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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:57 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:39:57 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12440-0.txt b/12440-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f69c6b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/12440-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7816 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12440 *** + +D'RI AND I + + + +A TALE of DARING DEEDS in the SECOND WAR with the BRITISH. + +Being the Memoirs of Colonel Ramon Bell, U.S.A. + + + +BY IRVING BACHELLER, author of "Eben Holden." + + + +1901 + + + + + +TO MY WIFE + + + + +PREFACE + +This is a tale of the adventurous and rugged pioneers, who, +unconquered by other foes, were ever at war with the ancient +wilderness, pushing the northern frontier of the white man farther +and farther to the west. Early in the last century they had +striped the wild waste of timber with roadways from Lake Champlain +to Lake Ontario, and spotted it with sown acres wide and fair; and +still, as they swung their axes with the mighty vigor of great +arms, the forest fell before them, + +In a long valley south of the St. Lawrence, sequestered by river, +lake, and wilderness, they were slow to lose the simplicity, the +dialect, and the poverty of their fathers. + +Some Frenchmen of wealth and title, having fled the Reign of +Terror, bought a tract of wild country there (six hundred and +thirty thousand acres) and began to fill it with fine homes. It +was said the great Napoleon himself would some day build a chateau +among them. A few men of leisure built manor-houses on the river +front, and so the Northern Yankee came to see something of the +splendor of the far world, with contempt, as we may well imagine, +for its waste of time and money. + +Those days the North country was a theatre of interest and renown. +Its play was a tragedy; its setting the ancient wilderness; its +people of all conditions from king to farm hand. Chateau and +cabin, trail and forest road, soldier and civilian, lake and river, +now moonlit, now sunlit, now under ice and white with snow, were of +the shifting scenes in that play. Sometimes the stage was overrun +with cavalry and noisy with the clang of steel and the roar of the +carronade. + +The most important episodes herein are of history,--so romantic was +the life of that time and region. The marriage is almost literally +a matter of record. + +A good part of the author's life has been spent among the children +of those old raiders--Yankee and Canadian--of the north and south +shores of the big river. Many a tale of the camp and the night +ride he has heard in the firelight of a winter's evening; long +familiar to him are the ruins of a rustic life more splendid in its +day than any north of Virginia. So his color is not all of books, +but of inheritance and of memory as well. + +The purpose of this tale is to extend acquaintance with the plain +people who sweat and bled and limped and died for this Republic of +ours. Darius, or "D'ri" as the woods folk called him, was a +pure-bred Yankee, quaint, rugged, wise, truthful; Ramon had the +hardy traits of a Puritan father, softened by the more romantic +temperament of a French mother. They had no more love of fighting +than they had need of it. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAPTER + I. + II. + III. + IV. + V. + VI. + VII. + VIII. + IX. + X. + XI. + XII. + XIII. + XIV. + XV. + XVI. + XVII. + XVIII. + XIX. + XX. + XXI. + XXII. + XXIII. + XXIV. + XXV. + XXVI. + XXVII. + +[Transcriber's Note: The chapters in the original text were numbered, +but had no titles.] + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +LOUISE + +D'RI AND I + +I COULD NOT TELL WHICH OF THE TWO GIRLS I LOVED THE BETTER + +HE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT TO THE DEATH IF I HAD BUT GIVEN HIM WORD + +"COME, NOW, MY PRETTY PRISONER" + +"WE 'LL TEK CARE O' THE OL' BRIG" + +WE WERE BOTH NEAR BREAKING DOWN + +"THEN I LEAVE ALL FOR YOU" + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +From a letter of Captain Darius Hawkins, U. S. A., introducing +Ramon Bell to the Comte de Chaumont:-- + + +"MY DEAR COUNT: I commend to your kind offices my young friend +Ramon Bell, the son of Captain Bell, a cavalry officer who long ago +warmed his sword in the blood of the British on many a +battle-field. The young man is himself a born soldier, as brave as +he is tall and handsome. He has been but a month in the army, yet +I have not before seen a man who could handle horse and sword as if +they were part of him. He is a gentleman, also, and one after your +own heart, I know, my dear count, you will do everything you can to +further the work intrusted to him. + + "Your obedient servant, + "DARIUS HAWKINS." + + +From a letter of Joseph Bonaparte, Comte de Survilliers, +introducing his friend Colonel Ramon Bell to Napoleon III of +France:-- + + +"He has had a career romantic and interesting beyond that of any +man I have met in America. In the late war with England he was the +master of many situations most perilous and difficult. The scars +of ten bullets and four sabre-thrusts are on his body. It gives me +great pleasure, my dear Louis, to make you to know one of the most +gallant and chivalrous of men. He has other claims upon your +interest and hospitality, with which he will acquaint you in his +own delightful way." + + + + +D'RI AND I + +I + +A poet may be a good companion, but, so far as I know, he is ever +the worst of fathers. Even as grandfather he is too near, for one +poet can lay a streak of poverty over three generations. Doubt not +I know whereof I speak, dear reader, for my mother's father was a +poet--a French poet, too, whose lines had crossed the Atlantic long +before that summer of 1770 when he came to Montreal. He died +there, leaving only debts and those who had great need of a better +legacy--my mother and grandmother. + +As to my father, he had none of that fatal folly in him. He was a +mountaineer of Vermont--a man of steely sinews that took well to +the grip of a sword. He cut his way to fame in the Northern army +when the British came first to give us battle, and a bloody way it +was. I have now a faded letter from Ethan Allen, grim old warrior, +in which he calls my father "the best swordsman that ever straddled +a horse." He was a "gallous chap" in his youth, so said my +grandmother, with a great love of good clothes and gunpowder. He +went to Montreal, as a boy, to be educated; took lessons in +fencing, fought a duel, ran away from school, and came home with +little learning and a wife. Punished by disinheritance, he took a +farm, and left the plough to go into battle. + +I wonder often that my mother could put up with the stress and +hardship of his life, for she had had gentle breeding, of which I +knew little until I was grown to manhood, when I came to know also +what a woman will do for the love of her heart. I remember well +those tales of knights and ladies she used to tell me as we sat +together of an evening, and also those adventures of her own +knight, my good father, in the war with the British. My love of +arms and of a just quarrel began then. + +After the war came hard times. My father had not prospered +handsomely, when, near the end of the summer of 1803, he sold his +farm, and we all started West, over rough trails and roadways. +There were seven of us, bound for the valley of the St. +Lawrence--my father and mother, my two sisters, my grandmother, +D'ri, the hired man, and myself, then a sturdy boy of ten. We had +an ox-team and -cart that carried our provision, the sacred feather +beds of my mother, and some few other things. + +[Illustration: D'Ri and I.] + +We drove with us the first flock of sheep that ever went West. +There were forty of them, and they filled our days with trouble. +But for our faithful dog Rover, I fear we should have lost heart +and left them to the wild wolves. The cart had a low cover of +canvas, and my mother and grandmother sat on the feather beds, and +rode with small comfort even where the roads were level. My father +let me carry my little pet rooster in a basket that hung from the +cart-axle when not in my keeping. The rooster had a harder time +than any of us, I fancy, for the days were hot and the roads rough. +He was always panting, with open mouth and thoughtful eye, when I +lifted the cover. But every day he gave us an example of +cheerfulness not wholly without effect. He crowed triumphantly, +betimes, in the hot basket, even when he was being tumbled about on +the swamp ways. Nights I always found a perch for him on the limb +of a near tree, above the reach of predatory creatures. Every +morning, as the dawn showed faintly in the tree-tops, he gave it a +lusty cheer, napping his wings with all the seeming of delight. +Then, often, while the echo rang, I would open my eyes and watch +the light grow in .the dusky cavern of the woods. He would sit +dozing awhile after the first outbreak, and presently as the flood +of light grew clearer, lift himself a little, take another peep at +the sky, and crow again, turning his head to hear those weird, +mocking roosters of the timber-land. Then, shortly, I would hear +my father poking the fire or saying, as he patted the rooster: +"Sass 'em back, ye noisy little brat! Thet 's right: holler. Tell +D'ri it's time t' bring some wood fer the fire." + +In a few minutes the pot and kettle would be boiling and the camp +all astir. We had trout and partridge and venison a-plenty for our +meals, that were served in dishes of tin. Breakfast over, we +packed our things. The cart went on ahead, my father bringing the +oxen, while I started the sheep with D'ri. + +Those sheep were as many thorns in our flesh that day we made off +in the deep woods from Lake Champlain. Travel was new to them, and +what with tearing through thickets and running wild in every slash, +they kept us jumping. When they were leg-weary and used to travel, +they began to go quietly. But slow work it was at best, ten or +twelve miles a day being all we could do, for the weather was hot +and our road like the way of the transgressor. Our second night in +the woods we could hear the wolves howling as we camped at dusk. +We built our fire near the shore of a big pond, its still water, +framed in the vivid green of young tamaracks. A great hill rose on +the farther side of it, with galleries of timber sloping to the +summit, and peopled with many birds. We huddled the sheep together +in a place where the trees were thick, while father brought from +the cart a coil of small rope. We wound it about the trees, so the +sheep were shut in a little yard. After supper we all sat by the +fire, while D'ri told how he had been chased by wolves in the +beaver country north of us. + +D'ri was an odd character. He had his own way of expressing the +three degrees of wonder, admiration, and surprise. +"Jerushy!"--accented on the second syllable--was the positive, +"Jerushy Jane!" the comparative, and "Jerushy Jane Pepper!" the +superlative. Who that poor lady might be I often wondered, but +never ventured to inquire. In times of stress I have heard him +swear by "Judas Priest," but never more profanely. In his youth he +had been a sailor on the lake, when some artist of the needle had +tattooed a British jack on the back of his left hand--a thing he +covered, of shame now, when he thought of it. His right hand had +lost its forefinger in a sawmill. His rifle was distinguished by +the name of Beeswax,--"Ol' Beeswax" he called it sometimes,--for no +better reason than that it was "easy spoke an' hed a kind uv a +powerful soun' tew it." He had a nose like a shoemaker's thumb: +there was a deep incurve from its wide tip to his forehead. He had +a large, gray, inquiring eye and the watchful habit of the +woodsman. Somewhere in the midst of a story he would pause and +peer thoughtfully into the distance, meanwhile feeling the +pipe-stem with his lips, and then resume the narrative as suddenly +as he had stopped. He was a lank and powerful man, six feet tall +in his stockings. He wore a thin beard that had the appearance of +parched grass on his ruddy countenance. In the matter of hair, +nature had treated him with a generosity most unusual. His heavy +shock was sheared off square above his neck. + +That evening, as he lay on his elbow in the firelight, D'ri had +just entered the eventful field of reminiscence. The women were +washing the dishes; my father had gone to the spring for water. +D'ri pulled up suddenly, lifted his hat of faded felt, and +listened, peering into the dusk. + +"Seems t' me them wolves is comin' nearer," he said thoughtfully. + +Their cries were echoing in the far timber. We all rose and +listened. In a moment my father came hurrying back with his pail +of water. + +"D'ri," said he, quietly, as he threw some wood on the fire, "they +smell mutton. Mek the guns ready. We may git a few pelts. +There's a big bounty on 'em here 'n York State." + +We all stood about the fire listening as the wolves came nearer. + +"It 's the sheep thet brings 'em," said my father. + +"Quite a consid'able number on 'em, tew," said D'ri, as he stood +cleaning the bore of his rifle. + +My young sisters began to cry. + +"Need n't be scairt," said father. "They won't come very near. +'Fraider of us 'n we are o' 'em, a good deal." + +"Tow-w-w!" said D'ri, with a laugh. "They 'll be apt t' stub ther +toes 'fore they git very nigh us." + +This did not quite agree with the tales he had previously been +telling. I went for my sword, and buckled its belt about me, the +scabbard hanging to my heels. Presently some creature came +bounding over the brush. I saw him break through the wall of +darkness and stop quickly in the firelight. Then D'ri brought him +down with his rifle. + +"Started him up back there 'n the woods a few mild," said D'ri. +"He was mekin' fer this 'ere pond--thet 's what he was dewin'." + +"What for?" I inquired. + +"'Cause fer the reason why he knowed he would n't mek no tracks 'n +the water, ner no scent," said D'ri, with some show of contempt for +my ignorance. + +The deer lay floundering in the briers some fifty feet away. My +father ran with his knife and put him quickly out of misery. Then +we hauled the carcass to clear ground. + +"Let it lie where 't is fer now," said he, as we came back to the +fire. Then he got our two big traps out of the cart and set them +beside the carcass and covered them with leaves. The howling of +the wolves had ceased. I could hear only the creaking of a dead +limb high above us, and the bellow of frogs in the near pond. We +had fastened the trap chains and were coming back to the fire, when +the dog rose, barking fiercely; then we heard the crack of D'ri's +rifle. + +"More 'n fifty wolves eroun' here," he whispered as we ran up to +him. "Never see sech a snag on 'em." + +The sheep were stirring nervously. Near the pen a wolf lay kicking +where D'ri had dropped him. + +"Rest on 'em snooked off when the gun hollered," he went on, +whispering as before. + +My mother and grandmother sat with my sisters in the cart, hushing +their murmurs of fear. Early in the evening I had tied Rover to +the cart-wheel, where he was growling hotly, impatient of the leash. + +"See?" said D'ri, pointing with his finger. "See 'em?--there 'n +the dark by thet air big hemlock." + +We could make out a dim stir in the shadows where he pointed. +Presently we heard the spring and rattle of a trap. As we turned +that way, the other trap took hold hard; as it sprang, we could +hear a wolf yelp. + +"Meks 'em holler," said D'ri, "thet ol' he-trap does, when it teks +holt. Stay here by the sheep, 'n' I 'll go over 'n' give 'em +somethin' fer spraint ankles." + +Other wolves were swarming over the dead deer, and the two in the +traps were snarling and snapping at them. My father and D'ri fired +at the bunch, killing one of the captives and another--the largest +wolf I ever saw. The pack had slunk away as they heard the rifles. +Our remaining captive struggled to get free, but in a moment D'ri +had brained him with an axe. He and my father reset our traps and +hauled the dead wolves into the firelight. There they began to +skin them, for the bounty was ten dollars for each in the new +towns--a sum that made our adventure profitable. I built fires on +the farther side of the sheep, and, as they brightened, I could +see, here and there, the gleaming eyes of a wolf in the darkness. +I was up all night heaping wood upon the fires, while D'ri and my +father skinned the wolves and dressed the deer. I remember, as +they worked, D'ri calmed himself with the low-sung, familiar music +of:-- + + Li too rul I oorul I oorul I ay. + +They had just finished when the cock crew. + +"Holler, ye gol-dum little cuss!" D'ri shouted as he went over to +him. "Can't no snookin' wolf crack our bones fer _us_. Peeled +'em--thet 's what we done tew 'em! Tuk 'n' knocked 'em head over +heels. Judas Priest! He can peck a man's finger some, can't he?" + +The light was coming, and he went off to the spring for water, +while I brought the spider and pots. The great, green-roofed +temple of the woods, that had so lately rung with the howl of +wolves, began to fill with far wandering echoes of sweet song. + +"They was a big cat over there by the spring las' night," said +D'ri, as we all sat down to breakfast. "Tracks bigger 'n a +griddle! Smelt the mutton, mos' likely." + +"Like mutton?" I inquired. + +"Yis-sir-ee, they dew," said he. "Kind o' mince-pie fer 'em. Like +deer-meat, tew. Snook eroun' the ponds efter dark. Ef they see a +deer 'n the water they wallop 'im quicker 'n lightnin'; jump right +in k'slap 'n' tek 'im." + +We were off at sunrise, on a road that grew rougher every mile. At +noon we came to a river so swollen as to make a dangerous ford. +After dinner my father waded in, going hips under where the water +was deep and swift. Then he cut a long pole and took my mother on +his shoulders and entered the broad stream, steadying himself with +the pole. When she had got down safe on the other side, he came +back for grandmother and my sisters, and took them over in the same +way. D'ri, meanwhile, bound up the feather beds and carried them +on his head, leaving the dog and me to tend the sheep. All our +blankets and clothing were carried across in the same manner. Then +I mounted the cart, with my rooster, lashing the oxen till they +took to the stream. They had tied the bell-wether to the axle, +and, as I started, men and dog drove the sheep after me. The oxen +wallowed in the deep water, and our sheep, after some hesitation, +began to swim. The big cart floated like a raft part of the way, +and we landed with no great difficulty. Farther on, the road +became nothing better than a rude trail, where, frequently, we had +to stop and chop through heavy logs and roll them away. On a steep +hillside the oxen fell, breaking the tongue, and the cart tipped +sidewise and rolled bottom up. My rooster was badly flung about, +and began crowing and flapping as the basket settled. When I +opened it, he flew out, running for his life, as if finally +resolved to quit us. Fortunately, we were all walking, and nobody +was hurt. My father and D'ri were busy half a day "righting up," +as they called it, mending the tongue and cover, and getting the +cart on its wheels and down the steep pitch. + +After two days of trail travel we came out on the Chateaugay road, +stopping awhile to bait our sheep and cattle on the tame grass and +tender briers. It was a great joy to see the clear road, with here +and there a settler's cabin, its yard aglow with the marigold, the +hollyhock, and the fragrant honeysuckle. We got to the tavern at +Chateaugay about dusk, and put up for the night, as becomes a +Christian. + +Next afternoon we came to rough roads again, camping at sundown +along the shore of a noisy brook. The dog began to bark fiercely +while supper was making, and scurried off into a thicket. + +D'ri was stooping over, cooking the meat. He rose and listened. + +"Thet air dog's a leetle scairt," said he. "Guess we better go 'n' +see whut 's the matter." + +He took his rifle and I my sword,--I never thought of another +weapon,--making off through the brush. The dog came whining to +D'ri and rushing on, eager for us to follow. We hurried after him, +and in a moment D'ri and the dog, who were ahead of me, halted +suddenly. + +"It 's a painter," said D'ri, as I came up. "See 'im in thet air +tree-top. I 'll larrup 'im with Ol' Beeswax, then jes' like es not +he 'll mek some music. Better grab holt o' the dog. 'T won't dew +fer 'im to git tew rambunctious, er the fust thing he knows he +won't hev no insides in 'im." + +I could see the big cat clinging high in the top boughs of a birch +and looking calmly down at us. The tree-top swayed, quivering, as +it held the great dun beast. My heart was like to smother me when +D'ri raised his rifle and took aim. The dog broke away at the +crack of it. The painter reeled and spat; then he came crashing +through the branches, striking right and left with his fore paws to +save himself. He hit the ground heavily, and the dog was on him. +The painter lay as if dead. Before I could get near, Rover began +shaking him by the neck. He came to suddenly, and struck the dog +with a front claw, dragging him down. A loud yelp followed the +blow. Quick as a flash D'ri had caught the painter by the tail and +one hind leg. With a quick surge of his great, slouching +shoulders, he flung him at arm's-length. The lithe body doubled on +a tree trunk, quivered, and sank down, as the dog came free. In a +jiffy I had run my sword through the cat's belly and made an end of +him. + +"Knew 'f he got them hind hooks on thet air dog he 'd rake his ribs +right off," said D'ri, as he lifted his hat to scratch his head. +"Would n't 'a' left nothin' but the backbone,--nut a thing,--an' +thet would n't 'a' been a real fust-class one, nuther." + +When D'ri was very positive, his words were well braced with +negatives. + +We took the painter by the hind legs and dragged him through the +bushes to our camp. The dog had a great rip across his shoulder, +where the claws had struck and made furrows; but he felt a mighty +pride in our capture, and never had a better appetite for a meal. + +There were six more days of travel in that journey--travel so +fraught with hardships, I wonder that some days we had the heart to +press on. More than all, I wonder that the frail body of my mother +was equal to it. But I am writing no vain record of endurance. I +have written enough to suggest what moving meant in the wilderness. +There is but one more color in the scenes of that journey. The +fourth day after we left Chateaugay my grandmother fell ill and +died suddenly there in the deep woods. We were far from any +village, and sorrow slowed our steps. We pushed on, coming soon to +a sawmill and a small settlement. They told us there was neither +minister nor undertaker within forty miles. My father and D'ri +made the coffin of planed lumber, and lined it with deerskin, and +dug the grave on top of a high hill. When all was ready, my +father, who had always been much given to profanity, albeit I know +he was a kindly and honest man with no irreverence in his heart, +called D'ri aside. + +"D'ri," said he, "ye 've alwus been more proper-spoken than I hev. +Say a word o' prayer?" + +"Don't much b'lieve I could," said he, thoughtfully. "I hev been +t' meeting but I hain't never been no great hand fer prayin'." + +"'T wouldn't sound right nohow, fer me t' pray," said my father, "I +got s' kind o' rough when I was in the army." + +"'Fraid it 'll come a leetle unhandy fer me," said D'ri, with a +look of embarrassment, "but I don't never shirk a tough job ef it +hes t' be done." + +Then he stepped forward, took off his faded hat, his brow wrinkling +deep, and said, in a drawling preacher tone that had no sound of +D'ri in it: "O God, tek care o' gran'ma. Help us t' go on careful, +an' when we 're riled, help us t' keep er mouths shet. O God, help +the ol' cart, an' the ex in pertic'lar. An' don't be noway hard on +us. Amen." + + + + + +II + +June was half over when we came to our new home in the town of +Madrid--then a home only for the foxes and the fowls of the air and +their wild kin of the forest. The road ran through a little valley +thick with timber and rock-bound on the north. There were four +families within a mile of us, all comfortably settled in small log +houses. For temporary use we built a rude bark shanty that had a +partition of blankets, living in this primitive manner until my +father and D'ri had felled the timber and built a log house. We +brought flour from Malone,--a dozen sacks or more,--and while they +were building, I had to supply my mother with fish and game and +berries for the table--a thing easy enough to do in that land of +plenty. When the logs were cut and hewn I went away, horseback, to +Canton for a jug of rum. I was all day and half the night going +and coming, and fording the Grasse took me stirrups under. + +Then the neighbors came to the raising--a jolly company that +shouted "Hee, oh, hee!" as they lifted each heavy log to its place, +and grew noisier quaffing the odorous red rum, that had a mighty +good look to me, although my father would not hear of my tasting +it. When it was all over, there was nothing to pay but our +gratitude. + +While they were building bunks, I went off to sawmill with the oxen +for boards and shingles. Then, shortly, we had a roof over us, and +floors to walk on, and that luxury D'ri called a "pyaz," although +it was not more than a mere shelf with a roof over it. We chinked +the logs with moss and clay at first, putting up greased paper in +the window spaces. For months we knew not the luxury of the glass +pane. + +That summer we "changed work" with the neighbors, and after we had +helped them awhile they turned to in the clearing of our farm. We +felled the trees in long, bushy windrows, heaping them up with +brush and small wood when the chopping was over. That done, we +fired the rows, filling the deep of heaven with smoke, as it seemed +to me, and lighting the night with great billows of flame. + +By mid-autumn we had cleared to the stumps a strip half down the +valley from our door. Then we turned to on the land of our +neighbors, my time counting half, for I was sturdy and could swing +the axe to a line, and felt a joy in seeing the chips fly. But my +father kept an eye on me, and held me back as with a leash, + +My mother was often sorely tried for the lack of things common as +dirt these better days. Frequently our only baking-powder was +white lye, made by dropping ash-cinders into wafer. Our cinders +were made by letting the sap of green timber drip into hot ashes. +Often deer's tallow, bear's grease, or raccoon's oil served for +shortening, and the leaves of the wild raspberry for tea. Our +neighbors went to mill at Canton--a journey of five days, going and +coming, with an ox-team, and beset with many difficulties. Then +one of them hollowed the top of a stump for his mortar and tied his +pestle to the bough of a tree. With a rope he drew the bough down, +which, as it sprang back, lifted the pestle that ground his grain. + +But money was the rarest of all things in our neighborhood those +days. Pearlash, black-salts, West India pipe-staves, and rafts of +timber brought cash, but no other products of the early settler. +Late that fall my mother gave a dance, a rude but hearty pleasuring +that followed a long conference in which my father had a part. +They all agreed to turn to, after snowfall, on the river-land, cut +a raft of timber, and send it to Montreal in the spring. Our +things had come, including D'ri's fiddle, so that we had chairs and +bedsteads and other accessories of life not common among our +neighbors. My mother had a few jewels and some fine old furniture +that her father had given her,--really beautiful things, I have +since come to know,--and she showed them to those simple folk with +a mighty pride in her eyes. + +Business over, D'ri took down his fiddle, that hung on the wall, +and made the strings roar as he tuned them. Then he threw his long +right leg over the other, and, as be drew the bow, his big foot +began to pat the floor a good pace away. His chin lifted, his +fingers flew, his bow quickened, the notes seemed to whirl and +scurry, light-footed as a rout of fairies. Meanwhile the toe of +his right boot counted the increasing tempo until it came up and +down like a ratchet. + +Darius Olin was mostly of a slow and sober manner. To cross his +legs and feel a fiddle seemed to throw his heart open and put him +in full gear. Then his thoughts were quick, his eyes merry, his +heart was a fountain of joy. He would lean forward, swaying his +head, and shouting "Yip!" as the bow hurried. D'ri was a +hard-working man, but the feel of the fiddle warmed and limbered +him from toe to finger. He was over-modest, making light of his +skill if he ever spoke of it, and had no ear for a compliment. +While our elders were dancing, I and others of my age were playing +games in the kitchen--kissing-games with a rush and tumble in them, +puss-in-the-corner, hunt-the-squirrel, and the like. Even then I +thought I was in love with pretty Rose Merriman. She would never +let me kiss her, even though I had caught her and had the right. +This roundelay, sung while one was in the centre of a circling +group, ready to grab at the last word, brings back to me the sweet +faces, the bright eyes, the merry laughter of that night and others +like it: + + Oh, hap-py is th' mil-ler who + lives by him-self! As th' wheel gos round, he + gath-ers in 'is wealth, One hand on the + hop-per and the oth-er on the bag; As the + wheel goes round, he cries out, "Grab!" Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-shamed o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-sham'd o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-sham'd o' this--To + stay all night for one sweet kiss? Oh, etc. + +[Transcriber's note: A Lilypond (www.lilypond.org) rendition of +this song is at the end of this e-book.] + +My mother gave me all the schooling I had that winter. A year +later they built a schoolhouse, not quite a mile away, where I +found more fun than learning. After two years I shouldered my axe +and went to the river-land with the choppers every winter morning. + +My father was stronger than any of them except D'ri, who could +drive his axe to the bit every blow, day after day. He had the +strength of a giant, and no man I knew tried ever to cope with him. +By the middle of May we began rolling in for the raft. As soon as +they were floating, the logs were withed together and moored in +sections. The bay became presently a quaking, redolent plain of +timber. + +When we started the raft, early in June, that summer of 1810, and +worked it into the broad river with sweeps and poles, I was aboard +with D'ri and six other men, bound for the big city of which I had +heard so much. I was to visit the relatives of my mother and spend +a year in the College de St. Pierre. We had a little frame house +on a big platform, back of the middle section of the raft, with +bunks in it, where we ate and slept and told stories. Lying on the +platform, there was a large flat stone that held our fires for both +cooking and comfort. D'ri called me in the dusk of the early +morning, the first night out, and said we were near the Sault. I +got up, rubbed my eyes, and felt a mighty thrill as I heard the +roar of the great rapids and the creaking withes, and felt the lift +of the speeding water. D'ri said they had broken the raft into +three parts, ours being hindmost. The roaring grew louder, until +my shout was as a whisper in a hurricane. The logs began to heave +and fall, and waves came rushing through them. Sheets of spray +shot skyward, coming down like a shower. We were shaken as by an +earthquake in the rough water. Then the roar fell back of us, and +the raft grew steady. + +"Gin us a tough twist," said D'ri, shouting down at me--"kind uv a +twist o' the bit 'n' a kick 'n the side." + +It was coming daylight as we sailed into still water, and then D'ri +put his hands to his mouth and hailed loudly, getting an answer out +of the gloom ahead. + +"Gol-dum ef it hain't the power uv a thousan' painters!" D'ri +continued, laughing as he spoke. "Never see nothin' jump 'n' kick +'n' spit like thet air, 'less it hed fur on--never 'n all my born +days." + +D'ri's sober face showed dimly now in the dawn. His hands were on +his hips; his faded felt hat was tipped sideways. His boots and +trousers were quarrelling over that disputed territory between his +knees and ankles. His boots had checked the invasion. + +"Smooth water now," said he, thoughtfully, "Seems terrible still. +Hain't a breath uv air stirrin'. Jerushy Jane Pepper! Wha' does +thet mean?" + +He stepped aside quickly as some bits of bark and a small bough of +hemlock fell at our feet. Then a shower of pine needles came +slowly down, scattering over us and hitting the timber with a faint +hiss. Before we could look up, a dry stick as long as a log fell +rattling on the platform. + +"Never see no sech dom's afore," said D'ri, looking upward. +"Things don't seem t' me t' be actin' eggzac'ly nat'ral--nut jest +es I 'd like t' see 'em." + +As the light came clearer, we saw clouds heaped black and blue over +the tree-tops in the southwest. We stood a moment looking. The +clouds were heaping higher, pulsing with light, roaring with +thunder. What seemed to be a flock of pigeons rose suddenly above +the far forest, and then fell as if they had all been shot. A gust +of wind coasted down the still ether, fluttering like a rag and +shaking out a few drops of rain. + +"Look there!" I shouted, pointing aloft. + +"Hark!" said D'ri, sharply, raising his hand of three fingers. + +We could hear a far sound like that of a great wagon rumbling on a +stony road. + +"The Almighty 's whippin' his hosses," said D'ri. "Looks es ef he +wus plungin' 'em through the woods 'way yender. Look a' thet air +sky." + +The cloud-masses were looming rapidly. They had a glow like that +of copper. + +"Tryin' t' put a ruf on the world," my companion shouted. +"Swingin' ther hammers hard on the rivets." + +A little peak of green vapor showed above the sky-line. It loomed +high as we looked. It grew into a lofty column, reeling far above +the forest. Below it we could see a mighty heaving in the +tree-tops. Something like an immense bird was hurtling and +pirouetting in the air above them. The tower of green looked now +like a great flaring bucket hooped with fire and overflowing with +darkness. Our ears were full of a mighty voice out of the heavens. +A wind came roaring down some tideway of the air like water in a +flume. It seemed to tap the sky. Before I could gather my +thoughts we were in a torrent of rushing air, and the raft had +begun to heave and toss. I felt D'ri take my hand in his. I could +just see his face, for the morning had turned dark suddenly. His +lips were moving, but I could hear nothing he said. Then he lay +flat, pulling me down. Above and around were all the noises that +ever came to the ear of man--the beating of drums, the bellowing of +cattle, the crash of falling trees, the shriek of women, the rattle +of machinery, the roar of waters, the crack of rifles, the blowing +of trumpets, the braying of asses, and sounds the like of which I +have never heard and pray God I may not hear again, one and then +another dominating the mighty chorus. Behind us, in the gloom, I +could see, or thought I could see, the reeling mass of green +ploughing the water, like a ship with chains of gold flashing over +bulwarks of fire. In a moment something happened of which I have +never had any definite notion. I felt the strong arm of D'ri +clasping me tightly. I heard the thump and roll and rattle of the +logs heaping above us; I felt the water washing over me; but I +could see nothing. I knew the raft had doubled; it would fall and +grind our bones: but I made no effort to save myself. And thinking +how helpless I felt is the last I remember of the great windfall of +June 3, 1810, the path of which may be seen now, fifty years after +that memorable day, and I suppose it will be visible long after my +bones have crumbled. I thought I had been sleeping when I came to; +at least, I had dreamed. I was in some place where it was dark and +still. I could hear nothing but the drip of water; I could feel +the arm of D'ri about me, and I called to him, and then I felt him +stir. + +"Thet you, Ray?" said he, lifting his head. + +"Yes," I answered. "Where are we?" + +"Judas Priest! I ain' no idee. Jes' woke up. Been a-layin' here +tryin' t' think. Ye hurt?" + +"Guess not," said I. + +"Ain't ye got no pains or aches nowhere 'n yer body?" + +"Head aches a little," said I. + +He rose to his elbow, and made a light with his flint and tinder, +and looked at me. + +"Got a goose-egg on yer for'ard," said he, and then I saw there was +blood on his face. + +"Ef it hed n't been fer the withes they 'd 'a' ground us t' powder." + +We were lying alongside the little house, and the logs were leaning +to it above us. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri exclaimed, rising to his knees. "'S +whut I call a twister." + +He began to whittle a piece of the splintered platform. Then he +lit a shaving. + +"They 's ground here," said he, as he began to kindle a fire, +"ground a-plenty right under us." + +The firelight gave us a good look at our cave under the logs. It +was about ten feet long and probably half as high. The logs had +crashed through the side of the house in one or two places, and its +roof was a wreck. + +"Hungry?" said D'ri, as he broke a piece of board on his knee. + +"Yes," I answered. + +"So 'm I," said he, "hungrier 'n a she-wolf. They 's some bread +'n' ven'son there 'n the house; we better try t' git 'em." + +An opening under the logs let me around the house corner to its +door. I was able to work my way through the latter, although it +was choked with heavy timbers. Inside I could hear the wash of the +river, and through its shattered window on the farther wall I could +see between the heaped logs a glow of sunlit water. I handed our +axe through a break in the wall, and then D'ri cut away some of the +baseboards and joined me. We had our meal cooking in a few +minutes--our dinner, really, for D'ri said it was near noon. +Having eaten, we crawled out of the window, and then D'ri began to +pry the logs apart. + +"Ain't much 'fraid o' their tumblin' on us," said he. "They 're +withed so they 'll stick together." + +We got to another cave under the logs, at the water's edge, after +an hour of crawling and prying. A side of the raft was in the +water. + +"Got t' dive," said D'ri, "an' swim fer daylight." + +A long swim it was, but we came up in clear water, badly out of +breath. We swam around the timber, scrambling over a dead cow, and +up-shore. The ruined raft was torn and tumbled into a very +mountain of logs at the edge of the water. The sun was shining +clear, and the air was still. Limbs of trees, bits of torn cloth, +a broken hay-rake, fragments of wool, a wagon-wheel, and two dead +sheep were scattered along the shore. Where we had seen the +whirlwind coming, the sky was clear, and beneath it was a great gap +in the woods, with ragged walls of evergreen. Here and there in +the gap a stub was standing, trunk and limbs naked. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri exclaimed, with a pause after each +word. "It's cut a swath wider 'n this river. Don't b'lieve a +mouse could 'a' lived where the timber 's down over there." + +Our sweepers and the other sections of the raft were nowhere in +sight. + + + + +III + +We left the logs, and walked to Cornwall, and took a sloop down the +river. It was an American boat, bound for Quebec with +pipe-staves. It had put in at Cornwall when the storm began. The +captain said that the other sections of our raft had passed safely. +In the dusk of the early evening a British schooner brought us to. + +"Wonder what that means?" said the skipper, straining his eyes in +the dusk, + +A small boat, with three officers, came along-side. They climbed +aboard, one of them carrying a lantern. They were armed with +swords and pistols. We sat in silence around the cockpit. They +scanned each of us carefully in the light of the lantern. It +struck me as odd they should look so closely at our hands. + +"Wha' d' ye want?" the skipper demanded. "This man," said one of +them, pointing to D'ri. "He's a British sailor. We arrest him--" + +He got no farther. D'ri's hand had gone out like the paw of a +painter and sent him across the cockpit. Before I knew what was +up, I saw the lank body of D'ri leaping backward into the river. I +heard a splash and a stroke of his long arms, and then all was +still. I knew he was swimming under water to get away. The +officers made for their boat. My blood was up, and I sprang at the +last of them, giving him a hard shove as he was climbing over, so +that he fell on the boat, upsetting it. They had business enough +then for a little, and began hailing for help. I knew I had done a +foolish thing, and ran forward, climbing out upon the bowsprit, and +off with my coat and vest, and dived into the dark water. I swam +under as long as I could hold my breath, and then came up quietly, +turning on my back in the quick current, and floating so my face +only was above water. It had grown dark, and I could see nothing +but the glimmer of the stars above me. My boots were heavy and +dragged hard. I was going fast with the swift water, for at first +I had heard a great hubbub on the schooner; but now its voices had +grown faint. Other sounds were filling my ear. + +After dark it is weird business to be swimming in strange +water--the throne of mystery, of a thousand terrors. It is as if +one's grave, full of the blackness of the undiscovered country, +were pursuing him and ever yawning beneath his body. And that big +river is the very tiger of waters, now stealing on pussy-footed, +now rushing with cat-like swiftness, hissing and striking with +currents that have in them mighty sinews. I was now companion of +those cold-mouthed monsters of the river bottom, many of which I +had seen. What if one should lay hold on me and drag me under? +Then I thought of rapids that might smother me with their spray or +dash me to hidden rocks. Often I lifted my ears, marvelling at the +many voices of the river. Sometimes I thought I heard a roaring +like that of the Sault, but it was only a ripple growing into +fleecy waves that rocked me as in a cradle. The many sounds were +above, below, and beside me, some weird and hollow and unearthly. +I could hear rocks rolling over in their sleep on the bottom, and, +when the water was still, a sound like the cropping of lily-pads +away off on the river-margin. The bellowing of a cow terrified me +as it boomed over the sounding sheet of water. The river rang like +a mighty drum when a peal of far thunder beat upon it. I put out +my hands to take a stroke or two as I lay on my back, and felt +something floating under water. The feel of it filled me with +horror. I swam faster; it was at my heels. I knew full well what +my hand had touched--a human head floating face downward: I could +feel the hair in my fingers. I turned and swam hard, but still it +followed me. My knees hit upon it, and then my feet. Again and +again I could feel it as I kicked. Its hand seemed to be clutching +my trousers. I thought I should never get clear of the ghastly +thing. I remember wondering if it were the body of poor D'ri. I +turned aside, swimming another way, and then I felt it no more. + +In the dead of the night I heard suddenly a kind of throbbing in +the breast of the river. It grew to a noisy heart-beat as I +listened. Again and again I heard it, striking, plashing, like a +footfall, and coming nearer. Somehow I got the notion of a giant, +like those of whom my mother had told me long ago, striding in the +deep river. I could hear his boots dripping as he lifted them. I +got an odd fear that he would step on me. Then I heard music and +lifted my ears above water. It was a voice singing in the +distance,--it must have been a mile off,--and what I had taken for +a near footfall shrank away. I knew now it was the beat of oars in +some far bay. + +A long time after I had ceased to hear it, something touched my +shoulder and put me in a panic. Turning over, I got a big mouthful +of water. Then I saw it was a gang of logs passing me, and quickly +caught one. Now, to me the top side of a log was as easy and +familiar as a rocking-chair. In a moment I was sitting comfortably +on my captive. A bit of rubbish, like that the wind had sown, +trailed after the gang of logs, I felt it over, finding a straw hat +and a piece of board some three feet long, with which latter I +paddled vigorously. + +It must have been long past midnight when I came to an island +looming in the dark ahead. I sculled for it, stranding on a rocky +beach, and alighted, hauling the log ashore. The moon came out as +I stood wringing my trouser legs. I saw the island rose high and +narrow and was thickly wooded. I remember saying something to +myself, when I heard a quick stir in the bushes near me. Looking +up, I saw a tall figure. Then came a familiar voice:-- + +"Thet you, Ray? Judas Priest!" + +I was filled with joy at the sight of D'ri, and put my arms about +him and lifted him off his feet, and, faith! I know my eyes were +wet as my trousers. Then, as we sat down, I told him how I had +taken to the river. + +"Lucky ye done it!" said he. "Jerushy Jane! It is terrible lucky! +They 'd 'a' tuk ye sartin. Somebody see thet jack on the back o' +my hand, there 'n Cornwall, 'n' put 'em efter me. But I was bound +'n' detarmined they 'd never tek me alive, never! Ef I ever dew +any fightin', 't ain't a-goin' t' be fer England, nut by a side o' +sole-leather. I med up my mind I 'd begin the war right then an' +there." + +"That fellow never knew what hit him," I remarked. "He did n't get +up for half a minute." + +"Must 'a' swatted 'im powerful," said D'ri, as he felt his +knuckles. "Gol-dum ther picturs! Go 'n' try t' yank a man right +off a boat like thet air when they hain' no right t' tech 'im. Ef +I 'd 'a' hed Ol' Beeswax, some on 'em 'd 'a' got hurt." + +"How did you get here?" I inquired. + +"Swum," said he. "Could n't go nowheres else. Current fetched me +here. Splits et the head o' the island--boun' ter land ye right +here. Got t' be movin'. They 'll be efter us, mebbe--'s the fust +place they 'd look." + +A few logs were stranded on the stony point of the island. We +withed three others to mine, setting sail with two bits of +driftwood for paddles. We pulled for the south shore, but the +current carried us rapidly down-river. In a bay some two miles +below we found, to our joy, the two sections of the big raft +undergoing repairs. At daybreak D'ri put off in the woods for home. + +"Don't like the idee o' goin' int' the British navy," said he. "'D +ruther chop wood 'n' ketch bears over 'n St. Lawrence County. +Good-by, Ray! Tek care o' yerself." + +Those were the last words he said to me, and soon I was on the raft +again, floating toward the great city of my dreams. I had a mighty +fear the schooner would overhaul us, but saw nothing more of her. +I got new clothes in Montreal, presenting myself in good repair. +They gave me hearty welcome, those good friends of my mother, and I +spent a full year in the college, although, to be frank, I was near +being sent home more than once for fighting and other deviltry. + +It was midsummer when I came back again. I travelled up the river +road, past our island refuge of that dark night; past the sweeping, +low-voiced currents that bore me up; past the scene of our wreck in +the whirlwind; past the great gap in the woods, to stand open God +knows how long. I was glad to turn my face to the south shore, for +in Canada there was now a cold welcome for most Yankees, and my +fists were sore with resenting the bitter taunt. I crossed in a +boat from Iroquois, and D'ri had been waiting for me half a day at +the landing. I was never so glad to see a man--never but once. +Walking home I saw corn growing where the forest had been--acres of +it. + +"D'ri," said I, in amazement, "how did you ever do it? There 's +ten years' work here." + +"God helped us," said he, soberly. "The trees went over 'n the +windfall,--slammed 'em down luk tenpins fer a mild er more,--an' we +jes' burnt up the rubbish." + + + + +IV + +April was near its end. The hills were turning green, albeit we +could see, here and there on the high ledge above us, little +patches of snow--the fading footprints of winter. Day and night we +could hear the wings of the wild fowl roaring in the upper air as +they flew northward. Summer was coming,--the summer of 1812,--and +the war with the British. The President had called for a hundred +thousand volunteers to go into training for battle. He had also +proclaimed there would be no more whipping in the ranks. Then my +father told me that, since I could have no peace at home, I should +be off to the war and done with it. + +We were working near the road that day Thurst Miles came galloping +out of the woods, waving his cap at us. We ran to meet him--my +father and I and the children. He pulled up a moment, his horse +lathered to the ears. + +"Injuns!" he shouted. "Git out o' here quick 'n' mek fer the +Corners! Ye 'll be all massacreed ef ye don't." + +Then he whacked the wet flank of his horse with a worn beech bough, +and off he went. + +We ran to the house in a great panic. I shall never forget the +crying of the children. Indians had long been the favorite bugbear +of the border country. Many a winter's evening we had sat in the +firelight, fear-faced, as my father told of the slaughter in Cherry +Valley; and, with the certainty of war, we all looked for the red +hordes of Canada to come, in paint and feathers. + +"Ray," my father called to me, as he ran, "ketch the cow quick an' +bring 'er 'long." + +I caught her by the horn and brought her to the door quickly. +Mother was throwing some clothes into a big bundle. Father met me +with a feather bed in his arms. He threw it over the back of the +cow and bound it on with a bed-cord. That done, he gave me the +leading-rope to tie about her horns. The hoofs of the flying horse +were hardly out of hearing when we were all in the road. My mother +carried the baby, and my father his sword and rifle and one of the +little ones. I took the three older children and set them on the +feather bed that was bound to the back of the cow. They clung to +the bed-cord, their hair flying, as the old cow ran to keep up with +us, for at first we were all running. In a moment we could hear +the voices of people coming behind. One of the women was weeping +loudly as she ran. At the first cross-road we saw Arv Law and his +family coming, in as great a hurry as we, Arv had a great pike-pole +in his hand. Its upper end rose twenty feet above his head. + +"What ye goin' t' dew with thet?" my father asked him. + +"Goin' t' run it through the fust Injun I see," said he. "I 've +broke the lock o' my gun." + +There was a crowd at Jerusalem Four Corners when we got there. +Every moment some family was arriving in a panic--the men, like my +father, with guns and babies and baskets. The women, with the +young, took refuge at once in the tavern, while the men surrounded +it. Inside the line were youths, some oddly armed with slings or +clubs or cross-guns. I had only the sword my father gave me and a +mighty longing to use it. Arv Law rested an end of his pike-pole +and stood looking anxiously for "red devils" among the stumps of +the farther clearing. An old flint-lock, on the shoulder of a man +beside him, had a barrel half as long as the pole. David Church +was equipped with axe and gun, that stood at rest on either side of +him. + +Evening came, and no sign of Indians. While it was growing dusk I +borrowed a pail of the innkeeper and milked the cow, and brought +the pail, heaped with froth, to my mother, who passed brimming cups +of milk among the children. As night fell, we boys, more daring +than our fathers, crept to the edge of the timber and set the big +brush-heaps afire, and scurried back with the fear of redmen at our +heels. The men were now sitting in easy attitudes and had begun to +talk. + +"Don't b'lieve there's no Injuns comin'," said Bill Foster. "Ef +they wus they 'd come." + +"'Cordin' t' my observation," said Arv Law, looking up at the sky, +"Injuns mos' gen'ally comes when they git ready." + +"An' 't ain't when yer ready t' hev 'em, nuther," said Lon +Butterfield. + +"B'lieve they come up 'n' peeked out o' the bushes 'n' see Arv with +thet air pike-pole, 'n' med up their minds they hed n't better run +up ag'in' it," said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em--thet's whut's th' +matter." + +"Man 'et meks light o' this pole oughter hev t' carry it," said +Arv, as he sat impassively resting it upon his knee. + +"One things sure," said Foster; "ef Arv sh'u'd cuff an Injun with +thet air he 'll squ'sh 'im." + +"Squ'sh 'im!" said Arv, with a look of disgust. "'T ain't med t' +squ'sh with, I cal'late t' p'int it at 'em 'n' jab." + +And so, as the evening wore away and sleep hushed the timid, a +better feeling came over us. I sat by Rose Merriman on the steps, +and we had no thought of Indians. I was looking into her big hazel +eyes, shining in the firelight, and thinking how beautiful she was. +And she, too, was looking into my eyes, while we whispered +together, and the sly minx read my thoughts, I know, by the look of +her. + +Great flames were now leaping high as the timber-tops at the edge +of the clearing. A dead spruce caught fire as we were looking. +The flames threw over it a lacy, shimmering, crackling net of gold. +Then suddenly it burst into a red, leaping tower. A few moments, +and the cavern of the woods, along the timber side, was choked with +fire. The little hamlet had become a spring of light in the +darkness. We could see the stumps and houses far afield, as if it +had been noonday. Suddenly we all jumped to our feet. A wild yell +came echoing through the woods. + +"There they be!" said Asher Eastman, as he cocked his gun. "I tol' +ye so." + +As a matter of fact, he had told us nothing of the kind. He was +the one man who had said nothing. + +Arv Law stood erect, his pike-pole poised in both hands, and we +were all ready for action. We could hear the rattle of many hoofs +on the road. As soon as the column showed in the firelight, Bill +Foster up with his musket and pulled the trigger. I could hear the +shot scatter on stump and stone. Every man had his gun to his eye. + +"Wait till they come nearer," said Asher Eastman. + +The Indians had halted. Far behind them we could hear the wild +hallooing of many voices. In a moment we could see those on +horseback go galloping off in the direction whence they had come. +Back in the house a number of the women were praying. My mother +came out, her face whiter than I had ever seen it before, and +walked to my father, and kissed him without ever saying a word. +Then she went back into the house. + +"Scairt?" I inquired, turning to Rose, who now stood beside me. + +"I should think I was," she whispered. "I 'm all of a tremble." + +"If anything happens, I 'd like something to remember you by." + +"What?" she whispered. + +I looked at her beautiful red lips. She had never let me kiss them. + +"A kiss, if nothing more," I answered. + +She gave me a kiss then that told me something of what was in her +heart, and went away into the house. + +"Goin' t' surround us," said Arv Law--"thet 's whut 's th' matter." + +"Mus' be ready t' rassle 'em any minute," said Asher Eastman, as he +sidled over to a little group. + +A young man came out of the house and took his place in line with a +big squirt-gun and a pail of steaming-hot water. + +The night wore on; our fires burned low. As the approaching day +began to light the clearing, we heard a sound that brought us all +to our feet. A burst of bugle notes went chasing over the +timber-land to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." We looked at one +another in surprise. Then there came a thunder of hoofs in the +distance, the ragged outline of a troop of cavalry. + +"Soldiers!" said Arv, as he raised his pike. + +"The British?" somebody asked. + +"Dunno," said he. "Ain' no Injuns, I don't b'lieve." + +A troop of cavalry was approaching at a gallop. They pulled up a +few rods away and jammed into a big crescent of rearing, trampling +horses. We could see they were American soldiers. We all lowered +our guns. + +"Who are you?" one of them shouted. + +"Citizens," my father answered. + +"Why are you armed?" + +"To fight Injuns." + +A chorus of laughter came from the cavalry. + +They loosed rein, letting their horses advance. + +"My dear man," said one of them, a big shako on his head, "there +ain't an Indian 'tween here an' St. Regis. We thought you were +British, an' it's lucky we did n't charge in the dark; we 'd have +cut you all to pieces before we knew who you were," + +A body of infantry was marching down the pike. They were the +volunteers of Captain Darius Hawkins, on their way to Ogdensburg, +with an escort of cavalry from Sackett's Harbor. The scare was +over. Women came out, laughing and chattering. In a few moments +they were all in the road, going home--men, women, and children. + +I enlisted with Captain Hawkins, and hurried to the house, and +packed my things, and bade them all good-by. + + + + +V + +I followed the camp and took my place in the ranks at Ogdensburg. +We went immediately into barracks--a structure long and low and +weather-stained, overlooking the St. Lawrence. There was a fine +level field in front of it, and a flag waving at the top of a high +staff. The men cheered lustily that afternoon as they passed it, +where stood General Jacob Brown, his cocked hat in his hand--a +splendid figure of a man, My delight in the life of a soldier began +that hour, and has never left me. + +There was a lot of horse-play that night, in which some of the +green boys were roughly handled. They told me, I remember, that +all new recruits had to fight a duel; but when they gave me the +choice of weapons I was well content. I had the sure eye of my +father, and the last time I had fenced with him, there at home, he +said my arm was stronger and quicker than his had ever been. +Indeed, I was no sooner tall enough to swing a sword than he began +teaching me how to use it. In the wood back of the barracks that +night, they learned I was not a man to be fooled with. The tall +sergeant who stood before me saw his sword go flying in the gloom +the second thrust he made at me, and ran for his life, amid roars +of laughter. I had no lack of friends after that day. + +It was a year of surprises in the Northern army, and D'ri was the +greatest of all. That long, wiry, sober-faced Yankee conquered the +smartness of the new camp in one decisive and immortal victory. At +first they were disposed to poke fun at him. + +"Looks a little tired," said the sergeant of the guard. + +"Needs rest--that's what's matter o' him," said the captain. + +"Orter be turned out t' grass a leetle while," the adjutant +suggested. + +The compliments he failed to hear soon came to him indirectly, and +he had much to put up with. He kept his temper and smoked +thoughtfully, and took it ail in good part. The night after he +came they put him on guard duty--a greenhorn, with no knowledge of +any orders but gee and haw. They told him he should allow nobody +to pass him while on duty, but omitted to mention the countersign. +They instructed him in the serious nature of his task, adding that +his failure to comply with orders would incur the penalty of death. +D'ri looked very sober as he listened. No man ever felt a keener +sense of responsibility. They intended, I think, to cross the +lines and take his gun away and have fun with him, but the +countersign would have interfered with their plans. + +D'ri went to his post a little after sundown. The guard was +posted. The sergeant, with his party of six, started back to the +guard-house, but they never got there. They went as far as D'ri. +He stood with his gun raised. + +"Come another step," said he, "an' I'll let the moonlight through +ye." + +They knew he meant it, and they stood still. + +"Come for'ard--one et a time," said D'ri, "Drop yer guns 'n' set +down. Ye look tired." + +They did as he commanded, for they could see he meant business, and +they knew he had the right to kill. + +Another man came along shortly. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" D'ri demanded, + +"Friend with the countersign," he replied. + +"Can't fool me," said D'ri. "Come up here 'n' set down 'n' mek +yerself t' hum. Drop yer gun fust. Drop it, er I 'll drop you." + +He dropped his gun promptly and accepted the invitation to sit +down. This last man had some arguments to offer, but D'ri stood +sternly and made no reply. + +At eleven o'clock Captain Hawkins sent out inquiries for the +sergeant of the guard and his relief. He could find nobody who had +seen them since dark. A corporal was also missing. The captain +sent a man to look for them. He got as far as D'ri and sat down. +They waited for him in vain. The captain stood looking into the +darkness and wondering about his men. He conferred with Adjutant +Church. Then he set out with two men to go the rounds. They got +as far as D'ri. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" he demanded. + +"Grand rounds," was the answer of the captain. + +"Lay down yer arms," said D'ri, "an" come up here 'n' set down." + +"Haven't time," said the captain, failing at first to grasp the +situation. + +"You tek time, er I 'll put a hole 'n yer jacket," said D'ri. + +One of the privates turned quickly and ran. D'ri sent a shot after +him, that only grazed a leg, and he kept on. Then D'ri gave all +attention to his new prisoners. They could see no amusement in +dodging bullets; they threw their arms on the side-hill and sat +down with the others. + +The captain swore as he submitted, + +"Don't rile yerself," said D'ri; "you need rest." + +"No, I don't, nuther," said the captain. + +"Ye'll hev t' hev it, anyway," said D'ri. + +"This beats h--!" the captain answered, with a laugh. + +A feeling of alarm began to spread. The adjutant was standing in a +group of men at headquarters soon after midnight. They were ears +under in the mystery. The escaped soldier came running toward them +out of the dark. He was breathing heavily; his leg was bleeding +and sore. + +"Wall, what is it?" the adjutant demanded. + +"D'ri!" the man gasped, and dropped down exhausted. + +"D'ri?" the officer inquired. + +"D'ri!" the man repeated. "It's thet air man they call D'ri. He's +roped in everybody thet come his way. They 're all settin' on the +hill up there beside him. Won't let a man move when he gits him." + +The adjutant snickered as he spat an oath. He was made of iron, +that man Church. + +"Post a guard around him," said he, turning to an officer. "The +dem fool 'd tek the hull garrison ef we did n't. I 'll go 'n' try +t' pull him off his perch." + +"He 'll lay ye up," said the returned private, baring his bloody +leg. "Eff ye try t' fool with him ye'll limp. See what he done t' +me." + +The adjutant swore again. + +"Go t' the hospital," he commanded. + +Then he strode away, but he did not return that night. + +The moon was shining as the adjutant came, in sight and hailed the +group of prisoners. + +"What ye settin' there fer?" he shouted. + +"You 'll know 'n a minute," said one of them. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" D'ri demanded. + +"Friend with--" + +"Don't ye purten' t' be my friend," D'ri answered. "'T won't work. +Come up here 'n' set down." + +"Stop foolin', man," said the adjutant. + +"I ain't a-foolin'." + +"He ain't a-foolin'; he means business," said one of the prisoners. + +"Don't ye tamper with me. I 'll teach you--" the adjutant +threatened. + +"Ain't a-goin' t' tamper with ye a minute," said D'ri. "If ye +don't set down here quick, I 'll put a hole in ye." + +"Lunatic! wha' d' ye mean?" + +"I mean t' turn ye out t' grass a leetle while," D'ri answered +soberly. "Ye look tired." + +The officer made at him, but in a flash D'ri had knocked him down +with his musket. The adjutant rose and, with an oath, joined the +others. + +"Dunno but he 'll tek the hull garrison 'fore sunrise," he +muttered. "Let 'em come--might es well hev comp'ny." + +A little before daylight a man sick in the hospital explained the +situation. He had given D'ri his orders. They brought him out on +a stretcher. The orders were rescinded, the prisoners released. + +Captain Hawkins, hot to his toes with anger, took D'ri to +headquarters. General Brown laughed heartily when he heard the +facts, and told D'ri he was made of the right stuff. + +"These greenhorns are not nice to play with," he said. "They're +like some guns--loaded when you don't expect it. We 've had enough +skylarking." + +And when the sick man came out of hospital he went to the +guard-house. + +After we had shown our mettle the general always had a good word +for D'ri and me, and he put us to the front in every difficult +enterprise. + + + + +VI + +We had been four months in Ogdensburg, waiting vainly for some +provocation to fight. Our own drilling was the only sign of war we +could see on either side of the river. At first many moved out of +the village, but the mill was kept running, and after a little they +began to come back. The farms on each side of the river looked as +peaceful as they had ever looked. The command had grown rapidly. +Thurst Miles of my own neighborhood had come to enlist shortly +after D'ri and I enlisted, and was now in my company. + +In September, General Brown was ordered to the Western frontier, +and Captain Forsyth came to command us. Early in the morning of +October 2, a man came galloping up the shore with a warning, saying +that the river was black with boats a little way down. Some of us +climbed to the barracks roof, from which we could see and count +them. There were forty, with two gunboats. Cannonading began +before the town was fairly awake. First a big ball went over the +house-tops, hitting a cupola on a church roof and sending bell and +timbers with a crash into somebody's dooryard. Then all over the +village hens began to cackle and children to wail. People came +running out of doors half dressed. A woman, gathering chips in her +dooryard, dropped them, lifted her dress above her head, and ran +for the house. Unable to see her way, she went around in a wide +circle for a minute or two, while the soldiers were laughing. +Another ball hit a big water-tank on top of the lead-works. It +hurled broken staves and a big slop of water upon the housetops, +and rolled a great iron hoop over roofs into the street below, +where it rolled on, chasing a group of men, who ran for their lives +before it. The attack was an odd sort of comedy all through, for +nobody was hurt, and all were frightened save those of us who were +amused. Our cannon gave quick reply, and soon the British stopped +firing and drew near. We knew that they would try to force a +landing, and were ready for them. We drove them back, when they +put off, and that was the end of it. + +Next came the fight on the ice in February--a thing not highly +creditable to us, albeit we were then but a handful and they were +many. But D'ri and I had no cause for shame of our part in it. We +wallowed to our waists in the snow, and it was red enough in front +of us. But the others gave way there on the edge of the river, and +we had to follow. We knew when it was time to run; we were never +in the rear rank even then. We made off with the others, although +a sabre's point had raked me in the temple, and the blood had +frozen on me, and I was a sight to scare a trooper. Everybody ran +that day, and the British took the village, holding it only +twenty-four hours. For our part in it D'ri got the rank of +corporal and I was raised from lieutenant to captain. We made our +way to Sackett's Harbor, where I went into hospital for a month. + +Then came a galling time of idleness. In June we went with General +Brown--D'ri and I and Thurst Miles and Seth Alexander and half a +dozen others--down the river to the scene of our first fighting at +Ogdensburg, camping well back in the woods. It was the evening of +the 27th of June that the general sent for me. He was at the +mansion of Mr. Parish, where he had been dining. He was sitting in +his dress-suit. His dark side-whiskers and hair were brushed +carefully forward. His handsome face turned toward me with a +kindly look. + +"Bell," said he, "I wish to send you on very important business. +You have all the qualities of a good scout. You know the woods. +You have courage and skill and tact. I wish you to start +immediately, go along the river to Morristown, then cut over into +the Black River country and deliver this letter to the Comte de +Chaumont, at the Chateau Le Ray, in Leraysville. If you see any +signs of the enemy, send a report to me at once. I shall be here +three days. Take Alexander, Olin, and Miles with you; they are all +good men. When your letter is delivered, report at the Harbor as +soon as possible." + +I was on the road with my party in half an hour. We were all good +horsemen. D'ri knew the shortest way out of the woods in any part +of the north country. Thurst had travelled the forest from Albany +to Sackett's Harbor, and was the best hunter that ever trod a trail +in my time. The night was dark, but we rode at a gallop until we +had left the town far behind us. We were at Morristown before +midnight, pounding on the door of the Red Tavern. The landlord +stuck his head out of an upper window, peering down at us by the +light of a candle. + +"Everything quiet?" I asked. + +"Everything quiet," said he. "Crossed the river yesterday. Folks +go back 'n' forth 'bout the same as ever. Wife's in Elizabethtown +now, visiting." + +We asked about the west roads and went on our way. Long before +daylight we were climbing the steep road at Rossie to the inn of +the Travellers' Rest--a tavern famous in its time, that stood half +up the hill, with a store, a smithy, and a few houses grouped about +it, We came up at a silent walk on a road cushioned with sawdust. +D'ri rapped on the door until I thought he had roused the whole +village. At last a man came to the upper window. He, too, +inspected us with a candle. Then he opened the door and gave us a +hearty welcome. We put up our horses for a bite, and came into the +bar. + +"Anything new?" I inquired. + +"They say the British are camped this side of the river, north of +us," said he, "with a big tribe of Injuns. Some of their cavalry +came within three miles of us to-day. Everybody scairt t' death." + +He began to set out a row of glasses. + +"What 'll ye hev?" he inquired. + +"Guess I 'll tip a little blue ruin int' me," said D'ri, with a +shiver; "'s a col' night." + +Seth and I called for the same. + +"An' you?" said the landlord, turning to Thurst. + +"Wal," said the latter, as he stroked his thin beard, "when I tuk +the pledge I swore et I hoped t' drop dead 'fore I see myself tek +another drink. I 'm jest goin' t' shet my eyes 'n' hold out my +glass. I don' care what ye gi' me s' long es it's somethin' +powerful." + +We ate crackers and cheese while the landlord was telling of the +west roads and the probable location of the British. He stopped +suddenly, peered over my shoulder, and blew out the candle. We +could hear a horse neighing in the yard. + +"Some one et the window," he whispered. Then he ran to the door +and drew the bolt. "Ain' much idee who 't is," he added, peering +out of the window. "By gosh! more 'n a dozen folks out here, +soldiers tew, most uv 'em on horseback. Come quick." + +We followed him upstairs, in the dark, as they began to pound the +door. From the yard a light flashed up. They were evidently +building a fire so that they would have better shooting if we came +out. + +"May set the house afire," said the landlord. + +He quickly unwound a big hose that ran up to a tank in the peak +above us. + +"Plenty o' water?" D'ri whispered. + +"Rivers uv it," said the landlord. "Tank's connected with the +reservoir o' the lead-works on the hill up there. Big wooden pipe +comes in the gable-end." + +"Turn 'er on," said D'ri, quickly, "an' let me hev thet air hose." + +The landlord ran up a ladder. D'ri stuck the hose out of the +window. The stream shot away with a loud hiss. I stood by and saw +the jet of water leap forth as big as a pikestaff. A man went off +his horse, sprawling as if he had been hit with a club. The jet +leaped quickly from one to another, roaring on man and beast. +There was a mighty scurry. Horses went headlong down the hill, +some dragging their riders. In the silence of the night, bedlam +had broken loose. The shouting men, the plunging horses, the +stream of water roaring on rock and road, woke the village. Men +came running from behind the house to see what had happened, then +rushed after their horses. Some fell cursing as the water hit +them. The landlord put his mouth to my ear. + +"Mek fer yer hosses," he hissed. + +We were below-stairs and out of the door in a jiffy. Two men fled +before us at the stable, scrambled over the fence, and went +tumbling downhill. We bridled our horses with all speed, leaped +upon them, and went rushing down the steep road, our swords in +hand, like an avalanche. They tried to stop us at the foot of the +hill, but fell away as we came near. I could hear the snap of +their triggers in passing. Only one pistol-shot came after us, and +that went high. + +"Guess their ammunition 's a leetle wet," said D'ri, with a shout +that turned into laughter as we left the British behind us. + +A party of four or five mounted and gave chase; but our powder was +a bit drier than theirs, and for a time we raked the road with our +bullets. What befell them I know not, I only know that they held +up and fell out of hearing. + +Crossing a small river at daylight, we took the bed of it, making +our way slowly for half a mile or so into the woods. There we +built a fire, and gave the horses half the feed in our saddle-bags, +and ate our mess on a flat rock. + +"Never hed no sech joemightyful time es thet afore," said D'ri, as +he sat down, laughing, and shook his head. "Jerushy Jane! Did n't +we come down thet air hill! Luk slidin' on a greased pole." + +"Comin' so luk the devil they did n't dast git 'n er way," said +Thurst. + +"We wus all rippin' th' air 'ith them air joemightyful big sabres, +tew," D'ri went on. "Hed a purty middlin' sharp edge on us. Stuck +out luk a haystack right 'n' left." + +He began bringing wood as he sang the chorus of his favorite +ballad:-- + + Li toorul I oorul I oorul I ay, etc. + +Thurst knew a trail that crossed the river near by and met the +Caraway Pike a few miles beyond. Having eaten, I wrote a despatch +to be taken back by Thurst as soon as we reached the pike. Past +ten o'clock we turned into a rough road, where the three of us went +one way and Thurst another. + +I rode slowly, for the horses were nearly fagged. I gave them an +hour's rest when we put up for dinner. Then we pushed on, coming +in sight of the Chateau Le Ray at sundown. A splendid place it +was, the castle of gray stone fronting a fair stretch of wooded +lawn, cut by a brook that went splashing over rocks near by, and +sent its velvet voice through wood and field. A road of fine +gravel led through groves of beech and oak and pine to a grassy +terrace under the castle walls. A servant in livery came to meet +us at the door, and went to call his master. Presently a tall, +handsome man, with black eyes and iron-gray hair and mustache, came +down a path, clapping his hands. + +"Welcome, gentlemen! It is the Captain Bell?" said he, with a +marked accent, as he came to me, his hand extended. "You come from +Monsieur the General Brown, do you not?" + +"I do," said I, handing him my message. + +He broke the seal and read it carefully. + +"I am glad to see you--ver' glad to see you!" said he, laying his +hands upon my shoulders and giving me a little shake. + +Two servants went away with D'ri and Seth and the horses. + +"Come, captain," said my host, as he led the way. "You are in good +time for dinner." + +We entered a great triangular hall, lighted by wide windows above +the door, and candelabra of shining brass that hung from its high +ceiling. There were sliding doors of polished wood on each side of +it. A great stairway filled the point of the triangle. I was +shown to my room, which was as big as a ball-room, it seemed to me, +and grandly furnished; no castle of my dreams had been quite so +fine. The valet of the count looked after me, with offers of new +linen and more things than I could see use for. He could not speak +English, I remember, and I addressed him in the good French my +mother had taught me. + +The kind of life I saw in this grand home was not wholly new to me, +for both my mother and father had known good living in their youth, +and I had heard much of it. I should have been glad of a new +uniform; but after I had had my bath and put on the new shirt and +collar the valet had brought me, I stood before the long pier-glass +and saw no poor figure of a man. + +The great dining-hall of the count was lighted with many candles +when we came in to dinner. It had a big fireplace, where logs were +blazing, for the night had turned cool, and a long table with a big +epergne of wrought silver, filled with roses, in its centre. A +great silken rug lay under the table, on a polished floor, and the +walls were hung with tapestry. I sat beside the count, and +opposite me was the daughter of the Sieur Louis Francois de +Saint-Michel, king's forester under Louis XVI. Therese, the +handsome daughter of the count, sat facing him at the farther end +of the table, and beside her was the young Marquis de Gonvello. M. +Pidgeon, the celebrated French astronomer, Moss Kent, brother of +the since famous chancellor, the Sieur Michel, and the Baroness de +Ferre, with her two wards, the Misses Louise and Louison de +Lambert, were also at dinner. These young ladies were the most +remarkable of the company; their beauty was so brilliant, so +fascinating, it kindled a great fire in me the moment I saw it. +They said little, but seemed to have much interest in all the talk +of the table. I looked at them more than was polite, I am sure, +but they looked at me quite as often. They had big, beautiful +brown eyes, and dark hair fastened high with jewelled pins, and +profiles like those of the fair ladies of Sir Peter Lely, so finely +were they cut. One had a form a bit fuller and stronger than the +other's, but they were both as tall and trim as a young beech, with +lips cherry-red and cheeks where one could see faintly the glow of +their young blood. Their gowns were cut low, showing the graceful +lines of neck and shoulder and full bosom. I had seen pretty +girls, many of them, but few high-bred, beautiful young women. +The moment I saw these two some new and mighty force came into me. +There were wine and wit a-plenty at the count's table, and other +things that were also new to me, and for which I retained perhaps +too great a fondness. + +The count asked me to tell of our journey, and I told the story +with all the spirit I could put into my words. I am happy to say +it did seem to hit the mark, for I was no sooner done with our +adventure than the ladies began to clap their hands, and the Misses +de Lambert had much delight in their faces when the baroness retold +my story in French. + +Dinner over, the count invited me to the smoking-room, where, in a +corner by ourselves, I had some talk with him. He told me of his +father--that he had been a friend of Franklin, that he had given a +ship and a cargo of gunpowder to our navy in '76. Like others I +had met under his roof, the count had seen the coming of the Reign +of Terror in France, and had fled with his great fortune. He had +invested much of it there in the wild country. He loved America, +and had given freely to equip the army for war. He was, therefore, +a man of much influence in the campaign of the North, and no doubt +those in authority there were instructed, while the war was on, to +take special care of his property. + +"And will you please tell me," I said at length, "who are the +Misses de Lambert?" + +"Daughters of a friend in Paris," said the count. "He is a great +physician. He wishes not for them to marry until they are +twenty-one. Mon Dieu! it was a matter of some difficulty. They +were beautiful." + +"Very beautiful!" I echoed. + +"They were admired," he went on. "The young men they began to make +trouble. My friend he send them here, with the baroness, to +study--to finish their education. It is healthy, it is quiet, +and--well, there are no young gentlemen. They go to bed early; +they are up at daylight; they have the horse; they have boats; they +amuse themselves ver' much. But they are impatient; they long for +Paris--the salon, the theatre, the opera. They are like prisoners: +they cannot make themselves to be contented. The baroness she has +her villa on a lake back in the woods, and, mon ame! it is +beautiful there--so still, so cool, so delightful! At present they +have a great fear of the British. They lie awake; they listen; +they expect to be carried off; they hear a sound in the night, and, +mon Dieu! it is the soldiers coming." + +The count laughed, lifting his shoulders with a gesture of both +hands. Then he puffed thoughtfully at his cigarette. + +"Indeed," he went on presently, "I think the invasion is not far +away. They tell me the woods in the north are alive with British +cavalry. I am not able to tell how many, but, Dieu! it is enough. +The army should inform itself immediately. I think it is better +that you penetrate to the river to-morrow, if you are not afraid, +to see what is between, and to return by the woods. I shall +trouble you to take a letter to the General Brown. It will be +ready at any hour." + +"At six?" I inquired. + +"At six, certainly, if you desire to start then," he replied. + +He rose and took my arm affectionately and conducted me to the big +drawing-room. Two of the ladies were singing as one played the +guitar. I looked in vain for the Misses de Lambert. The others +were all there, but they had gone. I felt a singular depression at +their absence and went to my room shortly to get my rest, for I had +to be off early in the morning. Before going to bed, however, I +sat down to think and do some writing. But I could not for the +life of me put away the thought of the young ladies. They looked +alike, and yet I felt sure they were very different. Somehow I +could not recall in what particular they differed. I sat a time +thinking over it. Suddenly I heard low voices, those of women +speaking in French; I could not tell from where they came. + +"I do wish she would die, the hateful thing!" said one. (It must +be understood these words are more violent in English than they +seem in French.) + +"The colonel is severe to-night," said another. + +"The colonel--a fine baroness indeed--vieille tyran! I cannot love +her. Lord! I once tried to love a monkey and had better luck. +The colonel keeps all the men to herself. Whom have I seen for a +year? Dieu! women, grandpapas, greasy guides! Not a young man +since we left Paris." + +"My dear Louison!" said the other, "there are many things better +than men." + +"Au nom de Dieu! But I should like to know what they are. I have +never seen them." + +"But often men are false and evil," said the other, in a sweet, low +voice. + +"Nonsense!" said the first, impatiently. "I had rather elope with +a one-legged hostler than always live in these woods." + +"Louison! You ought to cross yourself and repeat a Hail Mary." + +"Thanks! I have tried prayer. It is n't what I need. I am no nun +like you. My dear sister, don't you ever long for the love of a +man--a big, handsome, hearty fellow who could take you up in his +arms and squeeze the life out of you?" + +"Eh bien," said the other, with a sigh, "I suppose it is very nice. +I do not dare to think of it." + +"Nice! It is heaven, Louise! And to see a man like that and not +be permitted to--to speak to him! Think of it! A young and +handsome man--the first I have seen for a year! Honestly I could +poison the colonel." + +"My dear, it is the count as much as the colonel. She is under his +orders, and he has an eagle eye." + +"The old monkey! He enrages me! I could rend him limb from limb!" + +I could not help hearing what they said, but I did not think it +quite fair to share their confidence any further, so I went to one +of the windows and closed a shutter noisily. The voices must have +come from a little balcony just under my room. + +"My dear sister, you are very terrible," said one of them, and then +the shutter came to, and I heard no more. + +A full moon lighted the darkness. A little lake gleamed like +silver between the tree-tops. Worn out with hard travel, I fell +into bed shortly, and lay a long time thinking of those young +ladies, of the past, of to-morrow and its perils, and of the +farther future. A new life had begun for me. + + + + +VII + +The sun was lifting above the tree-tops when the count's valet +called me that morning at the Chateau Le Ray. Robins were calling +under my windows, and the groves rang with tournaments of happy +song. Of that dinner-party only the count was at breakfast with +me. We ate hurriedly, and when we had risen the horses were at the +door. As to my own, a tall chestnut thoroughbred that Mr. Parish +had brought over from England, I never saw him in finer fettle. I +started Seth by Caraway Pike for Ogdensburg with the count's +message. + +Mine host laid hold of my elbow and gave it a good shake as I left +him, with D'ri, taking a trail that led north by west in the deep +woods. They had stuffed our saddle-bags with a plenty for man and +horse. + +I could not be done thinking of the young ladies. It put my heart +in a flutter when I looked back at the castle from the wood's edge +and saw one of them waving her handkerchief in a window. I lifted +my hat, and put my spurs to the flank with such a pang in me I +dared not look again. Save for that one thing, I never felt +better. The trail was smooth, and we galloped along in silence for +a mile or so. Then it narrowed to a stony path, where one had +enough to do with slow going to take care of his head, there were +so many boughs in the way. + +"Jerushy Jane!" exclaimed D'ri, as he slowed down. "Thet air's a +gran' place. Never hed my karkiss in no sech bed as they gin me +las' night--softer 'n wind, an' hed springs on like them new wagins +ye see over 'n Vermont. Jerushy! Dreamed I was flyin'." + +I had been thinking of what to do if we met the enemy and were hard +pressed. We discussed it freely, and made up our minds that if +there came any great peril of capture we would separate, each to +take his own way out of the difficulty. + +We halted by a small brook at midday, feeding the horses and +ourselves out of the saddle-bags. + +"Ain't jest eggzac'ly used t' this kind uv a sickle," said D'ri, as +he felt the edge of his sabre, "but I 'll be dummed ef it don't +seem es ef I 'd orter be ruther dang'rous with thet air 'n my hand." + +He knew a little about rough fighting with a sabre. He had seen my +father and me go at each other hammer and tongs there in our +door-yard every day of good weather. Stormy days he had always +stood by in the kitchen, roaring with laughter, as the good steel +rang and the house trembled. He had been slow to come to it, but +had had his try with us, and had learned to take an attack without +flinching. I went at him hard for a final lesson that day in the +woods--a great folly, I was soon to know. We got warm and made +more noise than I had any thought of. My horse took alarm and +pulled away, running into a thicket. I turned to catch him. