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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4720-h.zip b/4720-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd84c25 --- /dev/null +++ b/4720-h.zip diff --git a/4720-h/4720-h.htm b/4720-h/4720-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a151ab --- /dev/null +++ b/4720-h/4720-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7286 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Wacousta—Volume 2, by John Richardson +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac +Conspiracy--Volume 2, by John Richardson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy--Volume 2 + +Author: John Richardson + +Posting Date: September 6, 2009 [EBook #4720] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 7, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WACOUSTA--VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from Charles Franks +and the distributed proofers. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +WACOUSTA; +</H1> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> + or +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PROPHECY. +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Volume Two of Three +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +John Richardson +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%"> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0201">I</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0202">II</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0203">III</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0204">IV</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0205">V</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="17%"> +<A HREF="#chap0206">VI</A> +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0207">VII</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0208">VIII</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0209">IX</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0210">X</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0211">XI</A> +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap0212">XII</A> +</TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0201"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<P> +It was on the evening of that day, so fertile in melancholy incident, +to which our first volume has been devoted, that the drawbridge of +Detroit was, for the third time since the investment of the garrison, +lowered; not, as previously, with a disregard of the intimation that +might be given to those without by the sullen and echoing rattle of its +ponderous chains, but with a caution attesting how much secrecy of +purpose was sought to be preserved. There was, however, no array of +armed men within the walls, that denoted an expedition of a hostile +character. Overcome with the harassing duties of the day, the chief +portion of the troops had retired to rest, and a few groups of the +guard alone were to be seen walking up and down in front of their post, +apparently with a view to check the influence of midnight drowsiness, +but, in reality, to witness the result of certain preparations going on +by torchlight in the centre of the barrack square. +</P> + +<P> +In the midst of an anxious group of officers, comprising nearly all of +that rank within the fort, stood two individuals, attired in a costume +having nothing in common with the gay and martial habiliments of the +former. They were tall, handsome young men, whose native elegance of +carriage was but imperfectly hidden under an equipment evidently +adopted for, and otherwise fully answering, the purpose of disguise. A +blue cotton shell jacket, closely fitting to the person, trowsers of +the same material, a pair of strong deer-skin mocassins, and a coloured +handkerchief tied loosely round the collar of a checked shirt, the +whole surmounted by one of those rough blanket coats, elsewhere +described, formed the principal portion of their garb. Each, moreover, +wore a false queue of about nine inches in length, the effect of which +was completely to change the character of the countenance, and lend to +the features a Canadian-like expression. A red worsted cap, resembling +a bonnet de nuit, was thrown carelessly over the side of the head, +which could, at any moment, when deeper disguise should be deemed +necessary, command the additional protection of the rude hood that fell +back upon the shoulders from the collar of the coat to which it was +attached. They were both well armed. Into a broad belt, that encircled +the jacket of each, were thrust a brace of pistols and a strong dagger; +the whole so disposed, however, as to be invisible when the outer +garment was closed: this, again, was confined by a rude sash of worsted +of different colours, not unlike, in texture and quality, what is worn +by our sergeants at the present day. They were otherwise armed, +however, and in a less secret manner. Across the right shoulder of each +was thrown a belt of worsted also, to which were attached a rude powder +horn and shot pouch, with a few straggling bullets, placed there as if +rather by accident than design. Each held carelessly in his left hand, +and with its butt resting on the earth, a long gun; completing an +appearance, the attainment of which had, in all probability, been +sedulously sought,—that of a Canadian duck-hunter. +</P> + +<P> +A metamorphosis so ludicrously operated in the usually elegant costume +of two young English officers,—for such they were,—might have been +expected to afford scope to the pleasantry of their companions, and to +call forth those sallies which the intimacy of friendship and the +freemasonry of the profession would have fully justified. But the +events that had occurred in such rapid succession, since the preceding +midnight, were still painfully impressed on the recollection of all, +and some there were who looked as if they never would smile again; +neither laugh nor jeering, therefore, escaped the lips of one of the +surrounding group. Every countenance wore a cast of thought,—a +character of abstraction, ill suited to the indulgence of levity; and +the little conversation that passed between them was in a low and +serious tone. It was evident some powerful and absorbing dread existed +in the mind of each, inducing him rather to indulge in communion with +his own thoughts and impressions, than to communicate them to others. +Even the governor himself had, for a moment, put off the dignity and +distance of his usually unapproachable nature, to assume an air of +unfeigned concern, and it might be dejection, contrasting strongly with +his habitual haughtiness. Hitherto he had been walking to and fro, a +little apart from the group, and with a hurriedness and indecision of +movement that betrayed to all the extreme agitation of his mind. For +once, however, he appeared to be insensible to observation, or, if not +insensible, indifferent to whatever comments might be formed or +expressed by those who witnessed his undissembled emotion. He was at +length interrupted by the adjutant, who communicated something in a low +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him be brought up, Mr. Lawson," was the reply. Then advancing into +the heart of the group, and addressing the two adventurers, he +enquired, in a tone that startled from its singular mildness, "if they +were provided with every thing they required." +</P> + +<P> +An affirmative reply was given, when the governor, taking the taller of +the young men aside, conversed with him earnestly, and in a tone of +affection strangely blended with despondency. The interview, however, +was short, for Mr. Lawson now made his appearance, conducting an +individual who has already been introduced to our readers. It was the +Canadian of the Fleur de lis. The adjutant placed a small wooden +crucifix in the hands of the governor. +</P> + +<P> +"Francois," said the latter, impressively, "you know the terms on which +I have consented to spare your life. Swear, then, by this cross; that +you will be faithful to your trust; that neither treachery nor evasion +shall be practised; and that you will, to the utmost of your power, aid +in conveying these gentlemen to their destination. Kneel and swear it." +</P> + +<P> +"I do swear it!" fervently repeated the aubergiste, kneeling and +imprinting his lips with becoming reverence on the symbol of martyrdom. +"I swear to do dat I shall engage, and may de bon Dieu have mercy to my +soul as I shall fulfil my oat." +</P> + +<P> +"Amen," pronounced the governor, "and may Heaven deal by you even as +you deal by us. Bear in mind, moreover, that as your treachery will be +punished, so also shall your fidelity be rewarded. But the night wears +apace, and ye have much to do." Then turning to the young officers who +were to be his companions,—"God bless you both; may your enterprise be +successful! I fear," offering his hand to the younger, "I have spoken +harshly to you, but at a moment like the present you will no longer +cherish a recollection of the unpleasant past." +</P> + +<P> +The only answer was a cordial return of his own pressure. The Canadian +in his turn now announced the necessity for instant departure, when the +young men, following his example, threw their long guns carelessly over +the left shoulder. Low, rapid, and fervent adieus were uttered on both +sides; and although the hands of the separating parties met only in a +short and hurried grasp, there was an expression in the touch of each +that spoke to their several hearts long after the separation had +actually taken place. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay one moment!" exclaimed a voice, as the little party now moved +towards the gateway; "ye are both gallantly enough provided without, +but have forgotten there is something quite as necessary to sustain the +inward man. Duck shooting, you know, is wet work. The last lips that +were moistened from this," he proceeded, as the younger of the +disguised men threw the strap of the proffered canteen over his +shoulder, "were those of poor Ellen Halloway." +</P> + +<P> +The mention of that name, so heedlessly pronounced by the brave but +inconsiderate Erskine, produced a startling effect on the taller of the +departing officers. He struck his brow violently with his hand, uttered +a faint groan, and bending his head upon his chest, stood in an +attitude expressive of the deep suffering of his mind. The governor, +too, appeared agitated; and sounds like those of suppressed sobs came +from one who lingered at the side of him who had accepted the offer of +the canteen. The remainder of the officers preserved a deep and +mournful silence. +</P> + +<P> +"It is times dat we should start," again observed the Canadian, "or we +shall be taken by de daylight before we can clear de river." +</P> + +<P> +This intimation once more aroused the slumbering energies of the taller +officer. Again he drew up his commanding figure, extended his hand to +the governor in silence, and turning abruptly round, hastened to follow +close in the footsteps of his conductor. +</P> + +<P> +"You will not forget all I have said to you," whispered the voice of +one who had reserved his parting for the last, and who now held the +hand of the younger adventurer closely clasped in his own. "Think, oh, +think how much depends on the event of your dangerous enterprise." +</P> + +<P> +"When you behold me again," was the reply, "it will be with smiles on +my lip and gladness in my heart; for if we fail, there is that within +me, which whispers I shall never see you more. But keep up your +spirits, and hope for the best. We embark under cheerless auspices, it +is true; but let us trust to Providence for success in so good a +cause,—God bless you!" +</P> + +<P> +In the next minute he had joined his companions; who, with light and +noiseless tread, were already pursuing their way along the military +road that led to the eastern extremity of the town. Soon afterwards, +the heavy chains of the drawbridge were heard grating on the ear, in +despite of the evident caution used in restoring it to its wonted +position, and all again was still. +</P> + +<P> +It had at first been suggested their course should be held in an +angular direction across the cleared country alluded to in our last +chapter, in order to avoid all chance of recognition in the town; but +as this might have led them into more dangerous contact with some of +the outlying parties of Indians, who were known to prowl around the +fort at night, this plan had been abandoned for the more circuitous and +safe passage by the village. Through this our little party now pursued +their way, and without encountering aught to impede their progress. The +simple mannered inhabitants had long since retired to rest, and neither +light nor sound denoted the existence of man or beast within its +precincts. At length they reached that part of the road which turned +off abruptly in the direction of the Fleur de lis. The rude hut threw +its dark shadows across their path, but all was still and deathlike as +in the village they had just quitted. Presently, however, as they drew +nearer, they beheld, reflected from one of the upper windows, a faint +light that fell upon the ground immediately in front of the auberge; +and, at intervals, the figure of a human being approaching and receding +from it as if in the act of pacing the apartment. +</P> + +<P> +An instinctive feeling of danger rose at the same moment to the hearts +of the young officers; and each, obeying the same impulse, unfastened +one of the large horn buttons of his blanket coat, and thrust his right +hand into the opening. +</P> + +<P> +"Francois, recollect your oath," hastily aspirated the elder, as he +grasped the hand of their conductor rather in supplication than in +threat; "if there be aught to harm us here, your own life will most +assuredly pay the forfeit of your faith." +</P> + +<P> +"It is noting but a womans," calmly returned the Canadian; "it is my +Babette who is sorry at my loss. But I shall come and tell you +directly." +</P> + +<P> +He then stole gently round the corner of the hut, leaving his anxious +companions in the rear of the little building, and completely veiled in +the obscurity produced by the mingling shadows of the hut itself, and a +few tall pear trees that overhung the paling of the orchard at some +yards from the spot on which they stood. +</P> + +<P> +They waited some minutes to hear the result of the Canadian's +admittance into his dwelling; but although each with suppressed +breathing sought to catch those sounds of welcome with which a daughter +might be supposed to greet a parent so unexpectedly restored, they +listened in vain. At length, however, while the ears of both were on +the rack to drink in the tones of a human voice, a faint scream floated +on the hushed air, and all again was still. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" whispered the elder of the officers; "that scream is sweeter to +my ear than the softest accents of woman's love. It is evident the +ordinary tones of speech cannot find their way to us here from the +front of the hut. The faintness of yon cry, which was unquestionably +that of a female, is a convincing proof of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Hist!" urged his companion, in the same almost inaudible whisper, +"what sound was that?" +</P> + +<P> +Both again listened attentively, when the noise was repeated. It came +from the orchard, and resembled the sound produced by the faint crash +of rotten sticks and leaves under the cautious but unavoidably rending +tread of a human foot. At intervals it ceased, as if the person +treading, alarmed at his own noise, was apprehensive of betraying his +approach; and then recommenced, only to be checked in the same manner. +Finally it ceased altogether. +</P> + +<P> +For upwards of five minutes the young men continued to listen for a +renewal of the sound, but nothing was now audible, save the short and +fitful gusts of a rising wind among the trees of the orchard. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have been some wild animal in search of its prey," again +whispered the younger officer; "had it been a man, we should have heard +him leap the paling before this." +</P> + +<P> +"By Heaven, we are betrayed,—here he is," quickly rejoined the other, +in the same low tone. "Keep close to the hut, and stand behind me. If +my dagger fail, you must try your own. But fire not, on your life, +unless there be more than two, for the report of a pistol will be the +destruction of ourselves and all that are dear to us." +</P> + +<P> +Each with uplifted arm now stood ready to strike, even while his heart +throbbed with a sense of danger, that had far more than the mere dread +of personal suffering or death to stimulate to exertion in +self-defence. Footsteps were now distinctly heard stealing round that +part of the hut which bordered on the road; and the young men turned +from the orchard, to which their attention had previously been +directed, towards the new quarter whence they were intruded upon. +</P> + +<P> +It was fortunate this mode of approach had been selected. That part of +the hut which rested on the road was so exposed as to throw the outline +of objects into strong relief, whereas in the direction of the thickly +wooded orchard all was impenetrable gloom. Had the intruder stolen +unannounced upon the alarmed but determined officers by the latter +route, the dagger of the first would in all probability have been +plunged to its hilt in his bosom. As it was, each had sufficient +presence of mind to distinguish, as it now doubled the corner of the +hut, and reposed upon the road, the stout square-set figure of the +Canadian. The daggers were instantly restored to their sheaths, and +each, for the first time since the departure of their companion, +respired freely. +</P> + +<P> +"It is quite well," whispered the latter as he approached. "It was my +poor Babette, who tought I was gone to be kill. She scream so loud, as +if she had seen my ghost. But we must wait a few minute in de house, +and you shall see how glad my girl is to see me once again." +</P> + +<P> +"Why this delay, Francois? why not start directly?" urged the taller +officer; "we shall never clear the river in time; and if the dawn +catches us in the waters of the Detroit, we are lost for ever." +</P> + +<P> +"But you see I am not quite prepare yet," was the answer. "I have many +tings to get ready for de canoe, which I have not use for a long times. +But you shall not wait ten minute, if you do not like. Dere is a good +fire, and Babette shall give you some ting to eat while I get it all +ready." +</P> + +<P> +The young men hesitated. The delay of the Canadian, who had so +repeatedly urged the necessity for expedition while in the fort, had, +to say the least of it, an appearance of incongruity. Still it was +evident, if disposed to harm them, he had full opportunity to do so +without much risk of effectual opposition from themselves. Under all +circumstances, therefore, it was advisable rather to appear to confide +implicitly in his truth, than, by manifesting suspicion, to pique his +self-love, and neutralize whatever favourable intentions he might +cherish in their behalf. In this mode of conduct they were confirmed, +by a recollection of the sacredness attached by the religion of their +conductor to the oath so solemnly pledged on the symbol of the cross, +and by a conviction of the danger of observation to which they stood +exposed, if, as they had apprehended, it was actually a human footstep +they had heard in the orchard. This last recollection suggested a +remark. +</P> + +<P> +"We heard a strange sound within the orchard, while waiting here for +your return," said the taller officer; "it was like the footstep of a +man treading cautiously over rotten leaves and branches. How do you +account for it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it was my pigs," replied the Canadian, without manifesting the +slightest uneasiness at the information. "They run about in de orchard +for de apples what blows down wid de wind." +</P> + +<P> +"It could not be a pig we heard," pursued his questioner; "but another +thing, Francois, before we consent to enter the hut,—how will you +account to your daughter for our presence? and what suspicion may she +not form at seeing two armed strangers in company with you at this +unseasonable hour." +</P> + +<P> +"I have tell her," replied the Canadian, "dat I have bring two friends, +who go wid me in de canoe to shoot de ducks for two tree days. You +know, sir, I go always in de fall to kill de ducks wid my friends, and +she will not tink it strange." +</P> + +<P> +"You have managed well, my brave fellow; and now we follow you in +confidence. But in the name of Heaven, use all possible despatch, and +if money will lend a spur to your actions, you shall have plenty of it +when our enterprise has been accomplished." +</P> + +<P> +Our adventurers followed their conductor in the track by which he had +so recently rejoined them. As they turned the corner of the hut, the +younger, who brought up the rear, fancied he again heard a sound in the +direction of the orchard, resembling that of one lightly leaping to the +ground. A gust of wind, however, passing rapidly at the moment through +the dense foliage, led him to believe it might have been produced by +the sullen fall of one of the heavy fruits it had detached in its +course. Unwilling to excite new and unnecessary suspicion in his +companion, he confined the circumstance to his own breast, and followed +into the hut. +</P> + +<P> +After ascending a flight of about a dozen rude steps, they found +themselves in a small room, furnished with no other ceiling than the +sloping roof itself, and lighted by an unwieldy iron lamp, placed on a +heavy oak table, near the only window with which the apartment was +provided. This latter had suffered much from the influence of time and +tempest; and owing to the difficulty of procuring glass in so remote a +region, had been patched with slips of paper in various parts. The two +corner and lower panes of the bottom sash were out altogether, and pine +shingles, such as are used even at the present day for covering the +roofs of dwelling houses, had been fitted into the squares, excluding +air and light at the same time. The centre pane of this tier was, +however, clear and free from flaw of every description. Opposite to the +window blazed a cheerful wood fire, recently supplied with fuel; and at +one of the inner corners of the room was placed a low uncurtained bed, +that exhibited marks of having been lain in since it was last made. On +a chair at its side were heaped a few dark-looking garments, the +precise nature of which were not distinguishable at a cursory and +distant glance. +</P> + +<P> +Such were the more remarkable features of the apartment into which our +adventurers were now ushered. Both looked cautiously around on +entering, as if expecting to find it tenanted by spirits as daring as +their own; but, with the exception of the daughter of their conductor, +whose moist black eyes expressed, as much by tears as by smiles, the +joy she felt at this unexpected return of her parent, no living object +met their enquiring glance. The Canadian placed a couple of +rush-bottomed chairs near the fire, invited his companions to seat +themselves until he had completed his preparation for departure, and +then, desiring Babette to hasten supper for the young hunters, quitted +the room and descended the stairs. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0202"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<P> +The position of the young men was one of embarrassment; for while the +daughter, who was busied in executing the command of her father, +remained in the room, it was impossible they could converse together +without betraying the secret of their country, and, as a result of +this, the falsehood of the character under which they appeared. Long +residence in the country had, it is true, rendered the patois of that +class of people whom they personated familiar to one, but the other +spoke only the pure and native language of which it was a corruption. +It might have occurred to them at a cooler moment, and under less +critical circumstances, that, even if their disguise had been +penetrated, it was unlikely a female, manifesting so much lively +affection for her parent, would have done aught to injure those with +whom he had evidently connected himself. But the importance attached to +their entire security from danger left them but little room for +reflections of a calming character, while a doubt of that security +remained. +</P> + +<P> +One singularity struck them both. They had expected the young woman, +urged by a natural curiosity, would have commenced a conversation, even +if they did not; and he who spoke the patois was prepared to sustain it +as well as his anxious and overcharged spirit would enable him; and as +he was aware the morning had furnished sufficient incident of fearful +interest, he had naturally looked for a verbal re-enactment of the +harrowing and dreadful scene. To their surprise, however, they both +remarked that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation, +the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered constantly +near the table, and facing the window. Still, to avoid an appearance of +singularity on their own parts as far as possible, the elder of the +officers motioned to his companion, who, following his example, took a +small pipe and some tobacco from a compartment in his shot pouch, and +commenced puffing the wreathing smoke from his lips,—an occupation, +more than any other, seeming to justify their silence. +</P> + +<P> +The elder officer sat with his back to the window, and immediately in +front of the fire; his companion, at a corner of the rude hearth, and +in such a manner that, without turning his head, he could command every +part of the room at a glance. In the corner facing him stood the bed +already described. A faint ray of the fire-light fell on some minute +object glittering in the chair, the contents of which were heaped up in +disorder. Urged by that wayward curiosity, which is sometimes excited, +even under circumstances of the greatest danger and otherwise absorbing +interest, the young man kicked the hickory log that lay nearest to it +with his mocassined foot, and produced a bright crackling flame, the +reflection of which was thrown entirely upon the object of his gaze; it +was a large metal button, on which the number of his regiment was +distinctly visible. Unable to check his desire to know further, he left +his seat, to examine the contents of the chair. As he moved across the +room, he fancied he heard a light sound from without; his companion, +also, seemed to manifest a similar impression by an almost +imperceptible start; but the noise was so momentary, and so fanciful, +neither felt it worth his while to pause upon the circumstance. The +young officer now raised the garments from the chair: they consisted of +a small grey great-coat, and trowsers, a waistcoat of coarse white +cloth, a pair of worsted stockings, and the half-boots of a boy; the +whole forming the drum-boy's equipment, worn by the wretched wife of +Halloway when borne senseless into the hut on that fatal morning. +Hastily quitting a dress that called up so many dreadful recollections, +and turning to his companion with a look that denoted apprehension, +lest he too should have beheld these melancholy remembrances of the +harrowing scene, the young officer hastened to resume his seat. In the +act of so doing, his eye fell upon the window, at which the female +still lingered. Had a blast from Heaven struck his sight, the terror of +his soul could not have been greater. He felt his cheek to pale, and +his hair to bristle beneath his cap, while the checked blood crept +slowly and coldly, as if its very function had been paralysed; still he +had presence of mind sufficient not to falter in his step, or to +betray, by any extraordinary movement, that his eye had rested on any +thing hateful to behold. +</P> + +<P> +His companion had emptied his first pipe, and was in the act of +refilling it, when he resumed his seat. He was evidently impatient at +the delay of the Canadian, and already were his lips opening to give +utterance to his disappointment, when he felt his foot significantly +pressed by that of his friend. An instinctive sense of something +fearful that was to ensue, but still demanding caution on his part, +prevented him from turning hastily round to know the cause. Satisfied, +however, there was danger, though not of an instantaneous character, he +put his pipe gently by, and stealing his hand under his coat, again +grasped the hilt of his dagger. At length he slowly and partially +turned his head, while his eyes inquiringly demanded of his friend the +cause of his alarm. +</P> + +<P> +Partly to aid in concealing his increasing paleness, and partly with a +view to render it a medium for the conveyance of subdued sound, the +hand of the latter was raised to his face in such a manner that the +motion of his lips could not be distinguished from behind. +</P> + +<P> +"We are betrayed," he scarcely breathed. "If you can command yourself, +turn and look at the window; but for God's sake arm yourself with +resolution, or look not at all: first draw the hood over your head, and +without any appearance of design. Our only chance of safety lies in +this,—that the Canadian may still be true, and that our disguise may +not be penetrated." +</P> + +<P> +In despite of his native courage,—and this had often been put to +honourable proof,—he, thus mysteriously addressed, felt his heart to +throb violently. There was something so appalled in the countenance of +his friend—something so alarming in the very caution he had +recommended—that a vague dread of the horrible reality rushed at once +to his mind, and for a moment his own cheek became ashy pale, and his +breathing painfully oppressed. It was the natural weakness of the +physical man, over which the moral faculties had, for an instant, lost +their directing power. Speedily recovering himself, the young man +prepared to encounter the alarming object which had already so greatly +intimidated his friend. Carefully drawing the blanket hood over his +head, he rose from his seat, and, with the energetic movement of one +who has formed some desperate determination, turned his back to the +fire-place, and threw his eyes rapidly and eagerly upon the window. +They fell only on the rude patchwork of which it was principally +composed. The female had quitted the room. +</P> + +<P> +"You must have been deceived," he whispered, keeping his eye still bent +upon the window, and with so imperceptible a movement of the lips that +sound alone could have betrayed he was speaking,—"I see nothing to +justify your alarm. Look again." +</P> + +<P> +The younger officer once more directed his glance towards the window, +and with a shuddering of the whole person, as he recollected what had +met his eye when he last looked upon it. "It is no longer there, +indeed," he returned in the same scarcely audible tone. "Yet I could +not be mistaken; it was between those two corner squares of wood in the +lower sash." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it was merely a reflection produced by the lamp on the centre +pane," rejoined his friend, still keeping his eye riveted on the +suspicious point. +</P> + +<P> +"Impossible! but I will examine the window from the spot on which I +stood when I first beheld it." +</P> + +<P> +Again he quitted his seat, and carelessly crossed the room. As he +returned he threw his glance upon the pane, when, to his infinite +horror and surprise, the same frightful vision presented itself. +</P> + +<P> +"God of Heaven!" he exclaimed aloud, and unable longer to check the +ebullition of his feelings,—"what means this?—Is my brain turned? and +am I the sport of my own delusive fancy?—Do you not see it NOW?" +</P> + +<P> +No answer was returned. His friend stood mute and motionless, with his +left hand grasping his gun, and his right thrust into the waist of his +coat. His eye grew upon the window, and his chest heaved, and his cheek +paled and flushed alternately with the subdued emotion of his heart. A +human face was placed close to the unblemished glass, and every feature +was distinctly revealed by the lamp that still lay upon the table. The +glaring eye was fixed on the taller of the officers; but though the +expression was unfathomably guileful, there was nothing that denoted +any thing like a recognition of the party. The brightness of the wood +fire had so far subsided as to throw the interior of the room into +partial obscurity, and under the disguise of his hood it was impossible +for one without to distinguish the features of the taller officer. The +younger, who was scarcely an object of attention, passed comparatively +unnoticed. +</P> + +<P> +Fatigued and dimmed with the long and eager tension of its nerves, the +eye of the latter now began to fail him. For a moment he closed it; and +when again it fell upon the window; it encountered nothing but the +clear and glittering pane. For upwards of a minute he and his friend +still continued to rivet their gaze, but the face was no longer visible. +</P> + +<P> +Why is it that what is called the "human face divine" is sometimes +gifted with a power to paralyse, that the most loathsome reptile in the +creation cannot attain? Had a hyena or cougar of the American forest, +roaring for prey, appeared at that window, ready to burst the fragile +barrier, and fasten its talons in their hearts, its presence would not +have struck such sickness to the soul of our adventurers as did that +human face. It is that man, naturally fierce and inexorable, is alone +the enemy of his own species. The solution of this problem—this +glorious paradox in nature, we leave to profounder philosophers to +resolve. Sufficient for us be it to know, and to deplore that it is so. +</P> + +<P> +Footsteps were now heard upon the stairs; and the officers, aroused to +a full sense of their danger, hastily and silently prepared themselves +for the encounter. +</P> + +<P> +"Drop a bullet into your gun," whispered the elder, setting the example +himself. "We may be obliged to have recourse to it at last. Yet make no +show of hostility unless circumstances satisfy us we are betrayed; +then, indeed, all that remains for us will be to sell our lives as +dearly as we can. Hist! he is here." +</P> + +<P> +The door opened; and at the entrance, which was already filled up in +the imaginations of the young men with a terrible and alarming figure, +appeared one whose return had been anxiously and long desired. It was a +relief, indeed, to their gallant but excited hearts to behold another +than the form they had expected; and although, for the moment, they +knew not whether the Canadian came in hostility or in friendship, each +quitted the attitude of caution into which he had thrown himself, and +met him midway in his passage through the room. There was nothing in +the expression of his naturally open and good-humoured countenance to +denote he was at all aware of the causes for alarm that had operated so +powerfully on themselves. He announced with a frank look and +unfaltering voice every thing was in readiness for their departure. +</P> + +<P> +The officers hesitated; and the taller fixed his eyes upon those of +mine host, as if his gaze would have penetrated to the innermost +recesses of his heart. Could this be a refinement of his treachery? and +was he really ignorant of the existence of the danger which threatened +them? Was it not more probable his object was to disarm their fears, +that they might be given unprepared and, therefore, unresisting victims +to the ferocity of their enemies? Aware as he was, that they were both +well provided with arms, and fully determined to use them with effect, +might not his aim be to decoy them to destruction without, lest the +blood spilt under his roof, in the desperation of their defence, should +hereafter attest against him, and expose him to the punishment he would +so richly merit? Distracted by these doubts, the young men scarcely +knew what to think or how to act; and anxious as they had previously +been to quit the hut, they now considered the moment of their doing so +would be that of their destruction. The importance of the enterprise on +which they were embarked was such as to sink all personal +considerations. If they had felt the influence of intimidation on their +spirits, it arose less from any apprehension of consequences to +themselves, than from the recollection of the dearer interests involved +in their perfect security from discovery. +</P> + +<P> +"Francois," feelingly urged the taller officer, again adverting to his +vow, "you recollect the oath you so solemnly pledged upon the cross of +your Saviour. Tell me, then, as you hope for mercy, have you taken that +oath only that you might the more securely betray us to our enemies? +What connection have you with them at this moment? and who is HE who +stood looking through that window not ten minutes since?" +</P> + +<P> +"As I shall hope for mercy in my God," exclaimed the Canadian with +unfeigned astonishment, "I have not see nobody. But what for do you +tink so? It is not just. I have given my oat to serve you, and I shall +do it." +</P> + +<P> +There was candour both in the tone and countenance of the man as he +uttered these words, half in reproach, half in justification; and the +officers no longer doubted. +</P> + +<P> +"You must forgive our suspicions at a moment like the present," +soothingly observed the younger; "yet, Francois, your daughter saw and +exchanged signals with the person we mean. She left the room soon after +he made his appearance. What has become of her?" +</P> + +<P> +The Canadian gave a sudden start, looked hastily round, and seemed to +perceive for the first time the girl was absent. He then put a finger +to his lip to enjoin silence, advanced to the table, and extinguished +the light. Desiring his companions, in a low whisper, to tread +cautiously and follow, he now led the way with almost noiseless step to +the entrance of the hut. At the threshold of the door were placed a +large well-filled sack, a light mast and sail, and half a dozen +paddles. The latter burden he divided between the officers, on whose +shoulders he carefully balanced them. The sack he threw across his own; +and, without expressing even a regret that an opportunity of bidding +adieu to his child was denied him, hastily skirted the paling of the +orchard until, at the further extremity, he had gained the high road. +</P> + +<P> +The heavens were obscured by passing clouds driven rapidly by the wind, +during the short pauses of which our adventurers anxiously and +frequently turned to listen if they were pursued. Save the rustling of +the trees that lined the road, and the slight dashing of the waters on +the beach, however, no sound was distinguishable. At length they gained +the point whence they were to start. It was the fatal bridge, the +events connected with which were yet so painfully fresh in their +recollection. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop one minutes here," whispered the Canadian, throwing his sack upon +the sand near the mouth of the lesser river; "my canoe is chain about +twenty yards up de bridge. I shall come to you directly." Then +cautioning the officers to keep themselves concealed under the bridge, +he moved hastily under the arch, and disappeared in the dark shadow +which it threw across the rivulet. +</P> + +<P> +The extremities of the bridge rested on the banks of the little river +in such a manner as to leave a narrow passage along the sands +immediately under the declination of the arch. In accordance with the +caution of their conductor, the officers had placed themselves under +it; and with their backs slightly bent forward to meet the curvature of +the bridge, so that no ray of light could pass between their bodies and +the fabric itself, now awaited the arrival of the vessel on which their +only hope depended. We shall not attempt to describe their feelings on +finding themselves, at that lone hour of the night, immediately under a +spot rendered fearfully memorable by the tragic occurrences of the +morning. The terrible pursuit of the fugitive, the execution of the +soldier, the curse and prophecy of his maniac wife, and, above all, the +forcible abduction and threatened espousal of that unhappy woman by the +formidable being who seemed to have identified himself with the evils +with which they stood menaced,—all rushed with rapid tracery on the +mind, and excited the imagination, until each, filled with a sentiment +not unallied to superstitious awe, feared to whisper forth his +thoughts, lest in so doing he should invoke the presence of those who +had principally figured in the harrowing and revolting scene. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you not hear a noise?" at length whispered the elder, as he leaned +himself forward, and bent his head to the sand, to catch more +distinctly a repetition of the sound. +</P> + +<P> +"I did; there again! It is upon the bridge, and not unlike the step of +one endeavouring to tread lightly. It may be some wild beast, however." +</P> + +<P> +"We must not be taken by surprise," returned his companion. "If it be a +man, the wary tread indicates consciousness of our presence. If an +animal, there can be no harm in setting our fears at rest." +</P> + +<P> +Cautiously stealing from his lurking-place, the young officer emerged +into the open sands, and in a few measured noiseless strides gained the +extremity of the bridge. The dark shadow of something upon its centre +caught his eye, and a low sound like that of a dog lapping met his ear. +While his gaze yet lingered on the shapeless object, endeavouring to +give it a character, the clouds which had so long obscured it passed +momentarily from before the moon, and disclosed the appalling truth. It +was a wolf-dog lapping up from the earth, in which they were encrusted, +the blood and brains of the unfortunate Frank Halloway. +</P> + +<P> +Sick and faint at the disgusting sight, the young man rested his elbow +on the railing that passed along the edge of the bridge, and, leaning +his head on his hand for a moment, forgot the risk of exposure he +incurred, in the intenseness of the sorrow that assailed his soul. His +heart and imagination were already far from the spot on which he stood, +when he felt an iron hand upon his shoulder. He turned, shuddering with +an instinctive knowledge of his yet unseen visitant, and beheld +standing over him the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the savage in a low triumphant tone, "the place +of our meeting is well timed, though somewhat singular, it must be +confessed. Nay," he fiercely added, grasping as in a vice the arm that +was already lifted to strike him, "force me not to annihilate you on +the spot. Ha! hear you the cry of my wolf-dog?" as that animal now set +up a low but fearful howl; "it is for your blood he asks, but your hour +is not yet come." +</P> + +<P> +"No, by Heaven, is it not!" exclaimed a voice; a rapid and rushing +sweep was heard through the air for an instant, and then a report like +a stunning blow. The warrior released his grasp—placed his hand upon +his tomahawk, but without strength to remove it from his belt tottered +a pace or two backwards—and then fell, uttering a cry of mingled pain +and disappointment, at his length upon the earth. +</P> + +<P> +"Quick, quick to our cover!" exclaimed the younger officer, as a loud +shout was now heard from the forest in reply to the yell of the fallen +warrior. "If Francois come not, we are lost; the howl of that wolf-dog +alone will betray us, even if his master should be beyond all chance of +recovery." +</P> + +<P> +"Desperate diseases require desperate remedies," was the reply; "there +is little glory in destroying a helpless enemy, but the necessity is +urgent, and we must leave nothing to chance." As he spoke, he knelt +upon the huge form of the senseless warrior, whose scalping knife he +drew from its sheath, and striking a firm and steady blow, quitted not +the weapon until he felt his hand reposing on the chest of his enemy. +</P> + +<P> +The howl of the wolf-dog, whose eyes glared like two burning coals +through the surrounding gloom, was now exchanged to a fierce and +snappish bark. He made a leap at the officer while in the act of rising +from the body; but his fangs fastened only in the chest of the shaggy +coat, which he wrung with the strength and fury characteristic of his +peculiar species. This new and ferocious attack was fraught with danger +little inferior to that which they had just escaped, and required the +utmost promptitude of action. The young man seized the brute behind the +neck in a firm and vigorous grasp, while he stooped upon the motionless +form over which this novel struggle was maintained, and succeeded in +making himself once more master of the scalping knife. Half choked by +the hand that unflinchingly grappled with him, the savage animal +quitted his hold and struggled violently to free himself. This was the +critical moment. The officer drew the heavy sharp blade, from the +handle to the point, across the throat of the infuriated beast, with a +force that divided the principal artery. He made a desperate leap +upwards, spouting his blood over his destroyer, and then fell gasping +across the body of his master. A low growl, intermingled with faint +attempts to bark, which the rapidly oozing life rendered more and more +indistinct, succeeded; and at length nothing but a gurgling sound was +distinguishable. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the anxious and harassed officers had regained their place of +concealment under the bridge, where they listened with suppressed +breathing for the slightest sound to indicate the approach of the +canoe. At intervals they fancied they could hear a noise resembling the +rippling of water against the prow of a light vessel, but the swelling +cries of the rushing band, becoming at every instant more distinct, +were too unceasingly kept up to admit of their judging with accuracy. +</P> + +<P> +They now began to give themselves up for lost, and many and bitter were +the curses they inwardly bestowed on the Canadian, when the outline of +a human form was seen advancing along the sands, and a dark object upon +the water. It was their conductor, dragging the canoe along, with all +the strength and activity of which he was capable. +</P> + +<P> +"What the devil have you been about all this time, Francois?" exclaimed +the taller officer, as he bounded to meet him. "Quick, quick, or we +shall be too late. Hear you not the blood-hounds on their scent?" Then +seizing the chain in his hand, with a powerful effort he sent the canoe +flying through the arch to the very entrance of the river. The burdens +that had been deposited on the sands were hastily flung in, the +officers stepping lightly after. The Canadian took the helm, directing +the frail vessel almost noiselessly through the water, and with such +velocity, that when the cry of the disappointed savages was heard +resounding from the bridge, it had already gained the centre of the +Detroit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0203"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<P> +Two days had succeeded to the departure of the officers from the fort, +but unproductive of any event of importance. About daybreak, however, +on the morning of the third, the harassed garrison were once more +summoned to arms, by an alarm from the sentinels planted in rear of the +works; a body of Indians they had traced and lost at intervals, as they +wound along the skirt of the forest, in their progress from their +encampment, were at length developing themselves in force near the bomb +proof. With a readiness which long experience and watchfulness had +rendered in some degree habitual to them, the troops flew to their +respective posts; while a few of the senior officers, among whom was +the governor, hastened to the ramparts to reconnoitre the strength and +purpose of their enemies. It was evident the views of these latter were +not immediately hostile; for neither were they in their war paint, nor +were their arms of a description to carry intimidation to a disciplined +and fortified soldiery. Bows, arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, spears, and +scalping knives, constituted their warlike equipments, but neither +rifle nor fire-arms of any kind were discernible. Several of their +leaders, distinguishable by a certain haughty carriage and commanding +gesticulation, were collected within the elevated bomb-proof, +apparently holding a short but important conference apart from their +people, most of whom stood or lay in picturesque attitudes around the +ruin. These also had a directing spirit. A tall and noble looking +warrior, wearing a deer-skin hunting frock closely girded around his +loins, appeared to command the deference of his colleagues, claiming +profound attention when he spoke himself, and manifesting his assent or +dissent to the apparently expressed opinions of the lesser chiefs +merely by a slight movement of the head. +</P> + +<P> +"There he is indeed!" exclaimed Captain Erskine, speaking as one who +communes with his own thoughts, while he kept his telescope levelled on +the form of the last warrior; "looking just as noble as when, three +years ago, he opposed himself to the progress of the first English +detachment that had ever penetrated to this part of the world. What a +pity such a fine fellow should be so desperate and determined an enemy!" +</P> + +<P> +"True; you were with Major Rogers on that expedition," observed the +governor, in a tone now completely divested of the haughtiness which +formerly characterised his address to his officers. "I have often heard +him speak of it. You had many difficulties to contend against, if I +recollect." +</P> + +<P> +"We had indeed, sir," returned the frank-hearted Erskine, dropping the +glass from his eye. "So many, in fact, that more than once, in the +course of our progress through the wilderness, did I wish myself at +head-quarters with my company. Never shall I forget the proud and +determined expression of Ponteac's countenance, when he told Rogers, in +his figurative language, 'he stood in the path in which he travelled.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank Heaven, he at least stands not in the path in which OTHERS +travel," musingly rejoined the governor. "But what sudden movement is +that within the ruin?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Indians are preparing to show a white flag," shouted an +artillery-man from his station in one of the embrasures below. +</P> + +<P> +The governor and his officers received this intelligence without +surprise: the former took the glass from Captain Erskine, and coolly +raised it to his eye. The consultation had ceased; and the several +chiefs, with the exception of their leader and two others, were now +seen quitting the bomb-proof to join their respective tribes. One of +those who remained, sprang upon an elevated fragment of the ruin, and +uttered a prolonged cry, the purport of which,—and it was fully +understood from its peculiar nature,—was to claim attention from the +fort. He then received from the hands of the other chief a long spear, +to the end of which was attached a piece of white linen. This he waved +several times above his head; then stuck the barb of the spear firmly +into the projecting fragment. Quitting his elevated station, he next +stood at the side of the Ottawa chief, who had already assumed the air +and attitude of one waiting to observe in what manner his signal would +be received. +</P> + +<P> +"A flag of truce in all its bearings, by Jupiter!" remarked Captain +Erskine. "Ponteac seems to have acquired a few lessons since we first +met." +</P> + +<P> +"This is evidently the suggestion of some European," observed Major +Blackwater; "for how should he understand any thing of the nature of a +white flag? Some of those vile spies have put him up to this." +</P> + +<P> +"True enough, Blackwater; and they appear to have found an intelligent +pupil," observed Captain Wentworth. "I was curious to know how he would +make the attempt to approach us; but certainly never once dreamt of his +having recourse to so civilised a method. Their plot works well, no +doubt; still we have the counter-plot to oppose to it." +</P> + +<P> +"We must foil them with their own weapons," remarked the governor, +"even if it be only with a view to gain time. Wentworth, desire one of +your bombardiers to hoist the large French flag on the staff." +</P> + +<P> +The order was promptly obeyed. The Indians made a simultaneous movement +expressive of their satisfaction; and in the course of a minute, the +tall warrior, accompanied by nearly a dozen inferior chiefs, was seen +slowly advancing across the common, towards the group of officers. +</P> + +<P> +"What generous confidence the fellow has, for an Indian!" observed +Captain Erskine, who could not dissemble his admiration of the warrior. +"He steps as firmly and as proudly within reach of our muskets, as if +he was leading in the war-dance." +</P> + +<P> +"How strange," mused Captain Blessington, "that one who meditates so +deep a treachery, should have no apprehension of it in others!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is a compliment to the honour of our flag," observed the governor, +"which it must be our interest to encourage. If, as you say, Erskine, +the man is really endowed with generosity, the result of this affair +will assuredly call it forth." +</P> + +<P> +"If it prove otherwise, sir," was the reply, "we must only attribute +his perseverance to the influence which that terrible warrior of the +Fleur de lis is said to exercise over his better feelings. By the by, I +see nothing of him among this flag of truce party. It could scarcely be +called a violation of faith to cut off such a rascally renegade. Were +he of the number of those advancing, and Valletort's rifle within my +reach, I know not what use I might not be tempted to make of the last." +</P> + +<P> +Poor Erskine was singularly infelicitous in touching, and ever +unconsciously, on a subject sure to give pain to more than one of his +brother officers. A cloud passed over the brow of the governor, but it +was one that originated more in sorrow than in anger. Neither had he +time to linger on the painful recollections hastily and confusedly +called up by the allusion made to this formidable and mysterious being, +for the attention of all was now absorbed by the approaching Indians. +With a bold and confiding carriage the fierce Ponteac moved at the head +of his little party, nor hesitated one moment in his course, until he +got near the brink of the ditch, and stood face to face with the +governor, at a distance that gave both parties not only the facility of +tracing the expression of each other's features, but of conversing +without effort. There he made a sudden stand, and thrusting his spear +into the earth, assumed an attitude as devoid of apprehension as if he +had been in the heart of his own encampment. +</P> + +<P> +"My father has understood my sign," said the haughty chief. "The +warriors of a dozen tribes are far behind the path the Ottawa has just +travelled; but when the red skin comes unarmed, the hand of the Saganaw +is tied behind his back." +</P> + +<P> +"The strong hold of the Saganaw is his safeguard," replied the +governor, adopting the language of the Indian. "When the enemies of his +great father come in strength, he knows how to disperse them; but when +a warrior throws himself unarmed into his power, he respects his +confidence, and his arms hang rusting at his side." +</P> + +<P> +"The talk of my father is big," replied the warrior, with a scornful +expression that seemed to doubt the fact of so much indifference as to +himself; "but when it is a great chief who directs the nations, and +that chief his sworn enemy, the temptation to the Saganaw may be +strong." +</P> + +<P> +"The Saganaw is without fear," emphatically rejoined the governor; "he +is strong in his own honour; and he would rather die under the tomahawk +of the red skin, than procure a peace by an act of treachery." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian paused; cold, calm looks of intelligence passed between him +and his followers, and a few indistinct and guttural sentences were +exchanged among themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"But our father asks not why our mocassins have brushed the dew from +off the common," resumed the chief; "and yet it is long since the +Saganaw and the red skin have spoken to each other, except through the +war whoop. My father must wonder to see the great chief of the Ottawas +without the hatchet in his hand." +</P> + +<P> +"The hatchet often wounds those who use it unskilfully," calmly +returned the governor. "The Saganaw is not blind. The Ottawas, and the +other tribes, find the war paint heavy on their skins. They see that my +young men are not to be conquered, and they have sent the great head of +all the nations to sue for peace." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the habitual reserve and self-possession of his race, the +haughty warrior could not repress a movement of impatience at the bold +and taunting language of his enemy, and for a moment there was a fire +in his eye that told how willingly he would have washed away the insult +in his blood. The same low guttural exclamations that had previously +escaped their lips, marked the sense entertained of the remark by his +companions. +</P> + +<P> +"My father is right," pursued the chief, resuming his self-command; +"the Ottawas, and the other tribes, ask for peace, but not because they +are afraid of war. When they strike the hatchet into the war post, they +leave it there until their enemies ask them to take it out." +</P> + +<P> +"Why come they now, then, to ask for peace?" was the cool demand. +</P> + +<P> +The warrior hesitated, evidently at a loss to give a reply that could +reconcile the palpable contradiction of his words. +</P> + +<P> +"The rich furs of our forests have become many," he at length observed, +"since we first took up the hatchet against the Saganaw; and every +bullet we keep for our enemies is a loss to our trade. We once +exchanged furs with the children of our father of the pale flag. They +gave us, in return, guns, blankets, powder, ball, and all that the red +man requires in the hunting season. These are all expended; and my +young men would deal with the Saganaw as they did with the French." +</P> + +<P> +"Good; the red skins would make peace; and although the arm of the +Saganaw is strong, he will not turn a deaf ear to their desire." +</P> + +<P> +"All the strong holds of the Saganaw, except two, have fallen before +the great chief of the Ottawas!" proudly returned the Indian, with a +look of mingled scorn and defiance. "They, too, thought themselves +beyond the reach of our tomahawks; but they were deceived. In less than +a single moon nine of them have fallen, and the tents of my young +warriors are darkened with their scalps; but this is past. If the red +skin asks for peace, it is because he is tired of seeing the blood of +the Saganaw on his tomahawk. Does my father hear?" +</P> + +<P> +"We will listen to the great chief of the Ottawas, and hear what he has +to say," returned the governor, who, as well as the officers at his +side, could with difficulty conceal their disgust and sorrow at the +dreadful intelligence thus imparted of the fates of their companions. +"But peace," he pursued with dignity, "can only be made in the council +room, and under the sacred pledge of the calumet. The great chief has a +wampum belt on his shoulder, and a calumet in his hand. His aged +warriors, too, are at his side. What says the Ottawa? Will he enter? If +so, the gate of the Saganaw shall be open to him." +</P> + +<P> +The warrior started; and for a moment the confidence that had hitherto +distinguished him seemed to give place to an apprehension of meditated +treachery. He, however, speedily recovered himself, and observed +emphatically, "It is the great head of all the nations whom my father +invites to the council seat. Were he to remain in the hands of the +Saganaw, his young men would lose their strength. They would bury the +hatchet for ever in despair, and hide their faces in the laps of their +women." +</P> + +<P> +"Does the Ottawa chief see the pale flag on the strong hold of his +enemies. While that continues to fly, he is safe as if he were under +the cover of his own wigwam. If the Saganaw could use guile like the +fox" (and this was said with marked emphasis), "what should prevent him +from cutting off the Ottawa and his chiefs, even where they now stand?" +</P> + +<P> +A half smile of derision passed over the dark cheek of the Indian. "If +the arm of an Ottawa is strong," he said, "his foot is not less swift. +The short guns of the chiefs of the Saganaw" (pointing to the pistols +of the officers) "could not reach us; and before the voice of our +father could be raised, or his eye turned, to call his warriors to his +side, the Ottawa would be already far on his way to the forest." +</P> + +<P> +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall judge better of the Saganaw," +returned the governor.—"He shall see that his young men are ever +watchful at their posts:—Up, men, and show yourselves." +</P> + +<P> +A second or two sufficed to bring the whole, of Captain Erskine's +company, who had been lying flat on their faces, to their feet on the +rampart. The Indians were evidently taken by surprise, though they +evinced no fear. The low and guttural "Ugh!" was the only expression +they gave to their astonishment, not unmingled with admiration. +</P> + +<P> +But, although the chiefs preserved their presence of mind, the sudden +appearance of the soldiers had excited alarm among their warriors, who, +grouped in and around the bomb-proof, were watching every movement of +the conferring parties, with an interest proportioned to the risk they +conceived their head men had incurred in venturing under the very walls +of their enemies. Fierce yells were uttered; and more than a hundred +dusky warriors, brandishing their tomahawks in air, leaped along the +skirt of the common, evidently only awaiting the signal of their great +chief, to advance and cover his retreat. At the command of the +governor, however, the men had again suddenly disappeared from the +surface of the rampart; so that when the Indians finally perceived +their leader stood unharmed and unmolested, on the spot he had +previously occupied, the excitement died away, and they once more +assumed their attitude of profound attention. +</P> + +<P> +"What thinks the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked the +governor;—"did he imagine that the young white men lie sleeping like +beavers in their dams, when the hunter sets his traps to catch +them?—did he imagine that they foresee not the designs of their +enemies? and that they are not always on the watch to prevent them?" +</P> + +<P> +"My father is a great warrior," returned the Indian; "and if his arm is +full of strength, his head is fall of wisdom. The chiefs will no longer +hesitate;—they will enter the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sit with +him in the council." +</P> + +<P> +He next addressed a few words, and in a language not understood by +those upon the walls, to one of the younger of the Indians. The latter +acknowledged his sense and approbation of what was said to him by an +assentient and expressive "Ugh!" which came from his chest without any +apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a modern +ventriloquist. He then hastened, with rapid and lengthened boundings, +across the common towards his band. After the lapse of a minute or two +from reaching them, another simultaneous cry arose, differing in +expression from any that had hitherto been heard. It was one denoting +submission to the will, and compliance with some conveyed desire, of +their superior. +</P> + +<P> +"Is the gate of the Saganaw open?" asked the latter, as soon as his ear +had been greeted with the cry we have just named. "The Ottawa and the +other great chiefs are ready;—their hearts are bold, and they throw +themselves into the hands of the Saganaw without fear." +</P> + +<P> +"The Ottawa chief knows the path," drily rejoined the governor: "when +he comes in peace, it is ever open to him; but when his young men press +it with the tomahawk in their hands, the big thunder is roused to +anger, and they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in the +storm." "Even now," he pursued, as the little band of Indians moved +slowly round the walls, "the gate of the Saganaw opens for the Ottawa +and the other chiefs." +</P> + +<P> +"Let the most vigilant caution be used every where along the works, but +especially in the rear," continued the governor, addressing Captain +Blessington, on whom the duty of the day had devolved. "We are safe, +while their chiefs are with us; but still it will be necessary to watch +the forest closely. We cannot be too much on our guard. The men had +better remain concealed, every twentieth file only standing up to form +a look-out chain. If any movement of a suspicious nature be observed, +let it be communicated by the discharge of a single musket, that the +drawbridge may be raised on the instant." With the delivery of these +brief instructions he quitted the rampart with the majority of his +officers. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the mess-room to receive +the chiefs. The tables had been removed, and a number of clean rush +mats, manufactured, after the Indian manner, into various figures and +devices, spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from the +entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered with scarlet +cloth. This was considerably elevated above the surface of the floor, +and intended for the governor. On either side of the room, near these, +were ranged a number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior +officers. +</P> + +<P> +Major Blackwater received the chiefs at the gate. With a firm, proud +step, rendered more confident by his very unwillingness to betray any +thing like fear, the tall, and, as Captain Erskine had justly +designated him, the noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that +might in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever. The +other chiefs, following the example of their leader, evinced the same +easy fearlessness of demeanour, nor glanced once behind them to see if +there was any thing to justify the apprehension of hidden danger. +</P> + +<P> +The Ottawa was evidently mortified at not being received by the +governor in person. "My father is not here!" he said fiercely to the +major:—"how is this? The Ottawa and the other chiefs are kings of all +their tribes. The head of one great people should be received only by +the head of another great people!" +</P> + +<P> +"Our father sits in the council-hall," returned the major. "He has +taken his seat, that he may receive the warriors with becoming honour. +But I am the second chief, and our father has sent me to receive them." +</P> + +<P> +To the proud spirit of the Indian this explanation scarcely sufficed. +For a moment he seemed to struggle, as if endeavouring to stifle his +keen sense of an affront put upon him. At length he nodded his head +haughtily and condescendingly, in token of assent; and gathering up his +noble form, and swelling out his chest, as if with a view to strike +terror as well as admiration into the hearts of those by whom he +expected to be surrounded, stalked majestically forward at the head of +his confederates. +</P> + +<P> +An indifferent observer, or one ignorant of these people, would have +been at fault; but those who understood the workings of an Indian's +spirit could not have been deceived by the tranquil exterior of these +men. The rapid, keen, and lively glance—the suppressed sneer of +exultation—the half start of surprise—the low, guttural, and almost +inaudible "Ugh!"—all these indicated the eagerness with which, at one +sly but compendious view, they embraced the whole interior of a fort +which it was of such vital importance to their future interests they +should become possessed of, yet which they had so long and so +unsuccessfully attempted to subdue. As they advanced into the square, +they looked around, expecting to behold the full array of their +enemies; but, to their astonishment, not a soldier was to be seen. A +few women and children only, in whom curiosity had overcome a natural +loathing and repugnance to the savages, were peeping from the windows +of the block houses. Even at a moment like the present, the fierce +instinct of these latter was not to be controlled. One of the children, +terrified at the wild appearance of the warriors, screamed violently, +and clung to the bosom of its mother for protection. Fired at the +sound, a young chief raised his hand to his lips, and was about to peal +forth his terrible war whoop in the very centre of the fort, when the +eye of the Ottawa suddenly arrested him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0204"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<P> +There were few forms of courtesy observed by the warriors towards the +English officers on entering the council room. Ponteac, who had +collected all his native haughtiness into one proud expression of look +and figure, strode in without taking the slightest notice even of the +governor. The other chiefs imitated his example, and all took their +seats upon the matting in the order prescribed by their rank among the +tribes, and their experience in council. The Ottawa chief sat at the +near extremity of the room, and immediately facing the governor. A +profound silence was observed for some minutes after the Indians had +seated themselves, during which they proceeded to fill their pipes. The +handle of that of the Ottawa chief was decorated with numerous feathers +fancifully disposed. +</P> + +<P> +"This is well," at length observed the governor. "It is long since the +great chiefs of the nations have smoked the sweet grass in the council +hall of the Saganaw. What have they to say, that their young men may +have peace to hunt the beaver, and to leave the print of their +mocassins in the country of the Buffalo?—What says the Ottawa chief?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Ottawa chief is a great warrior," returned the other, haughtily; +and again repudiating, in the indomitableness of his pride, the very +views that a more artful policy had first led him to avow. "He has +already said that, within a single moon, nine of the strong holds of +the Saganaw have fallen into his hands, and that the scalps of the +white men fill the tents of his warriors. If the red skins wish for +peace, it is because they are sick with spilling the blood of their +enemies. Does my father hear?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Ottawa has been cunning, like the fox," calmly returned the +governor. "He went with deceit upon his lips, and said to the great +chiefs of the strong holds of the Saganaw,—'You have no more forts +upon the lakes; they have all fallen before the red skins: they gave +themselves into our hands; and we spared their lives, and sent them +down to the great towns near the salt lake.' But this was false: the +chiefs of the Saganaw, believing what was said to them, gave up their +strong holds; but their lives were not spared, and the grass of the +Canadas is yet moist with their blood. Does the Ottawa hear?" +</P> + +<P> +Amazement and stupefaction sat for a moment on the features of the +Indians. The fact was as had been stated; and yet, so completely had +the several forts been cut off from all communication, it was deemed +almost impossible one could have received tidings of the fate of the +other, unless conveyed through the Indians themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"The spies of the Saganaw have been very quick to escape the vigilance +of the red skins," at length replied the Ottawa; "yet they have +returned with a lie upon their lips. I swear by the Great Spirit, that +nine of the strong holds of the Saganaw have been destroyed. How could +the Ottawa go with deceit upon his lips, when his words were truth?" +</P> + +<P> +"When the red skins said so to the warriors of the last forts they +took, they said true; but when they went to the first, and said that +all the rest had fallen, they used deceit. A great nation should +overcome their enemies like warriors, and not seek to beguile them with +their tongues under the edge of the scalping knife!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why did the Saganaw come into the country of the red skins?" haughtily +demanded the chief. "Why did they take our hunting grounds from us? Why +have they strong places encircling the country of the Indians, like a +belt of wampum round the waist of a warrior?" +</P> + +<P> +"This is not true," rejoined the governor. "It was not the Saganaw, but +the warriors of the pale flag, who first came and took away the hunting +grounds, and built the strong places. The great father of the Saganaw +had beaten the great father of the pale flag quite out of the Canadas, +and he sent his young men to take their place and to make peace with +the red skins, and to trade with them, and to call them brothers." +</P> + +<P> +"The Saganaw was false," retorted the Indian. "When a chief of the +Saganaw came for the first time with his warriors into the country of +the Ottawas, the chief of the Ottawas stood in his path, and asked him +why, and from whom, he came? That chief was a bold warrior, and his +heart was open, and the Ottawa liked him; and when he said he came to +be friendly with the red skins, the Ottawa believed him, and he shook +him by the hand, and said to his young men, 'Touch not the life of a +Saganaw; for their chief is the friend of the Ottawa chief, and his +young men shall be the friends of the red warriors.' Look," he +proceeded, marking his sense of the discovery by another of those +ejaculatory "Ughs!" so expressive of surprise in an Indian, "at the +right hand of my father I see a chief," pointing to Captain Erskine, +"who came with those of the Saganaw who first entered the country of +the Detroit;—ask that chief if what the Ottawa says is not true. When +the Saganaw said he came only to remove the warriors of the pale flag, +that he might be friendly and trade with the red skins, the Ottawa +received the belt of wampum he offered, and smoked the pipe of peace +with him, and he made his men bring bags of parched corn to his +warriors who wanted food, and he sent to all the nations on the lakes, +and said to them, 'The Saganaw must pass unhurt to the strong hold on +the Detroit.' But for the Ottawa, not a Saganaw would have escaped; for +the nations were thirsting for their blood, and the knives of the +warriors were eager to open their scalps. Ask the chief who sits at the +right hand of my father," he again energetically repeated, "if what the +Ottawa says is not true." +</P> + +<P> +"What the Ottawa says is true," rejoined the governor; "for the chief +who sits on my right hand has often said that, but for the Ottawa, the +small number of the warriors of the Saganaw must have been cut off; and +his heart is big with kindness to the Ottawa for what he did. But if +the great chief meant to be friendly, why did he declare war after +smoking the pipe of peace with the Saganaw? Why did he destroy the +wigwams of the settlers, and carry off the scalps even of their weak +women and children? All this has the Ottawa done; and yet he says that +he wished to be friendly with my young men. But the Saganaw is not a +fool. He knows the Ottawa chief had no will of his own. On the right +hand of the Ottawa sits the great chief of the Delawares, and on his +left the great chief of the Shawanees. They have long been the sworn +enemies of the Saganaw; and they came from the rivers that run near the +salt lake to stir up the red skins of the Detroit to war. They +whispered wicked words in the ear of the Ottawa chief, and he +determined to take up the bloody hatchet. This is a shame to a great +warrior. The Ottawa was a king over all the tribes in the country of +the fresh lakes, and yet he weakly took council like a woman from +another." +</P> + +<P> +"My father lies!" fiercely retorted the warrior, half springing to his +feet, and involuntarily putting his hand upon his tomahawk. "If the +settlers of the Saganaw have fallen," he resumed in a calmer tone, +while he again sank upon his mat, "it is because they did not keep +their faith with the red skins. When they came weak, and were not yet +secure in their strong holds, their tongues were smooth and full of +soft words; but when they became strong under the protection of their +thunder, they no longer treated the red skins as their friends, and +they laughed at them for letting them come into their country." "But," +he pursued, elevating his voice, "the Ottawa is a great chief, and he +will be respected." Then adverting in bitterness to the influence +supposed to be exercised over him,—"What my father has said is false. +The Shawanees and the Delawares are great nations; but the Ottawas are +greater than any, and their chiefs are full of wisdom. The Shawanees +and the Delawares had no talk with the Ottawa chief to make him do what +his own wisdom did not tell him." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, if the talk came not from the Shawanees and the Delawares, it +came from the spies of the warriors of the pale flag. The great father +of the French was angry with the great father of the Saganaw, because +he conquered his warriors in many battles; and he sent wicked men to +whisper lies of the Saganaw into the ears of the red skins, and to make +them take up the hatchet against them. There is a tall spy at this +moment in the camp of the red skins," he pursued with earnestness, and +yet paling as he spoke. "It is said he is the bosom friend of the great +chief of the Ottawas. But I will not believe it. The head of a great +nation would not be the friend of a spy—of one who is baser than a +dog. His people would despise him; and they would say, 'Our chief is +not fit to sit in council, or to make war; for he is led by the word of +a pale face who is without honour.'" +</P> + +<P> +The swarthy cheek of the Indian reddened, and his eye kindled into +fire. "There is no spy, but a great warrior, in the camp of the +Ottawas," he fiercely replied. "Though he came from the country that +lies beyond the salt lake, he is now a chief of the red skins, and his +arm is mighty, and his heart is big. Would my father know why he has +become a chief of the Ottawas?" he pursued with scornful exultation. +"When the strong holds of the Saganaw fell, the tomahawk of the 'white +warrior' drank more blood than that of a red skin, and his tent is hung +around with poles bending under the weight of the scalps he has taken. +When the great chief of the Ottawas dies, the pale face will lead his +warriors, and take the first seat in the council. The Ottawa chief is +his friend." +</P> + +<P> +"If the pale face be the friend of the Ottawa," pursued the governor, +in the hope of obtaining some particular intelligence in regard to this +terrible and mysterious being, "why is he not here to sit in council +with the chiefs? Perhaps," he proceeded tauntingly, as he fancied he +perceived a disinclination on the part of the Indian to account for the +absence of the warrior, "the pale face is not worthy to take his place +among the head men of the council. His arm may be strong like that of a +warrior, but his head may be weak like that of a woman; or, perhaps, he +is ashamed to show himself before the pale faces, who have turned him +out of their tribe." +</P> + +<P> +"My father lies!" again unceremoniously retorted the warrior. "If the +friend of the Ottawa is not here, it is because his voice cannot speak. +Does my father recollect the bridge on which he killed his young +warrior? Does he recollect the terrible chase of the pale face by the +friend of the Ottawa? Ugh!" he continued, as his attention was now +diverted to another object of interest, "that pale face was swifter +than any runner among the red skins, and for his fleetness he deserved +to live to be a great hunter in the Canadas; but fear broke his +heart,—fear of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The red skins saw him +fall at the feet of the Saganaw without life, and they saw the young +warriors bear him off in their arms. Is not the Ottawa right?" The +Indian paused, threw his eye rapidly along the room, and then, fixing +it on the governor, seemed to wait with deep but suppressed interest +for his reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Peace to the bones of a brave warrior!" seriously and evasively +returned the governor: "the pale face is no longer in the land of the +Canadas, and the young warriors of the Saganaw are sorry for his loss; +but what would the Ottawa say of the bridge? and what has the pale +warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, to do with it?" +</P> + +<P> +A gleam of satisfaction pervaded the countenance of the Indian, as he +eagerly bent his ear to receive the assurance that the fugitive was no +more; but when allusion was again made to the strange warrior, his brow +became overcast, and he replied with mingled haughtiness and anger,— +</P> + +<P> +"Does my father ask? He has dogs of spies among the settlers of the +pale flag, but the tomahawk of the red skins will find them out, and +they shall perish even as the Saganaw themselves. Two nights ago, when +the warriors of the Ottawas were returning from their scout upon the +common, they heard the voice of Onondato, the great wolf-dog of the +friend of the Ottawa chief. The voice came from the bridge where the +Saganaw killed his young warrior, and it called upon the red skins for +assistance. My young men gave their war cry, and ran like wild deer to +destroy the enemies of their chief; but when they came, the spies had +fled, and the voice of Onondato was low and weak as that of a new fawn; +and when the warriors came to the other end of the bridge, they found +the pale chief lying across the road and covered over with blood. They +thought he was dead, and their cry was terrible; for the pale warrior +is a great chief, and the Ottawas love him; but when they looked again, +they saw that the blood was the blood of Onondato, whose throat the +spies of the Saganaw had cut, that he might not hunt them and give them +to the tomahawk of the red skins." +</P> + +<P> +Frequent glances, expressive of their deep interest in the announcement +of this intelligence, passed between the governor and his officers. It +was clear the party who had encountered the terrible warrior of the +Fleur de lis were not spies (for none were employed by the garrison), +but their adventurous companions who had so recently quitted them. This +was put beyond all doubt by the night, the hour, and the not less +important feet of the locality; for it was from the bridge described by +the Indian, near which the Canadian had stated his canoe to be chained, +they were to embark on their perilous and uncertain enterprise. The +question of their own escape from danger in this unlooked for collision +with so powerful and ferocious an enemy, and of the fidelity of the +Canadian, still remained involved in doubt, which it might be +imprudent, if not dangerous, to seek to have resolved by any direct +remark on the subject to the keen and observant warrior. The governor +removed this difficulty by artfully observing,— +</P> + +<P> +"The great chief of the Ottawas has said they were the spies of the +Saganaw who killed the pale warrior. His young men has found them, +then; or how could he know they were spies?" +</P> + +<P> +"Is there a warrior among the Saganaw who dares to show himself in the +path of the red skins, unless he come in strength and surrounded by his +thunder?" was the sneering demand. "But my father is wrong, if he +supposes the friend of the Ottawa is killed. No," he pursued fiercely, +"the dogs of spies could not kill him; they were afraid to face so +terrible a warrior. They came behind him in the dark, and they struck +him on the head like cowards and foxes as they were. The warrior of the +pale face, and the friend of the Ottawa chief, is sick, but not dead. +He lies without motion in his tent, and his voice cannot speak to his +friend to tell him who were his enemies, that he may bring their scalps +to hang up within his wigwam. But the great chief will soon be well, +and his arm will be stronger than ever to spill the blood of the +Saganaw as he has done before." +</P> + +<P> +"The talk of the Ottawa chief is strange," returned the governor, +emphatically and with dignity. "He says he conies to smoke the pipe of +peace with the Saganaw, and yet he talks of spilling their blood as if +it was water from the lake. What does the Ottawa mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" exclaimed the Indian, in his surprise. "My father is right, but +the Ottawa and the Saganaw have not yet smoked together. When they +have, the hatchet will be buried for ever. Until then, they are still +enemies." +</P> + +<P> +During this long and important colloquy of the leading parties, the +strictest silence had been preserved by the remainder of the council. +The inferior chiefs had continued deliberately puffing the smoke from +their curled lips, as they sat cross-legged on their mats, and nodding +their heads at intervals in confirmation of the occasional appeal made +by the rapid glance of the Ottawa, and uttering their guttural "Ugh!" +whenever any observation of the parlant parties touched their feelings, +or called forth their surprise. The officers had been no less silent +and attentive listeners, to a conversation on the issue of which hung +so many dear and paramount interests. A pause in the conference gave +them an opportunity of commenting in a low tone on the communication +made, in the strong excitement of his pride, by the Ottawa chief, in +regard to the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis; who, it was +evident, swayed the councils of the Indians, and consequently exercised +an influence over the ultimate destinies of the English, which it was +impossible to contemplate without alarm. It was evident to all, from +whatsoever cause it might arise, this man cherished a rancour towards +certain individuals in the fort, inducing an anxiety in its reduction +scarcely equalled by that entertained on the part of the Indians +themselves. Beyond this, however, all was mystery and doubt; nor had +any clue been given to enable them to arrive even at a well founded +apprehension of the motives which had given birth to the vindictiveness +of purpose, so universally ascribed to him even by the savages +themselves. +</P> + +<P> +The chiefs also availed themselves of this pause in the conversation of +the principals, to sustain a low and animated discussion. Those of the +Shawanee and Delaware nations were especially earnest; and, as they +spoke across the Ottawa, betrayed, by their vehemence of gesture, the +action of some strong feeling upon their minds, the precise nature of +which could not be ascertained from their speech at the opposite +extremity of the room. The Ottawa did not deign to join in their +conversation, but sat smoking his pipe in all the calm and forbidding +dignity of a proud Indian warrior conscious of his own importance. +</P> + +<P> +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas, then, seek for peace in his heart +at length?" resumed the governor; "or is he come to the strong hold of +Detroit, as he went to the other strong holds, with deceit on his lips?" +</P> + +<P> +The Indian slowly removed his pipe from his mouth, fixed his keen eye +searchingly on that of the questioner for nearly a minute, and then +briefly and haughtily said, "The Ottawa chief has spoken." +</P> + +<P> +"And do the great chiefs of the Shawanees, and the great chiefs of the +Delawares, and the great chiefs of the other nations, ask for peace +also?" demanded the governor. "If so, let them speak for themselves, +and for their warriors." +</P> + +<P> +We will not trespass on the reader, on whom we have already inflicted +too much of this scene, by a transcript of the declarations of the +inferior chiefs. Suffice it to observe, each in his turn avowed motives +similar to those of the Ottawa for wishing the hatchet might be buried +for ever, and that their young men should mingle once more in +confidence, not only with the English troops, but with the settlers, +who would again be brought into the country at the cessation of +hostilities. When each had spoken, the Ottawa passed the pipe of +ceremony, with which he was provided, to the governor. +</P> + +<P> +The latter put it to his lips, and commenced smoking. The Indians +keenly, and half furtively, watched the act; and looks of deep +intelligence, that escaped not the notice of the equally anxious and +observant officers, passed among them. +</P> + +<P> +"The pipe of the great chief of the Ottawas smokes well," calmly +remarked the governor; "but the Ottawa chief, in his hurry to come and +ask for peace, has made a mistake. The pipe and all its ornaments are +red like blood: it is the pipe of war, and not the pipe of peace. The +great chief of the Ottawas will be angry with himself; he has entered +the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sat in the council, without doing +any good for his young men. The Ottawa must come again." +</P> + +<P> +A deep but subdued expression of disappointment passed over the +features of the chiefs. They watched the countenances of the officers, +to see whether the substitution of one pipe for the other had been +attributed, in their estimation, to accident or design. There was +nothing, however, to indicate the slightest doubt of their sincerity. +</P> + +<P> +"My father is right," replied the Indian, with an appearance of +embarrassment, which, whether natural or feigned, had nothing +suspicious in it. "The great chief of the Ottawas has been foolish, +like an old woman. The young chiefs of his tribe will laugh at him for +this. But the Ottawa chief will come again, and the other chiefs with +him, for, as my father sees, they all wish for peace; and that my +father may know all the nations wish for peace, as well as their head +men, the warriors of the Ottawa, and of the Shawanee, and of the +Delaware, shall play at ball upon the common, to amuse his young men, +while the chiefs sit in council with the chiefs of the Saganaw. The red +skins shall come naked, and without their rifles and their tomahawks; +and even the squaws of the warriors shall come upon the common, to show +the Saganaw they may be without fear. Does my father hear?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Ottawa chief says well," returned the governor; "but will the pale +friend of the Ottawa come also to take his seat in the council hall? +The great chief has said the pale warrior has become the second chief +among the Ottawas; and that when he is dead, the pale warrior will lead +the Ottawas, and take the first seat in the council. He, too, should +smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, that they may know he is no +longer their enemy." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian hesitated, uttering merely his quick ejaculatory "Ugh!" in +expression of his surprise at so unexpected a requisition. "The pale +warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, is very sick," he at length said; +"but if the Great Spirit should give him back his voice before the +chiefs come again to the council, the pale face will come too. If my +father does not see him then, he will know the friend of the Ottawa +chief is very sick." +</P> + +<P> +The governor deemed it prudent not to press the question too closely, +lest in so doing he should excite suspicion, and defeat his own object. +"When will the Ottawa and the other chiefs come again?" he asked; "and +when will their warriors play at ball upon the common, that the Saganaw +may see them and be amused?" +</P> + +<P> +"When the sun has travelled so many times," replied Ponteac, holding up +three fingers of his left hand. "Then will the Ottawa and the other +chiefs bring their young warriors and their women." +</P> + +<P> +"It is too soon," was the reply; "the Saganaw must have time to collect +their presents, that they may give them to the young warriors who are +swiftest in the race, and the most active at the ball. The great chief +of the Ottawas, too, must let the settlers of the pale flag, who are +the friends of the red skins, bring in food for the Saganaw, that a +great feast may be given to the chiefs, and to the warriors, and that +the Saganaw may make peace with the Ottawas and the other nations as +becomes a great people. In twice so many days," holding up three of his +fingers in imitation of the Indian, "the Saganaw will be ready to +receive the chiefs in council, that they may smoke the pipe of peace, +and bury the hatchet for ever. What says the great chief of the +Ottawas?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is good," was the reply of the Indian, his eye lighting up with +deep and exulting expression. "The settlers of the pale flag shall +bring food to the Saganaw. The Ottawa chief will send them, and he will +desire his young men not to prevent them. In so many days, then," +indicating with his fingers, "the great chiefs will sit again in +council with the Saganaw, and the Ottawa chief will not be a fool to +bring the pipe he does not want." +</P> + +<P> +With this assurance the conference terminated. Ponteac raised his tall +frame from the mat on which he had been squatted, nodded +condescendingly to the governor, and strode haughtily into the square +or area of the fort. The other chiefs followed his example; and to +Major Blackwater was again assigned the duty of accompanying them +without the works. The glance of the savages, and that of Ponteac in +particular, was less wary than at their entrance. Each seemed to +embrace every object on which the eye could rest, as if to fix its +position indelibly in his memory. The young chief, who had been so +suddenly and opportunely checked while in the very act of pealing forth +his terrible war whoop, again looked up at the windows of the block +house, in quest of those whom his savage instinct had already devoted +in intention to his tomahawk, but they were no longer there. Such was +the silence that reigned every where, the fort appeared to be tenanted +only by the few men of the guard, who lingered near their stations, +attentively watching the Indians, as they passed towards the gate. A +very few minutes sufficed to bring the latter once more in the midst of +their warriors, whom, for a few moments, they harangued earnestly, when +the whole body again moved off in the direction of their encampment. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0205"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<P> +The week that intervened between the visit of the chiefs and the day +appointed for their second meeting in council, was passed by the +garrison in perfect freedom from alarm, although, as usual, in diligent +watchfulness and preparations for casualties. In conformity with his +promise, the Indian had despatched many of the Canadian settlers, with +such provisions as the country then afforded, to the governor, and +these, happy to obtain the gold of the troops in return for what they +could conveniently spare, were not slow in availing themselves of the +permission. Dried bears' meat, venison, and Indian corn, composed the +substance of these supplies, which were in sufficient abundance to +produce a six weeks' increase to the stock of the garrison. Hitherto +they had been subsisting, in a great degree, upon salt provisions; the +food furtively supplied by the Canadians being necessarily, from their +dread of detection, on so limited a scale, that a very small portion of +the troops had been enabled to profit by it. This, therefore, was an +important and unexpected benefit, derived from the falling in of the +garrison with the professed views of the savages; and one which, +perhaps, few officers would, like Colonel de Haldimar, have possessed +the forethought to have secured. But although it served to relieve the +animal wants of the man, there was little to remove his moral +inquietude. Discouraged by the sanguinary character of the warfare in +which they seemed doomed to be for ever engaged, and harassed by +constant watchings,—seldom taking off their clothes for weeks +together,—the men had gradually been losing their energy of spirit, in +the contemplation of the almost irremediable evils by which they were +beset; and looked forward with sad and disheartening conviction to a +fate, that all things tended to prove to them was unavoidable, however +the period of its consummation might be protracted. Among the officers, +this dejection, although proceeding from a different cause, was no less +prevalent; and notwithstanding they sought to disguise it before their +men, when left to themselves, they gave unlimited rein to a despondency +hourly acquiring strength, as the day fixed on for the second council +with the Indians drew near. +</P> + +<P> +At length it came, that terrible and eventful day, and, as if in +mockery of those who saw no beauty in its golden beams, arrayed in all +the gorgeous softness of its autumnal glory. Sad and heavy were the +hearts of many within that far distant and isolated fort, as they rose, +at the first glimmering of light above the horizon, to prepare for the +several duties assigned them. All felt the influence of a feeling that +laid prostrate the moral energies even of the boldest: but there was +one young officer in particular, who exhibited a dejection, +degenerating almost into stupefaction; and more than once, when he +received an order from his superior, hesitated as one who either heard +not, or, in attempting to perform it, mistook the purport of his +instructions, and executed some entirely different duty. The +countenance of this officer, whose attenuated person otherwise bore +traces of languor and debility, but too plainly marked the +abstractedness and terror of his mind, while the set stiff features and +contracted muscles of the face contributed to give an expression of +vacuity, that one who knew him not might have interpreted unfavourably. +Several times, during the inspection of his company at the early +parade, he was seen to raise his head, and throw forward his ear, as if +expecting to catch the echo of some horrible and appalling cry, until +the men themselves remarked, and commented, by interchange of looks, on +the singular conduct of their officer, whose thoughts had evidently no +connection with the duty he was performing, or the spot on which he +stood. +</P> + +<P> +When this customary inspection had been accomplished,—how imperfectly, +has been seen,—and the men dismissed from their ranks, the same young +officer was observed, by one who followed his every movement with +interest, to ascend that part of the rampart which commanded an +unbroken view of the country westward, from the point where the +encampment of the Indians was supposed to lie, down to the bridge on +which the terrible tragedy of Halloway's death had been so recently +enacted. Unconscious of the presence of two sentinels, who moved to and +fro near their respective posts, on either side of him, the young +officer folded his arms, and gazed in that direction for some minutes, +with his whole soul riveted on the scene. Then, as if overcome by +recollections called up by that on which he gazed, he covered his eyes +hurriedly with his hands, and betrayed, by the convulsed movement of +his slender form, he was weeping bitterly. This paroxysm past, he +uncovered his face, sank with one knee upon the ground, and upraising +his clasped hands, as if in appeal to his God, seemed to pray deeply +and fervently. In this attitude he continued for some moments, when he +became sensible of the approach of an intruder. He raised himself from +his knee, turned, and beheld one whose countenance was stamped with a +dejection scarcely inferior to his own. It was Captain Blessington. +</P> + +<P> +"Charles, my dear Charles!" exclaimed the latter hurriedly, as he laid +his hand upon the shoulder of the emaciated De Haldimar, "consider you +are not alone. For God's sake, check this weakness! There are men +observing you on every side, and your strange manner has already been +the subject of remark in the company." +</P> + +<P> +"When the heart is sick, like mine," replied the youth, in a tone of +fearful despondency, "it is alike reckless of forms, and careless of +appearances. I trust, however," and here spoke the soldier, "there are +few within this fort who will believe me less courageous, because I +have been seen to bend my knee in supplication to my God. I did not +think that YOU, Blessington, would have been the first to condemn the +act." +</P> + +<P> +"I condemn it, Charles! you mistake me, indeed you do," feelingly +returned his captain, secretly pained at the mild reproach contained in +the concluding sentence; "but there are two things to be considered. In +the first instance, the men, who are yet in ignorance of the great +evils with which we are threatened, may mistake the cause of your +agitation; you were in tears just now, Charles, and the sentinels must +have remarked it as well as myself. I would not have them to believe +that one of their officers was affected by the anticipation of coming +disaster, in a way their own hearts are incapable of estimating. You +understand me, Charles? I would not have them too much discouraged by +an example that may become infectious." +</P> + +<P> +"I DO understand you, Blessington," and a forced and sickly smile +played for a moment over the wan yet handsome features of the young +officer; "you would not have me appear a weeping coward in their eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, dear Charles, I did not say it." +</P> + +<P> +"But you meant it, Blessington; yet, think not,"—and he warmly pressed +the hand of his captain,—"think not, I repeat, I take your hint in any +other than the friendly light in which it was intended. That I have +been no coward, however, I hope I have given proof more than once +before the men, most of whom have known me from my very cradle; yet, +whatever they may think, is to me, at this moment, a matter of utter +indifference. Blessington," and again the tears rolled from his fixed +eyes over his cheek, while he pointed with his finger to the western +horizon, "I have neither thought nor feeling for myself; my whole heart +lies buried there. Oh, God of Heaven!" he pursued after a pause, and +again raising his eyes in supplication, "avert the dreadful destiny +that awaits my beloved sister." +</P> + +<P> +"Charles, Charles, if only for that sister's sake, then, calm an +agitation which, if thus indulged in, will assuredly destroy you. All +will yet be well. The delay obtained by your father has been sufficient +for the purpose proposed. Let us hope for the best: if we are deceived +in our expectation, it will then be time enough to indulge in a grief, +which could scarcely be exceeded, were the fearful misgivings of your +mind to be realised before your eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"Blessington," returned the young officer,—and his features exhibited +the liveliest image of despair,—"all hope has long since been extinct +within my breast. See you yon theatre of death?" he mournfully pursued, +pointing to the fatal bridge, which was thrown into full relief against +the placid bosom of the Detroit: "recollect you the scene that was +acted on it? As for me, it is ever present to my mind,—it haunts me in +my thoughts by day, and in my dreams by night. I shall never forget it +while memory is left to curse me with the power of retrospection. On +the very spot on which I now stand was I borne in a chair, to witness +the dreadful punishment; you see the stone at my feet, I marked it by +that. I saw you conduct Halloway to the centre of the bridge; I beheld +him kneel to receive his death; I saw, too, the terrible race for life, +that interrupted the proceedings; I marked the sudden upspring of +Halloway to his feet upon the coffin, and the exulting waving of his +hand, as he seemed to recognise the rivals for mastery in that race. +Then was heard the fatal volley, and I saw the death-struggle of him +who had saved my brother's life. I could have died, too, at that +moment; and would to Providence I had! but it was otherwise decreed. My +aching interest was, for a moment, diverted by the fearful chase now +renewed upon the height; and, in common with those around me, I watched +the efforts of the pursuer and the pursued with painful earnestness and +doubt as to the final result. Ah, Blessington, why was not this all? +The terrible shriek, uttered at the moment when the fugitive fell, +apparently dead, at the feet of the firing party, reached us even here. +I felt as if my heart must have burst, for I knew it to be the shriek +of poor Ellen Halloway,—the suffering wife,—the broken-hearted woman +who had so recently, in all the wild abandonment of her grief, wetted +my pillow, and even my cheek, with her burning tears, while +supplicating an intercession with my father for mercy, which I knew it +would be utterly fruitless to promise. Oh, Blessington," pursued the +sensitive and affectionate young officer, "I should vainly attempt to +paint all that passed in my mind at that dreadful moment. Nothing but +the depth of my despair gave me strength to support the scene +throughout. I saw the frantic and half-naked woman glide like a phantom +past the troops, dividing the air with the rapidity of thought. I knew +it to be Ellen; for the discovery of her exchange of clothes with one +of the drum boys of the grenadiers was made soon after you left the +fort. I saw her leap upon the coffin, and, standing over the body of +her unhappy husband, raise her hands to heaven in adjuration, and my +heart died within me. I recollected the words she had spoken on a +previous occasion, during the first examination of Halloway, and I felt +it to be the prophetic denunciation, then threatened, that she was now +uttering on all the race of De Haldimar. I saw no more, Blessington. +Sick, dizzy, and with every faculty of my mind annihilated, I turned +away from the horrid scene, and was again borne to my room. I tried to +give vent to my overcharged heart in tears; but the power was denied +me, and I sank at once into that stupefaction which you have since +remarked in me, and which has been increasing every hour. What +additional cause I have had for the indulgence of this confirmed +despondency you are well acquainted with. It is childish, it is +unsoldierlike, I admit: but, alas! that dreadful scene is eternally +before my eyes, and absorbs my mind, to the exclusion of every other +feeling. I have not a thought or a care but for the fate that too +certainly awaits those who are most dear to me; and if this be a +weakness, it is one I shall never have the power to shake off. In a +word, Blessington, I am heart-broken." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Blessington was deeply affected; for there was a solemnity in +the voice and manner of the young officer that carried conviction to +the heart; and it was some moments before he could so far recover +himself as to observe,— +</P> + +<P> +"That scene, Charles, was doubtless a heart-rending one to us all; for +I well recollect, on turning to remark the impression made on my men +when the wretched Ellen Halloway pronounced her appalling curse to have +seen the large tears coursing each other over the furrowed cheeks of +some of our oldest soldiers: and if THEY could feel thus, how much more +acute must have been the grief of those immediately interested in its +application!" +</P> + +<P> +"THEIR tears were not for the denounced race of De Haldimar," returned +the youth,—"they were shed for their unhappy comrade—they were wrung +from their stubborn hearts by the agonising grief of the wife of +Halloway." +</P> + +<P> +"That this was the case in part, I admit," returned Captain +Blessington. "The feelings of the men partook of a mixed character. It +was evident that grief for Halloway, compassion for his wife, secret +indignation and, it may be, disgust at the severity of your father, and +sorrow for his innocent family, who were included in that denunciation, +predominated with equal force in their hearts at the same moment. There +was an expression that told how little they would have pitied any +anguish of mind inflicted on their colonel, provided his children, whom +they loved, were not to be sacrificed to its accomplishment." +</P> + +<P> +"You admit, then, Blessington, although indirectly," replied the young +De Haldimar in a voice of touching sorrow, "that the consummation of +the sacrifice IS to be looked for. Alas! it is that on which my mind +perpetually lingers; yet, Heaven knows, my fears are not for myself." +</P> + +<P> +"You mistake me, dearest Charles. I look upon the observations of the +unhappy woman as the ravings of a distracted mind—the last wild +outpourings of a broken heart, turning with animal instinct on the hand +that has inflicted its death-blow." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, why did she except no one member of that family!" said the unhappy +De Haldimar, pursuing rather the chain of his reflections than replying +to the observation of his captain. "Had the weight of her malediction +fallen on all else than my adored sister, I could have borne the +infliction, and awaited the issue with resignation, if not without +apprehension. But my poor gentle and unoffending Clara,—alike innocent +of the cause, and ignorant of the effect,—what had she done to be +included in this terrible curse?