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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/16181-8.txt b/16181-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7614a86 --- /dev/null +++ b/16181-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4459 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Young Lion of the Woods, by Thomas Barlow Smith + +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: Young Lion of the Woods + A Story of Early Colonial Days + +Author: Thomas Barlow Smith + +Release Date: July 2, 2005 [EBook #16181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS; + +OR + +A Story of Early Colonial Days. + + + +BY + +THOMAS B. SMITH. + + + Here in Canadian hearth, and home, and name;-- + This name which yet shall grow + Till all the nations know + Us for a patriot people, heart and hand + Loyal to our native earth, our own Canadian land! + --Chas. G.D. Roberts. + + + +HALIFAX, N.S.: +NOVA SCOTIA PRINTING COMPANY. +1889. + +_Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year 1889, +by_ THOMAS B. SMITH, _at the Department of Agriculture_. + + + + +Dedication. + +TO MY WIFE +I DEDICATE THIS, MY FIRST WORK, +WITH MY LOVE. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The only merit that the writer claims for the following pages is, that +they contain a record of facts, setting forth the sacred sentiments of +duty, religious trust, and the spirit of liberty, amid sufferings-and +hardships of persons, whose loyalty was put to the severest test. + +It has been beautifully said, "that he who sets a colony on foot designs +a great work." "He designs all the good, and all the glory, of which, in +the series of ages, it might be the means; and he shall be judged more +by the lofty, ultimate aim and result, than by the actual instant +motive. You may well admire, therefore, the solemn and adorned +plausibilities of the colonizing of Rome from Troy, in the Eneid! Though +the leader had been burned out of house and home, and could not choose +but go. You may find in the flight of the female founder of the gloomy +greatness of Carthage a certain epic interest; yet was she running from +the madness of her husband to save her life. Emigration from our stocked +communities of undeified men and women, emigration for conquest, for +gold, for very restlessness of spirit, if they grow toward an imperial +issue, have all thus a prescriptive and recognized ingredient of +heroism. But when the immediate motive is as grand as the ultimate hope +was lofty, and the ultimate success splendid, then, to use an expression +of Bacon's," "the music is fuller." + +In the hope that the privations and heroic conduct of those who are the +subjects of the story, in the following chapters, may prove as +interesting to the public as they did to the writer, when he first +learned the history of such heroism, the writer submits them to the +reader. + +_JANUARY_, 1889. + + + + +CONTENTS Page + + +YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS; + A Story of Early Colonial Days. i + +PREFACE. 1 + +INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 3 + +CHAPTER I. + FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70. 10 + +CHAPTER II. + TRADING,--TROUBLE,--RETREAT. 25 + +CHAPTER III. + ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK--PAUL GUIDON. 36 + +CHAPTER IV. + TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA. 52 + +CHAPTER V. + CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL. + --YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. 67 + +CHAPTER VI. + IN ENGLAND.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS. 76 + +CHAPTER VII. + ARRIVAL AND RETREAT. 80 + +CHAPTER VIII. + REBEL PLANS--PRAYING THE LORDS. 95 + +CHAPTER IX. + PAUL GUIDON. 100 + +CHAPTER X. + MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA. + --DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. 104 + +CHAPTER XI. + MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL. 120 + +CHAPTER XII. + MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG. + --SOCIETY AT HALIFAX. 133 + +A CONCLUDING CHAPTER. + THEN, NOW, AND TO BE. 141 + + + + +INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER + + +The records of the lives and actions of those who have preceded us in +the procession of the generations, are full of instruction and interest. +In many instances they hold up to our emulation great models of +patriotism, patience, endurance, activity and pluck. It is to be +regretted that many documents of past ages have been destroyed through +lack of knowledge of their real value, and of the light they would have +thrown upon the early history of the country. Some few, regarded merely +as the relics of departed ancestors, have been so secretly kept and +treasured, that dust, must and rust have all but completely defaced +them. + +If our ancestors had been wise in preserving the papers of their +fathers, long ago there might have been collected from such documents, +and displayed, many particulars of positive information concerning the +very early history of the English in Acadia. + +We might have possessed a much fuller history of the times when great +difficulties and dangers opposed the settlers. When rushing rivers had +to be crossed without boat or bridge; when men and women often found it +necessary to contend single handed with Indians; and when, for meeting +the many obstacles that placed themselves in their path, our ancestors +were often but poorly equipped. + +Whilst we take pride in the hardships cheerfully borne by our +forefathers in the early colonial days, may we not be sometimes inclined +to forget those fleet-footed, clever, dusky sons of the forest, to whose +generous aid they were not infrequently indebted for protection from +hostile men and savage beasts, and even sometimes for sustenance? + +When we have secured positive information that now and again there have +appeared among the brawny men of the forest noble specimens of all that +is true and kind, let us not fail to record their deeds of faithfulness +and heroism. The least we can do for such is to bring to light their +actions and preserve their history. When beneath the shade of the +forest, on the trackless desert, on the rushing river, in tempest and +thunder, or when watching in the vicinity of an old fort or near the log +cabin of the early colonists, the Red man has been found a faithful +friend and guide; should not his deeds of kindness, faithfulness and +bravery be recorded side by side with those of the noblest of the human +race? + +The story related in the following chapters has been gathered from facts +stated in time-worn documents, which have been lying for generations +concealed in a wooden box. The only regret of the writer is, that it was +impossible for him to gain access to all the old musty and defaced +papers in the box. The old gentleman, in whose possession they were +found, is very old and eccentric, and by no effort or persuasion could +the writer induce him to part company with the documents, but for a +short time. But although the task of procuring them was extremely +difficult, and that of deciphering them afterwards was both difficult +and tedious, still the satisfaction of having rescued from decay and +destruction, what seems so interesting, is satisfaction sufficient for +the writer. + +That portion of the documents relating the events in connection with the +first and second settlement of an English officer and his family, during +the last century, in a district which is now said to be one of the most +beautiful portions of Canada, is most instructive and interesting, +although at times, while deciphering it, the writer felt his blood +quicken in its pulsations, and tears forcing their way to the surface. + +A few years previous to this English officers first attempt at +settlement in Nova Scotia, he came out to Quebec with his regiment. The +remaining portion of this introductory chapter will narrate some events +in connection with the early life of the officer, his coming to Quebec +with his regiment, his short stay there, and his return to his native +country:-- + +On board the transport _Pitt_, in the year 1765, at Cork, embarked +Captain Godfrey with his regiment, the 52nd foot, for Quebec, North +America. + +On the passage the _Pitt_ was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where +Captain Godfrey with his regiment suffered many hardships. + +The ship ran ashore in a dense fog, which had prevailed for several +days. The Captain remaining by the wreck for eleven days, assisted in +saving the lives of the soldiers wives and children, and in landing the +King's stores. The transport struck well up the gulf on the Nova Scotian +coast (now New Brunswick). The exact locality is not stated. The night +of the disaster was densely dark, and soon after striking the ship +began to pound and leak badly. Had the wind sprung up during the hours +of darkness not a soul on board would have lived to record the tale. +Very early the next morning, as Captain Godfrey was standing on the +quarter deck, conversing with the officer in charge of the ship, the +rain began suddenly to descend in torrents and the wind to freshen. The +mist that had enshrouded the ship for so many days, began to lift, and +the sun shone through by instalments. Soon it was seen that the _Pitt_ +was hemmed in by rocks, almost wedged in among them. Fortunately the +storm soon abated, and the situation of the vessel kept her in an +upright position. The fog settled down again, and for the next ten days +all on board were kept busy in saving their effects and the King's +stores. + +At the end of ten days all on board were taken off. General Murray, +commanding at Quebec, by some means not recorded, having heard of the +disaster, sent a man-of-war schooner to the relief of the sufferers, and +they were safely conveyed to Quebec. + +Captain Godfrey, through exposure and fatigue, contracted a severe cold, +and at last, his life being despaired of, the surgeon of the regiment +advised his return to England. He applied to General Clavering for leave +of absence, or to grant him permission to sell out of the army. The +permission being granted, he soon set about preparing to leave Quebec, +and rejoin his wife and five children in England. Captain Godfrey notes +in a memorandum his great sorrow in parting from his regiment, and that +his zeal for serving his King and country was so great that nothing but +extreme weakness would have induced him to part from his regiment and +King George the Third's service. + +Before leaving Quebec to return home to his native land, Captain Godfrey +visited the spot where, six years before, the gallant Wolfe had poured +out his life's blood in the service of his King and country. Here the +Captain knelt and offered up to Him who guides the stars in their +courses, thanksgiving for the brilliant and decisive victory gained by +the British arms. + +The following is from one of his memoranda:--"As I stood, and as I knelt +where Wolfe fell, I more than ever realized what it is to be a brave +soldier and a good man. As I rose from the spot I whispered to myself, +if I am, through the providence of the Almighty, allowed to once again +visit my native land, I will go to the widowed mother of General Wolfe +and tell her where I have been and what I have seen. That I have stood +on the very spot where victory and death gave the crowning lustre to the +name of her great son." + +Charles Godfrey was born at St Ann's, England, in the year 1730. The +following, copied from an old document, gives a brief sketch of his +early career:--"Was put on board His Majesty's ship _Bedford_, Capt. +Cornwall master, in the year 1741, and in 1742 went out to the +Mediterranean. In 1743 was at the siege of Villa Franca, where with a +large party of seamen was ordered on shore, and quartered at a six gun +battery, under the command of Capt. Gugger, of the Royal Artillery. Was +at the battle of Toulon, with Admirals Matthews and Lostock, on board +said ship _Bedford_, then commanded by George Townsend. Was at the +taking of several rich ships off the Island of Malta, which ships and +their cargoes were afterward restored to the Genoese. Continued in the +navy till the peace of Utretch, and for sometime subsequently. +Afterward, a warrant being procured, attended the Royal Academy at +Woolwich as a gentleman cadet, in which station was allowed to remain +till 1755. Received a commission, and was appointed to the 52nd foot, by +the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was +afterwards pleased to recommend me for a Lieutenancy, and a few years +later my friends procured for me a Captaincy." + +[1]Captain Godfrey returned to England on board a transport from Quebec. +This young officer appears to have been highly respected by the +different Generals and Field Officers under whom he had served. He was +presented, shortly after his arrival in England, with a certificate of +character, signed by Lieut.-Genl. John Clavering, Colonel of the 52nd +Regt., Lieut.-Genl. Edward Sandford, Lieut.-Genl. Sir John Seabright, +Major-Genl. Guy Carleton, Major-Genl. John Alex. McKay, Lieut.-Col. +Valentine Jones, Lieut.-Genl. Burgoyue, and Major Philip Skene. + +[Footnote 1: The full name of this British officer is not given in any +part of this work.] + +The above has been copied principally for the purpose of showing that +the following story has for its characters those who once lived and +moved in the early English colonial life of Acadia. If the districts and +places where the events related in this book occurred could speak, they +would tell nearly the same thrilling and extraordinary story. In many +of these localities great and important changes have taken place through +a century and a quarter of time, but the records of the past remain +unchanged. + +Our barns may be built over the graves of the Indians, and our houses on +the sites of their wigwams; our cattle may graze upon the hillsides and +valleys of their hunting grounds, and our churches may be erected on +positions where the Red men of the forest gathered together to invoke +the blessing of the Great Chief of the everlasting hunting ground, yet +what is truly written of the past must remain unalterable. + + * * * * * + +NOTE.--The wrecked transport _Pitt_ was named, it is said, in honour of +the Earl of Chatham; and tradition states that one of the boats of the +ship drifted from the wreck and went ashore at a point of land near +where the town of Chatham now stands, the ship's name being painted on +the boat; and from this circumstance Chatham, on the Miramichi River, +received its name. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70. + + +Captain Godfrey's health gradually improved after his return to his +native country. When he thought himself sufficiently recovered he felt +anxious to embark in some branch of business, and not feeling inclined +to do so in England, he purchased a grant of land from Lynge Tottenham, +Esq., this land was situated on the bank of the River St. John, Nova +Scotia. + +In the early part of the year 1769, after three years of rest, Captain +Godfrey purchased various kinds of merchandize, which he was advised +were best adapted to the colonial trade. He freighted a vessel in +London, and embarked with his wife and family for Halifax, in the month +of June, 1769. + +On the passage out the weather was usually fine, but the progress was +slow, and nothing remarkable occurred on board during the sixty-two days +they were in crossing the Atlantic. + +Soon after landing at Halifax, Captain Godfrey heard that the Governor +of Nova Scotia, (Lord William Campbell,) required some person of +experience to enter into possession of Fort Frederick, situated at the +mouth of the River St. John, and take charge of the arms, ammunition, +and all other of His Majesty King George the Third's stores. He had an +interview with the Governor and was appointed to take charge of the +fort. + +After having secured the appointment at Fort Frederick, he concluded to +commence trading operations at that post, and gave bonds to the governor +in the sum of one thousand pounds for the privilege of carrying on a +legitimate business with the settlers and Indians.[2] + +[Footnote 2: + + PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. + + Know all men by these presents, that we, Charles * * * Godfrey * * * and + Charles Morris, Esqs., both of Halifax, do acknowledge ourselves justly + indebted unto our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, his heirs and + successors, in the just and full sum of one thousand pounds currency of + the Province of Nova Scotia, to which payment well and truly to be made + and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators + jointly by these presents. Witness our hand and seals, this thirtieth + day of April, one thousand seven hundred and seventy, in the tenth year + of His Majesty's reign. + + CHARLES * * * GODFREY * * * + CHARLES MORRIS, JR. + + Signed and sealed in the presence of + NATHL. SHIPTON + + + _Secretary's Office, Halifax, April 30th, 1770._ + + Captain * * * Godfrey * * * has the Governor's permission to occupy the + Fort and barracks of Frederick on the St. John River, &c., &c. + + RICHARD BULKELY.] + +After spending the winter at Halifax, he chartered a brig in the month +of May, 1770, and then putting on board his goods and stores sailed for +Fort Frederick with his wife and family. On his arrival at the fort he +carefully surveyed the situation and concluded that he would abandon the +idea of trading there. + +He found no one at the fort to assist him in protecting it, and a few +days after his arrival the Indians became so troublesome and threatening +that he found it would be impossible to remain there, protect the fort +single-handed, and carry on trading operations successfully. + +One afternoon the Indians appeared before the fort in numbers, +threatening that if the place was not vacated at once they would murder +the occupants. They then made a rush and got within the enclosure, and +soon after retired. + +Captain Godfrey had fortunately purchased from the master of the vessel +in which he brought his merchandize to the fort, a small boat. The boat +had been securely moored at the island below the fort. + +The day following the assembling at the fort the savages again appeared +and attempted to steal the boat, and would have done so had not Mrs. +Godfrey succeeded in reaching the shore in time to discharge a musket at +the thieves. The Redskins pulled the boat to the spot where she stood, +but Mrs. Godfrey never moved from the position she had taken. When the +Indians were in the act of jumping on shore she ordered them to take the +boat back to the place from whence they had loosed it. One of the +Redskins, a tall, muscular fellow, who could speak some English, asked +her if she would get into the boat and go with them. If so, the boat +would be taken back and made fast. She replied, "I have no doubt you are +an honest man and would do no injury to a weak, pale-faced woman, I will +go with you." And as she said these words, she sprang into the boat and +sat down, resting the musket upon her knees. + +The Indians paddled the boat back to the place whence they had loosed +it, and not one of them uttered a word. After the boat had been made +fast Mrs. Godfrey was assisted ashore by the tall, muscular savage, his +four companions walking away without saying a word. They were soon +joined by their tall, muscular friend, and a few minutes later all were +lost to view among the trees on the shore. + +Mrs. Godfrey retired to the fort, where she was warmly congratulated by +her husband for the tact and courage she had displayed in presence of +the savages. She replied, "the Indians seemed completely taken aback +when I jumped into the boat and had not recovered from their surprise +when they parted from me, and while I was sitting in the boat, the deep, +black eyes of the tall, muscular fellow looked straight and steady at +me, and at times I felt as though they were piercing me through and +through." + +The evening was a solemn one at Fort Frederick. The Captain and his wife +talked over their situation, and the children were restless, the +slightest noise about the place making the little ones tremble like +aspen leaves. The Captain and his wife agreed that it would be useless, +while the Indians were so troublesome, to remain at the Fort and attempt +to transact business with the settlers, who were few indeed. + +As they sat together that night in the Fort by the dim light of a +flickering candle, expecting every moment to be disturbed by the +war-whoop of the savages, Captain Godfrey said to Margaret, (for such +was the name of his wife,) "our situation is serious." She replied, "I +believe it to be most dangerous." "What move would you propose," asked +the Captain. Margaret answered, "I would propose to return to Halifax, +if it be possible to get there." The Captain then said to his wife, +"What do you think about going to Grimross Neck where our grant of land +is?" Margaret replied, "I am your wife, whatever you think best to do, +do it, and I will follow and support you to the best of my ability." She +then, together with her husband and children, knelt in the lonely Fort +and asked Him who had guided and protected them thus far not to forsake +them in their present situation, but to guide, instruct and lead them in +the future. She rose on her feet, walked across the small, dingy +apartment, kissed each of the children, then taking her husband by the +hand, said to him, in a clear and decided voice, "Whither thou goest I +will follow, where thou resteth I will rest, and where thou settlest +there will I be found with thee." And in presence of the children God +had given them, they bound their hearts to suffering and death. + +Fatigue and fear had overcome the little ones, and in a short time they +were sleeping soundly upon the floor. + +After some further conversation between the Captain and his wife, it was +agreed that he should attempt to proceed before dawn in the little boat +to Annapolis Royal, and there, if possible, purchase a small vessel +suitable to convey his goods and family up the river to his grant of +land. + +At four o'clock he secretly and alone left the fort, waving with his +hand an adieu to his wife, as he stepped out of the door. He carried +with him to the boat a camp blanket which he intended to hoist as a +sail. At four o'clock, thirty minutes, he was on his way. As the little +boat passed the island at the mouth of the harbour a breeze sprang up. +He hoisted the sail, making it fast to one of the oars, which was used +as a mast; the other oar being brought into play for steering purposes. +Captain Godfrey had been fortunate in bringing with him from England +several small compasses and two larger ones, one of the latter he took +with him. + +A gentle but fair breeze followed the little ship from land to land. The +Captain found great difficulty in sighting the entrance to Digby Bay, +where he arrived safe and sound at eleven o'clock the following morning. + +The next day he proceeded to Annapolis Royal arriving there at noon, +where he purchased a large sloop, and without delay got his boat on +board and next day at the turn of tide sailed for Digby. Here he took on +board some water, and after waiting several hours for a fair wind sailed +for the mouth of the St. John. At ten o'clock, a.m., June 30th, he set +sail to recross the Bay of Fundy and rejoin his wife and family at Fort +Frederick. He arrived off the harbour the following morning quite early, +but was unable to anchor off Fort Frederick, till the evening on account +of fog. On arriving at the Fort he was greatly relieved of apprehensions +that would obtrude themselves upon him during his lonely trip by finding +his wife and children all well. + +The following day he commenced to get his merchandize on board the +sloop. His wife and eldest son assisting. It took fully ten days to +accomplish the task, which proved to be a tedious and toilsome one +indeed. At last, everything being ready, he vacated Fort Frederick and +sailed for his possessions up the river, intending there to settle and +trade. + +Not many hours after they had left the Fort the report of a musket was +heard from the shore. Soon a canoe was seen approaching the sloop. As it +came near the vessel, an Indian was seen as its only occupant. He +paddled his canoe alongside the sloop. Captain Godfrey attentively +watched his every movement while Mrs. Godfrey seemed quite indifferent +at the presence of the stranger. She threw him a small line and made +signs to him to make fast his canoe, which he appeared quickly to +understand. Mrs. Godfrey then motioned to the Indian to come on board, +and he at once bounded over the rail. As he stood on deck, his comely +Indian features were lit up by a good humoured smile. He looked a giant, +brave and active. He was teeming all over with youthful vigour. His eyes +were black like polished jet, sparkling and deep set. His mouth large, +square and firm; and his hair like threads of coarse, black silk, +brushed back from a low, narrow forehead, hung loosely down over his +broad, square shoulders. + +His whole frame seemed stirred with a strong nervous action, and a quick +but expressive motion of his small brown hand appeared as a signal for +conversation. He at once spoke, "May be if go to Grimross be scalped," +and every word brought with it increased action of both hand and body. +He continued, "Indians say war coming, must have pale face blood and +scalp." + +Capt. Godfrey said not a word, but looked serious and pale; while deep +anxiety was pictured on every feature of his face. He felt that it was +no use to retreat, and situated as they were, where could they retreat +in safety. Fort Frederick at the mouth of the river had been surrounded +by blood-thirsty savages, who had threatened them with fire and murder +if they did not abandon the place. In this distracting situation Captain +Godfrey held a council of war within himself, and finally decided, come +what might, evil or good, he would push on to his destination. + +He wondered how the Indian knew he was bound for Grimross. It occurred +to him that perhaps the savage was trying to find out where he intended +to land, and there be on hand to murder all on board and seize the sloop +and cargo. He thought, "if the Indian is sincere in warning us, what +interest has he in doing so? What could he expect in return for his kind +act?" These and many similar thoughts rushed quickly through the +agitated brain of the Captain. The Indian stood silent and motionless +for a moment, then returned to his canoe and paddled toward the shore. + +The eyes of Captain Godfrey followed the Red man to the shore and +watched him until he disappeared among the trees on the river bank. The +sloop was kept on her course up the river. Just after the sun had sunk +beneath the horizon, Captain Godfrey, by the persuasion of his wife, +anchored the sloop in a small recess in the shore. From the time the +Indian had reached the bank the Captain's wife scarcely ever lifted her +eyes from gazing on the right bank of the river. Was she watching for a +place to safely anchor at night? Or was she watching for the Indian's +return? These questions were agitating the Captain's thoughts. + +Captain Godfrey had never fully recovered from a weakness to his nervous +system, caused by the severe hardships he had endured in the Gulf of St +Lawrence. He was strongly opposed to anchoring the sloop so near the +shore. He felt fearful that during the long watches of the night all on +board might be murdered. The armament of the vessel consisted of two +muskets, two pistols, and a sword. Her cargo was valued at over two +thousand pounds sterling. She was deeply laden, and it was with great +difficulty that all the goods and chattels had been stowed on board; +several boxes and bundles being closely packed and lashed on deck. + +After everything had been made snug on board, sails furled, &c., the +Captain and his wife asked the blessing of the all-seeing One during the +hours of the night. The Captain was very tired, and the events of the +day had not added to his comfort. His wife persuaded him to go into the +small cabin and rest. She promised to call him if the least danger +appeared. She said that she was only too willing to stand as sentinel +until the sun-rise. It was only through a knowledge of the determined +spirit, good judgment, quick eye, and self possession of his wife that +he was induced to retire to rest. + +The children unconscious of the dangers surrounding them, were nestled +together in the small cabin like young birds in a nest. During four long +hours nothing unusual occurred to break the stillness of the night. The +rustling of the leaves on the trees not many yards distant, and the +rippling of the water were all that could be heard, a dense darkness, a +blackness doubly deep appeared to settle over and around the little +vessel. The sentinel placed her soft white hand close to her face but +could not even distinguish its outlines. + +At this moment there flashed through her mind the words, "Watchman, +what of the night." The words were accompanied by a hand gently laid +upon her shoulder. She remained as motionless as a statue in the gloom. +A gentle breath whispered in her ear, "me Paul;" "come tell you Indians +on other bank river;" adding strength to the expression by taking her +hand and pointing it to the opposite bank. He then again whispered, +"Fire gun next setting sun, where stop," and then suddenly left her +side, and she saw nothing more that night of Paul Guidon, for such was +the Indian's name. + +Captain Godfrey, after his many days of toil and anxiety, slept so +soundly that he did not wake till the sun had risen. As soon as +breakfast was over, and a chapter had been read from an old family +Bible, which had accompanied four generations of the Landers through +this vale of tears, sorrows and joys, and a short prayer read from an +old service book, presented to Captain Godfrey by General Murray at +Quebec, the sloop was got under way and proceeded on her voyage, the +wind being fair and light. The prospect was not one to gladden the +hearts of the voyagers, though the day was fine and sky clear. The +progress was slow. Captain Godfrey was in better spirits than on the +previous day, the quiet night and refreshing sleep had somewhat braced +him up. The children sat on deck during the day, chatting, playing and +singing, while their mother, dauntless and buoyant in spirit, retired to +rest in the little smoke-box of a cabin. She knew that very much +depended upon her behaviour and courage in safely reaching Grimross +Neck. She closed her eyes with the whispered words upon her lips, "I +will follow what I believe to be the path of safety, and I will tread it +with a firm and unfaltering footstep, praise to the Great King who sent +us Paul Guidon in the thick darkness to watch over us from the river's +bank. It brings to my remembrance what I have read in the Book of books, +of Pharaoh's daughter standing at the river's brink and rescuing the +babe, and seeing that no harm befell it." + +Little progress was made during the day. An hour or two before the +shadows of evening had begun to fling their leaden mantle around the +sloop, Mrs. Godfrey appeared on deck. Perfect stillness seemed to reign +on every hand; even the little craft appeared to be half asleep, so +lazily did she move along. All above and about stretched the wondrous +beauty of the sky; the deep blue clouds, as the day wore away, becoming +tinged with gold, contrasted in loveliness with the green of earth. Not +a sound was there to stir the perfect stillness except the rippling of +the water against the vessel. + +As Margaret sat beside her husband on that lovely evening of July, the +deep feelings that were stirred within her soul seemed to find their +natural outlet, as she turned to her husband and said, "this seems like +a glimpse of some better world." He replied, "it appears as though we +are sailing through a land of perfect rest." "I trust we are, though we +sail through a country peopled with savages." She replied, "To-day we +beheld the sun in his glory, and strong in his power, now he is +departing, but I trust as we continue to sail o'er the ocean of time, +guided by the King of Pilots toward a land where glory never fades, and +where the True Light never grows dim, our passage may continually be lit +up by the reflecting rays of the Sun of Righteousness." As she finished +speaking a bright light flashed on the starboard shore, quickly followed +by the report of a musket. The Captain, starting at the report, +remarked, "perhaps that Indian (Paul) has been watching and following." +Here the Captain's words were cut short by a loud cry from one of the +children and the sound of a splash. Little Jack, the fourth child, had +tripped against the forward rail and gone overboard. His mother, almost +as quickly as the flash of a gun, threw herself overboard at the stern +of the sloop, holding on to the rail with her hands and calling to the +little fellow to catch hold of her dress, as the tide carried him toward +her. He was too far out to reach her skirt, and the running water +carried him by her. She immediately let go both hands and floated from +the vessel, and made a desperate effort to reach her boy. The Captain, +almost beside himself, put the helm hard down, and was in the act of +plunging in. Meantime his wife and son were drifting farther away. Just +then, making a second desperate effort, she succeeded in grasping her +child. At this moment a canoe shot like an arrow past the sloop, in it +was Paul Guidon, paddling with might and main, making straight for the +drowning mother and her boy. In another minute he had the child grasped +firmly in his long sinewy arms, and laying his breast and head over the +stern of the canoe, he called to the mother to grasp at once his long +hair as its ends fell into the water. He managed to get the child safely +into his canoe, but he experienced great difficulty in saving its +mother. She drifted fully one hundred yards, but all the distance +holding stoutly to the Indian's locks. With all the strength of Paul +Guidon he was not able to get Mrs. Godfrey into the canoe. Once he +nearly succeeded, but almost upset his little bark. He told her to cling +tightly to his hair, as he shoved the paddle over her head, and at last +he got the canoe to move slowly ahead, and in a few minutes time he was +at the side of the sloop, and the mother and child were rescued from a +watery grave. The Indian would not go on board, and as soon as he saw +that the mother and child were likely to recover, he pulled away to the +shore. + +The child soon recovered, but the mother lay upon the deck for some time +in a half unconscious state. At times a quiet happiness seemed singing +in her soul, that often broke into words of praise as the vessel drifted +along in the stillness. On the right and left slept the country with its +wooded hills and dales. As Margaret Godfrey recovered she said, +"Charles, we appear to be sleeping on to our destination." "Yes," he +said; "but perhaps that Indian has been watching and following us, +hiding among the trees along the shore; and as we have been going slowly +all day, he could with ease keep way with us. He may now consider us far +enough away from the fort to decoy and murder us, seize our vessel and +goods, and no suspicion rest upon him as the murderer and robber." + +"It may be that he has accomplices on our track; a band of savages to +quietly dispose of us and seize our possessions." As he spoke these +words he appeared much more agitated than on the previous evening. +Margaret replied, "God's will be done! We must anchor at some point +to-night--Why not anchor here? At the earnest solicitation of his wife, +Captain Godfrey consented to run the sloop toward the shore and anchor. + +After a lengthened discussion between the Captain and his wife upon the +question of keeping watch during the night, Margaret carried her point, +and soon after stood alone on the deck. + +The reader, doubtless, will wonder why Margaret expressed so strong a +desire to keep watch through the long, lonely hours of darkness. Before +the conclusion of the story is reached, he will have found out the +reason. + +Soon all was hushed, gross darkness had gathered over the face of +nature, and the eyes of the beloved on board were closed in sleep. At +about midnight Margaret was slightly startled at hearing a footstep on +deck. "Paul," she whispered, "is that you." "Me," he answered in a low, +soft tone. "Most Indians away, far up country after game, and not come +back few days." + +Paul Guidon was a sub-chief, and one of the bravest of the tribe over +which he exercised some authority. He was feared and respected by all +the tribes of the St. John. He had used all his cunning and power to +pilot the sloop safely to her destination. He had for several days +spread the report that large herds of caribou and moose had appeared in +a part of the country forty miles west of the St. John River. The +Indians took the bait and had suddenly left in pursuit of the game. + +Before leaving the deck Paul advised Margaret to get the vessel under +way at daylight next morning, in order that the journey might be +completed before the next setting of the sun. He then took Mrs. Godfrey +by the hand and raising it to his broad breast passed it firmly over his +quickly throbbing heart, and almost instantly turned and shot from her +presence like an arrow in the darkness. Very early in the morning the +sloop was made ready to proceed on her voyage. The wind was blowing +stiffly and fair, the little vessel reached along and arrived at her +destination at five o'clock in the afternoon. The anchor was let go +between an island and the river's bank. Thanksgiving and praise were +offered on board for past mercies and supplication for continued +guidance. Neither was Paul Guidon forgotten, for Margaret breathed a +silent supplication to Him who can soften and subdue the savage breast, +to guide, control and direct the life and steps of her benefactor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TRADING,--TROUBLE,--RETREAT. + + +After landing at Grimross, Captain Godfrey looked about to find his lot +of land. Lot No. 14 he found belonged to a Captain Spry, lot No. 15 to a +Reverend Smith, and his own lot he found to be No. 16. These lots were +all facing the St. John river, and extending back parallel with each +other. In looking over the plan of the lots, it appears that Captain +Godfrey settled on No. 14, Spry's lot, and on this lot he commenced +trading operations in an old house situated not far from a stream +leading from a lake on his own lot to the St. John. On Captain Godfrey's +lot were two small log houses, one occupied by a person named Sayhon, +and the other by a man named Crabtree. It may be, that the Captain +settled on Spry's lot because he could trade here to the best advantage. +Here he commenced business after expending forty pounds, sterling money, +in repairing the log house and adding a store room, made of solid logs. +About the middle of September, 1770, he opened out his wares and began +business. A few days later several Redskins came to his shop and warned +him to move away from the place, threatening, if he did not do so, to +burn his buildings and goods. + +The Indians did not trouble him further until the middle of November, +when about thirty of them came to his place of business with beaver, +otter, raccoon, mink and other skins. These he took in exchange for +blankets, powder and other goods, the Indians appearing well satisfied +with the exchange. About a fortnight later the Indians again returned in +numbers, accompanied by a white man who acted as spokesman. The white +man, a peculiar looking character, with one eye looking due north and +the other due east, from beneath a forehead very much resembling that of +a monkey, stuttered out to Captain G.: "We-e-e-e co-co-mé t-t-to +war-war-warn you t-to g-g-g-git ou-out. Th-the la-lan-lands ar-are Free +n-sh le-le-lands, an-and th-the In-in-d-dans we-we-will dri-dri-drive +aw-all de-de-damd E-e-en-glis way, an-an gi-gi-give the-the-em +b-b-b-back to Fre-e-e-nsh." The Indians and their low-browed, cross-eyed +spokesman then left the Captain's place of business without uttering +another word. On Christmas day, 1770, or about one month after their +last visit, eight of the Indians, accompanied by two squaws, returned to +the store at Grimross Neck and whooped out in tones of fury, "Fire, +blood, scalps." + +Captain Godfrey immediately barred his shop door, and also the door of +his house, seeing that the savages were bent on mischief. The children +were inside the store and house, and were terrified and trembling. At +length the Redskins became so excited and noisy and so wild in their +movements, that the place seemed like a pandemonium. They were-armed, +each one having a knife about ten inches in length stuck in his belt. + +Captain Godfrey consulted with his wife as to the wisest course to be +pursued, but no definite line of action was arranged. The two old +muskets were in the bedroom, loaded, not having been discharged since +they were fired off on leaving Fort Frederick. The Captain's wife ran to +the room and brought out both guns into the kitchen. She handed one to +her husband remarking, "if the brutes attempt to force their way into +the house shoot the first one that puts his moccasin over the door +sill." At this time the howling, yelling and cursing of the +blood-thirsty fiends would strike terror into the stoutest heart. +Finally they took up a large stick of wood that was lying near the +kitchen door and made a desperate attempt to smash it in. Mrs. Godfrey, +who had stood near the door for sometime, appeared calm and decided amid +all the murderous clamour. She stepped back a pace, and placing the butt +of the musket against her hip, with the muzzle slanting upwards, stood +firm as a statue. + +The door was soon forced and the fiends came tumbling in. Mrs. Godfrey +fired, the charge going over the heads of the savages and entering the +ceiling above the door. The Indians in the rear seeing their comrades +fall, and thinking they were killed by the shot, at once retreated +uttering terrible threats of vengeance. One of the squaws, a short, +stout old creature, was so terrified by the report of the musket and the +falling to the floor of the three Indians, that in her bewildered +retreat she tumbled headlong down a steep, stony bank and laid as if +dead on the ice below. She was left by her companions, who travelled as +fast as their legs would carry them. The old squaw was found and taken +prisoner by Mrs. Godfrey. Her nose and one rib were broken, her left arm +dislocated at the elbow, and both her eyes completely closed with heavy +shutters. She presented a pitiable appearance, as she staggered along +toward the house supported by her captor. The Indians were so completely +surprised and cowed by the courage of Mrs. Godfrey that they never came +back to look after the wounded squaw, or sent to inquire whether she was +living or dead. + +As soon as the old squaw began to recover, Mrs. Godfrey found out that +the old woman could speak some English. She said she was a widow about +sixty years old. That her husband had been killed at Fort Pitt in 1763. +Her only son had been taken prisoner by the English at Fort Pitt, and +had afterwards remained nine moons with an English officer in New York. +The officer went away to England and wanted her son to go with him, but +on the eve of the officer's departure he ran away, soon got on the trail +of his mother, and at last found her at Detroit living with a band of +Iroquois. Not long afterward she and her boy wandered from post to post +and camp to camp until they at last got over among the tribe on the St. +John, where they had made their home among a strange tribe for the past +two years. Her son did not respect the tribe with whom they lived. He +had often told her that these Indians were not pure bloods. Her son was +sixteen years old when taken prisoner at Fort Pitt. She had always been +called Mag, but when any of the tribe addressed her, it was by the not +very respectful addition of "Old Mag." Her boy had gone toward the +setting sun to be with a party of English officers on a hunting +excursion, he had left her in September and would not return for some +moons. + +Captain Godfrey and his family rested in comparative peace for some +weeks, and Mrs. Godfrey drew from Old Mag many stories respecting the +manner of life among the various tribes of American Indians. + +About one month after the old squaw had been captured, she began to +appear exceedingly dull and dispirited. The Captain's wife said to her +one morning, "Mag, are you ill," "No! no!" she replied, "me no sick +to-day," "bad dream some nights ago. Saw all Indians outside house, and +big black devil's spirit come into them, black spirits come out woods, +and fire on their heads, all went into Indians and made them dance war, +yell and whoop and burn house." + +All went fairly well until the 26th February, 1771, when the red men +again appeared at the premises of the Captain. They were armed, and +their actions seemed to be in keeping with Old Mag's dream. + +Their shrieks, yells and war-whoops were terrible, they acted like +demons. The children hid under the beds and held on to the garments of +their parents. The terrified little ones trembled like leaves in an +autumn breeze. Spirits let loose from the regions of the damned could +hardly present a more devilish appearance than did the savages. They +were armed with muskets. Old Mag, who was crouching in a corner of the +kitchen, shook with fear, her teeth were chattering, and she appeared +like a person badly affected with fever and ague. + +The Redskins, about twenty in number, ran round and round the house +roaring like wild beasts thirsting for gore. Charlie, the Captain's +eldest boy, came rushing into the kitchen screaming out that two of the +Indians were making a fire at the store door. Captain Godfrey ran to the +shop, looked out of the window and was horrified to find the side of the +building in flames. A minute after he had left the kitchen two of the +red devils broke in the door, Mrs. Godfrey, with Charlie holding on to +her skirt, had taken up a position in front of Old Mag, as the charging +enemy came toward her, she fired. There was a yell, as of death. Captain +Godfrey had placed the other musket in Old Mag's lap, Mrs. Godfrey +instantly seized it and quick as a flash again fired and the door way +was cleared. + +In a few moments the smoke had cleared away. Two human forms lay across +the door sill and one within the kitchen. These were the bodies of one +dead and two dying Indians. The dead man was completely scalped, the +whole top of his head being torn off. The other two were so terribly +mutilated about their faces and necks that they lived but a few minutes. +Forty minutes after Mrs. Godfrey had fired the first shot scarcely a +vestige of anything remained on the spot where the house had stood. As +soon as the savages were aware that three of their comrades had fallen +in the assault, they beat a hasty retreat. + +Let the reader pause for a few moments to consider the situation of +Captain Godfrey, his wife and their five children. There they were alone +in the wilderness, thousands of miles from friends and home. Out in the +cold, amid the frost and snow of an Acadian winter, without a house to +shelter them, a friend to cheer them, or a fire to warm them; surrounded +by demons of the forest, panting and thirsting for their blood. There +was no possible escape by water, the St. John was covered by a thick +winding sheet of ice, and the sloop was lying some miles away in an icy +bed of a lake. The history of early colonial life does not and cannot +present a more affecting scene than that of the Godfrey family, as they +stood alone on the banks of the river St. John in the midnight of a Nova +Scotian winter. + +All that was saved from the flames were several pieces of half-burnt +pork, the two old muskets, a few half-burnt blankets, one hundred and +forty pounds of beaver skin, between two and three hundred weight of +gunpowder, the old family Bible and service book, and a trunk containing +some papers and old clothes. The above articles Captain Godfrey and his +son, at the risk of their lives, saved from complete destruction. In an +hour the little band of early settlers was reduced from comfortable +circumstances to a misery beyond the power of words to express. Darkness +would soon cover the spot of desolation. But five hours of daylight were +left in which escape could be made. They knew not in which direction to +flee for shelter. The Captain consulted with his brave partner, but all +seemed dark; no way of escape presented itself. To remain where they +were during the coming night meant death. There were only two log houses +in the district and they were miles away. Finally Mrs. Godfrey +assembled her shivering children about her and read aloud the +twenty-third psalm, and closing the old service book she said to her +husband, let us no longer tarry here, let us make haste towards the +sloop. As they were about to start, it suddenly occurred to Mrs Godfrey +that Old Mag was missing. The Captain had not seen her since he placed +the musket in her lap. The children had not seen her since the burning +of the house, and Mrs. Godfrey had not seen her after she had taken the +musket off her lap. The old squaw's absence caused a delay in setting +out for the sloop. As no trace of Old Mag could be found, it was the +opinion of both the Captain and his wife, that she had either perished +in the flames or had slipped out of the kitchen before the smoke had +cleared away and followed the Indians in their retreat. + +Neither the Captain nor his wife would leave the locality without making +a search for Old Mag. During the search, Captain Godfrey, whose strength +had been severely tested since his arrival at Grimross in July, sank to +the ground in a swoon. At this crisis his wife displayed the greatness +of her character. As troubles thickened about her she seemed to develop +qualities that only woman cast in an heroic mould are capable of +exhibiting. She whispered to her husband, "We cannot find Mag, I must +save you." These words appeared to have a magic effect on the Captain. +He rose to his feet, supported by his wife, and soon after they were +staggering on towards the river leading to the lake, followed by their +five children, the eldest, who was but twelve, carrying with him his +youngest brother, only two years old. + +At length they reached the lake, and at this point of the journey Mrs. +Godfrey was compelled to order a halt. She was heavily handicapped, +having a large shawl tied across her shoulders filled with the burnt +pork and some blankets. After a few minutes rest they were again tugging +along towards their little ark. As the light of the sun gradually faded +away, the little band of colonists tried to quicken their pace, but they +tried in vain. They were so exhausted that it was with great difficulty +they kept on their feet. + +The children were more dead than alive, and the approaching darkness +filled them with terror. Their mother would say to them, "Keep along, +follow closely, the moon is rising, we shall soon have plenty of light." +In this manner they toiled on till midnight, when they reached the +sloop. Fortunately for the little band of wanderers, Captain Godfrey had +left on board the vessel a small Dutch stove and a number of broken +boxes. A fire was soon made, some of the burnt pork was sliced and put +in a pan and fried for the night's meal. But the children sank to rest +soon after getting on board, and lay huddled together on the cabin +floor. After the Captain and his wife had partaken of the meal and +before retiring to rest on the hard boards of the floor, Mrs. Godfrey +read, by the dim light of a candle, the fifty-fourth psalm. + +Nothing can better prove the genuineness of a life, the soundness of a +profession, the real character of a man or woman, than those extreme +trials and difficulties of earth, when no friends are near to help and +where no way of escape seems possible. In trials, such as those related +above, the noblest traits of character or the hollowness and rottenness +of a profession are often plainly seen. Five cold winter days and nights +came and passed, yet no relief came to the imprisoned family. They dare +not move out, fearing the Indians would see them and come at night and +murder them. The sixth day Crabtree, who lived some miles distant from +where the Godfreys had resided, having heard of the attack of the +savages and the destruction they had caused, made his way to the scene +of the ruins. He could find no trace of the Godfreys and was returning +by the border of the lake to his log cabin, when he saw the sloop far in +the distance like a speck on the frozen surface of the lake. He hastened +out to where she lay. To his surprise and joy he found out, when nearing +the little craft, signs of life on board. Sparks were issuing from the +cabin. Very soon he was on board. He was met at the companion-way by the +Captain who gave him a thousand welcomes. Crabtree, after a few minutes +rest and conversation, started for his home, eleven miles distant, +promising to return early the next morning with a sledge to assist in +taking the children to his cabin. In the morning he returned, and +Captain Godfrey, his wife, and little ones, left the sloop and went to +Crabtree's. Captain and Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie had to walk the entire +distance over the lake and through the forest to Crabtree's log house. + +The man who had rescued them attended to their wants as well as his +circumstances would allow. He kept the distressed family until the month +of May, when the ice in the river broke up. Captain Godfrey then set to +work to fit out the sloop, being determined to leave the place as soon +as possible. The sails and part of the rigging were consumed in the fire +at Grimross. He had fortunately saved two of the compasses from the +flames. After days of toil he managed to get the vessel in fair working +order. The old half-burnt blankets were patched together and a mainsail +and jib were completed. On the 30th of May, 1771, he set sail for Fort +Frederick. + +On the passage down the river several Indians were seen on the banks of +the stream, but none of them made any trouble. After eleven months +absence the Captain found himself at Fort Frederick once again. Captain +Godfrey said to his wife, "Margaret, what changes are often wrought in a +few months." "Yes! true!" she replied, "we have lost our property, but +we have escaped with our lives and those of our children. Our +reputations are not dimmed, neither has the Lord forsaken us. The best +of our fortune remains with us. An honourable foundation remains on +which we can re-erect our future structure. Let us thank a wise, +over-ruling providence that a fortune still remains to us, though we +have passed through great misfortune." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK--PAUL GUIDON. + + +After the arrival of the sloop at the mouth of the St. John, the Captain +was compelled to leave his wife and family. There was not a morsel of +food of any description in the locker. The necessaries that had been +supplied by Crabtree for the voyage were entirely consumed. + +The day following the arrival off Fort Frederick, Captain Godfrey set +sail in his small boat for Passmaquaddy, eighteen leagues distant. The +boat was the same one in which he accomplished his successful journey to +Annapolis Royal. His intention in setting out for Passmaquaddy was to +visit a settlement belonging to a Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and +there procure some supplies for his family, and sails and rigging for +the sloop. + +He left his family in a most destitute condition, they having neither +shoes nor stockings to their feet, and every other article of their +clothing being in rags and tatters. While the Captain was absent, his +wife and family were obliged to traverse the shore seeking for small +fish, which they were sometimes fortunate in securing. The second +evening after Captain Godfrey had left for Lieut. Owen's settlement, +being a clear, moonlight one in June, Mrs. Godfrey thought she saw an +object floating leisurely down the river in the direction of the sloop. +She went below and brought on deck one of the old muskets which did such +valuable service at Grimross. Charlie, her twelve-year old son, said to +his mother: "Do you see Indians?" The little fellow was so agitated he +could scarcely speak. She cautioned her son to remain perfectly quiet, +and not to utter another word. Brave, calm, unmoved, she stood over her +boy at the bow of the sloop. On the nearer approach of the object she +discovered it was a canoe, with someone leisurely paddling it along. It +had almost drifted by the vessel when, to her surprise, it suddenly +turned, and ran straight as an arrow for the side of the sloop. + +Mrs Godfrey, in a loud, firm tone, sang out: + +"Pull away, or I'll shoot you!" + +The canoe was turned about in an instant, and as quick came floating +over the water the words: + +"Me, Paul: Me, Paul Guidon!" + +She threw him a small line and then invited him to come on board, +immediately resuming her former position with the musket by her side. + +The Indian came on board, fastened his frail bark and stood for a moment +watching the retreating tide. Mrs. Godfrey asked him to come forward, +while little Charlie was shaking as though he would fall in pieces. He +obeyed her, and stepped forward. She took him by the hand and said: + +"Paul! Paul! You have again come to see me. I have thought of you, +prayed for you, and shall never forget you. You have saved my life and +the lives of my husband and dear children. I am in great trouble; God +has sent you again." + +Paul Guidon stood speechless and motionless with his sparkling black +eyes fixed on her thin, pale hand. The mild effulgence of the lunar +light shone full upon his face, bringing out every feature in perfect +outline. Presently his whole frame shook as though it had received an +electric shock. Mrs. Godfrey looked straight at him with her piercing +black eyes from the moment he had stood before her. Her power over him +seemed like that of a charmer. Her magic nature had completely overcome +him. Never did a naval hero appear on deck after a victory more +transcendently grand than did Margaret Godfrey at that moment of her +life. She pressed his hand more closely and said: "Paul, are you ill?" +He replied by placing her soft, white hand upon his throbbing breast, +and then moved toward the canoe. He spoke not a word. He pointed towards +his canoe, and made a sign with his right hand from the eastern horizon +up the semicircle of the sky. She understood it to mean that he would +return in the morning, at the rising of the sun. He at once got into his +canoe, and in a minute or two was paddling up the stream against the +rushing tide. + +Very early the following morning, Margaret was on deck preparing to go +on shore while the tide was low, and, if possible, catch some fish for +breakfast. She had not been long on deck before she saw a canoe +approaching. As it neared the sloop she saw that Paul Guidon was its +only occupant. In a few minutes Paul was on board, looking as bright as +the morning star. Margaret bade him good morning and then related to him +the distressed condition of herself and children. He replied, with a +cheerful smile: "Suppose big boy and little ones go with Paul and catch +'em some fish?" She felt that the Indian had a kind heart and at once +consented to accompany him with her children. All got into the canoe, +and Paul at once began to paddle down the river. Although the morning +was without rain the sky was leaden, and the atmosphere heavy and damp. +As the Indian paddled the canoe along for a couple of miles, all on +board were joyous and seemed refreshed as they drank in the breeze from +off the breast of the bay. + +They landed at a point of land, or rather of rocks, where Paul succeeded +in catching several fish, which he placed in the bottom of the canoe. He +then proposed to leave the place and proceed further down the shore. +Margaret replied that occasionally drops of rain fell upon her face, and +she feared a storm might suddenly spring up and bar their way back to +the vessel. She rather urged the Indian to return, but she saw by his +manner that he was inclined to demur to her solicitation. He said there +was a brook a short distance further down the shore, where there was +always plenty of good fish. Mrs. Godfrey finally consented to follow +Paul. He took in his arms the two smallest children, and pressing them +closely to his broad chest with his long sinewy arms, was soon skipping +from rock to rock like a mountain goat. The mother and the three other +children followed as closely as possible in Paul's tracks. + +After the Indian had gone about a hundred yards, he looked over his left +shoulder and appeared satisfied that all was well. He redoubled his +speed and bounded along as a deer, and suddenly turning to the right he +made his way up a slope of ground and was out of sight among the trees. + +Margaret now began to feel anxious, fearing that after all the trust she +had reposed in Paul, he might yet prove unfaithful. She called to the +Indian, but he heeded not her cry. She again called, but he had +completely disappeared. + +Under such circumstances a less brave woman would have sunk on the spot +in utter despair. She kept on, following as nearly as she could the +track that Paul had taken. She toiled on and on for three quarters of an +hour, but never sighted the Indian. At last she completely lost the +trail. The rocks and uneven ground impeded her progress, and the trees +confused her in the line of march. All traces of a pathway were lost. + +She sat down on a large boulder--the children wanted rest, they were +completely fatigued. She judged that they must be nearly two miles from +the canoe. In her distressed situation she contemplated returning to the +shore. To proceed further in the direction she had been going seemed +hopeless. Without a guide she and her children would certainly get lost, +and likely all would perish. Whilst she was thus debating in her mind +what course to pursue, a peel of thunder passed over her head, and large +drops of rain began to fall. The wind suddenly sprang up, and all around +her was growing dark. Her blood quickened in its pulsations, as the +elements were increasing the difficulties of her position. Alone, on a +rocky, stormy shore, with three small children and two others far away +in the arms of an almost unknown savage, what could she do? Where could +she go? She said to herself: "evil seems to follow me closely, and heavy +trouble is continually weighing me down. I am in a strange land, among a +strange race; where will the end be? It may be here." As the above +thoughts were running through her brain, a brilliant flash of lightning +streamed close by her pale face, and for an instant lit up the earth and +sea around. A tree, a few feet distant, was shattered by the flash. Her +children trembled as the thunder shook the solid ground. She delayed no +longer, but determined at once to start back in the direction of the +canoe, and taking each of the smaller children by the hand, with Charlie +following, she pointed for the shore. + +The rain descended in torrents; the thunder roared, and the lightning +flashed. Through the terrible storm Mrs. Godfrey pressed on, buoyant +with a hope that all might turn out well. As she was staggering from +rock to rock with the little ones pitching and stumbling along at her +sides, now and again almost blinded and bewildered by the lurid +lightning, she felt as one amid the crash of worlds. + +Just as she sighted the canoe, which Paul had hauled upon the shore, a +sharp, rattling clap of thunder peeled above her head. This was preceded +an instant before by a dazzling blue and golden flash that all but +blinded the band of wanderers. Another and another flash, followed by +their thunderbolts, in quick succession shattered a solid rock over +which they had just passed. The whole shore appeared to tremble and +crash, and away far out over the surface of the bay the waters seemed as +if in a blaze. The sight was grand and terrible. Every rock along the +shore appeared to sink into an abyss as the lightning passed by, and +many of them were riven. At length Mrs. Godfrey and her children reached +the side of the canoe. There calm and unmoved amid the storm, she knelt, +she wept, she prayed. The waters of Fundy were heaped into angry +billows, and dashed their spray over the mother and children assembled +round the altar on the shore. Darkness began to throw its sable mantle +over land, rocks and bay. Margaret was suddenly started, she thought she +heard the sound of a voice coming through the gloom. She turned her head +in the direction of the sound, and at that moment a flash of lightning +revealed a human form coming toward her. In an instant it was lost to +view, shut out in the darkness. "Me come!" "Me come!" fell upon her +waiting ears. Margaret, with a heart overflowing with gratitude and +swelling with praise, quietly exclaimed "God is love." Paul stood before +her, panting like a stricken deer, with but one of the children in his +arms. As Margaret looked at him her pale face turned ashen white, her +lips quivered and she fell into the arms of Paul Guidon as if dead. He +sat down upon a rock, and by the lightning's flash bathed her temples +with water from the sea shore. The Indian continued to pour salt water +out of his brawny hands upon her head and neck. In about ten minutes +Margaret was restored to consciousness. When she opened her eyes her +missing child was at her side. Paul Guidon had placed the little fellow +in charge of an Indian he had found fishing on the bank of the stream, +and he asked him to take the child in his arms and follow on to the +shore. + +After Paul had been fishing along the stream for some time, seeing that +Mrs. Godfrey and her children had not come up with him, he decided to +return and look them up. + +As they rested together on the shore beside their birchen boat, the +thunder gradually died away, and there was also a truce to the lightning +and rain. In two hours from the time of the happy reunion of the loved +and lost the water became quite calm. Paul Guidon then launched the +canoe and the little ships' company were soon heading toward the mouth +of the St. John. In another hour and a half Paul and his companion had +safely paddled Margaret Godfrey and her children to the sloop. + +Margaret's first act, after reaching her small floating home, was to +place each child upon its knees, doing likewise herself. As her clear +voice rang out over the water, conveying words of thankfulness to Him +whom winds and seas obey, the two Indians sank slowly on their knees. + +Plenty of fish had been secured by Paul to last the family some days +Margaret cooked the supper, Paul and his companion ate heartily, then +left the sloop and proceeded in the canoe to their homes, Paul promising +to return the next day with a load of wood to replenish the stock of +fuel which was well nigh exhausted. + +At seven o'clock next morning Paul again was seen sailing along toward +the sloop, his little bark skimming over the river like a petrel on the +ocean's breast. He appeared anxious and excited as he approached the +side of the vessel. He had but a few pieces of wood in his canoe. +Margaret at first sight noticed a change in his features; he looked worn +and weary. His bright black eye had lost much of its fire, and as he +stepped on board Mrs. Godfrey thought she noticed a tear on his cheek. +As usual she saluted him and asked him on board, and as he stepped over +the rail she took his hand in her own. This act of kindness on the part +of Margaret seemed to electrify his whole frame. She said to him, "And +how is Paul this morning." Without answering her he placed his hand on +his left breast and sighed deeply. "Is my Paul ill this morning," she +again asked, thinking that the strain from carrying the children the day +previous, and the worry and excitement, had been too severe a task even +upon the hardy and wiry frame of the Iroquois. "No! No!" he replied, +"but," "but," and here he stopped being too full to utter another word. +He pointed to his canoe, and then pointed up the river past the fort. +She guessed his meaning. It was to return to his home at once. + +Margaret said to him, "Paul do you want me and the children to go with +you?" + +He bowed an assent. + +All hands were soon on board the canoe and in a few strokes of the +paddle the homeless emigrants were sailing toward the rapids. The tide +was running up and the long sinewy arms of Paul, as he plied the paddle, +made the little bark fairly leap along. The rippling of the water was +all that broke in upon the stillness of the morning. + +The steep, rugged country on either side the mouth of the St. John was +dressed in deepest green, tall and noble trees lined both banks. The +clear bright sky and the brighter sun made the river appear like a +winding stream of silver with borders of emerald. Her admiration of +natural beauty, she had herself confessed more than once during the +voyage to Grimross. + +While Mrs. Godfrey was drinking in the beauties of the scenery, and +meditating on the loneliness that reigned supreme among the hills, the +canoe touched the shore. As Margaret stepped from the little bark to the +shore, a large grey snake passed athwart her pathway and disappeared +into a hole at the roots of a tree. She felt much concerned at this +circumstance, as in Ireland, her native land, it was a common belief +among the people that if a snake passed across a persons track without +being killed by the traveller, some evil was close upon his or her +track. + +After the Indian had pulled the canoe out of the water, he led the way +up a slight incline, followed by Margaret and her children. They had +walked some two hundred yards over uneven ground and among trees, when +Paul suddenly stopped and then stepped off to the right, and beckoned to +those in his rear to follow him. A few steps brought the visitors in +sight of a wigwam. It was situated in a small open space, surrounded by +a dense forest of large, tall trees. In a minute or two all stood at the +opening in the camp. + +Paul seemed to hesitate as he led the way inside. He removed an old +blanket which was hanging over the aperture. Opposite the entrance on +the further side of the camp lay a human form stretched on some old grey +blankets, that were spread over branches of spruce trees. The Indian +approached the bed and then stooped down and kissed its occupant, and +then beckoned to Margaret Godfrey to step forward. She at once obeyed. +To her astonishment there lay an old squaw with sunken cheeks and eyes. +Over her form was stretched a time-worn grey blanket, and on it laid a +wampum belt, and a string of wampum beads, an old plaid shawl supported +her head. + +Margaret thought that she recognized the shawl as one she had brought +with her from Ireland, and wondered how it came there. She knelt down, +and placing her arm under the old squaw's neck, gently raised her head a +few inches. The poor old squaw tried to speak but was too weak to do so. +Margaret took the withered hand of the Indian woman and placed it in her +own. On one of the bony fingers of the squaw was a ring which fell off +into Margaret's hand. Margaret recognized it as a ring she had often +seen. She asked Paul who the sick woman was. "She is my poor old +mother," he replied, "she has been sick long time, since last winter, +got bad fall and almost stiffened with cold." "She fast going away from +her Paul." Margaret noticed the old woman's lips moving, she put her ear +close to the squaw's mouth and heard her say in a whisper, "Me Mag!" +Mrs. Godfrey, completely surprised, laid her head upon the dying woman's +bed. The shawl, a red and black plaid, she had given old Mag at +Grimross. Now it was used for her dying pillow. The old Indian woman +fairly worshipped it in her days of health and strength. And the ring +was also presented to old Mag while a prisoner at Grimross. The +afternoon that old Mag was given the ring was one never to be forgotten +by Mrs. Godfrey. The old Iroquois squaw on that occasion danced the war +dance on the kitchen floor, so great was her joy in receiving the +precious gem. + +Margaret asked Paul where he had found his mother on his return from the +setting sun. He then related to her in broken English the following +story:-- + +He had returned from his hunting expedition on the evening of the day +the house at Grimross had been consumed by the flames. He had been +detained with the officers one month longer than he expected to be when +he left home. On his arrival home he found that his mother was missing. +He made inquiries as to her whereabouts, and was told that she had gone +off with three Indians named Nick Thoma, Pete Paul, and Christopher +Cope, to trade furs for some pork, blankets and powder at Grimross. That +white woman had killed the three Indians; that white man's house was +burnt, and white woman had put his mother into the flames and burnt her +up. Early in the morning after his arrival home he set out for Grimross +Neck, crossing the lake where the sloop lay. When he arrived at Grimross +he saw nothing but blackened ruins, and was convinced the Indian's story +was true. He saw also the dead bodies of the three Indians, he could not +recognize them, they were so cooked by the fire. He walked about the +ruins, almost bewildered, and swearing vengeance. Not many steps from +where the house had stood were dense woods. He wandered in among the +trees scarcely knowing where he was going, when to his surprise he saw +his mother sitting down on the snow with her back resting against a +large tree, her feet and knees covered with blankets. He pulled off one +blanket, then another, and yet another, but his mother never moved. She +sat as motionless as the tree itself. Her face was covered with frozen +blood. He took hold of her shoulders and shook her when she appeared to +breathe. After rubbing her hands and beating her feet on the frozen snow +for a long time she began to move her limbs. And finally he got her to +stand on her feet. Her eyes were swollen and completely closed. He was +at a loss to know how he was to get her to the camp twelve miles +distant. Part of the journey was comparatively easy; they could go by +way of the lake. At four o'clock he started with his mother for the +camp, she could only walk slowly and with great difficulty. They made +many stops on the way and reached the camp long after midnight. About +noon the next day the old woman had gained sufficient strength to tell +her story. She said "she went first time with Indians to trade furs at +Grimross. Indians were very savage and blood-thirsty. Broke in door of +house, white woman fired gun, they all ran away. She was captured after +falling down bank. She was taken to house of English people and +afterwards treated like one of the family. A lot of Indians came back +second time about last of winter, few days ago broke into the house of +English people and set it on fire. The English woman fired two guns and +killed three Indians. The rest of Indians ran away. When gun was fired +and house burning, was afraid English woman would kill her. As soon as +could get over dead Indians in door, ran away among trees, and was +frightened to come out again till all pale faces went away. Felt very +cold when pale faces went away, wandered back to burnt house, found the +blankets, returned with them to woods, got down against tree, put +blankets over feet and legs, and remember no more till my Paul woke me +next day." + +As Paul Guidon related his mother's story his face was bathed in tears. +Mrs. Godfrey attentively listened, and at the same time carefully +watched every feature of old Mag's face. When Paul had finished his +mother's story, Margaret Godfrey gently raised old Mag's head, and +bending over it said, "Poor old Mag this is indeed you." The dying +Indian woman tried in vain to move her lips, while her body seemed +convulsed. She then stretched herself out at full length and a slight +tremor passed over her frame, her chin dropped. + +Mrs. Godfrey looked up at Paul, who was standing at the foot of the bed, +and remarked, "Paul your dear old mother is gone, forever gone." The +Indian without replying then threw himself upon the bed and lay +motionless beside the body of his mother. In a short time he began to +weep and moan, which he continued to do so long and piteously, that +Margaret thought his sorrowing heart would burst. At last completely +exhausted with grief he remained quiet and passive as though his spirit +too had passed over to the green fields and still waters of the +everlasting hunting grounds. + +Margaret gazed upon the quiet features and still form of the handsome +young Iroquois, he was in the vigour of his manhood, being scarcely +twenty-four years old; and said, as she admired his manly look, "Paul, +your mother is happier now;" "she is in that land where trials, trouble +and death are unknown. You must live to meet her there. Your mother is +now sailing on silvery water; breathing an atmosphere perfumed with +celestial spices; and sitting in a canoe made from the bark of trees +growing on the shores of Canaan's stream. Her wigwam will be made of the +same kind of bark and ornamented with pearls and precious stones. She +will wear a neck-lace of jewels and on her head will be a crown of +glory." + +Paul, weary and sad, went to his canoe, launched it and sailed down the +river to catch some fish for supper, and Mrs. Godfrey proceeded to +prepare the body of old Mag for burial, while the children played around +the wigwam. When the Indian had returned he found all that remained of +his mother neatly prepared for the grave. + +The black and red plaid shawl was wound round and round the body from +head to feet, no part being visible but the face. Margaret had fastened +the shawl at the throat with a silver brooch. Old Mag, as she lay upon +the camp bed, resembled a dead Highlander. Arrangements were made for +the funeral, and Paul paddled Mrs. Godfrey and children to the sloop and +then returned to dig his mother's grave. Next morning Paul came down to +the sloop looking very sad. He said that he had not closed his eyes +during the night. He sat watching through the long night at the side of +his dead parent. + +Many of us have heard and read accounts of lonely scenes and lonely +spots, but what place could be more lonely and what scene more solemn +than that of a lone Indian sitting beside the corpse of his mother in a +Nova Scotian forest a hundred and twenty years ago, through the dread +hours of a whole night? + +What thoughts passed through the brain of Paul Guidon during the weird +hours of that night, it may be, will be revealed in eternity. + +Mrs. Godfrey and her children again went with Paul to the abode of +death. After landing, Margaret accompanied the Indian to inspect the +place of burial. It was situated on the bank of a small stream running +down to the river, and about two hundred yards from the camp. The grave +looked like the newly made nest of some huge bird. It was cleanly dug +and neatly lined with evergreens. In this grave the body of old Mag was +placed as the sun was sinking below the horizon. It was conveyed to its +last resting place by Paul, Margaret and her son Charlie; the four +younger children forming the procession. + +None of the Indians of the tribes of the St. John were present at the +burial, as Paul had not circulated the news of his mother's death. + +Mrs. Godfrey read, from the old service book, the Church of England +burial service, the most beautiful of all burial services, that of the +Masonic brethren perhaps excepted. + +Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie filled in the grave. When they returned to the +wigwam all within was darkness and gloom. Margaret and her children were +paddled to the sloop by Paul. He was invited to spend the night on board +the little vessel, but declined to do so. Margaret then took him by the +hand, and, as she drew him toward her, he placed his hand upon her +shoulders and cried aloud, "Mother!" "Mother!" She led him to the canoe, +he got into his little bark and was soon sailing away towards his lonely +dwelling-place, where it may have been the spirit of old Mag kept watch +that night over the wigwam and her boy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA. + + +Captain Godfrey arrived safely at Passmaquaddy and was warmly welcomed. + +He was supplied with sails, rigging and a general outfit for his family, +and he was sent back to the mouth of the St. John in a much larger and +more convenient boat, bringing the smaller boat in tow. He was absent +twelve days. + +The day previous to the Captain's return Paul Guidon had visited the +sloop, but Margaret could only prevail upon him to remain for a few +minutes. He said something wanted him back at the wigwam. He appeared to +be impressed by some invisible and irresistible power to return at once +to the sad camping ground. + +"Me: Paul!" he said to Margaret, "cannot stay long away from camp and my +mother's grave." "Happy mother must be in the woods near wigwam." + +As far as Mrs. Godfrey could learn from the lone Indian his thoughts +were something like the following:-- + +All the birds that used to sing so sweetly around the little birchen +home and gaily fluttered from branch to branch, seemed to sit quietly +and pour out their songs in mornful strains, and all about the spot the +wind appeared to whistle a requiem for the departed squaw. And in the +long and quiet hours of the darkness, he felt certain that old Mag's +spirit left the woods, and in never ceasing motion kept watch about the +camp, and at regular intervals would pass within and kiss him when +asleep. + +The Indian from his habits of life, skimming in his canoe over the +lonely and wooded river, or skipping from rock to rock on the lonely +mountain side; in tracing the border of the roaring cataract, in +pitching his tent along the edge of the flowing river or the sleeping +lake; out on the prairie or in the midst of the dense forest; among the +trees on the ocean shore, is most deeply impressed with the belief that +the Great Chief is watching his actions from behind trees, out of the +surface of the waters, from the tops of the mountains, and out of the +bosom of the prairie. He thinks that the lightning is His spear, and the +thunder His voice. He feels that a terrible something is all around him, +and when death calls any of his tribe away supreme superstition takes +firm hold of his very existence. + + "Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind + Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind." + +The poet, and the highly imaginative person, the wise and the good, seek +the hills and the valleys, the dashing cataract, the forest and stream, +the mountain range, the rocky coast and roaring ocean, and there drink +in the grandeur of creation in those sublime scenes. In such places they +feel a nearness to the Creator, and view His power and handiwork in a +measure not always attainable in the ordinary scenes of everyday life. +Such persons admire with reverential awe the greatness of God and feel +His love. + +The Indian, in superstitious dread, lives in ignorance of His greatness, +His ways and His love. + +Paul Guidon visited the sloop the next morning, and Captain Godfrey +welcomed him on board and invited him to remain during the day and +assist in refitting the vessel. The Indian did not refuse in words to do +so, but his looks and movements plainly indicated his disinclination to +remain. + +Margaret approached him and said, "Paul, you will stay with me and help +us get the vessel all ready to sail away, won't you?" He took her hand, +pressed it tightly, and then let it fall at her side. She knew she had +won him, and was well aware that she could lead him as a child. + +He remained, and all were soon at work. The children picked over the +oakum, the Captain fitted the rigging, and the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey +tried their hands at making a mainsail. + +At the setting of the sun Paul returned to his lonely home. The next +morning, before the sun had risen, he was once more on board the sloop. +The day was a lovely one, and similar work to that of the previous day +occupied the attention of all The following day the vessel was hauled to +high water mark on the island, there to be overhauled and caulked. +Captain Godfrey had brought a supply of necessary tools for the work +from Passmaquaddy. The Indian came down each morning from his wigwam and +assisted until the sloop was ready for sea, (The repairing of the little +vessel _La Tour_ was probably the pioneer work of refitting and +repairing which a century later assumed such gigantic proportions on +both sides of the mouth of the St. John.) Mrs. Godfrey named the vessel +_La Tour_, because, she said, that was the original name of the fort +that sheltered herself and her children during Captain Godfrey's absence +at Annapolis Royal. + +At length everything was ready, and the morning to weigh anchor came. A +stiff breeze blowing up the harbour caused a delay in sailing. The +morning was so wet, and the wind blew so hard, that Paul Guidon did not +venture out in his canoe, but he came down by land, and quite early in +the day stood upon the shore opposite where the sloop lay. + +Margaret was first to notice him. She thought that she never saw him +look so handsome as when he stood on the right bank of the harbour that +morning. She called her husband, and pointing toward the shore said: +"Look at that noble form at the water's edge. It looks like a statue +standing on a line between the water and the woods!" + +Captain Godfrey rowed to the shore and took Paul off to the sloop. He +remained on board but an hour, promising as he left to return in the +morning if the storm abated. + +Captain Godfrey had decided to sail for Halifax via Passmaquaddy. The +morning was fine and the wind fair. Paul was on hand bright and early. +Margaret said to him, "Paul, in an hour we shall sail away from here, +and perhaps I shall never see you again on earth." These words seemed to +almost paralyze the Indian, and for a while he appeared unconscious