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diff --git a/17766-h/17766-h.htm b/17766-h/17766-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45f746b --- /dev/null +++ b/17766-h/17766-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14173 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of With Wolfe in Canada, by G. A. Henty</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h1.pg {text-align: center; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: 0em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3.pg {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0em} + h4 {text-align: center; } + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial";} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: 65%;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, With Wolfe in Canada, by G. A. Henty</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: With Wolfe in Canada</p> +<p> The Winning of a Continent</p> +<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p> +<p>Release Date: February 13, 2006 [eBook #17766]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH WOLFE IN CANADA***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>With Wolfe in Canada</h1> + +<h2>Or The Winning of a Continent</h2> + +<h2>by G. A. Henty</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h4>1894</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents<br /> </caption> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Rescue.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Showman's Grandchild.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Justice Room.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Squire's Granddaughter.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Quiet Time.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Storm.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Pressed.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Discharged.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Defeat Of Braddock.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Fight At Lake George.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Scouting.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Commission.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Abortive Attack.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Scouting On Lake Champlain.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Through Many Perils.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Massacre At Fort William Henry.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Louisbourg And Ticonderoga.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Quebec.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter 19</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Dangerous Expedition.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter 20</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Path Down The Heights.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch21">Chapter 21</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Capture Of Quebec.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h2><a id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> + +<p>My Dear Lads,</p> + +<p>In the present volume I have endeavoured to give the details of +the principal events in a struggle whose importance can hardly be +overrated. At its commencement the English occupied a mere patch of +land on the eastern seaboard of America, hemmed in on all sides by +the French, who occupied not only Canada in the north and Louisiana +in the south, but possessed a chain of posts connecting them, so +cutting off the English from all access to the vast countries of +the west.</p> + +<p>On the issues of that struggle depended not only the destiny of +Canada, but of the whole of North America and, to a large extent, +that of the two mother countries. When the contest began, the +chances of France becoming the great colonizing empire of the world +were as good as those of England. Not only did she hold far larger +territories in America than did England, but she had rich colonies +in the West Indies, where the flag of England was at that time +hardly represented, and her prospects in India were better than our +own. At that time, too, she disputed with us on equal terms the +empire of the sea.</p> + +<p>The loss of her North American provinces turned the scale. With +the monopoly of such a market, the commerce of England increased +enormously, and with her commerce her wealth and power of +extension, while the power of France was proportionately crippled. +It is true that, in time, the North American colonies, with the +exception of Canada, broke away from their connection with the old +country; but they still remained English, still continued to be the +best market for our goods and manufactures.</p> + +<p>Never was the short-sightedness of human beings shown more +distinctly, than when France wasted her strength and treasure in a +sterile contest on the continent of Europe, and permitted, with +scarce an effort, her North American colonies to be torn from +her.</p> + +<p>All the historical details of the war have been drawn from the +excellent work entitled Montcalm and Wolfe, by Mr. Francis Parkman, +and from the detailed history of the Louisbourg and Quebec +expeditions, by Major Knox, who served under Generals Amherst and +Wolfe.</p> + +<p>Yours very sincerely,</p> + +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: A Rescue.</h2> + +<p>Most of the towns standing on our seacoast have suffered a +radical change in the course of the last century. Railways, and the +fashion of summer holiday making, have transformed them altogether, +and great towns have sprung up where fishing villages once stood. +There are a few places, however, which seem to have been passed by, +by the crowd. The number yearly becomes smaller, as the iron roads +throw out fresh branches. With the advent of these comes the +speculative builder. Rows of terraces and shops are run up, +promenades are made, bathing machines and brass bands become +familiar objects, and in a few years the original character of the +place altogether disappears.</p> + +<p>Sidmouth, for a long time, was passed by, by the world of +holiday makers. East and west of her, great changes took place, and +many far smaller villages became fashionable seaside watering +places. The railway, which passed by some twelve miles away, +carried its tens of thousands westward, but left few of them for +Sidmouth, and anyone who visited the pretty little place, fifteen +years back, would have seen it almost as it stood when our story +opens a century ago.</p> + +<p>There are few places in England with a fairer site. It lies +embosomed in the hills, which rise sharply on either side of it, +while behind stretches a rich, undulating country, thickly dotted +with orchards and snug homesteads, with lanes bright with +wildflowers and ferns, with high hedges and trees meeting overhead. +The cold breezes, which render so bare of interest the walks round +the great majority of our seaside towns, pass harmlessly over the +valley of the Sid, where the vegetation is as bright and luxuriant +as if the ocean lay leagues away, instead of breaking on the shore +within a few feet of the front line of houses.</p> + +<p>The cliffs which, on either side, rise from the water's edge, +are neither white like those to the east, nor grey as are the +rugged bulwarks to the west. They are of a deep red, warm and +pleasant to the eye, with clumps of green showing brightly up +against them on every little ledge where vegetation can get a +footing; while the beach is neither pebble, nor rock, nor sand, but +a smooth, level surface sloping evenly down; hard and pleasant to +walk on when the sea has gone down, and the sun has dried and baked +it for an hour or two; but slippery and treacherous when freshly +wetted, for the red cliffs are of clay. Those who sail past in a +boat would hardly believe that this is so, for the sun has baked +its face, and the wind dried it, till it is cracked and seamed, and +makes a brave imitation of red granite; but the clammy ooze, when +the sea goes down, tells its nature only too plainly, and Sidmouth +will never be a popular watering place for children, for there is +no digging sand castles here, and a fall will stain light dresses +and pinafores a ruddy hue, and the young labourers will look as if +they had been at work in a brick field.</p> + +<p>But a century since, the march of improvement had nowhere begun; +and there were few larger, and no prettier, seaside villages on the +coast than Sidmouth.</p> + +<p>It was an afternoon in August. The sun was blazing down hotly, +scarce a breath of wind was stirring, and the tiny waves broke +along the shore with a low rustle like that of falling leaves. Some +fishermen were at work, recaulking a boat hauled up on the shore. +Others were laying out some nets to dry in the sun. Some fisher +boys were lying asleep, like dogs basking in the heat; and a knot +of lads, sitting under the shade of a boat, were discussing with +some warmth the question of smuggling.</p> + +<p>"What do you say to it, Jim Walsham?" one of the party said, +looking up at a boy some twelve years old, who was leaning against +a boat, but who had hitherto taken no part in the discussion.</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt that it's wrong," the boy said. "Not wrong +like stealing, and lying, and that sort of thing; still it's wrong, +because it's against the law; and the revenue men, if they come +upon a gang landing the tubs, fight with them, and if any are +killed they are not blamed for it, so there is no doubt about its +being wrong. Then, on the other hand, no one thinks any the worse +of the men that do it, and there is scarce a one, gentle or simple, +as won't buy some of the stuff if he gets a chance, so it can't be +so very wrong. It must be great fun to be a smuggler, to be always +dodging the king's cutters, and running cargoes under the nose of +the officers ashore. There is some excitement in a life like +that."</p> + +<p>"There is plenty of excitement in fishing," one of the boys said +sturdily. "If you had been out in that storm last March, you would +have had as much excitement as you liked. For twelve hours we +expected to go down every minute, and we were half our time bailing +for our lives."</p> + +<p>An approving murmur broke from the others, who were all, with +the exception of the one addressed as Jim Walsham, of the fisher +class. His clothing differed but little from that of the rest. His +dark blue pilot trousers were old and sea stained, his hands and +face were dyed brown with exposure to the sun and the salt water; +but there was something, in his manner and tone of voice, which +showed that a distinction existed.</p> + +<p>James Walsham was, indeed, the son of the late doctor of the +village, who had died two years previously. Dr. Walsham had been +clever in his profession, but circumstances were against him. +Sidmouth and its neighbourhood were so healthy, that his patients +were few and far between; and when he died, of injuries received +from being thrown over his horse's head, when the animal one night +trod on a stone coming down the hill into Sidmouth, his widow and +son were left almost penniless.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham was, fortunately, an energetic woman, and a +fortnight after her husband's death, she went round among the +tradesmen of the place and the farmers of the neighbourhood, and +announced her intention of opening a school for girls. She had +received a good education, being the daughter of a clergyman, and +she soon obtained enough pupils to enable her to pay her way, and +to keep up the pretty home in which her husband lived in the +outskirts of Sidmouth.</p> + +<p>If she would have taken boarders, she could have obtained far +higher terms, for good schools were scarce; but this she would not +do, and her pupils all lived within distances where they could walk +backwards and forwards to their homes. Her evenings she devoted to +her son, and, though the education which she was enabled to give +him would be considered meagre, indeed, in these days of universal +cramming, he learned as much as the average boy of the period.</p> + +<p>He would have learned more had he followed her desires, and +devoted the time when she was engaged in teaching to his books; but +this he did not do. For a few hours in the day he would work +vigorously at his lessons. The rest of his time he spent either on +the seashore, or in the boats of the fishermen; and he could swim, +row, or handle a boat under sail in all weather, as well or better +than any lad in the village of his own age.</p> + +<p>His disposition was a happy one, and he was a general favourite +among the boatmen. He had not, as yet, made up his mind as to his +future. His mother wanted him to follow his father's profession. He +himself longed to go to sea, but he had promised his mother that he +would never do so without her consent, and that consent he had no +hope of obtaining.</p> + +<p>The better-class people in the village shook their heads gravely +over James Walsham, and prophesied no good things of him. They +considered that he demeaned himself greatly by association with the +fisher boys, and more than once he had fallen into disgrace, with +the more quiet minded of the inhabitants, by mischievous pranks. +His reputation that way once established, every bit of mischief in +the place, which could not be clearly traced to someone else, was +put down to him; and as he was not one who would peach upon others +to save himself, he was seldom in a position to prove his +innocence.</p> + +<p>The parson had once called upon Mrs. Walsham, and had talked to +her gravely over her son's delinquencies, but his success had not +been equal to his anticipations. Mrs. Walsham had stood up warmly +for her son.</p> + +<p>"The boy may get into mischief sometimes, Mr. Allanby, but it is +the nature of boys to do so. James is a good boy, upright and +honourable, and would not tell a lie under any consideration. What +is he to do? If I could afford to send him to a good school it +would be a different thing, but that you know I cannot do. From +nine in the morning, until five in the afternoon, my time is +occupied by teaching, and I cannot expect, nor do I wish, that he +should sit moping indoors all day. He had far better be out in the +boats with the fishermen, than be hanging about the place doing +nothing. If anything happened to me, before he is started in life, +there would be nothing for him but to take to the sea. I am laying +by a little money every month, and if I live for another year there +will be enough to buy him a fishing boat and nets. I trust that it +may not come to that, but I see nothing derogatory in his earning +an honest living with his own hands. He will always be something +better than a common fisherman. The education I have striven to +give him, and his knowledge that he was born a gentleman, will +nerve him to try and rise.</p> + +<p>"As to what you say about mischief, so far as I know all boys +are mischievous. I know that my own brothers were always getting +into scrapes, and I have no doubt, Mr. Allanby, that when you look +back upon your own boyhood, you will see that you were not an +exception to the general rule."</p> + +<p>Mr. Allanby smiled. He had come rather against his own +inclinations; but his wife had urged him to speak to Mrs. Walsham, +her temper being ruffled by the disappearance of two favourite +pigeons, whose loss she, without a shadow of evidence, most +unjustly put down to James Walsham.</p> + +<p>The parson was by no means strict with his flock. He was a tall +man, inclined to be portly, a good shot and an ardent fisherman; +and although he did not hunt, he was frequently seen on his brown +cob at the meet, whenever it took place within a reasonable +distance of Sidmouth; and without exactly following the hounds, his +knowledge of the country often enabled him to see more of the hunt +than those who did.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Walsham spoke, the memory of his old school and college +days came across him.</p> + +<p>"That is the <em>argumentum ad hominem</em>, Mrs. Walsham, and +when a lady takes to that we can say no more. You know I like your +boy. There is much that is good in him; but it struck me that you +were letting him run a little too wild. However, there is much in +what you say, and I don't believe that he is concerned in half the +mischief that he gets credit for. Still, you must remember that a +little of the curb, just a little, is good for us all. It spoils a +horse to be always tugging at his mouth, but he will go very badly +if he does not feel that there is a hand on the reins.</p> + +<p>"I have said the same thing to the squire. He spoils that boy of +his, for whom, between ourselves, I have no great liking. The old +man will have trouble with him before he is done, or I am greatly +mistaken."</p> + +<p>Nothing came of Mr. Allanby's visit. Mrs. Walsham told James +that he had been there to remonstrate with her.</p> + +<p>"I do not want to stop you from going out sailing, Jim; but I +wish you would give up your mischievous pranks, they only get you +bad will and a bad name in the place. Many people here think that I +am wrong in allowing you to associate so much with the fisher boys, +and when you get into scrapes, it enables them to impress upon me +how right they were in their forecasts. I do not want my boy to be +named in the same breath with those boys of Robson's, or young +Peterson, or Blame."</p> + +<p>"But you know I have nothing to do with them, mother," James +said indignantly. "They spend half their time about the public +house, and they do say that when Peterson has been out with that +lurcher of his, he has been seen coming back with his coat bulged +out, and there is often a smell of hare round his father's cottage +at supper time. You know I wouldn't have anything to do with +them."</p> + +<p>"No, Jim, I am sure you would not; but if people mix up your +name with theirs it is almost as bad for you as if you had. +Unfortunately, people are too apt not to distinguish between tricks +which are really only the outcome of high spirit, and a lack of +something better to do, and real vice. Therefore, Jim, I say, keep +yourself from mischief. I know that, though you are out of doors so +many hours of the day, you really do get through a good deal of +work; but other people do not give you credit for this. Remember +how your father was respected here. Try to act always as you would +have done had he been alive, and you cannot go far wrong."</p> + +<p>James had done his best, but he found it hard to get rid of his +reputation for getting into mischief, and more than once, when +falsely suspected, he grumbled that he might just as well have the +fun of the thing, for he was sure to have the blame.</p> + +<p>As Jim Walsham and his companions were chatting in the shade of +a boat, their conversation was abruptly broken off by the sight of +a figure coming along the road. It was a tall figure, with a stiff +military bearing. He was pushing before him a large box, mounted on +a framework supported by four wheels. Low down, close to the +ground, swung a large flat basket. In this, on a shawl spread over +a thick bed of hay, sat a little girl some five years old.</p> + +<p>"It is the sergeant," one of the boys exclaimed. "I wonder +whether he has got a fresh set of views? The last were first-rate +ones."</p> + +<p>The sergeant gave a friendly nod to the boys as he passed, and +then, turning up the main street from the beach, went along until +he came to a shaded corner, and there stopped. The boys had all got +up and followed him, and now stood looking on with interest at his +proceedings. The little girl had climbed out of her basket as soon +as he stopped, and after asking leave, trotted back along the +street to the beach, and was soon at play among the seaweed and +stones.</p> + +<p>She was a singularly pretty child, with dark blue eyes, and +brown hair with a touch of gold. Her print dress was spotlessly +clean and neat; a huge flapping sunbonnet shaded her face, whose +expression was bright and winning.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," the sergeant said cheerfully, "how have you been +getting on since I was here last? Nobody drowned, I hope, or come +to any ill. Not that we must grumble, whatever comes. We have all +got to do our duty, whether it be to march up a hill with shot and +shell screaming and whistling round, as I have had to do; or to be +far out at sea with the wind blowing fit to take the hair off your +head, as comes to your lot sometimes; or following the plough from +year's end to year's end, as happens to some. We have got to make +the best of it, whatever it is.</p> + +<p>"I have got a grand new set of pictures from Exeter. They came +all the way down from London town for me by waggon. London Bridge, +and Windsor Castle, with the flag flying over it, telling that the +king--God bless his gracious majesty--is at home.</p> + +<p>"Then, I have got some pictures of foreign parts that will make +you open your eyes. There's Niagara. I don't know whether you've +heard of it, but it's a place where a great river jumps down over a +wall of rock, as high as that steeple there, with a roar like +thunder that can be heard, they say, on a still night, for twenty +miles round.</p> + +<p>"I have got some that will interest you more still, because you +are sailors, or are going to be sailors. I have got one of the +killing of a whale. He has just thrown a boat, with five sailors, +into the air, with a lash of his tail; but it's of no use, for +there are other boats round, and the harpoons are striking deep in +his flesh. He is a big fish, and a strong one; but he will be +beaten, for he does not know how to use his strength. That's the +case with many men. They throw away their life and their talents, +just because they don't know what's in them, and what they might do +if they tried.</p> + +<p>"And I have got a picture of the fight with the Spanish Armada. +You have heard about that, boys, surely; for it began out there, +over the water, almost in sight of Sidmouth, and went on all the +way up the Channel; our little ships hanging on to the great +Spaniards and giving them no rest, but worrying them, and battering +them, till they were glad to sail away to the Dutch coast. But they +were not safe there, for we sent fire ships at them, and they had +to cut and run; and then a storm came on, and sunk many, and drove +others ashore all around our coasts, even round the north of +Scotland and Ireland.</p> + +<p>"You will see it all here, boys, and as you know, the price is +only one penny."</p> + +<p>By this time, the sergeant had let down one side of the box and +discovered four round holes, and had arranged a low stool in front, +for any of those, who were not tall enough to look through the +glasses, to stand upon. A considerable number of girls and boys had +now gathered round, for Sergeant Wilks and his show were old, +established favourites at Sidmouth, and the news of his arrival had +travelled quickly round the place.</p> + +<p>Four years before, he had appeared there for the first time, and +since then had come every few months. He travelled round the +southwestern counties, Dorset and Wilts, Somerset, Devon, and +Cornwall, and his cheery good temper made him a general favourite +wherever he went.</p> + +<p>He was somewhat of a martinet, and would have no crowding and +pushing, and always made the boys stand aside till the girls had a +good look; but he never hurried them, and allowed each an ample +time to see the pictures, which were of a better class than those +in most travelling peep shows. There was some murmuring, at first, +because the show contained none of the popular murders and +blood-curdling scenes to which the people were accustomed.</p> + +<p>"No," the sergeant had said firmly, when the omission was +suggested to him; "the young ones see quite enough scenes of +drunkenness and fighting. When I was a child, I remember seeing in +a peep show the picture of a woman lying with her head nearly cut +off, and her husband with a bloody chopper standing beside her; and +it spoiled my sleep for weeks. No, none of that sort of thing for +Sergeant Wilks. He has fought for his country, and has seen +bloodshed enough in his time, and the ground half covered with dead +and dying men; but that was duty--this is pleasure. Sergeant Wilks +will show the boys and girls, who pay him their pennies, views in +all parts of the world, such as would cost them thousands of pounds +if they travelled to see them, and all as natural as life. He will +show them great battles by land and sea, where the soldiers and +sailors shed their blood like water in the service of their +country. But cruel murders and notorious crimes he will not show +them."</p> + +<p>It was not the boys and girls, only, who were the sergeant's +patrons. Picture books were scarce in those days, and grown-up +girls and young men were not ashamed to pay their pennies to peep +into the sergeant's box.</p> + +<p>There was scarcely a farm house throughout his beat where he was +not known and welcomed. His care of the child, who, when he first +came round, was but a year old, won the heart of the women; and a +bowl of bread and milk for the little one, and a mug of beer and a +hunch of bread and bacon for himself, were always at his service, +before he opened his box and showed its wonders to the maids and +children of the house.</p> + +<p>Sidmouth was one of his regular halting places, and, indeed, he +visited it more often than any other town on his beat. There was +always a room ready for him there, in the house of a fisherman's +widow, when he arrived on the Saturday, and he generally stopped +till the Monday. Thus he had come to know the names of most of the +boys of the place, as well as of many of the elders; for it was his +custom, of a Saturday evening, after the little one was in bed, to +go and smoke his pipe in the taproom of the "Anchor," where he +would sometimes relate tales of his adventures to the assembled +fishermen. But, although chatty and cheery with his patrons, +Sergeant Wilks was a reticent, rather than a talkative, man. At the +"Anchor" he was, except when called upon for a story, a listener +rather than a talker.</p> + +<p>As to his history, or the county to which he belonged, he never +alluded to it, although communicative enough as to his military +adventures; and any questions which were asked him, he quietly put +on one side. He had intimated, indeed, that the father and mother +of his grandchild were both dead; but it was not known whether she +was the child of his son or daughter; for under his cheerful talk +there was something of military strictness and sternness, and he +was not a man of whom idle questions would be asked.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys and girls," he said, "step up; the show is ready. +Those who have got a penny cannot spend it better. Those who +haven't must try and get their father or mother to give them one, +and see the show later on. Girls first. Boys should always give way +to their sisters. The bravest men are always the most courteous and +gentle with women."</p> + +<p>Four girls, of various ages, paid their pennies and took their +places at the glasses, and the sergeant then began to describe the +pictures, his descriptions of the wonders within being so exciting, +that several boys and girls stole off from the little crowd, and +made their way to their homes to coax their parents out of the +necessary coin.</p> + +<p>James Walsham listened a while, and then walked away to the sea, +for there would be several sets of girls before it came to the turn +of the boys. He strolled along, and as he came within sight of the +beach stopped for a moment suddenly, and then, with a shout, ran +forward at the top of his speed.</p> + +<p>The little girl, after playing some time with the seaweed, had +climbed into a small boat which lay at the edge of the advancing +tide, and, leaning over the stern, watched the little waves as they +ran up one after another. A few minutes after she had got into it, +the rising tide floated the boat, and it drifted out a few yards, +as far as its headrope allowed it. Ignorant of what had happened, +the child was kneeling up at the stern, leaning over, and dabbling +her hands in the water.</p> + +<p>No one had noticed her. The boys had all deserted the beach. +None of the fishermen were near the spot.</p> + +<p>Just before James Walsham came within sight of the sea, the +child had overbalanced itself. His eye fell on the water just as +two arms and a frightened little face appeared above it. There was +a little splash, and a struggle, and the sea was bare again.</p> + +<p>At the top of his speed James dashed across the road, sprang +down the beach, and, rushing a few yards into the water, dived +down. He knew which way the tide was making, and allowed for the +set. A few vigorous strokes, and he reached something white on the +surface. It was the sunbonnet which had, in the child's struggles, +become unfastened. He dived at once, and almost immediately saw a +confused mass before him. Another stroke, and he seized the child's +clothes, and, grasping her firmly, rose to the surface and swam +towards shore.</p> + +<p>Although the accident had not been perceived, his shout and +sudden rush into the water had called the attention of some of the +men, and two or three of them ran into the water, waist deep, to +help him out with his little burden.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Master Walsham! The child would have been drowned if +you had not seed it. None of us noticed her fall over. She was +playing on the beach last time I seed her."</p> + +<p>"Is she dead?" James asked, breathless from his exertions.</p> + +<p>"Not she," the fisherman said. "She could not have been under +water a minute. Take her into my cottage, it's one of the nighest. +My wife will put her between the blankets, and will soon bring her +round."</p> + +<p>The fisherman's wife met them at the door, and, taking the child +from the lad, carried it in, and soon had her wrapped up in +blankets. But before this was done she had opened her eyes, for she +had scarcely lost consciousness when James had seized her.</p> + +<p>The lad stood outside the door, waiting for the news, when the +sergeant hurried up, one of the fishermen having gone to tell him +what had happened, as soon as the child had been carried into the +cottage--assuring him, as he did so, that the little one would +speedily come round.</p> + +<p>Just as he came up the door of the cottage opened, and one of +the women, who had run in to assist the fisherman's wife, put her +head out.</p> + +<p>"She has opened her eyes," she said. "The little dear will soon +be all right."</p> + +<p>"Thank God for His mercies!" the sergeant said, taking off his +hat. "What should I have done if I had lost her?</p> + +<p>"And I have to thank you, next to God," he said, seizing the +boy's hand. "May God bless you, young gentleman! and reward you for +having saved my darling. They tell me she must have been drowned, +but for you, for no one knew she had fallen in. Had it not been for +you, I should come round to look for her, and she would have been +gone--gone forever!" and the showman dashed the tears from his eyes +with the back of his hand.</p> + +<p>"I was only just in time," the lad said. "I did not see her fall +out of the boat. She was only a few yards away from it when she +came up--just as my eyes fell on the spot. I am very glad to have +saved her for you; but, of course, it was nothing of a swim. She +could not have been many yards out of my depth. Now I will run home +and change my things."</p> + +<p>James Walsham was too much accustomed to be wet through, to care +anything about his dripping clothes, but they served him as an +excuse to get away, for he felt awkward and embarrassed at the +gratitude of the old soldier. He pushed his way through the little +crowd, which had now gathered round, and started at a run; for the +news had brought almost all those gathered round the peep show to +the shore, the excitement of somebody being drowned being superior +even to that of the peep show, to the great majority; though a few, +who had no hope of obtaining the necessary pennies, had lingered +behind, and seized the opportunity for a gratuitous look through +the glasses.</p> + +<p>James ran upstairs and changed his clothes without seeing his +mother, and then, taking down one of his lesson books, set to work, +shrinking from the idea of going out again, and being made a hero +of.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later there was a knock at the front door, and a +few minutes after his mother called him down. He ran down to the +parlour, and there found the showman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say," the boy broke out, "don't say anything more about +it! I do hate being thanked, and there was nothing in swimming ten +yards in a calm sea. Please don't say anything more about it. I +would rather you hit me, ever so much."</p> + +<p>The sergeant smiled gravely, and Mrs. Walsham exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you come in and tell me about it, Jim? I could not +make out at first what Mr.--Mr.--"</p> + +<p>"Sergeant Wilks, madam."</p> + +<p>"What Sergeant Wilks meant, when he said that he had called to +tell me how grateful he felt to you for saving his little +grandchild's life. I am proud of you, Jim."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mother, don't!" the boy exclaimed. "It is horrid going on +so. If I had swum out with a rope through the surf, there might be +something in it; but just to jump in at the edge of the water is +not worth making a fuss about, one way or the other."</p> + +<p>"Not to you, perhaps, young gentleman, but it is to me," the +showman said. "The child is the light of my life, the only thing I +have to care for in the world, and you have saved her. If it had +only been by stretching out your hand, I should have been equally +grateful. However, I will say no more about it, but I shall not +think the less.</p> + +<p>"But don't you believe, madam, that there was no credit in it. +It was just the quickness and the promptness which saved her life. +Had your son hesitated a moment it would have been too late, for he +would never have found her. It is not likely that your son will +ever have any occasion for help of mine, but should there be an +opportunity, he may rely upon it that any service I can render him +shall be his to the death; and, unlikely as it may seem, it may yet +turn out that this brave act of his, in saving the life of the +granddaughter of a travelling showman, will not be without its +reward."</p> + +<p>"Is she all right now?" James asked abruptly, anxious to change +the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Yes. She soon came to herself, and wanted to tell me all about +it; but I would not let her talk, and in a few minutes she dropped +off to sleep, and there I left her. The women tell me she will +probably sleep till morning, and will then be as well as ever. And +now I must go and look after my box, or the boys will be pulling it +to pieces."</p> + +<p>It was, however, untouched, for in passing the sergeant had told +the little crowd that, if they left it alone, he would, on his +return, let all see without payment; and during the rest of the +afternoon he was fully occupied with successive audiences, being +obliged to make his lectures brief, in order that all might have +their turn.</p> + +<p>After the sergeant had left, James took his hat and went for a +long walk in the country, in order to escape the congratulations of +the other boys. The next day little Agnes was perfectly well, and +appeared with her grandfather in the seat, far back in the church, +which he always occupied on the Sundays he spent at Sidmouth. On +these occasions she was always neatly and prettily dressed, and, +indeed, some of the good women of the place, comparing the graceful +little thing with their own children, had not been backward in +their criticisms on the folly of the old showman, in dressing his +child out in clothes fit for a lady.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: The Showman's Grandchild.</h2> + +<p>Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but +did not set up his box as usual. Leaving it at his lodging, he went +at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.</p> + +<p>"I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about +the child had been answered, "on a particular business. It will +seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things +are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now. But I am +beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer. I have come to +ask, madam, whether you would take charge of the child for two +years. Of course I am ready to pay anything that you may think +proper."</p> + +<p>"But I don't take boarders," Mrs. Walsham said, much surprised +at the proposition. "I only take girls who come in the morning and +go away in the afternoon. Besides, they are all a good many years +older than your grandchild. None of the girls who come to me are +under twelve."</p> + +<p>"I know, ma'm, I know; and I am sure you must think it a great +liberty on my part to ask such a thing," the sergeant said +apologetically. "It is not the teaching I want, but just a home for +her."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham felt puzzled. She did, in her heart, feel it to be +a liberty. Surely this wandering showman would find no difficulty +in getting his grandchild taken care of among people of his own +rank in life. It did seem most singular that he should seek to +place the child with her. Mrs. Walsham was not given to thinking +what her neighbours would say, but she thought of the buzz of +comment and astonishment which her taking the charge of this child +would excite. She had been particular in keeping her little school +to some extent select, and as it was now as large as she could +manage unaided, she was able to make it almost a favour to the +farmers' wives to take their girls.</p> + +<p>But to do Mrs. Walsham justice, this thought had less influence +with her than that of the time and care which would be required by +a child of that age in the house. Certainly, she thought, as she +looked at her, sitting with her eyes wide open and an expression of +grave wonder in her face, "she is a little darling, and as Jim +saved her life I have a special interest in her; but this is out of +the question."</p> + +<p>It was two or three minutes before she answered the showman's +last words.</p> + +<p>"No, it cannot be done, Sergeant Wilks. No money that could be +paid me would make up to me for the charge of a child of her age. I +am all day in school, and what could a child, especially one +accustomed to be out all day, do with herself? The worry and +anxiety would be immense. Were it not for my school, it would be +different altogether. A child of that age, especially such a sweet +little thing as your granddaughter seems to be, would be a pet and +amusement; but as it is, I am sorry to say that it is out of the +question. But surely you will have no difficulty in finding plenty +of good women who would be glad to take her, and to whom, having +children of the same age, she would be no trouble whatever."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the sergeant said slowly, "I was afraid you would say +that, ma'm. Besides, though you are good enough not to say it, I +know that there must be other objections. I know you must be +surprised at my wanting her to be with a lady like yourself. So far +as money goes, I could afford to pay fifty pounds a year, and +perhaps you might get a girl who could look after Aggie while you +are busy."</p> + +<p>"Fifty pounds a year!" Mrs. Walsham said, greatly surprised. +"That is a large sum, a great deal too large a sum for you to pay +for the care of such a little child. For half that, there are +scores of farmers' wives who would be happy to take her, and where +she would be far more happy and comfortable than she would be with +me."</p> + +<p>"I know I could get plenty to take her," the soldier said, "but +I have reasons, very particular reasons, why I wish to place her +with a lady for two years. I cannot explain those reasons to you, +but you may imagine they must be strong ones, for me to be willing +to pay fifty pounds a year for her. That money has been laid by +from the day she was born, for that purpose. I have other reasons, +of my own, for wishing that she should be at Sidmouth rather than +at any other place; and I have another reason," and a slight smile +stole across his face, "for preferring that she should be with you +rather than anyone else. All this must seem very strange to you, +madam; but at the end of the two years, when you know what my +reasons were, you will acknowledge that they were good ones.</p> + +<p>"God knows," he went on, looking very grave, "what a wrench it +will be for me to part with her. How lonely I shall be, as I tramp +the country without her pretty prattle to listen to; but I have got +to do it sooner or later, and these two years, when I can see her +sometimes, will be a break, and accustom me to do without her sweet +face.</p> + +<p>"Please, madam," he urged, "do not give me a final answer today. +I shall not go till Monday, and will call again, if you will let +me, that morning; and believe me, if I could tell you all, I could +give you reasons which would, I think, induce you to change your +mind."</p> + +<p>So saying, he made a military salute, took the child's hand in +his, and was soon striding along towards the sea.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham was some time before she recovered from her +surprise. This was, indeed, a mysterious affair. The earnestness +with which the old soldier pleaded his cause had moved her +strongly, and had almost persuaded her to accept the proposal, +which had at first seemed preposterous. Fifty pounds a year, too, +was certainly a handsome sum. She could get a girl from the village +for two or three shillings a week to look after the child, and go +out with her during school hours, and a hundred pounds would be a +very handsome addition to the sum which she had begun, little by +little, to lay by for Jim's preparation for the medical +profession.</p> + +<p>In the five years which would elapse, before it would be time +for him to enter upon his studies for it, she could hardly hope to +lay by more than that sum, and this would at a stroke double it. +Certainly it was a tempting offer. She could not do justice to the +child, could not give her the care and attention which she ought to +have, and which she could have for such a sum elsewhere; but the +sergeant knew exactly how she was placed, and if he was willing and +anxious for her to assume the charge of the child, why should she +refuse this good offer?</p> + +<p>However, her pupils were waiting for her in the next room, and +with an effort Mrs. Walsham put the matter aside, and went in to +them.</p> + +<p>When James returned home to dinner, his mother related to him +the whole conversation. James was more amused than puzzled.</p> + +<p>"It seems a rum idea, mother; but I don't see why you shouldn't +take her. She is a sweet little thing, and will be a great +amusement. Fifty pounds a year seems a tremendous sum for a man +like that to pay; but I suppose he knows his own business, and it +will be a great pull for you. You will be able to have all sorts of +comforts. I should like it very much. I have often wished I had had +a little sister, and she can go out walks with me, you know. It +would be like having a big dog with one, only much jollier."</p> + +<p>"Yes," his mother said smiling; "and I shouldn't be surprised if +you wanted to throw sticks into the water for her to fetch them +out, and to be taking her out for a night's fishing, and be +constantly bringing her home splashed with that nasty red mud from +head to foot. You would be a nice playmate for a little girl, Jim. +Perhaps it is that special advantage that the sergeant had in his +mind's eye, when he was so anxious to put her with me."</p> + +<p>James laughed.</p> + +<p>"I would see that she didn't come to any harm, anyhow, you know; +and, after all, I suppose it was my picking her out of the sea that +had something to do with his first thinking of putting her with +you."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it had, Jim," she said more seriously. "But what do +you think, my boy? You know there are disadvantages in it. There +will be a good deal of talk about my taking this showman's +grandchild, and some of the farmers' wives won't like it."</p> + +<p>"Then let them dislike it," James said indignantly. "The child +is as good as their daughters, any day. Why, I noticed her in +church looking like a little lady. There was not a child there to +compare to her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have noticed her myself," Mrs. Walsham said. "She is a +singularly pretty and graceful child; but it will certainly cause +remark."</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, you can easily say, what is really the fact, that +you naturally felt an interest in her because I picked her out of +the water. Besides, if people make remarks they will soon be tired +of that; and if not, I can get into some scrape or other and give +them something else to talk about."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, when Sergeant Wilks called on Monday morning for +his answer, Mrs. Walsham told him that she had decided to accept +his offer.</p> + +<p>"You are aware how I am placed," she said, "and that I cannot +give her the care and time which I could wish, and which she ought +to have for such a liberal payment as you propose; but you know +that beforehand, and you see that for two years' payments I could +not sacrifice my school connection, which I should have to do if I +gave her the time I should wish."</p> + +<p>"I understand, madam," he said, "and I am grateful to you for +consenting to take her. She is getting too old now to wander about +with me, and since the narrow escape she had, last time I was here, +I have felt anxious whenever she was out of my sight. It would not +suit me to put her in a farm house. I want her to learn to speak +nicely, and I have done my best to teach her; but if she went to a +farm house she would be picking up all sorts of country words, and +I want her to talk like a little lady.</p> + +<p>"So that is settled, ma'm. I am going on to Exeter from here, +and shall get her a stock of clothes there, and will bring her back +next Saturday. Will it suit you to take her then?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham said that would suit very well; and an hour later +the sergeant set out from Sidmouth with his box, Aggie trotting +alongside, talking continuously.</p> + +<p>"But why am I to stop with that lady, grampa, and not to go +about with you any more? I sha'n't like it. I like going about, +though I get so tired sometimes when you are showing the pictures; +and I like being with you. It isn't 'cause I have been naughty, is +it? 'Cause I fell out of the boat into the water? I won't never get +into a boat again, and I didn't mean to fall out, you know."</p> + +<p>"No, Aggie, it's not that," the sergeant said. "You are always a +good girl--at least, not always, because sometimes you get into +passions, you know. Still, altogether you are a good little girl. +Still, you see, you can't always be going about the country with +me."</p> + +<p>"But why not, grampa?"</p> + +<p>"Well, my dear, because great girls can't go about the country +like men. It wouldn't be right and proper they should."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't it be, grampa?" the child persisted.</p> + +<p>"Well, Aggie, I can't exactly explain to you why, but so it is. +Men and boys have to work. They go about in ships, or as soldiers +to fight for their country, just as I did. Girls and women have to +stop at home, and keep house, and nurse babies, and that sort of +thing. God made man to be hard and rough, and to work and go about. +He made woman gentle and soft, to stop at home and make things +comfortable."</p> + +<p>Aggie meditated for some distance, in silence, upon this view of +the case.</p> + +<p>"But I have seen women working in the fields, grampa, and some +of them didn't seem very soft and gentle."</p> + +<p>"No, Aggie, things don't always go just as they ought to do; and +you see, when people are poor, and men can't earn enough wages, +then their wives and daughters have to help; and then, you see, +they get rough, more like men, because they are not doing their +proper work. But I want you to grow up soft and gentle, and so, for +a time, I want you to live with that lady with the nice boy who +pulled you out of the water, and they will make you very happy, and +I shall come and see you sometime."</p> + +<p>"I like him," the child said with a nod; "but I would rather be +with you, you know."</p> + +<p>"And the lady will teach you to read, Aggie. You have learned +your letters, you know."</p> + +<p>Aggie shook her head, to show that this part of the programme +was not particularly to her liking.</p> + +<p>"Do you think the boy will play with me, grampa?"</p> + +<p>"I daresay he will, Aggie, when you are very good; and you must +never forget, you know, that he saved your life. Just think how +unhappy I should be, if he had not got you out of the water."</p> + +<p>"The water was cold and nasty," Aggie said, "and it seemed so +warm and nice to my hands. Aggie won't go near the water any more. +Of course, if the boy is with me I can go, because he won't let me +tumble in.</p> + +<p>"Shall I get into the basket now, grampa? I is tired."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, little woman! you have not walked half a mile +yet. Anyhow, you must trot along until you get to the top of this +hill, then you shall have a lift for a bit."</p> + +<p>And so, with the child sometimes walking and sometimes riding, +sometimes asleep in her basket and sometimes chatting merrily to +her grandfather, the pair made their way across the country towards +Exeter.</p> + +<p>There was no little talk in Sidmouth when, on the following +Sunday, the showman's grandchild appeared in Mrs. Walsham's pew in +church, and it became known that she had become an inmate of her +house. It was generally considered that Mrs. Walsham had let +herself down greatly by taking the showman's grandchild, and one or +two of the mothers of her pupils talked about taking them away. One +or two, indeed, called upon her to remonstrate personally, but they +gained nothing by the step.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand what you mean," she said quietly, "by +saying that the child is not fit to associate with my other pupils. +She is singularly gentle and taking in her manner. She expresses +herself better than any child of her own age in Sidmouth, so far as +I know. There are few so neatly and prettily dressed. What is there +to object to? Her grandfather has been a sergeant in the army. He +bears a good character, and is liked wherever he goes. I do not +consider that James or myself are, in any way, demeaned by sitting +down to meals with the child, who, indeed, behaves as prettily and +nicely as one could wish; and I certainly do not see that any of my +pupils can be injuriously affected by the fact that, for an hour or +two in the day, she learns her lessons in the same room with them. +Had I thought that they would be, I should not have received her. I +shall, of course, be sorry if any of my pupils are taken away, but +as I have several girls only waiting for vacancies, it would make +no difference to me pecuniarily."</p> + +<p>And so it happened that Mrs. Walsham lost none of her pupils, +and in a short time the wonder died out. Indeed, the child herself +was so pretty, and taking in her ways, that it was impossible to +make any objection to her personally.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham had been struck by the self command which she +showed at parting with her grandfather. Her eyes were full of +tears, her lip quivered, and she could scarcely speak; but there +was no loud wailing, no passionate outburst. Her grandfather had +impressed upon her that the parting was for her own good, and child +though she was, she felt how great a sacrifice he was making in +parting with her, and although she could not keep the tears from +streaming down her cheeks, or silence her sobs as she bade him +goodbye, she tried hard to suppress her grief.</p> + +<p>The pain of parting was, indeed, fully as great to Sergeant +Wilks as to his granddaughter; and it was with a very husky voice +that he bade her goodbye, and then, putting her into Mrs. Walsham's +arms, walked hastily away.</p> + +<p>Aggie was soon at home. She and James very quickly became +allies, and the boy was ever ready to amuse her, often giving up +his own plans to take her for a walk to pick flowers in the +hedgerow, or to sail a tiny boat for her in the pools left as the +sea retired. Mrs. Walsham found, to her surprise, that the child +gave little trouble. She was quiet and painstaking during the half +hours in the morning and afternoon when she was in the school room, +while at mealtimes her prattle and talk amused both mother and son, +and altogether she made the house brighter and happier than it was +before.</p> + +<p>In two months the sergeant came round again. He did not bring +his box with him, having left it at his last halting place; telling +James, who happened to meet him as he came into Sidmouth, that he +did not mean to bring his show there again.</p> + +<p>"It will be better for the child," he explained. "She has done +with the peep show now, and I do not want her to be any longer +associated with it."</p> + +<p>Aggie was delighted to see him, and sprang into his arms, with a +scream of joy, as he entered. After a few minutes' talk, Mrs. +Walsham suggested that she should put on her hat and go for a walk +with him, and, in high contentment, the child trotted off, holding +her grandfather's hand. Turning to the left, the sergeant took the +path up the hill, and when he reached the top, sat down on the +short turf, with Aggie nestling up against him.</p> + +<p>"So you are quite well and happy, Aggie?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Quite well, grampa, and very happy; but I do wish so much that +you were here. Oh. it would be so nice to have you to go out with +every day!"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that cannot be managed, Aggie. I have been busy so +long that I could not settle down quietly here. Besides, I must +live, you know."</p> + +<p>"But wouldn't people give you money for the show if you lived +here, grampa? You always got money here the same as other +places."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear, but I could not get fresh pictures every day, and +should soon tire them by showing the old house."</p> + +<p>"But you are sorry sometimes, grampa, not to have me with +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aggie, very sorry. I miss you terribly sometimes, and I am +always thinking about you."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you take me away again, grampa?"</p> + +<p>"Because, as I told you, Aggie, I want you to learn to read, and +to grow up quite a little lady."</p> + +<p>"Does reading make one a lady, grampa?"</p> + +<p>"No, Aggie, not by itself, but with other things."</p> + +<p>"And when I am quite grown up and big, and know how to read +nicely, shall I be able to go with you again?"</p> + +<p>"We will see about that, Aggie, when the time comes. There is +plenty of time yet to think about that."</p> + +<p>"But I am getting on very fast, grampa, and the lady says I am a +good girl. So it won't be such a very long time before I can +leave."</p> + +<p>"It will be some time, yet. You have only got to read little +words yet, but there are lots of long words which you will come to +presently. But Mrs. Walsham tells me that you are getting on +nicely, and that you are a very good girl, which pleases me very +much; and when I am walking along with my box, I shall like to be +able to think of you as being quite comfortable and happy."</p> + +<p>"And I go walks with Jim, grampa, and Jim has made me a boat, +and he says someday, when it is very fine and quiet, he will take +me out in a big boat, like that boat, you know; and he is going to +ask you if he may, for the lady said I must not go out with him +till he has asked you. And he said he won't let me tumble over, and +I am going to sit quite, quite still."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aggie, I don't see any harm in your going out with him. I +am sure he will only take you when it is fine, and he will look +after you well. You like him, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I do, grampa; and you know, it was him who got me out of +the water, else I should never have come out, and never have seen +grampa again; and he has made me a boat. Oh! yes, I do like +him!"</p> + +<p>"That's right, my dear; always stick to those who are good to +you."</p> + +<p>A few days after this, as James was sailing the toy boat, for +Aggie's amusement, in a pool, a boy sauntered up. He was somewhat +taller than James Walsham, and at least two years older. He was +well dressed, and James knew him as the nephew and heir of the +squire.</p> + +<p>It was not often that Richard Horton came down into the village. +He was accustomed to be treated with a good deal of deference at +the Hall, and to order servants and grooms about pretty much as he +chose, and the indifference with which the fisher boys regarded him +offended him greatly. He was a spoilt boy. His uncle had a resident +tutor for him, but the selection had been a bad one. The library +was large and good, the tutor fond of reading, and he was content +to let the boy learn as little as he chose, providing that he did +not trouble him. As to any instruction beyond books, he never +thought of giving it.</p> + +<p>The squire never interfered. He was a silent and disappointed +man. He attended to his duties as a magistrate, and to the +management of his estate, but seldom went beyond the lodge gates. +He took his meals by himself, and often did not see his nephew for +a week together, and had no idea but that he was pursuing his +studies regularly with his tutor. Thus, the character of Richard +Horton formed itself unchecked. At the best it was a bad one, but +under other circumstances it might have been improved.</p> + +<p>Up to the age of ten, he had lived in London with his father and +mother, the latter a sister of the squire, who, having married +beneath her, to the indignation of Mr. Linthorne, he had never seen +her afterwards.</p> + +<p>Four years before the story begins, she had received a letter +from him, saying that, as her eldest son was now his heir, he +wished him to come and live with him, and be prepared to take his +place. The Hortons, who had a numerous family, at once accepted the +offer, and Richard, hearing that he was going to a grand house, and +would no doubt have a pony and all sorts of nice things, left his +father and mother without a tear.</p> + +<p>He was essentially selfish. He was vain of his good looks, which +were certainly striking; and with his changed fortunes he became +arrogant, and, as the squire's servants said, hateful; and yet the +change had brought him less pleasure than he expected. It was true +that he had the pony, that he was not obliged to trouble himself +with lessons, that he was an important person at the "Hall;" but he +had no playfellows, no one to admire his grandeur, and the days +often passed heavily, and there was a look of discontent and +peevishness upon his handsome face.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the reason why he so seldom came down into Sidmouth, was +not only because the fisher boys were not sufficiently impressed +with his importance, but because they looked so much happier and +more contented than he felt, in spite of his numerous advantages. +On this day he was in a particularly bad temper. He had lamed his +pony the day before, by riding it furiously over a bad road after +it had cast a shoe. The gardener had objected to his picking more +than half a dozen peaches which had just come into perfection, and +had threatened to appeal to the squire.</p> + +<p>Altogether, he was out of sorts, and had walked down to the sea +with a vague hope that something might turn up to amuse him. He +stood for some little time watching James sail the boat, and then +strode down to the edge of the pool. The boat was a model of a +smack, with brown sails. James had taken a good deal of pains with +it, and it was an excellent model.</p> + +<p>Presently, in crossing, she stuck in a shallow some twelve feet +from the edge. The intervening stretch of water was a foot +deep.</p> + +<p>James picked up some small stones and threw them close to her, +that the tiny wave they made might float her off. He tried several +times without success.</p> + +<p>"What's the use of such little stones as that?" Richard said +roughly. "You will never get her off like that;" and picking up one +as large as his fist, he threw it with some force.</p> + +<p>It struck the mast, and broke it asunder, and knocked the boat +on to her side. James Walsham uttered an angry exclamation.</p> + +<p>"You are a bad boy," Aggie said passionately. "You are a bad boy +to break my boat;" and she burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean to do it, you little fool!" Richard said angrily, +vexed more at his own clumsiness than at the damage it had caused. +"What are you making such a beastly noise about?" and he gave her a +push.</p> + +<p>It was not a hard one, but the ground was slippery, and the +child's foot slipped, and she fell at the edge of the pool, her +dress going partly into the water. At the same instant, Richard +reeled, and almost fell beside her, from a heavy blow between the +eyes from James's fist.</p> + +<p>"You insolent blackguard!" he exclaimed furiously, "I will pay +you for this;" and he rushed at James.</p> + +<p>The combat was not a long one. Hard work at rowing and sailing +had strengthened Jim Walsham's muscles, and more than balanced the +advantage in height and age of his adversary. He had had, too, more +than one fight in his time, and after the first sudden burst of +passion, caused by the overthrow of Aggie, he fought coolly and +steadily, while Richard rained his blows wildly, without attempting +to guard his face.</p> + +<p>The child, on regaining her feet, ran crying loudly towards the +beach, making for two fishermen who were engaged in mending a net +some distance away; but before she could reach them to beg for aid +for her champion, the fight was over, terminating by a heavy +right-handed hit from James, which landed Richard Horton on his +back in the pool.</p> + +<p>James stood quietly awaiting a renewal of the conflict when he +arose, but Richard had had enough of it. One of his eyes was +already puffed and red, his nose bleeding, and his lip cut. His +clothes were soaked from head to foot, and smeared with the red +mud.</p> + +<p>"I will pay you out for this, you see if I don't," Richard +gasped hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"What! have you had enough of it?" James said scornfully. "I +thought you weren't any good. A fellow who would bully a little +girl is sure to be a coward."</p> + +<p>Richard moved as if he would renew the fight, but he thought +better of it, and with a furious exclamation hurried away towards +the Hall.</p> + +<p>James, without paying any further heed to him, waded after the +boat, and having recovered it, walked off towards the child, who, +on seeing his opponent had moved off, was running down to meet +him.</p> + +<p>"Here is the boat, Aggie," he said. "There is no great harm +done, only the mast and yard broken. I can easily put you in fresh +ones;" but the child paid no attention to the boat.</p> + +<p>"He is a wicked bad boy, Jim; and did he hurt you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, he didn't hurt me, Aggie, at least nothing to speak of. +I hurt him a good deal more. I paid him out well for breaking your +boat, and pushing you down, the cowardly brute!"</p> + +<p>"Only look, Jim," she said, holding out her frock. "What will +she say?"</p> + +<p>James laughed.</p> + +<p>"Mother won't say anything," he said. "She is accustomed to my +coming in all muddy."</p> + +<p>"But she said 'Keep your frock clean,' and it's not clean," +Aggie said in dismay.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but that is not your fault, little one. I will make it all +right with her, don't you fret. Come on, we had better go home and +change it as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>They passed close by the two fishermen on their way.</p> + +<p>"You gave it to the young squire finely, Master Walsham," one of +them said, "and served him right, too. We chanced to be looking at +the moment, and saw it all. He is a bad un, he is, by what they say +up at the Hall. I heard one of the grooms talking last night down +at the 'Ship,' and a nice character he gave him. This thrashing may +do him some good; and look you, Master Walsham, if he makes a +complaint to the squire, and it's likely enough he will get up a +fine story of how it came about--the groom said he could lie like +King Pharaoh--you just send word to me, and me and Bill will go up +to the squire, and tell him the truth of the matter."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham felt somewhat alarmed when her son told her what +had happened, for the squire was a great man at Sidmouth, a +magistrate, and the owner of the greater part of the place as well +as of the land around it; and although Mrs. Walsham did not hold +the same exaggerated opinion of his powers as did the majority of +his neighbours, who would scarcely have dreamt of opposing it, had +the squire ordered anyone to be hung and quartered, still she felt +that it was a somewhat terrible thing that her son should have +thrashed the nephew and heir of the great man.</p> + +<p>In the evening there was a knock at the door, and the little +maid came in with eyes wide open with alarm, for she had heard of +the afternoon's battle, to say that the constable wished to speak +to Mrs. Walsham.</p> + +<p>"Servant, ma'am," he said as he entered. "I am sorry to be here +on an unpleasant business; but I have got to say as the squire +wishes to see Master Walsham in the justice room at ten o'clock, on +a charge of 'salt and battery.</p> + +<p>"Don't you be afeard ma'am," he went on confidentially. "I don't +think as anything is going to be done to him. I ain't got no +warrant, and so I don't look upon it as regular business. I expects +it will be just a blowing up. It will be just the squire, and not +the magistrate, I takes it. He told me to have him up there at ten, +but as he said nothing about custody, I thought I would do it my +own way and come to you quiet like; so if you say as Master Walsham +shall be up there at ten o'clock, I'll just take your word for it +and won't come to fetch him. The doctor was allus very good to me +and my missus, and I shouldn't like to be walking through Sidmouth +with my hand on his son's collar."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Hobson," Mrs. Walsham said quietly. "You can rely +upon it my son shall be there punctually. He has nothing to be +afraid or ashamed of."</p> + +<p>Full of rage as Richard Horton had been, as he started for home, +he would never have brought the matter before the squire on his own +account. His case was too weak, and he had been thrashed by a boy +younger than himself. Thus, he would have probably chosen some +other way of taking his vengeance; but it happened that, just as he +arrived home, he met his tutor coming out. The latter was astounded +at Richard's appearance. His eyes were already puffed so much that +he could scarcely see out of them, his lips were cut and swollen, +his shirt stained with blood, his clothes drenched and plastered +with red mud.</p> + +<p>"Why, what on earth has happened, Richard?"</p> + +<p>Richard had already determined upon his version of the +story.</p> + +<p>"A brute of a boy knocked me down into the water," he said, "and +then knocked me about till he almost killed me."</p> + +<p>"But what made him assault you in this outrageous manner?" his +tutor asked. "Surely all the boys about here must know you by +sight; and how one of them would dare to strike you I cannot +conceive."</p> + +<p>"I know the fellow," Richard said angrily. "He is the son of +that doctor fellow who died two years ago."</p> + +<p>"But what made him do it?" the tutor repeated.</p> + +<p>"He was sailing his boat, and it got stuck, and he threw in some +stones to get it off; and I helped him, and I happened to hit the +mast of his beastly boat, and then he flew at me like a tiger, and +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems to be a monstrous assault, Richard, and you must +speak to the squire about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I sha'n't," Richard said hastily. "I don't want any row +about it, and I will pay him off some other way. I could lick him +easy enough if it had been a fair fight, only he knocked me down +before I was on my guard. No, I sha'n't say anything about it."</p> + +<p>But Richard's tutor, on thinking the matter over, determined to +speak to the squire. Only the evening before, Mr. Linthorne had +surprised him by asking him several questions as to Richard's +progress and conduct, and had said something about examining him +himself, to see how he was getting on. This had caused Mr. +Robertson no little alarm, for he knew that even the most +superficial questioning would betray the extent of Richard's +ignorance, and he had resolved that, henceforth, he would endeavour +to assert his authority, and to insist upon Richard's devoting a +certain portion of each day, regularly, to study. Should the squire +meet the boy anywhere about the house, he must at once notice the +condition of his face; and even if he did not meet him, he could +not fail to notice it on Sunday, when he sat beside him in the pew. +It would be better, therefore, that he should at once report the +matter to him.</p> + +<p>Without saying a word to Richard of his intentions, he therefore +went to the squire's study, and told him what had taken place, as +he had learned it from Richard. The squire listened silently.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Mr. Robertson. You were quite right to tell me about +it. Of course, I cannot suffer my nephew to be treated in this +manner. At the same time, I am sorry that it was Walsham's son. I +don't know anything about the boy, and should not know him even by +sight, but I had an esteem for his father, who was a hard-working +man, and, I believe, clever. He used to attend here whenever any of +the servants were ill, and I had intended to do something for the +boy. I am sorry he has turned out so badly. However, I will have +him up here and speak to him. This sort of thing cannot be +permitted."</p> + +<p>And accordingly, orders were given to the constable. When, in +the evening, Mr. Robertson informed Richard what he had done, the +boy flew into a terrible passion, and abused his tutor with a +violence of language which shocked and astonished him, and opened +his eyes to his own culpability, in allowing him to go on his way +unchecked. He in vain endeavoured to silence the furious lad. He +had been so long without exercising any authority, that he had now +no authority to exercise, and, after an angry scene, Richard flung +himself out of the room, and left his tutor in a state bordering on +consternation.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The Justice Room.</h2> + +<p>Richard's feelings were not to be envied, as he lay awake that +night, thinking over what had taken place in the morning. It had +never, for a moment, entered his mind that his tutor would repeat +his statement to the squire, and he would have given a good deal if +he had not made it. However, there was nothing for him now but to +stick to the story, and he felt but little doubt of the result. He +had no idea that any, but the actors in it, had witnessed the scene +by the pool, and he felt confident that his uncle would, as a +matter of course, take his word in preference to that of this boy, +who would naturally tell lies to screen himself. Of course, the +child was there, but no one would mind what a baby like that said. +Still, it was a nuisance, and he gnashed his teeth with rage at the +interference of his tutor in the matter.</p> + +<p>"I will get rid of him, somehow, before long," he said. "I will +pay him out for his meddling, as sure as my name's Richard Horton. +I will get him out of this before three months are gone."</p> + +<p>The next morning at breakfast, Richard received a message from +the squire that he was to be present at ten o'clock in the justice +room, and accordingly, at that hour he presented himself there with +a confident air, but with an inward feeling of misgiving.</p> + +<p>The squire was sitting at his table, with his clerk beside him. +Mr. Robertson was in a chair a short distance off. The constable +was standing by the side of James Walsham, at the other end of the +room. Mr. Linthorne nodded to his nephew.</p> + +<p>"I wish you to repeat the story which you told Mr. Robertson +yesterday."</p> + +<p>Richard had thought over whether it would be better to soften +his story, but as it had already been told to the squire, he had +concluded that there would be more danger in contradicting his +first version than in sticking to it. Accordingly, he repeated his +story almost word for word as he had told it to Mr. Robertson.</p> + +<p>"What have you to say to this, James Walsham?" the squire asked. +"This is a serious charge, that you without any provocation +assaulted and maltreated my nephew."</p> + +<p>"I say it is all a lie, sir," James said fearlessly.</p> + +<p>The squire uttered a short exclamation of surprise and anger. He +had been, at first, favourably impressed with the appearance of the +young prisoner, though he had been surprised at seeing that he was +younger than his nephew, for he had expected to see a much older +boy.</p> + +<p>"That is not the way to speak, sir," he said sternly, while the +constable pressed a warning hand on James's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, it's not true then," the boy said. "It's all false +from beginning to end, except that I did strike him first; but I +struck him, not because he had thrown a great stone and broken my +boat, but because he pushed a little girl who was with me down into +the water."</p> + +<p>"She slipped down. I never pushed her," Richard broke in.</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, sir," the squire said sternly. "You have +given your evidence. I have now to hear what the accused has to +say.</p> + +<p>"Now, tell your story."</p> + +<p>James now gave his version of the affair.</p> + +<p>When he had ended, Mr. Linthorne said gravely, "Have you any +witnesses to call?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, there are two fishermen outside who saw it."</p> + +<p>"Bring them in," the magistrate said to the constable.</p> + +<p>Not a word was spoken in the justice room until the constable +returned. As James had told his story, the magistrate had listened +with disbelief. It had not occurred to him that his nephew could +have told a lie, and he wondered at the calmness with which this +boy told his story. Why, were it true, Richard was a coward as well +as a liar, for with his superior age and height, he should have +been able to thrash this boy in a fair fight; yet James's face had +not a mark, while his nephew's showed how severely he had been +punished.</p> + +<p>But his eye fell upon Richard when James said that he had +witnesses. He saw an unmistakable look of terror come over his +face, and the bitter conviction flashed across him that James's +story was the true one.</p> + +<p>"There is no occasion to give him the book, Hobson," he said, as +the constable was about to hand the Testament to one of the +fishermen. "This is a private investigation, not a formal +magisterial sitting, and there is no occasion, at this stage, to +take any evidence on oath."</p> + +<p>"What is your name, my man?"</p> + +<p>"John Mullens, your honour."</p> + +<p>"Well, just tell me, Mullens, what you know about this +business."</p> + +<p>"I was a-mending my nets, yer honour, along with Simon Harte, +and young Master Walsham was a-sailing his boat in a pool, along +with the little gal as lives at his mother's."</p> + +<p>"How far were you from the spot where he was?" the squire +asked.</p> + +<p>"Two hundred yards or so, I should say," the fisherman replied. +"We was working behind a boat, but we could see over it well +enough. Presently we saw Master Horton come down, and stand +alongside the others.</p> + +<p>"I said to Simon, 'He is a good-looking young fellow, is the +squire's nephew,'" and the fisherman's eye twinkled with a grim +humour, as he glanced at Richard's swollen face.</p> + +<p>"The boat got stuck, and Master Walsham threw something in close +to it to get it off. Then I see Master Horton stoop, and pick up a +chunk of stone, and chuck it hard; and it hit the boat and knocked +it over. I see the little girl turn round and say something to +Master Horton, and then she put her apron up to her face and began +to cry. He gave her a sort of shove, and she tumbled down into the +edge of the pool.</p> + +<p>"I says to Simon, 'What a shame!' but afore the words was out of +my mouth, Master Walsham he hits him, and hits him hard, too. Then +there was a fight, but Master Horton, he hadn't a chance with +James, who gave him as sound a licking as ever you see'd, and +ending with knocking him backwards into the pool. Then he gets up +and shakes his fist at James, and then goes off as hard as he +could. That's all I know about it."</p> + +<p>"It's a wicked lie," Richard burst out. "They have made it up +between them. There was nobody there."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, sir, I tell you," the squire said, so sternly +that Richard, who had risen from his seat, shrank back again and +remained silent; while Simon Harte gave his evidence, which was +almost identical with that of the other fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Have you any other witnesses?" the magistrate asked James.</p> + +<p>"Only the little girl, sir, but I did not bring her up. She is +so little, I thought it was better she should not come, but I can +send for her if you wish it."</p> + +<p>"It is not necessary," Mr. Linthorne said. "I have heard quite +sufficient. The manner in which you and these fishermen have given +your evidence convinces me that you are speaking the truth, and I +am sorry that you should have been placed in this position. You +will understand that this is not a formal court, and therefore that +there is no question of discharging you. I can only say that, +having heard the story of what took place at this fight between you +and my nephew, I am convinced that you did what any other boy of +spirit would have done, under the same circumstances, and that the +punishment which you administered to him was thoroughly +deserved.</p> + +<p>"Good morning!"</p> + +<p>James Walsham and his witnesses left the room. Mr. Linthorne +rose, and saying to his nephew, "Follow me, sir," went to his +study.</p> + +<p>Without saying a word as to what had passed, he took down some +books from the shelves, and proceeded to examine Richard in them. A +few minutes sufficed to show that the boy was almost absolutely +ignorant of Latin, while a few questions in geography and history +showed that he was equally deficient in these also.</p> + +<p>"That will do," the squire said. "Go up to your room, and remain +there until I send for you."</p> + +<p>An hour after this a dog cart came round to the door. Mr. +Robertson took his place in it with his trunk, and was driven away +to Exeter, never to return.</p> + +<p>For two days Richard remained a prisoner in his room. His meals +were brought up to him, but the servant who came with them answered +no questions, telling him that the squire's orders were that he was +not to hold any conversation with him. There was, indeed, a deep +pleasure among the servants at the Hall, at the knowledge that +Richard Horton was in disgrace. The exact circumstances of the +affair were unknown, for the fishermen had not been present when +Richard had told his story, and Mrs. Walsham, who was much shocked +when James told her the circumstances, had impressed upon him that +it was better to say nothing more about it.</p> + +<p>"You are clear in the matter, Jim, and that is enough for you. +The squire will, no doubt, punish his nephew for the wicked lies he +has told. Some day, you know, the boy will be master here. Don't +let us set everyone against him by telling this disgraceful +story."</p> + +<p>So, beyond the fact that there had been a fight between James +Walsham and the squire's nephew, and that Richard Horton had been +thrashed, and that the squire himself had said that it served him +right, Sidmouth knew nothing of what had taken place in the justice +room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Linthorne's first impulse had been to send his nephew at +once back to his parents, with the message that he would have +nothing more to do with him; but, though he had the reputation of +being a stern man, the squire was a very kind-hearted one. He was +shocked to find that the boy was a liar, and that, to shield +himself, he had invented this falsehood against his opponent; but +upon reflection, he acknowledged that he himself had been to blame +in the matter. He had taken the boy into his house, had assigned to +him the position of his heir, and had paid no further attention to +him.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, the man he had selected as his tutor had proved +false to the trust. The boy had been permitted to run wild, his +head was turned with the change in his prospects, his faults had +grown unchecked. It was to be said for him that he had not +intended, in the first place, to bring his opponent into disgrace +by making this false accusation against him, for his tutor had +acknowledged that he had said he did not intend to tell him, or to +take any step in the matter, and his position of accuser had been, +to some extent, forced upon him by the necessity of his confirming +the tale, which he had told to account for his being thrashed by a +boy smaller than himself.</p> + +<p>Yes, it would be unfair upon the boy utterly to cast him off for +this first offence. He would give him one more trial.</p> + +<p>The result of the squire's reflection was that, on the third day +of his imprisonment, Richard was sent for to the study. The squire +did not motion to him to sit down, and he remained standing with, +as the squire said to himself, a hang-dog look upon his face.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking over this matter quietly, Richard, for I +did not wish to come to any hasty conclusion. My first impulse was +to pack you off home, and have no more to do with you, but I have +thought better of it. Mean and despicable as your conduct has been, +I take some blame to myself, for not having seen that your tutor +did his duty by you. Therefore, I have resolved to give you another +chance, but not here. I could not bear to have a boy, who has +proved himself a despicable liar, about me; but I will try and +think that this was a first offence, and that the lesson which it +has taught you may influence all your future life, and that you may +yet grow up an honourable man.</p> + +<p>"But you will remember that, henceforth, you are on trial, and +that the position in which you will stand by my will, will depend +solely and entirely on your own conduct. If you prove, by that, +that this lesson has had its effect, that you deeply repent of your +conduct, and are resolved to do your best to be henceforth +straight, honourable, and true, you will, at my death, occupy the +position I have intended for you. If not, not one single penny of +my money will you get. I am going to put you in a school where you +will be looked strictly after, and where you will have every chance +of retrieving yourself. I have just written to a friend of mine, a +post captain in his majesty's service, asking him to receive you as +a midshipman. I have told him frankly that you have been somewhat +over indulged, and that the discipline of the sea life will be of +great benefit to you, and have requested him to keep a tight hand +over you, and let me know occasionally how you are going on. I have +told him that your position as my heir will, to a very large +extent, depend upon his reports, and have asked him, in the name of +our old friendship, to be perfectly frank and open in them with me. +I have said 'he is my eldest nephew, but I have others who will +take his place, if he is unworthy of the position, and although I +should be sorry if he should be found wanting, I will commit the +interests of all the tenants and people on my estate to no one who +is not, in every respect, an honourable gentleman.'</p> + +<p>"That will do, sir. You need not remain longer in your room, but +you will not leave the grounds. My friend's ship is at Portsmouth +at present, and doubtless I shall receive an answer in the course +of a few days. Until then, the less we see each other, the more +pleasant for us both."</p> + +<p>There were few more miserable boys in England than Richard +Horton, during the week which elapsed before the answer to the +squire's letter was received. It cannot be said that, in the true +sense of the word, he was sorry for his fault. He was furious with +himself, not because he had lied, but because of the consequences +of the lie. A thousand times he called himself a fool for having +imperilled his position, and risked being sent back again to the +dingy house in London, merely to excuse himself for being thrashed +by a boy smaller than himself. Mad with his folly, not in having +invented the story, but in having neglected to look round, to +assure himself that there were no witnesses who would contradict +it, he wandered disconsolate about the gardens and park, cursing +what he called his fortune.</p> + +<p>It was an additional sting to his humiliation, that he knew +every servant in and about the house rejoiced at his discomfiture, +and he imagined that there was a veiled smile of satisfaction, at +his bruised visage and his notorious disgrace with the squire, on +the face of every man he met outside, and of every woman who passed +him in the house.</p> + +<p>During the whole week he did not venture near the stables, for +there he knew that he had rendered himself specially obnoxious, and +there was nothing for him to do but to saunter listlessly about the +garden, until the day arrived that the letter came granting the +squire's request, and begging that he might be sent off at once, as +the vessel would probably put to sea in a few days.</p> + +<p>"Now, Richard," the squire said that evening to him, in a kinder +voice than he had used on the last occasion, "you understand +exactly how we stand towards each other. That being so, I do not +wish to maintain our present uncomfortable relations. You have had +your punishment, and, unless I hear to the contrary, I shall assume +that the punishment has had its effect. When you return from sea, +after your first voyage, you will come home here as if nothing had +happened, and this business need never be alluded to between us. If +you turn out as I have hitherto believed you to be, I shall receive +you as warmly as if my opinion of you had never been shaken.