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri. + +There, within ten feet of us, I saw what made me, ever after, a +more prudent man. It was an English officer leaning on his sword, +a tall and handsome fellow of some forty years, in shiny top-hoots +and scarlet blouse and gauntlets of brown kid. + +"You are quite clever," said he, touching his gray mustache. + +I made no answer, but stood pulling myself together. + +"You will learn," he added, smiling, with a tone of encouragement. +"Let me show you a trick." + +He was most polite in his manner, like a play-hero, and came toward +me as he spoke. Then I saw four other Britishers coming out to +close in upon us from behind trees. + +He came at me quickly, and I met him. He seemed to think it would +be no trick to unhand my weapon. Like a flash, with a whip of his +sabre, he tried to wrench it away. D'ri had begun to shoot, +dodging between trees, and a redcoat had tumbled over. I bore in +upon my man, but he came back at me with surprising vigor. On my +word, he was the quickest swordsman I ever had the honor of facing. + +But he had a mean way of saying "Ha!" as he turned my point. He +soon angered me, whereupon I lost a bit of caution, with some +blood, for he was at me like a flash, and grazed me on the hip +before I could get my head again. It was no parlor play, I can +tell you. We were fighting for life, and both knew it. We fought +up and down through brakes and bushes and over stones--a perilous +footing. I could feel his hand weakening. I put all my speed to +the steel then, knowing well that, barring accident, I should win. +I could hear somebody coming up behind me. + +"Keep away there," my adversary shouted, with a fairness I admire +when I think of it. "I can handle him. Get the other fellow." + +I went at him to make an end of it. + +"I'll make you squint, you young cub," he hissed, lunging at me. + +He ripped my blouse at the shoulder, and, gods of war! we made the +sparks fly. Then he went down, wriggling; I had caught him in the +side, poor fellow! Like a flash I was off in a thicket. One of +the enemy got out of my way and sent a bullet after me. I could +feel it rip and sting in the muscle as it rubbed my ribs. I kept +foot and made for my horse. He had caught his reins, and I was on +him and off in the bush, between bullets that came ripping the +leaves about me, before they could give chase. + +Drums were beating the call to arms somewhere. I struck the trail +in a minute, and, leaning low in the saddle, went bounding over +logs and rocks and down a steep hillside as if the devil were after +me. I looked back, and was nearly raked off by a bough. I could +hear horses coming in the trail behind with quick and heavy jumps. +But I was up to rough riding and had little fear they would get a +sight of me. However, crossing a long stretch of burnt timber, +they must have seen me. I heard a crack of pistols far behind; a +whiz of bullets over my head. I shook out the reins and let the +horse go, urging with cluck and spur, never slacking for rock or +hill or swale. It was a wilder ride than any I have known since or +shall again, I can promise you, for, God knows, I have been hurt +too often. Fast riding over a new trail is leaping in the dark and +worse than treason to one's self. Add to it a saddle wet with your +own blood, then you have something to give you a turn of the +stomach thinking of it. + +When I was near tumbling with a kind of rib-ache and could hear no +pursuer, I pulled up. There was silence about me, save the sound +of a light breeze in the tree-tops. I rolled off my horse, and +hooked my elbow in the reins, and lay on my belly, grunting with +pain. I felt better, having got my breath, and a rod of beech to +bite upon--a good thing if one has been badly stung and has a +journey to make. In five minutes I was up and off at a slow jog, +for I knew I was near safety. + +I thought much of poor D'ri and how he might be faring. The last I +had seen of him, he was making good use of pistol and legs, running +from tree to tree. He was a dead shot, little given to wasting +lead. The drums were what worried me, for they indicated a big +camp, and unless he got to the stirrups in short order, he must +have been taken by overwhelming odds. It was near sundown when I +came to a brook and falls I could not remember passing. I looked +about me. Somewhere I had gone off the old trail--everything was +new to me. It widened, as I rode on, up a steep hill. Where the +tree-tops opened, the hill was covered with mossy turf, and there +were fragrant ferns on each side of me. The ground was clear of +brush and dead timber. Suddenly I heard a voice singing--a sweet +girl voice that thrilled me, I do not know why, save that I always +longed for the touch of a woman if badly hurt. But then I have +felt that way having the pain of neither lead nor steel. The voice +rang in the silent woods, but I could see no one nor any sign of +human habitation. Shortly I came out upon a smooth roadway +carpeted with sawdust. It led through a grove, and following it, I +came suddenly upon a big green mansion among the trees, with Doric +pillars and a great portico where hammocks hung with soft cushions +in them, and easy-chairs of old mahogany stood empty. I have said +as little as possible of my aching wound: I have always thought it +bad enough for one to suffer his own pain. But I must say I was +never so tried to keep my head above me as when I came to that +door. Two figures in white came out to meet me. At first I did +not observe--I had enough to do keeping my eyes open--that they +were the Mlles. de Lambert. + +"God save us!" I heard one of them say. "He is hurt; he is pale. +See the blood running off his boot-leg." + +Then, as one took the bit, the other eased me down from my saddle, +calling loudly for help. She took her handkerchief--that had a +perfume I have not yet forgotten--as she supported me, and wiped +the sweat and dust from my face. Then I saw they were the splendid +young ladies I had seen at the count's table. The discovery put +new life in me; it was like a dash of water in the face. I lifted +my hat and bowed to them. + +"Ladies, my thanks to you," I said in as good French as I knew. "I +have been shot. May I ask you to send for a doctor?" + +A butler ran down the steps; a gardener and a stable-boy hurried +out of the grove. + +"To the big room--the Louis-Quinze," said one of the girls, +excitedly, as the men came to my help. + +The fat butler went puffing upstairs, and they followed, on each +side of me. + +"Go for a doctor, quick," said one of them to the gardener, who was +coming behind--a Frenchman who prayed to a saint as he saw my blood. + +They led me across a great green rug in a large hall above-stairs +to a chamber of which I saw little then save its size and the +wealth of its appointments. The young ladies set me down, bidding +one to take off my boots, and sending another for hot water. They +asked me where I was hurt. Then they took off my blouse and +waistcoat. + +"Mon Dieu!" said one to the other. "What can we do? Shall we cut +the shirt?" + +"Certainly. Cut the shirt," said the other. "We must help him. +We cannot let him die." + +"God forbid!" was the answer. "See the blood. Poor fellow! It is +terrible!" + +They spoke very tenderly as they cut my shirt with scissors, and +bared my back, and washed my wound with warm water. I never felt a +touch so caressing as that of their light fingers, but, gods of +war! it did hurt me. The bathing done, they bound me big with +bandages and left the room until the butler had helped me into bed. +They came soon with spirits and bathed my face and hands. One +leaned over me, whispering, and asking what I would like to eat. +Directly a team of horses came prancing to the door. + +"The colonel!" one of them whispered, listening. + +"The colonel, upon my soul!" said the other, that sprightly +Louison, as she tiptoed to the window. They used to call her +"Tiptoes" at the Hermitage. + +The colonel! I remembered she was none other than the Baroness de +Ferre; and thinking of her and of the grateful feeling of the +sheets of soft linen, I fell asleep. + + + + +VIII + +The doctor came that night, and took out of my back a piece of +flattened lead. It had gone under the flesh, quite half round my +body, next to the ribs, without doing worse than to rake the bone +here and there and weaken me with a loss of blood. I woke awhile +before he came. The baroness and the fat butler were sitting +beside me. She was a big, stout woman of some forty years, with +dark hair and gray eyes, and teeth of remarkable whiteness and +symmetry. That evening, I remember, she was in full dress. + +"My poor boy!" said she, in English and in a sympathetic tone, as +she bent over me. + +Indeed, my own mother could not have been kinder than that good +woman. She was one that had a heart and a hand for the sick-room. +I told her how I had been hurt and of my ride. She heard me +through with a glow in her eyes. + +"What a story!" said she. "What a daredevil! I do not see how it +has been possible for you to live." + +She spoke to me always in English of quaint wording and quainter +accent. She seemed not to know that I could speak French. + +An impressive French tutor--a fine old fellow, obsequious and +bald-headed--sat by me all night to give me medicine. In the +morning I felt as if I had a new heart in me, and was planning to +mount my horse. I thought I ought to go on about my business, but +I fear I thought more of the young ladies and the possibility of my +seeing them again. The baroness came in after I had a bite to eat. +I told her I felt able to ride, + +"You are not able, my child. You cannot ride the horse now," said +she, feeling my brow; "maybe not for a ver' long time. I have a +large house, plenty servant, plenty food. Parbleu! be content. We +shall take good care of you. If there is one message to go to your +chief, you know I shall send it." + +I wrote a brief report of my adventure with the British, locating +the scene as carefully as might be, and she sent it by mounted +messenger to "the Burg." + +"The young ladies they wish to see you," said the baroness. "They +are kind-hearted; they would like to do what they can. But I tell +them no; they will make you to be very tired." + +"On the contrary, it will rest me. Let them come," I said. + +"But I warn you," said she, lifting her finger as she left the +room, "do not fall in love. They are full of mischief. They do +not study. They do not care. You know they make much fun all day." + +The young ladies came in presently. They wore gray gowns admirably +fitted to their fine figures. They brought big bouquets and set +them, with a handsome courtesy, on the table beside me. They took +chairs and sat solemn-faced, without a word, as if it were a Quaker +meeting they had come to. I never saw better models of sympathetic +propriety. I was about to speak. One of them shook her head, a +finger on her lips. + +"Do not say one word," she said solemnly in English. "It will make +you ver' sick." + +It was the first effort of either of them to address me in English. +As I soon knew, the warning had exhausted her vocabulary. The +baroness went below in a moment. Then the one who had spoken came +over and sat near me, smiling. + +"She does not know you can speak French," said she, whispering and +addressing me in her native tongue, as the other tiptoed to the +door. "On your life, do not let her know. She will never permit +us to see you. She will keep us under lock and key. She knows we +cannot speak English, so she thinks we cannot talk with you. It is +a great lark. Are you better?" + +What was I to do under orders from such authority? As they bade +me, I hope you will say, for that is what I did. I had no easy +conscience about it, I must own. Day after day I took my part in +the little comedy. They came in Quaker-faced if the baroness were +at hand, never speaking, except to her, until she had gone. +Then--well, such animation, such wit, such bright eyes, such +brilliancy, I have never seen or heard. + +My wound was healing. War and stern duty were as things of the far +past. The grand passion had hold of me. I tried to fight it down, +to shake it off, but somehow it had the claws of a tiger. There +was an odd thing about it all: I could not for the life of me tell +which of the two charming girls I loved the better. It may seem +incredible; I could not understand it myself. They looked alike, +and yet they were quite different. Louison was a year older and of +stouter build. She had more animation also, and always a quicker +and perhaps a brighter answer. The other had a face more serious, +albeit no less beautiful, and a slower tongue. She had little to +say, but her silence had much in it to admire, and, indeed, to +remember. They appealed to different men in me with equal force, I +did not then know why. A perplexing problem it was, and I had to +think and suffer much before I saw the end of it, and really came +to know what love is and what it is not. + +[Illustration: "I could not for the life of me tell which of the +two charming girls I loved the better."] + +Shortly I was near the end of this delightful season of illness. I +had been out of bed a week. The baroness had read to me every day, +and had been so kind that I felt a great shame for my part in our +deception. Every afternoon she was off in a boat or in her +caleche, and had promised to take me with her as soon as I was able +to go. + +"You know," said she, "I am going to make you to stay here a full +month. I have the consent of the general." + +I had begun to move about a little and enjoy the splendor of that +forest home. There were, indeed, many rare and priceless things in +it that came out of her chateau in France. She had some curious +old clocks, tokens of ancestral taste and friendship. There was +one her grandfather had got from the land of Louis XIV.--_Le Grand +Monarque_, of whom my mother had begun to tell me as soon as I +could hear with understanding. Another came from the bedchamber of +Philip II of Spain--a grand high clock that had tolled the hours in +that great hall beyond my door. A little thing, in a case of +carved ivory, that ticked on a table near my bed, Moliere had given +to one of her ancestors, and there were many others of equal +interest. + +Her walls were adorned with art treasures of the value of which I +had little appreciation those days. But I remember there were +canvases of Correggio and Rembrandt and Sir Joshua Reynolds. She +was, indeed, a woman of fine taste, who had brought her best to +America; for no one had a doubt, in the time of which I am writing, +that the settlement of the Compagnie de New York would grow into a +great colony, with towns and cities and fine roadways, and the full +complement of high living. She had built the Hermitage,--that was +the name of the mansion,--fine and splendid as it was, for a mere +temporary shelter pending the arrival of those better days. + +She had a curious fad, this hermit baroness of the big woods. She +loved nature and was a naturalist of no poor attainments. Wasps +and hornets were the special study of this remarkable woman. There +were at least a score of their nests on her front portico--big and +little, and some of them oddly shaped. She hunted them in wood and +field. When she found a nest she had it moved carefully after +nightfall, under a bit of netting, and fastened somewhere about the +gables. Around the Hermitage there were many withered boughs and +briers holding cones of wrought fibre, each a citadel of these +uniformed soldiers of the air and the poisoned arrow. They were +assembled in colonies of yellow, white, blue, and black wasps, and +white-faced hornets. She had no fear of them, and, indeed, no one +of the household was ever stung to my knowledge. I have seen her +stand in front of her door and feed them out of a saucer. There +were special favorites that would light upon her palm, overrunning +its pink hollow and gorging at the honey-drop. + +"They will never sting," she would say, "if one does not declare +the war. To strike, to make any quick motion, it gives them anger. +Then, mon cher ami! it is terrible. They cause you to burn, to +ache, to make a great noise, and even to lie down upon the ground. +If people come to see me, if I get a new servant, I say: 'Make to +them no attention, and they will not harm you.'" + +In the house I have seen her catch one by the wings on a window +and, holding it carefully ask me to watch her captive--sometimes a +a great daredevil hornet, lion-maned--as he lay stabbing with his +poison-dagger. + +"Now," said she, "he is angry; he will remember. If I release him +he will sting me when I come near him again. So I do not permit +him to live--I kill him." + +Then she would impale him and invite me to look at him with the +microscope. + +One day the baroness went away to town with the young ladies. I +was quite alone with the servants. Father Joulin of the chateau +came over and sat awhile with me, and told me how he had escaped +the Parisian mob, a night in the Reign of Terror. Late in the +afternoon I walked awhile in the grove with him. When he left I +went slowly down the trail over which I had ridden. My strength +was coming fast. I felt like an idle man, shirking the saddle, +when I should be serving my country. I must to my horse and make +an end to dallying. With thoughts like these for company, I went +farther than I intended. Returning over the bushy trail I came +suddenly upon--Louison! She was neatly gowned in pink and white. + +"Le diable!" said she. "You surprise me. I thought you went +another way." + +"Or you would not have taken this one," I said. + +"Of course not," said she. "One does not wish to find men if she +is hunting for--for--" she hesitated a moment, blushing--"mon Dieu! +for bears," she added. + +I thought then, as her beautiful eyes looked up at me smiling, that +she was incomparable, that I loved her above all others--I felt +sure of it. + +"And why do you hunt bears?" I inquired. + +"I do not know. I think it is because they are so--so beautiful, +so amiable!" she answered. + +"And such good companions." + +"Yes; they never embarrass you," she went on. "You never feel at +loss for a word." + +"I fear you do not know bears." + +"Dieu! better than men. Voila!" she exclaimed, touching me with +the end of her parasol. "You are not so terrible. I do not think +you would bite." + +"No; I have never bitten anything but--but bread and doughnuts, or +something of that sort." + +"Come, I desire to intimidate you. Won't you please be afraid of +me? Indeed, I can be very terrible. See! I have sharp teeth." + + +She turned with a playful growl, and parting her crimson lips, +showed them to me--white and shapely, and as even as if they had +been wrought of ivory. She knew they were beautiful, the vixen. + +"You terrify me. I have a mind to run," I said, backing off, + +"Please do not run," she answered quickly. "I should be afraid +that--that--" + +She hesitated a moment, stirring the moss with one dainty foot. + +"That you might not return," she added, smiling as she looked up at +me. + +"Then--then perhaps it will do as well if I climb a tree." + +"No, no; I wish to talk with you." + +"Ma'm'selle, you honor me," I said. + +"And dishonor myself, I presume, with so much boldness," she went +on. "It is only that I have something to say; and you know when a +woman has something to--to say--" + +"It is a fool that does not listen if she be as fair as you," I put +in. + +"You are--well, I shall not say what I think of you, for fear--for +fear of giving offence," said she, blushing as she spoke. "Do you +like the life of a soldier?" + +"Very much, and especially when I am wounded, with such excellent +care and company." + +"But your side--it was so horribly torn. I did feel very +sorry--indeed I did. You will go again to the war?" + +"Unless--unless--Ah, yes, ma'm'selle, I shall go again to the war," +I stammered, going to the brink of confession, only to back away +from it, as the blood came hot to my cheeks. + +She broke a tiny bough and began stripping its leaves. + +"Tell me, do you love the baroness?" she inquired as she whipped a +swaying bush of brier. + +The question amazed me. I laughed nervously. + +"I respect, I admire the good woman--she would make an excellent +mother," was my answer. + +"Well spoken!" she said, clapping her hands. "I thought you were a +fool. I did not know whether you were to blame or--or the Creator." + +"Or the baroness," I added, laughing. + +"Well," said she, with a pretty shrug, "is there not a man for +every woman? The baroness she thinks she is irresistible. She has +money. She would like to buy you for a plaything--to marry you. +But I say beware. She is more terrible than the keeper of the +Bastile. And you--you are too young!" + +"My dear girl," said I, in a voice of pleading, "it is terrible. +Save me! Save me, I pray you!" + +"Pooh! I do not care!"--with a gesture of indifference, "I am +trying to save myself, that is all." + +"From what?" + +"Another relative. Parbleu! I have enough." She stamped her foot +impatiently as she spoke. "I should be very terrible to you. I +should say the meanest things. I should call you grandpapa and +give you a new cane every Christmas." + +"And if you gave me also a smile, I should be content." + +More than once I was near declaring myself that day, but I had a +mighty fear she was playing with me, and held my tongue. There was +an odd light in her eyes. I knew not, then, what it meant. + +"You are easily satisfied," was her answer. + +"I am to leave soon," I said. "May I not see you here to-morrow?" + +"Alas! I do not think you can," was her answer. + +"And why not?" + +"Because it would not be proper," said she, smiling as she looked +up at me. + +"Not proper! I should like to know why." + +"It would make me break another engagement," she went on, laughing. +"I am to go with the baroness to meet the count if he comes--she +has commanded. The day after, in the morning, at ten o'clock, by +the cascade--will that do? Good! I must leave you now. I must +not return with you. Remember!" she commanded, pointing at me with +her tapered forefinger. "Remember--ten o'clock in the morning." + +Then she took a bypath and went out of sight. I returned to the +mansion as deep in love as a man could be. I went to dinner with +the rest that evening. Louison came in after we were all seated. + +"You are late, my dear," said the baroness. + +"Yes; I went away walking and lost something, and was not able to +find it again." + + + + +IX + +Next morning the baroness went away in her glittering caleche with +Louison. Each shining spoke and golden turret flashed the sunlight +back at me as I looked after them at the edge of the wood. The +baroness had asked me to go with her, but I thought the journey too +long. Louise came out and sat by me awhile as I lay in the +hammock. She was all in white. A trifle taller and a bit more +slender than her sister, I have sometimes thought her beauty was +statelier, also, and more statuesque. The sight of her seemed to +kindle in me the spirit of old chivalry. I would have fought and +died for her with my best lance and plume. In all my life I had +not seen a woman of sweeter graces of speech and manner, and, in +truth, I have met some of the best born of her sex. + +She had callers presently--the Sieur Michel and his daughter. I +went away, then, for a walk, and, after a time, strolled into the +north trail. Crossing a mossy glade, in a circle of fragrant +cedar, I sat down to rest. The sound of falling water came to my +ear through thickets of hazel and shadberry. Suddenly I heard a +sweet voice singing a love-song of Provence--the same voice, the +same song, I had heard the day I came half fainting on my horse. +Somebody was coming near. In a moment I saw Louise before me. + +"What, ma'm'selle!" I said; "alone in the woods!" + +"Not so," said she. "I knew you were here--somewhere, +and--and--well, I thought you might be lonely." + +"You are a good angel," I said, "always trying to make others +happy." + +"Eh bien," said she, sitting beside me, "I was lonely myself. I +cannot read or study. I have neglected my lessons; I have insulted +the tutor--threw my book at him, and walked away, for he sputtered +at me. I do not know what is the matter. I know I am very wicked. +Perhaps--ah me! perhaps it is the devil." + +"Ma'm'selle, it is appalling!" I said. "You may have injured the +poor man. You must be very bad. Let me see your palm." + +I held her dainty fingers in mine, that were still hard and brown, +peering into the pink hollow of her hand. She looked up curiously. + +"A quick temper and a heart of gold," I said. "If the devil has +it, he is lucky, and--well, I should like to be in his confidence." + +"Ah, m'sieur," said she, seriously, a little tremor on her lips, "I +have much trouble--you do not know. I have to fight with myself." + +"You have, then, a formidable enemy," I answered. + +"But I am not quarrelsome," said she, thoughtfully. "I am only +weary of the life here. I should like to go away and be of some +use in the world. I suppose it is wicked, for my papa wishes me to +stay. And bah! it is a prison--a Hopital de Salpetriere!" + +"Ma'm'selle," I exclaimed, "if you talk like that I shall take you +on my horse and fly with you. I shall come as your knight, as your +deliverer, some day." + +"Alas!" said she, with a sigh, "you would find me very heavy. One +has nothing to do here but grow lazy and--ciel!--fat." + +If my meeting with her sister had not made it impossible and +absurd, I should have offered my heart to this fair young lady then +and there. Now I could not make it seem the part of honor and +decency. I could not help adoring her simplicity, her frankness, +her beautiful form and face. + +"It is no prison for me," I said. "I do not long for deliverance. +I cannot tell you how happy I have been to stay--how unhappy I +shall be to leave." + +"Captain," she said quickly, "you are not strong; you are no +soldier yet." + +"Yes; I must be off to the wars." + +"And that suggests an idea," said she, thoughtfully, her chin upon +her hand. + +"Which is?" + +"That my wealth is ill-fortune," she went on, with a sigh. "Men +and women are fighting and toiling and bleeding and dying to make +the world better, and I--I am just a lady, fussing, primping, +peering into a looking-glass! I should like to do something, but +they think I am too good--too holy." + +"But it is a hard business--the labors and quarrels of the great +world," I suggested. + +"Well--it is God's business," she continued. "And am I not one of +his children, and 'wist ye not that I must be about my Father's +business?' It was not too good for the man who said that." + +"But what would you do?" + +"I do not know. I suppose I can do nothing because--alas! because +my father has bought my obedience with a million francs. Do you +not see that I am in bondage?" + +"Be patient; the life of a rich demoiselle is not barren of +opportunity." + +"To be gay--oh! one might as well be a peacock; to say pretty +things, one might better be a well-trained parrot; to grace the +court or the salon, I had as soon be a statue in the corner--it has +more comfort, more security; to be admired, to hear fine +compliments--well, you know that is the part of a pet poodle. I +say, captain, to be happy one must be free to do." + +I looked into her big eyes, that were full of their new discovery. + +"I should like to be among the wounded soldiers," said she, her +face brightening. "It did make me very happy to sit by your +bedside and do for you." + +There was a very tender look in her eyes then. + +She started to rise. A brier, stirring in the breeze, had fallen +across her hair. She let me loose the thorns, and, doing so, I +kissed her forehead--I could not help it. + +"M'sieur!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Then she turned quickly +away and stood tearing a leaf in her fingers. + +"Forgive me!" I pleaded, for I saw she was crying. "It was the +impulse of a moment. Pray forgive me!" + +She stood motionless and made no answer, I never felt such a stir +in me, for I had a fear, a terrible fear, that I had lost what I +might never have again. + +"It was honorable admiration," I continued, rising to my full +height beside her. "Tell me, ma'm'selle, have I hurt you?" + +"No," said she, in a voice that trembled. "I am thinking--I am +thinking of somebody else." + +The words, spoken so slowly, so sweetly, seemed, nevertheless, to +fly at me. "Of somebody else!" Whom could she mean? Had her +sister told her? Did she know of my meeting with Louison? I was +about to confess how deeply, how tenderly, I loved her. I had +spoken the first word when this thought flashed upon me, and I +halted. I could not go on. + +"Ma'm'selle," I said, "I--I--if it is I of whom you are thinking, +give me only your pity, and I can be content. Sometime, perhaps, I +may deserve more. If I can be of any service to you, send for +me--command me. You shall see I am not ungrateful. Ah, +ma'm'selle," I continued, as I stood to my full height, and felt a +mighty uplift in my heart that seemed to toss the words out of me, +"I have a strong arm and a good sword, and the love of honor and +fair women." + +She wiped her eyes, and turned and looked up at me. I was no +longer a sick soldier. + +"It is like a beautiful story," she said thoughtfully; "and +you--you are like a knight of old. We must go home. It is long +past luncheon hour. We must hurry." + +She gave me her arm up the hill, and we walked without speaking. + +"I am very well to-day," I remarked as we came to the road. "If +you will wait here until I get to the big birch, I shall go around +to see if I can beat you to the door." + +"It is not necessary," said she, smiling, "and--and, m'sieur, I am +not ashamed of you or of what I have done." + +The baroness and Louison had not yet returned. M. Pidgeon was at +luncheon with us in the big dining room, and had much to say of the +mighty Napoleon and the coalition he was then fighting. + +The great monsieur stayed through the afternoon, as the baroness +had planned a big houseparty for the night, in celebration of the +count's return. My best clothes had come by messenger from the +Harbor, and I could put myself in good fettle. The baroness and +the count and Louison came early, and we sat long together under +the trees. + +The dinner was at seven. There were more than a dozen guests, +among whom were a number I had seen at the chateau--Mr. David +Parish of Ogdensburg, who arrived late in a big, two-wheeled cart +drawn by four horses that came galloping to the door, and General +Wilkinson, our new commander in the North, a stout, smooth-faced +man, who came with Mr. Parish in citizen's dress. + +At dinner the count had much to say of scenes of excitement in +Albany, where he had lately been. The baroness and her wards were +resplendent in old lace and sparkling jewels. Great haunches of +venison were served from a long sideboard; there was a free flow of +old Madeira and Burgundy and champagne and cognac. Mr. Parish and +the count and the general and Moss Kent and M. Pidgeon sat long at +the table, with cigars and coffee, after the rest of us had gone to +the parlors, and the big room rang with their laughter. The young +Marquis de Gonvello and Mr. Marc Isambert Brunel of the Compagnie, +who, afterward founded the great machine-shops of the Royal Navy +Yard at Portsmouth and became engineer of the Thames tunnel, and +Pierre Chassinis, Jr., and I waltzed with the ladies. Presently I +sat down near the baroness, who was talking in French with Therese +Le Ray, the count's daughter. + +"Pardon my using French," said the baroness, turning to me, "for I +believe you do not use it, and, my friend, it is a misfortune, for +you miss knowing what good company is the Ma'm'selle Le Ray." + +"And I miss much pleasure and mayhap a duel with the marquis," I +said, laughing; "but I beg you to proceed with your talk. I have +learned many words since I came here, and I love the sound of it." + +"We saw British soldiers to-day," she continued to Ma'm'selle Le +Ray, in French. "They crossed the road near us on their horses." + +Louison came over and sat by them. + +"They were not in uniform," the baroness continued, "but I knew +they were English; you cannot mistake them." + +"And what do you think ?" said Louison, eagerly. "One of them +threatened to kiss me." + +"Indeed, that was terrible," said Ma'm'selle Le Ray. "You must +have been afraid." + +"Yes," said she, smiling, "afraid he wouldn't. They were a +good-looking lot." + +"I do not think he was speaking of you at all," said the baroness. +"He was looking at me when--" + +"Ciel!" exclaimed Louison, laughing. "That is why they turned +suddenly and fled into the fields." + +I fled, too,--perhaps as suddenly as the Britishers,--to save +myself the disgrace of laughter. + +The great clock in the hall above-stairs tolled the hour of two. +The ladies had all gone to bed save the baroness. The butler had +started upstairs, a candelabrum in his hand. Following him were +the count and Mr. Parish, supporting the general between them. The +able soldier had overrated his capacity. All had risen to go to +their rooms. Of a sudden we were startled by a loud rap on the +front door. A servant opened it, and immediately I heard the +familiar voice of D'ri. + +"Is they anybody here by the name o' Mister Bell?" he asked. + +I ran to the door, and there stood D'ri, his clothes wet, his boots +muddy, for it had been raining. Before he could speak I had my +arms around him, and he sank to his knees in my embrace. He was +breathing heavily. + +"Tired out--thet's whut's the matter," he muttered, leaning over on +one hand. "Come through the woods t' save yer life, I did, an' +they was tight up t' me all the way." + +"Poor fellow!" said the baroness, who stood at the door. "Help him +in at once and give him a sip of brandy." + +"Tuk me prisoner over there 'n the woods thet day," said he, +sinking into a chair and leaning forward, his head on his hands. +"They tuk 'n' they toted me over t' Canady, an' I tuk 'n' got away, +'n' they efter me. Killed one on 'em thet was chasin' uv me over +'n the Beaver medders on the bog trail. Hoss got t' wallerin' so +he hed t' come down. Riz up out o' the grass 'n' ketched holt uv +'im 'fore he c'u'd pull a weepon. Tuk this out uv his pocket, an' +I tried to git the boss out o' the mire, but didn't hev time." + +He sat erect and proudly handed me a sheet of paper. I opened it, +and read as follows:-- + + +"To CAPTAIN ELIAS WILKINS, _Royal Fusiliers_. + +"_My dear Captain_: You will proceed at once across the river with +a detail of five men mounted and three days' rations, and, if +possible, capture the prisoner who escaped early this morning, +making a thorough search of the woods in Jefferson County. He has +information of value to the enemy, and I regard his death or +capture of high and immediate importance. I am informed that the +young desperado who murdered my Lord of Pickford in the forest +below Clayton June 29, escaping, although badly wounded, is lying +at the country-seat of the Baroness de Ferre, a Frenchwoman, at +Leraysville, Jefferson County, New York. It would gratify me if +you could accomplish one or both captures. With respect, I am, + + "Your Obedient Servant, + "R. SHEAFFER, _General Commanding_." + +"They 'll be here," said D'ri. "They 'll be here jest es sure es +God--'fore daylight, mebbe. But I can't fight er dew nothin' till +I 've tied some vittles." + +"You shall have supper," said the baroness, who, without delay, +went to the kitchen herself with a servant to look after it. The +butler brought a pair of slippers and a dry coat, while I drew off +the boots of my good friend. Then I gave him my arm as he limped +to the kitchen beside me. The baroness and I sat near him as he +ate. + +"Go upstairs and call the gentlemen," said she to the butler, "Do +not make any disturbance, but say I should like to speak with them +in the dining room." + +"Is thet air hired man o' yours a Britisher?" D'ri inquired as +soon as the butler was gone. + +"He is--from Liverpool," said she. + +"Thet's the hole 'n the fence," said he. "Thet's where the goose +got away." + +"The goose! The geese!" said the baroness, thoughtfully. "I do +not understand you." + +"Went 'n' blabbed, thet's whut he done," said D'ri. "Mebbe wrote +'em a letter, gol-dum his pictur'." + +"Oh, I perceive! I understand," said she; "and I send him away +to-morrow." + +"Neck's broke with hunger," said D'ri. "Never threw no vittles 'n +my basket with sech a splendid taste tew 'em es these hev." + +The baroness looked at him with some show of worry. + +"I beg your pardon," said she, "did you say the neck of you was +broken?" + +I explained the idiom. + +"Ain't hed nothin' t' eat since day 'fore yistiddy," said D'ri. +"Judas Priest! I 'm all et up with hunger." + +With old Burgundy and biscuit and venison and hot coffee he was +rapidly reviving. + +"I 'm wondering where I will hide you both," said the baroness, +thoughtfully. + +"Hed n't orter hev no rumpus here, 'n' go t' shootin' 'n' mebbe +spile yer house 'n' furnicher," said D'ri. "'T ain't decent er 't +ain't nice. We 'd better mek tracks an' put a mild er tew 'twixt +us 'n' here 'fore we hev any trouble. 'T ain't a-goin' t' be no +Sunday School. Ef they can, they 're a-goin't' tek us dead er +'live. Ef they ever tuk us we would n't be wuth shucks, nuther on +us, efter court martial." + +"I shall not permit you to go," said the baroness. "They may be +here now, about the house in the dark. They would shoot you, they +would stab you, they would cause you to die as you went. No, I +shall permit you not to go, There are four of them? Very well, we +shall fight here, we shall conquer. We have a general, a count, a +millionnaire, a marquis, a lawyer, an astronomer, a scout, and," +she added, patting me on the shoulder, "_le brave capitaine_! I +have four guns and three pistols, and M'sieur Bell has arms also. +We shall conquer. We shall make them to bite the dust." + +"Guns; did ye say? Jerushy Jane! Le' 's hev 'em," said D'ri. + +"What did he call me? Mon Dieu! Jerushy Jane! It is not I," said +the baroness. + +Again I explained the difficulty. + +"Ain't very proper-spoke," said D'ri, apologetically. "Jest wan't' +say et them 'air guns er likely t' come handy here 'most any +minute. Give us guns, 'n' we 'll sock it to 'em." + +"We shall sock it to them, we shall indeed," said she, hurrying out +of the room. "We shall make them to run for their lives." + +They were all in the dining room--the men of the party--save the +general, who could not he awakened. Guns and pistols were loaded. +I made a novel plan of defence that was unanimously approved. I +posted a watch at every window. A little after dawn the baroness, +from behind a curtain, saw a squad of horsemen coming through the +grove. + +"Ici! they have come!" said she, in a loud whisper. "There are not +four; there are many." + +I took my detail of six men above-stairs. Each had a strip of +lumber we had found in the shop, and each carefully raised a +window, waiting the signal. I knew my peril, but I was never so +cool in my life. If I had been wiser, possibly I should have felt +it the more. The horsemen promptly deployed, covering every side +of the mansion. They stood close, mounted, pistol and sabre ready. +Suddenly I gave the signal. Then each of us thrust out the strip +of lumber stealthily, prodding the big drab cones on every side. +Hornets and wasps, a great swarm of them, sprang thick as seeds +from the hand of a sower. It was my part to unhouse a colony of +the long, white-faced hornets. Goaded by the ruin of their nests, +they saw the nodding heads below them, and darted at man and horse +like a night of arrows. They put their hot spurs into flank and +face and neck. I saw them strike and fall; they do hit hard, those +big-winged _Vespae_. It was terrible, the swift charge of that +winged battalion of the air. I heard howls of pain below me, and +the thunder of rushing feet. The horses were rearing and plunging, +the men striking with their hats. + +I heard D'ri shouting and laughing at his window. + +"Give 'em hell, ye little blue devils!" he yelled; and there was +all evidence that they understood him. + +Then, again, every man of us opened his window and fired a volley +at the scurrying mass. + +One horse, rearing and leaping on his hind legs, came down across +the back of another, and the two fell heavily in a rolling, +convulsive heap. One, as if blinded, bumped a tree, going over on +his withers, all fours flashing in the air. Some tore off in the +thickets, as unmanageable as the wild moose. More than half threw +their riders. Not a man of them pulled a trigger: they were busy +enough, God knows. Not one of them could have hit the sky with any +certainty. I never saw such a torrent of horsehair and red caps. + +"Whut! Been on the back o' one o' 'em hosses?" said D'ri, telling +of it a long time after. "'D ruther o' been shet up 'n a barrel +with a lot o' cats 'n' rolled downhill. Good deal better fer my +health, an' I 'd 'a' luked more like a human bein' when I come out. +Them fellers--they did n't luk fit t' 'sociate with nuthin' er +nobody when we led 'em up t' the house--nut one on 'em." + +Only one Britisher was brought down by our bullets, and he had been +the mark of D'ri: with him a rifle was never a plaything. Five +others lay writhing in the grass, bereft of horse, deserted by +their comrades. The smudges were ready, and the nets. D'ri and I +put on the latter and ran out, placing a smudge row on every side +of the Hermitage. The winged fighters were quickly driven away. +Of the helpless enemy one had staggered off in the brush; the +others lay groaning, their faces lumpy and one-sided. A big +sergeant had a nose of the look and diameter of a goose-egg; one +carried a cheek as large and protuberant as the jowl of a porker's +head; and one had ears that stuck out like a puffed bladder. They +were helpless. We disarmed them and brought them in, doing all we +could for their comfort with blue clay and bruised plantain. It +was hard on them, I have often thought, but it saved an ugly fight +among ladies, and, no doubt, many lives. I know, if they had taken +us, D'ri and I would never have got back. + +I have saved myself many a time by strategy, but chose the sword +always if there were an even chance. And, God knows, if one had +ever a look at our bare bodies, he would see no sign of shirking on +either D'ri or me. + + + + +X + +The shooting and shouting and the tramp of horse and man had roused +everybody in the big house. Even the general came down to know +what was the matter. The young ladies came, pale and frightened, +but in faultless attire. I put an armed guard by the prisoners at +the door, under command of D'ri. Then I had them bare the feet of +the four Britishers, knowing they could not run bootless in the +brush. We organized a convoy,--the general and I,--and prepared to +start for the garrison. We kept the smudges going, for now and +then we could hear the small thunder of hornet-wings above us. +There is a mighty menace in it, I can tell you, if they are angry. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" said D'ri, as he sat, rifle on his knee, +looking at his prisoners. "Never thought nobody c'u'd luk s' +joemightyful cur'us. Does mek a man humly t' hev any trouble with +them air willy-come-bobs." He meant wasps. + +I had had no opportunity for more than a word with the young +ladies. I hoped it might come when I went in for a hasty breakfast +with the baroness, the count, the general, and Mr. Parish. As we +were eating, Louison came in hurriedly. She showed some agitation. + +"What is the trouble, my dear?" said the baroness, in French. + +"Eh bien, only this," said she: "I have dropped my ring in the +brook. It is my emerald. I cannot reach it." + +"Too bad! She has dropped her ring in the brook," said the +baroness, in English, turning to me. + +"If she will have the kindness to take me there," I said to the +hostess, rising as I spoke, "I shall try to get it for her." + +"M'sieur le Capitaine, you are very obliging," said she. Then, +turning to Louison, she added in French: "Go with him. He will +recover it for you." + +It pleased and flattered me, the strategy of this wonderful young +creature. She led me, with dainty steps, through a dewy garden +walk into the trail. + +"Parbleu!" she whispered, "is it not a shame to take you from your +meat? But I could not help it. I had to see you; there is +something I wish to say." + +"A pretty girl is better than meat," I answered quickly. "I am +indebted to you." + +"My! but you have a ready tongue," said she. "It is with me a +pleasure to listen. You are going away? You shall not +return--perhaps?" + +She was trying to look very gay and indifferent, but in her voice I +could detect a note of trouble. The flame of passion, quenched for +a little time by the return of peril and the smoke of gunpowder, +flashed up in me. + +"It is this," she went on: "I may wish you to do me a favor. May I +have your address?" + +"And you may command me," I said as I gave it to her. + +"Have a care!" she said, laughing. "I may ask you to do desperate +things--you may need all your valor. The count and the +baroness--they may send us back to France." + +"Which will please you," I remarked. + +"Perhaps," she said quickly. "Mon Dieu! I do not know what I +want; I am a fool. Take this. Wear it when you are gone. Not +that I care--but--it will make you remember." + +She held in her fingers a flashing emerald on a tiny circlet of +gold. Before I could answer she had laid it in my hard palm and +shut my hand upon it. + +"Dieu!" she exclaimed, whispering, "I must return--I must hurry. +Remember, we did not find the ring." + +I felt a great impulse to embrace her and confess my love. But I +was not quick enough. Before I could speak she had turned away and +was running. I called to her, but she did not turn or seem to hear +me. She and my opportunity were gone. + +We stowed the prisoners in the big coach at the baroness, behind a +lively team of four. Then my horse and one for D'ri were brought +up. + +"Do not forget," said the baroness, holding my hand, "you are +always welcome in my house. I hope, ma foi! that you will never +find happiness until you return." + +The young ladies came not to the step where we were, but stood by +the count waving adieux. Louison had a merry smile and a pretty +word of French for me; Louise only a sober look that made me sad, +if it did not speak for the same feeling in her. The count was to +remain at the Hermitage, having sent to the chateau for a squad of +his armed retainers. They were to defend the house, if, by chance, +the British should renew their attack. Mr. Parish and his footman +and the general went with us, the former driving. D'ri and I rode +on behind as the coach went off at a gallop. + +He was a great whip, that man David Parish, who had built a big +mansion at Ogdensburg and owned so much of the north country those +days. He was a gentleman when the founders of the proud families +of to-day were dickering in small merchandise. Indeed, one might +look in vain for such an establishment as his north of Virginia. +This side the Atlantic there was no stable of horses to be compared +with that he had--splendid English thoroughbreds, the blood of +which is now in every great family of American horses. And, my +faith! he did love to put them over the road. He went tearing up +hill and down at a swift gallop, and the roads were none too smooth +in that early day. Before leaving home he had sent relays ahead to +await his coming every fifteen miles of the journey: he always did +that if he had far to go. This time he had posted them clear to +the Harbor. The teams were quickly shifted; then we were off again +with a crack of the whip and a toot of the long horn. He held up +in the swamps, but where footing was fair, the high-mettled horses +had their heads and little need of urging. We halted at an inn for +a sip of something and a bite to eat. + +"Parish," said the general, rising on stiffened legs, "I like your +company and I like your wine, but your driving is a punishment." + +D'ri was worn out with lack of sleep and rest, but he had hung +doggedly to his saddle. + +"How do you feel?" I asked him as we drew up on each side of the +coach. + +"Split t' the collar," said he, soberly, as he rested an elbow on +his pommel. + +We got to headquarters at five, and turned over the prisoners. We +had never a warmer welcome than that of the colonel. + +"I congratulate you both," he said as he brought the rum-bottle +after we had made our report. "You've got more fight in you than a +wolverene. Down with your rum and off to your beds, and report +here at reveille. I have a tough job for you to-morrow." + + + + +XI + +It was, indeed, tougher business than we had yet known--a dash into +the enemy's country, where my poor head was in excellent demand. +D'ri and I were to cross the lake with a band of raiders, a troop +of forty, under my command. We were to rescue some prisoners in a +lockup on the other side. They were to be shot in the morning, and +our mission therefore admitted of no delay. Our horses had been +put aboard a brig at midnight, and soon after the noon mess we +dropped down the lake, going into a deep, wooded cove south of the +Grenadier Island. There we lay waiting for nightfall. A big wind +was howling over the woods at sunset, and the dark came on its +wings an hour ahead of time. The night was black and the lake +noisy when we got under way, bound for a flatboat ferry. Our +skipper, it turned out, had little knowledge of those waters. He +had shortened sail, and said he was not afraid of the weather. The +wind, out of the southeast, came harder as it drove us on. Before +we knew it, the whole kit and boodle of us were in a devil of a +shakeup there in the broad water. D'ri and I were down among the +horses and near being trampled under in the roll. We tried to put +about then, but the great gusts of wind made us lower sail and drop +anchor in a hurry. Soon the horses were all in a tumble and one on +top of the other. We had to jump from back to back to save +ourselves. It was no pretty business, I can tell you, to get to +the stairway. D'ri was stripped of a boot-leg, and I was cut in +the chin by a front hoof, going ten feet or so to the upper deck. +To the man who was never hit in the chin by a horse's hoof let me +say there is no such remedy for a proud spirit. Bullets are much +easier to put up with and keep a civil tongue in one's head. That +lower deck was a kind of horses' hell. We had to let them alone. +They got astraddle of one another's necks, and were cut from ear to +fetlock--those that lived, for some of them, I could see, were +being trampled to death. How many I never knew, for suddenly we +hit a reef there in the storm and the black night. I knew we had +drifted to the north shore, and as the sea began to wash over us it +was every man for himself. The brig went up and down like a +sledge-hammer, and at every blow her sides were cracking and +caving. She keeled over suddenly, and was emptied of horse and +man. A big wave flung me far among the floundering horses. My +fingers caught in a wet mane; I clung desperately between crowding +flanks. Then a big wave went over us. I hung on, coming up +astride my capture. He swam vigorously, his nose high, blowing +like a trumpet. I thought we were in for a time of it, and had +very little hope for any landing, save in kingdom come. Every +minute I was head under in the wash, and the roaring filled me with +that mighty terror of the windfall. But, on my word, there is no +captain like a good horse in bad water. Suddenly I felt him hit +the bottom and go forward on his knees. Then he reared up, and +began to jump in the sand. A big wave washed him down again. He +fell on his side in a shallow, but rose and ran wearily over a soft +beach. In the blackness around me I could see nothing. A branch +whipped me in the face, and I ducked. I was not quick enough; it +was like fencing in the dark. A big bough hit me, raking the +withers of my horse, and I rolled off headlong in a lot of bushes. +The horse went on, out of hearing, but I was glad enough to lie +still, for I had begun to know of my bruises. In a few minutes I +took off my boots and emptied them, and wrung my blouse, and lay +back, cursing my ill luck. + +But that year of 1813 had the kick of ill fortune in it for every +mother's son of us there in the North country. I have ever noticed +that war goes in waves of success or failure; If we had had Brown +or Scott to lead us that year, instead of Wilkinson, I believe it +had had a better history. Here was I in the enemy's country. God +knew where, or how, or when I should come out of it. I thought of +D'ri and how it had gone with him in that hell of waters. I knew +it would be hard to drown him. We were so near shore, if he had +missed the rocks I felt sure he would come out safely. I thought +of Louison and Louise, and wondered if ever I should see them +again. Their faces shone upon me there in the windy darkness, and +one as brightly as the other. Afterwhiles I drew my wet blouse +over me and went asleep, shivering. + +A familiar sound woke me--that of the reveille. The sun was +shining, the sky clear, the wind had gone down. A crow sat calling +in a tree above my head. I lay in a strip of timber, thin and +narrow, on the lake shore. Through the bushes I could see the +masts of the brig slanting out of water some rods away. Beyond the +timber was a field of corn, climbing a side-hill that sloped off to +a level, grassy plain. Beyond the hill-top, reveille was still +sounding. A military camp was near me, and although I made no +move, my mind was up and busy as the drumsticks over the hill. I +sat as quiet as a cat at a mouse-hole, looking down at my uniform, +not, indeed, the most healthful sort of dress for that country. +All at once I caught sight of a scarecrow in the corn. I laughed +at the odd grotesquery of the thing--an old frock-coat and trousers +of olive-green, faded and torn and fat with straw. A stake driven +through its collar into the earth, and crowned with an ancient, +tall hat of beaver, gave it a backbone. An idea came to me. I +would rob the scarecrow and hide my uniform. I ran out and hauled +it over, and pulled the stuffing out of it. The coat and trousers +were made for a stouter man. I drew on the latter, fattening my +figure with straw to fill them. That done, I quickly donned the +coat. Each sleeve-end fell to my fingertips, and its girth would +have circled a flour-barrel and buttoned with room to spare. But +with my stuffing of straw it came around me as snug at the belt as +the coat of a bear. I took alarm as I closed the buttons. For +half a minute I had heard a drum-tap coming nearer. It was the +measured _tap! tap! tap-tap-tap_! so familiar to me. Now I could +hear the tread of feet coming with it back of the hill. How soon +they would heave in sight I was unable to reckon, but I dared not +run for cover. So I thrust my scabbard deep in the soft earth, +pulled down the big beaver hat over my face, muffled my neck with +straw, stuck the stake in front of me to steady myself, and stood +stiff as any scarecrow in Canada. Before I was done a column, +scarlet-coated, came out in the level beyond the hillside. Through +a hole in the beaver I could see them clearly. They came on, rank +after rank. They deployed, forming an open square, scarlet-sided, +on the green turf, the gap toward me. Then came three, walking +stiffly in black coats, a squad leading them. The thing I had +taken for a white visor was a blindfold. Their heads were bare. I +could see, now, they were in shackles, their arms behind them. +They were coming to their death--some of my unlucky comrades. God +pity them! A spy might as well make his peace with Heaven, if he +were caught those days, and be done with hope. Suspicion was +enough to convict on either side of the water that year. As my +feet sank deeper in the soft earth I felt as if I were going down +to my grave. The soldiers led them into the gap, standing them +close together, backs to me, The squad drew off. The prisoners +stood erect, their faces turning up a little, as if they were +looking into the clear, blue sky. I could see them waver as they +stood waiting. The sharpshooters advanced, halting as they raised +their rifles. To my horror, I saw the prisoners were directly +between me and them. Great God! was I also of that little company +about to die? But I dared not move a step. I stood still, +watching, trembling. An officer in a shining helmet was speaking +to the riflemen. His helmet seemed to jump and quiver as he moved +away. Those doomed figures began to reel and sway as they waited. +The shiny barrels lifted a little, their muzzles pointing at them +and at me. The corn seemed to duck and tremble as it waited the +volley. A great black ball shot across the sky in a long curve, +and began to fall. Then came the word, a flash of fire, a cloud of +smoke, a roar of rifles that made me jump in my tracks. I heard +bullets cuffing the corn, I felt the dirt fly up and scatter over +me, but was unhurt, a rigid, motionless man of straw. I saw my +countrymen reel, their legs go limp as rags, their bodies fall +silently forward. The soldiers stood a moment, then a squad went +after the dead with litters. Forming in fours, they marched away +as they had come, their steps measured by that regular _rap! rap! +rap-rap-rap_! of the drum. The last rank went out of sight. I +moved a little and pulled the stake, and quickly stuck it again, +for there were voices near. I stood waiting as stiff as a poker. +Some men were running along the beach, two others were coming +through the corn. They passed within a few feet of me on each +side. I heard them talking with much animation. They spoke of the +wreck. When they were well by me I faced about, watching them. +They went away in the timber, down to a rocky point, where I knew +the wreck was visible. + +They were no sooner out of sight than I pulled the stake and sabre, +and shoved the latter under my big coat. Then I lifted the beaver +and looked about me. There was not a soul in sight. From that +level plain the field ran far to a thick wood mounting over the +hill. I moved cautiously that way, for I was in the path of people +who would be coming to see the wreck. I got near the edge of the +distant wood, and hearing a noise, halted, and stuck my stake, and +drew my hands back in the sleeves, and stood like a scarecrow, +peering through my hat. Near me, in the woods, I could hear a +cracking of sticks and a low voice. Shortly two Irishmen stuck +their heads out of a bush. My heart gave a leap in me, for I saw +they were members of my troop. + +"Hello, there!" I called in a loud voice, It startled them. They +turned their heads to see where the voice came from, and stood +motionless. I pulled my stake and made for them on the run. I +should have known better, for the sight of me would have tried the +legs of the best trooper that ever sat in a saddle. As they told +me afterward, it was enough to make a lion yelp. + +"Holy Mother!" said one, as they broke through the bush, running +for their lives. I knew not their names, but I called them as +loudly as I dared. They went on, never slacking pace. It was a +bad go, for I was burning for news of D'ri and the rest of them. +Now I could hear some heavy animal bounding in the brush as if +their running had startled him. I went back to the corn for +another stand. Suddenly a horse came up near me, cropping the +brush. I saw he was one off the boat, for he had bridle and +saddle, a rein hanging in two strings, and was badly cut. My +friend! the sight of a horse did warm me to the toes. He got a +taste of the tender corn presently, and came toward me as he ate. +In a moment I jumped to the saddle, and he went away leaping like a +wild deer. He could not have been more frightened if I had dropped +on him out of the sky. I never saw such energy in flesh and blood +before. He took a mighty fright as my hand went to his withers, +but the other had a grip on the pommel, and I made the stirrups. I +leaned for the strings of the rein, but his neck was long, and I +could not reach them. Before I knew it we were tearing over the +hill at a merry pace, I can tell you. I was never so put to it for +the right thing to do, but I clung on. The big hat shook down upon +my collar. In all my life I never saw a hat so big. Through the +break in it I could see a farm-house. In a jiffy the horse had +cleared a fence, and was running, with the feet of terror, in a +dusty road. I grew angry at myself as we tore along--I knew not +why. It was a rage of discomfort, I fancy, for somehow, I never +felt so bound and cluttered, so up in the air and out of place in +my body. The sabre was working loose and hammering my knee; the +big hat was rubbing my nose, the straw chafing my chin. I had +something under my arm that would sway and whack the side of the +horse every leap he made. I bore upon it hard, as if it were the +jewel of my soul. I wondered why, and what it might be. In a +moment the big hole of my hat came into conjunction with my right +eye. On my word, it was the stake! How it came there I have never +known, but, for some reason, I held to it. I looked neither to +right nor left, but sat erect, one hand on the hilt of my sabre, +the other in the mane of my horse, knowing full well I was the most +hideous-looking creature in the world. If I had come to the gate +of heaven I believe St. Peter would have dropped his keys. The +straw worked up, and a great wad of it hung under my chin like a +bushy beard. I would have given anything for a sight of myself, +and laughed to think of it, although facing a deadly peril, as I +knew. But I was young and had no fear in me those days. Would +that a man could have his youth to his death-bed! It was a leap in +the dark, but I was ready to take my chances. + +Evidently I was nearing a village. Groups of men were in the shady +thoroughfare; children thronged the dooryards. There was every +sign of a holiday. As we neared them I caught my sabre under my +knee, and drew my hands into the long sleeves and waved them +wildly, whooping like an Indian. They ran back to the fences with +a start of fear. As I passed them they cheered loudly, waving +their hats and roaring with laughter. An old horse, standing +before an inn, broke his halter and crashed over a fence. A scared +dog ran for his life in front of me, yelping as he leaped over a +stone wall. Geese and turkeys flew in the air as I neared them. +The people had seemed to take me for some village youth on a +masquerade. We flashed into the open country before the sound of +cheering had died away. On we went over a long strip of hard soil, +between fields, and off in the shade of a thick forest. My horse +began to tire. I tried to calm him by gentle words, but I could +give him no confidence in me. He kept on, laboring hard and +breathing heavily, as if I were a ton's weight. We came to another +clearing and fields of corn. A little out of the woods, and near +the road, was a log house white-washed from earth to eaves. By the +gate my horse went down. I tumbled heavily in the road, and +turning, caught him by the bits. The big hat had shot off my head; +the straw had fallen away. A woman came running out of the open +door. She had bare feet, a plump and cheery face. + +"Tonnerre!" said she. "Qu'est ce que cela?" + +"My countrywoman," said I, in French, feeling in my under-trousers +for a bit of silver, and tossing it to her, "I am hungry." + +"And I have no food to sell," said she, tossing it back. "You +should know I am of France and not of England. Come, you shall +have enough, and for no price but the eating. You have a tired +horse. Take him to the stable, and I will make you a meal." + +I led my horse to the stable, scraped him of lather and dirt, gave +him a swallow of water, and took the same myself, for I had a +mighty thirst in me. When I came in, she had eggs and potatoes and +bacon over the fire, and was filling the tea-kettle. + +"On my soul," said she, frankly, "you are the oddest-looking man I +ever saw. Tell me, why do you carry the long club?" + +I looked down. There it was under my arm. It surprised me more +than anything I ever found myself doing. + +"Madame, it is because I am a fool," I said as I flung it out of +the door. + +"It is strange," said she. "Your clothes--they are not your own; +they are as if they were hung up to dry. And you have a sabre and +spurs." + +"Of that the less said the better," I answered, pulling out the +sabre. "Unless--unless, madame, you would like me to die young." + +"Mon Dieu!" she whispered. "A Yankee soldier?" + +"With good French blood in him," I added, "who was never so hungry +in all his life." + +I went out of the door as I spoke, and shoved my sabre under the +house. + +"I have a daughter on the other side of the lake," said she, +"married to a Yankee, and her husband is fighting the British with +the rest of you." + +"God help him!" said I. + +"Amen!" said she, bringing my food to the table. "The great +Napoleon he will teach them a lesson." + +She was a widow, as she told me, living there alone with two young +daughters who were off at a picnic in the near town. We were +talking quietly when a familiar voice brought me standing. + +"Judas Priest!" it said. D'ri stood in the doorway, hatless and +one boot missing--a sorry figure of a man. + +"Hidin' over 'n th' woods yender," he went on as I took his hand. +"See thet air brown hoss go by. Knew 'im soon es I sot eyes on +'im--use' t' ride 'im myself. Hed an idee 't wus you 'n the +saddle--sot s' kind o' easy. But them air joemightyful do's! +Jerushy Jane! would n't be fit t' skin a skunk in them do's, would +it?" + +"Got 'em off a scarecrow," I said. + +"'Nough t' mek a painter ketch 'is breath, they wus." + +The good woman bade him have a chair at the table, and brought more +food. + +"Neck 's broke with hunger, 't is sartin," said he, as he began to +eat. "Hev t' light out o' here purty middlin' soon. 'T ain' no +safe place t' be. 'T won' never dew fer us t' be ketched." + +We ate hurriedly, and when we had finished, the good woman gave us +each an outfit of apparel left by her dead husband. It was rather +snug for D'ri, and gave him an odd look. She went out of doors +while we were dressing. Suddenly she came back to the door. + +"Go into the cellar," she whispered. "They are coming!" + + + + +XII + +I found the door, and D'ri flung our "duds" into the darkness that +lay beyond it. Then he made down the ladder, and I after him. It +was pitch-dark in the cellar--a deep, dank place with a rank odor +of rotting potatoes. We groped our way to a corner, and stood +listening. We heard the tramp of horses in the dooryard and the +clinic of spurs on the stone step. + +"Ah, my good woman," said a man with a marked English accent, "have +you seen any Yankees? Woods are full of them around here. No? +Well, by Jove! you're a good-looking woman. Will you give me a +kiss?" He crossed the floor above us, and she was backing away. + +"Come, come, don't be so shy, my pretty woman," said he, and then +we could hear her struggling up and down the floor. I was climbing +the ladder, in the midst of it, my face burning with anger, and +D'ri was at my heels. As the door opened, I saw she had fallen. +The trooper was bending to kiss her. I had him by the collar and +had hauled him down before he discovered us. In a twinkling D'ri +had stripped him of sword and pistol. But it was one of the most +hopeless situations in all my life. Many muzzles were pointing at +us through the door and window. Another hostile move from either +would have ended our history then and there. I let go and stood +back. The man got to his feet--a handsome soldier in the full +uniform of a British captain. + +"Ah, there's a fine pair!" he said coolly, whipping a leg of his +trousers with his glove. "I 'll teach you better manners, my young +fellow. Some o' those shipwrecked Yankees," he added, turning to +his men. "If they move without an order, pin 'em up to the wall." + +He picked up his hat leisurely, stepping in front of D'ri. + +"Now, my obliging friend," said he, holding out his hand, "I'll +trouble you for my sword and pistol." + +D'ri glanced over at me, an ugly look in his eye. He would have +fought to his death then and there if I had given him the word. He +was game to the core when once his blood was up, the same old D'ri. + +[Illustration: "He would have fought to his death then and there if +I had given him the word."] + +"Don't fight," I said. + +He had cocked the pistol, and stood braced, the sword in his right +hand. I noticed a little quiver in the great sinews of his wrist. +I expected to see that point of steel shoot, with a quick stab, +into the scarlet blouse before me. + +"Shoot 'n' be damned!" said D'ri. "'Fore I die ye'll hev a hole er +tew 'n thet air karkiss o' yourn. Sha'n't give up no weepon till +ye've gin me yer word ye 'll let thet air woman alone." + +I expected a volley then. A very serious look came over the face +of the captain. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief. I could +see that he had been drinking. + +"Ah, I see! You have an interest in her. Well, my man, I want no +share in your treasures. I accept the condition." + +Evil as was the flavor of this poor concession, D'ri made the best +of it. + +"She's an honest woman for all I know," said he, handing over the +weapons. "Ain't a-goin' t' see no ledy mishused--nut ef I can help +it." + +We gave ourselves up hand and foot to the enemy; there was no way +out of it. I have read in the story-books how men of great nerve +and skill have slaughtered five to one, escaping with no great loss +of blood. Well, of a brave man I like to believe good things. My +own eyes have seen what has made me slow to doubt a story of +prowess that has even the merit of possibility. But when there are +only two of you, and one without arms, and you are in a corner, and +there are ten pistols pointing at you a few feet away, and as many +sabres ready to be drawn, I say no power less remarkable than that +of God or a novelist can bring you out of your difficulty. You +have your choice of two evils--surrender or be cut to pieces. We +had neither of us any longing to be slashed with steel and bored +with bullets, and to no end but a good epitaph. + +They searched the cellar and found our clothes, and wrapped them in +a bundle. Then they tied our hands behind us and took us along the +road on which I had lately ridden. A crowd came jeering to the +highway as we passed the little village. It was my great fear that +somebody would recognize either one or both of us. + +Four of our men were sitting in a guardhouse at the British camp. +After noon mess a teamster drove up with a big wagon. Guards came +and shackled us in pairs, D'ri being wrist to wrist with me. They +put a chain and ball on D'ri's leg also. I wondered why, for no +other was treated with like respect. Then they bundled us all +into the wagon, now surrounded by impatient cavalry. They put a +blindfold over the eyes of each prisoner, and went away at a lively +pace. We rode a long time, as it seemed to me, and by and by I +knew we had come to a city, for I could hear the passing of many +wagons and the murmur of a crowd. Some were shouting, "Shoot the +d--d Yankees!" and now and then a missile struck among us. There +is nothing so heartless and unthinking as a crowd, the world over. +I could tell presently, by the creak of the evener and the stroke +of the hoofs, that we were climbing a long hill. We stopped +shortly; then they began helping us out. They led us forward a few +paces, the chain rattling on a stone pavement. When we heard the +bang of an iron door behind us, they unlocked the heavy fetter. +This done, they led us along a gravel walk and over a sounding +stretch of boards,--a bridge, I have always thought,--through +another heavy door and down a winding flight of stone steps. They +led us on through dark passages, over stone paving, and halted us, +after a long walk, letting our eyes free. We were in black +darkness. There were two guards before and two behind us bearing +candles. They unshackled us, and opened a lattice door of heavy +iron, bidding us enter. I knew then that we were going into a +dungeon, deep under the walls of a British fort somewhere on the +frontier. A thought stung me as D'ri and I entered this black hole +and sat upon a heap of straw. Was this to be the end of our +fighting and of us? + +"You can have a candle a day," said a guard as he blew out the one +he carried, laying it, with a tinder-box, on a shelf in the wall of +rock beside me. Then they filed out, and the narrow door shut with +a loud bang. We peered through at the fading flicker of the +candles. They threw wavering, ghostly shadows on every wall of the +dark passage, and suddenly went out of sight. We both stood +listening a moment. + +"Curse the luck!" I whispered presently. + +"Jest as helpless es if we was hung up by the heels," said D'ri, +groping his way to the straw pile. "Ain' no use gittin' wrathy." + +"What 'll we do?" I whispered. + +"Dunno," said he; "an' when ye dunno whut t' dew, don' dew nuthin'. +Jest stan' still; thet's whut I b'lieve in." + +He lighted the candle, and went about, pouring its glow upon every +wall and into every crack and corner of our cell--a small chamber +set firm in masonry, with a ceiling so far above our heads we could +see it but dimly, the candle lifted arm's-length. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, as he stopped the light with thumb and +finger. "I 'm goin' t' set here 'n th' straw luk an ol' hen 'n' +ile up m' thinker 'n' set 'er goin'. One o' them kind hes t' keep +'is mouth shet er he can't never dew ho thinkin'. Bymby, like es +not, I 'll hev suthin' t1 say et 'll 'mount t' suthin'." + +We lay back on the straw in silence. I did a lot of thinking that +brought me little hope. Thoughts of Louison and Louise soon led me +out of prison. After a little time I went philandering in the +groves of the baroness with the two incomparable young ladies. I +would willingly have stood for another bullet if I could have had +another month of their company. The next thought of my troubles +came with the opening of the iron door. I had been sound asleep. +A guard came in with water and a pot of stewed beef and potatoes. + +"Thet air's all right," said D'ri, dipping into it with a spoon. + +We ate with a fine relish, the guard, a sullen, silent man with a +rough voice that came out of a bristling mustache, standing by the +door. + +"Luk a-here," said D'ri to the guard as we finished eating, "I want +t' ast you a question. Ef you hed a purty comf'table hum on +t'other side, 'n' few thousan' dollars 'n the bank, 'n' bosses 'n' +everything fixed fer a good time, 'n' all uv a sudden ye found +yerself 'n sech a gol-dum dungeon es this here, what 'u'd you dew?" + +The guard was fixing the wick of his candle, and made no answer. + +"Want ye t' think it all over," said D'ri. "See ef ye can't think +o' suthin' soothin' t' say. God knows we need it." + +The guard went away without answering. + +"Got him thinkin'," said D'ri, as he lighted the candle. "He can +help us some, mebbe. Would n't wonder ef he was good et cipherin'." + +"If he offered to take the two thousand, I don't see how we'd give +it to him," said I. "He would n't take our promise for it." + +"Thet ain' a-goin' t' bother us any," said D'ri. "Hed thet all +figgered out long ago." + +He gave me the candle and lay down, holding his ear close to the +stone floor and listening. Three times he shifted his ear from one +point to another. Then he beckoned to me. + +"Jest hol' yer ear there 'n' listen," he whispered. + +I gave him the candle, and with my ear to the floor I could hear +the flow of water below us. The sound went away in the distance +and then out of hearing. "After a while it came again. + +"What does it mean?" I asked. + +"Cipherin' a leetle over thet air," said he, as he made a long +scratch on the floor with his flint. Then he rubbed his chin, +looking down at it. "Hain' jest eggzac'ly med up my mind yit," he +added. + +We blew out the light and lay back, whispering. Then presently we +heard the coming of footsteps. Two men came to the door with a +candle, one being the guard we knew. + +"Come, young fellow," said the latter, as he unlocked the door and +beckoned to me; "they want you upstairs." + +We both got to our feet. + +"Not you," he growled, waving D'ri back. "Not ready fer you yet." + +He laid hold of my elbow and snapped a shackle on my wrist. Then +they led me out, closing the door with a bang that echoed in the +far reaches of the dark alley, and tied a thick cloth over my eyes. + +"Good luck!" D'ri cried out as they took me away. + +"For both," I answered as cheerfully as I could. + +They led me through winding passages and iron doors, with that +horrible clank of the prison latch, and up flights of stone till I +felt as lost as one might who falls whirling in the air from a +great height. We soon came out upon a walk of gravel, where I +could feel the sweet air blowing into my face. A few minutes more +and we halted, where the guard, who had hold of my elbow, rang a +bell. As the door swung open they led me in upon a soft carpet. +Through the cloth I could see a light. + +"Bring him in, bring him in!" a voice commanded impatiently--a +deep, heavy voice the sound of which I have not yet forgotten. The +guard was afraid of it. His hand trembled as he led me on. + +"Take off the blindfold," said that voice again. + +As it fell away, I found myself in a large and beautiful room. My +eyes were dazzled by the light of many candles, and for a little I +had to close them. I stood before two men. One sat facing me at a +black table of carved oak--a man of middle age, in the uniform of a +British general. Stout and handsome, with brown eyes, dark hair +and mustache now half white, and nose aquiline by the least turn, +he impressed me as have few men that ever crossed my path. A young +man sat lounging easily in a big chair beside him, his legs +crossed, his delicate fingers teasing a thin mustache. I noticed +that his hands were slim and hairy. He glanced up at me as soon as +I could bear the light. Then he sat looking idly at the carpet, + +The silence of the room was broken only by the scratch of a quill +in the hand of the general. I glanced about me. On the wall was a +large painting that held my eye: there was something familiar in +the face. I saw presently it was that of the officer I had fought +in the woods, the one who fell before me. I turned my head; the +young man was looking up at me. A smile had parted his lips. They +were the lips of a rake, it seemed to me. A fine set of teeth +showed between them. + +"Do you know him?" he asked coolly. + +"I have not the honor," was my reply. + +"What is your name?" the general demanded in the deep tone I had +heard before. + +"Pardon me," said the young man, quietly, as if he were now weary +of the matter, "I do not think it necessary." + +There was a bit of silence. The general looked thoughtfully at the +young man. + +"If your Lordship will let me--" he went on. + +"My dear sir," the other interrupted, in the same weary and +lethargic manner, "I can get more reliable knowledge from other +sources. Let the fellow go back." + +"That will do," said the general to the guard, who then covered my +eyes and led me back to prison. + +Lying there in the dark, I told D'ri all I knew of my mysterious +journey. My account of the young man roused him to the soul. + +"Wha' kind uv a nose hed he?" he inquired. + +"Roman," I said. + +"Bent in at the p'int a leetle?" + +"Yes." + +"And black hair shingled short?" + +"Yes." + +"An' tall, an' a kind uv a nasty, snookin', mis'able-lookin' cuss?" + +"Just about the look of him," I said. + +"Judas Priest! He's one o' them sneks et tuk me when you was +fightin' t' other feller over there 'n the woods." + +"Looks rather bad for us," I remarked. + +"Does hev a ruther squeaky luk tew it," said he. "All we got t' +dew is t' keep breathin' jest es nat'ral 'n' easy es can be till we +fergit how. May fool 'em fust they know." + +I had a high notion, those days, of the duty of a soldier. My +father had always told me there was no greater glory for anybody +than that of a brave death. Somehow the feeling got to be part of +me. While I had little fear of death, I dreaded to be shot like a +felon. But I should be dying for my country, and that feeling +seemed to light the shadows. When I fell asleep, after much worry, +it was to dream of my three countrymen who had fallen to their +faces there by the corn. I awoke to find the guard in our cell, +and D'ri and he whispering together. He had come with our +breakfast. + +"All I want," D'ri was saying, "is a piece of iron, with a sharp +end, half es long es yer arm." + +He made no answer, that big, sullen, bull-dog man who brought our +food to us. When he had gone, D'ri lay over and began laughing +under his breath. + +"His thinker's goin' luk a sawmill," he whispered. "Would n't +wonder ef it kep' 'im awake nights. He was askin' 'bout thet air +tew thousan' dollars. Ef they 'll let us alone fer three days, we +'ll be out o' here. Now, you mark my word." + +"How?" I inquired. + +"Jest a leetle job o' slidin' downhill," he said. "There's a big +drain-pipe goes under this cell--t' the river, prob'ly. He says +it's bigger 'n a barrel." + +We saved our candle that day, and walked up and down, from wall to +wall, for exercise. Our hopes were high when we heard footsteps, +but they fell suddenly, for, as we listened, we could hear the +tramp of a squad of men. They came to our cell, and took us +upstairs, blind-folded as before, to a bath-room, where the +uniforms, discarded the day of our capture, were waiting for us, +newly pressed. Our bath over, they directed us to put them on. +They gave us new hats, for our own had been lost the night of the +wreck, covered our eyes, and led us through many doors and alleys +into the open air. It was dark, I knew, for as we entered a +carriage I could see dimly the glow of a lantern hanging over the +wheel. The carriage went away swiftly on a level road. We sat +knee to knee, with two men facing us, and not a word was spoken. +We could hear hoofs falling, the rattle of bit and rein, the creak +of saddle-leather on each side of us. We must have gone a long +journey when the carriage halted. They pulled us out roughly and +led us up three steps and across a deep veranda. A bell rang, a +door swung open, a flood of light fell on us, filtering to our +eyes. Entering, we could feel a carpet under us, and took a dozen +paces or more before they bade us halt. We heard only the +low-spoken order and the soft tread of our feet. There was a dead +silence when they removed our fetters and unbound our eyes. We +were standing in a big and sumptuous drawing-room. A company of +gentlemen sat near us in arm-chairs; there were at least a score of +them. Round tables of old mahogany stood near, on which were +glasses and packs of cards and wine-bottles. The young man who sat +with the general and answered to "your Lordship" was approaching +me, hand extended. + +"Glad to see you; sit down," he said in the same quiet, languid, +forceful tone I had heard before. + +It was all very odd. The guards were gone; we were apparently as +free as any of them. + +"I shall try to make you comfortable," he remarked. A servant +began filling a row of glasses. "We have here wine and wit and all +the accessories, including women. I should introduce you, but I +have not the honor of your acquaintance. Let it suffice to say +these are my friends" (he turned to those who sat about), "and, +gentlemen, these are my enemies," he added, turning to us. "Let us +hope they may die happy." + +"And with a fighting chance," I added, lifting the glass without +tasting it. + +D'ri sat, his brows lifted, his hands in his pockets, his legs +crossed. He looked curiously from one to another. + +"Horton," said his Lordship, as he sat down, leaning lazily on the +arm of his chair, "will you have them bring down the prisoners?" + +The servant left the room. Some of the men were talking together +in low tones; they were mostly good-looking and well dressed. + +"Gentlemen," said his Lordship, rising suddenly, "I'm going to turn +you out of here for a moment--they're a shy lot. Won't you go into +the library?" + +They all rose and went out of a door save one, a bald man of middle +age, half tipsy, who begged of his "Ludship" the privilege of +remaining. + +"Sir Charles," said the young man, still lounging in his chair as +he spoke, in that cold, calm tone of his, "you annoy me. Go at +once!" and he went. + +They covered our faces with napkins of white linen. Then we heard +heavy steps, the clank of scabbards on a stairway, the feet of +ladies, and the swish of their gowns. With a quick movement our +faces were uncovered. I rose to my feet, for there before me stood +Louison and the Baroness de Ferre, between two guards, and, behind +them, Louise, her eyes covered, her beautiful head bent low. I +could see that she was crying. The truth came to me in a flash of +thought. They had been taken after we left; they were prisoners +brought here to identify us. A like quickness of perception had +apparently come to all. We four stood looking at one another with +no sign of recognition. My face may have shown the surprise and +horror in me, but shortly I had recovered my stony calm. The +ladies were dressed finely, with the taste and care I had so much +admired. Louison turned away from me with a splendid dignity and +stood looking up at the wall, her hands behind her, a toe of one +shoe tapping the floor impatiently. It was a picture to remember a +lifetime. I could feel my pulse quicken as I looked upon her. The +baroness stood, sober-faced, her eyes looking down, her fan moving +slowly. His Lordship rose and came to Louise. + +"Come, now, my pretty prisoner; it is disagreeable, but you must +forgive me," he said. + +[Illustration: "Come, now, my pretty prisoner; it is disagreeable, +but you must forgive me."] + +She turned away from him, drying her eyes. Then presently their +beauty shone upon me. + +"Grace au ciel!" she exclaimed, a great joy in her eyes and voice. +"It is M'sieur Bell. Sister--baroness--it is M'sieur Bell!" + +I advanced to meet her, and took her hand, kissing it reverently. +She covered her face, her hand upon my shoulder, and wept in +silence. If it meant my death, I should die thanking God I knew, +or thought I knew, that she loved me. + +"Ah, yes; it is M'sieur Bell--poor fellow!" said Louison, coming +quickly to me. "And you, my dear, you are Ma'm'selle Louise." + +She spoke quickly in French, as if quite out of patience with the +poor diplomacy of her sister. + +"I knew it was you, for I saw the emerald on your finger," she +added, turning to me, "but I could not tell her." + +"I am glad, I am delighted, that she spoke to me," I said. I +desired to save the fair girl, whose heart was ever as a child's, +any sorrow for what she had done. "I was about to speak myself. +It is so great a pleasure to see you all I could not longer endure +silence." + +"They made us prisoners; they bring us here. Oh, m'sieur, it is +terrible!" said the baroness. + +"And he is such a horrible-looking monkey!" said Louison. + +"Do they treat you well?" I asked. + +"We have a big room and enough to eat. It is not a bad prison, but +it is one terrible place," said the baroness. "There is a big +wall; we cannot go beyond it." + +"And that hairy thing! He is in love with Louise. He swears he +will never let us go," said Louison, in a whisper, as she came +close to me, "unless--unless she will marry him." + +"Ah! a tea-party," said his Lordship, coming toward us. "Pardon +the interruption. I have promised to return these men at nine. It +is now ten minutes of the hour. Ladies, I wish you all a very good +night." + +He bowed politely. They pressed my hand, leaving me with such +anxiety in their faces that I felt it more than my own peril, +Louison gave me a tender look out of her fine eyes, and the thought +of it was a light to my soul in many an hour of darkness. She had +seemed so cool, so nonchalant, I was surprised to feel the tremor +in her nerves. I knew not words to say when Louise took my hand. + +"Forgive me--good-by!" said she. + +It was a faint whisper out of trembling lips. I could see her soul +in her face then. It was lighted with trouble and a nobler beauty +than I had ever seen. It was full of tenderness and pity and +things I could not understand. + +"Have courage!" I called as they went away. + +I was never in such a fierce temper as when, after they had gone +above-stairs, I could hear one of them weeping. D'ri stood quietly +beside me, his arms folded. + +"Whut ye goin' t' dew with them air women?" he asked, turning to +the young man. + +"I beg you will give me time to consider," said his Lordship, +calmly, as he lighted a cigarette. + +There was a quick move in the big tower of bone and muscle beside +me. I laid hold of D'ri's elbow and bade him stop, or I fear his +Lordship's drawing-room, his Lordship, and ourselves would +presently have had some need of repair. Four guards who seemed to +be waiting in the hall entered hurriedly, the shackles in hand. + +"No haste," said his Lordship, more pleasantly than ever. "Stand +by and wait my orders." + +"D' ye wan' t' know whut I think o' you?" said D'ri, looking down +at him, his eyes opening wide, his brow wrinkling into long furrows. + +"I make a condition," said his Lordship: "do not flatter me." + +"Yer jest a low-lived, mis'able, wuthless pup," said D'ri, + +"Away with them!" said his Lordship, flicking the ashes off a +cigarette as he rose and walked hurriedly out of the room. + + + + +XIII + +The waiting guards laid hold of us in a twinkling, and others came +crowding the doors. They shackled our hands behind us, and covered +our eyes again. Dark misgivings of what was to come filled me, but +I bore all in silence. They shoved us roughly out of doors, and +there I could tell they were up to no child's play. A loud jeer +burst from the mouths of many as we came staggering out. I could +hear the voices of a crowd. They hurried us into a carriage. + +"We demand the prisoners!" a man shouted near me. + +Then I could hear them scuffling with the guards, who, I doubt not, +were doing their best to hold them back. In a moment I knew the +mob had possession of us and the soldiers were being hustled away. +D'ri sat shoulder to shoulder with me. I could feel his muscles +tighten; I could hear the cracking of his joints and the grinding +of the shackle-chain. "Judas Pr-r-i-e-st!" he grunted, straining +at the iron. Two men leaped into the carriage. There was a crack +of the whip, and the horses went off bounding. We could hear +horsemen all about us and wagons following. I had a stout heart in +me those days, but in all my life I had never taken a ride so +little to my liking. We went over rough roads, up hill and down, +for an hour or more. + +I could see in prospect no better destination than our graves, and, +indeed, I was not far wrong. Well, by and by we came to a town +somewhere--God knows where. I have never seen it, or known the +name of it, or even that of the prison where we were first immured. +I could tell it was a town by the rumble of the wheels and each +echoing hoof-beat. The cavalcade was all about us, and now and +then we could hear the sound of voices far behind. The procession +slowed up, horsemen jammed to the left of us, the carriage halted. +I could hear footsteps on a stone pavement. + +"You're late," said a low voice at the carriage door. "It's near +eleven." + +"Lot o' fooling with the candidates," said one of the horsemen, +quietly. "Everything ready?" + +"Everything ready," was the answer. + +The carriage door swung open. + +"We get out here," said one of the men who sat with us. + +I alighted. On each side of me somebody put his hand to my +shoulder. I could see the glow of a lantern-light close to my +face. I knew there was a crowd of men around, but I could hear +nothing save now and then a whisper. + +"Wall, Ray," said D'ri, who stood by my side, "hol' stiddy 'n' +don't be scairt." + +"Do as they tell ye," a stranger whispered in my ear. "No matter +what 't is, do as they tell ye." + +They led us into a long passage and up a steep flight of wooden +stairs. I have learned since then it was a building equipped by a +well-known secret society for its initiations.