of +everything that passed. His canoe was tied alongside the sloop. Captain +Godfrey hauled up the anchor. Margaret asked the Indian if he would go +with them as far as Passmaquaddy. He made no reply. He sat down on the +deck and covered his face with his hands. Captain Godfrey said to him +rather sternly, "Paul, we are now on our passage, if you are going to +leave take your canoe and go." He made no reply to the Captain. The +sloop was slipping down the harbour and had passed the lower island +before the Indian seemed to recognize his situation. He looked wildly +first at the shore, then on the other side at the great waters, and +burst into a flood of tears. + +Margaret stepped to his side and said, "Paul, do you feel ill?" + +He shook his head, and with his hand pointed at the vast waters of the +bay. + +Margaret proceeded to get dinner, and the red man was left alone. Paul +was asked to the lunch, but replied not. + +The sloop ran leisurely along the shore all day, the wind being light +and the water quite smooth. All were compelled to rest on deck during +the night, which was bright, and the moon made it almost like day,--the +little cabin was besieged with mosquitoes. About midnight the Indian, +who had not spoken since leaving the St. John, suddenly sprang to his +feet and peered over the moon-lit water in the direction of the shore. +Captain Godfrey, who was at the helm, seeing him, thought he was about +to make a plunge overboard, and called to his wife who was asleep. She +sprang up, asking what was the matter. At this moment Paul sang out, +"Indians coming." Margaret went to the cabin, got the musket and pointed +toward the canoes, three in number, and fired. The canoes soon after +disappeared in the direction of the shore. Paul sank back into his +former position, and in a short time all were asleep except the Captain +and the Indian. Nothing unusual occurred during the remainder of the +night, and in the morning, the wind growing stronger, the little ship +made greater headway. The day was a beautiful one, and Paul was as quiet +as usual. He ate nothing. Night again came on, and the breeze holding +through the moon-lit hours, the Captain ran the sloop into Passmaquaddy +early in the morning. + +As the sun was rising in all his splendour, throwing his brightening +rays over land and water, the little vessel was headed into her port of +destination. As she was running in, Paul, quick as a flash, jumped up, +as though some attendant spirit had suddenly opened to him a vision of +the future. He fixed his eyes intently on the shore. In an instant he +crouched down on the deck with his head and shoulders partly over the +rail. His attitude and manner were those of a wild beast about to spring +upon its prey. The Captain thought Paul saw something strange on the +shore. In a few minutes the Indian sat down again, and for sometime +remained perfectly quiet. The anchor was let go, and the little craft +rested in Passmaquaddy harbour. The Captain ran in for the purpose of +getting some one to pilot the sloop to Halifax, but to his great +disappointment could find no one willing to go. He had neither money nor +goods to offer in payment for the service of a pilot. + +The day following he set sail for Machias, ten leagues distant, in the +hope of securing some person at that place willing to assist him in the +passage to Halifax. Paul Guidon had consented to go as far as Machias, +and there land and make his way back to the St. John. + +After leaving Passmaquaddy, Captain Godfrey concluded to put into Head +harbour and try his luck at that place in securing a pilot, but being +unacquainted with the locality he ran the sloop on a ledge of rocks. +However, the tide coming in she floated off unharmed. + + "Flung from the rock, on ocean's foam, to sail + Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail." + +The wind suddenly veered round and blew off shore quite fresh. The +vessel stood well off during the night, and the Captain hoped to make +the harbour sometime the next morning, but toward daylight a fog began +to settle down fast and thick. Captain Godfrey fully realized the +perilous position of all on board, but having been early trained in +seamanship, he had full confidence in his ability to manage the sloop. + +In the morning land could not be seen. The fog continued for three days, +during which time (to use the Captain's words) "the situation was dismal +enough, and every moment I was expecting to see the craft drawn on the +rocks and all on board perish." The fourth day the fog was less dense, +and those on board could see for some distance, but the sun was +invisible, and the war of the elements was raging with increasing fury. +In the afternoon the wind had shifted to north-west and increased to a +partial gale. The sloop was running under a bit of mainsail; it seemed +at times as if the following seas would founder the little vessel as +they towered over the low rail. Nothing was to be seen but the wide +expanse of water. Not even a solitary gull. The Captain remarked to his +wife, "It is a curious fact that, excepting the petrels, sea birds keep +near to the land in bad weather." Captain Godfrey feared the night, and +as it came on the wind grew in strength. A terrible sea was running, and +all were fastened below excepting Paul and the Captain. The Indian would +not leave the deck, although more than once he was nearly washed +overboard. At length darkness covered the face of the ocean, and the +wind howled in all its fury. The seas were like mountains, tossing the +sloop about like a cork. Mrs. Godfrey would remain below no longer. She +told her children, who were tumbling like nine-pins about the cabin +floor, not to cry, as she would soon return to them. As she put her head +out of the companion way, the Captain ordered her back. She said, "Where +is Paul?" Her husband answered, "I have called to him time and time +again to get below." She called to Paul, who was holding fast to the +anchor chain with his legs stuck under the windlass. He did not answer. +She started to creep forward. Her husband could not see her. At this +moment the sloop took a dreadful plunge. A heavy sea swept over her from +stern to bow, completely submerging her. The Captain, who had taken the +precaution to lash himself to the deck, in a half-drowned state, held +steadily to the tiller. As soon as possible he called to his wife, but +no answer came back. He called to Paul, and he too was silent. Was she +lost? Had she, in whom all his hopes were placed, been carried into the +sea and for ever lost to him on earth? These thoughts bewildered him +while he was trying to steer his vessel. He dare not leave the helm to +look after his wife and children. He hoped the sea had not broken into +the cabin and drowned all that were left to him on earth. He had often +been called to drink the cup of bitterness, had he been called to drink +it to its dregs? Had his sorrow at last reached its destined depths. He +burst into tears, almost stupified, and calling upon Him who is able to +guide the storm in its course and hush it to a calm; to Him whose +charities have distilled like the dews of Heaven; who had fed the hungry +and clothed the naked; who had opened a way of escape in the wilderness; +to Him he cried for succor. And at last in utter despair he earnestly +prayed for morning or death. Now and again a huge sea would break over +the little ship, but she rode the waves as beautifully as an ocean +liner. Terribly the night wore away. With the dawn of the morning the +gale began to abate. The Captain lashed the tiller and crept to the +companion way. He opened it, went down, found his children, bruised, +bleeding and terrified. He kissed them, feeling they were now dearer +than ever to him. They asked him where their mother was. He came on deck +and shut them in the cabin without replying. As Captain Godfrey crawled +to his position at the helm, he said to himself, my dear children have +escaped the arrow and tomahawk, the flames at Grimross, the thunder, +lightning and tempest, and even yet they are safe. If it were not for my +children I would prefer to sleep here in death rather than live +elsewhere. I would be near my wife to share a part with her in the +resurrection. + +While the Captain was thus mournfully musing, a faint light began to +creep around the eastern horizon. He was so absorbed in thought and in +watching every movement of the sloop that he did not notice the +increasing light. There were rifts in the dark clouds, and the air was +growing moist. The morning light brought with it rain. The sea gradually +grew less and less troubled, and the little vessel rolled and pitched +more easily. The Captain was suddenly startled from his reverie by the +increasing rays of the rising sun, who was now beginning to show his +golden circle above the horizon. He made fast the tiller and went +forward to see what damage had been done through the night. The jib had +been snugly furled before darkness set in. As he stepped forward of the +mainsail, to his great surprise he saw two human forms wedged in under +the windlass and locked in each other's arms. They were tightly wedged +to their knees, between the windlass and the deck. Mrs. Godfrey's +clothes were torn in shreds. She lay with her head across the Indian's +shoulders, her arms were tightly locked around his neck and flowing +black hair. + +The Captain had on board the sloop an old axe, which he at once got and +commenced to cut the windlass from its fastenings. A piece of the wood +flew and struck his wife on the leg, he thought he the saw the limb, +which was partially bare, tremble. He then threw his whole strength into +his work, and in a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing one end of +the windlass loosened. He took hold of the unfastened end and with a +sudden jerk wrenched the other end from its socket. He then rubbed his +wife's limb with his open palm, and soon felt it growing warm. In a few +minutes she breathed quickly, and appeared to grasp her swarthy +companion more tightly. She moaned, and then opened her eyes and stared +vacantly at her husband, who almost fainted with joy. He turned his wife +over, and pulled the shreds of clothing towards her feet. He then went +to the cabin and got a bottle containing brandy, presented to him during +his first visit to Passmaquaddy. He poured out a spoonful, and forced it +down his wife's throat. Soon after she spoke, and asked her husband to +raise her up. As he did so she said, "give some brandy to Paul, he +cannot be dead, if I am alive." Paul all this time had never stirred. He +lay like a fallen statue, brown and stiff. Margaret brushed the coarse +black hair from off his face. Captain Godfrey opened the Indian's jaws +and put a spoonful of brandy into his mouth. His muscles began to +quiver, he trembled, he breathed, he moaned, and again relapsed into +perfect quietness. Margaret sat beside Paul while the Captain went to +jibe the mainsail and port the helm. She thrust her hand beneath his +torn shirt and laid it over his heart. She felt its weak pulsations. She +then ran her hand around and over his swarthy skin; she felt it growing +warm. He moaned and moved. She continued the application of her hand, +his eyelids opened, he trembled all over, and looked up at Margaret in a +sort of amazed stare. At length the Indian completely recovered his +senses, and by this time Margaret Godfrey again became exhausted. She +was carried to the dingy little cabin by her husband and her son +Charlie. Paul was so weak that he could not raise himself from the +deck. The Captain moved him a few feet and lashed him to the mast. +Neither Margaret nor the Indian were able to move from their resting +places till late in the afternoon. + +Captain Godfrey judged the sloop to be well across the Bay of Fundy, and +he determined to make all speed possible for the town of Halifax. The +wind was fair, and all the reefs in the sails were shaken out. For the +next two days the weather was fine and the wind fair, and Margaret and +Paul were regaining their strength. Nothing of an unusual character +occurred on board. Since the jam under the windlass, Paul Guidon +appeared more lively and conversed more freely. About four o'clock in +the afternoon of the second day after the storm, while the Indian was +sitting at the bow of the sloop, a school of porpoises was seen +approaching in as regular order as a company of British soldiers to a +charge. When the fish had approached to within a hundred yard's of the +sloop, the Indian threw up his hands and uttered a most mournful wail, +and staggered backward. Captain Godfrey rushed forward and caught Paul +as he was falling overboard. Both fell athwart the rail and all but into +the sea. + +The Indian, who had not recovered sufficient strength to endure much +excitement or hardship, was in a high state of feverish bewilderment. +The Captain said: "Paul, what gave you such a fright?" He replied, "that +when he first saw the fish approaching, he thought that they were a lot +of canoes paddled by evil spirits from the dark, dismal hunting grounds +of thieving and murderous Indians, and that they were after him to carry +him away over the great waters to live in misery among them, because he +had left the wigwam and forsaken his mother's grave before two moons +were gone." + +Early next morning Mrs. Godfrey relieved her husband at the helm; +Charlie assisting her. The Captain went below to rest, asking to be +called if anything out of the ordinary occurred. He had hardly closed +his eyes during the voyage, but fell asleep at his post during the +previous night, when the weather fortunately was fine and the sea quite +peaceful. + +At about ten o'clock, a.m., Paul sighted something in the distance. He +called to Mrs. Godfrey to look in the direction of his hand, which he +was pointing over the port bow. She could see nothing, but she headed +the sloop in the direction that Paul gave, and in an hour's time had the +satisfaction of seeing what she supposed to be the outline of rocks or +land. She kept the vessel headed in toward what she supposed to be land, +and at three o'clock called her husband on deck. The Captain judged his +vessel to be on the east coast of Nova Scotia. + +Margaret called her children around her, and asked Paul to sit down with +them. She opened the old service book and read a portion of scripture. +The deck was made an altar of the living God. From the deck fervent +prayer mingled with the voice of the ocean and with the sighing wind +ascended on high. Margaret said to Paul: "You and I were rescued at the +gate of death. When our frail bark was tossing and labouring hard for +life in her lone path over the surging billows and through the blackness +of the night, a kind hand overshadowed us and kept us, and now not one +of the ship's company is lost." + +Full of bright hope, she turned to her husband and said: "I now am +satisfied we shall safely reach port, and once again we and our dear +ones shall see our native lands. English civilization and English +justice will do rightly by us in our misfortunes. We, who have lost all +our possessions,--in an hour stripped of all that we owned,--and have +been compelled to endure hardships and face death itself in an English +colony, may in confidence look to the old land for succor." + +The next two days the wind continued favourable, and the little vessel +ran along in sight of the coast. + +The following day an adverse wind blew and a storm seemed brewing, but +the wind only freshened a bit, and all day the vessel beat about in +sight of land. Paul, who had now sufficiently recovered, appeared to +take a great interest in everything about the sloop; the sun shone +brightly and the clouds were lifted high in the heavens. All around was +perfect peace. + +The Indian remarked to Captain Godfrey: "This not so good as canoe on +stream, or roaming hunting ground. Wide, big, great sea, would make +splendid hunting ground if only covered with grass and trees." + +Early the next morning a King's schooner was sighted. The wind shifting, +Captain Godfrey ran the sloop into Petite Passage and anchored. The +King's schooner came to an anchor about the same time--a league distant. +Captain Spry, (Captain and pilot) of the King's schooner, sent a +messenger on board the sloop, who inquired where they had come from and +whither they were bound. After the messenger had returned to the King's +schooner, Lieutenant Knight of the Royal Navy, commander of the +schooner, sent a boat to the sloop with three men to assist Captain +Godfrey to Halifax, also some tea, chocolate, coffee, sugar, wine and +rum, bread, pork and flour. Captain Spry took the sloop under convoy. +The vessels put into several harbours; and the night before they arrived +at Halifax Captain Spry's schooner was lost sight of in a thick fog. The +fog lifted during the night, when they were able to see Halifax lights, +but on entering the harbour the sloop ran foul of a ledge of rocks +called "Two Sisters." The sea was running very high. Destruction seemed +on every hand. Fortunately a passage was perceived between the rocks. At +last they succeeded in getting through the passage, and came to anchor +before morning opposite the town of Halifax. Captain Godfrey and his +wife, after a long and eventful passage from Fort Frederick, found +themselves once again at Halifax, worn out and almost disheartened. The +new men on board the sloop appeared to admire Paul Guidon, and Paul took +kindly to them. + +Shortly after their arrival at Halifax Captain Godfrey admitted to +Lieutenant Knight, that during the terrible storm in the mouth of the +Bay of Fundy, he expected every moment to see the sloop founder and all +on board perish in the ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL.--YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. + + +Shortly after the arrival of the sloop at Halifax, Capt. Godfrey waited +on Lord William Campbell, at that time (the summer of 1771) Governor of +the Provinces. + +His Lordship received him in the most cordial and gentlemanly manner, +and remarked that he would be pleased to order an investigation into his +case and have the Indians who committed the outrage ordered down from +the St. John river. + +On September 2nd, 1771, a council met and an investigation took place. +Letters and affidavits were produced, sworn to before Plato Denny and +William Isherwood, Justices of the Peace for Campo Bello, where Lewis +LeBlond, a Canadian, made oath, that he was told by Lewis Neptune, an +Indian, that Captain Godfrey was to be burned out by Chief Pére Thomas' +orders, and that other Indians of the St. John tribe were to perform the +deed. + +An affidavit was made by Gervase Say, an inhabitant of Gage township, +sworn to before Francis Peabody, Justice of the Peace, in which it was +stated that John Baptiste Caltpate, an Indian of the St. John tribe, had +declared to him that Francis DeFalt, an Indian belonging to Pére +Thomas' tribe, set fire to Captain Godfrey's house and store at +Grimross. + +A schedule of the Captain's losses, attested before one of His Majesty's +Justices of the Peace at Halifax, was also laid before the council. The +reader will not be troubled with the items, suffice it to say the +losses, including lands, amounted to seven thousand four hundred and +sixty-two pounds. + +His Excellency, finding that Captain Godfrey had acted conformably to +the rules and regulations of the Province, returned to him his bond that +he had given the government for carrying on a legitimate trade with the +Indians. + +He was also satisfied that the Captain's losses were on account of the +action of the savages, and being fully convinced of the great hardships +and privations the Captain and his distressed wife and family had +undergone, he was pleased to give him an honourable clearance out of the +province, according to the regulations of said province, and also to +recommend him to the protection of the Right Honourable the Earl of +Hillsborough, at that time first Lord of Trade and Plantations for +public relief. The Governor had it not in his power to grant Captain +Godfrey any suitable gratuity for the great loss he had sustained. + + + COPY OF LORD CAMPBELL'S LETTER TO LORD HILLSBOROUGH. + + HALIFAX, October 9th, 1771. + + _My Lord_: + + The gentleman who will deliver this to you was lately a Captain in the + 52nd Regiment of foot, and came out to this province in August, 1769, + with his wife and a large family, to settle on some lands on river St. + John, which he had purchased before he left Europe, with a view of + carrying on trade with the Indians. I have frequent complaints of those + Indians since Fort Frederick, situate on the entrance of the St. John + river, has been dismantled, and the garrison, which consisted of an + officer's command, reduced to a corporal and four. + + The Fort, when properly garrisoned, kept the Indians of that district in + pretty good order, but not so effectively by situation as it would if it + had been constructed higher up the river, and as now the fort is + entirely dismantled, I beg leave to offer to your Lordship's + consideration whether a strong Block House, properly garrisoned, might + not prove a proper check upon the insolence of the savages, at the same + time it would afford a secure protection to a very increasing settlement + on the banks of the river St. John, a situation abounding with most + excellent soil, which produces the most valuable timber of all sorts in + the province. + + These are considerations which I beg your Lordship will please to submit + to His Majesty's advisers. The unhappy state of _Mr. Godfrey's_ + misfortunes will, I am persuaded, speak everything in his favour with + your Lordship, which his past services or present suffering can entitle + him to. + + I have the honour to be, + Yours, &c., &c., + + WM. CAMPBELL. + _The Earl of Hillsborough_. + + +After remaining at Halifax for five months, an opportunity offered for +Captain Godfrey to leave for England. He sailed with his wife and family +in the brigantine "Adamante," William Macniel, master, on the twentieth +day of December, 1771. Paul Guidon remained at Halifax about six weeks +after he had arrived with the Godfreys. While at Halifax he was much +admired by the officers of the army, and those of the navy paid him +even greater attentions. Margaret had circulated the report that the +Indian was of the Iroquois tribe, and as brave a man as ever drew a bow. +He wanted for nothing. He was dined and wined by the citizens generally. + +The Governor took a deep interest in him, and secured a vast amount of +information from him respecting the character and movements of the +Indians on the St. John. One of the officers of the navy presented him +with a complete suit of navy-blue clothes, and an officer of the +garrison fitted him out with a second-hand undress military suit. + +In his blue suit his appearance was most commanding. It suited his +complexion to a charm. He was straight as an arrow, and looked as +graceful as an elm. His frame was wiry; his limbs long and straight. He +would bound over the rails of the ships like a deer. His step was long, +quick and elastic, and he would run like a greyhound. His long black +hair, reaching down to his slender waist, seemed to make his broad +square shoulders doubly broad as it hung over his blue coat. But the +Indian, while he appeared to enjoy his new mode of life, was not always +happy or at ease. A sudden expression of sadness would often flit across +his features. He would roam for hours all alone in the woods. He often +longed for his canoe, which was washed overboard in the mouth of the Bay +of Fundy. He would often inquire of Captain Godfrey when he would get +back to his home on the St. John. + +The time at last arrived when Paul Guidon was to depart. The King's +schooner was soon to sail for Passmaquaddy. Captain Godfrey, his wife +and children went on board the schooner to bid Paul farewell. They found +it hard to do so, especially Mrs. Godfrey. Paul Guidon had no idea that +he was to be separated from the family he loved. He thought they were +going to return to the St. John soon again. + +As the Godfreys left the side of the King's schooner to return to the +shore, the "Young Lion of the Woods," (for such was the name given to +the Iroquois by the naval officers at Halifax) would not let go of Mrs. +Godfrey's hand. He gently pulled her back and said, "I may never see you +again, I want to speak to you alone." They went into the cabin, and +there the Indian poured out the agonies of his soul. He spoke to +Margaret as follows (the words are given as he spoke them): "You 'member +evening Fort Frederick when pale face man 'way, me, Paul, saved your +life and children too? when Indians threw tomahawk, and fired arrows at +you? when you come out Fort, and one arrow struck you in arm?" Mrs. +Godfrey replied: "Paul, the mark of that arrow I shall carry with me to +the grave." The Indian continued: "You and children been all dead now +and buried near old Fort if Paul not been there; when you come out Fort, +after Indians threat to burn Fort and all up, me saw you like spirit +from some other land; you looked pale, and stood brave; you mind me put +hand up and told Indians stand back. Pale face and looked so brave, +saved life and in boat too. All squaws in woods none like you." Paul +then relapsed into silence, and his head dropped forward. He firmly held +Margaret Godfrey's hand all the time he was repeating the event at the +Fort, and her small white hand was frequently wet with tears as they +rolled off the swarthy face of the Indian. + +At last she said: "Paul, I can stay here no longer, they are waiting to +take me to the shore. You have been a good friend to us all; without +your assistance I might never have been here to bid you good-bye. May +the great good Spirit bless and help you on the big, broad waters and in +the lonely woods. You, Paul, ask him to guide you. I shall always ask +the Great Spirit to look after you, and, if it be the Great Chief's +will, I may come back to see you again." A smile played over his face as +she uttered the last words, and he brushed the tears from her pale hand +with his long flowing hair. She asked him for a lock of his hair; he cut +off a piece and handed it to her. She then went to the boat, but the +Indian did not leave the cabin. + +Margaret was so completely overcome with emotion that she laid her head +on her husband's shoulder and quietly wept, as they were being rowed to +the shore. + +Captain Godfrey knew that his wife admired the Indian for his courage +and honour, but was entirely ignorant of those warmer feelings that Paul +expressed for Mrs. Godfrey during his leave-taking. + +The Godfreys remained at Halifax four months after Paul Guidon had +sailed, and Margaret never ceased to praise the actions of the noble red +man. Yet, it may be after all, that the husband and children owed their +lives, as much to the good sense, brave spirit, firmness and steadiness +in the face of danger, of the wife and mother, as to the action of the +noble Iroquois. Yet again had not Paul appeared on the scene at [3]Fort +Frederick and at the taking of the boat, all the splendid traits of +character possessed by Margaret might have availed little in defeating +the purposes of the other Indians. + +[Footnote 3: It will be remembered that during the voyage from the mouth +of the St John to Grimross Neck, the Captain's wife was most anxious to +be on deck alone during the hours of darkness. The Iroquois and several +braves appeared before Fort Frederick on the afternoon of the day that +Captain Godfrey left for Annapolis Royal. They ran round and round the +place, calling upon the occupants of the Fort to come out, or they would +break in and murder them. The Captain's wife determined to go outside +and face the savages, but found it difficult to leave her terrified +children, who were afraid to follow her. She knew her only course was to +appear bold and fearless in presence of the red men. At length she got +the little ones pacified, as she stepped toward the opening, her +children were huddled together in a corner. She did not hesitate a +moment, but went out and advanced down the slope and stood face to face +with the savages. Paul Guidon advanced a few steps toward her. She said, +"I believe you to be an honest man, and you will not see a defenceless +woman injured and her children murdered, if you can help it." At this +moment a couple of tomahawks and several arrows passed in close +proximity to Mrs. Godfrey, and a moment after a single arrow struck her +in the arm, causing the blood to flow freely. Paul Guidon turned +suddenly and spoke firmly and decidedly to his comrades, they retired a +short distance. Margaret continued, "Why do those Indians wish to injure +me? My husband is away, and when he comes back we will leave this place +and go up the river to Grimross Neck and live there." The red man stood +silent all the time Mrs. Godfrey was speaking. He now spoke as follows, +"You no 'fraid Injuns, stand fore them like rock," at the same time +pointing down to a big boulder on which he was standing, "Brave Pale +Face." She said in reply: "I shall never be afraid while you are with +the Indians, but some of the red men I would not trust. If my King, the +Great Pale Faced Father of this country, knew of your kindness to me he +would love you. I feel that my life and the lives of my children are +safe in your hands." Margaret then asked him into the Fort. In doing +this she appears to have obeyed the cool dictates of judgment rather +than the impulses of the heart. He at first hesitated and then slowly +followed her cautiously up the rising ground. She turned around and said +to him rather sharply: "Do you fear to trust me? There are no pale faced +men inside. Did I not trust you when I went out single, alone and +unarmed, to meet you?" He quickened his pace, but glanced restlessly all +around. Arriving near the entrance of the Fort, he said: "Me stop here." +Margaret called to her children, but they would not come. Paul said: +"Children frightened with Injun." After much difficulty she persuaded +Paul to step inside. He stopped as he entered and looked wildly about, +appearing inclined to draw back. Margaret Godfrey looked straight into +his restless eyes and said: "You are my friend now. When my husband +comes back you can help us up this unknown stream to our new home." +"Yea," he replied; "me will watch on river bank and in canoe; fire gun +and point where stay night. Don't tell pale face man me be in Fort. +White man sometime kill Injun. Won't tell pale face man, say?" Here he +hesitated for a reply. Margaret took his hand, led him out, and promised +she would not. And she kept her word.] + +Noble bearing and grand courage in the case of Mrs. Godfrey, it would +appear, touched the tenderest chords of the Iroquois' heart, and brought +to the surface his better nature. Naturally, some human beings are +better than others. Such seem born to exert a power and cast a healthy +influence all about them. Doubtless Margaret was one of this class. Her +early training, her immortal hope, her strong belief in the spread of +everlasting truth, and in prayer and God, had much to do in steadying +and solidifying her character. + +We may all profit by her example, if we seek to incorporate the +principles of the Christian religion into our every day actions and +life, in the full conviction that it is the happiest life, the soundest +life, the bravest life, that partakes of the mild and peaceful spirit of +Christianity. Something more than ordinary courage in the presence of +yelling savages and flights of arrows is necessary to support a delicate +woman single handed and alone; this something Margaret Godfrey +possessed, and, possibly, the penetrating eye of the Iroquois detected +it in her every feature and movement. + +The King's schooner arrived at Passmaquaddy in due time, and Paul took +his departure for his native woods. He sent word hack by the captain of +the schooner to Margaret Godfrey that he would watch for her spirit some +evening when he sat by his mother's grave. He felt sure he would see +her there. + +In the next chapter Captain Godfrey and family will be followed across +the ocean, and Paul Guidon will be allowed to remain in his native +woods, to fish, to shoot, and occasionally to sit beside Old Mag's grave +and commune with her immortal spirit. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN ENGLAND.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS. + + +The "Adamante" arrived in England after a rough and stormy passage of +forty-eight days. Captain Godfrey and family suffered severe hardships +on the run over the Western Ocean. Owing to his exhausted funds, Captain +G. was unable to provide his family the conveniences and comforts which +would have rendered the voyage home more agreeable than under the +circumstances it proved itself to be. As it was they suffered severely. +They had no bedding, and found their beaver skins a great luxury to +sleep on. The few pounds that the sale of the sloop brought him were all +expended during his long stay at Halifax while he was waiting for an +opportunity to sail for England. + +Margaret Godfrey was as high spirited as she was brave, and would not +condescend to seek assistance from their friends in Halifax. If +assistance was not gratuitously bestowed, she was the last woman in the +world to beg. The family were well cared for while in the capital of the +province (or to put it in Mrs. Godfrey's words) "as well as people +generally are who have honestly lost their all. Our real wants were not +known to the middle and lower classes, and that other class was not +heartily concerned about our future. Governor Campbell, all honor to his +name, secured and paid our passages." + +The cabin of the "Adamante" was below deck, it was dark, dingy and +dirty. The bows of the vessel resembled the side of a tub, and the stern +the end of a puncheon cut through the centre lengthways. A passage +across the stormy ocean in the "Adamante" in the winter of 1771-2, in +comparison to one in an ocean greyhound of 1889, would be much the same +as the difference between a ride in an ox-cart and one in a palace car, +both for comfort and speed. + +A terrific storm was experienced off the west coast of Ireland, in which +the foretopgallant mast and jibboom were carried away. The water-casks +and caboose were washed overboard, and the cook carried into the forward +shrouds feet foremost, where he hung like a fish in a net. With this +exception, no accident occurred during the passage. + +Shortly after Captain Godfrey arrived in London, he called on the Earl +of Hillsborough and made known to that gentleman his great misfortune, +and also delivered to His Lordship the letter of recommendation which +Lord William Campbell had been pleased to give him. After the Earl of +Hillsborough had carefully perused the letter and examined into Captain +Godfrey's affairs, His Lordship was most generously pleased to present +him with twenty guineas out of his private purse for present relief, +until His Lordship could more essentially serve him. + +Not long afterward Captain Godfrey's case was laid before the Right +Honourable the Lords of Trade. The Earl of Hillsborough was again +pleased to grant him fifty guineas from his private purse for a +temporary support, with the assurance of providing for his further +support till his case was settled. + +Upon Lord Hillsborough's resignation as first Lord of Trade and +Plantations, his Lordship was pleased to recommend Captain Godfrey's +case to the Earl of Dartmouth, who succeeded His Lordship in office. + +The case, with all the original papers and certificates, was laid before +the Earl of Dartmouth and the Right Honorable the Lords of Trade and +Plantations. A commission was appointed by Parliament and several Lords +sat on it, but nothing definite was arranged. Captain Godfrey remained +for the greater part of the time in England and sometimes in Ireland, +all the time seeking relief from Lords many until the year 1773. All +this time he was in great difficulty and distress through his losses in +the Colony. Fortunately for himself and his family, he was left a legacy +in 1773 amounting to a considerable sum, which enabled him a second time +to try his luck in Nova Scotia. He expended a large sum of money in +purchasing goods suitable for the colonial trade, and embarked with the +goods and his wife and family in 1774, and once again settled on his +estate at Grimross. + +His former misfortune did not discourage him; he was full of hope for +the future. He left his case in the hands of his fellow-countrymen. What +a pity he did not induce some of these English Lords to accompany him +and spend a winter with him in the wilds of Nova Scotia. It is quite +possible had he been able to prevail upon them to do so, that they would +have returned home in the early spring and strongly advised the Lords of +Trade and Plantations to at once settle the case of Captain Godfrey by +reimbursing him for his losses. + +The boast of England is her colonies, yet the statesmen of Britain at +that time knew little, and, in all probability, cared less, about the +hardships, dangers and perils which their countrymen were enduring while +laying the foundations of a Greater Britain. + +The great bulk of the early colonists were thoroughly British, and +Captain Godfrey was no exception. They suffered what most early +colonists suffer, but they suffered without murmuring, because they were +Englishmen in an English colony. They possessed a sort of blind loyalty +and a sincere patriotism toward their King and old England. Their spirit +is ours, and a century or more has been forming and moulding it into a +purely Canadian patriotism, while the wisdom displayed for fifty years +by the best ruler that ever sat upon the British throne, has +strengthened the attachment British North Americans have had for English +institutions and induced them to cling strongly to them, though the +circumstances of a new country have required a modification in the forms +of those institutions. + +Queen Victoria's good sense, excellent judgment, and consequently wise +rule, have made the people of every portion of the Colonial Empire feel +that they have an interest in the Mother land. + +Long may she reign; and God grant that the American Republic may never +be allowed to extend its institutions to our Dominion, and overthrow the +foundations laid by our ancestry and on which we are building. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVAL AND RETREAT. + + +In the month of September, 1774, Captain Godfrey, after an absence of +three years, arrived and settled for the second time on the estate at +Grimross Neck. He lost no time in preparing to once again try his luck +in trading with the Indians and settlers. He erected and finished a +house and store, and before winter set in everything was made ready to +receive his wife and family, who arrived in the latter part of November. + +He commenced trading again buoyant with the hope of retrieving his +losses, and for a short time he carried on a profitable business. The +Indians were comparatively quiet, and he and his family enjoyed a season +of peace. Uprightness stamped all the Captain's dealings. He remarked to +a friend, that he had again attempted to do business in the colony, and +said he: "with the spirit of a true British soldier, I mean to do or die +in the attempt, and my dealings with both the white and red man shall be +guided by the dictates of an honest conscience. I hope I shall succeed." +He felt almost certain that the dark plots and devilish crimes of the +Indians would never have occurred had Paul Guidon been near him. He +would often say to his wife: "I wonder where Paul has gone?" Since his +arrival at Grimross he often made enquiries as to Paul's whereabouts, +but none of the tribe on the St. John appeared to know where he was. Six +months had elapsed since his arrival and yet he had received no tidings +of the brave Iroquois. + +Mrs. Godfrey, true to the promise she had made to Paul on board the +King's schooner in Halifax harbour, never revealed to her husband the +Indian's feelings of regard toward her. Like a wise woman, she +considered it better to let the matter forever rest. + +Captain Godfrey presented Paul with the two muskets previous to the +Indian leaving Halifax for Passmaquaddy. Paul named one "Old Mag" and +the other "Chief Mag," cutting as he did so an arrow mark in the butt of +the latter, and saying "this one my Chief." The Captain told his wife of +the circumstance, and she laughingly remarked that it was a custom among +the Indians to name trinkets and presents after the persons who had +given them. She believed as Paul had seen her first at Fort Frederick, +her name was probably first in his thoughts when accepting the muskets. + +One night, in the month of March, 1775, Captain Godfrey and his wife +were aroused from their slumbers by a loud and continued knocking at the +house door. The night was very dark. The Captain got up, dressed +himself, and called his eldest son, (Charlie) a lad of sixteen. They +together went to the door, asked who was there, and what was wanted. The +answer came ringing back, Paul Guidon. The Captain called his wife, as +he did not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She came and said, "Is +that you, Paul?" "Me, real Paul, and got Chief Mag with me," was the +answer. Margaret could not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She said +to her husband, "it sounds more like the voice of a British officer than +that of an Indian." She lit a candle, and said, "Paul, do you know me?" +"Yes, yes," he replied; "arrow mark on arm, and almost dead with you +under windlass in sloop, great storm, lost canoe." She opened the door, +and in stepped Paul Guidon, dressed in the military uniform presented to +him at Halifax, or a similar one, and in his hand a musket. A fire was +made, and Paul was so pleased to once again see his old friends that he +could not sit quiet. He walked up and down the kitchen with a quick +nervous tread, looking like a hero from some field of victory. Margaret +burst out in exclamation, "So it is really you, Paul; you who +accompanied us in our trials, and watched over us in our dangers, and +who, side by side with me, lay on the verge of eternity, while the +roaring of the ocean and the howling of the storm passed along unheeded +by us both." There before them was the brave Chief, (the "Young Lion of +the Woods,") who a few years before, at Fort Frederick, was subdued by +the presence of Margaret Godfrey, where her exhibition of unexampled +fortitude took a deep hold of the very being of the Iroquois and turned +him from an enemy to a friend. + +The Indian remained with the Godfreys for a few days, amusing himself +with shooting and assisting in a general the premises. Trouble occurring +among the tribe of which Paul was a sub-chief, he was sent for to +return to the tribe, and at a great war council he was elected Chief in +Thomas' place. + +About this time the colonists in New England were beginning to show +signs of dissatisfaction with the Mother land, and some Americans living +along the St. John river were showing signs of discontent, and becoming +agitated over matters in New England. The American sympathisers did all +they could to stir the Indians along the river to revolt. + +Paul Guidon did all in his power to soothe their savage breasts, and +soon after returned to Grimross Neck. In a short time the rebellion +broke out, and affairs in New England were fast assuming a most serious +aspect. The rebels in the vicinity of Grimross were fully aware of +Captain Godfrey's firm attachment to the cause of King George the Third. +At length they approached him and tried hard to persuade him to enter +the service of the dissatisfied colonists. The cross-eyed, monkey-faced +character alluded to in a former chapter, was their chief spokesman on +this occasion, and instead of stuttering, as on a former visit, his +words flowed forth as freely and as fast as the waters of a mill-race. +It may be that similar specimens of humanity exist in every age, whose +folly and wickedness seem to be perpetual. Will such characters ever +learn to live and be content under the old flag of their fathers, or +will they be content to live on despised by their countrymen? Should +such seditious spirits ever receive mention from the historian, it must +be anything but a flattering one, and must cause the blush to mantle +upon the cheek of any worthy descendant. + +Captain Godfrey was offered by the rebels the command of a party of men +to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, besides which further +inducements of preferment and advancement were held out to him. But +nothing the rebels could offer was able to shake his allegiance to King +George the Third. His former losses, his present situation, the safety +of his wife and family, his treatment by the Board of Trade and +Plantations, were all to him of less importance than his duty to his +sovereign. Unshaken and unmoved he replied to the traitors, "I am as +zealous as ever I was in my life for the cause of my King and my +country." + +The rebels finding the Captain firm in his determination not to forsake +his King, approached Margaret Godfrey. She was protected not only by her +good sense and thorough good judgment, her sterling honour and decided +character, but also by the highest convictions of duty. In answer to +them she replied, "My husband has given you his answer and in it he has +also given you mine. You will oblige by at once leaving the premises." +They made a hasty exit from her presence, and did not return for some +weeks. + +A day or two after the rebels had left Grimross, Paul Guidon related to +Mrs. Godfrey his life and wanderings after his arrival at Passmaquaddy +from Halifax in 1771. "He found his way from Passmaquaddy to Grimross +Neck, carrying the two muskets with him, and also a knapsack filled with +powder, shot and bullets, given to him by the Captain of the King's +schooner." + +"He then went to where the tribe was living and remained some weeks, +being very tired and weary. Pére Thoma, taking a great fancy to his red +jacket, offered to canoe him down the river to his old camping ground if +he would give him the coveted garment on their return. Paul consented to +do so. One fine morning they started from Grimross Neck and paddled all +day down the river, occasionally resting on the banks of the stream. It +came into his (Paul's) head, on the way down that Pére Thoma was the +cause of the Godfreys' misfortunes, and he suddenly felt that the spirit +of "Old Mag" (his mother) called upon him to kill Thoma. The burning of +the house, the escape of his mother from the flames, the driving away of +the English people, the great storm on the bay, his first sight of the +pale-faced woman at Fort Frederick, the parting with her at Halifax, all +these events recurred to his mind in an instant and went like a flash +through his brain. His head seemed to dance like the canoe on the water, +then the canoe appeared to whirl round and round. He got so dizzy he +could scarcely see, and was afraid that he would fall overboard. He felt +something touch him on the shoulder like a dip from the wing of a bird. +He had his musket in the canoe, it was loaded. He suddenly pulled in the +paddle and then grasped the musket. It was "Chief Mag," and he pointed +it at Thoma who was sitting in the stern of the canoe. He fired and +Thoma rolled overboard and sank. Paddling on he arrived at his old +camping ground near the mouth of the river. The wigwam was still +standing but very much out of order, he sat in it till daylight and then +visited his mother's grave. After returning to the camp as he felt sad +and faint, he took his musket and wandered off in search of game. He +spent the remainder of the day near the resting place of "Old Mag," at +night he went to the camp and there slept. In the morning he got into +the canoe and paddled off up the river, arriving at Grimross he went on +shore and started at once by trail for Quebec, where after two moons he +arrived carrying Chief Mag with him. Here he was much in request by the +military, who detained him for three winters accompanying them on their +hunting excursions. During the latter part of the last winter, while +shooting with some officers on the borders of Acadia and Quebec, he met +an old Indian by the name of Joe Paul moving West with his family. From +him he learned that the pale-faced people were again living and trading +at Grimross. Paul told the officers that he must go back to the St. +John. They were not inclined to release him, until he had accompanied +them back to Quebec. Yielding to their entreaties he returned with them, +remaining a few days. Just before he left Quebec, there was a great stir +among the military. It was rumoured that war was impending, and the +officers tried hard to persuade him to remain and share with them the +fortunes of war, if they should be ordered to take part in the fighting. +He said he could not stay, but promised the officers, as he put on a new +red jacket they had given him, that he would never fight against the +British soldiers. As Paul came to this part of his narration he looked +straight at Margaret Godfrey and continued, (it is given in his own +words) "all Paul want to make him British soldier be pale face and +little hair." + +In a few days the Iroquois went out again to visit his tribe. Desiring +to revisit his mother's grave he required some one to assist him down +the river. He selected as his companion Francis DeFalt who appeared +willing to accompany him. On the way down he found out from DeFalt, that +he was one of the Indians who by Thoma's commands set fire to the +Englishman's house and store. DeFalt bragged about what he had done and +said his only sorrow was, that all the white devils were not burned up +with the house. + +As DeFalt was speaking, the Iroquois blood began to stir quickly. As +soon as darkness was closing down over the face of the river Paul +meditated on revenge. He seized Chief Mag, which he always took with +him, and fired it at DeFalt, who turning a complete somerset over the +bow of the canoe into the river, was seen no more. Paul drifted down +stream a few miles, paddled to the shore, hauled the canoe upon dry +land, turned it over and slept under it during the night, feeling +satisfied that he had avenged the insult to the pale-faces. Paul +remained about the old camping ground for three weeks, when he again +returned to Grimross. The Iroquois was never suspected as the cause of +Thoma's disappearance, the canoe was afterwards found, bottom up, in the +river, and he was supposed to have been drowned. + +On Paul's return to his tribe, he told the Indians that DeFalt had +become acquainted with a pretty young squaw named Charlotte Toney, and +had gone over to Fort Cumberland to spend a few months with the Toney +family, who were moving over there to settle during the coming winter, +and that DeFalt would likely be married before his return. The Iroquois +shortly after this returned to Grimross to spend a few days with his +pale-faced friends. He told Margaret that some of the tribe were greatly +agitated. The American sympathisers had seduced them by making great +promises and by holding up to them a grand future. Paul said to Captain +Godfrey, "you may all be murdered if you stay at Grimross; some bad +white men now among Indians." Margaret did not care to advise her +husband to leave, although she had learnt enough from Paul to convince +her that great danger was all about them. + +The Iroquois had proposed to Margaret to escape with her children to +Fort Frederick, saying that he would take them down the river in +DeFalt's canoe, which he had kept at Grimross. He said to her, "I will +never leave you in times of trouble and will lose my life to save +yours." She would not consent to leave her husband, although he strongly +advised her to go, if she thought their lives in danger. + +At length the Rebels and Red men grew furious. They arrived at Grimross +early one morning, while Paul was out among the tribe trying to keep +them quiet, and surrounding the house and store of Captain Godfrey they +demanded his surrender. The yells and whoops of the Indians were +terrific, demons from the depths of perdition could not have made a more +frightful noise. The children were terrified; the youngest fainted with +fright. At this crisis Margaret Godfrey calmly walked to the door while +her husband and son Charlie stood a few paces in her rear. She opened +the door, and as she did so in rushed the demons, led by the cross-eyed, +monkey-faced rebel. One of the Indians by name Pete Gomez, took hold of +Margaret and forced her to the floor, Charlie took up a stick of wood +and knocked Gomez senseless. At this moment Paul Guidon returned, +Horatio Keys, one of the rebels, had seized Captain Godfrey by the +throat and was holding him tightly against the wall, Margaret clinched +the rolling-pin and in an instant sent Keys staggering to the floor. The +squinting monkey-faced rebel's name was Will, and Will by force pushed +Margaret to the floor, and was dragging her by the hand toward the door, +as Paul stepped in. Paul struck him with his fist, and like lightning +placed both his feet against the rebel's breast, almost knocking the +life out of him. Jim Wade, Sam Scarp, and Mark Paul, three Indians, +rushed in after Paul, who turned and struck Wade a terrific blow on the +neck, knocking him out. The Captain, Charlie, Paul and Margaret went for +the other two in lively style and soon laid them low. The remaining +rebels and Indians beat a hasty retreat to the woods. The insolent +invaders who had got so deservedly well punished at the hands of the +Godfrey household were pitched out of the house, and when they had +sufficiently recovered they also made for the woods. During the tumult +the four smaller children were fastened in the bedroom and their screams +were terrible. The night after the assault was a dismal and anxious one +at Grimross. The children trembled and sobbed during the entire hours of +darkness. The morning at length dawned, and with its dawning Margaret +Godfrey's soul went out for counsel and guidance to Him, who in all +their perils, in the darkest moments of their lives, had never forsaken +them. + +She said to Paul Guidon, "the rebels may kill my husband, my children +and myself, but from this hour their threats shall not intimidate me +from acting as a British subject should act in a British Colony. I shall +do my duty, for under God I am determined whenever and however we +attempt to make our escape, if I have to die I shall die free and not as +a slave or traitor." The Indian who had attentively listened to +Margaret's words promised to stand by her. + +"Paul Guidon," she continued, "there remains to us a great duty to be +performed. I am fully convinced there will be a way of escape opened to +us, but we must seek it first. Cannot we escape to Fort Frederick? Is +the canoe safe to convey the whole of us and what stuff we may require?" +To which the Iroquois replied, "If water smooth no trouble, trouble may +be Indians 'long river bank, I go up Neck and bring down canoe." This +latter he quickly did, hauling it on shore and hiding it among some +bushes. + +In a few days three of the rebels, armed with pistols, again came to the +shop of Captain Godfrey, and sternly demanded of him all his goods and +chattels, to be held by them in trust, and to be restored to him at the +close of the American rebellion, on condition that he joined General +Washington. His refusal of these conditions was, by the decree of the +war committee, to be punished with death. This committee had a number of +armed men as the instruments by which they enforced their decrees. The +three envoys gave the Captain one hour to consider their proposal. + +At the expiration of the hour Margaret Godfrey and her husband came into +the room where the rebels were seated. Margaret asked them how her +husband and family should be able to join General Washington; "Would +they not be arrested as spies or enemies of the New England colonists if +they attempted to pass over among them?" + +One of the rebels answered her, "If you will go and join General +Washington, we will give you a pass into New England, and as soon as we +can consult with the war committee we will bring or send you the +passport." + +Margaret trembled lest her husband would suddenly object to the +proceeding, as nothing definite had been arranged during their hour of +debating the situation, only that they must escape if possible. She was +well aware of her husband's sterling loyalty. She caught his eye and +nodded to him to assent to the proposition of the rebels. + +He did so. The rebels left, promising the pass the next day, and that in +twenty-four hours after receiving it, a guard would be ready to escort +them on their way to New England. It being late in the afternoon the +rebels then left. At noon the following day a messenger arrived with the +passport, and also an order to be ready to proceed toward New England on +the following day. The permit or passport read as follows: + + + Permit the bearer, Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * Esqr., + to pass from river St John in Nova Scotia with his family + to any part of New England. + + Maugerville, } By order of the Committee, + ye 8 July, 1776. } JACOB BARKERLY, _Chairman_. + + +After a few words of conversation with the Captain and his wife, the +messenger took his departure. No time was lost in preparing to escape. +Mrs. Godfrey was determined to have everything in the canoe before +daylight next morning. The night fortunately was fine, and if all went +well they would be well on their way to Fort Frederick before Jacob +Barkerly or any of the rebels were aware of their departure. Accordingly +the night was a busy one getting ready and transferring bundles of stuff +to the canoe, which was some distance off. At early dawn all were in +readiness, and the last to leave the homestead at Grimross were Margaret +and Paul, who had returned from the shore for a box containing the +Captain's private papers, which had been overlooked in the hurry. A few +minutes before four o'clock the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey arrived at the +canoe with the box.[4] + +[Footnote 4: Many of the events related in this story are founded on +facts gathered from papers contained in the box.] + +The morning was a lovely one, and Margaret Godfrey was the most hopeful +and cheerful of the little band of fugitives who were preparing to step +into the canoe. Her every act and word seemed void of fear. Defeat and +disaster with her were but spurs to further effort. She possessed that +fortitude of soul that bears the severest trials without complaint. A +few minutes after four o'clock they pushed off from the shore, the water +was quite calm, but the progress was slow as the canoe was deeply laden, +and Paul Guidon had to be very cautious in its management. Not an Indian +was seen on the shore. The next day they arrived at Paul's old camping +ground, and after resting there a few hours they started for Fort +Frederick, a short distance below. Here fortune seemed to smile upon +them. A small schooner lay at anchor immediately below the fort. +Margaret and her husband lost no time in going on board. The Captain of +the schooner said that his vessel would sail for Port Royal, if there +were sufficient wind, early the next day. He agreed to take the whole +Godfrey family over with them. Paul seemed bound to accompany them, and +it pleased Margaret, when she found out that he was anxious to go with +them, as she feared he would be murdered if caught by the rebels. Toward +evening they all embarked on board the schooner, Paul having got +permission from the Captain of the vessel to take his canoe on board, +he, assisted by Charlie, embarked it also. + +In the morning there being a fair wind sail was set, and next day all on +board were safely landed at Annapolis. Fortune once more favoured the +Godfrey family, at Annapolis Royal there they found a British sloop of +war. Margaret got Paul to take her and her husband in his canoe to the +ship. They were received on board by the Captain in the most cordial +manner, who said they had arrived in good time, as he intended to sail +in a day or two. In a short time Captain Godfrey and his wife returned +to the shore, having completed arrangements with the Captain of the ship +for a passage to Halifax. + +In a day or two the Godfrey family, accompanied by the Indian, sailed in +the British sloop-of-war _Viper_, commanded by Captain Greaves. + +Four days later the _Viper_ arrived in Halifax harbour, and previous to +the Godfreys disembarking, Mrs. Godfrey requested permission of Captain +Greaves to address a few words of farewell to the ship's company. Her +request being granted and all hands ordered on deck, Mrs. G., in +appropriate terms and in a modest, yet dignified manner, spoke words of +counsel to the company, concluding her short exhortation in these words: +"And to the Captain of my salvation I commend you all." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REBEL PLANS--PRAYING THE LORDS. + + +Before Captain Godfrey sailed with his family from Halifax for England, +he waited on Governor Arbuthnot and General Massie[5] and informed them +of the rebels intentions, and gave them a history of his sad experience +on the St. John. + +[Footnote 5: Fort Massie at Halifax, part of which is now held as a +military burial ground, was named after this officer.] + +He told them that he had been offered by the rebels the command of a +party of men to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, and if they +(the rebels) should be successful, they were to be reinforced, and at +once proceed to Halifax, set fire to the town, and sack it. + +In their proceedings the rebels, who were in constant communication with +the New Englanders, and who were instructed by them, were talking of +forming this plan in order if possible to keep General Howe's army from +being largely reinforced. + +Captain Godfrey, though very weak and ill, offered his service to +General Massie, if the latter would arm two schooners and put on board +of each of them one hundred regulars besides a crew of twenty-five men. +He proposed to proceed to Fort Cumberland and secure the place in case +an attack was made. His offer was declined. He then bid adieu to Halifax +and sailed for England, where he and his family arrived on January the +8th, 1777. + +He lost no time in applying to Lords North and Germain, who after proper +examination found his claims for losses in the colony well founded; and +were generously pleased to order him the annual sum of one hundred and +fifty pounds for the temporary support of his family. This sum was +afterward reduced to one hundred and twenty pounds, and finally +altogether withdrawn. + +He then put his distressed condition before the government, and his case +was again tossed about from Lord to Lord, and from board to board, and +finally brought up again before the Lords of Parliament, and from it was +sent back to the Lords of Plantations and Trade. From thence to the +Lords of commission for services and losses in America, and the Lord +only knows where else it was sent, until it was sent out to Nova Scotia +in 1784. + +Thirteen years had elapsed since the Captain experienced his first +misfortune in Nova Scotia, and more than seven years had elapsed since +his second loss, then his case was sent out to Nova Scotia. + +During all this long time he had exercised the greatest patience, and +his loyalty to his King (George the Third) was never for a moment +shaken. + +He had lost in lands and goods about twelve thousand pounds sterling by +settling in a British Colony where Indians and rebels destroyed his +prospects, and yet he had received no redress for the hardships he and +his family had endured, and the great wrongs inflicted upon them. His +wife and children were allowed to remain in an almost destitute +condition by the King and his advisers. Financially, Captain Godfrey +could have been in no worse condition had he joined General Washington. +But there was no power on earth that could induce the Captain to turn +his back upon his King and his country. + +He, with the assistance of his heroic wife, had done all in their power +to rouse the whole mind and heart of their fellow countrymen in office +to a satisfactory settlement of their just claims, but all they had done +seemed useless, and they knew not what more to do. + +After the close of the American war Captain Godfrey once more thought of +crossing the ocean to settle in the colony where he had experienced so +much misfortune. But after he had made all the arrangements for leaving +England, he found out that he was too weak in body to stand the wear and +tear of a passage across the Atlantic Ocean. In those days it usually +took two months to cross from Great Britain to Nova Scotia. + +The Captain's case had been tossed from one official to another, and +from one commission to another, until it had probably travelled through +the completely developed rounds of _Red Tapeism_. After this it appears +to have been allowed to slumber till the close of the American +Revolutionary War. + +Captain Godfrey's health, since his last arrival in England from the +colony, was anything but good, and his means of support being gone, he +was largely depending on friends and relatives for the means of +supporting his family. His eldest son, (Charlie) through the never +failing energy of his mother, had received an Ensign's commission in the +British Army.[6] + +[Footnote 6: In 1805, Charlie, who had received a Captain's commission, +was appointed Captain in the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry, commanded by +Colonel Fred. Wetherall. In the above year Captain Charlie Godfrey +married in Nova Scotia.] + +The last effort Captain Godfrey appears to have made in trying to secure +something in return for his services to his country, and for the great +losses sustained by him in the colony, was after the conclusion of the +war between England and America. + +He got his case before the "Lords of the Commission" for services and +losses in America, and there it seems to have met its doom, it was +granted a sort of Ticket of Leave for transportation to Nova Scotia, +where it died in exile. + +Their Lordships referred Captain Godfrey in the following manner to the +Governor of Nova Scotia:-- + + + WHITEHALL, _May 24th, 1784_. + + SIR,-- + + You will receive herewith a memorial, which has been presented to me by + Captain Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * praying that proper orders may be + given for the immediate recovery of his lands upon the St. John, River, + in the Province of Nova Scotia. As I understand, upon inquiry, that Mr. + Godfrey was dis-possessed of his property previous to the Independence + of America, on account of his loyalty and the active part he took for + the support of His Majesty King George the Third's Government. I am + induced to recommend the prayer of the petition to your favourable + consideration. + + I am, Sir, your most + Obedient Humble Servant, + SYDNEY. + + TO JOHN PARR, + _Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief + of the Province of Nova Scotia_. + +In the year 1776 the New England Colonists appear to have had their +emissaries in Nova Scotia. There is no missing link, the chain of +evidence is completed by the passport to Captain Godfrey from the Rebel +Committee at Maugerville, in July, 1776. After the lapse of one hundred +and twelve years, the fact is revealed that there were persons in Nova +Scotia who were employed by the New England colonists, and paid by them +to incite the Indians to revolt, and hold out bribes to honest and loyal +settlers to forsake their King and country. + +It may be that in the near or distant future facts will be brought to +light which will prove beyond a doubt that the United States had +emissaries in Nova Scotia in 1888 who were paid for their services in +Yankee gold. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +PAUL GUIDON. + + +It will be remembered that the Godfreys, accompanied by their faithful +friend Paul Guidon, arrived at Halifax in the "Viper." Paul remained +twelve days with his friend, and then a vessel being about to sail for +Quebec, Commander Greaves secured him a passage in her. + +But the farewell almost broke the heart of the noble Iroquois, and he +wept many bitter tears. Margaret Godfrey was aware of Paul's desire to +gain possession of the old service book, she knew he had longed for it +since the day of his mother's burial, and on bidding him adieu she +presented him with the book, saying as she did so, "Paul keep this book, +it is from your friend, no doubt you will sometimes be able to get some +one to read to you useful lessons from its pages." + +Paul Guidon had frequently told Mrs. Godfrey that he felt a sort of +charm come over him whenever his eyes rested on the book, and when he +touched it with his hand he imagined he could hear his mother whisper +the words, "Paul be good man, and bye and by you will come to me on the +sunny plains of the happy hunting ground." + +At Quebec a British officer, becoming greatly attached to Paul, engaged +him as a sort of confidential servant, and noticing the Iroquois +admiration for the military dress, he had a suit made for him. Indeed, +Paul became an especial favorite with all the soldiers of the garrison. +Colonel MacLean, with whom the Indian had engaged, had great confidence +in him, and frequently trusted him to carry important messages. The +Colonel found him to be a most trusty fellow, and occasionally sent him +alone to observe the enemy's movements. Paul was as straight as an +athlete and had an eye keen as an eagle's. He scarcely ever failed in +reporting to the Colonel something worth knowing. + +On the night of December 31st, 1776, the Iroquois advanced in a creeping +position so close to the enemy's lines, that on his return he was able +to state to the Colonel what the enemy were doing, and he told what he +had observed in such an intelligent way that the British were prepared +to meet and repulse every attack of Arnold and Montgomery on that night. +In the attack Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. + +One night, an exceptionally dark and stormy one, the Indian was sent out +to reconnoitre. He lost his way, and getting inside the enemy's lines, +came near being captured. In the dense darkness he crept right up +against one of the enemy's pickets. The sentry fired, and Paul fell flat +on the snow quite near the sentry's feet, the shot passing over the +Indian's head. In another instant Paul had regained his feet, and while +the sentry was attempting to reload his musket the Iroquois grasped at +him, and in doing so caught him by his hands, which were clasped +tightly around the weapon. The sentry gave a most determined backward +jerk, but Paul held him firmly and then wrenched the musket out of his +hands, bringing with it a ring off the sentry's finger. The Iroquois put +the ring on his own finger and made off at once for the British lines. +In his haste, when nearing the British outposts, he stumbled and fell, +and with such force that he was knocked senseless and lost the ring. He +lay there for some time, and when he had somewhat recovered he found +himself so benumbed with the cold that he could scarcely move his limbs. + +It was snowing when he fell, and when he became conscious of his +situation, he found himself covered with an inch or more of snow, and +his head and face badly cut and bruised. On all four he crept to the +British outposts with the blood streaming from a cut in his leg and one +on his face. At last he reached the lines, more dead than alive. Paul +received a cold from which he never recovered. + +In the morning he crawled out in search of the ring, thinking it might +be of some value. He was enabled to find the place where he had fallen +by retracing his steps and seeing the blood on the snow in spots here +and there. It had stopped snowing soon after he recovered consciousness, +consequently it was not difficult next morning to find out the spot +where he had received his injuries. The sun was shining brightly, and as +he kicked away the snow after hunting about for an hour or so, his eye +caught something shining brilliantly. He picked it up. It was a ring. He +put it into his pocket and returned. He knew he had seen the ring +before. He put it in an inside pocket of his coat and sewed it in, +fearing he might otherwise loose it. + +The Indian for a long time was unfitted for active duty. He made his +home sometimes at the garrison and sometimes with the tribes of Indians +in the neighborhood. + +When General Burgoyne, in June, 1777, advanced from Canada into the New +England States, Paul Guidon attached himself to one of the officers of +the expedition. This officer was afterward killed and Paul was captured +by the Americans and sent a prisoner to Boston, and at that place +detained for some months. + +At length he managed to make his escape. He wandered for weeks in the +woods and along the paths, and at last struck the Nova Scotia boundary +and continued on until he reached the vicinity of Fort Frederick. There +he remained for a short time visiting the scenes and places of other +days. He then set out once more for Quebec, and arrived there in +September, 1778, where he remained till the close of the war. In +September, 1780, he was united in marriage with a handsome young +Chipewayan squaw. Paul Guidon was loved and admired by most of the +Indians of the Quebec district, and never wanted for a home amongst +them. + +His wife was of medium height, her face was handsome, and her features +clean-cut, as they are seen in Greek statuary. She was as brown as some +statues are. Her eyes were of the deepest and brightest black, they were +quick and piercing as arrows sent to their mark. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA.--DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE +WOODS. + + +In the month of August, 1784, Margaret Godfrey once again arrived in +Nova Scotia. This time she came alone, her husband being too ill to +accompany her. She left her English home and came out to Nova Scotia to +secure a personal interview with Governor Parr, and do all in her power +to get back the property on the St. John River; or if not, then she +would endeavor to secure some compensation for it, through the +instrumentality of the governor. She remained at Halifax a few weeks, +and then left for the St. John River. She did not appear satisfied with +her visit to the governor. She could get no promise from him that the +estate at Grimross Neck would be restored to her husband, or that any +compensation would be granted in its stead. Nothing seems to have been +done in her interest, and she left Halifax deeply disappointed in her +mission. + +Trouble had recently arisen between the people settled at the mouth of +the St. John and the authorities at Halifax. Instead of one Province she +was informed that there were now two Provinces. She determined to cross +over to Parrtown, and see what she could accomplish by visiting the +estate personally. With the letter from Sydney to Governor Parr, she +took a certificate of survey, which read as follows: + + + This may certify, that by the desire of Captain ----, I have laid nine + hundred acres of land on the Peninsular or place called Grimross Neck, + in the Township of Gage, on the River St. John, beginning at the Portage + and running down the river about two miles and a quarter to a maple tree + marked, thence running S.W. till it meets Grimross Creek, thence up the + said Creek to the Portage, thence crossing the Portage to the first + mentioned bounds. + + ISRAEL PERLEY, + _Dept. Surveyor. + + Gagetown, Jany. 31st, 1771._ + + +Mrs. Godfrey finding that nothing could be accomplished by her visit up +the river, returned to the settlement at its mouth. The place of +settlement had undergone a great change since the year 1770, when she +first came to Fort Frederick with her husband. + +She remained at Parrtown a few weeks, in order if possible to gather +further information respecting the property at Grimross Neck, and to +consult with some of the leading inhabitants, as to what course they +would advise her to pursue. She was most kindly entertained by the +people of the place. + +One fine morning, while walking about the settlement, she accidently met +a fine looking young Indian girl. The young squaw, whose black eyes +shone in the bright sunshine as polished jet, put out her small brown +hand and said in quite good English, "Please mam, won't you give me +something for sick husband?" + +Margaret thought the dusky beauty looked rather young to be married, but +she said to her, "And where does your husband live?" + +She pointed her hand up the river and replied, "Not far that way." + +"Have you been living here long?" asked Margaret. + +"Not very long," replied the young squaw. + +"What is the matter with your husband?" said Margaret. + +The little squaw answered, "My husband be very sick with consumption, +most dead." + +"Where did you get that pretty ring on your finger?" said Mrs. Godfrey +to the Indian woman. + +Margaret Godfrey had noticed the ring on the squaw's finger, sparkling +in the sunlight, as she pointed her small brown hand up the river in the +direction of her home. + +The swarthy beauty, with an innocent smile, as she hung her head on one +side, said, "My husband give it me after we get married." The Indian +lass then began to run her fingers over a string of red and white beads, +that encircled her round plump neck and hung loosely down over a well +proportioned bosom. At the same time she kept scraping the ground with +the toe of her moccasin, and now and again crossing one foot over the +other and resting the tip of her toe for an instant on the earth. Then +she would swing one of her feet about a foot from the ground over the +other. Her dark blue dress being quite short, and the wind blowing +stiffly, she would occasionally display a small prettily formed foot, +and an ankle that looked as though it had been formed in nature's most +perfect mould. + +Mrs. Godfrey broke the silence by asking the young woman if she would +like her to go to the wigwam and see her sick husband? The Indian woman +answered, "May be dead now, and long rough walk, no canoe here." + +Margaret said to her, "Suppose you come down here to-morrow morning in a +canoe and take me up to your wigwam?" She answered, "Have no canoe, but +might get Jim Newall's, who lives mile more up river, he has canoe and +sometime bring me down here." + +Margaret agreed to accompany her to her wigwam early the next morning, +if Newall and she came to the settlement in a canoe. + +She said she would go and see Newall, and if he could not come, she +would walk down and let her (Margaret) know how her husband was. + +Mrs. Godfrey told the squaw where she would find her at ten o'clock the +next morning, and then taking the hand of the Indian woman into that of +her own, looked carefully at the ring, as she bid her good day. + +Margaret recognized the ring as the one she had lost during the assault +of the rebels at Grimross, in 1776. She missed it from off her finger +soon after the cross-eyed, monkey-faced rebel "Will," had pulled her +about the floor by the hand, and never saw or heard of it after. Paul +Guidon often said to Mrs. Godfrey, that he believed the rebel "Will" had +stolen her ring. + +It was a very valuable one, set with a choice emerald, surrounded by +precious stones. It was presented to Margaret by her father, on the day +he was elected Mayor of Cork, and cost forty-live guineas. It had never +occurred to Margaret, during her conversation with the squaw, to ask her +name. + +Mrs. Godfrey said to herself, "This Indian girl may be a daughter of one +of the savages who attacked us at Grimross. Perhaps she has lied to me +and I may never again see her or the ring. I may possibly get some +information to-morrow that will satisfy me. I must wait." + +At ten o'clock the next morning a strapping big Indian knocked at the +door of the house where Mrs. Godfrey was lodging, and inquired if "woman +lived there who wanted go in canoe and see sick Injun up river?" + +He was informed that there was a lady inside, ready and waiting for a +man named Jim Newall, to take her up the river. "Me Jim," he replied. + +Margaret came to the door. She said, "Are you Jim Newall?" "Yes, me Jim +Newall," he answered gruffly. + +Margaret asked Jim how far it was to where he had left his canoe. "Just +few steps," he replied. "Down among stumps at water edge." Margaret +accompanied the Indian, and finding out where the canoe was, told Jim to +remain there until she returned, as she wanted to get a few things for +the sick man. + +Half an hour later Mrs. Godfrey and a Mrs. Fowler were making their way +by stumps of trees and over branches, with their arms loaded with things +for the sick Indian. They were soon on board, and then Jim Newall +paddled away up stream. + +As the canoe slipped along, every spot on the shores seemed familiar to +Margaret's eyes, and many sad thoughts flashed across her mind; memories +of days never to be forgotten rose in her soul. She remarked to Mrs. +Fowler, "How little everything has changed since I was here last, eight +years ago, except at the settlement." + +The morning was a charming one, the river was running, fairly rushing +up, otherwise all nature seemed to sleep. The splash of the paddle, the +ripple of the water along the sides of the canoe, and the gentle rolling +of the little bark, were the only things that disturbed the quiet that +reigned supreme all about. The Indian never spoke, and Margaret and her +companion, as they sat one ahead of the other in the bottom of the +canoe, seldom exchanged a word. + +Mrs. Godfrey saw at a glance that the canoe was nearing the place where +Paul Guidon and his mother had once lived. As she looked toward the +shore her eyes rested upon a form standing at the water's edge, and as +the canoe approached nearer and nearer the shore, she recognized the +form as that of the pretty squaw she had met at the settlement the +previous day. Margaret Godfrey remarked to Mrs. Fowler, "There stands +the pretty creature I met yesterday." Mrs. Fowler replied, "She does not +look like the squaws we so often see about the settlement." She +continued, "What a neat, tidy girl she is. I have never seen her at +Parrtown, what a handsome face and fine form she has" + + "And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace + A Nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace, + Of finer form, or lovelier face." + +The bow of the canoe had now touched the shore, and the Indian lass +most politely made a courtesy to the ladies in the canoe. + +After landing, Mrs. Fowler put a piece of silver in Jim Newall's hand +and asked him if he would take them back home again in an hour or two. +Jim nodded an assent as he pulled his little bark out of the water to +the dry land. + +Mrs. Godfrey, once on shore, fully recognized that she was at the old +camping ground of her protector in by gone days, Paul Guidon. + +The squaw replied to Mrs. Godfrey's inquiry after her sick husband, that +he was very weak, almost dead. Does he know that a white woman is doming +to see him this morning? asked Margaret G. "Yes," replied the Indian +woman, "he be so glad see you, but he be very weak, no speak, he told me +in whisper last night, after I come back camp from Jim Newall wigwam, +best friend, best woman ever saw, was pale face woman, who told him of +Great Chief, Big Spirit, and great hunting ground way back sun, where +old Mag, (mother) was now. Pale face woman gave him book, and would talk +Great Spirit and tell him look after Paul and make him good man." + +Is your husband's name Paul? asked Margaret Godfrey. "Yes mam," she +answered, "Paul Guidon his name." Mrs. Godfrey felt all must be a dream. +She appeared lost and bewildered after she had heard the name Paul +Guidon. She cast a glance at her companion and exclaimed, "Am I back to +the old camping ground of Paul Guidon, and is he here?" Then her +faculties seemed to desert her, for at that instant she staggered and +fell into the arms of the Indian woman, with such force as to almost +knock the squaw over. Mrs. Fowler noticing the stupor of her companion +and her pallid features, asked her if she felt ill. She did not reply. + +Little Mag, for such was the name of the handsome squaw, ran down to the +river side, filled her moccasins with water and tripping back, she +poured the contents full in the face of Mrs. Godfrey. She went again and +again to the river, filled her moccasins and poured the water over +Margaret's face and temples. + +Jim Newall, who was sitting in his canoe a few yards distant, seeing the +woman lying on the ground, came up and proposed to carry her to the +wigwam two hundred yards distant, or under the shade of some trees near +by. The latter proposition was acted upon. Jim, Mrs. Fowler and Little +Mag, carried Margaret to a shaded spot a few yards away. They all sat +down beside her, as she lay stretched and apparently lifeless upon the +ground. After little Mag had once more poured the contents of her shoes +down the neck of Margaret, and Mrs. Fowler had steadily rubbed her +temples and wrists, she opened her eyes, looked wildly about, and then +sat up supported by her companion. + +She then commenced to speak in a low weak voice. Mrs. Fowler, listening +attentively, heard her say, "Forever honored be this spot of earth: Here +'Old Mag' departed this life. Here her son Paul, that most noble spirit +of the woods, who when I was weary, distressed, and a wanderer, broken +in everything but spirit, poor in all but faith and courage: Here! Here! +Paul took refuge, and my husband, my children and myself rested. Never +shall that day be forgotten by me. I shall always look back during my +life, and when I get to that other home, I shall, too, look back to this +sacred spot with unabated affection and regard. Here! Here was I eight +years ago with husband and children, unprovided for, unprotected, on the +shore of this river, in a rude and fearful wilderness, surrounded by +savages, but that noble Indian, that splendid Iroquois, whose old mother +lies in everlasting sleep near here, protected us and provided for us. +The hills around are hallowed in my memory, and these trees seem to +stand with grace and beauty. This shore is as sacred to my mind as those +of the Jordan were to the people of old. Here! yes here! how often have +I communed with my loving Saviour! This ground is sacred to me because +it incloses the dust of the mother of my protector. The ashes of old +Margaret Guidon repose here. Is this sacred ground soon to claim the +dust of her loving son? It may be that both came here to live for a +brief space and then to die and mingle their ashes with this Acadian +soil." + +Tears streamed down over her beautiful waxen features, as Mrs. Fowler +and little Mag assisted her to her feet. No penitent at a Methodist +revival-service ever looked more serious than did Jim Newall, as +Margaret Godfrey uttered the above. + +Margaret had at length sufficiently recovered to proceed to the wigwam, +assisted on either side by little Mag and Mrs. Fowler. The three walked +slowly toward the home of Paul Guidon. Arriving at the entrance of the +wigwam the little Chipewayan led the way inside. + +The first object that met the eyes of Mrs. Godfrey was the sick Indian +lying, wasted and emaciated, on a bed of spruce-boughs covered with a +blanket. + +Margaret Godfrey at once knelt at his bed-side and placing his dark thin +hand in that of her own, said "Dear Paul, I come to see you." + +He looked up at her and stared in a sort of vacant manner. He tried to +raise his head, but was too weak to do so. She looked straight in his +eyes, and said again, "Paul, you remember your old pale-faced friend who +used to live at Grimross Neck?" As Margaret spoke the last word, Paul +Guidon faintly whispered, "Thank Great Chief, I told him get you come +me, Paul must not be made die till you come." Great tears rolled down +his sunken cheeks as he whispered the above, and Margaret Godfrey, +overpowered with emotion, lightly rested her forehead on his thin sinewy +arm. Not a step. Not a sound was heard for a few minutes within the +narrow circle of the wigwam, all rested as if in silent prayer, a more +touching, a more peaceful, a more solemn scene, was never witnessed in +palace or cottage. Deep grief, real sorrow, took full possession of +those women who knelt around the bed of the dying Iroquois, in that +birchen home on the banks of the St John, on the morning of September +the 20th, 1784. + +There in the stillness of a North American forest, on a magnificent +autumn day, when the trees were dressed in all their gorgeous +loveliness, and at an hour when not even the rustling of a leaf could be +heard, death was gradually releasing the spirit of Paul Guidon from its +swarthy tenament. + +Margaret Godfrey raised her head from off the arm of the Indian, and as +she did so, he again whispered, "me soon be on hunting ground behind +setting sun, you must come see Paul." Mrs. Godfrey, promised him that +she would. He looked at his little wife and tried to move his right hand +toward his breast. She knew what he wanted her to do. She knelt down, +kissed him and took from inside his shirt a book. It was the old service +book. She handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and read to Paul, +whose eyes were steadfastly fixed on the reader. As she continued +reading, the eyes of the dying Indian gradually closed, and as she, shut +the book he ceased breathing. The spirit of the "Young Lion of the +Woods" had taken its everlasting flight. + + "Like a shadow thrown + Softly and sweetly from a passing cloud, + Death fell upon him." + +An hour after Paul Guidon had died, Jim Newall, Mrs. Godfrey, Mrs. +Fowler and Mag Guidon went to the shore and brought Newall's canoe to +the wigwam. The dead chief was laid out in a military coat, which he had +kept with great care, on his head was an undress cap, and his lower +limbs were dressed in dark trousers, and long military or hunting boots +coming up to the knee. + +Paul Guidon was united in marriage to Margaret Reonadi at Quebec in the +summer of 1760, and several military gentlemen were present at the +ceremony. He was dressed for burial in the same suit in which he was +married. + +Newall's canoe, on which the body was laid, was draped along the sides +with evergreens. Spruce boughs were laid athwart the canoe forming a +bed for the body of the departed hero. On his breast were placed his bow +and arrow, also his moccasins. The widowed squaw said the canoe would +help his soul to cross rivers and lakes on the way to the happy hunting +grounds, the arrow would bring down game and the moccasins protect his +feet. When all preparations were completed Newall had arrived back with +another canoe. Mrs. Godfrey and Mrs. Fowler were then taken to the mouth +of the river by Jim, where they secured the services of a man named Cock +to accompany Newall up the river and assist him in digging a grave. A +person by the name of Farris presented Mrs. Godfrey with a British flag, +which he wished displayed at Paul's burial. + +The following morning, according to an agreement, Newall came to the +settlement and took Margaret G. and Mrs. Fowler to the wigwam which +should hold the noble Paul no more forever. The British ensign was drawn +over the body of the dead Indian. He lay in a sort of state till next +day, the body being viewed by many of the Indians of the district, and +also by not a few people from the settlement. All those that came +expressed great sorrow for the quiet little Chipewayan widow, who was +far away from her home and people. On the day of the burial there was a +great gathering of the tribes. The body was borne to its final resting +place by ten stalwart Indians, five on each side of the canoe, which was +placed on five paddles. The procession was a most solemn one. The +forest, the rugged scenery, the quiet retreat, all these appeared to add +to the solemnity of the occasion. The grave was alongside that of his +mother, and neatly lined with spruce. At five o'clock in the afternoon +all that was mortal of Paul Guidon was lowered into its last abode. + + "They laid them fondly side by side, + And near their icy hearts + They placed their arrows and their bows, + Their clubs, and spears, and darts; + For use when they with life are crowned + In heaven's happy hunting ground." + +Margaret Godfrey read the burial service from the old service book, +while rivers of tears flowed down a score of swarthy faces, and an +occasional low wail uttered by the Indians standing round the open +grave, told of their sorrow and superstitious fear. The British ensign +was then placed over the dead Iroquois. It was the flag under which he +had lived and died, and a fit emblem to cover the remains of so true and +brave a man. (The characters of American sympathizers, of traitors and +rebels, as black as they appear in Colonial History, will appear +deeper-dyed as they stand in contrast to the loyalty of this true +Indian.) Margaret Godfrey spoke to them as follows: "I believe it to be +my solemn duty, yea, my special duty on this most sorrowful occasion, +that I should express my feelings. If there ascends from my heart a +prayer to the throne of the Great Chief, in behalf of this youthful +widow and in behalf of you people, let it be a prayer that the Great +Chief may turn the hearts of all from the thoughts of war to sentiments +of mercy and peace, such as our dear brother, whose remains we have just +committed to the grave, possessed in his life. When I think of that +true, and noble man, whose remains lie before us, I thank Him who rules +the winds and guides the stars in their courses, that such a man was +ever born. And if, at some distant period, it may be many years remote, +one of my own or my husband's countrymen (some of whom are now peopling +this country) should visit this spot or this neighbourhood, I trust that +tradition or history may inform such a one that here sleeps one of the +bravest, truest, and most noble sons of the forest that ever lived and +roamed over the hunting grounds of time. He was true to his adopted +country, true to its king, and true to its loyal people. An Indian, but +too honest and noble-minded to be a rebel, he not only discountenanced +the dark plottings of enemies within Acadia, but his sagacity sometimes +was the means of frustrating them. He was an Indian, high in character; +a noble example to some pale faces, to all. His body now rests beside +that little brook, but his spirit is in a country of light and peace. +This country is a good and pleasant country, and those who are coming to +live here are sprung from a noble race, and if you, my friends, all +prove as good and true as this departed red-man, you will have no cause +to complain at the pale faces settling around you. You will secure a +righteous treatment of your race, and your people will be a happy +people. The British people (my people) are a great people, and where +they settle they govern wisely, and in their dealings with all peoples +they are guided by that justice and generosity which alone becomes a +Christian people. These may be the last words I shall ever speak to you. +These may be the last moments I shall ever be with you. Remember my +loving advice and act upon it. If you do this you will earn the love of +the pale faces and build up for your race a lasting renown. You and I, +all of us, can learn good lessons from the life of Paul Guidon. If we +live as he lived we will be happy here, and bye-and-by be more happy in +the hunting fields of the hereafter. If we are as true to our Great +Chief, and as true to our king and country as he was, we will worship +the Great Spirit and never talk against our king and our country. Then +bye and-by we shall go to meet Paul Guidon in a country where there will +be no more wars, no more sighs, no more tears, no more parting, no more +dying." + +The Red men paid the utmost attention to the words as they dropped from +Margaret Godfrey's lips. The grave was then filled in and the mourners +dispersed to their homes along the river, leaving Paul Guidon to rest +beside his mother. + +For more than a century the "Young Lion of the Woods" has slept on the +banks of the St. John. His loyal spirit took its flight to another +sphere about the time thousands of united loyal spirits were forming a +city near his tomb. The few thousand people that had settled in the +colony in the days of Paul Guidon, were the ancestry of the nearly one +million true, loyal subjects who inhabit the Maritime Provinces at the +beginning of this year 1889. The colony, of which the noble Iroquois was +a citizen, was confined within narrow bounds. Now the sons of the +Loyalists are on the shores of the Pacific. Our country extends there. +It is a noble faculty of our nature which enables us to connect our +thoughts with the past as well as with the future, and by contemplating +the example and studying the character of Paul Guidon, we must come to +the conclusion that were that Indian living now his heart would glow +with patriotic pride at the strides the country has taken, and that our +destiny is Canadian, not American. + +It is a pleasure to be able to exhibit to the present generation +something of the splendid character of the Iroquois, whose ashes, +commingled with those of the Union Jack, repose near the loyal City of +St. John. + + "And has he not high honor, + The hill side for a pall, + He lies in state while angels wait + With stars for tapers tall; + And the dark rock pines, with tossing plumes, + Over his tomb to wave; + 'Twas a kind dear hand in that lonely land, + That laid him in the grave." + + "In that lonely grave without a name, + Where his uncoffined clay + Shall break again, O, wondrous thought! + Before the Judgment Day, + And stand with glory wrapped around + On the hills he never trod, + And speak of the strife that won our life, + And the Incarnate Son of God." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL. + + +The widowed squaw and the two pale-faced women were the last to leave +Paul's late camping ground. As they were pushed off into the stream by +Jim Newall, who with another Indian paddled them back to the settlement, +Margaret saw the other canoes, nine in number, going up the river. In +the twilight she watched them, and it came to her mind that when Paul +Guidon saw the porpoises at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy coming toward +the sloop, he was not to be blamed for thinking they were canoes. She +remarked to Mrs. Fowler those canoes resemble, at first sight, porpoises +on the Atlantic Ocean. + +When they arrived at the settlement Little Mag was taken to the home of +the Lesters. As she sat down in one of the small, unfurnished rooms, she +rested her head upon her hands and bitterly sobbed. Mrs. Godfrey tried +to comfort her, but she wept on. Little Mag said she felt badly at +leaving the wigwam. If she had stayed there her husband's spirit would +have come in the night and been with her. She would not see him but she +would know he was there. Indians always come back the night they are +buried to see their loved ones again before going off to the great +hunting grounds. After a time "Little Mag" fell asleep, and in her +dream, as she reclined on a bench, talked in an unknown tongue. Neither +Margaret nor any present could understand a word she uttered. She +appeared to be conversing with some invisible being, invisible, at +least, to the pale faces. It may have been that in that little room +there was sweet communion between the widowed squaw and her departed +husband. She said to Mrs Godfrey after she awoke that she thought she +saw her husband and heard him say, "Don't worry about Paul." "Happy +hunting grounds here." "See you far off." "Far beyond setting sun." He +appeared to be speaking to her out of the setting sun. He was surrounded +by a golden light, while he looked to be dressed in polished silver, and +when she awoke by falling on the floor, she had started to fling herself +into his arms, which were outstretched to receive her; but when her eyes +were opened all around her was darkness.[7] + +[Footnote 7: See interpretation of the dream at close of Chapter.] + +Soon after relating the above she retired to bed and in the morning +seemed refreshed and happy. She sang songs in the Chippewayan tongue +during the morning; her deep black eye became brighter; her step was +light and quick, and her whole frame seemed to move to silent music, so +regular, graceful and quick were her motions. + +Who among us of earth knows but there are times in the lives of some of +us, if not all of us, when the silent influences of dear departed +friends, happy in the etherial or spirit world, unconsciously direct our +thoughts and guide our movements. + +In a few days Margaret Godfrey was preparing to leave the settlement +and return to Halifax, and there make one more effort to secure some +compensation for her husband's losses on the St. John. + +She invited "Little Mag" to give her the history of the ring. In reply, +"Little Mag" said her husband, Paul, had given it to her, and when he +presented it to her told her that it once belonged to the best pale face +woman he had ever seen in all his travels, that it was stolen from off +the pale face's finger, and some moons afterwards he had knocked down +the thief and taken it off his finger, one night far outside the British +lines at Quebec. The thief was a rebel who had nearly killed pale face +woman. About two weeks after Paul had knocked the rebel down, there was +a sharp sortie between some British soldiers and some Americans, and +during the fight, which ended in the repulse of the Americans, the +monkey-faced, cross-eyed rebel, "Will," was taken prisoner. He was a +great coward, and acknowledged to her husband that he had taken the ring +off pale face woman's finger. Her husband told her to keep the ring till +pale face woman saw it. That pale face woman has arrow mark on right arm +above joint. Here Margaret Godfrey pulled up her sleeve and showed the +little squaw the arrow mark received by her at Fort Frederick, in 1770. +"Little Mag's" full brown-face lit up with an innocent smile as she +pulled the precious gem off her own finger and placed it in the hand of +Mrs. Godfrey, at the same time saying, "I know you the pale face who +lost ring." Margaret took the ring put it on her own finger and thanked +"Little Mag" for it. + +The Chippewayan widow then took from a pocket in her blue skirt, a +small case and handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and took +from it a neck-lace of beads mounted with gold. A small gold cross was +attached. "Little Mag" said the neck-lace was given to her by officers +at Quebec when she was married, and Paul had given her the cross at the +same time. She had married Paul when he was visiting among her tribe, +when she was sixteen years old. When they came to Quebec the officers +were very good to them. They gave her plenty of good clothes because +they liked her husband so much. + +Paul got sick while hunting with officers last winter. She was with them +and cooking in camp. In early spring left the officers and came down to +St. John River, in May, and built wigwam near his mother's grave. He got +no better, but worse, growing thinner and weaker, with great cough. +"What 'Little Mag' do now my Paul gone?" "I know you good woman will ask +Great Chief to help me go home to my tribe, there live and die. My +little papoose, Paul, dead, sleeps near Quebec, died when few moons +old." + +The information in Chapter nine respecting Paul Guidon's career after +leaving Halifax in 1776, was obtained from a document pasted in the back +of the old service book, and written at Paul's request by a Lieutenant +of the British Army stationed at Quebec in the year 1780. + +Mrs. Godfrey left Parr Town late in the fall of 1784 for Halifax, and +soon after sailed from the latter place for England. Her mission to +Halifax and the St. John had been a failure. She could get no promise +that her husband's property would be restored to him, or that any +compensation would be granted him in lieu thereof. + +As the brigt. in which Margaret Godfrey took passage sailed out of +Chebucto Harbour, she remarked to the captain that people who attempt to +settle in a new colony would do well before leaving comfortable homes in +the old land to find out what protection is guaranteed settlers, and +what class of persons they are likely to settle among. And as she cast a +last look upon the colony, as she entered the companion way to the +cabin, she pointed her hand toward the shore, remarking, "my husband and +I came out to this land in very comfortable circumstances fifteen years +ago; to-day, without a penny to call my own, I leave the colony +forever." The vessel ran across the ocean in thirty-six days, and Mrs. +Godfrey was once again on English soil. + +Nothing having been accomplished in Nova Scotia by his wife's visit, +Captain Godfrey once more made an attempt for relief to the Lords of +Parliament at home. + +After the close of the American war, a commission was appointed by +Parliament with power to inquire into the losses and services of the +Loyalists in America. Captain Godfrey, as has been stated in a previous +chapter, had put his case before many commissions, before Lords many. To +use a common expression, "his case had gone the rounds." And now, as a +last effort, he was about to present his claims before the Lord +Commissioner of Losses and Services of the American Loyalists. In his +memorial the captain stated to the Lords Commissioners, his services as +a soldier to the time of settling in the colony, concluding with giving +in detail the losses he had sustained on the River St. John, in His +Majesty's Colonial possession, by the cruel and savage acts of Indians +and rebels. He also stated in his memorial that he could have joined the +service of Mr. Washington, and that great inducements were held out to +him to do so, and to desert the cause of his king and his country. The +memorial concluded as follows: + + + "Your memorialist therefore, humbly prays, that his cause may be taken + into consideration, and that he may be granted such relief, as in the + benevolence of His Majesty King George the Third's Commissioners, his + losses and services may be found to deserve, and that he and the + subjoined witnesses may have a hearing from your Honourable Board." + + Witnesses: + + THOMAS BRIDGE, ESQ., } + No. 2 Bridge Street, Surry Side } To Property. + } + MR. BARTLEY, } + Delzex Court, near the Temple. } + + GENERAL SKEIN, } To Service. + GENERAL MURRAY. } + + SIR GUY CARLETON, } To Loyalty. + BROOK WATSON. } + + (Here follows the signature of the petitioner.) + + No. 2 Pratt Street, Lambeth. + + +As far as can be gathered from documentary evidence, and what +information could be obtained otherwise, no relief was ever granted to +Captain Godfrey or his family by the Commission of Losses and Services +of the American Loyalists. Mrs. Godfrey, whose many trials, hardships, +disappointments and sorrows, have been sketched in the foregoing +chapters, was living in London as late as 1805. A letter written by the +old lady to her son Charlie's wife, then living in Nova Scotia, was for +a few hours in the possession of the writer of these chapters. In this +letter she states her many difficulties and the numerous applications on +her part to various Lords and other authorities seeking relief in her +distress. Many portions of the long, well written letter are touching +indeed. + +The persistency of the grand old lady in doing her utmost to force the +rulers of the country to a settlement of her husband's claims is greatly +to be admired. Her letter cannot be read by any colonist without +feelings of pity and shame. In one part of the letter she says +Councillor Brand[8] has given in my memorial to the treasury and I have +to wait till he gets an answer, and I pray God it will be a happy one, +but God knows what is best, and will, if we put all our trust in him, +guide us aright. The cursed Duke of Richmond is not dead yet.[9] + +[Footnote 8: It will be remembered that Mrs. Godfrey was an Irish +woman.] + +[Footnote 9: What was the cause of her animosity to this noble Duke, the +writer does not know.] + +Mrs. Godfrey must have been near eighty years of age when this letter +was written. Thirty-five years had elapsed since her husband's first +loss in the colony, and nearly thirty years since he was driven out by +rebels and Indians. + +Titles and pensions have been freely bestowed by English kings and +parliaments on men who have been daring and successful in Britain's +cause. If Captain Godfrey had performed no deeds worthy of a title or a +pension, he at least deserved to be reimbursed in part or in whole for +the losses he had sustained at the hands of rebels and savages. And it +is probable there were men and women in England who were styled Dukes +and Duchesses,--who wore orders on their breasts that covered less brave +and no more loyal hearts than those of Capt. and Margaret Godfrey. She +firmly supported and assisted her husband in his strict adherence to +King George the Third's cause, and faced the rebels like a Spartan and +defeated them in their designs at Grimross. Her tact, skill, courage and +cool determination in the midst of imminent danger were truly admirable. +She displayed the qualities of a born leader time and time again. In a +situation where she could seek no support she relied on her own +judgment, courage and faith. These sterling qualities brought to her aid +one who afterward proved to be a friend and guide. Alone at Fort +Frederick she defeated the designs of blood-thirsty savages by stepping +out of the Fort and standing unmoved and defiant amid a flight of +arrows. Her commanding presence and firm attitude won a savage to her +side. We can entertain no better wish for the memory of this Celtic +heroine, than that her name may be preserved, and her life and deeds in +the colony go down to the latest generation. + +"Justin McCarthy in his concise and interesting work, Ireland's cause in +England's Parliament," says: "There is a charming poem by my friend +William Allingham, called Lawrence Bloomfield in Ireland," in which we +find a classic story, thrillingly told, as an illustration of the hero's +feeling on some subject of interest to his country. A Roman Emperor is +persecuted by the petition of a poor widowed woman, who prays for +redress of some wrong done to her and her children. The great emperor is +far too great, his mind is taken up too much with questions of imperial +interest, to have any leisure for examining into, or even for reading, +this poor woman's claim. + +One morning he is riding forth of his palace gates, at the head of his +splendid retinue, and the widow comes in his way, right in his path, and +holds up her petition again, and implores him to read it. He will not +read, and is about to pass scornfully on, when she flings herself on the +ground before him, herself and her little children, just in front of his +horse's hoofs, and she declares that if he will not stay and hear her +prayer, he shall not pass on his way unless he passes over the bodies of +herself and children. + +And then says Mr. Allingham, "the Roman," who must have had something of +the truly imperial in him, "wheeled his horse and heard." + +Margaret Godfrey, the poor widowed woman, took up the petition of her +husband, and continued to pray for redress of wrong done her husband, +herself, and her children. For twenty years she continued in her prayer. +Read what the poor widowed woman says in another part of her letter to +her daughter-in-law, and see if the truly imperial is to be found in a +King or in England's noblemen, who for twenty years "heard and wheeled." + +"I have been sick all winter and not able to help myself, and am very +ill at present. My illness has almost turned me, but if I had but half a +leg I'll do my duty toward my family." + +In another letter written to her daughter-in-law not long after the +first, she says: "Tell Charles if he ever visits the mouth of the St. +John or old Fort Frederick, not to neglect for his mother's sake to +visit the grave of Paul Guidon. He knows the locality and may be able to +detect the spot where the hero sleeps. In my thoughts, God knows how +often I linger about that spot. Sacred indeed must be the earth that +mingles with the dust of such nobility. Were I present I would adorn his +last resting place with the early spring flowers. Many wintry storms +have passed above his grave. Spring time and summer have come and gone, +but he heeds them not. + +"I feel that I am nearing the border land, and as I cross the stream I +believe I shall meet my husband and also my other protector standing +together on the shore to welcome me home, to a home where friends never +fail and where justice is administered in the highest perfection. + +"It is my living desire, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying +desire, to meet beyond on the fields of glory Paul Guidon and my dear +husband. No Briton ever lived who was more loyal to his King and +country, and trusted more fully in the honour of earthly Lords than +Charles Godfrey. + +"It may be that I shall bye and by find Paul Guidon's name inscribed in +brighter characters on the columns that support the arches of the +heavens, than the names of some to whom my husband applied on earth for +redress of wrong. + +"One of Briton's statesmen lately said, 'It is easy for my Lord C. or +Earl G. or Marquis B. or Lord H. with thousands upon thousands a year, +some of it either presently derived or inherited in sinecure +acquisitions from the public money to boast of their patriotism, and +keep aloof from temptation, but they do not know from what temptation +those have kept aloof who had equal pride, at least equal talents, and +not unequal passions, and nevertheless knew not in the course of their +lives what it was to have a shilling of their own, and in saying this he +wept. + +"And so have I, a thousand times in silence wept, as the utmost energy +of my life has been exerted to cheer, to comfort and to encourage a +weeping heart-broken husband weighed down with misfortunes and poverty." + +The grave has long ago closed over every member of the Godfrey family +who were among the English pioneer settlers of Acadia, and the history +of their lives might have slept with them, but for a trifling +circumstance. The old documents referred to and copied in the foregoing +chapters, are greatly defaced, and time is completing their destruction. +Many of them are scarcely legible, and it required the utmost patience +and perseverance to gather together the facts as narrated in this work. + + * * * * * + + +LITTLE MAG'S DREAM AS INTERPRETED BY ONE OF THE LESTERS. + +As the little widow narrated her dream to one of the Misses Lester, the +latter understood it to be something like the following: Mag saw a vast +land with wooded hills and dales, green fields, lakes and rivers. Her +departed husband was quickly crossing over all these toward the setting +sun. He sped over the lakes and rivers in his canoe, and when he +emerged from among the trees, his bow and arrow hung across his +shoulder, over the open country he travelled in his moccasins, with the +old flag wrapped tightly about his breast and shoulders. At length he +approached the setting sun, where she lost sight of him for a moment, +the darkness that had gradually settled down, shutting out from her view +the passage of her husband, quick as a flash burst into a beautiful +crystal light. The heavens looked like shining silver, all around the +horizon was a wide cloud of clear light blue, with a border of gold. +Beneath was a broad expanse of green, with large groves of trees at +regular intervals dressed in a deeper shade. Through these were +meandering streams or rivers as of clear glass. Clear cut avenues ran +through at regular spaces from stream to stream, on the borders of which +(avenues and rivers) were thousands of jasper wigwams, sitting and +standing, at the front of each were Indians of all ages, dressed in pure +white and ornamented with precious stones of various hues. Rising above +the blue border of the sky, slowly and majestically, a new sun was +beaming. On its face stood Paul Guidon, in a dress of glistening +whiteness. The dress was after the pattern of that of an Indian chief. +Out of his right shoulder rose a red cross slanting slightly outward, on +the top of which stood an angel slightly inclining foreward. In his +right hand he held a wreath made of flowers most pure and white, inside +of which in letters of light blue, was the word Love. Out of his left +shoulder, in the same direction, rose a staff of deep blue, to which was +attached a drooping silver flag crossed with bars of gold. (Its pattern +was like the one placed in his grave.) On the top of the staff rested a +dove, holding in its beak a wreath, composed of rainbow shades, circling +the word Peace in letters whiter than snow. As the new sun continued to +rise, the jewelled sky increased in dazzling brilliancy, ten thousand +gems of shining gold shot out, and ten thousand sapphires too, all +glistening gloriously in the new light. The jasper tents on the +everlasting hunting grounds, and the motionless streams were brightning +with living flame. Thousands of Indians, strong and fair, in countless +groupings, seemed, to surpass even the sky itself in their glittering +starry dress. + +Paul Guidon appeared to move his head forward as the star-paved sky +increased in burning brightness, till overpowered by the lustre shining, +and dazzled by the increasing brilliancy. Little Mag fell to the floor +and awoke in the darkened room. As she was in the act of falling the +faint sound of distant music, mingled with the noise of far away rushing +waters, seemed to fall upon her ears, increasing in strength and melody +as she touched the floor. + +If Milman's lines had been written or known at the time of Mag's dream, +they could have been most suitably recited. + + "From all the harping throng + Bursts the tumultuous song, + Like the unceasing sound of cataracts pouring, + Hosanna o'er hosanna louder roaring. + That faintly echoing down to earthly ears, + Hath seemed the concert sweet of the harmonious spheres." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG.--SOCIETY AT HALIFAX. + + +Soon after Mrs. Godfrey's departure from Parr Town for England, Little +Mag Guidon went up the St. John and settled there with some of the +tribe, intending to remain until a chance of getting back to her people +occurred. She was not destined, however, to go back to her Chippewayan +friends. Jim Newall, who had so often paddled her to the settlement and +back, made advances toward her, which she reciprocated till it ended in +the two being married. It appears she had won Jim's heart during the +illness of her husband. She told one of the Lesters, shortly after +Margaret Godfrey's departure, that Newall had said to her one evening +while going up to the camp from the mouth of the river, "Supposem, may +be, husband Paul die, Jim Newall come wigwam." She replied, "When Paul +die, no wigwam be there, won't stay 'lone." Jim answered, "Me, you, two +keep wigwam supposem." Doubtless, the above conversation laid the +foundation of their union. It proved to be a happy one. In a letter from +a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, a few months after her arrival home, it is +stated that "Jim and Mag appear to be the happiest of mortals, their's +is true love." The lady who wrote the above, evidently did not consider +"marriage a failure," especially among the Indians. In matters of +citizenship, in matters of human life, in matters of society, it may be, +that it would be beneficial to take a lesson or two from the lives of +the Iroquois, Chippewayan, and Mic-Mac. We certainly never read or hear +that marriage has been a failure among the Indians. + +When Mrs. Godfrey bade farewell to Mag Guidon, she handed her name +and address, written in large, bold hand, and remarked as she handed it, +"Whenever you want to send me any message, if you are about here, get +some of my friends to write a letter for you." + +While Mrs. Godfrey was at Parr Town she sought an interview with the +newly appointed Governor, (Thomas Carleton), who had arrived a few days +before to her departure. She made known to the Governor the losses +sustained and hardships endured by her husband while in the colony. She +also stated to Colonel Carleton the noble deeds of Paul Guidon, and of +his loyalty to the king. She told of his death and of the destitute +condition of his young widow. + +Some months after Mrs. Godfrey had sailed for home, Governor Carleton +was told that the widow of Paul Guidon was soon to be married. He sent +to a friend of Mrs. Godfrey for information, and found the report to be +true. In a few days the Governor called at the house of the friend and +handed to her three guineas, to be expended for Little Mag's comfort. + +This friend Mag usually called in to see when she came to the +settlement. She was told of the Governor's thoughtful kindness. Mag told +the friend to use the money in purchasing her wedding outfit. Not many +weeks later Mag Guidon was married to Jim Newall. + +One afternoon the Governor received a note asking him if he would care +to see Little Mag in her wedding costume. He at once replied, naming a +day and hour that it would be convenient for him to receive the bride. + +At the appointed time Little Mag and her pale faced friend appeared in +presence of His Excellency, who received them in the most gentleman-like +manner. + +The bride, before leaving the presence of Governor Carleton, handed to +him Mrs. Godfrey's address, and asked him if he would send a letter to +her English mother, (Mag), and tell her that little Mag was married to +Jim Newall, and is living on the old camping ground where Paul died. +That Little Mag is happy and loves Jim as she did Paul. The Governor +promised Mrs. Newall that he would send a letter to Mrs. Godfrey. He +took the address and not long after wrote to Mrs. Godfrey, giving that +lady a full account of Little Mag's appearance as she stood in his +presence decked in her wedding garments. + +Governor Carleton states in his letter that he never thought of seeing +so handsome a woman among the Indian tribes of America. That he believes +there are ladies in his own country who would almost feel inclined to +forfeit a title or an estate to be possessed of a pair of hands and feet +of the form and size of those of Newall's bride. Nature seemed to have +perfected its work in moulding the form and features of the handsome +squaw. The Governor continues, "She was dressed in a suit of navy blue +cloth, her skirt reaching to within an inch of the tops of her +moccasins. A loose blue cloth jacket, buttoned up in front with brass +buttons, covered her well rounded shoulders and breast. The jacket was +edged with scarlet cloth and reached to her waist. Around her full neck +hung a double row of beads, to which was attached a gold cross,[10] and +on each wrist she wore a bracelet of beads similar to the neck-lace. A +wampum band circled her head. Inside the band were three beautiful +feathers from the wing of a wild pigeon. Her hair as black as the +raven's back, was so arranged as to make her forehead appear like an +equilatiral triangle, the brows being the base. Her eyes, coal black, +round, quick and deep set, are indescribable, and a more beautiful set +of teeth I never saw in a human head. On her feet she wore light brown +moccasins, on the front of each was worked, in beads of suitable +colours, the Union Jack. As she put out her neat foot that I might +better observe the work on her moccasins, she said the work was put on +them by her wish out of respect to the flag that covered the remains of +her first husband, (Paul Guidon). In her own words she said to me: "Tell +mother in England, she see Jim Newall and know Jim; saw him when my Paul +sick and die. He paddled English mother down settlement in canoe." + +[Footnote 10: The gold cross attached to Mag's neck-lace, was sent to +Paul Guidon by Sir Guy Carleton as a present. Paul received the present +while he was sojourning at Quebec.] + + + "Your letter of 5th August, I received, and will make further inquiries + as you advise about the property." The letter is addressed as follows: + + _Mrs. Charles Godfrey, * * * + Care of Charles Godfrey, * * * Esq, + (Late of His Majesty's Service), + Kinsale, + County Cork, Ireland._ + + +The above is the substance of the Governor's letter to Mrs. Godfrey. The +date and first three or four lines of it were torn off and gone, and the +remainder was, with great difficulty, deciphered, the letter being in +several pieces and quite ragged. This letter must have been written in +the year 1785 or '86, as in a letter from a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, +dated September, 1785, Little Mag and her husband are said to have been +met in the street the day previous to writing. It is not at all likely +that little Mag was long married before she appeared in presence of +Governor Carleton. + +Had Margaret Newall moved in a more elevated social sphere, and been +surrounded by wealthy parents and rich relatives, possibly Governor +Carleton would have been obliged to give Mrs. Godfrey a vivid +description of Mag's trousseau, and her beautiful presents of gold, +silver, diamonds, etc. But her parents and friends were poor. Her old +father possessed only a moving tent, occuping here and there, as he +found a spot to pitch it, a few square feet of King George the Third's +wilderness. Old Reonadi was not a commercial man. He had never made an +assignment. He was born one hundred years too soon to be surrounded by +commercial morality, perfect holiness and paternal affection. It took a +later generation of Chippewayans to display that care for their +posterity which only disguises an habitual avarice, or hides the +workings of a low and grovelling nature. + +During neither of the stays that the Godfreys made at Halifax had +society reached that brilliant epoch it afterwards attained when that +Royal Duke, who set such an example of duty to all men, was making it +his temporary home. That for a colony was, from all accounts, indeed a +brilliant, gay, and polished society which was assembled at old Chebucto +when the Duke of Kent was at the head of the army in British North +America. Pleasure, however, was not the only occupation of that then +brilliant capital, at whose head was one so much devoted to duty, that +in its fulfilment he acquired the reputation of a martinet. This was the +day of the early morning parade, particularly irksome in a cold climate +to those who were obliged to turn out before daybreak in the bitter +weather of mid-winter. At this day, also, there were frequent troopings +of colours, marchings out, sham fights, and all the other martial +circumstances of a fully garrisoned town. + +The maintenance of this strict discipline among the garrison whom he +commanded, was not more characteristic of the Duke than his affable +condescension and the considerate kindness that he displayed toward the +inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and of Quebec also, when he occupied its +castle. So that his name and memory are still held dear by the loyal +descendants of the men to whom Prince Edward was a familiar figure, +both at Halifax and Quebec, as he rode through the streets of either +town. + +But Halifax, even at the time whereof we speak, so soon after its first +being rescued from the primeval forest, was not without its charms for +those who, like the Godfreys, had enjoyed the amenities of polished +circles. But the almost destitute circumstances in which they found +themselves when these visits were made, precluded them from entering +into many of the enjoyments that offered. However, there were a few +entertainments at which their position in society seemed to demand their +presence, and which they accordingly attended. Here, of course, they met +the heads of society, as well as many strangers from Boston, Quebec and +other places on the continent, nearly all of whom would be persons of +distinction in the several places where they hailed from. At this time +several tea gardens about Halifax furnished the means of quiet +recreation to the public. Adlam's garden, adjacent to the citadel, was +the most famous of these resorts, and here on one occasion when the +Godfreys were at Halifax, a garden party was given by one of the leaders +of _ton_, at which Captain Godfrey and his wife were privileged to meet, +among other distinguished personages, General Massie and Mr Arbuthnot, +the governor of the province. The ladies were richly attired. The +military wore their undress uniforms and the civilians were in full +dress, which consisted in that day of knee-breeches, silk stockings, and +shoes with buckles composed of silver or gold, set with brilliants or +other precious stones; the waistcoat was often of silk, satin or velvet, +richly brocaded or embroidered; the coat of blue cloth, with gilt +buttons; and a sword was not wanting to complete the costume. + +It was difficult to decide at banquet or ball which presented the more +imposing appearance, the man of war or he whose avocation was of a +peaceful character, so nice were the dresses of both. + +Margaret Godfrey did not forget her situation. Roaming about the lawns +and walks in a plain gown, and seeing the plainness of her own attire as +compared with those of the ladies about her, she retired to an obscure +corner of the grounds, feeling more happy under the circumstances in a +private nook than in the midst of gay and polished society. Although she +was clever, graceful and lively, she felt that the society in the +capital was, in some respects, ill-assorted. She thought the conduct of +some of the gentlemen and ladies was not wholly unimpeachable, while her +solid faith in the virtues of most of the ladies and gentlemen she met +from time to time during her stay never wavered. + + + + +A CONCLUDING CHAPTER. + +THEN, NOW, AND TO BE. + + +How often do we hear of the deeds of the fathers of the country. How +often we read of them. And how little in comparison is said or written +of the hardships endured and the heroism displayed by the mothers. In +the early colonial days the women endured equal trials with the men. It +is possible that if the lives of the early settlers and the scenes of +those times were in full laid before us for review, we would find many +instances in which women displayed even greater courage than the men, +and in enduring the most severe privations and dangers, held out even +longer. + +Had Captain Godfrey not been possessed with such a companion as his +wife, it seems almost certain he would have been made a prisoner and, +perhaps, been murdered. Her tact and perseverance in danger secured his +liberty and rescued him from death. + +When her friends in London tried hard to persuade her from accompanying +her husband on his second venture in the colony, she calmly replied: +"Where my husband goes I can follow, if it be in the wilderness among +savages, or even through fire and blood. I love my husband, and wherever +he may be, to that spot I am attracted more strongly than to any +other." How much these brave words sound like those of Madame Cadillac, +spoken three quarters of a century earlier. + +On the 24th of July, 1701, Cadillac landed at Detroit, and set himself +to found the place. Soon after this Madame Cadillac, who had been left +behind at Quebec, plunged into the wilderness to rejoin her husband. + +It was a thousand miles in a birch bark canoe rowed by half-clad +Indians, and the route was through a dense forest and over great waters +swept by the September storms, but this brave woman undertook the +journey attended by only a single female companion. + +When subsequently reminded of its hazards and hardships, she simply +replied: "A woman who loves her husband as she should, has no stronger +attraction than his company, where ever he may be." + +The rich heritage we enjoy comes to us through the great efforts of +patriotism and dogged perseverance of our ancestors (the fathers and +mothers of the country). As we in gratitude remember the former, let us +not forget the latter. + +Margaret Godfrey died in London about the year 1807, having survived her +husband fully twenty years. She was beloved by friends, and esteemed by +all who came in contact with her. She sank full of years undimmed by +failure and unclouded by reverses. Who can think of such persons as Mrs. +Godfrey without acknowledging that such are the true nobility of the +human race! + +And now, when from the long distance of a hundred years or more, we +look back upon the hardships and misfortunes endured by one family of +the early colonists, we feel assured that pen and tongue can never make +fully known to us or our posterity the extent of the misery and +suffering of most of the early colonial settlers.[11] + +[Footnote 11: For a vivid account of the sufferings and hardships of the +early Colonial settlers, I would refer the reader to Ryerson's excellent +work, The Loyalists of America and their times. Vol. II. Chap. XLI.] + +We know enough, however, to admire the heroism of our ancestors and +their firm attachment to the mother land. Our hearts should warm with +gratitude for what they have done for our happiness. And as we consider +the unflinching determination of the founders of these British colonies +to make this land a British home, we feel that we should as +unflinchingly carry on their work and expand their views. Deeply rooted +in the hearts of our ancestors was a love of the old land, and their +desire in the new was to build upon the foundations of the old. + +We, under Providence, are commissioned to carry forward the work they +left unfinished. + +This land was the home of our fathers and shall be the heritage of our +children. The provincial spirit of our ancestors is being merged into a +great national one. A grand idea of nationality is being deeply rooted +in the hearts of the present generation. We are preparing for all the +responsibilities and all the works of a nation, and whether our +political union with the mother country becomes weaker or stronger as +the years pass by, our love for the old land will never cease. We are +proud of our parentage. Proud of the Celtic and Saxon blood that courses +through our veins. + +As our country expands, and as we continue to build, may our love of +country widen, and the light of patriotism that brightened and cheered +the hearts of our ancestors as they toiled on, brighten and deeper burn +in all our hearts, and one grand illumination throw its rays upon the +surface of two oceans. + +A neighbouring nation may envy our progress and seek our union, but this +will only stimulate our energy and strengthen the bonds that bind +British Americans together. + +Our fathers left us a few disunited provinces, our children will inherit +a vast dominion, bounded east and west by the world's two great seas. + +In even less time than it took our ancestors a century ago to travel +from Halifax to the mouth of the St John, we can plant our feet on the +shore of the Pacific. + +The stars and stripes may wave along our Southern boundary, and there +shall their proud waves be stayed + + The Eagle may be lord below, + But the young Lion lord above. + +We rest firm in the belief that the decree has gone forth out of the +court of heaven, that the flag which was wrapped in its folds around the +"Young Lion of the Woods" in his last sleep, shall wave triumphantly +over Canada till peoples and nations cease to exist on earth. + +The provinces in which the heroic events related in the foregoing +chapters occurred, now partake of the fortunes and sentiments and +character of a vast country. They live together with Canada, they +flourish with her, and if they are ever called upon to oppose a mightier +foe than Red men and Rebels, they will not be found unequal to the +occasion. + +Never was nobler duty confided to human hands than that which was +confided to our ancestors more than a century ago. It was theirs under +providence to commence the foundations on which we are building, and in +the record of our social, industrial, educational, political and +religious progress we await with confidence the verdict of the world. + +Although for the greater portion of the century the growth of the +British North American Colonies has been slow, yet it has been sound, +and it will be better for Canada in the future if the growth is not too +rapid. If the process of consolidation takes place regularly and +moderately, every institution in the land will be sounder. If the +majority of the immigrants which the country annually receives are +similar in character and principles to those of the early colonists, we +shall have nothing to fear in the future. We have nothing in our past +history to discourage us, and much in our present condition and +prospects to stimulate us. We who are privileged to live in the closing +years of the century behold a wonderful unity and an extraordinary +advancement of the whole Dominion in all its great interests. And the +man, if such there be, who was born on this soil and sprung from such an +ancestry as the early colonial settlers and United Empire Loyalists, or +from the loins of settlers of a later generation, who is not proud of +his country and of being called a British American, is unworthy of his +race and the land of his birth, and unworthy of having his name classed +with that of the noble Iroquois (Paul Guidon.) There are persons who +have acted a less noble part in life's drama, than the British officer +and his wife who settled at Grimross Neck, and even a less noble part +than Paul Guidon, who have won golden wreaths for their tombs, and since +Margaret Godfrey's name and deeds have been dug from oblivion, should +they be forgotten or the Iroquois tomb go unadorned? + +Our past in its three great eras, that of settlement, Responsible +government and union, shows grand steps in the country's triumphant +march. If with decaying sectional spirit, the grand idea of British +American independence takes hold of the minds and hearts of the people, +this would be found the gradual power that would impel the country to +its national destiny. As we behold mighty provinces forming and splendid +cities rising, we begin more fully to realize the glorious career on +which the Dominion has entered, these events should compel, yea they +announce a safe, wise and splendid future. + +The few millions who have sprung from those who founded the colonies, +trace back with lineal love their blood to them. So may it be in the +distant future millions more will look back with pride and trace their +blood through those who formed a nation in peace, to those who founded +the colonies, and to those who formed the union. + +We may read of the past, write of the past, and think of the past. To do +so is often profitable; it is also a pleasure. But, as we admire the +spirit and works of those who have passed beyond the flood, we should +more earnestly prepare for the future. "The sleeping and the dead are +but pictures." "Yet, gazing on these long and intently, and often we may +pass into the likeness of the departed, may stimulate their labors, and +partake of their immortality." + + "The growing nation, may it prove Dominion of the Good! + And ever stand, in coming years, where Britain always stood,-- + The foremost in the cause of right! upholder of the truth! + The nation which in growth of years grows in the strength of youth! + Then we may cry, with hopeful voice, unto the heavenly powers, + For blessings on our native land--'This Canada of ours.'" + + +FINIS. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Young Lion of the Woods, by Thomas Barlow Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + +***** This file should be named 16181-8.txt or 16181-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/8/16181/ + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Smith. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + p { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0em; font-size: 85%; } + .poem { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left; } + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + .poem p { margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em; } + .poem p.i4 { margin-left: 2.5em; } + .poem p.i6 { margin-left: 3.5em; } + .poem p.i8 { margin-left: 4.5em; } + .poem p.i12 { margin-left: 6.5em; } + .poem p.i14 { margin-left: 7.5em; } + .poem p.i25 { margin-left: 13.0em; } + .quote { margin-left: 6%; margin-right: 6%; text-indent: 0em; font-size: 90%; } + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + center { padding: 0.8em;} +/*]]>*/ + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Young Lion of the Woods, by Thomas Barlow Smith + +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: Young Lion of the Woods + A Story of Early Colonial Days + +Author: Thomas Barlow Smith + +Release Date: July 2, 2005 [EBook #16181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h1> + YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS; +</h1> +<center> +OR +</center> +<h2> +A Story of Early Colonial Days. +</h2> + +<center><b> +BY +<br /> +THOMAS B. SMITH. +</b></center> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> Here in Canadian hearth, and home, and name;— </p> +<p class="i8"> This name which yet shall grow </p> +<p class="i8"> Till all the nations know </p> +<p class="i4"> Us for a patriot people, heart and hand </p> +<p class="i4"> Loyal to our native earth, our own Canadian land! </p> +<p class="i25"> —Chas. G.D. Roberts. </p> +</div> +</div> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<center> +HALIFAX, N.S.:<br /> +NOVA SCOTIA PRINTING COMPANY.<br /> +1889. +</center> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<center> +<i>Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year 1889, +by</i> THOMAS B. SMITH, <i>at the Department of Agriculture</i>. +</center> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + Dedication. +</h2> +<center> +TO MY WIFE<br /> +I DEDICATE THIS, MY FIRST WORK,<br /> +WITH MY LOVE. +</center> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + PREFACE. +</h2> +<p> +The only merit that the writer claims for the following pages is, that +they contain a record of facts, setting forth the sacred sentiments of +duty, religious trust, and the spirit of liberty, amid sufferings-and +hardships of persons, whose loyalty was put to the severest test. +</p> +<p> +It has been beautifully said, "that he who sets a colony on foot designs +a great work." "He designs all the good, and all the glory, of which, in +the series of ages, it might be the means; and he shall be judged more +by the lofty, ultimate aim and result, than by the actual instant +motive. You may well admire, therefore, the solemn and adorned +plausibilities of the colonizing of Rome from Troy, in the Eneid! Though +the leader had been burned out of house and home, and could not choose +but go. You may find in the flight of the female founder of the gloomy +greatness of Carthage a certain epic interest; yet was she running from +the madness of her husband to save her life. Emigration from our stocked +communities of undeified men and women, emigration for conquest, for +gold, for very restlessness of spirit, if they grow toward an imperial +issue, have all thus a prescriptive and recognized ingredient of +heroism. But when the immediate motive is as grand as the ultimate hope +was lofty, and the ultimate success splendid, then, to use an expression +of Bacon's," "the music is fuller." +</p> +<p> +In the hope that the privations and heroic conduct of those who are the +subjects of the story, in the following chapters, may prove as +interesting to the public as they did to the writer, when he first +learned the history of such heroism, the writer submits them to the +reader. +</p> +<p> +<i>JANUARY</i>, 1889. +</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<a name="h2H_TOC" id="h2H_TOC"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<ul style="list-style:none;"> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0001">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0002">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">TRADING,—TROUBLE,—RETREAT.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0003">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK—PAUL GUIDON.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0004">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0005">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL.—YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0006">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">IN ENGLAND.—THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0007">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">ARRIVAL AND RETREAT.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0008">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">REBEL PLANS—PRAYING THE LORDS.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0009">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">PAUL GUIDON.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0010">CHAPTER X.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA.—DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0011">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2HCH0012">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG.—SOCIETY AT HALIFAX.</span></li> +<li> <a href="#h2H_4_0017">A CONCLUDING CHAPTER.</a><br /> + <span style="font-size:70%;">THEN, NOW, AND TO BE.</span></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<a name="h2H_4_0004" id="h2H_4_0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER +</h2> +<p> +The records of the lives and actions of those who have preceded us in +the procession of the generations, are full of instruction and interest. +In many instances they hold up to our emulation great models of +patriotism, patience, endurance, activity and pluck. It is to be +regretted that many documents of past ages have been destroyed through +lack of knowledge of their real value, and of the light they would have +thrown upon the early history of the country. Some few, regarded merely +as the relics of departed ancestors, have been so secretly kept and +treasured, that dust, must and rust have all but completely defaced +them. +</p> +<p> +If our ancestors had been wise in preserving the papers of their +fathers, long ago there might have been collected from such documents, +and displayed, many particulars of positive information concerning the +very early history of the English in Acadia. +</p> +<p> +We might have possessed a much fuller history of the times when great +difficulties and dangers opposed the settlers. When rushing rivers had +to be crossed without boat or bridge; when men and women often found it +necessary to contend single handed with Indians; and when, for meeting +the many obstacles that placed themselves in their path, our ancestors +were often but poorly equipped. +</p> +<p> +Whilst we take pride in the hardships cheerfully borne by our +forefathers in the early colonial days, may we not be sometimes inclined +to forget those fleet-footed, clever, dusky sons of the forest, to whose +generous aid they were not infrequently indebted for protection from +hostile men and savage beasts, and even sometimes for sustenance? +</p> +<p> +When we have secured positive information that now and again there have +appeared among the brawny men of the forest noble specimens of all that +is true and kind, let us not fail to record their deeds of faithfulness +and heroism. The least we can do for such is to bring to light their +actions and preserve their history. When beneath the shade of the +forest, on the trackless desert, on the rushing river, in tempest and +thunder, or when watching in the vicinity of an old fort or near the log +cabin of the early colonists, the Red man has been found a faithful +friend and guide; should not his deeds of kindness, faithfulness and +bravery be recorded side by side with those of the noblest of the human +race? +</p> +<p> +The story related in the following chapters has been gathered from facts +stated in time-worn documents, which have been lying for generations +concealed in a wooden box. The only regret of the writer is, that it was +impossible for him to gain access to all the old musty and defaced +papers in the box. The old gentleman, in whose possession they were +found, is very old and eccentric, and by no effort or persuasion could +the writer induce him to part company with the documents, but for a +short time. But although the task of procuring them was extremely +difficult, and that of deciphering them afterwards was both difficult +and tedious, still the satisfaction of having rescued from decay and +destruction, what seems so interesting, is satisfaction sufficient for +the writer. +</p> +<p> +That portion of the documents relating the events in connection with the +first and second settlement of an English officer and his family, during +the last century, in a district which is now said to be one of the most +beautiful portions of Canada, is most instructive and interesting, +although at times, while deciphering it, the writer felt his blood +quicken in its pulsations, and tears forcing their way to the surface. +</p> +<p> +A few years previous to this English officers first attempt at +settlement in Nova Scotia, he came out to Quebec with his regiment. The +remaining portion of this introductory chapter will narrate some events +in connection with the early life of the officer, his coming to Quebec +with his regiment, his short stay there, and his return to his native +country:— +</p> +<p> +On board the transport <i>Pitt</i>, in the year 1765, at Cork, embarked +Captain Godfrey with his regiment, the 52nd foot, for Quebec, North +America. +</p> +<p> +On the passage the <i>Pitt</i> was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where +Captain Godfrey with his regiment suffered many hardships. +</p> +<p> +The ship ran ashore in a dense fog, which had prevailed for several +days. The Captain remaining by the wreck for eleven days, assisted in +saving the lives of the soldiers wives and children, and in landing the +King's stores. The transport struck well up the gulf on the Nova Scotian +coast (now New Brunswick). The exact locality is not stated. The night +of the disaster was densely dark, and soon after striking the ship +began to pound and leak badly. Had the wind sprung up during the hours +of darkness not a soul on board would have lived to record the tale. +Very early the next morning, as Captain Godfrey was standing on the +quarter deck, conversing with the officer in charge of the ship, the +rain began suddenly to descend in torrents and the wind to freshen. The +mist that had enshrouded the ship for so many days, began to lift, and +the sun shone through by instalments. Soon it was seen that the <i>Pitt</i> +was hemmed in by rocks, almost wedged in among them. Fortunately the +storm soon abated, and the situation of the vessel kept her in an +upright position. The fog settled down again, and for the next ten days +all on board were kept busy in saving their effects and the King's +stores. +</p> +<p> +At the end of ten days all on board were taken off. General Murray, +commanding at Quebec, by some means not recorded, having heard of the +disaster, sent a man-of-war schooner to the relief of the sufferers, and +they were safely conveyed to Quebec. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey, through exposure and fatigue, contracted a severe cold, +and at last, his life being despaired of, the surgeon of the regiment +advised his return to England. He applied to General Clavering for leave +of absence, or to grant him permission to sell out of the army. The +permission being granted, he soon set about preparing to leave Quebec, +and rejoin his wife and five children in England. Captain Godfrey notes +in a memorandum his great sorrow in parting from his regiment, and that +his zeal for serving his King and country was so great that nothing but +extreme weakness would have induced him to part from his regiment and +King George the Third's service. +</p> +<p> +Before leaving Quebec to return home to his native land, Captain Godfrey +visited the spot where, six years before, the gallant Wolfe had poured +out his life's blood in the service of his King and country. Here the +Captain knelt and offered up to Him who guides the stars in their +courses, thanksgiving for the brilliant and decisive victory gained by +the British arms. +</p> +<p> +The following is from one of his memoranda:—"As I stood, and as I knelt +where Wolfe fell, I more than ever realized what it is to be a brave +soldier and a good man. As I rose from the spot I whispered to myself, +if I am, through the providence of the Almighty, allowed to once again +visit my native land, I will go to the widowed mother of General Wolfe +and tell her where I have been and what I have seen. That I have stood +on the very spot where victory and death gave the crowning lustre to the +name of her great son." +</p> +<p> +Charles Godfrey was born at St Ann's, England, in the year 1730. The +following, copied from an old document, gives a brief sketch of his +early career:—"Was put on board His Majesty's ship <i>Bedford</i>, Capt. +Cornwall master, in the year 1741, and in 1742 went out to the +Mediterranean. In 1743 was at the siege of Villa Franca, where with a +large party of seamen was ordered on shore, and quartered at a six gun +battery, under the command of Capt. Gugger, of the Royal Artillery. Was +at the battle of Toulon, with Admirals Matthews and Lostock, on board +said ship <i>Bedford</i>, then commanded by George Townsend. Was at the +taking of several rich ships off the Island of Malta, which ships and +their cargoes were afterward restored to the Genoese. Continued in the +navy till the peace of Utretch, and for sometime subsequently. +Afterward, a warrant being procured, attended the Royal Academy at +Woolwich as a gentleman cadet, in which station was allowed to remain +till 1755. Received a commission, and was appointed to the 52nd foot, by +the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was +afterwards pleased to recommend me for a Lieutenancy, and a few years +later my friends procured for me a Captaincy." +</p> +<p> +<a href="#note-1" name="noteref-1" id="noteref-1"><small>1</small></a>Captain Godfrey returned to England on board a transport from Quebec. +This young officer appears to have been highly respected by the +different Generals and Field Officers under whom he had served. He was +presented, shortly after his arrival in England, with a certificate of +character, signed by Lieut.-Genl. John Clavering, Colonel of the 52nd +Regt., Lieut.-Genl. Edward Sandford, Lieut.-Genl. Sir John Seabright, +Major-Genl. Guy Carleton, Major-Genl. John Alex. McKay, Lieut.-Col. +Valentine Jones, Lieut.-Genl. Burgoyue, and Major Philip Skene. +</p> +<p> +The above has been copied principally for the purpose of showing that +the following story has for its characters those who once lived and +moved in the early English colonial life of Acadia. If the districts and +places where the events related in this book occurred could speak, they +would tell nearly the same thrilling and extraordinary story. In many +of these localities great and important changes have taken place through +a century and a quarter of time, but the records of the past remain +unchanged. +</p> +<p> +Our barns may be built over the graves of the Indians, and our houses on +the sites of their wigwams; our cattle may graze upon the hillsides and +valleys of their hunting grounds, and our churches may be erected on +positions where the Red men of the forest gathered together to invoke +the blessing of the Great Chief of the everlasting hunting ground, yet +what is truly written of the past must remain unalterable. +</p> +<hr /> +<p> +NOTE.—The wrecked transport <i>Pitt</i> was named, it is said, in honour of +the Earl of Chatham; and tradition states that one of the boats of the +ship drifted from the wreck and went ashore at a point of land near +where the town of Chatham now stands, the ship's name being painted on +the boat; and from this circumstance Chatham, on the Miramichi River, +received its name. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0001" id="h2HCH0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER I. +</h2> +<h3> + FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70. +</h3> +<p> +Captain Godfrey's health gradually improved after his return to his +native country. When he thought himself sufficiently recovered he felt +anxious to embark in some branch of business, and not feeling inclined +to do so in England, he purchased a grant of land from Lynge Tottenham, +Esq., this land was situated on the bank of the River St. John, Nova +Scotia. +</p> +<p> +In the early part of the year 1769, after three years of rest, Captain +Godfrey purchased various kinds of merchandize, which he was advised +were best adapted to the colonial trade. He freighted a vessel in +London, and embarked with his wife and family for Halifax, in the month +of June, 1769. +</p> +<p> +On the passage out the weather was usually fine, but the progress was +slow, and nothing remarkable occurred on board during the sixty-two days +they were in crossing the Atlantic. +</p> +<p> +Soon after landing at Halifax, Captain Godfrey heard that the Governor +of Nova Scotia, (Lord William Campbell,) required some person of +experience to enter into possession of Fort Frederick, situated at the +mouth of the River St. John, and take charge of the arms, ammunition, +and all other of His Majesty King George the Third's stores. He had an +interview with the Governor and was appointed to take charge of the +fort. +</p> +<p> +After having secured the appointment at Fort Frederick, he concluded to +commence trading operations at that post, and gave bonds to the governor +in the sum of one thousand pounds for the privilege of carrying on a +legitimate business with the settlers and Indians.<a href="#note-2" name="noteref-2" id="noteref-2"><small>2</small></a> +</p> +<p> +After spending the winter at Halifax, he chartered a brig in the month +of May, 1770, and then putting on board his goods and stores sailed for +Fort Frederick with his wife and family. On his arrival at the fort he +carefully surveyed the situation and concluded that he would abandon the +idea of trading there. +</p> +<p> +He found no one at the fort to assist him in protecting it, and a few +days after his arrival the Indians became so troublesome and threatening +that he found it would be impossible to remain there, protect the fort +single-handed, and carry on trading operations successfully. +</p> +<p> +One afternoon the Indians appeared before the fort in numbers, +threatening that if the place was not vacated at once they would murder +the occupants. They then made a rush and got within the enclosure, and +soon after retired. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey had fortunately purchased from the master of the vessel +in which he brought his merchandize to the fort, a small boat. The boat +had been securely moored at the island below the fort. +</p> +<p> +The day following the assembling at the fort the savages again appeared +and attempted to steal the boat, and would have done so had not Mrs. +Godfrey succeeded in reaching the shore in time to discharge a musket at +the thieves. The Redskins pulled the boat to the spot where she stood, +but Mrs. Godfrey never moved from the position she had taken. When the +Indians were in the act of jumping on shore she ordered them to take the +boat back to the place from whence they had loosed it. One of the +Redskins, a tall, muscular fellow, who could speak some English, asked +her if she would get into the boat and go with them. If so, the boat +would be taken back and made fast. She replied, "I have no doubt you are +an honest man and would do no injury to a weak, pale-faced woman, I will +go with you." And as she said these words, she sprang into the boat and +sat down, resting the musket upon her knees. +</p> +<p> +The Indians paddled the boat back to the place whence they had loosed +it, and not one of them uttered a word. After the boat had been made +fast Mrs. Godfrey was assisted ashore by the tall, muscular savage, his +four companions walking away without saying a word. They were soon +joined by their tall, muscular friend, and a few minutes later all were +lost to view among the trees on the shore. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey retired to the fort, where she was warmly congratulated by +her husband for the tact and courage she had displayed in presence of +the savages. She replied, "the Indians seemed completely taken aback +when I jumped into the boat and had not recovered from their surprise +when they parted from me, and while I was sitting in the boat, the deep, +black eyes of the tall, muscular fellow looked straight and steady at +me, and at times I felt as though they were piercing me through and +through." +</p> +<p> +The evening was a solemn one at Fort Frederick. The Captain and his wife +talked over their situation, and the children were restless, the +slightest noise about the place making the little ones tremble like +aspen leaves. The Captain and his wife agreed that it would be useless, +while the Indians were so troublesome, to remain at the Fort and attempt +to transact business with the settlers, who were few indeed. +</p> +<p> +As they sat together that night in the Fort by the dim light of a +flickering candle, expecting every moment to be disturbed by the +war-whoop of the savages, Captain Godfrey said to Margaret, (for such +was the name of his wife,) "our situation is serious." She replied, "I +believe it to be most dangerous." "What move would you propose," asked +the Captain. Margaret answered, "I would propose to return to Halifax, +if it be possible to get there." The Captain then said to his wife, +"What do you think about going to Grimross Neck where our grant of land +is?" Margaret replied, "I am your wife, whatever you think best to do, +do it, and I will follow and support you to the best of my ability." She +then, together with her husband and children, knelt in the lonely Fort +and asked Him who had guided and protected them thus far not to forsake +them in their present situation, but to guide, instruct and lead them in +the future. She rose on her feet, walked across the small, dingy +apartment, kissed each of the children, then taking her husband by the +hand, said to him, in a clear and decided voice, "Whither thou goest I +will follow, where thou resteth I will rest, and where thou settlest +there will I be found with thee." And in presence of the children God +had given them, they bound their hearts to suffering and death. +</p> +<p> +Fatigue and fear had overcome the little ones, and in a short time they +were sleeping soundly upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +After some further conversation between the Captain and his wife, it was +agreed that he should attempt to proceed before dawn in the little boat +to Annapolis Royal, and there, if possible, purchase a small vessel +suitable to convey his goods and family up the river to his grant of +land. +</p> +<p> +At four o'clock he secretly and alone left the fort, waving with his +hand an adieu to his wife, as he stepped out of the door. He carried +with him to the boat a camp blanket which he intended to hoist as a +sail. At four o'clock, thirty minutes, he was on his way. As the little +boat passed the island at the mouth of the harbour a breeze sprang up. +He hoisted the sail, making it fast to one of the oars, which was used +as a mast; the other oar being brought into play for steering purposes. +Captain Godfrey had been fortunate in bringing with him from England +several small compasses and two larger ones, one of the latter he took +with him. +</p> +<p> +A gentle but fair breeze followed the little ship from land to land. The +Captain found great difficulty in sighting the entrance to Digby Bay, +where he arrived safe and sound at eleven o'clock the following morning. +</p> +<p> +The next day he proceeded to Annapolis Royal arriving there at noon, +where he purchased a large sloop, and without delay got his boat on +board and next day at the turn of tide sailed for Digby. Here he took on +board some water, and after waiting several hours for a fair wind sailed +for the mouth of the St. John. At ten o'clock, a.m., June 30th, he set +sail to recross the Bay of Fundy and rejoin his wife and family at Fort +Frederick. He arrived off the harbour the following morning quite early, +but was unable to anchor off Fort Frederick, till the evening on account +of fog. On arriving at the Fort he was greatly relieved of apprehensions +that would obtrude themselves upon him during his lonely trip by finding +his wife and children all well. +</p> +<p> +The following day he commenced to get his merchandize on board the +sloop. His wife and eldest son assisting. It took fully ten days to +accomplish the task, which proved to be a tedious and toilsome one +indeed. At last, everything being ready, he vacated Fort Frederick and +sailed for his possessions up the river, intending there to settle and +trade. +</p> +<p> +Not many hours after they had left the Fort the report of a musket was +heard from the shore. Soon a canoe was seen approaching the sloop. As it +came near the vessel, an Indian was seen as its only occupant. He +paddled his canoe alongside the sloop. Captain Godfrey attentively +watched his every movement while Mrs. Godfrey seemed quite indifferent +at the presence of the stranger. She threw him a small line and made +signs to him to make fast his canoe, which he appeared quickly to +understand. Mrs. Godfrey then motioned to the Indian to come on board, +and he at once bounded over the rail. As he stood on deck, his comely +Indian features were lit up by a good humoured smile. He looked a giant, +brave and active. He was teeming all over with youthful vigour. His eyes +were black like polished jet, sparkling and deep set. His mouth large, +square and firm; and his hair like threads of coarse, black silk, +brushed back from a low, narrow forehead, hung loosely down over his +broad, square shoulders. +</p> +<p> +His whole frame seemed stirred with a strong nervous action, and a quick +but expressive motion of his small brown hand appeared as a signal for +conversation. He at once spoke, "May be if go to Grimross be scalped," +and every word brought with it increased action of both hand and body. +He continued, "Indians say war coming, must have pale face blood and +scalp." +</p> +<p> +Capt. Godfrey said not a word, but looked serious and pale; while deep +anxiety was pictured on every feature of his face. He felt that it was +no use to retreat, and situated as they were, where could they retreat +in safety. Fort Frederick at the mouth of the river had been surrounded +by blood-thirsty savages, who had threatened them with fire and murder +if they did not abandon the place. In this distracting situation Captain +Godfrey held a council of war within himself, and finally decided, come +what might, evil or good, he would push on to his destination. +</p> +<p> +He wondered how the Indian knew he was bound for Grimross. It occurred +to him that perhaps the savage was trying to find out where he intended +to land, and there be on hand to murder all on board and seize the sloop +and cargo. He thought, "if the Indian is sincere in warning us, what +interest has he in doing so? What could he expect in return for his kind +act?" These and many similar thoughts rushed quickly through the +agitated brain of the Captain. The Indian stood silent and motionless +for a moment, then returned to his canoe and paddled toward the shore. +</p> +<p> +The eyes of Captain Godfrey followed the Red man to the shore and +watched him until he disappeared among the trees on the river bank. The +sloop was kept on her course up the river. Just after the sun had sunk +beneath the horizon, Captain Godfrey, by the persuasion of his wife, +anchored the sloop in a small recess in the shore. From the time the +Indian had reached the bank the Captain's wife scarcely ever lifted her +eyes from gazing on the right bank of the river. Was she watching for a +place to safely anchor at night? Or was she watching for the Indian's +return? These questions were agitating the Captain's thoughts. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey had never fully recovered from a weakness to his nervous +system, caused by the severe hardships he had endured in the Gulf of St +Lawrence. He was strongly opposed to anchoring the sloop so near the +shore. He felt fearful that during the long watches of the night all on +board might be murdered. The armament of the vessel consisted of two +muskets, two pistols, and a sword. Her cargo was valued at over two +thousand pounds sterling. She was deeply laden, and it was with great +difficulty that all the goods and chattels had been stowed on board; +several boxes and bundles being closely packed and lashed on deck. +</p> +<p> +After everything had been made snug on board, sails furled, &c., the +Captain and his wife asked the blessing of the all-seeing One during the +hours of the night. The Captain was very tired, and the events of the +day had not added to his comfort. His wife persuaded him to go into the +small cabin and rest. She promised to call him if the least danger +appeared. She said that she was only too willing to stand as sentinel +until the sun-rise. It was only through a knowledge of the determined +spirit, good judgment, quick eye, and self possession of his wife that +he was induced to retire to rest. +</p> +<p> +The children unconscious of the dangers surrounding them, were nestled +together in the small cabin like young birds in a nest. During four long +hours nothing unusual occurred to break the stillness of the night. The +rustling of the leaves on the trees not many yards distant, and the +rippling of the water were all that could be heard, a dense darkness, a +blackness doubly deep appeared to settle over and around the little +vessel. The sentinel placed her soft white hand close to her face but +could not even distinguish its outlines. +</p> +<p> +At this moment there flashed through her mind the words, "Watchman, +what of the night." The words were accompanied by a hand gently laid +upon her shoulder. She remained as motionless as a statue in the gloom. +A gentle breath whispered in her ear, "me Paul;" "come tell you Indians +on other bank river;" adding strength to the expression by taking her +hand and pointing it to the opposite bank. He then again whispered, +"Fire gun next setting sun, where stop," and then suddenly left her +side, and she saw nothing more that night of Paul Guidon, for such was +the Indian's name. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey, after his many days of toil and anxiety, slept so +soundly that he did not wake till the sun had risen. As soon as +breakfast was over, and a chapter had been read from an old family +Bible, which had accompanied four generations of the Landers through +this vale of tears, sorrows and joys, and a short prayer read from an +old service book, presented to Captain Godfrey by General Murray at +Quebec, the sloop was got under way and proceeded on her voyage, the +wind being fair and light. The prospect was not one to gladden the +hearts of the voyagers, though the day was fine and sky clear. The +progress was slow. Captain Godfrey was in better spirits than on the +previous day, the quiet night and refreshing sleep had somewhat braced +him up. The children sat on deck during the day, chatting, playing and +singing, while their mother, dauntless and buoyant in spirit, retired to +rest in the little smoke-box of a cabin. She knew that very much +depended upon her behaviour and courage in safely reaching Grimross +Neck. She closed her eyes with the whispered words upon her lips, "I +will follow what I believe to be the path of safety, and I will tread it +with a firm and unfaltering footstep, praise to the Great King who sent +us Paul Guidon in the thick darkness to watch over us from the river's +bank. It brings to my remembrance what I have read in the Book of books, +of Pharaoh's daughter standing at the river's brink and rescuing the +babe, and seeing that no harm befell it." +</p> +<p> +Little progress was made during the day. An hour or two before the +shadows of evening had begun to fling their leaden mantle around the +sloop, Mrs. Godfrey appeared on deck. Perfect stillness seemed to reign +on every hand; even the little craft appeared to be half asleep, so +lazily did she move along. All above and about stretched the wondrous +beauty of the sky; the deep blue clouds, as the day wore away, becoming +tinged with gold, contrasted in loveliness with the green of earth. Not +a sound was there to stir the perfect stillness except the rippling of +the water against the vessel. +</p> +<p> +As Margaret sat beside her husband on that lovely evening of July, the +deep feelings that were stirred within her soul seemed to find their +natural outlet, as she turned to her husband and said, "this seems like +a glimpse of some better world." He replied, "it appears as though we +are sailing through a land of perfect rest." "I trust we are, though we +sail through a country peopled with savages." She replied, "To-day we +beheld the sun in his glory, and strong in his power, now he is +departing, but I trust as we continue to sail o'er the ocean of time, +guided by the King of Pilots toward a land where glory never fades, and +where the True Light never grows dim, our passage may continually be lit +up by the reflecting rays of the Sun of Righteousness." As she finished +speaking a bright light flashed on the starboard shore, quickly followed +by the report of a musket. The Captain, starting at the report, +remarked, "perhaps that Indian (Paul) has been watching and following." +Here the Captain's words were cut short by a loud cry from one of the +children and the sound of a splash. Little Jack, the fourth child, had +tripped against the forward rail and gone overboard. His mother, almost +as quickly as the flash of a gun, threw herself overboard at the stern +of the sloop, holding on to the rail with her hands and calling to the +little fellow to catch hold of her dress, as the tide carried him toward +her. He was too far out to reach her skirt, and the running water +carried him by her. She immediately let go both hands and floated from +the vessel, and made a desperate effort to reach her boy. The Captain, +almost beside himself, put the helm hard down, and was in the act of +plunging in. Meantime his wife and son were drifting farther away. Just +then, making a second desperate effort, she succeeded in grasping her +child. At this moment a canoe shot like an arrow past the sloop, in it +was Paul Guidon, paddling with might and main, making straight for the +drowning mother and her boy. In another minute he had the child grasped +firmly in his long sinewy arms, and laying his breast and head over the +stern of the canoe, he called to the mother to grasp at once his long +hair as its ends fell into the water. He managed to get the child safely +into his canoe, but he experienced great difficulty in saving its +mother. She drifted fully one hundred yards, but all the distance +holding stoutly to the Indian's locks. With all the strength of Paul +Guidon he was not able to get Mrs. Godfrey into the canoe. Once he +nearly succeeded, but almost upset his little bark. He told her to cling +tightly to his hair, as he shoved the paddle over her head, and at last +he got the canoe to move slowly ahead, and in a few minutes time he was +at the side of the sloop, and the mother and child were rescued from a +watery grave. The Indian would not go on board, and as soon as he saw +that the mother and child were likely to recover, he pulled away to the +shore. +</p> +<p> +The child soon recovered, but the mother lay upon the deck for some time +in a half unconscious state. At times a quiet happiness seemed singing +in her soul, that often broke into words of praise as the vessel drifted +along in the stillness. On the right and left slept the country with its +wooded hills and dales. As Margaret Godfrey recovered she said, +"Charles, we appear to be sleeping on to our destination." "Yes," he +said; "but perhaps that Indian has been watching and following us, +hiding among the trees along the shore; and as we have been going slowly +all day, he could with ease keep way with us. He may now consider us far +enough away from the fort to decoy and murder us, seize our vessel and +goods, and no suspicion rest upon him as the murderer and robber." +</p> +<p> +"It may be that he has accomplices on our track; a band of savages to +quietly dispose of us and seize our possessions." As he spoke these +words he appeared much more agitated than on the previous evening. +Margaret replied, "God's will be done! We must anchor at some point +to-night—Why not anchor here? At the earnest solicitation of his wife, +Captain Godfrey consented to run the sloop toward the shore and anchor. +</p> +<p> +After a lengthened discussion between the Captain and his wife upon the +question of keeping watch during the night, Margaret carried her point, +and soon after stood alone on the deck. +</p> +<p> +The reader, doubtless, will wonder why Margaret expressed so strong a +desire to keep watch through the long, lonely hours of darkness. Before +the conclusion of the story is reached, he will have found out the +reason. +</p> +<p> +Soon all was hushed, gross darkness had gathered over the face of +nature, and the eyes of the beloved on board were closed in sleep. At +about midnight Margaret was slightly startled at hearing a footstep on +deck. "Paul," she whispered, "is that you." "Me," he answered in a low, +soft tone. "Most Indians away, far up country after game, and not come +back few days." +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon was a sub-chief, and one of the bravest of the tribe over +which he exercised some authority. He was feared and respected by all +the tribes of the St. John. He had used all his cunning and power to +pilot the sloop safely to her destination. He had for several days +spread the report that large herds of caribou and moose had appeared in +a part of the country forty miles west of the St. John River. The +Indians took the bait and had suddenly left in pursuit of the game. +</p> +<p> +Before leaving the deck Paul advised Margaret to get the vessel under +way at daylight next morning, in order that the journey might be +completed before the next setting of the sun. He then took Mrs. Godfrey +by the hand and raising it to his broad breast passed it firmly over his +quickly throbbing heart, and almost instantly turned and shot from her +presence like an arrow in the darkness. Very early in the morning the +sloop was made ready to proceed on her voyage. The wind was blowing +stiffly and fair, the little vessel reached along and arrived at her +destination at five o'clock in the afternoon. The anchor was let go +between an island and the river's bank. Thanksgiving and praise were +offered on board for past mercies and supplication for continued +guidance. Neither was Paul Guidon forgotten, for Margaret breathed a +silent supplication to Him who can soften and subdue the savage breast, +to guide, control and direct the life and steps of her benefactor. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0002" id="h2HCH0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER II. +</h2> +<h3> + TRADING,—TROUBLE,—RETREAT. +</h3> +<p> +After landing at Grimross, Captain Godfrey looked about to find his lot +of land. Lot No. 14 he found belonged to a Captain Spry, lot No. 15 to a +Reverend Smith, and his own lot he found to be No. 16. These lots were +all facing the St. John river, and extending back parallel with each +other. In looking over the plan of the lots, it appears that Captain +Godfrey settled on No. 14, Spry's lot, and on this lot he commenced +trading operations in an old house situated not far from a stream +leading from a lake on his own lot to the St. John. On Captain Godfrey's +lot were two small log houses, one occupied by a person named Sayhon, +and the other by a man named Crabtree. It may be, that the Captain +settled on Spry's lot because he could trade here to the best advantage. +Here he commenced business after expending forty pounds, sterling money, +in repairing the log house and adding a store room, made of solid logs. +About the middle of September, 1770, he opened out his wares and began +business. A few days later several Redskins came to his shop and warned +him to move away from the place, threatening, if he did not do so, to +burn his buildings and goods. +</p> +<p> +The Indians did not trouble him further until the middle of November, +when about thirty of them came to his place of business with beaver, +otter, raccoon, mink and other skins. These he took in exchange for +blankets, powder and other goods, the Indians appearing well satisfied +with the exchange. About a fortnight later the Indians again returned in +numbers, accompanied by a white man who acted as spokesman. The white +man, a peculiar looking character, with one eye looking due north and +the other due east, from beneath a forehead very much resembling that of +a monkey, stuttered out to Captain G.: "We-e-e-e co-co-mé t-t-to +war-war-warn you t-to g-g-g-git ou-out. Th-the la-lan-lands ar-are Free +n-sh le-le-lands, an-and th-the In-in-d-dans we-we-will dri-dri-drive +aw-all de-de-damd E-e-en-glis way, an-an gi-gi-give the-the-em +b-b-b-back to Fre-e-e-nsh." The Indians and their low-browed, cross-eyed +spokesman then left the Captain's place of business without uttering +another word. On Christmas day, 1770, or about one month after their +last visit, eight of the Indians, accompanied by two squaws, returned to +the store at Grimross Neck and whooped out in tones of fury, "Fire, +blood, scalps." +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey immediately barred his shop door, and also the door of +his house, seeing that the savages were bent on mischief. The children +were inside the store and house, and were terrified and trembling. At +length the Redskins became so excited and noisy and so wild in their +movements, that the place seemed like a pandemonium. They were-armed, +each one having a knife about ten inches in length stuck in his belt. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey consulted with his wife as to the wisest course to be +pursued, but no definite line of action was arranged. The two old +muskets were in the bedroom, loaded, not having been discharged since +they were fired off on leaving Fort Frederick. The Captain's wife ran to +the room and brought out both guns into the kitchen. She handed one to +her husband remarking, "if the brutes attempt to force their way into +the house shoot the first one that puts his moccasin over the door +sill." At this time the howling, yelling and cursing of the +blood-thirsty fiends would strike terror into the stoutest heart. +Finally they took up a large stick of wood that was lying near the +kitchen door and made a desperate attempt to smash it in. Mrs. Godfrey, +who had stood near the door for sometime, appeared calm and decided amid +all the murderous clamour. She stepped back a pace, and placing the butt +of the musket against her hip, with the muzzle slanting upwards, stood +firm as a statue. +</p> +<p> +The door was soon forced and the fiends came tumbling in. Mrs. Godfrey +fired, the charge going over the heads of the savages and entering the +ceiling above the door. The Indians in the rear seeing their comrades +fall, and thinking they were killed by the shot, at once retreated +uttering terrible threats of vengeance. One of the squaws, a short, +stout old creature, was so terrified by the report of the musket and the +falling to the floor of the three Indians, that in her bewildered +retreat she tumbled headlong down a steep, stony bank and laid as if +dead on the ice below. She was left by her companions, who travelled as +fast as their legs would carry them. The old squaw was found and taken +prisoner by Mrs. Godfrey. Her nose and one rib were broken, her left arm +dislocated at the elbow, and both her eyes completely closed with heavy +shutters. She presented a pitiable appearance, as she staggered along +toward the house supported by her captor. The Indians were so completely +surprised and cowed by the courage of Mrs. Godfrey that they never came +back to look after the wounded squaw, or sent to inquire whether she was +living or dead. +</p> +<p> +As soon as the old squaw began to recover, Mrs. Godfrey found out that +the old woman could speak some English. She said she was a widow about +sixty years old. That her husband had been killed at Fort Pitt in 1763. +Her only son had been taken prisoner by the English at Fort Pitt, and +had afterwards remained nine moons with an English officer in New York. +The officer went away to England and wanted her son to go with him, but +on the eve of the officer's departure he ran away, soon got on the trail +of his mother, and at last found her at Detroit living with a band of +Iroquois. Not long afterward she and her boy wandered from post to post +and camp to camp until they at last got over among the tribe on the St. +John, where they had made their home among a strange tribe for the past +two years. Her son did not respect the tribe with whom they lived. He +had often told her that these Indians were not pure bloods. Her son was +sixteen years old when taken prisoner at Fort Pitt. She had always been +called Mag, but when any of the tribe addressed her, it was by the not +very respectful addition of "Old Mag." Her boy had gone toward the +setting sun to be with a party of English officers on a hunting +excursion, he had left her in September and would not return for some +moons. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey and his family rested in comparative peace for some +weeks, and Mrs. Godfrey drew from Old Mag many stories respecting the +manner of life among the various tribes of American Indians. +</p> +<p> +About one month after the old squaw had been captured, she began to +appear exceedingly dull and dispirited. The Captain's wife said to her +one morning, "Mag, are you ill," "No! no!" she replied, "me no sick +to-day," "bad dream some nights ago. Saw all Indians outside house, and +big black devil's spirit come into them, black spirits come out woods, +and fire on their heads, all went into Indians and made them dance war, +yell and whoop and burn house." +</p> +<p> +All went fairly well until the 26th February, 1771, when the red men +again appeared at the premises of the Captain. They were armed, and +their actions seemed to be in keeping with Old Mag's dream. +</p> +<p> +Their shrieks, yells and war-whoops were terrible, they acted like +demons. The children hid under the beds and held on to the garments of +their parents. The terrified little ones trembled like leaves in an +autumn breeze. Spirits let loose from the regions of the damned could +hardly present a more devilish appearance than did the savages. They +were armed with muskets. Old Mag, who was crouching in a corner of the +kitchen, shook with fear, her teeth were chattering, and she appeared +like a person badly affected with fever and ague. +</p> +<p> +The Redskins, about twenty in number, ran round and round the house +roaring like wild beasts thirsting for gore. Charlie, the Captain's +eldest boy, came rushing into the kitchen screaming out that two of the +Indians were making a fire at the store door. Captain Godfrey ran to the +shop, looked out of the window and was horrified to find the side of the +building in flames. A minute after he had left the kitchen two of the +red devils broke in the door, Mrs. Godfrey, with Charlie holding on to +her skirt, had taken up a position in front of Old Mag, as the charging +enemy came toward her, she fired. There was a yell, as of death. Captain +Godfrey had placed the other musket in Old Mag's lap, Mrs. Godfrey +instantly seized it and quick as a flash again fired and the door way +was cleared. +</p> +<p> +In a few moments the smoke had cleared away. Two human forms lay across +the door sill and one within the kitchen. These were the bodies of one +dead and two dying Indians. The dead man was completely scalped, the +whole top of his head being torn off. The other two were so terribly +mutilated about their faces and necks that they lived but a few minutes. +Forty minutes after Mrs. Godfrey had fired the first shot scarcely a +vestige of anything remained on the spot where the house had stood. As +soon as the savages were aware that three of their comrades had fallen +in the assault, they beat a hasty retreat. +</p> +<p> +Let the reader pause for a few moments to consider the situation of +Captain Godfrey, his wife and their five children. There they were alone +in the wilderness, thousands of miles from friends and home. Out in the +cold, amid the frost and snow of an Acadian winter, without a house to +shelter them, a friend to cheer them, or a fire to warm them; surrounded +by demons of the forest, panting and thirsting for their blood. There +was no possible escape by water, the St. John was covered by a thick +winding sheet of ice, and the sloop was lying some miles away in an icy +bed of a lake. The history of early colonial life does not and cannot +present a more affecting scene than that of the Godfrey family, as they +stood alone on the banks of the river St. John in the midnight of a Nova +Scotian winter. +</p> +<p> +All that was saved from the flames were several pieces of half-burnt +pork, the two old muskets, a few half-burnt blankets, one hundred and +forty pounds of beaver skin, between two and three hundred weight of +gunpowder, the old family Bible and service book, and a trunk containing +some papers and old clothes. The above articles Captain Godfrey and his +son, at the risk of their lives, saved from complete destruction. In an +hour the little band of early settlers was reduced from comfortable +circumstances to a misery beyond the power of words to express. Darkness +would soon cover the spot of desolation. But five hours of daylight were +left in which escape could be made. They knew not in which direction to +flee for shelter. The Captain consulted with his brave partner, but all +seemed dark; no way of escape presented itself. To remain where they +were during the coming night meant death. There were only two log houses +in the district and they were miles away. Finally Mrs. Godfrey +assembled her shivering children about her and read aloud the +twenty-third psalm, and closing the old service book she said to her +husband, let us no longer tarry here, let us make haste towards the +sloop. As they were about to start, it suddenly occurred to Mrs Godfrey +that Old Mag was missing. The Captain had not seen her since he placed +the musket in her lap. The children had not seen her since the burning +of the house, and Mrs. Godfrey had not seen her after she had taken the +musket off her lap. The old squaw's absence caused a delay in setting +out for the sloop. As no trace of Old Mag could be found, it was the +opinion of both the Captain and his wife, that she had either perished +in the flames or had slipped out of the kitchen before the smoke had +cleared away and followed the Indians in their retreat. +</p> +<p> +Neither the Captain nor his wife would leave the locality without making +a search for Old Mag. During the search, Captain Godfrey, whose strength +had been severely tested since his arrival at Grimross in July, sank to +the ground in a swoon. At this crisis his wife displayed the greatness +of her character. As troubles thickened about her she seemed to develop +qualities that only woman cast in an heroic mould are capable of +exhibiting. She whispered to her husband, "We cannot find Mag, I must +save you." These words appeared to have a magic effect on the Captain. +He rose to his feet, supported by his wife, and soon after they were +staggering on towards the river leading to the lake, followed by their +five children, the eldest, who was but twelve, carrying with him his +youngest brother, only two years old. +</p> +<p> +At length they reached the lake, and at this point of the journey Mrs. +Godfrey was compelled to order a halt. She was heavily handicapped, +having a large shawl tied across her shoulders filled with the burnt +pork and some blankets. After a few minutes rest they were again tugging +along towards their little ark. As the light of the sun gradually faded +away, the little band of colonists tried to quicken their pace, but they +tried in vain. They were so exhausted that it was with great difficulty +they kept on their feet. +</p> +<p> +The children were more dead than alive, and the approaching darkness +filled them with terror. Their mother would say to them, "Keep along, +follow closely, the moon is rising, we shall soon have plenty of light." +In this manner they toiled on till midnight, when they reached the +sloop. Fortunately for the little band of wanderers, Captain Godfrey had +left on board the vessel a small Dutch stove and a number of broken +boxes. A fire was soon made, some of the burnt pork was sliced and put +in a pan and fried for the night's meal. But the children sank to rest +soon after getting on board, and lay huddled together on the cabin +floor. After the Captain and his wife had partaken of the meal and +before retiring to rest on the hard boards of the floor, Mrs. Godfrey +read, by the dim light of a candle, the fifty-fourth psalm. +</p> +<p> +Nothing can better prove the genuineness of a life, the soundness of a +profession, the real character of a man or woman, than those extreme +trials and difficulties of earth, when no friends are near to help and +where no way of escape seems possible. In trials, such as those related +above, the noblest traits of character or the hollowness and rottenness +of a profession are often plainly seen. Five cold winter days and nights +came and passed, yet no relief came to the imprisoned family. They dare +not move out, fearing the Indians would see them and come at night and +murder them. The sixth day Crabtree, who lived some miles distant from +where the Godfreys had resided, having heard of the attack of the +savages and the destruction they had caused, made his way to the scene +of the ruins. He could find no trace of the Godfreys and was returning +by the border of the lake to his log cabin, when he saw the sloop far in +the distance like a speck on the frozen surface of the lake. He hastened +out to where she lay. To his surprise and joy he found out, when nearing +the little craft, signs of life on board. Sparks were issuing from the +cabin. Very soon he was on board. He was met at the companion-way by the +Captain who gave him a thousand welcomes. Crabtree, after a few minutes +rest and conversation, started for his home, eleven miles distant, +promising to return early the next morning with a sledge to assist in +taking the children to his cabin. In the morning he returned, and +Captain Godfrey, his wife, and little ones, left the sloop and went to +Crabtree's. Captain and Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie had to walk the entire +distance over the lake and through the forest to Crabtree's log house. +</p> +<p> +The man who had rescued them attended to their wants as well as his +circumstances would allow. He kept the distressed family until the month +of May, when the ice in the river broke up. Captain Godfrey then set to +work to fit out the sloop, being determined to leave the place as soon +as possible. The sails and part of the rigging were consumed in the fire +at Grimross. He had fortunately saved two of the compasses from the +flames. After days of toil he managed to get the vessel in fair working +order. The old half-burnt blankets were patched together and a mainsail +and jib were completed. On the 30th of May, 1771, he set sail for Fort +Frederick. +</p> +<p> +On the passage down the river several Indians were seen on the banks of +the stream, but none of them made any trouble. After eleven months +absence the Captain found himself at Fort Frederick once again. Captain +Godfrey said to his wife, "Margaret, what changes are often wrought in a +few months." "Yes! true!" she replied, "we have lost our property, but +we have escaped with our lives and those of our children. Our +reputations are not dimmed, neither has the Lord forsaken us. The best +of our fortune remains with us. An honourable foundation remains on +which we can re-erect our future structure. Let us thank a wise, +over-ruling providence that a fortune still remains to us, though we +have passed through great misfortune." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0003" id="h2HCH0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER III. +</h2> +<h3> + ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK—PAUL GUIDON. +</h3> +<p> +After the arrival of the sloop at the mouth of the St. John, the Captain +was compelled to leave his wife and family. There was not a morsel of +food of any description in the locker. The necessaries that had been +supplied by Crabtree for the voyage were entirely consumed. +</p> +<p> +The day following the arrival off Fort Frederick, Captain Godfrey set +sail in his small boat for Passmaquaddy, eighteen leagues distant. The +boat was the same one in which he accomplished his successful journey to +Annapolis Royal. His intention in setting out for Passmaquaddy was to +visit a settlement belonging to a Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and +there procure some supplies for his family, and sails and rigging for +the sloop. +</p> +<p> +He left his family in a most destitute condition, they having neither +shoes nor stockings to their feet, and every other article of their +clothing being in rags and tatters. While the Captain was absent, his +wife and family were obliged to traverse the shore seeking for small +fish, which they were sometimes fortunate in securing. The second +evening after Captain Godfrey had left for Lieut. Owen's settlement, +being a clear, moonlight one in June, Mrs. Godfrey thought she saw an +object floating leisurely down the river in the direction of the sloop. +She went below and brought on deck one of the old muskets which did such +valuable service at Grimross. Charlie, her twelve-year old son, said to +his mother: "Do you see Indians?" The little fellow was so agitated he +could scarcely speak. She cautioned her son to remain perfectly quiet, +and not to utter another word. Brave, calm, unmoved, she stood over her +boy at the bow of the sloop. On the nearer approach of the object she +discovered it was a canoe, with someone leisurely paddling it along. It +had almost drifted by the vessel when, to her surprise, it suddenly +turned, and ran straight as an arrow for the side of the sloop. +</p> +<p> +Mrs Godfrey, in a loud, firm tone, sang out: +</p> +<p> +"Pull away, or I'll shoot you!" +</p> +<p> +The canoe was turned about in an instant, and as quick came floating +over the water the words: +</p> +<p> +"Me, Paul: Me, Paul Guidon!" +</p> +<p> +She threw him a small line and then invited him to come on board, +immediately resuming her former position with the musket by her side. +</p> +<p> +The Indian came on board, fastened his frail bark and stood for a moment +watching the retreating tide. Mrs. Godfrey asked him to come forward, +while little Charlie was shaking as though he would fall in pieces. He +obeyed her, and stepped forward. She took him by the hand and said: +</p> +<p> +"Paul! Paul! You have again come to see me. I have thought of you, +prayed for you, and shall never forget you. You have saved my life and +the lives of my husband and dear children. I am in great trouble; God +has sent you again." +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon stood speechless and motionless with his sparkling black +eyes fixed on her thin, pale hand. The mild effulgence of the lunar +light shone full upon his face, bringing out every feature in perfect +outline. Presently his whole frame shook as though it had received an +electric shock. Mrs. Godfrey looked straight at him with her piercing +black eyes from the moment he had stood before her. Her power over him +seemed like that of a charmer. Her magic nature had completely overcome +him. Never did a naval hero appear on deck after a victory more +transcendently grand than did Margaret Godfrey at that moment of her +life. She pressed his hand more closely and said: "Paul, are you ill?" +He replied by placing her soft, white hand upon his throbbing breast, +and then moved toward the canoe. He spoke not a word. He pointed towards +his canoe, and made a sign with his right hand from the eastern horizon +up the semicircle of the sky. She understood it to mean that he would +return in the morning, at the rising of the sun. He at once got into his +canoe, and in a minute or two was paddling up the stream against the +rushing tide. +</p> +<p> +Very early the following morning, Margaret was on deck preparing to go +on shore while the tide was low, and, if possible, catch some fish for +breakfast. She had not been long on deck before she saw a canoe +approaching. As it neared the sloop she saw that Paul Guidon was its +only occupant. In a few minutes Paul was on board, looking as bright as +the morning star. Margaret bade him good morning and then related to him +the distressed condition of herself and children. He replied, with a +cheerful smile: "Suppose big boy and little ones go with Paul and catch +'em some fish?" She felt that the Indian had a kind heart and at once +consented to accompany him with her children. All got into the canoe, +and Paul at once began to paddle down the river. Although the morning +was without rain the sky was leaden, and the atmosphere heavy and damp. +As the Indian paddled the canoe along for a couple of miles, all on +board were joyous and seemed refreshed as they drank in the breeze from +off the breast of the bay. +</p> +<p> +They landed at a point of land, or rather of rocks, where Paul succeeded +in catching several fish, which he placed in the bottom of the canoe. He +then proposed to leave the place and proceed further down the shore. +Margaret replied that occasionally drops of rain fell upon her face, and +she feared a storm might suddenly spring up and bar their way back to +the vessel. She rather urged the Indian to return, but she saw by his +manner that he was inclined to demur to her solicitation. He said there +was a brook a short distance further down the shore, where there was +always plenty of good fish. Mrs. Godfrey finally consented to follow +Paul. He took in his arms the two smallest children, and pressing them +closely to his broad chest with his long sinewy arms, was soon skipping +from rock to rock like a mountain goat. The mother and the three other +children followed as closely as possible in Paul's tracks. +</p> +<p> +After the Indian had gone about a hundred yards, he looked over his left +shoulder and appeared satisfied that all was well. He redoubled his +speed and bounded along as a deer, and suddenly turning to the right he +made his way up a slope of ground and was out of sight among the trees. +</p> +<p> +Margaret now began to feel anxious, fearing that after all the trust she +had reposed in Paul, he might yet prove unfaithful. She called to the +Indian, but he heeded not her cry. She again called, but he had +completely disappeared. +</p> +<p> +Under such circumstances a less brave woman would have sunk on the spot +in utter despair. She kept on, following as nearly as she could the +track that Paul had taken. She toiled on and on for three quarters of an +hour, but never sighted the Indian. At last she completely lost the +trail. The rocks and uneven ground impeded her progress, and the trees +confused her in the line of march. All traces of a pathway were lost. +</p> +<p> +She sat down on a large boulder—the children wanted rest, they were +completely fatigued. She judged that they must be nearly two miles from +the canoe. In her distressed situation she contemplated returning to the +shore. To proceed further in the direction she had been going seemed +hopeless. Without a guide she and her children would certainly get lost, +and likely all would perish. Whilst she was thus debating in her mind +what course to pursue, a peel of thunder passed over her head, and large +drops of rain began to fall. The wind suddenly sprang up, and all around +her was growing dark. Her blood quickened in its pulsations, as the +elements were increasing the difficulties of her position. Alone, on a +rocky, stormy shore, with three small children and two others far away +in the arms of an almost unknown savage, what could she do? Where could +she go? She said to herself: "evil seems to follow me closely, and heavy +trouble is continually weighing me down. I am in a strange land, among a +strange race; where will the end be? It may be here." As the above +thoughts were running through her brain, a brilliant flash of lightning +streamed close by her pale face, and for an instant lit up the earth and +sea around. A tree, a few feet distant, was shattered by the flash. Her +children trembled as the thunder shook the solid ground. She delayed no +longer, but determined at once to start back in the direction of the +canoe, and taking each of the smaller children by the hand, with Charlie +following, she pointed for the shore. +</p> +<p> +The rain descended in torrents; the thunder roared, and the lightning +flashed. Through the terrible storm Mrs. Godfrey pressed on, buoyant +with a hope that all might turn out well. As she was staggering from +rock to rock with the little ones pitching and stumbling along at her +sides, now and again almost blinded and bewildered by the lurid +lightning, she felt as one amid the crash of worlds. +</p> +<p> +Just as she sighted the canoe, which Paul had hauled upon the shore, a +sharp, rattling clap of thunder peeled above her head. This was preceded +an instant before by a dazzling blue and golden flash that all but +blinded the band of wanderers. Another and another flash, followed by +their thunderbolts, in quick succession shattered a solid rock over +which they had just passed. The whole shore appeared to tremble and +crash, and away far out over the surface of the bay the waters seemed as +if in a blaze. The sight was grand and terrible. Every rock along the +shore appeared to sink into an abyss as the lightning passed by, and +many of them were riven. At length Mrs. Godfrey and her children reached +the side of the canoe. There calm and unmoved amid the storm, she knelt, +she wept, she prayed. The waters of Fundy were heaped into angry +billows, and dashed their spray over the mother and children assembled +round the altar on the shore. Darkness began to throw its sable mantle +over land, rocks and bay. Margaret was suddenly started, she thought she +heard the sound of a voice coming through the gloom. She turned her head +in the direction of the sound, and at that moment a flash of lightning +revealed a human form coming toward her. In an instant it was lost to +view, shut out in the darkness. "Me come!" "Me come!" fell upon her +waiting ears. Margaret, with a heart overflowing with gratitude and +swelling with praise, quietly exclaimed "God is love." Paul stood before +her, panting like a stricken deer, with but one of the children in his +arms. As Margaret looked at him her pale face turned ashen white, her +lips quivered and she fell into the arms of Paul Guidon as if dead. He +sat down upon a rock, and by the lightning's flash bathed her temples +with water from the sea shore. The Indian continued to pour salt water +out of his brawny hands upon her head and neck. In about ten minutes +Margaret was restored to consciousness. When she opened her eyes her +missing child was at her side. Paul Guidon had placed the little fellow +in charge of an Indian he had found fishing on the bank of the stream, +and he asked him to take the child in his arms and follow on to the +shore. +</p> +<p> +After Paul had been fishing along the stream for some time, seeing that +Mrs. Godfrey and her children had not come up with him, he decided to +return and look them up. +</p> +<p> +As they rested together on the shore beside their birchen boat, the +thunder gradually died away, and there was also a truce to the lightning +and rain. In two hours from the time of the happy reunion of the loved +and lost the water became quite calm. Paul Guidon then launched the +canoe and the little ships' company were soon heading toward the mouth +of the St. John. In another hour and a half Paul and his companion had +safely paddled Margaret Godfrey and her children to the sloop. +</p> +<p> +Margaret's first act, after reaching her small floating home, was to +place each child upon its knees, doing likewise herself. As her clear +voice rang out over the water, conveying words of thankfulness to Him +whom winds and seas obey, the two Indians sank slowly on their knees. +</p> +<p> +Plenty of fish had been secured by Paul to last the family some days +Margaret cooked the supper, Paul and his companion ate heartily, then +left the sloop and proceeded in the canoe to their homes, Paul promising +to return the next day with a load of wood to replenish the stock of +fuel which was well nigh exhausted. +</p> +<p> +At seven o'clock next morning Paul again was seen sailing along toward +the sloop, his little bark skimming over the river like a petrel on the +ocean's breast. He appeared anxious and excited as he approached the +side of the vessel. He had but a few pieces of wood in his canoe. +Margaret at first sight noticed a change in his features; he looked worn +and weary. His bright black eye had lost much of its fire, and as he +stepped on board Mrs. Godfrey thought she noticed a tear on his cheek. +As usual she saluted him and asked him on board, and as he stepped over +the rail she took his hand in her own. This act of kindness on the part +of Margaret seemed to electrify his whole frame. She said to him, "And +how is Paul this morning." Without answering her he placed his hand on +his left breast and sighed deeply. "Is my Paul ill this morning," she +again asked, thinking that the strain from carrying the children the day +previous, and the worry and excitement, had been too severe a task even +upon the hardy and wiry frame of the Iroquois. "No! No!" he replied, +"but," "but," and here he stopped being too full to utter another word. +He pointed to his canoe, and then pointed up the river past the fort. +She guessed his meaning. It was to return to his home at once. +</p> +<p> +Margaret said to him, "Paul do you want me and the children to go with +you?" +</p> +<p> +He bowed an assent. +</p> +<p> +All hands were soon on board the canoe and in a few strokes of the +paddle the homeless emigrants were sailing toward the rapids. The tide +was running up and the long sinewy arms of Paul, as he plied the paddle, +made the little bark fairly leap along. The rippling of the water was +all that broke in upon the stillness of the morning. +</p> +<p> +The steep, rugged country on either side the mouth of the St. John was +dressed in deepest green, tall and noble trees lined both banks. The +clear bright sky and the brighter sun made the river appear like a +winding stream of silver with borders of emerald. Her admiration of +natural beauty, she had herself confessed more than once during the +voyage to Grimross. +</p> +<p> +While Mrs. Godfrey was drinking in the beauties of the scenery, and +meditating on the loneliness that reigned supreme among the hills, the +canoe touched the shore. As Margaret stepped from the little bark to the +shore, a large grey snake passed athwart her pathway and disappeared +into a hole at the roots of a tree. She felt much concerned at this +circumstance, as in Ireland, her native land, it was a common belief +among the people that if a snake passed across a persons track without +being killed by the traveller, some evil was close upon his or her +track. +</p> +<p> +After the Indian had pulled the canoe out of the water, he led the way +up a slight incline, followed by Margaret and her children. They had +walked some two hundred yards over uneven ground and among trees, when +Paul suddenly stopped and then stepped off to the right, and beckoned to +those in his rear to follow him. A few steps brought the visitors in +sight of a wigwam. It was situated in a small open space, surrounded by +a dense forest of large, tall trees. In a minute or two all stood at the +opening in the camp. +</p> +<p> +Paul seemed to hesitate as he led the way inside. He removed an old +blanket which was hanging over the aperture. Opposite the entrance on +the further side of the camp lay a human form stretched on some old grey +blankets, that were spread over branches of spruce trees. The Indian +approached the bed and then stooped down and kissed its occupant, and +then beckoned to Margaret Godfrey to step forward. She at once obeyed. +To her astonishment there lay an old squaw with sunken cheeks and eyes. +Over her form was stretched a time-worn grey blanket, and on it laid a +wampum belt, and a string of wampum beads, an old plaid shawl supported +her head. +</p> +<p> +Margaret thought that she recognized the shawl as one she had brought +with her from Ireland, and wondered how it came there. She knelt down, +and placing her arm under the old squaw's neck, gently raised her head a +few inches. The poor old squaw tried to speak but was too weak to do so. +Margaret took the withered hand of the Indian woman and placed it in her +own. On one of the bony fingers of the squaw was a ring which fell off +into Margaret's hand. Margaret recognized it as a ring she had often +seen. She asked Paul who the sick woman was. "She is my poor old +mother," he replied, "she has been sick long time, since last winter, +got bad fall and almost stiffened with cold." "She fast going away from +her Paul." Margaret noticed the old woman's lips moving, she put her ear +close to the squaw's mouth and heard her say in a whisper, "Me Mag!" +Mrs. Godfrey, completely surprised, laid her head upon the dying woman's +bed. The shawl, a red and black plaid, she had given old Mag at +Grimross. Now it was used for her dying pillow. The old Indian woman +fairly worshipped it in her days of health and strength. And the ring +was also presented to old Mag while a prisoner at Grimross. The +afternoon that old Mag was given the ring was one never to be forgotten +by Mrs. Godfrey. The old Iroquois squaw on that occasion danced the war +dance on the kitchen floor, so great was her joy in receiving the +precious gem. +</p> +<p> +Margaret asked Paul where he had found his mother on his return from the +setting sun. He then related to her in broken English the following +story:— +</p> +<p> +He had returned from his hunting expedition on the evening of the day +the house at Grimross had been consumed by the flames. He had been +detained with the officers one month longer than he expected to be when +he left home. On his arrival home he found that his mother was missing. +He made inquiries as to her whereabouts, and was told that she had gone +off with three Indians named Nick Thoma, Pete Paul, and Christopher +Cope, to trade furs for some pork, blankets and powder at Grimross. That +white woman had killed the three Indians; that white man's house was +burnt, and white woman had put his mother into the flames and burnt her +up. Early in the morning after his arrival home he set out for Grimross +Neck, crossing the lake where the sloop lay. When he arrived at Grimross +he saw nothing but blackened ruins, and was convinced the Indian's story +was true. He saw also the dead bodies of the three Indians, he could not +recognize them, they were so cooked by the fire. He walked about the +ruins, almost bewildered, and swearing vengeance. Not many steps from +where the house had stood were dense woods. He wandered in among the +trees scarcely knowing where he was going, when to his surprise he saw +his mother sitting down on the snow with her back resting against a +large tree, her feet and knees covered with blankets. He pulled off one +blanket, then another, and yet another, but his mother never moved. She +sat as motionless as the tree itself. Her face was covered with frozen +blood. He took hold of her shoulders and shook her when she appeared to +breathe. After rubbing her hands and beating her feet on the frozen snow +for a long time she began to move her limbs. And finally he got her to +stand on her feet. Her eyes were swollen and completely closed. He was +at a loss to know how he was to get her to the camp twelve miles +distant. Part of the journey was comparatively easy; they could go by +way of the lake. At four o'clock he started with his mother for the +camp, she could only walk slowly and with great difficulty. They made +many stops on the way and reached the camp long after midnight. About +noon the next day the old woman had gained sufficient strength to tell +her story. She said "she went first time with Indians to trade furs at +Grimross. Indians were very savage and blood-thirsty. Broke in door of +house, white woman fired gun, they all ran away. She was captured after +falling down bank. She was taken to house of English people and +afterwards treated like one of the family. A lot of Indians came back +second time about last of winter, few days ago broke into the house of +English people and set it on fire. The English woman fired two guns and +killed three Indians. The rest of Indians ran away. When gun was fired +and house burning, was afraid English woman would kill her. As soon as +could get over dead Indians in door, ran away among trees, and was +frightened to come out again till all pale faces went away. Felt very +cold when pale faces went away, wandered back to burnt house, found the +blankets, returned with them to woods, got down against tree, put +blankets over feet and legs, and remember no more till my Paul woke me +next day." +</p> +<p> +As Paul Guidon related his mother's story his face was bathed in tears. +Mrs. Godfrey attentively listened, and at the same time carefully +watched every feature of old Mag's face. When Paul had finished his +mother's story, Margaret Godfrey gently raised old Mag's head, and +bending over it said, "Poor old Mag this is indeed you." The dying +Indian woman tried in vain to move her lips, while her body seemed +convulsed. She then stretched herself out at full length and a slight +tremor passed over her frame, her chin dropped. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey looked up at Paul, who was standing at the foot of the bed, +and remarked, "Paul your dear old mother is gone, forever gone." The +Indian without replying then threw himself upon the bed and lay +motionless beside the body of his mother. In a short time he began to +weep and moan, which he continued to do so long and piteously, that +Margaret thought his sorrowing heart would burst. At last completely +exhausted with grief he remained quiet and passive as though his spirit +too had passed over to the green fields and still waters of the +everlasting hunting grounds. +</p> +<p> +Margaret gazed upon the quiet features and still form of the handsome +young Iroquois, he was in the vigour of his manhood, being scarcely +twenty-four years old; and said, as she admired his manly look, "Paul, +your mother is happier now;" "she is in that land where trials, trouble +and death are unknown. You must live to meet her there. Your mother is +now sailing on silvery water; breathing an atmosphere perfumed with +celestial spices; and sitting in a canoe made from the bark of trees +growing on the shores of Canaan's stream. Her wigwam will be made of the +same kind of bark and ornamented with pearls and precious stones. She +will wear a neck-lace of jewels and on her head will be a crown of +glory." +</p> +<p> +Paul, weary and sad, went to his canoe, launched it and sailed down the +river to catch some fish for supper, and Mrs. Godfrey proceeded to +prepare the body of old Mag for burial, while the children played around +the wigwam. When the Indian had returned he found all that remained of +his mother neatly prepared for the grave. +</p> +<p> +The black and red plaid shawl was wound round and round the body from +head to feet, no part being visible but the face. Margaret had fastened +the shawl at the throat with a silver brooch. Old Mag, as she lay upon +the camp bed, resembled a dead Highlander. Arrangements were made for +the funeral, and Paul paddled Mrs. Godfrey and children to the sloop and +then returned to dig his mother's grave. Next morning Paul came down to +the sloop looking very sad. He said that he had not closed his eyes +during the night. He sat watching through the long night at the side of +his dead parent. +</p> +<p> +Many of us have heard and read accounts of lonely scenes and lonely +spots, but what place could be more lonely and what scene more solemn +than that of a lone Indian sitting beside the corpse of his mother in a +Nova Scotian forest a hundred and twenty years ago, through the dread +hours of a whole night? +</p> +<p> +What thoughts passed through the brain of Paul Guidon during the weird +hours of that night, it may be, will be revealed in eternity. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey and her children again went with Paul to the abode of +death. After landing, Margaret accompanied the Indian to inspect the +place of burial. It was situated on the bank of a small stream running +down to the river, and about two hundred yards from the camp. The grave +looked like the newly made nest of some huge bird. It was cleanly dug +and neatly lined with evergreens. In this grave the body of old Mag was +placed as the sun was sinking below the horizon. It was conveyed to its +last resting place by Paul, Margaret and her son Charlie; the four +younger children forming the procession. +</p> +<p> +None of the Indians of the tribes of the St. John were present at the +burial, as Paul had not circulated the news of his mother's death. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey read, from the old service book, the Church of England +burial service, the most beautiful of all burial services, that of the +Masonic brethren perhaps excepted. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie filled in the grave. When they returned to the +wigwam all within was darkness and gloom. Margaret and her children were +paddled to the sloop by Paul. He was invited to spend the night on board +the little vessel, but declined to do so. Margaret then took him by the +hand, and, as she drew him toward her, he placed his hand upon her +shoulders and cried aloud, "Mother!" "Mother!" She led him to the canoe, +he got into his little bark and was soon sailing away towards his lonely +dwelling-place, where it may have been the spirit of old Mag kept watch +that night over the wigwam and her boy. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0004" id="h2HCH0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IV. +</h2> +<h3> + TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA. +</h3> +<p> +Captain Godfrey arrived safely at Passmaquaddy and was warmly welcomed. +</p> +<p> +He was supplied with sails, rigging and a general outfit for his family, +and he was sent back to the mouth of the St. John in a much larger and +more convenient boat, bringing the smaller boat in tow. He was absent +twelve days. +</p> +<p> +The day previous to the Captain's return Paul Guidon had visited the +sloop, but Margaret could only prevail upon him to remain for a few +minutes. He said something wanted him back at the wigwam. He appeared to +be impressed by some invisible and irresistible power to return at once +to the sad camping ground. +</p> +<p> +"Me: Paul!" he said to Margaret, "cannot stay long away from camp and my +mother's grave." "Happy mother must be in the woods near wigwam." +</p> +<p> +As far as Mrs. Godfrey could learn from the lone Indian his thoughts +were something like the following:— +</p> +<p> +All the birds that used to sing so sweetly around the little birchen +home and gaily fluttered from branch to branch, seemed to sit quietly +and pour out their songs in mornful strains, and all about the spot the +wind appeared to whistle a requiem for the departed squaw. And in the +long and quiet hours of the darkness, he felt certain that old Mag's +spirit left the woods, and in never ceasing motion kept watch about the +camp, and at regular intervals would pass within and kiss him when +asleep. +</p> +<p> +The Indian from his habits of life, skimming in his canoe over the +lonely and wooded river, or skipping from rock to rock on the lonely +mountain side; in tracing the border of the roaring cataract, in +pitching his tent along the edge of the flowing river or the sleeping +lake; out on the prairie or in the midst of the dense forest; among the +trees on the ocean shore, is most deeply impressed with the belief that +the Great Chief is watching his actions from behind trees, out of the +surface of the waters, from the tops of the mountains, and out of the +bosom of the prairie. He thinks that the lightning is His spear, and the +thunder His voice. He feels that a terrible something is all around him, +and when death calls any of his tribe away supreme superstition takes +firm hold of his very existence. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind</p> +<p class="i2"> Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p> +The poet, and the highly imaginative person, the wise and the good, seek +the hills and the valleys, the dashing cataract, the forest and stream, +the mountain range, the rocky coast and roaring ocean, and there drink +in the grandeur of creation in those sublime scenes. In such places they +feel a nearness to the Creator, and view His power and handiwork in a +measure not always attainable in the ordinary scenes of everyday life. +Such persons admire with reverential awe the greatness of God and feel +His love. +</p> +<p> +The Indian, in superstitious dread, lives in ignorance of His greatness, +His ways and His love. +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon visited the sloop the next morning, and Captain Godfrey +welcomed him on board and invited him to remain during the day and +assist in refitting the vessel. The Indian did not refuse in words to do +so, but his looks and movements plainly indicated his disinclination to +remain. +</p> +<p> +Margaret approached him and said, "Paul, you will stay with me and help +us get the vessel all ready to sail away, won't you?" He took her hand, +pressed it tightly, and then let it fall at her side. She knew she had +won him, and was well aware that she could lead him as a child. +</p> +<p> +He remained, and all were soon at work. The children picked over the +oakum, the Captain fitted the rigging, and the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey +tried their hands at making a mainsail. +</p> +<p> +At the setting of the sun Paul returned to his lonely home. The next +morning, before the sun had risen, he was once more on board the sloop. +The day was a lovely one, and similar work to that of the previous day +occupied the attention of all The following day the vessel was hauled to +high water mark on the island, there to be overhauled and caulked. +Captain Godfrey had brought a supply of necessary tools for the work +from Passmaquaddy. The Indian came down each morning from his wigwam and +assisted until the sloop was ready for sea, (The repairing of the little +vessel <i>La Tour</i> was probably the pioneer work of refitting and +repairing which a century later assumed such gigantic proportions on +both sides of the mouth of the St. John.) Mrs. Godfrey named the vessel +<i>La Tour</i>, because, she said, that was the original name of the fort +that sheltered herself and her children during Captain Godfrey's absence +at Annapolis Royal. +</p> +<p> +At length everything was ready, and the morning to weigh anchor came. A +stiff breeze blowing up the harbour caused a delay in sailing. The +morning was so wet, and the wind blew so hard, that Paul Guidon did not +venture out in his canoe, but he came down by land, and quite early in +the day stood upon the shore opposite where the sloop lay. +</p> +<p> +Margaret was first to notice him. She thought that she never saw him +look so handsome as when he stood on the right bank of the harbour that +morning. She called her husband, and pointing toward the shore said: +"Look at that noble form at the water's edge. It looks like a statue +standing on a line between the water and the woods!" +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey rowed to the shore and took Paul off to the sloop. He +remained on board but an hour, promising as he left to return in the +morning if the storm abated. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey had decided to sail for Halifax via Passmaquaddy. The +morning was fine and the wind fair. Paul was on hand bright and early. +Margaret said to him, "Paul, in an hour we shall sail away from here, +and perhaps I shall never see you again on earth." These words seemed to +almost paralyze the Indian, and for a while he appeared unconscious of +everything that passed. His canoe was tied alongside the sloop. Captain +Godfrey hauled up the anchor. Margaret asked the Indian if he would go +with them as far as Passmaquaddy. He made no reply. He sat down on the +deck and covered his face with his hands. Captain Godfrey said to him +rather sternly, "Paul, we are now on our passage, if you are going to +leave take your canoe and go." He made no reply to the Captain. The +sloop was slipping down the harbour and had passed the lower island +before the Indian seemed to recognize his situation. He looked wildly +first at the shore, then on the other side at the great waters, and +burst into a flood of tears. +</p> +<p> +Margaret stepped to his side and said, "Paul, do you feel ill?" +</p> +<p> +He shook his head, and with his hand pointed at the vast waters of the +bay. +</p> +<p> +Margaret proceeded to get dinner, and the red man was left alone. Paul +was asked to the lunch, but replied not. +</p> +<p> +The sloop ran leisurely along the shore all day, the wind being light +and the water quite smooth. All were compelled to rest on deck during +the night, which was bright, and the moon made it almost like day,—the +little cabin was besieged with mosquitoes. About midnight the Indian, +who had not spoken since leaving the St. John, suddenly sprang to his +feet and peered over the moon-lit water in the direction of the shore. +Captain Godfrey, who was at the helm, seeing him, thought he was about +to make a plunge overboard, and called to his wife who was asleep. She +sprang up, asking what was the matter. At this moment Paul sang out, +"Indians coming." Margaret went to the cabin, got the musket and pointed +toward the canoes, three in number, and fired. The canoes soon after +disappeared in the direction of the shore. Paul sank back into his +former position, and in a short time all were asleep except the Captain +and the Indian. Nothing unusual occurred during the remainder of the +night, and in the morning, the wind growing stronger, the little ship +made greater headway. The day was a beautiful one, and Paul was as quiet +as usual. He ate nothing. Night again came on, and the breeze holding +through the moon-lit hours, the Captain ran the sloop into Passmaquaddy +early in the morning. +</p> +<p> +As the sun was rising in all his splendour, throwing his brightening +rays over land and water, the little vessel was headed into her port of +destination. As she was running in, Paul, quick as a flash, jumped up, +as though some attendant spirit had suddenly opened to him a vision of +the future. He fixed his eyes intently on the shore. In an instant he +crouched down on the deck with his head and shoulders partly over the +rail. His attitude and manner were those of a wild beast about to spring +upon its prey. The Captain thought Paul saw something strange on the +shore. In a few minutes the Indian sat down again, and for sometime +remained perfectly quiet. The anchor was let go, and the little craft +rested in Passmaquaddy harbour. The Captain ran in for the purpose of +getting some one to pilot the sloop to Halifax, but to his great +disappointment could find no one willing to go. He had neither money nor +goods to offer in payment for the service of a pilot. +</p> +<p> +The day following he set sail for Machias, ten leagues distant, in the +hope of securing some person at that place willing to assist him in the +passage to Halifax. Paul Guidon had consented to go as far as Machias, +and there land and make his way back to the St. John. +</p> +<p> +After leaving Passmaquaddy, Captain Godfrey concluded to put into Head +harbour and try his luck at that place in securing a pilot, but being +unacquainted with the locality he ran the sloop on a ledge of rocks. +However, the tide coming in she floated off unharmed. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i2"> "Flung from the rock, on ocean's foam, to sail</p> +<p class="i2"> Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail."</p> +</div> +</div> +<p> +The wind suddenly veered round and blew off shore quite fresh. The +vessel stood well off during the night, and the Captain hoped to make +the harbour sometime the next morning, but toward daylight a fog began +to settle down fast and thick. Captain Godfrey fully realized the +perilous position of all on board, but having been early trained in +seamanship, he had full confidence in his ability to manage the sloop. +</p> +<p> +In the morning land could not be seen. The fog continued for three days, +during which time (to use the Captain's words) "the situation was dismal +enough, and every moment I was expecting to see the craft drawn on the +rocks and all on board perish." The fourth day the fog was less dense, +and those on board could see for some distance, but the sun was +invisible, and the war of the elements was raging with increasing fury. +In the afternoon the wind had shifted to north-west and increased to a +partial gale. The sloop was running under a bit of mainsail; it seemed +at times as if the following seas would founder the little vessel as +they towered over the low rail. Nothing was to be seen but the wide +expanse of water. Not even a solitary gull. The Captain remarked to his +wife, "It is a curious fact that, excepting the petrels, sea birds keep +near to the land in bad weather." Captain Godfrey feared the night, and +as it came on the wind grew in strength. A terrible sea was running, and +all were fastened below excepting Paul and the Captain. The Indian would +not leave the deck, although more than once he was nearly washed +overboard. At length darkness covered the face of the ocean, and the +wind howled in all its fury. The seas were like mountains, tossing the +sloop about like a cork. Mrs. Godfrey would remain below no longer. She +told her children, who were tumbling like nine-pins about the cabin +floor, not to cry, as she would soon return to them. As she put her head +out of the companion way, the Captain ordered her back. She said, "Where +is Paul?" Her husband answered, "I have called to him time and time +again to get below." She called to Paul, who was holding fast to the +anchor chain with his legs stuck under the windlass. He did not answer. +She started to creep forward. Her husband could not see her. At this +moment the sloop took a dreadful plunge. A heavy sea swept over her from +stern to bow, completely submerging her. The Captain, who had taken the +precaution to lash himself to the deck, in a half-drowned state, held +steadily to the tiller. As soon as possible he called to his wife, but +no answer came back. He called to Paul, and he too was silent. Was she +lost? Had she, in whom all his hopes were placed, been carried into the +sea and for ever lost to him on earth? These thoughts bewildered him +while he was trying to steer his vessel. He dare not leave the helm to +look after his wife and children. He hoped the sea had not broken into +the cabin and drowned all that were left to him on earth. He had often +been called to drink the cup of bitterness, had he been called to drink +it to its dregs? Had his sorrow at last reached its destined depths. He +burst into tears, almost stupified, and calling upon Him who is able to +guide the storm in its course and hush it to a calm; to Him whose +charities have distilled like the dews of Heaven; who had fed the hungry +and clothed the naked; who had opened a way of escape in the wilderness; +to Him he cried for succor. And at last in utter despair he earnestly +prayed for morning or death. Now and again a huge sea would break over +the little ship, but she rode the waves as beautifully as an ocean +liner. Terribly the night wore away. With the dawn of the morning the +gale began to abate. The Captain lashed the tiller and crept to the +companion way. He opened it, went down, found his children, bruised, +bleeding and terrified. He kissed them, feeling they were now dearer +than ever to him. They asked him where their mother was. He came on deck +and shut them in the cabin without replying. As Captain Godfrey crawled +to his position at the helm, he said to himself, my dear children have +escaped the arrow and tomahawk, the flames at Grimross, the thunder, +lightning and tempest, and even yet they are safe. If it were not for my +children I would prefer to sleep here in death rather than live +elsewhere. I would be near my wife to share a part with her in the +resurrection. +</p> +<p> +While the Captain was thus mournfully musing, a faint light began to +creep around the eastern horizon. He was so absorbed in thought and in +watching every movement of the sloop that he did not notice the +increasing light. There were rifts in the dark clouds, and the air was +growing moist. The morning light brought with it rain. The sea gradually +grew less and less troubled, and the little vessel rolled and pitched +more easily. The Captain was suddenly startled from his reverie by the +increasing rays of the rising sun, who was now beginning to show his +golden circle above the horizon. He made fast the tiller and went +forward to see what damage had been done through the night. The jib had +been snugly furled before darkness set in. As he stepped forward of the +mainsail, to his great surprise he saw two human forms wedged in under +the windlass and locked in each other's arms. They were tightly wedged +to their knees, between the windlass and the deck. Mrs. Godfrey's +clothes were torn in shreds. She lay with her head across the Indian's +shoulders, her arms were tightly locked around his neck and flowing +black hair. +</p> +<p> +The Captain had on board the sloop an old axe, which he at once got and +commenced to cut the windlass from its fastenings. A piece of the wood +flew and struck his wife on the leg, he thought he the saw the limb, +which was partially bare, tremble. He then threw his whole strength into +his work, and in a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing one end of +the windlass loosened. He took hold of the unfastened end and with a +sudden jerk wrenched the other end from its socket. He then rubbed his +wife's limb with his open palm, and soon felt it growing warm. In a few +minutes she breathed quickly, and appeared to grasp her swarthy +companion more tightly. She moaned, and then opened her eyes and stared +vacantly at her husband, who almost fainted with joy. He turned his wife +over, and pulled the shreds of clothing towards her feet. He then went +to the cabin and got a bottle containing brandy, presented to him during +his first visit to Passmaquaddy. He poured out a spoonful, and forced it +down his wife's throat. Soon after she spoke, and asked her husband to +raise her up. As he did so she said, "give some brandy to Paul, he +cannot be dead, if I am alive." Paul all this time had never stirred. He +lay like a fallen statue, brown and stiff. Margaret brushed the coarse +black hair from off his face. Captain Godfrey opened the Indian's jaws +and put a spoonful of brandy into his mouth. His muscles began to +quiver, he trembled, he breathed, he moaned, and again relapsed into +perfect quietness. Margaret sat beside Paul while the Captain went to +jibe the mainsail and port the helm. She thrust her hand beneath his +torn shirt and laid it over his heart. She felt its weak pulsations. She +then ran her hand around and over his swarthy skin; she felt it growing +warm. He moaned and moved. She continued the application of her hand, +his eyelids opened, he trembled all over, and looked up at Margaret in a +sort of amazed stare. At length the Indian completely recovered his +senses, and by this time Margaret Godfrey again became exhausted. She +was carried to the dingy little cabin by her husband and her son +Charlie. Paul was so weak that he could not raise himself from the +deck. The Captain moved him a few feet and lashed him to the mast. +Neither Margaret nor the Indian were able to move from their resting +places till late in the afternoon. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey judged the sloop to be well across the Bay of Fundy, and +he determined to make all speed possible for the town of Halifax. The +wind was fair, and all the reefs in the sails were shaken out. For the +next two days the weather was fine and the wind fair, and Margaret and +Paul were regaining their strength. Nothing of an unusual character +occurred on board. Since the jam under the windlass, Paul Guidon +appeared more lively and conversed more freely. About four o'clock in +the afternoon of the second day after the storm, while the Indian was +sitting at the bow of the sloop, a school of porpoises was seen +approaching in as regular order as a company of British soldiers to a +charge. When the fish had approached to within a hundred yard's of the +sloop, the Indian threw up his hands and uttered a most mournful wail, +and staggered backward. Captain Godfrey rushed forward and caught Paul +as he was falling overboard. Both fell athwart the rail and all but into +the sea. +</p> +<p> +The Indian, who had not recovered sufficient strength to endure much +excitement or hardship, was in a high state of feverish bewilderment. +The Captain said: "Paul, what gave you such a fright?" He replied, "that +when he first saw the fish approaching, he thought that they were a lot +of canoes paddled by evil spirits from the dark, dismal hunting grounds +of thieving and murderous Indians, and that they were after him to carry +him away over the great waters to live in misery among them, because he +had left the wigwam and forsaken his mother's grave before two moons +were gone." +</p> +<p> +Early next morning Mrs. Godfrey relieved her husband at the helm; +Charlie assisting her. The Captain went below to rest, asking to be +called if anything out of the ordinary occurred. He had hardly closed +his eyes during the voyage, but fell asleep at his post during the +previous night, when the weather fortunately was fine and the sea quite +peaceful. +</p> +<p> +At about ten o'clock, a.m., Paul sighted something in the distance. He +called to Mrs. Godfrey to look in the direction of his hand, which he +was pointing over the port bow. She could see nothing, but she headed +the sloop in the direction that Paul gave, and in an hour's time had the +satisfaction of seeing what she supposed to be the outline of rocks or +land. She kept the vessel headed in toward what she supposed to be land, +and at three o'clock called her husband on deck. The Captain judged his +vessel to be on the east coast of Nova Scotia. +</p> +<p> +Margaret called her children around her, and asked Paul to sit down with +them. She opened the old service book and read a portion of scripture. +The deck was made an altar of the living God. From the deck fervent +prayer mingled with the voice of the ocean and with the sighing wind +ascended on high. Margaret said to Paul: "You and I were rescued at the +gate of death. When our frail bark was tossing and labouring hard for +life in her lone path over the surging billows and through the blackness +of the night, a kind hand overshadowed us and kept us, and now not one +of the ship's company is lost." +</p> +<p> +Full of bright hope, she turned to her husband and said: "I now am +satisfied we shall safely reach port, and once again we and our dear +ones shall see our native lands. English civilization and English +justice will do rightly by us in our misfortunes. We, who have lost all +our possessions,—in an hour stripped of all that we owned,—and have +been compelled to endure hardships and face death itself in an English +colony, may in confidence look to the old land for succor." +</p> +<p> +The next two days the wind continued favourable, and the little vessel +ran along in sight of the coast. +</p> +<p> +The following day an adverse wind blew and a storm seemed brewing, but +the wind only freshened a bit, and all day the vessel beat about in +sight of land. Paul, who had now sufficiently recovered, appeared to +take a great interest in everything about the sloop; the sun shone +brightly and the clouds were lifted high in the heavens. All around was +perfect peace. +</p> +<p> +The Indian remarked to Captain Godfrey: "This not so good as canoe on +stream, or roaming hunting ground. Wide, big, great sea, would make +splendid hunting ground if only covered with grass and trees." +</p> +<p> +Early the next morning a King's schooner was sighted. The wind shifting, +Captain Godfrey ran the sloop into Petite Passage and anchored. The +King's schooner came to an anchor about the same time—a league distant. +Captain Spry, (Captain and pilot) of the King's schooner, sent a +messenger on board the sloop, who inquired where they had come from and +whither they were bound. After the messenger had returned to the King's +schooner, Lieutenant Knight of the Royal Navy, commander of the +schooner, sent a boat to the sloop with three men to assist Captain +Godfrey to Halifax, also some tea, chocolate, coffee, sugar, wine and +rum, bread, pork and flour. Captain Spry took the sloop under convoy. +The vessels put into several harbours; and the night before they arrived +at Halifax Captain Spry's schooner was lost sight of in a thick fog. The +fog lifted during the night, when they were able to see Halifax lights, +but on entering the harbour the sloop ran foul of a ledge of rocks +called "Two Sisters." The sea was running very high. Destruction seemed +on every hand. Fortunately a passage was perceived between the rocks. At +last they succeeded in getting through the passage, and came to anchor +before morning opposite the town of Halifax. Captain Godfrey and his +wife, after a long and eventful passage from Fort Frederick, found +themselves once again at Halifax, worn out and almost disheartened. The +new men on board the sloop appeared to admire Paul Guidon, and Paul took +kindly to them. +</p> +<p> +Shortly after their arrival at Halifax Captain Godfrey admitted to +Lieutenant Knight, that during the terrible storm in the mouth of the +Bay of Fundy, he expected every moment to see the sloop founder and all +on board perish in the ocean. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0005" id="h2HCH0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER V. +</h2> +<h3> + CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL.—YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. +</h3> +<p> +Shortly after the arrival of the sloop at Halifax, Capt. Godfrey waited +on Lord William Campbell, at that time (the summer of 1771) Governor of +the Provinces. +</p> +<p> +His Lordship received him in the most cordial and gentlemanly manner, +and remarked that he would be pleased to order an investigation into his +case and have the Indians who committed the outrage ordered down from +the St. John river. +</p> +<p> +On September 2nd, 1771, a council met and an investigation took place. +Letters and affidavits were produced, sworn to before Plato Denny and +William Isherwood, Justices of the Peace for Campo Bello, where Lewis +LeBlond, a Canadian, made oath, that he was told by Lewis Neptune, an +Indian, that Captain Godfrey was to be burned out by Chief Pére Thomas' +orders, and that other Indians of the St. John tribe were to perform the +deed. +</p> +<p> +An affidavit was made by Gervase Say, an inhabitant of Gage township, +sworn to before Francis Peabody, Justice of the Peace, in which it was +stated that John Baptiste Caltpate, an Indian of the St. John tribe, had +declared to him that Francis DeFalt, an Indian belonging to Pére +Thomas' tribe, set fire to Captain Godfrey's house and store at +Grimross. +</p> +<p> +A schedule of the Captain's losses, attested before one of His Majesty's +Justices of the Peace at Halifax, was also laid before the council. The +reader will not be troubled with the items, suffice it to say the +losses, including lands, amounted to seven thousand four hundred and +sixty-two pounds. +</p> +<p> +His Excellency, finding that Captain Godfrey had acted conformably to +the rules and regulations of the Province, returned to him his bond that +he had given the government for carrying on a legitimate trade with the +Indians. +</p> +<p> +He was also satisfied that the Captain's losses were on account of the +action of the savages, and being fully convinced of the great hardships +and privations the Captain and his distressed wife and family had +undergone, he was pleased to give him an honourable clearance out of the +province, according to the regulations of said province, and also to +recommend him to the protection of the Right Honourable the Earl of +Hillsborough, at that time first Lord of Trade and Plantations for +public relief. The Governor had it not in his power to grant Captain +Godfrey any suitable gratuity for the great loss he had sustained. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + COPY OF LORD CAMPBELL'S LETTER TO LORD HILLSBOROUGH. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + HALIFAX, October 9th, 1771. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>My Lord</i>: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The gentleman who will deliver this to you was lately a Captain in the + 52nd Regiment of foot, and came out to this province in August, 1769, + with his wife and a large family, to settle on some lands on river St. + John, which he had purchased before he left Europe, with a view of + carrying on trade with the Indians. I have frequent complaints of those + Indians since Fort Frederick, situate on the entrance of the St. John + river, has been dismantled, and the garrison, which consisted of an + officer's command, reduced to a corporal and four. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + The Fort, when properly garrisoned, kept the Indians of that district in + pretty good order, but not so effectively by situation as it would if it + had been constructed higher up the river, and as now the fort is + entirely dismantled, I beg leave to offer to your Lordship's + consideration whether a strong Block House, properly garrisoned, might + not prove a proper check upon the insolence of the savages, at the same + time it would afford a secure protection to a very increasing settlement + on the banks of the river St. John, a situation abounding with most + excellent soil, which produces the most valuable timber of all sorts in + the province. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + These are considerations which I beg your Lordship will please to submit + to His Majesty's advisers. The unhappy state of <i>Mr. Godfrey's</i> + misfortunes will, I am persuaded, speak everything in his favour with + your Lordship, which his past services or present suffering can entitle + him to. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I have the honour to be,<br /> + Yours, &c., &c., +</p> +<p class="quote"> + WM. CAMPBELL.<br /> + <i>The Earl of Hillsborough</i>. +</p> +<p> +After remaining at Halifax for five months, an opportunity offered for +Captain Godfrey to leave for England. He sailed with his wife and family +in the brigantine "Adamante," William Macniel, master, on the twentieth +day of December, 1771. Paul Guidon remained at Halifax about six weeks +after he had arrived with the Godfreys. While at Halifax he was much +admired by the officers of the army, and those of the navy paid him +even greater attentions. Margaret had circulated the report that the +Indian was of the Iroquois tribe, and as brave a man as ever drew a bow. +He wanted for nothing. He was dined and wined by the citizens generally. +</p> +<p> +The Governor took a deep interest in him, and secured a vast amount of +information from him respecting the character and movements of the +Indians on the St. John. One of the officers of the navy presented him +with a complete suit of navy-blue clothes, and an officer of the +garrison fitted him out with a second-hand undress military suit. +</p> +<p> +In his blue suit his appearance was most commanding. It suited his +complexion to a charm. He was straight as an arrow, and looked as +graceful as an elm. His frame was wiry; his limbs long and straight. He +would bound over the rails of the ships like a deer. His step was long, +quick and elastic, and he would run like a greyhound. His long black +hair, reaching down to his slender waist, seemed to make his broad +square shoulders doubly broad as it hung over his blue coat. But the +Indian, while he appeared to enjoy his new mode of life, was not always +happy or at ease. A sudden expression of sadness would often flit across +his features. He would roam for hours all alone in the woods. He often +longed for his canoe, which was washed overboard in the mouth of the Bay +of Fundy. He would often inquire of Captain Godfrey when he would get +back to his home on the St. John. +</p> +<p> +The time at last arrived when Paul Guidon was to depart. The King's +schooner was soon to sail for Passmaquaddy. Captain Godfrey, his wife +and children went on board the schooner to bid Paul farewell. They found +it hard to do so, especially Mrs. Godfrey. Paul Guidon had no idea that +he was to be separated from the family he loved. He thought they were +going to return to the St. John soon again. +</p> +<p> +As the Godfreys left the side of the King's schooner to return to the +shore, the "Young Lion of the Woods," (for such was the name given to +the Iroquois by the naval officers at Halifax) would not let go of Mrs. +Godfrey's hand. He gently pulled her back and said, "I may never see you +again, I want to speak to you alone." They went into the cabin, and +there the Indian poured out the agonies of his soul. He spoke to +Margaret as follows (the words are given as he spoke them): "You 'member +evening Fort Frederick when pale face man 'way, me, Paul, saved your +life and children too? when Indians threw tomahawk, and fired arrows at +you? when you come out Fort, and one arrow struck you in arm?" Mrs. +Godfrey replied: "Paul, the mark of that arrow I shall carry with me to +the grave." The Indian continued: "You and children been all dead now +and buried near old Fort if Paul not been there; when you come out Fort, +after Indians threat to burn Fort and all up, me saw you like spirit +from some other land; you looked pale, and stood brave; you mind me put +hand up and told Indians stand back. Pale face and looked so brave, +saved life and in boat too. All squaws in woods none like you." Paul +then relapsed into silence, and his head dropped forward. He firmly held +Margaret Godfrey's hand all the time he was repeating the event at the +Fort, and her small white hand was frequently wet with tears as they +rolled off the swarthy face of the Indian. +</p> +<p> +At last she said: "Paul, I can stay here no longer, they are waiting to +take me to the shore. You have been a good friend to us all; without +your assistance I might never have been here to bid you good-bye. May +the great good Spirit bless and help you on the big, broad waters and in +the lonely woods. You, Paul, ask him to guide you. I shall always ask +the Great Spirit to look after you, and, if it be the Great Chief's +will, I may come back to see you again." A smile played over his face as +she uttered the last words, and he brushed the tears from her pale hand +with his long flowing hair. She asked him for a lock of his hair; he cut +off a piece and handed it to her. She then went to the boat, but the +Indian did not leave the cabin. +</p> +<p> +Margaret was so completely overcome with emotion that she laid her head +on her husband's shoulder and quietly wept, as they were being rowed to +the shore. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey knew that his wife admired the Indian for his courage +and honour, but was entirely ignorant of those warmer feelings that Paul +expressed for Mrs. Godfrey during his leave-taking. +</p> +<p> +The Godfreys remained at Halifax four months after Paul Guidon had +sailed, and Margaret never ceased to praise the actions of the noble red +man. Yet, it may be after all, that the husband and children owed their +lives, as much to the good sense, brave spirit, firmness and steadiness +in the face of danger, of the wife and mother, as to the action of the +noble Iroquois. Yet again had not Paul appeared on the scene at <a href="#note-3" name="noteref-3" id="noteref-3"><small>3</small></a>Fort +Frederick and at the taking of the boat, all the splendid traits of +character possessed by Margaret might have availed little in defeating +the purposes of the other Indians. +</p> +<p> +Noble bearing and grand courage in the case of Mrs. Godfrey, it would +appear, touched the tenderest chords of the Iroquois' heart, and brought +to the surface his better nature. Naturally, some human beings are +better than others. Such seem born to exert a power and cast a healthy +influence all about them. Doubtless Margaret was one of this class. Her +early training, her immortal hope, her strong belief in the spread of +everlasting truth, and in prayer and God, had much to do in steadying +and solidifying her character. +</p> +<p> +We may all profit by her example, if we seek to incorporate the +principles of the Christian religion into our every day actions and +life, in the full conviction that it is the happiest life, the soundest +life, the bravest life, that partakes of the mild and peaceful spirit of +Christianity. Something more than ordinary courage in the presence of +yelling savages and flights of arrows is necessary to support a delicate +woman single handed and alone; this something Margaret Godfrey +possessed, and, possibly, the penetrating eye of the Iroquois detected +it in her every feature and movement. +</p> +<p> +The King's schooner arrived at Passmaquaddy in due time, and Paul took +his departure for his native woods. He sent word hack by the captain of +the schooner to Margaret Godfrey that he would watch for her spirit some +evening when he sat by his mother's grave. He felt sure he would see +her there. +</p> +<p> +In the next chapter Captain Godfrey and family will be followed across +the ocean, and Paul Guidon will be allowed to remain in his native +woods, to fish, to shoot, and occasionally to sit beside Old Mag's grave +and commune with her immortal spirit. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0006" id="h2HCH0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VI. +</h2> +<h3> + IN ENGLAND.—THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS. +</h3> +<p> +The "Adamante" arrived in England after a rough and stormy passage of +forty-eight days. Captain Godfrey and family suffered severe hardships +on the run over the Western Ocean. Owing to his exhausted funds, Captain +G. was unable to provide his family the conveniences and comforts which +would have rendered the voyage home more agreeable than under the +circumstances it proved itself to be. As it was they suffered severely. +They had no bedding, and found their beaver skins a great luxury to +sleep on. The few pounds that the sale of the sloop brought him were all +expended during his long stay at Halifax while he was waiting for an +opportunity to sail for England. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey was as high spirited as she was brave, and would not +condescend to seek assistance from their friends in Halifax. If +assistance was not gratuitously bestowed, she was the last woman in the +world to beg. The family were well cared for while in the capital of the +province (or to put it in Mrs. Godfrey's words) "as well as people +generally are who have honestly lost their all. Our real wants were not +known to the middle and lower classes, and that other class was not +heartily concerned about our future. Governor Campbell, all honor to his +name, secured and paid our passages." +</p> +<p> +The cabin of the "Adamante" was below deck, it was dark, dingy and +dirty. The bows of the vessel resembled the side of a tub, and the stern +the end of a puncheon cut through the centre lengthways. A passage +across the stormy ocean in the "Adamante" in the winter of 1771-2, in +comparison to one in an ocean greyhound of 1889, would be much the same +as the difference between a ride in an ox-cart and one in a palace car, +both for comfort and speed. +</p> +<p> +A terrific storm was experienced off the west coast of Ireland, in which +the foretopgallant mast and jibboom were carried away. The water-casks +and caboose were washed overboard, and the cook carried into the forward +shrouds feet foremost, where he hung like a fish in a net. With this +exception, no accident occurred during the passage. +</p> +<p> +Shortly after Captain Godfrey arrived in London, he called on the Earl +of Hillsborough and made known to that gentleman his great misfortune, +and also delivered to His Lordship the letter of recommendation which +Lord William Campbell had been pleased to give him. After the Earl of +Hillsborough had carefully perused the letter and examined into Captain +Godfrey's affairs, His Lordship was most generously pleased to present +him with twenty guineas out of his private purse for present relief, +until His Lordship could more essentially serve him. +</p> +<p> +Not long afterward Captain Godfrey's case was laid before the Right +Honourable the Lords of Trade. The Earl of Hillsborough was again +pleased to grant him fifty guineas from his private purse for a +temporary support, with the assurance of providing for his further +support till his case was settled. +</p> +<p> +Upon Lord Hillsborough's resignation as first Lord of Trade and +Plantations, his Lordship was pleased to recommend Captain Godfrey's +case to the Earl of Dartmouth, who succeeded His Lordship in office. +</p> +<p> +The case, with all the original papers and certificates, was laid before +the Earl of Dartmouth and the Right Honorable the Lords of Trade and +Plantations. A commission was appointed by Parliament and several Lords +sat on it, but nothing definite was arranged. Captain Godfrey remained +for the greater part of the time in England and sometimes in Ireland, +all the time seeking relief from Lords many until the year 1773. All +this time he was in great difficulty and distress through his losses in +the Colony. Fortunately for himself and his family, he was left a legacy +in 1773 amounting to a considerable sum, which enabled him a second time +to try his luck in Nova Scotia. He expended a large sum of money in +purchasing goods suitable for the colonial trade, and embarked with the +goods and his wife and family in 1774, and once again settled on his +estate at Grimross. +</p> +<p> +His former misfortune did not discourage him; he was full of hope for +the future. He left his case in the hands of his fellow-countrymen. What +a pity he did not induce some of these English Lords to accompany him +and spend a winter with him in the wilds of Nova Scotia. It is quite +possible had he been able to prevail upon them to do so, that they would +have returned home in the early spring and strongly advised the Lords of +Trade and Plantations to at once settle the case of Captain Godfrey by +reimbursing him for his losses. +</p> +<p> +The boast of England is her colonies, yet the statesmen of Britain at +that time knew little, and, in all probability, cared less, about the +hardships, dangers and perils which their countrymen were enduring while +laying the foundations of a Greater Britain. +</p> +<p> +The great bulk of the early colonists were thoroughly British, and +Captain Godfrey was no exception. They suffered what most early +colonists suffer, but they suffered without murmuring, because they were +Englishmen in an English colony. They possessed a sort of blind loyalty +and a sincere patriotism toward their King and old England. Their spirit +is ours, and a century or more has been forming and moulding it into a +purely Canadian patriotism, while the wisdom displayed for fifty years +by the best ruler that ever sat upon the British throne, has +strengthened the attachment British North Americans have had for English +institutions and induced them to cling strongly to them, though the +circumstances of a new country have required a modification in the forms +of those institutions. +</p> +<p> +Queen Victoria's good sense, excellent judgment, and consequently wise +rule, have made the people of every portion of the Colonial Empire feel +that they have an interest in the Mother land. +</p> +<p> +Long may she reign; and God grant that the American Republic may never +be allowed to extend its institutions to our Dominion, and overthrow the +foundations laid by our ancestry and on which we are building. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0007" id="h2HCH0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VII. +</h2> +<h3> + ARRIVAL AND RETREAT. +</h3> +<p> +In the month of September, 1774, Captain Godfrey, after an absence of +three years, arrived and settled for the second time on the estate at +Grimross Neck. He lost no time in preparing to once again try his luck +in trading with the Indians and settlers. He erected and finished a +house and store, and before winter set in everything was made ready to +receive his wife and family, who arrived in the latter part of November. +</p> +<p> +He commenced trading again buoyant with the hope of retrieving his +losses, and for a short time he carried on a profitable business. The +Indians were comparatively quiet, and he and his family enjoyed a season +of peace. Uprightness stamped all the Captain's dealings. He remarked to +a friend, that he had again attempted to do business in the colony, and +said he: "with the spirit of a true British soldier, I mean to do or die +in the attempt, and my dealings with both the white and red man shall be +guided by the dictates of an honest conscience. I hope I shall succeed." +He felt almost certain that the dark plots and devilish crimes of the +Indians would never have occurred had Paul Guidon been near him. He +would often say to his wife: "I wonder where Paul has gone?" Since his +arrival at Grimross he often made enquiries as to Paul's whereabouts, +but none of the tribe on the St. John appeared to know where he was. Six +months had elapsed since his arrival and yet he had received no tidings +of the brave Iroquois. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey, true to the promise she had made to Paul on board the +King's schooner in Halifax harbour, never revealed to her husband the +Indian's feelings of regard toward her. Like a wise woman, she +considered it better to let the matter forever rest. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey presented Paul with the two muskets previous to the +Indian leaving Halifax for Passmaquaddy. Paul named one "Old Mag" and +the other "Chief Mag," cutting as he did so an arrow mark in the butt of +the latter, and saying "this one my Chief." The Captain told his wife of +the circumstance, and she laughingly remarked that it was a custom among +the Indians to name trinkets and presents after the persons who had +given them. She believed as Paul had seen her first at Fort Frederick, +her name was probably first in his thoughts when accepting the muskets. +</p> +<p> +One night, in the month of March, 1775, Captain Godfrey and his wife +were aroused from their slumbers by a loud and continued knocking at the +house door. The night was very dark. The Captain got up, dressed +himself, and called his eldest son, (Charlie) a lad of sixteen. They +together went to the door, asked who was there, and what was wanted. The +answer came ringing back, Paul Guidon. The Captain called his wife, as +he did not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She came and said, "Is +that you, Paul?" "Me, real Paul, and got Chief Mag with me," was the +answer. Margaret could not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She said +to her husband, "it sounds more like the voice of a British officer than +that of an Indian." She lit a candle, and said, "Paul, do you know me?" +"Yes, yes," he replied; "arrow mark on arm, and almost dead with you +under windlass in sloop, great storm, lost canoe." She opened the door, +and in stepped Paul Guidon, dressed in the military uniform presented to +him at Halifax, or a similar one, and in his hand a musket. A fire was +made, and Paul was so pleased to once again see his old friends that he +could not sit quiet. He walked up and down the kitchen with a quick +nervous tread, looking like a hero from some field of victory. Margaret +burst out in exclamation, "So it is really you, Paul; you who +accompanied us in our trials, and watched over us in our dangers, and +who, side by side with me, lay on the verge of eternity, while the +roaring of the ocean and the howling of the storm passed along unheeded +by us both." There before them was the brave Chief, (the "Young Lion of +the Woods,") who a few years before, at Fort Frederick, was subdued by +the presence of Margaret Godfrey, where her exhibition of unexampled +fortitude took a deep hold of the very being of the Iroquois and turned +him from an enemy to a friend. +</p> +<p> +The Indian remained with the Godfreys for a few days, amusing himself +with shooting and assisting in a general the premises. Trouble occurring +among the tribe of which Paul was a sub-chief, he was sent for to +return to the tribe, and at a great war council he was elected Chief in +Thomas' place. +</p> +<p> +About this time the colonists in New England were beginning to show +signs of dissatisfaction with the Mother land, and some Americans living +along the St. John river were showing signs of discontent, and becoming +agitated over matters in New England. The American sympathisers did all +they could to stir the Indians along the river to revolt. +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon did all in his power to soothe their savage breasts, and +soon after returned to Grimross Neck. In a short time the rebellion +broke out, and affairs in New England were fast assuming a most serious +aspect. The rebels in the vicinity of Grimross were fully aware of +Captain Godfrey's firm attachment to the cause of King George the Third. +At length they approached him and tried hard to persuade him to enter +the service of the dissatisfied colonists. The cross-eyed, monkey-faced +character alluded to in a former chapter, was their chief spokesman on +this occasion, and instead of stuttering, as on a former visit, his +words flowed forth as freely and as fast as the waters of a mill-race. +It may be that similar specimens of humanity exist in every age, whose +folly and wickedness seem to be perpetual. Will such characters ever +learn to live and be content under the old flag of their fathers, or +will they be content to live on despised by their countrymen? Should +such seditious spirits ever receive mention from the historian, it must +be anything but a flattering one, and must cause the blush to mantle +upon the cheek of any worthy descendant. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey was offered by the rebels the command of a party of men +to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, besides which further +inducements of preferment and advancement were held out to him. But +nothing the rebels could offer was able to shake his allegiance to King +George the Third. His former losses, his present situation, the safety +of his wife and family, his treatment by the Board of Trade and +Plantations, were all to him of less importance than his duty to his +sovereign. Unshaken and unmoved he replied to the traitors, "I am as +zealous as ever I was in my life for the cause of my King and my +country." +</p> +<p> +The rebels finding the Captain firm in his determination not to forsake +his King, approached Margaret Godfrey. She was protected not only by her +good sense and thorough good judgment, her sterling honour and decided +character, but also by the highest convictions of duty. In answer to +them she replied, "My husband has given you his answer and in it he has +also given you mine. You will oblige by at once leaving the premises." +They made a hasty exit from her presence, and did not return for some +weeks. +</p> +<p> +A day or two after the rebels had left Grimross, Paul Guidon related to +Mrs. Godfrey his life and wanderings after his arrival at Passmaquaddy +from Halifax in 1771. "He found his way from Passmaquaddy to Grimross +Neck, carrying the two muskets with him, and also a knapsack filled with +powder, shot and bullets, given to him by the Captain of the King's +schooner." +</p> +<p> +"He then went to where the tribe was living and remained some weeks, +being very tired and weary. Pére Thoma, taking a great fancy to his red +jacket, offered to canoe him down the river to his old camping ground if +he would give him the coveted garment on their return. Paul consented to +do so. One fine morning they started from Grimross Neck and paddled all +day down the river, occasionally resting on the banks of the stream. It +came into his (Paul's) head, on the way down that Pére Thoma was the +cause of the Godfreys' misfortunes, and he suddenly felt that the spirit +of "Old Mag" (his mother) called upon him to kill Thoma. The burning of +the house, the escape of his mother from the flames, the driving away of +the English people, the great storm on the bay, his first sight of the +pale-faced woman at Fort Frederick, the parting with her at Halifax, all +these events recurred to his mind in an instant and went like a flash +through his brain. His head seemed to dance like the canoe on the water, +then the canoe appeared to whirl round and round. He got so dizzy he +could scarcely see, and was afraid that he would fall overboard. He felt +something touch him on the shoulder like a dip from the wing of a bird. +He had his musket in the canoe, it was loaded. He suddenly pulled in the +paddle and then grasped the musket. It was "Chief Mag," and he pointed +it at Thoma who was sitting in the stern of the canoe. He fired and +Thoma rolled overboard and sank. Paddling on he arrived at his old +camping ground near the mouth of the river. The wigwam was still +standing but very much out of order, he sat in it till daylight and then +visited his mother's grave. After returning to the camp as he felt sad +and faint, he took his musket and wandered off in search of game. He +spent the remainder of the day near the resting place of "Old Mag," at +night he went to the camp and there slept. In the morning he got into +the canoe and paddled off up the river, arriving at Grimross he went on +shore and started at once by trail for Quebec, where after two moons he +arrived carrying Chief Mag with him. Here he was much in request by the +military, who detained him for three winters accompanying them on their +hunting excursions. During the latter part of the last winter, while +shooting with some officers on the borders of Acadia and Quebec, he met +an old Indian by the name of Joe Paul moving West with his family. From +him he learned that the pale-faced people were again living and trading +at Grimross. Paul told the officers that he must go back to the St. +John. They were not inclined to release him, until he had accompanied +them back to Quebec. Yielding to their entreaties he returned with them, +remaining a few days. Just before he left Quebec, there was a great stir +among the military. It was rumoured that war was impending, and the +officers tried hard to persuade him to remain and share with them the +fortunes of war, if they should be ordered to take part in the fighting. +He said he could not stay, but promised the officers, as he put on a new +red jacket they had given him, that he would never fight against the +British soldiers. As Paul came to this part of his narration he looked +straight at Margaret Godfrey and continued, (it is given in his own +words) "all Paul want to make him British soldier be pale face and +little hair." +</p> +<p> +In a few days the Iroquois went out again to visit his tribe. Desiring +to revisit his mother's grave he required some one to assist him down +the river. He selected as his companion Francis DeFalt who appeared +willing to accompany him. On the way down he found out from DeFalt, that +he was one of the Indians who by Thoma's commands set fire to the +Englishman's house and store. DeFalt bragged about what he had done and +said his only sorrow was, that all the white devils were not burned up +with the house. +</p> +<p> +As DeFalt was speaking, the Iroquois blood began to stir quickly. As +soon as darkness was closing down over the face of the river Paul +meditated on revenge. He seized Chief Mag, which he always took with +him, and fired it at DeFalt, who turning a complete somerset over the +bow of the canoe into the river, was seen no more. Paul drifted down +stream a few miles, paddled to the shore, hauled the canoe upon dry +land, turned it over and slept under it during the night, feeling +satisfied that he had avenged the insult to the pale-faces. Paul +remained about the old camping ground for three weeks, when he again +returned to Grimross. The Iroquois was never suspected as the cause of +Thoma's disappearance, the canoe was afterwards found, bottom up, in the +river, and he was supposed to have been drowned. +</p> +<p> +On Paul's return to his tribe, he told the Indians that DeFalt had +become acquainted with a pretty young squaw named Charlotte Toney, and +had gone over to Fort Cumberland to spend a few months with the Toney +family, who were moving over there to settle during the coming winter, +and that DeFalt would likely be married before his return. The Iroquois +shortly after this returned to Grimross to spend a few days with his +pale-faced friends. He told Margaret that some of the tribe were greatly +agitated. The American sympathisers had seduced them by making great +promises and by holding up to them a grand future. Paul said to Captain +Godfrey, "you may all be murdered if you stay at Grimross; some bad +white men now among Indians." Margaret did not care to advise her +husband to leave, although she had learnt enough from Paul to convince +her that great danger was all about them. +</p> +<p> +The Iroquois had proposed to Margaret to escape with her children to +Fort Frederick, saying that he would take them down the river in +DeFalt's canoe, which he had kept at Grimross. He said to her, "I will +never leave you in times of trouble and will lose my life to save +yours." She would not consent to leave her husband, although he strongly +advised her to go, if she thought their lives in danger. +</p> +<p> +At length the Rebels and Red men grew furious. They arrived at Grimross +early one morning, while Paul was out among the tribe trying to keep +them quiet, and surrounding the house and store of Captain Godfrey they +demanded his surrender. The yells and whoops of the Indians were +terrific, demons from the depths of perdition could not have made a more +frightful noise. The children were terrified; the youngest fainted with +fright. At this crisis Margaret Godfrey calmly walked to the door while +her husband and son Charlie stood a few paces in her rear. She opened +the door, and as she did so in rushed the demons, led by the cross-eyed, +monkey-faced rebel. One of the Indians by name Pete Gomez, took hold of +Margaret and forced her to the floor, Charlie took up a stick of wood +and knocked Gomez senseless. At this moment Paul Guidon returned, +Horatio Keys, one of the rebels, had seized Captain Godfrey by the +throat and was holding him tightly against the wall, Margaret clinched +the rolling-pin and in an instant sent Keys staggering to the floor. The +squinting monkey-faced rebel's name was Will, and Will by force pushed +Margaret to the floor, and was dragging her by the hand toward the door, +as Paul stepped in. Paul struck him with his fist, and like lightning +placed both his feet against the rebel's breast, almost knocking the +life out of him. Jim Wade, Sam Scarp, and Mark Paul, three Indians, +rushed in after Paul, who turned and struck Wade a terrific blow on the +neck, knocking him out. The Captain, Charlie, Paul and Margaret went for +the other two in lively style and soon laid them low. The remaining +rebels and Indians beat a hasty retreat to the woods. The insolent +invaders who had got so deservedly well punished at the hands of the +Godfrey household were pitched out of the house, and when they had +sufficiently recovered they also made for the woods. During the tumult +the four smaller children were fastened in the bedroom and their screams +were terrible. The night after the assault was a dismal and anxious one +at Grimross. The children trembled and sobbed during the entire hours of +darkness. The morning at length dawned, and with its dawning Margaret +Godfrey's soul went out for counsel and guidance to Him, who in all +their perils, in the darkest moments of their lives, had never forsaken +them. +</p> +<p> +She said to Paul Guidon, "the rebels may kill my husband, my children +and myself, but from this hour their threats shall not intimidate me +from acting as a British subject should act in a British Colony. I shall +do my duty, for under God I am determined whenever and however we +attempt to make our escape, if I have to die I shall die free and not as +a slave or traitor." The Indian who had attentively listened to +Margaret's words promised to stand by her. +</p> +<p> +"Paul Guidon," she continued, "there remains to us a great duty to be +performed. I am fully convinced there will be a way of escape opened to +us, but we must seek it first. Cannot we escape to Fort Frederick? Is +the canoe safe to convey the whole of us and what stuff we may require?" +To which the Iroquois replied, "If water smooth no trouble, trouble may +be Indians 'long river bank, I go up Neck and bring down canoe." This +latter he quickly did, hauling it on shore and hiding it among some +bushes. +</p> +<p> +In a few days three of the rebels, armed with pistols, again came to the +shop of Captain Godfrey, and sternly demanded of him all his goods and +chattels, to be held by them in trust, and to be restored to him at the +close of the American rebellion, on condition that he joined General +Washington. His refusal of these conditions was, by the decree of the +war committee, to be punished with death. This committee had a number of +armed men as the instruments by which they enforced their decrees. The +three envoys gave the Captain one hour to consider their proposal. +</p> +<p> +At the expiration of the hour Margaret Godfrey and her husband came into +the room where the rebels were seated. Margaret asked them how her +husband and family should be able to join General Washington; "Would +they not be arrested as spies or enemies of the New England colonists if +they attempted to pass over among them?" +</p> +<p> +One of the rebels answered her, "If you will go and join General +Washington, we will give you a pass into New England, and as soon as we +can consult with the war committee we will bring or send you the +passport." +</p> +<p> +Margaret trembled lest her husband would suddenly object to the +proceeding, as nothing definite had been arranged during their hour of +debating the situation, only that they must escape if possible. She was +well aware of her husband's sterling loyalty. She caught his eye and +nodded to him to assent to the proposition of the rebels. +</p> +<p> +He did so. The rebels left, promising the pass the next day, and that in +twenty-four hours after receiving it, a guard would be ready to escort +them on their way to New England. It being late in the afternoon the +rebels then left. At noon the following day a messenger arrived with the +passport, and also an order to be ready to proceed toward New England on +the following day. The permit or passport read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> +Permit the bearer, Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * Esqr., +to pass from river St John in Nova Scotia with his family +to any part of New England. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +Maugerville, ye 8 July, 1776. } By order of the Committee, JACOB BARKERLY, _Chairman_. +</p> +<p> +After a few words of conversation with the Captain and his wife, the +messenger took his departure. No time was lost in preparing to escape. +Mrs. Godfrey was determined to have everything in the canoe before +daylight next morning. The night fortunately was fine, and if all went +well they would be well on their way to Fort Frederick before Jacob +Barkerly or any of the rebels were aware of their departure. Accordingly +the night was a busy one getting ready and transferring bundles of stuff +to the canoe, which was some distance off. At early dawn all were in +readiness, and the last to leave the homestead at Grimross were Margaret +and Paul, who had returned from the shore for a box containing the +Captain's private papers, which had been overlooked in the hurry. A few +minutes before four o'clock the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey arrived at the +canoe with the box.<a href="#note-4" name="noteref-4" id="noteref-4"><small>4</small></a> +</p> +<p> +The morning was a lovely one, and Margaret Godfrey was the most hopeful +and cheerful of the little band of fugitives who were preparing to step +into the canoe. Her every act and word seemed void of fear. Defeat and +disaster with her were but spurs to further effort. She possessed that +fortitude of soul that bears the severest trials without complaint. A +few minutes after four o'clock they pushed off from the shore, the water +was quite calm, but the progress was slow as the canoe was deeply laden, +and Paul Guidon had to be very cautious in its management. Not an Indian +was seen on the shore. The next day they arrived at Paul's old camping +ground, and after resting there a few hours they started for Fort +Frederick, a short distance below. Here fortune seemed to smile upon +them. A small schooner lay at anchor immediately below the fort. +Margaret and her husband lost no time in going on board. The Captain of +the schooner said that his vessel would sail for Port Royal, if there +were sufficient wind, early the next day. He agreed to take the whole +Godfrey family over with them. Paul seemed bound to accompany them, and +it pleased Margaret, when she found out that he was anxious to go with +them, as she feared he would be murdered if caught by the rebels. Toward +evening they all embarked on board the schooner, Paul having got +permission from the Captain of the vessel to take his canoe on board, +he, assisted by Charlie, embarked it also. +</p> +<p> +In the morning there being a fair wind sail was set, and next day all on +board were safely landed at Annapolis. Fortune once more favoured the +Godfrey family, at Annapolis Royal there they found a British sloop of +war. Margaret got Paul to take her and her husband in his canoe to the +ship. They were received on board by the Captain in the most cordial +manner, who said they had arrived in good time, as he intended to sail +in a day or two. In a short time Captain Godfrey and his wife returned +to the shore, having completed arrangements with the Captain of the ship +for a passage to Halifax. +</p> +<p> +In a day or two the Godfrey family, accompanied by the Indian, sailed in +the British sloop-of-war <i>Viper</i>, commanded by Captain Greaves. +</p> +<p> +Four days later the <i>Viper</i> arrived in Halifax harbour, and previous to +the Godfreys disembarking, Mrs. Godfrey requested permission of Captain +Greaves to address a few words of farewell to the ship's company. Her +request being granted and all hands ordered on deck, Mrs. G., in +appropriate terms and in a modest, yet dignified manner, spoke words of +counsel to the company, concluding her short exhortation in these words: +"And to the Captain of my salvation I commend you all." +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0008" id="h2HCH0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER VIII. +</h2> +<h3> + REBEL PLANS—PRAYING THE LORDS. +</h3> +<p> +Before Captain Godfrey sailed with his family from Halifax for England, +he waited on Governor Arbuthnot and General Massie<a href="#note-5" name="noteref-5" id="noteref-5"><small>5</small></a> and informed them +of the rebels intentions, and gave them a history of his sad experience +on the St. John. +</p> +<p> +He told them that he had been offered by the rebels the command of a +party of men to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, and if they +(the rebels) should be successful, they were to be reinforced, and at +once proceed to Halifax, set fire to the town, and sack it. +</p> +<p> +In their proceedings the rebels, who were in constant communication with +the New Englanders, and who were instructed by them, were talking of +forming this plan in order if possible to keep General Howe's army from +being largely reinforced. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey, though very weak and ill, offered his service to +General Massie, if the latter would arm two schooners and put on board +of each of them one hundred regulars besides a crew of twenty-five men. +He proposed to proceed to Fort Cumberland and secure the place in case +an attack was made. His offer was declined. He then bid adieu to Halifax +and sailed for England, where he and his family arrived on January the +8th, 1777. +</p> +<p> +He lost no time in applying to Lords North and Germain, who after proper +examination found his claims for losses in the colony well founded; and +were generously pleased to order him the annual sum of one hundred and +fifty pounds for the temporary support of his family. This sum was +afterward reduced to one hundred and twenty pounds, and finally +altogether withdrawn. +</p> +<p> +He then put his distressed condition before the government, and his case +was again tossed about from Lord to Lord, and from board to board, and +finally brought up again before the Lords of Parliament, and from it was +sent back to the Lords of Plantations and Trade. From thence to the +Lords of commission for services and losses in America, and the Lord +only knows where else it was sent, until it was sent out to Nova Scotia +in 1784. +</p> +<p> +Thirteen years had elapsed since the Captain experienced his first +misfortune in Nova Scotia, and more than seven years had elapsed since +his second loss, then his case was sent out to Nova Scotia. +</p> +<p> +During all this long time he had exercised the greatest patience, and +his loyalty to his King (George the Third) was never for a moment +shaken. +</p> +<p> +He had lost in lands and goods about twelve thousand pounds sterling by +settling in a British Colony where Indians and rebels destroyed his +prospects, and yet he had received no redress for the hardships he and +his family had endured, and the great wrongs inflicted upon them. His +wife and children were allowed to remain in an almost destitute +condition by the King and his advisers. Financially, Captain Godfrey +could have been in no worse condition had he joined General Washington. +But there was no power on earth that could induce the Captain to turn +his back upon his King and his country. +</p> +<p> +He, with the assistance of his heroic wife, had done all in their power +to rouse the whole mind and heart of their fellow countrymen in office +to a satisfactory settlement of their just claims, but all they had done +seemed useless, and they knew not what more to do. +</p> +<p> +After the close of the American war Captain Godfrey once more thought of +crossing the ocean to settle in the colony where he had experienced so +much misfortune. But after he had made all the arrangements for leaving +England, he found out that he was too weak in body to stand the wear and +tear of a passage across the Atlantic Ocean. In those days it usually +took two months to cross from Great Britain to Nova Scotia. +</p> +<p> +The Captain's case had been tossed from one official to another, and +from one commission to another, until it had probably travelled through +the completely developed rounds of <i>Red Tapeism</i>. After this it appears +to have been allowed to slumber till the close of the American +Revolutionary War. +</p> +<p> +Captain Godfrey's health, since his last arrival in England from the +colony, was anything but good, and his means of support being gone, he +was largely depending on friends and relatives for the means of +supporting his family. His eldest son, (Charlie) through the never +failing energy of his mother, had received an Ensign's commission in the +British Army.<a href="#note-6" name="noteref-6" id="noteref-6"><small>6</small></a> +</p> +<p> +The last effort Captain Godfrey appears to have made in trying to secure +something in return for his services to his country, and for the great +losses sustained by him in the colony, was after the conclusion of the +war between England and America. +</p> +<p> +He got his case before the "Lords of the Commission" for services and +losses in America, and there it seems to have met its doom, it was +granted a sort of Ticket of Leave for transportation to Nova Scotia, +where it died in exile. +</p> +<p> +Their Lordships referred Captain Godfrey in the following manner to the +Governor of Nova Scotia:— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + WHITEHALL, <i>May 24th, 1784</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + SIR,— +</p> +<p class="quote"> + You will receive herewith a memorial, which has been presented to me by + Captain Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * praying that proper orders may be + given for the immediate recovery of his lands upon the St. John, River, + in the Province of Nova Scotia. As I understand, upon inquiry, that Mr. + Godfrey was dis-possessed of his property previous to the Independence + of America, on account of his loyalty and the active part he took for + the support of His Majesty King George the Third's Government. I am + induced to recommend the prayer of the petition to your favourable + consideration. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + I am, Sir, your most<br /> + Obedient Humble Servant,<br /> + SYDNEY. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + TO JOHN PARR,<br /> + <i>Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief<br /> + of the Province of Nova Scotia</i>. +</p> +<p> +In the year 1776 the New England Colonists appear to have had their +emissaries in Nova Scotia. There is no missing link, the chain of +evidence is completed by the passport to Captain Godfrey from the Rebel +Committee at Maugerville, in July, 1776. After the lapse of one hundred +and twelve years, the fact is revealed that there were persons in Nova +Scotia who were employed by the New England colonists, and paid by them +to incite the Indians to revolt, and hold out bribes to honest and loyal +settlers to forsake their King and country. +</p> +<p> +It may be that in the near or distant future facts will be brought to +light which will prove beyond a doubt that the United States had +emissaries in Nova Scotia in 1888 who were paid for their services in +Yankee gold. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0009" id="h2HCH0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER IX. +</h2> +<h3> + PAUL GUIDON. +</h3> +<p> +It will be remembered that the Godfreys, accompanied by their faithful +friend Paul Guidon, arrived at Halifax in the "Viper." Paul remained +twelve days with his friend, and then a vessel being about to sail for +Quebec, Commander Greaves secured him a passage in her. +</p> +<p> +But the farewell almost broke the heart of the noble Iroquois, and he +wept many bitter tears. Margaret Godfrey was aware of Paul's desire to +gain possession of the old service book, she knew he had longed for it +since the day of his mother's burial, and on bidding him adieu she +presented him with the book, saying as she did so, "Paul keep this book, +it is from your friend, no doubt you will sometimes be able to get some +one to read to you useful lessons from its pages." +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon had frequently told Mrs. Godfrey that he felt a sort of +charm come over him whenever his eyes rested on the book, and when he +touched it with his hand he imagined he could hear his mother whisper +the words, "Paul be good man, and bye and by you will come to me on the +sunny plains of the happy hunting ground." +</p> +<p> +At Quebec a British officer, becoming greatly attached to Paul, engaged +him as a sort of confidential servant, and noticing the Iroquois +admiration for the military dress, he had a suit made for him. Indeed, +Paul became an especial favorite with all the soldiers of the garrison. +Colonel MacLean, with whom the Indian had engaged, had great confidence +in him, and frequently trusted him to carry important messages. The +Colonel found him to be a most trusty fellow, and occasionally sent him +alone to observe the enemy's movements. Paul was as straight as an +athlete and had an eye keen as an eagle's. He scarcely ever failed in +reporting to the Colonel something worth knowing. +</p> +<p> +On the night of December 31st, 1776, the Iroquois advanced in a creeping +position so close to the enemy's lines, that on his return he was able +to state to the Colonel what the enemy were doing, and he told what he +had observed in such an intelligent way that the British were prepared +to meet and repulse every attack of Arnold and Montgomery on that night. +In the attack Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. +</p> +<p> +One night, an exceptionally dark and stormy one, the Indian was sent out +to reconnoitre. He lost his way, and getting inside the enemy's lines, +came near being captured. In the dense darkness he crept right up +against one of the enemy's pickets. The sentry fired, and Paul fell flat +on the snow quite near the sentry's feet, the shot passing over the +Indian's head. In another instant Paul had regained his feet, and while +the sentry was attempting to reload his musket the Iroquois grasped at +him, and in doing so caught him by his hands, which were clasped +tightly around the weapon. The sentry gave a most determined backward +jerk, but Paul held him firmly and then wrenched the musket out of his +hands, bringing with it a ring off the sentry's finger. The Iroquois put +the ring on his own finger and made off at once for the British lines. +In his haste, when nearing the British outposts, he stumbled and fell, +and with such force that he was knocked senseless and lost the ring. He +lay there for some time, and when he had somewhat recovered he found +himself so benumbed with the cold that he could scarcely move his limbs. +</p> +<p> +It was snowing when he fell, and when he became conscious of his +situation, he found himself covered with an inch or more of snow, and +his head and face badly cut and bruised. On all four he crept to the +British outposts with the blood streaming from a cut in his leg and one +on his face. At last he reached the lines, more dead than alive. Paul +received a cold from which he never recovered. +</p> +<p> +In the morning he crawled out in search of the ring, thinking it might +be of some value. He was enabled to find the place where he had fallen +by retracing his steps and seeing the blood on the snow in spots here +and there. It had stopped snowing soon after he recovered consciousness, +consequently it was not difficult next morning to find out the spot +where he had received his injuries. The sun was shining brightly, and as +he kicked away the snow after hunting about for an hour or so, his eye +caught something shining brilliantly. He picked it up. It was a ring. He +put it into his pocket and returned. He knew he had seen the ring +before. He put it in an inside pocket of his coat and sewed it in, +fearing he might otherwise loose it. +</p> +<p> +The Indian for a long time was unfitted for active duty. He made his +home sometimes at the garrison and sometimes with the tribes of Indians +in the neighborhood. +</p> +<p> +When General Burgoyne, in June, 1777, advanced from Canada into the New +England States, Paul Guidon attached himself to one of the officers of +the expedition. This officer was afterward killed and Paul was captured +by the Americans and sent a prisoner to Boston, and at that place +detained for some months. +</p> +<p> +At length he managed to make his escape. He wandered for weeks in the +woods and along the paths, and at last struck the Nova Scotia boundary +and continued on until he reached the vicinity of Fort Frederick. There +he remained for a short time visiting the scenes and places of other +days. He then set out once more for Quebec, and arrived there in +September, 1778, where he remained till the close of the war. In +September, 1780, he was united in marriage with a handsome young +Chipewayan squaw. Paul Guidon was loved and admired by most of the +Indians of the Quebec district, and never wanted for a home amongst +them. +</p> +<p> +His wife was of medium height, her face was handsome, and her features +clean-cut, as they are seen in Greek statuary. She was as brown as some +statues are. Her eyes were of the deepest and brightest black, they were +quick and piercing as arrows sent to their mark. +</p> +<a name="h2HCH0010" id="h2HCH0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER X. +</h2> +<h3> +MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA.—DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE +WOODS. +</h3> +<p> +In the month of August, 1784, Margaret Godfrey once again arrived in +Nova Scotia. This time she came alone, her husband being too ill to +accompany her. She left her English home and came out to Nova Scotia to +secure a personal interview with Governor Parr, and do all in her power +to get back the property on the St. John River; or if not, then she +would endeavor to secure some compensation for it, through the +instrumentality of the governor. She remained at Halifax a few weeks, +and then left for the St. John River. She did not appear satisfied with +her visit to the governor. She could get no promise from him that the +estate at Grimross Neck would be restored to her husband, or that any +compensation would be granted in its stead. Nothing seems to have been +done in her interest, and she left Halifax deeply disappointed in her +mission. +</p> +<p> +Trouble had recently arisen between the people settled at the mouth of +the St. John and the authorities at Halifax. Instead of one Province she +was informed that there were now two Provinces. She determined to cross +over to Parrtown, and see what she could accomplish by visiting the +estate personally. With the letter from Sydney to Governor Parr, she +took a certificate of survey, which read as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + This may certify, that by the desire of Captain ——, I have laid nine + hundred acres of land on the Peninsular or place called Grimross Neck, + in the Township of Gage, on the River St. John, beginning at the Portage + and running down the river about two miles and a quarter to a maple tree + marked, thence running S.W. till it meets Grimross Creek, thence up the + said Creek to the Portage, thence crossing the Portage to the first + mentioned bounds. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + ISRAEL PERLEY,<br /> + <i>Dept. Surveyor</i>. +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Gagetown, Jany. 31st, 1771.</i> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey finding that nothing could be accomplished by her visit up +the river, returned to the settlement at its mouth. The place of +settlement had undergone a great change since the year 1770, when she +first came to Fort Frederick with her husband. +</p> +<p> +She remained at Parrtown a few weeks, in order if possible to gather +further information respecting the property at Grimross Neck, and to +consult with some of the leading inhabitants, as to what course they +would advise her to pursue. She was most kindly entertained by the +people of the place. +</p> +<p> +One fine morning, while walking about the settlement, she accidently met +a fine looking young Indian girl. The young squaw, whose black eyes +shone in the bright sunshine as polished jet, put out her small brown +hand and said in quite good English, "Please mam, won't you give me +something for sick husband?" +</p> +<p> +Margaret thought the dusky beauty looked rather young to be married, but +she said to her, "And where does your husband live?" +</p> +<p> +She pointed her hand up the river and replied, "Not far that way." +</p> +<p> +"Have you been living here long?" asked Margaret. +</p> +<p> +"Not very long," replied the young squaw. +</p> +<p> +"What is the matter with your husband?" said Margaret. +</p> +<p> +The little squaw answered, "My husband be very sick with consumption, +most dead." +</p> +<p> +"Where did you get that pretty ring on your finger?" said Mrs. Godfrey +to the Indian woman. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey had noticed the ring on the squaw's finger, sparkling +in the sunlight, as she pointed her small brown hand up the river in the +direction of her home. +</p> +<p> +The swarthy beauty, with an innocent smile, as she hung her head on one +side, said, "My husband give it me after we get married." The Indian +lass then began to run her fingers over a string of red and white beads, +that encircled her round plump neck and hung loosely down over a well +proportioned bosom. At the same time she kept scraping the ground with +the toe of her moccasin, and now and again crossing one foot over the +other and resting the tip of her toe for an instant on the earth. Then +she would swing one of her feet about a foot from the ground over the +other. Her dark blue dress being quite short, and the wind blowing +stiffly, she would occasionally display a small prettily formed foot, +and an ankle that looked as though it had been formed in nature's most +perfect mould. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey broke the silence by asking the young woman if she would +like her to go to the wigwam and see her sick husband? The Indian woman +answered, "May be dead now, and long rough walk, no canoe here." +</p> +<p> +Margaret said to her, "Suppose you come down here to-morrow morning in a +canoe and take me up to your wigwam?" She answered, "Have no canoe, but +might get Jim Newall's, who lives mile more up river, he has canoe and +sometime bring me down here." +</p> +<p> +Margaret agreed to accompany her to her wigwam early the next morning, +if Newall and she came to the settlement in a canoe. +</p> +<p> +She said she would go and see Newall, and if he could not come, she +would walk down and let her (Margaret) know how her husband was. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey told the squaw where she would find her at ten o'clock the +next morning, and then taking the hand of the Indian woman into that of +her own, looked carefully at the ring, as she bid her good day. +</p> +<p> +Margaret recognized the ring as the one she had lost during the assault +of the rebels at Grimross, in 1776. She missed it from off her finger +soon after the cross-eyed, monkey-faced rebel "Will," had pulled her +about the floor by the hand, and never saw or heard of it after. Paul +Guidon often said to Mrs. Godfrey, that he believed the rebel "Will" had +stolen her ring. +</p> +<p> +It was a very valuable one, set with a choice emerald, surrounded by +precious stones. It was presented to Margaret by her father, on the day +he was elected Mayor of Cork, and cost forty-live guineas. It had never +occurred to Margaret, during her conversation with the squaw, to ask her +name. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey said to herself, "This Indian girl may be a daughter of one +of the savages who attacked us at Grimross. Perhaps she has lied to me +and I may never again see her or the ring. I may possibly get some +information to-morrow that will satisfy me. I must wait." +</p> +<p> +At ten o'clock the next morning a strapping big Indian knocked at the +door of the house where Mrs. Godfrey was lodging, and inquired if "woman +lived there who wanted go in canoe and see sick Injun up river?" +</p> +<p> +He was informed that there was a lady inside, ready and waiting for a +man named Jim Newall, to take her up the river. "Me Jim," he replied. +</p> +<p> +Margaret came to the door. She said, "Are you Jim Newall?" "Yes, me Jim +Newall," he answered gruffly. +</p> +<p> +Margaret asked Jim how far it was to where he had left his canoe. "Just +few steps," he replied. "Down among stumps at water edge." Margaret +accompanied the Indian, and finding out where the canoe was, told Jim to +remain there until she returned, as she wanted to get a few things for +the sick man. +</p> +<p> +Half an hour later Mrs. Godfrey and a Mrs. Fowler were making their way +by stumps of trees and over branches, with their arms loaded with things +for the sick Indian. They were soon on board, and then Jim Newall +paddled away up stream. +</p> +<p> +As the canoe slipped along, every spot on the shores seemed familiar to +Margaret's eyes, and many sad thoughts flashed across her mind; memories +of days never to be forgotten rose in her soul. She remarked to Mrs. +Fowler, "How little everything has changed since I was here last, eight +years ago, except at the settlement." +</p> +<p> +The morning was a charming one, the river was running, fairly rushing +up, otherwise all nature seemed to sleep. The splash of the paddle, the +ripple of the water along the sides of the canoe, and the gentle rolling +of the little bark, were the only things that disturbed the quiet that +reigned supreme all about. The Indian never spoke, and Margaret and her +companion, as they sat one ahead of the other in the bottom of the +canoe, seldom exchanged a word. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey saw at a glance that the canoe was nearing the place where +Paul Guidon and his mother had once lived. As she looked toward the +shore her eyes rested upon a form standing at the water's edge, and as +the canoe approached nearer and nearer the shore, she recognized the +form as that of the pretty squaw she had met at the settlement the +previous day. Margaret Godfrey remarked to Mrs. Fowler, "There stands +the pretty creature I met yesterday." Mrs. Fowler replied, "She does not +look like the squaws we so often see about the settlement." She +continued, "What a neat, tidy girl she is. I have never seen her at +Parrtown, what a handsome face and fine form she has" +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> "And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace </p> +<p class="i4"> A Nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace, </p> +<p class="i4"> Of finer form, or lovelier face." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +The bow of the canoe had now touched the shore, and the Indian lass +most politely made a courtesy to the ladies in the canoe. +</p> +<p> +After landing, Mrs. Fowler put a piece of silver in Jim Newall's hand +and asked him if he would take them back home again in an hour or two. +Jim nodded an assent as he pulled his little bark out of the water to +the dry land. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey, once on shore, fully recognized that she was at the old +camping ground of her protector in by gone days, Paul Guidon. +</p> +<p> +The squaw replied to Mrs. Godfrey's inquiry after her sick husband, that +he was very weak, almost dead. Does he know that a white woman is doming +to see him this morning? asked Margaret G. "Yes," replied the Indian +woman, "he be so glad see you, but he be very weak, no speak, he told me +in whisper last night, after I come back camp from Jim Newall wigwam, +best friend, best woman ever saw, was pale face woman, who told him of +Great Chief, Big Spirit, and great hunting ground way back sun, where +old Mag, (mother) was now. Pale face woman gave him book, and would talk +Great Spirit and tell him look after Paul and make him good man." +</p> +<p> +Is your husband's name Paul? asked Margaret Godfrey. "Yes mam," she +answered, "Paul Guidon his name." Mrs. Godfrey felt all must be a dream. +She appeared lost and bewildered after she had heard the name Paul +Guidon. She cast a glance at her companion and exclaimed, "Am I back to +the old camping ground of Paul Guidon, and is he here?" Then her +faculties seemed to desert her, for at that instant she staggered and +fell into the arms of the Indian woman, with such force as to almost +knock the squaw over. Mrs. Fowler noticing the stupor of her companion +and her pallid features, asked her if she felt ill. She did not reply. +</p> +<p> +Little Mag, for such was the name of the handsome squaw, ran down to the +river side, filled her moccasins with water and tripping back, she +poured the contents full in the face of Mrs. Godfrey. She went again and +again to the river, filled her moccasins and poured the water over +Margaret's face and temples. +</p> +<p> +Jim Newall, who was sitting in his canoe a few yards distant, seeing the +woman lying on the ground, came up and proposed to carry her to the +wigwam two hundred yards distant, or under the shade of some trees near +by. The latter proposition was acted upon. Jim, Mrs. Fowler and Little +Mag, carried Margaret to a shaded spot a few yards away. They all sat +down beside her, as she lay stretched and apparently lifeless upon the +ground. After little Mag had once more poured the contents of her shoes +down the neck of Margaret, and Mrs. Fowler had steadily rubbed her +temples and wrists, she opened her eyes, looked wildly about, and then +sat up supported by her companion. +</p> +<p> +She then commenced to speak in a low weak voice. Mrs. Fowler, listening +attentively, heard her say, "Forever honored be this spot of earth: Here +'Old Mag' departed this life. Here her son Paul, that most noble spirit +of the woods, who when I was weary, distressed, and a wanderer, broken +in everything but spirit, poor in all but faith and courage: Here! Here! +Paul took refuge, and my husband, my children and myself rested. Never +shall that day be forgotten by me. I shall always look back during my +life, and when I get to that other home, I shall, too, look back to this +sacred spot with unabated affection and regard. Here! Here was I eight +years ago with husband and children, unprovided for, unprotected, on the +shore of this river, in a rude and fearful wilderness, surrounded by +savages, but that noble Indian, that splendid Iroquois, whose old mother +lies in everlasting sleep near here, protected us and provided for us. +The hills around are hallowed in my memory, and these trees seem to +stand with grace and beauty. This shore is as sacred to my mind as those +of the Jordan were to the people of old. Here! yes here! how often have +I communed with my loving Saviour! This ground is sacred to me because +it incloses the dust of the mother of my protector. The ashes of old +Margaret Guidon repose here. Is this sacred ground soon to claim the +dust of her loving son? It may be that both came here to live for a +brief space and then to die and mingle their ashes with this Acadian +soil." +</p> +<p> +Tears streamed down over her beautiful waxen features, as Mrs. Fowler +and little Mag assisted her to her feet. No penitent at a Methodist +revival-service ever looked more serious than did Jim Newall, as +Margaret Godfrey uttered the above. +</p> +<p> +Margaret had at length sufficiently recovered to proceed to the wigwam, +assisted on either side by little Mag and Mrs. Fowler. The three walked +slowly toward the home of Paul Guidon. Arriving at the entrance of the +wigwam the little Chipewayan led the way inside. +</p> +<p> +The first object that met the eyes of Mrs. Godfrey was the sick Indian +lying, wasted and emaciated, on a bed of spruce-boughs covered with a +blanket. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey at once knelt at his bed-side and placing his dark thin +hand in that of her own, said "Dear Paul, I come to see you." +</p> +<p> +He looked up at her and stared in a sort of vacant manner. He tried to +raise his head, but was too weak to do so. She looked straight in his +eyes, and said again, "Paul, you remember your old pale-faced friend who +used to live at Grimross Neck?" As Margaret spoke the last word, Paul +Guidon faintly whispered, "Thank Great Chief, I told him get you come +me, Paul must not be made die till you come." Great tears rolled down +his sunken cheeks as he whispered the above, and Margaret Godfrey, +overpowered with emotion, lightly rested her forehead on his thin sinewy +arm. Not a step. Not a sound was heard for a few minutes within the +narrow circle of the wigwam, all rested as if in silent prayer, a more +touching, a more peaceful, a more solemn scene, was never witnessed in +palace or cottage. Deep grief, real sorrow, took full possession of +those women who knelt around the bed of the dying Iroquois, in that +birchen home on the banks of the St John, on the morning of September +the 20th, 1784. +</p> +<p> +There in the stillness of a North American forest, on a magnificent +autumn day, when the trees were dressed in all their gorgeous +loveliness, and at an hour when not even the rustling of a leaf could be +heard, death was gradually releasing the spirit of Paul Guidon from its +swarthy tenament. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey raised her head from off the arm of the Indian, and as +she did so, he again whispered, "me soon be on hunting ground behind +setting sun, you must come see Paul." Mrs. Godfrey, promised him that +she would. He looked at his little wife and tried to move his right hand +toward his breast. She knew what he wanted her to do. She knelt down, +kissed him and took from inside his shirt a book. It was the old service +book. She handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and read to Paul, +whose eyes were steadfastly fixed on the reader. As she continued +reading, the eyes of the dying Indian gradually closed, and as she, shut +the book he ceased breathing. The spirit of the "Young Lion of the +Woods" had taken its everlasting flight. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i12"> "Like a shadow thrown </p> +<p class="i4"> Softly and sweetly from a passing cloud, </p> +<p class="i12"> Death fell upon him." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +An hour after Paul Guidon had died, Jim Newall, Mrs. Godfrey, Mrs. +Fowler and Mag Guidon went to the shore and brought Newall's canoe to +the wigwam. The dead chief was laid out in a military coat, which he had +kept with great care, on his head was an undress cap, and his lower +limbs were dressed in dark trousers, and long military or hunting boots +coming up to the knee. +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon was united in marriage to Margaret Reonadi at Quebec in the +summer of 1760, and several military gentlemen were present at the +ceremony. He was dressed for burial in the same suit in which he was +married. +</p> +<p> +Newall's canoe, on which the body was laid, was draped along the sides +with evergreens. Spruce boughs were laid athwart the canoe forming a +bed for the body of the departed hero. On his breast were placed his bow +and arrow, also his moccasins. The widowed squaw said the canoe would +help his soul to cross rivers and lakes on the way to the happy hunting +grounds, the arrow would bring down game and the moccasins protect his +feet. When all preparations were completed Newall had arrived back with +another canoe. Mrs. Godfrey and Mrs. Fowler were then taken to the mouth +of the river by Jim, where they secured the services of a man named Cock +to accompany Newall up the river and assist him in digging a grave. A +person by the name of Farris presented Mrs. Godfrey with a British flag, +which he wished displayed at Paul's burial. +</p> +<p> +The following morning, according to an agreement, Newall came to the +settlement and took Margaret G. and Mrs. Fowler to the wigwam which +should hold the noble Paul no more forever. The British ensign was drawn +over the body of the dead Indian. He lay in a sort of state till next +day, the body being viewed by many of the Indians of the district, and +also by not a few people from the settlement. All those that came +expressed great sorrow for the quiet little Chipewayan widow, who was +far away from her home and people. On the day of the burial there was a +great gathering of the tribes. The body was borne to its final resting +place by ten stalwart Indians, five on each side of the canoe, which was +placed on five paddles. The procession was a most solemn one. The +forest, the rugged scenery, the quiet retreat, all these appeared to add +to the solemnity of the occasion. The grave was alongside that of his +mother, and neatly lined with spruce. At five o'clock in the afternoon +all that was mortal of Paul Guidon was lowered into its last abode. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> "They laid them fondly side by side, </p> +<p class="i6"> And near their icy hearts </p> +<p class="i4"> They placed their arrows and their bows, </p> +<p class="i6"> Their clubs, and spears, and darts; </p> +<p class="i4"> For use when they with life are crowned </p> +<p class="i6"> In heaven's happy hunting ground." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +Margaret Godfrey read the burial service from the old service book, +while rivers of tears flowed down a score of swarthy faces, and an +occasional low wail uttered by the Indians standing round the open +grave, told of their sorrow and superstitious fear. The British ensign +was then placed over the dead Iroquois. It was the flag under which he +had lived and died, and a fit emblem to cover the remains of so true and +brave a man. (The characters of American sympathizers, of traitors and +rebels, as black as they appear in Colonial History, will appear +deeper-dyed as they stand in contrast to the loyalty of this true +Indian.) Margaret Godfrey spoke to them as follows: "I believe it to be +my solemn duty, yea, my special duty on this most sorrowful occasion, +that I should express my feelings. If there ascends from my heart a +prayer to the throne of the Great Chief, in behalf of this youthful +widow and in behalf of you people, let it be a prayer that the Great +Chief may turn the hearts of all from the thoughts of war to sentiments +of mercy and peace, such as our dear brother, whose remains we have just +committed to the grave, possessed in his life. When I think of that +true, and noble man, whose remains lie before us, I thank Him who rules +the winds and guides the stars in their courses, that such a man was +ever born. And if, at some distant period, it may be many years remote, +one of my own or my husband's countrymen (some of whom are now peopling +this country) should visit this spot or this neighbourhood, I trust that +tradition or history may inform such a one that here sleeps one of the +bravest, truest, and most noble sons of the forest that ever lived and +roamed over the hunting grounds of time. He was true to his adopted +country, true to its king, and true to its loyal people. An Indian, but +too honest and noble-minded to be a rebel, he not only discountenanced +the dark plottings of enemies within Acadia, but his sagacity sometimes +was the means of frustrating them. He was an Indian, high in character; +a noble example to some pale faces, to all. His body now rests beside +that little brook, but his spirit is in a country of light and peace. +This country is a good and pleasant country, and those who are coming to +live here are sprung from a noble race, and if you, my friends, all +prove as good and true as this departed red-man, you will have no cause +to complain at the pale faces settling around you. You will secure a +righteous treatment of your race, and your people will be a happy +people. The British people (my people) are a great people, and where +they settle they govern wisely, and in their dealings with all peoples +they are guided by that justice and generosity which alone becomes a +Christian people. These may be the last words I shall ever speak to you. +These may be the last moments I shall ever be with you. Remember my +loving advice and act upon it. If you do this you will earn the love of +the pale faces and build up for your race a lasting renown. You and I, +all of us, can learn good lessons from the life of Paul Guidon. If we +live as he lived we will be happy here, and bye-and-by be more happy in +the hunting fields of the hereafter. If we are as true to our Great +Chief, and as true to our king and country as he was, we will worship +the Great Spirit and never talk against our king and our country. Then +bye and-by we shall go to meet Paul Guidon in a country where there will +be no more wars, no more sighs, no more tears, no more parting, no more +dying." +</p> +<p> +The Red men paid the utmost attention to the words as they dropped from +Margaret Godfrey's lips. The grave was then filled in and the mourners +dispersed to their homes along the river, leaving Paul Guidon to rest +beside his mother. +</p> +<p> +For more than a century the "Young Lion of the Woods" has slept on the +banks of the St. John. His loyal spirit took its flight to another +sphere about the time thousands of united loyal spirits were forming a +city near his tomb. The few thousand people that had settled in the +colony in the days of Paul Guidon, were the ancestry of the nearly one +million true, loyal subjects who inhabit the Maritime Provinces at the +beginning of this year 1889. The colony, of which the noble Iroquois was +a citizen, was confined within narrow bounds. Now the sons of the +Loyalists are on the shores of the Pacific. Our country extends there. +It is a noble faculty of our nature which enables us to connect our +thoughts with the past as well as with the future, and by contemplating +the example and studying the character of Paul Guidon, we must come to +the conclusion that were that Indian living now his heart would glow +with patriotic pride at the strides the country has taken, and that our +destiny is Canadian, not American. +</p> +<p> +It is a pleasure to be able to exhibit to the present generation +something of the splendid character of the Iroquois, whose ashes, +commingled with those of the Union Jack, repose near the loyal City of +St. John. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> "And has he not high honor, </p> +<p class="i4"> The hill side for a pall, </p> +<p class="i4"> He lies in state while angels wait </p> +<p class="i4"> With stars for tapers tall; </p> +<p class="i4"> And the dark rock pines, with tossing plumes, </p> +<p class="i4"> Over his tomb to wave; </p> +<p class="i4"> 'Twas a kind dear hand in that lonely land, </p> +<p class="i4"> That laid him in the grave." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> "In that lonely grave without a name, </p> +<p class="i4"> Where his uncoffined clay </p> +<p class="i4"> Shall break again, O, wondrous thought! </p> +<p class="i4"> Before the Judgment Day, </p> +<p class="i4"> And stand with glory wrapped around </p> +<p class="i4"> On the hills he never trod, </p> +<p class="i4"> And speak of the strife that won our life, </p> +<p class="i4"> And the Incarnate Son of God." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<a name="h2HCH0011" id="h2HCH0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XI. +</h2> +<h3> + MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL. +</h3> +<p> +The widowed squaw and the two pale-faced women were the last to leave +Paul's late camping ground. As they were pushed off into the stream by +Jim Newall, who with another Indian paddled them back to the settlement, +Margaret saw the other canoes, nine in number, going up the river. In +the twilight she watched them, and it came to her mind that when Paul +Guidon saw the porpoises at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy coming toward +the sloop, he was not to be blamed for thinking they were canoes. She +remarked to Mrs. Fowler those canoes resemble, at first sight, porpoises +on the Atlantic Ocean. +</p> +<p> +When they arrived at the settlement Little Mag was taken to the home of +the Lesters. As she sat down in one of the small, unfurnished rooms, she +rested her head upon her hands and bitterly sobbed. Mrs. Godfrey tried +to comfort her, but she wept on. Little Mag said she felt badly at +leaving the wigwam. If she had stayed there her husband's spirit would +have come in the night and been with her. She would not see him but she +would know he was there. Indians always come back the night they are +buried to see their loved ones again before going off to the great +hunting grounds. After a time "Little Mag" fell asleep, and in her +dream, as she reclined on a bench, talked in an unknown tongue. Neither +Margaret nor any present could understand a word she uttered. She +appeared to be conversing with some invisible being, invisible, at +least, to the pale faces. It may have been that in that little room +there was sweet communion between the widowed squaw and her departed +husband. She said to Mrs Godfrey after she awoke that she thought she +saw her husband and heard him say, "Don't worry about Paul." "Happy +hunting grounds here." "See you far off." "Far beyond setting sun." He +appeared to be speaking to her out of the setting sun. He was surrounded +by a golden light, while he looked to be dressed in polished silver, and +when she awoke by falling on the floor, she had started to fling herself +into his arms, which were outstretched to receive her; but when her eyes +were opened all around her was darkness.<a href="#note-7" name="noteref-7" id="noteref-7"><small>7</small></a> +</p> +<p> +Soon after relating the above she retired to bed and in the morning +seemed refreshed and happy. She sang songs in the Chippewayan tongue +during the morning; her deep black eye became brighter; her step was +light and quick, and her whole frame seemed to move to silent music, so +regular, graceful and quick were her motions. +</p> +<p> +Who among us of earth knows but there are times in the lives of some of +us, if not all of us, when the silent influences of dear departed +friends, happy in the etherial or spirit world, unconsciously direct our +thoughts and guide our movements. +</p> +<p> +In a few days Margaret Godfrey was preparing to leave the settlement +and return to Halifax, and there make one more effort to secure some +compensation for her husband's losses on the St. John. +</p> +<p> +She invited "Little Mag" to give her the history of the ring. In reply, +"Little Mag" said her husband, Paul, had given it to her, and when he +presented it to her told her that it once belonged to the best pale face +woman he had ever seen in all his travels, that it was stolen from off +the pale face's finger, and some moons afterwards he had knocked down +the thief and taken it off his finger, one night far outside the British +lines at Quebec. The thief was a rebel who had nearly killed pale face +woman. About two weeks after Paul had knocked the rebel down, there was +a sharp sortie between some British soldiers and some Americans, and +during the fight, which ended in the repulse of the Americans, the +monkey-faced, cross-eyed rebel, "Will," was taken prisoner. He was a +great coward, and acknowledged to her husband that he had taken the ring +off pale face woman's finger. Her husband told her to keep the ring till +pale face woman saw it. That pale face woman has arrow mark on right arm +above joint. Here Margaret Godfrey pulled up her sleeve and showed the +little squaw the arrow mark received by her at Fort Frederick, in 1770. +"Little Mag's" full brown-face lit up with an innocent smile as she +pulled the precious gem off her own finger and placed it in the hand of +Mrs. Godfrey, at the same time saying, "I know you the pale face who +lost ring." Margaret took the ring put it on her own finger and thanked +"Little Mag" for it. +</p> +<p> +The Chippewayan widow then took from a pocket in her blue skirt, a +small case and handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and took +from it a neck-lace of beads mounted with gold. A small gold cross was +attached. "Little Mag" said the neck-lace was given to her by officers +at Quebec when she was married, and Paul had given her the cross at the +same time. She had married Paul when he was visiting among her tribe, +when she was sixteen years old. When they came to Quebec the officers +were very good to them. They gave her plenty of good clothes because +they liked her husband so much. +</p> +<p> +Paul got sick while hunting with officers last winter. She was with them +and cooking in camp. In early spring left the officers and came down to +St. John River, in May, and built wigwam near his mother's grave. He got +no better, but worse, growing thinner and weaker, with great cough. +"What 'Little Mag' do now my Paul gone?" "I know you good woman will ask +Great Chief to help me go home to my tribe, there live and die. My +little papoose, Paul, dead, sleeps near Quebec, died when few moons +old." +</p> +<p> +The information in Chapter nine respecting Paul Guidon's career after +leaving Halifax in 1776, was obtained from a document pasted in the back +of the old service book, and written at Paul's request by a Lieutenant +of the British Army stationed at Quebec in the year 1780. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey left Parr Town late in the fall of 1784 for Halifax, and +soon after sailed from the latter place for England. Her mission to +Halifax and the St. John had been a failure. She could get no promise +that her husband's property would be restored to him, or that any +compensation would be granted him in lieu thereof. +</p> +<p> +As the brigt. in which Margaret Godfrey took passage sailed out of +Chebucto Harbour, she remarked to the captain that people who attempt to +settle in a new colony would do well before leaving comfortable homes in +the old land to find out what protection is guaranteed settlers, and +what class of persons they are likely to settle among. And as she cast a +last look upon the colony, as she entered the companion way to the +cabin, she pointed her hand toward the shore, remarking, "my husband and +I came out to this land in very comfortable circumstances fifteen years +ago; to-day, without a penny to call my own, I leave the colony +forever." The vessel ran across the ocean in thirty-six days, and Mrs. +Godfrey was once again on English soil. +</p> +<p> +Nothing having been accomplished in Nova Scotia by his wife's visit, +Captain Godfrey once more made an attempt for relief to the Lords of +Parliament at home. +</p> +<p> +After the close of the American war, a commission was appointed by +Parliament with power to inquire into the losses and services of the +Loyalists in America. Captain Godfrey, as has been stated in a previous +chapter, had put his case before many commissions, before Lords many. To +use a common expression, "his case had gone the rounds." And now, as a +last effort, he was about to present his claims before the Lord +Commissioner of Losses and Services of the American Loyalists. In his +memorial the captain stated to the Lords Commissioners, his services as +a soldier to the time of settling in the colony, concluding with giving +in detail the losses he had sustained on the River St. John, in His +Majesty's Colonial possession, by the cruel and savage acts of Indians +and rebels. He also stated in his memorial that he could have joined the +service of Mr. Washington, and that great inducements were held out to +him to do so, and to desert the cause of his king and his country. The +memorial concluded as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> +"Your memorialist therefore, humbly prays, that his cause may be taken +into consideration, and that he may be granted such relief, as in the +benevolence of His Majesty King George the Third's Commissioners, his +losses and services may be found to deserve, and that he and the +subjoined witnesses may have a hearing from your Honourable Board." +</p> +<p class="quote"> +Witnesses: +</p> +<p class="quote"> +THOMAS BRIDGE, ESQ., No. 2 Bridge Street, Surry Side<br /> +MR. BARTLEY, Delzex Court, near the Temple. } To Property. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +GENERAL SKEIN, GENERAL MURRAY. } To Service. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +SIR GUY CARLETON, BROOK WATSON. } To Loyalty. +</p> +<p class="quote"> +(Here follows the signature of the petitioner.) +</p> +<p class="quote"> +No. 2 Pratt Street, Lambeth. +</p> +<p> +As far as can be gathered from documentary evidence, and what +information could be obtained otherwise, no relief was ever granted to +Captain Godfrey or his family by the Commission of Losses and Services +of the American Loyalists. Mrs. Godfrey, whose many trials, hardships, +disappointments and sorrows, have been sketched in the foregoing +chapters, was living in London as late as 1805. A letter written by the +old lady to her son Charlie's wife, then living in Nova Scotia, was for +a few hours in the possession of the writer of these chapters. In this +letter she states her many difficulties and the numerous applications on +her part to various Lords and other authorities seeking relief in her +distress. Many portions of the long, well written letter are touching +indeed. +</p> +<p> +The persistency of the grand old lady in doing her utmost to force the +rulers of the country to a settlement of her husband's claims is greatly +to be admired. Her letter cannot be read by any colonist without +feelings of pity and shame. In one part of the letter she says +Councillor Brand<a href="#note-8" name="noteref-8" id="noteref-8"><small>8</small></a> has given in my memorial to the treasury and I have +to wait till he gets an answer, and I pray God it will be a happy one, +but God knows what is best, and will, if we put all our trust in him, +guide us aright. The cursed Duke of Richmond is not dead yet.<a href="#note-9" name="noteref-9" id="noteref-9"><small>9</small></a> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Godfrey must have been near eighty years of age when this letter +was written. Thirty-five years had elapsed since her husband's first +loss in the colony, and nearly thirty years since he was driven out by +rebels and Indians. +</p> +<p> +Titles and pensions have been freely bestowed by English kings and +parliaments on men who have been daring and successful in Britain's +cause. If Captain Godfrey had performed no deeds worthy of a title or a +pension, he at least deserved to be reimbursed in part or in whole for +the losses he had sustained at the hands of rebels and savages. And it +is probable there were men and women in England who were styled Dukes +and Duchesses,—who wore orders on their breasts that covered less brave +and no more loyal hearts than those of Capt. and Margaret Godfrey. She +firmly supported and assisted her husband in his strict adherence to +King George the Third's cause, and faced the rebels like a Spartan and +defeated them in their designs at Grimross. Her tact, skill, courage and +cool determination in the midst of imminent danger were truly admirable. +She displayed the qualities of a born leader time and time again. In a +situation where she could seek no support she relied on her own +judgment, courage and faith. These sterling qualities brought to her aid +one who afterward proved to be a friend and guide. Alone at Fort +Frederick she defeated the designs of blood-thirsty savages by stepping +out of the Fort and standing unmoved and defiant amid a flight of +arrows. Her commanding presence and firm attitude won a savage to her +side. We can entertain no better wish for the memory of this Celtic +heroine, than that her name may be preserved, and her life and deeds in +the colony go down to the latest generation. +</p> +<p> +"Justin McCarthy in his concise and interesting work, Ireland's cause in +England's Parliament," says: "There is a charming poem by my friend +William Allingham, called Lawrence Bloomfield in Ireland," in which we +find a classic story, thrillingly told, as an illustration of the hero's +feeling on some subject of interest to his country. A Roman Emperor is +persecuted by the petition of a poor widowed woman, who prays for +redress of some wrong done to her and her children. The great emperor is +far too great, his mind is taken up too much with questions of imperial +interest, to have any leisure for examining into, or even for reading, +this poor woman's claim. +</p> +<p> +One morning he is riding forth of his palace gates, at the head of his +splendid retinue, and the widow comes in his way, right in his path, and +holds up her petition again, and implores him to read it. He will not +read, and is about to pass scornfully on, when she flings herself on the +ground before him, herself and her little children, just in front of his +horse's hoofs, and she declares that if he will not stay and hear her +prayer, he shall not pass on his way unless he passes over the bodies of +herself and children. +</p> +<p> +And then says Mr. Allingham, "the Roman," who must have had something of +the truly imperial in him, "wheeled his horse and heard." +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey, the poor widowed woman, took up the petition of her +husband, and continued to pray for redress of wrong done her husband, +herself, and her children. For twenty years she continued in her prayer. +Read what the poor widowed woman says in another part of her letter to +her daughter-in-law, and see if the truly imperial is to be found in a +King or in England's noblemen, who for twenty years "heard and wheeled." +</p> +<p> +"I have been sick all winter and not able to help myself, and am very +ill at present. My illness has almost turned me, but if I had but half a +leg I'll do my duty toward my family." +</p> +<p> +In another letter written to her daughter-in-law not long after the +first, she says: "Tell Charles if he ever visits the mouth of the St. +John or old Fort Frederick, not to neglect for his mother's sake to +visit the grave of Paul Guidon. He knows the locality and may be able to +detect the spot where the hero sleeps. In my thoughts, God knows how +often I linger about that spot. Sacred indeed must be the earth that +mingles with the dust of such nobility. Were I present I would adorn his +last resting place with the early spring flowers. Many wintry storms +have passed above his grave. Spring time and summer have come and gone, +but he heeds them not. +</p> +<p> +"I feel that I am nearing the border land, and as I cross the stream I +believe I shall meet my husband and also my other protector standing +together on the shore to welcome me home, to a home where friends never +fail and where justice is administered in the highest perfection. +</p> +<p> +"It is my living desire, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying +desire, to meet beyond on the fields of glory Paul Guidon and my dear +husband. No Briton ever lived who was more loyal to his King and +country, and trusted more fully in the honour of earthly Lords than +Charles Godfrey. +</p> +<p> +"It may be that I shall bye and by find Paul Guidon's name inscribed in +brighter characters on the columns that support the arches of the +heavens, than the names of some to whom my husband applied on earth for +redress of wrong. +</p> +<p> +"One of Briton's statesmen lately said, 'It is easy for my Lord C. or +Earl G. or Marquis B. or Lord H. with thousands upon thousands a year, +some of it either presently derived or inherited in sinecure +acquisitions from the public money to boast of their patriotism, and +keep aloof from temptation, but they do not know from what temptation +those have kept aloof who had equal pride, at least equal talents, and +not unequal passions, and nevertheless knew not in the course of their +lives what it was to have a shilling of their own, and in saying this he +wept. +</p> +<p> +"And so have I, a thousand times in silence wept, as the utmost energy +of my life has been exerted to cheer, to comfort and to encourage a +weeping heart-broken husband weighed down with misfortunes and poverty." +</p> +<p> +The grave has long ago closed over every member of the Godfrey family +who were among the English pioneer settlers of Acadia, and the history +of their lives might have slept with them, but for a trifling +circumstance. The old documents referred to and copied in the foregoing +chapters, are greatly defaced, and time is completing their destruction. +Many of them are scarcely legible, and it required the utmost patience +and perseverance to gather together the facts as narrated in this work. +</p> +<hr /> +<h3> +LITTLE MAG'S DREAM AS INTERPRETED BY ONE OF THE LESTERS. +</h3> +<p> +As the little widow narrated her dream to one of the Misses Lester, the +latter understood it to be something like the following: Mag saw a vast +land with wooded hills and dales, green fields, lakes and rivers. Her +departed husband was quickly crossing over all these toward the setting +sun. He sped over the lakes and rivers in his canoe, and when he +emerged from among the trees, his bow and arrow hung across his +shoulder, over the open country he travelled in his moccasins, with the +old flag wrapped tightly about his breast and shoulders. At length he +approached the setting sun, where she lost sight of him for a moment, +the darkness that had gradually settled down, shutting out from her view +the passage of her husband, quick as a flash burst into a beautiful +crystal light. The heavens looked like shining silver, all around the +horizon was a wide cloud of clear light blue, with a border of gold. +Beneath was a broad expanse of green, with large groves of trees at +regular intervals dressed in a deeper shade. Through these were +meandering streams or rivers as of clear glass. Clear cut avenues ran +through at regular spaces from stream to stream, on the borders of which +(avenues and rivers) were thousands of jasper wigwams, sitting and +standing, at the front of each were Indians of all ages, dressed in pure +white and ornamented with precious stones of various hues. Rising above +the blue border of the sky, slowly and majestically, a new sun was +beaming. On its face stood Paul Guidon, in a dress of glistening +whiteness. The dress was after the pattern of that of an Indian chief. +Out of his right shoulder rose a red cross slanting slightly outward, on +the top of which stood an angel slightly inclining foreward. In his +right hand he held a wreath made of flowers most pure and white, inside +of which in letters of light blue, was the word Love. Out of his left +shoulder, in the same direction, rose a staff of deep blue, to which was +attached a drooping silver flag crossed with bars of gold. (Its pattern +was like the one placed in his grave.) On the top of the staff rested a +dove, holding in its beak a wreath, composed of rainbow shades, circling +the word Peace in letters whiter than snow. As the new sun continued to +rise, the jewelled sky increased in dazzling brilliancy, ten thousand +gems of shining gold shot out, and ten thousand sapphires too, all +glistening gloriously in the new light. The jasper tents on the +everlasting hunting grounds, and the motionless streams were brightning +with living flame. Thousands of Indians, strong and fair, in countless +groupings, seemed, to surpass even the sky itself in their glittering +starry dress. +</p> +<p> +Paul Guidon appeared to move his head forward as the star-paved sky +increased in burning brightness, till overpowered by the lustre shining, +and dazzled by the increasing brilliancy. Little Mag fell to the floor +and awoke in the darkened room. As she was in the act of falling the +faint sound of distant music, mingled with the noise of far away rushing +waters, seemed to fall upon her ears, increasing in strength and melody +as she touched the floor. +</p> +<p> +If Milman's lines had been written or known at the time of Mag's dream, +they could have been most suitably recited. +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i14"> "From all the harping throng </p> +<p class="i14"> Bursts the tumultuous song, </p> +<p class="i4"> Like the unceasing sound of cataracts pouring, </p> +<p class="i4"> Hosanna o'er hosanna louder roaring. </p> +<p class="i4"> That faintly echoing down to earthly ears, </p> +<p class="i4"> Hath seemed the concert sweet of the harmonious spheres." </p> +</div> +</div> + +<a name="h2HCH0012" id="h2HCH0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + CHAPTER XII. +</h2> +<h3> + MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG.—SOCIETY AT HALIFAX. +</h3> +<p> +Soon after Mrs. Godfrey's departure from Parr Town for England, Little +Mag Guidon went up the St. John and settled there with some of the +tribe, intending to remain until a chance of getting back to her people +occurred. She was not destined, however, to go back to her Chippewayan +friends. Jim Newall, who had so often paddled her to the settlement and +back, made advances toward her, which she reciprocated till it ended in +the two being married. It appears she had won Jim's heart during the +illness of her husband. She told one of the Lesters, shortly after +Margaret Godfrey's departure, that Newall had said to her one evening +while going up to the camp from the mouth of the river, "Supposem, may +be, husband Paul die, Jim Newall come wigwam." She replied, "When Paul +die, no wigwam be there, won't stay 'lone." Jim answered, "Me, you, two +keep wigwam supposem." Doubtless, the above conversation laid the +foundation of their union. It proved to be a happy one. In a letter from +a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, a few months after her arrival home, it is +stated that "Jim and Mag appear to be the happiest of mortals, their's +is true love." The lady who wrote the above, evidently did not consider +"marriage a failure," especially among the Indians. In matters of +citizenship, in matters of human life, in matters of society, it may be, +that it would be beneficial to take a lesson or two from the lives of +the Iroquois, Chippewayan, and Mic-Mac. We certainly never read or hear +that marriage has been a failure among the Indians. +</p> +<p> +When Mrs. Godfrey bade farewell to Mag Guidon, she handed her name +and address, written in large, bold hand, and remarked as she handed it, +"Whenever you want to send me any message, if you are about here, get +some of my friends to write a letter for you." +</p> +<p> +While Mrs. Godfrey was at Parr Town she sought an interview with the +newly appointed Governor, (Thomas Carleton), who had arrived a few days +before to her departure. She made known to the Governor the losses +sustained and hardships endured by her husband while in the colony. She +also stated to Colonel Carleton the noble deeds of Paul Guidon, and of +his loyalty to the king. She told of his death and of the destitute +condition of his young widow. +</p> +<p> +Some months after Mrs. Godfrey had sailed for home, Governor Carleton +was told that the widow of Paul Guidon was soon to be married. He sent +to a friend of Mrs. Godfrey for information, and found the report to be +true. In a few days the Governor called at the house of the friend and +handed to her three guineas, to be expended for Little Mag's comfort. +</p> +<p> +This friend Mag usually called in to see when she came to the +settlement. She was told of the Governor's thoughtful kindness. Mag told +the friend to use the money in purchasing her wedding outfit. Not many +weeks later Mag Guidon was married to Jim Newall. +</p> +<p> +One afternoon the Governor received a note asking him if he would care +to see Little Mag in her wedding costume. He at once replied, naming a +day and hour that it would be convenient for him to receive the bride. +</p> +<p> +At the appointed time Little Mag and her pale faced friend appeared in +presence of His Excellency, who received them in the most gentleman-like +manner. +</p> +<p> +The bride, before leaving the presence of Governor Carleton, handed to +him Mrs. Godfrey's address, and asked him if he would send a letter to +her English mother, (Mag), and tell her that little Mag was married to +Jim Newall, and is living on the old camping ground where Paul died. +That Little Mag is happy and loves Jim as she did Paul. The Governor +promised Mrs. Newall that he would send a letter to Mrs. Godfrey. He +took the address and not long after wrote to Mrs. Godfrey, giving that +lady a full account of Little Mag's appearance as she stood in his +presence decked in her wedding garments. +</p> +<p> +Governor Carleton states in his letter that he never thought of seeing +so handsome a woman among the Indian tribes of America. That he believes +there are ladies in his own country who would almost feel inclined to +forfeit a title or an estate to be possessed of a pair of hands and feet +of the form and size of those of Newall's bride. Nature seemed to have +perfected its work in moulding the form and features of the handsome +squaw. The Governor continues, "She was dressed in a suit of navy blue +cloth, her skirt reaching to within an inch of the tops of her +moccasins. A loose blue cloth jacket, buttoned up in front with brass +buttons, covered her well rounded shoulders and breast. The jacket was +edged with scarlet cloth and reached to her waist. Around her full neck +hung a double row of beads, to which was attached a gold cross,<a href="#note-10" name="noteref-10" id="noteref-10"><small>10</small></a> and +on each wrist she wore a bracelet of beads similar to the neck-lace. A +wampum band circled her head. Inside the band were three beautiful +feathers from the wing of a wild pigeon. Her hair as black as the +raven's back, was so arranged as to make her forehead appear like an +equilatiral triangle, the brows being the base. Her eyes, coal black, +round, quick and deep set, are indescribable, and a more beautiful set +of teeth I never saw in a human head. On her feet she wore light brown +moccasins, on the front of each was worked, in beads of suitable +colours, the Union Jack. As she put out her neat foot that I might +better observe the work on her moccasins, she said the work was put on +them by her wish out of respect to the flag that covered the remains of +her first husband, (Paul Guidon). In her own words she said to me: "Tell +mother in England, she see Jim Newall and know Jim; saw him when my Paul +sick and die. He paddled English mother down settlement in canoe." +</p> +<p class="quote"> + "Your letter of 5th August, I received, and will make further inquiries + as you advise about the property." The letter is addressed as follows: +</p> +<p class="quote"> + <i>Mrs. Charles Godfrey, * * *<br /> + Care of Charles Godfrey, * * * Esq,<br /> + (Late of His Majesty's Service),<br /> + Kinsale,<br /> + County Cork, Ireland.</i> +</p> +<p> +The above is the substance of the Governor's letter to Mrs. Godfrey. The +date and first three or four lines of it were torn off and gone, and the +remainder was, with great difficulty, deciphered, the letter being in +several pieces and quite ragged. This letter must have been written in +the year 1785 or '86, as in a letter from a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, +dated September, 1785, Little Mag and her husband are said to have been +met in the street the day previous to writing. It is not at all likely +that little Mag was long married before she appeared in presence of +Governor Carleton. +</p> +<p> +Had Margaret Newall moved in a more elevated social sphere, and been +surrounded by wealthy parents and rich relatives, possibly Governor +Carleton would have been obliged to give Mrs. Godfrey a vivid +description of Mag's trousseau, and her beautiful presents of gold, +silver, diamonds, etc. But her parents and friends were poor. Her old +father possessed only a moving tent, occuping here and there, as he +found a spot to pitch it, a few square feet of King George the Third's +wilderness. Old Reonadi was not a commercial man. He had never made an +assignment. He was born one hundred years too soon to be surrounded by +commercial morality, perfect holiness and paternal affection. It took a +later generation of Chippewayans to display that care for their +posterity which only disguises an habitual avarice, or hides the +workings of a low and grovelling nature. +</p> +<p> +During neither of the stays that the Godfreys made at Halifax had +society reached that brilliant epoch it afterwards attained when that +Royal Duke, who set such an example of duty to all men, was making it +his temporary home. That for a colony was, from all accounts, indeed a +brilliant, gay, and polished society which was assembled at old Chebucto +when the Duke of Kent was at the head of the army in British North +America. Pleasure, however, was not the only occupation of that then +brilliant capital, at whose head was one so much devoted to duty, that +in its fulfilment he acquired the reputation of a martinet. This was the +day of the early morning parade, particularly irksome in a cold climate +to those who were obliged to turn out before daybreak in the bitter +weather of mid-winter. At this day, also, there were frequent troopings +of colours, marchings out, sham fights, and all the other martial +circumstances of a fully garrisoned town. +</p> +<p> +The maintenance of this strict discipline among the garrison whom he +commanded, was not more characteristic of the Duke than his affable +condescension and the considerate kindness that he displayed toward the +inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and of Quebec also, when he occupied its +castle. So that his name and memory are still held dear by the loyal +descendants of the men to whom Prince Edward was a familiar figure, +both at Halifax and Quebec, as he rode through the streets of either +town. +</p> +<p> +But Halifax, even at the time whereof we speak, so soon after its first +being rescued from the primeval forest, was not without its charms for +those who, like the Godfreys, had enjoyed the amenities of polished +circles. But the almost destitute circumstances in which they found +themselves when these visits were made, precluded them from entering +into many of the enjoyments that offered. However, there were a few +entertainments at which their position in society seemed to demand their +presence, and which they accordingly attended. Here, of course, they met +the heads of society, as well as many strangers from Boston, Quebec and +other places on the continent, nearly all of whom would be persons of +distinction in the several places where they hailed from. At this time +several tea gardens about Halifax furnished the means of quiet +recreation to the public. Adlam's garden, adjacent to the citadel, was +the most famous of these resorts, and here on one occasion when the +Godfreys were at Halifax, a garden party was given by one of the leaders +of <i>ton</i>, at which Captain Godfrey and his wife were privileged to meet, +among other distinguished personages, General Massie and Mr Arbuthnot, +the governor of the province. The ladies were richly attired. The +military wore their undress uniforms and the civilians were in full +dress, which consisted in that day of knee-breeches, silk stockings, and +shoes with buckles composed of silver or gold, set with brilliants or +other precious stones; the waistcoat was often of silk, satin or velvet, +richly brocaded or embroidered; the coat of blue cloth, with gilt +buttons; and a sword was not wanting to complete the costume. +</p> +<p> +It was difficult to decide at banquet or ball which presented the more +imposing appearance, the man of war or he whose avocation was of a +peaceful character, so nice were the dresses of both. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey did not forget her situation. Roaming about the lawns +and walks in a plain gown, and seeing the plainness of her own attire as +compared with those of the ladies about her, she retired to an obscure +corner of the grounds, feeling more happy under the circumstances in a +private nook than in the midst of gay and polished society. Although she +was clever, graceful and lively, she felt that the society in the +capital was, in some respects, ill-assorted. She thought the conduct of +some of the gentlemen and ladies was not wholly unimpeachable, while her +solid faith in the virtues of most of the ladies and gentlemen she met +from time to time during her stay never wavered. +</p> +<a name="h2H_4_0017" id="h2H_4_0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h2> + A CONCLUDING CHAPTER. +</h2> +<h3> + THEN, NOW, AND TO BE. +</h3> +<p> +How often do we hear of the deeds of the fathers of the country. How +often we read of them. And how little in comparison is said or written +of the hardships endured and the heroism displayed by the mothers. In +the early colonial days the women endured equal trials with the men. It +is possible that if the lives of the early settlers and the scenes of +those times were in full laid before us for review, we would find many +instances in which women displayed even greater courage than the men, +and in enduring the most severe privations and dangers, held out even +longer. +</p> +<p> +Had Captain Godfrey not been possessed with such a companion as his +wife, it seems almost certain he would have been made a prisoner and, +perhaps, been murdered. Her tact and perseverance in danger secured his +liberty and rescued him from death. +</p> +<p> +When her friends in London tried hard to persuade her from accompanying +her husband on his second venture in the colony, she calmly replied: +"Where my husband goes I can follow, if it be in the wilderness among +savages, or even through fire and blood. I love my husband, and wherever +he may be, to that spot I am attracted more strongly than to any +other." How much these brave words sound like those of Madame Cadillac, +spoken three quarters of a century earlier. +</p> +<p> +On the 24th of July, 1701, Cadillac landed at Detroit, and set himself +to found the place. Soon after this Madame Cadillac, who had been left +behind at Quebec, plunged into the wilderness to rejoin her husband. +</p> +<p> +It was a thousand miles in a birch bark canoe rowed by half-clad +Indians, and the route was through a dense forest and over great waters +swept by the September storms, but this brave woman undertook the +journey attended by only a single female companion. +</p> +<p> +When subsequently reminded of its hazards and hardships, she simply +replied: "A woman who loves her husband as she should, has no stronger +attraction than his company, where ever he may be." +</p> +<p> +The rich heritage we enjoy comes to us through the great efforts of +patriotism and dogged perseverance of our ancestors (the fathers and +mothers of the country). As we in gratitude remember the former, let us +not forget the latter. +</p> +<p> +Margaret Godfrey died in London about the year 1807, having survived her +husband fully twenty years. She was beloved by friends, and esteemed by +all who came in contact with her. She sank full of years undimmed by +failure and unclouded by reverses. Who can think of such persons as Mrs. +Godfrey without acknowledging that such are the true nobility of the +human race! +</p> +<p> +And now, when from the long distance of a hundred years or more, we +look back upon the hardships and misfortunes endured by one family of +the early colonists, we feel assured that pen and tongue can never make +fully known to us or our posterity the extent of the misery and +suffering of most of the early colonial settlers.<a href="#note-11" name="noteref-11" id="noteref-11"><small>11</small></a> +</p> +<p> +We know enough, however, to admire the heroism of our ancestors and +their firm attachment to the mother land. Our hearts should warm with +gratitude for what they have done for our happiness. And as we consider +the unflinching determination of the founders of these British colonies +to make this land a British home, we feel that we should as +unflinchingly carry on their work and expand their views. Deeply rooted +in the hearts of our ancestors was a love of the old land, and their +desire in the new was to build upon the foundations of the old. +</p> +<p> +We, under Providence, are commissioned to carry forward the work they +left unfinished. +</p> +<p> +This land was the home of our fathers and shall be the heritage of our +children. The provincial spirit of our ancestors is being merged into a +great national one. A grand idea of nationality is being deeply rooted +in the hearts of the present generation. We are preparing for all the +responsibilities and all the works of a nation, and whether our +political union with the mother country becomes weaker or stronger as +the years pass by, our love for the old land will never cease. We are +proud of our parentage. Proud of the Celtic and Saxon blood that courses +through our veins. +</p> +<p> +As our country expands, and as we continue to build, may our love of +country widen, and the light of patriotism that brightened and cheered +the hearts of our ancestors as they toiled on, brighten and deeper burn +in all our hearts, and one grand illumination throw its rays upon the +surface of two oceans. +</p> +<p> +A neighbouring nation may envy our progress and seek our union, but this +will only stimulate our energy and strengthen the bonds that bind +British Americans together. +</p> +<p> +Our fathers left us a few disunited provinces, our children will inherit +a vast dominion, bounded east and west by the world's two great seas. +</p> +<p> +In even less time than it took our ancestors a century ago to travel +from Halifax to the mouth of the St John, we can plant our feet on the +shore of the Pacific. +</p> +<p> +The stars and stripes may wave along our Southern boundary, and there +shall their proud waves be stayed +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> The Eagle may be lord below, </p> +<p class="i4"> But the young Lion lord above. </p> +</div> +</div> + +<p> +We rest firm in the belief that the decree has gone forth out of the +court of heaven, that the flag which was wrapped in its folds around the +"Young Lion of the Woods" in his last sleep, shall wave triumphantly +over Canada till peoples and nations cease to exist on earth. +</p> +<p> +The provinces in which the heroic events related in the foregoing +chapters occurred, now partake of the fortunes and sentiments and +character of a vast country. They live together with Canada, they +flourish with her, and if they are ever called upon to oppose a mightier +foe than Red men and Rebels, they will not be found unequal to the +occasion. +</p> +<p> +Never was nobler duty confided to human hands than that which was +confided to our ancestors more than a century ago. It was theirs under +providence to commence the foundations on which we are building, and in +the record of our social, industrial, educational, political and +religious progress we await with confidence the verdict of the world. +</p> +<p> +Although for the greater portion of the century the growth of the +British North American Colonies has been slow, yet it has been sound, +and it will be better for Canada in the future if the growth is not too +rapid. If the process of consolidation takes place regularly and +moderately, every institution in the land will be sounder. If the +majority of the immigrants which the country annually receives are +similar in character and principles to those of the early colonists, we +shall have nothing to fear in the future. We have nothing in our past +history to discourage us, and much in our present condition and +prospects to stimulate us. We who are privileged to live in the closing +years of the century behold a wonderful unity and an extraordinary +advancement of the whole Dominion in all its great interests. And the +man, if such there be, who was born on this soil and sprung from such an +ancestry as the early colonial settlers and United Empire Loyalists, or +from the loins of settlers of a later generation, who is not proud of +his country and of being called a British American, is unworthy of his +race and the land of his birth, and unworthy of having his name classed +with that of the noble Iroquois (Paul Guidon.) There are persons who +have acted a less noble part in life's drama, than the British officer +and his wife who settled at Grimross Neck, and even a less noble part +than Paul Guidon, who have won golden wreaths for their tombs, and since +Margaret Godfrey's name and deeds have been dug from oblivion, should +they be forgotten or the Iroquois tomb go unadorned? +</p> +<p> +Our past in its three great eras, that of settlement, Responsible +government and union, shows grand steps in the country's triumphant +march. If with decaying sectional spirit, the grand idea of British +American independence takes hold of the minds and hearts of the people, +this would be found the gradual power that would impel the country to +its national destiny. As we behold mighty provinces forming and splendid +cities rising, we begin more fully to realize the glorious career on +which the Dominion has entered, these events should compel, yea they +announce a safe, wise and splendid future. +</p> +<p> +The few millions who have sprung from those who founded the colonies, +trace back with lineal love their blood to them. So may it be in the +distant future millions more will look back with pride and trace their +blood through those who formed a nation in peace, to those who founded +the colonies, and to those who formed the union. +</p> +<p> +We may read of the past, write of the past, and think of the past. To do +so is often profitable; it is also a pleasure. But, as we admire the +spirit and works of those who have passed beyond the flood, we should +more earnestly prepare for the future. "The sleeping and the dead are +but pictures." "Yet, gazing on these long and intently, and often we may +pass into the likeness of the departed, may stimulate their labors, and +partake of their immortality." +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<p class="i4"> "The growing nation, may it prove Dominion of the Good! </p> +<p class="i4"> And ever stand, in coming years, where Britain always stood,— </p> +<p class="i4"> The foremost in the cause of right! upholder of the truth! </p> +<p class="i4"> The nation which in growth of years grows in the strength of youth! </p> +<p class="i4"> Then we may cry, with hopeful voice, unto the heavenly powers, </p> +<p class="i4"> For blessings on our native land—'This Canada of ours.'" </p> +</div> +</div> + +<h4> +FINIS. +</h4> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>Footnotes</h2> + +<a name="note-1"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>1</u> (<a href="#noteref-1">return</a>)<br /> +The full name of this British officer is not given in any +part of this work. +</p> + +<a name="note-2"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>2</u> (<a href="#noteref-2">return</a>)<br /> +</p> +<p class="foot"> + PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. +</p> +<p class="foot"> + Know all men by these presents, that we, Charles * * * Godfrey * * * and + Charles Morris, Esqs., both of Halifax, do acknowledge ourselves justly + indebted unto our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, his heirs and + successors, in the just and full sum of one thousand pounds currency of + the Province of Nova Scotia, to which payment well and truly to be made + and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators + jointly by these presents. Witness our hand and seals, this thirtieth + day of April, one thousand seven hundred and seventy, in the tenth year + of His Majesty's reign. +</p> +<p class="foot"> + CHARLES * * * GODFREY * * *<br /> + CHARLES MORRIS, JR. +</p> +<p class="foot"> + Signed and sealed in the presence of<br /> + NATHL. SHIPTON +</p> +<p class="foot"> + <i>Secretary's Office, Halifax, April 30th, 1770.</i> +</p> +<p class="foot"> + Captain * * * Godfrey * * * has the Governor's permission to occupy the + Fort and barracks of Frederick on the St. John River, &c., &c. +</p> +<p class="foot"> + RICHARD BULKELY. +</p> + + +<a name="note-3"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>3</u> (<a href="#noteref-3">return</a>)<br /> +It will be remembered that during the voyage from the mouth +of the St John to Grimross Neck, the Captain's wife was most anxious to +be on deck alone during the hours of darkness. The Iroquois and several +braves appeared before Fort Frederick on the afternoon of the day that +Captain Godfrey left for Annapolis Royal. They ran round and round the +place, calling upon the occupants of the Fort to come out, or they would +break in and murder them. The Captain's wife determined to go outside +and face the savages, but found it difficult to leave her terrified +children, who were afraid to follow her. She knew her only course was to +appear bold and fearless in presence of the red men. At length she got +the little ones pacified, as she stepped toward the opening, her +children were huddled together in a corner. She did not hesitate a +moment, but went out and advanced down the slope and stood face to face +with the savages. Paul Guidon advanced a few steps toward her. She said, +"I believe you to be an honest man, and you will not see a defenceless +woman injured and her children murdered, if you can help it." At this +moment a couple of tomahawks and several arrows passed in close +proximity to Mrs. Godfrey, and a moment after a single arrow struck her +in the arm, causing the blood to flow freely. Paul Guidon turned +suddenly and spoke firmly and decidedly to his comrades, they retired a +short distance. Margaret continued, "Why do those Indians wish to injure +me? My husband is away, and when he comes back we will leave this place +and go up the river to Grimross Neck and live there." The red man stood +silent all the time Mrs. Godfrey was speaking. He now spoke as follows, +"You no 'fraid Injuns, stand fore them like rock," at the same time +pointing down to a big boulder on which he was standing, "Brave Pale +Face." She said in reply: "I shall never be afraid while you are with +the Indians, but some of the red men I would not trust. If my King, the +Great Pale Faced Father of this country, knew of your kindness to me he +would love you. I feel that my life and the lives of my children are +safe in your hands." Margaret then asked him into the Fort. In doing +this she appears to have obeyed the cool dictates of judgment rather +than the impulses of the heart. He at first hesitated and then slowly +followed her cautiously up the rising ground. She turned around and said +to him rather sharply: "Do you fear to trust me? There are no pale faced +men inside. Did I not trust you when I went out single, alone and +unarmed, to meet you?" He quickened his pace, but glanced restlessly all +around. Arriving near the entrance of the Fort, he said: "Me stop here." +Margaret called to her children, but they would not come. Paul said: +"Children frightened with Injun." After much difficulty she persuaded +Paul to step inside. He stopped as he entered and looked wildly about, +appearing inclined to draw back. Margaret Godfrey looked straight into +his restless eyes and said: "You are my friend now. When my husband +comes back you can help us up this unknown stream to our new home." +"Yea," he replied; "me will watch on river bank and in canoe; fire gun +and point where stay night. Don't tell pale face man me be in Fort. +White man sometime kill Injun. Won't tell pale face man, say?" Here he +hesitated for a reply. Margaret took his hand, led him out, and promised +she would not. And she kept her word. +</p> + +<a name="note-4"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>4</u> (<a href="#noteref-4">return</a>)<br /> +Many of the events related in this story are founded on +facts gathered from papers contained in the box. +</p> + +<a name="note-5"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>5</u> (<a href="#noteref-5">return</a>)<br /> +Fort Massie at Halifax, part of which is now held as a +military burial ground, was named after this officer. +</p> + +<a name="note-6"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>6</u> (<a href="#noteref-6">return</a>)<br /> +In 1805, Charlie, who had received a Captain's commission, +was appointed Captain in the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry, commanded by +Colonel Fred. Wetherall. In the above year Captain Charlie Godfrey +married in Nova Scotia. +</p> + +<a name="note-7"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>7</u> (<a href="#noteref-7">return</a>)<br /> +See interpretation of the dream at close of Chapter. +</p> + +<a name="note-8"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>8</u> (<a href="#noteref-8">return</a>)<br /> +It will be remembered that Mrs. Godfrey was an Irish woman. +</p> + +<a name="note-9"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>9</u> (<a href="#noteref-9">return</a>)<br /> +What was the cause of her animosity to this noble Duke, the +writer does not know. +</p> + +<a name="note-10"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>10</u> (<a href="#noteref-10">return</a>)<br /> +The gold cross attached to Mag's neck-lace, was sent to +Paul Guidon by Sir Guy Carleton as a present. Paul received the present +while he was sojourning at Quebec. +</p> + +<a name="note-11"><!--Note--></a> +<p class="foot"> +<u>11</u> (<a href="#noteref-11">return</a>)<br /> +For a vivid account of the sufferings and hardships of the +early Colonial settlers, I would refer the reader to Ryerson's excellent +work, The Loyalists of America and their times. Vol. II. Chap. XLI. +</p> + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Young Lion of the Woods, by Thomas Barlow Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + +***** This file should be named 16181-h.htm or 16181-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/8/16181/ + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Young Lion of the Woods + A Story of Early Colonial Days + +Author: Thomas Barlow Smith + +Release Date: July 2, 2005 [EBook #16181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS; + +OR + +A Story of Early Colonial Days. + + + +BY + +THOMAS B. SMITH. + + + Here in Canadian hearth, and home, and name;-- + This name which yet shall grow + Till all the nations know + Us for a patriot people, heart and hand + Loyal to our native earth, our own Canadian land! + --Chas. G.D. Roberts. + + + +HALIFAX, N.S.: +NOVA SCOTIA PRINTING COMPANY. +1889. + +_Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year 1889, +by_ THOMAS B. SMITH, _at the Department of Agriculture_. + + + + +Dedication. + +TO MY WIFE +I DEDICATE THIS, MY FIRST WORK, +WITH MY LOVE. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The only merit that the writer claims for the following pages is, that +they contain a record of facts, setting forth the sacred sentiments of +duty, religious trust, and the spirit of liberty, amid sufferings-and +hardships of persons, whose loyalty was put to the severest test. + +It has been beautifully said, "that he who sets a colony on foot designs +a great work." "He designs all the good, and all the glory, of which, in +the series of ages, it might be the means; and he shall be judged more +by the lofty, ultimate aim and result, than by the actual instant +motive. You may well admire, therefore, the solemn and adorned +plausibilities of the colonizing of Rome from Troy, in the Eneid! Though +the leader had been burned out of house and home, and could not choose +but go. You may find in the flight of the female founder of the gloomy +greatness of Carthage a certain epic interest; yet was she running from +the madness of her husband to save her life. Emigration from our stocked +communities of undeified men and women, emigration for conquest, for +gold, for very restlessness of spirit, if they grow toward an imperial +issue, have all thus a prescriptive and recognized ingredient of +heroism. But when the immediate motive is as grand as the ultimate hope +was lofty, and the ultimate success splendid, then, to use an expression +of Bacon's," "the music is fuller." + +In the hope that the privations and heroic conduct of those who are the +subjects of the story, in the following chapters, may prove as +interesting to the public as they did to the writer, when he first +learned the history of such heroism, the writer submits them to the +reader. + +_JANUARY_, 1889. + + + + +CONTENTS Page + + +YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS; + A Story of Early Colonial Days. i + +PREFACE. 1 + +INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER 3 + +CHAPTER I. + FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70. 10 + +CHAPTER II. + TRADING,--TROUBLE,--RETREAT. 25 + +CHAPTER III. + ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK--PAUL GUIDON. 36 + +CHAPTER IV. + TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA. 52 + +CHAPTER V. + CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL. + --YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. 67 + +CHAPTER VI. + IN ENGLAND.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS. 76 + +CHAPTER VII. + ARRIVAL AND RETREAT. 80 + +CHAPTER VIII. + REBEL PLANS--PRAYING THE LORDS. 95 + +CHAPTER IX. + PAUL GUIDON. 100 + +CHAPTER X. + MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA. + --DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. 104 + +CHAPTER XI. + MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL. 120 + +CHAPTER XII. + MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG. + --SOCIETY AT HALIFAX. 133 + +A CONCLUDING CHAPTER. + THEN, NOW, AND TO BE. 141 + + + + +INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER + + +The records of the lives and actions of those who have preceded us in +the procession of the generations, are full of instruction and interest. +In many instances they hold up to our emulation great models of +patriotism, patience, endurance, activity and pluck. It is to be +regretted that many documents of past ages have been destroyed through +lack of knowledge of their real value, and of the light they would have +thrown upon the early history of the country. Some few, regarded merely +as the relics of departed ancestors, have been so secretly kept and +treasured, that dust, must and rust have all but completely defaced +them. + +If our ancestors had been wise in preserving the papers of their +fathers, long ago there might have been collected from such documents, +and displayed, many particulars of positive information concerning the +very early history of the English in Acadia. + +We might have possessed a much fuller history of the times when great +difficulties and dangers opposed the settlers. When rushing rivers had +to be crossed without boat or bridge; when men and women often found it +necessary to contend single handed with Indians; and when, for meeting +the many obstacles that placed themselves in their path, our ancestors +were often but poorly equipped. + +Whilst we take pride in the hardships cheerfully borne by our +forefathers in the early colonial days, may we not be sometimes inclined +to forget those fleet-footed, clever, dusky sons of the forest, to whose +generous aid they were not infrequently indebted for protection from +hostile men and savage beasts, and even sometimes for sustenance? + +When we have secured positive information that now and again there have +appeared among the brawny men of the forest noble specimens of all that +is true and kind, let us not fail to record their deeds of faithfulness +and heroism. The least we can do for such is to bring to light their +actions and preserve their history. When beneath the shade of the +forest, on the trackless desert, on the rushing river, in tempest and +thunder, or when watching in the vicinity of an old fort or near the log +cabin of the early colonists, the Red man has been found a faithful +friend and guide; should not his deeds of kindness, faithfulness and +bravery be recorded side by side with those of the noblest of the human +race? + +The story related in the following chapters has been gathered from facts +stated in time-worn documents, which have been lying for generations +concealed in a wooden box. The only regret of the writer is, that it was +impossible for him to gain access to all the old musty and defaced +papers in the box. The old gentleman, in whose possession they were +found, is very old and eccentric, and by no effort or persuasion could +the writer induce him to part company with the documents, but for a +short time. But although the task of procuring them was extremely +difficult, and that of deciphering them afterwards was both difficult +and tedious, still the satisfaction of having rescued from decay and +destruction, what seems so interesting, is satisfaction sufficient for +the writer. + +That portion of the documents relating the events in connection with the +first and second settlement of an English officer and his family, during +the last century, in a district which is now said to be one of the most +beautiful portions of Canada, is most instructive and interesting, +although at times, while deciphering it, the writer felt his blood +quicken in its pulsations, and tears forcing their way to the surface. + +A few years previous to this English officers first attempt at +settlement in Nova Scotia, he came out to Quebec with his regiment. The +remaining portion of this introductory chapter will narrate some events +in connection with the early life of the officer, his coming to Quebec +with his regiment, his short stay there, and his return to his native +country:-- + +On board the transport _Pitt_, in the year 1765, at Cork, embarked +Captain Godfrey with his regiment, the 52nd foot, for Quebec, North +America. + +On the passage the _Pitt_ was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where +Captain Godfrey with his regiment suffered many hardships. + +The ship ran ashore in a dense fog, which had prevailed for several +days. The Captain remaining by the wreck for eleven days, assisted in +saving the lives of the soldiers wives and children, and in landing the +King's stores. The transport struck well up the gulf on the Nova Scotian +coast (now New Brunswick). The exact locality is not stated. The night +of the disaster was densely dark, and soon after striking the ship +began to pound and leak badly. Had the wind sprung up during the hours +of darkness not a soul on board would have lived to record the tale. +Very early the next morning, as Captain Godfrey was standing on the +quarter deck, conversing with the officer in charge of the ship, the +rain began suddenly to descend in torrents and the wind to freshen. The +mist that had enshrouded the ship for so many days, began to lift, and +the sun shone through by instalments. Soon it was seen that the _Pitt_ +was hemmed in by rocks, almost wedged in among them. Fortunately the +storm soon abated, and the situation of the vessel kept her in an +upright position. The fog settled down again, and for the next ten days +all on board were kept busy in saving their effects and the King's +stores. + +At the end of ten days all on board were taken off. General Murray, +commanding at Quebec, by some means not recorded, having heard of the +disaster, sent a man-of-war schooner to the relief of the sufferers, and +they were safely conveyed to Quebec. + +Captain Godfrey, through exposure and fatigue, contracted a severe cold, +and at last, his life being despaired of, the surgeon of the regiment +advised his return to England. He applied to General Clavering for leave +of absence, or to grant him permission to sell out of the army. The +permission being granted, he soon set about preparing to leave Quebec, +and rejoin his wife and five children in England. Captain Godfrey notes +in a memorandum his great sorrow in parting from his regiment, and that +his zeal for serving his King and country was so great that nothing but +extreme weakness would have induced him to part from his regiment and +King George the Third's service. + +Before leaving Quebec to return home to his native land, Captain Godfrey +visited the spot where, six years before, the gallant Wolfe had poured +out his life's blood in the service of his King and country. Here the +Captain knelt and offered up to Him who guides the stars in their +courses, thanksgiving for the brilliant and decisive victory gained by +the British arms. + +The following is from one of his memoranda:--"As I stood, and as I knelt +where Wolfe fell, I more than ever realized what it is to be a brave +soldier and a good man. As I rose from the spot I whispered to myself, +if I am, through the providence of the Almighty, allowed to once again +visit my native land, I will go to the widowed mother of General Wolfe +and tell her where I have been and what I have seen. That I have stood +on the very spot where victory and death gave the crowning lustre to the +name of her great son." + +Charles Godfrey was born at St Ann's, England, in the year 1730. The +following, copied from an old document, gives a brief sketch of his +early career:--"Was put on board His Majesty's ship _Bedford_, Capt. +Cornwall master, in the year 1741, and in 1742 went out to the +Mediterranean. In 1743 was at the siege of Villa Franca, where with a +large party of seamen was ordered on shore, and quartered at a six gun +battery, under the command of Capt. Gugger, of the Royal Artillery. Was +at the battle of Toulon, with Admirals Matthews and Lostock, on board +said ship _Bedford_, then commanded by George Townsend. Was at the +taking of several rich ships off the Island of Malta, which ships and +their cargoes were afterward restored to the Genoese. Continued in the +navy till the peace of Utretch, and for sometime subsequently. +Afterward, a warrant being procured, attended the Royal Academy at +Woolwich as a gentleman cadet, in which station was allowed to remain +till 1755. Received a commission, and was appointed to the 52nd foot, by +the recommendation of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was +afterwards pleased to recommend me for a Lieutenancy, and a few years +later my friends procured for me a Captaincy." + +[1]Captain Godfrey returned to England on board a transport from Quebec. +This young officer appears to have been highly respected by the +different Generals and Field Officers under whom he had served. He was +presented, shortly after his arrival in England, with a certificate of +character, signed by Lieut.-Genl. John Clavering, Colonel of the 52nd +Regt., Lieut.-Genl. Edward Sandford, Lieut.-Genl. Sir John Seabright, +Major-Genl. Guy Carleton, Major-Genl. John Alex. McKay, Lieut.-Col. +Valentine Jones, Lieut.-Genl. Burgoyue, and Major Philip Skene. + +[Footnote 1: The full name of this British officer is not given in any +part of this work.] + +The above has been copied principally for the purpose of showing that +the following story has for its characters those who once lived and +moved in the early English colonial life of Acadia. If the districts and +places where the events related in this book occurred could speak, they +would tell nearly the same thrilling and extraordinary story. In many +of these localities great and important changes have taken place through +a century and a quarter of time, but the records of the past remain +unchanged. + +Our barns may be built over the graves of the Indians, and our houses on +the sites of their wigwams; our cattle may graze upon the hillsides and +valleys of their hunting grounds, and our churches may be erected on +positions where the Red men of the forest gathered together to invoke +the blessing of the Great Chief of the everlasting hunting ground, yet +what is truly written of the past must remain unalterable. + + * * * * * + +NOTE.--The wrecked transport _Pitt_ was named, it is said, in honour of +the Earl of Chatham; and tradition states that one of the boats of the +ship drifted from the wreck and went ashore at a point of land near +where the town of Chatham now stands, the ship's name being painted on +the boat; and from this circumstance Chatham, on the Miramichi River, +received its name. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COLONIAL LIFE, 1769-70. + + +Captain Godfrey's health gradually improved after his return to his +native country. When he thought himself sufficiently recovered he felt +anxious to embark in some branch of business, and not feeling inclined +to do so in England, he purchased a grant of land from Lynge Tottenham, +Esq., this land was situated on the bank of the River St. John, Nova +Scotia. + +In the early part of the year 1769, after three years of rest, Captain +Godfrey purchased various kinds of merchandize, which he was advised +were best adapted to the colonial trade. He freighted a vessel in +London, and embarked with his wife and family for Halifax, in the month +of June, 1769. + +On the passage out the weather was usually fine, but the progress was +slow, and nothing remarkable occurred on board during the sixty-two days +they were in crossing the Atlantic. + +Soon after landing at Halifax, Captain Godfrey heard that the Governor +of Nova Scotia, (Lord William Campbell,) required some person of +experience to enter into possession of Fort Frederick, situated at the +mouth of the River St. John, and take charge of the arms, ammunition, +and all other of His Majesty King George the Third's stores. He had an +interview with the Governor and was appointed to take charge of the +fort. + +After having secured the appointment at Fort Frederick, he concluded to +commence trading operations at that post, and gave bonds to the governor +in the sum of one thousand pounds for the privilege of carrying on a +legitimate business with the settlers and Indians.[2] + +[Footnote 2: + + PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA. + + Know all men by these presents, that we, Charles * * * Godfrey * * * and + Charles Morris, Esqs., both of Halifax, do acknowledge ourselves justly + indebted unto our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, his heirs and + successors, in the just and full sum of one thousand pounds currency of + the Province of Nova Scotia, to which payment well and truly to be made + and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators + jointly by these presents. Witness our hand and seals, this thirtieth + day of April, one thousand seven hundred and seventy, in the tenth year + of His Majesty's reign. + + CHARLES * * * GODFREY * * * + CHARLES MORRIS, JR. + + Signed and sealed in the presence of + NATHL. SHIPTON + + + _Secretary's Office, Halifax, April 30th, 1770._ + + Captain * * * Godfrey * * * has the Governor's permission to occupy the + Fort and barracks of Frederick on the St. John River, &c., &c. + + RICHARD BULKELY.] + +After spending the winter at Halifax, he chartered a brig in the month +of May, 1770, and then putting on board his goods and stores sailed for +Fort Frederick with his wife and family. On his arrival at the fort he +carefully surveyed the situation and concluded that he would abandon the +idea of trading there. + +He found no one at the fort to assist him in protecting it, and a few +days after his arrival the Indians became so troublesome and threatening +that he found it would be impossible to remain there, protect the fort +single-handed, and carry on trading operations successfully. + +One afternoon the Indians appeared before the fort in numbers, +threatening that if the place was not vacated at once they would murder +the occupants. They then made a rush and got within the enclosure, and +soon after retired. + +Captain Godfrey had fortunately purchased from the master of the vessel +in which he brought his merchandize to the fort, a small boat. The boat +had been securely moored at the island below the fort. + +The day following the assembling at the fort the savages again appeared +and attempted to steal the boat, and would have done so had not Mrs. +Godfrey succeeded in reaching the shore in time to discharge a musket at +the thieves. The Redskins pulled the boat to the spot where she stood, +but Mrs. Godfrey never moved from the position she had taken. When the +Indians were in the act of jumping on shore she ordered them to take the +boat back to the place from whence they had loosed it. One of the +Redskins, a tall, muscular fellow, who could speak some English, asked +her if she would get into the boat and go with them. If so, the boat +would be taken back and made fast. She replied, "I have no doubt you are +an honest man and would do no injury to a weak, pale-faced woman, I will +go with you." And as she said these words, she sprang into the boat and +sat down, resting the musket upon her knees. + +The Indians paddled the boat back to the place whence they had loosed +it, and not one of them uttered a word. After the boat had been made +fast Mrs. Godfrey was assisted ashore by the tall, muscular savage, his +four companions walking away without saying a word. They were soon +joined by their tall, muscular friend, and a few minutes later all were +lost to view among the trees on the shore. + +Mrs. Godfrey retired to the fort, where she was warmly congratulated by +her husband for the tact and courage she had displayed in presence of +the savages. She replied, "the Indians seemed completely taken aback +when I jumped into the boat and had not recovered from their surprise +when they parted from me, and while I was sitting in the boat, the deep, +black eyes of the tall, muscular fellow looked straight and steady at +me, and at times I felt as though they were piercing me through and +through." + +The evening was a solemn one at Fort Frederick. The Captain and his wife +talked over their situation, and the children were restless, the +slightest noise about the place making the little ones tremble like +aspen leaves. The Captain and his wife agreed that it would be useless, +while the Indians were so troublesome, to remain at the Fort and attempt +to transact business with the settlers, who were few indeed. + +As they sat together that night in the Fort by the dim light of a +flickering candle, expecting every moment to be disturbed by the +war-whoop of the savages, Captain Godfrey said to Margaret, (for such +was the name of his wife,) "our situation is serious." She replied, "I +believe it to be most dangerous." "What move would you propose," asked +the Captain. Margaret answered, "I would propose to return to Halifax, +if it be possible to get there." The Captain then said to his wife, +"What do you think about going to Grimross Neck where our grant of land +is?" Margaret replied, "I am your wife, whatever you think best to do, +do it, and I will follow and support you to the best of my ability." She +then, together with her husband and children, knelt in the lonely Fort +and asked Him who had guided and protected them thus far not to forsake +them in their present situation, but to guide, instruct and lead them in +the future. She rose on her feet, walked across the small, dingy +apartment, kissed each of the children, then taking her husband by the +hand, said to him, in a clear and decided voice, "Whither thou goest I +will follow, where thou resteth I will rest, and where thou settlest +there will I be found with thee." And in presence of the children God +had given them, they bound their hearts to suffering and death. + +Fatigue and fear had overcome the little ones, and in a short time they +were sleeping soundly upon the floor. + +After some further conversation between the Captain and his wife, it was +agreed that he should attempt to proceed before dawn in the little boat +to Annapolis Royal, and there, if possible, purchase a small vessel +suitable to convey his goods and family up the river to his grant of +land. + +At four o'clock he secretly and alone left the fort, waving with his +hand an adieu to his wife, as he stepped out of the door. He carried +with him to the boat a camp blanket which he intended to hoist as a +sail. At four o'clock, thirty minutes, he was on his way. As the little +boat passed the island at the mouth of the harbour a breeze sprang up. +He hoisted the sail, making it fast to one of the oars, which was used +as a mast; the other oar being brought into play for steering purposes. +Captain Godfrey had been fortunate in bringing with him from England +several small compasses and two larger ones, one of the latter he took +with him. + +A gentle but fair breeze followed the little ship from land to land. The +Captain found great difficulty in sighting the entrance to Digby Bay, +where he arrived safe and sound at eleven o'clock the following morning. + +The next day he proceeded to Annapolis Royal arriving there at noon, +where he purchased a large sloop, and without delay got his boat on +board and next day at the turn of tide sailed for Digby. Here he took on +board some water, and after waiting several hours for a fair wind sailed +for the mouth of the St. John. At ten o'clock, a.m., June 30th, he set +sail to recross the Bay of Fundy and rejoin his wife and family at Fort +Frederick. He arrived off the harbour the following morning quite early, +but was unable to anchor off Fort Frederick, till the evening on account +of fog. On arriving at the Fort he was greatly relieved of apprehensions +that would obtrude themselves upon him during his lonely trip by finding +his wife and children all well. + +The following day he commenced to get his merchandize on board the +sloop. His wife and eldest son assisting. It took fully ten days to +accomplish the task, which proved to be a tedious and toilsome one +indeed. At last, everything being ready, he vacated Fort Frederick and +sailed for his possessions up the river, intending there to settle and +trade. + +Not many hours after they had left the Fort the report of a musket was +heard from the shore. Soon a canoe was seen approaching the sloop. As it +came near the vessel, an Indian was seen as its only occupant. He +paddled his canoe alongside the sloop. Captain Godfrey attentively +watched his every movement while Mrs. Godfrey seemed quite indifferent +at the presence of the stranger. She threw him a small line and made +signs to him to make fast his canoe, which he appeared quickly to +understand. Mrs. Godfrey then motioned to the Indian to come on board, +and he at once bounded over the rail. As he stood on deck, his comely +Indian features were lit up by a good humoured smile. He looked a giant, +brave and active. He was teeming all over with youthful vigour. His eyes +were black like polished jet, sparkling and deep set. His mouth large, +square and firm; and his hair like threads of coarse, black silk, +brushed back from a low, narrow forehead, hung loosely down over his +broad, square shoulders. + +His whole frame seemed stirred with a strong nervous action, and a quick +but expressive motion of his small brown hand appeared as a signal for +conversation. He at once spoke, "May be if go to Grimross be scalped," +and every word brought with it increased action of both hand and body. +He continued, "Indians say war coming, must have pale face blood and +scalp." + +Capt. Godfrey said not a word, but looked serious and pale; while deep +anxiety was pictured on every feature of his face. He felt that it was +no use to retreat, and situated as they were, where could they retreat +in safety. Fort Frederick at the mouth of the river had been surrounded +by blood-thirsty savages, who had threatened them with fire and murder +if they did not abandon the place. In this distracting situation Captain +Godfrey held a council of war within himself, and finally decided, come +what might, evil or good, he would push on to his destination. + +He wondered how the Indian knew he was bound for Grimross. It occurred +to him that perhaps the savage was trying to find out where he intended +to land, and there be on hand to murder all on board and seize the sloop +and cargo. He thought, "if the Indian is sincere in warning us, what +interest has he in doing so? What could he expect in return for his kind +act?" These and many similar thoughts rushed quickly through the +agitated brain of the Captain. The Indian stood silent and motionless +for a moment, then returned to his canoe and paddled toward the shore. + +The eyes of Captain Godfrey followed the Red man to the shore and +watched him until he disappeared among the trees on the river bank. The +sloop was kept on her course up the river. Just after the sun had sunk +beneath the horizon, Captain Godfrey, by the persuasion of his wife, +anchored the sloop in a small recess in the shore. From the time the +Indian had reached the bank the Captain's wife scarcely ever lifted her +eyes from gazing on the right bank of the river. Was she watching for a +place to safely anchor at night? Or was she watching for the Indian's +return? These questions were agitating the Captain's thoughts. + +Captain Godfrey had never fully recovered from a weakness to his nervous +system, caused by the severe hardships he had endured in the Gulf of St +Lawrence. He was strongly opposed to anchoring the sloop so near the +shore. He felt fearful that during the long watches of the night all on +board might be murdered. The armament of the vessel consisted of two +muskets, two pistols, and a sword. Her cargo was valued at over two +thousand pounds sterling. She was deeply laden, and it was with great +difficulty that all the goods and chattels had been stowed on board; +several boxes and bundles being closely packed and lashed on deck. + +After everything had been made snug on board, sails furled, &c., the +Captain and his wife asked the blessing of the all-seeing One during the +hours of the night. The Captain was very tired, and the events of the +day had not added to his comfort. His wife persuaded him to go into the +small cabin and rest. She promised to call him if the least danger +appeared. She said that she was only too willing to stand as sentinel +until the sun-rise. It was only through a knowledge of the determined +spirit, good judgment, quick eye, and self possession of his wife that +he was induced to retire to rest. + +The children unconscious of the dangers surrounding them, were nestled +together in the small cabin like young birds in a nest. During four long +hours nothing unusual occurred to break the stillness of the night. The +rustling of the leaves on the trees not many yards distant, and the +rippling of the water were all that could be heard, a dense darkness, a +blackness doubly deep appeared to settle over and around the little +vessel. The sentinel placed her soft white hand close to her face but +could not even distinguish its outlines. + +At this moment there flashed through her mind the words, "Watchman, +what of the night." The words were accompanied by a hand gently laid +upon her shoulder. She remained as motionless as a statue in the gloom. +A gentle breath whispered in her ear, "me Paul;" "come tell you Indians +on other bank river;" adding strength to the expression by taking her +hand and pointing it to the opposite bank. He then again whispered, +"Fire gun next setting sun, where stop," and then suddenly left her +side, and she saw nothing more that night of Paul Guidon, for such was +the Indian's name. + +Captain Godfrey, after his many days of toil and anxiety, slept so +soundly that he did not wake till the sun had risen. As soon as +breakfast was over, and a chapter had been read from an old family +Bible, which had accompanied four generations of the Landers through +this vale of tears, sorrows and joys, and a short prayer read from an +old service book, presented to Captain Godfrey by General Murray at +Quebec, the sloop was got under way and proceeded on her voyage, the +wind being fair and light. The prospect was not one to gladden the +hearts of the voyagers, though the day was fine and sky clear. The +progress was slow. Captain Godfrey was in better spirits than on the +previous day, the quiet night and refreshing sleep had somewhat braced +him up. The children sat on deck during the day, chatting, playing and +singing, while their mother, dauntless and buoyant in spirit, retired to +rest in the little smoke-box of a cabin. She knew that very much +depended upon her behaviour and courage in safely reaching Grimross +Neck. She closed her eyes with the whispered words upon her lips, "I +will follow what I believe to be the path of safety, and I will tread it +with a firm and unfaltering footstep, praise to the Great King who sent +us Paul Guidon in the thick darkness to watch over us from the river's +bank. It brings to my remembrance what I have read in the Book of books, +of Pharaoh's daughter standing at the river's brink and rescuing the +babe, and seeing that no harm befell it." + +Little progress was made during the day. An hour or two before the +shadows of evening had begun to fling their leaden mantle around the +sloop, Mrs. Godfrey appeared on deck. Perfect stillness seemed to reign +on every hand; even the little craft appeared to be half asleep, so +lazily did she move along. All above and about stretched the wondrous +beauty of the sky; the deep blue clouds, as the day wore away, becoming +tinged with gold, contrasted in loveliness with the green of earth. Not +a sound was there to stir the perfect stillness except the rippling of +the water against the vessel. + +As Margaret sat beside her husband on that lovely evening of July, the +deep feelings that were stirred within her soul seemed to find their +natural outlet, as she turned to her husband and said, "this seems like +a glimpse of some better world." He replied, "it appears as though we +are sailing through a land of perfect rest." "I trust we are, though we +sail through a country peopled with savages." She replied, "To-day we +beheld the sun in his glory, and strong in his power, now he is +departing, but I trust as we continue to sail o'er the ocean of time, +guided by the King of Pilots toward a land where glory never fades, and +where the True Light never grows dim, our passage may continually be lit +up by the reflecting rays of the Sun of Righteousness." As she finished +speaking a bright light flashed on the starboard shore, quickly followed +by the report of a musket. The Captain, starting at the report, +remarked, "perhaps that Indian (Paul) has been watching and following." +Here the Captain's words were cut short by a loud cry from one of the +children and the sound of a splash. Little Jack, the fourth child, had +tripped against the forward rail and gone overboard. His mother, almost +as quickly as the flash of a gun, threw herself overboard at the stern +of the sloop, holding on to the rail with her hands and calling to the +little fellow to catch hold of her dress, as the tide carried him toward +her. He was too far out to reach her skirt, and the running water +carried him by her. She immediately let go both hands and floated from +the vessel, and made a desperate effort to reach her boy. The Captain, +almost beside himself, put the helm hard down, and was in the act of +plunging in. Meantime his wife and son were drifting farther away. Just +then, making a second desperate effort, she succeeded in grasping her +child. At this moment a canoe shot like an arrow past the sloop, in it +was Paul Guidon, paddling with might and main, making straight for the +drowning mother and her boy. In another minute he had the child grasped +firmly in his long sinewy arms, and laying his breast and head over the +stern of the canoe, he called to the mother to grasp at once his long +hair as its ends fell into the water. He managed to get the child safely +into his canoe, but he experienced great difficulty in saving its +mother. She drifted fully one hundred yards, but all the distance +holding stoutly to the Indian's locks. With all the strength of Paul +Guidon he was not able to get Mrs. Godfrey into the canoe. Once he +nearly succeeded, but almost upset his little bark. He told her to cling +tightly to his hair, as he shoved the paddle over her head, and at last +he got the canoe to move slowly ahead, and in a few minutes time he was +at the side of the sloop, and the mother and child were rescued from a +watery grave. The Indian would not go on board, and as soon as he saw +that the mother and child were likely to recover, he pulled away to the +shore. + +The child soon recovered, but the mother lay upon the deck for some time +in a half unconscious state. At times a quiet happiness seemed singing +in her soul, that often broke into words of praise as the vessel drifted +along in the stillness. On the right and left slept the country with its +wooded hills and dales. As Margaret Godfrey recovered she said, +"Charles, we appear to be sleeping on to our destination." "Yes," he +said; "but perhaps that Indian has been watching and following us, +hiding among the trees along the shore; and as we have been going slowly +all day, he could with ease keep way with us. He may now consider us far +enough away from the fort to decoy and murder us, seize our vessel and +goods, and no suspicion rest upon him as the murderer and robber." + +"It may be that he has accomplices on our track; a band of savages to +quietly dispose of us and seize our possessions." As he spoke these +words he appeared much more agitated than on the previous evening. +Margaret replied, "God's will be done! We must anchor at some point +to-night--Why not anchor here? At the earnest solicitation of his wife, +Captain Godfrey consented to run the sloop toward the shore and anchor. + +After a lengthened discussion between the Captain and his wife upon the +question of keeping watch during the night, Margaret carried her point, +and soon after stood alone on the deck. + +The reader, doubtless, will wonder why Margaret expressed so strong a +desire to keep watch through the long, lonely hours of darkness. Before +the conclusion of the story is reached, he will have found out the +reason. + +Soon all was hushed, gross darkness had gathered over the face of +nature, and the eyes of the beloved on board were closed in sleep. At +about midnight Margaret was slightly startled at hearing a footstep on +deck. "Paul," she whispered, "is that you." "Me," he answered in a low, +soft tone. "Most Indians away, far up country after game, and not come +back few days." + +Paul Guidon was a sub-chief, and one of the bravest of the tribe over +which he exercised some authority. He was feared and respected by all +the tribes of the St. John. He had used all his cunning and power to +pilot the sloop safely to her destination. He had for several days +spread the report that large herds of caribou and moose had appeared in +a part of the country forty miles west of the St. John River. The +Indians took the bait and had suddenly left in pursuit of the game. + +Before leaving the deck Paul advised Margaret to get the vessel under +way at daylight next morning, in order that the journey might be +completed before the next setting of the sun. He then took Mrs. Godfrey +by the hand and raising it to his broad breast passed it firmly over his +quickly throbbing heart, and almost instantly turned and shot from her +presence like an arrow in the darkness. Very early in the morning the +sloop was made ready to proceed on her voyage. The wind was blowing +stiffly and fair, the little vessel reached along and arrived at her +destination at five o'clock in the afternoon. The anchor was let go +between an island and the river's bank. Thanksgiving and praise were +offered on board for past mercies and supplication for continued +guidance. Neither was Paul Guidon forgotten, for Margaret breathed a +silent supplication to Him who can soften and subdue the savage breast, +to guide, control and direct the life and steps of her benefactor. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TRADING,--TROUBLE,--RETREAT. + + +After landing at Grimross, Captain Godfrey looked about to find his lot +of land. Lot No. 14 he found belonged to a Captain Spry, lot No. 15 to a +Reverend Smith, and his own lot he found to be No. 16. These lots were +all facing the St. John river, and extending back parallel with each +other. In looking over the plan of the lots, it appears that Captain +Godfrey settled on No. 14, Spry's lot, and on this lot he commenced +trading operations in an old house situated not far from a stream +leading from a lake on his own lot to the St. John. On Captain Godfrey's +lot were two small log houses, one occupied by a person named Sayhon, +and the other by a man named Crabtree. It may be, that the Captain +settled on Spry's lot because he could trade here to the best advantage. +Here he commenced business after expending forty pounds, sterling money, +in repairing the log house and adding a store room, made of solid logs. +About the middle of September, 1770, he opened out his wares and began +business. A few days later several Redskins came to his shop and warned +him to move away from the place, threatening, if he did not do so, to +burn his buildings and goods. + +The Indians did not trouble him further until the middle of November, +when about thirty of them came to his place of business with beaver, +otter, raccoon, mink and other skins. These he took in exchange for +blankets, powder and other goods, the Indians appearing well satisfied +with the exchange. About a fortnight later the Indians again returned in +numbers, accompanied by a white man who acted as spokesman. The white +man, a peculiar looking character, with one eye looking due north and +the other due east, from beneath a forehead very much resembling that of +a monkey, stuttered out to Captain G.: "We-e-e-e co-co-me t-t-to +war-war-warn you t-to g-g-g-git ou-out. Th-the la-lan-lands ar-are Free +n-sh le-le-lands, an-and th-the In-in-d-dans we-we-will dri-dri-drive +aw-all de-de-damd E-e-en-glis way, an-an gi-gi-give the-the-em +b-b-b-back to Fre-e-e-nsh." The Indians and their low-browed, cross-eyed +spokesman then left the Captain's place of business without uttering +another word. On Christmas day, 1770, or about one month after their +last visit, eight of the Indians, accompanied by two squaws, returned to +the store at Grimross Neck and whooped out in tones of fury, "Fire, +blood, scalps." + +Captain Godfrey immediately barred his shop door, and also the door of +his house, seeing that the savages were bent on mischief. The children +were inside the store and house, and were terrified and trembling. At +length the Redskins became so excited and noisy and so wild in their +movements, that the place seemed like a pandemonium. They were-armed, +each one having a knife about ten inches in length stuck in his belt. + +Captain Godfrey consulted with his wife as to the wisest course to be +pursued, but no definite line of action was arranged. The two old +muskets were in the bedroom, loaded, not having been discharged since +they were fired off on leaving Fort Frederick. The Captain's wife ran to +the room and brought out both guns into the kitchen. She handed one to +her husband remarking, "if the brutes attempt to force their way into +the house shoot the first one that puts his moccasin over the door +sill." At this time the howling, yelling and cursing of the +blood-thirsty fiends would strike terror into the stoutest heart. +Finally they took up a large stick of wood that was lying near the +kitchen door and made a desperate attempt to smash it in. Mrs. Godfrey, +who had stood near the door for sometime, appeared calm and decided amid +all the murderous clamour. She stepped back a pace, and placing the butt +of the musket against her hip, with the muzzle slanting upwards, stood +firm as a statue. + +The door was soon forced and the fiends came tumbling in. Mrs. Godfrey +fired, the charge going over the heads of the savages and entering the +ceiling above the door. The Indians in the rear seeing their comrades +fall, and thinking they were killed by the shot, at once retreated +uttering terrible threats of vengeance. One of the squaws, a short, +stout old creature, was so terrified by the report of the musket and the +falling to the floor of the three Indians, that in her bewildered +retreat she tumbled headlong down a steep, stony bank and laid as if +dead on the ice below. She was left by her companions, who travelled as +fast as their legs would carry them. The old squaw was found and taken +prisoner by Mrs. Godfrey. Her nose and one rib were broken, her left arm +dislocated at the elbow, and both her eyes completely closed with heavy +shutters. She presented a pitiable appearance, as she staggered along +toward the house supported by her captor. The Indians were so completely +surprised and cowed by the courage of Mrs. Godfrey that they never came +back to look after the wounded squaw, or sent to inquire whether she was +living or dead. + +As soon as the old squaw began to recover, Mrs. Godfrey found out that +the old woman could speak some English. She said she was a widow about +sixty years old. That her husband had been killed at Fort Pitt in 1763. +Her only son had been taken prisoner by the English at Fort Pitt, and +had afterwards remained nine moons with an English officer in New York. +The officer went away to England and wanted her son to go with him, but +on the eve of the officer's departure he ran away, soon got on the trail +of his mother, and at last found her at Detroit living with a band of +Iroquois. Not long afterward she and her boy wandered from post to post +and camp to camp until they at last got over among the tribe on the St. +John, where they had made their home among a strange tribe for the past +two years. Her son did not respect the tribe with whom they lived. He +had often told her that these Indians were not pure bloods. Her son was +sixteen years old when taken prisoner at Fort Pitt. She had always been +called Mag, but when any of the tribe addressed her, it was by the not +very respectful addition of "Old Mag." Her boy had gone toward the +setting sun to be with a party of English officers on a hunting +excursion, he had left her in September and would not return for some +moons. + +Captain Godfrey and his family rested in comparative peace for some +weeks, and Mrs. Godfrey drew from Old Mag many stories respecting the +manner of life among the various tribes of American Indians. + +About one month after the old squaw had been captured, she began to +appear exceedingly dull and dispirited. The Captain's wife said to her +one morning, "Mag, are you ill," "No! no!" she replied, "me no sick +to-day," "bad dream some nights ago. Saw all Indians outside house, and +big black devil's spirit come into them, black spirits come out woods, +and fire on their heads, all went into Indians and made them dance war, +yell and whoop and burn house." + +All went fairly well until the 26th February, 1771, when the red men +again appeared at the premises of the Captain. They were armed, and +their actions seemed to be in keeping with Old Mag's dream. + +Their shrieks, yells and war-whoops were terrible, they acted like +demons. The children hid under the beds and held on to the garments of +their parents. The terrified little ones trembled like leaves in an +autumn breeze. Spirits let loose from the regions of the damned could +hardly present a more devilish appearance than did the savages. They +were armed with muskets. Old Mag, who was crouching in a corner of the +kitchen, shook with fear, her teeth were chattering, and she appeared +like a person badly affected with fever and ague. + +The Redskins, about twenty in number, ran round and round the house +roaring like wild beasts thirsting for gore. Charlie, the Captain's +eldest boy, came rushing into the kitchen screaming out that two of the +Indians were making a fire at the store door. Captain Godfrey ran to the +shop, looked out of the window and was horrified to find the side of the +building in flames. A minute after he had left the kitchen two of the +red devils broke in the door, Mrs. Godfrey, with Charlie holding on to +her skirt, had taken up a position in front of Old Mag, as the charging +enemy came toward her, she fired. There was a yell, as of death. Captain +Godfrey had placed the other musket in Old Mag's lap, Mrs. Godfrey +instantly seized it and quick as a flash again fired and the door way +was cleared. + +In a few moments the smoke had cleared away. Two human forms lay across +the door sill and one within the kitchen. These were the bodies of one +dead and two dying Indians. The dead man was completely scalped, the +whole top of his head being torn off. The other two were so terribly +mutilated about their faces and necks that they lived but a few minutes. +Forty minutes after Mrs. Godfrey had fired the first shot scarcely a +vestige of anything remained on the spot where the house had stood. As +soon as the savages were aware that three of their comrades had fallen +in the assault, they beat a hasty retreat. + +Let the reader pause for a few moments to consider the situation of +Captain Godfrey, his wife and their five children. There they were alone +in the wilderness, thousands of miles from friends and home. Out in the +cold, amid the frost and snow of an Acadian winter, without a house to +shelter them, a friend to cheer them, or a fire to warm them; surrounded +by demons of the forest, panting and thirsting for their blood. There +was no possible escape by water, the St. John was covered by a thick +winding sheet of ice, and the sloop was lying some miles away in an icy +bed of a lake. The history of early colonial life does not and cannot +present a more affecting scene than that of the Godfrey family, as they +stood alone on the banks of the river St. John in the midnight of a Nova +Scotian winter. + +All that was saved from the flames were several pieces of half-burnt +pork, the two old muskets, a few half-burnt blankets, one hundred and +forty pounds of beaver skin, between two and three hundred weight of +gunpowder, the old family Bible and service book, and a trunk containing +some papers and old clothes. The above articles Captain Godfrey and his +son, at the risk of their lives, saved from complete destruction. In an +hour the little band of early settlers was reduced from comfortable +circumstances to a misery beyond the power of words to express. Darkness +would soon cover the spot of desolation. But five hours of daylight were +left in which escape could be made. They knew not in which direction to +flee for shelter. The Captain consulted with his brave partner, but all +seemed dark; no way of escape presented itself. To remain where they +were during the coming night meant death. There were only two log houses +in the district and they were miles away. Finally Mrs. Godfrey +assembled her shivering children about her and read aloud the +twenty-third psalm, and closing the old service book she said to her +husband, let us no longer tarry here, let us make haste towards the +sloop. As they were about to start, it suddenly occurred to Mrs Godfrey +that Old Mag was missing. The Captain had not seen her since he placed +the musket in her lap. The children had not seen her since the burning +of the house, and Mrs. Godfrey had not seen her after she had taken the +musket off her lap. The old squaw's absence caused a delay in setting +out for the sloop. As no trace of Old Mag could be found, it was the +opinion of both the Captain and his wife, that she had either perished +in the flames or had slipped out of the kitchen before the smoke had +cleared away and followed the Indians in their retreat. + +Neither the Captain nor his wife would leave the locality without making +a search for Old Mag. During the search, Captain Godfrey, whose strength +had been severely tested since his arrival at Grimross in July, sank to +the ground in a swoon. At this crisis his wife displayed the greatness +of her character. As troubles thickened about her she seemed to develop +qualities that only woman cast in an heroic mould are capable of +exhibiting. She whispered to her husband, "We cannot find Mag, I must +save you." These words appeared to have a magic effect on the Captain. +He rose to his feet, supported by his wife, and soon after they were +staggering on towards the river leading to the lake, followed by their +five children, the eldest, who was but twelve, carrying with him his +youngest brother, only two years old. + +At length they reached the lake, and at this point of the journey Mrs. +Godfrey was compelled to order a halt. She was heavily handicapped, +having a large shawl tied across her shoulders filled with the burnt +pork and some blankets. After a few minutes rest they were again tugging +along towards their little ark. As the light of the sun gradually faded +away, the little band of colonists tried to quicken their pace, but they +tried in vain. They were so exhausted that it was with great difficulty +they kept on their feet. + +The children were more dead than alive, and the approaching darkness +filled them with terror. Their mother would say to them, "Keep along, +follow closely, the moon is rising, we shall soon have plenty of light." +In this manner they toiled on till midnight, when they reached the +sloop. Fortunately for the little band of wanderers, Captain Godfrey had +left on board the vessel a small Dutch stove and a number of broken +boxes. A fire was soon made, some of the burnt pork was sliced and put +in a pan and fried for the night's meal. But the children sank to rest +soon after getting on board, and lay huddled together on the cabin +floor. After the Captain and his wife had partaken of the meal and +before retiring to rest on the hard boards of the floor, Mrs. Godfrey +read, by the dim light of a candle, the fifty-fourth psalm. + +Nothing can better prove the genuineness of a life, the soundness of a +profession, the real character of a man or woman, than those extreme +trials and difficulties of earth, when no friends are near to help and +where no way of escape seems possible. In trials, such as those related +above, the noblest traits of character or the hollowness and rottenness +of a profession are often plainly seen. Five cold winter days and nights +came and passed, yet no relief came to the imprisoned family. They dare +not move out, fearing the Indians would see them and come at night and +murder them. The sixth day Crabtree, who lived some miles distant from +where the Godfreys had resided, having heard of the attack of the +savages and the destruction they had caused, made his way to the scene +of the ruins. He could find no trace of the Godfreys and was returning +by the border of the lake to his log cabin, when he saw the sloop far in +the distance like a speck on the frozen surface of the lake. He hastened +out to where she lay. To his surprise and joy he found out, when nearing +the little craft, signs of life on board. Sparks were issuing from the +cabin. Very soon he was on board. He was met at the companion-way by the +Captain who gave him a thousand welcomes. Crabtree, after a few minutes +rest and conversation, started for his home, eleven miles distant, +promising to return early the next morning with a sledge to assist in +taking the children to his cabin. In the morning he returned, and +Captain Godfrey, his wife, and little ones, left the sloop and went to +Crabtree's. Captain and Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie had to walk the entire +distance over the lake and through the forest to Crabtree's log house. + +The man who had rescued them attended to their wants as well as his +circumstances would allow. He kept the distressed family until the month +of May, when the ice in the river broke up. Captain Godfrey then set to +work to fit out the sloop, being determined to leave the place as soon +as possible. The sails and part of the rigging were consumed in the fire +at Grimross. He had fortunately saved two of the compasses from the +flames. After days of toil he managed to get the vessel in fair working +order. The old half-burnt blankets were patched together and a mainsail +and jib were completed. On the 30th of May, 1771, he set sail for Fort +Frederick. + +On the passage down the river several Indians were seen on the banks of +the stream, but none of them made any trouble. After eleven months +absence the Captain found himself at Fort Frederick once again. Captain +Godfrey said to his wife, "Margaret, what changes are often wrought in a +few months." "Yes! true!" she replied, "we have lost our property, but +we have escaped with our lives and those of our children. Our +reputations are not dimmed, neither has the Lord forsaken us. The best +of our fortune remains with us. An honourable foundation remains on +which we can re-erect our future structure. Let us thank a wise, +over-ruling providence that a fortune still remains to us, though we +have passed through great misfortune." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARRIVES OFF FORT FREDERICK--PAUL GUIDON. + + +After the arrival of the sloop at the mouth of the St. John, the Captain +was compelled to leave his wife and family. There was not a morsel of +food of any description in the locker. The necessaries that had been +supplied by Crabtree for the voyage were entirely consumed. + +The day following the arrival off Fort Frederick, Captain Godfrey set +sail in his small boat for Passmaquaddy, eighteen leagues distant. The +boat was the same one in which he accomplished his successful journey to +Annapolis Royal. His intention in setting out for Passmaquaddy was to +visit a settlement belonging to a Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, and +there procure some supplies for his family, and sails and rigging for +the sloop. + +He left his family in a most destitute condition, they having neither +shoes nor stockings to their feet, and every other article of their +clothing being in rags and tatters. While the Captain was absent, his +wife and family were obliged to traverse the shore seeking for small +fish, which they were sometimes fortunate in securing. The second +evening after Captain Godfrey had left for Lieut. Owen's settlement, +being a clear, moonlight one in June, Mrs. Godfrey thought she saw an +object floating leisurely down the river in the direction of the sloop. +She went below and brought on deck one of the old muskets which did such +valuable service at Grimross. Charlie, her twelve-year old son, said to +his mother: "Do you see Indians?" The little fellow was so agitated he +could scarcely speak. She cautioned her son to remain perfectly quiet, +and not to utter another word. Brave, calm, unmoved, she stood over her +boy at the bow of the sloop. On the nearer approach of the object she +discovered it was a canoe, with someone leisurely paddling it along. It +had almost drifted by the vessel when, to her surprise, it suddenly +turned, and ran straight as an arrow for the side of the sloop. + +Mrs Godfrey, in a loud, firm tone, sang out: + +"Pull away, or I'll shoot you!" + +The canoe was turned about in an instant, and as quick came floating +over the water the words: + +"Me, Paul: Me, Paul Guidon!" + +She threw him a small line and then invited him to come on board, +immediately resuming her former position with the musket by her side. + +The Indian came on board, fastened his frail bark and stood for a moment +watching the retreating tide. Mrs. Godfrey asked him to come forward, +while little Charlie was shaking as though he would fall in pieces. He +obeyed her, and stepped forward. She took him by the hand and said: + +"Paul! Paul! You have again come to see me. I have thought of you, +prayed for you, and shall never forget you. You have saved my life and +the lives of my husband and dear children. I am in great trouble; God +has sent you again." + +Paul Guidon stood speechless and motionless with his sparkling black +eyes fixed on her thin, pale hand. The mild effulgence of the lunar +light shone full upon his face, bringing out every feature in perfect +outline. Presently his whole frame shook as though it had received an +electric shock. Mrs. Godfrey looked straight at him with her piercing +black eyes from the moment he had stood before her. Her power over him +seemed like that of a charmer. Her magic nature had completely overcome +him. Never did a naval hero appear on deck after a victory more +transcendently grand than did Margaret Godfrey at that moment of her +life. She pressed his hand more closely and said: "Paul, are you ill?" +He replied by placing her soft, white hand upon his throbbing breast, +and then moved toward the canoe. He spoke not a word. He pointed towards +his canoe, and made a sign with his right hand from the eastern horizon +up the semicircle of the sky. She understood it to mean that he would +return in the morning, at the rising of the sun. He at once got into his +canoe, and in a minute or two was paddling up the stream against the +rushing tide. + +Very early the following morning, Margaret was on deck preparing to go +on shore while the tide was low, and, if possible, catch some fish for +breakfast. She had not been long on deck before she saw a canoe +approaching. As it neared the sloop she saw that Paul Guidon was its +only occupant. In a few minutes Paul was on board, looking as bright as +the morning star. Margaret bade him good morning and then related to him +the distressed condition of herself and children. He replied, with a +cheerful smile: "Suppose big boy and little ones go with Paul and catch +'em some fish?" She felt that the Indian had a kind heart and at once +consented to accompany him with her children. All got into the canoe, +and Paul at once began to paddle down the river. Although the morning +was without rain the sky was leaden, and the atmosphere heavy and damp. +As the Indian paddled the canoe along for a couple of miles, all on +board were joyous and seemed refreshed as they drank in the breeze from +off the breast of the bay. + +They landed at a point of land, or rather of rocks, where Paul succeeded +in catching several fish, which he placed in the bottom of the canoe. He +then proposed to leave the place and proceed further down the shore. +Margaret replied that occasionally drops of rain fell upon her face, and +she feared a storm might suddenly spring up and bar their way back to +the vessel. She rather urged the Indian to return, but she saw by his +manner that he was inclined to demur to her solicitation. He said there +was a brook a short distance further down the shore, where there was +always plenty of good fish. Mrs. Godfrey finally consented to follow +Paul. He took in his arms the two smallest children, and pressing them +closely to his broad chest with his long sinewy arms, was soon skipping +from rock to rock like a mountain goat. The mother and the three other +children followed as closely as possible in Paul's tracks. + +After the Indian had gone about a hundred yards, he looked over his left +shoulder and appeared satisfied that all was well. He redoubled his +speed and bounded along as a deer, and suddenly turning to the right he +made his way up a slope of ground and was out of sight among the trees. + +Margaret now began to feel anxious, fearing that after all the trust she +had reposed in Paul, he might yet prove unfaithful. She called to the +Indian, but he heeded not her cry. She again called, but he had +completely disappeared. + +Under such circumstances a less brave woman would have sunk on the spot +in utter despair. She kept on, following as nearly as she could the +track that Paul had taken. She toiled on and on for three quarters of an +hour, but never sighted the Indian. At last she completely lost the +trail. The rocks and uneven ground impeded her progress, and the trees +confused her in the line of march. All traces of a pathway were lost. + +She sat down on a large boulder--the children wanted rest, they were +completely fatigued. She judged that they must be nearly two miles from +the canoe. In her distressed situation she contemplated returning to the +shore. To proceed further in the direction she had been going seemed +hopeless. Without a guide she and her children would certainly get lost, +and likely all would perish. Whilst she was thus debating in her mind +what course to pursue, a peel of thunder passed over her head, and large +drops of rain began to fall. The wind suddenly sprang up, and all around +her was growing dark. Her blood quickened in its pulsations, as the +elements were increasing the difficulties of her position. Alone, on a +rocky, stormy shore, with three small children and two others far away +in the arms of an almost unknown savage, what could she do? Where could +she go? She said to herself: "evil seems to follow me closely, and heavy +trouble is continually weighing me down. I am in a strange land, among a +strange race; where will the end be? It may be here." As the above +thoughts were running through her brain, a brilliant flash of lightning +streamed close by her pale face, and for an instant lit up the earth and +sea around. A tree, a few feet distant, was shattered by the flash. Her +children trembled as the thunder shook the solid ground. She delayed no +longer, but determined at once to start back in the direction of the +canoe, and taking each of the smaller children by the hand, with Charlie +following, she pointed for the shore. + +The rain descended in torrents; the thunder roared, and the lightning +flashed. Through the terrible storm Mrs. Godfrey pressed on, buoyant +with a hope that all might turn out well. As she was staggering from +rock to rock with the little ones pitching and stumbling along at her +sides, now and again almost blinded and bewildered by the lurid +lightning, she felt as one amid the crash of worlds. + +Just as she sighted the canoe, which Paul had hauled upon the shore, a +sharp, rattling clap of thunder peeled above her head. This was preceded +an instant before by a dazzling blue and golden flash that all but +blinded the band of wanderers. Another and another flash, followed by +their thunderbolts, in quick succession shattered a solid rock over +which they had just passed. The whole shore appeared to tremble and +crash, and away far out over the surface of the bay the waters seemed as +if in a blaze. The sight was grand and terrible. Every rock along the +shore appeared to sink into an abyss as the lightning passed by, and +many of them were riven. At length Mrs. Godfrey and her children reached +the side of the canoe. There calm and unmoved amid the storm, she knelt, +she wept, she prayed. The waters of Fundy were heaped into angry +billows, and dashed their spray over the mother and children assembled +round the altar on the shore. Darkness began to throw its sable mantle +over land, rocks and bay. Margaret was suddenly started, she thought she +heard the sound of a voice coming through the gloom. She turned her head +in the direction of the sound, and at that moment a flash of lightning +revealed a human form coming toward her. In an instant it was lost to +view, shut out in the darkness. "Me come!" "Me come!" fell upon her +waiting ears. Margaret, with a heart overflowing with gratitude and +swelling with praise, quietly exclaimed "God is love." Paul stood before +her, panting like a stricken deer, with but one of the children in his +arms. As Margaret looked at him her pale face turned ashen white, her +lips quivered and she fell into the arms of Paul Guidon as if dead. He +sat down upon a rock, and by the lightning's flash bathed her temples +with water from the sea shore. The Indian continued to pour salt water +out of his brawny hands upon her head and neck. In about ten minutes +Margaret was restored to consciousness. When she opened her eyes her +missing child was at her side. Paul Guidon had placed the little fellow +in charge of an Indian he had found fishing on the bank of the stream, +and he asked him to take the child in his arms and follow on to the +shore. + +After Paul had been fishing along the stream for some time, seeing that +Mrs. Godfrey and her children had not come up with him, he decided to +return and look them up. + +As they rested together on the shore beside their birchen boat, the +thunder gradually died away, and there was also a truce to the lightning +and rain. In two hours from the time of the happy reunion of the loved +and lost the water became quite calm. Paul Guidon then launched the +canoe and the little ships' company were soon heading toward the mouth +of the St. John. In another hour and a half Paul and his companion had +safely paddled Margaret Godfrey and her children to the sloop. + +Margaret's first act, after reaching her small floating home, was to +place each child upon its knees, doing likewise herself. As her clear +voice rang out over the water, conveying words of thankfulness to Him +whom winds and seas obey, the two Indians sank slowly on their knees. + +Plenty of fish had been secured by Paul to last the family some days +Margaret cooked the supper, Paul and his companion ate heartily, then +left the sloop and proceeded in the canoe to their homes, Paul promising +to return the next day with a load of wood to replenish the stock of +fuel which was well nigh exhausted. + +At seven o'clock next morning Paul again was seen sailing along toward +the sloop, his little bark skimming over the river like a petrel on the +ocean's breast. He appeared anxious and excited as he approached the +side of the vessel. He had but a few pieces of wood in his canoe. +Margaret at first sight noticed a change in his features; he looked worn +and weary. His bright black eye had lost much of its fire, and as he +stepped on board Mrs. Godfrey thought she noticed a tear on his cheek. +As usual she saluted him and asked him on board, and as he stepped over +the rail she took his hand in her own. This act of kindness on the part +of Margaret seemed to electrify his whole frame. She said to him, "And +how is Paul this morning." Without answering her he placed his hand on +his left breast and sighed deeply. "Is my Paul ill this morning," she +again asked, thinking that the strain from carrying the children the day +previous, and the worry and excitement, had been too severe a task even +upon the hardy and wiry frame of the Iroquois. "No! No!" he replied, +"but," "but," and here he stopped being too full to utter another word. +He pointed to his canoe, and then pointed up the river past the fort. +She guessed his meaning. It was to return to his home at once. + +Margaret said to him, "Paul do you want me and the children to go with +you?" + +He bowed an assent. + +All hands were soon on board the canoe and in a few strokes of the +paddle the homeless emigrants were sailing toward the rapids. The tide +was running up and the long sinewy arms of Paul, as he plied the paddle, +made the little bark fairly leap along. The rippling of the water was +all that broke in upon the stillness of the morning. + +The steep, rugged country on either side the mouth of the St. John was +dressed in deepest green, tall and noble trees lined both banks. The +clear bright sky and the brighter sun made the river appear like a +winding stream of silver with borders of emerald. Her admiration of +natural beauty, she had herself confessed more than once during the +voyage to Grimross. + +While Mrs. Godfrey was drinking in the beauties of the scenery, and +meditating on the loneliness that reigned supreme among the hills, the +canoe touched the shore. As Margaret stepped from the little bark to the +shore, a large grey snake passed athwart her pathway and disappeared +into a hole at the roots of a tree. She felt much concerned at this +circumstance, as in Ireland, her native land, it was a common belief +among the people that if a snake passed across a persons track without +being killed by the traveller, some evil was close upon his or her +track. + +After the Indian had pulled the canoe out of the water, he led the way +up a slight incline, followed by Margaret and her children. They had +walked some two hundred yards over uneven ground and among trees, when +Paul suddenly stopped and then stepped off to the right, and beckoned to +those in his rear to follow him. A few steps brought the visitors in +sight of a wigwam. It was situated in a small open space, surrounded by +a dense forest of large, tall trees. In a minute or two all stood at the +opening in the camp. + +Paul seemed to hesitate as he led the way inside. He removed an old +blanket which was hanging over the aperture. Opposite the entrance on +the further side of the camp lay a human form stretched on some old grey +blankets, that were spread over branches of spruce trees. The Indian +approached the bed and then stooped down and kissed its occupant, and +then beckoned to Margaret Godfrey to step forward. She at once obeyed. +To her astonishment there lay an old squaw with sunken cheeks and eyes. +Over her form was stretched a time-worn grey blanket, and on it laid a +wampum belt, and a string of wampum beads, an old plaid shawl supported +her head. + +Margaret thought that she recognized the shawl as one she had brought +with her from Ireland, and wondered how it came there. She knelt down, +and placing her arm under the old squaw's neck, gently raised her head a +few inches. The poor old squaw tried to speak but was too weak to do so. +Margaret took the withered hand of the Indian woman and placed it in her +own. On one of the bony fingers of the squaw was a ring which fell off +into Margaret's hand. Margaret recognized it as a ring she had often +seen. She asked Paul who the sick woman was. "She is my poor old +mother," he replied, "she has been sick long time, since last winter, +got bad fall and almost stiffened with cold." "She fast going away from +her Paul." Margaret noticed the old woman's lips moving, she put her ear +close to the squaw's mouth and heard her say in a whisper, "Me Mag!" +Mrs. Godfrey, completely surprised, laid her head upon the dying woman's +bed. The shawl, a red and black plaid, she had given old Mag at +Grimross. Now it was used for her dying pillow. The old Indian woman +fairly worshipped it in her days of health and strength. And the ring +was also presented to old Mag while a prisoner at Grimross. The +afternoon that old Mag was given the ring was one never to be forgotten +by Mrs. Godfrey. The old Iroquois squaw on that occasion danced the war +dance on the kitchen floor, so great was her joy in receiving the +precious gem. + +Margaret asked Paul where he had found his mother on his return from the +setting sun. He then related to her in broken English the following +story:-- + +He had returned from his hunting expedition on the evening of the day +the house at Grimross had been consumed by the flames. He had been +detained with the officers one month longer than he expected to be when +he left home. On his arrival home he found that his mother was missing. +He made inquiries as to her whereabouts, and was told that she had gone +off with three Indians named Nick Thoma, Pete Paul, and Christopher +Cope, to trade furs for some pork, blankets and powder at Grimross. That +white woman had killed the three Indians; that white man's house was +burnt, and white woman had put his mother into the flames and burnt her +up. Early in the morning after his arrival home he set out for Grimross +Neck, crossing the lake where the sloop lay. When he arrived at Grimross +he saw nothing but blackened ruins, and was convinced the Indian's story +was true. He saw also the dead bodies of the three Indians, he could not +recognize them, they were so cooked by the fire. He walked about the +ruins, almost bewildered, and swearing vengeance. Not many steps from +where the house had stood were dense woods. He wandered in among the +trees scarcely knowing where he was going, when to his surprise he saw +his mother sitting down on the snow with her back resting against a +large tree, her feet and knees covered with blankets. He pulled off one +blanket, then another, and yet another, but his mother never moved. She +sat as motionless as the tree itself. Her face was covered with frozen +blood. He took hold of her shoulders and shook her when she appeared to +breathe. After rubbing her hands and beating her feet on the frozen snow +for a long time she began to move her limbs. And finally he got her to +stand on her feet. Her eyes were swollen and completely closed. He was +at a loss to know how he was to get her to the camp twelve miles +distant. Part of the journey was comparatively easy; they could go by +way of the lake. At four o'clock he started with his mother for the +camp, she could only walk slowly and with great difficulty. They made +many stops on the way and reached the camp long after midnight. About +noon the next day the old woman had gained sufficient strength to tell +her story. She said "she went first time with Indians to trade furs at +Grimross. Indians were very savage and blood-thirsty. Broke in door of +house, white woman fired gun, they all ran away. She was captured after +falling down bank. She was taken to house of English people and +afterwards treated like one of the family. A lot of Indians came back +second time about last of winter, few days ago broke into the house of +English people and set it on fire. The English woman fired two guns and +killed three Indians. The rest of Indians ran away. When gun was fired +and house burning, was afraid English woman would kill her. As soon as +could get over dead Indians in door, ran away among trees, and was +frightened to come out again till all pale faces went away. Felt very +cold when pale faces went away, wandered back to burnt house, found the +blankets, returned with them to woods, got down against tree, put +blankets over feet and legs, and remember no more till my Paul woke me +next day." + +As Paul Guidon related his mother's story his face was bathed in tears. +Mrs. Godfrey attentively listened, and at the same time carefully +watched every feature of old Mag's face. When Paul had finished his +mother's story, Margaret Godfrey gently raised old Mag's head, and +bending over it said, "Poor old Mag this is indeed you." The dying +Indian woman tried in vain to move her lips, while her body seemed +convulsed. She then stretched herself out at full length and a slight +tremor passed over her frame, her chin dropped. + +Mrs. Godfrey looked up at Paul, who was standing at the foot of the bed, +and remarked, "Paul your dear old mother is gone, forever gone." The +Indian without replying then threw himself upon the bed and lay +motionless beside the body of his mother. In a short time he began to +weep and moan, which he continued to do so long and piteously, that +Margaret thought his sorrowing heart would burst. At last completely +exhausted with grief he remained quiet and passive as though his spirit +too had passed over to the green fields and still waters of the +everlasting hunting grounds. + +Margaret gazed upon the quiet features and still form of the handsome +young Iroquois, he was in the vigour of his manhood, being scarcely +twenty-four years old; and said, as she admired his manly look, "Paul, +your mother is happier now;" "she is in that land where trials, trouble +and death are unknown. You must live to meet her there. Your mother is +now sailing on silvery water; breathing an atmosphere perfumed with +celestial spices; and sitting in a canoe made from the bark of trees +growing on the shores of Canaan's stream. Her wigwam will be made of the +same kind of bark and ornamented with pearls and precious stones. She +will wear a neck-lace of jewels and on her head will be a crown of +glory." + +Paul, weary and sad, went to his canoe, launched it and sailed down the +river to catch some fish for supper, and Mrs. Godfrey proceeded to +prepare the body of old Mag for burial, while the children played around +the wigwam. When the Indian had returned he found all that remained of +his mother neatly prepared for the grave. + +The black and red plaid shawl was wound round and round the body from +head to feet, no part being visible but the face. Margaret had fastened +the shawl at the throat with a silver brooch. Old Mag, as she lay upon +the camp bed, resembled a dead Highlander. Arrangements were made for +the funeral, and Paul paddled Mrs. Godfrey and children to the sloop and +then returned to dig his mother's grave. Next morning Paul came down to +the sloop looking very sad. He said that he had not closed his eyes +during the night. He sat watching through the long night at the side of +his dead parent. + +Many of us have heard and read accounts of lonely scenes and lonely +spots, but what place could be more lonely and what scene more solemn +than that of a lone Indian sitting beside the corpse of his mother in a +Nova Scotian forest a hundred and twenty years ago, through the dread +hours of a whole night? + +What thoughts passed through the brain of Paul Guidon during the weird +hours of that night, it may be, will be revealed in eternity. + +Mrs. Godfrey and her children again went with Paul to the abode of +death. After landing, Margaret accompanied the Indian to inspect the +place of burial. It was situated on the bank of a small stream running +down to the river, and about two hundred yards from the camp. The grave +looked like the newly made nest of some huge bird. It was cleanly dug +and neatly lined with evergreens. In this grave the body of old Mag was +placed as the sun was sinking below the horizon. It was conveyed to its +last resting place by Paul, Margaret and her son Charlie; the four +younger children forming the procession. + +None of the Indians of the tribes of the St. John were present at the +burial, as Paul had not circulated the news of his mother's death. + +Mrs. Godfrey read, from the old service book, the Church of England +burial service, the most beautiful of all burial services, that of the +Masonic brethren perhaps excepted. + +Mrs. Godfrey and Charlie filled in the grave. When they returned to the +wigwam all within was darkness and gloom. Margaret and her children were +paddled to the sloop by Paul. He was invited to spend the night on board +the little vessel, but declined to do so. Margaret then took him by the +hand, and, as she drew him toward her, he placed his hand upon her +shoulders and cried aloud, "Mother!" "Mother!" She led him to the canoe, +he got into his little bark and was soon sailing away towards his lonely +dwelling-place, where it may have been the spirit of old Mag kept watch +that night over the wigwam and her boy. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT SEA. + + +Captain Godfrey arrived safely at Passmaquaddy and was warmly welcomed. + +He was supplied with sails, rigging and a general outfit for his family, +and he was sent back to the mouth of the St. John in a much larger and +more convenient boat, bringing the smaller boat in tow. He was absent +twelve days. + +The day previous to the Captain's return Paul Guidon had visited the +sloop, but Margaret could only prevail upon him to remain for a few +minutes. He said something wanted him back at the wigwam. He appeared to +be impressed by some invisible and irresistible power to return at once +to the sad camping ground. + +"Me: Paul!" he said to Margaret, "cannot stay long away from camp and my +mother's grave." "Happy mother must be in the woods near wigwam." + +As far as Mrs. Godfrey could learn from the lone Indian his thoughts +were something like the following:-- + +All the birds that used to sing so sweetly around the little birchen +home and gaily fluttered from branch to branch, seemed to sit quietly +and pour out their songs in mornful strains, and all about the spot the +wind appeared to whistle a requiem for the departed squaw. And in the +long and quiet hours of the darkness, he felt certain that old Mag's +spirit left the woods, and in never ceasing motion kept watch about the +camp, and at regular intervals would pass within and kiss him when +asleep. + +The Indian from his habits of life, skimming in his canoe over the +lonely and wooded river, or skipping from rock to rock on the lonely +mountain side; in tracing the border of the roaring cataract, in +pitching his tent along the edge of the flowing river or the sleeping +lake; out on the prairie or in the midst of the dense forest; among the +trees on the ocean shore, is most deeply impressed with the belief that +the Great Chief is watching his actions from behind trees, out of the +surface of the waters, from the tops of the mountains, and out of the +bosom of the prairie. He thinks that the lightning is His spear, and the +thunder His voice. He feels that a terrible something is all around him, +and when death calls any of his tribe away supreme superstition takes +firm hold of his very existence. + + "Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind + Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind." + +The poet, and the highly imaginative person, the wise and the good, seek +the hills and the valleys, the dashing cataract, the forest and stream, +the mountain range, the rocky coast and roaring ocean, and there drink +in the grandeur of creation in those sublime scenes. In such places they +feel a nearness to the Creator, and view His power and handiwork in a +measure not always attainable in the ordinary scenes of everyday life. +Such persons admire with reverential awe the greatness of God and feel +His love. + +The Indian, in superstitious dread, lives in ignorance of His greatness, +His ways and His love. + +Paul Guidon visited the sloop the next morning, and Captain Godfrey +welcomed him on board and invited him to remain during the day and +assist in refitting the vessel. The Indian did not refuse in words to do +so, but his looks and movements plainly indicated his disinclination to +remain. + +Margaret approached him and said, "Paul, you will stay with me and help +us get the vessel all ready to sail away, won't you?" He took her hand, +pressed it tightly, and then let it fall at her side. She knew she had +won him, and was well aware that she could lead him as a child. + +He remained, and all were soon at work. The children picked over the +oakum, the Captain fitted the rigging, and the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey +tried their hands at making a mainsail. + +At the setting of the sun Paul returned to his lonely home. The next +morning, before the sun had risen, he was once more on board the sloop. +The day was a lovely one, and similar work to that of the previous day +occupied the attention of all The following day the vessel was hauled to +high water mark on the island, there to be overhauled and caulked. +Captain Godfrey had brought a supply of necessary tools for the work +from Passmaquaddy. The Indian came down each morning from his wigwam and +assisted until the sloop was ready for sea, (The repairing of the little +vessel _La Tour_ was probably the pioneer work of refitting and +repairing which a century later assumed such gigantic proportions on +both sides of the mouth of the St. John.) Mrs. Godfrey named the vessel +_La Tour_, because, she said, that was the original name of the fort +that sheltered herself and her children during Captain Godfrey's absence +at Annapolis Royal. + +At length everything was ready, and the morning to weigh anchor came. A +stiff breeze blowing up the harbour caused a delay in sailing. The +morning was so wet, and the wind blew so hard, that Paul Guidon did not +venture out in his canoe, but he came down by land, and quite early in +the day stood upon the shore opposite where the sloop lay. + +Margaret was first to notice him. She thought that she never saw him +look so handsome as when he stood on the right bank of the harbour that +morning. She called her husband, and pointing toward the shore said: +"Look at that noble form at the water's edge. It looks like a statue +standing on a line between the water and the woods!" + +Captain Godfrey rowed to the shore and took Paul off to the sloop. He +remained on board but an hour, promising as he left to return in the +morning if the storm abated. + +Captain Godfrey had decided to sail for Halifax via Passmaquaddy. The +morning was fine and the wind fair. Paul was on hand bright and early. +Margaret said to him, "Paul, in an hour we shall sail away from here, +and perhaps I shall never see you again on earth." These words seemed to +almost paralyze the Indian, and for a while he appeared unconscious of +everything that passed. His canoe was tied alongside the sloop. Captain +Godfrey hauled up the anchor. Margaret asked the Indian if he would go +with them as far as Passmaquaddy. He made no reply. He sat down on the +deck and covered his face with his hands. Captain Godfrey said to him +rather sternly, "Paul, we are now on our passage, if you are going to +leave take your canoe and go." He made no reply to the Captain. The +sloop was slipping down the harbour and had passed the lower island +before the Indian seemed to recognize his situation. He looked wildly +first at the shore, then on the other side at the great waters, and +burst into a flood of tears. + +Margaret stepped to his side and said, "Paul, do you feel ill?" + +He shook his head, and with his hand pointed at the vast waters of the +bay. + +Margaret proceeded to get dinner, and the red man was left alone. Paul +was asked to the lunch, but replied not. + +The sloop ran leisurely along the shore all day, the wind being light +and the water quite smooth. All were compelled to rest on deck during +the night, which was bright, and the moon made it almost like day,--the +little cabin was besieged with mosquitoes. About midnight the Indian, +who had not spoken since leaving the St. John, suddenly sprang to his +feet and peered over the moon-lit water in the direction of the shore. +Captain Godfrey, who was at the helm, seeing him, thought he was about +to make a plunge overboard, and called to his wife who was asleep. She +sprang up, asking what was the matter. At this moment Paul sang out, +"Indians coming." Margaret went to the cabin, got the musket and pointed +toward the canoes, three in number, and fired. The canoes soon after +disappeared in the direction of the shore. Paul sank back into his +former position, and in a short time all were asleep except the Captain +and the Indian. Nothing unusual occurred during the remainder of the +night, and in the morning, the wind growing stronger, the little ship +made greater headway. The day was a beautiful one, and Paul was as quiet +as usual. He ate nothing. Night again came on, and the breeze holding +through the moon-lit hours, the Captain ran the sloop into Passmaquaddy +early in the morning. + +As the sun was rising in all his splendour, throwing his brightening +rays over land and water, the little vessel was headed into her port of +destination. As she was running in, Paul, quick as a flash, jumped up, +as though some attendant spirit had suddenly opened to him a vision of +the future. He fixed his eyes intently on the shore. In an instant he +crouched down on the deck with his head and shoulders partly over the +rail. His attitude and manner were those of a wild beast about to spring +upon its prey. The Captain thought Paul saw something strange on the +shore. In a few minutes the Indian sat down again, and for sometime +remained perfectly quiet. The anchor was let go, and the little craft +rested in Passmaquaddy harbour. The Captain ran in for the purpose of +getting some one to pilot the sloop to Halifax, but to his great +disappointment could find no one willing to go. He had neither money nor +goods to offer in payment for the service of a pilot. + +The day following he set sail for Machias, ten leagues distant, in the +hope of securing some person at that place willing to assist him in the +passage to Halifax. Paul Guidon had consented to go as far as Machias, +and there land and make his way back to the St. John. + +After leaving Passmaquaddy, Captain Godfrey concluded to put into Head +harbour and try his luck at that place in securing a pilot, but being +unacquainted with the locality he ran the sloop on a ledge of rocks. +However, the tide coming in she floated off unharmed. + + "Flung from the rock, on ocean's foam, to sail + Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail." + +The wind suddenly veered round and blew off shore quite fresh. The +vessel stood well off during the night, and the Captain hoped to make +the harbour sometime the next morning, but toward daylight a fog began +to settle down fast and thick. Captain Godfrey fully realized the +perilous position of all on board, but having been early trained in +seamanship, he had full confidence in his ability to manage the sloop. + +In the morning land could not be seen. The fog continued for three days, +during which time (to use the Captain's words) "the situation was dismal +enough, and every moment I was expecting to see the craft drawn on the +rocks and all on board perish." The fourth day the fog was less dense, +and those on board could see for some distance, but the sun was +invisible, and the war of the elements was raging with increasing fury. +In the afternoon the wind had shifted to north-west and increased to a +partial gale. The sloop was running under a bit of mainsail; it seemed +at times as if the following seas would founder the little vessel as +they towered over the low rail. Nothing was to be seen but the wide +expanse of water. Not even a solitary gull. The Captain remarked to his +wife, "It is a curious fact that, excepting the petrels, sea birds keep +near to the land in bad weather." Captain Godfrey feared the night, and +as it came on the wind grew in strength. A terrible sea was running, and +all were fastened below excepting Paul and the Captain. The Indian would +not leave the deck, although more than once he was nearly washed +overboard. At length darkness covered the face of the ocean, and the +wind howled in all its fury. The seas were like mountains, tossing the +sloop about like a cork. Mrs. Godfrey would remain below no longer. She +told her children, who were tumbling like nine-pins about the cabin +floor, not to cry, as she would soon return to them. As she put her head +out of the companion way, the Captain ordered her back. She said, "Where +is Paul?" Her husband answered, "I have called to him time and time +again to get below." She called to Paul, who was holding fast to the +anchor chain with his legs stuck under the windlass. He did not answer. +She started to creep forward. Her husband could not see her. At this +moment the sloop took a dreadful plunge. A heavy sea swept over her from +stern to bow, completely submerging her. The Captain, who had taken the +precaution to lash himself to the deck, in a half-drowned state, held +steadily to the tiller. As soon as possible he called to his wife, but +no answer came back. He called to Paul, and he too was silent. Was she +lost? Had she, in whom all his hopes were placed, been carried into the +sea and for ever lost to him on earth? These thoughts bewildered him +while he was trying to steer his vessel. He dare not leave the helm to +look after his wife and children. He hoped the sea had not broken into +the cabin and drowned all that were left to him on earth. He had often +been called to drink the cup of bitterness, had he been called to drink +it to its dregs? Had his sorrow at last reached its destined depths. He +burst into tears, almost stupified, and calling upon Him who is able to +guide the storm in its course and hush it to a calm; to Him whose +charities have distilled like the dews of Heaven; who had fed the hungry +and clothed the naked; who had opened a way of escape in the wilderness; +to Him he cried for succor. And at last in utter despair he earnestly +prayed for morning or death. Now and again a huge sea would break over +the little ship, but she rode the waves as beautifully as an ocean +liner. Terribly the night wore away. With the dawn of the morning the +gale began to abate. The Captain lashed the tiller and crept to the +companion way. He opened it, went down, found his children, bruised, +bleeding and terrified. He kissed them, feeling they were now dearer +than ever to him. They asked him where their mother was. He came on deck +and shut them in the cabin without replying. As Captain Godfrey crawled +to his position at the helm, he said to himself, my dear children have +escaped the arrow and tomahawk, the flames at Grimross, the thunder, +lightning and tempest, and even yet they are safe. If it were not for my +children I would prefer to sleep here in death rather than live +elsewhere. I would be near my wife to share a part with her in the +resurrection. + +While the Captain was thus mournfully musing, a faint light began to +creep around the eastern horizon. He was so absorbed in thought and in +watching every movement of the sloop that he did not notice the +increasing light. There were rifts in the dark clouds, and the air was +growing moist. The morning light brought with it rain. The sea gradually +grew less and less troubled, and the little vessel rolled and pitched +more easily. The Captain was suddenly startled from his reverie by the +increasing rays of the rising sun, who was now beginning to show his +golden circle above the horizon. He made fast the tiller and went +forward to see what damage had been done through the night. The jib had +been snugly furled before darkness set in. As he stepped forward of the +mainsail, to his great surprise he saw two human forms wedged in under +the windlass and locked in each other's arms. They were tightly wedged +to their knees, between the windlass and the deck. Mrs. Godfrey's +clothes were torn in shreds. She lay with her head across the Indian's +shoulders, her arms were tightly locked around his neck and flowing +black hair. + +The Captain had on board the sloop an old axe, which he at once got and +commenced to cut the windlass from its fastenings. A piece of the wood +flew and struck his wife on the leg, he thought he the saw the limb, +which was partially bare, tremble. He then threw his whole strength into +his work, and in a few minutes had the satisfaction of seeing one end of +the windlass loosened. He took hold of the unfastened end and with a +sudden jerk wrenched the other end from its socket. He then rubbed his +wife's limb with his open palm, and soon felt it growing warm. In a few +minutes she breathed quickly, and appeared to grasp her swarthy +companion more tightly. She moaned, and then opened her eyes and stared +vacantly at her husband, who almost fainted with joy. He turned his wife +over, and pulled the shreds of clothing towards her feet. He then went +to the cabin and got a bottle containing brandy, presented to him during +his first visit to Passmaquaddy. He poured out a spoonful, and forced it +down his wife's throat. Soon after she spoke, and asked her husband to +raise her up. As he did so she said, "give some brandy to Paul, he +cannot be dead, if I am alive." Paul all this time had never stirred. He +lay like a fallen statue, brown and stiff. Margaret brushed the coarse +black hair from off his face. Captain Godfrey opened the Indian's jaws +and put a spoonful of brandy into his mouth. His muscles began to +quiver, he trembled, he breathed, he moaned, and again relapsed into +perfect quietness. Margaret sat beside Paul while the Captain went to +jibe the mainsail and port the helm. She thrust her hand beneath his +torn shirt and laid it over his heart. She felt its weak pulsations. She +then ran her hand around and over his swarthy skin; she felt it growing +warm. He moaned and moved. She continued the application of her hand, +his eyelids opened, he trembled all over, and looked up at Margaret in a +sort of amazed stare. At length the Indian completely recovered his +senses, and by this time Margaret Godfrey again became exhausted. She +was carried to the dingy little cabin by her husband and her son +Charlie. Paul was so weak that he could not raise himself from the +deck. The Captain moved him a few feet and lashed him to the mast. +Neither Margaret nor the Indian were able to move from their resting +places till late in the afternoon. + +Captain Godfrey judged the sloop to be well across the Bay of Fundy, and +he determined to make all speed possible for the town of Halifax. The +wind was fair, and all the reefs in the sails were shaken out. For the +next two days the weather was fine and the wind fair, and Margaret and +Paul were regaining their strength. Nothing of an unusual character +occurred on board. Since the jam under the windlass, Paul Guidon +appeared more lively and conversed more freely. About four o'clock in +the afternoon of the second day after the storm, while the Indian was +sitting at the bow of the sloop, a school of porpoises was seen +approaching in as regular order as a company of British soldiers to a +charge. When the fish had approached to within a hundred yard's of the +sloop, the Indian threw up his hands and uttered a most mournful wail, +and staggered backward. Captain Godfrey rushed forward and caught Paul +as he was falling overboard. Both fell athwart the rail and all but into +the sea. + +The Indian, who had not recovered sufficient strength to endure much +excitement or hardship, was in a high state of feverish bewilderment. +The Captain said: "Paul, what gave you such a fright?" He replied, "that +when he first saw the fish approaching, he thought that they were a lot +of canoes paddled by evil spirits from the dark, dismal hunting grounds +of thieving and murderous Indians, and that they were after him to carry +him away over the great waters to live in misery among them, because he +had left the wigwam and forsaken his mother's grave before two moons +were gone." + +Early next morning Mrs. Godfrey relieved her husband at the helm; +Charlie assisting her. The Captain went below to rest, asking to be +called if anything out of the ordinary occurred. He had hardly closed +his eyes during the voyage, but fell asleep at his post during the +previous night, when the weather fortunately was fine and the sea quite +peaceful. + +At about ten o'clock, a.m., Paul sighted something in the distance. He +called to Mrs. Godfrey to look in the direction of his hand, which he +was pointing over the port bow. She could see nothing, but she headed +the sloop in the direction that Paul gave, and in an hour's time had the +satisfaction of seeing what she supposed to be the outline of rocks or +land. She kept the vessel headed in toward what she supposed to be land, +and at three o'clock called her husband on deck. The Captain judged his +vessel to be on the east coast of Nova Scotia. + +Margaret called her children around her, and asked Paul to sit down with +them. She opened the old service book and read a portion of scripture. +The deck was made an altar of the living God. From the deck fervent +prayer mingled with the voice of the ocean and with the sighing wind +ascended on high. Margaret said to Paul: "You and I were rescued at the +gate of death. When our frail bark was tossing and labouring hard for +life in her lone path over the surging billows and through the blackness +of the night, a kind hand overshadowed us and kept us, and now not one +of the ship's company is lost." + +Full of bright hope, she turned to her husband and said: "I now am +satisfied we shall safely reach port, and once again we and our dear +ones shall see our native lands. English civilization and English +justice will do rightly by us in our misfortunes. We, who have lost all +our possessions,--in an hour stripped of all that we owned,--and have +been compelled to endure hardships and face death itself in an English +colony, may in confidence look to the old land for succor." + +The next two days the wind continued favourable, and the little vessel +ran along in sight of the coast. + +The following day an adverse wind blew and a storm seemed brewing, but +the wind only freshened a bit, and all day the vessel beat about in +sight of land. Paul, who had now sufficiently recovered, appeared to +take a great interest in everything about the sloop; the sun shone +brightly and the clouds were lifted high in the heavens. All around was +perfect peace. + +The Indian remarked to Captain Godfrey: "This not so good as canoe on +stream, or roaming hunting ground. Wide, big, great sea, would make +splendid hunting ground if only covered with grass and trees." + +Early the next morning a King's schooner was sighted. The wind shifting, +Captain Godfrey ran the sloop into Petite Passage and anchored. The +King's schooner came to an anchor about the same time--a league distant. +Captain Spry, (Captain and pilot) of the King's schooner, sent a +messenger on board the sloop, who inquired where they had come from and +whither they were bound. After the messenger had returned to the King's +schooner, Lieutenant Knight of the Royal Navy, commander of the +schooner, sent a boat to the sloop with three men to assist Captain +Godfrey to Halifax, also some tea, chocolate, coffee, sugar, wine and +rum, bread, pork and flour. Captain Spry took the sloop under convoy. +The vessels put into several harbours; and the night before they arrived +at Halifax Captain Spry's schooner was lost sight of in a thick fog. The +fog lifted during the night, when they were able to see Halifax lights, +but on entering the harbour the sloop ran foul of a ledge of rocks +called "Two Sisters." The sea was running very high. Destruction seemed +on every hand. Fortunately a passage was perceived between the rocks. At +last they succeeded in getting through the passage, and came to anchor +before morning opposite the town of Halifax. Captain Godfrey and his +wife, after a long and eventful passage from Fort Frederick, found +themselves once again at Halifax, worn out and almost disheartened. The +new men on board the sloop appeared to admire Paul Guidon, and Paul took +kindly to them. + +Shortly after their arrival at Halifax Captain Godfrey admitted to +Lieutenant Knight, that during the terrible storm in the mouth of the +Bay of Fundy, he expected every moment to see the sloop founder and all +on board perish in the ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CAPT. GODFREY AND LORD WM. CAMPBELL.--YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS. + + +Shortly after the arrival of the sloop at Halifax, Capt. Godfrey waited +on Lord William Campbell, at that time (the summer of 1771) Governor of +the Provinces. + +His Lordship received him in the most cordial and gentlemanly manner, +and remarked that he would be pleased to order an investigation into his +case and have the Indians who committed the outrage ordered down from +the St. John river. + +On September 2nd, 1771, a council met and an investigation took place. +Letters and affidavits were produced, sworn to before Plato Denny and +William Isherwood, Justices of the Peace for Campo Bello, where Lewis +LeBlond, a Canadian, made oath, that he was told by Lewis Neptune, an +Indian, that Captain Godfrey was to be burned out by Chief Pere Thomas' +orders, and that other Indians of the St. John tribe were to perform the +deed. + +An affidavit was made by Gervase Say, an inhabitant of Gage township, +sworn to before Francis Peabody, Justice of the Peace, in which it was +stated that John Baptiste Caltpate, an Indian of the St. John tribe, had +declared to him that Francis DeFalt, an Indian belonging to Pere +Thomas' tribe, set fire to Captain Godfrey's house and store at +Grimross. + +A schedule of the Captain's losses, attested before one of His Majesty's +Justices of the Peace at Halifax, was also laid before the council. The +reader will not be troubled with the items, suffice it to say the +losses, including lands, amounted to seven thousand four hundred and +sixty-two pounds. + +His Excellency, finding that Captain Godfrey had acted conformably to +the rules and regulations of the Province, returned to him his bond that +he had given the government for carrying on a legitimate trade with the +Indians. + +He was also satisfied that the Captain's losses were on account of the +action of the savages, and being fully convinced of the great hardships +and privations the Captain and his distressed wife and family had +undergone, he was pleased to give him an honourable clearance out of the +province, according to the regulations of said province, and also to +recommend him to the protection of the Right Honourable the Earl of +Hillsborough, at that time first Lord of Trade and Plantations for +public relief. The Governor had it not in his power to grant Captain +Godfrey any suitable gratuity for the great loss he had sustained. + + + COPY OF LORD CAMPBELL'S LETTER TO LORD HILLSBOROUGH. + + HALIFAX, October 9th, 1771. + + _My Lord_: + + The gentleman who will deliver this to you was lately a Captain in the + 52nd Regiment of foot, and came out to this province in August, 1769, + with his wife and a large family, to settle on some lands on river St. + John, which he had purchased before he left Europe, with a view of + carrying on trade with the Indians. I have frequent complaints of those + Indians since Fort Frederick, situate on the entrance of the St. John + river, has been dismantled, and the garrison, which consisted of an + officer's command, reduced to a corporal and four. + + The Fort, when properly garrisoned, kept the Indians of that district in + pretty good order, but not so effectively by situation as it would if it + had been constructed higher up the river, and as now the fort is + entirely dismantled, I beg leave to offer to your Lordship's + consideration whether a strong Block House, properly garrisoned, might + not prove a proper check upon the insolence of the savages, at the same + time it would afford a secure protection to a very increasing settlement + on the banks of the river St. John, a situation abounding with most + excellent soil, which produces the most valuable timber of all sorts in + the province. + + These are considerations which I beg your Lordship will please to submit + to His Majesty's advisers. The unhappy state of _Mr. Godfrey's_ + misfortunes will, I am persuaded, speak everything in his favour with + your Lordship, which his past services or present suffering can entitle + him to. + + I have the honour to be, + Yours, &c., &c., + + WM. CAMPBELL. + _The Earl of Hillsborough_. + + +After remaining at Halifax for five months, an opportunity offered for +Captain Godfrey to leave for England. He sailed with his wife and family +in the brigantine "Adamante," William Macniel, master, on the twentieth +day of December, 1771. Paul Guidon remained at Halifax about six weeks +after he had arrived with the Godfreys. While at Halifax he was much +admired by the officers of the army, and those of the navy paid him +even greater attentions. Margaret had circulated the report that the +Indian was of the Iroquois tribe, and as brave a man as ever drew a bow. +He wanted for nothing. He was dined and wined by the citizens generally. + +The Governor took a deep interest in him, and secured a vast amount of +information from him respecting the character and movements of the +Indians on the St. John. One of the officers of the navy presented him +with a complete suit of navy-blue clothes, and an officer of the +garrison fitted him out with a second-hand undress military suit. + +In his blue suit his appearance was most commanding. It suited his +complexion to a charm. He was straight as an arrow, and looked as +graceful as an elm. His frame was wiry; his limbs long and straight. He +would bound over the rails of the ships like a deer. His step was long, +quick and elastic, and he would run like a greyhound. His long black +hair, reaching down to his slender waist, seemed to make his broad +square shoulders doubly broad as it hung over his blue coat. But the +Indian, while he appeared to enjoy his new mode of life, was not always +happy or at ease. A sudden expression of sadness would often flit across +his features. He would roam for hours all alone in the woods. He often +longed for his canoe, which was washed overboard in the mouth of the Bay +of Fundy. He would often inquire of Captain Godfrey when he would get +back to his home on the St. John. + +The time at last arrived when Paul Guidon was to depart. The King's +schooner was soon to sail for Passmaquaddy. Captain Godfrey, his wife +and children went on board the schooner to bid Paul farewell. They found +it hard to do so, especially Mrs. Godfrey. Paul Guidon had no idea that +he was to be separated from the family he loved. He thought they were +going to return to the St. John soon again. + +As the Godfreys left the side of the King's schooner to return to the +shore, the "Young Lion of the Woods," (for such was the name given to +the Iroquois by the naval officers at Halifax) would not let go of Mrs. +Godfrey's hand. He gently pulled her back and said, "I may never see you +again, I want to speak to you alone." They went into the cabin, and +there the Indian poured out the agonies of his soul. He spoke to +Margaret as follows (the words are given as he spoke them): "You 'member +evening Fort Frederick when pale face man 'way, me, Paul, saved your +life and children too? when Indians threw tomahawk, and fired arrows at +you? when you come out Fort, and one arrow struck you in arm?" Mrs. +Godfrey replied: "Paul, the mark of that arrow I shall carry with me to +the grave." The Indian continued: "You and children been all dead now +and buried near old Fort if Paul not been there; when you come out Fort, +after Indians threat to burn Fort and all up, me saw you like spirit +from some other land; you looked pale, and stood brave; you mind me put +hand up and told Indians stand back. Pale face and looked so brave, +saved life and in boat too. All squaws in woods none like you." Paul +then relapsed into silence, and his head dropped forward. He firmly held +Margaret Godfrey's hand all the time he was repeating the event at the +Fort, and her small white hand was frequently wet with tears as they +rolled off the swarthy face of the Indian. + +At last she said: "Paul, I can stay here no longer, they are waiting to +take me to the shore. You have been a good friend to us all; without +your assistance I might never have been here to bid you good-bye. May +the great good Spirit bless and help you on the big, broad waters and in +the lonely woods. You, Paul, ask him to guide you. I shall always ask +the Great Spirit to look after you, and, if it be the Great Chief's +will, I may come back to see you again." A smile played over his face as +she uttered the last words, and he brushed the tears from her pale hand +with his long flowing hair. She asked him for a lock of his hair; he cut +off a piece and handed it to her. She then went to the boat, but the +Indian did not leave the cabin. + +Margaret was so completely overcome with emotion that she laid her head +on her husband's shoulder and quietly wept, as they were being rowed to +the shore. + +Captain Godfrey knew that his wife admired the Indian for his courage +and honour, but was entirely ignorant of those warmer feelings that Paul +expressed for Mrs. Godfrey during his leave-taking. + +The Godfreys remained at Halifax four months after Paul Guidon had +sailed, and Margaret never ceased to praise the actions of the noble red +man. Yet, it may be after all, that the husband and children owed their +lives, as much to the good sense, brave spirit, firmness and steadiness +in the face of danger, of the wife and mother, as to the action of the +noble Iroquois. Yet again had not Paul appeared on the scene at [3]Fort +Frederick and at the taking of the boat, all the splendid traits of +character possessed by Margaret might have availed little in defeating +the purposes of the other Indians. + +[Footnote 3: It will be remembered that during the voyage from the mouth +of the St John to Grimross Neck, the Captain's wife was most anxious to +be on deck alone during the hours of darkness. The Iroquois and several +braves appeared before Fort Frederick on the afternoon of the day that +Captain Godfrey left for Annapolis Royal. They ran round and round the +place, calling upon the occupants of the Fort to come out, or they would +break in and murder them. The Captain's wife determined to go outside +and face the savages, but found it difficult to leave her terrified +children, who were afraid to follow her. She knew her only course was to +appear bold and fearless in presence of the red men. At length she got +the little ones pacified, as she stepped toward the opening, her +children were huddled together in a corner. She did not hesitate a +moment, but went out and advanced down the slope and stood face to face +with the savages. Paul Guidon advanced a few steps toward her. She said, +"I believe you to be an honest man, and you will not see a defenceless +woman injured and her children murdered, if you can help it." At this +moment a couple of tomahawks and several arrows passed in close +proximity to Mrs. Godfrey, and a moment after a single arrow struck her +in the arm, causing the blood to flow freely. Paul Guidon turned +suddenly and spoke firmly and decidedly to his comrades, they retired a +short distance. Margaret continued, "Why do those Indians wish to injure +me? My husband is away, and when he comes back we will leave this place +and go up the river to Grimross Neck and live there." The red man stood +silent all the time Mrs. Godfrey was speaking. He now spoke as follows, +"You no 'fraid Injuns, stand fore them like rock," at the same time +pointing down to a big boulder on which he was standing, "Brave Pale +Face." She said in reply: "I shall never be afraid while you are with +the Indians, but some of the red men I would not trust. If my King, the +Great Pale Faced Father of this country, knew of your kindness to me he +would love you. I feel that my life and the lives of my children are +safe in your hands." Margaret then asked him into the Fort. In doing +this she appears to have obeyed the cool dictates of judgment rather +than the impulses of the heart. He at first hesitated and then slowly +followed her cautiously up the rising ground. She turned around and said +to him rather sharply: "Do you fear to trust me? There are no pale faced +men inside. Did I not trust you when I went out single, alone and +unarmed, to meet you?" He quickened his pace, but glanced restlessly all +around. Arriving near the entrance of the Fort, he said: "Me stop here." +Margaret called to her children, but they would not come. Paul said: +"Children frightened with Injun." After much difficulty she persuaded +Paul to step inside. He stopped as he entered and looked wildly about, +appearing inclined to draw back. Margaret Godfrey looked straight into +his restless eyes and said: "You are my friend now. When my husband +comes back you can help us up this unknown stream to our new home." +"Yea," he replied; "me will watch on river bank and in canoe; fire gun +and point where stay night. Don't tell pale face man me be in Fort. +White man sometime kill Injun. Won't tell pale face man, say?" Here he +hesitated for a reply. Margaret took his hand, led him out, and promised +she would not. And she kept her word.] + +Noble bearing and grand courage in the case of Mrs. Godfrey, it would +appear, touched the tenderest chords of the Iroquois' heart, and brought +to the surface his better nature. Naturally, some human beings are +better than others. Such seem born to exert a power and cast a healthy +influence all about them. Doubtless Margaret was one of this class. Her +early training, her immortal hope, her strong belief in the spread of +everlasting truth, and in prayer and God, had much to do in steadying +and solidifying her character. + +We may all profit by her example, if we seek to incorporate the +principles of the Christian religion into our every day actions and +life, in the full conviction that it is the happiest life, the soundest +life, the bravest life, that partakes of the mild and peaceful spirit of +Christianity. Something more than ordinary courage in the presence of +yelling savages and flights of arrows is necessary to support a delicate +woman single handed and alone; this something Margaret Godfrey +possessed, and, possibly, the penetrating eye of the Iroquois detected +it in her every feature and movement. + +The King's schooner arrived at Passmaquaddy in due time, and Paul took +his departure for his native woods. He sent word hack by the captain of +the schooner to Margaret Godfrey that he would watch for her spirit some +evening when he sat by his mother's grave. He felt sure he would see +her there. + +In the next chapter Captain Godfrey and family will be followed across +the ocean, and Paul Guidon will be allowed to remain in his native +woods, to fish, to shoot, and occasionally to sit beside Old Mag's grave +and commune with her immortal spirit. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN ENGLAND.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE LORDS. + + +The "Adamante" arrived in England after a rough and stormy passage of +forty-eight days. Captain Godfrey and family suffered severe hardships +on the run over the Western Ocean. Owing to his exhausted funds, Captain +G. was unable to provide his family the conveniences and comforts which +would have rendered the voyage home more agreeable than under the +circumstances it proved itself to be. As it was they suffered severely. +They had no bedding, and found their beaver skins a great luxury to +sleep on. The few pounds that the sale of the sloop brought him were all +expended during his long stay at Halifax while he was waiting for an +opportunity to sail for England. + +Margaret Godfrey was as high spirited as she was brave, and would not +condescend to seek assistance from their friends in Halifax. If +assistance was not gratuitously bestowed, she was the last woman in the +world to beg. The family were well cared for while in the capital of the +province (or to put it in Mrs. Godfrey's words) "as well as people +generally are who have honestly lost their all. Our real wants were not +known to the middle and lower classes, and that other class was not +heartily concerned about our future. Governor Campbell, all honor to his +name, secured and paid our passages." + +The cabin of the "Adamante" was below deck, it was dark, dingy and +dirty. The bows of the vessel resembled the side of a tub, and the stern +the end of a puncheon cut through the centre lengthways. A passage +across the stormy ocean in the "Adamante" in the winter of 1771-2, in +comparison to one in an ocean greyhound of 1889, would be much the same +as the difference between a ride in an ox-cart and one in a palace car, +both for comfort and speed. + +A terrific storm was experienced off the west coast of Ireland, in which +the foretopgallant mast and jibboom were carried away. The water-casks +and caboose were washed overboard, and the cook carried into the forward +shrouds feet foremost, where he hung like a fish in a net. With this +exception, no accident occurred during the passage. + +Shortly after Captain Godfrey arrived in London, he called on the Earl +of Hillsborough and made known to that gentleman his great misfortune, +and also delivered to His Lordship the letter of recommendation which +Lord William Campbell had been pleased to give him. After the Earl of +Hillsborough had carefully perused the letter and examined into Captain +Godfrey's affairs, His Lordship was most generously pleased to present +him with twenty guineas out of his private purse for present relief, +until His Lordship could more essentially serve him. + +Not long afterward Captain Godfrey's case was laid before the Right +Honourable the Lords of Trade. The Earl of Hillsborough was again +pleased to grant him fifty guineas from his private purse for a +temporary support, with the assurance of providing for his further +support till his case was settled. + +Upon Lord Hillsborough's resignation as first Lord of Trade and +Plantations, his Lordship was pleased to recommend Captain Godfrey's +case to the Earl of Dartmouth, who succeeded His Lordship in office. + +The case, with all the original papers and certificates, was laid before +the Earl of Dartmouth and the Right Honorable the Lords of Trade and +Plantations. A commission was appointed by Parliament and several Lords +sat on it, but nothing definite was arranged. Captain Godfrey remained +for the greater part of the time in England and sometimes in Ireland, +all the time seeking relief from Lords many until the year 1773. All +this time he was in great difficulty and distress through his losses in +the Colony. Fortunately for himself and his family, he was left a legacy +in 1773 amounting to a considerable sum, which enabled him a second time +to try his luck in Nova Scotia. He expended a large sum of money in +purchasing goods suitable for the colonial trade, and embarked with the +goods and his wife and family in 1774, and once again settled on his +estate at Grimross. + +His former misfortune did not discourage him; he was full of hope for +the future. He left his case in the hands of his fellow-countrymen. What +a pity he did not induce some of these English Lords to accompany him +and spend a winter with him in the wilds of Nova Scotia. It is quite +possible had he been able to prevail upon them to do so, that they would +have returned home in the early spring and strongly advised the Lords of +Trade and Plantations to at once settle the case of Captain Godfrey by +reimbursing him for his losses. + +The boast of England is her colonies, yet the statesmen of Britain at +that time knew little, and, in all probability, cared less, about the +hardships, dangers and perils which their countrymen were enduring while +laying the foundations of a Greater Britain. + +The great bulk of the early colonists were thoroughly British, and +Captain Godfrey was no exception. They suffered what most early +colonists suffer, but they suffered without murmuring, because they were +Englishmen in an English colony. They possessed a sort of blind loyalty +and a sincere patriotism toward their King and old England. Their spirit +is ours, and a century or more has been forming and moulding it into a +purely Canadian patriotism, while the wisdom displayed for fifty years +by the best ruler that ever sat upon the British throne, has +strengthened the attachment British North Americans have had for English +institutions and induced them to cling strongly to them, though the +circumstances of a new country have required a modification in the forms +of those institutions. + +Queen Victoria's good sense, excellent judgment, and consequently wise +rule, have made the people of every portion of the Colonial Empire feel +that they have an interest in the Mother land. + +Long may she reign; and God grant that the American Republic may never +be allowed to extend its institutions to our Dominion, and overthrow the +foundations laid by our ancestry and on which we are building. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ARRIVAL AND RETREAT. + + +In the month of September, 1774, Captain Godfrey, after an absence of +three years, arrived and settled for the second time on the estate at +Grimross Neck. He lost no time in preparing to once again try his luck +in trading with the Indians and settlers. He erected and finished a +house and store, and before winter set in everything was made ready to +receive his wife and family, who arrived in the latter part of November. + +He commenced trading again buoyant with the hope of retrieving his +losses, and for a short time he carried on a profitable business. The +Indians were comparatively quiet, and he and his family enjoyed a season +of peace. Uprightness stamped all the Captain's dealings. He remarked to +a friend, that he had again attempted to do business in the colony, and +said he: "with the spirit of a true British soldier, I mean to do or die +in the attempt, and my dealings with both the white and red man shall be +guided by the dictates of an honest conscience. I hope I shall succeed." +He felt almost certain that the dark plots and devilish crimes of the +Indians would never have occurred had Paul Guidon been near him. He +would often say to his wife: "I wonder where Paul has gone?" Since his +arrival at Grimross he often made enquiries as to Paul's whereabouts, +but none of the tribe on the St. John appeared to know where he was. Six +months had elapsed since his arrival and yet he had received no tidings +of the brave Iroquois. + +Mrs. Godfrey, true to the promise she had made to Paul on board the +King's schooner in Halifax harbour, never revealed to her husband the +Indian's feelings of regard toward her. Like a wise woman, she +considered it better to let the matter forever rest. + +Captain Godfrey presented Paul with the two muskets previous to the +Indian leaving Halifax for Passmaquaddy. Paul named one "Old Mag" and +the other "Chief Mag," cutting as he did so an arrow mark in the butt of +the latter, and saying "this one my Chief." The Captain told his wife of +the circumstance, and she laughingly remarked that it was a custom among +the Indians to name trinkets and presents after the persons who had +given them. She believed as Paul had seen her first at Fort Frederick, +her name was probably first in his thoughts when accepting the muskets. + +One night, in the month of March, 1775, Captain Godfrey and his wife +were aroused from their slumbers by a loud and continued knocking at the +house door. The night was very dark. The Captain got up, dressed +himself, and called his eldest son, (Charlie) a lad of sixteen. They +together went to the door, asked who was there, and what was wanted. The +answer came ringing back, Paul Guidon. The Captain called his wife, as +he did not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She came and said, "Is +that you, Paul?" "Me, real Paul, and got Chief Mag with me," was the +answer. Margaret could not recognize the voice as that of Paul. She said +to her husband, "it sounds more like the voice of a British officer than +that of an Indian." She lit a candle, and said, "Paul, do you know me?" +"Yes, yes," he replied; "arrow mark on arm, and almost dead with you +under windlass in sloop, great storm, lost canoe." She opened the door, +and in stepped Paul Guidon, dressed in the military uniform presented to +him at Halifax, or a similar one, and in his hand a musket. A fire was +made, and Paul was so pleased to once again see his old friends that he +could not sit quiet. He walked up and down the kitchen with a quick +nervous tread, looking like a hero from some field of victory. Margaret +burst out in exclamation, "So it is really you, Paul; you who +accompanied us in our trials, and watched over us in our dangers, and +who, side by side with me, lay on the verge of eternity, while the +roaring of the ocean and the howling of the storm passed along unheeded +by us both." There before them was the brave Chief, (the "Young Lion of +the Woods,") who a few years before, at Fort Frederick, was subdued by +the presence of Margaret Godfrey, where her exhibition of unexampled +fortitude took a deep hold of the very being of the Iroquois and turned +him from an enemy to a friend. + +The Indian remained with the Godfreys for a few days, amusing himself +with shooting and assisting in a general the premises. Trouble occurring +among the tribe of which Paul was a sub-chief, he was sent for to +return to the tribe, and at a great war council he was elected Chief in +Thomas' place. + +About this time the colonists in New England were beginning to show +signs of dissatisfaction with the Mother land, and some Americans living +along the St. John river were showing signs of discontent, and becoming +agitated over matters in New England. The American sympathisers did all +they could to stir the Indians along the river to revolt. + +Paul Guidon did all in his power to soothe their savage breasts, and +soon after returned to Grimross Neck. In a short time the rebellion +broke out, and affairs in New England were fast assuming a most serious +aspect. The rebels in the vicinity of Grimross were fully aware of +Captain Godfrey's firm attachment to the cause of King George the Third. +At length they approached him and tried hard to persuade him to enter +the service of the dissatisfied colonists. The cross-eyed, monkey-faced +character alluded to in a former chapter, was their chief spokesman on +this occasion, and instead of stuttering, as on a former visit, his +words flowed forth as freely and as fast as the waters of a mill-race. +It may be that similar specimens of humanity exist in every age, whose +folly and wickedness seem to be perpetual. Will such characters ever +learn to live and be content under the old flag of their fathers, or +will they be content to live on despised by their countrymen? Should +such seditious spirits ever receive mention from the historian, it must +be anything but a flattering one, and must cause the blush to mantle +upon the cheek of any worthy descendant. + +Captain Godfrey was offered by the rebels the command of a party of men +to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, besides which further +inducements of preferment and advancement were held out to him. But +nothing the rebels could offer was able to shake his allegiance to King +George the Third. His former losses, his present situation, the safety +of his wife and family, his treatment by the Board of Trade and +Plantations, were all to him of less importance than his duty to his +sovereign. Unshaken and unmoved he replied to the traitors, "I am as +zealous as ever I was in my life for the cause of my King and my +country." + +The rebels finding the Captain firm in his determination not to forsake +his King, approached Margaret Godfrey. She was protected not only by her +good sense and thorough good judgment, her sterling honour and decided +character, but also by the highest convictions of duty. In answer to +them she replied, "My husband has given you his answer and in it he has +also given you mine. You will oblige by at once leaving the premises." +They made a hasty exit from her presence, and did not return for some +weeks. + +A day or two after the rebels had left Grimross, Paul Guidon related to +Mrs. Godfrey his life and wanderings after his arrival at Passmaquaddy +from Halifax in 1771. "He found his way from Passmaquaddy to Grimross +Neck, carrying the two muskets with him, and also a knapsack filled with +powder, shot and bullets, given to him by the Captain of the King's +schooner." + +"He then went to where the tribe was living and remained some weeks, +being very tired and weary. Pere Thoma, taking a great fancy to his red +jacket, offered to canoe him down the river to his old camping ground if +he would give him the coveted garment on their return. Paul consented to +do so. One fine morning they started from Grimross Neck and paddled all +day down the river, occasionally resting on the banks of the stream. It +came into his (Paul's) head, on the way down that Pere Thoma was the +cause of the Godfreys' misfortunes, and he suddenly felt that the spirit +of "Old Mag" (his mother) called upon him to kill Thoma. The burning of +the house, the escape of his mother from the flames, the driving away of +the English people, the great storm on the bay, his first sight of the +pale-faced woman at Fort Frederick, the parting with her at Halifax, all +these events recurred to his mind in an instant and went like a flash +through his brain. His head seemed to dance like the canoe on the water, +then the canoe appeared to whirl round and round. He got so dizzy he +could scarcely see, and was afraid that he would fall overboard. He felt +something touch him on the shoulder like a dip from the wing of a bird. +He had his musket in the canoe, it was loaded. He suddenly pulled in the +paddle and then grasped the musket. It was "Chief Mag," and he pointed +it at Thoma who was sitting in the stern of the canoe. He fired and +Thoma rolled overboard and sank. Paddling on he arrived at his old +camping ground near the mouth of the river. The wigwam was still +standing but very much out of order, he sat in it till daylight and then +visited his mother's grave. After returning to the camp as he felt sad +and faint, he took his musket and wandered off in search of game. He +spent the remainder of the day near the resting place of "Old Mag," at +night he went to the camp and there slept. In the morning he got into +the canoe and paddled off up the river, arriving at Grimross he went on +shore and started at once by trail for Quebec, where after two moons he +arrived carrying Chief Mag with him. Here he was much in request by the +military, who detained him for three winters accompanying them on their +hunting excursions. During the latter part of the last winter, while +shooting with some officers on the borders of Acadia and Quebec, he met +an old Indian by the name of Joe Paul moving West with his family. From +him he learned that the pale-faced people were again living and trading +at Grimross. Paul told the officers that he must go back to the St. +John. They were not inclined to release him, until he had accompanied +them back to Quebec. Yielding to their entreaties he returned with them, +remaining a few days. Just before he left Quebec, there was a great stir +among the military. It was rumoured that war was impending, and the +officers tried hard to persuade him to remain and share with them the +fortunes of war, if they should be ordered to take part in the fighting. +He said he could not stay, but promised the officers, as he put on a new +red jacket they had given him, that he would never fight against the +British soldiers. As Paul came to this part of his narration he looked +straight at Margaret Godfrey and continued, (it is given in his own +words) "all Paul want to make him British soldier be pale face and +little hair." + +In a few days the Iroquois went out again to visit his tribe. Desiring +to revisit his mother's grave he required some one to assist him down +the river. He selected as his companion Francis DeFalt who appeared +willing to accompany him. On the way down he found out from DeFalt, that +he was one of the Indians who by Thoma's commands set fire to the +Englishman's house and store. DeFalt bragged about what he had done and +said his only sorrow was, that all the white devils were not burned up +with the house. + +As DeFalt was speaking, the Iroquois blood began to stir quickly. As +soon as darkness was closing down over the face of the river Paul +meditated on revenge. He seized Chief Mag, which he always took with +him, and fired it at DeFalt, who turning a complete somerset over the +bow of the canoe into the river, was seen no more. Paul drifted down +stream a few miles, paddled to the shore, hauled the canoe upon dry +land, turned it over and slept under it during the night, feeling +satisfied that he had avenged the insult to the pale-faces. Paul +remained about the old camping ground for three weeks, when he again +returned to Grimross. The Iroquois was never suspected as the cause of +Thoma's disappearance, the canoe was afterwards found, bottom up, in the +river, and he was supposed to have been drowned. + +On Paul's return to his tribe, he told the Indians that DeFalt had +become acquainted with a pretty young squaw named Charlotte Toney, and +had gone over to Fort Cumberland to spend a few months with the Toney +family, who were moving over there to settle during the coming winter, +and that DeFalt would likely be married before his return. The Iroquois +shortly after this returned to Grimross to spend a few days with his +pale-faced friends. He told Margaret that some of the tribe were greatly +agitated. The American sympathisers had seduced them by making great +promises and by holding up to them a grand future. Paul said to Captain +Godfrey, "you may all be murdered if you stay at Grimross; some bad +white men now among Indians." Margaret did not care to advise her +husband to leave, although she had learnt enough from Paul to convince +her that great danger was all about them. + +The Iroquois had proposed to Margaret to escape with her children to +Fort Frederick, saying that he would take them down the river in +DeFalt's canoe, which he had kept at Grimross. He said to her, "I will +never leave you in times of trouble and will lose my life to save +yours." She would not consent to leave her husband, although he strongly +advised her to go, if she thought their lives in danger. + +At length the Rebels and Red men grew furious. They arrived at Grimross +early one morning, while Paul was out among the tribe trying to keep +them quiet, and surrounding the house and store of Captain Godfrey they +demanded his surrender. The yells and whoops of the Indians were +terrific, demons from the depths of perdition could not have made a more +frightful noise. The children were terrified; the youngest fainted with +fright. At this crisis Margaret Godfrey calmly walked to the door while +her husband and son Charlie stood a few paces in her rear. She opened +the door, and as she did so in rushed the demons, led by the cross-eyed, +monkey-faced rebel. One of the Indians by name Pete Gomez, took hold of +Margaret and forced her to the floor, Charlie took up a stick of wood +and knocked Gomez senseless. At this moment Paul Guidon returned, +Horatio Keys, one of the rebels, had seized Captain Godfrey by the +throat and was holding him tightly against the wall, Margaret clinched +the rolling-pin and in an instant sent Keys staggering to the floor. The +squinting monkey-faced rebel's name was Will, and Will by force pushed +Margaret to the floor, and was dragging her by the hand toward the door, +as Paul stepped in. Paul struck him with his fist, and like lightning +placed both his feet against the rebel's breast, almost knocking the +life out of him. Jim Wade, Sam Scarp, and Mark Paul, three Indians, +rushed in after Paul, who turned and struck Wade a terrific blow on the +neck, knocking him out. The Captain, Charlie, Paul and Margaret went for +the other two in lively style and soon laid them low. The remaining +rebels and Indians beat a hasty retreat to the woods. The insolent +invaders who had got so deservedly well punished at the hands of the +Godfrey household were pitched out of the house, and when they had +sufficiently recovered they also made for the woods. During the tumult +the four smaller children were fastened in the bedroom and their screams +were terrible. The night after the assault was a dismal and anxious one +at Grimross. The children trembled and sobbed during the entire hours of +darkness. The morning at length dawned, and with its dawning Margaret +Godfrey's soul went out for counsel and guidance to Him, who in all +their perils, in the darkest moments of their lives, had never forsaken +them. + +She said to Paul Guidon, "the rebels may kill my husband, my children +and myself, but from this hour their threats shall not intimidate me +from acting as a British subject should act in a British Colony. I shall +do my duty, for under God I am determined whenever and however we +attempt to make our escape, if I have to die I shall die free and not as +a slave or traitor." The Indian who had attentively listened to +Margaret's words promised to stand by her. + +"Paul Guidon," she continued, "there remains to us a great duty to be +performed. I am fully convinced there will be a way of escape opened to +us, but we must seek it first. Cannot we escape to Fort Frederick? Is +the canoe safe to convey the whole of us and what stuff we may require?" +To which the Iroquois replied, "If water smooth no trouble, trouble may +be Indians 'long river bank, I go up Neck and bring down canoe." This +latter he quickly did, hauling it on shore and hiding it among some +bushes. + +In a few days three of the rebels, armed with pistols, again came to the +shop of Captain Godfrey, and sternly demanded of him all his goods and +chattels, to be held by them in trust, and to be restored to him at the +close of the American rebellion, on condition that he joined General +Washington. His refusal of these conditions was, by the decree of the +war committee, to be punished with death. This committee had a number of +armed men as the instruments by which they enforced their decrees. The +three envoys gave the Captain one hour to consider their proposal. + +At the expiration of the hour Margaret Godfrey and her husband came into +the room where the rebels were seated. Margaret asked them how her +husband and family should be able to join General Washington; "Would +they not be arrested as spies or enemies of the New England colonists if +they attempted to pass over among them?" + +One of the rebels answered her, "If you will go and join General +Washington, we will give you a pass into New England, and as soon as we +can consult with the war committee we will bring or send you the +passport." + +Margaret trembled lest her husband would suddenly object to the +proceeding, as nothing definite had been arranged during their hour of +debating the situation, only that they must escape if possible. She was +well aware of her husband's sterling loyalty. She caught his eye and +nodded to him to assent to the proposition of the rebels. + +He did so. The rebels left, promising the pass the next day, and that in +twenty-four hours after receiving it, a guard would be ready to escort +them on their way to New England. It being late in the afternoon the +rebels then left. At noon the following day a messenger arrived with the +passport, and also an order to be ready to proceed toward New England on +the following day. The permit or passport read as follows: + + + Permit the bearer, Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * Esqr., + to pass from river St John in Nova Scotia with his family + to any part of New England. + + Maugerville, } By order of the Committee, + ye 8 July, 1776. } JACOB BARKERLY, _Chairman_. + + +After a few words of conversation with the Captain and his wife, the +messenger took his departure. No time was lost in preparing to escape. +Mrs. Godfrey was determined to have everything in the canoe before +daylight next morning. The night fortunately was fine, and if all went +well they would be well on their way to Fort Frederick before Jacob +Barkerly or any of the rebels were aware of their departure. Accordingly +the night was a busy one getting ready and transferring bundles of stuff +to the canoe, which was some distance off. At early dawn all were in +readiness, and the last to leave the homestead at Grimross were Margaret +and Paul, who had returned from the shore for a box containing the +Captain's private papers, which had been overlooked in the hurry. A few +minutes before four o'clock the Indian and Mrs. Godfrey arrived at the +canoe with the box.