's remains--not go to my beloved mother in +her anguish. You know not what you ask, Indian--move, and let me +proceed." + +"No go home--no use--no good. Cap'in dead--what do widout commander. +Come wid Wyandotte--find major--den do some good." + +Maud fairly started in her surprise. There seemed something so truly +useful, so consoling, so dear in this proposal, that it instantly +caught her ear. + +"Find the Major!" she answered. "Is that possible, Nick? My poor father +perished in making that attempt--what hope can there be then for +_my_ success?" + +"Plenty hope--much as want--all, want. Come wid Wyandotte--he great +chief--show young squaw where to find broder." + +Here was a touch of Nick's consummate art. He knew the female bosom so +well that he avoided any allusion to his knowledge of the real relation +between Robert Willoughby and Maud, though he had so recently urged her +want of natural affinity to the family, as a reason why she should not +grieve. By keeping the Major before her eyes as a brother, the chances +of his own success were greatly increased. As for Maud, a tumult of +feeling came over her heart at this extraordinary proposal. To liberate +Bob, to lead him into the Hut, to offer his manly protection to her +mother, and Beulah, and little Evert, at such an instant, caught her +imagination, and appealed to all her affections. + +"Can you do this, Tuscarora"--she asked, earnestly, pressing her hand +on her heart as if to quiet its throbbings. "Can you really lead me to +Major Willoughby, so that I may have some hope of liberating him?" + +"Sartain--you go, he come. I go, he no come. Don't love Nick--t'ink all +Injin, one Injin--t'ink one Injin, all Injin. You go, he come--he stay, +find more knife, and die like Cap'in. Young squaw follow Wyandotte, and +see." + +Maud needed no more. To save the life of Bob, her well-beloved, he who +had so long been beloved in secret, she would have gone with one far +less known and trusted than the Tuscarora. She made an eager gesture +for him to proceed, and they were soon on their way to the mill, +threading the mazes of the forest. + +Nick was far from observing the precautions that had been taken by the +captain, in his unfortunate march out. Acquainted with every inch of +ground in the vicinity of the Dam, and an eye-witness of the +dispositions of the invaders, he had no occasion for making the long +_detour_ already described, but went to work in a much more +direct manner. Instead of circling the valley, and the clearing, to the +westward, he turned short in the contrary direction, crossed the +rivulet on the fallen tree, and led the way along the eastern margin of +the flats. On this side of the valley he knew there were no enemies, +and the position of the huts and barns enabled him to follow a path, +that was just deep enough in the forest to conceal his movements. By +taking this course, besides having the advantage of a clear and beaten +path, most of the way, the Tuscarora brought the whole distance within +a mile. + +As for Maud, she asked no questions, solicited no pauses, manifested no +physical weakness. Actively as the Indian moved among the trees, she +kept close in his footsteps; and she had scarcely begun to reflect on +the real nature of the undertaking in which she was engaged, when the +roar of the rivulet, and the formation of the land, told her they had +reached the edge of the glen below the mills. Here Nick told her to +remain stationary a moment, while he advanced to a covered point of the +rocks, to reconnoitre. This was the place where the Indian had made his +first observations of the invaders of the valley, ascertaining their +real character before he trusted his person among them. On the present +occasion, his object was to see if all remained, in and about the +mills, as when he had last left the spot. + +"Come"--said Nick, signing for Maud to follow him--"we go--fools sleep, +and eat, and talk. Major prisoner now; half an hour, Major free." + +This was enough for the ardent, devoted, generous-hearted Maud. She +descended the path before her as swiftly as her guide could lead, and, +in five more minutes, they reached the bank of the stream, in the glen, +at a point where a curvature hid the rivulet from those at the mill. +Here an enormous pine had been laid across the torrent; and, flattened +on its upper surface, it made a secure bridge for those who were sure +of foot, and steady of eye. Nick glanced back at his companion, as he +stepped upon this bridge, to ascertain if she were equal to crossing +it, a single glance sufficing to tell him apprehensions were +unnecessary. Half a minute placed both, in safety, on the western bank. + +"Good!" muttered the Indian; "young squaw make wife for warrior." + +But Maud heard neither the compliment nor the expression of countenance +which accompanied it. She merely made an impatient gesture to proceed. +Nick gazed intently at the excited girl; and there was an instant when +he seemed to waver in his own purpose; but the gesture repeated, caused +him to turn, and lead the way up the glen. + +The progress of Nick now, necessarily, became more guarded and slower. +He was soon obliged to quit the common path, and to incline to the +left, more against the side of the cliff, for the purposes of +concealment. From the time he had struck the simple bridge, until he +took this precaution, his course had lain along what might have been +termed the common highway, on which there was always the danger of +meeting some messenger, travelling to or from the valley. + +But Nick was at no loss for paths. There were plenty of them; and the +one he took soon brought him out into that by which Captain Willoughby +had descended to the lean-to. When the spot was reached where Joyce had +halted, Nick paused; and, first listening intently, to catch the sound +of noises, if any might happen to be in dangerous proximity, he +addressed his companion: + +"Young squaw bold," he said, encouragingly; "now want heart of +warrior." + +"I can follow, Nick--having come so far, why distrust me, now?" + +"'Cause he here--down dere--woman love man; man love woman--dat right; +but, no show it, when scalp in danger." + +"Perhaps I do not understand you, Tuscarora--but, my trust is in God; +he is a support that can uphold any weakness." + +"Good!--stay here--Nick come back, in minute." + +Nick now descended to the passage between the rocks and the lean-to, in +order to make certain that the major still remained in his prison, +before he incurred any unnecessary risk with Maud. Of this fact he was +soon assured; after which he took the precaution to conceal the pool of +blood, by covering it with earth and stones. Making his other +observations with care, and placing the saw and chisel, with the other +tools, that had fallen from the captain's hand, when he received his +death-wound, in a position to be handy, he ascended the path, and +rejoined Maud. No word passed between our heroine and her guide. The +latter motioned for her to follow; then he led the way down to the +cabin. Soon, both had entered the narrow passage; and Maud, in +obedience to a sign from her companion, seated herself on the precise +spot where her father had been found, and where the knife had passed +into his heart. To all this, however, Nick manifested the utmost +indifference. Everything like ferocity had left his face; to use his +own figurative language, his sores smarted no longer; and the +expression of his eye was friendly and gentle. Still it showed no signs +of compunction. + + + + + +Chapter XXVII. + + "Her pallid face displayed + Something, methought, surpassing mortal beauty. + She presently turn'd round, and fixed her large, wild eyes. + Brimming with tears, upon me, fetch'd a sigh, + As from a riven heart, and cried: He's dead!" + + Hillhouse. + +Maud had been so earnest, and so much excited, that the scarcely +reflected on the singularity and novelty of her situation, until she +was seated, as described at the close of the last chapter. Then, +indeed, she began to think that she had embarked in an undertaking of +questionable prudence, and to wonder in what manner she was to be +useful. Still her heart did not fail her, or her hopes altogether sink. +She saw that Nick was grave and occupied, like a man who intended to +effect his purpose at every hazard; and that purpose she firmly +believed was the liberation of Robert Willoughby. + +As for Nick, the instant his companion was seated, and he had got a +position to his mind, he set about his business with great assiduity. +It has been said that the lean-to like the cabin, was built of logs; a +fact that constituted the security of the prisoner. The logs of the +lean-to, however, were much smaller than those of the body of the +house, and both were of the common white pine of the country; a wood of +durable qualities, used as it was here, but which yielded easily to +edged tools. Nick had a small saw, a large chisel, and his knife. With +the chisel, he cautiously commenced opening a hole of communication +with the interior, by removing a little of the mortar that filled the +interstices between the logs. This occupied but a moment. When +effected, Nick applied an eye to the hole and took a look within. He +muttered the word "good," then withdrew his own eye, and, by a sign, +invited Maud to apply one of hers. This our heroine did, and saw Robert +Willoughby, reading within a few feet of her, with a calmness of air, +that at once announced his utter ignorance of the dire event that had +so lately occurred, almost within reach of his arm. + +"Squaw speak," whispered Nick; "voice sweet as wren--go to Major's ear +like song of bird.--Squaw speak music to young warrior." + +Maud drew back, her heart beat violently, her breathing became +difficult, and the blood rushed to her temples. But an earnest motion +from Nick reminded her this was no time for hesitation, and she applied +her mouth to the hole. + +"Robert--_dear_ Robert," she said, in a loud whisper, "we are +here--have come to release you." + +Maud's impatience could wait no longer; but her eye immediately +succeeded her mouth. That she was heard was evident from the +circumstance that the book fell from the Major's hand, in a way to show +how completely he was taken by surprise. "He knows even my whispers," +thought Maud, her heart beating still more violently, as she observed +the young soldier gazing around him, with a bewildered air, like one +who fancied he had heard the whisperings of some ministering angel. By +this time, Nick had removed a long piece of the mortar; and he too, was +looking into the buttery. By way of bringing matters to an +understanding, the Indian thrust the chisel through the opening, and, +moving it, he soon attracted Willoughby's attention. The latter +instantly advanced, and applied his own eye to the wide crack, catching +a view of the swarthy face of Nick. + +Willoughby knew that the presence of this Indian, at such a place, and +under such circumstances, indicated the necessity of caution. He did +not speak, therefore; but, first making a significant gesture towards +the door of his narrow prison, thus intimating the close proximity of +sentinels, he demanded the object of this visit, in a whisper. + +"Come to set major free," answered Nick. + +"Can I trust you, Tuscarora? Sometimes you seem a friend, sometimes an +enemy. I know that you appear to be on good terms with my captors." + +"Dat good--Injin know how to look two way--warrior _must_, if +great warrior." + +"I wish I had some proof, Nick, that you are dealing with me in good +faith." + +"Call _dat_ proof, den!" growled the savage, seizing Maud's little +Land, and passing it through the opening, before the startled girl was +fully aware of what he meant to do. + +Willoughby knew the hand at a glance. He would have recognised it, in +that forest solitude, by its symmetry and whiteness, its delicacy and +its fullness; but one of the taper fingers wore a ring that, of late, +Maud had much used; being a diamond hoop that she had learned was a +favourite ornament of her real mother's. It is not surprising, +therefore, that he seized the pledge that was thus strangely held +forth, and had covered it with kisses, before Maud had presence of mind +sufficient, or strength to reclaim it. This she would not do, however, +at such a moment, without returning all the proofs of ardent affection +that were lavished on her own hand, by giving a gentle pressure to the +one in which it was clasped. + +"This is so strange, Maud!--so every way extraordinary, that I know not +what to think," the young man whispered soon as he could get a glimpse +of the face of the sweet girl. "Why are you here, beloved, and in such +company?" + +"You will trust _me_, Bob--Nick comes as your friend. Aid him all +you can, now, and be silent. When free, then will be the time to learn +all." + +A sign of assent succeeded, and the major withdrew a step, in order to +ascertain the course Nick meant to pursue. By this time, the Indian was +at work with his knife, and he soon passed the chisel in to the +prisoner, who seized it, and commenced cutting into the logs, at a +point opposite to that where the Tuscarora was whittling away the wood. +The object was to introduce the saw, and it required some labour to +effect such a purpose. By dint of application, however, and by cutting +the log above as well as that below, sufficient space was obtained in +the course of a few minutes. Nick then passed the saw in, through the +opening, it exceeding his skill to use such a tool with readiness. + +By this time, Willoughby was engaged with the earnestness and zeal of +the captive who catches a glimpse of liberty. Notwithstanding, he +proceeded intelligently and with caution. The blanket given him by his +captors, as a pallet, was hanging from a nail, and he took the +precaution to draw this mil, and to place it above the spot selected +for the cut, that he might suspend the blanket so as to conceal what he +was at, in the event of a visit from without. When all was ready, and +the blanket was properly placed, he began to make long heavy strokes +with the tool, in a way to deaden the sound. This was a delicate +operation; but the work's being done behind the blanket, had some +effect in lessening the noise. As the work proceeded, Willoughby's +hopes increased; and he was soon delighted to hear from Nick, that it +was time to insert the saw in another place. Success is apt to induce +carelessness; and, as the task proceeded, Willoughby's arm worked with +greater rapidity, until a noise at the door gave the startling +information that he was about to be visited. There was just time to +finish the last cut, and to let the blanket fall, before the door +opened. The saw-dust and chips had all been carefully removed, as the +work proceeded, and of these none were left to betray the secret. + +There might have been a quarter of a minute between the moment when +Willoughby seated himself, with his book in his hand, and that in which +the door