[1] We went on +through a narrow hall and up a winding night that seemed to me +interminable. Above it, as we stopped, the man who was leading me +rapped thrice upon a rattling wooden door. It broke the silence +with a loud echoing noise. I could hear then the sliding of a +panel and a faint whispering and the sound of many feet ascending +the stairs below. The door swung open presently, and we were led +in where I could see no sign of any light. They took me alone +across a wide bare floor, where they set me down upon some sort of +platform and left me, as I thought. Then I could hear the +whispered challenge at the door and one after another entering and +crossing the bare floor on tiptoe. Hundreds were coming in, it +seemed to me. Suddenly a deep silence fell in that dark place of +evil. The blindfold went whisking off my head as if a ghostly hand +had taken it. But all around me was the darkness of the pit. I +could see and I could hear nothing but a faint whisper, high above +me, like that of pine boughs moving softly in a light breeze. I +could feel the air upon my face. I thought I must have been moved +out of doors by some magic. It seemed as if I were sitting under +trees alone. Out of the black silence an icy hand fell suddenly +upon my brow. I flinched, feeling it move slowly downward over my +shoulder. I could hear no breathing, no rustle of garments near +me. In that dead silence I got a feeling that the hand touching me +had no body behind it. I was beyond the reach of fear--I was in a +way prepared for anything but the deep, heart-shaking horror that +sank under the cold, damp touch of those fingers. They laid hold +of my elbow firmly, lifting as if to indicate that I was to rise. +I did so, moving forward passively as it drew me on. To my +astonishment I was unable to hear my own footfall or that of my +conductor. I thought we were walking upon soft earth. Crossing +our path in front of me I could see, in the darkness, a gleaming +line. We moved slowly, standing still as our toes covered it. +Then suddenly a light flashed from before and below us. A cold +sweat came out upon me; I staggered back to strong hands that were +laid upon my shoulders, forcing me to the line again. By that +flash of light I could see that I was standing on the very brink of +some black abyss--indeed, my toes had crossed the edge of it. The +light came again, flickering and then settling into a steady glow. +The opening seemed to have a grassy bottom some ten feet below. In +front of me the soil bristled, on that lower level, with some black +and pointed plant: there was at least a score of them. As I +looked, I saw they were not plants, but a square of bayonets +thrust, points up, in the ground. A curse came out of my hot +mouth, and then a dozen voices mocked it, going fainter, like a +dying echo. I heard a whisper in my ear. A tall figure in a +winding-sheet, its face covered, was leaning over me. + +"To hesitate is to die," it whispered. "Courage may save you." + +Then a skeleton hand came out of the winding-sheet, pointing down +at the square of bristling bayonets. The figure put its mouth to +my ear. + +"Jump!" it whispered, and the bare bones of the dead fingers +stirred impatiently. + +Some seconds of a brief silence followed. I could hear them slowly +dripping out of eternity in the tick of a watch near me. I felt +the stare of many eyes invisible to me. A broad beam of bright +light shot through the gloom, resting full upon my face. I started +back upon the strong hands behind me. Then I felt my muscles +tighten as I began to measure the fall and to wonder if I could +clear the bayonets. I had no doubt I was to die shortly, and it +mattered not to me how, bound as I was, so that it came soon. For +a breath of silence my soul went up to the feet of God for help and +hope. Then I bent my knees and leaped, I saw much as my body went +rushing through the air--an empty grave its heap of earth beside +it, an island of light, walled with candles, in a sea of gloom, +faces showing dimly in the edge of the darkness, "Thank God! I +shall clear the bayonets," I thought, and struck heavily upon a +soft mat, covered over with green turf, a little beyond that +bristling bed. I staggered backward, falling upon it. To my +surprise, it bent beneath me. They were no bayonets, but only +shells of painted paper. I got to my feet none the worse for +jumping, and as dumfounded as ever a man could be. I stood on a +lot of broken turf with which a wide floor had been overlaid. +Boards and timbers were cut away, and the grave dug beneath them. +I saw one face among others in the gloom beyond the candle +rows--that of his Lordship. He was coming up a little flight of +stairs to where I stood. He moved the candles, making a small +passage, and came up to me. + +"You're a brave man," said he, in that low, careless tone of his. + +"And you a coward," was my answer, for the sight of him had made me +burn with anger. + +"Don't commit yourself on a point like that," said he, quickly, +"for, you know, we are not well acquainted. I like your pluck, and +I offer you what is given to few here--an explanation." + +He paused, lighting a cigarette. I stood looking at him. The cold +politeness of manner with which he had taken my taunt, his perfect +self-mastery, filled me with wonder. He was no callow youth, that +man, whoever he might be. He was boring at the floor with the end +of a limber cane as he continued to address me. + +"Now, look here," he went on, with a little gesture of his left +hand, between the fingers of which a cigarette was burning. "You +are now in the temple of a patriotic society acting with no letters +patent, but in the good cause of his Most Excellent Majesty King +George III, to whom be health and happiness." + +As he spoke the name he raised his hat, and a cheer came from all +sides of us. + +"It is gathered this night," he continued, "to avenge the death of +Lord Ronley, a friend of his Majesty, and of many here present, and +an honored member of this order. For his death you, and you alone, +are responsible, and, we suspect, under circumstances of no credit +to your sword. Many of our people have been cut off from their +comrades and slain by cowardly stealth, have been led into ambush +and cruelly cut to pieces by an overwhelming number, have been shut +in prison and done to death by starvation or by stabs of a knife +there in your country. Not content with the weapons of a soldier, +you have even resorted to the barbarity of the poison-wasp. Pardon +me, but you Yankees do not seem to have any mercy or fairness for a +foe. We shall give you better treatment. You shall not be killed +like a rat in a trap. You shall have a chance for your life. Had +you halted, had you been a coward, you would not have been worthy +to fight in this arena. You would not have come where you are +standing, and possibly even now your grave would have been filled. +If you survive the ordeal that is to come, I hope it will prove an +example to you of the honor that is due to bravery, of the fairness +due a foe." + +Many voices spoke the word "Amen" as he stopped, turning to beckon +into the gloom about us. I was now quite over my confusion. I +began to look about me and get my bearings. I could hear a stir in +the crowd beyond the lights, and a murmur of voices. Reflecting +lanterns from many pillars near by shot their rays upon me. I +stood on a platform, some thirty feet square, in the middle of a +large room. Its floor was on a level with the faces of the many +who stood pressing to the row of lights, Here, I took it, I was to +fight for my life, I was looking at the yawning grave in the corner +of this arena, when four men ascended with swords and pistols. One +of them removed the shackles, letting my hands free. I thanked him +as he tossed them aside. I was thinking of D'ri, and, shading my +eyes, looked off in the gloom to see if I could discover him. I +called his name, but heard no answer. His Lordship came over to +me, bringing a new sword. He held the glittering blade before me, +its hilt in his right hand, its point resting on the fingers of his +left. "It's good," said he, quietly; "try it." + +It was a beautiful weapon, its guard and pommel and quillons +sparkling with wrought-silver, its grip of yellow leather laced +with blue silk. The glow and the feel of it filled me with a joy I +had not known since my father gave me the sword of my childhood. +It drove the despair out of me, and I was a new man. I tried the +blade, its point upon my toe. It was good metal, and the grip +fitted me. + +"Well, how do you find it?" said he, impatiently. + +"I am satisfied," was my reply. + +He helped me take off my blouse and waistcoat, and then I rolled my +sleeves to the elbow. The hum of voices had grown louder. I could +hear men offering to bet and others bantering for odds. + +"We'll know soon," said a voice near me, "whether he could have +killed Ronley in a fair fight." + +I turned to look at those few in the arena. There were half a +dozen of them now, surrounding my adversary, a man taller than the +rest, with a heavy neck and brawny arms and shoulders. He had come +out of the crowd unobserved by me. He also was stripped to the +shirt, and had rolled up his sleeves, and was trying the steel. He +had a red, bristling mustache and overhanging brows and a vulgar +face--not that of a man who settles his quarrel with the sword. I +judged a club or a dagger would have been better suited to his +genius. But, among fighters, it is easy to be fooled by a face. +In a moment the others had gone save his Lordship and that portly +bald-headed man I had heard him rebuke as "Sir Charles." My +adversary met me at the centre of the arena, where we shook hands. +I could see, or thought I could, that he was entering upon a +business new to him, for there was in his manner an indication of +unsteady nerves. + +"Gentlemen, are you ready?" said his Lordship. + +But there are reasons why the story of what came after should be +none of my telling. I leave it to other and better eyes that were +not looking between flashes of steel, as mine were. And then one +has never a fair view of his own fights. + + +[1] The intrepid Fitzgibbon, the most daring leader on the Canadian +frontier those days, told me long afterward that he knew the +building--a tall frame structure on the high shore of a tributary +of the St. Lawrence. It was built on a side of the bluff and used +originally as a depot for corn, oats, rye, and potatoes, that came +down the river in bateaux. The slide was a slanting box through +which the sacks of grain were conveyed to sloops and schooners +below. It did not pay and was soon abandoned, whereupon it was +rented by the secret order referred to above. The slide bottom was +coated with lard and used for the hazing of candidates. A prize +fight on the platform was generally a feature of the entertainment. +A man was severely injured in a leap on the bayonets, after which +that feature of the initiation was said to have been abandoned. + + + + +XIV + +This is the story of Corporal Darius Olin, touching his adventure +in the Temple of the Avengers, at some unknown place in Upper +Canada, on the night of August 12, 1813, and particularly the +ordeals of the sword, the slide, and the bayonet to which Captain +Ramon Bell was subjected that night, as told to Adjutant Asarius +Church, at Sackett's Harbor, New York:-- + + +"Soon es I see whut wus up, I gin a powerful lift on thet air +shackle-chain. I felt 'er give 'n' bust. A couple o' men clim' +int' the seat front uv us, 'n' the hosses started hell bent. I sot +up with my hands 'hind uv me 'n the wagin. I kep' 'em there tight +'n' stiff, es ef the iron wus holdin' uv 'em. Could n't git no +chance t' say nuthin' t' Ray. Hustled us upstairs, 'n' when we +come in t' thet air big room they tuk him one way an' me 'nother. + +"Didn't hev no idee where I wus. Felt 'em run a chain through my +arms, careful, efter they sot me down. I sot still fer mebbe five +minutes. Seemed so ev'rybody'd gone out o' the place. Could n't +hear nuthin' nowhere. I le' down the chain jest es ca-areful es I +could, 'n' tuk off the blindfold. 'Twas all dark; could n't see my +hand afore me. Crep' 'long the floor. See 't was covered with +sawdust. Tuk off m' boots, 'n' got up on m' feet, 'n' walked +careful. Did n' dast holler t' Ray. Cal'lated when the squabble +come I 'd be ready t' dew business. All t' once I felt a slant 'n +the floor. 'T was kind o' slip'ry, 'n' I begun t' slide. Feet +went out from under me 'n' sot me down quick. Tried t' ketch holt +o' suthin'. Could n't hang on; kep' goin' faster. Fust I knew I +'d slid int' some kind uv a box. Let me down quicker 'n scat over +thet air grease a little ways. I out with my tew hands 'n' bore +ag'in' the sides o' th' box powerful 'n' stopped myself. Then I up +with these here feet o' mine. See the top o' the box wa'n't much +more 'n a foot above me. Tried t' crawl up ag'in. Couldn't mek +it. Dum thing slanted luk Tup's Hill. Hung on awhile, cipherin' +es hard es I knew how. Hearn suthin' go kerslap. Seem so the hull +place trembled. Raised up my head, 'n' peeked over my stumick down +the box. A bar o' light stuck in away down. Let myself go careful +till I c'u'd see my nose in it. Then I got over on my shoulder 'n' +braced on the sides o' the box, back 'g'in' one side 'n' knees +'g'in' t'other. See 't was a knot-hole where the light come in, +'bout es big es a man's wrist. Peeked through, 'n' see a lot o' +lights 'n' folks, 'n' hearn 'em talkin'. Ray he stud on a platform +facin' a big, powerful-lookin' cuss. Hed their coats 'n' vests +off, 'n' sleeves rolled up, 'n' swords ready. See there wus goin' +t' be a fight. Hed t' snicker--wa'n' no way I c'u'd help it, fer, +Judas Priest! I knew dum well they wa'n't a single one of them air +Britishers c'u'd stan' 'fore 'im. Thet air mis'able spindlin' +devil I tol' ye 'bout--feller et hed the women--he stud back o' +Ray. Hed his hand up luk thet. 'Fight!' he says, 'n' they got t' +work, 'n' the crowd begun t' jam up 'n' holler. The big feller he +come et Ray es ef he wus goin' t' cut him in tew. Ray he tuk it +easy 'n' rassled the sword of the big chap round 'n' round es ef it +wus tied t' hisn. Fust I knew he med a quick lunge 'n' pricked 'im +'n the arm. Big chap wus a leetle shy then. Did n't come up t' +the scratch es smart 'n' sassy es he'd orter. Ray he went efter +'im hammer 'n' tongs. Thet air long slim waist o' hisn swayed 'n' +bent luk a stalk o' barley. He did luk joemightyful han'some--wish +'t ye c'u'd 'a' seen 'im thet air night. Hair wus jest es shiny es +gold 'n the light o' them candles. He 'd feint, an' t' other 'd +dodge. Judas Priest! seemed so he put the p'int o' the sword all +over thet air big cuss. C'u'd 'a' killed 'im a dozen times, but I +see he did n't want t' dew it. Kep' prickin' 'im ev'ry lunge 'n' +druv 'im off the boards--tumbled 'im head over heels int' the +crowd. Them air devils threw up their hats 'n' stomped 'n' +hollered powerful, es ef 't were mighty fun t' see a man cut t' +pieces. Wall, they tuk up another man, quicker 'n the fust, but he +wa'n' nowhere near s' big 'n' cordy. Wa'n't only one crack o' the +swords in thet air fight. Could n't hardly say Jack Robinson 'fore +the cuss hed fell. Ray hurt him bad, I guess, for they hed t' pick +'im up 'n' carry 'im off luk a baby. Guess the boy see 't he hed a +good many to lick, 'n' hed n't better waste no power a-foolin'. +All t' once thet air low-lived, spindlin', mis'able devil he come +t' the edge o' the platform 'n' helt up his hand. Soon 's they +stopped yellin' he says; 'Gentlemen,' he says, 'sorry t' tell ye +thet the man fer the next bout hes got away. We left him securely +fastened up 'n the fust chamber. Have hed the building searched, +but ain't able t' find him. He must hev gone down the slide. I am +sorry to say we hev no more Yankees. If this man fights any more +it will hev t' be a Britisher thet goes ag'in' 'im. Is there a +volunteer?' + +"Ray he runs up 'n' says suthin' right 'n his ear. Could n't hear +whut 'twus. Did n' set well. T' other feller he flew mad, 'n' +Ray he fetched 'im a cuff, luk thet, with the back uv his hand. Ye +see, he did n' know he hed been a-fightin' Yankees, 'n' he did n' +like the idee. 'Gentlemen,' says he, 'I 'll fight anybody, but ef +this chap ain't a coward, he 'll fight me himself.' T'other feller +he off with his coat 'n' vest es quick es a flash 'n' picked up a +sword. 'Fight, then, ye cub!' says he; an' they flew at each other +hell bent fer 'lection. He wa'n' no fool with a sword, nuther, I +can tell ye, thet air spindlin' cuss. I see Ray hed his han's +full. But he wus jest es cool es a green cowcumber, eggzac'ly. +Kep' a-cuffin' t' other sword, 'n' let 'im hit 'n' lunge 'n' feint +es much es he pleased. See he wus jest a-gettin' his measure, 'n' +I knew suthin' wus goin' t' happen purty quick. Fust I knew he +ketched Ray by the shirtsleeve with the p'int uv 'is sword 'n' +ripped it t' the collar. Scairt me so I bit my tongue watchin' uv +'em. They got locked, 'n' both swords came up t' the hilts +t'gether with a swish 'n' a bang luk thet. The blades clung, 'n' +they backed off. Then Ray he begun t' feint 'n' lunge 'n' hustle +'im. Quicker 'n scat he gin 'im an awful prick 'n the shoulder. I +c'u'd see the blood come, but they kep' a-goin' back 'n' forth 'n' +up 'n' down desperit. The red streak on thet air feller's shirt +kep' a-growin'. Purty quick one side uv 'im wus red an' t' other +white. See he wus gettin' weaker 'n' weaker. Ray c'u'd 'a' +split 'im t' the navel ef he'd only hed a min' tew. All t' once he +med a jab at Ray, 'n' threw up 'is han's, 'n' went back a step er +tew, luk a boss with th' blin' staggers, 'n' tumbled head over +heels in thet air open grave. There wus hell t' pay fer a minute. +Lot on 'em clim' over the row o' lights, yellin' luk wildcats, 'n' +hauled thet air mis'able cuss out o' the grave, 'n' stud 'im up, +'n' gin 'im a drink o' liquor. In half a minute he up with his +han'kerchief 'n' waved it over 'is head t' mek 'em keep still. +Soon 's they wus quiet he up 'n' he says: 'Gentlemen,' says he, +'this 'ere chap hes stood the test o' the sword. Are ye +satisfied?' 'We are,' says they--ev'ry British son uv a gun they +wus there up 'n' hollered, 'Then,' says he, 'giv' 'im th' slide.' + +"Ray he put down 'is sword 'n' picked up 'is coat 'n' vest. Then +they grabbed th' lights, 'n' thet 's th' last I see on' em there. +Purty quick 'twus all dark. Hearn 'em comin' upstairs 'n goin' +'cross th' floor over my head. 'Gun t' think o' myself a leetle +bit then. Knowed I was in thet air slide, an' hed t' le' go purty +quick. Hed n't no idee where it went tew, but I cal'lated I wus +middlin' sure t' know 'fore long. Knowed when I le' go I wus goin' +t' dew some tall slippin' over thet air greased bottom. See a +light come down th' box 'n a minute. Hearn somebody speakin' there +et the upper end. + +"'This 'ere's th' las' test o' yer courage,' says a man, says he; +'few comes here alive 'n' sound es you be. Ye wus a doomed man. +Ye 'd hev been shot at daylight, but we gin ye a chance fer yer +life. So fur ye 've proved yerself wuthy. Ef ye hold yer courage, +ye may yit live. Ef ye flinch, ye 'll land in heaven. Ef yer life +is spared, remember how we honor courage.' + +"Then they gin 'im a shove, 'n' I hearn 'im a-comin'. I flopped +over 'n' le' go. Shot away luk a streak o' lightnin'. Dum thing +grew steeper 'n' steeper. Jes' hel' up my ban's 'n' let 'er go +lickitty split. Jerushy Jane Pepper! jes' luk comin' down a +greased pole. Come near tekin' my breath away--did sart'n. Went +out o' thet air thing luk a bullet eggzac'ly. Shot int' the air +feet foremust. Purty fair slidin' up in the air 'most anywheres, +ye know. Alwus come down by the nighest way. 'T was darker 'n +pitch; could n't see a thing, nut a thing. Hearn Ray come out o' +the box 'bove me. Then I come down k'slap in th' water 'n' sunk. +Thought I 'd never stop goin' down. 'Fore I come up I hearn Ray +rip int' th' water nigh me. I come up 'n' shook my head, 'n' +waited. Judas Priest! thought he wus drownded, sart'n. Seemed so +I 'd bust out 'n' cry there 'n th' water waitin' fer thet air boy. +Soon es I hearn a flop I hed my han's on 'im. + +"'Who be you?' says he. + +"'D'ri,' says I. + +"'Tired out,' says he; 'can't swim a stroke. Guess I 'll hev t' go +t' th' bottom.'" + + + + +XV + +D'ri's narrative was the talk of the garrison. Those who heard the +telling, as I did not, were fond of quoting its odd phrases, and of +describing how D'ri would thrust and parry with his jack-knife in +the story of the bouts. + +The mystery of that plunge into darkness and invisible water was a +trial to my nerves the like of which I had never suffered. After +they had pulled his Lordship out of the grave, and I knew there +would be no more fighting, I began to feel the strain he had put +upon me. He was not so strong as D'ri, but I had never stood +before a quicker man. His blade was as full of life and cunning as +a cat's paw, and he tired me. When I went under water I felt sure +it was all over, for I was sick and faint. I had been thinking of +D'ri in that quick descent. I wondered if he was the man who had +got away and gone down the slide. I was not the less amazed, +however, to feel his strong hand upon me as I came up. I knew +nothing for a time. D'ri has told me often how he bore me up in +rapid water until he came into an eddy where he could touch bottom. +There, presently, I got back my senses and stood leaning on his +broad shoulder awhile. A wind was blowing, and we could hear a +boat jumping in the ripples near by. We could see nothing, it was +so dark, but D'ri left me, feeling his way slowly, and soon found +the boat. He whistled to me, and I made my way to him. There were +oars in the bottom of the boat. D'ri helped me in, where I lay +back with a mighty sense of relief. Then he hauled in a rope and +anchor, and shoved off. The boat, overrunning the flow in a +moment, shot away rapidly. I could feel it take headway as we +clove the murmuring waters. D'ri set the oars and helped it on. I +lay awhile thinking of all the blood and horror in that black +night--like a dream of evil that leads through dim regions of +silence into the shadow of death. I thought of the hinted peril of +the slide that was to be the punishment of poor courage. + +D'ri had a plausible theory of the slide. He said that if we had +clung to the sides of it to break our speed we 'd have gone down +like a plummet and shattered our bones on a rocky shore. Coming +fast, our bodies leaped far into the air and fell to deep water. +How long I lay there thinking, as I rested, I have no satisfactory +notion. Louise and Louison came into my thoughts, and a plan of +rescue. A rush of cavalry and reeking swords, a dash for the +boats, with a flying horse under each fair lady, were in that +moving vision. But where should we find them? for I knew not the +name of that country out of which we had come by ways of darkness +and peril. The old query came to me, If I had to choose between +them, which should I take? There was as much of the old doubt in +me as ever. For a verity, I loved them both, and would die for +either. I opened my eyes at last, and, rising, my hands upon the +gunwales, could dimly see the great shoulders of D'ri swaying back +and forth as he rowed. The coming dawn had shot an arrow into the +great, black sphere of night, cracking it from circumference to +core, and floods of light shortly came pouring in, sweeping down +bridges of darkness, gates of gloom, and massy walls of shadow. We +were in the middle of a broad river--the St. Lawrence, we knew, +albeit the shores were unfamiliar to either of us. The sunlight +stuck in the ripples, and the breeze fanned them into flowing fire. +The morning lighted the green hills of my native land with a mighty +splendor. A new life and a great joy came to me as I filled my +lungs with the sweet air. D'ri pulled into a cove, and neither +could speak for a little. He turned, looking out upon the river, +and brushed a tear off his brown cheek. + +"No use talking" said he, in a low tone, as the bow hit the shore, +"ain' no country luk this 'un, don' care where ye go." + +As the oars lay still, we could hear in the far timber a call of +fife and drum. Listening, we heard the faint familiar strains of +"Yankee Doodle." We came ashore in silence, and I hugged the +nearest tree, and was not able to say the "Thank God!" that fell +from my lips only half spoken. + + + + +XVI + +We got our bearings, a pair of boots for D'ri, and a hearty meal in +the cabin of a settler. The good man was unfamiliar with the upper +shore, and we got no help in our mystery. Starting west, in the +woods, on our way to the Harbor, we stopped here and there to +listen, but heard only wood-thrush and partridge--the fife and drum +of nature. That other music had gone out of hearing. We had no +compass, but D'ri knew the forest as a crow knows the air. He knew +the language of the trees and the brooks. The feel of the bark and +what he called "the lean of the timber" told him which way was +south. River and stream had a way of telling him whence they had +come and where they were going, but he had no understanding of a +map. I remember, after we had come to the Harbor at dusk and told +our story, the general asked him to indicate our landing-place and +our journey home on a big map at headquarters. D'ri studied the +map a brief while. There was a look of embarrassment on his sober +face. + +"Seems so we come ashore 'bout here," said he, dropping the middle +finger of his right hand in the vicinity of Quebec. "Then we +travelled aw-a-a-ay hellwards over 'n this 'ere direction." With +that illuminating remark he had slid his finger over some two +hundred leagues of country from Quebec to Michigan. + +They met us with honest joy and no little surprise that evening as +we came into camp. Ten of our comrades had returned, but as for +ourselves, they thought us in for a long stay. We said little of +what we had gone through, outside the small office at headquarters, +but somehow it began to travel, passing quickly from mouth to +mouth, until it got to the newspapers and began to stir the tongue +of each raw recruit. General Brown was there that evening, and had +for me, as always, the warm heart of a father. He heard our report +with a kindly sympathy. + +Next morning I rode away to see the Comte de Chaumont at +Leraysville. I had my life, and a great reason to be thankful, but +there were lives dearer than my own to me, and they were yet in +peril. Those dear faces haunted me and filled my sleep with +trouble. I rode fast, reaching the chateau at luncheon time. The +count was reading in a rustic chair at the big gate. He came +running to me, his face red with excitement. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine!" he cried, my hand in both of his, "I +thought you were dead." + +"And so I have been--dead as a cat drowned in a well, that turns up +again as lively as ever. Any news of the baroness and the young +ladies?" + +"A letter," said he. "Come, get off your horse. I shall read to +you the letter." + +"Tell me--how were they taken?" + +I was leading my horse, and we were walking through the deep grove. + +"Eh bien, I am not able to tell," said he, shaking his head +soberly. "You remember that morning--well, I have twenty men there +for two days. They are armed, they surround the Hermitage, they +keep a good watch. The wasp he is very troublesome, but they see +no soldier. They stay, they burn the smudge. By and by I think +there is nothing to fear, and I bring them home, but I leave three +men. The baroness and the two girls and their servants they stay +awhile to pack the trunk. They are coming to the chateau. It is +in the evening; the coach is at the door; the servants have +started. Suddenly--the British! I do not know how many. They +come out of the woods like a lightning, and bang! bang! bang! they +have killed my men. They take the baroness and the Misses de +Lambert, and they drive away with them. The servants they hear the +shots, they return, they come, and they tell us. We follow. We +find the coach; it is in the road, by the north trail. Dieu! they +are all gone! We travel to the river, but--" here he lifted his +shoulders and shook his head dolefully--"we could do nothing." + +"The general may let me go after them with a force of cavalry," I +said. "I want you to come with me and talk to him." + +"No, no, my capitaine!" said he; "it would not be wise. We must +wait. We do not know where they are. I have friends in Canada; +they are doing their best, and when we hear from them--eh bien, we +shall know what is necessary." + +I told him how I had met them that night in Canada, and what came +of it. + +"They are a cruel people, the English," said he. "I am afraid to +find them will be a matter of great difficulty." + +"But the letter--" + +"Ah, the letter," he interrupted, feeling in his pocket. "The +letter is not much. It is from Tiptoes--from Louison. It was +mailed this side of the river at Morristown. You shall see; they +do not know where they are." + +He handed me the letter. I read it with an eagerness I could not +conceal. It went as follows:-- + + +"MY DEAR COUNT: If this letter reaches you, it will, I hope, +relieve your anxiety. We are alive and well, but where? I am sure +I have no better idea than if I were a baby just born. We came +here with our eyes covered after a long ride from the river, which +we crossed in the night. I think it must have taken us three days +to come here. We are shut up in a big house with high walls and +trees and gardens around it--a beautiful place. We have fine beds +and everything to eat, only we miss the bouillabaisse, and the +jokes of M. Pidgeon, and the fine old claret. A fat Englishwoman +who waddles around like a big goose and who calls me Mumm (as if I +were a wine-maker!) waits upon us. We do not know the name of our +host. He is a tall man who says little and has hair on his neck +and on the back of his hands. Dieu! he is a lord who talks as if +he were too lazy to breathe. It is 'Your Lordship this' and 'Your +Lordship that.' But I must speak well of him, because he is going +to read this letter: it is on that condition I am permitted to +write. Therefore I say he is a great and good man, a beautiful +man. The baroness and Louise send love to all. Madame says do not +worry; we shall come out all right: but I say _worry_! and, good +man, do not cease to worry until we are safe home. Tell the cure +he has something to do now. I have worn out my rosary, and am +losing faith. Tell him to try his. + + "Your affectionate + "LOUISON." + +"She is an odd girl," said the count, as I gave back the letter, +"so full of fun, so happy, so bright, so quick--always on her +tiptoes. Come, you are tired; you have ridden far in the dust. I +shall make you glad to be here." + +A groom took my horse, and the count led me down a wooded slope to +the lakeside. Octagonal water-houses, painted white, lay floating +at anchor near us. He rowed me to one of them for a bath. Inside +was a rug and a table and soap and linen. A broad panel on a side +of the floor came up as I pulled a cord, showing water clear and +luminous to the sandy lake-bottom. The glow of the noonday filled +the lake to its shores, and in a moment I clove the sunlit +depths--a rare delight after my long, hot ride. + +At luncheon we talked of the war, and he made much complaint of the +Northern army, as did everybody those days. + +"My boy," said he, "you should join Perry on the second lake. It +is your only chance to fight, to win glory." + +He told me then of the impending battle and of Perry's great need +of men. I had read of the sea-fighting and longed for a part in +it. To climb on hostile decks and fight hand to hand was a thing +to my fancy. Ah, well! I was young then. At the count's table +that day I determined to go, if I could get leave. + +Therese and a young Parisienne, her friend, were at luncheon with +us. They bade us adieu and went away for a gallop as we took +cigars. We had no sooner left the dining room than I called for my +horse. Due at the Harbor that evening, I could give myself no +longer to the fine hospitality of the count. In a few moments I +was bounding over the road, now cool in deep forest shadows. A +little way on I overtook Therese and the Parisienne. The former +called to me as I passed. I drew rein, coming back and stopping +beside her. The other went on at a walk. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine, have you any news of them--of Louise and +Louison?" she inquired. "You and my father were so busy talking I +could not ask you before." + +"I know this only: they are in captivity somewhere, I cannot tell +where." + +"You look worried, M'sieur le Capitaine; you have not the happy +face, the merry look, any longer. In June you were a boy, in +August--voila! it is a man! Perhaps you are preparing for the +ministry." + +She assumed a solemn look, glancing up at me as if in mockery of my +sober face. She was a slim, fine brunette, who, as I knew, had +long been a confidante of Louison. + +"Alas! ma'm'selle, I am worried. I have no longer any peace." + +"Do you miss them?" she inquired, a knowing look in her handsome +eyes. "Do not think me impertinent." + +"More than I miss my mother," I said. + +"I have a letter," said she, smiling. "I do not know--I thought I +should show it to you, but--but not to-day." + +"Is it from them?" + +"It is from Louison--from Tiptoes." + +"And--and it speaks of me?" + +"Ah, m'sieur," said she, arching her brows, "it has indeed much to +say of you." + +"And--and may I not see it?" I asked eagerly. "Ma'm'selle, I tell +you I--I must see it." + +"Why?" She stirred the mane of her horse with a red riding-whip. + +"Why not?" I inquired, my heart beating fast. + +"If I knew--if I were justified--you know I am her friend. I know +all her secrets." + +"Will you not be my friend also?" I interrupted. + +"A friend of Louison, he is mine," said she. + +"Ah, ma'm'selle, then I confess to you--it is because I love her." + +"I knew it; I am no fool," was her answer. "But I had to hear it +from you. It is a remarkable thing to do, but they are in such +peril. I think you ought to know." + +She took the letter from her bosom, passing it to my hand. A faint +odor of violets came with it. It read:-- + + +"MY DEAR THERESE: I wish I could see you, if only for an hour. I +have so much to say. I have written your father of our prison +home. I am going to write you of my troubles. You know what we +were talking about the last time I saw you--myself and that +handsome fellow. Mon Dieu! I shall not name him. It is not +necessary. Well, you were right, my dear. I was a fool; I laughed +at your warning; I did not know the meaning of that delicious pain. +But oh, my dear friend, it has become a terrible thing since I know +I may never see him again. My heart is breaking with it. Mere de +Dieu! I can no longer laugh or jest or pretend to be happy. What +shall I say? That I had rather die than live without him? No; +that is not enough. I had rather be an old maid and live only with +the thought of _him_ than marry another, if he were a king. I +remember those words of yours, 'I know he loves you.' Oh, my dear +Therese, what a comfort they are to me now! I repeat them often. +If _I_ could only say, 'I know'! Alas! I can but say, 'I do not +know,' nay, even, 'I do not believe.' If I had not been a fool I +should have made him tell me, for I had him over his ears in love +with me one day, or I am no judge of a man. But, you know, they +are so fickle! And then the Yankee girls are pretty and so clever. +Well, they shall not have him if I can help it. When I return +there shall be war, if necessary, between France and America. +And, Therese, you know I have weapons, and you have done me the +honor to say I know how to use them. I have told Louise, and--what +do you think?--the poor thing cried an hour--for pity of me! As +ever, she makes my trouble her own. I have been selfish always, +but I know the cure. It is love--toujours l'amour. Now I think +only of him, and he recalls you and your sweet words. God make you +a true prophet! With love to you and the marquis, I kiss each +line, praying for happiness for you and for him. Believe me as +ever, + + "Your affectionate + "LOUISON. + +"P.S. I feel better now I have told you. I wonder what his +Lordship will say. Poor thing! he will read this; he will think me +a fool. Eh bien, I have no better thought of him. He can put me +under lock and key, but he shall not imprison my secrets; and, if +they bore him, he should not read my letters. L." + + +I read it thrice, and held it for a moment to my lips. Every word +stung me with the sweet pain that afflicted its author. I could +feel my cheeks burning. + +"Ma'm'selle, pardon me; it is not I she refers to. She does not +say whom." + +"Surely," said Therese, flirting her whip and lifting her +shoulders. "M'sieur Le Capitaine is never a stupid man. You--you +should say something very nice now." + +"If it is I--thank God! Her misery is my delight, her liberation +my one purpose." + +"And my congratulations," said she, giving me her hand. "She has +wit and beauty, a true heart, a great fortune, and--good luck in +having your love." + +I raised my hat, blushing to the roots of my hair. + +"It is a pretty compliment," I said. "And--and I have no gift of +speech to thank you. I am not a match for you except in my love of +kindness and--and of Louison. You have made me happier than I have +been before." + +"If I have made you alert, ingenious, determined, I am content," +was her answer. "I know you have courage." + +"And will to use it." + +"Good luck and adieu!" said she, with a fine flourish of her whip; +those people had always a pretty politeness of manner. + +"Adieu," I said, lifting my hat as I rode off, with a prick of the +spur, for the road was long and I had lost quite half an hour. + +My elation gave way to sober thought presently. I began to think +of Louise--that quiet, frank, noble, beautiful, great-hearted girl, +who might be suffering what trouble I knew not, and all silently, +there in her prison home. A sadness grew in me, and then suddenly +I saw the shadow of great trouble. I loved them both; I knew not +which I loved the better. Yet this interview had almost committed +me to Louison. + + + + +XVII + +Orders came shortly from the War Department providing a detail to +go and help man the guns of Perry at Put-in Bay. I had the honor +of leading them on the journey and turning them over to the young +Captain. I could not bear to be lying idle at the garrison. A +thought of those in captivity was with me night and day, but I +could do nothing for them. I had had a friendly talk with General +Brown. He invited and received my confidence touching the tender +solicitude I was unable to cover. I laid before him the plan of an +expedition. He smiled, puffing a cigar thoughtfully. + +"Reckless folly, Bell," said he, after a moment. "You are young +and lucky. If you were flung in the broad water there with a +millstone tied to your neck, I should not be surprised to see you +turn up again. My young friend, to start off with no destination +but Canada is too much even for you. We have no men to waste. +Wait; a rusting sabre is better than a hole in the heart. There +will be good work for you in a few days, I hope." + +And there was--the job of which I have spoken, that came to me +through his kind offices. We set sail in a schooner one bright +morning,--D'ri and I and thirty others,--bound for Two-Mile Creek. +Horses were waiting for us there. We mounted them, and made the +long journey overland--a ride through wood and swale on a road worn +by the wagons of the emigrant, who, even then, was pushing westward +to the fertile valleys of Ohio. It was hard travelling, but that +was the heyday of my youth, and the bird music, and the many voices +of a waning summer in field and forest, were somehow in harmony +with the great song of my heart. In the middle of the afternoon of +September 6, we came to the Bay, and pulled up at headquarters, a +two-story frame building on a high shore. There were wooded +islands in the offing, and between them we could see the +fleet--nine vessels, big and little. + +I turned over the men, who were taken to the ships immediately and +put under drill. Surgeon Usher of the _Lawrence_ and a young +midshipman rowed me to Gibraltar Island, well out in the harbor, +where the surgeon presented me to Perry--a tall, shapely man, with +dark hair and eyes, and ears hidden by heavy tufts of beard. He +stood on a rocky point high above the water, a glass to his eye, +looking seaward. His youth surprised me: he was then twenty-eight. +I had read much of him and was looking for an older man. He +received me kindly: he had a fine dignity and gentle manners. +Somewhere he had read of that scrape of mine--the last one there +among the Avengers. He gave my hand a squeeze and my sword a +compliment I have not yet forgotten, assuring me of his pleasure +that I was to be with him awhile. The greeting over, we rowed away +to the _Lawrence_. She was chopping lazily at anchor in a light +breeze, her sails loose. Her crew cheered their commander as we +came under the frowning guns. + +"They 're tired of waiting," said he; "they 're looking for +business when I come aboard." + +He showed me over the clean decks: it was all as clean as a Puritan +parlor. + +"Captain," said he, "tie yourself to that big bow gun. It's the +modern sling of David, only its pebble is big as a rock. Learn how +to handle it, and you may take a fling at the British some day." + +He put D'ri in my squad, as I requested, leaving me with the +gunners. I went to work at once, and knew shortly how to handle +the big machine. D'ri and I convinced the captain with no +difficulty that we were fit for a fight so soon as it might come. + +It came sooner than we expected. The cry of "Sail ho!" woke me +early one morning. It was the 10th of September. The enemy was +coming. Sails were sticking out of the misty dawn a few miles +away. In a moment our decks were black and noisy with the hundred +and two that manned the vessel. It was every hand to rope and +windlass then. Sails went up with a snap all around us, and the +creak of blocks sounded far and near. In twelve minutes we were +under way, leading the van to battle. The sun came up, lighting +the great towers of canvas. Every vessel was now feeling for the +wind, some with oars and sweeps to aid them. A light breeze came +out of the southwest. Perry stood near me, his hat in his hand. +He was looking back at the Niagara. + +"Run to the leeward of the islands," said he to the sailing-master. + +"Then you 'll have to fight to the leeward," said the latter. + +"Don't care, so long as we fight," said Perry. "Windward or +leeward, we want to fight." + +Then came the signal to change our course. The wind shifting to +the southeast, we were all able to clear the islands and keep the +weather-gage. A cloud came over the sun; far away the mist +thickened. The enemy wallowed to the topsails, and went out of +sight. We had lost the wind. Our sails went limp; flag and +pennant hung lifeless. A light rain drizzled down, breaking the +smooth plane of water into crowding rings and bubbles. Perry stood +out in the drizzle as we lay waiting. All eyes were turning to the +sky and to Perry. He had a look of worry and disgust. He was out +for a quarrel, though the surgeon said he was in more need of +physic, having the fever of malaria as well as that of war. He +stood there, tall and handsome, in a loose jacket of blue nankeen, +with no sign of weakness in him, his eyes flashing as he looked up +at the sky. + +D'ri and I stood in the squad at the bow gun. D'ri was wearing an +old straw hat; his flannel shirt was open at the collar. + +"Ship stan's luk an ol' cow chawin' 'er cud," said he, looking off +at the weather. "They's a win' comin' over there. It 'll give 'er +a slap 'n th' side purty soon, mebbe. Then she 'll switch 'er tail +'n' go on 'bout 'er business." + +In a moment we heard a roaring cheer back amidships. Perry had +come up the companionway with his blue battle-flag. He held it +before him at arm's-length. I could see a part of its legend, in +white letters, "Don't give up the ship." + +"My brave lads," he shouted, "shall we hoist it?" + +Our "Ay, ay, sir!" could have been heard a mile away, and the flag +rose, above tossing hats and howling voices, to the mainroyal +masthead. + +The wind came; we could hear the sails snap and stiffen as it +overhauled the fleet behind us. In a jiffy it bunted our own hull +and canvas, and again we began to plough the water. It grew into a +smart breeze, and scattered the fleet of clouds that hovered over +us. The rain passed; sunlight sparkled on the rippling plane of +water. We could now see the enemy; he had hove to, and was waiting +for us in a line. A crowd was gathering on the high shores we had +left to see the battle. We were well in advance, crowding our +canvas in a good breeze. I could hear only the roaring furrows of +water on each side of the prow. Every man of us held his tongue, +mentally trimming ship, as they say, for whatever might come. +Three men scuffed by, sanding the decks. D'ri was leaning placidly +over the big gun. He looked off at the white line, squinted +knowingly, and spat over the bulwarks. Then he straightened up, +tilting his hat to his right ear. + +"They 're p'intin' their guns," said a swabber. + +"Fust they know they'll git spit on," said D'ri, calmly. + +Well, for two hours it was all creeping and talking under the +breath, and here and there an oath as some nervous chap tightened +the ropes of his resolution. Then suddenly, as we swung about, a +murmur went up and down the deck. We could see with our naked eyes +the men who were to give us battle. Perry shouted sternly to some +gunners who thought it high time to fire. Then word came: there +would be no firing until we got close. Little gusts of music came +chasing over the water faint-footed to our decks--a band playing +"Rule Britannia." I was looking at a brig in the line of the enemy +when a bolt of fire leaped out of her and thick belches of smoke +rushed to her topsails. Then something hit the sea near by a great +hissing slap, and we turned quickly to see chunks of the shattered +lake surface fly up in nets of spray and fall roaring on our deck. +We were all drenched there at the bow gun. I remember some of +those water-drops had the sting of hard-flung pebbles, but we only +bent our heads, waiting eagerly for the word to fire. + +"We was th' ones 'at got spit on," said a gunner, looking at D'ri. + +"Wish they'd let us holler back," said the latter, placidly. "Sick +o' holdin' in." + +We kept fanning down upon the enemy, now little more than a mile +away, signalling the fleet to follow. + +"My God! see there!" a gunner shouted. + +The British line had turned into a reeling, whirling ridge of smoke +lifting over spurts of flame at the bottom. We knew what was +coming. Untried in the perils of shot and shell, some of my +gunners stooped to cover under the bulwarks. + +"Pull 'em out o' there," I called, turning to D'ri, who stood +beside me. + +The storm of iron hit us. A heavy ball crashed into the after +bulwarks, tearing them away and slamming over gun and carriage, +that slid a space, grinding the gunners under it. One end of a +bowline whipped over us; a jib dropped; a brace fell crawling over +my shoulders like a big snake; the foremast went into splinters a +few feet above the deck, its top falling over, its canvas sagging +in great folds. It was all the work of a second. That hasty +flight of iron, coming out of the air, thick as a flock of pigeons, +had gone through hull and rigging in a wink of the eye. And a fine +mess it had made. + +Men lay scattered along the deck, bleeding, yelling, struggling. +There were two lying near us with blood spurting out of their +necks. One rose upon a knee, choking horribly, shaken with the +last throes of his flooded heart, and reeled over. The _Scorpion_ +of our fleet had got her guns in action; the little _Ariel_ was +also firing. D'ri leaned over, shouting in my ear. + +"Don't like th' way they 're whalin' uv us," he said, his cheeks +red with anger. + +"Nor I," was my answer. + +"Don't like t' stan' here an' dew nuthin' but git licked," he went +on. "'T ain' no way nat'ral." + +Perry came hurrying forward. + +"Fire!" he commanded, with a quick gesture, and we began to warm up +our big twenty-pounder there in the bow. But the deadly scuds of +iron kept flying over and upon our deck, bursting into awful +showers of bolt and chain and spike and hammerheads. We saw +shortly that our brig was badly out of gear. She began to drift to +leeward, and being unable to aim at the enemy, we could make no use +of the bow gun. Every brace and bowline cut away, her canvas torn +to rags, her hull shot through, and half her men dead or wounded, +she was, indeed, a sorry sight. The _Niagara_ went by on the safe +side of us, heedless of our plight. Perry stood near, cursing as +he looked off at her. Two of my gunners had been hurt by bursting +canister. D'ri and I picked them up, and made for the cockpit. +D'ri's man kept howling and kicking. As we hurried over the bloody +deck, there came a mighty crash beside us and a burst of old iron +that tumbled me to my knees. + +A cloud of smoke covered us. I felt the man I bore struggle and +then go limp in my arms; I felt my knees getting warm and wet. The +smoke rose; the tall, herculean back of D'ri was just ahead of me. +His sleeve had been ripped away from shoulder to elbow, and a spray +of blood from his upper arm was flying back upon me. His hat crown +had been torn off, and there was a big rent in his trousers, but he +kept going, I saw my man had been killed in my arms by a piece of +chain, buried to its last link in his breast. I was so confused by +the shock of it all that I had not the sense to lay him down, but +followed D'ri to the cockpit. He stumbled on the stairs, falling +heavily with his burden. Then I dropped my poor gunner and helped +them carry D'ri to a table, where they bade me lie down beside him. + +"It is no time for jesting," said I, with some dignity. + +"My dear fellow," the surgeon answered, "your wound is no jest. +You are not fit for duty." + +I looked down at the big hole in my trousers and the cut in my +thigh, of which I had known nothing until then. I had no sooner +seen it and the blood than I saw that I also was in some need of +repair, and lay down with a quick sense of faintness. My wound was +no pretty thing to see, but was of little consequence, a missile +having torn the surface only. I was able to help Surgeon Usher as +he caught the severed veins and bathed the bloody strands of muscle +in D'ri's arm, while another dressed my thigh. That room was full +of the wounded, some lying on the floor, some standing, some +stretched upon cots and tables. Every moment they were crowding +down the companionway with others. The cannonading was now so +close and heavy that it gave me an ache in the ears, but above its +quaking thunder I could hear the shrill cries of men sinking to +hasty death in the grip of pain. The brig was in sore distress, +her timbers creaking, snapping, quivering, like one being beaten to +death, his bones cracking, his muscles pulping under heavy blows. +We were above water-line there in the cockpit; we could feel her +flinch and stagger. On her side there came suddenly a crushing +blow, as if some great hammer, swung far in the sky, had come down +upon her. I could hear the split and break of heavy timbers; I +could see splinters flying over me in a rush of smoke, and the legs +of a man go bumping on the beams above. Then came another crash of +timbers on the port side. I leaped off the table and ran, limping, +to the deck, I do not know why; I was driven by some quick and +irresistible impulse. I was near out of my head, anyway, with the +rage of battle in me and no chance to fight. Well, suddenly, I +found myself stumbling, with drawn sabre, over heaps of the hurt +and dead there on our reeking deck. It was a horrible place: +everything tipped over, man and gun and mast and bulwark. The air +was full of smoke, but near me I could see a topsail of the enemy. +Balls were now plunging in the water alongside, the spray drenching +our deck. Some poor man lying low among the dead caught me by the +boot-leg with an appealing gesture. I took hold of his collar, +dragging him to the cockpit. The surgeon had just finished with +D'ri. His arm was now in sling and bandages. He was lying on his +back, the good arm over his face. There was a lull in the +cannonading. I went quickly to his side. + +"How are you feeling?" I asked, giving his hand a good grip. + +"Nuthin' t' brag uv," he answered. "Never see nobody git hell rose +with 'em s' quick es we did--never." + +Just then we heard the voice of Perry. He stood on the stairs +calling into the cockpit. + +"Can any wounded man below there pull a rope?" he shouted. + +D'ri was on his feet in a jiffy, and we were both clambering to the +deck as another scud of junk went over us. Perry was trying, with +block and tackle, to mount a carronade. A handful of men were +helping him, D'ri rushed to the ropes, I following, and we both +pulled with a will. A sailor who had been hit in the legs hobbled +up, asking for room on the rope. I told him he could be of no use, +but he spat an oath, and pointing at my leg, which was now +bleeding, swore he was sounder than I, and put up his fists to +prove it. I have seen no better show of pluck in all my fighting, +nor any that ever gave me a greater pride of my own people and my +country. War is a great evil, I begin to think, but there is +nothing finer than the sight of a man who, forgetting himself, +rushes into the shadow of death for the sake of something that is +better. At every heave on the rope our blood came out of us, until +a ball shattered a pulley, and the gun fell. Perry had then a +fierce look, but his words were cool, his manner dauntless. He +peered through lifting clouds of smoke at our line. He stood near +me, and his head was bare. He crossed the littered deck, his +battle-flag and broad pennant that an orderly had brought him +trailing from his shoulder. He halted by a boat swung at the +davits on the port side--the only one that had not gone to +splinters. There he called a crew about him, and all got quickly +aboard the boat--seven besides the younger brother of Captain Perry +--and lowered it. Word flew that he was leaving to take command of +the sister brig, the _Niagara_, which lay off a quarter of a mile +or so from where we stood. We all wished to go, but he would have +only sound men; there were not a dozen on the ship who had all +their blood in them. As they pulled away, Perry standing in the +stern, D'ri lifted a bloody, tattered flag, and leaning from the +bulwarks, shook it over them, cheering loudly. + +"Give 'em hell!" he shouted. "We 'll tek care o' the ol' brig." + +[Illustration: "D'ri, shaking a bloody, tattered flag, shouted, 'We +'ll tek care o' the ol' brig.'"] + +We were all crying, we poor devils that were left behind. One, a +mere boy, stood near me swinging his hat above his head, cheering. +Hat and hand fell to the deck as I turned to him. He was reeling, +when D'ri caught him quickly with his good arm and bore him to the +cockpit. + +The little boat was barely a length off when heavy shot fell +splashing in her wake. Soon they were dropping all around her. +One crossed her bow, ripping a long furrow in the sea. A chip flew +off her stern; a lift of splinters from an oar scattered behind +her. Plunging missiles marked her course with a plait of foam, but +she rode on bravely. We saw her groping under the smoke clouds; we +saw her nearing the other brig, and were all on tiptoe. The air +cleared a little, and we could see them ship oars and go up the +side. Then we set our blood dripping with cheers again, we who +were wounded there on the deck of the _Lawrence_. Lieutenant +Yarnell ordered her one flag down. As it sank fluttering, we +groaned. Our dismay went quickly from man to man. Presently we +could hear the cries of the wounded there below. A man came +staggering out of the cockpit, and fell to his hands and knees, +creeping toward us and protesting fiercely, the blood dripping from +his mouth between curses. + +"Another shot would sink her," Yarnell shouted. + +"Let 'er sink, d--n 'er," said D'ri. "Wish t' God I c'u'd put my +foot through 'er bottom. When the flag goes down I wan't' go tew." + +The British turned their guns; we were no longer in the smoky paths +of thundering canister. The _Niagara_ was now under fire. We +could see the dogs of war rushing at her in leashes of flame and +smoke. Our little gun-boats, urged by oar and sweep, were +hastening to the battle front. We could see their men, waist-high +above bulwarks, firing as they came. The _Detroit_ and the _Queen +Charlotte_, two heavy brigs of the British line, had run afoul of +each other. The _Niagara_, signalling for close action, bore down +upon them. Crossing the bow of one ship and the stern of the +other, she raked them with broadsides. We saw braces fly and masts +fall in the volley. The _Niagara_ sheered off, pouring shoals of +metal on a British schooner, stripping her bare. Our little boats +had come up, and were boring into the brigs. In a brief time--it +was then near three o'clock--a white flag, at the end of a +boarding-pike, fluttered over a British deck. D'ri, who had been +sitting awhile, was now up and cheering as he waved his crownless +hat. He had lent his flag, and, in the flurry, some one dropped it +overboard. D'ri saw it fall, and before we could stop him he had +leaped into the sea. I hastened to his help, tossing a rope's end +as he came up, swimming with one arm, the flag in his teeth. I +towed him to the landing-stair and helped him over. Leaning on my +shoulder, he shook out the tattered flag, its white laced with his +own blood. + +"Ready t' jump in hell fer thet ol' rag any day," said he, as we +all cheered him. + +Each grabbed a tatter of the good flag, pressing hard upon D'ri, +and put it to his lips and kissed it proudly. Then we marched up +and down, D'ri waving it above us--a bloody squad as ever walked, +shouting loudly. D'ri had begun to weaken with loss of blood, so I +coaxed him to go below with me. + +The battle was over; a Yankee band was playing near by. + +"Perry is coming! Perry is coming!" we heard them shouting above. + +A feeble cry that had in it pride and joy and inextinguishable +devotion passed many a fevered lip in the cockpit. + +There were those near who had won a better peace, and they lay as a +man that listens to what were now the merest vanity. + +Perry came, when the sun was low, with a number of British +officers, and received their surrender on his own bloody deck. I +remember, as they stood by the ruined bulwarks and looked down upon +tokens of wreck and slaughter, a dog began howling dismally in the +cockpit. + + + + +XVIII + +It was a lucky and a stubborn sea-fight. More blood to the number +I never saw than fell on the _Lawrence_, eighty-three of our +hundred and two men having been killed or laid up for repair. One +has to search a bit for record of a more wicked fire. But we +deserve not all the glory some histories have bestowed, for we had +a larger fleet and better, if fewer, guns. It was, however, a +thing to be proud of, that victory of the young captain. Our men, +of whom many were raw recruits,--farmers and woodsmen,--stood to +their work with splendid valor, and, for us in the North, it came +near being decisive. D'ri and I were so put out of business that +no part of the glory was ours, albeit we were praised in orders for +valor under fire. But for both I say we had never less pride of +ourselves in any affair we had had to do with. Well, as I have +said before, we were ever at our best with a sabre, and big guns +were out of our line. + +We went into hospital awhile, D'ri having caught cold and gone out +of his head with fever. We had need of a spell on our backs, for +what with all our steeplechasing over yawning graves--that is the +way I always think of it--we were somewhat out of breath. No news +had reached me of the count or the young ladies, and I took some +worry to bed with me, but was up in a week and ready for more +trouble, I had to sit with D'ri awhile before he could mount a +horse. + +September was nearing its last day when we got off a brig at the +Harbor. We were no sooner at the dock than some one began to tell +us of a new plan for the invasion of Canada. I knew Brown had had +no part in it, for he said in my hearing once that it was too big a +chunk to bite off. + +There were letters from the count and Therese, his daughter. They +had news for me, and would I not ride over as soon as I had +returned? My mother--dearest and best of mothers--had written me, +and her tenderness cut me like a sword for the way I had neglected +her. Well, it is ever so with a young man whose heart has found a +new queen. I took the missive with wet eyes to our good +farmer-general of the North. He read it, and spoke with feeling of +his own mother gone to her long rest. + +"Bell," said he, "you are worn out. After mess in the morning +mount your horses, you and the corporal, and go and visit them. +Report here for duty on October 16." + +Then, as ever after a kindness, he renewed his quid of tobacco, +turning quickly to the littered desk at headquarters. + +We mounted our own horses a fine, frosty morning. The white earth +glimmered in the first touch of sunlight. All the fairy lanterns +of the frost king, hanging in the stubble and the dead grass, +glowed a brief time, flickered faintly, and went out. Then the +brown sward lay bare, save in the shadows of rock or hill or forest +that were still white. A great glory had fallen over the +far-reaching woods. Looking down a long valley, we could see +towers of evergreen, terraces of red and brown, golden +steeple-tops, gilded domes minareted with lavender and purple and +draped with scarlet banners. It seemed as if the trees were +shriving after all the green riot of summer, and making ready for +sackcloth and ashes. Some stood trembling, and as if drenched in +their own blood. Now and then a head was bare and bent, and naked +arms were lifted high, as if to implore mercy. + +"Fine air," said I, breathing deep as we rode on slowly. + +"'T is sart'n," said D'ri. "Mother used t' say 'at the frost wus +only the breath o' angels, an' when it melted it gin us a leetle o' +the air o' heaven." + +Of earth or heaven, it quickened us all with a new life. The +horses fretted for their heads, and went off at a gallop, needing +no cluck or spur. We pulled up at the chateau well before the +luncheon hour. D'ri took the horses, and I was shown to the +library, where the count came shortly, to give me hearty welcome. + +"And what of the captives?" I inquired, our greeting over. + +"Alas! it is terrible; they have not returned," said he, "and I am +in great trouble, for I have not written to France of their peril. +Dieu! I hoped they would be soon released. They are well and now +we have good news. Eh bien, we hope to see them soon. But of that +Therese shall tell you. And you have had a terrible time on Lake +Erie?" + +He had read of the battle, but wanted my view of it. I told the +story of the _Lawrence_ and Perry; of what D'ri and I had hoped to +do, and of what had been done to us. My account of D'ri--his droll +comment, his valor, his misfortune--touched and tickled the count. +He laughed, he clapped his hands, he shed tears of enthusiasm; then +he rang a bell, + +"The M'sieur D'ri--bring him here," said he to a servant. + +D'ri came soon with a worried look, his trousers caught on his +boot-tops, an old felt hat in his hand. Somehow he and his hat +were as king and coronal in their mutual fitness; if he lost one, +he swapped for another of about the same shade and shape. His +brows were lifted, his eyes wide with watchful timidity. The +count had opened a leather case and taken out of it a shiny disk of +silver. He stepped to D'ri, and fastened it upon his waistcoat. + +"'Pour la valeur eprouvee--de l'Empereur,'" said he, reading the +inscription as he clapped him on the shoulder. "It was given to a +soldier for bravery at Austerlitz by the great Napoleon," said he. +"And, God rest him! the soldier he died of his wounds. And to me +he have left the medal in trust for some man, the most brave, +intrepid, honorable. M'sieur D'ri, I have the pleasure to put it +where it belong." + +D'ri shifted his weight, looking down at the medal and blushing +like a boy. + +"Much obleeged," he said presently. "Dunno but mebbe I better put +it 'n my wallet. 'Fraid I 'll lose it off o' there." + +He threw at me a glance of inquiry. + +"No," said I, "do not bury your honors in a wallet." + +He bowed stiffly, and, as he looked down at the medal, went away, +spurs clattering. + +Therese came in presently, her face full of vivacity and color. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine," said she, "we are going for a little ride, +the marquis and I. Will you come with us? You shall have the best +horse in the stable." + +"And you my best thanks for the honor," I said. + +Our horses came up presently, and we all made off at a quick +gallop. The forest avenues were now aglow and filled with hazy +sunlight as with a flood, through which yellow leaves were slowly +sinking. Our horses went to their fetlocks in a golden drift. The +marquis rode on at a rapid pace, but soon Therese pulled rein, I +keeping abreast of her. + +In a moment our horses were walking quietly. + +"You have news for me, ma'm'selle?" I remarked. + +"Indeed, I have much news," said she, as always, in French. "I was +afraid you were not coming in time, m'sieur." + +She took a dainty letter from her bosom, passing it to me. + +My old passion flashed up as I took the perfumed sheets. I felt my +heart quicken, my face burn with it. I was to have good news at +last of those I loved better than my life, those I had not +forgotten a moment in all the peril of war. + +I saw the handwriting of Louison and then a vision of her--the +large eyes, the supple, splendid figure, the queenly bearing. It +read;-- + + +"MY DEAR THERESE: At last they promise to return us to you on the +12th of October. You are to send two men for us--not more--to the +head of Eagle Island, off Ste. Roche, in the St. Lawrence, with +canoes, at ten o'clock in the evening of that day. They will find +a lantern hanging on a tree at the place we are to meet them. We +may be delayed a little, but they are to wait for us there. And, +as you love me, see that one is my brave captain--I do not care +about the other who comes. First of all I wish to see my emperor, +my love, the tall, handsome, and gallant youngster who has won me. +What a finish for this odd romance if he only comes! And then I do +wish to see you, the count, and the others. I read your note with +such a pleasure! You are sure that he loves me? And that he does +not know that I love him? I do not wish him to know, to suspect, +until he has asked me to be his queen--until he has a right to +know. Once he has my secret. Love is robbed of his best treasure. +Mon Dieu! I wish to tell him myself, sometime, if he ever has the +courage to take command of me. I warn you, Therese, if I think he +knows--when I see him--I shall be cruel to him; I shall make him +hate me. So you see I will not be cheated of my wooing, and I know +you would not endanger my life's happiness. I have written a +little song--for him. Well, some day I shall sing it to him, and +will he not be glad to know I could do it? Here are the first +lines to give you the idea:-- + + My emperor! my emperor! + Thy face is fair to see; + Thy house is old, thy heart is gold, + Oh, take command of me! + + O emperor! my emperor! + Thy sceptre is of God; + Through all my days I'll sing thy praise, + And tremble at thy nod. + +But, dear Therese, you ought to hear the music; I have quite +surprised myself. Indeed, love is a grand thing; it has made me +nobler and stronger. They really say I am not selfish any more. +But I am weary of waiting here, and so eager to get home. You are +in love, and you have been through this counting of the hours. We +are very comfortable here, and they let us go and come as we like +inside the high walls. I have told you there is a big, big grove +and garden. + +"We saw nothing of 'his Lordship' for weeks until three days ago, +when they brought him here wounded. That is the reason we could +not send you a letter before now. You know he has to see them all +and arrange for their delivery. Well, he sent for Louise that day +he came. She went to him badly frightened, poor thing! as, indeed, +we all were. He lay in bed helpless, and wept when he saw her. +She came back crying, and would not tell what he had said. I do +think he loves her very dearly, and somehow we are all beginning to +think better of him. Surely no one could be more courteous and +gallant. Louise went to help nurse him yesterday, dear, sweet +little mother! Then he told her the good news of our coming +release, where your men would meet us, and all as I have written. +He is up in his chair to-day, the maid tells me. I joked Louise +about him this morning, and she began to cry at once, and said her +heart was not hers to give. The sly thing! I wonder whom she +loves; but she would say no more, and has had a long face all day. +She is so stubborn! I have sworn I will never tell her another of +my secrets. You are to answer quickly, sending your note by +courier to the Indian dockman at Elizabethport, addressed Robin +Adair, Box 40, St. Hiliere, Canada. And the love of all to all. +Adieu. + + "Your loving + "LOUISON. + +"P.S. Can you tell me, is the captain of noble birth? I have +never had any doubt of it, he is so splendid." + + +It filled me with a great happiness and a bitter pang. I was never +in such a conflict of emotion. + +"Well," said Therese, "do you see my trouble? Having shown you the +first letter, I had also to show you the second. I fear I have +done wrong. My soul--" + +"Be blessed for the good tidings," I interrupted. + +"Thanks. I was going to say it accuses me. Louison is a proud +girl; she must never know. She can never know unless--" + +"You tell her," said I, quickly. "And of course you will." + +"What do you mean?" she asked. + +"That every secret that must not be told is the same as published +if--if--" + +"If _what_?" + +"If--if it tells a pretty story with some love in it," I said, with +a quick sense of caution. "Ah, ma'm'selle, do I not know what has +made your lips so red?" + +"What may it be?" + +"The attrition of many secrets--burning secrets," I said, laughing. + +"Mordieu! what charming impudence!" said she, her large eyes +glowing thoughtfully, with some look of surprise. "You do not know +me, m'sieur. I have kept many secrets and know the trick." + +"Ah, then I shall ask of you a great favor," said I--"that you keep +my secret also, that you do not tell her of my love." + +She wheeled her horse with a merry peal of laughter, hiding her +face, now red as her glove. + +"It is too late," said she, "I have written her." + +We rode on, laughing. In spite of the serious character of her +words, I fell a-quaking from crown to stirrup. I was now engaged +to Louison, or as good as that, and, being a man of honor, I must +think no more of her sister. + +"I wrote her of your confession," said she, "for I knew it would +make her so happy; but, you know, I did not tell of--of the +circumstances." + +"Well, it will make it all the easier for me," I said. +"Ma'm'selle, I assure you--I am not sorry." + +"And, my friend, you are lucky: she is so magnificent." + +"Her face will be a study when I tell her." + +"The splendor of it!" said she. + +"And the surprise," I added, laughing. + +"Ah, m'sieur, she will play her part well. She is clever. That +moment when the true love comes and claims her it is the sweetest +in a woman's life." + +A thought came flying through my brain with the sting of an arrow. + +"She must not be deceived. I have not any noble blood in me. I am +only the son of a soldier-farmer, and have my fortune to make," +said I, quickly. + +"That is only a little folly," she answered, laughing. "Whether +you be rich or poor, prince or peasant, she cares not a snap of her +finger. Ciel! is she not a republican, has she not money enough?" + +"Nevertheless, I beg you to say, in your letter, that I have +nothing but my sword and my honor." + +As we rode along I noted in my book the place and time we were to +meet the captives. The marquis joined us at the Hermitage, where a +stable-boy watered our horses. Three servants were still there, +the others being now in the count's service. + +If any place give me a day's happiness it is dear to me, and the +where I find love is forever sacred. I like to stand where I stood +thinking of it, and there I see that those dear moments are as much +a part of me as of history. So while Therese and the marquis got +off their horses for a little parley with the gardener, I cantered +up the north trail to where I sat awhile that delightful summer day +with Louise. The grotto had now a lattice roofing of bare +branches. Leaves, as red as her blush, as golden as my memories, +came rattling through it, falling with a faint rustle. The big +woods were as a gloomy and deserted mansion, with the lonely cry of +the wind above and a ghostly rustle within where had been love and +song and laughter and all delight. + + + + +XIX + +D'ri and I left the chateau that afternoon, putting up in the red +tavern at Morristown about dusk. + +My companion rode away proudly, the medal dangling at his waistcoat +lapel. + +"Jerushy Jane!" said he, presently, as he pulled rein. "Ain't +a-goin' t' hev thet floppin' there so--meks me feel luk a bird. +Don't seem nohow nat'ral. Wha' d' ye s'pose he gin me thet air +thing fer?" + +He was putting it away carefully in his wallet. + +"As a token of respect for your bravery," said I. + +His laughter roared in the still woods, making my horse lift and +snort a little. It was never an easy job to break any horse to +D'ri's laughter. + +"It's _reedic'lous_," said he, thoughtfully, in a moment. + +"Why?" + +"'Cause fer the reason why they don't no man deserve nuthin' fer +doin' what he 'd orter," he answered, with a serious and determined +look. + +"You did well," said I, "and deserve anything you can get." + +"Done my damdest!" said he. "But I did n't do nuthin' but git +licked. Got shot an' tore an' slammed all over thet air deck, an' +could n't do no harm t' nobody. Jes luk a boss tied 'n the stall, +an' a lot o' men whalin' 'im, an' a lot more tryin' t' scare 'im t' +death." + +"Wha' d' ye s'pose thet air thing's made uv?" he inquired after a +little silence. + +"Silver," said I. + +"Pure silver?" + +"Undoubtedly," was my answer. + +"Judas Priest!" said he, taking out his wallet again, to look at +the trophy. "Thet air mus' be wuth suthin'." + +"More than a year's salary," said I. + +He looked up at me with a sharp whistle of surprise. + +"Ain' no great hand fer sech flummydiddles," said he, as he put the +medal away. + +"It's a badge of honor," said I. "It shows you 're a brave man." + +"Got 'nough on 'em," said D'ri. "This 'ere rip 'n the forehead's +'bout all the badge I need." + +"It's from the emperor--the great Napoleon," I said. "It's a mark +of his pleasure." + +"Wall, by Judas Priest!" said D'ri, "I would n't jump over a stump +over a stun wall t' please no emp'ror, an' I would n't cut off my +leetle finger fer a hull bushel basket o' them air. I hain't +a-fightin' fer no honor." + +"What then?" said I. + +His face turned very sober. He pursed his lips, and spat across +the ditch; then he gave his mouth a wipe, and glanced thoughtfully +at the sky. + +"Fer liberty," said he, with decision. "Same thing my father died +fer." + +Not to this day have I forgotten it, the answer of old D'ri, or the +look of him as he spoke. I was only a reckless youth fighting for +the love of peril and adventure, and with too little thought of the +high purposes of my country. The causes of the war were familiar +to me; that proclamation of Mr. Madison had been discussed freely +in our home, and I had felt some share in the indignation of D'ri +and my father. This feeling had not been allayed by the bloody +scenes in which I had had a part. Now I began to feel the great +passion of the people, and was put to shame for a moment. + +"Liberty--that is a grand thing to fight for," said I, after a +brief pause. + +"Swap my blood any time fer thet air," said D'ri. "I can fight +sassy, but not fer no king but God A'mighty. Don't pay t' git all +tore up less it's fer suthin' purty middlin' vallyble. My life +ain't wuth much, but, ye see, I hain't nuthin' else." + +We rode awhile in sober thought, hearing only a sough of the wind +above and the rustling hoof-beat of our horses in the rich harvest +of the autumn woods. We were walking slowly over a stretch of bare +moss when, at a sharp turn, we came suddenly in sight of a huge +bear that sat facing us. I drew my pistol as we pulled rein, +firing quickly. The bear ran away into the brush as I fired +another shot. + +"He 's hit," said D'ri, leaping off and bidding me hold the bit. +Then, with a long stride, he ran after the fleeing bear. I had +been waiting near half an hour when D'ri came back slowly, with a +downhearted look. + +"'Tain' no use," said he. "Can't never git thet bear. He's got a +flesh-wound high up in his hin' quarters, an' he's travellin' fast." + +He took a fresh chew of tobacco and mounted his horse. + +"Terrible pity!" he exclaimed, shaking his head with some trace of +lingering sorrow. "Ray," said he, soberly, after a little silence, +"when ye see a bear lookin' your way, ef ye want 'im, alwus shute +at the end thet's _toward_ ye." + +There was no better bear-hunter in the north woods than D'ri, and +to lose a bear was, for him, no light affliction. + +"Can't never break a bear's neck by shutin' 'im in the hin' +quarters," he remarked. + +I made no answer. + +"Might jest es well spit 'n 'is face," he added presently; "jest +eggzac'ly." + +This apt and forceful advice calmed a lingering sense of duty, and +he rode on awhile in silence. The woods were glooming in the +early dusk when he spoke again. Something revived his contempt of +my education. He had been trailing after me, and suddenly I felt +his knee. + +"Tell ye this, Ray," said he, in a kindly tone. "Ef ye wan' t' git +a bear, got t' mux 'im up a leetle for'ard--right up 'n the +neighborhood uv 'is fo'c's'le. Don't dew no good t' shute 'is +hams. Might es well try t' choke 'im t' death by pinchin' 'is +tail." + +We were out in the open. Roofs and smoking chimneys were +silhouetted on the sky, and, halfway up a hill, we could see the +candle-lights of the red tavern. There, in the bar, before blazing +logs in a great fireplace, for the evening had come chilly, a table +was laid for us, and we sat down with hearty happiness to tankards +of old ale and a smoking haunch. I have never drunk or eaten with +a better relish. There were half a dozen or so sitting about the +bar, and all ears were for news of the army and all hands for our +help. If we asked for more potatoes or ale, half of them rose to +proclaim it. Between pipes of Virginia tobacco, and old sledge, +and songs of love and daring, we had a memorable night. When we +went to our room, near twelve o'clock, I told D'ri of our dear +friends, who, all day, had been much in my thought. + +"Wus the letter writ by her?" he inquired. + +"Not a doubt of it." + +"Then it's all right," said he. "A likely pair o' gals them +air--no mistake." + +"But I think they made me miss the bear," I answered. + +"Ray," said D'ri, soberly, "when yer shutin' a bear, ef ye want +'im, don't never think o' nuthin' but the bear." Then, after a +moment's pause, he added: "Won't never hev no luck killin' a bear +ef ye don' quit dwellin' so on them air gals." + +I thanked him, with a smile, and asked if he knew Eagle Island. + +"Be'n all over it half a dozen times," said he. "'T ain' no more +'n twenty rod from the Yankee shore, thet air island ain't. We +c'u'd paddle there in a day from our cove." + +And that was the way we planned to go,--by canoe from our +landing,--and wait for the hour at Paleyville, a Yankee village +opposite the island. We would hire a team there, and convey the +party by wagon to Leraysville. + +We were off at daybreak, and going over the hills at a lively +gallop. Crossing to Caraway Pike, in the Cedar Meadows, an hour +later, we stampeded a lot of moose. One of them, a great bull, ran +ahead of us, roaring with fright, his antlers rattling upon bush +and bough, his black bell hanging to the fern-tops. + +"Don' never wan't' hev no argyment with one o' them air chaps 'less +ye know purty nigh how 't's comin' out," said D'ri. "Alwus want a +gun es well es a purty middlin' ca-a-areful aim on your side. Then +ye 're apt t' need a tree, tew, 'fore ye git through with it." +After a moment's pause he added: "Got t' be a joemightyful stout +tree, er he 'll shake ye out uv it luk a ripe apple." + +"They always have the negative side of the question," I said. +"Don't believe they 'd ever chase a man if he 'd let 'em alone." + +"Yis, siree, they would," was D'ri's answer. "I 've hed 'em come +right efter me 'fore ever I c'u'd lift a gun. Ye see, they're jest +es cur'us 'bout a man es a man is 'bout them. Ef they can't smell +'im, they 're terrible cur'us. Jes' wan' t' see what 's inside uv +'im an' what kind uv a smellin' critter he is. Dunno es they wan' +t' dew 'im any pertic'lar harm. Jes' wan' t' mux 'im over a +leetle; but they dew it _awful careless_, an' he ain't never fit t' +be seen no more." + +He snickered faintly as he spoke. + +"An' they don't nobody see much uv 'im efter thet, nuther," he +added, with a smile. + +"I 'member once a big bull tried t' find out the kind o' works I +hed in me. 