—she, who, in the warm and generous +affection of her nature, had ever treated Ellen Halloway rather as a +sister than as the dependant she always appeared." Again he covered his +eyes with his hands, to conceal the starting tears. +</P> + +<P> +"De Haldimar," said Captain Blessington reprovingly, but mildly, "this +immoderate grief is wrong—it is unmanly, and should be repressed. I +can feel and understand the nature of your sorrow; but others may not +judge so favourably. We shall soon be summoned to fall in; and I would +not that Mr. Delme, in particular, should notice an emotion he is so +incapable of understanding." +</P> + +<P> +The hand of the young officer dropped from his face to the hilt of his +sword. His cheek became scarlet; and even through the tears which he +half choked himself to command, there was an unwonted flashing from his +blue eye, that told how deeply the insinuation had entered into his +heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Think you, Captain Blessington," he proudly retorted, "there is an +officer in the fort who should dare to taunt me with my feelings as you +have done? I came here, sir, in the expectation I should be alone. At a +fitting hour I shall be found where Captain Blessington's subaltern +should be—with his company." +</P> + +<P> +"De Haldimar—dear De Haldimar, forgive me!" returned his captain. +"Heaven knows I would not, on any consideration, wantonly inflict pain +on your sensitive heart. My design was to draw you out of this +desponding humour; and with this view I sought to arouse your pride, +but certainly not to wound your feelings. De Haldimar," he concluded, +with marked expression, "you must not, indeed, feel offended with one +who has known and esteemed you from very boyhood. Friendship and +interest in your deep affliction of spirit alone brought me here—the +same feelings prompted my remark. Do you not believe me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do," impressively returned the young man, grasping the hand that was +extended to him in amity. "It is I, rather, Blessington, who should ask +you to forgive my petulance; but, indeed, indeed," and again his tone +faltered, and his eye was dimmed, "I am more wretched even than I am +willing to confess. Pardon my silly conduct—it was but the vain and +momentary flashing of the soldier's spirit impatient of an assumed +imputation, and the man less than the profession is to be taxed with +it. But it is past; and already do you behold me once more the tame and +apprehensive being I must ever continue until all is over." +</P> + +<P> +"What can I possibly urge to console one who seems so willing to nurse +into conviction all the melancholy imaginings of a diseased mind," +observed Captain Blessington, in a voice that told how deeply he felt +for the situation of his young friend. "Recollect, dearest Charles, the +time that has been afforded to our friends. More than a week has gone +by since they left the fort, and a less period was deemed sufficient +for their purpose. Before this they must have gained their destination. +In fact, it is my positive belief they have; for there could be nothing +to detect them in their disguise. Had I the famous lamp of Aladdin," he +pursued, in a livelier tone, "over the history of which Clara and +yourself used to spend so many hours in childhood, I have no doubt I +could show them to you quietly seated within the fort, recounting their +adventures to Clara and her cousin, and discoursing of their absent +friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Would I to Heaven you had the power to do so!" replied De Haldimar, +smiling faintly at the conceit, while a ray of hope beamed for a moment +upon his sick soul; "for then, indeed, would all my fears for the +present be at rest. But you forget, Blessington, the encounter stated +to have taken place between them and that terrible stranger near the +bridge. Besides, is it not highly probable the object of their +expedition was divined by that singular and mysterious being, and that +means have been taken to intercept their passage? If so, all hope is at +an end." +</P> + +<P> +"Why persevere in viewing only the more sombre side of the picture?" +returned his friend. "In your anxiety to anticipate evil, Charles, you +have overlooked one important fact. Ponteac distinctly stated that his +ruffian friend was still lying deprived of consciousness and speech +within his tent, and yet two days had elapsed since the encounter was +said to have taken place. Surely we have every reason then to infer +they were beyond all reach of pursuit, even admitting, what is by no +means probable the recovery of the wretch immediately after the return +of the chiefs from the council." +</P> + +<P> +A gleam of satisfaction, but so transient as to be scarcely noticeable, +passed over the pale features of the youthful De Haldimar. He looked +his thanks to the kind officer who was thus solicitous to tender him +consolation; and was about to reply, when the attention of both was +diverted by the report of a musket from the rear of the fort. Presently +afterwards, the word was passed along the chain of sentinels, upon the +ramparts, that the Indians were issuing in force from the forest upon +the common near the bomb-proof. Then was heard, as the sentinel at the +gate delivered the password, the heavy roll of the drum summoning to +arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! here already!" said Captain Blessington, as, glancing towards the +forest, he beheld the skirt of the wood now alive with dusky human +forms: "Ponteac's visit is earlier than we had been taught to expect; +but we are as well prepared to receive him now, as later; and, in fact, +the sooner the interview is terminated, the sooner we shall know what +we have to depend upon. Come, Charles, we must join the company, and +let me entreat you to evince less despondency before the men. It is +hard, I know, to sustain an artificial character under such +disheartening circumstances; still, for example's sake, it must be +done." +</P> + +<P> +"What I can I will do, Blessington," rejoined the youth, as they both +moved from the ramparts; "but the task is, in truth, one to which I +find myself wholly unequal. How do I know that, even at this moment, my +defenceless, terrified, and innocent sister may not be invoking the +name and arm of her brother to save her from destruction." +</P> + +<P> +"Trust in Providence, Charles. Even although our worst apprehensions be +realised, as I fervently trust they will not, your sister may be +spared. The Canadian could not have been unfaithful, or we should have +learnt something of his treachery from the Indians. Another week will +confirm us in the truth or fallacy of our impressions. Until then, let +us arm our hearts with hope. Trust me, we shall yet see the laughing +eyes of Clara fill with tears of affection, as I recount to her all her +too sensitive and too desponding brother has suffered for her sake." +</P> + +<P> +De Haldimar made no reply. He deeply felt the kind intention of his +captain, but was far from cherishing the hope that had been +recommended. He sighed heavily, pressed the arm, on which he leaned, in +gratitude for the motive, and moved silently with his friend to join +their company below the rampart. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0206"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<P> +Meanwhile the white flag had again been raised by the Indians upon the +bomb-proof; and this having been readily met by a corresponding signal +from the fort, a numerous band of savages now issued from the cover +with which their dark forms had hitherto been identified, and spread +themselves far and near upon the common. On this occasion they were +without arms, offensive or defensive, of any kind, if we may except the +knife which was always carried at the girdle, and which constituted a +part rather of their necessary dress than of their warlike equipment. +These warriors might have been about five hundred in number, and were +composed chiefly of picked men from the nations of the Ottawas, the +Delawares, and the Shawanees; each race being distinctly recognisable +from the others by certain peculiarities of form and feature which +individualised, if we may so term it, the several tribes. Their only +covering was the legging before described, composed in some instances +of cloth, but principally of smoked deerskin, and the flap that passed +through the girdle around the loins, by which the straps attached to +the leggings were secured. Their bodies, necks, and arms were, with the +exception of a few slight ornaments, entirely naked; and even the +blanket, that served them as a couch by night and a covering by day, +had, with one single exception, been dispensed with, apparently with a +view to avoid any thing like encumbrance in their approaching sport. +Each individual was provided with a stout sapling of about three feet +in length, curved, and flattened at the root extremity, like that used +at the Irish hurdle; which game, in fact, the manner of ball-playing +among the Indians in every way resembled. +</P> + +<P> +Interspersed among these warriors were a nearly equal number of squaws. +These were to be seen lounging carelessly about in small groups, and +were of all ages; from the hoary-headed, shrivelled-up hag, whose eyes +still sparkled with a fire that her lank and attenuated frame denied, +to the young girl of twelve, whose dark and glowing cheek, rounded +bust, and penetrating glance, bore striking evidence of the +precociousness of Indian beauty. These latter looked with evident +interest on the sports of the younger warriors, who, throwing down +their hurdles, either vied with each other in the short but incredibly +swift foot-race, or indulged themselves in wrestling and leaping; while +their companions, abandoned to the full security they felt to be +attached to the white flag waving on the fort, lay at their lazy length +upon the sward, ostensibly following the movements of the several +competitors in these sports, but in reality with heart and eye directed +solely to the fortification that lay beyond. Each of these females, in +addition to the machecoti, or petticoat, which in one solid square of +broad-cloth was tightly wrapped around the loins, also carried a +blanket loosely thrown around the person, but closely confined over the +shoulders in front, and reaching below the knee. There was an air of +constraint in their movements, which accorded ill with the occasion of +festivity for which they were assembled; and it was remarkable, whether +it arose from deference to those to whom they were slaves, as well as +wives and daughters, or from whatever other cause it might be, none of +them ventured to recline themselves upon the sward in imitation of the +warriors. +</P> + +<P> +When it had been made known to the governor that the Indians had begun +to develop themselves in force upon the common unarmed, yet redolent +with the spirit that was to direct their meditated sports, the soldiers +were dismissed from their respective companies to the ramparts; where +they were now to be seen, not drawn up in formidable and hostile array, +but collected together in careless groups, and simply in their +side-arms. This reciprocation of confidence on the part of the garrison +was acknowledged by the Indians by marks of approbation, expressed as +much by the sudden and classic disposition of their fine forms into +attitudes strikingly illustrative of their admiration and pleasure, as +by the interjectional sounds that passed from one to the other of the +throng. From the increased alacrity with which they now lent themselves +to the preparatory and inferior amusements of the day, it was evident +their satisfaction was complete. +</P> + +<P> +Hitherto the principal chiefs had, as on the previous occasion, +occupied the bomb-proof; and now, as then, they appeared to be +deliberating among themselves, but evidently in a more energetic and +serious manner. At length they separated, when Ponteac, accompanied by +the chiefs who had attended him on the former day, once more led in the +direction of the fort. The moment of his advance was the signal for the +commencement of the principal game. In an instant those of the warriors +who lay reclining on the sward sprang to their feet, while the +wrestlers and racers resumed their hurdles, and prepared themselves for +the trial of mingled skill and swiftness. At first they formed a dense +group in the centre of the common; and then, diverging in two equal +files both to the right and to the left of the immediate centre, where +the large ball was placed, formed an open chain, extending from the +skirt of the forest to the commencement of the village. On the one side +were ranged the Delawares and the Shawanees, and on the other the more +numerous nation of the Ottawas. The women of these several tribes, +apparently much interested in the issue of an amusement in which the +manliness and activity of their respective friends were staked, had +gradually and imperceptibly gained the front of the fort, where they +were now huddled in groups at about twenty paces from the drawbridge, +and bending eagerly forward to command the movements of the +ball-players. +</P> + +<P> +In his circuit round the walls, Ponteac was seen to remark the +confiding appearance of the unarmed soldiery with a satisfaction that +was not sought to be disguised; and from the manner in which he threw +his glance along each face of the rampart, it was evident his object +was to embrace the numerical strength collected there. It was moreover +observed, when he passed the groups of squaws on his way to the gate, +he addressed some words in a strange tongue to the elder matrons of +each. +</P> + +<P> +Once more the dark warriors were received at the gate by Major +Blackwater; and, as with firm but elastic tread, they moved across the +square, each threw his fierce eyes rapidly and anxiously around, and +with less of concealment in his manner than had been manifested on the +former occasion. On every hand the same air of nakedness and desertion +met their gaze. Not even a soldier of the guard was to be seen; and +when they cast their eyes upwards to the windows of the blockhouses, +they were found to be tenantless as the area through which they passed. +A gleam of fierce satisfaction pervaded the swarthy countenances of the +Indians; and the features of Ponteac, in particular, expressed the +deepest exultation. Instead of leading his party, he now brought up the +rear; and when arrived in the centre of the fort, he, without any +visible cause for the accident, stumbled, and fell to the earth. The +other chiefs for a moment lost sight of their ordinary gravity, and +marked their sense of the circumstance by a prolonged sound, partaking +of the mingled character of a laugh and a yell. Startled at the cry, +Major Blackwater, who was in front, turned to ascertain the cause. At +that moment Ponteac sprang lightly again to his feet, responding to the +yell of his confederates by another even more startling, fierce, and +prolonged than their own. He then stalked proudly to the head of the +party, and even preceded Major Blackwater into the council room. +</P> + +<P> +In this rude theatre of conference some changes had been made since +their recent visit, which escaped not the observation of the +quick-sighted chiefs. Their mats lay in the position they had +previously occupied, and the chairs of the officers were placed as +before, but the room itself had been considerably enlarged. The slight +partition terminating the interior extremity of the mess-room, and +dividing it from that of one of the officers, had been removed; and +midway through this, extending entirely across, was drawn a curtain of +scarlet cloth, against which the imposing figure of the governor, +elevated as his seat was above those of the other officers, was thrown +into strong relief. There was another change, that escaped not the +observation of the Indians, and that was, not more than one half of the +officers who had been present at the first conference being now in the +room. Of these latter, one had, moreover, been sent away by the +governor the moment the chiefs were ushered in. +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" ejaculated the proud leader, as he took his seat +unceremoniously, and yet not without reluctance, upon the mat. "The +council-room of my father is bigger than when the Ottawa was here +before, yet the number of his chiefs is not so many." +</P> + +<P> +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the Saganaw has promised the +red skins a feast," returned the governor. "Were he to leave it to his +young warriors to provide it, he would not be able to receive the +Ottawa like a great chief, and to make peace with him as he could wish." +</P> + +<P> +"My father has a great deal of cloth, red, like the blood of a pale +face," pursued the Indian, rather in demand than in observation, as he +pointed with his finger to the opposite end of the room. "When the +Ottawa was here last, he did not see it." +</P> + +<P> +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the great father of the +Saganaw has a big heart to make presents to the red skins. The cloth +the Ottawa sees there is sufficient to make leggings for the chiefs of +all the nations." +</P> + +<P> +Apparently satisfied with this reply, the fierce Indian uttered one of +his strong guttural and assentient "ughs," and then commenced filling +the pipe of peace, correct on the present occasion in all its +ornaments, which was handed to him by the Delaware chief. It was +remarked by the officers this operation took up an unusually long +portion of his time, and that he frequently turned his ear, like a +horse stirred by the huntsman's horn, with quick and irrepressible +eagerness towards the door. +</P> + +<P> +"The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa chief, is not here," said +the governor, as he glanced his eye along the semicircle of Indians. +"How is this? Is his voice still sick, that he cannot come; or has the +great chief of the Ottawas forgotten to tell him?" +</P> + +<P> +"The voice of the pale warrior is still sick, and he cannot speak," +replied the Indian. "The Ottawa chief is very sorry; for the tongue of +his friend the pale face is full of wisdom." +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had the last words escaped his lips, when a wild shrill cry +from without the fort rang on the ears of the assembled council, and +caused a momentary commotion among the officers. It arose from a single +voice, and that voice could not be mistaken by any who had heard it +once before. A second or two, during which the officers and chiefs kept +their eyes intently fixed on each other, passed anxiously away, and +then nearer to the gate, apparently on the very drawbridge itself, was +pealed forth the wild and deafening yell of a legion of devilish +voices. At that sound, the Ottawa and the other chiefs sprang to their +feet, and their own fierce cry responded to that yet vibrating on the +ears of all. Already were their gleaming tomahawks brandished wildly +over their heads, and Ponteac had even bounded a pace forward to reach +the governor with the deadly weapon, when, at the sudden stamping of +the foot of the latter upon the floor, the scarlet cloth in the rear +was thrown aside, and twenty soldiers, their eyes glancing along the +barrels of their levelled muskets, met the startled gaze of the +astonished Indians. +</P> + +<P> +An instant was enough to satisfy the keen chief of the true state of +the case. The calm composed mien of the officers, not one of whom had +even attempted to quit his seat, amid the din by which his ears were so +alarmingly assailed,—the triumphant, yet dignified, and even severe +expression of the governor's countenance; and, above all, the +unexpected presence of the prepared soldiery,—all these at once +assured him of the discovery of his treachery, and the danger that +awaited him. The necessity for an immediate attempt to join his +warriors without, was now obvious to the Ottawa; and scarcely had he +conceived the idea before it was sought to be executed. In a single +spring he gained the door of the mess-room, and, followed eagerly and +tumultuously by the other chiefs, to whose departure no opposition was +offered, in the next moment stood on the steps of the piazza that ran +along the front of the building whence he had issued. +</P> + +<P> +The surprise of the Indians on reaching this point, was now too +powerful to be dissembled; and, incapable either of advancing or +receding, they remained gazing on the scene before them with an air of +mingled stupefaction, rage, and alarm. Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed +since they had proudly strode through the naked area of the fort; and +yet, even in that short space of time, its appearance had been entirely +changed. Not a part was there now of the surrounding buildings that was +not redolent with human life, and hostile preparation. Through every +window of the officers' low rooms, was to be seen the dark and frowning +muzzle of a field-piece, bearing upon the gateway; and behind these +were artillerymen, holding their lighted matches, supported again by +files of bayonets, that glittered in their rear. In the block-houses +the same formidable array of field-pieces and muskets was visible; +while from the four angles of the square, as many heavy guns, that had +been artfully masked at the entrance of the chiefs, seemed ready to +sweep away every thing that should come before them. The guard-room +near the gate presented the same hostile front. The doors of this, as +well as of the other buildings, had been firmly secured within; but +from every window affording cover to the troops, gleamed a line of +bayonets rising above the threatening field-pieces, pointed, at a +distance of little more than twelve feet, directly upon the gateway. In +addition to his musket, each man of the guard moreover held a hand +grenade, provided with a short fuze that could be ignited in a moment +from the matches of the gunners, and with immediate effect. The +soldiers in the block-houses were similarly provided. +</P> + +<P> +Almost magic as was the change thus suddenly effected in the appearance +of the garrison, it was not the most interesting feature in the +exciting scene. Choking up the gateway, in which they were completely +wedged, and crowding the drawbridge, a dense mass of dusky Indians were +to be seen casting their fierce glances around; yet paralysed in their +movements by the unlooked-for display of a resisting force, threatening +instant annihilation to those who should attempt either to advance or +to recede. Never, perhaps, were astonishment and disappointment more +forcibly depicted on the human countenance, than as they were now +exhibited by these men, who had already, in imagination, secured to +themselves an easy conquest. They were the warriors who had so recently +been engaged in the manly yet innocent exercise of the ball; but, +instead of the harmless hurdle, each now carried a short gun in one +hand and a gleaming tomahawk in the other. After the first general +yelling heard in the council-room, not a sound was uttered. Their burst +of rage and triumph had evidently been checked by the unexpected manner +of their reception, and they now stood on the spot on which the further +advance of each had been arrested, so silent and motionless, that, but +for the rolling of their dark eyes, as they keenly measured the +insurmountable barriers that were opposed to their progress, they might +almost have been taken for a wild group of statuary. +</P> + +<P> +Conspicuous at the head of these was he who wore the blanket; a tall +warrior, on whom rested the startled eye of every officer and soldier +who was so situated as to behold him. His face was painted black as +death; and as he stood under the arch of the gateway, with his white +turbaned head towering far above those of his companions, this +formidable and mysterious enemy might have been likened to the spirit +of darkness presiding over his terrible legions. +</P> + +<P> +In order to account for the extraordinary appearance of the Indians, +armed in every way for death, at a moment when neither gun nor tomahawk +was apparently within miles of their reach, it will be necessary to +revert to the first entrance of the chiefs into the fort. The fall of +Ponteac had been the effect of design; and the yell pealed forth by +him, on recovering his feet, as if in taunting reply to the laugh of +his comrades, was in reality a signal intended for the guidance of the +Indians without. These, now following up their game with increasing +spirit, at once changed the direction of their line, bringing the ball +nearer to the fort. In their eagerness to effect this object, they had +overlooked the gradual secession of the unarmed troops, spectators of +their sport from the ramparts, until scarcely more than twenty +stragglers were left. As they neared the gate, the squaws broke up +their several groups, and, forming a line on either hand of the road +leading to the drawbridge, appeared to separate solely with a view not +to impede the action of the players. For an instant a dense group +collected around the ball, which had been driven to within a hundred +yards of the gate, and fifty hurdles were crossed in their endeavours +to secure it, when the warrior, who formed the solitary exception to +the multitude, in his blanket covering, and who had been lingering in +the extreme rear of the party, came rapidly up to the spot where the +well-affected struggle was maintained. At his approach, the hurdles of +the other players were withdrawn, when, at a single blow from his +powerful arm, the ball was seen flying into the air in an oblique +direction, and was for a moment lost altogether to the view. When it +again met the eye, it was descending perpendicularly into the very +centre of the fort. +</P> + +<P> +With the fleetness of thought now commenced a race that had ostensibly +for its object the recovery of the lost ball; and in which, he who had +driven it with such resistless force outstripped them all. Their course +lay between the two lines of squaws; and scarcely had the head of the +bounding Indians reached the opposite extremity of those lines, when +the women suddenly threw back their blankets, and disclosed each a +short gun and a tomahawk. To throw away their hurdles and seize upon +these, was the work of an instant. Already, in imagination, was the +fort their own; and, such was the peculiar exultation of the black and +turbaned warrior, when he felt the planks of the drawbridge bending +beneath his feet, all the ferocious joy of his soul was pealed forth in +the terrible cry which, rapidly succeeded by that of the other Indians, +had resounded so fearfully through the council-room. What their +disappointment was, when, on gaining the interior, they found the +garrison prepared for their reception, has already been shown. +</P> + +<P> +"Secure that traitor, men!" exclaimed the governor, advancing into the +square, and pointing to the black warrior, whose quick eye was now +glancing on every side, to discover some assailable point in the +formidable defences of the troops. +</P> + +<P> +A laugh of scorn and derision escaped the lips of the warrior. "Is +there a man—are there any ten men, even with Governor de Haldimar at +their head, who will be bold enough to attempt it?" he asked. "Nay!" he +pursued, stepping boldly a pace or two in front of the wondering +savages,—"here I stand singly, and defy your whole garrison!" +</P> + +<P> +A sudden movement among the soldiers in the guard-room announced they +were preparing to execute the order of their chief. The eye of the +black warrior sparkled with ferocious pleasure; and he made a gesture +to his followers, which was replied to by the sudden tension of their +hitherto relaxed forms into attitudes of expectance and preparation. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay, men; quit not your cover for your lives!" commanded the +governor, in a loud deep voice:—"keep the barricades fast, and move +not." +</P> + +<P> +A cloud of anger and disappointment passed over the features of the +black warrior. It was evident the object of his bravado was to draw the +troops from their defences, that they might be so mingled with their +enemies as to render the cannon useless, unless friends and foes (which +was by no means probable) should alike be sacrificed. The governor had +penetrated the design in time to prevent the mischief. +</P> + +<P> +In a moment of uncontrollable rage, the savage warrior aimed his +tomahawk at the head of the governor. The latter stepped lightly aside, +and the steel sank with such force into one of the posts supporting the +piazza, that the quivering handle snapped close off at its head. At +that moment, a single shot, fired from the guard-house, was drowned in +the yell of approbation which burst from the lips of the dark crowd. +The turban of the warrior was, however, seen flying through the air, +carried away by the force of the bullet which had torn it from his +head. He himself was unharmed. +</P> + +<P> +"A narrow escape for us both, Colonel de Haldimar," he observed, as +soon as the yell had subsided, and with an air of the most perfect +unconcern. "Had my tomahawk obeyed the first impulse of my heart, I +should have cursed myself and died: as it is, I have reason to avoid +all useless exposure of my own life, at present. A second bullet may be +better directed; and to die, robbed of my revenge, would ill answer the +purpose of a life devoted to its attainment. Remember my pledge!" +</P> + +<P> +At the hasty command of the governor, a hundred muskets were raised to +the shoulders of his men; but, before a single eye could glance along +the barrel, the formidable and active warrior had bounded over the +heads of the nearest Indians into a small space that was left +unoccupied; when, stooping suddenly to the earth, he disappeared +altogether from the view of his enemies. A slight movement in the +centre of the numerous band crowding the gateway, and extending even +beyond the bridge, was now discernible: it was like the waving of a +field of standing corn, through which some animal rapidly winds its +tortuous course, bending aside as the object advances, and closing +again when it has passed. After the lapse of a minute, the terrible +warrior was seen to spring again to his feet, far in the rear of the +band; and then, uttering a fierce shout of exultation, to make good his +retreat towards the forest. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Ponteac and the other chiefs of the council continued rooted +to the piazza on which they had rushed at the unexpected display of the +armed men behind the scarlet curtain. The loud "Waugh" that burst from +the lips of all, on finding themselves thus foiled in their schemes of +massacre, had been succeeded, the instant afterwards, by feelings of +personal apprehension, which each, however, had collectedness enough to +disguise. Once the Ottawa made a movement as if he would have cleared +the space that kept him from his warriors; but the emphatical pointing +of the finger of Colonel de Haldimar to the levelled muskets of the men +in the block-houses prevented him, and the attempt was not repeated. It +was remarked by the officers, who also stood on the piazza, close +behind the chiefs, when the black warrior threw his tomahawk at the +governor, a shade of displeasure passed over the features of the +Ottawa; and that, when he found the daring attempt was not retaliated +on his people, his countenance had been momentarily lighted up with a +satisfied expression, apparently marking his sense of the forbearance +so unexpectedly shown. +</P> + +<P> +"What says the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked the governor +calmly, and breaking a profound silence that had succeeded to the last +fierce yell of the formidable being just departed. "Was the Saganaw not +right, when he said the Ottawa came with guile in his heart, and with a +lie upon his lips? But the Saganaw is not a fool, and he can read the +thoughts of his enemies upon their faces, and long before their lips +have spoken." +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" ejaculated the Indian; "my father is a great chief, and his head +is full of wisdom. Had he been feeble, like the other chiefs of the +Saganaw, the strong-hold of the Detroit must have fallen, and the red +skins would have danced their war-dance round the scalps of his young +men, even in the council-room where they came to talk of peace." +</P> + +<P> +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas see the big thunder of the +Saganaw?" pursued the governor: "if not, let him open his eyes and +look. The Saganaw has but to move his lips, and swifter than the +lightning would the pale faces sweep away the warriors of the Ottawa, +even where they now stand: in less time than the Saganaw is now +speaking, would they mow them down like the grass of the Prairie." +</P> + +<P> +"Ugh!" again exclaimed the chief, with mixed doggedness and fierceness: +"if what my father says is true, why does he not pour out his anger +upon the red skins?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let the great chief of the Ottawas listen," replied the governor with +dignity. "When the great chiefs of all the nations that are in league +with the Ottawas came last to the council, the Saganaw knew that they +carried deceit in their hearts, and that they never meant to smoke the +pipe of peace, or to bury the hatchet in the ground. The Saganaw might +have kept them prisoners, that their warriors might be without a head; +but he had given his word to the great chief of the Ottawas, and the +word of a Saganaw is never broken. Even now, while both the chiefs and +the warriors are in his power,—he will not slay them, for he wishes to +show the Ottawa the desire of the Saganaw is to be friendly with the +red skins, and not to destroy them. Wicked men from the Canadas have +whispered lies in the ear of the Ottawa; but a great chief should judge +for himself, and take council only from the wisdom of his own heart. +The Ottawa and his warriors may go," he resumed, after a short pause; +"the path by which they came is again open to them. Let them depart in +peace; the big thunder of the Saganaw shall not harm them." +</P> + +<P> +The countenance of the Indian, who had clearly seen the danger of his +position, wore an expression of surprise which could not be dissembled: +low exclamations passed between him and his companions; and, then +pointing to the tomahawk that lay half buried in the wood, he said, +doubtingly,— +</P> + +<P> +"It was the pale face, the friend of the great chief of the Ottawas, +who struck the hatchet at my father. The Ottawa is not a fool to +believe the Saganaw can sleep without revenge." +</P> + +<P> +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall know us better," was the reply. +"The young warriors of the Saganaw might destroy their enemies where +they now stand, but they seek not their blood. When the Ottawa chief +takes council from his own heart, and not from the lips of a cowardly +dog of a pale face, who strikes his tomahawk and then flies, his wisdom +will tell him to make peace with the Saganaw, whose warriors are +without treachery, even as they are without fear." +</P> + +<P> +Another of those deep interjectional "ughs" escaped the chest of the +proud Indian. +</P> + +<P> +"What my father says is good," he returned; "but the pale face is a +great warrior, and the Ottawa chief is his friend. The Ottawa will go." +</P> + +<P> +He then addressed a few sentences, in a tongue unknown to the officers, +to the swarthy and anxious crowd in front. These were answered by a +low, sullen, yet assentient grunt, from the united band, who now +turned, though with justifiable caution and distrust, and recrossed the +drawbridge without hinderance from the troops. Ponteac waited until the +last Indian had departed, and then making a movement to the governor, +which, with all its haughtiness, was meant to mark his sense of the +forbearance and good faith that had been manifested, once more stalked +proudly and calmly across the area, followed by the remainder of the +chiefs. The officers who were with the governor ascended to the +ramparts, to follow their movements; and it was not before their report +had been made, that the Indians were immerging once more into the heart +of the forest, the troops were withdrawn from their formidable +defences, and the gate of the fort again firmly secured. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0207"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<P> +While the reader is left to pause over the rapid succession of +incidents resulting from the mysterious entrance of the warrior of the +Fleur de lis into the English fort, be it our task to explain the +circumstances connected with the singular disappearance of Captain de +Haldimar, and the melancholy murder of his unfortunate servant. +</P> + +<P> +It will be recollected that the ill-fated Halloway, in the course of +his defence before the court-martial, distinctly stated the voice of +the individual who had approached his post, calling on the name of +Captain de Haldimar, on the night of the alarm, to have been that of a +female, and that the language in which they subsequently conversed was +that of the Ottawa Indians. This was strictly the fact; and the only +error into which the unfortunate soldier had fallen, had reference +merely to the character and motives of the party. He had naturally +imagined, as he had stated, it was some young female of the village, +whom attachment for his officer had driven to the desperate +determination of seeking an interview; nor was this impression at all +weakened by the subsequent discourse of the parties in the Indian +tongue, with which it was well known most of the Canadians, both male +and female, were more or less conversant. The subject of that short, +low, and hurried conference was, indeed, one that well warranted the +singular intrusion; and, in the declaration of Halloway, we have +already seen the importance and anxiety attached by the young officer +to the communication. Without waiting to repeat the motives assigned +for his departure, and the prayers and expostulations to which he had +recourse to overcome the determination and sense of duty of the +unfortunate sentinel, let us pass at once to the moment when, after +having cleared the ditch, conjointly with his faithful follower, in the +manner already shown, Captain de Haldimar first stood side by side with +his midnight visitant. +</P> + +<P> +The night, it has elsewhere been observed, was clear and starry, so +that objects upon the common, such as the rude stump that here and +there raised its dark low head above the surface, might be dimly seen +in the distance. To obviate the danger of discovery by the sentinels, +appeared to be the first study of the female; for, when Captain de +Haldimar, followed by his servant, had reached the spot on which she +stood, she put the forefinger of one hand to her lips, and with the +other pointed to his booted foot. A corresponding signal showed that +the lightness of the material offered little risk of betrayal. +Donellan, however, was made to doff his heavy ammunition shoes; and, +with this precaution, they all stole hastily along, under the shadows +of the projecting ramparts, until they had gained the extreme rear. +Here the female suddenly raised her tall figure from the stooping +position in which she, as well as her companions, had performed the +dangerous circuit; and, placing her finger once more significantly on +her lips, led in the direction of the bomb-proof, unperceived by the +sentinels, most of whom, it is probable, had, up to the moment of the +alarm subsequently given, been too much overcome by previous watching +and excitement to have kept the most vigilant look-out. +</P> + +<P> +Arrived at the skirt of the forest, the little party drew up within the +shadow of the ruin, and a short and earnest dialogue ensued, in Indian, +between the female and the officer. This was succeeded by a command +from the latter to his servant, who, after a momentary but respectful +expostulation, which, however, was utterly lost on him to whom it was +addressed, proceeded to divest himself of his humble apparel, assuming +in exchange the more elegant uniform of his superior. Donellan, who was +also of the grenadiers, was remarkable for the resemblance he bore, in +figure, to Captain de Haldimar; wanting, it is true, the grace and +freedom of movement of the latter, but still presenting an outline +which, in an attitude of profound repose, might, as it subsequently +did, have set even those who were most intimate with the officer at +fault. +</P> + +<P> +"This is well," observed the female, as the young man proceeded to +induct himself in the grey coat of his servant, having previously drawn +the glazed hat close over his waving and redundant hair: "if the +Saganaw is ready, Oucanasta will go." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, and your honour does not mane to lave me behind!" exclaimed the +anxious soldier, as his captain now recommended him to stand closely +concealed near the ruin until his return. "Who knows what ambuscade the +she-divil may not lade your honour into; and thin who will you have to +bring you out of it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Donellan, it must not be: I first intended it, as you may perceive +by my bringing you out; but the expedition on which I am going is of +the utmost importance to us all, and too much precaution cannot be +taken. I fear no ambuscade, for I can depend on the fidelity of my +guide; but the presence of a third person would only embarrass, without +assisting me in the least. You must remain behind; the woman insists +upon it, and there is no more to be said." +</P> + +<P> +"To ould Nick with the ugly winch, for her pains!" half muttered the +disappointed soldier to himself. "I wish it may be as your honour says; +but my mind misgives me sadly that evil will come of this. Has your +honour secured the pistols?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are here," returned his captain, placing a hand on either chest. +"And now, Donellan, mark me: I know nothing that can detain me longer +than an hour; at least the woman assures me, and I believe her, that I +may be back then; but it is well to guard against accidents. You must +continue here for the hour, and for the hour only. If I come not then, +return to the fort without delay, for the rope must be removed, and the +gate secured, before Halloway is relieved. The keys you will find in +the pocket of my uniform: when you have done with them, let them be +hung up in their proper place in the guard-room. My father must not +know either that Halloway suffered me to pass the gate, or that you +accompanied me." +</P> + +<P> +"Lord love us! your honour talks as if you nivir would return, giving +such a heap of orders!" exclaimed the startled man; "but if I go back +alone, as I trust in heaven I shall not, how am I to account for being +dressed in your honour's rigimintals?" +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you, Donellan," impatiently returned the officer, "that I shall +be back; but I only wish to guard against accidents. The instant you +get into the fort, you will take off my clothes and resume your own. +Who the devil is to see you in the uniform, unless it be Halloway?" +</P> + +<P> +"If the Saganaw would not see the earth red with the blood of his race, +he will go," interrupted the female. "Oucanasta can feel the breath of +the morning fresh upon her cheek, and the council of the chiefs must be +begun." +</P> + +<P> +"The Saganaw is ready, and Oucanasta shall lead the way," hastily +returned the officer. "One word more, Donellan;" and he pressed the +hand of his domestic kindly: "should I not return, you must, without +committing Halloway or yourself, cause my father to be apprised that +the Indians meditate a deep and treacherous plan to get possession of +the fort. What that plan is, I know not yet myself, neither does this +woman know; but she says that I shall hear it discussed unseen, even in +the heart of their own encampment. All you have to do is to acquaint my +father with the existence of danger. And now be cautious: above all +things, keep close under the shadow of the bomb-proof; for there are +scouts constantly prowling about the common, and the glittering of the +uniform in the starlight may betray you." +</P> + +<P> +"But why may I not follow your honour?" again urged the faithful +soldier; "and where is the use of my remaining here to count the stars, +and hear the 'All's well!' from the fort, when I could be so much +better employed in guarding your honour from harm? What sort of +protection can that Ingian woman afford, who is of the race of our +bitterest enemies, them cursed Ottawas, and your honour venturing, too, +like a spy into the very heart of the blood-hounds? Ah, Captain de +Haldimar, for the love of God, do not trust yourself alone with her, or +I am sure I shall never see your honour again!" +</P> + +<P> +The last words (unhappily too prophetic) fell only on the ear of him +who uttered them. The female and the officer had already disappeared +round an abrupt angle of the bomb-proof; and the soldier, as directed +by his master, now drew up his tall figure against the ruin, where he +continued for a period immovable, as if he had been planted there in +his ordinary character of sentinel, listening, until they eventually +died away in distance, to the receding footsteps of his master; and +then ruminating on the several apprehensions that crowded on his mind, +in regard to the probable issue of his adventurous project. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Captain de Haldimar and his guide trod the mazes of the +forest, with an expedition that proved the latter to be well acquainted +with its bearings. On quitting the bomb-proof, she had struck into a +narrow winding path, less seen than felt in the deep gloom pervading +the wood, and with light steps bounded over obstacles that lay strewed +in their course, emitting scarcely more sound than would have been +produced by the slimy crawl of its native rattlesnake. Not so, however, +with the less experienced tread of her companion. Wanting the pliancy +of movement given to it by the light mocassin, the booted foot of the +young officer, despite of all his precaution, fell heavily to the +ground, producing such a rustling among the dried leaves, that, had an +Indian ear been lurking any where around, his approach must inevitably +have been betrayed. More than once, too, neglecting to follow the +injunction of his companion, who moved in a stooping posture, with her +head bent over her chest, his hat was caught in the closely matted +branches, and fell sullenly and heavily to the earth, evidently much to +the discomfiture of his guide. +</P> + +<P> +At length they stood on the verge of a dark and precipitous ravine, the +abrupt sides of which were studded with underwood, so completely +interwoven, that all passage appeared impracticable. What, however, +seemed an insurmountable obstacle, proved, in reality, an inestimable +advantage; for it was by clinging to this, in imitation of the example +set him by his companion, the young officer was prevented from rolling +into an abyss, the depth of which was lost in the profound obscurity +that pervaded the scene. Through the bed of this dark dell rolled a +narrow stream, so imperceptible to the eye in the "living darkness," +and so noiseless in its course, that it was not until warned by his +companion he stood on the very brink of it, Captain de Haldimar was +made sensible of its existence. Both cleared it at a single bound, in +which the activity of the female was not the least conspicuous, and, +clambering up the opposite steep, secured their footing, by the aid of +the same underwood that had assisted them in their descent. +</P> + +<P> +On gaining the other summit, which was not done without detaching +several loose stones from their sandy bed, they again, fell into the +path, which had been lost sight of in traversing the ravine. They had +proceeded along this about half a mile, when the female suddenly +stopped, and pointing to a dim and lurid atmosphere that now began to +show itself between the thin foliage, whispered that in the opening +beyond stood the encampment of the Indians. She then seated herself on +the trunk of a fallen tree, that lay at the side of the almost +invisible path they had hitherto pursued, and motioning to her +companion to unboot himself, proceeded to unlace the fastenings of her +mocassins. +</P> + +<P> +"The foot of the Saganaw must fall like the night dew on the prairie," +she observed: "the ear of the red skin is quicker than the lightning, +and he will know that a pale face is near, if he hear but his tread +upon a blade of grass." +</P> + +<P> +Gallantry in the civilised man is a sentiment that never wholly +abandons him; and in whatever clime he may be thrown, or under whatever +circumstances he may be placed,—be it called forth by white or by +blackamoor,—it is certain to influence his conduct: it is a +refinement, of that instinctive deference to the weaker sex, which +nature has implanted in him for the wisest of purposes; and which, +while it tends to exalt those to whom its influence is extended, fails +not to reflect a corresponding lustre on himself. +</P> + +<P> +The young officer had, at the first suggestion of his guide, divested +himself of his boots, prepared to perform the remainder of the journey +merely in his stockings, but his companion now threw herself on her +knees before him, and, without further ceremony, proceeded to draw over +his foot one of the mocassins she had just relinquished. +</P> + +<P> +"The feet of the Saganaw are soft as those of a young child," she +remarked, in a voice of commiseration; "but the mocassins of Oucanasta +shall protect them from the thorns of the forest." +</P> + +<P> +This was too un-European,—too much reversing the established order of +things, to be borne patiently. As if he had felt the dignity of his +manhood offended by the proposal, the officer drew his foot hastily +back, declaring, as he sprang from the log, he did not care for the +thorns, and could not think of depriving a female, who must be much +more sensible of pain than himself. +</P> + +<P> +Oucanasta, however, was not to be outdone in politeness. She calmly +reseated herself on the log, drew her right foot over her left knee, +caught one of the hands of her companion, and placing it upon the naked +sole, desired him to feel how impervious to attack of every description +was that indurated portion of the lower limb. +</P> + +<P> +This practical argument was not without its weight, and had more effect +in deciding the officer than a volume of remonstrance. Most men love to +render tribute to a delicate and pretty foot. Some, indeed, go so far +as to connect every thing feminine with these qualities, and to believe +that nothing can be feminine without them. For our parts, we confess, +that, although no enemies to a pretty foot, it is by no means a sine +qua non in our estimate of female perfection; being in no way disposed, +where the head and heart are gems, to undervalue these in consideration +of any deficiency in the heels. Captain de Haldimar probably thought +otherwise; for when he had passed his unwilling hand over the foot of +Oucanasta, which, whatever her face might have been, was certainly any +thing but delicate, and encountered numerous ragged excrescences and +raspy callosities that set all symmetry at defiance, a wonderful +revolution came over his feelings; and, secretly determining the +mocassins would be equally well placed on his own feet, he no longer +offered any opposition. +</P> + +<P> +This important point arranged, the officer once more followed his guide +in silence. Gradually the forest, as they advanced, became lighter with +the lurid atmosphere before alluded to; and at length, through the +trees, could be indistinctly seen the Indian fires from which it +proceeded. The young man was now desired by his conductress to use the +utmost circumspection in making the circuit of the wood, in order to +gain a position immediately opposite to the point where the path they +had hitherto pursued terminated in the opening. This, indeed, was the +most dangerous and critical part of the undertaking. A false step, or +the crackling of a decayed branch beneath the foot, would have been +sufficient to betray proximity, in which case his doom was sealed. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunate did he now deem himself in having yielded to the counsel of +his guide. Had he retained his unbending boot, it must have crushed +whatever it pressed; whereas, the pliant mocassin, yielding to the +obstacles it encountered, enabled him to pass noiselessly over them. +Still, while exempt from danger on this score, another, scarcely less +perplexing, became at every instant more obvious; for, as they drew +nearer to the point which the female sought to gain, the dim light of +the half-slumbering fires fell so immediately upon their path, that had +a single human eye been turned in that direction, their discovery was +inevitable. It was with a beating heart, to which mere personal fear, +however, was a stranger, that Captain de Haldimar performed this +concluding stage of his adventurous course; but, at a moment when he +considered detection unavoidable, and was arming himself with +resolution to meet the event, the female suddenly halted, placing, in +the act, the trunk of an enormous beech between her companion and the +dusky forms within, whose very breathing could be heard by the anxious +officer. Without uttering a word, she took his hand, and, drawing him +gently forward, disappeared altogether from his view. The young man +followed, and in the next moment found himself in the bowelless body of +the tree itself; into which, on the side of the encampment, both light +and sound were admitted by a small aperture formed by the natural decay +of the wood. +</P> + +<P> +The Indian pressed her lips to the ear of her companion, and rather +breathed than said,—"The Saganaw will see and hear every thing from +this in safety; and what he hears let him treasure in his heart. +Oucanasta must go. When the council is over she will return, and lead +him back to his warriors." +</P> + +<P> +With this brief intimation she departed, and so noiselessly, that the +young officer was not aware of her absence until some minutes of +silence had satisfied him she must be gone. His first care then was to +survey, through the aperture that lay in a level with his eye, the +character of the scene before him. The small plain, in which lay the +encampment of the Indians, was a sort of oasis of the forest, girt +round with a rude belt of underwood, and somewhat elevated, so as to +present the appearance of a mound, constructed on the first principles +of art. This was thickly although irregularly studded with tents, some +of which were formed of large coarse mats thrown over poles disposed in +a conical shape, while others were more rudely composed of the leafy +branches of the forest. +</P> + +<P> +Within these groups of human forms lay, wrapped in their blankets, +stretched at their lazy length. Others, with their feet placed close to +the dying embers of their fires, diverged like so many radii from their +centre, and lay motionless in sleep, as if life and consciousness were +wholly extinct. Here and there was to be seen a solitary warrior +securing, with admirable neatness, and with delicate ligatures formed +of the sinew of the deer, the guiding feather, or fashioning the bony +barb of his long arrow; while others, with the same warlike spirit in +view, employed themselves in cutting and greasing small patches of +smoked deerskin, which were to secure and give a more certain direction +to the murderous bullet. Among the warriors were interspersed many +women, some of whom might be seen supporting in their laps the heavy +heads of their unconscious helpmates, while they occupied themselves, +by the firelight, in parting the long black matted hair, and +maintaining a destructive warfare against the pigmy inhabitants of that +dark region. These signs of life and activity in the body of the camp +generally were, however, but few and occasional; but, at the spot where +Captain de Haldimar stood concealed, the scene was different. At a few +yards from the tree stood a sort of shed, composed of tall poles placed +upright in the earth, and supporting a roof formed simply of rude +boughs, the foliage of which had been withered by time. This simple +edifice might be about fifty feet in circumference. In the centre +blazed a large fire that had been newly fed, and around this were +assembled a band of swarthy warriors, some twenty or thirty in number, +who, by their proud, calm, and thoughtful bearing, might at once be +known to be chiefs. +</P> + +<P> +The faces of most of these were familiar to the young officer, who +speedily recognised them for the principals of the various tribes +Ponteac had leagued in arms against his enemies. That chief himself, +ever remarkable for his haughty eye and commanding gesture, was of the +number of those present; and, a little aloof from his inferiors, sat, +with his feet stretched towards the fire, and half reclining on his +side in an attitude of indolence; yet with his mind evidently engrossed +by deep and absorbing thought. From some observations that distinctly +met his ear, Captain de Haldimar gathered, the party were only awaiting +the arrival of an important character, without whose presence the +leading chief was unwilling the conference should begin. The period of +the officer's concealment had just been long enough to enable him to +fix all these particulars in his mind, when suddenly the faint report +of a distant rifle was heard echoing throughout the wood. This was +instantly succeeded by a second, that sounded more sharply on the ear; +and then followed a long and piercing cry, that brought every warrior, +even of those who slept, quickly to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +An anxious interval of some minutes passed away in the fixed and +listening attitudes, which the chiefs especially had assumed, when a +noise resembling that of some animal forcing its way rapidly through +the rustling branches, was faintly heard in the direction in which the +shots had been fired. This gradually increased as it evidently +approached the encampment, and then, distinctly, could be heard the +light yet unguarded boundings of a human foot. At every moment the +rustling of the underwood, rapidly divided by the approaching form, +became more audible; and so closely did the intruder press upon the +point in which Captain de Haldimar was concealed, that that officer, +fancying he had been betrayed, turned hastily round, and, grasping one +of the pistols he had secreted in his chest, prepared himself for a +last and deadly encounter. An instant or two was sufficient to +re-assure him. The form glided hastily past, brushing the tree with its +garments in its course, and clearing, at a single bound, the belt of +underwood that divided the encampment from the tall forest, stood +suddenly among the group of anxious and expectant chiefs. +</P> + +<P> +This individual, a man of tall stature, was powerfully made. He wore a +jerkin, or hunting-coat, of leather; and his arms were, a rifle which +had every appearance of having just been discharged, a tomahawk reeking +with blood, and a scalping-knife, which, in the hurry of some recent +service it had been made to perform, had missed its sheath, and was +thrust naked into the belt that encircled his loins. His countenance +wore an expression of malignant triumph; and as his eye fell on the +assembled throng, its self-satisfied and exulting glance seemed to give +them to understand he came not without credentials to recommend him to +their notice. Captain de Haldimar was particularly struck by the air of +bold daring and almost insolent recklessness pervading every movement +of this man; and it was difficult to say whether the haughtiness of +bearing peculiar to Ponteac himself, was not exceeded by that of this +herculean warrior. +</P> + +<P> +By the body of chiefs his appearance had been greeted with a mere +general grunt of approbation; but the countenance of the leader +expressed a more personal interest. All seemed to expect he had +something of moment to communicate; but as it was not consistent with +the dignity of Indian etiquette to enquire, they waited calmly until it +should please their new associate to enter on the history of his +exploits. In pursuance of an invitation from Ponteac, he now took his +seat on the right hand of that chief, and immediately facing the tree, +from which Captain de Haldimar, strongly excited both by the reports of +the shots that had been fired, and the sight of the bloody tomahawk of +the recently arrived Indian, gazed earnestly and anxiously on the +swarthy throng. +</P> + +<P> +Glancing once more triumphantly round the circle, who sat smoking their +pipes in calm and deliberative silence, the latter now observed the eye +of a young chief, who sat opposite to him, intently riveted on his left +shoulder. He raised his hand to the part, withdrew it, looked at it, +and found it wet with blood. A slight start of surprise betrayed his +own unconsciousness of the accident; yet, secretly vexed at the +discovery which had been made, and urged probably by one of his wayward +fits, he demanded haughtily and insultingly of the young chief, if that +was the first time he had ever looked on the blood of a warrior. +</P> + +<P> +"Does my brother feel pain?" was the taunting reply. "If he is come to +us with a trophy, it is not without being dearly bought. The Saganaw +has spilt his blood." +</P> + +<P> +"The weapons of the Saganaw, like those of the smooth face of the +Ottawa, are without sting," angrily retorted the other. "They only +prick the skin like a thorn; but when Wacousta drinks the blood of his +enemy," and he glanced his eye fiercely at the young man, "it is the +blood next his heart." +</P> + +<P> +"My brother has always big words upon his lips," returned the young +chief, with a scornful sneer at the implied threat against himself. +"But where are his proofs?" +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the eye of the party thus challenged kindled into flame, +while his lips were firmly compressed together; and as he half bent +himself forward, to scan with greater earnestness the features of his +questioner, his right hand sank to his left side, tightly grasping the +handle of his scalping-knife. The action was but momentary. Again he +drew himself up, puffed the smoke deliberately from his bloody +tomahawk, and, thrusting his right hand into his bosom, drew leisurely +forth a reeking scalp, which he tossed insolently across the fire into +the lap of the young chief. A loud and general "ugh!" testified the +approbation of the assembled group, at the unequivocal answer thus +given to the demand of the youth. The eye of the huge warrior sparkled +with a deep and ferocious exultation. +</P> + +<P> +"What says the smooth face of the Ottawas now?" he demanded, in the +same insolent strain. "Does it make his heart sick to look upon the +scalp of a great chief?" +</P> + +<P> +The young man quietly turned the horrid trophy over several times in +his hand, examining it attentively in every part. Then tossing it back +with contemptuous coolness to its owner, he replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"The eyes of my brother are weak with age. He is not cunning, like a +red skin. The Ottawa has often seen the Saganaw in their fort, and he +knows their chiefs have fine hair like women; but this is like the +bristles of the fox. My brother has not slain a great chief, but a +common warrior." +</P> + +<P> +A flush of irrepressible and threatening anger passed over the features +of the vast savage. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it for a boy," he fiercely asked, "whose eyes know not yet the +colour of blood, to judge of the enemies that fall by the tomahawk of +Wacousta? but a great warrior never boasts of actions that he does not +achieve. It is the son of the great chief of the Saganaw whom he has +slain. If the smooth face doubts it, and has courage to venture, even +at night, within a hundred yards of the fort, he will see a Saganaw +without a scalp; and he will know that Saganaw by his dress—the +dress," he pursued, with a low emphatic laugh, "that Oucanasta, the +sister of the smooth face, loved so much to look upon." +</P> + +<P> +Quicker than thought was the upspringing of the young Indian to his +feet. With a cheek glowing, an eye flashing, and his gleaming tomahawk +whirling rapidly round his head, he cleared at a single bound the fire +that separated him from his insulter. The formidable man who had thus +wantonly provoked the attack, was equally prompt in meeting it. At the +first movement of the youth, he too had leapt to his feet, and +brandished the terrible weapon that served in the double capacity of +pipe and hatchet. A fierce yell escaped the lips of each, as they thus +met in close and hostile collision, and the scene for the moment +promised to be one of the most tragic character; but before either +could find an assailable point on which to rest his formidable weapon, +Ponteac himself had thrown his person between them, and in a voice of +thunder commanded the instant abandonment of their purpose. Exasperated +even as they now mutually were, the influence of that authority, for +which the great chief of the Ottawas was well known, was not without +due effect on the combatants. His anger was principally directed +against the assailant, on whom the tones of his reproving voice +produced a change the intimidation of his powerful opponent could never +have effected. The young chief dropped the point of his tomahawk, bowed +his head in submission, and then resuming his seat, sat during the +remainder of the night with his arms folded, and his head bent in +silence over his chest. +</P> + +<P> +"Our brother has done well," said Ponteac, glancing approvingly at him +who had exhibited the reeking trophy, and whom he evidently favoured. +"He is a great chief, and his words are truth. We heard the report of +his rifle, and we also heard the cry that told he had borne away the +scalp of an enemy. But we will think of this to-morrow. Let us now +commence our talk." +</P> + +<P> +Our readers will readily imagine the feelings of Captain de Haldimar +during this short but exciting scene. From the account given by the +warrior, there could be no doubt the murdered man was the unhappy +Donellan; who, probably, neglecting the caution given him, had exposed +himself to the murderous aim of this fierce being, who was apparently a +scout sent for the purpose of watching the movements of the garrison. +The direction of the firing, the allusion made to the regimentals, nay, +the scalp itself, which he knew from the short crop to be that of a +soldier, and fancied he recognised from its colour to be that of his +servant, formed but too conclusive evidence of the fact; and, bitterly +and deeply, as he gazed on this melancholy proof of the man's sacrifice +of life to his interest, did he repent that he had made him the +companion of his adventure, or that, having done so, he had not either +brought him away altogether, or sent him instantly back to the fort. +Commiseration for the fate of the unfortunate Donellan naturally +induced a spirit of personal hostility towards his destroyer; and it +was with feelings strongly excited in favour of him whom he now +discovered to be the brother of his guide, that he saw him spring +fiercely to the attack of his gigantic opponent. There was an activity +about the young chief amply commensurate with the greater physical +power of his adversary; while the manner in which he wielded his +tomahawk, proved him to be any thing but the novice in the use of the +formidable weapon the other had represented him. It was with a feeling +of disappointment, therefore, which the peculiarity of his own position +could not overcome, he saw Ponteac interpose himself between the +parties. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, however, a subject of deeper and more absorbing interest +than even the fate of his unhappy follower engrossed every faculty of +his mind, and riveted both eye and ear in painful tension to the +aperture in his hiding-place. The chiefs had resumed their places, and +the silence of a few minutes had succeeded to the fierce affray of the +warriors, when Ponteac, in a calm and deliberate voice, proceeded to +state he had summoned all the heads of the nations together, to hear a +plan he had to offer for the reduction of the last remaining forts of +their enemies, Michilimackinac and Detroit. He pointed out the +tediousness of the warfare in which they were engaged; the desertion of +the hunting-grounds by their warriors; and their consequent deficiency +in all those articles of European traffic which they were formerly in +the habit of receiving in exchange for their furs. He dwelt on the +beneficial results that would accrue to them all in the event of the +reduction of those two important fortresses; since, in that case, they +would be enabled to make such terms with the English as would secure to +them considerable advantages; while, instead of being treated with the +indignity of a conquered people, they would be enabled to command +respect from the imposing attitude this final crowning of their +successes would enable them to assume. He stated that the prudence and +vigilance of the commanders of these two unreduced fortresses were +likely long to baffle, as had hitherto been the case, every open +attempt at their capture; and admitted he had little expectation of +terrifying them into a surrender by the same artifice that had +succeeded with the forts on the Ohio and the lower lakes. The plan, +however, which he had to propose, was one he felt assured would be +attended with success. He would disclose that plan, and the great +chiefs should give it the advantage of their deliberation. +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar was on the rack. The chief had gradually dropped +his voice as he explained his plan, until at length it became so low, +that undistinguishable sounds alone reached the ear of the excited +officer. For a moment he despaired of making himself fully master of +the important secret; but in the course of the deliberation that +ensued, the blanks left unsupplied in the discourse of the leader were +abundantly filled up. It was what the reader has already seen. The +necessities of the Indians were to be urged as a motive for their being +tired of hostilities. A peace was to be solicited; a council held; a +ball-playing among the warriors proposed, as a mark of their own +sincerity and confidence during that council; and when the garrison, +lulled into security, should be thrown entirely off their guard, the +warriors were to seize their guns and tomahawks, with which (the former +cut short, for the better concealment of their purpose) their women +would be provided, rush in, under pretext of regaining their lost ball, +when a universal massacre of men, women, and children was to ensue, +until nothing wearing the garb of a Saganaw should be left. +</P> + +<P> +It would be tedious to follow the chief through all the minor +ramifications of his subtle plan. Suffice it they were of a nature to +throw the most wary off his guard; and so admirably arranged was every +part, so certain did it appear their enemies must give into the snare, +that the oldest chiefs testified their approbation with a vivacity of +manner and expression little wont to characterize the deliberative +meetings of these reserved people. But deepest of all was the approval +of the tall warrior who had so recently arrived. To him had the +discourse of the leader been principally directed, as one whose counsel +and experience were especially wanting to confirm him in his purpose. +He was the last who spoke; but, when he did, it was with a force—an +energy—that must have sunk every objection, even if the plan had not +been so perfect and unexceptionable in its concoction as to have +precluded a possibility of all negative argument. During the delivery +of his animated speech, his swarthy countenance kindled into fierce and +rapidly varying expression. A thousand dark and complicated passions +evidently struggled at his heart; and as he dwelt leisurely and +emphatically on the sacrifice of human life that must inevitably attend +the adoption of the proposed measure, his eye grew larger, his chest +expanded, nay, his very nostril appeared to dilate with unfathomably +guileful exultation. Captain de Haldimar thought he had never gazed on +any thing wearing the human shape half so atrociously savage. +</P> + +<P> +Long before the council was terminated, the inferior warriors, who had +been so suddenly aroused from their slumbering attitudes, had again +retired to their tents, and stretched their lazy length before the +embers of their fires. The weary chiefs now prepared to follow their +example. They emptied the ashes from the bowls of their pipe-tomahawks, +replaced them carefully at their side, rose, and retired to their +respective tents. Ponteac and the tall warrior alone remained. For a +time they conversed earnestly together. The former listened attentively +to some observations made to him by his companion, in the course of +which, the words "chief of the Saganaw—fort—spy—enemy," and two or +three others equally unconnected, were alone audible to the ear of him +who so attentively sought to catch the slightest sound. He then thrust +his hand under his hunting-coat, and, as if in confirmation of what he +had been stating, exhibited a coil of rope and the glossy boot of an +English officer. Ponteac uttered one of his sharp ejaculating "ughs!" +and then rising quickly from his seat, followed by his companion, soon +disappeared in the heart of the encampment. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0208"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<P> +How shall we attempt to paint all that passed through the mind of +Captain de Haldimar during this important conference of the fierce +chiefs?—where find language to convey the cold and thrilling horror +with which he listened to the calm discussion of a plan, the object of +which was the massacre, not only of a host of beings endeared to him by +long communionship of service, but of those who were wedded to his +heart by the dearer ties of affection and kindred? As Ponteac had +justly observed, the English garrisons, strong in their own defences, +were little likely to be speedily reduced, while their enemies confined +themselves to overt acts of hostility; but, against their insidious +professions of amity who could oppose a sufficient caution? His father, +the young officer was aware, had all along manifested a spirit of +conciliation towards the Indians, which, if followed up by the +government generally, must have had the effect of preventing the cruel +and sanguinary war that had so recently desolated this remote part of +the British possessions. How likely, therefore, was it, having this +object always in view, he should give in to the present wily stratagem, +where such plausible motives for the abandonment of their hostile +purpose were urged by the perfidious chiefs! From the few hasty hints +already given him by his guide,—that kind being, who evidently sought +to be the saviour of the devoted garrisons,—he had gathered that a +deep and artful plan was to be submitted to the chiefs by their leader; +but little did he imagine it was of the finished nature it now proved +to be. Any other than the present attempt, the vigilance and prudence +of his experienced father, he felt, would have rendered abortive; but +there was so much speciousness in the pleas that were to be advanced in +furtherance of their assumed object, he could not but admit the almost +certainty of their influence, even on him. +</P> + +<P> +Sick and discouraged as he was at the horrible perspective thus forced +on his mental view, the young officer had not, for some moments, +presence of mind to reflect that the danger of the garrison existed +only so long as he should be absent from it. At length, however, the +cheering recollection came, and with it the mantling rush of blood, to +his faint heart. But, short was the consoling hope: again he felt +dismay in every fibre of his frame; for he now reflected, that although +his opportune discovery of the meditated scheme would save one fort, +there was no guardian angel to extend, as in this instance, its +protecting influence to the other; and within that other there breathed +those who were dearer far to him than his own existence;—beings, whose +lives were far more precious to him than any even in the garrison of +which he was a member. His sister Clara, whom he loved with a love +little inferior to that of his younger brother; and one, even more +dearly loved than Clara,—Madeline de Haldimar, his cousin and +affianced bride,—were both inmates of Michilimackinac, which was +commanded by the father of the latter, a major in the —— regiment. +With Madeline de Haldimar he had long since exchanged his vows of +affection; and their nuptials, which were to have taken place about the +period when the present war broke out, had only been suspended because +all communication between the two posts had been entirely cut off by +the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar had none of the natural weakness and timidity of +character which belonged to the gentler and more sensitive Charles. +Sanguine and full of enterprise, he seldom met evils half way; but when +they did come, he sought to master them by the firmness and +collectedness with which he opposed his mind to their infliction. If +his heart was now racked with the most acute suffering—his reason +incapacitated from exercising its calm deliberative power, the seeming +contradiction arose not from any deficiency in his character, but was +attributable wholly to the extraordinary circumstances of the moment. +</P> + +<P> +It was a part of the profound plan of the Ottawa chief, that it should +be essayed on the two forts on the same day; and it was a suggestion of +the murderer of poor Donellan, that a parley should be obtained, +through the medium of a white flag, the nature of which he explained to +them, as it was understood among their enemies. If invited to the +council, then they were to enter, or not, as circumstances might +induce; but, in any case, they were to go unprovided with the pipe of +peace, since this could not be smoked without violating every thing +held most sacred among themselves. The red, or war-pipe, was to be +substituted as if by accident; and, for the success of the deception, +they were to presume on the ignorance of their enemies. This, however, +was not important, since the period of their first parley was to be the +moment chosen for the arrangement of a future council, and the proposal +of a ball-playing upon the common. Three days were to be named as the +interval between the first conference of Ponteac with the governor and +the definitive council which was to ensue; during which, however, it +was so arranged, that, before the lip of a red skin should touch the +pipe of peace, the ball-players should rush in and massacre the +unprepared soldiery, while the chiefs despatched the officers in +council. +</P> + +<P> +It was the proximity of the period allotted for the execution of their +cruel scheme that mainly contributed to the dismay of Captain de +Haldimar. The very next day was appointed for carrying into effect the +first part of the Indian plan: and how was it possible that a +messenger, even admitting he should elude the vigilance of the enemy, +could reach the distant post of Michilimackinac within the short period +on which hung the destiny of that devoted fortress. In the midst of the +confused and distracting images that now crowded on his brain, came at +length one thought, redolent with the brightest colourings of hope. On +his return to the garrison, the treachery of the Indians being made +known, the governor might so far, and with a view of gaining time, give +in to the plan of his enemies, as to obtain such delay as would afford +the chance of communication between the forts. The attempt, on the part +of those who should be selected for this purpose, would, it is true, be +a desperate one: still it must be made; and, with such incentives to +exertion as he had, how willingly would he propose his own services! +</P> + +<P> +The more he dwelt on this mode of defeating the subtle designs of the +enemy, the more practicable did it appear. Of his own safe return to +the fort he entertained not a doubt; for he knew and relied on the +Indian woman, who was bound to him by a tie of gratitude, which her +conduct that night evidently denoted to be superior even to the +interests of her race. Moreover, as he had approached the encampment +unnoticed while the chiefs were yet awake to every thing around them, +how little probability was there of his return being detected while all +lay wrapped in the most profound repose. It is true that, for a moment, +his confidence deserted him as he recurred to the earnest dialogue of +the two Indians, and the sudden display of the rope and boot, the +latter of which articles he had at once recognised to be one of those +he had so recently worn; but his apprehensions on that score were again +speedily set to rest, when he reflected, had any suspicion existed in +the minds of these men that an enemy was lurking near them, a general +alarm would have been spread, and hundreds of warriors despatched to +scour the forest. +</P> + +<P> +The night was now rapidly waning away, and already the cold damp air of +an autumnal morning was beginning to make itself felt. More than half +an hour had elapsed since the departure of Ponteac and his companion, +and yet Oucanasta came not. With a sense of the approach of day came +new and discouraging thoughts, and, for some minutes, the mind of the +young officer became petrified with horror, as he reflected on the bare +possibility of his escape being intercepted. The more he lingered on +this apprehension, the more bewildered were his ideas; and already, in +horrible perspective, he beheld the destruction of his nearest and +dearest friends, and the host of those who were humbler followers, and +partakers in the same destiny. Absolutely terrified with the misgivings +of his own heart, he, in the wildness and unconnectedness of his +purpose, now resolved to make the attempt to return alone, although he +knew not even the situation of the path he had so recently quitted. He +had actually moved a pace forward on his desperate enterprise, when he +felt a band touching the extended arm with which he groped to find the +entrance to his hiding-place. The unexpected collision sent a cold +shudder through his frame; and such was the excitement to which he had +worked himself up, it was not without difficulty he suppressed an +exclamation, that must inevitably have sealed his doom. The soft tones +of Oucanasta's voice re-assured him. +</P> + +<P> +"The day will soon dawn," she whispered; "the Saganaw must go." +</P> + +<P> +With the return of hope came the sense of all he owed to the +devotedness of this kind woman. He grasped the hand that still lingered +on his arm, pressed it affectionately in his own, and then placed it in +silence on his throbbing heart. The breathing of Oucanasta became +deeper, and the young officer fancied he could feel her trembling with +agitation. Again, however, and in a tone of more subdued expression, +she whispered that he must go. +</P> + +<P> +There was little urging necessary to induce a prompt compliance with +the hint. Cautiously emerging from his concealment, Captain de Haldimar +now followed close in the rear of his guide, who took the same circuit +of the forest to reach the path that led towards the fort. This they +speedily gained, and then pursued their course in silence, until they +at length arrived at the log where the exchange of mocassins had been +made. +</P> + +<P> +"Here the Saganaw may take breath," she observed, as she seated herself +on the fallen tree; "the sleep of the red skin is sound, and there is +no one upon the path but Oucanasta." +</P> + +<P> +Anxious as he felt to secure his return to the fort, there was an +implied solicitation in the tones of her to whom he owed so much, that +prevented Captain de Haldimar from offering an objection, which he +feared might be construed into slight. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment or two the Indian remained with her arms folded, and her +head bent over her chest; and then, in a low, deep, but tremulous +voice, observed,— +</P> + +<P> +"When the Saganaw saved Oucanasta from perishing in the angry waters, +there was a girl of the pale faces with him, whose skin was like the +snows of the Canadian winter, and whose hair was black like the fur of +the squirrel. Oucanasta saw," she pursued, dropping her voice yet +lower, "that the Saganaw was loved by the pale girl, and her own heart +was very sick, for the Saganaw had saved her life, and she loved him +too. But she knew she was very foolish, and that an Indian girl could +never be the wife of a handsome chief of the Saganaw; and she prayed to +the Great Spirit of the red skins to give her strength to overcome her +feelings; but the Great Spirit was angry with her, and would not hear +her." She paused a moment, and then abruptly demanded, "Where is that +pale girl now?" +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar had often been rallied, not only by his +brother-officers, but even by his sister and Madeline de Haldimar +herself, on the conquest he had evidently made of the heart of this +Indian girl. The event to which she had alluded had taken place several +months previous to the breaking out of hostilities. Oucanasta was +directing her frail bark, one evening, along the shores of the Detroit, +when one of those sudden gusts of wind, so frequent in these countries, +upset the canoe, and left its pilot struggling amid the waves. Captain +de Haldimar, who happened to be on the bank at the moment with his +sister and cousin, was an eye-witness of her danger, and instantly flew +down the steep to her assistance. Being an excellent swimmer, he was +not long in gaining the spot, where, exhausted with the exertion she +had made, and encumbered with her awkward machecoti, the poor girl was +already on the point of perishing. But for his timely assistance, +indeed, she must have sunk to the bottom; and, since that period, the +grateful being had been remarked for the strong but unexpressed +attachment she felt for her deliverer. This, however, was the first +moment Captain de Haldimar became acquainted with the extent of +feelings, the avowal of which not a little startled and surprised, and +even annoyed him. The last question, however, suggested a thought that +kindled every fibre of his being into expectancy,—Oucanasta might be +the saviour of those he loved; and he felt that, if time were but +afforded her, she would. He rose from the log, dropped on one knee +before the Indian, seized both her hands with eagerness, and then in +tones of earnest supplication whispered,— +</P> + +<P> +"Oucanasta is right: the pale girl with the skin like snow, and hair +like the fur of the squirrel, is the bride of the Saganaw. Long before +he saved the life of Oucanasta, he knew and loved that pale girl. She +is dearer to the Saganaw than his own blood; but she is in the fort +beyond the great lake, and the tomahawks of the red skins will destroy +her; for the warriors of that fort have no one to tell them of their +danger. What says the red girl? will she go and save the lives of the +sister and the wife of the Saganaw." +</P> + +<P> +The breathing of the Indian became deeper; and Captain de Haldimar +fancied she sighed heavily, as she replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"Oucanasta is but a weak woman, and her feet are not swift like those +of a runner among the red skins; but what the Saganaw asks, for his +sake she will try. When she has seen him safe to his own fort, she will +go and prepare herself for the journey. The pale girl shall lay her +head on the bosom of the Saganaw, and Oucanasta will try to rejoice in +her happiness." +</P> + +<P> +In the fervour of his gratitude, the young officer caught the drooping +form of the generous Indian wildly to his heart; his lips pressed hers, +and during the kiss that followed, the heart of the latter bounded and +throbbed, as if it would have passed from her own into the bosom of her +companion. +</P> + +<P> +Never was a kiss less premeditated, less unchaste. Gratitude, not +passion, had called it forth; and had Madeline de Haldimar been near at +the moment, the feeling that had impelled the seeming infidelity to +herself would have been regarded as an additional claim on her +affection. On the whole, however, it was a most unfortunate and +ill-timed kiss, and, as is often the case under such circumstances, led +to the downfall of the woman. In the vivacity of his embrace, Captain +de Haldimar had drawn his guide so far forward upon the log, that she +lost her balance, and fell with a heavy and reverberating crash among +the leaves and dried sticks that were strewed thickly around. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely a second elapsed when the forest was alive with human yells, +that fell achingly on the ears of both; and bounding warriors were +heard on every hand, rapidly dividing the dense underwood they +encountered in their pursuit. +</P> + +<P> +Quick as thought the Indian had regained her feet. She grasped the hand +of her companion; and hurrying, though not without caution, along the +path, again stood on the brow of the ravine through which they had +previously passed. +</P> + +<P> +"The Saganaw must go alone," she whispered. "The red skins are close +upon our trail, but they will find only an Indian woman, when they +expect a pale face. Oucanasta will save her friend." +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar did as he was desired. Clinging to the bushes that +lined the face of the precipitous descent, he managed once more to gain +the bed of the ravine. For a moment he paused to listen to the sounds +of his pursuers, whose footsteps were now audible on the eminence he +had just quitted; and then, gathering himself up for the leap that was +to enable him to clear the rivulet, he threw himself heavily forward. +His feet alighted upon an elevated and yielding substance, that gave +way with a crashing sound that echoed far and near throughout the +forest, and he felt himself secured as if in a trap. Although +despairing of escape, he groped with his hands to discover what it was +that thus detained him, and found he had fallen through a bark canoe, +the bottom of which had been turned upwards. The heart of the fugitive +now sank within him: there could be no doubt that his retreat was +intercepted. The canoe had been placed there since he last passed +through the ravine: and it was evident, from the close and triumphant +yell that followed the rending of the frail bark, such a result had +been anticipated. +</P> + +<P> +Stunned as he was by the terrific cries of the savages, and confused as +were his ideas, Captain de Haldimar had still presence of mind to +perceive the path itself offered him no further security. He therefore +quitted it altogether, and struck, in an oblique direction, up the +opposite face of the ravine. Scarcely had he gone twenty yards, when he +heard the voices of several Indians conversing earnestly near the canoe +he had just quitted; and presently afterwards he could distinctly hear +them ascending the opposite brow of the ravine by the path he recently +congratulated himself on having abandoned. To advance or to recede was +now equally impracticable; for, on every side, he was begirt by +enemies, into whose hands a single false step must inevitably betray +him. What would he not have given for the presence of Oucanasta, who +was so capable of advising him in this difficulty! but, from the moment +of his descending into the ravine, he had utterly lost sight of her. +</P> + +<P> +The spot on which he now rested was covered with thick brushwood, +closely interwoven at their tops, but affording sufficient space +beneath for a temporary close concealment; so that, unless some Indian +should touch him with his foot, there was little seeming probability of +his being discovered by the eye. Under this he crept, and lay, +breathless and motionless, with his head raised from the ground, and +his ear on the stretch for the slightest noise. For several minutes he +remained in this position, vainly seeking to catch the sound of a +voice, or the fall of a footstep; but the most deathlike silence had +succeeded to the fierce yellings that had so recently rent the forest. +At times he fancied he could distinguish faint noises in the direction +of the encampment; and so certain was he of this, he at length came to +the conclusion that the Indians, either baffled in their search, had +relinquished the pursuit, or, having encountered Oucanasta, had been +thrown on a different scent. His first intention had been to lie +concealed until the following night, when the warriors, no longer on +the alert, should leave the path once more open to him; but now that +the conviction of their return was strong on his mind, he changed his +determination, resolving to make the best of his way to the fort with +the aid of the approaching dawn. With this view he partly withdrew his +body from beneath its canopy of underwood; but, scarcely had he done +so, when a hundred tongues, like the baying of so many blood-hounds, +again rent the air with their wild cries, which seemed to rise up from +the very bowels of the earth, and close to the appalled ear of the +young officer. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely conscious of what he did, Captain de Haldimar grasped one of +his pistols, for he fancied he felt the hot breathing of human life +upon his cheek. With a sickly sensation of fear, he turned to satisfy +himself whether it was not an illusion of his heated imagination. What, +however, was his dismay, when he beheld bending over him a dark and +heavy form, the outline of which alone was distinguishable in the deep +gloom in which the ravine remained enveloped! Desperation was in the +heart of the excited officer: he cocked his pistol; but scarcely had +the sharp ticking sound floated on the air, when he felt a powerful +hand upon his chest; and, with as much facility as if he had been a +child, was he raised by that invisible hand to his feet. A dozen +warriors now sprang to the assistance of their comrade, when the whole, +having disarmed and bound their prisoner, led him back in triumph to +their encampment. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0209"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<P> +The fires of the Indians were nearly now extinct; but the faint light +of the fast dawning day threw a ghastly, sickly, hue over the +countenances of the savages, which rendered them even more terrific in +their war paint. The chiefs grouped themselves immediately around their +prisoner, while the inferior warriors, forming an outer circle, stood +leaning their dark forms upon their rifles, and following, with keen +and watchful eye, every movement of their captive. Hitherto the +unfortunate officer had been too much engrossed by his despair to pay +any immediate attention to the individual who had first discovered and +seized him. It was sufficient for him to know all hope of the safety of +the garrison had perished with his captivity: and, with that +recklessness of life which often springs from the very consciousness of +inability to preserve it, he now sullenly awaited the death which he +expected at each moment would be inflicted. Suddenly his ear was +startled by an interrogatory, in English, from one who stood behind him. +</P> + +<P> +With a movement of surprise, Captain de Haldimar turned to examine his +questioner. It was the dark and ferocious warrior who had exhibited the +scalp of his ill-fated servant. For a moment the officer fixed his eyes +firmly and unshrinkingly on those of the savage, seeking to reconcile +the contradiction that existed between his dress and features and the +purity of the English he had just spoken. The other saw his drift, and, +impatient of the scrutiny, again repeated, as he fiercely pulled the +strong leathern thong by which the prisoner now found himself secured +to his girdle,— +</P> + +<P> +"Who and what are you?—whence come you?—and for what purpose are you +here?" Then, as if struck by some sudden recollection, he laid his hand +upon the shoulder of his victim; and, while his eye grew upon his +features, he pursued, in a tone of vehemence,—"Ha! by Heaven, I should +know that face!—the cursed lines of the blood of De Haldimar are +stamped upon that brow! But stay, one proof and I am satisfied." While +he yet spoke he dashed the menial hat of his captive to the earth, put +aside his hair, and then, with fiendish exultation, pursued,—"It is +even so. Do you recollect the battle of the plains of Abraham, Captain +de Haldimar?—Recollect you the French officer who aimed so desperately +at your life, and whose object was defeated by a soldier of your +regiment? I am that officer: my victim escaped me then, but not for +ever. The hour of vengeance is nearly now arrived, and your capture is +the pledge of my success. Hark, how the death-cry of all his hated race +will ring in madness on your father's ear!" +</P> + +<P> +Amazement, stupefaction, and horror, filled the mind of the wretched +officer at this extraordinary declaration. He perfectly recollected +that the individual who had evinced so much personal hostility on the +occasion alluded to, was indeed a man wearing the French uniform, +although at the head of a band of savages, and of a stature and +strength similar to those of him who now so fiercely avowed himself the +bitter and deadly foe of all his race. If this were so, and his tone +and language left little room for doubt, the doom of the ill-fated +garrison was indeed irrevocably sealed. This mysterious enemy evidently +possessed great influence in the councils of the Indians; and while the +hot breath of his hatred continued to fan the flame of fierce hostility +that had been kindled in the bosom of Ponteac, whose particular friend +he appeared to be, there would be no end to the atrocities that must +follow. Great, however, as was the dismay of Captain de Haldimar, who, +exhausted with the adventures of the night, presented a ghastly image +of anxiety and fatigue, it was impossible for him to repress the +feelings of indignation with which the language of this fierce man had +inspired him. +</P> + +<P> +"If you are in reality a French officer," he said, "and not an +Englishman, as your accent would denote, the sentiments you have now +avowed may well justify the belief, that you have been driven with +ignominy from a service which your presence must eternally have +disgraced. There is no country in Europe that would willingly claim you +for its subject. Nay, even the savage race, with whom you are now +connected, would, if apprised of your true nature, spurn you as a thing +unworthy to herd even with their wolf-dogs." +</P> + +<P> +A fierce sardonic laugh burst from the lips of the warrior, but this +was so mingled with rage as to give an almost devilish expression to +his features. +</P> + +<P> +"Ignominy—ignominy!" he repeated, while his right hand played +convulsively with the handle of his tomahawk; "is it for a De Haldimar +to taunt me with ignominy? Fool!" he pursued, after a momentary pause, +"you have sealed your doom." Then abruptly quitting the handle of his +weapon, he thrust his hand into his bosom, and again drawing forth the +reeking scalp of Donellan, he dashed it furiously in the face of his +prisoner. "Not two hours since," he exclaimed, "I cheered myself with +the thought that the scalp of a De Haldimar was in my pouch. Now, +indeed, do I glory in my mistake. The torture will be a more fitting +death for you." +</P> + +<P> +Had an arm of the insulted soldier been at liberty, the offence would +not have gone unavenged even there; for such was the desperation of his +heart, that he felt he could have hugged the death struggle with his +insolent captor, notwithstanding the fearful odds, nor quitted him +until one or both should have paid the debt of fierce enmity with life. +As it was he could only betray, by his flashing eye, excited look, and +the impatient play of his foot upon the ground, the deep indignation +that consumed his heart. +</P> + +<P> +The tall savage exulted in the mortification he had awakened, and as +his eye glanced insolently from head to foot along his enemy, its +expression told how much he laughed at the impotence of his anger. +Suddenly, however, a change passed over his features. The mocassin of +the officer had evidently attracted his attention, and he now demanded, +in a more serious and imperative tone,— +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! what means this disguise? Who is the wretch whom I have slain, +mistaking him for a nobler victim; and how comes it that an officer of +the English garrison appears here in the garb of a servant? By heaven, +it is so! you are come as a spy into the camp of the Indians to steal +away the councils of the chiefs. Speak, what have you heard?" +</P> + +<P> +With these questions returned the calm and self-possession of the +officer. He at once saw the importance of his answer, on which hung not +merely his own last faint chance of safety, but that also of his +generous deliverer. Struggling to subdue the disgust which he felt at +holding converse with this atrocious monster, he asked in turn,— +</P> + +<P> +"Am I then the only one whom the warriors have overtaken in their +pursuit?" +</P> + +<P> +"There was a woman, the sister of that boy," and he pointed +contemptuously to the young chief who had so recently assailed him, and +who now, in common with his followers, stood impatiently listening to a +colloquy that was unintelligible to all. "Speak truly, was SHE not the +traitress who conducted you here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Had you found me here," returned the officer, with difficulty +repressing his feelings, "there might have been some ground for the +assertion; but surely the councils of the chiefs could not be overheard +at the distant point at which you discovered me." +</P> + +<P> +"Why then were you there in this disguise?—and who is he," again +holding up the bloody scalp, "whom I have despoiled of this?" +</P> + +<P> +"There are few of the Ottawa Indians," returned Captain de Haldimar, +"who are ignorant I once saved that young woman's life. Is it then so +very extraordinary an attachment should have been the consequence? The +man whom you slew was my servant. I had brought him out with me for +protection during my interview with the woman, and I exchanged my +uniform with him for the same purpose. There is nothing in this, +however, to warrant the supposition of my being a spy." +</P> + +<P> +During the delivery of these more than equivocal sentences, which, +however, he felt were fully justified by circumstances, the young +officer had struggled to appear calm and confident; but, despite of his +exertions, his consciousness caused his cheek to colour, and his eye to +twinkle, beneath the searching glance of his ferocious enemy. The +latter thrust his hand into his chest, and slowly drew forth the rope +he had previously exhibited to Ponteac. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think me a fool, Captain de Haldimar," he observed, sneeringly, +"that you expect so paltry a tale to be palmed successfully on my +understanding? An English officer is not very likely to run the risk of +breaking his neck by having recourse to such a means of exit from a +besieged garrison, merely to intrigue with an Indian woman, when there +are plenty of soldiers' wives within, and that too at an hour when he +knows the scouts of his enemies are prowling in the neighbourhood. +Captain de Haldimar," he concluded, slowly and deliberately, "you have +lied." +</P> + +<P> +Despite of the last insult, his prisoner remained calm. The very +observation that had just been made afforded him a final hope of +exculpation, which, if it benefited not himself, might still be of +service to the generous Oucanasta. +</P> + +<P> +"The onus of such language," he observed coolly and with dignity, +"falls not on him to whom it is addressed, but on him who utters it. +Yet one who professes to have been himself a soldier, must see in this +very circumstance a proof of my innocence. Had I been sent out as a spy +to reconnoitre the movements, and to overhear the councils of our +enemies, the gate would have been open for my egress; but that rope is +in itself an evidence I must have stolen forth unknown to the garrison." +</P> + +<P> +Whether it was that the warrior had his own particular reasons for +attaching truth to this statement, or that he merely pretended to do +so, Captain de Haldimar saw with secret satisfaction his last argument +was conclusive. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, be it so," retorted the savage, while a ferocious smile passed +over his swarthy features; "but, whether you have been here as a spy, +or have merely ventured out in prosecution of an intrigue, it matters +not. Before the sun has travelled far in the meridian you die; and the +tomahawk of your father's deadly foe—of—of—of Wacousta, as I am +called, shall be the first to drink your blood." +</P> + +<P> +The officer made a final effort at mercy. "Who or what you are, or +whence your hatred of my family, I know not," he said; "but surely I +have never injured you: wherefore, then, this insatiable thirst for my +blood? If you are, indeed, a Christian and a soldier, let your heart be +touched with humanity, and procure my restoration to my friends. You +once attempted my life in honourable combat, why not wait, then, until +a fitting opportunity shall give not a bound and defenceless victim to +your steel, but one whose resistance may render him a conquest worthy +of your arm?" +</P> + +<P> +"What! and be balked of the chance of my just revenge? Hear me, Captain +de Haldimar," he pursued, in that low, quick, deep tone that told all +the strong excitement of his heart:—"I have, it is true, no particular +enmity to yourself, further than that you are a De Haldimar; but hell +does not supply a feeling half so bitter as my enmity to your proud +father; and months, nay years, have I passed in the hope of such an +hour as this. For this have I forsworn my race, and become—what you +now behold me—a savage both in garb and character. But this matters +not," he continued, fiercely and impatiently, "your doom is sealed; and +before another sun has risen, your stern father's gaze shall be blasted +with the sight of the mangled carcase of his first born. Ha! ha! ha!" +and he laughed low and exultingly; "even now I think I see him +withering, if heart so hard can wither, beneath this proof of my +undying hate." +</P> + +<P> +"Fiend!—monster!—devil!" exclaimed the excited officer, now losing +sight of all considerations of prudence in the deep horror inspired by +his captor:—"Kill me—torture me—commit any cruelty on me, if such be +your savage will; but outrage not humanity by the fulfilment of your +last disgusting threat. Suffer not a father's heart to be agonised—a +father's eye to be blasted—with a view of the mangled remains of him +to whom he has given life." +</P> + +<P> +Again the savage rudely pulled the thong that bound his prisoner to his +girdle, and removing his tomahawk from his belt, and holding its +sullied point close under the eye of the former, exclaimed, as he bent +eagerly over him,— +</P> + +<P> +"See you this, Captain de Haldimar? At the still hour of midnight, +while you had abandoned your guard to revel in the arms of your Indian +beauty, I stole into the fort by means of the same rope that you had +used in quitting it. Unseen by the sentinels I gained your father's +apartment. It was the first time we had met for twenty years; and I do +believe that had the very devil presented himself in my place, he would +have been received with fewer marks of horror. Oh, how that proud man's +eye twinkled beneath this glittering blade! He attempted to call out, +but my look paralysed his tongue, and cold drops of sweat stole rapidly +down his brow and cheek. Then it was that my seared heart once more +beat with the intoxication of triumph. Your father was alone and +unarmed, and throughout the fort not a sound was to be heard, save the +distant tread of the sentinels. I could have laid him dead, at my feet +at a single blow, and yet have secured my retreat. But no, that was not +my object. I came to taunt him with the promise of my revenge—to tell +him the hour of my triumph was approaching fast; and, ha!" he +concluded, laughing hideously as he passed his large rude hand through +the wavy hair of the now uncovered officer, "this is, indeed, a fair +and unexpected first earnest of the full redemption of my pledge. +No—no!" he continued, as if talking to himself, "he must not die. +Tantulus-like, he shall have death ever apparently within his grasp; +but, until all his race have perished before his eyes, he shall not +attain it." +</P> + +<P> +Hitherto the Indians had preserved an attitude of calm, listening to +the interrogatories put to the prisoner with that wonder and curiosity +with which a savage people hear a language different from their own; +and marking the several emotions that were elicited in the course of +the animated colloquy of the pale faces. Gradually, however, they +became impatient under its duration; and many of them, in the +excitement produced by the fierce manner of him who was called +Wacousta, fixed their dark eyes upon the captive, while they grasped +the handles of their tomahawks, as if they would have disputed with the +former the privilege of dying his weapon first in his blood. When they +saw the warrior hold up his menacing blade to the eye of his victim, +while he passed his hand through the redundant hair, they at once +inferred the sacrifice was about to be completed, and rushing furiously +forward, they bounded, and leaped, and yelled, and brandished their own +weapons in the most appalling manner. +</P> + +<P> +Already had the unhappy officer given himself self up for lost; fifty +bright tomahawks were playing about his head at the same instant, and +death—that death which is never without terror to the young, however +brave they may be in the hour of generous conflict—seemed to have +arrived at last. He raised his eyes to Heaven, committing his soul to +his God in the same silent prayer that he offered up for the +preservation of his friends and comrades; and then bending them upon +the earth, summoned all his collectedness and courage to sustain him +through the trial. At the very moment, however when he expected to feel +the crashing steel within his brain, he felt himself again violently +pulled by the thong that secured his hands. In the next instant he was +pressed close to the chest of his vast enemy, who, with one arm +encircling his prisoner, and the other brandishing his fierce blade in +rapid evolutions round his head, kept the yelling band at bay, with the +evident unshaken determination to maintain his sole and acknowledged +right to the disposal of his captive. +</P> + +<P> +For several moments the event appeared doubtful; but, notwithstanding +his extreme agility in the use of a weapon, in the management of which +he evinced all the dexterity of the most practised native, the odds +were fearfully against Wacousta; and while his flashing eye and +swelling chest betrayed his purpose rather to perish himself than +suffer the infringement of his claim, it was evident that numbers must, +in the end, prevail against him. On an appeal to Ponteac, however, of +which he now suddenly bethought himself, the authority of the latter +was successfully exerted, and he was again left in the full and +undisturbed possession of his prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +A low and earnest conversation now ensued among the chiefs, in which, +as before, Wacousta bore a principal part. When this was terminated, +several Indians approached the unhappy officer, and unfastening the +thong with which his hands were firmly and even painfully girt, +deprived him both of coat, waistcoat, and shirt. He was then bound a +second time in the same manner, his body besmeared with paint, and his +head so disguised as to give him the caricature semblance of an Indian +warrior. When these preparations were completed, he was led to the tree +in which he had been previously concealed, and there firmly secured. +Meanwhile Wacousta, at the head of a numerous band of warriors, had +departed once more in the direction of the fort. +</P> + +<P> +With the rising of the sun now vanished all traces of the mist that had +fallen since the early hours of morning, leaving the unfortunate +officer ample leisure to survey the difficulties of his position. He +had fancied, from the course taken by his guide the previous night, +that the plain or oasis, as we have elsewhere termed it, lay in the +very heart of the forest; but that route now proved to have been +circuitous. The tree to which he was bound was one of a slight belt, +separating the encampment from the open grounds which extended towards +the river, and which was so thin and scattered on that side as to leave +the clear silver waters of the Detroit visible at intervals. Oh, what +would he not have given, at that cheering sight, to have had his limbs +free, and his chance of life staked on the swiftness of his flight! +While he had imagined himself begirt by interminable forest, he felt as +one whose very thought to elude those who were, in some degree, the +deities of that wild scene, must be paralysed in its first conception. +But here was the vivifying, picture of civilised nature. Corn fields, +although trodden down and destroyed—dwelling houses, although burnt or +dilapidated—told of the existence of those who were of the same race +with himself; and notwithstanding these had perished even as he must +perish, still there was something in the aspect of the very ruins of +their habitations which, contrasted with the solemn gloom of the +forest, carried a momentary and indefinable consolation to his spirit. +Then there was the ripe and teeming orchard, and the low whitewashed +cabin of the Canadian peasant, to whom the offices of charity, and the +duties of humanity, were no strangers; and who, although the secret +enemies of his country, had no motive for personal hostility towards +himself. Then, on the river itself, even at that early hour, was to be +seen, fastened to the long stake driven into its bed, or secured by the +rude anchor of stone appended to a cable of twisted bark, the light +canoe or clumsy periagua of the peasant fisherman, who, ever and anon, +drew up from its deep bosom the shoal-loving pickerel or pike, or white +or black bass, or whatever other tenant of these waters might chance to +affix itself to the traitorous hook. It is true that his view of these +objects was only occasional and indistinct; but his intimate +acquaintance with the localities beyond brought every thing before +Captain de Haldimar's eye; and even while he sighed to think they were +for ever cut off from his reach, he already, in idea, followed the +course of flight he should pursue were the power but afforded him. +</P> + +<P> +From this train of painful and exciting thought the wretched captive +was aroused, by a faint but continued yelling in a distant part of the +forest, and in the direction that had been taken by Wacousta and his +warriors. Then, after a short interval, came the loud booming of the +cannon of the fort, carried on with a spirit and promptitude that told +of some pressing and dangerous emergency, and fainter afterwards the +sharp shrill reports of the rifles, bearing evidence the savages were +already in close collision with the garrison. Various were the +conjectures that passed rapidly through the mind of the young officer, +during a firing that had called almost every Indian in the encampment +away to the scene of action, save the two or three young Ottawas who +had been left to guard his own person, and who lay upon the sward near +him, with head erect and ear sharply set, listening to the startling +sounds of conflict. What the motive of the hurried departure of the +Indians was he knew not; but he had conjectured the object of the +fierce Wacousta was to possess himself of the uniform in which his +wretched servant was clothed, that no mistake might occur in his +identity, when its true owner should be exhibited in it, within view of +the fort, mangled and disfigured, in the manner that fierce and +mysterious man had already threatened. It was exceedingly probable the +body of Donellan had been mistaken for his own, and that in the anxiety +of his father to prevent the Indians from carrying it off, the cannon +had been directed to open upon them. But if this were the case, how +were the reports of the rifles, and the fierce yellings that continued, +save at intervals, to ring throughout the forest to be accounted for? +The bullets of the Indians evidently could not reach the fort, and they +were too wily, and attached too much value to their ammunition, to risk +a shot that was not certain of carrying a wound with it. For a moment +the fact itself flashed across his mind, and he attributed the fire of +small arms to the attack and defence of a party that had been sent out +for the purpose of securing the body, supposed to be his own; yet, if +so, again how was he to account for his not hearing the report of a +single musket? His ear was too well practised not to know the sharp +crack of the rifle from the heavy dull discharge of the musket, and as +yet the former only had been distinguishable, amid the intervals that +ensued between each sullen booming of the cannon. While this impression +continued on the mind of the anxious officer, he caught, with the +avidity of desperation, at the faint and improbable idea that his +companions might be able to penetrate to his place of concealment, and +procure his liberation; but when he found the firing, instead of +drawing nearer, was confined to the same spot, and even more fiercely +kept up by the Indians towards the close, he again gave way to his +despair, and resigning himself to his fate, no longer sought comfort in +vain speculation as to its cause. His ear now caught the report of the +last shell as it exploded, and then all was still and hushed, as if +what he had so recently heard was but a dream. +</P> + +<P> +The first intimation given him of the return of the savages was the +death howl, set up by the women within the encampment. Captain de +Haldimar turned his eyes, instinct with terror, towards the scene, and +beheld the warriors slowly issuing from the opposite side of the forest +into the plain, and bearing in silence the dead and stiffened forms of +those who had been cut down by the destructive fire from the fort. +Their mien was sullen and revengeful, and more than one dark and +gleaming eye did he encounter turned upon him, with an expression that +seemed to say a separate torture should avenge the death of each of +their fallen comrades. +</P> + +<P> +The early part of the morning wore away in preparation for the +interment of the slain. These were placed in rows under the council +shed, where they were attended by their female relatives, who composed +the features and confined the limbs, while the gloomy warriors dug, +within the limit of the encampment, rude graves, of a depth just +sufficient to receive the body. When these were completed, the dead +were deposited, with the usual superstitious ceremonies of these +people, in their several receptacles, after which a mound of earth was +thrown up over each, and the whole covered with round logs, so disposed +as to form a tomb of semicircular shape: at the head of each grave was +finally planted a pole, bearing various devices in paint, intended to +illustrate the warlike achievements of the defunct parties. +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar had followed the course of these proceedings with a +beating heart; for too plainly had he read in the dark and threatening +manner both of men and women, that the retribution about to be wreaked +upon himself would be terrible indeed. Much as he clung to life, and +bitterly as he mourned his early cutting off from the affections +hitherto identified with his existence, his wretchedness would have +been less, had he not been overwhelmed by the conviction that, with +him, must perish every chance of the safety of those, the bare +recollection of whom made the bitterness of death even more bitter. +Harrowing as were these reflections, he felt that immediate +destruction, since it could not be avoided, would be rather a blessing +than otherwise. But such, evidently, was not the purpose of his +relentless enemy. Every species of torment which his cruel invention +could supply would, he felt convinced, be exercised upon his frame; and +with this impression on his mind, it would have required sterner nerves +than his, not to have shrunk from the very anticipation of so dreadful +an ordeal. +</P> + +<P> +It was now noon, and yet no visible preparation was making for the +consummation of the sacrifice. This, Captain de Haldimar imputed to the +absence of the fierce Wacousta, whom he had not seen since the return +of the warriors from their skirmish. The momentary disappearance of +this extraordinary and ferocious man was, however, fraught with no +consolation to his unfortunate prisoner, who felt he was only engaged +in taking such measures as would render not only his destruction more +certain, but his preliminary sufferings more complicated and +protracted. While he was thus indulging in fruitless speculation as to +the motive for his absence, he fancied he heard the report of a rifle, +succeeded immediately afterwards by the war-whoop, at a considerable +distance, and in the direction of the river. In this impression he was +confirmed, by the sudden upstarting to their feet of the young Indians +to whose custody he had been committed, who now advanced to the outer +edge of the belt of forest, with the apparent object of obtaining a +more unconfined view of the open ground that lay beyond. The rapid +gliding of spectral forms from the interior of the encampment in the +same direction, denoted, moreover, that the Indians generally had +heard, and were attracted by the same sound. +</P> + +<P> +Presently afterwards, repeated "waughs!" and "Wacousta!