opened. Short as was this interval, it sufficed for Nick to +remove the piece of log last cut, and to take away the handle of the +saw; the latter change permitting the blanket to hang so close against +the logs as completely to conceal the hole. The sentinel who appeared +was an Indian in externals, but a dull, white countryman in fact and +character. + +"I thought I heard the sound of a saw, major," he said listlessly; "yet +everything looks quiet, and in its place here!" + +"Where should I get such a tool?" Willoughby coolly replied; "and what +is there here to saw?" + +"'Twas as nat'ral, too, as the carpenter himself could make it, in +sound!" + +"Possibly the mill has been set in motion by some of your idlers, and +you have heard the large saw, which, at a distance, may sound like a +smaller one near by." + +The man looked incredulously at his prisoner for a moment; then he drew +to the door, with the air of one who was determined to assure himself +of the truth, calling aloud as he did so, to one of his companions to +join him. Willoughby knew that no time was to be lost. In half-a- +minute, he had passed the hole, dropped the blanket before it, had +circled the slender waist of Maud with one arm, and was shoving aside +the bushes with the other, as he followed Nick from the straitened +passage between the lean-to and the rock. The major seemed more bent on +bearing Maud from the spot, than on saving himself. Her feet scarce +touched the ground, as he ascended to the place where Joyce had halted. +Here Nick stood an instant, with a finger raised in intense listening. +His practised ears caught the sound of voices in the lean-to, then +scarce fifty feet distant. Men called to each other by name, and then a +voice directly beneath them, proclaimed that a head was already thrust +through the hole. + +"Here is your saw, and here is its workmanship!" exclaimed this voice. + +"And here is blood, too," said another. "See! the ground has been a +pool beneath those stones." + +Maud shuddered, as if the soul were leaving its earthly tenement, and +Willoughby signed impatiently for Nick to proceed. But the savage, for +a brief instant, seemed bewildered The danger below, however, +increased, and evidently drew so near, that he turned and glided up the +ascent. Presently, the fugitives reached the descending path, that +diverged from the larger one they were on, and by which Nick and Maud +had so recently come diagonally up this cliff. Nick leaped into it, and +then the intervening bushes concealed their persons from any who might +continue on the upward course. There was an open space, however, a +little lower down; and the quick-witted savage came to a stand under a +close cover, believing flight to be useless should their pursuers +actually follow on their heels. + +The halt had not been made half-a-dozen seconds, when the voices of the +party ascending in chase, were heard above the fugitives. Willoughby +felt an impulse to dash down the path, bearing Maud in his arms, but +Nick interposed his own body to so rash a movement. There was not time +for a discussion, and the sounds of voices, speaking English too +distinctly to pass for any but those of men of English birth, or +English origin, were heard disputing about the course to be taken, at +the point of junction between the two paths. + +"Go by the lower," called out one, from the rear; "he will run down the +stream, and make for the settlements on the Hudson. Once before, he has +done this, as I know from Strides himself." + +"D---n Strides!" answered another, more in front. "He is a sniveling +scoundrel, who loves liberty, as a hog loves corn for the sake of good +living. I say go the _upper_, which will carry him on the heights, +and bring him out near his father's garrison." + +"Here are marks of feet on the upper," observed a third, "though they +seem to be coming _down_, instead of going _up_ the hill." + +"It is the trail of the fellows who have helped him to escape. Push +_up_ the hill, and we shall have them all in ten minutes. Push +_up_--push _up_." + +This decided the matter. It appeared to Willoughby that at least a +dozen men ran up the path, above his head, eager in the pursuit, and +anticipating success. Nick waited no longer, but glided down the cliff, +and was soon in the broad path which led along the margin of the +stream, and was the ordinary thoroughfare in going to or from the +Knoll. Here the fugitives, as on the advance, were exposed to the +danger of accidental meetings; but, fortunately, no one was met, or +seen, and the bridge was passed in safety. Turning short to the north, +Nick plunged into the woods again, following the cow-path by which he +had so recently descended to the glen. No pause was made even here. +Willoughby had an arm round the waist of Maud, and bore her forward, +with a rapidity to which her own strength was altogether unequal. In +less than ten minutes from the time the prisoner had escaped, the +fugitives reached the level of the rock of the water-fall, or that of +the plain of the Dam. As it was reasonably certain that none of the +invaders had passed to that side of the valley, haste was no longer +necessary, and Maud was permitted to pause for breath. + +The halt was short, however, our heroine, herself, now feeling as if +the major could not be secure until he was fairly within the palisades. +In vain did Willoughby try to pacify her fears and to assure her of his +comparative safety; Maud's nerves were excited, and then she had the +dreadful tidings, which still remained to be told pressing upon her +spirits, and quickening all her natural impulses and sentiments. + +Nick soon made the signal to proceed, and then the three began to +circle the flats, as mentioned in the advance of Maud and her +companion. When they reached a favourable spot, the Indian once more +directed a halt, intimating his own intention to move to the margin of +the woods, in order to reconnoitre. Both his companions heard this +announcement with satisfaction, for Willoughby was eager to say to Maud +directly that which he had so plainly indicated by means of the box, +and to extort from her a confession that she was not offended; while +Maud herself felt the necessity of letting the major know the +melancholy circumstance that yet remained to be told. With these widely +distinct feelings uppermost, our two lovers saw Nick quit them, each +impatient, restless and uneasy. + +Willoughby had found a seat for Maud, on a log, and he now placed +himself at her side, and took her hand, pressing it silently to his +heart. + +"Nick has then been a true man, dearest Maud," he said, +"notwithstanding all my doubts and misgivings of him." + +"Yes; he gave me to understand you would hardly trust him, and that was +the reason I was induced to accompany him. We both thought, Bob, you +would confide in _me_!" + +"Bless you--bless you--beloved Maud--but have you seen Mike--has +_he_ had any interview with you--in a word, did he deliver you my +box?" + +Maud's feelings had been so much excited, that the declaration of +Willoughby's love, precious as it was to her heart failed to produce +the outward signs that are usually exhibited by the delicate and +sensitive of her sex, when they listen to the insinuating language for +the first time. Her thoughts were engrossed with her dreadful secret, +and with the best and least shocking means of breaking it to the major. +The tint on her cheek, therefore, scarce deepened, as this question was +put to her, while her eye, full of earnest tenderness, still remained +riveted on the face of her companion. + +"I have seen Mike, dear Bob," she answered, with a steadiness that had +its rise in her singleness of purpose--"and he _has_ shown me-- +_given_ me, the box." + +"But have you understood me, Maud?--You will remember that box +contained the great secret of my life!" + +"This I well remember--yes, the box contains the great secret of your +life." + +"But--you cannot have understood me, Maud--else would you not look so +unconcerned--so vacantly--I am not understood, and am miserable!" + +"No--no--no"--interrupted Maud, hurriedly--"I understand _all_ you +have wished to say, and you have no cause to be--" Maud's voice became +choked, for she recollected the force of the blow that she had in +reserve. + +"This is so strange!--altogether so unlike your usual manner, Maud, +that there must be some mistake. The box contained nothing but your own +hair, dearest." + +"Yes; nothing else. It was _my_ hair; I knew it the instant I saw +it." + +"And did it tell you no secret?--Why was Beulah's hair not with it? Why +did I cherish _your_ hair, Maud, and your's alone? You have not +understood me!" + +"I have, dear, dear Bob!--You love me--you wished to say we are not +brother and sister, in truth; that we have an affection that is far +stronger--one that will bind us together for life. Do not look so +wretched, Bob; I understand everything you wish to say." + +"This is so very extraordinary!--So unlike yourself, Maud, I know not +what to make of it! I sent you that box, beloved one, to say that you +had my whole heart; that I thought of you day and night; that you were +the great object of my existence, and that, while misery would be +certain without you, felicity would be just as certain with you; in a +word, that I love you, Maud, and can never love another." + +"Yes, so I understood you, Bob."--Maud, spite of her concentration of +feeling on the dreadful secret, could not refrain from blushing--"It +was too plain to be mistaken." + +"And how was my declaration received? Tell me at once, dear girl, with +your usual truth of character, and frankness--_can_ you, _will_ +you love me in return?" + +This was a home question, and, on another occasion, it might have +produced a scene of embarrassment and hesitation. But Maud was +delighted with the idea that it was in her power to break the violence +of the blow she was about to inflict, by setting Robert Willoughby's +mind at ease on this great point. + +"I _do_ love you, Bob," she said, with fervent affection beaming +in every lineament of her angel face--"_have_ loved you, for +years--how could it be otherwise? I have scarce seen any other to +love; and how see you, and refrain?" + +"Blessed, blessed, Maud--but this is so strange--I fear you do not +understand me--I am not speaking of such affection as Beulah bears me, +as brother and sister feel; I speak of the love that my mother bore my +father--of the love of man and wife"---- + +A groan from Maud stopped the vehement young man, who received his +companion in his arms, as she bowed her head on his bosom, half +fainting. + +"Is this resentment, dearest, or is it consent?" he asked, bewildered +by all that passed. + +"Oh! Bob--Father--father--father!" + +"My father!--what of him, Maud? Why has the allusion to him brought you +to this state?" + +"They have killed him, dearest, dearest Bob; and you must now be +father, husband, brother, son, all in one. We have no one left but +you!" + +A long pause succeeded. The shock was terrible to Robert Willoughby, +but he bore up against it, like a man. Maud's incoherent and unnatural +manner was now explained, and while unutterable tenderness of manner--a +tenderness that was increased by what had just passed--was exhibited by +each to the other, no more was said of love. A common grief appeared to +bind their hearts closer together, but it was unnecessary to dwell on +their mutual affection in words. Robert Willoughby's sorrow mingled +with that of Maud, and, as he folded her to his heart, their faces were +literally bathed in each other's tears. + +It was some time before Willoughby could ask, or Maud give, an +explanation. Then the latter briefly recounted all she knew, her +companion listening with the closest attention. The son thought the +occurrence as extraordinary as it was afflicting, but there was not +leisure for inquiry. + +It was, perhaps, fortunate for our lovers that Nick's employment kept +him away. For nearly ten minutes longer did he continue absent; then he +returned, slowly, thoughtful, and possibly a little disturbed. At the +sound of his footstep, Willoughby released Maud from his arms, and both +assumed an air of as much tranquillity as the state of their feelings +would allow. + +"Better march"--said Nick, in his sententious manner--"Mohawk very +mad." + +"Do you see the signs of this?" asked the major, scarce knowing what he +said. + +"Alway make Injin mad; lose scalp. Prisoner run away, carry scalp with +him." + +"I rather think, Nick, you do my captors injustice; so far from +desiring anything so cruel, they treated me well enough, considering +the circumstances, and that we are in the woods." + +"Yes; spare scalp, 'cause t'ink rope ready. Nebber trust Mohawk--all +bad Injin." + +To own the truth, one of the great failings of the savages of the +American forests, was to think of the neighbouring tribes, as the +Englishman is known to think of the Frenchman, and vice versa; as the +German thinks of both, and all think of the Yankee. In a word, his own +tribe contains everything that is excellent, with the Pawnee, the Osage +and Pottawattomie, as Paris contains all that is perfect in the eyes of +the _bourgeois_, London in those of the cockney, and this virtuous +republic in those of its own enlightened citizens; while the hostile +communities are remorselessly given up to the tender solicitude of +those beings which lead nations, as well as individuals, into the sinks +of perdition. Thus Nick, liberalized as his mind had comparatively +become by intercourse with the whites, still retained enough of the +impressions of childhood, to put the worst construction on the acts of +all his competitors, and the best on his own. In this spirit, then, he +warned his companions against placing any reliance on the mercy of the +Mohawks. + +Major Wilioughby, however, had now sufficient inducements to move, +without reference to the hostile intentions of his late captors. That +his escape would excite a malignant desire for vengeance, he could +easily believe; but his mother, his revered heart-broken mother, and +the patient, afflicted Beulah, were constantly before him, and gladly +did he press on, Maud leaning on his arm, the instant Nick led the way. +To say that the lovely, confiding being who clung to his side, as the +vine inclines to the tree, was forgotten, or that he did not retain a +vivid recollection of all that she had so ingenuously avowed in his +favour, would not be rigidly accurate, though the hopes thus created +shone in the distance, under the present causes of grief, as the sun's +rays illumine the depths of the heavens, while his immediate face is +entirely hidden by an eclipse. + +"Did you see any signs of a movement against the house, Nick?" demanded +the major, when the three had been busily making their way, for several +minutes, round the margin of the forest. + +The Tuscarora turned, nodded his head, and glanced at Maud. + +"Speak frankly, Wyandotte--" + +"Good!" interrupted the Indian with emphasis, assuming a dignity of +manner the major had never before witnessed. "Wyandotte come--Nick gone +away altogeder. Nebber see Sassy Nick, ag'in, at Dam." + +"I am glad to hear this, Tuscarora, and as Maud says, you may speak +plainly." + +"T'ink, den, best be ready. Mohawk feel worse dan if he lose ten, +t'ree, six scalp. Injin know Injin feelin'. Pale-face can't stop red- +skin, when blood get up." + +"Press on, then, Wyandotte, for the sake of God--let me, at least, die +in defence of my beloved mother!" + +"Moder; good!