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diff --git a/43265-8.txt b/43265-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4bff239..0000000 --- a/43265-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6710 +0,0 @@ - UNDER WOLFE'S FLAG - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Under Wolfe's Flag -Author: Rowland Walker -Release Date: July 20, 2013 [EBook #43265] -Language: English -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER WOLFE'S FLAG *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - -[Illustration: "'STOP! STOP! WE'RE COMING DOWN.'" (p. 34)] - - - - - Under Wolfe's Flag - - OR - - THE FIGHT FOR THE CANADAS - - - BY - - ROWLAND WALKER - - AUTHOR OF - "THE OLD MANOR HOUSE," "THE TREASURE GALLEON," ETC. - - - - Publishers - PARTRIDGE - London - - - - - MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN - - - - -*EVERY BOY'S -LIBRARY* - - -_LIST OF TITLES_ - - -THE CALL OF HONOUR By Argyll Saxby -UNDER WOLFE'S FLAG; OR, THE FIGHT FOR THE CANADAS By Rowland Walker -DICK DALE; THE COLONIAL SCOUT By Tom Bevan -THE YELLOW SHIELD; OR, A CAPTIVE IN THE ZULU CAMP By Wm. Johnston -ROGER THE RANGER By E. F. Pollard -NORMAN'S NUGGET By Macdonald Oxley - - -New Titles to be added periodically. - - -_Every book in this series has been -specially chosen to meet the critical -of the Boy of To-day, and the -Publishers have no fear that he will -be lacking in his approval of these -robust and intensely absorbing stories._ - - -Publishers -PARTRIDGE -London - - - - - TO - THE MEMORY OF - MY GRANDFATHER, - A BRAVE AND CHIVALROUS FRONTIERSMAN, - WHOSE REMARKABLE EARLY ADVENTURES IN THE - BACKWOODS OF CANADA AND AMERICA - PROMPTED THE WRITING - OF THIS BOOK - - R.W. - - - - - IN GREAT BRITAIN BY PURNELL AND SONS - PAULTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND - - - - - *CONTENTS* - -CHAP. - -I THE TROUT-STREAM -II HOLDING THE FORT -III A LONG TRAMP TO THE SEA -IV THE WATCH IN THE FORE-TOP -V THE FIGHT WITH THE FRIGATE -VI PRISONERS OF WAR -VII OLD QUEBEC -VIII THE NIGHT-WATCH -IX THE WHITE EAGLE OF THE IROQUOIS -X A LONELY FRONTIERSMAN -XI THE SMOKE SIGNAL -XII THE WIGWAMS OF THE IROQUOIS -XIII THE MOCCASIN PRINT IN THE FOREST -XIV SWIFT ARROW DISAPPEARS -XV THE TRAGIC CIRCLE -XVI THE PALEFACE HUNTER -XVII A BROKEN SCALPING-KNIFE -XVIII A LOST TRAIL -XIX THE AMBUSH AT SENECA FALLS -XX THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM - - - - - *UNDER WOLFE'S FLAG* - - - - *CHAPTER I* - - *THE TROUT-STREAM* - - -"Here's a beauty, Jack!" - -"Hold him, Jamie, till I come!" - -"Come quickly then, old fellow--he's slipping away from me! Quick! -Hang it, the fellow's gone! I've missed him, and----" - -"Splash!" The sentence was never finished, for Jamie, stepping too -excitedly on a treacherous, moss-covered rock in mid-stream, slipped, -and the next instant found himself sitting down, up to the armpits in -the water which raced past him like a mill-stream. - -"Never mind," said his companion, when the laughter which greeted this -mishap had subsided. "There's a likely spot, up under the fall there, -where I've landed many a big fish; let's go and try it." - -This "likely spot," however, was a difficult one, and for any other soul -in the tiny village of Burnside--these two young rascals excepted--an -impossible one. There, right under the overhanging rocks, over which a -cascade tumbled twenty feet, into a swirling pool which formed one of -the deepest parts of the stream, was a narrow ledge, where the moss grew -thick upon the wet, slippery rocks, but in the cracks and fissures -beneath that ledge, many a lusty trout was hidden. - -While the two chums are wending their way to this "likely spot," which -lay at a bend in the stream, just at the bottom of Hawk Woods, leaping -from boulder to boulder as they crossed the broken stream, I will -briefly introduce the reader to a little of their previous history. - -Jack Elliot and Jamie Stuart were aged respectively fifteen and fourteen -years. Only a week ago these two sturdy lads had been soundly thrashed -by Dr. Birch, for playing truant and indulging in the tempting but -forbidden pastime of "tickling trout" in the laughing stream, which, -descending from the blue moorlands above, sang its way down through the -densely wooded slopes of Crow Hill. - -Jack was the youngest son of Squire Elliot of Rushworth Hall, an old but -somewhat dilapidated manor, standing on one of the ridges of the Pennine -Chain. His eldest brother, who was now twenty-two, was an ensign in the -celebrated "John Company," and at the present time was engaged in active -service in India. His second brother was at Oxford. Jack was still a -scholar (though a dull one) at the old Elizabethan Grammar School just -above the village, where stern Dr. Birch drilled little else but Greek -and Latin into unwilling pupils. - -Jack's bosom chum and schoolfellow was Jamie Stuart. Now, Jamie was an -orphan, at least so far as he knew, for his mother died on the day that -he was born, and his father, a somewhat daring village character, who -once transgressed the game laws, was considered by a bench of -land-owning gentry as "too dangerous a character to remain in Burnside, -lest he should lead other folk astray," and was ultimately transported -to the new colonies in North America, and forbidden to set foot in -England again "on peril of his life," for those were the days of the -cruel game laws, when sheep-stealing was a hanging business, and to -touch a pheasant meant transportation for life. - -All this happened when Jamie was a little chap of but two years, and so -he never remembered either his father or his mother. His father was said -to be very fond of his little boy--for despite his transgression, he was -a good father and a brave man, and very much the type of man that Merry -England needed at that time, to fight her enemies--and his only request -when he was sentenced was, that before he left the country he might see -again his little boy--a request which the selfish and hardened -magistrates promptly refused. - -Years passed away, and village rumours said that he had escaped from his -captors directly he set foot on American soil, and had taken to the -forest, amongst the Indians tribes that inhabited the backwoods of -Pennsylvania, and that he had become a great chief amongst them; but -this was perhaps only a rumour, for no one really knew whether he was -dead or alive. So little Jamie grew up under the care of a maiden aunt, -who kept a Dame School in the little village, and being a lady of some -property, when the lad became ten years old, he was sent to the Old -Grammar School. - -The time of which I write was the middle of the eighteenth century, and -England was just laying the foundations of her great future Empire, -which was to be the wonder and envy of the world. - -During the past twenty years, Anson and his brave sea-dogs, though -always outnumbered in ships and men, had driven the French and Spaniards -from the seas, and had made the name of England famous all over the -world. On all the seven seas the old flag was supreme, and was proudly -unfurled to every breeze that blew. - -Across the burning plains of India, and under the very palace of the Old -Mogul, was heard the boom of British guns, for against overwhelming odds -Clive was winning brilliant victories, that would soon end in bringing -the vast Indian Empire, with all its wealth and treasure, and its -multitude of dark-skinned princes, to do homage at the feet of England's -king. Nor was this all, for over the Atlantic, on the shores, the -rivers, and the great lakes of the new world, the long campaign had -already begun, which was to end in the capture of Quebec, and the -wresting of the Canadas from our inveterate foes across the Channel. - -So the Squire's son and the poacher's son became fast friends. All the -Squire's efforts to separate them had failed. They were kindred -spirits, and there was no mischief or devilry ever set afoot, either in -the school or the village, in which they did not participate. All the -rules and laws that were ever invented failed to keep them within -bounds. - -Their three great enemies were, Dr. Birch, Old Click, the keeper of Hawk -Woods, and Beagle, the village constable. The first had thrashed them a -score of times, the second had threatened to bring the penalties of the -game laws upon them, if they did not desist from their depredations, -whilst the third had once put them in the stocks, and threatened them -with the lock-up for the next offence. - -Thus it happened, on this glorious afternoon in the early summer of -1757, when the school bell was calling its unwilling pupils to their -lessons, that these two boys were robbing the nest of a humble-bee, in a -meadow below the school, extracting the wild honey from the combs, when -the bell suddenly ceased ringing. - -"There goes!--that confounded bell has stopped ringing, Jamie." - -"So it has. Now we're in for it again." - -"The second time this week, too," and Jack sat down and began to -whistle, "There's nae luck aboot the house," while a look of grim -despair settled on the countenance of his friend. - -"And my back's still sore with that last thrashing. What shall we do, -Jack?" - -"Let's go trouting in Hawk Woods." - -"And what about Old Click? He said that the next time he caught us, -he'd take us before the magistrates." - -"Oh, hang the magistrates and Old Click too! Why shouldn't we fish -there if we like? Shall we go?" - -"Agreed!" - -And the next moment they were scampering across the meadows in the -direction of the woods, taking care to keep under the shelter of the -hedges and walls as much as possible, till they had entered the friendly -cover of the trees. - -Hawk Woods was a lovely bit of primeval forest, that covered both sides -of a deep valley. In places, the descent was almost precipitous, right -down to the bottom of the gully, where the burn threaded its way amongst -the rocks, boulders, and fallen tree-trunks. It was a bewitching spot. -The shimmering of a thousand trees, on whose leaves flashed the -sunlight, their brown, aged and distorted trunks, the huge scattered -rocks, and above all, the music of the stream as it tumbled half a -hundred little cascades, with the speckled trout leaping amid its whirls -and eddies, made it a charming place. Who that has seen that spot can -forget it? - -This was the place that had wooed these two boys from their lessons, and -here beside the big cascade we have found them again. - -Jamie had tried twice to reach the ledge behind the falls, by climbing -along the face of the rock, and clinging to the ivy roots, but there was -no foothold. - -"It's no use," said Jack, "there's only one way to get there, and that -is by swimming. We can easily duck, when we come to the fall." - -"Then we'll try it, for I'm already wet through, what with the spray -from the falls, and sitting down in the stream." - -They quickly divested themselves of their clothing, plunged in, swam -across the pool, ducked under the cascade, and reached the narrow ledge, -which was the object of their immediate ambition, and within a quarter -of an hour they had succeeded in capturing half-a-dozen fine trout, by -the process known as "tickling," and as they caught them, they flung -them far out on the bank. - -Then they swam back, and after drying themselves in the warm rays of the -sun, they dressed, and prepared to cook their afternoon meal. - -An armful of twigs and broken branches, a bit of dry grass--these were -quickly gathered. Then Jack struck a spark with his tinder-box, and -there was a fire! Now the blue smoke was curling upwards, and hanging -like a wreath over the tree-tops. Alas, that fatal smoke! This it was -that betrayed them, and was the means of changing the whole course of -their lives, for other eyes had seen it from afar, and were hastening to -the spot. - -In later days, amongst the backwoods of another continent, when their -nearest neighbours were a scalping party of Algonquins or fierce -Iroquois, they learnt to be more careful about that thin column of blue -smoke which rose from their evening camp-fire. - -But at present they were unconscious of any such danger. The feeling -that they were most conscious of at this moment was one of hunger -somewhere amidships, for their outdoor exercise, and above all, the cold -dip, had given them healthy appetites. As soon, therefore, as the fire -had burned sufficiently clear, they laid the spoils of the chase across -a rude grid, made of a few wet sticks. - -Then the savoury smell of roasted trout filled the wood, and when this -delicate repast was ready, our two young heroes feasted sumptuously on -the royal dish of red-spotted trout. When they had finished their -repast, they washed it down with a copious draught of cold water from -the stream. - -"There goes the old magpie back to her nest. I wonder if the young ones -are hatched yet. I'm going aloft to see," said Jamie, and he -immediately began to climb the tall, straight fir-tree, which stood on -the very edge of a steep slope, about twenty yards away. - -When he had shinned some fifteen feet up the trunk he was able to clasp -the lowest branch, and in another minute he had ascended to the very top -of the tree, and was swaying dangerously amongst the slender twigs where -the magpie had built her nest. - -"How many young ones are there?" called Jack from the foot of the tree. - -"Three and one egg left." - -"Good! Bring the egg down. It's no good to the old bird now. It's -sure to be addled. Bring it down--you know we promised to get one for -Tiny Tim the lame boy, who can't climb." - -"Why, what's the matter? Anything wrong?" - -"Sh! Sh!" - -Jamie was signalling desperately from the tree-top to his companion -below, and pointing across the stream, beyond the camp-fire. - -"Who is it?" asked Jack, in a hoarse whisper. - -"Old Click, I do believe--and--Beagle!" - -"Snakes alive! What now?" - -"Better come up the tree. Quietly now." - -Jack was just as expert at climbing as Jamie, and never sailor-boy -shinned up the truck to the mast-head more quickly or more neatly than -he did up that tall fir-tree. In another moment they were both perched -aloft, and hidden amongst the branches. - -The two men had seen the smoke from the distance, as it ascended above -the trees, and suspecting either trespassers or poachers, they had crept -quietly down to the place, and had reached the neighbourhood of the -fire, soon after the boys had left the spot. - -Imagine the feelings of the latter, as from their lofty perch they -looked down upon their two bitterest enemies, only a stone's throw away, -and effectually cutting off their retreat. Only a fortnight before, they -had been hauled before the magistrates for this very same offence, and -it had required all the influence of Jack's father to protect the -youngsters from the penalty of the law. - -"The young vagabonds----" Old Click was saying, as he kicked aside the -embers of the fire. - -"Look! Here be the heads of six foine trout they have stolen," said -Beagle. - -"I don't know whether be the worst--Squire's son or the poacher's son; -but this I know, they be both framing for Wakefield gaol, or else the -gallows." - -"How do ye know it be they, Mr. Click?" asked the constable. "There be -noa evidence that I con see, as yet." - -"How do I know? Why, there ain't another rascal in the village who dare -come into the woods and touch either fish or game since Jem Mason was -transported. Nobody dare do it, 'cept these two vagabonds, who are the -plague o' my life." - -"Aye, the place is wunn'erfully quiet sin' I copt Jem at his old -tricks," said Beagle, straightening his shoulders, as he recalled that -stirring incident, in which, however, he took a very small part. - -"And I do think, constable, that you ain't done your duty lately, to let -these two rascals play the pranks they ha' played." - -"What's that you say, Mr. Click?" said Beagle, rather testily. "What -have they done?" - -"Why, 'twas only last Friday that Gaffer John had a dead cat dropped -down his chimney, when he was just cooking his supper, too, and it was -all spoiled. And who was it that fired Farmer Giles's hayrick, but -these same 'gallows-birds'? The young varmint!" - -"First catch your man, Mr. Click, and then you'll have evidence -'red-hot' that a bench of magistrates will look at." - -"Do you hear that, Jamie?" whispered Jack. "They're on our scent for -dropping that dead cat down 'Surly John's' chimney. He deserved it, too, -the skulking old miser, for turning poor old Betty Lamb out of her -cottage. I'd do it again. But fancy blaming us for firing that -hayrick! Surely he can't mean it!" - -"I'll tell you what, Jack. This place is getting too warm for us. -Let's run away and go to sea, as we always said we should." - -"Chance is a fine thing. Wait till we're out of this hole. Wish we'd -the chance to run now, but if we stir they'll see us." - -At this point a shrill whistle rang through the woods and startled them, -and before they had recovered from their surprise, the deep bay of a -hound was heard approaching from the distance. - -"Phew----" The boys looked at each other, and for a moment their faces -blanched, as in an undertone these words simultaneously escaped from -their lips. - -"Old Click's dog----" - -"We're up a tree now, Jack, in more than one sense." And they were, for -they both knew the reputation of this wonderful hound. He could track a -poacher for miles, and having once got the scent, he rarely let it go -till he had run his victim down. Nearer and nearer came that deep bay, -and soon the trampling of the shrubs and undergrowth gave notice of its -arrival. - -"Here, Charlie. Good dog.--Seek 'em.--Seek 'em," cried its master. - -Instantly the hound began sniffing round about the embers of the fire, -till picking up the newly-placed scent, it suddenly gave vent to a -peculiar howl, and then dashed directly towards the stream. Here it -paused abruptly, and began sniffing the air, then it ran back to the -fire, picked up the scent again, and stopped once more at the edge of -the stream. - -"They've crossed the water, that's certain," said the keeper. - -The boys had watched this with great consternation. They had given up -all hope of escape, but when they saw this fine dog twice baffled by the -stream, hope returned in an overflowing measure. - -"There is just a chance," whispered Jack. - -The two men crossed the burn, and brought the dog to the other bank, to -see if it could pick up the trail. Fortunately, the boys had paddled a -little way up-stream, when they crossed, and this caused some further -delay in recovering the scent. Still the keeper persevered, and in -another quarter of an hour, the hound uttered a joyful little bark, and -with tail erect and nose to the ground, it started away in the direction -of the fir. Suddenly it stopped at the foot of the tree, where the -culprits were perched, and began clawing and scratching at the bark. - - - - - *CHAPTER II* - - *HOLDING THE FORT* - - -Aghast--horrified--the boys looked at each other in silence. Most boys -would have blubbered and given up the game. Not so these two lads. -Their faces turned a shade paler, but a stern heroic light shone from -their eyes, as they calmly awaited events. - -A moment later the constable and the keeper came struggling through the -brushwood. - -"Here they are, Beagle! Caught at last. It's the two of them. The same -old birds," cried Old Click joyfully, as he caught sight of the -prisoners. "Good dog! Good old Charlie! There's a dog for you, -Beagle! Not another like him for twenty miles around. See how he's run -the vagabonds to earth!" - -"He's a good dog, I admit, Mr. Click, but he hasn't quite run them to -earth yet, seeing that they're a good forty feet above the ground; but -we've got them tree'd and cornered this time, proper, eh?" - -"Ho, there! Come down, ye young varmint. Come down this minute, or -t'ull be worse for you," shouted the keeper. - -"I shall come down when I please," said Jamie. - -"All right, you son of a poacher. I'll sit down till you do as I tell -you. I don't mind a rest and a smoke, but I won't move from this spot -till you do come down." - -"Won't you move, though? You old fox. You shan't stay there if you -have tree'd us. Take that, and that," and as he spoke Jamie hurled with -all his might a chunk of dead wood, which he had torn from a withered -branch. "I'll teach you to call me names. My father was a better man -than you, any day." - -The missile hit the keeper on the knee, as he sat on the grass, and gave -him a nasty shock. Up he jumped in a rage, and for a couple of minutes -he fairly danced and limped around the tree, in spite of his -determination a minute ago not to move. He clenched his fist and shook -it at the youngsters. - -"I'll have the law on ye--ye young jackanapes. What's that, Beagle, but -'battery and assault,' and what's the penalty for it?" - -"Twenty strokes of the birch, Mr. Click, and ten years' imprisonment, -or, more likely, transportation for life." - -"Aye, that's it--transportation. Like your father got, you young -gallows-bird." - -This second taunt about his father made the blood rush to the lad's -face, and he hurled another chunk of wood at the irate keeper, which -narrowly missed his head, but hit the hound instead, which set up a -frightful yell and bolted into the wood, and despite all the -blandishments of its master refused to come anywhere near the zone of -fire again. - -The boys were as agile as monkeys aloft, and they quickly got several -more pieces of dead timber ready for their captors. Things were turning -out much better than they feared, and they were not having the worst of -it, so far, at least. How it would all end it was impossible to say, -but there was just this chance, that they might drive away the two men -by their determined assault, until an opportunity occurred for them to -slip down the tree; and once on the ground, with even a dozen yards -start, they could easily leave their pursuers behind. As for the -hound--well, another chunk of wood would about settle him. - -Both the keeper and the constable were now very chary about showing -themselves, after the narrow escape of the former, for the boys were so -expert with the missiles, and so determined in their opposition that the -two men kept behind the tree trunks, some twenty or thirty feet away. -Both boys had their pea-shooters, with a plentiful supply of dry -wicken-berries, and whenever their opponents showed so much as an inch -of face they were mercilessly pelted. - -"You young rascals. You shall pay dearly for this. Do ye know ye're -insulting the law?" cried the constable, trying hard to dodge the -pea-shooters as he spoke. - -"Why don't you go home?" called out Jack. "If either of you come near -the tree again, we'll break every bone in your body. We've plenty of -wood here." - -This game was continued for more than half-an-hour, at the end of which -time the two men got behind a thick holly bush near by, and began to -consult together. - -The next moment the boys would have been free, for while the keepers -were thus engaged, their prisoners were preparing to slide down the tree -and make a dash for it, when, observing this, the men rushed towards the -tree just in time to prevent them. - -"Come back, Jamie! Come back----" cried his companion, hurling at the -same instant another piece of wood at Beagle, who made a desperate -spring, and tried to catch hold of Jamie's legs, as he hung dangling -from a branch. The missile took effect, and the constable quickly -retreated, roaring like the "Bull of Bashan." - -The next moment Old Click emerged from the wood with an armful of -bracken, with which he quickly kindled a fire. Soon a thick column of -smoke arose, and drifted towards the tree. More and more bracken and -brushwood were piled on, and the smoke became chokingly dense up there -in the tree, for the fire had been lit with the express purpose of -smoking them out. - -The boys plied them valiantly with wood-chunks and wicken-berries, but -their ammunition soon failed them. The smoke had become dreadful now. -They were nearly choked with it, and were already half-blinded. What -could they do? Still they held out. They mounted to the very top of -the tree, and sat there with their faces buried in their hands to keep -that suffocating smoke from their eyes and nostrils. - -"Coming down now, sir?" asked the keeper, who had now begun to light -another fire at the root of the tree, for he saw that there was no more -ammunition aloft, but he had counted without his host. - -"No, you villains! Take that!--and that!" shouted Jack, at the same -time hurling down through the smoke first one boot and then another, as -a last resort. - -The second boot caught Old Click in the middle of the back as he was -stooping down to tend the fire, and made him give vent to a yell which -resounded through the woods. This incident evoked a bit of high-sounding -English that I will not here repeat--suffice it to say that the yell -brought Beagle, who had gone to fetch a woodman's axe, running to the -spot to see what had happened. - -The keeper sat down on the grass for a few moments, and the boys were -afraid that they had killed him, but in a little while he sprang up -again and cried out angrily-- - -"I'll give you two minutes to come down, gentlemen. At the end of that -time I shall cut down the tree." - -There was no answer, and at the end of the two minutes the keeper spoke -again. - -"Will you come down and go quietly to the lock-up?" Still no answer, -and the next moment---- - -"Chip!--chip!" went the axe, and at every stroke the tall tree shook. -The trunk was more than half-way through now, and the whole stem -trembled with the blows, when a voice called from aloft, through the -smoke-- - -"Stop! Mr. Click, if you please." - -Quite willing to take a brief rest and to enjoy the discomfort of the -youngsters, the keeper stayed his axe for a moment. - -"We'll come down, Mr. Click, if you won't take us to the lock-up. We've -only had six of your beastly trout, and they were not worth two-pence -each, but we're willing to pay you for them, and to come down, if you -won't take us before the magistrates. We've done nothing to deserve -it," said Jack, as he prepared to descend. - -"Do you hear that, Beagle? That's what I call trying to bribe an honest -man. What do you call it?" - -"That's it--bribery and corruption," replied the constable. - -"The terms of surrender are unconditional, you young jackanapes." And -with that Click went to work with the axe again. The tree quivered, and -gave signs that it was about to fall. - -"Stop! Stop! We're coming down." And then, realising that the game -was up, the two chums quietly slid down the trunk into the arms of their -captors, and were triumphantly marched off to the lock-up. - -It was getting dark when they reached this ugly little building, but -they were unceremoniously thrust inside, and when the key grated in the -lock and the two men had left them, with only the rats for their -companions, they were just a little bit "skeered." - -"Jamie! Where are you?" asked Jack, when they had been left alone in -the silence and the darkness for some minutes. - -"Here! Here!" cried his companion, and they crept along the wall until -they were able to touch each other. Then they cowered down in a corner, -against the wall. - -"We'll get out of this before morning, else my name's not Jack Elliot, -and then we'll do that which we've often spoken about. We'll run -away--we'll go to sea--we'll tramp to Liverpool, and we'll find a ship -going abroad, and we'll get taken aboard somehow--and--and we'll stick -together, and make our fortunes. What say you, Jamie?" - -"Jack, you're a brick. Give me your hand. I'll go with you, and we'll -stick together. I've no father and no mother, and no friends--except -you. All the world's against us. Old Click and Beagle have been trying -to catch us for months, and now they've done it. They'll brag about it, -and the whole village will laugh at us." - -"Yes, they've threatened to turn us out of school, and now they'll -perhaps send us to prison, just for taking a few trout, as though God -didn't make the trout, and the streams, and the woods for all of us. -And to-morrow they'll bring us before the magistrates----" - -"Will they, though? They won't have the chance. Just hold this, while -I get a light, and then we'll examine the place," and Jamie pulled a -piece of tar-band out of his pocket, unravelled the end, and handed it -to his companion. Next, he took out his tinder-box, and quickly threw a -shower of sparks on to the tow, which produced a little flame, about the -size of a rushlight. Then they began to look around them. - -It was a common type of village lock-up, built of rough, undressed -stones from the neighbouring quarries. It had massive oaken doors, -which had been securely locked, and there were no windows, for the only -opening was a small aperture, eighteen inches square, and about seven -feet from the ground, and it was caged by several rusty iron bars. The -floor was flagged with stones and covered with rushes. - -The place was used merely as a temporary lock-up for poachers and other -law-breakers before their transference to the county gaol, and was -situated just outside the village. In a few minutes they had examined -the doors, the walls and the floor, but they sought in vain for any spot -that offered a chance of escape. - -"The grating, Jack! Let's try the grating. I reckon that's our only -chance. Here, give me a leg! Let me climb on to your shoulders and try -the bars." This was no sooner said than done. - -"Here's luck! The middle bar is filed through at one end, and here on -the ledge is a rusty file, thick with cobwebs. How jolly! Some one's -been at this game before, and it's never been discovered. Half the -work's been done for us, but it must have been many years ago. I -believe if we can file through the other end of this bar we can squirm -through." - -"I wonder who did it?" - -"Blessings on his head, whoever or wherever he is. May he never want a -friend!" - -It was indeed a long time ago since the file had been used. It had lain -there for twelve years hidden by cobwebs and dust, and the poacher who -had used it had been transported. - -For the next half-hour the two boys took turns filing away at that thick -iron bar, standing or kneeling on each other's shoulders. Suddenly at -the end of that time voices were heard, and then footsteps approaching. - -"Sh! Sh! Put out the light, Jamie, quick! Some one is coming." The -light was extinguished, and the prisoners sat down quietly on the -rush-strewn floor. - -Who could it be? Had the magistrates sent some one already to remove -them to the county gaol? If so, their chances of escape were already -cut off. They determined to wait quietly and see, for this was all they -could do. - -Nearer and nearer came the sounds they had previously heard. The -footsteps halted outside the heavy doors. The rays of light from a -lanthorn flashed through the interstices and the openings. Some one was -examining the lock. Who could it be? The boys' hearts quaked with fear -lest their efforts at escape should be foiled. Then they heard the -voices of their captors. - -"They ain't broke gaol yet, Beagle! The lock's safe and sound. We've -got them safe--this time," said Old Click. - -"Have you, though?" whispered Jack, under his breath. - -"Hullo, there, ye young varmints! Who's master now? You won't do any -more poaching in Hawk Woods, I'll warrant," said the keeper, who seemed -to have come purposely to poke fun at them. Then Jamie pretended to sob -piteously. - -"Oh, it's crying ye are, is it? Ah, well, it's too late for repentance -now. Ye should ha' thought o' that before." - -"Come away now, Mr. Click. They're safe till the morning, anyhow. Then -we can bring them before the magistrates and have them whipped, and sent -to prison, and perhaps transported. Come away," said Beagle. - -"I'd like to see the man who would dare to whip me," cried out Jack, his -voice ringing with anger and defiance. - -"Tut, tut! my little man! When a boy begins training so early for the -gallows, what can he expect? Howsoever, 'tis no use argefying, so I'll -just bid ye good-night." After which they both went off chuckling and -saying-- - -"'Twill be a lesson for them. T' squire and schoolmaster seemed -mightily pleased over it." - -To do the janitors justice, however, I must here say that it was not -intended to punish the lads further than by letting them spend the night -in the lock-up, in the hope that this might teach them a severe lesson. -To this course Jack's father and the schoolmaster, who had been already -informed, quite agreed. - -The lads, however, took it more seriously, and felt convinced from -precedents within their memory that the full severity of the law would -be meted out to them, and they determined to prevent it by escaping and -running away from Burnside and saving their families this terrible -disgrace, for Jamie still looked upon his aunt as his guardian, and -though Jack had no mother or sisters, he had a father and brothers. -Besides, they were just at that age when romance begins; for all their -heroes had commenced life by running away. - -As soon, therefore, as their janitors were out of hearing, they set to -work again with the rusty old file, which by this time had lost much of -its rust and had begun to bite keenly. It was hard work, but their -freedom and their future were at stake. They were hungry, too, for -since dinner they had tasted nothing but those few trout which they had -taken from the burn. - -It was damp and chilly too, but they did not feel the cold, for they -were aglow with the exercise and flushed with the promise of victory. - -"Hurrah! It's through at last!" exclaimed Jamie, as the file slipped -and the heavy bar fell upon the floor with a jangle and a jar. - -"Bravo, old fellow! Well done." - -Jamie put the file in his pocket, and swung himself up by the remaining -bars. There was now an aperture about eleven inches square, and though -it required a bit of a struggle to squeeze through that awkward gap, yet -they had both done more difficult things than that in the past, and so -within five minutes they were both standing in the road outside the -lock-up. - - - - - *CHAPTER III* - - *A LONG TRAMP TO THE SEA* - - -The village clock in the old church tower was striking eleven. It was -dreadfully dark, but the lads were not afraid, and they started off at a -sharp trot, as soon as they had regained their liberty. For some -distance they followed the tree-lined road that led away from the -village. They kept on in silence till they reached the outskirts of -Bogden Woods, then they took one of the narrow, winding paths that led -down through the thicket, crossed the stream at the bottom of the dell, -and ascended the opposite hill-side. - -Still they kept on--now through the more open country, over hill and -dale, until at the end of two hours, despite the darkness, they had put -six good miles between themselves and the lock-up. - -At last, fatigued beyond measure, they halted for a rest below Lin-Crag, -one of the highest peaks in the Pennine Chain. Here, on the lower -reaches of the moor, they made for themselves a bed of dried heather, -where they could lie down. - -"Here, let us rest awhile, Jack, for I'm dead beat," said Jamie. - -"Right!" said his companion, "No one will discover us here." - -After a short breathing space, they began to take stock of their -possessions. Alas! Jamie had but a few pennies and half-pence, a piece -of tar-band and a tinder-box, while Jack could only find a penknife, a -pocket compass and a sixpence. This, then, was their stock-in-trade, -and it did not promise them much luxury on their way to the sea. - -"Now," said Jack, "I have an uncle who is captain of a ship that trades -between the River Plate and Liverpool--Captain Elliot is his name, and -the ship is called the _Ilawara_. If, when we get to Liverpool, he -should happen to be in port, I am sure that he would give us both a -berth aboard, for once, when father took me to see him, he advised me to -become a sailor, when I had grown up." - -"Capital! But let's see, how far away is Liverpool?" - -"It must be about sixty miles away, and almost due west, right over the -moors there, for I've often measured it roughly on the map. I think -that's the west, though I can't quite see the needle of the compass in -the dark." - -"Yes, Jack, that's the west, right over the moors and over Lin-Crag too, -and there are about twelve miles of moorland, with plenty of peat-bog, -and soft ground, so that it will not be safe to go much further till -daybreak." - -"You're sure that's the west, Jamie?" - -"Yes, certain. Why, look, you don't need a compass! There's the North -Star, and the Cassiopean Guards, and right opposite is the south, and -over there must be the east, as you'll soon see when the day breaks." - -"Bravo, Jamie! You're as good as a compass." - -"Then we'll sleep here, and at sunrise we'll get some food and start for -Liverpool, and there'll be no going back for either of us. The die is -cast, old fellow. What say you?" - -"The die is cast! We will not go back." - -They both laid themselves down on a couch of heather, there to spend the -rest of the night, but they were too excited to sleep--the events of the -past twenty-four hours chased each other through their brains. Jamie -was nearly dozing off, however, when Jack suddenly leapt to his feet, -and exclaimed---- - -"Here's a piece of luck, Jamie!" - -"Why, what's the matter? How you did startle me!" cried the other. - -"Just look here!" said Jack, ripping open the lining of his jacket, and -taking out something that gleamed bright, even in the starlight. - -"Why--it's a guinea! Where did you get it?" - -"I'd forgotten all about it myself. About a month ago, Aunt Emma drove -over from Honley, to see father, and when she went away, she said -something about my being a poor motherless bairn, and she slipped this -into my hand as she left. She asked me to buy myself a present with -it." - -"But you didn't?" - -"No! I had a presentiment that when we ran away, we should want it, so -I just sewed it into the lining of my coat, and till this moment, I'd -entirely forgotten it." - -"We're rich men, Jack. We are indeed in luck." - -They were doubly excited now and quite unable to sleep, so they talked -on about the future that lay before them, full of golden promise, when -once they reached Liverpool. Then two hours before the dawn they fell -fast asleep, and they slept so soundly that when at length they awoke -the sun was nearly half-way to the meridian. Even then they were -wakened by a rough but kindly voice that sounded in their ears---- - -"Here's a pretty sight, Jane! Come and see it. Here are two young -gen'elmen, sleeping out o' doors." Then giving them both a hearty -shake, he exclaimed, "What's the meaning o' this, young gen'elmen? Have -you run away from school?" - -Both boys sat up quickly, and rubbed their eyes. Then they looked -around them, bewildered and astonished. Where were they? How came they -here? Who was this big, burly-looking farmer before them? - -It was a full half minute before they became fully conscious of all that -had happened. At length they looked at each other, and then burst out -laughing, for they were both relieved to find that the intruder was -neither Old Click nor Beagle. Jane the milkmaid came over to the spot, -leaving the cow that she had been milking, some twenty yards away. - -The boys looked around them again to take their bearings before they -replied to the farmer. A dozen cattle stood round about, chewing their -cud lazily, and flicking off, with their long tails, the flies that had -already begun to bother them, while beside the farmer stood his faithful -sheep-dog, which had really first attracted his master's attention to -the spot. The place where they had been sleeping was a sheltered little -hollow, where the meadow joined the moor, while about two hundred yards -away was a long, low farmhouse. - -"I see you're running away from school, gen'elmen," repeated the farmer, -good-humouredly, for there was a twinkle in his eye. - -"Yes, sir," replied Jack, thinking it best to let it stop at that. - -"An' where are you goin' to?" - -"Liverpool--to the sea----" - -A burst of laughter, like a minor explosion, came from the farmer. "Ah, -I see. But ye'll be glad to get home before to-morrow night. I once -tried it myself, I did. Walked all the way to Liverpool, and when I got -there--ha! ha! ha!