—Wacousta!" +from those who had reached the extreme skirt of the forest, fell on the +dismayed ear of the young officer. It was evident, from the peculiar +tones in which these words were pronounced, that they beheld that +warrior approaching them with some communication of interest; and, sick +at heart, and filled with irrepressible dismay, Captain de Haldimar +felt his pulse to throb more violently as each moment brought his enemy +nearer to him. +</P> + +<P> +A startling interest was now created among the Indians; for, as the +savage warrior neared the forest, his lips pealed forth that peculiar +cry which is meant to announce some intelligence of alarm. Scarcely had +its echoes died away in the forest, when the whole of the warriors +rushed from the encampment towards the clearing. Directed by the sound, +Captain de Haldimar bent his eyes upon the thin skirt of wood that lay +immediately before him, and at intervals could see the towering form of +that vast warrior bounding, with incredible speed, up the sloping +ground that led from the town towards the forest. A ravine lay before +him; but this he cleared, with a prodigious effort, at a single leap; +and then, continuing his way up the slope, amid the low guttural +acclamations of the warriors at his extraordinary dexterity and +strength, finally gained the side of Ponteac, then leaning carelessly +against a tree at a short distance from the prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +A low and animated conversation now ensued between these two important +personages, which at moments assumed the character of violent +discussion. From what Captain de Haldimar could collect, the Ottawa +chief was severely reproving his friend for the inconsiderate ardour +which had led him that morning into collision with those whom it was +their object to lull into security by a careful avoidance of hostility, +and urging the possibility of their plan being defeated in consequence. +He moreover obstinately refused the pressing request of Wacousta, in +regard to some present enterprise which the latter had just suggested, +the precise nature of which, however, Captain de Haldimar could not +learn. Meanwhile, the rapid flitting of numerous forms to and from the +encampment, arrayed in all the fierce panoply of savage warfare, while +low exclamations of excitement occasionally caught his ear, led the +officer to infer, strange and unusual as such an occurrence was, that +either the detachment already engaged, or a second, was advancing on +their position. Still, this offered little chance of security for +himself; for more than once, during his long conference with Ponteac, +had the fierce Wacousta bent his eye in ferocious triumph on his +victim, as if he would have said,—"Come what will—whatever be the +result—you, at least, shall not escape me." Indeed, so confident did +the latter feel that the instant of attack would be the signal of his +own death, that, after the first momentary and instinctive cheering of +his spirit, he rather regretted the circumstance of their approach; or, +if he rejoiced at all, it was only because it afforded him the prospect +of immediate death, instead of being exposed to all the horror of a +lingering and agonising suffering from the torture. +</P> + +<P> +While the chiefs were yet earnestly conversing, the alarm cry, +previously uttered by Wacousta, was repeated, although in a low and +subdued tone, by several of the Indians who stood on the brow of the +eminence. Ponteac started suddenly to the same point; but Wacousta +continued for a moment or two rooted to the spot on which he stood, +with the air of one in doubt as to what course he should pursue. He +then abruptly raised his head, fixed his dark and menacing eye on his +captive, and was already in the act of approaching him, when the +earnest and repeated demands for his presence, by the Ottawa chief, +drew him once more to the outskirt of the wood. +</P> + +<P> +Again Captain de Haldimar breathed freely. The presence of that fierce +man had been a clog upon the vital functions of his heart; and, to be +relieved from it, even at a moment like the present, when far more +important interests might be supposed to occupy his mind, was a +gratification, of which not even the consciousness of impending death +could wholly deprive him. From the continued pressing of the Indians +towards one particular point in the clearing, he now conjectured, that, +from that point, the advance of the troops was visible. Anxious to +obtain even a momentary view of those whom he deemed himself fated +never more to mingle with in this life, he raised himself upon his +feet, and stretched his neck and bent his eager glance in the direction +by which Wacousta had approached; but, so closely were the dark +warriors grouped among the trees, he found it impossible. Once or +twice, however, he thought he could distinguish the gleaming of the +English bayonets in the bright sunshine, as they seemed to file off in +a parallel line with the ravine. Oh, how his generous heart throbbed at +that moment; and how ardently did he wish that he could have stood in +the position of the meanest soldier in those gallant ranks! Perhaps his +own brave and devoted grenadiers were of the number, burning with +enthusiasm to be led against the captors or destroyers of their +officer; and this thought added to his wretchedness still more. +</P> + +<P> +While the unfortunate prisoner, thus strongly excited, bent his whole +soul on the scene before him, he fancied he heard the approach of a +cautious footstep. He turned his head as well as his confined position +would admit, and beheld, close behind him, a dark Indian, whose eyes +alone were visible above the blanket in which his person was completely +enveloped. His right arm was uplifted, and the blade of a scalping +knife glittered in his hand. A cold shudder ran through the veins of +the young officer, and he closed his eyes, that he might not see the +blow which he felt was about to be directed at his heart. The Indian +glanced hurriedly yet cautiously around, to see if he was observed; and +then, with the rapidity of thought, divided, first the thongs that +secured the legs, and then those which confined the arms of the +defenceless captive. When Captain de Haldimar, full of astonishment at +finding himself once more at liberty, again unclosed his eyes, they +fell on the not unhandsome features of the young chief, the brother of +Oucanasta. +</P> + +<P> +"The Saganaw is the prisoner of Wacousta," said the Indian hastily; +"and Wacousta is the enemy of the young Ottawa chief. The warriors of +the pale faces are there" (and he pointed directly before him). "If the +Saganaw has a bold heart and a swift foot, he may save his life:" and, +with this intimation, he hurried away in the same cautious manner, and +was in the next instant seen making a circuit to arrive at the point at +which the principal strength of the Indians was collected. +</P> + +<P> +The position of Captain de Haldimar had now attained its acme of +interest; for on his own exertions alone depended every thing that +remained to be accomplished. With wonderful presence of mind he +surveyed all the difficulties of his course, while he availed himself +at the same moment of whatever advantages were within his grasp. On the +approach of Wacousta, the young Indians, to whose custody he had been +committed, had returned to their post; but no sooner had that warrior, +obeying the call of Ponteac, again departed, than they once more flew +to the extreme skirt of the forest, after first satisfying themselves +the ligatures which confined their prisoner were secure. Either with a +view of avoiding unnecessary encumbrance in their course, or through +hurry and inadvertence, they had left their blankets near the foot of +the tree. The first thought of the officer was to seize one of these; +for, in order to gain the point whence his final effort to join the +detachment must be made, it was necessary he should pass through the +body of scattered Indians who stood immediately in his way; and the +disguise of the blanket could alone afford him a reasonable chance of +moving unnoticed among them. Secretly congratulating himself on the +insulting mockery that had inducted his upper form in the disguising +warpaint of his enemies, he now drew the protecting blanket close up to +his eyes; and then, with every nerve braced up, every faculty of mind +and body called into action, commenced his dangerous enterprise. +</P> + +<P> +He had not, however, taken more than two or three steps in advance, +when, to his great discomfiture and alarm, he beheld the formidable +Wacousta approaching from a distance, evidently in search of his +prisoner. With the quickness of thought he determined on his course. To +appear to avoid him would be to excite the suspicion of the fierce +warrior; and, desperate as the alternative was, he resolved to move +undeviatingly forward. At each step that drew him nearer to his enemy, +the beating of his heart became more violent; and had it not been for +the thick coat of paint in which he was invested, the involuntary +contraction of the muscles of his face must inevitably have betrayed +him. Nay, even as it was, had the keen eye of the warrior fallen on +him, such was the agitation of the officer, he felt he must have been +discovered. Happily, however, Wacousta, who evidently took him for some +inferior warrior hastening to the point where his fellows were already +assembled, passed without deigning to look at him, and so close, their +forms almost touched. Captain de Haldimar now quickened his pace. It +was evident there was no time to be lost; for Wacousta, on finding him +gone, would at once give the alarm, when a hundred warriors would be +ready on the instant to intercept his flight. Taking the precaution to +disguise his walk by turning in his toes after the Indian manner, he +reached, with a beating heart, the first of the numerous warriors who +were collected within the belt of forest, anxiously watching the +movements of the detachment in the plain below. To his infinite joy he +found that each was too much intent on what was passing in the +distance, to heed any thing going on near themselves; and when he at +length gained the extreme opening, and stood in a line with those who +were the farthest advanced, without having excited a single suspicion +in his course, he could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. +</P> + +<P> +Still the most difficult part of the enterprise remained to be +completed. Hitherto he had moved under the friendly cover of the +underwood, the advantage of which had been to conceal that part of his +regimental trousers which the blanket left exposed; and if he moved +forward into the clearing, the quick glance of an Indian would not be +slow in detecting the difference between these and his own ruder +leggings. There was no alternative now but to commence his flight from +the spot on which he stood; and for this he prepared himself. At one +rapid and comprehensive view he embraced the immediate localities +before him. On the other side of the ravine he could now distinctly see +the English troops, either planning, as he conceived, their own attack, +or waiting in the hope of drawing the Indians from their cover. It was +evident that to reach them the ravine must be crossed, unless the more +circuitous route by the bridge, which was hid from his view by an +intervening hillock, should be preferred; but as the former had been +cleared by Wacousta in his ascent, and was the nearest point by which +the detachment could be approached, to this did he now direct his +undivided attention. +</P> + +<P> +While he yet paused with indecision, at one moment fancying the time +for starting was not yet arrived, and at the next that he had suffered +it to pass away, the powerful and threatening voice of Wacousta was +heard proclaiming the escape of his captive. Low but expressive +exclamations from the warriors marked their sense of the importance of +the intelligence; and many of them hastily dispersed themselves in +pursuit. This was the critical moment for action: for, as the anxious +officer had rather wished than expected, those Indians who had been +immediately in front, and whose proximity he most dreaded, were among +the number of those who dashed into the heart of the forest—Captain de +Haldimar now stood alone, and full twenty paces in front of the nearest +of the savages. For a moment he played with his mocassined foot to +satisfy himself, of the power and flexibility of its muscles, and then +committing himself to his God, dashed the blanket suddenly from his +shoulders, and, with eye and heart fixed on the distant soldiery, +darted down the declivity with a speed of which he had never yet +believed himself capable. Scarcely, however, had his fleeing form +appeared in the opening, when a tremendous and deafening yell rent the +air, and a dozen wild and naked warriors followed instantly in pursuit. +Attracted by that yell, the terrible Wacousta, who had been seeking his +victim in a different quarter, bounded forward to the front with an eye +flashing fire, and a brow compressed into the fiercest hate; and so +stupendous were his efforts, so extraordinary was his speed, that had +it not been for the young Ottawa chief, who was one of the pursuing +party, and who, under the pretence of assisting in the recapture of the +prisoner, sought every opportunity of throwing himself before, and +embarrassing the movements of his enemy, it is highly probable the +latter would have succeeded. Despite of these obstacles, however, the +fierce Wacousta, who had been the last to follow, soon left the +foremost of his companions far behind him; and but for his sudden fall, +while in the very act of seizing the arm of his prisoner, his gigantic +efforts must have been crowned with the fullest success. But the reader +has already seen how miraculously Captain de Haldimar, reduced to the +last stage of debility, as much from inanition as from the unnatural +efforts of his flight, finally accomplished his return to the +detachment. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0210"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<P> +At the western extremity of the lake Huron, and almost washed by the +waters of that pigmy ocean, stands the fort of Michilimackinac. +Constructed on a smaller scale, and garrisoned by a less numerical +force, the defences of this post, although less formidable than those +of the Detroit, were nearly similar, at the period embraced by our +story, both in matter and in manner. Unlike the latter fortress, +however, it boasted none of the advantages afforded by culture; +neither, indeed, was there a single spot in the immediate vicinity that +was not clad in the eternal forest of these regions. It is true, that +art and laborious exertion had so far supplied the deficiencies of +nature as to isolate the fort, and throw it under the protecting sweep +of its cannon; but, while this afforded security, it failed to produce +any thing like a pleasing effect to the eye. The very site on which the +fortress now stood had at one period been a portion of the wilderness +that every where around was only terminated by the sands on the lake +shore: and, although time and the axe of the pioneer had in some degree +changed its features, still there was no trace of that blended natural +scenery that so pleasingly diversified the vicinity of the sister fort. +Here and there, along the imperfect clearing, and amid the dark and +thickly studded stumps of the felled trees, which in themselves were +sufficient to give the most lugubrious character to the scene, rose the +rude log cabin of the settler; but, beyond this, cultivation appeared +to have lost her power in proportion with the difficulties she had to +encounter. Even the two Indian villages, L'Arbre-Croche and Chabouiga, +situate about a mile from the fort, with which they formed nearly an +equilateral triangle, were hid from the view of the garrison by the +dark dense forest, in the heart of which they were embedded. +</P> + +<P> +Lake ward the view was scarcely less monotonous; but it was not, as in +the rear, that monotony which is never occasionally broken in upon by +some occurrence of interest. If the eye gazed long and anxiously for +the white sail of the well known armed vessel, charged at stated +intervals with letters and tidings of those whom time, and distance, +and danger, far from estranging, rendered more dear to the memory, and +bound more closely to the heart, it was sure of being rewarded at last; +and then there was no picture on which it could love to linger so well +as that of the silver waves bearing that valued vessel in safety to its +wonted anchorage in the offing. Moreover, the light swift bark canoes +of the natives often danced joyously on its surface; and while the +sight was offended at the savage, skulking among the trees of the +forest, like some dark spirit moving cautiously in its course of secret +destruction, and watching the moment when he might pounce unnoticed on +his unprepared victim, it followed, with momentary pleasure and +excitement, the activity and skill displayed by the harmless paddler, +in the swift and meteor-like race that set the troubled surface of the +Huron in a sheet of hissing foam. Nor was this all. When the eye turned +wood-ward, it fell heavily, and without interest, upon a dim and dusky +point, known to enter upon savage scenes and unexplored countries; +whereas, whenever it reposed upon the lake, it was with an eagerness +and energy that embraced the most vivid recollections of the past, and +led the imagination buoyantly over every well-remembered scene that had +previously been traversed, and which must be traversed again before the +land of the European could be pressed once more. The forest, in a word, +formed, as it were, the gloomy and impenetrable walls of the +prison-house, and the bright lake that lay before it the only portal +through which happiness and liberty could be again secured. +</P> + +<P> +The principal entrance into the fort, which presented four equal sides +of a square, was from the forest; but, immediately opposite to this, +and behind the apartments of the commanding officer, there was another +small gate that opened upon the lake shore; but which, since the +investment of the place, had been kept bolted and locked, with a +precaution befitting the danger to which the garrison was exposed. +Still, there were periods, even now, when its sullen hinges were to be +heard moaning on the midnight breeze; for it served as a medium of +communication between the besieged and others who were no less +critically circumstanced than themselves. +</P> + +<P> +The very day before the Indians commenced their simultaneous attack on +the several posts of the English, the only armed vessel that had been +constructed on these upper lakes, serving chiefly as a medium of +communication between Detroit and Michilimackinac, had arrived with +despatches and letters from the former fort. A well-concerted plan of +the savages to seize her in her passage through the narrow waters of +the river Sinclair had only been defeated by the vigilance of her +commander; but, ever since the breaking out of the war, she had been +imprisoned within the limits of the Huron. Laborious indeed was the +duty of the devoted crew. Several attempts had been renewed by the +Indians to surprise them; but, although their little fleets stole +cautiously and noiselessly, at the still hour of midnight, to the spot +where, at the last expiring rays of twilight, they had beheld her +carelessly anchored, and apparently lulled into security, the subject +of their search was never to be met with. No sooner were objects on the +shore rendered indistinct to the eye, than the anchor was silently +weighed, and, gliding wherever the breeze might choose to carry her, +the light bark was made to traverse the lake, with every sail set, +until dawn. None, however, were suffered to slumber in the presumed +security afforded by this judicious flight. Every man was at his post; +and, while a silence so profound was preserved, that the noise of a +falling pin might have been heard upon her decks, every thing was in +readiness to repel an attack of their enemies, should the vessel, in +her course, come accidentally in collision with their pigmy fleets. +When morning broke, and no sign of their treacherous foes was visible, +the vessel was again anchored, and the majority of the crew suffered to +retire to their hammocks, while the few whose turn of duty it chanced +to be, kept a vigilant look-out, that, on the slightest appearance of +alarm, their slumbering comrades might again be aroused to energy and +action. +</P> + +<P> +Severe and harassing as had been the duty on board this vessel for many +months,—at one moment exposed to the assaults of the savages, at +another assailed by the hurricanes that are so prevalent and so +dangerous on the American lakes,—the situation of the crew was even +less enviable than that of the garrison itself. What chiefly +contributed to their disquietude, was the dreadful consciousness that, +however their present efforts might secure a temporary safety, the +period of their fall was only protracted. A few months more must bring +with them all the severity of the winter of those climes, and then, +blocked up in a sea of ice,—exposed to all the rigour of cold,—all +the miseries of hunger,—what effectual resistance could they oppose to +the numerous bands of Indians who, availing themselves of the +defenceless position of their enemies, would rush from every quarter to +their destruction. +</P> + +<P> +At the outset of these disheartening circumstances the officer had +summoned his faithful crew together, and pointing out the danger and +uncertainty of their position, stated that two chances of escape still +remained to them. The first was, by an attempt to accomplish the +passage of the river Sinclair during some dark and boisterous night, +when the Indians would be least likely to suspect such an intention: it +was at this point that the efforts of their enemies were principally to +be apprehended; but if, under cover of storm and darkness, they could +accomplish this difficult passage, they would easily gain the Detroit, +and thence pass into lake Erie, at the further extremity of which they +might, favoured by Providence, effect a landing, and penetrate to the +inhabited parts of the colony of New York. The other alternative +was,—and he left it to themselves to determine,—to sink the vessel on +the approach of winter, and throw themselves into the fort before them, +there to await and share the destiny of its gallant defenders. +</P> + +<P> +With the generous enthusiasm of their profession, the noble fellows had +determined on the latter course. With their officer they fully +coincided in opinion, that their ultimate hopes of life depended on the +safe passage of the Sinclair; for it was but too obvious, that soon or +late, unless some very extraordinary revolution should be effected in +the intentions of the Indians, the fortress must be starved into +submission. Still, as it was tolerably well supplied with provisions, +this gloomy prospect was remote, and they were willing to run all +chances with their friends on shore, rather than desert them in their +extremity. The determination expressed by them, therefore, was, that +when they could no longer keep the lake in safety, they would, if the +officer permitted it, scuttle the vessel, and attempt an entrance into +the fort, where they would share the fate of the troops, whatever it +might chance to be. +</P> + +<P> +No sooner was this resolution made known, than their young commander +sought an opportunity of communicating with the garrison, This, +however, was no very easy task; for, so closely was the fort hemmed in +by the savages, it was impossible to introduce a messenger within its +walls; and so sudden had been the cutting off of all communication +between the vessel and the shore, that the thought had not even +occurred to either commander to establish the most ordinary +intelligence by signal. In this dilemma recourse was had to an +ingenious expedient. The dispatches of the officer were enclosed in one +of the long tin tubes in which were generally deposited the maps and +charts of the schooner, and to this, after having been carefully +soldered, was attached an inch rope of several hundred fathoms in +length: the case was then put into one of the ship's guns, so placed as +to give it the elevation of a mortar; thus prepared, advantage was +taken of a temporary absence of the Indians to bring the vessel within +half a mile of the shore, and when the attention of the garrison, +naturally attracted by this unusual movement, was sufficiently +awakened, that opportunity was chosen for the discharge of the gun; and +as the quantity of powder had been proportionably reduced for the +limited range, the tube was soon safely deposited within the rampart. +The same means were adopted in replying; and one end of the rope +remaining attached to the schooner, all that was necessary was to +solder up the tube as before, and throw it over the ramparts upon the +sands, whence it was immediately pulled over her side by the watchful +mariners. +</P> + +<P> +As the dispatch conveyed to the garrison, among other subjects of +interest, bore the unwelcome intelligence that the supplies of the crew +were nearly expended, an arrangement was proposed by which, at stated +intervals, a more immediate communication with the former might be +effected. Whenever, therefore, the wind permitted, the vessel was kept +hovering in sight during the day, beneath the eyes of the savages, and +on the approach of evening an unshotted gun was discharged, with a view +of drawing their attention more immediately to her movements; every +sail was then set, and under a cloud of canvass the course of the +schooner was directed towards the source of the Sinclair, as if an +attempt to accomplish that passage was to be made during the night. No +sooner, however, had the darkness fairly set in, than the vessel was +put about, and, beating against the wind, generally contrived to reach +the offing at a stated hour, when a boat, provided with muffled oars, +was sent off to the shore. This ruse had several times deceived the +Indians, and it was on these occasions that the small gate to which we +have alluded was opened, for the purpose of conveying the necessary +supplies. +</P> + +<P> +The buildings of the fort consisted chiefly of block-houses, the +internal accommodations of which were fully in keeping with their rude +exterior, being but indifferently provided with the most ordinary +articles of comfort, and fitted up as the limited resources of that +wild and remote district could supply. The best and most agreeably +situated of these, if a choice could be made, was that of the +commanding officer. This building rose considerably above the others, +and overhanging that part of the rampart which skirted the shores of +the Huron, commanded a full view of the lake, even to its extremity of +frowning and belting forest. +</P> + +<P> +To this block-house there were two staircases; the principal leading to +the front entrance from the barrack-square, the other opening in the +rear, close under the rampart, and communicating by a few rude steps +with the small gate that led upon the sands. In the lower part of this +building, appropriated by the commanding officer to that exclusive +purpose, the official duties of his situation were usually performed; +and on the ground-floor a large room, that extended from front to rear +of the block-house on one side of the passage, had formerly been used +as a hall of council with the Indian chiefs. The floor above this +comprised both his own private apartments and those set apart for the +general use of the family; but, above all, and preferable from their +cheerful view over the lake, were others, which had been reserved for +the exclusive accommodation of Miss de Haldimar. This upper floor +consisted of two sleeping apartments, with a sitting-room, the latter +extending the whole length of the block-house and opening immediately +upon the lake, from the only two windows with which that side of the +building was provided. The principal staircase led into one of the +bed-rooms, and both of the latter communicated immediately with the +sitting-room, which again, in its turn, opened, at the opposite +extremity, on the narrow staircase that led to the rear of the +block-house. +</P> + +<P> +The furniture of this apartment, which might be taken as a fair sample +of the best the country could afford, was wild, yet simple, in the +extreme. Neat rush mats, of an oblong square, and fantastically put +together, so as to exhibit in the weaving of the several coloured reeds +both figures that were known to exist in the creation, and those which +could have no being save in the imagination of their framers, served as +excellent substitutes for carpets, while rush bottomed chairs, the +product of Indian ingenuity also, occupied those intervals around the +room that were unsupplied by the matting. Upon the walls were hung +numerous specimens both of the dress and of the equipments of the +savages, and mingled with these were many natural curiosities, the +gifts of Indian chiefs to the commandant at various periods before the +war. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing could be more unlike the embellishments of a modern European +boudoir than those of this apartment, which had, in some degree, been +made the sanctum of its present occupants. Here was to be seen the +scaly carcass of some huge serpent, extending its now harmless length +from the ceiling to the floor—there an alligator, stuffed after the +same fashion; and in various directions the skins of the beaver, the +marten, the otter, and an infinitude of others of that genus, filled up +spaces that were left unsupplied by the more ingenious specimens of +Indian art. Head-dresses tastefully wrought in the shape of the +crowning bays of the ancients, and composed of the gorgeous feathers of +the most splendid of the forest birds—bows and quivers handsomely, and +even elegantly ornamented with that most tasteful of Indian +decorations, the stained quill of the porcupine; war clubs of massive +iron wood, their handles covered with stained horsehair and feathers +curiously mingled together—machecotis, hunting coats, mocassins, and +leggings, all worked in porcupine quill, and fancifully +arranged,—these, with many others, had been called into requisition to +bedeck and relieve the otherwise rude and naked walls of the apartment. +</P> + +<P> +Nor did the walls alone reflect back the picture of savage ingenuity, +for on the various tables, the rude polish of which was hid from view +by the simple covering of green baize, which moreover constituted the +garniture of the windows, were to be seen other products of their art. +Here stood upon an elevated stand a model of a bark canoe, filled with +its complement of paddlers carved in wood and dressed in full costume; +the latter executed with such singular fidelity of feature, that +although the speaking figures sprung not from the experienced and +classic chisel of the sculptor but from the rude scalping knife of the +savage, the very tribe to which they belonged could be discovered at a +glance by the European who was conversant with the features of each: +then there were handsomely ornamented vessels made of the birch bark, +and filled with the delicate sugars which the natives extract from the +maple tree in early spring; these of all sizes, even to the most tiny +that could well be imagined, were valuable rather as exquisite +specimens of the neatness with which those slight vessels could be put +together, sewn as they were merely with strips of the same bark, than +from any intrinsic value they possessed. Covered over with fantastic +figures, done either in paint, or in quill work artfully interwoven +into the fibres of the bark, they presented, in their smooth and +polished surface, strong evidence of the address of the savages in +their preparation of this most useful and abundant produce of the +country. Interspersed with these, too, were numerous stands filled with +stuffed birds, some of which combined in themselves every variety and +shade of dazzling plumage; and numerous rude cases contained the rarest +specimens of the American butterfly, most of which were of sizes and +tints that are no where equalled in Europe. One solitary table alone +was appropriated to whatever wore a transatlantic character in this +wild and museum-like apartment. On this lay a Spanish guitar, a few +pieces of old music, a collection of English and French books, a couple +of writing-desks, and, scattered over the whole, several articles of +unfinished needle-work. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the apartment in which Madeline and Clara de Haldimar were met +at the moment we have selected for their introduction to our readers. +It was the morning of that day on which the second council of the +chiefs, the result of which has already been seen, was held at Detroit. +The sun had risen bright and gorgeously above the adjacent forest, +throwing his golden beams upon the calm glassy waters of the lake; and +now, approaching rapidly towards the meridian, gradually diminished the +tall bold shadows of the block-houses upon the shore. At the distance +of about a mile lay the armed vessel so often alluded to; her light low +hull dimly seen in the hazy atmosphere that danced upon the waters, and +her attenuated masts and sloping yards, with their slight tracery of +cordage, recalling rather the complex and delicate ramifications of the +spider's web, than the elastic yet solid machinery to which the lives +of those within had so often been committed in sea and tempest. Upon +the strand, and close opposite to the small gate which now stood ajar, +lay one of her boats, the crew of which had abandoned her with the +exception only of a single individual, apparently her cockswain, who, +with the tiller under his arm, lay half extended in the stern-sheets, +his naked chest exposed, and his tarpaulin hat shielding his eyes from +the sun while he indulged in profound repose. These were the only +objects that told of human life. Everywhere beyond the eye rested on +the faint outline of forest, that appeared like the softened tracing of +a pencil at the distant junction of the waters with the horizon. +</P> + +<P> +The windows that commanded this prospect were now open; and through +that which was nearest to the gate, half reclined the elegant, slight, +and somewhat petite form of a female, who, with one small and +delicately formed hand supporting her cheek, while the other played +almost unconsciously with an open letter, glanced her eye alternately, +and with an expression of joyousness, towards the vessel that lay +beyond, and the point in which the source of the Sinclair was known to +lie. It was Clara de Haldimar. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the vacant space at the same window was filled by another +form, but of less girlish appearance—one that embraced all the full +rich contour of the Medicean Venus, and a lazy languor in its movements +that harmonised with the speaking outlines of the form, and without +which the beauty of the whole would have been at variance and +imperfect. Neither did the face belie the general expression of the +figure. The eyes, of a light hazel, were large, full, and somewhat +prominent—the forehead broad, high, and redolent with an expression of +character—and the cheek rich in that peculiar colour which can be +likened only to the downy hues of the peach, and is, in itself, a +physical earnest of the existence of deep, but not boisterous—of +devoted, but not obtrusive affections; an impression that was not, in +the present instance, weakened by the full and pouting lip, and the +rather heavy formation of the lower face. The general expression, +moreover, of a countenance which, closely analysed, could not be termed +beautiful, marked a mind at once ardent in its conceptions, and steady +and resolute in its silent accomplishments of purpose. She was of the +middle height. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the person of Madeline de Haldimar; but attractive, or rather +winning, as were her womanly attributes, her principal power lay in her +voice,—the beauty, nay, the voluptuousness of which nothing could +surpass. It was impossible to listen to the slow, full, rich, deep, and +melodious tones that fell trembling from her lips upon the ear, and not +feel, aye shudder, under all their fascination on the soul. In such a +voice might the Madonna of Raphael have been supposed to offer up her +supplications from the gloomy precincts of the cloister. No wonder that +Frederick de Haldimar loved her, and loved her with all the intense +devotedness of his own glowing heart. His cousin was to him a divinity +whom he worshipped in the innermost recesses of his being; and his, in +return, was the only ear in which the accents of that almost superhuman +voice had breathed the thrilling confession of an attachment, which its +very tones announced could be deep and imperishable as the soul in +which it had taken root. Often in the hours that preceded the period +when they were to have been united heart and mind and thought in one +common destiny, would he start from her side, his brain whirling with +very intoxication, and then obeying another wild impulse, rush once +more into her embrace; and clasping his beloved Madeline to his heart, +entreat her again to pour forth all the melody of that confession in +his enraptured ear. Artless and unaffected as she was generous and +impassioned, the fond and noble girl never hesitated to gratify him +whom alone she loved; and deep and fervent was the joy of the soldier, +when he found that each passionate entreaty, far from being met with +caprice, only drew from the lips of his cousin warmer and more +affectionate expressions of her attachment. Such expressions, coming +from any woman, must have been rapturous and soothing in the extreme; +but, when they flowed from a voice whose very sound was melody, they +acted on the heart of Captain de Haldimar with a potency that was as +irresistible as the love itself which she inspired. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the position of things just before the commencement of the +Indian war. Madeline de Haldimar had been for some time on a visit to +Detroit, and her marriage with her cousin was to have taken place +within a few days. The unexpected arrival of intelligence from +Michilimackinac that her father was dangerously ill, however, retarded +the ceremony; and, up to the present period, their intercourse had been +completely suspended. If Madeline de Haldimar was capable of strong +attachment to her lover, the powerful ties of nature were no less +deeply rooted in her heart, and commiseration and anxiety for her +father now engrossed every faculty of her mind. She entreated her +cousin to defer the solemnisation of their nuptials until her parent +should be pronounced out of danger, and, having obtained his consent to +the delay, instantly set off for Michilimackinac, accompanied by her +cousin Clara, whom, she had prevailed on the governor to part with +until her own return. Hostilities were commenced very shortly +afterwards, and, although Major de Haldimar speedily recovered from his +illness, the fair cousins were compelled to share the common +imprisonment of the garrison. +</P> + +<P> +When Miss de Haldimar joined her more youthful cousin at the window, +through which the latter was gazing thoughtfully on the scene before +her, she flung her arm around her waist with the protecting manner of a +mother. The mild blue eyes of Clara met those that were fastened in +tenderness upon her, and a corresponding movement on her part brought +the more matronly form of her cousin into close and affectionate +contact with her own. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Madeline, what a day is this!" she exclaimed; "and how often on my +bended knees have I prayed to Heaven that it might arrive! Our trials +are ended at last, and happiness and joy are once more before us. There +is the boat that is to conduct us to the vessel, which, in its turn, is +to bear me to the arms of my dear father, and you to those of the lover +who adores you. How beautiful does that fabric appear to me now! Never +did I feel half the pleasure in surveying it I do at this moment." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear, dear girl!" exclaimed Miss de Haldimar,—and she pressed her +closer and in silence to her heart: then, after a slight pause, during +which the mantling glow upon her brow told how deeply she desired the +reunion alluded to by her cousin—"that, indeed, will be an hour of +happiness to us both, Clara; for irrevocably as our affections have +been pledged, it would be silly in the extreme to deny that I long most +ardently to be restored to him who is already my husband. But, tell +me," she concluded, with an archness of expression that caused the +long-lashed eyes of her companion to sink beneath her own, "are you +quite sincere in your own case? I know how deeply you love your father +and your brothers, but do these alone occupy your attention? Is there +not a certain friend of Charles whom you have some little curiosity to +see also?" +</P> + +<P> +"How silly, Madeline!" and the cheek of the young girl became suffused +with a deeper glow; "you know I have never seen this friend of my +brother, how then can I possibly feel more than the most ordinary +interest in him? I am disposed to like him, certainly, for the mere +reason that Charles does; but this is all." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Clara, I will not pretend to decide; but certain it is, this is +the last letter you received from Charles, and that it contains the +strongest recommendations of his friend to your notice. Equally certain +is it, that scarcely a day has passed, since we have been shut up here, +that you have not perused and re-perused it half a dozen times. Now, as +I am confessedly one who should know something of these matters, I must +be suffered to pronounce these are strong symptoms, to say the very +least. Ah! Clara, that blush declares you guilty.—But, who have we +here? Middleton and Baynton." +</P> + +<P> +The eyes of the cousins now fell upon the ramparts immediately under +the window. Two officers, one apparently on duty for the day, were +passing at the moment; and, as they heard their names pronounced, +stopped, looked up, and saluted the young ladies with that easy freedom +of manner, which, unmixed with either disrespect or effrontery, so +usually characterises the address of military men. +</P> + +<P> +"What a contrast, by heaven!" exclaimed he who wore the badge of duty +suspended over his chest, throwing himself playfully into a theatrical +attitude, expressive at once of admiration and surprise, while his eye +glanced intelligently over the fair but dissimilar forms of the +cousins. "Venus and Psyche in the land of the Pottowatamies by all that +is magnificent! Come, Middleton, quick, out with that eternal pencil of +yours, and perform your promise." +</P> + +<P> +"And what may that promise be?" asked Clara, laughingly, and without +adverting to the hyperbolical compliment of the dark-eyed officer who +had just spoken. +</P> + +<P> +"You shall hear," pursued the lively captain of the guard. "While +making the tour of the ramparts just now, to visit my sentries, I saw +Middleton leaning most sentimentally against one of the boxes in front, +his notebook in one hand and his pencil in the other. Curious to +discover the subject of his abstraction, I stole cautiously behind him, +and saw that he was sketching the head of a tall and rather handsome +squaw, who, in the midst of a hundred others, was standing close to the +gateway watching the preparations of the Indian ball-players. I at once +taxed him with having lost his heart; and rallying him on his bad taste +in devoting his pencil to any thing that had a red skin, never combed +its hair, and turned its toes in while walking, pronounced his sketch +to be an absolute fright. Well, will you believe what I have to add? +The man absolutely flew into a tremendous passion with me, and swore +that she was a Venus, a Juno, a Minerva, a beauty of the first water in +short; and finished by promising, that when I could point out any woman +who was superior to her in personal attraction, he would on the instant +write no less than a dozen consecutive sonnets in her praise. I now +call upon him to fulfil his promise, or maintain the superiority of his +Indian beauty." +</P> + +<P> +Before the laughing Middleton could find time to reply to the light and +unmeaning rattle of his friend, the quick low roll of a drum was heard +from the front. The signal was understood by both officers, and they +prepared to depart. +</P> + +<P> +"This is the hour appointed for the council," said Captain Baynton, +looking at his watch, "and I must be with my guard, to receive the +chiefs with becoming honour. How I pity you, Middleton, who will have +the infliction of one of their great big talks, as Murphy would call +it, dinned into your ear for the next two hours at least! Thank heaven, +my tour of duty exempts me from that; and by way of killing an hour, I +think I shall go and carry on a flirtation with your Indian Minerva, +alias Venus, alias Juno, while you are discussing the affairs of the +nation with closed doors. But hark! there is the assembly drum again. +We must be off. Come, Middleton, come.—Adieu!" waving his hand to the +cousins, "we shall meet at dinner." +</P> + +<P> +"What an incessant talker Baynton is!" observed Miss de Haldimar, as +the young men now disappeared round an angle of the rampart; "but he +has reminded me of what I had nearly forgotten, and that is to give +orders for dinner. My father has invited all the officers to dine with +him to day, in commemoration of the peace which is being concluded. It +will be the first time we shall have all met together since the +commencement of this cruel war, and we must endeavour, Clara, to do +honour to the feast." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope," timidly observed her cousin, shuddering as she spoke, "that +none of those horrid chiefs will be present, Madeline; for, without any +affectation of fear whatever, I feel that I could not so far overcome +my disgust as to sit at the same table with them. There was a time, it +is true, when I thought nothing of these things; but, since the war, I +have witnessed and heard so much of their horrid deeds, that I shall +never be able to endure the sight of an Indian face again. Ah!" she +concluded, turning her eyes upon the lake, while she clung more closely +to the embrace of her companion; "would to Heaven, Madeline, that we +were both at this moment gliding in yonder vessel, and in sight of my +father's fort!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0211"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<P> +The eyes of Miss de Haldimar followed those of her cousin, and rested +on the dark hull of the schooner, with which so many recollections of +the past and anticipations of the future were associated in their +minds. When they had last looked upon it, all appearance of human life +had vanished from its decks; but now there was strong evidence of +unusual bustle and activity. Numerous persons could be seen moving +hastily to and fro, their heads just peering above the bulwarks; and +presently they beheld a small boat move from the ship's side, and shoot +rapidly ahead, in a direct line with the well-known bearings of the +Sinclair's source. While they continued to gaze on this point, +following the course of the light vessel, and forming a variety of +conjectures as to the cause of a movement, especially remarkable from +the circumstance of the commander being at that moment in the fort, +whither he had been summoned to attend the council, another and +scarcely perceptible object was dimly seen, at the distance of about +half a mile in front of the boat. With the aid of a telescope, which +had formed one of the principal resources of the cousins during their +long imprisonment, Miss de Haldimar now perceived a dark and shapeless +mass moving somewhat heavily along the lake, and in a line with the +schooner and the boat. This was evidently approaching; for each moment +it loomed larger upon the hazy water, increasing in bulk in the same +proportion that the departing skiff became less distinct: still, it was +impossible to discover, at that distance, in what manner it was +propelled. Wind there was none, not as much as would have changed the +course of a feather dropping through space; and, except where the +dividing oars of the boatmen had agitated the waters, the whole surface +of the lake was like a sea of pale and liquid gold. +</P> + +<P> +At length the two dark bodies met, and the men in the boat were seen to +lie upon their oars, while one in the stem seemed to be in the act of +attaching a rope to the formless matter. For a few moments there was a +cessation of all movement; and then again the active and sturdy rowing +of the boatmen was renewed, and with an exertion of strength even more +vigorous than that they had previously exhibited. Their course was now +directed towards the vessel; and, as it gradually neared that fabric, +the rope by which the strange-looking object was secured, could be +distinctly though faintly seen with the telescope. It was impossible to +say whether the latter, whatever it might be, was urged by some +invisible means, or merely floated in the wake of the boat; for, +although the waters through which it passed ran rippling and foaming +from their course, this effect might have been produced by the boat +which preceded it. As it now approached the vessel, it presented the +appearance of a dense wood of evergreens, the overhanging branches of +which descended close to the water's edge, and baffled every attempt of +the cousins to discover its true character. The boat had now arrived +within a hundred yards of the schooner, when a man was seen to rise +from its bows, and, putting both his hands to his mouth, after the +manner of sailors in hailing, to continue in that position for some +moments, apparently conversing with those who were grouped along the +nearest gangway. Then were observed rapid movements on the decks; and +men were seen hastening aloft, and standing out upon the foremast +yards. This, however, had offered no interruption to the exertions of +the boatmen, who still kept plying with a vigour that set even the +sail-less vessel in motion, as the foaming water, thrown from their +bending oar-blades, dashed angrily against her prow. Soon afterwards +both the boat and her prize disappeared on the opposite side of the +schooner, which, now lying with her broadside immediately on a line +with the shore, completely hid them from the further view of the +cousins. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!—Look!" said Clara, clinging sensitively and with alarm to the +almost maternal bosom against which she reposed, while she pointed with +her finger to another dark mass that was moving through the lake in a +circular sweep from the point of wood terminating the clearing on the +right of the fort. +</P> + +<P> +Miss de Haldimar threw the glass on the object to which her attention +was now directed. It was evidently some furred animal, and presented +all the appearance either of a large water-rat or a beaver, the latter +of which it was pronounced to be as a nearer approach rendered its +shape more distinct. Ever and anon, too, it disappeared altogether +under the water; and, when it again came in sight, it was always +several yards nearer. Its course, at first circuitous, at length took a +direct line with the stern of the boat, where the sailor who was in +charge still lay extended at his drowsy length, his tarpaulin hat +shading his eyes, and his arms folded over his uncovered and heaving +chest, while he continued to sleep as profoundly as if he had been +comfortably berthed in his hammock in the middle of the Atlantic. +</P> + +<P> +"What a large bold animal it is," remarked Clara, in die tone of one +who wishes to be confirmed in an impression but indifferently +entertained. "See how close it approaches the boat! Mad that lazy +sailor but his wits about him, he might easily knock it on the head +with his oar. It is—it is a beaver, Madeline; I can distinguish its +head even with the naked eye." +</P> + +<P> +"Heaven grant it may be a beaver," answered Miss de Haldimar, in a +voice so deep and full of meaning, that it made her cousin startle and +turn paler even than before. "Nay, Clara, dearest, command yourself, +nor give way to what may, after all, prove a groundless cause of alarm. +Yet, I know not how it is, my heart misgives me sadly; for I like not +the motions of this animal, which are strangely and unusually bold. But +this is not all: a beaver or a rat might ruffle the mere surface of the +water, yet this leaves behind it a deep and gurgling furrow, as if the +element had been ploughed to its very bottom. Observe how the lake is +agitated and discoloured wherever it has passed. Moreover, I dislike +this sudden bustle on board the schooner, knowing, as I do, there is +not an officer present to order the movements now visibly going +forward. The men are evidently getting up the anchor; and see how her +sails are loosened, apparently courting the breeze, as if she would fly +to avoid some threatened danger. Would to Heaven this council scene +were over; for I do, as much as yourself, dearest Clara, distrust these +cruel Indians!" +</P> + +<P> +A significant gesture from her trembling cousin again drew her +attention from the vessel to the boat. The animal, which now exhibited +the delicate and glossy fur of the beaver, had gained the stern, and +remained stationary within a foot of her quarter. Presently the sailor +made a sluggish movement, turning himself heavily on his side, and with +his face towards his curious and daring visitant. In the act the +tarpaulin hat had fallen from his eyes, but still he awoke not. +Scarcely had he settled himself in his new position, when, to the +infinite horror of the excited cousins, a naked human hand was raised +from beneath the surface of the lake, and placed upon the gunwale of +the boat Then rose slowly, and still covered with its ingenious +disguise, first the neck, then the shoulders, and finally the form, +even to the midwaist, of a dark and swarthy Indian, who, stooping low +and cautiously over the sailor, now reposed the hand that had quitted +the gunwale upon his form, while the other was thrust searchingly into +the belt encircling his waist. +</P> + +<P> +Miss de Haldimar would have called out, to apprise the unhappy man of +his danger; but her voice refused its office, and her cousin was even +less capable of exertion than herself. The deep throbbings of their +hearts were now audible to each; for the dreadful interest they took in +the scene, had excited their feelings to the most intense stretch of +agony. At the very moment, however, when, with almost suspended +animation, they expected to see the knife of the savage driven into the +chest of the sleeping and unsuspecting sailor, the latter suddenly +started up, and, instinct with the full sense of the danger by which he +was menaced, in less time than we take to describe it, seized the +tiller of his rudder, the only available instrument within his reach, +and directing a powerful blow at the head of his amphibious enemy, laid +him, without apparent life or motion, across the boat. +</P> + +<P> +"Almighty God! what can this mean?" exclaimed Miss de Haldimar, as soon +as she could recover her presence of mind. "There is some fearful +treachery in agitation; and a cloud now hangs over all, that will soon +burst with irresistible fury on our devoted heads. Clara, my love," and +she conducted the almost fainting girl to a seat, "wait here until I +return. The moment is critical, and my father must be apprised of what +we have seen. Unless the gates of the fort be instantly closed, we are +lost." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Madeline, leave me not alone," entreated the sinking Clara. "We +will go together. Perhaps I may be of service to you below." +</P> + +<P> +"The thought is good; but have you strength and courage to face the +dark chiefs in the council-room. If so, hasten there, and put my father +on his guard, while I fly across the parade, and warn Captain Baynton +of the danger." +</P> + +<P> +With these words she drew the arm of her agitated cousin within her +own, and, rapidly traversing the apartment, gained the bed-room which +opened close upon the head of the principal staircase. Already were +they descending the first steps, when a loud cry, that sent a thrill of +terror through their blood, was heard from without the fort. For a +moment Miss de Haldimar continued irresolute; and leaning against the +rude balustrade for support, passed her hand rapidly across her brow, +as if to collect her scattered energies. The necessity for prompt and +immediate action was, however, evident; and she alone was capable of +exertion. Speechless with alarm, and trembling in every joint, the +unhappy Clara had now lost all command of her limbs; and, clinging +close to the side of her cousin, by her wild looks alone betrayed +consciousness had not wholly deserted her. The energy of despair lent +more than woman's strength to Miss de Haldimar. She caught the fainting +girl in her arms, retraced her way to the chamber, and depositing her +burden on the bed, emphatically enjoined her on no account to move +until her return. She then quitted the room, and rapidly descended the +staircase. +</P> + +<P> +For some moments all was still and hushed as the waveless air; and then +again a loud chorus of shouts was heard from the ramparts of the fort. +The choked breathing of the young girl became more free, and the blood +rushed once more from her oppressed heart to the extremities. Never did +tones of the human voice fall more gratefully on the ear of mariner +cast on some desert island, than did those on that of the highly +excited Clara. It was the loud laugh of the soldiery, who, collected +along the line of rampart in front, were watching the progress of the +ball-players. Cheered by the welcome sounds, she raised herself from +the bed to satisfy her eye her ear had not deceived her. The windows of +both bed-chambers looked immediately on the barrack square, and +commanded a full view of the principal entrance. From that at which she +now stood, the revived but still anxious girl could distinctly see all +that was passing in front. The ramparts were covered with soldiers, +who, armed merely with their bayonets, stood grouped in careless +attitudes—some with their wives leaning on their arms—others with +their children upraised, that they might the better observe the +enlivening sports without—some lay indolently with their legs +overhanging the works—others, assuming pugilistic attitudes, dealt +their harmless blows at each other,—and all were blended together, +men, women, and children, with that heedlessness of thought that told +how little of distrust existed within their breasts. The soldiers of +the guard, too, exhibited the same air of calm and unsuspecting +confidence; some walking to and fro within the square, while the +greater portion either mixed with their comrades above, or, with arms +folded, legs carelessly crossed, and pipe in mouth, leant lazily +against the gate, and gazed beyond the lowered drawbridge on the Indian +games. +</P> + +<P> +A mountain weight seemed to have been removed from the breast of Clara +at this sight, as she now dropped upon her knees before the window, and +raised her hands in pious acknowledgment to Heaven. +</P> + +<P> +"Almighty God, I thank thee," she fervently exclaimed, her eye once +more lighting up, and her cheek half suffused with blushes at her late +vague and idle fears; while she embraced, at a single glance, the whole +of the gladdening and inspiriting scene. +</P> + +<P> +While her soul was yet upturned whither her words had gone before, her +ears were again assailed by sounds that curdled her blood, and made her +spring to her feet as if stricken by a bullet through the heart; or +powerfully touched by some electric fluid. It was the well-known and +devilish war-cry of the savages, startling the very air through which +it passed, and falling like a deadly blight upon the spirit. With a +mechanical and desperate effort at courage, the unhappy girl turned her +eyes below, and there met images of death in their most appalling +shapes. Hurry and confusion and despair were every where visible; for a +band of Indians were already in the fort, and these, fast succeeded by +others, rushed like a torrent into the square, and commenced their +dreadful work of butchery. Many of the terrified soldiers, without +thinking of drawing their bayonets, flew down the ramparts in order to +gain their respective block-houses for their muskets: but these every +where met death from the crashing tomahawk, short rifle, or gleaming +knife;—others who had presence of mind sufficient to avail themselves +of their only weapons of defence, rushed down in the fury of +desperation on the yelling fiends, resolved to sell their lives as +dearly as possible; and for some minutes an obstinate contest was +maintained: but the vast superiority of the Indian numbers triumphed; +and although the men fought with all the fierceness of despair, forcing +their way to the block-houses, their mangled corpses strewed the area +in every direction. Neither was the horrid butchery confined to these. +Women clinging to their husbands for protection, and, in the +recklessness of their despair, impeding the efforts of the latter in +their self-defence—children screaming in terror, or supplicating mercy +on their bonded knees—infants clasped to their parents' breasts,—all +alike sunk under the unpitying steel of the blood-thirsty savages. At +the guard-house the principal stand had been made; for at the first +rush into the fort, the men on duty had gained their station, and, +having made fast the barricades, opened their fire upon the enemy. +Mixed pele-mele as they were with the Indians, many of the English were +shot by their own comrades, who, in the confusion of the moment, were +incapable of taking a cool and discriminating aim. These, however, were +finally overcome. A band of desperate Indians rushed upon the main +door, and with repeated blows from their tomahawks and massive +war-clubs, succeeded in demolishing it, while others diverted the fire +of those within. The door once forced, the struggle was soon over. +Every man of the guard perished; and their scalpless and disfigured +forms were thrown out to swell the number of those that already deluged +the square with their blood. +</P> + +<P> +Even amid all the horrors of this terrific scene, the agonised Clara +preserved her consciousness. The very imminence of the danger endued +her with strength to embrace it under all its most disheartening +aspects; and she, whose mind had been wrought up to the highest pitch +of powerful excitement by the mere preliminary threatenings, was +comparatively collected under the catastrophe itself. Death, certain +death, to all, she saw was inevitable; and while her perception at once +embraced the futility of all attempts at escape from the general doom, +she snatched from despair the power to follow its gloomy details +without being annihilated under their weight. +</P> + +<P> +The confusion of the garrison had now reached its acme of horror. The +shrieks of women and the shrill cries of children, as they severally +and fruitlessly fled from the death certain to overtake them in the +end,—the cursings of the soldiers, the yellings of the Indians, the +reports of rifles, and the crashings of tomahawks;—these, with the +stamping of human feet in the death struggle maintained in the +council-room below between the chiefs and the officers, and which shook +the block-house to its very foundation, all mixed up in terrible chorus +together, might have called up a not inapt image of hell to the +bewildered and confounding brain. And yet the sun shone in yellow +lustre, and all Nature smiled, and wore an air of calm, as if the +accursed deed had had the sanction of Heaven, and the spirits of light +loved to look upon the frightful atrocities then in perpetration. +</P> + +<P> +In the first distraction of her spirit, Clara had utterly lost all +recollection of her cousin; but now that she had, with unnatural +desperation, brought her mind to bear upon the fiercest points of the +grim reality, she turned her eye every where amid the scene of death in +search of the form of her beloved Madeline, whom she did not remember +to have seen cross the parade in pursuance of the purpose she had +named. While she yet gazed fearfully from the window, loud bursts of +mingled anguish and rage, that were almost drowned in the fiercer yells +with which they were blended, ascended from the ground floor of the +block-house. These had hitherto been suppressed, as if the desperate +attack of the chiefs on the officers had been made with closed doors. +Now, however, there was an evident outburst of all parties into the +passage; and there the struggle appeared to be desperately and +fearfully maintained. In the midst of that chaotic scene, the loud and +piercing shriek of a female rose far above the discordant yell even of +the savages. There was an instant of pause, and then the crashing of a +skull was heard, and the confusion was greater than before, and +shrieks, and groans, and curses, and supplications rent the air. +</P> + +<P> +The first single shriek came from Madeline de Haldimar, and vibrated +through every chord of the heart on which it sank. Scarcely conscious +of what she did, Clara, quitting the window, once more gained the top +of the staircase, and at the extremity of her voice called on the name +of her cousin in the most piteous accents. She was answered by a loud +shout from the yelling band; and presently bounding feet and screaming +voices were heard ascending the stairs. The terrified girl fancied at +the moment she heard a door open on the floor immediately below her, +and some one dart suddenly up the flight communicating with the spot on +which she stood. Without waiting to satisfy herself, she rushed with +all the mechanical instinct of self-preservation back into her own +apartment. As she passed the bed-room window, she glanced once more +hastily into the area below, and there beheld a sight that, filling her +soul with despair, paralysed all further exertion. A tall savage was +bearing off the apparently lifeless form of her cousin through the +combatants in the square, her white dress stained all over with blood, +and her beautiful hair loosened and trailing on the ground. She +followed with her burning eyes until they passed the drawbridge, and +finally disappeared behind the intervening rampart, and then bowing her +head between her hands, and sinking upon her knees, she reposed her +forehead against the sill of the window, and awaited unshrinkingly, yet +in a state of inconceivable agony, the consummation of her own unhappy +destiny. +</P> + +<P> +The sounds of ascending feet were now heard in the passage without; and +presently, while the clangour of a thousand demons seemed to ring +throughout the upper part of the building, a man rushed furiously into +the room. The blood of the young girl curdled in her veins. She +mechanically grasped the ledge of the window on which her aching head +still reposed, and with her eyes firmly closed, to shut out from view +the fiend whose sight she dreaded, even more than the death which +threatened her, quietly awaited the blow that was to terminate at once +her misery and her life. Scarcely, however, had the feet of the +intruder pressed the sanctuary of her bedchamber, when the heavy door, +strongly studded with nails, was pushed rapidly to, and bolt and lock +were heard sliding into their several sockets. Before Clara could raise +her head to discover the cause of this movement, she felt herself +firmly secured in the grasp of an encircling arm, and borne hastily +through the room. An instinctive sense of something worse even than +death now flashed across the mind of the unhappy girl; and while she +feared to unclose her eyes, she struggled violently to disengage +herself. +</P> + +<P> +"Clara! dear Miss de Haldimar, do you not know me?" exclaimed her +supporter, while, placing her for a moment on a seat, he proceeded to +secure the fastenings of the second door, that led from the bed-chamber +into the larger apartment. +</P> + +<P> +Re-assured by the tones of a voice which, even in that dreadful moment +of trial and destruction, were familiar to her ear, the trembling girl +opened her eyes wildly upon her protector. A slight scream of terror +marked her painful sense of the recognition. It was Captain Baynton +whom she beheld: but how unlike the officer who a few minutes before +had been conversing with her from the ramparts. His fine hair, matted +with blood, now hung loosely and disfiguringly over his eyes, and his +pallid face and brow were covered with gore spots, the evident +spatterings from the wounds of others; while a stream that issued from +one side of his head attested he himself had not escaped unhurt in the +cruel melee. A skirt and a lappel had been torn from his uniform, +which, together with other portions of his dress, were now stained in +various parts by the blood continually flowing from his wound. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Captain Baynton," murmured the fainting girl, her whole soul +sinking within her, as she gazed shudderingly on his person, "is there +no hope for us? must we die?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, by Heaven, not while I have strength to save you," returned the +officer, with energy. "If the savages have not penetrated to the rear, +we may yet escape. I saw the postern open just now, on my passage round +the rampart, and the boat of the schooner upon the strand. Ha!" he +exclaimed, as he flew to the window, and cast his eye rapidly below, +"we are lost! The gate is still clear, and not an Indian to be seen; +but the coward sailor is pulling for his life towards the vessel. But +hold! another boat is now quitting the ship's side. See, how manfully +they give themselves to the oars: in a few minutes they will be here. +Come, Clara, let us fly!" and again he caught her in his arms, and bore +her across the room. "Hark, hear you not the exulting yellings of the +monsters? They are forcing the outer door: mark how they redouble their +efforts to break it open! That passed, but one more barrier remains +between us and inevitable and instant death." +</P> + +<P> +"And my cousin, my uncle!" shrieked the unhappy girl, as the officer +now bore her rapidly down the back staircase. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, ask me not!" exclaimed Baynton: "were I to linger again on all I +have witnessed, I should go mad. All, all have perished! but, hark!" +</P> + +<P> +A tremendous yell now bursting from the passage, announced at once, the +triumph of the savages in having effected an entrance into the +bed-room, and their disappointment at finding their pursuit baulked by +a second door. Presently afterwards their heavy weapons were to be +heard thundering at this new obstacle, in the most furious manner. This +gave new stimulus to the exertions of the generous officer. Each +winding of the staircase was familiar to him, and he now descended it +with a rapidity which, considering the burden that reposed against his +chest, could only have been inspired by his despair. The flight +terminated at a door that led directly upon the rampart, without +communicating with any of the passages of the building; and in this +consisted the principal facility of escape: for, in order to reach +them, the savages must either make the circuit of the block-house, or +overtake them in the course they were now following. In this trying +emergency, the presence of mind of the young officer, wounded and +bleeding as he was, did not desert him. On quitting the larger +apartment above, he had secured the outside fastenings of a small door +at the top of the stairs, and having now gained the bottom, he took a +similar precaution. All that remained was to unclose the bolts of the +ponderous door that opened upon their final chance of escape: this was +speedily done, but here the feelings of the officer were put to a +severe test. A rude partition divided him from the fatal council-room; +and while he undid the fastenings, the faint and dying groans of his +butchered brother officers rung in his ears, even at the moment that he +felt his feet dabbling in the blood that oozed through the imperfectly +closed planks of which the partition was composed. As for Clara, she +was insensible to all that was passing. From the moment of the Indian +yell, announcing their entry into the bed-room, she had fainted. +</P> + +<P> +The huge door came now creaking back upon its hinges, when the sounds +of the yet unfinished conflict in front, which had hitherto been +deadened in their descent through the remote staircase, rang once more +fiercely and startlingly upon the ear. A single glance satisfied +Captain Baynton the moment for exertion was come, and that the way to +the lake shore, which, by some strange oversight, both the Indians and +the men had overlooked, was perfectly clear. He clasped his unconscious +burden closer to his chest, and then, setting his life upon the cast, +hastened down the few steps that led to the rampart, and dashed rapidly +through the postern; in the next minute he stood on the uttermost verge +of the sands, unharmed and onfollowed. He cast his eyes anxiously along +the surface of the lake; but such was the excitement and confusion of +his mind, produced by the horrid recollection of the past scene, it was +not until he had been abruptly hailed from it, he could see a boat, at +the distance of about two hundred yards, the crew of which were lying +on their oars. It was the long boat of the schooner, which, prevented +from a nearer approach by a sand bar that ran along the lake to a +considerable extent, had taken her station there to receive the +fugitives. Two tall young men in the dress, yet having little the mien, +of common sailors, were standing up in her stern; and one of these, +with evident anxiety in his manner, called on Baynton by name to make +the best of his way to the boat. At that moment a loud and frantic yell +came from the block-house the latter had just quitted. In the wild +impulse of his excited feelings, he answered with a cheer of defiance, +as he turned to discover the precise point whence it proceeded. The +windows of the apartment so recently occupied by the unhappy cousins, +were darkened with savage forms, who now pealed forth their mingled +fury and disappointment in the most terrific manner. +</P> + +<P> +"Fly, fly, Baynton, or you are lost!" exclaimed the same voice from the +boat; "the devils are levelling from the windows." +</P> + +<P> +While he yet spake several shots came whizzing along the waters, and a +spent ball even struck the now rapidly fleeing officer in the back; but +the distance was too great for serious injury. The guns of the savages +had been cut so short for their desperate enterprise, that they carried +little further than a horse pistol. +</P> + +<P> +Again, in the desperation of his feelings, and heedless of the danger +he was drawing on himself and charge, the officer turned fiercely round +and shouted, at his utmost lungs, a peal of triumph in the ears of his +enemies. Scarcely, however, had the sounds escaped his lips, when two +hideously painted Indians sprang through the postern, and, silent as +the spectres they resembled, rushed down the sands, and thence into the +lake. Loud shouts from the windows above were again pealed forth, and +from the consternation visible on the features of those within the +boat, the nearly exhausted Baynton learnt all the risk he incurred. +Summoning all his strength, he now made the most desperate efforts to +reach his friends. The lake was little more than knee deep from the +shore to the bar, but, encumbered as he was, the difficulty opposed to +his movements was immeasurably against him, and yet he seemed +generously resolved rather to perish than relinquish his charge. +Already were his pursuers, now closely followed by a numerous band, +within twenty yards of him, when the two young men, each armed with a +cutlass and pistol, sprang from the boat upon the sand bar: as the +Indians came on they fired deliberately at them, but both missed their +aim. Encouraged by this failure, the fearless devils dashed eagerly on, +brandishing their gleaming tomahawks, but littering not a sound. +Already was the unfortunate Baynton within a few feet of the bar, when +he felt that the savages were immediately upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"Take, take, for God's sake take her!" he cried, as with a desperate +effort he threw the light form of the still unconscious girl into the +arms of one of the young men. "My strength is quite exhausted, and I +can do no more." +</P> + +<P> +For the first time a yell burst from the lips of the pursuing savages, +as they saw him, to whom the guardianship of the wretched Clara was now +confided, suddenly spring from the sand bar into the lake, and in a few +rapid strokes gain the side of the boat. Leaving the hapless Baynton to +be disposed of by his companion, the foremost darted upon the bank, +burning with disappointment, and resolved to immolate another victim. +For a moment he balanced his tomahawk, and then, with the rapidity of +thought, darted it at the covered head of the youth who still lingered +on the bar. A well-timed movement of the latter averted the blow, and +the whizzing steel passed harmlessly on. A gutteral "Ugh!" marked the +disappointment of the Indian, now reduced to his scalping-knife; but +before he could determine whether to advance or to retreat, his +opponent had darted upon him, and, with a single blow from his cutlass, +cleft his skull nearly asunder. The next instantaneous purpose of the +victor was to advance to the rescue of the exhausted Baynton; but, when +he turned to look for him, he saw the mangled form of what had once +been that gallant and handsome officer floating, without life or +motion, on the blood-stained surface of the Huron, while his fiendish +murderer, calmly awaiting the approach of his companions, held up the +reeking scalp, in triumph, to the view of the still yelling groups +within the block-house. +</P> + +<P> +"Noble, generous, self-devoted fellow!" exclaimed the youth, as he +fixed his burning tearless eye for a moment on the unfortunate victim; +"even you, then, are not spared to tell the horrid story of this +butchery; yet is the fate of the fallen far, far more enviable than +that of those who have survived this day." He then committed his +cutlass to its sheath; and, leaping into the deep water that lay beyond +the bar, was, in a few seconds, once more in the stern of the boat. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, the numerous band, who followed their two first fierce +comrades into the lake, bounded rapidly forward; and, so active were +their movements, that, at almost the same moment when the second of the +youths had gained his temporary place of refuge, they stood yelling and +screaming on the sand bar he had just quitted. Two or three, excited to +desperation by the blood they had seen spilt, plunged unhesitatingly +into the opposite depths of the lake; and the foremost of these was the +destroyer of the ill-fated Baynton. With his bloody scalping-knife +closely clutched between his teeth, and his tomahawk in his right hand, +this fierce warrior buffeted the waves lustily with one arm, and, +noiselessly as in the early part of his pursuit, urged his way towards +the boat. In the stern of this a few planks from the schooner had been +firmly lashed, to serve as a shield against the weapons of the savages, +and was so arranged as to conceal all within while retiring from the +shore. A small aperture had, however, been bored for the purpose of +observing the movements of the enemy without risk. Through this an eye +was now directed, while only the blades of the oars were to be seen +projecting from the boat's sides as they reposed in their rowlocks. +Encouraged by the seeming apathy and inertness of the crew, the +swimming savages paused not to consider of consequences, but continued +their daring course as if they had apprehended neither risk nor +resistance. Presently a desperate splash was heard near the stern of +the boat, and the sinuous form of the first savage was raised above the +gunwale, his grim face looking devilish in its war-paint, and his +fierce eyes gleaming and rolling like fire-balls in their sockets. +Scarcely was he seen, however, when he had again disappeared. A blow +from the cutlass that had destroyed his companion descended like +lightning on his naked and hairless head; and, in the agony of death, +he might be seen grinding his teeth against the knife which the +instinctive ferocity of his nature forbade his relinquishing. A yell of +fury burst from the savages on the bar, and presently a shower of +bullets ran whistling through the air. Several were heard striking the +rude rampart in the stem; but, although the boat was scarcely out of +pistol-shot, the thickness of the wood prevented all injury to those +within. Another fierce yell followed this volley; and then nearly a +score of warriors, giving their guns in charge to their companions, +plunged furiously into the water; and, with an air of the most +infuriated determination, leaped rather than swam along its surface. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then, my lads, give way," said he at the look-out; "there are +more than a dozen of the devils in full cry; and our only chance is in +flight! Ha! another here!" as, turning to issue these directions, he +chanced to see the dark hand of a savage at that moment grasping the +gunwale of the boat, as if with a view to retard her movements until +the arrival of his companions. +</P> + +<P> +A heavy blow from his cutlass accompanied these words. The fingers, +divided at their very roots, rolled to the bottom of the boat, and the +carcase of the savage dropped, with a yell of anguish, far in the rear. +The heavy oar-blades of the seamen now made play, dashing the lake away +in sheets of foam; and, in less than five minutes, the heads of the +swimming savages were seen mingling like so many rats upon the water, +as they returned once more in disappointment from their fruitless +pursuit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0212"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<P> +The sun had gone down, as he had risen, in all the gloriousness of his +autumnal splendour, and twilight was now fast descending on the waters +of the Huron. A slight breeze was just beginning to make itself felt +from the land, the gradual rising of which was hailed by many an +anxious heart, as the schooner, which had been making vain attempts to +quit her anchorage during the day, now urged her light bows through the +slightly curling element. A death-like silence, interrupted only by the +low gruff voice of a veteran seaman, as he issued, in technical +language, the necessary orders for the management of the vessel, +prevailed every where along her decks. The dress and general appearance +of this individual announced him for a petty officer of the royal +service; and it was evident, from the tone of authority with which he +spoke, he was now in the enjoyment of a temporary command. The crew, +consisting of about thirty souls, and chiefly veterans of the same +class, were assembled along the gangways, each man wearing a brace of +pistols in the belt, which, moreover, secured a naked cutlass around +his loins; and these now lingered near the several guns that were +thrown out from their gloomy looking ports, as if ready for some active +service. But, although the arming of these men indicated hostile +preparation, there was none of that buoyancy of movement and animation +of feature to be observed, which so usually characterise the +indomitable daring of the British sailor. Some stood leaning their +heads pensively on their hands against the rigging and hammocks that +were stowed away along the bulwarks, after the fashion of war ships in +boarding; others, with arms tightly folded across their chests, spirted +the tobacco juice thoughtfully from their closed teeth into the +receding waters; while not a few gazed earnestly and despondingly on +the burning fort in the distance, amid the rolling volumes of smoke and +flame from which, ever and anon, arose the fiendish yell of those who, +having already sacked, were now reducing it to ashes. Nor was this the +only object of their attention. On the sand bank alluded to in our last +chapter were to be dimly seen through the growing dusk, the dark +outlines of many of the savages, who, frantic with rage at their +inability to devote them to the same doom, were still unwilling to quit +a spot which approached them nearest to the last surviving objects of +their enmity. Around this point, were collected numerous canoes, filled +also with warriors; and, at the moment when the vessel, obeying the +impulse given by her flowing sails, glided from her anchorage, these +followed, scudding in her wake, and made a show of attacking her in the +stern. The sudden yawing of the schooner, however, in bringing her tier +of bristling ports into view, had checked the ardour of the pursuing +fleet; and the discharge of a single gun, destroying in its course +three of their canoes, and carrying death among those who directed +them, had driven them back, in the greatest hurry and confusion, to +their yelling and disappointed comrades. +</P> + +<P> +The after-deck of the schooner presented a different, though not less +sombre and discouraging, scene. On a pile of mattresses lay the light +and almost inanimate form of Clara de Haldimar; her fair and redundant +hair overshadowing her pallid brow and cheek, and the dress she had +worn at the moment of her escape from the fort still spotted with the +blood of her generous but unfortunate preserver. Close at her side, +with her hands clasped in his, while he watched the expression of deep +suffering reflected from each set feature, and yet with the air of one +pre-occupied with some other subject of painful interest, sat, on an +empty shot-box, the young man in sailor's attire, whose cutlass had +performed the double service of destroying his own immediate opponent, +and avenging the death of the devoted Baynton. At the head of the rude +couch, and leaning against a portion of the schooner's stern-work, +stood his companion, who from delicacy appeared to have turned away his +eyes from the group below, merely to cast them vacantly on the dark +waters through which the vessel was now beginning to urge her course. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the immediate position of this little party, when the gun +fired at the Indians was heard booming heavily along the lake. The loud +report, in exciting new sources of alarm, seemed to have dissipated the +spell that had hitherto chained the energies and perception of the +still weak, but now highly excited girl. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Captain Baynton, where are we?" she exclaimed, starting up +suddenly in terror, and throwing her arms around him, who sat at her +side, as if she would have clung to him for protection. "Is the horrid +massacre not finished yet? Where is Madeline? where is my cousin? Oh, I +cannot leave the fort without her." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! where indeed is she?" exclaimed the youth, as he clasped his +trembling and scarcely conscious burden to his chest, "Almighty God, +where is she?" Then, after a short pause, and in a voice of tender but +exquisite anguish, "Clara, my beloved sister, do you not know me? It is +not Baynton but your brother, who now clasps you to his breaking heart." +</P> + +<P> +A deluge of tears was the only answer of the wretched girl. They were +the first she had shed,—the first marks of consciousness she had +exhibited. Hitherto her heart had been oppressed; every fibre of her +brain racked almost to bursting, and filled only with ghastly flitting +visions of the dreadful horrors she had seen perpetrated, she had +continued, since the moment of her fainting in the block-house, as one +bereft of all memory of the past, or apprehension of the present. But +now, the full outpouring of her grief relieved her overcharged brain +and heart, even while the confused images floating before her +recollection acquired a more tangible and painful character. She raised +herself a moment from the chest on which her burning head reposed, +looked steadfastly in the face that hung anxiously over her own, and +saw indeed that it was her brother. She tried to speak, but she could +not utter a word, for the memory of all that had occurred that fatal +morning rushed with mountain weight upon her fainting spirit, and again +she wept, and more bitterly than before. +</P> + +<P> +The young man pressed her in silence to his chest; nor was it until she +had given full vent to her grief, that he ventured to address her on +the subject of his own immediate sorrows. At length, when she appeared +somewhat more calm, he observed, in a voice broken by emotion,— +</P> + +<P> +"Clara, dearest, what account have you to give me of Madeline? Has she +shared the fate of all? or have you reason to suppose her life has been +spared?" +</P> + +<P> +Another burst of tears succeeded to these questions, for coupled with +the name of her cousin arose all the horrid associations connected with +her loss. As soon, however, as she could compose herself, she briefly +stated all she had witnessed of the affair, from the moment when the +boat of the schooner was seen to meet the strange looking object on the +water, to that when she had beheld her ill-fated cousin borne away +apparently lifeless in the arms of the tall Indian by whom she had been +captured. +</P> + +<P> +During this recital, the heart of Captain de Haldimar,—for it was +he,—beat audibly against the cheek that still reposed on his breast; +but when his sister had, in a faint voice, closed her melancholy +narrative with the manner of her cousin's disappearance, he gave a +sudden start, uttering at the same time an exclamation of joy. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank God, she still lives!" he cried, pressing his sister once more +in fondness to his heart; then turning to his companion, who, although +seemingly abstracted, had been a silent and attentive witness of the +scene,—"By Heaven! Valletort, there is yet a hope. She it was indeed +whom we saw borne out of the fort, and subsequently made to walk by the +cruel Indian who had charge of her." +</P> + +<P> +"Valletort, Valletort," murmured Clara unconsciously, her sick heart +throbbing with she knew not what. "How is this, Frederick?—Where, +then, is Captain Baynton? and how came you here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! Clara, poor Baynton is no more. Even at the moment when he +confided the unconscious burden, preserved at the peril of his own +life, to the arms of Sir Everard here, he fell beneath the tomahawk of +a pursuing savage. Poor, noble, generous Baynton," he continued, +mournfully; "to him, indeed, Clara, are you indebted for your life; yet +was it purchased at the price of his own." +</P> + +<P> +Again the pained and affectionate girl wept bitterly, and her brother +proceeded:— +</P> + +<P> +"The strange object you saw on the lake, my love, was nothing more than +a canoe disguised with leafy boughs, in which Sir Everard Valletort and +myself, under the guidance of old Francois of the Fleur de lis, whom +you must recollect, have made the dangerous passage of the Sinclair in +the garb of duck hunters,—which latter we had only discarded on +reaching the schooner, in order to assume another we conceived better +suited to our purpose. Alas!" and he struck his hand violently against +his brow, "had we made directly for the shore without touching the +vessel at all, there might have been time to save those we came to +apprise of their danger. Do you not think there was, Valletort?" +</P> + +<P> +"Most assuredly not," returned his companion, anxious to remove the +impression of self-blame that existed in the mind of Captain de +Haldimar. "From the moment of our reaching the schooner, which lay +immediately in our route, to that when the shout was raised by the +savages as they rushed into the fort, there was scarcely an interval of +three minutes; and it would have required a longer period to have +enabled us even to gain the shore." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank, thank you for that!" exclaimed the officer, drawing himself up +with the air of one who breathes more freely. "I would not, for the +wealth and honours of the united world, that such a cause for +self-reproach should linger on my mind. By Heaven! it would break my +heart to think we had been in time to save them, and yet had lost the +opportunity through even one moment of neglect." Then turning once more +to his sister,—"Now, Clara, that I see you in safety, I have another +sacred duty to perform. I must leave you, but not alone." +</P> + +<P> +"What mean you, Frederick?" exclaimed his agitated sister, clinging +more closely to his embrace. "Scarce have we met, and you talk of +leaving me. Oh, whither would you go?" +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, my love," and he spoke half reproachfully, although with +tenderness of accent, "my meaning must be obvious. But what do I say? +You know it not. Madeline still lives. We saw her, as we pulled towards +the shore, led across the clearing in the direction of Chabouiga. Hear +me, then: the canoe in which we came is still towing from the vessel's +stern, and in this do I mean to embark, without further loss of time, +in search of her who is dearer to me than existence. I know," he +pursued with emotion, "I have but little hope of rescuing, even if I do +succeed in finding her; but at least I shall not have to suffer under +the self-reproach of having neglected the only chance that now lies +within my reach. If she be doomed to die, I shall then have nothing +left to live for—except you, Clara," he concluded, after a pause, +pressing the weeping girl to his heart, as he remarked how much she +seemed pained by the declaration. +</P> + +<P> +Having placed his sister once more on the couch, and covered her with a +cloak that had been brought from the cabin of the unfortunate +commander, Captain de Haldimar now rose from his humble seat, and +grasping the hand of his friend,— +</P> + +<P> +"Valletort," he said, "I commit this dear girl to your keeping. +Hitherto we have been equal sharers in an enterprise having for its +object the preservation of our mutual companions and friends. At +present, interests of a more personal nature occupy my attention; and +to these must I devote myself alone. I trust you will reach Detroit in +safety; and when you have delivered my unfortunate sister into the arms +of her father, you will say to him from me, I could not survive the +loss of that being to whom I had sworn eternal fidelity and affection. +Francois must be my only companion on this occasion. Nay," he +continued, pointing to his sister, in answer to the rising remonstrance +of the baronet, "will you desert the precious charge I have confided to +your keeping? Recollect, Valletort," in a more subdued tone, "that +besides yourself, there will be none near her but rude and uneducated +sailors;—honest men enough in their way, it is true; but not the sort +of people to whom I should like to confide my poor sister." +</P> + +<P> +The warm and silent pressure by Sir Everard of his hand announced his +participation in the sentiment; and Captain de Haldimar now hastened +forward to apprise the Canadian of his purpose. He found mine host of +the Fleur de lis seated in the forecastle of the schooner; and with an +air of the most perfect unconcern discussing a substantial meal, +consisting of dried uncooked venison, raw onions, and Indian corn +bread, the contents of a large bag or wallet that lay at his feet. No +sooner, however, had the impatient officer communicated his design, +asking at the same time if he might expect his assistance in the +enterprise, than the unfinished meal of the Canadian was discontinued, +the wallet refilled, and the large greasy clasp-knife with which the +portions had been separated, closed and thrust into a pocket of his +blanket coat. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall go to de devils for you, capitaine, if we must," he said, as +he raised his portly form, not without effort, from the deck, slapping +the shoulder of the officer at the same time somewhat rudely with his +hand. There was nothing, however, offensively familiar in this action. +It expressed merely the devotedness of heart with which the man lent +himself to the service to which he had pledged himself, and was rather +complimentary than otherwise to him to whom it was directed. Captain de +Haldimar took it in the light in which we have just shown it, and he +grasped and shook the rough hand of the Canadian with an earnestness +highly gratifying to the latter. +</P> + +<P> +Every thing was now in readiness for their departure. The canoe, still +covered with its streaming boughs, was drawn close up to the gangway, +and a few hasty necessaries thrown in. While this was passing, the +officer had again assumed his disguise of a duck-hunter; and he now +appeared in the blanket costume in which we introduced Sir Everard and +himself at the opening of this volume. +</P> + +<P> +"If I may be so bold as to put in my oar, your honour,"—said the +veteran boatswain, on whom the command of the schooner had fallen, as +he now advanced, rolling his quid in his mouth, and dropping his hat on +his shoulder, while the fingers of the hand which clutched it were +busily occupied in scratching his bald head,—"if I may be so bold, +there is another chap here as might better sarve your honour's purpose +than that 'ere fat Canadian, who seems to think only of stuffing while +his betters are fasting." +</P> + +<P> +"And who is he, my good Mullins?" asked Captain de Haldimar. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that 'ere Ingian, your honour, as began the butchery in the fort, +yonder, by trying to kill Jack Fuller while he laid asleep this +morning, waiting for the captain in the jolly boat. Jack never seed him +coming, until he felt his black hands upon his throat, and then he ups +with the tiller at his noddle, and sends him floundering across the +boat's thwarts like a flat-fish. I thought, your honour, seeing as how +I have got the command of the schooner, of tying him up to the +mainmast, and giving him two or three round dozen or so, and then +sending him to swim among the mascannungy with a twenty-four pound shot +in his neckcloth; but, seeing as how your honour is going among them +savages agin, I thought as how some good might be done with him, if +your honour could contrive to keep him in tow, and close under your lee +quarter, to prevent his escape." +</P> + +<P> +"At all events," returned the officer, after a pause of some moments, +during which he appeared to be deliberating on his course of action, +"it may be dangerous to keep him in the vessel; and yet, if we take him +ashore, he may be the means of our more immediate destruction; unless, +indeed, as you observe, he can be so secured as to prevent the +possibility of escape: but that I very much doubt indeed. Where is he, +Mullins? I should like to see and question him." +</P> + +<P> +"He shall be up, your honour, in no time," replied the sailor, once +more resuming his hat, and moving a pace or two forward. Then +addressing two or three men in the starboard gangway in the +authoritative tone of command:—"Bear a hand there, my men, and cast +off the lashings of that black Ingian, and send him aft, here, to the +officer." +</P> + +<P> +The order was speedily executed. In a few minutes the Indian stood on +the quarter-deck, his hands firmly secured behind, and his head sunk +upon his chest in sullen despondency. In the increasing gloom in which +objects were now gradually becoming more and more indistinct, it was +impossible for Captain de Haldimar to distinguish his features; but +there was something in the outline of the Indian's form that impressed +him with the conviction he had seen it before. Advancing a pace or two +forward, he pronounced, in an emphatic and audible whisper, the name of +"Oucanasta!" +</P> + +<P> +The Indian gave an involuntary start,—uttered a deep interjectional +"Ugh!"—and, raising his head from his chest, fixed his eye heavily on +the officer. +</P> + +<P> +"Hookynaster!—Hookynaster!" growled Jack Fuller, who had followed to +hear the examination of his immediate captive: "why, your honour, that +jaw-breaking name reminds me as how the chap had a bit of a paper when +I chucked him into the jolly boat, stuck in his girdle. It was covered +over with pencil-marks, as writing like; but all was rubbed out agin, +except some such sort of a name as that." +</P> + +<P> +"Where is it?—what have you done with it?" hastily asked Captain de +Haldimar. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, in my backy-box, your honour. I kept it safe, thinking as how it +might sarve to let us know all about it afterwards." +</P> + +<P> +The sailor now drew from the receptacle just named a dirty piece of +folded paper, deeply impregnated with the perfume of stale and oft +rechewed quids of coarse tobacco; and then, with the air of one +conscious of having "rendered the state some service," hitched up his +trowsers with one hand, while with the other he extended the important +document. +</P> + +<P> +To glance his eye hurriedly over the paper by the light of a dark +lanthorn that had meanwhile been brought upon deck, unclasp his +hunting-knife, and divide the ligatures of the captive, and then warmly +press his liberated hands within his own, were, with Captain de +Haldimar, but the work of a minute. +</P> + +<P> +"Hilloa! which the devil way does the wind blow now?" muttered Fuller, +the leer of self-satisfaction that had hitherto played in his eye +rapidly giving place to an air of seriousness and surprise; an +expression that was not at all diminished by an observation from his +new commander. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you what it is, Jack," said the latter, impressively; "I don't +pretend to have more gumption (qu. discernment?) than my messmates; but +I can see through a millstone as clear as any man as ever heaved a lead +in these here lakes; and may I never pipe boatswain's whistle again, if +you 'ar'n't, some how or other, in the wrong box. That 'ere Ingian's +one of us!" +</P> + +<P> +The feelings of Captain de Haldimar may easily be comprehended by our +readers, when, on glancing at the paper, he found himself confirmed in +the impression previously made on him by the outline of the captive's +form. The writing, nearly obliterated by damp, had been rudely traced +by his own pencil on a leaf torn from his pocket-book. In the night of +his visit to the Indian encampment, and at the moment when, seated on +the fatal log, Oucanasta had generously promised her assistance in at +least rescuing his betrothed bride. They were addressed to Major de +Haldimar, and briefly stated that a treacherous plan was in +contemplation by the enemy to surprise the fort, which the bearer, +Oucanasta (the latter word strongly marked), would fully explain, if +she could possibly obtain access within. From the narrative entered +into by Clara, who had particularly dwelt on the emotions of fear that +had sprung up in her own and cousin's heart by the sudden +transformation of a supposed harmless beaver into a fierce and +threatening savage, he had no difficulty in solving the enigma. +</P> + +<P> +The Indian, in whom he had recognised the young chief who had saved him +from the fury of Wacousta, had evidently been won upon by his sister to +perform a service which offered so much less difficulty to a warrior +than to a woman; and it was clear, that, finding all other means of +communication with the fort, undiscovered by his own people, +impracticable, he had availed himself of the opportunity, when he saw +the boat waiting on the strand, to assume a disguise so well adapted to +insure success. It was no remarkable thing in these countries, to see +both the beaver and the otter moving on the calm surface of the waters +in the vicinity of the forts, even at mid-day; and occupied as the +Indians were, to a man, at that moment with their cruel projects, it +was by no means likely that their attention should have been called off +from these to so apparently unimportant a circumstance. The act that +had principally alarmed the cousins, and terminated, as we have seen, +in the sudden attack of the sailor, had evidently been misconceived. +The hand supposed to be feeling for the heart of the sluggard, had, in +all probability, been placed on his chest with a view to arouse him +from his slumber; while that which was believed to have been dropped to +the handle of his knife, was, in reality, merely seeking the paper that +contained the announcement, which, if then delivered, might have saved +the garrison. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the tram of conjecture that now passed through the mind of the +officer; but, although he thus placed the conduct of the Indian in the +most favourable light, his impression received no confirmation from the +lips of the latter. Sullen and doggedly, notwithstanding the release +from his bonds, the Ottawa hung his head upon his chest, with his eyes +riveted on the deck, and obstinately refused to answer every question +put to him by his deliverer. This, however, did not the less tend to +confirm Captain de Haldimar in his belief. He knew enough of the Indian +character, to understand the indignant and even revengeful spirit +likely to be aroused by the treatment the savage had met with in return +for his intended services. He was aware that, without pausing to +reflect on the fact, that the sailor, ignorant of his actual purpose, +could merely have seen in him an enemy in the act of attempting his +life, the chief would only consider and inflame himself over the +recollection of the blow inflicted; and that, with the true obstinacy +of his race, he would rather suffer captivity or death itself, than +humble the haughty pride of his nature, by condescending to an +explanation with those by whom he felt himself so deeply injured. +Still, even amid all his own personal griefs,—griefs that rendered the +boon in some degree at present valueless,—Captain de Haldimar could +not forget that the youth, no matter by what motive induced, had +rescued him from a dreadful death on a previous occasion. With the +generous warmth, therefore, of a grateful mind, he now sought to +impress on the Indian the deep sense of obligation under which he +laboured; explaining at the same time the very natural error into which +the sailor had fallen, and concluding with a declaration that he was +free to quit the vessel in the canoe in which he himself was about to +take his departure for the shore, in search of her whom his sister had +pledged herself, at all hazards, to save. +</P> + +<P> +The address of the officer, touching and impressive as language ever is +that comes from the heart, was not altogether without effect on the +Indian. Several times he interrupted him with a short, quick, approving +"Ugh!" and when he at length received the assurance that he was no +longer a prisoner, he raised his eyes rapidly, although without moving +his head, to the countenance of his deliverer. Already were his lips +opening to speak for the first time, when the attention of the group +around him was arrested by his giving a sudden start of surprise. At +the same moment he raised his head, stretched his neck, threw forward +his right ear, and, uttering a loud and emphatic "Waugh!" pointed with +his finger over the bows of the vessel. +</P> + +<P> +All listened for upwards of a minute in mute suspense; and then a faint +and scarcely distinguishable sound was heard in the direction in which +he pointed. Scarcely had it floated on the air, when a shrill, loud, +and prolonged cry, of peculiar tendency, burst hurriedly and eagerly +from the lips of the captive; and, spreading over the broad expanse of +water, seemed to be re-echoed back from every point of the surrounding +shore. +</P> + +<P> +Great was the confusion that followed this startling yell on the decks +of the schooner. "Cut the hell-fiend down!"—"Chuck him +overboard!"—"We are betrayed!"—"Every man to his gun!"—"Put the +craft about!" were among the numerous exclamations that now rose +simultaneously from at least twenty lips, and almost drowned the loud +shriek that burst again from the wretched Clara de Haldimar. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Mullins!—Stop, men!" shouted Captain de Haldimar, firmly, as +the excited boatswain, with two or three of his companions,—now +advanced with the intention of laying violent hands on the Indian. "I +will answer for his fidelity with my life. If he be false, it will be +time enough to punish him afterwards; but let us calmly await the issue +like men. Hear me," he proceeded, as he remarked their incredulous, +uncertain, and still threatening air;—"this Indian saved me from the +tomahawks of his tribe not a week ago; and, even now, he has become our +captive in the act of taking a note from me to the garrison, to warn +them of their danger. But for that slumbering fool," he added, +bitterly, pointing to Fuller, who slept when he should have watched, +"your fort would not now have been what it is,—a mass of smoking +ruins. He has an ocean of blood upon his soul, that all the waters of +the Huron can never wash out!" +</P> + +<P> +Struck by the vehement manner of the officer, and the disclosure he had +just made, the sailors sunk once more into inaction and silence. The +boatswain alone spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought, your honour, as how Jack Fuller, who sartainly is a better +hand at a snooze than a watch, had got into a bit of a mess; but, +shiver my topsails, if I think it's quite fair to blame him, neither, +for clapping a stopper on the Indian's cable, seeing as how he was +expecting a shot between wind and water. Still, as the chap turns out +to be an honest chap, and has saved your honour's life above all, I +don't much care if I give him a grip. Here, old fellow, tip us your +fist!" +</P> + +<P> +Without seeming to understand that his cry had been productive of +general and intense alarm throughout the vessel, the Indian had viewed +the sudden rushing of the crew towards him as an act of gratuitous +hostility; and, without shrinking from the attack, had once more +resumed his original air of dogged sullenness. It was evident to him, +from the discussion going on, that some violence, about to be offered +to his person, had only been prevented by the interference of the +officer. With the natural haughtiness of his savage nature, he +therefore rejected the overtures of the sailor, whose hand he had +observed among the first that were raised against him. +</P> + +<P> +While the angry boatswain was yet rolling his quid within his capacious +jaws, racking his brain for the strongest language wherein to give vent +to his indignation, his ears were suddenly saluted by a low but clear +"Hilloa!" from the bows of the schooner. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, ay!" was the brief response. +</P> + +<P> +"There's something approaching us ahead, on the weather fore quarter," +continued the same voice, which was that of the man on the look-out. +</P> + +<P> +The most profound silence now pervaded the deck. Every individual, +including Captain de Haldimar and the boatswain, had flown to the +gangway of the quarter indicated, which was on the side occupied by the +couch of the unfortunate Clara. Presently a noise like that produced by +a single paddle rapidly dividing the water, was heard by every anxious +ear. Night had long since thrown her mantle over the surrounding waste; +and all that was to be seen reflected from the bosom of the gradually +darkening river, scarcely ruffled by the yet incipient breeze, were a +few straggling stars, that here and there appeared in the overcast +heavens. Hitherto no object could be discovered by those who strained +their eyes eagerly and painfully through the gloom, although the sounds +became at each moment more distinct. It was evident the party, guided +by the noise of the rippling waves that fell from the bows of the +schooner, was enabled to follow up a course, the direct clue to which +had been indicated by the cry of the captive. Every man stood near his +gun on the starboard battery, and the burning matches hanging over +their respective buckets ready to be seized at a moment's notice. +Still, but little room for apprehension existed; for the practised ear +of the mariners could easily tell that a solitary bark alone +approached; and of one, or even ten, they entertained no fear. +Suddenly, as the course of the vessel was now changed a point to +windward,—a movement that brought her bows more off the adjacent +shore,—the sound, in which all were more or less interested, was heard +not more than twenty yards off, and in a line with the gangway at which +the principal of the crew were assembled. In the next minute the low +hull of a canoe came in sight, and then a tall and solitary human +figure was seen in the stern, bending alternately to the right and to +the left, as the paddle was rapidly and successively changed from side +to side. +</P> + +<P> +Another deep and exulting "Ugh!" was now heaved from the chest of the +Indian, who stood calmly on the spot on which he had first rested, +while Fuller prepared a coil of rope to throw to the active steersman. +</P> + +<P> +"Avast there, Jack!" growled the boatswain, addressing the sailor; "how +can the stranger keep the bow of his craft on, and grapple at the same +time? Just pass one end of the coil round your waist, and swing +yourself gently into her." +</P> + +<P> +The head of the canoe was now near enough for the purpose. The sailor +did as he was desired, having previously divested himself of his shoes, +and leaping forward, alighted on what appeared to be a bundle of +blankets stowed away in her bows. No sooner, however, had he secured +his footing, when with another desperate leap, and greatly to the +astonishment of all around, he bounded once more to the deck of the +schooner, his countenance exhibiting every mark of superstitious alarm. +In the act of quitting the canoe he had spurned her violently several +feet from the vessel, which the silent steersman was again making every +effort to reach. +</P> + +<P> +"Why what the devil's the matter with you now?" exclaimed the rough +boatswain, who, as well as Captain de Haldimar and the rest of the +crew, had quitted the gangway to learn the cause of this extraordinary +conduct. "Damn my eyes, if you ar'n't worse scared than when the Ingian +stood over you in the jolly boat." +</P> + +<P> +"Scared, ay, to be sure I am; and so would you be scared too, if you'd +a see'd what I did. May I never touch the point at Portsmouth, if I +a'n't seen her ghost." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?—whose ghost?—what ghost?—what do you mean, Jack?" exclaimed +several of the startled men in the same breath, while the superstitious +dread so common to mariners drew them still closer in the group that +encircled their companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, as I am a miserable sinner," returned the man, +impressively, and in a low tone, "I see'd in the bows of the +canoe,—and the hand that steered it was not made of flesh and blood +like ours,—what do you think?—the ghost of—" +</P> + +<P> +Captain de Haldimar heard no more. At a single bound he had gained the +ship's side. He strained his eyes anxiously over the gangway in search +of the canoe, but it was gone. A death-like silence throughout the deck +followed the communication of the sailor, and in that pause the sound +of the receding boat could be heard, not urged, as it had approached, +by one paddle, but by two. The heart of the officer throbbed almost to +suffocation; and his firmness, hitherto supported by the manly energies +of his nature, now failed him quite. Heedless of appearances, +regardless of being overlooked, he tottered like a drunken man for +support against the mainmast. For a moment or two he leant his head +upon his hand, with the air of one immersed in the most profound +abstraction; while the crew, at once alarmed and touched by the deep +distress into which this mysterious circumstance had plunged him, stood +silently and respectfully watching his emotion. Suddenly he started +from his attitude of painful repose, like one awaking from a dream, and +demanded what had become of the Indian. +</P> + +<P> +Every one looked around, but the captive was nowhere to be seen. Search +was made below, both in the cabin and in the fore decks, and men were +sent up aloft to see if he had secreted himself in the rigging; but all +returned, stating he was nowhere to be found. He had disappeared from +the vessel altogether, yet no one knew how; for he had not been +observed to stir from the spot on which he had first planted himself. +It was plain, however, he had joined the mysterious party in the canoe, +from the fact of the second paddle having been detected; and all +attempts at pursuit, without endangering the vessel on the shallows, +whither the course of the fugitives was now directed, was declared by +the boatswain utterly impracticable. +</P> + +<P> +The announcement of the Indian's disappearance seemed to put the climax +to the despair of the unfortunate officer.—"Then is our every hope +lost!" he groaned aloud, as, quitting the centre of the vessel, he +slowly traversed the deck, and once more stood at the side of his no +less unhappy and excited sister. For a moment or two he remained with +his arms folded across his chest, gazing on the dark outline of her +form; and then, in a wild paroxysm of silent tearless grief, threw +himself suddenly on the edge of the couch, and clasping her in a long +close embrace to his audibly beating heart, lay like one bereft of all +sense and consciousness of surrounding objects. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac +Conspiracy--Volume 2, by John Richardson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WACOUSTA--VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 4720-h.htm or 4720-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/2/4720/ + +Produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from Charles Franks +and the distributed proofers. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy--Volume 2 + +Author: John Richardson + +Posting Date: September 6, 2009 [EBook #4720] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 7, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WACOUSTA--VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from Charles Franks +and the distributed proofers. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + + + +WACOUSTA; + + or + +THE PROPHECY. + +Volume Two of Three + + +by + +John Richardson + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +It was on the evening of that day, so fertile in melancholy incident, +to which our first volume has been devoted, that the drawbridge of +Detroit was, for the third time since the investment of the garrison, +lowered; not, as previously, with a disregard of the intimation that +might be given to those without by the sullen and echoing rattle of its +ponderous chains, but with a caution attesting how much secrecy of +purpose was sought to be preserved. There was, however, no array of +armed men within the walls, that denoted an expedition of a hostile +character. Overcome with the harassing duties of the day, the chief +portion of the troops had retired to rest, and a few groups of the +guard alone were to be seen walking up and down in front of their post, +apparently with a view to check the influence of midnight drowsiness, +but, in reality, to witness the result of certain preparations going on +by torchlight in the centre of the barrack square. + +In the midst of an anxious group of officers, comprising nearly all of +that rank within the fort, stood two individuals, attired in a costume +having nothing in common with the gay and martial habiliments of the +former. They were tall, handsome young men, whose native elegance of +carriage was but imperfectly hidden under an equipment evidently +adopted for, and otherwise fully answering, the purpose of disguise. A +blue cotton shell jacket, closely fitting to the person, trowsers of +the same material, a pair of strong deer-skin mocassins, and a coloured +handkerchief tied loosely round the collar of a checked shirt, the +whole surmounted by one of those rough blanket coats, elsewhere +described, formed the principal portion of their garb. Each, moreover, +wore a false queue of about nine inches in length, the effect of which +was completely to change the character of the countenance, and lend to +the features a Canadian-like expression. A red worsted cap, resembling +a bonnet de nuit, was thrown carelessly over the side of the head, +which could, at any moment, when deeper disguise should be deemed +necessary, command the additional protection of the rude hood that fell +back upon the shoulders from the collar of the coat to which it was +attached. They were both well armed. Into a broad belt, that encircled +the jacket of each, were thrust a brace of pistols and a strong dagger; +the whole so disposed, however, as to be invisible when the outer +garment was closed: this, again, was confined by a rude sash of worsted +of different colours, not unlike, in texture and quality, what is worn +by our sergeants at the present day. They were otherwise armed, +however, and in a less secret manner. Across the right shoulder of each +was thrown a belt of worsted also, to which were attached a rude powder +horn and shot pouch, with a few straggling bullets, placed there as if +rather by accident than design. Each held carelessly in his left hand, +and with its butt resting on the earth, a long gun; completing an +appearance, the attainment of which had, in all probability, been +sedulously sought,--that of a Canadian duck-hunter. + +A metamorphosis so ludicrously operated in the usually elegant costume +of two young English officers,--for such they were,--might have been +expected to afford scope to the pleasantry of their companions, and to +call forth those sallies which the intimacy of friendship and the +freemasonry of the profession would have fully justified. But the +events that had occurred in such rapid succession, since the preceding +midnight, were still painfully impressed on the recollection of all, +and some there were who looked as if they never would smile again; +neither laugh nor jeering, therefore, escaped the lips of one of the +surrounding group. Every countenance wore a cast of thought,--a +character of abstraction, ill suited to the indulgence of levity; and +the little conversation that passed between them was in a low and +serious tone. It was evident some powerful and absorbing dread existed +in the mind of each, inducing him rather to indulge in communion with +his own thoughts and impressions, than to communicate them to others. +Even the governor himself had, for a moment, put off the dignity and +distance of his usually unapproachable nature, to assume an air of +unfeigned concern, and it might be dejection, contrasting strongly with +his habitual haughtiness. Hitherto he had been walking to and fro, a +little apart from the group, and with a hurriedness and indecision of +movement that betrayed to all the extreme agitation of his mind. For +once, however, he appeared to be insensible to observation, or, if not +insensible, indifferent to whatever comments might be formed or +expressed by those who witnessed his undissembled emotion. He was at +length interrupted by the adjutant, who communicated something in a low +voice. + +"Let him be brought up, Mr. Lawson," was the reply. Then advancing into +the heart of the group, and addressing the two adventurers, he +enquired, in a tone that startled from its singular mildness, "if they +were provided with every thing they required." + +An affirmative reply was given, when the governor, taking the taller of +the young men aside, conversed with him earnestly, and in a tone of +affection strangely blended with despondency. The interview, however, +was short, for Mr. Lawson now made his appearance, conducting an +individual who has already been introduced to our readers. It was the +Canadian of the Fleur de lis. The adjutant placed a small wooden +crucifix in the hands of the governor. + +"Francois," said the latter, impressively, "you know the terms on which +I have consented to spare your life. Swear, then, by this cross; that +you will be faithful to your trust; that neither treachery nor evasion +shall be practised; and that you will, to the utmost of your power, aid +in conveying these gentlemen to their destination. Kneel and swear it." + +"I do swear it!" fervently repeated the aubergiste, kneeling and +imprinting his lips with becoming reverence on the symbol of martyrdom. +"I swear to do dat I shall engage, and may de bon Dieu have mercy to my +soul as I shall fulfil my oat." + +"Amen," pronounced the governor, "and may Heaven deal by you even as +you deal by us. Bear in mind, moreover, that as your treachery will be +punished, so also shall your fidelity be rewarded. But the night wears +apace, and ye have much to do." Then turning to the young officers who +were to be his companions,--"God bless you both; may your enterprise be +successful! I fear," offering his hand to the younger, "I have spoken +harshly to you, but at a moment like the present you will no longer +cherish a recollection of the unpleasant past." + +The only answer was a cordial return of his own pressure. The Canadian +in his turn now announced the necessity for instant departure, when the +young men, following his example, threw their long guns carelessly over +the left shoulder. Low, rapid, and fervent adieus were uttered on both +sides; and although the hands of the separating parties met only in a +short and hurried grasp, there was an expression in the touch of each +that spoke to their several hearts long after the separation had +actually taken place. + +"Stay one moment!" exclaimed a voice, as the little party now moved +towards the gateway; "ye are both gallantly enough provided without, +but have forgotten there is something quite as necessary to sustain the +inward man. Duck shooting, you know, is wet work. The last lips that +were moistened from this," he proceeded, as the younger of the +disguised men threw the strap of the proffered canteen over his +shoulder, "were those of poor Ellen Halloway." + +The mention of that name, so heedlessly pronounced by the brave but +inconsiderate Erskine, produced a startling effect on the taller of the +departing officers. He struck his brow violently with his hand, uttered +a faint groan, and bending his head upon his chest, stood in an +attitude expressive of the deep suffering of his mind. The governor, +too, appeared agitated; and sounds like those of suppressed sobs came +from one who lingered at the side of him who had accepted the offer of +the canteen. The remainder of the officers preserved a deep and +mournful silence. + +"It is times dat we should start," again observed the Canadian, "or we +shall be taken by de daylight before we can clear de river." + +This intimation once more aroused the slumbering energies of the taller +officer. Again he drew up his commanding figure, extended his hand to +the governor in silence, and turning abruptly round, hastened to follow +close in the footsteps of his conductor. + +"You will not forget all I have said to you," whispered the voice of +one who had reserved his parting for the last, and who now held the +hand of the younger adventurer closely clasped in his own. "Think, oh, +think how much depends on the event of your dangerous enterprise." + +"When you behold me again," was the reply, "it will be with smiles on +my lip and gladness in my heart; for if we fail, there is that within +me, which whispers I shall never see you more. But keep up your +spirits, and hope for the best. We embark under cheerless auspices, it +is true; but let us trust to Providence for success in so good a +cause,--God bless you!" + +In the next minute he had joined his companions; who, with light and +noiseless tread, were already pursuing their way along the military +road that led to the eastern extremity of the town. Soon afterwards, +the heavy chains of the drawbridge were heard grating on the ear, in +despite of the evident caution used in restoring it to its wonted +position, and all again was still. + +It had at first been suggested their course should be held in an +angular direction across the cleared country alluded to in our last +chapter, in order to avoid all chance of recognition in the town; but +as this might have led them into more dangerous contact with some of +the outlying parties of Indians, who were known to prowl around the +fort at night, this plan had been abandoned for the more circuitous and +safe passage by the village. Through this our little party now pursued +their way, and without encountering aught to impede their progress. The +simple mannered inhabitants had long since retired to rest, and neither +light nor sound denoted the existence of man or beast within its +precincts. At length they reached that part of the road which turned +off abruptly in the direction of the Fleur de lis. The rude hut threw +its dark shadows across their path, but all was still and deathlike as +in the village they had just quitted. Presently, however, as they drew +nearer, they beheld, reflected from one of the upper windows, a faint +light that fell upon the ground immediately in front of the auberge; +and, at intervals, the figure of a human being approaching and receding +from it as if in the act of pacing the apartment. + +An instinctive feeling of danger rose at the same moment to the hearts +of the young officers; and each, obeying the same impulse, unfastened +one of the large horn buttons of his blanket coat, and thrust his right +hand into the opening. + +"Francois, recollect your oath," hastily aspirated the elder, as he +grasped the hand of their conductor rather in supplication than in +threat; "if there be aught to harm us here, your own life will most +assuredly pay the forfeit of your faith." + +"It is noting but a womans," calmly returned the Canadian; "it is my +Babette who is sorry at my loss. But I shall come and tell you +directly." + +He then stole gently round the corner of the hut, leaving his anxious +companions in the rear of the little building, and completely veiled in +the obscurity produced by the mingling shadows of the hut itself, and a +few tall pear trees that overhung the paling of the orchard at some +yards from the spot on which they stood. + +They waited some minutes to hear the result of the Canadian's +admittance into his dwelling; but although each with suppressed +breathing sought to catch those sounds of welcome with which a daughter +might be supposed to greet a parent so unexpectedly restored, they +listened in vain. At length, however, while the ears of both were on +the rack to drink in the tones of a human voice, a faint scream floated +on the hushed air, and all again was still. + +"Good!" whispered the elder of the officers; "that scream is sweeter to +my ear than the softest accents of woman's love. It is evident the +ordinary tones of speech cannot find their way to us here from the +front of the hut. The faintness of yon cry, which was unquestionably +that of a female, is a convincing proof of it." + +"Hist!" urged his companion, in the same almost inaudible whisper, +"what sound was that?" + +Both again listened attentively, when the noise was repeated. It came +from the orchard, and resembled the sound produced by the faint crash +of rotten sticks and leaves under the cautious but unavoidably rending +tread of a human foot. At intervals it ceased, as if the person +treading, alarmed at his own noise, was apprehensive of betraying his +approach; and then recommenced, only to be checked in the same manner. +Finally it ceased altogether. + +For upwards of five minutes the young men continued to listen for a +renewal of the sound, but nothing was now audible, save the short and +fitful gusts of a rising wind among the trees of the orchard. + +"It must have been some wild animal in search of its prey," again +whispered the younger officer; "had it been a man, we should have heard +him leap the paling before this." + +"By Heaven, we are betrayed,--here he is," quickly rejoined the other, +in the same low tone. "Keep close to the hut, and stand behind me. If +my dagger fail, you must try your own. But fire not, on your life, +unless there be more than two, for the report of a pistol will be the +destruction of ourselves and all that are dear to us." + +Each with uplifted arm now stood ready to strike, even while his heart +throbbed with a sense of danger, that had far more than the mere dread +of personal suffering or death to stimulate to exertion in +self-defence. Footsteps were now distinctly heard stealing round that +part of the hut which bordered on the road; and the young men turned +from the orchard, to which their attention had previously been +directed, towards the new quarter whence they were intruded upon. + +It was fortunate this mode of approach had been selected. That part of +the hut which rested on the road was so exposed as to throw the outline +of objects into strong relief, whereas in the direction of the thickly +wooded orchard all was impenetrable gloom. Had the intruder stolen +unannounced upon the alarmed but determined officers by the latter +route, the dagger of the first would in all probability have been +plunged to its hilt in his bosom. As it was, each had sufficient +presence of mind to distinguish, as it now doubled the corner of the +hut, and reposed upon the road, the stout square-set figure of the +Canadian. The daggers were instantly restored to their sheaths, and +each, for the first time since the departure of their companion, +respired freely. + +"It is quite well," whispered the latter as he approached. "It was my +poor Babette, who tought I was gone to be kill. She scream so loud, as +if she had seen my ghost. But we must wait a few minute in de house, +and you shall see how glad my girl is to see me once again." + +"Why this delay, Francois? why not start directly?" urged the taller +officer; "we shall never clear the river in time; and if the dawn +catches us in the waters of the Detroit, we are lost for ever." + +"But you see I am not quite prepare yet," was the answer. "I have many +tings to get ready for de canoe, which I have not use for a long times. +But you shall not wait ten minute, if you do not like. Dere is a good +fire, and Babette shall give you some ting to eat while I get it all +ready." + +The young men hesitated. The delay of the Canadian, who had so +repeatedly urged the necessity for expedition while in the fort, had, +to say the least of it, an appearance of incongruity. Still it was +evident, if disposed to harm them, he had full opportunity to do so +without much risk of effectual opposition from themselves. Under all +circumstances, therefore, it was advisable rather to appear to confide +implicitly in his truth, than, by manifesting suspicion, to pique his +self-love, and neutralize whatever favourable intentions he might +cherish in their behalf. In this mode of conduct they were confirmed, +by a recollection of the sacredness attached by the religion of their +conductor to the oath so solemnly pledged on the symbol of the cross, +and by a conviction of the danger of observation to which they stood +exposed, if, as they had apprehended, it was actually a human footstep +they had heard in the orchard. This last recollection suggested a +remark. + +"We heard a strange sound within the orchard, while waiting here for +your return," said the taller officer; "it was like the footstep of a +man treading cautiously over rotten leaves and branches. How do you +account for it?" + +"Oh, it was my pigs," replied the Canadian, without manifesting the +slightest uneasiness at the information. "They run about in de orchard +for de apples what blows down wid de wind." + +"It could not be a pig we heard," pursued his questioner; "but another +thing, Francois, before we consent to enter the hut,--how will you +account to your daughter for our presence? and what suspicion may she +not form at seeing two armed strangers in company with you at this +unseasonable hour." + +"I have tell her," replied the Canadian, "dat I have bring two friends, +who go wid me in de canoe to shoot de ducks for two tree days. You +know, sir, I go always in de fall to kill de ducks wid my friends, and +she will not tink it strange." + +"You have managed well, my brave fellow; and now we follow you in +confidence. But in the name of Heaven, use all possible despatch, and +if money will lend a spur to your actions, you shall have plenty of it +when our enterprise has been accomplished." + +Our adventurers followed their conductor in the track by which he had +so recently rejoined them. As they turned the corner of the hut, the +younger, who brought up the rear, fancied he again heard a sound in the +direction of the orchard, resembling that of one lightly leaping to the +ground. A gust of wind, however, passing rapidly at the moment through +the dense foliage, led him to believe it might have been produced by +the sullen fall of one of the heavy fruits it had detached in its +course. Unwilling to excite new and unnecessary suspicion in his +companion, he confined the circumstance to his own breast, and followed +into the hut. + +After ascending a flight of about a dozen rude steps, they found +themselves in a small room, furnished with no other ceiling than the +sloping roof itself, and lighted by an unwieldy iron lamp, placed on a +heavy oak table, near the only window with which the apartment was +provided. This latter had suffered much from the influence of time and +tempest; and owing to the difficulty of procuring glass in so remote a +region, had been patched with slips of paper in various parts. The two +corner and lower panes of the bottom sash were out altogether, and pine +shingles, such as are used even at the present day for covering the +roofs of dwelling houses, had been fitted into the squares, excluding +air and light at the same time. The centre pane of this tier was, +however, clear and free from flaw of every description. Opposite to the +window blazed a cheerful wood fire, recently supplied with fuel; and at +one of the inner corners of the room was placed a low uncurtained bed, +that exhibited marks of having been lain in since it was last made. On +a chair at its side were heaped a few dark-looking garments, the +precise nature of which were not distinguishable at a cursory and +distant glance. + +Such were the more remarkable features of the apartment into which our +adventurers were now ushered. Both looked cautiously around on +entering, as if expecting to find it tenanted by spirits as daring as +their own; but, with the exception of the daughter of their conductor, +whose moist black eyes expressed, as much by tears as by smiles, the +joy she felt at this unexpected return of her parent, no living object +met their enquiring glance. The Canadian placed a couple of +rush-bottomed chairs near the fire, invited his companions to seat +themselves until he had completed his preparation for departure, and +then, desiring Babette to hasten supper for the young hunters, quitted +the room and descended the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The position of the young men was one of embarrassment; for while the +daughter, who was busied in executing the command of her father, +remained in the room, it was impossible they could converse together +without betraying the secret of their country, and, as a result of +this, the falsehood of the character under which they appeared. Long +residence in the country had, it is true, rendered the patois of that +class of people whom they personated familiar to one, but the other +spoke only the pure and native language of which it was a corruption. +It might have occurred to them at a cooler moment, and under less +critical circumstances, that, even if their disguise had been +penetrated, it was unlikely a female, manifesting so much lively +affection for her parent, would have done aught to injure those with +whom he had evidently connected himself. But the importance attached to +their entire security from danger left them but little room for +reflections of a calming character, while a doubt of that security +remained. + +One singularity struck them both. They had expected the young woman, +urged by a natural curiosity, would have commenced a conversation, even +if they did not; and he who spoke the patois was prepared to sustain it +as well as his anxious and overcharged spirit would enable him; and as +he was aware the morning had furnished sufficient incident of fearful +interest, he had naturally looked for a verbal re-enactment of the +harrowing and dreadful scene. To their surprise, however, they both +remarked that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation, +the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered constantly +near the table, and facing the window. Still, to avoid an appearance of +singularity on their own parts as far as possible, the elder of the +officers motioned to his companion, who, following his example, took a +small pipe and some tobacco from a compartment in his shot pouch, and +commenced puffing the wreathing smoke from his lips,--an occupation, +more than any other, seeming to justify their silence. + +The elder officer sat with his back to the window, and immediately in +front of the fire; his companion, at a corner of the rude hearth, and +in such a manner that, without turning his head, he could command every +part of the room at a glance. In the corner facing him stood the bed +already described. A faint ray of the fire-light fell on some minute +object glittering in the chair, the contents of which were heaped up in +disorder. Urged by that wayward curiosity, which is sometimes excited, +even under circumstances of the greatest danger and otherwise absorbing +interest, the young man kicked the hickory log that lay nearest to it +with his mocassined foot, and produced a bright crackling flame, the +reflection of which was thrown entirely upon the object of his gaze; it +was a large metal button, on which the number of his regiment was +distinctly visible. Unable to check his desire to know further, he left +his seat, to examine the contents of the chair. As he moved across the +room, he fancied he heard a light sound from without; his companion, +also, seemed to manifest a similar impression by an almost +imperceptible start; but the noise was so momentary, and so fanciful, +neither felt it worth his while to pause upon the circumstance. The +young officer now raised the garments from the chair: they consisted of +a small grey great-coat, and trowsers, a waistcoat of coarse white +cloth, a pair of worsted stockings, and the half-boots of a boy; the +whole forming the drum-boy's equipment, worn by the wretched wife of +Halloway when borne senseless into the hut on that fatal morning. +Hastily quitting a dress that called up so many dreadful recollections, +and turning to his companion with a look that denoted apprehension, +lest he too should have beheld these melancholy remembrances of the +harrowing scene, the young officer hastened to resume his seat. In the +act of so doing, his eye fell upon the window, at which the female +still lingered. Had a blast from Heaven struck his sight, the terror of +his soul could not have been greater. He felt his cheek to pale, and +his hair to bristle beneath his cap, while the checked blood crept +slowly and coldly, as if its very function had been paralysed; still he +had presence of mind sufficient not to falter in his step, or to +betray, by any extraordinary movement, that his eye had rested on any +thing hateful to behold. + +His companion had emptied his first pipe, and was in the act of +refilling it, when he resumed his seat. He was evidently impatient at +the delay of the Canadian, and already were his lips opening to give +utterance to his disappointment, when he felt his foot significantly +pressed by that of his friend. An instinctive sense of something +fearful that was to ensue, but still demanding caution on his part, +prevented him from turning hastily round to know the cause. Satisfied, +however, there was danger, though not of an instantaneous character, he +put his pipe gently by, and stealing his hand under his coat, again +grasped the hilt of his dagger. At length he slowly and partially +turned his head, while his eyes inquiringly demanded of his friend the +cause of his alarm. + +Partly to aid in concealing his increasing paleness, and partly with a +view to render it a medium for the conveyance of subdued sound, the +hand of the latter was raised to his face in such a manner that the +motion of his lips could not be distinguished from behind. + +"We are betrayed," he scarcely breathed. "If you can command yourself, +turn and look at the window; but for God's sake arm yourself with +resolution, or look not at all: first draw the hood over your head, and +without any appearance of design. Our only chance of safety lies in +this,--that the Canadian may still be true, and that our disguise may +not be penetrated." + +In despite of his native courage,--and this had often been put to +honourable proof,--he, thus mysteriously addressed, felt his heart to +throb violently. There was something so appalled in the countenance of +his friend--something so alarming in the very caution he had +recommended--that a vague dread of the horrible reality rushed at once +to his mind, and for a moment his own cheek became ashy pale, and his +breathing painfully oppressed. It was the natural weakness of the +physical man, over which the moral faculties had, for an instant, lost +their directing power. Speedily recovering himself, the young man +prepared to encounter the alarming object which had already so greatly +intimidated his friend. Carefully drawing the blanket hood over his +head, he rose from his seat, and, with the energetic movement of one +who has formed some desperate determination, turned his back to the +fire-place, and threw his eyes rapidly and eagerly upon the window. +They fell only on the rude patchwork of which it was principally +composed. The female had quitted the room. + +"You must have been deceived," he whispered, keeping his eye still bent +upon the window, and with so imperceptible a movement of the lips that +sound alone could have betrayed he was speaking,--"I see nothing to +justify your alarm. Look again." + +The younger officer once more directed his glance towards the window, +and with a shuddering of the whole person, as he recollected what had +met his eye when he last looked upon it. "It is no longer there, +indeed," he returned in the same scarcely audible tone. "Yet I could +not be mistaken; it was between those two corner squares of wood in the +lower sash." + +"Perhaps it was merely a reflection produced by the lamp on the centre +pane," rejoined his friend, still keeping his eye riveted on the +suspicious point. + +"Impossible! but I will examine the window from the spot on which I +stood when I first beheld it." + +Again he quitted his seat, and carelessly crossed the room. As he +returned he threw his glance upon the pane, when, to his infinite +horror and surprise, the same frightful vision presented itself. + +"God of Heaven!" he exclaimed aloud, and unable longer to check the +ebullition of his feelings,--"what means this?--Is my brain turned? and +am I the sport of my own delusive fancy?--Do you not see it NOW?" + +No answer was returned. His friend stood mute and motionless, with his +left hand grasping his gun, and his right thrust into the waist of his +coat. His eye grew upon the window, and his chest heaved, and his cheek +paled and flushed alternately with the subdued emotion of his heart. A +human face was placed close to the unblemished glass, and every feature +was distinctly revealed by the lamp that still lay upon the table. The +glaring eye was fixed on the taller of the officers; but though the +expression was unfathomably guileful, there was nothing that denoted +any thing like a recognition of the party. The brightness of the wood +fire had so far subsided as to throw the interior of the room into +partial obscurity, and under the disguise of his hood it was impossible +for one without to distinguish the features of the taller officer. The +younger, who was scarcely an object of attention, passed comparatively +unnoticed. + +Fatigued and dimmed with the long and eager tension of its nerves, the +eye of the latter now began to fail him. For a moment he closed it; and +when again it fell upon the window; it encountered nothing but the +clear and glittering pane. For upwards of a minute he and his friend +still continued to rivet their gaze, but the face was no longer visible. + +Why is it that what is called the "human face divine" is sometimes +gifted with a power to paralyse, that the most loathsome reptile in the +creation cannot attain? Had a hyena or cougar of the American forest, +roaring for prey, appeared at that window, ready to burst the fragile +barrier, and fasten its talons in their hearts, its presence would not +have struck such sickness to the soul of our adventurers as did that +human face. It is that man, naturally fierce and inexorable, is alone +the enemy of his own species. The solution of this problem--this +glorious paradox in nature, we leave to profounder philosophers to +resolve. Sufficient for us be it to know, and to deplore that it is so. + +Footsteps were now heard upon the stairs; and the officers, aroused to +a full sense of their danger, hastily and silently prepared themselves +for the encounter. + +"Drop a bullet into your gun," whispered the elder, setting the example +himself. "We may be obliged to have recourse to it at last. Yet make no +show of hostility unless circumstances satisfy us we are betrayed; +then, indeed, all that remains for us will be to sell our lives as +dearly as we can. Hist! he is here." + +The door opened; and at the entrance, which was already filled up in +the imaginations of the young men with a terrible and alarming figure, +appeared one whose return had been anxiously and long desired. It was a +relief, indeed, to their gallant but excited hearts to behold another +than the form they had expected; and although, for the moment, they +knew not whether the Canadian came in hostility or in friendship, each +quitted the attitude of caution into which he had thrown himself, and +met him midway in his passage through the room. There was nothing in +the expression of his naturally open and good-humoured countenance to +denote he was at all aware of the causes for alarm that had operated so +powerfully on themselves. He announced with a frank look and +unfaltering voice every thing was in readiness for their departure. + +The officers hesitated; and the taller fixed his eyes upon those of +mine host, as if his gaze would have penetrated to the innermost +recesses of his heart. Could this be a refinement of his treachery? and +was he really ignorant of the existence of the danger which threatened +them? Was it not more probable his object was to disarm their fears, +that they might be given unprepared and, therefore, unresisting victims +to the ferocity of their enemies? Aware as he was, that they were both +well provided with arms, and fully determined to use them with effect, +might not his aim be to decoy them to destruction without, lest the +blood spilt under his roof, in the desperation of their defence, should +hereafter attest against him, and expose him to the punishment he would +so richly merit? Distracted by these doubts, the young men scarcely +knew what to think or how to act; and anxious as they had previously +been to quit the hut, they now considered the moment of their doing so +would be that of their destruction. The importance of the enterprise on +which they were embarked was such as to sink all personal +considerations. If they had felt the influence of intimidation on their +spirits, it arose less from any apprehension of consequences to +themselves, than from the recollection of the dearer interests involved +in their perfect security from discovery. + +"Francois," feelingly urged the taller officer, again adverting to his +vow, "you recollect the oath you so solemnly pledged upon the cross of +your Saviour. Tell me, then, as you hope for mercy, have you taken that +oath only that you might the more securely betray us to our enemies? +What connection have you with them at this moment? and who is HE who +stood looking through that window not ten minutes since?" + +"As I shall hope for mercy in my God," exclaimed the Canadian with +unfeigned astonishment, "I have not see nobody. But what for do you +tink so? It is not just. I have given my oat to serve you, and I shall +do it." + +There was candour both in the tone and countenance of the man as he +uttered these words, half in reproach, half in justification; and the +officers no longer doubted. + +"You must forgive our suspicions at a moment like the present," +soothingly observed the younger; "yet, Francois, your daughter saw and +exchanged signals with the person we mean. She left the room soon after +he made his appearance. What has become of her?" + +The Canadian gave a sudden start, looked hastily round, and seemed to +perceive for the first time the girl was absent. He then put a finger +to his lip to enjoin silence, advanced to the table, and extinguished +the light. Desiring his companions, in a low whisper, to tread +cautiously and follow, he now led the way with almost noiseless step to +the entrance of the hut. At the threshold of the door were placed a +large well-filled sack, a light mast and sail, and half a dozen +paddles. The latter burden he divided between the officers, on whose +shoulders he carefully balanced them. The sack he threw across his own; +and, without expressing even a regret that an opportunity of bidding +adieu to his child was denied him, hastily skirted the paling of the +orchard until, at the further extremity, he had gained the high road. + +The heavens were obscured by passing clouds driven rapidly by the wind, +during the short pauses of which our adventurers anxiously and +frequently turned to listen if they were pursued. Save the rustling of +the trees that lined the road, and the slight dashing of the waters on +the beach, however, no sound was distinguishable. At length they gained +the point whence they were to start. It was the fatal bridge, the +events connected with which were yet so painfully fresh in their +recollection. + +"Stop one minutes here," whispered the Canadian, throwing his sack upon +the sand near the mouth of the lesser river; "my canoe is chain about +twenty yards up de bridge. I shall come to you directly." Then +cautioning the officers to keep themselves concealed under the bridge, +he moved hastily under the arch, and disappeared in the dark shadow +which it threw across the rivulet. + +The extremities of the bridge rested on the banks of the little river +in such a manner as to leave a narrow passage along the sands +immediately under the declination of the arch. In accordance with the +caution of their conductor, the officers had placed themselves under +it; and with their backs slightly bent forward to meet the curvature of +the bridge, so that no ray of light could pass between their bodies and +the fabric itself, now awaited the arrival of the vessel on which their +only hope depended. We shall not attempt to describe their feelings on +finding themselves, at that lone hour of the night, immediately under a +spot rendered fearfully memorable by the tragic occurrences of the +morning. The terrible pursuit of the fugitive, the execution of the +soldier, the curse and prophecy of his maniac wife, and, above all, the +forcible abduction and threatened espousal of that unhappy woman by the +formidable being who seemed to have identified himself with the evils +with which they stood menaced,--all rushed with rapid tracery on the +mind, and excited the imagination, until each, filled with a sentiment +not unallied to superstitious awe, feared to whisper forth his +thoughts, lest in so doing he should invoke the presence of those who +had principally figured in the harrowing and revolting scene. + +"Did you not hear a noise?" at length whispered the elder, as he leaned +himself forward, and bent his head to the sand, to catch more +distinctly a repetition of the sound. + +"I did; there again! It is upon the bridge, and not unlike the step of +one endeavouring to tread lightly. It may be some wild beast, however." + +"We must not be taken by surprise," returned his companion. "If it be a +man, the wary tread indicates consciousness of our presence. If an +animal, there can be no harm in setting our fears at rest." + +Cautiously stealing from his lurking-place, the young officer emerged +into the open sands, and in a few measured noiseless strides gained the +extremity of the bridge. The dark shadow of something upon its centre +caught his eye, and a low sound like that of a dog lapping met his ear. +While his gaze yet lingered on the shapeless object, endeavouring to +give it a character, the clouds which had so long obscured it passed +momentarily from before the moon, and disclosed the appalling truth. It +was a wolf-dog lapping up from the earth, in which they were encrusted, +the blood and brains of the unfortunate Frank Halloway. + +Sick and faint at the disgusting sight, the young man rested his elbow +on the railing that passed along the edge of the bridge, and, leaning +his head on his hand for a moment, forgot the risk of exposure he +incurred, in the intenseness of the sorrow that assailed his soul. His +heart and imagination were already far from the spot on which he stood, +when he felt an iron hand upon his shoulder. He turned, shuddering with +an instinctive knowledge of his yet unseen visitant, and beheld +standing over him the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the savage in a low triumphant tone, "the place +of our meeting is well timed, though somewhat singular, it must be +confessed. Nay," he fiercely added, grasping as in a vice the arm that +was already lifted to strike him, "force me not to annihilate you on +the spot. Ha! hear you the cry of my wolf-dog?" as that animal now set +up a low but fearful howl; "it is for your blood he asks, but your hour +is not yet come." + +"No, by Heaven, is it not!" exclaimed a voice; a rapid and rushing +sweep was heard through the air for an instant, and then a report like +a stunning blow. The warrior released his grasp--placed his hand upon +his tomahawk, but without strength to remove it from his belt tottered +a pace or two backwards--and then fell, uttering a cry of mingled pain +and disappointment, at his length upon the earth. + +"Quick, quick to our cover!" exclaimed the younger officer, as a loud +shout was now heard from the forest in reply to the yell of the fallen +warrior. "If Francois come not, we are lost; the howl of that wolf-dog +alone will betray us, even if his master should be beyond all chance of +recovery." + +"Desperate diseases require desperate remedies," was the reply; "there +is little glory in destroying a helpless enemy, but the necessity is +urgent, and we must leave nothing to chance." As he spoke, he knelt +upon the huge form of the senseless warrior, whose scalping knife he +drew from its sheath, and striking a firm and steady blow, quitted not +the weapon until he felt his hand reposing on the chest of his enemy. + +The howl of the wolf-dog, whose eyes glared like two burning coals +through the surrounding gloom, was now exchanged to a fierce and +snappish bark. He made a leap at the officer while in the act of rising +from the body; but his fangs fastened only in the chest of the shaggy +coat, which he wrung with the strength and fury characteristic of his +peculiar species. This new and ferocious attack was fraught with danger +little inferior to that which they had just escaped, and required the +utmost promptitude of action. The young man seized the brute behind the +neck in a firm and vigorous grasp, while he stooped upon the motionless +form over which this novel struggle was maintained, and succeeded in +making himself once more master of the scalping knife. Half choked by +the hand that unflinchingly grappled with him, the savage animal +quitted his hold and struggled violently to free himself. This was the +critical moment. The officer drew the heavy sharp blade, from the +handle to the point, across the throat of the infuriated beast, with a +force that divided the principal artery. He made a desperate leap +upwards, spouting his blood over his destroyer, and then fell gasping +across the body of his master. A low growl, intermingled with faint +attempts to bark, which the rapidly oozing life rendered more and more +indistinct, succeeded; and at length nothing but a gurgling sound was +distinguishable. + +Meanwhile the anxious and harassed officers had regained their place of +concealment under the bridge, where they listened with suppressed +breathing for the slightest sound to indicate the approach of the +canoe. At intervals they fancied they could hear a noise resembling the +rippling of water against the prow of a light vessel, but the swelling +cries of the rushing band, becoming at every instant more distinct, +were too unceasingly kept up to admit of their judging with accuracy. + +They now began to give themselves up for lost, and many and bitter were +the curses they inwardly bestowed on the Canadian, when the outline of +a human form was seen advancing along the sands, and a dark object upon +the water. It was their conductor, dragging the canoe along, with all +the strength and activity of which he was capable. + +"What the devil have you been about all this time, Francois?" exclaimed +the taller officer, as he bounded to meet him. "Quick, quick, or we +shall be too late. Hear you not the blood-hounds on their scent?" Then +seizing the chain in his hand, with a powerful effort he sent the canoe +flying through the arch to the very entrance of the river. The burdens +that had been deposited on the sands were hastily flung in, the +officers stepping lightly after. The Canadian took the helm, directing +the frail vessel almost noiselessly through the water, and with such +velocity, that when the cry of the disappointed savages was heard +resounding from the bridge, it had already gained the centre of the +Detroit. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Two days had succeeded to the departure of the officers from the fort, +but unproductive of any event of importance. About daybreak, however, +on the morning of the third, the harassed garrison were once more +summoned to arms, by an alarm from the sentinels planted in rear of the +works; a body of Indians they had traced and lost at intervals, as they +wound along the skirt of the forest, in their progress from their +encampment, were at length developing themselves in force near the bomb +proof. With a readiness which long experience and watchfulness had +rendered in some degree habitual to them, the troops flew to their +respective posts; while a few of the senior officers, among whom was +the governor, hastened to the ramparts to reconnoitre the strength and +purpose of their enemies. It was evident the views of these latter were +not immediately hostile; for neither were they in their war paint, nor +were their arms of a description to carry intimidation to a disciplined +and fortified soldiery. Bows, arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, spears, and +scalping knives, constituted their warlike equipments, but neither +rifle nor fire-arms of any kind were discernible. Several of their +leaders, distinguishable by a certain haughty carriage and commanding +gesticulation, were collected within the elevated bomb-proof, +apparently holding a short but important conference apart from their +people, most of whom stood or lay in picturesque attitudes around the +ruin. These also had a directing spirit. A tall and noble looking +warrior, wearing a deer-skin hunting frock closely girded around his +loins, appeared to command the deference of his colleagues, claiming +profound attention when he spoke himself, and manifesting his assent or +dissent to the apparently expressed opinions of the lesser chiefs +merely by a slight movement of the head. + +"There he is indeed!" exclaimed Captain Erskine, speaking as one who +communes with his own thoughts, while he kept his telescope levelled on +the form of the last warrior; "looking just as noble as when, three +years ago, he opposed himself to the progress of the first English +detachment that had ever penetrated to this part of the world. What a +pity such a fine fellow should be so desperate and determined an enemy!" + +"True; you were with Major Rogers on that expedition," observed the +governor, in a tone now completely divested of the haughtiness which +formerly characterised his address to his officers. "I have often heard +him speak of it. You had many difficulties to contend against, if I +recollect." + +"We had indeed, sir," returned the frank-hearted Erskine, dropping the +glass from his eye. "So many, in fact, that more than once, in the +course of our progress through the wilderness, did I wish myself at +head-quarters with my company. Never shall I forget the proud and +determined expression of Ponteac's countenance, when he told Rogers, in +his figurative language, 'he stood in the path in which he travelled.'" + +"Thank Heaven, he at least stands not in the path in which OTHERS +travel," musingly rejoined the governor. "But what sudden movement is +that within the ruin?" + +"The Indians are preparing to show a white flag," shouted an +artillery-man from his station in one of the embrasures below. + +The governor and his officers received this intelligence without +surprise: the former took the glass from Captain Erskine, and coolly +raised it to his eye. The consultation had ceased; and the several +chiefs, with the exception of their leader and two others, were now +seen quitting the bomb-proof to join their respective tribes. One of +those who remained, sprang upon an elevated fragment of the ruin, and +uttered a prolonged cry, the purport of which,--and it was fully +understood from its peculiar nature,--was to claim attention from the +fort. He then received from the hands of the other chief a long spear, +to the end of which was attached a piece of white linen. This he waved +several times above his head; then stuck the barb of the spear firmly +into the projecting fragment. Quitting his elevated station, he next +stood at the side of the Ottawa chief, who had already assumed the air +and attitude of one waiting to observe in what manner his signal would +be received. + +"A flag of truce in all its bearings, by Jupiter!" remarked Captain +Erskine. "Ponteac seems to have acquired a few lessons since we first +met." + +"This is evidently the suggestion of some European," observed Major +Blackwater; "for how should he understand any thing of the nature of a +white flag? Some of those vile spies have put him up to this." + +"True enough, Blackwater; and they appear to have found an intelligent +pupil," observed Captain Wentworth. "I was curious to know how he would +make the attempt to approach us; but certainly never once dreamt of his +having recourse to so civilised a method. Their plot works well, no +doubt; still we have the counter-plot to oppose to it." + +"We must foil them with their own weapons," remarked the governor, +"even if it be only with a view to gain time. Wentworth, desire one of +your bombardiers to hoist the large French flag on the staff." + +The order was promptly obeyed. The Indians made a simultaneous movement +expressive of their satisfaction; and in the course of a minute, the +tall warrior, accompanied by nearly a dozen inferior chiefs, was seen +slowly advancing across the common, towards the group of officers. + +"What generous confidence the fellow has, for an Indian!" observed +Captain Erskine, who could not dissemble his admiration of the warrior. +"He steps as firmly and as proudly within reach of our muskets, as if +he was leading in the war-dance." + +"How strange," mused Captain Blessington, "that one who meditates so +deep a treachery, should have no apprehension of it in others!" + +"It is a compliment to the honour of our flag," observed the governor, +"which it must be our interest to encourage. If, as you say, Erskine, +the man is really endowed with generosity, the result of this affair +will assuredly call it forth." + +"If it prove otherwise, sir," was the reply, "we must only attribute +his perseverance to the influence which that terrible warrior of the +Fleur de lis is said to exercise over his better feelings. By the by, I +see nothing of him among this flag of truce party. It could scarcely be +called a violation of faith to cut off such a rascally renegade. Were +he of the number of those advancing, and Valletort's rifle within my +reach, I know not what use I might not be tempted to make of the last." + +Poor Erskine was singularly infelicitous in touching, and ever +unconsciously, on a subject sure to give pain to more than one of his +brother officers. A cloud passed over the brow of the governor, but it +was one that originated more in sorrow than in anger. Neither had he +time to linger on the painful recollections hastily and confusedly +called up by the allusion made to this formidable and mysterious being, +for the attention of all was now absorbed by the approaching Indians. +With a bold and confiding carriage the fierce Ponteac moved at the head +of his little party, nor hesitated one moment in his course, until he +got near the brink of the ditch, and stood face to face with the +governor, at a distance that gave both parties not only the facility of +tracing the expression of each other's features, but of conversing +without effort. There he made a sudden stand, and thrusting his spear +into the earth, assumed an attitude as devoid of apprehension as if he +had been in the heart of his own encampment. + +"My father has understood my sign," said the haughty chief. "The +warriors of a dozen tribes are far behind the path the Ottawa has just +travelled; but when the red skin comes unarmed, the hand of the Saganaw +is tied behind his back." + +"The strong hold of the Saganaw is his safeguard," replied the +governor, adopting the language of the Indian. "When the enemies of his +great father come in strength, he knows how to disperse them; but when +a warrior throws himself unarmed into his power, he respects his +confidence, and his arms hang rusting at his side." + +"The talk of my father is big," replied the warrior, with a scornful +expression that seemed to doubt the fact of so much indifference as to +himself; "but when it is a great chief who directs the nations, and +that chief his sworn enemy, the temptation to the Saganaw may be +strong." + +"The Saganaw is without fear," emphatically rejoined the governor; "he +is strong in his own honour; and he would rather die under the tomahawk +of the red skin, than procure a peace by an act of treachery." + +The Indian paused; cold, calm looks of intelligence passed between him +and his followers, and a few indistinct and guttural sentences were +exchanged among themselves. + +"But our father asks not why our mocassins have brushed the dew from +off the common," resumed the chief; "and yet it is long since the +Saganaw and the red skin have spoken to each other, except through the +war whoop. My father must wonder to see the great chief of the Ottawas +without the hatchet in his hand." + +"The hatchet often wounds those who use it unskilfully," calmly +returned the governor. "The Saganaw is not blind. The Ottawas, and the +other tribes, find the war paint heavy on their skins. They see that my +young men are not to be conquered, and they have sent the great head of +all the nations to sue for peace." + +In spite of the habitual reserve and self-possession of his race, the +haughty warrior could not repress a movement of impatience at the bold +and taunting language of his enemy, and for a moment there was a fire +in his eye that told how willingly he would have washed away the insult +in his blood. The same low guttural exclamations that had previously +escaped their lips, marked the sense entertained of the remark by his +companions. + +"My father is right," pursued the chief, resuming his self-command; +"the Ottawas, and the other tribes, ask for peace, but not because they +are afraid of war. When they strike the hatchet into the war post, they +leave it there until their enemies ask them to take it out." + +"Why come they now, then, to ask for peace?" was the cool demand. + +The warrior hesitated, evidently at a loss to give a reply that could +reconcile the palpable contradiction of his words. + +"The rich furs of our forests have become many," he at length observed, +"since we first took up the hatchet against the Saganaw; and every +bullet we keep for our enemies is a loss to our trade. We once +exchanged furs with the children of our father of the pale flag. They +gave us, in return, guns, blankets, powder, ball, and all that the red +man requires in the hunting season. These are all expended; and my +young men would deal with the Saganaw as they did with the French." + +"Good; the red skins would make peace; and although the arm of the +Saganaw is strong, he will not turn a deaf ear to their desire." + +"All the strong holds of the Saganaw, except two, have fallen before +the great chief of the Ottawas!" proudly returned the Indian, with a +look of mingled scorn and defiance. "They, too, thought themselves +beyond the reach of our tomahawks; but they were deceived. In less than +a single moon nine of them have fallen, and the tents of my young +warriors are darkened with their scalps; but this is past. If the red +skin asks for peace, it is because he is tired of seeing the blood of +the Saganaw on his tomahawk. Does my father hear?" + +"We will listen to the great chief of the Ottawas, and hear what he has +to say," returned the governor, who, as well as the officers at his +side, could with difficulty conceal their disgust and sorrow at the +dreadful intelligence thus imparted of the fates of their companions. +"But peace," he pursued with dignity, "can only be made in the council +room, and under the sacred pledge of the calumet. The great chief has a +wampum belt on his shoulder, and a calumet in his hand. His aged +warriors, too, are at his side. What says the Ottawa? Will he enter? If +so, the gate of the Saganaw shall be open to him." + +The warrior started; and for a moment the confidence that had hitherto +distinguished him seemed to give place to an apprehension of meditated +treachery. He, however, speedily recovered himself, and observed +emphatically, "It is the great head of all the nations whom my father +invites to the council seat. Were he to remain in the hands of the +Saganaw, his young men would lose their strength. They would bury the +hatchet for ever in despair, and hide their faces in the laps of their +women." + +"Does the Ottawa chief see the pale flag on the strong hold of his +enemies. While that continues to fly, he is safe as if he were under +the cover of his own wigwam. If the Saganaw could use guile like the +fox" (and this was said with marked emphasis), "what should prevent him +from cutting off the Ottawa and his chiefs, even where they now stand?" + +A half smile of derision passed over the dark cheek of the Indian. "If +the arm of an Ottawa is strong," he said, "his foot is not less swift. +The short guns of the chiefs of the Saganaw" (pointing to the pistols +of the officers) "could not reach us; and before the voice of our +father could be raised, or his eye turned, to call his warriors to his +side, the Ottawa would be already far on his way to the forest." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall judge better of the Saganaw," +returned the governor.--"He shall see that his young men are ever +watchful at their posts:--Up, men, and show yourselves." + +A second or two sufficed to bring the whole, of Captain Erskine's +company, who had been lying flat on their faces, to their feet on the +rampart. The Indians were evidently taken by surprise, though they +evinced no fear. The low and guttural "Ugh!" was the only expression +they gave to their astonishment, not unmingled with admiration. + +But, although the chiefs preserved their presence of mind, the sudden +appearance of the soldiers had excited alarm among their warriors, who, +grouped in and around the bomb-proof, were watching every movement of +the conferring parties, with an interest proportioned to the risk they +conceived their head men had incurred in venturing under the very walls +of their enemies. Fierce yells were uttered; and more than a hundred +dusky warriors, brandishing their tomahawks in air, leaped along the +skirt of the common, evidently only awaiting the signal of their great +chief, to advance and cover his retreat. At the command of the +governor, however, the men had again suddenly disappeared from the +surface of the rampart; so that when the Indians finally perceived +their leader stood unharmed and unmolested, on the spot he had +previously occupied, the excitement died away, and they once more +assumed their attitude of profound attention. + +"What thinks the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked the +governor;--"did he imagine that the young white men lie sleeping like +beavers in their dams, when the hunter sets his traps to catch +them?--did he imagine that they foresee not the designs of their +enemies? and that they are not always on the watch to prevent them?" + +"My father is a great warrior," returned the Indian; "and if his arm is +full of strength, his head is fall of wisdom. The chiefs will no longer +hesitate;--they will enter the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sit with +him in the council." + +He next addressed a few words, and in a language not understood by +those upon the walls, to one of the younger of the Indians. The latter +acknowledged his sense and approbation of what was said to him by an +assentient and expressive "Ugh!" which came from his chest without any +apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a modern +ventriloquist. He then hastened, with rapid and lengthened boundings, +across the common towards his band. After the lapse of a minute or two +from reaching them, another simultaneous cry arose, differing in +expression from any that had hitherto been heard. It was one denoting +submission to the will, and compliance with some conveyed desire, of +their superior. + +"Is the gate of the Saganaw open?" asked the latter, as soon as his ear +had been greeted with the cry we have just named. "The Ottawa and the +other great chiefs are ready;--their hearts are bold, and they throw +themselves into the hands of the Saganaw without fear." + +"The Ottawa chief knows the path," drily rejoined the governor: "when +he comes in peace, it is ever open to him; but when his young men press +it with the tomahawk in their hands, the big thunder is roused to +anger, and they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in the +storm." "Even now," he pursued, as the little band of Indians moved +slowly round the walls, "the gate of the Saganaw opens for the Ottawa +and the other chiefs." + +"Let the most vigilant caution be used every where along the works, but +especially in the rear," continued the governor, addressing Captain +Blessington, on whom the duty of the day had devolved. "We are safe, +while their chiefs are with us; but still it will be necessary to watch +the forest closely. We cannot be too much on our guard. The men had +better remain concealed, every twentieth file only standing up to form +a look-out chain. If any movement of a suspicious nature be observed, +let it be communicated by the discharge of a single musket, that the +drawbridge may be raised on the instant." With the delivery of these +brief instructions he quitted the rampart with the majority of his +officers. + +Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the mess-room to receive +the chiefs. The tables had been removed, and a number of clean rush +mats, manufactured, after the Indian manner, into various figures and +devices, spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from the +entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered with scarlet +cloth. This was considerably elevated above the surface of the floor, +and intended for the governor. On either side of the room, near these, +were ranged a number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior +officers. + +Major Blackwater received the chiefs at the gate. With a firm, proud +step, rendered more confident by his very unwillingness to betray any +thing like fear, the tall, and, as Captain Erskine had justly +designated him, the noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that +might in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever. The +other chiefs, following the example of their leader, evinced the same +easy fearlessness of demeanour, nor glanced once behind them to see if +there was any thing to justify the apprehension of hidden danger. + +The Ottawa was evidently mortified at not being received by the +governor in person. "My father is not here!" he said fiercely to the +major:--"how is this? The Ottawa and the other chiefs are kings of all +their tribes. The head of one great people should be received only by +the head of another great people!" + +"Our father sits in the council-hall," returned the major. "He has +taken his seat, that he may receive the warriors with becoming honour. +But I am the second chief, and our father has sent me to receive them." + +To the proud spirit of the Indian this explanation scarcely sufficed. +For a moment he seemed to struggle, as if endeavouring to stifle his +keen sense of an affront put upon him. At length he nodded his head +haughtily and condescendingly, in token of assent; and gathering up his +noble form, and swelling out his chest, as if with a view to strike +terror as well as admiration into the hearts of those by whom he +expected to be surrounded, stalked majestically forward at the head of +his confederates. + +An indifferent observer, or one ignorant of these people, would have +been at fault; but those who understood the workings of an Indian's +spirit could not have been deceived by the tranquil exterior of these +men. The rapid, keen, and lively glance--the suppressed sneer of +exultation--the half start of surprise--the low, guttural, and almost +inaudible "Ugh!"--all these indicated the eagerness with which, at one +sly but compendious view, they embraced the whole interior of a fort +which it was of such vital importance to their future interests they +should become possessed of, yet which they had so long and so +unsuccessfully attempted to subdue. As they advanced into the square, +they looked around, expecting to behold the full array of their +enemies; but, to their astonishment, not a soldier was to be seen. A +few women and children only, in whom curiosity had overcome a natural +loathing and repugnance to the savages, were peeping from the windows +of the block houses. Even at a moment like the present, the fierce +instinct of these latter was not to be controlled. One of the children, +terrified at the wild appearance of the warriors, screamed violently, +and clung to the bosom of its mother for protection. Fired at the +sound, a young chief raised his hand to his lips, and was about to peal +forth his terrible war whoop in the very centre of the fort, when the +eye of the Ottawa suddenly arrested him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +There were few forms of courtesy observed by the warriors towards the +English officers on entering the council room. Ponteac, who had +collected all his native haughtiness into one proud expression of look +and figure, strode in without taking the slightest notice even of the +governor. The other chiefs imitated his example, and all took their +seats upon the matting in the order prescribed by their rank among the +tribes, and their experience in council. The Ottawa chief sat at the +near extremity of the room, and immediately facing the governor. A +profound silence was observed for some minutes after the Indians had +seated themselves, during which they proceeded to fill their pipes. The +handle of that of the Ottawa chief was decorated with numerous feathers +fancifully disposed. + +"This is well," at length observed the governor. "It is long since the +great chiefs of the nations have smoked the sweet grass in the council +hall of the Saganaw. What have they to say, that their young men may +have peace to hunt the beaver, and to leave the print of their +mocassins in the country of the Buffalo?--What says the Ottawa chief?" + +"The Ottawa chief is a great warrior," returned the other, haughtily; +and again repudiating, in the indomitableness of his pride, the very +views that a more artful policy had first led him to avow. "He has +already said that, within a single moon, nine of the strong holds of +the Saganaw have fallen into his hands, and that the scalps of the +white men fill the tents of his warriors. If the red skins wish for +peace, it is because they are sick with spilling the blood of their +enemies. Does my father hear?" + +"The Ottawa has been cunning, like the fox," calmly returned the +governor. "He went with deceit upon his lips, and said to the great +chiefs of the strong holds of the Saganaw,--'You have no more forts +upon the lakes; they have all fallen before the red skins: they gave +themselves into our hands; and we spared their lives, and sent them +down to the great towns near the salt lake.' But this was false: the +chiefs of the Saganaw, believing what was said to them, gave up their +strong holds; but their lives were not spared, and the grass of the +Canadas is yet moist with their blood. Does the Ottawa hear?" + +Amazement and stupefaction sat for a moment on the features of the +Indians. The fact was as had been stated; and yet, so completely had +the several forts been cut off from all communication, it was deemed +almost impossible one could have received tidings of the fate of the +other, unless conveyed through the Indians themselves. + +"The spies of the Saganaw have been very quick to escape the vigilance +of the red skins," at length replied the Ottawa; "yet they have +returned with a lie upon their lips. I swear by the Great Spirit, that +nine of the strong holds of the Saganaw have been destroyed. How could +the Ottawa go with deceit upon his lips, when his words were truth?" + +"When the red skins said so to the warriors of the last forts they +took, they said true; but when they went to the first, and said that +all the rest had fallen, they used deceit. A great nation should +overcome their enemies like warriors, and not seek to beguile them with +their tongues under the edge of the scalping knife!" + +"Why did the Saganaw come into the country of the red skins?" haughtily +demanded the chief. "Why did they take our hunting grounds from us? Why +have they strong places encircling the country of the Indians, like a +belt of wampum round the waist of a warrior?" + +"This is not true," rejoined the governor. "It was not the Saganaw, but +the warriors of the pale flag, who first came and took away the hunting +grounds, and built the strong places. The great father of the Saganaw +had beaten the great father of the pale flag quite out of the Canadas, +and he sent his young men to take their place and to make peace with +the red skins, and to trade with them, and to call them brothers." + +"The Saganaw was false," retorted the Indian. "When a chief of the +Saganaw came for the first time with his warriors into the country of +the Ottawas, the chief of the Ottawas stood in his path, and asked him +why, and from whom, he came? That chief was a bold warrior, and his +heart was open, and the Ottawa liked him; and when he said he came to +be friendly with the red skins, the Ottawa believed him, and he shook +him by the hand, and said to his young men, 'Touch not the life of a +Saganaw; for their chief is the friend of the Ottawa chief, and his +young men shall be the friends of the red warriors.' Look," he +proceeded, marking his sense of the discovery by another of those +ejaculatory "Ughs!" so expressive of surprise in an Indian, "at the +right hand of my father I see a chief," pointing to Captain Erskine, +"who came with those of the Saganaw who first entered the country of +the Detroit;--ask that chief if what the Ottawa says is not true. When +the Saganaw said he came only to remove the warriors of the pale flag, +that he might be friendly and trade with the red skins, the Ottawa +received the belt of wampum he offered, and smoked the pipe of peace +with him, and he made his men bring bags of parched corn to his +warriors who wanted food, and he sent to all the nations on the lakes, +and said to them, 'The Saganaw must pass unhurt to the strong hold on +the Detroit.' But for the Ottawa, not a Saganaw would have escaped; for +the nations were thirsting for their blood, and the knives of the +warriors were eager to open their scalps. Ask the chief who sits at the +right hand of my father," he again energetically repeated, "if what the +Ottawa says is not true." + +"What the Ottawa says is true," rejoined the governor; "for the chief +who sits on my right hand has often said that, but for the Ottawa, the +small number of the warriors of the Saganaw must have been cut off; and +his heart is big with kindness to the Ottawa for what he did. But if +the great chief meant to be friendly, why did he declare war after +smoking the pipe of peace with the Saganaw? Why did he destroy the +wigwams of the settlers, and carry off the scalps even of their weak +women and children? All this has the Ottawa done; and yet he says that +he wished to be friendly with my young men. But the Saganaw is not a +fool. He knows the Ottawa chief had no will of his own. On the right +hand of the Ottawa sits the great chief of the Delawares, and on his +left the great chief of the Shawanees. They have long been the sworn +enemies of the Saganaw; and they came from the rivers that run near the +salt lake to stir up the red skins of the Detroit to war. They +whispered wicked words in the ear of the Ottawa chief, and he +determined to take up the bloody hatchet. This is a shame to a great +warrior. The Ottawa was a king over all the tribes in the country of +the fresh lakes, and yet he weakly took council like a woman from +another." + +"My father lies!" fiercely retorted the warrior, half springing to his +feet, and involuntarily putting his hand upon his tomahawk. "If the +settlers of the Saganaw have fallen," he resumed in a calmer tone, +while he again sank upon his mat, "it is because they did not keep +their faith with the red skins. When they came weak, and were not yet +secure in their strong holds, their tongues were smooth and full of +soft words; but when they became strong under the protection of their +thunder, they no longer treated the red skins as their friends, and +they laughed at them for letting them come into their country." "But," +he pursued, elevating his voice, "the Ottawa is a great chief, and he +will be respected." Then adverting in bitterness to the influence +supposed to be exercised over him,--"What my father has said is false. +The Shawanees and the Delawares are great nations; but the Ottawas are +greater than any, and their chiefs are full of wisdom. The Shawanees +and the Delawares had no talk with the Ottawa chief to make him do what +his own wisdom did not tell him." + +"Then, if the talk came not from the Shawanees and the Delawares, it +came from the spies of the warriors of the pale flag. The great father +of the French was angry with the great father of the Saganaw, because +he conquered his warriors in many battles; and he sent wicked men to +whisper lies of the Saganaw into the ears of the red skins, and to make +them take up the hatchet against them. There is a tall spy at this +moment in the camp of the red skins," he pursued with earnestness, and +yet paling as he spoke. "It is said he is the bosom friend of the great +chief of the Ottawas. But I will not believe it. The head of a great +nation would not be the friend of a spy--of one who is baser than a +dog. His people would despise him; and they would say, 'Our chief is +not fit to sit in council, or to make war; for he is led by the word of +a pale face who is without honour.'" + +The swarthy cheek of the Indian reddened, and his eye kindled into +fire. "There is no spy, but a great warrior, in the camp of the +Ottawas," he fiercely replied. "Though he came from the country that +lies beyond the salt lake, he is now a chief of the red skins, and his +arm is mighty, and his heart is big. Would my father know why he has +become a chief of the Ottawas?" he pursued with scornful exultation. +"When the strong holds of the Saganaw fell, the tomahawk of the 'white +warrior' drank more blood than that of a red skin, and his tent is hung +around with poles bending under the weight of the scalps he has taken. +When the great chief of the Ottawas dies, the pale face will lead his +warriors, and take the first seat in the council. The Ottawa chief is +his friend." + +"If the pale face be the friend of the Ottawa," pursued the governor, +in the hope of obtaining some particular intelligence in regard to this +terrible and mysterious being, "why is he not here to sit in council +with the chiefs? Perhaps," he proceeded tauntingly, as he fancied he +perceived a disinclination on the part of the Indian to account for the +absence of the warrior, "the pale face is not worthy to take his place +among the head men of the council. His arm may be strong like that of a +warrior, but his head may be weak like that of a woman; or, perhaps, he +is ashamed to show himself before the pale faces, who have turned him +out of their tribe." + +"My father lies!" again unceremoniously retorted the warrior. "If the +friend of the Ottawa is not here, it is because his voice cannot speak. +Does my father recollect the bridge on which he killed his young +warrior? Does he recollect the terrible chase of the pale face by the +friend of the Ottawa? Ugh!" he continued, as his attention was now +diverted to another object of interest, "that pale face was swifter +than any runner among the red skins, and for his fleetness he deserved +to live to be a great hunter in the Canadas; but fear broke his +heart,--fear of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The red skins saw him +fall at the feet of the Saganaw without life, and they saw the young +warriors bear him off in their arms. Is not the Ottawa right?" The +Indian paused, threw his eye rapidly along the room, and then, fixing +it on the governor, seemed to wait with deep but suppressed interest +for his reply. + +"Peace to the bones of a brave warrior!" seriously and evasively +returned the governor: "the pale face is no longer in the land of the +Canadas, and the young warriors of the Saganaw are sorry for his loss; +but what would the Ottawa say of the bridge? and what has the pale +warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, to do with it?" + +A gleam of satisfaction pervaded the countenance of the Indian, as he +eagerly bent his ear to receive the assurance that the fugitive was no +more; but when allusion was again made to the strange warrior, his brow +became overcast, and he replied with mingled haughtiness and anger,-- + +"Does my father ask? He has dogs of spies among the settlers of the +pale flag, but the tomahawk of the red skins will find them out, and +they shall perish even as the Saganaw themselves. Two nights ago, when +the warriors of the Ottawas were returning from their scout upon the +common, they heard the voice of Onondato, the great wolf-dog of the +friend of the Ottawa chief. The voice came from the bridge where the +Saganaw killed his young warrior, and it called upon the red skins for +assistance. My young men gave their war cry, and ran like wild deer to +destroy the enemies of their chief; but when they came, the spies had +fled, and the voice of Onondato was low and weak as that of a new fawn; +and when the warriors came to the other end of the bridge, they found +the pale chief lying across the road and covered over with blood. They +thought he was dead, and their cry was terrible; for the pale warrior +is a great chief, and the Ottawas love him; but when they looked again, +they saw that the blood was the blood of Onondato, whose throat the +spies of the Saganaw had cut, that he might not hunt them and give them +to the tomahawk of the red skins." + +Frequent glances, expressive of their deep interest in the announcement +of this intelligence, passed between the governor and his officers. It +was clear the party who had encountered the terrible warrior of the +Fleur de lis were not spies (for none were employed by the garrison), +but their adventurous companions who had so recently quitted them. This +was put beyond all doubt by the night, the hour, and the not less +important feet of the locality; for it was from the bridge described by +the Indian, near which the Canadian had stated his canoe to be chained, +they were to embark on their perilous and uncertain enterprise. The +question of their own escape from danger in this unlooked for collision +with so powerful and ferocious an enemy, and of the fidelity of the +Canadian, still remained involved in doubt, which it might be +imprudent, if not dangerous, to seek to have resolved by any direct +remark on the subject to the keen and observant warrior. The governor +removed this difficulty by artfully observing,-- + +"The great chief of the Ottawas has said they were the spies of the +Saganaw who killed the pale warrior. His young men has found them, +then; or how could he know they were spies?" + +"Is there a warrior among the Saganaw who dares to show himself in the +path of the red skins, unless he come in strength and surrounded by his +thunder?" was the sneering demand. "But my father is wrong, if he +supposes the friend of the Ottawa is killed. No," he pursued fiercely, +"the dogs of spies could not kill him; they were afraid to face so +terrible a warrior. They came behind him in the dark, and they struck +him on the head like cowards and foxes as they were. The warrior of the +pale face, and the friend of the Ottawa chief, is sick, but not dead. +He lies without motion in his tent, and his voice cannot speak to his +friend to tell him who were his enemies, that he may bring their scalps +to hang up within his wigwam. But the great chief will soon be well, +and his arm will be stronger than ever to spill the blood of the +Saganaw as he has done before." + +"The talk of the Ottawa chief is strange," returned the governor, +emphatically and with dignity. "He says he conies to smoke the pipe of +peace with the Saganaw, and yet he talks of spilling their blood as if +it was water from the lake. What does the Ottawa mean?" + +"Ugh!" exclaimed the Indian, in his surprise. "My father is right, but +the Ottawa and the Saganaw have not yet smoked together. When they +have, the hatchet will be buried for ever. Until then, they are still +enemies." + +During this long and important colloquy of the leading parties, the +strictest silence had been preserved by the remainder of the council. +The inferior chiefs had continued deliberately puffing the smoke from +their curled lips, as they sat cross-legged on their mats, and nodding +their heads at intervals in confirmation of the occasional appeal made +by the rapid glance of the Ottawa, and uttering their guttural "Ugh!" +whenever any observation of the parlant parties touched their feelings, +or called forth their surprise. The officers had been no less silent +and attentive listeners, to a conversation on the issue of which hung +so many dear and paramount interests. A pause in the conference gave +them an opportunity of commenting in a low tone on the communication +made, in the strong excitement of his pride, by the Ottawa chief, in +regard to the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis; who, it was +evident, swayed the councils of the Indians, and consequently exercised +an influence over the ultimate destinies of the English, which it was +impossible to contemplate without alarm. It was evident to all, from +whatsoever cause it might arise, this man cherished a rancour towards +certain individuals in the fort, inducing an anxiety in its reduction +scarcely equalled by that entertained on the part of the Indians +themselves. Beyond this, however, all was mystery and doubt; nor had +any clue been given to enable them to arrive even at a well founded +apprehension of the motives which had given birth to the vindictiveness +of purpose, so universally ascribed to him even by the savages +themselves. + +The chiefs also availed themselves of this pause in the conversation of +the principals, to sustain a low and animated discussion. Those of the +Shawanee and Delaware nations were especially earnest; and, as they +spoke across the Ottawa, betrayed, by their vehemence of gesture, the +action of some strong feeling upon their minds, the precise nature of +which could not be ascertained from their speech at the opposite +extremity of the room. The Ottawa did not deign to join in their +conversation, but sat smoking his pipe in all the calm and forbidding +dignity of a proud Indian warrior conscious of his own importance. + +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas, then, seek for peace in his heart +at length?" resumed the governor; "or is he come to the strong hold of +Detroit, as he went to the other strong holds, with deceit on his lips?" + +The Indian slowly removed his pipe from his mouth, fixed his keen eye +searchingly on that of the questioner for nearly a minute, and then +briefly and haughtily said, "The Ottawa chief has spoken." + +"And do the great chiefs of the Shawanees, and the great chiefs of the +Delawares, and the great chiefs of the other nations, ask for peace +also?" demanded the governor. "If so, let them speak for themselves, +and for their warriors." + +We will not trespass on the reader, on whom we have already inflicted +too much of this scene, by a transcript of the declarations of the +inferior chiefs. Suffice it to observe, each in his turn avowed motives +similar to those of the Ottawa for wishing the hatchet might be buried +for ever, and that their young men should mingle once more in +confidence, not only with the English troops, but with the settlers, +who would again be brought into the country at the cessation of +hostilities. When each had spoken, the Ottawa passed the pipe of +ceremony, with which he was provided, to the governor. + +The latter put it to his lips, and commenced smoking. The Indians +keenly, and half furtively, watched the act; and looks of deep +intelligence, that escaped not the notice of the equally anxious and +observant officers, passed among them. + +"The pipe of the great chief of the Ottawas smokes well," calmly +remarked the governor; "but the Ottawa chief, in his hurry to come and +ask for peace, has made a mistake. The pipe and all its ornaments are +red like blood: it is the pipe of war, and not the pipe of peace. The +great chief of the Ottawas will be angry with himself; he has entered +the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sat in the council, without doing +any good for his young men. The Ottawa must come again." + +A deep but subdued expression of disappointment passed over the +features of the chiefs. They watched the countenances of the officers, +to see whether the substitution of one pipe for the other had been +attributed, in their estimation, to accident or design. There was +nothing, however, to indicate the slightest doubt of their sincerity. + +"My father is right," replied the Indian, with an appearance of +embarrassment, which, whether natural or feigned, had nothing +suspicious in it. "The great chief of the Ottawas has been foolish, +like an old woman. The young chiefs of his tribe will laugh at him for +this. But the Ottawa chief will come again, and the other chiefs with +him, for, as my father sees, they all wish for peace; and that my +father may know all the nations wish for peace, as well as their head +men, the warriors of the Ottawa, and of the Shawanee, and of the +Delaware, shall play at ball upon the common, to amuse his young men, +while the chiefs sit in council with the chiefs of the Saganaw. The red +skins shall come naked, and without their rifles and their tomahawks; +and even the squaws of the warriors shall come upon the common, to show +the Saganaw they may be without fear. Does my father hear?" + +"The Ottawa chief says well," returned the governor; "but will the pale +friend of the Ottawa come also to take his seat in the council hall? +The great chief has said the pale warrior has become the second chief +among the Ottawas; and that when he is dead, the pale warrior will lead +the Ottawas, and take the first seat in the council. He, too, should +smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, that they may know he is no +longer their enemy." + +The Indian hesitated, uttering merely his quick ejaculatory "Ugh!" in +expression of his surprise at so unexpected a requisition. "The pale +warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, is very sick," he at length said; +"but if the Great Spirit should give him back his voice before the +chiefs come again to the council, the pale face will come too. If my +father does not see him then, he will know the friend of the Ottawa +chief is very sick." + +The governor deemed it prudent not to press the question too closely, +lest in so doing he should excite suspicion, and defeat his own object. +"When will the Ottawa and the other chiefs come again?" he asked; "and +when will their warriors play at ball upon the common, that the Saganaw +may see them and be amused?" + +"When the sun has travelled so many times," replied Ponteac, holding up +three fingers of his left hand. "Then will the Ottawa and the other +chiefs bring their young warriors and their women." + +"It is too soon," was the reply; "the Saganaw must have time to collect +their presents, that they may give them to the young warriors who are +swiftest in the race, and the most active at the ball. The great chief +of the Ottawas, too, must let the settlers of the pale flag, who are +the friends of the red skins, bring in food for the Saganaw, that a +great feast may be given to the chiefs, and to the warriors, and that +the Saganaw may make peace with the Ottawas and the other nations as +becomes a great people. In twice so many days," holding up three of his +fingers in imitation of the Indian, "the Saganaw will be ready to +receive the chiefs in council, that they may smoke the pipe of peace, +and bury the hatchet for ever. What says the great chief of the +Ottawas?" + +"It is good," was the reply of the Indian, his eye lighting up with +deep and exulting expression. "The settlers of the pale flag shall +bring food to the Saganaw. The Ottawa chief will send them, and he will +desire his young men not to prevent them. In so many days, then," +indicating with his fingers, "the great chiefs will sit again in +council with the Saganaw, and the Ottawa chief will not be a fool to +bring the pipe he does not want." + +With this assurance the conference terminated. Ponteac raised his tall +frame from the mat on which he had been squatted, nodded +condescendingly to the governor, and strode haughtily into the square +or area of the fort. The other chiefs followed his example; and to +Major Blackwater was again assigned the duty of accompanying them +without the works. The glance of the savages, and that of Ponteac in +particular, was less wary than at their entrance. Each seemed to +embrace every object on which the eye could rest, as if to fix its +position indelibly in his memory. The young chief, who had been so +suddenly and opportunely checked while in the very act of pealing forth +his terrible war whoop, again looked up at the windows of the block +house, in quest of those whom his savage instinct had already devoted +in intention to his tomahawk, but they were no longer there. Such was +the silence that reigned every where, the fort appeared to be tenanted +only by the few men of the guard, who lingered near their stations, +attentively watching the Indians, as they passed towards the gate. A +very few minutes sufficed to bring the latter once more in the midst of +their warriors, whom, for a few moments, they harangued earnestly, when +the whole body again moved off in the direction of their encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +The week that intervened between the visit of the chiefs and the day +appointed for their second meeting in council, was passed by the +garrison in perfect freedom from alarm, although, as usual, in diligent +watchfulness and preparations for casualties. In conformity with his +promise, the Indian had despatched many of the Canadian settlers, with +such provisions as the country then afforded, to the governor, and +these, happy to obtain the gold of the troops in return for what they +could conveniently spare, were not slow in availing themselves of the +permission. Dried bears' meat, venison, and Indian corn, composed the +substance of these supplies, which were in sufficient abundance to +produce a six weeks' increase to the stock of the garrison. Hitherto +they had been subsisting, in a great degree, upon salt provisions; the +food furtively supplied by the Canadians being necessarily, from their +dread of detection, on so limited a scale, that a very small portion of +the troops had been enabled to profit by it. This, therefore, was an +important and unexpected benefit, derived from the falling in of the +garrison with the professed views of the savages; and one which, +perhaps, few officers would, like Colonel de Haldimar, have possessed +the forethought to have secured. But although it served to relieve the +animal wants of the man, there was little to remove his moral +inquietude. Discouraged by the sanguinary character of the warfare in +which they seemed doomed to be for ever engaged, and harassed by +constant watchings,--seldom taking off their clothes for weeks +together,--the men had gradually been losing their energy of spirit, in +the contemplation of the almost irremediable evils by which they were +beset; and looked forward with sad and disheartening conviction to a +fate, that all things tended to prove to them was unavoidable, however +the period of its consummation might be protracted. Among the officers, +this dejection, although proceeding from a different cause, was no less +prevalent; and notwithstanding they sought to disguise it before their +men, when left to themselves, they gave unlimited rein to a despondency +hourly acquiring strength, as the day fixed on for the second council +with the Indians drew near. + +At length it came, that terrible and eventful day, and, as if in +mockery of those who saw no beauty in its golden beams, arrayed in all +the gorgeous softness of its autumnal glory. Sad and heavy were the +hearts of many within that far distant and isolated fort, as they rose, +at the first glimmering of light above the horizon, to prepare for the +several duties assigned them. All felt the influence of a feeling that +laid prostrate the moral energies even of the boldest: but there was +one young officer in particular, who exhibited a dejection, +degenerating almost into stupefaction; and more than once, when he +received an order from his superior, hesitated as one who either heard +not, or, in attempting to perform it, mistook the purport of his +instructions, and executed some entirely different duty. The +countenance of this officer, whose attenuated person otherwise bore +traces of languor and debility, but too plainly marked the +abstractedness and terror of his mind, while the set stiff features and +contracted muscles of the face contributed to give an expression of +vacuity, that one who knew him not might have interpreted unfavourably. +Several times, during the inspection of his company at the early +parade, he was seen to raise his head, and throw forward his ear, as if +expecting to catch the echo of some horrible and appalling cry, until +the men themselves remarked, and commented, by interchange of looks, on +the singular conduct of their officer, whose thoughts had evidently no +connection with the duty he was performing, or the spot on which he +stood. + +When this customary inspection had been accomplished,--how imperfectly, +has been seen,--and the men dismissed from their ranks, the same young +officer was observed, by one who followed his every movement with +interest, to ascend that part of the rampart which commanded an +unbroken view of the country westward, from the point where the +encampment of the Indians was supposed to lie, down to the bridge on +which the terrible tragedy of Halloway's death had been so recently +enacted. Unconscious of the presence of two sentinels, who moved to and +fro near their respective posts, on either side of him, the young +officer folded his arms, and gazed in that direction for some minutes, +with his whole soul riveted on the scene. Then, as if overcome by +recollections called up by that on which he gazed, he covered his eyes +hurriedly with his hands, and betrayed, by the convulsed movement of +his slender form, he was weeping bitterly. This paroxysm past, he +uncovered his face, sank with one knee upon the ground, and upraising +his clasped hands, as if in appeal to his God, seemed to pray deeply +and fervently. In this attitude he continued for some moments, when he +became sensible of the approach of an intruder. He raised himself from +his knee, turned, and beheld one whose countenance was stamped with a +dejection scarcely inferior to his own. It was Captain Blessington. + +"Charles, my dear Charles!" exclaimed the latter hurriedly, as he laid +his hand upon the shoulder of the emaciated De Haldimar, "consider you +are not alone. For God's sake, check this weakness! There are men +observing you on every side, and your strange manner has already been +the subject of remark in the company." + +"When the heart is sick, like mine," replied the youth, in a tone of +fearful despondency, "it is alike reckless of forms, and careless of +appearances. I trust, however," and here spoke the soldier, "there are +few within this fort who will believe me less courageous, because I +have been seen to bend my knee in supplication to my God. I did not +think that YOU, Blessington, would have been the first to condemn the +act." + +"I condemn it, Charles! you mistake me, indeed you do," feelingly +returned his captain, secretly pained at the mild reproach contained in +the concluding sentence; "but there are two things to be considered. In +the first instance, the men, who are yet in ignorance of the great +evils with which we are threatened, may mistake the cause of your +agitation; you were in tears just now, Charles, and the sentinels must +have remarked it as well as myself. I would not have them to believe +that one of their officers was affected by the anticipation of coming +disaster, in a way their own hearts are incapable of estimating. You +understand me, Charles? I would not have them too much discouraged by +an example that may become infectious." + +"I DO understand you, Blessington," and a forced and sickly smile +played for a moment over the wan yet handsome features of the young +officer; "you would not have me appear a weeping coward in their eyes." + +"Nay, dear Charles, I did not say it." + +"But you meant it, Blessington; yet, think not,"--and he warmly pressed +the hand of his captain,--"think not, I repeat, I take your hint in any +other than the friendly light in which it was intended. That I have +been no coward, however, I hope I have given proof more than once +before the men, most of whom have known me from my very cradle; yet, +whatever they may think, is to me, at this moment, a matter of utter +indifference. Blessington," and again the tears rolled from his fixed +eyes over his cheek, while he pointed with his finger to the western +horizon, "I have neither thought nor feeling for myself; my whole heart +lies buried there. Oh, God of Heaven!" he pursued after a pause, and +again raising his eyes in supplication, "avert the dreadful destiny +that awaits my beloved sister." + +"Charles, Charles, if only for that sister's sake, then, calm an +agitation which, if thus indulged in, will assuredly destroy you. All +will yet be well. The delay obtained by your father has been sufficient +for the purpose proposed. Let us hope for the best: if we are deceived +in our expectation, it will then be time enough to indulge in a grief, +which could scarcely be exceeded, were the fearful misgivings of your +mind to be realised before your eyes." + +"Blessington," returned the young officer,--and his features exhibited +the liveliest image of despair,--"all hope has long since been extinct +within my breast. See you yon theatre of death?" he mournfully pursued, +pointing to the fatal bridge, which was thrown into full relief against +the placid bosom of the Detroit: "recollect you the scene that was +acted on it? As for me, it is ever present to my mind,--it haunts me in +my thoughts by day, and in my dreams by night. I shall never forget it +while memory is left to curse me with the power of retrospection. On +the very spot on which I now stand was I borne in a chair, to witness +the dreadful punishment; you see the stone at my feet, I marked it by +that. I saw you conduct Halloway to the centre of the bridge; I beheld +him kneel to receive his death; I saw, too, the terrible race for life, +that interrupted the proceedings; I marked the sudden upspring of +Halloway to his feet upon the coffin, and the exulting waving of his +hand, as he seemed to recognise the rivals for mastery in that race. +Then was heard the fatal volley, and I saw the death-struggle of him +who had saved my brother's life. I could have died, too, at that +moment; and would to Providence I had! but it was otherwise decreed. My +aching interest was, for a moment, diverted by the fearful chase now +renewed upon the height; and, in common with those around me, I watched +the efforts of the pursuer and the pursued with painful earnestness and +doubt as to the final result. Ah, Blessington, why was not this all? +The terrible shriek, uttered at the moment when the fugitive fell, +apparently dead, at the feet of the firing party, reached us even here. +I felt as if my heart must have burst, for I knew it to be the shriek +of poor Ellen Halloway,--the suffering wife,--the broken-hearted woman +who had so recently, in all the wild abandonment of her grief, wetted +my pillow, and even my cheek, with her burning tears, while +supplicating an intercession with my father for mercy, which I knew it +would be utterly fruitless to promise. Oh, Blessington," pursued the +sensitive and affectionate young officer, "I should vainly attempt to +paint all that passed in my mind at that dreadful moment. Nothing but +the depth of my despair gave me strength to support the scene +throughout. I saw the frantic and half-naked woman glide like a phantom +past the troops, dividing the air with the rapidity of thought. I knew +it to be Ellen; for the discovery of her exchange of clothes with one +of the drum boys of the grenadiers was made soon after you left the +fort. I saw her leap upon the coffin, and, standing over the body of +her unhappy husband, raise her hands to heaven in adjuration, and my +heart died within me. I recollected the words she had spoken on a +previous occasion, during the first examination of Halloway, and I felt +it to be the prophetic denunciation, then threatened, that she was now +uttering on all the race of De Haldimar. I saw no more, Blessington. +Sick, dizzy, and with every faculty of my mind annihilated, I turned +away from the horrid scene, and was again borne to my room. I tried to +give vent to my overcharged heart in tears; but the power was denied +me, and I sank at once into that stupefaction which you have since +remarked in me, and which has been increasing every hour. What +additional cause I have had for the indulgence of this confirmed +despondency you are well acquainted with. It is childish, it is +unsoldierlike, I admit: but, alas! that dreadful scene is eternally +before my eyes, and absorbs my mind, to the exclusion of every other +feeling. I have not a thought or a care but for the fate that too +certainly awaits those who are most dear to me; and if this be a +weakness, it is one I shall never have the power to shake off. In a +word, Blessington, I am heart-broken." + +Captain Blessington was deeply affected; for there was a solemnity in +the voice and manner of the young officer that carried conviction to +the heart; and it was some moments before he could so far recover +himself as to observe,-- + +"That scene, Charles, was doubtless a heart-rending one to us all; for +I well recollect, on turning to remark the impression made on my men +when the wretched Ellen Halloway pronounced her appalling curse to have +seen the large tears coursing each other over the furrowed cheeks of +some of our oldest soldiers: and if THEY could feel thus, how much more +acute must have been the grief of those immediately interested in its +application!" + +"THEIR tears were not for the denounced race of De Haldimar," returned +the youth,--"they were shed for their unhappy comrade--they were wrung +from their stubborn hearts by the agonising grief of the wife of +Halloway." + +"That this was the case in part, I admit," returned Captain +Blessington. "The feelings of the men partook of a mixed character. It +was evident that grief for Halloway, compassion for his wife, secret +indignation and, it may be, disgust at the severity of your father, and +sorrow for his innocent family, who were included in that denunciation, +predominated with equal force in their hearts at the same moment. There +was an expression that told how little they would have pitied any +anguish of mind inflicted on their colonel, provided his children, whom +they loved, were not to be sacrificed to its accomplishment." + +"You admit, then, Blessington, although indirectly," replied the young +De Haldimar in a voice of touching sorrow, "that the consummation of +the sacrifice IS to be looked for. Alas! it is that on which my mind +perpetually lingers; yet, Heaven knows, my fears are not for myself." + +"You mistake me, dearest Charles. I look upon the observations of the +unhappy woman as the ravings of a distracted mind--the last wild +outpourings of a broken heart, turning with animal instinct on the hand +that has inflicted its death-blow." + +"Ah, why did she except no one member of that family!" said the unhappy +De Haldimar, pursuing rather the chain of his reflections than replying +to the observation of his captain. "Had the weight of her malediction +fallen on all else than my adored sister, I could have borne the +infliction, and awaited the issue with resignation, if not without +apprehension. But my poor gentle and unoffending Clara,--alike innocent +of the cause, and ignorant of the effect,--what had she done to be +included in this terrible curse?