--Doctor Tuscarora, when death grin in face! She _my_ +moder, too!" + +This was said energetically, and in a manner to assure his listeners +that they had a firm ally in this warlike savage. Little did either +dream, at that instant, that this same wayward being--the creature of +passion, and the fierce avenger of all his own fancied griefs, was the +cause of the dreadful blow that had so recently fallen on them. + +The sun still wanted an hour of setting, when Nick brought his +companions to the fallen tree, by which they were again to cross the +rivulet. Here he paused, pointing to the roofs of the Hut, which were +then just visible through the trees; as much as to say that his duty, +as a guide, was done. + +"Thank you, Wyandotte," said Willoughby; "if it be the will of God to +carry us safely through the crisis, you shall be well rewarded for this +service." + +"Wyandotte chief--want no dollar. Been Injin runner--now be Injin +warrior. Major follow--squaw follow--Mohawk in hurry." + +This was enough. Nick passed out of the forest on a swift walk--but for +the female, it would have been his customary, loping trot--followed by +Willoughby; his arm, again, circling the waist of Maud, whom he bore +along scarce permitting her light form to touch the earth. At this +instant, four or five conches sounded, in the direction of the mills, +and along the western margin of the meadows. Blast seemed to echo +blast; then the infernal yell, known as the war-whoop, was heard all +along the opposite face of the buildings. Judging from the sounds, the +meadows were alive with assailants, pressing on for the palisades. + +At this appalling moment, Joyce appeared on the ridge of the roof, +shouting, in a voice that might have been heard to the farthest point +in the valley-- + +"Stand to your arms, my men," he cried; "here the scoundrels come; hold +your fire until they attempt to cross the stockade." + +To own the truth, there was a little bravado in this, mingled with the +stern courage that habit and nature had both contributed to lend the +serjeant. The veteran knew the feebleness of his garrison, and fancied +that warlike cries, from himself, might counterbalance the yells that +were now rising from all the fields in front of the house. + +As for Nick and the major, they pressed forward, too earnest and +excited, to speak. The former measured the distance by his ear; and +thought there was still time to gain a cover, if no moment was lost. To +reach the foot of the cliff, took just a minute; to ascend to the hole +in the palisade, half as much time; and to pass it, a quarter. Maud was +dragged ahead, as much as she ran; and the period when the three were +passing swiftly round to the gate, was pregnant with imminent risk. +They were seen, and fifty rifles were discharged, as it might be, at a +command. The bullets pattered against the logs of the Hut, and against +the palisades, but no one was hurt. The voice of Willoughby opened the +gate, and the next instant the three were within the shelter of the +court. + + + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + + "They have not perish'd--no! + Kind words, remembered voices, once so sweet, + Smiles, radiant long ago, + And features, the great soul's apparent seat; + + "All shall come back, each tie + Of pure affection shall be knit again; + Alone shall evil die, + And sorrow dwell a prisoner in thy reign. + + "And then shall I behold + Him, by whose kind paternal side I sprung, + And her, who still and cold, + Fills the next grave--the beautiful and young." + + Bryant's Past. + +The scene that followed passed like a hurricane sweeping over the +valley. Joyce had remained on the ridge of the roof, animating his +little garrison, and endeavouring to intimidate his enemies, to the +last moment. The volley of bullets had reached the palisades and the +buildings, and he was still unharmed. But the sound of the major's +voice below, and the cry that Miss Maud and Nick were at the gate, +produced a sudden change in all his dispositions for the defence. The +serjeant ran below himself, to report and receive his orders from the +new commander, while all the negroes, females as well as males, rushed +down into the court, to meet their young master and mistress. + +It is not easy to describe the minute that succeeded, after Willoughby +and Maud were surrounded by the blacks. The delight of these untutored +beings was in proportion to their recent sorrow. The death of their +master, and the captivity of Master Bob and Miss Maud, had appeared to +them like a general downfall of the family of Willoughby; but here was +a revival of its hopes, that came as unexpectedly as its previous +calamities. Amid the clamour, cries, tears, lamentations, and bursts of +uncontrollable delight, Joyce could scarce find a moment in which to +discharge his duty. + +"I see how it is, serjeant," exclaimed Willoughby; "the assault is now +making, and you desire orders." + +"There is not an instant to lose, Major Willoughby; the enemy are at +the palisades already, and there is no one at his station but Jamie and +young Blodget." + +"To your posts, men--to your posts, everybody. The house shall be made +good at all hazards. For God's sake, Joyce, give me arms. I feel that +my father's wrongs are to be revenged." + +"Robert--dear, dear Robert," said Maud, throwing her arms on his +shoulders, "this is no moment for such bitter feelings. Defend us, as I +know you will, but defend us like a Christian." + +One kiss was all that the time allowed, and Maud rushed into the house +to seek her mother and Beulah, feeling as if the tidings of Bob's +return might prove some little alleviation to the dreadful blow under +which they must be suffering. + +As for Willoughby, he had no time for pious efforts at consolation. The +Hut was to be made good against a host of enemies; and the cracking of +rifles from the staging and the fields, announced that the conflict had +begun in earnest. Joyce handed him a rifle, and together they ascended +rapidly to the roofs. Here they found Jamie Allen and Blodget, loading +and firing as fast as they could, and were soon joined by all the +negroes. Seven men were now collected on the staging; and placing three +in front, and two on each wing, the major's dispositions were made; +moving, himself, incessantly, to whatever point circumstances called. +Mike, who knew little of the use of fire-arms, was stationed at the +gate, as porter and warder. + +It was so unusual a thing for savages to attack by daylight, unless +they could resort to surprise, that the assailants were themselves a +little confused. The assault was made, under a sudden feeling of +resentment at the escape of the prisoner, and contrary to the wishes of +the principal white men in the party, though the latter were dragged in +the train of events, and had to seem to countenance that of which they +really disapproved. These sudden outbreakings were sufficiently common +in Indian warfare, and often produced memorable disasters. On the +present occasion, however, the most that could occur was a repulse, and +to this the leaders, demagogues who owed their authority to the +excesses and necessities of the times, were fain to submit, should it +happen. + +The onset had been fierce and too unguarded. The moment the volley was +fired at the major, the assailants broke cover, and the fields were +alive with men. This was the instant when the defence was left to Allen +and Blodget, else might the exposure have cost the enemy dear. As it +was, the last brought down one of the boldest of the Indians while the +mason fired with good will, though with less visible effect. The yell +that followed this demonstration of the apparent force of the garrison, +was a wild mixture of anger and exultation, and the rush at the +palisades was general and swift. As Willoughby posted his +reinforcement, the stockade was alive with men, some ascending, some +firing from its summit, some aiding others to climb, and one falling +within the enclosure, a second victim to Blodget's unerring aim. + +The volley that now came from the roofs staggered the savages, most of +whom fell outward, and sought cover in their usual quick and dexterous +manner. Three or four, however, thought it safer to fall within the +palisades, seeking safety immediately under the sides of the buildings. +The view of these men, who were perfectly safe from the fire of the +garrison so long as the latter made no sortie, gave an idea to those +without, and produced, what had hitherto been wanting, something like +order and concert in the attack. The firing now became desultory and +watchful on both sides, the attacking party keeping themselves covered +by the trees and fences as well as they could, while the garrison only +peered above the ridge of the roof, as occasions required. + +The instant the outbreak occurred, all the _ci-devant_ dependants +of captain Willoughby, who had deserted, abandoned their various +occupations in the woods and fields, collecting in and around the +cabins, in the midst of their wives and children. Joel, alone, was not +to be seen. He had sought his friends among the leaders of the party, +behind a stack of hay, at a respectful distance from the house, and to +which there was a safe approach by means of the rivulet and its fringe +of bushes. The little council that was held at this spot took place +just as the half-dozen assailants who had fallen within the palisades +were seen clustering along under the walls of the buildings. + +"Natur' gives you a hint how to conduct," observed Joel, pointing out +this circumstance to his principal companions, as they all lay peering +over the upper portions of the stack, at the Hut. "You see them men +under the eaves--they're a plaguy sight safer up there, than we be down +here; and; if 'twere'n't for the look of the thing, I wish I was with +'em. That house will never be taken without a desperate sight of +fightin'; for the captain is an old warrior, and seems to like to snuff +gunpowder"--the reader will understand none knew of the veteran's death +but those in the house--"and won't be for givin' up while he has a +charge left. If I had twenty men--no, thirty would be better, where +these fellows be, I think the place could be carried in a few minutes, +and then liberty would get its rights, and your monarchy-men would be +put down as they all desarve." + +"What do then?" demanded the leading Mohawk, in his abrupt guttural +English. "No shoot--can't kill log." + +"No, chief, that's reasonable, an' ongainsayable, too; but only one- +half the inner gate is hung, and I've contrived matters so, on purpose, +that the props of the half that isn't on the hinges can be undone, all +the same as onlatching the door. If I only had the right man here, now, +the business should be done, and that speedily." + +"Go 'self," answered the Mohawk, not without an expression of distrust +and contempt. + +"Every man to his callin', chief. My trade is peace, and politics, and +liberty, while your's is war. Howsever, I can put you, and them that +likes fightin', on the trail, and then we'll see how matters can be +done. Mortality! How them desperate devils on the roof do keep blazin' +away! It wouldn't surprise me if they shot somebody, or get hurt +themselves!" + +Such were the deliberations of Joel Strides on a battle. The Indian +leaders, however, gave some of their ordinary signals, to bring their +'young men' more under command and, sending messengers with orders in +different directions, they left the haystack, compelling Joel to +accompany them. + +The results of these movements were soon apparent. The most daring of +the Mohawks made their way into the rivulet, north of the buildings, +and were soon at the foot of the cliff. A little reconnoitring told +them that the hole which Joel had pointed out, had not been closed +since the entrance of Willoughby and his companions. Led by their +chief, the warriors stole up the ascent, and began to crawl through the +same inlet which had served as an outlet to so many deserters, the +previous night, accompanied by their wives and children. + +The Indians in front had been ordered to occupy the attention of the +garrison, while this movement was in the course of execution. At a +signal, they raised a yell, unmasked them, fired one volley, and seemed +to make another rush at the works. This was the instant chosen for the +passage of the hole, and the seven leading savages effected their +entrance within the stockade, with safety. The eighth man was shot by +Blodget, in the hole itself. The body was instantly withdrawn by the +legs, and all in the rear fell back under the cover of the cliff. + +Willoughby now understood the character of the assault. Stationing +Joyce, with a party to command the hole, he went himself into the +library, accompanied by Jamie and Blodget, using a necessary degree of +caution. Fortunately the windows were raised, and a sudden volley +routed all the Indians who had taken shelter beneath the rocks. These +men, however, fled no further than the rivulet, where they rallied +under cover of the bushes, keeping up a dropping fire at the windows. +For several minutes, the combat was confined to this spot; Willoughby, +by often shifting from window to window along the rear of the house, +getting several volleys that told, at the men under the cover. + +As yet, all the loss had been on the side of the assailants, though +several of the garrison, including both Willoughby and Joyce, had +divers exceedingly narrow escapes. Quite a dozen of the assailants had +suffered, though only four were killed outright. By this time, the +assault had lasted an hour, and the shades of evening were closing +around the place. Daniel, the miller, had been sent by Joel to spring +the mine they had prepared together, but, making the mistake usual with +the uninitiated, he had hung back, to let others pass the hole first, +and was consequently carried down in the crowd, within the cover of the +bushes of the rivulet. + +Willoughby had a short consultation with Joyce, and then he set +seriously about the preparations necessary for a light defence. By a +little management, and some persona, risk, the bullet-proof shutters of +the north wing of the Hut were all closed, rendering the rear of the +buildings virtually impregnable. When this was done, and the gates of +the area were surely shut, the place was like a ship in a gale, under +short canvass and hove-to. The enemy within the palisades were +powerless, to all appearance, the walls of stone preventing anything +like an application of fire. Of the last, however, there was a little +danger on the roof, the Indians frequently using arrows for this +purpose, and water was placed on the staging in readiness to be used on +occasion. + +All these preparations occupied some time, and it was quite dark ere +they were completed. Then Willoughby had a moment for reflection; the +firing having entirely ceased, and nothing further remaining to do. + +"We are safe for the present, Joyce," the major observed, as he and the +serjeant stood together on the staging, after having consulted on the +present aspect of things; "and I have a solemn duty, yet, to perform-- +my dear mother--and the body of my father--" + +"Yes, sir; I would not speak of either, so long as it was your honour's +pleasure to remain silent on the subject. Madam Willoughby is sorely +cut down, as you may imagine, sir; and, as for my gallant old +commander, he died in his harness, as a soldier should." + +"Where have you taken the body?