--the sea was rough, and I was 'skeered' an' I didn't -like the look of it, and I turned back home, an' I tell ye, that for -four days and for four nights I had nothing to eat, 'cept a few raw -turnips. My poor feet were that sore an' blistered that I sometimes lay -down and cried, and when at last, after six days, I limped back into the -farm-yard yonder, my faither said-- - -"'What! Home again so soon, Jock? I didn't expect ye for anither week, -lad!' - -"'Could I ha' a basin o' porridge, faither?' I said meekly. - -"'Jock,' he said, 'afore ye touch ony porridge, ye mun' earn it. Do ye -see that heap o' stones there? Well, ye mun' wheel 'em across the yard -there afore ye touch ony porridge here.' - -"It was the same heap of stones that I had refused to wheel, and which -had been the cause o' my setting off to Liverpool. I were that tired -and faint an' hungry that I were ready to drop, but I simply said-- - -"'All right, faither,' and I began the task; but when I had wheeled a -dozen barrow-loads or so, the old man saw me stagger once or twice. - -"'That'll do! Porridge is ready, Jock, lad.' An' to my dying day I -shall never taste anither meal half so foine as yon basin o' porridge, -an' if ye lads 'll take my advice, ye'll just turn back, and go home -again, for it'll come to that later, only then ye'll be footsore and -tired and hungry. But please yersel's, I don't suppose ye'll listen to -an old man," he added, as he saw a clouded and uneasy look come over -their faces. - -"We're not going back," said Jamie boldly. "Are we, Jack?" - -"No! We'll die first." - -"I thought so. Maybe you're hungry, and could do with a little -breakfast, lads." - -"Indeed, we could, sir, and we're willing to pay for it." - -"Tut! tut! Come into the house, then." And the kindly old man led them -to the farmhouse, where his wife simply said, "Puir lads," and soon -provided for them a substantial meal. - -A large steaming basin of oatmeal porridge was soon laid before each of -them, made from rich milk, instead of water. They soon made short work -of this. Then Jane brought in a plate of home-made cakes, -well-buttered, but still their hunger did not abate one jot. The farmer -was used to big appetites, and neither his wife nor Jane expressed any -surprise. Then their host took out his huge clasp knife and cut several -rashers from a flitch of bacon that hung suspended from the ceiling. -These were fried along with a few eggs, and when they had cleared this -third dish, the keen edge was taken from their appetites, and they -declared that they were satisfied. - -They thanked the farmer for his great kindness, and asked him how much -they were indebted to him, but when they offered to pay, he held up both -hands, and exclaimed-- - -"Not a penny! Keep your money. You'll want it all before long. It -does me good to see lads with pluck like yours. Maybe you'll get -further than I did. I think you're made of different stuff, and I ha' -quite ta'en a fancy to you. While we've lads like you, we shall never -want men to fight the Frenchers." - -"I have a brother fighting under Clive now, in India!" exclaimed Jack, -with a touch of family pride. - -"Oh, maybe you're Squire Elliot's son, then!" - -At this Jack's face fell, for he saw that he had well-nigh given away -his identity. - -"Ah well, never mind! Perhaps ye did not get on very well with the old -squire. He was a harder man after your poor mother died." - -The mention of his mother gave Jack a twinge of pain, and caused a lump -to rise in his throat. His mother's early death had removed his -guardian angel. Perhaps he would have been a better lad if she had -lived; more tame and docile, like other boys. - -"Puir lad!" exclaimed the farmer's wife; "and has he no mother then? He -ma' weel run away." - -Jack's tears were very near the surface, but he forced them back with an -effort, for he considered it a great weakness to give way to his -feelings. - -As they left the old farmhouse, yet another kindness was shown to them, -for Jane, secretly bidden by the farmer's wife, had made up a bundle of -substantial oat-cakes, with a large piece of cheese, and as they passed -out of the door she handed it to them. - -This last act of kindness to these two poor motherless lads touched -their hearts as perhaps nothing else could have done. They had not been -used to such kindness, and they expressed their gratitude, not by words, -for they couldn't speak, but by the great, big tears that welled up in -their eyes, despite their every effort to keep them back now. Ah! -nothing penetrates a boy's heart like kindness. - -The old farmer pointed out the way, across the moors, and over -Lin-Crag--the way he had trodden fifty years ago, and soon they were -climbing the steep hill-side, knee-deep in heather, and following the -winding sheep tracks. Again and again they turned round to wave their -handkerchiefs at the trio standing by the farm-yard gate now far beneath -them, until at last, as they stood on the summit of the crag, the house -looked like a little speck in the distance and soon disappeared. - -Then they footed it gaily across the lonely blue moorlands. Sometimes -they started a covey of young grouse, hidden amongst the heather; then -the peewits wheeled around them, uttering plaintive cries, as though -bidding them good-bye. The scenes of their childhood, and the landscape -on which their infant eyes had first gazed, were now left behind. The -little lambs frisked about playfully, or cropped the short, green -patches of tough grass near the water-courses, while overhead the larks -sang joyously, continuously, and the sun shone brilliantly down from -that wide expanse of azure dome. - -The lads sang, too, blithely, lustily, for nothing could repress that -feeling that was bubbling up within them; they trod the earth lightly, -for they were in the "Land of Havilah," which is the "Golden Land of -Youth," where the sun is always shining, where all the visions and -ideals are golden, the enthusiasm and the energy boundless. So life with -all its charm was opening out to them, but what was that life to be? - -"Let us halt beside this spring, Jamie, for we have come twelve miles -since morning," said Jack, about an hour after mid-day. - -So they rested awhile, and ate some of the oat-cakes, and drank at the -spring, where commenced a little stream of clear water, which sang its -way down to the sea. Soon they left the wild moorlands behind them, and -descending the western slopes of the Pennines, they entered the county -of Lancaster, and passed through several hamlets and villages, where the -rude country people spoke a dialect which they could scarcely -understand. - -Towards evening their footsteps began to lag. They had long ago ceased -to sing, or even to whistle. They were tired and footsore, and for the -last hour they had trudged on in silence, for they were both very brave, -and neither would confess fatigue. - -That night they slept under a hayrick in the corner of a field. They -slept soundly, too, but next morning they were up early, and after -performing their ablutions, and cooling their blistered feet in a -neighbouring pond, they finished the oat-cakes and cheese, and started -again. - -The first day they had covered nearly half the distance between their -home and that rising little sea-port town of Liverpool, whose docks and -wharves were now crowded with ships from every part of the globe. The -second day, however, they were too footsore to travel half that -distance, and they had to break into that golden guinea to buy food, but -they still persisted and never spake one word about turning back, and in -the afternoon of the fourth day their hearts beat with joy, as they -reached the top of a little eminence, that is now part and parcel of the -great city of Liverpool, but was then merely a country lane, and their -eyes were gladdened by a first glimpse of the forest of masts and spars, -that lay in the river beneath them, while out there--beyond the bar, -where the breakers were rolling in by the lighthouse--was the sea. - -"The sea! the sea!" they both exclaimed. - -And in the transport of joy which followed, tired limbs and blistered -feet were forgotten, for this was their first glimpse of the sea. - - - - - *CHAPTER IV* - - *THE WATCH IN THE FORE-TOP* - - -Soon they were down by the Mersey's bank, at a spot where the famous -landing-stage has since been erected. Then they passed along the -wharves and docks, but recently constructed, where the big ships, with -their towering masts and spars, came in to unload their valuable -cargoes, for here were ships from the Levant and the Eastern -Archipelagoes, from Spain and the West Indies, from the Canadas and the -new colonies of America. - -Never before had they seen such noble vessels, nor had they dreamt it -possible that such leviathans could be built. Never before had they -gazed upon such a vast concourse of people, rushing hither and thither, -shouting, pushing, loading and unloading, as though every ship must -catch the next tide that flowed. - -Their hearts swelled with pride as they stood and watched a stately -barque, fresh from the River Plate, being warped in to the bank and made -fast. Some of her swarthy crew were aloft clewing up the sails, others -were below, stowing away, making fast, or squaring the yards, singing -snatches of songs, but all of them eager and longing to get ashore and -to set foot in Old England again. - -Oh, how they envied these men, who had sailed those far-away seas and -seen those lands with strangely-sounding names, and islands that gleamed -like gems set in the tropical seas. East, west, north and south met here -with all their charm and romance, for then Liverpool was rapidly -becoming an emporium for the sea-borne commerce of the world. - -And so the lads forgot the toil and weariness of the past four days, for -they were bewildered by the strange and wonderful scenes which were -being enacted before them. They were both romantic and imaginative, and -nothing of it was lost upon them, for it all was so new. - -They forgot that they were hungry and tired, homeless and friendless, -and almost at the end of their tether. It was as though the very ships -were speaking to them of the places whence they came. They told them of -far eastern seas, of dusky kings and princes, whose palaces, crowned -with minarets and towers, lined the golden shores of those far-off -lands. They spoke of coral islands which shone like gems in an emerald -sea, of shining strands that were edged with fronded palms, of rich and -spicy groves that were filled with new and luscious fruits, of the -jungle, the prairie and the forest. All these things and more were out -there--in the west, beyond the lighthouse and the sunset. - -The big ship from the River Plate was alongside now. The merchants were -going aboard to see the lading, but the sailors, with merry hearts and -other thoughts, were coming ashore, dancing and singing like huge -schoolboys set at liberty. One had a parrot that he carried in a cage, -another had brought home a monkey, while some had strange curios worked -by the natives, but each man seemed to have brought some present or -keepsake for those at home. They all seemed so jolly, too, that the -boys made up their minds, there and then, that they would take the first -ship that offered, whether eastward or westward bound. - -'Twas getting toward evening, and in another two hours it would be dark, -but they still wandered spellbound about the ships. Several times they -had spoken to sailors and officers, and each time Jack had asked after -his uncle, Captain Elliot of the _Ilawara_, but no one seemed to know -him. They had now begun to wonder where they would have to spend the -night, if no one would take them aboard. They were beginning to feel a -little bit uneasy. - -In their wanderings they had several times passed and repassed a fine -ship that was almost ready for sailing, and they now found themselves -close by her again. The men were aboard, and several officers were on -the afterdeck, and they had wished very much to hail them, but so far -they had not had the temerity to do so. - -"I wonder where she's going to, Jack?" said his chum, as they sat down -upon a coil of rope just alongside. - -"Out west, somewhere. To the Americas, I believe." - -"She's going out on this tide. I heard one of the men aboard say so. I -wish they'd take us." - -"Clear that gangway, lads! Here comes the captain, and the pilot, too!" -cried one of the officers. - -The lads looked around and saw a smart-looking officer in uniform coming -along the quay, accompanied by an older man--a veritable sea-dog, with -his arm full of oilskins and a sou'wester on his head. - -"How soon do you hope to reach America, Captain Forbes?" the pilot was -asking. - -"In five weeks, if this wind holds." - -"Have you got a full crew aboard?" - -"We're three hands short of a full complement, but I don't intend to -wait, with this wind blowing." - -"Did you hear that, Jack? Three hands short, and sailing to-night," -whispered Jamie. - -"Now is the time! Let's try our luck." - -"Agreed!" - -They boldly approached the captain, and Jack, acting as spokesman, began -somewhat nervously thus-- - -"If you please, sir, we want to go to sea." - -"What's that?" snapped the captain. "Who are you? What do you want?" - -"I heard you say, sir, just now, that you were three hands short aboard -your ship. If you will take us we will try hard to serve you in any -capacity." - -"But, my little man," said the captain, stooping down, for he was very -tall, "I don't take babies aboard my ship. You see, we haven't got any -nurses to look after them when they cry." - -The lads drew themselves up to their full height, and told the captain -that they were fifteen, and that they had walked sixty miles to reach -Liverpool, and that they meant to go to sea, if not aboard his ship, -then aboard some other vessel. - -"Take an old sea-captain's advice, lads. Don't go to sea till you're -twenty, and then you'll never go at all. The sea's not exactly the -place for young gentlemen like you. Go home to your mothers." - -"We've got no mothers, or perhaps we shouldn't have come here!" said -Jack, flushing up a little at the captain's words. - -"Oh, come now, my little bantams. If that's so it alters the case. For -the boy who hasn't got a mother the sea's not a bad place. Just tell me -who you are, and where you come from?" - -So they told him all, for there was a glint of kindness in that stern -face, and a twinkle in those clear, grey-blue eyes that gained their -confidence. They even told the story of Old Click and Beagle, and the -lock-up. When they described the manner in which they had held the -keepers at bay with the wood-chunks, till they were burnt out, both the -captain and the old pilot laughed heartily, and when they had described -their long, wearisome tramp to find Captain Elliot's ship, the skipper -clapped them on the shoulder and said-- - -"Bravo! You've got grit and pluck enough to become admirals. Captain -Elliot, did you say?" - -"Yes, sir, Captain Elliot." - -"Of what ship?" - -"The _Ilawara_. He is my uncle, and he promised I should go to sea with -him when I was fifteen. Do you know him, sir?" - -"Why, yes! We were boys together aboard the frigate _Monmouth_. We had -many a fight with the French in those days, and many a close shave too. -Fancy you being his nephew." Then turning to the old pilot, the captain -said, "What say you, William? Shall I take the young gamecocks? I like -them, but the sea's a rough place for young lads." - -The pilot brought a pair of kindly eyes to bear upon the youngsters, as -though he envied their youth and outlook upon life, and longed to be -young again, and then said-- - -"Take 'em, Captain Forbes. A voyage will do them no harm. 'Tisn't as -though they were taken crying from their mothers. It'll larn 'em a -useful lesson. 'Tis just the way I went to sea meself. Take 'em." - -"Get aboard, youngsters, and report yourself to Mr. Rogers, the first -mate." - -The youngsters did get aboard. Their hearts were thumping with pride -and glee, for they had gained their hearts' desire, and before long they -had cleared the Mersey bar and were standing out to sea, sailing out -into the sunset. When the pilot went overboard, he nodded to them, and -hoped that they'd come home some day "Admirals of the Blue." - -As soon as his duties permitted, Captain Forbes himself took them in -hand and assigned them their work. He supplied them each with a middy's -outfit, enrolled their names on the ship's books, and gave them a small -cabin near his own. Although the captain had taken a special fancy to -them, they were not to find it all honey, however. They were to help -the men to take in sail, to share in the watches, to personally attend -upon the captain, and to do much monotonous and arduous work, but they -never shied at it and never disobeyed a superior officer. Each day, -however, several hours were set aside for study, and the captain -provided the books and set the lessons, which were in mathematics, -navigation and seamanship. - -Captain Forbes took a kind and fatherly interest in the lads, though he -never relaxed for one moment that stern discipline which is so necessary -for a headstrong youth. He taught them that the only way to learn how -to command others was by first learning how to command themselves. -Nevertheless, to set matters right at home he had sent a letter by the -pilot, addressed to Jack's father, telling him where the lads were, and -asking him not to be uneasy on their account, as one voyage would soon -settle whether their future was to be upon the sea or not. Under these -favourable conditions our heroes soon got their "sea-legs," and made -rapid progress in their new studies, though they never forget the -dreadful fright they received the first time they were sent aloft in bad -weather. - -One dark night, in a fierce gale off the Irish coast, they were ordered -to assist the men in furling the main-top-gallant and main-royal sails. -The vessel was creaking and straining beneath them; rolling uneasily in -the trough of the sea. Long before they reached the crosstrees their -hearts were thumping wildly and their teeth were chattering with fright, -and for a moment Jack wished that he were safe ashore, even if in the -old village lock-up again; but the worst was yet to come. - -Far down beneath them the slippery decks seemed black as night, except -when a huge green wave swept it from stem to stern. The captain was -shouting orders to the men aloft, as though the lives of all aboard -depended upon a ready compliance, and for a while the men in the rigging -seemed helpless. The hoarse voice of the first mate was heard calling -to the men who were struggling at the wheel, and all seemed confusion. - -Still, the lads felt that the eyes of the captain were upon them, and -they did not come down till their work was done, although when they -reached the yards they thought their last moment had come, as the canvas -filled like a huge bladder, and nearly hurled them off into the boiling -surf and the destruction that threatened them below. They remained at -their posts, assisting the men, hanging on sometimes by their teeth, -until the sails were dragged in and furled, and the gaskets made fast -and true. - -After that experience they soon acquired more confidence and were easily -at home, whether aloft or below, in fact, if anything, they preferred to -be aloft. 'Tis possible, even, that they might have adopted the sea as -a profession, and that their names might have come down to us with some -of the illustrious admirals of that period, but for an incident which -happened when they had been about four weeks at sea, and which changed -the course of their lives once more. - -They were within two hundred leagues of Cape Cod on the New England -coast, and they were congratulating themselves on having escaped the -vigilance of the enemy's cruisers, for they had a valuable cargo aboard, -destined for Boston, when the following incident happened. Seven bells -had just sounded in the middle watch, and both Jamie and Jack were on -duty, perched on the crosstrees in the foretop. It was very cold up -there, and they were both longing for the end of the watch that they -might descend and warm themselves at the galley fire and appease their -ravenous hunger before turning in for a sleep. Day was just breaking -away to the east, but ahead it was still dark and a little cloudy. -Suddenly, through a rift in the clouds, over there in the north-west, -towards the coast of the French Canadas, Jamie saw a tiny speck, low -down on the horizon. He was about to hail the deck, but first pointed -it out to Jack. - -"What can it be?" - -"Take the glass, Jamie. My hands are so numbed and cold I cannot keep -it still." - -Jamie took the telescope, and steadying himself for an instant, he -leaned against the mast and held the glass to his eye. As he brought it -to bear on that speck, the cry involuntarily burst from his lips-- - -"A sail! A sail!" - -"Where away?" called the first mate from the deck. - -"On the starboard bow, sir, north-west by west." - -"What do you make of her?" - -"Can't raise her hull yet, sir, but she must be a big ship, for she -carries a good head of canvas." - -Almost instantly the mate was up in the fore-top, carefully examining -the stranger. As he did so a grave look crossed his face. - -"Anything wrong, sir?" queried Jamie. - -"I don't like the look of her. I fear she's no friend. We may have to -run." Again he examined her. Then, shutting up the glass with a bang, -he said-- - -"Go down, Elliot, and call the captain." - -"Aye, aye, sir." - -While the captain was being called, eight bells sounded the end of the -watch, and though Jack had been eagerly longing for that blessed sound -before, he would now willingly have remained aloft to watch that distant -speck, which seemed fraught with such danger. - -As he reached the deck he met the captain coming up the companion -ladder. The latter immediately called out to the first mate, who had -remained aloft-- - -"Is she showing any colours, Mr. Rogers?" - -"Not yet, sir!" - -"What do you think she is?" - -"She's a cruiser, sir. Of that I'm pretty certain, but whether English -or French I can't yet say." - -At this alarming news, the captain himself went aloft and keenly -examined the movements of the stranger for a few minutes, and then -said-- - -"She's a French cruiser, Mr. Rogers, and a fast one too. We must either -fight her or show her a clean pair of heels." - -In a few minutes the _Duncan's_ course was altered. Every stitch of -canvas that she could carry was flung out. Royals and stuns'ls were -set, and with the foam surging under her bows she fairly bounded through -the water, leaving a wake astern that was a mile long. - - - - - *CHAPTER V* - - *THE FIGHT WITH THE FRIGATE* - - -There was no little excitement aboard when it became known that the -distant sail, "hull down" upon the horizon, was probably a French -frigate. - -"Look at her white canvas, and her large, square yards!" exclaimed -Jamie. "She must be a man-of-war, and even if she's only a frigate -she'll carry thirty guns against our ten, and treble the number of men." - -"If she is a Frenchman she'll sink us, that's certain, though I hope -Captain Forbes will make a fight of it," replied Jack, who could not -entirely suppress a feeling akin to dread, as he watched the approaching -ship. - -"There's just a chance that she may be a friend, after all, for even the -English cruisers do not always show their colours to the quarry until -all chance of escape is cut off." - -"It's just possible, of course, for there should be plenty of them -hereabouts. Mr. Rogers tells me that last year they brought no less than -three hundred French ships and their crews into English ports." - -Breakfast was served as soon as the excitement aboard the _Duncan_ had -abated somewhat, and afterwards the captain assembled the crew and -addressed them as follows-- - -"Lads, we're now within two hundred leagues of the New England coast, -and we're carrying a valuable cargo. 'Tis our duty to save it if we -can, but yonder is a fast and powerful frigate in our wake, who won't -show any colours, though mine have been flying at the mast-head this -half-hour." - -"Hurrah! hurrah!" burst from the men, as they saw the ensign they loved -so well unfurled to the breeze. - -"That's right, lads! I'm glad to see that you're not ashamed to fight -for the old flag," exclaimed the captain. - -"We'll die for it, captain, if need be!" shouted several of the men, and -no wonder, for 'tis remarkable the courage that even a flag inspires in -the presence of an enemy, especially when that enemy dares to insult it. - -"The fact that he has not yet shown his colours," went on the captain, -"means that we've an enemy in our wake. Still, if this breeze holds we -may outsail him, but if we can't do that we've got to fight him." - -"Aye! aye! sir! Let's fight him." - -"No Frenchman shall ever take my ship while I live. I'll blow her up -first. Mark my words, lads. I will!" This was spoken in such a -fierce, but deliberate manner that the men all saw that Captain Forbes -meant it, and they responded with a ringing cheer, which rent the air -like a broadside, and filled each heart with courage and determination. - -"So now, lads, let's clear the decks, and prepare for the worst." - -"Aye! aye! sir!" - -And the men went to work as only British tars can work. They cleared -the decks of everything that was useless in an action. They cleaned and -loaded the guns, but they did not as yet open the port-lids to run them -out, lest the lower decks should be swamped, and the ship delayed. They -ran out the boarding-nets, and brought up the powder, wads and shot. -They got ready their cutlasses and boarding-pikes, and in every way -possible prepared to meet a daring foe. - -"Tell the men aloft to keep a sharp lookout. We may sight an English -frigate at any moment, and then we shall see some fun, Mr. Rogers." - -"Aye! aye! captain. That we shall," replied the mate. - -Slowly the distant frigate gained upon the _Duncan_, and before noon it -could be easily seen from the deck, though still some five leagues -distant. Nearer and nearer she came, and every man aboard the _Duncan_ -had now made up his mind that a fight was the only possible ending, and -the sooner it came, the better. - -The second mate, Mr. Hudson, and Jamie were in the fore-top now, and -just before dinner the captain hailed them, and said-- - -"Ho, there! Can you make out her armament yet?" - -"Pretty well, sir." - -"How many guns does she carry?" - -"Twenty-six, I fancy, sir, for I can make out thirteen portholes on her -starboard side." - -The captain trod the deck impatiently, looking anxiously first at the -approaching frigate, and then into the weather quarter, as though he -anticipated a change. - -"I fear the wind's dropping, Mr. Rogers," he said to the first mate, who -paced the deck beside him. "We shall have a calm shortly," and within -another half-hour the wind moderated, and shortly after that it blew -spasmodically, and the frigate, now only two leagues away, was "laying -on and off," trying to catch every breath of wind. The sails then -flapped idly against the masts, and there followed a dead calm, when -both ships lay helpless upon a mirrored sheet of glass. - -A puff of blue smoke broke away from one of the starboard guns of the -enemy, as she now lay broadside on towards the English ship, and then-- - -"Boom!" came a report, rumbling over the water. - -At the same instant the French flag was broken at the mast-head. - -"I thought as much, lads! Now we know who she is, and what she wants. -That shot is a demand for surrender. What are those other flags he's -hanging out, Mr. Hudson?" - -"He's signalling, sir. Wants to know if we've struck. What shall I -tell him, sir?" - -"Tell him we haven't struck yet, but we'll do so as soon as he comes a -little nearer, in the same way that Englishmen always strike." - -At these words, which were heard all over the ship, a rousing cheer, -which the Frenchman must have heard and wondered at, rang across the -water, for it summed up the feelings of every man aboard. Shortly after -this, the event which every one was expecting, from the captain down to -the youngest cabin boy, happened. - -"They're preparing to lower away the boats, sir. They mean to cut us -out," came from the fore-top. - -"Stand ready, my lads. Load every gun with grape-shot, lads, but don't -fire till I give the order." - -"Aye, aye, sir!" - -One, two, three boats had been lowered, and filled with armed men. Each -pulled ten oars, and there were at least thirty men in each boat, now -pulling towards the _Duncan_. - -Guns were run out; matches lit; cutlasses and pikes kept handy; but for -the next half-hour a deep silence pervaded the ship's company. The men -spoke not, for every order had been given, except that one for which -they were all waiting; but the glow which was upon every cheek, and the -sparkle which was in every eye, showed the tense feeling which animated -the men. It was as though every man heard the words-- - -"In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." - -Jamie and Jack were both stationed at the same gun, one of the -twelve-pounders on the port-side, amidships. This was their first -action, and they had a strange feeling at this moment. It was not fear, -for who could fear with the eye of that brave commander upon them from -the quarter-deck. It was rather a feeling of mingled awe and suspense. -Oh, how slowly the moments crawled! Five--ten--twenty minutes passed. - -They could now hear the swish of the enemy's oars as they fell in -measured strokes upon the water. Nearer and nearer they came. The -first boat was now scarcely a cable's length away, when-- - -"Fire!" came in a voice of thunder from the poop. - -Every gun that had been brought to bear belched forth its contents of -flame and iron. The deadly missiles sped on their way, carrying death -and destruction. - -As soon as the smoke had cleared away, the awful effect of this -concentrated fire could be seen. The first boat was literally blown to -pieces; nothing was left of it but broken fragments, and the sea seemed -full of struggling creatures, whose cries were pitiful. The second and -third boats, however, were untouched, and while one went to the -assistance of the first, the other dashed alongside, and with a wild cry -of vengeance, the men clambered up the side and attempted to board. - -"Repel boarders! Give it 'em, lads!" cried the captain, and seizing -their pikes and cutlasses the men left the guns and attacked the enemy, -who came on cheering, led by their brave officers. The third boat had -stopped but to pick up a few stragglers, and then joined their comrades. -There were now sixty or seventy men attempting to board the merchantman, -but very few of them reached the deck, for the nets impeded their -progress, and the stalwart defenders hurled them back into the sea. - -The carnage was frightful. No quarter was asked, and none was given. -The guns were silent now. It was hand-to-hand. Once the enemy -succeeded in cutting away the nets, and an intrepid officer, followed by -a few men, gained the deck, but in a trice Captain Forbes was amongst -them, hewing his way with his long cutlass. A dozen men sprang to his -assistance, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the intruders -were stretched dead or wounded upon the deck. - -At another time the alarm was given that the Frenchmen had gained the -poop. Alas, it was only too true; some of them had clambered up and in -at the stern windows, and had thus gained the upper deck. There was not -a moment to spare, for already they were attempting to turn one of the -brass swivels on the poop upon the crew. - -"Follow me, lads!" cried the captain, as he sprang aft and up the -companion ladder, and every man who could leave his post followed him, -including Jamie and his chum. - -A dreadful hand-to-hand fight took place. The men fought like tigers. -Only two of the enemy escaped who had reached the poop, and these were -glad to leap into the sea, to escape those avenging English, who fought -like demons. - -While this fierce scuffle was taking place, something happened that had -passed unnoticed until it was too late. The wind, which had dropped to -a dead calm, had sprung up and freshened rapidly from the nor'-east, and -the frigate, receiving the first benefit of the breeze, had crept in -nearer to the ship, and almost before Captain Forbes could get his -vessel under way, the enemy poured in his first broadside of thirteen -guns, with an awful, crashing effect. The ship staggered, and shook -from stem to stern at this fearful impact. Down came the foremast, and -went over the side, carrying with it a tangle of wreckage, torn sails -and rigging, giving the vessel a heavy list to starboard, and killing -several men on the spot. More than twenty men were killed or wounded -within a few minutes, for broadside now followed broadside. - -"Cut away that rigging, lads!" cried the captain. - -They were almost his last words. As he seized a hatchet and sprang -forward to cut away the wreckage, a cannon ball shattered his right arm, -and even as he fell, a musket ball pierced his breast, and he fell upon -the blood-stained deck. Jack rushed forward to support him, and tried -to staunch his wounds, but the captain shook his head and lapsed into -unconsciousness. - -It was a most unequal fight, but the men still fought on stubbornly. -Half the guns were dismantled, and there were not enough unwounded men -to serve the rest, but every gun that could be manned was double-loaded -and fired with such precision, that great havoc was worked upon the -enemy's decks, which were much more crowded than those of the English -ship. - -For another hour the unequal contest continued, and the French were -preparing to board again, when the _Duncan's_ main-top-mast went over -the side with a crash, bringing down with it the colours, which had till -now floated proudly over the wreckage of the merchantman. - -This crash awoke the captain to consciousness for a moment, and he -noticed the colours, hanging over the side, as he half raised himself -and endeavoured to assume command. - -"The colours! the colours!" he cried. "Take the ensign