--she, who, in the warm and generous +affection of her nature, had ever treated Ellen Halloway rather as a +sister than as the dependant she always appeared." Again he covered his +eyes with his hands, to conceal the starting tears. + +"De Haldimar," said Captain Blessington reprovingly, but mildly, "this +immoderate grief is wrong--it is unmanly, and should be repressed. I +can feel and understand the nature of your sorrow; but others may not +judge so favourably. We shall soon be summoned to fall in; and I would +not that Mr. Delme, in particular, should notice an emotion he is so +incapable of understanding." + +The hand of the young officer dropped from his face to the hilt of his +sword. His cheek became scarlet; and even through the tears which he +half choked himself to command, there was an unwonted flashing from his +blue eye, that told how deeply the insinuation had entered into his +heart. + +"Think you, Captain Blessington," he proudly retorted, "there is an +officer in the fort who should dare to taunt me with my feelings as you +have done? I came here, sir, in the expectation I should be alone. At a +fitting hour I shall be found where Captain Blessington's subaltern +should be--with his company." + +"De Haldimar--dear De Haldimar, forgive me!" returned his captain. +"Heaven knows I would not, on any consideration, wantonly inflict pain +on your sensitive heart. My design was to draw you out of this +desponding humour; and with this view I sought to arouse your pride, +but certainly not to wound your feelings. De Haldimar," he concluded, +with marked expression, "you must not, indeed, feel offended with one +who has known and esteemed you from very boyhood. Friendship and +interest in your deep affliction of spirit alone brought me here--the +same feelings prompted my remark. Do you not believe me?" + +"I do," impressively returned the young man, grasping the hand that was +extended to him in amity. "It is I, rather, Blessington, who should ask +you to forgive my petulance; but, indeed, indeed," and again his tone +faltered, and his eye was dimmed, "I am more wretched even than I am +willing to confess. Pardon my silly conduct--it was but the vain and +momentary flashing of the soldier's spirit impatient of an assumed +imputation, and the man less than the profession is to be taxed with +it. But it is past; and already do you behold me once more the tame and +apprehensive being I must ever continue until all is over." + +"What can I possibly urge to console one who seems so willing to nurse +into conviction all the melancholy imaginings of a diseased mind," +observed Captain Blessington, in a voice that told how deeply he felt +for the situation of his young friend. "Recollect, dearest Charles, the +time that has been afforded to our friends. More than a week has gone +by since they left the fort, and a less period was deemed sufficient +for their purpose. Before this they must have gained their destination. +In fact, it is my positive belief they have; for there could be nothing +to detect them in their disguise. Had I the famous lamp of Aladdin," he +pursued, in a livelier tone, "over the history of which Clara and +yourself used to spend so many hours in childhood, I have no doubt I +could show them to you quietly seated within the fort, recounting their +adventures to Clara and her cousin, and discoursing of their absent +friends." + +"Would I to Heaven you had the power to do so!" replied De Haldimar, +smiling faintly at the conceit, while a ray of hope beamed for a moment +upon his sick soul; "for then, indeed, would all my fears for the +present be at rest. But you forget, Blessington, the encounter stated +to have taken place between them and that terrible stranger near the +bridge. Besides, is it not highly probable the object of their +expedition was divined by that singular and mysterious being, and that +means have been taken to intercept their passage? If so, all hope is at +an end." + +"Why persevere in viewing only the more sombre side of the picture?" +returned his friend. "In your anxiety to anticipate evil, Charles, you +have overlooked one important fact. Ponteac distinctly stated that his +ruffian friend was still lying deprived of consciousness and speech +within his tent, and yet two days had elapsed since the encounter was +said to have taken place. Surely we have every reason then to infer +they were beyond all reach of pursuit, even admitting, what is by no +means probable the recovery of the wretch immediately after the return +of the chiefs from the council." + +A gleam of satisfaction, but so transient as to be scarcely noticeable, +passed over the pale features of the youthful De Haldimar. He looked +his thanks to the kind officer who was thus solicitous to tender him +consolation; and was about to reply, when the attention of both was +diverted by the report of a musket from the rear of the fort. Presently +afterwards, the word was passed along the chain of sentinels, upon the +ramparts, that the Indians were issuing in force from the forest upon +the common near the bomb-proof. Then was heard, as the sentinel at the +gate delivered the password, the heavy roll of the drum summoning to +arms. + +"Ha! here already!" said Captain Blessington, as, glancing towards the +forest, he beheld the skirt of the wood now alive with dusky human +forms: "Ponteac's visit is earlier than we had been taught to expect; +but we are as well prepared to receive him now, as later; and, in fact, +the sooner the interview is terminated, the sooner we shall know what +we have to depend upon. Come, Charles, we must join the company, and +let me entreat you to evince less despondency before the men. It is +hard, I know, to sustain an artificial character under such +disheartening circumstances; still, for example's sake, it must be +done." + +"What I can I will do, Blessington," rejoined the youth, as they both +moved from the ramparts; "but the task is, in truth, one to which I +find myself wholly unequal. How do I know that, even at this moment, my +defenceless, terrified, and innocent sister may not be invoking the +name and arm of her brother to save her from destruction." + +"Trust in Providence, Charles. Even although our worst apprehensions be +realised, as I fervently trust they will not, your sister may be +spared. The Canadian could not have been unfaithful, or we should have +learnt something of his treachery from the Indians. Another week will +confirm us in the truth or fallacy of our impressions. Until then, let +us arm our hearts with hope. Trust me, we shall yet see the laughing +eyes of Clara fill with tears of affection, as I recount to her all her +too sensitive and too desponding brother has suffered for her sake." + +De Haldimar made no reply. He deeply felt the kind intention of his +captain, but was far from cherishing the hope that had been +recommended. He sighed heavily, pressed the arm, on which he leaned, in +gratitude for the motive, and moved silently with his friend to join +their company below the rampart. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Meanwhile the white flag had again been raised by the Indians upon the +bomb-proof; and this having been readily met by a corresponding signal +from the fort, a numerous band of savages now issued from the cover +with which their dark forms had hitherto been identified, and spread +themselves far and near upon the common. On this occasion they were +without arms, offensive or defensive, of any kind, if we may except the +knife which was always carried at the girdle, and which constituted a +part rather of their necessary dress than of their warlike equipment. +These warriors might have been about five hundred in number, and were +composed chiefly of picked men from the nations of the Ottawas, the +Delawares, and the Shawanees; each race being distinctly recognisable +from the others by certain peculiarities of form and feature which +individualised, if we may so term it, the several tribes. Their only +covering was the legging before described, composed in some instances +of cloth, but principally of smoked deerskin, and the flap that passed +through the girdle around the loins, by which the straps attached to +the leggings were secured. Their bodies, necks, and arms were, with the +exception of a few slight ornaments, entirely naked; and even the +blanket, that served them as a couch by night and a covering by day, +had, with one single exception, been dispensed with, apparently with a +view to avoid any thing like encumbrance in their approaching sport. +Each individual was provided with a stout sapling of about three feet +in length, curved, and flattened at the root extremity, like that used +at the Irish hurdle; which game, in fact, the manner of ball-playing +among the Indians in every way resembled. + +Interspersed among these warriors were a nearly equal number of squaws. +These were to be seen lounging carelessly about in small groups, and +were of all ages; from the hoary-headed, shrivelled-up hag, whose eyes +still sparkled with a fire that her lank and attenuated frame denied, +to the young girl of twelve, whose dark and glowing cheek, rounded +bust, and penetrating glance, bore striking evidence of the +precociousness of Indian beauty. These latter looked with evident +interest on the sports of the younger warriors, who, throwing down +their hurdles, either vied with each other in the short but incredibly +swift foot-race, or indulged themselves in wrestling and leaping; while +their companions, abandoned to the full security they felt to be +attached to the white flag waving on the fort, lay at their lazy length +upon the sward, ostensibly following the movements of the several +competitors in these sports, but in reality with heart and eye directed +solely to the fortification that lay beyond. Each of these females, in +addition to the machecoti, or petticoat, which in one solid square of +broad-cloth was tightly wrapped around the loins, also carried a +blanket loosely thrown around the person, but closely confined over the +shoulders in front, and reaching below the knee. There was an air of +constraint in their movements, which accorded ill with the occasion of +festivity for which they were assembled; and it was remarkable, whether +it arose from deference to those to whom they were slaves, as well as +wives and daughters, or from whatever other cause it might be, none of +them ventured to recline themselves upon the sward in imitation of the +warriors. + +When it had been made known to the governor that the Indians had begun +to develop themselves in force upon the common unarmed, yet redolent +with the spirit that was to direct their meditated sports, the soldiers +were dismissed from their respective companies to the ramparts; where +they were now to be seen, not drawn up in formidable and hostile array, +but collected together in careless groups, and simply in their +side-arms. This reciprocation of confidence on the part of the garrison +was acknowledged by the Indians by marks of approbation, expressed as +much by the sudden and classic disposition of their fine forms into +attitudes strikingly illustrative of their admiration and pleasure, as +by the interjectional sounds that passed from one to the other of the +throng. From the increased alacrity with which they now lent themselves +to the preparatory and inferior amusements of the day, it was evident +their satisfaction was complete. + +Hitherto the principal chiefs had, as on the previous occasion, +occupied the bomb-proof; and now, as then, they appeared to be +deliberating among themselves, but evidently in a more energetic and +serious manner. At length they separated, when Ponteac, accompanied by +the chiefs who had attended him on the former day, once more led in the +direction of the fort. The moment of his advance was the signal for the +commencement of the principal game. In an instant those of the warriors +who lay reclining on the sward sprang to their feet, while the +wrestlers and racers resumed their hurdles, and prepared themselves for +the trial of mingled skill and swiftness. At first they formed a dense +group in the centre of the common; and then, diverging in two equal +files both to the right and to the left of the immediate centre, where +the large ball was placed, formed an open chain, extending from the +skirt of the forest to the commencement of the village. On the one side +were ranged the Delawares and the Shawanees, and on the other the more +numerous nation of the Ottawas. The women of these several tribes, +apparently much interested in the issue of an amusement in which the +manliness and activity of their respective friends were staked, had +gradually and imperceptibly gained the front of the fort, where they +were now huddled in groups at about twenty paces from the drawbridge, +and bending eagerly forward to command the movements of the +ball-players. + +In his circuit round the walls, Ponteac was seen to remark the +confiding appearance of the unarmed soldiery with a satisfaction that +was not sought to be disguised; and from the manner in which he threw +his glance along each face of the rampart, it was evident his object +was to embrace the numerical strength collected there. It was moreover +observed, when he passed the groups of squaws on his way to the gate, +he addressed some words in a strange tongue to the elder matrons of +each. + +Once more the dark warriors were received at the gate by Major +Blackwater; and, as with firm but elastic tread, they moved across the +square, each threw his fierce eyes rapidly and anxiously around, and +with less of concealment in his manner than had been manifested on the +former occasion. On every hand the same air of nakedness and desertion +met their gaze. Not even a soldier of the guard was to be seen; and +when they cast their eyes upwards to the windows of the blockhouses, +they were found to be tenantless as the area through which they passed. +A gleam of fierce satisfaction pervaded the swarthy countenances of the +Indians; and the features of Ponteac, in particular, expressed the +deepest exultation. Instead of leading his party, he now brought up the +rear; and when arrived in the centre of the fort, he, without any +visible cause for the accident, stumbled, and fell to the earth. The +other chiefs for a moment lost sight of their ordinary gravity, and +marked their sense of the circumstance by a prolonged sound, partaking +of the mingled character of a laugh and a yell. Startled at the cry, +Major Blackwater, who was in front, turned to ascertain the cause. At +that moment Ponteac sprang lightly again to his feet, responding to the +yell of his confederates by another even more startling, fierce, and +prolonged than their own. He then stalked proudly to the head of the +party, and even preceded Major Blackwater into the council room. + +In this rude theatre of conference some changes had been made since +their recent visit, which escaped not the observation of the +quick-sighted chiefs. Their mats lay in the position they had +previously occupied, and the chairs of the officers were placed as +before, but the room itself had been considerably enlarged. The slight +partition terminating the interior extremity of the mess-room, and +dividing it from that of one of the officers, had been removed; and +midway through this, extending entirely across, was drawn a curtain of +scarlet cloth, against which the imposing figure of the governor, +elevated as his seat was above those of the other officers, was thrown +into strong relief. There was another change, that escaped not the +observation of the Indians, and that was, not more than one half of the +officers who had been present at the first conference being now in the +room. Of these latter, one had, moreover, been sent away by the +governor the moment the chiefs were ushered in. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the proud leader, as he took his seat +unceremoniously, and yet not without reluctance, upon the mat. "The +council-room of my father is bigger than when the Ottawa was here +before, yet the number of his chiefs is not so many." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the Saganaw has promised the +red skins a feast," returned the governor. "Were he to leave it to his +young warriors to provide it, he would not be able to receive the +Ottawa like a great chief, and to make peace with him as he could wish." + +"My father has a great deal of cloth, red, like the blood of a pale +face," pursued the Indian, rather in demand than in observation, as he +pointed with his finger to the opposite end of the room. "When the +Ottawa was here last, he did not see it." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the great father of the +Saganaw has a big heart to make presents to the red skins. The cloth +the Ottawa sees there is sufficient to make leggings for the chiefs of +all the nations." + +Apparently satisfied with this reply, the fierce Indian uttered one of +his strong guttural and assentient "ughs," and then commenced filling +the pipe of peace, correct on the present occasion in all its +ornaments, which was handed to him by the Delaware chief. It was +remarked by the officers this operation took up an unusually long +portion of his time, and that he frequently turned his ear, like a +horse stirred by the huntsman's horn, with quick and irrepressible +eagerness towards the door. + +"The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa chief, is not here," said +the governor, as he glanced his eye along the semicircle of Indians. +"How is this? Is his voice still sick, that he cannot come; or has the +great chief of the Ottawas forgotten to tell him?" + +"The voice of the pale warrior is still sick, and he cannot speak," +replied the Indian. "The Ottawa chief is very sorry; for the tongue of +his friend the pale face is full of wisdom." + +Scarcely had the last words escaped his lips, when a wild shrill cry +from without the fort rang on the ears of the assembled council, and +caused a momentary commotion among the officers. It arose from a single +voice, and that voice could not be mistaken by any who had heard it +once before. A second or two, during which the officers and chiefs kept +their eyes intently fixed on each other, passed anxiously away, and +then nearer to the gate, apparently on the very drawbridge itself, was +pealed forth the wild and deafening yell of a legion of devilish +voices. At that sound, the Ottawa and the other chiefs sprang to their +feet, and their own fierce cry responded to that yet vibrating on the +ears of all. Already were their gleaming tomahawks brandished wildly +over their heads, and Ponteac had even bounded a pace forward to reach +the governor with the deadly weapon, when, at the sudden stamping of +the foot of the latter upon the floor, the scarlet cloth in the rear +was thrown aside, and twenty soldiers, their eyes glancing along the +barrels of their levelled muskets, met the startled gaze of the +astonished Indians. + +An instant was enough to satisfy the keen chief of the true state of +the case. The calm composed mien of the officers, not one of whom had +even attempted to quit his seat, amid the din by which his ears were so +alarmingly assailed,--the triumphant, yet dignified, and even severe +expression of the governor's countenance; and, above all, the +unexpected presence of the prepared soldiery,--all these at once +assured him of the discovery of his treachery, and the danger that +awaited him. The necessity for an immediate attempt to join his +warriors without, was now obvious to the Ottawa; and scarcely had he +conceived the idea before it was sought to be executed. In a single +spring he gained the door of the mess-room, and, followed eagerly and +tumultuously by the other chiefs, to whose departure no opposition was +offered, in the next moment stood on the steps of the piazza that ran +along the front of the building whence he had issued. + +The surprise of the Indians on reaching this point, was now too +powerful to be dissembled; and, incapable either of advancing or +receding, they remained gazing on the scene before them with an air of +mingled stupefaction, rage, and alarm. Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed +since they had proudly strode through the naked area of the fort; and +yet, even in that short space of time, its appearance had been entirely +changed. Not a part was there now of the surrounding buildings that was +not redolent with human life, and hostile preparation. Through every +window of the officers' low rooms, was to be seen the dark and frowning +muzzle of a field-piece, bearing upon the gateway; and behind these +were artillerymen, holding their lighted matches, supported again by +files of bayonets, that glittered in their rear. In the block-houses +the same formidable array of field-pieces and muskets was visible; +while from the four angles of the square, as many heavy guns, that had +been artfully masked at the entrance of the chiefs, seemed ready to +sweep away every thing that should come before them. The guard-room +near the gate presented the same hostile front. The doors of this, as +well as of the other buildings, had been firmly secured within; but +from every window affording cover to the troops, gleamed a line of +bayonets rising above the threatening field-pieces, pointed, at a +distance of little more than twelve feet, directly upon the gateway. In +addition to his musket, each man of the guard moreover held a hand +grenade, provided with a short fuze that could be ignited in a moment +from the matches of the gunners, and with immediate effect. The +soldiers in the block-houses were similarly provided. + +Almost magic as was the change thus suddenly effected in the appearance +of the garrison, it was not the most interesting feature in the +exciting scene. Choking up the gateway, in which they were completely +wedged, and crowding the drawbridge, a dense mass of dusky Indians were +to be seen casting their fierce glances around; yet paralysed in their +movements by the unlooked-for display of a resisting force, threatening +instant annihilation to those who should attempt either to advance or +to recede. Never, perhaps, were astonishment and disappointment more +forcibly depicted on the human countenance, than as they were now +exhibited by these men, who had already, in imagination, secured to +themselves an easy conquest. They were the warriors who had so recently +been engaged in the manly yet innocent exercise of the ball; but, +instead of the harmless hurdle, each now carried a short gun in one +hand and a gleaming tomahawk in the other. After the first general +yelling heard in the council-room, not a sound was uttered. Their burst +of rage and triumph had evidently been checked by the unexpected manner +of their reception, and they now stood on the spot on which the further +advance of each had been arrested, so silent and motionless, that, but +for the rolling of their dark eyes, as they keenly measured the +insurmountable barriers that were opposed to their progress, they might +almost have been taken for a wild group of statuary. + +Conspicuous at the head of these was he who wore the blanket; a tall +warrior, on whom rested the startled eye of every officer and soldier +who was so situated as to behold him. His face was painted black as +death; and as he stood under the arch of the gateway, with his white +turbaned head towering far above those of his companions, this +formidable and mysterious enemy might have been likened to the spirit +of darkness presiding over his terrible legions. + +In order to account for the extraordinary appearance of the Indians, +armed in every way for death, at a moment when neither gun nor tomahawk +was apparently within miles of their reach, it will be necessary to +revert to the first entrance of the chiefs into the fort. The fall of +Ponteac had been the effect of design; and the yell pealed forth by +him, on recovering his feet, as if in taunting reply to the laugh of +his comrades, was in reality a signal intended for the guidance of the +Indians without. These, now following up their game with increasing +spirit, at once changed the direction of their line, bringing the ball +nearer to the fort. In their eagerness to effect this object, they had +overlooked the gradual secession of the unarmed troops, spectators of +their sport from the ramparts, until scarcely more than twenty +stragglers were left. As they neared the gate, the squaws broke up +their several groups, and, forming a line on either hand of the road +leading to the drawbridge, appeared to separate solely with a view not +to impede the action of the players. For an instant a dense group +collected around the ball, which had been driven to within a hundred +yards of the gate, and fifty hurdles were crossed in their endeavours +to secure it, when the warrior, who formed the solitary exception to +the multitude, in his blanket covering, and who had been lingering in +the extreme rear of the party, came rapidly up to the spot where the +well-affected struggle was maintained. At his approach, the hurdles of +the other players were withdrawn, when, at a single blow from his +powerful arm, the ball was seen flying into the air in an oblique +direction, and was for a moment lost altogether to the view. When it +again met the eye, it was descending perpendicularly into the very +centre of the fort. + +With the fleetness of thought now commenced a race that had ostensibly +for its object the recovery of the lost ball; and in which, he who had +driven it with such resistless force outstripped them all. Their course +lay between the two lines of squaws; and scarcely had the head of the +bounding Indians reached the opposite extremity of those lines, when +the women suddenly threw back their blankets, and disclosed each a +short gun and a tomahawk. To throw away their hurdles and seize upon +these, was the work of an instant. Already, in imagination, was the +fort their own; and, such was the peculiar exultation of the black and +turbaned warrior, when he felt the planks of the drawbridge bending +beneath his feet, all the ferocious joy of his soul was pealed forth in +the terrible cry which, rapidly succeeded by that of the other Indians, +had resounded so fearfully through the council-room. What their +disappointment was, when, on gaining the interior, they found the +garrison prepared for their reception, has already been shown. + +"Secure that traitor, men!" exclaimed the governor, advancing into the +square, and pointing to the black warrior, whose quick eye was now +glancing on every side, to discover some assailable point in the +formidable defences of the troops. + +A laugh of scorn and derision escaped the lips of the warrior. "Is +there a man--are there any ten men, even with Governor de Haldimar at +their head, who will be bold enough to attempt it?" he asked. "Nay!" he +pursued, stepping boldly a pace or two in front of the wondering +savages,--"here I stand singly, and defy your whole garrison!" + +A sudden movement among the soldiers in the guard-room announced they +were preparing to execute the order of their chief. The eye of the +black warrior sparkled with ferocious pleasure; and he made a gesture +to his followers, which was replied to by the sudden tension of their +hitherto relaxed forms into attitudes of expectance and preparation. + +"Stay, men; quit not your cover for your lives!" commanded the +governor, in a loud deep voice:--"keep the barricades fast, and move +not." + +A cloud of anger and disappointment passed over the features of the +black warrior. It was evident the object of his bravado was to draw the +troops from their defences, that they might be so mingled with their +enemies as to render the cannon useless, unless friends and foes (which +was by no means probable) should alike be sacrificed. The governor had +penetrated the design in time to prevent the mischief. + +In a moment of uncontrollable rage, the savage warrior aimed his +tomahawk at the head of the governor. The latter stepped lightly aside, +and the steel sank with such force into one of the posts supporting the +piazza, that the quivering handle snapped close off at its head. At +that moment, a single shot, fired from the guard-house, was drowned in +the yell of approbation which burst from the lips of the dark crowd. +The turban of the warrior was, however, seen flying through the air, +carried away by the force of the bullet which had torn it from his +head. He himself was unharmed. + +"A narrow escape for us both, Colonel de Haldimar," he observed, as +soon as the yell had subsided, and with an air of the most perfect +unconcern. "Had my tomahawk obeyed the first impulse of my heart, I +should have cursed myself and died: as it is, I have reason to avoid +all useless exposure of my own life, at present. A second bullet may be +better directed; and to die, robbed of my revenge, would ill answer the +purpose of a life devoted to its attainment. Remember my pledge!" + +At the hasty command of the governor, a hundred muskets were raised to +the shoulders of his men; but, before a single eye could glance along +the barrel, the formidable and active warrior had bounded over the +heads of the nearest Indians into a small space that was left +unoccupied; when, stooping suddenly to the earth, he disappeared +altogether from the view of his enemies. A slight movement in the +centre of the numerous band crowding the gateway, and extending even +beyond the bridge, was now discernible: it was like the waving of a +field of standing corn, through which some animal rapidly winds its +tortuous course, bending aside as the object advances, and closing +again when it has passed. After the lapse of a minute, the terrible +warrior was seen to spring again to his feet, far in the rear of the +band; and then, uttering a fierce shout of exultation, to make good his +retreat towards the forest. + +Meanwhile, Ponteac and the other chiefs of the council continued rooted +to the piazza on which they had rushed at the unexpected display of the +armed men behind the scarlet curtain. The loud "Waugh" that burst from +the lips of all, on finding themselves thus foiled in their schemes of +massacre, had been succeeded, the instant afterwards, by feelings of +personal apprehension, which each, however, had collectedness enough to +disguise. Once the Ottawa made a movement as if he would have cleared +the space that kept him from his warriors; but the emphatical pointing +of the finger of Colonel de Haldimar to the levelled muskets of the men +in the block-houses prevented him, and the attempt was not repeated. It +was remarked by the officers, who also stood on the piazza, close +behind the chiefs, when the black warrior threw his tomahawk at the +governor, a shade of displeasure passed over the features of the +Ottawa; and that, when he found the daring attempt was not retaliated +on his people, his countenance had been momentarily lighted up with a +satisfied expression, apparently marking his sense of the forbearance +so unexpectedly shown. + +"What says the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked the governor +calmly, and breaking a profound silence that had succeeded to the last +fierce yell of the formidable being just departed. "Was the Saganaw not +right, when he said the Ottawa came with guile in his heart, and with a +lie upon his lips? But the Saganaw is not a fool, and he can read the +thoughts of his enemies upon their faces, and long before their lips +have spoken." + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the Indian; "my father is a great chief, and his head +is full of wisdom. Had he been feeble, like the other chiefs of the +Saganaw, the strong-hold of the Detroit must have fallen, and the red +skins would have danced their war-dance round the scalps of his young +men, even in the council-room where they came to talk of peace." + +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas see the big thunder of the +Saganaw?" pursued the governor: "if not, let him open his eyes and +look. The Saganaw has but to move his lips, and swifter than the +lightning would the pale faces sweep away the warriors of the Ottawa, +even where they now stand: in less time than the Saganaw is now +speaking, would they mow them down like the grass of the Prairie." + +"Ugh!" again exclaimed the chief, with mixed doggedness and fierceness: +"if what my father says is true, why does he not pour out his anger +upon the red skins?" + +"Let the great chief of the Ottawas listen," replied the governor with +dignity. "When the great chiefs of all the nations that are in league +with the Ottawas came last to the council, the Saganaw knew that they +carried deceit in their hearts, and that they never meant to smoke the +pipe of peace, or to bury the hatchet in the ground. The Saganaw might +have kept them prisoners, that their warriors might be without a head; +but he had given his word to the great chief of the Ottawas, and the +word of a Saganaw is never broken. Even now, while both the chiefs and +the warriors are in his power,--he will not slay them, for he wishes to +show the Ottawa the desire of the Saganaw is to be friendly with the +red skins, and not to destroy them. Wicked men from the Canadas have +whispered lies in the ear of the Ottawa; but a great chief should judge +for himself, and take council only from the wisdom of his own heart. +The Ottawa and his warriors may go," he resumed, after a short pause; +"the path by which they came is again open to them. Let them depart in +peace; the big thunder of the Saganaw shall not harm them." + +The countenance of the Indian, who had clearly seen the danger of his +position, wore an expression of surprise which could not be dissembled: +low exclamations passed between him and his companions; and, then +pointing to the tomahawk that lay half buried in the wood, he said, +doubtingly,-- + +"It was the pale face, the friend of the great chief of the Ottawas, +who struck the hatchet at my father. The Ottawa is not a fool to +believe the Saganaw can sleep without revenge." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall know us better," was the reply. +"The young warriors of the Saganaw might destroy their enemies where +they now stand, but they seek not their blood. When the Ottawa chief +takes council from his own heart, and not from the lips of a cowardly +dog of a pale face, who strikes his tomahawk and then flies, his wisdom +will tell him to make peace with the Saganaw, whose warriors are +without treachery, even as they are without fear." + +Another of those deep interjectional "ughs" escaped the chest of the +proud Indian. + +"What my father says is good," he returned; "but the pale face is a +great warrior, and the Ottawa chief is his friend. The Ottawa will go." + +He then addressed a few sentences, in a tongue unknown to the officers, +to the swarthy and anxious crowd in front. These were answered by a +low, sullen, yet assentient grunt, from the united band, who now +turned, though with justifiable caution and distrust, and recrossed the +drawbridge without hinderance from the troops. Ponteac waited until the +last Indian had departed, and then making a movement to the governor, +which, with all its haughtiness, was meant to mark his sense of the +forbearance and good faith that had been manifested, once more stalked +proudly and calmly across the area, followed by the remainder of the +chiefs. The officers who were with the governor ascended to the +ramparts, to follow their movements; and it was not before their report +had been made, that the Indians were immerging once more into the heart +of the forest, the troops were withdrawn from their formidable +defences, and the gate of the fort again firmly secured. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +While the reader is left to pause over the rapid succession of +incidents resulting from the mysterious entrance of the warrior of the +Fleur de lis into the English fort, be it our task to explain the +circumstances connected with the singular disappearance of Captain de +Haldimar, and the melancholy murder of his unfortunate servant. + +It will be recollected that the ill-fated Halloway, in the course of +his defence before the court-martial, distinctly stated the voice of +the individual who had approached his post, calling on the name of +Captain de Haldimar, on the night of the alarm, to have been that of a +female, and that the language in which they subsequently conversed was +that of the Ottawa Indians. This was strictly the fact; and the only +error into which the unfortunate soldier had fallen, had reference +merely to the character and motives of the party. He had naturally +imagined, as he had stated, it was some young female of the village, +whom attachment for his officer had driven to the desperate +determination of seeking an interview; nor was this impression at all +weakened by the subsequent discourse of the parties in the Indian +tongue, with which it was well known most of the Canadians, both male +and female, were more or less conversant. The subject of that short, +low, and hurried conference was, indeed, one that well warranted the +singular intrusion; and, in the declaration of Halloway, we have +already seen the importance and anxiety attached by the young officer +to the communication. Without waiting to repeat the motives assigned +for his departure, and the prayers and expostulations to which he had +recourse to overcome the determination and sense of duty of the +unfortunate sentinel, let us pass at once to the moment when, after +having cleared the ditch, conjointly with his faithful follower, in the +manner already shown, Captain de Haldimar first stood side by side with +his midnight visitant. + +The night, it has elsewhere been observed, was clear and starry, so +that objects upon the common, such as the rude stump that here and +there raised its dark low head above the surface, might be dimly seen +in the distance. To obviate the danger of discovery by the sentinels, +appeared to be the first study of the female; for, when Captain de +Haldimar, followed by his servant, had reached the spot on which she +stood, she put the forefinger of one hand to her lips, and with the +other pointed to his booted foot. A corresponding signal showed that +the lightness of the material offered little risk of betrayal. +Donellan, however, was made to doff his heavy ammunition shoes; and, +with this precaution, they all stole hastily along, under the shadows +of the projecting ramparts, until they had gained the extreme rear. +Here the female suddenly raised her tall figure from the stooping +position in which she, as well as her companions, had performed the +dangerous circuit; and, placing her finger once more significantly on +her lips, led in the direction of the bomb-proof, unperceived by the +sentinels, most of whom, it is probable, had, up to the moment of the +alarm subsequently given, been too much overcome by previous watching +and excitement to have kept the most vigilant look-out. + +Arrived at the skirt of the forest, the little party drew up within the +shadow of the ruin, and a short and earnest dialogue ensued, in Indian, +between the female and the officer. This was succeeded by a command +from the latter to his servant, who, after a momentary but respectful +expostulation, which, however, was utterly lost on him to whom it was +addressed, proceeded to divest himself of his humble apparel, assuming +in exchange the more elegant uniform of his superior. Donellan, who was +also of the grenadiers, was remarkable for the resemblance he bore, in +figure, to Captain de Haldimar; wanting, it is true, the grace and +freedom of movement of the latter, but still presenting an outline +which, in an attitude of profound repose, might, as it subsequently +did, have set even those who were most intimate with the officer at +fault. + +"This is well," observed the female, as the young man proceeded to +induct himself in the grey coat of his servant, having previously drawn +the glazed hat close over his waving and redundant hair: "if the +Saganaw is ready, Oucanasta will go." + +"Sure, and your honour does not mane to lave me behind!" exclaimed the +anxious soldier, as his captain now recommended him to stand closely +concealed near the ruin until his return. "Who knows what ambuscade the +she-divil may not lade your honour into; and thin who will you have to +bring you out of it?" + +"No, Donellan, it must not be: I first intended it, as you may perceive +by my bringing you out; but the expedition on which I am going is of +the utmost importance to us all, and too much precaution cannot be +taken. I fear no ambuscade, for I can depend on the fidelity of my +guide; but the presence of a third person would only embarrass, without +assisting me in the least. You must remain behind; the woman insists +upon it, and there is no more to be said." + +"To ould Nick with the ugly winch, for her pains!" half muttered the +disappointed soldier to himself. "I wish it may be as your honour says; +but my mind misgives me sadly that evil will come of this. Has your +honour secured the pistols?" + +"They are here," returned his captain, placing a hand on either chest. +"And now, Donellan, mark me: I know nothing that can detain me longer +than an hour; at least the woman assures me, and I believe her, that I +may be back then; but it is well to guard against accidents. You must +continue here for the hour, and for the hour only. If I come not then, +return to the fort without delay, for the rope must be removed, and the +gate secured, before Halloway is relieved. The keys you will find in +the pocket of my uniform: when you have done with them, let them be +hung up in their proper place in the guard-room. My father must not +know either that Halloway suffered me to pass the gate, or that you +accompanied me." + +"Lord love us! your honour talks as if you nivir would return, giving +such a heap of orders!" exclaimed the startled man; "but if I go back +alone, as I trust in heaven I shall not, how am I to account for being +dressed in your honour's rigimintals?" + +"I tell you, Donellan," impatiently returned the officer, "that I shall +be back; but I only wish to guard against accidents. The instant you +get into the fort, you will take off my clothes and resume your own. +Who the devil is to see you in the uniform, unless it be Halloway?" + +"If the Saganaw would not see the earth red with the blood of his race, +he will go," interrupted the female. "Oucanasta can feel the breath of +the morning fresh upon her cheek, and the council of the chiefs must be +begun." + +"The Saganaw is ready, and Oucanasta shall lead the way," hastily +returned the officer. "One word more, Donellan;" and he pressed the +hand of his domestic kindly: "should I not return, you must, without +committing Halloway or yourself, cause my father to be apprised that +the Indians meditate a deep and treacherous plan to get possession of +the fort. What that plan is, I know not yet myself, neither does this +woman know; but she says that I shall hear it discussed unseen, even in +the heart of their own encampment. All you have to do is to acquaint my +father with the existence of danger. And now be cautious: above all +things, keep close under the shadow of the bomb-proof; for there are +scouts constantly prowling about the common, and the glittering of the +uniform in the starlight may betray you." + +"But why may I not follow your honour?" again urged the faithful +soldier; "and where is the use of my remaining here to count the stars, +and hear the 'All's well!' from the fort, when I could be so much +better employed in guarding your honour from harm? What sort of +protection can that Ingian woman afford, who is of the race of our +bitterest enemies, them cursed Ottawas, and your honour venturing, too, +like a spy into the very heart of the blood-hounds? Ah, Captain de +Haldimar, for the love of God, do not trust yourself alone with her, or +I am sure I shall never see your honour again!" + +The last words (unhappily too prophetic) fell only on the ear of him +who uttered them. The female and the officer had already disappeared +round an abrupt angle of the bomb-proof; and the soldier, as directed +by his master, now drew up his tall figure against the ruin, where he +continued for a period immovable, as if he had been planted there in +his ordinary character of sentinel, listening, until they eventually +died away in distance, to the receding footsteps of his master; and +then ruminating on the several apprehensions that crowded on his mind, +in regard to the probable issue of his adventurous project. + +Meanwhile, Captain de Haldimar and his guide trod the mazes of the +forest, with an expedition that proved the latter to be well acquainted +with its bearings. On quitting the bomb-proof, she had struck into a +narrow winding path, less seen than felt in the deep gloom pervading +the wood, and with light steps bounded over obstacles that lay strewed +in their course, emitting scarcely more sound than would have been +produced by the slimy crawl of its native rattlesnake. Not so, however, +with the less experienced tread of her companion. Wanting the pliancy +of movement given to it by the light mocassin, the booted foot of the +young officer, despite of all his precaution, fell heavily to the +ground, producing such a rustling among the dried leaves, that, had an +Indian ear been lurking any where around, his approach must inevitably +have been betrayed. More than once, too, neglecting to follow the +injunction of his companion, who moved in a stooping posture, with her +head bent over her chest, his hat was caught in the closely matted +branches, and fell sullenly and heavily to the earth, evidently much to +the discomfiture of his guide. + +At length they stood on the verge of a dark and precipitous ravine, the +abrupt sides of which were studded with underwood, so completely +interwoven, that all passage appeared impracticable. What, however, +seemed an insurmountable obstacle, proved, in reality, an inestimable +advantage; for it was by clinging to this, in imitation of the example +set him by his companion, the young officer was prevented from rolling +into an abyss, the depth of which was lost in the profound obscurity +that pervaded the scene. Through the bed of this dark dell rolled a +narrow stream, so imperceptible to the eye in the "living darkness," +and so noiseless in its course, that it was not until warned by his +companion he stood on the very brink of it, Captain de Haldimar was +made sensible of its existence. Both cleared it at a single bound, in +which the activity of the female was not the least conspicuous, and, +clambering up the opposite steep, secured their footing, by the aid of +the same underwood that had assisted them in their descent. + +On gaining the other summit, which was not done without detaching +several loose stones from their sandy bed, they again, fell into the +path, which had been lost sight of in traversing the ravine. They had +proceeded along this about half a mile, when the female suddenly +stopped, and pointing to a dim and lurid atmosphere that now began to +show itself between the thin foliage, whispered that in the opening +beyond stood the encampment of the Indians. She then seated herself on +the trunk of a fallen tree, that lay at the side of the almost +invisible path they had hitherto pursued, and motioning to her +companion to unboot himself, proceeded to unlace the fastenings of her +mocassins. + +"The foot of the Saganaw must fall like the night dew on the prairie," +she observed: "the ear of the red skin is quicker than the lightning, +and he will know that a pale face is near, if he hear but his tread +upon a blade of grass." + +Gallantry in the civilised man is a sentiment that never wholly +abandons him; and in whatever clime he may be thrown, or under whatever +circumstances he may be placed,--be it called forth by white or by +blackamoor,--it is certain to influence his conduct: it is a +refinement, of that instinctive deference to the weaker sex, which +nature has implanted in him for the wisest of purposes; and which, +while it tends to exalt those to whom its influence is extended, fails +not to reflect a corresponding lustre on himself. + +The young officer had, at the first suggestion of his guide, divested +himself of his boots, prepared to perform the remainder of the journey +merely in his stockings, but his companion now threw herself on her +knees before him, and, without further ceremony, proceeded to draw over +his foot one of the mocassins she had just relinquished. + +"The feet of the Saganaw are soft as those of a young child," she +remarked, in a voice of commiseration; "but the mocassins of Oucanasta +shall protect them from the thorns of the forest." + +This was too un-European,--too much reversing the established order of +things, to be borne patiently. As if he had felt the dignity of his +manhood offended by the proposal, the officer drew his foot hastily +back, declaring, as he sprang from the log, he did not care for the +thorns, and could not think of depriving a female, who must be much +more sensible of pain than himself. + +Oucanasta, however, was not to be outdone in politeness. She calmly +reseated herself on the log, drew her right foot over her left knee, +caught one of the hands of her companion, and placing it upon the naked +sole, desired him to feel how impervious to attack of every description +was that indurated portion of the lower limb. + +This practical argument was not without its weight, and had more effect +in deciding the officer than a volume of remonstrance. Most men love to +render tribute to a delicate and pretty foot. Some, indeed, go so far +as to connect every thing feminine with these qualities, and to believe +that nothing can be feminine without them. For our parts, we confess, +that, although no enemies to a pretty foot, it is by no means a sine +qua non in our estimate of female perfection; being in no way disposed, +where the head and heart are gems, to undervalue these in consideration +of any deficiency in the heels. Captain de Haldimar probably thought +otherwise; for when he had passed his unwilling hand over the foot of +Oucanasta, which, whatever her face might have been, was certainly any +thing but delicate, and encountered numerous ragged excrescences and +raspy callosities that set all symmetry at defiance, a wonderful +revolution came over his feelings; and, secretly determining the +mocassins would be equally well placed on his own feet, he no longer +offered any opposition. + +This important point arranged, the officer once more followed his guide +in silence. Gradually the forest, as they advanced, became lighter with +the lurid atmosphere before alluded to; and at length, through the +trees, could be indistinctly seen the Indian fires from which it +proceeded. The young man was now desired by his conductress to use the +utmost circumspection in making the circuit of the wood, in order to +gain a position immediately opposite to the point where the path they +had hitherto pursued terminated in the opening. This, indeed, was the +most dangerous and critical part of the undertaking. A false step, or +the crackling of a decayed branch beneath the foot, would have been +sufficient to betray proximity, in which case his doom was sealed. + +Fortunate did he now deem himself in having yielded to the counsel of +his guide. Had he retained his unbending boot, it must have crushed +whatever it pressed; whereas, the pliant mocassin, yielding to the +obstacles it encountered, enabled him to pass noiselessly over them. +Still, while exempt from danger on this score, another, scarcely less +perplexing, became at every instant more obvious; for, as they drew +nearer to the point which the female sought to gain, the dim light of +the half-slumbering fires fell so immediately upon their path, that had +a single human eye been turned in that direction, their discovery was +inevitable. It was with a beating heart, to which mere personal fear, +however, was a stranger, that Captain de Haldimar performed this +concluding stage of his adventurous course; but, at a moment when he +considered detection unavoidable, and was arming himself with +resolution to meet the event, the female suddenly halted, placing, in +the act, the trunk of an enormous beech between her companion and the +dusky forms within, whose very breathing could be heard by the anxious +officer. Without uttering a word, she took his hand, and, drawing him +gently forward, disappeared altogether from his view. The young man +followed, and in the next moment found himself in the bowelless body of +the tree itself; into which, on the side of the encampment, both light +and sound were admitted by a small aperture formed by the natural decay +of the wood. + +The Indian pressed her lips to the ear of her companion, and rather +breathed than said,--"The Saganaw will see and hear every thing from +this in safety; and what he hears let him treasure in his heart. +Oucanasta must go. When the council is over she will return, and lead +him back to his warriors." + +With this brief intimation she departed, and so noiselessly, that the +young officer was not aware of her absence until some minutes of +silence had satisfied him she must be gone. His first care then was to +survey, through the aperture that lay in a level with his eye, the +character of the scene before him. The small plain, in which lay the +encampment of the Indians, was a sort of oasis of the forest, girt +round with a rude belt of underwood, and somewhat elevated, so as to +present the appearance of a mound, constructed on the first principles +of art. This was thickly although irregularly studded with tents, some +of which were formed of large coarse mats thrown over poles disposed in +a conical shape, while others were more rudely composed of the leafy +branches of the forest. + +Within these groups of human forms lay, wrapped in their blankets, +stretched at their lazy length. Others, with their feet placed close to +the dying embers of their fires, diverged like so many radii from their +centre, and lay motionless in sleep, as if life and consciousness were +wholly extinct. Here and there was to be seen a solitary warrior +securing, with admirable neatness, and with delicate ligatures formed +of the sinew of the deer, the guiding feather, or fashioning the bony +barb of his long arrow; while others, with the same warlike spirit in +view, employed themselves in cutting and greasing small patches of +smoked deerskin, which were to secure and give a more certain direction +to the murderous bullet. Among the warriors were interspersed many +women, some of whom might be seen supporting in their laps the heavy +heads of their unconscious helpmates, while they occupied themselves, +by the firelight, in parting the long black matted hair, and +maintaining a destructive warfare against the pigmy inhabitants of that +dark region. These signs of life and activity in the body of the camp +generally were, however, but few and occasional; but, at the spot where +Captain de Haldimar stood concealed, the scene was different. At a few +yards from the tree stood a sort of shed, composed of tall poles placed +upright in the earth, and supporting a roof formed simply of rude +boughs, the foliage of which had been withered by time. This simple +edifice might be about fifty feet in circumference. In the centre +blazed a large fire that had been newly fed, and around this were +assembled a band of swarthy warriors, some twenty or thirty in number, +who, by their proud, calm, and thoughtful bearing, might at once be +known to be chiefs. + +The faces of most of these were familiar to the young officer, who +speedily recognised them for the principals of the various tribes +Ponteac had leagued in arms against his enemies. That chief himself, +ever remarkable for his haughty eye and commanding gesture, was of the +number of those present; and, a little aloof from his inferiors, sat, +with his feet stretched towards the fire, and half reclining on his +side in an attitude of indolence; yet with his mind evidently engrossed +by deep and absorbing thought. From some observations that distinctly +met his ear, Captain de Haldimar gathered, the party were only awaiting +the arrival of an important character, without whose presence the +leading chief was unwilling the conference should begin. The period of +the officer's concealment had just been long enough to enable him to +fix all these particulars in his mind, when suddenly the faint report +of a distant rifle was heard echoing throughout the wood. This was +instantly succeeded by a second, that sounded more sharply on the ear; +and then followed a long and piercing cry, that brought every warrior, +even of those who slept, quickly to his feet. + +An anxious interval of some minutes passed away in the fixed and +listening attitudes, which the chiefs especially had assumed, when a +noise resembling that of some animal forcing its way rapidly through +the rustling branches, was faintly heard in the direction in which the +shots had been fired. This gradually increased as it evidently +approached the encampment, and then, distinctly, could be heard the +light yet unguarded boundings of a human foot. At every moment the +rustling of the underwood, rapidly divided by the approaching form, +became more audible; and so closely did the intruder press upon the +point in which Captain de Haldimar was concealed, that that officer, +fancying he had been betrayed, turned hastily round, and, grasping one +of the pistols he had secreted in his chest, prepared himself for a +last and deadly encounter. An instant or two was sufficient to +re-assure him. The form glided hastily past, brushing the tree with its +garments in its course, and clearing, at a single bound, the belt of +underwood that divided the encampment from the tall forest, stood +suddenly among the group of anxious and expectant chiefs. + +This individual, a man of tall stature, was powerfully made. He wore a +jerkin, or hunting-coat, of leather; and his arms were, a rifle which +had every appearance of having just been discharged, a tomahawk reeking +with blood, and a scalping-knife, which, in the hurry of some recent +service it had been made to perform, had missed its sheath, and was +thrust naked into the belt that encircled his loins. His countenance +wore an expression of malignant triumph; and as his eye fell on the +assembled throng, its self-satisfied and exulting glance seemed to give +them to understand he came not without credentials to recommend him to +their notice. Captain de Haldimar was particularly struck by the air of +bold daring and almost insolent recklessness pervading every movement +of this man; and it was difficult to say whether the haughtiness of +bearing peculiar to Ponteac himself, was not exceeded by that of this +herculean warrior. + +By the body of chiefs his appearance had been greeted with a mere +general grunt of approbation; but the countenance of the leader +expressed a more personal interest. All seemed to expect he had +something of moment to communicate; but as it was not consistent with +the dignity of Indian etiquette to enquire, they waited calmly until it +should please their new associate to enter on the history of his +exploits. In pursuance of an invitation from Ponteac, he now took his +seat on the right hand of that chief, and immediately facing the tree, +from which Captain de Haldimar, strongly excited both by the reports of +the shots that had been fired, and the sight of the bloody tomahawk of +the recently arrived Indian, gazed earnestly and anxiously on the +swarthy throng. + +Glancing once more triumphantly round the circle, who sat smoking their +pipes in calm and deliberative silence, the latter now observed the eye +of a young chief, who sat opposite to him, intently riveted on his left +shoulder. He raised his hand to the part, withdrew it, looked at it, +and found it wet with blood. A slight start of surprise betrayed his +own unconsciousness of the accident; yet, secretly vexed at the +discovery which had been made, and urged probably by one of his wayward +fits, he demanded haughtily and insultingly of the young chief, if that +was the first time he had ever looked on the blood of a warrior. + +"Does my brother feel pain?" was the taunting reply. "If he is come to +us with a trophy, it is not without being dearly bought. The Saganaw +has spilt his blood." + +"The weapons of the Saganaw, like those of the smooth face of the +Ottawa, are without sting," angrily retorted the other. "They only +prick the skin like a thorn; but when Wacousta drinks the blood of his +enemy," and he glanced his eye fiercely at the young man, "it is the +blood next his heart." + +"My brother has always big words upon his lips," returned the young +chief, with a scornful sneer at the implied threat against himself. +"But where are his proofs?" + +For a moment the eye of the party thus challenged kindled into flame, +while his lips were firmly compressed together; and as he half bent +himself forward, to scan with greater earnestness the features of his +questioner, his right hand sank to his left side, tightly grasping the +handle of his scalping-knife. The action was but momentary. Again he +drew himself up, puffed the smoke deliberately from his bloody +tomahawk, and, thrusting his right hand into his bosom, drew leisurely +forth a reeking scalp, which he tossed insolently across the fire into +the lap of the young chief. A loud and general "ugh!" testified the +approbation of the assembled group, at the unequivocal answer thus +given to the demand of the youth. The eye of the huge warrior sparkled +with a deep and ferocious exultation. + +"What says the smooth face of the Ottawas now?" he demanded, in the +same insolent strain. "Does it make his heart sick to look upon the +scalp of a great chief?" + +The young man quietly turned the horrid trophy over several times in +his hand, examining it attentively in every part. Then tossing it back +with contemptuous coolness to its owner, he replied,-- + +"The eyes of my brother are weak with age. He is not cunning, like a +red skin. The Ottawa has often seen the Saganaw in their fort, and he +knows their chiefs have fine hair like women; but this is like the +bristles of the fox. My brother has not slain a great chief, but a +common warrior." + +A flush of irrepressible and threatening anger passed over the features +of the vast savage. + +"Is it for a boy," he fiercely asked, "whose eyes know not yet the +colour of blood, to judge of the enemies that fall by the tomahawk of +Wacousta? but a great warrior never boasts of actions that he does not +achieve. It is the son of the great chief of the Saganaw whom he has +slain. If the smooth face doubts it, and has courage to venture, even +at night, within a hundred yards of the fort, he will see a Saganaw +without a scalp; and he will know that Saganaw by his dress--the +dress," he pursued, with a low emphatic laugh, "that Oucanasta, the +sister of the smooth face, loved so much to look upon." + +Quicker than thought was the upspringing of the young Indian to his +feet. With a cheek glowing, an eye flashing, and his gleaming tomahawk +whirling rapidly round his head, he cleared at a single bound the fire +that separated him from his insulter. The formidable man who had thus +wantonly provoked the attack, was equally prompt in meeting it. At the +first movement of the youth, he too had leapt to his feet, and +brandished the terrible weapon that served in the double capacity of +pipe and hatchet. A fierce yell escaped the lips of each, as they thus +met in close and hostile collision, and the scene for the moment +promised to be one of the most tragic character; but before either +could find an assailable point on which to rest his formidable weapon, +Ponteac himself had thrown his person between them, and in a voice of +thunder commanded the instant abandonment of their purpose. Exasperated +even as they now mutually were, the influence of that authority, for +which the great chief of the Ottawas was well known, was not without +due effect on the combatants. His anger was principally directed +against the assailant, on whom the tones of his reproving voice +produced a change the intimidation of his powerful opponent could never +have effected. The young chief dropped the point of his tomahawk, bowed +his head in submission, and then resuming his seat, sat during the +remainder of the night with his arms folded, and his head bent in +silence over his chest. + +"Our brother has done well," said Ponteac, glancing approvingly at him +who had exhibited the reeking trophy, and whom he evidently favoured. +"He is a great chief, and his words are truth. We heard the report of +his rifle, and we also heard the cry that told he had borne away the +scalp of an enemy. But we will think of this to-morrow. Let us now +commence our talk." + +Our readers will readily imagine the feelings of Captain de Haldimar +during this short but exciting scene. From the account given by the +warrior, there could be no doubt the murdered man was the unhappy +Donellan; who, probably, neglecting the caution given him, had exposed +himself to the murderous aim of this fierce being, who was apparently a +scout sent for the purpose of watching the movements of the garrison. +The direction of the firing, the allusion made to the regimentals, nay, +the scalp itself, which he knew from the short crop to be that of a +soldier, and fancied he recognised from its colour to be that of his +servant, formed but too conclusive evidence of the fact; and, bitterly +and deeply, as he gazed on this melancholy proof of the man's sacrifice +of life to his interest, did he repent that he had made him the +companion of his adventure, or that, having done so, he had not either +brought him away altogether, or sent him instantly back to the fort. +Commiseration for the fate of the unfortunate Donellan naturally +induced a spirit of personal hostility towards his destroyer; and it +was with feelings strongly excited in favour of him whom he now +discovered to be the brother of his guide, that he saw him spring +fiercely to the attack of his gigantic opponent. There was an activity +about the young chief amply commensurate with the greater physical +power of his adversary; while the manner in which he wielded his +tomahawk, proved him to be any thing but the novice in the use of the +formidable weapon the other had represented him. It was with a feeling +of disappointment, therefore, which the peculiarity of his own position +could not overcome, he saw Ponteac interpose himself between the +parties. + +Presently, however, a subject of deeper and more absorbing interest +than even the fate of his unhappy follower engrossed every faculty of +his mind, and riveted both eye and ear in painful tension to the +aperture in his hiding-place. The chiefs had resumed their places, and +the silence of a few minutes had succeeded to the fierce affray of the +warriors, when Ponteac, in a calm and deliberate voice, proceeded to +state he had summoned all the heads of the nations together, to hear a +plan he had to offer for the reduction of the last remaining forts of +their enemies, Michilimackinac and Detroit. He pointed out the +tediousness of the warfare in which they were engaged; the desertion of +the hunting-grounds by their warriors; and their consequent deficiency +in all those articles of European traffic which they were formerly in +the habit of receiving in exchange for their furs. He dwelt on the +beneficial results that would accrue to them all in the event of the +reduction of those two important fortresses; since, in that case, they +would be enabled to make such terms with the English as would secure to +them considerable advantages; while, instead of being treated with the +indignity of a conquered people, they would be enabled to command +respect from the imposing attitude this final crowning of their +successes would enable them to assume. He stated that the prudence and +vigilance of the commanders of these two unreduced fortresses were +likely long to baffle, as had hitherto been the case, every open +attempt at their capture; and admitted he had little expectation of +terrifying them into a surrender by the same artifice that had +succeeded with the forts on the Ohio and the lower lakes. The plan, +however, which he had to propose, was one he felt assured would be +attended with success. He would disclose that plan, and the great +chiefs should give it the advantage of their deliberation. + +Captain de Haldimar was on the rack. The chief had gradually dropped +his voice as he explained his plan, until at length it became so low, +that undistinguishable sounds alone reached the ear of the excited +officer. For a moment he despaired of making himself fully master of +the important secret; but in the course of the deliberation that +ensued, the blanks left unsupplied in the discourse of the leader were +abundantly filled up. It was what the reader has already seen. The +necessities of the Indians were to be urged as a motive for their being +tired of hostilities. A peace was to be solicited; a council held; a +ball-playing among the warriors proposed, as a mark of their own +sincerity and confidence during that council; and when the garrison, +lulled into security, should be thrown entirely off their guard, the +warriors were to seize their guns and tomahawks, with which (the former +cut short, for the better concealment of their purpose) their women +would be provided, rush in, under pretext of regaining their lost ball, +when a universal massacre of men, women, and children was to ensue, +until nothing wearing the garb of a Saganaw should be left. + +It would be tedious to follow the chief through all the minor +ramifications of his subtle plan. Suffice it they were of a nature to +throw the most wary off his guard; and so admirably arranged was every +part, so certain did it appear their enemies must give into the snare, +that the oldest chiefs testified their approbation with a vivacity of +manner and expression little wont to characterize the deliberative +meetings of these reserved people. But deepest of all was the approval +of the tall warrior who had so recently arrived. To him had the +discourse of the leader been principally directed, as one whose counsel +and experience were especially wanting to confirm him in his purpose. +He was the last who spoke; but, when he did, it was with a force--an +energy--that must have sunk every objection, even if the plan had not +been so perfect and unexceptionable in its concoction as to have +precluded a possibility of all negative argument. During the delivery +of his animated speech, his swarthy countenance kindled into fierce and +rapidly varying expression. A thousand dark and complicated passions +evidently struggled at his heart; and as he dwelt leisurely and +emphatically on the sacrifice of human life that must inevitably attend +the adoption of the proposed measure, his eye grew larger, his chest +expanded, nay, his very nostril appeared to dilate with unfathomably +guileful exultation. Captain de Haldimar thought he had never gazed on +any thing wearing the human shape half so atrociously savage. + +Long before the council was terminated, the inferior warriors, who had +been so suddenly aroused from their slumbering attitudes, had again +retired to their tents, and stretched their lazy length before the +embers of their fires. The weary chiefs now prepared to follow their +example. They emptied the ashes from the bowls of their pipe-tomahawks, +replaced them carefully at their side, rose, and retired to their +respective tents. Ponteac and the tall warrior alone remained. For a +time they conversed earnestly together. The former listened attentively +to some observations made to him by his companion, in the course of +which, the words "chief of the Saganaw--fort--spy--enemy," and two or +three others equally unconnected, were alone audible to the ear of him +who so attentively sought to catch the slightest sound. He then thrust +his hand under his hunting-coat, and, as if in confirmation of what he +had been stating, exhibited a coil of rope and the glossy boot of an +English officer. Ponteac uttered one of his sharp ejaculating "ughs!" +and then rising quickly from his seat, followed by his companion, soon +disappeared in the heart of the encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +How shall we attempt to paint all that passed through the mind of +Captain de Haldimar during this important conference of the fierce +chiefs?--where find language to convey the cold and thrilling horror +with which he listened to the calm discussion of a plan, the object of +which was the massacre, not only of a host of beings endeared to him by +long communionship of service, but of those who were wedded to his +heart by the dearer ties of affection and kindred? As Ponteac had +justly observed, the English garrisons, strong in their own defences, +were little likely to be speedily reduced, while their enemies confined +themselves to overt acts of hostility; but, against their insidious +professions of amity who could oppose a sufficient caution? His father, +the young officer was aware, had all along manifested a spirit of +conciliation towards the Indians, which, if followed up by the +government generally, must have had the effect of preventing the cruel +and sanguinary war that had so recently desolated this remote part of +the British possessions. How likely, therefore, was it, having this +object always in view, he should give in to the present wily stratagem, +where such plausible motives for the abandonment of their hostile +purpose were urged by the perfidious chiefs! From the few hasty hints +already given him by his guide,--that kind being, who evidently sought +to be the saviour of the devoted garrisons,--he had gathered that a +deep and artful plan was to be submitted to the chiefs by their leader; +but little did he imagine it was of the finished nature it now proved +to be. Any other than the present attempt, the vigilance and prudence +of his experienced father, he felt, would have rendered abortive; but +there was so much speciousness in the pleas that were to be advanced in +furtherance of their assumed object, he could not but admit the almost +certainty of their influence, even on him. + +Sick and discouraged as he was at the horrible perspective thus forced +on his mental view, the young officer had not, for some moments, +presence of mind to reflect that the danger of the garrison existed +only so long as he should be absent from it. At length, however, the +cheering recollection came, and with it the mantling rush of blood, to +his faint heart. But, short was the consoling hope: again he felt +dismay in every fibre of his frame; for he now reflected, that although +his opportune discovery of the meditated scheme would save one fort, +there was no guardian angel to extend, as in this instance, its +protecting influence to the other; and within that other there breathed +those who were dearer far to him than his own existence;--beings, whose +lives were far more precious to him than any even in the garrison of +which he was a member. His sister Clara, whom he loved with a love +little inferior to that of his younger brother; and one, even more +dearly loved than Clara,--Madeline de Haldimar, his cousin and +affianced bride,--were both inmates of Michilimackinac, which was +commanded by the father of the latter, a major in the ---- regiment. +With Madeline de Haldimar he had long since exchanged his vows of +affection; and their nuptials, which were to have taken place about the +period when the present war broke out, had only been suspended because +all communication between the two posts had been entirely cut off by +the enemy. + +Captain de Haldimar had none of the natural weakness and timidity of +character which belonged to the gentler and more sensitive Charles. +Sanguine and full of enterprise, he seldom met evils half way; but when +they did come, he sought to master them by the firmness and +collectedness with which he opposed his mind to their infliction. If +his heart was now racked with the most acute suffering--his reason +incapacitated from exercising its calm deliberative power, the seeming +contradiction arose not from any deficiency in his character, but was +attributable wholly to the extraordinary circumstances of the moment. + +It was a part of the profound plan of the Ottawa chief, that it should +be essayed on the two forts on the same day; and it was a suggestion of +the murderer of poor Donellan, that a parley should be obtained, +through the medium of a white flag, the nature of which he explained to +them, as it was understood among their enemies. If invited to the +council, then they were to enter, or not, as circumstances might +induce; but, in any case, they were to go unprovided with the pipe of +peace, since this could not be smoked without violating every thing +held most sacred among themselves. The red, or war-pipe, was to be +substituted as if by accident; and, for the success of the deception, +they were to presume on the ignorance of their enemies. This, however, +was not important, since the period of their first parley was to be the +moment chosen for the arrangement of a future council, and the proposal +of a ball-playing upon the common. Three days were to be named as the +interval between the first conference of Ponteac with the governor and +the definitive council which was to ensue; during which, however, it +was so arranged, that, before the lip of a red skin should touch the +pipe of peace, the ball-players should rush in and massacre the +unprepared soldiery, while the chiefs despatched the officers in +council. + +It was the proximity of the period allotted for the execution of their +cruel scheme that mainly contributed to the dismay of Captain de +Haldimar. The very next day was appointed for carrying into effect the +first part of the Indian plan: and how was it possible that a +messenger, even admitting he should elude the vigilance of the enemy, +could reach the distant post of Michilimackinac within the short period +on which hung the destiny of that devoted fortress. In the midst of the +confused and distracting images that now crowded on his brain, came at +length one thought, redolent with the brightest colourings of hope. On +his return to the garrison, the treachery of the Indians being made +known, the governor might so far, and with a view of gaining time, give +in to the plan of his enemies, as to obtain such delay as would afford +the chance of communication between the forts. The attempt, on the part +of those who should be selected for this purpose, would, it is true, be +a desperate one: still it must be made; and, with such incentives to +exertion as he had, how willingly would he propose his own services! + +The more he dwelt on this mode of defeating the subtle designs of the +enemy, the more practicable did it appear. Of his own safe return to +the fort he entertained not a doubt; for he knew and relied on the +Indian woman, who was bound to him by a tie of gratitude, which her +conduct that night evidently denoted to be superior even to the +interests of her race. Moreover, as he had approached the encampment +unnoticed while the chiefs were yet awake to every thing around them, +how little probability was there of his return being detected while all +lay wrapped in the most profound repose. It is true that, for a moment, +his confidence deserted him as he recurred to the earnest dialogue of +the two Indians, and the sudden display of the rope and boot, the +latter of which articles he had at once recognised to be one of those +he had so recently worn; but his apprehensions on that score were again +speedily set to rest, when he reflected, had any suspicion existed in +the minds of these men that an enemy was lurking near them, a general +alarm would have been spread, and hundreds of warriors despatched to +scour the forest. + +The night was now rapidly waning away, and already the cold damp air of +an autumnal morning was beginning to make itself felt. More than half +an hour had elapsed since the departure of Ponteac and his companion, +and yet Oucanasta came not. With a sense of the approach of day came +new and discouraging thoughts, and, for some minutes, the mind of the +young officer became petrified with horror, as he reflected on the bare +possibility of his escape being intercepted. The more he lingered on +this apprehension, the more bewildered were his ideas; and already, in +horrible perspective, he beheld the destruction of his nearest and +dearest friends, and the host of those who were humbler followers, and +partakers in the same destiny. Absolutely terrified with the misgivings +of his own heart, he, in the wildness and unconnectedness of his +purpose, now resolved to make the attempt to return alone, although he +knew not even the situation of the path he had so recently quitted. He +had actually moved a pace forward on his desperate enterprise, when he +felt a band touching the extended arm with which he groped to find the +entrance to his hiding-place. The unexpected collision sent a cold +shudder through his frame; and such was the excitement to which he had +worked himself up, it was not without difficulty he suppressed an +exclamation, that must inevitably have sealed his doom. The soft tones +of Oucanasta's voice re-assured him. + +"The day will soon dawn," she whispered; "the Saganaw must go." + +With the return of hope came the sense of all he owed to the +devotedness of this kind woman. He grasped the hand that still lingered +on his arm, pressed it affectionately in his own, and then placed it in +silence on his throbbing heart. The breathing of Oucanasta became +deeper, and the young officer fancied he could feel her trembling with +agitation. Again, however, and in a tone of more subdued expression, +she whispered that he must go. + +There was little urging necessary to induce a prompt compliance with +the hint. Cautiously emerging from his concealment, Captain de Haldimar +now followed close in the rear of his guide, who took the same circuit +of the forest to reach the path that led towards the fort. This they +speedily gained, and then pursued their course in silence, until they +at length arrived at the log where the exchange of mocassins had been +made. + +"Here the Saganaw may take breath," she observed, as she seated herself +on the fallen tree; "the sleep of the red skin is sound, and there is +no one upon the path but Oucanasta." + +Anxious as he felt to secure his return to the fort, there was an +implied solicitation in the tones of her to whom he owed so much, that +prevented Captain de Haldimar from offering an objection, which he +feared might be construed into slight. + +For a moment or two the Indian remained with her arms folded, and her +head bent over her chest; and then, in a low, deep, but tremulous +voice, observed,-- + +"When the Saganaw saved Oucanasta from perishing in the angry waters, +there was a girl of the pale faces with him, whose skin was like the +snows of the Canadian winter, and whose hair was black like the fur of +the squirrel. Oucanasta saw," she pursued, dropping her voice yet +lower, "that the Saganaw was loved by the pale girl, and her own heart +was very sick, for the Saganaw had saved her life, and she loved him +too. But she knew she was very foolish, and that an Indian girl could +never be the wife of a handsome chief of the Saganaw; and she prayed to +the Great Spirit of the red skins to give her strength to overcome her +feelings; but the Great Spirit was angry with her, and would not hear +her." She paused a moment, and then abruptly demanded, "Where is that +pale girl now?" + +Captain de Haldimar had often been rallied, not only by his +brother-officers, but even by his sister and Madeline de Haldimar +herself, on the conquest he had evidently made of the heart of this +Indian girl. The event to which she had alluded had taken place several +months previous to the breaking out of hostilities. Oucanasta was +directing her frail bark, one evening, along the shores of the Detroit, +when one of those sudden gusts of wind, so frequent in these countries, +upset the canoe, and left its pilot struggling amid the waves. Captain +de Haldimar, who happened to be on the bank at the moment with his +sister and cousin, was an eye-witness of her danger, and instantly flew +down the steep to her assistance. Being an excellent swimmer, he was +not long in gaining the spot, where, exhausted with the exertion she +had made, and encumbered with her awkward machecoti, the poor girl was +already on the point of perishing. But for his timely assistance, +indeed, she must have sunk to the bottom; and, since that period, the +grateful being had been remarked for the strong but unexpressed +attachment she felt for her deliverer. This, however, was the first +moment Captain de Haldimar became acquainted with the extent of +feelings, the avowal of which not a little startled and surprised, and +even annoyed him. The last question, however, suggested a thought that +kindled every fibre of his being into expectancy,--Oucanasta might be +the saviour of those he loved; and he felt that, if time were but +afforded her, she would. He rose from the log, dropped on one knee +before the Indian, seized both her hands with eagerness, and then in +tones of earnest supplication whispered,-- + +"Oucanasta is right: the pale girl with the skin like snow, and hair +like the fur of the squirrel, is the bride of the Saganaw. Long before +he saved the life of Oucanasta, he knew and loved that pale girl. She +is dearer to the Saganaw than his own blood; but she is in the fort +beyond the great lake, and the tomahawks of the red skins will destroy +her; for the warriors of that fort have no one to tell them of their +danger. What says the red girl? will she go and save the lives of the +sister and the wife of the Saganaw." + +The breathing of the Indian became deeper; and Captain de Haldimar +fancied she sighed heavily, as she replied,-- + +"Oucanasta is but a weak woman, and her feet are not swift like those +of a runner among the red skins; but what the Saganaw asks, for his +sake she will try. When she has seen him safe to his own fort, she will +go and prepare herself for the journey. The pale girl shall lay her +head on the bosom of the Saganaw, and Oucanasta will try to rejoice in +her happiness." + +In the fervour of his gratitude, the young officer caught the drooping +form of the generous Indian wildly to his heart; his lips pressed hers, +and during the kiss that followed, the heart of the latter bounded and +throbbed, as if it would have passed from her own into the bosom of her +companion. + +Never was a kiss less premeditated, less unchaste. Gratitude, not +passion, had called it forth; and had Madeline de Haldimar been near at +the moment, the feeling that had impelled the seeming infidelity to +herself would have been regarded as an additional claim on her +affection. On the whole, however, it was a most unfortunate and +ill-timed kiss, and, as is often the case under such circumstances, led +to the downfall of the woman. In the vivacity of his embrace, Captain +de Haldimar had drawn his guide so far forward upon the log, that she +lost her balance, and fell with a heavy and reverberating crash among +the leaves and dried sticks that were strewed thickly around. + +Scarcely a second elapsed when the forest was alive with human yells, +that fell achingly on the ears of both; and bounding warriors were +heard on every hand, rapidly dividing the dense underwood they +encountered in their pursuit. + +Quick as thought the Indian had regained her feet. She grasped the hand +of her companion; and hurrying, though not without caution, along the +path, again stood on the brow of the ravine through which they had +previously passed. + +"The Saganaw must go alone," she whispered. "The red skins are close +upon our trail, but they will find only an Indian woman, when they +expect a pale face. Oucanasta will save her friend." + +Captain de Haldimar did as he was desired. Clinging to the bushes that +lined the face of the precipitous descent, he managed once more to gain +the bed of the ravine. For a moment he paused to listen to the sounds +of his pursuers, whose footsteps were now audible on the eminence he +had just quitted; and then, gathering himself up for the leap that was +to enable him to clear the rivulet, he threw himself heavily forward. +His feet alighted upon an elevated and yielding substance, that gave +way with a crashing sound that echoed far and near throughout the +forest, and he felt himself secured as if in a trap. Although +despairing of escape, he groped with his hands to discover what it was +that thus detained him, and found he had fallen through a bark canoe, +the bottom of which had been turned upwards. The heart of the fugitive +now sank within him: there could be no doubt that his retreat was +intercepted. The canoe had been placed there since he last passed +through the ravine: and it was evident, from the close and triumphant +yell that followed the rending of the frail bark, such a result had +been anticipated. + +Stunned as he was by the terrific cries of the savages, and confused as +were his ideas, Captain de Haldimar had still presence of mind to +perceive the path itself offered him no further security. He therefore +quitted it altogether, and struck, in an oblique direction, up the +opposite face of the ravine. Scarcely had he gone twenty yards, when he +heard the voices of several Indians conversing earnestly near the canoe +he had just quitted; and presently afterwards he could distinctly hear +them ascending the opposite brow of the ravine by the path he recently +congratulated himself on having abandoned. To advance or to recede was +now equally impracticable; for, on every side, he was begirt by +enemies, into whose hands a single false step must inevitably betray +him. What would he not have given for the presence of Oucanasta, who +was so capable of advising him in this difficulty! but, from the moment +of his descending into the ravine, he had utterly lost sight of her. + +The spot on which he now rested was covered with thick brushwood, +closely interwoven at their tops, but affording sufficient space +beneath for a temporary close concealment; so that, unless some Indian +should touch him with his foot, there was little seeming probability of +his being discovered by the eye. Under this he crept, and lay, +breathless and motionless, with his head raised from the ground, and +his ear on the stretch for the slightest noise. For several minutes he +remained in this position, vainly seeking to catch the sound of a +voice, or the fall of a footstep; but the most deathlike silence had +succeeded to the fierce yellings that had so recently rent the forest. +At times he fancied he could distinguish faint noises in the direction +of the encampment; and so certain was he of this, he at length came to +the conclusion that the Indians, either baffled in their search, had +relinquished the pursuit, or, having encountered Oucanasta, had been +thrown on a different scent. His first intention had been to lie +concealed until the following night, when the warriors, no longer on +the alert, should leave the path once more open to him; but now that +the conviction of their return was strong on his mind, he changed his +determination, resolving to make the best of his way to the fort with +the aid of the approaching dawn. With this view he partly withdrew his +body from beneath its canopy of underwood; but, scarcely had he done +so, when a hundred tongues, like the baying of so many blood-hounds, +again rent the air with their wild cries, which seemed to rise up from +the very bowels of the earth, and close to the appalled ear of the +young officer. + +Scarcely conscious of what he did, Captain de Haldimar grasped one of +his pistols, for he fancied he felt the hot breathing of human life +upon his cheek. With a sickly sensation of fear, he turned to satisfy +himself whether it was not an illusion of his heated imagination. What, +however, was his dismay, when he beheld bending over him a dark and +heavy form, the outline of which alone was distinguishable in the deep +gloom in which the ravine remained enveloped! Desperation was in the +heart of the excited officer: he cocked his pistol; but scarcely had +the sharp ticking sound floated on the air, when he felt a powerful +hand upon his chest; and, with as much facility as if he had been a +child, was he raised by that invisible hand to his feet. A dozen +warriors now sprang to the assistance of their comrade, when the whole, +having disarmed and bound their prisoner, led him back in triumph to +their encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +The fires of the Indians were nearly now extinct; but the faint light +of the fast dawning day threw a ghastly, sickly, hue over the +countenances of the savages, which rendered them even more terrific in +their war paint. The chiefs grouped themselves immediately around their +prisoner, while the inferior warriors, forming an outer circle, stood +leaning their dark forms upon their rifles, and following, with keen +and watchful eye, every movement of their captive. Hitherto the +unfortunate officer had been too much engrossed by his despair to pay +any immediate attention to the individual who had first discovered and +seized him. It was sufficient for him to know all hope of the safety of +the garrison had perished with his captivity: and, with that +recklessness of life which often springs from the very consciousness of +inability to preserve it, he now sullenly awaited the death which he +expected at each moment would be inflicted. Suddenly his ear was +startled by an interrogatory, in English, from one who stood behind him. + +With a movement of surprise, Captain de Haldimar turned to examine his +questioner. It was the dark and ferocious warrior who had exhibited the +scalp of his ill-fated servant. For a moment the officer fixed his eyes +firmly and unshrinkingly on those of the savage, seeking to reconcile +the contradiction that existed between his dress and features and the +purity of the English he had just spoken. The other saw his drift, and, +impatient of the scrutiny, again repeated, as he fiercely pulled the +strong leathern thong by which the prisoner now found himself secured +to his girdle,-- + +"Who and what are you?--whence come you?--and for what purpose are you +here?" Then, as if struck by some sudden recollection, he laid his hand +upon the shoulder of his victim; and, while his eye grew upon his +features, he pursued, in a tone of vehemence,--"Ha! by Heaven, I should +know that face!--the cursed lines of the blood of De Haldimar are +stamped upon that brow! But stay, one proof and I am satisfied." While +he yet spoke he dashed the menial hat of his captive to the earth, put +aside his hair, and then, with fiendish exultation, pursued,--"It is +even so. Do you recollect the battle of the plains of Abraham, Captain +de Haldimar?--Recollect you the French officer who aimed so desperately +at your life, and whose object was defeated by a soldier of your +regiment? I am that officer: my victim escaped me then, but not for +ever. The hour of vengeance is nearly now arrived, and your capture is +the pledge of my success. Hark, how the death-cry of all his hated race +will ring in madness on your father's ear!" + +Amazement, stupefaction, and horror, filled the mind of the wretched +officer at this extraordinary declaration. He perfectly recollected +that the individual who had evinced so much personal hostility on the +occasion alluded to, was indeed a man wearing the French uniform, +although at the head of a band of savages, and of a stature and +strength similar to those of him who now so fiercely avowed himself the +bitter and deadly foe of all his race. If this were so, and his tone +and language left little room for doubt, the doom of the ill-fated +garrison was indeed irrevocably sealed. This mysterious enemy evidently +possessed great influence in the councils of the Indians; and while the +hot breath of his hatred continued to fan the flame of fierce hostility +that had been kindled in the bosom of Ponteac, whose particular friend +he appeared to be, there would be no end to the atrocities that must +follow. Great, however, as was the dismay of Captain de Haldimar, who, +exhausted with the adventures of the night, presented a ghastly image +of anxiety and fatigue, it was impossible for him to repress the +feelings of indignation with which the language of this fierce man had +inspired him. + +"If you are in reality a French officer," he said, "and not an +Englishman, as your accent would denote, the sentiments you have now +avowed may well justify the belief, that you have been driven with +ignominy from a service which your presence must eternally have +disgraced. There is no country in Europe that would willingly claim you +for its subject. Nay, even the savage race, with whom you are now +connected, would, if apprised of your true nature, spurn you as a thing +unworthy to herd even with their wolf-dogs." + +A fierce sardonic laugh burst from the lips of the warrior, but this +was so mingled with rage as to give an almost devilish expression to +his features. + +"Ignominy--ignominy!" he repeated, while his right hand played +convulsively with the handle of his tomahawk; "is it for a De Haldimar +to taunt me with ignominy? Fool!" he pursued, after a momentary pause, +"you have sealed your doom." Then abruptly quitting the handle of his +weapon, he thrust his hand into his bosom, and again drawing forth the +reeking scalp of Donellan, he dashed it furiously in the face of his +prisoner. "Not two hours since," he exclaimed, "I cheered myself with +the thought that the scalp of a De Haldimar was in my pouch. Now, +indeed, do I glory in my mistake. The torture will be a more fitting +death for you." + +Had an arm of the insulted soldier been at liberty, the offence would +not have gone unavenged even there; for such was the desperation of his +heart, that he felt he could have hugged the death struggle with his +insolent captor, notwithstanding the fearful odds, nor quitted him +until one or both should have paid the debt of fierce enmity with life. +As it was he could only betray, by his flashing eye, excited look, and +the impatient play of his foot upon the ground, the deep indignation +that consumed his heart. + +The tall savage exulted in the mortification he had awakened, and as +his eye glanced insolently from head to foot along his enemy, its +expression told how much he laughed at the impotence of his anger. +Suddenly, however, a change passed over his features. The mocassin of +the officer had evidently attracted his attention, and he now demanded, +in a more serious and imperative tone,-- + +"Ha! what means this disguise? Who is the wretch whom I have slain, +mistaking him for a nobler victim; and how comes it that an officer of +the English garrison appears here in the garb of a servant? By heaven, +it is so! you are come as a spy into the camp of the Indians to steal +away the councils of the chiefs. Speak, what have you heard?" + +With these questions returned the calm and self-possession of the +officer. He at once saw the importance of his answer, on which hung not +merely his own last faint chance of safety, but that also of his +generous deliverer. Struggling to subdue the disgust which he felt at +holding converse with this atrocious monster, he asked in turn,-- + +"Am I then the only one whom the warriors have overtaken in their +pursuit?" + +"There was a woman, the sister of that boy," and he pointed +contemptuously to the young chief who had so recently assailed him, and +who now, in common with his followers, stood impatiently listening to a +colloquy that was unintelligible to all. "Speak truly, was SHE not the +traitress who conducted you here?" + +"Had you found me here," returned the officer, with difficulty +repressing his feelings, "there might have been some ground for the +assertion; but surely the councils of the chiefs could not be overheard +at the distant point at which you discovered me." + +"Why then were you there in this disguise?--and who is he," again +holding up the bloody scalp, "whom I have despoiled of this?" + +"There are few of the Ottawa Indians," returned Captain de Haldimar, +"who are ignorant I once saved that young woman's life. Is it then so +very extraordinary an attachment should have been the consequence? The +man whom you slew was my servant. I had brought him out with me for +protection during my interview with the woman, and I exchanged my +uniform with him for the same purpose. There is nothing in this, +however, to warrant the supposition of my being a spy." + +During the delivery of these more than equivocal sentences, which, +however, he felt were fully justified by circumstances, the young +officer had struggled to appear calm and confident; but, despite of his +exertions, his consciousness caused his cheek to colour, and his eye to +twinkle, beneath the searching glance of his ferocious enemy. The +latter thrust his hand into his chest, and slowly drew forth the rope +he had previously exhibited to Ponteac. + +"Do you think me a fool, Captain de Haldimar," he observed, sneeringly, +"that you expect so paltry a tale to be palmed successfully on my +understanding? An English officer is not very likely to run the risk of +breaking his neck by having recourse to such a means of exit from a +besieged garrison, merely to intrigue with an Indian woman, when there +are plenty of soldiers' wives within, and that too at an hour when he +knows the scouts of his enemies are prowling in the neighbourhood. +Captain de Haldimar," he concluded, slowly and deliberately, "you have +lied." + +Despite of the last insult, his prisoner remained calm. The very +observation that had just been made afforded him a final hope of +exculpation, which, if it benefited not himself, might still be of +service to the generous Oucanasta. + +"The onus of such language," he observed coolly and with dignity, +"falls not on him to whom it is addressed, but on him who utters it. +Yet one who professes to have been himself a soldier, must see in this +very circumstance a proof of my innocence. Had I been sent out as a spy +to reconnoitre the movements, and to overhear the councils of our +enemies, the gate would have been open for my egress; but that rope is +in itself an evidence I must have stolen forth unknown to the garrison." + +Whether it was that the warrior had his own particular reasons for +attaching truth to this statement, or that he merely pretended to do +so, Captain de Haldimar saw with secret satisfaction his last argument +was conclusive. + +"Well, be it so," retorted the savage, while a ferocious smile passed +over his swarthy features; "but, whether you have been here as a spy, +or have merely ventured out in prosecution of an intrigue, it matters +not. Before the sun has travelled far in the meridian you die; and the +tomahawk of your father's deadly foe--of--of--of Wacousta, as I am +called, shall be the first to drink your blood." + +The officer made a final effort at mercy. "Who or what you are, or +whence your hatred of my family, I know not," he said; "but surely I +have never injured you: wherefore, then, this insatiable thirst for my +blood? If you are, indeed, a Christian and a soldier, let your heart be +touched with humanity, and procure my restoration to my friends. You +once attempted my life in honourable combat, why not wait, then, until +a fitting opportunity shall give not a bound and defenceless victim to +your steel, but one whose resistance may render him a conquest worthy +of your arm?" + +"What! and be balked of the chance of my just revenge? Hear me, Captain +de Haldimar," he pursued, in that low, quick, deep tone that told all +the strong excitement of his heart:--"I have, it is true, no particular +enmity to yourself, further than that you are a De Haldimar; but hell +does not supply a feeling half so bitter as my enmity to your proud +father; and months, nay years, have I passed in the hope of such an +hour as this. For this have I forsworn my race, and become--what you +now behold me--a savage both in garb and character. But this matters +not," he continued, fiercely and impatiently, "your doom is sealed; and +before another sun has risen, your stern father's gaze shall be blasted +with the sight of the mangled carcase of his first born. Ha! ha! ha!" +and he laughed low and exultingly; "even now I think I see him +withering, if heart so hard can wither, beneath this proof of my +undying hate." + +"Fiend!--monster!