--has my mother seen it?" + +"Lord bless you, sir, Madam Willoughby had his honour carried into her +own room, and there she and Miss Beulah"--so all of the Hut still +called the wife of Evert Beekman--"she and Miss Beulah, kneel, and +pray, and weep, as you know, sir, ladies will, whenever anything severe +comes over their feelings--God bless them both, we all say, and think, +ay, and pray, too, in our turns, sir." + +"Very well, Joyce. Even a soldier may drop a tear over the dead body of +his own father. God only knows what this night will bring forth, and I +may never have a moment as favourable as this, for discharging so +solemn a duty." + +"Yes, your honour"--Joyce fancied that the major had succeeded to this +appellation by the decease of the captain--"yes, your honour, the +commandments, that the Rev. Mr. Woods used to read to us of a Sunday, +tell us all about that; and it is quite as much the duty of a Christian +to mind the commandments, I do suppose, as it is for a soldier to obey +orders. God bless you, sir, and carry you safe through the affair. I +had a touch of it with Miss Maud, myself, and know what it is. It's bad +enough to lose an old commander in so sudden a way like, without having +to _feel_ what has happened in company with so sweet ladies, as +these we have in the house. As for these blackguards down inside the +works, let them give you no uneasiness; it will be light work for us to +keep them busy, compared to what your honour has to do." + +It would seem by the saddened manner in which Willoughby moved away, +that he was of the same way of thinking as the serjeant, on this +melancholy subject. The moment, however, was favourable for the object, +and delay could not be afforded. Then Willoughby's disposition was to +console his mother, even while he wept with her over the dead body of +him they had lost. + +Notwithstanding the wild uproar that had so prevailed, not only +without, but within the place, the portion of the house that was +occupied by the widowed matron and her daughters, was silent as the +grave. All the domestics were either on the staging, or at the loops, +leaving the kitchens and offices deserted. The major first entered a +little ante-chamber, that opened between a store-room, and the +apartment usually occupied by his mother; this being the ordinary means +of approach to her room. Here he paused, and listened quite a minute, +in the hope of catching some sound from within that might prepare him +for the scene he was to meet. Not a whisper, a moan, or a sob could be +heard; and he ventured to tap lightly at the door. This was unheeded; +waiting another minute, as much in dread as in respect, he raised the +latch with some such awe, as one would enter into a tomb of some +beloved one. A single lamp let him into the secrets of this solemn +place. + +In the centre of the room, lay stretched on a large table, the manly +form of the author of his being. The face was uppermost, and the limbs +had been laid, in decent order, as is usual with the dead that have +been cared for. No change had been made in the dress, however, the +captain lying in the hunting-shirt in which he had sallied forth; the +crimson tint which disfigured one breast, having been sedulously +concealed by the attention of Great Smash. The passage from life to +eternity had been so sudden, as to leave the usual benignant expression +on the countenance of the corpse; the paleness which had succeeded the +fresh ruddy tint of nature, alone denoting that the sleep was not a +sweet repose, but that of death. + +The body of his father was the first object that met the gaze of the +major. He advanced, leaned forward, kissed the marble-like forehead, +with reverence, and groaned in the effort to suppress an unmanly +outbreaking of sorrow. Then he turned to seek the other well-beloved +faces. There sat Beulah, in a corner of the room, as if to seek shelter +for her infant, folding that infant to her heart, keeping her look +riveted, in anguish, on the inanimate form that she had ever loved +beyond a daughter's love. Even the presence of her brother scarce drew +a glance away from the sad spectacle; though, when it at length did, +the youthful matron bowed her face down to that of her child, and wept +convulsively. She was nearest to the major, who moved to her side, and +kissed the back of her neck, with kind affection. The meaning was +understood; and Beulah, while unable to look up, extended a hand to +meet the fraternal pressure it received. + +Maud was near, kneeling at the side of the bed. Her whole attitude +denoted the abstraction of a mind absorbed in worship and solicitation. +Though Willoughby's heart yearned to raise her in his arms; to console +her, and bid her lean on himself, in future, for her earthly support, +he too much respected her present occupation, to break in upon it with +any irreverent zeal of his own. His eye turned from this loved object, +therefore, and hurriedly looked for his mother. + +The form of Mrs. Willoughby had escaped the first glances of her son, +in consequence of the position in which she had placed herself. The +stricken wife was in a corner of the room, her person partly concealed +by the drapery of a window-curtain; though this was evidently more the +effect of accident, than of design. Willoughby started, as he caught +the first glance of his beloved parent's face; and he felt a chill pass +over his whole frame. There she sat upright, motionless, tearless, +without any of the alleviating weaknesses of a less withering grief, +her mild countenance exposed to the light of the lamp, and her eyes +riveted on the face of the dead. In this posture had she remained for +hours; no tender cares on the part of her daughters; no attentions from +her domestics; no outbreaking of her own sorrows, producing any change. +Even the clamour of the assault had passed by her like the idle wind. + +"My mother--my poor--dear--heart-broken mother!" burst from Willoughby, +at this sight, and he stepped quickly forward, and knelt at her feet. + +But Bob--the darling Bob--his mother's pride and joy, was unheeded. The +heart, which had so long beaten for others only; which never seemed to +feel a wish, or a pulsation, but in the service of the objects of its +affection, was not sufficiently firm to withstand the blow that had +lighted on it so suddenly. Enough of life remained, however, to support +the frame for a while; and the will still exercised its power over the +mere animal functions. Her son shut out the view of the body, and she +motioned him aside with an impatience of manner he had never before +witnessed from the same quarter. Inexpressibly shocked, the major took +her hands, by gentle compulsion, covering them with kisses, and +literally bathing them in tears. + +"Oh! mother--dearest, dearest mother!" he cried, "_will_ you +not--_do_ you not know _me_--Robert--Bob--your much-indulged, +grateful, affectionate son. If father is gone into the immediate +presence of the God he revered and served, I am still left to be a +support to your declining years. Lean on me, mother, next to your +Father in Heaven." + +"Will he ever get up, Robert?" whispered the widowed mother. "You speak +too loud, and may rouse him before his time. He promised me to bring +you back; and he ever kept his promises. He had a long march, and is +weary, See, how sweetly he sleeps!" + +Robert Willoughby bowed his head to his mother's knees, and groaned +aloud. When he raised his face again, he saw the arms of Maud elevated +towards heaven, as if she would pluck down that consolation for her +mother, that her spirit was so fervently asking of the Almighty. Then +he gazed into the face of his mother again; hoping to catch a gleam of +some expression and recognition, that denoted more of reason. It was in +vain; the usual placidity, the usual mild affection were there; but +both were blended with the unnatural halo of a mind excited to disease, +if not to madness. A slight exclamation, which sounded like alarm, came +from Beulah; and turning towards his sister, Willoughby saw that she +was clasping Evert still closer to her bosom, with her eyes now bent on +the door. Looking in the direction of the latter, he perceived that +Nick had stealthily entered, the room. + +The unexpected appearance of Wyandotte might well alarm the youthful +mother. He had applied his war-paint since entering the Hut; and this, +though it indicated an intention to fight in defence of the house, left +a picture of startling aspect. There was nothing hostile intended by +this visit, however. Nick had come not only in amity, but in a kind +concern to see after the females of the family, who had ever stood high +in his friendship, notwithstanding the tremendous blow he had struck +against their happiness. But he had been accustomed to see those close +distinctions drawn between individuals and colours; and, the other +proprieties admitted, would not have hesitated about consoling the +widow with the offer of his own hand. Major Willoughby, understanding, +from the manner of the Indian, the object of his visit, suffered him to +pursue his own course, in the hope it might rouse his mother to a +better consciousness of objects around her. + +Nick walked calmly up to the table, and gazed at the face of his victim +with a coldness that proved he felt no compunction. Still he hesitated +about touching the body, actually raising his hand, as if with that +intent, and then withdrawing it, like one stung by conscience. +Willoughby noted the act; and, for the first time, a shadowy suspicion +glanced on his mind. Maud had told him all she knew of the manner of +his father's death, and old distrusts began to revive, though so +faintly as to produce no immediate results. + +As for the Indian, the hesitating gesture excepted, the strictest +scrutiny, or the keenest suspicion could have detected no signs of +feeling. The senseless form before him was not less moved than he +appeared to be, so far as the human eye could penetrate. Wyandotte +_was_ unmoved. He believed that, in curing the sores on his own back +in this particular manner, he had done what became a Tuscarora warrior +and a chief. Let not the self-styled Christians of civilized society +affect horror at this instance of savage justice, so long as they go +the whole length of the law of their several communities, in avenging +their own fancied wrongs, using the dagger of calumny instead of the +scalping-knife, and rending and tearing _their_ victims, by the +agency of gold and power, like so many beasts of the field, in all the +forms and modes that legal vindictiveness will either justify or +tolerate; often exceeding those broad limits, indeed, and seeking +impunity behind perjuries and frauds. + +Nick's examination of the body was neither hurried nor agitated. When +it was over, he turned calmly to consider the daughters of the +deceased. + +"Why you cry--why you 'fear'd," he said, approaching Beulah, and +placing his swarthy hand on the head of her sleeping infant.--"Good +squaw--good pappoose. Wyandotte take care 'em in woods. Bye'm-by go to +pale-face town, and sleep quiet." + +This was rudely said, but it was well meant. Beulah so received it; and +she endeavoured to smile her gratitude in the face of the very being +from whom, more than from all of earth, she would have turned in +horror, could her mental vision have reached the fearful secret that +lay buried in his own bosom. The Indian understood her look; and making +a gesture of encouragement, he moved to the side of the woman whom his +own hand had made a widow. + +The appearance of Wyandotte produced no change in the look or manner of +the matron. The Indian took her hand, and spoke. + +"Squaw _berry_ good," he said, with emphasis. "Why look so sorry-- +cap'in gone to happy huntin'-ground of his people. All good dere--chief +time come, _must_ go." + +The widow knew the voice, and by some secret association it recalled +the scenes of the past, producing a momentary revival of her faculties. + +"Nick, _you_ are my friend," she said, earnestly. "Go speak to +him, and see if _you_ can wake him up." + +The Indian fairly started, as he heard this strange proposal. The +weakness lasted only for a moment, however, and he became as stoical, +in appearance at least, as before. + +"No," he said; "squaw quit cap'in, now. Warrior go on last path, all +alone--no want companion.--She look at grave, now and den, and be +happy." + +"Happy!" echoed the widow, "what is _that_, Nick?--what is +_happy_, my son? It seems a dream--I _must_ have known what it +was; but I forget it all now. Oh! it was cruel, cruel, cruel, to stab a +husband, and a father--wasn't it, Robert?--What say you, Nick--shall I +give you more medicine?--You'll die, Indian, unless you take it--mind +what a Christian woman tells you, and be obedient.