'T wa'n' no moose--jest a common ord'nary +three-year-ol' bull." + +"Hurt you?" I queried. + +"No; 't hurt 'im." said he, soberly. "Sp'ilt 'im, es ye might say. +Could n't never bear the sight uv a man efter thet. Seem so he did +n't think he wus fit t' be seen. Nobody c'u'd ever git 'n a mild +o' th' poor cuss. Hed t' be shot." + +"What happened?" + +"Hed a stout club 'n my hand," said he. "Got holt uv 'is tail, an' +begun a-whalin' uv 'im. Run 'im down a steep hill, an' passin' a +tree, I tuk one side an' he t' other. We parted there fer the las' +time." + +He looked off at the sky a moment. + +Then came his inevitable addendum, which was: "I hed a dam sight +more tail 'an he did, thet 's sartin." + +About ten o'clock we came in sight of our old home. Then we +hurried our horses, and came up to the door with a rush. A +stranger met us there. + +"Are you Captain Bell?" said he, as I got off my horse. + +I nodded. + +"I am one of your father's tenants," he went on. "Ride over the +ridge yonder about half a mile, and you will see his house." I +looked at D'ri and he at me. He had grown pale suddenly, and I +felt my own surprise turning into alarm. + +"Are they well?" I queried. + +"Very well, and looking for you," said he, smiling. + +We were up in our saddles, dashing out of the yard in a jiffy. +Beyond the ridge a wide mile of smooth country sloped to the river +margin. Just off the road a great house lay long and low in fair +acres. Its gables were red-roofed, its walls of graystone half +hidden by lofty hedges of cedar. We stopped our horses, looking +off to the distant woods on each side of us. + +"Can't be," said D'ri, soberly, his eyes squinting in the sunlight. + +"Wonder where they live," I remarked. + +"All looks mighty cur'us," said he. "'Tain' no way nat'ral." + +"Let's go in there and ask," I suggested. + +We turned in at the big gate and rode silently over a driveway of +smooth gravel to the door. In a moment I heard my father's hearty +hello, and then my mother came out in a better gown than ever I had +seen her wear. I was out of the saddle and she in my arms before a +word was spoken. My father, hardy old Yankee, scolded the stamping +horse, while I knew well he was only upbraiding his own weakness. + +"Come, Ray; come, Darius," said my mother, as she wiped her eyes; +"I will show you the new house." + +A man took the horses, and we all followed her into the splendid +hall, while I was filled with wonder and a mighty longing for the +old home. + + + + +XX + +It was a fine house--that in which I spent many happy years back in +my young manhood. Not, indeed, so elegant and so large as this +where I am now writing, but comfortable. To me, then, it had an +atmosphere of romance and some look of grandeur. Well, in those +days I had neither a sated eye, nor gout, nor judgment of good +wine. It was I who gave it the name of Fairacres that day when, +coming out of the war, we felt its peace and comfort for the first +time, and, dumfounded with surprise, heard my mother tell the story +of it. + +"My grandfather," said she, "was the Chevalier Ramon Ducet de +Trouville, a brave and gallant man who, for no good reason, +disinherited my father. The property went to my uncle, the only +other child of the chevalier, and he, as I have told you, wrote +many kind letters to me, and sent each year a small gift of money. +Well, he died before the war,--it was in March,--and, having no +children, left half his fortune to me. You, Ramon, will remember +that long before you went away to the war a stranger came to see me +one day--a stout man, with white hair and dark eyes. Do you not +remember? Well, I did not tell you then, because I was unable to +believe, that he came to bring the good news. But he came again +after you left us, and brought me money--a draft on account. For +us it was a very large sum, indeed. You know we have always been +so poor, and we knew that when the war was over there would be more +and a-plenty coming. So, what were we to do? 'We will build a +home,' said I; 'we will enjoy life as much as possible. We will +surprise Ramon. When he returns from the war he shall see it, and +be very happy.' The architect came with the builders, and, voila! +the house is ready, and you are here, and after so long it is +better than a fortune to see you. I thought you would never come." + +She covered her face a moment, while my father rose abruptly and +left the room. I kissed the dear hands that long since had given +to heavy toil their beauty and shapeliness. + +But enough of this, for, after all, it is neither here nor there. +Quick and unexpected fortune came to many a pioneer, as it came to +my mother, by inheritance, as one may see if he look only at the +records of one court of claims--that of the British. + +"Before long you may wish to marry," said my mother, as she looked +up at me proudly, "and you will not be ashamed to bring your wife +here." + +I vowed, then and there, I should make my own fortune,--I had +Yankee enough in me for that,--but, as will be seen, the wealth of +heart and purse my mother had, helped in the shaping of my destiny. +In spite of my feeling, I know it began quickly to hasten the +life-currents that bore me on. And I say, in tender remembrance of +those very dear to me, I had never a more delightful time than when +I sat by the new fireside with all my clan,--its number as yet +undiminished,--or went roistering in wood or field with the younger +children. + +The day came when D'ri and I were to meet the ladies. We started +early that morning of the 12th. Long before daylight we were +moving rapidly down-river in our canoes. + +I remember seeing a light flash up and die away in the moonlit mist +of the river soon after starting. + +"The boogy light!" D'ri whispered. "There 't goes ag'in!" + +I had heard the river folk tell often of this weird thing--one of +the odd phenomena of the St. Lawrence. + +"Comes alwus where folks hev been drownded," said D'ri. "Thet +air's what I've hearn tell." + +It was, indeed, the accepted theory of the fishermen, albeit many +saw in the boogy light a warning to mark the place of forgotten +murder, and bore away. + +The sun came up in a clear sky, and soon, far and wide, its light +was tossing in the rippletops. We could see them glowing miles +away. We were both armed with sabre and pistols, for that river +was the very highway of adventure in those days of the war. + +"Don' jes' like this kind uv a hoss," said D'ri. "Got t' keep +whalin' 'im all the while, an' he 's apt t' slobber 'n rough goin'." + +He looked thoughtfully at the sun a breath, and then trimmed his +remark with these words; "Ain't eggzac'Iy sure-footed, nuther." + +"Don't require much feed, though," I suggested. + +"No; ye hev t' dew all the eatin', but ye can alwus eat 'nough fer +both." + +It was a fine day, and a ride to remember. We had a warm sun, a +clear sky, and now and then we could feel the soft feet of the +south wind romping over us in the river way. Here and there a +swallow came coasting to the ripples, sprinkling the holy water of +delight upon us, or a crow's shadow ploughed silently across our +bows. It thrilled me to go cantering beside the noisy Rapides du +Plats or the wild-footed Galloup, two troops of water hurrying to +the mighty battles of the sea. We mounted reeling knolls, and +coasted over whirling dips, and rushed to boiling levels, and +jumped foamy ridges, and went galloping in the rush and tumble of +long slopes. + +"Let 'er rip!" I could hear D'ri shouting, once in a while, as he +flashed up ahead of me. "Let 'er rip! Consarn 'er pictur'!" + +He gave a great yell of triumph as we slowed in a long stretch of +still, broad water. "Judas Priest!" said he, as I came alongside, +"thet air's rougher 'n the bog trail." + +We came to Paleyville with time only for a bite of luncheon before +dark. We could see no sign of life on the island or the "Canuck +shore" as we turned our bows to the south channel. That evening +the innkeeper sat with us under a creeking sign, our chairs tilted +to the tavernside. + +D'ri was making a moose-horn of birch-bark as he smoked +thoughtfully. When he had finished, he raised it to his lips and +moved the flaring end in a wide circle as he blew a blast that rang +miles away in the far forest. + +"Ef we heppen t' git separated in any way, shape, er manner 'cept +one," said he, as he slung it over his shoulder with a string, +"ye'll know purty nigh where I be when ye hear thet air thing." + +"You said, 'in any way, shape, er manner 'cept one.'" I quoted. +"What do you mean by that?" + +My friend expectorated, looking off into the night soberly a moment. + +"Guess I didn't mean nuthin'," said he, presently. "When I set out +t' say suthin', don't never know where I 'm goin' t' land. Good +deal luk settin' sail without a compass. Thet 's one reason I +don't never say much 'fore women." + +Our good host hurried the lagging hours with many a tale of the +river and that island we were soon to visit, once the refuge of +Tadusac, the old river pirate, so he told us, with a cave now +haunted by some ghost. We started for the shore near ten o'clock, +the innkeeper leading us with a lantern, its light flickering in a +west wind. The sky was cloudy, the night dark. Our host lent us +the lantern, kindly offering to build a bonfire on the beach at +eleven, to light us home. + +"Careful, boys," said the innkeeper, as we got aboard. "Aim +straight fer th' head o' th' island, Can't ye see it--right over +yer heads there? 'Member, they 's awful rough water below." + +We pushed off, D'ri leading. I could see nothing of the island, +but D'ri had better eyes, and kept calling me as he went ahead. +After a few strokes of the paddle I could see on the dark sky the +darker mass of tree-tops. + +"Better light up," I suggested. We were now close in. + +"Hush!" he hissed. Then, as I came up to him, he went on, +whispering: "'T ain't bes' t' mek no noise here. Don' know none +tew much 'bout this here business. Don' cal'late we 're goin' t' +hev any trouble, but if we dew--Hark!" + +We had both heard a stir in the bushes, and stuck our paddles in +the sand, listening. After a little silence I heard D'ri get up +and step stealthily into the water and buckle on his sword. Then I +could hear him sinking the canoe and shoving her anchor deep into +the sand. He did it with no noise that, fifty feet away, could +have been distinguished from that of the ever-murmuring waters. In +a moment he came and held my canoe, while I also took up my trusty +blade, stepping out of the canoe into the shallow water. Then he +shoved her off a little, and sank her beside the other. I knew not +his purpose, and made no question of it, following him as he strode +the shore with measured paces, the lantern upon his arm. Then +presently he stuck his paddle into the bushes, and mine beside it. +We were near the head of the island, walking on a reedy strip of +soft earth at the river margin. After a few paces we halted to +listen, but heard only the voice of the water and the murmur of +pines. Then we pushed through a thicket of small fir trees to +where we groped along in utter darkness among the big tree trunks +on a muffle-footing. After a moment or so we got a spray of light. +We halted, peering at the glow that now sprinkled out through many +a pinhole aperture in a fairy lattice of pine needles. + +My heart was beating loudly, for there was the promised lantern. +Was I not soon to see the brighter light of those dear faces? It +was all the kind of thing I enjoyed then,--the atmosphere of peril +and romance,--wild youth that I was. It is a pity, God knows, I +had so little consideration for old D'ri; but he loved me, +and--well, he himself had some pleasure in excitement. + +We halted for only a moment, pushing boldly through a thicket of +young pines into the light. A lantern hung on the bough of a tall +tree, and beneath it was a wide opening well carpeted with moss and +needles. We peered off into the gloom, but saw nothing. + +D'ri blew out a thoughtful breath, looking up into the air coolly, +as he filled his pipe. + +"Consarned if ever I wanted t' have a smoke s' bad 'n all my born +days," he remarked. + +Then he moved his holster, turned his scabbard, and sat down +quietly, puffing his pipe with some look of weariness and +reflection. We were sitting there less than five minutes when we +heard a footfall near by; then suddenly two men strode up to us in +the dim light. I recognized at once the easy step, the long, lithe +figure, of his Lordship in the dress of a citizen, saving sword and +pistols. + +"Ah, good evening, gentlemen," said he, quietly. "How are you?" + +"Better than--than when we saw you last," I answered. + +D'ri had not moved; he looked up at me with a sympathetic smile. + +"I presume," said his Lordship, in that familiar, lazy tone, as he +lighted a cigar, "there was--ah--good room for improvement, was +there not?" + +"Abundant," said I, thoughtfully. "You were not in the best of +health yourself that evening." + +"True," said he; "I--I was in bad fettle and worse luck." + +"How are the ladies?" + +"Quite well," said he, blowing a long puff. + +"Ready to deliver them?" I inquired. + +"Presently," said he. "There are--some formalities." + +"Which are--?" I added quickly. + +"A trifle of expenses and a condition," said he, lazily. + +"How much, and what?" I inquired, as D'ri turned his ear. + +"One thousand pounds," said his Lordship, quickly. "Not a penny +more than this matter has cost me and his Majesty." + +"What else?" said I. + +"This man," he answered calmly, with a little gesture aimed at D'ri. + +My friend rose, struck his palm with the pipe-bowl, and put up his +knife. + +"Ef ye're goin' t' tek me," said he, "better begin right off, er ye +won't hev time 'fore breakfust." + +Then he clapped the moose-horn to his lips and blew a mighty blast. +It made the two men jump and set the near thicket reeling. The +weird barytone went off moaning in the far wastes of timber. Its +rush of echoes had begun. I put my hand to my sabre, for there in +the edge of the gloom I saw a thing that stirred me to the marrow. +The low firs were moving toward us, root and branch, their twigs +falling. Gods of war! it made my hair stand for a jiffy to see the +very brush take feet and legs. On sea or land I never saw a thing +that gave me so odd a feeling. We stood for a breath or two, then +started back, our sabres flashing; for, as the twigs fell, we saw +they had been decorating a squad of the British. They came on. I +struck at the lantern, but too late, for his Lordship had swung it +away. He stumbled, going to his knees; the lantern hit the earth +and went out. I had seen the squad break, running each way, to +surround us. D'ri grabbed my hand as the dark fell, and we went +plunging through the little pines, hitting a man heavily, who fell +grunting. We had begun to hear the rattle of boats, a shouting, +and quick steps on the shore. We crouched a moment. D'ri blew the +moose-horn, pulling me aside with him quickly after the blast. +Lights were now flashing near. I could see little hope for us, and +D'ri, I thought, had gone crazy. He ran at the oncomers, yelling, +"Hey, Rube!" at the top of his lungs. I lay low in the brush a +moment. They rushed by me, D'ri in the fore with fending sabre. A +tawny hound was running in the lead, his nose down, baying loudly. +Then I saw the truth, and made after them with all the speed of my +legs. They hustled over the ridge, their lights flashing under. +For a jiffy I could see only, here and there, a leaping glow in the +tree-tops. I rushed on, passing one who had tumbled headlong. The +lights below me scattered quickly and stopped. I heard a great +yelling, a roar of muskets, and a clash of swords. A hush fell on +them as I came near, Then I heard a voice that thrilled me. + +"Your sword, sir!" it commanded. + +"Stop," said I, sharply, coming near. + +There stood my father in the lantern-light, his sword drawn, his +gray hair stirring in the breeze. Before him was my old adversary, +his Lordship, sword in hand. Near by, the squad of British, now +surrounded, were giving up their arms. They had backed to the +river's edge; I could hear it lapping their heels. His Lordship +sneered, looking at the veteran who stood in a gray frock of +homespun, for all the world, I fancy, like one of those old yeomen +who fought with Cromwell. + +"Your sword, sir," my father repeated. + +"Pardon me," said the young man, with a fascinating coolness of +manner, "but I shall have to trouble you--" + +He hesitated, feeling his blade. + +"How?" said my father. + +"To fight for it," said his Lordship, quietly. + +"Surrender--fool!" my father answered. "You cannot escape." + +"Tut, tut!" said his Lordship. "I never heard so poor a +compliment. Come in reach, and I shall make you think better of +me." + +"Give up your sword." + +"After my life, then my sword," said he, with a quick thrust. + +Before I could take a step, their swords were clashing in deadly +combat. I rushed up to break in upon them, but the air was full of +steel, and then my father needed no help. He was driving his man +with fiery vigor. I had never seen him fight; all I had seen of +his power had been mere play. + +It was grand to see the old man fighting as if, for a moment, his +youth had come back to him. I knew it could not go far. His fire +would burn out quickly; then the blade of the young Britisher, +tireless and quick as I knew it to be, would let his blood before +my very eyes. What to do I knew not. Again I came up to them; but +my father warned me off hotly. He was fighting with terrific +energy. I swear to you that in half a minute he had broken the +sword of his Lordship, who took to the water, swimming for his +life. I leaped in, catching him half over the eddy, where we +fought like roadmen, striking in the air and bumping on the bottom. +We were both near drowned when D'ri swam out and gave me his +belt-end, hauling us in. + +I got to my feet soon. My father came up to me, and wiped a cut +on my forehead. + +"Damn you, my boy!" said he. "Don't ever interfere with me in a +matter of that kind. You might have been hurt." + +We searched the island, high and low, for the ladies, but with no +success. Then we marched our prisoners to the south channel, where +a bateau--the same that brought us help--had been waiting. One of +our men had been shot in the shoulder, another gored in the hip +with a bayonet, and we left a young Briton dead on the shore. We +took our prisoners to Paleyville, and locked them overnight in the +blockhouse. + +The channel was lighted by a big bonfire on the south bank, as we +came over. Its flames went high, and made a great, sloping volcano +of light in the darkness. + +After the posting of the guard, some gathered about my father and +began to cheer him. It nettled the veteran. He would take no +honor for his defeat of the clever man, claiming the latter had no +chance to fight. + +"He had no foot-room with the boy one side and D'ri t' other," said +he. "I had only to drive him back." + +My father and the innkeeper and D'ri and I sat awhile, smoking, in +the warm glow of the bonfire. + +"You 're a long-headed man," said I, turning to my comrade. + +"Kind o' thought they'd be trouble," said D'ri. "So I tuk 'n ast +yer father t' come over hossback with hef a dozen good men. They +got three more et the tavern here, an' lay off 'n thet air bateau, +waitin' fer the moosecall. I cal'lated I did n't want no more +slidin' over there 'n Canady." + +After a little snicker, he added: "Hed all 't wus good fer me the +las' time. 'S a leetle tew swift." + +"Gets rather scary when you see the bushes walk," I suggested. + +"Seen whut wus up 'fore ever they med a move," said D'ri. "Them +air bushes did n't look jest es nat'ral es they'd orter. Bet ye +they're some o' them bushwhackers o' Fitzgibbon. Got loops all +over their uniforms, so ye c'u'd stick 'em full o' boughs. +Jerushy! never see nuthin' s' joemightful cur'us 'n all my born +days--never." He stopped a breath, and then added: "Could n't be +nuthin' cur'user 'n thet." + + + + +XXI + +We hired team and wagon of the innkeeper, and a man to paddle +up-river and return with the horses. + +I had a brief talk with our tall prisoner while they were making +ready. + +"A word of business, your Lordship," I said as he came out, +yawning, with the guard. + +"Ah, well," said he, with a shiver, "I hope it is not so cold as +the air." + +"It is hopeful; it is cheering," was my answer. + +"And the topic?" + +"An exchange--for the ladies." + +He thought a moment, slapping the dust off him with a glove. + +"This kind of thing is hard on the trousers," he remarked +carelessly. "I will consider; I think it could be arranged. +Meanwhile, I give you my word of honor, you need have no worry." + +We were off at daybreak with our prisoners; there were six of them +in all. We put a fold of linen over the eyes of each, and roped +them all together, so that they could sit or stand, as might please +them, in the wagonbox. + +"It's barbarity," said his Lordship, as we put on the fold. "You +Yankees never knew how to treat a prisoner." + +"Till you learnt us," said D'ri, quickly. "Could n't never fergit +thet lesson. Ef I hed my way 'bout you, I 'd haul ye up t' th' top +o' thet air dead pine over yender, 'n' let ye slide down." + +"Rather too steep, I should say," said his Lordship, wearily. + +"Ye wouldn't need no grease," said D'ri, with a chuckle. + +We were four days going to the Harbor. My father and his men came +with us, and he told us many a tale, that journey, of his +adventures in the old war. We kept our promise, turning over the +prisoners a little before sundown of the 16th. Each was given a +great room and every possible comfort. I arranged soon for the +release of all on the safe return of the ladies. + +In the evening of the 17th his Lordship sent for me. He was a bit +nervous, and desired a conference with the general and me. De +Chaumont had been over to the headquarters that day in urgent +counsel. He was weary of delay and planning an appeal to the +French government. General Brown was prepared to give the matter +all furtherance in his power, and sent quickly for the Englishman. +They brought him over at nine o'clock. We uncovered his eyes and +locked the door, and "gave him a crack at the old Madeira," as they +used to say, and made him as comfortable as might be at the cheery +fireside of the general. + +"I've been thinking," said his Lordship. after a drink and a word +of courtesy. I never saw a man of better breeding or more courage, +I am free to say. "You may not agree it is possible, but, anyhow, +I have been trying to think. You have been decent to me. I don't +believe you are such a bad lot, after all; and while I should be +sorry to have you think me tired of your hospitality, I desire to +hasten our plans a little. I propose an exchange of--of--" + +He hesitated, whipping the ashes off his cigar. + +"Well--first of confidence," he went on. "I will take your word if +you will take mine." + +"In what matter?" the general inquired. + +"That of the ladies and their relief," said he. "A little +confidence will--will--" + +"Grease the wheels of progress?" the general suggested, smiling. + +"Quite so," he answered lazily. "To begin with, they are not +thirty miles away, if I am correct in my judgment of this locality." + +There was a moment of silence. + +"My _dear_ sir," he went on presently, "this ground is quite +familiar to me. I slept in this very chamber long ago. But that +is not here nor there. Day after to-morrow, a little before +midnight, the ladies will be riding on the shore pike. You could +meet them and bring them out to a schooner, I suppose--if--" + +He stopped again, puffing thoughtfully. + +"If we could agree," he went on. "Now this would be my view of it: +You let me send a messenger for the ladies. You would have to take +them by force somehow; but, you know, I could make it easy--arrange +the time and place, no house near, no soldiers, no resistence but +that of the driver, who should not share our confidence--no danger. +You take them to the boats and bring them over; but, first--" + +He paused again, looking at the smokerings above his head in a +dreamy manner. + +"'First,'" my chief repeated. + +"Well," said he, leaning toward him with a little gesture, "to me +the word of a gentleman is sacred. I know you are both gentlemen. +I ask for your word of honor." + +"To what effect?" the general queried. + +"That you will put us safely on British soil within a day after the +ladies have arrived," said he. + +"It is irregular and a matter of some difficulty," said the +general. "Whom would you send with such a message?" + +"Well, I should say some Frenchwoman could do it. There must be +one here who is clever enough." + +"I know the very one," said I, with enthusiasm. "She is as smart +and cunning as they make them." + +"Very well," said the general; "that is but one step. Who is to +capture them and take the risk of their own heads?" + +"D'ri and I could do it alone," was my confident answer. + +"Ah, well," said his Lordship, as he rose languidly and stood with +his back to the fire, "I shall send them where the coast is +clear--my word for that. Hang me if I fail to protect them." + +"I do not wish to question your honor," said the general, "or +violate in any way this atmosphere of fine courtesy; but, sir, I do +not know you." + +"Permit me to introduce myself," said the Englishman, as he ripped +his coat-lining and drew out a folded sheet of purple parchment. + +"I am Lord Ronley, fifth Earl of Pickford, and, cousin of his Most +Excellent Majesty the King of England; there is the proof." + +He tossed the parchment to the table carelessly, resuming his chair. + +"Forgive me," said he, as the general took it. "I have little +taste for such theatricals. Necessity is my only excuse." + +"It is enough," said the other. "I am glad to know you. I hope +sometime we shall stop fighting each other--we of the same race and +blood. It is unnatural." + +"Give me your hand," said the Englishman, with heartier feeling +than I had seen him show, as he advanced. "Amen! I say to you." + +"Will you write your message? Here are ink and paper," said the +general. + +His Lordship sat down at the table and hurriedly wrote these +letters:-- + + +"PRESCOTT, ONTARIO, November 17, 1813. + +"To SIR CHARLES GRAVLEIGH, The Weirs, above Landsmere, Wrentham, +Frontenac County, Canada. + +"MY DEAR GRAVLEIGH: Will you see that the baroness and her two +wards, the Misses de Lambert, are conveyed by my coach, on the +evening of the 18th inst, to that certain point on the shore pike +between Amsbury and Lakeside known as Burnt Ridge, there to wait +back in the timber for my messenger? Tell them they are to be +returned to their home, and give them my very best wishes. Lamson +will drive, and let the bearer ride with the others. + + "Very truly yours, + "RONLEY." + + _To whom it may concern_. + +"Mme. St. Jovite, the bearer, is on her way to my house at +Wrentham, Frontenac County, second concession, with a despatch of +urgent character. I shall be greatly favored by all who give her +furtherance in this journey. + + "Respectfully, etc., + "Ronley, + "Colonel of King's Guard." + + +For fear of a cipher, the general gave tantamount terms for each +letter, and his Lordship rewrote them. + +"I thought the name St. Jovite would be as good as any," he +remarked. + +The rendezvous was carefully mapped. The guard came, and his +Lordship rose languidly. + +"One thing more," said he. "Let the men go over without +arms--if--if you will be so good." + +"I shall consider that," said the general. + +"And when shall the messenger start?" + +"Within the hour, if possible," my chief answered. + +As they went away, the general sat down with me for a moment, to +discuss the matter. + + + + +XXII + +Herein is the story of the adventures of his Lordship's courier, +known as Mme. St. Jovite, on and after the night of November 17, +1813, in Upper Canada. This account may be accepted as quite +trustworthy, its writer having been known to me these many years, +in the which neither I nor any of my friends have had occasion to +doubt her veracity. The writer gave more details than are +desirable, but the document is nothing more than a letter to an +intimate friend. I remember well she had an eye for color and a +taste for description not easy to repress. + + +When I decided to go it was near midnight, The mission was not all +to my taste, but the reward was handsome and the letter of Lord +Ronley reassuring. I knew I could do it, and dressed as soon as +possible and walked to the Lone Oak, a sergeant escorting. There, +as I expected, the big soldier known as D'ri was waiting, his canoe +in a wagon that stood near. We all mounted the seat, driving +pell-mell on a rough road to Tibbals Point, on the southwest corner +of Wolf Island. A hard journey it was, and near two o'clock, I +should say, before we put our canoe in the water. Then the man +D'ri helped me to an easy seat in the bow and shoved off. A full +moon, yellow as gold, hung low in the northwest. The water was +calm, and we cut across "the moon way," that funnelled off to the +shores of Canada. + +"It is one ver' gran' night," I said in my dialect of the rude +Canuck; for I did not wish him, or any one, to know me. War is +war, but, surely, such adventures are not the thing for a woman. + +"Yis, mahm," he answered, pushing hard with the paddle. "Yer a +friend o' the cap'n, ain't ye--Ray Bell?" + +"Ze captain? Ah, oui, m'sieu'," I said. "One ver' brave man, +ain't it?" + +"Yis, mahm," said he, soberly and with emphasis. "He 's more 'n a +dozen brave men, thet's whut he is. He's a joemightyful cuss. +Ain't nuthin' he can't dew--spryer 'n a painter, stouter 'n a +moose, an' treemenjous with a sword." + +The moon sank low, peering through distant tree-columns, and went +out of sight. Long stubs of dead pine loomed in the dim, golden +afterglow, their stark limbs arching high in the heavens--like +mullions in a great Gothic window. + +"When we git nigh shore over yender," said my companion, "don't +believe we better hev a grea' deal t' say. I ain't a-goin' t' be +tuk--by a jugful--not ef I can help it. Got me 'n a tight place +one night here 'n Canady." + +"Ah, m'sieu', in Canada! How did you get out of it?" I queried. + +"Slipped out," said he, shaking the canoe with suppressed laughter. +"Jes' luk a streak o' greased lig-htnin'," he added presently. + +"The captain he seems ver' anxious for me to mak' great hurry," I +remarked. + +"No wonder; it's his lady-love he 's efter--faster 'n a weasel t' +see 'er," said he, snickering. + +"Good-looking?" I queried. + +"Han'some es a pictur'," said he, soberly. + +In a moment he dragged his paddle, listening. + +"Thet air's th' shore over yender," he whispered. "Don't say a +word now. I 'll put ye right on the p'int o' rocks. Creep 'long +careful till ye git t' th' road, then turn t' th' left, the cap'n +tol' me." + +When I stepped ashore my dress caught the gunwale and upset our +canoe. The good man rolled noisily into the water, and rose +dripping. I tried to help him. + +"Don't bother me--none," he whispered testily, as if out of +patience, while he righted the canoe. + +When at last he was seated again, as I leaned to shove him off, he +whispered in a compensating, kindly manner: "When ye 're goin' +ashore, an' they 's somebody 'n the canoe, don't never try t' tek +it with ye 'less ye tell 'im yer goin' tew." + +There was a deep silence over wood and water, but he went away so +stealthily I could not hear the stir of his paddle. I stood +watching as he dimmed off in the darkness, going quickly out of +sight. Then I crept over the rocks and through a thicket, +shivering, for the night had grown chilly. I snagged my dress on a +brier every step, and had to move by inches. After mincing along +half an hour or so, I came where I could feel a bit of clear earth, +and stood there, dancing on my tiptoes, in the dark, to quicken my +blood a little. Presently the damp light of dawn came leaking +through the tree-tops. I heard a rattling stir in the bare limbs +above me. Was it some monster of the woods? Although I have more +courage than most women, it startled me, and I stood still. The +light came clearer; there was a rush toward me that shook the +boughs. I peered upward. It was only a squirrel, now scratching +his ear, as he looked down at me. He braced himself, and seemed to +curse me loudly for a spy, trembling with rage and rushing up and +down the branch above me. Then all the curious, inhospitable folk +of the timber-land came out upon their towers to denounce. + +I made my way over the rustling, brittle leaves, and soon found a +trail that led up over high land. I followed it for a matter of +some minutes, and came to the road, taking my left-hand way, as +they told me. There was no traveller in sight. I walked as fast +as I could, passing a village at sunrise, where I asked my way in +French at a smithy. Beyond there was a narrow clearing, stumpy and +rank with briers, on the up-side of the way. Presently, looking +over a level stretch, I could see trees arching the road again, +from under which, as I was looking, a squad of cavalry came out in +the open. It startled me. I began to think I was trapped, I +thought of dodging into the brush. But, no; they had seen me, and +I would be a fool now to turn fugitive. I looked about me. Cows +were feeding near. I picked up a stick and went deliberately into +the bushes, driving one of them to the pike and heading her toward +them. They went by at a gallop, never pulling up while in sight of +me. Then I passed the cow and went on, stopping an hour later at a +lonely log house, where I found French people, and a welcome that +included moose meat, a cup of coffee, and fried potatoes. Leaving, +I rode some miles with a travelling tinker, a voluble, well-meaning +youth who took a liking for me, and went far out of his way to help +me on. He blushed proudly when, stopping to mend a pot for the +cook at a camp of militia, they inquired if I was his wife. + +"No; but she may be yet," said he; "who knows?" + +I knew it was no good place for me, and felt some relief when the +young man did me this honor. From that moment they set me down for +a sweetheart. + +"She 's too big for you, my boy," said the general, laughing. + +"The more the better," said he; "can't have too much of a good +wife." + +I said little to him as we rode along. He asked for my address, +when I left him, and gave me the comforting assurance that he would +see me again. I made no answer, leaving him at a turn where, north +of us, I could see the white houses of Wrentham. Kingston was hard +by, its fort crowning a hill-top by the river. + +It was past three by a tower clock at the gate of the Weirs when I +got there. A driveway through tall oaks led to the mansion of dark +stone. Many acres of park and field and garden were shut in with +high walls. I rang a bell at the small gate, and some fellow in +livery took my message. + +"Wait 'ere, my lass," said he, with an English accent. "I 'll go +at once to the secretary." + +I sat in a rustic chair by the gate-side, waiting for that +functionary. + +"Ah, come in, come in," said he, coolly, as he opened the gate a +little. + +He said nothing more, and I followed him--an oldish man with gray +eyes and hair and side-whiskers, and neatly dressed, his head +covered to the ears with a high hat, tilted backward. We took a +stone path, and soon entered a rear door. + +"She may sit in the servants' hall," said he to one of the maids, + +They took my shawl, as he went away, and showed me to a room where, +evidently, the servants did their eating. They were inquisitive, +those kitchen maids, and now and then I was rather put to it for a +wise reply. I said as little as might be, using the dialect, long +familiar to me, of the French Canadian. My bonnet amused them. It +was none too new or fashionable, and I did not remove it. + +"Afraid we 'll steal it," I heard one of them whisper in the next +room. Then there was a loud laugh. + +They gave me a French paper. I read every line of it, and sat +looking out of a window at the tall trees, at servants who passed +to and fro, at his Lordship's horses, led up and down for exercise +in the stable-yard, at the twilight glooming the last pictures of a +long day until they were all smudged with darkness. Then +candle-light, a trying supper hour with maids and cooks and grooms +and footmen at the big table, English, every one of them, and set +up with haughty curiosity. I would not go to the table, and had a +cup of tea and a biscuit there in my corner. A big butler walked +in hurriedly awhile after seven. He looked down at me as if I +were the dirt of the gutter. + +"They 're waitin'," said he, curtly. "An' Sir Chawles would like +to know if ye would care for a humberreller?" + +"Ah, m'sieu'! he rains?" I inquired. + +"No, mum." + +"Ah! he is going to rain, maybe?" + +He made no answer, but turned quickly and went to a near closet, +from which he brought a faded umbrella. + +"There," said he, as he led me to the front door, "see that you +send it back." + +On the porch were the secretary and the ladies--three of them. + +"Ciel! what is it?" one of them whispered as I came out. + +The post-lights were shining in their faces, and lovelier I never +saw than those of the demoiselles. They stepped lightly to the +coach, and the secretary asked if I would go in with them. + +"No, m'sieu'," was my answer; "I sit by ze drivaire." + +"Come in here, you silly goose," said one of the ladies in French, +recognizing my nationality. + +"Grand merci!" I said, taking my seat by the driver; and then we +were off, with as lively a team as ever carried me, our lights +flashing on the tree trunks. We had been riding more than two +hours when we stopped for water at a spring-tub under a hill. They +gave me a cup, and, for the ladies, I brought each a bumper of the +cool, trickling flood. + +"Ici, my tall woman," said one of them, presently, "my boot is +untied." + +Her dainty foot came out of the coach door under ruffles of silk. +I hesitated, for I was not accustomed to that sort of service. + +"Lambine!" she exclaimed. "Make haste, will you?" her foot moving +impatiently. + +My fingers had got numb in the cold air, and I must have been very +awkward, for presently she boxed my ears and drew her foot away. + +"Dieu!" said she. "Tell him to drive on." + +I got to my seat quickly, confident that nature had not intended me +for a lady's-maid. Awhile later we heard the call of a picket far +afield, but saw no camp. A horseman--I thought him a cavalry +officer--passed us, flashing in our faces the light of a dark +lantern, but said nothing. It must have been near midnight when, +as we were going slowly through deep sand, I heard the clang of a +cow-bell in the near darkness. Another sounded quickly a bit +farther on. The driver gave no heed to it, although I recognized +the signal, and knew something would happen shortly. We had come +into the double dark of the timber when, suddenly, our horses +reared, snorting, and stopped. The driver felt for his big pistol, +but not in the right place; for two hours or more it had been +stowed away in the deep pocket of my gown. Not a word was spoken. +By the dim light of the lanterns we could see men all about us with +pikes looming in the dark. For a breath or two there was perfect +silence; then the driver rose quickly and shouted: "Who are you?" + +"Frien's o' these 'ere women," said one I recognized as the +Corporal D'ri. + +He spoke in a low tone as he opened the door. + +"Grace au ciel!" I heard one of the young ladies saying. "It is +D'ri--dear old fellow!" + +Then they all hurried out of the coach and kissed him. + +"The captain--is he not here?" said one of them in French. But +D'ri did not understand them, and made no answer. + +"Out wi' the lights, an' be still," said D'ri, quickly, and the +lights were out as soon as the words. "Jones, you tie up a front +leg o' one o' them hosses. Git back in the brush, ladies. Five on +'em, boys. Now up with the pike wall!" + +From far back in the road had come again the clang of the cow-bell. +I remember hearing five strokes and then a loud rattle. In a +twinkling I was off the seat and beside the ladies. + +"Take hold of my dress," I whispered quickly, "and follow me." + +I led them off in the brush, and stopped. We could hear the move +and rattle of cavalry in the near road. Then presently the swish +of steel, the leap and tumble of horses, the shouting of men. My +companions were of the right stuff; they stood shivering, but held +their peace. Out by the road lights were flashing, and now we +heard pistols and the sound of a mighty scuffle. I could stay +there in the dark no longer. + +"Wait here, and be silent," I said, and ran "like a madwoman," as +they told me long after, for the flickering lights. + +There a squad of cavalry was shut in by the pikes. Two troopers +had broken through the near line. One had fallen, badly hurt; the +other was sabre to sabre with the man D'ri. They were close up and +striving fiercely, as if with broadswords. I caught up the weapon +of the injured man, for I saw the Yankee would get the worst of it. +The Britisher had great power and a sabre quick as a cat's paw. I +could see the corporal was stronger, but not so quick and skilful. +As I stood by, quivering with excitement, I saw him get a slash in +the shoulder. He stumbled, falling heavily. Then quickly, +forgetting my sex, but not wholly, I hope, the conduct that becomes +a woman, I caught the point of the sabre, now poised to run him +through, with the one I carried. He backed away, hesitating, for +he had seen my hat and gown. But I made after him with all the +fury I felt, and soon had him in action. He was tired, I have no +doubt; anyway, I whirled his sabre and broke his hold, whipping it +to the ground. That was the last we saw of him, for he made off in +the dark faster than I could follow. The trouble was all over, +save the wound of the corporal, which was not as bad as I thought. +He was up, and one of them, a surgeon, was putting stitches in his +upper arm. Others were tying four men together with rope. Their +weapons were lying in a little heap near by. One of the British +was saying that Sir Charles Gravleigh had sent for them to ride +after the coach. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" said the man D'ri. "Never see no sech +wil'cat uv a woman es thet air." + +I looked down at my gown; I felt of my hat, now hanging over one +ear. Sure enough, I was a woman. + +"Who be ye, I 'd like t' know?" said the man D'ri. + +"Ramon Bell--a Yankee soldier of the rank of captain," I said, +stripping off my gown. "But, I beg of you, don't tell the ladies I +was ever a woman." + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, as he flung his well arm around me. + + + + +XXIII + +I felt foolish for a moment. I had careful plans for Mme. St. +Jovite. She would have vanished utterly on our return; so, I +fancy, none would have been the wiser. But in that brief sally I +had killed the madame; she could serve me no more. I have been +careful in my account of this matter to tell all just as it +happened, to put upon it neither more nor less of romantic color +than we saw. Had I the skill and license of a novelist, I could +have made much of my little mystery; but there are many now living +who remember all these things, and then, I am a soldier, and too +old for a new business. So I make as much of them as there was and +no more. + +In private theatricals, an evening at the Harbor, I had won +applause with the rig, wig, and dialect of my trip to Wrentham +Square. So, when I proposed a plan to my friend the general, +urging the peril of a raw hand with a trust of so much importance, +he had no doubt of my ability. + +I borrowed a long coat, having put off my dress, and, when all was +ready, went with a lantern to get the ladies. Louise recognized me +first. + +"Grace au ciel! le capitaine!" said she, running to meet me. + +I dropped my lantern as we came face to face, and have ever been +glad of that little accident, for there in the dark my arms went +around her, and our lips met for a silent kiss full of history and +of holy confidence. Then she put her hand upon my face with a +gentle caressing touch, and turned her own away. + +"I am very, very glad to see you," I said. + +"Dieu!" said her sister, coming near, "we should be glad to see +you, if it were possible." + +I lighted the lantern hurriedly. + +"Ciel! the light becomes him," said Louison, her grand eyes aglow. + +But before there was time to answer I had kissed her also. + +"He is a bold thing," she added, turning soberly to the baroness. + +"Both a bold and happy thing," I answered. "Forgive me. I should +not be so bold if I were not--well--insanely happy." + +"He is only a boy," said the baroness, laughing as she kissed me. + +"Poor little ingenu!" said Louison, patting my arm. + +Louise, tall and lovely and sedate as ever, stood near me, primping +her bonnet. + +"Little ingenu!" she repeated, with a faint laugh of irony as she +placed the dainty thing on her head. + +"Well, what do _you_ think of him?" said Louison, turning to help +her. + +"Dieu! that he is very big and dreadful," said the other, soberly. +"I should think we had better be going." + +These things move slowly on paper, but the greeting was to me +painfully short, there being of it not more than a minuteful, I +should say. On our way to the lights they plied me with whispered +queries, and were in fear of more fighting. The prisoners were now +in the coach, and our men--there were twelve--stood on every side +of it, their pikes in hand. The boats were near, and we hurried to +the river by a toteway. Our schooner lay some twenty rods off a +point. A bateau and six canoes were waiting on the beach, and when +we had come to the schooner I unbound the prisoners. + +"You can get ashore with this bateau," I said. "You will find the +horses tied to a tree." + +"Wha' does thet mean?" said D'ri. + +"That we have no right to hold them," was my answer. "Ronley was, +in no way responsible for their coming." + +Leaning over the side with a lantern, while one of our men held the +bateau, I motioned to the coachman. + +"Give that 'humberreller' to the butler, with my compliments," I +whispered. + +Our anchors up, our sails took the wind in a jiffy. + +"Member how we used ye," D'ri called to the receding Britishers, +"an' ef ye ever meet a Yankee try t' be p'lite tew 'im." + +Dawn had come before we got off at the Harbor dock. I took the +ladies to an inn for breakfast, wrote a report, and went for my +horse and uniform. General Brown was buttoning his suspenders when +they admitted me to his room. + +"What luck, my boy?" said he. + +"All have returned safely, including the ladies," I replied +quickly, "and I have the honor to submit a report." + +He took a chair, and read the report carefully, and looked up at +me, laughing. + +"What a lucky and remarkable young man!" said he. "I declare, you +should have lived in the Middle Ages." + +"Ah, then I should not have enjoyed your compliments or your +friendship," was my answer. + +He laughed again heartily. + +"Nor the demoiselles'," said he. "I congratulate you. They are +the loveliest of their sex; but I'm sorry they're not Americans." + +"Time enough. I have decided that one of them shall become an +American," said I, with all the confidence of youth. + +"It is quite an undertaking," said he. "You may find new +difficulties. Their father is at the chateau." + +"M'sieur de Lambert?" I exclaimed. + +"M'sieur de Lambert. Came yesterday, via Montreal, with a fine +young nobleman--the Count Esmon de Brovel," said he. "You must +look out for him; he has the beauty of Apollo and the sword of a +cavalier." + +"And I no fear of him," I answered soberly, with a quick sense of +alarm. + +"They rode over in the afternoon with Chaumont," he went on. "It +seems the young ladies' father, getting no news of them, had become +worried. Well, you may go and have three days for your fun; I +shall need you presently." + +Breakfast over, I got a team for the ladies, and, mounting my own +horse, rode before them. I began to consider a very odd thing in +this love experience. While they were in captivity I had begun to +think less of Louison and more of Louise. In truth, one face had +faded a little in my memory; the other, somehow, had grown clearer +and sweeter, as if by a light borrowed from the soul behind it. +Now that I saw Louison, her splendid face and figure appealed to me +with all the power of old. She was quick, vivacious, subtle, +aggressive, cunning, aware and proud of her charms, and ever making +the most of them. She, ah, yes, she could play with a man for the +mere pleasure of victory, and be very heartless if--if she were not +in love with him. This type of woman had no need of argument to +make me feel her charms. With her the old doubt had returned to +me; for how long? I wondered. Her sister was quite her +antithesis--thoughtful, slow, serious, even-tempered, frank, quiet, +unconscious of her beauty, and with that wonderful thing, a voice +tender and low and sympathetic and full of an eloquence I could +never understand, although I felt it to my finger-tips. I could +not help loving her, and, indeed, what man with any life in him +feels not the power of such a woman? That morning, on the +woods-pike, I reduced the problem to its simplest terms: the one +was a physical type, the other a spiritual. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine," said Louison, as I rode by the carriage, +"what became of the tall woman last night?" + +"Left us there in the woods," I answered. "She was afraid of you." + +"Afraid of me! Why?" + +"Well, I understand that you boxed her ears shamefully." + +A merry peal of laughter greeted my words. + +"It was too bad; you were very harsh," said Louise, soberly. + +"I could not help it; she was an ugly, awkward thing," said +Louison. "I could have pulled her nose'" + +"And it seems you called her a geante also," I said. "She was +quite offended." + +"It was a compliment," said the girl. "She was an Amazon--like the +count's statue of Jeanne d'Arc." + +"Poor thing! she could not help it," said Louise. + +"Well," said Louison, with a sigh of regret, "if I ever see her +again I shall give her a five-franc piece." + +There was a moment of silence, and she broke it. + +"I hope, this afternoon, you will let me ride that horse," said she. + +"On one condition," was my reply. + +"And it is--?" + +"That you will let me ride yours at the same time." + +"Agreed," was her answer. "Shall we go at three?" + +"With the consent of the baroness and--and your father," I said. + +"Father!" exclaimed the two girls. / + +"Your father," I repeated. "He is now at the chateau." + +"Heavens!" said Louison. + +"What will he say?" said the baroness. + +"I am so glad--my dear papa!" said Louise, clapping her hands. + +We were out of the woods now, and could see the chateau in the +uplands. + + + + +XXIV + +There was a dignity in the manners of M. de Lambert to me +formidable and oppressive. It showed in his tall, erect figure, +his deep tone, his silvered hair and mustache. There was a merry +word between the kisses of one daughter; between those of the other +only tears and a broken murmur. + +"Oh, papa," said Louison, as she greeted him, "I do love you--but I +dread that--tickly old mustache. Mon Dieu! what a lover--you must +have been!" + +Then she presented me, and put her hand upon my arm, looking +proudly at her father. + +"My captain!" said she. "Did you ever see a handsomer Frenchman?" + +"There are many, and here is one," said he, turning to the young +count, who stood behind him--a fine youth, tall, strong-built, +well-spoken, with blond hair and dark, keen eyes. I admit frankly +I had not seen a better figure of a man. I assure you, he had the +form of Hercules, the eye of Mars. It was an eye to +command--women; for I had small reason to admire his courage when I +knew him better. He took a hand of each young lady, and kissed it +with admirable gallantry. + +"Dieu! it is not so easy always to agree with one's father," said +Louison. + +We went riding that afternoon--Therese and her marquis and Louison +and I. The first two went on ahead of us; we rode slowly, and for +a time no word was spoken. Winds had stripped the timber, and +swept its harvest to the walls and hollows, where it lay bleaching +in the sun. Birch and oak and maple were holding bared arms to the +wind, as if to toughen them for storm and stress. I felt a mighty +sadness, wondering if my own arms were quite seasoned for all that +was to come. The merry-hearted girl beside me was ever like a day +of June--the color of the rose in her cheek, its odor always in her +hair and lace. There was never an hour of autumn in her life. + +"Alas, you are a very silent man!" said she, presently, with a +little sigh. + +"Only thinking," I said. + +"Of what?" + +"Dieu! of the dead summer," I continued. + +"Believe me, it does not pay to think," she interrupted. "I tried +it once, and made a sad discovery." + +"Of what?" + +"A fool!" said she, laughing. + +"I should think it--it might have been a coquette," said I, lightly. + +"Why, upon my word," said she, "I believe you misjudge me. Do you +think me heartless?" + +For the first time I saw a shadow in her face. + +"No; but you are young and--and beautiful, and--" + +"What?" she broke in impatiently, as I hesitated. "I long to know." + +"Men will love you in spite of all you can do," I added. + +"Captain!" said she, turning her face away. + +"Many will love you, and--and you can choose only one--a very hard +thing to do--possibly." + +"Not hard," said she, "if I see the right one--and--and--he loves +me also." + +I had kept myself well in hand, for I was full of doubts that day; +but the clever girl came near taking me, horse, foot, and guns, +that moment. She spoke so charmingly, she looked so winning, and +then, was it not easy to ask if I were the lucky one? She knew I +loved her, I knew that she had loved me, and I might as well +confess. But no; I was not ready. + +"You must be stern with the others; you must not let them tell +you," I went on. + +"Ciel!" said she, laughing, "one might as well go to a nunnery. +May not a girl enjoy her beauty? It is sweet to her." + +"But do not make it bitter for the poor men. Dieu! I am one of +them, and know their sorrows." + +"And you--you have been in love?" + +"Desperately," I answered, clinging by the finger-tips. Somehow we +kept drifting into fateful moments when a word even might have +changed all that has been--our life way, the skies above us, the +friends we have known, our loves, our very souls. + +She turned, smiling, her beauty flashing up at me with a power +quite irresistible. I shut my eyes a moment, summoning all my +forces. There was only a step between me and--God knows what! + +"Captain, you are a foolish fellow," said she, with a little +shudder. "And I--well, I am cold. Parbleu! feel my hand." + +She had drawn her glove quickly, and held out her hand, white and +beautiful, a dainty finger in a gorget of gems. That little cold, +trembling hand seemed to lay hold of my heart and pull me to her. +As my lips touched the palm I felt its mighty magic. Dear girl! I +wonder if she planned that trial for me. + +"We must--ride--faster. You--you--are cold," I stammered. + +She held her hand so that the sunlight flashed in the jewels, and +looked down upon it proudly. + +"Do you think it beautiful?" she asked. + +"Yes, and wonderful," I said. "But, mark me, it is all a sacred +trust--the beauty you have." + +"Sacred?" + +"More sacred than the power of kings," I said. + +"Preacher!" said she, with a smile. "You should give yourself to +the church." + +"I can do better with the sword of steel," I said. + +"But do not be sad. Cheer up, dear fellow!" she went on, patting +my elbow with a pretty mockery. "We women are not--not so bad. +When I find the man I love--" + +Her voice faltered as she began fussing with her stirrup. + +I turned with a look of inquiry, changing quickly to one of +admiration. + +"I shall make him love me, if I can," she went on soberly. + +"And if he does?" I queried, my blood quickening as our eyes met. + +"Dieu! I would do anything for him," said she. + +I turned away, looking off at the brown fields. Ah, then, for a +breath, my heart begged my will for utterance. The first word +passed my lips when there came a sound of galloping hoofs and +Theresa and the marquis. + +"Come, dreamers," said the former, as they pulled up beside us. "A +cold dinner is the worst enemy of happiness." + +"And he is the worst robber that shortens the hour of love," said +the marquis, smiling. + +We turned, following them at a swift gallop. They had helped me +out of that mire of ecstasy, and now I was glad, for, on my soul, I +believed the fair girl had found one more to her liking, and was +only playing for my scalp. And at last I had begun to know my own +heart, or thought I had. + +D'ri came over that evening with a letter from General Brown. He +desired me to report for duty next day at two. + +"War--it is forever war," said Therese, when I told her at dinner. +"There is to be a coaching-party to-morrow, and we shall miss you, +captain." + +"Can you not soon return?" said the baroness. + +"I fear not," was my answer. "It is to be a long campaign." + +"Oh, the war! When will it ever end?" said Louise, sighing. + +"When we are all dead," said Louison. + +"Of loneliness?" said the old count, with a smile. + +"No; of old age," said Louison, quickly. + +"When the army goes into Canada it will go into trouble," said the +Comte de Chaumont, speaking in French. "We shall have to get you +out of captivity, captain." + +"Louise would rescue him," said her sister. "She has influence +there." + +"Would you pay my ransom?" I inquired, turning to her. + +"With my life," said she, solemnly. + +"Greater love hath no man than this," said the good Pere Joulin, +smiling as the others laughed. + +"And none has greater obligation," said Louise, blushing with +embarrassment. "Has he not brought us three out of captivity?" + +"Well, if I am taken," I said, "nothing can bring me back unless it +be--" + +"A miracle?" the baroness prompted as I paused. + +"Yes; even a resurrection," was my answer. "I know what it means +for a man to be captured there these days." + +Louise sat beside me, and I saw what others failed to notice--her +napkin stop quickly on its way to her lips, her hand tighten as it +held the white linen. It made me regretful of my thoughtless +answer, but oddly happy for a moment. Then they all besought me +for some adventure of those old days in the army. I told them the +story of the wasps, and, when I had finished, our baroness told of +the trouble it led to--their capture and imprisonment. + +"It was very strange," said she, in conclusion. "That Englishman +grew kinder every day we were there, until we began to feel at +home." + +They were all mystified, but I thought I could understand it. We +had a long evening of music, and I bade them all good-by before +going to bed, for they were to be off early. + +Well, the morning came clear, and before I was out of bed I heard +the coach-horn, the merry laughter of ladies under my window, the +prancing hoofs, and the crack of the whip as they all went away. +It surprised me greatly to find Louise at the breakfast table when +I came below-stairs; I shall not try to say how much it pleased me. +She was gowned in pink, a red rose at her bosom. I remember, as if +it were yesterday, the brightness of her big eyes, the glow in her +cheeks, the sweet dignity of her tall, fine figure when she rose +and gave me her hand. + +"I did feel sorry, ma'm'selle, that I could not go; but now--now I +am happy," was my remark. + +"Oh, captain, you are very gallant," said she, as we took seats. +"I was not in the mood for merrymaking, and then, I am reading a +book." + +"A book! May its covers be the gates of happiness," I answered. + +"Eh bien! it is a tale of love," said she. + +"Of a man for a woman?" I inquired. + +"Of a lady that loved two knights, and knew not which the better." + +"Is it possible and--and reasonable?" I inquired. "In a tale +things should go as--well, as God plans them." + +"Quite possible," said she, "for in such a thing as love who knows +what--what may happen?" + +"Except he have a wide experience," I answered. + +"And have God's eyes," said she. "Let me tell you. They were both +handsome, brave, splendid, of course, but there was a difference: +the one had a more perfect beauty of form and face, the other a +nobler soul." + +"And which will she favor?" + +"Alas! I have not read, and do not know her enough to judge," was +her answer; "but I shall hate her if she does not take him with the +better soul." + +"And why?" I could hear my heart beating. + +"Love is not love unless it be--" She paused, thinking. "Dieu! +from soul to soul," she added feelingly. + +She was looking down, a white, tapered finger stirring the red +petals of the rose. Then she spoke in a low, sweet tone that +trembled with holy feeling and cut me like a sword of the spirit +going to its very hilt in my soul. + +"Love looks to what is noble," said she, "or it is vain--it is +wicked; it fails; it dies in a day, like the rose. True love, that +is forever." + +"What if it be hopeless?" I whispered. + +"Ah! then it is very bitter," said she, her voice diminishing. "It +may kill the body, but--but love does not die. When it comes--" +There was a breath of silence that had in it a strange harmony not +of this world. + +"'When it comes'?" I whispered. + +"You see the coming of a great king," said she, looking down +thoughtfully, her chin, upon her hand. + +"And all people bow their heads," I said. + +"Yes," she added, with a sigh, "and give their bodies to be burned, +if he ask it. The king is cruel--sometimes." + +"Dieu!" said I. "He has many captives." + +She broke a sprig of fern, twirling it in her fingers; her big eyes +looked up at me, and saw, I know, to the bottom of my soul. + +"But long live the king!" said she, her lips trembling, her cheeks +as red as the rose upon her bosom. + +"Long live the king!" I murmured. + +We dared go no farther. Sweet philosopher, inspired of Heaven, I +could not bear the look of her, and rose quickly with dim eyes and +went out of the open door. A revelation had come to me. Mere de +Dieu! how I loved that woman so fashioned in thy image! She +followed me, and laid her hand upon my arm tenderly, while I shook +with emotion. + +"Captain," said she, in that sweet voice, "captain, what have I +done?" + +It was the first day of the Indian summer, a memorable season that +year, when, according to an old legend, the Great Father sits idly +on the mountain-tops and blows the smoke of his long pipe into the +valleys. In a moment I was quite calm, and stood looking off to +the hazy hollows of the far field. I gave her my arm without +speaking, and we walked slowly down a garden path. For a time +neither broke the silence. + +"I did not know--I did not know," she whispered presently. + +"And I--must--tell you," I said brokenly, "that I--that I--" + +"Hush-sh-sh!" she whispered, her hand over my lips. "Say no more! +say no more! If it is true, go--go quickly, I beg of you!" + +There was such a note of pleading in her voice, I hear it, after +all this long time, in the hushed moments of my life, night or day. +"Go--go quickly, I beg of you!" We were both near breaking down. + +[Illustration: "We were both near breaking down."] + +"Vive le roi!" I whispered, taking her hand. + +"Vive le roi!" she whispered, turning away. + + + + +XXV + +How empty and weak are my words that try to tell of that day! I +doubt if there is in them anywhere what may suggest, even feebly, +the height and depth of that experience or one ray of the light in +her face. There are the words nearly as we said them; there are +the sighs, the glances, the tears: but everywhere there is much +missing--that fair young face and a thousand things irresistible +that drift in with every tide of high feeling. Of my history there +is not much more to write, albeit some say the best is untold. + +I had never such a heart of lead as went with me to my work that +afternoon. What became of me I cared not a straw then, for I knew +my love was hopeless. D'ri met me as I got off my horse at the +Harbor. His keen eye saw my trouble quickly--saw near to the +bottom of it. + +"Be'n hit?" said he, his great hand on my shoulder. + +"With trouble," I answered. "Torn me up a little inside." + +"Thought so," he remarked soberly. "Judas Priest! ye luk es ef a +shell 'ad bu'st 'n yer cockpit. Ain' nuthin' 'll spile a man +quicker. Sheer off a leetle an' git out o' range. An' 'member, +Ray, don't never give up the ship. Thet air 's whut Perry tol' us." + +I said nothing and walked away, but have always remembered his +counsel, there was so much of his big heart in it. The army was to +move immediately, in that foolish campaign of Wilkinson that ended +with disaster at Chrysler's Farm. They were making the boats, +small craft with oars, of which three hundred or more would be +needed to carry us. We were to go eastward on the river and join +Hampden, whose corps was to march overland to Plattsburg, at some +point on the north shore. Word came, while I was away, that down +among the islands our enemy had been mounting cannon. It looked +as if our plan had leaked, as if, indeed, there were good chance of +our being blown out of water the first day of our journey. So, +before the army started, I was to take D'ri and eleven others, with +four boats, and go down to reconnoitre. + +We got away before sundown that day, and, as dark came, were +passing the southwest corner of Wolf Island. I was leading the +little fleet, and got ashore, intending to creep along the edge and +rejoin them at the foot of the island. I had a cow-bell, muted +with cork, and was to clang it for a signal in case of need. Well, +I was a bit more reckless that night than ever I had been. Before +I had gone twenty rods I warned them to flee and leave me. I heard +a move in the brush, and was backing off, when a light flashed on +me, and I felt the touch of a bayonet. Then quickly I saw there +was no help for me, and gave the signal, for I was walled in. +Well, I am not going to tell the story of my capture. My sabre +could serve me well, but, heavens! it was no magic wand such as one +may read of in the story-books. I knew then it would serve me best +in the scabbard. There were few words and no fighting in the +ceremony. I gave up, and let them bind my arms. In two hours they +had me in jail, I knew not where. In the morning they let me send +a note to Lord Ronley, who was now barely two days out of his own +trouble. A week passed; I was to be tried for a spy, and saw +clearly the end of it all. Suddenly, a morning when my hopes were +gone, I heard the voice of his Lordship in the little corridor. A +keeper came with him to the door of my cell, and opened it. + +"The doctor," said he. + +"Well, well, old fellow," said Ronley, clapping me on the shoulder, +"you are ill, I hear." + +"Really, I do not wish to alarm you," I said, smiling, "but--but it +does look serious." + +He asked me to show my tongue, and I did so. + +"Cheer up," said he, presently; "I have brought you this pill. It +is an excellent remedy." + +He had taken from his pocket a brown pill of the size of a large +pea, and sat rolling it in his palm. Had he brought me poison? + +"I suppose it is better than--" + +He shot a glance at me as if to command silence, then he put the +pill in my palm. I saw it was of brown tissue rolled tightly. + +"Don't take it now," said he; "too soon after breakfast. Wait half +an hour. A cup of water," he added, turning to the guard, who left +us for a moment. + +He leaned to my ear and whispered:-- + +"Remember," said he, "2 is _a_, and 3 is _b_, and so on. Be +careful until the guard changes." + +He handed me a small watch as he was leaving. + +"It may be good company," he remarked. + +I unrolled the tissue as soon as I was alone. It was covered with +these figures:-- + + 21-24-6-13-23-6 + + 21-16-15-10-8-9-21 4-6-13-13 5-16-16-19 + 22-15-13-16-4-12-6-5 13-10-7-21 20-14-2-13-13 + 24-10-15-5-16-24 10-15 4-16-19-19-10-5-16-19 3-2-4-12 + 21-16 24-2-13-13 8-16 19-10-8-9-21 21-16 19-16-2-5 + 13-6-7-21 200 17-2-4-6-20 21-16 17-2-21-9 13-6-7-21 + 21-16 19-10-23-6-19 19-10-8-9-21 21-24-6-15-21-26 + 21-16 21-9-10-4-12-6-21. + +I made out the reading, shortly, as follows:-- + + "Twelve to-night cell door unlocked. Lift + small window in corridor. Back to wall go + right to road. Left two hundred paces to path. + Left to river. Right twenty to thicket." + +Having read the figures, I rolled the tissue firmly, and hid it in +my ear. It was a day of some excitement, I remember, for that very +afternoon I was condemned to death. A priest, having heard of my +plight, came in that evening, and offered me the good ministry of +the church. The words, the face, of that simple man, filled me +with a deep tenderness for all who seek in the shadows of this +world with the lantern of God's mercy. Never, so long as I live, +shall an ill word of them go unrebuked in my hearing. He left me +at 10.30, and as he went away, my jailer banged the iron door +without locking it. Then I lay down there in the dark, and began +to tell off the time by my heartbeats, allowing forty-five hundred +to the hour, and was not far wrong. I thought much of his Lordship +as I waited. To him I had been of some service, but, surely, not +enough to explain this tender regard, involving, as it must have +done, bribery and no small degree of peril to himself. My counting +over, I tried the door, which swung easily as I put my hand upon +it, The little corridor was dark and I could hear no sound save the +snoring of a drunken soldier, committed that day for fighting, as +the turnkey had told me. I found the small window, and slid the +sash, and let my boots fall to the ground, then climbing through +and dropping on them. It was a dark night, but I was not long in +reaching the road and pacing my way to the path and river. His +Lordship and a boatman lay in the thicket waiting for me. + +"This way," the former whispered, taking my arm and leading me to +the mouth of a little brook, where a boat was tied, the bottom +muffled with blankets. I took the stern seat, his Lordship the +bow, and we pushed off. The boatman, a big, husky fellow, had been +rowing a long hour when we put into a cove under the high shore of +an island. I could see a moving glow back in the bushes. It swung +slowly, like a pendulum of light, with a mighty flit and tumble of +shadows. We tied our boat, climbed the shore, and made slowly for +the light. Nearing it, his Lordship whistled twice, and got +answer. The lantern was now still; it lighted the side of a +soldier in high boots; and suddenly I saw it was D'ri. I caught +his hand, raising it to my lips. We could not speak, either of us. +He stepped aside, lifting the lantern. God! there stood Louise. +She was all in black, her head bent forward. + +"Dear love!" I cried, grasping her hands, "why--why have you come +here?" + +She turned her face away, and spoke slowly, her voice trembling +with emotion. + +"To give my body to be burned," said she. + +I turned, lifting my arm to smite the man who had brought me there; +but lo! some stronger hand had struck him, some wonder-working +power of a kind that removes mountains. Lord Ronley was wiping his +eyes. + +"I cannot do this thing," said he, in a broken voice. "I cannot do +this thing. Take her and go." + +D'ri had turned away to hide his feelings. + +"Take them to your boat," said his Lordship. + +"Wait a minute," said D'ri, fixing his lantern. "Judas Priest! I +ain't got no stren'th. I 'm all tore t' shoe-strings." + +I took her arm, and we followed D'ri to the landing. Lord Ronley +coming with us. + +"Good-by," said he, leaning to push us off. "I am a better man for +knowing you. Dear girl, you have put all the evil out of me." + +He held a moment to the boat, taking my hand as I came by him. + +"Bell," said he, "henceforward may there be peace between you and +me." + +"And between your country and mine," I answered. + +And, thank God! the war was soon over, and ever since there has +been peace between the two great peoples. I rejoice that even we +old men have washed our hearts of bitterness, and that the young +have now more sense of brotherhood. + +Above all price are the words of a wise man, but silence, that is +the great counsellor. In silence wisdom enters the heart and +understanding puts forth her voice. In the hush of that night ride +I grew to manhood; I put away childish things. I saw, or thought I +saw, the two great powers of good and evil. One was love, with the +power of God in it to lift up, to ennoble; the other, love's +counterfeit, a cunning device of the devil, with all his power to +wreck and destroy, deceiving him that has taken it until he finds +at last he has neither gold nor silver, but only base metal hanging +as a millstone to his neck. + +At dawn we got ashore on Battle Point. We waited there, Louise and +I, while D'ri went away to bring horses. The sun rose clear and +warm; it was like a summer morning, but stiller, for the woods had +lost their songful tenantry. We took the forest road, walking +slowly. Some bugler near us had begun to play the song of +Yankee-land. Its phrases travelled like waves in the sea, some +high-crested, moving with a mighty rush, filling the valleys, +mounting the hills, tossing their spray aloft, flooding all the +shores of silence. Far and near, the trees were singing in praise +of my native land. + +"Ramon," said Louise, looking up at me, a sweet and queenly dignity +in her face, "I have come to love this country." + +"And you could not have done so much for me unless you had loved--" + +She looked up at me quickly, and put her finger to her lips. My +tongue faltered, obeying the command. How sweet and beautiful she +was then, her splendid form erect, the light of her eyes softened +by long lashes! She looked down thoughtfully as she gave the +bottom of her gown a shake. + +"Once upon a time," said she, slowly, as our eyes met again, "there +was a little country that had a cruel king. And he commanded that +none of all his people should speak until--until--" + +She hesitated, stirring the dead leaves with her dainty foot. + +"Until a great mountain had been removed and buried in the sea," +she added in a low tone. + +"Ah, that was hard." + +"Especially for the ladies," she went on, sighing. "Dieu! they +could only sit and hold their tongues and weep and feel very +foolish. And the longer they were silent the more they had to say." + +"And those who broke the law?" I inquired. + +"Were condemned to silence for their lives," she answered. "Come, +we are both in danger; let us go." + +A bit farther on we came to a log house where a veteran of the old +war sat playing his bugle, and a motherly woman bade us sit awhile +at the door-step. + + + + +XXVI + +D'ri came soon with horses, one the black thoroughbred of Louise +which had brought her on this errand. We gave them free rein, +heading for the chateau. Not far up the woods-pike we met M. de +Lambert and the old count. The former was angry, albeit he held +himself in hand as became a gentleman, save that he was a bit too +cool with me. + +"My girl, you have upset us terribly," said the learned doctor. "I +should like to be honored with your confidence." + +"And I with your kindness, dear father," said she, as her tears +began falling. "I am much in need of it." + +"She has saved my life, m'sieur," I said. + +"Then go to your work," said he, coolly, "and make the most of it." + +"Ah, sir, I had rather--" + +"Good-by," said Louise, giving me her hand. + +"Au revoir," I said quickly, and wheeled my horse and rode away. + +The boats were ready. The army was waiting for the order, now +expected any moment, to move. General Brown had not been at his +quarters for a day. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, when we were alone together, "thet air +gal 'd go through fire an' water fer you." + +"You 're mistaken," I said. + +"No, I hain't nuther," said he. "Ef I be, I 'm a reg'lar +out-an'-out fool, hand over fist." + +He whittled a moment thoughtfully. + +"Ain' no use talkin'," he added, "I can tell a hoss from a +jack-rabbit any day." + +"Her father does not like me," I suggested. + +"Don't hev to," said D'ri, calmly. + +He cut a deep slash in the stick he held, then added: "Don't make +no odds ner no diff'rence one way er t' other. I did n't like th' +measles, but I hed t' hev 'em." + +"He'll never permit a marriage with me," I said. + +"'T ain't nec'sary," he declared soberly. "In this 'ere country +don' tek only tew t' mek a bargain. One o' the blessin's o' +liberty." + +He squinted up at the sky, delivering his confidence in slowly +measured phrases, to wit; "Wouldn't give ten cents fer no man 'at +'ll give up a gal 'less he 'd orter--not fer nuthin' ner nobody." + +I was called out of bed at cockcrow in the morning. The baroness +and a footman were at the door. + +"Ah, my captain, there is trouble," she whispered. "M. de Lambert +has taken his daughters. They are going back to Paris, bag and +baggage. Left in the evening." + +"By what road?" + +"The turnpike militaire." + +"Thanks, and good morning," I said. "I shall overhaul them." + +I called D'ri, and bade him feed the horses quickly. I went to see +General Brown, but he and Wilkinson were on the latter's gig, half +a mile out in the harbor. I scribbled a note to the +farmer-general, and, leaving it, ran to the stables. Our horses +were soon ready, and D'ri and I were off a bit after daylight, +urging up hill and down at a swift gallop, and making the forest +ring with hoof-beats. Far beyond the chateau we slackened pace and +went along leisurely. Soon we passed the town where they had put +up overnight, and could see the tracks of horse and coach-wheel. +D'ri got off and examined them presently. + +"Purty fresh," he remarked. "Can't be more 'n five mild er so +further on." + +We rode awhile in silence. + +"How ye goin' t' tackle 'em?" he inquired presently. + +"Going to stop them somehow," said I, "and get a little +information." + +"An' mebbe a gal?" he suggested. + +"Maybe a gal." + +"Don' care s' long as ye dew th' talkin'. I can rassle er fight, +but my talk in a rumpus ain' fit fer no woman t' hear, thet 's +sart'in." + +We overtook the coach at a village, near ten o'clock. + +D'ri rushed on ahead of them, wheeling with drawn sabre. The +driver pulled rein, stopping quickly. M. de Lambert was on the +seat beside him. I came alongside. + +"Robbers!" said M. de Lambert, "What do you mean?" + +The young ladies and Brovel were looking out of the door, Louise +pale and troubled. + +"No harm to any, m'sieur," I answered. "Put up your pistol." + +I opened the coach door. M. de Lambert, hissing with anger, leaped +to the road. I knew he would shoot me, and was making ready to +close with him, when I heard a rustle of silk, and saw Louise +between us, her tall form erect, her eyes forceful and commanding. +She stepped quickly to her father. + +"Let me have it!" said she, taking the pistol from his hand. She +flung it above the heads of some village folk who had gathered near +us. + +"Why do you stop us?" she whispered, turning to me. + +"So you may choose between him and me," I answered. + +"Then I leave all for you," said she, coming quickly to my side. + +[Illustration: "Then I leave all for you."] + +The villagers began to cheer, and old D'ri flung his hat in the +air, shouting, "Hurrah fer love an' freedom!" + +"An' the United States of Ameriky," some one added. + +"She is my daughter," said M. de Lambert, with anger, as he came up +to me. "I may command her, and I shall seek the aid of the law as +soon as I find a magistrate." + +"But see that you find him before we find a minister," I said. + +"The dominie! Here he is," said some one near us. + +"Marry them," said another. "It is Captain Bell of the army, a +brave and honorable man." + +Does not true love, wherever seen, spread its own quality and +prosper by the sympathy it commands? Louise turned to the good +man, taking his hand. + +"Come," said she, "there is no time to lose." + +The minister came to our help. He could not resist her appeal, so +sweetly spoken. There, under an elm by the wayside, with some +score of witnesses, including Louison and the young Comte de +Brovel, who came out of the coach and stood near, he made us man +and wife. We were never so happy as when we stood there hand in +hand, that sunny morning, and heard the prayer for God's blessing, +and felt a mighty uplift in our hearts. As to my sweetheart, there +was never such a glow in her cheeks, such a light in her large +eyes, such a grace in her figure. + +"Dear sister," said Louison, kissing her, "I wish I were as happy." + +"And you shall be as soon as you get to Paris," said the young +count. + +"Oh, dear, I can hardly wait!" said the merry-hearted girl, looking +proudly at her new lover. + +"I admire your pluck, my young man," said M. de Lambert, as we +shook hands. "You Americans are a great people. I surrender; I am +not going to be foolish. Turn your horses," said he, motioning to +the driver. "We shall go back at once." + +I helped Louise into the coach with her sister and the Comte de +Brovel. D'ri and I rode on behind them, the village folk cheering +and waving their hats, + +"Ye done it skilful," said D'ri, smiling. "Whut'd I tell ye?" + +I made no answer, being too full of happiness at the moment. + +"Tell ye one thing, Ray," he went on soberly: "ef a boy an' a gal +loves one 'nother, an' he has any grit in 'im, can't nuthin' keep +'em apart long." + +He straightened the mane of his horse, and then added:-- + +"Ner they can't nuthin' conquer 'em." + +Soon after two o'clock we turned in at the chateau. + +We were a merry company at luncheon, the doctor drinking our health +and happiness with sublime resignation. But I had to hurry +back--that was the worst of it all. Louise walked with me to the +big gate, where were D'ri and the horses. We stopped a moment on +the way. + +"Again?" she whispered, her sweet face on my shoulder. "Yes, and +as often as you like. No more now--there is D'ri. Remember, +sweetheart, I shall look and pray for you day and night." + + + + +XXVII + +Sooner or later all things come to an end, including wars and +histories,--a God's mercy!--and even the lives of such lucky men as +I. All things, did I say? Well, what wonder, for am I not writing +of youth and far delights with a hand trembling of infirmity? All +things save one, I meant to say, and that is love, the immortal +vine, with its root in the green earth, that weathers every storm, +and "groweth not old," and climbs to paradise; and who eats of its +fruit has in him ever a thought of heaven--a hope immortal as +itself. + +This book of my life ends on a bright morning in the summer of '17, +at the new home of James Donatianus Le Ray, Comte de Chaumont, the +chateau having burned the year before. + +President Monroe is coming on the woods-pike, and veterans are +drawn up in line to meet him. Here are men who fought at Chippewa +and Lundy's Lane and Lake Erie and Chrysler's Farm, and here are +some old chaps who fought long before at Plattsburg and +Ticonderoga. Joseph Bonaparte, the ex-king of Spain, so like his +mighty brother at St. Helena, is passing the line. He steps +proudly, in ruffles and green velvet. Gondolas with liveried +gondoliers, and filled with fair women, are floating on the still +lake, now rich with shadow-pictures of wood and sky and rocky shore. + +A burst of melody rings in the great harp of the woodland. In that +trumpet peal, it seems, a million voices sing:-- + + Hail, Columbia, happy land! + +Slowly the line begins to limp along. There are wooden legs and +crutches and empty sleeves in that column. D'ri goes limping in +front, his right leg gone at the knee since our last charge. +Draped around him is that old battle-flag of the _Lawrence_. I +march beside him, with only this long seam across my check to show +that I had been with him that bloody day at Chrysler's. We move +slowly over a green field to the edge of the forest. There, in the +cool shadow, are ladies in white, and long tables set for a feast. +My dear wife, loved of all and more beautiful than ever, comes to +meet us. + +"Sweetheart," she whispers, "I was never so proud to be your wife." + +"And an American," I suggest, kissing her. + +"And an American," she answers. + +A bugle sounds; the cavalcade is coming. + +"The President!" they cry, and we all begin cheering. + +He leads the escort on a black horse, a fine figure in military +coat and white trousers, his cocked hat in hand, a smile lighting +his face. The count receives him and speaks our welcome. +President Monroe looks down the war-scarred line a moment. His +eyes fill with tears, and then he speaks to us. + +"Sons of the woodsmen," says he, concluding his remarks, "you shall +live in the history of a greater land than that we now behold or +dream of, and in the gratitude of generations yet unborn, long, +long after we are turned to dust." + +And then we all sing loudly with full hearts: + + O land I love!--thy acres sown + With sweat and blood and shattered bone-- + God's grain, that ever doth increase + The goodly harvest of his peace. + + +THE END + + + + +[Transcriber's note - the following material is the Lilypond +(www.lilypond.org) source for the song found earlier in this +e-book. Search for the word "roundelay". Thanks to Dave +Maddock for its preparation.] + +\version "2.0.1" + +melody = \notes \relative c' { + \key e \major + \time 4/4 + + \autoBeamOff + + \partial 4 gis'8.\fermata[ fis16] \bar "|:" \mark + \markup { \musicglyph #"scripts-segno" } + e8. e16 dis8. cis16 cis cis8. b8.[ gis16] | + b4 b8. gis16 b4 e8. fis16 | + gis4 gis gis8.[ fis16] e4 | + gis16 gis8. fis8. fis16 fis4 gis8.[ fis16] | + e4 e8. cis16 cis8. cis16 b8. gis16 | + b16 b8. b8. gis16 b4 e8. fis16 | + gis4 b4 gis16[ fis8.] e8.[ fis16] | + gis4 e4 e\fermata e\fermata | + gis4 b8. b16 b8 cis b a | + gis4 b b4. b8 | + a4 cis8. cis16 cis8 dis cis b | + a4 cis cis4. b8 | + e4 e8. e16 b8 cis b a | + gis4 gis fis e8.[ fis16] | + gis4 gis gis16[ fis8.] e16[ fis8.] | + gis4^\markup{ \italic "ritard." } fis fis gis8.\fermata^\markup{ + \italic "D.S. " \musicglyph #"scripts-segno"}[ fis16] \bar ":|" +} + + +text = \lyrics { + Oh, hap -- py is th' mil -- ler who + lives by him -- self! As th' wheel goes round, he + gath -- ers in 'is wealth, One hand on the + hop -- per and the oth -- er on the bag; As the + wheel goes round, he cries out, "Grab!" Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- shamed o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- sham'd o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- sham'd o' this -- To + stay all night for one sweet kiss "Oh, etc." +} + + + +\score { +<< + \new Staff + \addlyrics + \melody + \new Lyrics \text +>> +} + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of D'Ri and I, by Irving Bacheller + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12440 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ad52d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12440 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12440) diff --git a/old/12440.txt b/old/12440.