</p> + +<p>"I have requested Captain Sinclair to let me know what is the +average allowance that the midshipmen receive from their parents, +and shall see that you have as much as your messmates. I have also +asked him to kindly allow one of his officers to order you a proper +outfit in all respects, and to have the bill sent in to me. So now, +my boy, you will have a fresh and a fair start, and I trust that +you will turn out everything that I can wish."</p> + +<p>"I will try, sir. I will indeed," Richard said earnestly; and he +spoke from his heart, for the inheritance was very dear to him, and +it would be a terrible thing indeed to forfeit it.</p> + +<p>For two years after Richard Horton's departure, things went on +quietly at Sidmouth. James Walsham continued to make a pet and a +playmate of little Aggie. Her out-of-door life had made her strong +and sturdy, and she was able to accompany him in all his rambles, +while, when he was at work at home preparing fishing lines, making +boats, or otherwise amusing himself, she was content to sit hours +quietly beside him, chattering incessantly, and quite content with +an occasional brief answer to the questions. When he was studying, +she too would work at her lessons; and however much she might be +puzzled over these, she would never disturb him by asking him +questions when so engaged.</p> + +<p>She was an intelligent child, and the hour's lesson, morning and +afternoon, soon grew into two. She was eager to learn, and rapidly +gained ground on Mrs. Walsham's older pupils. During the two years, +that lady never had cause to regret that she had yielded to the +sergeant's entreaties. Aggie was no trouble in the house, which she +brightened with her childish laughter and merry talk; and her +companionship, James's mother could not but think, did the boy much +good. It softened his manner, and, although he still often went out +with the fishermen, he was no longer thrown entirely for +companionship upon the boys on the beach.</p> + +<p>The sergeant came and went, seldom being more than two months +without paying a visit to Sidmouth. The child was always delighted +to see her grandfather, and James took to him greatly, and liked +nothing better than to stroll up with him to a sheltered spot on +the hillside, where he would throw himself down on the grass, while +the sergeant smoked his pipe and told him stories of his travels +and adventures, and Aggie ran about looking for wildflowers, or +occasionally sat down, for a while, to listen also.</p> + +<p>The squire lived his usual lonely life up at the Hall. The +absence of his nephew, whose ship had sailed for a foreign station, +was a relief rather than otherwise to him. It had, from the first, +been a painful effort to him to regard this boy as his heir, and he +had only done it when heartsick from a long and fruitless search +for one who would have been nearer and dearer to him. Nor had he +ever taken to the lad personally. The squire felt that there was +not the ring of true metal in him. The careless way in which he +spoke of his parents showed a want of heart; and although his uncle +was ignorant how much the boy made himself disliked in the +household, he was conscious, himself, of a certain antipathy for +him, which led him to see as little of him as possible.</p> + +<p>The two years, for which the sergeant had placed his grandchild +with Mrs. Walsham, came to an end. That he did not intend to +continue the arrangement, she judged from something he said on the +occasion of his last visit, two months before the time was up, but +he gave no hint as to what he intended to do with her.</p> + +<p>In those weeks Mrs. Walsham frequently thought the matter over. +That the sergeant had plans for the child she could hardly doubt. +The child herself had told her that she knew of no other relations +than her grandfather, and yet he could hardly intend to take her +about with him, after placing her for two years in a comfortable +home. She was but seven years old now--far too young to go out into +a place as servant girl in a farm house. She doubted not that the +sergeant had expended the whole of his savings, and she thought him +foolish in not having kept her with him for some little time +longer, or, if he could not do that, he might have placed her with +some honest people, who would have kept her for the sum he had paid +until she was old enough to take a place as a nurse girl.</p> + +<p>And yet, while she argued thus, Mrs. Walsham felt that the old +showman had not acted without weighing the whole matter. There must +be something in it which she did not understand. In fact, he had +said so when he placed the child with her.</p> + +<p>As the time approached, she became more worried at the thought +of Aggie leaving her. The little one had wound herself very closely +round her heart. The expense of keeping her was small indeed, the +cost of her food next to nothing; while the extra girl, whom Mrs. +Walsham had taken on when she first came, had been retained but a +very short time, James's constant companionship with her rendering +the keeping of a nurse altogether unnecessary.</p> + +<p>At last she made up her mind that she would offer to keep her on +without pay. She and James would miss her companionship sorely, and +it could not be considered an extravagance, since the money she had +received for her would pay for the cost of her keep for years to +come. When Mrs. Walsham's mind was once made up, her only fear was +that these mysterious plans of the sergeant would not allow him to +leave Aggie with her.</p> + +<p>Punctual to the day, Sergeant Wilks arrived, and after a little +talk in the parlour, as usual, with James and Aggie present, he +formally requested the favour of a conversation with Mrs. Walsham +alone.</p> + +<p>"Take Aggie for a walk, James. Do not stay out above three +quarters of an hour, as your tea will be ready for you then."</p> + +<p>"You must have wondered, ma'am, a good deal," the sergeant began +when they were alone, "why I, who get my living by travelling the +country with a peep show, wished to place my grandchild in a +position above her, and to have her taught to be a little lady. It +is time now that I should tell you. Aggie is my granddaughter, but +she is the granddaughter, too, of Squire Linthorne up at the +Hall."</p> + +<p>"Bless me!" Mrs. Walsham ejaculated, too astonished for any +further expression of her feelings.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am, she is the daughter of the squire's son Herbert, +who married my daughter Cissie."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, dear me," Mrs. Walsham said, "what an extraordinary +thing! Of course I remember Herbert Linthorne, a handsome, pleasant +young fellow. He was on bad terms, as everyone heard, eight years +ago, with his father, because he married somebody beneath--I mean +somebody of whom the squire did not approve. A year afterwards, we +heard that he was dead, and there was a report that his wife was +dead, too, but that was only a rumour. The squire went away just at +the time, and did not come back for months afterwards, and after +that he was altogether changed. Before, he had been one of the most +popular men in this part of the country, but now he shut himself +up, gave up all his acquaintances, and never went outside the park +gates except to come down to church. I remember it gave us quite a +shock when we saw him for the first time--he seemed to have grown +an old man all at once. Everyone said that the death of his son had +broken his heart.</p> + +<p>"And Aggie is his granddaughter! Well, well, you have astonished +me. But why did you not tell me before?"</p> + +<p>"There were a good many reasons, ma'am. I thought, in the first +place, you might refuse me, if you knew, for it might do you harm. +The squire is a vindictive man, and he is landlord of your house; +and if he came to know that you had knowingly taken in his +granddaughter, there was no saying how he might have viewed it. +Then, if you had known it, you might have thought you ought to keep +her in, and not let her run about the country with your son; and +altogether, it would not have been so comfortable for you or her. I +chose to put her at Sidmouth because I wanted to come here often, +to hear how the squire was going on; for if he had been taken ill I +should have told him sooner than I intended."</p> + +<p>"But why did you not tell him before?" Mrs. Walsham asked.</p> + +<p>"Just selfishness, ma'am. I could not bring myself to run the +risk of having to give her up. She was mine as much as his, and was +a hundred times more to me than she could be to him. I took her a +baby from her dead mother's arms. I fed her and nursed her, taught +her her first words and her first prayer. Why should I offer to +give her up to him who, likely enough, would not accept the offer +when it was made to him? But I always intended to make it some day. +It was my duty to give her the chance at least; but I kept on +putting off the day, till that Saturday when she was so nearly +drowned; then I saw my duty before me."</p> + +<p>"I had, from the first, put aside a hundred pounds, to give her +more of an education than I could do; but if it hadn't been for +that fall into the sea, it might have been years before I carried +out my plan. Then I saw it could not go on any longer. She was +getting too old and too bold to sit quiet while I was showing my +box. She had had a narrow escape, and who could say what might +happen the next time she got into mischief? Then I bethought me +that the squire was growing old, and that it was better not to put +it off too long. So, ma'am, I came to you and made up my mind to +put her with you."</p> + +<p>"And you had your way," Mrs. Walsham said, smiling, "though it +was with some difficulty."</p> + +<p>"I expected it would be difficult, ma'am; but I made up my mind +to that, and had you kept on refusing I should, as a last chance, +have told you whose child she was."</p> + +<p>"But why me?" Mrs. Walsham asked. "Why were you so particularly +anxious that she should come to me, of all people?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant smiled.</p> + +<p>"It's difficult to tell you, ma'am, but I had a reason."</p> + +<p>"But what was it?" Mrs. Walsham persisted.</p> + +<p>The sergeant hesitated.</p> + +<p>"You may think me an old fool, ma'am, but I will tell you what +fancy came into my mind. Your son saved Aggie's life. He was twelve +years old, she was five, seven years' difference."</p> + +<p>"Why, what nonsense, sergeant!" Mrs. Walsham broke in with a +laugh. "You don't mean to say that fancy entered your head!"</p> + +<p>"It did, ma'am," Sergeant Wilks said gravely. "I liked the look +of the boy much. He was brave and modest, and a gentleman. I spoke +about him to the fishermen that night, and everyone had a good word +for him; so I said to myself, 'I can't reward him for what he has +done directly, but it may be that I can indirectly.'</p> + +<p>"Aggie is only a child, but she has a loving, faithful little +heart, and I said to myself, 'If I throw her with this boy, who, +she knows, has saved her life, for two years, she is sure to have a +strong affection for him.'</p> + +<p>"Many things may happen afterwards. If the squire takes her they +will be separated. He may get to care for someone, and so may she, +but it's just giving him a chance.</p> + +<p>"Then, too, I thought a little about myself. I liked to fancy +that, even though she would have to go from me to the squire, my +little plan may yet turn out, and it would be I, not he, who had +arranged for the future happiness of my little darling. I shouldn't +have told you all this, ma'am; but you would have it."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you brought her to me, Sergeant Wilks, anyhow," Mrs. +Walsham said, "for I love her dearly, and she has been a great +pleasure to me; but what you are talking about is simply nonsense. +My son is a good boy, and will, I hope, grow up an honourable +gentleman like his father; but he cannot look so high as the +granddaughter of Squire Linthorne."</p> + +<p>"More unequal marriages have been made than that, ma'am," the +sergeant said sturdily; "but we won't say more about it. I have +thought it over and over, many a hundred times, as I wheeled my box +across the hills, and it don't seem to me impossible. I will agree +that the squire would never say yes; but the squire may be in his +grave years before Aggie comes to think about marriage. Besides, it +is more than likely that he will have nothing to say to my pet. If +his pride made him cast his son off, rather than acknowledge my +daughter as his, it will keep him from acknowledging her daughter +as his grandchild. I hope it will, with all my heart; I hope +so."</p> + +<p>"In that case, Sergeant Wilks," Mrs. Walsham said, "let this be +her home for the time. Before you told me your story, I had made up +my mind to ask you to let her remain with me. You need feel under +no obligation, for the money you have paid me is amply sufficient +to pay for the expenses of what she eats for years. It will be a +real pleasure for me to keep her, for she has become a part of the +house, and we should miss her sorely, indeed. She is quick and +intelligent, and I will teach her all I know, and can train her up +to take a situation as a governess in a gentleman's family, or +perhaps--" and she laughed, "your little romance might come true +some day, and she can in that case stop in this home until James +makes her another."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind, ma'am," the sergeant said. "Truly kind +indeed; and I humbly accept your offer, except that so long as I +live she shall be no expense to you. I earn more than enough for my +wants, and can, at any rate, do something towards preventing her +from being altogether a burden on your hands. And now, ma'am, how +would you recommend me to go to work with the vindictive old man up +at the Hall?"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't have thought he was vindictive. That is not at all +the character he bears."</p> + +<p>"No," the sergeant said, "I hear him spoken well of; but I have +seen, in other cases, men, who have had the name of being pleasant +and generous, were yet tyrants and brutes in their own family. I +judge him as I found him--a hard hearted, tyrannical, vindictive +father. I think I had better not see him myself. We have never met. +I have never set eyes on him save here in church; but he regarded +me as responsible for the folly of his son. He wrote me a violent +letter, and said I had inveigled the lad into the marriage; and +although I might have told him it was false, I did not answer his +letter, for the mischief was done then, and I hoped he would cool +down in time.</p> + +<p>"However, that is all past now; but I don't wish to see him. I +was thinking of letting the child go to the Hall by herself, and +drop in suddenly upon him. She is very like her father, and may +possibly take his heart by storm."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Mrs. Walsham assented. "Now I know who she is, I can see +the likeness strongly. Yes; I should think that that would be the +best way. People often yield to a sudden impulse, who will resist +if approached formally or from a distance. But have you any reason +to suppose that he will not receive her? Did he refuse at first to +undertake the charge of the child? Does he even know that she is +alive? It may be that, all these years, he has been anxious to have +her with him, and that you have been doing him injustice +altogether."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of it in that light," the sergeant said, after +a pause. "He never came near his son when he lay dying, never wrote +a line in answer to his letters. If a man could not forgive his son +when he lay dying, how could he care for a grandchild he had never +seen?"</p> + +<p>"That may be so, Sergeant Wilks; but his son's death certainly +broke him down terribly, and it may be that he will gladly receive +his granddaughter.</p> + +<p>"But there are the young ones back again. I will think over what +you have been telling me, and we can discuss it again +tomorrow."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: The Squire's Granddaughter.</h2> + +<p>The following day another council was held, and Mrs. Walsham +told the sergeant that, on thinking it over, she had concluded that +the best way would be to take the old butler at the Hall, who had +served the family for forty-five years, into their confidence, and +to ask him to arrange how best Aggie might be introduced to the +squire.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking over what you said, ma'am, and it may be +that you are right, and that I have partly misjudged the squire. I +hope so, for Aggie's sake, and yet I cannot help feeling sorry. I +have always felt almost sure he would have nothing to say to her, +and I have clung to the hope that I should not lose my little girl. +I know, of course, how much better it will be for her, and have +done all I could to make her so that she should be fit for it, if +he took her. But it will be a wrench, ma'am. I can't help feeling +it will be a wrench;" and the old soldier's voice quivered as he +spoke.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be otherwise, sergeant," Mrs. Walsham said kindly. +"You have been everything to each other, and though, for her good +and happiness, you are ready to give her up, it is a heavy +sacrifice for you to make."</p> + +<p>That afternoon, the sergeant went for a long walk alone with +Aggie, and when they returned Mrs. Walsham saw, by the flushed +cheeks and the swollen eyes of the child, that she had been crying. +James noticed it also, and saw that she seemed depressed and quiet. +He supposed that her grandfather had been telling her that he was +going to take her away, for hitherto nothing had been said, in her +hearing, as to the approaching termination of the stay with his +mother.</p> + +<p>As they came out of church, Mrs. Walsham had waited for a moment +at the door, and had told the butler at the Hall that she wished +particularly to speak to him, that afternoon, if he could manage to +come down. They were not strangers, for the doctor had attended +John's wife in her last illness, and he had sometimes called with +messages from the Hall, when the doctor was wanted there.</p> + +<p>John Petersham was astonished, indeed, when Mrs. Walsham +informed him that the little girl he had seen in her pew, in +church, was his master's granddaughter.</p> + +<p>"You don't say so, ma'am. You don't say as that pretty little +thing is Master Herbert's child! But why didn't you say so afore? +Why, I have caught myself looking at her, and wondering how it was +that I seemed to know her face so well; and now, of course, I sees +it. She is the picture of Master Herbert when he was little."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't say so before, John, because I only knew it myself +last night. Her grandfather--that is, her other grandfather, you +know--placed her with me to educate, and, as he said, to make a +little lady of, two years ago; but it was only last night he told +me."</p> + +<p>"Only to think of it!" the butler ejaculated. "What will the +squire say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is the point, John. What will the squire say? Her +grandfather thinks he will have nothing to say to her."</p> + +<p>"Nothing to say to her, ma'am! Why, he will be off his head with +joy. Didn't he search for her, and advertise for her, and do all he +could to find her for months? It wasn't till he tried for over a +year that he gave it up, and sent for Richard Horton to come to +him."</p> + +<p>"Her grandfather can only judge by what he knows, John. He tells +me that the son wrote to his father, over and over again, on his +deathbed, and that he never came near him, or took any notice of +the letters."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough, ma'am," the butler said sadly; "and it is +what has pretty nigh broken the squire's heart. He was obstinate +like at first, and he took me with him when he travelled about +across the sea among the foreigners, and when he was at a place +they called Athens, he got a fever and he was down for weeks. We +came home by sea, and the winds was foul, and we made a long voyage +of it, and when we got home there was letters that had been lying +months and months for us, and among them was those letters of +Master Herbert's.</p> + +<p>"The squire wasn't an hour in the house afore the carriage was +round to the door, and we posted as hard as horses could take us +right across England to Broadstairs, never stopping a minute except +to change horses; and when we got there it was a month too late, +and there was nothing to do but to go to the churchyard, and to see +the stone under which Master Herbert and his young wife was +laid.</p> + +<p>"The house where they had died was shut up. There had been a +sale, and the man who was the father of Master Herbert's wife was +gone, and we learned there had been a baby born, and that had gone +too. The squire was like a madman, blaming himself for his son's +death, and a-raving to think what must Master Herbert have thought +of him, when he never answered his letters. I had a terrible time +with him, and then he set to work to find the child; but, as I told +you, we never did find it, or hear a word of it from that time to +this, and the squire has never held up his head. He will be pretty +well out of his mind with joy."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear what you say, John," Mrs. Walsham said. +"I could hardly fancy the squire, who always has borne such a name +for kindness, being so hard that he would not listen to his dying +son's entreaties."</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. The squire was hard for a bit. Master Herbert's +marriage was a sad disappointment to him. He had made up his mind +he was going to do so well, and to cut such a figure in the world; +but he would have come round. Lord bless you, he only meant to hold +out for a bit. When he was ill at Athens, he was talking all the +time about forgiving his son, and I could see how hard it had been +to him to keep separated from him. On the voyage home he fidgeted +ever so at the delay, and I knew that the first thing he did, when +he got back, would be to write to Master Herbert and tell him to +bring his wife down to the Hall. There's not a hard corner in the +squire's heart.</p> + +<p>"I thank the good God for the news you have told me, ma'am; it's +the best I ever heard in all my life."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham now told him how the child had been brought up, and +then the sergeant himself, who was waiting in the next room, was +brought in; and to him John Petersham related the story of the +squire's illness, the reason of the letters not reaching him for +months after they had been written, and his intense sorrow and self +reproach at having arrived too late, and told him of the efforts +that had been made to find the child. The sergeant listened in +grave silence.</p> + +<p>"I am glad it is so," he said, after a pause. "I have misjudged +the squire, and I am glad of it. It will be a blow to me to lose +the child. I do not pretend that it won't; but it is for her good, +and I must be content. He can hardly object to my seeing her +sometimes, and if I know that she is well and happy, that is all I +care for; and now the sooner it's over the better. Can she come up +this evening?"</p> + +<p>"Surely she can," John Petersham said. "The squire dines at +five. If you will bring her up at six, I will take her in to +him."</p> + +<p>And so it was arranged, and in his walk with Aggie, afterwards, +the sergeant told her the history of her parents, and that Squire +Linthorne was her other grandfather, and that she was to go up and +see him that evening.</p> + +<p>Aggie had uttered her protest against fate. She did not wish to +leave her grampa who had been so good to her, and Mrs. Walsham, and +James. The description of the big house and its grandeurs, and the +pleasures of a pony for herself, offered no enticement to her; and, +weeping, she flung her arms round her grandfather's neck and +implored him not to give her up.</p> + +<p>"I must, my dear. It is my duty. I wish to God that it were not. +You know how I love you, Aggie, and how hard it is for me to part +with you; but it is for your good, my darling. You mayn't see it +now, but when you get older you will know it. It will not be so +hard now on me, dear, nor on you, as it would have been had I given +you up two years ago; but we have learned to do a little without +each other."</p> + +<p>"But you will come and see me, just as you have here, won't +you?" Aggie said, still weeping.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, my dear. You see, the squire is your father's +father, while I am only your mother's father, and somehow the law +makes him nearer to you than I am, and he will have the right to +say what you must do."</p> + +<p>"I won't stay with him. I won't," Aggie said passionately, "if +he won't let you come."</p> + +<p>"You must not say that, dear," the sergeant said. "We must all +do our duty, even when that duty is hard to do, and your duty will +be to obey the squire's orders, and to do as he tells you. I have +no doubt he will be very kind, and that you will be very happy with +him, and I hope he will let you see me sometimes."</p> + +<p>It was a long time before the child was at all reconciled. When +her sobs began to cease, her grandfather told her what she was to +do when she saw the squire.</p> + +<p>"You will remember, my dear, that I have been more fortunate +than he has. I have had you all these years, and he has had no one +to love or care for him. You must remember that he was not to +blame, because he objected to his son marrying my daughter. They +were not in the same position of life, and it was only natural that +he should not like it, at first; and, as I told you, he was coming +home to make them both happy, when he found it was too late.</p> + +<p>"You must think, dear, that while I have been happy all these +years with you, he has been sorrowing and grieving, and you must +try and love him, and make up to him for what he has suffered. I +know you will not forget your old friends. You will love me whether +you see me often or not; and Mrs. Walsham, who has been very kind +to you; and James, you know, who saved your life."</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget anyone, grampa. I shall always love you +better than anyone," the child exclaimed, throwing her arms round +his neck with a fresh burst of tears.</p> + +<p>"There, there, my pet," the sergeant said soothingly. "You must +not cry any more. I want you to look your best this evening, you +know, and to do credit to us all. And now, I think we have settled +everything, so we will be going back to tea."</p> + +<p>That evening, the squire was sitting by himself in the great +dining room, occasionally sipping the glass of port, which John +Petersham had poured out before he left the room. The curtains were +drawn, and the candles lighted; for it was late in September, and +the evenings were closing in fast; and the squire was puzzling over +John Petersham's behaviour at dinner.</p> + +<p>Although the squire was not apt to observe closely what was +passing around him, he had been struck with the old butler's +demeanour. That something was wrong with him was clear. Usually he +was the most quiet and methodical of servants, but he had blundered +several times in the service. He had handed his master dishes when +his plate was already supplied. He had spilled the wine in pouring +it out. He had started nervously when spoken to. Mr. Linthorne even +thought that he had seen tears in his eyes. Altogether, he was +strangely unlike himself.</p> + +<p>Mr. Linthorne had asked him if anything was the matter, but John +had, with almost unnecessary earnestness, declared there was +nothing. Altogether, the squire was puzzled. With any other +servant, he would have thought he had been drinking, but such a +supposition, in John's case, was altogether out of the +question.</p> + +<p>He could have had no bad news, so far as the squire knew, for +the only children he had, had died young, and he had no near +relatives or connections. It was ridiculous to suppose that John, +at his age, had fallen in love. Altogether, the squire failed to +suggest to himself any explanation of his old butler's conduct, and +had just concluded, philosophically, by the reflection that he +supposed he should know what it was sooner or later, when the door +of the room quietly opened.</p> + +<p>The squire did not look up. It closed again as quietly, and then +he glanced towards it. He could hardly believe his eyes. A child +was standing there--a girl with soft smooth hair, and large eyes, +and a sensitive mouth, with an expression fearless but appealing. +Her hands were clasped before her, and she was standing in doubt +whether to advance. There was something so strange, in this +apparition in the lonely room, that the squire did not speak for a +moment. It flashed across him, vaguely, that there was something +familiar to him in the face and expression, something which sent a +thrill through him; and at the same instant, without knowing why, +he felt that there was a connection between the appearance of the +child, and the matter he had just been thinking of--John +Petersham's strange conduct. He was still looking at her, when she +advanced quietly towards him.</p> + +<p>"Grandpapa," she said, "I am Aggie Linthorne."</p> + +<p>A low cry of astonishment broke from the squire. He pushed his +chair back.</p> + +<p>"Can it be true?" he muttered. "Or am I dreaming?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, grandpapa," the child said, close beside him now. "I am +Aggie Linthorne, and I have come to see you. If you don't think +it's me, grampa said I was to give you this, and then you would +know;" and she held out a miniature, on ivory, of a boy some +fourteen years old; and a watch and chain.</p> + +<p>"I do not need them," the squire said, in low tones. "I see it +in your face. You are Herbert's child, whom I looked for so +long.</p> + +<p>"Oh! my child! my child! have you come at last?" and he drew her +towards him, and kissed her passionately, while the tears streamed +down his cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't come before, you know," the child said, "because I +didn't know about you; and grampa, that's my other grandpapa," she +nodded confidentially, "did not know you wanted me. But now he +knows, he sent me to you. He told me I was to come because you were +lonely.</p> + +<p>"But you can't be more lonely than he is," she said, with a +quiver in her voice. "Oh! he will be lonely, now!"</p> + +<p>"But where do you come from, my dear? and how did you get here? +and what have you been doing, all these years?"</p> + +<p>"Grampa brought me here," the child said. "I call him grampa, +you know, because I did when I was little, and I have always kept +to it; but I know, of course, it ought to be grandpapa. He brought +me here, and John--at least he called him John--brought me in. And +I have been living, for two years, with Mrs. Walsham down in the +town, and I used to see you in church, but I did not know that you +were my grandpapa."</p> + +<p>The squire, who was holding her close to him while she spoke, +got up and rang the bell; and John opened the door, with a +quickness that showed that he had been waiting close to it, +anxiously waiting a summons.</p> + +<p>"John Petersham," the squire said, "give me your hand. This is +the happiest day of my life."</p> + +<p>The two men wrung each other's hands. They had been friends ever +since John Petersham, who was twelve years the senior of the two, +first came to the house, a young fellow of eighteen, to assist his +father, who had held the same post before him.</p> + +<p>"God be thanked, squire!" he said huskily.</p> + +<p>"God be thanked, indeed, John!" the squire rejoined, reverently. +"So this was the reason, old friend, why your hand shook as you +poured out my wine. How could you keep the secret from me?"</p> + +<p>"I did not know how to begin to tell you, but I was pretty nigh +letting it out, and only the thought that it was better the little +lady should tell you herself, as we had agreed, kept it in. Only to +think, squire, after all these years! But I never quite gave her +up. I always thought, somehow, as she would come just like +this."</p> + +<p>"Did you, John? I gave up hope years ago. How did it come about, +John?"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Walsham told me, as I came out of church today, as she +wanted to speak to me. So I went down, and she told me all about +it, and then I saw him--" John hesitated at the name, for he knew +that, perhaps, the only man in the world against whom his master +cherished a bitter resentment, was the father of his son's wife. +"It seems he never saw your advertisements, never knew as you +wanted to hear anything of the child, so he took her away and kept +her. He has been here, off and on, all these years. I heard tell of +him, often and often, when I had been down into Sidmouth, but never +dreamt as it was him. He went about the country with a box on +wheels with glasses--a peep show as they calls it."</p> + +<p>The squire winced.</p> + +<p>"He is well spoken of, squire," John said, "and I am bound to +say as he doesn't seem the sort of man we took him for, at all, not +by no means. He did not know you wanted to have her, but he thought +it his duty to give her the chance, and so he put her with Mrs. +Walsham, and never told her, till yesterday, who she was. Mrs. +Walsham was quite grieved at parting with her, for she says she is +wonderfully quick at her lessons, and has been like a daughter with +her, for the last two years."</p> + +<p>The child had sat quietly down in a chair, and was looking into +the fire while the two men were speaking. She had done what she was +told to do, and was waiting quietly for what was to come next. Her +quick ear, however, caught, in the tones of John Petersham, an +apologetic tone when speaking of her grandfather, and she was moved +to instant anger.</p> + +<p>"Why do you speak like that of my grampa?" she said, rising to +her feet, and standing indignantly before him. "He is the best man +in the world, and the kindest and the nicest, and if you don't like +him, I can go away to him again. I don't want to stay here, not one +minute.</p> + +<p>"You may be my grandpapa," she went on, turning to the squire, +"and you may be lonely, but he is lonely, too, and you have got a +great house, and all sorts of nice things; and you can do better +without me than he can, for he has got nothing to love but me, poor +grampa!"</p> + +<p>And her eyes filled with sudden tears, as she thought of him +tramping on his lonely walks over the hills.</p> + +<p>"We do not mean to speak unkindly of your grandfather, my dear," +the squire said gently. "I have never seen him, you know, and John +has never seen him but once. I have thought, all these years, +bitterly of him; but perhaps I have been mistaken. He has ever been +kind and good to you, and, above all, he has given you back to me, +and that will make me think differently of him, in future. We all +make mistakes, you know, and I have made terrible mistakes, and +have been terribly punished for them. I daresay I have made a +mistake here; but whether or no, you shall never hear a word, from +me, against the man who has been so kind to you."</p> + +<p>"And you will let me see him sometimes, grandpapa?" the child +said, taking his hand pleadingly. "He said, if you said no, I must +do as you told me; because somehow you are nearer to me than he is, +though I don't know how that can be. But you won't say that, will +you? For, oh! I know he is so lonely without me, and I should never +be happy, thinking of him all alone, not if you were to be ever so +kind to me, and to give me all sorts of grand things."</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I certainly shall not say so. You shall see him as +often as you like."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, grandpapa!" she exclaimed joyfully, and she held +up her face to kiss him.</p> + +<p>The squire lifted her in his arms, and held her closely to +him.</p> + +<p>"John," he said, "you must tell Mrs. Morcombe to get a room +ready for my granddaughter, at once, and you had better bring the +tea in here, and then we will think of other things. I feel quite +bewildered, at present."</p> + +<p>When John returned with the tea, Aggie was sitting on the +squire's knee. She was perfectly at home, now, and had been +chattering to him of her life with her grandfather, and had just +related the incident of her narrow escape from drowning.</p> + +<p>"Do you hear that, John?" the squire said. "She was nearly +drowned here, within sight of our home, and I might never have +known anything about it. It seems that lad of Dr. Walsham's saved +her life. He is a fine lad. He was her champion, you know, in that +affair with my nephew. How strange that the two boys should have +quarrelled over my granddaughter!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, squire, and young Walsham came well out of it!" John said +heartily; for to him, only, did the squire mention the +circumstances of the case, and he chuckled now to himself, as he +thought that Richard Horton had made an even greater mistake in +that matter than he thought of, for John detested the boy with all +his heart, and had only abstained from reporting his conduct, to +the squire, from fear of giving his master pain.</p> + +<p>The squire's brow clouded a little at the allusion.</p> + +<p>"It will make a difference to him, John," he said, "for, of +course, now my granddaughter will take his place."</p> + +<p>"And a good thing, too!" John said heartily. "I have never said +a word before, squire, because, as you had chosen him as your heir, +there was no use in setting you against him; but a more hatefuller +lad than Richard Horton I never comed across, and so said everyone +here. You did not see much of him, squire, and natural thought well +of him, for he was a good-looking boy, and could speak fair enough +when he liked. I thought well of him, myself, when he first came, +but I larned better, afterwards."</p> + +<p>"There are many excuses to be made for him, John," the squire +said, "and I have had good reports of him, since. Of course, I +shall see that, although he can no longer be regarded as my heir +here, he shall be well provided for. But there will be plenty of +time to think of this."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wilks asked me to say, sir," the butler said as he prepared +to leave them, "that he shall be staying in Sidmouth tomorrow, and +that, if you wish to see him, he will come up here."</p> + +<p>"Certainly I wish to see him," the squire replied. "I have many +things to ask him. Let the boy go down, the first thing in the +morning, or--no, if you don't mind, John, would you go down +yourself tonight? He will naturally be anxious to know how his +grandchild is getting on. Tell him with what joy I have received +her, and take any message she may give you.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything you would like to say to your grandfather, +child?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Please tell him that I think I shall like it, and that +he is to come and see me when he likes, and that, of course, he is +to see me when he comes in the morning, and then I can tell him all +about it."</p> + +<p>"And say, I shall be glad to see him the first thing after +breakfast," the squire added.</p> + +<p>The housekeeper soon entered, and Aggie, very sleepy after the +excitements of the day, was taken off to bed. Her sleepiness, +however, disappeared in her wonder at the size of the house, and at +the vastness of her bedroom.</p> + +<p>"Why, you have got a fire!" she exclaimed in astonishment. "I +never saw a fire in a bedroom, before."</p> + +<p>"I didn't light it for the cold, miss," the housekeeper said; +"but because it is a long time since the room was slept in before, +and because I thought it would be cheerful for you. I shall sleep +in the next room, till things are settled, so that, if you want +anything, you will only have to run in."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," Aggie said gratefully. "It does all seem so big; +but I am sure not to want anything. Thank you."</p> + +<p>"Here is your box, miss. Would you like me to help undress +you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" Aggie laughed. "Why, of course I can undress myself;" +and she laughed at the idea of assistance being required in such a +matter.</p> + +<p>"Then, good night!" the housekeeper said. "I shall leave the +door ajar, between the two rooms, when I come to bed."</p> + +<p>The next morning, soon after breakfast, Sergeant Wilks was +ushered into the study, where the squire was expecting him. The two +men had had hard thoughts of each other, for many years. The squire +regarded the sergeant as a man who had inveigled his son into +marrying his daughter, while the sergeant regarded the squire as a +heartless and unnatural father, who had left his son to die alone +among strangers. The conversation with John Petersham had taught +the sergeant that he had wronged the squire, by his estimate of +him, and that he was to be pitied rather than blamed in the matter. +The squire, on his part, was grateful to the sergeant for the care +he had bestowed upon the child, and for restoring her to him, and +was inclined, indeed, at the moment, to a universal goodwill to all +men.</p> + +<p>The sergeant was pale, but self possessed and quiet; while the +squire, moved, by the events of the night before, out of the silent +reserve in which he had, for years, enveloped himself, was agitated +and nervous. He was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wilks," he said. "I have to give you my heartfelt thanks, +for having restored my granddaughter to me--the more so as I know, +from what she has said, how great a sacrifice you must be making. +John has been telling me of his conversation with you, and you have +learned, from him, that I was not so wholly heartless and unnatural +a father as you must have thought me; deeply as I blame myself, and +shall always blame myself, in the matter."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the sergeant said. "I have learned that I have misread +you. Had it not been so, I should have brought the child to you +long ago--should never have taken her away, indeed. Perhaps we have +both misjudged each other."</p> + +<p>"I fear that we have," the squire said, remembering the letters +he wrote to his son, in his anger, denouncing the sergeant in +violent language.</p> + +<p>"It does not matter, now," the sergeant went on quietly; "but, +as I do not wish Aggie ever to come to think ill of me, in the +future, it is better to set it right.</p> + +<p>"When I left the army, I had saved enough money to furnish a +house, and I took one at Southampton, and set up taking lodgers +there. I had my pension, and lived well until my wife died--a year +before your son came down, from London, with another gentleman, and +took my rooms. My daughter was seventeen when her mother died, and +she took to managing the house. I was careful of her, and gave her +orders that, on no account, was she ever to go into the lodgers' +rooms. I waited on them, myself.</p> + +<p>"How your son first saw her, and got to speak to her, I don't +know; but I am not surprised that, when he did, he loved her, for +there was no prettier or sweeter girl in Hampshire. They took the +rooms, first, only for a fortnight, then the other gentleman went +away, and your son stayed on.</p> + +<p>"One day--it came upon me like a thunderbolt--your son told me +he wanted to marry my Agnes. I was angry, at first. Angry, because +it had been done behind my back, and because I had been deceived. I +said as much; but your son assured me that he had never spoken to +her in the house, but had met her when she went out for her walks. +Still, it was wrong, and I told him so, and I told her so, though, +in my heart, I did not altogether blame them; for young people will +be young people, and, as he had acted honourably in coming to me at +once, I let that pass.</p> + +<p>"But, squire, though but a sergeant in His Majesty's service, I +had my pride as you had yours, and I told him, at once, that I +would not give my consent to my daughter's marrying him, until you +had given yours; and that he must leave the house at once, and not +see Agnes again, until he came with your written consent to show +me.</p> + +<p>"He went away at once. After a time, he began to write to me, +urging me to change my decision; and from this, although he never +said so, I was sure that you had refused to sanction his marriage. +However, I stuck to what I had said, though it was hard for me to +do so, with my child growing thin and pale before my eyes, with all +her bright happiness gone.</p> + +<p>"So it went on, for three months, and then one morning she was +gone, and I found a letter on her table for me, saying that she had +been married to him a week before, when she went out, as I thought, +to spend the day with a friend. She begged and prayed me to forgive +her, and said how miserable she had been, and that she could not +say no to her lover's pleadings.</p> + +<p>"I wrote to the address she had given me, saying that she had +well nigh broken my heart. She knew that I had only refused my +consent because it would have seemed a dishonourable action, to +allow your son to marry her without your consent. She knew how hard +it had been for me to do my duty, when I saw her pining before my +eyes, but I forgave her wholly, and did not altogether blame her, +seeing that it was the way of Nature that young women, when they +once took to loving, should put their father altogether in the +second place;</p> + +<p>"It was hard to me to write that letter, for I longed to see her +bonny face again. But I thought it was my duty. I thought so then; +but I think, now, it was pride.</p> + +<p>"From time to time she wrote to me. I learned that you still +refused to see your son, and I gathered, though she did not say +much of this, that things were going badly with them. At last, she +wrote that her husband was ill--very ill, she feared. He had, in +vain, tried to get employment. I don't think he was naturally +strong, and the anxiety had broken him down. Then I went up to +London at once, and found them, in a little room, without the +necessaries of life. I brought them down home, and nursed him for +three months, till he died.</p> + +<p>"A week later, Aggie was born. Ten days afterwards, I laid her +mother by the side of her father. No answer had come to the letters +he had written to you, while he had been ill, though in the later +ones he had told you that he was dying. So, I looked upon the child +as mine.</p> + +<p>"Things had gone badly with me. I had been able to take no +lodgers, while they were with me. I had got into debt, and even +could I have cleared myself, I could not well have kept the house +on, without a woman to look after it. I was restless, too, and +longed to be moving about. So I sold off the furniture, paid my +debts, and laid by the money that remained, for the child's use in +the future.</p> + +<p>"I had, some time before, met an old comrade travelling the +country with a show. I happened to meet him again, just as I was +leaving, and he told me the name of a man, in London, who sold such +things. I left the child, for a year, with some people I knew, a +few miles out of Southampton; came up to London, bought a show, and +started. It was lonely work, at first; but, after a year, I fetched +the child away, and took her round the country with me, and for +four years had a happy time of it.</p> + +<p>"I had chosen this part of the country, and, after a time, I +became uneasy in my mind, as to whether I was doing right; and +whether, for the child's sake, I ought not to tell you that she was +alive, and offer to give her up, if you were willing to take her. I +heard how your son's death had changed you, and thought that, +maybe, you would like to take his daughter; but, before bringing +her to you, I thought she should have a better education than I had +time to give her, and that she should be placed with a lady, so +that, if you took her, you need not be ashamed of her manners.</p> + +<p>"I hoped you would not take her. I wanted to keep her for +myself; but my duty to her was clear.</p> + +<p>"And now, squire, you know all about it. I have been wrong to +keep her so long from you, I grant; but I can only say that I have +done my duty, as far as I could, and that, though I have made many +mistakes, my conscience is clear, that I did the best, as far as it +seemed to me at the time."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: A Quiet Time.</h2> + +<p>As the sergeant was telling the story, the squire had sat with +his face shaded by his hand, but more than one tear had dropped +heavily on the table.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could say as much," he said sadly, when the other +ended. "I wish that I could say that my conscience is clear, Mr. +Wilks. I have misjudged you cruelly, and that without a tithe of +the reason, which you had, for thinking me utterly heartless and +cruel. You will have heard that I never got those letters my son +wrote me, after he was ill, and that, when I returned home and +received them, I posted to Southampton, only to find that I was too +late; and that, for a year, I did all in my power to find the +child. Still, all this is no excuse. I refused to forgive him, +returned his letters unanswered, and left him, as it seemed, to his +fate.</p> + +<p>"It is no excuse to say that I had made up my mind to forgive +him, when he was, as I thought, sufficiently punished. He did not +know that. As to the poverty in which you found him, I can only +plead that I did not dream that he would come to that. He had, I +knew, some money, for I had just sent him his half-year's allowance +before he wrote to me about this business. Then there was the +furniture of his rooms in London, his horses, jewels, and other +matters. I had thought he could go on very well for a year.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I was mistaken. Herbert was always careless about +money, and, no doubt, he spent it freely after he was first +married. He would naturally wish to have everything pretty and nice +for his young wife, and, no doubt, he counted upon my forgiving him +long before the money was spent.</p> + +<p>"I am not excusing myself. God knows how bitterly I have +condemned myself, all these years. I only want to show you that I +had no idea of condemning him to starvation. He was my only son, +and I loved him. I felt, perhaps, his rebellion all the more, +because he had never before given me a day's trouble. I was harsh, +obstinate, and cruel.</p> + +<p>"I have only the one old excuse. I never thought it would turn +out as it did. What would I give, if I could say, as you can, that +you have a clear conscience, and that you acted always as it seemed +to be your duty!</p> + +<p>"And now, Mr. Wilks, now that I have heard your story, I trust +that you will forgive my past suspicions of you, and let me say how +much I honour and esteem you for your conduct. No words can tell +you how I thank you, for your goodness and kindness to my little +granddaughter; our little granddaughter, I should say. You have the +better right, a thousand-fold, to her than I have; and, had I been +in your place, I could never have made such a sacrifice.</p> + +<p>"We must be friends, sir, great friends. Our past has been +saddened by the same blow. All our hopes, in the future, are +centred on the same object."</p> + +<p>The two men rose to their feet together, and their hands met in +a firm clasp, and tears stood in both their eyes.</p> + +<p>Then the squire put his hand on the other's shoulder, and said, +"We will talk again, presently. Let us go into the next room. The +little one is longing to see you, and we must not keep her."</p> + +<p>For the next hour, the two men devoted themselves to the child. +Now that she had her old friend with her, she felt no further +misgivings, and was able to enter into the full delight of her new +home.</p> + +<p>The house and its wonders were explored, and, much as she was +delighted with these, the gardens and park were an even greater +excitement and pleasure. Dancing, chattering, asking questions of +one or the other, she was half wild with pleasure, and the squire +was no less delighted. A new light and joy had come into his life, +and with it the ten years, which sorrow and regret had laid upon +him, had fallen off; for, although his habits of seclusion and +quiet had caused him to be regarded as quite an old man by his +neighbours, he was still three years short of sixty, while the +sergeant was two years younger.</p> + +<p>It was a happy morning for them, all three; and when John +Petersham went in, after lunch, to the kitchen, he assured his +fellow servants that it was as much as he could do to keep from +crying with joy, at the sight of the squire's happy face, and to +hear him laugh and joke, as he had not done for eight years +now.</p> + +<p>The sergeant had stopped to that meal, for he saw, by the manner +in which the squire asked him, that he should give pain if he +refused; and there was a simple dignity about the old soldier, +which would have prevented his appearing out of place at the table +of the highest in the land.</p> + +<p>"Now, pussy," the squire said, when they had finished, "you must +amuse yourself for a bit. You can go in the garden again, or sit +with Mrs. Morcombe in her room. She will look you out some picture +books from the library. I am afraid there is nothing very suited to +your reading, but we will soon put all that right. Your grandfather +and I want to have another quiet chat together."</p> + +<p>"Now I want your advice," he said when they were both +comfortably seated in the study. "You see, you have been thinking +and planning about the child for years, while it has all come new +upon me, so I must rely upon you entirely. Of course, the child +must have a governess, that is the first thing; not so much for the +sake of teaching her, though, of course, she must be taught, but as +a companion for her."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the sergeant assented, "she must have a governess."</p> + +<p>"It will be a troublesome matter to find one to suit," the +squire said thoughtfully. "I don't want a harsh sort of Gorgon, to +repress her spirits and bother her life out with rules and +regulations; and I won't have a giddy young thing, because I should +like to have the child with me at breakfast and lunch, and I don't +want a fly-away young woman who will expect all sorts of attention. +Now, what is your idea? I have no doubt you have, pictured in your +mind, the exact sort of woman you would like to have over her."</p> + +<p>"I have," the sergeant answered quietly. "I don't know whether +it would suit you, squire, or whether it could be managed; but it +does seem, to me, that you have got the very woman close at hand. +Aggie has been for two years with Mrs. Walsham, who is a lady in +every way. She is very fond of the child, and the child is very +fond of her. Everyone says she is an excellent teacher. She would +be the very woman to take charge of her."</p> + +<p>"The very thing!" the squire exclaimed, with great satisfaction. +"But she has a school," he went on, his face falling a little, "and +there is a son."</p> + +<p>"I have thought of that," the sergeant said. "The school enables +them to live, but it cannot do much more, so that I should think +she would feel no reluctance at giving that up."</p> + +<p>"Money would be no object," the squire said. "I am a wealthy +man, Mr. Wilks, and have been laying by the best part of my income +for the last eight years. I would pay any salary she chose, for the +comfort of such an arrangement would be immense, to say nothing of +the advantage and pleasure it would be to the child. But how about +the boy?"</p> + +<p>"We both owe a good deal to the boy, squire," the sergeant said +gravely, "for if it had not been for him, the child would have been +lost to us."</p> + +<p>"So she was telling me last night," the squire said. "And he +really saved her life?"</p> + +<p>"He did," the sergeant replied. "But for his pluck and +promptitude she must have been drowned. A moment's hesitation on +his part, and nothing could have saved her."</p> + +<p>"I made up my mind last night," the squire said, "to do +something for him. I have seen him before, and was much struck with +him."</p> + +<p>"Then, in that case, squire, I think the thing could be managed. +If the lad were sent to a good school, his mother might undertake +the management of Aggie. She could either go home of an evening, or +sleep here and shut up her house, as you might arrange with her; +living, of course, at home, when the boy was home for his holidays, +and only coming up for a portion of the day."</p> + +<p>"That would be a capital plan," the squire agreed warmly. "The +very thing. I should get off all the bother with strange women, and +the child would have a lady she is already fond of, and who, I have +no doubt, is thoroughly qualified for the work. Nothing could be +better. I will walk down this afternoon and see her myself, and I +have no doubt I shall be able to arrange it.</p> + +<p>"And now about yourself--what are your plans?"</p> + +<p>"I shall start tomorrow morning on my tramp, as usual," the +sergeant answered quietly; "but I shall take care, in future, that +I do not come with my box within thirty miles or so of Sidmouth. I +do not want Aggie's future to be, in any way, associated with a +showman's box. I shall come here, sometimes, to see her, as you +have kindly said I may, but I will not abuse the privilege by +coming too often. Perhaps you won't think a day, once every three +months, to be too much?"</p> + +<p>"I should think it altogether wrong and monstrous!" the squire +exclaimed hotly. "You have been virtually the child's father, for +the last seven years. You have cared for her, and loved her, and +worked for her. She is everything to you, and I feel how vast are +your claims to her, compared to mine; and now you talk about going +away, and coming to see her once every three months. The idea is +unnatural. It is downright monstrous!</p> + +<p>"No, you and I understand each other at last; would to Heaven we +had done so eight years back! I feel how much more nobly you acted +in that unhappy matter than I did, and I esteem and honour you. We +are both getting on in life, we have one common love and interest, +we stand in the same relation to the child, and I say, +emphatically, that you have a right, and more than a right, to a +half share in her. You must go away no more, but remain here as my +friend, and as joint guardian of the child.</p> + +<p>"I will have no refusal, man," he went on, as the sergeant shook +his head. "Your presence here will be almost as great a comfort, to +me, as to the child. I am a lonely man. For years, I have cut +myself loose from the world. I have neither associates nor friends. +But now that this great load is off my mind, my first want is a +friend; and who could be so great a friend, who could enter into my +plans and hopes for the future so well, as yourself, who would have +an interest in them equal to my own?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant was much moved by the squire's earnestness. He saw +that the latter had really at heart the proposal he made.</p> + +<p>"You are very good, squire," he said in a low voice; "but even +if I could bring myself to eat another man's bread, as long as I +can work for my own, it would not do. I am neither by birth nor +education fitted for such a position as that you offer to me."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, nonsense!" the squire said hotly. "You have seen the +world. You have travelled and mixed with men. You are fit to +associate as an equal with anyone. Don't you deceive yourself; you +certainly do not deceive me.</p> + +<p>"It is pride that stands in your way. For that you are going to +risk the happiness of your granddaughter, to say nothing of mine; +for you don't suppose that either of us is going to feel +comfortable and happy, when the snow is whirling round, and the +wind sweeping the moors, to think of you trudging along about the +country, while we are sitting snugly here by a warm fire.</p> + +<p>"You are wanting to spoil everything, now that it has all come +right at last, by just the same obstinate pride which wrecked the +lives of our children. I won't have it, man. I won't hear of +it.</p> + +<p>"Come, say no more. I want a friend badly, and I am sure we +shall suit each other. I want a companion. Why, man, if I were a +rich old lady, and you were a poor old lady, and I asked you to +come as my companion, you would see nothing derogatory in the +offer. You shall come as my companion, now, or if you like as joint +guardian to the child. You shall have your own rooms in the house; +and when you feel inclined to be grumpy, and don't care to take +your meals with the child and me, you can take them apart.</p> + +<p>"At any rate, try it for a month, and if you are not comfortable +then I will let you go, though your rooms shall always be in +readiness for you, whenever you are disposed to come back.</p> + +<p>"Come, give me your hand on the bargain."</p> + +<p>Sergeant Wilks could resist no longer. The last two years work, +without the child, had indeed been heavy, and especially in winter, +when the wind blew strong across the uplands, he began to feel that +he was no longer as strong as he used to be. The prospect of having +Aggie always near him was, however, a far greater temptation than +that of ending his days in quiet and comfort.</p> + +<p>His hand and that of the squire met in a cordial grip, and the +matter was settled. Fortunately, as the sergeant reflected, he had +still his pension of ten shillings a week, which would suffice to +supply clothes and other little necessaries which he might require, +and would thus save him from being altogether dependent on the +squire.</p> + +<p>Aggie was wild with delight, when she was called in and informed +of the arrangement. The thought of her grandfather tramping the +country, alone, had been the one drawback to the pleasure of her +life at Mrs. Walsham's, and many a time she had cried herself to +sleep, as she pictured to herself his loneliness. That he was to be +with her always, was to give up his work to settle down in comfort, +was indeed a delight to her.</p> + +<p>Greatly pleased was she, also, to hear that Mrs. Walsham was to +be asked to come up to be her governess.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it will be nice!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Just +like the fairy stories you used to tell me, grampa, when everyone +was made happy at the end by the good fairy. Grandpapa is the good +fairy, and you and I are the prince and princess; and James--and +what is to be done with James? Is he to come up, too?"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear," the squire said, smiling. "James is to go to a +good school, but you will see him when he comes home for his +holidays. But that part of it is not arranged yet, you know; but if +you will put on your hat, you can walk down with us to the town, +and introduce me to Mrs. Walsham."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham had just dismissed her pupils, when the party +arrived, and was thinking how quiet and dull the house was without +Aggie, when the door opened, and the child rushed in and threw her +arms round her neck.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have such good news to tell you! Grandpapa is so good and +kind, and grampa is going to live with us, and you are to come up, +too, and James is to go to school. Isn't it all splendid?"</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about, Aggie?" Mrs. Walsham asked, +bewildered, as the child poured out her news.</p> + +<p>"Aggie is too fast, madam," the squire said, entering the room +accompanied by the sergeant. "She is taking it all for granted, +while it has yet to be arranged. I must apologize for coming in +without knocking; but the child opened the door and rushed in, and +the best thing to do was, we thought, to follow her.</p> + +<p>"I have come, in the first place, to thank you for your great +kindness to my little granddaughter, and to tell your son how +deeply I feel indebted to him, for having saved her life two years +ago.</p> + +<p>"Now, Aggie, you run away and look for your friend, while I talk +matters over with Mrs. Walsham."</p> + +<p>Aggie scampered away to find James, who was at work at his +books, and to tell him the news, while the squire unfolded his +plans to Mrs. Walsham.</p> + +<p>His offers were so handsome that Mrs. Walsham accepted them, +without an instant's hesitation. She was to have the entire charge +of the child during the day, with the option of either returning +home in the evening, when Aggie went in to dessert after dinner, or +of living entirely at the Hall. The squire explained his intention +of sending James to a good school at Exeter, as an instalment of +the debt he owed him for saving the child's life, and he pointed +out that, when he was at home for his holidays, Aggie could have +her holidays, too, and Mrs. Walsham need only come up to the Hall +when she felt inclined.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham was delighted with the offer, even more for James's +sake than her own, although the prospect for herself was most +pleasant. To have only Aggie to teach, and walk with, would be +delightful after the monotony of drilling successive batches of +girls, often inordinately tiresome and stupid. She said, at once, +that she should prefer returning home at night--a decision which +pleased the squire, for he had wondered what he should do with her +in the evening.</p> + +<p>The arrangement was at once carried into effect. The school was +broken up, and, as the parents of the children were almost all +tenants of the squire, they offered no objection to the girls being +suddenly left on their hands, when they heard that their teacher +was going to live as governess at the Hall. Indeed, the surprise of +Sidmouth and the neighbourhood, at learning that the little girl at +Mrs. Walsham's was the squire's granddaughter, and that the showman +was therefore a connection of the squire, and was going also to +live at the Hall, was so great, that there was no room for any +other emotion. Save for wrecks, or the arrival of shoals of fish +off the coast, or of troubles between the smugglers and the revenue +officers, Sidmouth had few excitements, and the present news +afforded food for endless talk and conjecture.</p> + +<p>On comparing notes, it appeared that there was not a woman in +the place who had not been, all along, convinced that the little +girl at Mrs. Walsham's was something more than she seemed to be, +and that the showman was a man quite out of the ordinary way. And +when, on the following Sunday, the sergeant, who had in the +meantime been to Exeter, walked quietly into church with the +squire, all agreed that the well-dressed military-looking man was a +gentleman, and that he had only been masquerading under the name of +Sergeant Wilks until, somehow or other, the quarrel between him and +the squire was arranged, and the little heiress restored to her +position; and Sidmouth remained in that belief to the end.</p> + +<p>The sergeant's military title was henceforth dropped. Mr. +Linthorne introduced him to his acquaintances--who soon began to +flock in, when it was known that the squire's granddaughter had +come home, and that he was willing to see his friends and join in +society again--as "My friend Mr. Wilks, the father of my poor boy's +wife."</p> + +<p>And the impression made was generally favourable.</p> + +<p>None had ever known the exact story of Herbert's marriage. It +was generally supposed that he had married beneath him; but the +opinion now was that this must have been a mistake, for there was +nothing in any way vulgar about the quiet, military-looking +gentleman, with whom the squire was evidently on terms of warm +friendship.</p> + +<p>The only person somewhat dissatisfied with the arrangement was +James Walsham. He loved his mother so much, that he had never +offered the slightest dissent to her plan, that he should follow in +his father's footsteps. She was so much set on the matter, that he +could never bring himself to utter a word in opposition. At heart, +however, he longed for a more stirring and more adventurous life, +such as that of a soldier or sailor, and he had all along cherished +a secret hope, that something might occur to prevent his preparing +for the medical profession, and so enable him to carry out his +secret wishes. But the present arrangement seemed to put an end to +all such hopes, and, although grateful to the squire for sending +him to a good school, he wished, with all his heart, that he had +chosen some other way of manifesting his gratitude.</p> + +<p>Four years passed quietly. James Walsham worked hard when at +school, and, during his holidays, spent his time for the most part +on board the fishermen's boats. Sometimes he went up to the Hall, +generally at the invitation of Mr. Wilks.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you come oftener, Jim?" the latter asked him one day. +"Aggie was saying, only yesterday, that you used to be such friends +with her, and now you hardly ever come near her. The squire is as +pleased as I am to see you."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Jim replied. "You see, I am always comfortable +with you. I can chat with you, and tell you about school, and about +fishing, and so on. The squire is very kind, but I know it is only +because of that picking Aggie out of the water, and I never seem to +know what to talk about with him. And then, you see, Aggie is +growing a young lady, and can't go rambling about at my heels as +she used to do, when she was a little girl. I like her, you know, +Mr. Wilks, just as I used to do; but I can't carry her on my +shoulder now, and make a playfellow of her."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that's all natural enough, Jim," Aggie's grandfather +said; "but I do think it is a pity you don't come up more often. +You know we are all fond of you, and it will give us a pleasure to +have you here."</p> + +<p>Jim was, in fact, getting to the awkward age with boys. When +younger, they tyrannize over their little sisters, when older they +may again take pleasure in girls' society; but there is an age, in +every boy's life, when he is inclined to think girls a nuisance, as +creatures incapable of joining in games, and as being apt to get in +the way.</p> + +<p>Still, Jim was very fond of his former playmate, and had she +been still living down in Sidmouth with his mother, they would have +been as great friends as ever.</p> + +<p>At the end of the fourth year, Richard Horton came back, after +an absence of five years. He was now nearly twenty, and had just +passed as lieutenant. He was bronzed with the Eastern sun, and had +grown from a good-looking boy into a handsome young man, and was +perfectly conscious of his good looks. Among his comrades, he had +gained the nickname of "The Dandy"--a name which he accepted in +good part, although it had not been intended as complimentary, for +Richard Horton was by no means a popular member of his mess.</p> + +<p>Boys are quick to detect each other's failings, and several +sharp thrashings, when he first joined, had taught Richard that it +was very inexpedient to tell a lie on board a ship, if there was +any chance of its being detected. As he had become one of the +senior midshipmen, his natural haughtiness made him disliked by the +younger lads; while, among those of his own standing, he had not +one sincere friend, for there was a general feeling, among them, +that although Richard Horton was a pleasant companion, and a very +agreeable fellow when he liked, he was not somehow straight, not +the sort of fellow to be depended upon in all emergencies.</p> + +<p>By the captain and lieutenants, he was considered a smart young +officer. He was always careful to do his duty, quiet, and +gentlemanly in manner, and in point of appearance, and dress, a +credit to the ship. Accordingly, all the reports that his captain +had sent home of him had been favourable.</p> + +<p>Great as was the rage and disappointment which Richard had felt, +when he received the letter from his uncle telling him of the +discovery of his long-lost granddaughter, he had the tact to +prevent any signs of his feelings being visible, in the letter in +which he replied. The squire had told him that, although the +discovery would, of course, make a considerable difference in his +prospects, he should still, if the reports of his conduct continued +satisfactory, feel it his duty to make a handsome provision for +him.</p> + +<p>"Thanks to my quiet life during the last ten years," the squire +had written, "I have plenty for both of you. The estate will, of +course, go to her; but, always supposing that your conduct will be +satisfactory, I shall continue, during my lifetime, the allowance +you at present receive, and you will find yourself set down, in my +will, for the sum of twenty thousand pounds."</p> + +<p>Richard had replied in terms which delighted the squire.</p> + +<p>"You see, the boy has a good heart," he said, as he handed the +letter to Mr. Wilks. "No one could express himself better."</p> + +<p>His companion read the letter over in silence.</p> + +<p>"Charmingly expressed," he said as he returned it. "Almost too +charmingly, it seems to me."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Wilks, you are prejudiced against the young fellow, +for that business with Aggie and young Walsham."</p> + +<p>"I hope I am not prejudiced, squire," his friend replied; "but +when I know that a lad is a liar, and that he will bring false +accusations to shield himself, and when I know that he was detested +by all who came in contact with him--John Petersham, the gardener, +and the grooms--I require a good deal more than a few satisfactory +reports from his captain, who can know very little of his private +character, and a soft-soldering letter like that, to reinstate him +in my good opinion. I will wager that, if you and I had been +standing behind him when he opened your letter, you would have +heard an expression of very different sentiments from those he +writes you here.</p> + +<p>"Look at this: 'I regret, indeed, my dear uncle, that my new +cousin must have such a bad opinion of me, owing to my roughness in +that unfortunate affair, which I have never ceased to regret; but I +hope that, when we meet, I shall be able to overcome the dislike +which she must feel for me.'</p> + +<p>"Bah!" the old soldier said scornfully. "I would lay all my +pension, to a shilling, that boy has already made up his mind that +someday he will marry Aggie, and so contrive to get the estates +after all."</p> + +<p>The squire burst into a good-humoured laugh.</p> + +<p>"It's well I don't take up your wager. Such ideas as that might +occur to you and me, but hardly to a lad not yet seventeen."</p> + +<p>"Well, we shall see," the other said, cooling down. "I hope I +may be mistaken in him. We shall see when he comes home."</p> + +<p>When he did come home, the old soldier could find but little +fault with the young man. He had a frank and open manner, such as +is common to men of his profession. He was full of life and +anecdote. His manner to the squire was admirable, affectionate, and +quietly respectful, without any air of endeavouring especially to +ingratiate himself with him. Nor could the ex-sergeant find +anything to complain of in the young man's manner towards himself. +He took the first opportunity, when they were alone, to say how +glad he had been, to hear that his grandfather had met with a +friend and companion in his lonely life, and to express a hope that +the bad opinion, which he had doubtless formed of him from his +conduct when a boy, would not be allowed to operate against him +now.</p> + +<p>But, though there was nothing he could find fault with, the old +soldier's prejudices were in no way shaken, and, indeed, his +antipathy was increased, rather than diminished, by the young +officer's conduct towards Aggie. It might be, of course, that he +was only striving to overcome the prejudiced feeling against him; +but every time the old soldier saw him with his granddaughter, he +felt angry.</p> + +<p>In point of fact, Aggie was disposed to like Richard, even +before his arrival. Six years had eradicated every tinge of +animosity for that shove on the sand. His letters had been long, +bright, and amusing, and with the mementos of travel which he +picked up in the ports of India and China, and from time to time +sent home to his uncle, there was always a little box with some +pretty trinket "for my cousin." She found him now a delightful +companion. He treated her as if she had been seventeen, instead of +eleven; was ready to ride or walk with her, or to tell her stories +of the countries he had seen, as she might choose; and to humour +all her whims and fancies.</p> + +<p>"Confound him and his pleasant manners!" the ex-sergeant would +mutter to himself, as he watched them together, and saw, as he +believed, in the distance, the overthrow of the scheme he had at +heart. "He is turning the child's head; and that foolish boy, +James, is throwing away his chances."</p> + +<p>James, indeed, came home from school for the last time, two or +three weeks after Richard Horton's return. He was now nearly +eighteen, and, although a broad and powerful fellow, was still a +boy at heart. He did not show to advantage by the side of Richard +Horton. The first time he went up to the Hall, after his return, +the latter had met him with outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to meet you again," he said. "I behaved like a +blackguard, last time we met, and you gave me the thrashing which I +deserved. I hope we shall get on better, in the future."</p> + +<p>Aggie and her two grandfathers were present, and James Walsham +certainly did not show to advantage, by the side of the easy and +self-possessed young officer. He muttered something about its being +all right, and then found nothing else to say, being uncomfortable, +and ill at ease. He made some excuse about being wanted at home, +and took his leave; nor did he again go up to call. Several times, +the old soldier went down to Sidmouth to see him, and on one +occasion remonstrated with him for not coming up to the Hall.</p> + +<p>"What's the use?" James said, roughly. "I have got lots of +reading to do, for in two months, you know, I am to go up to +London, to walk the hospitals. No one wants me up there. Aggie has +got that cousin of hers to amuse her, and I should feel only in the +way, if I went."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilks was fairly out of temper at the way things were going. +He was angry with James; angry with the squire, who evidently +viewed with satisfaction the good understanding between his +granddaughter and nephew; angry, for the first time in his life, +with Aggie herself.</p> + +<p>"You are growing a downright little flirt, Miss Aggie," he said +one day, when the girl came in from the garden, where she had been +laughing and chatting with her cousin.</p> + +<p>He had intended to speak playfully, but there was an earnestness +in his tone which the girl, at once, detected.</p> + +<p>"Are you really in earnest, grampa?" she asked, for she still +retained the childish name for her grandfather--so distinguishing +him from the squire, whom she always called grandpapa.</p> + +<p>"No; I don't know that I am in earnest, Aggie," he said, trying +to speak lightly; "and yet, perhaps, to some extent I am."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you are," the girl said. "Oh, grampa! You are not +really cross with me, are you?" and the tears at once sprang into +her eyes. "I have not been doing anything wrong, have I?"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, not in the least wrong," her grandfather said +hastily. "Still, you know, I don't like seeing Jim, who has always +been so good and kind to you, quite neglected, now this young +fellow, who is not fit to hold a candle to him, has turned up."</p> + +<p>"Well, I haven't neglected him, grampa. He has neglected me. He +has never been near since that first day, and you know I can't very +well go round to Sidmouth, and say to him, 'Please come up to the +Hall.'"</p> + +<p>"No, my dear, I know you can't, and he is behaving like a young +fool."</p> + +<p>"Why is he?" Aggie asked, surprised. "If he likes sailing about +better than coming up here, why shouldn't he?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it's for that he stays away, Aggie. In fact, you +see, Jim has only just left school, and he feels he can't laugh, +and talk, and tell you stories about foreign countries, as this +young fellow can, and having been so long accustomed to have you to +himself, he naturally would not like the playing second fiddle to +Richard Horton."</p> + +<p>"But he hasn't been here much," the girl said, "ever since I +came here. He used to be so nice, and so kind, in the old days when +I lived down there, that I can't make out why he has changed +so."</p> + +<p>"My dear, I don't think he has changed. He has been only a boy, +and the fact is, he is only a boy still. He is fond of sailing, and +of the amusements boys take to, and he doesn't feel at home, and +comfortable here, as he did with you when you were a little girl at +his mother's. But mind, Aggie, James is true as steel. He is an +honourable and upright young fellow. He is worth fifty of this +self-satisfied, pleasant-spoken young sailor."</p> + +<p>"I know James is good and kind, grampa," the girl said +earnestly; "but you see, he is not very amusing, and Richard is +very nice."</p> + +<p>"Nice! Yes," the old soldier said; "a fair weather sort of +niceness, Aggie. Richard Horton is the squire's nephew, and I don't +wish to say anything against him; but mark my words, and remember +them, there's more goodness in James's little finger, than there is +in his whole body. But there, I am a fool to be talking about it. +There is your cousin calling you, in the garden. Go along with +you."</p> + +<p>The girl went off slowly, wondering at her grandfather's +earnestness. She knew she liked her old playmate far better than +Richard Horton, although the latter's attentions pleased and +flattered her. The old soldier went straight off to the squire's +study.</p> + +<p>"Squire," he said, "you remember that talk we had, three years +ago, when your nephew's answer came to your letter, telling him +that Aggie was found. I told you that I would wager he had made up +his mind to marry her. You laughed at me; but I was right. Child +though she still is, he is already paving the way for the +future."</p> + +<p>"Master Richard certainly is carrying on a sort of flirtation +with the little witch," the squire said, smiling; "but as she is +such a mere child as you say, what does it matter?"</p> + +<p>"I think it matters a great deal," the old soldier said +seriously. "I see, squire, the young fellow has quite regained your +good opinion; and unless I am mistaken, you have already thought, +to yourself, that it would not be a bad thing if they were to come +together someday.</p> + +<p>"I have thought it over, and have made up my mind that, in spite +of your four years' continued kindness to me, and of the warm +friendship between us, I must go away for a time. My box is still +lying at Exeter, and I would rather tramp the country again, and +live on it and my pension, than stay here and see my darling +growing up a woman with that future before her. I am sorry to say, +squire, that what you call my prejudice is as strong as ever. I +doubt that young fellow as strongly as I did before he came home. +Then, I only had his past conduct and his letter to go by. Now I +have the evidence of my own senses. You may ask me what I have +against him. I tell you--nothing; but I misdoubt him from my heart. +I feel that he is false, that what he was when a boy, he is now. +There is no true ring about him."</p> + +<p>The squire was silent for a minute or two. He had a very sincere +friendship and liking for his companion, a thorough confidence in +his judgment and principles. He knew his self-sacrificing nature, +and that he was only speaking from his love for his grandchild.</p> + +<p>"Do not let us talk about it now, old friend," he said quietly. +"You and I put, before all other things, Aggie's happiness. +Disagreement between us there can be none on the subject. Give me +tonight to think over what you have said, and we will talk about it +again tomorrow."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: A Storm.</h2> + +<p>After breakfast next morning, the squire asked his friend to go +with him into his study.</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking this matter over," he said, "very +seriously, and, upon reflection, I agree with you that it is +undesirable that Aggie should see much of Richard, until she is of +an age to form a fair opinion for herself, and to compare him with +other young men. I agree with you, also, that we have not yet +sufficient proofs that he is completely changed. I hope that he is. +You think he is not. At any rate, he must have a longer trial, and +until it is proved to your satisfaction, as well as mine, that he +is in every way a desirable husband for Aggie, the less they see of +each other, the better. I therefore propose to write at once to my +friend Admiral Hewson, to ask him to use his influence, at the +admiralty, to get the young fellow appointed to a ship. Does that +meet your approval, my friend?"</p> + +<p>"Quite so," the other said cordially. "Nothing could be better. +In the meantime, as you say, should Richard turn out well, and the +young people take a liking for each other, no match could be more +satisfactory. What I want is that she should take no girlish fancy +for him, at present."</p> + +<p>"So be it, then," the squire said. "I think, you know, that we +are a couple of old fools, to be troubling ourselves about Aggie's +future, at present. Still, in a matter which concerns us both so +nearly, we cannot be too careful. If we had a woman with us, we +could safely leave the matter in her hands; as it is, we must +blunder on, as best we may."</p> + +<p>And so it was settled, and a week later, Richard Horton received +an official letter from the admiralty, ordering him to proceed at +once to Portsmouth to join the <em>Thetis</em>, to which he was +appointed as fourth lieutenant. The order gave Richard extreme +satisfaction. He was beginning to find his life desperately dull, +and he was heartily sick of playing the attentive nephew. He was +well content with the progress he had made; nothing had gone wrong +since he returned, his uncle had clearly taken him back into his +favour, and he had no doubt that Aggie quite appreciated the pains +he had bestowed to gain her liking.</p> + +<p>He detested the squire's companion, for he felt that the latter +disliked and distrusted him, and that his projects would meet with +a warm opposition on his part. Still, with the squire and Aggie +herself on his side, he did not fear the result. As to James +Walsham, whom he had come home prepared to regard as a possible +rival, from his early intimacy with the child, and the fact that +his mother was her governess, he now regarded him with contempt, +mingled with a revengeful determination to pay off the old score, +should a chance ever present itself.</p> + +<p>He therefore started next day in high spirits, assuming, +however, a great reluctance to tear himself away. A few days later +a letter came from him, saying that he hoped that he should be able +to come back, sometimes, for a day or two, as the <em>Thetis</em> +was at present to be attached to the Channel squadron, and it was +not expected that she would, for some time, proceed on foreign +service.