--Here, let me hold +the cup--there; now you'll live!" + +Nick recoiled an entire step, and gazed at the still beautiful victim +of his ruthless revenge, in a manner no one had ever before noted in +his mien. His mixed habits left him in ignorance of no shade of the +fearful picture before his eyes, and he began better to comprehend the +effects of the plow he had so hastily struck--a blow meditated for +years, though given at length under a sudden and vehement impulse. The +widowed mother, however, was past noting these changes. + +"No--no--no--Nick," she added, hurriedly, scarce speaking above a +whisper, "do not awake him! God will do that, when he summons his +blessed ones to the foot of his throne. Let us all lie down, and sleep +with him. Robert, do you lie there, at his side, my noble, noble boy; +Beulah, place little Evert and yourself at the other side; Maud, your +place is by the head; I will sleep at his feet; while Nick shall watch, +and let us know when it will be time to rise and pray" + +The general and intense--almost spell-bound--attention with which all +in the room listened to these gentle but touching wanderings of a mind +so single and pure, was interrupted by yells so infernal, and shrieks +so wild and fearful, that it seemed, in sooth, as if the last trump had +sounded, and men were passing forth from their graves to judgment. +Willoughby almost leaped out of the room, and Maud followed, to shut +and bolt the door, when her waist was encircled by the arm of Nick, and +she found herself borne forward towards the din. + + + + + +Chapter XXIX. + + "O, Time and Death! with certain pace, + Though still unequal, hurrying on, + O'erturning, in your awful race, + The cot, the palace, and the throne!" + + Sands. + +Maud had little leisure for reflection. The yells and shrieks were +followed by the cries of combatants, and the crack of the rifle. Nick +hurried her along at a rate so rapid that she had not breath to +question or remonstrate, until she found herself at the door of a small +store-room, in which her mother was accustomed to keep articles of +domestic economy that required but little space. Into this room Nick +thrust her, and then she heard the key turn on her egress. For a single +moment, Wyandotte stood hesitating whether he should endeavour to get +Mrs. Willoughby and her other daughter into the same place of security; +then, judging of the futility of the attempt, by the approach of the +sounds within, among which he heard the full, manly voice of Robert +Willoughby, calling on the garrison to be firm, he raised an answering +yell to those of the Mohawks, the war-whoop of his tribe, and plunged +into the fray with the desperation of one who ran a muck, and with the +delight of a demon. + +In order to understand the cause of this sudden change, it will be +necessary to return a little, in the order of time. While Willoughby +was with his mother and sisters, Mike had charge of the gate. The rest +of the garrison was either at the loops, or was stationed on the roofs. +As the darkness increased, Joel mustered sufficient courage to crawl +through the hole, and actually reached the gate. Without him, it was +found impossible to spring his mine, and he had been prevailed on to +risk this much, on condition it should not be asked of him to do such +violence to his feelings as to enter the court of a house in which he +had seen so many happy days. + +The arrangement, by which this traitor intended to throw a family upon +the tender mercies of savages, was exceedingly simple. It will be +remembered that only one leaf of the inner gate was hung, the other +being put in its place, where it was sustained by a prop. This prop +consisted of a single piece of timber, of which one end rested on the +ground, and the other on the centre of the gate; the last being +effectually prevented from slipping by pins of wood, driven into the +massive wood-work of the gate, above its end. The lower end of the prop +rested against a fragment of rock that nature had placed at this +particular spot. As the work had been set up in a hurry, it was found +necessary to place wedges between the lower end of the prop and the +rock, in order to force the leaf properly into its groove, without +which it might have been canted to one side, and of course easily +overturned by the exercise of sufficient force from without. + +To all this arrangement, Joel had been a party, and he knew, as a +matter of course, its strong and its weak points. Seizing a favourable +moment, he had loosened the wedges, leaving them in their places, +however, but using the precaution to fasten a bit of small but strong +cord to the most material one of the three, which cord he buried in the +dirt, and led half round a stick driven into the earth, quite near the +wall, and thence through a hole made by one of the hinges, to the outer +side of the leaf. The whole had been done with so much care as to +escape the vigilance of casual observers, and expressly that the +overseer might assist his friends in entering the place, after he +himself had provided for his own safety by flight. The circumstance +that no one trod on the side of the gateway where the unhung leaf +stood, prevented the half-buried cord from being disturbed by any +casual footstep. + +As soon as Joel reached the wall of the Hut, his first care was to +ascertain if he were safe from missiles from the loops. Assured of this +fact, he stole round to the gate, and had a consultation with the +Mohawk chief, on the subject of springing the mine. The cord was found +in its place; and, hauling on it gently, Joel was soon certain that he +had removed the wedge, and that force might speedily throw down the +unhung leaf. Still, he proceeded with caution. Applying the point of a +lever to the bottom of the leaf, he hove it back sufficiently to be +sure it would pass inside of its fellow; and then he announced to the +grave warrior, who had watched the whole proceeding, that the time was +come to lend his aid. + +There were a dozen reckless whites, in the cluster of savages collected +at the gate; and enough of these were placed at handspikes to effect +the intended dislodgement. The plan was this: while poles were set +against the upper portion of the leaf, to force it within the line of +the suspended part, handspikes and crowbars, of which a sufficiency had +been provided by Joel's forethought, were to be applied between the +hinge edge and the wall, to cast the whole over to the other side. + +Unluckily, Mike had been left at the gate as the sentinel. A more +upfortunate selection could not have been made; the true-hearted fellow +having so much self-confidence, and so little forethought, as to +believe the gates impregnable. He had lighted a pipe, and was smoking +as tranquilly as he had ever done before, in his daily indulgences of +this character, when the unhung leaf came tumbling in upon the side +where he sat; nothing saving his head but the upper edge's lodging +against the wall. At the same moment, a dozen Indians leaped through +the opening, and sprang into the court, raising the yells already +described. Mike followed, armed with his shillelah, for his musket was +abandoned in the surprise, and he began to lay about him with an +earnestness that in nowise lessened the clamour. This was the moment +when Joyce, nobly sustained by Blodget and Jamie Allen, poured a volley +into the court, from the roofs; when the fray became general. To this +point had the combat reached, when Willoughby rushed into the open air +followed, a few instants later, by Nick. + +The scene that succeeded is not easily described. It was a _melee_ +in the dark, illuminated, at instants, by the flashes of guns, and +rendered horrible by shrieks, curses, groans and whoops. Mike actually +cleared the centre of the court, where he was soon joined by +Willoughby, when, together, they made a rush at a door, and actually +succeeded in gaining their own party on the roof. It was not in nature +for the young soldier to remain here, however, while his mother, +Beulah, and, so far as he knew, Maud, lay exposed to the savages below. +Arnid a shower of bullets he collected his whole force, and was on the +point of charging into the court, when the roll of a drum without, +brought everything to a stand. Young Blodget, who had displayed the +ardour of a hero, and the coolness of a veteran throughout the short +fray, sprang down the stairs unarmed, at this sound, passed through the +astonished crowd in the court, unnoticed, and rushed to the outer gate. +He had barely time to unbar it, when a body of troops marched through, +led by a tall, manly-looking chief, who was accompanied by one that +the young man instantly recognised, in spite of the darkness, for Mr. +Woods, in his surplice. At the next moment, the strangers had entered, +with military steadiness, into the court, to the number of, at least, +fifty, ranging themselves in order across its area. + +"In the name of Heaven, who are you?" called out Willoughby, from a +window. "Speak at once, or we fire." + +"I am Colonel Beekman, at the head of a regular force," was the answer, +"and if, as I suspect, you are Major Willoughby, you know you are safe. +In the name of Congress, I command all good citizens to keep the peace, +or they will meet with punishment for their contumacy." + +This announcement ended the war, Beekman and Willoughby grasping each +other's hands fervently, at the next instant. + +"Oh! Beekman!" exclaimed the last, "at what a moment has God sent you +hither! Heaven be praised! notwithstanding all that has happened, you +will find your wife and child safe. Place sentinels at both gates; for +treachery has been at work here, and I shall ask for rigid justice." + +"Softly--softly--my good fellow," answered Beekman, pressing his hand. +"Your own position is a little delicate, and we must proceed with +moderation. I learned, just in time, that a party was coming hither, +bent on mischief; and obtaining the necessary authority, I hastened to +the nearest garrison, obtained a company, and commenced my march as +soon as possible. Had we not met with Mr. Woods, travelling for the +settlements in quest of succour, we might have been too late. As it +was, God be praised!--I think we have arrived in season." + +Such were the facts. The Indians had repelled the zealous chaplain, as +a madman; compelling him to take the route toward the settlements, +however; their respect for this unfortunate class of beings, rendering +them averse to his rejoining their enemies. He could, and did impart +enough to Beekman to quicken his march, and to bring him and his +followers up to the gate at a time when a minute might have cost the +entire garrison their lives. + +Anxious as he was to seek Beulah and his child, Beekman had a soldier's +duties to perform, and those he would not neglect. The sentinels were +posted, and orders issued to light lanterns, and to make a fire in the +centre of the court, so that the actual condition of the field of +battle might be ascertained. A surgeon had accompanied Beekman's party, +and he was already at work, so far as the darkness would allow. Many +hands being employed, and combustibles easy to be found, ere long the +desired light was gleaming on the terrible spectacle. + +A dozen bodies wexre stretched in the court, of which, three or four +were fated never to rise again, in life. Of the rest, no less than four +had fallen with broken heads, inflicted by O'Hearn's shillelah. Though +these blows were not fatal, they effectually put the warriors _hors +de combat_. Of the garrison, not one was among the slain, in this +part of the field. On a later investigation, however, it was +ascertained that the poor old Scotch mason had received a mortal hurt, +through a window, and this by the very last shot that had been fired. +On turning over the dead of the assailants, too, it was discovered that +Daniel the Miller was of the number. A few of the Mohawks were seen, +with glowing eyes, in corners of the court, applying their own rude +dressings to their various hurts; succeeding, on the whole, in +effecting the great purpose of the healing art, about as well as those +who were committed to the lights of science. + +Surprisingly few uninjured members of the assaulting party, however, +were to be found, when the lanterns appeared. Some had slipped through +the gate before the sentinels were posted; others had found their way +to the roof, and thence, by various means to the ground; while a few +lay concealed in the buildings, until a favourable moment offered to +escape. Among all those who remained, not an individual was found who +claimed to be in any authority. In a word, after five minutes of +examination, both Beekman and Willoughby were satisfied that there no +longer existed a force to dispute with them the mastery of the Hut. + +"We have delayed too long relieving the apprehensions of those who are +very dear to us, Major Willoughby," Beekman at length observed. "If you +will lead the way to the parts of the buildings where your--_my_ +mother, and wife, are to be found, I will now follow you." + +"Hold, Beekman--there yet remains a melancholy tale to be told--nay, +start not--I left our Beulah, and your boy, in perfect health, less +than a quarter of an hour since. But my honoured, honourable, revered, +beloved father has been killed in a most extraordinary manner, and you +will find his widow and daughters weeping over his body." + +This appalling intelligence produced a halt, during which Willoughby +explained all he knew of the manner of his father's death, which was +merely the little he had been enabled to glean from Maud. As soon as +this duty was performed, the gentlemen proceeded together to the +apartment of the mourners, each carrying a light. + +Willoughby made an involuntary exclamation, when he perceived that the +door of his mother's room was open. He had hoped Maud would have had +the presence of mind to close and lock it; but here he found it, +yawning as if to invite the entrance of enemies. The light within, too, +was extinguished, though, by the aid of the lanterns, he saw large +traces of blood in the ante-room, and the passages he was obliged to +thread. All this hastened his steps. Presently he stood in the chamber +of death. + +Short as had been the struggle, the thirst for scalps had led some of +the savages to this sanctuary. The instant the Indians had gained the +court, some of the most ferocious of their number had rushed into the +building, penetrating its recesses in a way to defile them with +slaughter. The first object that Willoughby saw was one of these +ruthless warriors, stretched on the floor, with a living Indian, +bleeding at half a dozen wounds, standing over him; the eye-balls of +the latter were glaring like the tiger's that is suddenly confronted to +a foe. An involuntary motion was made towards the rifle he carried, by +the major; but the next look told him that the living Indian was Nick. +Then it was, that he gazed more steadily about him, and took in all the +horrible truths of that fatal chamber. + +Mrs. Willoughby was sealed in the chair where she had last been seen, +perfectly dead. No mark of violence was ever found on her body, +however, and there is no doubt that her constant spirit had followed +that of her husband to the other world, in submission to the blow which +had separated them. Beulah had been shot; not, as was afterwards +ascertained, by any intentional aim, but by one of those random +bullets, of which so many had been flying through the buildings. The +missile had passed through her heart, and she lay pressing the little +Evert to her bosom, with that air of steady and unerring affection +which had marked every act of her innocent and feeling life. The boy +himself, thanks to the tiger-like gallantry of Nick, had escaped +unhurt. The Tuscarora had seen a party of six take the direction of +this chamber, and he followed with an instinct of their intentions. +When the leader entered the room, and found three dead bodies, he +raised a yell that betokened his delight at the prospect of gaining so +many scalps; at the next instant, while his fingers were actually +entwined in the hair of Captain Willoughby, he fell by a blow from +Wyandotte. Nick next extinguished the lamp, and then succeeded a scene, +which none of the actors, themselves, could have described. Another +Mohawk fell, and the remainder, ailer suffering horribly from the keen +knife of Nick, as well as from blows received from each other, dragged +themselves away, leaving the field to the Tuscarora. The latter met the +almost bewildered gaze of the major with a smile of grim triumph, as he +pointed to the three bodies of the beloved ones, and said-- + +"See--all got scalp! Deat', nothin'--scalp, ebbery t'ing." + +We shall not attempt to describe the outbreaking of anguish from the +husband and brother. It was a moment of wild grief, that bore down all +the usual restraints of manhood, though it was such a moment as an +American frontier residence has often witnessed. The quiet but deep- +feeling nature of Beekman received a shock that almost produced a +dissolution of his earthly being. He succeeded, however, in raising the +still warm body of Beulah from the floor, and folding it to his heart. +Happily for his reason, a flood of tears, such as women shed, burst +from his soul, rather than from his eyes, bedewing her still sweet and +placid countenance. + +To say that Robert Willoughby did not feel the desolation, which so +suddenly alighted on a family that had often been quoted for its mutual +affection and happiness, would be to do him great injustice. He even +staggered under the blow; yet his heart craved further information. The +Indian was gazing intently on the sight of Beekman's grief, partly in +wonder, but more in sympathy, when he felt an iron pressure of his arm. + +"Maud--Tuscarora"--the major rather groaned than whispered in his ear, +"know you anything of Maud?" + +Nick made a gesture of assent; then motioned for the other to follow. +He led the way to the store-room, produced the key, and throwing open +the door, Maud was weeping on Robert Willoughby's bosom in another +instant. He would not take her to the chamber of death, but urged her, +by gentle violence, to follow him to the library. + +"God be praised for this mercy!" exclaimed the ardent girl, raising her +hands and streaming eyes to heaven. "I know not, care not, who is +conqueror, since _you_ are safe!" + +"Oh! Maud--beloved one--we must now be all in all to each other. Death +has stricken the others." + +This was a sudden and involuntary announcement, though it was best it +should be so under the circumstances. It was long before Maud could +hear an outline, even, of the details, but she bore them better than +Willoughby could have hoped. The excitement had been so high, as to +brace the mind to meet any human evil. The sorrow that came afterwards, +though sweetened by so many tender recollections, and chastened hopes, +was deep and enduring. + +Our picture would not have been complete, without relating the +catastrophe that befell the Hutted Knoll; but, having discharged this +painful duty, we prefer to draw a veil over the remainder of that +dreadful night. The cries of the negresses, when they learned the death +of their old and young mistress, disturbed the silence of the place for +a few minutes and then a profound stillness settled on the buildings, +marking them distinctly as the house of mourning. On further inquiry, +too, it was ascertained that Great Smash, after shooting an Oneida, had +been slain and scalped. Pliny the younger, also, fell fighting like a +wild beast to defend the entrance to his mistresses' apartments. + +The following day, when light had returned, a more accurate idea was +obtained of the real state of the valley. All of the invading party, +the dead and wounded excepted, had made a rapid retreat, accompanied by +most of the deserters and their families. The name, known influence, +and actual authority of Colonel Beekman had wrought this change; the +irregular powers that had set the expedition in motion, preferring to +conceal their agency in the transaction, rather than make any hazardous +attempt to claim the reward of patriotic service, as is so often done +in revolutions, for merciless deeds and selfish acts. There had been no +real design on the part of the whites to injure any of the family in +their persons; but, instigated by Joel, they had fancied the occasion +favourable for illustrating their own public virtue, while they placed +themselves in the way of receiving fortune's favours. The assault that +actually occurred, was one of those uncontrollable outbreakings of +Indian ferocity, that have so often set at defiance the restraints of +discipline. + +Nick was not to be found either. He had been last seen dressing his +wounds, with Indian patience, and Indian skill, preparing to apply +herbs and roots, in quest of which he went into the forest about +midnight. As he did not return Willoughby feared that he might be +suffering alone, and determined to have a search made, as soon as he +had performed the last sad offices for the dead. + +Two days occurred, however, before this melancholy duty was discharged. +The bodies of all the savages who had fallen were interred the morning +after the assault; but that of Jamie Allen, with those of the principal +persons of the family, were kept for the pious purposes of affection, +until the time mentioned. + +The funeral was a touching sight. The captain, his wife, and daughter, +were laid, side by side, near the chapel; the first and last of their +race that ever reposed in the wilds of America. Mr. Woods read the +funeral service, summoning all his spiritual powers to sustain him, as +he discharged this solemn office of the church. Willoughby's arm was +around the waist of Maud, who endeavoured to reward his tender +assiduities by a smile, but could not. Colonel Beekman held little +Evert in his arms, and stood over the grave with the countenance of a +resolute man stricken with grief--one of the most touching spectacles +of our nature. + +"_I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord_," sounded in +the stillness of that valley like a voice from heaven, pouring out +consolation on the bruised spirits of the mourners. Maud raised her +face from Willoughby's shoulder, and lifted her blue eyes to the +cloudless vault above her; soliciting mercy, and offering resignation +in the look. The line of troops in the back-ground moved, as by a +common impulse, and then a breathless silence showed the desire of +these rude beings not to lose a syllable. + +A round red spot formed on each of the cheeks of Mr. Woods as he +proceeded, and his voice gathered strength, until its lowest +intonations came clear and distinct on every ear. Just as the bodies +were about to be lowered into their two receptacles, the captain, his +wife and daughter being laid in the same grave, Nick came with his +noiseless step near the little group of mourners. He had issued from +the forest only a few minutes before, and understanding the intention +of the ceremony, he approached the spot as fast as weakness and wounds +would allow. Even he listened with profound attention to the chaplain, +never changing his eye from his face, unless to glance at the coffins +as they lay in their final resting-place. + +"_I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto me, write, From henceforth +blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; even so saith the Spirit, for +they rest from their labours_," continued the chaplain, his voice +beginning to betray a tremor; then the gaze of the Tuscarora became +keen as the panther's glance at his discovered victim. Tears followed, +and, for a moment, the voice was choked. + +"Why you woman?" demanded Nick, fiercely. "Save all 'e scalp!" + +This strange interruption failed to produce any effect. First Beekman +yielded; Maud and Willoughby followed; until Mr. Woods, himself, unable +to resist the double assaults of the power of sympathy and his own +affection, closed the book and wept like a child. + +It required minutes for the mourners to recover their self-command. +When the latter returned, however, all knelt on the grass, the line of +soldiers included, and the closing prayers were raised to the throne of +God. + +This act of devotion enabled the mourners to maintain an appearance of +greater tranquillity until the graves were filled. The troops advanced, +and fired three volleys over the captain's grave, when all retired +towards the Hut. Maud had caught little Evert from the arms of his +father, and, pressing him to her bosom, the motherless babe seemed +disposed to slumber there. In this manner she walked away, attended +closely by the father, who now cherished his boy as an only treasure. + +Willoughby lingered the last at the grave, Nick alone remaining near +him. The Indian had been struck by the exhibition of deep sorrow that +he had witnessed, and he felt an uneasiness that was a little +unaccountable to himself. It was one of the caprices of this strange +nature of ours, that he should feel a desire to console those whom he +had so deeply injured himself. He drew near to Robert Willoughby, +therefore, and, laying a hand on the latter's arm, drew his look in the +direction of his own red and speaking face. + +"Why so sorry, major?" he said. "Warrior nebber die but once-- +_must_ die sometime." + +"There lie my father, my mother, and my only sister, Indian--is not +that enough to make the stoutest heart bend? You knew them, too, Nick-- +did you ever know better?" + +"Squaw good--both squaw good--Nick see no pale-face squaw he like so +much." + +"I thank you, Nick! This rude tribute to the virtues of my mother and +sister, is far more grateful to me than the calculating and regulated +condolence of the world." + +"No squaw _so_ good as ole one--she, all heart--love every body, +but self." + +This was so characteristic of his mother, that Willoughby was startled +by the sagacity of the savage, though reflection told him so long an +acquaintance with the family must have made a dog familiar with this +beautiful trait in his mother. + +"And my father, Nick!" exclaimed the major, with feeling--"my noble, +just, liberal, gallant father!--He, too, you knew well, and must have +loved." + +"No so good as squaw," answered the Tuscarora, sententiously, and not +altogether without disgust in his manner. + +"We are seldom as good as our wives, and mothers, and sisters, Nick, +else should we be angels on earth. But, allowing for the infirmities of +us men, my father was just and gocd." + +"Too much flog"--answered the savage, sternly--"make Injin's back +sore." + +This extraordinary speech struck the major less, at the time, than it +did, years afterwards, when he came to reflect on all the events and +dialogues of this teeming week. Such was also the case as to what +followed. + +"You are no flatterer, Tuscarora, as I have always found in our +intercourse. If my father ever punished you with severity, you will +allow, me, at least, to imagine it was merited." + +"Too much flog, I say," interrupted the savage, fiercely. "No +difference, chief or not. Touch ole sore too rough. Good, some; bad, +some. Like weather--now shine; now storm." + +"This is no time to discuss these points, Nick. You have fought nobly +for us, and I thank you. Without your aid, these beloved ones would +have been mutilated, as well as slain; and Maud--my own blessed Maud-- +might now have been sleeping at their sides." + +Nick's face was now all softness again, and he returned the pressure of +Willoughby's hand with honest fervor. Here they separated. The major +hastened to the side of Maud, to fold her to his heart, and console her +with his love. Nick passed into the forest, returning no more to the +Hut. His path led him near the grave. On the side where lay the body of +Mrs. Willoughby, he threw a flower he had plucked in the meadow; while +he shook his finger menacingly at the other, which hid the person of +his enemy. In this, he was true to his nature, which taught him never +to forget a favour, or forgive an injury. + + + + + +Chapter XXX. + + "I shall go on through all eternity, + Thank God, I only am an embryo still: + The small beginning of a glorious soul, + An atom that shall fill immensity." + + Coxe. + +A fortnight elapsed ere Willoughby and his party could tear themselves +from a scene that had witnessed so much domestic happiness; but on +which had fallen the blight of death. During that time, the future +arrangements of the survivors were completed. Beekman was made +acquainted with the state of feeling that existed between his brother- +in-law and Maud, and he advised an immediate union. + +"Be happy while you can," he said, with bitter emphasis. "We live in +troubled times, and heaven knows when we shall see better. Maud has not +a blood-relation in all America, unless there may happen to be some in +the British army. Though we should all be happy to protect and cherish +the dear girl, she herself would probably, prefer to be near those whom +nature has appointed her friends. To me, she will always seem a sister, +as you must ever be a brother. By uniting yourselves at once, all +appearances of impropriety will be avoided; and in time, God averting +evil, you can introduce your wife to her English connections." + +"You forget, Beekman, that you are giving this advice to one who is a +prisoner on parole, and one who may possibly be treated as a spy." + +"No--that is impossible. Schuyler, our noble commander, is both just +and a gentleman. He will tolerate nothing of the sort. Your exchange +can easily be effected, and, beyond your present difficulties, I can +pledge myself to be able to protect you." + +Willoughby was not averse to following this advice; and he urged it +upon Maud, as the safest and most prudent course they could pursue. Our +heroine, however, was so reluctant even to assuming the appearance of +happiness, so recently after the losses she had experienced, that the +lover's task of persuasion was by no means easy. Maud was totally free +from affectation, while she possessed the keenest sense of womanly +propriety. Her intercourse with Robert Willoughby had been of the +tenderest and most confidential nature, above every pretence of +concealment, and was rendered sacred by the scenes through which they +had passed. Her love, her passionate, engrossing attachment, she did +not scruple to avow; but she could not become a bride while the stains +of blood seemed so recent on the very hearth around which they were +sitting. She still saw the forms of the dead, in their customary +places, heard their laughs, the tones of their affectionate voices, the +maternal whisper, the playful, paternal reproof, or Beulah's gentle +call. + +"Yet, Robert," said Maud, for she could now call him by that name, and +drop the desperate familiarity of 'Bob,'--"yet, Robert, there would be +a melancholy satisfaction in making our vows at the altar of the little +chapel, where we have so often worshipped together--the loved ones who +are gone and we who alone remain." + +"True, dearest