--devil!" exclaimed the excited officer, now losing +sight of all considerations of prudence in the deep horror inspired by +his captor:--"Kill me--torture me--commit any cruelty on me, if such be +your savage will; but outrage not humanity by the fulfilment of your +last disgusting threat. Suffer not a father's heart to be agonised--a +father's eye to be blasted--with a view of the mangled remains of him +to whom he has given life." + +Again the savage rudely pulled the thong that bound his prisoner to his +girdle, and removing his tomahawk from his belt, and holding its +sullied point close under the eye of the former, exclaimed, as he bent +eagerly over him,-- + +"See you this, Captain de Haldimar? At the still hour of midnight, +while you had abandoned your guard to revel in the arms of your Indian +beauty, I stole into the fort by means of the same rope that you had +used in quitting it. Unseen by the sentinels I gained your father's +apartment. It was the first time we had met for twenty years; and I do +believe that had the very devil presented himself in my place, he would +have been received with fewer marks of horror. Oh, how that proud man's +eye twinkled beneath this glittering blade! He attempted to call out, +but my look paralysed his tongue, and cold drops of sweat stole rapidly +down his brow and cheek. Then it was that my seared heart once more +beat with the intoxication of triumph. Your father was alone and +unarmed, and throughout the fort not a sound was to be heard, save the +distant tread of the sentinels. I could have laid him dead, at my feet +at a single blow, and yet have secured my retreat. But no, that was not +my object. I came to taunt him with the promise of my revenge--to tell +him the hour of my triumph was approaching fast; and, ha!" he +concluded, laughing hideously as he passed his large rude hand through +the wavy hair of the now uncovered officer, "this is, indeed, a fair +and unexpected first earnest of the full redemption of my pledge. +No--no!" he continued, as if talking to himself, "he must not die. +Tantulus-like, he shall have death ever apparently within his grasp; +but, until all his race have perished before his eyes, he shall not +attain it." + +Hitherto the Indians had preserved an attitude of calm, listening to +the interrogatories put to the prisoner with that wonder and curiosity +with which a savage people hear a language different from their own; +and marking the several emotions that were elicited in the course of +the animated colloquy of the pale faces. Gradually, however, they +became impatient under its duration; and many of them, in the +excitement produced by the fierce manner of him who was called +Wacousta, fixed their dark eyes upon the captive, while they grasped +the handles of their tomahawks, as if they would have disputed with the +former the privilege of dying his weapon first in his blood. When they +saw the warrior hold up his menacing blade to the eye of his victim, +while he passed his hand through the redundant hair, they at once +inferred the sacrifice was about to be completed, and rushing furiously +forward, they bounded, and leaped, and yelled, and brandished their own +weapons in the most appalling manner. + +Already had the unhappy officer given himself self up for lost; fifty +bright tomahawks were playing about his head at the same instant, and +death--that death which is never without terror to the young, however +brave they may be in the hour of generous conflict--seemed to have +arrived at last. He raised his eyes to Heaven, committing his soul to +his God in the same silent prayer that he offered up for the +preservation of his friends and comrades; and then bending them upon +the earth, summoned all his collectedness and courage to sustain him +through the trial. At the very moment, however when he expected to feel +the crashing steel within his brain, he felt himself again violently +pulled by the thong that secured his hands. In the next instant he was +pressed close to the chest of his vast enemy, who, with one arm +encircling his prisoner, and the other brandishing his fierce blade in +rapid evolutions round his head, kept the yelling band at bay, with the +evident unshaken determination to maintain his sole and acknowledged +right to the disposal of his captive. + +For several moments the event appeared doubtful; but, notwithstanding +his extreme agility in the use of a weapon, in the management of which +he evinced all the dexterity of the most practised native, the odds +were fearfully against Wacousta; and while his flashing eye and +swelling chest betrayed his purpose rather to perish himself than +suffer the infringement of his claim, it was evident that numbers must, +in the end, prevail against him. On an appeal to Ponteac, however, of +which he now suddenly bethought himself, the authority of the latter +was successfully exerted, and he was again left in the full and +undisturbed possession of his prisoner. + +A low and earnest conversation now ensued among the chiefs, in which, +as before, Wacousta bore a principal part. When this was terminated, +several Indians approached the unhappy officer, and unfastening the +thong with which his hands were firmly and even painfully girt, +deprived him both of coat, waistcoat, and shirt. He was then bound a +second time in the same manner, his body besmeared with paint, and his +head so disguised as to give him the caricature semblance of an Indian +warrior. When these preparations were completed, he was led to the tree +in which he had been previously concealed, and there firmly secured. +Meanwhile Wacousta, at the head of a numerous band of warriors, had +departed once more in the direction of the fort. + +With the rising of the sun now vanished all traces of the mist that had +fallen since the early hours of morning, leaving the unfortunate +officer ample leisure to survey the difficulties of his position. He +had fancied, from the course taken by his guide the previous night, +that the plain or oasis, as we have elsewhere termed it, lay in the +very heart of the forest; but that route now proved to have been +circuitous. The tree to which he was bound was one of a slight belt, +separating the encampment from the open grounds which extended towards +the river, and which was so thin and scattered on that side as to leave +the clear silver waters of the Detroit visible at intervals. Oh, what +would he not have given, at that cheering sight, to have had his limbs +free, and his chance of life staked on the swiftness of his flight! +While he had imagined himself begirt by interminable forest, he felt as +one whose very thought to elude those who were, in some degree, the +deities of that wild scene, must be paralysed in its first conception. +But here was the vivifying, picture of civilised nature. Corn fields, +although trodden down and destroyed--dwelling houses, although burnt or +dilapidated--told of the existence of those who were of the same race +with himself; and notwithstanding these had perished even as he must +perish, still there was something in the aspect of the very ruins of +their habitations which, contrasted with the solemn gloom of the +forest, carried a momentary and indefinable consolation to his spirit. +Then there was the ripe and teeming orchard, and the low whitewashed +cabin of the Canadian peasant, to whom the offices of charity, and the +duties of humanity, were no strangers; and who, although the secret +enemies of his country, had no motive for personal hostility towards +himself. Then, on the river itself, even at that early hour, was to be +seen, fastened to the long stake driven into its bed, or secured by the +rude anchor of stone appended to a cable of twisted bark, the light +canoe or clumsy periagua of the peasant fisherman, who, ever and anon, +drew up from its deep bosom the shoal-loving pickerel or pike, or white +or black bass, or whatever other tenant of these waters might chance to +affix itself to the traitorous hook. It is true that his view of these +objects was only occasional and indistinct; but his intimate +acquaintance with the localities beyond brought every thing before +Captain de Haldimar's eye; and even while he sighed to think they were +for ever cut off from his reach, he already, in idea, followed the +course of flight he should pursue were the power but afforded him. + +From this train of painful and exciting thought the wretched captive +was aroused, by a faint but continued yelling in a distant part of the +forest, and in the direction that had been taken by Wacousta and his +warriors. Then, after a short interval, came the loud booming of the +cannon of the fort, carried on with a spirit and promptitude that told +of some pressing and dangerous emergency, and fainter afterwards the +sharp shrill reports of the rifles, bearing evidence the savages were +already in close collision with the garrison. Various were the +conjectures that passed rapidly through the mind of the young officer, +during a firing that had called almost every Indian in the encampment +away to the scene of action, save the two or three young Ottawas who +had been left to guard his own person, and who lay upon the sward near +him, with head erect and ear sharply set, listening to the startling +sounds of conflict. What the motive of the hurried departure of the +Indians was he knew not; but he had conjectured the object of the +fierce Wacousta was to possess himself of the uniform in which his +wretched servant was clothed, that no mistake might occur in his +identity, when its true owner should be exhibited in it, within view of +the fort, mangled and disfigured, in the manner that fierce and +mysterious man had already threatened. It was exceedingly probable the +body of Donellan had been mistaken for his own, and that in the anxiety +of his father to prevent the Indians from carrying it off, the cannon +had been directed to open upon them. But if this were the case, how +were the reports of the rifles, and the fierce yellings that continued, +save at intervals, to ring throughout the forest to be accounted for? +The bullets of the Indians evidently could not reach the fort, and they +were too wily, and attached too much value to their ammunition, to risk +a shot that was not certain of carrying a wound with it. For a moment +the fact itself flashed across his mind, and he attributed the fire of +small arms to the attack and defence of a party that had been sent out +for the purpose of securing the body, supposed to be his own; yet, if +so, again how was he to account for his not hearing the report of a +single musket? His ear was too well practised not to know the sharp +crack of the rifle from the heavy dull discharge of the musket, and as +yet the former only had been distinguishable, amid the intervals that +ensued between each sullen booming of the cannon. While this impression +continued on the mind of the anxious officer, he caught, with the +avidity of desperation, at the faint and improbable idea that his +companions might be able to penetrate to his place of concealment, and +procure his liberation; but when he found the firing, instead of +drawing nearer, was confined to the same spot, and even more fiercely +kept up by the Indians towards the close, he again gave way to his +despair, and resigning himself to his fate, no longer sought comfort in +vain speculation as to its cause. His ear now caught the report of the +last shell as it exploded, and then all was still and hushed, as if +what he had so recently heard was but a dream. + +The first intimation given him of the return of the savages was the +death howl, set up by the women within the encampment. Captain de +Haldimar turned his eyes, instinct with terror, towards the scene, and +beheld the warriors slowly issuing from the opposite side of the forest +into the plain, and bearing in silence the dead and stiffened forms of +those who had been cut down by the destructive fire from the fort. +Their mien was sullen and revengeful, and more than one dark and +gleaming eye did he encounter turned upon him, with an expression that +seemed to say a separate torture should avenge the death of each of +their fallen comrades. + +The early part of the morning wore away in preparation for the +interment of the slain. These were placed in rows under the council +shed, where they were attended by their female relatives, who composed +the features and confined the limbs, while the gloomy warriors dug, +within the limit of the encampment, rude graves, of a depth just +sufficient to receive the body. When these were completed, the dead +were deposited, with the usual superstitious ceremonies of these +people, in their several receptacles, after which a mound of earth was +thrown up over each, and the whole covered with round logs, so disposed +as to form a tomb of semicircular shape: at the head of each grave was +finally planted a pole, bearing various devices in paint, intended to +illustrate the warlike achievements of the defunct parties. + +Captain de Haldimar had followed the course of these proceedings with a +beating heart; for too plainly had he read in the dark and threatening +manner both of men and women, that the retribution about to be wreaked +upon himself would be terrible indeed. Much as he clung to life, and +bitterly as he mourned his early cutting off from the affections +hitherto identified with his existence, his wretchedness would have +been less, had he not been overwhelmed by the conviction that, with +him, must perish every chance of the safety of those, the bare +recollection of whom made the bitterness of death even more bitter. +Harrowing as were these reflections, he felt that immediate +destruction, since it could not be avoided, would be rather a blessing +than otherwise. But such, evidently, was not the purpose of his +relentless enemy. Every species of torment which his cruel invention +could supply would, he felt convinced, be exercised upon his frame; and +with this impression on his mind, it would have required sterner nerves +than his, not to have shrunk from the very anticipation of so dreadful +an ordeal. + +It was now noon, and yet no visible preparation was making for the +consummation of the sacrifice. This, Captain de Haldimar imputed to the +absence of the fierce Wacousta, whom he had not seen since the return +of the warriors from their skirmish. The momentary disappearance of +this extraordinary and ferocious man was, however, fraught with no +consolation to his unfortunate prisoner, who felt he was only engaged +in taking such measures as would render not only his destruction more +certain, but his preliminary sufferings more complicated and +protracted. While he was thus indulging in fruitless speculation as to +the motive for his absence, he fancied he heard the report of a rifle, +succeeded immediately afterwards by the war-whoop, at a considerable +distance, and in the direction of the river. In this impression he was +confirmed, by the sudden upstarting to their feet of the young Indians +to whose custody he had been committed, who now advanced to the outer +edge of the belt of forest, with the apparent object of obtaining a +more unconfined view of the open ground that lay beyond. The rapid +gliding of spectral forms from the interior of the encampment in the +same direction, denoted, moreover, that the Indians generally had +heard, and were attracted by the same sound. + +Presently afterwards, repeated "waughs!" and "Wacousta!--Wacousta!" +from those who had reached the extreme skirt of the forest, fell on the +dismayed ear of the young officer. It was evident, from the peculiar +tones in which these words were pronounced, that they beheld that +warrior approaching them with some communication of interest; and, sick +at heart, and filled with irrepressible dismay, Captain de Haldimar +felt his pulse to throb more violently as each moment brought his enemy +nearer to him. + +A startling interest was now created among the Indians; for, as the +savage warrior neared the forest, his lips pealed forth that peculiar +cry which is meant to announce some intelligence of alarm. Scarcely had +its echoes died away in the forest, when the whole of the warriors +rushed from the encampment towards the clearing. Directed by the sound, +Captain de Haldimar bent his eyes upon the thin skirt of wood that lay +immediately before him, and at intervals could see the towering form of +that vast warrior bounding, with incredible speed, up the sloping +ground that led from the town towards the forest. A ravine lay before +him; but this he cleared, with a prodigious effort, at a single leap; +and then, continuing his way up the slope, amid the low guttural +acclamations of the warriors at his extraordinary dexterity and +strength, finally gained the side of Ponteac, then leaning carelessly +against a tree at a short distance from the prisoner. + +A low and animated conversation now ensued between these two important +personages, which at moments assumed the character of violent +discussion. From what Captain de Haldimar could collect, the Ottawa +chief was severely reproving his friend for the inconsiderate ardour +which had led him that morning into collision with those whom it was +their object to lull into security by a careful avoidance of hostility, +and urging the possibility of their plan being defeated in consequence. +He moreover obstinately refused the pressing request of Wacousta, in +regard to some present enterprise which the latter had just suggested, +the precise nature of which, however, Captain de Haldimar could not +learn. Meanwhile, the rapid flitting of numerous forms to and from the +encampment, arrayed in all the fierce panoply of savage warfare, while +low exclamations of excitement occasionally caught his ear, led the +officer to infer, strange and unusual as such an occurrence was, that +either the detachment already engaged, or a second, was advancing on +their position. Still, this offered little chance of security for +himself; for more than once, during his long conference with Ponteac, +had the fierce Wacousta bent his eye in ferocious triumph on his +victim, as if he would have said,--"Come what will--whatever be the +result--you, at least, shall not escape me." Indeed, so confident did +the latter feel that the instant of attack would be the signal of his +own death, that, after the first momentary and instinctive cheering of +his spirit, he rather regretted the circumstance of their approach; or, +if he rejoiced at all, it was only because it afforded him the prospect +of immediate death, instead of being exposed to all the horror of a +lingering and agonising suffering from the torture. + +While the chiefs were yet earnestly conversing, the alarm cry, +previously uttered by Wacousta, was repeated, although in a low and +subdued tone, by several of the Indians who stood on the brow of the +eminence. Ponteac started suddenly to the same point; but Wacousta +continued for a moment or two rooted to the spot on which he stood, +with the air of one in doubt as to what course he should pursue. He +then abruptly raised his head, fixed his dark and menacing eye on his +captive, and was already in the act of approaching him, when the +earnest and repeated demands for his presence, by the Ottawa chief, +drew him once more to the outskirt of the wood. + +Again Captain de Haldimar breathed freely. The presence of that fierce +man had been a clog upon the vital functions of his heart; and, to be +relieved from it, even at a moment like the present, when far more +important interests might be supposed to occupy his mind, was a +gratification, of which not even the consciousness of impending death +could wholly deprive him. From the continued pressing of the Indians +towards one particular point in the clearing, he now conjectured, that, +from that point, the advance of the troops was visible. Anxious to +obtain even a momentary view of those whom he deemed himself fated +never more to mingle with in this life, he raised himself upon his +feet, and stretched his neck and bent his eager glance in the direction +by which Wacousta had approached; but, so closely were the dark +warriors grouped among the trees, he found it impossible. Once or +twice, however, he thought he could distinguish the gleaming of the +English bayonets in the bright sunshine, as they seemed to file off in +a parallel line with the ravine. Oh, how his generous heart throbbed at +that moment; and how ardently did he wish that he could have stood in +the position of the meanest soldier in those gallant ranks! Perhaps his +own brave and devoted grenadiers were of the number, burning with +enthusiasm to be led against the captors or destroyers of their +officer; and this thought added to his wretchedness still more. + +While the unfortunate prisoner, thus strongly excited, bent his whole +soul on the scene before him, he fancied he heard the approach of a +cautious footstep. He turned his head as well as his confined position +would admit, and beheld, close behind him, a dark Indian, whose eyes +alone were visible above the blanket in which his person was completely +enveloped. His right arm was uplifted, and the blade of a scalping +knife glittered in his hand. A cold shudder ran through the veins of +the young officer, and he closed his eyes, that he might not see the +blow which he felt was about to be directed at his heart. The Indian +glanced hurriedly yet cautiously around, to see if he was observed; and +then, with the rapidity of thought, divided, first the thongs that +secured the legs, and then those which confined the arms of the +defenceless captive. When Captain de Haldimar, full of astonishment at +finding himself once more at liberty, again unclosed his eyes, they +fell on the not unhandsome features of the young chief, the brother of +Oucanasta. + +"The Saganaw is the prisoner of Wacousta," said the Indian hastily; +"and Wacousta is the enemy of the young Ottawa chief. The warriors of +the pale faces are there" (and he pointed directly before him). "If the +Saganaw has a bold heart and a swift foot, he may save his life:" and, +with this intimation, he hurried away in the same cautious manner, and +was in the next instant seen making a circuit to arrive at the point at +which the principal strength of the Indians was collected. + +The position of Captain de Haldimar had now attained its acme of +interest; for on his own exertions alone depended every thing that +remained to be accomplished. With wonderful presence of mind he +surveyed all the difficulties of his course, while he availed himself +at the same moment of whatever advantages were within his grasp. On the +approach of Wacousta, the young Indians, to whose custody he had been +committed, had returned to their post; but no sooner had that warrior, +obeying the call of Ponteac, again departed, than they once more flew +to the extreme skirt of the forest, after first satisfying themselves +the ligatures which confined their prisoner were secure. Either with a +view of avoiding unnecessary encumbrance in their course, or through +hurry and inadvertence, they had left their blankets near the foot of +the tree. The first thought of the officer was to seize one of these; +for, in order to gain the point whence his final effort to join the +detachment must be made, it was necessary he should pass through the +body of scattered Indians who stood immediately in his way; and the +disguise of the blanket could alone afford him a reasonable chance of +moving unnoticed among them. Secretly congratulating himself on the +insulting mockery that had inducted his upper form in the disguising +warpaint of his enemies, he now drew the protecting blanket close up to +his eyes; and then, with every nerve braced up, every faculty of mind +and body called into action, commenced his dangerous enterprise. + +He had not, however, taken more than two or three steps in advance, +when, to his great discomfiture and alarm, he beheld the formidable +Wacousta approaching from a distance, evidently in search of his +prisoner. With the quickness of thought he determined on his course. To +appear to avoid him would be to excite the suspicion of the fierce +warrior; and, desperate as the alternative was, he resolved to move +undeviatingly forward. At each step that drew him nearer to his enemy, +the beating of his heart became more violent; and had it not been for +the thick coat of paint in which he was invested, the involuntary +contraction of the muscles of his face must inevitably have betrayed +him. Nay, even as it was, had the keen eye of the warrior fallen on +him, such was the agitation of the officer, he felt he must have been +discovered. Happily, however, Wacousta, who evidently took him for some +inferior warrior hastening to the point where his fellows were already +assembled, passed without deigning to look at him, and so close, their +forms almost touched. Captain de Haldimar now quickened his pace. It +was evident there was no time to be lost; for Wacousta, on finding him +gone, would at once give the alarm, when a hundred warriors would be +ready on the instant to intercept his flight. Taking the precaution to +disguise his walk by turning in his toes after the Indian manner, he +reached, with a beating heart, the first of the numerous warriors who +were collected within the belt of forest, anxiously watching the +movements of the detachment in the plain below. To his infinite joy he +found that each was too much intent on what was passing in the +distance, to heed any thing going on near themselves; and when he at +length gained the extreme opening, and stood in a line with those who +were the farthest advanced, without having excited a single suspicion +in his course, he could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses. + +Still the most difficult part of the enterprise remained to be +completed. Hitherto he had moved under the friendly cover of the +underwood, the advantage of which had been to conceal that part of his +regimental trousers which the blanket left exposed; and if he moved +forward into the clearing, the quick glance of an Indian would not be +slow in detecting the difference between these and his own ruder +leggings. There was no alternative now but to commence his flight from +the spot on which he stood; and for this he prepared himself. At one +rapid and comprehensive view he embraced the immediate localities +before him. On the other side of the ravine he could now distinctly see +the English troops, either planning, as he conceived, their own attack, +or waiting in the hope of drawing the Indians from their cover. It was +evident that to reach them the ravine must be crossed, unless the more +circuitous route by the bridge, which was hid from his view by an +intervening hillock, should be preferred; but as the former had been +cleared by Wacousta in his ascent, and was the nearest point by which +the detachment could be approached, to this did he now direct his +undivided attention. + +While he yet paused with indecision, at one moment fancying the time +for starting was not yet arrived, and at the next that he had suffered +it to pass away, the powerful and threatening voice of Wacousta was +heard proclaiming the escape of his captive. Low but expressive +exclamations from the warriors marked their sense of the importance of +the intelligence; and many of them hastily dispersed themselves in +pursuit. This was the critical moment for action: for, as the anxious +officer had rather wished than expected, those Indians who had been +immediately in front, and whose proximity he most dreaded, were among +the number of those who dashed into the heart of the forest--Captain de +Haldimar now stood alone, and full twenty paces in front of the nearest +of the savages. For a moment he played with his mocassined foot to +satisfy himself, of the power and flexibility of its muscles, and then +committing himself to his God, dashed the blanket suddenly from his +shoulders, and, with eye and heart fixed on the distant soldiery, +darted down the declivity with a speed of which he had never yet +believed himself capable. Scarcely, however, had his fleeing form +appeared in the opening, when a tremendous and deafening yell rent the +air, and a dozen wild and naked warriors followed instantly in pursuit. +Attracted by that yell, the terrible Wacousta, who had been seeking his +victim in a different quarter, bounded forward to the front with an eye +flashing fire, and a brow compressed into the fiercest hate; and so +stupendous were his efforts, so extraordinary was his speed, that had +it not been for the young Ottawa chief, who was one of the pursuing +party, and who, under the pretence of assisting in the recapture of the +prisoner, sought every opportunity of throwing himself before, and +embarrassing the movements of his enemy, it is highly probable the +latter would have succeeded. Despite of these obstacles, however, the +fierce Wacousta, who had been the last to follow, soon left the +foremost of his companions far behind him; and but for his sudden fall, +while in the very act of seizing the arm of his prisoner, his gigantic +efforts must have been crowned with the fullest success. But the reader +has already seen how miraculously Captain de Haldimar, reduced to the +last stage of debility, as much from inanition as from the unnatural +efforts of his flight, finally accomplished his return to the +detachment. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +At the western extremity of the lake Huron, and almost washed by the +waters of that pigmy ocean, stands the fort of Michilimackinac. +Constructed on a smaller scale, and garrisoned by a less numerical +force, the defences of this post, although less formidable than those +of the Detroit, were nearly similar, at the period embraced by our +story, both in matter and in manner. Unlike the latter fortress, +however, it boasted none of the advantages afforded by culture; +neither, indeed, was there a single spot in the immediate vicinity that +was not clad in the eternal forest of these regions. It is true, that +art and laborious exertion had so far supplied the deficiencies of +nature as to isolate the fort, and throw it under the protecting sweep +of its cannon; but, while this afforded security, it failed to produce +any thing like a pleasing effect to the eye. The very site on which the +fortress now stood had at one period been a portion of the wilderness +that every where around was only terminated by the sands on the lake +shore: and, although time and the axe of the pioneer had in some degree +changed its features, still there was no trace of that blended natural +scenery that so pleasingly diversified the vicinity of the sister fort. +Here and there, along the imperfect clearing, and amid the dark and +thickly studded stumps of the felled trees, which in themselves were +sufficient to give the most lugubrious character to the scene, rose the +rude log cabin of the settler; but, beyond this, cultivation appeared +to have lost her power in proportion with the difficulties she had to +encounter. Even the two Indian villages, L'Arbre-Croche and Chabouiga, +situate about a mile from the fort, with which they formed nearly an +equilateral triangle, were hid from the view of the garrison by the +dark dense forest, in the heart of which they were embedded. + +Lake ward the view was scarcely less monotonous; but it was not, as in +the rear, that monotony which is never occasionally broken in upon by +some occurrence of interest. If the eye gazed long and anxiously for +the white sail of the well known armed vessel, charged at stated +intervals with letters and tidings of those whom time, and distance, +and danger, far from estranging, rendered more dear to the memory, and +bound more closely to the heart, it was sure of being rewarded at last; +and then there was no picture on which it could love to linger so well +as that of the silver waves bearing that valued vessel in safety to its +wonted anchorage in the offing. Moreover, the light swift bark canoes +of the natives often danced joyously on its surface; and while the +sight was offended at the savage, skulking among the trees of the +forest, like some dark spirit moving cautiously in its course of secret +destruction, and watching the moment when he might pounce unnoticed on +his unprepared victim, it followed, with momentary pleasure and +excitement, the activity and skill displayed by the harmless paddler, +in the swift and meteor-like race that set the troubled surface of the +Huron in a sheet of hissing foam. Nor was this all. When the eye turned +wood-ward, it fell heavily, and without interest, upon a dim and dusky +point, known to enter upon savage scenes and unexplored countries; +whereas, whenever it reposed upon the lake, it was with an eagerness +and energy that embraced the most vivid recollections of the past, and +led the imagination buoyantly over every well-remembered scene that had +previously been traversed, and which must be traversed again before the +land of the European could be pressed once more. The forest, in a word, +formed, as it were, the gloomy and impenetrable walls of the +prison-house, and the bright lake that lay before it the only portal +through which happiness and liberty could be again secured. + +The principal entrance into the fort, which presented four equal sides +of a square, was from the forest; but, immediately opposite to this, +and behind the apartments of the commanding officer, there was another +small gate that opened upon the lake shore; but which, since the +investment of the place, had been kept bolted and locked, with a +precaution befitting the danger to which the garrison was exposed. +Still, there were periods, even now, when its sullen hinges were to be +heard moaning on the midnight breeze; for it served as a medium of +communication between the besieged and others who were no less +critically circumstanced than themselves. + +The very day before the Indians commenced their simultaneous attack on +the several posts of the English, the only armed vessel that had been +constructed on these upper lakes, serving chiefly as a medium of +communication between Detroit and Michilimackinac, had arrived with +despatches and letters from the former fort. A well-concerted plan of +the savages to seize her in her passage through the narrow waters of +the river Sinclair had only been defeated by the vigilance of her +commander; but, ever since the breaking out of the war, she had been +imprisoned within the limits of the Huron. Laborious indeed was the +duty of the devoted crew. Several attempts had been renewed by the +Indians to surprise them; but, although their little fleets stole +cautiously and noiselessly, at the still hour of midnight, to the spot +where, at the last expiring rays of twilight, they had beheld her +carelessly anchored, and apparently lulled into security, the subject +of their search was never to be met with. No sooner were objects on the +shore rendered indistinct to the eye, than the anchor was silently +weighed, and, gliding wherever the breeze might choose to carry her, +the light bark was made to traverse the lake, with every sail set, +until dawn. None, however, were suffered to slumber in the presumed +security afforded by this judicious flight. Every man was at his post; +and, while a silence so profound was preserved, that the noise of a +falling pin might have been heard upon her decks, every thing was in +readiness to repel an attack of their enemies, should the vessel, in +her course, come accidentally in collision with their pigmy fleets. +When morning broke, and no sign of their treacherous foes was visible, +the vessel was again anchored, and the majority of the crew suffered to +retire to their hammocks, while the few whose turn of duty it chanced +to be, kept a vigilant look-out, that, on the slightest appearance of +alarm, their slumbering comrades might again be aroused to energy and +action. + +Severe and harassing as had been the duty on board this vessel for many +months,--at one moment exposed to the assaults of the savages, at +another assailed by the hurricanes that are so prevalent and so +dangerous on the American lakes,--the situation of the crew was even +less enviable than that of the garrison itself. What chiefly +contributed to their disquietude, was the dreadful consciousness that, +however their present efforts might secure a temporary safety, the +period of their fall was only protracted. A few months more must bring +with them all the severity of the winter of those climes, and then, +blocked up in a sea of ice,--exposed to all the rigour of cold,--all +the miseries of hunger,--what effectual resistance could they oppose to +the numerous bands of Indians who, availing themselves of the +defenceless position of their enemies, would rush from every quarter to +their destruction. + +At the outset of these disheartening circumstances the officer had +summoned his faithful crew together, and pointing out the danger and +uncertainty of their position, stated that two chances of escape still +remained to them. The first was, by an attempt to accomplish the +passage of the river Sinclair during some dark and boisterous night, +when the Indians would be least likely to suspect such an intention: it +was at this point that the efforts of their enemies were principally to +be apprehended; but if, under cover of storm and darkness, they could +accomplish this difficult passage, they would easily gain the Detroit, +and thence pass into lake Erie, at the further extremity of which they +might, favoured by Providence, effect a landing, and penetrate to the +inhabited parts of the colony of New York. The other alternative +was,--and he left it to themselves to determine,--to sink the vessel on +the approach of winter, and throw themselves into the fort before them, +there to await and share the destiny of its gallant defenders. + +With the generous enthusiasm of their profession, the noble fellows had +determined on the latter course. With their officer they fully +coincided in opinion, that their ultimate hopes of life depended on the +safe passage of the Sinclair; for it was but too obvious, that soon or +late, unless some very extraordinary revolution should be effected in +the intentions of the Indians, the fortress must be starved into +submission. Still, as it was tolerably well supplied with provisions, +this gloomy prospect was remote, and they were willing to run all +chances with their friends on shore, rather than desert them in their +extremity. The determination expressed by them, therefore, was, that +when they could no longer keep the lake in safety, they would, if the +officer permitted it, scuttle the vessel, and attempt an entrance into +the fort, where they would share the fate of the troops, whatever it +might chance to be. + +No sooner was this resolution made known, than their young commander +sought an opportunity of communicating with the garrison, This, +however, was no very easy task; for, so closely was the fort hemmed in +by the savages, it was impossible to introduce a messenger within its +walls; and so sudden had been the cutting off of all communication +between the vessel and the shore, that the thought had not even +occurred to either commander to establish the most ordinary +intelligence by signal. In this dilemma recourse was had to an +ingenious expedient. The dispatches of the officer were enclosed in one +of the long tin tubes in which were generally deposited the maps and +charts of the schooner, and to this, after having been carefully +soldered, was attached an inch rope of several hundred fathoms in +length: the case was then put into one of the ship's guns, so placed as +to give it the elevation of a mortar; thus prepared, advantage was +taken of a temporary absence of the Indians to bring the vessel within +half a mile of the shore, and when the attention of the garrison, +naturally attracted by this unusual movement, was sufficiently +awakened, that opportunity was chosen for the discharge of the gun; and +as the quantity of powder had been proportionably reduced for the +limited range, the tube was soon safely deposited within the rampart. +The same means were adopted in replying; and one end of the rope +remaining attached to the schooner, all that was necessary was to +solder up the tube as before, and throw it over the ramparts upon the +sands, whence it was immediately pulled over her side by the watchful +mariners. + +As the dispatch conveyed to the garrison, among other subjects of +interest, bore the unwelcome intelligence that the supplies of the crew +were nearly expended, an arrangement was proposed by which, at stated +intervals, a more immediate communication with the former might be +effected. Whenever, therefore, the wind permitted, the vessel was kept +hovering in sight during the day, beneath the eyes of the savages, and +on the approach of evening an unshotted gun was discharged, with a view +of drawing their attention more immediately to her movements; every +sail was then set, and under a cloud of canvass the course of the +schooner was directed towards the source of the Sinclair, as if an +attempt to accomplish that passage was to be made during the night. No +sooner, however, had the darkness fairly set in, than the vessel was +put about, and, beating against the wind, generally contrived to reach +the offing at a stated hour, when a boat, provided with muffled oars, +was sent off to the shore. This ruse had several times deceived the +Indians, and it was on these occasions that the small gate to which we +have alluded was opened, for the purpose of conveying the necessary +supplies. + +The buildings of the fort consisted chiefly of block-houses, the +internal accommodations of which were fully in keeping with their rude +exterior, being but indifferently provided with the most ordinary +articles of comfort, and fitted up as the limited resources of that +wild and remote district could supply. The best and most agreeably +situated of these, if a choice could be made, was that of the +commanding officer. This building rose considerably above the others, +and overhanging that part of the rampart which skirted the shores of +the Huron, commanded a full view of the lake, even to its extremity of +frowning and belting forest. + +To this block-house there were two staircases; the principal leading to +the front entrance from the barrack-square, the other opening in the +rear, close under the rampart, and communicating by a few rude steps +with the small gate that led upon the sands. In the lower part of this +building, appropriated by the commanding officer to that exclusive +purpose, the official duties of his situation were usually performed; +and on the ground-floor a large room, that extended from front to rear +of the block-house on one side of the passage, had formerly been used +as a hall of council with the Indian chiefs. The floor above this +comprised both his own private apartments and those set apart for the +general use of the family; but, above all, and preferable from their +cheerful view over the lake, were others, which had been reserved for +the exclusive accommodation of Miss de Haldimar. This upper floor +consisted of two sleeping apartments, with a sitting-room, the latter +extending the whole length of the block-house and opening immediately +upon the lake, from the only two windows with which that side of the +building was provided. The principal staircase led into one of the +bed-rooms, and both of the latter communicated immediately with the +sitting-room, which again, in its turn, opened, at the opposite +extremity, on the narrow staircase that led to the rear of the +block-house. + +The furniture of this apartment, which might be taken as a fair sample +of the best the country could afford, was wild, yet simple, in the +extreme. Neat rush mats, of an oblong square, and fantastically put +together, so as to exhibit in the weaving of the several coloured reeds +both figures that were known to exist in the creation, and those which +could have no being save in the imagination of their framers, served as +excellent substitutes for carpets, while rush bottomed chairs, the +product of Indian ingenuity also, occupied those intervals around the +room that were unsupplied by the matting. Upon the walls were hung +numerous specimens both of the dress and of the equipments of the +savages, and mingled with these were many natural curiosities, the +gifts of Indian chiefs to the commandant at various periods before the +war. + +Nothing could be more unlike the embellishments of a modern European +boudoir than those of this apartment, which had, in some degree, been +made the sanctum of its present occupants. Here was to be seen the +scaly carcass of some huge serpent, extending its now harmless length +from the ceiling to the floor--there an alligator, stuffed after the +same fashion; and in various directions the skins of the beaver, the +marten, the otter, and an infinitude of others of that genus, filled up +spaces that were left unsupplied by the more ingenious specimens of +Indian art. Head-dresses tastefully wrought in the shape of the +crowning bays of the ancients, and composed of the gorgeous feathers of +the most splendid of the forest birds--bows and quivers handsomely, and +even elegantly ornamented with that most tasteful of Indian +decorations, the stained quill of the porcupine; war clubs of massive +iron wood, their handles covered with stained horsehair and feathers +curiously mingled together--machecotis, hunting coats, mocassins, and +leggings, all worked in porcupine quill, and fancifully +arranged,--these, with many others, had been called into requisition to +bedeck and relieve the otherwise rude and naked walls of the apartment. + +Nor did the walls alone reflect back the picture of savage ingenuity, +for on the various tables, the rude polish of which was hid from view +by the simple covering of green baize, which moreover constituted the +garniture of the windows, were to be seen other products of their art. +Here stood upon an elevated stand a model of a bark canoe, filled with +its complement of paddlers carved in wood and dressed in full costume; +the latter executed with such singular fidelity of feature, that +although the speaking figures sprung not from the experienced and +classic chisel of the sculptor but from the rude scalping knife of the +savage, the very tribe to which they belonged could be discovered at a +glance by the European who was conversant with the features of each: +then there were handsomely ornamented vessels made of the birch bark, +and filled with the delicate sugars which the natives extract from the +maple tree in early spring; these of all sizes, even to the most tiny +that could well be imagined, were valuable rather as exquisite +specimens of the neatness with which those slight vessels could be put +together, sewn as they were merely with strips of the same bark, than +from any intrinsic value they possessed. Covered over with fantastic +figures, done either in paint, or in quill work artfully interwoven +into the fibres of the bark, they presented, in their smooth and +polished surface, strong evidence of the address of the savages in +their preparation of this most useful and abundant produce of the +country. Interspersed with these, too, were numerous stands filled with +stuffed birds, some of which combined in themselves every variety and +shade of dazzling plumage; and numerous rude cases contained the rarest +specimens of the American butterfly, most of which were of sizes and +tints that are no where equalled in Europe. One solitary table alone +was appropriated to whatever wore a transatlantic character in this +wild and museum-like apartment. On this lay a Spanish guitar, a few +pieces of old music, a collection of English and French books, a couple +of writing-desks, and, scattered over the whole, several articles of +unfinished needle-work. + +Such was the apartment in which Madeline and Clara de Haldimar were met +at the moment we have selected for their introduction to our readers. +It was the morning of that day on which the second council of the +chiefs, the result of which has already been seen, was held at Detroit. +The sun had risen bright and gorgeously above the adjacent forest, +throwing his golden beams upon the calm glassy waters of the lake; and +now, approaching rapidly towards the meridian, gradually diminished the +tall bold shadows of the block-houses upon the shore. At the distance +of about a mile lay the armed vessel so often alluded to; her light low +hull dimly seen in the hazy atmosphere that danced upon the waters, and +her attenuated masts and sloping yards, with their slight tracery of +cordage, recalling rather the complex and delicate ramifications of the +spider's web, than the elastic yet solid machinery to which the lives +of those within had so often been committed in sea and tempest. Upon +the strand, and close opposite to the small gate which now stood ajar, +lay one of her boats, the crew of which had abandoned her with the +exception only of a single individual, apparently her cockswain, who, +with the tiller under his arm, lay half extended in the stern-sheets, +his naked chest exposed, and his tarpaulin hat shielding his eyes from +the sun while he indulged in profound repose. These were the only +objects that told of human life. Everywhere beyond the eye rested on +the faint outline of forest, that appeared like the softened tracing of +a pencil at the distant junction of the waters with the horizon. + +The windows that commanded this prospect were now open; and through +that which was nearest to the gate, half reclined the elegant, slight, +and somewhat petite form of a female, who, with one small and +delicately formed hand supporting her cheek, while the other played +almost unconsciously with an open letter, glanced her eye alternately, +and with an expression of joyousness, towards the vessel that lay +beyond, and the point in which the source of the Sinclair was known to +lie. It was Clara de Haldimar. + +Presently the vacant space at the same window was filled by another +form, but of less girlish appearance--one that embraced all the full +rich contour of the Medicean Venus, and a lazy languor in its movements +that harmonised with the speaking outlines of the form, and without +which the beauty of the whole would have been at variance and +imperfect. Neither did the face belie the general expression of the +figure. The eyes, of a light hazel, were large, full, and somewhat +prominent--the forehead broad, high, and redolent with an expression of +character--and the cheek rich in that peculiar colour which can be +likened only to the downy hues of the peach, and is, in itself, a +physical earnest of the existence of deep, but not boisterous--of +devoted, but not obtrusive affections; an impression that was not, in +the present instance, weakened by the full and pouting lip, and the +rather heavy formation of the lower face. The general expression, +moreover, of a countenance which, closely analysed, could not be termed +beautiful, marked a mind at once ardent in its conceptions, and steady +and resolute in its silent accomplishments of purpose. She was of the +middle height. + +Such was the person of Madeline de Haldimar; but attractive, or rather +winning, as were her womanly attributes, her principal power lay in her +voice,--the beauty, nay, the voluptuousness of which nothing could +surpass. It was impossible to listen to the slow, full, rich, deep, and +melodious tones that fell trembling from her lips upon the ear, and not +feel, aye shudder, under all their fascination on the soul. In such a +voice might the Madonna of Raphael have been supposed to offer up her +supplications from the gloomy precincts of the cloister. No wonder that +Frederick de Haldimar loved her, and loved her with all the intense +devotedness of his own glowing heart. His cousin was to him a divinity +whom he worshipped in the innermost recesses of his being; and his, in +return, was the only ear in which the accents of that almost superhuman +voice had breathed the thrilling confession of an attachment, which its +very tones announced could be deep and imperishable as the soul in +which it had taken root. Often in the hours that preceded the period +when they were to have been united heart and mind and thought in one +common destiny, would he start from her side, his brain whirling with +very intoxication, and then obeying another wild impulse, rush once +more into her embrace; and clasping his beloved Madeline to his heart, +entreat her again to pour forth all the melody of that confession in +his enraptured ear. Artless and unaffected as she was generous and +impassioned, the fond and noble girl never hesitated to gratify him +whom alone she loved; and deep and fervent was the joy of the soldier, +when he found that each passionate entreaty, far from being met with +caprice, only drew from the lips of his cousin warmer and more +affectionate expressions of her attachment. Such expressions, coming +from any woman, must have been rapturous and soothing in the extreme; +but, when they flowed from a voice whose very sound was melody, they +acted on the heart of Captain de Haldimar with a potency that was as +irresistible as the love itself which she inspired. + +Such was the position of things just before the commencement of the +Indian war. Madeline de Haldimar had been for some time on a visit to +Detroit, and her marriage with her cousin was to have taken place +within a few days. The unexpected arrival of intelligence from +Michilimackinac that her father was dangerously ill, however, retarded +the ceremony; and, up to the present period, their intercourse had been +completely suspended. If Madeline de Haldimar was capable of strong +attachment to her lover, the powerful ties of nature were no less +deeply rooted in her heart, and commiseration and anxiety for her +father now engrossed every faculty of her mind. She entreated her +cousin to defer the solemnisation of their nuptials until her parent +should be pronounced out of danger, and, having obtained his consent to +the delay, instantly set off for Michilimackinac, accompanied by her +cousin Clara, whom, she had prevailed on the governor to part with +until her own return. Hostilities were commenced very shortly +afterwards, and, although Major de Haldimar speedily recovered from his +illness, the fair cousins were compelled to share the common +imprisonment of the garrison. + +When Miss de Haldimar joined her more youthful cousin at the window, +through which the latter was gazing thoughtfully on the scene before +her, she flung her arm around her waist with the protecting manner of a +mother. The mild blue eyes of Clara met those that were fastened in +tenderness upon her, and a corresponding movement on her part brought +the more matronly form of her cousin into close and affectionate +contact with her own. + +"Oh, Madeline, what a day is this!" she exclaimed; "and how often on my +bended knees have I prayed to Heaven that it might arrive! Our trials +are ended at last, and happiness and joy are once more before us. There +is the boat that is to conduct us to the vessel, which, in its turn, is +to bear me to the arms of my dear father, and you to those of the lover +who adores you. How beautiful does that fabric appear to me now! Never +did I feel half the pleasure in surveying it I do at this moment." + +"Dear, dear girl!" exclaimed Miss de Haldimar,--and she pressed her +closer and in silence to her heart: then, after a slight pause, during +which the mantling glow upon her brow told how deeply she desired the +reunion alluded to by her cousin--"that, indeed, will be an hour of +happiness to us both, Clara; for irrevocably as our affections have +been pledged, it would be silly in the extreme to deny that I long most +ardently to be restored to him who is already my husband. But, tell +me," she concluded, with an archness of expression that caused the +long-lashed eyes of her companion to sink beneath her own, "are you +quite sincere in your own case? I know how deeply you love your father +and your brothers, but do these alone occupy your attention? Is there +not a certain friend of Charles whom you have some little curiosity to +see also?" + +"How silly, Madeline!" and the cheek of the young girl became suffused +with a deeper glow; "you know I have never seen this friend of my +brother, how then can I possibly feel more than the most ordinary +interest in him? I am disposed to like him, certainly, for the mere +reason that Charles does; but this is all." + +"Well, Clara, I will not pretend to decide; but certain it is, this is +the last letter you received from Charles, and that it contains the +strongest recommendations of his friend to your notice. Equally certain +is it, that scarcely a day has passed, since we have been shut up here, +that you have not perused and re-perused it half a dozen times. Now, as +I am confessedly one who should know something of these matters, I must +be suffered to pronounce these are strong symptoms, to say the very +least. Ah! Clara, that blush declares you guilty.--But, who have we +here? Middleton and Baynton." + +The eyes of the cousins now fell upon the ramparts immediately under +the window. Two officers, one apparently on duty for the day, were +passing at the moment; and, as they heard their names pronounced, +stopped, looked up, and saluted the young ladies with that easy freedom +of manner, which, unmixed with either disrespect or effrontery, so +usually characterises the address of military men. + +"What a contrast, by heaven!" exclaimed he who wore the badge of duty +suspended over his chest, throwing himself playfully into a theatrical +attitude, expressive at once of admiration and surprise, while his eye +glanced intelligently over the fair but dissimilar forms of the +cousins. "Venus and Psyche in the land of the Pottowatamies by all that +is magnificent! Come, Middleton, quick, out with that eternal pencil of +yours, and perform your promise." + +"And what may that promise be?" asked Clara, laughingly, and without +adverting to the hyperbolical compliment of the dark-eyed officer who +had just spoken. + +"You shall hear," pursued the lively captain of the guard. "While +making the tour of the ramparts just now, to visit my sentries, I saw +Middleton leaning most sentimentally against one of the boxes in front, +his notebook in one hand and his pencil in the other. Curious to +discover the subject of his abstraction, I stole cautiously behind him, +and saw that he was sketching the head of a tall and rather handsome +squaw, who, in the midst of a hundred others, was standing close to the +gateway watching the preparations of the Indian ball-players. I at once +taxed him with having lost his heart; and rallying him on his bad taste +in devoting his pencil to any thing that had a red skin, never combed +its hair, and turned its toes in while walking, pronounced his sketch +to be an absolute fright. Well, will you believe what I have to add? +The man absolutely flew into a tremendous passion with me, and swore +that she was a Venus, a Juno, a Minerva, a beauty of the first water in +short; and finished by promising, that when I could point out any woman +who was superior to her in personal attraction, he would on the instant +write no less than a dozen consecutive sonnets in her praise. I now +call upon him to fulfil his promise, or maintain the superiority of his +Indian beauty." + +Before the laughing Middleton could find time to reply to the light and +unmeaning rattle of his friend, the quick low roll of a drum was heard +from the front. The signal was understood by both officers, and they +prepared to depart. + +"This is the hour appointed for the council," said Captain Baynton, +looking at his watch, "and I must be with my guard, to receive the +chiefs with becoming honour. How I pity you, Middleton, who will have +the infliction of one of their great big talks, as Murphy would call +it, dinned into your ear for the next two hours at least! Thank heaven, +my tour of duty exempts me from that; and by way of killing an hour, I +think I shall go and carry on a flirtation with your Indian Minerva, +alias Venus, alias Juno, while you are discussing the affairs of the +nation with closed doors. But hark! there is the assembly drum again. +We must be off. Come, Middleton, come.--Adieu!" waving his hand to the +cousins, "we shall meet at dinner." + +"What an incessant talker Baynton is!" observed Miss de Haldimar, as +the young men now disappeared round an angle of the rampart; "but he +has reminded me of what I had nearly forgotten, and that is to give +orders for dinner. My father has invited all the officers to dine with +him to day, in commemoration of the peace which is being concluded. It +will be the first time we shall have all met together since the +commencement of this cruel war, and we must endeavour, Clara, to do +honour to the feast." + +"I hope," timidly observed her cousin, shuddering as she spoke, "that +none of those horrid chiefs will be present, Madeline; for, without any +affectation of fear whatever, I feel that I could not so far overcome +my disgust as to sit at the same table with them. There was a time, it +is true, when I thought nothing of these things; but, since the war, I +have witnessed and heard so much of their horrid deeds, that I shall +never be able to endure the sight of an Indian face again. Ah!" she +concluded, turning her eyes upon the lake, while she clung more closely +to the embrace of her companion; "would to Heaven, Madeline, that we +were both at this moment gliding in yonder vessel, and in sight of my +father's fort!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The eyes of Miss de Haldimar followed those of her cousin, and rested +on the dark hull of the schooner, with which so many recollections of +the past and anticipations of the future were associated in their +minds. When they had last looked upon it, all appearance of human life +had vanished from its decks; but now there was strong evidence of +unusual bustle and activity. Numerous persons could be seen moving +hastily to and fro, their heads just peering above the bulwarks; and +presently they beheld a small boat move from the ship's side, and shoot +rapidly ahead, in a direct line with the well-known bearings of the +Sinclair's source. While they continued to gaze on this point, +following the course of the light vessel, and forming a variety of +conjectures as to the cause of a movement, especially remarkable from +the circumstance of the commander being at that moment in the fort, +whither he had been summoned to attend the council, another and +scarcely perceptible object was dimly seen, at the distance of about +half a mile in front of the boat. With the aid of a telescope, which +had formed one of the principal resources of the cousins during their +long imprisonment, Miss de Haldimar now perceived a dark and shapeless +mass moving somewhat heavily along the lake, and in a line with the +schooner and the boat. This was evidently approaching; for each moment +it loomed larger upon the hazy water, increasing in bulk in the same +proportion that the departing skiff became less distinct: still, it was +impossible to discover, at that distance, in what manner it was +propelled. Wind there was none, not as much as would have changed the +course of a feather dropping through space; and, except where the +dividing oars of the boatmen had agitated the waters, the whole surface +of the lake was like a sea of pale and liquid gold. + +At length the two dark bodies met, and the men in the boat were seen to +lie upon their oars, while one in the stem seemed to be in the act of +attaching a rope to the formless matter. For a few moments there was a +cessation of all movement; and then again the active and sturdy rowing +of the boatmen was renewed, and with an exertion of strength even more +vigorous than that they had previously exhibited. Their course was now +directed towards the vessel; and, as it gradually neared that fabric, +the rope by which the strange-looking object was secured, could be +distinctly though faintly seen with the telescope. It was impossible to +say whether the latter, whatever it might be, was urged by some +invisible means, or merely floated in the wake of the boat; for, +although the waters through which it passed ran rippling and foaming +from their course, this effect might have been produced by the boat +which preceded it. As it now approached the vessel, it presented the +appearance of a dense wood of evergreens, the overhanging branches of +which descended close to the water's edge, and baffled every attempt of +the cousins to discover its true character. The boat had now arrived +within a hundred yards of the schooner, when a man was seen to rise +from its bows, and, putting both his hands to his mouth, after the +manner of sailors in hailing, to continue in that position for some +moments, apparently conversing with those who were grouped along the +nearest gangway. Then were observed rapid movements on the decks; and +men were seen hastening aloft, and standing out upon the foremast +yards. This, however, had offered no interruption to the exertions of +the boatmen, who still kept plying with a vigour that set even the +sail-less vessel in motion, as the foaming water, thrown from their +bending oar-blades, dashed angrily against her prow. Soon afterwards +both the boat and her prize disappeared on the opposite side of the +schooner, which, now lying with her broadside immediately on a line +with the shore, completely hid them from the further view of the +cousins. + +"Look!--Look!" said Clara, clinging sensitively and with alarm to the +almost maternal bosom against which she reposed, while she pointed with +her finger to another dark mass that was moving through the lake in a +circular sweep from the point of wood terminating the clearing on the +right of the fort. + +Miss de Haldimar threw the glass on the object to which her attention +was now directed. It was evidently some furred animal, and presented +all the appearance either of a large water-rat or a beaver, the latter +of which it was pronounced to be as a nearer approach rendered its +shape more distinct. Ever and anon, too, it disappeared altogether +under the water; and, when it again came in sight, it was always +several yards nearer. Its course, at first circuitous, at length took a +direct line with the stern of the boat, where the sailor who was in +charge still lay extended at his drowsy length, his tarpaulin hat +shading his eyes, and his arms folded over his uncovered and heaving +chest, while he continued to sleep as profoundly as if he had been +comfortably berthed in his hammock in the middle of the Atlantic. + +"What a large bold animal it is," remarked Clara, in die tone of one +who wishes to be confirmed in an impression but indifferently +entertained. "See how close it approaches the boat! Mad that lazy +sailor but his wits about him, he might easily knock it on the head +with his oar. It is--it is a beaver, Madeline; I can distinguish its +head even with the naked eye." + +"Heaven grant it may be a beaver," answered Miss de Haldimar, in a +voice so deep and full of meaning, that it made her cousin startle and +turn paler even than before. "Nay, Clara, dearest, command yourself, +nor give way to what may, after all, prove a groundless cause of alarm. +Yet, I know not how it is, my heart misgives me sadly; for I like not +the motions of this animal, which are strangely and unusually bold. But +this is not all: a beaver or a rat might ruffle the mere surface of the +water, yet this leaves behind it a deep and gurgling furrow, as if the +element had been ploughed to its very bottom. Observe how the lake is +agitated and discoloured wherever it has passed. Moreover, I dislike +this sudden bustle on board the schooner, knowing, as I do, there is +not an officer present to order the movements now visibly going +forward. The men are evidently getting up the anchor; and see how her +sails are loosened, apparently courting the breeze, as if she would fly +to avoid some threatened danger. Would to Heaven this council scene +were over; for I do, as much as yourself, dearest Clara, distrust these +cruel Indians!" + +A significant gesture from her trembling cousin again drew her +attention from the vessel to the boat. The animal, which now exhibited +the delicate and glossy fur of the beaver, had gained the stern, and +remained stationary within a foot of her quarter. Presently the sailor +made a sluggish movement, turning himself heavily on his side, and with +his face towards his curious and daring visitant. In the act the +tarpaulin hat had fallen from his eyes, but still he awoke not. +Scarcely had he settled himself in his new position, when, to the +infinite horror of the excited cousins, a naked human hand was raised +from beneath the surface of the lake, and placed upon the gunwale of +the boat Then rose slowly, and still covered with its ingenious +disguise, first the neck, then the shoulders, and finally the form, +even to the midwaist, of a dark and swarthy Indian, who, stooping low +and cautiously over the sailor, now reposed the hand that had quitted +the gunwale upon his form, while the other was thrust searchingly into +the belt encircling his waist. + +Miss de Haldimar would have called out, to apprise the unhappy man of +his danger; but her voice refused its office, and her cousin was even +less capable of exertion than herself. The deep throbbings of their +hearts were now audible to each; for the dreadful interest they took in +the scene, had excited their feelings to the most intense stretch of +agony. At the very moment, however, when, with almost suspended +animation, they expected to see the knife of the savage driven into the +chest of the sleeping and unsuspecting sailor, the latter suddenly +started up, and, instinct with the full sense of the danger by which he +was menaced, in less time than we take to describe it, seized the +tiller of his rudder, the only available instrument within his reach, +and directing a powerful blow at the head of his amphibious enemy, laid +him, without apparent life or motion, across the boat. + +"Almighty God! what can this mean?" exclaimed Miss de Haldimar, as soon +as she could recover her presence of mind. "There is some fearful +treachery in agitation; and a cloud now hangs over all, that will soon +burst with irresistible fury on our devoted heads. Clara, my love," and +she conducted the almost fainting girl to a seat, "wait here until I +return. The moment is critical, and my father must be apprised of what +we have seen. Unless the gates of the fort be instantly closed, we are +lost." + +"Oh, Madeline, leave me not alone," entreated the sinking Clara. "We +will go together. Perhaps I may be of service to you below." + +"The thought is good; but have you strength and courage to face the +dark chiefs in the council-room. If so, hasten there, and put my father +on his guard, while I fly across the parade, and warn Captain Baynton +of the danger." + +With these words she drew the arm of her agitated cousin within her +own, and, rapidly traversing the apartment, gained the bed-room which +opened close upon the head of the principal staircase. Already were +they descending the first steps, when a loud cry, that sent a thrill of +terror through their blood, was heard from without the fort. For a +moment Miss de Haldimar continued irresolute; and leaning against the +rude balustrade for support, passed her hand rapidly across her brow, +as if to collect her scattered energies. The necessity for prompt and +immediate action was, however, evident; and she alone was capable of +exertion. Speechless with alarm, and trembling in every joint, the +unhappy Clara had now lost all command of her limbs; and, clinging +close to the side of her cousin, by her wild looks alone betrayed +consciousness had not wholly deserted her. The energy of despair lent +more than woman's strength to Miss de Haldimar. She caught the fainting +girl in her arms, retraced her way to the chamber, and depositing her +burden on the bed, emphatically enjoined her on no account to move +until her return. She then quitted the room, and rapidly descended the +staircase. + +For some moments all was still and hushed as the waveless air; and then +again a loud chorus of shouts was heard from the ramparts of the fort. +The choked breathing of the young girl became more free, and the blood +rushed once more from her oppressed heart to the extremities. Never did +tones of the human voice fall more gratefully on the ear of mariner +cast on some desert island, than did those on that of the highly +excited Clara. It was the loud laugh of the soldiery, who, collected +along the line of rampart in front, were watching the progress of the +ball-players. Cheered by the welcome sounds, she raised herself from +the bed to satisfy her eye her ear had not deceived her. The windows of +both bed-chambers looked immediately on the barrack square, and +commanded a full view of the principal entrance. From that at which she +now stood, the revived but still anxious girl could distinctly see all +that was passing in front. The ramparts were covered with soldiers, +who, armed merely with their bayonets, stood grouped in careless +attitudes--some with their wives leaning on their arms--others with +their children upraised, that they might the better observe the +enlivening sports without--some lay indolently with their legs +overhanging the works--others, assuming pugilistic attitudes, dealt +their harmless blows at each other,--and all were blended together, +men, women, and children, with that heedlessness of thought that told +how little of distrust existed within their breasts. The soldiers of +the guard, too, exhibited the same air of calm and unsuspecting +confidence; some walking to and fro within the square, while the +greater portion either mixed with their comrades above, or, with arms +folded, legs carelessly crossed, and pipe in mouth, leant lazily +against the gate, and gazed beyond the lowered drawbridge on the Indian +games. + +A mountain weight seemed to have been removed from the breast of Clara +at this sight, as she now dropped upon her knees before the window, and +raised her hands in pious acknowledgment to Heaven. + +"Almighty God, I thank thee," she fervently exclaimed, her eye once +more lighting up, and her cheek half suffused with blushes at her late +vague and idle fears; while she embraced, at a single glance, the whole +of the gladdening and inspiriting scene. + +While her soul was yet upturned whither her words had gone before, her +ears were again assailed by sounds that curdled her blood, and made her +spring to her feet as if stricken by a bullet through the heart; or +powerfully touched by some electric fluid. It was the well-known and +devilish war-cry of the savages, startling the very air through which +it passed, and falling like a deadly blight upon the spirit. With a +mechanical and desperate effort at courage, the unhappy girl turned her +eyes below, and there met images of death in their most appalling +shapes. Hurry and confusion and despair were every where visible; for a +band of Indians were already in the fort, and these, fast succeeded by +others, rushed like a torrent into the square, and commenced their +dreadful work of butchery. Many of the terrified soldiers, without +thinking of drawing their bayonets, flew down the ramparts in order to +gain their respective block-houses for their muskets: but these every +where met death from the crashing tomahawk, short rifle, or gleaming +knife;--others who had presence of mind sufficient to avail themselves +of their only weapons of defence, rushed down in the fury of +desperation on the yelling fiends, resolved to sell their lives as +dearly as possible; and for some minutes an obstinate contest was +maintained: but the vast superiority of the Indian numbers triumphed; +and although the men fought with all the fierceness of despair, forcing +their way to the block-houses, their mangled corpses strewed the area +in every direction. Neither was the horrid butchery confined to these. +Women clinging to their husbands for protection, and, in the +recklessness of their despair, impeding the efforts of the latter in +their self-defence--children screaming in terror, or supplicating mercy +on their bonded knees--infants clasped to their parents' breasts,--all +alike sunk under the unpitying steel of the blood-thirsty savages. At +the guard-house the principal stand had been made; for at the first +rush into the fort, the men on duty had gained their station, and, +having made fast the barricades, opened their fire upon the enemy. +Mixed pele-mele as they were with the Indians, many of the English were +shot by their own comrades, who, in the confusion of the moment, were +incapable of taking a cool and discriminating aim. These, however, were +finally overcome. A band of desperate Indians rushed upon the main +door, and with repeated blows from their tomahawks and massive +war-clubs, succeeded in demolishing it, while others diverted the fire +of those within. The door once forced, the struggle was soon over. +Every man of the guard perished; and their scalpless and disfigured +forms were thrown out to swell the number of those that already deluged +the square with their blood. + +Even amid all the horrors of this terrific scene, the agonised Clara +preserved her consciousness. The very imminence of the danger endued +her with strength to embrace it under all its most disheartening +aspects; and she, whose mind had been wrought up to the highest pitch +of powerful excitement by the mere preliminary threatenings, was +comparatively collected under the catastrophe itself. Death, certain +death, to all, she saw was inevitable; and while her perception at once +embraced the futility of all attempts at escape from the general doom, +she snatched from despair the power to follow its gloomy details +without being annihilated under their weight. + +The confusion of the garrison had now reached its acme of horror. The +shrieks of women and the shrill cries of children, as they severally +and fruitlessly fled from the death certain to overtake them in the +end,--the cursings of the soldiers, the yellings of the Indians, the +reports of rifles, and the crashings of tomahawks;--these, with the +stamping of human feet in the death struggle maintained in the +council-room below between the chiefs and the officers, and which shook +the block-house to its very foundation, all mixed up in terrible chorus +together, might have called up a not inapt image of hell to the +bewildered and confounding brain. And yet the sun shone in yellow +lustre, and all Nature smiled, and wore an air of calm, as if the +accursed deed had had the sanction of Heaven, and the spirits of light +loved to look upon the frightful atrocities then in perpetration. + +In the first distraction of her spirit, Clara had utterly lost all +recollection of her cousin; but now that she had, with unnatural +desperation, brought her mind to bear upon the fiercest points of the +grim reality, she turned her eye every where amid the scene of death in +search of the form of her beloved Madeline, whom she did not remember +to have seen cross the parade in pursuance of the purpose she had +named. While she yet gazed fearfully from the window, loud bursts of +mingled anguish and rage, that were almost drowned in the fiercer yells +with which they were blended, ascended from the ground floor of the +block-house. These had hitherto been suppressed, as if the desperate +attack of the chiefs on the officers had been made with closed doors. +Now, however, there was an evident outburst of all parties into the +passage; and there the struggle appeared to be desperately and +fearfully maintained. In the midst of that chaotic scene, the loud and +piercing shriek of a female rose far above the discordant yell even of +the savages. There was an instant of pause, and then the crashing of a +skull was heard, and the confusion was greater than before, and +shrieks, and groans, and curses, and supplications rent the air. + +The first single shriek came from Madeline de Haldimar, and vibrated +through every chord of the heart on which it sank. Scarcely conscious +of what she did, Clara, quitting the window, once more gained the top +of the staircase, and at the extremity of her voice called on the name +of her cousin in the most piteous accents. She was answered by a loud +shout from the yelling band; and presently bounding feet and screaming +voices were heard ascending the stairs. The terrified girl fancied at +the moment she heard a door open on the floor immediately below her, +and some one dart suddenly up the flight communicating with the spot on +which she stood. Without waiting to satisfy herself, she rushed with +all the mechanical instinct of self-preservation back into her own +apartment. As she passed the bed-room window, she glanced once more +hastily into the area below, and there beheld a sight that, filling her +soul with despair, paralysed all further exertion. A tall savage was +bearing off the apparently lifeless form of her cousin through the +combatants in the square, her white dress stained all over with blood, +and her beautiful hair loosened and trailing on the ground. She +followed with her burning eyes until they passed the drawbridge, and +finally disappeared behind the intervening rampart, and then bowing her +head between her hands, and sinking upon her knees, she reposed her +forehead against the sill of the window, and awaited unshrinkingly, yet +in a state of inconceivable agony, the consummation of her own unhappy +destiny. + +The sounds of ascending feet were now heard in the passage without; and +presently, while the clangour of a thousand demons seemed to ring +throughout the upper part of the building, a man rushed furiously into +the room. The blood of the young girl curdled in her veins. She +mechanically grasped the ledge of the window on which her aching head +still reposed, and with her eyes firmly closed, to shut out from view +the fiend whose sight she dreaded, even more than the death which +threatened her, quietly awaited the blow that was to terminate at once +her misery and her life. Scarcely, however, had the feet of the +intruder pressed the sanctuary of her bedchamber, when the heavy door, +strongly studded with nails, was pushed rapidly to, and bolt and lock +were heard sliding into their several sockets. Before Clara could raise +her head to discover the cause of this movement, she felt herself +firmly secured in the grasp of an encircling arm, and borne hastily +through the room. An instinctive sense of something worse even than +death now flashed across the mind of the unhappy girl; and while she +feared to unclose her eyes, she struggled violently to disengage +herself. + +"Clara! dear Miss de Haldimar, do you not know me?" exclaimed her +supporter, while, placing her for a moment on a seat, he proceeded to +secure the fastenings of the second door, that led from the bed-chamber +into the larger apartment. + +Re-assured by the tones of a voice which, even in that dreadful moment +of trial and destruction, were familiar to her ear, the trembling girl +opened her eyes wildly upon her protector. A slight scream of terror +marked her painful sense of the recognition. It was Captain Baynton +whom she beheld: but how unlike the officer who a few minutes before +had been conversing with her from the ramparts. His fine hair, matted +with blood, now hung loosely and disfiguringly over his eyes, and his +pallid face and brow were covered with gore spots, the evident +spatterings from the wounds of others; while a stream that issued from +one side of his head attested he himself had not escaped unhurt in the +cruel melee. A skirt and a lappel had been torn from his uniform, +which, together with other portions of his dress, were now stained in +various parts by the blood continually flowing from his wound. + +"Oh, Captain Baynton," murmured the fainting girl, her whole soul +sinking within her, as she gazed shudderingly on his person, "is there +no hope for us? must we die?" + +"No, by Heaven, not while I have strength to save you," returned the +officer, with energy. "If the savages have not penetrated to the rear, +we may yet escape. I saw the postern open just now, on my passage round +the rampart, and the boat of the schooner upon the strand. Ha!" he +exclaimed, as he flew to the window, and cast his eye rapidly below, +"we are lost! The gate is still clear, and not an Indian to be seen; +but the coward sailor is pulling for his life towards the vessel. But +hold! another boat is now quitting the ship's side. See, how manfully +they give themselves to the oars: in a few minutes they will be here. +Come, Clara, let us fly!" and again he caught her in his arms, and bore +her across the room. "Hark, hear you not the exulting yellings of the +monsters? They are forcing the outer door: mark how they redouble their +efforts to break it open! That passed, but one more barrier remains +between us and inevitable and instant death." + +"And my cousin, my uncle!" shrieked the unhappy girl, as the officer +now bore her rapidly down the back staircase. + +"Oh, ask me not!" exclaimed Baynton: "were I to linger again on all I +have witnessed, I should go mad. All, all have perished! but, hark!" + +A tremendous yell now bursting from the passage, announced at once, the +triumph of the savages in having effected an entrance into the +bed-room, and their disappointment at finding their pursuit baulked by +a second door. Presently afterwards their heavy weapons were to be +heard thundering at this new obstacle, in the most furious manner. This +gave new stimulus to the exertions of the generous officer. Each +winding of the staircase was familiar to him, and he now descended it +with a rapidity which, considering the burden that reposed against his +chest, could only have been inspired by his despair. The flight +terminated at a door that led directly upon the rampart, without +communicating with any of the passages of the building; and in this +consisted the principal facility of escape: for, in order to reach +them, the savages must either make the circuit of the block-house, or +overtake them in the course they were now following. In this trying +emergency, the presence of mind of the young officer, wounded and +bleeding as he was, did not desert him. On quitting the larger +apartment above, he had secured the outside fastenings of a small door +at the top of the stairs, and having now gained the bottom, he took a +similar precaution. All that remained was to unclose the bolts of the +ponderous door that opened upon their final chance of escape: this was +speedily done, but here the feelings of the officer were put to a +severe test. A rude partition divided him from the fatal council-room; +and while he undid the fastenings, the faint and dying groans of his +butchered brother officers rung in his ears, even at the moment that he +felt his feet dabbling in the blood that oozed through the imperfectly +closed planks of which the partition was composed. As for Clara, she +was insensible to all that was passing. From the moment of the Indian +yell, announcing their entry into the bed-room, she had fainted. + +The huge door came now creaking back upon its hinges, when the sounds +of the yet unfinished conflict in front, which had hitherto been +deadened in their descent through the remote staircase, rang once more +fiercely and startlingly upon the ear. A single glance satisfied +Captain Baynton the moment for exertion was come, and that the way to +the lake shore, which, by some strange oversight, both the Indians and +the men had overlooked, was perfectly clear. He clasped his unconscious +burden closer to his chest, and then, setting his life upon the cast, +hastened down the few steps that led to the rampart, and dashed rapidly +through the postern; in the next minute he stood on the uttermost verge +of the sands, unharmed and onfollowed. He cast his eyes anxiously along +the surface of the lake; but such was the excitement and confusion of +his mind, produced by the horrid recollection of the past scene, it was +not until he had been abruptly hailed from it, he could see a boat, at +the distance of about two hundred yards, the crew of which were lying +on their oars. It was the long boat of the schooner, which, prevented +from a nearer approach by a sand bar that ran along the lake to a +considerable extent, had taken her station there to receive the +fugitives. Two tall young men in the dress, yet having little the mien, +of common sailors, were standing up in her stern; and one of these, +with evident anxiety in his manner, called on Baynton by name to make +the best of his way to the boat. At that moment a loud and frantic yell +came from the block-house the latter had just quitted. In the wild +impulse of his excited feelings, he answered with a cheer of defiance, +as he turned to discover the precise point whence it proceeded. The +windows of the apartment so recently occupied by the unhappy cousins, +were darkened with savage forms, who now pealed forth their mingled +fury and disappointment in the most terrific manner. + +"Fly, fly, Baynton, or you are lost!" exclaimed the same voice from the +boat; "the devils are levelling from the windows." + +While he yet spake several shots came whizzing along the waters, and a +spent ball even struck the now rapidly fleeing officer in the back; but +the distance was too great for serious injury. The guns of the savages +had been cut so short for their desperate enterprise, that they carried +little further than a horse pistol. + +Again, in the desperation of his feelings, and heedless of the danger +he was drawing on himself and charge, the officer turned fiercely round +and shouted, at his utmost lungs, a peal of triumph in the ears of his +enemies. Scarcely, however, had the sounds escaped his lips, when two +hideously painted Indians sprang through the postern, and, silent as +the spectres they resembled, rushed down the sands, and thence into the +lake. Loud shouts from the windows above were again pealed forth, and +from the consternation visible on the features of those within the +boat, the nearly exhausted Baynton learnt all the risk he incurred. +Summoning all his strength, he now made the most desperate efforts to +reach his friends. The lake was little more than knee deep from the +shore to the bar, but, encumbered as he was, the difficulty opposed to +his movements was immeasurably against him, and yet he seemed +generously resolved rather to perish than relinquish his charge. +Already were his pursuers, now closely followed by a numerous band, +within twenty yards of him, when the two young men, each armed with a +cutlass and pistol, sprang from the boat upon the sand bar: as the +Indians came on they fired deliberately at them, but both missed their +aim. Encouraged by this failure, the fearless devils dashed eagerly on, +brandishing their gleaming tomahawks, but littering not a sound. +Already was the unfortunate Baynton within a few feet of the bar, when +he felt that the savages were immediately upon him. + +"Take, take, for God's sake take her!" he cried, as with a desperate +effort he threw the light form of the still unconscious girl into the +arms of one of the young men. "My strength is quite exhausted, and I +can do no more." + +For the first time a yell burst from the lips of the pursuing savages, +as they saw him, to whom the guardianship of the wretched Clara was now +confided, suddenly spring from the sand bar into the lake, and in a few +rapid strokes gain the side of the boat. Leaving the hapless Baynton to +be disposed of by his companion, the foremost darted upon the bank, +burning with disappointment, and resolved to immolate another victim. +For a moment he balanced his tomahawk, and then, with the rapidity of +thought, darted it at the covered head of the youth who still lingered +on the bar. A well-timed movement of the latter averted the blow, and +the whizzing steel passed harmlessly on. A gutteral "Ugh!" marked the +disappointment of the Indian, now reduced to his scalping-knife; but +before he could determine whether to advance or to retreat, his +opponent had darted upon him, and, with a single blow from his cutlass, +cleft his skull nearly asunder. The next instantaneous purpose of the +victor was to advance to the rescue of the exhausted Baynton; but, when +he turned to look for him, he saw the mangled form of what had once +been that gallant and handsome officer floating, without life or +motion, on the blood-stained surface of the Huron, while his fiendish +murderer, calmly awaiting the approach of his companions, held up the +reeking scalp, in triumph, to the view of the still yelling groups +within the block-house. + +"Noble, generous, self-devoted fellow!" exclaimed the youth, as he +fixed his burning tearless eye for a moment on the unfortunate victim; +"even you, then, are not spared to tell the horrid story of this +butchery; yet is the fate of the fallen far, far more enviable than +that of those who have survived this day." He then committed his +cutlass to its sheath; and, leaping into the deep water that lay beyond +the bar, was, in a few seconds, once more in the stern of the boat. + +Meanwhile, the numerous band, who followed their two first fierce +comrades into the lake, bounded rapidly forward; and, so active were +their movements, that, at almost the same moment when the second of the +youths had gained his temporary place of refuge, they stood yelling and +screaming on the sand bar he had just quitted. Two or three, excited to +desperation by the blood they had seen spilt, plunged unhesitatingly +into the opposite depths of the lake; and the foremost of these was the +destroyer of the ill-fated Baynton. With his bloody scalping-knife +closely clutched between his teeth, and his tomahawk in his right hand, +this fierce warrior buffeted the waves lustily with one arm, and, +noiselessly as in the early part of his pursuit, urged his way towards +the boat. In the stern of this a few planks from the schooner had been +firmly lashed, to serve as a shield against the weapons of the savages, +and was so arranged as to conceal all within while retiring from the +shore. A small aperture had, however, been bored for the purpose of +observing the movements of the enemy without risk. Through this an eye +was now directed, while only the blades of the oars were to be seen +projecting from the boat's sides as they reposed in their rowlocks. +Encouraged by the seeming apathy and inertness of the crew, the +swimming savages paused not to consider of consequences, but continued +their daring course as if they had apprehended neither risk nor +resistance. Presently a desperate splash was heard near the stern of +the boat, and the sinuous form of the first savage was raised above the +gunwale, his grim face looking devilish in its war-paint, and his +fierce eyes gleaming and rolling like fire-balls in their sockets. +Scarcely was he seen, however, when he had again disappeared. A blow +from the cutlass that had destroyed his companion descended like +lightning on his naked and hairless head; and, in the agony of death, +he might be seen grinding his teeth against the knife which the +instinctive ferocity of his nature forbade his relinquishing. A yell of +fury burst from the savages on the bar, and presently a shower of +bullets ran whistling through the air. Several were heard striking the +rude rampart in the stem; but, although the boat was scarcely out of +pistol-shot, the thickness of the wood prevented all injury to those +within. Another fierce yell followed this volley; and then nearly a +score of warriors, giving their guns in charge to their companions, +plunged furiously into the water; and, with an air of the most +infuriated determination, leaped rather than swam along its surface. + +"Now, then, my lads, give way," said he at the look-out; "there are +more than a dozen of the devils in full cry; and our only chance is in +flight! Ha! another here!" as, turning to issue these directions, he +chanced to see the dark hand of a savage at that moment grasping the +gunwale of the boat, as if with a view to retard her movements until +the arrival of his companions. + +A heavy blow from his cutlass accompanied these words. The fingers, +divided at their very roots, rolled to the bottom of the boat, and the +carcase of the savage dropped, with a yell of anguish, far in the rear. +The heavy oar-blades of the seamen now made play, dashing the lake away +in sheets of foam; and, in less than five minutes, the heads of the +swimming savages were seen mingling like so many rats upon the water, +as they returned once more in disappointment from their fruitless +pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +The sun had gone down, as he had risen, in all the gloriousness of his +autumnal splendour, and twilight was now fast descending on the waters +of the Huron. A slight breeze was just beginning to make itself felt +from the land, the gradual rising of which was hailed by many an +anxious heart, as the schooner, which had been making vain attempts to +quit her anchorage during the day, now urged her light bows through the +slightly curling element. A death-like silence, interrupted only by the +low gruff voice of a veteran seaman, as he issued, in technical +language, the necessary orders for the management of the vessel, +prevailed every where along her decks. The dress and general appearance +of this individual announced him for a petty officer of the royal +service; and it was evident, from the tone of authority with which he +spoke, he was now in the enjoyment of a temporary command. The crew, +consisting of about thirty souls, and chiefly veterans of the same +class, were assembled along the gangways, each man wearing a brace of +pistols in the belt, which, moreover, secured a naked cutlass around +his loins; and these now lingered near the several guns that were +thrown out from their gloomy looking ports, as if ready for some active +service. But, although the arming of these men indicated hostile +preparation, there was none of that buoyancy of movement and animation +of feature to be observed, which so usually characterise the +indomitable daring of the British sailor. Some stood leaning their +heads pensively on their hands against the rigging and hammocks that +were stowed away along the bulwarks, after the fashion of war ships in +boarding; others, with arms tightly folded across their chests, spirted +the tobacco juice thoughtfully from their closed teeth into the +receding waters; while not a few gazed earnestly and despondingly on +the burning fort in the distance, amid the rolling volumes of smoke and +flame from which, ever and anon, arose the fiendish yell of those who, +having already sacked, were now reducing it to ashes. Nor was this the +only object of their attention. On the sand bank alluded to in our last +chapter were to be dimly seen through the growing dusk, the dark +outlines of many of the savages, who, frantic with rage at their +inability to devote them to the same doom, were still unwilling to quit +a spot which approached them nearest to the last surviving objects of +their enmity. Around this point, were collected numerous canoes, filled +also with warriors; and, at the moment when the vessel, obeying the +impulse given by her flowing sails, glided from her anchorage, these +followed, scudding in her wake, and made a show of attacking her in the +stern. The sudden yawing of the schooner, however, in bringing her tier +of bristling ports into view, had checked the ardour of the pursuing +fleet; and the discharge of a single gun, destroying in its course +three of their canoes, and carrying death among those who directed +them, had driven them back, in the greatest hurry and confusion, to +their yelling and disappointed comrades. + +The after-deck of the schooner presented a different, though not less +sombre and discouraging, scene. On a pile of mattresses lay the light +and almost inanimate form of Clara de Haldimar; her fair and redundant +hair overshadowing her pallid brow and cheek, and the dress she had +worn at the moment of her escape from the fort still spotted with the +blood of her generous but unfortunate preserver. Close at her side, +with her hands clasped in his, while he watched the expression of deep +suffering reflected from each set feature, and yet with the air of one +pre-occupied with some other subject of painful interest, sat, on an +empty shot-box, the young man in sailor's attire, whose cutlass had +performed the double service of destroying his own immediate opponent, +and avenging the death of the devoted Baynton. At the head of the rude +couch, and leaning against a portion of the schooner's stern-work, +stood his companion, who from delicacy appeared to have turned away his +eyes from the group below, merely to cast them vacantly on the dark +waters through which the vessel was now beginning to urge her course. + +Such was the immediate position of this little party, when the gun +fired at the Indians was heard booming heavily along the lake. The loud +report, in exciting new sources of alarm, seemed to have dissipated the +spell that had hitherto chained the energies and perception of the +still weak, but now highly excited girl. + +"Oh, Captain Baynton, where are we?" she exclaimed, starting up +suddenly in terror, and throwing her arms around him, who sat at her +side, as if she would have clung to him for protection. "Is the horrid +massacre not finished yet? Where is Madeline? where is my cousin? Oh, I +cannot leave the fort without her." + +"Ha! where indeed is she?" exclaimed the youth, as he clasped his +trembling and scarcely conscious burden to his chest, "Almighty God, +where is she?" Then, after a short pause, and in a voice of tender but +exquisite anguish, "Clara, my beloved sister, do you not know me? It is +not Baynton but your brother, who now clasps you to his breaking heart." + +A deluge of tears was the only answer of the wretched girl. They were +the first she had shed,--the first marks of consciousness she had +exhibited. Hitherto her heart had been oppressed; every fibre of her +brain racked almost to bursting, and filled only with ghastly flitting +visions of the dreadful horrors she had seen perpetrated, she had +continued, since the moment of her fainting in the block-house, as one +bereft of all memory of the past, or apprehension of the present. But +now, the full outpouring of her grief relieved her overcharged brain +and heart, even while the confused images floating before her +recollection acquired a more tangible and painful character. She raised +herself a moment from the chest on which her burning head reposed, +looked steadfastly in the face that hung anxiously over her own, and +saw indeed that it was her brother. She tried to speak, but she could +not utter a word, for the memory of all that had occurred that fatal +morning rushed with mountain weight upon her fainting spirit, and again +she wept, and more bitterly than before. + +The young man pressed her in silence to his chest; nor was it until she +had given full vent to her grief, that he ventured to address her on +the subject of his own immediate sorrows. At length, when she appeared +somewhat more calm, he observed, in a voice broken by emotion,-- + +"Clara, dearest, what account have you to give me of Madeline? Has she +shared the fate of all? or have you reason to suppose her life has been +spared?" + +Another burst of tears succeeded to these questions, for coupled with +the name of her cousin arose all the horrid associations connected with +her loss. As soon, however, as she could compose herself, she briefly +stated all she had witnessed of the affair, from the moment when the +boat of the schooner was seen to meet the strange looking object on the +water, to that when she had beheld her ill-fated cousin borne away +apparently lifeless in the arms of the tall Indian by whom she had been +captured. + +During this recital, the heart of Captain de Haldimar,--for it was +he,--beat audibly against the cheek that still reposed on his breast; +but when his sister had, in a faint voice, closed her melancholy +narrative with the manner of her cousin's disappearance, he gave a +sudden start, uttering at the same time an exclamation of joy. + +"Thank God, she still lives!" he cried, pressing his sister once more +in fondness to his heart; then turning to his companion, who, although +seemingly abstracted, had been a silent and attentive witness of the +scene,--"By Heaven! Valletort, there is yet a hope. She it was indeed +whom we saw borne out of the fort, and subsequently made to walk by the +cruel Indian who had charge of her." + +"Valletort, Valletort," murmured Clara unconsciously, her sick heart +throbbing with she knew not what. "How is this, Frederick?--Where, +then, is Captain Baynton? and how came you here?" + +"Alas! Clara, poor Baynton is no more. Even at the moment when he +confided the unconscious burden, preserved at the peril of his own +life, to the arms of Sir Everard here, he fell beneath the tomahawk of +a pursuing savage. Poor, noble, generous Baynton," he continued, +mournfully; "to him, indeed, Clara, are you indebted for your life; yet +was it purchased at the price of his own." + +Again the pained and affectionate girl wept bitterly, and her brother +proceeded:-- + +"The strange object you saw on the lake, my love, was nothing more than +a canoe disguised with leafy boughs, in which Sir Everard Valletort and +myself, under the guidance of old Francois of the Fleur de lis, whom +you must recollect, have made the dangerous passage of the Sinclair in +the garb of duck hunters,--which latter we had only discarded on +reaching the schooner, in order to assume another we conceived better +suited to our purpose. Alas!" and he struck his hand violently against +his brow, "had we made directly for the shore without touching the +vessel at all, there might have been time to save those we came to +apprise of their danger. Do you not think there was, Valletort?" + +"Most assuredly not," returned his companion, anxious to remove the +impression of self-blame that existed in the mind of Captain de +Haldimar. "From the moment of our reaching the schooner, which lay +immediately in our route, to that when the shout was raised by the +savages as they rushed into the fort, there was scarcely an interval of +three minutes; and it would have required a longer period to have +enabled us even to gain the shore." + +"Thank, thank you for that!" exclaimed the officer, drawing himself up +with the air of one who breathes more freely. "I would not, for the +wealth and honours of the united world, that such a cause for +self-reproach should linger on my mind. By Heaven! it would break my +heart to think we had been in time to save them, and yet had lost the +opportunity through even one moment of neglect." Then turning once more +to his sister,--"Now, Clara, that I see you in safety, I have another +sacred duty to perform. I must leave you, but not alone." + +"What mean you, Frederick?" exclaimed his agitated sister, clinging +more closely to his embrace. "Scarce have we met, and you talk of +leaving me. Oh, whither would you go?" + +"Surely, my love," and he spoke half reproachfully, although with +tenderness of accent, "my meaning must be obvious. But what do I say? +You know it not. Madeline still lives. We saw her, as we pulled towards +the shore, led across the clearing in the direction of Chabouiga. Hear +me, then: the canoe in which we came is still towing from the vessel's +stern, and in this do I mean to embark, without further loss of time, +in search of her who is dearer to me than existence. I know," he +pursued with emotion, "I have but little hope of rescuing, even if I do +succeed in finding her; but at least I shall not have to suffer under +the self-reproach of having neglected the only chance that now lies +within my reach. If she be doomed to die, I shall then have nothing +left to live for--except you, Clara," he concluded, after a pause, +pressing the weeping girl to his heart, as he remarked how much she +seemed pained by the declaration. + +Having placed his sister once more on the couch, and covered her with a +cloak that had been brought from the cabin of the unfortunate +commander, Captain de Haldimar now rose from his humble seat, and +grasping the hand of his friend,-- + +"Valletort," he said, "I commit this dear girl to your keeping. +Hitherto we have been equal sharers in an enterprise having for its +object the preservation of our mutual companions and friends. At +present, interests of a more personal nature occupy my attention; and +to these must I devote myself alone. I trust you will reach Detroit in +safety; and when you have delivered my unfortunate sister into the arms +of her father, you will say to him from me, I could not survive the +loss of that being to whom I had sworn eternal fidelity and affection. +Francois must be my only companion on this occasion. Nay," he +continued, pointing to his sister, in answer to the rising remonstrance +of the baronet, "will you desert the precious charge I have confided to +your keeping? Recollect, Valletort," in a more subdued tone, "that +besides yourself, there will be none near her but rude and uneducated +sailors;--honest men enough in their way, it is true; but not the sort +of people to whom I should like to confide my poor sister." + +The warm and silent pressure by Sir Everard of his hand announced his +participation in the sentiment; and Captain de Haldimar now hastened +forward to apprise the Canadian of his purpose. He found mine host of +the Fleur de lis seated in the forecastle of the schooner; and with an +air of the most perfect unconcern discussing a substantial meal, +consisting of dried uncooked venison, raw onions, and Indian corn +bread, the contents of a large bag or wallet that lay at his feet. No +sooner, however, had the impatient officer communicated his design, +asking at the same time if he might expect his assistance in the +enterprise, than the unfinished meal of the Canadian was discontinued, +the wallet refilled, and the large greasy clasp-knife with which the +portions had been separated, closed and thrust into a pocket of his +blanket coat. + +"I shall go to de devils for you, capitaine, if we must," he said, as +he raised his portly form, not without effort, from the deck, slapping +the shoulder of the officer at the same time somewhat rudely with his +hand. There was nothing, however, offensively familiar in this action. +It expressed merely the devotedness of heart with which the man lent +himself to the service to which he had pledged himself, and was rather +complimentary than otherwise to him to whom it was directed. Captain de +Haldimar took it in the light in which we have just shown it, and he +grasped and shook the rough hand of the Canadian with an earnestness +highly gratifying to the latter. + +Every thing was now in readiness for their departure. The canoe, still +covered with its streaming boughs, was drawn close up to the gangway, +and a few hasty necessaries thrown in. While this was passing, the +officer had again assumed his disguise of a duck-hunter; and he now +appeared in the blanket costume in which we introduced Sir Everard and +himself at the opening of this volume. + +"If I may be so bold as to put in my oar, your honour,"--said the +veteran boatswain, on whom the command of the schooner had fallen, as +he now advanced, rolling his quid in his mouth, and dropping his hat on +his shoulder, while the fingers of the hand which clutched it were +busily occupied in scratching his bald head,--"if I may be so bold, +there is another chap here as might better sarve your honour's purpose +than that 'ere fat Canadian, who seems to think only of stuffing while +his betters are fasting." + +"And who is he, my good Mullins?" asked Captain de Haldimar. + +"Why, that 'ere Ingian, your honour, as began the butchery in the fort, +yonder, by trying to kill Jack Fuller while he laid asleep this +morning, waiting for the captain in the jolly boat. Jack never seed him +coming, until he felt his black hands upon his throat, and then he ups +with the tiller at his noddle, and sends him floundering across the +boat's thwarts like a flat-fish. I thought, your honour, seeing as how +I have got the command of the schooner, of tying him up to the +mainmast, and giving him two or three round dozen or so, and then +sending him to swim among the mascannungy with a twenty-four pound shot +in his neckcloth; but, seeing as how your honour is going among them +savages agin, I thought as how some good might be done with him, if +your honour could contrive to keep him in tow, and close under your lee +quarter, to prevent his escape." + +"At all events," returned the officer, after a pause of some moments, +during which he appeared to be deliberating on his course of action, +"it may be dangerous to keep him in the vessel; and yet, if we take him +ashore, he may be the means of our more immediate destruction; unless, +indeed, as you observe, he can be so secured as to prevent the +possibility of escape: but that I very much doubt indeed. Where is he, +Mullins? I should like to see and question him." + +"He shall be up, your honour, in no time," replied the sailor, once +more resuming his hat, and moving a pace or two forward. Then +addressing two or three men in the starboard gangway in the +authoritative tone of command:--"Bear a hand there, my men, and cast +off the lashings of that black Ingian, and send him aft, here, to the +officer." + +The order was speedily executed. In a few minutes the Indian stood on +the quarter-deck, his hands firmly secured behind, and his head sunk +upon his chest in sullen despondency. In the increasing gloom in which +objects were now gradually becoming more and more indistinct, it was +impossible for Captain de Haldimar to distinguish his features; but +there was something in the outline of the Indian's form that impressed +him with the conviction he had seen it before. Advancing a pace or two +forward, he pronounced, in an emphatic and audible whisper, the name of +"Oucanasta!" + +The Indian gave an involuntary start,--uttered a deep interjectional +"Ugh!"--and, raising his head from his chest, fixed his eye heavily on +the officer. + +"Hookynaster!--Hookynaster!" growled Jack Fuller, who had followed to +hear the examination of his immediate captive: "why, your honour, that +jaw-breaking name reminds me as how the chap had a bit of a paper when +I chucked him into the jolly boat, stuck in his girdle. It was covered +over with pencil-marks, as writing like; but all was rubbed out agin, +except some such sort of a name as that." + +"Where is it?