</p> + +<p>Early in October, James Walsham was to go up to London, to +commence his medical course. A week before he was to start, Mr. +Wilks went down in the morning, intending to insist on his +returning with him to the Hall. As he went down towards Sidmouth, +the old soldier noticed how strongly the wind was blowing, the +trees were swaying and thrashing in the wind, the clouds were +flying past overhead. Everything portended a severe gale.</p> + +<p>Finding, at Mrs. Walsham's, that James was down on the beach, he +continued his course until he joined him there. James was standing +with a group of fishermen, who were looking seaward. Now that he +was exposed to the full force of the wind, Mr. Wilks felt that, not +only was it going to blow a gale, but that it was blowing one +already. The heavy clouds on the horizon seemed to lie upon the +water, the waves were breaking with great force upon the beach, and +the fishermen had hauled their boats up across the road.</p> + +<p>"It's blowing hard, Jim," he said, laying his hand on the young +fellow's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"It is blowing hard, and it will blow a great deal harder before +nightfall. The fishermen all think it is going to be an exceptional +gale. It is blowing dead on shore. It will be bad work for any +ships that happen to be coming up Channel today. Eight or ten of +our boats are out. We thought we had made out three of them just +before you came, but the cloud closed down on them. The fishermen +are just going to get lifelines ready. I am afraid we are going to +have a terrible night of it."</p> + +<p>"I came down to ask you if you will come up to lunch, Jim, but I +suppose you will not be able to tear yourself away from here."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't like to leave now, indeed. There is no saying what +may happen. Besides, so many of the fishermen are away, that I may +be useful here if a vessel comes ashore, and there may be half a +dozen before the morning. Every hand will be wanted to give +assistance."</p> + +<p>"But you could not get a boat out through those breakers, could +you, Jim?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Jim replied, "we might get one of the big boats through +it now; but it's going to be worse, presently. When I went out, +last year, with a boat to the brig which was driven ashore, it was +worse than this.</p> + +<p>"I shall be very glad to come up tomorrow, if you will let me. I +hear that fellow Horton went away last week."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he went away, Jim. But why his being there should have +kept you from going up is beyond me."</p> + +<p>"I don't like the fellow, Mr. Wilks. He may mean very well, but +I don't like him. I have been in one row about him with the squire, +and I don't want another; but I am quite sure, if I had gone up +much while he was there, it would have ended in my trying to punch +his head again."</p> + +<p>"In that case, perhaps," the old soldier said, smiling, "you +were wise to stay away, Jim. I don't like the lad myself. Still, +punching his head would not have been a desirable thing."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you don't like him," James said, warmly. "Somehow I +made up my mind that you were all sure to like him, and I don't +suppose the idea made me like him any the better. He was just the +free-and-easy sort of fellow to get along well, and I was quite +sure that Aggie would not want me, when she had him to go about +with her. I saw him drive through in the pony carriage with her, +two or three times, and it was easy to see how thoroughly she was +enjoying herself."</p> + +<p>"Well, it was your own fault, my boy. If you choose to sulk down +here, and never to go up to the Hall, you can't blame Aggie for +letting herself be amused by someone else."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't blame her," James said hastily. "Of course, it is +all right that she should enjoy herself with her cousin. Only +somehow, you know, after being great friends with anyone, one +doesn't like to see someone else stepping into your place."</p> + +<p>"But as I have told you, over and over again, during the last +three years, Jim, you have willfully stepped out of your place. You +know how often I have asked you to come up, and how seldom you have +come. You have never shown Aggie that you have any wish to continue +on the footing of friendship, on which you stood towards each other +when she was at your mother's, and as you have chosen to throw her +over, I don't see why she shouldn't take to anyone else who takes +pains to make himself pleasant to her."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I don't blame her a bit, Mr. Wilks. How could you think +such a thing! I was very fond of little Aggie when she was at my +mother's; but of course, I was not ass enough to suppose that she +was going trotting about the country with me, when she once went up +to the Hall as the squire's granddaughter. Of course, the whole +thing was changed.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Here comes the rain."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a sudden splash of rain struck them. It might have +been noticed coming across the water in a white line. With it came +a gust of wind, to which that which had already been blowing was a +trifle. There was no more talking, for nothing less than a shout +could have been heard above the roaring of the wind. It was +scarcely possible to stand against the fury of the squall, and they +were driven across the road, and took shelter at the corner of some +houses, where the fishermen had already retired.</p> + +<p>The squall lasted but a few minutes, but was soon succeeded by +another, almost equally furious, and this seemed to increase in +strength, until the wind was blowing a perfect hurricane; but the +fishermen now struggled across the road again, for, between the +rain squalls, a glimpse had been caught of two of the fishing +boats, and these were now approaching the shore. A mere rag of sail +was set on each, and yet they tore over the waves at tremendous +speed.</p> + +<p>One was some two hundred yards ahead of the other, and by the +course they were making, they would come ashore nearly at the same +spot. The news that two boats were in sight spread rapidly, and +many of the fishermen's wives, with shawls over their heads, ran +down and stood peering out from behind shelter, for it was +well-nigh impossible to stand exposed to the fury of the gale.</p> + +<p>An old fisherman stood, with a coil of rope in his hand, close +to the water's edge. Several of the others stood close to him, and +four of them had hold of the other end of the rope. When the boat +was within fifty yards of shore, the sail was lowered; but she +still drove straight on before the wind, with scarce an abatement +in her speed. A man stood in her bow, also with a coil of rope in +his hand, and, as he approached, threw it far ahead. The fisherman +rushed waist deep into the water and caught the end of it, which in +a moment was knotted to the one in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Run along with her," he shouted.</p> + +<p>For a moment, the boat towered on the top of a wave, which raced +in towards the shore. The next, as it came, took her stern, and she +was in the act of swinging round, when the strain of the rope came +upon her, and brought her straight again. Higher and higher the +wave rose, and then crashed down, and the boat shot forward, like +an arrow, in the foam. The fishermen rushed forward and caught it, +those on board leapt out waist-deep; all were taken off their feet +by the backward rush, but they clung to the sides of the boat, +while the men at the head rope, with their heels dug deeply into +the sand, withstood the strain, and kept her from being swept out +again.</p> + +<p>A few seconds, and the boat was left dry, and the next wave +carried it high up on the beach, amid a loud cheer from the +fishermen and lookers on; but there was no time to waste, for the +next boat was close at hand. Again, the rope was thrown to the +shore, but this time the strain came a moment too late, the +following wave turned the boat round, the next struck it broadside +and rolled it, over and over, towards the shore. The fishermen, in +an instant, joined hands, and rushing down into the water, strove +to grasp the men.</p> + +<p>Several times, those in front were knocked down and rolled up on +the beach, but three of the crew were brought in with them. There +was one still missing, and there was a shout as he was seen, +clinging to an oar, just outside the line of breakers. James +Walsham had been working with the fishermen in saving those already +brought to shore. He now fastened the end of a line round his +body.</p> + +<p>"You can never get through those rollers--they will break you up +like an eggshell," the old fisherman shouted.</p> + +<p>"I will dive through them," Jim shouted back. "Give me plenty of +slack, and don't pull, till you see I have got him."</p> + +<p>The lad waited for his opportunity, and then, rushing down after +the sheet of white foam, he stood, waist deep, as a great wave, +some twelve feet high, towered up like a wall towards him. It was +just going to break, when James plunged, head foremost, into it. +There was a crash which shook the earth, a mass of wildly rushing +foam, and then, some ten yards beyond the spot where the wave had +broken, Jim's head appeared above the surface. It was but for a +moment, for he immediately dived again, under the next wave, and +then came up within a few yards of the floating oar. A stroke or +two, and he was alongside. He seized the man, and held up one arm +as a signal. In a moment the rope tightened, and they moved towards +shore. When they were close to the edge of the breaking waves, Jim +held up his hand, and the strain stopped.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said to the man, "the moment they begin to pull, leave +go of the oar, and throw your arms round me."</p> + +<p>He waited until a wave, bigger than ordinary, approached, and, +just as it began to pass under him, gave the signal. Higher and +higher they seemed to rise, then they were dashed down with a +tremendous shock. There was a moment's confusion as they were swept +along in the white water. Jim felt a terrific strain, and it seemed +to him that the rope would cut him in sunder. Then he was seized by +a dozen strong arms, and carried high and dry, before the next wave +could reach him.</p> + +<p>For a minute or two he was scarce conscious. The breath had been +almost knocked out of his body, with the break of the wave, and the +rushing water seemed still singing in his ears.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, my boy? Are you hurt, James?" were the first +words he clearly heard.</p> + +<p>"No, I think I am all right," he said, trying to sit up. "Is the +other fellow all right?"</p> + +<p>"He has broke his arm," one of the fishermen, who had just +helped the man to his feet, replied. "He may be thankful it's no +worse."</p> + +<p>James was now helped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"I am all right," he repeated to Mr. Wilks, "except that I feel +as if I had a hot iron round my body. That rope has taken the skin +off all round me, I fancy, and doesn't it smart, just, with the +salt water!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, James, how could you do it?" a girl's voice said +suddenly.</p> + +<p>The fishermen drew aside, and Aggie Linthorne pressed +forward.</p> + +<p>The squire had gone into her schoolroom and had said:</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Walsham, I think you had better give up your lessons for +the morning, and get home. It is blowing a gale now, and we shall +probably have the rain down before long. I will walk down with you. +The wind is dead on the shore, and it will be a grand sight."</p> + +<p>Aggie at once set her mind on going, too; but the squire +refused, until Mrs. Walsham suggested that, if it came on wet, +Aggie could stop at her house until it cleared up, or, if +necessary, till morning. Whereupon, the squire had given way, and +the three had started together for Sidmouth, leaving Mrs. Walsham +at her house as they passed. The others had struggled down, against +the wind, until they came within sight of the sea. The first boat +had just been run safely on shore when they arrived, and Aggie gave +a cry, and put her hands over her face, as the second boat was seen +to capsize.</p> + +<p>"Cling to me, Aggie," the squire said. "See, they are rushing in +the water to save them. They will have them, yet!"</p> + +<p>At the cheer which broke out from the spectators, clustering +thickly now, as the first of the shipwrecked crew was brought to +shore, Aggie looked out again. It was a sight she never forgot. +With the great waves crashing down on the shore, and the line of +straggling figures, waist deep in the white foam, in which were +scattered, here and there, portions of the boat, oars, sails, and +nets.</p> + +<p>"Well done, well done!" the squire exclaimed. "They have dragged +up three of them. I don't know whether there are any more."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, look!" Aggie cried; "there, out in the waves--there, +I can see a head. That's just about where I was nearly drowned. Oh, +grandpapa, take me away, I can't look at it."</p> + +<p>"There's someone going out to save him, Aggie. Listen to the +cheer."</p> + +<p>Aggie looked again.</p> + +<p>"Oh, grandpapa, stop him, stop him!" she cried, "it's +James."</p> + +<p>But at the same moment the plunge was made, and the figure lost +to sight.</p> + +<p>Aggie threw her arms round her grandfather, and hid her +face.</p> + +<p>"I can't look, I can't look," she cried. "Tell me about it."</p> + +<p>"There, he is up; bravo!" the squire exclaimed, almost as +excited as she was. "He has dived again, dear,"--then, after a +pause--"there he is close to him. He has got him, Aggie! Now he is +waving his hand; now they are tightening the rope; now he is waving +his hand again, and they are waiting. There!"</p> + +<p>There was a pause, which seemed to the girl to be endless, then +the squire cried:</p> + +<p>"They have got them out, both of them;" and a loud cheer broke +from all standing round.</p> + +<p>"Come along, grandpapa, let us go down to them."</p> + +<p>"Stay a moment, my dear. They may be hurt. It's better you +should not go."</p> + +<p>The girl stood, with her hands clasped, gazing at the fishermen +grouped on the shore, stooping over the prostrate figures. Then one +of them stood up and waved his hand, and the spectators knew that +all was well. Then the girl ran down to join them.</p> + +<p>"Why, Aggie!" James exclaimed in astonishment, as she pressed +forward. "Why, my dear, what brings you here in this storm? +Whatever will the squire say?"</p> + +<p>"The squire has brought her down himself," Mr. Linthorne said, +following closely behind his granddaughter; "and he is glad he did, +James, for she has seen a grand sight.</p> + +<p>"You are a fine fellow;" and he wrung the lad's hand.</p> + +<p>"A grand fellow, Wilks, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"I always said so, squire," the old soldier said, his face +beaming with satisfaction; "but now, let us get him home, and +Aggie, too. The child will be blown away."</p> + +<p>But, for a minute or two, they could not carry James off, so +closely did the men and women press round him, and shake him by the +hand. At last they got him away, and, escorted by a crowd of +cheering boys, led him back to his mother's.</p> + +<p>"Your son is a hero, Mrs. Walsham!" the squire exclaimed as they +entered; "but don't talk to him now, but mix him a glass of hot +grog.</p> + +<p>"Wilks, you get him between the blankets directly. I will tell +his mother all about it, while she is mixing the grog.</p> + +<p>"Hallo, Aggie! Why, bless the child, she's fainted."</p> + +<p>The girl had borne up till they reached the house, towards which +the wind had blown her along, as she clung to her grandfather's +arm; but the excitement had been too much for her, and, the instant +they entered the room, she had dropped into an armchair, and at +once lost consciousness.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham kept her presence of mind, in spite of her +bewilderment at these sudden occurrences. She at once laid the girl +on the sofa, removed her dripping bonnet and cloak, and poured a +few drops of brandy between her lips, while she set the squire to +work, to chafe her hands. Aggie soon opened her eyes, and recovered +her consciousness.</p> + +<p>"Don't try to get up, Aggie," Mrs. Walsham said. "You are faint +and shaken with all this excitement. Your grandpapa and I were two +very foolish people, to let you come out.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Wilks, the best thing you can do, is to find a boy +outside, and send him up to the Hall, with a message that the +carriage is to come down directly.</p> + +<p>"I think, Mr. Linthorne, she had better get back home. I should +be glad enough, as you know, to keep her here for the night; but +this house is rocking with the wind, now, and she would not be +likely to get any sleep here. I will run up and see how James is, +and if he is all right, I will come up with her and stop the night. +She is very much shaken, and had better not be alone."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham soon came downstairs again, and said that James +said he never felt better in his life, and that, by all means, she +was to go up to the Hall. She then set about and prepared a cup of +tea, which greatly restored Aggie, and, by the time the carriage +arrived, the girl was able to walk to the gate.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilks had offered to remain with James, but the latter would +not hear of it. The lad was, indeed, well pleased to hear that they +were all going up to the Hall, as thereby he escaped hearing any +more of his own praises. Besides, he was most anxious to get down +to the beach again, for no one could say what might take place +there before morning.</p> + +<p>As soon, therefore, as he heard the door close, he jumped out of +bed, and when, peeping through the blinds, he saw the carriage +drive off with its four occupants, he at once began to dress. He +felt bruised and sore from the blows he had received, and a red +wheal round his chest, beneath the arms, showed where the rope had +almost cut into the flesh. However, he soon dressed himself, and +descended the stairs, went into the kitchen, and told the +astonished girl that he was going out; then, having made a hasty +meal of bread and cold meat, he put on his oilskins again, and +started for the shore.</p> + +<p>He did not, however, wait long. So heavy was the sea, now, that +nothing whatever could be done should any vessel drive ashore, and, +as for the fisher boats, the sailors shook their heads as they +spoke of them.</p> + +<p>"They were farther away to the west, so the chaps as got ashore +tells us. They may have got in, somewhere, before it got to the +worst. If not, it must have gone hard with them."</p> + +<p>Finding that there was nothing to be done, and that he was much +more stiff and bruised than he had believed, Jim made his way back +again, and turned into bed; where he soon fell asleep, and did not +wake until the following morning.</p> + +<p>One of the grooms had come down from the Hall, at six o'clock, +to inquire how he was, and the message given by the girl, that he +had been out, but that he had come back and was now sound asleep, +satisfied Mrs. Walsham, and enabled her to devote her undivided +attention to her charge, who needed her care more than her son. +Before night, indeed, the squire had sent down to Sidmouth for Dr. +Walsham's successor, who said that Aggie was very feverish, and +must be kept perfectly quiet for some days. He sent her up a +soothing draught, and Mrs. Walsham sat up with her all night. She +slept but little, and talked almost incessantly, sometimes rambling +a little.</p> + +<p>The first thing in the morning, the doctor was again sent for, +and on his recommendation the squire at once sent off a man, on +horseback, to Exeter, for the leading physician of that town. When +he arrived, late in the afternoon, Aggie was somewhat quieter, and +his report was more cheering.</p> + +<p>"Her pulse is very high," he said; "but Mr. Langford tells me +that it is not so rapid as it was in the morning, and that he +thinks the symptoms are abating. Undoubtedly, it is a sharp +feverish attack, brought on by excitement and exposure. A very +little more, and it would have been a case of brain fever, but I +trust now that it will soon pass off. The sedatives that have been +administered are taking effect, and I trust she will soon fall +asleep.</p> + +<p>"As you requested, I have made my arrangements for staying here +tonight, and I trust that, by the morning, we shall have her +convalescent."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilks had gone down, the first thing in the morning, to see +James, and found him up and about as usual. He was very greatly +concerned, at hearing that Aggie had passed a bad night, and came +four times up to the Hall, during the day, to inquire about her; +and on his last visit, late in the evening, he was told that she +was sleeping quietly, and that the doctor had every hope that she +would wake, in the morning, free from fever. This proved to be the +case; but she was ordered to keep her bed for a day or two.</p> + +<p>On the morning after the storm, the wind had gone down much, +although a tremendous sea was still breaking on the shore. Messages +arrived, in the course of the day, to say that all the missing +boats, with one exception, had succeeded in gaining the shore +before the storm was full on. The missing boat was never heard of +again.</p> + +<p>Two days later, James Walsham had strolled up the hill to the +east of the town, and was lying, with a book before him, in a +favourite nook of his looking over the sea. It was one of the +lovely days which sometimes come late in autumn, as if the summer +were determined to show itself at its best, before leaving. It +could not be said that James was studying, for he was watching the +vessels passing far out at sea, and inwardly moaning over the fact +that he was destined for a profession for which he had no real +liking, instead of being free to choose one of travel and +adventure.</p> + +<p>Presently, he heard voices behind him. The position, in which he +was lying, was a little distance down on the slopes, on the seaward +side of the path, and, as a screen of bushes grew behind it, he +could not be seen by anyone passing along.</p> + +<p>"All the men, with their pistols and cutlasses, are to assemble +here at ten o'clock tonight, Johnson. But do not give them orders +till late, and let them come up, one by one, so as not to attract +attention. Lipscombe's men are to assemble at the same hour, and +march to meet us. This time, I think, there is no mistake. The +cargo is to be landed where I told you. It will be high tide at +twelve o'clock, and they are sure to choose that hour, so that the +cutter can run close in. I have sent off a man on horseback to +Weymouth, for the revenue cutter to come round. If she's in time, +we shall catch that troublesome lugger, as well as her cargo. She +has been a thorn in our side for the last year. This time, I do +hope we shall have her."</p> + +<p>The speakers then moved on out of hearing, but James Walsham +recognized the voice, as that of the revenue officer commanding the +force at Sidmouth.</p> + +<p>Smuggling was, at that time, carried on on a large scale along +the coast, and there were frequent collisions between those engaged +in it and the revenue officers. The sympathies of the population +were wholly with the smugglers, and the cheating of the revenue was +not at all considered in the light of a crime.</p> + +<p>Many of the fishermen, from time to time, took a hand in +smuggling cruises, and the country people were always ready to lend +assistance in landing and carrying the cargoes.</p> + +<p>When out in their boats at night, James had often heard the +fishermen tell stories of their smuggling adventures, and more than +once he had been with them, when they had boarded a lugger laden +with contraband, to warn them that the revenue cutter was on the +cruising ground, and it would not be safe to attempt to run cargo +at present. He now determined, at once, that he would warn the +smugglers of their danger. The question was, where was the cargo to +be run? The officer had not mentioned the spot, but, as the force +from the next station to the east was to cooperate, it must be +somewhere between the two.</p> + +<p>Waiting till the speakers must have gone well along the cliff, +he rose to his feet, and returned to Sidmouth. He thought, at +first, of telling some of the fishermen what he had heard, but as, +in the event of an affray, it might come out how the smugglers had +been warned of the intention of the revenue officers, he thought +there would be less risk in giving them warning himself. He knew +every path down the cliff for miles, and trusted that he should be +able to make his way down, and give the boats notice of their +danger, before the revenue men reached the shore.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock he dressed himself, in the rough sailor's suit +he wore when he went out with the fishermen, and started along the +cliff. For some distance he kept well inland, as the officer might +have placed a man on the lookout, to stop anyone going towards the +scene of action. The spot he thought the most likely was a mile and +a half along the shore. There was a good landing place, and an easy +path up the cliff, and he knew that cargoes had been more than once +run here. Accordingly, when he reached this spot, he sat down among +some bushes on the edge of the cliff, and waited for some sort of +signal. Half an hour later, he heard the tramp of a number of men, +passing along behind him.</p> + +<p>"There go the revenue men," he thought to himself. "I suppose +they are going to meet those coming the other way."</p> + +<p>An hour passed without further sound, and James began to get +uneasy. If this was the spot fixed for the landing, some of the +country people ought to be arriving, by this time, to help to carry +off the cargo. They might, for aught he knew, be already near, +waiting for the signal before they descended the path. No doubt the +revenue men would be lying in wait, a short distance off, and would +allow the friends of the smugglers to go down to the water, without +letting them know of their presence.</p> + +<p>He kept his eyes fixed on the water to the east, watching +anxiously for the appearance of a light. Presently he started. +Immediately in front of him, about a mile at sea, a bright light +was shown. In a second, it disappeared. Three times it flashed out, +and then all was dark. The night was a very dark one. There was no +moon, and the stars were obscured, and although he strained his +eyes to the utmost, he could not make out the vessel from which the +light had been shown.</p> + +<p>"How foolish to show such a bright light!" he said to himself. +"It would have been almost sure to attract the attention of anyone +on the watch."</p> + +<p>He made his way to the path, and descended to the edge of the +water, and waited, expecting momentarily to be joined by people +from above. But no one came. He strained his ears listening for the +fall of approaching oars; but all was silent.</p> + +<p>Half an hour passed, and then it flashed across him that the +signal must have been made to deceive the revenue men, and to cause +them to assemble at that spot, and so leave the point really +determined upon free for operations.</p> + +<p>With an exclamation of disgust at his own stupidity, in having +been deceived, James ran up the path again at the top of his speed, +and then took the road along the cliff. For two miles, he ran +without interruption, and then saw a dark mass in front of him. He +turned off, instantly, to the left. Doubtless he had been heard +approaching, for two or three men detached themselves from the +rest, and started to cut him off. James ran straight inland, and in +the darkness soon lost sight of his pursuers. Then he turned, and +made for the cliff again. Two or three hundred yards farther along, +there was another path to the shore, and this he had no doubt, now, +was the one the smugglers were about to use. He struck the cliff +within a few yards of the spot. In an instant, two men jumped up +and seized him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>For an instant, James thought that his assailants were revenue +men, but, even in the darkness, he saw that they were +countrymen.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" he said. "The revenue men are close at hand. They are +watching, two or three hundred yards along. Listen! Here they +come."</p> + +<p>A tramping of feet coming rapidly along the cliff was clearly +heard, and the men, with an oath, released their hold and ran off, +giving a loud whistle, and made for their carts, which were +stationed a few hundred yards inland. James dashed down the path, +shouting at the top of his voice. He had not gone many yards before +he met a number of men, coming up with tubs of spirits on their +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Throw them down," he cried, "and make along the shore. The +revenue men are close behind."</p> + +<p>His advice was taken at once. The tubs were thrown down, and +went leaping and bounding down to the shore, while the men followed +James, at full speed, down the path.</p> + +<p>Their pursuers were close behind. There was no longer any use in +concealment. Their officer shouted to them to press forward at full +speed, while, from the beach below, a hubbub of voices suddenly +broke out, and, at the same moment, a blue light was lit on the +cliff above.</p> + +<p>"Beat them back, my lads," one of the smugglers was shouting, as +James ran down to the little crowd of men standing near two boats. +"We are five to one against them. Come on."</p> + +<p>"Surrender in the king's name," the revenue officer shouted, as +he rushed forward, followed by his men.</p> + +<p>The answer was a pistol shot, and, in a moment, a furious melee +began. The advantage in numbers was all on the side of the +smugglers. Those who had landed with the kegs were all armed with +pistol and cutlass, and the countrymen had heavy sticks and +bludgeons. The ten revenue men would have been overpowered, but +suddenly a shout was heard, and another party of sailors ran up +along the shore, and joined in the fray. It was the detachment from +the other station, which had been waiting, at some little distance +along the shore, for the signal from above.</p> + +<p>"To the boats, lads," the leader of the smugglers shouted. "We +are caught in a trap."</p> + +<p>The smugglers rushed to the boats, and James, who was standing +by the water's edge, leaped on board with them. Most of the country +people fled at once along the shore, pursued by some of the revenue +men, while the others made a rush for the boats. These had been +kept afloat a few yards from the shore. Grapnels had been dropped +over their sterns, and, as the men in charge hauled out the moment +the fight began, they were in water shoulder deep when the +smugglers scrambled on board.</p> + +<p>The revenue men dashed in after them, and strove to hold the +boats; but they were beaten off with oars and cutlasses, and the +boats were soon hauled out into deep water. The grapnels were +lifted, and the men, many of whom were wounded more or less +severely in the fray, got out their oars and pulled to the lugger, +amid a dropping fire of pistol shots from shore.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: Pressed.</h2> + +<p>Many and deep were the maledictions uttered, as the smugglers +climbed on board their vessel; but their captain said cheerily:</p> + +<p>"Never mind, lads, it might have been worse. It was only the +first cargo of tubs, and half of those weren't ashore. The lace and +silk are all right, so no great harm is done. Set to work, and get +up sail as soon as you can. Likely enough there is a cutter in the +offing; that blue light must have been a signal. They seem to have +got news of our landing, somehow."</p> + +<p>The crew at once set to work to get up sail. Three or four of +the countrymen, who had, like James, got on board the boats, stood +in a group looking on, confused and helpless; but James lent his +assistance, until the sails were hoisted and the craft began to +move through the water.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," the captain said, "let us go below and look at the +wounds. We daren't show a light, here on deck."</p> + +<p>The wounds were, for the most part, slashes and blows with +cutlasses; for in the darkness and confusion of the fight, only two +of the bullets had taken effect. One of the smugglers had fallen, +shot through the head, while one of those on board had his arm +broken by a pistol ball.</p> + +<p>"Now for our passengers," the captain said, after the wounds had +been bandaged.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" and he lifted a lantern to James's face.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is young Mr. Walsham!" he exclaimed in surprise.</p> + +<p>James knew the man now, for the lugger had several times put in +at Sidmouth, where, coming in as a peaceable trader, the revenue +officers, although well aware of the nature of her vocation, were +unable to touch her, as vessels could only be seized when they had +contraband on board.</p> + +<p>"Why, what brings you into this affair, young master?"</p> + +<p>James related the conversation he had overheard, and his +determination to warn the smugglers of their danger.</p> + +<p>"I should have managed it, in plenty of time, if I had known the +exact spot on which you were going to land; but I saw a signal +light, two miles down the coast, and that kept me there for half an +hour. It struck me, then, it was a ruse to attract the officers +from the real spot of landing, but though I ran as hard as I could, +I was only just before them."</p> + +<p>"Thank you heartily," the smuggler said. "I expect you saved us +from a much worse mess than we got into. I have no doubt they meant +to capture the tubs, as they were loaded, without raising an alarm; +and the fellows on the shore would have come up quietly, and taken +us by surprise as we were landing the last boat loads. Thanks to +you, we have got well out of it, and have only lost one of our +hands, and a score or so of tubs."</p> + +<p>"You can't put me ashore, I suppose?" James said.</p> + +<p>"That I can't," the smuggler replied. "I have no doubt that +cutter from Weymouth is somewhere outside us, and we must get well +off the coast before morning. If we give her the slip, I will send +you off in a boat sometime tomorrow. I must go ashore, myself, to +make fresh arrangements for getting my cargo landed."</p> + +<p>James went on deck again. The breeze was light, and the lugger +was slipping along quietly through the water. He could faintly see +the loom of the cliffs on his right, and knew that the lugger was +running west, keeping as close inshore as she could, to avoid the +cutter watching for her outside. He wondered what they would say at +home, when it was found that he was missing; but consoled himself +by thinking that his mother, who was still up at the Hall, would no +doubt suppose that he had gone out for a night's fishing, as he had +often done before, and that, as she was away, he had forgotten to +leave word with the servant.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, a blue light burned out on the top of the cliff. An +angry exclamation broke from the captain, who was standing at the +helm.</p> + +<p>"Confound it!" he exclaimed. "They have caught sight of us from +the cliff, and are signalling our whereabouts to the cutter."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he turned the vessel's head seaward, and, for a +quarter of an hour, sailed straight out.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said quietly, "I think we must be out of sight of +those fellows on shore. Get her on the other tack, lads, but be as +quiet as you can about it. There's no saying how close the cutter +may be to us."</p> + +<p>The great sails were lowered, as the boat's head paid off to the +east. The yards were shifted to the other sides of the masts, and +the sails hoisted again, and the lugger began to retrace her way +back along the coast.</p> + +<p>"It's just a chance, now," the captain said to James, who was +standing close by him, "whether the commander of the cutter +guesses, or not, that we shall change our course. He will know we +are likely enough to do it."</p> + +<p>"What should you do if you were in his place?" James said.</p> + +<p>"I should run straight out to sea, and lay to, eight or ten +miles off. He would be able to make us out then at daylight, +whichever course we take; whereas, by trying to follow in the dark, +he would run the chance of missing us altogether. I wish the wind +would get up a bit. We are not moving through the water more than +three knots an hour, and it's dying away. However, I fancy it will +blow up again in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Do you know whether she is faster than you are?" James +asked.</p> + +<p>"There is not much difference," the captain replied. "If the +wind is strong, we have the legs of her; but in a light breeze, she +is the fastest. She has chased us half a dozen times already, but +we have always given her the slip."</p> + +<p>"Then, even if she does run out to sea, as you say," James said, +"we ought to be safe, as we should be a dozen miles or so along the +coast."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but not that ahead of her," the captain answered, "for she +would be so much to the seaward. Still, that would be far enough; +but she will begin to fire long before we are in range, and will +bring any other king's ship within hearing down on us. However, I +daresay we shall give her the slip, as we have done before."</p> + +<p>The hours passed slowly. The wind continued to drop, until the +vessel scarcely moved through the water, and, after a while, the +sweeps were got out, and were worked until the day broke. All eyes +were on the lookout for the cutter, as the day dawn began to steal +over the sky.</p> + +<p>"There she is, sure enough," the captain exclaimed at length, +"lying to on the watch, some eight miles to the west. She must have +seen us, for we are against the light sky; but, like, ourselves, +she is becalmed."</p> + +<p>It was a quarter of an hour, however, before the position of the +cutter was seen to change. Then her head was suddenly turned +east.</p> + +<p>"She has got the wind," the captain said. "Now we only want a +good breeze, and you'll have a lively day of it, lads."</p> + +<p>From the time when she had turned, the lugger had made only +about eight miles along the coast to the east, and an equal +distance seaward, for the tide had set against her. The morning was +bright and clear, the sea was perfectly smooth. As yet, the sails +hung idly down, but there were dark lines on the water that showed +that a breeze was coming.</p> + +<p>"We shall have plenty of wind presently," the skipper said. "See +how light the sky is to the south. There will be white tops on the +waves in an hour or two.</p> + +<p>"Here comes a flaw. Haul in your sheets, lads, now she begins to +move."</p> + +<p>The puff did not last long, dying away to nothing in a few +minutes, and then the lugger lay immovable again. The men whistled, +stamped the deck impatiently, and cast anxious glances back at the +cutter.</p> + +<p>"She is walking along fast," the skipper said, as he examined +her through a glass. "She has got the wind steady, and must be +slipping along at six knots an hour. This is hard luck on us. If we +don't get the breeze soon, it will be a close thing of it."</p> + +<p>Another quarter of an hour passed without a breath of wind +ruffling the water. The cutter was fully two miles nearer to them +than when she had first been seen, and was holding the wind +steadily.</p> + +<p>"Here it comes, lads," the skipper said cheerfully. "Another ten +minutes, and we shall have our share."</p> + +<p>The time seemed long, indeed, before the dark line on the water +reached the lugger, and there was something like a cheer, from the +crew, as the craft heeled slightly over, and then began to move +through the water. It was the true breeze this time, and increased +every moment in force, till the lugger was lying well over, with a +white wave at her bow.</p> + +<p>But the cutter had first gained by the freshening breeze, and +James Walsham, looking back at her, judged that there were not more +than four miles of water between the boats. The breeze was nearly +due west, and, as the lugger was headed as close as she would lie +to it, the cutter had hauled in her sheets and lay up on the same +course, so that they were now sailing almost parallel to each +other.</p> + +<p>"If we could change places," the skipper said, "we should be +safe. We can sail nearer the wind than she can, but she can edge +away now, and has all the advantage of us."</p> + +<p>James had already perceived this, and wondered that the lugger +did not pay off before the wind, so as to make a stern chase of +it.</p> + +<p>"I want to get a few miles farther out," the skipper said. +"Likely enough there is another cutter somewhere inshore. It is +quite enough to have one of these fellows at one's heels."</p> + +<p>Another half hour and the cutter, edging in, was little over +three miles distant. Then the skipper gave the word, the helm was +put down, the sheets slackened off, and, in a minute, the lugger +was running dead before the wind with her sails boomed out, one on +either side. The cutter followed her example, and hoisted a large +square sail.</p> + +<p>The wind was blowing fresh now, and the sea was getting up. Not +a cloud was to be seen in the sky, and the sun shone brightly on +the white heads which were beginning to show on the water. The +lugger was tearing along, occasionally throwing a cloud of spray +over her bows, and leaving a track of white water behind her.</p> + +<p>"I think she still gains on us," the captain said to the mate, +who had taken the helm.</p> + +<p>"Ay, she is gaining," the sailor agreed, "but the wind is +freshening every minute. She can't carry that topsail much longer. +It's pressing her bows under now."</p> + +<p>"She will go almost as fast without it," the skipper said.</p> + +<p>The commander of the cutter seemed to be of the same opinion, +for, just as he spoke, the topsail was seen to flutter, and then +descended to the deck. It was a quarter of an hour before the +skipper spoke again.</p> + +<p>"I think we just about hold our own," he said. "I didn't think +the <em>Polly</em> could have held her running."</p> + +<p>"She couldn't, in a light wind," the mate replied; "but with +this wind, it will want a fast boat to beat her."</p> + +<p>The hands were now set to work, shifting the kegs further +aft.</p> + +<p>"That's better," the skipper said presently. "I am sure we are +gaining ground, and our masts will stand it, if the cutter's +will."</p> + +<p>With her stern low in the water, the lugger was now tearing +along at a tremendous pace. Stout as were her masts, and strong the +stays, James Walsham wondered at their standing the strain of the +great brown sails, as they seemed, at times, almost to lift her +bodily out of the water. Buoyant as the craft was, the waves broke +over her bows and flooded her decks, and sheets of spray flew over +her.</p> + +<p>The cutter, with her sharper bows and all her sail forward, was +feeling it still more severely, and the spirits of all on board the +lugger rose rapidly, as it was evident that they were dropping +their pursuers. Suddenly, the gaff of the cutter's mainsail was +seen to droop, and the boom was hauled on board.</p> + +<p>"I thought it would be too much for them," the skipper said +exultantly. "They are going to reef."</p> + +<p>"We had better reef down too, I think," the mate said. "She has +had as much as she could bear for some time."</p> + +<p>"I'll hold on ten minutes longer," the skipper said. "Every half +mile counts."</p> + +<p>But before that time was up, the sails were one after another +reefed, for the wind continued to freshen. The sky was still +cloudless, but there was a misty light in the air, and a heavy sea +was beginning to run.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, a gun flashed out from the cutter. The skipper uttered +an oath. Their pursuer was more than three miles astern, and he +knew that she could only be firing as a signal.</p> + +<p>There were several large ships in sight on their way up or down +the Channel. To these, little attention had been paid. The skipper +shaded his eyes with a hand, and gazed earnestly at a large ship on +the weather beam, some four miles away.</p> + +<p>"That is a frigate, sure enough," he exclaimed. "We are fairly +caught between them.</p> + +<p>"Haul in the sheets, lads, we will have a try for it yet."</p> + +<p>The lugger was brought sharp up into the wind, and was soon +staggering along seaward, with the lee bulwark almost under water. +The cutter instantly lowered her square sail, and followed her +example, continuing to fire a gun every minute. All eyes were +turned towards the frigate, which was now on the port beam.</p> + +<p>"We shall cross two miles to windward of her," the skipper said. +"If she keeps on her course, a quarter of an hour will do it, but +she is sure to notice the guns. The wind will take them down to +her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there she goes."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a puff of smoke darted out from the frigate's bow. +Her sails fluttered, and her head bore round, until she was on the +same tack as the lugger.</p> + +<p>The latter was now about equidistant from her two pursuers. The +cutter and the lugger were nearly abreast, but the former, being to +windward, could edge down. The frigate was three miles to leeward, +but she was fully a mile ahead.</p> + +<p>"There is no way out of it," the skipper said bitterly. "In a +light wind we could run away from the frigate, but with this breeze +we have no chance with her. Look how she is piling on sail!"</p> + +<p>The crew shared the captain's opinion. Some shook their fists +and cursed vainly at their pursuers, some stood sullenly scowling, +while the French portion of the crew gave way to wild outbursts of +rage. Rapidly the three vessels closed in towards each other, for +the cutter edged in so rapidly that the lugger was obliged to bear +off towards the frigate again. As a last hope, the lugger's course +was changed, and she again tried running, but the superior weight +and power of the frigate brought her rapidly down. Presently a +heavy gun boomed out, and a shot came dancing along the water, a +hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>"Lower the sails," the skipper said. "It is no use going +farther. The inside of a prison is better than the bottom of the +sea, anyhow."</p> + +<p>Down came the sails, and the lugger lay rolling heavily in the +waves, as the frigate bore down upon her with a white roll of water +on her stem.</p> + +<p>"Get ready, lads," the skipper said. "There is just one chance +yet. She will run by us. The instant she is past, up sail again. We +shall be a mile away before they can get her round into the wind +again. If she doesn't cripple us with her shot, we may weather her +yet. We needn't mind the cutter."</p> + +<p>The frigate came foaming along, the crew busy in taking sail off +her. The instant she had passed, and was preparing to round to, the +sails of the lugger flew up like magic, and she was soon tearing +along almost in the eye of the wind, as if to meet the cutter, +which was running down towards her.</p> + +<p>"Down below, lads, every man of you," the captain shouted. "We +shall have a broadside in a minute."</p> + +<p>In a moment, the deck was clear of all save the skipper and his +mate, who stood at the tiller. The frigate swept slowly round, and +then, as her guns came to bear, shot after shot was fired at the +lugger, already three-quarters of a mile to the windward. The shot +hummed overhead, one struck the water alongside, a yard or two +away, but still she was untouched.</p> + +<p>"Some of her shots went as near the cutter as they did to us," +the skipper said. "She won't fire again."</p> + +<p>They were now fast approaching the cutter, which, when she was +within a quarter of a mile, changed her course and was brought up +again into the wind, firing the four guns she carried on her +broadside as she came round. The lugger's head was paid off, and +this placed the cutter on her starboard quarter, both going free. +The former was travelling the faster, but a gun was fired from the +cutter's bow, and the shot struck splinters from the lugger's +quarter. The crew were on deck again now.</p> + +<p>"Train that gun over the stern," the skipper said. "If we can +knock her mast out of her, we are saved. If not, they will have us +yet."</p> + +<p>He had scarcely spoken when there was a crash. A shot from the +cutter had struck the mizzen mast, a few feet above the deck, and +the mast and sail fell over to leeward. There was a cry of rage and +dismay.</p> + +<p>"Luck's against us," the skipper said bitterly. "Down with the +sail, lads. This time it is all up with us."</p> + +<p>The sail was lowered, and the lugger lay motionless in the +water, until the cutter came up and lay within fifty yards of her. +A boat was at once lowered, and an officer was rowed to the +lugger.</p> + +<p>"So we have caught you, my friends, at last," he said, as he +sprang on board.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't have done it, if it had not been for the frigate," +the skipper said.</p> + +<p>"No; I will say your craft sails like a witch," the officer +replied. "I wish we could have done it without her. It will make +all the difference to us. The frigate will get the lion's share of +the prize. What is the value of your cargo?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred kegs of brandy," the skipper replied, "and fifteen +hundred pounds' worth of lace and silks."</p> + +<p>"A good prize," the officer said. "Not your own, I hope, for you +have made a brave chase of it."</p> + +<p>"No," the skipper answered. "Fortunately, I only took a very +small share this time. It's bad enough to lose my boat; I own +two-thirds of her."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for you," the officer said, for he was in high +spirits at the success of the chase, and could afford to be +pleasant. "Here comes a boat from the frigate. You played them a +rare trick, and might have got off, if it hadn't been for that +lucky shot of ours.</p> + +<p>"I see you were just getting out a stern chaser," and he pointed +to the gun. "It is well for you that you didn't fire it, as you +can't be charged with armed resistance."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had fired it, for all that. It might have been my luck +to cripple you."</p> + +<p>"It would have made no difference if you had," the officer +replied. "The frigate would have overhauled you. With this wind she +would sail five feet to your four."</p> + +<p>The boat from the frigate now came alongside.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Cotterel?" the officer said, as he stepped on +board. "That was a lucky shot of yours; but I think it's lucky for +the lugger that you hit her, for the captain was so savage, at that +trick they played him, that I believe he would have sunk her when +he came up to her again. I heard him say to the first lieutenant, +'I won't give her a chance to play me such a trick again.'"</p> + +<p>"What orders have you brought?" the other asked.</p> + +<p>"We are outward bound, so you are to put a crew on board and +take her into port; but, as we are very short of hands, we will +relieve you of the prisoners."</p> + +<p>All on board the lugger were at once ordered into the frigate's +boat, and were rowed off to the ship. On gaining the deck, they +were drawn up in line, and the captain and first lieutenant came +up. The good humour of the former had been restored by the capture +of the lugger.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" he said, looking at the bandaged heads and arms of some +of the men, "so you have been having a fight trying to run your +cargo, I suppose. That will make it all the worse for you, when you +get on shore. Now, I might press you all without giving you a +choice, but I don't want unwilling hands, so I will leave it to +you. Which is it to be--an English prison for two or three years, +or a cruise on board the <em>Thetis</em>?"</p> + +<p>The greater part of the men at once stepped forward, and +announced their willingness to volunteer.</p> + +<p>"Who have we here," the captain asked, looking at the three +countrymen.</p> + +<p>"They are passengers, sir," the skipper of the lugger said, with +a half smile.</p> + +<p>A few questions brought to light the facts of the surprise while +the cargo was being landed.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lads," the captain said, "you are in the same boat +with the rest. You were engaged in an unlawful enterprise, and in +resisting his majesty's officers. You will get some months in +prison anyhow, if you go back. You had better stay on board, and +let me make men of you."</p> + +<p>The countrymen, however, preferred a prison to a man o' war.</p> + +<p>James Walsham had been turning over the matter in his mind. He +had certainly taken no part in the fray, but that would be +difficult to prove, and he could not account for his presence +except by acknowledging that he was there to warn them. It would +certainly be a case of imprisonment. Surely, it would be better to +volunteer than this. He had been longing for the sea, and here an +opportunity opened for him for abandoning the career his mother +intended for him, without setting himself in opposition to her +wishes. Surely she would prefer that he should be at sea for a year +or two to his being disgraced by imprisonment. He therefore now +stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"I do not belong to the lugger's crew, sir, and had nothing to +do with running their cargo, though I own I was on the spot at the +time. I am not a sailor, though I have spent a good deal of time on +board fishing boats. Mr. Horton, whom I see there, knows me, and +will tell you that I am a son of a doctor in Sidmouth. But, as I +have got into a scrape, I would rather serve than go back and stand +a trial."</p> + +<p>"Very well, my lad," the captain said. "I like your spirit, and +will keep my eye on you."</p> + +<p>The three countrymen and four of the French sailors, who +declined to join the <em>Thetis</em>, were taken back to the +cutter, and the <em>Thetis</em> at once proceeded on her way down +channel. James had given a hastily scribbled line, on the back of +an old letter which he happened to have in his pocket, to the men +who were to be taken ashore, but he had very little hope that it +would ever reach his mother. Nor, indeed, did it ever do so. When +the cutter reached Weymouth with the lugger, the men captured in +her were at once sent to prison, where they remained until they +were tried at assizes three months afterwards; and, although all +were acquitted of the charge of unlawful resistance to the king's +officers, as there was no proof against any of the six men +individually, they were sentenced to a year's imprisonment for +smuggling.</p> + +<p>Whether Jim's hurriedly written letter was thrown overboard, or +whether it was carried in the pocket of the man to whom he gave it +until worn into fragments, James never knew, but it never reached +his mother.</p> + +<p>The news that James was missing was brought to her upon the day +after the event by Mr. Wilks. He had, as usual, gone down after +breakfast to report how Aggie was getting on, with a message from +his mother that her charge was now so completely restored that it +was unnecessary for her to stay longer at the Hall, and that she +should come home that evening at her usual time. Hearing from the +girl that James had not returned since he went out at nine o'clock +on the previous evening, the old soldier sauntered down to the +beach, to inquire of the fishermen in whose boat James had gone +out.</p> + +<p>To his surprise, he found that none of the boats had put to sea +the evening before. The men seemed less chatty and communicative +than usual. Most of them were preparing to go out with their boats, +and none seemed inclined to enter into a conversation. Rather +wondering at their unusual reticence, Mr. Wilks strolled along to +where the officer of the revenue men was standing, with his +boatswain, watching the fishermen.</p> + +<p>"A fine morning, lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the latter assented. "There will be wind presently. Have +you heard of the doings of last night?"</p> + +<p>"No," Mr. Wilks said in surprise, "I have heard nothing. I was +just speaking to the fishermen, but they don't seem in as +communicative a mood as usual this morning."</p> + +<p>"The scamps know it is safest for them to keep their mouths +shut, just at present," the officer said grimly. "I have no doubt a +good many of them were concerned in that affair last night. We had +a fight with the smugglers. Two of my men were shot and one of +theirs, and there were a good many cutlass wounds on each side. We +have taken a score of prisoners, but they are all country people +who were assisting in the landing; the smugglers themselves all got +off. We made a mess of the affair altogether, thanks to some fellow +who rushed down and gave the alarm, and upset all the plans we had +laid.</p> + +<p>"It is too provoking. I had got news of the exact spot and hour +at which the landing was to take place. I had my men all up on the +cliff, and, as the fellows came up with kegs, they were to have +been allowed to get a hundred yards or so inland and would there +have been seized, and any shout they made would not have been heard +below. Lieutenant Fisher, with his party from the next station, was +to be a little way along at the foot of the cliffs, and when the +boats came with the second batch, he was to rush forward and +capture them, while we came down from above. Then we intended to +row off and take the lugger. There was not wind enough for her to +get away.</p> + +<p>"All was going well, and the men were just coming up the cliff +with the tubs, when someone who had passed us on the cliff ran down +shouting the alarm. We rushed down at once, but arrived too late. +They showed fight, and kept us back till Fisher's party came up; +but by that time the boats were afloat, and the smugglers managed +to get in and carry them off, in spite of us. We caught, as I tell +you, some of the countrymen, and Fisher has taken them off to +Weymouth, but most of them got away. There are several places where +the cliff can be climbed by men who know it, and I have no doubt +half those fishermen you see there were engaged in the +business."</p> + +<p>"Then the smuggler got away?" Mr. Wilks asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," the lieutenant said shortly. "I had sent word to +Weymouth, and I hope they will catch her in the offing. The lugger +came down this way first, but we made her out, and showed a blue +light. She must have turned and gone back again, for this morning +at daylight we made her out to the east. The cutter was giving +chase, and at first ran down fast towards her. Then the smugglers +got the wind, and the last we saw of them they were running up the +Channel, the cutter some three miles astern.</p> + +<p>"I would give a couple of months' pay to know who it was that +gave the alarm. I expect it was one of those fishermen. As far as +my men could make out in the darkness, the fellow was dressed as a +sailor. But I must say good morning, for I am just going to turn +in."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilks had been on the point of mentioning that James was +missing, but a vague idea that he might, in some way, be mixed up +with the events of the previous night, checked the question on his +lips; and yet he thought, as the officer walked away, it was not +probable. Had James been foolish enough to take part in such a +business, he would either have been taken prisoner, or would, after +he escaped, have returned home. He had evidently not been taken +prisoner, or the officer would have been sure to mention it.</p> + +<p>Much puzzled, he walked slowly back to the fishermen. Some of +the boats had already pushed off. He went up to three of the men, +whose boat, being higher up than the rest, would not be afloat for +another quarter of an hour.</p> + +<p>"Look here, lads," he said. "My young friend Jim Walsham is +missing this morning, and hasn't been at home all night. As none of +the fishing boats put out in the evening he cannot have gone to +sea. Can any of you tell me anything about him?"</p> + +<p>The men gave no answer.</p> + +<p>"You need not be afraid of speaking to me, you know," he went +on, "and it's no business of mine whether any of the men on the +shore were concerned in that affair. The lieutenant has just been +telling me of last night; but hearing of that, and finding Jim is +missing, I can't help thinking there is some connection between the +two things. Nothing you say to me will go further, that I can +promise you; but the lad's mother will be in a terrible way. I +can't make it out, for I know that, if he had anything to do with +this smuggling business, he would have told me. Again, if he was +there and got away, he would naturally have come straight home, for +his absence would only throw suspicion upon him."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Wilks," the youngest of the sailors said, "I don't +know nothing about it myself. No one does, so far as I know, but I +have heard say this morning as how he was there or thereabouts; but +don't you let out as I told you, 'cause they would want to know who +I heard it from."</p> + +<p>"You can rely upon my silence, my lad, and here's half a guinea +to drink my health between you. But can't you tell me a little +more?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, they do say as how it war Mr. Jim as came running +down into the middle of them on the beach, shouting the alarm, with +the revenue men close at his heels. I don't say as it were +he--likely enough it weren't--but that's the talk, and that's all I +have heared about the matter. How he came for to know of it, or how +he got there, no one knows, for sartin he has had nought to do with +any landings afore. He was a lot among us, but I know as he never +was told about it; for, though everyone would have trusted Jim, +still, seeing how he was placed, with his mother up at the Hall, +and the squire a magistrate, it was thought better as he shouldn't +be let into it. Everyone on the shore here likes Jim."</p> + +<p>"But if he was there, and he hasn't been taken prisoner--and I +am sure the lieutenant would have told me if he was--why shouldn't +he have got home?"</p> + +<p>"We didn't know as he hadn't got home, did us, Bill?" the +fisherman appealed to one of his comrades.</p> + +<p>"No," the other said. "We thought likely he had got safely away +with the rest. It war a dark night, and I expect as everyone was +too busy looking after himself to notice about others."</p> + +<p>"He may have been wounded," the old soldier said anxiously, "and +may be in hiding in some house near the place."</p> + +<p>The fisherman was silent. Such a thing was, of course, +possible.</p> + +<p>"He might that," one of the sailors said doubtfully, "and yet I +don't think it. The chase was a hot one, and I don't think anyone, +wounded so bad as he couldn't make his way home, would have got +away. I should say as it wur more likely as he got on board one of +the boats. It seems to me as though he might have come to warn +us--that is to say, to warn them, I mean--just to do em a good +turn, as he was always ready to do if he had the chance. But he +wouldn't have had anything to do with the scrimmage, and might have +been standing, quiet like, near the boats, when the other lot came +along the shore, and then, seeing as the game was up, he might, +likely enough, have jumped on board and gone off to the +lugger."</p> + +<p>"That is possible," Mr. Wilks said. "Anyhow, I will go off at +once, and make inquiries at all the houses within a mile or so of +the landing place."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: Discharged.</h2> + +<p>Contrary to his usual habits of punctuality, Mr. Wilks did not +return to luncheon at the Hall, and it was two hours later before +he came in, looking fagged and anxious. He had been to all the farm +houses within two miles of the scene of the fight, and had +ascertained, for certain, that Jim was not lying wounded at any of +them. At first, his inquiries had everywhere been coldly received. +There was scarce a farm house near the coast, but the occupants had +relations with the smugglers, assisting with their carts and men at +the landings, or having hiding places where goods could be stowed +away. At first, therefore, all professed entire ignorance of the +events of the previous night; but, when persuaded by the +earnestness of the old soldier's manner that his mission was a +friendly one, they became more communicative, and even owned that +some of their men had been taken prisoners and marched to Weymouth; +but none of them had heard of any wounded man being in hiding.</p> + +<p>Convinced, at last, that James must have gone off to the lugger, +Mr. Wilks returned to Sidmouth, a prey to great anxiety. Everything +depended now on whether the lugger was captured. If so, James would +have to stand his trial for being concerned in the fight on the +beach, and, as two of the revenue men had been killed, his sentence +might be a heavy one.</p> + +<p>If she got away, all would be well. They would doubtless hear by +letter from Jim, and it would be better that he should not return +at present to Sidmouth, but should at once take up his residence in +London, and commence his studies there.</p> + +<p>He met the squire just as the latter was starting for +Sidmouth.</p> + +<p>"Well, Wilks, we began to think that you were lost," he said, +cheerfully. "Aggie was downstairs to lunch, and was mightily +offended that you should not be there at her first appearance.</p> + +<p>"But you look tired and fagged. Has anything gone wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Things have gone very wrong, squire."</p> + +<p>And he related to his friend all the news that he had gathered, +and his conviction that James Walsham was on board the lugger.</p> + +<p>"This is a pretty kettle of fish," the squire said irritably. +"What on earth did the boy mean by getting himself mixed up with +such an affair as that?"</p> + +<p>"It is a foolish business, squire," the old soldier agreed. "But +we can't expect wise heads on young shoulders, I suppose. He, +somehow or other, learnt the surprise which the revenue men +intended, and as most of his friends, the fishermen, would probably +be concerned in it, he went to give them notice, intending, no +doubt, to go quietly back again before the revenue men arrived. I +don't know that he's altogether to be blamed in the matter. Most +young fellows would do the same."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose they would," the squire agreed reluctantly; +"but it is a most awkward business. If the lad gets caught, and +gets two or three years' imprisonment, it will ruin his prospects +in life. His mother will be broken hearted over the business, and I +am sure Aggie will take it terribly to heart. They were great +friends of old, though she hasn't seen much of him for the last two +or three years, and, of course, that affair of the other day has +made quite a hero of him."</p> + +<p>"We must hope the lugger will get safely over to France," his +companion said. "Then no great harm will have been done."</p> + +<p>"We must hope so," the squire assented moodily. "Confound the +young jackanapes, turning everything upside down, and upsetting us +all with his mad-brain freaks."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham was greatly distressed, when the news was broken to +her by Mr. Wilks, and Aggie cried so that the squire, at last, said +she must go straight up to bed unless she stopped, for she would be +making herself ill again. When she was somewhat pacified, the +matter was discussed in every light, but the only conclusion to be +arrived at was, that their sole hope rested in the hugger getting +safely off.</p> + +<p>"Of course, my dear madam," the squire said, "if they are taken +I will do my best to get a pardon for your son. I am afraid he will +have to stand his trial with the rest; but I think that, with the +representations I will make as to his good character, I may get a +mitigation, anyhow, of a sentence. If they find out that it was he +who gave the alarm, there will be no hope of a pardon; but if that +doesn't come out, one would represent his being there as a mere +boyish freak of adventure, and, in that case, I might get him a +free pardon. You must not take the matter too seriously to heart. +It was a foolish business, and that is the worst that can be said +of it."</p> + +<p>"I think it was a grand thing," Aggie said indignantly, "for him +to risk being shot, and imprisoned, and all sorts of dreadful +things, just to save other people."</p> + +<p>"And I think you are a goose, Aggie," the squire said. "If +everyone were to go and mix themselves up in other people's +business, there would be no end of trouble. I suppose next you will +say that, if you heard me arranging with the constable to make a +capture of some burglars, you would think it a grand thing to put +on your hat to run off to warn them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, grandpapa, how can you say such a thing!" the girl said. +"Burglars and smugglers are quite different. Burglars are wicked +men, and thieves and robbers. Smugglers are not, they are only +trying to get goods in without paying duty."</p> + +<p>"They try to rob the king, my dear, and in the eyes of the law +are just as criminal as burglars. Both of them are leagued to break +the law, and both will resist and take life if they are interfered +with. I allow that, in general estimation, the smugglers are looked +upon in a more favourable light, and that a great many people, who +ought to know better, are in league with them, but that does not +alter the facts of the case."</p> + +<p>The girl did not argue the question, but the squire was +perfectly aware that he had in no way convinced her, and that her +feeling, that James Walsham's action was a highly meritorious one, +was in no way shaken. It was agreed that nothing was to be said +about James's absence, and, after taking some refreshment, Mr. +Wilks went down into Sidmouth again, to tell the girl at Mrs. +Walsham's that she was not to gossip about James being away.</p> + +<p>Three days later, a letter was received by the squire from +Richard Horton.</p> + +<p>"I am taking the opportunity of writing a few lines to you, my +dear uncle, as I have a chance of sending it ashore by the revenue +cutter Thistle, which is lying alongside of us. Between us, we have +just captured a rascally smuggling lugger, with a cargo of lace, +silk, and spirits. You will, I am sure, be surprised and grieved to +hear that among the crew of the lugger was James Walsham. I could +hardly believe my eyes, when I saw him in such disreputable +company. It will be a sad blow for his poor mother. As we were +short of hands, our captain offered the crew of the lugger the +choice of shipping with us, or being sent on shore for trial. Most +of them chose the former alternative, among them James Walsham, of +which I was glad, as his mother will be spared the disgrace of his +being placed in the dock with his associates. I need not say that +if I could have obtained his release, I should have done so, +knowing that you had a high opinion of him; but it was, of course, +out of my power to interfere."</p> + +<p>The squire was alone in his study when he received the letter, +for it was midday before the post arrived at Sidmouth, when a man +from the Hall went down each day, with a bag, to fetch the letters. +He rang the bell, and ordered the servant to tell Mr. Wilks he +should be glad if he would step in to him. When his friend came, he +handed him the letter without a word.</p> + +<p>"That settles the matter," he said, as he threw the letter +angrily down upon the table. "A malicious young viper! I wish I had +him here."</p> + +<p>"It is not nicely worded," the squire said gravely; "but it was +an unpleasant story to have to tell."</p> + +<p>"It was not an unpleasant story for him to tell," the old +soldier said hotly. "There is malice in every line of it. He speaks +of the men as James's associates, talks about the disgrace he would +bring on his mother. There's malice, squire, in every line of +it."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's a bad letter," the squire assented gravely.</p> + +<p>"It's a natural letter," Mr. Wilks said savagely. "It is written +in a hurry, and he's had no time to pick and choose his words, and +round off his sentences, as he generally does in his letters to +you. He was so full of malicious exultation that he did not think +how much he was showing his feeling, as he wrote."</p> + +<p>"It's a bad letter and a nasty letter," the squire assented; +"but let that pass, now. The first question is--How are we to tell +Jim's mother? Do you think it will be a relief to her, or +otherwise?"</p> + +<p>"It will be a blow to know that the lugger has been captured," +Mr. Wilks said--"a severe blow, no doubt, for her escape is what we +have been building our hopes upon. It will be a heavy blow, too, +for her to know that James is a seaman before the mast; that it +will be years before she will see him again, and that all her plans +for his future are upset. But I think this will be much better for +her than if she knew he was a prisoner, and would have to stand a +trial.</p> + +<p>"Between ourselves, squire, as far as the lad himself is +concerned, I am not sure that he will be altogether sorry that +events have turned out as they have. In our talks together, he has +often confided to me that his own inclinations were altogether for +a life of activity and adventure; but that, as his mother's heart +was so set upon his following his father's profession, he had +resolved upon never saying a word, to her, which would lead her to +suppose that his own wishes lay in any other direction. This +business will give him the opportunity he has longed for, to see +the world, without his appearing in any way to thwart his mother's +plans."</p> + +<p>"At any rate," the squire said, "I am heartily glad he has got +off being tried. Even if I had got a free pardon for him, it would +have been a serious slur upon him that he had been imprisoned, and +would have been awkward for us all in the future. I think, Wilks, I +will leave it to you to break it to his mother."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the other agreed. "It is an unpleasant business, +squire; but perhaps I had better do it. It may console her if I +tell her that, at heart, he always wanted to go to sea, and that, +accustomed as he is to knock about in the fishermen's boats, he +will find it no hardship on board a man o' war, and will come back, +in the course of two or three years, none the worse for his cruise. +She may think he will take up doctoring again after that, though I +have my doubts whether he will do that. However, there is no use in +telling her so. Shall I show her that letter, squire?"</p> + +<p>"No," the squire replied, "of course you can tell her what's in +it; but I will keep the letter myself. I would give a good deal if +he had not written it. It is certainly badly worded, though why he +should feel any malice, towards the other, is more than I can +tell."</p> + +<p>His companion was about to speak, but thought better of it, and, +without another word, went to break the news to Mrs. Walsham.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham was terribly upset. After suffering her to cry for +some time in silence, Mr. Wilks said:</p> + +<p>"My dear madam, I know that this news must distress you +terribly; but it may be that in this, as in all things, a +providence has overruled your plans for your son, for his own good. +I will tell you now what you would never have known had this affair +never occurred. Jim, at heart, hates his father's profession. He is +a dutiful son and, rather than give you pain, he was prepared to +sacrifice all his own feelings and wishes. But the lad is full of +life and energy. The dull existence of a country surgeon, in a +little town like this, is the last he would adopt as his own +choice; and I own that I am not surprised that a lad of spirit +should long for a more adventurous life. I should have told you +this long ago, and advised you that it would be well for you both +to put it frankly to him that, although you would naturally like to +see him following his father's profession, still that you felt that +he should choose for himself; and that, should he select any other +mode of life, you would not set your wishes against his. But the +lad would not hear of my doing so. He said that, rather than upset +your cherished plans, he would gladly consent to settle down in +Sidmouth for life. I honoured him for his filial spirit; but, +frankly, I think he was wrong. An eagle is not made to live in a +hen coop, nor a spirited lad to settle down in a humdrum village; +and I own that, although I regret the manner of his going, I cannot +look upon it as an unmixed evil, that the force of circumstances +has taken him out of the course marked out for him, and that he +will have an opportunity of seeing life and adventure."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham had listened, with a surprise too great to admit of +her interrupting the old soldier's remarks.</p> + +<p>"I never dreamed of this," she said at last, when he ceased. "I +cannot remember, now, that I ever asked him, but I took it for +granted that he would like nothing better than to follow in his +father's steps. Had I known that he objected to it, I would not for +a moment have forced him against his inclinations. Of course it is +natural that, being alone in the world, I should like to have him +with me still, but I would never have been so selfish as to have +sacrificed his life to mine. Still, though it would be hard to have +parted from him in any way, it is harder still to part like this. +If he was to go, he need not have gone as a common sailor. The +squire, who has done so much for him, would no doubt, instead of +sending him to school, have obtained a midshipman's berth for him, +or a commission in the army; but it is dreadful to think of him as +a common sailor, liable to be flogged."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mrs. Walsham, perhaps we may set the matter partly to +rights. I will speak to the squire, and I am sure he will write to +his friend at the admiralty, and have an order sent out, at once, +for Jim's discharge. At the same time, it would be better that he +should not return here just at present. His name may come out, at +the trial of the smugglers, as being concerned in the affair, and +it would be better that he should stay away, till that matter blows +over. At any rate, if I were you I should write to him, telling him +that you know now that he has no taste for the medical profession, +and that, should he see anything that he thinks will suit him in +America, you would not wish him to come home immediately, if he has +a fancy for staying out there; but that, if he chooses to return, +you are sure that the squire will exert himself, to give him a +start in any other profession he may choose."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Walsham agreed to carry out the suggestion and, that +afternoon, the squire sent off a letter to his friend at the +admiralty, and three letters were also posted to James himself.</p> + +<p>The voyage of the <em>Thetis</em> was uneventful. Her +destination was Hampton, at the opening of Chesapeake Bay, where +the troops on board would join the expedition under General +Braddock, which was advancing up the Potomac. When she arrived +there, they found several ships of war under Commodore Keppel. +Braddock's force had marched to Wills Creek, where a military post +named Fort Cumberland had been formed. The soldiers on board were +at once disembarked, and marched up the banks of the Potomac to +join the force at Fort Cumberland. The sailors were employed in +taking stores up the river in boats.</p> + +<p>James Walsham had done his best, during the voyage, to acquire a +knowledge of his duties. His experience in the fishing boats was +useful to him now, and he was soon able to do his work as an +able-bodied seaman. His good spirits and willingness rendered him a +general favourite. He was glad that he was not put in the same +watch with Richard Horton, as, after their first meeting, the young +lieutenant showed no signs of recognition. He was not, James found, +popular among the men. He was exacting and overbearing with them, +and some on board, who had served with him on his previous voyage, +had many tales to his disadvantage.</p> + +<p>A fortnight after the arrival of the <em>Thetis</em> at Hampton, +orders were issued among the ships of war for thirty volunteers for +Braddock's expedition, of which the <em>Thetis</em> was to furnish +ten. So many sent in their names, that the first lieutenant had +difficulty in choosing ten, who were looked upon with envy by the +rest of the ship's company; for there seemed little chance, at +present, of fighting at sea, and the excitement of a march on +shore, with adventures of all sorts, and encounters with the French +and their Indian allies, seemed delightful to the tars.</p> + +<p>Upon the following day a ship arrived from England and, an hour +afterwards, an order was passed forward that the first lieutenant +wanted James Walsham upon the quarterdeck.</p> + +<p>"Walsham," he said, "an order has just come from the admiralty +for your discharge, and you are to have a passage in the first ship +returning, if you choose to take it. I am sorry you are leaving the +ship, for I have noticed that you show great willingness and +activity, and will make a first-rate sailor. Still, I suppose, your +friends in England did not care about your remaining before the +mast."</p> + +<p>James touched his hat and walked forward. He was scarcely +surprised, for he had thought that his mother would probably ask +the squire to use his influence to obtain his discharge. He +scarcely knew whether he was glad or sorry. He was in a false +position, and could not hope for promotion except by some lucky +chance, such as was not likely to occur, of distinguishing +himself.</p> + +<p>At the same time, he sighed as he thought that he must now +return and take up the profession for which his mother had intended +him. A quarter of an hour later, however, the ship's corporal came +round and distributed the mails, and James, to his delight, found +there were three letters for him. He tore open that from his +mother. It began by gently upbraiding him for getting himself mixed +up in the fight between the smugglers and the revenue men.</p> + +<p>"In the next place, my dear boy," she said, "I must scold you, +even more, for not confiding in your mother as to your wishes about +your future profession. Mr. Wilks has opened my eyes to the fact +that, while I have all along been taking it for granted, that your +wishes agreed with mine as to your profession, you have really been +sacrificing all your own inclinations in order to avoid giving me +pain. I am very thankful to him for having opened my eyes, for I +should have been grieved indeed had I found, when too late, that I +had chained you down to a profession you dislike.</p> + +<p>"Of course, I should have liked to have had you with me, but in +no case would have had you sacrifice yourself; still less now, when +I have met with such kind friends, and am happy and comfortable in +my life. Therefore, my boy, let us set aside at once all idea of +your becoming a doctor. There is no occasion for you to choose, +immediately, what you will do. You are too old now to enter the +royal navy, and it is well that, before you finally decide on a +profession, you have the opportunity of seeing something of the +world.</p> + +<p>"I inclose bank notes for a hundred pounds so that, if you like, +you can stay for a few weeks or months in the colonies, and then +take your passage home from New York or Boston. By that time, too, +all talk about this affair with the smugglers will have ceased; +but, as your name is likely to come out at the trial of the men who +were taken, so the squire thinks it will be better for you to keep +away, for a time."</p> + +<p>The rest of the letter was filled up with an account of the +excitement and alarm which had been felt when he was first +missed.</p> + +<p>"We were glad, indeed," she said, "when a letter was received +from Richard Horton, saying that you were on board the +<em>Thetis</em>. Mr. Wilks tells me it was an abominably spiteful +letter, and I am sure the squire thinks so, too, from the tone in +which he spoke this afternoon about his nephew; but I can quite +forgive him, for, if it had not been for his letter, we should not +have known what had become of you, and many months might have +passed before we might have heard from you in America. As it is, +only four or five days have been lost, and the squire is writing +tonight to obtain your discharge, which he assures me there will be +no difficulty whatever about."</p> + +<p>The squire's was a very cordial letter, and he, too, enclosed +notes for a hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wilks tells me," he said, "that you do not like the thought +of doctoring. I am not surprised, and I think that a young fellow, +of such spirit and courage as you have shown, ought to be fitted +for something better than administering pills and draughts to the +old women of Sidmouth. Tell me frankly, when you write, what you +would like. You are, of course, too old for the royal navy. If you +like to enter the merchant service, I have no doubt I could arrange +with some shipping firm in Bristol, and would take care that, by +the time you get to be captain, you should also be part owner of +the ship. If, on the other hand, you would like to enter the +army--and it seems to me that there are stirring times +approaching--I think that, through one or other of my friends in +London, I could obtain a commission for you. If there is anything +else you would like better than this, you may command my best +services. I never forget how much I am indebted to you for my +present happiness, and, whatever I can do for you, still shall feel +myself deeply your debtor."</p> + +<p>The old soldier wrote a characteristic letter. In the first +place, he told James that he regarded him as a fool, for mixing up +in an affair in which he had no concern whatever. Then he +congratulated him on the fact that circumstances had broken the +chain from which he would never otherwise have freed himself.</p> + +<p>"You must not be angry with me," he said, "for having betrayed +your confidence, and told the truth to your mother. I did it in +order to console her, by showing her that things were, after all, +for the best; and I must say that madam took my news in the very +best spirit, and I am sure you will see this by her letter to you. +There is no one I honour and esteem more than I do her, and I was +sure, all along, that you were making a mistake in not telling her +frankly what your wishes were. Now you have got a roving commission +for a time, and it will be your own fault if you don't make the +best of it. There is likely to be an exciting time in the colonies, +and you are not the lad I take you for, if you dawdle away your +time in the towns, instead of seeing what is going on in the +forest."