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b8824e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12440.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8234 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of D'Ri and I, by Irving Bacheller + +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: D'Ri and I + +Author: Irving Bacheller + +Release Date: May 26, 2004 [EBook #12440] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK D'RI AND I *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines. Thanks to Dave Maddock for the Lilypond work. + + + + +D'RI AND I + + + +A TALE of DARING DEEDS in the SECOND WAR with the BRITISH. + +Being the Memoirs of Colonel Ramon Bell, U.S.A. + + + +BY IRVING BACHELLER, author of "Eben Holden." + + + +1901 + + + + + +TO MY WIFE + + + + +PREFACE + +This is a tale of the adventurous and rugged pioneers, who, +unconquered by other foes, were ever at war with the ancient +wilderness, pushing the northern frontier of the white man farther +and farther to the west. Early in the last century they had +striped the wild waste of timber with roadways from Lake Champlain +to Lake Ontario, and spotted it with sown acres wide and fair; and +still, as they swung their axes with the mighty vigor of great +arms, the forest fell before them, + +In a long valley south of the St. Lawrence, sequestered by river, +lake, and wilderness, they were slow to lose the simplicity, the +dialect, and the poverty of their fathers. + +Some Frenchmen of wealth and title, having fled the Reign of +Terror, bought a tract of wild country there (six hundred and +thirty thousand acres) and began to fill it with fine homes. It +was said the great Napoleon himself would some day build a chateau +among them. A few men of leisure built manor-houses on the river +front, and so the Northern Yankee came to see something of the +splendor of the far world, with contempt, as we may well imagine, +for its waste of time and money. + +Those days the North country was a theatre of interest and renown. +Its play was a tragedy; its setting the ancient wilderness; its +people of all conditions from king to farm hand. Chateau and +cabin, trail and forest road, soldier and civilian, lake and river, +now moonlit, now sunlit, now under ice and white with snow, were of +the shifting scenes in that play. Sometimes the stage was overrun +with cavalry and noisy with the clang of steel and the roar of the +carronade. + +The most important episodes herein are of history,--so romantic was +the life of that time and region. The marriage is almost literally +a matter of record. + +A good part of the author's life has been spent among the children +of those old raiders--Yankee and Canadian--of the north and south +shores of the big river. Many a tale of the camp and the night +ride he has heard in the firelight of a winter's evening; long +familiar to him are the ruins of a rustic life more splendid in its +day than any north of Virginia. So his color is not all of books, +but of inheritance and of memory as well. + +The purpose of this tale is to extend acquaintance with the plain +people who sweat and bled and limped and died for this Republic of +ours. Darius, or "D'ri" as the woods folk called him, was a +pure-bred Yankee, quaint, rugged, wise, truthful; Ramon had the +hardy traits of a Puritan father, softened by the more romantic +temperament of a French mother. They had no more love of fighting +than they had need of it. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +INTRODUCTION + +CHAPTER + I. + II. + III. + IV. + V. + VI. + VII. + VIII. + IX. + X. + XI. + XII. + XIII. + XIV. + XV. + XVI. + XVII. + XVIII. + XIX. + XX. + XXI. + XXII. + XXIII. + XXIV. + XXV. + XXVI. + XXVII. + +[Transcriber's Note: The chapters in the original text were numbered, +but had no titles.] + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +LOUISE + +D'RI AND I + +I COULD NOT TELL WHICH OF THE TWO GIRLS I LOVED THE BETTER + +HE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT TO THE DEATH IF I HAD BUT GIVEN HIM WORD + +"COME, NOW, MY PRETTY PRISONER" + +"WE 'LL TEK CARE O' THE OL' BRIG" + +WE WERE BOTH NEAR BREAKING DOWN + +"THEN I LEAVE ALL FOR YOU" + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +From a letter of Captain Darius Hawkins, U. S. A., introducing +Ramon Bell to the Comte de Chaumont:-- + + +"MY DEAR COUNT: I commend to your kind offices my young friend +Ramon Bell, the son of Captain Bell, a cavalry officer who long ago +warmed his sword in the blood of the British on many a +battle-field. The young man is himself a born soldier, as brave as +he is tall and handsome. He has been but a month in the army, yet +I have not before seen a man who could handle horse and sword as if +they were part of him. He is a gentleman, also, and one after your +own heart, I know, my dear count, you will do everything you can to +further the work intrusted to him. + + "Your obedient servant, + "DARIUS HAWKINS." + + +From a letter of Joseph Bonaparte, Comte de Survilliers, +introducing his friend Colonel Ramon Bell to Napoleon III of +France:-- + + +"He has had a career romantic and interesting beyond that of any +man I have met in America. In the late war with England he was the +master of many situations most perilous and difficult. The scars +of ten bullets and four sabre-thrusts are on his body. It gives me +great pleasure, my dear Louis, to make you to know one of the most +gallant and chivalrous of men. He has other claims upon your +interest and hospitality, with which he will acquaint you in his +own delightful way." + + + + +D'RI AND I + +I + +A poet may be a good companion, but, so far as I know, he is ever +the worst of fathers. Even as grandfather he is too near, for one +poet can lay a streak of poverty over three generations. Doubt not +I know whereof I speak, dear reader, for my mother's father was a +poet--a French poet, too, whose lines had crossed the Atlantic long +before that summer of 1770 when he came to Montreal. He died +there, leaving only debts and those who had great need of a better +legacy--my mother and grandmother. + +As to my father, he had none of that fatal folly in him. He was a +mountaineer of Vermont--a man of steely sinews that took well to +the grip of a sword. He cut his way to fame in the Northern army +when the British came first to give us battle, and a bloody way it +was. I have now a faded letter from Ethan Allen, grim old warrior, +in which he calls my father "the best swordsman that ever straddled +a horse." He was a "gallous chap" in his youth, so said my +grandmother, with a great love of good clothes and gunpowder. He +went to Montreal, as a boy, to be educated; took lessons in +fencing, fought a duel, ran away from school, and came home with +little learning and a wife. Punished by disinheritance, he took a +farm, and left the plough to go into battle. + +I wonder often that my mother could put up with the stress and +hardship of his life, for she had had gentle breeding, of which I +knew little until I was grown to manhood, when I came to know also +what a woman will do for the love of her heart. I remember well +those tales of knights and ladies she used to tell me as we sat +together of an evening, and also those adventures of her own +knight, my good father, in the war with the British. My love of +arms and of a just quarrel began then. + +After the war came hard times. My father had not prospered +handsomely, when, near the end of the summer of 1803, he sold his +farm, and we all started West, over rough trails and roadways. +There were seven of us, bound for the valley of the St. +Lawrence--my father and mother, my two sisters, my grandmother, +D'ri, the hired man, and myself, then a sturdy boy of ten. We had +an ox-team and -cart that carried our provision, the sacred feather +beds of my mother, and some few other things. + +[Illustration: D'Ri and I.] + +We drove with us the first flock of sheep that ever went West. +There were forty of them, and they filled our days with trouble. +But for our faithful dog Rover, I fear we should have lost heart +and left them to the wild wolves. The cart had a low cover of +canvas, and my mother and grandmother sat on the feather beds, and +rode with small comfort even where the roads were level. My father +let me carry my little pet rooster in a basket that hung from the +cart-axle when not in my keeping. The rooster had a harder time +than any of us, I fancy, for the days were hot and the roads rough. +He was always panting, with open mouth and thoughtful eye, when I +lifted the cover. But every day he gave us an example of +cheerfulness not wholly without effect. He crowed triumphantly, +betimes, in the hot basket, even when he was being tumbled about on +the swamp ways. Nights I always found a perch for him on the limb +of a near tree, above the reach of predatory creatures. Every +morning, as the dawn showed faintly in the tree-tops, he gave it a +lusty cheer, napping his wings with all the seeming of delight. +Then, often, while the echo rang, I would open my eyes and watch +the light grow in .the dusky cavern of the woods. He would sit +dozing awhile after the first outbreak, and presently as the flood +of light grew clearer, lift himself a little, take another peep at +the sky, and crow again, turning his head to hear those weird, +mocking roosters of the timber-land. Then, shortly, I would hear +my father poking the fire or saying, as he patted the rooster: +"Sass 'em back, ye noisy little brat! Thet 's right: holler. Tell +D'ri it's time t' bring some wood fer the fire." + +In a few minutes the pot and kettle would be boiling and the camp +all astir. We had trout and partridge and venison a-plenty for our +meals, that were served in dishes of tin. Breakfast over, we +packed our things. The cart went on ahead, my father bringing the +oxen, while I started the sheep with D'ri. + +Those sheep were as many thorns in our flesh that day we made off +in the deep woods from Lake Champlain. Travel was new to them, and +what with tearing through thickets and running wild in every slash, +they kept us jumping. When they were leg-weary and used to travel, +they began to go quietly. But slow work it was at best, ten or +twelve miles a day being all we could do, for the weather was hot +and our road like the way of the transgressor. Our second night in +the woods we could hear the wolves howling as we camped at dusk. +We built our fire near the shore of a big pond, its still water, +framed in the vivid green of young tamaracks. A great hill rose on +the farther side of it, with galleries of timber sloping to the +summit, and peopled with many birds. We huddled the sheep together +in a place where the trees were thick, while father brought from +the cart a coil of small rope. We wound it about the trees, so the +sheep were shut in a little yard. After supper we all sat by the +fire, while D'ri told how he had been chased by wolves in the +beaver country north of us. + +D'ri was an odd character. He had his own way of expressing the +three degrees of wonder, admiration, and surprise. +"Jerushy!"--accented on the second syllable--was the positive, +"Jerushy Jane!" the comparative, and "Jerushy Jane Pepper!" the +superlative. Who that poor lady might be I often wondered, but +never ventured to inquire. In times of stress I have heard him +swear by "Judas Priest," but never more profanely. In his youth he +had been a sailor on the lake, when some artist of the needle had +tattooed a British jack on the back of his left hand--a thing he +covered, of shame now, when he thought of it. His right hand had +lost its forefinger in a sawmill. His rifle was distinguished by +the name of Beeswax,--"Ol' Beeswax" he called it sometimes,--for no +better reason than that it was "easy spoke an' hed a kind uv a +powerful soun' tew it." He had a nose like a shoemaker's thumb: +there was a deep incurve from its wide tip to his forehead. He had +a large, gray, inquiring eye and the watchful habit of the +woodsman. Somewhere in the midst of a story he would pause and +peer thoughtfully into the distance, meanwhile feeling the +pipe-stem with his lips, and then resume the narrative as suddenly +as he had stopped. He was a lank and powerful man, six feet tall +in his stockings. He wore a thin beard that had the appearance of +parched grass on his ruddy countenance. In the matter of hair, +nature had treated him with a generosity most unusual. His heavy +shock was sheared off square above his neck. + +That evening, as he lay on his elbow in the firelight, D'ri had +just entered the eventful field of reminiscence. The women were +washing the dishes; my father had gone to the spring for water. +D'ri pulled up suddenly, lifted his hat of faded felt, and +listened, peering into the dusk. + +"Seems t' me them wolves is comin' nearer," he said thoughtfully. + +Their cries were echoing in the far timber. We all rose and +listened. In a moment my father came hurrying back with his pail +of water. + +"D'ri," said he, quietly, as he threw some wood on the fire, "they +smell mutton. Mek the guns ready. We may git a few pelts. +There's a big bounty on 'em here 'n York State." + +We all stood about the fire listening as the wolves came nearer. + +"It 's the sheep thet brings 'em," said my father. + +"Quite a consid'able number on 'em, tew," said D'ri, as he stood +cleaning the bore of his rifle. + +My young sisters began to cry. + +"Need n't be scairt," said father. "They won't come very near. +'Fraider of us 'n we are o' 'em, a good deal." + +"Tow-w-w!" said D'ri, with a laugh. "They 'll be apt t' stub ther +toes 'fore they git very nigh us." + +This did not quite agree with the tales he had previously been +telling. I went for my sword, and buckled its belt about me, the +scabbard hanging to my heels. Presently some creature came +bounding over the brush. I saw him break through the wall of +darkness and stop quickly in the firelight. Then D'ri brought him +down with his rifle. + +"Started him up back there 'n the woods a few mild," said D'ri. +"He was mekin' fer this 'ere pond--thet 's what he was dewin'." + +"What for?" I inquired. + +"'Cause fer the reason why he knowed he would n't mek no tracks 'n +the water, ner no scent," said D'ri, with some show of contempt for +my ignorance. + +The deer lay floundering in the briers some fifty feet away. My +father ran with his knife and put him quickly out of misery. Then +we hauled the carcass to clear ground. + +"Let it lie where 't is fer now," said he, as we came back to the +fire. Then he got our two big traps out of the cart and set them +beside the carcass and covered them with leaves. The howling of +the wolves had ceased. I could hear only the creaking of a dead +limb high above us, and the bellow of frogs in the near pond. We +had fastened the trap chains and were coming back to the fire, when +the dog rose, barking fiercely; then we heard the crack of D'ri's +rifle. + +"More 'n fifty wolves eroun' here," he whispered as we ran up to +him. "Never see sech a snag on 'em." + +The sheep were stirring nervously. Near the pen a wolf lay kicking +where D'ri had dropped him. + +"Rest on 'em snooked off when the gun hollered," he went on, +whispering as before. + +My mother and grandmother sat with my sisters in the cart, hushing +their murmurs of fear. Early in the evening I had tied Rover to +the cart-wheel, where he was growling hotly, impatient of the leash. + +"See?" said D'ri, pointing with his finger. "See 'em?--there 'n +the dark by thet air big hemlock." + +We could make out a dim stir in the shadows where he pointed. +Presently we heard the spring and rattle of a trap. As we turned +that way, the other trap took hold hard; as it sprang, we could +hear a wolf yelp. + +"Meks 'em holler," said D'ri, "thet ol' he-trap does, when it teks +holt. Stay here by the sheep, 'n' I 'll go over 'n' give 'em +somethin' fer spraint ankles." + +Other wolves were swarming over the dead deer, and the two in the +traps were snarling and snapping at them. My father and D'ri fired +at the bunch, killing one of the captives and another--the largest +wolf I ever saw. The pack had slunk away as they heard the rifles. +Our remaining captive struggled to get free, but in a moment D'ri +had brained him with an axe. He and my father reset our traps and +hauled the dead wolves into the firelight. There they began to +skin them, for the bounty was ten dollars for each in the new +towns--a sum that made our adventure profitable. I built fires on +the farther side of the sheep, and, as they brightened, I could +see, here and there, the gleaming eyes of a wolf in the darkness. +I was up all night heaping wood upon the fires, while D'ri and my +father skinned the wolves and dressed the deer. I remember, as +they worked, D'ri calmed himself with the low-sung, familiar music +of:-- + + Li too rul I oorul I oorul I ay. + +They had just finished when the cock crew. + +"Holler, ye gol-dum little cuss!" D'ri shouted as he went over to +him. "Can't no snookin' wolf crack our bones fer _us_. Peeled +'em--thet 's what we done tew 'em! Tuk 'n' knocked 'em head over +heels. Judas Priest! He can peck a man's finger some, can't he?" + +The light was coming, and he went off to the spring for water, +while I brought the spider and pots. The great, green-roofed +temple of the woods, that had so lately rung with the howl of +wolves, began to fill with far wandering echoes of sweet song. + +"They was a big cat over there by the spring las' night," said +D'ri, as we all sat down to breakfast. "Tracks bigger 'n a +griddle! Smelt the mutton, mos' likely." + +"Like mutton?" I inquired. + +"Yis-sir-ee, they dew," said he. "Kind o' mince-pie fer 'em. Like +deer-meat, tew. Snook eroun' the ponds efter dark. Ef they see a +deer 'n the water they wallop 'im quicker 'n lightnin'; jump right +in k'slap 'n' tek 'im." + +We were off at sunrise, on a road that grew rougher every mile. At +noon we came to a river so swollen as to make a dangerous ford. +After dinner my father waded in, going hips under where the water +was deep and swift. Then he cut a long pole and took my mother on +his shoulders and entered the broad stream, steadying himself with +the pole. When she had got down safe on the other side, he came +back for grandmother and my sisters, and took them over in the same +way. D'ri, meanwhile, bound up the feather beds and carried them +on his head, leaving the dog and me to tend the sheep. All our +blankets and clothing were carried across in the same manner. Then +I mounted the cart, with my rooster, lashing the oxen till they +took to the stream. They had tied the bell-wether to the axle, +and, as I started, men and dog drove the sheep after me. The oxen +wallowed in the deep water, and our sheep, after some hesitation, +began to swim. The big cart floated like a raft part of the way, +and we landed with no great difficulty. Farther on, the road +became nothing better than a rude trail, where, frequently, we had +to stop and chop through heavy logs and roll them away. On a steep +hillside the oxen fell, breaking the tongue, and the cart tipped +sidewise and rolled bottom up. My rooster was badly flung about, +and began crowing and flapping as the basket settled. When I +opened it, he flew out, running for his life, as if finally +resolved to quit us. Fortunately, we were all walking, and nobody +was hurt. My father and D'ri were busy half a day "righting up," +as they called it, mending the tongue and cover, and getting the +cart on its wheels and down the steep pitch. + +After two days of trail travel we came out on the Chateaugay road, +stopping awhile to bait our sheep and cattle on the tame grass and +tender briers. It was a great joy to see the clear road, with here +and there a settler's cabin, its yard aglow with the marigold, the +hollyhock, and the fragrant honeysuckle. We got to the tavern at +Chateaugay about dusk, and put up for the night, as becomes a +Christian. + +Next afternoon we came to rough roads again, camping at sundown +along the shore of a noisy brook. The dog began to bark fiercely +while supper was making, and scurried off into a thicket. + +D'ri was stooping over, cooking the meat. He rose and listened. + +"Thet air dog's a leetle scairt," said he. "Guess we better go 'n' +see whut 's the matter." + +He took his rifle and I my sword,--I never thought of another +weapon,--making off through the brush. The dog came whining to +D'ri and rushing on, eager for us to follow. We hurried after him, +and in a moment D'ri and the dog, who were ahead of me, halted +suddenly. + +"It 's a painter," said D'ri, as I came up. "See 'im in thet air +tree-top. I 'll larrup 'im with Ol' Beeswax, then jes' like es not +he 'll mek some music. Better grab holt o' the dog. 'T won't dew +fer 'im to git tew rambunctious, er the fust thing he knows he +won't hev no insides in 'im." + +I could see the big cat clinging high in the top boughs of a birch +and looking calmly down at us. The tree-top swayed, quivering, as +it held the great dun beast. My heart was like to smother me when +D'ri raised his rifle and took aim. The dog broke away at the +crack of it. The painter reeled and spat; then he came crashing +through the branches, striking right and left with his fore paws to +save himself. He hit the ground heavily, and the dog was on him. +The painter lay as if dead. Before I could get near, Rover began +shaking him by the neck. He came to suddenly, and struck the dog +with a front claw, dragging him down. A loud yelp followed the +blow. Quick as a flash D'ri had caught the painter by the tail and +one hind leg. With a quick surge of his great, slouching +shoulders, he flung him at arm's-length. The lithe body doubled on +a tree trunk, quivered, and sank down, as the dog came free. In a +jiffy I had run my sword through the cat's belly and made an end of +him. + +"Knew 'f he got them hind hooks on thet air dog he 'd rake his ribs +right off," said D'ri, as he lifted his hat to scratch his head. +"Would n't 'a' left nothin' but the backbone,--nut a thing,--an' +thet would n't 'a' been a real fust-class one, nuther." + +When D'ri was very positive, his words were well braced with +negatives. + +We took the painter by the hind legs and dragged him through the +bushes to our camp. The dog had a great rip across his shoulder, +where the claws had struck and made furrows; but he felt a mighty +pride in our capture, and never had a better appetite for a meal. + +There were six more days of travel in that journey--travel so +fraught with hardships, I wonder that some days we had the heart to +press on. More than all, I wonder that the frail body of my mother +was equal to it. But I am writing no vain record of endurance. I +have written enough to suggest what moving meant in the wilderness. +There is but one more color in the scenes of that journey. The +fourth day after we left Chateaugay my grandmother fell ill and +died suddenly there in the deep woods. We were far from any +village, and sorrow slowed our steps. We pushed on, coming soon to +a sawmill and a small settlement. They told us there was neither +minister nor undertaker within forty miles. My father and D'ri +made the coffin of planed lumber, and lined it with deerskin, and +dug the grave on top of a high hill. When all was ready, my +father, who had always been much given to profanity, albeit I know +he was a kindly and honest man with no irreverence in his heart, +called D'ri aside. + +"D'ri," said he, "ye 've alwus been more proper-spoken than I hev. +Say a word o' prayer?" + +"Don't much b'lieve I could," said he, thoughtfully. "I hev been +t' meeting but I hain't never been no great hand fer prayin'." + +"'T wouldn't sound right nohow, fer me t' pray," said my father, "I +got s' kind o' rough when I was in the army." + +"'Fraid it 'll come a leetle unhandy fer me," said D'ri, with a +look of embarrassment, "but I don't never shirk a tough job ef it +hes t' be done." + +Then he stepped forward, took off his faded hat, his brow wrinkling +deep, and said, in a drawling preacher tone that had no sound of +D'ri in it: "O God, tek care o' gran'ma. Help us t' go on careful, +an' when we 're riled, help us t' keep er mouths shet. O God, help +the ol' cart, an' the ex in pertic'lar. An' don't be noway hard on +us. Amen." + + + + + +II + +June was half over when we came to our new home in the town of +Madrid--then a home only for the foxes and the fowls of the air and +their wild kin of the forest. The road ran through a little valley +thick with timber and rock-bound on the north. There were four +families within a mile of us, all comfortably settled in small log +houses. For temporary use we built a rude bark shanty that had a +partition of blankets, living in this primitive manner until my +father and D'ri had felled the timber and built a log house. We +brought flour from Malone,--a dozen sacks or more,--and while they +were building, I had to supply my mother with fish and game and +berries for the table--a thing easy enough to do in that land of +plenty. When the logs were cut and hewn I went away, horseback, to +Canton for a jug of rum. I was all day and half the night going +and coming, and fording the Grasse took me stirrups under. + +Then the neighbors came to the raising--a jolly company that +shouted "Hee, oh, hee!" as they lifted each heavy log to its place, +and grew noisier quaffing the odorous red rum, that had a mighty +good look to me, although my father would not hear of my tasting +it. When it was all over, there was nothing to pay but our +gratitude. + +While they were building bunks, I went off to sawmill with the oxen +for boards and shingles. Then, shortly, we had a roof over us, and +floors to walk on, and that luxury D'ri called a "pyaz," although +it was not more than a mere shelf with a roof over it. We chinked +the logs with moss and clay at first, putting up greased paper in +the window spaces. For months we knew not the luxury of the glass +pane. + +That summer we "changed work" with the neighbors, and after we had +helped them awhile they turned to in the clearing of our farm. We +felled the trees in long, bushy windrows, heaping them up with +brush and small wood when the chopping was over. That done, we +fired the rows, filling the deep of heaven with smoke, as it seemed +to me, and lighting the night with great billows of flame. + +By mid-autumn we had cleared to the stumps a strip half down the +valley from our door. Then we turned to on the land of our +neighbors, my time counting half, for I was sturdy and could swing +the axe to a line, and felt a joy in seeing the chips fly. But my +father kept an eye on me, and held me back as with a leash, + +My mother was often sorely tried for the lack of things common as +dirt these better days. Frequently our only baking-powder was +white lye, made by dropping ash-cinders into wafer. Our cinders +were made by letting the sap of green timber drip into hot ashes. +Often deer's tallow, bear's grease, or raccoon's oil served for +shortening, and the leaves of the wild raspberry for tea. Our +neighbors went to mill at Canton--a journey of five days, going and +coming, with an ox-team, and beset with many difficulties. Then +one of them hollowed the top of a stump for his mortar and tied his +pestle to the bough of a tree. With a rope he drew the bough down, +which, as it sprang back, lifted the pestle that ground his grain. + +But money was the rarest of all things in our neighborhood those +days. Pearlash, black-salts, West India pipe-staves, and rafts of +timber brought cash, but no other products of the early settler. +Late that fall my mother gave a dance, a rude but hearty pleasuring +that followed a long conference in which my father had a part. +They all agreed to turn to, after snowfall, on the river-land, cut +a raft of timber, and send it to Montreal in the spring. Our +things had come, including D'ri's fiddle, so that we had chairs and +bedsteads and other accessories of life not common among our +neighbors. My mother had a few jewels and some fine old furniture +that her father had given her,--really beautiful things, I have +since come to know,--and she showed them to those simple folk with +a mighty pride in her eyes. + +Business over, D'ri took down his fiddle, that hung on the wall, +and made the strings roar as he tuned them. Then he threw his long +right leg over the other, and, as be drew the bow, his big foot +began to pat the floor a good pace away. His chin lifted, his +fingers flew, his bow quickened, the notes seemed to whirl and +scurry, light-footed as a rout of fairies. Meanwhile the toe of +his right boot counted the increasing tempo until it came up and +down like a ratchet. + +Darius Olin was mostly of a slow and sober manner. To cross his +legs and feel a fiddle seemed to throw his heart open and put him +in full gear. Then his thoughts were quick, his eyes merry, his +heart was a fountain of joy. He would lean forward, swaying his +head, and shouting "Yip!" as the bow hurried. D'ri was a +hard-working man, but the feel of the fiddle warmed and limbered +him from toe to finger. He was over-modest, making light of his +skill if he ever spoke of it, and had no ear for a compliment. +While our elders were dancing, I and others of my age were playing +games in the kitchen--kissing-games with a rush and tumble in them, +puss-in-the-corner, hunt-the-squirrel, and the like. Even then I +thought I was in love with pretty Rose Merriman. She would never +let me kiss her, even though I had caught her and had the right. +This roundelay, sung while one was in the centre of a circling +group, ready to grab at the last word, brings back to me the sweet +faces, the bright eyes, the merry laughter of that night and others +like it: + + Oh, hap-py is th' mil-ler who + lives by him-self! As th' wheel gos round, he + gath-ers in 'is wealth, One hand on the + hop-per and the oth-er on the bag; As the + wheel goes round, he cries out, "Grab!" Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-shamed o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-sham'd o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit-tle bit a-sham'd o' this--To + stay all night for one sweet kiss? Oh, etc. + +[Transcriber's note: A Lilypond (www.lilypond.org) rendition of +this song is at the end of this e-book.] + +My mother gave me all the schooling I had that winter. A year +later they built a schoolhouse, not quite a mile away, where I +found more fun than learning. After two years I shouldered my axe +and went to the river-land with the choppers every winter morning. + +My father was stronger than any of them except D'ri, who could +drive his axe to the bit every blow, day after day. He had the +strength of a giant, and no man I knew tried ever to cope with him. +By the middle of May we began rolling in for the raft. As soon as +they were floating, the logs were withed together and moored in +sections. The bay became presently a quaking, redolent plain of +timber. + +When we started the raft, early in June, that summer of 1810, and +worked it into the broad river with sweeps and poles, I was aboard +with D'ri and six other men, bound for the big city of which I had +heard so much. I was to visit the relatives of my mother and spend +a year in the College de St. Pierre. We had a little frame house +on a big platform, back of the middle section of the raft, with +bunks in it, where we ate and slept and told stories. Lying on the +platform, there was a large flat stone that held our fires for both +cooking and comfort. D'ri called me in the dusk of the early +morning, the first night out, and said we were near the Sault. I +got up, rubbed my eyes, and felt a mighty thrill as I heard the +roar of the great rapids and the creaking withes, and felt the lift +of the speeding water. D'ri said they had broken the raft into +three parts, ours being hindmost. The roaring grew louder, until +my shout was as a whisper in a hurricane. The logs began to heave +and fall, and waves came rushing through them. Sheets of spray +shot skyward, coming down like a shower. We were shaken as by an +earthquake in the rough water. Then the roar fell back of us, and +the raft grew steady. + +"Gin us a tough twist," said D'ri, shouting down at me--"kind uv a +twist o' the bit 'n' a kick 'n the side." + +It was coming daylight as we sailed into still water, and then D'ri +put his hands to his mouth and hailed loudly, getting an answer out +of the gloom ahead. + +"Gol-dum ef it hain't the power uv a thousan' painters!" D'ri +continued, laughing as he spoke. "Never see nothin' jump 'n' kick +'n' spit like thet air, 'less it hed fur on--never 'n all my born +days." + +D'ri's sober face showed dimly now in the dawn. His hands were on +his hips; his faded felt hat was tipped sideways. His boots and +trousers were quarrelling over that disputed territory between his +knees and ankles. His boots had checked the invasion. + +"Smooth water now," said he, thoughtfully, "Seems terrible still. +Hain't a breath uv air stirrin'. Jerushy Jane Pepper! Wha' does +thet mean?" + +He stepped aside quickly as some bits of bark and a small bough of +hemlock fell at our feet. Then a shower of pine needles came +slowly down, scattering over us and hitting the timber with a faint +hiss. Before we could look up, a dry stick as long as a log fell +rattling on the platform. + +"Never see no sech dom's afore," said D'ri, looking upward. +"Things don't seem t' me t' be actin' eggzac'ly nat'ral--nut jest +es I 'd like t' see 'em." + +As the light came clearer, we saw clouds heaped black and blue over +the tree-tops in the southwest. We stood a moment looking. The +clouds were heaping higher, pulsing with light, roaring with +thunder. What seemed to be a flock of pigeons rose suddenly above +the far forest, and then fell as if they had all been shot. A gust +of wind coasted down the still ether, fluttering like a rag and +shaking out a few drops of rain. + +"Look there!" I shouted, pointing aloft. + +"Hark!" said D'ri, sharply, raising his hand of three fingers. + +We could hear a far sound like that of a great wagon rumbling on a +stony road. + +"The Almighty 's whippin' his hosses," said D'ri. "Looks es ef he +wus plungin' 'em through the woods 'way yender. Look a' thet air +sky." + +The cloud-masses were looming rapidly. They had a glow like that +of copper. + +"Tryin' t' put a ruf on the world," my companion shouted. +"Swingin' ther hammers hard on the rivets." + +A little peak of green vapor showed above the sky-line. It loomed +high as we looked. It grew into a lofty column, reeling far above +the forest. Below it we could see a mighty heaving in the +tree-tops. Something like an immense bird was hurtling and +pirouetting in the air above them. The tower of green looked now +like a great flaring bucket hooped with fire and overflowing with +darkness. Our ears were full of a mighty voice out of the heavens. +A wind came roaring down some tideway of the air like water in a +flume. It seemed to tap the sky. Before I could gather my +thoughts we were in a torrent of rushing air, and the raft had +begun to heave and toss. I felt D'ri take my hand in his. I could +just see his face, for the morning had turned dark suddenly. His +lips were moving, but I could hear nothing he said. Then he lay +flat, pulling me down. Above and around were all the noises that +ever came to the ear of man--the beating of drums, the bellowing of +cattle, the crash of falling trees, the shriek of women, the rattle +of machinery, the roar of waters, the crack of rifles, the blowing +of trumpets, the braying of asses, and sounds the like of which I +have never heard and pray God I may not hear again, one and then +another dominating the mighty chorus. Behind us, in the gloom, I +could see, or thought I could see, the reeling mass of green +ploughing the water, like a ship with chains of gold flashing over +bulwarks of fire. In a moment something happened of which I have +never had any definite notion. I felt the strong arm of D'ri +clasping me tightly. I heard the thump and roll and rattle of the +logs heaping above us; I felt the water washing over me; but I +could see nothing. I knew the raft had doubled; it would fall and +grind our bones: but I made no effort to save myself. And thinking +how helpless I felt is the last I remember of the great windfall of +June 3, 1810, the path of which may be seen now, fifty years after +that memorable day, and I suppose it will be visible long after my +bones have crumbled. I thought I had been sleeping when I came to; +at least, I had dreamed. I was in some place where it was dark and +still. I could hear nothing but the drip of water; I could feel +the arm of D'ri about me, and I called to him, and then I felt him +stir. + +"Thet you, Ray?" said he, lifting his head. + +"Yes," I answered. "Where are we?" + +"Judas Priest! I ain' no idee. Jes' woke up. Been a-layin' here +tryin' t' think. Ye hurt?" + +"Guess not," said I. + +"Ain't ye got no pains or aches nowhere 'n yer body?" + +"Head aches a little," said I. + +He rose to his elbow, and made a light with his flint and tinder, +and looked at me. + +"Got a goose-egg on yer for'ard," said he, and then I saw there was +blood on his face. + +"Ef it hed n't been fer the withes they 'd 'a' ground us t' powder." + +We were lying alongside the little house, and the logs were leaning +to it above us. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri exclaimed, rising to his knees. "'S +whut I call a twister." + +He began to whittle a piece of the splintered platform. Then he +lit a shaving. + +"They 's ground here," said he, as he began to kindle a fire, +"ground a-plenty right under us." + +The firelight gave us a good look at our cave under the logs. It +was about ten feet long and probably half as high. The logs had +crashed through the side of the house in one or two places, and its +roof was a wreck. + +"Hungry?" said D'ri, as he broke a piece of board on his knee. + +"Yes," I answered. + +"So 'm I," said he, "hungrier 'n a she-wolf. They 's some bread +'n' ven'son there 'n the house; we better try t' git 'em." + +An opening under the logs let me around the house corner to its +door. I was able to work my way through the latter, although it +was choked with heavy timbers. Inside I could hear the wash of the +river, and through its shattered window on the farther wall I could +see between the heaped logs a glow of sunlit water. I handed our +axe through a break in the wall, and then D'ri cut away some of the +baseboards and joined me. We had our meal cooking in a few +minutes--our dinner, really, for D'ri said it was near noon. +Having eaten, we crawled out of the window, and then D'ri began to +pry the logs apart. + +"Ain't much 'fraid o' their tumblin' on us," said he. "They 're +withed so they 'll stick together." + +We got to another cave under the logs, at the water's edge, after +an hour of crawling and prying. A side of the raft was in the +water. + +"Got t' dive," said D'ri, "an' swim fer daylight." + +A long swim it was, but we came up in clear water, badly out of +breath. We swam around the timber, scrambling over a dead cow, and +up-shore. The ruined raft was torn and tumbled into a very +mountain of logs at the edge of the water. The sun was shining +clear, and the air was still. Limbs of trees, bits of torn cloth, +a broken hay-rake, fragments of wool, a wagon-wheel, and two dead +sheep were scattered along the shore. Where we had seen the +whirlwind coming, the sky was clear, and beneath it was a great gap +in the woods, with ragged walls of evergreen. Here and there in +the gap a stub was standing, trunk and limbs naked. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri exclaimed, with a pause after each +word. "It's cut a swath wider 'n this river. Don't b'lieve a +mouse could 'a' lived where the timber 's down over there." + +Our sweepers and the other sections of the raft were nowhere in +sight. + + + + +III + +We left the logs, and walked to Cornwall, and took a sloop down the +river. It was an American boat, bound for Quebec with +pipe-staves. It had put in at Cornwall when the storm began. The +captain said that the other sections of our raft had passed safely. +In the dusk of the early evening a British schooner brought us to. + +"Wonder what that means?" said the skipper, straining his eyes in +the dusk, + +A small boat, with three officers, came along-side. They climbed +aboard, one of them carrying a lantern. They were armed with +swords and pistols. We sat in silence around the cockpit. They +scanned each of us carefully in the light of the lantern. It +struck me as odd they should look so closely at our hands. + +"Wha' d' ye want?" the skipper demanded. "This man," said one of +them, pointing to D'ri. "He's a British sailor. We arrest him--" + +He got no farther. D'ri's hand had gone out like the paw of a +painter and sent him across the cockpit. Before I knew what was +up, I saw the lank body of D'ri leaping backward into the river. I +heard a splash and a stroke of his long arms, and then all was +still. I knew he was swimming under water to get away. The +officers made for their boat. My blood was up, and I sprang at the +last of them, giving him a hard shove as he was climbing over, so +that he fell on the boat, upsetting it. They had business enough +then for a little, and began hailing for help. I knew I had done a +foolish thing, and ran forward, climbing out upon the bowsprit, and +off with my coat and vest, and dived into the dark water. I swam +under as long as I could hold my breath, and then came up quietly, +turning on my back in the quick current, and floating so my face +only was above water. It had grown dark, and I could see nothing +but the glimmer of the stars above me. My boots were heavy and +dragged hard. I was going fast with the swift water, for at first +I had heard a great hubbub on the schooner; but now its voices had +grown faint. Other sounds were filling my ear. + +After dark it is weird business to be swimming in strange +water--the throne of mystery, of a thousand terrors. It is as if +one's grave, full of the blackness of the undiscovered country, +were pursuing him and ever yawning beneath his body. And that big +river is the very tiger of waters, now stealing on pussy-footed, +now rushing with cat-like swiftness, hissing and striking with +currents that have in them mighty sinews. I was now companion of +those cold-mouthed monsters of the river bottom, many of which I +had seen. What if one should lay hold on me and drag me under? +Then I thought of rapids that might smother me with their spray or +dash me to hidden rocks. Often I lifted my ears, marvelling at the +many voices of the river. Sometimes I thought I heard a roaring +like that of the Sault, but it was only a ripple growing into +fleecy waves that rocked me as in a cradle. The many sounds were +above, below, and beside me, some weird and hollow and unearthly. +I could hear rocks rolling over in their sleep on the bottom, and, +when the water was still, a sound like the cropping of lily-pads +away off on the river-margin. The bellowing of a cow terrified me +as it boomed over the sounding sheet of water. The river rang like +a mighty drum when a peal of far thunder beat upon it. I put out +my hands to take a stroke or two as I lay on my back, and felt +something floating under water. The feel of it filled me with +horror. I swam faster; it was at my heels. I knew full well what +my hand had touched--a human head floating face downward: I could +feel the hair in my fingers. I turned and swam hard, but still it +followed me. My knees hit upon it, and then my feet. Again and +again I could feel it as I kicked. Its hand seemed to be clutching +my trousers. I thought I should never get clear of the ghastly +thing. I remember wondering if it were the body of poor D'ri. I +turned aside, swimming another way, and then I felt it no more. + +In the dead of the night I heard suddenly a kind of throbbing in +the breast of the river. It grew to a noisy heart-beat as I +listened. Again and again I heard it, striking, plashing, like a +footfall, and coming nearer. Somehow I got the notion of a giant, +like those of whom my mother had told me long ago, striding in the +deep river. I could hear his boots dripping as he lifted them. I +got an odd fear that he would step on me. Then I heard music and +lifted my ears above water. It was a voice singing in the +distance,--it must have been a mile off,--and what I had taken for +a near footfall shrank away. I knew now it was the beat of oars in +some far bay. + +A long time after I had ceased to hear it, something touched my +shoulder and put me in a panic. Turning over, I got a big mouthful +of water. Then I saw it was a gang of logs passing me, and quickly +caught one. Now, to me the top side of a log was as easy and +familiar as a rocking-chair. In a moment I was sitting comfortably +on my captive. A bit of rubbish, like that the wind had sown, +trailed after the gang of logs, I felt it over, finding a straw hat +and a piece of board some three feet long, with which latter I +paddled vigorously. + +It must have been long past midnight when I came to an island +looming in the dark ahead. I sculled for it, stranding on a rocky +beach, and alighted, hauling the log ashore. The moon came out as +I stood wringing my trouser legs. I saw the island rose high and +narrow and was thickly wooded. I remember saying something to +myself, when I heard a quick stir in the bushes near me. Looking +up, I saw a tall figure. Then came a familiar voice:-- + +"Thet you, Ray? Judas Priest!" + +I was filled with joy at the sight of D'ri, and put my arms about +him and lifted him off his feet, and, faith! I know my eyes were +wet as my trousers. Then, as we sat down, I told him how I had +taken to the river. + +"Lucky ye done it!" said he. "Jerushy Jane! It is terrible lucky! +They 'd 'a' tuk ye sartin. Somebody see thet jack on the back o' +my hand, there 'n Cornwall, 'n' put 'em efter me. But I was bound +'n' detarmined they 'd never tek me alive, never! Ef I ever dew +any fightin', 't ain't a-goin' t' be fer England, nut by a side o' +sole-leather. I med up my mind I 'd begin the war right then an' +there." + +"That fellow never knew what hit him," I remarked. "He did n't get +up for half a minute." + +"Must 'a' swatted 'im powerful," said D'ri, as he felt his +knuckles. "Gol-dum ther picturs! Go 'n' try t' yank a man right +off a boat like thet air when they hain' no right t' tech 'im. Ef +I 'd 'a' hed Ol' Beeswax, some on 'em 'd 'a' got hurt." + +"How did you get here?" I inquired. + +"Swum," said he. "Could n't go nowheres else. Current fetched me +here. Splits et the head o' the island--boun' ter land ye right +here. Got t' be movin'. They 'll be efter us, mebbe--'s the fust +place they 'd look." + +A few logs were stranded on the stony point of the island. We +withed three others to mine, setting sail with two bits of +driftwood for paddles. We pulled for the south shore, but the +current carried us rapidly down-river. In a bay some two miles +below we found, to our joy, the two sections of the big raft +undergoing repairs. At daybreak D'ri put off in the woods for home. + +"Don't like the idee o' goin' int' the British navy," said he. "'D +ruther chop wood 'n' ketch bears over 'n St. Lawrence County. +Good-by, Ray! Tek care o' yerself." + +Those were the last words he said to me, and soon I was on the raft +again, floating toward the great city of my dreams. I had a mighty +fear the schooner would overhaul us, but saw nothing more of her. +I got new clothes in Montreal, presenting myself in good repair. +They gave me hearty welcome, those good friends of my mother, and I +spent a full year in the college, although, to be frank, I was near +being sent home more than once for fighting and other deviltry. + +It was midsummer when I came back again. I travelled up the river +road, past our island refuge of that dark night; past the sweeping, +low-voiced currents that bore me up; past the scene of our wreck in +the whirlwind; past the great gap in the woods, to stand open God +knows how long. I was glad to turn my face to the south shore, for +in Canada there was now a cold welcome for most Yankees, and my +fists were sore with resenting the bitter taunt. I crossed in a +boat from Iroquois, and D'ri had been waiting for me half a day at +the landing. I was never so glad to see a man--never but once. +Walking home I saw corn growing where the forest had been--acres of +it. + +"D'ri," said I, in amazement, "how did you ever do it? There 's +ten years' work here." + +"God helped us," said he, soberly. "The trees went over 'n the +windfall,--slammed 'em down luk tenpins fer a mild er more,--an' we +jes' burnt up the rubbish." + + + + +IV + +April was near its end. The hills were turning green, albeit we +could see, here and there on the high ledge above us, little +patches of snow--the fading footprints of winter. Day and night we +could hear the wings of the wild fowl roaring in the upper air as +they flew northward. Summer was coming,--the summer of 1812,--and +the war with the British. The President had called for a hundred +thousand volunteers to go into training for battle. He had also +proclaimed there would be no more whipping in the ranks. Then my +father told me that, since I could have no peace at home, I should +be off to the war and done with it. + +We were working near the road that day Thurst Miles came galloping +out of the woods, waving his cap at us. We ran to meet him--my +father and I and the children. He pulled up a moment, his horse +lathered to the ears. + +"Injuns!" he shouted. "Git out o' here quick 'n' mek fer the +Corners! Ye 'll be all massacreed ef ye don't." + +Then he whacked the wet flank of his horse with a worn beech bough, +and off he went. + +We ran to the house in a great panic. I shall never forget the +crying of the children. Indians had long been the favorite bugbear +of the border country. Many a winter's evening we had sat in the +firelight, fear-faced, as my father told of the slaughter in Cherry +Valley; and, with the certainty of war, we all looked for the red +hordes of Canada to come, in paint and feathers. + +"Ray," my father called to me, as he ran, "ketch the cow quick an' +bring 'er 'long." + +I caught her by the horn and brought her to the door quickly. +Mother was throwing some clothes into a big bundle. Father met me +with a feather bed in his arms. He threw it over the back of the +cow and bound it on with a bed-cord. That done, he gave me the +leading-rope to tie about her horns. The hoofs of the flying horse +were hardly out of hearing when we were all in the road. My mother +carried the baby, and my father his sword and rifle and one of the +little ones. I took the three older children and set them on the +feather bed that was bound to the back of the cow. They clung to +the bed-cord, their hair flying, as the old cow ran to keep up with +us, for at first we were all running. In a moment we could hear +the voices of people coming behind. One of the women was weeping +loudly as she ran. At the first cross-road we saw Arv Law and his +family coming, in as great a hurry as we, Arv had a great pike-pole +in his hand. Its upper end rose twenty feet above his head. + +"What ye goin' t' dew with thet?" my father asked him. + +"Goin' t' run it through the fust Injun I see," said he. "I 've +broke the lock o' my gun." + +There was a crowd at Jerusalem Four Corners when we got there. +Every moment some family was arriving in a panic--the men, like my +father, with guns and babies and baskets. The women, with the +young, took refuge at once in the tavern, while the men surrounded +it. Inside the line were youths, some oddly armed with slings or +clubs or cross-guns. I had only the sword my father gave me and a +mighty longing to use it. Arv Law rested an end of his pike-pole +and stood looking anxiously for "red devils" among the stumps of +the farther clearing. An old flint-lock, on the shoulder of a man +beside him, had a barrel half as long as the pole. David Church +was equipped with axe and gun, that stood at rest on either side of +him. + +Evening came, and no sign of Indians. While it was growing dusk I +borrowed a pail of the innkeeper and milked the cow, and brought +the pail, heaped with froth, to my mother, who passed brimming cups +of milk among the children. As night fell, we boys, more daring +than our fathers, crept to the edge of the timber and set the big +brush-heaps afire, and scurried back with the fear of redmen at our +heels. The men were now sitting in easy attitudes and had begun to +talk. + +"Don't b'lieve there's no Injuns comin'," said Bill Foster. "Ef +they wus they 'd come." + +"'Cordin' t' my observation," said Arv Law, looking up at the sky, +"Injuns mos' gen'ally comes when they git ready." + +"An' 't ain't when yer ready t' hev 'em, nuther," said Lon +Butterfield. + +"B'lieve they come up 'n' peeked out o' the bushes 'n' see Arv with +thet air pike-pole, 'n' med up their minds they hed n't better run +up ag'in' it," said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em--thet's whut's th' +matter." + +"Man 'et meks light o' this pole oughter hev t' carry it," said +Arv, as he sat impassively resting it upon his knee. + +"One things sure," said Foster; "ef Arv sh'u'd cuff an Injun with +thet air he 'll squ'sh 'im." + +"Squ'sh 'im!" said Arv, with a look of disgust. "'T ain't med t' +squ'sh with, I cal'late t' p'int it at 'em 'n' jab." + +And so, as the evening wore away and sleep hushed the timid, a +better feeling came over us. I sat by Rose Merriman on the steps, +and we had no thought of Indians. I was looking into her big hazel +eyes, shining in the firelight, and thinking how beautiful she was. +And she, too, was looking into my eyes, while we whispered +together, and the sly minx read my thoughts, I know, by the look of +her. + +Great flames were now leaping high as the timber-tops at the edge +of the clearing. A dead spruce caught fire as we were looking. +The flames threw over it a lacy, shimmering, crackling net of gold. +Then suddenly it burst into a red, leaping tower. A few moments, +and the cavern of the woods, along the timber side, was choked with +fire. The little hamlet had become a spring of light in the +darkness. We could see the stumps and houses far afield, as if it +had been noonday. Suddenly we all jumped to our feet. A wild yell +came echoing through the woods. + +"There they be!" said Asher Eastman, as he cocked his gun. "I tol' +ye so." + +As a matter of fact, he had told us nothing of the kind. He was +the one man who had said nothing. + +Arv Law stood erect, his pike-pole poised in both hands, and we +were all ready for action. We could hear the rattle of many hoofs +on the road. As soon as the column showed in the firelight, Bill +Foster up with his musket and pulled the trigger. I could hear the +shot scatter on stump and stone. Every man had his gun to his eye. + +"Wait till they come nearer," said Asher Eastman. + +The Indians had halted. Far behind them we could hear the wild +hallooing of many voices. In a moment we could see those on +horseback go galloping off in the direction whence they had come. +Back in the house a number of the women were praying. My mother +came out, her face whiter than I had ever seen it before, and +walked to my father, and kissed him without ever saying a word. +Then she went back into the house. + +"Scairt?" I inquired, turning to Rose, who now stood beside me. + +"I should think I was," she whispered. "I 'm all of a tremble." + +"If anything happens, I 'd like something to remember you by." + +"What?" she whispered. + +I looked at her beautiful red lips. She had never let me kiss them. + +"A kiss, if nothing more," I answered. + +She gave me a kiss then that told me something of what was in her +heart, and went away into the house. + +"Goin' t' surround us," said Arv Law--"thet 's whut 's th' matter." + +"Mus' be ready t' rassle 'em any minute," said Asher Eastman, as he +sidled over to a little group. + +A young man came out of the house and took his place in line with a +big squirt-gun and a pail of steaming-hot water. + +The night wore on; our fires burned low. As the approaching day +began to light the clearing, we heard a sound that brought us all +to our feet. A burst of bugle notes went chasing over the +timber-land to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." We looked at one +another in surprise. Then there came a thunder of hoofs in the +distance, the ragged outline of a troop of cavalry. + +"Soldiers!" said Arv, as he raised his pike. + +"The British?" somebody asked. + +"Dunno," said he. "Ain' no Injuns, I don't b'lieve." + +A troop of cavalry was approaching at a gallop. They pulled up a +few rods away and jammed into a big crescent of rearing, trampling +horses. We could see they were American soldiers. We all lowered +our guns. + +"Who are you?" one of them shouted. + +"Citizens," my father answered. + +"Why are you armed?" + +"To fight Injuns." + +A chorus of laughter came from the cavalry. + +They loosed rein, letting their horses advance. + +"My dear man," said one of them, a big shako on his head, "there +ain't an Indian 'tween here an' St. Regis. We thought you were +British, an' it's lucky we did n't charge in the dark; we 'd have +cut you all to pieces before we knew who you were," + +A body of infantry was marching down the pike. They were the +volunteers of Captain Darius Hawkins, on their way to Ogdensburg, +with an escort of cavalry from Sackett's Harbor. The scare was +over. Women came out, laughing and chattering. In a few moments +they were all in the road, going home--men, women, and children. + +I enlisted with Captain Hawkins, and hurried to the house, and +packed my things, and bade them all good-by. + + + + +V + +I followed the camp and took my place in the ranks at Ogdensburg. +We went immediately into barracks--a structure long and low and +weather-stained, overlooking the St. Lawrence. There was a fine +level field in front of it, and a flag waving at the top of a high +staff. The men cheered lustily that afternoon as they passed it, +where stood General Jacob Brown, his cocked hat in his hand--a +splendid figure of a man, My delight in the life of a soldier began +that hour, and has never left me. + +There was a lot of horse-play that night, in which some of the +green boys were roughly handled. They told me, I remember, that +all new recruits had to fight a duel; but when they gave me the +choice of weapons I was well content. I had the sure eye of my +father, and the last time I had fenced with him, there at home, he +said my arm was stronger and quicker than his had ever been. +Indeed, I was no sooner tall enough to swing a sword than he began +teaching me how to use it. In the wood back of the barracks that +night, they learned I was not a man to be fooled with. The tall +sergeant who stood before me saw his sword go flying in the gloom +the second thrust he made at me, and ran for his life, amid roars +of laughter. I had no lack of friends after that day. + +It was a year of surprises in the Northern army, and D'ri was the +greatest of all. That long, wiry, sober-faced Yankee conquered the +smartness of the new camp in one decisive and immortal victory. At +first they were disposed to poke fun at him. + +"Looks a little tired," said the sergeant of the guard. + +"Needs rest--that's what's matter o' him," said the captain. + +"Orter be turned out t' grass a leetle while," the adjutant +suggested. + +The compliments he failed to hear soon came to him indirectly, and +he had much to put up with. He kept his temper and smoked +thoughtfully, and took it ail in good part. The night after he +came they put him on guard duty--a greenhorn, with no knowledge of +any orders but gee and haw. They told him he should allow nobody +to pass him while on duty, but omitted to mention the countersign. +They instructed him in the serious nature of his task, adding that +his failure to comply with orders would incur the penalty of death. +D'ri looked very sober as he listened. No man ever felt a keener +sense of responsibility. They intended, I think, to cross the +lines and take his gun away and have fun with him, but the +countersign would have interfered with their plans. + +D'ri went to his post a little after sundown. The guard was +posted. The sergeant, with his party of six, started back to the +guard-house, but they never got there. They went as far as D'ri. +He stood with his gun raised. + +"Come another step," said he, "an' I'll let the moonlight through +ye." + +They knew he meant it, and they stood still. + +"Come for'ard--one et a time," said D'ri, "Drop yer guns 'n' set +down. Ye look tired." + +They did as he commanded, for they could see he meant business, and +they knew he had the right to kill. + +Another man came along shortly. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" D'ri demanded, + +"Friend with the countersign," he replied. + +"Can't fool me," said D'ri. "Come up here 'n' set down 'n' mek +yerself t' hum. Drop yer gun fust. Drop it, er I 'll drop you." + +He dropped his gun promptly and accepted the invitation to sit +down. This last man had some arguments to offer, but D'ri stood +sternly and made no reply. + +At eleven o'clock Captain Hawkins sent out inquiries for the +sergeant of the guard and his relief. He could find nobody who had +seen them since dark. A corporal was also missing. The captain +sent a man to look for them. He got as far as D'ri and sat down. +They waited for him in vain. The captain stood looking into the +darkness and wondering about his men. He conferred with Adjutant +Church. Then he set out with two men to go the rounds. They got +as far as D'ri. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" he demanded. + +"Grand rounds," was the answer of the captain. + +"Lay down yer arms," said D'ri, "an" come up here 'n' set down." + +"Haven't time," said the captain, failing at first to grasp the +situation. + +"You tek time, er I 'll put a hole 'n yer jacket," said D'ri. + +One of the privates turned quickly and ran. D'ri sent a shot after +him, that only grazed a leg, and he kept on. Then D'ri gave all +attention to his new prisoners. They could see no amusement in +dodging bullets; they threw their arms on the side-hill and sat +down with the others. + +The captain swore as he submitted, + +"Don't rile yerself," said D'ri; "you need rest." + +"No, I don't, nuther," said the captain. + +"Ye'll hev t' hev it, anyway," said D'ri. + +"This beats h--!" the captain answered, with a laugh. + +A feeling of alarm began to spread. The adjutant was standing in a +group of men at headquarters soon after midnight. They were ears +under in the mystery. The escaped soldier came running toward them +out of the dark. He was breathing heavily; his leg was bleeding +and sore. + +"Wall, what is it?" the adjutant demanded. + +"D'ri!" the man gasped, and dropped down exhausted. + +"D'ri?" the officer inquired. + +"D'ri!" the man repeated. "It's thet air man they call D'ri. He's +roped in everybody thet come his way. They 're all settin' on the +hill up there beside him. Won't let a man move when he gits him." + +The adjutant snickered as he spat an oath. He was made of iron, +that man Church. + +"Post a guard around him," said he, turning to an officer. "The +dem fool 'd tek the hull garrison ef we did n't. I 'll go 'n' try +t' pull him off his perch." + +"He 'll lay ye up," said the returned private, baring his bloody +leg. "Eff ye try t' fool with him ye'll limp. See what he done t' +me." + +The adjutant swore again. + +"Go t' the hospital," he commanded. + +Then he strode away, but he did not return that night. + +The moon was shining as the adjutant came, in sight and hailed the +group of prisoners. + +"What ye settin' there fer?" he shouted. + +"You 'll know 'n a minute," said one of them. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" D'ri demanded. + +"Friend with--" + +"Don't ye purten' t' be my friend," D'ri answered. "'T won't work. +Come up here 'n' set down." + +"Stop foolin', man," said the adjutant. + +"I ain't a-foolin'." + +"He ain't a-foolin'; he means business," said one of the prisoners. + +"Don't ye tamper with me. I 'll teach you--" the adjutant +threatened. + +"Ain't a-goin' t' tamper with ye a minute," said D'ri. "If ye +don't set down here quick, I 'll put a hole in ye." + +"Lunatic! wha' d' ye mean?" + +"I mean t' turn ye out t' grass a leetle while," D'ri answered +soberly. "Ye look tired." + +The officer made at him, but in a flash D'ri had knocked him down +with his musket. The adjutant rose and, with an oath, joined the +others. + +"Dunno but he 'll tek the hull garrison 'fore sunrise," he +muttered. "Let 'em come--might es well hev comp'ny." + +A little before daylight a man sick in the hospital explained the +situation. He had given D'ri his orders. They brought him out on +a stretcher. The orders were rescinded, the prisoners released. + +Captain Hawkins, hot to his toes with anger, took D'ri to +headquarters. General Brown laughed heartily when he heard the +facts, and told D'ri he was made of the right stuff. + +"These greenhorns are not nice to play with," he said. "They're +like some guns--loaded when you don't expect it. We 've had enough +skylarking." + +And when the sick man came out of hospital he went to the +guard-house. + +After we had shown our mettle the general always had a good word +for D'ri and me, and he put us to the front in every difficult +enterprise. + + + + +VI + +We had been four months in Ogdensburg, waiting vainly for some +provocation to fight. Our own drilling was the only sign of war we +could see on either side of the river. At first many moved out of +the village, but the mill was kept running, and after a little they +began to come back. The farms on each side of the river looked as +peaceful as they had ever looked. The command had grown rapidly. +Thurst Miles of my own neighborhood had come to enlist shortly +after D'ri and I enlisted, and was now in my company. + +In September, General Brown was ordered to the Western frontier, +and Captain Forsyth came to command us. Early in the morning of +October 2, a man came galloping up the shore with a warning, saying +that the river was black with boats a little way down. Some of us +climbed to the barracks roof, from which we could see and count +them. There were forty, with two gunboats. Cannonading began +before the town was fairly awake. First a big ball went over the +house-tops, hitting a cupola on a church roof and sending bell and +timbers with a crash into somebody's dooryard. Then all over the +village hens began to cackle and children to wail. People came +running out of doors half dressed. A woman, gathering chips in her +dooryard, dropped them, lifted her dress above her head, and ran +for the house. Unable to see her way, she went around in a wide +circle for a minute or two, while the soldiers were laughing. +Another ball hit a big water-tank on top of the lead-works. It +hurled broken staves and a big slop of water upon the housetops, +and rolled a great iron hoop over roofs into the street below, +where it rolled on, chasing a group of men, who ran for their lives +before it. The attack was an odd sort of comedy all through, for +nobody was hurt, and all were frightened save those of us who were +amused. Our cannon gave quick reply, and soon the British stopped +firing and drew near. We knew that they would try to force a +landing, and were ready for them. We drove them back, when they +put off, and that was the end of it. + +Next came the fight on the ice in February--a thing not highly +creditable to us, albeit we were then but a handful and they were +many. But D'ri and I had no cause for shame of our part in it. We +wallowed to our waists in the snow, and it was red enough in front +of us. But the others gave way there on the edge of the river, and +we had to follow. We knew when it was time to run; we were never +in the rear rank even then. We made off with the others, although +a sabre's point had raked me in the temple, and the blood had +frozen on me, and I was a sight to scare a trooper. Everybody ran +that day, and the British took the village, holding it only +twenty-four hours. For our part in it D'ri got the rank of +corporal and I was raised from lieutenant to captain. We made our +way to Sackett's Harbor, where I went into hospital for a month. + +Then came a galling time of idleness. In June we went with General +Brown--D'ri and I and Thurst Miles and Seth Alexander and half a +dozen others--down the river to the scene of our first fighting at +Ogdensburg, camping well back in the woods. It was the evening of +the 27th of June that the general sent for me. He was at the +mansion of Mr. Parish, where he had been dining. He was sitting in +his dress-suit. His dark side-whiskers and hair were brushed +carefully forward. His handsome face turned toward me with a +kindly look. + +"Bell," said he, "I wish to send you on very important business. +You have all the qualities of a good scout. You know the woods. +You have courage and skill and tact. I wish you to start +immediately, go along the river to Morristown, then cut over into +the Black River country and deliver this letter to the Comte de +Chaumont, at the Chateau Le Ray, in Leraysville. If you see any +signs of the enemy, send a report to me at once. I shall be here +three days. Take Alexander, Olin, and Miles with you; they are all +good men. When your letter is delivered, report at the Harbor as +soon as possible." + +I was on the road with my party in half an hour. We were all good +horsemen. D'ri knew the shortest way out of the woods in any part +of the north country. Thurst had travelled the forest from Albany +to Sackett's Harbor, and was the best hunter that ever trod a trail +in my time. The night was dark, but we rode at a gallop until we +had left the town far behind us. We were at Morristown before +midnight, pounding on the door of the Red Tavern. The landlord +stuck his head out of an upper window, peering down at us by the +light of a candle. + +"Everything quiet?" I asked. + +"Everything quiet," said he. "Crossed the river yesterday. Folks +go back 'n' forth 'bout the same as ever. Wife's in Elizabethtown +now, visiting." + +We asked about the west roads and went on our way. Long before +daylight we were climbing the steep road at Rossie to the inn of +the Travellers' Rest--a tavern famous in its time, that stood half +up the hill, with a store, a smithy, and a few houses grouped about +it, We came up at a silent walk on a road cushioned with sawdust. +D'ri rapped on the door until I thought he had roused the whole +village. At last a man came to the upper window. He, too, +inspected us with a candle. Then he opened the door and gave us a +hearty welcome. We put up our horses for a bite, and came into the +bar. + +"Anything new?" I inquired. + +"They say the British are camped this side of the river, north of +us," said he, "with a big tribe of Injuns. Some of their cavalry +came within three miles of us to-day. Everybody scairt t' death." + +He began to set out a row of glasses. + +"What 'll ye hev?" he inquired. + +"Guess I 'll tip a little blue ruin int' me," said D'ri, with a +shiver; "'s a col' night." + +Seth and I called for the same. + +"An' you?" said the landlord, turning to Thurst. + +"Wal," said the latter, as he stroked his thin beard, "when I tuk +the pledge I swore et I hoped t' drop dead 'fore I see myself tek +another drink. I 'm jest goin' t' shet my eyes 'n' hold out my +glass. I don' care what ye gi' me s' long es it's somethin' +powerful." + +We ate crackers and cheese while the landlord was telling of the +west roads and the probable location of the British. He stopped +suddenly, peered over my shoulder, and blew out the candle. We +could hear a horse neighing in the yard. + +"Some one et the window," he whispered. Then he ran to the door +and drew the bolt. "Ain' much idee who 't is," he added, peering +out of the window. "By gosh! more 'n a dozen folks out here, +soldiers tew, most uv 'em on horseback. Come quick." + +We followed him upstairs, in the dark, as they began to pound the +door. From the yard a light flashed up. They were evidently +building a fire so that they would have better shooting if we came +out. + +"May set the house afire," said the landlord. + +He quickly unwound a big hose that ran up to a tank in the peak +above us. + +"Plenty o' water?" D'ri whispered. + +"Rivers uv it," said the landlord. "Tank's connected with the +reservoir o' the lead-works on the hill up there. Big wooden pipe +comes in the gable-end." + +"Turn 'er on," said D'ri, quickly, "an' let me hev thet air hose." + +The landlord ran up a ladder. D'ri stuck the hose out of the +window. The stream shot away with a loud hiss. I stood by and saw +the jet of water leap forth as big as a pikestaff. A man went off +his horse, sprawling as if he had been hit with a club. The jet +leaped quickly from one to another, roaring on man and beast. +There was a mighty scurry. Horses went headlong down the hill, +some dragging their riders. In the silence of the night, bedlam +had broken loose. The shouting men, the plunging horses, the +stream of water roaring on rock and road, woke the village. Men +came running from behind the house to see what had happened, then +rushed after their horses. Some fell cursing as the water hit +them. The landlord put his mouth to my ear. + +"Mek fer yer hosses," he hissed. + +We were below-stairs and out of the door in a jiffy. Two men fled +before us at the stable, scrambled over the fence, and went +tumbling downhill. We bridled our horses with all speed, leaped +upon them, and went rushing down the steep road, our swords in +hand, like an avalanche. They tried to stop us at the foot of the +hill, but fell away as we came near. I could hear the snap of +their triggers in passing. Only one pistol-shot came after us, and +that went high. + +"Guess their ammunition 's a leetle wet," said D'ri, with a shout +that turned into laughter as we left the British behind us. + +A party of four or five mounted and gave chase; but our powder was +a bit drier than theirs, and for a time we raked the road with our +bullets. What befell them I know not, I only know that they held +up and fell out of hearing. + +Crossing a small river at daylight, we took the bed of it, making +our way slowly for half a mile or so into the woods. There we +built a fire, and gave the horses half the feed in our saddle-bags, +and ate our mess on a flat rock. + +"Never hed no sech joemightyful time es thet afore," said D'ri, as +he sat down, laughing, and shook his head. "Jerushy Jane! Did n't +we come down thet air hill! Luk slidin' on a greased pole." + +"Comin' so luk the devil they did n't dast git 'n er way," said +Thurst. + +"We wus all rippin' th' air 'ith them air joemightyful big sabres, +tew," D'ri went on. "Hed a purty middlin' sharp edge on us. Stuck +out luk a haystack right 'n' left." + +He began bringing wood as he sang the chorus of his favorite +ballad:-- + + Li toorul I oorul I oorul I ay, etc. + +Thurst knew a trail that crossed the river near by and met the +Caraway Pike a few miles beyond. Having eaten, I wrote a despatch +to be taken back by Thurst as soon as we reached the pike. Past +ten o'clock we turned into a rough road, where the three of us went +one way and Thurst another. + +I rode slowly, for the horses were nearly fagged. I gave them an +hour's rest when we put up for dinner. Then we pushed on, coming +in sight of the Chateau Le Ray at sundown. A splendid place it +was, the castle of gray stone fronting a fair stretch of wooded +lawn, cut by a brook that went splashing over rocks near by, and +sent its velvet voice through wood and field. A road of fine +gravel led through groves of beech and oak and pine to a grassy +terrace under the castle walls. A servant in livery came to meet +us at the door, and went to call his master. Presently a tall, +handsome man, with black eyes and iron-gray hair and mustache, came +down a path, clapping his hands. + +"Welcome, gentlemen! It is the Captain Bell?" said he, with a +marked accent, as he came to me, his hand extended. "You come from +Monsieur the General Brown, do you not?" + +"I do," said I, handing him my message. + +He broke the seal and read it carefully. + +"I am glad to see you--ver' glad to see you!" said he, laying his +hands upon my shoulders and giving me a little shake. + +Two servants went away with D'ri and Seth and the horses. + +"Come, captain," said my host, as he led the way. "You are in good +time for dinner." + +We entered a great triangular hall, lighted by wide windows above +the door, and candelabra of shining brass that hung from its high +ceiling. There were sliding doors of polished wood on each side of +it. A great stairway filled the point of the triangle. I was +shown to my room, which was as big as a ball-room, it seemed to me, +and grandly furnished; no castle of my dreams had been quite so +fine. The valet of the count looked after me, with offers of new +linen and more things than I could see use for. He could not speak +English, I remember, and I addressed him in the good French my +mother had taught me. + +The kind of life I saw in this grand home was not wholly new to me, +for both my mother and father had known good living in their youth, +and I had heard much of it. I should have been glad of a new +uniform; but after I had had my bath and put on the new shirt and +collar the valet had brought me, I stood before the long pier-glass +and saw no poor figure of a man. + +The great dining-hall of the count was lighted with many candles +when we came in to dinner. It had a big fireplace, where logs were +blazing, for the night had turned cool, and a long table with a big +epergne of wrought silver, filled with roses, in its centre. A +great silken rug lay under the table, on a polished floor, and the +walls were hung with tapestry. I sat beside the count, and +opposite me was the daughter of the Sieur Louis Francois de +Saint-Michel, king's forester under Louis XVI. Therese, the +handsome daughter of the count, sat facing him at the farther end +of the table, and beside her was the young Marquis de Gonvello. M. +Pidgeon, the celebrated French astronomer, Moss Kent, brother of +the since famous chancellor, the Sieur Michel, and the Baroness de +Ferre, with her two wards, the Misses Louise and Louison de +Lambert, were also at dinner. These young ladies were the most +remarkable of the company; their beauty was so brilliant, so +fascinating, it kindled a great fire in me the moment I saw it. +They said little, but seemed to have much interest in all the talk +of the table. I looked at them more than was polite, I am sure, +but they looked at me quite as often. They had big, beautiful +brown eyes, and dark hair fastened high with jewelled pins, and +profiles like those of the fair ladies of Sir Peter Lely, so finely +were they cut. One had a form a bit fuller and stronger than the +other's, but they were both as tall and trim as a young beech, with +lips cherry-red and cheeks where one could see faintly the glow of +their young blood. Their gowns were cut low, showing the graceful +lines of neck and shoulder and full bosom. I had seen pretty +girls, many of them, but few high-bred, beautiful young women. +The moment I saw these two some new and mighty force came into me. +There were wine and wit a-plenty at the count's table, and other +things that were also new to me, and for which I retained perhaps +too great a fondness. + +The count asked me to tell of our journey, and I told the story +with all the spirit I could put into my words. I am happy to say +it did seem to hit the mark, for I was no sooner done with our +adventure than the ladies began to clap their hands, and the Misses +de Lambert had much delight in their faces when the baroness retold +my story in French. + +Dinner over, the count invited me to the smoking-room, where, in a +corner by ourselves, I had some talk with him. He told me of his +father--that he had been a friend of Franklin, that he had given a +ship and a cargo of gunpowder to our navy in '76. Like others I +had met under his roof, the count had seen the coming of the Reign +of Terror in France, and had fled with his great fortune. He had +invested much of it there in the wild country. He loved America, +and had given freely to equip the army for war. He was, therefore, +a man of much influence in the campaign of the North, and no doubt +those in authority there were instructed, while the war was on, to +take special care of his property. + +"And will you please tell me," I said at length, "who are the +Misses de Lambert?" + +"Daughters of a friend in Paris," said the count. "He is a great +physician. He wishes not for them to marry until they are +twenty-one. Mon Dieu! it was a matter of some difficulty. They +were beautiful." + +"Very beautiful!" I echoed. + +"They were admired," he went on. "The young men they began to make +trouble. My friend he send them here, with the baroness, to +study--to finish their education. It is healthy, it is quiet, +and--well, there are no young gentlemen. They go to bed early; +they are up at daylight; they have the horse; they have boats; they +amuse themselves ver' much. But they are impatient; they long for +Paris--the salon, the theatre, the opera. They are like prisoners: +they cannot make themselves to be contented. The baroness she has +her villa on a lake back in the woods, and, mon ame! it is +beautiful there--so still, so cool, so delightful! At present they +have a great fear of the British. They lie awake; they listen; +they expect to be carried off; they hear a sound in the night, and, +mon Dieu! it is the soldiers coming." + +The count laughed, lifting his shoulders with a gesture of both +hands. Then he puffed thoughtfully at his cigarette. + +"Indeed," he went on presently, "I think the invasion is not far +away. They tell me the woods in the north are alive with British +cavalry. I am not able to tell how many, but, Dieu! it is enough. +The army should inform itself immediately. I think it is better +that you penetrate to the river to-morrow, if you are not afraid, +to see what is between, and to return by the woods. I shall +trouble you to take a letter to the General Brown. It will be +ready at any hour." + +"At six?" I inquired. + +"At six, certainly, if you desire to start then," he replied. + +He rose and took my arm affectionately and conducted me to the big +drawing-room. Two of the ladies were singing as one played the +guitar. I looked in vain for the Misses de Lambert. The others +were all there, but they had gone. I felt a singular depression at +their absence and went to my room shortly to get my rest, for I had +to be off early in the morning. Before going to bed, however, I +sat down to think and do some writing. But I could not for the +life of me put away the thought of the young ladies. They looked +alike, and yet I felt sure they were very different. Somehow I +could not recall in what particular they differed. I sat a time +thinking over it. Suddenly I heard low voices, those of women +speaking in French; I could not tell from where they came. + +"I do wish she would die, the hateful thing!" said one. (It must +be understood these words are more violent in English than they +seem in French.) + +"The colonel is severe to-night," said another. + +"The colonel--a fine baroness indeed--vieille tyran! I cannot love +her. Lord! I once tried to love a monkey and had better luck. +The colonel keeps all the men to herself. Whom have I seen for a +year? Dieu! women, grandpapas, greasy guides! Not a young man +since we left Paris." + +"My dear Louison!" said the other, "there are many things better +than men." + +"Au nom de Dieu! But I should like to know what they are. I have +never seen them." + +"But often men are false and evil," said the other, in a sweet, low +voice. + +"Nonsense!" said the first, impatiently. "I had rather elope with +a one-legged hostler than always live in these woods." + +"Louison! You ought to cross yourself and repeat a Hail Mary." + +"Thanks! I have tried prayer. It is n't what I need. I am no nun +like you. My dear sister, don't you ever long for the love of a +man--a big, handsome, hearty fellow who could take you up in his +arms and squeeze the life out of you?" + +"Eh bien," said the other, with a sigh, "I suppose it is very nice. +I do not dare to think of it." + +"Nice! It is heaven, Louise! And to see a man like that and not +be permitted to--to speak to him! Think of it! A young and +handsome man--the first I have seen for a year! Honestly I could +poison the colonel." + +"My dear, it is the count as much as the colonel. She is under his +orders, and he has an eagle eye." + +"The old monkey! He enrages me! I could rend him limb from limb!" + +I could not help hearing what they said, but I did not think it +quite fair to share their confidence any further, so I went to one +of the windows and closed a shutter noisily. The voices must have +come from a little balcony just under my room. + +"My dear sister, you are very terrible," said one of them, and then +the shutter came to, and I heard no more. + +A full moon lighted the darkness. A little lake gleamed like +silver between the tree-tops. Worn out with hard travel, I fell +into bed shortly, and lay a long time thinking of those young +ladies, of the past, of to-morrow and its perils, and of the +farther future. A new life had begun for me. + + + + +VII + +The sun was lifting above the tree-tops when the count's valet +called me that morning at the Chateau Le Ray. Robins were calling +under my windows, and the groves rang with tournaments of happy +song. Of that dinner-party only the count was at breakfast with +me. We ate hurriedly, and when we had risen the horses were at the +door. As to my own, a tall chestnut thoroughbred that Mr. Parish +had brought over from England, I never saw him in finer fettle. I +started Seth by Caraway Pike for Ogdensburg with the count's +message. + +Mine host laid hold of my elbow and gave it a good shake as I left +him, with D'ri, taking a trail that led north by west in the deep +woods. They had stuffed our saddle-bags with a plenty for man and +horse. + +I could not be done thinking of the young ladies. It put my heart +in a flutter when I looked back at the castle from the wood's edge +and saw one of them waving her handkerchief in a window. I lifted +my hat, and put my spurs to the flank with such a pang in me I +dared not look again. Save for that one thing, I never felt +better. The trail was smooth, and we galloped along in silence for +a mile or so. Then it narrowed to a stony path, where one had +enough to do with slow going to take care of his head, there were +so many boughs in the way. + +"Jerushy Jane!" exclaimed D'ri, as he slowed down. "Thet air's a +gran' place. Never hed my karkiss in no sech bed as they gin me +las' night--softer 'n wind, an' hed springs on like them new wagins +ye see over 'n Vermont. Jerushy! Dreamed I was flyin'." + +I had been thinking of what to do if we met the enemy and were hard +pressed. We discussed it freely, and made up our minds that if +there came any great peril of capture we would separate, each to +take his own way out of the difficulty. + +We halted by a small brook at midday, feeding the horses and +ourselves out of the saddle-bags. + +"Ain't jest eggzac'ly used t' this kind uv a sickle," said D'ri, as +he felt the edge of his sabre, "but I 'll be dummed ef it don't +seem es ef I 'd orter be ruther dang'rous with thet air 'n my hand." + +He knew a little about rough fighting with a sabre. He had seen my +father and me go at each other hammer and tongs there in our +door-yard every day of good weather. Stormy days he had always +stood by in the kitchen, roaring with laughter, as the good steel +rang and the house trembled. He had been slow to come to it, but +had had his try with us, and had learned to take an attack without +flinching. I went at him hard for a final lesson that day in the +woods--a great folly, I was soon to know. We got warm and made +more noise than I had any thought of. My horse took alarm and +pulled away, running into a thicket. I turned to catch him. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri. + +There, within ten feet of us, I saw what made me, ever after, a +more prudent man. It was an English officer leaning on his sword, +a tall and handsome fellow of some forty years, in shiny top-hoots +and scarlet blouse and gauntlets of brown kid. + +"You are quite clever," said he, touching his gray mustache. + +I made no answer, but stood pulling myself together. + +"You will learn," he added, smiling, with a tone of encouragement. +"Let me show you a trick." + +He was most polite in his manner, like a play-hero, and came toward +me as he spoke. Then I saw four other Britishers coming out to +close in upon us from behind trees. + +He came at me quickly, and I met him. He seemed to think it would +be no trick to unhand my weapon. Like a flash, with a whip of his +sabre, he tried to wrench it away. D'ri had begun to shoot, +dodging between trees, and a redcoat had tumbled over. I bore in +upon my man, but he came back at me with surprising vigor. On my +word, he was the quickest swordsman I ever had the honor of facing. + +But he had a mean way of saying "Ha!" as he turned my point. He +soon angered me, whereupon I lost a bit of caution, with some +blood, for he was at me like a flash, and grazed me on the hip +before I could get my head again. It was no parlor play, I can +tell you. We were fighting for life, and both knew it. We fought +up and down through brakes and bushes and over stones--a perilous +footing. I could feel his hand weakening. I put all my speed to +the steel then, knowing well that, barring accident, I should win. +I could hear somebody coming up behind me. + +"Keep away there," my adversary shouted, with a fairness I admire +when I think of it. "I can handle him. Get the other fellow." + +I went at him to make an end of it. + +"I'll make you squint, you young cub," he hissed, lunging at me. + +He ripped my blouse at the shoulder, and, gods of war! we made the +sparks fly. Then he went down, wriggling; I had caught him in the +side, poor fellow! Like a flash I was off in a thicket. One of +the enemy got out of my way and sent a bullet after me. I could +feel it rip and sting in the muscle as it rubbed my ribs. I kept +foot and made for my horse. He had caught his reins, and I was on +him and off in the bush, between bullets that came ripping the +leaves about me, before they could give chase. + +Drums were beating the call to arms somewhere. I struck the trail +in a minute, and, leaning low in the saddle, went bounding over +logs and rocks and down a steep hillside as if the devil were after +me. I looked back, and was nearly raked off by a bough. I could +hear horses coming in the trail behind with quick and heavy jumps. +But I was up to rough riding and had little fear they would get a +sight of me. However, crossing a long stretch of burnt timber, +they must have seen me. I heard a crack of pistols far behind; a +whiz of bullets over my head. I shook out the reins and let the +horse go, urging with cluck and spur, never slacking for rock or +hill or swale. It was a wilder ride than any I have known since or +shall again, I can promise you, for, God knows, I have been hurt +too often. Fast riding over a new trail is leaping in the dark and +worse than treason to one's self. Add to it a saddle wet with your +own blood, then you have something to give you a turn of the +stomach thinking of it. + +When I was near tumbling with a kind of rib-ache and could hear no +pursuer, I pulled up. There was silence about me, save the sound +of a light breeze in the tree-tops. I rolled off my horse, and +hooked my elbow in the reins, and lay on my belly, grunting with +pain. I felt better, having got my breath, and a rod of beech to +bite upon--a good thing if one has been badly stung and has a +journey to make. In five minutes I was up and off at a slow jog, +for I knew I was near safety. + +I thought much of poor D'ri and how he might be faring. The last I +had seen of him, he was making good use of pistol and legs, running +from tree to tree. He was a dead shot, little given to wasting +lead. The drums were what worried me, for they indicated a big +camp, and unless he got to the stirrups in short order, he must +have been taken by overwhelming odds. It was near sundown when I +came to a brook and falls I could not remember passing. I looked +about me. Somewhere I had gone off the old trail--everything was +new to me. It widened, as I rode on, up a steep hill. Where the +tree-tops opened, the hill was covered with mossy turf, and there +were fragrant ferns on each side of me. The ground was clear of +brush and dead timber. Suddenly I heard a voice singing--a sweet +girl voice that thrilled me, I do not know why, save that I always +longed for the touch of a woman if badly hurt. But then I have +felt that way having the pain of neither lead nor steel. The voice +rang in the silent woods, but I could see no one nor any sign of +human habitation. Shortly I came out upon a smooth roadway +carpeted with sawdust. It led through a grove, and following it, I +came suddenly upon a big green mansion among the trees, with Doric +pillars and a great portico where hammocks hung with soft cushions +in them, and easy-chairs of old mahogany stood empty. I have said +as little as possible of my aching wound: I have always thought it +bad enough for one to suffer his own pain. But I must say I was +never so tried to keep my head above me as when I came to that +door. Two figures in white came out to meet me. At first I did +not observe--I had enough to do keeping my eyes open--that they +were the Mlles. de Lambert. + +"God save us!" I heard one of them say. "He is hurt; he is pale. +See the blood running off his boot-leg." + +Then, as one took the bit, the other eased me down from my saddle, +calling loudly for help. She took her handkerchief--that had a +perfume I have not yet forgotten--as she supported me, and wiped +the sweat and dust from my face. Then I saw they were the splendid +young ladies I had seen at the count's table. The discovery put +new life in me; it was like a dash of water in the face. I lifted +my hat and bowed to them. + +"Ladies, my thanks to you," I said in as good French as I knew. "I +have been shot. May I ask you to send for a doctor?" + +A butler ran down the steps; a gardener and a stable-boy hurried +out of the grove. + +"To the big room--the Louis-Quinze," said one of the girls, +excitedly, as the men came to my help. + +The fat butler went puffing upstairs, and they followed, on each +side of me. + +"Go for a doctor, quick," said one of them to the gardener, who was +coming behind--a Frenchman who prayed to a saint as he saw my blood. + +They led me across a great green rug in a large hall above-stairs +to a chamber of which I saw little then save its size and the +wealth of its appointments. The young ladies set me down, bidding +one to take off my boots, and sending another for hot water. They +asked me where I was hurt. Then they took off my blouse and +waistcoat. + +"Mon Dieu!" said one to the other. "What can we do? Shall we cut +the shirt?" + +"Certainly. Cut the shirt," said the other. "We must help him. +We cannot let him die." + +"God forbid!" was the answer. "See the blood. Poor fellow! It is +terrible!" + +They spoke very tenderly as they cut my shirt with scissors, and +bared my back, and washed my wound with warm water. I never felt a +touch so caressing as that of their light fingers, but, gods of +war! it did hurt me. The bathing done, they bound me big with +bandages and left the room until the butler had helped me into bed. +They came soon with spirits and bathed my face and hands. One +leaned over me, whispering, and asking what I would like to eat. +Directly a team of horses came prancing to the door. + +"The colonel!" one of them whispered, listening. + +"The colonel, upon my soul!" said the other, that sprightly +Louison, as she tiptoed to the window. They used to call her +"Tiptoes" at the Hermitage. + +The colonel! I remembered she was none other than the Baroness de +Ferre; and thinking of her and of the grateful feeling of the +sheets of soft linen, I fell asleep. + + + + +VIII + +The doctor came that night, and took out of my back a piece of +flattened lead. It had gone under the flesh, quite half round my +body, next to the ribs, without doing worse than to rake the bone +here and there and weaken me with a loss of blood. I woke awhile +before he came. The baroness and the fat butler were sitting +beside me. She was a big, stout woman of some forty years, with +dark hair and gray eyes, and teeth of remarkable whiteness and +symmetry. That evening, I remember, she was in full dress. + +"My poor boy!" said she, in English and in a sympathetic tone, as +she bent over me. + +Indeed, my own mother could not have been kinder than that good +woman. She was one that had a heart and a hand for the sick-room. +I told her how I had been hurt and of my ride. She heard me +through with a glow in her eyes. + +"What a story!" said she. "What a daredevil! I do not see how it +has been possible for you to live." + +She spoke to me always in English of quaint wording and quainter +accent. She seemed not to know that I could speak French. + +An impressive French tutor--a fine old fellow, obsequious and +bald-headed--sat by me all night to give me medicine. In the +morning I felt as if I had a new heart in me, and was planning to +mount my horse. I thought I ought to go on about my business, but +I fear I thought more of the young ladies and the possibility of my +seeing them again. The baroness came in after I had a bite to eat. +I told her I felt able to ride, + +"You are not able, my child. You cannot ride the horse now," said +she, feeling my brow; "maybe not for a ver' long time. I have a +large house, plenty servant, plenty food. Parbleu! be content. We +shall take good care of you. If there is one message to go to your +chief, you know I shall send it." + +I wrote a brief report of my adventure with the British, locating +the scene as carefully as might be, and she sent it by mounted +messenger to "the Burg." + +"The young ladies they wish to see you," said the baroness. "They +are kind-hearted; they would like to do what they can. But I tell +them no; they will make you to be very tired." + +"On the contrary, it will rest me. Let them come," I said. + +"But I warn you," said she, lifting her finger as she left the +room, "do not fall in love. They are full of mischief. They do +not study. They do not care. You know they make much fun all day." + +The young ladies came in presently. They wore gray gowns admirably +fitted to their fine figures. They brought big bouquets and set +them, with a handsome courtesy, on the table beside me. They took +chairs and sat solemn-faced, without a word, as if it were a Quaker +meeting they had come to. I never saw better models of sympathetic +propriety. I was about to speak. One of them shook her head, a +finger on her lips. + +"Do not say one word," she said solemnly in English. "It will make +you ver' sick." + +It was the first effort of either of them to address me in English. +As I soon knew, the warning had exhausted her vocabulary. The +baroness went below in a moment. Then the one who had spoken came +over and sat near me, smiling. + +"She does not know you can speak French," said she, whispering and +addressing me in her native tongue, as the other tiptoed to the +door. "On your life, do not let her know. She will never permit +us to see you. She will keep us under lock and key. She knows we +cannot speak English, so she thinks we cannot talk with you. It is +a great lark. Are you better?" + +What was I to do under orders from such authority? As they bade +me, I hope you will say, for that is what I did. I had no easy +conscience about it, I must own. Day after day I took my part in +the little comedy. They came in Quaker-faced if the baroness were +at hand, never speaking, except to her, until she had gone. +Then--well, such animation, such wit, such bright eyes, such +brilliancy, I have never seen or heard. + +My wound was healing. War and stern duty were as things of the far +past. The grand passion had hold of me. I tried to fight it down, +to shake it off, but somehow it had the claws of a tiger. There +was an odd thing about it all: I could not for the life of me tell +which of the two charming girls I loved the better. It may seem +incredible; I could not understand it myself. They looked alike, +and yet they were quite different. Louison was a year older and of +stouter build. She had more animation also, and always a quicker +and perhaps a brighter answer. The other had a face more serious, +albeit no less beautiful, and a slower tongue. She had little to +say, but her silence had much in it to admire, and, indeed, to +remember. They appealed to different men in me with equal force, I +did not then know why. A perplexing problem it was, and I had to +think and suffer much before I saw the end of it, and really came +to know what love is and what it is not. + +[Illustration: "I could not for the life of me tell which of the +two charming girls I loved the better."] + +Shortly I was near the end of this delightful season of illness. I +had been out of bed a week. The baroness had read to me every day, +and had been so kind that I felt a great shame for my part in our +deception. Every afternoon she was off in a boat or in her +caleche, and had promised to take me with her as soon as I was able +to go. + +"You know," said she, "I am going to make you to stay here a full +month. I have the consent of the general." + +I had begun to move about a little and enjoy the splendor of that +forest home. There were, indeed, many rare and priceless things in +it that came out of her chateau in France. She had some curious +old clocks, tokens of ancestral taste and friendship. There was +one her grandfather had got from the land of Louis XIV.--_Le Grand +Monarque_, of whom my mother had begun to tell me as soon as I +could hear with understanding. Another came from the bedchamber of +Philip II of Spain--a grand high clock that had tolled the hours in +that great hall beyond my door. A little thing, in a case of +carved ivory, that ticked on a table near my bed, Moliere had given +to one of her ancestors, and there were many others of equal +interest. + +Her walls were adorned with art treasures of the value of which I +had little appreciation those days. But I remember there were +canvases of Correggio and Rembrandt and Sir Joshua Reynolds. She +was, indeed, a woman of fine taste, who had brought her best to +America; for no one had a doubt, in the time of which I am writing, +that the settlement of the Compagnie de New York would grow into a +great colony, with towns and cities and fine roadways, and the full +complement of high living. She had built the Hermitage,--that was +the name of the mansion,--fine and splendid as it was, for a mere +temporary shelter pending the arrival of those better days. + +She had a curious fad, this hermit baroness of the big woods. She +loved nature and was a naturalist of no poor attainments. Wasps +and hornets were the special study of this remarkable woman. There +were at least a score of their nests on her front portico--big and +little, and some of them oddly shaped. She hunted them in wood and +field. When she found a nest she had it moved carefully after +nightfall, under a bit of netting, and fastened somewhere about the +gables. Around the Hermitage there were many withered boughs and +briers holding cones of wrought fibre, each a citadel of these +uniformed soldiers of the air and the poisoned arrow. They were +assembled in colonies of yellow, white, blue, and black wasps, and +white-faced hornets. She had no fear of them, and, indeed, no one +of the household was ever stung to my knowledge. I have seen her +stand in front of her door and feed them out of a saucer. There +were special favorites that would light upon her palm, overrunning +its pink hollow and gorging at the honey-drop. + +"They will never sting," she would say, "if one does not declare +the war. To strike, to make any quick motion, it gives them anger. +Then, mon cher ami! it is terrible. They cause you to burn, to +ache, to make a great noise, and even to lie down upon the ground. +If people come to see me, if I get a new servant, I say: 'Make to +them no attention, and they will not harm you.'" + +In the house I have seen her catch one by the wings on a window +and, holding it carefully ask me to watch her captive--sometimes a +a great daredevil hornet, lion-maned--as he lay stabbing with his +poison-dagger. + +"Now," said she, "he is angry; he will remember. If I release him +he will sting me when I come near him again. So I do not permit +him to live--I kill him." + +Then she would impale him and invite me to look at him with the +microscope. + +One day the baroness went away to town with the young ladies. I +was quite alone with the servants. Father Joulin of the chateau +came over and sat awhile with me, and told me how he had escaped +the Parisian mob, a night in the Reign of Terror. Late in the +afternoon I walked awhile in the grove with him. When he left I +went slowly down the trail over which I had ridden. My strength +was coming fast. I felt like an idle man, shirking the saddle, +when I should be serving my country. I must to my horse and make +an end to dallying. With thoughts like these for company, I went +farther than I intended. Returning over the bushy trail I came +suddenly upon--Louison! She was neatly gowned in pink and white. + +"Le diable!" said she. "You surprise me. I thought you went +another way." + +"Or you would not have taken this one," I said. + +"Of course not," said she. "One does not wish to find men if she +is hunting for--for--" she hesitated a moment, blushing--"mon Dieu! +for bears," she added. + +I thought then, as her beautiful eyes looked up at me smiling, that +she was incomparable, that I loved her above all others--I felt +sure of it. + +"And why do you hunt bears?" I inquired. + +"I do not know. I think it is because they are so--so beautiful, +so amiable!" she answered. + +"And such good companions." + +"Yes; they never embarrass you," she went on. "You never feel at +loss for a word." + +"I fear you do not know bears." + +"Dieu! better than men. Voila!" she exclaimed, touching me with +the end of her parasol. "You are not so terrible. I do not think +you would bite." + +"No; I have never bitten anything but--but bread and doughnuts, or +something of that sort." + +"Come, I desire to intimidate you. Won't you please be afraid of +me? Indeed, I can be very terrible. See! I have sharp teeth." + + +She turned with a playful growl, and parting her crimson lips, +showed them to me--white and shapely, and as even as if they had +been wrought of ivory. She knew they were beautiful, the vixen. + +"You terrify me. I have a mind to run," I said, backing off, + +"Please do not run," she answered quickly. "I should be afraid +that--that--" + +She hesitated a moment, stirring the moss with one dainty foot. + +"That you might not return," she added, smiling as she looked up at +me. + +"Then--then perhaps it will do as well if I climb a tree." + +"No, no; I wish to talk with you." + +"Ma'm'selle, you honor me," I said. + +"And dishonor myself, I presume, with so much boldness," she went +on. "It is only that I have something to say; and you know when a +woman has something to--to say--" + +"It is a fool that does not listen if she be as fair as you," I put +in. + +"You are--well, I shall not say what I think of you, for fear--for +fear of giving offence," said she, blushing as she spoke. "Do you +like the life of a soldier?" + +"Very much, and especially when I am wounded, with such excellent +care and company." + +"But your side--it was so horribly torn. I did feel very +sorry--indeed I did. You will go again to the war?" + +"Unless--unless--Ah, yes, ma'm'selle, I shall go again to the war," +I stammered, going to the brink of confession, only to back away +from it, as the blood came hot to my cheeks. + +She broke a tiny bough and began stripping its leaves. + +"Tell me, do you love the baroness?" she inquired as she whipped a +swaying bush of brier. + +The question amazed me. I laughed nervously. + +"I respect, I admire the good woman--she would make an excellent +mother," was my answer. + +"Well spoken!" she said, clapping her hands. "I thought you were a +fool. I did not know whether you were to blame or--or the Creator." + +"Or the baroness," I added, laughing. + +"Well," said she, with a pretty shrug, "is there not a man for +every woman? The baroness she thinks she is irresistible. She has +money. She would like to buy you for a plaything--to marry you. +But I say beware. She is more terrible than the keeper of the +Bastile. And you--you are too young!" + +"My dear girl," said I, in a voice of pleading, "it is terrible. +Save me! Save me, I pray you!" + +"Pooh! I do not care!"--with a gesture of indifference, "I am +trying to save myself, that is all." + +"From what?" + +"Another relative. Parbleu! I have enough." She stamped her foot +impatiently as she spoke. "I should be very terrible to you. I +should say the meanest things. I should call you grandpapa and +give you a new cane every Christmas." + +"And if you gave me also a smile, I should be content." + +More than once I was near declaring myself that day, but I had a +mighty fear she was playing with me, and held my tongue. There was +an odd light in her eyes. I knew not, then, what it meant. + +"You are easily satisfied," was her answer. + +"I am to leave soon," I said. "May I not see you here to-morrow?" + +"Alas! I do not think you can," was her answer. + +"And why not?" + +"Because it would not be proper," said she, smiling as she looked +up at me. + +"Not proper! I should like to know why." + +"It would make me break another engagement," she went on, laughing. +"I am to go with the baroness to meet the count if he comes--she +has commanded. The day after, in the morning, at ten o'clock, by +the cascade--will that do? Good! I must leave you now. I must +not return with you. Remember!" she commanded, pointing at me with +her tapered forefinger. "Remember--ten o'clock in the morning." + +Then she took a bypath and went out of sight. I returned to the +mansion as deep in love as a man could be. I went to dinner with +the rest that evening. Louison came in after we were all seated. + +"You are late, my dear," said the baroness. + +"Yes; I went away walking and lost something, and was not able to +find it again." + + + + +IX + +Next morning the baroness went away in her glittering caleche with +Louison. Each shining spoke and golden turret flashed the sunlight +back at me as I looked after them at the edge of the wood. The +baroness had asked me to go with her, but I thought the journey too +long. Louise came out and sat by me awhile as I lay in the +hammock. She was all in white. A trifle taller and a bit more +slender than her sister, I have sometimes thought her beauty was +statelier, also, and more statuesque. The sight of her seemed to +kindle in me the spirit of old chivalry. I would have fought and +died for her with my best lance and plume. In all my life I had +not seen a woman of sweeter graces of speech and manner, and, in +truth, I have met some of the best born of her sex. + +She had callers presently--the Sieur Michel and his daughter. I +went away, then, for a walk, and, after a time, strolled into the +north trail. Crossing a mossy glade, in a circle of fragrant +cedar, I sat down to rest. The sound of falling water came to my +ear through thickets of hazel and shadberry. Suddenly I heard a +sweet voice singing a love-song of Provence--the same voice, the +same song, I had heard the day I came half fainting on my horse. +Somebody was coming near. In a moment I saw Louise before me. + +"What, ma'm'selle!" I said; "alone in the woods!" + +"Not so," said she. "I knew you were here--somewhere, +and--and--well, I thought you might be lonely." + +"You are a good angel," I said, "always trying to make others +happy." + +"Eh bien," said she, sitting beside me, "I was lonely myself. I +cannot read or study. I have neglected my lessons; I have insulted +the tutor--threw my book at him, and walked away, for he sputtered +at me. I do not know what is the matter. I know I am very wicked. +Perhaps--ah me! perhaps it is the devil." + +"Ma'm'selle, it is appalling!" I said. "You may have injured the +poor man. You must be very bad. Let me see your palm." + +I held her dainty fingers in mine, that were still hard and brown, +peering into the pink hollow of her hand. She looked up curiously. + +"A quick temper and a heart of gold," I said. "If the devil has +it, he is lucky, and--well, I should like to be in his confidence." + +"Ah, m'sieur," said she, seriously, a little tremor on her lips, "I +have much trouble--you do not know. I have to fight with myself." + +"You have, then, a formidable enemy," I answered. + +"But I am not quarrelsome," said she, thoughtfully. "I am only +weary of the life here. I should like to go away and be of some +use in the world. I suppose it is wicked, for my papa wishes me to +stay. And bah! it is a prison--a Hopital de Salpetriere!" + +"Ma'm'selle," I exclaimed, "if you talk like that I shall take you +on my horse and fly with you. I shall come as your knight, as your +deliverer, some day." + +"Alas!" said she, with a sigh, "you would find me very heavy. One +has nothing to do here but grow lazy and--ciel!--fat." + +If my meeting with her sister had not made it impossible and +absurd, I should have offered my heart to this fair young lady then +and there. Now I could not make it seem the part of honor and +decency. I could not help adoring her simplicity, her frankness, +her beautiful form and face. + +"It is no prison for me," I said. "I do not long for deliverance. +I cannot tell you how happy I have been to stay--how unhappy I +shall be to leave." + +"Captain," she said quickly, "you are not strong; you are no +soldier yet." + +"Yes; I must be off to the wars." + +"And that suggests an idea," said she, thoughtfully, her chin upon +her hand. + +"Which is?" + +"That my wealth is ill-fortune," she went on, with a sigh. "Men +and women are fighting and toiling and bleeding and dying to make +the world better, and I--I am just a lady, fussing, primping, +peering into a looking-glass! I should like to do something, but +they think I am too good--too holy." + +"But it is a hard business--the labors and quarrels of the great +world," I suggested. + +"Well--it is God's business," she continued. "And am I not one of +his children, and 'wist ye not that I must be about my Father's +business?' It was not too good for the man who said that." + +"But what would you do?" + +"I do not know. I suppose I can do nothing because--alas! because +my father has bought my obedience with a million francs. Do you +not see that I am in bondage?" + +"Be patient; the life of a rich demoiselle is not barren of +opportunity." + +"To be gay--oh! one might as well be a peacock; to say pretty +things, one might better be a well-trained parrot; to grace the +court or the salon, I had as soon be a statue in the corner--it has +more comfort, more security; to be admired, to hear fine +compliments--well, you know that is the part of a pet poodle. I +say, captain, to be happy one must be free to do." + +I looked into her big eyes, that were full of their new discovery. + +"I should like to be among the wounded soldiers," said she, her +face brightening. "It did make me very happy to sit by your +bedside and do for you." + +There was a very tender look in her eyes then. + +She started to rise. A brier, stirring in the breeze, had fallen +across her hair. She let me loose the thorns, and, doing so, I +kissed her forehead--I could not help it. + +"M'sieur!" she exclaimed in a whisper. Then she turned quickly +away and stood tearing a leaf in her fingers. + +"Forgive me!" I pleaded, for I saw she was crying. "It was the +impulse of a moment. Pray forgive me!" + +She stood motionless and made no answer, I never felt such a stir +in me, for I had a fear, a terrible fear, that I had lost what I +might never have again. + +"It was honorable admiration," I continued, rising to my full +height beside her. "Tell me, ma'm'selle, have I hurt you?" + +"No," said she, in a voice that trembled. "I am thinking--I am +thinking of somebody else." + +The words, spoken so slowly, so sweetly, seemed, nevertheless, to +fly at me. "Of somebody else!" Whom could she mean? Had her +sister told her? Did she know of my meeting with Louison? I was +about to confess how deeply, how tenderly, I loved her. I had +spoken the first word when this thought flashed upon me, and I +halted. I could not go on. + +"Ma'm'selle," I said, "I--I--if it is I of whom you are thinking, +give me only your pity, and I can be content. Sometime, perhaps, I +may deserve more. If I can be of any service to you, send for +me--command me. You shall see I am not ungrateful. Ah, +ma'm'selle," I continued, as I stood to my full height, and felt a +mighty uplift in my heart that seemed to toss the words out of me, +"I have a strong arm and a good sword, and the love of honor and +fair women." + +She wiped her eyes, and turned and looked up at me. I was no +longer a sick soldier. + +"It is like a beautiful story," she said thoughtfully; "and +you--you are like a knight of old. We must go home. It is long +past luncheon hour. We must hurry." + +She gave me her arm up the hill, and we walked without speaking. + +"I am very well to-day," I remarked as we came to the road. "If +you will wait here until I get to the big birch, I shall go around +to see if I can beat you to the door." + +"It is not necessary," said she, smiling, "and--and, m'sieur, I am +not ashamed of you or of what I have done." + +The baroness and Louison had not yet returned. M. Pidgeon was at +luncheon with us in the big dining room, and had much to say of the +mighty Napoleon and the coalition he was then fighting. + +The great monsieur stayed through the afternoon, as the baroness +had planned a big houseparty for the night, in celebration of the +count's return. My best clothes had come by messenger from the +Harbor, and I could put myself in good fettle. The baroness and +the count and Louison came early, and we sat long together under +the trees. + +The dinner was at seven. There were more than a dozen guests, +among whom were a number I had seen at the chateau--Mr. David +Parish of Ogdensburg, who arrived late in a big, two-wheeled cart +drawn by four horses that came galloping to the door, and General +Wilkinson, our new commander in the North, a stout, smooth-faced +man, who came with Mr. Parish in citizen's dress. + +At dinner the count had much to say of scenes of excitement in +Albany, where he had lately been. The baroness and her wards were +resplendent in old lace and sparkling jewels. Great haunches of +venison were served from a long sideboard; there was a free flow of +old Madeira and Burgundy and champagne and cognac. Mr. Parish and +the count and the general and Moss Kent and M. Pidgeon sat long at +the table, with cigars and coffee, after the rest of us had gone to +the parlors, and the big room rang with their laughter. The young +Marquis de Gonvello and Mr. Marc Isambert Brunel of the Compagnie, +who, afterward founded the great machine-shops of the Royal Navy +Yard at Portsmouth and became engineer of the Thames tunnel, and +Pierre Chassinis, Jr., and I waltzed with the ladies. Presently I +sat down near the baroness, who was talking in French with Therese +Le Ray, the count's daughter. + +"Pardon my using French," said the baroness, turning to me, "for I +believe you do not use it, and, my friend, it is a misfortune, for +you miss knowing what good company is the Ma'm'selle Le Ray." + +"And I miss much pleasure and mayhap a duel with the marquis," I +said, laughing; "but I beg you to proceed with your talk. I have +learned many words since I came here, and I love the sound of it." + +"We saw British soldiers to-day," she continued to Ma'm'selle Le +Ray, in French. "They crossed the road near us on their horses." + +Louison came over and sat by them. + +"They were not in uniform," the baroness continued, "but I knew +they were English; you cannot mistake them." + +"And what do you think ?" said Louison, eagerly. "One of them +threatened to kiss me." + +"Indeed, that was terrible," said Ma'm'selle Le Ray. "You must +have been afraid." + +"Yes," said she, smiling, "afraid he wouldn't. They were a +good-looking lot." + +"I do not think he was speaking of you at all," said the baroness. +"He was looking at me when--" + +"Ciel!" exclaimed Louison, laughing. "That is why they turned +suddenly and fled into the fields." + +I fled, too,--perhaps as suddenly as the Britishers,--to save +myself the disgrace of laughter. + +The great clock in the hall above-stairs tolled the hour of two. +The ladies had all gone to bed save the baroness. The butler had +started upstairs, a candelabrum in his hand. Following him were +the count and Mr. Parish, supporting the general between them. The +able soldier had overrated his capacity. All had risen to go to +their rooms. Of a sudden we were startled by a loud rap on the +front door. A servant opened it, and immediately I heard the +familiar voice of D'ri. + +"Is they anybody here by the name o' Mister Bell?" he asked. + +I ran to the door, and there stood D'ri, his clothes wet, his boots +muddy, for it had been raining. Before he could speak I had my +arms around him, and he sank to his knees in my embrace. He was +breathing heavily. + +"Tired out--thet's whut's the matter," he muttered, leaning over on +one hand. "Come through the woods t' save yer life, I did, an' +they was tight up t' me all the way." + +"Poor fellow!" said the baroness, who stood at the door. "Help him +in at once and give him a sip of brandy." + +"Tuk me prisoner over there 'n the woods thet day," said he, +sinking into a chair and leaning forward, his head on his hands. +"They tuk 'n' they toted me over t' Canady, an' I tuk 'n' got away, +'n' they efter me. Killed one on 'em thet was chasin' uv me over +'n the Beaver medders on the bog trail. Hoss got t' wallerin' so +he hed t' come down. Riz up out o' the grass 'n' ketched holt uv +'im 'fore he c'u'd pull a weepon. Tuk this out uv his pocket, an' +I tried to git the boss out o' the mire, but didn't hev time." + +He sat erect and proudly handed me a sheet of paper. I opened it, +and read as follows:-- + + +"To CAPTAIN ELIAS WILKINS, _Royal Fusiliers_. + +"_My dear Captain_: You will proceed at once across the river with +a detail of five men mounted and three days' rations, and, if +possible, capture the prisoner who escaped early this morning, +making a thorough search of the woods in Jefferson County. He has +information of value to the enemy, and I regard his death or +capture of high and immediate importance. I am informed that the +young desperado who murdered my Lord of Pickford in the forest +below Clayton June 29, escaping, although badly wounded, is lying +at the country-seat of the Baroness de Ferre, a Frenchwoman, at +Leraysville, Jefferson County, New York. It would gratify me if +you could accomplish one or both captures. With respect, I am, + + "Your Obedient Servant, + "R. SHEAFFER, _General Commanding_." + +"They 'll be here," said D'ri. "They 'll be here jest es sure es +God--'fore daylight, mebbe. But I can't fight er dew nothin' till +I 've tied some vittles." + +"You shall have supper," said the baroness, who, without delay, +went to the kitchen herself with a servant to look after it. The +butler brought a pair of slippers and a dry coat, while I drew off +the boots of my good friend. Then I gave him my arm as he limped +to the kitchen beside me. The baroness and I sat near him as he +ate. + +"Go upstairs and call the gentlemen," said she to the butler, "Do +not make any disturbance, but say I should like to speak with them +in the dining room." + +"Is thet air hired man o' yours a Britisher?" D'ri inquired as +soon as the butler was gone. + +"He is--from Liverpool," said she. + +"Thet's the hole 'n the fence," said he. "Thet's where the goose +got away." + +"The goose! The geese!" said the baroness, thoughtfully. "I do +not understand you." + +"Went 'n' blabbed, thet's whut he done," said D'ri. "Mebbe wrote +'em a letter, gol-dum his pictur'." + +"Oh, I perceive! I understand," said she; "and I send him away +to-morrow." + +"Neck's broke with hunger," said D'ri. "Never threw no vittles 'n +my basket with sech a splendid taste tew 'em es these hev." + +The baroness looked at him with some show of worry. + +"I beg your pardon," said she, "did you say the neck of you was +broken?" + +I explained the idiom. + +"Ain't hed nothin' t' eat since day 'fore yistiddy," said D'ri. +"Judas Priest! I 'm all et up with hunger." + +With old Burgundy and biscuit and venison and hot coffee he was +rapidly reviving. + +"I 'm wondering where I will hide you both," said the baroness, +thoughtfully. + +"Hed n't orter hev no rumpus here, 'n' go t' shootin' 'n' mebbe +spile yer house 'n' furnicher," said D'ri. "'T ain't decent er 't +ain't nice. We 'd better mek tracks an' put a mild er tew 'twixt +us 'n' here 'fore we hev any trouble. 'T ain't a-goin' t' be no +Sunday School. Ef they can, they 're a-goin't' tek us dead er +'live. Ef they ever tuk us we would n't be wuth shucks, nuther on +us, efter court martial." + +"I shall not permit you to go," said the baroness. "They may be +here now, about the house in the dark. They would shoot you, they +would stab you, they would cause you to die as you went. No, I +shall permit you not to go, There are four of them? Very well, we +shall fight here, we shall conquer. We have a general, a count, a +millionnaire, a marquis, a lawyer, an astronomer, a scout, and," +she added, patting me on the shoulder, "_le brave capitaine_! I +have four guns and three pistols, and M'sieur Bell has arms also. +We shall conquer. We shall make them to bite the dust." + +"Guns; did ye say? Jerushy Jane! Le' 's hev 'em," said D'ri. + +"What did he call me? Mon Dieu! Jerushy Jane! It is not I," said +the baroness. + +Again I explained the difficulty. + +"Ain't very proper-spoke," said D'ri, apologetically. "Jest wan't' +say et them 'air guns er likely t' come handy here 'most any +minute. Give us guns, 'n' we 'll sock it to 'em." + +"We shall sock it to them, we shall indeed," said she, hurrying out +of the room. "We shall make them to run for their lives." + +They were all in the dining room--the men of the party--save the +general, who could not he awakened. Guns and pistols were loaded. +I made a novel plan of defence that was unanimously approved. I +posted a watch at every window. A little after dawn the baroness, +from behind a curtain, saw a squad of horsemen coming through the +grove. + +"Ici! they have come!" said she, in a loud whisper. "There are not +four; there are many." + +I took my detail of six men above-stairs. Each had a strip of +lumber we had found in the shop, and each carefully raised a +window, waiting the signal. I knew my peril, but I was never so +cool in my life. If I had been wiser, possibly I should have felt +it the more. The horsemen promptly deployed, covering every side +of the mansion. They stood close, mounted, pistol and sabre ready. +Suddenly I gave the signal. Then each of us thrust out the strip +of lumber stealthily, prodding the big drab cones on every side. +Hornets and wasps, a great swarm of them, sprang thick as seeds +from the hand of a sower. It was my part to unhouse a colony of +the long, white-faced hornets. Goaded by the ruin of their nests, +they saw the nodding heads below them, and darted at man and horse +like a night of arrows. They put their hot spurs into flank and +face and neck. I saw them strike and fall; they do hit hard, those +big-winged _Vespae_. It was terrible, the swift charge of that +winged battalion of the air. I heard howls of pain below me, and +the thunder of rushing feet. The horses were rearing and plunging, +the men striking with their hats. + +I heard D'ri shouting and laughing at his window. + +"Give 'em hell, ye little blue devils!" he yelled; and there was +all evidence that they understood him. + +Then, again, every man of us opened his window and fired a volley +at the scurrying mass. + +One horse, rearing and leaping on his hind legs, came down across +the back of another, and the two fell heavily in a rolling, +convulsive heap. One, as if blinded, bumped a tree, going over on +his withers, all fours flashing in the air. Some tore off in the +thickets, as unmanageable as the wild moose. More than half threw +their riders. Not a man of them pulled a trigger: they were busy +enough, God knows. Not one of them could have hit the sky with any +certainty. I never saw such a torrent of horsehair and red caps. + +"Whut! Been on the back o' one o' 'em hosses?" said D'ri, telling +of it a long time after. "'D ruther o' been shet up 'n a barrel +with a lot o' cats 'n' rolled downhill. Good deal better fer my +health, an' I 'd 'a' luked more like a human bein' when I come out. +Them fellers--they did n't luk fit t' 'sociate with nuthin' er +nobody when we led 'em up t' the house--nut one on 'em." + +Only one Britisher was brought down by our bullets, and he had been +the mark of D'ri: with him a rifle was never a plaything. Five +others lay writhing in the grass, bereft of horse, deserted by +their comrades. The smudges were ready, and the nets. D'ri and I +put on the latter and ran out, placing a smudge row on every side +of the Hermitage. The winged fighters were quickly driven away. +Of the helpless enemy one had staggered off in the brush; the +others lay groaning, their faces lumpy and one-sided. A big +sergeant had a nose of the look and diameter of a goose-egg; one +carried a cheek as large and protuberant as the jowl of a porker's +head; and one had ears that stuck out like a puffed bladder. They +were helpless. We disarmed them and brought them in, doing all we +could for their comfort with blue clay and bruised plantain. It +was hard on them, I have often thought, but it saved an ugly fight +among ladies, and, no doubt, many lives. I know, if they had taken +us, D'ri and I would never have got back. + +I have saved myself many a time by strategy, but chose the sword +always if there were an even chance. And, God knows, if one had +ever a look at our bare bodies, he would see no sign of shirking on +either D'ri or me. + + + + +X + +The shooting and shouting and the tramp of horse and man had roused +everybody in the big house. Even the general came down to know +what was the matter. The young ladies came, pale and frightened, +but in faultless attire. I put an armed guard by the prisoners at +the door, under command of D'ri. Then I had them bare the feet of +the four Britishers, knowing they could not run bootless in the +brush. We organized a convoy,--the general and I,--and prepared to +start for the garrison. We kept the smudges going, for now and +then we could hear the small thunder of hornet-wings above us. +There is a mighty menace in it, I can tell you, if they are angry. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" said D'ri, as he sat, rifle on his knee, +looking at his prisoners. "Never thought nobody c'u'd luk s' +joemightyful cur'us. Does mek a man humly t' hev any trouble with +them air willy-come-bobs." He meant wasps. + +I had had no opportunity for more than a word with the young +ladies. I hoped it might come when I went in for a hasty breakfast +with the baroness, the count, the general, and Mr. Parish. As we +were eating, Louison came in hurriedly. She showed some agitation. + +"What is the trouble, my dear?" said the baroness, in French. + +"Eh bien, only this," said she: "I have dropped my ring in the +brook. It is my emerald. I cannot reach it." + +"Too bad! She has dropped her ring in the brook," said the +baroness, in English, turning to me. + +"If she will have the kindness to take me there," I said to the +hostess, rising as I spoke, "I shall try to get it for her." + +"M'sieur le Capitaine, you are very obliging," said she. Then, +turning to Louison, she added in French: "Go with him. He will +recover it for you." + +It pleased and flattered me, the strategy of this wonderful young +creature. She led me, with dainty steps, through a dewy garden +walk into the trail. + +"Parbleu!" she whispered, "is it not a shame to take you from your +meat? But I could not help it. I had to see you; there is +something I wish to say." + +"A pretty girl is better than meat," I answered quickly. "I am +indebted to you." + +"My! but you have a ready tongue," said she. "It is with me a +pleasure to listen. You are going away? You shall not +return--perhaps?" + +She was trying to look very gay and indifferent, but in her voice I +could detect a note of trouble. The flame of passion, quenched for +a little time by the return of peril and the smoke of gunpowder, +flashed up in me. + +"It is this," she went on: "I may wish you to do me a favor. May I +have your address?" + +"And you may command me," I said as I gave it to her. + +"Have a care!" she said, laughing. "I may ask you to do desperate +things--you may need all your valor. The count and the +baroness--they may send us back to France." + +"Which will please you," I remarked. + +"Perhaps," she said quickly. "Mon Dieu! I do not know what I +want; I am a fool. Take this. Wear it when you are gone. Not +that I care--but--it will make you remember." + +She held in her fingers a flashing emerald on a tiny circlet of +gold. Before I could answer she had laid it in my hard palm and +shut my hand upon it. + +"Dieu!" she exclaimed, whispering, "I must return--I must hurry. +Remember, we did not find the ring." + +I felt a great impulse to embrace her and confess my love. But I +was not quick enough. Before I could speak she had turned away and +was running. I called to her, but she did not turn or seem to hear +me. She and my opportunity were gone. + +We stowed the prisoners in the big coach at the baroness, behind a +lively team of four. Then my horse and one for D'ri were brought +up. + +"Do not forget," said the baroness, holding my hand, "you are +always welcome in my house. I hope, ma foi! that you will never +find happiness until you return." + +The young ladies came not to the step where we were, but stood by +the count waving adieux. Louison had a merry smile and a pretty +word of French for me; Louise only a sober look that made me sad, +if it did not speak for the same feeling in her. The count was to +remain at the Hermitage, having sent to the chateau for a squad of +his armed retainers. They were to defend the house, if, by chance, +the British should renew their attack. Mr. Parish and his footman +and the general went with us, the former driving. D'ri and I rode +on behind as the coach went off at a gallop. + +He was a great whip, that man David Parish, who had built a big +mansion at Ogdensburg and owned so much of the north country those +days. He was a gentleman when the founders of the proud families +of to-day were dickering in small merchandise. Indeed, one might +look in vain for such an establishment as his north of Virginia. +This side the Atlantic there was no stable of horses to be compared +with that he had--splendid English thoroughbreds, the blood of +which is now in every great family of American horses. And, my +faith! he did love to put them over the road. He went tearing up +hill and down at a swift gallop, and the roads were none too smooth +in that early day. Before leaving home he had sent relays ahead to +await his coming every fifteen miles of the journey: he always did +that if he had far to go. This time he had posted them clear to +the Harbor. The teams were quickly shifted; then we were off again +with a crack of the whip and a toot of the long horn. He held up +in the swamps, but where footing was fair, the high-mettled horses +had their heads and little need of urging. We halted at an inn for +a sip of something and a bite to eat. + +"Parish," said the general, rising on stiffened legs, "I like your +company and I like your wine, but your driving is a punishment." + +D'ri was worn out with lack of sleep and rest, but he had hung +doggedly to his saddle. + +"How do you feel?" I asked him as we drew up on each side of the +coach. + +"Split t' the collar," said he, soberly, as he rested an elbow on +his pommel. + +We got to headquarters at five, and turned over the prisoners. We +had never a warmer welcome than that of the colonel. + +"I congratulate you both," he said as he brought the rum-bottle +after we had made our report. "You've got more fight in you than a +wolverene. Down with your rum and off to your beds, and report +here at reveille. I have a tough job for you to-morrow." + + + + +XI + +It was, indeed, tougher business than we had yet known--a dash into +the enemy's country, where my poor head was in excellent demand. +D'ri and I were to cross the lake with a band of raiders, a troop +of forty, under my command. We were to rescue some prisoners in a +lockup on the other side. They were to be shot in the morning, and +our mission therefore admitted of no delay. Our horses had been +put aboard a brig at midnight, and soon after the noon mess we +dropped down the lake, going into a deep, wooded cove south of the +Grenadier Island. There we lay waiting for nightfall. A big wind +was howling over the woods at sunset, and the dark came on its +wings an hour ahead of time. The night was black and the lake +noisy when we got under way, bound for a flatboat ferry. Our +skipper, it turned out, had little knowledge of those waters. He +had shortened sail, and said he was not afraid of the weather. The +wind, out of the southeast, came harder as it drove us on. Before +we knew it, the whole kit and boodle of us were in a devil of a +shakeup there in the broad water. D'ri and I were down among the +horses and near being trampled under in the roll. We tried to put +about then, but the great gusts of wind made us lower sail and drop +anchor in a hurry. Soon the horses were all in a tumble and one on +top of the other. We had to jump from back to back to save +ourselves. It was no pretty business, I can tell you, to get to +the stairway. D'ri was stripped of a boot-leg, and I was cut in +the chin by a front hoof, going ten feet or so to the upper deck. +To the man who was never hit in the chin by a horse's hoof let me +say there is no such remedy for a proud spirit. Bullets are much +easier to put up with and keep a civil tongue in one's head. That +lower deck was a kind of horses' hell. We had to let them alone. +They got astraddle of one another's necks, and were cut from ear to +fetlock--those that lived, for some of them, I could see, were +being trampled to death. How many I never knew, for suddenly we +hit a reef there in the storm and the black night. I knew we had +drifted to the north shore, and as the sea began to wash over us it +was every man for himself. The brig went up and down like a +sledge-hammer, and at every blow her sides were cracking and +caving. She keeled over suddenly, and was emptied of horse and +man. A big wave flung me far among the floundering horses. My +fingers caught in a wet mane; I clung desperately between crowding +flanks. Then a big wave went over us. I hung on, coming up +astride my capture. He swam vigorously, his nose high, blowing +like a trumpet. I thought we were in for a time of it, and had +very little hope for any landing, save in kingdom come. Every +minute I was head under in the wash, and the roaring filled me with +that mighty terror of the windfall. But, on my word, there is no +captain like a good horse in bad water. Suddenly I felt him hit +the bottom and go forward on his knees. Then he reared up, and +began to jump in the sand. A big wave washed him down again. He +fell on his side in a shallow, but rose and ran wearily over a soft +beach. In the blackness around me I could see nothing. A branch +whipped me in the face, and I ducked. I was not quick enough; it +was like fencing in the dark. A big bough hit me, raking the +withers of my horse, and I rolled off headlong in a lot of bushes. +The horse went on, out of hearing, but I was glad enough to lie +still, for I had begun to know of my bruises. In a few minutes I +took off my boots and emptied them, and wrung my blouse, and lay +back, cursing my ill luck. + +But that year of 1813 had the kick of ill fortune in it for every +mother's son of us there in the North country. I have ever noticed +that war goes in waves of success or failure; If we had had Brown +or Scott to lead us that year, instead of Wilkinson, I believe it +had had a better history. Here was I in the enemy's country. God +knew where, or how, or when I should come out of it. I thought of +D'ri and how it had gone with him in that hell of waters. I knew +it would be hard to drown him. We were so near shore, if he had +missed the rocks I felt sure he would come out safely. I thought +of Louison and Louise, and wondered if ever I should see them +again. Their faces shone upon me there in the windy darkness, and +one as brightly as the other. Afterwhiles I drew my wet blouse +over me and went asleep, shivering. + +A familiar sound woke me--that of the reveille. The sun was +shining, the sky clear, the wind had gone down. A crow sat calling +in a tree above my head. I lay in a strip of timber, thin and +narrow, on the lake shore. Through the bushes I could see the +masts of the brig slanting out of water some rods away. Beyond the +timber was a field of corn, climbing a side-hill that sloped off to +a level, grassy plain. Beyond the hill-top, reveille was still +sounding. A military camp was near me, and although I made no +move, my mind was up and busy as the drumsticks over the hill. I +sat as quiet as a cat at a mouse-hole, looking down at my uniform, +not, indeed, the most healthful sort of dress for that country. +All at once I caught sight of a scarecrow in the corn. I laughed +at the odd grotesquery of the thing--an old frock-coat and trousers +of olive-green, faded and torn and fat with straw. A stake driven +through its collar into the earth, and crowned with an ancient, +tall hat of beaver, gave it a backbone. An idea came to me. I +would rob the scarecrow and hide my uniform. I ran out and hauled +it over, and pulled the stuffing out of it. The coat and trousers +were made for a stouter man. I drew on the latter, fattening my +figure with straw to fill them. That done, I quickly donned the +coat. Each sleeve-end fell to my fingertips, and its girth would +have circled a flour-barrel and buttoned with room to spare. But +with my stuffing of straw it came around me as snug at the belt as +the coat of a bear. I took alarm as I closed the buttons. For +half a minute I had heard a drum-tap coming nearer. It was the +measured _tap! tap! tap-tap-tap_! so familiar to me. Now I could +hear the tread of feet coming with it back of the hill. How soon +they would heave in sight I was unable to reckon, but I dared not +run for cover. So I thrust my scabbard deep in the soft earth, +pulled down the big beaver hat over my face, muffled my neck with +straw, stuck the stake in front of me to steady myself, and stood +stiff as any scarecrow in Canada. Before I was done a column, +scarlet-coated, came out in the level beyond the hillside. Through +a hole in the beaver I could see them clearly. They came on, rank +after rank. They deployed, forming an open square, scarlet-sided, +on the green turf, the gap toward me. Then came three, walking +stiffly in black coats, a squad leading them. The thing I had +taken for a white visor was a blindfold. Their heads were bare. I +could see, now, they were in shackles, their arms behind them. +They were coming to their death--some of my unlucky comrades. God +pity them! A spy might as well make his peace with Heaven, if he +were caught those days, and be done with hope. Suspicion was +enough to convict on either side of the water that year. As my +feet sank deeper in the soft earth I felt as if I were going down +to my grave. The soldiers led them into the gap, standing them +close together, backs to me, The squad drew off. The prisoners +stood erect, their faces turning up a little, as if they were +looking into the clear, blue sky. I could see them waver as they +stood waiting. The sharpshooters advanced, halting as they raised +their rifles. To my horror, I saw the prisoners were directly +between me and them. Great God! was I also of that little company +about to die? But I dared not move a step. I stood still, +watching, trembling. An officer in a shining helmet was speaking +to the riflemen. His helmet seemed to jump and quiver as he moved +away. Those doomed figures began to reel and sway as they waited. +The shiny barrels lifted a little, their muzzles pointing at them +and at me. The corn seemed to duck and tremble as it waited the +volley. A great black ball shot across the sky in a long curve, +and began to fall. Then came the word, a flash of fire, a cloud of +smoke, a roar of rifles that made me jump in my tracks. I heard +bullets cuffing the corn, I felt the dirt fly up and scatter over +me, but was unhurt, a rigid, motionless man of straw. I saw my +countrymen reel, their legs go limp as rags, their bodies fall +silently forward. The soldiers stood a moment, then a squad went +after the dead with litters. Forming in fours, they marched away +as they had come, their steps measured by that regular _rap! rap! +rap-rap-rap_! of the drum. The last rank went out of sight. I +moved a little and pulled the stake, and quickly stuck it again, +for there were voices near. I stood waiting as stiff as a poker. +Some men were running along the beach, two others were coming +through the corn. They passed within a few feet of me on each +side. I heard them talking with much animation. They spoke of the +wreck. When they were well by me I faced about, watching them. +They went away in the timber, down to a rocky point, where I knew +the wreck was visible. + +They were no sooner out of sight than I pulled the stake and sabre, +and shoved the latter under my big coat. Then I lifted the beaver +and looked about me. There was not a soul in sight. From that +level plain the field ran far to a thick wood mounting over the +hill. I moved cautiously that way, for I was in the path of people +who would be coming to see the wreck. I got near the edge of the +distant wood, and hearing a noise, halted, and stuck my stake, and +drew my hands back in the sleeves, and stood like a scarecrow, +peering through my hat. Near me, in the woods, I could hear a +cracking of sticks and a low voice. Shortly two Irishmen stuck +their heads out of a bush. My heart gave a leap in me, for I saw +they were members of my troop. + +"Hello, there!" I called in a loud voice, It startled them. They +turned their heads to see where the voice came from, and stood +motionless. I pulled my stake and made for them on the run. I +should have known better, for the sight of me would have tried the +legs of the best trooper that ever sat in a saddle. As they told +me afterward, it was enough to make a lion yelp. + +"Holy Mother!" said one, as they broke through the bush, running +for their lives. I knew not their names, but I called them as +loudly as I dared. They went on, never slacking pace. It was a +bad go, for I was burning for news of D'ri and the rest of them. +Now I could hear some heavy animal bounding in the brush as if +their running had startled him. I went back to the corn for +another stand. Suddenly a horse came up near me, cropping the +brush. I saw he was one off the boat, for he had bridle and +saddle, a rein hanging in two strings, and was badly cut. My +friend! the sight of a horse did warm me to the toes. He got a +taste of the tender corn presently, and came toward me as he ate. +In a moment I jumped to the saddle, and he went away leaping like a +wild deer. He could not have been more frightened if I had dropped +on him out of the sky. I never saw such energy in flesh and blood +before. He took a mighty fright as my hand went to his withers, +but the other had a grip on the pommel, and I made the stirrups. I +leaned for the strings of the rein, but his neck was long, and I +could not reach them. Before I knew it we were tearing over the +hill at a merry pace, I can tell you. I was never so put to it for +the right thing to do, but I clung on. The big hat shook down upon +my collar. In all my life I never saw a hat so big. Through the +break in it I could see a farm-house. In a jiffy the horse had +cleared a fence, and was running, with the feet of terror, in a +dusty road. I grew angry at myself as we tore along--I knew not +why. It was a rage of discomfort, I fancy, for somehow, I never +felt so bound and cluttered, so up in the air and out of place in +my body. The sabre was working loose and hammering my knee; the +big hat was rubbing my nose, the straw chafing my chin. I had +something under my arm that would sway and whack the side of the +horse every leap he made. I bore upon it hard, as if it were the +jewel of my soul. I wondered why, and what it might be. In a +moment the big hole of my hat came into conjunction with my right +eye. On my word, it was the stake! How it came there I have never +known, but, for some reason, I held to it. I looked neither to +right nor left, but sat erect, one hand on the hilt of my sabre, +the other in the mane of my horse, knowing full well I was the most +hideous-looking creature in the world. If I had come to the gate +of heaven I believe St. Peter would have dropped his keys. The +straw worked up, and a great wad of it hung under my chin like a +bushy beard. I would have given anything for a sight of myself, +and laughed to think of it, although facing a deadly peril, as I +knew. But I was young and had no fear in me those days. Would +that a man could have his youth to his death-bed! It was a leap in +the dark, but I was ready to take my chances. + +Evidently I was nearing a village. Groups of men were in the shady +thoroughfare; children thronged the dooryards. There was every +sign of a holiday. As we neared them I caught my sabre under my +knee, and drew my hands into the long sleeves and waved them +wildly, whooping like an Indian. They ran back to the fences with +a start of fear. As I passed them they cheered loudly, waving +their hats and roaring with laughter. An old horse, standing +before an inn, broke his halter and crashed over a fence. A scared +dog ran for his life in front of me, yelping as he leaped over a +stone wall. Geese and turkeys flew in the air as I neared them. +The people had seemed to take me for some village youth on a +masquerade. We flashed into the open country before the sound of +cheering had died away. On we went over a long strip of hard soil, +between fields, and off in the shade of a thick forest. My horse +began to tire. I tried to calm him by gentle words, but I could +give him no confidence in me. He kept on, laboring hard and +breathing heavily, as if I were a ton's weight. We came to another +clearing and fields of corn. A little out of the woods, and near +the road, was a log house white-washed from earth to eaves. By the +gate my horse went down. I tumbled heavily in the road, and +turning, caught him by the bits. The big hat had shot off my head; +the straw had fallen away. A woman came running out of the open +door. She had bare feet, a plump and cheery face. + +"Tonnerre!" said she. "Qu'est ce que cela?" + +"My countrywoman," said I, in French, feeling in my under-trousers +for a bit of silver, and tossing it to her, "I am hungry." + +"And I have no food to sell," said she, tossing it back. "You +should know I am of France and not of England. Come, you shall +have enough, and for no price but the eating. You have a tired +horse. Take him to the stable, and I will make you a meal." + +I led my horse to the stable, scraped him of lather and dirt, gave +him a swallow of water, and took the same myself, for I had a +mighty thirst in me. When I came in, she had eggs and potatoes and +bacon over the fire, and was filling the tea-kettle. + +"On my soul," said she, frankly, "you are the oddest-looking man I +ever saw. Tell me, why do you carry the long club?" + +I looked down. There it was under my arm. It surprised me more +than anything I ever found myself doing. + +"Madame, it is because I am a fool," I said as I flung it out of +the door. + +"It is strange," said she. "Your clothes--they are not your own; +they are as if they were hung up to dry. And you have a sabre and +spurs." + +"Of that the less said the better," I answered, pulling out the +sabre. "Unless--unless, madame, you would like me to die young." + +"Mon Dieu!" she whispered. "A Yankee soldier?" + +"With good French blood in him," I added, "who was never so hungry +in all his life." + +I went out of the door as I spoke, and shoved my sabre under the +house. + +"I have a daughter on the other side of the lake," said she, +"married to a Yankee, and her husband is fighting the British with +the rest of you." + +"God help him!" said I. + +"Amen!" said she, bringing my food to the table. "The great +Napoleon he will teach them a lesson." + +She was a widow, as she told me, living there alone with two young +daughters who were off at a picnic in the near town. We were +talking quietly when a familiar voice brought me standing. + +"Judas Priest!" it said. D'ri stood in the doorway, hatless and +one boot missing--a sorry figure of a man. + +"Hidin' over 'n th' woods yender," he went on as I took his hand. +"See thet air brown hoss go by. Knew 'im soon es I sot eyes on +'im--use' t' ride 'im myself. Hed an idee 't wus you 'n the +saddle--sot s' kind o' easy. But them air joemightyful do's! +Jerushy Jane! would n't be fit t' skin a skunk in them do's, would +it?" + +"Got 'em off a scarecrow," I said. + +"'Nough t' mek a painter ketch 'is breath, they wus." + +The good woman bade him have a chair at the table, and brought more +food. + +"Neck 's broke with hunger, 't is sartin," said he, as he began to +eat. "Hev t' light out o' here purty middlin' soon. 'T ain' no +safe place t' be. 'T won' never dew fer us t' be ketched." + +We ate hurriedly, and when we had finished, the good woman gave us +each an outfit of apparel left by her dead husband. It was rather +snug for D'ri, and gave him an odd look. She went out of doors +while we were dressing. Suddenly she came back to the door. + +"Go into the cellar," she whispered. "They are coming!" + + + + +XII + +I found the door, and D'ri flung our "duds" into the darkness that +lay beyond it. Then he made down the ladder, and I after him. It +was pitch-dark in the cellar--a deep, dank place with a rank odor +of rotting potatoes. We groped our way to a corner, and stood +listening. We heard the tramp of horses in the dooryard and the +clinic of spurs on the stone step. + +"Ah, my good woman," said a man with a marked English accent, "have +you seen any Yankees? Woods are full of them around here. No? +Well, by Jove! you're a good-looking woman. Will you give me a +kiss?" He crossed the floor above us, and she was backing away. + +"Come, come, don't be so shy, my pretty woman," said he, and then +we could hear her struggling up and down the floor. I was climbing +the ladder, in the midst of it, my face burning with anger, and +D'ri was at my heels. As the door opened, I saw she had fallen. +The trooper was bending to kiss her. I had him by the collar and +had hauled him down before he discovered us. In a twinkling D'ri +had stripped him of sword and pistol. But it was one of the most +hopeless situations in all my life. Many muzzles were pointing at +us through the door and window. Another hostile move from either +would have ended our history then and there. I let go and stood +back. The man got to his feet--a handsome soldier in the full +uniform of a British captain. + +"Ah, there's a fine pair!" he said coolly, whipping a leg of his +trousers with his glove. "I 'll teach you better manners, my young +fellow. Some o' those shipwrecked Yankees," he added, turning to +his men. "If they move without an order, pin 'em up to the wall." + +He picked up his hat leisurely, stepping in front of D'ri. + +"Now, my obliging friend," said he, holding out his hand, "I'll +trouble you for my sword and pistol." + +D'ri glanced over at me, an ugly look in his eye. He would have +fought to his death then and there if I had given him the word. He +was game to the core when once his blood was up, the same old D'ri. + +[Illustration: "He would have fought to his death then and there if +I had given him the word."] + +"Don't fight," I said. + +He had cocked the pistol, and stood braced, the sword in his right +hand. I noticed a little quiver in the great sinews of his wrist. +I expected to see that point of steel shoot, with a quick stab, +into the scarlet blouse before me. + +"Shoot 'n' be damned!" said D'ri. "'Fore I die ye'll hev a hole er +tew 'n thet air karkiss o' yourn. Sha'n't give up no weepon till +ye've gin me yer word ye 'll let thet air woman alone." + +I expected a volley then. A very serious look came over the face +of the captain. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief. I could +see that he had been drinking. + +"Ah, I see! You have an interest in her. Well, my man, I want no +share in your treasures. I accept the condition." + +Evil as was the flavor of this poor concession, D'ri made the best +of it. + +"She's an honest woman for all I know," said he, handing over the +weapons. "Ain't a-goin' t' see no ledy mishused--nut ef I can help +it." + +We gave ourselves up hand and foot to the enemy; there was no way +out of it. I have read in the story-books how men of great nerve +and skill have slaughtered five to one, escaping with no great loss +of blood. Well, of a brave man I like to believe good things. My +own eyes have seen what has made me slow to doubt a story of +prowess that has even the merit of possibility. But when there are +only two of you, and one without arms, and you are in a corner, and +there are ten pistols pointing at you a few feet away, and as many +sabres ready to be drawn, I say no power less remarkable than that +of God or a novelist can bring you out of your difficulty. You +have your choice of two evils--surrender or be cut to pieces. We +had neither of us any longing to be slashed with steel and bored +with bullets, and to no end but a good epitaph. + +They searched the cellar and found our clothes, and wrapped them in +a bundle. Then they tied our hands behind us and took us along the +road on which I had lately ridden. A crowd came jeering to the +highway as we passed the little village. It was my great fear that +somebody would recognize either one or both of us. + +Four of our men were sitting in a guardhouse at the British camp. +After noon mess a teamster drove up with a big wagon. Guards came +and shackled us in pairs, D'ri being wrist to wrist with me. They +put a chain and ball on D'ri's leg also. I wondered why, for no +other was treated with like respect. Then they bundled us all +into the wagon, now surrounded by impatient cavalry. They put a +blindfold over the eyes of each prisoner, and went away at a lively +pace. We rode a long time, as it seemed to me, and by and by I +knew we had come to a city, for I could hear the passing of many +wagons and the murmur of a crowd. Some were shouting, "Shoot the +d--d Yankees!" and now and then a missile struck among us. There +is nothing so heartless and unthinking as a crowd, the world over. +I could tell presently, by the creak of the evener and the stroke +of the hoofs, that we were climbing a long hill. We stopped +shortly; then they began helping us out. They led us forward a few +paces, the chain rattling on a stone pavement. When we heard the +bang of an iron door behind us, they unlocked the heavy fetter. +This done, they led us along a gravel walk and over a sounding +stretch of boards,--a bridge, I have always thought,--through +another heavy door and down a winding flight of stone steps. They +led us on through dark passages, over stone paving, and halted us, +after a long walk, letting our eyes free. We were in black +darkness. There were two guards before and two behind us bearing +candles. They unshackled us, and opened a lattice door of heavy +iron, bidding us enter. I knew then that we were going into a +dungeon, deep under the walls of a British fort somewhere on the +frontier. A thought stung me as D'ri and I entered this black hole +and sat upon a heap of straw. Was this to be the end of our +fighting and of us? + +"You can have a candle a day," said a guard as he blew out the one +he carried, laying it, with a tinder-box, on a shelf in the wall of +rock beside me. Then they filed out, and the narrow door shut with +a loud bang. We peered through at the fading flicker of the +candles. They threw wavering, ghostly shadows on every wall of the +dark passage, and suddenly went out of sight. We both stood +listening a moment. + +"Curse the luck!" I whispered presently. + +"Jest as helpless es if we was hung up by the heels," said D'ri, +groping his way to the straw pile. "Ain' no use gittin' wrathy." + +"What 'll we do?" I whispered. + +"Dunno," said he; "an' when ye dunno whut t' dew, don' dew nuthin'. +Jest stan' still; thet's whut I b'lieve in." + +He lighted the candle, and went about, pouring its glow upon every +wall and into every crack and corner of our cell--a small chamber +set firm in masonry, with a ceiling so far above our heads we could +see it but dimly, the candle lifted arm's-length. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, as he stopped the light with thumb and +finger. "I 'm goin' t' set here 'n th' straw luk an ol' hen 'n' +ile up m' thinker 'n' set 'er goin'. One o' them kind hes t' keep +'is mouth shet er he can't never dew ho thinkin'. Bymby, like es +not, I 'll hev suthin' t1 say et 'll 'mount t' suthin'." + +We lay back on the straw in silence. I did a lot of thinking that +brought me little hope. Thoughts of Louison and Louise soon led me +out of prison. After a little time I went philandering in the +groves of the baroness with the two incomparable young ladies. I +would willingly have stood for another bullet if I could have had +another month of their company. The next thought of my troubles +came with the opening of the iron door. I had been sound asleep. +A guard came in with water and a pot of stewed beef and potatoes. + +"Thet air's all right," said D'ri, dipping into it with a spoon. + +We ate with a fine relish, the guard, a sullen, silent man with a +rough voice that came out of a bristling mustache, standing by the +door. + +"Luk a-here," said D'ri to the guard as we finished eating, "I want +t' ast you a question. Ef you hed a purty comf'table hum on +t'other side, 'n' few thousan' dollars 'n the bank, 'n' bosses 'n' +everything fixed fer a good time, 'n' all uv a sudden ye found +yerself 'n sech a gol-dum dungeon es this here, what 'u'd you dew?" + +The guard was fixing the wick of his candle, and made no answer. + +"Want ye t' think it all over," said D'ri. "See ef ye can't think +o' suthin' soothin' t' say. God knows we need it." + +The guard went away without answering. + +"Got him thinkin'," said D'ri, as he lighted the candle. "He can +help us some, mebbe. Would n't wonder ef he was good et cipherin'." + +"If he offered to take the two thousand, I don't see how we'd give +it to him," said I. "He would n't take our promise for it." + +"Thet ain' a-goin' t' bother us any," said D'ri. "Hed thet all +figgered out long ago." + +He gave me the candle and lay down, holding his ear close to the +stone floor and listening. Three times he shifted his ear from one +point to another. Then he beckoned to me. + +"Jest hol' yer ear there 'n' listen," he whispered. + +I gave him the candle, and with my ear to the floor I could hear +the flow of water below us. The sound went away in the distance +and then out of hearing. "After a while it came again. + +"What does it mean?" I asked. + +"Cipherin' a leetle over thet air," said he, as he made a long +scratch on the floor with his flint. Then he rubbed his chin, +looking down at it. "Hain' jest eggzac'ly med up my mind yit," he +added. + +We blew out the light and lay back, whispering. Then presently we +heard the coming of footsteps. Two men came to the door with a +candle, one being the guard we knew. + +"Come, young fellow," said the latter, as he unlocked the door and +beckoned to me; "they want you upstairs." + +We both got to our feet. + +"Not you," he growled, waving D'ri back. "Not ready fer you yet." + +He laid hold of my elbow and snapped a shackle on my wrist. Then +they led me out, closing the door with a bang that echoed in the +far reaches of the dark alley, and tied a thick cloth over my eyes. + +"Good luck!" D'ri cried out as they took me away. + +"For both," I answered as cheerfully as I could. + +They led me through winding passages and iron doors, with that +horrible clank of the prison latch, and up flights of stone till I +felt as lost as one might who falls whirling in the air from a +great height. We soon came out upon a walk of gravel, where I +could feel the sweet air blowing into my face. A few minutes more +and we halted, where the guard, who had hold of my elbow, rang a +bell. As the door swung open they led me in upon a soft carpet. +Through the cloth I could see a light. + +"Bring him in, bring him in!" a voice commanded impatiently--a +deep, heavy voice the sound of which I have not yet forgotten. The +guard was afraid of it. His hand trembled as he led me on. + +"Take off the blindfold," said that voice again. + +As it fell away, I found myself in a large and beautiful room. My +eyes were dazzled by the light of many candles, and for a little I +had to close them. I stood before two men. One sat facing me at a +black table of carved oak--a man of middle age, in the uniform of a +British general. Stout and handsome, with brown eyes, dark hair +and mustache now half white, and nose aquiline by the least turn, +he impressed me as have few men that ever crossed my path. A young +man sat lounging easily in a big chair beside him, his legs +crossed, his delicate fingers teasing a thin mustache. I noticed +that his hands were slim and hairy. He glanced up at me as soon as +I could bear the light. Then he sat looking idly at the carpet, + +The silence of the room was broken only by the scratch of a quill +in the hand of the general. I glanced about me. On the wall was a +large painting that held my eye: there was something familiar in +the face. I saw presently it was that of the officer I had fought +in the woods, the one who fell before me. I turned my head; the +young man was looking up at me. A smile had parted his lips. They +were the lips of a rake, it seemed to me. A fine set of teeth +showed between them. + +"Do you know him?" he asked coolly. + +"I have not the honor," was my reply. + +"What is your name?" the general demanded in the deep tone I had +heard before. + +"Pardon me," said the young man, quietly, as if he were now weary +of the matter, "I do not think it necessary." + +There was a bit of silence. The general looked thoughtfully at the +young man. + +"If your Lordship will let me--" he went on. + +"My dear sir," the other interrupted, in the same weary and +lethargic manner, "I can get more reliable knowledge from other +sources. Let the fellow go back." + +"That will do," said the general to the guard, who then covered my +eyes and led me back to prison. + +Lying there in the dark, I told D'ri all I knew of my mysterious +journey. My account of the young man roused him to the soul. + +"Wha' kind uv a nose hed he?" he inquired. + +"Roman," I said. + +"Bent in at the p'int a leetle?" + +"Yes." + +"And black hair shingled short?" + +"Yes." + +"An' tall, an' a kind uv a nasty, snookin', mis'able-lookin' cuss?" + +"Just about the look of him," I said. + +"Judas Priest! He's one o' them sneks et tuk me when you was +fightin' t' other feller over there 'n the woods." + +"Looks rather bad for us," I remarked. + +"Does hev a ruther squeaky luk tew it," said he. "All we got t' +dew is t' keep breathin' jest es nat'ral 'n' easy es can be till we +fergit how. May fool 'em fust they know." + +I had a high notion, those days, of the duty of a soldier. My +father had always told me there was no greater glory for anybody +than that of a brave death. Somehow the feeling got to be part of +me. While I had little fear of death, I dreaded to be shot like a +felon. But I should be dying for my country, and that feeling +seemed to light the shadows. When I fell asleep, after much worry, +it was to dream of my three countrymen who had fallen to their +faces there by the corn. I awoke to find the guard in our cell, +and D'ri and he whispering together. He had come with our +breakfast. + +"All I want," D'ri was saying, "is a piece of iron, with a sharp +end, half es long es yer arm." + +He made no answer, that big, sullen, bull-dog man who brought our +food to us. When he had gone, D'ri lay over and began laughing +under his breath. + +"His thinker's goin' luk a sawmill," he whispered. "Would n't +wonder ef it kep' 'im awake nights. He was askin' 'bout thet air +tew thousan' dollars. Ef they 'll let us alone fer three days, we +'ll be out o' here. Now, you mark my word." + +"How?" I inquired. + +"Jest a leetle job o' slidin' downhill," he said. "There's a big +drain-pipe goes under this cell--t' the river, prob'ly. He says +it's bigger 'n a barrel." + +We saved our candle that day, and walked up and down, from wall to +wall, for exercise. Our hopes were high when we heard footsteps, +but they fell suddenly, for, as we listened, we could hear the +tramp of a squad of men. They came to our cell, and took us +upstairs, blind-folded as before, to a bath-room, where the +uniforms, discarded the day of our capture, were waiting for us, +newly pressed. Our bath over, they directed us to put them on. +They gave us new hats, for our own had been lost the night of the +wreck, covered our eyes, and led us through many doors and alleys +into the open air. It was dark, I knew, for as we entered a +carriage I could see dimly the glow of a lantern hanging over the +wheel. The carriage went away swiftly on a level road. We sat +knee to knee, with two men facing us, and not a word was spoken. +We could hear hoofs falling, the rattle of bit and rein, the creak +of saddle-leather on each side of us. We must have gone a long +journey when the carriage halted. They pulled us out roughly and +led us up three steps and across a deep veranda. A bell rang, a +door swung open, a flood of light fell on us, filtering to our +eyes. Entering, we could feel a carpet under us, and took a dozen +paces or more before they bade us halt. We heard only the +low-spoken order and the soft tread of our feet. There was a dead +silence when they removed our fetters and unbound our eyes. We +were standing in a big and sumptuous drawing-room. A company of +gentlemen sat near us in arm-chairs; there were at least a score of +them. Round tables of old mahogany stood near, on which were +glasses and packs of cards and wine-bottles. The young man who sat +with the general and answered to "your Lordship" was approaching +me, hand extended. + +"Glad to see you; sit down," he said in the same quiet, languid, +forceful tone I had heard before. + +It was all very odd. The guards were gone; we were apparently as +free as any of them. + +"I shall try to make you comfortable," he remarked. A servant +began filling a row of glasses. "We have here wine and wit and all +the accessories, including women. I should introduce you, but I +have not the honor of your acquaintance. Let it suffice to say +these are my friends" (he turned to those who sat about), "and, +gentlemen, these are my enemies," he added, turning to us. "Let us +hope they may die happy." + +"And with a fighting chance," I added, lifting the glass without +tasting it. + +D'ri sat, his brows lifted, his hands in his pockets, his legs +crossed. He looked curiously from one to another. + +"Horton," said his Lordship, as he sat down, leaning lazily on the +arm of his chair, "will you have them bring down the prisoners?" + +The servant left the room. Some of the men were talking together +in low tones; they were mostly good-looking and well dressed. + +"Gentlemen," said his Lordship, rising suddenly, "I'm going to turn +you out of here for a moment--they're a shy lot. Won't you go into +the library?" + +They all rose and went out of a door save one, a bald man of middle +age, half tipsy, who begged of his "Ludship" the privilege of +remaining. + +"Sir Charles," said the young man, still lounging in his chair as +he spoke, in that cold, calm tone of his, "you annoy me. Go at +once!" and he went. + +They covered our faces with napkins of white linen. Then we heard +heavy steps, the clank of scabbards on a stairway, the feet of +ladies, and the swish of their gowns. With a quick movement our +faces were uncovered. I rose to my feet, for there before me stood +Louison and the Baroness de Ferre, between two guards, and, behind +them, Louise, her eyes covered, her beautiful head bent low. I +could see that she was crying. The truth came to me in a flash of +thought. They had been taken after we left; they were prisoners +brought here to identify us. A like quickness of perception had +apparently come to all. We four stood looking at one another with +no sign of recognition. My face may have shown the surprise and +horror in me, but shortly I had recovered my stony calm. The +ladies were dressed finely, with the taste and care I had so much +admired. Louison turned away from me with a splendid dignity and +stood looking up at the wall, her hands behind her, a toe of one +shoe tapping the floor impatiently. It was a picture to remember a +lifetime. I could feel my pulse quicken as I looked upon her. The +baroness stood, sober-faced, her eyes looking down, her fan moving +slowly. His Lordship rose and came to Louise. + +"Come, now, my pretty prisoner; it is disagreeable, but you must +forgive me," he said. + +[Illustration: "Come, now, my pretty prisoner; it is disagreeable, +but you must forgive me."] + +She turned away from him, drying her eyes. Then presently their +beauty shone upon me. + +"Grace au ciel!" she exclaimed, a great joy in her eyes and voice. +"It is M'sieur Bell. Sister--baroness--it is M'sieur Bell!" + +I advanced to meet her, and took her hand, kissing it reverently. +She covered her face, her hand upon my shoulder, and wept in +silence. If it meant my death, I should die thanking God I knew, +or thought I knew, that she loved me. + +"Ah, yes; it is M'sieur Bell--poor fellow!" said Louison, coming +quickly to me. "And you, my dear, you are Ma'm'selle Louise." + +She spoke quickly in French, as if quite out of patience with the +poor diplomacy of her sister. + +"I knew it was you, for I saw the emerald on your finger," she +added, turning to me, "but I could not tell her." + +"I am glad, I am delighted, that she spoke to me," I said. I +desired to save the fair girl, whose heart was ever as a child's, +any sorrow for what she had done. "I was about to speak myself. +It is so great a pleasure to see you all I could not longer endure +silence." + +"They made us prisoners; they bring us here. Oh, m'sieur, it is +terrible!" said the baroness. + +"And he is such a horrible-looking monkey!" said Louison. + +"Do they treat you well?" I asked. + +"We have a big room and enough to eat. It is not a bad prison, but +it is one terrible place," said the baroness. "There is a big +wall; we cannot go beyond it." + +"And that hairy thing! He is in love with Louise. He swears he +will never let us go," said Louison, in a whisper, as she came +close to me, "unless--unless she will marry him." + +"Ah! a tea-party," said his Lordship, coming toward us. "Pardon +the interruption. I have promised to return these men at nine. It +is now ten minutes of the hour. Ladies, I wish you all a very good +night." + +He bowed politely. They pressed my hand, leaving me with such +anxiety in their faces that I felt it more than my own peril, +Louison gave me a tender look out of her fine eyes, and the thought +of it was a light to my soul in many an hour of darkness. She had +seemed so cool, so nonchalant, I was surprised to feel the tremor +in her nerves. I knew not words to say when Louise took my hand. + +"Forgive me--good-by!" said she. + +It was a faint whisper out of trembling lips. I could see her soul +in her face then. It was lighted with trouble and a nobler beauty +than I had ever seen. It was full of tenderness and pity and +things I could not understand. + +"Have courage!" I called as they went away. + +I was never in such a fierce temper as when, after they had gone +above-stairs, I could hear one of them weeping. D'ri stood quietly +beside me, his arms folded. + +"Whut ye goin' t' dew with them air women?" he asked, turning to +the young man. + +"I beg you will give me time to consider," said his Lordship, +calmly, as he lighted a cigarette. + +There was a quick move in the big tower of bone and muscle beside +me. I laid hold of D'ri's elbow and bade him stop, or I fear his +Lordship's drawing-room, his Lordship, and ourselves would +presently have had some need of repair. Four guards who seemed to +be waiting in the hall entered hurriedly, the shackles in hand. + +"No haste," said his Lordship, more pleasantly than ever. "Stand +by and wait my orders." + +"D' ye wan' t' know whut I think o' you?" said D'ri, looking down +at him, his eyes opening wide, his brow wrinkling into long furrows. + +"I make a condition," said his Lordship: "do not flatter me." + +"Yer jest a low-lived, mis'able, wuthless pup," said D'ri, + +"Away with them!" said his Lordship, flicking the ashes off a +cigarette as he rose and walked hurriedly out of the room. + + + + +XIII + +The waiting guards laid hold of us in a twinkling, and others came +crowding the doors. They shackled our hands behind us, and covered +our eyes again. Dark misgivings of what was to come filled me, but +I bore all in silence. They shoved us roughly out of doors, and +there I could tell they were up to no child's play. A loud jeer +burst from the mouths of many as we came staggering out. I could +hear the voices of a crowd. They hurried us into a carriage. + +"We demand the prisoners!" a man shouted near me. + +Then I could hear them scuffling with the guards, who, I doubt not, +were doing their best to hold them back. In a moment I knew the +mob had possession of us and the soldiers were being hustled away. +D'ri sat shoulder to shoulder with me. I could feel his muscles +tighten; I could hear the cracking of his joints and the grinding +of the shackle-chain. "Judas Pr-r-i-e-st!" he grunted, straining +at the iron. Two men leaped into the carriage. There was a crack +of the whip, and the horses went off bounding. We could hear +horsemen all about us and wagons following. I had a stout heart in +me those days, but in all my life I had never taken a ride so +little to my liking. We went over rough roads, up hill and down, +for an hour or more. + +I could see in prospect no better destination than our graves, and, +indeed, I was not far wrong. Well, by and by we came to a town +somewhere--God knows where. I have never seen it, or known the +name of it, or even that of the prison where we were first immured. +I could tell it was a town by the rumble of the wheels and each +echoing hoof-beat. The cavalcade was all about us, and now and +then we could hear the sound of voices far behind. The procession +slowed up, horsemen jammed to the left of us, the carriage halted. +I could hear footsteps on a stone pavement. + +"You're late," said a low voice at the carriage door. "It's near +eleven." + +"Lot o' fooling with the candidates," said one of the horsemen, +quietly. "Everything ready?" + +"Everything ready," was the answer. + +The carriage door swung open. + +"We get out here," said one of the men who sat with us. + +I alighted. On each side of me somebody put his hand to my +shoulder. I could see the glow of a lantern-light close to my +face. I knew there was a crowd of men around, but I could hear +nothing save now and then a whisper. + +"Wall, Ray," said D'ri, who stood by my side, "hol' stiddy 'n' +don't be scairt." + +"Do as they tell ye," a stranger whispered in my ear. "No matter +what 't is, do as they tell ye." + +They led us into a long passage and up a steep flight of wooden +stairs. I have learned since then it was a building equipped by a +well-known secret society for its initiations.