[4] + +[Footnote 4: Many of the events related in this story are founded on +facts gathered from papers contained in the box.] + +The morning was a lovely one, and Margaret Godfrey was the most hopeful +and cheerful of the little band of fugitives who were preparing to step +into the canoe. Her every act and word seemed void of fear. Defeat and +disaster with her were but spurs to further effort. She possessed that +fortitude of soul that bears the severest trials without complaint. A +few minutes after four o'clock they pushed off from the shore, the water +was quite calm, but the progress was slow as the canoe was deeply laden, +and Paul Guidon had to be very cautious in its management. Not an Indian +was seen on the shore. The next day they arrived at Paul's old camping +ground, and after resting there a few hours they started for Fort +Frederick, a short distance below. Here fortune seemed to smile upon +them. A small schooner lay at anchor immediately below the fort. +Margaret and her husband lost no time in going on board. The Captain of +the schooner said that his vessel would sail for Port Royal, if there +were sufficient wind, early the next day. He agreed to take the whole +Godfrey family over with them. Paul seemed bound to accompany them, and +it pleased Margaret, when she found out that he was anxious to go with +them, as she feared he would be murdered if caught by the rebels. Toward +evening they all embarked on board the schooner, Paul having got +permission from the Captain of the vessel to take his canoe on board, +he, assisted by Charlie, embarked it also. + +In the morning there being a fair wind sail was set, and next day all on +board were safely landed at Annapolis. Fortune once more favoured the +Godfrey family, at Annapolis Royal there they found a British sloop of +war. Margaret got Paul to take her and her husband in his canoe to the +ship. They were received on board by the Captain in the most cordial +manner, who said they had arrived in good time, as he intended to sail +in a day or two. In a short time Captain Godfrey and his wife returned +to the shore, having completed arrangements with the Captain of the ship +for a passage to Halifax. + +In a day or two the Godfrey family, accompanied by the Indian, sailed in +the British sloop-of-war _Viper_, commanded by Captain Greaves. + +Four days later the _Viper_ arrived in Halifax harbour, and previous to +the Godfreys disembarking, Mrs. Godfrey requested permission of Captain +Greaves to address a few words of farewell to the ship's company. Her +request being granted and all hands ordered on deck, Mrs. G., in +appropriate terms and in a modest, yet dignified manner, spoke words of +counsel to the company, concluding her short exhortation in these words: +"And to the Captain of my salvation I commend you all." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REBEL PLANS--PRAYING THE LORDS. + + +Before Captain Godfrey sailed with his family from Halifax for England, +he waited on Governor Arbuthnot and General Massie[5] and informed them +of the rebels intentions, and gave them a history of his sad experience +on the St. John. + +[Footnote 5: Fort Massie at Halifax, part of which is now held as a +military burial ground, was named after this officer.] + +He told them that he had been offered by the rebels the command of a +party of men to march forward and attack Fort Cumberland, and if they +(the rebels) should be successful, they were to be reinforced, and at +once proceed to Halifax, set fire to the town, and sack it. + +In their proceedings the rebels, who were in constant communication with +the New Englanders, and who were instructed by them, were talking of +forming this plan in order if possible to keep General Howe's army from +being largely reinforced. + +Captain Godfrey, though very weak and ill, offered his service to +General Massie, if the latter would arm two schooners and put on board +of each of them one hundred regulars besides a crew of twenty-five men. +He proposed to proceed to Fort Cumberland and secure the place in case +an attack was made. His offer was declined. He then bid adieu to Halifax +and sailed for England, where he and his family arrived on January the +8th, 1777. + +He lost no time in applying to Lords North and Germain, who after proper +examination found his claims for losses in the colony well founded; and +were generously pleased to order him the annual sum of one hundred and +fifty pounds for the temporary support of his family. This sum was +afterward reduced to one hundred and twenty pounds, and finally +altogether withdrawn. + +He then put his distressed condition before the government, and his case +was again tossed about from Lord to Lord, and from board to board, and +finally brought up again before the Lords of Parliament, and from it was +sent back to the Lords of Plantations and Trade. From thence to the +Lords of commission for services and losses in America, and the Lord +only knows where else it was sent, until it was sent out to Nova Scotia +in 1784. + +Thirteen years had elapsed since the Captain experienced his first +misfortune in Nova Scotia, and more than seven years had elapsed since +his second loss, then his case was sent out to Nova Scotia. + +During all this long time he had exercised the greatest patience, and +his loyalty to his King (George the Third) was never for a moment +shaken. + +He had lost in lands and goods about twelve thousand pounds sterling by +settling in a British Colony where Indians and rebels destroyed his +prospects, and yet he had received no redress for the hardships he and +his family had endured, and the great wrongs inflicted upon them. His +wife and children were allowed to remain in an almost destitute +condition by the King and his advisers. Financially, Captain Godfrey +could have been in no worse condition had he joined General Washington. +But there was no power on earth that could induce the Captain to turn +his back upon his King and his country. + +He, with the assistance of his heroic wife, had done all in their power +to rouse the whole mind and heart of their fellow countrymen in office +to a satisfactory settlement of their just claims, but all they had done +seemed useless, and they knew not what more to do. + +After the close of the American war Captain Godfrey once more thought of +crossing the ocean to settle in the colony where he had experienced so +much misfortune. But after he had made all the arrangements for leaving +England, he found out that he was too weak in body to stand the wear and +tear of a passage across the Atlantic Ocean. In those days it usually +took two months to cross from Great Britain to Nova Scotia. + +The Captain's case had been tossed from one official to another, and +from one commission to another, until it had probably travelled through +the completely developed rounds of _Red Tapeism_. After this it appears +to have been allowed to slumber till the close of the American +Revolutionary War. + +Captain Godfrey's health, since his last arrival in England from the +colony, was anything but good, and his means of support being gone, he +was largely depending on friends and relatives for the means of +supporting his family. His eldest son, (Charlie) through the never +failing energy of his mother, had received an Ensign's commission in the +British Army.[6] + +[Footnote 6: In 1805, Charlie, who had received a Captain's commission, +was appointed Captain in the Nova Scotia Fencible Infantry, commanded by +Colonel Fred. Wetherall. In the above year Captain Charlie Godfrey +married in Nova Scotia.] + +The last effort Captain Godfrey appears to have made in trying to secure +something in return for his services to his country, and for the great +losses sustained by him in the colony, was after the conclusion of the +war between England and America. + +He got his case before the "Lords of the Commission" for services and +losses in America, and there it seems to have met its doom, it was +granted a sort of Ticket of Leave for transportation to Nova Scotia, +where it died in exile. + +Their Lordships referred Captain Godfrey in the following manner to the +Governor of Nova Scotia:-- + + + WHITEHALL, _May 24th, 1784_. + + SIR,-- + + You will receive herewith a memorial, which has been presented to me by + Captain Charles * * * Godfrey, * * * praying that proper orders may be + given for the immediate recovery of his lands upon the St. John, River, + in the Province of Nova Scotia. As I understand, upon inquiry, that Mr. + Godfrey was dis-possessed of his property previous to the Independence + of America, on account of his loyalty and the active part he took for + the support of His Majesty King George the Third's Government. I am + induced to recommend the prayer of the petition to your favourable + consideration. + + I am, Sir, your most + Obedient Humble Servant, + SYDNEY. + + TO JOHN PARR, + _Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief + of the Province of Nova Scotia_. + +In the year 1776 the New England Colonists appear to have had their +emissaries in Nova Scotia. There is no missing link, the chain of +evidence is completed by the passport to Captain Godfrey from the Rebel +Committee at Maugerville, in July, 1776. After the lapse of one hundred +and twelve years, the fact is revealed that there were persons in Nova +Scotia who were employed by the New England colonists, and paid by them +to incite the Indians to revolt, and hold out bribes to honest and loyal +settlers to forsake their King and country. + +It may be that in the near or distant future facts will be brought to +light which will prove beyond a doubt that the United States had +emissaries in Nova Scotia in 1888 who were paid for their services in +Yankee gold. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +PAUL GUIDON. + + +It will be remembered that the Godfreys, accompanied by their faithful +friend Paul Guidon, arrived at Halifax in the "Viper." Paul remained +twelve days with his friend, and then a vessel being about to sail for +Quebec, Commander Greaves secured him a passage in her. + +But the farewell almost broke the heart of the noble Iroquois, and he +wept many bitter tears. Margaret Godfrey was aware of Paul's desire to +gain possession of the old service book, she knew he had longed for it +since the day of his mother's burial, and on bidding him adieu she +presented him with the book, saying as she did so, "Paul keep this book, +it is from your friend, no doubt you will sometimes be able to get some +one to read to you useful lessons from its pages." + +Paul Guidon had frequently told Mrs. Godfrey that he felt a sort of +charm come over him whenever his eyes rested on the book, and when he +touched it with his hand he imagined he could hear his mother whisper +the words, "Paul be good man, and bye and by you will come to me on the +sunny plains of the happy hunting ground." + +At Quebec a British officer, becoming greatly attached to Paul, engaged +him as a sort of confidential servant, and noticing the Iroquois +admiration for the military dress, he had a suit made for him. Indeed, +Paul became an especial favorite with all the soldiers of the garrison. +Colonel MacLean, with whom the Indian had engaged, had great confidence +in him, and frequently trusted him to carry important messages. The +Colonel found him to be a most trusty fellow, and occasionally sent him +alone to observe the enemy's movements. Paul was as straight as an +athlete and had an eye keen as an eagle's. He scarcely ever failed in +reporting to the Colonel something worth knowing. + +On the night of December 31st, 1776, the Iroquois advanced in a creeping +position so close to the enemy's lines, that on his return he was able +to state to the Colonel what the enemy were doing, and he told what he +had observed in such an intelligent way that the British were prepared +to meet and repulse every attack of Arnold and Montgomery on that night. +In the attack Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. + +One night, an exceptionally dark and stormy one, the Indian was sent out +to reconnoitre. He lost his way, and getting inside the enemy's lines, +came near being captured. In the dense darkness he crept right up +against one of the enemy's pickets. The sentry fired, and Paul fell flat +on the snow quite near the sentry's feet, the shot passing over the +Indian's head. In another instant Paul had regained his feet, and while +the sentry was attempting to reload his musket the Iroquois grasped at +him, and in doing so caught him by his hands, which were clasped +tightly around the weapon. The sentry gave a most determined backward +jerk, but Paul held him firmly and then wrenched the musket out of his +hands, bringing with it a ring off the sentry's finger. The Iroquois put +the ring on his own finger and made off at once for the British lines. +In his haste, when nearing the British outposts, he stumbled and fell, +and with such force that he was knocked senseless and lost the ring. He +lay there for some time, and when he had somewhat recovered he found +himself so benumbed with the cold that he could scarcely move his limbs. + +It was snowing when he fell, and when he became conscious of his +situation, he found himself covered with an inch or more of snow, and +his head and face badly cut and bruised. On all four he crept to the +British outposts with the blood streaming from a cut in his leg and one +on his face. At last he reached the lines, more dead than alive. Paul +received a cold from which he never recovered. + +In the morning he crawled out in search of the ring, thinking it might +be of some value. He was enabled to find the place where he had fallen +by retracing his steps and seeing the blood on the snow in spots here +and there. It had stopped snowing soon after he recovered consciousness, +consequently it was not difficult next morning to find out the spot +where he had received his injuries. The sun was shining brightly, and as +he kicked away the snow after hunting about for an hour or so, his eye +caught something shining brilliantly. He picked it up. It was a ring. He +put it into his pocket and returned. He knew he had seen the ring +before. He put it in an inside pocket of his coat and sewed it in, +fearing he might otherwise loose it. + +The Indian for a long time was unfitted for active duty. He made his +home sometimes at the garrison and sometimes with the tribes of Indians +in the neighborhood. + +When General Burgoyne, in June, 1777, advanced from Canada into the New +England States, Paul Guidon attached himself to one of the officers of +the expedition. This officer was afterward killed and Paul was captured +by the Americans and sent a prisoner to Boston, and at that place +detained for some months. + +At length he managed to make his escape. He wandered for weeks in the +woods and along the paths, and at last struck the Nova Scotia boundary +and continued on until he reached the vicinity of Fort Frederick. There +he remained for a short time visiting the scenes and places of other +days. He then set out once more for Quebec, and arrived there in +September, 1778, where he remained till the close of the war. In +September, 1780, he was united in marriage with a handsome young +Chipewayan squaw. Paul Guidon was loved and admired by most of the +Indians of the Quebec district, and never wanted for a home amongst +them. + +His wife was of medium height, her face was handsome, and her features +clean-cut, as they are seen in Greek statuary. She was as brown as some +statues are. Her eyes were of the deepest and brightest black, they were +quick and piercing as arrows sent to their mark. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MARGARET GODFREY ARRIVES IN NOVA SCOTIA.--DEATH OF THE YOUNG LION OF THE +WOODS. + + +In the month of August, 1784, Margaret Godfrey once again arrived in +Nova Scotia. This time she came alone, her husband being too ill to +accompany her. She left her English home and came out to Nova Scotia to +secure a personal interview with Governor Parr, and do all in her power +to get back the property on the St. John River; or if not, then she +would endeavor to secure some compensation for it, through the +instrumentality of the governor. She remained at Halifax a few weeks, +and then left for the St. John River. She did not appear satisfied with +her visit to the governor. She could get no promise from him that the +estate at Grimross Neck would be restored to her husband, or that any +compensation would be granted in its stead. Nothing seems to have been +done in her interest, and she left Halifax deeply disappointed in her +mission. + +Trouble had recently arisen between the people settled at the mouth of +the St. John and the authorities at Halifax. Instead of one Province she +was informed that there were now two Provinces. She determined to cross +over to Parrtown, and see what she could accomplish by visiting the +estate personally. With the letter from Sydney to Governor Parr, she +took a certificate of survey, which read as follows: + + + This may certify, that by the desire of Captain ----, I have laid nine + hundred acres of land on the Peninsular or place called Grimross Neck, + in the Township of Gage, on the River St. John, beginning at the Portage + and running down the river about two miles and a quarter to a maple tree + marked, thence running S.W. till it meets Grimross Creek, thence up the + said Creek to the Portage, thence crossing the Portage to the first + mentioned bounds. + + ISRAEL PERLEY, + _Dept. Surveyor. + + Gagetown, Jany. 31st, 1771._ + + +Mrs. Godfrey finding that nothing could be accomplished by her visit up +the river, returned to the settlement at its mouth. The place of +settlement had undergone a great change since the year 1770, when she +first came to Fort Frederick with her husband. + +She remained at Parrtown a few weeks, in order if possible to gather +further information respecting the property at Grimross Neck, and to +consult with some of the leading inhabitants, as to what course they +would advise her to pursue. She was most kindly entertained by the +people of the place. + +One fine morning, while walking about the settlement, she accidently met +a fine looking young Indian girl. The young squaw, whose black eyes +shone in the bright sunshine as polished jet, put out her small brown +hand and said in quite good English, "Please mam, won't you give me +something for sick husband?" + +Margaret thought the dusky beauty looked rather young to be married, but +she said to her, "And where does your husband live?" + +She pointed her hand up the river and replied, "Not far that way." + +"Have you been living here long?" asked Margaret. + +"Not very long," replied the young squaw. + +"What is the matter with your husband?" said Margaret. + +The little squaw answered, "My husband be very sick with consumption, +most dead." + +"Where did you get that pretty ring on your finger?" said Mrs. Godfrey +to the Indian woman. + +Margaret Godfrey had noticed the ring on the squaw's finger, sparkling +in the sunlight, as she pointed her small brown hand up the river in the +direction of her home. + +The swarthy beauty, with an innocent smile, as she hung her head on one +side, said, "My husband give it me after we get married." The Indian +lass then began to run her fingers over a string of red and white beads, +that encircled her round plump neck and hung loosely down over a well +proportioned bosom. At the same time she kept scraping the ground with +the toe of her moccasin, and now and again crossing one foot over the +other and resting the tip of her toe for an instant on the earth. Then +she would swing one of her feet about a foot from the ground over the +other. Her dark blue dress being quite short, and the wind blowing +stiffly, she would occasionally display a small prettily formed foot, +and an ankle that looked as though it had been formed in nature's most +perfect mould. + +Mrs. Godfrey broke the silence by asking the young woman if she would +like her to go to the wigwam and see her sick husband? The Indian woman +answered, "May be dead now, and long rough walk, no canoe here." + +Margaret said to her, "Suppose you come down here to-morrow morning in a +canoe and take me up to your wigwam?" She answered, "Have no canoe, but +might get Jim Newall's, who lives mile more up river, he has canoe and +sometime bring me down here." + +Margaret agreed to accompany her to her wigwam early the next morning, +if Newall and she came to the settlement in a canoe. + +She said she would go and see Newall, and if he could not come, she +would walk down and let her (Margaret) know how her husband was. + +Mrs. Godfrey told the squaw where she would find her at ten o'clock the +next morning, and then taking the hand of the Indian woman into that of +her own, looked carefully at the ring, as she bid her good day. + +Margaret recognized the ring as the one she had lost during the assault +of the rebels at Grimross, in 1776. She missed it from off her finger +soon after the cross-eyed, monkey-faced rebel "Will," had pulled her +about the floor by the hand, and never saw or heard of it after. Paul +Guidon often said to Mrs. Godfrey, that he believed the rebel "Will" had +stolen her ring. + +It was a very valuable one, set with a choice emerald, surrounded by +precious stones. It was presented to Margaret by her father, on the day +he was elected Mayor of Cork, and cost forty-live guineas. It had never +occurred to Margaret, during her conversation with the squaw, to ask her +name. + +Mrs. Godfrey said to herself, "This Indian girl may be a daughter of one +of the savages who attacked us at Grimross. Perhaps she has lied to me +and I may never again see her or the ring. I may possibly get some +information to-morrow that will satisfy me. I must wait." + +At ten o'clock the next morning a strapping big Indian knocked at the +door of the house where Mrs. Godfrey was lodging, and inquired if "woman +lived there who wanted go in canoe and see sick Injun up river?" + +He was informed that there was a lady inside, ready and waiting for a +man named Jim Newall, to take her up the river. "Me Jim," he replied. + +Margaret came to the door. She said, "Are you Jim Newall?" "Yes, me Jim +Newall," he answered gruffly. + +Margaret asked Jim how far it was to where he had left his canoe. "Just +few steps," he replied. "Down among stumps at water edge." Margaret +accompanied the Indian, and finding out where the canoe was, told Jim to +remain there until she returned, as she wanted to get a few things for +the sick man. + +Half an hour later Mrs. Godfrey and a Mrs. Fowler were making their way +by stumps of trees and over branches, with their arms loaded with things +for the sick Indian. They were soon on board, and then Jim Newall +paddled away up stream. + +As the canoe slipped along, every spot on the shores seemed familiar to +Margaret's eyes, and many sad thoughts flashed across her mind; memories +of days never to be forgotten rose in her soul. She remarked to Mrs. +Fowler, "How little everything has changed since I was here last, eight +years ago, except at the settlement." + +The morning was a charming one, the river was running, fairly rushing +up, otherwise all nature seemed to sleep. The splash of the paddle, the +ripple of the water along the sides of the canoe, and the gentle rolling +of the little bark, were the only things that disturbed the quiet that +reigned supreme all about. The Indian never spoke, and Margaret and her +companion, as they sat one ahead of the other in the bottom of the +canoe, seldom exchanged a word. + +Mrs. Godfrey saw at a glance that the canoe was nearing the place where +Paul Guidon and his mother had once lived. As she looked toward the +shore her eyes rested upon a form standing at the water's edge, and as +the canoe approached nearer and nearer the shore, she recognized the +form as that of the pretty squaw she had met at the settlement the +previous day. Margaret Godfrey remarked to Mrs. Fowler, "There stands +the pretty creature I met yesterday." Mrs. Fowler replied, "She does not +look like the squaws we so often see about the settlement." She +continued, "What a neat, tidy girl she is. I have never seen her at +Parrtown, what a handsome face and fine form she has" + + "And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace + A Nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace, + Of finer form, or lovelier face." + +The bow of the canoe had now touched the shore, and the Indian lass +most politely made a courtesy to the ladies in the canoe. + +After landing, Mrs. Fowler put a piece of silver in Jim Newall's hand +and asked him if he would take them back home again in an hour or two. +Jim nodded an assent as he pulled his little bark out of the water to +the dry land. + +Mrs. Godfrey, once on shore, fully recognized that she was at the old +camping ground of her protector in by gone days, Paul Guidon. + +The squaw replied to Mrs. Godfrey's inquiry after her sick husband, that +he was very weak, almost dead. Does he know that a white woman is doming +to see him this morning? asked Margaret G. "Yes," replied the Indian +woman, "he be so glad see you, but he be very weak, no speak, he told me +in whisper last night, after I come back camp from Jim Newall wigwam, +best friend, best woman ever saw, was pale face woman, who told him of +Great Chief, Big Spirit, and great hunting ground way back sun, where +old Mag, (mother) was now. Pale face woman gave him book, and would talk +Great Spirit and tell him look after Paul and make him good man." + +Is your husband's name Paul? asked Margaret Godfrey. "Yes mam," she +answered, "Paul Guidon his name." Mrs. Godfrey felt all must be a dream. +She appeared lost and bewildered after she had heard the name Paul +Guidon. She cast a glance at her companion and exclaimed, "Am I back to +the old camping ground of Paul Guidon, and is he here?" Then her +faculties seemed to desert her, for at that instant she staggered and +fell into the arms of the Indian woman, with such force as to almost +knock the squaw over. Mrs. Fowler noticing the stupor of her companion +and her pallid features, asked her if she felt ill. She did not reply. + +Little Mag, for such was the name of the handsome squaw, ran down to the +river side, filled her moccasins with water and tripping back, she +poured the contents full in the face of Mrs. Godfrey. She went again and +again to the river, filled her moccasins and poured the water over +Margaret's face and temples. + +Jim Newall, who was sitting in his canoe a few yards distant, seeing the +woman lying on the ground, came up and proposed to carry her to the +wigwam two hundred yards distant, or under the shade of some trees near +by. The latter proposition was acted upon. Jim, Mrs. Fowler and Little +Mag, carried Margaret to a shaded spot a few yards away. They all sat +down beside her, as she lay stretched and apparently lifeless upon the +ground. After little Mag had once more poured the contents of her shoes +down the neck of Margaret, and Mrs. Fowler had steadily rubbed her +temples and wrists, she opened her eyes, looked wildly about, and then +sat up supported by her companion. + +She then commenced to speak in a low weak voice. Mrs. Fowler, listening +attentively, heard her say, "Forever honored be this spot of earth: Here +'Old Mag' departed this life. Here her son Paul, that most noble spirit +of the woods, who when I was weary, distressed, and a wanderer, broken +in everything but spirit, poor in all but faith and courage: Here! Here! +Paul took refuge, and my husband, my children and myself rested. Never +shall that day be forgotten by me. I shall always look back during my +life, and when I get to that other home, I shall, too, look back to this +sacred spot with unabated affection and regard. Here! Here was I eight +years ago with husband and children, unprovided for, unprotected, on the +shore of this river, in a rude and fearful wilderness, surrounded by +savages, but that noble Indian, that splendid Iroquois, whose old mother +lies in everlasting sleep near here, protected us and provided for us. +The hills around are hallowed in my memory, and these trees seem to +stand with grace and beauty. This shore is as sacred to my mind as those +of the Jordan were to the people of old. Here! yes here! how often have +I communed with my loving Saviour! This ground is sacred to me because +it incloses the dust of the mother of my protector. The ashes of old +Margaret Guidon repose here. Is this sacred ground soon to claim the +dust of her loving son? It may be that both came here to live for a +brief space and then to die and mingle their ashes with this Acadian +soil." + +Tears streamed down over her beautiful waxen features, as Mrs. Fowler +and little Mag assisted her to her feet. No penitent at a Methodist +revival-service ever looked more serious than did Jim Newall, as +Margaret Godfrey uttered the above. + +Margaret had at length sufficiently recovered to proceed to the wigwam, +assisted on either side by little Mag and Mrs. Fowler. The three walked +slowly toward the home of Paul Guidon. Arriving at the entrance of the +wigwam the little Chipewayan led the way inside. + +The first object that met the eyes of Mrs. Godfrey was the sick Indian +lying, wasted and emaciated, on a bed of spruce-boughs covered with a +blanket. + +Margaret Godfrey at once knelt at his bed-side and placing his dark thin +hand in that of her own, said "Dear Paul, I come to see you." + +He looked up at her and stared in a sort of vacant manner. He tried to +raise his head, but was too weak to do so. She looked straight in his +eyes, and said again, "Paul, you remember your old pale-faced friend who +used to live at Grimross Neck?" As Margaret spoke the last word, Paul +Guidon faintly whispered, "Thank Great Chief, I told him get you come +me, Paul must not be made die till you come." Great tears rolled down +his sunken cheeks as he whispered the above, and Margaret Godfrey, +overpowered with emotion, lightly rested her forehead on his thin sinewy +arm. Not a step. Not a sound was heard for a few minutes within the +narrow circle of the wigwam, all rested as if in silent prayer, a more +touching, a more peaceful, a more solemn scene, was never witnessed in +palace or cottage. Deep grief, real sorrow, took full possession of +those women who knelt around the bed of the dying Iroquois, in that +birchen home on the banks of the St John, on the morning of September +the 20th, 1784. + +There in the stillness of a North American forest, on a magnificent +autumn day, when the trees were dressed in all their gorgeous +loveliness, and at an hour when not even the rustling of a leaf could be +heard, death was gradually releasing the spirit of Paul Guidon from its +swarthy tenament. + +Margaret Godfrey raised her head from off the arm of the Indian, and as +she did so, he again whispered, "me soon be on hunting ground behind +setting sun, you must come see Paul." Mrs. Godfrey, promised him that +she would. He looked at his little wife and tried to move his right hand +toward his breast. She knew what he wanted her to do. She knelt down, +kissed him and took from inside his shirt a book. It was the old service +book. She handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and read to Paul, +whose eyes were steadfastly fixed on the reader. As she continued +reading, the eyes of the dying Indian gradually closed, and as she, shut +the book he ceased breathing. The spirit of the "Young Lion of the +Woods" had taken its everlasting flight. + + "Like a shadow thrown + Softly and sweetly from a passing cloud, + Death fell upon him." + +An hour after Paul Guidon had died, Jim Newall, Mrs. Godfrey, Mrs. +Fowler and Mag Guidon went to the shore and brought Newall's canoe to +the wigwam. The dead chief was laid out in a military coat, which he had +kept with great care, on his head was an undress cap, and his lower +limbs were dressed in dark trousers, and long military or hunting boots +coming up to the knee. + +Paul Guidon was united in marriage to Margaret Reonadi at Quebec in the +summer of 1760, and several military gentlemen were present at the +ceremony. He was dressed for burial in the same suit in which he was +married. + +Newall's canoe, on which the body was laid, was draped along the sides +with evergreens. Spruce boughs were laid athwart the canoe forming a +bed for the body of the departed hero. On his breast were placed his bow +and arrow, also his moccasins. The widowed squaw said the canoe would +help his soul to cross rivers and lakes on the way to the happy hunting +grounds, the arrow would bring down game and the moccasins protect his +feet. When all preparations were completed Newall had arrived back with +another canoe. Mrs. Godfrey and Mrs. Fowler were then taken to the mouth +of the river by Jim, where they secured the services of a man named Cock +to accompany Newall up the river and assist him in digging a grave. A +person by the name of Farris presented Mrs. Godfrey with a British flag, +which he wished displayed at Paul's burial. + +The following morning, according to an agreement, Newall came to the +settlement and took Margaret G. and Mrs. Fowler to the wigwam which +should hold the noble Paul no more forever. The British ensign was drawn +over the body of the dead Indian. He lay in a sort of state till next +day, the body being viewed by many of the Indians of the district, and +also by not a few people from the settlement. All those that came +expressed great sorrow for the quiet little Chipewayan widow, who was +far away from her home and people. On the day of the burial there was a +great gathering of the tribes. The body was borne to its final resting +place by ten stalwart Indians, five on each side of the canoe, which was +placed on five paddles. The procession was a most solemn one. The +forest, the rugged scenery, the quiet retreat, all these appeared to add +to the solemnity of the occasion. The grave was alongside that of his +mother, and neatly lined with spruce. At five o'clock in the afternoon +all that was mortal of Paul Guidon was lowered into its last abode. + + "They laid them fondly side by side, + And near their icy hearts + They placed their arrows and their bows, + Their clubs, and spears, and darts; + For use when they with life are crowned + In heaven's happy hunting ground." + +Margaret Godfrey read the burial service from the old service book, +while rivers of tears flowed down a score of swarthy faces, and an +occasional low wail uttered by the Indians standing round the open +grave, told of their sorrow and superstitious fear. The British ensign +was then placed over the dead Iroquois. It was the flag under which he +had lived and died, and a fit emblem to cover the remains of so true and +brave a man. (The characters of American sympathizers, of traitors and +rebels, as black as they appear in Colonial History, will appear +deeper-dyed as they stand in contrast to the loyalty of this true +Indian.) Margaret Godfrey spoke to them as follows: "I believe it to be +my solemn duty, yea, my special duty on this most sorrowful occasion, +that I should express my feelings. If there ascends from my heart a +prayer to the throne of the Great Chief, in behalf of this youthful +widow and in behalf of you people, let it be a prayer that the Great +Chief may turn the hearts of all from the thoughts of war to sentiments +of mercy and peace, such as our dear brother, whose remains we have just +committed to the grave, possessed in his life. When I think of that +true, and noble man, whose remains lie before us, I thank Him who rules +the winds and guides the stars in their courses, that such a man was +ever born. And if, at some distant period, it may be many years remote, +one of my own or my husband's countrymen (some of whom are now peopling +this country) should visit this spot or this neighbourhood, I trust that +tradition or history may inform such a one that here sleeps one of the +bravest, truest, and most noble sons of the forest that ever lived and +roamed over the hunting grounds of time. He was true to his adopted +country, true to its king, and true to its loyal people. An Indian, but +too honest and noble-minded to be a rebel, he not only discountenanced +the dark plottings of enemies within Acadia, but his sagacity sometimes +was the means of frustrating them. He was an Indian, high in character; +a noble example to some pale faces, to all. His body now rests beside +that little brook, but his spirit is in a country of light and peace. +This country is a good and pleasant country, and those who are coming to +live here are sprung from a noble race, and if you, my friends, all +prove as good and true as this departed red-man, you will have no cause +to complain at the pale faces settling around you. You will secure a +righteous treatment of your race, and your people will be a happy +people. The British people (my people) are a great people, and where +they settle they govern wisely, and in their dealings with all peoples +they are guided by that justice and generosity which alone becomes a +Christian people. These may be the last words I shall ever speak to you. +These may be the last moments I shall ever be with you. Remember my +loving advice and act upon it. If you do this you will earn the love of +the pale faces and build up for your race a lasting renown. You and I, +all of us, can learn good lessons from the life of Paul Guidon. If we +live as he lived we will be happy here, and bye-and-by be more happy in +the hunting fields of the hereafter. If we are as true to our Great +Chief, and as true to our king and country as he was, we will worship +the Great Spirit and never talk against our king and our country. Then +bye and-by we shall go to meet Paul Guidon in a country where there will +be no more wars, no more sighs, no more tears, no more parting, no more +dying." + +The Red men paid the utmost attention to the words as they dropped from +Margaret Godfrey's lips. The grave was then filled in and the mourners +dispersed to their homes along the river, leaving Paul Guidon to rest +beside his mother. + +For more than a century the "Young Lion of the Woods" has slept on the +banks of the St. John. His loyal spirit took its flight to another +sphere about the time thousands of united loyal spirits were forming a +city near his tomb. The few thousand people that had settled in the +colony in the days of Paul Guidon, were the ancestry of the nearly one +million true, loyal subjects who inhabit the Maritime Provinces at the +beginning of this year 1889. The colony, of which the noble Iroquois was +a citizen, was confined within narrow bounds. Now the sons of the +Loyalists are on the shores of the Pacific. Our country extends there. +It is a noble faculty of our nature which enables us to connect our +thoughts with the past as well as with the future, and by contemplating +the example and studying the character of Paul Guidon, we must come to +the conclusion that were that Indian living now his heart would glow +with patriotic pride at the strides the country has taken, and that our +destiny is Canadian, not American. + +It is a pleasure to be able to exhibit to the present generation +something of the splendid character of the Iroquois, whose ashes, +commingled with those of the Union Jack, repose near the loyal City of +St. John. + + "And has he not high honor, + The hill side for a pall, + He lies in state while angels wait + With stars for tapers tall; + And the dark rock pines, with tossing plumes, + Over his tomb to wave; + 'Twas a kind dear hand in that lonely land, + That laid him in the grave." + + "In that lonely grave without a name, + Where his uncoffined clay + Shall break again, O, wondrous thought! + Before the Judgment Day, + And stand with glory wrapped around + On the hills he never trod, + And speak of the strife that won our life, + And the Incarnate Son of God." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MARGARET GODFREY'S FAREWELL. + + +The widowed squaw and the two pale-faced women were the last to leave +Paul's late camping ground. As they were pushed off into the stream by +Jim Newall, who with another Indian paddled them back to the settlement, +Margaret saw the other canoes, nine in number, going up the river. In +the twilight she watched them, and it came to her mind that when Paul +Guidon saw the porpoises at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy coming toward +the sloop, he was not to be blamed for thinking they were canoes. She +remarked to Mrs. Fowler those canoes resemble, at first sight, porpoises +on the Atlantic Ocean. + +When they arrived at the settlement Little Mag was taken to the home of +the Lesters. As she sat down in one of the small, unfurnished rooms, she +rested her head upon her hands and bitterly sobbed. Mrs. Godfrey tried +to comfort her, but she wept on. Little Mag said she felt badly at +leaving the wigwam. If she had stayed there her husband's spirit would +have come in the night and been with her. She would not see him but she +would know he was there. Indians always come back the night they are +buried to see their loved ones again before going off to the great +hunting grounds. After a time "Little Mag" fell asleep, and in her +dream, as she reclined on a bench, talked in an unknown tongue. Neither +Margaret nor any present could understand a word she uttered. She +appeared to be conversing with some invisible being, invisible, at +least, to the pale faces. It may have been that in that little room +there was sweet communion between the widowed squaw and her departed +husband. She said to Mrs Godfrey after she awoke that she thought she +saw her husband and heard him say, "Don't worry about Paul." "Happy +hunting grounds here." "See you far off." "Far beyond setting sun." He +appeared to be speaking to her out of the setting sun. He was surrounded +by a golden light, while he looked to be dressed in polished silver, and +when she awoke by falling on the floor, she had started to fling herself +into his arms, which were outstretched to receive her; but when her eyes +were opened all around her was darkness.[7] + +[Footnote 7: See interpretation of the dream at close of Chapter.] + +Soon after relating the above she retired to bed and in the morning +seemed refreshed and happy. She sang songs in the Chippewayan tongue +during the morning; her deep black eye became brighter; her step was +light and quick, and her whole frame seemed to move to silent music, so +regular, graceful and quick were her motions. + +Who among us of earth knows but there are times in the lives of some of +us, if not all of us, when the silent influences of dear departed +friends, happy in the etherial or spirit world, unconsciously direct our +thoughts and guide our movements. + +In a few days Margaret Godfrey was preparing to leave the settlement +and return to Halifax, and there make one more effort to secure some +compensation for her husband's losses on the St. John. + +She invited "Little Mag" to give her the history of the ring. In reply, +"Little Mag" said her husband, Paul, had given it to her, and when he +presented it to her told her that it once belonged to the best pale face +woman he had ever seen in all his travels, that it was stolen from off +the pale face's finger, and some moons afterwards he had knocked down +the thief and taken it off his finger, one night far outside the British +lines at Quebec. The thief was a rebel who had nearly killed pale face +woman. About two weeks after Paul had knocked the rebel down, there was +a sharp sortie between some British soldiers and some Americans, and +during the fight, which ended in the repulse of the Americans, the +monkey-faced, cross-eyed rebel, "Will," was taken prisoner. He was a +great coward, and acknowledged to her husband that he had taken the ring +off pale face woman's finger. Her husband told her to keep the ring till +pale face woman saw it. That pale face woman has arrow mark on right arm +above joint. Here Margaret Godfrey pulled up her sleeve and showed the +little squaw the arrow mark received by her at Fort Frederick, in 1770. +"Little Mag's" full brown-face lit up with an innocent smile as she +pulled the precious gem off her own finger and placed it in the hand of +Mrs. Godfrey, at the same time saying, "I know you the pale face who +lost ring." Margaret took the ring put it on her own finger and thanked +"Little Mag" for it. + +The Chippewayan widow then took from a pocket in her blue skirt, a +small case and handed it to Margaret Godfrey, who opened it and took +from it a neck-lace of beads mounted with gold. A small gold cross was +attached. "Little Mag" said the neck-lace was given to her by officers +at Quebec when she was married, and Paul had given her the cross at the +same time. She had married Paul when he was visiting among her tribe, +when she was sixteen years old. When they came to Quebec the officers +were very good to them. They gave her plenty of good clothes because +they liked her husband so much. + +Paul got sick while hunting with officers last winter. She was with them +and cooking in camp. In early spring left the officers and came down to +St. John River, in May, and built wigwam near his mother's grave. He got +no better, but worse, growing thinner and weaker, with great cough. +"What 'Little Mag' do now my Paul gone?" "I know you good woman will ask +Great Chief to help me go home to my tribe, there live and die. My +little papoose, Paul, dead, sleeps near Quebec, died when few moons +old." + +The information in Chapter nine respecting Paul Guidon's career after +leaving Halifax in 1776, was obtained from a document pasted in the back +of the old service book, and written at Paul's request by a Lieutenant +of the British Army stationed at Quebec in the year 1780. + +Mrs. Godfrey left Parr Town late in the fall of 1784 for Halifax, and +soon after sailed from the latter place for England. Her mission to +Halifax and the St. John had been a failure. She could get no promise +that her husband's property would be restored to him, or that any +compensation would be granted him in lieu thereof. + +As the brigt. in which Margaret Godfrey took passage sailed out of +Chebucto Harbour, she remarked to the captain that people who attempt to +settle in a new colony would do well before leaving comfortable homes in +the old land to find out what protection is guaranteed settlers, and +what class of persons they are likely to settle among. And as she cast a +last look upon the colony, as she entered the companion way to the +cabin, she pointed her hand toward the shore, remarking, "my husband and +I came out to this land in very comfortable circumstances fifteen years +ago; to-day, without a penny to call my own, I leave the colony +forever." The vessel ran across the ocean in thirty-six days, and Mrs. +Godfrey was once again on English soil. + +Nothing having been accomplished in Nova Scotia by his wife's visit, +Captain Godfrey once more made an attempt for relief to the Lords of +Parliament at home. + +After the close of the American war, a commission was appointed by +Parliament with power to inquire into the losses and services of the +Loyalists in America. Captain Godfrey, as has been stated in a previous +chapter, had put his case before many commissions, before Lords many. To +use a common expression, "his case had gone the rounds." And now, as a +last effort, he was about to present his claims before the Lord +Commissioner of Losses and Services of the American Loyalists. In his +memorial the captain stated to the Lords Commissioners, his services as +a soldier to the time of settling in the colony, concluding with giving +in detail the losses he had sustained on the River St. John, in His +Majesty's Colonial possession, by the cruel and savage acts of Indians +and rebels. He also stated in his memorial that he could have joined the +service of Mr. Washington, and that great inducements were held out to +him to do so, and to desert the cause of his king and his country. The +memorial concluded as follows: + + + "Your memorialist therefore, humbly prays, that his cause may be taken + into consideration, and that he may be granted such relief, as in the + benevolence of His Majesty King George the Third's Commissioners, his + losses and services may be found to deserve, and that he and the + subjoined witnesses may have a hearing from your Honourable Board." + + Witnesses: + + THOMAS BRIDGE, ESQ., } + No. 2 Bridge Street, Surry Side } To Property. + } + MR. BARTLEY, } + Delzex Court, near the Temple. } + + GENERAL SKEIN, } To Service. + GENERAL MURRAY. } + + SIR GUY CARLETON, } To Loyalty. + BROOK WATSON. } + + (Here follows the signature of the petitioner.) + + No. 2 Pratt Street, Lambeth. + + +As far as can be gathered from documentary evidence, and what +information could be obtained otherwise, no relief was ever granted to +Captain Godfrey or his family by the Commission of Losses and Services +of the American Loyalists. Mrs. Godfrey, whose many trials, hardships, +disappointments and sorrows, have been sketched in the foregoing +chapters, was living in London as late as 1805. A letter written by the +old lady to her son Charlie's wife, then living in Nova Scotia, was for +a few hours in the possession of the writer of these chapters. In this +letter she states her many difficulties and the numerous applications on +her part to various Lords and other authorities seeking relief in her +distress. Many portions of the long, well written letter are touching +indeed. + +The persistency of the grand old lady in doing her utmost to force the +rulers of the country to a settlement of her husband's claims is greatly +to be admired. Her letter cannot be read by any colonist without +feelings of pity and shame. In one part of the letter she says +Councillor Brand[8] has given in my memorial to the treasury and I have +to wait till he gets an answer, and I pray God it will be a happy one, +but God knows what is best, and will, if we put all our trust in him, +guide us aright. The cursed Duke of Richmond is not dead yet.[9] + +[Footnote 8: It will be remembered that Mrs. Godfrey was an Irish +woman.] + +[Footnote 9: What was the cause of her animosity to this noble Duke, the +writer does not know.] + +Mrs. Godfrey must have been near eighty years of age when this letter +was written. Thirty-five years had elapsed since her husband's first +loss in the colony, and nearly thirty years since he was driven out by +rebels and Indians. + +Titles and pensions have been freely bestowed by English kings and +parliaments on men who have been daring and successful in Britain's +cause. If Captain Godfrey had performed no deeds worthy of a title or a +pension, he at least deserved to be reimbursed in part or in whole for +the losses he had sustained at the hands of rebels and savages. And it +is probable there were men and women in England who were styled Dukes +and Duchesses,--who wore orders on their breasts that covered less brave +and no more loyal hearts than those of Capt. and Margaret Godfrey. She +firmly supported and assisted her husband in his strict adherence to +King George the Third's cause, and faced the rebels like a Spartan and +defeated them in their designs at Grimross. Her tact, skill, courage and +cool determination in the midst of imminent danger were truly admirable. +She displayed the qualities of a born leader time and time again. In a +situation where she could seek no support she relied on her own +judgment, courage and faith. These sterling qualities brought to her aid +one who afterward proved to be a friend and guide. Alone at Fort +Frederick she defeated the designs of blood-thirsty savages by stepping +out of the Fort and standing unmoved and defiant amid a flight of +arrows. Her commanding presence and firm attitude won a savage to her +side. We can entertain no better wish for the memory of this Celtic +heroine, than that her name may be preserved, and her life and deeds in +the colony go down to the latest generation. + +"Justin McCarthy in his concise and interesting work, Ireland's cause in +England's Parliament," says: "There is a charming poem by my friend +William Allingham, called Lawrence Bloomfield in Ireland," in which we +find a classic story, thrillingly told, as an illustration of the hero's +feeling on some subject of interest to his country. A Roman Emperor is +persecuted by the petition of a poor widowed woman, who prays for +redress of some wrong done to her and her children. The great emperor is +far too great, his mind is taken up too much with questions of imperial +interest, to have any leisure for examining into, or even for reading, +this poor woman's claim. + +One morning he is riding forth of his palace gates, at the head of his +splendid retinue, and the widow comes in his way, right in his path, and +holds up her petition again, and implores him to read it. He will not +read, and is about to pass scornfully on, when she flings herself on the +ground before him, herself and her little children, just in front of his +horse's hoofs, and she declares that if he will not stay and hear her +prayer, he shall not pass on his way unless he passes over the bodies of +herself and children. + +And then says Mr. Allingham, "the Roman," who must have had something of +the truly imperial in him, "wheeled his horse and heard." + +Margaret Godfrey, the poor widowed woman, took up the petition of her +husband, and continued to pray for redress of wrong done her husband, +herself, and her children. For twenty years she continued in her prayer. +Read what the poor widowed woman says in another part of her letter to +her daughter-in-law, and see if the truly imperial is to be found in a +King or in England's noblemen, who for twenty years "heard and wheeled." + +"I have been sick all winter and not able to help myself, and am very +ill at present. My illness has almost turned me, but if I had but half a +leg I'll do my duty toward my family." + +In another letter written to her daughter-in-law not long after the +first, she says: "Tell Charles if he ever visits the mouth of the St. +John or old Fort Frederick, not to neglect for his mother's sake to +visit the grave of Paul Guidon. He knows the locality and may be able to +detect the spot where the hero sleeps. In my thoughts, God knows how +often I linger about that spot. Sacred indeed must be the earth that +mingles with the dust of such nobility. Were I present I would adorn his +last resting place with the early spring flowers. Many wintry storms +have passed above his grave. Spring time and summer have come and gone, +but he heeds them not. + +"I feel that I am nearing the border land, and as I cross the stream I +believe I shall meet my husband and also my other protector standing +together on the shore to welcome me home, to a home where friends never +fail and where justice is administered in the highest perfection. + +"It is my living desire, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying +desire, to meet beyond on the fields of glory Paul Guidon and my dear +husband. No Briton ever lived who was more loyal to his King and +country, and trusted more fully in the honour of earthly Lords than +Charles Godfrey. + +"It may be that I shall bye and by find Paul Guidon's name inscribed in +brighter characters on the columns that support the arches of the +heavens, than the names of some to whom my husband applied on earth for +redress of wrong. + +"One of Briton's statesmen lately said, 'It is easy for my Lord C. or +Earl G. or Marquis B. or Lord H. with thousands upon thousands a year, +some of it either presently derived or inherited in sinecure +acquisitions from the public money to boast of their patriotism, and +keep aloof from temptation, but they do not know from what temptation +those have kept aloof who had equal pride, at least equal talents, and +not unequal passions, and nevertheless knew not in the course of their +lives what it was to have a shilling of their own, and in saying this he +wept. + +"And so have I, a thousand times in silence wept, as the utmost energy +of my life has been exerted to cheer, to comfort and to encourage a +weeping heart-broken husband weighed down with misfortunes and poverty." + +The grave has long ago closed over every member of the Godfrey family +who were among the English pioneer settlers of Acadia, and the history +of their lives might have slept with them, but for a trifling +circumstance. The old documents referred to and copied in the foregoing +chapters, are greatly defaced, and time is completing their destruction. +Many of them are scarcely legible, and it required the utmost patience +and perseverance to gather together the facts as narrated in this work. + + * * * * * + + +LITTLE MAG'S DREAM AS INTERPRETED BY ONE OF THE LESTERS. + +As the little widow narrated her dream to one of the Misses Lester, the +latter understood it to be something like the following: Mag saw a vast +land with wooded hills and dales, green fields, lakes and rivers. Her +departed husband was quickly crossing over all these toward the setting +sun. He sped over the lakes and rivers in his canoe, and when he +emerged from among the trees, his bow and arrow hung across his +shoulder, over the open country he travelled in his moccasins, with the +old flag wrapped tightly about his breast and shoulders. At length he +approached the setting sun, where she lost sight of him for a moment, +the darkness that had gradually settled down, shutting out from her view +the passage of her husband, quick as a flash burst into a beautiful +crystal light. The heavens looked like shining silver, all around the +horizon was a wide cloud of clear light blue, with a border of gold. +Beneath was a broad expanse of green, with large groves of trees at +regular intervals dressed in a deeper shade. Through these were +meandering streams or rivers as of clear glass. Clear cut avenues ran +through at regular spaces from stream to stream, on the borders of which +(avenues and rivers) were thousands of jasper wigwams, sitting and +standing, at the front of each were Indians of all ages, dressed in pure +white and ornamented with precious stones of various hues. Rising above +the blue border of the sky, slowly and majestically, a new sun was +beaming. On its face stood Paul Guidon, in a dress of glistening +whiteness. The dress was after the pattern of that of an Indian chief. +Out of his right shoulder rose a red cross slanting slightly outward, on +the top of which stood an angel slightly inclining foreward. In his +right hand he held a wreath made of flowers most pure and white, inside +of which in letters of light blue, was the word Love. Out of his left +shoulder, in the same direction, rose a staff of deep blue, to which was +attached a drooping silver flag crossed with bars of gold. (Its pattern +was like the one placed in his grave.) On the top of the staff rested a +dove, holding in its beak a wreath, composed of rainbow shades, circling +the word Peace in letters whiter than snow. As the new sun continued to +rise, the jewelled sky increased in dazzling brilliancy, ten thousand +gems of shining gold shot out, and ten thousand sapphires too, all +glistening gloriously in the new light. The jasper tents on the +everlasting hunting grounds, and the motionless streams were brightning +with living flame. Thousands of Indians, strong and fair, in countless +groupings, seemed, to surpass even the sky itself in their glittering +starry dress. + +Paul Guidon appeared to move his head forward as the star-paved sky +increased in burning brightness, till overpowered by the lustre shining, +and dazzled by the increasing brilliancy. Little Mag fell to the floor +and awoke in the darkened room. As she was in the act of falling the +faint sound of distant music, mingled with the noise of far away rushing +waters, seemed to fall upon her ears, increasing in strength and melody +as she touched the floor. + +If Milman's lines had been written or known at the time of Mag's dream, +they could have been most suitably recited. + + "From all the harping throng + Bursts the tumultuous song, + Like the unceasing sound of cataracts pouring, + Hosanna o'er hosanna louder roaring. + That faintly echoing down to earthly ears, + Hath seemed the concert sweet of the harmonious spheres." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MARRIAGE OF LITTLE MAG.--SOCIETY AT HALIFAX. + + +Soon after Mrs. Godfrey's departure from Parr Town for England, Little +Mag Guidon went up the St. John and settled there with some of the +tribe, intending to remain until a chance of getting back to her people +occurred. She was not destined, however, to go back to her Chippewayan +friends. Jim Newall, who had so often paddled her to the settlement and +back, made advances toward her, which she reciprocated till it ended in +the two being married. It appears she had won Jim's heart during the +illness of her husband. She told one of the Lesters, shortly after +Margaret Godfrey's departure, that Newall had said to her one evening +while going up to the camp from the mouth of the river, "Supposem, may +be, husband Paul die, Jim Newall come wigwam." She replied, "When Paul +die, no wigwam be there, won't stay 'lone." Jim answered, "Me, you, two +keep wigwam supposem." Doubtless, the above conversation laid the +foundation of their union. It proved to be a happy one. In a letter from +a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, a few months after her arrival home, it is +stated that "Jim and Mag appear to be the happiest of mortals, their's +is true love." The lady who wrote the above, evidently did not consider +"marriage a failure," especially among the Indians. In matters of +citizenship, in matters of human life, in matters of society, it may be, +that it would be beneficial to take a lesson or two from the lives of +the Iroquois, Chippewayan, and Mic-Mac. We certainly never read or hear +that marriage has been a failure among the Indians. + +When Mrs. Godfrey bade farewell to Mag Guidon, she handed her name +and address, written in large, bold hand, and remarked as she handed it, +"Whenever you want to send me any message, if you are about here, get +some of my friends to write a letter for you." + +While Mrs. Godfrey was at Parr Town she sought an interview with the +newly appointed Governor, (Thomas Carleton), who had arrived a few days +before to her departure. She made known to the Governor the losses +sustained and hardships endured by her husband while in the colony. She +also stated to Colonel Carleton the noble deeds of Paul Guidon, and of +his loyalty to the king. She told of his death and of the destitute +condition of his young widow. + +Some months after Mrs. Godfrey had sailed for home, Governor Carleton +was told that the widow of Paul Guidon was soon to be married. He sent +to a friend of Mrs. Godfrey for information, and found the report to be +true. In a few days the Governor called at the house of the friend and +handed to her three guineas, to be expended for Little Mag's comfort. + +This friend Mag usually called in to see when she came to the +settlement. She was told of the Governor's thoughtful kindness. Mag told +the friend to use the money in purchasing her wedding outfit. Not many +weeks later Mag Guidon was married to Jim Newall. + +One afternoon the Governor received a note asking him if he would care +to see Little Mag in her wedding costume. He at once replied, naming a +day and hour that it would be convenient for him to receive the bride. + +At the appointed time Little Mag and her pale faced friend appeared in +presence of His Excellency, who received them in the most gentleman-like +manner. + +The bride, before leaving the presence of Governor Carleton, handed to +him Mrs. Godfrey's address, and asked him if he would send a letter to +her English mother, (Mag), and tell her that little Mag was married to +Jim Newall, and is living on the old camping ground where Paul died. +That Little Mag is happy and loves Jim as she did Paul. The Governor +promised Mrs. Newall that he would send a letter to Mrs. Godfrey. He +took the address and not long after wrote to Mrs. Godfrey, giving that +lady a full account of Little Mag's appearance as she stood in his +presence decked in her wedding garments. + +Governor Carleton states in his letter that he never thought of seeing +so handsome a woman among the Indian tribes of America. That he believes +there are ladies in his own country who would almost feel inclined to +forfeit a title or an estate to be possessed of a pair of hands and feet +of the form and size of those of Newall's bride. Nature seemed to have +perfected its work in moulding the form and features of the handsome +squaw. The Governor continues, "She was dressed in a suit of navy blue +cloth, her skirt reaching to within an inch of the tops of her +moccasins. A loose blue cloth jacket, buttoned up in front with brass +buttons, covered her well rounded shoulders and breast. The jacket was +edged with scarlet cloth and reached to her waist. Around her full neck +hung a double row of beads, to which was attached a gold cross,[10] and +on each wrist she wore a bracelet of beads similar to the neck-lace. A +wampum band circled her head. Inside the band were three beautiful +feathers from the wing of a wild pigeon. Her hair as black as the +raven's back, was so arranged as to make her forehead appear like an +equilatiral triangle, the brows being the base. Her eyes, coal black, +round, quick and deep set, are indescribable, and a more beautiful set +of teeth I never saw in a human head. On her feet she wore light brown +moccasins, on the front of each was worked, in beads of suitable +colours, the Union Jack. As she put out her neat foot that I might +better observe the work on her moccasins, she said the work was put on +them by her wish out of respect to the flag that covered the remains of +her first husband, (Paul Guidon). In her own words she said to me: "Tell +mother in England, she see Jim Newall and know Jim; saw him when my Paul +sick and die. He paddled English mother down settlement in canoe." + +[Footnote 10: The gold cross attached to Mag's neck-lace, was sent to +Paul Guidon by Sir Guy Carleton as a present. Paul received the present +while he was sojourning at Quebec.] + + + "Your letter of 5th August, I received, and will make further inquiries + as you advise about the property." The letter is addressed as follows: + + _Mrs. Charles Godfrey, * * * + Care of Charles Godfrey, * * * Esq, + (Late of His Majesty's Service), + Kinsale, + County Cork, Ireland._ + + +The above is the substance of the Governor's letter to Mrs. Godfrey. The +date and first three or four lines of it were torn off and gone, and the +remainder was, with great difficulty, deciphered, the letter being in +several pieces and quite ragged. This letter must have been written in +the year 1785 or '86, as in a letter from a friend to Mrs. Godfrey, +dated September, 1785, Little Mag and her husband are said to have been +met in the street the day previous to writing. It is not at all likely +that little Mag was long married before she appeared in presence of +Governor Carleton. + +Had Margaret Newall moved in a more elevated social sphere, and been +surrounded by wealthy parents and rich relatives, possibly Governor +Carleton would have been obliged to give Mrs. Godfrey a vivid +description of Mag's trousseau, and her beautiful presents of gold, +silver, diamonds, etc. But her parents and friends were poor. Her old +father possessed only a moving tent, occuping here and there, as he +found a spot to pitch it, a few square feet of King George the Third's +wilderness. Old Reonadi was not a commercial man. He had never made an +assignment. He was born one hundred years too soon to be surrounded by +commercial morality, perfect holiness and paternal affection. It took a +later generation of Chippewayans to display that care for their +posterity which only disguises an habitual avarice, or hides the +workings of a low and grovelling nature. + +During neither of the stays that the Godfreys made at Halifax had +society reached that brilliant epoch it afterwards attained when that +Royal Duke, who set such an example of duty to all men, was making it +his temporary home. That for a colony was, from all accounts, indeed a +brilliant, gay, and polished society which was assembled at old Chebucto +when the Duke of Kent was at the head of the army in British North +America. Pleasure, however, was not the only occupation of that then +brilliant capital, at whose head was one so much devoted to duty, that +in its fulfilment he acquired the reputation of a martinet. This was the +day of the early morning parade, particularly irksome in a cold climate +to those who were obliged to turn out before daybreak in the bitter +weather of mid-winter. At this day, also, there were frequent troopings +of colours, marchings out, sham fights, and all the other martial +circumstances of a fully garrisoned town. + +The maintenance of this strict discipline among the garrison whom he +commanded, was not more characteristic of the Duke than his affable +condescension and the considerate kindness that he displayed toward the +inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and of Quebec also, when he occupied its +castle. So that his name and memory are still held dear by the loyal +descendants of the men to whom Prince Edward was a familiar figure, +both at Halifax and Quebec, as he rode through the streets of either +town. + +But Halifax, even at the time whereof we speak, so soon after its first +being rescued from the primeval forest, was not without its charms for +those who, like the Godfreys, had enjoyed the amenities of polished +circles. But the almost destitute circumstances in which they found +themselves when these visits were made, precluded them from entering +into many of the enjoyments that offered. However, there were a few +entertainments at which their position in society seemed to demand their +presence, and which they accordingly attended. Here, of course, they met +the heads of society, as well as many strangers from Boston, Quebec and +other places on the continent, nearly all of whom would be persons of +distinction in the several places where they hailed from. At this time +several tea gardens about Halifax furnished the means of quiet +recreation to the public. Adlam's garden, adjacent to the citadel, was +the most famous of these resorts, and here on one occasion when the +Godfreys were at Halifax, a garden party was given by one of the leaders +of _ton_, at which Captain Godfrey and his wife were privileged to meet, +among other distinguished personages, General Massie and Mr Arbuthnot, +the governor of the province. The ladies were richly attired. The +military wore their undress uniforms and the civilians were in full +dress, which consisted in that day of knee-breeches, silk stockings, and +shoes with buckles composed of silver or gold, set with brilliants or +other precious stones; the waistcoat was often of silk, satin or velvet, +richly brocaded or embroidered; the coat of blue cloth, with gilt +buttons; and a sword was not wanting to complete the costume. + +It was difficult to decide at banquet or ball which presented the more +imposing appearance, the man of war or he whose avocation was of a +peaceful character, so nice were the dresses of both. + +Margaret Godfrey did not forget her situation. Roaming about the lawns +and walks in a plain gown, and seeing the plainness of her own attire as +compared with those of the ladies about her, she retired to an obscure +corner of the grounds, feeling more happy under the circumstances in a +private nook than in the midst of gay and polished society. Although she +was clever, graceful and lively, she felt that the society in the +capital was, in some respects, ill-assorted. She thought the conduct of +some of the gentlemen and ladies was not wholly unimpeachable, while her +solid faith in the virtues of most of the ladies and gentlemen she met +from time to time during her stay never wavered. + + + + +A CONCLUDING CHAPTER. + +THEN, NOW, AND TO BE. + + +How often do we hear of the deeds of the fathers of the country. How +often we read of them. And how little in comparison is said or written +of the hardships endured and the heroism displayed by the mothers. In +the early colonial days the women endured equal trials with the men. It +is possible that if the lives of the early settlers and the scenes of +those times were in full laid before us for review, we would find many +instances in which women displayed even greater courage than the men, +and in enduring the most severe privations and dangers, held out even +longer. + +Had Captain Godfrey not been possessed with such a companion as his +wife, it seems almost certain he would have been made a prisoner and, +perhaps, been murdered. Her tact and perseverance in danger secured his +liberty and rescued him from death. + +When her friends in London tried hard to persuade her from accompanying +her husband on his second venture in the colony, she calmly replied: +"Where my husband goes I can follow, if it be in the wilderness among +savages, or even through fire and blood. I love my husband, and wherever +he may be, to that spot I am attracted more strongly than to any +other." How much these brave words sound like those of Madame Cadillac, +spoken three quarters of a century earlier. + +On the 24th of July, 1701, Cadillac landed at Detroit, and set himself +to found the place. Soon after this Madame Cadillac, who had been left +behind at Quebec, plunged into the wilderness to rejoin her husband. + +It was a thousand miles in a birch bark canoe rowed by half-clad +Indians, and the route was through a dense forest and over great waters +swept by the September storms, but this brave woman undertook the +journey attended by only a single female companion. + +When subsequently reminded of its hazards and hardships, she simply +replied: "A woman who loves her husband as she should, has no stronger +attraction than his company, where ever he may be." + +The rich heritage we enjoy comes to us through the great efforts of +patriotism and dogged perseverance of our ancestors (the fathers and +mothers of the country). As we in gratitude remember the former, let us +not forget the latter. + +Margaret Godfrey died in London about the year 1807, having survived her +husband fully twenty years. She was beloved by friends, and esteemed by +all who came in contact with her. She sank full of years undimmed by +failure and unclouded by reverses. Who can think of such persons as Mrs. +Godfrey without acknowledging that such are the true nobility of the +human race! + +And now, when from the long distance of a hundred years or more, we +look back upon the hardships and misfortunes endured by one family of +the early colonists, we feel assured that pen and tongue can never make +fully known to us or our posterity the extent of the misery and +suffering of most of the early colonial settlers.[11] + +[Footnote 11: For a vivid account of the sufferings and hardships of the +early Colonial settlers, I would refer the reader to Ryerson's excellent +work, The Loyalists of America and their times. Vol. II. Chap. XLI.] + +We know enough, however, to admire the heroism of our ancestors and +their firm attachment to the mother land. Our hearts should warm with +gratitude for what they have done for our happiness. And as we consider +the unflinching determination of the founders of these British colonies +to make this land a British home, we feel that we should as +unflinchingly carry on their work and expand their views. Deeply rooted +in the hearts of our ancestors was a love of the old land, and their +desire in the new was to build upon the foundations of the old. + +We, under Providence, are commissioned to carry forward the work they +left unfinished. + +This land was the home of our fathers and shall be the heritage of our +children. The provincial spirit of our ancestors is being merged into a +great national one. A grand idea of nationality is being deeply rooted +in the hearts of the present generation. We are preparing for all the +responsibilities and all the works of a nation, and whether our +political union with the mother country becomes weaker or stronger as +the years pass by, our love for the old land will never cease. We are +proud of our parentage. Proud of the Celtic and Saxon blood that courses +through our veins. + +As our country expands, and as we continue to build, may our love of +country widen, and the light of patriotism that brightened and cheered +the hearts of our ancestors as they toiled on, brighten and deeper burn +in all our hearts, and one grand illumination throw its rays upon the +surface of two oceans. + +A neighbouring nation may envy our progress and seek our union, but this +will only stimulate our energy and strengthen the bonds that bind +British Americans together. + +Our fathers left us a few disunited provinces, our children will inherit +a vast dominion, bounded east and west by the world's two great seas. + +In even less time than it took our ancestors a century ago to travel +from Halifax to the mouth of the St John, we can plant our feet on the +shore of the Pacific. + +The stars and stripes may wave along our Southern boundary, and there +shall their proud waves be stayed + + The Eagle may be lord below, + But the young Lion lord above. + +We rest firm in the belief that the decree has gone forth out of the +court of heaven, that the flag which was wrapped in its folds around the +"Young Lion of the Woods" in his last sleep, shall wave triumphantly +over Canada till peoples and nations cease to exist on earth. + +The provinces in which the heroic events related in the foregoing +chapters occurred, now partake of the fortunes and sentiments and +character of a vast country. They live together with Canada, they +flourish with her, and if they are ever called upon to oppose a mightier +foe than Red men and Rebels, they will not be found unequal to the +occasion. + +Never was nobler duty confided to human hands than that which was +confided to our ancestors more than a century ago. It was theirs under +providence to commence the foundations on which we are building, and in +the record of our social, industrial, educational, political and +religious progress we await with confidence the verdict of the world. + +Although for the greater portion of the century the growth of the +British North American Colonies has been slow, yet it has been sound, +and it will be better for Canada in the future if the growth is not too +rapid. If the process of consolidation takes place regularly and +moderately, every institution in the land will be sounder. If the +majority of the immigrants which the country annually receives are +similar in character and principles to those of the early colonists, we +shall have nothing to fear in the future. We have nothing in our past +history to discourage us, and much in our present condition and +prospects to stimulate us. We who are privileged to live in the closing +years of the century behold a wonderful unity and an extraordinary +advancement of the whole Dominion in all its great interests. And the +man, if such there be, who was born on this soil and sprung from such an +ancestry as the early colonial settlers and United Empire Loyalists, or +from the loins of settlers of a later generation, who is not proud of +his country and of being called a British American, is unworthy of his +race and the land of his birth, and unworthy of having his name classed +with that of the noble Iroquois (Paul Guidon.) There are persons who +have acted a less noble part in life's drama, than the British officer +and his wife who settled at Grimross Neck, and even a less noble part +than Paul Guidon, who have won golden wreaths for their tombs, and since +Margaret Godfrey's name and deeds have been dug from oblivion, should +they be forgotten or the Iroquois tomb go unadorned? + +Our past in its three great eras, that of settlement, Responsible +government and union, shows grand steps in the country's triumphant +march. If with decaying sectional spirit, the grand idea of British +American independence takes hold of the minds and hearts of the people, +this would be found the gradual power that would impel the country to +its national destiny. As we behold mighty provinces forming and splendid +cities rising, we begin more fully to realize the glorious career on +which the Dominion has entered, these events should compel, yea they +announce a safe, wise and splendid future. + +The few millions who have sprung from those who founded the colonies, +trace back with lineal love their blood to them. So may it be in the +distant future millions more will look back with pride and trace their +blood through those who formed a nation in peace, to those who founded +the colonies, and to those who formed the union. + +We may read of the past, write of the past, and think of the past. To do +so is often profitable; it is also a pleasure. But, as we admire the +spirit and works of those who have passed beyond the flood, we should +more earnestly prepare for the future. "The sleeping and the dead are +but pictures." "Yet, gazing on these long and intently, and often we may +pass into the likeness of the departed, may stimulate their labors, and +partake of their immortality." + + "The growing nation, may it prove Dominion of the Good! + And ever stand, in coming years, where Britain always stood,-- + The foremost in the cause of right! upholder of the truth! + The nation which in growth of years grows in the strength of youth! + Then we may cry, with hopeful voice, unto the heavenly powers, + For blessings on our native land--'This Canada of ours.'" + + +FINIS. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Young Lion of the Woods, by Thomas Barlow Smith + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG LION OF THE WOODS *** + +***** This file should be named 16181.txt or 16181.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/1/8/16181/ + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Thomas Hutchinson and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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