Maud; and there is another reason why we should quit +this place only as man and wife. Beekman has owned that a question will +probably be raised among the authorities at Albany concerning the +nature of my visit here. It might relieve him from an appeal to more +influence than would be altogether pleasant, did I appear as a +bridegroom rather than as a spy." + +The word "spy" settled the matter. All ordinary considerations were +lost sight of, under the apprehensions it created, and Maud frankly +consented to become a wife that very day. The ceremony was performed by +Mr. Woods accordingly, and the little chapel witnessed tears of bitter +recollections mingling with the smiles with which the bride received +the warm embrace of her husband, after the benediction was pronounced. +Still, all felt that, under the circumstances, delay would have been +unwise. Maud saw a species of holy solemnity in a ceremony so closely +connected with scenes so sad. + +A day or two after the marriage, all that remained of those who had so +lately crowded the Hut, left the valley together. The valuables were +packed and transported to boats lying in the stream below the mills. +All the cattle, hogs, &c., were collected and driven towards the +settlements; and horses were prepared for Maud and the females, who +were to thread the path that led to Fort Stanwix. In a word, the Knoll +was to be abandoned, as a spot unfit to be occupied in such a war. None +but labourers, indeed, could, or would remain, and Beekman thought it +wisest to leave the spot entirely to nature, for the few succeeding +years. + +There had been some rumours of confiscations by the new state, and +Willoughby had come to the conclusion that it would be safer to +transfer this property to one who would be certain to escape such an +infliction, than to retain it in his own hands. Little Evert was +entitled to receive a portion of the captain's estate by justice, if +not by law. No will had been found, and the son succeeded as heir-at- +law. A deed was accordingly drawn up by Mr. Woods, who understood such +matters, and being duly executed, the Beaver Dam property was vested in +fee in the child. His own thirty thousand pounds, the personals he +inherited from his mother, and Maud's fortune, to say nothing of the +major's commission, formed an ample support for the new-married pair. +When all was settled, and made productive, indeed, Willoughby found +himself the master of between three and four thousand sterling a year, +exclusively of his allowances from the British government, an ample +fortune for that day. In looking over the accounts of Maud's fortune, +he had reason to admire the rigid justice, and free-handed liberality +with which his father had managed her affairs. Every farthing of her +income had been transferred to capital, a long minority nearly doubling +the original investment. Unknown to himself, he had married one of the +largest heiresses then to be found in the American colonies. This was +unknown to Maud, also; though it gave her great delight on her +husband's account, when she came to learn the truth. + +Albany was reached in due time, though not without encountering the +usual difficulties. Here the party separated. The remaining Plinys and +Smashes were all liberated, handsome provisions made for their little +wants, and good places found for them, in the connection of the family +to which they had originally belonged. Mike announced his determination +to enter a corps that was intended expressly to fight the Indians. He +had a long score to settle, and having no wife or children, he thought +he might amuse himself in this way, during a revolution, as well as in +any other. + +"If yer honour was going anywhere near the county Leitrim," he said, in +answer to Willoughby's offer to keep him near himself, "I might travel +in company; seein' that a man likes to look on ould faces, now and +then. Many thanks for this bag of gold, which will sarve to buy scalps +wid'; for divil bur-r-n me, if I don't carry on _that_ trade, for +some time to come. T'ree cuts wid a knife, half a dozen pokes in the +side, and a bullet scraping; the head, makes a man mindful of what has +happened; to say nothing of the captain, and Madam Willoughby, and Miss +Beuly--God for ever bless and presarve 'em all t'ree--and, if there was +such a thing as a bit of a church in this counthry, wouldn't I use this +gould for masses?--_dat_ I would, and let the scalps go to the +divil!" + +This was an epitome of the views of Michael O'Hearn. No arguments of +Willoughby's could change his resolution; but he set forth, determined +to illustrate his career by procuring as many Indian scalps, as an +atonement for the wrongs done "Madam Willoughby and Miss Beuly," as +came within his reach. + +"And you, Joyce," said the major, in an interview he had with the +serjeant, shortly after reaching Albany; "I trust _we_ are not to +part. Thanks to Colonel Beekman's influence and zeal, I am already +exchanged, and shall repair to New York next week. You are a soldier; +and these are times in which a _good_ soldier is of some account. +I think I can safely promise you a commission in one of the new +provincial regiments, about to be raised." + +"I thank your honour, but do not feel at liberty to accept the offer. I +took service with Captain Willoughby for life; had he lived, I would +have followed wherever he led. But that enlistment has expired; and I +am now like a recruit before he takes the bounty. In such cases, a man +has always a right to pick his corps. Politics I do not much +understand; but when the question comes up of pulling a trigger +_for_ or _against_ his country, an _unengaged_ man has a +right to choose. Between the two, meaning no reproach to yourself, +Major Willoughby, who had regularly taken service with the other side, +before the war began--but, between the two, I would rather fight an +Englishman, than an American." + +"You may possibly be right, Joyce; though, as you say, my service is +taken. I hope you follow the dictates of conscience, as I am certain I +do myself. We shall never meet in arms, however, if I can prevent it. +There is a negotiation for a lieutenant-colonelcy going on, which, if +it succeed, will carry me to England. I shall never serve an hour +longer against these colonies, if it be in my power to avoid it." + +"_States_, with your permission, Major Willoughby," answered the +serjeant, a little stiffly. "I am glad to hear it, sir; for, though I +wish my enemies good soldiers, I would rather not have the son of my +old captain among them. Colonel Beekman has offered to make me +serjeant-major of his own regiment; and we both of us join next week." + +Joyce was as good as his word. He became serjeant-major, and, in the +end, lieutenant and adjutant of the regiment he had mentioned. He +fought in most of the principal battles of the war, and retired at the +peace, with an excellent character. Ten years later, he fell, in one of +the murderous Indian affairs, that occurred during the first +oresidential term, a grey-headed captain of foot. The manner of his +death was not to be regretted, perhaps, as it was what he had always +wished might happen; but, it was a singular fact, that Mike stood over +his body, and protected it from mutilation; the County Leitrim-man +having turned soldier by trade, re-enlisting regularly, as soon as at +liberty, and laying up scalps on all suitable occasions. + +Blodget, too, had followed Joyce to the wars. The readiness and +intelligence of this young man, united to a courage of proof, soon +brought him forward, and he actually came out of the revolution a +captain. His mind, manners and information advancing with himself, he +ended his career, not many years since, a prominent politician in one +of the new states; a general in the militia--no great preferment, by +the way, for one who had been a corporal at the Hut--and a legislator. +Worse men have often acted in all these capacities among us; and it was +said, with truth, at the funeral of General Blodget, an accident that +does not always occur on such occasions, that "another revolutionary +hero is gone." Beekman was never seen to smile, from the moment he +first beheld the dead body of Beulah, lying with little Evert in her +arms. He served faithfully until near the close of the war, falling in +battle only a few months previously to the peace. His boy preceded him +to the grave, leaving, as confiscations had gone out of fashion by that +time, his uncle heir-at-law, again, to the same property that he had +conferred on himself. + +As for Willoughby and Maud, they were safely conveyed to New York, +where the former rejoined his regiment. Our heroine here met her great- +uncle, General Meredith, the first of her own blood relations whom she +had seen since infancy. Her reception was grateful to her feelings; +and, there being a resemblance in years, appearance and manners, she +transferred much of that affection which she had thought interred for +ever in the grave of her reputed father, to this revered relative. He +became much attached to his lovely niece, himself; and, ten years +later, Willoughby found his income quite doubled, by his decease. + +At the expiration of six months, the gazette that arrived from England, +announced the promotion of "Sir Robert Willoughby, Bart., late major in +the ---th, to be lieutenant colonel, by purchase, in His Majesty's +---th regiment of foot." This enabled Willoughby to quit America; to +which quarter of the world he had no occasion to be sent during the +remainder of the war. + +Of that war, itself, there is little occasion to speak. Its progress +and termination have long been matters of history. The independence of +America was acknowledged by England in 1783; and, immediately after, +the republicans commenced the conquest of their wide-spread domains, by +means of the arts of peace. In 1785, the first great assaults were made +on the wilderness, in that mountainous region which has been the +principal scene of our tale. The Indians had been driven off, in a +great measure, by the events of the revolution; and the owners of +estates, granted under the crown, began to search for their lands in +the untenanted woods. Such isolated families, too, as had taken refuge +in the settlements, now began to return to their deserted possessions; +and soon the smokes of clearings were obscuring the sun. Whitestown, +Utica, on the site of old Fort Stanwix, Cooperstown, for years the seat +of justice for several thousand square miles of territory, all sprang +into existence between the years 1785 and 1790. Such places as Oxford, +Binghamton, Norwich, Sherburne, Hamilton, and twenty more, that now dot +the region of which we have been writing, did not then exist, even in +name; for, in that day, the appellation and maps came after the place; +whereas, now, the former precede the last. + +The ten years that elapsed between 1785 and 1795, did wonders for all +this mountain district. More favourable lands lay spread in the great +west, but the want of roads, and remoteness from the markets, prevented +their occupation. For several years, therefore, the current of +emigration which started out of the eastern states, the instant peace +was proclaimed, poured its tide into the counties mentioned in our +opening chapter--_counties_ as they are to-day; _county_ ay, +and fragment of a county, too, as they were then. + +The New York Gazette, a journal that frequently related facts that +actually occurred, announced in its number of June 11th, 1795, "His +Majesty's Packet that has just arrived"--it required half a century to +teach the journalists of this country the propriety of saying "His +_Britannic_ Majesty's Packet," instead of "His Majesty's," a bit of +good taste, and of good sense, that many of them have yet to +learn--"has brought _out_," _home_ would have been better +"among her passengers, Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Willoughby, and +his lady, both of whom are natives of this state. We welcome them back +to their land of nativity where we can assure them they will be +cordially received notwithstanding old quarrels. _Major_ +Willoughby's kindness to American prisoners is gratefully remembered; +nor is it forgotten that he desired to exchange to another regiment in +order to avoid further service in this country." + +It will be conceded, this was a very respectable puff for the year +1795, when something like moderation, truth, and propriety were +observed upon such occasions. The effect was to bring the English +general's name into the mouths of the whole state; a baronet causing a +greater sensation then, in America, than a duke would produce to-day. +It had the effect, however, of bringing around General Willoughby many +of his father's, and his own old friends, and he was as well received +in New York, twelve years after the termination of the conflict, as if +he had fought on the other side. The occurrence of the French +revolution, and the spread of doctrines that were termed Jacobinical, +early removed all the dissensions between a large portion of the whigs +of America and the tories of England, on this side of the water at +least; and Providence only can tell what might have been the +consequences, had this feeling been thoroughly understood on the other. + +Passing over all political questions, however, our narrative calls us +to the relation of its closing scene. The visit of Sir Robert and Lady +Willoughby to the land of their birth was, in part, owing to feeling; +in part, to a proper regard for the future provision of their children. +The baronet had bought the ancient paternal estate of his family in +England, and having two daughters, besides an only son, it occurred to +him that the American property, called the Hutted Knoll, might prove a +timely addition to the ready money he had been able to lay up from his +income. Then, both he and his wife had a deep desire to revisit those +scenes where they had first learned to love each other, and which still +held the remains of so many who were dear to them. + +The cabin of a suitable sloop was therefore engaged, and the party, +consisting of Sir Robert, his wife, a man and woman servant, and a sort +of American courier, engaged for the trip, embarked on the morning of +the 25th of July. On the afternoon of the 30th, the sloop arrived in +safety at Albany, where a carriage was hired to proceed the remainder +of the way by land. The route by old Fort Stanwix, as Utica was still +generally called, was taken. Our travellers reached it on the evening +of the third day; the 'Sands, which are now traversed in less than an +hour, then occupying more than half of the first day. When at Fort +Stanwix, a passable country road was found, by which the travellers +journeyed until they reached a tavern that united many of the comforts +of a coarse civilisation, with frontier simplicity. Here they were +given to understand they had only a dozen miles to go, in order to +reach the Knoll. + +It was necessary to make