aloft, some one!" - -Jamie, who was bending over him, heard and understood. He seized the -ensign, tattered and torn as it was, and tore it away. The next moment -he sprang into the mizzen shrouds, for that was the only mast remaining. -Amid a shower of bullets from the French sharpshooters, he reached the -crosstrees. As he reached the top-gallant yard a shaft of pain seemed -to grip his left shoulder; still, up he went, and in another moment he -had made fast the colours above the mizzen-royal yard. - -A moment only he stayed there--to wave his hat in defiance at the enemy, -whose bullets still whistled around him. This daring act was not lost -upon a gallant foe. The French captain ordered his men to cease firing -at _ce brave fils_, and a cheer even broke from the cruiser's deck as he -began to descend. - -It was with difficulty that he came down from that perilous post, for -his left arm was useless owing to the bullet wound in his shoulder, from -which the blood had been flowing freely. Everything about was now -becoming blurred and indistinct. - -When at last he reached the deck the captain, supported by Jack and the -second mate, was breathing with great difficulty, but he beckoned Jamie -to him. Smiling faintly, and holding out his hand, which the lad -grasped, he was only able to whisper-- - -"Well done! We'll go down with colours flying!" - -Then he raised his eyes, to look once more at that tattered ensign, -floating bravely at the mizzen, and even while he gazed at it, still -holding the lad's hand, his eyes became fixed in death, and that torn -flag was the last thing that he saw on this side. - -Thus died a brave sailor, and an English gentleman, whose courage and -fidelity had perhaps passed unnoticed but for this brief record. And -they laid him gently against the foot of the broken main-mast. - -"Why, what's the matter, Jamie? You're wounded, too!" exclaimed Jack, -one of the few still aboard who remained unwounded. - -As Jamie looked at the dead captain the mists swam before his eyes, and -he reeled and fell beside his leader, his idol and example, who had died -at the post of duty for his ship, and the honour of his country. - - "And how can man die better, - Than facing fearful odds, - For the ashes of his fathers, - And the temples of his gods." - - -"Wake up, Jamie! Wake up! Oh, comrades, he's dying. Speak, Jamie! -Speak!" he cried in an agony of bitterness, quite heedless of the shots -that still flew around; but his comrade spoke not, for he had swooned -away from weakness and loss of blood. - -In Jamie's ears the roar of battle now seemed afar off, like the murmur -of a distant stream. The smoke, the enemy and the battle faded from his -vision, for it seemed to him that he still sat in the old school-house -at Burnside, and Jack was beside him, while Dr. Birch, book in hand, was -speaking of the heroic deeds of ancient days--of Hector and Achilles, of -Diomed and Ajax, of Æneas and Ulysses. - - - - - *CHAPTER VI* - - *PRISONERS OF WAR* - - -"You've fought like Britons, lads! You've done all that brave men could -do! It remains for us but to die like heroes," cried Mr. Rogers, the -first mate, who, though seriously wounded himself, had led the fight -since the captain fell. - -The remnant of the crew cheered these words of the mate, who was already -leaning on a dismantled gun for support. - -And what a remnant it was! Out of a crew of fifty, only nineteen men -remained alive, and most of these were wounded. The condition of the -ship, which had sustained this unequal contest, was pitiable in the -extreme. Both the fore-mast and the main-topmast were over the side, -giving the _Duncan_ a heavy list to starboard. In several places her -hull was almost rent asunder, while her decks forward were partly awash. -Each instant she threatened to founder. - -The merchantman had fought for three hours with one of the best French -frigates afloat, and several times she had repelled boarders. The -enemy's broadsides had ripped open some of her seams, and there were -already eight feet of water in the hold. The last gun was put out of -action, owing to the angle of the decks. - -"There's one more shot in the locker, lads, and by Davy Jones, if the -Frenchmen attempt to board us again I'll send them aloft!" exclaimed Mr. -Rogers, half raising himself from the gun to look at the frigate, whose -fire had now considerably slackened. - -Suddenly the "Cease fire!" was sounded aboard the French ship, and Jack, -leaving Jamie to the care of a seaman for a moment, clambered up the -steep deck to see what had happened. - -"They're sending a boat, Mr. Rogers!" he cried. "She'll be alongside in -a minute, sir. Shall I hail them?" - -"Tell them that if they set a foot aboard my ship I'll fire the -powder-magazine and blow the vessel up," cried the first officer -fiercely. - -The boat came quickly alongside, and an officer hailed them. "Do you -strike, messieurs? Do you strike?" he called, in a queer accent, half -French, half English. "If so, haul down that ensign, messieurs, if you -pleeze!" - -Jack leapt into the mizzen shrouds. "Stand off, messieurs!" he shouted. -"Come aboard at your peril, and we will blow up the ship!" At these -words a panic seized the boarders. Those who were climbing up the side -hastily dropped back again into the boat, which quickly pulled off, lest -the terrible threat should be carried out. - -Then Captain Alexandre, seeing that nothing was to be gained, and that -the _Duncan_ was on the point of foundering, sent his chief officer with -a second boat offering the highest honours of war. His respect for a -gallant enemy was such that he did not even ask them to lower that -tattered ensign, which still floated proudly at the mizzen-top, where -Jamie had made it fast. The carnage had already been dreadful, and he -knew that unless he offered honourable terms, men like these would -infinitely prefer to go down with a sinking ship than lower their -colours. - -The terms offered to the Englishmen were as follows: They were to remain -prisoners of war aboard the frigate until she reached Quebec, when the -captain would mention their honourable and brave conduct to the -Governor, and if he were willing, they should then receive their -liberty. - -"And what is the alternative?" asked Mr. Rogers. - -"The alternative," replied the Frenchman, shrugging his shoulders and -looking uneasily around the horizon, as though he half expected to see -an English cruiser appear in the distance, "is, that you may take your -luck aboard this derelict. But come, gentlemen, make up your minds -quickly. The _Sapphire_ must sail within half-an-hour." - -The mate cast his eyes around and saw but a helpless wreck, with piles -of dead and wounded upon her decks. At that instant the vessel gave a -sudden lurch as though preparing to descend into the gulfs, and some one -cried-- - -"Look out! She's going, lads!" - -"M'sieur, for the sake of these brave men, who have wives and children, -I accept your generous conditions, but, for myself, I will stay with the -captain." And at these words a deathly pallor spread over the mate's -face. He lifted his hands to his eyes, as though to shut out the sight -of the dead. Then he reeled and fell. They picked him up, but he was -dead. So they laid him beside his captain and carried the wounded -aboard the frigate. Jamie and three others were still unconscious when -they reached the frigate's deck. The rest stood by to see the last of -their old ship. It was a sight never to be forgotten. They could -distinctly see the body of Captain Forbes propped against the stump of -the mast, with more than half of his crew lying dead beside him, as the -derelict went down. - -"Hist! She's going!" came a hollow cry, which was half a sob, as they -clustered around the bulwarks of the foreigner. - -"Stand by to fire a salute!" cried Captain Alexandre, who was a -chivalrous Frenchman. - -And as the _Duncan_ took her final plunge, and the tattered ensign went -under, the _Sapphire_ paid her last tribute of respect to a valiant foe -by a salute of seventeen guns. - -Scarcely had the smoke rolled away and the last reverberation ceased, -when the frigate turned her head towards the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and -left that lonely, watery grave behind. - -Jamie's wound was not very severe, although at times it was exceedingly -painful, and after the ball had been extracted from his shoulder, he -soon recovered much of his usual health. - -Jack was his constant attendant. Day and night he scarcely left him, -but nursed him most assiduously with all the solicitude of a mother; and -no wonder, for Jamie was a hero now, and with all the ship's company -too. His bravery in carrying the colours aloft on a sinking ship, with -the bullets flying all around him, and his body a mark for all the -enemy's sharpshooters, his persistence in completing the task, after a -bullet had shattered his shoulder--this had made him a conspicuous hero, -not only amongst his comrades, but also amongst the officers and crew of -the _Sapphire_. - -Jamie, however, like all true heroes, bore his triumphs modestly and his -wound patiently, though, to tell the truth, he was just a little proud -of the latter, and especially was he proud of Captain Forbes' words to -him when he regained the deck-- - -"Well done!" He would never forget those words, spoken as the captain -breathed his last. - -Jack, however, was just a little envious of Jamie's first wound, for, -strange to say, although Jack had been in the thick of the fight, and -the men had fallen around him in heaps, yet he had not received a -scratch during the whole engagement. - -What exciting adventures had already fallen to the lot of these two lads -since they left the old school and village so precipitately! Yet even -these adventures were but a foretaste, compared with those that yet -awaited them out there, in the west. - -Every day Jamie grew stronger, and as he and Jack paced the deck they -talked of all these strange events which had happened to them since they -left Burnside. What was the old Squire thinking of now, when his last -and youngest son had left him to fight for the Empire? What did Old -Click and Mr. Beagle say when they found the village lock-up empty and -the birds flown? And old Dr. Birch, what did he think of the truants? - -And they laughed over it all, with all the sang-froid and carelessness -of youth, and yet they grieved when they remembered their friend, -Captain Forbes, in his ocean grave. They could ill-spare him, yet the -memory of him would always be with them, to spur them on to brave and -manly deeds, for he had died like an English gentleman, and a brave son -of Empire, fighting to the last for the flag that he loved, as many a -man still would do, before that great land out there, beyond the ship's -bow--the Canadas--would pass from the hands of the French, to become, as -the ages unfolded, the greatest jewel in the British Crown. - -But what did the future contain for them? They often asked each other -this question, as at evening they watched that great ball of fire -descend into the azure main. And when they had watched that shaft of -crimson fade into a duller glow, they retired to the cabin that had been -allotted to them, and pledged each other that, come good or ill, they -would be friends and comrades--to the Gates. And if God willed it--for -at this time they were specially drawn to think of His mercies and His -watchfulness over them--they would yield their lives a willing -sacrifice, like Captain Forbes, at the shrine of duty. For while their -country needed men to fight her battles, whether by land or sea, even at -the farthest bounds of Empire they would faithfully serve and as -willingly die. - -That pledge was never forgotten, and through all the dangers and -misadventures that befell them, amid the virgin, trackless forests and -the rivers and great lakes of North America, it was never broken. - -Thus the voyage continued, with calm seas and fair winds, for more than -a week, but the journey to the Gulf was not destined to be entirely -without excitement, for one afternoon, when the wind had freshened a bit -from the south-east, they were all startled by a sudden cry from the -watch aloft of-- - -"Sail ho!" - -"Where away?" called the officer of the watch. - -"To the south-west, low down, sir!" - -After a careful examination the sail was made out to be nothing less -than an English cruiser, on the watch-out for the enemy's ships, and -Captain Alexandre, feeling that after his recent fight he was in no fit -condition to meet such a foe, crowded on all sail and stood away N.N.W. -with the cruiser in full chase. - -All the afternoon the chase continued, and the cruiser was slowly but -surely gaining, and had it not been that towards evening the frigate ran -into a fog off the Banks of Newfoundland, there is little doubt but that -she would soon have been overhauled and compelled to fight, and would in -all probability have been captured. - -All night the Frenchman kept on, changing his course several times to -dodge his pursuer, and next morning, although the fog had lifted, the -English cruiser was nowhere to be seen. - -Two days afterwards they entered the Gulf; leaving Louisburg and the Ile -Royale on their left they stretched across that vast inland sea, and in -another four days entered the St. Lawrence River. - -The lads were charmed by the wonderful scenery which bordered the river. -The bold cliffs and headlands, and the forest-lined banks, the same -which Jacques Cartier and his brave little band of voyagers beheld for -the first time in 1535, when through every inlet in this great continent -they sought a way to the spicy groves of the East Indies, and the -far-famed and wondrous, but distant, Cathay, which they fondly imagined -lay beyond this new continent, as in truth it really did. - -While the frigate was working her way up the St. Lawrence, an incident -occurred that was destined to have important consequences on the -after-life of our two heroes. - -When the ship was anchored for the night off one of the small French -settlements below Quebec, a fierce Iroquois chief was brought aboard as -a prisoner. A great price had been set upon his scalp by the French -Governor, for he was the greatest chief in all the "Five Nations," and -his people had been the bitterest enemies of the Canadas, since the days -of Champlain. - -"What a fine warrior he is!" said Jack. "What a pity he is to be put to -death when he reaches Quebec!" - -"Fine, indeed!" said one of the soldiers who had brought him aboard. -"He has taken more paleface scalps than any man of his race!" - -He was a man of powerful stature, with a defiant look, and an eye as -proud and piercing as that of the eagle had once been, whose long white -feathers now adorned his hair. Erect and brave, with a sullen ferocity -of demeanour, he looked scornfully upon his captors, whose petty -tyrannies and insults could not drag from him an exclamation of anger or -pain, for he seemed possessed of all the stoicism for which his race was -famous. - -The fierce and implacable Iroquois, who formed that wonderful -confederation called the Five Nations, consisting of the Mohawks, -Senecas, Onondagas, Oneidas, and the Cayugas, and later the Tuscaroras, -were the most powerful of all the Indian tribes. They were the deadly -enemies of the Canadas, and during the whole period of the French wars -were the irreconcilable foes of the latter, and more or less the -faithful allies of the English, though their paleface friends did not -always show them that consideration which was their due. - -They jealously guarded the passes and rapids that lay between Quebec and -Mont Royale (Montreal) and right away to the "Thousand Islands" and the -lakes, they took every occasion to harass the French, who had come to -steal their lands, to rob them of their hunting-grounds, and drive them -towards the setting sun. - -They scalped all the outlying bands of soldiers who had the misfortune -to fall into their hands; they waylaid the fur-traders and the -_voyageurs_, destroyed the harvests and burned the villages of the -settlers beyond the forts. - -So tiresome did they become that at length a price was paid for every -Iroquois scalp that was brought into Quebec. It was, therefore, -considered a matter of no small importance when the renowned "White -Eagle," the most powerful chief of the Iroquois, had been captured. - -Parties of soldiers from the various forts had been repeatedly -dispatched to trap him and to bring him in dead or alive, but this wily -foe, retreating before his enemies, generally drew them into the forest -and harassed them in the rear and the van, then cut off their supplies, -and scalped the stragglers, eluding their vigilance at every turn. - -This desperate chief was now chained to one of the guns on board the -_Sapphire_, and for two days he was the object of cruelty and -ill-treatment, chiefly from those who had brought him aboard. He was -kept without food or water. He was taunted with the fact that a heavy -price was set upon his head, and that he would soon be tortured or -roasted alive. - -Though hungry and parched with thirst, he was too proud to ask his -captors for a drink of water. He remained sullen and obdurate, and -refused to speak. Once a tormentor offered him a pannikin of salt water -to drink, and then, because he refused it, threw it over him. But he -remained as immovable as a statue. Once a marlin-spike was hurled at -him. A white man would have dodged to avoid such an unwelcome missile, -but this mighty chief was too proud. He never winced or moved a muscle, -though the spike went perilously near his face. - -Jack and Jamie both remonstrated, but were told to mind their own -business, and as the Iroquois had been allied with the English, and -spoke a smattering of their tongue, they were forbidden to converse with -or even to approach him. To speak to him was what they both very much -longed to do, for he was the first real Indian they had seen, and very -different from the wretched specimens who hung about the settlements of -the white men. They admired the haughty pride and fearlessness of this -child of the forest. - -"He must be parched with thirst," said Jamie, on the afternoon of the -second day. "I will give him a drink of water, whatever the Frenchies -say." - -And he immediately took a pannikin of fresh water and held it to the -chief's mouth, for his hands were bound. Before the water could touch -his lips the pannikin was dashed to the ground, and the boys were -ordered away, but the look of gratitude that came into the chief's eyes -showed that he had understood that a kindness was intended. - -Soon after this the chief was removed to a cabin for greater security, -but next morning, when the officer in charge of him unlocked the door, -the prisoner was gone and there was no trace of him. He had in some -mysterious way slipped his bonds during the night, dropped through the -open porthole into the river, and made his way to the shore without -being observed. - -Great was the consternation on board when it was found that White Eagle, -the terror of the settlements, had escaped, but though a search was made -for him in every part of the ship, it was only too evident that he had -obtained his freedom, and was at liberty to harass his enemies once -more. - -They had now reached the Ile d'Orleans, a huge island that lay in -mid-stream, just below the great Falls of the Montmorency. Now piles of -lofty cliffs fringed the northern bank of the river, rising sheer out of -the water at high tide. Then they reached the mouth of the St. Charles -River, while before them, crowning a lofty summit, with its churches and -houses, ramparts and bastions, stood the city of Quebec. - -The _Sapphire_ fired a salute, which was replied to by one of the forts, -and the next moment she anchored beneath the frowning guns of the -citadel--the Gibraltar of North America. - - - - - *CHAPTER VII* - - *OLD QUEBEC* - - -The old town of Quebec in 1757 was a picturesque and romantic spot. -Clusters of pretty white Canadian cottages, many of them surrounded by -gardens and orchards, filled with apples, pears and vines, transplanted -from Old France, lined the margins of the St. Charles River, and even -the lower town, about the banks of the St. Lawrence. Half-a-hundred -churches and convents already raised their spires heavenward. The upper -town contained the governor's house, and many palatial edifices of -timber and stone, while high over all, the frowning citadel crowned the -lofty eminence, looking down upon town and river. - -For over two hundred years the children of the French king had dwelt -here, and no white men had as yet seriously disputed their possession of -this mighty fortress, which was the key to half a continent; but the -sands were running low. In her late wars with the sea-dogs of Britain, -France had lost the command of the seas; her navies, her maritime -commerce had been well-nigh destroyed, and the sea-girt island, where -dwelt the sons of the Saxon and the Viking, had become the "Mistress of -the Seas." - -The penalty to be paid by France for this was shortly to be the cession -of all her North American colonies to the victors, for she that had -failed to command the narrow seas at home, could not hope to retain her -Empire abroad. Thus has it ever been with the citadel of Mansoul; the -heart of the Empire. Make these impregnable, and all is well. Weaken -these, through slothfulness, carelessness or ease, and the borders of -the Empire, like dead branches, are soon lopped away. - -As our heroes were compelled to remain in Quebec for some nine months or -more before they had an opportunity to leave, they did not grumble, but -made the most of their time. For the first three months they were more -or less the guests of Captain Alexandre, but after the _Sapphire_ put to -sea again with a convoy, they entered the service of a Major Ridout, a -retired army officer, who had become a fur-trader, which at that time -was a very lucrative business, and entailed an adventurous career. - -Major Ridout saw that they were two likely youths, who would be of great -service, out in the wilds, collecting furs from the Indians. These -distant tribes dwelt hundreds of leagues in the forests, far away on the -shores of the great lakes, which at this time were practically unknown, -save by a few bold and reckless adventurers, who frequently paid dearly -for their temerity. - -He promised them that when the spring unlocked the rivers and lakes, -they should accompany him on his travels into the unknown forests and -wilds of the interior, and as this was the only method that had as yet -offered them a chance of earning a living or making a fortune, they -gladly accepted it. They were also anxious to leave Quebec, as measures -were already being concerted to prepare for a siege; for ugly rumours -had come to hand that Admiral Boscawen in command of a British squadron -had annihilated a French fleet, and captured a convoy destined for -Quebec. - -Every preparation, therefore, was made by General Montcalm and his -assistants, lest they should be besieged by _ces Anglais perfides_. The -lads were, therefore, doubly anxious to leave the city, lest they should -be treated as prisoners of war, for refusing to take up arms against -their countrymen. - -During their stay here they had much leisure, and made many excursions -about Quebec. Sometimes they paddled down stream in one of the major's -canoes and visited the Ile of Orleans, or the Falls of Montmorency, or -up the rapid stream of the River Charles, to visit some of the friendly -Indians. One day they were returning down-stream from a visit to Cape -Rouge, some leagues above the city, on the St. Lawrence, where they had -been camping some three days, fishing for salmon and hunting the red -deer, when suddenly, and without the slightest warning, a fearful yell -burst from a point of the southern bank, scarce a hundred yards away. - -"Indians!" exclaimed Jack, striking his paddle into the water with all -his might. - -"Iroquois!" said Jamie coolly. - -A shower of bullets and a flight of arrows flicked up the water about -the canoe. - -"Pull for your life, Jamie! They've been lying in wait for us. Lucky -we didn't land there as we had intended." - -"Lucky indeed! They would have had our scalps by now, and they may have -them yet. Look there! One, two, three canoes! coming as fast as they -can. It's all over unless we can beat them." - -They were in a tight corner. They had been warned that the Iroquois -were watching the river above Quebec, but they had never dreamt that -they were so near. - -The Indians were gaining upon them, although they were flying rapidly -downstream. They had ceased to yell now, for the city was only two -leagues away, and they were straining every nerve to overtake the lads -before they could reach safety. An occasional bullet struck the canoe, -but they did not look around, for they could hear the splash of the -Iroquois' paddles, and the sound seemed to come nearer and nearer. - -"I can do no more, Jack! My arm's still painful from the wound," and -Jamie drew in his paddle. - -"Hold on, Jamie! Don't give in. In another five minutes we shall be -out of danger. There's the little cove where we've landed many a time, -just there on the northern bank. If we can only reach that spot, we can -quickly climb up to the heights, and the Indians will not dare to follow -us there. Hold on for another few minutes!" - -This was the only chance that offered an escape from the foe, and Jamie, -despite his wound, which at times of great exertion still pained him, -put in his paddle again. They were running rapidly down under the -precipitous northern bank now, and with a skilful twist of his paddle -Jack sent the nose of the canoe quickly ashore, right up on the narrow -strand, in the cove, at the foot of the cliffs. - -The Indians had perceived their intentions, and with a loud yell had -changed their course to prevent them and cut them off. The first canoe -was not a dozen yards away, and in another three seconds would have been -beached alongside theirs, when Jack seized his rifle and, without taking -any precise arm, fired point-blank into the canoe. It was loaded with -heavy buck-shot, and the Iroquois at the steering paddle received half -the contents of it. - -Nothing could have been better done had the aim been more skilfully -taken. The paddle dropped helplessly from his hand, and the rapid -current carried the canoe past the landing-point. A savage yell burst -from every Indian within sight. The lads responded with a shout of -defiance, and then, abandoning canoe, outfit, rifles and everything they -possessed, they leapt from the boat and swiftly climbed the steep and -narrow ascent, pulling themselves up by the roots and branches of trees -that grew on this precipitous bank. - -This clever and successful shot had gained them but a few seconds of -time, but they reached the summit unharmed, and after a brief pursuit, -the Indians, who were getting too near the settlements, retired and gave -up the fruitless chase, and from the Heights of Abraham, as they looked -down upon the river, they had the satisfaction of seeing their late -enemies pursued in turn by a party of Algonquins, the active allies of -the French. - -Spring came at last, unlocking the rivers and the lakes, and the -half-wild fur-traders, with their Indian guides, were already preparing -to ascend the St. Lawrence, up past Mont Royale, and the Thousand -Islands, across the great inland sea called Ontario, to the rude fort of -Niagara. - -Even here the fatiguing journey would not end, for after a brief -respite, they must shoulder their packages, and carry their long -birch-bark canoes over the rough portage that led past the mighty, -thundering cataract of Niagara, near by the hunting-grounds of the -fierce and warlike Senecas. Then they must place their canoes again on -the upper reaches of the swift Niagara River, and from thence enter Lake -Erie, pass the outposts of Presqu' Isle, Miami and Fort Detroit, to the -rivers, the lakes and the forts beyond, where in the surrounding forests -the red man in all his primeval simplicity hunted, fished, lived and -died. Even to the far-off lands of the Kickapoos, the Ojibways and the -Winnebagos these brave fur-traders often ventured, drawn partly by a -desire for gain, and partly, no doubt, by the added spice of danger and -adventure. - -Such, then, was the adventure to which our heroes were committed, as -soon as the rivers were clear of the dangerous ice-floes, and the -Algonquin chief Wabeno arrived with a dozen of his braves to accompany -them as guides and scouts. Here was a prospect of adventure which -thrilled the lads, and they anxiously awaited the arrival of the chief, -which was to be on the first day of the new moon. They were to have a -share in the enterprise, as a reward of their services. - -"Wake up, Jack! Here comes the chief, in all his warpaint, with -moccasins and deer-skin hunting-shirt, and with a girdle of scalps -hanging from his belt," cried Jamie one morning, rushing into the -apartment that served them both for sleeping purposes. - -"Hurrah!" cried his friend. "I'm coming. Are the canoes ready?" - -"Yes, they're all loaded up and waiting in the river, by the lower -town." - -"Glad we're leaving Quebec at last, aren't you? By all the preparations -that the Governor's pushing forward, there's going to be a dreadful -fight here some day, and the side that wins will have Canada for a -prize." - -"So you want to be out of the fighting, do you, old boy? That isn't a -bit like you." - -"Ah, don't misunderstand me, old fellow. I mean that I don't want to be -cooped up in here when the fighting takes place, because our fellows -will be outside. I wouldn't mind a hand in the storming, fighting under -the British flag, for although the French have been pretty good to -us--at least, some of them--they didn't treat the rest of the _Duncan's_ -crew too well, when they shipped them all back to England in that leaky -old tub." - -They had now reached the lower part of the town, and were approaching -the river by one of the narrow steep streets of which Quebec has so -many, when Jamie, casting up a look at the frowning, embattled citadel, -said-- - -"That place will want some storming! A handful of brave men, well -supplied with ammunition and provisions, might sit tight up there for -years, and defy the armies of the world." - -"You're right, Jamie, and yet, I confess, I'd like to see another flag -up there, wouldn't you?" - -Turning to his companion, Jamie looked him full in the face, and -replied-- - -"I would, Jack! And who knows? We may help to plant it there, some -day. And, then, what would they think of us in Burnside?" - -"Ah, they'd forget that they once put us in the lock-up for taking a few -trout, and they'd all turn out to welcome us home; or if we died they'd -put a tablet to our memory in the old church. Ha! ha!" laughed Jack. - -At this point their conversation, which had been partly serious and -partly jocular, was interrupted by a sound somewhat unusual at this -early hour, for it was only about five o'clock in the morning, and the -sun had not long been risen. Sounds of laughter and much shouting -greeted them, and the next moment they turned a corner and came upon the -_voyageurs_, as these rough, half-wild fur-traders are called. A dozen -or so of rough but sturdy Canadians were bidding good-bye to their wives -and sweethearts, though there seemed to be more excitement and laughter -than tears and sadness of farewell. These men, hard as nails, used to -the terrors of the wilderness, and the hardships of the forests, were -dressed nearly like their Indian allies, who stood by--Wabeno and his -braves. - -They wore fur caps, deer-skin hunting-shirts, moccasins and leggings, -worked by the Indian squaws. They were all armed with rifles and long -hunting-knives, and one or two of them, who were probably half-castes, -carried tomahawks as well. Moored to the bank close beside them were -three very long canoes, loaded with all the requirements for a six -months' trading outfit, and ready to start. - -"_Ah, mes camarades! Voici ils vient_," cried Major Ridout, the leader -of the expedition, and then in loud, ringing tones, he shouted, "_Aux -bateaux!_"--"To the boats!" - -In a moment the canoes were filled, Wabeno and three of his men entering -the first, and the others distributing themselves as arranged. There -were twenty-three all told, and the youths along with the leader, who -was a genial man, of great experience, born of a Canadian father and a -Scotch mother, entered the last boat, which was rather larger than the -other two, and had several buffalo robes spread in the stern sheets. - -The last good-bye was said, and to the stirring notes of a Canadian boat -song, the rowers paddled away, and soon left their friends and their -homes behind. Alas! how few of them were ever to see those homes or -those friends again. - -They were a merry party at present, however, and the Indians took turns -with the hardy _voyageurs_, as they paddled quickly against the rapid -stream. The canoes were very light, being made of birch bark, for they -had to be carried over rough and sometimes long portages. Yet they were -very strong and roomy, and at present were loaded so deeply that the -water was only a few inches below the gunwales. - -After two hours' hard work, pulling against the stream, the leader gave -a quick, sharp command-- - -"_À terre! À terre!_" - -This order to land for breakfast was obeyed with alacrity. Camp-fires -were lit. The "billies" were soon boiling, and a hearty meal of -pemmican and bread was washed down with a drink of water from the river. -After an hour's rest, they continued their journey. - -That night they camped on the northern bank, in a little clearing of the -forest, about thirty miles above Quebec. They had hardly yet approached -the danger zone, though small parties of the Iroquois did sometimes -penetrate thus far. A watch was set, however, and campfires were -permitted, and after supper the men chatted and laughed and smoked. -Then a song was called for--a song with a chorus. And while the flames -from the burning logs lit up the surrounding pines, one after another -trolled forth a song, and the _voyageurs_ took up the chorus, till the -woods resounded with their voices, and the creatures of the forest must -have wondered what strange beings these were that disturbed their -haunts. - -The Indians looked on at all this merriment with stoic countenances, as -though they disapproved of such light-heartedness, but at last one of -the men cried out-- - -"Wabeno! Give us a war-dance!" - -Instantly the expression of every Indian changed. Wabeno readily -acceded to the request. A post was driven into the ground, and a circle -formed around it. A few minutes sufficed to arrange their fluttering -feathers and scalp-locks, and to paint their faces with red ochre and -white lead. Then, suddenly, Wabeno, their chief, with a loud, -blood-curdling yell, leapt into the circle, brandishing his tomahawk, -and began reciting, in a fierce tone, all the deeds of prowess -accomplished by himself and his ancestors. - -A second warrior imitated his example, and then another, until at length -the war-dance began in real earnest, and the whole pack of Indians were -yelling and whooping, like so many demoniacs, hacking and tearing at the -wooden post as though they were scalping an enemy. When they had thus -worked themselves up into a frenzy, a final whoop from the chief ended -the wild frolic, and instantly every warrior assumed a mask of boredom -and indifference. A few minutes more, and all except the watch were -fast asleep, wrapped in blankets or buffalo robes. - -Thus passed the days and nights, until after they had passed the small -fort of Mont Royale. Then the merriment ceased, for they were in an -enemy's country. The watch was doubled every evening, and fires were -left unlit, or extinguished as soon as possible. Once or twice, -suspecting the near presence of an enemy, they slept in the canoes. - -When they had passed the rapids of La Chine and Long Sault, several -Indian scouts were thrown out in advance, along either bank, in order to -prevent a sudden attack from an ambushed foe. All went well for some -days, although the subdued manner of the _voyageurs_, and the keen -alertness of the redskins, created an uneasy feeling in the minds of the -youths. Towards sunset one afternoon Jack, who had been examining the -river bank some distance ahead of the first canoe, suddenly exclaimed-- - -"Look! Wabeno is signalling! What has he seen?" - - - - - *CHAPTER VIII* - - *THE NIGHT-WATCH* - - -Quickly the canoes were drawn to the bank and hidden amongst the -overhanging bushes. A moment later a rustling was heard amongst the -branches, and Wabeno stood before them. - -"What has my red brother seen?" asked the major. - -"Wabeno has seen the trail of a serpent!" replied the chief. - -"Had the serpent moccasins?" - -"Yes! The moccasins of the Iroquois." - -"Humph! How many?" - -The Algonquin held up seven fingers, to indicate how many footprints he -had seen. - -"'Tis only a small scalping party, then, which has passed this way. -We'd better camp here for the night." - -Wabeno insisted, however, that there was probably a larger party of -Iroquois in the neighbourhood, and was for resting only until sunset, -and then travelling rapidly through the night in order to reach the -lakes as soon as possible. He seemed to think, also, that for several -days past they had been watched by the scouts of the enemy. - -As the chief spoke he looked keenly at the forest on the other side of -the stream, as though he would like to read some fatal secret which that -dense, virgin growth held inviolate; then, without further words, he -turned and disappeared into the forest, as though to join his scouts. - -"His words seem rather ominous, Jamie," said Jack, when he had gone, and -they were busying themselves making fast the canoes and unloading a few -things. - -"Yes, I'm sorry that the major paid so little attention to his words. -He seems to think that they are only a small band of marauding Indians -who have recently crossed the river, and that if they do attack us we -shall be more than a match for them. Well, let's hope he's right." - -"There's something wrong, and I like not the redskin's uneasiness, old -fellow. He scents danger, though he won't press his opinions upon the -leader. He believes it's more than a scalping party, but he evidently -thinks he's a match for Iroquois cunning." - -"Did you notice the way he looked across the river? I wonder if that's -the quarter he suspects? But come, we must lend the men a hand, for -'twill be dark in a few minutes," said Jamie. - -Major Ridout took every precaution, however, against a surprise attack. -All the Indians except two were sent into the forest to keep a strict -watch. A few trees were felled and a rude abattis constructed, which -instilled a certain amount of security into each mind. - -Then darkness fell, and one by one the men stretched themselves on the -ground and slept, with their rifles beside them. The two comrades, -however, still talked in whispers as they lay rolled in their blankets. - -"Just look at the men, Jack! How quiet they all are to-night? No -noise, no singing or dancing this time. 