</p> + +<p>These letters filled James with delight, and, without an hour's +delay, he sat down to answer them. In his letter to the squire he +thanked him most warmly for his kindness, and said that, above all +things, he should like a commission in the army. He wrote a very +tender and affectionate letter to his mother, telling her how much +he felt her goodness in so promptly relinquishing her own plans, +and in allowing him to choose the life he liked.</p> + +<p>"Thank Aggie," he concluded, "for the message she sent by you. +Give her my love, and don't let her forget me."</p> + +<p>To the old soldier he wrote a gossipping account of his +voyage.</p> + +<p>"It was impossible," he said, "for the news of my discharge to +have come at a better moment. Thirty sailors from the fleet are +going with General Braddock's force, and everyone else is envying +their good luck--I among them. Now I shall go up, at once, and join +the Virginian regiment which is accompanying them. I shall join +that, instead of either of the line regiments, as I can leave when +I like. Besides, if the squire is able to get me a commission, it +would have been pleasanter for me to have been fighting here as a +volunteer, than as a private in the line.</p> + +<p>"By the way, nobody thinks there will be much fighting, so don't +let my mother worry herself about me; but, at any rate, a march +through the great forests of this country, with a chance of a brush +with the redskins, will be great fun. Perhaps, by the time it is +over, I may get a letter from you saying that I have got my +commission. As I hear there is a chance of a regular war between +the French and us out here, the commission may be for a regiment on +this side."</p> + +<p>After finishing his letters, and giving them to the ship's +corporal to place in the next post bag, James said goodbye to his +messmates, and prepared to go on shore. The ten men chosen for the +expedition were also on the point of starting. Richard Horton was +standing near, in a state of great discontent that he had not been +chosen to accompany them in their expedition. James Walsham stepped +up to him, and touched his hat respectfully.</p> + +<p>"I wish to thank you, Lieutenant Horton, for your extremely kind +letter, telling my friends that I was on board this ship. It has +been the means of my obtaining my discharge at once, instead of +having to serve, for many months, before I could send the news home +and obtain an answer in return."</p> + +<p>Without another word he turned and, walking to the gangway, took +his place in a boat about starting with some sailors for the shore, +leaving Richard Horton in a state of fury, with himself, for having +been the means of obtaining James's discharge. He had already, more +than once, felt uncomfortable as he thought of the wording of the +letter; and that this indulgence of his spite had had the effect of +restoring James's liberty, rendered him well-nigh mad with +rage.</p> + +<p>On landing, James Walsham at once disposed of his sailor's +clothes, and purchased a suit similar to those worn by the +colonists; then he obtained a passage up the river to Alexandria, +where the transports which had brought the troops were still lying. +Here, one of the companies of the Virginia corps was stationed, and +James, finding that they were expecting, every day, to be ordered +up to Wills Creek, determined to join them at once.</p> + +<p>The scene was a busy one. Stores were being landed from the +transports, teamsters were loading up their waggons, officers were +superintending the operations, the men of the Virginia corps, who +wore no uniform, but were attired in the costume used by hunters +and backwoodsmen; namely, a loose hunting shirt, short trousers or +breeches, and gaiters; were moving about unconcernedly, while a few +of them, musket on shoulder, were on guard over the piles of +stores.</p> + +<p>Presently a tall, slightly-built young man, with a pleasant but +resolute face, came riding along, and checked his horse close to +where James was standing. James noticed that the men on sentry, who +had, for the most part, been sitting down on fallen logs of wood, +bales, or anything else which came handy; with their muskets across +their knees, or leaning beside them; got up and began pacing to and +fro, with some semblance of military position.</p> + +<p>"Who is that young man?" he asked a teamster standing by.</p> + +<p>"That is Colonel Washington," the man replied, "one of the +smartest of the colonial officers."</p> + +<p>"Why, he only looks two or three and twenty," James said in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"He is not more than that," the man said; "but age don't go for +much here, and Colonel Washington is adjutant general of the +Virginian militia. Only a few months back, he made a journey with +despatches, right through the forests to the French station at Port +de Beuf, and, since then, he has been in command of the party which +went out to build a fort, at the forks of the Ohio, and had some +sharp fighting with the French. A wonderful smart young officer +they say he is, just as cool, when the bullets are flying, as if +sitting on horseback."</p> + +<p>James resolved, at once, that he would speak to Colonel +Washington, and ask him if he could join the Virginian militia. He +accordingly went up to him, and touched his hat.</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, I am anxious to join the Virginian militia, +and, as they tell me that you are adjutant general, I have come to +ask you if I can do so."</p> + +<p>"I see no difficulty in it, my lad," the colonel said; "but if +you have run away from home, in search of adventure, I should +advise you to go back again, for we are likely to have heavy +work."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind that, sir, and I have not run away. I am English. +I was pressed on board a frigate, and was brought over here, but my +friends in England procured my discharge, which came for me here, a +fortnight after my arrival. They are, I believe, about to obtain +for me a commission in a king's regiment; but, as I was here, I +thought that I should like to see some service, as it may be some +months before I hear that I have got my commission. I would rather +if I could join as a volunteer, as I do not want pay, my friends +having supplied me amply with money."</p> + +<p>"You seem to be a lad of spirit," Colonel Washington said, "and +I will at once put you in the way of doing what you desire. You +shall join the Virginian corps as a volunteer. Have you money +enough to buy a horse?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, plenty," Jim said. "I have two hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>"Then you had better leave a hundred and fifty, at least, behind +you," the colonel said. "I will direct you to a trader here, with +whom you can bank it. You can get an excellent horse for twenty +pounds. I asked you because, if you like, I can attach you to +myself. I often want a mounted messenger; and, of course, as a +volunteer, you would mess with me."</p> + +<p>"I should like it above all things," James said thankfully.</p> + +<p>"Then we will at once go to the tent of the officer commanding +this company," Washington said, "and enroll you as a +volunteer."</p> + +<p>On reaching the tent, Washington dismounted and led the way +in.</p> + +<p>"Captain Hall," he said, "this is a young English gentleman, who +will shortly have a commission in the king's army, but, in the +meantime, he wishes to see a little brisk fighting, so he is to be +enrolled as a volunteer in your company; but he is going to obtain +a horse, and will act as a sort of aide-de-camp to me."</p> + +<p>Captain Hall at once entered James's name as a volunteer on the +roll of his company.</p> + +<p>"Do you know of anyone who has a good horse for sale?" +Washington asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the captain replied, "at least, there was a farmer here +half an hour ago with a good-looking horse which he wants to sell. +I have no doubt he is in the camp, still."</p> + +<p>Captain Hall went to the door of the tent, and told two of the +men there to find the farmer, and tell him he had a purchaser for +his horse.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the farmer came up, and James bought the +horse, Captain Hall doing the bargaining for him.</p> + +<p>"Now," Washington said, "we will go round to the storekeeper I +spoke of, and deposit the best part of your money with him. I +should only take a pound or two, if I were you, for you will find +no means of spending money when you once set forward, and, should +anything happen to you, the Indians would not appreciate the value +of those English notes of yours. You will want a brace of pistols +and a sword, a blanket, and cooking pot--that is about the extent +of your camp equipment."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: The Defeat Of Braddock.</h2> + +<p>England and France were, at this time, at peace in Europe, +although the troops of both nations were about to engage in +conflict, in the forests of America. Their position there was an +anomalous one. England owned the belt of colonies on the east +coast. France was mistress of Canada in the north, of Louisiana in +the south, and, moreover, claimed the whole of the vast country +lying behind the British colonies, which were thus cooped up on the +seaboard. Her hold, however, of this great territory was extremely +slight. She had strong posts along the chain of lakes from the +Saint Lawrence to Lake Superior, but between these and Louisiana, +her supremacy was little more than nominal.</p> + +<p>The Canadian population were frugal and hardy, but they were +deficient in enterprise; and the priests, who ruled them with a rod +of iron, for Canada was intensely Catholic, discouraged any +movements which would take their flocks from under their charge. +Upon the other hand, the colonists of New England, Pennsylvania, +and Virginia were men of enterprise and energy, and their traders, +pushing in large numbers across the Alleghenies, carried on an +extensive trade with the Indians in the valley of the Ohio, thereby +greatly exciting the jealousy of the French, who feared that the +Indians would ally themselves with the British colonists, and that +the connection between Canada and Louisiana would be thereby +cut.</p> + +<p>The English colonists were greatly superior to the French in +number; but they laboured under the disadvantage that the colonies +were wholly independent of each other, with strong mutual +jealousies, which paralysed their action and prevented their +embarking upon any concerted operations. Upon the other hand, +Canada was governed by the French as a military colony. The +governor was practically absolute, and every man capable of bearing +arms could, if necessary, be called by him into the field. He had +at his disposal not only the wealth of the colony, but large +assistance from France, and the French agents were, therefore, able +to outbid the agents of the British colonies with the Indians.</p> + +<p>For years there had been occasional troubles between the New +England States and the French, the latter employing the Indians in +harassing the border; but, until the middle of the eighteenth +century, there had been nothing like a general trouble. In 1749 the +Marquis of Galissoniere was governor general of Canada. The treaty +of Aix la Chapelle had been signed; but this had done nothing to +settle the vexed question of the boundaries between the English and +French colonies. Meanwhile, the English traders from Pennsylvania +and Virginia were poaching on the domain which France claimed as +hers, ruining the French fur trade, and making friends with the +Indian allies of Canada. Worse still, farmers were pushing westward +and settling in the valley of the Ohio.</p> + +<p>In order to drive these back, to impress the natives with the +power of France, and to bring them back to their allegiance, the +governor of Canada, in the summer of 1749, sent Celoron de +Bienville. He had with him fourteen officers, twenty French +soldiers, a hundred and eighty Canadians, and a band of Indians. +They embarked in twenty-three birch-bark canoes, and, pushing up +the Saint Lawrence, reached Lake Ontario, stopping for a time at +the French fort of Frontenac, and avoiding the rival English port +of Oswego on the southern shore, where a trade in beaver skins, +disastrous to French interests, was being carried on, for the +English traders sold their goods at vastly lower prices than those +which the French had charged.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of July the party reached Niagara, where there was a +small French fort, and thence, carrying their canoes round the +cataract, launched them upon Lake Erie. Landing again on the +southern shore of the lake, they carried their canoes nine miles +through the forest to Chautauqua Lake, and then dropped down the +stream running out of it until they reached the Ohio. The fertile +country here was inhabited by the Delawares, Shawanoes, Wyandots, +and Iroquois, or Indians of the Five Nations, who had migrated +thither from their original territories in the colony of New York. +Further west, on the banks of the Miami, the Wabash, and other +streams, was a confederacy of the Miami and their kindred tribes. +Still further west, in the country of the Illinois, near the +Mississippi, the French had a strong stone fort called Fort +Chartres, which formed one of the chief links of the chain of posts +that connected Quebec with New Orleans.</p> + +<p>The French missionaries and the French political agents had, for +seventy years, laboured hard to bring these Indian tribes into +close connection with France. The missionaries had failed signally; +but the presents, so lavishly bestowed, had inclined the tribes to +the side of their donors, until the English traders with their +cheap goods came pushing west over the Alleghenies. They carried +their goods on the backs of horses, and journeyed from village to +village, selling powder, rum, calicoes, beads, and trinkets. No +less than three hundred men were engaged in these enterprises, and +some of them pushed as far west as the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>As the party of Celoron proceeded they nailed plates of tin, +stamped with the arms of France, to trees; and buried plates of +lead near them, with inscriptions saying that they took possession +of the land in the name of Louis the Fifteenth, King of France.</p> + +<p>Many of the villages were found to be deserted by the natives, +who fled at their approach. At some, however, they found English +traders, who were warned at once to leave the country; and, by some +of them, letters were sent to the governor of Pennsylvania, in +which Celoron declared that he was greatly surprised to find +Englishmen trespassing in the domain of France, and that his orders +were precise, to leave no foreign traders within the limits of the +government of Canada.</p> + +<p>At Chiningue, called Logstown by the English, a large number of +natives were gathered, most of the inhabitants of the deserted +villages having sought refuge there. The French were received with +a volley of balls from the shore; but they landed without replying +to the fire, and hostilities were avoided. The French kept guard +all night, and in the morning Celoron invited the chiefs to a +council, when he told them he had come, by the order of the +governor, to open their eyes to the designs of the English against +their lands, and that they must be driven away at once. The reply +of the chiefs was humble; but they begged that the English traders, +of whom there were, at that moment, ten in the town, might stay a +little longer, since the goods they brought were necessary to +them.</p> + +<p>After making presents to the chiefs, the party proceeded on +their way, putting up the coats of arms and burying the lead +inscriptions. At Scioto a large number of Indians were assembled, +and the French were very apprehensive of an attack, which would +doubtless have been disastrous to them, as the Canadians of the +party were altogether unused to war. A council was held, however, +at which Celoron could obtain no satisfaction whatever, for the +interests of the Indians were bound up with the English.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that, had they been able to look into the +future, every Indian on the continent would have joined the French +in their effort to crush the English colonies. Had France remained +master of America the Indians might, even now, be roaming free and +unmolested on the lands of their forefathers. France is not a +colonizing nation. She would have traded with the Indians, would +have endeavoured to Christianize them, and would have left them +their land and freedom, well satisfied with the fact that the flag +of France should wave over so vast an extent of country; but on +England conquering the soil, her armies of emigrants pressed west, +and the red man is fast becoming extinct on the continent of which +he was once the lord.</p> + +<p>Celoron's expedition sailed down the Ohio until it reached the +mouth of the Miami, and toiled for thirteen days against its +shallow current, until they reached a village of the Miami Indians, +ruled over by a chief called, by the French, La Demoiselle, but +whom the English, whose fast friend he was, called Old Britain. He +was the great chief of the Miami confederation.</p> + +<p>The English traders there withdrew at the approach of the +French. The usual council was held, and Celoron urged the chief to +remove from this location, which he had but newly adopted, and to +take up his abode, with his band, near the French fort on the +Maumee. The chief accepted the Frenchman's gifts, thanked him for +his good advice, and promised to follow it at a more convenient +time; but neither promises nor threats could induce him to stir at +once.</p> + +<p>No sooner, indeed, had the French departed, than the chief +gathered the greater part of the members of the confederation on +that spot; until, in less than two years after the visit of +Celoron, its population had increased eightfold, and it became one +of the greatest Indian towns of the west, and the centre of English +trade and influence.</p> + +<p>Celoron reached Miami, and then returned northward to Lake Erie, +and thence back to Montreal, when he reported to the governor that +English influence was supreme in the valley of the Ohio.</p> + +<p>In the following year, a company was formed in Virginia for +effecting a settlement in Ohio, and a party proceeded west to the +village of the chief called Old Britain, by whom they were received +with great friendship, and a treaty of peace was solemnly made +between the English and the Indians. While the festivities, +consequent on the affair, were going on, four Ottawa Indians +arrived from the French, with the French flag and gifts, but they +were dismissed with an answer of defiance. If, at this time, the +colonists could have cemented their alliance with the Indians, with +gifts similar to those with which the French endeavoured to +purchase their friendship, a permanent peace with the Indians might +have been established; but the mutual jealousies of the colonies, +and the nature of the various colonial assemblies, rendered any +common action impossible. Pennsylvania was jealous of the westward +advance of Virginia, and desired to thwart rather than to assist +her.</p> + +<p>The governors of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were fully +conscious of the importance of the Indian alliance, but they could +do nothing without their assemblies. Those of New York and +Pennsylvania were largely composed of tradesmen and farmers, +absorbed in local interests, and animated but by two motives; the +cutting down of all expenditure, and bitter and continuous +opposition to the governor, who represented the royal authority. +Virginia and Pennsylvania quarrelled about their respective rights +over the valley of the Ohio. The assembly of New York refused to +join in any common action, saying, "We will take care of our +Indians, and they may take care of theirs."</p> + +<p>The states further removed from the fear of any danger, from the +action of the Indians and French, were altogether lukewarm.</p> + +<p>Thus, neither in the valley of the Ohio, nor on the boundaries +of the New England states, did the Indians receive their promised +gifts, and, as the French agents were liberal both in presents and +promises, the Indians became discontented with their new friends, +and again turned their eyes towards France. Old Britain, however, +remained firm in his alliance; and the English traders, by constant +presents, and by selling their goods at the lowest possible rates, +kept him and his warriors highly satisfied and contented.</p> + +<p>The French, in vain, tried to stir up the friendly tribes to +attack Oswego on Lake Ontario, and the village of Old Britain, +which were the two centres to which the Indians went to trade with +the English; but they were unsuccessful until, in June, 1752, +Charles Langlade, a young French trader, married to a squaw at +Green Bay, and strong in influence with the tribes of that region, +came down the lakes with a fleet of canoes, manned by two hundred +and fifty Ottawa and Ojibwa warriors. They stopped awhile at the +fort at Detroit, then paddled up the Maumee to the next fort, and +thence marched through the forests against the Miamis.</p> + +<p>They approached Old Britain's village in the morning. Most of +the Indians were away on their summer hunt, and there were but +eight English traders in the place. Three of these were caught +outside the village, the remaining five took refuge in the +fortified warehouse they had built, and there defended +themselves.</p> + +<p>Old Britain and the little band with him fought bravely, but +against such overwhelming numbers could do nothing, and fourteen of +them, including their chief, were killed. The five white men +defended themselves till the afternoon, when two of them managed to +make their escape, and the other three surrendered. One of them was +already wounded, and was at once killed by the French Indians. +Seventy years of the teaching of the French missionaries had not +weaned the latter from cannibalism, and Old Britain was boiled and +eaten.</p> + +<p>The Marquis of Duquesne, who had succeeded Galissoniere as +governor, highly praised Langlade for the enterprise, and +recommended him to the minister at home for reward. This bold +enterprise further shook the alliance of the Indians with the +English, for it seemed to them that the French were enterprising +and energetic, while the English were slothful and cowardly, and +neglected to keep their agreements. The French continued to build +forts, and Dinwiddie, governor of Virginia, sent George Washington +to protest, in his name, against their building forts on land +notoriously belonging to the English crown.</p> + +<p>Washington performed the long and toilsome journey through the +forests at no slight risks, and delivered his message at the forts, +but nothing came of it. The governor of Virginia, seeing the +approaching danger, made the greatest efforts to induce the other +colonies to join in common action; but North Carolina, alone, +answered the appeal, and gave money enough to raise three or four +hundred men. Two independent companies maintained by England in New +York, and one in South Carolina, received orders to march to +Virginia. The governor had raised, with great difficulty, three +hundred men. They were called the Virginia Regiment. An English +gentleman named Joshua Fry was appointed the colonel, and +Washington their major.</p> + +<p>Fry was at Alexandria, on the Potomac, with half the regiment. +Washington, with the other half, had pushed forward to the +storehouse at Wills Creek, which was to form the base of +operations. Besides these, Captain Trent, with a band of +backwoodsmen, had crossed the mountain to build a fort at the forks +of the Ohio, where Pittsburgh now stands.</p> + +<p>Trent had gone back to Wills Creek, leaving Ensign Ward, with +forty men, at work upon the fort, when, on the 17th of April, a +swarm of canoes came down the Allegheny, with over five hundred +Frenchmen, who planted cannon against the unfinished stockade, and +summoned the ensign to surrender. He had no recourse but to submit, +and was allowed to depart, with his men, across the mountains.</p> + +<p>The French at once set to, to build a strong fort, which they +named Fort Duquesne. While the governor of Virginia had been +toiling, in vain, to get the colonists to move, the French had +acted promptly, and the erection of their new fort at once covered +their line of communication to the west, barred the advance of the +English down the Ohio valley, and secured the allegiance of all the +wavering Indian tribes.</p> + +<p>Although war had not yet been declared between England and +France, the colonists, after this seizure, by French soldiers, of a +fort over which the English flag was flying, henceforth acted as if +the two powers were at war. Washington moved forward from Wills +Creek with his hundred and fifty men, and surprised a French force +which had gone out scouting. Several of the French were killed, and +the commander of Fort Duquesne sent despatches to France to say +that he had sent this party out with a communication to Washington, +and that they had been treacherously assassinated.</p> + +<p>This obscure skirmish was the commencement of a war which set +two continents on fire. Colonel Fry died a few days after this +fight, and Washington succeeded to the command of the regiment, and +collected his three hundred men at Green Meadow, where he was +joined by a few Indians, and by a company from South Carolina.</p> + +<p>The French at Duquesne were quickly reinforced, and the command +was given to Coulon de Villiers, the brother of an officer who had +been killed in the skirmish with Washington. He at once advanced +against the English, who had fallen back to a rough breastwork +which they called Fort Necessity, Washington having but four +hundred men, against five hundred French and as many Indians.</p> + +<p>For nine hours the French kept up a hot fire on the +intrenchment, but without success, and at nightfall Villiers +proposed a parley. The French ammunition was running short, the men +were fatigued by their marches, and drenched by the rain which had +been falling the whole day. The English were in a still worse +plight. Their powder was nearly spent, their guns were foul, and +among them they had but two cleaning rods.</p> + +<p>After a parley, it was agreed that the English should march off +with drums beating and the honours of war, carrying with them all +their property; that the prisoners taken in the previous affair +should be set free, two officers remaining with the French as +hostages until they were handed over.</p> + +<p>Washington and his men arrived, utterly worn out with fatigue +and famine, at Wills Creek. This action left the French masters of +the whole country beyond the Alleghenies.</p> + +<p>The two mother nations were now preparing for war, and, in the +middle of January, 1755, Major General Braddock, with the 44th and +48th Regiments, each five hundred strong, sailed from Cork for +Virginia; while the French sent eighteen ships of war and six +battalions to Canada.</p> + +<p>Admiral Boscawen, with eleven ships of the line and one frigate, +set out to intercept the French expedition. The greater part of the +fleet evaded him, but he came up with three of the French men of +war, opened fire upon them, and captured them. Up to this time a +pretence of negotiations had been maintained between England and +France, but the capture of the French ships brought the +negotiations to a sudden end, and the war began.</p> + +<p>A worse selection than that of Major General Braddock could +hardly have been made. He was a brave officer and a good soldier, +but he was rough, coarse, and obstinate. He utterly despised the +colonial troops, and regarded all methods of fighting, save those +pursued by regular armies in the field, with absolute contempt. To +send such a man to command troops destined to fight in thick +forests, against an enemy skilled in warfare of that kind, was to +court defeat.</p> + +<p>As might be expected, Braddock was very soon on the worst +possible terms with the whole of the colonial authorities, and the +delays caused by the indecision or obstinacy of the colonial +assemblies chafed him to madness. At last, however, his force was +assembled at Wills Creek. The two English regiments had been +raised, by enlistment in Virginia, to 700 men each. There were nine +Virginian companies of fifty men, and the thirty sailors lent by +Commodore Keppel. General Braddock had three aides-de-camp--Captain +Robert Orme, Captain Roger Morris, and Colonel George +Washington.</p> + +<p>It was the 1st of June, when James Walsham rode with Colonel +Washington into the camp, and, three days later, the last companies +of the Virginian corps marched in. During the next week, some of +the English officers attempted to drill the Virginians in the +manner of English troops.</p> + +<p>"It is a waste of time," Colonel Washington said to James, one +day, when he was watching them, "and worse. These men can fight +their own way. Most of them are good shots, and have a fair idea of +forest fighting; let them go their own way, and they can be trusted +to hold their own against at least an equal number of French and +Indians; but they would be hopelessly at sea if they were called +upon to fight like English regulars. Most likely the enemy will +attack us in the forest, and what good will forming in line, or +wheeling on a flank, or any of the things which the general is +trying to drum into their heads, do to them? If the French are +foolish enough to wait at Fort Duquesne until we arrive, I have no +doubt we shall beat them, but if they attack us in the woods it +will go hard with us."</p> + +<p>During the ten days which elapsed between his arrival and the +start, James was kept hard at work, being for the most part +employed galloping up and down the road, urging up the waggoners, +and bringing back reports as to their position and progress. On the +10th of June the army started; 300 axemen led the way, cutting and +clearing the road; the long train of pack horses, waggons, and +cannon followed; the troops marched in the forest on either side, +while men were thrown out on the flanks, and scouts ranged the +woods to guard against surprise.</p> + +<p>The road was cut but twelve feet wide, and the line of march +often extended four miles. Thus, day by day they toiled on, +crossing the Allegheny Mountains, range after range; now plunging +down into a ravine, now ascending a ridge, but always in the deep +shadow of the forest. A few of the enemy hovered round them, +occasionally killing a straggler who fell behind.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of June, the army reached a place called the Little +Meadows. So weak were the horses, from want of forage, that the +last marches had been but three miles a day, and, upon Washington's +advice, Braddock determined to leave the heavy baggage here, with +the sick men and a strong guard under Colonel Dunbar; while he +advanced with 1200 men, besides officers and drivers.</p> + +<p>But the progress was still no more than three miles a day, and +it was not until the 7th of July that they arrived within eight +miles of the French fort. Between them lay, however, an extremely +difficult country with a narrow defile, and Braddock determined to +ford the Monongahela, and then cross it again lower down.</p> + +<p>The garrison of Fort Duquesne consisted of a few companies of +regular troops, some hundreds of Canadians, and 800 Indian +warriors. They were kept informed, by the scouts, of the progress +of the English, and, when the latter approached the Monongahela, a +party under Captain Beaujeu set out to meet them. His force +consisted of 637 Indians, 100 French officers and soldiers, and 146 +Canadians, in all about 900 men.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock in the day, Braddock crossed the Monongahela for +the second time. The troops had, all the day, been expecting the +attack and had prepared for it. At the second ford the army marched +in martial order, with music playing and flags flying. Once across +the river they halted for a short time, and then again continued +their advance.</p> + +<p>Braddock made every disposition for preventing a surprise. +Several guides, with six Virginian light horsemen, led the way. +Then came the advanced column, consisting of 300 soldiers under +Gage, and a large body of axemen, under Sir John Sinclair, with two +cannon. The main body followed close behind. The artillery and +waggons moved along the road, the troops marched through the woods +on either hand, numerous flanking parties were thrown out a hundred +yards or more right and left, and, in the space between them and +the line of troops, the pack horses and cattle made their way, as +they best could, among the trees.</p> + +<p>Beaujeu had intended to place his men in ambuscade at the ford, +but, owing to various delays caused by the Indians, he was still a +mile away from the ford when the British crossed. He was marching +forward when he came suddenly upon the little party of guides and +Virginian light horsemen. These at once fell back. The Indians +raised their war whoop, and, spreading right and left among the +trees, opened a sharp fire upon the British.</p> + +<p>Gage's column wheeled deliberately into line, and fired volley +after volley, with great steadiness, at the invisible opponents. +The greater part of the Canadians bolted at once, but the Indians +kept up their fire from behind the shelter of the trees. Gage +brought up his two cannon and opened fire, and the Indians, who had +a horror of artillery, began also to fall back.</p> + +<p>The English advanced in regular lines, cheering loudly. Beaujeu +fell dead; but Captain Dumas, who succeeded him in command, +advanced at the head of his small party of French soldiers, and +opened a heavy fire.</p> + +<p>The Indians, encouraged by the example, rallied and again came +forward, and, while the French regulars and the few Canadians who +had not fled held the ground in front of the column, the Indians +swarmed through the forests along both flanks of the English, and +from behind trees, bushes, and rocks opened a withering fire upon +them. The troops, bewildered and amazed by the fire poured into +them by an invisible foe, and by the wild war whoops of the +Indians, ceased to advance, and, standing close together, poured +fruitlessly volley after volley into the surrounding forest.</p> + +<p>On hearing the firing, Braddock, leaving 400 men in the rear +under Sir Peter Halket, to guard the baggage, advanced with the +main body to support Gage; but, just as he came up, the soldiers, +appalled by the fire which was mowing them down in scores, +abandoned their cannon and fell back in confusion. This threw the +advancing force into disorder, and the two regiments became mixed +together, massed in several dense bodies within a small space of +ground, facing some one way and some another, all alike exposed, +without shelter, to the hail of bullets.</p> + +<p>Men and officers were alike new to warfare like this. They had +been taught to fight in line against solid masses of the enemy, and +against an invisible foe like the present they were helpless. The +Virginians alone were equal to the emergency. They at once adopted +their familiar forest tactics, and, taking their post behind trees, +began to fight the Indians in their own way.</p> + +<p>Had Braddock been a man of judgment and temper, the fortunes of +the day might yet have been retrieved, for the Virginians could +have checked the Indians until the English troops were rallied and +prepared to meet the difficulty; but, to Braddock, the idea of men +fighting behind trees was at once cowardly and opposed to all +military discipline, and he dashed forward on his horse, and with +fierce oaths ordered the Virginians to form line. A body of them, +however, under Captain Waggoner, made a dash for a huge fallen +tree, far out towards the lurking places of the Indians, and, +crouching behind it, opened fire upon them; but the regulars, +seeing the smoke among the bushes, took them for the enemy and, +firing, killed many and forced the rest to return.</p> + +<p>A few of the soldiers tried to imitate the Indians, and fight +behind the trees, but Braddock beat them back with the flat of his +sword, and forced them to stand with the others, who were now +huddled in a mass, forming a target for the enemy's bullets. +Lieutenant Colonel Burton led 100 of them towards a knoll from +which the puffs came thickest, but he fell wounded, and his men, on +whom the enemy instantly concentrated their fire, fell back. The +soldiers, powerless against the unseen foe, for afterwards some of +the officers and men who escaped declared that, throughout the +whole fight, they had not seen a single Indian, discharged their +guns aimlessly among the trees.</p> + +<p>They were half stupefied now with the terror and confusion of +the scene, the rain of bullets, the wild yells which burst +ceaselessly from their 600 savage foemen; while the horses, wild +with terror and wounds, added to the confusion by dashing madly +hither and thither. Braddock behaved with furious intrepidity. He +dashed hither and thither, shouting and storming at the men, and +striving to get them in order, and to lead them to attack the +enemy. Four horses were, one after the other, shot under him. His +officers behaved with equal courage and self devotion, and in vain +attempted to lead on the men, sometimes advancing in parties +towards the Indians, in hopes that the soldiers would follow them. +Sir Peter Halket was killed, Horne and Morris, the two +aides-de-camp, Sinclair the quartermaster general, Gates, Gage, and +Gladwin were wounded. Of 86 officers, 63 were killed or disabled, +while of non-commissioned officers and privates only 459 came off +unharmed.</p> + +<p>James Walsham had been riding by the side of Washington when the +fight began, and followed him closely as he galloped among the +troops, trying to rally and lead them forward. Washington's horse +was pierced by a ball and, staggering, fell. James leaped from his +horse and gave it to the colonel, and then, seeing that there was +nothing for him to do, withdrew a short distance from the crowd of +soldiers, and crouched down between the trunks of two great trees +growing close to each other; one of which protected him, for the +most part, from the fire of the Indians, and the other from the not +less dangerous fire of the English. Presently, seeing a soldier +fall at a short distance from him, he ran out and picked up his +musket and cartridge box, and began to fire at the bushes where the +puffs of smoke showed that men were in hiding.</p> + +<p>After three hours' passive endurance of this terrible fire, +Braddock, seeing that all was lost, commanded a retreat, and he and +such officers as were left strove to draw off the soldiers in some +semblance of order; but at this moment a bullet struck him, and, +passing through his arm, penetrated his lungs, and he fell from his +horse. He demanded to be left where he lay, but Captain Stewart of +the Virginians, and one of his men, bore him between them to the +rear.</p> + +<p>The soldiers had now spent all their ammunition, and, no longer +kept in their places by their general, broke away in a wild panic. +Washington's second horse had now been shot, and as, trying to +check the men, he passed the trees where James had taken up his +position, the latter joined him.</p> + +<p>In vain Washington and his other officers tried to rally the men +at the ford. They dashed across it, wild with fear, leaving their +wounded comrades, cannon, baggage, and military chest a prey to the +Indians.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, only about fifty of the Indians followed as far as +the ford, the rest being occupied in killing the wounded and +scalping the dead. Dumas, who had now but twenty Frenchmen left, +fell back to the fort, and the remnants of Braddock's force +continued the flight unmolested.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: The Fight At Lake George.</h2> + +<p>Fortunate was it, for the remnant of Braddock's force, that the +Indians were too much occupied in gathering the abundant harvest of +scalps, too anxious to return to the fort to exhibit these trophies +of their bravery, to press on in pursuit; for, had they done so, +few indeed of the panic-stricken fugitives would ever have lived to +tell the tale. All night these continued their flight, expecting +every moment to hear the dreaded war whoop burst out again in the +woods round them.</p> + +<p>Colonel Washington had been ordered, by the dying general, to +press on on horseback to the camp of Dunbar, and to tell him to +forward waggons, provisions, and ammunition; but the panic, which +had seized the main force, had already been spread by flying +teamsters to Dunbar's camp. Many soldiers and waggoners at once +took flight, and the panic was heightened when the remnants of +Braddock's force arrived. There was no reason to suppose that they +were pursued, and even had they been so, their force was ample to +repel any attack that could be made upon it; but probably their +commander saw that, in their present state of utter demoralization, +they could not be trusted to fight, and that the first Indian war +whoop would start them again in flight. Still, it was clear that a +retreat would leave the whole border open to the ravages of the +Indians, and Colonel Dunbar was greatly blamed for the course he +took.</p> + +<p>A hundred waggons were burned, the cannon and shells burst, and +the barrels of powder emptied into the stream, the stores of +provisions scattered through the woods, and then the force began +its retreat over the mountains to Fort Cumberland, sixty miles +away. General Braddock died the day that the retreat began. His +last words were:</p> + +<p>"We shall know better how to deal with them next time."</p> + +<p>The news of the disaster came like a thunderbolt upon the +colonists. Success had been regarded as certain, and the news that +some fourteen hundred English troops had been utterly routed, by a +body of French and Indians of half their strength, seemed almost +incredible. The only consolation was that the hundred and fifty +Virginians, who had accompanied the regulars, had all, as was +acknowledged by the English officers themselves, fought with the +greatest bravery, and had kept their coolness and presence of mind +till the last, and that on them no shadow of the discredit of the +affair rested. Indeed, it was said that the greater part were +killed not by the fire of the Indians, but by that of the troops, +who, standing in masses, fired in all directions, regardless of +what was in front of them.</p> + +<p>But Colonel Dunbar, not satisfied with retreating to the safe +shelter of Fort Cumberland, to the amazement of the colonists, +insisted upon withdrawing with his own force to Philadelphia, +leaving the whole of the frontier open to the assaults of the +hostile Indians. After waiting a short time at Philadelphia, he +marched slowly on to join a force operating against the French in +the region of Lake George, more than two hundred miles to the +north. He took with him only the regulars, the provincial regiments +being under the control of the governors of their own states.</p> + +<p>Washington therefore remained behind in Virginia with the +regiment of that colony. The blanks made in Braddock's fight were +filled up, and the force raised to a thousand strong. With these he +was to protect a frontier of three hundred and fifty miles long, +against an active and enterprising foe more numerous than himself, +and who, acting on the other side of the mountain, and in the shade +of the deep forests, could choose their own time of attack, and +launch themselves suddenly upon any village throughout the whole +length of the frontier.</p> + +<p>Nor were the troops at his disposal the material which a +commander would wish to have in his hand. Individually they were +brave, but being recruited among the poor whites, the most +turbulent and troublesome part of the population, they were wholly +unamenable to discipline, and Washington had no means whatever for +enforcing it. He applied to the House of Assembly to pass a law +enabling him to punish disobedience, but for months they hesitated +to pass any such ordinance, on the excuse that it would trench on +the liberty of free white men.</p> + +<p>The service, indeed, was most unpopular, and Washington, whose +headquarters were at Winchester, could do nothing whatever to +assist the settlements on the border. His officers were as unruly +as the men, and he was further hampered by having to comply with +the orders of Governor Dinwiddie, at Williamsburg, two hundred +miles away.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean to do?" he had asked James Walsham, the day +that the beaten army arrived at Fort Cumberland.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," James said. "I certainly will not continue with +Dunbar, who seems to me to be acting like a coward; nor do I wish +to go into action with regulars again; not, at least, until they +have been taught that, if they are to fight Indians successfully in +the forests, they must abandon all their traditions of drill, and +must fight in Indian fashion. I should like to stay with you, if +you will allow me."</p> + +<p>"I should be very glad to have you with me," Washington said; +"but I do not think that you will see much action here. It will be +a war of forays. The Indians will pounce upon a village or solitary +farm house, murder and scalp the inhabitants, burn the buildings to +the ground, and in an hour be far away beyond reach of pursuit. All +that I can do is to occupy the chief roads, by which they can +advance into the heart of the colony, and the people of the +settlements lying west of that must, perforce, abandon their +homesteads, and fly east until we are strong enough to again take +up the offensive.</p> + +<p>"Were I in your place, I would at once take horse and ride +north. You will then be in plenty of time, if inclined, to join in +the expedition against the French on Fort George, or in that which +is going to march on Niagara. I fancy the former will be ready +first. You will find things better managed there than here. The +colonists in that part have, for many years, been accustomed to +Indian fighting, and they will not be hampered by having regular +troops with them, whose officers' only idea of warfare is to keep +their men standing in line as targets for the enemy.</p> + +<p>"There are many bodies of experienced scouts, to which you can +attach yourself, and you will see that white men can beat the +Indians at their own game."</p> + +<p>Although sorry to leave the young Virginian officer, James +Walsham thought that he could not do better than follow his advice, +and accordingly, the next day, having procured another horse, he +set off to join the column destined to operate on the lakes.</p> + +<p>The prevision of Washington was shortly realized, and a cloud of +red warriors descended on the border settlements, carrying murder, +rapine, and ruin before them. Scores of quiet settlements were +destroyed, hundreds of men, women, and children massacred, and in a +short time the whole of the outlying farms were deserted, and +crowds of weeping fugitives flocked eastward behind the line held +by Washington's regiment.</p> + +<p>But bad as affairs were in Virginia, those in Pennsylvania were +infinitely worse. They had, for many years, been on such friendly +terms with the Indians, that many of the settlers had no arms, nor +had they the protection in the way of troops which the government +of Virginia put upon the frontier. The government of the colony was +at Philadelphia, far to the east, and sheltered from danger, and +the Quaker assembly there refused to vote money for a single +soldier to protect the unhappy colonists on the frontier. They held +it a sin to fight, and above all to fight with Indians, and as long +as they themselves were free from the danger, they turned a deaf +ear to the tales of massacre, and to the pitiful cries for aid +which came from the frontier. But even greater than their objection +to war, was their passion of resistance to the representative of +royalty, the governor.</p> + +<p>Petition after petition came from the border for arms and +ammunition, and for a militia law to enable the people to organize +and defend themselves; but the Quakers resisted, declaring that +Braddock's defeat was a just judgment upon him and his soldiers for +molesting the French in their settlement in Ohio. They passed, +indeed, a bill for raising fifty thousand pounds for the king's +use, but affixed to it a condition, to which they knew well the +governor could not assent; viz, that the proprietary lands were to +pay their share of the tax.</p> + +<p>To this condition the governor was unable to assent, for, +according to the constitution of the colony, to which he was bound, +the lands of William Penn and his descendants were free of all +taxation. For weeks the deadlock continued. Every day brought news +of massacres of tens, fifties, and even hundreds of persons, but +the assembly remained obstinate; until the mayor, aldermen, and +principal citizens clamoured against them, and four thousand +frontiersmen started on their march to Philadelphia, to compel them +to take measures for defence.</p> + +<p>Bodies of massacred men were brought from the frontier villages +and paraded through the town, and so threatening became the aspect +of the population, that the Assembly of Quakers were at last +obliged to pass a militia law. It was, however, an absolutely +useless one. It specially excepted the Quakers from service, and +constrained nobody, but declared it lawful for such as chose to +form themselves into companies, and to elect officers by ballot. +The company officers might, if they saw fit, elect, also by ballot, +colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors. These last might then, +in conjunction with the governor, frame articles of war, to which, +however, no officer or man was to be subjected, unless, after three +days' consideration, he subscribed them in presence of a justice of +the peace, and declared his willingness to be bound by them.</p> + +<p>This mockery of a bill, drawn by Benjamin Franklin while the +savages were raging in the colony and the smoke of a hundred +villages was ascending to the skies, was received with indignation +by the people, and this rose to such a height that the Assembly +must have yielded unconditionally, had not a circumstance occurred +which gave them a decent pretext for retreat.</p> + +<p>The governor informed them that he had just received a letter +from the proprietors, as Penn's heirs were called, giving to the +province five thousand pounds to aid in its defence, on condition +that the money should be accepted as a free gift, and not as their +proportion of any tax that was or might be laid by the +Assembly.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, the Assembly struck out the clause taxing the +proprietory estates, and the governor signed the bill. A small +force was then raised, which enabled the Indians to be to some +extent kept in check; but there was no safety for the unhappy +settlers in the west of Pennsylvania during the next three years, +while the French from Montreal were hounding on their savage +allies, by gifts and rewards, to deeds of massacre and +bloodshed.</p> + +<p>The northern colonies had shown a better spirit. Massachusetts, +which had always been the foremost of the northern colonies in +resisting French and Indian aggression, had at once taken the lead +in preparation for war. No less than 4500 men, being one in eight +of her adult males, volunteered to fight the French, and enlisted +for the various expeditions, some in the pay of the province, some +in that of the king. Shirley, the governor of Massachusetts, +himself a colonist, was requested by his Assembly to nominate the +commander. He did not choose an officer of that province, as this +would have excited the jealousy of the others, but nominated +William Johnson of New York--a choice which not only pleased that +important province, but had great influence in securing the +alliance of the Indians of the Five Nations, among whom Johnson, +who had held the post of Indian commissioner, was extremely +popular.</p> + +<p>Connecticut voted 1200 men, New Hampshire 500, Rhode Island 400, +and New York 800, all at their own charge. Johnson, before assuming +the command, invited the warriors of the Five Nations to assemble +in council. Eleven hundred Indian warriors answered the invitation, +and after four days' speech making agreed to join. Only 300 of +them, however, took the field, for so many of their friends and +relatives were fighting for the French, that the rest, when they +sobered down after the excitement of the council, returned to their +homes.</p> + +<p>The object of the expedition was the attack of Crown Point--an +important military post on Lake Champlain--and the colonists +assembled near Albany; but there were great delays. The five +colonial assemblies controlled their own troops and supplies. +Connecticut had refused to send her men until Shirley promised that +her commanding officer should rank next to Johnson, and the whole +movement was for some time at a deadlock, because the five +governments could not agree about their contributions of artillery +and stores.</p> + +<p>The troops were a rough-looking body. Only one of the corps had +a blue uniform, faced with red. The rest wore their ordinary farm +clothing. All had brought their own guns, of every description and +fashion. They had no bayonets, but carried hatchets in their belts +as a sort of substitute.</p> + +<p>In point of morals the army, composed almost entirely of farmers +and farmers' sons, was exemplary. It is recorded that not a chicken +was stolen. In the camps of the Puritan soldiers of New England, +sermons were preached twice a week, and there were daily prayers +and much singing of psalms; but these good people were much shocked +by the profane language of the troops from New York and Rhode +Island, and some prophesied that disaster would be sure to fall +upon the army from this cause.</p> + +<p>Months were consumed in various delays; and, on the 21st of +August, just as they were moving forward, four Mohawks, whom +Johnson had sent into Canada, returned with the news that the +French were making great preparations, and that 8000 men were +marching to defend Crown Point. The papers of General Braddock, +which fell, with all the baggage of the army, into the hands of the +French, had informed them of the object of the gathering at Albany, +and now that they had no fear of any further attempt against their +posts in Ohio, they were able to concentrate all their force for +the defence of their posts on Lake Champlain.</p> + +<p>On the receipt of this alarming news, a council of war was held +at Albany, and messages were sent to the colonies asking for +reinforcements. In the meantime, the army moved up the Hudson to +the spot called the Great Carrying Place, where Colonel Lyman, who +was second in command, had gone forward and erected a fort, which +his men called after him, but was afterwards named Fort Edward.</p> + +<p>James Walsham joined the army a few days before it moved +forward. He was received with great heartiness by General Johnson, +to whom he brought a letter of introduction from Colonel +Washington, and who at once offered him a position as one of his +aides-de-camp. This he found exceedingly pleasant, for Johnson was +one of the most jovial and open hearted of commanders. His +hospitality was profuse, and, his private means being large, he was +able to keep a capital table, which, on the line of march, all +officers who happened to pass by were invited to share. This was a +contrast, indeed, to the discipline which had prevailed in +Braddock's columns, and James felt as if he were starting upon a +great picnic, rather than upon an arduous march against a superior +force.</p> + +<p>After some hesitation as to the course the army should take, it +was resolved to march for Lake George. Gangs of axemen were sent to +hew a way, and, on the 26th, 2000 men marched for the lake, while +Colonel Blanchard, of New Hampshire, remained with 500 to finish +and defend Fort Lyman. The march was made in a leisurely manner, +and the force took two days to traverse the fourteen miles between +Fort Lyman and the lake. They were now in a country hitherto +untrodden by white men save by solitary hunters.</p> + +<p>They reached the southern end of the beautiful lake, which +hitherto had received no English name, and was now first called +Lake George in honour of the king. The men set to work, and felled +trees until they had cleared a sufficient extent of ground for +their camp, by the edge of the water, and posted themselves with +their back to the lake. In their front was a forest of pitch pine, +on their right a marsh covered with thick brush wood, on their left +a low hill. Things went on in the same leisurely way which had +marked the progress of the expedition.</p> + +<p>No attempt was made to clear away the forest in front, although +it would afford excellent cover for any enemy who might attack +them, nor were any efforts made to discover the whereabouts or +intention of the enemy. Every day waggons came up with provisions +and boats.</p> + +<p>On September 7th, an Indian scout arrived about sunset, and +reported that he had found the trail of a body of men moving from +South Bay, the southern extremity of Lake Champlain, towards Fort +Lyman. Johnson called for a volunteer to carry a letter of warning +to Colonel Blanchard. A waggoner named Adams offered to undertake +the perilous service, and rode off with the letter. Sentries were +posted, and the camp fell asleep.</p> + +<p>While Johnson had been taking his leisure on Lake George, the +commander of the French force, a German baron named Dieskau, was +preparing a surprise for him. He had reached Crown Point at the +head of 3573 men--regulars, Canadians, and Indians--and he at once +moved forward, with the greater portion of his command, on +Cariolon, or, as it was afterwards called, Ticonderoga, a +promontory at the junction of Lake George with Lake Champlain, +where he would bar the advance of the English, whichever road they +might take.</p> + +<p>The Indians with the French caused great trouble to their +commander, doing nothing but feast and sleep, but, on September +4th, a party of them came in bringing a scalp and an English +prisoner, caught near Fort Lyman.</p> + +<p>He was questioned, under the threat of being given over to the +Indians to torture, if he did not tell the truth, but the brave +fellow, thinking he should lead the enemy into a trap, told them +that the English army had fallen back to Albany, leaving 500 men at +Fort Lyman, which he represented as being entirely +indefensible.</p> + +<p>Dieskau at once determined to attack that place, and, with 216 +regulars of the battalions of Languedoc and La Reine, 684 +Canadians, and about 600 Indians, started in canoes and advanced up +Lake Champlain, till they came to the end of South Bay. Each +officer and man carried provisions for eight days in his +knapsack.</p> + +<p>Two days' march brought them to within three miles of Fort +Lyman, and they encamped close to the road which led to Lake +George. Just after they had encamped, a man rode by on horseback. +It was Adams, Johnson's messenger. He was shot by the Indians, and +the letter found upon him. Soon afterwards, ten or twelve waggons +appeared, in charge of ammunition drivers who had left the English +camp without orders.</p> + +<p>Some of the drivers were shot, two taken prisoners, and the rest +ran away. The two prisoners declared that, contrary to the +assertion of the prisoner at Ticonderoga, a large force lay +encamped by the lake. The Indians held a council, and presently +informed Dieskau that they would not attack the fort, which they +believed to be provided with cannon, but would join in an attempt +on the camp by the lake. Dieskau judged, from the report of the +prisoners, that the colonists considerably outnumbered him, +although in fact there was no great difference in numerical +strength, the French column numbering 1500 and the colonial force +2200, besides 300 Mohawk Indians. But Dieskau, emulous of repeating +the defeat of Braddock, and believing the assertions of the +Canadians that the colonial militia was contemptible, determined to +attack, and early in the morning the column moved along the road +towards the lake.</p> + +<p>When within four miles of Johnson's camp, they entered a rugged +valley. On their right was a gorge, hidden in bushes, beyond which +rose the rocky height of French Mountain. On their left rose +gradually the slopes of West Mountain. The ground was thickly +covered with thicket and forest. The regulars marched along the +road, the Canadians and Indians pushed their way through the woods +as best they could. When within three miles of the lake, their +scout brought in a prisoner, who told them that an English column +was approaching. The regulars were halted on the road, the +Canadians and Indians moved on ahead, and hid themselves in ambush +among the trees and bushes on either side of the road.</p> + +<p>The waggoners, who had escaped the evening before, had reached +Johnson's camp about midnight, and reported that there was a war +party on the road near Fort Lyman. A council of war was held, and +under an entire misconception of the force of the enemy, and the +belief that they would speedily fall back from Fort Lyman, it was +determined to send out two detachments, each 500 strong, one +towards Fort Lyman, the other to catch the enemy in their retreat. +Hendrick, the chief of the Mohawks, expressed his strong +disapproval of this plan, and accordingly it was resolved that the +thousand men should go as one body. Hendrick still disapproved of +the plan, but nevertheless resolved to accompany the column, and, +mounting on a gun carriage, he harangued his warriors with +passionate eloquence, and they at once prepared to accompany them. +He was too old and fat to go on foot, and the general lent him a +horse, which he mounted, and took his place at the head of the +column.</p> + +<p>Colonel Williams was in command, with Lieutenant Colonel Whiting +as second. They had no idea of meeting the enemy near the camp, and +moved forward so carelessly that not a single scout was thrown out +in front or flank. The sharp eye of the old Indian chief was the +first to detect a sign of the enemy, and, almost at the same +moment, a gun was fired from the bushes. It is said that the +Iroquois, seeing the Mohawks, who were an allied tribe, in the van, +wished to warn them of danger. The warning came too late to save +the column from disaster, but it saved it from destruction. From +the thicket on the left a deadly fire blazed out, and the head of +the column was almost swept away. Hendrick's horse was shot, and +the chief killed with a bayonet as he tried to gain his feet.</p> + +<p>Colonel Williams, seeing rising ground on his right, made for +it, calling his men to follow; but, as he climbed the slope, the +enemy's fire flashed out from behind every tree, and he fell dead. +The men in the rear pressed forward to support their comrades, when +the enemy in the bushes on the right flank also opened fire.</p> + +<p>Then a panic began. Some fled at once for the camp, and the +whole column recoiled in confusion, as from all sides the enemy +burst out, shouting and yelling. Colonel Whiting, however, bravely +rallied a portion of Williams' regiment, and, aided by some of the +Mohawks, and by a detachment which Johnson sent out to his aid, +covered the retreat, fighting behind the trees like the Indians, +and falling back in good order with their faces to the enemy.</p> + +<p>So stern and obstinate was their resistance that the French +halted three-quarters of a mile from the camp. They had inflicted a +heavy blow, but had altogether failed in obtaining the complete +success they looked for. The obstinate defence of Whiting and his +men had surprised and dispirited them, and Dieskau, when he +collected his men, found the Indians sullen and unmanageable, and +the Canadians unwilling to advance further, for they were greatly +depressed by the loss of a veteran officer, Saint Pierre, who +commanded them, and who had been killed in the fight. At length, +however, he persuaded all to move forward, the regulars leading the +way.</p> + +<p>James Walsham had not accompanied the column, and was sitting at +breakfast with General Johnson, on the stump of a tree in front of +his tent, when, on the still air, a rattling sound broke out.</p> + +<p>"Musketry!" was the general exclamation.</p> + +<p>An instantaneous change came over the camp. The sound of +laughing and talking was hushed, and every man stopped at his work. +Louder and louder swelled the distant sound, until the shots could +no longer be distinguished apart. The rattle had become a steady +roll.</p> + +<p>"It is a regular engagement!" the general exclaimed. "The enemy +must be in force, and must have attacked Williams' column."</p> + +<p>General Johnson ordered one of his orderlies to mount and ride +out at full speed and see what was going on. A quarter of an hour +passed. No one returned to his work. The men stood in groups, +talking in low voices, and listening to the distant roar.</p> + +<p>"It is clearer than it was," the general exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Several of the officers standing round agreed that the sound was +approaching.</p> + +<p>"To work, lads!" the general said. "There is no time to be lost. +Let all the axemen fell trees and lay them end to end to make a +breastwork. The rest of you range the waggons in a line behind, and +lay the boats up in the intervals. Carry the line from the swamp, +on the right there, to the slope of the hill."</p> + +<p>In an instant, the camp was a scene of animation, and the forest +resounded with the strokes of the axe, and the shouts of the men as +they dragged the waggons to their position.</p> + +<p>"I was a fool," Johnson exclaimed, "not to fortify the camp +before; but who could have supposed that the French would have come +down from Crown Point to attack us here!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes terror-stricken men, whites and Indians, +arrived at a run through the forest, and reported that they had +been attacked and surprised by a great force in the forest, that +Hendrick and Colonel Williams were killed, and numbers of the men +shot down. They reported that all was lost; but the heavy roll of +fire, in the distance, contradicted their words; and showed that a +portion of the column, at least, was fighting sternly and steadily, +though the sound indicated that they were falling back.</p> + +<p>Two hundred men had already been despatched to their assistance, +and the only effect of the news was to redouble the efforts of the +rest. Soon parties arrived carrying wounded; but it was not until +an hour and a half after the engagement began, that the main body +of the column were seen marching, in good order, back through the +forest.</p> + +<p>By this time the hasty defences were well-nigh completed, and +all the men were employed in cutting down the thick brushwood +outside, so as to clear the ground as far as possible, and so +prevent the enemy from stealing up, under shelter, to the felled +trees.</p> + +<p>Three cannon were planted, to sweep the road that descended +through the pines. Another was dragged up to the ridge of the hill. +Two hundred and fifty men were now placed on each flank of the +camp, the main body stood behind the waggons or lay flat behind the +logs and boats, the Massachusetts men on the right, the Connecticut +men on the left.</p> + +<p>"Now, my lads," Johnson shouted, in his cheery voice, "you have +got to fight. Remember, if they get inside not one of you will ever +go back to your families to tell the tale, while if you fight +bravely you will beat them back sure enough."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, ranks of white-coated soldiers could be seen +moving down the roads, with their bayonets showing between the +boughs. At the same time, Indian war whoops rose loud in the +forest, and then dark forms could be seen, bounding down the slope +through the trees towards the camp in a throng.</p> + +<p>There was a movement of uneasiness among the young rustics, few +of whom ever heard a shot fired in anger before that morning; but +the officers, standing pistol in hand, threatened to shoot any man +who moved from his position.</p> + +<p>Could Dieskau have launched his whole force at once upon the +camp at that moment, he would probably have carried it, but this he +was powerless to do. His regular troops were well in hand; but the +mob of Canadians and Indians were scattered through the forest, +shouting, yelling, and firing from behind trees.</p> + +<p>He thought, however, that if he led the regulars to the attack, +the others would come forward, and he therefore gave the word for +the advance. The French soldiers advanced steadily, until the trees +grew thinner. They were deployed into line, and opened fire in +regular volleys. Scarcely had they done so, however, when Captain +Eyre, who commanded the artillery, opened upon them with grape from +his three guns, while from waggon, and boat, and fallen log, the +musketry fire flashed out hot and bitter, and, reeling under the +shower of iron and lead, the French line broke up, the soldiers +took shelter behind trees, and thence returned the fire of the +defenders.</p> + +<p>Johnson received a flesh wound in the thigh, and retired to his +tent, where he spent the rest of the day. Lyman took the command, +and to him the credit of the victory is entirely due.</p> + +<p>For four hours the combat raged. The young soldiers had soon got +over their first uneasiness, and fought as steadily and coolly as +veterans. The musketry fire was unbroken. From every tree, bush, +and rock the rifles flashed out, and the leaden hail flew in a +storm over the camp, and cut the leaves in a shower from the +forest. Through this Lyman moved to and fro among the men, +directing, encouraging, cheering them on, escaping as by a miracle +the balls which whistled round him. Save the Indians on the English +side, not a man but was engaged, the waggoners taking their guns +and joining in the fight.</p> + +<p>The Mohawks, however, held aloof, saying that they had come to +see their English brothers fight, but, animated no doubt with the +idea that, if they abstained from taking part in the fray, and the +day went against the English, their friends the Iroquois would not +harm them.</p> + +<p>The French Indians worked round on to high ground, beyond the +swamp on the left, and their fire thence took the defenders in the +flank. Captain Eyre speedily turned his guns in that direction, and +a few well-directed shells soon drove the Indians from their +vantage ground. Dieskau directed his first attack against the left +and centre; but the Connecticut men fought so stoutly, that he next +tried to force the right, where the Massachusetts regiments of +Titcomb, Ruggles, and Williams held the line. For an hour he strove +hard to break his way through the intrenchments, but the +Massachusetts men stood firm, although Titcomb was killed and their +loss was heavy.</p> + +<p>At length Dieskau, exposing himself within short range of the +English lines, was hit in the leg. While his adjutant Montreuil was +dressing the wound, the general was again hit in the knee and +thigh. He had himself placed behind a tree, and ordered Montreuil +to lead the regulars in a last effort against the camp.</p> + +<p>But it was too late. The blood of the colonists was now up, and, +singly or in small bodies, they were crossing their lines of +barricade, and working up among the trees towards their assailants. +The movement became general, and Lyman, seeing the spirit of his +men, gave the word, and the whole of the troops, with a shout, +leaped up and dashed through the wood against the enemy, falling +upon them with their hatchets and the butts of their guns.</p> + +<p>The French and their allies instantly fled. As the colonists +passed the spot where Dieskau was sitting on the ground, one of +them, singularly enough himself a Frenchman, who had ten years +before left Canada, fired at him and shot him through both legs. +Others came up and stripped him of his clothes, but, on learning +who he was, they carried him to Johnson, who received him with the +greatest kindness, and had every attention paid to him.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: Scouting.</h2> + +<p>It was near five o'clock before the final rout of the French +took place; but, before that time, several hundreds of the +Canadians and Indians had left the scene of action, and had +returned to the scene of the fight in the wood, to plunder and +scalp the dead. They were resting, after their bloody work, by a +pool in the forest, when a scouting party from Fort Lyman, under +Captains M'Ginnis and Folsom, came upon them and opened fire.</p> + +<p>The Canadians and Indians, outnumbering their assailants +greatly, fought for some time, but were finally defeated and fled. +M'Ginnis was mortally wounded, but continued to give orders till +the fight was over. The bodies of the slain were thrown into the +pool, which to this day bears the name, "the bloody pool."</p> + +<p>The various bands of French fugitives reunited in the forest, +and made their way back to their canoes in South Bay, and reached +Ticonderoga utterly exhausted and famished, for they had thrown +away their knapsacks in their flight, and had nothing to eat from +the morning of the fight until they rejoined their comrades.</p> + +<p>Johnson had the greatest difficulty in protecting the wounded +French general from the Mohawks, who, although they had done no +fighting in defence of the camp, wanted to torture and burn Dieskau +in revenge for the death of Hendrick and their warriors who had +fallen in the ambush. He, however, succeeded in doing so, and sent +him in a litter under a strong escort to Albany. Dieskau was +afterwards taken to England, and remained for some years at Bath, +after which he returned to Paris. He never, however, recovered from +his numerous wounds, and died a few years later.</p> + +<p>He always spoke in the highest terms of the kindness he had +received from the colonial officers. Of the provincial soldiers he +said that, in the morning they fought like boys, about noon like +men, and in the afternoon like devils.</p> + +<p>The English loss in killed, wounded, and missing was two hundred +and sixty-two, for the most part killed in the ambush in the +morning. The French, according to their own account, lost two +hundred and twenty-eight, but it probably exceeded four hundred, +the principal portion of whom were regulars, for the Indians and +Canadians kept themselves so well under cover that they and the +provincials, behind their logs, were able to inflict but little +loss on each other.</p> + +<p>Had Johnson followed up his success, he might have reached South +Bay before the French, in which case the whole of Dieskau's column +must have fallen into his hands; nor did he press forward against +Ticonderoga, which he might easily have captured. For ten days +nothing was done except to fortify the camp, and when, at the end +of that time, he thought of advancing against Ticonderoga, the +French had already fortified the place so strongly that they were +able to defy attack. The colonists sent him large reinforcements, +but the season was getting late, and, after keeping the army +stationary until the end of November, the troops, having suffered +terribly from the cold and exposure, became almost mutinous, and +were finally marched back to Albany, a small detachment being left +to hold the fort by the lake. This was now christened Fort William +Henry.</p> + +<p>The victory was due principally to the gallantry and coolness of +Lyman; but Johnson, in his report of the battle, made no mention of +that officer's name, and took all the credit to himself. He was +rewarded by being made a baronet, and by being voted a pension, by +parliament, of five thousand a year.</p> + +<p>James Walsham, having no duties during the fight at the camp, +had taken a musket and lain down behind the logs with the soldiers, +and had, all the afternoon, kept up a fire at the trees and bushes +behind which the enemy were hiding. After the battle, he had +volunteered to assist the over-worked surgeons, whose labours +lasted through the night. When he found that no forward movement +was likely to take place, he determined to leave the camp. He +therefore asked Captain Rogers, who was the leader of a band of +scouts, and a man of extraordinary energy and enterprise, to allow +him to accompany him on a scouting expedition towards +Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad to have you with me," Rogers replied; "but you +know it is a service of danger. It is not like work with regular +troops, where all march, fight, stand, or fall together. Here each +man fights for himself. Mind, there is not a man among my band who +would not risk his life for the rest; but, scattered through the +woods as each man is, each must perforce rely principally on +himself. The woods near Ticonderoga will be full of lurking +redskins, and a man may be brained and scalped without his fellow, +a few yards away, hearing a sound. I only say this that you may +feel that you must take your chances. The men under me are, every +one, old hunters and Indian fighters, and are a match for the +redskin in every move of forest war. They are true grit to the +backbone, but they are rough outspoken men, and, on a service when +a foot carelessly placed on a dried twig, or a word spoken above a +whisper, may bring a crowd of yelping redskins upon us, and cost +every man his scalp, they would speak sharply to the king himself, +if he were on the scout with them, and you must not take offence at +any rough word that may be said."</p> + +<p>James laughed, and said that he should not care how much he was +blown up, and that he should thankfully receive any lessons from +such masters of forest craft.</p> + +<p>"Very well," Captain Rogers said. "In that case, it is settled. +I will let you have a pair of moccasins. You cannot go walking +about in the woods in those boots. You had better get a rifle. Your +sword you had best leave behind. It will be of no use to you, and +will only be in your way."</p> + +<p>James had no difficulty in providing himself with a gun, for +numbers of weapons, picked up in the woods after the rout of the +enemy, were stored in camp. The rifles had, however, been all taken +by the troops, who had exchanged their own firelocks for them. +Captain Rogers went with him among the men, and selected a +well-finished rifle of which one of them had possessed himself. Its +owner readily agreed to accept five pounds for it, taking in its +stead one of the guns in the store. Before choosing it, Captain +Rogers placed a bit of paper against a tree, and fired several +shots at various distances at it.</p> + +<p>"It is a beautiful rifle," he said. "Its only fault is that it +is rather heavy, but it shoots all the better for it. It is +evidently a French gun, I should say by a first-rate maker, built +probably for some French officer who knew what he was about. It is +a good workmanlike piece, and, when you learn to hold it straight, +you can trust it to shoot."</p> + +<p>That evening James, having made all his preparations, said +goodbye to the general and to his other friends, and joined the +scouts who were gathering by the shore of the lake. Ten canoes, +each of which would carry three men, were lying by the shore.</p> + +<p>"Nat, you and Jonathan will take this young fellow with you. He +is a lad, and it is his first scout. You will find him of the right +sort. He was with Braddock, and after that affair hurried up here +to see fighting on the lakes. He can't have two better nurses than +you are. He is going to be an officer in the king's army, and wants +to learn as much as he can, so that, if he ever gets with his men +into such a mess as Braddock tumbled into, he will know what to do +with them."</p> + +<p>"All right, captain! We will do our best for him. It's risky +sort of business ours for a greenhorn, but if he is anyways +teachable, we will soon make a man of him."</p> + +<p>The speaker was a wiry, active man of some forty years old, with +a weatherbeaten face, and a keen gray eye. Jonathan, his comrade, +was a head taller, with broad shoulders, powerful limbs, and a +quiet but good-tempered face.</p> + +<p>"That's so, isn't it, Jonathan?" Nat asked.</p> + +<p>Jonathan nodded. He was not a man of many words.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been in a canoe before?" Nat inquired.</p> + +<p>"Never," James said; "but I am accustomed to boats of all sorts, +and can handle an oar fairly."</p> + +<p>"Oars ain't no good here," the scout said. "You will have to +learn to paddle; but, first of all, you have got to learn to sit +still. These here canoes are awkward things for a beginner. Now you +hand in your traps, and I will stow them away, then you take your +place in the middle of the boat. Here's a paddle for you, and when +you begin to feel yourself comfortable, you can start to try with +it, easy and gentle to begin with; but you must lay it in when we +get near where we may expect that redskins may be in the woods, for +the splash of a paddle might cost us all our scalps."</p> + +<p>James took his seat in the middle of the boat. Jonathan was +behind him. Nat handled the paddle in the bow. There was but a +brief delay in starting, and the ten boats darted noiselessly out +on to the lake. For a time, James did not attempt to use his +paddle. The canoe was of birch bark, so thin that it seemed to him +that an incautious movement would instantly knock a hole through +her.</p> + +<p>Once under weigh, she was steadier than he had expected, and +James could feel her bound forward with each stroke of the paddles. +When he became accustomed to the motion of the boat, he raised +himself from a sitting position in the bottom, and, kneeling as the +others were doing, he began to dip his paddle quietly in the water +in time with their stroke. His familiarity with rowing rendered it +easy for him to keep time and swing, and, ere long, he found +himself putting a considerable amount of force into each stroke. +Nat looked back over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Well done, young 'un. That's first rate for a beginner, and it +makes a deal of difference on our arms. The others are all paddling +three, and, though Jonathan and I have beaten three before now, +when our scalps depended on our doing so, it makes all the +difference in the work whether you have a sitter to take along, or +an extra paddle going."</p> + +<p>It was falling dusk when the boat started, and was, by this +time, quite dark. Scarce a word was heard in the ten canoes as, +keeping near the right-hand shore of the lake, they glided rapidly +along in a close body. So noiselessly were the paddles dipped into +the water that the drip from them, as they were lifted, was the +only sound heard.</p> + +<p>Four hours' steady paddling took them to the narrows, about +five-and-twenty miles from their starting point. Here, on the +whispered order of Nat, James laid in his paddle; for, careful as +he was, he occasionally made a slight splash as he put it in the +water. The canoes now kept in single file, almost under the trees +on the right bank, for the lake was here scarce a mile across, and +watchful eyes might be on the lookout on the shore to the left. +Another ten miles was passed, and then the canoes were steered in +to the shore.</p> + +<p>The guns, blankets, and bundles were lifted out; the canoes +raised on the shoulders of the men, and carried a couple of hundred +yards among the trees; then, with scarcely a word spoken, each man +rolled himself in his blanket and lay down to sleep, four being +sent out as scouts in various directions. Soon after daybreak, all +were on foot again, although it had been arranged that no move +should be made till night set in. No fires were lighted, for they +had brought with them a supply of biscuit and dry deers' flesh +sufficient for a week.</p> + +<p>"How did you get on yesterday?" Captain Rogers asked, as he came +up to the spot where James had just risen to his feet.</p> + +<p>"First rate, captain!" Nat answered for him. "I hardly believed +that a young fellow could have handled a paddle so well, at the +first attempt. He rowed all the way, except just the narrows, and +though I don't say as he was noiseless, he did wonderfully well, +and we came along with the rest as easy as may be."</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard a little splash, now and then," the captain +said, smiling; "but it was very slight, and could do no harm where +the lake is two or three miles wide, as it is here. But you will +have to lay in your paddle when we get near the other end, for the +sides narrow in there, and the redskins would hear a fish jump, +half a mile away."</p> + +<p>During the day the men passed their time in sleep, in mending +their clothes, or in talking quietly together. The use of tea had +not yet become general in America, and the meals were washed down +with water drawn from the lake (where an over-hanging bush shaded +the shore from the sight of anyone on the opposite bank), mixed +with rum from the gourds which all the scouts carried.</p> + +<p>Nat spent some time in pointing out, to James, the signs by +which the hunters found their way through the forest; by the moss +and lichens growing more thickly on the side of the trunks of the +trees opposed to the course of the prevailing winds, or by a slight +inclination of the upper boughs of the trees in the same +direction.</p> + +<p>"An old woodsman can tell," he said, "on the darkest night, on +running his hand round the trunk of a tree, by the feel of the +bark, which is north and south; but it would be long before you can +get to such niceties as that; but, if you keep your eyes open as +you go along, and look at the signs on the trunks, which are just +as plain, when you once know them, as the marks on a man's face, +you will be able to make your way through the woods in the daytime. +Of course, when the sun is shining, you get its help, for, although +it is not often a gleam comes down through the leaves, sometimes +you come upon a little patch, and you are sure, now and then, to +strike on a gap where a tree has fallen, and that gives you a line +again. A great help to a young beginner is the sun, for a young +hand in the woods gets confused, and doubts the signs of the trees; +but, in course, when he comes on a patch of sunlight, he can't make +a mistake nohow as to the direction."</p> + +<p>James indulged in a silent hope that, if he were ever lost in +the woods, the sun would be shining, for, look as earnestly as he +would, he could not perceive the signs which appeared so plain and +distinct to the scout. Occasionally, indeed, he fancied that there +was some slight difference between one side of the trunk and the +other; but he was by no means sure that, even in these cases, he +should have noticed it unless it had been pointed out to him; +while, in the greater part of the trees he could discern no +difference whatever.