the remainder of the journey on horseback. A +large, untenanted estate lay between the highway and the valley, across +which no public road had yet been made. Foot-paths, however, abounded, +and the rivulet was found without any difficulty. It was, perhaps, +fortunate for the privacy of the Knoll, that it lay in the line of no +frequented route, and, squatters being rare in that day, Willoughby +saw, the instant he struck the path that followed the sinuosities of +the stream, that it had been seldom trodden in the interval of the +nineteen-years which had occurred since he had last seen it himself. +The evidences of this fact increased, as the stream was ascended, until +the travellers reached the mill, when it was found that the spirit of +destruction, which so widely prevails in the loose state of society +that exists in all new countries, had been at work. Every one of the +buildings at the falls had been burnt; probably as much because it was +in the power of some reckless wanderer to work mischief, as for any +other reason. That the act was the result of some momentary impulse, +was evident in the circumstance that the mischief went no further. Some +of the machinery had been carried away, however, to be set up in other +places, on a principle that is very widely extended through all border +settlements, which considers the temporary disuse of property as its +virtual abandonment. + +It was a moment of pain and pleasure, strangely mingled, when +Willoughby and Maud reached the rocks, and got a first view of the +ancient Beaver Dam. All the buildings remained, surprisingly little +altered to the eye by the lapse of years. The gates had been secured +when they left the place, in 1776; and the Hut, having no accessible +external windows, that dwelling remained positively intact. It is true, +quite half the palisadoes were rotted down; but the Hut, itself, had +resisted the ravages of time. A fire had been kindled against its side, +but the stone walls had opposed an obstacle to its ravages; and an +attempt, by throwing a brand upon the roof, had failed of its object, +the shingles not igniting. On examination, the lock of the inner gate +was still secure. The key had been found, and, on its application, an +entrance was obtained into the court. + +What a moment was that, when Maud, fresh from the luxuries of an +English home, entered this long and well remembered scene of her youth! +Rank grasses were growing in the court, but they soon disappeared +before the scythes that had been brought, in expectation of the +circumstance. Then, all was clear for an examination of the house. The +Hut was exactly in the condition in which it had been left, with the +exception of a little, and a very little, dust collected by time. + +Maud was still in the bloom of womanhood, feminine, beautiful, full of +feeling, and as sincere as when she left these woods, though her +feelings were tempered a little by intercourse with the world. She went +from room to room, hanging on Willoughby's arm, forbidding any to +follow. All the common furniture had been left in the house, in +expectation it would be inhabited again, ere many years; and this +helped to preserve the identity. The library was almost entire; the +bed-rooms, the parlours, and even the painting-room, were found very +much as they would have appeared, after an absence of a few months. +Tears flowed in streams down the cheeks of Lady Willoughby, as she went +through room after room, and recalled to the mind of her husband the +different events of which they had been the silent witnesses. Thus +passed an hour or two of unutterable tenderness, blended with a species +of holy sorrow. At the end of that time, the attendants, of whom many +had been engaged, had taken possession of the offices, &c., and were +bringing the Hut once more into a habitable condition. Soon, too, a +report was brought that the mowers, who had been brought in +anticipation of their services being wanted, had cut a broad swathe to +the ruins of the chapel, and the graves of the family. + +It was now near the setting of the sun, and the hour was favourable for +the melancholy duty that remained. For bidding any to follow, +Willoughby proceeded with Maud to the graves. These had been dug within +a little thicket of shrubs, planted by poor Jamie Allen, under Maud's +own directions. She had then thought that the spot might one day be +wanted. These bushes, lilacs, and ceringos, had grown to a vast size, +in that rich soil. They completely concealed the space within, an area +of some fifty square feet, from the observation of those without. The +grass had been cut over all, however, and an opening made by the mowers +gave access to the graves. On reaching this opening, Willoughby started +at hearing voices within the inclosure; he was about to reprove the +intruders, when Maud pressed his arm, and whispered-- + +"Listen, Willoughby--those voices sound strangely to my ears! We have +heard them before." + +"I tell ye, Nick--ould Nicky, or Saucy Nick, or whatever's yer name," +said one within in a strong Irish accent "that Jamie, the mason that +was, is forenent ye, at this minute, under that bit of a sod--and, it's +his honour, and Missus, and Miss Beuly, that is buried here. Och! ye're +a cr'ature, Nick; good at takin' scalps, but ye knows nothin' of +graves; barrin' the quhantity ye've helped to fill." + +"Good"--answered the Indian. "Cap'in here; squaw here; darter here. +Where son?--where t'other gal?" + +"Here," answered Willoughby, leading Maud within the hedge. "I am +Robert Willoughby, and this is Maud Meredith, my wife." + +Mike fairly started; he even showed a disposition to seize a musket +which lay on the grass. As for the Indian, a tree in the forest could +not have stood less unmoved than he was at this unexpected +interruption. Then all four stood in silent admiration, noting the +changes which time had, more or less, wrought in all. + +Willoughby was in the pride of manhood. He had served with distinction, +and his countenance and frame both showed it, though neither had +suffered more than was necessary to give him a high military air, and a +look of robust vigour. As for Maud, with her graceful form fully +developed by her riding-habit, her soft lineaments and polished +expression, no one would have thought her more than thirty, which was +ten years less than her real age. With Mike and Nick it was very +different. Both had grown old, not only in fact, but in appearance. The +Irishman was turned of sixty, and his hard, coarse-featured face, burnt +as red as the sun in a fog, by exposure and Santa Cruz, was getting to +be wrinkled and a little emaciated. Still, his frame was robust and +powerful. His attire was none of the best, and it was to be seen at a +glance that it was more than half military. In point of fact, the poor +fellow had been refused a reinlistment in the army, on account of his +infirmities and years, and America was not then a country to provide +retreats for her veterans. Still, Mike had an ample pension for wounds, +and could not be said to be in want. He had suffered in the same battle +with Joyce, in whose company he had actually been corporal O'Hearn, +though his gallant commander had not risen to fight again, as had been +the case with the subordinate. + +Wyandotte exhibited still greater changes. He had seen his threescore +and ten years; and was fast falling into the "sere and yellow leaf." +His hair was getting grey, and his frame, though still active and +sinewy, would have yielded under the extraordinary marches he had once +made. In dress, there was nothing to remark; his ordinary Indian attire +being in as good condition as was usual for the man. Willoughby +thought, however, that his eye was less wild than when he knew him +before; and every symptom of intemperance had vanished, not only from +his countenance, but his person. + +From the moment Willoughby appeared, a marked change came over the +countenance of Nick. His dark eye, which still retained much of its +brightness, turned in the direction of the neighbouring chapel, and he +seemed relieved when a rustling in the bushes announced a footstep. +There had not been another word spoken when the lilacs were shoved +aside, and Mr. Woods, a vigorous little man, in a green old age, +entered the area. Willoughby had not seen the chaplain since they +parted at Albany, and the greetings were as warm as they were +unexpected. + +"I have lived a sort of hermit's life, my dear Bob, since the death of +your blessed parents," said the divine, clearing his eyes of tears; +"now and then cheered by a precious letter from yourself and Maud--I +call you both by the names I gave you both in baptism--and it was, 'I, +_Maud_, take thee, _Robert_,' when you stood before the +altar in that little edifice--you will pardon me if I am too familiar +with a general officer and his lady" + +"Familiar!" exclaimed both in a breath;--and Maud's soft, white hand +was extended towards the chaplain, with reproachful earnestness;--"We, +who were made Christians by you, and who have so much reason to +remember and love you always!" + +"Well, well; I see you are Robert and Maud, still"--dashing streaming +tears from his eyes now. "Yes, I did bring you both into God's visible +church on earth, and you were baptised by one who received his +ordination from the Archbishop of Canterbury himself,"--Maud smiled a +little archly--"and who has never forgotten his ordination vows, as he +humbly trusts. But you are not the only Christians I have made--I now +rank Nicholas among the number"-- + +"Nick!" interrupted Sir Robert--"Wyandotte!" added his wife, with a +more delicate tact. + +"I call him Nicholas, now, since he was christened by that name--there +is no longer a Wyandotte, or a Saucy Nick. Major Willoughby, I have a +secret to communicate--I beg pardon, Sir Robert--but you will excuse +old habits--if you will walk this way." + +Willoughby was apart with the chaplain a full half-hour, during which +time Maud wept over the graves, the rest standing by in respectful +silence. As for Nick, a stone could scarcely have been more fixed than +his attitude. Nevertheless, his mien was rebuked, his eye downcast; +even his bosom was singularly convulsed. He knew that the chaplain was +communicating to Willoughby the manner in which he had slain his +father. At length, the gentlemen returned slowly towards the graves; +the general agitated, frowning, and flushed. As for Mr. Woods, he was +placid and full of hope. Willoughby had yielded to his expostulations +and arguments a forgiveness, which came reluctantly, and perhaps as +much for the want of a suitable object for retaliation, as from a sense +of Christian duty. + +"Nicholas," said the chaplain, "I have told the general all." + +"He know him!" cried the Indian, with startling energy. + +"I do, Wyandotte; and sorry have I been to learn it. You have made my +heart bitter." + +Nick was terribly agitated. His youthful and former opinions maintained +a fearful struggle with those which had come late in life; the result +being a wild admixture of his sense of Indian justice, and submission +to the tenets of his new, and imperfectly-comprehended faith. For a +moment, the first prevailed. Advancing, with a firm step, to the +general, he put his own bright and keen tomahawk into the other's +hands, folded his arms on his bosom, bowed his head a little, and said, +firmly-- + +"Strike--Nick kill cap'in--Major kill Nick." + +"No, Tuscarora, no," answered Sir Robert Willoughby, his whole soul +yielding before this act of humble submission--"May God in heaven +forgive the deed, as I now forgive you." + +There was a wild smile gleaming on the face of the Indian; he grasped +both hands of Willoughby in his own. He then muttered the words, "God +forgive," his eye rolled upward at the clouds, and he fell dead on the +grave of his victim. It was thought, afterwards, that agitation had +accelerated the crisis of an incurable affection of the heart. + +A few minutes of confusion followed. Then Mike, bare-headed, his old +face flushed and angry, dragged from his pockets a string of strange- +looking, hideous objects, and laid them by the Indian's side. They were +human scalps, collected by himself, in the course of many campaigns, +and brought, as a species of hecatomb, to the graves of the fallen. + +"Out upon ye, Nick!" he cried. "Had I known the like of that, little +would I have campaigned in yer company! Och! 'twas an undacent deed, +and a hundred confessions would barely wipe it from yer sowl. It's a +pity, too, that ye've died widout absolution from a praist, sich as +I've tould ye off. Barrin' the brache of good fellieship, I could have +placed yer own scalp wid the rest, as a p'ace-offering, to his Honour, +the Missus and Miss Beuly----" + +"Enough," interrupted Sir Robert Willoughby, with an authority of +manner that Mike's military habits could not resist; "the man has +repented, and is forgiven. Maud, love, it is time to quit this +melancholy scene; occasions will offer to revisit it." + +In the end, Mr. Woods took possession of the Hut, as a sort of +hermitage, in which to spend the remainder of his days. He had toiled +hard for the conversion of Nick, in gratitude for the manner in which +he had fought in defence of the females. He now felt as keen a desire +to rescue the Irishman from the superstitions of what he deemed an +error quite as fatal as heathenism. Mike consented to pass the +remainder of his days at the Knoll, which was to be, and in time, +_was_, renovated, under their joint care. + +Sir Robert and Lady Willoughby passed a month in the valley. Nick had +been buried within the bushes; and even Maud had come to look upon this +strange conjunction of graves, with the eye of a Christian, blended +with the tender regrets of a woman. The day that the general and his +wife left the valley for ever, they paid a final visit to the graves. +Here Maud wept for an hour. Then her husband, passing an arm around her +waist, drew her gently away; saying, as they were quitting the +inclosure-- + +"They are in Heaven, dearest--looking down in love, quite likely, on +us, the objects of so much of their earthly affection. As for +Wyandotte, he lived according to his habits and intelligence, and +happily died under the convictions of a conscience directed by the +lights of divine grace. Little will the deeds of this life be +remembered, among those who have been the true subjects of its blessed +influence. If this man were unmerciful in his revenge, he also +remembered my mother's kindnesses, and bled for her and her daughters. +Without his care, my life would have remained unblessed with your love, +my ever-precious Maud! He never forgot a favour, or forgave an injury." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYANDOTTE*** + + +******* This file should be named 10434.txt or 10434.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/4/3/10434 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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