'Tis my belief that we're in a -tight corner, and if the Iroquois manage to get in past the scouts, -there won't be a scalp left on any of us at daybreak." - -"Never mind, we can only die once. The scouts are sure to give us -warning, and then we'll sell our lives dearly. We've been in many a -scrape before, old fellow, and we've always pulled through. There seems -to be a Providence over us." - -"Why, yes, it seems so. Do you remember the fight with the French -cruiser?" - -"Shall I ever forget it? I thought every moment would be my last when -the broadsides opened upon us." - -"Hush! What was that?" - -The hoot of an owl was distinctly heard twice, and a moment afterwards -it was answered by the call of the night-raven. The first call seemed -to come from the depth of the forest on the other side of the river. - -Scarcely had the last sound died away when the two Indians who remained -in the camp, though apparently fast asleep, sprang to their feet, seized -their rifles and disappeared into the thicket. Several of the men half -raised themselves, looked around, and then lay down once more. - -For a moment the boys listened in silence, their faces turned first to -the deep gloom of the forest shades, half expecting to hear from thence -the deadly whoop of the fierce Iroquois, and to see the rush of savage -warriors upon the sleeping camp, then they looked suspiciously across -the stream that flowed at their feet. - -Overhead the stars shone brightly, and the placid stream reflected their -fiery points on its broad bosom. Now and again its mirrored surface was -broken by the splash of the salmon and the large river-trout. - -"'Twas only a bird after all, Jack. Let us go to sleep. See, the men -are sleeping peacefully." - -"If 'twas only a bird, then why did the Indians leave to join the -scouts?" - -"I can't say. Perhaps 'twas only a private call for extra scouts. You -know the call to arms is the howl of the coyote, repeated twice. -Besides, 'tisn't likely that the enemy will get through the scouts -without being seen. An Indian is all eyes, even in the dark." - -The boys laid down again, but though Jamie was soon asleep Jack remained -awake, gazing up at those bright twinkling points, and listening acutely -for any sound that might come. Once or twice he raised himself and -looked around. - -A ripple in mid-stream caught his attention. While in the starlight he -gazed upon it, it seemed to come nearer. Then another ripple, and -another, that spread themselves out wider and wider, and in the middle -of the disturbed area there appeared a tiny speck, as though a swimmer -were breasting the stream. But even as he watched it, it disappeared -and was lost in the darkness. - -Five minutes--ten minutes passed, but the speck, whatever it was, did -not reappear. What could it be? It would be foolish to alarm the camp -prematurely, so he would just creep down to the water's edge and make -sure. He threw off his blanket and crawled along through the reeds and -willows. He had nearly reached the water when a rustling amongst the -reeds caused his heart to cease beating for an instant. What could it -be? - -Two glaring eyeballs, that glowed like fire, were fixed upon his, not -six feet away. Jack instinctively felt for his pistol, when, horror of -horrors, he had left it beside the embers of the fire. He drew his -hunting-knife from its sheath, keeping his eyes fixed the while upon -those glaring eye-balls; when the wild creature, evidently a wolf, -attracted to the river by thirst, suddenly uttered a snarl, turned tail -and made off. - -"Thank God!" he gasped. "Better a wolf than an Indian." For though -naturally a brave lad this sudden apparition had given him a shock that -made the perspiration stand out like beads on his forehead, but he -quickly recovered himself and crept down to the edge of the stream. - -He could just make out the dark, indistinct outline of the forest on the -opposite bank, but no ripples or dark objects were visible. Then he -looked down-stream, but nothing could he see. - -"I must have been deceived. What a good thing I didn't alarm the camp! -How they would have laughed at me," he muttered. - -Just then, however, he cast his eyes upstream. As he did so, he started -again. A long, dark shadow, like a log or a canoe, half-way across, -seemed to be drifting towards the northern shore on which they were -camped. It was not more than two hundred yards away. It seemed to crawl -along, then close behind it he saw a similar object, and still another. - -What were the scouts doing? Had they been betrayed? What could they -be, but canoes--Indians? Then the enemy must be crossing over, and he -raised his voice for one mighty shout of-- - -"Iroquois." - -But even as he uttered that startling cry the fierce howl of the coyote, -repeated twice, the signal to alarm the camp, came from the woods, and -the crack of a rifle awoke a hundred echoes and roused the men to a -sense of their danger. - -Even as for an instant he lingered beside the river-bank a -blood-curdling yell, the war-whoop of the Iroquois, rang across the -stream and echoed and re-echoed through the forest. A dozen rifles -spattered out their leaden hail, for the conflict had begun at last. - -Jack rushed back into the camp and found Major Ridout and the men -already in position behind the logs, prepared to receive the enemy as -soon as they should burst through that thin line of Algonquin scouts. - -"Hullo, Jack!" cried Jamie. "Where have you been? I feared that you -were a prisoner. Have you been scouting too?" - -"Why, yes! That is, I couldn't sleep, and I thought I saw a curious -object in mid-stream and went down to see what it was." - -"And what did you find?" - -"Well, I could no longer see it when I got there, but just as I was -coming away I happened to look up-stream, and I saw three canoes -crossing over from the southern bank. - -"I wonder why the chief did not discover them before. He seems to have -been watching the forest instead of the river! Hullo! What's this?" - -The sounds of a desperate struggle, a hand-to-hand fight in the bushes a -few yards away, attracted their attention. It was too dark, however, to -see anything as yet, although the dawn would be upon them shortly. - -"Stand ready, lads!" cried their leader, and every man levelled his -rifle in the direction whence the sounds came. - -The next moment a wounded Algonquin rushed into the camp, leaping over -the abattis, and then rolled over on the ground dead. He was fearfully -gashed, and it was evident that an attempt had even been made to scalp -him. How he had escaped was a marvel. The yells and war-whoops had -ceased now, and for a brief space even the rifles had ceased to speak, -and there was a dead silence. The men waited impatiently behind that -rude barricade, reserving their fire. - -Suddenly a sharp, short, piercing scream, broken short, fell upon their -ears, as though a mortal wound had been given and received. - -"Ah, Wabeno! That is the end of Wabeno!" exclaimed one of the men. - -It was indeed Wabeno who uttered that scream, and it was both his -war-cry and his death-cry, for at that instant he had met in single -combat the Iroquois chief, and the tomahawk of the greatest warrior -within a hundred leagues of the lakes, had sunk into his brain and -stretched him lifeless. - -"Now the Algonquins will scatter like the leaves of the forest, and we -must fight it out alone, lads. Oh! that the dawn would come!" exclaimed -the major, casting a brief look towards the east. - -Even as he spoke the first flush of the sunrise was lighting up the edge -of the forest and the river, but the dawn only revealed to them the -utter hopelessness of their position. The enemy were in great numbers, -and had almost completely surrounded them, for though the river was at -their rear it was being eagerly watched from the opposite bank. - -Still, for some reason, the enemy did not attempt to rush the camp as -yet. - -"I wonder why they're hanging back, Jamie," said his comrade, who lay -behind the same log with his rifle at the "ready." - -"Perhaps they've had enough scalps already, and are thinking of going -back to their wigwams." - -"Ah," replied one of the _voyageurs_, who was a regular frontiersman, -"that might be true of any other tribe but the Iroquois; they'll not be -satisfied until their girdles are full of reeking scalps. We must teach -them a lesson they'll not forget. Here goes," and raising his rifle as -he spoke he fired quickly at a dark figure that was approaching the -camp, leaping quickly from tree to tree. - -A yell of pain escaped the Indian as he rolled over in an agony, and -paid with his life for his temerity. A wild cry of vengeance came from -the dark aisles of the forest, and a dozen Iroquois leapt forward to -snatch away the dead body, lest it should fall into the hands of the -palefaces. - -This was the opportunity that had long been waited for, and the order -came sharp and short-- - -"Fire!" - -A dozen flashes of fire burst forth from behind the barricade, and a -hail of bullets was poured out upon the Indians, and a confused heap of -dead and wounded lay beside their fallen comrade, but ere the smoke had -cleared away the piercing scream of an eagle rent the air. It was the -signal for a general attack given by the Iroquois chief, and before the -palefaces had time to reload their pieces, a hundred braves leapt from -the cover of the trees, where they had been hidden on three sides of the -camp. - -The forest rang with their wild whoops, as, brandishing their hatchets -and tomahawks, they leapt over the tree trunks and fell upon the -_voyageurs_. A desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued. Frightful blows -were given and received. Paleface and redskin fought like demons. Some -of the former, seeing the hopelessness of prolonging the fight against -such numbers of their fierce and crafty foe, rushed to the river bank, -and launching one of the canoes pushed off and threw themselves in, -followed by a storm of bullets and arrows. - -From that moment the fight was lost, and even those who thus deserted -their comrades gained nothing but dishonour and death, for they were -quickly overtaken, and killed and scalped. - -The rest of the small band still fought on bravely against desperate -odds, for they were outnumbered by more than ten to one. Major Ridout -seemed to have the strength of ten, for single-handed he encountered -four Indians at once, and had stretched two of them on the ground, and -wounded a third, when a fierce painted warrior, with a plume of eagle's -feathers upon his head, uttered a wild cry and buried his knife in the -brave man's heart. - -Where were the lads all this time? As soon as the general attack was -made, they placed their backs against a pine-tree that stood nearly in -the middle of the clearing, and defended themselves against all-comers. -They were the last survivors of that little band, and they still fought -desperately with their clubbed muskets, which they wielded with a vigour -and frenzy that had already sent half-a-dozen Iroquois to the ground. - -The end was not far off, however. They had both received several nasty -wounds, and Jack was both stunned and bleeding. - -"Good-bye, Jamie!" he said, as he sank to the ground. - -Jamie felt that he, too, must soon follow him, but when Jack fell he -stepped across his body and swung his clubbed musket about so fiercely -that the enemy fell back for a minute. An Indian hurled a hatchet, which -just missed his head and buried its keen, trembling blade in the tree -behind him. - -He looked down at Jack's pale, death-like face. He called him by name, -but no answer came, and he feared that his comrade was dead. The blood -was flowing freely from his own wounds, and he felt himself getting -weaker and weaker. - -He was reeling now from sheer weakness and loss of blood. He could -hardly hold his musket. This, then, was to be the end of it all. -Deserted by the French _voyageurs_, to be killed and scalped by the -cruel Iroquois. - -"Never mind! We will die together," he mumbled to himself, "fighting to -the last." - -The Indians were returning now from the capture of the canoe. He could -see a dozen or more gesticulating forms, dancing in frenzy before him. -He could do no more. He was falling--falling--such a long way it seemed -to the ground. Then he felt the sharp steel of an Indian knife cutting -into his flesh, as it was hurled at him from a distance. - -He felt some one clutch his scalp-lock, but he was unable to resist. He -had become unconscious and oblivious of all these things. He seemed to -be in another land where, instead of the dark forest with its -interminable tangle and endless dangers, he roamed with Jamie beside a -broken stream, where the red-spotted trout leapt in a sunlit burn, the -music of whose waters charmed and soothed his tired and weary spirit. - -"Stay! He is the paleface brother of the White Eagle," said a voice -that broke his sub-conscious reverie; and at these words Jack opened his -eyes for an instant and looked into the face of a mighty warrior whose -plumed eagle crest and haughty features seemed strangely familiar. - - - - - *CHAPTER IX* - - *THE WHITE EAGLE OF THE IROQUOIS* - - -The Indian who had raised his scalping-knife drew back, and a plumed and -painted chieftain stepped forward. It was none other than the renowned -"White Eagle"--the greatest chief amongst the Six Nations. The same -daring and unconquered spirit who had made his escape from the frigate, -as she lay anchored in the river below Quebec. - -"Stay! Let me see the young palefaces, who do not run like the hares," -he commanded. - -As he bent over the prostrate youths, he was unable to restrain a -slight, involuntary start. A sudden gleam of remembrance flashed across -his countenance, and chased away for an instant the ferocity of the -savage. He recognised in them the young prisoners who, aboard the -_Sapphire_, had dared to offer him a drink of water at the risk of -losing their own promised liberty. - -Then, in a loud voice which all could hear, he uttered those words, -which caused Jack to open his eyes for an instant-- - -"Stay! He is the paleface brother of the White Eagle." - -The braves quickly gathered around him, for they were all astounded at -these words; but he continued-- - -"These are not the children of the Canadas. They are the friends of the -red man, and the children of the Yengeese. They come from the land of -the sun-rising. They were prisoners with White Eagle, in the big canoe -with wings, in the river of Canada, and when the children of the French -king treated the Eagle as the squaw of a Delaware, and even offered him -the bitter salt water to drink, the hearts of these children of Miquon -burned with pity for the red chief, and they offered him sweet water to -quench his thirst, but even that was not permitted by these dogs of -Canada." - -"Ugh! The children of the French Father are snakes and cowards. They -are singing-birds which speak a lie," cried one of the warriors. - -"The Algonquins are crows, who fly to their rookeries when they hear the -scream of the eagle," cried another. - -"Listen!" continued the chief. "The French are women, like the -Delawares, and should wear petticoats. They offered gold and fire-water -for the scalp of an Iroquois chief, but the caged eagle despised their -threats, and while his captors slept, his proud spirit burst the bars, -and his strong wings bore him aloft, back to the hunting-grounds of his -fathers." - -Exclamations of pride and assent greeted these words, for the prowess -and courage of their leader were recognised by all of them. - -"When the White Eagle of his tribe gained his freedom once more, his -heart went back to the Yengeese prisoners who had dared to show him a -kindness, and he longed to see their faces again, for an Iroquois never -forgets a kindness, though he quickly repays an insult, and now the -Manitou has sent hither my paleface friends. They are brave, for they -do not run even from my warriors. The white blood shall be washed from -their veins, and when their wounds are healed they shall be adopted into -my tribe, for the Great Spirit has said, that between the children of -Miquon and the red man there shall be peace, and the hatchet shall be -buried so deeply that none shall ever find it again." - -These remarkable words, uttered by the red chief, contained both wisdom -and prophecy, though expressed in that flowery and boastful language -which has always been a peculiarity of the North American savage. - -Quickly, then, medicinal herbs were brought from far and near to heal -the boys' wounds, and all the knowledge and skill of the tribe were used -to restore them to life and health. Fortunately their wounds were not -serious, and soon they were able to sit up and to walk, and then they -learnt how fortunate they had been. They thanked God in that moment for -all His preserving care, and especially that they were led to do that -simple act of kindness to the great chief aboard the frigate. - -In accordance with a peculiar Indian custom, water was then brought from -the river, and the usual rites of adoption were performed. When the -white blood had been washed away from their veins, the chief declared -them to be his brothers and members of his tribe. - -They were provided with deer-skin shirts and leggings, embroidered with -quills and fine bead work. Indian moccasins were placed upon their -feet, and belts of wampum around their waists, while the feathers of a -newly-killed hawk served as crests or head-gear. Except that their -faces were a little paler than those of their companions, they might -easily have been taken for young Indian braves, just entering upon their -first war-path. - -Then it only remained to find Indian names for them, so they called -Jamie "Red Feather," for when they found him his head and face were -covered with blood, as he lay upon the ground, and so they dyed the -hawk-feathers that served as his crest a deep crimson. And Jack they -called the "Black Hawk," for they said, though his face was pale, his -spirit was as fierce, and his eyes as keen, as the bird of prey whose -plumes he bore. So they left his feathers black. - -"So now we're both Iroquois braves, Black Hawk!" said Jamie, as soon as -they were left together. - -"Yes, and the brothers of White Eagle, too!" laughed his companion. - -"Well, I suppose it's a great honour they've conferred upon us, so we -must not grumble." - -"The greatest honour that an Indian can confer. And for a time I -shouldn't mind it, at any rate, until we can make our escape to the -settlements of Pennsylvania or Virginia, if it were not for those -horrible, reeking trophies that our comrades carry at their girdles." - -"Ah! the scalps, you mean----" - -"Yes. Do you know that I've counted no less than fifteen fresh scalps -amongst them, every one of which was this morning rooted where God had -placed it." - -"Horrible! What can we do?" - -"Nothing!" - -"Are we the only survivors?" - -"Some of the Algonquins escaped, I think, and a few of the Frenchmen, -who made for the forest, but none of those who entered the canoe, for -there she is. She was captured and brought back again." - -"And Major Ridout?" asked Jamie. "What has become of him? Is he dead, -too?" - -"I fear so, but all the bodies have been dragged into the forest and -hidden. I suppose the chief did that to save us a little pain, for he -probably knows that we are unaccustomed to such a sight." - -"I'm glad to hear that, for it shows that he possesses a sense of -decency and good feeling, although he's such a mighty redskin chief." - -"And 'tis certain that he remembers a kindness, too, however small," -said Jack. "And it's my opinion that he's not at all a bad fellow, but -as generous as he is brave. He remembered us at once, and we owe him our -lives, and I intend to thank him when I get the chance." - -"We owe our lives also to the fact that we stood our ground, when the -others ran away, for if we had taken either to the canoes or the forest -the chief would probably not have come our way, and we should have been -scalped by his braves." - -"So once more the path of duty has been the path of safety, as old Dr. -Birch was so fond of saying." - -"The only pleasant feature, apart from our marvellous escape, that I can -see, is that the Iroquois as a part of the Six Nations are allied with -the English against the French in this war, and they speak of the -English king as their Great Father across the water." - -During this time the Indians, who had not followed the fugitives into -the forest, had been overhauling the three big canoes which belonged to -the fur-traders, and examining their contents. - -They had made a great capture, for the canoes were deeply laden with -provisions, arms, ammunition and trading goods. The first thing that -White Eagle did was to pour out all the fire-water into the river, lest -his men should drink it, for he knew what dire consequences would ensue -to the whole band if that "devil in solution" were only permitted to -pass their lips. - -That night they camped on the same clearing where the battle had been -fought, but next morning at sunrise they took the captured canoes along -with their own, and paddled rapidly up-stream towards Lake Ontario. The -youths were both invited into the chief's canoe, and as their wounds -were still painful, they took no part in the paddling, but remained -sitting in the bottom of the canoe, or lying upon the skins which had -belonged to Major Ridout. - -The chief and several of his men spoke a little broken English, and one -spoke the Canadian patois, for he had been a prisoner amongst the -Algonquin tribes for some time, so that they were able to converse a -little during the day. - -Towards evening they reached the "Thousand Islands," where the St. -Lawrence broadens out into a lake studded with a multitude of islets, -just before it leaves Lake Ontario. Here the hand of the great -Landscape Painter seems to have made the "beauty spot" of the world, and -our heroes were charmed and even roused to a pitch of enthusiasm, as -they passed one green, verdant, or pine-wooded island after another, -while the setting sun, flinging its last ruddy beams upon the trees and -the water, completed the enchanting picture. - -"'Tis well to be a red man when the Great Manitou gives His children -such hunting and fishing grounds as these," said Jamie to the chief, for -he had been deeply stirred by the beauty that surrounded him. - -"The Great Spirit loves His red children," said the chief solemnly. "He -made for them the fish in the stream, and the deer in the forest; but He -has forgotten them for a while, for they have displeased Him, and the -children of the sun-rising have chased them from their hunting-grounds." - -Jamie made no reply, for he saw that the chief's heart was not a little -sad, for they were approaching Fort Frontenac at the entrance of the -lake, where the presence of the French behind their wooden palisades was -a constant reminder to the Indians that even the graves and the -hunting-grounds of their fathers were defiled by the presence of the -paleface children of the Canadas. - -That night they camped on one of the islands, but long before daybreak -they departed and stole swiftly but silently past the fort, and entered -the broad waters of Lake Ontario. There was just a chance that some of -the survivors had reached the fort and alarmed the soldiers, but all was -quiet as they paddled quickly by. Count Frontenac, who established the -fort, was a clever soldier, but even to this day his name is remembered -with hatred by the Iroquois for his severity and cruelty. - -And now they were entering their own country, for the Iroquois claimed -as their homeland all that great tract of country that lies south of -Lake Ontario, from the Hudson River and Lake Champlain on the east, away -to the ridges of the Blue Mountains behind Virginia and westward some -little way beyond the Falls of Niagara, and the eastern shores of Lake -Erie; but by right of conquest they claimed much more, for they had -conquered all the surrounding tribes, from the river of Canada on the -east, to the southern shores of Lake Michigan on the west, far away -southwards to the Ohio Valley. - -At the present time, however, the wigwams and lodges of the White Eagle -were pitched on the banks of a small stream that flowed through the -forest to the south of the Great Falls. - -Though they still thought much of their late comrades, the youths had -now become more cheerful, and their wounds had nearly healed, thanks to -the kind attention of the Indians. They had even begun to admire these -fierce Iroquois who had adopted them. They were not nearly so bad as -they were described by the French. They were lords of nature, these -children of the forest, and had desired nothing more than to be left -alone in their happy hunting-grounds. It was the paleface who had been -the intruder and the plunderer. At first the red men had welcomed the -palefaces, and received them as brothers, but the baser types of the -settlers, the outcasts and pariahs of the settlements, and especially -the hated "Rum-carriers," had taken advantage of, and had traded upon, -the childishness, the ignorance and the simplicity of the Indians, with -the result that outrage, vengeance and border wars had been the result. -The insults of Champlain were never forgotten by the Iroquois. On the -other hand the compact made between Miquon (William Penn) and the -Indians was never broken by the Delawares, till the white men broke it -themselves. - -Several times during their progress along the shores of the lake smoke -had been perceived, rising above the tree-tops in the forest. The keen -eyes of the chief, who was in the first canoe, never relaxed their -vigilance for a moment, for though they were almost in their own -country, yet at any hour they might be set upon by a marauding band of -French Indians, who were out for scalps. - -Each evening they would draw in to the bank, set a watch, by posting -scouts some little way into the forest, then, lighting a fire, they -would cook their evening meal. Oftentimes this would consist of a fine -buck that had been killed during the day, as they coasted along by the -edge of the forest-lined bank, or sometimes of the sturgeon and salmon -taken from the lake. - -The lads noticed that several times, when smoke had been observed, that -the chief ordered the boats to make a wide detour, as though to avoid a -possible enemy. At other times the boats would pass close in as though -there were no danger. Jamie was determined to find out the reason of -this, so the next time that he saw a faint column of blue smoke he -remarked to the chief-- - -"Look, White Eagle! There's more smoke ahead!" - -But the chief, who had seen it long before, merely remarked-- - -"Iroquois smoke!" - -How he could tell the difference between one smoke and another the lads -could never make out, for he seemed unable to explain it to them; but -that he did know, and could often tell something of the people who fed -the fire by the tell-tale column of smoke, they never doubted. - -Once, as the White Eagle looked long and keenly at a very faint column -of blue smoke, about half-a-mile inland, Jamie thought that for an -instant he could trace a somewhat puzzled and anxious look clouding the -face of the chief; but it passed as quickly as it came, and the faintest -promise of a smile spread over his countenance, as though the smoke -recalled pleasant memories. - -"Is that Iroquois smoke, too, chief?" he asked. - -"No Iroquois smoke this time," he replied - -"Can it be an enemy, then?" - -"No enemy." - -"Then who can he be who has lit that fire?" - -"Paleface!" ejaculated the chief. - - - - - *CHAPTER X* - - *A LONELY FRONTIERSMAN* - - -"Paleface?" exclaimed the lads, standing up in the canoe, and straining -their eyes as if to catch a glimpse of that mysterious stranger who was -hidden in the depth of the forest. - -"Aren't you afraid that we may be attacked?" - -"Ugh!" replied the warrior, without moving a muscle of his dark face, or -showing the slightest trace of alarm. "Him--great paleface hunter. -Friend of the Iroquois. Smoke peace-pipe with the White Eagle." - -As they paddled quickly past the spot Jamie turned again and again to -look at that faint column of receding smoke, now growing fainter and -fainter. - -"Who can this paleface hunter be, so far away from his home and friends, -dwelling alone in these dark forests? Perhaps he is an exile from his -country!" murmured the lad to himself. Then a strange yearning came -over him. He longed to go ashore, that he might join this lonely -frontiersman, and share his hardships and his perils, but he hesitated -to suggest it to the chief, whose face now bore such a stolid, mask-like -look. And soon the long, swift strokes of the paddles bore them past -the spot. - -There must be something in nature--though perfectly inexplicable to us, -who know so little of the unseen verities--that transmits through the -ether that surrounds us, feelings of sympathy and love to kindred souls, -just as in these later days of our civilisation the wireless message is -flung from ship to ship and coast to coast. For the fact remains, that -just at this moment the sturdy paleface hunter, as he stooped to place -more pine-wood on his blazing fire, felt at his very heart a twinge of -pain, so that for an instant his eyes were blurred, and he saw no longer -the blazing fire, the dark forest, or the pile of beaver skins that his -skilful hands had taken, for another vision rose before his face. - -'Twas the vision of an old-world village, in a sweet little island that -rose out of the main, far-off; and to him 'twas "Home, sweet home" -still, though his feet must never tread that land again, for he was an -exile, a victim to the cruel game-laws, that had banished him from his -country. Here, 'twas true, the whole forest was his, with all it -contained. The beaver, the otter, the fish in the streams, and even the -red-spotted deer were his for the taking; but still his heart stole back -again to that forbidden land. - -"Oh, that I might drop a tear and plant a flower on thy grave, Lisbeth! -Thou wert all the world to me--a true wife and a friend. And the bairn? -Oh, my God! the bairn! Where is he?" - -And here this strong man, hardened by nature to all the toils and -dangers of the forest, the rapids, the wild beasts, and the scalping -parties of red foes, broke down in an agony of tears and wept, for he -thought of his little blue-eyed laddie of two years; the poor motherless -bairn, as he had last seen him, with his flaxen curls nestling in his -arms. - -How often he had longed to go home and find his boy, to find even if he -were yet alive; but the thought came to him each time-- - -"How have they taught the lad to regard his father? Perhaps they have -told him that I am dead! Well, maybe 'tis better so! Or perhaps they -have said, 'He is an exile in a far-off land, and he will return no -more, for in the eyes of the law he is a criminal.' Then so it must -remain, lest the father's curse should blight the lad; but what would I -not give to see my child again after all these years." - -Then he flung himself down upon a pile of skins and wept again. That -night sleep fled from his eyelids, as it had often done before when -these longings for the homeland had come over him, but never, never -before had his agony been so great. He prayed his God for something he -had never dared to ask before. It was that he might be permitted, -before he died, to look upon the face of his child again, even though -the lad should not know him. And his prayer was answered, for an angel -from the stars above came down and kissed him, as he lay beneath the -silent pines, and whispered-- - -"It shall be!" - -And he slept, for his cares had fled, and a deep peace had filled his -soul. - -Such were thy sons, oh, England! Their bold, proud spirits chafed and -were cramped within thy narrow limits, and narrower laws, made by and -for the selfish few, in days, happily, long past. And yet they loved -their native land, though exiled from hearth and home; and when duty -called, they lined thy distant frontiers; they held thy far-flung -borders, and were content to leave their bones to bleach beside some -lonely outpost of the Empire they helped to build. But let us for a -while leave this lonely frontiersman, and return to our friends and -their Iroquois companions. - -Four days had been spent in navigating Lake Ontario, and they were now -approaching Niagara, below whose thunderous rapids stood the French fort -that guarded both the river and the lakes. - -Towards evening on the fourth day a distant speck was seen approaching -from the westward, and the White Eagle, standing in the bow of the -foremost canoe, as he gazed into the face of the setting sun, permitted -a sudden cry of surprise to escape from his lips-- - -"Algonquins!" - -'Twas only too true, for there, rapidly approaching and hugging the -southern shore of the lake, was a large party of their hated foes, in -their big canoes of elm-bark. - -The discovery appeared to be mutual, for both parties rent the air with -their respective war-cries, and hastened ashore to make ready for the -coming battle. Darkness soon settled over forest and lake, but all -through the night the woods resounded with the dreadful war-whoops of -the Indians, as they chanted their war-songs, and worked themselves into -a frenzy of fury. - -What a night that was for the two young paleface warriors! The war -fever of the Iroquois had in a measure entered into their blood, for -they saw in the Algonquins the allies of France and the enemies of -England, so they prepared to defend themselves in the morning. - -Day dawned at last, and White Eagle and his braves pressed forward to -battle; not shoulder to shoulder, nor in unresisting phalanx, as the -soldiers of the palefaces fought, but in true Indian fashion the -dark-skinned warriors leapt from tree to tree, and cover to cover. -Showers of arrows and bullets rattled amongst the trees and rocks, and -the wild yells became every moment fiercer and fiercer. Several warriors -had fallen on each side, and a dozen scalps had been taken, as the -frequent yells of triumph announced. - -Deeds of desperate valour were recklessly performed. Homeric contests, -ending in frightful wounds or instant death were frequently engaged in, -when suddenly, from behind the cover of a huge elm-tree, the Algonquin -chief, his plume of black raven feathers nodding with his frenzied -action, rushed into the open and challenged the Iroquois leader to -single combat. - -With a yell of delight White Eagle bounded into the clearing, and -accepted the offer. Then, instantly, as if by instinct, every weapon was -lowered, and the non-combatants ranged themselves on either side, in a -rude semicircle, with a rising back-ground of tall pines and elms, to -watch this gladiatorial contest, which threatened to be both brief and -sanguinary. - -Then followed a pause, during which the two chiefs addressed each other -in the figurative but boastful braggadocia, in the use of which the red -men excelled all the other nations of the world. The Algonquin chief, -whose name was "Black Raven," began as follows-- - -"Mingo dog! where are the scalps of the Iroquois warriors who came to -the Canada River? Ten of them have not returned to their tribe, since -the snows melted. My children went to the lodges of the Maquas and the -Oneidas, but they found only squaws and children. The scalps of the -Iroquois are in the wigwams of the Canadas, and the Canada Father has -rewarded his children with many hatchets, and powder to burn in the face -of their enemies, because they have cleared the snakes from the woods! -The moccasins of the Iroquois cannot be found in the forest. They have -been driven from the hunting-grounds of their fathers, never, never to -return----!" - -"Skunk of the Algonquins!" retorted the Iroquois, "your tongue is -forked, like the serpent that hides its head in the grass, and your arm -is feeble as the squaw of the Delaware. The singing-birds have called -your young men from their Canada lodges, so that my warriors may take -their scalps, for before the sun is amongst the pines, your warriors -will have followed him into the hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit." - -"Iroquois muskrat! Your tongue is sharper than your knife!" - -"Hark! What is that sound that I hear? 