</p> + +<p>"It's just habit, my lad," Nat said encouragingly to him; +"there's just as much difference between one side of the tree and +the other, as there is between two men's faces. It comes of +practice. Now, just look at the roots of this tree; don't you see, +on one side they run pretty nigh straight out from the trunk, while +from the other they go down deep into the ground. That speaks for +itself. The tree has thrown out its roots, to claw into the ground +and get a hold, on the side from which the wind comes; while, on +the other side, having no such occasion, it has dipped its root +down to look for moisture and food."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do see that," James said, "that is easy enough to make +out; but the next tree, and the next, and, as far as I see, all the +others, don't seem to have any difference in their roots one side +or the other."</p> + +<p>"That is so," the scout replied. "You see, those are younger +trees than this, and it is like enough they did not grow under the +same circumstances. When a few trees fall, or a small clearing is +made by a gale, the young trees that grow up are well sheltered +from the wind by the forest, and don't want to throw out roots to +hold them up; but when a great clearing has been made, by a fire or +other causes, the trees, as they grow up together, have no shelter, +and must stretch out their roots to steady them.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, you will find all the trees, for a long distance, +with their roots like this; sometimes only one tree among a number. +Perhaps, when they started, that tree had more room, or a deeper +soil, and grew faster than the rest, and got his head above them, +so he felt the wind more, and had to throw out his roots to steady +himself; while the others, all growing the same height, did not +need to do so."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," James said. "I understand now, and will bear it in +mind. It is very interesting, and I should like, above all things, +to be able to read the signs of the woods as you do."</p> + +<p>"It will come, lad. It's a sort of second nature. These things +are gifts. The redskin thinks it just as wonderful that the white +man should be able to take up a piece of paper covered with black +marks, and to read off sense out of them, as you do that he should +be able to read every mark and sign of the wood. He can see, as +plain as if the man was still standing on it, the mark of a +footprint, and can tell you if it was made by a warrior or a squaw, +and how long they have passed by, and whether they were walking +fast or slow; while the ordinary white man might go down on his +hands and knees, and stare at the ground, and wouldn't be able to +see the slightest sign or mark. For a white man, my eyes are good, +but they are not a patch on a redskin's. I have lived among the +woods since I was a boy; but even now, a redskin lad can pick up a +trail and follow it when, look as I will, I can't see as a blade of +grass has been bruised. No; these things is partly natur and partly +practice. Practice will do a lot for a white man; but it won't take +him up to redskin natur."</p> + +<p>Not until night had fallen did the party again launch their +canoes on the lake. Then they paddled for several hours until, as +James imagined, they had traversed a greater distance, by some +miles, than that which they had made on the previous evening. He +knew, from what he had learned during the day, that they were to +land some six miles below the point where Lake George joins Lake +Champlain, and where, on the opposite side, on a promontory +stretching into the lake, the French were constructing their new +fort.</p> + +<p>The canoes were to be carried some seven or eight miles through +the wood, across the neck of land between the two lakes, and were +then to be launched again on Lake Champlain, so that, by following +the east shore of that lake, they would pass Ticonderoga at a safe +distance. The halt was made as noiselessly as before, and, having +hauled up the canoes, the men slept till daybreak; and then, +lifting the light craft on their shoulders, started for their +journey through the woods. It was toilsome work, for the ground was +rough and broken, often thickly covered with underwood. Ridges had +to be crossed and deep ravines passed, and, although the canoes +were not heavy, the greatest care had to be exercised, for a graze +against a projecting bough, or the edge of a rock, would suffice to +tear a hole in the thin bark.</p> + +<p>It was not until late in the afternoon that they arrived on the +shores of Lake Champlain. A fire was lighted now, the greatest care +being taken to select perfectly dry sticks, for the Iroquois were +likely to be scattered far and wide among the woods. The risk, +however, was far less than when in sight of the French side of Lake +George. After darkness fell, the canoes were again placed in the +water, and, striking across the lake, they followed the right-hand +shore. After paddling for about an hour and a half, the work +suddenly ceased.</p> + +<p>The lake seemed to widen on their left, for they had just passed +the tongue of land between the two lakes, and on the opposite shore +a number of fires were seen, burning brightly on the hillside. It +was Ticonderoga they were now abreast of, the advanced post of the +French. They lingered for some time before the paddles were again +dipped in water, counting the fires and making a careful note of +the position. They paddled on again until some twelve miles beyond +the fort, and then crossed the lake and landed on the French +shore.</p> + +<p>But the canoes did not all approach the shore together, as they +had done on the previous nights. They halted half a mile out, and +Captain Rogers went forward with his own and another canoe and +landed, and it was not for half an hour that the signal was given, +by an imitation of the croaking of a frog, that a careful search +had ascertained the forest to be untenanted, and the landing +safe.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the signal given than the canoes were set in +motion, and were soon safely hauled up on shore. Five men went out, +as usual, as scouts, and the rest, fatigued by their paddle and the +hard day's work, were soon asleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning they were about to start, and Rogers ordered the +canoes to be hauled up and hidden among the bushes, where, having +done their work, they would for the present be abandoned, to be +recovered and made useful on some future occasion.</p> + +<p>The men charged with the work gave a sudden exclamation when +they reached the canoes.</p> + +<p>"What is that?" Rogers said angrily. "Do you want to bring all +the redskins in the forest upon us?"</p> + +<p>"The canoes are all damaged," one of the scouts said, coming up +to him.</p> + +<p>There was a general movement to the canoes, which were lying on +the bank a few yards' distance from the water's edge. Every one of +them had been rendered useless. The thin birch bark had been gashed +and slit, pieces had been cut out, and not one of them had escaped +injury or was fit to take the water. Beyond a few low words, and +exclamations of dismay, not a word was spoken as the band gathered +round the canoes.</p> + +<p>"Who were on the watch on this side?" Rogers asked.</p> + +<p>"Nat and Jonathan took the first half of the night," one of the +scouts said. "Williams and myself relieved them."</p> + +<p>As all four were men of the greatest skill and experience, +Rogers felt sure that no neglect or carelessness on their part +could have led to the disaster.</p> + +<p>"Did any of you see any passing boats, or hear any sound on the +lake?"</p> + +<p>The four men who had been on guard replied in the negative.</p> + +<p>"I will swear no one landed near the canoes," Nat said. "There +was a glimmer on the water all night; a canoe could not have +possibly come near the bank, anywheres here, without our seeing +it."</p> + +<p>"Then he must have come from the land side," Rogers said. "Some +skulking Indian must have seen us out on the lake, and have hidden +up when we landed. He may have been in a tree overhead all the +time, and, directly the canoes were hauled up, he may have damaged +them and made off.</p> + +<p>"There is no time to be lost, lads. It is five hours since we +landed. If he started at once the redskins may be all round us now. +It is no question now of our scouting round the French fort, it is +one of saving our scalps."</p> + +<p>"How could it have been done?" James Walsham asked Nat, in a low +tone. "We were all sleeping within a few yards of the canoes, and +some of the men were close to them. I should have thought we must +have heard it."</p> + +<p>"Heard it!" the hunter said contemptuously; "why, a redskin +would make no more noise in cutting them holes and gashes, than you +would in cutting a hunk of deer's flesh for your dinner. He would +lie on the ground, and wriggle from one to another like an eel; but +I reckon he didn't begin till the camp was still. The canoes wasn't +hauled up till we had sarched the woods, as we thought, and then we +was moving about close by them till we lay down.</p> + +<p>"I was standing theer on the water's edge not six feet away from +that canoe. I never moved for two hours, and, quiet as a redskin +may be, he must have taken time to do that damage, so as I never +heard a sound as loud as the falling of a leaf. No, I reckon as he +was at the very least two hours over that job. He may have been +gone four hours or a bit over, but not more; but that don't give us +much of a start. It would take him an hour and a half to get to the +fort, then he would have to report to the French chap in command, +and then there might be some talk before he set out with the +redskins, leaving the French to follow."</p> + +<p>"It's no use thinking of mending the canoes, I suppose," James +asked.</p> + +<p>The hunter shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It would take two or three hours to get fresh bark and mend +those holes," he said, "and we haven't got as many minutes to +spare. There, now, we are off."</p> + +<p>While they had been speaking, Rogers had been holding a +consultation with two or three of his most experienced followers, +and they had arrived at pretty nearly the same conclusion as that +of Rogers, namely, that the Indian had probably taken two or three +hours in damaging the canoes and getting fairly away into the +forest; but that, even if he had done so, the Iroquois would be up +in the course of half an hour.</p> + +<p>"Let each man pack his share of meat on his back," Rogers said. +"Don't leave a scrap behind. Quick, lads, there's not a minute to +be lost. It's a case of legs, now. There's no hiding the trail of +thirty men from redskin eyes."</p> + +<p>In a couple of minutes, all were ready for the start, and Rogers +at once led the way, at a long slinging trot, straight back from +the lake, first saying:</p> + +<p>"Pick your way, lads, and don't tread on a fallen stick. There +is just one chance of saving our scalps, and only one, and that +depends upon silence."</p> + +<p>As James ran along, at the heels of Nat, he was struck with the +strangeness of the scene, and the noiselessness with which the band +of moccasin-footed men flitted among the trees. Not a word was +spoken. All had implicit confidence in their leader, the most +experienced bush fighter on the frontier, and knew that, if anyone +could lead them safe from the perils that surrounded them, it was +Rogers.</p> + +<p>James wondered what his plan could be. It seemed certain to him +that the Indians must, sooner or later, overtake them. They would +be aware of the strength of the band, and, confiding in their +superior numbers, would be able to push forward in pursuit without +pausing for many precautions. Once overtaken, the band must stand +at bay, and, even could they hold the Indians in check, the sound +of the firing would soon bring the French soldiers to the spot.</p> + +<p>They had been gone some twenty minutes only, when a distant war +whoop rose in the forest behind them.</p> + +<p>"They have come down on the camp," Nat said, glancing round over +his shoulder, "and find we have left it. I expect they hung about a +little before they ventured in, knowing as we should be expecting +them, when we found the canoes was useless. That war whoop tells +'em all as we have gone. They will gather there, and then be after +us like a pack of hounds.</p> + +<p>"Ah! That is what I thought the captain was up to."</p> + +<p>Rogers had turned sharp to the left, the direction in which +Ticonderoga stood. He slacked down his speed somewhat, for the +perspiration was streaming down the faces even of his trained and +hardy followers. From time to time, he looked round to see that all +were keeping well together. Although, in such an emergency as this, +none thought of questioning the judgment of their leader, many of +them were wondering at the unusual speed at which he was leading +them along. They had some two miles start of their pursuers, and, +had evening been at hand, they would have understood the importance +of keeping ahead until darkness came on to cover their trail; but, +with the whole day before them, they felt that they must be +overtaken sooner or later, and they could not see the object of +exhausting their strength before the struggle began.</p> + +<p>As they ran on, at a somewhat slower pace now, an idea as to +their leader's intention dawned upon most of the scouts, who saw, +by the direction they were taking, that they would again strike the +lake shore near the French fort. Nat, who, light and wiry, was +running easily, while many of his comrades were panting with their +exertions, was now by the side of James Walsham.</p> + +<p>"Give me your rifle, lad, for a bit. You are new to this work, +and the weight of the gun takes it out of you. We have got another +nine or ten miles before us, yet."</p> + +<p>"I can hold on for a bit," James replied. "I am getting my wind +better, now; but why only ten miles? We must be seventy away from +the fort."</p> + +<p>"We should never get there," Nat said. "A few of us might do it, +but the redskins would be on us in an hour or two. I thought, when +we started, as the captain would have told us to scatter, so as to +give each of us some chance of getting off; but I see his plan now, +and it's the only one as there is which gives us a real chance. He +is making straight for the French fort. He reckons, no doubt, as +the best part of the French troops will have marched out after the +redskins."</p> + +<p>"But there would surely be enough left," James said, "to hold +the fort against us; and, even if we could take it, we could not +hold it an hour when they all came up."</p> + +<p>"He ain't thinking of the fort, boy, he's thinking of the boats. +We know as they have lots of 'em there, and, if we can get there a +few minutes before the redskins overtake us, we may get off safe. +It's a chance, but I think it's a good one."</p> + +<p>Others had caught their leader's idea and repeated it to their +comrades, and the animating effect soon showed itself in the +increased speed with which the party hurried through the forest. +Before, almost every man had thought their case hopeless, had +deemed that they had only to continue their flight until overtaken +by the redskins, and that they must, sooner or later, succumb to +the rifles of the Iroquois and their French allies. But the +prospect that, after an hour's run, a means of escape might be +found, animated each man to renewed efforts.</p> + +<p>After running for some distance longer, Rogers suddenly halted +and held up his hand, and the band simultaneously came to a halt. +At first, nothing could be heard save their own quick breathing; +then a confused noise was heard to their left front, a deep +trampling and the sound of voices, and an occasional clash of +arms.</p> + +<p>"It is the French column coming out," Nat whispered, as Rogers, +swerving somewhat to the right, and making a sign that all should +run as silently as possible, continued his course.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: A Commission.</h2> + +<p>Presently the noise made by the column of French troops was +heard abreast of the fugitives. Then it died away behind them, and +they again directed their course to the left. Ten minutes later, +they heard a loud succession of Indian whoops, and knew that the +redskins pursuing them had also heard the French column on its +march, and would be warning them of the course which the band were +taking. The scouts were now but four miles from Ticonderoga, and +each man knew that it was a mere question of speed.</p> + +<p>"Throw away your meat," Rogers ordered, "you will not want it +now, and every pound tells."</p> + +<p>The men had already got rid of their blankets, and were now +burdened only with their rifles and ammunition. The ground was +rough and broken, for they were nearing the steep promontory on +which the French fort had been erected. They were still a mile +ahead of their pursuers, and although the latter had gained that +distance upon them since the first start, the scouts knew that, now +they were exerting themselves to the utmost, the redskins could be +gaining but little upon them, for the trained white man is, in +point of speed and endurance, fairly a match for the average +Indian.</p> + +<p>They had now descended to within a short distance of the edge of +the lake, in order to avoid the valleys and ravines running down +from the hills. The war whoops rose frequently in the forest behind +them, the Indians yelling to give those at the fort notice that the +chase was approaching.</p> + +<p>"If there war any redskins left at the fort," Nat said to James, +"they would guess what our game was; but I expect every redskin +started out on the hunt, and the French soldiers, when they hear +the yelling, won't know what to make of it, and, if they do +anything, they will shut themselves up in their fort."</p> + +<p>Great as were the exertions which the scouts were making, they +could tell, by the sound of the war whoops, that some at least of +the Indians were gaining upon them. Accustomed as every man of the +party was to the fatigues of the forest, the strain was telling +upon them all now. For twelve miles they had run almost at the top +of their speed, and the short panting breath, the set faces, and +the reeling steps showed that they were nearly at the end of their +powers. Still they held on, with scarcely any diminishing of speed. +Each man knew that if he fell, he must die, for his comrades could +do nothing for him, and no pause was possible until the boats were +gained.</p> + +<p>They were passing now under the French works, for they could +hear shouting on the high ground to the right, and knew that the +troops left in the fort had taken the alarm; but they were still +invisible, for it was only at the point of the promontory that the +clearing had been carried down to the water's edge. A low cry of +relief burst from the men, as they saw the forest open before them, +and a minute later they were running along in the open, near the +shore of the lake, at the extremity of the promontory, where, +hauled up upon the shore, lay a number of canoes and flat-bottomed +boats, used for the conveyance of troops. A number of boatmen were +standing near, evidently alarmed by the war cries in the woods. +When they saw the party approaching they at once made for the fort, +a quarter of a mile away on the high ground, and, almost at the +same moment, a dropping fire of musketry opened from the +entrenchments.</p> + +<p>"Smash the canoes," Rogers said, setting the example by +administering a vigorous kick to one of them.</p> + +<p>The others followed his example, and, in a few seconds, every +one of the frail barks was stove in.</p> + +<p>"Two of the boats will hold us well," Rogers said; "quick, into +the water with them, and out with the oars. Ten row in each boat. +Let the other five handle their rifles, and keep back the Indians +as they come up. Never mind the soldiers."</p> + +<p>For the white-coated troops, perceiving the scouts' intention, +were now pouring out from the intrenchments.</p> + +<p>A couple of minutes sufficed for the men to launch the boats and +take their seats, and the oars dipped in the water just as three or +four Indians dashed out from the edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>"We have won the race by three minutes," Rogers said, +exultantly. "Stretch to your oars, lads, and get out of range as +soon as you can."</p> + +<p>The Indians began to fire as soon as they perceived the boats. +They were scarcely two hundred yards away, but they, like the white +men, were panting with fatigue, and their bullets flew harmlessly +by.</p> + +<p>"Don't answer yet," Rogers ordered, as some of the scouts were +preparing to fire. "Wait till your hands get steady, and then fire +at the French. There won't be many of the redskins up, yet."</p> + +<p>The boats were not two hundred yards from shore when the French +soldiers reached the edge of the water and opened fire, but at this +distance their weapons were of little avail, and, though the +bullets splashed thickly around the boats, no one was injured, +while several of the French were seen to drop from the fire of the +scouts. Another hundred yards, and the boats were beyond any +danger, save from a chance shot. The Indians still continued +firing, and several of their shots struck the boats, one of the +rowers being hit on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Lay in your rifles, and man the other two oars in each boat," +Rogers said. "The French are launching some of their bateaux, but +we have got a fair start, and they won't overtake us before we +reach the opposite point. They are fresher than we are, but +soldiers are no good rowing; besides, they are sure to crowd the +boats so that they won't have a chance."</p> + +<p>Five or six boats, each crowded with men, started in pursuit, +but they were fully half a mile behind when the two English boats +reached the shore.</p> + +<p>"Now it is our turn," Rogers said, as the men, leaping ashore, +took their places behind trees. As soon as the French boats came +within range, a steady fire was opened upon them. Confusion was at +once apparent among them. Oars were seen to drop, and as the fire +continued, the rowing ceased. Another minute and the boats were +turned, and were soon rowing out again into the lake.</p> + +<p>"There's the end of that," Rogers said, "and a close shave it +has been.</p> + +<p>"Well, youngster, what do you think of your first scout in the +woods?"</p> + +<p>"It has been sharper than I bargained for," James said, +laughing, "and was pretty near being the last, as well as the +first. If it hadn't been for your taking us to the boats, I don't +think many of us would have got back to Fort Henry to tell the +tale."</p> + +<p>"There is generally some way out of a mess," Rogers said, "if +one does but think of it. If I had not thought of the French boats, +we should have scattered, and a few of us would have been +overtaken, no doubt; but even an Indian cannot follow a single +trail as fast as a man can run, and I reckon most of us would have +carried our scalps back to camp. Still, with the woods full of +Iroquois they must have had some of us, and I hate losing a man if +it can be helped. We are well out of it.</p> + +<p>"Now, lads, we had better be tramping. There are a lot more +bateaux coming out, and I expect, by the rowing, they are manned by +Indians. The redskin is a first-rate hand with the paddle, but is +no good with an oar."</p> + +<p>The man who had been hit in the shoulder had already had his +wound bandaged. There was a minute's consultation as to whether +they should continue their journey in the boats, some of the men +pointing out that they had proved themselves faster than their +pursuers.</p> + +<p>"That may be," Rogers says; "but the Indians will land and +follow along the shore, and will soon get ahead of us, for they can +travel quicker than we can row, and, for aught we know, there may +be a whole fleet of canoes higher up Lake George which would cut us +off. No, lads, the safest way is to keep on through the woods."</p> + +<p>The decision was received without question, and the party at +once started at a swinging trot, which was kept up, with occasional +intervals of walking, throughout the day. At nightfall their course +was changed, and, after journeying another two or three miles, a +halt was called, for Rogers was sure that the Indians would abandon +pursuit, when night came on without their having overtaken the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>Before daybreak the march was continued, and, in the afternoon, +the party arrived at Fort William Henry.</p> + +<p>James now determined to leave the force, and return at once to +New York, where his letters were to be addressed to him. He took +with him a letter from General Johnson, speaking in the warmest +tones of his conduct.</p> + +<p>On arriving at New York he found, at the post office there, a +great pile of letters awaiting him. They had been written after the +receipt of his letter at the end of July, telling those at home of +his share in Braddock's disaster.</p> + +<p>"I little thought, my boy," his mother wrote, "when we received +your letter, saying that you had got your discharge from the ship, +and were going with an expedition against the French, that you were +going to run into such terrible danger. Fortunately, the same +vessel which brought the news of General Braddock's defeat also +brought your letter, and we learned the news only a few hours +before your letter reached us. It was, as you may imagine, a time +of terrible anxiety to us, and the squire and Aggie were almost as +anxious as I was. Mr. Wilks did his best to cheer us all, but I +could see that he, too, felt it very greatly. However, when your +letter came we were all made happy again, though, of course, we +cannot be but anxious, as you say you are just going to join +another expedition; still, we must hope that that will do better, +as it won't be managed by regular soldiers. Mr. Wilks was quite +angry at what you said about the folly of making men stand in a +line to be shot at, he thinks so much of drill and discipline. The +squire and he have been arguing quite fiercely about it; but the +squire gets the best of the argument, for the dreadful way in which +the soldiers were slaughtered shows that, though that sort of +fighting may be good in other places, it is not suited for fighting +these wicked Indians in the woods.</p> + +<p>"The squire has himself been up to London about your commission, +and has arranged it all. He has, as he will tell you in his letter, +got you a commission in the regiment commanded by Colonel Otway, +which is to go out next spring. He was introduced to the commander +in chief by his friend, and told him that you had been acting as +Colonel Washington's aide-de-camp with General Braddock, and that +you have now gone to join General Johnson's army; so the duke said +that, though you would be gazetted at once, and would belong to the +regiment, you might as well stay out there and see service until it +arrived; and that it would be a great advantage to the regiment to +have an officer, with experience in Indian fighting, with it. I +cried when he brought me back the news, for I had hoped to have you +back again with us for a bit, before you went soldiering for good. +However, the squire seems to think it is a capital thing for you. +Mr. Wilks thinks so, too, so I suppose I must put up with it; but +Aggie agrees with me, and says it is too bad that she should never +have seen you, once, from the time when she saw you in that +storm.</p> + +<p>"She is a dear little girl, and is growing fast. I think she +must have grown quite an inch in the five months you have been +away. She sends her love to you, and says you must take care of +yourself, for her sake."</p> + +<p>The squire, in his letter, repeated the news Mrs. Walsham had +given.</p> + +<p>"You are now an ensign," he said, "and, if you go into any more +fights before your regiment arrives, you must, Mr. Wilks said, get +a proper uniform made for you, and fight as a king's officer. I +send you a copy of the gazette, where you will see your name."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilks's letter was a long one.</p> + +<p>"I felt horribly guilty, dear Jim," he said, "when the news came +of Braddock's dreadful defeat. I could hardly look your dear mother +in the face, and, though the kind lady would not, I know, say a +word to hurt my feelings for the world, yet I could see that she +regarded me as a monster, for it was on my advice that, instead of +coming home when you got your discharge, you remained out there and +took part in this unfortunate expedition. I could see Aggie felt +the same, and, though I did my best to keep up their spirits, I had +a terrible time of it until your letter arrived, saying you were +safe. If it had not come, I do believe that I should have gone +quietly off to Exeter, hunted up my box again, and hired a boy to +push it for me, for I am not so strong as I was. But I would rather +have tramped about, for the rest of my life, than remain there +under your mother's reproachful eye. However, thank God you came +through it all right, and, after such a lesson, I should hope that +we shall never have repetition of such a disaster as that. As an +old soldier, I cannot agree with what you say about the uselessness +of drill, even for fighting in a forest. It must accustom men to +listen to the voice of their officers, and to obey orders promptly +and quickly, and I cannot but think that, if the troops had gone +forward at a brisk double, they would have driven the Indians +before them. As to the whooping and yells you talk so much about, I +should think nothing of them; they are no more to be regarded than +the shrieks of women, or the braying of donkeys."</p> + +<p>James smiled as he read this, and thought that, if the old +soldier had heard that chaos of blood-curdling cries break out, in +the still depth of the forest, he would not write of them with such +equanimity.</p> + +<p>"You will have heard, from the squire, that you are gazetted to +Otway's regiment which, with others, is to cross the Atlantic in a +few weeks, when it is generally supposed war will be formally +declared. Your experience will be of great use to you, and ought to +get you a good staff appointment. I expect that, in the course of a +year, there will be fighting on a large scale on your side of the +water, and the English ought to get the best of it, for France +seems, at present, to be thinking a great deal more of her affairs +in Europe than of her colonies in America. So much the better, for, +if we can take Canada, we shall strike a heavy blow to her trade, +and some day North America is going to be an important place in the +world."</p> + +<p>The letters had been lying there several weeks, and James knew +that Otway's regiment had, with the others, arrived a few days +before, and had already marched for Albany. Thinking himself +entitled to a little rest, after his labours, he remained for +another week in New York, while his uniform was being made, and +then took a passage in a trading boat up to Albany.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he landed, when a young officer in the same uniform +met him. He looked surprised, hesitated, and then stopped.</p> + +<p>"I see you belong to our regiment," he said. "Have you just +arrived from England? What ship did you come in?"</p> + +<p>"I have been out here some time," James replied. "My name is +Walsham. I believe I was gazetted to your regiment some months ago, +but I only heard the news on my arrival at New York last week."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are Walsham!" the young officer said. "My name is +Edwards. I am glad to meet you. We have been wondering when you +would join us, and envying your luck, in seeing so much of the +fighting out here. Our regiment is encamped about half a mile from +here. If you will let me, I will go back with you, and introduce +you to our fellows."</p> + +<p>James thanked him, and the two walked along talking together. +James learned that there were already five ensigns junior to +himself, his new acquaintance being one of them, as the regiment +had been somewhat short of officers, and the vacancies had been +filled up shortly before it sailed.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we must call on the colonel first," Mr. Edwards +said. "He is a capital fellow, and very much liked in the +regiment."</p> + +<p>Colonel Otway received James with great cordiality.</p> + +<p>"We are very glad to get you with us, Mr. Walsham," he said, +"and we consider it a credit to the regiment to have a young +officer who has been, three times, mentioned in despatches. You +will, too, be a great service to us, and will be able to give us a +good many hints as to this Indian method of fighting, which +Braddock's men found so terrible."</p> + +<p>"It is not formidable, sir, when you are accustomed to it; but, +unfortunately, General Braddock forced his men to fight in regular +fashion, that is, to stand up and be shot at, and that mode of +fighting, in the woods, is fatal. A hundred redskins would be more +than a match, in the forest, for ten times their number of white +troops, who persisted in fighting in such a ridiculous way; but, +fighting in their own way, white men are a match for the redskins. +Indeed, the frontiersmen can thrash the Indians, even if they are +two or three to one against them."</p> + +<p>"You have been in this last affair on the lake, have you not, +Mr. Walsham? I heard you were with Johnson."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I was, and at the beginning it was very nearly a +repetition of Braddock's disaster; but, after being surprised and, +at first, beaten, the column that went out made such a stout fight +of it, that it gave us time to put the camp in a state of defence. +Had the Indians made a rush, I think they would have carried it; +but, as they contented themselves with keeping up a distant fire, +the provincials, who were all young troops, quite unaccustomed to +fighting, and wholly without drill or discipline, gradually got +steady, and at length sallied out and beat them decisively."</p> + +<p>"I will not detain you, now," the colonel said; "but I hope, ere +long, you will give us a full and detailed account of the fighting +you have been in, with your idea of the best way of training +regular troops for the sort of work we have before us. Mr. Edwards +will take you over to the mess, and introduce you to your brother +officers."</p> + +<p>James was well received by the officers of his regiment, and +soon found himself perfectly at home with them. He had to devote +some hours, every day, to acquiring the mysteries of drill. It was, +to him, somewhat funny to see the pains expended in assuring that +each movement should be performed with mechanical accuracy; but he +understood that, although useless for such warfare as that which +they had before them, great accuracy in details was necessary, for +ensuring uniformity of movement among large masses of men in an +open country.</p> + +<p>Otherwise, the time passed very pleasantly. James soon became a +favourite in the regiment, and the young officers were never tired +of questioning him concerning the redskins, and their manner of +fighting. There were plenty of amusements. The snow was deep on the +ground, now, and the officers skated, practised with snowshoes, and +drove in sleighs. Occasionally they got up a dance, and the people +of Albany, and the settlers round, vied with each other in their +hospitality to the officers.</p> + +<p>One day, in February, an orderly brought a message to James +Walsham, that the colonel wished to speak to him.</p> + +<p>"Walsham," he said, "I may tell you, privately, that the +regiment is likely to form part of the expedition which is being +fitted out, in England, against Louisbourg in Cape Breton, the key +of Canada. A considerable number of the troops from the province +will accompany it."</p> + +<p>"But that will leave the frontier here altogether open to the +enemy," James said in surprise.</p> + +<p>"That is my own opinion, Walsham. Louisbourg is altogether +outside the range of the present struggle, and it seems to me that +the British force should be employed at striking at a vital point. +However, that is not to the purpose. It is the Earl of Loudon's +plan. However, it is manifest, as you say, that the frontier will +be left terribly open, and therefore two companies of each of the +regiments going will be left. Naturally, as you are the only +officer in the regiment who has had any experience in this forest +warfare, you would be one of those left here; but as an ensign you +would not have much influence, and I think that it would be at once +more useful to the service, and more pleasant for yourself, if I +can obtain for you something like a roving commission. What do you +think of that?"</p> + +<p>"I should greatly prefer that, sir," James said gratefully.</p> + +<p>"The general is a little vexed, I know," the colonel went on, +"at the numerous successes, and daring feats, gained by Rogers and +the other leaders of the companies of scouts, while the regulars +have not had an opportunity to fire a shot: and I think that he +would, at once, accept the proposal were I to make it to him, that +a company, to be called the Royal Scouts, should be formed of +volunteers taken from the various regiments, and that you should +have the command."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," James said, "and I should like it above all +things; but I fear that we should have no chance, whatever, of +rivalling the work of Rogers and the other partisan leaders. These +men are all trained to the work of the woods, accustomed to fight +Indians, equally at home in a canoe or in the forest. I have had, +as you are good enough to say, some experience in the work, but I +am a mere child by their side, and were I to lead fifty English +soldiers in the forest, I fear that none of us would ever +return."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I should not propose that you should engage in +enterprises of that sort, Walsham. My idea is that, although you +would have an independent command, with very considerable freedom +of action, you would act in connection with the regular troops. The +scouts are often far away when wanted, leaving the posts open to +surprise. They are so impatient of any discipline, that they are +adverse to going near the forts, except to obtain fresh supplies. +You, on the contrary, would act as the eyes of any post which you +might think threatened by the enemy. At present, for instance, Fort +William Henry is the most exposed to attack.</p> + +<p>"You would take your command there, and would report yourself to +Major Eyre, who is in command. As for service there, your letter of +appointment would state that you are authorized to act +independently, but that, while it would be your duty to obey the +orders of the commanding officer, you will be authorized to offer +such suggestions to him as your experience in Indian warfare would +lead you to make. You would train your men as scouts. It would be +their special duty to guard the fort against surprise, and, of +course, in case of attack to take part in its defence. In the event +of the provincial scouts making any concerted movement against a +French post, you would be authorized to join them. You would then +have the benefit of their skill and experience, and, in case of +success, the army would get a share of the credit. What do you +think of my plan?"</p> + +<p>"I should like it above all things," James replied. "That would +be precisely the duty which I should select had I the choice."</p> + +<p>"I thought so," the colonel said. "I have formed a very high +opinion of your judgment and discretion, from the talks which we +have had together, and I have spoken strongly in your favour to the +general, who had promised me that, in the event of the army moving +forward, you should have an appointment on the quartermaster +general's staff, as an intelligence officer.</p> + +<p>"Since I heard that the main portion of the army is to sail to +Louisbourg, I have been thinking this plan over, and it certainly +seems to me that a corps, such as that that I have suggested, would +be of great service. I should think that its strength should be +fifty men. You will, of course, have another officer with you. Is +there anyone you would like to choose, as I may as well take the +whole scheme, cut and dried, to the general?"</p> + +<p>"I should like Mr. Edwards, sir. He is junior to me in the +regiment, and is very active and zealous in the service; and I +should greatly like to be allowed to enlist, temporarily, two of +the scouts I have served with in the force, with power for them to +take their discharge when they wished. They would be of immense +utility to me in instructing the men in their new duties, and would +add greatly to our efficiency."</p> + +<p>"So be it," the colonel said. "I will draw out the scheme on +paper, and lay it before the general today."</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, James was again sent for.</p> + +<p>"The earl has approved of my scheme. You will have temporary +rank as captain given you, in order to place your corps on an equal +footing with the provincial corps of scouts. Mr. Edwards will also +have temporary rank, as lieutenant. The men of the six companies, +of the three regiments, will be paraded tomorrow, and asked for +volunteers for the special service. If there are more than fifty +offer, you can select your own men."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the next morning, the troops to be left behind were +paraded, and an order was read out, saying that a corps of scouts +for special service was to be raised, and that volunteers were +requested. Upwards of a hundred men stepped forward, and, being +formed in line, James selected from them fifty who appeared to him +the most hardy, active, and intelligent looking. He himself had, +that morning, been put in orders as captain of the new corps, and +had assumed the insignia of his temporary rank. The colonel had +placed at his disposal two intelligent young non-commissioned +officers.</p> + +<p>The next morning, he marched with his command for Fort William +Henry. No sooner had he left the open country, and entered the +woods, than he began to instruct the men in their new duties. The +whole of them were thrown out as skirmishers, and taught to advance +in Indian fashion, each man sheltering himself behind a tree, +scanning the woods carefully ahead, and then, fixing his eyes on +another tree ahead, to advance to it at a sharp run, and shelter +there.</p> + +<p>All this was new to the soldiers, hitherto drilled only in solid +formation, or in skirmishing in the open, and when, at the end of +ten miles skirmishing through the wood, they were halted and +ordered to bivouac for the night, James felt that his men were +beginning to have some idea of forest fighting. The men themselves +were greatly pleased with their day's work. It was a welcome change +after the long monotony of life in a standing camp, and the day's +work had given them a high opinion of the fitness of their young +officer for command.</p> + +<p>But the work and instruction was not over for the day. Hitherto, +none of the men had had any experience in camping in the open. +James now showed them how to make comfortable shelters against the +cold, with two forked sticks and one laid across them, and with a +few boughs and a blanket laid over them, with dead leaves heaped +round the bottom and ends; and how best to arrange their fires and +cook their food.</p> + +<p>During the following days, the same work was repeated, and when, +after a week's marching, the force issued from the forest into the +clearing around Fort William Henry, James felt confident that his +men would be able to hold their own in a brush with the Indians. +Major Eyre, to whom James reported himself, and showed his +appointment defining his authority and duties, expressed much +satisfaction at the arrival of the reinforcement.</p> + +<p>"There are rumours, brought here by the scouts," he said, "that +a strong force will, ere long, come down from Crown Point to +Ticonderoga, and that we shall be attacked. Now that the lake is +frozen, regular troops could march without difficulty, and my force +here is very inadequate, considering the strength with which the +French will attack. None of my officers or men have any experience +of the Indian methods of attack, and your experience will be very +valuable. It is a pity that they do not give me one of these +companies of scouts permanently. Sometimes one or other of them is +here, but often I am without any of the provincials, and, although +I have every confidence in my officers and men, one cannot but feel +that it is a great disadvantage to be exposed to the attack of an +enemy of whose tactics one is altogether ignorant.</p> + +<p>"You will, of course, encamp your men inside the fort. I see you +have brought no baggage with you, but I have some spare tents here, +which are at your service."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," James replied; "I shall be glad to put the men +under cover, while they are here, but I intend to practise them, as +much as possible, in scouting and camping in the woods, and, +although I shall always be in the neighbourhood of the fort, I do +not propose always to return here at night. Are any of Captain +Rogers's corps at present at the fort?"</p> + +<p>"Some of them came in last night," Major Eyre replied.</p> + +<p>"I have authority," James said, "to enlist two of them in my +corps."</p> + +<p>Major Eyre smiled.</p> + +<p>"I do not think you will find any of them ready to submit to +military discipline, or to put on a red coat."</p> + +<p>"They are all accustomed to obey orders, promptly enough, when +at work," James said, "though there is no attempt at discipline +when off duty. You see them at their worst here. There is, of +course, nothing like military order in the woods, but obedience is +just as prompt as among our troops. As to the uniform, I agree with +you, but on that head I should not be particular. I can hardly +fancy any of the scouts buttoned tightly up with stiff collars; but +as, after all, although they are to be enlisted, they will be +attached to the corps, rather than be regular members of it, I do +not think I need insist upon the uniform."</p> + +<p>After leaving the major, James saw to the pitching of the tents, +and the comforts of his men, and when he had done so strolled off +towards a group of scouts, who were watching his proceedings, and +among whom he recognized the two men for whom he was looking.</p> + +<p>He received a cordial greeting from all who had taken part in +his previous adventures with Captain Rogers's band.</p> + +<p>"And so you are in command of this party?" Nat said. "I asked +one of the men just now, and he said you were the captain. You are +young to be a captain, but, at any rate, it's a good thing to have +a king's officer here who knows something about the woods. The rest +ain't no more idea of them than nothing."</p> + +<p>"I want to chat to you, Nat, and also to Jonathan, if you will +come across with me to my tent."</p> + +<p>"I'm agreeable," Nat said; and the two scouts walked across to +the tent with James.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Edwards, who shared the tent with him, was inside, +arranging a few things which Major Eyre had sent down for their +use.</p> + +<p>"Edwards, these are the two scouts, Nat and Jonathan, of whom +you have often heard me speak. Now, let us sit down and have a +chat.</p> + +<p>"There is some first-rate rum in that bottle, Nat. There are two +tin pannikins, and there is water in that keg.</p> + +<p>"Now, Nat," he went on, when the party were seated on blankets +laid on the ground, "this corps of mine has been raised, specially, +to act as scouts round this or any other fort which may be +threatened, or to act as the advanced guard of a column of +troops."</p> + +<p>"But what do they know of scouting?" Nat said contemptuously. +"They don't know no more than children."</p> + +<p>"They don't know much, but they are active fellows, and ready to +learn. I think you will find that, already, they have a pretty fair +idea of fighting in Indian fashion in the woods, and, as I have +authority to draw extra supplies of ball cartridge, I hope, in a +few weeks, to make fair shots of them. You have taught me something +of forest ways, and I shall teach them all I know; but we want +better teachers, and I want to propose, to you and Jonathan, to +join the corps."</p> + +<p>"What, and put on a red coat, and choke ourselves up with a +stiff collar!" Nat laughed. "Nice figures we should look! No, no, +captain, that would never do."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't propose that you should wear uniform, Nat. I have +got a special authority to enlist you and Jonathan, with the +understanding that you can take your discharge whenever you like. +There will be no drilling in line, or anything of that sort. It +will be just scouting work, the same as with Captain Rogers, except +that we shall not make long expeditions, as he does, but keep in +the neighbourhood of the fort. I should want you to act both as +scouts and instructors, to teach the men, as you have taught me, +something of woodcraft, how to find their way in a forest, and how +to fight the Indians in their own way, and to be up to Indian +devices. You will be guides on the line of march, will warn me of +danger, and suggest the best plan of meeting it. You will, in fact, +be scouts attached to the corps, only nominally you will be members +of it. I know your ways, and should not exact any observance of +discipline, more than that which you have with Rogers, and should +treat you in the light of non-commissioned officers."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what do you say, Jonathan?" Nat said, turning to his +tall companion. "You and I have both taken a fancy to the captain +here, and though he has picked up a lot for a young 'un, and will +in time make a first-rate hand in the woods, I guess he won't make +much hand of it, yet, if he hadn't got someone as knows the woods +by his side. We have had a spell of hard work of it with Rogers +lately, and I don't mind if I have a change, for a bit, with the +redcoats."</p> + +<p>"I will go, of course," Jonathan said briefly.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, that's settled, captain," Nat said. "Rogers +will be in tonight, and I will tell him we are going to transfer +ourselves over to you."</p> + +<p>"He won't mind, I hope," James said.</p> + +<p>"He won't mind," Nat replied. "We ain't very particular about +times of service in our corps. We just comes and goes, pretty well +as the fancy takes us. They would never get us to join, if they +wanted to get us to bind down hard and fast. Sometimes they start +on an expedition fifty strong, next time perhaps not more than +thirty turns up.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything to do to join the corps?"</p> + +<p>"Not much, Nat. I give you each a shilling and attest you, that +is to say, swear you in to serve the king, and, in your case, give +you a paper saying that you are authorized to take your discharge, +whensoever it pleases you."</p> + +<p>"Very well, captain. Then on those terms we join, always +understood as we don't have to put on red coats."</p> + +<p>The two men were sworn in, and then Nat, standing up, said:</p> + +<p>"And now, captain, discipline is discipline. What's your +orders?"</p> + +<p>James went to the door of the tent, and called the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant, these two men are enlisted as scouts in the corps. +They will draw rations, and be a regular part of the company like +the rest, but they will not wear uniform, acting only as scouts. +They will have the rank and position of corporals, and will +specially instruct the men in woodcraft, and in the ways of the +Indians. They will, of course, occupy the tent with the +non-commissioned officers, and will mess with them. Being engaged +as scouts, only, they will in other respects be free from anything +like strictness. I trust that you will do what you can to make them +comfortable."</p> + +<p>The sergeant saluted, and led the two scouts over to the tent +occupied by himself and the other non-commissioned officers, and +the roars of laughter that issued from it in the course of the +evening, at the anecdotes of the scouts, showed that the newcomers +were likely to be highly popular characters in their mess.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: An Abortive Attack.</h2> + +<p>Three weeks passed. James kept his men steadily at work, and +even the scouts allowed that they made great progress. Sometimes +they went out in two parties, with an officer and a scout to each, +and their pouches filled with blank cartridge. Each would do its +best to surprise the other; and, when they met, a mimic fight would +take place, the men sheltering behind trees, and firing only when +they obtained a glimpse of an adversary.</p> + +<p>"I did not think that these pipe-clayed soldiers could have been +so spry," Nat said to James. "They have picked up wonderfully, and +I wouldn't mind going into an Indian fight with them. They are +improving with their muskets. Their shooting yesterday wasn't bad, +by no means. In three months' time, they will be as good a lot to +handle as any of the companies of scouts."</p> + +<p>Besides the daily exercises, the company did scouting work at +night, ten men being out, by turns, in the woods bordering the +lake. At one o'clock in the morning, on the 19th of March, Nat came +into the officers' tent.</p> + +<p>"Captain," he said, "get up. There's something afoot."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Nat?" James asked, as he threw off his rugs.</p> + +<p>"It's the French, at least I don't see who else it can be. It +was my turn tonight to go round and look after our sentries. When I +came to Jim Bryan, who was stationed just at the edge of the lake, +I said to him, 'Anything new, Jim?' and he says, 'Yes; seems to me +as I can hear a hammering in the woods.' I listens, and sure enough +axes were going. It may be some three miles down. The night is +still, and the ice brought the sound.</p> + +<p>"'That's one for you, Jim,' says I. 'Them's axes sure enough.' I +stands and looks, and then a long way down the lake on the left I +sees a faint glare. They had had the sense to light the fires where +we couldn't see them; but there were the lights, sure enough. It's +the French, captain, the redskins would never have made fires like +that, and if it had been a party of our scouts, they would have +come on here, and not halted an hour's tramp away.</p> + +<p>"You had best get the troops under arms, captain. Who would have +thought they would have been such fools as to light their fires +within sight of the fort!"</p> + +<p>James at once went to Major Eyre's quarters, and aroused him, +and in a few minutes the garrison were all under arms. Their +strength, including James Walsham's corps, and some scouts of the +company of John Stark, numbered three hundred and forty-six men, +besides which there were a hundred and twenty-eight invalids in +hospital.</p> + +<p>Two hours passed, and then a confused sound, as of a great body +of men moving on the ice, was heard. The ice was bare of snow, and +nothing could be seen, but the cannon on the side facing the lake +at once opened fire, with grape and round shot, in the direction of +the sound.</p> + +<p>After firing for a few minutes, they were silent. The sound on +the ice could no longer be heard.</p> + +<p>"They have taken to the woods," Nat, who had taken up his +station next to James Walsham, said. "It ain't likely they would +stop on the ice with the balls pounding it up."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will attack before morning?" James asked.</p> + +<p>"It ain't likely," Nat replied. "They won't know the positions, +and, such a dark night as this, they wouldn't be able to make out +anything about them. If they could have come straight along the ice +to the head of the lake here, they would have made a dash, no +doubt; but now they find we ain't to be caught asleep, I expect +they will wait till morning."</p> + +<p>Again the sound of axes was heard in the wood, and the glare of +light appeared above the trees.</p> + +<p>"There must be a tidy lot of 'em," Nat said.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will be any use to go out and try to surprise +them?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit, captain. They are sure to have a lot of redskins +with them, and they will be lurking in the woods, in hopes that we +may try such a move. No; we have got a strong position here, and +can lick them three to one; but in the woods, except Stark's men, +and perhaps yours, none of the others wouldn't be no good at +all."</p> + +<p>Mayor Eyre, shortly afterwards, sent for James, who gave him the +opinion of the scout, and the major then ordered the troops to get +under shelter again, leaving Stark's men to act as sentries, for +the night was bitterly cold.</p> + +<p>It was not until ten o'clock next day that the French appeared, +and, surrounding the fort on all sides, except on that of the lake, +opened heavy musketry fire upon it. They were a formidable body. +Vaudreuil, the governor of Canada, had spared no pains to make the +blow a successful one. The force had been assembled at Crown Point, +and numbered sixteen hundred regulars, Canadians, and Indians. +Everything needful for their comfort had been provided--overcoats, +blankets, bear skins to sleep on, and tarpaulins to cover them. +They had been provided with twelve days' provisions, which were +placed on hand sledges and drawn by the troops.</p> + +<p>They marched, over the ice of Lake Champlain, down to +Ticonderoga, where they rested a week, and constructed three +hundred scaling ladders. Three days' further march, up Lake George, +brought them to the English fort.</p> + +<p>The weak point of the expedition was its leader, for Vaudreuil, +who was himself a Canadian, had the greatest jealousy of the French +officers, and had intrusted the command of the expedition to his +brother, Rigaud.</p> + +<p>The fire did no damage, as the garrison lay sheltered behind +their entrenchments, replying occasionally whenever the enemy +mustered in force, as if with an intention of attacking.</p> + +<p>"I don't think they mean business, this time, captain," Nat said +in a tone of disgust. "Why, there are enough of them to eat us, if +they could but make up their minds to come on. They don't suppose +they are going to take William Henry by blazing a way at it half a +mile off!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are going to make a night attack," James said. +"They will have learned all about the position of our works."</p> + +<p>"Maybe so," Nat replied; "but I don't think so. When chaps don't +attack at once, when there are four or five to one, I reckon that +they ain't likely to attack at all. They meant to surprise us, and +they haven't, and it seems to me as it has taken all the heart out +of them."</p> + +<p>As evening approached, the fire ceased. At nightfall, strong +guards were placed round the entrenchments, and the troops retired +to their quarters, ready to turn out at a minute's notice.</p> + +<p>About midnight they were called out. There was again a sound on +the lake. The cannon at once opened, and, as before, all was silent +again.</p> + +<p>"Look, Walsham, look!" Edwards exclaimed. "They have set fire to +the sloops."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a tongue of flame started up from one of the two +vessels lying in the ice, close to the shore, and, almost +simultaneously, flames shot up from among the boats drawn up on the +beach.</p> + +<p>"That's redskin work," Nat exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Come, lads," James cried, leaping down from the low earthwork +into the ditch. "Let us save the boats, if we can."</p> + +<p>The scouts followed him and ran down to the shore; but the +Indians had done their work well. The two sloops, and many of the +boats, were well alight, and it was evident at once that, long +before a hole could be broken through the ice, and buckets brought +down from the fort, they would be beyond all hopes of saving +them.</p> + +<p>The French, too, opened fire from the woods bordering the lake, +and, as the light of the flames exposed his men to the enemy's +marksmen, James at once called them back to the fort, and the +sloops and boats burned themselves out.</p> + +<p>At noon, next day, the French filed out from the woods on to the +ice, at a distance of over a mile.</p> + +<p>"What now?" Edwards exclaimed. "They surely don't mean to be +fools enough to march across the ice to attack us in broad +daylight."</p> + +<p>"It looks to me," James replied, "as if they wanted to make a +full show of their force. See, there is a white flag, and a party +are coming forward."</p> + +<p>An officer and several men advanced towards the fort, and Major +Eyre sent out one of his officers, with an equal number of men, to +meet them. There was a short parley when the parties came together, +and then the French officer advanced towards the fort with the +English, his followers remaining on the ice.</p> + +<p>On nearing the fort, the French officer, Le Mercier, chief of +the Canadian artillery, was blindfolded, and led to the room where +Major Eyre, with all the British officers, was awaiting him. The +handkerchief was then removed from his eyes, and he announced to +the commandant that he was the bearer of a message from the officer +commanding the French force, who, being desirous of avoiding an +effusion of blood, begged the English commander to abstain from +resistance, which, against a force so superior to his own, could +but be useless. He offered the most favourable terms, if he would +surrender the place peaceably, but said that if he were driven to +make an assault, his Indian allies would unquestionably massacre +the whole garrison.</p> + +<p>Major Eyre quietly replied that he intended to defend himself to +the utmost.</p> + +<p>The envoy was again blindfolded. When he rejoined the French +force, the latter at once advanced as if to attack the place, but +soon halted, and, leaving the ice, opened a fusillade from the +border of the woods, which they kept up for some hours, the +garrison contemptuously abstaining from any reply.</p> + +<p>At night, the French were heard advancing again, the sound +coming from all sides. The garrison stood to their arms, believing +that this time the real attack was about to be made.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the sound, and the garrison, who could +see nothing in the pitchy darkness, fired wherever they could hear +a sound. Presently a bright light burst up. The redskins, provided +with faggots of resinous sticks, had crept up towards some +buildings, consisting of several store houses, a hospital, and saw +mill, and the huts and tents of the rangers, and, having placed +their torches against them, set them on fire and instantly +retreated. The garrison could do nothing to save the buildings, as +their efforts, in the absence of water, must be unavailing, and +they would have been shot down by the foe lying beyond the circle +of light. They therefore remained lying behind the entrenchment, +firing wherever they heard the slightest sound, and momentarily +expecting an attack; but morning came without the French advancing, +and the garrison were then able to give their whole attention to +saving the buildings in the fort.</p> + +<p>Some great wood stacks had now ignited, and the burning embers +fell thickly on the huts, and for some hours it was only by the +greatest exertions that the troops were able to save the buildings +from destruction. Every moment they expected to be attacked, for, +had the French advanced, the huts must have been left to +themselves, in which case the garrison would have found themselves +shelterless, and all their provisions and stores would have been +consumed; but before noon the danger was over, for not only had the +fires begun to burn low, but a heavy snow storm set in. All day it +continued.</p> + +<p>"Now would be the time for them to attack," James Walsham said +to his lieutenant. "We can scarce see twenty yards away."</p> + +<p>"Now is their chance," Edwards agreed; "but I don't believe in +their attacking. I can't think who they have got in command. He +ought to be shot, a man with such a force as he has, hanging about +here for four days when he could have carried the place, with a +rush, any moment."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think they will attack," James replied. "Men who +will stop to light a fire to warm themselves, within sight of an +enemy's fort they want to surprise, are not likely to venture out +of shelter of their blankets in such a snow as this."</p> + +<p>All day and all night the snow came down, till the ground was +covered to a depth of over three feet. Early on Tuesday morning, +twenty volunteers of the French regulars made a bold attempt to +burn a sloop building on the stocks, with several storehouses and +other structures near the water, and some hundreds of boats and +canoes which were ranged near them. They succeeded in firing the +sloop, and some buildings, but James, with his scouts, sallied out +and forced them to retreat, with the loss of five of their number; +and, by pulling down some of the huts, prevented the fire +spreading.</p> + +<p>Next morning the sun rose brightly, and the white sheet of the +lake was dotted with the French, in full retreat for Canada. Their +total loss had been eleven killed and wounded, while, on the +English side, seven men had been wounded, all slightly. Never was a +worse conducted or more futile expedition.</p> + +<p>After this affair, the time passed slowly at Fort William Henry. +Until the sun gained strength enough to melt the thick white +covering of the earth, James practised his men in the use of +snowshoes, and, as soon as spring had fairly commenced, resumed the +work of scouting. This was done only as an exercise, for there was +no fear that, after such a humiliating failure, the French would, +for some time to come, attempt another expedition against the +fort.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1756, General Montcalm had come out from France +to take the command of the French troops. Few of the superior +officers of the French army cared to take the command, in a country +where the work was hard and rough, and little glory was to be +obtained. Therefore the minister of war was able, for once, to +choose an officer fitted for the post, instead of being obliged, as +usual, to fill up the appointment by a court favourite.</p> + +<p>The Marquis of Montcalm was born at the chateau of Candiac, near +Nimes, on the 29th of February, 1712. At the age of fifteen, up to +which time he had studied hard, he entered the army. Two years +later he became a captain, and was first under fire at the siege of +Philipsbourg. In 1736 he married Mademoiselle Du Boulay, who +brought him influential connections and some property. In 1741 +Montcalm took part in the campaign in Bohemia. Two years later he +was made colonel, and passed unharmed through the severe campaign +of 1744.</p> + +<p>In the following year he fought in the campaign in Italy, and, +in 1746, was wounded at the disastrous action at Piacenza, where he +twice rallied his regiment, received five sabre cuts, and was made +prisoner. He was soon liberated on parole, and was promoted, in the +following year, to the rank of brigadier general, and, being +exchanged for an officer of similar rank, rejoined the army, and +was again wounded by a musket shot. Shortly afterwards the peace of +Aix la Chapelle was signed, and Montcalm remained living quietly +with his family, to whom he was tenderly attached, until informed, +by the minister of war, that he had selected him to command the +troops in North America, with the rank of major general. The +Chevalier de Levis was appointed second in command.</p> + +<p>No sooner did Montcalm arrive in America, than difficulties +arose between him and the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the governor, who +had hoped to have himself received the appointment of commander of +the French forces, and who, in virtue of his office, commanded the +Canadian militia.</p> + +<p>From first to last this man opposed and thwarted Montcalm, doing +all in his power to injure him, by reports to France in his +disfavour. The misfortunes which befell France during the war were, +in no slight degree, due to this divided authority, and to the +obstacles thrown in the way of Montcalm by the governor.</p> + +<p>Montcalm's first blow against the English was struck in August, +1756, six months before the attack on Fort William Henry, which had +been arranged by Vaudreuil. Three battalions of regular troops, +with 700 Canadians and 250 Indians, with a strong force of +artillery, were quietly concentrated at Fort Frontenac, and were +intended for an attack upon the important English post of Oswego. +Fighting had been going on in this neighbourhood for some time, and +it was from Oswego that Shirley had intended to act against Niagara +and Frontenac. That enterprise had fallen through, owing to Shirley +having been deprived of the command; but a sharp fight had taken +place between Colonel Bradstreet and his armed boatmen, and 1100 +French, who were beaten off.</p> + +<p>Oswego was a place of extreme importance. It was the only +English post on Ontario, situated as it was towards the southwest +corner of the lake. So long as it remained in their possession, it +was a standing menace against the whole line of communications of +the French with the south. Owing to gross neglect, the fort had +never been placed in a really defensive condition. The garrison was +small, and crippled with the fever, which had carried off great +numbers of them. The remainder were ill fed and discontented.</p> + +<p>On the 12th of August, the Earl of London sent Colonel Webb, +with the 44th Regiment and some of Bradstreet's boatmen, to +reinforce Oswego. They should have started a month before, and, had +they done so, would have been in time; but confusion and +misunderstanding had arisen from a change in command. Webb had +scarcely made half his march, when tidings of the disaster met him, +and he at once fell back with the greatest precipitation.</p> + +<p>At midnight on the 10th, Montcalm had landed his force within +half a league of the first English fort. Four cannon were at once +landed, and a battery thrown up, and so careless of danger were the +garrison, that it was not till the morning that the invaders were +discovered. Two armed vessels at once sailed down to cannonade +them; but their light guns were no match for the heavy artillery of +the French, and they were forced to retire.</p> + +<p>The attack was commenced without delay. The Indians and +Canadians, swarming in the forest round the fort, kept up a hot +fire upon it. By nightfall the first parallel was marked out at 180 +yards from the rampart.</p> + +<p>Fort Ontario, considered the strongest of the three forts at +Oswego, stood on a high plateau on the right side of the river, +where it entered the lake. It was in the shape of a star, and +formed of a palisade of trunks of trees set upright in the ground, +hewn flat on both sides, and closely fitted together--an excellent +defence against musketry, but worthless against artillery. The +garrison of the fort, 370 in number, had eight small cannon and a +mortar, with which, all next day, they kept up a brisk fire against +the battery which the French were throwing up, and arming with +twenty-six pieces of heavy artillery.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mercer, the commandant of Oswego, saw at once that the +French artillery would, as soon as they opened fire, blow the +stockade into pieces, and thinking it better to lose the fort, +alone, than the fort and its garrison, he sent boats across the +river after nightfall, and the garrison, having spiked their guns, +and thrown their ammunition into the well, crossed the river, +unperceived by the French.</p> + +<p>But Oswego was in no position for defence. Fort Pepperell stood +on the mouth of the river, facing Fort Ontario. Towards the west +and south the place was protected by an outer line of earthworks, +mounted with cannon, but the side facing the river was wholly +exposed, in the belief that Fort Ontario would prevent any attack +in this direction.</p> + +<p>Montcalm lost no time. The next evening, his whole force set to +work throwing up a battery, at the edge of the rising ground on +which Fort Ontario stood, and, by daybreak, twenty heavy guns were +in position, and at once opened fire. The grape and round shot +swept the English position, smashing down the mud-built walls, +crashing through the stockades, and carrying destruction among the +troops. The latter made a shelter of pork barrels, three high and +three deep, and planted cannon behind them, and returned the +enemy's fire; but the Canadians and Indians had crossed the river, +by a ford two miles up, and soon opened fire from all sides.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mercer, who had bravely led his men, and inspired them +by his example, was cut in two by a cannon shot, and the garrison +were seized with despair. A council of officers was held, and the +garrison surrendered as prisoners of war, to the number of sixteen +hundred, which included sick, the sailors belonging to the +shipping, labourers, and upwards of a hundred women.</p> + +<p>Montcalm had the greatest difficulty in preventing the Indians, +by means of threats, promises, and presents, from massacring the +prisoners. Oswego was burned to the ground, the forts and vessels +on the stocks destroyed, and, the place having been made a desert, +the army returned with their prisoners and spoil to Montreal.</p> + +<p>The loss of Oswego had inflicted a very severe blow to the +influence and prestige of England, among the Indians of the lake +districts, but this was partly restored by the failure of the +French expedition against William Henry, early in the following +spring.</p> + +<p>The expedition against Louisbourg, to strengthen which the +western frontier had been denuded of troops, proved a failure. A +great delay had taken place at home, in consequence of ministerial +changes, and it was not until the 5th of May that fifteen ships of +the line and three frigates, under Admiral Holbourne, with 5000 +troops on board, sailed from England for Halifax, where Loudon was +to meet him with the forces from the colony. But, while the English +fleet had been delaying, the French government had obtained +information of its destination, and had sent three French squadrons +across the Atlantic to Louisbourg.</p> + +<p>It was the 10th of July before the united English force +assembled at Halifax, and there fresh delays arose. The troops, +nearly twelve thousand in number, were landed, and weeks were spent +in idle drill.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of August the forces were again embarked, when +a sloop came in from Newfoundland, bringing letters which had been +captured on board a French ship. From these, it appeared that there +were twenty-two ships of the line, besides several frigates, in the +harbour of Louisbourg, and that 7000 troops were in garrison, in +what was by far the strongest fortress on the continent.</p> + +<p>Success was now impossible, and the enterprise was abandoned. +Loudon, with his troops, sailed back to New York; and Admiral +Holbourne, who had been joined by four additional ships, sailed for +Louisbourg, in hopes that the French fleet would come out and fight +him. He cruised for some time off the port, but Lamotte, the French +admiral, would not come out.</p> + +<p>In September, a tremendous gale burst upon the British fleet: +one ship was dashed on the rocks, a short distance from Louisbourg, +and only a sudden shift of the wind saved the rest from a total +destruction. Nine were dismasted, and others threw their cannon +into the sea. Had Lamotte sailed out on the following day, the +English fleet was at his mercy. Fortunately he did not do so, and +Holbourne returned to England.</p> + +<p>The French in Canada were aware that Loudon had gathered all his +troops at New York, and was preparing for an expedition, which was +to be aided by a fleet from England; but, thinking it probable that +it was directed against Quebec, the most vital point in Canada, +since its occupation by the English would entirely cut the colony +off from France, Montcalm was obliged to keep his forces in hand +near that town, and was unable to take advantage of the unprotected +state in which Loudon had left the frontier of the colonies.</p> + +<p>As soon, however, as, by despatch received from France, and by +the statements of prisoners captured by the Indians on the +frontier, Montcalm learned that the expedition, which had just left +New York, was destined for Louisbourg, he was at liberty to utilize +his army for the invasion of the defenceless colonies, and he +determined to commence the campaign by the capture of Fort William +Henry.</p> + +<p>James Walsham, with his company of Royal Scouts, had spent the +spring at Fort William Henry. Loudon had, at first, sent an order +for the corps to be broken up, and the men to rejoin their +respective regiments, and to accompany them on the expedition; but +the earnest representations of Colonel Monro of the 35th Regiment, +who was now in command, of the total inadequacy of the garrison to +defend itself, should a serious attack be made from Ticonderoga; +and of the great value to him of the corps under Captain Walsham, +which was now thoroughly trained in forest fighting, induced him to +countermand the order.</p> + +<p>James was glad that he was not obliged to rejoin his regiment. +The independent command was a pleasant one, and although life at +Fort William Henry had, since the French repulse, been an +uneventful one, there was plenty of fishing in the lake, and +shooting in the woods, to vary the monotony of drill.</p> + +<p>He and Edwards were now both expert canoemen, and often ventured +far down the lake, taking with them one or other of the scouts, and +keeping a sharp lookout among the woods on either side for signs of +the enemy. Once or twice they were chased by Indian canoes, but +always succeeded in distancing them.</p> + +<p>"The news has just come in that the expedition has sailed," +James said as he one day, towards the end of July, entered the hut +which he now occupied with Edwards; for the corps had long since +been put under huts, these being better suited for the hot season +than tents.</p> + +<p>"It is rather a nuisance," Edwards grumbled, "being kept here, +instead of going and taking share in a big siege."</p> + +<p>"Don't be impatient, Edwards," James replied. "If I am not +greatly mistaken, you will have quite as much fighting as you want +here before long. Montcalm's sudden attack on Oswego last autumn +showed that he is an enterprising general, and I have no doubt +that, as soon as he learns that Loudon's expedition is not intended +for Quebec, he will be beating us up on the frontier with a +vengeance."</p> + +<p>Montcalm, indeed, had already prepared to strike a blow. A +thousand Indians, lured by the prospect of gifts, scalps, and +plunder, had come in from the west and north, and were encamped +near Montreal; and, besides these, there were the Mission Indians, +and those of the Five Nations who adhered to France.</p> + +<p>Early in July, the movement began. Day after day, fleets of +boats and canoes rowed up Lake Champlain, and, towards the end of +the month, the whole force was gathered at Ticonderoga. Here were +now collected eight thousand men, of whom two thousand were +Indians, representing forty-one tribes and sub-tribes: among them +were Iroquois, Hurons, Nipissings, Abenakis, Algonkins, Micmacs, +and Malecites. These were all nominal Christians, and counted eight +hundred warriors. With them were the western Indians: Ojibwas, +Mississagas, Pottawattamies, Menomonies, Sacs, Foxes, Winnebagoes, +Miamis, and Iowas. These were still unconverted.</p> + +<p>The French held these savage allies in abhorrence. Their +drunkenness, their turbulence, their contempt of all orders, their +cruelty to their captives, and their cannibalism, disgusted and +shocked Montcalm and his officers; but they were powerless to +restrain them, for without them as scouts, guides, and eyes in the +forests, the French could have done nothing, and, at the slightest +remonstrance, the Indians were ready to take offence, and to march +away to their distant homes.</p> + +<p>The letters of Montcalm and his officers, to their friends, were +full of disgust at the doings of their savage allies, and of regret +that they could not dispense with their services, or restrain their +ferocity. Vaudreuil and the Canadians, on the other hand, +accustomed to the traditions of savage warfare, made no attempt +whatever to check the ferocity of the Indians, and were, indeed, +the instigators of the raids which the savages made upon the +unprotected villages and settlements on the frontier; offered +rewards for scalps, and wrote and talked gleefully of the horrible +atrocities committed upon the colonists.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: Scouting On Lake Champlain.</h2> + +<p>One morning, Colonel Monro sent for James.</p> + +<p>"Captain Walsham," he said, "there are rumours that the French +are gathering at Crown Point in considerable force. Captain Rogers +is still disabled by his wound, and his band have suffered so +heavily, in their last affair with the enemy, that for the time +they are out of action. It is important that I should learn the +truth of these rumours, for, if they be true, I must communicate at +once to the general, in order that he may get together a sufficient +force to relieve us, if Montcalm comes down and lays siege to the +fort. Will you undertake the business?"</p> + +<p>"I will do my best, sir," James replied. "Do you propose that I +should take all my company, or only a picked party?"</p> + +<p>"That I will leave to you, Captain Walsham. I want trustworthy +news, and how you obtain it for me matters little."</p> + +<p>"Then I will take only a small party," James said. "Fifty men +would be useless, for purposes of fighting, if the enemy are +numerous, while with such a number it would be hopeless to attempt +to escape detection by the Indians. The fewer the better for such +an enterprise."</p> + +<p>On leaving the commandant, James at once summoned the two +hunters to his hut, and told them the mission he had received.</p> + +<p>"I am ready, captain, that is if you, and I, and Jonathan makes +up the party. As to going trapezing about round Crown Point with +fifty soldiers, the thing ain't to be thought of. We should be +there no more than half an hour before the Indians would know of +it, and we should have no show either for fighting or running away. +No, captain, the lads are good enough for scouting about round camp +here; but, as for an expedition of that sort, we might as well +start with a drove of swine."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I thought, Nat. One canoe may escape even the +eyes of the Indians, but a dozen would have no chance of doing +so."</p> + +<p>"We might get up the lakes," the scout said; "but the mischief +would be in the woods. No, it never would do, captain. If we goes, +it must be the three of us and no more. When do you think of +starting?"</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better, Nat."</p> + +<p>"Very well, captain, I will go and get some grub ready, and, as +soon as it gets dusk, we will get the canoe into the water."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you can't take me with you?" Lieutenant Edwards said, +when James told him of the duty he had been requested to perform. +"It is dismal here."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," James laughed. "What would become of the company, +if it were to lose its two officers and its two scouts at a blow! +No, Edwards, you will command during my absence, and I think you +will soon have more lively times here, for, if it be true that +Montcalm will himself command the troops coming against us, it will +be a different business altogether from the last. And now, leave me +alone for an hour. I have some letters to write before I start. +They will be for you to send off, in case we don't come back +again.</p> + +<p>"Don't look serious, I have no intention of falling into the +hands of Montcalm's savages. Still, there is no doubt the +expedition is a risky one, and it is just as well to be +prepared."</p> + +<p>Just as the sun was setting, Nat came into the officer's +hut.</p> + +<p>"Everything is ready, captain," he said. "I hope you have made a +good dinner, for it's the last hot meal you will eat, till you get +back. I have cooked enough meat for the next four days, and that's +about as long as it will keep good; after that, dried deer's flesh +will have to do for us.</p> + +<p>"I expect, I tell you, we shall have to be pretty spry this +time. If they are coming down in force, they are sure to send a lot +of their Indians through the woods on each side of the lake, and +the water will be swarming with their canoes. Jonathan and I have +been talking it over, and trying to settle which would be the +safest, to foot it all the way, or to go by water. We concluded, as +there ain't much difference, and the canoe will be the quickest and +easiest, so we had best keep to that plan."</p> + +<p>"I would certainly rather go that way, Nat, if you think that +the danger is no greater."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think there's much difference, captain. At any +rate, we may as well go that way. Like enough, we shall have to +tramp back by the woods."</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, the canoe put out. Although they had little +fear that any of the Indian canoes would be so far up Lake George, +there was scarce a word spoken in the boat for some hours after +starting. Jonathan was always silent, and Nat, although talkative +enough when in camp, was a man of few words when once embarked upon +a serious expedition. As for James, he had little inclination for +conversation.</p> + +<p>The enterprise was, he knew, one of extreme danger. Had it been +only a French force he was about to reconnoitre, or even one +composed of French and Canadians together, he would have thought +little of it; but he knew that the redskins would be roaming +thickly in the forest, ahead of the army, and, much as he relied +upon the skill and experience of the two scouts, he knew it would +be difficult, indeed, to elude their watchful eyes. He thought of +the letters he had been writing, and wondered whether he should +return to tear them up, or whether they would be read at home.</p> + +<p>All the time he was thinking, he worked his paddle vigorously, +and at a high rate of speed. The light canoe bounded noiselessly +over the water, impelled by three vigorous pairs of arms.</p> + +<p>When they approached the narrows connecting Lake George with +Lake Champlain, the boat's head was directed towards the shore, for +they could not get past Ticonderoga before daylight broke; and it +was likely that a good watch would be kept, in the narrows, by the +enemy; and it would be dangerous to try to effect a landing there. +The canoe was carried ashore, and hidden in some bushes, and all +lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>When day broke, Nat rose and went down to the water to see that, +in landing, they had left no mark upon the shore, which might +betray them to the eye of a passing redskin. Going down on his +hands and knees, he obliterated every sign of their footprints, +raised the herbage upon which they had trodden, cut short to the +ground such stalks as they had bruised or broken in their passage, +and then, when confident that all was safe, he returned to his +camp. When it again became dark, the canoe was carried down and +replaced in the water, and they continued their passage. James had, +at Nat's request, laid by his paddle.