[1] We went on +through a narrow hall and up a winding night that seemed to me +interminable. Above it, as we stopped, the man who was leading me +rapped thrice upon a rattling wooden door. It broke the silence +with a loud echoing noise. I could hear then the sliding of a +panel and a faint whispering and the sound of many feet ascending +the stairs below. The door swung open presently, and we were led +in where I could see no sign of any light. They took me alone +across a wide bare floor, where they set me down upon some sort of +platform and left me, as I thought. Then I could hear the +whispered challenge at the door and one after another entering and +crossing the bare floor on tiptoe. Hundreds were coming in, it +seemed to me. Suddenly a deep silence fell in that dark place of +evil. The blindfold went whisking off my head as if a ghostly hand +had taken it. But all around me was the darkness of the pit. I +could see and I could hear nothing but a faint whisper, high above +me, like that of pine boughs moving softly in a light breeze. I +could feel the air upon my face. I thought I must have been moved +out of doors by some magic. It seemed as if I were sitting under +trees alone. Out of the black silence an icy hand fell suddenly +upon my brow. I flinched, feeling it move slowly downward over my +shoulder. I could hear no breathing, no rustle of garments near +me. In that dead silence I got a feeling that the hand touching me +had no body behind it. I was beyond the reach of fear--I was in a +way prepared for anything but the deep, heart-shaking horror that +sank under the cold, damp touch of those fingers. They laid hold +of my elbow firmly, lifting as if to indicate that I was to rise. +I did so, moving forward passively as it drew me on. To my +astonishment I was unable to hear my own footfall or that of my +conductor. I thought we were walking upon soft earth. Crossing +our path in front of me I could see, in the darkness, a gleaming +line. We moved slowly, standing still as our toes covered it. +Then suddenly a light flashed from before and below us. A cold +sweat came out upon me; I staggered back to strong hands that were +laid upon my shoulders, forcing me to the line again. By that +flash of light I could see that I was standing on the very brink of +some black abyss--indeed, my toes had crossed the edge of it. The +light came again, flickering and then settling into a steady glow. +The opening seemed to have a grassy bottom some ten feet below. In +front of me the soil bristled, on that lower level, with some black +and pointed plant: there was at least a score of them. As I +looked, I saw they were not plants, but a square of bayonets +thrust, points up, in the ground. A curse came out of my hot +mouth, and then a dozen voices mocked it, going fainter, like a +dying echo. I heard a whisper in my ear. A tall figure in a +winding-sheet, its face covered, was leaning over me. + +"To hesitate is to die," it whispered. "Courage may save you." + +Then a skeleton hand came out of the winding-sheet, pointing down +at the square of bristling bayonets. The figure put its mouth to +my ear. + +"Jump!" it whispered, and the bare bones of the dead fingers +stirred impatiently. + +Some seconds of a brief silence followed. I could hear them slowly +dripping out of eternity in the tick of a watch near me. I felt +the stare of many eyes invisible to me. A broad beam of bright +light shot through the gloom, resting full upon my face. I started +back upon the strong hands behind me. Then I felt my muscles +tighten as I began to measure the fall and to wonder if I could +clear the bayonets. I had no doubt I was to die shortly, and it +mattered not to me how, bound as I was, so that it came soon. For +a breath of silence my soul went up to the feet of God for help and +hope. Then I bent my knees and leaped, I saw much as my body went +rushing through the air--an empty grave its heap of earth beside +it, an island of light, walled with candles, in a sea of gloom, +faces showing dimly in the edge of the darkness, "Thank God! I +shall clear the bayonets," I thought, and struck heavily upon a +soft mat, covered over with green turf, a little beyond that +bristling bed. I staggered backward, falling upon it. To my +surprise, it bent beneath me. They were no bayonets, but only +shells of painted paper. I got to my feet none the worse for +jumping, and as dumfounded as ever a man could be. I stood on a +lot of broken turf with which a wide floor had been overlaid. +Boards and timbers were cut away, and the grave dug beneath them. +I saw one face among others in the gloom beyond the candle +rows--that of his Lordship. He was coming up a little flight of +stairs to where I stood. He moved the candles, making a small +passage, and came up to me. + +"You're a brave man," said he, in that low, careless tone of his. + +"And you a coward," was my answer, for the sight of him had made me +burn with anger. + +"Don't commit yourself on a point like that," said he, quickly, +"for, you know, we are not well acquainted. I like your pluck, and +I offer you what is given to few here--an explanation." + +He paused, lighting a cigarette. I stood looking at him. The cold +politeness of manner with which he had taken my taunt, his perfect +self-mastery, filled me with wonder. He was no callow youth, that +man, whoever he might be. He was boring at the floor with the end +of a limber cane as he continued to address me. + +"Now, look here," he went on, with a little gesture of his left +hand, between the fingers of which a cigarette was burning. "You +are now in the temple of a patriotic society acting with no letters +patent, but in the good cause of his Most Excellent Majesty King +George III, to whom be health and happiness." + +As he spoke the name he raised his hat, and a cheer came from all +sides of us. + +"It is gathered this night," he continued, "to avenge the death of +Lord Ronley, a friend of his Majesty, and of many here present, and +an honored member of this order. For his death you, and you alone, +are responsible, and, we suspect, under circumstances of no credit +to your sword. Many of our people have been cut off from their +comrades and slain by cowardly stealth, have been led into ambush +and cruelly cut to pieces by an overwhelming number, have been shut +in prison and done to death by starvation or by stabs of a knife +there in your country. Not content with the weapons of a soldier, +you have even resorted to the barbarity of the poison-wasp. Pardon +me, but you Yankees do not seem to have any mercy or fairness for a +foe. We shall give you better treatment. You shall not be killed +like a rat in a trap. You shall have a chance for your life. Had +you halted, had you been a coward, you would not have been worthy +to fight in this arena. You would not have come where you are +standing, and possibly even now your grave would have been filled. +If you survive the ordeal that is to come, I hope it will prove an +example to you of the honor that is due to bravery, of the fairness +due a foe." + +Many voices spoke the word "Amen" as he stopped, turning to beckon +into the gloom about us. I was now quite over my confusion. I +began to look about me and get my bearings. I could hear a stir in +the crowd beyond the lights, and a murmur of voices. Reflecting +lanterns from many pillars near by shot their rays upon me. I +stood on a platform, some thirty feet square, in the middle of a +large room. Its floor was on a level with the faces of the many +who stood pressing to the row of lights, Here, I took it, I was to +fight for my life, I was looking at the yawning grave in the corner +of this arena, when four men ascended with swords and pistols. One +of them removed the shackles, letting my hands free. I thanked him +as he tossed them aside. I was thinking of D'ri, and, shading my +eyes, looked off in the gloom to see if I could discover him. I +called his name, but heard no answer. His Lordship came over to +me, bringing a new sword. He held the glittering blade before me, +its hilt in his right hand, its point resting on the fingers of his +left. "It's good," said he, quietly; "try it." + +It was a beautiful weapon, its guard and pommel and quillons +sparkling with wrought-silver, its grip of yellow leather laced +with blue silk. The glow and the feel of it filled me with a joy I +had not known since my father gave me the sword of my childhood. +It drove the despair out of me, and I was a new man. I tried the +blade, its point upon my toe. It was good metal, and the grip +fitted me. + +"Well, how do you find it?" said he, impatiently. + +"I am satisfied," was my reply. + +He helped me take off my blouse and waistcoat, and then I rolled my +sleeves to the elbow. The hum of voices had grown louder. I could +hear men offering to bet and others bantering for odds. + +"We'll know soon," said a voice near me, "whether he could have +killed Ronley in a fair fight." + +I turned to look at those few in the arena. There were half a +dozen of them now, surrounding my adversary, a man taller than the +rest, with a heavy neck and brawny arms and shoulders. He had come +out of the crowd unobserved by me. He also was stripped to the +shirt, and had rolled up his sleeves, and was trying the steel. He +had a red, bristling mustache and overhanging brows and a vulgar +face--not that of a man who settles his quarrel with the sword. I +judged a club or a dagger would have been better suited to his +genius. But, among fighters, it is easy to be fooled by a face. +In a moment the others had gone save his Lordship and that portly +bald-headed man I had heard him rebuke as "Sir Charles." My +adversary met me at the centre of the arena, where we shook hands. +I could see, or thought I could, that he was entering upon a +business new to him, for there was in his manner an indication of +unsteady nerves. + +"Gentlemen, are you ready?" said his Lordship. + +But there are reasons why the story of what came after should be +none of my telling. I leave it to other and better eyes that were +not looking between flashes of steel, as mine were. And then one +has never a fair view of his own fights. + + +[1] The intrepid Fitzgibbon, the most daring leader on the Canadian +frontier those days, told me long afterward that he knew the +building--a tall frame structure on the high shore of a tributary +of the St. Lawrence. It was built on a side of the bluff and used +originally as a depot for corn, oats, rye, and potatoes, that came +down the river in bateaux. The slide was a slanting box through +which the sacks of grain were conveyed to sloops and schooners +below. It did not pay and was soon abandoned, whereupon it was +rented by the secret order referred to above. The slide bottom was +coated with lard and used for the hazing of candidates. A prize +fight on the platform was generally a feature of the entertainment. +A man was severely injured in a leap on the bayonets, after which +that feature of the initiation was said to have been abandoned. + + + + +XIV + +This is the story of Corporal Darius Olin, touching his adventure +in the Temple of the Avengers, at some unknown place in Upper +Canada, on the night of August 12, 1813, and particularly the +ordeals of the sword, the slide, and the bayonet to which Captain +Ramon Bell was subjected that night, as told to Adjutant Asarius +Church, at Sackett's Harbor, New York:-- + + +"Soon es I see whut wus up, I gin a powerful lift on thet air +shackle-chain. I felt 'er give 'n' bust. A couple o' men clim' +int' the seat front uv us, 'n' the hosses started hell bent. I sot +up with my hands 'hind uv me 'n the wagin. I kep' 'em there tight +'n' stiff, es ef the iron wus holdin' uv 'em. Could n't git no +chance t' say nuthin' t' Ray. Hustled us upstairs, 'n' when we +come in t' thet air big room they tuk him one way an' me 'nother. + +"Didn't hev no idee where I wus. Felt 'em run a chain through my +arms, careful, efter they sot me down. I sot still fer mebbe five +minutes. Seemed so ev'rybody'd gone out o' the place. Could n't +hear nuthin' nowhere. I le' down the chain jest es ca-areful es I +could, 'n' tuk off the blindfold. 'Twas all dark; could n't see my +hand afore me. Crep' 'long the floor. See 't was covered with +sawdust. Tuk off m' boots, 'n' got up on m' feet, 'n' walked +careful. Did n' dast holler t' Ray. Cal'lated when the squabble +come I 'd be ready t' dew business. All t' once I felt a slant 'n +the floor. 'T was kind o' slip'ry, 'n' I begun t' slide. Feet +went out from under me 'n' sot me down quick. Tried t' ketch holt +o' suthin'. Could n't hang on; kep' goin' faster. Fust I knew I +'d slid int' some kind uv a box. Let me down quicker 'n scat over +thet air grease a little ways. I out with my tew hands 'n' bore +ag'in' the sides o' th' box powerful 'n' stopped myself. Then I up +with these here feet o' mine. See the top o' the box wa'n't much +more 'n a foot above me. Tried t' crawl up ag'in. Couldn't mek +it. Dum thing slanted luk Tup's Hill. Hung on awhile, cipherin' +es hard es I knew how. Hearn suthin' go kerslap. Seem so the hull +place trembled. Raised up my head, 'n' peeked over my stumick down +the box. A bar o' light stuck in away down. Let myself go careful +till I c'u'd see my nose in it. Then I got over on my shoulder 'n' +braced on the sides o' the box, back 'g'in' one side 'n' knees +'g'in' t'other. See 't was a knot-hole where the light come in, +'bout es big es a man's wrist. Peeked through, 'n' see a lot o' +lights 'n' folks, 'n' hearn 'em talkin'. Ray he stud on a platform +facin' a big, powerful-lookin' cuss. Hed their coats 'n' vests +off, 'n' sleeves rolled up, 'n' swords ready. See there wus goin' +t' be a fight. Hed t' snicker--wa'n' no way I c'u'd help it, fer, +Judas Priest! I knew dum well they wa'n't a single one of them air +Britishers c'u'd stan' 'fore 'im. Thet air mis'able spindlin' +devil I tol' ye 'bout--feller et hed the women--he stud back o' +Ray. Hed his hand up luk thet. 'Fight!' he says, 'n' they got t' +work, 'n' the crowd begun t' jam up 'n' holler. The big feller he +come et Ray es ef he wus goin' t' cut him in tew. Ray he tuk it +easy 'n' rassled the sword of the big chap round 'n' round es ef it +wus tied t' hisn. Fust I knew he med a quick lunge 'n' pricked 'im +'n the arm. Big chap wus a leetle shy then. Did n't come up t' +the scratch es smart 'n' sassy es he'd orter. Ray he went efter +'im hammer 'n' tongs. Thet air long slim waist o' hisn swayed 'n' +bent luk a stalk o' barley. He did luk joemightyful han'some--wish +'t ye c'u'd 'a' seen 'im thet air night. Hair wus jest es shiny es +gold 'n the light o' them candles. He 'd feint, an' t' other 'd +dodge. Judas Priest! seemed so he put the p'int o' the sword all +over thet air big cuss. C'u'd 'a' killed 'im a dozen times, but I +see he did n't want t' dew it. Kep' prickin' 'im ev'ry lunge 'n' +druv 'im off the boards--tumbled 'im head over heels int' the +crowd. Them air devils threw up their hats 'n' stomped 'n' +hollered powerful, es ef 't were mighty fun t' see a man cut t' +pieces. Wall, they tuk up another man, quicker 'n the fust, but he +wa'n' nowhere near s' big 'n' cordy. Wa'n't only one crack o' the +swords in thet air fight. Could n't hardly say Jack Robinson 'fore +the cuss hed fell. Ray hurt him bad, I guess, for they hed t' pick +'im up 'n' carry 'im off luk a baby. Guess the boy see 't he hed a +good many to lick, 'n' hed n't better waste no power a-foolin'. +All t' once thet air low-lived, spindlin', mis'able devil he come +t' the edge o' the platform 'n' helt up his hand. Soon 's they +stopped yellin' he says; 'Gentlemen,' he says, 'sorry t' tell ye +thet the man fer the next bout hes got away. We left him securely +fastened up 'n the fust chamber. Have hed the building searched, +but ain't able t' find him. He must hev gone down the slide. I am +sorry to say we hev no more Yankees. If this man fights any more +it will hev t' be a Britisher thet goes ag'in' 'im. Is there a +volunteer?' + +"Ray he runs up 'n' says suthin' right 'n his ear. Could n't hear +whut 'twus. Did n' set well. T' other feller he flew mad, 'n' +Ray he fetched 'im a cuff, luk thet, with the back uv his hand. Ye +see, he did n' know he hed been a-fightin' Yankees, 'n' he did n' +like the idee. 'Gentlemen,' says he, 'I 'll fight anybody, but ef +this chap ain't a coward, he 'll fight me himself.' T'other feller +he off with his coat 'n' vest es quick es a flash 'n' picked up a +sword. 'Fight, then, ye cub!' says he; an' they flew at each other +hell bent fer 'lection. He wa'n' no fool with a sword, nuther, I +can tell ye, thet air spindlin' cuss. I see Ray hed his han's +full. But he wus jest es cool es a green cowcumber, eggzac'ly. +Kep' a-cuffin' t' other sword, 'n' let 'im hit 'n' lunge 'n' feint +es much es he pleased. See he wus jest a-gettin' his measure, 'n' +I knew suthin' wus goin' t' happen purty quick. Fust I knew he +ketched Ray by the shirtsleeve with the p'int uv 'is sword 'n' +ripped it t' the collar. Scairt me so I bit my tongue watchin' uv +'em. They got locked, 'n' both swords came up t' the hilts +t'gether with a swish 'n' a bang luk thet. The blades clung, 'n' +they backed off. Then Ray he begun t' feint 'n' lunge 'n' hustle +'im. Quicker 'n scat he gin 'im an awful prick 'n the shoulder. I +c'u'd see the blood come, but they kep' a-goin' back 'n' forth 'n' +up 'n' down desperit. The red streak on thet air feller's shirt +kep' a-growin'. Purty quick one side uv 'im wus red an' t' other +white. See he wus gettin' weaker 'n' weaker. Ray c'u'd 'a' +split 'im t' the navel ef he'd only hed a min' tew. All t' once he +med a jab at Ray, 'n' threw up 'is han's, 'n' went back a step er +tew, luk a boss with th' blin' staggers, 'n' tumbled head over +heels in thet air open grave. There wus hell t' pay fer a minute. +Lot on 'em clim' over the row o' lights, yellin' luk wildcats, 'n' +hauled thet air mis'able cuss out o' the grave, 'n' stud 'im up, +'n' gin 'im a drink o' liquor. In half a minute he up with his +han'kerchief 'n' waved it over 'is head t' mek 'em keep still. +Soon 's they wus quiet he up 'n' he says: 'Gentlemen,' says he, +'this 'ere chap hes stood the test o' the sword. Are ye +satisfied?' 'We are,' says they--ev'ry British son uv a gun they +wus there up 'n' hollered, 'Then,' says he, 'giv' 'im th' slide.' + +"Ray he put down 'is sword 'n' picked up 'is coat 'n' vest. Then +they grabbed th' lights, 'n' thet 's th' last I see on' em there. +Purty quick 'twus all dark. Hearn 'em comin' upstairs 'n goin' +'cross th' floor over my head. 'Gun t' think o' myself a leetle +bit then. Knowed I was in thet air slide, an' hed t' le' go purty +quick. Hed n't no idee where it went tew, but I cal'lated I wus +middlin' sure t' know 'fore long. Knowed when I le' go I wus goin' +t' dew some tall slippin' over thet air greased bottom. See a +light come down th' box 'n a minute. Hearn somebody speakin' there +et the upper end. + +"'This 'ere's th' las' test o' yer courage,' says a man, says he; +'few comes here alive 'n' sound es you be. Ye wus a doomed man. +Ye 'd hev been shot at daylight, but we gin ye a chance fer yer +life. So fur ye 've proved yerself wuthy. Ef ye hold yer courage, +ye may yit live. Ef ye flinch, ye 'll land in heaven. Ef yer life +is spared, remember how we honor courage.' + +"Then they gin 'im a shove, 'n' I hearn 'im a-comin'. I flopped +over 'n' le' go. Shot away luk a streak o' lightnin'. Dum thing +grew steeper 'n' steeper. Jes' hel' up my ban's 'n' let 'er go +lickitty split. Jerushy Jane Pepper! jes' luk comin' down a +greased pole. Come near tekin' my breath away--did sart'n. Went +out o' thet air thing luk a bullet eggzac'ly. Shot int' the air +feet foremust. Purty fair slidin' up in the air 'most anywheres, +ye know. Alwus come down by the nighest way. 'T was darker 'n +pitch; could n't see a thing, nut a thing. Hearn Ray come out o' +the box 'bove me. Then I come down k'slap in th' water 'n' sunk. +Thought I 'd never stop goin' down. 'Fore I come up I hearn Ray +rip int' th' water nigh me. I come up 'n' shook my head, 'n' +waited. Judas Priest! thought he wus drownded, sart'n. Seemed so +I 'd bust out 'n' cry there 'n th' water waitin' fer thet air boy. +Soon es I hearn a flop I hed my han's on 'im. + +"'Who be you?' says he. + +"'D'ri,' says I. + +"'Tired out,' says he; 'can't swim a stroke. Guess I 'll hev t' go +t' th' bottom.'" + + + + +XV + +D'ri's narrative was the talk of the garrison. Those who heard the +telling, as I did not, were fond of quoting its odd phrases, and of +describing how D'ri would thrust and parry with his jack-knife in +the story of the bouts. + +The mystery of that plunge into darkness and invisible water was a +trial to my nerves the like of which I had never suffered. After +they had pulled his Lordship out of the grave, and I knew there +would be no more fighting, I began to feel the strain he had put +upon me. He was not so strong as D'ri, but I had never stood +before a quicker man. His blade was as full of life and cunning as +a cat's paw, and he tired me. When I went under water I felt sure +it was all over, for I was sick and faint. I had been thinking of +D'ri in that quick descent. I wondered if he was the man who had +got away and gone down the slide. I was not the less amazed, +however, to feel his strong hand upon me as I came up. I knew +nothing for a time. D'ri has told me often how he bore me up in +rapid water until he came into an eddy where he could touch bottom. +There, presently, I got back my senses and stood leaning on his +broad shoulder awhile. A wind was blowing, and we could hear a +boat jumping in the ripples near by. We could see nothing, it was +so dark, but D'ri left me, feeling his way slowly, and soon found +the boat. He whistled to me, and I made my way to him. There were +oars in the bottom of the boat. D'ri helped me in, where I lay +back with a mighty sense of relief. Then he hauled in a rope and +anchor, and shoved off. The boat, overrunning the flow in a +moment, shot away rapidly. I could feel it take headway as we +clove the murmuring waters. D'ri set the oars and helped it on. I +lay awhile thinking of all the blood and horror in that black +night--like a dream of evil that leads through dim regions of +silence into the shadow of death. I thought of the hinted peril of +the slide that was to be the punishment of poor courage. + +D'ri had a plausible theory of the slide. He said that if we had +clung to the sides of it to break our speed we 'd have gone down +like a plummet and shattered our bones on a rocky shore. Coming +fast, our bodies leaped far into the air and fell to deep water. +How long I lay there thinking, as I rested, I have no satisfactory +notion. Louise and Louison came into my thoughts, and a plan of +rescue. A rush of cavalry and reeking swords, a dash for the +boats, with a flying horse under each fair lady, were in that +moving vision. But where should we find them? for I knew not the +name of that country out of which we had come by ways of darkness +and peril. The old query came to me, If I had to choose between +them, which should I take? There was as much of the old doubt in +me as ever. For a verity, I loved them both, and would die for +either. I opened my eyes at last, and, rising, my hands upon the +gunwales, could dimly see the great shoulders of D'ri swaying back +and forth as he rowed. The coming dawn had shot an arrow into the +great, black sphere of night, cracking it from circumference to +core, and floods of light shortly came pouring in, sweeping down +bridges of darkness, gates of gloom, and massy walls of shadow. We +were in the middle of a broad river--the St. Lawrence, we knew, +albeit the shores were unfamiliar to either of us. The sunlight +stuck in the ripples, and the breeze fanned them into flowing fire. +The morning lighted the green hills of my native land with a mighty +splendor. A new life and a great joy came to me as I filled my +lungs with the sweet air. D'ri pulled into a cove, and neither +could speak for a little. He turned, looking out upon the river, +and brushed a tear off his brown cheek. + +"No use talking" said he, in a low tone, as the bow hit the shore, +"ain' no country luk this 'un, don' care where ye go." + +As the oars lay still, we could hear in the far timber a call of +fife and drum. Listening, we heard the faint familiar strains of +"Yankee Doodle." We came ashore in silence, and I hugged the +nearest tree, and was not able to say the "Thank God!" that fell +from my lips only half spoken. + + + + +XVI + +We got our bearings, a pair of boots for D'ri, and a hearty meal in +the cabin of a settler. The good man was unfamiliar with the upper +shore, and we got no help in our mystery. Starting west, in the +woods, on our way to the Harbor, we stopped here and there to +listen, but heard only wood-thrush and partridge--the fife and drum +of nature. That other music had gone out of hearing. We had no +compass, but D'ri knew the forest as a crow knows the air. He knew +the language of the trees and the brooks. The feel of the bark and +what he called "the lean of the timber" told him which way was +south. River and stream had a way of telling him whence they had +come and where they were going, but he had no understanding of a +map. I remember, after we had come to the Harbor at dusk and told +our story, the general asked him to indicate our landing-place and +our journey home on a big map at headquarters. D'ri studied the +map a brief while. There was a look of embarrassment on his sober +face. + +"Seems so we come ashore 'bout here," said he, dropping the middle +finger of his right hand in the vicinity of Quebec. "Then we +travelled aw-a-a-ay hellwards over 'n this 'ere direction." With +that illuminating remark he had slid his finger over some two +hundred leagues of country from Quebec to Michigan. + +They met us with honest joy and no little surprise that evening as +we came into camp. Ten of our comrades had returned, but as for +ourselves, they thought us in for a long stay. We said little of +what we had gone through, outside the small office at headquarters, +but somehow it began to travel, passing quickly from mouth to +mouth, until it got to the newspapers and began to stir the tongue +of each raw recruit. General Brown was there that evening, and had +for me, as always, the warm heart of a father. He heard our report +with a kindly sympathy. + +Next morning I rode away to see the Comte de Chaumont at +Leraysville. I had my life, and a great reason to be thankful, but +there were lives dearer than my own to me, and they were yet in +peril. Those dear faces haunted me and filled my sleep with +trouble. I rode fast, reaching the chateau at luncheon time. The +count was reading in a rustic chair at the big gate. He came +running to me, his face red with excitement. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine!" he cried, my hand in both of his, "I +thought you were dead." + +"And so I have been--dead as a cat drowned in a well, that turns up +again as lively as ever. Any news of the baroness and the young +ladies?" + +"A letter," said he. "Come, get off your horse. I shall read to +you the letter." + +"Tell me--how were they taken?" + +I was leading my horse, and we were walking through the deep grove. + +"Eh bien, I am not able to tell," said he, shaking his head +soberly. "You remember that morning--well, I have twenty men there +for two days. They are armed, they surround the Hermitage, they +keep a good watch. The wasp he is very troublesome, but they see +no soldier. They stay, they burn the smudge. By and by I think +there is nothing to fear, and I bring them home, but I leave three +men. The baroness and the two girls and their servants they stay +awhile to pack the trunk. They are coming to the chateau. It is +in the evening; the coach is at the door; the servants have +started. Suddenly--the British! I do not know how many. They +come out of the woods like a lightning, and bang! bang! bang! they +have killed my men. They take the baroness and the Misses de +Lambert, and they drive away with them. The servants they hear the +shots, they return, they come, and they tell us. We follow. We +find the coach; it is in the road, by the north trail. Dieu! they +are all gone! We travel to the river, but--" here he lifted his +shoulders and shook his head dolefully--"we could do nothing." + +"The general may let me go after them with a force of cavalry," I +said. "I want you to come with me and talk to him." + +"No, no, my capitaine!" said he; "it would not be wise. We must +wait. We do not know where they are. I have friends in Canada; +they are doing their best, and when we hear from them--eh bien, we +shall know what is necessary." + +I told him how I had met them that night in Canada, and what came +of it. + +"They are a cruel people, the English," said he. "I am afraid to +find them will be a matter of great difficulty." + +"But the letter--" + +"Ah, the letter," he interrupted, feeling in his pocket. "The +letter is not much. It is from Tiptoes--from Louison. It was +mailed this side of the river at Morristown. You shall see; they +do not know where they are." + +He handed me the letter. I read it with an eagerness I could not +conceal. It went as follows:-- + + +"MY DEAR COUNT: If this letter reaches you, it will, I hope, +relieve your anxiety. We are alive and well, but where? I am sure +I have no better idea than if I were a baby just born. We came +here with our eyes covered after a long ride from the river, which +we crossed in the night. I think it must have taken us three days +to come here. We are shut up in a big house with high walls and +trees and gardens around it--a beautiful place. We have fine beds +and everything to eat, only we miss the bouillabaisse, and the +jokes of M. Pidgeon, and the fine old claret. A fat Englishwoman +who waddles around like a big goose and who calls me Mumm (as if I +were a wine-maker!) waits upon us. We do not know the name of our +host. He is a tall man who says little and has hair on his neck +and on the back of his hands. Dieu! he is a lord who talks as if +he were too lazy to breathe. It is 'Your Lordship this' and 'Your +Lordship that.' But I must speak well of him, because he is going +to read this letter: it is on that condition I am permitted to +write. Therefore I say he is a great and good man, a beautiful +man. The baroness and Louise send love to all. Madame says do not +worry; we shall come out all right: but I say _worry_! and, good +man, do not cease to worry until we are safe home. Tell the cure +he has something to do now. I have worn out my rosary, and am +losing faith. Tell him to try his. + + "Your affectionate + "LOUISON." + +"She is an odd girl," said the count, as I gave back the letter, +"so full of fun, so happy, so bright, so quick--always on her +tiptoes. Come, you are tired; you have ridden far in the dust. I +shall make you glad to be here." + +A groom took my horse, and the count led me down a wooded slope to +the lakeside. Octagonal water-houses, painted white, lay floating +at anchor near us. He rowed me to one of them for a bath. Inside +was a rug and a table and soap and linen. A broad panel on a side +of the floor came up as I pulled a cord, showing water clear and +luminous to the sandy lake-bottom. The glow of the noonday filled +the lake to its shores, and in a moment I clove the sunlit +depths--a rare delight after my long, hot ride. + +At luncheon we talked of the war, and he made much complaint of the +Northern army, as did everybody those days. + +"My boy," said he, "you should join Perry on the second lake. It +is your only chance to fight, to win glory." + +He told me then of the impending battle and of Perry's great need +of men. I had read of the sea-fighting and longed for a part in +it. To climb on hostile decks and fight hand to hand was a thing +to my fancy. Ah, well! I was young then. At the count's table +that day I determined to go, if I could get leave. + +Therese and a young Parisienne, her friend, were at luncheon with +us. They bade us adieu and went away for a gallop as we took +cigars. We had no sooner left the dining room than I called for my +horse. Due at the Harbor that evening, I could give myself no +longer to the fine hospitality of the count. In a few moments I +was bounding over the road, now cool in deep forest shadows. A +little way on I overtook Therese and the Parisienne. The former +called to me as I passed. I drew rein, coming back and stopping +beside her. The other went on at a walk. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine, have you any news of them--of Louise and +Louison?" she inquired. "You and my father were so busy talking I +could not ask you before." + +"I know this only: they are in captivity somewhere, I cannot tell +where." + +"You look worried, M'sieur le Capitaine; you have not the happy +face, the merry look, any longer. In June you were a boy, in +August--voila! it is a man! Perhaps you are preparing for the +ministry." + +She assumed a solemn look, glancing up at me as if in mockery of my +sober face. She was a slim, fine brunette, who, as I knew, had +long been a confidante of Louison. + +"Alas! ma'm'selle, I am worried. I have no longer any peace." + +"Do you miss them?" she inquired, a knowing look in her handsome +eyes. "Do not think me impertinent." + +"More than I miss my mother," I said. + +"I have a letter," said she, smiling. "I do not know--I thought I +should show it to you, but--but not to-day." + +"Is it from them?" + +"It is from Louison--from Tiptoes." + +"And--and it speaks of me?" + +"Ah, m'sieur," said she, arching her brows, "it has indeed much to +say of you." + +"And--and may I not see it?" I asked eagerly. "Ma'm'selle, I tell +you I--I must see it." + +"Why?" She stirred the mane of her horse with a red riding-whip. + +"Why not?" I inquired, my heart beating fast. + +"If I knew--if I were justified--you know I am her friend. I know +all her secrets." + +"Will you not be my friend also?" I interrupted. + +"A friend of Louison, he is mine," said she. + +"Ah, ma'm'selle, then I confess to you--it is because I love her." + +"I knew it; I am no fool," was her answer. "But I had to hear it +from you. It is a remarkable thing to do, but they are in such +peril. I think you ought to know." + +She took the letter from her bosom, passing it to my hand. A faint +odor of violets came with it. It read:-- + + +"MY DEAR THERESE: I wish I could see you, if only for an hour. I +have so much to say. I have written your father of our prison +home. I am going to write you of my troubles. You know what we +were talking about the last time I saw you--myself and that +handsome fellow. Mon Dieu! I shall not name him. It is not +necessary. Well, you were right, my dear. I was a fool; I laughed +at your warning; I did not know the meaning of that delicious pain. +But oh, my dear friend, it has become a terrible thing since I know +I may never see him again. My heart is breaking with it. Mere de +Dieu! I can no longer laugh or jest or pretend to be happy. What +shall I say? That I had rather die than live without him? No; +that is not enough. I had rather be an old maid and live only with +the thought of _him_ than marry another, if he were a king. I +remember those words of yours, 'I know he loves you.' Oh, my dear +Therese, what a comfort they are to me now! I repeat them often. +If _I_ could only say, 'I know'! Alas! I can but say, 'I do not +know,' nay, even, 'I do not believe.' If I had not been a fool I +should have made him tell me, for I had him over his ears in love +with me one day, or I am no judge of a man. But, you know, they +are so fickle! And then the Yankee girls are pretty and so clever. +Well, they shall not have him if I can help it. When I return +there shall be war, if necessary, between France and America. +And, Therese, you know I have weapons, and you have done me the +honor to say I know how to use them. I have told Louise, and--what +do you think?--the poor thing cried an hour--for pity of me! As +ever, she makes my trouble her own. I have been selfish always, +but I know the cure. It is love--toujours l'amour. Now I think +only of him, and he recalls you and your sweet words. God make you +a true prophet! With love to you and the marquis, I kiss each +line, praying for happiness for you and for him. Believe me as +ever, + + "Your affectionate + "LOUISON. + +"P.S. I feel better now I have told you. I wonder what his +Lordship will say. Poor thing! he will read this; he will think me +a fool. Eh bien, I have no better thought of him. He can put me +under lock and key, but he shall not imprison my secrets; and, if +they bore him, he should not read my letters. L." + + +I read it thrice, and held it for a moment to my lips. Every word +stung me with the sweet pain that afflicted its author. I could +feel my cheeks burning. + +"Ma'm'selle, pardon me; it is not I she refers to. She does not +say whom." + +"Surely," said Therese, flirting her whip and lifting her +shoulders. "M'sieur Le Capitaine is never a stupid man. You--you +should say something very nice now." + +"If it is I--thank God! Her misery is my delight, her liberation +my one purpose." + +"And my congratulations," said she, giving me her hand. "She has +wit and beauty, a true heart, a great fortune, and--good luck in +having your love." + +I raised my hat, blushing to the roots of my hair. + +"It is a pretty compliment," I said. "And--and I have no gift of +speech to thank you. I am not a match for you except in my love of +kindness and--and of Louison. You have made me happier than I have +been before." + +"If I have made you alert, ingenious, determined, I am content," +was her answer. "I know you have courage." + +"And will to use it." + +"Good luck and adieu!" said she, with a fine flourish of her whip; +those people had always a pretty politeness of manner. + +"Adieu," I said, lifting my hat as I rode off, with a prick of the +spur, for the road was long and I had lost quite half an hour. + +My elation gave way to sober thought presently. I began to think +of Louise--that quiet, frank, noble, beautiful, great-hearted girl, +who might be suffering what trouble I knew not, and all silently, +there in her prison home. A sadness grew in me, and then suddenly +I saw the shadow of great trouble. I loved them both; I knew not +which I loved the better. Yet this interview had almost committed +me to Louison. + + + + +XVII + +Orders came shortly from the War Department providing a detail to +go and help man the guns of Perry at Put-in Bay. I had the honor +of leading them on the journey and turning them over to the young +Captain. I could not bear to be lying idle at the garrison. A +thought of those in captivity was with me night and day, but I +could do nothing for them. I had had a friendly talk with General +Brown. He invited and received my confidence touching the tender +solicitude I was unable to cover. I laid before him the plan of an +expedition. He smiled, puffing a cigar thoughtfully. + +"Reckless folly, Bell," said he, after a moment. "You are young +and lucky. If you were flung in the broad water there with a +millstone tied to your neck, I should not be surprised to see you +turn up again. My young friend, to start off with no destination +but Canada is too much even for you. We have no men to waste. +Wait; a rusting sabre is better than a hole in the heart. There +will be good work for you in a few days, I hope." + +And there was--the job of which I have spoken, that came to me +through his kind offices. We set sail in a schooner one bright +morning,--D'ri and I and thirty others,--bound for Two-Mile Creek. +Horses were waiting for us there. We mounted them, and made the +long journey overland--a ride through wood and swale on a road worn +by the wagons of the emigrant, who, even then, was pushing westward +to the fertile valleys of Ohio. It was hard travelling, but that +was the heyday of my youth, and the bird music, and the many voices +of a waning summer in field and forest, were somehow in harmony +with the great song of my heart. In the middle of the afternoon of +September 6, we came to the Bay, and pulled up at headquarters, a +two-story frame building on a high shore. There were wooded +islands in the offing, and between them we could see the +fleet--nine vessels, big and little. + +I turned over the men, who were taken to the ships immediately and +put under drill. Surgeon Usher of the _Lawrence_ and a young +midshipman rowed me to Gibraltar Island, well out in the harbor, +where the surgeon presented me to Perry--a tall, shapely man, with +dark hair and eyes, and ears hidden by heavy tufts of beard. He +stood on a rocky point high above the water, a glass to his eye, +looking seaward. His youth surprised me: he was then twenty-eight. +I had read much of him and was looking for an older man. He +received me kindly: he had a fine dignity and gentle manners. +Somewhere he had read of that scrape of mine--the last one there +among the Avengers. He gave my hand a squeeze and my sword a +compliment I have not yet forgotten, assuring me of his pleasure +that I was to be with him awhile. The greeting over, we rowed away +to the _Lawrence_. She was chopping lazily at anchor in a light +breeze, her sails loose. Her crew cheered their commander as we +came under the frowning guns. + +"They 're tired of waiting," said he; "they 're looking for +business when I come aboard." + +He showed me over the clean decks: it was all as clean as a Puritan +parlor. + +"Captain," said he, "tie yourself to that big bow gun. It's the +modern sling of David, only its pebble is big as a rock. Learn how +to handle it, and you may take a fling at the British some day." + +He put D'ri in my squad, as I requested, leaving me with the +gunners. I went to work at once, and knew shortly how to handle +the big machine. D'ri and I convinced the captain with no +difficulty that we were fit for a fight so soon as it might come. + +It came sooner than we expected. The cry of "Sail ho!" woke me +early one morning. It was the 10th of September. The enemy was +coming. Sails were sticking out of the misty dawn a few miles +away. In a moment our decks were black and noisy with the hundred +and two that manned the vessel. It was every hand to rope and +windlass then. Sails went up with a snap all around us, and the +creak of blocks sounded far and near. In twelve minutes we were +under way, leading the van to battle. The sun came up, lighting +the great towers of canvas. Every vessel was now feeling for the +wind, some with oars and sweeps to aid them. A light breeze came +out of the southwest. Perry stood near me, his hat in his hand. +He was looking back at the Niagara. + +"Run to the leeward of the islands," said he to the sailing-master. + +"Then you 'll have to fight to the leeward," said the latter. + +"Don't care, so long as we fight," said Perry. "Windward or +leeward, we want to fight." + +Then came the signal to change our course. The wind shifting to +the southeast, we were all able to clear the islands and keep the +weather-gage. A cloud came over the sun; far away the mist +thickened. The enemy wallowed to the topsails, and went out of +sight. We had lost the wind. Our sails went limp; flag and +pennant hung lifeless. A light rain drizzled down, breaking the +smooth plane of water into crowding rings and bubbles. Perry stood +out in the drizzle as we lay waiting. All eyes were turning to the +sky and to Perry. He had a look of worry and disgust. He was out +for a quarrel, though the surgeon said he was in more need of +physic, having the fever of malaria as well as that of war. He +stood there, tall and handsome, in a loose jacket of blue nankeen, +with no sign of weakness in him, his eyes flashing as he looked up +at the sky. + +D'ri and I stood in the squad at the bow gun. D'ri was wearing an +old straw hat; his flannel shirt was open at the collar. + +"Ship stan's luk an ol' cow chawin' 'er cud," said he, looking off +at the weather. "They's a win' comin' over there. It 'll give 'er +a slap 'n th' side purty soon, mebbe. Then she 'll switch 'er tail +'n' go on 'bout 'er business." + +In a moment we heard a roaring cheer back amidships. Perry had +come up the companionway with his blue battle-flag. He held it +before him at arm's-length. I could see a part of its legend, in +white letters, "Don't give up the ship." + +"My brave lads," he shouted, "shall we hoist it?" + +Our "Ay, ay, sir!" could have been heard a mile away, and the flag +rose, above tossing hats and howling voices, to the mainroyal +masthead. + +The wind came; we could hear the sails snap and stiffen as it +overhauled the fleet behind us. In a jiffy it bunted our own hull +and canvas, and again we began to plough the water. It grew into a +smart breeze, and scattered the fleet of clouds that hovered over +us. The rain passed; sunlight sparkled on the rippling plane of +water. We could now see the enemy; he had hove to, and was waiting +for us in a line. A crowd was gathering on the high shores we had +left to see the battle. We were well in advance, crowding our +canvas in a good breeze. I could hear only the roaring furrows of +water on each side of the prow. Every man of us held his tongue, +mentally trimming ship, as they say, for whatever might come. +Three men scuffed by, sanding the decks. D'ri was leaning placidly +over the big gun. He looked off at the white line, squinted +knowingly, and spat over the bulwarks. Then he straightened up, +tilting his hat to his right ear. + +"They 're p'intin' their guns," said a swabber. + +"Fust they know they'll git spit on," said D'ri, calmly. + +Well, for two hours it was all creeping and talking under the +breath, and here and there an oath as some nervous chap tightened +the ropes of his resolution. Then suddenly, as we swung about, a +murmur went up and down the deck. We could see with our naked eyes +the men who were to give us battle. Perry shouted sternly to some +gunners who thought it high time to fire. Then word came: there +would be no firing until we got close. Little gusts of music came +chasing over the water faint-footed to our decks--a band playing +"Rule Britannia." I was looking at a brig in the line of the enemy +when a bolt of fire leaped out of her and thick belches of smoke +rushed to her topsails. Then something hit the sea near by a great +hissing slap, and we turned quickly to see chunks of the shattered +lake surface fly up in nets of spray and fall roaring on our deck. +We were all drenched there at the bow gun. I remember some of +those water-drops had the sting of hard-flung pebbles, but we only +bent our heads, waiting eagerly for the word to fire. + +"We was th' ones 'at got spit on," said a gunner, looking at D'ri. + +"Wish they'd let us holler back," said the latter, placidly. "Sick +o' holdin' in." + +We kept fanning down upon the enemy, now little more than a mile +away, signalling the fleet to follow. + +"My God! see there!" a gunner shouted. + +The British line had turned into a reeling, whirling ridge of smoke +lifting over spurts of flame at the bottom. We knew what was +coming. Untried in the perils of shot and shell, some of my +gunners stooped to cover under the bulwarks. + +"Pull 'em out o' there," I called, turning to D'ri, who stood +beside me. + +The storm of iron hit us. A heavy ball crashed into the after +bulwarks, tearing them away and slamming over gun and carriage, +that slid a space, grinding the gunners under it. One end of a +bowline whipped over us; a jib dropped; a brace fell crawling over +my shoulders like a big snake; the foremast went into splinters a +few feet above the deck, its top falling over, its canvas sagging +in great folds. It was all the work of a second. That hasty +flight of iron, coming out of the air, thick as a flock of pigeons, +had gone through hull and rigging in a wink of the eye. And a fine +mess it had made. + +Men lay scattered along the deck, bleeding, yelling, struggling. +There were two lying near us with blood spurting out of their +necks. One rose upon a knee, choking horribly, shaken with the +last throes of his flooded heart, and reeled over. The _Scorpion_ +of our fleet had got her guns in action; the little _Ariel_ was +also firing. D'ri leaned over, shouting in my ear. + +"Don't like th' way they 're whalin' uv us," he said, his cheeks +red with anger. + +"Nor I," was my answer. + +"Don't like t' stan' here an' dew nuthin' but git licked," he went +on. "'T ain' no way nat'ral." + +Perry came hurrying forward. + +"Fire!" he commanded, with a quick gesture, and we began to warm up +our big twenty-pounder there in the bow. But the deadly scuds of +iron kept flying over and upon our deck, bursting into awful +showers of bolt and chain and spike and hammerheads. We saw +shortly that our brig was badly out of gear. She began to drift to +leeward, and being unable to aim at the enemy, we could make no use +of the bow gun. Every brace and bowline cut away, her canvas torn +to rags, her hull shot through, and half her men dead or wounded, +she was, indeed, a sorry sight. The _Niagara_ went by on the safe +side of us, heedless of our plight. Perry stood near, cursing as +he looked off at her. Two of my gunners had been hurt by bursting +canister. D'ri and I picked them up, and made for the cockpit. +D'ri's man kept howling and kicking. As we hurried over the bloody +deck, there came a mighty crash beside us and a burst of old iron +that tumbled me to my knees. + +A cloud of smoke covered us. I felt the man I bore struggle and +then go limp in my arms; I felt my knees getting warm and wet. The +smoke rose; the tall, herculean back of D'ri was just ahead of me. +His sleeve had been ripped away from shoulder to elbow, and a spray +of blood from his upper arm was flying back upon me. His hat crown +had been torn off, and there was a big rent in his trousers, but he +kept going, I saw my man had been killed in my arms by a piece of +chain, buried to its last link in his breast. I was so confused by +the shock of it all that I had not the sense to lay him down, but +followed D'ri to the cockpit. He stumbled on the stairs, falling +heavily with his burden. Then I dropped my poor gunner and helped +them carry D'ri to a table, where they bade me lie down beside him. + +"It is no time for jesting," said I, with some dignity. + +"My dear fellow," the surgeon answered, "your wound is no jest. +You are not fit for duty." + +I looked down at the big hole in my trousers and the cut in my +thigh, of which I had known nothing until then. I had no sooner +seen it and the blood than I saw that I also was in some need of +repair, and lay down with a quick sense of faintness. My wound was +no pretty thing to see, but was of little consequence, a missile +having torn the surface only. I was able to help Surgeon Usher as +he caught the severed veins and bathed the bloody strands of muscle +in D'ri's arm, while another dressed my thigh. That room was full +of the wounded, some lying on the floor, some standing, some +stretched upon cots and tables. Every moment they were crowding +down the companionway with others. The cannonading was now so +close and heavy that it gave me an ache in the ears, but above its +quaking thunder I could hear the shrill cries of men sinking to +hasty death in the grip of pain. The brig was in sore distress, +her timbers creaking, snapping, quivering, like one being beaten to +death, his bones cracking, his muscles pulping under heavy blows. +We were above water-line there in the cockpit; we could feel her +flinch and stagger. On her side there came suddenly a crushing +blow, as if some great hammer, swung far in the sky, had come down +upon her. I could hear the split and break of heavy timbers; I +could see splinters flying over me in a rush of smoke, and the legs +of a man go bumping on the beams above. Then came another crash of +timbers on the port side. I leaped off the table and ran, limping, +to the deck, I do not know why; I was driven by some quick and +irresistible impulse. I was near out of my head, anyway, with the +rage of battle in me and no chance to fight. Well, suddenly, I +found myself stumbling, with drawn sabre, over heaps of the hurt +and dead there on our reeking deck. It was a horrible place: +everything tipped over, man and gun and mast and bulwark. The air +was full of smoke, but near me I could see a topsail of the enemy. +Balls were now plunging in the water alongside, the spray drenching +our deck. Some poor man lying low among the dead caught me by the +boot-leg with an appealing gesture. I took hold of his collar, +dragging him to the cockpit. The surgeon had just finished with +D'ri. His arm was now in sling and bandages. He was lying on his +back, the good arm over his face. There was a lull in the +cannonading. I went quickly to his side. + +"How are you feeling?" I asked, giving his hand a good grip. + +"Nuthin' t' brag uv," he answered. "Never see nobody git hell rose +with 'em s' quick es we did--never." + +Just then we heard the voice of Perry. He stood on the stairs +calling into the cockpit. + +"Can any wounded man below there pull a rope?" he shouted. + +D'ri was on his feet in a jiffy, and we were both clambering to the +deck as another scud of junk went over us. Perry was trying, with +block and tackle, to mount a carronade. A handful of men were +helping him, D'ri rushed to the ropes, I following, and we both +pulled with a will. A sailor who had been hit in the legs hobbled +up, asking for room on the rope. I told him he could be of no use, +but he spat an oath, and pointing at my leg, which was now +bleeding, swore he was sounder than I, and put up his fists to +prove it. I have seen no better show of pluck in all my fighting, +nor any that ever gave me a greater pride of my own people and my +country. War is a great evil, I begin to think, but there is +nothing finer than the sight of a man who, forgetting himself, +rushes into the shadow of death for the sake of something that is +better. At every heave on the rope our blood came out of us, until +a ball shattered a pulley, and the gun fell. Perry had then a +fierce look, but his words were cool, his manner dauntless. He +peered through lifting clouds of smoke at our line. He stood near +me, and his head was bare. He crossed the littered deck, his +battle-flag and broad pennant that an orderly had brought him +trailing from his shoulder. He halted by a boat swung at the +davits on the port side--the only one that had not gone to +splinters. There he called a crew about him, and all got quickly +aboard the boat--seven besides the younger brother of Captain Perry +--and lowered it. Word flew that he was leaving to take command of +the sister brig, the _Niagara_, which lay off a quarter of a mile +or so from where we stood. We all wished to go, but he would have +only sound men; there were not a dozen on the ship who had all +their blood in them. As they pulled away, Perry standing in the +stern, D'ri lifted a bloody, tattered flag, and leaning from the +bulwarks, shook it over them, cheering loudly. + +"Give 'em hell!" he shouted. "We 'll tek care o' the ol' brig." + +[Illustration: "D'ri, shaking a bloody, tattered flag, shouted, 'We +'ll tek care o' the ol' brig.'"] + +We were all crying, we poor devils that were left behind. One, a +mere boy, stood near me swinging his hat above his head, cheering. +Hat and hand fell to the deck as I turned to him. He was reeling, +when D'ri caught him quickly with his good arm and bore him to the +cockpit. + +The little boat was barely a length off when heavy shot fell +splashing in her wake. Soon they were dropping all around her. +One crossed her bow, ripping a long furrow in the sea. A chip flew +off her stern; a lift of splinters from an oar scattered behind +her. Plunging missiles marked her course with a plait of foam, but +she rode on bravely. We saw her groping under the smoke clouds; we +saw her nearing the other brig, and were all on tiptoe. The air +cleared a little, and we could see them ship oars and go up the +side. Then we set our blood dripping with cheers again, we who +were wounded there on the deck of the _Lawrence_. Lieutenant +Yarnell ordered her one flag down. As it sank fluttering, we +groaned. Our dismay went quickly from man to man. Presently we +could hear the cries of the wounded there below. A man came +staggering out of the cockpit, and fell to his hands and knees, +creeping toward us and protesting fiercely, the blood dripping from +his mouth between curses. + +"Another shot would sink her," Yarnell shouted. + +"Let 'er sink, d--n 'er," said D'ri. "Wish t' God I c'u'd put my +foot through 'er bottom. When the flag goes down I wan't' go tew." + +The British turned their guns; we were no longer in the smoky paths +of thundering canister. The _Niagara_ was now under fire. We +could see the dogs of war rushing at her in leashes of flame and +smoke. Our little gun-boats, urged by oar and sweep, were +hastening to the battle front. We could see their men, waist-high +above bulwarks, firing as they came. The _Detroit_ and the _Queen +Charlotte_, two heavy brigs of the British line, had run afoul of +each other. The _Niagara_, signalling for close action, bore down +upon them. Crossing the bow of one ship and the stern of the +other, she raked them with broadsides. We saw braces fly and masts +fall in the volley. The _Niagara_ sheered off, pouring shoals of +metal on a British schooner, stripping her bare. Our little boats +had come up, and were boring into the brigs. In a brief time--it +was then near three o'clock--a white flag, at the end of a +boarding-pike, fluttered over a British deck. D'ri, who had been +sitting awhile, was now up and cheering as he waved his crownless +hat. He had lent his flag, and, in the flurry, some one dropped it +overboard. D'ri saw it fall, and before we could stop him he had +leaped into the sea. I hastened to his help, tossing a rope's end +as he came up, swimming with one arm, the flag in his teeth. I +towed him to the landing-stair and helped him over. Leaning on my +shoulder, he shook out the tattered flag, its white laced with his +own blood. + +"Ready t' jump in hell fer thet ol' rag any day," said he, as we +all cheered him. + +Each grabbed a tatter of the good flag, pressing hard upon D'ri, +and put it to his lips and kissed it proudly. Then we marched up +and down, D'ri waving it above us--a bloody squad as ever walked, +shouting loudly. D'ri had begun to weaken with loss of blood, so I +coaxed him to go below with me. + +The battle was over; a Yankee band was playing near by. + +"Perry is coming! Perry is coming!" we heard them shouting above. + +A feeble cry that had in it pride and joy and inextinguishable +devotion passed many a fevered lip in the cockpit. + +There were those near who had won a better peace, and they lay as a +man that listens to what were now the merest vanity. + +Perry came, when the sun was low, with a number of British +officers, and received their surrender on his own bloody deck. I +remember, as they stood by the ruined bulwarks and looked down upon +tokens of wreck and slaughter, a dog began howling dismally in the +cockpit. + + + + +XVIII + +It was a lucky and a stubborn sea-fight. More blood to the number +I never saw than fell on the _Lawrence_, eighty-three of our +hundred and two men having been killed or laid up for repair. One +has to search a bit for record of a more wicked fire. But we +deserve not all the glory some histories have bestowed, for we had +a larger fleet and better, if fewer, guns. It was, however, a +thing to be proud of, that victory of the young captain. Our men, +of whom many were raw recruits,--farmers and woodsmen,--stood to +their work with splendid valor, and, for us in the North, it came +near being decisive. D'ri and I were so put out of business that +no part of the glory was ours, albeit we were praised in orders for +valor under fire. But for both I say we had never less pride of +ourselves in any affair we had had to do with. Well, as I have +said before, we were ever at our best with a sabre, and big guns +were out of our line. + +We went into hospital awhile, D'ri having caught cold and gone out +of his head with fever. We had need of a spell on our backs, for +what with all our steeplechasing over yawning graves--that is the +way I always think of it--we were somewhat out of breath. No news +had reached me of the count or the young ladies, and I took some +worry to bed with me, but was up in a week and ready for more +trouble, I had to sit with D'ri awhile before he could mount a +horse. + +September was nearing its last day when we got off a brig at the +Harbor. We were no sooner at the dock than some one began to tell +us of a new plan for the invasion of Canada. I knew Brown had had +no part in it, for he said in my hearing once that it was too big a +chunk to bite off. + +There were letters from the count and Therese, his daughter. They +had news for me, and would I not ride over as soon as I had +returned? My mother--dearest and best of mothers--had written me, +and her tenderness cut me like a sword for the way I had neglected +her. Well, it is ever so with a young man whose heart has found a +new queen. I took the missive with wet eyes to our good +farmer-general of the North. He read it, and spoke with feeling of +his own mother gone to her long rest. + +"Bell," said he, "you are worn out. After mess in the morning +mount your horses, you and the corporal, and go and visit them. +Report here for duty on October 16." + +Then, as ever after a kindness, he renewed his quid of tobacco, +turning quickly to the littered desk at headquarters. + +We mounted our own horses a fine, frosty morning. The white earth +glimmered in the first touch of sunlight. All the fairy lanterns +of the frost king, hanging in the stubble and the dead grass, +glowed a brief time, flickered faintly, and went out. Then the +brown sward lay bare, save in the shadows of rock or hill or forest +that were still white. A great glory had fallen over the +far-reaching woods. Looking down a long valley, we could see +towers of evergreen, terraces of red and brown, golden +steeple-tops, gilded domes minareted with lavender and purple and +draped with scarlet banners. It seemed as if the trees were +shriving after all the green riot of summer, and making ready for +sackcloth and ashes. Some stood trembling, and as if drenched in +their own blood. Now and then a head was bare and bent, and naked +arms were lifted high, as if to implore mercy. + +"Fine air," said I, breathing deep as we rode on slowly. + +"'T is sart'n," said D'ri. "Mother used t' say 'at the frost wus +only the breath o' angels, an' when it melted it gin us a leetle o' +the air o' heaven." + +Of earth or heaven, it quickened us all with a new life. The +horses fretted for their heads, and went off at a gallop, needing +no cluck or spur. We pulled up at the chateau well before the +luncheon hour. D'ri took the horses, and I was shown to the +library, where the count came shortly, to give me hearty welcome. + +"And what of the captives?" I inquired, our greeting over. + +"Alas! it is terrible; they have not returned," said he, "and I am +in great trouble, for I have not written to France of their peril. +Dieu! I hoped they would be soon released. They are well and now +we have good news. Eh bien, we hope to see them soon. But of that +Therese shall tell you. And you have had a terrible time on Lake +Erie?" + +He had read of the battle, but wanted my view of it. I told the +story of the _Lawrence_ and Perry; of what D'ri and I had hoped to +do, and of what had been done to us. My account of D'ri--his droll +comment, his valor, his misfortune--touched and tickled the count. +He laughed, he clapped his hands, he shed tears of enthusiasm; then +he rang a bell, + +"The M'sieur D'ri--bring him here," said he to a servant. + +D'ri came soon with a worried look, his trousers caught on his +boot-tops, an old felt hat in his hand. Somehow he and his hat +were as king and coronal in their mutual fitness; if he lost one, +he swapped for another of about the same shade and shape. His +brows were lifted, his eyes wide with watchful timidity. The +count had opened a leather case and taken out of it a shiny disk of +silver. He stepped to D'ri, and fastened it upon his waistcoat. + +"'Pour la valeur eprouvee--de l'Empereur,'" said he, reading the +inscription as he clapped him on the shoulder. "It was given to a +soldier for bravery at Austerlitz by the great Napoleon," said he. +"And, God rest him! the soldier he died of his wounds. And to me +he have left the medal in trust for some man, the most brave, +intrepid, honorable. M'sieur D'ri, I have the pleasure to put it +where it belong." + +D'ri shifted his weight, looking down at the medal and blushing +like a boy. + +"Much obleeged," he said presently. "Dunno but mebbe I better put +it 'n my wallet. 'Fraid I 'll lose it off o' there." + +He threw at me a glance of inquiry. + +"No," said I, "do not bury your honors in a wallet." + +He bowed stiffly, and, as he looked down at the medal, went away, +spurs clattering. + +Therese came in presently, her face full of vivacity and color. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine," said she, "we are going for a little ride, +the marquis and I. Will you come with us? You shall have the best +horse in the stable." + +"And you my best thanks for the honor," I said. + +Our horses came up presently, and we all made off at a quick +gallop. The forest avenues were now aglow and filled with hazy +sunlight as with a flood, through which yellow leaves were slowly +sinking. Our horses went to their fetlocks in a golden drift. The +marquis rode on at a rapid pace, but soon Therese pulled rein, I +keeping abreast of her. + +In a moment our horses were walking quietly. + +"You have news for me, ma'm'selle?" I remarked. + +"Indeed, I have much news," said she, as always, in French. "I was +afraid you were not coming in time, m'sieur." + +She took a dainty letter from her bosom, passing it to me. + +My old passion flashed up as I took the perfumed sheets. I felt my +heart quicken, my face burn with it. I was to have good news at +last of those I loved better than my life, those I had not +forgotten a moment in all the peril of war. + +I saw the handwriting of Louison and then a vision of her--the +large eyes, the supple, splendid figure, the queenly bearing. It +read;-- + + +"MY DEAR THERESE: At last they promise to return us to you on the +12th of October. You are to send two men for us--not more--to the +head of Eagle Island, off Ste. Roche, in the St. Lawrence, with +canoes, at ten o'clock in the evening of that day. They will find +a lantern hanging on a tree at the place we are to meet them. We +may be delayed a little, but they are to wait for us there. And, +as you love me, see that one is my brave captain--I do not care +about the other who comes. First of all I wish to see my emperor, +my love, the tall, handsome, and gallant youngster who has won me. +What a finish for this odd romance if he only comes! And then I do +wish to see you, the count, and the others. I read your note with +such a pleasure! You are sure that he loves me? And that he does +not know that I love him? I do not wish him to know, to suspect, +until he has asked me to be his queen--until he has a right to +know. Once he has my secret. Love is robbed of his best treasure. +Mon Dieu! I wish to tell him myself, sometime, if he ever has the +courage to take command of me. I warn you, Therese, if I think he +knows--when I see him--I shall be cruel to him; I shall make him +hate me. So you see I will not be cheated of my wooing, and I know +you would not endanger my life's happiness. I have written a +little song--for him. Well, some day I shall sing it to him, and +will he not be glad to know I could do it? Here are the first +lines to give you the idea:-- + + My emperor! my emperor! + Thy face is fair to see; + Thy house is old, thy heart is gold, + Oh, take command of me! + + O emperor! my emperor! + Thy sceptre is of God; + Through all my days I'll sing thy praise, + And tremble at thy nod. + +But, dear Therese, you ought to hear the music; I have quite +surprised myself. Indeed, love is a grand thing; it has made me +nobler and stronger. They really say I am not selfish any more. +But I am weary of waiting here, and so eager to get home. You are +in love, and you have been through this counting of the hours. We +are very comfortable here, and they let us go and come as we like +inside the high walls. I have told you there is a big, big grove +and garden. + +"We saw nothing of 'his Lordship' for weeks until three days ago, +when they brought him here wounded. That is the reason we could +not send you a letter before now. You know he has to see them all +and arrange for their delivery. Well, he sent for Louise that day +he came. She went to him badly frightened, poor thing! as, indeed, +we all were. He lay in bed helpless, and wept when he saw her. +She came back crying, and would not tell what he had said. I do +think he loves her very dearly, and somehow we are all beginning to +think better of him. Surely no one could be more courteous and +gallant. Louise went to help nurse him yesterday, dear, sweet +little mother! Then he told her the good news of our coming +release, where your men would meet us, and all as I have written. +He is up in his chair to-day, the maid tells me. I joked Louise +about him this morning, and she began to cry at once, and said her +heart was not hers to give. The sly thing! I wonder whom she +loves; but she would say no more, and has had a long face all day. +She is so stubborn! I have sworn I will never tell her another of +my secrets. You are to answer quickly, sending your note by +courier to the Indian dockman at Elizabethport, addressed Robin +Adair, Box 40, St. Hiliere, Canada. And the love of all to all. +Adieu. + + "Your loving + "LOUISON. + +"P.S. Can you tell me, is the captain of noble birth? I have +never had any doubt of it, he is so splendid." + + +It filled me with a great happiness and a bitter pang. I was never +in such a conflict of emotion. + +"Well," said Therese, "do you see my trouble? Having shown you the +first letter, I had also to show you the second. I fear I have +done wrong. My soul--" + +"Be blessed for the good tidings," I interrupted. + +"Thanks. I was going to say it accuses me. Louison is a proud +girl; she must never know. She can never know unless--" + +"You tell her," said I, quickly. "And of course you will." + +"What do you mean?" she asked. + +"That every secret that must not be told is the same as published +if--if--" + +"If _what_?" + +"If--if it tells a pretty story with some love in it," I said, with +a quick sense of caution. "Ah, ma'm'selle, do I not know what has +made your lips so red?" + +"What may it be?" + +"The attrition of many secrets--burning secrets," I said, laughing. + +"Mordieu! what charming impudence!" said she, her large eyes +glowing thoughtfully, with some look of surprise. "You do not know +me, m'sieur. I have kept many secrets and know the trick." + +"Ah, then I shall ask of you a great favor," said I--"that you keep +my secret also, that you do not tell her of my love." + +She wheeled her horse with a merry peal of laughter, hiding her +face, now red as her glove. + +"It is too late," said she, "I have written her." + +We rode on, laughing. In spite of the serious character of her +words, I fell a-quaking from crown to stirrup. I was now engaged +to Louison, or as good as that, and, being a man of honor, I must +think no more of her sister. + +"I wrote her of your confession," said she, "for I knew it would +make her so happy; but, you know, I did not tell of--of the +circumstances." + +"Well, it will make it all the easier for me," I said. +"Ma'm'selle, I assure you--I am not sorry." + +"And, my friend, you are lucky: she is so magnificent." + +"Her face will be a study when I tell her." + +"The splendor of it!" said she. + +"And the surprise," I added, laughing. + +"Ah, m'sieur, she will play her part well. She is clever. That +moment when the true love comes and claims her it is the sweetest +in a woman's life." + +A thought came flying through my brain with the sting of an arrow. + +"She must not be deceived. I have not any noble blood in me. I am +only the son of a soldier-farmer, and have my fortune to make," +said I, quickly. + +"That is only a little folly," she answered, laughing. "Whether +you be rich or poor, prince or peasant, she cares not a snap of her +finger. Ciel! is she not a republican, has she not money enough?" + +"Nevertheless, I beg you to say, in your letter, that I have +nothing but my sword and my honor." + +As we rode along I noted in my book the place and time we were to +meet the captives. The marquis joined us at the Hermitage, where a +stable-boy watered our horses. Three servants were still there, +the others being now in the count's service. + +If any place give me a day's happiness it is dear to me, and the +where I find love is forever sacred. I like to stand where I stood +thinking of it, and there I see that those dear moments are as much +a part of me as of history. So while Therese and the marquis got +off their horses for a little parley with the gardener, I cantered +up the north trail to where I sat awhile that delightful summer day +with Louise. The grotto had now a lattice roofing of bare +branches. Leaves, as red as her blush, as golden as my memories, +came rattling through it, falling with a faint rustle. The big +woods were as a gloomy and deserted mansion, with the lonely cry of +the wind above and a ghostly rustle within where had been love and +song and laughter and all delight. + + + + +XIX + +D'ri and I left the chateau that afternoon, putting up in the red +tavern at Morristown about dusk. + +My companion rode away proudly, the medal dangling at his waistcoat +lapel. + +"Jerushy Jane!" said he, presently, as he pulled rein. "Ain't +a-goin' t' hev thet floppin' there so--meks me feel luk a bird. +Don't seem nohow nat'ral. Wha' d' ye s'pose he gin me thet air +thing fer?" + +He was putting it away carefully in his wallet. + +"As a token of respect for your bravery," said I. + +His laughter roared in the still woods, making my horse lift and +snort a little. It was never an easy job to break any horse to +D'ri's laughter. + +"It's _reedic'lous_," said he, thoughtfully, in a moment. + +"Why?" + +"'Cause fer the reason why they don't no man deserve nuthin' fer +doin' what he 'd orter," he answered, with a serious and determined +look. + +"You did well," said I, "and deserve anything you can get." + +"Done my damdest!" said he. "But I did n't do nuthin' but git +licked. Got shot an' tore an' slammed all over thet air deck, an' +could n't do no harm t' nobody. Jes luk a boss tied 'n the stall, +an' a lot o' men whalin' 'im, an' a lot more tryin' t' scare 'im t' +death." + +"Wha' d' ye s'pose thet air thing's made uv?" he inquired after a +little silence. + +"Silver," said I. + +"Pure silver?" + +"Undoubtedly," was my answer. + +"Judas Priest!" said he, taking out his wallet again, to look at +the trophy. "Thet air mus' be wuth suthin'." + +"More than a year's salary," said I. + +He looked up at me with a sharp whistle of surprise. + +"Ain' no great hand fer sech flummydiddles," said he, as he put the +medal away. + +"It's a badge of honor," said I. "It shows you 're a brave man." + +"Got 'nough on 'em," said D'ri. "This 'ere rip 'n the forehead's +'bout all the badge I need." + +"It's from the emperor--the great Napoleon," I said. "It's a mark +of his pleasure." + +"Wall, by Judas Priest!" said D'ri, "I would n't jump over a stump +over a stun wall t' please no emp'ror, an' I would n't cut off my +leetle finger fer a hull bushel basket o' them air. I hain't +a-fightin' fer no honor." + +"What then?" said I. + +His face turned very sober. He pursed his lips, and spat across +the ditch; then he gave his mouth a wipe, and glanced thoughtfully +at the sky. + +"Fer liberty," said he, with decision. "Same thing my father died +fer." + +Not to this day have I forgotten it, the answer of old D'ri, or the +look of him as he spoke. I was only a reckless youth fighting for +the love of peril and adventure, and with too little thought of the +high purposes of my country. The causes of the war were familiar +to me; that proclamation of Mr. Madison had been discussed freely +in our home, and I had felt some share in the indignation of D'ri +and my father. This feeling had not been allayed by the bloody +scenes in which I had had a part. Now I began to feel the great +passion of the people, and was put to shame for a moment. + +"Liberty--that is a grand thing to fight for," said I, after a +brief pause. + +"Swap my blood any time fer thet air," said D'ri. "I can fight +sassy, but not fer no king but God A'mighty. Don't pay t' git all +tore up less it's fer suthin' purty middlin' vallyble. My life +ain't wuth much, but, ye see, I hain't nuthin' else." + +We rode awhile in sober thought, hearing only a sough of the wind +above and the rustling hoof-beat of our horses in the rich harvest +of the autumn woods. We were walking slowly over a stretch of bare +moss when, at a sharp turn, we came suddenly in sight of a huge +bear that sat facing us. I drew my pistol as we pulled rein, +firing quickly. The bear ran away into the brush as I fired +another shot. + +"He 's hit," said D'ri, leaping off and bidding me hold the bit. +Then, with a long stride, he ran after the fleeing bear. I had +been waiting near half an hour when D'ri came back slowly, with a +downhearted look. + +"'Tain' no use," said he. "Can't never git thet bear. He's got a +flesh-wound high up in his hin' quarters, an' he's travellin' fast." + +He took a fresh chew of tobacco and mounted his horse. + +"Terrible pity!" he exclaimed, shaking his head with some trace of +lingering sorrow. "Ray," said he, soberly, after a little silence, +"when ye see a bear lookin' your way, ef ye want 'im, alwus shute +at the end thet's _toward_ ye." + +There was no better bear-hunter in the north woods than D'ri, and +to lose a bear was, for him, no light affliction. + +"Can't never break a bear's neck by shutin' 'im in the hin' +quarters," he remarked. + +I made no answer. + +"Might jest es well spit 'n 'is face," he added presently; "jest +eggzac'ly." + +This apt and forceful advice calmed a lingering sense of duty, and +he rode on awhile in silence. The woods were glooming in the +early dusk when he spoke again. Something revived his contempt of +my education. He had been trailing after me, and suddenly I felt +his knee. + +"Tell ye this, Ray," said he, in a kindly tone. "Ef ye wan' t' git +a bear, got t' mux 'im up a leetle for'ard--right up 'n the +neighborhood uv 'is fo'c's'le. Don't dew no good t' shute 'is +hams. Might es well try t' choke 'im t' death by pinchin' 'is +tail." + +We were out in the open. Roofs and smoking chimneys were +silhouetted on the sky, and, halfway up a hill, we could see the +candle-lights of the red tavern. There, in the bar, before blazing +logs in a great fireplace, for the evening had come chilly, a table +was laid for us, and we sat down with hearty happiness to tankards +of old ale and a smoking haunch. I have never drunk or eaten with +a better relish. There were half a dozen or so sitting about the +bar, and all ears were for news of the army and all hands for our +help. If we asked for more potatoes or ale, half of them rose to +proclaim it. Between pipes of Virginia tobacco, and old sledge, +and songs of love and daring, we had a memorable night. When we +went to our room, near twelve o'clock, I told D'ri of our dear +friends, who, all day, had been much in my thought. + +"Wus the letter writ by her?" he inquired. + +"Not a doubt of it." + +"Then it's all right," said he. "A likely pair o' gals them +air--no mistake." + +"But I think they made me miss the bear," I answered. + +"Ray," said D'ri, soberly, "when yer shutin' a bear, ef ye want +'im, don't never think o' nuthin' but the bear." Then, after a +moment's pause, he added: "Won't never hev no luck killin' a bear +ef ye don' quit dwellin' so on them air gals." + +I thanked him, with a smile, and asked if he knew Eagle Island. + +"Be'n all over it half a dozen times," said he. "'T ain' no more +'n twenty rod from the Yankee shore, thet air island ain't. We +c'u'd paddle there in a day from our cove." + +And that was the way we planned to go,--by canoe from our +landing,--and wait for the hour at Paleyville, a Yankee village +opposite the island. We would hire a team there, and convey the +party by wagon to Leraysville. + +We were off at daybreak, and going over the hills at a lively +gallop. Crossing to Caraway Pike, in the Cedar Meadows, an hour +later, we stampeded a lot of moose. One of them, a great bull, ran +ahead of us, roaring with fright, his antlers rattling upon bush +and bough, his black bell hanging to the fern-tops. + +"Don' never wan't' hev no argyment with one o' them air chaps 'less +ye know purty nigh how 't's comin' out," said D'ri. "Alwus want a +gun es well es a purty middlin' ca-a-areful aim on your side. Then +ye 're apt t' need a tree, tew, 'fore ye git through with it." +After a moment's pause he added: "Got t' be a joemightyful stout +tree, er he 'll shake ye out uv it luk a ripe apple." + +"They always have the negative side of the question," I said. +"Don't believe they 'd ever chase a man if he 'd let 'em alone." + +"Yis, siree, they would," was D'ri's answer. "I 've hed 'em come +right efter me 'fore ever I c'u'd lift a gun. Ye see, they're jest +es cur'us 'bout a man es a man is 'bout them. Ef they can't smell +'im, they 're terrible cur'us. Jes' wan' t' see what 's inside uv +'im an' what kind uv a smellin' critter he is. Dunno es they wan' +t' dew 'im any pertic'lar harm. Jes' wan' t' mux 'im over a +leetle; but they dew it _awful careless_, an' he ain't never fit t' +be seen no more." + +He snickered faintly as he spoke. + +"An' they don't nobody see much uv 'im efter thet, nuther," he +added, with a smile. + +"I 'member once a big bull tried t' find out the kind o' works I +hed in me. 