'Tis the wailing of the squaws -in your Canada lodges, because their young men return no more." - -"Iroquois snake! Skulking fox!" retorted the Algonquin. "'Tis to you -that the singing-birds have spoken, but they have spoken falsely. -Slaves of the Yengeese! Never more will your war-whoop be heard in the -woods; never more will you fish the streams and hunt the deer, for -before the sun shall rise the girdles of my young men will be heavy with -your scalps. 'Tis the Mingoes who are women, like the Delawares. They -killed my young men when the face of the Manitou was turned away from -His children in anger, but now the Great Spirit has delivered you into -our hands, and nevermore shall your squaws behold you." - -"Dogs of the Canadas! The Iroquois are free and strong as the eagle -that soars to the clouds, but the Algonquins are skunks and muskrats. -They are slaves to the Canada palefaces. Go hunt the deer and the moose -for your French Father, and when, for your portion, he throws you the -offals--be grateful." - -The tomahawk of the French Indian whirled in the air, as, stung by this -biting insult to his tribe, he hurled it at his enemy, and so true was -the aim that it only missed the scalp of the Iroquois by an inch, for it -carried away half his plume of eagle feathers. - -A loud cry of vengeance arose from his warriors as this deadly missile -whizzed past their leader. - -The next instant the wild scream of an eagle, which was the peculiar -war-cry of this renowned chief, rang through the glades and across the -lake as the leaders closed in deadly combat. Like the leap of the -panther, when robbed of its young, was the fierce onset of the Iroquois -chief. Fifty gleaming knives were snatched from their sheaths, and held -aloft; but before the warriors on either side could reach the spot, the -tomahawk of the White Eagle had stretched his opponent upon the ground, -and with keen knife he had already snatched away the trophy that honour -demanded. - -Then, amid war-whoops and wild yells of savage fury, the fierce passions -of the warriors became undammed, and a short but sanguinary conflict -occurred. The Algonquins, despite the loss of their leader, fought -bravely for a while, but were at length overwhelmed by the relentless -fury of the Iroquois. Then they quickly broke and scattered through the -forest, pursued by their enemy. - -Thus ended another of those fierce fights, so common amongst the Indians -tribes in the middle of the eighteenth century, while all the time the -armies of the two paleface nations from towards the sun-rising were -preparing for that final death grapple, which was to settle for ever the -destiny of the northern half of that mighty continent; and to drive the -scattered tribes of the children of the Manitou ever westward towards -the setting sun. - -In this brief fight the youths had remained little more than passive -spectators, for they soon saw how the conflict must end, and that -without their help the Iroquois, although outnumbered, would secure the -victory. - -"I do wish, Jack, that our allies would desist from that barbarous -practice of taking scalps. See there! a dozen scalps already hang at -the girdles of our comrades, and even yet they are not satisfied, but -must pursue their wretched victims into the woods. Bah! My heart -sickens at the sight!" - -"'Tis Indian nature, Jamie. Victory brings them no honour unless the -victim's scalp be taken. Even the squaws look askance at the warrior -who returns from the war-path without these hideous trophies hanging at -his belt." - -"There seems little honour to me in mangling the corpse of a fallen -victim." - -"Why, the youth is scarcely regarded as a man till he has brought home -his first scalp. Their belief is, that the spirit and strength of the -dead man enters into the victorious brave, and, horrible as it is, and -God knows how I hate it all, 'tis not more horrible than the deeds of -some of the paleface pirates in the Southern Seas, who sometimes treat -their unfortunate victims in a cruel and barbarous manner." - -They had been leaning on their rifles, on a little rising ground near -the lake, watching the fight and the pursuit, when suddenly from out the -dark aisles of the forest there came the piercing scream of the eagle -once more. - -"What can be the matter now? Surely the enemy are not returning, -reinforced!" cried Red Feather, quickly bringing his rifle to the ready. - -"No. 'Tis the signal for the return of the braves; evidently White -Eagle scents a new danger, and is anxious to get away." - -"What new danger can there be?" - -"Why, don't you see that the Algonquins have taken the route that will -lead them to the French fort at Niagara, where almost every soldier will -turn out to their assistance, when they hear that the renowned White -Eagle is within twenty miles of the fort? At least, I assume that is -the cause; but look! Here comes the chief himself, and he is making for -the canoes. Let us speak with him." - - - - - *CHAPTER XI* - - *THE SMOKE-SIGNAL* - - -"What is the matter, chief?" asked Jack. "What new danger has my red -brother discovered?" - -"Look!" replied White Eagle, pointing in the direction of the fort and -along the shore of the lake. "What does my paleface brother see -yonder?" - -Jack strained his eyes in the direction indicated, but for some seconds -even his keen eyes did not notice anything unusual. At length, however, -he perceived a thin column of smoke far away in the distance, rising -above the forest and lake; then a second and a third column, but so -faint as to be nearly indistinguishable. - -"I see the smoke from the camp-fires of a party of hunters, perhaps -Yengeese trappers, but nothing that threatens danger." - -The sachem shook his head sagely, as he replied-- - -"No Yengeese! It is Algonquin smoke. A signal to the paleface warriors -at the fort, who will hurry to burn their powder in the face of White -Eagle. Too much price on Iroquois scalp!" And here the chief's face -relaxed into the faintest of smiles, as though he appreciated the value -that was placed upon his head by the French, and considered it a great -honour and a tribute to his prowess and the impotence of his enemies. - -Then for an instant his face became clouded and a momentary wave of -irresolution passed over his countenance. To escape the net that was -being drawn around him was comparatively easy, but to convey all the -plunder of the expedition safely to the lodges of the Iroquois was -another matter. His resolution, however, was quickly taken. They were -now within ten miles of the mouth of a stream, called "Twelve Mile -Creek," that entered the forest south of Lake Ontario, and only a dozen -miles from the fort. To gain that creek, to take the loaded canoes up -the stream against the rapids and rifts, and then to make a portage of -four miles to gain the Niagara River above the fort, was the daring -resolve of the White Eagle. - -It was a piece of daring that was worthy of an Iroquois chief, who had -already secured a reputation for reckless daring that was second to that -of no other chief amongst the Six Nations. The great danger lay in the -fact that at one bend in the stream they would be within seven or eight -miles of the fort, with all the possibilities of being ambushed by their -hated foes and also by the Frenchers. - -The whole party now took to the canoes, and proceeded as rapidly and as -silently as possible along the shore in a westerly direction. Soon after -mid-day they reached the mouth of the creek, and without a moment's -delay, except to land a couple of scouts on either bank, they paddled as -quickly as possible up the narrow stream, while the scouts went ahead to -explore the forest-lined banks and to give the alarm as soon as they -should discover the slightest sign of the enemy, who could not now be -far away. To these eager warriors their progress seemed to be painfully -slow. Fallen trees sometimes blocked their way. At other times the -canoes had to be dragged through the shallows and lifted over rocks. - -It was hard work, but the youths bore their share of all this arduous -toil. It was exciting, too, for at any moment they might hear the crack -of the Algonquin and French rifles. Sometimes they were up to their -knees in the water, pushing and lifting the canoes forward. - -As they advanced further and further up the watercourse, for it could -hardly be called a river, the creek narrowed and the trees overhung and -interlaced, shutting out the sun, so that, though it was little past -mid-day, it was scarcely more than twilight. Not a word was spoken for -a while, and except for the music of the stream the forest was as silent -as death. Even the birds had ceased to sing, and the little squirrels -watched them furtively from the branches overhead, wondering what -strange creatures these were who were toiling so arduously at the -canoes. - -Not a signal had come as yet from the scouts, on whom they were -implicitly relying. They were getting perilously near to that fatal -bend in the river where if an ambush was in hiding, it was sure to be. -The Indians exchanged suspicious glances. They fingered their knives -and tomahawks uneasily and frequently looked to the priming of their -rifles. - -"What is that noise I can hear, rising and falling, very faintly, like -the water of the Big Salt Lake in a storm, when the Manitou is angry?" -asked Jack of one of the Iroquois braves, who was called the Panther. - -"'Tis the Spirit of the Wacondah in the caverns under the Great Falls!" -answered the Indian in low and reverent tones. - -"Niagara!" whispered Jack to his comrade, "and only a few miles away." - -"Yes. The Iroquois believe that the Great Spirit, the God of Thunder, -dwells under the Falls, and they speak of him always in a whisper, even -by their firesides far away." - -"Hist! What was that?" - -The crackle of a twig was heard on the western bank, and the eye of -every Indian was instantly turned in that direction, while many a hand -instinctively grasped its weapon more tightly. The bushes parted, and -an Iroquois scout came forth from the cover of the forest and sought the -eye of his chief. Evidently he had something of importance to -communicate. - -White Eagle left the batteaux and approached him. Then a few guttural -exclamations passed between them, and the scout disappeared once more as -quietly as he had come. - -"Did you hear what he said, Panther?" - -"Yes. The Algonquins, with whom we fought early this morning, have -fallen in with another party under Le Grand Loup, a renowned chief, who -is White Eagle's greatest enemy, and they have laid an ambush for us two -miles further up the stream. In addition, help is expected from the -fort within an hour," replied the brave. - -"Snakes alive! What will the chief do?" - -"Ugh! White Eagle no afraid. The Wacondah fights for him." - -The scouts had done their work bravely and well. They had soon -discovered the prints of Algonquin moccasins in the woods. Some they -found had led towards the bend in the river where the ambush had been -laid. They had even penetrated to this spot, past the enemy's scouts, -and had learnt of the juncture of the two parties. They had also -discovered the trail of an Indian runner in the direction of the fort, -and had heard the drums of the French calling the men to arms. - -"What's to be done, Jack? We're scarcely out of one fix before we're in -another." - -"It seems so!" said that worthy. "I don't know what the Eagle will do, -but something will have to be done, and quickly, if we're to retain our -scalp-locks." - -"Look! What is the chief about? The men are dragging the canoes ashore -and piling the brushwood around them." - -"Why, he's going to burn them to prevent them falling into the hands of -the enemy. 'Tis certain that we shall never get them past the next bend; -so, after all, our labour has been in vain." - -Jack's surmise was correct. Without a moment's hesitation, as soon as -the scout had departed, the sachem ordered the boats to be so placed -that at a given signal they could be immediately fired by a small party -who were to be left in charge. The rest were to follow him and take the -enemy unawares in the rear before the French could arrive to their -support. - -This plan was put into operation without a moment's delay, and leaving a -small party of four in charge of the canoes, the rest entered the forest -and moved quickly in the direction of the enemy. As they were likely to -encounter the French, the lads decided to accompany the attacking party. -They had not proceeded far when the scout met them who had reported the -presence of the enemy. - -"The paleface warriors are half-way from the fort. What will White -Eagle do? They will be here before the sun is below the top-most -branches of the pines," said the scout, addressing the chief. - -"Ugh! Ugh!" merely remarked the Iroquois; then turning towards the two -paleface warriors who accompanied him, he said-- - -"My brothers, Black Hawk and Red Feather, are great warriors from the -land of Wabun. Can they delay the rifles of the French Father for one -hour till they hear the scream of the Eagle, while my warriors take the -scalps of the Algonquin dogs, who lie in wait like the serpent in the -grass?" - -"Give us but a dozen rifles, chief, and we'll hold them back for a day!" -exclaimed Jack. - -"Ugh! My brother will be a great chief before the snows have settled -upon his head. Let him chose a dozen rifles from amongst my braves, and -they shall accompany the paleface chiefs and follow their orders." - -A dozen men were quickly chosen, including the scout and the Panther, -and they at once started out, led by the scout through the forest in the -direction whence the French must soon come. - -Half-a-mile further on they selected a spot where they could await with -advantage the arrival of the soldiers from the fort. - -"Here! This spot will do! They will soon be here. Let us make ready," -said Jamie. The Indians were soon under cover on either side of the -rough track which led to the fort. - -They could now hear plainly the drums of the advancing army. Soon they -caught a glimpse of the white uniforms of the French through the vista -of trees. - -"There are over a hundred of them, Jamie! Can we hold them back for an -hour?" - -"We promised the chief that we would, and we must keep our promise," -said Jamie, whose lips were compressed and whose brows were knit, as he -narrowly watched the approaching French. - -The drums were silent now as the foe, with shouldered rifles and martial -equipment, marched boldly forward, threading their circuitous route -through the forest glades. Careless of any ambush, they came forward -singing and laughing, to show how much they despised the savage horde -they were expecting shortly to encounter. - -Suddenly the sound of distant firing burst upon them. Mingled with the -shots were savage yells and whoops, which showed that the Iroquois had -attacked the party at the bend of the river. Louder and louder became -the din. - -"_Avancez, mes camarades! Allez vite donc! Il y a ces diables -Iroquois!_" - -At this command the French advanced more quickly, lest the fighting -should be all over before they arrived, and the drums beat out again -bravely. Their whole attention was engrossed by the distant firing, and -they knew not that already the head of their column was entering an -ambush, and that fourteen rifles were levelled at their leading files. - -"Fire!" shouted Jack, and a deadly hail of bullets followed a blinding -flash and a report that echoed through the forest. Taken thus suddenly -by surprise, the head of the column staggered and wavered. Many a man -fell to rise no more. A panic seized the whole party, and for a few -moments it seemed doubtful whether their officers would succeed in -rallying them, so susceptible even are the bravest troops to sudden -fright when unexpectedly ambushed by an unseen foe. - -A second volley was poured in upon the confused mass, and a scene of -indescribable terror prevailed. Hoarse shouts of command were heard. -The cries of the wounded and the wild yells of the Iroquois resounded -through the woods. - -The second fire revealed the position of the Iroquois as well as the -paucity of their numbers, and the French commander shouted out-- - -"_A moi, camarades! Suivez-moi! Voilà l'ennemi!_" and waving his sword -he dashed towards the revealed ambush followed by half his troops with -fixed bayonets. - -Like chaff before the wind the Indians scattered and sought cover in the -deeper shades of the forest, leaping from tree to tree, and bush to -bush, firing upon the foe, who were compelled to deploy and enter the -thicket in single file. This was Indian warfare with a vengeance, for -neither party came into the open. For an hour this was kept up, and the -French, who could never come to grips with the wily foe, who always -retreated like a phantom before their bayonets, were compelled to -retire, for their leader had at length come to see that the whole aim of -the enemy was merely to delay their approach to the Algonquins. - -Suddenly, from a distance, the scream of the Eagle was heard twice in -rapid succession. - -"Our work is done now, Jamie! Let's give the French a final salute and -depart." - -A parting volley was let loose upon the enemy, and then the two paleface -chiefs led back their band quickly, and rejoined the victorious warriors -of the Iroquois chief, who had driven the Algonquins across the river -with great slaughter. Only two were wounded, and none were missing, as -Jack looked at his dusky warriors, but of the French quite twenty had -been killed and wounded. - - - - - *CHAPTER XII* - - *THE WIGWAMS OF THE IROQUOIS* - - -"The Algonquins are reeds that bend, but my paleface brothers are like -the oak-tree!" exclaimed the Iroquois chief, as soon as he beheld the -youths. - -Thus briefly did the savage warrior pay a graceful tribute to the skill -and courage of his friends who had held back the French, and at the same -time refer modestly to his own victory. - -"There is no time to lose!" exclaimed Jack. "The soldiers from the fort -are close upon our heels, we did but delay their approach till we heard -your signal. What is to be done? They are in a mood for vengeance." - -"Ugh! Let the boats be burnt!" - -The howl of the wolf, repeated twice, was given, and the next moment a -column of smoke was observed in the direction of the canoes, followed by -several loud explosions, as the kegs of gunpowder, which formed part of -the lading, blew up. - -The next instant the head of the French column appeared through the -trees, and White Eagle, seeing the uselessness of continuing the fight -against such overwhelming odds, withdrew across the stream with his -warriors. - -"The Wacondah calls us to our wigwams," he said; and now, lightened of -their loads, and carrying only their rifles and scalps, the Iroquois -struck across the forest in a south easterly direction, and soon put -several leagues between themselves and the French, who arrived soon -afterwards, only to find the ashes of the fire and the fragments of the -canoes strewn around. - -Chagrined and vexed beyond measure that they had once more been baulked -of their prey, and that the "Iroquois devils" had got the best of them, -they discontinued the useless pursuit, and returned to the fort. - -The Indians travelled quickly, and soon reached the head waters of the -Genesee River, and on the afternoon of the fifth day, from a lofty -eminence they looked down upon the lodges and wigwams of their tribe in -the peaceful valley below. - -A triumphant yell broke from their lips as they beheld this welcome -sight, for ever welcome to the soul of the returning warrior is the -lodge that he calls his home. The village was quickly deserted by its -inhabitants, for every stripling and maiden, all the squaws and children -came dancing and shouting to receive them. - -With all the agility and suppleness of the deer, the Indian youths came -bounding forth to caper about the braves, to finger those gruesome -trophies that hung at their girdles, and to carry their rifles and -tomahawks. Their faces were radiant with the lofty hero-worship that -burned in their young hearts. How they longed to leave the comparative -security of the village and join the war parties! - -The maidens, too, well versed in all the art and coquetry of the forest, -their long raven tresses decked with flowers, their dark eyes beaming -with love, welcomed home their sweethearts with unfeigned joy. But -there is always a fly in the honey, and the joy of victory was somewhat -marred by the bitter lamenting of those squaws whose husbands and sons -returned no more. - -A hasty meal was then prepared and set before the Indians in wooden -platters and gourds, and as soon as this was cleared away by the -attendant squaws, a fire was lit and the braves seated themselves in a -circle and waited solemnly for the passing round of the peace-pipe and -the council that was to follow. A feeling of reverence and awe seemed -to pervade the very atmosphere, and the paleface youths became not a -little uneasy, wondering what important event was about to happen next. - -The two strangers had caused no little curiosity by their presence, -especially amongst the squaws and striplings, but so far no one had -addressed them personally. Evidently they were all waiting for some -explanation as to why these two palefaces returned home with the braves -and were not treated as prisoners. Their curiosity was soon to be -satisfied. - -A low murmur of voices ran around the council fire, and as if by -instinct the braves rose to their feet, and in one place the serried -ranks opened to admit a very aged chief, who came from one of the lodges -near the "painted post" and slowly made his way to the assembly. He was -accompanied by several other aged chiefs, but none amongst them looked -so wise or even so old, by a generation at least, as the Sagamore, who -now toiled painfully across the ground. - -His form had once been straight like the fir-tree, but it was now bent, -and he leaned heavily on his staff. His face was covered with wrinkles, -and his white locks carried the snows of more than a hundred winters. -Not till this aged chief had taken his seat at the post of honour -amongst the chiefs that formed the front circle did the Indians deign to -follow his example. - -Then the sacred pipe, the calumet, was lit and solemnly passed from -mouth to mouth, and amid a silence that could almost be felt, the blue -smoke curled upwards around the fire and scented the still air of the -early evening. - -At last the White Eagle rose to speak, and as he did so every eye was -intently fixed upon him; even the squaws, who stood at a respectful -distance from the charmed circle, stayed their gossip and strained their -ears to listen to the weighty words of this renowned sachem. - -"Father, you see that we come not back with empty hands. The wigwams of -the Algonquins are empty. Their squaws and their children gaze no -longer upon their braves, for the scalps of their warriors hang at the -girdles of my children." - -A hum of satisfaction arose from every part of the circle at these -words. - -"The Great Spirit has called ten of my braves to the happy -hunting-fields out there beyond the sunset," continued the chief, -raising his right hand as he spoke and pointing to where the sun had -just set amongst the pines, leaving a train of red and gold. "But they -had no wounds upon their backs, for their faces were never turned away -from their enemies. Their squaws and their children shall be provided -for. I have spoken, for the words of a chief are few!" - -A low buzz of conversation went round the circle as White Eagle resumed -his seat, and many an eye was turned towards the palefaces, as though -some explanation of their presence was needed. At length the aged chief -rose slowly, assisted by two other chiefs. - -Every voice immediately lapsed into silence as the old Sagamore, with -flowing locks that were white as the driven snow, began to speak. So -aged was he that the oldest warrior in that grim circle could scarcely -remember him otherwise than he now was. The children of his generation, -and the generation that followed him, had passed away like leaves before -the north wind. - -"My children!" he began, and his voice at first was low and broken, but -they listened to him with all the reverence that awe and superstition -can give. - -"Many suns have risen and set since 'Keneu,' the war-eagle of his tribe, -led his people forth to battle. A hundred winters have whitened the -forests and the plains since he first followed the trail of the deer. -Then we were chiefs and sagamores from the shores of the Great Salt -Lake, far back to the Gitche Gumee and the mountains beyond the plains -where, amid the eternal snows, the Manitou dwells in the Silence. Then -the forests were full of deer, the plains were full of herds, and the -streams were filled with fish; and no paleface was to be found in all -the land, for the Wacondah had placed his red children in a land of -plenty, and the smoke from the council fire and the calumet, the -peace-pipe, rose from every valley, and beside every stream were their -lodges, for my people were happy." - -"Ugh!" came the ready cry of assent from many a dark-skinned warrior, -and many a furtive glance was cast in the direction of the two -palefaces. - -"Then from the land of the sun-rising," continued the Sagamore, "in his -white-winged birch canoe, that brought the thunder and the lightning, -came the paleface; and he laid the forest low before him, and he drove -my people westward, for the face of the Manitou was turned in anger from -his children. Then we turned our faces westward, towards the land of -the setting sun, and the regions of the Home-Wind, and we said-- - -"'Here we will hunt the red deer and the beaver, and from these clear -streams we will take the sturgeon and the salmon, and here, when the -Manitou calls us, we will die, where we see not the smoke of the -paleface, nor hear the sound of his axe.' Was it well then, chief, to -bring hither the children of the East Wind?" - -The old man ceased speaking and sank down once more upon the rude log -that served as a dais, and the silence became even yet more intense when -the White Eagle rose again and said-- - -"Once a mighty paleface came to the lodge of Keneu. Hungry and weary, -he came from the land of Wabun, driven here by the cruel laws of his -people, and he brought to us the thunder and the lightning, and he -taught my people knowledge and wisdom from the sacred writings in the -shining land of Wabun. He became the brother and the friend of the red -man, and we taught him to hunt the moose and the deer and the beaver, -and the Great Sagamore loved him, and gave him a place at the council -fire of my people." - -"He is the friend of Keneu, and since many moons his lodge stands empty; -but who are these? Are they the children of Miquon?" abruptly asked the -aged chief, "or the children of the Canadas?" - -"They are the children of the Yengeese, and they raised their hands to -help the Eagle when his wings were pinioned by the French of the -Canadas, and the red man forgets not his friends, when his fetters are -freed, else would the Manitou be angry. They are my brothers, and the -white blood has been washed from their veins. Will the great father -turn them from his lodge?" - -This speech produced a wonderful transformation in the faces of all who -heard it, and when several other warriors had spoken of the prowess and -courage of Red Feather and Black Hawk, a gentler look came over the -Sagamore's face as he spoke. - -"It is well!" he said. "The Wacondah has willed it. They shall dwell -in the lodges of the Iroquois, and my young men shall teach them to hunt -the swift deer and the beaver." Then the council broke up, and the men -repaired to their wigwams. - -This formal introduction over, the youths were shown to a lodge, next -the one that awaited the return of the paleface hunter just referred to, -and during the weeks and months of their sojourn amongst the tribe they -were treated with all the respect and esteem that belonged to an Indian -brave. The war hatchet had been buried for a while, so they joined the -hunting-parties that often scoured the forests, and they soon became -expert in the arts and crafts of these children of the forest, until -each could handle a canoe, shoot the rapids and hunt the deer like a -true Indian. - -"Come with me, my paleface brothers," said White Eagle one day, just -before the first snow of winter. "Come with me and I will show you how -the Manitou provides for his red children." - -So they took their canoes and paddled all day, and then next day they -carried their canoes over a portage until they reached the sweet waters -of the Tioga River. As soon as the sun had gone down the chief took a -pine torch and held it, lighted, over the stream. Almost immediately a -dozen fine salmon, attracted by the torch, came to the very edge of the -stream. Then a fire was kindled close to the bank, and immediately the -river seemed full of living creatures of the finny tribe. - -"Look! What a glorious sight!" exclaimed Jamie; "the water is alive -with fish." And it was true, for, attracted by the huge blaze, they -came tumbling over each other, leaping out of the water by dozens, until -the whole surface glowed and shimmered, green and red and purple. - -Then the Indians who had accompanied them in order to get a supply for -the tribe, entered the water, and with long spears made of hard wood, -something after the fashion of a trident, speared and hooked the salmon -to their heart's content. - -As the youths stood spellbound, gazing at this almost miraculous sight, -the chief tapped them on the shoulder and said-- - -"Does the Manitou fill the rivers of the palefaces with fish and their -forests with furs?" - -"We have never seen such plenty, chief, in the land of the palefaces. -Very often if a man takes a fish from a stream, or a deer from the -forest, he is sent to prison and sometimes put to death." - -"Humph!" said the chief in a tone of surprise. "Now I know why the -paleface comes over the Salt Water to the hunting-grounds of his red -brother." - -The lads were so dumfounded by this unusual sight that their thoughts -turned instinctively to that little burn that sang its way down through -a wood-lined vale far away in another land, where to land a single fish -was a heinous crime, and yet how they loved that little spot, now so far -away; but the voice of the chief awoke them from their reverie, saying-- - -"Come, my brothers, and fill your canoe with the gifts of the Manitou." - -They needed no second bidding, and the next minute they, too, were -enjoying the magnificent sport. Very soon all the canoes were filled, -and then after a hearty supper of fresh salmon, the fish were sorted, -dressed and prepared for drying, after which they were carried home for -the winter's supply. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIII* - - *THE MOCCASIN PRINT IN THE FOREST* - - -During their stay amongst the Iroquois, which had now extended over -rather more than a year, the two English youths had gained the esteem -and friendship of two young Indians, both the sons of the White Eagle. -Their names were respectively "Young Eagle" and "Swift Arrow." - -The former was a strong and supple youth of seventeen, sturdy as an oak, -but as straight as a cedar. His brother, who was a year younger, had -gained his title of "Swift Arrow" because he was so fleet of foot that -he could overtake the swiftest deer of the forest with comparative ease. -Both inherited much of the courage and fearlessness of their sire. - -These four companions spent much of their time, now that the summer had -come again, in hunting and fishing, often staying for weeks together in -the fastnesses of the forest. They became well-nigh inseparable. Many -were the adventures and escapades, and many the dangers, too, that they -braved in each other's company. - -Once, in descending the rapids of a neighbouring stream, their canoe had -struck a rock which capsized her and hurled all the occupants into the -boiling surf. This was nothing unusual, but they were expert swimmers, -and immediately struck out for the bank. Arrived there, the Young Eagle -missed one of his paleface friends. It was Jack, who had struck the -rock in falling and was rendered unconscious, and carried away down the -stream. The other two, exhausted with their desperate struggle in the -rapids, were hardly able to reach the shore; but Young Eagle, arriving -there first, and seeing the unfortunate youth being carried away, -immediately leapt into the boiling surf, and succeeded, after a -desperate struggle, in saving Jack from drowning. - -This brave, unselfish act Jack was able to repay the week afterwards, -for in pursuing a wounded bear too keenly Young Eagle had the misfortune -to lose his footing, and when he attempted to rise the bear was just in -the act of tearing him to pieces in its mad wounded frenzy; when Jack, -heedless of the danger which he himself ran, rushed into the very "hug" -of the wounded bear, and plunged his long hunting-knife into its heart. -The bear rolled over upon them both, but the last wound proved fatal, -and the huge monster lay still in death. - -A dozen incidents of this nature had only cemented the ties which bound -these friends together, and the English youths could scarcely bear to -think of that near future when they must part from their red brothers, -for much as they loved the forest, they felt somehow that their life was -not to end here, and their desire to help their country, either on land -or sea, during the present war with the French, which, though it had -commenced on the continent of Europe, and had been continued on the high -seas, had yet had its echo in the forests and backwoods of the North -American Colonies, and, indeed, was destined to have its end there. - -Once, during the latter part of the summer of the year 1759, they had -been absent from their lodges for several weeks, hunting the shaggy -brown bear, the jaguar, the fox, and the wolf, for their skins, in that -part of the forest which stretched far away from the head waters of -their own streams to the Mohawk River, when one afternoon they suddenly -struck a fresh trail, which showed the prints of moccasined feet. - -"Ugh!" exclaimed the Young Eagle, who was the first to discover them. - -"What is the matter? Is it the trail of an enemy or a friend?" demanded -Jack. "By your demeanour I should say that you've struck the trail of a -serpent." - -"I like it not," merely remarked the Indian youth. - -All four of them now got down to the work of examining the trail. Every -bit of turf, every leaf or broken twig was carefully examined. Then -they cautiously followed the trail, with bent figures and cocked rifles. -At any moment they might be ambushed, if it should prove to be an enemy -that had passed that way. - -"Why do you suspect that it is an enemy, when we are so near the -hunting-grounds of the Oneidas and the Mohicans?" asked Red Feather. - -"Look! This no Iroquois moccasin," said the Young Eagle, stooping to -pick up a worn-out, discarded moccasin, worked with beads after the -pattern of the French Indians. - -They clustered round this piece of evidence, which seemed incontestable, -for a rude attempt had been made to work even the Lilies of France on -the discarded footgear. - -When they had finished their scrutiny of this moccasin, one word broke -from all their lips-- - -"Algonquins!" - -But what were the fiends doing here, so far from the River of Canada? -And how many of them had come from across the lakes? - -These were the questions they set themselves to settle next, as they -continued their keen search for any little trifle which might help to -explain these things, for to the Indian the forest is an open book, and -every twig and leaf may be a written page. - -They followed the trail cautiously for another quarter of an hour, until -they came to a spot where the footprints showed more deeply in the soft -black earth, and after another careful examination, Swift Arrow declared -that there were at least fifteen or twenty of the enemy, and that they -must be a war party, out for scalps, and to harass the enemies of the -Canadas. - -"Look! This is not an Algonquin moccasin that has left this mark," said -Red Feather, who for some minutes had been examining a footprint that -was both broader and longer than the rest, and also of a different -pattern. "Here, get down to it, Eagle, and examine it for yourself." - -The young chief did as he was requested, and measured the print with the -palm of his hand, and compared it with the others. - -"You see, the heel mark is deeper than any of the other prints, as -though the man had walked like this----" and here Jamie imitated the -carriage of a man who plants his heels firmly on the ground when he -walks. - -"Ugh!" exclaimed the Eagle, rising from the ground. "My paleface -brother is right. 