</p> + +<p>"You paddle wonderfully well, captain. I don't say you don't; +but for a delicate piece of work like this, one can't be too +careful. It ain't often I can hear your paddle dip in the water, +not once in a hundred times, but then, you see, that once might +cost us our scalps. We have got to go along as silent as a duck +swimming. Speed ain't no object, for we shall be miles down Lake +Champlain before daylight; but, if the French know their business, +they will have half a dozen canoes in these narrows, to prevent us +scouting on Lake Champlain; and, you see, they have got all the +advantage of us, 'cause they've got just to lie quiet and listen, +and we have got to row on. As far as seeing goes, I can make them +out as soon as they can make us out; but they can hear us, while +they won't give our ears a chance.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, captain, I don't expect to get through this narrows +without a chase for it. If it come to running, of course you will +take your paddle again, and we three can show our heels to any +canoe on the lakes, perviding of course as it's only a starn chase. +If there are three or four of them, then I don't say as it won't be +a close thing."</p> + +<p>James accordingly lay quietly back in the boat, while his +companions took the paddles. It was not necessary for him either to +look out, or to listen, for he knew that his companions' eyes and +ears were quicker than his own. It had been agreed, before +starting, that they should go along close to the trees, on the +left-hand side of the passage, because the keenest lookout would be +kept on the right-hand side, as that would naturally be chosen by +any boat going up, as being farthest from the French fort.</p> + +<p>"There is no fear, whatever, of our being seen from the land," +Nat had said. "The redskins would know that so well that they +wouldn't trouble to look out. It's only canoes we have got to be +afraid of, and, as to them, it's just a chance. They might see us +out in the light waters, in the middle; but, under the trees, they +can't make us out thirty yards off. They will be lying there, +quiet, if they are there at all, and we shall either get past them +safe, or we shall pretty nigh run into them. It's just chance, and +there's nothing to do for it but to paddle as noiselessly as fish, +and trust to our luck."</p> + +<p>Having crossed the lake to the left shore, they entered the +narrows. The paddles were dipped so quietly into the water, that +even James could scarcely hear their sound. Every few strokes the +scouts stopped paddling altogether, and sat listening intently. +They were keeping close to the trees, so close that, at times, it +seemed to James that, by stretching out his hands, he could touch +the bushes.</p> + +<p>After an hour's paddling they stopped longer than usual.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" James whispered in Jonathan's ear, for Nat had +taken the bow paddle.</p> + +<p>"There are men ahead," the scout whispered back. "We heard them +speak just now."</p> + +<p>Presently the boat began to move again, but so quietly, that it +was only by looking at the dark masses of the boughs, that +stretched out overhead, that James knew the boat was in motion. +Jonathan now crouched in the bottom of the boat, and placed his +hand on Nat's shoulder as a sign for him to do the same. The time +seemed endless to James, as he lay there. It was too dark, under +the trees, for him even to see the outline of Nat's figure. The +boat was, he was sure, moving; for occasionally, as he lay on his +back, it grew lighter overhead, as they passed under openings in +the trees.</p> + +<p>Suddenly his heart gave a bound, and he nearly started, for a +guttural voice spoke, seemingly within a few feet of the canoe. He +placed his hand on his rifle, in readiness to sit up and fire, but +all was still again. It was a passing remark, made by one redskin +to another; in a canoe, for the sound was to his right. Another +long period passed, and then Jonathan sat up and took to his paddle +again, and James judged that the danger was over.</p> + +<p>Raising his head, he could see nothing except the vague light of +the sheet of water on his right. The boat was still keeping close +under the trees, on the left shore of the lake, and he lay back +again, and dozed off to sleep. He was awoke by Jonathan touching +his foot.</p> + +<p>"You can take your paddle now, captain."</p> + +<p>He sat up at once, and looked round. They were far out now, on a +broad sheet of water. There were some faint lights, as of fires +burning low, high up to the left behind them; and he knew that they +had already passed Ticonderoga, and were making their way along +Lake Champlain. They paddled for some hours, and then landed on the +right-hand side of the lake.</p> + +<p>"We are not likely to be disturbed here," Nat said, as they +lifted the canoe from the water. "The Indians, coming down from +Crown Point, would keep on the other side of the lake. They will +all make for Ticonderoga, and will not think of keeping a lookout +for anyone, as far down the lakes as this."</p> + +<p>"That was a close shave with that canoe, Nat. It startled me, +when I heard the voice close to us. They must have been within ten +yards of us."</p> + +<p>"About that," Nat said. "It was lucky they spoke when we were +coming along. I expect they had been watching for some nights, and +hadn't much idea anyone would come, or else they wouldn't have +spoken. As it was, it was easy enough to pass them, on such a dark +night. Of course, they were looking outside, and I just kept along +as close as I could to the bushes, only just giving a light stroke, +now and then, to take her along. Being inside them, I got a sight +of 'em some distance away, but I knew they couldn't see us, sharp +as their eyes are. The only chance was their hearing, and, as there +was no noise for them to hear, I felt safe enough after I had once +caught sight of 'em, and saw they were lying out at the edge of the +shadow.</p> + +<p>"If they had been close under the bushes, as they ought to have +been, we should have been in for a fight; for we mightn't have seen +each other till the boats touched. Let that be a lesson to you, +captain. When you are on the lookout for a canoe, at night, lie in +among the bushes. It must pass between you and the light, then, and +as they can't see you, you can either grapple or shoot, just as you +like.</p> + +<p>"If they had a seen us, we should have had a hot time, for I +could hear by their calls, right along the other side, that they +were looking out for us in earnest, and, if a rifle had been fired, +we should have had half a dozen canoes down upon us in no time; +and, like enough, should have had to leave the boat, and take to +the woods."</p> + +<p>"How far is Crown Point away?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than ten miles," Nat said. "It is thirty miles from +Ticonderoga. It lies out on a point, just where Champlain widens +out. I reckon our safest way, tonight, will be to scout along this +side, till we are well past the point; then to paddle out well +across the lake, and come up again, and land to the left of Crown +Point. We shall then be in the track of boats coming up from the +lower end of the lake, and can paddle boldly on. No one would be +keeping any lookout that way. Our danger won't begin until we get +ashore; in course, then we must act according to +sarcumstances."</p> + +<p>This manoeuvre was carried out. They started as soon as it +became dark, and, after paddling along the eastern shore for nearly +three hours, struck out into the wide lake till they approached the +opposite shore, and then, heading south again, paddled boldly down +towards the spot where, at the end of a sweep of land, which seemed +to close in the lake, stood the French fort of Crown Point.</p> + +<p>Before starting, the two scouts had stripped to the waist, had +laid aside their caps, and, fastening a strip of leather round +their heads, had stuck some feathers into it. They then painted +their faces and bodies.</p> + +<p>"You needn't be particular about the flourishes, Jonathan. It's +only the redskin outline as one wants to get. If we run against any +other canoes coming up the lake, or they get sight of us as we near +the shore; so as we look something like redskins, that's near +enough. Of course, we can both speak Mohawk well enough to pass +muster, and the captain will lay himself down in the bottom.</p> + +<p>"Captain, you will do well enough for a Canadian when we have +once landed. There ain't much difference between a hunter one side +of the frontier and the other, but it's as well that you shouldn't +be seen till we land. The less questions asked, the better. Our +Mohawk's good enough with any of the other tribes, but it wouldn't +pass with a Mohawk, if we got into a long talk with him."</p> + +<p>Fortunately, however, these precautions proved unnecessary. No +other canoes were seen on the lake, and they landed, unnoticed, at +a spot a mile and a half to the west of Crown Point. Before +starting from Fort William Henry, James had laid aside his uniform, +and had dressed himself in hunting shirt and leggings, similar to +those worn by the scouts. He had adopted various little details, in +which the Canadian hunters differed from those on the English side +of the frontier. The latter wore their hunting shirts loose in +Indian fashion, while the Canadians generally wore a leathern belt +outside theirs, at the waist.</p> + +<p>His cap was made of squirrels' skins, which would pass equally +well on both sides of the frontier. The fire bag, in which tobacco, +tinder, and other small matters were carried, was of Indian +workmanship, as was the cord of his powder horn and bullet pouch. +Altogether, his get-up was somewhat brighter and more picturesque +than that of English scouts, who, as a rule, despised anything +approaching to ornament.</p> + +<p>He knew that by disguising himself he would be liable, if +captured, to be shot at once as a spy; but this could not be +considered, under the circumstances, to add to the risk he ran, +for, in any case, he was certain to be killed if detected, and it +would have been out of the question to attempt to approach the +French camp in the uniform of a British officer. Could he have +spoken Canadian French, the mission would have been comparatively +easy, but he knew only a few words of the language, and would be +detected the instant he opened his lips.</p> + +<p>The canoe was hauled up and carefully concealed on land, and +then they lay down until daylight; for no information, as to the +strength of the enemy, could be gained in the dark. In the morning, +the two scouts very carefully made their toilet. They had brought +all necessaries with them; and soon, in their Indian hunting shirts +and fringed leggings, and with carefully-painted faces, they were +in a position to defy the keenest scrutiny.</p> + +<p>When, after a careful survey of each other, they felt that their +disguise was complete, they moved boldly forward, accompanied by +James. After half an hour's walking they emerged from the forest, +and the strong fort of Crown Point lay before them.</p> + +<p>It was constructed of stone, and was capable of withstanding a +long siege, by any force which could be brought against it. Round +it was the camp of the French troops, and James judged, from the +number of tents, that there must be some 1500 French soldiers +there. A short distance away were a large number of +roughly-constructed huts, roofed with boughs of trees.</p> + +<p>"Them's the Canadians," Jonathan said. "The redskins never build +shelters while on the war path. There are a heap of redskins +about."</p> + +<p>These, indeed, even at the distance of several hundred yards, +could be easily distinguished from their white allies, by their +plumed headdresses, and by the blankets or long robes of skins +which hung from their shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I should put them down at three thousand."</p> + +<p>"It is a big army," Nat said. "I should think there must be +quite as many Canadians as French. How many redskins there are, +there ain't no knowing, but we may be sure that they will have got +together as many as they could. Put 'em down at 4000, and that +makes 7000 altogether, enough to eat up Fort William Henry, and to +march to Albany--or to New York, if they are well led and take +fancy to it--that is, if the colonists don't bestir themselves +smartly.</p> + +<p>"Well, so far you have found out what you came to seek, captain. +What's the next thing?"</p> + +<p>"We must discover, if we can, whether they mean to go up the +lakes in boats, or to march through the woods," James replied. +"They will have a tremendous job getting any guns through the +woods, but, if they are going by water, of course they can bring +them."</p> + +<p>"Very well," Nat replied. "In that case, captain, my advice is, +you stop in the woods, and Jonathan and I will go down past the +fort to the shore, and see what provision they are making in that +way. You see, the place swarms with Canadians, and you would be +sure to be spoken to. Redskins don't talk much to each other, +unless there is some need for words, and we can go right through +the French camp without fear. The only danger is of some loping +Mohawk coming up to us, and I don't reckon there are many of 'em in +the camp, perhaps nary a one."</p> + +<p>Although James did not like his followers to go into danger, +without his sharing it, he saw that his presence would enormously +add to their risks, and therefore agreed to their plan. Withdrawing +some distance into the wood, and choosing a thick growth of +underwood, he entered, and lay down in the bushes, while the two +scouts walked quietly away towards the camp.</p> + +<p>Two hours passed. Several times he heard footsteps in the wood +near him, and, peering through the leaves, caught sight of parties +of Indians going towards the camp, either late arrivals from +Montreal, or bands that had been out scouting or hunting. At the +end of the two hours, to his great relief, he saw two figures +coming from the other way through the woods, and at once recognized +the scouts. He crawled out and joined them, as they came up.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are back again! I have been in a fever, all the +time you have been away."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had known the precise place where you were hiding. I +should have made a sign to you to keep quiet; but it ain't of no +use, now."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter then, Nat?"</p> + +<p>"I ain't quite sure as anything is the matter," the scout +replied; "but I am feared of it. As bad luck would have it, just as +we were coming back through the camp, we came upon a Mohawk chief. +He looked hard at us, and then came up and said:</p> + +<p>"'The Owl thought that he knew all his brothers; but here are +two whose faces are strange to him.'</p> + +<p>"Of course, I told him that we had been living and hunting, for +years, in the English colony, but that, hearing that the Mohawks +had joined the French, we had come to fight beside our brothers. He +asked a few questions, and then passed on. But I could see the +varmin was not satisfied, though, in course, he pretended to be +glad to welcome us back to the tribe. So we hung about the camp for +another half hour, and then made a sweep before we came out here. I +didn't look round, but Jonathan stooped, as if the lace of his +moccasin had come undone, and managed to look back, but, in course, +he didn't see anything."</p> + +<p>"Then you have no reason to believe you are followed, Nat?"</p> + +<p>"Don't I tell you I have every reason?" Nat said. "If that +redskin, the Owl, has got any suspicion--and suspicion you may be +sure he's got--he won't rest till he's cleared the matter up. He is +after us, sure enough."</p> + +<p>"Then had we not better make for the canoe at full speed?"</p> + +<p>"No," Nat said. "If they are behind us, they will be watching +our trail; and if they see we change our pace, they will be after +us like a pack of wolves; while, as long as we walk slowly and +carelessly, they will let us go. If it were dark, we might make a +run for it, but there ain't no chance at present. If we took to the +lake, we should have a hundred canoes after us, while the woods are +full of Indians, and a whoop of the Owl would bring a hundred of +them down onto our track."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't the Owl have denounced you at once, if he +suspected you?" James asked.</p> + +<p>"Because it ain't redskin nature to do anything, till you are +sure," the scout replied. "There is nothing a redskin hates so much +as to be wrong, and he would rather wait, for weeks, to make sure +of a thing, than run the risk of making a mistake. I don't suppose +he takes us for whites. He expects we belong to some other tribe, +come in as spies."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you thinking of doing?" James asked.</p> + +<p>"We will go on a bit further," Nat said, "in hopes of coming +across some stream, where we may hide our trail. If we can't find +that, we will sit down, before long, and eat as if we was careless +and in no hurry."</p> + +<p>For a time, they walked on in silence.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they are close to us?" James asked, presently.</p> + +<p>"Not far away," the scout said carelessly. "So long as they see +we ain't hurrying, they will go easy. They will know, by this time, +that we have a white man with us, and, like enough, the Owl will +have sent back for one or two more of his warriors. Likely enough, +he only took one with him, at first, seeing we were but two, and +that he reckoned on taking us by surprise; but, when he saw you +joined us, he would send back for perhaps a couple more."</p> + +<p>"Then what I would suggest," James said, "is, that we should at +once stroll down to our canoe, put it in the water, and paddle out +a few hundred yards, and there let down the lines we have got on +board, and begin to fish. As long as we are quiet there, the +redskins may not interfere with us, and, when it gets dark, we can +make off. At the worst, we have a chance for it, and it seems to me +anything would be better than this sort of wandering about, when we +know that, at any time, we may have them down upon us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps that is the best plan," Nat said. "What do you think, +Jonathan?"</p> + +<p>Jonathan gave an assenting grunt, and they turned their faces +towards the lake, still walking at the same leisurely pace. Not +once did any of the three look back. As they neared the water, +James found the temptation very strong to do so, but he restrained +it, and sauntered along as carelessly as ever.</p> + +<p>The canoe was lifted from its hiding place and put in the water. +As they were about to step in, the bushes parted, and the Owl stood +beside them.</p> + +<p>"Where are my brothers going?" he asked quietly.</p> + +<p>"We are going fishing," Nat answered. "The noise in the woods +will have frightened game away."</p> + +<p>"There is food in the camp," the Owl said. "The French give food +to their brothers, the redskins."</p> + +<p>"My white brother wants fish," Nat said quietly, "and we have +told him we will catch him some. Will the Owl go with us?"</p> + +<p>The Indian shook his head, and in a moment the canoe put off +from the shore, the Indian standing, watching them, at the edge of +the water.</p> + +<p>"That's a badly puzzled redskin," Nat said, with a low laugh. +"His braves have not come up yet, or he would not have let us +start.</p> + +<p>"There, that is far enough. We are out of the range of Indian +guns. Now, lay in your paddles, and begin to fish. There are +several canoes fishing further out, and the redskin will feel safe. +He can cut us off, providing we don't go beyond them."</p> + +<p>The Indian was, as Nat had said, puzzled. That something was +wrong he was sure; but, as he was alone, he was unable to oppose +their departure. He watched them closely, as they paddled out, in +readiness to give a war whoop, which would have brought down the +fishing canoes outside, and given warning to every Indian within +sound of his voice; but, when he saw them stop and begin to fish, +he hesitated. If he gave the alarm, he might prove to be mistaken, +and he shrank from facing the ridicule which a false alarm would +bring upon him. Should they really prove, as he believed, to be +spies, he would, if he gave the alarm, lose the honour and glory of +their capture, and their scalps would fall to other hands--a risk +not to be thought of.</p> + +<p>He therefore waited, until six of his braves came up. He had +already retired among the trees, before he joined them; but the +canoe was still visible through the branches.</p> + +<p>"The men we tracked have taken to the water. They are fishing. +The Owl is sure that they are not of our tribe; but he must wait, +till he sees what they will do. Let three of my brothers go and get +a canoe, and paddle out beyond them, and there fish. I will remain +with the others here. If they come back again, we will seize them. +If they go out further, my brothers will call to the redskins in +the other canoes, and will cut them off. The Owl and his friends +will soon be with them."</p> + +<p>"There is another canoe coming out, Nat," James said. "Hadn't we +better make a run for it, at once?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, captain. Dear me, how difficult it is to teach +men to have patience! I have looked upon you as a promising pupil; +but there you are, just as hasty and impatient as if you had never +spent a day in the woods. Where should we run to? We must go up the +lake, for we could not pass the point, for fifty canoes would be +put out before we got there. We couldn't land this side, because +the woods are full of redskins; and if we led them for ten miles +down the lake, and landed t'other side, scores of them would land +between here and there, and would cut us off.</p> + +<p>"No, lad; we have got to wait here till it's getting late. I +don't say till it's dark, but till within an hour or so of +nightfall. As long as we show no signs of going, the chances is as +they won't interfere with us. It's a part of redskin natur to be +patient, and, as long as they see as we don't try to make off, they +will leave us alone. That's how I reads it.</p> + +<p>"You agrees with me, Jonathan?</p> + +<p>"In course, you do," he went on, as his companion grunted an +assent. "I don't say as they mayn't ask a question or so; but I +don't believe as they will interfere with us.</p> + +<p>"There is a fish on your line, captain. You don't seem, to me, +to be attending to your business."</p> + +<p>James, indeed, found it difficult to fix his attention on his +line, when he knew that they were watched by hostile eyes, and +that, at any moment, a conflict might begin. The canoe that had +come out last had shaped its course so as to pass close to those +fishing outside them, and a few words had been exchanged with the +occupants of each--a warning, no doubt, as to the suspicious +character of the fishing party near them. Beyond this, nothing had +happened. The Indians in the canoe had let down their lines, and +seemed as intent as the others upon their fishing.</p> + +<p>The hours passed slowly. Under other circumstances, James would +have enjoyed the sport, for the fish bit freely, and a considerable +number were soon lying in the canoe. Nat and Jonathan appeared as +interested in their work as if no other boat, but their own, were +afloat on the lake. Never once did James see them glance towards +the canoes. They did not talk much, but when they spoke, it was +always in the Indian tongue.</p> + +<p>The time seemed endless, before the sun began to sink beyond the +low hills on their left. It was an intense relief, to James, when +Nat said at last:</p> + +<p>"The time is just at hand now, cap. The redskins are tired of +waiting. At least, they think that they had better not put it off +any longer. They know, as well as we do, that it won't do to wait +till it gets dark.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that canoe, that came out last, is paddling down +towards us? It looks as if it were drifting, but I have seen them +dip a paddle in, several times. The others are pulling up their +lines, so as to be in readiness to join in. Get your piece ready to +pick up, and aim the moment I give the word. They think they are +going to surprise us, but we must be first with them. Go on with +your fishing, and just drop your line overboard, when you pick up +your gun."</p> + +<p>The canoe approached slowly, until it was within thirty yards. +James and his companions went on with their fishing, as if they did +not notice the approach of the other canoe, until one of the +Indians spoke.</p> + +<p>"Have my Indian brothers caught many fish?"</p> + +<p>"A goodish few," Nat replied. "One or two of them are large +ones.</p> + +<p>"See here," and he stooped as if to select a large fish.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said suddenly.</p> + +<p>In an instant, the three rifles were levelled to the shoulder, +and pointed at the Indians. The latter, taken completely by +surprise, and finding themselves with three barrels levelled at +them, as by one accord dived overboard.</p> + +<p>"Now your paddles," Nat exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Three strokes sent the canoe dancing up to that which the +Indians had just left. It struck it on the broadside, and rolled it +instantly over.</p> + +<p>"Those redskin guns are out of the way, anyhow," Nat said. "Now +we have got to row for it."</p> + +<p>He gave a sharp turn to the canoe as he spoke, and it bounded +away towards the right, thereby throwing those outside it on their +quarter. Simultaneously with the upset of the canoe, half a dozen +rifles rang out from the shore, an Indian war whoop rose at the +edge of the woods, and, a minute later, half a dozen canoes shot +out from shore.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: Through Many Perils.</h2> + +<p>The course Nat was taking was not parallel to that of the boats +outside him. He was sheering gradually out into the lake, and, +although the boat was travelling somewhat faster than its pursuers, +James saw that its course would carry it across their bows at a +dangerously close distance. The Indians were not long in seeing +that the canoe was outstripping them, and in each of the boats one +of the redskins laid aside his paddle, and began to fire. The balls +struck the water near the canoe, but no one was hit.</p> + +<p>"Let them fire," Jonathan said. "It ain't every man as can shoot +straight from a canoe going at racing pace. The more they fires the +better. They will only fall further behind."</p> + +<p>After firing two or three shots each, the Indians appeared to be +of the same opinion, and resumed their paddles; but they had lost +so much ground that the canoe they were in chase of shot out into +the lake fifty yards ahead of the nearest. Some more shots were +fired, and then the Indians began hastily to throw the fish, with +which their canoes were laden, into the water. After paddling two +or three hundred yards farther, Nat laid in his paddle.</p> + +<p>"Out with them fish," he said. "You can leave one or two for +supper, but the rest must go overboard. Be quick about it, for +those canoes from the shore are coming up fast."</p> + +<p>The work was concluded just as the canoes with the Owl and his +warriors came up with the others, which, having now got rid of +their fish, again set out, and, in a close body, the ten canoes +started in pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Paddle steady," Nat said; "and whatever you do, be keerful of +your blades. If one was to break now it would mean the loss of our +scalps. Don't gain on 'em; as long as the redskins on shore think +as their friends are going to catch us, they won't care to put out +and join in the chase; but if they thought we was getting away, +they might launch canoes ahead of us and cut us off. The nearer we +are to them the better, as long as we are keeping ahead."</p> + +<p>For an hour the chase continued. The Indians, although straining +every nerve, did not gain a foot upon the fugitives, who, although +paddling hard, had still some reserve of strength. The sun, by this +time, was touching the tops of the hills.</p> + +<p>"Now, cap," Nat said, "it's time to teach 'em as we can bite a +bit. They won't be quite so hot over it, if we give them a lesson +now. Do you turn round and pepper them a bit.</p> + +<p>"Now, old hoss! You and I must row all we know for a bit."</p> + +<p>Turning himself in the canoe, resting his elbow on his knee to +steady his rifle, James took as careful an aim as the dancing +motion of the boat permitted, and fired. A dull sound came back, +like an echo, to the crack of the piece, and a paddle in the +leading boat fell into the water. A yell arose from the Indians, +but no answering shout came back.</p> + +<p>The Indians were now paddling even harder than before, in hope +of overtaking the canoe, now that it was impelled by but two +rowers. But the scouts were rowing their hardest, and proved the +justice of their fame, as the best paddlers on the lakes, by +maintaining their distance from their pursuers.</p> + +<p>Again and again James fired, several of his bullets taking +effect. It was now rapidly becoming dusk.</p> + +<p>"That will do, captain. We had best be showing them our heels +now, and get as far ahead as we can, by the time it is quite +dark."</p> + +<p>James laid by his rifle and again took his paddle, and, as all +were rowing at the top of their speed, they gradually increased the +distance between themselves and their pursuers. Rapidly the gap of +water widened, and when darkness fell on the lake, the fugitives +were more than half a mile ahead of their pursuers. The night was +dark, and a light mist rising from the water further aided them. +When night had set in, the pursuing canoes could no longer be +seen.</p> + +<p>For another half hour they paddled on, without intermitting +their efforts, then, to James's surprise, Nat turned the head of +the canoe to the western shore. He asked no question, however, +having perfect faith in Nat's sagacity. They were nearly in the +middle of the lake when they altered their course, and it took them +half an hour's hard paddling, before the dark mass of trees loomed +up in the darkness ahead of him. Ten minutes before, Nat had passed +the word that they should paddle quietly and noiselessly. It was +certain that the chase would be eagerly watched from the shore, and +that any Indians there might be in the wood would be closely +watching near the water's edge.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, as noiselessly as possible they approached the +shore, and, gliding in between the overhanging trees, laid the +canoe alongside a clump of bushes. Then, without a word being +spoken, they laid in their paddles and stretched themselves full +length in the canoe.</p> + +<p>James was glad of the rest, for, trained and hard as were his +muscles, he was exhausted by the long strain of the row for life. +He guessed that Nat would calculate that the Indian canoes would +scatter, when they lost sight of them, and that they would seek for +them more closely on the eastern shore. At the same time he was +surprised that, after once getting out of sight of their pursuers, +Nat had not immediately landed on the opposite shore, and started +on foot through the woods.</p> + +<p>After recovering his breath, James sat up and listened +attentively. Once or twice he thought he heard the sound of a dip +of a paddle, out on the lake, but he could not be sure of it; while +from time to time he heard the croak of a frog, sometimes near, +sometimes at a distance along the shore. He would have thought +little of this, had not a slight pressure of Jonathan's hand, +against his foot, told him that these were Indian signals.</p> + +<p>Some hours passed before Nat made a move, then he touched +Jonathan, and sat up in the canoe. The signal was passed on to +James, the paddles were noiselessly taken up, and, without a sound +that could be detected by the most closely-listening ear, the canoe +stole out again on to the lake. Until some distance from shore they +paddled very quietly, then gradually the strokes grew more +vigorous, until the canoe was flying along at full speed up the +lake, her course being laid so as to cross very gradually towards +the eastern side.</p> + +<p>It was not until, as James judged, they must have been several +miles from the point at which they had started, that they +approached the eastern shore. They did so with the same precautions +which had been adopted on the other side, and sat, listening +intently, before they gave the last few strokes which took them to +the shore. Quietly they stepped out, and the two scouts, lifting +the canoe on their shoulders, carried it some fifty yards into the +forest, and laid it down among some bushes. Then they proceeded on +their way, Nat walking first, James following him so close that he +was able to touch him, for, in the thick darkness under the trees, +he could not perceive even the outlines of his figure. Jonathan +followed close behind. Their progress was slow, for even the +trained woodsmen could, with difficulty, make their way through the +trees, and Nat's only index, as to the direction to be taken, lay +in the feel of the bark of the trunks.</p> + +<p>After an hour's progress, he whispered:</p> + +<p>"We will stop here till daylight. We can't do any good at the +work. We haven't made half a mile since we started."</p> + +<p>It was a positive relief, to James, to hear the scout's voice, +for not a single word had been spoken since they lost sight of +their pursuers in the darkness. The fact that he had ventured now +to speak showed that he believed that they were comparatively +safe.</p> + +<p>"May I speak, Nat?" he asked, after they had seated themselves +on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Ay, you may speak, captain, but don't you raise your voice +above a whisper. There is no saying what redskin ears may be near +us. I guess these forests are pretty well alive with them. You may +bet there isn't a redskin, or one of the irregular Canadian bands, +but is out arter us tonight. The war whoop and the rifles will have +put them all on the lookout.</p> + +<p>"They will have seen that we were pretty well holding our own, +and will guess that, when night came on, we should give the canoes +the slip. I guess they will have placed a lot of canoes and +flatboats across the lake, opposite Crown Point, for they will know +that we should either head back, or take to the woods. I guess most +of the redskins near Crown Point will have crossed over at this +point, as, in course, we were more likely to land on this side. I +had a mighty good mind to land whar we was over there, but there +are sure to be such a heap of Indians, making their way up that +side from Montreal, that I judge this will be the best; but we +shall have all we can do to get free of them."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you land at once, Nat, after we lost sight of them, +instead of crossing over?"</p> + +<p>"Because that's where they will reckon we shall land, captain. +That's where they will look for our tracks the first thing in the +morning, and they will know that we can't travel far such a dark +night as this, and they will search every inch of the shore for +three or four miles below where they lost sight of us, to find +where we landed. They would know well enough we couldn't get +ashore, without leaving tracks as they would make out, and they +would reckon to pick up our trail fast enough, in the wood, and to +overtake us before we had gone many miles.</p> + +<p>"Now, you see, we have doubled on them. The varmint in the woods +will search the edge of the lake in the morning, but it's a good +long stretch to go over, and, if we have luck, they mayn't strike +on our landing place for some hours after daylight. In course, they +may hit on it earlier; still, it gives us a chance, anyhow. Another +thing is, we have twenty miles less to travel through the woods +than if we had to start up there, and that makes all the difference +when you've got redskins at your heels. If we don't have the bad +luck to come across some of the varmint in the woods, I expect we +shall carry our scalps back to Fort William Henry.</p> + +<p>"Now you had best sleep till daybreak. We sha'n't get another +chance till we get into the fort again."</p> + +<p>With the first dawn of morning, they were on their way. Striking +straight back into the woods, they walked fast, but with the +greatest care and caution, occasionally making bends and detours, +to prevent the redskins following their traces at a run, which they +would have been able to do, had they walked in a straight line. +Whenever the ground was soft, they walked without trying to conceal +their tracks, for Nat knew that, however carefully they progressed, +the Indians would be able to make out their trail here. When, +however, they came to rocky and broken ground, they walked with the +greatest caution, avoiding bruising any of the plants growing +between the rocks. After walking ten miles in this direction, they +turned to the south.</p> + +<p>"We ought to be pretty safe, now," Nat said. "They may be three +or four hours before they hit on our landing place, and find the +canoe. I don't say as they won't be able to follow our trail--there +ain't no saying what redskin eyes can do--but it 'ull take them a +long time, anyway. There ain't much risk of running against any of +them in the forest, now. I guess that most of them followed the +canoe down the lake last night.</p> + +<p>"Anyway, we are well out from Lake Champlain now. When we have +gone another fifteen mile, we sha'n't be far from the upper arm. +There's a canoe been lying hidden there for the last two years, +unless some tramping redskin has found it, which ain't likely."</p> + +<p>Twenty miles further walking brought them to the shore of the +lake. Following this for another hour, they came upon the spot, +where a little stream ran into the lake.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," Nat said. "Fifty yards up here we shall find the +canoe."</p> + +<p>They followed the stream up for a little distance, and then Nat, +leaving its edge, made for a clump of bushes a few yards away. +Pushing the thick foliage aside, he made his way into the centre of +the clump.</p> + +<p>"Here it is," he said, "just as I left it."</p> + +<p>The canoe was lifted out and carried down to the lake, and, +taking their seats, they paddled up Lake Champlain, keeping close +under the shore.</p> + +<p>"We have had good luck, captain," Nat said. "I hardly thought we +should har got out without a scrimmage. I expect as the best part +of the redskins didn't trouble themselves very much about it. They +expect to get such a lot of scalps and plunder, when they take the +fort, that the chance of three extra wasn't enough inducement for +'em to take much trouble over it. The redskins in the canoes, who +chased us, would be hot enough over it, for you picked out two if +not more of them; but those who started from the fort wouldn't have +any particular reason to trouble much, especially as they think it +likely that those who were chasing us would get the scalps. When a +redskin's blood's up there ain't no trouble too great for him, and +he will follow for weeks to get his revenge; but, take 'em all in +all, they are lazy varmint, and as long as there is plenty of +deer's meat on hand, they will eat and sleep away their time for +weeks."</p> + +<p>By night, they reached the upper end of Lake Champlain, the +canoe was carefully hidden away again, and they struck through the +woods in the direction of Fort William Henry. They were now safe +from pursuit, and, after walking two or three miles, halted for the +night, made a fire, and cooked some of the dried meat. When they +had finished their meal, Nat said:</p> + +<p>"Now we will move away a bit, and then stretch ourselves +out."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't we lie down here, Nat?"</p> + +<p>"Because it would be a foolish thing to do, captain. There ain't +no saying what redskins may be wandering in the woods in time of +war. A thousand nights might pass without one of 'em happening to +come upon that fire, but if they did, and we were lying beside it, +all the trouble we have taken to slip through their hands would be +chucked clean away. No, you cannot be too careful in the +woods."</p> + +<p>They started early the next morning, and, before noon, arrived +at Fort William Henry, where James at once reported, to Colonel +Monro, what he had learned of the strength of the French force +gathering at Crown Point.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain Walsham," the commandant said. "I am greatly +indebted to you, for having brought us certain news of what is +coming. I will write off at once, and ask for reinforcements. This +is a serious expedition, and the colonies will have to make a great +effort, and a speedy one, if they are going to save the fort, for, +from what we hear of Montcalm, he is not likely to let the grass +grow under his feet. I shall report the services you have +rendered."</p> + +<p>As soon as Colonel Monro received the report James had brought +him, he sent to General Webb, who, with two thousand six hundred +men, chiefly provincials, was at Fort Edward, fourteen miles away. +On the 25th of July that general visited Fort William Henry, and, +after remaining there four days, returned to Fort Edward, whence he +wrote to the governor of New York, telling him the French were +coming, and urging him to send forward the militia at once, saying +that he was determined to march himself, with all his troops, to +the fort. Instead of doing so, three days later he sent up a +detachment of two hundred regulars under Lieutenant Colonel Young, +and eight hundred Massachusetts men under Colonel Frye. This raised +the force at Fort William Henry to two thousand two hundred men, +and reduced that of Webb to sixteen hundred.</p> + +<p>Had Webb been a brave and determined man, he would have left a +few hundred men, only, to hold Fort Edward, and marched with the +rest to assist Monro, when, on the morning of the 3d of August, he +received a letter from him, saying that the French were in sight on +the lake. But, as he was neither brave nor determined, he remained +at Fort Edward, sending off message after message to New York, for +help which could not possibly arrive in time.</p> + +<p>Already, the garrison of Fort William Henry had suffered one +reverse. Three hundred provincials, chiefly New Jersey men, under +Colonel Parker, had been sent out to reconnoitre the French +outposts. The scouts, under James Walsham, were of the party. They +were to proceed in boats down the lake.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this business, no way, captain," Nat said, as the +company took their place in the boats. "This ain't neither one +thing or the other. If Monro wants to find out about the enemy, +Jonathan and I kin do it. If he wants to fight the enemy, this lot +ain't enough; besides, these New Jersey men know no more about the +forest than so many children. You mark my words, this is going to +be a bad business. Why, they can see all these boats halfway down +the lake, and, with all these redskins about, they will ambush us +as soon as we try to land.</p> + +<p>"Look here, captain; you know that I ain't no coward. I don't +think no one can say that of me. I am ready to fight when there is +a chance of fighting, but I don't see no good in getting myself +killed off, when there ain't no good in it. So what I says is this: +don't you be in a hurry, captain, with these boats of ours."</p> + +<p>"But I must obey orders, Nat," James said, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you must obey orders, captain, no doubt. But there's two +ways of obeying orders. The one is to rush in front, and to do a +little more than you are told. The other is to take things quiet, +and just do what you are told, and no more. Now, my advice is, on +this here expedition you go on the last plan. If you are ordered to +land first, why land first it must be. If you don't get orders to +land first, just let them as is in a hurry land afore you. I ain't +been teaching all these lads to know something about the woods, for +the last six months, jest to see them killed off like flies, +because a blundering wrong-headed colonel sends them out with two +hundred and fifty ploughmen, for the redskins to see and attack +jest when they fancies."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Nat, I will take your advice, and, for once, we +won't put ourselves in the front, unless we are ordered."</p> + +<p>Satisfied with this, Nat passed quietly round among the men, as +they were taking their places in the boats, and told them that +there was no occasion for them to row as if they were racing.</p> + +<p>"I shall be in the captain's boat," he said. "You keep close to +us, and don't you try to push on ahead. When we are once fairly in +the woods, then we will do the scouting for the rest, but there +ain't no hurry for us to begin that, till we are on shore."</p> + +<p>"Look at us," Nat grumbled in James's ear, as the boats started +down the lake. "There we are, rowing along the middle, instead of +sneaking along close to the shore. Does Parker think that the +redskins are as blind as he is, and that, 'cause it's night, a lot +of big boats like these can't be seen out in the middle of the +lake? I tell you, captain, if we ain't ambushed as soon as we land, +I will grant I know nothing of redskin ways."</p> + +<p>James had, in fact, before starting, suggested to Colonel Parker +that it would be well to keep under the shelter of the bushes; but +the officer had replied stiffly:</p> + +<p>"When I want your advice, Captain Walsham, I will ask for +it."</p> + +<p>After which rebuff, James was more willing than he had hitherto +been to act in accordance with the advice of the scout. +Accordingly, as they rowed down the lake, the boats with the Royal +Scouts, although keeping up with the others, maintained their +position in the rear of the column.</p> + +<p>Towards daybreak, the boats' heads were turned to shore, and, +when they neared it, Colonel Parker gave the order for the men to +lay in their oars, while the three boats, which happened to be in +advance, were told to advance at once and land. The boats passed +through the thick curtain of trees, which hung down over the +water's edge. A minute passed, and then three others were ordered +to follow them.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear nothing?" Nat whispered to James.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't hear anything, Nat. Did you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think I did hear something, captain. It seems to me as +I heard a sort of scuffle."</p> + +<p>"But they never could surprise some thirty or forty men, without +the alarm being given?"</p> + +<p>"It depended what sort of men they were," Nat said scornfully. +"They wouldn't surprise men that knew their business; but those +chaps would just jump out of their boats, as if they was landed on +a quay at New York, and would scatter about among the bushes. Why, +Lord bless you, the Indians might ambush and tomahawk the lot, +before they had time to think of opening their lips to give a +shout."</p> + +<p>The second three boats had now disappeared among the trees, and +Colonel Parker gave the word for the rest to advance in a body.</p> + +<p>"Look to your firelocks, lads," James said. "Whatever happens, +keep perfectly cool. You at the oars, especially, sit still and be +ready to obey orders."</p> + +<p>The boats were within fifty yards of the trees when, from +beneath the drooping boughs, a volley of musketry was poured out, +and, a moment later, a swarm of canoes darted out from beneath the +branches, and the terrible Indian war whoop rang in the air.</p> + +<p>Appalled by the suddenness of the attack, by the deadly fire, +and the terrible yells, the greater portion of the men in the boats +were seized with the wildest panic. Many of them jumped into the +water. Others threw themselves down in the bottom of the boats. +Some tried to row, but were impeded by their comrades.</p> + +<p>"Steady, men, steady!" James shouted, at the top of his voice. +"Get the boats' heads round, and keep together. We can beat off +these canoes, easy enough, if you do but keep your heads."</p> + +<p>His orders were obeyed promptly and coolly by the men of his +company. The boats were turned with their heads to the lake, as the +canoes came dashing up, and the men who were not employed in rowing +fired so steadily and truly that the redskins in several of the +leading canoes fell, upsetting their boats.</p> + +<p>"Don't hurry," James shouted. "There is no occasion for haste. +They can go faster than we can. All we have got to do is to beat +them off. Lay in all the oars, except the two bow oars, in each +boat. All the rest of the men stand to their arms, and let the +boats follow each other in file, the bow of one close to the stern +of that ahead."</p> + +<p>The check, which the volley had given to the canoes, gave time +to the men in several of the boats, close to those of the scouts, +to turn. They were rowing past James's slowly-moving boats, when he +shouted to them:</p> + +<p>"Steady, men, your only chance of escape is to show a front to +them, as we are doing. They can overtake you easily, and will row +you down one after the other. Fall in ahead of our line, and do as +we are doing. You need not be afraid. We could beat them off, if +they were ten times as many."</p> + +<p>Reassured by the calmness with which James issued his orders, +the boats took up the positions assigned to them. James, who was in +the last boat in the line, shuddered at the din going on behind +him. The yells of the Indians, the screams and cries of the +provincials, mingled with the sharp crack of rifles or the duller +sound of the musket. The work of destruction was soon over. Save +his own company and some fifty of the provincials in the boats +ahead, the whole of Colonel Parker's force had been killed, or were +prisoners in the hands of the Indians, who, having finished their +work, set off in pursuit of the boats which had escaped them.</p> + +<p>James at once changed the order. The front boat was halted, and +the others formed in a line beside it, presenting the broad side to +the approaching fleet of canoes. When the latter came within a +hundred yards, a stream of fire opened from the boats, the men +aiming with the greatest coolness.</p> + +<p>The canoes were checked at once. A score of the paddlers had +sunk, killed or wounded, into the bottom, and several of the frail +barks were upset. As fast as the men could load, they continued +their fire, and, in two minutes from the first shot, the canoes +were turned, and paddled at full speed towards the shore, pursued +by a hearty cheer from the English. The oars were then manned +again, and the remains of Parker's flotilla rowed up the lake to +Fort William Henry.</p> + +<p>Several of the prisoners taken by the Indians were cooked and +eaten by them. A few days afterwards a party of Indians, following +the route from the head of Lake Champlain, made a sudden attack on +the houses round Fort Edward, and killed thirty-two men.</p> + +<p>It was an imposing spectacle, as the French expedition made its +way down Lake George. General Levis had marched by the side of the +lake with twenty-five hundred men, Canadians, regulars, and +redskins; while the main body proceeded, the troops in two hundred +and fifty large boats, the redskins in many hundreds of their +canoes.</p> + +<p>The boats moved in military order. There were six regiments of +French line: La Reine and Languedoc, La Sarre and Guienne, Bearn +and Roussillon. The cannons were carried on platforms formed across +two boats. Slowly and regularly the procession of boats made its +way down the lake, till they saw the signal fires of Levis, who, +with his command, was encamped near the water at a distance of two +miles from the fort. Even then, the English were not aware that +near eight thousand enemies were gathered close to them. Monro was +a brave soldier, but wholly unfitted for the position he held, +knowing nothing of irregular warfare, and despising all but trained +soldiers.</p> + +<p>At daybreak, all was bustle at Fort Henry. Parties of men went +out to drive in the cattle, others to destroy buildings which would +interfere with the fire from the fort. The English position was now +more defensible than it had been when it was attacked in the +spring. The forest had been cleared for a considerable distance +round, and the buildings which had served as a screen to the enemy +had, for the most part, been removed. The fort itself lay close +down by the edge of the water. One side and the rear were protected +by the marsh, so that it could only be attacked from one side. +Beyond the marsh lay the rough ground where Johnson had encamped +two years before; while, on a flat hill behind this was an +entrenched camp, beyond which, again, was another marsh.</p> + +<p>As soon as the sun rose, the column of Levis moved through the +forest towards the fort, followed by Montcalm with the main body, +while the artillery boats put out from behind the point which had +hid them from the sight of the English, and, surrounded by hundreds +of Indian canoes, moved slowly forward, opening fire as they went. +Soon the sound of firing broke out near the edge of the forest, all +round the fort, as the Indians, with Levis, opened fire upon the +soldiers who were endeavouring to drive in the cattle.</p> + +<p>Hitherto James Walsham, with Edwards and his two scouts, was +standing quietly, watching the approaching fleet of boats and +canoes; Nat expressing, in no measured terms, his utter disgust at +the confusion which reigned in and around the fort.</p> + +<p>"It looks more like a frontier settlement suddenly surprised," +he said, "than a place filled with soldiers who have been, for +weeks, expecting an attack. Nothing done, nothing ready. The cattle +all over the place. The tents on that open ground there still +standing. Stores all about in the open. Of all the pig-headed, +obstinate, ignorant old gentlemen I ever see, the colonel beats +them all. One might as well have an old woman in command. Indeed, I +know scores of old women, on the frontier, who would have been a +deal better here than him."</p> + +<p>But if Monro was obstinate and prejudiced, he was brave, cool, +and determined, and, now that the danger had come, he felt secure +of his ground, and took the proper measures for defence, moving +calmly about, and abating the disposition to panic by the calm +manner in which he gave his orders. Nat had scarcely finished his +grumbling, when the colonel approached.</p> + +<p>"Captain Walsham," he said, "you will take your company at once, +and cover the parties driving in the cattle. You will fall back +with them, and, when you see all in safety, retire into the +intrenched camp."</p> + +<p>The company were already under arms, waiting for orders and, at +the double, James led them up the sloping ground towards the +forest, whence the war whoops of the Indians, and the sharp cracks +of the rifles, were now ringing out on all sides. James made for +the spot where a score of soldiers were driving a number of cattle +before them, some hurrying the beasts on across the rough ground, +others firing at the Indians, who, as their numbers increased, were +boldly showing themselves behind the trees, and advancing in +pursuit.</p> + +<p>As soon as they neared the spot, James scattered his men in +skirmishing order. Each placed himself behind one of the blackened +stumps of the roughly-cleared forest, and opened fire upon the +Indians. Several of these fell, and the rest bounded back to the +forest, whence they opened a heavy fire.</p> + +<p>Now the company showed the advantage of the training they had +gone through, fighting with the greatest steadiness and coolness, +and keeping well in shelter, until, when the soldiers and cattle +had got well on their way towards the fort, James gave the order to +fall back, and the band, crawling among the stumps, and pausing to +fire at every opportunity, made their way back without having lost +a man, although several had received slight wounds.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: The Massacre At Fort William +Henry.</h2> + +<p>When the skirmishing round Fort Henry was over, La Corne, with a +body of Indians, occupied the road that led to Fort Edward; and +Levis encamped close by, to support him, and check any sortie the +English might make from their intrenched camp. Montcalm +reconnoitred the position. He had, at first, intended to attack and +carry the intrenched camp, but he found that it was too strong to +be taken by a rush. He therefore determined to attack the fort, +itself, by regular approaches from the western side, while the +force of Levis would intercept any succour which might come from +Fort Edward, and cut off the retreat of the garrison in that +direction. He gave orders that the cannon were to be disembarked at +a small cove, about half a mile from the fort, and near this he +placed his main camp. He now sent one of his aides-de-camp with a +letter to Monro.</p> + +<p>"I owe it to humanity," he said, "to summon you to surrender. At +present I can restrain the savages, and make them observe the terms +of a capitulation, but I might not have the power to do so under +other circumstances, and an obstinate defence on your part could +only retard the capture of the place a few days, and endanger the +unfortunate garrison, which cannot be relieved, in consequence of +the dispositions I have made. I demand a decisive answer within an +hour."</p> + +<p>Monro replied simply that he and his soldiers would defend +themselves till the last.</p> + +<p>The trenches were opened on the night of the 4th. The work was +extremely difficult, the ground being covered with hard stumps of +trees and fallen trunks. All night long 800 men toiled at the work, +while the guns of the fort kept up a constant fire of round shot +and grape; but by daybreak the first parallel was made. The battery +on the left was nearly finished, and one on the right begun. The +men were now working under shelter, and the guns of the fort could +do them little harm.</p> + +<p>While the French soldiers worked, the Indians crept up through +the fallen trees, close to the fort, and fired at any of the +garrison who might, for a moment, expose themselves. Sharpshooters +in the fort replied to their fire, and all day the fort was fringed +with light puffs of smoke, whilst the cannon thundered unceasingly. +The next morning, the French battery on the left opened with eight +heavy cannon and a mortar, and on the following morning the battery +on the right joined in with eleven other pieces.</p> + +<p>The fort only mounted, in all, seventeen cannon, for the most +part small, and, as some of them were upon the other faces, the +English fire, although kept up with spirit, could reply but weakly +to that of the French. The fort was composed of embankments of +gravel, surmounted by a rampart of heavy logs, laid in tiers, +crossing each other, the interstices filled with earth; and this +could ill support the heavy cannonade to which it was exposed. The +roar of the distant artillery continuing day after day was plainly +audible at Fort Edward; but although Monro had, at the commencement +of the attack, sent off several messengers asking for +reinforcements, Webb did not move.</p> + +<p>On the third day of the siege he had received 2000 men from New +York, and, by stripping all the forts below, he could have advanced +with 4500 men, but some deserters from the French told him that +Montcalm had 12,000 men, and Webb considered the task of advancing, +through the intervening forests and defiles between him and Fort +Henry, far too dangerous an operation to be attempted. Undoubtedly +it would have been a dangerous one, for the Indians pervaded the +woods as far as Fort Edward. No messenger could have got through to +inform Monro of his coming, and Montcalm could therefore have +attacked him, on the march, with the greater part of his force. +Still, a brave and determined general would have made the attempt. +Webb did not do so, but left Monro to his fate.</p> + +<p>He even added to its certainty by sending off a letter to him, +telling him that he could do nothing to assist him, and advising +him to surrender at once. The messenger was killed by the Indians +in the forest, and the note taken to Montcalm, who, learning that +Webb did not intend to advance, was able to devote his whole +attention to the fort. Montcalm kept the letter for several days, +till the English rampart was half battered down, and then sent it +in by an officer to Monro, hoping that it would induce the latter +to surrender. The old soldier, however, remained firm in his +determination to hold out, even though his position was now +absolutely hopeless. The trenches had been pushed forward until +within 250 yards of the fort, and the Indians crept up almost to +the wall on this side.</p> + +<p>Two sorties were made--one from the fort, the other from the +intrenched camp; but both were repulsed with loss. More than 300 of +the defenders had been killed and wounded. Smallpox was raging, and +the casemates were crowded with sick. All their large cannon had +been burst or disabled, and only seven small pieces were fit for +service. The French battery in the foremost trench was almost +completed, and, when this was done, the whole of Montcalm's +thirty-one cannon and fifteen mortars would open fire, and, as a +breach had already been effected in the wall, further resistance +would have been madness.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 8th, it was known in the fort that a council +of war would be held in the morning, and that, undoubtedly, the +fort would surrender.</p> + +<p>James, with his company, had, after escorting the cattle to the +fort, crossed the marsh to the intrenched camp, as the fort was +already crowded with troops. The company therefore avoided the +horrors of the siege. When the report circulated that a surrender +would probably be made the next morning, Nat went to James.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, captain?"</p> + +<p>"Do, Nat? Why, I have nothing to do. If Monro and his council +decide to surrender, there is an end of it. You don't propose that +our company is to fight Montcalm's army alone, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," Nat said, testily; "there has been a deal too +much fighting already. I understand holding out till the last, when +there's a hope of somebody coming to relieve you; but what's the +use of fighting, and getting a lot of your men killed, and raising +the blood of those redskin devils to boiling point? If the colonel +had given up the place at once, we should have saved a loss of 300 +men, and Montcalm would have been glad enough to let us march off +to Fort Edward."</p> + +<p>"But probably he will agree to let us do that now," James +said.</p> + +<p>"He may agree," Nat said, contemptuously; "but how about the +redskins? Do you think that, after losing a lot of their braves, +they are going to see us march quietly away, and go home without a +scalp? I tell you, captain, I know redskin nature, and, as sure as +the sun rises tomorrow, there will be a massacre; and I, for one, +ain't going to lay down my rifle, and let the first redskin, as +takes a fancy to my scalp, tomahawk me."</p> + +<p>"Well, but what do you propose, Nat?"</p> + +<p>"Well, captain, I have heard you say yours is an independent +command, and that you can act with the company wherever you like. +While you are here, I know you are under the orders of the colonel; +but if you had chosen to march away on any expedition of your own, +you could have done it."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Nat; but now the siege is once begun, I don't know +that I should be justified in marching away, even if I could."</p> + +<p>"But they are going to surrender, I tell you," Nat insisted. "I +don't see as how it can be your duty to hand over your company to +the French, if you can get them clear away, so as to fight for the +king again."</p> + +<p>"What do you say, Edwards?" James asked his lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why we shouldn't march away, if we could," Edwards +said. "Now that the game is quite lost here, I don't think anyone +could blame you for saving the company, if possible, and I agree +with Nat that Montcalm will find it difficult, if not impossible, +to keep his Indians in hand. The French have never troubled much on +that score."</p> + +<p>"Well, Nat, what is your plan?" James asked, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"The plan is simple enough," Nat said. "There ain't no plan at +all. All we have got to do is to march quietly down to the lake, to +take some of the canoes that are hauled up at the mouth of the +swamp, and to paddle quietly off, keeping under the trees on the +right-hand side. There ain't many redskins in the woods that way, +and the night is as dark as pitch. We can land eight or ten miles +down the lake, and then march away to the right, so as to get clean +round the redskins altogether."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Nat, I will do it," James said. "It's a chance, but +I think it's a better chance than staying here, and if I should get +into a row about it, I can't help it. I am doing it for the +best."</p> + +<p>The corps were quietly mustered, and marched out through the +gate of the intrenchments, on the side of the lake. No questions +were asked, for the corps had several times gone out on its own +account, and driven back the Indians and French pickets. The men +had, from their first arrival at the fort, laid aside their heavy +boots, and taken to moccasins as being better fitted for silent +movement in the forest. Therefore not a sound was heard as, under +Nat's guidance, they made their way down the slope into the +swamp.</p> + +<p>Here they were halted, for the moment, and told to move with the +greatest care and silence, and to avoid snapping a bough or twig. +This, however, was the less important, as the cannon on both sides +were still firing, and a constant rattle of musketry was going on +round the fort.</p> + +<p>Presently, they reached the point where the canoes were hauled +up, and were told off, three to a canoe.</p> + +<p>"Follow my canoe in single file," James said. "Not a word is to +be spoken, and remember that a single splash of a paddle will bring +the redskins down upon us. Likely enough there may be canoes out +upon the lake--there are sure to be Indians in the wood."</p> + +<p>"I don't think there's much fear, captain," Nat whispered. +"There's no tiring a redskin when he's out on the scout on his own +account, but when he's acting with the whites he's just as lazy as +a hog, and, as they must be sure the fort can't hold out many hours +longer, they will be too busy feasting, and counting the scalps +they mean to take, to think much about scouting tonight."</p> + +<p>"We shall go very slowly. Let every man stop paddling the +instant the canoe ahead of him stops," were James's last +instructions, as he stepped into the stern of a canoe, while Nat +and Jonathan took the paddles. Edwards was to take his place in the +last canoe in the line.</p> + +<p>Without the slightest sound, the canoes paddled out into the +lake, and then made for the east shore. They were soon close to the +trees, and, slowly and noiselessly, they kept their way just +outside the screen afforded by the boughs drooping down, almost +into the water. Only now and then the slightest splash was to be +heard along the line, and this might well have been taken for the +spring of a tiny fish feeding.</p> + +<p>Several times, when he thought he heard a slight sound in the +forest on his right, Nat ceased paddling, and lay for some minutes +motionless, the canoes behind doing the same. So dark was it, that +they could scarce see the trees close beside them, while the bright +flashes from the guns from fort and batteries only seemed to make +the darkness more intense. It was upwards of an hour before James +felt, from the greater speed with which the canoe was travelling, +that Nat believed that he had got beyond the spot where any Indians +were likely to be watching in the forest.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster the boat glided along, but the scouts were +still far from rowing their hardest. For, although the whole of the +men were accustomed to the use of the paddle, the other boats would +be unable to keep up with that driven by the practised arms of the +leaders of the file. After paddling for another hour and a half, +the scout stopped.</p> + +<p>"We are far enough away now," Nat said. "There ain't no chance +in the world of any redskins being in the woods, so far out as +this. The hope of scalps will have taken them all down close to the +fort. We can land safely, now."</p> + +<p>The word was passed down the line of canoes, the boats glided +through the screen of foliage, and the men landed.</p> + +<p>"Better pull the canoes ashore, captain. If we left them in the +water, one might break adrift and float out beyond the trees. Some +redskin or other would make it out, and we should have a troop of +them on our trail, before an hour had passed."</p> + +<p>"There's no marching through the forest now, Nat," James said. +"I can't see my own hand close to my face."</p> + +<p>"That's so, captain, and we'd best halt till daylight. I could +make my way along, easy enough, but some of these fellows would be +pitching over stumps, or catching their feet in a creeper, and, +like enough, letting off their pieces as they went down. We may +just as well stay where we are. They ain't likely to miss us, even +in the camp, and sartin the redskins can't have known we have gone. +So there's no chance whatever of pursuit, and there ain't nothing +to be gained by making haste."</p> + +<p>James gave the order. The men felt about, till each found a +space of ground, sufficiently large to lie down upon, and soon all +were asleep except the two scouts, who said, at once, that they +would watch by turns till daylight.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was sufficiently light to see in the forest, the +band were again in motion. They made due east, until they crossed +the trail leading from the head of Lake Champlain to Fort Edward; +kept on for another hour, and then, turning to the south, made in +the direction of Albany, for it would have been dangerous to +approach Fort Edward, round which the Indians were sure to be +scattered thickly.</p> + +<p>For the first two hours after starting, the distant roar of the +guns had gone on unceasingly, then it suddenly stopped.</p> + +<p>"They have hoisted the white flag," Edwards said. "It is all +over. Thank God, we are well out of it! I don't mind fighting, +Walsham, but to be massacred by those Indians is a hideous +idea."</p> + +<p>"I am glad we are out of it too," James agreed; "but I cannot +think that Montcalm, with so large a force of French regulars at +his command, will allow those fiendish Indians to massacre the +prisoners."</p> + +<p>"I hope not," Edwards said. "It will be a disgrace indeed to him +and his officers if he does; but you know what the Indians are, +better than I do, and you have heard Nat's opinion. You see, if +Montcalm were to use force against the Indians, the whole of them +would go off, and then there would be an end to any hope of the +French beating the colonists in the long run. Montcalm daren't +break with them. It's a horrible position for an officer and a +gentleman to be placed in. Montcalm did manage to prevent the +redskins from massacring the garrison of Oswego, but it was as much +as he could do, and it will be ten times as difficult, now that +their blood is up with this week of hard fighting, and the loss of +many of their warriors. Anyhow, I am glad I am out of it, even if +the bigwigs consider we had no right to leave the fort, and break +us for it. I would rather lose my commission than run the risk of +being massacred in cold blood."</p> + +<p>James agreed with him.</p> + +<p>For two days, they continued their march through the forest, +using every precaution against surprise. They saw, however, nothing +of the enemy, and emerged from the forest, on the evening of the +second day's march, at a distance of a few miles from Albany.</p> + +<p>They had not reached that town many hours, when they learned +that Nat's sombre predictions had been fulfilled. The council of +war in the fort agreed that further resistance was impossible, and +Lieutenant Colonel Young went out, with a white flag, to arrange +the terms of surrender with Montcalm. It was agreed that the +English troops should march out, with the honours of war, and be +escorted to Fort Edward by a detachment of French troops; that they +should not serve for eighteen months; and that all French prisoners +captured in America, since the war began, should be given up within +three months. The stores, ammunition, and artillery were to be +handed over to the French, except one field piece, which the +garrison were to be allowed to retain, in recognition of their +brave defence.</p> + +<p>Before signing the capitulation, Montcalm summoned the Indian +chiefs before him, and asked them to consent to the conditions, and +to restrain their young braves from any disorder. They gave their +approval, and promised to maintain order.</p> + +<p>The garrison then evacuated the fort, and marched to join their +comrades in the intrenched camp. No sooner had they moved out, than +a crowd of Indians rushed into the fort through the breach and +embrasures, and butchered all the wounded who had been left behind +to be cared for by the French. Having committed this atrocity the +Indians, and many of the Canadians, rushed up to the intrenched +camp, where the English were now collected. The French guards, who +had been stationed there, did nothing to keep them out; and they +wandered about, threatening and insulting the terrified women, +telling the men that everyone should be massacred, and plundering +the baggage.</p> + +<p>Montcalm did his best, by entreaty, to restrain the Indians, but +he took no steps whatever to give effectual protection to the +prisoners, and that he did not do so will remain an ineffaceable +blot upon his fame. Seeing the disposition of the redskins, he +should have ordered up all the regular French troops, and marched +the English garrison under their protection to Fort Edward, in +accordance with the terms of surrender; and he should have allowed +the English troops to again fill their pouches with cartridge, by +which means they would have been able to fight in their own +defence.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the English marched at daybreak. Seventeen +wounded men were left behind in the huts, having been, in +accordance with the agreement, handed over to the charge of a +French surgeon; but as he was not there in the morning, the +regimental surgeon, Miles Whitworth, remained with them attending +to their wants. The French surgeon had caused special sentinels to +be placed for their protection, but these were now removed, when +they were needed most.</p> + +<p>At five in the morning the Indians entered the huts, dragged out +the inmates, tomahawked and scalped them before the eyes of +Whitworth, and in the presence of La Corne and other Canadian +officers, as well as of a French guard stationed within forty feet +of the spot--none of whom, as Whitworth declared on oath, did +anything to protect the wounded men.</p> + +<p>The Indians, in the meantime, had begun to plunder the baggage +of the column. Monro complained, to the officers of the French +escort, that the terms of the capitulation were broken; but the +only answer was that he had better give up all the baggage to the +Indians, to appease them. But it had no effect in restraining the +passion of the Indians. They rushed upon the column, snatching +caps, coats, and weapons from men and officers, tomahawking all who +resisted, and, seizing upon shrieking women and children, carried +them away or murdered them on the spot. A rush was made upon the +New Hampshire men, at the rear of the column, and eighty of them +were killed or carried away.</p> + +<p>The Canadian officers did nothing at all to try to assuage the +fury of the Indians, and the officers of the Canadian detachment, +which formed the advance guard of the French escort, refused any +protection to the men, telling them they had better take to the +woods and shift for themselves. Montcalm, and the principal French +officers, did everything short of the only effectual step, namely, +the ordering up of the French regular troops to save the English. +They ran about among the yelling Indians, imploring them to desist, +but in vain.</p> + +<p>Some seven or eight hundred of the English were seized and +carried off by the savages, while some seventy or eighty were +massacred on the spot. The column attempted no resistance. None had +ammunition, and, of the colonial troops, very few were armed with +bayonets. Had any resistance been offered, there can be no doubt +all would have been massacred by the Indians.</p> + +<p>Many of the fugitives ran back to the fort, and took refuge +there, and Montcalm recovered from the Indians more than four +hundred of those they had carried off. These were all sent under a +strong guard to Fort Edward. The greater part of the survivors of +the column dispersed into the woods, and made their way in +scattered parties to Fort Edward. Here cannon had been fired at +intervals, to serve as a guide to the fugitives, but many, no +doubt, perished in the woods. On the morning after the massacre the +Indians left in a body for Montreal, taking with them two hundred +prisoners, to be tortured and murdered on their return to their +villages.</p> + +<p>Few events cast a deeper disgrace on the arms of France than +this massacre, committed in defiance of their pledged honour for +the safety of their prisoners, and in sight of four thousand French +troops, not a man of whom was set in motion to prevent it. These +facts are not taken only from English sources, but from the letters +of French officers, and from the journal of the Jesuit Roubaud, who +was in charge of the Christianized Indians, who, according to his +own account, were no less ferocious and cruel than the unconverted +tribes. The number of those who perished in the massacre is +uncertain. Captain Jonathan Carver, a colonial officer, puts the +killed and captured at 1500. A French writer, whose work was +published at Montreal, says that they were all killed, except seven +hundred who were captured; but this is, of course, a gross +exaggeration. General Levis and Roubaud, who were certain to have +made the best of the matter, acknowledged that they saw some fifty +corpses scattered on the ground, but this does not include those +murdered in the fort and camp.</p> + +<p>Probably the total number killed was about two hundred, and +besides these must be counted the two hundred prisoners carried off +to be tortured by the Indians. The greater portion of these were +purchased from the Indians, in exchange for rum, by Vaudreuil, the +governor at Montreal; but to the eternal disgrace of this man, he +suffered many of them to be carried off, and did not even interfere +when, publicly, in the sight of the whole town, the Indians +murdered some of the prisoners, and, not content with eating them +themselves, forced their comrades to partake of the flesh. +Bougainville, one of the aides-de-camp of Montcalm, was present, +and testified to the fact, and the story is confirmed by the +intendant Bigot, a friend of the governor.</p> + +<p>The ferocity of the Indians cost them dear. They had dug up and +scalped the corpses in the graveyard of Fort William Henry. Many of +these had died of smallpox, and the savages took the infection home +to their villages, where great numbers perished of the disease.</p> + +<p>As soon as their Indian allies had left, the French soldiers +were set to work demolishing the English fort, and the operation +was completed by the destruction, by fire, of the remains. The army +then returned to Crown Point.</p> + +<p>In view of the gross breach of the articles of capitulation by +the French, the English government refused also to be bound by it, +and the French prisoners in their hands were accordingly +retained.</p> + +<p>Colonel Monro himself was one of those who survived. He had made +his way through the savages back to the fort, to demand that the +protection of the French troops should be given to the soldiers, +and so escaped the massacre.</p> + +<p>Upon his arrival at Albany, James reported, to the officer in +command there, the reason which had induced him to quit the fort +with his company. These reasons were approved of, but the officer +advised James to send in a written report to General Webb, and to +march at once to Fort Edward, and place himself under that +officer's directions.</p> + +<p>When he reached the fort, the fugitives were coming in from the +woods. James at once reported himself to the general, and handed in +his written statement. At the same time he gave his reasons, in a +few words, for the course he had taken. Webb was far too much +excited by the news of the terrible events which had taken place, +and for which, as he could not but be aware, he would be to some +extent held responsible, by public opinion, for having refused to +move to Monro's assistance, to pay much attention to the young +officer's statement.</p> + +<p>"You were quite right, sir, quite right to carry off your +command," he said hastily. "Thank God there are so many the fewer +of his majesty's troops sacrificed! You will please take your +company out at once into the woods. They are accustomed to the +work, which is more than any of my troops here are. Divide them +into four parties, and let them scour the forest, and bring in such +of the fugitives as they can find. Let them take as much provisions +and rum as they can carry, for many of the fugitives will be +starving."</p> + +<p>James executed his orders, and, during the next five days, sent +in a considerable number of exhausted men, who, hopelessly lost in +the woods, must have perished unless they had been discovered by +his party.</p> + +<p>Had Montcalm marched direct upon Fort Edward, he could doubtless +have captured it, for the fall of Fort William Henry had so scared +Webb, that he would probably have retreated the moment he heard the +news of Montcalm's advance, although, within a day or two of the +fall of the fort, many thousands of colonial militia had arrived. +As soon, however, as it was known that Montcalm had retired, the +militia, who were altogether unsupplied with the means of keeping +the field, returned to their homes.</p> + +<p>Loudon, on his way back from the unsuccessful expedition against +Louisbourg, received the news of the calamity at Fort William +Henry. He returned too late to do anything to retrieve that +disaster, and determined, in the spring, to take the offensive by +attacking Ticonderoga. This had been left, on the retirement of +Montcalm, with a small garrison commanded by Captain Hepecourt, +who, during the winter, was continually harassed by the corps of +Captain Rogers, and James Walsham's scouts.</p> + +<p>Toward the spring, receiving reinforcements, Hepecourt caught +Rogers and a hundred and eighty men in an ambush, and killed almost +all of them; Rogers himself, and some twenty or thirty men, alone +escaping.</p> + +<p>In the spring there was a fresh change of plans. The expedition +against Ticonderoga was given up, as another attempt at Louisbourg +was about to be made. The English government were determined that +the disastrous delays, which had caused the failure of the last +expedition, should not be repeated. Loudon was recalled, and to +General Abercromby, the second in command, was intrusted the charge +of the forces in the colonies. Colonel Amherst was raised to the +rank of major general, and appointed to command the expedition from +England against Louisbourg, having under him Brigadier Generals +Whitmore, Lawrence, and Wolfe. Before the winter was ended two +fleets put to sea: the one, under Admiral Boscawen, was destined +for Louisbourg; while the other, under Admiral Osborne, sailed for +the Straits of Gibraltar, to intercept the French fleet of Admiral +La Clue, which was about to sail from Toulon for America.</p> + +<p>At the same time Sir Edward Hawke, with seven ships of the line +and three frigates, sailed for Rochefort, where a French squadron +with a fleet of transports, with troops for America, were +lying.</p> + +<p>The two latter expeditions were perfectly successful. Osborne +prevented La Clue from leaving the Mediterranean. Hawke drove the +enemy's vessels ashore at Rochefort, and completely broke up the +expedition. Thus Canada, at the critical period, when the English +were preparing to strike a great blow at her, was cut off from all +assistance from the mother country, and left to her own +resources.</p> + +<p>As before, Halifax was the spot where the troops from the +colonies were to meet the fleet from England, and the troops who +came out under their convoy, and here, on the 28th of May, the +whole expedition was collected. The colonies had again been +partially stripped of their defenders, and five hundred provincial +rangers accompanied the regulars. James Walsham's corps was left +for service on the frontier, while the regiments, to which they +belonged, sailed with the force destined for the siege of +Louisbourg.</p> + +<p>This fortress stood, at the mouth of a land-locked bay, on the +stormy coast of Cape Breton. Since the peace of Aix la Chapelle, +vast sums had been spent in repairing and strengthening it, and it +was, by far, the strongest fortress in English or French America. +The circuit of its fortifications was more than a mile and a half, +and the town contained about four thousand inhabitants. The +garrison consisted of the battalions of Artois, Bourgogne, Cambis, +and Volontaires Etrangers, with two companies of artillery, and +twenty-four of colonial troops; in all, three thousand and eighty +men, besides officers. In the harbour lay five ships of the line +and seven frigates, carrying five hundred and forty-four guns, and +about three thousand men, and there were two hundred and nineteen +cannons and seventeen mortars mounted on the ramparts and outworks, +and forty-four in reserve.</p> + +<p>Of the outworks, the strongest were the grand battery at +Lighthouse Point, at the mouth of the harbour; and that on Goat +Island, a rocky islet at its entrance. The strongest front of the +works was on the land side, across the base of the triangular +peninsula on which the town stood. This front, twelve hundred yards +in extent, reached from the sea, on the left, to the harbour on the +right, and consisted of four strong bastions with connecting +works.</p> + +<p>The best defence of Louisbourg, however, was the craggy shore, +which, for leagues on either side, was accessible only at a few +points, and, even there, a landing could only be effected with the +greatest difficulty. All these points were watched, for an English +squadron, of nine ships of war, had been cruising off the place, +endeavouring to prevent supplies from arriving; but they had been +so often blown off, by gales, that the French ships had been able +to enter, and, on the 2nd of June, when the English expedition came +in sight, more than a year's supply of provisions was stored up in +the town.