--what have you done with it?" hastily asked Captain de +Haldimar. + +"Here, in my backy-box, your honour. I kept it safe, thinking as how it +might sarve to let us know all about it afterwards." + +The sailor now drew from the receptacle just named a dirty piece of +folded paper, deeply impregnated with the perfume of stale and oft +rechewed quids of coarse tobacco; and then, with the air of one +conscious of having "rendered the state some service," hitched up his +trowsers with one hand, while with the other he extended the important +document. + +To glance his eye hurriedly over the paper by the light of a dark +lanthorn that had meanwhile been brought upon deck, unclasp his +hunting-knife, and divide the ligatures of the captive, and then warmly +press his liberated hands within his own, were, with Captain de +Haldimar, but the work of a minute. + +"Hilloa! which the devil way does the wind blow now?" muttered Fuller, +the leer of self-satisfaction that had hitherto played in his eye +rapidly giving place to an air of seriousness and surprise; an +expression that was not at all diminished by an observation from his +new commander. + +"I tell you what it is, Jack," said the latter, impressively; "I don't +pretend to have more gumption (qu. discernment?) than my messmates; but +I can see through a millstone as clear as any man as ever heaved a lead +in these here lakes; and may I never pipe boatswain's whistle again, if +you 'ar'n't, some how or other, in the wrong box. That 'ere Ingian's +one of us!" + +The feelings of Captain de Haldimar may easily be comprehended by our +readers, when, on glancing at the paper, he found himself confirmed in +the impression previously made on him by the outline of the captive's +form. The writing, nearly obliterated by damp, had been rudely traced +by his own pencil on a leaf torn from his pocket-book. In the night of +his visit to the Indian encampment, and at the moment when, seated on +the fatal log, Oucanasta had generously promised her assistance in at +least rescuing his betrothed bride. They were addressed to Major de +Haldimar, and briefly stated that a treacherous plan was in +contemplation by the enemy to surprise the fort, which the bearer, +Oucanasta (the latter word strongly marked), would fully explain, if +she could possibly obtain access within. From the narrative entered +into by Clara, who had particularly dwelt on the emotions of fear that +had sprung up in her own and cousin's heart by the sudden +transformation of a supposed harmless beaver into a fierce and +threatening savage, he had no difficulty in solving the enigma. + +The Indian, in whom he had recognised the young chief who had saved him +from the fury of Wacousta, had evidently been won upon by his sister to +perform a service which offered so much less difficulty to a warrior +than to a woman; and it was clear, that, finding all other means of +communication with the fort, undiscovered by his own people, +impracticable, he had availed himself of the opportunity, when he saw +the boat waiting on the strand, to assume a disguise so well adapted to +insure success. It was no remarkable thing in these countries, to see +both the beaver and the otter moving on the calm surface of the waters +in the vicinity of the forts, even at mid-day; and occupied as the +Indians were, to a man, at that moment with their cruel projects, it +was by no means likely that their attention should have been called off +from these to so apparently unimportant a circumstance. The act that +had principally alarmed the cousins, and terminated, as we have seen, +in the sudden attack of the sailor, had evidently been misconceived. +The hand supposed to be feeling for the heart of the sluggard, had, in +all probability, been placed on his chest with a view to arouse him +from his slumber; while that which was believed to have been dropped to +the handle of his knife, was, in reality, merely seeking the paper that +contained the announcement, which, if then delivered, might have saved +the garrison. + +Such was the tram of conjecture that now passed through the mind of the +officer; but, although he thus placed the conduct of the Indian in the +most favourable light, his impression received no confirmation from the +lips of the latter. Sullen and doggedly, notwithstanding the release +from his bonds, the Ottawa hung his head upon his chest, with his eyes +riveted on the deck, and obstinately refused to answer every question +put to him by his deliverer. This, however, did not the less tend to +confirm Captain de Haldimar in his belief. He knew enough of the Indian +character, to understand the indignant and even revengeful spirit +likely to be aroused by the treatment the savage had met with in return +for his intended services. He was aware that, without pausing to +reflect on the fact, that the sailor, ignorant of his actual purpose, +could merely have seen in him an enemy in the act of attempting his +life, the chief would only consider and inflame himself over the +recollection of the blow inflicted; and that, with the true obstinacy +of his race, he would rather suffer captivity or death itself, than +humble the haughty pride of his nature, by condescending to an +explanation with those by whom he felt himself so deeply injured. +Still, even amid all his own personal griefs,--griefs that rendered the +boon in some degree at present valueless,--Captain de Haldimar could +not forget that the youth, no matter by what motive induced, had +rescued him from a dreadful death on a previous occasion. With the +generous warmth, therefore, of a grateful mind, he now sought to +impress on the Indian the deep sense of obligation under which he +laboured; explaining at the same time the very natural error into which +the sailor had fallen, and concluding with a declaration that he was +free to quit the vessel in the canoe in which he himself was about to +take his departure for the shore, in search of her whom his sister had +pledged herself, at all hazards, to save. + +The address of the officer, touching and impressive as language ever is +that comes from the heart, was not altogether without effect on the +Indian. Several times he interrupted him with a short, quick, approving +"Ugh!" and when he at length received the assurance that he was no +longer a prisoner, he raised his eyes rapidly, although without moving +his head, to the countenance of his deliverer. Already were his lips +opening to speak for the first time, when the attention of the group +around him was arrested by his giving a sudden start of surprise. At +the same moment he raised his head, stretched his neck, threw forward +his right ear, and, uttering a loud and emphatic "Waugh!" pointed with +his finger over the bows of the vessel. + +All listened for upwards of a minute in mute suspense; and then a faint +and scarcely distinguishable sound was heard in the direction in which +he pointed. Scarcely had it floated on the air, when a shrill, loud, +and prolonged cry, of peculiar tendency, burst hurriedly and eagerly +from the lips of the captive; and, spreading over the broad expanse of +water, seemed to be re-echoed back from every point of the surrounding +shore. + +Great was the confusion that followed this startling yell on the decks +of the schooner. "Cut the hell-fiend down!"--"Chuck him +overboard!"--"We are betrayed!"--"Every man to his gun!"--"Put the +craft about!" were among the numerous exclamations that now rose +simultaneously from at least twenty lips, and almost drowned the loud +shriek that burst again from the wretched Clara de Haldimar. + +"Stop, Mullins!--Stop, men!" shouted Captain de Haldimar, firmly, as +the excited boatswain, with two or three of his companions,--now +advanced with the intention of laying violent hands on the Indian. "I +will answer for his fidelity with my life. If he be false, it will be +time enough to punish him afterwards; but let us calmly await the issue +like men. Hear me," he proceeded, as he remarked their incredulous, +uncertain, and still threatening air;--"this Indian saved me from the +tomahawks of his tribe not a week ago; and, even now, he has become our +captive in the act of taking a note from me to the garrison, to warn +them of their danger. But for that slumbering fool," he added, +bitterly, pointing to Fuller, who slept when he should have watched, +"your fort would not now have been what it is,--a mass of smoking +ruins. He has an ocean of blood upon his soul, that all the waters of +the Huron can never wash out!" + +Struck by the vehement manner of the officer, and the disclosure he had +just made, the sailors sunk once more into inaction and silence. The +boatswain alone spoke. + +"I thought, your honour, as how Jack Fuller, who sartainly is a better +hand at a snooze than a watch, had got into a bit of a mess; but, +shiver my topsails, if I think it's quite fair to blame him, neither, +for clapping a stopper on the Indian's cable, seeing as how he was +expecting a shot between wind and water. Still, as the chap turns out +to be an honest chap, and has saved your honour's life above all, I +don't much care if I give him a grip. Here, old fellow, tip us your +fist!" + +Without seeming to understand that his cry had been productive of +general and intense alarm throughout the vessel, the Indian had viewed +the sudden rushing of the crew towards him as an act of gratuitous +hostility; and, without shrinking from the attack, had once more +resumed his original air of dogged sullenness. It was evident to him, +from the discussion going on, that some violence, about to be offered +to his person, had only been prevented by the interference of the +officer. With the natural haughtiness of his savage nature, he +therefore rejected the overtures of the sailor, whose hand he had +observed among the first that were raised against him. + +While the angry boatswain was yet rolling his quid within his capacious +jaws, racking his brain for the strongest language wherein to give vent +to his indignation, his ears were suddenly saluted by a low but clear +"Hilloa!" from the bows of the schooner. + +"Ay, ay!" was the brief response. + +"There's something approaching us ahead, on the weather fore quarter," +continued the same voice, which was that of the man on the look-out. + +The most profound silence now pervaded the deck. Every individual, +including Captain de Haldimar and the boatswain, had flown to the +gangway of the quarter indicated, which was on the side occupied by the +couch of the unfortunate Clara. Presently a noise like that produced by +a single paddle rapidly dividing the water, was heard by every anxious +ear. Night had long since thrown her mantle over the surrounding waste; +and all that was to be seen reflected from the bosom of the gradually +darkening river, scarcely ruffled by the yet incipient breeze, were a +few straggling stars, that here and there appeared in the overcast +heavens. Hitherto no object could be discovered by those who strained +their eyes eagerly and painfully through the gloom, although the sounds +became at each moment more distinct. It was evident the party, guided +by the noise of the rippling waves that fell from the bows of the +schooner, was enabled to follow up a course, the direct clue to which +had been indicated by the cry of the captive. Every man stood near his +gun on the starboard battery, and the burning matches hanging over +their respective buckets ready to be seized at a moment's notice. +Still, but little room for apprehension existed; for the practised ear +of the mariners could easily tell that a solitary bark alone +approached; and of one, or even ten, they entertained no fear. +Suddenly, as the course of the vessel was now changed a point to +windward,--a movement that brought her bows more off the adjacent +shore,--the sound, in which all were more or less interested, was heard +not more than twenty yards off, and in a line with the gangway at which +the principal of the crew were assembled. In the next minute the low +hull of a canoe came in sight, and then a tall and solitary human +figure was seen in the stern, bending alternately to the right and to +the left, as the paddle was rapidly and successively changed from side +to side. + +Another deep and exulting "Ugh!" was now heaved from the chest of the +Indian, who stood calmly on the spot on which he had first rested, +while Fuller prepared a coil of rope to throw to the active steersman. + +"Avast there, Jack!" growled the boatswain, addressing the sailor; "how +can the stranger keep the bow of his craft on, and grapple at the same +time? Just pass one end of the coil round your waist, and swing +yourself gently into her." + +The head of the canoe was now near enough for the purpose. The sailor +did as he was desired, having previously divested himself of his shoes, +and leaping forward, alighted on what appeared to be a bundle of +blankets stowed away in her bows. No sooner, however, had he secured +his footing, when with another desperate leap, and greatly to the +astonishment of all around, he bounded once more to the deck of the +schooner, his countenance exhibiting every mark of superstitious alarm. +In the act of quitting the canoe he had spurned her violently several +feet from the vessel, which the silent steersman was again making every +effort to reach. + +"Why what the devil's the matter with you now?" exclaimed the rough +boatswain, who, as well as Captain de Haldimar and the rest of the +crew, had quitted the gangway to learn the cause of this extraordinary +conduct. "Damn my eyes, if you ar'n't worse scared than when the Ingian +stood over you in the jolly boat." + +"Scared, ay, to be sure I am; and so would you be scared too, if you'd +a see'd what I did. May I never touch the point at Portsmouth, if I +a'n't seen her ghost." + +"Where?--whose ghost?--what ghost?--what do you mean, Jack?" exclaimed +several of the startled men in the same breath, while the superstitious +dread so common to mariners drew them still closer in the group that +encircled their companion. + +"Well, then, as I am a miserable sinner," returned the man, +impressively, and in a low tone, "I see'd in the bows of the +canoe,--and the hand that steered it was not made of flesh and blood +like ours,--what do you think?--the ghost of--" + +Captain de Haldimar heard no more. At a single bound he had gained the +ship's side. He strained his eyes anxiously over the gangway in search +of the canoe, but it was gone. A death-like silence throughout the deck +followed the communication of the sailor, and in that pause the sound +of the receding boat could be heard, not urged, as it had approached, +by one paddle, but by two. The heart of the officer throbbed almost to +suffocation; and his firmness, hitherto supported by the manly energies +of his nature, now failed him quite. Heedless of appearances, +regardless of being overlooked, he tottered like a drunken man for +support against the mainmast. For a moment or two he leant his head +upon his hand, with the air of one immersed in the most profound +abstraction; while the crew, at once alarmed and touched by the deep +distress into which this mysterious circumstance had plunged him, stood +silently and respectfully watching his emotion. Suddenly he started +from his attitude of painful repose, like one awaking from a dream, and +demanded what had become of the Indian. + +Every one looked around, but the captive was nowhere to be seen. Search +was made below, both in the cabin and in the fore decks, and men were +sent up aloft to see if he had secreted himself in the rigging; but all +returned, stating he was nowhere to be found. He had disappeared from +the vessel altogether, yet no one knew how; for he had not been +observed to stir from the spot on which he had first planted himself. +It was plain, however, he had joined the mysterious party in the canoe, +from the fact of the second paddle having been detected; and all +attempts at pursuit, without endangering the vessel on the shallows, +whither the course of the fugitives was now directed, was declared by +the boatswain utterly impracticable. + +The announcement of the Indian's disappearance seemed to put the climax +to the despair of the unfortunate officer.--"Then is our every hope +lost!" he groaned aloud, as, quitting the centre of the vessel, he +slowly traversed the deck, and once more stood at the side of his no +less unhappy and excited sister. For a moment or two he remained with +his arms folded across his chest, gazing on the dark outline of her +form; and then, in a wild paroxysm of silent tearless grief, threw +himself suddenly on the edge of the couch, and clasping her in a long +close embrace to his audibly beating heart, lay like one bereft of all +sense and consciousness of surrounding objects. + + + + +END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac +Conspiracy--Volume 2, by John Richardson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WACOUSTA--VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 4720.txt or 4720.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/2/4720/ + +Produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from Charles Franks +and the distributed proofers. 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Please read this +important information, as it gives you specific rights and +tells you about restrictions in how the file may be used. + + + + + + + + + + + +WACOUSTA; + or +THE PROPHECY. + +Volume Two of Three + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +It was on the evening of that day, so fertile in melancholy +incident, to which our first volume has been devoted, +that the drawbridge of Detroit was, for the third time +since the investment of the garrison, lowered; not, as +previously, with a disregard of the intimation that might +be given to those without by the sullen and echoing rattle +of its ponderous chains, but with a caution attesting +how much secrecy of purpose was sought to be preserved. +There was, however, no array of armed men within the +walls, that denoted an expedition of a hostile character. +Overcome with the harassing duties of the day, the chief +portion of the troops had retired to rest, and a few +groups of the guard alone were to be seen walking up and +down in front of their post, apparently with a view to +check the influence of midnight drowsiness, but, in +reality, to witness the result of certain preparations +going on by torchlight in the centre of the barrack +square. + +In the midst of an anxious group of officers, comprising +nearly all of that rank within the fort, stood two +individuals, attired in a costume having nothing in common +with the gay and martial habiliments of the former. They +were tall, handsome young men, whose native elegance of +carriage was but imperfectly hidden under an equipment +evidently adopted for, and otherwise fully answering, +the purpose of disguise. A blue cotton shell jacket, +closely fitting to the person, trowsers of the same +material, a pair of strong deer-skin mocassins, and a +coloured handkerchief tied loosely round the collar of +a checked shirt, the whole surmounted by one of those +rough blanket coats, elsewhere described, formed the +principal portion of their garb. Each, moreover, wore a +false queue of about nine inches in length, the effect +of which was completely to change the character of the +countenance, and lend to the features a Canadian-like +expression. A red worsted cap, resembling a bonnet de +nuit, was thrown carelessly over the side of the head, +which could, at any moment, when deeper disguise should +be deemed necessary, command the additional protection +of the rude hood that fell back upon the shoulders from +the collar of the coat to which it was attached. They +were both well armed. Into a broad belt, that encircled +the jacket of each, were thrust a brace of pistols and +a strong dagger; the whole so disposed, however, as to +be invisible when the outer garment was closed: this, +again, was confined by a rude sash of worsted of different +colours, not unlike, in texture and quality, what is worn +by our sergeants at the present day. They were otherwise +armed, however, and in a less secret manner. Across the +right shoulder of each was thrown a belt of worsted also, +to which were attached a rude powder horn and shot pouch, +with a few straggling bullets, placed there as if rather +by accident than design. Each held carelessly in his left +hand, and with its butt resting on the earth, a long gun; +completing an appearance, the attainment of which had, +in all probability, been sedulously sought,--that of a +Canadian duck-hunter. + +A metamorphosis so ludicrously operated in the usually +elegant costume of two young English officers,--for such +they were,--might have been expected to afford scope to +the pleasantry of their companions, and to call forth +those sallies which the intimacy of friendship and the +freemasonry of the profession would have fully justified. +But the events that had occurred in such rapid succession, +since the preceding midnight, were still painfully +impressed on the recollection of all, and some there were +who looked as if they never would smile again; neither +laugh nor jeering, therefore, escaped the lips of one of +the surrounding group. Every countenance wore a cast of +thought,--a character of abstraction, ill suited to the +indulgence of levity; and the little conversation that +passed between them was in a low and serious tone. It +was evident some powerful and absorbing dread existed in +the mind of each, inducing him rather to indulge in +communion with his own thoughts and impressions, than to +communicate them to others. Even the governor himself +had, for a moment, put off the dignity and distance of +his usually unapproachable nature, to assume an air of +unfeigned concern, and it might be dejection, contrasting +strongly with his habitual haughtiness. Hitherto he had +been walking to and fro, a little apart from the group, +and with a hurriedness and indecision of movement that +betrayed to all the extreme agitation of his mind. For +once, however, he appeared to be insensible to observation, +or, if not insensible, indifferent to whatever comments +might be formed or expressed by those who witnessed his +undissembled emotion. He was at length interrupted by +the adjutant, who communicated something in a low voice. + +"Let him be brought up, Mr. Lawson," was the reply. Then +advancing into the heart of the group, and addressing +the two adventurers, he enquired, in a tone that startled +from its singular mildness, "if they were provided with +every thing they required." + +An affirmative reply was given, when the governor, taking +the taller of the young men aside, conversed with him +earnestly, and in a tone of affection strangely blended +with despondency. The interview, however, was short, for +Mr. Lawson now made his appearance, conducting an individual +who has already been introduced to our readers. It was +the Canadian of the Fleur de lis. The adjutant placed a +small wooden crucifix in the hands of the governor. + +"Francois," said the latter, impressively, "you know the +terms on which I have consented to spare your life. Swear, +then, by this cross; that you will be faithful to your +trust; that neither treachery nor evasion shall be +practised; and that you will, to the utmost of your power, +aid in conveying these gentlemen to their destination. +Kneel and swear it." + +"I do swear it!" fervently repeated the aubergiste, +kneeling and imprinting his lips with becoming reverence +on the symbol of martyrdom. "I swear to do dat I shall +engage, and may de bon Dieu have mercy to my soul as I +shall fulfil my oat." + +"Amen," pronounced the governor, "and may Heaven deal by +you even as you deal by us. Bear in mind, moreover, that +as your treachery will be punished, so also shall your +fidelity be rewarded. But the night wears apace, and ye +have much to do." Then turning to the young officers who +were to be his companions,--"God bless you both; may your +enterprise be successful! I fear," offering his hand to +the younger, "I have spoken harshly to you, but at a +moment like the present you will no longer cherish a +recollection of the unpleasant past." + +The only answer was a cordial return of his own pressure. +The Canadian in his turn now announced the necessity for +instant departure, when the young men, following his +example, threw their long guns carelessly over the left +shoulder. Low, rapid, and fervent adieus were uttered on +both sides; and although the hands of the separating +parties met only in a short and hurried grasp, there was +an expression in the touch of each that spoke to their +several hearts long after the separation had actually +taken place. + +"Stay one moment!" exclaimed a voice, as the little party +now moved towards the gateway; "ye are both gallantly +enough provided without, but have forgotten there is +something quite as necessary to sustain the inward man. +Duck shooting, you know, is wet work. The last lips that +were moistened from this," he proceeded, as the younger +of the disguised men threw the strap of the proffered +canteen over his shoulder, "were those of poor Ellen +Halloway." + +The mention of that name, so heedlessly pronounced by +the brave but inconsiderate Erskine, produced a startling +effect on the taller of the departing officers. He struck +his brow violently with his hand, uttered a faint groan, +and bending his head upon his chest, stood in an attitude +expressive of the deep suffering of his mind. The governor, +too, appeared agitated; and sounds like those of suppressed +sobs came from one who lingered at the side of him who +had accepted the offer of the canteen. The remainder of +the officers preserved a deep and mournful silence. + +"It is times dat we should start," again observed the +Canadian, "or we shall be taken by de daylight before we +can clear de river." + +This intimation once more aroused the slumbering energies +of the taller officer. Again he drew up his commanding +figure, extended his hand to the governor in silence, +and turning abruptly round, hastened to follow close in +the footsteps of his conductor. + +"You will not forget all I have said to you," whispered +the voice of one who had reserved his parting for the +last, and who now held the hand of the younger adventurer +closely clasped in his own. "Think, oh, think how much +depends on the event of your dangerous enterprise." + +"When you behold me again," was the reply, "it will be +with smiles on my lip and gladness in my heart; for if +we fail, there is that within me, which whispers I shall +never see you more. But keep up your spirits, and hope +for the best. We embark under cheerless auspices, it is +true; but let us trust to Providence for success in so +good a cause,--God bless you!" + +In the next minute he had joined his companions; who, +with light and noiseless tread, were already pursuing +their way along the military road that led to the eastern +extremity of the town. Soon afterwards, the heavy chains +of the drawbridge were heard grating on the ear, in +despite of the evident caution used in restoring it to +its wonted position, and all again was still. + +It had at first been suggested their course should be +held in an angular direction across the cleared country +alluded to in our last chapter, in order to avoid all +chance of recognition in the town; but as this might have +led them into more dangerous contact with some of the +outlying parties of Indians, who were known to prowl +around the fort at night, this plan had been abandoned +for the more circuitous and safe passage by the village. +Through this our little party now pursued their way, and +without encountering aught to impede their progress. The +simple mannered inhabitants had long since retired to +rest, and neither light nor sound denoted the existence +of man or beast within its precincts. At length they +reached that part of the road which turned off abruptly +in the direction of the Fleur de lis. The rude hut threw +its dark shadows across their path, but all was still +and deathlike as in the village they had just quitted. +Presently, however, as they drew nearer, they beheld, +reflected from one of the upper windows, a faint light +that fell upon the ground immediately in front of the +auberge; and, at intervals, the figure of a human being +approaching and receding from it as if in the act of +pacing the apartment. + +An instinctive feeling of danger rose at the same moment +to the hearts of the young officers; and each, obeying +the same impulse, unfastened one of the large horn buttons +of his blanket coat, and thrust his right hand into the +opening. + +"Francois, recollect your oath," hastily aspirated the +elder, as he grasped the hand of their conductor rather +in supplication than in threat; "if there be aught to +harm us here, your own life will most assuredly pay the +forfeit of your faith." + +"It is noting but a womans," calmly returned the Canadian; +"it is my Babette who is sorry at my loss. But I shall +come and tell you directly." + +He then stole gently round the corner of the hut, leaving +his anxious companions in the rear of the little building, +and completely veiled in the obscurity produced by the +mingling shadows of the hut itself, and a few tall pear +trees that overhung the paling of the orchard at some +yards from the spot on which they stood. + +They waited some minutes to hear the result of the +Canadian's admittance into his dwelling; but although +each with suppressed breathing sought to catch those +sounds of welcome with which a daughter might be supposed +to greet a parent so unexpectedly restored, they listened +in vain. At length, however, while the ears of both were +on the rack to drink in the tones of a human voice, a +faint scream floated on the hushed air, and all again +was still. + +"Good!" whispered the elder of the officers; "that scream +is sweeter to my ear than the softest accents of woman's +love. It is evident the ordinary tones of speech cannot +find their way to us here from the front of the hut. The +faintness of yon cry, which was unquestionably that of +a female, is a convincing proof of it." + +"Hist!" urged his companion, in the same almost inaudible +whisper, "what sound was that?" + +Both again listened attentively, when the noise was +repeated. It came from the orchard, and resembled the +sound produced by the faint crash of rotten sticks and +leaves under the cautious but unavoidably rending tread +of a human foot. At intervals it ceased, as if the person +treading, alarmed at his own noise, was apprehensive of +betraying his approach; and then recommenced, only to be +checked in the same manner. Finally it ceased altogether. + +For upwards of five minutes the young men continued to +listen for a renewal of the sound, but nothing was now +audible, save the short and fitful gusts of a rising wind +among the trees of the orchard. + +"It must have been some wild animal in search of its +prey," again whispered the younger officer; "had it been +a man, we should have heard him leap the paling before +this." + +"By Heaven, we are betrayed,--here he is," quickly rejoined +the other, in the same low tone. "Keep close to the hut, +and stand behind me. If my dagger fail, you must try +your own. But fire not, on your life, unless there be +more than two, for the report of a pistol will be the +destruction of ourselves and all that are dear to us." + +Each with uplifted arm now stood ready to strike, even +while his heart throbbed with a sense of danger, that +had far more than the mere dread of personal suffering +or death to stimulate to exertion in self-defence. +Footsteps were now distinctly heard stealing round that +part of the hut which bordered on the road; and the young +men turned from the orchard, to which their attention +had previously been directed, towards the new quarter +whence they were intruded upon. + +It was fortunate this mode of approach had been selected. +That part of the hut which rested on the road was so +exposed as to throw the outline of objects into strong +relief, whereas in the direction of the thickly wooded +orchard all was impenetrable gloom. Had the intruder +stolen unannounced upon the alarmed but determined officers +by the latter route, the dagger of the first would in +all probability have been plunged to its hilt in his +bosom. As it was, each had sufficient presence of mind +to distinguish, as it now doubled the corner of the hut, +and reposed upon the road, the stout square-set figure +of the Canadian. The daggers were instantly restored to +their sheaths, and each, for the first time since the +departure of their companion, respired freely. + +"It is quite well," whispered the latter as he approached. +"It was my poor Babette, who tought I was gone to be +kill. She scream so loud, as if she had seen my ghost. +But we must wait a few minute in de house, and you shall +see how glad my girl is to see me once again." + +"Why this delay, Francois? why not start directly?" urged +the taller officer; "we shall never clear the river in +time; and if the dawn catches us in the waters of the +Detroit, we are lost for ever." + +"But you see I am not quite prepare yet," was the answer. +"I have many tings to get ready for de canoe, which I +have not use for a long times. But you shall not wait +ten minute, if you do not like. Dere is a good fire, and +Babette shall give you some ting to eat while I get it +all ready." + +The young men hesitated. The delay of the Canadian, who +had so repeatedly urged the necessity for expedition +while in the fort, had, to say the least of it, an +appearance of incongruity. Still it was evident, if +disposed to harm them, he had full opportunity to do so +without much risk of effectual opposition from themselves. +Under all circumstances, therefore, it was advisable +rather to appear to confide implicitly in his truth, +than, by manifesting suspicion, to pique his self-love, +and neutralize whatever favourable intentions he might +cherish in their behalf. In this mode of conduct they +were confirmed, by a recollection of the sacredness +attached by the religion of their conductor to the oath +so solemnly pledged on the symbol of the cross, and by +a conviction of the danger of observation to which they +stood exposed, if, as they had apprehended, it was actually +a human footstep they had heard in the orchard. This +last recollection suggested a remark. + +"We heard a strange sound within the orchard, while +waiting here for your return," said the taller officer; +"it was like the footstep of a man treading cautiously +over rotten leaves and branches. How do you account for +it?" + +"Oh, it was my pigs," replied the Canadian, without +manifesting the slightest uneasiness at the information. +"They run about in de orchard for de apples what blows +down wid de wind." + +"It could not be a pig we heard," pursued his questioner; +"but another thing, Francois, before we consent to enter +the hut,--how will you account to your daughter for our +presence? and what suspicion may she not form at seeing +two armed strangers in company with you at this unseasonable +hour." + +"I have tell her," replied the Canadian, "dat I have +bring two friends, who go wid me in de canoe to shoot de +ducks for two tree days. You know, sir, I go always in +de fall to kill de ducks wid my friends, and she will +not tink it strange." + +"You have managed well, my brave fellow; and now we follow +you in confidence. But in the name of Heaven, use all +possible despatch, and if money will lend a spur to your +actions, you shall have plenty of it when our enterprise +has been accomplished." + +Our adventurers followed their conductor in the track by +which he had so recently rejoined them. As they turned +the corner of the hut, the younger, who brought up the +rear, fancied he again heard a sound in the direction of +the orchard, resembling that of one lightly leaping to +the ground. A gust of wind, however, passing rapidly at +the moment through the dense foliage, led him to believe +it might have been produced by the sullen fall of one of +the heavy fruits it had detached in its course. Unwilling +to excite new and unnecessary suspicion in his companion, +he confined the circumstance to his own breast, and +followed into the hut. + +After ascending a flight of about a dozen rude steps, +they found themselves in a small room, furnished with no +other ceiling than the sloping roof itself, and lighted +by an unwieldy iron lamp, placed on a heavy oak table, +near the only window with which the apartment was provided. +This latter had suffered much from the influence of time +and tempest; and owing to the difficulty of procuring +glass in so remote a region, had been patched with slips +of paper in various parts. The two corner and lower panes +of the bottom sash were out altogether, and pine shingles, +such as are used even at the present day for covering +the roofs of dwelling houses, had been fitted into the +squares, excluding air and light at the same time. The +centre pane of this tier was, however, clear and free +from flaw of every description. Opposite to the window +blazed a cheerful wood fire, recently supplied with fuel; +and at one of the inner corners of the room was placed +a low uncurtained bed, that exhibited marks of having +been lain in since it was last made. On a chair at its +side were heaped a few dark-looking garments, the precise +nature of which were not distinguishable at a cursory +and distant glance. + +Such were the more remarkable features of the apartment +into which our adventurers were now ushered. Both looked +cautiously around on entering, as if expecting to find +it tenanted by spirits as daring as their own; but, with +the exception of the daughter of their conductor, whose +moist black eyes expressed, as much by tears as by smiles, +the joy she felt at this unexpected return of her parent, +no living object met their enquiring glance. The Canadian +placed a couple of rush-bottomed chairs near the fire, +invited his companions to seat themselves until he had +completed his preparation for departure, and then, desiring +Babette to hasten supper for the young hunters, quitted +the room and descended the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The position of the young men was one of embarrassment; +for while the daughter, who was busied in executing the +command of her father, remained in the room, it was +impossible they could converse together without betraying +the secret of their country, and, as a result of this, +the falsehood of the character under which they appeared. +Long residence in the country had, it is true, rendered +the patois of that class of people whom they personated +familiar to one, but the other spoke only the pure and +native language of which it was a corruption. It might +have occurred to them at a cooler moment, and under less +critical circumstances, that, even if their disguise had +been penetrated, it was unlikely a female, manifesting +so much lively affection for her parent, would have done +aught to injure those with whom he had evidently connected +himself. But the importance attached to their entire +security from danger left them but little room for +reflections of a calming character, while a doubt of that +security remained. + +One singularity struck them both. They had expected the +young woman, urged by a natural curiosity, would have +commenced a conversation, even if they did not; and he +who spoke the patois was prepared to sustain it as well +as his anxious and overcharged spirit would enable him; +and as he was aware the morning had furnished sufficient +incident of fearful interest, he had naturally looked +for a verbal re-enactment of the harrowing and dreadful +scene. To their surprise, however, they both remarked +that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation, +the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered +constantly near the table, and facing the window. Still, +to avoid an appearance of singularity on their own parts +as far as possible, the elder of the officers motioned +to his companion, who, following his example, took a +small pipe and some tobacco from a compartment in his +shot pouch, and commenced puffing the wreathing smoke +from his lips,--an occupation, more than any other, +seeming to justify their silence. + +The elder officer sat with his back to the window, and +immediately in front of the fire; his companion, at a +corner of the rude hearth, and in such a manner that, +without turning his head, he could command every part of +the room at a glance. In the corner facing him stood the +bed already described. A faint ray of the fire-light fell +on some minute object glittering in the chair, the contents +of which were heaped up in disorder. Urged by that wayward +curiosity, which is sometimes excited, even under +circumstances of the greatest danger and otherwise +absorbing interest, the young man kicked the hickory log +that lay nearest to it with his mocassined foot, and +produced a bright crackling flame, the reflection of +which was thrown entirely upon the object of his gaze; +it was a large metal button, on which the number of his +regiment was distinctly visible. Unable to check his +desire to know further, he left his seat, to examine the +contents of the chair. As he moved across the room, he +fancied he heard a light sound from without; his companion, +also, seemed to manifest a similar impression by an almost +imperceptible start; but the noise was so momentary, and +so fanciful, neither felt it worth his while to pause +upon the circumstance. The young officer now raised the +garments from the chair: they consisted of a small grey +great-coat, and trowsers, a waistcoat of coarse white +cloth, a pair of worsted stockings, and the half-boots +of a boy; the whole forming the drum-boy's equipment, +worn by the wretched wife of Halloway when borne senseless +into the hut on that fatal morning. Hastily quitting a +dress that called up so many dreadful recollections, and +turning to his companion with a look that denoted +apprehension, lest he too should have beheld these +melancholy remembrances of the harrowing scene, the young +officer hastened to resume his seat. In the act of so +doing, his eye fell upon the window, at which the female +still lingered. Had a blast from Heaven struck his sight, +the terror of his soul could not have been greater. He +felt his cheek to pale, and his hair to bristle beneath +his cap, while the checked blood crept slowly and coldly, +as if its very function had been paralysed; still he had +presence of mind sufficient not to falter in his step, +or to betray, by any extraordinary movement, that his +eye had rested on any thing hateful to behold. + +His companion had emptied his first pipe, and was in the +act of refilling it, when he resumed his seat. He was +evidently impatient at the delay of the Canadian, and +already were his lips opening to give utterance to his +disappointment, when he felt his foot significantly +pressed by that of his friend. An instinctive sense of +something fearful that was to ensue, but still demanding +caution on his part, prevented him from turning hastily +round to know the cause. Satisfied, however, there was +danger, though not of an instantaneous character, he put +his pipe gently by, and stealing his hand under his coat, +again grasped the hilt of his dagger. At length he slowly +and partially turned his head, while his eyes inquiringly +demanded of his friend the cause of his alarm. + +Partly to aid in concealing his increasing paleness, and +partly with a view to render it a medium for the conveyance +of subdued sound, the hand of the latter was raised to +his face in such a manner that the motion of his lips +could not be distinguished from behind. + +"We are betrayed," he scarcely breathed. "If you can +command yourself, turn and look at the window; but for +God's sake arm yourself with resolution, or look not at +all: first draw the hood over your head, and without any +appearance of design. Our only chance of safety lies in +this,--that the Canadian may still be true, and that our +disguise may not be penetrated." + +In despite of his native courage,--and this had often +been put to honourable proof,--he, thus mysteriously +addressed, felt his heart to throb violently. There was +something so appalled in the countenance of his +friend--something so alarming in the very caution he had +recommended--that a vague dread of the horrible reality +rushed at once to his mind, and for a moment his own +cheek became ashy pale, and his breathing painfully +oppressed. It was the natural weakness of the physical +man, over which the moral faculties had, for an instant, +lost their directing power. Speedily recovering himself, +the young man prepared to encounter the alarming object +which had already so greatly intimidated his friend. +Carefully drawing the blanket hood over his head, he rose +from his seat, and, with the energetic movement of one +who has formed some desperate determination, turned his +back to the fire-place, and threw his eyes rapidly and +eagerly upon the window. They fell only on the rude +patchwork of which it was principally composed. The +female had quitted the room. + +"You must have been deceived," he whispered, keeping his +eye still bent upon the window, and with so imperceptible +a movement of the lips that sound alone could have betrayed +he was speaking,--"I see nothing to justify your alarm. +Look again." + +The younger officer once more directed his glance towards +the window, and with a shuddering of the whole person, +as he recollected what had met his eye when he last looked +upon it. "It is no longer there, indeed," he returned in +the same scarcely audible tone. "Yet I could not be +mistaken; it was between those two corner squares of wood +in the lower sash." + +"Perhaps it was merely a reflection produced by the lamp +on the centre pane," rejoined his friend, still keeping +his eye riveted on the suspicious point. + +"Impossible! but I will examine the window from the spot +on which I stood when I first beheld it." + +Again he quitted his seat, and carelessly crossed the +room. As he returned he threw his glance upon the pane, +when, to his infinite horror and surprise, the same +frightful vision presented itself. + +"God of Heaven!" he exclaimed aloud, and unable longer +to check the ebullition of his feelings,--"what means +this?--Is my brain turned? and am I the sport of my own +delusive fancy?--Do you not see it NOW?" + +No answer was returned. His friend stood mute and +motionless, with his left hand grasping his gun, and his +right thrust into the waist of his coat. His eye grew +upon the window, and his chest heaved, and his cheek +paled and flushed alternately with the subdued emotion +of his heart. A human face was placed close to the +unblemished glass, and every feature was distinctly +revealed by the lamp that still lay upon the table. The +glaring eye was fixed on the taller of the officers; but +though the expression was unfathomably guileful, there +was nothing that denoted any thing like a recognition of +the party. The brightness of the wood fire had so far +subsided as to throw the interior of the room into partial +obscurity, and under the disguise of his hood it was +impossible for one without to distinguish the features +of the taller officer. The younger, who was scarcely an +object of attention, passed comparatively unnoticed. + +Fatigued and dimmed with the long and eager tension of +its nerves, the eye of the latter now began to fail him. +For a moment he closed it; and when again it fell upon +the window; it encountered nothing but the clear and +glittering pane. For upwards of a minute he and his friend +still continued to rivet their gaze, but the face was no +longer visible. + +Why is it that what is called the "human face divine" is +sometimes gifted with a power to paralyse, that the most +loathsome reptile in the creation cannot attain? Had a +hyena or cougar of the American forest, roaring for prey, +appeared at that window, ready to burst the fragile +barrier, and fasten its talons in their hearts, its +presence would not have struck such sickness to the soul +of our adventurers as did that human face. It is that +man, naturally fierce and inexorable, is alone the enemy +of his own species. The solution of this problem--this +glorious paradox in nature, we leave to profounder +philosophers to resolve. Sufficient for us be it to know, +and to deplore that it is so. + +Footsteps were now heard upon the stairs; and the officers, +aroused to a full sense of their danger, hastily and +silently prepared themselves for the encounter. + +"Drop a bullet into your gun," whispered the elder, +setting the example himself. "We may be obliged to have +recourse to it at last. Yet make no show of hostility +unless circumstances satisfy us we are betrayed; then, +indeed, all that remains for us will be to sell our lives +as dearly as we can. Hist! he is here." + +The door opened; and at the entrance, which was already +filled up in the imaginations of the young men with a +terrible and alarming figure, appeared one whose return +had been anxiously and long desired. It was a relief, +indeed, to their gallant but excited hearts to behold +another than the form they had expected; and although, +for the moment, they knew not whether the Canadian came +in hostility or in friendship, each quitted the attitude +of caution into which he had thrown himself, and met him +midway in his passage through the room. There was nothing +in the expression of his naturally open and good-humoured +countenance to denote he was at all aware of the causes +for alarm that had operated so powerfully on themselves. +He announced with a frank look and unfaltering voice +every thing was in readiness for their departure. + +The officers hesitated; and the taller fixed his eyes +upon those of mine host, as if his gaze would have +penetrated to the innermost recesses of his heart. Could +this be a refinement of his treachery? and was he really +ignorant of the existence of the danger which threatened +them? Was it not more probable his object was to disarm +their fears, that they might be given unprepared and, +therefore, unresisting victims to the ferocity of their +enemies? Aware as he was, that they were both well provided +with arms, and fully determined to use them with effect, +might not his aim be to decoy them to destruction without, +lest the blood spilt under his roof, in the desperation +of their defence, should hereafter attest against him, +and expose him to the punishment he would so richly merit? +Distracted by these doubts, the young men scarcely knew +what to think or how to act; and anxious as they had +previously been to quit the hut, they now considered the +moment of their doing so would be that of their destruction. +The importance of the enterprise on which they were +embarked was such as to sink all personal considerations. +If they had felt the influence of intimidation on their +spirits, it arose less from any apprehension of consequences +to themselves, than from the recollection of the dearer +interests involved in their perfect security from discovery. + +"Francois," feelingly urged the taller officer, again +adverting to his vow, "you recollect the oath you so +solemnly pledged upon the cross of your Saviour. Tell +me, then, as you hope for mercy, have you taken that oath +only that you might the more securely betray us to our +enemies? What connection have you with them at this +moment? and who is HE who stood looking through that +window not ten minutes since?" + +"As I shall hope for mercy in my God," exclaimed the +Canadian with unfeigned astonishment, "I have not see +nobody. But what for do you tink so? It is not just. I +have given my oat to serve you, and I shall do it." + +There was candour both in the tone and countenance of +the man as he uttered these words, half in reproach, half +in justification; and the officers no longer doubted. + +"You must forgive our suspicions at a moment like the +present," soothingly observed the younger; "yet, Francois, +your daughter saw and exchanged signals with the person +we mean. She left the room soon after he made his +appearance. What has become of her?" + +The Canadian gave a sudden start, looked hastily round, +and seemed to perceive for the first time the girl was +absent. He then put a finger to his lip to enjoin silence, +advanced to the table, and extinguished the light. Desiring +his companions, in a low whisper, to tread cautiously +and follow, he now led the way with almost noiseless step +to the entrance of the hut. At the threshold of the door +were placed a large well-filled sack, a light mast and +sail, and half a dozen paddles. The latter burden he +divided between the officers, on whose shoulders he +carefully balanced them. The sack he threw across his +own; and, without expressing even a regret that an +opportunity of bidding adieu to his child was denied him, +hastily skirted the paling of the orchard until, at the +further extremity, he had gained the high road. + +The heavens were obscured by passing clouds driven rapidly +by the wind, during the short pauses of which our +adventurers anxiously and frequently turned to listen if +they were pursued. Save the rustling of the trees that +lined the road, and the slight dashing of the waters on +the beach, however, no sound was distinguishable. At +length they gained the point whence they were to start. +It was the fatal bridge, the events connected with which +were yet so painfully fresh in their recollection. + +"Stop one minutes here," whispered the Canadian, throwing +his sack upon the sand near the mouth of the lesser river; +"my canoe is chain about twenty yards up de bridge. I +shall come to you directly." Then cautioning the officers +to keep themselves concealed under the bridge, he moved +hastily under the arch, and disappeared in the dark shadow +which it threw across the rivulet. + +The extremities of the bridge rested on the banks of the +little river in such a manner as to leave a narrow passage +along the sands immediately under the declination of the +arch. In accordance with the caution of their conductor, +the officers had placed themselves under it; and with +their backs slightly bent forward to meet the curvature +of the bridge, so that no ray of light could pass between +their bodies and the fabric itself, now awaited the +arrival of the vessel on which their only hope depended. +We shall not attempt to describe their feelings on finding +themselves, at that lone hour of the night, immediately +under a spot rendered fearfully memorable by the tragic +occurrences of the morning. The terrible pursuit of the +fugitive, the execution of the soldier, the curse and +prophecy of his maniac wife, and, above all, the forcible +abduction and threatened espousal of that unhappy woman +by the formidable being who seemed to have identified +himself with the evils with which they stood menaced,--all +rushed with rapid tracery on the mind, and excited the +imagination, until each, filled with a sentiment not +unallied to superstitious awe, feared to whisper forth +his thoughts, lest in so doing he should invoke the +presence of those who had principally figured in the +harrowing and revolting scene. + +"Did you not hear a noise?" at length whispered the elder, +as he leaned himself forward, and bent his head to the +sand, to catch more distinctly a repetition of the sound. + +"I did; there again! It is upon the bridge, and not unlike +the step of one endeavouring to tread lightly. It may be +some wild beast, however." + +"We must not be taken by surprise," returned his companion. +"If it be a man, the wary tread indicates consciousness +of our presence. If an animal, there can be no harm in +setting our fears at rest." + +Cautiously stealing from his lurking-place, the young +officer emerged into the open sands, and in a few measured +noiseless strides gained the extremity of the bridge. +The dark shadow of something upon its centre caught his +eye, and a low sound like that of a dog lapping met his +ear. While his gaze yet lingered on the shapeless object, +endeavouring to give it a character, the clouds which +had so long obscured it passed momentarily from before +the moon, and disclosed the appalling truth. It was a +wolf-dog lapping up from the earth, in which they were +encrusted, the blood and brains of the unfortunate Frank +Halloway. + +Sick and faint at the disgusting sight, the young man +rested his elbow on the railing that passed along the +edge of the bridge, and, leaning his head on his hand +for a moment, forgot the risk of exposure he incurred, +in the intenseness of the sorrow that assailed his soul. +His heart and imagination were already far from the spot +on which he stood, when he felt an iron hand upon his +shoulder. He turned, shuddering with an instinctive +knowledge of his yet unseen visitant, and beheld standing +over him the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the savage in a low triumphant +tone, "the place of our meeting is well timed, though +somewhat singular, it must be confessed. Nay," he fiercely +added, grasping as in a vice the arm that was already +lifted to strike him, "force me not to annihilate you on +the spot. Ha! hear you the cry of my wolf-dog?" as that +animal now set up a low but fearful howl; "it is for your +blood he asks, but your hour is not yet come." + +"No, by Heaven, is it not!" exclaimed a voice; a rapid +and rushing sweep was heard through the air for an instant, +and then a report like a stunning blow. The warrior +released his grasp--placed his hand upon his tomahawk, +but without strength to remove it from his belt tottered +a pace or two backwards--and then fell, uttering a cry +of mingled pain and disappointment, at his length upon +the earth. + +"Quick, quick to our cover!" exclaimed the younger officer, +as a loud shout was now heard from the forest in reply +to the yell of the fallen warrior. "If Francois come not, +we are lost; the howl of that wolf-dog alone will betray +us, even if his master should be beyond all chance of +recovery." + +"Desperate diseases require desperate remedies," was the +reply; "there is little glory in destroying a helpless +enemy, but the necessity is urgent, and we must leave +nothing to chance." As he spoke, he knelt upon the huge +form of the senseless warrior, whose scalping knife he +drew from its sheath, and striking a firm and steady +blow, quitted not the weapon until he felt his hand +reposing on the chest of his enemy. + +The howl of the wolf-dog, whose eyes glared like two +burning coals through the surrounding gloom, was now +exchanged to a fierce and snappish bark. He made a leap +at the officer while in the act of rising from the body; +but his fangs fastened only in the chest of the shaggy +coat, which he wrung with the strength and fury +characteristic of his peculiar species. This new and +ferocious attack was fraught with danger little inferior +to that which they had just escaped, and required the +utmost promptitude of action. The young man seized the +brute behind the neck in a firm and vigorous grasp, while +he stooped upon the motionless form over which this novel +struggle was maintained, and succeeded in making himself +once more master of the scalping knife. Half choked by +the hand that unflinchingly grappled with him, the savage +animal quitted his hold and struggled violently to free +himself. This was the critical moment. The officer drew +the heavy sharp blade, from the handle to the point, +across the throat of the infuriated beast, with a force +that divided the principal artery. He made a desperate +leap upwards, spouting his blood over his destroyer, and +then fell gasping across the body of his master. A low +growl, intermingled with faint attempts to bark, which +the rapidly oozing life rendered more and more indistinct, +succeeded; and at length nothing but a gurgling sound +was distinguishable. + +Meanwhile the anxious and harassed officers had regained +their place of concealment under the bridge, where they +listened with suppressed breathing for the slightest +sound to indicate the approach of the canoe. At intervals +they fancied they could hear a noise resembling the +rippling of water against the prow of a light vessel, +but the swelling cries of the rushing band, becoming at +every instant more distinct, were too unceasingly kept +up to admit of their judging with accuracy. + +They now began to give themselves up for lost, and many +and bitter were the curses they inwardly bestowed on the +Canadian, when the outline of a human form was seen +advancing along the sands, and a dark object upon the +water. It was their conductor, dragging the canoe along, +with all the strength and activity of which he was capable. + +"What the devil have you been about all this time, +Francois?" exclaimed the taller officer, as he bounded +to meet him. "Quick, quick, or we shall be too late. Hear +you not the blood-hounds on their scent?" Then seizing +the chain in his hand, with a powerful effort he sent +the canoe flying through the arch to the very entrance +of the river. The burdens that had been deposited on the +sands were hastily flung in, the officers stepping lightly +after. The Canadian took the helm, directing the frail +vessel almost noiselessly through the water, and with +such velocity, that when the cry of the disappointed +savages was heard resounding from the bridge, it had +already gained the centre of the Detroit. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Two days had succeeded to the departure of the officers +from the fort, but unproductive of any event of importance. +About daybreak, however, on the morning of the third, +the harassed garrison were once more summoned to arms, +by an alarm from the sentinels planted in rear of the +works; a body of Indians they had traced and lost at +intervals, as they wound along the skirt of the forest, +in their progress from their encampment, were at length +developing themselves in force near the bomb proof. With +a readiness which long experience and watchfulness had +rendered in some degree habitual to them, the troops flew +to their respective posts; while a few of the senior +officers, among whom was the governor, hastened to the +ramparts to reconnoitre the strength and purpose of their +enemies. It was evident the views of these latter were +not immediately hostile; for neither were they in their +war paint, nor were their arms of a description to carry +intimidation to a disciplined and fortified soldiery. +Bows, arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, spears, and scalping +knives, constituted their warlike equipments, but neither +rifle nor fire-arms of any kind were discernible. Several +of their leaders, distinguishable by a certain haughty +carriage and commanding gesticulation, were collected +within the elevated bomb-proof, apparently holding a +short but important conference apart from their people, +most of whom stood or lay in picturesque attitudes around +the ruin. These also had a directing spirit. A tall and +noble looking warrior, wearing a deer-skin hunting frock +closely girded around his loins, appeared to command the +deference of his colleagues, claiming profound attention +when he spoke himself, and manifesting his assent or +dissent to the apparently expressed opinions of the lesser +chiefs merely by a slight movement of the head. + +"There he is indeed!" exclaimed Captain Erskine, speaking +as one who communes with his own thoughts, while he kept +his telescope levelled on the form of the last warrior; +"looking just as noble as when, three years ago, he +opposed himself to the progress of the first English +detachment that had ever penetrated to this part of the +world. What a pity such a fine fellow should be so +desperate and determined an enemy!" + +"True; you were with Major Rogers on that expedition," +observed the governor, in a tone now completely divested +of the haughtiness which formerly characterised his +address to his officers. "I have often heard him speak +of it. You had many difficulties to contend against, if +I recollect." + +"We had indeed, sir," returned the frank-hearted Erskine, +dropping the glass from his eye. "So many, in fact, that +more than once, in the course of our progress through +the wilderness, did I wish myself at head-quarters with +my company. Never shall I forget the proud and determined +expression of Ponteac's countenance, when he told Rogers, +in his figurative language, 'he stood in the path in +which he travelled.' " + +"Thank Heaven, he at least stands not in the path in +which OTHERS travel," musingly rejoined the governor. +"But what sudden movement is that within the ruin?" + +"The Indians are preparing to show a white flag," shouted +an artillery-man from his station in one of the embrasures +below. + +The governor and his officers received this intelligence +without surprise: the former took the glass from Captain +Erskine, and coolly raised it to his eye. The consultation +had ceased; and the several chiefs, with the exception +of their leader and two others, were now seen quitting +the bomb-proof to join their respective tribes. One of +those who remained, sprang upon an elevated fragment of +the ruin, and uttered a prolonged cry, the purport of +which,--and it was fully understood from its peculiar +nature,--was to claim attention from the fort. He then +received from the hands of the other chief a long spear, +to the end of which was attached a piece of white linen. +This he waved several times above his head; then stuck +the barb of the spear firmly into the projecting fragment. +Quitting his elevated station, he next stood at the side +of the Ottawa chief, who had already assumed the air and +attitude of one waiting to observe in what manner his +signal would be received. + +"A flag of truce in all its bearings, by Jupiter!" remarked +Captain Erskine. "Ponteac seems to have acquired a few +lessons since we first met." + +"This is evidently the suggestion of some European," +observed Major Blackwater; "for how should he understand +any thing of the nature of a white flag? Some of those +vile spies have put him up to this." + +"True enough, Blackwater; and they appear to have found +an intelligent pupil," observed Captain Wentworth. "I +was curious to know how he would make the attempt to +approach us; but certainly never once dreamt of his having +recourse to so civilised a method. Their plot works well, +no doubt; still we have the counter-plot to oppose to +it." + +"We must foil them with their own weapons," remarked the +governor, "even if it be only with a view to gain time. +Wentworth, desire one of your bombardiers to hoist the +large French flag on the staff." + +The order was promptly obeyed. The Indians made a +simultaneous movement expressive of their satisfaction; +and in the course of a minute, the tall warrior, accompanied +by nearly a dozen inferior chiefs, was seen slowly +advancing across the common, towards the group of officers. + +"What generous confidence the fellow has, for an Indian!" +observed Captain Erskine, who could not dissemble his +admiration of the warrior. "He steps as firmly and as +proudly within reach of our muskets, as if he was leading +in the war-dance." + +"How strange," mused Captain Blessington, "that one who +meditates so deep a treachery, should have no apprehension +of it in others!" + +"It is a compliment to the honour of our flag," observed +the governor, "which it must be our interest to encourage. +If, as you say, Erskine, the man is really endowed with +generosity, the result of this affair will assuredly call +it forth." + +"If it prove otherwise, sir," was the reply, "we must +only attribute his perseverance to the influence which +that terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis is said to +exercise over his better feelings. By the by, I see +nothing of him among this flag of truce party. It could +scarcely be called a violation of faith to cut off such +a rascally renegade. Were he of the number of those +advancing, and Valletort's rifle within my reach, I know +not what use I might not be tempted to make of the last." + +Poor Erskine was singularly infelicitous in touching, +and ever unconsciously, on a subject sure to give pain +to more than one of his brother officers. A cloud passed +over the brow of the governor, but it was one that +originated more in sorrow than in anger. Neither had he +time to linger on the painful recollections hastily and +confusedly called up by the allusion made to this formidable +and mysterious being, for the attention of all was now +absorbed by the approaching Indians. With a bold and +confiding carriage the fierce Ponteac moved at the head +of his little party, nor hesitated one moment in his +course, until he got near the brink of the ditch, and +stood face to face with the governor, at a distance that +gave both parties not only the facility of tracing the +expression of each other's features, but of conversing +without effort. There he made a sudden stand, and thrusting +his spear into the earth, assumed an attitude as devoid +of apprehension as if he had been in the heart of his +own encampment. + +"My father has understood my sign," said the haughty +chief. "The warriors of a dozen tribes are far behind +the path the Ottawa has just travelled; but when the red +skin comes unarmed, the hand of the Saganaw is tied behind +his back." + +"The strong hold of the Saganaw is his safeguard," replied +the governor, adopting the language of the Indian. "When +the enemies of his great father come in strength, he +knows how to disperse them; but when a warrior throws +himself unarmed into his power, he respects his confidence, +and his arms hang rusting at his side." + +"The talk of my father is big," replied the warrior, with +a scornful expression that seemed to doubt the fact of +so much indifference as to himself; "but when it is a +great chief who directs the nations, and that chief his +sworn enemy, the temptation to the Saganaw may be strong." + +"The Saganaw is without fear," emphatically rejoined the +governor; "he is strong in his own honour; and he would +rather die under the tomahawk of the red skin, than +procure a peace by an act of treachery." + +The Indian paused; cold, calm looks of intelligence passed +between him and his followers, and a few indistinct and +guttural sentences were exchanged among themselves. + +"But our father asks not why our mocassins have brushed +the dew from off the common," resumed the chief; "and +yet it is long since the Saganaw and the red skin have +spoken to each other, except through the war whoop. My +father must wonder to see the great chief of the Ottawas +without the hatchet in his hand." + +"The hatchet often wounds those who use it unskilfully," +calmly returned the governor. "The Saganaw is not blind. +The Ottawas, and the other tribes, find the war paint +heavy on their skins. They see that my young men are not +to be conquered, and they have sent the great head of +all the nations to sue for peace." + +In spite of the habitual reserve and self-possession of +his race, the haughty warrior could not repress a movement +of impatience at the bold and taunting language of his +enemy, and for a moment there was a fire in his eye that +told how willingly he would have washed away the insult +in his blood. The same low guttural exclamations that +had previously escaped their lips, marked the sense +entertained of the remark by his companions. + +"My father is right," pursued the chief, resuming his +self-command; "the Ottawas, and the other tribes, ask +for peace, but not because they are afraid of war. When +they strike the hatchet into the war post, they leave it +there until their enemies ask them to take it out." + +"Why come they now, then, to ask for peace?" was the cool +demand. + +The warrior hesitated, evidently at a loss to give a +reply that could reconcile the palpable contradiction of +his words. + +"The rich furs of our forests have become many," he at +length observed, "since we first took up the hatchet +against the Saganaw; and every bullet we keep for our +enemies is a loss to our trade. We once exchanged furs +with the children of our father of the pale flag. They +gave us, in return, guns, blankets, powder, ball, and +all that the red man requires in the hunting season. +These are all expended; and my young men would deal with +the Saganaw as they did with the French." + +"Good; the red skins would make peace; and although the +arm of the Saganaw is strong, he will not turn a deaf +ear to their desire." + +"All the strong holds of the Saganaw, except two, have +fallen before the great chief of the Ottawas!" proudly +returned the Indian, with a look of mingled scorn and +defiance. "They, too, thought themselves beyond the +reach of our tomahawks; but they were deceived. In less +than a single moon nine of them have fallen, and the +tents of my young warriors are darkened with their scalps; +but this is past. If the red skin asks for peace, it is +because he is tired of seeing the blood of the Saganaw +on his tomahawk. Does my father hear?" + +"We will listen to the great chief of the Ottawas, and +hear what he has to say," returned the governor, who, as +well as the officers at his side, could with difficulty +conceal their disgust and sorrow at the dreadful +intelligence thus imparted of the fates of their companions. +"But peace," he pursued with dignity, "can only be made +in the council room, and under the sacred pledge of the +calumet. The great chief has a wampum belt on his shoulder, +and a calumet in his hand. His aged warriors, too, are +at his side. What says the Ottawa? Will he enter? If so, +the gate of the Saganaw shall be open to him." + +The warrior started; and for a moment the confidence that +had hitherto distinguished him seemed to give place to +an apprehension of meditated treachery. He, however, +speedily recovered himself, and observed emphatically, +"It is the great head of all the nations whom my father +invites to the council seat. Were he to remain in the +hands of the Saganaw, his young men would lose their +strength. They would bury the hatchet for ever in despair, +and hide their faces in the laps of their women." + +"Does the Ottawa chief see the pale flag on the strong +hold of his enemies. While that continues to fly, he is +safe as if he were under the cover of his own wigwam. If +the Saganaw could use guile like the fox" (and this was +said with marked emphasis), "what should prevent him from +cutting off the Ottawa and his chiefs, even where they +now stand?" + +A half smile of derision passed over the dark cheek of +the Indian. "If the arm of an Ottawa is strong," he said, +"his foot is not less swift. The short guns of the chiefs +of the Saganaw" (pointing to the pistols of the officers) +"could not reach us; and before the voice of our father +could be raised, or his eye turned, to call his warriors +to his side, the Ottawa would be already far on his way +to the forest." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall judge better of +the Saganaw," returned the governor.--"He shall see +that his young men are ever watchful at their posts:--Up, +men, and show yourselves." + +A second or two sufficed to bring the whole, of Captain +Erskine's company, who had been lying flat on their faces, +to their feet on the rampart. The Indians were evidently +taken by surprise, though they evinced no fear. The low +and guttural "Ugh!" was the only expression they gave to +their astonishment, not unmingled with admiration. + +But, although the chiefs preserved their presence of +mind, the sudden appearance of the soldiers had excited +alarm among their warriors, who, grouped in and around +the bomb-proof, were watching every movement of the +conferring parties, with an interest proportioned to the +risk they conceived their head men had incurred in +venturing under the very walls of their enemies. Fierce +yells were uttered; and more than a hundred dusky warriors, +brandishing their tomahawks in air, leaped along the +skirt of the common, evidently only awaiting the signal +of their great chief, to advance and cover his retreat. +At the command of the governor, however, the men had +again suddenly disappeared from the surface of the rampart; +so that when the Indians finally perceived their leader +stood unharmed and unmolested, on the spot he had previously +occupied, the excitement died away, and they once more +assumed their attitude of profound attention. + +"What thinks the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked +the governor;--"did he imagine that the young white men +lie sleeping like beavers in their dams, when the hunter +sets his traps to catch them?--did he imagine that they +foresee not the designs of their enemies? and that they +are not always on the watch to prevent them?" + +"My father is a great warrior," returned the Indian; "and +if his arm is full of strength, his head is fall of +wisdom. The chiefs will no longer hesitate;--they will +enter the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sit with him +in the council." + +He next addressed a few words, and in a language not +understood by those upon the walls, to one of the younger +of the Indians. The latter acknowledged his sense and +approbation of what was said to him by an assentient and +expressive "Ugh!" which came from his chest without any +apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a +modern ventriloquist. He then hastened, with rapid and +lengthened boundings, across the common towards his band. +After the lapse of a minute or two from reaching them, +another simultaneous cry arose, differing in expression +from any that had hitherto been heard. It was one denoting +submission to the will, and compliance with some conveyed +desire, of their superior. + +"Is the gate of the Saganaw open?" asked the latter, as +soon as his ear had been greeted with the cry we have +just named. "The Ottawa and the other great chiefs are +ready;--their hearts are bold, and they throw themselves +into the hands of the Saganaw without fear." + +"The Ottawa chief knows the path," drily rejoined the +governor: "when he comes in peace, it is ever open to +him; but when his young men press it with the tomahawk +in their hands, the big thunder is roused to anger, and +they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in +the storm." "Even now," he pursued, as the little band of +Indians moved slowly round the walls, "the gate of the +Saganaw opens for the Ottawa and the other chiefs." + +"Let the most vigilant caution be used every where along +the works, but especially in the rear," continued the +governor, addressing Captain Blessington, on whom the +duty of the day had devolved. "We are safe, while their +chiefs are with us; but still it will be necessary to +watch the forest closely. We cannot be too much on our +guard. The men had better remain concealed, every twentieth +file only standing up to form a look-out chain. If any +movement of a suspicious nature be observed, let it be +communicated by the discharge of a single musket, that +the drawbridge may be raised on the instant." With the +delivery of these brief instructions he quitted the +rampart with the majority of his officers. + +Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the +mess-room to receive the chiefs. The tables had been +removed, and a number of clean rush mats, manufactured, +after the Indian manner, into various figures and devices, +spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from +the entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered +with scarlet cloth. This was considerably elevated above +the surface of the floor, and intended for the governor. +On either side of the room, near these, were ranged a +number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior +officers. + +Major Blackwater received the chiefs at the gate. With +a firm, proud step, rendered more confident by his very +unwillingness to betray any thing like fear, the tall, +and, as Captain Erskine had justly designated him, the +noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that might +in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever. +The other chiefs, following the example of their leader, +evinced the same easy fearlessness of demeanour, nor +glanced once behind them to see if there was any thing +to justify the apprehension of hidden danger. + +The Ottawa was evidently mortified at not being received +by the governor in person. "My father is not here!" he +said fiercely to the major:--"how is this? The Ottawa +and the other chiefs are kings of all their tribes. The +head of one great people should be received only by the +head of another great people!" + +"Our father sits in the council-hall," returned the major. +"He has taken his seat, that he may receive the warriors +with becoming honour. But I am the second chief, and our +father has sent me to receive them." + +To the proud spirit of the Indian this explanation scarcely +sufficed. For a moment he seemed to struggle, as if +endeavouring to stifle his keen sense of an affront put +upon him. At length he nodded his head haughtily and +condescendingly, in token of assent; and gathering up +his noble form, and swelling out his chest, as if with +a view to strike terror as well as admiration into the +hearts of those by whom he expected to be surrounded, +stalked majestically forward at the head of his +confederates. + +An indifferent observer, or one ignorant of these people, +would have been at fault; but those who understood the +workings of an Indian's spirit could not have been deceived +by the tranquil exterior of these men. The rapid, keen, +and lively glance--the suppressed sneer of exultation--the +half start of surprise--the low, guttural, and almost +inaudible "Ugh!"--all these indicated the eagerness with +which, at one sly but compendious view, they embraced +the whole interior of a fort which it was of such vital +importance to their future interests they should become +possessed of, yet which they had so long and so +unsuccessfully attempted to subdue. As they advanced into +the square, they looked around, expecting to behold the +full array of their enemies; but, to their astonishment, +not a soldier was to be seen. A few women and children +only, in whom curiosity had overcome a natural loathing +and repugnance to the savages, were peeping from the +windows of the block houses. Even at a moment like the +present, the fierce instinct of these latter was not to +be controlled. One of the children, terrified at the wild +appearance of the warriors, screamed violently, and clung +to the bosom of its mother for protection. Fired at the +sound, a young chief raised his hand to his lips, and +was about to peal forth his terrible war whoop in the +very centre of the fort, when the eye of the Ottawa +suddenly arrested him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +There were few forms of courtesy observed by the warriors +towards the English officers on entering the council +room. Ponteac, who had collected all his native haughtiness +into one proud expression of look and figure, strode in +without taking the slightest notice even of the governor. +The other chiefs imitated his example, and all took their +seats upon the matting in the order prescribed by their +rank among the tribes, and their experience in council. +The Ottawa chief sat at the near extremity of the room, +and immediately facing the governor. A profound silence +was observed for some minutes after the Indians had seated +themselves, during which they proceeded to fill their +pipes. The handle of that of the Ottawa chief was +decorated with numerous feathers fancifully disposed. + +"This is well," at length observed the governor. "It is +long since the great chiefs of the nations have smoked +the sweet grass in the council hall of the Saganaw. What +have they to say, that their young men may have peace to +hunt the beaver, and to leave the print of their mocassins +in the country of the Buffalo?--What says the Ottawa +chief?" + +"The Ottawa chief is a great warrior," returned the other, +haughtily; and again repudiating, in the indomitableness +of his pride, the very views that a more artful policy +had first led him to avow. "He has already said that, +within a single moon, nine of the strong holds of the +Saganaw have fallen into his hands, and that the scalps +of the white men fill the tents of his warriors. If the +red skins wish for peace, it is because they are sick +with spilling the blood of their enemies. Does my father +hear?" + +"The Ottawa has been cunning, like the fox," calmly +returned the governor. "He went with deceit upon his +lips, and said to the great chiefs of the strong holds +of the Saganaw,--'You have no more forts upon the lakes; +they have all fallen before the red skins: they gave +themselves into our hands; and we spared their lives, +and sent them down to the great towns near the salt lake.' +But this was false: the chiefs of the Saganaw, believing +what was said to them, gave up their strong holds; but +their lives were not spared, and the grass of the Canadas +is yet moist with their blood. Does the Ottawa hear?" + +Amazement and stupefaction sat for a moment on the features +of the Indians. The fact was as had been stated; and yet, +so completely had the several forts been cut off from +all communication, it was deemed almost impossible one +could have received tidings of the fate of the other, +unless conveyed through the Indians themselves. + +"The spies of the Saganaw have been very quick to escape +the vigilance of the red skins," at length replied the +Ottawa; "yet they have returned with a lie upon their +lips. I swear by the Great Spirit, that nine of the strong +holds of the Saganaw have been destroyed. How could the +Ottawa go with deceit upon his lips, when his words were +truth?" + +"When the red skins said so to the warriors of the last +forts they took, they said true; but when they went to +the first, and said that all the rest had fallen, they +used deceit. A great nation should overcome their enemies +like warriors, and not seek to beguile them with their +tongues under the edge of the scalping knife!" + +"Why did the Saganaw come into the country of the red +skins?" haughtily demanded the chief. "Why did they take +our hunting grounds from us? Why have they strong places +encircling the country of the Indians, like a belt of +wampum round the waist of a warrior?" + +"This is not true," rejoined the governor. "It was not +the Saganaw, but the warriors of the pale flag, who first +came and took away the hunting grounds, and built the +strong places. The great father of the Saganaw had beaten +the great father of the pale flag quite out of the Canadas, +and he sent his young men to take their place and to make +peace with the red skins, and to trade with them, and to +call them brothers." + +"The Saganaw was false," retorted the Indian. "When a +chief of the Saganaw came for the first time with his +warriors into the country of the Ottawas, the chief of +the Ottawas stood in his path, and asked him why, and +from whom, he came? That chief was a bold warrior, and +his heart was open, and the Ottawa liked him; and when +he said he came to be friendly with the red skins, the +Ottawa believed him, and he shook him by the hand, and +said to his young men, 'Touch not the life of a Saganaw; +for their chief is the friend of the Ottawa chief, and +his young men shall be the friends of the red warriors.' +Look," he proceeded, marking his sense of the discovery +by another of those ejaculatory "Ughs!" so expressive of +surprise in an Indian, "at the right hand of my father +I see a chief," pointing to Captain Erskine, "who came +with those of the Saganaw who first entered the country +of the Detroit;--ask that chief if what the Ottawa says +is not true. When the Saganaw said he came only to remove +the warriors of the pale flag, that he might be friendly +and trade with the red skins, the Ottawa received the +belt of wampum he offered, and smoked the pipe of peace +with him, and he made his men bring bags of parched corn +to his warriors who wanted food, and he sent to all the +nations on the lakes, and said to them, 'The Saganaw must +pass unhurt to the strong hold on the Detroit.' But for +the Ottawa, not a Saganaw would have escaped; for the +nations were thirsting for their blood, and the knives +of the warriors were eager to open their scalps. Ask the +chief who sits at the right hand of my father," he again +energetically repeated, "if what the Ottawa says is not +true." + +"What the Ottawa says is true," rejoined the governor; +"for the chief who sits on my right hand has often said +that, but for the Ottawa, the small number of the warriors +of the Saganaw must have been cut off; and his heart is +big with kindness to the Ottawa for what he did. But if +the great chief meant to be friendly, why did he declare +war after smoking the pipe of peace with the Saganaw? +Why did he destroy the wigwams of the settlers, and carry +off the scalps even of their weak women and children? +All this has the Ottawa done; and yet he says that he +wished to be friendly with my young men. But the Saganaw +is not a fool. He knows the Ottawa chief had no will of +his own. On the right hand of the Ottawa sits the great +chief of the Delawares, and on his left the great chief +of the Shawanees. They have long been the sworn enemies +of the Saganaw; and they came from the rivers that run +near the salt lake to stir up the red skins of the Detroit +to war. They whispered wicked words in the ear of the +Ottawa chief, and he determined to take up the bloody +hatchet. This is a shame to a great warrior. The Ottawa +was a king over all the tribes in the country of the +fresh lakes, and yet he weakly took council like a woman +from another." + +"My father lies!" fiercely retorted the warrior, half +springing to his feet, and involuntarily putting his hand +upon his tomahawk. "If the settlers of the Saganaw have +fallen," he resumed in a calmer tone, while he again sank +upon his mat, "it is because they did not keep their +faith with the red skins. When they came weak, and were +not yet secure in their strong holds, their tongues were +smooth and full of soft words; but when they became strong +under the protection of their thunder, they no longer +treated the red skins as their friends, and they laughed +at them for letting them come into their country." "But," +he pursued, elevating his voice, "the Ottawa is a great +chief, and he will be respected." Then adverting in +bitterness to the influence supposed to be exercised over +him,--"What my father has said is false. The Shawanees +and the Delawares are great nations; but the Ottawas are +greater than any, and their chiefs are full of wisdom. +The Shawanees and the Delawares had no talk with the +Ottawa chief to make him do what his own wisdom did not +tell him." + +"Then, if the talk came not from the Shawanees and the +Delawares, it came from the spies of the warriors of the +pale flag. The great father of the French was angry with +the great father of the Saganaw, because he conquered +his warriors in many battles; and he sent wicked men to +whisper lies of the Saganaw into the ears of the red +skins, and to make them take up the hatchet against them. +There is a tall spy at this moment in the camp of the +red skins," he pursued with earnestness, and yet paling +as he spoke. "It is said he is the bosom friend of the +great chief of the Ottawas. But I will not believe it. +The head of a great nation would not be the friend of a +spy--of one who is baser than a dog. His people would +despise him; and they would say, 'Our chief is not fit +to sit in council, or to make war; for he is led by the +word of a pale face who is without honour.'" + +The swarthy cheek of the Indian reddened, and his eye +kindled into fire. "There is no spy, but a great warrior, +in the camp of the Ottawas," he fiercely replied. "Though +he came from the country that lies beyond the salt lake, +he is now a chief of the red skins, and his arm is mighty, +and his heart is big. Would my father know why he has +become a chief of the Ottawas?" he pursued with scornful +exultation. "When the strong holds of the Saganaw fell, +the tomahawk of the 'white warrior' drank more blood than +that of a red skin, and his tent is hung around with +poles bending under the weight of the scalps he has taken. +When the great chief of the Ottawas dies, the pale face +will lead his warriors, and take the first seat in the +council. The Ottawa chief is his friend." + +"If the pale face be the friend of the Ottawa," pursued +the governor, in the hope of obtaining some particular +intelligence in regard to this terrible and mysterious +being, "why is he not here to sit in council with the +chiefs? Perhaps," he proceeded tauntingly, as he fancied +he perceived a disinclination on the part of the Indian +to account for the absence of the warrior, "the pale face +is not worthy to take his place among the head men of +the council. His arm may be strong like that of a warrior, +but his head may be weak like that of a woman; or, perhaps, +he is ashamed to show himself before the pale faces, who +have turned him out of their tribe." + +"My father lies!" again unceremoniously retorted the +warrior. "If the friend of the Ottawa is not here, it is +because his voice cannot speak. Does my father recollect +the bridge on which he killed his young warrior? Does he +recollect the terrible chase of the pale face by the +friend of the Ottawa? Ugh!" he continued, as his attention +was now diverted to another object of interest, "that +pale face was swifter than any runner among the red skins, +and for his fleetness he deserved to live to be a great +hunter in the Canadas; but fear broke his heart,--fear +of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The red skins saw +him fall at the feet of the Saganaw without life, and +they saw the young warriors bear him off in their arms. +Is not the Ottawa right?" The Indian paused, threw his +eye rapidly along the room, and then, fixing it on the +governor, seemed to wait with deep but suppressed interest +for his reply. + +"Peace to the bones of a brave warrior!" seriously and +evasively returned the governor: "the pale face is no +longer in the land of the Canadas, and the young warriors +of the Saganaw are sorry for his loss; but what would +the Ottawa say of the bridge? and what has the pale +warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, to do with it?" + +A gleam of satisfaction pervaded the countenance +of the Indian, as he eagerly bent his +ear to receive the assurance that the fugitive +was no more; but when allusion was again +made to the strange warrior, his brow became +overcast, and he replied with mingled haughtiness +and anger,-- + +"Does my father ask? He has dogs of spies among the +settlers of the pale flag, but the tomahawk of the red +skins will find them out, and they shall perish even as +the Saganaw themselves. Two nights ago, when the warriors +of the Ottawas were returning from their scout upon the +common, they heard the voice of Onondato, the great +wolf-dog of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The voice +came from the bridge where the Saganaw killed his young +warrior, and it called upon the red skins for assistance. +My young men gave their war cry, and ran like wild deer +to destroy the enemies of their chief; but when they +came, the spies had fled, and the voice of Onondato was +low and weak as that of a new fawn; and when the warriors +came to the other end of the bridge, they found the pale +chief lying across the road and covered over with blood. +They thought he was dead, and their cry was terrible; +for the pale warrior is a great chief, and the Ottawas +love him; but when they looked again, they saw that the +blood was the blood of Onondato, whose throat the spies +of the Saganaw had cut, that he might not hunt them and +give them to the tomahawk of the red skins." + +Frequent glances, expressive of their deep interest in +the announcement of this intelligence, passed between +the governor and his officers. It was clear the party +who had encountered the terrible warrior of the Fleur de +lis were not spies (for none were employed by the garrison), +but their adventurous companions who had so recently +quitted them. This was put beyond all doubt by the night, +the hour, and the not less important feet of the locality; +for it was from the bridge described by the Indian, near +which the Canadian had stated his canoe to be chained, +they were to embark on their perilous and uncertain +enterprise. The question of their own escape from danger +in this unlooked for collision with so powerful and +ferocious an enemy, and of the fidelity of the Canadian, +still remained involved in doubt, which it might be +imprudent, if not dangerous, to seek to have resolved by +any direct remark on the subject to the keen and observant +warrior. The governor removed this difficulty by artfully +observing,-- + +"The great chief of the Ottawas has said they were the +spies of the Saganaw who killed the pale warrior. His +young men has found them, then; or how could he know they +were spies?" + +"Is there a warrior among the Saganaw who dares to show +himself in the path of the red skins, unless he come in +strength and surrounded by his thunder?" was the sneering +demand. "But my father is wrong, if he supposes the friend +of the Ottawa is killed. No," he pursued fiercely, "the +dogs of spies could not kill him; they were afraid to +face so terrible a warrior. They came behind him in the +dark, and they struck him on the head like cowards and +foxes as they were. The warrior of the pale face, and +the friend of the Ottawa chief, is sick, but not dead. +He lies without motion in his tent, and his voice cannot +speak to his friend to tell him who were his enemies, +that he may bring their scalps to hang up within his +wigwam. But the great chief will soon be well, and his +arm will be stronger than ever to spill the blood of the +Saganaw as he has done before." + +"The talk of the Ottawa chief is strange," returned the +governor, emphatically and with dignity. "He says he +conies to smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, and +yet he talks of spilling their blood as if it was water +from the lake. What does the Ottawa mean?" + +"Ugh!" exclaimed the Indian, in his surprise. "My father +is right, but the Ottawa and the Saganaw have not yet +smoked together. When they have, the hatchet will be +buried for ever. Until then, they are still enemies." + +During this long and important colloquy of the leading +parties, the strictest silence had been preserved by the +remainder of the council. The inferior chiefs had +continued deliberately puffing the smoke from their curled +lips, as they sat cross-legged on their mats, and nodding +their heads at intervals in confirmation of the occasional +appeal made by the rapid glance of the Ottawa, and uttering +their guttural "Ugh!" whenever any observation of the +parlant parties touched their feelings, or called forth +their surprise. The officers had been no less silent and +attentive listeners, to a conversation on the issue of +which hung so many dear and paramount interests. A pause +in the conference gave them an opportunity of commenting +in a low tone on the communication made, in the strong +excitement of his pride, by the Ottawa chief, in regard +to the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis; who, it was +evident, swayed the councils of the Indians, and +consequently exercised an influence over the ultimate +destinies of the English, which it was impossible to +contemplate without alarm. It was evident to all, from +whatsoever cause it might arise, this man cherished a +rancour towards certain individuals in the fort, inducing +an anxiety in its reduction scarcely equalled by that +entertained on the part of the Indians themselves. Beyond +this, however, all was mystery and doubt; nor had any +clue been given to enable them to arrive even at a well +founded apprehension of the motives which had given birth +to the vindictiveness of purpose, so universally ascribed +to him even by the savages themselves. + +The chiefs also availed themselves of this pause in the +conversation of the principals, to sustain a low and +animated discussion. Those of the Shawanee and Delaware +nations were especially earnest; and, as they spoke across +the Ottawa, betrayed, by their vehemence of gesture, the +action of some strong feeling upon their minds, the +precise nature of which could not be ascertained from +their speech at the opposite extremity of the room. The +Ottawa did not deign to join in their conversation, but +sat smoking his pipe in all the calm and forbidding +dignity of a proud Indian warrior conscious of his own +importance. + +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas, then, seek for +peace in his heart at length?" resumed the governor; "or +is he come to the strong hold of Detroit, as he went to +the other strong holds, with deceit on his lips?" + +The Indian slowly removed his pipe from his mouth, fixed +his keen eye searchingly on that of the questioner for +nearly a minute, and then briefly and haughtily said, +"The Ottawa chief has spoken." + +"And do the great chiefs of the Shawanees, and the great +chiefs of the Delawares, and the great chiefs of the +other nations, ask for peace also?" demanded the governor. +"If so, let them speak for themselves, and for their +warriors." + +We will not trespass on the reader, on whom we have +already inflicted too much of this scene, by a transcript +of the declarations of the inferior chiefs. Suffice it +to observe, each in his turn avowed motives similar to +those of the Ottawa for wishing the hatchet might be +buried for ever, and that their young men should mingle +once more in confidence, not only with the English troops, +but with the settlers, who would again be brought into +the country at the cessation of hostilities. When each +had spoken, the Ottawa passed the pipe of ceremony, with +which he was provided, to the governor. + +The latter put it to his lips, and commenced smoking. +The Indians keenly, and half furtively, watched the act; +and looks of deep intelligence, that escaped not the +notice of the equally anxious and observant officers, +passed among them. + +"The pipe of the great chief of the Ottawas smokes well," +calmly remarked the governor; "but the Ottawa chief, in +his hurry to come and ask for peace, has made a mistake. +The pipe and all its ornaments are red like blood: it +is the pipe of war, and not the pipe of peace. The great +chief of the Ottawas will be angry with himself; he has +entered the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sat in the +council, without doing any good for his young men. The +Ottawa must come again." + +A deep but subdued expression of disappointment passed +over the features of the chiefs. They watched the +countenances of the officers, to see whether the +substitution of one pipe for the other had been attributed, +in their estimation, to accident or design. There was +nothing, however, to indicate the slightest doubt of +their sincerity. + +"My father is right," replied the Indian, with an appearance +of embarrassment, which, whether natural or feigned, had +nothing suspicious in it. "The great chief of the Ottawas +has been foolish, like an old woman. The young chiefs of +his tribe will laugh at him for this. But the Ottawa +chief will come again, and the other chiefs with him, +for, as my father sees, they all wish for peace; and that +my father may know all the nations wish for peace, as +well as their head men, the warriors of the Ottawa, and +of the Shawanee, and of the Delaware, shall play at ball +upon the common, to amuse his young men, while the chiefs +sit in council with the chiefs of the Saganaw. The red +skins shall come naked, and without their rifles and +their tomahawks; and even the squaws of the warriors +shall come upon the common, to show the Saganaw they may +be without fear. Does my father hear?" + +"The Ottawa chief says well," returned the governor; "but +will the pale friend of the Ottawa come also to take his +seat in the council hall? The great chief has said the +pale warrior has become the second chief among the Ottawas; +and that when he is dead, the pale warrior will lead the +Ottawas, and take the first seat in the council. He, too, +should smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, that +they may know he is no longer their enemy." + +The Indian hesitated, uttering merely his quick ejaculatory +"Ugh!" in expression of his surprise at so unexpected a +requisition. "The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, +is very sick," he at length said; "but if the Great Spirit +should give him back his voice before the chiefs come +again to the council, the pale face will come too. If my +father does not see him then, he will know the friend of +the Ottawa chief is very sick." + +The governor deemed it prudent not to press the question +too closely, lest in so doing he should excite suspicion, +and defeat his own object. "When will the Ottawa and the +other chiefs come again?" he asked; "and when will their +warriors play at ball upon the common, that the Saganaw +may see them and be amused?" + +"When the sun has travelled so many times," replied +Ponteac, holding up three fingers of his left hand. "Then +will the Ottawa and the other chiefs bring their young +warriors and their women." + +"It is too soon," was the reply;. "the Saganaw must have +time to collect their presents, that they may give them +to the young warriors who are swiftest in the race, and +the most active at the ball. The great chief of the +Ottawas, too, must let the settlers of the pale flag, +who are the friends of the red skins, bring in food for +the Saganaw, that a great feast may be given to the +chiefs, and to the warriors, and that the Saganaw may +make peace with the Ottawas and the other nations as +becomes a great people. In twice so many days," holding +up three of his fingers in imitation of the Indian, "the +Saganaw will be ready to receive the chiefs in council, +that they may smoke the pipe of peace, and bury the +hatchet for ever. What says the great chief of the +Ottawas?" + +"It is good," was the reply of the Indian, his eye lighting +up with deep and exulting expression. "The settlers of +the pale flag shall bring food to the Saganaw. The Ottawa +chief will send them, and he will desire his young men +not to prevent them. In so many days, then," indicating +with his fingers, "the great chiefs will sit again in +council with the Saganaw, and the Ottawa chief will not +be a fool to bring the pipe he does not want." + +With this assurance the conference terminated. Ponteac +raised his tall frame from the mat on which he had been +squatted, nodded condescendingly to the governor, and +strode haughtily into the square or area of the fort. +The other chiefs followed his example; and to Major +Blackwater was again assigned the duty of accompanying +them without the works. The glance of the savages, and +that of Ponteac in particular, was less wary than at +their entrance. Each seemed to embrace every object on +which the eye could rest, as if to fix its position +indelibly in his memory. The young chief, who had been +so suddenly and opportunely checked while in the very +act of pealing forth his terrible war whoop, again looked +up at the windows of the block house, in quest of those +whom his savage instinct had already devoted in intention +to his tomahawk, but they were no longer there. Such was +the silence that reigned every where, the fort appeared +to be tenanted only by the few men of the guard, who +lingered near their stations, attentively watching the +Indians, as they passed towards the gate. A very few +minutes sufficed to bring the latter once more in the +midst of their warriors, whom, for a few moments, they +harangued earnestly, when the whole body again moved off +in the direction of their encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +The week that intervened between the visit of the chiefs +and the day appointed for their second meeting in council, +was passed by the garrison in perfect freedom from alarm, +although, as usual, in diligent watchfulness and +preparations for casualties. In conformity with his +promise, the Indian had despatched many of the Canadian +settlers, with such provisions as the country then +afforded, to the governor, and these, happy to obtain +the gold of the troops in return for what they could +conveniently spare, were not slow in availing themselves +of the permission. Dried bears' meat, venison, and Indian +corn, composed the substance of these supplies, which +were in sufficient abundance to produce a six weeks' +increase to the stock of the garrison. Hitherto they had +been subsisting, in a great degree, upon salt provisions; +the food furtively supplied by the Canadians being +necessarily, from their dread of detection, on so limited +a scale, that a very small portion of the troops had been +enabled to profit by it. This, therefore, was an important +and unexpected benefit, derived from the falling in of +the garrison with the professed views of the savages; +and one which, perhaps, few officers would, like Colonel +de Haldimar, have possessed the forethought to have +secured. But although it served to relieve the animal +wants of the man, there was little to remove his moral +inquietude. Discouraged by the sanguinary character of +the warfare in which they seemed doomed to be for ever +engaged, and harassed by constant watchings,--seldom +taking off their clothes for weeks together,--the men +had gradually been losing their energy of spirit, in the +contemplation of the almost irremediable evils by which +they were beset; and looked forward with sad and +disheartening conviction to a fate, that all things tended +to prove to them was unavoidable, however the period of +its consummation might be protracted. Among the officers, +this dejection, although proceeding from a different +cause, was no less prevalent; and notwithstanding they +sought to disguise it before their men, when left to +themselves, they gave unlimited rein to a despondency +hourly acquiring strength, as the day fixed on for the +second council with the Indians drew near. + +At length it came, that terrible and eventful day, and, +as if in mockery of those who saw no beauty in its golden +beams, arrayed in all the gorgeous softness of its autumnal +glory. Sad and heavy were the hearts of many within that +far distant and isolated fort, as they rose, at the first +glimmering of light above the horizon, to prepare for +the several duties assigned them. All felt the influence +of a feeling that laid prostrate the moral energies even +of the boldest: but there was one young officer in +particular, who exhibited a dejection, degenerating almost +into stupefaction; and more than once, when he received +an order from his superior, hesitated as one who either +heard not, or, in attempting to perform it, mistook the +purport of his instructions, and executed some entirely +different duty. The countenance of this officer, whose +attenuated person otherwise bore traces of languor and +debility, but too plainly marked the abstractedness and +terror of his mind, while the set stiff features and +contracted muscles of the face contributed to give an +expression of vacuity, that one who knew him not might +have interpreted unfavourably. Several times, during the +inspection of his company at the early parade, he was +seen to raise his head, and throw forward his ear, as if +expecting to catch the echo of some horrible and appalling +cry, until the men themselves remarked, and commented, +by interchange of looks, on the singular conduct of their +officer, whose thoughts had evidently no connection with +the duty he was performing, or the spot on which he stood. + +When this customary inspection had been accomplished,--how +imperfectly, has been seen,--and the men dismissed from +their ranks, the same young officer was observed, by one +who followed his every movement with interest, to ascend +that part of the rampart which commanded an unbroken view +of the country westward, from the point where the encampment +of the Indians was supposed to lie, down to the bridge +on which the terrible tragedy of Halloway's death had +been so recently enacted. Unconscious of the presence of +two sentinels, who moved to and fro near their respective +posts, on either side of him, the young officer folded +his arms, and gazed in that direction for some minutes, +with his whole soul riveted on the scene. Then, as if +overcome by recollections called up by that on which he +gazed, he covered his eyes hurriedly with his hands, and +betrayed, by the convulsed movement of his slender form, +he was weeping bitterly. This paroxysm past, he uncovered +his face, sank with one knee upon the ground, and upraising +his clasped hands, as if in appeal to his God, seemed to +pray deeply and fervently. In this attitude he continued +for some moments, when he became sensible of the approach +of an intruder. He raised himself from his knee, turned, +and beheld one whose countenance was stamped with a +dejection scarcely inferior to his own. It was Captain +Blessington. + +"Charles, my dear Charles!" exclaimed the latter hurriedly, +as he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the emaciated +De Haldimar, "consider you are not alone. For God's sake, +check this weakness! There are men observing you on every +side, and your strange manner has already been the subject +of remark in the company." + +"When the heart is sick, like mine," replied the youth, +in a tone of fearful despondency, "it is alike reckless +of forms, and careless of appearances. I trust, however," +and here spoke the soldier, "there are few within this +fort who will believe me less courageous, because I have +been seen to bend my knee in supplication to my God. I +did not think that YOU, Blessington, would have been the +first to condemn the act." + +"I condemn it, Charles! you mistake me, indeed you do," +feelingly returned his captain, secretly pained at the +mild reproach contained in the concluding sentence; "but +there are two things to be considered. In the first +instance, the men, who are yet in ignorance of the great +evils with which we are threatened, may mistake the cause +of your agitation; you were in tears just now, Charles, +and the sentinels must have remarked it as well as myself. +I would not have them to believe that one of their officers +was affected by the anticipation of coming disaster, in +a way their own hearts are incapable of estimating. You +understand me, Charles? I would not have them too much +discouraged by an example that may become infectious." + +"I DO understand you, Blessington," and a forced and +sickly smile played for a moment over the wan yet handsome +features of the young officer; "you would not have me +appear a weeping coward in their eyes." + +"Nay, dear Charles, I did not say it." + +"But you meant it, Blessington; yet, think not,"--and he +warmly pressed the hand of his captain,--"think not, I +repeat, I take your hint in any other than the friendly +light in which it was intended. That I have been no +coward, however, I hope I have given proof more than once +before the men, most of whom have known me from my very +cradle; yet, whatever they may think, is to me, at this +moment, a matter of utter indifference. Blessington," +and again the tears rolled from his fixed eyes over his +cheek, while he pointed with his finger to the western +horizon, "I have neither thought nor feeling for myself; +my whole heart lies buried there. Oh, God of Heaven!" he +pursued after a pause, and again raising his eyes in +supplication, "avert the dreadful destiny that awaits my +beloved sister." + +"Charles, Charles, if only for that sister's sake, then, +calm an agitation which, if thus indulged in, will +assuredly destroy you. All will yet be well. The delay +obtained by your father has been sufficient for the +purpose proposed. Let us hope for the best: if we are +deceived in our expectation, it will then be time enough +to indulge in a grief, which could scarcely be exceeded, +were the fearful misgivings of your mind to be realised +before your eyes." + +"Blessington," returned the young officer,--and his +features exhibited the liveliest image of despair,--"all +hope has long since been extinct within my breast. See +you yon theatre of death?" he mournfully pursued, pointing +to the fatal bridge, which was thrown into full relief +against the placid bosom of the Detroit: "recollect you +the scene that was acted on it? As for me, it is ever +present to my mind,--it haunts me in my thoughts by day, +and in my dreams by night. I shall never forget it while +memory is left to curse me with the power of retrospection. +On the very spot on which I now stand was I borne in a +chair, to witness the dreadful punishment; you see the +stone at my feet, I marked it by that. I saw you conduct +Halloway to the centre of the bridge; I beheld him kneel +to receive his death; I saw, too, the terrible race for +life, that interrupted the proceedings; I marked the +sudden upspring of Halloway to his feet upon the coffin, +and the exulting waving of his hand, as he seemed to +recognise the rivals for mastery in that race. Then was +heard the fatal volley, and I saw the death-struggle of +him who had saved my brother's life. I could have died, +too, at that moment; and would to Providence I had! but +it was otherwise decreed. My aching interest was, for a +moment, diverted by the fearful chase now renewed upon +the height; and, in common with those around me, I watched +the efforts of the pursuer and the pursued with painful +earnestness and doubt as to the final result. Ah, +Blessington, why was not this all? The terrible shriek, +uttered at the moment when the fugitive fell, apparently +dead, at the feet of the firing party, reached us even +here. I felt as if my heart must have burst, for I knew +it to be the shriek of poor Ellen Halloway,--the suffering +wife,--the broken-hearted woman who had so recently, in +all the wild abandonment of her grief, wetted my pillow, +and even my cheek, with her burning tears, while +supplicating an intercession with my father for mercy, +which I knew it would be utterly fruitless to promise. +Oh, Blessington," pursued the sensitive and affectionate +young officer, "I should vainly attempt to paint all that +passed in my mind at that dreadful moment. Nothing but +the depth of my despair gave me strength to support the +scene throughout. I saw the frantic and half-naked woman +glide like a phantom past the troops, dividing the air +with the rapidity of thought. I knew it to be Ellen; for +the discovery of her exchange of clothes with one of the +drum boys of the grenadiers was made soon after you left +the fort. I saw her leap upon the coffin, and, standing +over the body of her unhappy husband, raise her hands to +heaven in adjuration, and my heart died within me. I +recollected the words she had spoken on a previous +occasion, during the first examination of Halloway, and +I felt it to be the prophetic denunciation, then threatened, +that she was now uttering on all the race of De Haldimar. +I saw no more, Blessington. Sick, dizzy, and with every +faculty of my mind annihilated, I turned away from the +horrid scene, and was again borne to my room. I tried to +give vent to my overcharged heart in tears; but the power +was denied me, and I sank at once into that stupefaction +which you have since remarked in me, and which has been +increasing every hour. What additional cause I have had +for the indulgence of this confirmed despondency you are +well acquainted with. It is childish, it is unsoldierlike, +I admit: but, alas! that dreadful scene is eternally +before my eyes, and absorbs my mind, to the exclusion of +every other feeling. I have not a thought or a care but +for the fate that too certainly awaits those who are most +dear to me; and if this be a weakness, it is one I shall +never have the power to shake off. In a word, Blessington, +I am heart-broken." + +Captain Blessington was deeply affected; for there was +a solemnity in the voice and manner of the young officer +that carried conviction to the heart; and it was some +moments before he could so far recover himself as to +observe,-- + +"That scene, Charles, was doubtless a heart-rending one +to us all; for I well recollect, on turning to remark +the impression made on my men when the wretched Ellen +Halloway pronounced her appalling curse to have seen the +large tears coursing each other over the furrowed cheeks +of some of our oldest soldiers: and if THEY could feel +thus, how much more acute must have been the grief of +those immediately interested in its application!" + +"THEIR tears were not for the denounced race of De +Haldimar," returned the youth,--"they were shed for +their unhappy comrade--they were wrung from their stubborn +hearts by the agonising grief of the wife of Halloway." + +"That this was the case in part, I admit," returned +Captain Blessington. "The feelings of the men partook of +a mixed character. It was evident that grief for Halloway, +compassion for his wife, secret indignation and, it may +be, disgust at the severity of your father, and sorrow +for his innocent family, who were included in that +denunciation, predominated with equal force in their +hearts at the same moment. There was an expression that +told how little they would have pitied any anguish of +mind inflicted on their colonel, provided his children, +whom they loved, were not to be sacrificed to its +accomplishment." + +"You admit, then, Blessington, although indirectly," +replied the young De Haldimar in a voice of touching +sorrow, "that the consummation of the sacrifice IS to be +looked for. Alas! it is that on which my mind perpetually +lingers; yet, Heaven knows, my fears are not for myself." + +"You mistake me, dearest Charles. I look upon the +observations of the unhappy woman as the ravings of a +distracted mind--the last wild outpourings of a broken +heart, turning with animal instinct on the hand that has +inflicted its death-blow." + +"Ah, why did she except no one member of that family!" +said the unhappy De Haldimar, pursuing rather the chain +of his reflections than replying to the observation of +his captain. "Had the weight of her malediction fallen +on all else than my adored sister, I could have borne +the infliction, and awaited the issue with resignation, +if not without apprehension. But my poor gentle and +unoffending Clara,--alike innocent of the cause, and +ignorant of the effect,--what had she done to be included +in this terrible curse?