'Tis not the moccasin of an Indian at all." - -"Not an Indian?" - -"No!" - -"Who, then, can it be?" - -"'Tis the moccasin of a paleface that has left that mark!" - -"A paleface?" exclaimed the English youths, raising their voices above a -whisper, for the first time since the trail had been discovered. - -"Then it must be a French officer who is in command of the party!" and -this seemed to all of them the solution of the problem. - -The trail was a fresh one, too, and the enemy could not be far away, so -they immediately held a council of war, to decide what had best be done. -But the sun had set and it was almost dark, and they were compelled to -camp in a little bower near by, where the overhanging trees afforded -them a secluded spot, not easy for an enemy to find. - -They did not light a fire, lest it should discover their position to the -enemy. In silence they ate their evening meal, which consisted of a -little dried venison. Then they resolved to wait till morning before -they followed the trail further. - -"Let my paleface brothers sleep, and Young Eagle and Swift Arrow will -watch," said the young chief. - -"That's not quite fair," said Jamie, "for you'll never wake us till -sunrise, and you must be just as much fatigued as we are, for you did -more than your share in carrying the canoes at the portage." - -"Young Eagle all ears and eyes when an enemy is near. He feels not -fatigue. Let my brothers sleep." - -The English youths had to give way, for they had to confess that though -they had learnt many things during their sojourn amongst the Iroquois, -yet their sense of alertness and keenness of perception could in no wise -be matched against these children of the forest. Soon, therefore, the -young palefaces were fast asleep upon a bed of leaves and spruce -branches, unconscious of the dangers that surrounded them. - -They had been asleep perhaps for an hour, when the cry of a night-hawk, -followed by the howl of a coyote, was heard in the distance. On hearing -these the Young Eagle gave a significant look at Swift Arrow, and -without speaking a word, the latter arose, quietly pushed aside the -branches, and disappeared into the forest in the direction of the -sounds. - -It was quite dark now, for there was no moon, and the stars showed but -faintly through the thick foliage of the trees overhead. - -An hour passed--two hours--but the Indian youth returned not. Had he -scented danger? Was the enemy lurking near? Then why did he not return? -Surely nothing had happened to him. The young chief noticed that -Jamie's sleep began to be troubled. Once or twice he had murmured -something in his sleep, and Young Eagle had touched his lips, as if to -close them, lest the sounds might betray them. - -"The Wacondah is speaking to my paleface brother," said the young chief -inwardly, "for his sleep is still troubled." - -The lad's slumbers were indeed troubled, and yet 'twas only a dream, -that he had often dreamt before. His brain had often been puzzled as to -why this particular dream should recur to him so often. He dreamt that -he was a little bairn again, far away across the Big Salt Lake, in the -Homeland; and that a rough but kindly man took him on his knee, and -spoke to him in tones of melting tenderness. "Poor motherless bairn!" he -said, and the tears rained down his rough face. But the little child, -with sunshine in his bonny face, and laughter in his bright blue eyes, -crowed and chuckled, and pulled the rough man's beard. - -It was at this point that Young Eagle had placed his hand on the lips of -his sleeping companion, causing him to start, and to open his eyes for -an instant, but he quickly closed them again. - -Then his dream continued, but it changed suddenly. Side by side with -Jack, and his two dusky companions, he ranged the forest, hunting the -bear, and trapping the beaver in his lodges of bark and logs, when -suddenly they came upon an Indian camp in a little clearing of the -forest, and there with his back to an elm-tree, tied hand and foot, was -an old paleface hunter, undergoing torture at the hands of a band of -cruel red men. - -Bravely he suffered it all, like a hero, and not a cry of pain escaped -his lips. A dozen arrows, knives and hatchets pierced the tree about -his head and face, and although the _coup de grâce_ had not been given, -yet the blood flowed freely from several wounds. His lips were -compressed, and not a groan escaped them, but inwardly he prayed to God -that death might bring him release from this slow and cruel torture. - -A fierce-looking chief taunted him with being a paleface snake, and a -Yengeese, and urged his warriors to prolong the torture. - -"Let us see if a cursed Yengeese has red blood in his veins, or whether -he has the heart of a Delaware," he cried. - -"Your tongue is forked, Muskrat, and your warriors tremble at the sight -of a paleface, so that their knives cannot find his heart!" cried the -hunter, in the hope of urging his enemies to end his torture by a fatal -blow. - -"My young men wish to know if a Yengeese can bear pain like a red -warrior." - -"Your young men are squaws! Go tell your Canada Father to find them -petticoats!" - -This stinging insult brought a shower of tomahawks and knives about his -head. One of them pierced his arm, and pinioned it to the tree, but he -bore the pain bravely, and smiling grimly back upon his captors, said-- - -"Let your young men come nearer, chief, so that a paleface may show them -where lies his heart, for they are weak and unsteady with the fire-water -of the Canadas, and they miss their mark." - -The chief lifted up his hand, and said-- - -"The Great Spirit has given the paleface the heart of a red man, so that -he fears not the hatchet and the tomahawk. Let us see if he fears the -spirit of the flames." - -A shout of hellish delight greeted this suggestion of their leader, and -the Indians scattered into the forest to collect brushwood and dead -timber, for an Indian delights in prolonging the torture of his -prisoner. - -Quickly the faggots were piled at the feet of the hunter, and the match -was about to be applied, when the intense agony and suspense of the -moment burst open the gates of slumber, and Jamie opened his eyes, and -awoke suddenly. - -The first faint tinge of dawn was lighting up the eastern horizon. He -sprang to his feet, immensely relieved, and murmuring to himself-- - -"Thank God! 'Twas only a dream, then! And yet it was the same face that -I have seen so often in my dreams. What can it mean?" - -Then he turned and beheld the Young Eagle and the sleeping form of Black -Hawk, but Swift Arrow was missing. He forgot his troubled sleep in an -instant when he remembered that Young Eagle had watched with sleepless -vigilance throughout the whole night, and said-- - -"My red brother is too kind. He should have called me, and let me -watch, while he slept." - -"Hist!" remarked the other, rising suddenly, and holding up a finger to -indicate silence, as a slight rustle was heard amongst the bushes a few -yards away. Both instinctively grasped their rifles, and stood ready -for whatever foe might suddenly appear. - -The branches parted, and Swift Arrow stepped quietly into the opening. -This brave youth had spent the night in the forest, sometimes lying -still as a log, at other times crawling and wriggling like a snake, or -crouching like a panther. He had discovered the scouts of a cruel -enemy, within ten arrow-flights of their present abode. He had done -more. - -He had succeeded in passing the scouts unobserved, and in penetrating to -the very edge of the hostile camp. His unsleeping vigilance had saved -the lives of his comrades, and he had even covered up his own tracks in -returning to the camp, by taking a circuitous route and wading for some -distance in the bed of a little stream, and had so well timed his -efforts that he reached the camping-ground just as dawn was breaking. - -Beyond the customary "Ugh!" he remained silent; though even Jack, who -had now awakened, could see that he had something of importance to -communicate, but he seemed already possessed of all the restraint of his -tribe, and quietly sat down with the rest to a breakfast, which -consisted of a little pemmican and hominy, which was soon finished. - -"My brother has seen an enemy?" said Young Eagle, when the meal was -over. - -"Ugh!" replied Swift Arrow, as though he considered the news of little -importance and scarcely worth the telling. - -"Swift Arrow will tell us what he has seen?" said Jack, and then the -young warrior spoke briefly and as follows-- - -"Ten arrow-flights towards the sun-rising is an Algonquin camp, of -twenty-four braves--and one prisoner...." - -"And the prisoner? Who--what is he?" asked Jamie, remembering his -dream. - -"It is the great paleface hunter, the friend of White Eagle." - - - - - *CHAPTER XIV* - - *SWIFT ARROW DISAPPEARS* - - -"The paleface hunter, did my brother say? Is he the prisoner?" exclaimed -Jamie, leaping to his feet, trembling with suppressed excitement. - -"Hist! my brother forgets that an enemy is near!" said Young Eagle, -raising his finger to request caution. - -At this moment, after several cabalistic signs, Swift Arrow left the -camp and quietly disappeared in the forest, and Jamie, expressing regret -at permitting his feelings to gain the mastery over him at such a -moment, resumed his seat on the ground. - -"Whither away, Swift Arrow?" called Jack softly, as the Indian youth -glided past him, but he either did not hear him, or heeded not his -question. - -"Swift Arrow has gone to the wigwams of the White Eagle, to say that his -friend is in the hands of the Algonquins," said the Young Eagle, who had -now assumed all the gravity and demeanour of an Iroquois chief. - -"Phew! That means a journey of sixty miles at least. Rather a long -step for a lad, who hunted all day yesterday and scouted all last night. -When will he get there?" - -"When the sun touches the tree-tops to-morrow White Eagle will know!" -replied the young chief. - -"Then he will come with all the warriors who are not away hunting, and -fight the Algonquins?" asked Jamie. - -"Ugh!" said the Indian, signifying yes. - -"Perhaps that may be too late to save the paleface. I fear they will -have put him to death," said Jamie gloomily. "Cannot we go and save him -now?" - -"Why, what's the matter, old chap? You seem very despondent," said -Jack, as his comrade heaved a sigh deep enough to break his heart. "Do -you despair of your life, that you want to throw it away so cheaply? If -we are discovered by yonder crew, our lives are not worth a toss, and -our scalps will be carried to the Canada lodges." - -"The Wacondah has spoken to my brother, and his heart is heavy," said -the Indian, looking straight at Red Feather with his piercing eyes. - -"What is it, Jamie? Out with it. We agreed that there should be no -secrets between us," said Jack, half in jest and half in earnest. - -"Jack," said his friend solemnly, "I dreamt last night that I saw this -paleface hunter in the clutches of the Algonquins. He was bound to a -tree, and they were practising upon him every conceivable torture that -even a red devil can invent. I saw him pierced and wounded, and the -blood flowing freely from his head and face. Then, having tormented him -to the utmost bounds, and finding that his brave heart quailed not -beneath it all, they brought faggots and brushwood and kindled them at -his feet. They were going to burn him to death, yes, roast him alive, -while they danced around him in mad delight. But just as they kindled -the fire, and my heart was bursting with grief and agony, because I was -unable to help, I awoke, for I could bear it no longer. Then Swift -Arrow returned and told what he himself had seen, but I believe that I -saw even more than he did, for he saw not the tortures--and--and--I fear -that we shall be too late when the chief arrives with his braves. That -is why I wished to go straight to the camp now, and what is more, the -face of that hunter is as familiar to me as your own, that is by night, -for I have often dreamt of him before, but by daylight his features -become indistinct, and I cannot recall his face. So now that is why my -heart is so heavy! Cannot we do anything to save him?" - -This last question was addressed to the young chief, who had been a -serious listener to all that Jamie had just said, for the Indians take -dreams very seriously, and treat them as messages from the Manitou. - -"The Grey Badger is a great hunter, and his rifle has often left its -mark upon the Algonquins, as well as the bear and the panther. Red men -no kill him quickly. He is too great a prize. They will keep him till -the new moon, and then kill him," replied the Indian. - -"When is the new moon?" asked Red Feather hastily. - -"Two days!" - -"And when will our friends arrive?" - -The young chief made the circle of the sun's course twice, and then -pointed to the zenith. - -"Then there is just a chance that we may be able to save him after all." - -"Yes. For why should the Wacondah speak a lie?" said the Indian -earnestly. - -"What do you mean? I don't understand you!" - -"Why, Jamie, it's as clear as noon-day what he means. He says, 'Why -should the Wacondah speak a lie?' That is, if the Great Spirit has put -it into your heart to save this paleface hunter, why should he withhold -the means to do it, when He is all-powerful? The lad's faith in his God -is greater than your own. So cheer up, and we'll save him yet, or we'll -know the reason why." - -"Young Eagle, I thank you. You have lifted a load from my heart, and -your faith is greater than mine, though I have been bred in a Christian -country," said Jamie. - -"Ugh! My paleface brother has often told me of the sacred writings in -the land of the sun-rising, and how the Great Spirit has spoken to his -white children; why, then, should he disbelieve the words of the -Wacondah?" - -This conversation was suddenly interrupted by an Indian whoop, which -seemed to come from the distant camp. - -"What can that mean? Listen! There it comes again," said Jack. This -time it was repeated from several quarters. - -"It simply means that they have been joined by another party of their -friends," said the Indian. - -"What can they be doing so far away from their own hunting-grounds?" - -"Depend upon it, they are here for no good. They're out for scalps, and -to harass their inveterate foes, the Iroquois, and any Yengeese woodsmen -they can lay hands upon." - -"Must we remain here, like rats in a hole, Young Eagle? Is there -nothing that we can do?" said Jack. - -"Yes! We must watch all their movements, and if they move, follow them, -leaving a broad trail that White Eagle can follow in the dark." - -"Lead the way, then, Eagle, and we'll follow your trail." - -Then they crept stealthily from their lair, and cautiously advanced -through the tangled forest, in the direction of the camp, for now that -the enemy were excited by the arrival of their allies perhaps they would -be a little off their guard. - -Soon they struck the trail that they had seen on the previous evening, -and followed it carefully; sometimes creeping on their hands and knees, -crawling through the brushwood, watching furtively the while for any -signs of the outlying scouts who were sure to be guarding the camp. - -Suddenly the hiss of a serpent caused them to start. It came from the -direction of the young Indian, who was but a few paces in advance, and -was the signal for them to halt and lie still. Immediately they became -as dead logs, hugging the ground. - -Had the Eagle seen the first scout? - -Yes, surely! What was that dark object creeping through the forest, not -fifty yards away? Was it not the skulking form of a redskin prowling -about like a wolf, and all the while coming nearer and nearer. He had -evidently not seen them as yet, for he still continued to approach, but -he seemed so wary and so alert that if he continued he must discover -them within another minute. Jamie covered him with his rifle, but he -was too wise to shoot, unless all other measures failed, as the crack of -a rifle so near the camp would alarm the whole party and bring the -Algonquins upon them in a moment. - -Slowly, slowly the seconds passed, and each one seemed in itself an age. -They scarcely dared to breathe, lest the slightest sound or movement -should attract the attention of the scout. - -He was only ten paces from the young chief when he halted, as though his -suspicions had been aroused. He was looking full in the direction of -his enemies, when some fluttering object in a bush, near the Iroquois -lad, caught his attention. He would examine that particular bush before -giving the alarm, so he advanced cautiously, looking warily around him. - -He was a young warrior, perhaps out for his first scalp. How kingly it -would be to return to the camp with a scalp at his girdle, and without -boasting, quietly to take his place at the council fire, while all eyes -were fixed upon that trophy which he had won, unaided and alone. - -The dark-eyed Indian maidens, too--how they would glance at him with -love-lit eyes and point out the trophy, and sing of his courage when he -returned home. Perhaps these thoughts were in his mind as he approached -the bush. One thing, however, he must avoid, that was, creating a false -alarm and thereby making himself a laughing-stock amongst his comrades -by mistaking a tree or a log for an enemy. - -This temerity cost him dear. To reach the bush which had aroused his -suspicions, he had to pass within a few feet of Young Eagle. As he did -so, the latter made a sudden bound, like a panther springing upon his -prey, and cleft his skull with his keen hatchet. - -Without a groan even, the Algonquin sank to the ground, and his spirit -passed to the hunting-grounds of his people. The youths turned their -faces away, whilst the young chief secured his first scalp. Having -obtained this trophy, he next dragged the lifeless form of the scout -into the forest and hid it away amongst the bushes, lest its discovery -should bring down upon them a swarm of hornets, in the shape of the -inmates of the neighbouring camp. Then he proudly retraced his steps in -the direction of his companions, who were eagerly awaiting his return. - -"Was it well done, Young Eagle, to risk all our lives and our chances of -saving the hunter for a single scalp?" asked Jamie, who felt somehow -that his redskin friend might have left the scalp alone, for the -present, at any rate, forgetting in his anxiety to save the paleface -that an Indian will go without food willingly for a whole week in order -to obtain one scalp. - -"Young Eagle is a warrior! He saw only an Algonquin dog!" - -"But prudence is a virtue, even in a great warrior!" - -"Let him alone, Jamie. For an Indian to leave an enemy's scalp behind -is a disgrace, and just as dishonourable as for a paleface to leave his -ensign in the hands of the enemy," said Jack. - -Their present position was one of great danger, though for the moment -the death of the scout had reduced the chances of their being -discovered. Nevertheless, their only chance to avoid the enemy was to -find a spot where they could lie hidden till dark, for the scout would -be sure to be missed shortly, and then a search would be made for him. - -A spot was found not twenty yards away, on the edge of a little rivulet -that ran through the forest. They, therefore, took a circuitous route -to this stream, and then walked cautiously down the bed of the rivulet, -so that the water would wash away their footprints in the sandy bottom. -Having gained this secluded spot, they were hidden from sight of an -approaching enemy, owing to the branches of the willows and alders -drooping to the ground and meeting the tangled undergrowth, and they -could yet watch the surrounding forest through the interstices of the -branches. - -Here they lay hidden during the rest of that day. As the afternoon wore -on they several times heard the whoops and yells of the Algonquins, and -once they heard the report of a rifle, and Jamie feared that it denoted -the end of the paleface prisoner, but the young chief said that that was -very unlikely. - -This close confinement at length became very irksome, and the youths -were so wearied and impatient that it needed all the influence and -sagacity of the Indian to urge them to remain till sunset. How wise -this counsel was will shortly be seen. - -"Hist! What does that mean, Young Eagle?" said Jamie, when rather late -in the afternoon a sound very much like the "cawing" of a rook was heard -to proceed from a spot scarce a hundred yards away. No answer was -given, and the sound was repeated twice; each time it sounded a little -nearer. - -The Indian did not speak, for he was keenly scrutinising the forest in -the direction of the sound, and at the same time unconsciously fingering -his tomahawk, while his every sense seemed alert. - -"'Tis another scout who seems to expect a reply from his fallen comrade, -I fear, Jamie," said Jack, "and he can't understand why he gets no -answer." - -"Ah! He is becoming suspicious. He is searching for him, -and--and--he's coming this way," whispered Jamie. - -"Look! I can see him now through the trees. What if he finds his dead -comrade? Hist! He's looking this way." - -Nearer and nearer came the Algonquin. He was within forty yards now, -and within twenty feet of where his companion had been slain. Suddenly -he started and a half-smothered exclamation escaped his lips. He was -looking at the ground, examining it carefully. He knelt down and -carefully removed the turf and leaves, raising his head every few -seconds, as though expecting to see his comrade. - -Had he discovered a trail, or something worse? He was only thirty feet -away from the mangled corpse of the first scout. He was only ten feet -away from the spot where the death-blow had been given. It was the -trail of his lost comrade that he had discovered, but what next? - -It was a moment fraught with intense excitement for the watchers. The -issues to these three adventurers were life or death. Once he -discovered the truth that was hidden in those bushes, a single call for -assistance would fill the forest with blood-thirsty hornets, and all -would be lost. - -What could be done? He was too far away to be dispatched like his -comrade, and a rifle-shot would alarm the camp. Step by step he -advanced. Then his eager eyes caught sight of the fresh blood-marks and -evidences of the recent scuffle. - -The Indian gazed at the red spots, and followed their trail to the -bushes. Then, as his eyes caught sight of the mangled corpse, he -uttered a blood-curdling yell that made the dark aisles of the forest -resound. At the same instant Jamie's rifle spoke out, and the Indian -fell to the ground. - -Five seconds had scarcely passed when from the camp there came the -answering yell. It was a wild, fierce cry of revenge that brought the -whole pack upon their trail. - - - - - *CHAPTER XV* - - *THE TRAGIC CIRCLE* - - -There was not a moment to lose. The two youths seized their rifles and -plunged into the forest. - -"This way, Jack. Come!" - -"Lead on, quickly!" - -Young Eagle remained but a few seconds to take the victim's scalp and to -give the defiant war-whoop of the Iroquois, and then he, too, followed -in their trail. - -On they went. Their only chance of saving their lives now lay in -putting as great a distance as possible between themselves and their -pursuers, and in keeping up the race till dusk. 'Twas getting dark -already, but they stumbled on through the tangled undergrowth, over -fallen trunks lying prostrate across their pathway. - -Several times they heard the yells of the Algonquins, and once they -heard the crack of a rifle, followed by an Iroquois yell. - -"Listen! That's Young Eagle's rifle, I'll swear. He's either missed -our trail, or he's purposely misled them to give us a chance of getting -away." - -"Then I fear it's all up with him," cried Jamie, who was a little way in -advance. "That second scalp has cost him too dear." - -'Twas getting quite dark now, and they were compelled to slacken their -pace, partly from sheer exhaustion, and partly because they were -constantly being tripped up by ground vines, trailers and fallen trunks. - -Once they got separated, and Jamie thought that he heard Jack call him. -He halted and listened, but hearing the swish of branches close behind -him he thought that his comrade was following, and continued for another -ten minutes, when, coming to a little clearing, he glanced back, but saw -no one following. - -"Jack!" he called softly. "Where are you?" but no answer came back from -the gloom. - -Again he called--louder still, but only the cry of the night-raven and -the screech of an owl gave reply. Then he retraced his footsteps across -the clearing, but he failed even to discover the spot where he had left -the forest. Five--ten minutes he remained there, searching for his own -trail, but in the darkness he had lost his bearings, and not only Jack, -but he himself was lost!--lost! - -Endless leagues of trackless forest, of brown tree-trunks, and dark, -dank undergrowth, closing in upon him like a thick screen, separated him -from the nearest habitation, and even the nearest fort. What was to -become of him? - -In his despair he threw himself down upon a rough, raised bank that ran -part way round the clearing; then he remembered that fancied cry, back -there by the swamp, when he had thought for an instant that Jack had -called him by name. - -"'Twas not fancy, after all!" he murmured. "It was Jack calling for -help; it must have been. Perhaps he sank in the swamp, or perhaps the -Indians attacked him from the rear suddenly and quietly and he died -calling my name." - -Then the agony of his soul knew no bounds, for he felt that he had -wilfully deserted his comrade, and in his despair he longed to die. - -"Ah--to die! That would be easy, if only Jack were here. We have too -often faced death together to be afraid, but this wild loneliness unmans -me," and here the lad broke down and sobbed in his bitterness. - -This weakness, if such it can be called, was of short duration, however, -for certain sounds fell upon his ear in the stillness, that told him -something or somebody was approaching. A rustling amongst the branches, -a heavy but stealthy tread amongst the tangled undergrowth. All this -came from the forest not fifty feet away. - -There was just enough light to see half-way across the small clearing. -His every faculty became alert, and he instinctively raised his rifle, -examined its priming, and fixed his eyes at that spot where the object -must leave the forest to enter the clearing. - -Perhaps it was Jack--at last. Should he call? Better wait and see. -Perhaps it was an Indian, though the footfall seemed too heavy. What -could it be? - -The next instant a shaggy head was thrust out from amongst the bushes, -scarce twenty feet away from where he sat, and then a huge brown bear -shambled into the clearing, stopping every few yards to raise his snout, -and to sniff the air, as though it scented danger. - -Jamie's left hand slid down, almost unconsciously, to feel if his -hunting-knife were there, lest his rifle should fail him. The bear -caught the movement, quick as it was, and looked suspiciously in the -direction of the youth. - -Having reached the middle of the clearing, the huge monster reared -itself up on its hind legs, and beating the air with its fore-paws, -began to advance in the direction of Jamie. - -Jamie forgot every other danger in the face of this new one that now -threatened. He forgot also all his fears, in his desire to overcome the -bear. 'Twas to be a fair fight and no favour, and unless he killed -"Bruin," then the beast would kill him. - -With steady eye and steady nerve Jamie levelled his rifle, as the bear -shambled towards him, uttering a low growl, and preparing to hug his -victim in a fatal embrace. The youth knew the vulnerable spot in that -thick, shaggy hide, and if he could only place his bullet there it would -end the combat, but on a dark night like this could he do it? - -He was about to pull the trigger when a strange diversion, entirely -unexpected, occurred. - -A plumed and painted warrior, from the Algonquin camp, hot upon the -trail of the young paleface, quickly entered the clearing and almost -rushed into the embrace of the huge monster. Discovering his mistake, -and uttering a sudden exclamation of horror, the warrior fell back in -dismay, and dashed into the forest, followed by Bruin, who left his -erstwhile enemy and suffered him to escape. The branches closed upon the -bear and the Indian, and they were hidden from sight. - -"Thank God I didn't fire!" exclaimed Jamie, as he slipped quietly into -the forest in another direction, thanking Heaven for this double escape, -and taking hope, for he felt that God had not deserted him, and would -somehow deliver him from his still terrible plight. - -On he stumbled in the darkness, till he came to a little stream. Here -he stooped to quench his burning thirst and to bathe his face, for he -was fevered with excitement, after the quick transitions of feeling he -had undergone since they alarmed the camp. - -Then he followed the path of the brook some little way, hiding the trail -of his moccasins in the bed of the stream, for unlike the soft, oozy -mould of the forest the water yields no secret. Then, after a while, he -struck into the forest again. Forward he went, lest the murdering -Algonquins should discover his trail once more, and a tomahawk end his -career. Once or twice he thought he heard the stealthy tread of an -Indian behind him, but he stayed not in his fierce flight. - -The moon was rising now, and it was becoming much lighter, and Jamie was -able to make more rapid progress; but he was becoming exhausted, and -felt that he must stop soon, when suddenly he noticed that the giant -pines and firs were becoming fewer and fewer, and the undergrowth less -tangled. - -A tiny red glow--the glow of a camp-fire, appeared through the trees, -and the next moment he halted breathlessly on the outskirts of a -deserted camp. - -Now at length help is at hand, he thought, and he prepared to enter the -place. - -Horror of horrors! It was the same camp from which he had so blindly -fled two hours before. Some malevolent deity had led his bewildered -footsteps in a tragic circle, a mistake not uncommon, even for -experienced travellers, who crossed the forest hastily, and without due -precaution. - -Where was now the Providence that had guided his footsteps? He almost -cursed his ill-luck and his bad fortune, and yet, as kindly fate would -have it, this was the best thing that could have happened to him. - -He had indeed been guided by Providence, for while both Jack and Young -Eagle had been made prisoners, Jamie, by walking up the watercourse, and -unconsciously doubling back upon the deserted camp, had thrown even the -quick-witted Algonquins off the scent, who never suspected such cunning -in a paleface. - -I have said that the camp was deserted, although the fire still burned, -and the evening meal remained untouched, for at the first sound of that -fatal cry from the woods every inmate of the camp, except the paleface -prisoner, started in pursuit of the daring enemy who had scalped their -warrior. In this sudden call to arms the prisoner was for a while -forgotten, as we shall shortly see. - -Jamie's heart sank with dismay as he beheld the fatal error he had made. -Wearied and exhausted, he was ready to sink and perish, but even thus a -new feeling of terror seized him, the terror of the returning -Algonquins. What if they discovered him here? - -Once more he plunged into the thicket, for a strange new strength had -come to him, but it was the strength of despair, occasioned by fear. - -Torn, lacerated and bleeding, his hair dishevelled, and his clothes in -tatters, he rushed madly away from the spot. Whither he went he cared -not. Anywhere--away from that terrible camp. He rushed blindly on, -until at the end of half-an-hour he sank down, utterly exhausted, -beneath the friendly shelter of an elm-tree, and careless now whether -the wild beasts or the Algonquins tracked him to his doom. - -His brain reeled; his heart beat wildly, and he swooned away rather than -sank into sleep; but soon his breathing became more regular, and his -slumber more peaceful. - -The moon rose above the topmost branches, climbed to the meridian, and -sank once more amongst the pines. Then the golden orb of day unbarred -his eastern shutters, tinged the far horizon with saffron and yellow, -and flooded the landscape of forest, and river, and lake, with gold, but -still the youth slept on. Would he never awake? - -At length, when the sun was high above the tree-tops, Jamie stretched -himself, then opened his eyes. As he did so his first gaze fell upon a -man, somewhat past middle-age, but still strong and sturdy. He was in -the garb of a hunter, for he wore a hair-fringed hunting-shirt, -moccasins, and Indian leggings, while on his head was a beaver cap. - -Jamie started, but felt relieved when he saw it was no redskin that bent -over him. - -This man sat upon a fallen tree-trunk, against which leaned his rifle -also. His arms were folded across his broad chest, and while he -vigorously puffed wreaths of smoke from his pipe, he was complacently -looking at the lad, as though he had been keeping watch. - -"The same face----" murmured Jamie. "It is--it must be--the great -paleface hunter!" - - - - - *CHAPTER XVI* - - *THE PALEFACE HUNTER* - - -Jamie half rose from the ground, rubbed his eyes, and appeared surprised -and mystified at this unexpected turn of events. - -"Am I still dreaming?" he wondered. "I have seen this man many a time -in my dreams, but never, to my knowledge, have I seen him before in the -flesh. Who can he be, that he thus haunts me, asleep and awake?" - -"So you've woke up at last, youngster! I was beginning to fear that you -might never wake again," said the stranger, in a kindly and not -unfamiliar voice that awoke the echoes of memory. - -"Then you've been watching over me? Guarding me, perhaps, whilst I -slept?" - -The stranger nodded assent. - -"Who are you? Tell me your name, that I may thank you, for friends are -not too numerous hereabouts, and I have already lost two comrades since -I came on this trail. Tell me who you are, if you please?" for the lad -saw by the stranger's kindly manner, his honest, sunburnt face, and his -clear but piercing eyes, that he was no enemy. - -"My real name doesn't matter, my lad, though I am well known in these -parts, for the Indians on this side the lakes know me for a trapper, and -they call me the 'Paleface Hunter,' and sometimes the 'Grey Badger.' - -"But how came you here?" - -"This is my home--this forest! I have lived here for fifteen years," -said the trapper, indicating the wide stretch of forest land with a -broad sweep of his hand. - -"And how did you happen to find me, just when I needed a friend, too? -When I sank down last night I never expected to see the light of another -sun." - -"I stumbled across you here at dawn. You were fast asleep, and I saw by -your torn clothes and the scratches and flesh wounds on your hands and -face that the Indians had been hot on your trail. I half feared to find -your scalp-lock missing, but when I examined you I found that you were -living, but so exhausted and dead-beat that to wake you up might finish -you, so I just carried you in here, covered up your trail, and waited -for you to awake." - -"And for four hours," replied Jamie softly, and with tears in his -voice--"for four hours, since dawn, you have watched over me like a -child in a cradle, though any moment the Algonquins might have -discovered your trail." - -"Tut! tut! my lad! That's nothing----" - -"Paleface--if I may so call you--you have saved my life, and I thank you -with all my heart, though last night, when I lost my best friend, I -cursed my fate and wished to die." - -"'Tis more likely you who have saved my life." - -"How so?" - -"Was it you who fired that shot last evening just before sunset?" - -"Which shot?" - -"The one that alarmed the camp!"; - -"You mean when the scout was----" - -"Scalped." - -"Yes, I fired it." - -"Who took the scalp? I reckon that is not your gift, my lad." - -Jamie shuddered at the remembrance, and said, "No. I should hope not." - -"Then you were not alone? Who was the redskin that was with you?" - -"An Iroquois youth, named 'Young Eagle.'" - -"The son of White Eagle, the great chief?" - -"The same. There was another also--a young paleface friend of mine. We -lost each other in the forest, after dark, when the redskins were hot on -our trail. After that I missed my way, and wandered back to the camp in -mistake. Then, filled with terror and despair, I plunged madly back -into the forest, until I sank exhausted, where you found me; but tell -me, trapper, how did I save your life? for 'tis all a