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: Louisbourg And Ticonderoga.</h2> + +<p>All eyes in the fleet were directed towards the rocky shore of +Gabarus Bay, a flat indentation some three miles across, its +eastern extremity, White Point, being a mile to the west of +Louisbourg. The sea was rough, and the white masses of surf were +thrown high up upon the face of the rock, along the coast, as far +as the eye could reach.</p> + +<p>A more difficult coast on which to effect a landing could not +have been selected. There were but three points where boats could, +even in fine weather, get to shore--namely, White Point, Flat +Point, and Fresh Water Cove. To cover these, the French had erected +several batteries, and, as soon as the English fleet was in sight, +they made vigorous preparations to repel a landing.</p> + +<p>Boats were at once lowered, in order to make a reconnaissance of +the shore. Generals Amherst, Lawrence, and Wolfe all took part in +it, and a number of naval officers, in their boats, daringly +approached the shore to almost within musket shot. When they +returned, in the afternoon, they made their reports to the admiral, +and these reports all agreed with his own opinion--namely, that +there was but little chance of success. One naval captain alone, an +old officer named Fergusson, advised the admiral to hold no council +of war, but to take the responsibility on himself, and to make the +attempt at all risks.</p> + +<p>"Why, admiral," he said, "the very children at home would laugh +at us, if, for a second time, we sailed here with an army, and then +sailed away again without landing a man."</p> + +<p>"So they would, Fergusson, so they would," the admiral said. "If +I have to stop here till winter, I won't go till I have carried out +my orders, and put the troops ashore."</p> + +<p>In addition to the three possible landing places already named, +was one to the east of the town named Lorambec, and it was +determined to send a regiment to threaten a landing at this place, +while the army, formed into three divisions, were to threaten the +other points, and effect a landing at one or all of them, if it +should be found possible.</p> + +<p>On the next day, however, the 3rd of June, the surf was so high +that nothing could be attempted. On the 4th there was a thick fog +and a gale, and the frigate Trent struck on a rock, and some of the +transports were nearly blown on shore. The sea was very heavy, and +the vessels rolled tremendously at their anchors. Most of the +troops suffered terribly from seasickness.</p> + +<p>The next day, the weather continued thick and stormy. On the 6th +there was fog, but towards noon the wind went down, whereupon the +signal was made, the boats were lowered, and the troops took their +places in them. Scarcely had they done so, when the wind rose +again, and the sea got up so rapidly that the landing was +postponed.</p> + +<p>The next day the fog and heavy surf continued, but in the +evening the sea grew calmer, and orders were issued for the troops +to take to the boats, at two o'clock next morning. This was done, +and the frigates got under sail, and steered for the four points at +which the real or pretended attacks were to be made, and, anchoring +within easy range, opened fire soon after daylight; while the +boats, in three divisions, rowed towards the shore.</p> + +<p>The division under Wolfe consisted of twelve companies of +Grenadiers, with the Light infantry, Fraser's Highlanders, and the +New England Rangers. Fresh Water Cove was a crescent-shaped beach a +quarter of a mile long, with rocks at each end. On the shore above +lay 1000 Frenchmen under Lieutenant Colonel de Saint Julien, with +eight cannons, on swivels, planted to sweep every part of the +beach. The intrenchments, behind which the troops were lying, were +covered in front by spruce and fir trees, felled and laid on the +ground with the tops outward.</p> + +<p>Not a shot was fired until the English boats approached the +beach, then, from behind the leafy screen, a deadly storm of grape +and musketry was poured upon them. It was clear at once that to +advance would be destruction, and Wolfe waved his hand as a signal +to the boats to sheer off.</p> + +<p>On the right of the line, and but little exposed to the fire, +were three boats of the Light Infantry under Lieutenants Hopkins +and Brown, and Ensign Grant, who, mistaking the signal, or wilfully +misinterpreting it, dashed for the shore directly before them. It +was a hundred yards or so east of the beach--a craggy coast, lashed +by the breakers, but sheltered from the cannon by a small +projecting point.</p> + +<p>The three young officers leapt ashore, followed by their men. +Major Scott, who commanded the Light Infantry and Rangers, was in +the next boat, and at once followed the others, putting his boat's +head straight to the shore. The boat was crushed to pieces against +the rocks. Some of the men were drowned, but the rest scrambled up +the rocks, and joined those who had first landed. They were +instantly attacked by the French, and half of the little party were +killed or wounded before the rest of the division could come to +their assistance.</p> + +<p>Some of the boats were upset, and others stove in, but most of +the men scrambled ashore, and, as soon as he landed, Wolfe led them +up the rocks, where they formed in compact order and carried, with +the bayonet, the nearest French battery.</p> + +<p>The other divisions, seeing that Wolfe had effected a landing, +came rapidly up, and, as the French attention was now distracted by +Wolfe's attack on the left, Amherst and Lawrence were able to land +at the other end of the beach, and, with their divisions, attacked +the French on the right.</p> + +<p>These, assaulted on both sides, and fearing to be cut off from +the town, abandoned their cannon and fled into the woods. Some +seventy of them were taken prisoners, and fifty killed. The rest +made their way through the woods and marshes to Louisbourg, and the +French in the other batteries commanding the landing places, seeing +that the English were now firmly established on the shore, also +abandoned the positions, and retreated to the town.</p> + +<p>General Amherst established the English camp just beyond the +range of the cannon on the ramparts, and the fleet set to work to +land guns and stores at Flat Point Cove. For some days this work +went on; but so violent was the surf, that more than a hundred +boats were stove in in accomplishing it, and none of the siege guns +could be landed till the 18th. While the sailors were so engaged, +the troops were busy making roads and throwing up redoubts to +protect their position.</p> + +<p>Wolfe, with 1200 men, made his way right round the harbour, and +took possession of the battery at Lighthouse Point which the French +had abandoned; planted guns and mortars there, and opened fire on +the battery on the islet which guarded the entrance to the harbour; +while other batteries were raised, at different points along the +shore, and opened fire upon the French ships. These replied, and +the artillery duel went on night and day, until, on the 25th, the +battery on the islet was silenced. Leaving a portion of his force +in the batteries he had erected, Wolfe returned to the main army in +front of the town.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Amherst had not been idle. Day and night a +thousand men had been employed, making a covered road across a +swamp to a hillock less than half a mile from the ramparts. The +labour was immense, and the troops worked knee deep in mud and +water.</p> + +<p>When Wolfe had silenced the battery on the islet, the way was +open for the English fleet to enter and engage the ships and town +from the harbour, but the French took advantage of a dark and foggy +night, and sank six ships across the entrance.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, the troops had made the road to the hillock, and +began to fortify themselves there, under a heavy fire from the +French; while on the left, towards the sea, about a third of a mile +from the Princess's Bastion, Wolfe, with a strong detachment, began +to throw up a redoubt.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 9th of July, 600 French troops sallied out +and attacked this work. The English, though fighting desperately, +were for a time driven back; but, being reinforced, they drove the +French back into the town.</p> + +<p>Each day the English lines drew closer to the town. The French +frigate <em>Echo</em>, under cover of a fog, had been sent to +Quebec for aid, but she was chased and captured. The frigate +<em>Arethuse</em>, on the night of the 14th of July, was towed +through the obstructions at the mouth of the harbour, and, passing +through the English ships in a fog, succeeded in getting away. Only +five vessels of the French fleet now remained in the harbour, and +these were but feebly manned, as 2000 of the officers and seamen +had landed, and were encamped in the town.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 16th a party of English, led by Wolfe, +suddenly dashed forward, and, driving back a company of French, +seized some rising ground within three hundred yards of the +ramparts, and began to intrench themselves there. All night, the +French kept up a furious fire at the spot, but, by morning, the +English had completed their intrenchment, and from this point +pushed on, until they had reached the foot of the glacis.</p> + +<p>On the 21st, the French man of war <em>Celebre</em> was set on +fire by the explosion of a shell. The wind blew the flames into the +rigging of two of her consorts, and these also caught fire, and the +three ships burned to the water's edge. Several fires were +occasioned in the town, and the English guns, of which a great +number were now in position, kept up a storm of fire night and +day.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 23rd, six hundred English sailors silently +rowed into the harbour, cut the cables of the two remaining French +men of war, and tried to tow them out. One, however, was aground, +for the tide was low. The sailors therefore set her on fire, and +then towed her consort out of the harbour, amidst a storm of shot +and shell from the French batteries.</p> + +<p>The French position was now desperate. Only four cannon, on the +side facing the English batteries, were fit for service. The +masonry of the ramparts was shaken, and the breaches were almost +complete. A fourth of the garrison were in hospital, and the rest +were worn out by toil. Every house in the place was shattered by +the English artillery, and there was no shelter either for the +troops or the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, the last French cannon was silenced, and a breach +effected in the wall; and the French, unable longer to resist, hung +out the white flag. They attempted to obtain favourable conditions, +but Boscawen and Amherst insisted upon absolute surrender, and the +French, wholly unable to resist further, accepted the terms.</p> + +<p>Thus fell the great French stronghold on Cape Breton. The +defence had been a most gallant one; and Drucour, the governor, +although he could not save the fortress, had yet delayed the +English so long before the walls, that it was too late in the +season, now, to attempt an attack on Canada itself.</p> + +<p>Wolfe, indeed, urged that an expedition should at once be sent +against Quebec, but Boscawen was opposed to this, owing to the +lateness of the season, and Amherst was too slow and deliberate, by +nature, to determine suddenly on the enterprise. He, however, +sailed with six regiments for Boston, to reinforce Abercromby at +Lake George.</p> + +<p>Wolfe carried out the orders of the general, to destroy the +French settlements on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence--a task most +repugnant to his humane nature. After this had been accomplished, +he sailed for England.</p> + +<p>When Amherst had sailed with his expedition to the attack of +Louisbourg, he had not left the colonists in so unprotected a state +as they had been in the preceding year. They, on their part, +responded nobly to the call, from England, that a large force +should be put in the field. The home government had promised to +supply arms, ammunition, tents, and provisions, and to make a grant +towards the pay and clothing of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Massachusetts, as usual, responded most freely and loyally to +the demand. She had already incurred a very heavy debt by her +efforts in the war, and had supplied 2500 men--a portion of whom +had gone with Amherst--but she now raised 7000 more, whom she paid, +maintained, and clothed out of her own resources, thus placing in +the field one-fourth of her able-bodied men. Connecticut made equal +sacrifices, although less exposed to danger of invasion; while New +Hampshire sent out one-third of her able-bodied men.</p> + +<p>In June the combined British and provincial force, under +Abercromby, gathered on the site of Fort William Henry. The force +consisted of 6367 officers and soldiers of the regular army, and +9054 colonial troops.</p> + +<p>Abercromby himself was an infirm and incapable man, who owed his +position to political influence. The real command was in the hands +of Brigadier General Lord Howe--a most energetic and able officer, +who had, during the past year, thoroughly studied forest warfare, +and had made several expeditions with the scouting parties of +Rogers and other frontier leaders. He was a strict disciplinarian, +but threw aside all the trammels of the traditions of the service. +He made both officers and men dress in accordance with the work +they had before them. All had to cut their hair close, to wear +leggings to protect them from the briars, and to carry in their +knapsacks thirty pounds of meal, which each man had to cook for +himself. The coats, of both the Regulars and Provincials, were cut +short at the waist, and no officer or private was allowed to carry +more than one blanket and a bear skin.</p> + +<p>Howe himself lived as simply and roughly as his men. The +soldiers were devoted to their young commander, and were ready to +follow him to the death.</p> + +<p>"That's something like a man for a general," Nat said +enthusiastically, as he marched, with the Royal Scouts, past the +spot where Lord Howe was sitting on the ground, eating his dinner +with a pocket knife.</p> + +<p>"I have never had much hope of doing anything, before, with the +regulars in the forest, but I do think, this time, we have got a +chance of licking the French. What do you say, captain?"</p> + +<p>"It looks more hopeful, Nat, certainly. Under Loudon and Webb +things did not look very bright, but this is a different sort of +general altogether."</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 4th of July baggage, stores, and +ammunition were all on board the boats, and the whole army embarked +at daybreak on the 5th. It was indeed a magnificent sight, as the +flotilla started. It consisted of 900 troop boats, 135 whale boats, +and a large number of heavy flatboats carrying the artillery. They +were in three divisions, the regulars in the centre, the provincial +troops on either flank.</p> + +<p>Each corps had its flags and its music, the day was fair and +bright, and, as the flotilla swept on past the verdure-clad hills, +with the sun shining brilliantly down on the bright uniforms and +gay flags, on the flash of oars and the glitter of weapons, a +fairer sight was seldom witnessed.</p> + +<p>At five in the afternoon, they reached Sabbath Day Point, +twenty-five miles down the lake, where they halted some time for +the baggage and artillery. At eleven o'clock they started again, +and by daybreak were nearing the outlet of the lake.</p> + +<p>An advanced party of the French were watching their movements, +and a detachment was seen, near the shore, at the spot where the +French had embarked on the previous year. The companies of Rogers +and James Walsham landed, and drove them off, and by noon the whole +army was on shore.</p> + +<p>The troops started in four columns, but so dense was the forest, +so obstructed with undergrowth, that they could scarcely make their +way, and, after a time, even the guides became confused in the +labyrinth of trunks and boughs, and the four columns insensibly +drew near to each other.</p> + +<p>Curiously, the French advanced party, 350 strong, who had tried +to retreat, also became lost in the wood, and, not knowing where +the English were, in their wanderings again approached them. As +they did so Lord Howe, who, with Major Putnam, and 200 rangers and +scouts, was at the head of the principal column, suddenly came upon +them. A skirmish followed. Scarcely had it begun when Lord Howe +dropped dead, shot through the breast. For a moment, something like +a panic seized the army, who believed that they had fallen into an +ambush, and that Montcalm's whole force was upon them. The rangers, +however, fought steadily, until Rogers' Rangers and the Royal +Scouts, who were out in front, came back and took the French in the +rear. Only about 50 of these escaped, 148 were captured, and the +rest killed or drowned in endeavouring to cross the rapids.</p> + +<p>The loss of the English was small in numbers, but the death of +Howe inflicted an irreparable blow upon the army. As Major Mante, +who was present, wrote:</p> + +<p>"In Lord Howe, the soul of General Abercromby's army seemed to +expire. From the unhappy moment that the general was deprived of +his advice, neither order nor discipline was observed, and a +strange kind of infatuation usurped the place of resolution."</p> + +<p>The loss of its gallant young general was, indeed, the +destruction of an army of 15,000 men. Abercromby seemed paralysed +by the stroke, and could do nothing, and the soldiers were +needlessly kept under arms all night in the forest, and, in the +morning, were ordered back to the landing place.</p> + +<p>At noon, however, Bradstreet was sent out to take possession of +the sawmill, at the falls which Montcalm had abandoned the evening +before. Bradstreet rebuilt the two bridges, which had been +destroyed by the enemy, and the army then advanced, and in the +evening occupied the deserted encampment of the French.</p> + +<p>Montcalm had, for some days, been indecisive as to his course. +His force was little more than a fourth of that of the advancing +foe. He had, for some time, been aware of the storm which was +preparing against him. Vaudreuil, the governor, had at first +intended to send a body of Canadians and Indians, under General +Levis, down the valley of the Mohawk to create a diversion, but +this scheme had been abandoned, and, instead of sending Levis, with +his command, to the assistance of Montcalm, he had kept them doing +nothing at Montreal.</p> + +<p>Just about the hour Lord Howe was killed, Montcalm fell back +with his force from his position by the falls, and resolved to make +a stand at the base of the peninsula on which Ticonderoga stands. +The outline of the works had already been traced, and the soldiers +of the battalion of Berry had made some progress in constructing +them. At daybreak, just as Abercromby was drawing his troops back +to the landing place, Montcalm's whole army set to work. Thousands +of trees were hewn down, and the trunks piled one upon another, so +as to form a massive breastwork. The line followed the top of the +ridge, with many zigzags, so that the whole front could be swept by +a fire of musketry and grape. The log wall was eight or nine feet +high, and the upper tier was formed of single logs, in which +notches were cut to serve as loopholes. The whole space in front +was cleared of trees, for the distance of a musket shot, the trees +being felled so that their tops turned outwards, forming an almost +impenetrable obstacle, while, immediately in front of the log wall, +the ground was covered with heavy boughs, overlapping and +interlaced, their points being sharpened. This position was, in +fact, absolutely impregnable against an attack, in front, by +infantry.</p> + +<p>It was true that Abercromby might have brought up his artillery, +and battered down the breastwork, or he might have planted a +battery on the heights which commanded the position, or he might +have marched a portion of his army through the woods, and placed +them on the road between Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and so have +cut off the whole French army, and forced them to surrender, for +they had but eight days' provisions. But Howe was dead, there was +no longer leading or generalship, and Abercromby, leaving his +cannon behind him, marched his army to make a direct attack on the +French intrenchment.</p> + +<p>In the course of the night Levis, with 400 of his men, arrived, +and the French were in readiness for the attack. The battalions of +La Sarre and Languedoc were posted on the left under Bourlamaque, +Berry and Royal Roussillon in the centre under Montcalm, La Reine, +Beam, and Guienne on the right under Levis. A detachment of +volunteers occupied the low ground between the breastwork and the +outlet of Lake George, while 450 Canadian troops held an abattis on +the side towards Lake Champlain, where they were covered by the +guns of the fort.</p> + +<p>Until noon, the French worked unceasingly to strengthen their +position, then a heavy fire broke out in front, as the rangers and +light infantry drove in their pickets. As soon as the English +issued from the wood, they opened fire, and then the regulars, +formed in columns of attack, pushed forward across the rough ground +with its maze of fallen trees. They could see the top of the +breastwork, but not the men behind it, and as soon as they were +fairly entangled in the trees, a terrific fire opened upon them. +The English pushed up close to the breastwork, but they could not +pass the bristling mass of sharpened branches, which were swept by +a terrific crossfire from the intrenchment. After striving for an +hour, they fell back. Abercromby, who had remained at the mill a +mile and a half in the rear, sent orders for them to attack +again.</p> + +<p>Never did the English fight with greater bravery. Six times did +they advance to the attack, but the task set them was impossible. +At five in the afternoon, two English columns made an assault on +the extreme right of the French, and, although Montcalm hastened to +the spot with his reserves, they nearly succeeded in breaking +through, hewing their way right to the very foot of the breastwork, +and renewing the attack over and over again, the Highland regiment, +which led the column, fighting with desperate valour, and not +retiring until its major and twenty-five of the officers were +killed or wounded, and half the men had fallen under the deadly +fire.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock another desperate attempt was made, but in vain; +then the regulars fell back in disorder, but, for an hour and a +half, the provincials and rangers kept up a fire, while their +comrades removed the wounded. Abercromby had lost in killed, +wounded, and missing 1944 officers and men, while the loss of the +French was 377.</p> + +<p>Even now, Abercromby might have retrieved his repulse, for, with +13,000 men still remaining, against 3300 unwounded Frenchmen, he +could still have easily forced them to surrender, by planting +cannons on the heights, or by cutting off their communication and +food.</p> + +<p>He did neither, but, at daybreak, re-embarked his army, and +retired with all speed down the lake. Montcalm soon received large +reinforcements, and sent out scouting parties. One of these caught +a party commanded by Captain Rogers in an ambush, but were finally +driven back, with such heavy loss that, from that time, few +scouting parties were sent out from Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>In October, Montcalm, with the main portion of his army, retired +for the winter to Montreal; while the English fell back to +Albany.</p> + +<p>While Abercromby was lying inactive at the head of Lake George, +Brigadier General Forbes had advanced from Virginia against Fort +Duquesne, and, after immense labour and hardships, succeeded in +arriving at the fort, which the French evacuated at his approach, +having burnt the barracks and storehouses, and blown up the +fortifications. A stockade was formed, and a fort afterwards built +there. This was called Fort Pitt, and the place itself, Pittsburg. +A small garrison was left there, and the army, after having +collected and buried the bones of Braddock's men, retired to +Virginia. The general, who, though suffering terribly from disease, +had steadfastly carried out the enterprise in the face of enormous +difficulties, died shortly after the force returned to the +settlements.</p> + +<p>Another successful enterprise, during the autumn, had been the +capture of Fort Frontenac, and the gaining of a foothold by the +English on Lake Ontario.</p> + +<p>Thus, the campaign of 1758 was, on the whole, disastrous to the +French. They had held their own triumphantly at Ticonderoga, but +they had lost their great fortress of Louisbourg, their right had +been forced back by the capture of Fort Duquesne, and their line of +communication cut by the destruction of Fort Frontenac.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: Quebec.</h2> + +<p>In the following spring, the French prepared to resist the +serious attack which they expected would be made by way of Lake +Champlain and Ontario. But a greater danger was threatening them, +for, in the midst of their preparations, the news arrived from +France that a great fleet was on its way, from England, to attack +Quebec. The town was filled with consternation and surprise, for +the Canadians had believed that the navigation of the Saint +Lawrence was too difficult and dangerous for any hostile fleet to +attempt. Their spirits rose however when, a few days later, a fleet +of twenty-three ships, ladened with supplies from France, sailed up +the river.</p> + +<p>A day or two later, the British fleet was at the mouth of the +Saint Lawrence, and the whole forces of the colony, except three +battalions posted at Ticonderoga, and a strong detachment placed so +as to resist any hostile movement from Lake Ontario, were mustered +at Quebec. Here were gathered five French battalions, the whole of +the Canadian troops and militia, and upwards of a thousand Indians, +in all amounting to more than sixteen thousand.</p> + +<p>The position was an extremely strong one. The main force was +encamped on the high ground below Quebec, with their right resting +on the Saint Charles River, and the left on the Montmorenci, a +distance of between seven and eight miles. The front was covered by +steep ground, which rose nearly from the edge of the Saint +Lawrence, and the right was covered by the guns of the citadel of +Quebec. A boom of logs, chained together, was laid across the mouth +of the Saint Charles, which was further guarded by two hulks +mounted with cannon. A bridge of boats, crossing the river a mile +higher up, connected the city with the camp.</p> + +<p>All the gates of Quebec, except that of Saint Charles, which +faced the bridge, were closed and barricaded. A hundred and six +cannon were mounted on the walls, while a floating battery of +twelve heavy pieces, a number of gunboats, and eight fire ships +formed the river defences.</p> + +<p>The frigates, which had convoyed the merchant fleet, were taken +higher up the river, and a thousand of their seamen came down, from +Quebec, to man the batteries and gunboats.</p> + +<p>Against this force of sixteen thousand men, posted behind +defensive works, on a position almost impregnable by nature, +General Wolfe was bringing less than nine thousand troops. The +steep and lofty heights, that lined the river, rendered the cannon +of the ships useless to him, and the exigencies of the fleet, in +such narrow and difficult navigation, prevented the sailors being +landed to assist the troops.</p> + +<p>A large portion of Montcalm's army, indeed, consisted of +Canadians, who were of little use in the open field, but could be +trusted to fight well behind intrenchments.</p> + +<p>Wolfe was, unfortunately, in extremely bad health when he was +selected, by Pitt, to command the expedition against Quebec; but +under him were Brigadier Generals Monckton, Townshend, and Murray, +all good officers.</p> + +<p>The fleet consisted of twenty-two ships of war, with frigates +and sloops, and a great number of transports. It was, at first, +divided into three squadrons. That under Admiral Durell sailed +direct for the Saint Lawrence, to intercept the ships from France, +but arrived at its destination a few days too late. That of Admiral +Holmes sailed for New York, to take on board a portion of the army +of Amherst and Abercromby. That of Admiral Saunders sailed to +Louisbourg, but, finding the entrance blocked with ice, went on to +Halifax, where it was joined by the squadron with the troops from +New York. They then sailed again to Louisbourg, where they remained +until the 6th of June, 1759, and then joined Durell at the mouth of +the Saint Lawrence.</p> + +<p>Wolfe's force had been intended to be larger, and should have +amounted to fourteen thousand men; but some regiments which were to +have joined him from the West Indies were, at the last moment, +countermanded, and Amherst, who no doubt felt some jealousy, at the +command of this important expedition being given to an officer who +had served under his orders at the taking of Louisbourg, sent a +smaller contingent of troops than had been expected.</p> + +<p>Among the regiments which sailed was that of James Walsham. +After the fight at Ticonderoga, in which upwards of half of his +force had fallen, the little corps had been broken up, and the men +had returned to duty with their regiments. Owing to the number of +officers who had fallen, James now stood high on the list of +lieutenants. He had had enough of scouting, and was glad to return +to the regiment, his principal regret being that he had to part +from his two trusty scouts.</p> + +<p>There was great joy, in the regiment, when the news was received +that they were to go with the expedition against Quebec. They had +formed part of Wolf''s division at Louisbourg, and, like all who +had served with him, regarded with enthusiasm and confidence the +leader whose frail body seemed wholly incapable of sustaining +fatigue or hardship, but whose indomitable spirit and courage +placed him ever in the front, and set an example which the bravest +of his followers were proud to imitate.</p> + +<p>From time to time, James had received letters from home. +Communication was irregular; but his mother and Mr. Wilks wrote +frequently, and sometimes he received half a dozen letters at once. +He had now been absent from home for four years, and his mother +told him that he would scarcely recognize Aggie, who was now as +tall as herself. Mrs. Walsham said that the girl was almost as +interested as she was in his letters, and in the despatches from +the war, in which his name had several times been mentioned, in +connection with the services rendered by his scouts.</p> + +<p>Richard Horton had twice, during James's absence, returned home. +The squire, Mrs. Walsham said, had received him very coolly, in +consequence of the letter he had written when James was pressed as +a seaman, and she said that Aggie seemed to have taken a great +objection to him. She wondered, indeed, that he could stay an hour +in the house after his reception there; but he seemed as if he +didn't notice it, and took especial pains to try and overcome +Aggie's feeling against him.</p> + +<p>While waiting at the mouth of the Saint Lawrence, Admiral Durell +had succeeded in obtaining pilots to take the fleet up the river. +He had sailed up the river to the point where the difficult +navigation began, and where vessels generally took on board river +pilots. Here he hoisted the French flag at the masthead, and the +pilots, believing the ships to be a French squadron, which had +eluded the watch of the English, came off in their boats, and were +all taken prisoners, and forced, under pain of death, to take the +English vessels safely up.</p> + +<p>The first difficulty of the passage was at Cape Tourmente, where +the channel describes a complete zigzag. Had the French planted +some guns on a plateau, high up on the side of the mountains, they +could have done great damage by a plunging fire; but Vaudreuil had +neglected to take this measure, and the fleet passed up in safety, +the manner in which they were handled and navigated astonishing the +Canadians, who had believed it to be impossible that large ships +could be taken up.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, the whole fleet were anchored off the Island of +Orleans, a few miles below Quebec. The same night, a small party +landed on the island. They were opposed by the armed inhabitants, +but beat them off, and, during the night, the Canadians crossed to +the north shore. The whole army then landed.</p> + +<p>From the end of the island, Wolfe could see the full strength of +the position which he had come to attack. Three or four miles in +front of him, the town of Quebec stood upon its elevated rock. +Beyond rose the loftier height of Cape Diamond, with its redoubts +and parapets. Three great batteries looked threateningly from the +upper rock of Quebec, while three others were placed, near the edge +of the water, in the lower town. On the right was the great camp of +Montcalm, stretching from the Saint Charles, at the foot of the +city walls, to the gorge of the Montmorenci. From the latter point +to the village of Beauport, in the centre of the camp, the front +was covered with earthworks, along the brink of a lofty height; and +from Beauport to the Saint Charles were broad flats of mud, swept +by the fire of redoubts and intrenchments, by the guns of a +floating battery, and by those of the city itself.</p> + +<p>Wolfe could not see beyond Quebec, but, above the city, the +position was even stronger than below. The river was walled by a +range of steeps, often inaccessible, and always so difficult that a +few men could hold an army in check.</p> + +<p>Montcalm was perfectly confident of his ability to resist any +attack which the British might make. Bougainville had long before +examined the position, in view of the possibility of an English +expedition against it, and reported that, with a few intrenchments, +the city would be safe if defended by three or four thousand men. +Sixteen thousand were now gathered there, and Montcalm might well +believe the position to be impregnable.</p> + +<p>He was determined to run no risk, by advancing to give battle, +but to remain upon the defensive till the resources of the English +were exhausted, or till the approach of winter forced them to +retire. His only source of uneasiness lay in the south, for he +feared that Amherst, with his army, might capture Ticonderoga and +advance into the colony, in which case he must weaken his army, by +sending a force to oppose him.</p> + +<p>On the day after the army landed on the island, a sudden and +very violent squall drove several of the ships ashore, and +destroyed many of the flatboats. On the following night, the +sentries at the end of the island saw some vessels coming down the +river. Suddenly these burst into flames. They were the fire ships, +which Vaudreuil had sent down to destroy the fleet. They were +filled with pitch, tar, and all sorts of combustibles, with shell +and grenades mixed up with them, while on their decks were a number +of cannon, crammed to the mouth with grapeshot and musketballs.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for the English, the French naval officer in command +lost his nerve, and set fire to his ship half an hour too soon; the +other captains following his example. This gave the English time to +recover from the first feeling of consternation at seeing the fire +ships, each a pillar of flame, advancing with tremendous explosion +and noise against them. The troops at once got under arms, lest the +French should attack them, while the vessels lowered their boats, +and the sailors rowed up to meet the fire ships. When they neared +them, they threw grapnels on board, and towed them towards land +until they were stranded, and then left them to burn out +undisturbed.</p> + +<p>Finding that it would be impossible to effect a landing, under +the fire of the French guns, Wolfe determined, as a first step, to +seize the height of Point Levi opposite Quebec. From this point he +could fire on the town across the Saint Lawrence, which is, here, +less than a mile wide.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 29th, Monckton's brigade crossed, in the +boats, to Beaumont on the south shore. His advanced guard had a +skirmish with a party of Canadians, but these soon fell back, and +no further opposition was offered to the landing.</p> + +<p>In the morning a proclamation, issued by Wolfe, was posted on +the doors of the parish churches. It called upon the Canadians to +stand neutral in the contest, promising them, if they did so, full +protection to their property and religion; but threatening that, if +they resisted, their houses, goods, and harvest should be +destroyed, and their churches sacked.</p> + +<p>The brigade marched along the river to Point Levi, and drove off +a body of French and Indians posted there, and, the next morning, +began to throw up intrenchments and to form batteries. Wolfe did +not expect that his guns here could do any serious damage to the +fortifications of Quebec. His object was partly to discourage the +inhabitants of the city exposed to his fire, partly to keep up the +spirits of his own troops by setting them to work.</p> + +<p>The guns of Quebec kept up a continual fire against the working +parties, but the batteries continued to rise, and the citizens, +alarmed at the destruction which threatened their houses, asked the +governor to allow them to cross the river, and dislodge the +English. Although he had no belief that they would succeed, he +thought it better to allow them to try. Accordingly, some fifteen +hundred armed citizens, and Canadians from the camp, with a few +Indians, and a hundred volunteers from the regulars, marched up the +river, and crossed on the night of the 12th of July.</p> + +<p>The courage of the citizens evaporated very quickly, now they +were on the same side of the river as the English, although still +three miles from them. In a short time a wild panic seized them. +They rushed back in extreme disorder to their boats, crossed the +river, and returned to Quebec.</p> + +<p>The English guns soon opened, and carried destruction into the +city. In one day eighteen houses, and the cathedral, were burned by +exploding shells; and the citizens soon abandoned their homes, and +fled into the country.</p> + +<p>The destruction of the city, however, even if complete, would +have advanced Wolfe's plans but little. It was a moral blow at the +enemy, but nothing more.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of July, several frigates took their station before +the camp of General Levis, who, with his division of Canadian +militia, occupied the heights along the Saint Lawrence next to the +gorge of Montmorenci. Here they opened fire with shell, and +continued it till nightfall. Owing to the height of the plateau on +which the camp was situated, they did but little damage, but the +intention of Wolfe was simply to keep the enemy occupied and under +arms.</p> + +<p>Towards evening, the troops on the island broke up their camp, +and, leaving a detachment of marines to hold the post, the brigades +of Townshend and Murray, three thousand strong, embarked after +nightfall in the boats of the fleet, and landed a little below the +Montmorenci, At daybreak, they climbed the heights, and, routing a +body of Canadians and Indians who opposed them, gained the plateau +and began to intrench themselves there.</p> + +<p>A company of rangers, supported by the regulars, was sent into +the neighbouring forests; to prevent the parties from cutting +bushes for the fascines, to explore the bank of the Montmorenci, +and, if possible, to discover a ford across the river.</p> + +<p>Levis, with his aide-de-camp, a Jacobite Scotchman named +Johnston, was watching the movements of Wolfe from the heights +above the gorge. Levis believed that no ford existed, but Johnston +found a man who had, only that morning, crossed. A detachment was +at once sent to the place, with orders to intrench themselves, and +Levis posted eleven hundred Canadians, under Repentigny, close by +in support.</p> + +<p>Four hundred Indians passed the ford, and discovered the English +detachment in the forest, and Langlade, their commander, recrossed +the river, and told Repentigny that there was a body of English, in +the forest, who might be destroyed if he would cross at once with +his Canadians. Repentigny sent to Levis, and Levis to Vaudreuil, +then three or four miles distant.</p> + +<p>Before Vaudreuil arrived on the spot, the Indians became +impatient and attacked the rangers; and drove them back, with loss, +upon the regulars, who stood their ground, and repulsed the +assailants. The Indians, however, carried thirty-six scalps across +the ford.</p> + +<p>If Repentigny had advanced when first called upon, and had been +followed by Levis with his whole command, the English might have +suffered a very severe check, for the Canadians were as much +superior to the regulars, in the forest, as the regulars to the +Canadians in the open.</p> + +<p>Vaudreuil called a council of war, but he and Montcalm agreed +not to attack the English, who were, on their part, powerless to +injure them. Wolfe's position on the heights was indeed a dangerous +one. A third of his force was six miles away, on the other side of +the Saint Lawrence, and the detachment on the island was separated +from each by a wide arm of the river. Any of the three were liable +to be attacked and overpowered, before the others could come to its +assistance.</p> + +<p>Wolfe, indeed, was soon well intrenched, but, although safe +against attack, he was powerless to take the offensive. The fact, +however, that he had taken up his position so near their camp, had +discomfited the Canadians, and his battery played, with +considerable effect, on the left of their camp.</p> + +<p>The time passed slowly. The deep and impassable gulf of the +Montmorenci separated the two enemies, but the crests of the +opposite cliffs were within easy gunshot of each other, and men who +showed themselves near the edge ran a strong chance of being hit. +Along the river, from the Montmorenci to Point Levi, continued +fighting went on between the guns of the frigates, and the gunboats +and batteries on shore. The Indians swarmed in the forest, near the +English camp, and constant skirmishing went on between them and the +rangers.</p> + +<p>The steady work of destruction going on in the city of Quebec, +by the fire from Point Levi, and the ceaseless cannonade kept up by +the ships and Wolfe's batteries; added to the inactivity to which +they were condemned, began to dispirit the Canadian militia, and +many desertions took place, the men being anxious to return to +their villages and look after the crops; and many more would have +deserted, had it not been for the persuasion of the priests, and +the fear of being maltreated by the Indians, whom the governor +threatened to let loose upon any who should waver in their +resistance.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of July a fresh move was made by the English. The +French had believed it impossible for any hostile ships to pass the +batteries of Quebec; but, covered by a furious cannonade from Point +Levi, the man of war <em>Sutherland</em>, with a frigate and +several small vessels, aided by a favouring wind, ran up the river +at night and passed above the town. Montcalm at once despatched six +hundred men, under Dumas, to defend the accessible points in the +line of precipices above Quebec, and on the following day, when it +became known that the English had dragged a fleet of boats over +Point Levi, and had launched them above the town, a reinforcement +of several hundreds more was sent to Dumas.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 20th Colonel Carleton, with six hundred men, +rowed eighteen miles up the river, and landed at Pointe aux +Trembles on the north shore. Here, many of the fugitives from +Quebec had taken refuge, and a hundred women, children and old men +were taken prisoners by Carleton, and brought down the next day +with the retiring force. Wolfe entertained the prisoners kindly, +and sent them, on the following day, with a flag of truce into +Quebec.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 28th, the French made another attempt to +burn the English fleet, sending down a large number of schooners, +shallops, and rafts, chained together, and filled, as before, with +combustibles.</p> + +<p>This time, the fire was not applied too soon, and the English +fleet was for some time in great danger, but was again saved by the +sailors, who, in spite of the storm of missiles, vomited out by +cannon, swivels, grenades, shell, and gun and pistol barrels loaded +up to the muzzle, grappled with the burning mass, and towed it on +shore.</p> + +<p>It was now the end of July, and Wolfe was no nearer taking +Quebec than upon the day when he first landed there. In vain he had +tempted Montcalm to attack him. The French general, confident in +the strength of his position, refused to leave it.</p> + +<p>Wolfe therefore determined to attack the camp in front. The plan +was a desperate one, for, after leaving troops enough to hold his +two camps, he had less than five thousand men to attack a position +of commanding strength, where Montcalm could, at an hour's notice, +collect twice as many to oppose him.</p> + +<p>At a spot about a mile above the gorge of the Montmorenci a flat +strip of ground, some two hundred yards wide, lay between the river +and the foot of the precipices, and, at low tide, the river left a +flat of mud, nearly half a mile wide, beyond the dry ground.</p> + +<p>Along the edge of the high-water mark, the French had built +several redoubts. From the river, Wolfe could not see that these +redoubts were commanded by the musketry of the intrenchments along +the edge of the heights above, which also swept with their fire the +whole face of the declivity, which was covered with grass, and was +extremely steep. Wolfe hoped that, if he attacked one of the +redoubts, the French would come down to defend it, and that a +battle might be so brought on; or that, if they did not do so, he +might find a spot where the heights could be stormed with some +chance of success. At low tide, it was possible to ford the mouth +of the Montmorenci, and Wolfe intended that the troops from his +camp, on the heights above that river, should cross here, and +advance along the strand to cooperate with Monckton's brigade, who +were to cross from Point Levi.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 31st of July, the Centurion, of 64 guns; +and two armed transports, each with 14 guns, stood close in to one +of the redoubts, and opened fire upon it; while the English +batteries, from the heights of the Montmorenci, opened fire across +the chasm upon the French lines.</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock, the troops from Point Levi put off in their +boats, and moved across the river, as if they intended to make a +landing between Beauport and the city. For some hours, Montcalm +remained ignorant as to the point on which the English attack was +to be made, but became presently convinced that it would be +delivered near the Montmorenci, and he massed the whole of his army +on that flank of his position.</p> + +<p>At half-past five o'clock the tide was low, and the English +boats dashed forward, and the troops sprang ashore on to the broad +tract of mud, left bare by the tide; while, at the same moment, a +column 2000 strong moved down from the height towards the ford at +the mouth of the Montmorenci. The first to land were thirteen +companies of Grenadiers, and a detachment of Royal Americans, who, +without waiting for the two regiments of Monckton's brigade, dashed +forward against the redoubt at the foot of the hill. The French at +once abandoned it, but the Grenadiers had no sooner poured into it, +than a storm of bullets rained down upon them, from the troops who +lined the heights above.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation, the Grenadiers and Americans +dashed forward, and strove to climb the steep ascent, swept as it +was by a terrific hail of bullets and buckshot from the French and +Canadians. Numbers rolled, dead or wounded, to the bottom of the +hill, but the others struggled on.</p> + +<p>But at this moment, the cloud, which had been threatening all +day, suddenly opened, and the rain poured down in a torrent. The +grassy slopes instantly became so slippery that it was absolutely +impossible to climb them, and the fire from above died away, as the +wet rendered the firelocks unserviceable.</p> + +<p>The Grenadiers fell back into the redoubt. Wolfe, who had now +arrived upon the spot, saw that it was absolutely impossible to +carry the heights under the present conditions, and ordered the +troops to retreat. Carrying off many of the wounded with them, they +fell back in good order. Those of the Grenadiers and Americans who +survived recrossed, in their boats, to the island; the 15th +Regiment rowed back to Point Levi; and the 78th Highlanders, who +belonged to Monckton's brigade, joined the column from below the +Montmorenci, and slowly retired along the flats and across the +ford.</p> + +<p>The loss fell entirely upon the Grenadiers and Americans, and +was, in proportion to their number, enormous--four hundred and +forty-three, including one colonel, eight captains, twenty-one +lieutenants, and three ensigns, being killed, wounded, or missing. +The blow to the English was a severe one, and even Wolfe began to +despair, and meditated leaving a portion of his troops on Isle aux +Coudres and fortifying them there, and sailing home, with the rest, +to prepare another expedition in the following year.</p> + +<p>In the middle of August, he issued a third proclamation to the +Canadians, declaring, as they had refused his offers of protection, +and had practised the most unchristian barbarity against his troops +on all occasions, he could no longer refrain, in justice to himself +and his army, in chastising them as they deserved. The barbarities +consisted in the frequent scalping and mutilating of sentinels, and +men on outpost duty, which were perpetrated alike by the Canadians +and Indians.</p> + +<p>Wolfe's object was twofold: first, to cause the militia to +desert, and secondly, to exhaust the colony. Accordingly the +rangers, light infantry and Highlanders were sent out, in all +directions, to waste the settlements wherever resistance was +offered. Farm houses and villages were laid in ashes, although the +churches were generally spared. Wolfe's orders were strict that +women and children were to be treated with honour.</p> + +<p>"If any violence is offered to a woman, the offender shall be +punished with death."</p> + +<p>These orders were obeyed, and, except in one instance, none but +armed men, in the act of resistance, were killed.</p> + +<p>Vaudreuil, in his despatches home, loudly denounced these +barbarities; but he himself was answerable for atrocities +incomparably worse, and on a far larger scale, for he had, for +years, sent his savages, red and white, along a frontier of 600 +miles, to waste, burn, and murder at will, and these, as he was +perfectly aware, spared neither age nor sex.</p> + +<p>Montcalm was not to be moved from his position by the sight of +the smoke of the burning villages. He would not risk the loss of +all Canada, for the sake of a few hundred farm houses.</p> + +<p>Seeing the impossibility of a successful attack below the town, +Wolfe determined to attempt operations on a large scale above it. +Accordingly, with every fair wind and tide, ships and transports +ran the gauntlet of the batteries of Quebec, and, covered by a hot +fire from Point Levi, generally succeeded, with more or less +damage, in getting above the town. A fleet of flatboats was also +sent up, and 1200 troops marched overland, under Brigadier Murray, +to embark in them.</p> + +<p>To meet this danger above the town, Bougainville was sent from +the camp at Beaufort with 1500 men. Murray made another descent at +Pointe-aux-Trembles, but was repulsed with loss. He tried a second +time at another place, but a body of ambushed Canadians poured so +heavy a fire into the boats, that he was forced to fall back again +with considerable loss. His third attempt was more successful, for +he landed at Deschambault, and burned a large building filled with +stores, and with all the spare baggage of the officers of the +French regular troops.</p> + +<p>Vaudreuil now regretted having sent the French frigates up the +river, and withdrawing their crews to work in the batteries. Had +they been kept just above the town, they could have overpowered the +English vessels as they passed up. The sailors were now sent up to +man their ships again; but Admiral Holmes, who had taken command of +the ships of war above Quebec, was already too strong for them, and +the sailors were recalled to Quebec.</p> + +<p>Both armies were suffering. Dysentery and fever had broken out +in the English camp, and the number of effective men was greatly +reduced. Upon the other hand, the French were suffering from +shortness of supplies. The English frigates above the town +prevented food being brought down from Montreal in boats, and the +difficulties of land carriage were very great.</p> + +<p>The Canadians deserted in great numbers, and Montcalm's force +had been weakened by the despatch of Levis, to assist in checking +the advance of Amherst. The latter had captured Ticonderoga and +Crown Point. Niagara had also been taken by the English. Amherst, +however, fell back again, and Levis was able to rejoin +Montcalm.</p> + +<p>But the greatest misfortune which befell the English was the +dangerous illness of Wolfe, who, always suffering from disease, was +for a time utterly prostrate. At the end of August, however, he +partially recovered, and dictated a letter to his three brigadier +generals, asking them to fix upon one of three plans, which he laid +before them, for attacking the enemy. The first was that the army +should march eight or ten miles up the Montmorenci, ford the river, +and fall upon the rear of the enemy. The second was to cross the +ford at the mouth of the Montmorenci, and march along the shore, +until a spot was found where the heights could be climbed. The +third was to make a general attack from the boats upon +Beauport.</p> + +<p>Monckton, Townshend, and Murray met in consultation, and +considered all the plans to be hopeless; but they proposed that an +attempt should be made to land above the town, and so to place the +army between Quebec and its base of supplies, thereby forcing +Montcalm to fight or to surrender.</p> + +<p>The attempt seemed a desperate one, but Wolfe determined to +adopt it. He had not much hope of its succeeding, but should it not +do so, there was nothing for him but to sail, with his weakened +army, back to England. He therefore determined at last to make the +attempt, and implored his physician to patch him up, so that he +could, in person, take the command.</p> + +<p>"I know perfectly well that you cannot cure me," he wrote; "but +pray make me up, so that I may be without pain for a few days, and +able to do my duty. That is all I want."</p> + +<p>On the 3rd of September, Wolfe took the first steps towards the +carrying out of his plans, by evacuating the camp at Montmorenci. +Montcalm sent a strong force to attack him, as he was moving; but +Monckton at Point Levi saw the movement, and, embarking two +battalions in boats, made a feint of landing at Beauport. Montcalm +recalled his troops to repulse the threatened attack, and the +English were able to draw off from Montmorenci without +molestation.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 4th, a fleet of flatboats passed above the +town, with the baggage and stores. On the 5th the infantry marched +up by land, and the united force, of some 3600 men, embarked on +board the ships of Admiral Holmes.</p> + +<p>The French thought that the abandonment of Montmorenci, and the +embarkation of the troops, was a sign that the English were about +to abandon their enterprise, and sail for England. Nevertheless, +Montcalm did not relax his vigilance, being ever on the watch, +riding from post to post, to see that all was in readiness to repel +an attack. In one of his letters at this time, he mentioned that he +had not taken off his clothes since the 23d of June.</p> + +<p>He now reinforced the troops under Bougainville, above Quebec, +to 3000 men. He had little fear for the heights near the town, +believing them to be inaccessible, and that a hundred men could +stop a whole army. This he said, especially, in reference to the +one spot which presented at least a possibility of being scaled. +Here Captain de Vergor, with a hundred Canadian troops, were +posted. The battalion of Guienne had been ordered to encamp close +at hand, and the post, which was called Anse du Foulon, was but a +mile and a half distant from Quebec. Thus, although hoping that the +English would soon depart, the French, knowing the character of +Wolfe, made every preparation against a last attack before he +started.</p> + +<p>From the 7th to the 12th, Holmes' fleet sailed up and down the +river, threatening a landing, now at one point and now at another, +wearing out the French, who were kept night and day on the <em>qui +vive</em>, and were exhausted by following the ships up and down, +so as to be ready to oppose a landing wherever it might be +made.</p> + +<p>James Walsham's regiment formed part of Monckton's brigade, and +his colonel had frequently selected him to command parties who went +out to the Canadian villages, as, from the knowledge he had +acquired of irregular warfare, he could be trusted not to suffer +himself to be surprised by the parties of Canadians or Indians, who +were always on the watch to cut off detachments sent out from the +British camp. There were still ten men in the regiment who had +formed part of his band on the lakes. These were drafted into his +company, and, whatever force went out, they always accompanied +him.</p> + +<p>Although James had seen much, and heard more, of the terrible +barbarities perpetrated by the Canadians and their Indian allies on +the frontier, he lamented much the necessity which compelled Wolfe +to order the destruction of Canadian villages; and when engaged on +this service, whether in command of the detachment, or as a +subaltern if more than one company went out, he himself never +superintended the painful work; but, with his ten men, scouted +beyond the village, and kept a vigilant lookout against surprise. +In this way, he had several skirmishes with the Canadians, but the +latter never succeeded in surprising any force to which he was +attached. Walsham and his scouts were often sent out with parties +from other regiments, and General Monckton was so pleased with his +vigilance and activity, that he specially mentioned him to General +Wolfe, at the same time telling him of the services he had +performed on the lakes, and the very favourable reports which had +been made by Johnson, Monro, Lord Howe, and Abercromby, of the work +done by the corps which he had organized and commanded.</p> + +<p>"I wish we had a few more officers trained to this sort of +warfare," General Wolfe said. "Send him on board the +<em>Sutherland</em> tomorrow. I have some service which he is well +fitted to carry out."</p> + +<p>James accordingly repaired on board the <em>Sutherland</em>, and +was conducted to the general's cabin.</p> + +<p>"General Monckton has spoken to me in high terms of you, +Lieutenant Walsham, and he tells me that you have been several +times mentioned in despatches, by the generals under whom you +served; and you were with Braddock as well as with Johnson, Howe, +and Abercromby, and with Monro at the siege of Fort William Henry. +How is it that so young an officer should have seen so much +service?"</p> + +<p>James informed him how, having been pressed on board a man of +war, he had been discharged, in accordance with orders from home, +and, hearing that his friends were going to obtain a commission for +him, in a regiment under orders for America, he had thought it best +to utilize his time by accompanying General Braddock as a +volunteer, in order to learn something of forest warfare; that, +after that disastrous affair, he had served with Johnson in a +similar capacity, until, on his regiment arriving, he had been +selected to drill a company of scouts, and had served with them on +the lakes, until the corps was broken up when the regiment sailed +for Canada.</p> + +<p>"In fact, you have seen more of this kind of warfare than any +officer in the army," General Wolfe said. "Your special services +ought to have been recognized before. I shall have you put in +orders, tomorrow, as promoted to the rank of captain. And now, I am +about to employ you upon a service which, if you are successful, +will give you your brevet majority.</p> + +<p>"There must be some points at which those precipices can be +climbed. I want you to find out where they are. It is a service of +great danger. You will go in uniform, otherwise, if caught, you +would meet with the fate of a spy; but at the same time, even in +uniform you would probably meet with but little mercy, if you fell +into the hands of the Canadians or Indians. Would you be willing to +undertake such a duty?"</p> + +<p>"I will try, sir," James said. "Do you wish me to start +tonight?"</p> + +<p>"No," the general replied. "You had better think the matter +over, and let me know tomorrow how you had best proceed. It is not +an enterprise to be undertaken without thinking it over in every +light. You will have to decide whether you will go alone, or take +anyone with you; when and how you will land; how you will regain +the ships. You will, of course, have carte blanche in all +respects."</p> + +<p>After James had returned on shore, he thought the matter over in +every light. He knew that the French had many sentries along the +edge of the river, for boats which, at night, went over towards +that side of the river, were always challenged and fired upon. The +chance of landing undetected, therefore, seemed but slight; nor, +even did he land, would he be likely, at night, to discover the +paths, which could be little more than tracks up the heights.</p> + +<p>Had he been able to speak Canadian French, the matter would have +been easy enough, as he could have landed higher up the river and, +dressed as a Canadian farmer, have made his way through the French +lines without suspicion. But he knew nothing of French, and, even +had he spoken the language fluently, there was sufficient +difference between the Canadian French and the language of the old +country, for the first Canadian who spoke to him to have detected +the difference.</p> + +<p>Nor could he pass as an Indian; for, although he had picked up +enough of the language to converse with the redskin allies of the +English on the lakes, the first Indian who spoke to him would +detect the difference; and, indeed, it needed a far more intimate +acquaintance with the various tribes, than he possessed, for him to +be able to paint and adorn himself so as to deceive the vigilant +eyes of the French Indians.</p> + +<p>Had his two followers, Nat and Jonathan, been with him, they +could have painted and dressed him so that he could have passed +muster, but, in their absence, he abandoned the idea as out of the +question. The prospect certainly did not seem hopeful.</p> + +<p>After long thought, it seemed to him that the only way which +promised even a chance of success would be for him to be taken +prisoner by the French soldiers. Once fairly within their lines, +half the difficulty was over. He had learned to crawl as +noiselessly as an Indian, and he doubted not that he should be able +to succeed in getting away from any place of confinement in which +they might place him. Then he could follow the top of the heights, +and the position of the sentries or of any body of men encamped +there would, in itself, be a guide to him as to the existence of +paths to the strand below.</p> + +<p>The first step was the most difficult. How should he manage to +get himself taken prisoner? And this was the more difficult, as it +was absolutely necessary that he should fall into the hands of +French regulars, and not of the Canadians, who would finish the +matter at once by killing and scalping him.</p> + +<p>The next morning, he again went off to the <em>Sutherland</em>. +He was in high spirits, for his name had appeared in orders as +captain, and as appointed assistant quartermaster general on the +headquarter staff. On entering the general's cabin, he thanked him +for the promotion.</p> + +<p>"You have earned it over and over again," the general said. +"There are no thanks due to me. Now, have you thought out a +plan?"</p> + +<p>James briefly stated the difficulties which he perceived in the +way of any other scheme than that of getting himself taken prisoner +by the French, and showed that that was the only plan that seemed +to offer even a chance of success.</p> + +<p>"But you may not be able to escape," Wolfe said.</p> + +<p>"I may not," James replied, "and in that case, sir, I must of +course remain a prisoner until you take Quebec, or I am exchanged. +Even then you would be no worse off than you are at present, for I +must, of course, be taken prisoner at some point where the French +are in force, and where you do not mean to land. My presence there +would give them no clue whatever to your real intentions, whereas, +were I taken prisoner anywhere along the shore, they would +naturally redouble their vigilance, as they would guess that I was +looking for some way of ascending the heights."</p> + +<p>"How do you propose being taken?" Wolfe asked.</p> + +<p>"My idea was," James replied, "that I should land with a party +near Cap Rouge, as if to reconnoitre the French position there. We +should, of course, be speedily discovered, and would then retreat +to the boats. I should naturally be the last to go, and might well +manage to be cut off."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Wolfe replied, "but you might also, and that far more +easily, manage to get shot. I don't think that would do, Captain +Walsham. The risks would be twenty to one against your escaping +being shot. Can you think of no other plan?"</p> + +<p>"The only other plan that I can think of," James said, "might +involve others being taken prisoners. I might row in towards Cap +Rouge in broad daylight, as if to examine the landing place, and +should, of course, draw their fire upon the boat. Before starting, +I should fire two or three shots into the boat close to the water +line, and afterwards plug them up with rags. Then, when their fire +became heavy, I should take the plugs out and let the boat fill. As +she did so, I could shout that I surrendered, and then we could +drift till we neared the shore in the water-logged boat, or swim +ashore. I can swim well myself, and should, of course, want four +men, who could swim well also, picked out as the crew."</p> + +<p>"The plan is a dangerous one," Wolfe said, "but less so than the +other."</p> + +<p>"One cannot win a battle without risking life, sir," James said +quietly. "Some of us might, of course, be hit, but as we risk our +lives whenever we get within range of the enemy, I do not see that +that need be considered; at any rate, sir, I am ready to make the +attempt, if the plan has your approval."</p> + +<p>"I tell you frankly, Captain Walsham, that I think your chances +of success are absolutely nil. At the same time, there is just a +faint possibility that you may get ashore alive, escape from the +French, discover a pathway, and bring me the news; and, as the only +chance of the expedition being successful now depends upon our +discovering such a path, I am not justified in refusing even this +faint chance."</p> + +<p>The general touched a bell which stood on the table before +him.</p> + +<p>"Will you ask the captain to come here," he said to the officer +who answered the summons.</p> + +<p>"Captain Peters," he said when the captain appeared, "I want you +to pick out for me four men, upon whom you can thoroughly rely. In +the first place they must be good swimmers, in the second place +they must be able to hold their tongues, and lastly they must be +prepared to pass some months in a French prison. A midshipman, with +the same qualifications, will be required to go with them."</p> + +<p>The captain naturally looked surprised at so unusual a +request.</p> + +<p>"Captain Walsham is going to be taken prisoner by the French," +General Wolfe explained, "and the only way it can be done is for a +whole boat's crew to be taken with him," and he then detailed the +plan which had been arranged. "Of course, you can offer the men any +reward you may think fit, and can promise the midshipman early +promotion," he concluded.</p> + +<p>"Very well, general. I have no doubt I can find four men and a +midshipman willing to volunteer for the affair, especially as, if +you succeed, their imprisonment will be a short one. When will the +attempt be made?"</p> + +<p>"If you can drift up the river as far as Cap Rouge before +daylight," James said, in answer to an inquiring look from the +general, "we will attempt it tomorrow morning. I should say that +the best plan would be for me to appear opposite their camp when +day breaks, as if I was trying to obtain a close view of it in the +early morning."</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better," General Wolfe said. "Every day is of +importance. But how do you propose to get back again, that is, +supposing that everything goes well?"</p> + +<p>"I propose, general, that I should conceal myself somewhere on +the face of the heights. I will spread a handkerchief against a +rock or tree, so that it will not be seen either from above or +below, but will be visible from the ships in the river. I cannot +say, of course, whether it will be near Cap Rouge or Quebec; but, +if you will have a sharp lookout kept through a glass, as the ships +drift up and down, you are sure to see it, and can let me know that +you do so by dipping the ensign. At night I will make my way down +to the shore, and if, at midnight exactly, you will send a boat for +me, I shall be ready to swim off to her, when they show a lantern +as they approach the shore. Of course, I cannot say on what day I +may be in a position to show the signal, but at, any rate, if a +week passes without your seeing it, you will know that I have +failed to make my escape, or that I have been killed after getting +out."</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: A Dangerous Expedition.</h2> + +<p>The details of the proposed expedition being thus arranged, the +captain left the cabin with James, and the latter paced to and fro +on the quarterdeck, while the captain sent for the boatswain and +directed him to pick out four men who could swim well, and who were +ready to volunteer for desperate service.</p> + +<p>While the captain was so engaged, James saw a naval officer +staring fixedly at him. He recognized him instantly, though more +than four years had elapsed since he had last seen him. He at once +stepped across the quarterdeck.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Lieutenant Horton? It is a long time since we last +parted on the Potomac."</p> + +<p>Horton would have refused the proffered hand, but he had already +injured himself very sorely, in the eyes of the squire, by his +outburst of ill feeling against James, so he shook hands and said +coldly:</p> + +<p>"Yes, your position has changed since then."</p> + +<p>"Yes," James said with a laugh, "but that was only a temporary +eclipse. That two months before the mast was a sort of interlude +for which I am deeply thankful. Had it not been for my getting into +that smuggling scrape, I should have been, at the present moment, +commencing practice as a doctor, instead of being a captain in his +majesty's service."</p> + +<p>The words were not calculated to improve Horton's temper. What a +mistake he had made! Had he interfered on James Walsham's +behalf--and a word from him, saying that James was the son of a +medical man, and was assuredly mixed up in this smuggling affair +only by accident--he would have been released. He had not spoken +that word, and the consequence was, he had himself fallen into bad +odour with the squire, and James Walsham, instead of drudging away +as a country practitioner, was an officer of rank equal to himself, +for he, as second lieutenant in the <em>Sutherland</em>, ranked +with a captain in the army.</p> + +<p>Not only this, but whenever he went to Sidmouth he had heard how +James had been mentioned in the despatches, and how much he was +distinguishing himself. Everything seemed to combine against him. +He had hated James Walsham from the day when the latter had +thrashed him, and had acted as Aggie's champion against him. He had +hated him more, when he found Aggie installed as the squire's +heiress, and saw how high James stood in her good graces, and that +he had been taken up by the squire.</p> + +<p>He had hoped that he had gained the advantage over him, when he +had come back a naval officer, while James was still a schoolboy, +and had kept aloof from the house while he devoted himself to the +young heiress. Everything had seemed going on well with his plans, +until the very circumstance which, at the time, seemed so +opportune, namely, the pressing James as a seaman on board the +<em>Thetis</em>, had turned out so disastrous. The letter, in which +he had suffered his exultation to appear, had angered the squire, +had set Mrs. Walsham and her friend the ex-sergeant against him, +and had deeply offended Aggie. It had, too, enabled the squire to +take instant measures for procuring James's discharge, and had now +placed the latter in a position equal to his own.</p> + +<p>James, on his part, did not like Richard Horton, but he felt no +active animosity against him. He had got the best of it in that +first quarrel of theirs, and, although he had certainly felt very +sore and angry, at the time Richard was staying at the Hall, and +seemed to have taken his place altogether as Aggie's friend, this +feeling had long since died away, for he knew, from the letters of +Mr. Wilks, that Aggie had no liking whatever for Richard +Horton.</p> + +<p>"You were at Sidmouth in the spring, I heard," he said. "You +found my mother looking well, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was there a fortnight before we sailed," Richard said. +"I think she was looking about as usual."</p> + +<p>For a few minutes, they talked in a stiff and somewhat +constrained tone, for Richard could not bring himself to speak +cordially to this man, whom he regarded as a dangerous rival. +Presently, the captain came up to them.</p> + +<p>"I have picked four volunteers for your work, Captain Walsham. +They were somewhat surprised, at first, to find that they were +required for a bout in a French prison; but sailors are always +ready for any hare-brained adventure, and they made no objection +whatever, when I explained what they would have to do. Next to +fighting a Frenchman, there's nothing a sailor likes so much as +taking him in. Young Middleton goes in command of the boat. He is a +regular young pickle, and is as pleased at the prospect as if a +French prison were the most amusing place in the world. He knows, +of course, that there will be some considerable danger of his being +shot before he is taken prisoner; but I need hardly say that the +danger adds to the interest of the scheme. It's a risky business +you have undertaken, Captain Walsham, terribly risky; but, if you +succeed, you will have saved the expedition from turning out a +failure, and we shall all be under obligations to you for the rest +of our lives.</p> + +<p>"Has Captain Walsham told you what he is undertaking, Mr. +Horton?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"He is going to get taken prisoner, in the gig, in order that he +may, if possible, give the French the slip again, find out some way +down that line of cliffs, and so enable the general to get into the +heart of the French expedition. It is a grand scheme, but a risky +one.</p> + +<p>"The chances are a hundred to one against you, Captain +Walsham."</p> + +<p>"That is just what the general said," James replied, with a +smile. "I don't think, myself, they are more than five to one +against me; but, even if they were a thousand, it would be worth +trying, for a thousand lives would be cheaply sacrificed to ensure +the success of this expedition."</p> + +<p>"There are not many men who would like to try it," the captain +said. "I say honestly I shouldn't, myself. Anything in the nature +of duty, whether it's laying your ship alongside a Frenchman of +twice her weight of metal, or a boat expedition to cut out a +frigate from under the guns of the battery, I should be ready to +take my share in; but an expedition like yours, to be carried out +alone, in cold blood and in the dark, I should have no stomach for. +I don't want to discourage you, and I honour your courage in +undertaking it; but I am heartily glad that the general did not +propose to me, instead of to you, to undertake it."</p> + +<p>"You would have done it if he had, sir," James said, smiling, +"and so would any officer of this expedition. I consider myself +most highly honoured in the general entrusting me with the mission. +Besides, you must remember that it is not so strange, to me, as it +would be to most men. I have been for four years engaged in forest +warfare, scouting at night in the woods, and keeping my ears open +to the slightest sound which might tell of a skulking redskin being +at hand. My eyes have become so accustomed to darkness, that, +although still very far short of those of the Indians, I can see +plainly where one unaccustomed to such work would see nothing. I am +accustomed to rely upon my own senses, to step noiselessly, or to +crawl along on the ground like an Indian. Therefore, you see, to me +this enterprise does not present itself in the same light as it +naturally would to you."</p> + +<p>"You may make light of it," the captain said, "but it's a +dangerous business, look at it as you will. Well, if you go through +it safely, Captain Walsham, you will be the hero of this +campaign."</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon the tide turned, and the vessels began to +drift up the river. The four sailors had, of course, mentioned to +their comrades the service upon which they were about to be +engaged. The captain had not thought it necessary to enjoin secrecy +upon them, for there was no communication with the shore, no fear +of the knowledge spreading beyond the ship; besides, the boat had +to be damaged, and this alone would tell the sailors, when she was +lowered in the water, that she was intended to be captured.</p> + +<p>A marine was called up to where the captain's gig was hanging +from the davits. James pointed out a spot just below the waterline, +and the man, standing a yard or two away, fired at it, the ball +making a hole through both sides of the boat. Another shot was +fired two or three inches higher, and the four holes were then +plugged up with oakum.</p> + +<p>All was now in readiness for the attempt. James dined with +Captain Peters, the first lieutenant and four officers of the +general's staff being also present, General Wolfe himself being too +ill to be at table, and Admiral Holmes having, early in the +morning, gone down the river to confer with Admiral Saunders.</p> + +<p>"I drink good health and a safe return to you, Captain Walsham, +for our sake as well as yours. As a general thing, when an officer +is chosen for dangerous service, he is an object of envy by all his +comrades; but, for once, I do not think anyone on board would care +to undertake your mission."</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, your little midshipman is delighted at going with me. +He and I have been chatting the matter over, and he is in the +highest glee."</p> + +<p>"Ah! He has only got the first chance of being shot at," Captain +Peters said. "That comes in the line of duty, and I hope there +isn't an officer on board a ship but would volunteer, at once, for +that service. But your real danger only begins when his ends.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he asked, as, after dinner was over, he was +walking up and down the quarterdeck, talking to James, "have you +and Lieutenant Horton met before? I thought you seemed to know each +other when I came up, but, since then I have noticed that, while +all the other officers of the ship have been chatting with you, he +has kept aloof."</p> + +<p>"We knew each other at home, sir," James said, "but we were +never very good friends. Our acquaintanceship commenced, when we +were boys, with a fight. I got the best of it, and Horton has +never, I think, quite forgiven me."</p> + +<p>"I don't like the young fellow," Captain Peters said shortly. "I +know he was not popular in the <em>Thetis</em>, and they say he +showed the white feather out in the East. I wouldn't have had him +on board, but the first lord asked me, as a personal favour, to +take him. I have had no reason to complain of him, since he joined, +but I know that he is no more popular, among my other officers, +than he was in the <em>Thetis</em>."</p> + +<p>"I never heard a word against him, sir," James said earnestly. +"His uncle, Mr. Linthorne, has large estates near Sidmouth, and has +been the kindest friend to me and mine. At one time, it was thought +that Horton would be his heir, but a granddaughter, who had for +years been missing, was found; but still Horton will take, I should +think, a considerable slice of the property, and it would grieve +the squire, terribly, if Horton failed in his career. I think it's +only a fault of manners, sir, if I may say so, and certainly I +myself know nothing whatever against him."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Captain Peters replied thoughtfully. "Just +before I sailed, I happened to meet an old friend, and over our +dinner I mentioned the names of my officers. He told me he knew +this Mr. Linthorne well, and that Horton had gone to sea with him +for the first time as a midshipman, and that there was certainly +something queer about him as a boy, for Linthorne had specially +asked him to keep his eye upon him, and had begged him, frankly, to +let him know how he conducted himself. That rather set me against +him, you know."</p> + +<p>"I don't think that was anything," James urged. "I do not much +like Horton, but I should not like you to have a false impression +of him. It was a mere boyish affair, sir--in fact, it was connected +with that fight with me. I don't think he gave a very strictly +accurate account of it, and his uncle, who in some matters is very +strict, although one of the kindest of men, took the thing up, and +sent him away to sea. Horton was certainly punished severely +enough, for that stupid business, without its counting against him +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"I like the way you speak up in his defence, Captain Walsham, +especially as you frankly say you don't like him, and henceforth I +will dismiss the affair from my mind, but I should say that he has +never forgiven it, although you may have done so."</p> + +<p>"That's natural enough," James laughed, "because I came best out +of it."</p> + +<p>To Richard Horton, the news that James Walsham was about to +undertake a desperate enterprise, which, if he succeeded in it, +would bring him great honour and credit, was bitter in the extreme, +and the admiration expressed by the other officers, at his courage +in undertaking it, added to his anger and disgust. He walked +moodily up and down the quarterdeck all the afternoon, to think the +matter over, and at each moment his fury increased. Could he in any +way have put a stop to the adventure, he would instantly have done +so, but there was no possible way of interfering.</p> + +<p>The thought that annoyed him most was of the enthusiasm with +which the news of the successful termination of the enterprise +would be received at Sidmouth. Already, as he knew, Aggie regarded +James as a hero, and the squire was almost as proud of his mention +in despatches as if he had been his own son; but for this he cared +but little. It was Aggie's good opinion Richard Horton desired to +gain. James Walsham still thought of her as the girl of twelve he +had last seen, but Richard Horton knew her as almost a woman, and, +although at first he had resolved to marry her as his uncle's +heiress, he now really cared for her for herself.</p> + +<p>On the visit before James had left home, Richard had felt +certain that his cousin liked him; but, since that time, he had not +only made no progress, but he felt that he had lost rather than +gained ground. The girl was always friendly with him, but it was +the cool friendliness of a cousin, and, somehow, Richard +instinctively felt James Walsham was the cause.</p> + +<p>In vain he had angrily told himself that it was absurd to +suppose that his cousin could care for this fellow, whom she had +only seen as an awkward boy, who had been content to stop away from +the house, and never go near her for weeks. Still, though he told +himself it was absurd, he knew that it was so. When the +conversation happened to turn upon James, she seldom took any part +in it; but Richard knew that it was not from indifference as to the +subject. There was a soft flush on her cheek, a light in her eyes, +which he had never been able to call up; and, many a time, he had +ground his teeth in silent rage, when the squire and Mr. Wilks were +discussing the news received in James's last letter, and expressing +their hopes that, ere long, he would be back from foreign +service.</p> + +<p>Although by no means fond of encountering danger, Richard felt +that he would gladly pick an open quarrel with the man he regarded +as his rival, and shoot him like a dog--for in those days, duels +were matters of everyday occurrence--but there was no possibility +of doing this, at the present juncture; and, moreover, he knew that +this would be the worst possible way of ridding himself of him; +for, were James to fall by his hands, his chances of winning Aggie +would be hopelessly extinguished.</p> + +<p>"No," he said to himself, "that is out of the question; but I +will do something. Come what may, he shall never go back to +Sidmouth."</p> + +<p>The squadron drifted up beyond Cap Rouge, and anchored, at the +top of the flood, an hour before daybreak. The gig was lowered, and +James Walsham, amid many good wishes and hearty farewells from the +officers, took his place in her, by the side of the midshipman.</p> + +<p>"Look out for my signal," he said. "Any time, after today, you +may see it."</p> + +<p>"We will see it if you make it, my boy," said the captain, who +had come on deck to see him off. "Don't you fear about that. If you +make your signal, you may rely upon it, our boat will be ashore for +you that night."</p> + +<p>Another moment, and the boat pulled away from the side of the +ship.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy, lads," young Middleton said, "only just dip your +oars in the water. We have but three miles to row, with the stream, +and don't want to be there till the day begins to show."</p> + +<p>The oars had been muffled, and, noiselessly, the boat dropped +down the stream, until she neared Cap Rouge, then they rowed in +towards the French shore. The day was just beginning to break, in +the east, as they neared the spot where the French camp was +situated. It stood high up on the plateau; but there were a small +number of tents on the low ground, by the river, as some batteries +had been erected here. They were but two hundred yards from the +shore when a French sentry challenged. They gave no answer, and the +soldier at once fired.