'T wa'n' no moose--jest a common ord'nary +three-year-ol' bull." + +"Hurt you?" I queried. + +"No; 't hurt 'im." said he, soberly. "Sp'ilt 'im, es ye might say. +Could n't never bear the sight uv a man efter thet. Seem so he did +n't think he wus fit t' be seen. Nobody c'u'd ever git 'n a mild +o' th' poor cuss. Hed t' be shot." + +"What happened?" + +"Hed a stout club 'n my hand," said he. "Got holt uv 'is tail, an' +begun a-whalin' uv 'im. Run 'im down a steep hill, an' passin' a +tree, I tuk one side an' he t' other. We parted there fer the las' +time." + +He looked off at the sky a moment. + +Then came his inevitable addendum, which was: "I hed a dam sight +more tail 'an he did, thet 's sartin." + +About ten o'clock we came in sight of our old home. Then we +hurried our horses, and came up to the door with a rush. A +stranger met us there. + +"Are you Captain Bell?" said he, as I got off my horse. + +I nodded. + +"I am one of your father's tenants," he went on. "Ride over the +ridge yonder about half a mile, and you will see his house." I +looked at D'ri and he at me. He had grown pale suddenly, and I +felt my own surprise turning into alarm. + +"Are they well?" I queried. + +"Very well, and looking for you," said he, smiling. + +We were up in our saddles, dashing out of the yard in a jiffy. +Beyond the ridge a wide mile of smooth country sloped to the river +margin. Just off the road a great house lay long and low in fair +acres. Its gables were red-roofed, its walls of graystone half +hidden by lofty hedges of cedar. We stopped our horses, looking +off to the distant woods on each side of us. + +"Can't be," said D'ri, soberly, his eyes squinting in the sunlight. + +"Wonder where they live," I remarked. + +"All looks mighty cur'us," said he. "'Tain' no way nat'ral." + +"Let's go in there and ask," I suggested. + +We turned in at the big gate and rode silently over a driveway of +smooth gravel to the door. In a moment I heard my father's hearty +hello, and then my mother came out in a better gown than ever I had +seen her wear. I was out of the saddle and she in my arms before a +word was spoken. My father, hardy old Yankee, scolded the stamping +horse, while I knew well he was only upbraiding his own weakness. + +"Come, Ray; come, Darius," said my mother, as she wiped her eyes; +"I will show you the new house." + +A man took the horses, and we all followed her into the splendid +hall, while I was filled with wonder and a mighty longing for the +old home. + + + + +XX + +It was a fine house--that in which I spent many happy years back in +my young manhood. Not, indeed, so elegant and so large as this +where I am now writing, but comfortable. To me, then, it had an +atmosphere of romance and some look of grandeur. Well, in those +days I had neither a sated eye, nor gout, nor judgment of good +wine. It was I who gave it the name of Fairacres that day when, +coming out of the war, we felt its peace and comfort for the first +time, and, dumfounded with surprise, heard my mother tell the story +of it. + +"My grandfather," said she, "was the Chevalier Ramon Ducet de +Trouville, a brave and gallant man who, for no good reason, +disinherited my father. The property went to my uncle, the only +other child of the chevalier, and he, as I have told you, wrote +many kind letters to me, and sent each year a small gift of money. +Well, he died before the war,--it was in March,--and, having no +children, left half his fortune to me. You, Ramon, will remember +that long before you went away to the war a stranger came to see me +one day--a stout man, with white hair and dark eyes. Do you not +remember? Well, I did not tell you then, because I was unable to +believe, that he came to bring the good news. But he came again +after you left us, and brought me money--a draft on account. For +us it was a very large sum, indeed. You know we have always been +so poor, and we knew that when the war was over there would be more +and a-plenty coming. So, what were we to do? 'We will build a +home,' said I; 'we will enjoy life as much as possible. We will +surprise Ramon. When he returns from the war he shall see it, and +be very happy.' The architect came with the builders, and, voila! +the house is ready, and you are here, and after so long it is +better than a fortune to see you. I thought you would never come." + +She covered her face a moment, while my father rose abruptly and +left the room. I kissed the dear hands that long since had given +to heavy toil their beauty and shapeliness. + +But enough of this, for, after all, it is neither here nor there. +Quick and unexpected fortune came to many a pioneer, as it came to +my mother, by inheritance, as one may see if he look only at the +records of one court of claims--that of the British. + +"Before long you may wish to marry," said my mother, as she looked +up at me proudly, "and you will not be ashamed to bring your wife +here." + +I vowed, then and there, I should make my own fortune,--I had +Yankee enough in me for that,--but, as will be seen, the wealth of +heart and purse my mother had, helped in the shaping of my destiny. +In spite of my feeling, I know it began quickly to hasten the +life-currents that bore me on. And I say, in tender remembrance of +those very dear to me, I had never a more delightful time than when +I sat by the new fireside with all my clan,--its number as yet +undiminished,--or went roistering in wood or field with the younger +children. + +The day came when D'ri and I were to meet the ladies. We started +early that morning of the 12th. Long before daylight we were +moving rapidly down-river in our canoes. + +I remember seeing a light flash up and die away in the moonlit mist +of the river soon after starting. + +"The boogy light!" D'ri whispered. "There 't goes ag'in!" + +I had heard the river folk tell often of this weird thing--one of +the odd phenomena of the St. Lawrence. + +"Comes alwus where folks hev been drownded," said D'ri. "Thet +air's what I've hearn tell." + +It was, indeed, the accepted theory of the fishermen, albeit many +saw in the boogy light a warning to mark the place of forgotten +murder, and bore away. + +The sun came up in a clear sky, and soon, far and wide, its light +was tossing in the rippletops. We could see them glowing miles +away. We were both armed with sabre and pistols, for that river +was the very highway of adventure in those days of the war. + +"Don' jes' like this kind uv a hoss," said D'ri. "Got t' keep +whalin' 'im all the while, an' he 's apt t' slobber 'n rough goin'." + +He looked thoughtfully at the sun a breath, and then trimmed his +remark with these words; "Ain't eggzac'Iy sure-footed, nuther." + +"Don't require much feed, though," I suggested. + +"No; ye hev t' dew all the eatin', but ye can alwus eat 'nough fer +both." + +It was a fine day, and a ride to remember. We had a warm sun, a +clear sky, and now and then we could feel the soft feet of the +south wind romping over us in the river way. Here and there a +swallow came coasting to the ripples, sprinkling the holy water of +delight upon us, or a crow's shadow ploughed silently across our +bows. It thrilled me to go cantering beside the noisy Rapides du +Plats or the wild-footed Galloup, two troops of water hurrying to +the mighty battles of the sea. We mounted reeling knolls, and +coasted over whirling dips, and rushed to boiling levels, and +jumped foamy ridges, and went galloping in the rush and tumble of +long slopes. + +"Let 'er rip!" I could hear D'ri shouting, once in a while, as he +flashed up ahead of me. "Let 'er rip! Consarn 'er pictur'!" + +He gave a great yell of triumph as we slowed in a long stretch of +still, broad water. "Judas Priest!" said he, as I came alongside, +"thet air's rougher 'n the bog trail." + +We came to Paleyville with time only for a bite of luncheon before +dark. We could see no sign of life on the island or the "Canuck +shore" as we turned our bows to the south channel. That evening +the innkeeper sat with us under a creeking sign, our chairs tilted +to the tavernside. + +D'ri was making a moose-horn of birch-bark as he smoked +thoughtfully. When he had finished, he raised it to his lips and +moved the flaring end in a wide circle as he blew a blast that rang +miles away in the far forest. + +"Ef we heppen t' git separated in any way, shape, er manner 'cept +one," said he, as he slung it over his shoulder with a string, +"ye'll know purty nigh where I be when ye hear thet air thing." + +"You said, 'in any way, shape, er manner 'cept one.'" I quoted. +"What do you mean by that?" + +My friend expectorated, looking off into the night soberly a moment. + +"Guess I didn't mean nuthin'," said he, presently. "When I set out +t' say suthin', don't never know where I 'm goin' t' land. Good +deal luk settin' sail without a compass. Thet 's one reason I +don't never say much 'fore women." + +Our good host hurried the lagging hours with many a tale of the +river and that island we were soon to visit, once the refuge of +Tadusac, the old river pirate, so he told us, with a cave now +haunted by some ghost. We started for the shore near ten o'clock, +the innkeeper leading us with a lantern, its light flickering in a +west wind. The sky was cloudy, the night dark. Our host lent us +the lantern, kindly offering to build a bonfire on the beach at +eleven, to light us home. + +"Careful, boys," said the innkeeper, as we got aboard. "Aim +straight fer th' head o' th' island, Can't ye see it--right over +yer heads there? 'Member, they 's awful rough water below." + +We pushed off, D'ri leading. I could see nothing of the island, +but D'ri had better eyes, and kept calling me as he went ahead. +After a few strokes of the paddle I could see on the dark sky the +darker mass of tree-tops. + +"Better light up," I suggested. We were now close in. + +"Hush!" he hissed. Then, as I came up to him, he went on, +whispering: "'T ain't bes' t' mek no noise here. Don' know none +tew much 'bout this here business. Don' cal'late we 're goin' t' +hev any trouble, but if we dew--Hark!" + +We had both heard a stir in the bushes, and stuck our paddles in +the sand, listening. After a little silence I heard D'ri get up +and step stealthily into the water and buckle on his sword. Then I +could hear him sinking the canoe and shoving her anchor deep into +the sand. He did it with no noise that, fifty feet away, could +have been distinguished from that of the ever-murmuring waters. In +a moment he came and held my canoe, while I also took up my trusty +blade, stepping out of the canoe into the shallow water. Then he +shoved her off a little, and sank her beside the other. I knew not +his purpose, and made no question of it, following him as he strode +the shore with measured paces, the lantern upon his arm. Then +presently he stuck his paddle into the bushes, and mine beside it. +We were near the head of the island, walking on a reedy strip of +soft earth at the river margin. After a few paces we halted to +listen, but heard only the voice of the water and the murmur of +pines. Then we pushed through a thicket of small fir trees to +where we groped along in utter darkness among the big tree trunks +on a muffle-footing. After a moment or so we got a spray of light. +We halted, peering at the glow that now sprinkled out through many +a pinhole aperture in a fairy lattice of pine needles. + +My heart was beating loudly, for there was the promised lantern. +Was I not soon to see the brighter light of those dear faces? It +was all the kind of thing I enjoyed then,--the atmosphere of peril +and romance,--wild youth that I was. It is a pity, God knows, I +had so little consideration for old D'ri; but he loved me, +and--well, he himself had some pleasure in excitement. + +We halted for only a moment, pushing boldly through a thicket of +young pines into the light. A lantern hung on the bough of a tall +tree, and beneath it was a wide opening well carpeted with moss and +needles. We peered off into the gloom, but saw nothing. + +D'ri blew out a thoughtful breath, looking up into the air coolly, +as he filled his pipe. + +"Consarned if ever I wanted t' have a smoke s' bad 'n all my born +days," he remarked. + +Then he moved his holster, turned his scabbard, and sat down +quietly, puffing his pipe with some look of weariness and +reflection. We were sitting there less than five minutes when we +heard a footfall near by; then suddenly two men strode up to us in +the dim light. I recognized at once the easy step, the long, lithe +figure, of his Lordship in the dress of a citizen, saving sword and +pistols. + +"Ah, good evening, gentlemen," said he, quietly. "How are you?" + +"Better than--than when we saw you last," I answered. + +D'ri had not moved; he looked up at me with a sympathetic smile. + +"I presume," said his Lordship, in that familiar, lazy tone, as he +lighted a cigar, "there was--ah--good room for improvement, was +there not?" + +"Abundant," said I, thoughtfully. "You were not in the best of +health yourself that evening." + +"True," said he; "I--I was in bad fettle and worse luck." + +"How are the ladies?" + +"Quite well," said he, blowing a long puff. + +"Ready to deliver them?" I inquired. + +"Presently," said he. "There are--some formalities." + +"Which are--?" I added quickly. + +"A trifle of expenses and a condition," said he, lazily. + +"How much, and what?" I inquired, as D'ri turned his ear. + +"One thousand pounds," said his Lordship, quickly. "Not a penny +more than this matter has cost me and his Majesty." + +"What else?" said I. + +"This man," he answered calmly, with a little gesture aimed at D'ri. + +My friend rose, struck his palm with the pipe-bowl, and put up his +knife. + +"Ef ye're goin' t' tek me," said he, "better begin right off, er ye +won't hev time 'fore breakfust." + +Then he clapped the moose-horn to his lips and blew a mighty blast. +It made the two men jump and set the near thicket reeling. The +weird barytone went off moaning in the far wastes of timber. Its +rush of echoes had begun. I put my hand to my sabre, for there in +the edge of the gloom I saw a thing that stirred me to the marrow. +The low firs were moving toward us, root and branch, their twigs +falling. Gods of war! it made my hair stand for a jiffy to see the +very brush take feet and legs. On sea or land I never saw a thing +that gave me so odd a feeling. We stood for a breath or two, then +started back, our sabres flashing; for, as the twigs fell, we saw +they had been decorating a squad of the British. They came on. I +struck at the lantern, but too late, for his Lordship had swung it +away. He stumbled, going to his knees; the lantern hit the earth +and went out. I had seen the squad break, running each way, to +surround us. D'ri grabbed my hand as the dark fell, and we went +plunging through the little pines, hitting a man heavily, who fell +grunting. We had begun to hear the rattle of boats, a shouting, +and quick steps on the shore. We crouched a moment. D'ri blew the +moose-horn, pulling me aside with him quickly after the blast. +Lights were now flashing near. I could see little hope for us, and +D'ri, I thought, had gone crazy. He ran at the oncomers, yelling, +"Hey, Rube!" at the top of his lungs. I lay low in the brush a +moment. They rushed by me, D'ri in the fore with fending sabre. A +tawny hound was running in the lead, his nose down, baying loudly. +Then I saw the truth, and made after them with all the speed of my +legs. They hustled over the ridge, their lights flashing under. +For a jiffy I could see only, here and there, a leaping glow in the +tree-tops. I rushed on, passing one who had tumbled headlong. The +lights below me scattered quickly and stopped. I heard a great +yelling, a roar of muskets, and a clash of swords. A hush fell on +them as I came near, Then I heard a voice that thrilled me. + +"Your sword, sir!" it commanded. + +"Stop," said I, sharply, coming near. + +There stood my father in the lantern-light, his sword drawn, his +gray hair stirring in the breeze. Before him was my old adversary, +his Lordship, sword in hand. Near by, the squad of British, now +surrounded, were giving up their arms. They had backed to the +river's edge; I could hear it lapping their heels. His Lordship +sneered, looking at the veteran who stood in a gray frock of +homespun, for all the world, I fancy, like one of those old yeomen +who fought with Cromwell. + +"Your sword, sir," my father repeated. + +"Pardon me," said the young man, with a fascinating coolness of +manner, "but I shall have to trouble you--" + +He hesitated, feeling his blade. + +"How?" said my father. + +"To fight for it," said his Lordship, quietly. + +"Surrender--fool!" my father answered. "You cannot escape." + +"Tut, tut!" said his Lordship. "I never heard so poor a +compliment. Come in reach, and I shall make you think better of +me." + +"Give up your sword." + +"After my life, then my sword," said he, with a quick thrust. + +Before I could take a step, their swords were clashing in deadly +combat. I rushed up to break in upon them, but the air was full of +steel, and then my father needed no help. He was driving his man +with fiery vigor. I had never seen him fight; all I had seen of +his power had been mere play. + +It was grand to see the old man fighting as if, for a moment, his +youth had come back to him. I knew it could not go far. His fire +would burn out quickly; then the blade of the young Britisher, +tireless and quick as I knew it to be, would let his blood before +my very eyes. What to do I knew not. Again I came up to them; but +my father warned me off hotly. He was fighting with terrific +energy. I swear to you that in half a minute he had broken the +sword of his Lordship, who took to the water, swimming for his +life. I leaped in, catching him half over the eddy, where we +fought like roadmen, striking in the air and bumping on the bottom. +We were both near drowned when D'ri swam out and gave me his +belt-end, hauling us in. + +I got to my feet soon. My father came up to me, and wiped a cut +on my forehead. + +"Damn you, my boy!" said he. "Don't ever interfere with me in a +matter of that kind. You might have been hurt." + +We searched the island, high and low, for the ladies, but with no +success. Then we marched our prisoners to the south channel, where +a bateau--the same that brought us help--had been waiting. One of +our men had been shot in the shoulder, another gored in the hip +with a bayonet, and we left a young Briton dead on the shore. We +took our prisoners to Paleyville, and locked them overnight in the +blockhouse. + +The channel was lighted by a big bonfire on the south bank, as we +came over. Its flames went high, and made a great, sloping volcano +of light in the darkness. + +After the posting of the guard, some gathered about my father and +began to cheer him. It nettled the veteran. He would take no +honor for his defeat of the clever man, claiming the latter had no +chance to fight. + +"He had no foot-room with the boy one side and D'ri t' other," said +he. "I had only to drive him back." + +My father and the innkeeper and D'ri and I sat awhile, smoking, in +the warm glow of the bonfire. + +"You 're a long-headed man," said I, turning to my comrade. + +"Kind o' thought they'd be trouble," said D'ri. "So I tuk 'n ast +yer father t' come over hossback with hef a dozen good men. They +got three more et the tavern here, an' lay off 'n thet air bateau, +waitin' fer the moosecall. I cal'lated I did n't want no more +slidin' over there 'n Canady." + +After a little snicker, he added: "Hed all 't wus good fer me the +las' time. 'S a leetle tew swift." + +"Gets rather scary when you see the bushes walk," I suggested. + +"Seen whut wus up 'fore ever they med a move," said D'ri. "Them +air bushes did n't look jest es nat'ral es they'd orter. Bet ye +they're some o' them bushwhackers o' Fitzgibbon. Got loops all +over their uniforms, so ye c'u'd stick 'em full o' boughs. +Jerushy! never see nuthin' s' joemightful cur'us 'n all my born +days--never." He stopped a breath, and then added: "Could n't be +nuthin' cur'user 'n thet." + + + + +XXI + +We hired team and wagon of the innkeeper, and a man to paddle +up-river and return with the horses. + +I had a brief talk with our tall prisoner while they were making +ready. + +"A word of business, your Lordship," I said as he came out, +yawning, with the guard. + +"Ah, well," said he, with a shiver, "I hope it is not so cold as +the air." + +"It is hopeful; it is cheering," was my answer. + +"And the topic?" + +"An exchange--for the ladies." + +He thought a moment, slapping the dust off him with a glove. + +"This kind of thing is hard on the trousers," he remarked +carelessly. "I will consider; I think it could be arranged. +Meanwhile, I give you my word of honor, you need have no worry." + +We were off at daybreak with our prisoners; there were six of them +in all. We put a fold of linen over the eyes of each, and roped +them all together, so that they could sit or stand, as might please +them, in the wagonbox. + +"It's barbarity," said his Lordship, as we put on the fold. "You +Yankees never knew how to treat a prisoner." + +"Till you learnt us," said D'ri, quickly. "Could n't never fergit +thet lesson. Ef I hed my way 'bout you, I 'd haul ye up t' th' top +o' thet air dead pine over yender, 'n' let ye slide down." + +"Rather too steep, I should say," said his Lordship, wearily. + +"Ye wouldn't need no grease," said D'ri, with a chuckle. + +We were four days going to the Harbor. My father and his men came +with us, and he told us many a tale, that journey, of his +adventures in the old war. We kept our promise, turning over the +prisoners a little before sundown of the 16th. Each was given a +great room and every possible comfort. I arranged soon for the +release of all on the safe return of the ladies. + +In the evening of the 17th his Lordship sent for me. He was a bit +nervous, and desired a conference with the general and me. De +Chaumont had been over to the headquarters that day in urgent +counsel. He was weary of delay and planning an appeal to the +French government. General Brown was prepared to give the matter +all furtherance in his power, and sent quickly for the Englishman. +They brought him over at nine o'clock. We uncovered his eyes and +locked the door, and "gave him a crack at the old Madeira," as they +used to say, and made him as comfortable as might be at the cheery +fireside of the general. + +"I've been thinking," said his Lordship. after a drink and a word +of courtesy. I never saw a man of better breeding or more courage, +I am free to say. "You may not agree it is possible, but, anyhow, +I have been trying to think. You have been decent to me. I don't +believe you are such a bad lot, after all; and while I should be +sorry to have you think me tired of your hospitality, I desire to +hasten our plans a little. I propose an exchange of--of--" + +He hesitated, whipping the ashes off his cigar. + +"Well--first of confidence," he went on. "I will take your word if +you will take mine." + +"In what matter?" the general inquired. + +"That of the ladies and their relief," said he. "A little +confidence will--will--" + +"Grease the wheels of progress?" the general suggested, smiling. + +"Quite so," he answered lazily. "To begin with, they are not +thirty miles away, if I am correct in my judgment of this locality." + +There was a moment of silence. + +"My _dear_ sir," he went on presently, "this ground is quite +familiar to me. I slept in this very chamber long ago. But that +is not here nor there. Day after to-morrow, a little before +midnight, the ladies will be riding on the shore pike. You could +meet them and bring them out to a schooner, I suppose--if--" + +He stopped again, puffing thoughtfully. + +"If we could agree," he went on. "Now this would be my view of it: +You let me send a messenger for the ladies. You would have to take +them by force somehow; but, you know, I could make it easy--arrange +the time and place, no house near, no soldiers, no resistence but +that of the driver, who should not share our confidence--no danger. +You take them to the boats and bring them over; but, first--" + +He paused again, looking at the smokerings above his head in a +dreamy manner. + +"'First,'" my chief repeated. + +"Well," said he, leaning toward him with a little gesture, "to me +the word of a gentleman is sacred. I know you are both gentlemen. +I ask for your word of honor." + +"To what effect?" the general queried. + +"That you will put us safely on British soil within a day after the +ladies have arrived," said he. + +"It is irregular and a matter of some difficulty," said the +general. "Whom would you send with such a message?" + +"Well, I should say some Frenchwoman could do it. There must be +one here who is clever enough." + +"I know the very one," said I, with enthusiasm. "She is as smart +and cunning as they make them." + +"Very well," said the general; "that is but one step. Who is to +capture them and take the risk of their own heads?" + +"D'ri and I could do it alone," was my confident answer. + +"Ah, well," said his Lordship, as he rose languidly and stood with +his back to the fire, "I shall send them where the coast is +clear--my word for that. Hang me if I fail to protect them." + +"I do not wish to question your honor," said the general, "or +violate in any way this atmosphere of fine courtesy; but, sir, I do +not know you." + +"Permit me to introduce myself," said the Englishman, as he ripped +his coat-lining and drew out a folded sheet of purple parchment. + +"I am Lord Ronley, fifth Earl of Pickford, and, cousin of his Most +Excellent Majesty the King of England; there is the proof." + +He tossed the parchment to the table carelessly, resuming his chair. + +"Forgive me," said he, as the general took it. "I have little +taste for such theatricals. Necessity is my only excuse." + +"It is enough," said the other. "I am glad to know you. I hope +sometime we shall stop fighting each other--we of the same race and +blood. It is unnatural." + +"Give me your hand," said the Englishman, with heartier feeling +than I had seen him show, as he advanced. "Amen! I say to you." + +"Will you write your message? Here are ink and paper," said the +general. + +His Lordship sat down at the table and hurriedly wrote these +letters:-- + + +"PRESCOTT, ONTARIO, November 17, 1813. + +"To SIR CHARLES GRAVLEIGH, The Weirs, above Landsmere, Wrentham, +Frontenac County, Canada. + +"MY DEAR GRAVLEIGH: Will you see that the baroness and her two +wards, the Misses de Lambert, are conveyed by my coach, on the +evening of the 18th inst, to that certain point on the shore pike +between Amsbury and Lakeside known as Burnt Ridge, there to wait +back in the timber for my messenger? Tell them they are to be +returned to their home, and give them my very best wishes. Lamson +will drive, and let the bearer ride with the others. + + "Very truly yours, + "RONLEY." + + _To whom it may concern_. + +"Mme. St. Jovite, the bearer, is on her way to my house at +Wrentham, Frontenac County, second concession, with a despatch of +urgent character. I shall be greatly favored by all who give her +furtherance in this journey. + + "Respectfully, etc., + "Ronley, + "Colonel of King's Guard." + + +For fear of a cipher, the general gave tantamount terms for each +letter, and his Lordship rewrote them. + +"I thought the name St. Jovite would be as good as any," he +remarked. + +The rendezvous was carefully mapped. The guard came, and his +Lordship rose languidly. + +"One thing more," said he. "Let the men go over without +arms--if--if you will be so good." + +"I shall consider that," said the general. + +"And when shall the messenger start?" + +"Within the hour, if possible," my chief answered. + +As they went away, the general sat down with me for a moment, to +discuss the matter. + + + + +XXII + +Herein is the story of the adventures of his Lordship's courier, +known as Mme. St. Jovite, on and after the night of November 17, +1813, in Upper Canada. This account may be accepted as quite +trustworthy, its writer having been known to me these many years, +in the which neither I nor any of my friends have had occasion to +doubt her veracity. The writer gave more details than are +desirable, but the document is nothing more than a letter to an +intimate friend. I remember well she had an eye for color and a +taste for description not easy to repress. + + +When I decided to go it was near midnight, The mission was not all +to my taste, but the reward was handsome and the letter of Lord +Ronley reassuring. I knew I could do it, and dressed as soon as +possible and walked to the Lone Oak, a sergeant escorting. There, +as I expected, the big soldier known as D'ri was waiting, his canoe +in a wagon that stood near. We all mounted the seat, driving +pell-mell on a rough road to Tibbals Point, on the southwest corner +of Wolf Island. A hard journey it was, and near two o'clock, I +should say, before we put our canoe in the water. Then the man +D'ri helped me to an easy seat in the bow and shoved off. A full +moon, yellow as gold, hung low in the northwest. The water was +calm, and we cut across "the moon way," that funnelled off to the +shores of Canada. + +"It is one ver' gran' night," I said in my dialect of the rude +Canuck; for I did not wish him, or any one, to know me. War is +war, but, surely, such adventures are not the thing for a woman. + +"Yis, mahm," he answered, pushing hard with the paddle. "Yer a +friend o' the cap'n, ain't ye--Ray Bell?" + +"Ze captain? Ah, oui, m'sieu'," I said. "One ver' brave man, +ain't it?" + +"Yis, mahm," said he, soberly and with emphasis. "He 's more 'n a +dozen brave men, thet's whut he is. He's a joemightyful cuss. +Ain't nuthin' he can't dew--spryer 'n a painter, stouter 'n a +moose, an' treemenjous with a sword." + +The moon sank low, peering through distant tree-columns, and went +out of sight. Long stubs of dead pine loomed in the dim, golden +afterglow, their stark limbs arching high in the heavens--like +mullions in a great Gothic window. + +"When we git nigh shore over yender," said my companion, "don't +believe we better hev a grea' deal t' say. I ain't a-goin' t' be +tuk--by a jugful--not ef I can help it. Got me 'n a tight place +one night here 'n Canady." + +"Ah, m'sieu', in Canada! How did you get out of it?" I queried. + +"Slipped out," said he, shaking the canoe with suppressed laughter. +"Jes' luk a streak o' greased lig-htnin'," he added presently. + +"The captain he seems ver' anxious for me to mak' great hurry," I +remarked. + +"No wonder; it's his lady-love he 's efter--faster 'n a weasel t' +see 'er," said he, snickering. + +"Good-looking?" I queried. + +"Han'some es a pictur'," said he, soberly. + +In a moment he dragged his paddle, listening. + +"Thet air's th' shore over yender," he whispered. "Don't say a +word now. I 'll put ye right on the p'int o' rocks. Creep 'long +careful till ye git t' th' road, then turn t' th' left, the cap'n +tol' me." + +When I stepped ashore my dress caught the gunwale and upset our +canoe. The good man rolled noisily into the water, and rose +dripping. I tried to help him. + +"Don't bother me--none," he whispered testily, as if out of +patience, while he righted the canoe. + +When at last he was seated again, as I leaned to shove him off, he +whispered in a compensating, kindly manner: "When ye 're goin' +ashore, an' they 's somebody 'n the canoe, don't never try t' tek +it with ye 'less ye tell 'im yer goin' tew." + +There was a deep silence over wood and water, but he went away so +stealthily I could not hear the stir of his paddle. I stood +watching as he dimmed off in the darkness, going quickly out of +sight. Then I crept over the rocks and through a thicket, +shivering, for the night had grown chilly. I snagged my dress on a +brier every step, and had to move by inches. After mincing along +half an hour or so, I came where I could feel a bit of clear earth, +and stood there, dancing on my tiptoes, in the dark, to quicken my +blood a little. Presently the damp light of dawn came leaking +through the tree-tops. I heard a rattling stir in the bare limbs +above me. Was it some monster of the woods? Although I have more +courage than most women, it startled me, and I stood still. The +light came clearer; there was a rush toward me that shook the +boughs. I peered upward. It was only a squirrel, now scratching +his ear, as he looked down at me. He braced himself, and seemed to +curse me loudly for a spy, trembling with rage and rushing up and +down the branch above me. Then all the curious, inhospitable folk +of the timber-land came out upon their towers to denounce. + +I made my way over the rustling, brittle leaves, and soon found a +trail that led up over high land. I followed it for a matter of +some minutes, and came to the road, taking my left-hand way, as +they told me. There was no traveller in sight. I walked as fast +as I could, passing a village at sunrise, where I asked my way in +French at a smithy. Beyond there was a narrow clearing, stumpy and +rank with briers, on the up-side of the way. Presently, looking +over a level stretch, I could see trees arching the road again, +from under which, as I was looking, a squad of cavalry came out in +the open. It startled me. I began to think I was trapped, I +thought of dodging into the brush. But, no; they had seen me, and +I would be a fool now to turn fugitive. I looked about me. Cows +were feeding near. I picked up a stick and went deliberately into +the bushes, driving one of them to the pike and heading her toward +them. They went by at a gallop, never pulling up while in sight of +me. Then I passed the cow and went on, stopping an hour later at a +lonely log house, where I found French people, and a welcome that +included moose meat, a cup of coffee, and fried potatoes. Leaving, +I rode some miles with a travelling tinker, a voluble, well-meaning +youth who took a liking for me, and went far out of his way to help +me on. He blushed proudly when, stopping to mend a pot for the +cook at a camp of militia, they inquired if I was his wife. + +"No; but she may be yet," said he; "who knows?" + +I knew it was no good place for me, and felt some relief when the +young man did me this honor. From that moment they set me down for +a sweetheart. + +"She 's too big for you, my boy," said the general, laughing. + +"The more the better," said he; "can't have too much of a good +wife." + +I said little to him as we rode along. He asked for my address, +when I left him, and gave me the comforting assurance that he would +see me again. I made no answer, leaving him at a turn where, north +of us, I could see the white houses of Wrentham. Kingston was hard +by, its fort crowning a hill-top by the river. + +It was past three by a tower clock at the gate of the Weirs when I +got there. A driveway through tall oaks led to the mansion of dark +stone. Many acres of park and field and garden were shut in with +high walls. I rang a bell at the small gate, and some fellow in +livery took my message. + +"Wait 'ere, my lass," said he, with an English accent. "I 'll go +at once to the secretary." + +I sat in a rustic chair by the gate-side, waiting for that +functionary. + +"Ah, come in, come in," said he, coolly, as he opened the gate a +little. + +He said nothing more, and I followed him--an oldish man with gray +eyes and hair and side-whiskers, and neatly dressed, his head +covered to the ears with a high hat, tilted backward. We took a +stone path, and soon entered a rear door. + +"She may sit in the servants' hall," said he to one of the maids, + +They took my shawl, as he went away, and showed me to a room where, +evidently, the servants did their eating. They were inquisitive, +those kitchen maids, and now and then I was rather put to it for a +wise reply. I said as little as might be, using the dialect, long +familiar to me, of the French Canadian. My bonnet amused them. It +was none too new or fashionable, and I did not remove it. + +"Afraid we 'll steal it," I heard one of them whisper in the next +room. Then there was a loud laugh. + +They gave me a French paper. I read every line of it, and sat +looking out of a window at the tall trees, at servants who passed +to and fro, at his Lordship's horses, led up and down for exercise +in the stable-yard, at the twilight glooming the last pictures of a +long day until they were all smudged with darkness. Then +candle-light, a trying supper hour with maids and cooks and grooms +and footmen at the big table, English, every one of them, and set +up with haughty curiosity. I would not go to the table, and had a +cup of tea and a biscuit there in my corner. A big butler walked +in hurriedly awhile after seven. He looked down at me as if I +were the dirt of the gutter. + +"They 're waitin'," said he, curtly. "An' Sir Chawles would like +to know if ye would care for a humberreller?" + +"Ah, m'sieu'! he rains?" I inquired. + +"No, mum." + +"Ah! he is going to rain, maybe?" + +He made no answer, but turned quickly and went to a near closet, +from which he brought a faded umbrella. + +"There," said he, as he led me to the front door, "see that you +send it back." + +On the porch were the secretary and the ladies--three of them. + +"Ciel! what is it?" one of them whispered as I came out. + +The post-lights were shining in their faces, and lovelier I never +saw than those of the demoiselles. They stepped lightly to the +coach, and the secretary asked if I would go in with them. + +"No, m'sieu'," was my answer; "I sit by ze drivaire." + +"Come in here, you silly goose," said one of the ladies in French, +recognizing my nationality. + +"Grand merci!" I said, taking my seat by the driver; and then we +were off, with as lively a team as ever carried me, our lights +flashing on the tree trunks. We had been riding more than two +hours when we stopped for water at a spring-tub under a hill. They +gave me a cup, and, for the ladies, I brought each a bumper of the +cool, trickling flood. + +"Ici, my tall woman," said one of them, presently, "my boot is +untied." + +Her dainty foot came out of the coach door under ruffles of silk. +I hesitated, for I was not accustomed to that sort of service. + +"Lambine!" she exclaimed. "Make haste, will you?" her foot moving +impatiently. + +My fingers had got numb in the cold air, and I must have been very +awkward, for presently she boxed my ears and drew her foot away. + +"Dieu!" said she. "Tell him to drive on." + +I got to my seat quickly, confident that nature had not intended me +for a lady's-maid. Awhile later we heard the call of a picket far +afield, but saw no camp. A horseman--I thought him a cavalry +officer--passed us, flashing in our faces the light of a dark +lantern, but said nothing. It must have been near midnight when, +as we were going slowly through deep sand, I heard the clang of a +cow-bell in the near darkness. Another sounded quickly a bit +farther on. The driver gave no heed to it, although I recognized +the signal, and knew something would happen shortly. We had come +into the double dark of the timber when, suddenly, our horses +reared, snorting, and stopped. The driver felt for his big pistol, +but not in the right place; for two hours or more it had been +stowed away in the deep pocket of my gown. Not a word was spoken. +By the dim light of the lanterns we could see men all about us with +pikes looming in the dark. For a breath or two there was perfect +silence; then the driver rose quickly and shouted: "Who are you?" + +"Frien's o' these 'ere women," said one I recognized as the +Corporal D'ri. + +He spoke in a low tone as he opened the door. + +"Grace au ciel!" I heard one of the young ladies saying. "It is +D'ri--dear old fellow!" + +Then they all hurried out of the coach and kissed him. + +"The captain--is he not here?" said one of them in French. But +D'ri did not understand them, and made no answer. + +"Out wi' the lights, an' be still," said D'ri, quickly, and the +lights were out as soon as the words. "Jones, you tie up a front +leg o' one o' them hosses. Git back in the brush, ladies. Five on +'em, boys. Now up with the pike wall!" + +From far back in the road had come again the clang of the cow-bell. +I remember hearing five strokes and then a loud rattle. In a +twinkling I was off the seat and beside the ladies. + +"Take hold of my dress," I whispered quickly, "and follow me." + +I led them off in the brush, and stopped. We could hear the move +and rattle of cavalry in the near road. Then presently the swish +of steel, the leap and tumble of horses, the shouting of men. My +companions were of the right stuff; they stood shivering, but held +their peace. Out by the road lights were flashing, and now we +heard pistols and the sound of a mighty scuffle. I could stay +there in the dark no longer. + +"Wait here, and be silent," I said, and ran "like a madwoman," as +they told me long after, for the flickering lights. + +There a squad of cavalry was shut in by the pikes. Two troopers +had broken through the near line. One had fallen, badly hurt; the +other was sabre to sabre with the man D'ri. They were close up and +striving fiercely, as if with broadswords. I caught up the weapon +of the injured man, for I saw the Yankee would get the worst of it. +The Britisher had great power and a sabre quick as a cat's paw. I +could see the corporal was stronger, but not so quick and skilful. +As I stood by, quivering with excitement, I saw him get a slash in +the shoulder. He stumbled, falling heavily. Then quickly, +forgetting my sex, but not wholly, I hope, the conduct that becomes +a woman, I caught the point of the sabre, now poised to run him +through, with the one I carried. He backed away, hesitating, for +he had seen my hat and gown. But I made after him with all the +fury I felt, and soon had him in action. He was tired, I have no +doubt; anyway, I whirled his sabre and broke his hold, whipping it +to the ground. That was the last we saw of him, for he made off in +the dark faster than I could follow. The trouble was all over, +save the wound of the corporal, which was not as bad as I thought. +He was up, and one of them, a surgeon, was putting stitches in his +upper arm. Others were tying four men together with rope. Their +weapons were lying in a little heap near by. One of the British +was saying that Sir Charles Gravleigh had sent for them to ride +after the coach. + +"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" said the man D'ri. "Never see no sech +wil'cat uv a woman es thet air." + +I looked down at my gown; I felt of my hat, now hanging over one +ear. Sure enough, I was a woman. + +"Who be ye, I 'd like t' know?" said the man D'ri. + +"Ramon Bell--a Yankee soldier of the rank of captain," I said, +stripping off my gown. "But, I beg of you, don't tell the ladies I +was ever a woman." + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, as he flung his well arm around me. + + + + +XXIII + +I felt foolish for a moment. I had careful plans for Mme. St. +Jovite. She would have vanished utterly on our return; so, I +fancy, none would have been the wiser. But in that brief sally I +had killed the madame; she could serve me no more. I have been +careful in my account of this matter to tell all just as it +happened, to put upon it neither more nor less of romantic color +than we saw. Had I the skill and license of a novelist, I could +have made much of my little mystery; but there are many now living +who remember all these things, and then, I am a soldier, and too +old for a new business. So I make as much of them as there was and +no more. + +In private theatricals, an evening at the Harbor, I had won +applause with the rig, wig, and dialect of my trip to Wrentham +Square. So, when I proposed a plan to my friend the general, +urging the peril of a raw hand with a trust of so much importance, +he had no doubt of my ability. + +I borrowed a long coat, having put off my dress, and, when all was +ready, went with a lantern to get the ladies. Louise recognized me +first. + +"Grace au ciel! le capitaine!" said she, running to meet me. + +I dropped my lantern as we came face to face, and have ever been +glad of that little accident, for there in the dark my arms went +around her, and our lips met for a silent kiss full of history and +of holy confidence. Then she put her hand upon my face with a +gentle caressing touch, and turned her own away. + +"I am very, very glad to see you," I said. + +"Dieu!" said her sister, coming near, "we should be glad to see +you, if it were possible." + +I lighted the lantern hurriedly. + +"Ciel! the light becomes him," said Louison, her grand eyes aglow. + +But before there was time to answer I had kissed her also. + +"He is a bold thing," she added, turning soberly to the baroness. + +"Both a bold and happy thing," I answered. "Forgive me. I should +not be so bold if I were not--well--insanely happy." + +"He is only a boy," said the baroness, laughing as she kissed me. + +"Poor little ingenu!" said Louison, patting my arm. + +Louise, tall and lovely and sedate as ever, stood near me, primping +her bonnet. + +"Little ingenu!" she repeated, with a faint laugh of irony as she +placed the dainty thing on her head. + +"Well, what do _you_ think of him?" said Louison, turning to help +her. + +"Dieu! that he is very big and dreadful," said the other, soberly. +"I should think we had better be going." + +These things move slowly on paper, but the greeting was to me +painfully short, there being of it not more than a minuteful, I +should say. On our way to the lights they plied me with whispered +queries, and were in fear of more fighting. The prisoners were now +in the coach, and our men--there were twelve--stood on every side +of it, their pikes in hand. The boats were near, and we hurried to +the river by a toteway. Our schooner lay some twenty rods off a +point. A bateau and six canoes were waiting on the beach, and when +we had come to the schooner I unbound the prisoners. + +"You can get ashore with this bateau," I said. "You will find the +horses tied to a tree." + +"Wha' does thet mean?" said D'ri. + +"That we have no right to hold them," was my answer. "Ronley was, +in no way responsible for their coming." + +Leaning over the side with a lantern, while one of our men held the +bateau, I motioned to the coachman. + +"Give that 'humberreller' to the butler, with my compliments," I +whispered. + +Our anchors up, our sails took the wind in a jiffy. + +"Member how we used ye," D'ri called to the receding Britishers, +"an' ef ye ever meet a Yankee try t' be p'lite tew 'im." + +Dawn had come before we got off at the Harbor dock. I took the +ladies to an inn for breakfast, wrote a report, and went for my +horse and uniform. General Brown was buttoning his suspenders when +they admitted me to his room. + +"What luck, my boy?" said he. + +"All have returned safely, including the ladies," I replied +quickly, "and I have the honor to submit a report." + +He took a chair, and read the report carefully, and looked up at +me, laughing. + +"What a lucky and remarkable young man!" said he. "I declare, you +should have lived in the Middle Ages." + +"Ah, then I should not have enjoyed your compliments or your +friendship," was my answer. + +He laughed again heartily. + +"Nor the demoiselles'," said he. "I congratulate you. They are +the loveliest of their sex; but I'm sorry they're not Americans." + +"Time enough. I have decided that one of them shall become an +American," said I, with all the confidence of youth. + +"It is quite an undertaking," said he. "You may find new +difficulties. Their father is at the chateau." + +"M'sieur de Lambert?" I exclaimed. + +"M'sieur de Lambert. Came yesterday, via Montreal, with a fine +young nobleman--the Count Esmon de Brovel," said he. "You must +look out for him; he has the beauty of Apollo and the sword of a +cavalier." + +"And I no fear of him," I answered soberly, with a quick sense of +alarm. + +"They rode over in the afternoon with Chaumont," he went on. "It +seems the young ladies' father, getting no news of them, had become +worried. Well, you may go and have three days for your fun; I +shall need you presently." + +Breakfast over, I got a team for the ladies, and, mounting my own +horse, rode before them. I began to consider a very odd thing in +this love experience. While they were in captivity I had begun to +think less of Louison and more of Louise. In truth, one face had +faded a little in my memory; the other, somehow, had grown clearer +and sweeter, as if by a light borrowed from the soul behind it. +Now that I saw Louison, her splendid face and figure appealed to me +with all the power of old. She was quick, vivacious, subtle, +aggressive, cunning, aware and proud of her charms, and ever making +the most of them. She, ah, yes, she could play with a man for the +mere pleasure of victory, and be very heartless if--if she were not +in love with him. This type of woman had no need of argument to +make me feel her charms. With her the old doubt had returned to +me; for how long? I wondered. Her sister was quite her +antithesis--thoughtful, slow, serious, even-tempered, frank, quiet, +unconscious of her beauty, and with that wonderful thing, a voice +tender and low and sympathetic and full of an eloquence I could +never understand, although I felt it to my finger-tips. I could +not help loving her, and, indeed, what man with any life in him +feels not the power of such a woman? That morning, on the +woods-pike, I reduced the problem to its simplest terms: the one +was a physical type, the other a spiritual. + +"M'sieur le Capitaine," said Louison, as I rode by the carriage, +"what became of the tall woman last night?" + +"Left us there in the woods," I answered. "She was afraid of you." + +"Afraid of me! Why?" + +"Well, I understand that you boxed her ears shamefully." + +A merry peal of laughter greeted my words. + +"It was too bad; you were very harsh," said Louise, soberly. + +"I could not help it; she was an ugly, awkward thing," said +Louison. "I could have pulled her nose'" + +"And it seems you called her a geante also," I said. "She was +quite offended." + +"It was a compliment," said the girl. "She was an Amazon--like the +count's statue of Jeanne d'Arc." + +"Poor thing! she could not help it," said Louise. + +"Well," said Louison, with a sigh of regret, "if I ever see her +again I shall give her a five-franc piece." + +There was a moment of silence, and she broke it. + +"I hope, this afternoon, you will let me ride that horse," said she. + +"On one condition," was my reply. + +"And it is--?" + +"That you will let me ride yours at the same time." + +"Agreed," was her answer. "Shall we go at three?" + +"With the consent of the baroness and--and your father," I said. + +"Father!" exclaimed the two girls. / + +"Your father," I repeated. "He is now at the chateau." + +"Heavens!" said Louison. + +"What will he say?" said the baroness. + +"I am so glad--my dear papa!" said Louise, clapping her hands. + +We were out of the woods now, and could see the chateau in the +uplands. + + + + +XXIV + +There was a dignity in the manners of M. de Lambert to me +formidable and oppressive. It showed in his tall, erect figure, +his deep tone, his silvered hair and mustache. There was a merry +word between the kisses of one daughter; between those of the other +only tears and a broken murmur. + +"Oh, papa," said Louison, as she greeted him, "I do love you--but I +dread that--tickly old mustache. Mon Dieu! what a lover--you must +have been!" + +Then she presented me, and put her hand upon my arm, looking +proudly at her father. + +"My captain!" said she. "Did you ever see a handsomer Frenchman?" + +"There are many, and here is one," said he, turning to the young +count, who stood behind him--a fine youth, tall, strong-built, +well-spoken, with blond hair and dark, keen eyes. I admit frankly +I had not seen a better figure of a man. I assure you, he had the +form of Hercules, the eye of Mars. It was an eye to +command--women; for I had small reason to admire his courage when I +knew him better. He took a hand of each young lady, and kissed it +with admirable gallantry. + +"Dieu! it is not so easy always to agree with one's father," said +Louison. + +We went riding that afternoon--Therese and her marquis and Louison +and I. The first two went on ahead of us; we rode slowly, and for +a time no word was spoken. Winds had stripped the timber, and +swept its harvest to the walls and hollows, where it lay bleaching +in the sun. Birch and oak and maple were holding bared arms to the +wind, as if to toughen them for storm and stress. I felt a mighty +sadness, wondering if my own arms were quite seasoned for all that +was to come. The merry-hearted girl beside me was ever like a day +of June--the color of the rose in her cheek, its odor always in her +hair and lace. There was never an hour of autumn in her life. + +"Alas, you are a very silent man!" said she, presently, with a +little sigh. + +"Only thinking," I said. + +"Of what?" + +"Dieu! of the dead summer," I continued. + +"Believe me, it does not pay to think," she interrupted. "I tried +it once, and made a sad discovery." + +"Of what?" + +"A fool!" said she, laughing. + +"I should think it--it might have been a coquette," said I, lightly. + +"Why, upon my word," said she, "I believe you misjudge me. Do you +think me heartless?" + +For the first time I saw a shadow in her face. + +"No; but you are young and--and beautiful, and--" + +"What?" she broke in impatiently, as I hesitated. "I long to know." + +"Men will love you in spite of all you can do," I added. + +"Captain!" said she, turning her face away. + +"Many will love you, and--and you can choose only one--a very hard +thing to do--possibly." + +"Not hard," said she, "if I see the right one--and--and--he loves +me also." + +I had kept myself well in hand, for I was full of doubts that day; +but the clever girl came near taking me, horse, foot, and guns, +that moment. She spoke so charmingly, she looked so winning, and +then, was it not easy to ask if I were the lucky one? She knew I +loved her, I knew that she had loved me, and I might as well +confess. But no; I was not ready. + +"You must be stern with the others; you must not let them tell +you," I went on. + +"Ciel!" said she, laughing, "one might as well go to a nunnery. +May not a girl enjoy her beauty? It is sweet to her." + +"But do not make it bitter for the poor men. Dieu! I am one of +them, and know their sorrows." + +"And you--you have been in love?" + +"Desperately," I answered, clinging by the finger-tips. Somehow we +kept drifting into fateful moments when a word even might have +changed all that has been--our life way, the skies above us, the +friends we have known, our loves, our very souls. + +She turned, smiling, her beauty flashing up at me with a power +quite irresistible. I shut my eyes a moment, summoning all my +forces. There was only a step between me and--God knows what! + +"Captain, you are a foolish fellow," said she, with a little +shudder. "And I--well, I am cold. Parbleu! feel my hand." + +She had drawn her glove quickly, and held out her hand, white and +beautiful, a dainty finger in a gorget of gems. That little cold, +trembling hand seemed to lay hold of my heart and pull me to her. +As my lips touched the palm I felt its mighty magic. Dear girl! I +wonder if she planned that trial for me. + +"We must--ride--faster. You--you--are cold," I stammered. + +She held her hand so that the sunlight flashed in the jewels, and +looked down upon it proudly. + +"Do you think it beautiful?" she asked. + +"Yes, and wonderful," I said. "But, mark me, it is all a sacred +trust--the beauty you have." + +"Sacred?" + +"More sacred than the power of kings," I said. + +"Preacher!" said she, with a smile. "You should give yourself to +the church." + +"I can do better with the sword of steel," I said. + +"But do not be sad. Cheer up, dear fellow!" she went on, patting +my elbow with a pretty mockery. "We women are not--not so bad. +When I find the man I love--" + +Her voice faltered as she began fussing with her stirrup. + +I turned with a look of inquiry, changing quickly to one of +admiration. + +"I shall make him love me, if I can," she went on soberly. + +"And if he does?" I queried, my blood quickening as our eyes met. + +"Dieu! I would do anything for him," said she. + +I turned away, looking off at the brown fields. Ah, then, for a +breath, my heart begged my will for utterance. The first word +passed my lips when there came a sound of galloping hoofs and +Theresa and the marquis. + +"Come, dreamers," said the former, as they pulled up beside us. "A +cold dinner is the worst enemy of happiness." + +"And he is the worst robber that shortens the hour of love," said +the marquis, smiling. + +We turned, following them at a swift gallop. They had helped me +out of that mire of ecstasy, and now I was glad, for, on my soul, I +believed the fair girl had found one more to her liking, and was +only playing for my scalp. And at last I had begun to know my own +heart, or thought I had. + +D'ri came over that evening with a letter from General Brown. He +desired me to report for duty next day at two. + +"War--it is forever war," said Therese, when I told her at dinner. +"There is to be a coaching-party to-morrow, and we shall miss you, +captain." + +"Can you not soon return?" said the baroness. + +"I fear not," was my answer. "It is to be a long campaign." + +"Oh, the war! When will it ever end?" said Louise, sighing. + +"When we are all dead," said Louison. + +"Of loneliness?" said the old count, with a smile. + +"No; of old age," said Louison, quickly. + +"When the army goes into Canada it will go into trouble," said the +Comte de Chaumont, speaking in French. "We shall have to get you +out of captivity, captain." + +"Louise would rescue him," said her sister. "She has influence +there." + +"Would you pay my ransom?" I inquired, turning to her. + +"With my life," said she, solemnly. + +"Greater love hath no man than this," said the good Pere Joulin, +smiling as the others laughed. + +"And none has greater obligation," said Louise, blushing with +embarrassment. "Has he not brought us three out of captivity?" + +"Well, if I am taken," I said, "nothing can bring me back unless it +be--" + +"A miracle?" the baroness prompted as I paused. + +"Yes; even a resurrection," was my answer. "I know what it means +for a man to be captured there these days." + +Louise sat beside me, and I saw what others failed to notice--her +napkin stop quickly on its way to her lips, her hand tighten as it +held the white linen. It made me regretful of my thoughtless +answer, but oddly happy for a moment. Then they all besought me +for some adventure of those old days in the army. I told them the +story of the wasps, and, when I had finished, our baroness told of +the trouble it led to--their capture and imprisonment. + +"It was very strange," said she, in conclusion. "That Englishman +grew kinder every day we were there, until we began to feel at +home." + +They were all mystified, but I thought I could understand it. We +had a long evening of music, and I bade them all good-by before +going to bed, for they were to be off early. + +Well, the morning came clear, and before I was out of bed I heard +the coach-horn, the merry laughter of ladies under my window, the +prancing hoofs, and the crack of the whip as they all went away. +It surprised me greatly to find Louise at the breakfast table when +I came below-stairs; I shall not try to say how much it pleased me. +She was gowned in pink, a red rose at her bosom. I remember, as if +it were yesterday, the brightness of her big eyes, the glow in her +cheeks, the sweet dignity of her tall, fine figure when she rose +and gave me her hand. + +"I did feel sorry, ma'm'selle, that I could not go; but now--now I +am happy," was my remark. + +"Oh, captain, you are very gallant," said she, as we took seats. +"I was not in the mood for merrymaking, and then, I am reading a +book." + +"A book! May its covers be the gates of happiness," I answered. + +"Eh bien! it is a tale of love," said she. + +"Of a man for a woman?" I inquired. + +"Of a lady that loved two knights, and knew not which the better." + +"Is it possible and--and reasonable?" I inquired. "In a tale +things should go as--well, as God plans them." + +"Quite possible," said she, "for in such a thing as love who knows +what--what may happen?" + +"Except he have a wide experience," I answered. + +"And have God's eyes," said she. "Let me tell you. They were both +handsome, brave, splendid, of course, but there was a difference: +the one had a more perfect beauty of form and face, the other a +nobler soul." + +"And which will she favor?" + +"Alas! I have not read, and do not know her enough to judge," was +her answer; "but I shall hate her if she does not take him with the +better soul." + +"And why?" I could hear my heart beating. + +"Love is not love unless it be--" She paused, thinking. "Dieu! +from soul to soul," she added feelingly. + +She was looking down, a white, tapered finger stirring the red +petals of the rose. Then she spoke in a low, sweet tone that +trembled with holy feeling and cut me like a sword of the spirit +going to its very hilt in my soul. + +"Love looks to what is noble," said she, "or it is vain--it is +wicked; it fails; it dies in a day, like the rose. True love, that +is forever." + +"What if it be hopeless?" I whispered. + +"Ah! then it is very bitter," said she, her voice diminishing. "It +may kill the body, but--but love does not die. When it comes--" +There was a breath of silence that had in it a strange harmony not +of this world. + +"'When it comes'?" I whispered. + +"You see the coming of a great king," said she, looking down +thoughtfully, her chin, upon her hand. + +"And all people bow their heads," I said. + +"Yes," she added, with a sigh, "and give their bodies to be burned, +if he ask it. The king is cruel--sometimes." + +"Dieu!" said I. "He has many captives." + +She broke a sprig of fern, twirling it in her fingers; her big eyes +looked up at me, and saw, I know, to the bottom of my soul. + +"But long live the king!" said she, her lips trembling, her cheeks +as red as the rose upon her bosom. + +"Long live the king!" I murmured. + +We dared go no farther. Sweet philosopher, inspired of Heaven, I +could not bear the look of her, and rose quickly with dim eyes and +went out of the open door. A revelation had come to me. Mere de +Dieu! how I loved that woman so fashioned in thy image! She +followed me, and laid her hand upon my arm tenderly, while I shook +with emotion. + +"Captain," said she, in that sweet voice, "captain, what have I +done?" + +It was the first day of the Indian summer, a memorable season that +year, when, according to an old legend, the Great Father sits idly +on the mountain-tops and blows the smoke of his long pipe into the +valleys. In a moment I was quite calm, and stood looking off to +the hazy hollows of the far field. I gave her my arm without +speaking, and we walked slowly down a garden path. For a time +neither broke the silence. + +"I did not know--I did not know," she whispered presently. + +"And I--must--tell you," I said brokenly, "that I--that I--" + +"Hush-sh-sh!" she whispered, her hand over my lips. "Say no more! +say no more! If it is true, go--go quickly, I beg of you!" + +There was such a note of pleading in her voice, I hear it, after +all this long time, in the hushed moments of my life, night or day. +"Go--go quickly, I beg of you!" We were both near breaking down. + +[Illustration: "We were both near breaking down."] + +"Vive le roi!" I whispered, taking her hand. + +"Vive le roi!" she whispered, turning away. + + + + +XXV + +How empty and weak are my words that try to tell of that day! I +doubt if there is in them anywhere what may suggest, even feebly, +the height and depth of that experience or one ray of the light in +her face. There are the words nearly as we said them; there are +the sighs, the glances, the tears: but everywhere there is much +missing--that fair young face and a thousand things irresistible +that drift in with every tide of high feeling. Of my history there +is not much more to write, albeit some say the best is untold. + +I had never such a heart of lead as went with me to my work that +afternoon. What became of me I cared not a straw then, for I knew +my love was hopeless. D'ri met me as I got off my horse at the +Harbor. His keen eye saw my trouble quickly--saw near to the +bottom of it. + +"Be'n hit?" said he, his great hand on my shoulder. + +"With trouble," I answered. "Torn me up a little inside." + +"Thought so," he remarked soberly. "Judas Priest! ye luk es ef a +shell 'ad bu'st 'n yer cockpit. Ain' nuthin' 'll spile a man +quicker. Sheer off a leetle an' git out o' range. An' 'member, +Ray, don't never give up the ship. Thet air 's whut Perry tol' us." + +I said nothing and walked away, but have always remembered his +counsel, there was so much of his big heart in it. The army was to +move immediately, in that foolish campaign of Wilkinson that ended +with disaster at Chrysler's Farm. They were making the boats, +small craft with oars, of which three hundred or more would be +needed to carry us. We were to go eastward on the river and join +Hampden, whose corps was to march overland to Plattsburg, at some +point on the north shore. Word came, while I was away, that down +among the islands our enemy had been mounting cannon. It looked +as if our plan had leaked, as if, indeed, there were good chance of +our being blown out of water the first day of our journey. So, +before the army started, I was to take D'ri and eleven others, with +four boats, and go down to reconnoitre. + +We got away before sundown that day, and, as dark came, were +passing the southwest corner of Wolf Island. I was leading the +little fleet, and got ashore, intending to creep along the edge and +rejoin them at the foot of the island. I had a cow-bell, muted +with cork, and was to clang it for a signal in case of need. Well, +I was a bit more reckless that night than ever I had been. Before +I had gone twenty rods I warned them to flee and leave me. I heard +a move in the brush, and was backing off, when a light flashed on +me, and I felt the touch of a bayonet. Then quickly I saw there +was no help for me, and gave the signal, for I was walled in. +Well, I am not going to tell the story of my capture. My sabre +could serve me well, but, heavens! it was no magic wand such as one +may read of in the story-books. I knew then it would serve me best +in the scabbard. There were few words and no fighting in the +ceremony. I gave up, and let them bind my arms. In two hours they +had me in jail, I knew not where. In the morning they let me send +a note to Lord Ronley, who was now barely two days out of his own +trouble. A week passed; I was to be tried for a spy, and saw +clearly the end of it all. Suddenly, a morning when my hopes were +gone, I heard the voice of his Lordship in the little corridor. A +keeper came with him to the door of my cell, and opened it. + +"The doctor," said he. + +"Well, well, old fellow," said Ronley, clapping me on the shoulder, +"you are ill, I hear." + +"Really, I do not wish to alarm you," I said, smiling, "but--but it +does look serious." + +He asked me to show my tongue, and I did so. + +"Cheer up," said he, presently; "I have brought you this pill. It +is an excellent remedy." + +He had taken from his pocket a brown pill of the size of a large +pea, and sat rolling it in his palm. Had he brought me poison? + +"I suppose it is better than--" + +He shot a glance at me as if to command silence, then he put the +pill in my palm. I saw it was of brown tissue rolled tightly. + +"Don't take it now," said he; "too soon after breakfast. Wait half +an hour. A cup of water," he added, turning to the guard, who left +us for a moment. + +He leaned to my ear and whispered:-- + +"Remember," said he, "2 is _a_, and 3 is _b_, and so on. Be +careful until the guard changes." + +He handed me a small watch as he was leaving. + +"It may be good company," he remarked. + +I unrolled the tissue as soon as I was alone. It was covered with +these figures:-- + + 21-24-6-13-23-6 + + 21-16-15-10-8-9-21 4-6-13-13 5-16-16-19 + 22-15-13-16-4-12-6-5 13-10-7-21 20-14-2-13-13 + 24-10-15-5-16-24 10-15 4-16-19-19-10-5-16-19 3-2-4-12 + 21-16 24-2-13-13 8-16 19-10-8-9-21 21-16 19-16-2-5 + 13-6-7-21 200 17-2-4-6-20 21-16 17-2-21-9 13-6-7-21 + 21-16 19-10-23-6-19 19-10-8-9-21 21-24-6-15-21-26 + 21-16 21-9-10-4-12-6-21. + +I made out the reading, shortly, as follows:-- + + "Twelve to-night cell door unlocked. Lift + small window in corridor. Back to wall go + right to road. Left two hundred paces to path. + Left to river. Right twenty to thicket." + +Having read the figures, I rolled the tissue firmly, and hid it in +my ear. It was a day of some excitement, I remember, for that very +afternoon I was condemned to death. A priest, having heard of my +plight, came in that evening, and offered me the good ministry of +the church. The words, the face, of that simple man, filled me +with a deep tenderness for all who seek in the shadows of this +world with the lantern of God's mercy. Never, so long as I live, +shall an ill word of them go unrebuked in my hearing. He left me +at 10.30, and as he went away, my jailer banged the iron door +without locking it. Then I lay down there in the dark, and began +to tell off the time by my heartbeats, allowing forty-five hundred +to the hour, and was not far wrong. I thought much of his Lordship +as I waited. To him I had been of some service, but, surely, not +enough to explain this tender regard, involving, as it must have +done, bribery and no small degree of peril to himself. My counting +over, I tried the door, which swung easily as I put my hand upon +it, The little corridor was dark and I could hear no sound save the +snoring of a drunken soldier, committed that day for fighting, as +the turnkey had told me. I found the small window, and slid the +sash, and let my boots fall to the ground, then climbing through +and dropping on them. It was a dark night, but I was not long in +reaching the road and pacing my way to the path and river. His +Lordship and a boatman lay in the thicket waiting for me. + +"This way," the former whispered, taking my arm and leading me to +the mouth of a little brook, where a boat was tied, the bottom +muffled with blankets. I took the stern seat, his Lordship the +bow, and we pushed off. The boatman, a big, husky fellow, had been +rowing a long hour when we put into a cove under the high shore of +an island. I could see a moving glow back in the bushes. It swung +slowly, like a pendulum of light, with a mighty flit and tumble of +shadows. We tied our boat, climbed the shore, and made slowly for +the light. Nearing it, his Lordship whistled twice, and got +answer. The lantern was now still; it lighted the side of a +soldier in high boots; and suddenly I saw it was D'ri. I caught +his hand, raising it to my lips. We could not speak, either of us. +He stepped aside, lifting the lantern. God! there stood Louise. +She was all in black, her head bent forward. + +"Dear love!" I cried, grasping her hands, "why--why have you come +here?" + +She turned her face away, and spoke slowly, her voice trembling +with emotion. + +"To give my body to be burned," said she. + +I turned, lifting my arm to smite the man who had brought me there; +but lo! some stronger hand had struck him, some wonder-working +power of a kind that removes mountains. Lord Ronley was wiping his +eyes. + +"I cannot do this thing," said he, in a broken voice. "I cannot do +this thing. Take her and go." + +D'ri had turned away to hide his feelings. + +"Take them to your boat," said his Lordship. + +"Wait a minute," said D'ri, fixing his lantern. "Judas Priest! I +ain't got no stren'th. I 'm all tore t' shoe-strings." + +I took her arm, and we followed D'ri to the landing. Lord Ronley +coming with us. + +"Good-by," said he, leaning to push us off. "I am a better man for +knowing you. Dear girl, you have put all the evil out of me." + +He held a moment to the boat, taking my hand as I came by him. + +"Bell," said he, "henceforward may there be peace between you and +me." + +"And between your country and mine," I answered. + +And, thank God! the war was soon over, and ever since there has +been peace between the two great peoples. I rejoice that even we +old men have washed our hearts of bitterness, and that the young +have now more sense of brotherhood. + +Above all price are the words of a wise man, but silence, that is +the great counsellor. In silence wisdom enters the heart and +understanding puts forth her voice. In the hush of that night ride +I grew to manhood; I put away childish things. I saw, or thought I +saw, the two great powers of good and evil. One was love, with the +power of God in it to lift up, to ennoble; the other, love's +counterfeit, a cunning device of the devil, with all his power to +wreck and destroy, deceiving him that has taken it until he finds +at last he has neither gold nor silver, but only base metal hanging +as a millstone to his neck. + +At dawn we got ashore on Battle Point. We waited there, Louise and +I, while D'ri went away to bring horses. The sun rose clear and +warm; it was like a summer morning, but stiller, for the woods had +lost their songful tenantry. We took the forest road, walking +slowly. Some bugler near us had begun to play the song of +Yankee-land. Its phrases travelled like waves in the sea, some +high-crested, moving with a mighty rush, filling the valleys, +mounting the hills, tossing their spray aloft, flooding all the +shores of silence. Far and near, the trees were singing in praise +of my native land. + +"Ramon," said Louise, looking up at me, a sweet and queenly dignity +in her face, "I have come to love this country." + +"And you could not have done so much for me unless you had loved--" + +She looked up at me quickly, and put her finger to her lips. My +tongue faltered, obeying the command. How sweet and beautiful she +was then, her splendid form erect, the light of her eyes softened +by long lashes! She looked down thoughtfully as she gave the +bottom of her gown a shake. + +"Once upon a time," said she, slowly, as our eyes met again, "there +was a little country that had a cruel king. And he commanded that +none of all his people should speak until--until--" + +She hesitated, stirring the dead leaves with her dainty foot. + +"Until a great mountain had been removed and buried in the sea," +she added in a low tone. + +"Ah, that was hard." + +"Especially for the ladies," she went on, sighing. "Dieu! they +could only sit and hold their tongues and weep and feel very +foolish. And the longer they were silent the more they had to say." + +"And those who broke the law?" I inquired. + +"Were condemned to silence for their lives," she answered. "Come, +we are both in danger; let us go." + +A bit farther on we came to a log house where a veteran of the old +war sat playing his bugle, and a motherly woman bade us sit awhile +at the door-step. + + + + +XXVI + +D'ri came soon with horses, one the black thoroughbred of Louise +which had brought her on this errand. We gave them free rein, +heading for the chateau. Not far up the woods-pike we met M. de +Lambert and the old count. The former was angry, albeit he held +himself in hand as became a gentleman, save that he was a bit too +cool with me. + +"My girl, you have upset us terribly," said the learned doctor. "I +should like to be honored with your confidence." + +"And I with your kindness, dear father," said she, as her tears +began falling. "I am much in need of it." + +"She has saved my life, m'sieur," I said. + +"Then go to your work," said he, coolly, "and make the most of it." + +"Ah, sir, I had rather--" + +"Good-by," said Louise, giving me her hand. + +"Au revoir," I said quickly, and wheeled my horse and rode away. + +The boats were ready. The army was waiting for the order, now +expected any moment, to move. General Brown had not been at his +quarters for a day. + +"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, when we were alone together, "thet air +gal 'd go through fire an' water fer you." + +"You 're mistaken," I said. + +"No, I hain't nuther," said he. "Ef I be, I 'm a reg'lar +out-an'-out fool, hand over fist." + +He whittled a moment thoughtfully. + +"Ain' no use talkin'," he added, "I can tell a hoss from a +jack-rabbit any day." + +"Her father does not like me," I suggested. + +"Don't hev to," said D'ri, calmly. + +He cut a deep slash in the stick he held, then added: "Don't make +no odds ner no diff'rence one way er t' other. I did n't like th' +measles, but I hed t' hev 'em." + +"He'll never permit a marriage with me," I said. + +"'T ain't nec'sary," he declared soberly. "In this 'ere country +don' tek only tew t' mek a bargain. One o' the blessin's o' +liberty." + +He squinted up at the sky, delivering his confidence in slowly +measured phrases, to wit; "Wouldn't give ten cents fer no man 'at +'ll give up a gal 'less he 'd orter--not fer nuthin' ner nobody." + +I was called out of bed at cockcrow in the morning. The baroness +and a footman were at the door. + +"Ah, my captain, there is trouble," she whispered. "M. de Lambert +has taken his daughters. They are going back to Paris, bag and +baggage. Left in the evening." + +"By what road?" + +"The turnpike militaire." + +"Thanks, and good morning," I said. "I shall overhaul them." + +I called D'ri, and bade him feed the horses quickly. I went to see +General Brown, but he and Wilkinson were on the latter's gig, half +a mile out in the harbor. I scribbled a note to the +farmer-general, and, leaving it, ran to the stables. Our horses +were soon ready, and D'ri and I were off a bit after daylight, +urging up hill and down at a swift gallop, and making the forest +ring with hoof-beats. Far beyond the chateau we slackened pace and +went along leisurely. Soon we passed the town where they had put +up overnight, and could see the tracks of horse and coach-wheel. +D'ri got off and examined them presently. + +"Purty fresh," he remarked. "Can't be more 'n five mild er so +further on." + +We rode awhile in silence. + +"How ye goin' t' tackle 'em?" he inquired presently. + +"Going to stop them somehow," said I, "and get a little +information." + +"An' mebbe a gal?" he suggested. + +"Maybe a gal." + +"Don' care s' long as ye dew th' talkin'. I can rassle er fight, +but my talk in a rumpus ain' fit fer no woman t' hear, thet 's +sart'in." + +We overtook the coach at a village, near ten o'clock. + +D'ri rushed on ahead of them, wheeling with drawn sabre. The +driver pulled rein, stopping quickly. M. de Lambert was on the +seat beside him. I came alongside. + +"Robbers!" said M. de Lambert, "What do you mean?" + +The young ladies and Brovel were looking out of the door, Louise +pale and troubled. + +"No harm to any, m'sieur," I answered. "Put up your pistol." + +I opened the coach door. M. de Lambert, hissing with anger, leaped +to the road. I knew he would shoot me, and was making ready to +close with him, when I heard a rustle of silk, and saw Louise +between us, her tall form erect, her eyes forceful and commanding. +She stepped quickly to her father. + +"Let me have it!" said she, taking the pistol from his hand. She +flung it above the heads of some village folk who had gathered near +us. + +"Why do you stop us?" she whispered, turning to me. + +"So you may choose between him and me," I answered. + +"Then I leave all for you," said she, coming quickly to my side. + +[Illustration: "Then I leave all for you."] + +The villagers began to cheer, and old D'ri flung his hat in the +air, shouting, "Hurrah fer love an' freedom!" + +"An' the United States of Ameriky," some one added. + +"She is my daughter," said M. de Lambert, with anger, as he came up +to me. "I may command her, and I shall seek the aid of the law as +soon as I find a magistrate." + +"But see that you find him before we find a minister," I said. + +"The dominie! Here he is," said some one near us. + +"Marry them," said another. "It is Captain Bell of the army, a +brave and honorable man." + +Does not true love, wherever seen, spread its own quality and +prosper by the sympathy it commands? Louise turned to the good +man, taking his hand. + +"Come," said she, "there is no time to lose." + +The minister came to our help. He could not resist her appeal, so +sweetly spoken. There, under an elm by the wayside, with some +score of witnesses, including Louison and the young Comte de +Brovel, who came out of the coach and stood near, he made us man +and wife. We were never so happy as when we stood there hand in +hand, that sunny morning, and heard the prayer for God's blessing, +and felt a mighty uplift in our hearts. As to my sweetheart, there +was never such a glow in her cheeks, such a light in her large +eyes, such a grace in her figure. + +"Dear sister," said Louison, kissing her, "I wish I were as happy." + +"And you shall be as soon as you get to Paris," said the young +count. + +"Oh, dear, I can hardly wait!" said the merry-hearted girl, looking +proudly at her new lover. + +"I admire your pluck, my young man," said M. de Lambert, as we +shook hands. "You Americans are a great people. I surrender; I am +not going to be foolish. Turn your horses," said he, motioning to +the driver. "We shall go back at once." + +I helped Louise into the coach with her sister and the Comte de +Brovel. D'ri and I rode on behind them, the village folk cheering +and waving their hats, + +"Ye done it skilful," said D'ri, smiling. "Whut'd I tell ye?" + +I made no answer, being too full of happiness at the moment. + +"Tell ye one thing, Ray," he went on soberly: "ef a boy an' a gal +loves one 'nother, an' he has any grit in 'im, can't nuthin' keep +'em apart long." + +He straightened the mane of his horse, and then added:-- + +"Ner they can't nuthin' conquer 'em." + +Soon after two o'clock we turned in at the chateau. + +We were a merry company at luncheon, the doctor drinking our health +and happiness with sublime resignation. But I had to hurry +back--that was the worst of it all. Louise walked with me to the +big gate, where were D'ri and the horses. We stopped a moment on +the way. + +"Again?" she whispered, her sweet face on my shoulder. "Yes, and +as often as you like. No more now--there is D'ri. Remember, +sweetheart, I shall look and pray for you day and night." + + + + +XXVII + +Sooner or later all things come to an end, including wars and +histories,--a God's mercy!--and even the lives of such lucky men as +I. All things, did I say? Well, what wonder, for am I not writing +of youth and far delights with a hand trembling of infirmity? All +things save one, I meant to say, and that is love, the immortal +vine, with its root in the green earth, that weathers every storm, +and "groweth not old," and climbs to paradise; and who eats of its +fruit has in him ever a thought of heaven--a hope immortal as +itself. + +This book of my life ends on a bright morning in the summer of '17, +at the new home of James Donatianus Le Ray, Comte de Chaumont, the +chateau having burned the year before. + +President Monroe is coming on the woods-pike, and veterans are +drawn up in line to meet him. Here are men who fought at Chippewa +and Lundy's Lane and Lake Erie and Chrysler's Farm, and here are +some old chaps who fought long before at Plattsburg and +Ticonderoga. Joseph Bonaparte, the ex-king of Spain, so like his +mighty brother at St. Helena, is passing the line. He steps +proudly, in ruffles and green velvet. Gondolas with liveried +gondoliers, and filled with fair women, are floating on the still +lake, now rich with shadow-pictures of wood and sky and rocky shore. + +A burst of melody rings in the great harp of the woodland. In that +trumpet peal, it seems, a million voices sing:-- + + Hail, Columbia, happy land! + +Slowly the line begins to limp along. There are wooden legs and +crutches and empty sleeves in that column. D'ri goes limping in +front, his right leg gone at the knee since our last charge. +Draped around him is that old battle-flag of the _Lawrence_. I +march beside him, with only this long seam across my check to show +that I had been with him that bloody day at Chrysler's. We move +slowly over a green field to the edge of the forest. There, in the +cool shadow, are ladies in white, and long tables set for a feast. +My dear wife, loved of all and more beautiful than ever, comes to +meet us. + +"Sweetheart," she whispers, "I was never so proud to be your wife." + +"And an American," I suggest, kissing her. + +"And an American," she answers. + +A bugle sounds; the cavalcade is coming. + +"The President!" they cry, and we all begin cheering. + +He leads the escort on a black horse, a fine figure in military +coat and white trousers, his cocked hat in hand, a smile lighting +his face. The count receives him and speaks our welcome. +President Monroe looks down the war-scarred line a moment. His +eyes fill with tears, and then he speaks to us. + +"Sons of the woodsmen," says he, concluding his remarks, "you shall +live in the history of a greater land than that we now behold or +dream of, and in the gratitude of generations yet unborn, long, +long after we are turned to dust." + +And then we all sing loudly with full hearts: + + O land I love!--thy acres sown + With sweat and blood and shattered bone-- + God's grain, that ever doth increase + The goodly harvest of his peace. + + +THE END + + + + +[Transcriber's note - the following material is the Lilypond +(www.lilypond.org) source for the song found earlier in this +e-book. Search for the word "roundelay". Thanks to Dave +Maddock for its preparation.] + +\version "2.0.1" + +melody = \notes \relative c' { + \key e \major + \time 4/4 + + \autoBeamOff + + \partial 4 gis'8.\fermata[ fis16] \bar "|:" \mark + \markup { \musicglyph #"scripts-segno" } + e8. e16 dis8. cis16 cis cis8. b8.[ gis16] | + b4 b8. gis16 b4 e8. fis16 | + gis4 gis gis8.[ fis16] e4 | + gis16 gis8. fis8. fis16 fis4 gis8.[ fis16] | + e4 e8. cis16 cis8. cis16 b8. gis16 | + b16 b8. b8. gis16 b4 e8. fis16 | + gis4 b4 gis16[ fis8.] e8.[ fis16] | + gis4 e4 e\fermata e\fermata | + gis4 b8. b16 b8 cis b a | + gis4 b b4. b8 | + a4 cis8. cis16 cis8 dis cis b | + a4 cis cis4. b8 | + e4 e8. e16 b8 cis b a | + gis4 gis fis e8.[ fis16] | + gis4 gis gis16[ fis8.] e16[ fis8.] | + gis4^\markup{ \italic "ritard." } fis fis gis8.\fermata^\markup{ + \italic "D.S. " \musicglyph #"scripts-segno"}[ fis16] \bar ":|" +} + + +text = \lyrics { + Oh, hap -- py is th' mil -- ler who + lives by him -- self! As th' wheel goes round, he + gath -- ers in 'is wealth, One hand on the + hop -- per and the oth -- er on the bag; As the + wheel goes round, he cries out, "Grab!" Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- shamed o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- sham'd o' this, Oh, + ain't you a lit -- tle bit a -- sham'd o' this -- To + stay all night for one sweet kiss "Oh, etc." +} + + + +\score { +<< + \new Staff + \addlyrics + \melody + \new Lyrics \text +>> +} + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of D'Ri and I, by Irving Bacheller + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK D'RI AND I *** + +***** This file should be named 12440.txt or 12440.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/4/4/12440/ + +Produced by Al Haines. 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