mystery to me." - -"When you fired that shot at sunset, I was in a tight corner, for I was -a prisoner in the Algonquin camp. Red Wolf, the Algonquin chief, is a -great enemy of mine. Long he has tried to trap me, but I have always -been able to circumvent him. This time he took me unawares. He and six -of his braves pounced upon me suddenly in the forest three days ago, -when I was splitting a few logs for my fire, and before I had a chance -to defend myself I was tied up." - -"And they tortured you, did they not?" asked Jamie. - -"See here what the fiends did!" and the hunter showed a dozen scars and -open wounds that had not yet healed. - -"The monsters! How did you escape?" - -"You know their custom of torturing their prisoners from sunset till -dawn." - -"Yes." - -"Well, after all this they made a fire, and after a few more tortures I -believe the varmint would have burnt me to death, for one fiend had made -an iron red-hot, with which to sear and brand me, when suddenly the -half-uttered yell of their scout, followed by the crack of your rifle, -burst upon their ears." - -"Yes! yes! What happened then?" asked Jamie impatiently. - -"Why, every man Jack of them seized their rifles and tomahawks, and -bolted out of the camp to the help of the scout, leaving me alone, bound -hand and foot to a tree." - -"And how did you free yourself?" - -"Why, the scamp who had been threatening to brand me, when he bolted -with the rest, dropped the hot iron at my feet, so that it burnt this -hole in my moccasin. See here. The opportunity was too good to be lost, -so I wriggled and shuffled my feet till the iron came in contact with -the lowest thong. It was burnt through in less than a minute, and in -another five minutes I was free." - -"That was worthy of a trapper and a frontiersman. The implement of -torture was a blessing in disguise." - -"I didn't remain long in the camp, I can tell you, for at any moment the -redskins might have returned, and there is no doubt that they would have -scalped me on the spot, in revenge for what the Young Eagle had done. I -was unable to walk for a few minutes, so tightly had they bound me; but -I rubbed and chafed my limbs till the circulation was restored, and then -I seized my rifle and knife and walked off. At dawn I stumbled across -you, and--here we are; a match for a dozen Indians yet, let them come -when they will," and the trapper laughed silently. - -"Paleface, I'm glad to have met you," said Jamie, rising from the ground -and extending his hand to his new friend. "I have had so many unhappy -experiences during the past twenty-four hours, that I had begun to doubt -the Providence which has delivered me so often, but I shall never doubt -again, for God has never failed me yet." - -There was something very much like a tear that trickled down the rough -face of the trapper as he grasped the extended hand and said, in quiet -but earnest tones-- - -"He never will fail you--if you trust Him." - -"If only my two comrades were alive I should be the happiest creature in -all this wide forest." - -"They are both alive." - -"What!" exclaimed the lad. "Both alive? How do you know that?" - -"Before dawn I heard the Indians return to camp, and their yells of -triumph told me that they had either brought in prisoners or scalps. -Being anxious to know whether their prisoners were Indians or Yengeese, -I crept back again to the edge of the camp." - -"Indeed!" interposed Jamie, interrupting the narrative. "Weren't you -afraid of being captured again?" - -"Tut! tut! He'll be a smart Indian who can catch an old trapper twice." - -"Well, what did you discover?" - -"Before I reached the spot I heard a fierce yell of anger. That I knew -to be caused by the discovery that I had escaped. When at last I -reached a little rising ground overlooking the camp, where the shrub was -very thick, I saw two prisoners tied to the self-same tree to which I -had been tied but a few hours before." - -"What were they like?" - -"One was an Indian youth. I knew him at once. He was the eldest son of -White Eagle, and the other was a stranger to me. He was a paleface in -the garb of an Indian hunter, and he must have been your companion. -This only I discovered, for my stay was a brief one, and the reason why -I have remained in the vicinity of the Algonquins is because I have been -hopeful that an opportunity will occur to save them, else they will -either be tortured to death, or carried to the Canada lodges." - -"You fill me with joy and with hope, trapper. We must and will save -them! Nothing shall prevent us!" exclaimed Jamie, who was overjoyed at -this good news. - -"If only we had White Eagle and twenty of his Iroquois braves here we -might do something, before it is too late." - -"White Eagle will be here with some of his warriors by noon to-morrow," -replied the lad. - -"What's that you say? Who has gone for him?" - -"Swift Arrow. We dispatched him at dawn yesterday, as soon as we found -that you were a prisoner." And then Jamie told the old man all he -knew--how they had struck the trail of the Algonquins, how the Indian -lad had scouted all night, and had crept up to the enemy's camp, and -reported that they held as a prisoner a great paleface hunter, who was -the friend of White Eagle, and how Swift Arrow had departed for -assistance. He told all, except his dream. - -The hunter was bewildered when he heard all this, but merely remarked-- - -"Swift Arrow. I know the lad. He has the swiftest foot in all the Six -Nations, and he will bring the warriors back, but whether they will -arrive in time is another matter. And now there is something for us to -do." - -"What can we do, trapper? Speak, for I am ready. Inaction alone is -inglorious, while my comrades are in the hands of those fiends. What can -we do?" - -"We must hold the trail till the chief comes up. The Algonquins are -pretty sure to clear off quickly, for they are in the hunting-grounds of -the Iroquois, and my escape will have hurried their departure. Probably -they are already preparing to move. Let us go. But stay, you are -famished, and cannot stand a long journey. We must have breakfast, and -then we will hasten, lest the game should slip through our hands." - -They made a hasty breakfast of some dried venison and half-cooked -hominy, which the trapper bad snatched from a cooking-pot when he -hurried away from the deserted camp; then feeling much refreshed by this -rude but welcome meal, they shouldered their rifles and departed in the -direction of the camp. - -They cautiously continued their way through the forest, sometimes wading -in narrow streams in order to hide their trail; sometimes crawling on -all fours through the dense undergrowth, till they reached the outskirts -of the camp. - -Not a word was spoken during this tedious journey, which took upwards of -an hour, lest a solitary sentinel should discover their approach. Once, -indeed, they passed within a hundred feet of a scout, without even -raising his suspicions. At length they paused for a moment to rest at -the bottom of a little densely-wooded hillock, scarce an arrow-flight -from the camp. They were entirely hidden in the thick shrub, and were -so close to the enemy that they could hear the voices of the Indians, -and see the blue smoke curling up from their fire, though the fire -itself they could not see, because of the little brow or hillock that -intervened. - -Then they crawled from their hiding-place, through the brush to the top -of the brow, and looked down upon the encampment. They doffed their -beaver caps, and only permitted their eyes to peep for an instant at the -scene below, lest the sharp glance of a warrior should chance to see -them, but what a thrill came to Jamie's heart! - -Thirty or forty braves were standing or lying about, some of them in -little groups occasionally pointing to the forest. Others were -examining their rifles and knives, as though expecting to be attacked. -A few were hanging over the remains of a feast, the remnants of a deer. -But what remained longest in Jamie's memory, during that brief glance, -and excited his feelings most, was the sight of his two comrades bound -to a huge tree near the middle of the camp. Whether they had already -suffered torture or not, or were merely waiting helplessly until such -time as pleased their captors to commence their vile and fiendish -practices, he knew not; but his own feelings were roused to such a pitch -of fury by the sight that it needed all his strength of will to command -his feelings, and to restrain his desire to rush forward and liberate -the prisoners. - -Just at that moment a hand was placed upon his shoulder, and a voice -whispered-- - -"Come!" - -He turned and followed the trapper quietly until they were once more -ensconced in their late hiding-place. - -They were not a moment too soon, for scarcely had they hidden themselves -when a scout came along, peering amongst the trees and bushes, as though -expecting to find an enemy behind every cover. Suddenly he stopped -almost opposite to them, and looked suspiciously at the ground. - -Something unusual had evidently attracted his attention. What was it? -He was within a few feet of their trail. Had he discovered it? It was a -critical moment for the two palefaces. A single movement, however -slight, would betray them. It was dangerous to breathe even, or to stir -an inch, for the crackling of a twig would have been fatal. Their very -lives hung on a slender thread. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVII* - - *A BROKEN SCALPING-KNIFE* - - -It was a period of awful suspense, and the two palefaces held their -breath for a moment as they watched the scout keenly. - -What was it that had attracted the attention of the Algonquin? - -He stooped down and picked up something that lay upon the ground. It -was a broken scalping-knife that had evidently been dropped or lost in -some scuffle long, long ago, for it was thick with rust. He gazed at it -for some seconds, turning it round, then flung it away into the forest. -The next instant he ascended the hillock and disappeared, entering the -camp. - -Fortune had once more favoured Jamie and his friend, for the discovery -of the scalping-knife had both arrested and deflected the course of the -scout, when he was only a few feet away from the fresh trail of the two -palefaces. Had he continued on his original course, he could scarcely -have failed to discover the prints of their moccasins, and a very -awkward situation would have arisen. The alarm once given, fifty braves -would have been upon them within a minute. - -The sound of voices now reached them more frequently, and it was evident -from the commotion that was going on that some movement was imminent. -Once the piercing cry of the hawk was heard to come from over the -hillock. - -"They're moving the camp, and that's the signal for the scouts to draw -in. They'll be gone in half-an-hour," whispered the hunter. - -"Hadn't we better prepare to follow?" said Jamie. - -"No. We shall gain nothing by being too eager. Besides, we have still -got several incoming scouts in our rear. We must keep closely to cover -till they have passed." - -This precaution was a very necessary one, for within half-an-hour no -less than three scouts passed within a hundred yards of them, each going -in the direction of the camp. - -Another hour passed away, and the sounds they had previously heard -became fainter and then died away. At length the trapper rose from his -crouching position in the brushwood and said-- - -"Let us go!" - -They now crept carefully through the long grass that partially clothed -the hillock, until they could peer over the brow and obtain a view of -the camp. - -The place was deserted, for the Indians had gone and taken their -prisoners with them. The fire was still burning, and several half-cooked -pieces of venison and bear's flesh lay about, also several broken -utensils and a pair of cast-off moccasins. - -"Whither have they gone, think you?" asked Jamie. - -"Back to the Canadas, and we must follow them." - -"They cannot have killed their prisoners, then, or we should have heard -them, and there would have been traces of blood." - -"See. Here is the tree to which they were tied. The thongs have been -so tight that they have cut into the bark." - -"Yes. That means that they will have to travel slowly, unless they kill -their prisoners, for they will scarcely be able to walk fast yet -awhile." - -The trapper looked anxiously up at the sun, which was now declining, and -had reached the topmost branches of the trees on the western side of the -forest; then he proceeded to examine the prints of the Algonquin -moccasins, following them a little way into the forest for the purpose, -while Jamie still examined the ground about the root of the giant -elm-tree to see if he could find traces of blood. - -There were several spots of blood about the tree and several splashes of -it on the bark. There were also many deep cuts and gashes, and an arrow -still remained fast in the wood about six feet from the ground, as -though they had practised the same cruelties upon the lads that they had -essayed upon the hunter. - -"Only to think," muttered Jamie between his teeth, "that an hour ago -both Jack and Young Eagle were tied up here, expecting a cruel and -lingering death from their captors. What were their thoughts? Oh, if -they could only have known that help was so near! Hullo! Where is the -trapper? He has disappeared!" and the lad was suddenly awakened from -his reverie by becoming conscious that the hunter was nowhere to be -seen. - -After a few minutes' search he found the old man some little way in the -forest, examining very keenly the trail of the Algonquins. - -"Well, what do you make of it?" he asked. - -The trapper still continued for another minute to examine the prints of -the departing redskins, and then he said, speaking very slowly as though -he had come to his conclusion only after much thought-- - -"They are making tracks for one of the streams that flows into Lake -Seneca, where they have probably left their canoes hidden in the forest; -then they will pass down the lake to the Seneca River, and from thence -into Lake Ontario and thus to the Canadas." - -"Then what chance shall we have of recovering the prisoners? Where can -we overtake them?" - -"Not till we reach the Seneca Falls, I fear," replied the trapper. -"Some distance below the outlet of the lake there is a portage past the -Falls where they must land to carry their canoes to the river below. -That is the spot where we must surprise them. By that time the Eagle -will be with us and some of his braves." - -"That sounds all right, but what about the prisoners? I had hoped that -something might have been done to rescue them before then," said Jamie. - -"The lads are safe for another three days, at any rate, unless they -attempt to escape, for it now seems more than likely that they are to be -carried off to the Canadas." - -"What is that picture that you are drawing, trapper?" for the old hunter -had stripped a large piece of bark from a birch-tree, and on the inner -side had begun to draw a few rough pictures. It contained a cryptic -message in the Indian style of "picture-writing," by which these -children of the forest spoke to each other at a distance. - -It depicted the whole length of Lake Seneca, and the Falls in the river -below, then a badger and a feather, representing the Grey Badger and Red -Feather following up a trail, while a few wigwams ahead represented the -departing Algonquins. Next a White Eagle making a swift curve towards -the Falls completed the picture, and the message was complete. - -"It is a message to the White Eagle, to ask him to make direct for the -Falls and there to prepare an ambush for the foes," replied the trapper. - -"Capital! He'll understand that, easily enough, when he reaches here at -noon to-morrow." - -"Yes. The meaning will be as plain as a pikestaff when he sees it. -He'll probably be at the Falls long before us, for he'll travel day and -night when he scents the game he's after. And now let us start, while -the trail is warm." - -The piece of bark was fastened to a tree, and they departed quickly. -Night soon overtook them, and they camped for a brief while in the -forest. A drink of water and a piece of bear's flesh, which they had -brought from the Algonquin camp, sufficed for supper, and then they lay -down to sleep, but Jamie thought that he had only just closed his -eyelids when a hand was laid on his shoulder and the hunter said-- - -"Come! The dawn is breaking, and there is the promise of a fine day." - -All that day they followed the trail; not without difficulty, for -although in the soft soil of the forest the moccasins had left a deep -print, yet at times, where the earth was dry and barren from lack of -moisture, or where the redskins had followed the beds of the streams, -wading in the water, the trail became difficult and the progress slower. -There was also another danger that made them proceed with care. The -Algonquins might have placed scouts in their rear, and at any moment an -ambush might be sprung upon them. - -"If only we could reach the canoes first and set them adrift, we could -then delay and harass them," said Jamie. - -"No! no! That would never do," replied his companion. "Our business is -to locate them and then to make a detour, joining our companions at the -Falls, without letting them discover our presence. Once they find that -they are being tracked, the prisoners' lives are endangered, for to -facilitate their progress they will kill the prisoners." - -"See, here is a broken twig, and the leaves have scarcely withered, -showing that it cannot be more than a few hours since they passed this -way," said the lad, who was now keenly alert for every little sign that -would guide them. - -"Yes, and here is a deeper print in the soft earth, as though one of the -prisoners had gone slightly out of his way to leave it for our -assistance." - -"You are right, trapper! That is the mark of the Young Eagle's -moccasin, for here is the little patch on the left heel that he repaired -but two days ago, when he had burned a hole in his moccasin by standing -too near the fire. But look here! What does this mean?" - -And a few feet further on they both stood still and gazed at several -splashes of blood which had dyed the ground. - -"The villains! One of them has inflicted a wound on Young Eagle, -probably for snapping the twig, or leaving a footprint in the soft -mould, which shows that they will be watched in future, and that we -shall have no more signs." - -"The wretches!" - -"I hope White Eagle will not miss our trail, should he decide to follow -us, rather than go direct to the falls," said Jamie, when the day had -worn on into the afternoon. - -"There is no fear of that. White Eagle is the greatest chief in all the -Six Nations, and he could follow the trail of a humming-bird. Besides, -look there. I have left him a trail that he could follow in the dark," -and for about the twentieth time the trapper barked a tree with his -knife in a peculiar manner, which evidently had a significant meaning -for one who was versed in the secret code of the forest. - -The ground hardened again now, and the trail almost disappeared, and -sometimes failed altogether, so that a full hour was spent hunting for -some hidden clue. At length Jamie exclaimed-- - -"Here is something, trapper! A broken file that Jack has purposely -dropped to guide us." - -"A broken file?" queried the other. - -"Yes. Rather a strange thing to carry in the forest, but--but--he used -it to sharpen his knife, and such things," said Jamie, reddening a -little as he remembered the history of that little file in the old -country. It was the one which had secured their escape from the lock-up -two years ago, and Jack had kept it as a memento, saying-- - -"It has brought us luck once; it may do so again. At any rate, it is -sure to be useful, and I will keep it." - -The hunter carefully examined the file, and then passed it over to his -friend. He, too, remembered to have seen a file exactly like that -once--long ago--in a little land across the sea, but all the secrets and -memories that it recalled were painful ones. - -"Well, here's the trail, let us follow it," exclaimed Jamie. "It's as -good as following a paper-chase through the woods at Burnside, I do -declare." - -"Where did you say?" - -"Burnside! In the old country." - -The old man looked long and keenly at the youth, whose features were now -so brown and tanned that he was more like a redskin than a paleface. -Then he was about to speak further, but he checked himself, for at that -instant, when they had only followed the newly-discovered trail for a -hundred yards or so-- - -"Whisht!" went an arrow so close to them that it pierced Jamie's beaver -hat and pinned it to the bark of a tree. - -In a second they had gained the shelter of a friendly elm, whose huge -trunk offered cover for them both. Scarcely had they done so when-- - -"Whisht!" went a second arrow, and a third, both perilously near. - -"I can see him, trapper," whispered Jamie, as he caught sight of a dark -shadow behind a tree fifty yards away, just as the third winged -messenger whizzed by. - -The trapper had seen that dark form too, and had covered it with his -rifle, but he hesitated to fire, and looked behind him uneasily once or -twice, as though conscious that some one was advancing from the rear. -Were they trapped? Had the stalkers themselves been stalked? - -He was not mistaken, for a dark figure was flitting from tree to tree -behind them, and each instant coming nearer. - -Who could it be? - -"Keep your gun levelled at that red devil in front, lad. There's some -one approaching from behind! Whether friend or foe, I know not, but -I'll soon find out," said the hunter. - -Jamie did as he was bid, and before long the opportunity he sought was -offered to him. He caught sight of the Algonquin again. As he stood -fitting another arrow to his string, his right arm was exposed. - -"Bang!" a flash of flame spurted from Jamie's rifle. The leaden -messenger found its mark, and the Indian's arm fell helpless at his -side, even as he prepared to shoot. With a yell of pain the scout -plunged into the thicket and disappeared. - -The next moment a dark figure bounded from the cover of a tree in the -rear and quickly advanced. The trapper had him covered with his rifle, -but the instant he caught sight of his face he dropped the piece and -said-- - -"Welcome, Swift Arrow!" - - - - - *CHAPTER XVIII* - - *A LOST TRAIL* - - -"Swift Arrow?" exclaimed Jamie, lowering his smoking rifle, as he almost -rushed forward to greet his companion, in a truly English fashion, for -he was heartily glad to see him again. - -The Indian, however, remained cold and reserved, and his only response -to the warm greeting of his paleface friend was the customary "Ugh!" -which seems at times to be the only stock-in-trade of the Red Indians. -The fact was, the youth was on his first war-path, and at such a time -the practice of his tribe demanded deeds, not words. - -"My red brother has the speed of a deer and the heart of a lion. He has -seen the White Eagle, and has brought us tidings. Let him speak, and -the palefaces will listen to his words," said the trapper. - -After the usual pause demanded by Indian convention, the youth replied-- - -"White Eagle, with thirty braves, will reach the Seneca Falls at sunset. -Will the palefaces continue to follow the Algonquin trail?" - -"Yes," the scouts replied. - -And then, without another word, Swift Arrow turned away and disappeared -into the forest, almost in the direction in which he had come. - -Though Jamie was now fairly acquainted with Indian manners and customs, -he was rather taken aback with this abrupt departure, and would have -called him back again, but the trapper said-- - -"Leave him alone, lad. He is only following the traditions of his race. -He has followed our trail, and delivered the chief's message, and is now -probably going to rejoin White Eagle. He has discharged his duty with a -fidelity that many a white man might envy." - -"He must be tired!" - -"Yes, during the last fifty hours he must have traversed near a hundred -and fifty miles of forest and streams, and I doubt very much whether he -has tasted food during the whole journey." - -"Hunter, I have lived amongst the red men a little while now, and I have -often discovered amongst them a sense of honour and an unselfish spirit -that I have never seen surpassed by the members of more civilised -races." - -"I'm glad to hear you say it, lad. During the last fifteen years my -truest friend has been a red man." - -"You mean the White Eagle?" - -"I do!" - -"He is a great chief. I owe him my life. But for him my scalp would now -be hanging at the girdle of one of his braves. I knew he would come to -your rescue, too, if he only knew of your danger." - -"Come to my rescue? He would have crossed the lakes and the plains to -the mountains beyond, even to the utmost bounds of the Oregon River, if -he had but known that my life was in danger, and he would not have -expected the slightest reward; but come, let us break our fast that we -may follow the trail." - -"Look, trapper. There is our dinner, and a right royal one, too," said -Jamie, pointing to several wild turkeys that were feeding in the -half-dried bed of a little stream near by. - -The hunter raised his rifle to his shoulder quickly, and fired, and one -of the birds fell over, struggled for a few seconds, and then lay still -with its claws in the air. Jamie rushed off to secure it, and quickly -dressed it while the trapper lighted a fire, and in a few minutes this -fine fat bird was roasting on a spit, scenting the forest with the smell -of roast turkey, and promising to allay every pang of hunger. - -They made a hearty repast, and then washed it down with a drink at the -little stream, before they continued their march. They had a trail now -that a child could have followed, for at very frequent intervals there -were splashes of blood, which marked the ground and showed the track of -the wounded Algonquin, so that they were able to move rapidly and -without any loss of time for several miles. - -"We must keep a sharp look-out for scouts now, trapper, for the varlets -know that we are on their track." - -"That will only make them hurry forward, and I don't think that they -will place many scouts in their rear. The only thing that I fear is -that they will not camp to-night, but press on in order to get to the -Canadas as quickly as possible. In that case, should the chief be -detained, they may pass the Falls before he gets there, and reach -Ontario. So we must follow close. We cannot be far from Lake Seneca -now." - -"Cannot we follow them there?" - -"No. They will be safe behind the guns of the Frenchers." - -"Is it true then, hunter, that all the Canada Indians look up to Louis -as their king, and call him their 'Great French Father' across the -water, and that they are in league with him to drive all the English -from the Americas, and to make it a great French Empire?" - -"'Tis even so, my lad! And 'tis my firm belief that the Canada -war-parties, like the one whose trail we are now following, are sent to -stir up strife, to tomahawk and scalp the English settlers, to destroy -their harvests and burn their houses, by the Frenchers at Quebec and the -frontier forts; but they defeat their own objects, for they have lately -stirred up all the tribes of the Iroquois as well as the Delawares to -become the active allies of the English." - -"And what will be the end of it all, trapper?" - -"The end of it will be, that the Frenchers themselves before long will -be driven out of Canada, just as they have lately been driven out of -India, by a few determined Englishmen, under that brilliant -merchant-soldier, Clive." - -"Indeed! Do you think it possible to drive the French out of Quebec? -They have made the place impregnable. When I left there they ridiculed -the idea that the English would ever attempt to take it." - -"Time will show," said the trapper. "Do you know that even now a -British fleet is holding the river, and an English army is encamped -about Quebec?" - -"Is it possible? How I should like to be there and to serve under -Wolfe's flag; but how did you learn all this in the forest?" - -"Even the forest can speak to those who have ears to listen. Why did -the Algonquins depart so rapidly, and make no attempt to recapture me, -when the price of fifty beaver-skins has been set upon my scalp by the -Canadas during the past five years? They could not know then that the -Iroquois were upon their trail." - -"Why, indeed; unless they were summoned hastily back to their own -country, or was it that they feared the wrath of the Senecas and the -Cayugas, whose hunting-grounds they had invaded?" - -"Partly that, perhaps, for the Senecas, like all the other tribes of the -Six Nations, are a fierce and warlike race; but there was another -reason." - -"What was it?" - -"Listen! The night before I escaped, a messenger, with a war-hatchet -all covered with blood, entered the Algonquin camp. He also carried a -broad belt of wampum, and the skin of a rattlesnake filled with arrows; -while his tomahawk was stained a deep red, in token of war. He was -received with great deference, and when he had handed the war-belt to -the Algonquin chief, he declared that a fierce and bloody war had broken -out between the French Father and the children of Miquon, and that the -former needed all his red children to come and assist him. He promised -them 'a great plenty' of paleface scalps if they would come; but if they -refused, then, if the English won, they would take from the children of -the Manitou all their hunting-grounds, and burn their wigwams and lodges -to the ground, until the prints of their moccasins should no longer be -found in the forests. - -"When the messenger had finished speaking he showered the arrows upon -the earth, and then flung the blood-red hatchet upon the ground, -saying-- - -"'Even now the River of Canada is full of big canoes that carry the -thunder and the lightning, and the paleface warriors from over the great -Salt Lake, led by a mighty chieftain named Le Loup [Wolfe], have settled -around the fortress of Canada, like a swarm of locusts. Come, my -brothers! Who will take up the hatchet to fight for the Great Canada -Father?' - -"After a long pause, as if to give due weight and consideration to this -important message, the Algonquin chief arose from his seat by the -council fire, and made a brief but solemn speech, which, after extolling -the prowess of his ancestors and himself, ended in a promise to return -and assist the French, as soon as the scattered members of the party -returned, and the scouts were called in. He then proceeded slowly to -the spot where the hatchet was half buried, and solemnly took it up. - -"A wild burst of savage yells greeted this action, and the evening was -given up to a war-dance. Next day, while the parties were coming in, -one of the scouts was scalped, as you know, by Young Eagle, and the -departure was delayed another day. - -"Thus it was," continued the trapper, "that I learnt of the arrival of -Wolfe, and that the plight of the French was so bad that all their -Indian allies had been called in to assist them, with a promise of a -'great plenty' of paleface scalps. A promise which never fails to -attract a red man." - -This was news that fired Jamie's soul. What would he not give to join -his countrymen, and to help in wresting the Canadas from the French? At -that moment he envied the smallest drummer-boy in Wolfe's army the part -he was to play in the siege. - -"If only Jack were free," he said to himself, "we would start for Quebec -to-morrow, and offer our services; and Jack shall be free, if brave men -can save him!" Then overtaking the trapper, who was a few yards in -advance, for during this conversation they had been following the trail -in single file, he said-- - -"In another two hours the sun will be entering the pines. I shall be -glad when we reach one of the streams that flows into the lake. Surely -we cannot be far away now!" - -The hunter at that instant halted suddenly, and exclaimed, "The -varmint!" - -"What's the matter?" inquired Jamie, noting the anxious look on the face -of his companion. - -"They have misled us. This is a false trail. Several of the Algonquins -have come this way in order to mislead us, and then doubled back, -walking backwards. It must be so, for look--the trail ends here." - -It was only too true. For nearly a mile, through tangled forest, across -streams and open glades, they had followed a false trail. - -"That comes of talking too much. Your Indian, when he is on the -warpath, doesn't spill a word, except his blessed 'Ugh!', for he keeps -his nose down to the trail. However, there is no help for it. We must -go back till we strike the main trail again." This all took valuable -time, but at last they discovered the spot where the tracks diverged, -and they got the scent once more. The real trail had been so neatly -covered up, for fifty yards or more, and the false one left open, that -it was no wonder that the mistake was made. - -Even here their difficulties did not end, for within another quarter of -an hour they came to a spot where several small streams met, and here -also the trail ended abruptly, and although they examined each bank for -some distance they were unable to discover any clue as to the route -taken by the Algonquins. - -Time was precious, and a full half-hour had already been wasted here, -when the trapper, who had carefully examined each of the bigger streams, -turned his attention to the third, which was a mere rivulet. Proceeding -twenty yards up the bank of the stream, he dammed up the rivulet with a -few stones, backed by earth-sods, and turned it temporarily out of its -course, so that almost immediately it ran dry. Then, following the -dried-up bed of the stream, he soon perceived the print of a moccasin, -that had only been half-washed away by the water. - -"Look!" he said, "even the water sometimes gives up its secrets. Here -is the trail--let us follow it." - -Half-a-mile further on they came to a place where the whole band had -left the stream, and struck into the forest again, and just as the sun -was getting low amongst the trees they struck a larger stream that was -capable of bearing a canoe. - -"They have taken to the water! See, here are the marks made by the bows -of the canoes, as they pushed off," said the trapper. - -"And here is the spot where the boats were hidden amongst the bushes!" -exclaimed Jamie. - -"Yes. Let us look around and see if by any chance they have left us a -spare canoe, for if I am not mistaken they have left nearly a dozen of -their warriors in the Iroquois forests." - -A diligent search was made, but no trace of a canoe could be found -anywhere. The only thing they could find was a spare paddle, which the -trapper took along with him, saying-- - -"A paddle without a canoe is not worth much, but if we discover a canoe -and haven't got a paddle, we shall not be much better off." - -They had not proceeded far down the bank of the stream when the keen -eyes of the hunter, despite the failing light, perceived a stranded -canoe on the other side of the river. - -"I thought so!" he exclaimed. "The rascals had one canoe too many, but -to prevent us using it they set it adrift, and the current has landed it -across there. I will fetch it." - -"No, no!" said Jamie. "I'll fetch it," and, throwing off his hunting -shirt, he plunged into the stream, and swam across to where the canoe -had gone ashore, jammed between two rocks. He had taken the paddle with -him, and he quickly returned in the canoe, which was none the worse for -its little adventure, except that there was a small hole in the bow, -which the trapper soon repaired. - -"There is no time to lose. We must hasten; for unless the Algonquins -camp somewhere along the lake, we shall be too late," said the hunter. - -The sun had set half-an-hour ago, as they paddled swiftly down stream; -but there was still a crimson glow from amongst the pines on the western -side of the river. Sometimes they skimmed along with the current -without putting in the paddle, the next moment they danced and twisted -amongst the rapids; but the trapper piloted the canoe safely amongst the -rocks, the eddies and the swirls, ever seeking the most sheltered spots. - -Suddenly, a bend in the river revealed to them the opening of the lake, -and in another moment they were skimming along its glassy surface, close -in-shore. This narrow lake is thirty-five miles long, and from one to -three miles broad, and long before they had covered half its length -darkness fell, but they slackened not their efforts. They paddled in -turn, quietly but swiftly, ever keeping a careful watch lest they should -discover the camp-fire of the enemy. - -They were approaching a headland that jutted out some little way into -the lake, and were scarce a dozen yards from the thick bushes which -overhung the bank, when the screech of an owl reached their ears from -the shore. - -Jamie, who held the paddle, stayed his hand for a moment, and peered -into the darkness. A dark shadowy form was standing on a rock at the -very edge of the water, with an uplifted hand that indicated danger. - -He knew that form and that call too well to hesitate. "It is Swift -Arrow," he whispered; and drove the canoe in gently towards the shore. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIX* - - *THE AMBUSH AT SENECA FALLS* - - -What new danger threatened them now? As they drew ashore at a spot where -the bushes parted to allow the rock to jut into the water, Jamie was -about to inquire from the Indian youth what was the matter, and how he -had managed to strike their trail again, at a moment when perhaps they -most needed his presence, but a low "Hist!" which came from the dark -figure upon the rock, silenced him. Evidently the lad had feared for -their safety, and at great peril had come to save them, or at any rate -to make them conscious of the approaching danger. - -Silently, they landed on the margin of the forest, and crept ashore. -The rustle of a leaf, the snapping of a twig might betray their presence -to a lurking scout, though as yet they knew not what danger threatened. - -"The Wacondah has made Swift Arrow his messenger, in order to save our -scalps. Swift Arrow will now speak," whispered the hunter. - -Then in a low, soft, musical voice, untouched by excitement at the -nearness of danger, or emotion at seeing his friends again, the Indian -pointed to the dark headland, scarce a hundred yards further along the -lake, and said-- - -"Swift Arrow has kept watch for his friends. There is the Algonquin -camp, and their scouts are close to us; watching both the lake and the -forest. A singing-bird has spoken to them, and they think White Eagle -is behind them. Before daybreak, they will enter the Seneca River, at -the outlet of the lake, on their way back to the Canadas." - -"But must we remain here till they are gone?" asked Jamie. - -"No," smiled the youth. "Swift Arrow will now lead his paleface friends -out of danger, and pilot them safely to the spot where the White Eagle -awaits the Algonquins, at the portage by the Seneca Falls." - -Saying this, he stepped into the canoe and took the paddle, motioning -the others to lie down in the bottom of the craft, and then noiselessly -pushed off from the bank. The Indian did not attempt to continue the -former direction, but paddled cautiously back a little way, hugging the -shore; then he struck directly across the lake, which is here about two -miles broad, and having approached the opposite bank, he turned the head -of the canoe once more towards the outlet of the lake, and paddled -swiftly. - -This manoeuvre succeeded perfectly, and they got away unobserved. -Taking turns at the solitary paddle, they soon reached the outlet, and -entered the swift stream which takes its name from the lake. Now they -were piloted swiftly and safely past the rapids, aided only by the light -of the stars, and the daring skill of the Indian. - -Two hours before dawn, a dull roar fell upon their ears. It was the -cataract, where the whole river tumbles in a frenzy of froth and foam -down a chasm of fifty feet, forming the far-famed Seneca Falls. - -The canoes were drawn to the bank at the portage, and as they stepped -ashore, the dark, shadowy forms of several painted warriors emerged from -the cover of the trees. They were the Iroquois scouts, who were keenly -watching for the approach of the enemy. Then a powerful and haughty -chief confronted them. It was the White Eagle himself, but the stern -stoicism of his countenance relaxed for a moment as he greeted his two -paleface friends. - -"The paleface hunter is welcome to the camp of the Iroquois. Many moons -have passed since White Eagle and his friend hunted the red deer, and -struck the trail of the moose together," said the chief. - -"The home of the Grey Badger is in the wigwams of the Iroquois, and when -he has struck his Canada enemies, he will return to his seat at the -council fire of the White Eagle," replied the hunter. - -"Ugh! It is well! I feared that the Canada snakes had charmed away my -friend, but then I remembered that the Grey Badger is too great a -warrior to permit his scalp to hang upon the poles of their lodges." - -"It was a mighty close shave this time, chief. I didn't expect to see -my red friends again." - -"Bah! The river is now netted for the Canada salmon. My braves will -take 'plenty' scalp before another sunset. Come! My warriors will -watch." - -A couple of Indians took up the canoe and carried it to the other end of -the portage, while several others eliminated from the soft bank the -marks made by the bow of the boat and the prints of the moccasins. This -precaution was adopted to prevent an alarm being given to the -Algonquins, who were shortly expected. Then the party retired within -the precincts of the forest, there to await the coming of the dawn. - -Dawn came at last--towards the sun-rising a faint yellow streak lit up -the horizon. Next, a saffron tint flushed the sky, and then the stars -faded and disappeared, as the gates of the morning were unbarred, and a -hundred streamers of flashing, roseate hues flooded the blue vault of -heaven. Myriads of songsters awoke the stillness of the forest, for the -day had come, and the dark curtain of night rolled westward. - -Another two hours passed, and then the hawk-eyed vigilance of the -watchers was rewarded by a first glimpse of the enemy. The dull, -constant roar of the cataract in their ears prevented their hearing the -sound of the approaching paddles, or the crunching of their birch-bark -canoes upon the beach, but long ere this, the Iroquois scouts had -reported the enemy in sight, and every one was ready for the approaching -fight. - -The portage was a short one, and the chief had spread his warriors over -the whole length in order to prevent the escape of any of the -Algonquins. A few scouts headed the party, then came the Indians -carrying the five canoes, and after them, the two prisoners, their arms -bound with thongs, walking between a couple of braves with tomahawks in -their hands. - -Every one now eagerly awaited the signal for the combat. The advance -party had reached a point about half-way over the ground, when the -shrill scream of an eagle rose in the air. At the same instant, the -clatter of a dozen rifles, and the fierce war-cry of the thirty -Iroquois, burst upon the ear. The very trees about the unfortunate -Algonquins seemed to turn into frenzied warriors, who, brandishing their -tomahawks, rushed upon their foe. The canoes were thrown to the ground, -and in the confusion which followed, brave deeds were done. A fierce -hand-to-hand fight ensued, but the Algonquins, mowed down by that first -fire, and hopelessly outclassed, were driven nearer and nearer to that -perilous brink, where leapt the mighty cataract into the foaming rapids -and whirlpools below. - -A few bold spirits, rather than leave their scalps in the hands of their -enemies, leapt into the chasm beneath, and were never seen again. Except -these, not a soul escaped the vengeance of the Iroquois. - -The two braves in charge of the prisoners were the first to fall, for -from their first landing they had been covered by the rifles of the -hunter and Jamie. The latter then drew his hunting-knife from its -sheath, and rushing forward, cut the thongs that bound the two -prisoners, and quickly drew them out of the _mêlée_ into a place of -safety, and left the contest to the Iroquois, for he had no doubt -whatever of what the result would be, and taking scalps was not exactly -to his liking. - -Meanwhile, the White Eagle wielded his tomahawk with all the strength -and fury of an Iroquois chief. He fought his way to where Red Wolf was -heading and encouraging his braves, and hewed him down. It was quickly -over, and in less than a quarter of an hour the Iroquois were masters of -the field. - -"Thanks, Jamie! You have saved my life, and I can never repay you. I -had given up all hope of escape. So rigidly were we watched that there -was not the slightest opportunity for us to gain our freedom. We were -to have been tortured and put to death at sunset, at soon as we had -reached the shambles of Fort Oswego, for you know the French have taken -the place, after a dreadful slaughter, and now claim to be masters of -both shores of the lake. Still, all that is past now, and I am thankful -to be with my friends once more. Jamie, old fellow, how can I thank you -for all this?" - -"You've had a narrow squeak, Jack, but you must thank the hunter here, -and Swift Arrow, who I believe has not taken food since you were made a -prisoner. Come!" and Jamie led his old comrade towards the others. - -"Let me introduce you to the 'Great Paleface Hunter' who held your trail -till the White Eagle could arrive with his braves." - -"What! the Grey Badger, the friend of the chief?" - -"The same. He is a mighty paleface, and I have learnt to love him -already. He is the most renowned hunter in all the forests south of the -lakes." - -So, while the Indians harvested the spoils of the enemy, the three -palefaces lit a fire, and cooked a breakfast from a large salmon, -speared in the river below, satisfied the pangs of hunger at a spot a -little apart from the braves, near by the lower end of the portage, and -then talked for an hour about all the news that had filtered through the -forest relative to the great conflict, which was already raging so -fiercely on both banks of the St. Lawrence. - -The youths listened with pent-up feelings, while the hunter told all he -had heard from passing _voyageurs_ and Indian runners of the disasters -that had befallen the English arms of late. He described the disaster -of Ticonderoga, the fall of Fort Oswego, and the partial success of -Dieskau, but when he spoke of the capture of Fort William Henry and the -frightful massacre which followed, the lads sprang to their feet, and -declared in one breath-- - -"We will go and offer our services to General Wolfe, for our country -needs us!" - -The light of battle was in their eyes, the courage of manhood mounted to -their brows, as they clasped each other's hand across the fire, and -repeated their promise to join the English lines; then, turning to the -trapper, who remained seated by the fire, smoking calmly and puffing the -blue smoke from an Indian calumet, Jamie said-- - -"Say, hunter! Will you join us on yet another trail, where the game -shall be, not redskins, but the recreants of Montcalm, and the reward, -not Indian scalps, but the honour of the old flag, or--a soldier's -grave?" - -"Lads," he replied, "my country has not been over kind to me. I am an -exile from my native land, and yet I have never committed a crime. My -conscience is clear; but I, too, feel my country's call, and I know her -need, and it shall never be said of me that I shirked the call of duty, -when already so many exiles have left their bones to bleach in the -forest, for the land that has denied to them a hearth and a home. I -will go! Let us bid good-bye to the chief and his braves." - -The parting scenes between the White Eagle and the hunter, the paleface -youths and their Indian friends, was affecting in the extreme, when it -became known that they were now about to part, and perhaps for ever. All -the rich memories of their forest life were brought back to them, and to -the palefaces especially the fidelity of their red brothers, their lofty -characters, despite their many failings, their simple faith in the Great -Spirit, the Wacondah of their race; their comradeship in hunting the red -deer and the shaggy brown bear amid all the savage scenery of mountain -and forest, and taking from the streams and lakes the salmon and the -sturgeon, or descending wild rapids and torrents in their frail -birch-bark canoes, with these children of the Manitou--all this they -recalled, and forsook it with a pang of regret; but another voice was -calling to them, and their beating hearts were but responding to the -call of Duty. - -At last, they stood by their canoe ready to depart, at the lower end of -the portage, below the Falls; and the Indians were standing around them, -sad and melancholy, for their grief had for once broken down their manly -reserve, and the stoic mask, which had enabled some amongst them to -endure torture without flinching, could not now keep back the moisture -from many an eye. - -Listen! the great chief, in prophetic strain, is speaking his last -solemn words of farewell-- - -"The face of the Manitou is hid behind a cloud, and the hearts of his -red children are sad. Nevermore will the Great Paleface Hunter, the -friend of the White Eagle, hunt the deer in the hills of the Iroquois. -Nevermore will he sit at the council fire of my people, and smoke the -calumet, while his red brothers listen to the wisdom that falls from his -lips like the dew from heaven. Nevermore will he speak to us of the -sacred writings that the Wacondah has given to the children of the -Sun-rising! - -"When his canoe has sailed into the regions of the East-wind, then shall -my people be scattered like the leaves in autumn, and the few that -remain, to fish the streams and hunt the moose and the elk, will be but -as blasted pines, where the fires of the forest have raged." - -"Nay, chief! The sun will shine again, and I shall return if the -Manitou wills it," urged the hunter, as he flicked the water impatiently -with his paddle. - -"The Wacondah has said it! My paleface brother shall nevermore look -upon the face of the White Eagle." - -"Then I shall look for my red friend in the happy hunting-grounds of the -Manitou. Good-bye!" - -The next moment the canoe shot into the stream, and began to descend -rapidly towards the great lake. A last long look was cast behind, a -last adieu waved to their friends, who stood watching till they passed -from view, then the low murmur of the Falls ceased as they sped on their -way. - -Soon, they passed the ruins of Fort Oswego, and entered Lake Ontario. -Then they stretched across the lake to the Thousand Islands, and entered -the St. Lawrence and stole quietly past the French post at Fort -Frontenac. Then for hundreds of miles they were carried by the swift -current of the Canada River, down past Mont Royale, and the mouth of the -Ottawa River, past Trois Rivières, until one day they heard the sounds -of heavy firing, as though a battle were in progress. - -'Twas early in September 1759, and the guns of Quebec were firing at the -English ships and batteaux, as they passed the citadel, to gain the -upper reaches of the river. As they passed the next bend in the river, -they saw the French warships which had retreated up the stream, away -from those terrible English. They also perceived on the heights to the -left, in the vicinity of Cape Rouge, the sentries of Bougainville's -detachment, and here they ran a narrow escape of capture, being taken by -the French for spies. - -Before sunset on the eleventh of September, they espied with great joy, -on the southern bank, the white tents and the red coats of Wolfe's army. - - - - - *CHAPTER XX* - - *THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM* - - -"Halt! Who goes there?" - -It was a burly Highlander, an outpost sentry of the British army, that -challenged the three paleface scouts. - -"Friends!" cried Jamie. - -"Then ye'll just gi'e me the password," replied the soldier, levelling -his musket at the youth who had acted as spokesman. - -"I do not know the password," said Jamie, boldly confronting the -levelled firearm. "We have just come in from the frontier to offer our -services to General Wolfe." - -"Then ye'll just ground your arms, and bide a wee, till I call the -sergeant!" - -The sergeant in charge of the party came up in response to the sentry's -call, and while he was engaged in conversing with the strangers, an -aide-de-camp to General Wolfe, who was a field officer in the Royal -Americans, galloped by. Seeing three men in the garb of the forest, and -knowing the value of such hardy, trained frontiersmen, having seen a -good deal of such service himself, he reined in his charger, received -the salute of the sergeant, who, on being requested, reported the -business of the strangers. - -"Look here! Do you fellows know anything of Quebec, or the river and -the forts?" asked the field officer. - -"Yes, sir!" replied Jamie. "Two of us lived there for nearly twelve -months as nominal prisoners of the French." - -"Indeed? When did you leave there?" - -"Last spring, sir." - -"Do you know the river this side of the city?" - -"Every creek and cove, sir, between Cape Rouge and the narrows." - -"That will do! Shoulder your rifles and come with me." - -Then, putting as much dignity into their carriage as their rough -appearance would permit, the three scouts followed the officer. They -passed through several lines of sentries, but they were not challenged -further, as the aide-de-camp gave the password at each barrier. - -They soon entered the inner camp and passed between rows of white tents. -Groups of Highlanders, Anstruthers, and Grenadiers in their scarlet -uniforms were sitting about the camp-fires, seeing to their equipment, -cooking rations, etc. Others were just landing from the transports and -batteaux which lay in the river opposite the camp. - -Despite their deer-skin shirts, Indian moccasins and beaver caps, there -was a deep bronze upon the faces of the strangers, and a keen alertness -about their movements, and especially their eyes, that bespoke them real -scouts of the backwoods and pioneers of the Empire, with an experience -that few could boast, even amongst those five thousand red-coats that -were the flower of the British army; and many a soldier lifted his eyes -to gaze after them as they passed by. - -Having reached the vicinity of the General's tent, the field officer -handed them over to an orderly of Monckton's Grenadiers, with orders to -find them quarters and rations until the General expressed his pleasure -concerning their offer of service. - -All that day they remained in the camp, but no message came from the -commander. Evidently he was busy with more important duties, and could -not be bothered about the services of a few rude frontiersmen; but next -morning, towards noon, the field officer returned in person and said-- - -"General Wolfe desires to speak with you. Come with me!" - -Jamie's heart beat wildly at the thought of speaking with this great -soldier, the darling and the genius of the whole army. They arrived at -the large tent which served as the head-quarters of the staff. A sentry -barred the way till the password was repeated, and then, following the -officer, they entered, Jamie first, then Jack, and last of all the -hunter. - -All three quickly brought their hands to the salute as they stood before -a large table, at which sat three officers of high rank. They were -Generals Murray, Monckton and Townshend, and although unknown to the -youths, who wondered which of the three was Wolfe, they have each left -an honoured name on the scroll of Empire. - -But who was that pale, ascetic-looking invalid, reclining on a couch -beside General Murray? Surely he was no soldier! He was weak and -sickly, and appeared to be suffering from some painful malady. What was -he doing here? wondered Jamie, giving him a passing glance, and then -directing his attention to the three officers, who were conversing -amongst themselves, and examining charts and maps with such intensity -that they scarcely seemed as yet to have noticed the newcomers. - -Suddenly the invalid on the couch said something, and instantly the -three soldiers ceased their conversation, dropped the charts and maps, -and listened to his every word with marked reverence and respect. - -"Murray," he said, "which are the two scouts who were prisoners in -Quebec till last spring? Let them come to me." - -The aide-de-camp indicated Jamie and Jack, and then General Murray -approached them and said-- - -"Step forward! General Wolfe desires to speak with you," at the same -time making a respectful gesture in the direction of the couch. - -"General Wolfe! Could that feeble person be the great soldier on whom -England relied to win the Canadas from the French?" thought Jamie, as he -stepped forward and saluted the invalid. He was amazed and dumfounded. -It was well for him at that moment that he had learnt something of the -Indian virtue of hiding his feelings, or his face might have shown -something of his disappointment. - -"Why, you are quite a lad! Come, let me look at you! There, that will -do! I like your face, and yours, too." - -"Thank you, General!" - -"Now tell me what you know of Quebec, and when you landed there, and -when you left, and how." - -Then Jamie, acting as spokesman for the two, told him briefly but -clearly his history, commencing with the sea-fight, his capture, and how -he spent his time at Quebec, his adventure with the Iroquois on the St. -Lawrence, and his escape by the steep pathway that led up on to the -Plains of Abraham, and how that Jack had accompanied him in that and all -the other adventures he had met with on the frontiers. - -"Good!" exclaimed the General, into whose eyes the fire had leapt as the -lad described his adventures, especially the fight with the French -frigate. - -"Pass me that chart of the river and the Plains, Monckton. There, that -will do! Just show me, lad, the spot where you landed that day and -climbed to the Plains. Here, take hold of this chart!" - -Jamie took the chart, spread it out on the ground, and knelt down by the -couch. - -"There," he said, pointing to a tiny dent in the northern shore, "is the -spot where we made our escape. It is a league or so above the city." - -"And if I sent you down there with a boat in the dark, could you find it -again?" said the General in a soft voice. - -"Yes, sir, I could!" - -"And if I ordered you to land a boat-load of soldiers on the top of the -cliffs there before dawn to-morrow morning, how would you set about it?" - -Jamie flushed with pride at the thought of such a commission, but he -answered quietly and firmly-- - -"General, if you trusted that boat to me I would wait till the second -ebb tide to-night, then, under cover of darkness, I would drop down with -the current, keeping in mid-stream till nearly opposite the cove, then, -edging in to the northern bank, I would run the boat ashore at the -inlet, and lead the men up on to the Plains two hours before dawn." - -"By George, Townshend, he'll do! Let him have a seat in the first boat, -and his companions too. But see that they are kept in charge of the -orderly, and not permitted outside the lines till I send for them." - -"Yes, sir." - -"By the way, Monckton, is there a guard at that point above the cove?" - -"Vergois' guard is stationed there, sir. It is part of Bougainville's -command." - -"My lad," said the General, half rising from the couch and putting his -hand on Jamie's shoulder, "it is a very important duty that I am -entrusting to you to-night. I am going to put you in the first boat, -along with the other guides, as your knowledge of the spot may be -useful, and it is of the first importance that we should not pass that -cove in the darkness. The safety of the British army, to a great -extent, will be entrusted to you, and perhaps--who knows?--the destiny -of Canada. You will be kept under the charge of the orderly till -nightfall, as there are plenty of spies about the camp. If you do your -duty this night, your King and your country will be grateful to you. -Good-bye!" - -Darkness came at length on that famous 12th of September, 1759, and as -soon as the northern bank disappeared in the gloom of evening, the -English camp was astir with quiet and concealed movements. Only to a -few was the plan of campaign known, for in the rapidity and secrecy of -the movement lay the only chance of success--for against the English the -odds were desperate. Wolfe, however, was so far recovered from his -sickness that he was able to command in person, and the inspiration that -this knowledge gave to the men was equivalent to the addition of an army -corps. - -An officer who took part in the events of that night has left it on -record that despite the reverse at the Montmorency six weeks before, -"the men were uncommonly eager and difficult to restrain, and yet," he -added, speaking to a comrade a few hours before the event, "if we -succeed in scaling and capturing that rock-crowned citadel, I shall -think little in future of Hannibal leading his army over the Alps." - -At nine o'clock thirty boats collected from the warships and transports, -rendezvoused in a line in front of Admiral Holmes' flagship. Then the -last "general order" issued by Wolfe was read to the troops by the -generals in command. It contained these striking words-- - -"Now is the time to strike a stroke which will determine the fate of -Canada." - -Then fifteen hundred men, the forlorn hope of the expedition, selected -chiefly from the Highlanders, the Anstruthers and the Light Infantry, -were crowded into the boats, and now nothing remained but the final -issue, as the troops calmly waited for the second ebb tide, which was to -carry them down-stream. - -At one o'clock the tide ebbed, and the order was given to cast off. Not -a soldier or a sailor remained behind who was not cursing his ill-luck -that he had not been chosen to go ahead in the boats. The order had -been given for silence, and nothing could be heard but the gurgling of -the water as it washed the sides of the boats; but the excitement, -though suppressed, must have been intense as the men grasped their -muskets and lay close together, looking at the stars above or those -rugged heights, which ever and anon loomed darkly from the northern -shore. - -Jamie, with his two companions, was in the first boat eagerly scanning -that dark outline and noting every headland, watching for that little -indentation just between St. Nichol and Le Foulton, where he and Jack -had so often landed their little fishing canoe during their enforced -stay in Quebec. - -Suddenly a low voice broke upon their ears from the stern sheets of the -next boat, which was only a dozen feet away. It was the voice of Wolfe -reciting to his officers and to a young midshipman, named Robinson, who -has left the incident on record. He was quoting from memory the stanzas -from "Gray's Elegy"-- - - "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." - - -"Gentlemen," Jamie heard him say, "I would rather have written those -lines than take Quebec to-morrow." And every English schoolboy now -knows how strangely prophetic and appropriate were those lines. - -They were now rapidly approaching the little cove, and Jamie signalled -to the steersman of his boat to edge in a little closer to the northern -shore, which now towered above them like a great barrier. As he did so -the voice of a sentry came through the gloom from the heights above-- - -"_Qui vive?_" - -"_La France!_" replied a captain of the Highlanders from Jamie's boat. - -"_A quel régiment?_" came back from the heights. - -"_De la Reine!_" answered the Highlander. - -The sentry appeared satisfied, as the Queen's regiment formed part of -Bougainville's command, which had been sent further up the bank in order -to watch Wolfe's movements. - -Shortly afterwards they were challenged again, but a few more adroit -answers saved the situation. - -"This is the spot," whispered Jamie, and the boat was run upon the bank -in the little sandy cove beneath the cliffs, and a hundred men were -quickly clustered upon the little beach. Wolfe was amongst the first to -land, and as he looked up at the rugged heights he shook his head and -coolly remarked-- - -"You can try it, but I don't think you'll get up." - -The next moment Jamie and his companions, closely followed by twenty -volunteers, were climbing the precipitous front, dragging themselves up -by the roots and branches of the shrubs and trees which overhung the -steep ascent. For another moment those below waited with breathless -suspense. Then quick, ringing shots were heard, as those few determined -men overpowered the small French guard at the top. This was followed by -a thin British cheer, and immediately the Highlanders below, with the -Light Infantry and the others, clambered up the apparently impossible -heights and gained the plains above. - -At dawn fifteen hundred men stood upon the Plains of Abraham, and then -the ships, which had dropped down the river behind the boats, landed the -rest of the army. When the sun rose on the 13th of September, the watch -on the citadel beheld with amazement the red coats of the British army -forming up into lines--and preparing for battle. - -Swift couriers had carried the tidings across the St. Charles to -Montcalm, and the roll of drums was heard amid his camp, and soon the -French division were pouring across the bridge of boats. At nine -o'clock, the armies were facing each other on the Plains above the city. -Then the rattle of musketry began as the French sharpshooters lined the -bushes and entrenchments previously prepared to the north-west of the -city. - -On came the columns of Montcalm, firing and shouting in an inspiriting -manner, led by their renowned leader in person. - -How different those thin red lines of Highlanders, Grenadiers and hardy -colonial levies. An ominous silence hung like a cloud over the English -ranks. It was the silence that presages the storm--the calm, still -waters of a dam about to burst its bounds and spread havoc and death. - -As the French fire became more effectual, the gaps in the English ranks -became frequent, but they were filled in silence as the rear men stepped -to the front. In those ranks scarce a word was spoken, and as yet not a -shot had been fired. Officers of Montcalm have since said that this -ominous silence cast a chill over the French columns that half decided -the issues of the day. - -Not till the French were within forty yards was the word given to fire, -then simultaneously the long line of muskets were brought to the level, -and from end to end of the English ranks a crashing blaze of leaden hail -was poured upon the enemy. The columns of Montcalm reeled and staggered -before this dreadful impact. A second volley was fired, and then, -before the smoke had rolled away, or the enemy had had an opportunity to -reform his shattered ranks, a deafening cheer rang from end to end of -the Plains. The flood of British fury was at length undammed, and -trampling the dead and dying they swept the shattered columns before -them in one mad, wild stampede. The Highlanders, wielding their -terrible broadswords, chased the fugitives right up to the gates of the -city and across the St. Charles River. - -The defeat was crushing and absolute, and in that moment of victory the -destiny of Canada was settled, but the cheers of the victors were -silenced as the sad news passed from rank to rank that Wolfe had fallen. -In the heat of the fight, leading on the Grenadiers, his wrist had been -shattered by a ball. He quickly bound it in a handkerchief, and -continued the fight. A second ball pierced his side, but he stayed not. -Then a bullet entered his breast, and he reeled and fell. - -Four soldiers raised him up, and carrying him to the rear laid him -gently upon the grass. He appeared to be unconscious, but when a soldier -near him exclaimed-- - -"See how they run!" - -"Who run?" asked the dying soldier, opening his eyes. - -"The enemy, sir! They give way everywhere!" was the reply. - -"Then tell Colonel Burton to march Webb's regiment down to Charles River -to cut off their retreat from the bridge. Now, God be praised! I will -die in peace," were the last words of General Wolfe. That day England -gained an Empire, but lost a hero. - -The three scouts had finished their task when they led the forlorn hope -up the precipice and on to the Plains, but they were not to be denied a -share in the fight, for they had received permission to join the ranks -of the centre column, which was under the personal command of Wolfe, and -bore the brunt of the fight on that never-to-be-forgotten morning. They -were in the forefront of that wild rush to the bridge, where the fight -was thickest, and where many hundreds were hurled into the St. Charles -River, and where Montcalm's retreat was effectually blocked and victory -made secure. - -The battle was over now, for though one of the most glorious, it was one -of the briefest in history, and though they had lost each other in the -pursuit, the three comrades were glad to rejoin the ranks at the -roll-call on the Plains and find each other alive and well, except for -minor wounds, though the joy of victory was damped and a chill went to -every heart when the word was passed down the ranks that their -illustrious leader had fallen. - -Next morning General Townshend passed to the head of every regiment in -succession, and thanked the troops for their brilliant services, and -soon afterwards one of his aide-de-camps approached the scouts and -requested their immediate presence in the General's tent. They followed -him, wondering that he had not forgotten them altogether in the -excitement of so great a victory. When they stood in his presence they -saluted and waited for him to speak. - -"Jamie Stuart and Jack Elliot!" said General Townshend, and instantly -several other officers, who had been busily engaged writing dispatches -for England, rose and stood at attention. "In the name of His Most -Gracious Majesty, King George the Second, I thank you for the eminent -services you have rendered to your country. I have appointed you both -from this day to be ensigns in the Royal Americans. Here are your -commissions. Right nobly have you won them. May you be spared long to -serve your country! God save the King!" - -The youths were overwhelmed with this generous tribute from so great a -soldier. They could find no words to express their gratitude for this -signal honour conferred upon them. A commission in His Majesty's -victorious army seemed too great a reward for their poor services, so -each raised his hand to the salute again and repeated the General's -words-- - -"God save the King!" - -The General then turned to the hunter, who had been an interested and -sympathetic witness of this stirring scene, but as he spake his voice -softened, for he had noticed that down the bronzed cheek of the old man -there trickled a tear. - -"Frontiersman, what is your name?" he asked. - -There was a pause, and for a few seconds the hunter's eyes were turned -to Jamie, and a strange far-away look came into his face. Then in a -half-broken voice he answered-- - -"John Stuart of Burnside! An exile!" - -"Father!" burst from Jamie's lips, and the next instant the paleface -hunter and his son were hugging each other with joy. - -The next moment General Townshend advanced to the hunter, and pinning -the King's medal upon his breast, he said-- - -"He is no longer an exile who wears this honoured decoration. John -Stuart, I thank you for the work you have already done, but there are -still further services that I wish to ask of you. I understand that -your knowledge of the river and the forest from this point to Mont -Royale is unsurpassed by that of any person in the camp. Your knowledge -will shortly be invaluable to us. I appoint you as Frontiersman and -Chief Guide to the British Army in the Canadas, and, furthermore, I -desire to say that His Majesty shall be reminded after the war of the -important services which I trust you will then have rendered to your -country." - -"General," said the hunter, "I am an exile from my native land, but I -have never committed a crime, and my conscience is clear. England has -treated me unkindly, but I love my country, and without any thought of -reward I freely offer you my services. If necessary, I will gladly die -for my country." - -"Thank you, Frontiersman!" said the General, touched by these words. "A -grateful country will not forget your devotion to her interests in the -hour of her need. May every son of Britain likewise forget his private -wrongs in England's hour of danger." - -Four days later, on that memorable 17th of September, 1759, the white -flag was hung out from the citadel at Quebec, and on the next day the -Gibraltar of North America passed for ever from its old masters into the -hands of Britain. - -"Look, Jack! The French ensign is coming down," said Jamie, and they -both looked towards the citadel, and a moment afterwards, amid the clash -of martial music, the salute of the batteries, and the wild cheering of -the soldiers, the English flag waved proudly over the fort and the -river. - -"There, Jamie, our dream has come true, it's the old flag at last, and, -thank God, we have helped to plant it there." - - -After the fall of Quebec, the paleface hunter and the two youths -accompanied the army in its victorious march upon Mont Royale, and when -the war was over they returned to England. Jack survived his two -brothers, and in time became the Squire of Burnside, and I find that to -John Stuart, Esquire, of Burnside, Yorkshire, a grant of Crown land was -made for his services to his country, and that the old farmhouse, which -still stands, above the wood and the trout-stream, was built by him and -his son Jamie in 1775. And there they lived happily for many years, and -there Jamie's descendants live to this day, for only two years ago, -while visiting his ancestral home and poring over ancient deeds and the -old family Bible, with its records and dates, the author discovered this -forgotten story of adventure and peril. - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER WOLFE'S FLAG *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43265 - -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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