</p> + +<p>"Keep about this distance out," James ordered. "Row quietly. I +will stand up, as if I were watching the shore."</p> + +<p>As soon as the shot was fired, it was answered by shots from +other sentries. A minute later, a drum was heard to beat sharply, +and then, in the faint light, a number of French soldiers could be +seen, running at full speed towards the shore. The shots fell +thickly round the boat, and one of the men dropped his oar, as a +bullet struck him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Pull out the plugs," James said.</p> + +<p>The oakum was pulled out and thrown overboard, and the water +rushed in.</p> + +<p>"Now turn her head from the shore, as if we were trying to +escape."</p> + +<p>So rapidly did the water rush in through the four holes that, in +a minute, the gunwale was nearly level with the water.</p> + +<p>"Turn her over now," James said, and in a moment the boat was +upset, and the men clinging to the bottom.</p> + +<p>A shout of exultation rose from the shore, as the boat was seen +to upset, and the firing at once ceased.</p> + +<p>"Swim towards the shore, and push the boat before you," the +young midshipman said. "They won't fire any more now, and we have +finished the first part of our business."</p> + +<p>Pushing the boat before them, the men made their way slowly +towards the shore, striking the land half a mile below the point +where they had overturned. The French soldiers had followed them +down the bank, and surrounded them as they landed. The holes in the +boat explained for themselves the cause of the disaster.</p> + +<p>An officer stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"You are our prisoners," he said to James.</p> + +<p>The latter bowed.</p> + +<p>"It is the fortune of war," he said. "Your men are better shots +than I gave them credit for," and he pointed to the holes in the +boat.</p> + +<p>He spoke in English, but the officer guessed his meaning.</p> + +<p>Some of the Indians and Canadians soon came flocking down, and, +with angry gestures, demanded that the prisoners should be shot; +but the French officer waived them off, and placed a strong guard +of his own men around them, to prevent their being touched by the +Indians. The young midshipman spoke French fluently, having been +specially selected by the captain for that reason; but it had been +agreed, between him and James, that he should not betray his +knowledge of the language, as he might, thereby, pick up +information which might be useful.</p> + +<p>They were at once conducted before Bougainville.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak French?" he asked.</p> + +<p>James shook his head. The midshipman looked as if he had not +understood the question.</p> + +<p>"It is clear," the French officer said to those standing around +him, "that they came in to reconnoitre the landing place, and +thought, in the dim light, they could run the gauntlet of our +sentries' fire. It was more accurate than they gave them credit +for."</p> + +<p>"The boat was struck twice, you say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, general," the officer who conducted them into the tent +replied. "Two balls right through her, and one of the men was hit +on the shoulder."</p> + +<p>"The reconnaissance looks as if Wolfe meant to attempt a landing +here," Bougainville said. "We must keep a sharp lookout. I will +send them on to Quebec, for the general to question them. He will +find someone there who speaks their language. I will send, at once, +to tell him we have captured them. But I can't very well do so, +till we have a convoy going, with regulars to guard it. If they +were to go in charge of Canadians, the chances of their arriving +alive in Quebec would be slight.</p> + +<p>"Let the sailors be placed in a tent in your lines, Chateaudun, +and place a sentry over them, to see that the Indians don't get at +them. The two officers can have the tent that Le Boeuf gave up +yesterday. You can put a sentry there, but they can go in and out +as they like. There is no fear of their trying to escape; for, if +they once went outside the lines of the regulars, the Indians and +Canadians would make short work of them."</p> + +<p>The officer led James and the midshipman to a tent in the staff +lines, whose owner had ridden to Quebec, on the previous night, +with despatches, and motioned to them that it was to be theirs. He +also made signs to them that they could move about as they chose; +but significantly warned them, by a gesture, that if they ventured +beyond the tents, the Indians would make short work of them.</p> + +<p>For a time, the prisoners made no attempt to leave the tent, for +the Indians stood scowling at a short distance off, and would have +entered, had not the sentry on duty prevented them from doing +so.</p> + +<p>"Do not talk too loudly," James said. "It is probable that, in a +camp like this, there is someone who understands English. Very +likely they are playing the same game with us that we are with +them. They pretend there is no one who can speak to us; but, very +likely, there may be someone standing outside now, trying to listen +to what we say."</p> + +<p>Then, raising his voice he went on:</p> + +<p>"What abominable luck I have! Who could have reckoned upon the +boat being hit, twice, at that distance? I thought we had fairly +succeeded. The general will be in a nice way, when he finds we +don't come back."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Middleton rejoined, "and to think that we are likely to +spend the winter in prison, at Quebec, instead of Old England. I am +half inclined to try and escape!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" James replied. "It would be madness to think of such +a thing. These Indians can see in the dark, and the moment you put +your foot outside the lines of these French regulars, you would be +carried off and scalped. No, no, my boy; that would be simply +throwing away our lives. There is nothing for it, but to wait +quietly, till either Wolfe takes Quebec, or you are exchanged."</p> + +<p>The prisoners were treated with courtesy by the French officers, +and comfortable meals were provided. In the evening, they went +outside the tent for a short time, but did not venture to go far, +for Indians were still moving about, and the hostile glances, which +they threw at the prisoners, were sufficient to indicate what would +happen to the latter, if they were caught beyond the protection of +the sentry.</p> + +<p>"Bougainville was right in supposing that prisoners would not be +likely to attempt to escape," James said, in a low voice. "The look +of those Indians would be quite sufficient to prevent anyone from +attempting it, under ordinary circumstances. It is well that my +business will take me down the river towards Quebec, while they +will make sure that I shall have made up the river, with a view of +making my way off to the ships, the next time they go up above Cap +Rouge."</p> + +<p>"It will be risky work getting through them," the midshipman +remarked; "but all the same, I wish I was going with you, instead +of having to stick here in prison."</p> + +<p>"It would be running too great a risk of spoiling my chance of +success," James said. "I am accustomed to the redskins, and can +crawl through them as noiselessly as they could themselves. +Besides, one can hide where two could not. I only hope that, when +they find I have gone, they won't take it into their heads to +revenge my escape upon you."</p> + +<p>"There is no fear of that," the midshipman said. "I shall be +sound asleep in the tent, and when they wake me up, and find you +are gone, I shall make a tremendous fuss, and pretend to be most +indignant that you have deserted me."</p> + +<p>The two prisoners had eaten but little of the meals served to +them that day, putting the greater portion aside, and hiding it in +the straw which served for their beds, in order that James might +take with him a supply, for it might be three or four days before +he could be taken off by the ships' boats.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you won't go very far tonight?" the midshipman said, +suddenly.</p> + +<p>"No," James replied. "I shall hide somewhere along the face of +the cliff, a mile or so away. They are not likely to look for me +down the river at all; but, if they do, they will think I have gone +as far as I can away, and the nearer I am to this place, the +safer."</p> + +<p>"Look here," the midshipman said. "I am going strictly to obey +orders; but, at the same time, it is just possible that something +may turn up that you ought to know, or that might make me want to +bolt. Suppose, for instance, I heard them say that they meant to +shoot us both in the morning--it's not likely, you know; still, +it's always as well to be prepared for whatever might happen--if +so, I should crawl out of camp, and make my way along after you. +And if so, I shall walk along the edge, and sometimes give two +little whistles like this; and, if you hear me, you answer me."</p> + +<p>"Don't be foolish, Middleton," James said seriously. "You would +only risk your life, and mine, by any nonsense of that sort. There +can't be any possible reason why you should want to go away. You +have undertaken to carry this out, knowing that you would have, +perhaps, to remain a prisoner for some time; and having undertaken +it, you must keep to the plans laid down."</p> + +<p>"But I am going to, Captain Walsham. Still, you know, something +might turn up."</p> + +<p>"I don't see that anything possibly could turn up," James +insisted; "but, if at any future time you do think of any +mad-brained attempt of escaping, you must take off your shoes, and +you must put your foot down, each time, as gently as if the ground +were covered with nails; for, if you were to tread upon a twig, and +there were an Indian within half a mile of you, he would hear it +crack. But don't you attempt any such folly. No good could possibly +come of it, and you would be sure to fall into the hands of the +savages or Canadians; and you know how they treat prisoners."</p> + +<p>"I know," the boy said; "and I have no wish to have my scalp +hanging up in any of their wigwams."</p> + +<p>It was midnight, before the camp was perfectly still, and then +James Walsham quietly loosened one of the pegs of the canvas, at +the back of the tent, and, with a warm grasp of the midshipman's +hand, crawled out. The lad listened attentively, but he could not +hear the slightest sound. The sentinel was striding up and down in +front of the tent, humming the air of a French song as he walked. +Half an hour passed without the slightest stir, and the midshipman +was sure that James was, by this time, safely beyond the enemy's +camp.</p> + +<p>He was just about to compose himself to sleep, when he heard a +trampling of feet. The sentry challenged, the password was given, +and the party passed on towards the general's tent. It was some +thirty yards distant, and the sentry posted there challenged.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's up?" the midshipman said to himself; and, +lifting the canvas, he put his head out where James had crawled +through.</p> + +<p>The men had halted before the general's tent, and the boy heard +the general's voice, from inside the tent, ask sharply, "What is +it?"</p> + +<p>"I regret to disturb you, Monsieur le General; but we have here +one of the Canadian pilots, who has swam ashore from the enemy's +fleet higher up the river, and who has important news for you."</p> + +<p>The midshipman at once determined to hear what passed. He had +already taken off his shoes; and he now crawled out from the tent, +and, moving with extreme caution, made his way round to the back of +the general's tent, just as the latter, having thrown on his coat +and lighted a candle, unfastened the entrance. The midshipman, +determined to see as well as hear what was going on, lifted up the +flap a few inches behind, and, as he lay on the ground, peered in. +A French officer had just entered, and he was followed by a +Canadian, whom the midshipman recognized at once, as being the one +who piloted the <em>Sutherland</em> up and down the river.</p> + +<p>"Where do you come from?" Bougainville asked.</p> + +<p>"I swam ashore two hours ago from the English ship +<em>Sutherland</em>," the Canadian said.</p> + +<p>"How did you manage to escape?"</p> + +<p>"I would have swam ashore long ago, but at night I have always +been locked up, ever since I was captured, in a cabin below. +Tonight the door opened quietly, and someone came in and said:</p> + +<p>"'Hush!--can you swim?'</p> + +<p>"'Like a fish,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'Are you ready to try and escape, if I give you the +chance?'</p> + +<p>"'I should think so,' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'Then follow me, but don't make the slightest noise.'</p> + +<p>"I followed him. We passed along the main deck, where the +sailors were all asleep in their hammocks. A lantern was burning +here, and I saw, by its light, that my conductor was an officer. He +led me along till we entered a cabin--his own, I suppose.</p> + +<p>"'Look,' he whispered, 'there is a rope from the porthole down +to the water. If you slide quietly down by it, and then let +yourself drift till you are well astern of the ship, the sentry on +the quarterdeck will not see you. Here is a letter, put it in your +cap. If you are fired at, and a boat is lowered to catch you, throw +the paper away at once. Will you swear to do that?'</p> + +<p>"I said I would swear by the Virgin.</p> + +<p>"'Very well,' he went on; 'if you get away safely and swim to +shore, make your way without a minute's delay to the French camp at +Cap Rouge, and give this letter to the general. It is a matter of +the most extreme importance.'</p> + +<p>"This is the letter, general."</p> + +<p>He handed a small piece of paper, tightly folded up, to +Bougainville, who opened it, and read it by the light of the +candle.</p> + +<p>He gave a sharp exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" he exclaimed. "Come along to the tent of the prisoners. +I am warned that the capture was a ruse, and that the military +officer is a spy, whose object here is to discover a landing place. +He is to escape the first opportunity."</p> + +<p>The three men at once ran out from the tent. The instant they +did so, the midshipman crawled in under the flap, rushed to the +table on which the general had thrown the piece of paper, seized +it, and then darted out again, and stole quietly away in the +darkness. He had not gone twenty yards, when a volley of angry +exclamations told him that the French general had discovered that +the tent was empty.</p> + +<p>The night was a dark one, and to prevent himself from falling +over tent ropes, the midshipman threw himself down and crawled +along on his hands and knees, but he paused, before he had gone +many yards, and listened intently. The general was returning to his +tent.</p> + +<p>"It is no use doing anything tonight," he said. "Even an Indian +could not follow the track of a waggon. At daybreak, Major Dorsay, +let the redskins know that the prisoners have escaped, and offer a +reward of fifty crowns for their recapture, dead or alive--I care +not which. Let this good fellow turn in at the guard tent. I will +talk to him in the morning. Good night!"</p> + +<p>The midshipman kept his eyes anxiously on the dim light that +could be faintly seen through the tent. If the general missed the +paper, he might guess that it had been taken by the fugitives, and +might order an instant search of the camp. He gave a sigh of +relief, when he saw the light disappear the moment the French +officer had entered the tent, and then crawled away through the +camp.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: The Path Down The Heights.</h2> + +<p>As the midshipman crawled away from the tent of the French +general, he adopted the precautions which James had suggested, and +felt the ground carefully for twigs or sticks each time he moved. +The still-glowing embers of the campfires warned him where the +Indians and Canadians were sleeping, and, carefully avoiding these, +he made his way up beyond the limits of the camp. There were no +sentries posted here, for the French were perfectly safe from +attack from that quarter, and, once fairly beyond the camp, the +midshipman rose to his feet, and made his way to the edge of the +slopes above the Saint Lawrence. He walked for about a mile, and +then paused, on the very edge of the sharp declivity, and whistled +as agreed upon.</p> + +<p>A hundred yards further, he repeated the signal. The fourth time +he whistled he heard, just below him, the answer, and a minute +later James Walsham stood beside him.</p> + +<p>"You young scamp, what are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"It was not my fault, Captain Walsham, it wasn't indeed; but I +should have been tomahawked if I had stayed there a moment +longer."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by 'you would have been tomahawked,'" James +asked angrily, for he was convinced that the midshipman had made up +his mind, all along, to accompany him.</p> + +<p>"The pilot of the <em>Sutherland</em> swam ashore, with the news +that you had been taken prisoner on purpose, and were really a +spy."</p> + +<p>"But how on earth did he know that?" James asked. "I took care +the man was not on deck, when we made the holes in the boat, and he +does not understand a word of English, so he could not have +overheard what the men said."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say, sir, that it is a case of treachery, and +that one of our officers is concerned in it. The man said that an +officer released him from his cell, and took him to his cabin, and +then lowered him by a rope through the porthole."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" James Walsham said.</p> + +<p>"It sounds impossible, sir; but I am afraid it isn't, for the +officer gave him a note to bring to the general, telling him all +about it, and that note I have got in my pocket now."</p> + +<p>The midshipman then related the whole circumstances of his +discovery.</p> + +<p>"It is an extraordinary affair," James said. "However, you are +certainly not to blame for making your escape when you did. You +could not have got back into your tent till too late; and, even +could you have done so, it might have gone hard with you, for of +course they would have known that you were, what they would call an +accomplice, in the affair."</p> + +<p>"I will go on if you like, sir," the boy said, "and hide +somewhere else, so that if they track me they will not find +you."</p> + +<p>"No, no," James said, "I don't think there's any fear of our +being tracked. Indian eyes are sharp; but they can't perform +miracles. In the forest it would be hopeless to escape them, but +here the grass is short and the ground dry, and, without boots, we +cannot have left any tracks that would be followed, especially as +bodies of French troops have been marching backwards and forwards +along the edge of these heights for the last fortnight. I won't say +that it is impossible that they can find us, but it will not be by +our tracks.</p> + +<p>"Now, come down to this bush where I was lying. We will wait +there till daylight breaks. It is as far down as I dare go by this +light, but, when we can see, we will find a safer place further +down."</p> + +<p>Cautiously they made their way down to a clump of bushes, twenty +feet below the edge, and there, lying down, dozed until it became +light enough to see the ground. The slope was very steep, but +bushes grew here and there upon it, and by means of these, and +projecting rocks, they worked their way down some thirty feet +lower, and then sat down among some bushes, which screened them +from the sight of anyone who might be passing along the edge of the +river, while the steep slope effectually hid them from anyone +moving along above.</p> + +<p>"Is there any signature to that letter," James asked +presently.</p> + +<p>The midshipman took the piece of paper out and looked at it.</p> + +<p>"No, there is no signature," he said; "but I know the +handwriting. I have seen it in orders, over and over again."</p> + +<p>James was silent a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"I won't ask you who it is, though I fear I know too well. Look +here, Middleton, I should like you to tear that letter up, and say +no more about it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir," the boy said, putting the paper in his pocket. "I +can't do that. Of course I am under your orders, for this +expedition; but this is not an affair in which I consider that I am +bound to obey you. This concerns the honour of the officers of my +ship, and I should not be doing my duty if I did not, upon my +return, place this letter in the hands of the captain. A man who +would betray the general's plans to the enemy, would betray the +ship, and I should be a traitor, myself, if I did not inform the +captain. I am sorry, awfully sorry, that this should happen to an +officer of the <em>Sutherland</em>, but it will be for the captain +to decide whether he will make it public or not.</p> + +<p>"There is one thing. If it was to be anyone, I would rather that +it was he than anyone else, for there isn't a man on board can +abide him. No, sir, I am sorry, but I cannot give up the letter, +and, even if you had torn it up when you had it in your hand just +now, I should have reported the whole thing to the captain, and say +I could swear to the handwriting."</p> + +<p>James was silent. The boy was right, and was only doing his duty +in determining to denounce the act of gross treachery which had +been perpetrated. He was deeply grieved, however, to think of the +consequences of the discovery, and especially of the blow that it +would be, to the squire, to hear that his nephew was a traitor, and +indeed a murderer at heart, for, had not his flight taken place +before the discovery was made, he would certainly have been +executed as a spy.</p> + +<p>The day passed quietly. That the Indians were searching for him, +far and wide, James Walsham had no doubt, and indeed, from their +hiding place he saw several parties of redskins moving along on the +river bank, carefully examining the ground.</p> + +<p>"It's lucky we didn't move along there," he said to his +companion, "for the ground is so soft that they would assuredly +have found our tracks. I expect that they think it possible that we +may have been taken off, in a boat, during the night."</p> + +<p>"I hope they will keep on thinking so," the midshipman said. +"Then they will give up looking for us."</p> + +<p>"They won't do that," James replied; "for they will be sure that +they must have seen our tracks, had we passed along that muddy +bank. Fortunately, they have no clue to where we really are. We +might have gone east, west, or north, and the country is so covered +with bush that anything like a regular search is absolutely +impossible."</p> + +<p>"I hope we ain't going to be very long, before we get on board +again," the midshipman said, as he munched the small piece of bread +James served out to him for his dinner. "The grub won't last more +than two days, even at this starvation rate, and that one bottle of +water is a mockery. I could finish it all, straight off. Why, we +shall be as badly off as if we were adrift at sea, in a boat."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so bad," James replied. "We can chew the leaves of +some of these bushes; besides, people don't die of hunger or thirst +in four days, and I hope, before that, to be safely on board."</p> + +<p>Not until it was perfectly dark did they leave their hiding +place, and, by the aid of the bushes, worked their way up to the +top of the ascent again. James had impressed on his companion that, +on no account, was he to speak above a whisper, that he was to stop +whenever he did, and, should he turn off and descend the slope, he +was at once to follow his example. The midshipman kept close to his +companion, and marvelled how assuredly the latter walked along, for +he himself could see nothing.</p> + +<p>Several times, James stopped and listened. Presently, he turned +off to the right, saying "hush!" in the lowest possible tone, and, +proceeding a few paces down the slope, noiselessly lay down behind +the bush. The midshipman imitated his example, though he wondered +why he was so acting, for he could hear nothing. Two or three +minutes later he heard a low footfall, and then the sound of men +speaking in a low voice, in some strange tongue. He could not see +them, but held his breath as they were passing. Not till they had +been gone some minutes did James rise, and pursue his course.</p> + +<p>"Two Indians," he said, "and on the search for us. One was just +saying to the other he expected, when they got back to camp, to +find that some of the other parties had overtaken us."</p> + +<p>Another mile further, and they saw the light of several fires +ahead.</p> + +<p>"That is a French battery," James said. "We must make a detour, +and get to the other side of it; then I will crawl back, and see if +there is any path down to the river."</p> + +<p>The detour was made, and then, leaving the midshipman in hiding +a few paces from the edge, James crawled back. He soon saw, by the +fires, that the battery was manned by sailors from the French +fleet, and he had little fear of these discovering him. Keeping +well below them, he came presently upon a narrow path. Above him, +he could hear a French sentry walking. He followed the path down, +with the greatest caution, stepping with the most extreme care, to +avoid displacing a stone. He found the path was excessively steep +and rugged, little more, indeed, than a sheep track. It took him +half an hour to reach the bottom, and he found that, in some +places, sappers had been lately at work obliterating the path, and +that it could scarcely be considered practicable for men hampered +with their arms and ammunition.</p> + +<p>Another half hour's work took him to the top again, and a few +minutes later he rejoined his companion.</p> + +<p>"That won't do," he said. "We must try again. There is a path, +but the troops could scarcely climb it if unopposed, and certainly +could not do so without making such a noise as would attract the +notice of the sentinels above."</p> + +<p>"That is the battery they call Sillery," the midshipman said. +"They have fired at us over and over again from there, as we went +up or down the river. There is another about a mile further on. It +is called Samos."</p> + +<p>Upon reaching the Samos battery, James again crept up and +reconnoitred. The way down, however, was even more difficult than +at Sillery. There was, indeed, no regular path, and so steep was +the descent that he doubted whether it would be possible for armed +men to climb it. Even he, exceptionally strong and active as he +was, and unencumbered with arms, had the greatest difficulty in +making his way down and up again and, indeed, could only do so by +grasping the trunks of trees and strong bushes.</p> + +<p>"It can't be done there," he said to the midshipman when he +joined him again. "And now we must look for a hiding place. We must +have been five or six hours since we started, and the nights are +very short. At any rate, we cannot attempt another exploration +before morning."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could explore the inside of a farm house and light +upon something to eat and drink," the midshipman said.</p> + +<p>"It's no use wishing," James replied. "We can't risk anything of +that sort and, probably, all the farm houses are full of troops. We +have got a little bread left. That will hold us over tomorrow +comfortably."</p> + +<p>"It may hold us," Middleton said; "but it certainly won't hold +me comfortably. My idea of comfort, at the present time, would be a +round of beef and a gallon of ale."</p> + +<p>"Ah! You are an epicure," James laughed. "If you had had three +or four years of campaigning in the forest, as I have had, you +would learn to content yourself on something a good deal less than +that."</p> + +<p>"I might," the boy said; "but I have my doubts about it. There's +one comfort. We shall be able to sleep all day tomorrow, and so I +sha'n't think about it. As the Indians did not find our tracks +yesterday, they are not likely to do so today."</p> + +<p>They were some time before they found a hiding place, for the +descent was so steep that they had to try several times, before +they could get down far enough to reach a spot screened by bushes, +and hidden from the sight of anyone passing above. At last they did +so, and soon lay down to sleep, after partaking of a mouthful of +water each, and a tiny piece of bread. They passed the day for the +most part in sleep, but the midshipman woke frequently, being now +really parched with thirst. Each time, he chewed a few leaves from +the bush in which they were lying, but derived but small comfort +from it.</p> + +<p>"It's awful to think of tomorrow," he said, as evening +approached. "Even supposing you find a way down tonight, it must be +midnight tomorrow before we are taken off."</p> + +<p>"If I find a way down," James said, "I will, if possible, take +you down with me, and then we can take a long drink at the river; +but, at any rate, I will take the bottle down with me, and bring it +up full for you. The next place to try is the spot where we saw +some tents, as we went up the river. There is no battery there, and +the tents can only have been pitched there because there was some +way down to the water. It cannot be more than half a mile away, for +it was not more than a mile from Fort Samos."</p> + +<p>"Can't I go with you?" the midshipman said. "I will be as quiet +as a cat; and, if you find it is a good path, and come up to fetch +me down, you see there will be a treble risk of being seen."</p> + +<p>"Very well," James agreed. "Only mind, if you set a stone +rolling, or break a twig, it will cost us both our lives, to say +nothing of the failure of our expedition."</p> + +<p>"I will be as quiet as a mouse. You see if I ain't," the +midshipman said confidently; "and I will try not to think, even +once, of the water below there, so as not to hurry."</p> + +<p>Together they crept cautiously along the edge of the ridge, +until they came to a clump of some fifteen tents. As they +approached they could see, by the light of the fires, that the +encampment was one of Canadian troops.</p> + +<p>James had not intended to move forward until all were asleep, +but the men were all chatting round the fires, and it did not seem +to him that a sentry had, as yet, been placed on the edge of the +descent. He therefore crept forward at once, followed closely by +the midshipman, keeping, as far as possible, down beyond the slope +of the descent.</p> + +<p>Presently, he came to a path. He saw at once that this was very +different from the others--it was regularly cut, sloping gradually +down the face of the sharp descent, and was wide enough for a cart +to pass. He at once took his way down it, moving with the greatest +caution, lest a sentry should be posted some distance below. It was +very dark, for, in many places, the trees met overhead.</p> + +<p>About halfway down he suddenly came to a stop, for, in front of +him, rose a bank breast high. Here, if anywhere, a sentry should +have been placed, and, holding his companion's arm, James listened +intently for some time.</p> + +<p>"Mind what you are doing," he said in a whisper. "This is a +breastwork and, probably, the path is cut away on the other side. +Fortunately, we are so far down the hill now, that there is not +much risk of their hearing any slight noise we might make. You +stand here, till I find out what's on the other side."</p> + +<p>James climbed over the breastwork, and cautiously let himself go +on the other side. He fell some five or six feet.</p> + +<p>"Come on," he said in a low voice. "Lower yourself down by your +arms. I can reach your legs then."</p> + +<p>The gap cut in the path was some ten feet across, and six feet +deep. When, with some difficulty, they clambered up on the other +side, they found the path obstructed by a number of felled trees, +forming a thick abattis. They managed to climb the steep hillside, +and kept along it until past the obstruction. Then they got on to +the path again, and found it unbroken to the bottom.</p> + +<p>"So far, so good," James said. "Now, do you stop here, while I +crawl forward to the water. The first thing to discover is whether +they have a sentinel stationed anywhere near the bottom of this +path."</p> + +<p>The time seemed terribly long to Middleton before James +returned, though it was really but a few minutes.</p> + +<p>"All right!" he said, as he approached him. "There is no one +here, though I can hear some sentries farther up the river. Now you +can come forward, and have a drink. Fortunately, the river is +high."</p> + +<p>After having satisfied their thirst, Middleton asked:</p> + +<p>"Where are you going now? I don't care how far we have got to +march, for, after that drink, I feel ready for anything."</p> + +<p>"It won't do to hide anywhere near," James said; "for, if the +boat which comes to take us off were to be seen, it would put them +on their guard, and there would be plenty of sentries about here in +future. No, we will keep along at the foot of the precipice till we +are about halfway, as far as we can tell, between Samos and +Sillery, and then we will climb up, as high as we can get, and show +our signal in the morning. But you must be careful as we walk, for, +as I told you, there are some sentries posted by the water's edge, +higher up."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful, don't you fear," the midshipman said. "There +is not much fear of a fellow, walking about in the dark without +boots, not being careful. I knocked my toe against a rock, just +now, and it was as much as I could do not to halloa. I will be +careful in future, I can tell you."</p> + +<p>An hour's walking brought them to a spot where the hill was +rather less steep than usual. They climbed up, until they gained a +spot some fifty feet above the level of the river, and there sat +down in a clump of bushes.</p> + +<p>"As soon as it's daylight, we will choose a spot where we can +show a signal, without the risk of it's being seen from below," +James said. "We mustn't go to sleep, for we must move directly the +dawn commences, else those sentries below might make us out."</p> + +<p>At daybreak they shifted their position, and gained a spot +completely hidden from below, but from which an entire view of the +river could be obtained.</p> + +<p>"Tide will be low in a couple of hours," the midshipman said. +"There are the fleet below. They will come up with the first flood, +so, in three or four hours, they will be abreast of us. I hope they +will make out our signal."</p> + +<p>"I have no fear of that," James replied. "They are sure to keep +a sharp lookout for it."</p> + +<p>Presently the tide grew slacker, and, half an hour later, the +ships were seen to hoist their sails, and soon began to drop slowly +up the river. When they approached, James fastened his handkerchief +against the trunk of a tree, well open to view from the river, and +then stood with his eyes fixed on the approaching ships. Just as +the <em>Sutherland</em> came abreast of the spot where they were +standing, the ensign was dipped. James at once removed his +handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "Middleton, you can turn in and take a sleep. At +twelve o'clock tonight there will be a boat below for us."</p> + +<p>Two or three hours after darkness had fallen, James and his +companion made their way down the slope, and crawled out to the +water's edge. There was no sentry within hearing, and they sat +down, by the edge of the river, until suddenly a light gleamed for +an instant, low down on the water, two or three hundred yards from +the shore.</p> + +<p>They at once stepped into the river, and, wading out for some +little distance, struck out towards where they had seen the light. +A few minutes' swimming, and they saw something dark ahead. Another +few strokes took them alongside, and they were hauled into the +boat.</p> + +<p>The slight noise attracted the attention of a sentry, some +little distance along the shore, and his <em>qui vive</em> came +sharply across the water, followed a few seconds later by the flash +of his gun.</p> + +<p>The crew now bent to their oars, and, a quarter of an hour +later, the boat was alongside the <em>Sutherland</em>, which, with +her consorts, was slowly drifting up the stream. General Wolfe and +the admiral were on deck, and anxiously waiting the arrival of the +boat. The former, in his anxiety, hailed the boat as it +approached.</p> + +<p>"Is Captain James Walsham on board?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," James replied.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, bravo!" the general cried, delighted.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" he repeated, seizing James Walsham's hand as he stepped +on deck. "I did not expect to see you again, Captain Walsham, at +least until we took Quebec. Now, come to my cabin at once and tell +me all about it. But perhaps you are hungry."</p> + +<p>"I am rather hungry, general," James said quietly. "We have had +nothing to eat but a crust of bread for three days."</p> + +<p>"We? Who are we?" the general asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Middleton and myself, sir. He escaped after I had left, and +joined me."</p> + +<p>"The galley fires are out," the admiral said, "but you shall +have some cold meat in my cabin, instantly."</p> + +<p>James was at once led to the cabin, where, in two or three +minutes, food and a bottle of wine were placed before him. The +general would not allow him to speak a word, till his hunger was +satisfied. Then, when he saw him lay down his knife and fork, he +said:</p> + +<p>"Now, Captain Walsham, in the first place, have you +succeeded--have you found a practicable path down to the +river?"</p> + +<p>"I have found a path, sir. It is cut in one place, and blocked +with felled trees, but the obstacles can be passed. There are some +Canadians, in tents, near the top of the path, but they seem to +keep a very careless watch, and no sentry is placed at the bottom, +or on the edge of the river anywhere near."</p> + +<p>"Admirable, admirable!" Wolfe exclaimed. "At last there is a +chance of our outreaching Montcalm. And you were not seen examining +the path? Nothing occurred to excite their suspicion, and lead them +to keep a better lookout in future?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," James replied. "They have had no suspicion of my +presence anywhere near. The spot where I was taken off was two +miles higher. I moved away in order that, if we were seen swimming +off to the boat, no suspicion should occur that we had been +reconnoitring the pathway."</p> + +<p>"That is right," the general said. "Now, tell me the whole story +of what you have been doing, in your own way."</p> + +<p>James related his adventures, up to the time when he was joined +by the midshipman.</p> + +<p>"But what made Mr. Middleton escape?" the admiral asked. "I +thought that his instructions were precise, that he was to permit +himself to be taken prisoner, and was to remain quietly in Quebec, +until we could either exchange him or take the place."</p> + +<p>"That was how he understood his instructions, sir," James said; +"but I would rather that you should question him, yourself, as to +his reasons for escaping. I may say they appear to me to be +perfectly valid, as an occurrence took place upon which it was +impossible for Captain Peters to calculate, when he gave them."</p> + +<p>James then finished the report of his proceedings, and General +Wolfe expressed his great satisfaction at the result.</p> + +<p>"I will put you in orders, tomorrow, for your brevet-majority," +he said; "and never was the rank more honourably earned."</p> + +<p>The admiral rang a hand bell.</p> + +<p>"Send Mr. Middleton to me. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He is having supper in Captain Peters' cabin."</p> + +<p>"Ask Captain Peters if he will be good enough to come in with +him."</p> + +<p>A minute later Captain Peters entered, followed by the +midshipman.</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Peters, you have been asking young Middleton the +reason why he did not carry out his instructions?"</p> + +<p>"I have, admiral," Captain Peters said gravely, "and I was only +waiting until you were disengaged to report the circumstance to +you. He had better tell you, sir, his own way."</p> + +<p>Captain Peters then took a seat at the table, while the +midshipman related his story, in nearly the same words in which he +had told it to James. When he told of the account the Canadian +pilot had given of his escape, the admiral exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"But it seems altogether incredible. That some one has unbolted +the man's cabin from the outside seems manifest, and it is clear +that either gross treachery, or gross carelessness, enabled him to +get free. I own that, although the sergeant of marines declares +positively that he fastened the bolts, I think that he could not +have done so, for treachery seems almost out of the question. That +an officer should have done this seems impossible; and yet, what +the man says about the cabin, and being let out by a rope, would +seem to show that it must have been an officer."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say, sir," Middleton said, "that the man gave +proofs of the truth of what he was saying. The officer, he said, +gave him a paper, which I heard and saw the general reading aloud. +It was a warning that Captain Walsham had purposely allowed himself +to be captured, and that he was, in fact, a spy. The French +officer, in his haste, laid down the paper on the table when he +rushed out, and I had just time to creep under the canvas, seize +it, and make off with it. Here it is, sir. I have showed it to +Captain Peters."</p> + +<p>The admiral took the paper and read it, and handed it, without a +word, to General Wolfe.</p> + +<p>"That is proof conclusive," he said. "Peters, do you know the +handwriting?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Captain Peters said gravely. "I recognized it at once, as +did Mr. Middleton. It is the handwriting of Lieutenant Horton."</p> + +<p>"But what on earth could be the motive of this unhappy young +man?" the admiral asked.</p> + +<p>"I imagine, sir, from what I saw on the evening before Captain +Walsham set out, and, indeed, from what Captain Walsham said when I +questioned him, that it was a case of private enmity against +Captain Walsham."</p> + +<p>"Is this so, Captain Walsham?" General Wolfe asked.</p> + +<p>"I have no enmity against him, sir," James said, "though I own +that his manner impressed me with the idea that he regarded me as +an enemy. The fact is, we lived near each other as boys, and we had +a fight. I got the best of it. He gave an account of the affair, +which was not exactly correct, to his uncle, Mr. Linthorne, a +wealthy landowner and a magistrate. The latter had me up at the +justice room; but I brought forward witnesses, who gave their +account of the affair. Mr. Linthorne considered that his +nephew--whom he had at that time regarded as his heir--had not +given a correct account, and was so angry that he sent him to +sea.</p> + +<p>"I would say, sir," he said earnestly, "that, were it possible, +I should have wished this unhappy affair to be passed over."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" the admiral and general said together.</p> + +<p>"I fear it is impossible now, sir," James said gravely; "but it +might have been stopped before."</p> + +<p>"Captain Walsham wanted me to tear up the note," the midshipman +put in; "but, though I was awfully sorry such a thing should happen +to an officer of the <em>Sutherland</em>, I was obliged to refuse +to do so, as I thought it was my duty to hand the note to you."</p> + +<p>"Certainly it was, Mr. Middleton," the admiral said. "There can +be no question about that."</p> + +<p>"I wonder that you even suggested such a thing, Captain +Walsham," the general remarked. "This was not a private affair. The +whole success of the enterprise was jeopardized."</p> + +<p>"It was, sir," James said quietly; "but you must remember that, +at the time I asked Mr. Middleton to tear up the note, it had +ceased to be jeopardized, for I had got fairly away. I am under +great obligations to Mr. Linthorne, and would do much to save him +pain. I regarded this act, not as one of treason against the +country, but as one of personal enmity to myself, and I am sure +that Lieutenant Horton, himself, did not think of the harm that his +letter might do to the cause, but was blinded by his passion +against me."</p> + +<p>"Your conduct does credit to your heart, Captain Walsham, if not +to your head," General Wolfe said.</p> + +<p>The admiral rang the bell.</p> + +<p>"Tell Lieutenant Horton that I wish to speak to him, and order a +corporal, with a file of marines, to be at the door."</p> + +<p>The messenger found Lieutenant Horton pacing the quarterdeck +with hurried steps. On the receipt of the message, instead of going +directly to the admiral's cabin, he ran down below, caught +something from a shelf by his berth, placed it in the breast of his +coat, and then went to the admiral's cabin. The corporal, with the +two marines, had already taken his station there. The young officer +drew a deep breath, and entered.</p> + +<p>A deadly fear had seized him, from the moment he saw the signal +of James Walsham, although it seemed impossible to him that his +treachery could have been discovered. The sudden summons at this +hour of the night confirmed his fears, and it was with a face +almost as pale as death that he entered the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Horton," the admiral said, "you are accused of +having assisted in the escape of the pilot, who was our prisoner on +board this ship. You are further accused of releasing him with the +special purpose that the plans which General Wolfe had laid, to +obtain information, might be thwarted."</p> + +<p>"Who accuses me?" Richard Horton asked. "Captain Walsham is my +enemy. He has for years intrigued against me, and sought to do me +harm. He was the companion of smugglers, and was captured by the +<em>Thetis</em>, and had the choice of being sent to prison, and +tried for his share in the killing of some of the coast guards, or +of going before the mast. I was a lieutenant in the <em>Thetis</em> +at the time, and I suppose, because I did not then interfere on his +behalf, he has now trumped up this accusation against me, an +accusation I defy him to prove."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, Lieutenant Horton," the admiral said. +"Captain Walsham is not your accuser. Nay, more, he has himself +committed a grave dereliction of duty in trying to screen you, and +by endeavouring to destroy the principal evidence against you. Mr. +Middleton overheard a conversation between the Canadian pilot and +the French general, and the former described how he had been +liberated by an English officer, who assisted him to escape by a +rope from the porthole in his cabin."</p> + +<p>"I do not see that that is any evidence against me," Richard +Horton said. "In the first place, the man may have been lying. In +the second place, unless he mentioned my name, why am I suspected +more than any other officer? And, even if he did mention my name, +my word is surely as good as that of a Canadian prisoner. It is +probable that the man was released by one of the crew--some man, +perhaps, who owed me a grudge--who told him to say that it was I +who freed him, in hopes that some day this outrageous story might +get about."</p> + +<p>"Your suggestions are plausible, Mr. Horton," the admiral said +coldly. "Unfortunately, it is not on the word of this Canadian that +we have to depend.</p> + +<p>"There, sir," he said, holding out the letter; "there is the +chief witness against you. Captain Peters instantly recognized your +handwriting, as Mr. Middleton had done before him."</p> + +<p>Richard Horton stood gazing speechlessly at the letter. So +confounded was he, by the unexpected production of this fatal +missive, that he was unable to utter a single word of explanation +or excuse.</p> + +<p>"Lay your sword on the table, sir," the admiral said, "and +retire to your cabin, where you will remain, under close arrest, +till a court martial can be assembled."</p> + +<p>Richard Horton unbuckled his sword and laid it on the table, and +left the cabin without a word.</p> + +<p>"It would have been better to send a guard with him," Captain +Peters said; "he might jump overboard, or blow his brains out."</p> + +<p>"Quite so, Peters," the admiral said. "The very thing that was +in my mind, when I told him to retire to his cabin--the very best +thing he could do, for himself and for the service. A nice scandal +it would be, to have to try and hang a naval officer for +treachery.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you agree with me, general?"</p> + +<p>"Thoroughly," the general said. "Let him blow his brains out, or +desert; but you had best keep a sharp lookout that he does not +desert at present. After we have once effected our landing, I +should say keep as careless a watch over him as possible; but don't +let him go before. It is bad enough that the French know that +Captain Walsham went ashore for the purpose of discovering a +landing place; but it would be worse were they to become aware that +he has rejoined the ships, and that he was taken off by a boat +within a couple of miles of the spot where we mean to land."</p> + +<p>The admiral was right. Richard Horton had, when summoned to the +cabin, hastily placed a pistol in his bosom, with the intention of +blowing out his brains, should he find that the discovery he +dreaded had been made. Had the marines posted outside the cabin +been ordered to accompany him, he would at once have carried his +purpose into execution; but, finding himself free, he walked to his +cabin, still determined to blow out his brains before morning; but, +the impulse once past, he could not summon up resolution to carry +his resolve into effect. He would do it, he said to himself, before +the court martial came on. That would be time enough.</p> + +<p>This was the decision he arrived at when the morning dawned upon +him, lying despairing in his cot.</p> + +<h2><a id="Ch21">Chapter 21</a>: The Capture Of Quebec.</h2> + +<p>On the day on which he received James' report, Wolfe issued his +orders for the attack. Colonel Burton, at Point Levi, was to bring +up every man who could be spared, to assist in the enterprise, and +that officer accordingly marched to the spot indicated for +embarkation, after nightfall, with 1200 men.</p> + +<p>As night approached, the main fleet, under Admiral Saunders, +below Quebec, ranged itself opposite Beauport, and opened a +tremendous cannonade, while the boats were lowered, and filled with +sailors and marines. Montcalm, believing that the movements of the +English above the town were only a feint, and that their main body +was still below it, massed his troops in front of Beauport, to +repel the expected landing.</p> + +<p>To Colonel Howe, of the Light Infantry, was given the honour of +leading the little party, who were to suddenly attack Vergor's +camp, at the head of the path. James Walsham, knowing the way, was +to accompany him as second in command. Twenty-four picked men +volunteered to follow them. Thirty large troop boats, and some +boats belonging to the ships, were in readiness, and 1700 men took +their places in them.</p> + +<p>The tide was still flowing, and, the better to deceive the +French, the vessels and boats were allowed to drift upwards for a +little distance, as if to attempt to effect a landing above Cap +Rouge. Wolfe had, that day, gained some intelligence which would +assist him to deceive the enemy, for he learned that a number of +boats, laden with provisions from Quebec, were coming down with the +tide.</p> + +<p>Wolfe was on board the <em>Sutherland</em>. He was somewhat +stronger than he had been for some days, but felt a presentiment +that he would die in the approaching battle. About two o'clock, the +tide began to ebb, and two lanterns--the signal for the troops to +put off--were shown in the rigging of the <em>Sutherland</em>.</p> + +<p>Fortune favoured the English. Bougainville had watched the +vessels, until he saw them begin to drift down again with the +stream, and, thinking that they would return again with the flood, +as they had done for the last seven days, allowed his weary troops +to retire to their camp. The battalion of Guienne, instead of +encamping near the heights, had remained on the Saint Charles; and +Vergor, an incapable and cowardly officer, had gone quietly to bed, +and had allowed a number of the Canadians under him to go away to +their village, to assist in getting in the harvest.</p> + +<p>For two hours, the English boats drifted down with the stream. +As they neared their destination, they suddenly were challenged by +a French sentry. An officer, who spoke the language replied, +"<em>France</em>."</p> + +<p>"<em>A quel regiment</em>?"</p> + +<p>"<em>De la reine</em>," the officer replied, knowing that a part +of that regiment was with Bougainville. The sentry, believing that +they were the expected provision boats, allowed them to pass +on.</p> + +<p>A few hundred yards further, another sentry challenged them. The +same officer replied in French, "Provision boats. Don't make a +noise; the English will hear us."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, the boats rowed up to the strand, at the +foot of the heights. Vergor had placed no sentry on the shore, and +the troops landed unchallenged. Guided by James Walsham, Colonel +Howe, with his twenty-four volunteers, led the way. As silently as +they could, they moved up the pathway, until they gained the top, +and saw before them the outline of the tents. They went at them +with a rush. Vergor leaped from his bed, and tried to run off, but +was shot in the heel and captured. His men, taken by surprise, made +little resistance. One or two were caught, but the rest fled.</p> + +<p>The main body of the troops were waiting, for the most part, in +the boats by the edge of the bank. Not a word was spoken as the men +listened, almost breathlessly, for a sound which would tell them +whether the enterprise had succeeded. Suddenly the stillness was +broken by the musketry on the top of the heights, followed by a +loud British cheer. Then all leapt from the boats, and each man, +with his musket slung at his back, scaled the rocks as best he +might. The narrow path had been made impassable by trenches and +abattis, but the obstructions were soon cleared away, and the +stream of soldiers poured steadily up.</p> + +<p>As soon as a sufficient number had gained the plateau, strong +parties were sent off to seize the batteries at Samos and Sillery, +which had just opened fire upon the boats and ships. This was +easily done, and the English footing on the plateau was assured. As +fast as the boats were emptied of the men, they rowed back to the +ships to fetch more, and the whole force was soon on shore. The day +began to break a few minutes after the advanced troops had gained +the heights, and, before it was fairly daylight, all the first +party were drawn up in line, ready to resist attack. But no enemy +was in sight. A body of Canadians, who had sallied from the town on +hearing the firing, and moved along the strand towards the landing +place, had been quickly driven back, and, for the present, no other +sign of the enemy was to be seen.</p> + +<p>Wolfe reconnoitred the ground, and found a suitable place for a +battle, at a spot known as the Plains of Abraham, from a pilot of +that name who had owned a piece of land there, in the early days of +the colony. It was a tract of grass, with some cornfields here and +there, and studded by clumps of bushes. On the south, it was +bounded by the steep fall down to the Saint Lawrence; on the north, +it sloped gradually down to the Saint Charles.</p> + +<p>Wolfe led his troops to this spot and formed them in line, +across the plateau and facing the city. The right wing rested on +the edge of the height, along the Saint Lawrence, but the left did +not extend far enough to reach the slopes down to the Saint +Charles. To prevent being outflanked on this wing, Brigadier +Townshend was stationed here, with two battalions, drawn up at +right angles to the rest, and facing the Saint Charles. Webb's +regiment formed the reserve, the 3d battalion of Royal Americans +were left to guard the landing, and Howe's light infantry occupied +a wood, far in the rear of the force, to check Bougainville should +he approach from that direction. Wolfe, with his three brigadiers, +commanded the main body, which, when all the troops had arrived, +numbered less than three thousand five hundred men.</p> + +<p>Quebec was less than a mile distant from the spot where the +troops were posted, in order of battle, but an intervening ridge +hid it from the sight of the troops. At six o'clock, the white +uniforms of the battalion of Guienne, which had marched up in hot +haste from their camp on the Saint Charles, made their appearance +on the ridge, and halted there, awaiting reinforcements. Shortly +afterwards, there was an outbreak of hot firing in the rear, where +the light troops, under Colonel Howe, repulsed a detachment of +Bougainville's command, which came up and attacked them.</p> + +<p>Montcalm had been on the alert all night. The guns of Saunders' +fleet thundered unceasingly, opposite Beauport, and its boats +hovered near the shore, threatening a landing. All night, the +French troops remained in their intrenchments. Accompanied by the +Chevalier Johnston, he remained all night in anxious expectation. +He felt that the critical moment had come, but could not tell from +which direction the blow was to arrive. He had sent an officer to +Vaudreuil, whose quarters were near Quebec, begging him to send +word instantly, should anything occur above the town.</p> + +<p>Just at daybreak, he heard the sound of cannon from that +direction. This was the battery at Samos, opening fire upon the +English ships. But no word came from Vaudreuil and, about six +o'clock, Montcalm mounted and, accompanied by Johnston, rode +towards the town. As he approached the bridge across the Saint +Charles, the country behind the town opened to his view, and he +presently saw the red line of British troops, drawn up on the +heights above the river, two miles away. Instantly, he sent +Johnston off, at full gallop, to bring up the troops from the +centre and left. Vaudreuil had already ordered up those on the +right. Montcalm rode up to Vaudreuil's quarters, and, after a few +words with the governor, galloped over the bridge of the Saint +Charles towards the seat of danger.</p> + +<p>It must have been a bitter moment for him. The fruits of his +long care and watching were, in a moment, snatched away, and, just +when he hoped that the enemy, foiled and exhausted, were about to +return to England, he found that they had surmounted the obstacles +he had deemed impregnable, and were calmly awaiting him on a fair +field of battle. One who saw him said that he rode towards the +field, with a fixed look, uttering not a word.</p> + +<p>The army followed in hot haste, crossed the Saint Charles, +passed through Quebec, and hurried on to the ridge, where the +battalion of Guienne had taken up its position. Nothing could have +been stronger than the contrast which the two armies afforded. On +the one side was the red English line, quiet and silent, save that +the war pipes of the Highlanders blew loud and shrilly; on the +other were the white-coated battalions of the regular army of +France, the blue-clad Canadians, the bands of Indians in their war +paint and feathers, all hurried and excited by their rapid march, +and by the danger which had so unexpectedly burst upon them.</p> + +<p>Now the evils of a divided command were apparent. Vaudreuil +countermanded Montcalm's orders for the advance of the left of the +army, as he feared that the English might make a descent upon +Beauport. Nor was the garrison of Quebec available, for Ramesay, +its commander, was under the orders of Vaudreuil and, when Montcalm +sent to him for twenty-five field guns from one of its batteries, +he only sent three, saying that he wanted the rest for his own +defence.</p> + +<p>Montcalm held a council of war with all his officers, and +determined to attack at once. For this he has been blamed. That he +must have fought was certain, for the English, in the position +which they occupied, cut him off from the base of his supplies; but +he might have waited for a few hours, and in that time he could +have sent messengers, and brought up the force of Bougainville, +which could have marched, by a circuitous route, and have joined +him without coming in contact with the English.</p> + +<p>Upon the other hand, Montcalm had every reason to believe that +the thirty-five hundred men he saw before him formed a portion, +only, of the English army, that the rest were still on board the +fleet opposite Beauport, and that a delay would bring larger +reinforcements to Wolfe than he could himself receive. He was, as +we know, mistaken, but his reasoning was sound, and he had, all +along, believed the English army to be far more numerous than it +really was. He was doubtless influenced by the fact that his troops +were full of ardour, and that any delay would greatly dispirit the +Canadians and Indians.</p> + +<p>He therefore determined to attack at once. The three field +pieces, sent by Ramesay, opened fire upon the English line with +canister, while fifteen hundred Canadians and Indians crept up +among the bushes and knolls, and through the cornfield, and opened +a heavy fire. Wolfe threw out skirmishers in front of the line, to +keep these assailants in check, and ordered the rest of the troops +to lie down to avoid the fire.</p> + +<p>On the British left, the attack was most galling. Bands of the +sharpshooters got among the thickets, just below the edge of the +declivity down to the Saint Charles, and from these, and from +several houses scattered there, they killed and wounded a +considerable number of Townshend's men.</p> + +<p>Howe was called up, with his light troops, from the rear; and +he, and the two flank battalions of Townshend, dashed at the +thickets, and, after some sharp fighting, partially cleared them, +and took and burned some of the houses.</p> + +<p>Towards ten o'clock, the French advanced to the attack. Their +centre was formed of regular troops, only, with regulars and +Canadian battalions on either flank. Two field pieces which, with +enormous labour, the English had dragged up the path from the +landing place, at once opened fire with grape upon the French +line.</p> + +<p>The advance was badly conducted. The French regulars marched +steadily on, but the Canadians, firing as they advanced, threw +themselves on the ground to reload, and this broke the regularity +of the line. The English advanced some little distance, to meet +their foes, and then halted.</p> + +<p>Not a shot was fired until the French were within forty paces, +and then, at the word of command, a volley of musketry crashed out +along the whole length of the line. So regularly was the volley +given, that the French officers afterwards said that it sounded +like a single cannon shot. Another volley followed, and then the +continuous roar of independent firing.</p> + +<p>When the smoke cleared off a little, its effects could be seen. +The French had halted where they stood, and, among them, the dead +and wounded were thickly strewn. All order and regularity had been +lost under that terrible fire, and, in three minutes, the line of +advancing soldiers was broken up into a disorderly shouting mob. +Then Wolfe gave the order to charge, and the British cheer, mingled +with the wild yell of the Highlanders, rose loud and fierce. The +English regiments advanced with levelled bayonets. The Highlanders +drew their broadswords and rushed headlong forward.</p> + +<p>The charge was decisive. The French were swept helplessly before +it, and the battle was at an end, save that the scattered parties +of Canadians and Indians kept up, for some time, a fire from the +bushes and cornfields.</p> + +<p>Their fire was heaviest on the British right, where Wolfe +himself led the charge, at the head of the Louisbourg Grenadiers. A +shot shattered his wrist. He wrapped his handkerchief around it and +kept on. Another shot struck him, but he still advanced. When a +third pierced his breast, he staggered and sat down. Two or three +officers and men carried him to the rear, and then laid him down, +and asked if they should send for a surgeon.</p> + +<p>"There is no need," he said. "It is all over with me."</p> + +<p>A moment later, one of those standing by him cried out:</p> + +<p>"They run, see how they run!"</p> + +<p>"Who run?" Wolfe asked.</p> + +<p>"The enemy, sir. They give way everywhere."</p> + +<p>"Go, one of you, to Colonel Burton," Wolfe said. "Tell him to +march Webb's regiment down to the Charles River, to cut off their +retreat from the bridge;" then, turning on his side, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now, God be praised, I will die in peace!" and, a few minutes +later, he expired.</p> + +<p>Montcalm, still on horseback, was borne by the tide of fugitives +towards the town. As he neared the gate, a shot passed through his +body.</p> + +<p>It needed some hard work before the Canadians, who fought +bravely, could be cleared out from the thickets. The French troops +did not rally from their disorder till they had crossed the Saint +Charles. The Canadians retired in better order.</p> + +<p>Decisive as the victory was, the English, for the moment, were +in no condition to follow it up. While on the French side Montcalm +was dying, and his second in command was mortally wounded; on the +English, Wolfe was dead and Monckton, second in rank, badly +wounded, and the command had fallen upon Townshend, at the moment +when the enemy were in full flight. Knowing that the French could +cut the bridge of boats across the Saint Charles, and so stop his +pursuit, and that Bougainville was close at hand, he halted his +troops, and set them to work to intrench themselves on the field of +battle.</p> + +<p>Their loss had been six hundred and sixty-four, of all ranks, +killed and wounded; while the French loss was estimated at about +double that number. In point of numbers engaged, and in the total +loss on both sides, the fight on the Plains of Abraham does not +deserve to rank as a great battle, but its results were of the most +extreme importance, for the victory transferred Canada from France +to England.</p> + +<p>Vaudreuil, after joining his force with that of Bougainville, +would have still vastly outnumbered the English, and could, by +taking up a fresh position in their rear, have rendered himself +impregnable, until the winter forced the English to retire; while +the latter had no means of investing or besieging Quebec. But his +weakness was now as great as his presumption had been before, and, +on the evening of the battle, he abandoned the lines of Beauport, +and, leaving all his tents and stores behind him, retreated +hastily, or rather it may be said fled, for as the Chevalier +Johnston said of it:</p> + +<p>"It was not a retreat, but an abominable flight, with such +disorder and confusion that, had the English known it, three +hundred men sent after us would have been sufficient to have cut +all our army to pieces. The soldiers were all mixed, scattered, +dispersed, and running as hard as they could, as if the English +army were at their heels."</p> + +<p>The flight was continued, until they reached the impregnable +position of Jacques Cartier on the brink of the Saint Lawrence, +thirty miles from the scene of action.</p> + +<p>Montcalm died in Quebec the next morning. Levis soon arrived at +Jacques Cartier from Montreal, and took the command, and at once +attempted to restore order, and persuaded Vaudreuil to march back +to join Bougainville, who had remained firmly with his command, at +Cap Rouge, while the horde of fugitives swept by him. Vaudreuil, +before leaving, had given orders to Ramesay to surrender, if Quebec +was threatened by assault, and Levis, on his march to its relief, +was met by the news that, on the morning of the 18th, Ramesay had +surrendered.</p> + +<p>The garrison was utterly dispirited, and unwilling to fight. The +officers were even more anxious to surrender than the men, and, on +the fleet approaching the walls Ramesay obeyed Vaudreuil's orders, +and surrendered. Townshend granted favourable conditions, for he +knew that Levis was approaching, and that his position was +dangerous in the extreme. He therefore agreed that the troops and +sailors of the garrison should march out from the place, with the +honours of war, and were to be carried to France, and that the +inhabitants should have protection in person and property, and free +exercise of religion.</p> + +<p>The day after the capture of Quebec, James Walsham returned on +board ship. The thought of Richard Horton, awaiting the court +martial, which would assuredly award him the sentence of death for +his treachery, was constantly in his mind. He remembered the +conversation between Captain Peters and the admiral, and General +Wolfe's words: "I should say, keep as careless a watch over him as +possible," and he determined, if possible, to aid him in making his +escape, confident that, in the general exultation at the success of +the enterprise, no one would trouble greatly about the matter, and +that the admiral would be only too pleased that an inquiry should +be avoided, which could but end in the disgrace and execution of a +naval officer.</p> + +<p>James was relieved when, on his arrival, he found that Richard +Horton was still in confinement, for he feared that he might have +carried out the other alternative spoken of by the admiral, and +might have committed suicide.</p> + +<p>"Captain Peters," he said, going up to that officer, "I should +be obliged if you would give me an order to see Lieutenant +Horton."</p> + +<p>"Can't do it, my lad. The admiral's orders are precise. Nobody +is to be admitted to see him, without an order signed by +himself."</p> + +<p>James accordingly sought the admiral's cabin.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to see him for, eh?" the admiral asked.</p> + +<p>James hesitated. He would not tell an untruth in the matter, and +yet he could think of no excuse which could answer, without doing +so.</p> + +<p>"I want to see him, sir, to have some conversation with +him."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" the admiral said, looking at him keenly. "Conversation, +eh! You are not going to take him a pistol, or poison, or anything +of that sort, to help him to put an end to his wretched +existence?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, sir," James said warmly.</p> + +<p>"Humph! You are not thinking, I hope," he said, with a twinkle +of the eye, "of helping him to escape?"</p> + +<p>James was silent.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," the admiral said hastily, "that's not a fair +question to ask. However, I will tell you in confidence that, if he +should escape, which is the most unlikely thing in the world, you +know, no one would be particularly sorry, and there would be no +great fuss made about it. Everyone in the navy here would feel it +cast a slur upon the service if, at a time like this, a naval +officer were tried and shot for treachery. However, if it must be +it must.</p> + +<p>"Here is an order for you to see him. If it was anyone else, I +might have my doubts about granting it, but as you are the man +against whom he played this scurvy trick, I feel safe in doing +so.</p> + +<p>"There you are, my lad. Give me your hand. You are a fine +fellow, Major Walsham, a very fine fellow."</p> + +<p>Immediately upon entering Quebec, James had purchased a large +turn-screw, some ten yards of fine but strong rope, and three or +four bladders. When he procured the order, he went to his cabin, +took off his coat, wound the rope round his body, and then, putting +on his coat, placed the flattened bladders under it and buttoned it +up, slipping the turn-screw up his sleeve, and then proceeded to +the prisoner's cabin. The sentry at once admitted him, on producing +the admiral's order.</p> + +<p>Richard Horton was lying down on his berth, and started with +surprise as his visitor entered.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you have come to see me, James Walsham, for I have +been wishing to speak to you, and I thought you would come. I have +been thinking much for the last two days. I know that it is all up +with me. The proofs are too strong, and I will not face a court +martial, for I have the means--I know I may tell you safely--of +avoiding it. The hour that brings me news that the court is ordered +to assemble, I cease to live.</p> + +<p>"When a man is at that point, he sees things more clearly, +perhaps, than he did before. I know that I have wronged you, and, +when the admiral said that you had done all in your power to shield +me, I felt more humiliated than I did when that fatal letter was +produced. I know what you have come for--to tell me that you bear +me no malice. You are a fine fellow, Walsham, and deserve all your +good fortune, just as I deserve what has befallen me. I think, if +it had not been for the squire taking me up, I should never have +come to this, but might have grown up a decent fellow. But my head +was turned. I thought I was going to be a great man, and this is +what has come of it."</p> + +<p>"I have come partly, as you suppose, to tell you that I bear you +no malice, Richard Horton. I, too, have thought matters over, and +understand your feeling against me. That first unfortunate quarrel, +and its unfortunate result, set you against me, and, perhaps, I +never did as much as I might to turn your feelings the other way. +However, we will not talk more of that. All that is past and over. +I come to you, now, as the nephew of the man who has done so much +for me. I have brought with me the means of aiding your +escape."</p> + +<p>"Of aiding my escape, Walsham! You must be mad! I am too +securely fastened here; and, even were it not so, I would not +accept a kindness which would cost you your commission, were it +known."</p> + +<p>"As to the second reason, you may make your mind easy. From +words which dropped, from the admiral, I am sure that everyone will +be so glad, at your escape, that no very strict inquiry will be +made. In the next place, your fastenings are not so very secure. +The porthole is screwed down as usual."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Horton said; "but, in addition, there are a dozen strong +screws placed round it."</p> + +<p>"Here is a long turn-screw which will take them out as quickly +as the carpenter put them in," James said, producing the tool; "and +here," and he opened his coat, "is a rope for lowering yourself +down into the water."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, James," Horton said quietly; "but it is no +use. I can't swim."</p> + +<p>"I know you could not, as a boy," James replied, "and I thought +it likely enough that you have not learned since; but I think, with +these, you may make a shift to get ashore," and he produced four +bladders and some strong lashing. "If you blow these out, fasten +the necks tightly, and then lash them round you, you can't sink. +The drift of the tide will take you not very far from the point +below, and, if you do your best to strike out towards the shore, I +have no doubt you will be able to make it. You must lower yourself +into the water very quietly, and allow yourself to float down, till +you are well astern of the vessel."</p> + +<p>Richard Horton stood for a minute or two, with his hand over his +eyes; then he said in a broken voice:</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Walsham. I will try it. If I am shot, 'tis +better than dying by my own hand. If I escape, I will do my best to +retrieve my life. I shall never return to England again, but, under +a new name, may start afresh in the colonies. God bless you, and +make you happy."</p> + +<p>The young men wrung each other hands, with a silent clasp, and +James returned to his own cabin.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the officer of marines reported to Captain +Peters that the prisoner was missing. The porthole was found open, +and a rope hanging to the water's edge. The captain at once took +the report to the admiral.</p> + +<p>"A bad job," the admiral said, with a twinkle of the eye. "A +very bad job! How could it have happened?"</p> + +<p>"The sentries report, sir, that they heard no noise during the +night, and that the only person who visited the cabin, with the +exception of the sergeant with the prisoner's food, was Major +Walsham, with your own order."</p> + +<p>"Yes, now I think of it, I did give him an order; but, of +course, he can have had nothing to do with it. Horton must have +managed to unscrew the porthole, somehow, perhaps with a +pocketknife, and he might have had a coil of rope somewhere in his +cabin. Great carelessness, you know. However, at a time like this, +we need not bother our heads about it. He's gone, and there's an +end of it."</p> + +<p>"He could not swim, sir," the captain said. "I heard him say so, +once."</p> + +<p>"Then most likely he's drowned," the admiral remarked briskly. +"That's the best thing that could happen. Enter it so in the log +book: 'Lieutenant Horton fell out of his cabin window, while under +arrest for misconduct; supposed to have been drowned.' That settles +the whole matter."</p> + +<p>Captain Peters smiled to himself, as he made the entry. He was +convinced, by the calm manner in which the admiral took it, that he +more than suspected that the prisoner had escaped, and that James +Walsham had had a hand in getting him off.</p> + +<p>Shortly after Quebec surrendered, Townshend returned to England +with the fleet, leaving Murray in command of the army at Quebec. In +the spring, Levis advanced with eight or nine thousand men against +Quebec; and Murray, with three thousand, advanced to meet him, and +gave battle nearly on the same ground on which the previous battle +had been fought. The fight was a desperate one; but the English, +being outflanked by the superior numbers of the French, were driven +back into Quebec, with the loss of a third of their number.</p> + +<p>Quebec was now besieged by the French until, in May, an English +fleet arrived, and destroyed the vessels which had brought down the +stores and ammunition of Levis from Montreal. The French at once +broke up their camp, and retreated hastily; but all hope was now +gone, the loss of Quebec had cut them off from France.</p> + +<p>Amherst invaded the country from the English colonies, and the +French were driven back to Montreal, before which the united +English forces, 17,000 strong, took up their position; and, on the +8th of September, 1760, Vaudreuil signed the capitulation, by which +Canada and all its dependencies passed to the English crown. All +the French officers, civil and military, and the French troops and +sailors, were to be sent back to France, in English ships.</p> + +<p>James Walsham was not present at the later operations round +Quebec. He had been struck, in the side, by a shot by a lurking +Indian, when a column had marched out from Quebec, a few days after +its capture; and, for three or four weeks, he lay between life and +death, on board ship. When convalescence set in, he found that he +was already on blue water, all the serious cases being taken back +by the fleet when, soon after the capture of Quebec, it sailed for +England.</p> + +<p>The voyage was a long one, and, by the time the fleet sailed +with their convoy into Portsmouth harbour, James had recovered much +of his strength. An hour after landing, he was in a post chaise on +his way home. It seemed strange, indeed, to him, as he drove +through the little town, on his way up to the Hall. He had left it, +in the beginning of 1755, a raw young fellow of eighteen. He +returned, in the last month of 1759, a man of twenty-three, with +the rank of major, and no inconsiderable share of credit and +honour.</p> + +<p>He stopped the vehicle at the lodge gate, had his baggage taken +out there, and proceeded on foot towards the Hall, for he was +afraid that, if he drove straight up to the door, the sudden +delight of seeing him would be too much for his mother.</p> + +<p>John Petersham opened the door, and, recognizing him at once, +was about to exclaim loudly, when James made a motion for him to be +silent.</p> + +<p>"Show me quietly into the squire's study, John," he said, +grasping the butler's hand with a hearty squeeze, "and don't say +anything about my being here, until he has seen my mother. They are +all well, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"All well, sir, and right glad they will be to see you; for Mrs. +Walsham, and all of them, have been fretting sorely since the news +came that you were badly wounded."</p> + +<p>"I have had a narrow shave of it," James said; "but, thank God, +I am as well now as ever!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he opened the door of the study, and entered. The +squire, who was reading the paper, looked up, and leapt to his feet +with a cry of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, I am glad--thank God you are back again! What a +relief your coming will be to us all!"</p> + +<p>And he shook James warmly by both hands.</p> + +<p>"I should hardly have known you, and yet you are not so much +changed, either. Dear, dear, how delighted your mother will be! You +have not seen her yet?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," James said. "I dismissed the post chaise at the gate, +and walked up quietly. I was afraid, if I drove suddenly up, the +shock might be too much for her."</p> + +<p>"Quite right!" the squire said. "We must break it to her +quietly. Wilks must do it--or no, he shall tell Aggie, and she +shall tell your mother."</p> + +<p>He rang the bell, and John, who had been expecting a summons, +instantly appeared.</p> + +<p>"Tell Mr. Wilks I want to speak to him, John."</p> + +<p>The old soldier speedily appeared, and his delight was as great +as if James had been his son. He went off to break the news, and, +in a short time, Mrs. Walsham was in the arms of her son.</p> + +<p>Major Walsham went no more to the wars, nor did he follow his +original intention of entering the medical profession. Indeed, +there was no occasion for him to do either. For Aggie insisted on +his leaving the army; and she had a very strong voice in the +matter. James had not long been home before he and the young lady +came to an understanding. Before speaking to her, James had +consulted his old friend.</p> + +<p>"You know how I feel," he said; "but I don't know whether it +would be right. You see, although I am major in the service, I have +nothing but my pay. I owe everything to the squire, and he would +naturally look very much higher for a husband for his +granddaughter."</p> + +<p>"Don't you be a fool, James Walsham," Mr. Wilks said. "I made up +my mind that you should marry Aggie, ever since the day when you +got her out of the sea. The squire has known, for years, what I +thought on the subject. You will meet with no opposition from him, +for he is almost as proud of you as I am. Besides, he thinks only +of Aggie's happiness, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, that young +lady has fully made up her mind on the subject."</p> + +<p>This was indeed the case, for Aggie, when James had settled the +point with her, made no hesitation in telling him that she had +regarded him as her special property since she had been a +child.</p> + +<p>"I considered it all settled, years and years ago," she said +demurely, "and I was quite aggrieved, I can tell you, when, on your +arrival, you just held out your hand to me, instead of--well, +instead of doing the same to me as to your mother."</p> + +<p>"You shall have no reason for complaint, that way, in the +future, Aggie, I promise you. But how could I tell? The last time I +saw you, you were flirting, as hard as you could, with someone +else."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, whose fault was that? You chose to make yourself +disagreeable, and stay away, and what was I to do? I should do the +same in the future, I can tell you, if you neglected me in the same +way."</p> + +<p>"I sha'n't give you the chance, Aggie. You can rely upon +that."</p> + +<p>The squire was fully prepared for the communication which James +had to make to him, and, as there were no reasons for waiting, the +ceremony took place very shortly afterwards.</p> + +<p>The squire never asked any questions about his nephew. The +official report had come home that Lieutenant Horton had died of +drowning, while under arrest, but the squire forbore all inquiry, +and, to the end of his life, remained in ignorance of the +disgraceful circumstances.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, in his heart, the news was a relief to him. He had +never been fond of Richard as a lad, and his confidence, once +shaken, had never been restored. He had intended to carry out his +promise to leave him twenty thousand pounds; but he was well +pleased that all that belonged to him should descend to his +granddaughter. Mr. Wilks was the only resident at the Hall who ever +learned, from James, the facts of Richard Horton's disgrace.</p> + +<p>Years afterwards a few lines, without signature or address, came +to James from America. The writer said that he was sure that he +would be glad to hear that, under a changed name, he was doing very +well.</p> + +<p>"I shall never return to England," he ended, "nor ever forget +your kindness and generosity."</p> + +<p>The marriage of the young people made but few changes at the +Hall. The squire proposed to give Aggie, at once, a sum which would +have purchased an estate in the neighbourhood; but he was delighted +to find that she, and James, had made up their minds that the party +at the Hall should not be broken up.</p> + +<p>"What do you want to send us away for, grandpapa?" she asked. +"You three will be happier for having us with you, and James and I +will be happier for having you with us. What nonsense to talk about +buying another estate! We might get a little house up in London. It +would make a change, for James and me to spend two or three months +every year there, but of course this will be our home."</p> + +<p>And so it was arranged, and so matters continued until, in the +lapse of time, the seniors passed away, and James Walsham and his +wife, and it may be said their children, became the sole occupants +of the Hall, the estate having been largely increased, by the +purchase of adjoining property, by the squire before his death. +James Walsham might have represented his county in Parliament had +he chosen, but he was far too happy in his country life, varied by +a few months passed every year in town, to care about taking part +in the turmoil of politics. He did much for Sidmouth, and +especially for its fishermen, and, to the end of his life, retained +a passionate love for the sea.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH WOLFE IN CANADA***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17766-h.txt or 17766-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/7/6/17766">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/7/6/17766</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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