--she, who, in the warm and generous +affection of her nature, had ever treated Ellen Halloway +rather as a sister than as the dependant she always +appeared." Again he covered his eyes with his hands, to +conceal the starting tears. + +"De Haldimar," said Captain Blessington reprovingly, but +mildly, "this immoderate grief is wrong--it is unmanly, +and should be repressed. I can feel and understand the +nature of your sorrow; but others may not judge so +favourably. We shall soon be summoned to fall in; and I +would not that Mr. Delme, in particular, should notice +an emotion he is so incapable of understanding." + +The hand of the young officer dropped from his face to +the hilt of his sword. His cheek became scarlet; and even +through the tears which he half choked himself to command, +there was an unwonted flashing from his blue eye, that +told how deeply the insinuation had entered into his +heart. + +"Think you, Captain Blessington," he proudly retorted, +"there is an officer in the fort who should dare to taunt +me with my feelings as you have done? I came here, sir, +in the expectation I should be alone. At a fitting hour +I shall be found where Captain Blessington's subaltern +should be--with his company." + +"De Haldimar--dear De Haldimar, forgive me!" returned +his captain. "Heaven knows I would not, on any +consideration, wantonly inflict pain on your sensitive +heart. My design was to draw you out of this desponding +humour; and with this view I sought to arouse your pride, +but certainly not to wound your feelings. De Haldimar," +he concluded, with marked expression, "you must not, +indeed, feel offended with one who has known and esteemed +you from very boyhood. Friendship and interest in your +deep affliction of spirit alone brought me here--the same +feelings prompted my remark. Do you not believe me?" + +"I do," impressively returned the young man, grasping +the hand that was extended to him in amity. "It is I, +rather, Blessington, who should ask you to forgive my +petulance; but, indeed, indeed," and again his tone +faltered, and his eye was dimmed, "I am more wretched +even than I am willing to confess. Pardon my silly +conduct--it was but the vain and momentary flashing of +the soldier's spirit impatient of an assumed imputation, +and the man less than the profession is to be taxed with +it. But it is past; and already do you behold me once +more the tame and apprehensive being I must ever continue +until all is over." + +"What can I possibly urge to console one who seems so +willing to nurse into conviction all the melancholy +imaginings of a diseased mind," observed Captain +Blessington, in a voice that told how deeply he felt for +the situation of his young friend. "Recollect, dearest +Charles, the time that has been afforded to our friends. +More than a week has gone by since they left the fort, +and a less period was deemed sufficient for their purpose. +Before this they must have gained their destination. In +fact, it is my positive belief they have; for there could +be nothing to detect them in their disguise. Had I the +famous lamp of Aladdin," he pursued, in a livelier tone, +"over the history of which Clara and yourself used to +spend so many hours in childhood, I have no doubt I could +show them to you quietly seated within the fort, recounting +their adventures to Clara and her cousin, and discoursing +of their absent friends." + +"Would I to Heaven you had the power to do so!" replied +De Haldimar, smiling faintly at the conceit, while a ray +of hope beamed for a moment upon his sick soul; "for +then, indeed, would all my fears for the present be at +rest. But you forget, Blessington, the encounter stated +to have taken place between them and that terrible stranger +near the bridge. Besides, is it not highly probable the +object of their expedition was divined by that singular +and mysterious being, and that means have been taken to +intercept their passage? If so, all hope is at an end." + +"Why persevere in viewing only the more sombre side of +the picture?" returned his friend. "In your anxiety to +anticipate evil, Charles, you have overlooked one important +fact. Ponteac distinctly stated that his ruffian friend +was still lying deprived of consciousness and speech +within his tent, and yet two days had elapsed since the +encounter was said to have taken place. Surely we have +every reason then to infer they were beyond all reach of +pursuit, even admitting, what is by no means probable +the recovery of the wretch immediately after the return +of the chiefs from the council." + +A gleam of satisfaction, but so transient as to be scarcely +noticeable, passed over the pale features of the youthful +De Haldimar. He looked his thanks to the kind officer +who was thus solicitous to tender him consolation; and +was about to reply, when the attention of both was diverted +by the report of a musket from the rear of the fort. +Presently afterwards, the word was passed along the chain +of sentinels, upon the ramparts, that the Indians were +issuing in force from the forest upon the common near +the bomb-proof. Then was heard, as the sentinel at the +gate delivered the password, the heavy roll of the drum +summoning to arms. + +"Ha! here already!" said Captain Blessington, as, glancing +towards the forest, he beheld the skirt of the wood now +alive with dusky human forms: "Ponteac's visit is earlier +than we had been taught to expect; but we are as well +prepared to receive him now, as later; and, in fact, the +sooner the interview is terminated, the sooner we shall +know what we have to depend upon. Come, Charles, we must +join the company, and let me entreat you to evince less +despondency before the men. It is hard, I know, to +sustain an artificial character under such disheartening +circumstances; still, for example's sake, it must be +done." + +"What I can I will do, Blessington," rejoined the youth, +as they both moved from the ramparts; "but the task is, +in truth, one to which I find myself wholly unequal. How +do I know that, even at this moment, my defenceless, +terrified, and innocent sister may not be invoking the +name and arm of her brother to save her from destruction." + +"Trust in Providence, Charles. Even although our worst +apprehensions be realised, as I fervently trust they will +not, your sister may be spared. The Canadian could not +have been unfaithful, or we should have learnt something +of his treachery from the Indians. Another week will +confirm us in the truth or fallacy of our impressions. +Until then, let us arm our hearts with hope. Trust me, +we shall yet see the laughing eyes of Clara fill with +tears of affection, as I recount to her all her too +sensitive and too desponding brother has suffered for +her sake." + +De Haldimar made no reply. He deeply felt the kind +intention of his captain, but was far from cherishing +the hope that had been recommended. He sighed heavily, +pressed the arm, on which he leaned, in gratitude for +the motive, and moved silently with his friend to join +their company below the rampart. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Meanwhile the white flag had again been raised by the +Indians upon the bomb-proof; and this having been readily +met by a corresponding signal from the fort, a numerous +band of savages now issued from the cover with which +their dark forms had hitherto been identified, and spread +themselves far and near upon the common. On this occasion +they were without arms, offensive or defensive, of any +kind, if we may except the knife which was always carried +at the girdle, and which constituted a part rather of +their necessary dress than of their warlike equipment. +These warriors might have been about five hundred in +number, and were composed chiefly of picked men from the +nations of the Ottawas, the Delawares, and the Shawanees; +each race being distinctly recognisable from the others +by certain peculiarities of form and feature which +individualised, if we may so term it, the several tribes. +Their only covering was the legging before described, +composed in some instances of cloth, but principally of +smoked deerskin, and the flap that passed through the +girdle around the loins, by which the straps attached to +the leggings were secured. Their bodies, necks, and arms +were, with the exception of a few slight ornaments, +entirely naked; and even the blanket, that served them +as a couch by night and a covering by day, had, with one +single exception, been dispensed with, apparently with +a view to avoid any thing like encumbrance in their +approaching sport. Each individual was provided with a +stout sapling of about three feet in length, curved, and +flattened at the root extremity, like that used at the +Irish hurdle; which game, in fact, the manner of +ball-playing among the Indians in every way resembled. + +Interspersed among these warriors were a nearly equal +number of squaws. These were to be seen lounging carelessly +about in small groups, and were of all ages; from the +hoary-headed, shrivelled-up hag, whose eyes still sparkled +with a fire that her lank and attenuated frame denied, +to the young girl of twelve, whose dark and glowing cheek, +rounded bust, and penetrating glance, bore striking +evidence of the precociousness of Indian beauty. These +latter looked with evident interest on the sports of the +younger warriors, who, throwing down their hurdles, either +vied with each other in the short but incredibly swift +foot-race, or indulged themselves in wrestling and leaping; +while their companions, abandoned to the full security +they felt to be attached to the white flag waving on the +fort, lay at their lazy length upon the sward, ostensibly +following the movements of the several competitors in +these sports, but in reality with heart and eye directed +solely to the fortification that lay beyond. Each of +these females, in addition to the machecoti, or petticoat, +which in one solid square of broad-cloth was tightly +wrapped around the loins, also carried a blanket loosely +thrown around the person, but closely confined over the +shoulders in front, and reaching below the knee. There +was an air of constraint in their movements, which accorded +ill with the occasion of festivity for which they were +assembled; and it was remarkable, whether it arose from +deference to those to whom they were slaves, as well as +wives and daughters, or from whatever other cause it +might be, none of them ventured to recline themselves +upon the sward in imitation of the warriors. + +When it had been made known to the governor that the +Indians had begun to develop themselves in force upon +the common unarmed, yet redolent with the spirit that +was to direct their meditated sports, the soldiers were +dismissed from their respective companies to the ramparts; +where they were now to be seen, not drawn up in formidable +and hostile array, but collected together in careless +groups, and simply in their side-arms. This reciprocation +of confidence on the part of the garrison was acknowledged +by the Indians by marks of approbation, expressed as much +by the sudden and classic disposition of their fine forms +into attitudes strikingly illustrative of their admiration +and pleasure, as by the interjectional sounds that passed +from one to the other of the throng. From the increased +alacrity with which they now lent themselves to the +preparatory and inferior amusements of the day, it was +evident their satisfaction was complete. + +Hitherto the principal chiefs had, as on the previous +occasion, occupied the bomb-proof; and now, as then, they +appeared to be deliberating among themselves, but evidently +in a more energetic and serious manner. At length they +separated, when Ponteac, accompanied by the chiefs who +had attended him on the former day, once more led in the +direction of the fort. The moment of his advance was the +signal for the commencement of the principal game. In an +instant those of the warriors who lay reclining on the +sward sprang to their feet, while the wrestlers and racers +resumed their hurdles, and prepared themselves for the +trial of mingled skill and swiftness. At first they formed +a dense group in the centre of the common; and then, +diverging in two equal files both to the right and to +the left of the immediate centre, where the large ball +was placed, formed an open chain, extending from the +skirt of the forest to the commencement of the village. +On the one side were ranged the Delawares and the Shawanees, +and on the other the more numerous nation of the Ottawas. +The women of these several tribes, apparently much +interested in the issue of an amusement in which the +manliness and activity of their respective friends were +staked, had gradually and imperceptibly gained the front +of the fort, where they were now huddled in groups at +about twenty paces from the drawbridge, and bending +eagerly forward to command the movements of the +ball-players. + +In his circuit round the walls, Ponteac was seen to remark +the confiding appearance of the unarmed soldiery with a +satisfaction that was not sought to be disguised; and +from the manner in which he threw his glance along each +face of the rampart, it was evident his object was to +embrace the numerical strength collected there. It was +moreover observed, when he passed the groups of squaws +on his way to the gate, he addressed some words in a +strange tongue to the elder matrons of each. + +Once more the dark warriors were received at the gate by +Major Blackwater; and, as with firm but elastic tread, +they moved across the square, each threw his fierce eyes +rapidly and anxiously around, and with less of concealment +in his manner than had been manifested on the former +occasion. On every hand the same air of nakedness and +desertion met their gaze. Not even a soldier of the +guard was to be seen; and when they cast their eyes +upwards to the windows of the blockhouses, they were +found to be tenantless as the area through which they +passed. A gleam of fierce satisfaction pervaded the +swarthy countenances of the Indians; and the features of +Ponteac, in particular, expressed the deepest exultation. +Instead of leading his party, he now brought up the rear; +and when arrived in the centre of the fort, he, without +any visible cause for the accident, stumbled, and fell +to the earth. The other chiefs for a moment lost sight +of their ordinary gravity, and marked their sense of the +circumstance by a prolonged sound, partaking of the +mingled character of a laugh and a yell. Startled at +the cry, Major Blackwater, who was in front, turned to +ascertain the cause. At that moment Ponteac sprang lightly +again to his feet, responding to the yell of his +confederates by another even more startling, fierce, and +prolonged than their own. He then stalked proudly to the +head of the party, and even preceded Major Blackwater +into the council room. + +In this rude theatre of conference some changes had been +made since their recent visit, which escaped not the +observation of the quick-sighted chiefs. Their mats lay +in the position they had previously occupied, and the +chairs of the officers were placed as before, but the +room itself had been considerably enlarged. The slight +partition terminating the interior extremity of the +mess-room, and dividing it from that of one of the +officers, had been removed; and midway through this, +extending entirely across, was drawn a curtain of scarlet +cloth, against which the imposing figure of the governor, +elevated as his seat was above those of the other officers, +was thrown into strong relief. There was another change, +that escaped not the observation of the Indians, and that +was, not more than one half of the officers who had been +present at the first conference being now in the room. +Of these latter, one had, moreover, been sent away by +the governor the moment the chiefs were ushered in. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the proud leader, as he took his seat +unceremoniously, and yet not without reluctance, upon +the mat. "The council-room of my father is bigger than +when the Ottawa was here before, yet the number of his +chiefs is not so many." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the Saganaw +has promised the red skins a feast," returned the governor. +"Were he to leave it to his young warriors to provide +it, he would not be able to receive the Ottawa like a +great chief, and to make peace with him as he could wish." + +"My father has a great deal of cloth, red, like the blood +of a pale face," pursued the Indian, rather in demand +than in observation, as he pointed with his finger to +the opposite end of the room. "When the Ottawa was here +last, he did not see it." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the great +father of the Saganaw has a big heart to make presents +to the red skins. The cloth the Ottawa sees there is +sufficient to make leggings for the chiefs of all the +nations." + +Apparently satisfied with this reply, the fierce Indian +uttered one of his strong guttural and assentient "ughs," +and then commenced filling the pipe of peace, correct on +the present occasion in all its ornaments, which was +handed to him by the Delaware chief. It was remarked by +the officers this operation took up an unusually long +portion of his time, and that he frequently turned his +ear, like a horse stirred by the huntsman's horn, with +quick and irrepressible eagerness towards the door. + +"The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa chief, is +not here," said the governor, as he glanced his eye along +the semicircle of Indians. "How is this? Is his voice +still sick, that he cannot come; or has the great chief +of the Ottawas forgotten to tell him?" + +"The voice of the pale warrior is still sick, and he +cannot speak," replied the Indian. "The Ottawa chief is +very sorry; for the tongue of his friend the pale face +is full of wisdom." + +Scarcely had the last words escaped his lips, when a wild +shrill cry from without the fort rang on the ears of the +assembled council, and caused a momentary commotion among +the officers. It arose from a single voice, and that +voice could not be mistaken by any who had heard it once +before. A second or two, during which the officers and +chiefs kept their eyes intently fixed on each other, +passed anxiously away, and then nearer to the gate, +apparently on the very drawbridge itself, was pealed +forth the wild and deafening yell of a legion of devilish +voices. At that sound, the Ottawa and the other chiefs +sprang to their feet, and their own fierce cry responded +to that yet vibrating on the ears of all. Already were +their gleaming tomahawks brandished wildly over their +heads, and Ponteac had even bounded a pace forward to +reach the governor with the deadly weapon, when, at the +sudden stamping of the foot of the latter upon the floor, +the scarlet cloth in the rear was thrown aside, and twenty +soldiers, their eyes glancing along the barrels of their +levelled muskets, met the startled gaze of the astonished +Indians. + +An instant was enough to satisfy the keen chief of the +true state of the case. The calm composed mien of the +officers, not one of whom had even attempted to quit his +seat, amid the din by which his ears were so alarmingly +assailed,--the triumphant, yet dignified, and even severe +expression of the governor's countenance; and, above all, +the unexpected presence of the prepared soldiery,--all +these at once assured him of the discovery of his treachery, +and the danger that awaited him. The necessity for an +immediate attempt to join his warriors without, was now +obvious to the Ottawa; and scarcely had he conceived the +idea before it was sought to be executed. In a single +spring he gained the door of the mess-room, and, followed +eagerly and tumultuously by the other chiefs, to whose +departure no opposition was offered, in the next moment +stood on the steps of the piazza that ran along the front +of the building whence he had issued. + +The surprise of the Indians on reaching this point, was +now too powerful to be dissembled; and, incapable either +of advancing or receding, they remained gazing on the +scene before them with an air of mingled stupefaction, +rage, and alarm. Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed since +they had proudly strode through the naked area of the +fort; and yet, even in that short space of time, its +appearance had been entirely changed. Not a part was +there now of the surrounding buildings that was not +redolent with human life, and hostile preparation. Through +every window of the officers' low rooms, was to be seen +the dark and frowning muzzle of a field-piece, bearing +upon the gateway; and behind these were artillerymen, +holding their lighted matches, supported again by files +of bayonets, that glittered in their rear. In the +block-houses the same formidable array of field-pieces +and muskets was visible; while from the four angles of +the square, as many heavy guns, that had been artfully +masked at the entrance of the chiefs, seemed ready to +sweep away every thing that should come before them. The +guard-room near the gate presented the same hostile front. +The doors of this, as well as of the other buildings, +had been firmly secured within; but from every window +affording cover to the troops, gleamed a line of bayonets +rising above the threatening field-pieces, pointed, at +a distance of little more than twelve feet, directly upon +the gateway. In addition to his musket, each man of the +guard moreover held a hand grenade, provided with a short +fuze that could be ignited in a moment from the matches +of the gunners, and with immediate effect. The soldiers +in the block-houses were similarly provided. + +Almost magic as was the change thus suddenly effected in +the appearance of the garrison, it was not the most +interesting feature in the exciting scene. Choking up +the gateway, in which they were completely wedged, and +crowding the drawbridge, a dense mass of dusky Indians +were to be seen casting their fierce glances around; yet +paralysed in their movements by the unlooked-for display +of a resisting force, threatening instant annihilation +to those who should attempt either to advance or to +recede. Never, perhaps, were astonishment and disappointment +more forcibly depicted on the human countenance, than as +they were now exhibited by these men, who had already, +in imagination, secured to themselves an easy conquest. +They were the warriors who had so recently been engaged +in the manly yet innocent exercise of the ball; but, +instead of the harmless hurdle, each now carried a short +gun in one hand and a gleaming tomahawk in the other. +After the first general yelling heard in the council-room, +not a sound was uttered. Their burst of rage and triumph +had evidently been checked by the unexpected manner of +their reception, and they now stood on the spot on which +the further advance of each had been arrested, so silent +and motionless, that, but for the rolling of their dark +eyes, as they keenly measured the insurmountable barriers +that were opposed to their progress, they might almost +have been taken for a wild group of statuary. + +Conspicuous at the head of these was he who wore the +blanket; a tall warrior, on whom rested the startled eye +of every officer and soldier who was so situated as to +behold him. His face was painted black as death; and as +he stood under the arch of the gateway, with his white +turbaned head towering far above those of his companions, +this formidable and mysterious enemy might have been +likened to the spirit of darkness presiding over his +terrible legions. + +In order to account for the extraordinary appearance of +the Indians, armed in every way for death, at a moment +when neither gun nor tomahawk was apparently within miles +of their reach, it will be necessary to revert to the +first entrance of the chiefs into the fort. The fall of +Ponteac had been the effect of design; and the yell pealed +forth by him, on recovering his feet, as if in taunting +reply to the laugh of his comrades, was in reality a +signal intended for the guidance of the Indians without. +These, now following up their game with increasing spirit, +at once changed the direction of their line, bringing +the ball nearer to the fort. In their eagerness to effect +this object, they had overlooked the gradual secession +of the unarmed troops, spectators of their sport from +the ramparts, until scarcely more than twenty stragglers +were left. As they neared the gate, the squaws broke up +their several groups, and, forming a line on either hand +of the road leading to the drawbridge, appeared to separate +solely with a view not to impede the action of the players. +For an instant a dense group collected around the ball, +which had been driven to within a hundred yards of the +gate, and fifty hurdles were crossed in their endeavours +to secure it, when the warrior, who formed the solitary +exception to the multitude, in his blanket covering, and +who had been lingering in the extreme rear of the party, +came rapidly up to the spot where the well-affected +struggle was maintained. At his approach, the hurdles of +the other players were withdrawn, when, at a single blow +from his powerful arm, the ball was seen flying into the +air in an oblique direction, and was for a moment lost +altogether to the view. When it again met the eye, it +was descending perpendicularly into the very centre of +the fort. + +With the fleetness of thought now commenced a race that +had ostensibly for its object the recovery of the lost +ball; and in which, he who had driven it with such +resistless force outstripped them all. Their course lay +between the two lines of squaws; and scarcely had the +head of the bounding Indians reached the opposite extremity +of those lines, when the women suddenly threw back their +blankets, and disclosed each a short gun and a tomahawk. +To throw away their hurdles and seize upon these, was +the work of an instant. Already, in imagination, was the +fort their own; and, such was the peculiar exultation of +the black and turbaned warrior, when he felt the planks +of the drawbridge bending beneath his feet, all the +ferocious joy of his soul was pealed forth in the terrible +cry which, rapidly succeeded by that of the other Indians, +had resounded so fearfully through the council-room. What +their disappointment was, when, on gaining the interior, +they found the garrison prepared for their reception, +has already been shown. + +"Secure that traitor, men!" exclaimed the governor, +advancing into the square, and pointing to the black +warrior, whose quick eye was now glancing on every side, +to discover some assailable point in the formidable +defences of the troops. + +A laugh of scorn and derision escaped the lips of the +warrior. "Is there a man--are there any ten men, even +with Governor de Haldimar at their head, who will be bold +enough to attempt it?" he asked. "Nay!" he pursued, +stepping boldly a pace or two in front of the wondering +savages,--"here I stand singly, and defy your whole +garrison!" + +A sudden movement among the soldiers in the guard-room +announced they were preparing to execute the order of +their chief. The eye of the black warrior sparkled with +ferocious pleasure; and he made a gesture to his followers, +which was replied to by the sudden tension of their +hitherto relaxed forms into attitudes of expectance and +preparation. + +"Stay, men; quit not your cover for your lives!" commanded +the governor, in a loud deep voice:--"keep the barricades +fast, and move not." + +A cloud of anger and disappointment passed over the +features of the black warrior. It was evident the object +of his bravado was to draw the troops from their defences, +that they might be so mingled with their enemies as to +render the cannon useless, unless friends and foes (which +was by no means probable) should alike be sacrificed. +The governor had penetrated the design in time to prevent +the mischief. + +In a moment of uncontrollable rage, the savage warrior +aimed his tomahawk at the head of the governor. The latter +stepped lightly aside, and the steel sank with such force +into one of the posts supporting the piazza, that the +quivering handle snapped close off at its head. At that +moment, a single shot, fired from the guard-house, was +drowned in the yell of approbation which burst from the +lips of the dark crowd. The turban of the warrior was, +however, seen flying through the air, carried away by +the force of the bullet which had torn it from his head. +He himself was unharmed. + +"A narrow escape for us both, Colonel de Haldimar," he +observed, as soon as the yell had subsided, and with an +air of the most perfect unconcern. "Had my tomahawk obeyed +the first impulse of my heart, I should have cursed myself +and died: as it is, I have reason to avoid all useless +exposure of my own life, at present. A second bullet may +be better directed; and to die, robbed of my revenge, +would ill answer the purpose of a life devoted to its +attainment. Remember my pledge!" + +At the hasty command of the governor, a hundred muskets +were raised to the shoulders of his men; but, before a +single eye could glance along the barrel, the formidable +and active warrior had bounded over the heads of the +nearest Indians into a small space that was left unoccupied; +when, stooping suddenly to the earth, he disappeared +altogether from the view of his enemies. A slight movement +in the centre of the numerous band crowding the gateway, +and extending even beyond the bridge, was now discernible: +it was like the waving of a field of standing corn, +through which some animal rapidly winds its tortuous +course, bending aside as the object advances, and closing +again when it has passed. After the lapse of a minute, +the terrible warrior was seen to spring again to his +feet, far in the rear of the band; and then, uttering a +fierce shout of exultation, to make good his retreat +towards the forest. + +Meanwhile, Ponteac and the other chiefs of the council +continued rooted to the piazza on which they had rushed +at the unexpected display of the armed men behind the +scarlet curtain. The loud "Waugh" that burst from the +lips of all, on finding themselves thus foiled in their +schemes of massacre, had been succeeded, the instant +afterwards, by feelings of personal apprehension, which +each, however, had collectedness enough to disguise. Once +the Ottawa made a movement as if he would have cleared +the space that kept him from his warriors; but the +emphatical pointing of the finger of Colonel de Haldimar +to the levelled muskets of the men in the block-houses +prevented him, and the attempt was not repeated. It was +remarked by the officers, who also stood on the piazza, +close behind the chiefs, when the black warrior threw +his tomahawk at the governor, a shade of displeasure +passed over the features of the Ottawa; and that, when +he found the daring attempt was not retaliated on his +people, his countenance had been momentarily lighted up +with a satisfied expression, apparently marking his sense +of the forbearance so unexpectedly shown. + +"What says the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked +the governor calmly, and breaking a profound silence that +had succeeded to the last fierce yell of the formidable +being just departed. "Was the Saganaw not right, when he +said the Ottawa came with guile in his heart, and with +a lie upon his lips? But the Saganaw is not a fool, and +he can read the thoughts of his enemies upon their faces, +and long before their lips have spoken." + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the Indian; "my father is a great chief, +and his head is full of wisdom. Had he been feeble, like +the other chiefs of the Saganaw, the strong-hold of the +Detroit must have fallen, and the red skins would have +danced their war-dance round the scalps of his young men, +even in the council-room where they came to talk of +peace." + +"Does the great chief of the Ottawas see the big thunder +of the Saganaw?" pursued the governor: "if not, let him +open his eyes and look. The Saganaw has but to move his +lips, and swifter than the lightning would the pale faces +sweep away the warriors of the Ottawa, even where they +now stand: in less time than the Saganaw is now speaking, +would they mow them down like the grass of the Prairie." + +"Ugh!" again exclaimed the chief, with mixed doggedness +and fierceness: "if what my father says is true, why does +he not pour out his anger upon the red skins?" + +"Let the great chief of the Ottawas listen," replied the +governor with dignity. "When the great chiefs of all the +nations that are in league with the Ottawas came last to +the council, the Saganaw knew that they carried deceit +in their hearts, and that they never meant to smoke the +pipe of peace, or to bury the hatchet in the ground. The +Saganaw might have kept them prisoners, that their warriors +might be without a head; but he had given his word to +the great chief of the Ottawas, and the word of a Saganaw +is never broken. Even now, while both the chiefs and +the warriors are in his power,--he will not slay them, +for he wishes to show the Ottawa the desire of the Saganaw +is to be friendly with the red skins, and not to destroy +them. Wicked men from the Canadas have whispered lies in +the ear of the Ottawa; but a great chief should judge +for himself, and take council only from the wisdom of +his own heart. The Ottawa and his warriors may go," he +resumed, after a short pause; "the path by which they +came is again open to them. Let them depart in peace; +the big thunder of the Saganaw shall not harm them." + +The countenance of the Indian, who had clearly seen the +danger of his position, wore an expression of surprise +which could not be dissembled: low exclamations passed +between him and his companions; and, then pointing to +the tomahawk that lay half buried in the wood, he said, +doubtingly,-- + +"It was the pale face, the friend of the great chief of +the Ottawas, who struck the hatchet at my father. The +Ottawa is not a fool to believe the Saganaw can sleep +without revenge." + +"The great chief of the Ottawas shall know us better," +was the reply. "The young warriors of the Saganaw might +destroy their enemies where they now stand, but they seek +not their blood. When the Ottawa chief takes council from +his own heart, and not from the lips of a cowardly dog +of a pale face, who strikes his tomahawk and then flies, +his wisdom will tell him to make peace with the Saganaw, +whose warriors are without treachery, even as they are +without fear." + +Another of those deep interjectional "ughs" escaped the +chest of the proud Indian. + +"What my father says is good," he returned; "but the pale +face is a great warrior, and the Ottawa chief is his +friend. The Ottawa will go." + +He then addressed a few sentences, in a tongue unknown +to the officers, to the swarthy and anxious crowd in +front. These were answered by a low, sullen, yet assentient +grunt, from the united band, who now turned, though with +justifiable caution and distrust, and recrossed the +drawbridge without hinderance from the troops. Ponteac +waited until the last Indian had departed, and then making +a movement to the governor, which, with all its haughtiness, +was meant to mark his sense of the forbearance and good +faith that had been manifested, once more stalked proudly +and calmly across the area, followed by the remainder of +the chiefs. The officers who were with the governor +ascended to the ramparts, to follow their movements; and +it was not before their report had been made, that the +Indians were immerging once more into the heart of the +forest, the troops were withdrawn from their formidable +defences, and the gate of the fort again firmly secured. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +While the reader is left to pause over the rapid succession +of incidents resulting from the mysterious entrance of +the warrior of the Fleur de lis into the English fort, +be it our task to explain the circumstances connected +with the singular disappearance of Captain de Haldimar, +and the melancholy murder of his unfortunate servant. + +It will be recollected that the ill-fated Halloway, in +the course of his defence before the court-martial, +distinctly stated the voice of the individual who had +approached his post, calling on the name of Captain de +Haldimar, on the night of the alarm, to have been that +of a female, and that the language in which they +subsequently conversed was that of the Ottawa Indians. +This was strictly the fact; and the only error into which +the unfortunate soldier had fallen, had reference merely +to the character and motives of the party. He had naturally +imagined, as he had stated, it was some young female of +the village, whom attachment for his officer had driven +to the desperate determination of seeking an interview; +nor was this impression at all weakened by the subsequent +discourse of the parties in the Indian tongue, with which +it was well known most of the Canadians, both male and +female, were more or less conversant. The subject of that +short, low, and hurried conference was, indeed, one that +well warranted the singular intrusion; and, in the +declaration of Halloway, we have already seen the importance +and anxiety attached by the young officer to the +communication. Without waiting to repeat the motives +assigned for his departure, and the prayers and +expostulations to which he had recourse to overcome the +determination and sense of duty of the unfortunate +sentinel, let us pass at once to the moment when, after +having cleared the ditch, conjointly with his faithful +follower, in the manner already shown, Captain de Haldimar +first stood side by side with his midnight visitant. + +The night, it has elsewhere been observed, was clear and +starry, so that objects upon the common, such as the rude +stump that here and there raised its dark low head above +the surface, might be dimly seen in the distance. To +obviate the danger of discovery by the sentinels, appeared +to be the first study of the female; for, when Captain +de Haldimar, followed by his servant, had reached the +spot on which she stood, she put the forefinger of one +hand to her lips, and with the other pointed to his booted +foot. A corresponding signal showed that the lightness +of the material offered little risk of betrayal. Donellan, +however, was made to doff his heavy ammunition shoes; +and, with this precaution, they all stole hastily along, +under the shadows of the projecting ramparts, until they +had gained the extreme rear. Here the female suddenly +raised her tall figure from the stooping position in +which she, as well as her companions, had performed the +dangerous circuit; and, placing her finger once more +significantly on her lips, led in the direction of the +bomb-proof, unperceived by the sentinels, most of whom, +it is probable, had, up to the moment of the alarm +subsequently given, been too much overcome by previous +watching and excitement to have kept the most vigilant +look-out. + +Arrived at the skirt of the forest, the little party drew +up within the shadow of the ruin, and a short and earnest +dialogue ensued, in Indian, between the female and the +officer. This was succeeded by a command from the latter +to his servant, who, after a momentary but respectful +expostulation, which, however, was utterly lost on him +to whom it was addressed, proceeded to divest himself of +his humble apparel, assuming in exchange the more elegant +uniform of his superior. Donellan, who was also of the +grenadiers, was remarkable for the resemblance he bore, +in figure, to Captain de Haldimar; wanting, it is true, +the grace and freedom of movement of the latter, but +still presenting an outline which, in an attitude of +profound repose, might, as it subsequently did, have set +even those who were most intimate with the officer at +fault. + +"This is well," observed the female, as the young man +proceeded to induct himself in the grey coat of his +servant, having previously drawn the glazed hat close +over his waving and redundant hair: "if the Saganaw is +ready, Oucanasta will go." + +"Sure, and your honour does not mane to lave me behind!" +exclaimed the anxious soldier, as his captain now +recommended him to stand closely concealed near the ruin +until his return. "Who knows what ambuscade the she-divil +may not lade your honour into; and thin who will you have +to bring you out of it?" + +"No, Donellan, it must not be: I first intended it, as +you may perceive by my bringing you out; but the expedition +on which I am going is of the utmost importance to us +all, and too much precaution cannot be taken. I fear no +ambuscade, for I can depend on the fidelity of my guide; +but the presence of a third person would only embarrass, +without assisting me in the least. You must remain behind; +the woman insists upon it, and there is no more to be +said." + +"To ould Nick with the ugly winch, for her pains!" half +muttered the disappointed soldier to himself. "I wish it +may be as your honour says; but my mind misgives me sadly +that evil will come of this. Has your honour secured the +pistols?" + +"They are here," returned his captain, placing a hand on +either chest. "And now, Donellan, mark me: I know nothing +that can detain me longer than an hour; at least the +woman assures me, and I believe her, that I may be back +then; but it is well to guard against accidents. You must +continue here for the hour, and for the hour only. If I +come not then, return to the fort without delay, for the +rope must be removed, and the gate secured, before Halloway +is relieved. The keys you will find in the pocket of my +uniform: when you have done with them, let them be hung +up in their proper place in the guard-room. My father +must not know either that Halloway suffered me to pass +the gate, or that you accompanied me." + +"Lord love us! your honour talks as if you nivir would +return, giving such a heap of orders!" exclaimed the +startled man; "but if I go back alone, as I trust in +heaven I shall not, how am I to account for being dressed +in your honour's rigimintals?" + +"I tell you, Donellan," impatiently returned the officer, +"that I shall be back; but I only wish to guard against +accidents. The instant you get into the fort, you will +take off my clothes and resume your own. Who the devil +is to see you in the uniform, unless it be Halloway?" + +"If the Saganaw would not see the earth red with the +blood of his race, he will go," interrupted the female. +"Oucanasta can feel the breath of the morning fresh upon +her cheek, and the council of the chiefs must be begun." + +"The Saganaw is ready, and Oucanasta shall lead the way," +hastily returned the officer. "One word more, Donellan;" +and he pressed the hand of his domestic kindly: "should +I not return, you must, without committing Halloway or +yourself, cause my father to be apprised that the Indians +meditate a deep and treacherous plan to get possession +of the fort. What that plan is, I know not yet myself, +neither does this woman know; but she says that I shall +hear it discussed unseen, even in the heart of their own +encampment. All you have to do is to acquaint my father +with the existence of danger. And now be cautious: above +all things, keep close under the shadow of the bomb-proof; +for there are scouts constantly prowling about the common, +and the glittering of the uniform in the starlight may +betray you." + +"But why may I not follow your honour?" again urged the +faithful soldier; "and where is the use of my remaining +here to count the stars, and hear the 'All's well!' from +the fort, when I could be so much better employed in +guarding your honour from harm? What sort of protection +can that Ingian woman afford, who is of the race of our +bitterest enemies, them cursed Ottawas, and your honour +venturing, too, like a spy into the very heart of the +blood-hounds? Ah, Captain de Haldimar, for the love of +God, do not trust yourself alone with her, or I am sure +I shall never see your honour again!" + +The last words (unhappily too prophetic) fell only on +the ear of him who uttered them. The female and the +officer had already disappeared round an abrupt angle of +the bomb-proof; and the soldier, as directed by his +master, now drew up his tall figure against the ruin, +where he continued for a period immovable, as if he had +been planted there in his ordinary character of sentinel, +listening, until they eventually died away in distance, +to the receding footsteps of his master; and then ruminating +on the several apprehensions that crowded on his mind, +in regard to the probable issue of his adventurous project. + +Meanwhile, Captain de Haldimar and his guide trod the +mazes of the forest, with an expedition that proved the +latter to be well acquainted with its bearings. On quitting +the bomb-proof, she had struck into a narrow winding +path, less seen than felt in the deep gloom pervading +the wood, and with light steps bounded over obstacles +that lay strewed in their course, emitting scarcely more +sound than would have been produced by the slimy crawl +of its native rattlesnake. Not so, however, with the less +experienced tread of her companion. Wanting the pliancy +of movement given to it by the light mocassin, the booted +foot of the young officer, despite of all his precaution, +fell heavily to the ground, producing such a rustling +among the dried leaves, that, had an Indian ear been +lurking any where around, his approach must inevitably +have been betrayed. More than once, too, neglecting to +follow the injunction of his companion, who moved in a +stooping posture, with her head bent over her chest, his +hat was caught in the closely matted branches, and fell +sullenly and heavily to the earth, evidently much to the +discomfiture of his guide. + +At length they stood on the verge of a dark and precipitous +ravine, the abrupt sides of which were studded with +underwood, so completely interwoven, that all passage +appeared impracticable. What, however, seemed an +insurmountable obstacle, proved, in reality, an inestimable +advantage; for it was by clinging to this, in imitation +of the example set him by his companion, the young officer +was prevented from rolling into an abyss, the depth of +which was lost in the profound obscurity that pervaded +the scene. Through the bed of this dark dell rolled a +narrow stream, so imperceptible to the eye in the "living +darkness," and so noiseless in its course, that it was +not until warned by his companion he stood on the very +brink of it, Captain de Haldimar was made sensible of +its existence. Both cleared it at a single bound, in +which the activity of the female was not the least +conspicuous, and, clambering up the opposite steep, +secured their footing, by the aid of the same underwood +that had assisted them in their descent. + +On gaining the other summit, which was not done without +detaching several loose stones from their sandy bed, they +again, fell into the path, which had been lost sight of +in traversing the ravine. They had proceeded along this +about half a mile, when the female suddenly stopped, and +pointing to a dim and lurid atmosphere that now began to +show itself between the thin foliage, whispered that in +the opening beyond stood the encampment of the Indians. +She then seated herself on the trunk of a fallen tree, +that lay at the side of the almost invisible path they +had hitherto pursued, and motioning to her companion to +unboot himself, proceeded to unlace the fastenings of +her mocassins. + +"The foot of the Saganaw must fall like the night dew on +the prairie," she observed: "the ear of the red skin is +quicker than the lightning, and he will know that a pale +face is near, if he hear but his tread upon a blade of +grass." + +Gallantry in the civilised man is a sentiment that never +wholly abandons him; and in whatever clime he may be +thrown, or under whatever circumstances he may be +placed,--be it called forth by white or by blackamoor,--it +is certain to influence his conduct: it is a refinement, +of that instinctive deference to the weaker sex, which +nature has implanted in him for the wisest of purposes; +and which, while it tends to exalt those to whom its +influence is extended, fails not to reflect a corresponding +lustre on himself. + +The young officer had, at the first suggestion of his +guide, divested himself of his boots, prepared to perform +the remainder of the journey merely in his stockings, +but his companion now threw herself on her knees before +him, and, without further ceremony, proceeded to draw +over his foot one of the mocassins she had just +relinquished. + +"The feet of the Saganaw are soft as those of a young +child," she remarked, in a voice of commiseration; "but +the mocassins of Oucanasta shall protect them from the +thorns of the forest." + +This was too un-European,--too much reversing the +established order of things, to be borne patiently. As +if he had felt the dignity of his manhood offended by +the proposal, the officer drew his foot hastily back, +declaring, as he sprang from the log, he did not care +for the thorns, and could not think of depriving a female, +who must be much more sensible of pain than himself. + +Oucanasta, however, was not to be outdone in politeness. +She calmly reseated herself on the log, drew her right +foot over her left knee, caught one of the hands of her +companion, and placing it upon the naked sole, desired +him to feel how impervious to attack of every description +was that indurated portion of the lower limb. + +This practical argument was not without its weight, and +had more effect in deciding the officer than a volume of +remonstrance. Most men love to render tribute to a delicate +and pretty foot. Some, indeed, go so far as to connect +every thing feminine with these qualities, and to believe +that nothing can be feminine without them. For our parts, +we confess, that, although no enemies to a pretty foot, +it is by no means a sine qua non in our estimate of female +perfection; being in no way disposed, where the head and +heart are gems, to undervalue these in consideration of +any deficiency in the heels. Captain de Haldimar probably +thought otherwise; for when he had passed his unwilling +hand over the foot of Oucanasta, which, whatever her face +might have been, was certainly any thing but delicate, +and encountered numerous ragged excrescences and raspy +callosities that set all symmetry at defiance, a wonderful +revolution came over his feelings; and, secretly determining +the mocassins would be equally well placed on his own +feet, he no longer offered any opposition. + +This important point arranged, the officer once more +followed his guide in silence. Gradually the forest, as +they advanced, became lighter with the lurid atmosphere +before alluded to; and at length, through the trees, +could be indistinctly seen the Indian fires from which +it proceeded. The young man was now desired by his +conductress to use the utmost circumspection in making +the circuit of the wood, in order to gain a position +immediately opposite to the point where the path they +had hitherto pursued terminated in the opening. This, +indeed, was the most dangerous and critical part of the +undertaking. A false step, or the crackling of a decayed +branch beneath the foot, would have been sufficient to +betray proximity, in which case his doom was sealed. + +Fortunate did he now deem himself in having yielded to +the counsel of his guide. Had he retained his unbending +boot, it must have crushed whatever it pressed; whereas, +the pliant mocassin, yielding to the obstacles it +encountered, enabled him to pass noiselessly over them. +Still, while exempt from danger on this score, another, +scarcely less perplexing, became at every instant more +obvious; for, as they drew nearer to the point which the +female sought to gain, the dim light of the half-slumbering +fires fell so immediately upon their path, that had a +single human eye been turned in that direction, their +discovery was inevitable. It was with a beating heart, +to which mere personal fear, however, was a stranger, +that Captain de Haldimar performed this concluding stage +of his adventurous course; but, at a moment when he +considered detection unavoidable, and was arming himself +with resolution to meet the event, the female suddenly +halted, placing, in the act, the trunk of an enormous +beech between her companion and the dusky forms within, +whose very breathing could be heard by the anxious officer. +Without uttering a word, she took his hand, and, drawing +him gently forward, disappeared altogether from his view. +The young man followed, and in the next moment found +himself in the bowelless body of the tree itself; into +which, on the side of the encampment, both light and +sound were admitted by a small aperture formed by the +natural decay of the wood. + +The Indian pressed her lips to the ear of her companion, +and rather breathed than said,--"The Saganaw will see +and hear every thing from this in safety; and what he +hears let him treasure in his heart. Oucanasta must go. +When the council is over she will return, and lead him +back to his warriors." + +With this brief intimation she departed, and so noiselessly, +that the young officer was not aware of her absence until +some minutes of silence had satisfied him she must be +gone. His first care then was to survey, through the +aperture that lay in a level with his eye, the character +of the scene before him. The small plain, in which lay +the encampment of the Indians, was a sort of oasis of +the forest, girt round with a rude belt of underwood, +and somewhat elevated, so as to present the appearance +of a mound, constructed on the first principles of art. +This was thickly although irregularly studded with tents, +some of which were formed of large coarse mats thrown +over poles disposed in a conical shape, while others were +more rudely composed of the leafy branches of the forest. + +Within these groups of human forms lay, wrapped in their +blankets, stretched at their lazy length. Others, with +their feet placed close to the dying embers of their +fires, diverged like so many radii from their centre, +and lay motionless in sleep, as if life and consciousness +were wholly extinct. Here and there was to be seen a +solitary warrior securing, with admirable neatness, and +with delicate ligatures formed of the sinew of the deer, +the guiding feather, or fashioning the bony barb of his +long arrow; while others, with the same warlike spirit +in view, employed themselves in cutting and greasing +small patches of smoked deerskin, which were to secure +and give a more certain direction to the murderous bullet. +Among the warriors were interspersed many women, some of +whom might be seen supporting in their laps the heavy +heads of their unconscious helpmates, while they occupied +themselves, by the firelight, in parting the long black +matted hair, and maintaining a destructive warfare against +the pigmy inhabitants of that dark region. These signs +of life and activity in the body of the camp generally +were, however, but few and occasional; but, at the spot +where Captain de Haldimar stood concealed, the scene was +different. At a few yards from the tree stood a sort of +shed, composed of tall poles placed upright in the earth, +and supporting a roof formed simply of rude boughs, the +foliage of which had been withered by time. This simple +edifice might be about fifty feet in circumference. In +the centre blazed a large fire that had been newly fed, +and around this were assembled a band of swarthy warriors, +some twenty or thirty in number, who, by their proud, +calm, and thoughtful bearing, might at once be known to +be chiefs. + +The faces of most of these were familiar to the young +officer, who speedily recognised them for the principals +of the various tribes Ponteac had leagued in arms against +his enemies. That chief himself, ever remarkable for +his haughty eye and commanding gesture, was of the number +of those present; and, a little aloof from his inferiors, +sat, with his feet stretched towards the fire, and half +reclining on his side in an attitude of indolence; yet +with his mind evidently engrossed by deep and absorbing +thought. From some observations that distinctly met his +ear, Captain de Haldimar gathered, the party were only +awaiting the arrival of an important character, without +whose presence the leading chief was unwilling the +conference should begin. The period of the officer's +concealment had just been long enough to enable him to +fix all these particulars in his mind, when suddenly the +faint report of a distant rifle was heard echoing throughout +the wood. This was instantly succeeded by a second, that +sounded more sharply on the ear; and then followed a long +and piercing cry, that brought every warrior, even of +those who slept, quickly to his feet. + +An anxious interval of some minutes passed away in the +fixed and listening attitudes, which the chiefs especially +had assumed, when a noise resembling that of some animal +forcing its way rapidly through the rustling branches, +was faintly heard in the direction in which the shots +had been fired. This gradually increased as it evidently +approached the encampment, and then, distinctly, could +be heard the light yet unguarded boundings of a human +foot. At every moment the rustling of the underwood, +rapidly divided by the approaching form, became more +audible; and so closely did the intruder press upon the +point in which Captain de Haldimar was concealed, that +that officer, fancying he had been betrayed, turned +hastily round, and, grasping one of the pistols he had +secreted in his chest, prepared himself for a last and +deadly encounter. An instant or two was sufficient to +re-assure him. The form glided hastily past, brushing +the tree with its garments in its course, and clearing, +at a single bound, the belt of underwood that divided +the encampment from the tall forest, stood suddenly among +the group of anxious and expectant chiefs. + +This individual, a man of tall stature, was powerfully +made. He wore a jerkin, or hunting-coat, of leather; and +his arms were, a rifle which had every appearance of +having just been discharged, a tomahawk reeking with +blood, and a scalping-knife, which, in the hurry of some +recent service it had been made to perform, had missed +its sheath, and was thrust naked into the belt that +encircled his loins. His countenance wore an expression +of malignant triumph; and as his eye fell on the assembled +throng, its self-satisfied and exulting glance seemed to +give them to understand he came not without credentials +to recommend him to their notice. Captain de Haldimar +was particularly struck by the air of bold daring and +almost insolent recklessness pervading every movement of +this man; and it was difficult to say whether the +haughtiness of bearing peculiar to Ponteac himself, was +not exceeded by that of this herculean warrior. + +By the body of chiefs his appearance had been greeted +with a mere general grunt of approbation; but the +countenance of the leader expressed a more personal +interest. All seemed to expect he had something of moment +to communicate; but as it was not consistent with the +dignity of Indian etiquette to enquire, they waited calmly +until it should please their new associate to enter on +the history of his exploits. In pursuance of an invitation +from Ponteac, he now took his seat on the right hand of +that chief, and immediately facing the tree, from which +Captain de Haldimar, strongly excited both by the reports +of the shots that had been fired, and the sight of the +bloody tomahawk of the recently arrived Indian, gazed +earnestly and anxiously on the swarthy throng. + +Glancing once more triumphantly round the circle, who +sat smoking their pipes in calm and deliberative silence, +the latter now observed the eye of a young chief, who +sat opposite to him, intently riveted on his left shoulder. +He raised his hand to the part, withdrew it, looked at +it, and found it wet with blood. A slight start of surprise +betrayed his own unconsciousness of the accident; yet, +secretly vexed at the discovery which had been made, and +urged probably by one of his wayward fits, he demanded +haughtily and insultingly of the young chief, if that +was the first time he had ever looked on the blood of a +warrior. + +"Does my brother feel pain?" was the taunting reply. "If +he is come to us with a trophy, it is not without being +dearly bought. The Saganaw has spilt his blood." + +"The weapons of the Saganaw, like those of the smooth +face of the Ottawa, are without sting," angrily retorted +the other. "They only prick the skin like a thorn; but +when Wacousta drinks the blood of his enemy," and he +glanced his eye fiercely at the young man, "it is the +blood next his heart." + +"My brother has always big words upon his lips," returned +the young chief, with a scornful sneer at the implied +threat against himself. "But where are his proofs?" + +For a moment the eye of the party thus challenged kindled +into flame, while his lips were firmly compressed together; +and as he half bent himself forward, to scan with greater +earnestness the features of his questioner, his right +hand sank to his left side, tightly grasping the handle +of his scalping-knife. The action was but momentary. +Again he drew himself up, puffed the smoke deliberately +from his bloody tomahawk, and, thrusting his right hand +into his bosom, drew leisurely forth a reeking scalp, +which he tossed insolently across the fire into the lap +of the young chief. A loud and general "ugh!" testified +the approbation of the assembled group, at the unequivocal +answer thus given to the demand of the youth. The eye +of the huge warrior sparkled with a deep and ferocious +exultation. + +"What says the smooth face of the Ottawas now?" he +demanded, in the same insolent strain. "Does it make his +heart sick to look upon the scalp of a great chief?" + +The young man quietly turned the horrid trophy over +several times in his hand, examining it attentively in +every part. Then tossing it back with contemptuous coolness +to its owner, he replied,-- + +"The eyes of my brother are weak with age. He is not +cunning, like a red skin. The Ottawa has often seen the +Saganaw in their fort, and he knows their chiefs have +fine hair like women; but this is like the bristles of +the fox. My brother has not slain a great chief, but a +common warrior." + +A flush of irrepressible and threatening anger passed +over the features of the vast savage. + +"Is it for a boy," he fiercely asked, "whose eyes know +not yet the colour of blood, to judge of the enemies that +fall by the tomahawk of Wacousta? but a great warrior +never boasts of actions that he does not achieve. It is +the son of the great chief of the Saganaw whom he has +slain. If the smooth face doubts it, and has courage to +venture, even at night, within a hundred yards of the +fort, he will see a Saganaw without a scalp; and he will +know that Saganaw by his dress--the dress," he pursued, +with a low emphatic laugh, "that Oucanasta, the sister +of the smooth face, loved so much to look upon." + +Quicker than thought was the upspringing of the young +Indian to his feet. With a cheek glowing, an eye flashing, +and his gleaming tomahawk whirling rapidly round his +head, he cleared at a single bound the fire that separated +him from his insulter. The formidable man who had thus +wantonly provoked the attack, was equally prompt in +meeting it. At the first movement of the youth, he too +had leapt to his feet, and brandished the terrible weapon +that served in the double capacity of pipe and hatchet. +A fierce yell escaped the lips of each, as they thus met +in close and hostile collision, and the scene for the +moment promised to be one of the most tragic character; +but before either could find an assailable point on which +to rest his formidable weapon, Ponteac himself had thrown +his person between them, and in a voice of thunder +commanded the instant abandonment of their purpose. +Exasperated even as they now mutually were, the influence +of that authority, for which the great chief of the +Ottawas was well known, was not without due effect on +the combatants. His anger was principally directed against +the assailant, on whom the tones of his reproving voice +produced a change the intimidation of his powerful opponent +could never have effected. The young chief dropped the +point of his tomahawk, bowed his head in submission, and +then resuming his seat, sat during the remainder of the +night with his arms folded, and his head bent in silence +over his chest. + +"Our brother has done well," said Ponteac, glancing +approvingly at him who had exhibited the reeking trophy, +and whom he evidently favoured. "He is a great chief, +and his words are truth. We heard the report of his rifle, +and we also heard the cry that told he had borne away +the scalp of an enemy. But we will think of this to-morrow. +Let us now commence our talk." + +Our readers will readily imagine the feelings of Captain +de Haldimar during this short but exciting scene. From +the account given by the warrior, there could be no doubt +the murdered man was the unhappy Donellan; who, probably, +neglecting the caution given him, had exposed himself to +the murderous aim of this fierce being, who was apparently +a scout sent for the purpose of watching the movements +of the garrison. The direction of the firing, the allusion +made to the regimentals, nay, the scalp itself, which he +knew from the short crop to be that of a soldier, and +fancied he recognised from its colour to be that of his +servant, formed but too conclusive evidence of the fact; +and, bitterly and deeply, as he gazed on this melancholy +proof of the man's sacrifice of life to his interest, +did he repent that he had made him the companion of his +adventure, or that, having done so, he had not either +brought him away altogether, or sent him instantly back +to the fort. Commiseration for the fate of the unfortunate +Donellan naturally induced a spirit of personal hostility +towards his destroyer; and it was with feelings strongly +excited in favour of him whom he now discovered to be +the brother of his guide, that he saw him spring fiercely +to the attack of his gigantic opponent. There was an +activity about the young chief amply commensurate with +the greater physical power of his adversary; while the +manner in which he wielded his tomahawk, proved him to +be any thing but the novice in the use of the formidable +weapon the other had represented him. It was with a +feeling of disappointment, therefore, which the peculiarity +of his own position could not overcome, he saw Ponteac +interpose himself between the parties. + +Presently, however, a subject of deeper and more absorbing +interest than even the fate of his unhappy follower +engrossed every faculty of his mind, and riveted both +eye and ear in painful tension to the aperture in his +hiding-place. The chiefs had resumed their places, and +the silence of a few minutes had succeeded to the fierce +affray of the warriors, when Ponteac, in a calm and +deliberate voice, proceeded to state he had summoned all +the heads of the nations together, to hear a plan he had +to offer for the reduction of the last remaining forts +of their enemies, Michilimackinac and Detroit. He pointed +out the tediousness of the warfare in which they were +engaged; the desertion of the hunting-grounds by their +warriors; and their consequent deficiency in all those +articles of European traffic which they were formerly in +the habit of receiving in exchange for their furs. He +dwelt on the beneficial results that would accrue to them +all in the event of the reduction of those two important +fortresses; since, in that case, they would be enabled +to make such terms with the English as would secure to +them considerable advantages; while, instead of being +treated with the indignity of a conquered people, they +would be enabled to command respect from the imposing +attitude this final crowning of their successes would +enable them to assume. He stated that the prudence and +vigilance of the commanders of these two unreduced +fortresses were likely long to baffle, as had hitherto +been the case, every open attempt at their capture; and +admitted he had little expectation of terrifying them +into a surrender by the same artifice that had succeeded +with the forts on the Ohio and the lower lakes. The plan, +however, which he had to propose, was one he felt assured +would be attended with success. He would disclose that +plan, and the great chiefs should give it the advantage +of their deliberation. + +Captain de Haldimar was on the rack. The chief had +gradually dropped his voice as he explained his plan, +until at length it became so low, that undistinguishable +sounds alone reached the ear of the excited officer. For +a moment he despaired of making himself fully master of +the important secret; but in the course of the deliberation +that ensued, the blanks left unsupplied in the discourse +of the leader were abundantly filled up. It was what the +reader has already seen. The necessities of the Indians +were to be urged as a motive for their being tired of +hostilities. A peace was to be solicited; a council held; +a ball-playing among the warriors proposed, as a mark of +their own sincerity and confidence during that council; +and when the garrison, lulled into security, should be +thrown entirely off their guard, the warriors were to +seize their guns and tomahawks, with which (the former +cut short, for the better concealment of their purpose) +their women would be provided, rush in, under pretext of +regaining their lost ball, when a universal massacre of +men, women, and children was to ensue, until nothing +wearing the garb of a Saganaw should be left. + +It would be tedious to follow the chief through all the +minor ramifications of his subtle plan. Suffice it they +were of a nature to throw the most wary off his guard; +and so admirably arranged was every part, so certain did +it appear their enemies must give into the snare, that +the oldest chiefs testified their approbation with a +vivacity of manner and expression little wont to +characterize the deliberative meetings of these reserved +people. But deepest of all was the approval of the tall +warrior who had so recently arrived. To him had the +discourse of the leader been principally directed, as +one whose counsel and experience were especially wanting +to confirm him in his purpose. He was the last who spoke; +but, when he did, it was with a force--an energy--that +must have sunk every objection, even if the plan had not +been so perfect and unexceptionable in its concoction as +to have precluded a possibility of all negative argument. +During the delivery of his animated speech, his swarthy +countenance kindled into fierce and rapidly varying +expression. A thousand dark and complicated passions +evidently struggled at his heart; and as he dwelt leisurely +and emphatically on the sacrifice of human life that must +inevitably attend the adoption of the proposed measure, +his eye grew larger, his chest expanded, nay, his very +nostril appeared to dilate with unfathomably guileful +exultation. Captain de Haldimar thought he had never +gazed on any thing wearing the human shape half so +atrociously savage. + +Long before the council was terminated, the inferior +warriors, who had been so suddenly aroused from their +slumbering attitudes, had again retired to their tents, +and stretched their lazy length before the embers of +their fires. The weary chiefs now prepared to follow +their example. They emptied the ashes from the bowls of +their pipe-tomahawks, replaced them carefully at their +side, rose, and retired to their respective tents. Ponteac +and the tall warrior alone remained. For a time they +conversed earnestly together. The former listened +attentively to some observations made to him by his +companion, in the course of which, the words "chief of +the Saganaw--fort--spy--enemy," and two or three others +equally unconnected, were alone audible to the ear of +him who so attentively sought to catch the slightest +sound. He then thrust his hand under his hunting-coat, +and, as if in confirmation of what he had been stating, +exhibited a coil of rope and the glossy boot of an English +officer. Ponteac uttered one of his sharp ejaculating +"ughs!" and then rising quickly from his seat, followed +by his companion, soon disappeared in the heart of the +encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +How shall we attempt to paint all that passed through +the mind of Captain de Haldimar during this important +conference of the fierce chiefs?--where find language to +convey the cold and thrilling horror with which he listened +to the calm discussion of a plan, the object of which +was the massacre, not only of a host of beings endeared +to him by long communionship of service, but of those +who were wedded to his heart by the dearer ties of +affection and kindred? As Ponteac had justly observed, +the English garrisons, strong in their own defences, were +little likely to be speedily reduced, while their enemies +confined themselves to overt acts of hostility; but, +against their insidious professions of amity who could +oppose a sufficient caution? His father, the young officer +was aware, had all along manifested a spirit of conciliation +towards the Indians, which, if followed up by the government +generally, must have had the effect of preventing the +cruel and sanguinary war that had so recently desolated +this remote part of the British possessions. How likely, +therefore, was it, having this object always in view, he +should give in to the present wily stratagem, where such +plausible motives for the abandonment of their hostile +purpose were urged by the perfidious chiefs! From the +few hasty hints already given him by his guide,--that +kind being, who evidently sought to be the saviour of +the devoted garrisons,--he had gathered that a deep and +artful plan was to be submitted to the chiefs by their +leader; but little did he imagine it was of the finished +nature it now proved to be. Any other than the present +attempt, the vigilance and prudence of his experienced +father, he felt, would have rendered abortive; but there +was so much speciousness in the pleas that were to be +advanced in furtherance of their assumed object, he could +not but admit the almost certainty of their influence, +even on him. + +Sick and discouraged as he was at the horrible perspective +thus forced on his mental view, the young officer had +not, for some moments, presence of mind to reflect that +the danger of the garrison existed only so long as he +should be absent from it. At length, however, the cheering +recollection came, and with it the mantling rush of blood, +to his faint heart. But, short was the consoling hope: +again he felt dismay in every fibre of his frame; for he +now reflected, that although his opportune discovery of +the meditated scheme would save one fort, there was no +guardian angel to extend, as in this instance, its +protecting influence to the other; and within that other +there breathed those who were dearer far to him than his +own existence;--beings, whose lives were far more precious +to him than any even in the garrison of which he was a +member. His sister Clara, whom he loved with a love little +inferior to that of his younger brother; and one, even +more dearly loved than Clara,--Madeline de Haldimar, his +cousin and affianced bride,--were both inmates of +Michilimackinac, which was commanded by the father of +the latter, a major in the ---- regiment. With Madeline +de Haldimar he had long since exchanged his vows of +affection; and their nuptials, which were to have taken +place about the period when the present war broke out, +had only been suspended because all communication between +the two posts had been entirely cut off by the enemy. + +Captain de Haldimar had none of the natural weakness and +timidity of character which belonged to the gentler and +more sensitive Charles. Sanguine and full of enterprise, +he seldom met evils half way; but when they did come, he +sought to master them by the firmness and collectedness +with which he opposed his mind to their infliction. If +his heart was now racked with the most acute suffering--his +reason incapacitated from exercising its calm deliberative +power, the seeming contradiction arose not from any +deficiency in his character, but was attributable wholly +to the extraordinary circumstances of the moment. + +It was a part of the profound plan of the Ottawa chief, +that it should be essayed on the two forts on the same +day; and it was a suggestion of the murderer of poor +Donellan, that a parley should be obtained, through the +medium of a white flag, the nature of which he explained +to them, as it was understood among their enemies. If +invited to the council, then they were to enter, or not, +as circumstances might induce; but, in any case, they +were to go unprovided with the pipe of peace, since this +could not be smoked without violating every thing held +most sacred among themselves. The red, or war-pipe, was +to be substituted as if by accident; and, for the success +of the deception, they were to presume on the ignorance +of their enemies. This, however, was not important, since +the period of their first parley was to be the moment +chosen for the arrangement of a future council, and the +proposal of a ball-playing upon the common. Three days +were to be named as the interval between the first +conference of Ponteac with the governor and the definitive +council which was to ensue; during which, however, it +was so arranged, that, before the lip of a red skin should +touch the pipe of peace, the ball-players should rush in +and massacre the unprepared soldiery, while the chiefs +despatched the officers in council. + +It was the proximity of the period allotted for the +execution of their cruel scheme that mainly contributed +to the dismay of Captain de Haldimar. The very next day +was appointed for carrying into effect the first part of +the Indian plan: and how was it possible that a messenger, +even admitting he should elude the vigilance of the enemy, +could reach the distant post of Michilimackinac within +the short period on which hung the destiny of that devoted +fortress. In the midst of the confused and distracting +images that now crowded on his brain, came at length one +thought, redolent with the brightest colourings of hope. +On his return to the garrison, the treachery of the +Indians being made known, the governor might so far, and +with a view of gaining time, give in to the plan of his +enemies, as to obtain such delay as would afford the +chance of communication between the forts. The attempt, +on the part of those who should be selected for this +purpose, would, it is true, be a desperate one: still +it must be made; and, with such incentives to exertion +as he had, how willingly would he propose his own services! + +The more he dwelt on this mode of defeating the subtle +designs of the enemy, the more practicable did it appear. +Of his own safe return to the fort he entertained not a +doubt; for he knew and relied on the Indian woman, who +was bound to him by a tie of gratitude, which her conduct +that night evidently denoted to be superior even to the +interests of her race. Moreover, as he had approached +the encampment unnoticed while the chiefs were yet awake +to every thing around them, how little probability was +there of his return being detected while all lay wrapped +in the most profound repose. It is true that, for a +moment, his confidence deserted him as he recurred to +the earnest dialogue of the two Indians, and the sudden +display of the rope and boot, the latter of which articles +he had at once recognised to be one of those he had so +recently worn; but his apprehensions on that score were +again speedily set to rest, when he reflected, had any +suspicion existed in the minds of these men that an enemy +was lurking near them, a general alarm would have been +spread, and hundreds of warriors despatched to scour the +forest. + +The night was now rapidly waning away, and already the +cold damp air of an autumnal morning was beginning to +make itself felt. More than half an hour had elapsed +since the departure of Ponteac and his companion, and +yet Oucanasta came not. With a sense of the approach of +day came new and discouraging thoughts, and, for some +minutes, the mind of the young officer became petrified +with horror, as he reflected on the bare possibility of +his escape being intercepted. The more he lingered on +this apprehension, the more bewildered were his ideas; +and already, in horrible perspective, he beheld the +destruction of his nearest and dearest friends, and the +host of those who were humbler followers, and partakers +in the same destiny. Absolutely terrified with the +misgivings of his own heart, he, in the wildness and +unconnectedness of his purpose, now resolved to make the +attempt to return alone, although he knew not even the +situation of the path he had so recently quitted. He had +actually moved a pace forward on his desperate enterprise, +when he felt a band touching the extended arm with which +he groped to find the entrance to his hiding-place. The +unexpected collision sent a cold shudder through his +frame; and such was the excitement to which he had worked +himself up, it was not without difficulty he suppressed +an exclamation, that must inevitably have sealed his +doom. The soft tones of Oucanasta's voice re-assured him. + +"The day will soon dawn," she whispered; "the Saganaw +must go." + +With the return of hope came the sense of all he owed to +the devotedness of this kind woman. He grasped the hand +that still lingered on his arm, pressed it affectionately +in his own, and then placed it in silence on his throbbing +heart. The breathing of Oucanasta became deeper, and the +young officer fancied he could feel her trembling with +agitation. Again, however, and in a tone of more subdued +expression, she whispered that he must go. + +There was little urging necessary to induce a prompt +compliance with the hint. Cautiously emerging from his +concealment, Captain de Haldimar now followed close in +the rear of his guide, who took the same circuit of the +forest to reach the path that led towards the fort. This +they speedily gained, and then pursued their course in +silence, until they at length arrived at the log where +the exchange of mocassins had been made. + +"Here the Saganaw may take breath," she observed, as she +seated herself on the fallen tree; "the sleep of the red +skin is sound, and there is no one upon the path but +Oucanasta." + +Anxious as he felt to secure his return to the fort, +there was an implied solicitation in the tones of her to +whom he owed so much, that prevented Captain de Haldimar +from offering an objection, which he feared might be +construed into slight. + +For a moment or two the Indian remained with her arms +folded, and her head bent over her chest; and then, in +a low, deep, but tremulous voice, observed,-- + +"When the Saganaw saved Oucanasta from perishing in the +angry waters, there was a girl of the pale faces with +him, whose skin was like the snows of the Canadian winter, +and whose hair was black like the fur of the squirrel. +Oucanasta saw," she pursued, dropping her voice yet lower, +"that the Saganaw was loved by the pale girl, and her +own heart was very sick, for the Saganaw had saved her +life, and she loved him too. But she knew she was very +foolish, and that an Indian girl could never be the wife +of a handsome chief of the Saganaw; and she prayed to +the Great Spirit of the red skins to give her strength +to overcome her feelings; but the Great Spirit was angry +with her, and would not hear her." She paused a moment, +and then abruptly demanded, "Where is that pale girl now?" + +Captain de Haldimar had often been rallied, not only by +his brother-officers, but even by his sister and Madeline +de Haldimar herself, on the conquest he had evidently +made of the heart of this Indian girl. The event to which +she had alluded had taken place several months previous +to the breaking out of hostilities. Oucanasta was +directing her frail bark, one evening, along the shores +of the Detroit, when one of those sudden gusts of wind, +so frequent in these countries, upset the canoe, and left +its pilot struggling amid the waves. Captain de Haldimar, +who happened to be on the bank at the moment with his +sister and cousin, was an eye-witness of her danger, and +instantly flew down the steep to her assistance. Being +an excellent swimmer, he was not long in gaining the +spot, where, exhausted with the exertion she had made, +and encumbered with her awkward machecoti, the poor girl +was already on the point of perishing. But for his timely +assistance, indeed, she must have sunk to the bottom; +and, since that period, the grateful being had been +remarked for the strong but unexpressed attachment she +felt for her deliverer. This, however, was the first +moment Captain de Haldimar became acquainted with the +extent of feelings, the avowal of which not a little +startled and surprised, and even annoyed him. The last +question, however, suggested a thought that kindled every +fibre of his being into expectancy,--Oucanasta might be +the saviour of those he loved; and he felt that, if time +were but afforded her, she would. He rose from the log, +dropped on one knee before the Indian, seized both her +hands with eagerness, and then in tones of earnest +supplication whispered,-- + +"Oucanasta is right: the pale girl with the skin like +snow, and hair like the fur of the squirrel, is the bride +of the Saganaw. Long before he saved the life of Oucanasta, +he knew and loved that pale girl. She is dearer to the +Saganaw than his own blood; but she is in the fort beyond +the great lake, and the tomahawks of the red skins will +destroy her; for the warriors of that fort have no one +to tell them of their danger. What says the red girl? +will she go and save the lives of the sister and the wife +of the Saganaw." + +The breathing of the Indian became deeper; and Captain +de Haldimar fancied she sighed heavily, as she replied,-- + +"Oucanasta is but a weak woman, and her feet are not +swift like those of a runner among the red skins; but +what the Saganaw asks, for his sake she will try. When +she has seen him safe to his own fort, she will go and +prepare herself for the journey. The pale girl shall lay +her head on the bosom of the Saganaw, and Oucanasta will +try to rejoice in her happiness." + +In the fervour of his gratitude, the young officer caught +the drooping form of the generous Indian wildly to his +heart; his lips pressed hers, and during the kiss that +followed, the heart of the latter bounded and throbbed, +as if it would have passed from her own into the bosom +of her companion. + +Never was a kiss less premeditated, less unchaste. +Gratitude, not passion, had called it forth; and had +Madeline de Haldimar been near at the moment, the feeling +that had impelled the seeming infidelity to herself would +have been regarded as an additional claim on her affection. +On the whole, however, it was a most unfortunate and +ill-timed kiss, and, as is often the case under such +circumstances, led to the downfall of the woman. In the +vivacity of his embrace, Captain de Haldimar had drawn +his guide so far forward upon the log, that she lost her +balance, and fell with a heavy and reverberating crash +among the leaves and dried sticks that were strewed +thickly around. + +Scarcely a second elapsed when the forest was alive with +human yells, that fell achingly on the ears of both; and +bounding warriors were heard on every hand, rapidly +dividing the dense underwood they encountered in their +pursuit. + +Quick as thought the Indian had regained her feet. She +grasped the hand of her companion; and hurrying, though +not without caution, along the path, again stood on the +brow of the ravine through which they had previously +passed. + +"The Saganaw must go alone," she whispered. "The red +skins are close upon our trail, but they will find only +an Indian woman, when they expect a pale face. Oucanasta +will save her friend." + +Captain de Haldimar did as he was desired. Clinging to +the bushes that lined the face of the precipitous descent, +he managed once more to gain the bed of the ravine. For +a moment he paused to listen to the sounds of his pursuers, +whose footsteps were now audible on the eminence he had +just quitted; and then, gathering himself up for the leap +that was to enable him to clear the rivulet, he threw +himself heavily forward. His feet alighted upon an elevated +and yielding substance, that gave way with a crashing +sound that echoed far and near throughout the forest, +and he felt himself secured as if in a trap. Although +despairing of escape, he groped with his hands to discover +what it was that thus detained him, and found he had +fallen through a bark canoe, the bottom of which had been +turned upwards. The heart of the fugitive now sank within +him: there could be no doubt that his retreat was +intercepted. The canoe had been placed there since he +last passed through the ravine: and it was evident, from +the close and triumphant yell that followed the rending +of the frail bark, such a result had been anticipated. + +Stunned as he was by the terrific cries of the savages, +and confused as were his ideas, Captain de Haldimar had +still presence of mind to perceive the path itself offered +him no further security. He therefore quitted it altogether, +and struck, in an oblique direction, up the opposite face +of the ravine. Scarcely had he gone twenty yards, when +he heard the voices of several Indians conversing earnestly +near the canoe he had just quitted; and presently afterwards +he could distinctly hear them ascending the opposite brow +of the ravine by the path he recently congratulated +himself on having abandoned. To advance or to recede was +now equally impracticable; for, on every side, he was +begirt by enemies, into whose hands a single false step +must inevitably betray him. What would he not have given +for the presence of Oucanasta, who was so capable of +advising him in this difficulty! but, from the moment of +his descending into the ravine, he had utterly lost sight +of her. + +The spot on which he now rested was covered with thick +brushwood, closely interwoven at their tops, but affording +sufficient space beneath for a temporary close concealment; +so that, unless some Indian should touch him with his +foot, there was little seeming probability of his being +discovered by the eye. Under this he crept, and lay, +breathless and motionless, with his head raised from the +ground, and his ear on the stretch for the slightest +noise. For several minutes he remained in this position, +vainly seeking to catch the sound of a voice, or the fall +of a footstep; but the most deathlike silence had succeeded +to the fierce yellings that had so recently rent the +forest. At times he fancied he could distinguish faint +noises in the direction of the encampment; and so certain +was he of this, he at length came to the conclusion that +the Indians, either baffled in their search, had +relinquished the pursuit, or, having encountered Oucanasta, +had been thrown on a different scent. His first intention +had been to lie concealed until the following night, when +the warriors, no longer on the alert, should leave the +path once more open to him; but now that the conviction +of their return was strong on his mind, he changed his +determination, resolving to make the best of his way to +the fort with the aid of the approaching dawn. With this +view he partly withdrew his body from beneath its canopy +of underwood; but, scarcely had he done so, when a hundred +tongues, like the baying of so many blood-hounds, again +rent the air with their wild cries, which seemed to rise +up from the very bowels of the earth, and close to the +appalled ear of the young officer. + +Scarcely conscious of what he did, Captain de Haldimar +grasped one of his pistols, for he fancied he felt the +hot breathing of human life upon his cheek. With a sickly +sensation of fear, he turned to satisfy himself whether +it was not an illusion of his heated imagination. What, +however, was his dismay, when he beheld bending over him +a dark and heavy form, the outline of which alone was +distinguishable in the deep gloom in which the ravine +remained enveloped! Desperation was in the heart of the +excited officer: he cocked his pistol; but scarcely had +the sharp ticking sound floated on the air, when he felt +a powerful hand upon his chest; and, with as much facility +as if he had been a child, was he raised by that invisible +hand to his feet. A dozen warriors now sprang to the +assistance of their comrade, when the whole, having +disarmed and bound their prisoner, led him back in triumph +to their encampment. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +The fires of the Indians were nearly now extinct; but +the faint light of the fast dawning day threw a ghastly, +sickly, hue over the countenances of the savages, which +rendered them even more terrific in their war paint. The +chiefs grouped themselves immediately around their +prisoner, while the inferior warriors, forming an outer +circle, stood leaning their dark forms upon their rifles, +and following, with keen and watchful eye, every movement +of their captive. Hitherto the unfortunate officer had +been too much engrossed by his despair to pay any immediate +attention to the individual who had first discovered and +seized him. It was sufficient for him to know all hope +of the safety of the garrison had perished with his +captivity: and, with that recklessness of life which +often springs from the very consciousness of inability +to preserve it, he now sullenly awaited the death which +he expected at each moment would be inflicted. Suddenly +his ear was startled by an interrogatory, in English, +from one who stood behind him. + +With a movement of surprise, Captain de Haldimar turned +to examine his questioner. It was the dark and ferocious +warrior who had exhibited the scalp of his ill-fated +servant. For a moment the officer fixed his eyes firmly +and unshrinkingly on those of the savage, seeking to +reconcile the contradiction that existed between his +dress and features and the purity of the English he had +just spoken. The other saw his drift, and, impatient of +the scrutiny, again repeated, as he fiercely pulled the +strong leathern thong by which the prisoner now found +himself secured to his girdle,-- + +"Who and what are you?--whence come you?--and for what +purpose are you here?" Then, as if struck by some sudden +recollection, he laid his hand upon the shoulder of his +victim; and, while his eye grew upon his features, he +pursued, in a tone of vehemence,--"Ha! by Heaven, I +should know that face!--the cursed lines of the blood +of De Haldimar are stamped upon that brow! But stay, one +proof and I am satisfied." While he yet spoke he dashed +the menial hat of his captive to the earth, put aside +his hair, and then, with fiendish exultation, pursued,--"It +is even so. Do you recollect the battle of the plains of +Abraham, Captain de Haldimar?--Recollect you the French +officer who aimed so desperately at your life, and whose +object was defeated by a soldier of your regiment? I am +that officer: my victim escaped me then, but not for +ever. The hour of vengeance is nearly now arrived, and +your capture is the pledge of my success. Hark, how the +death-cry of all his hated race will ring in madness on +your father's ear!" + +Amazement, stupefaction, and horror, filled the mind of +the wretched officer at this extraordinary declaration. +He perfectly recollected that the individual who had +evinced so much personal hostility on the occasion alluded +to, was indeed a man wearing the French uniform, although +at the head of a band of savages, and of a stature and +strength similar to those of him who now so fiercely +avowed himself the bitter and deadly foe of all his race. +If this were so, and his tone and language left little +room for doubt, the doom of the ill-fated garrison was +indeed irrevocably sealed. This mysterious enemy evidently +possessed great influence in the councils of the Indians; +and while the hot breath of his hatred continued to fan +the flame of fierce hostility that had been kindled in +the bosom of Ponteac, whose particular friend he appeared +to be, there would be no end to the atrocities that must +follow. Great, however, as was the dismay of Captain de +Haldimar, who, exhausted with the adventures of the night, +presented a ghastly image of anxiety and fatigue, it was +impossible for him to repress the feelings of indignation +with which the language of this fierce man had inspired +him. + +"If you are in reality a French officer," he said, "and +not an Englishman, as your accent would denote, the +sentiments you have now avowed may well justify the +belief, that you have been driven with ignominy from a +service which your presence must eternally have disgraced. +There is no country in Europe that would willingly claim +you for its subject. Nay, even the savage race, with whom +you are now connected, would, if apprised of your true +nature, spurn you as a thing unworthy to herd even with +their wolf-dogs." + +A fierce sardonic laugh burst from the lips of the warrior, +but this was so mingled with rage as to give an almost +devilish expression to his features. + +"Ignominy--ignominy!" he repeated, while his right hand +played convulsively with the handle of his tomahawk; "is +it for a De Haldimar to taunt me with ignominy? Fool!" +he pursued, after a momentary pause, "you have sealed +your doom." Then abruptly quitting the handle of his +weapon, he thrust his hand into his bosom, and again +drawing forth the reeking scalp of Donellan, he dashed +it furiously in the face of his prisoner. "Not two hours +since," he exclaimed, "I cheered myself with the thought +that the scalp of a De Haldimar was in my pouch. Now, +indeed, do I glory in my mistake. The torture will be +a more fitting death for you." + +Had an arm of the insulted soldier been at liberty, the +offence would not have gone unavenged even there; for +such was the desperation of his heart, that he felt he +could have hugged the death struggle with his insolent +captor, notwithstanding the fearful odds, nor quitted +him until one or both should have paid the debt of fierce +enmity with life. As it was he could only betray, by his +flashing eye, excited look, and the impatient play of +his foot upon the ground, the deep indignation that +consumed his heart. + +The tall savage exulted in the mortification he had +awakened, and as his eye glanced insolently from head to +foot along his enemy, its expression told how much he +laughed at the impotence of his anger. Suddenly, however, +a change passed over his features. The mocassin of the +officer had evidently attracted his attention, and he +now demanded, in a more serious and imperative tone,-- + +"Ha! what means this disguise? Who is the wretch whom I +have slain, mistaking him for a nobler victim; and how +comes it that an officer of the English garrison appears +here in the garb of a servant? By heaven, it is so! you +are come as a spy into the camp of the Indians to steal +away the councils of the chiefs. Speak, what have you +heard?" + +With these questions returned the calm and self-possession +of the officer. He at once saw the importance of his +answer, on which hung not merely his own last faint chance +of safety, but that also of his generous deliverer. +Struggling to subdue the disgust which he felt at holding +converse with this atrocious monster, he asked in turn,-- + +"Am I then the only one whom the warriors have overtaken +in their pursuit?" + +"There was a woman, the sister of that boy," and he +pointed contemptuously to the young chief who had so +recently assailed him, and who now, in common with his +followers, stood impatiently listening to a colloquy that +was unintelligible to all. "Speak truly, was SHE not the +traitress who conducted you here?" + +"Had you found me here," returned the officer, with +difficulty repressing his feelings, "there might have +been some ground for the assertion; but surely the councils +of the chiefs could not be overheard at the distant point +at which you discovered me." + +"Why then were you there in this disguise?--and who is +he," again holding up the bloody scalp, "whom I have +despoiled of this?" + +"There are few of the Ottawa Indians," returned Captain +de Haldimar, "who are ignorant I once saved that young +woman's life. Is it then so very extraordinary an attachment +should have been the consequence? The man whom you slew +was my servant. I had brought him out with me for protection +during my interview with the woman, and I exchanged my +uniform with him for the same purpose. There is nothing +in this, however, to warrant the supposition of my being +a spy." + +During the delivery of these more than equivocal sentences, +which, however, he felt were fully justified by +circumstances, the young officer had struggled to appear +calm and confident; but, despite of his exertions, his +consciousness caused his cheek to colour, and his eye to +twinkle, beneath the searching glance of his ferocious +enemy. The latter thrust his hand into his chest, and +slowly drew forth the rope he had previously exhibited +to Ponteac. + +"Do you think me a fool, Captain de Haldimar," he observed, +sneeringly, "that you expect so paltry a tale to be palmed +successfully on my understanding? An English officer is +not very likely to run the risk of breaking his neck by +having recourse to such a means of exit from a besieged +garrison, merely to intrigue with an Indian woman, when +there are plenty of soldiers' wives within, and that too +at an hour when he knows the scouts of his enemies are +prowling in the neighbourhood. Captain de Haldimar," he +concluded, slowly and deliberately, "you have lied." + +Despite of the last insult, his prisoner remained calm. +The very observation that had just been made afforded +him a final hope of exculpation, which, if it benefited +not himself, might still be of service to the generous +Oucanasta. + +"The onus of such language," he observed coolly and with +dignity, "falls not on him to whom it is addressed, but +on him who utters it. Yet one who professes to have been +himself a soldier, must see in this very circumstance a +proof of my innocence. Had I been sent out as a spy to +reconnoitre the movements, and to overhear the councils +of our enemies, the gate would have been open for my +egress; but that rope is in itself an evidence I must +have stolen forth unknown to the garrison." + +Whether it was that the warrior had his own particular +reasons for attaching truth to this statement, or that +he merely pretended to do so, Captain de Haldimar saw +with secret satisfaction his last argument was conclusive. + +"Well, be it so," retorted the savage, while a ferocious +smile passed over his swarthy features; "but, whether +you have been here as a spy, or have merely ventured out +in prosecution of an intrigue, it matters not. Before +the sun has travelled far in the meridian you die; and +the tomahawk of your father's deadly foe--of--of--of +Wacousta, as I am called, shall be the first to drink +your blood." + +The officer made a final effort at mercy. "Who or what +you are, or whence your hatred of my family, I know not," +he said; "but surely I have never injured you: wherefore, +then, this insatiable thirst for my blood? If you are, +indeed, a Christian and a soldier, let your heart be +touched with humanity, and procure my restoration to my +friends. You once attempted my life in honourable combat, +why not wait, then, until a fitting opportunity shall +give not a bound and defenceless victim to your steel, +but one whose resistance may render him a conquest worthy +of your arm?" + +"What! and be balked of the chance of my just revenge? +Hear me, Captain de Haldimar," he pursued, in that low, +quick, deep tone that told all the strong excitement of +his heart:--"I have, it is true, no particular enmity to +yourself, further than that you are a De Haldimar; but +hell does not supply a feeling half so bitter as my enmity +to your proud father; and months, nay years, have I passed +in the hope of such an hour as this. For this have I +forsworn my race, and become--what you now behold me--a +savage both in garb and character. But this matters not," +he continued, fiercely and impatiently, "your doom is +sealed; and before another sun has risen, your stern +father's gaze shall be blasted with the sight of the +mangled carcase of his first born. Ha! ha! ha!" and he +laughed low and exultingly; "even now I think I see him +withering, if heart so hard can wither, beneath this +proof of my undying hate." + +"Fiend!--monster!--devil!" exclaimed the excited officer, +now losing sight of all considerations of prudence in +the deep horror inspired by his captor:--"Kill me--torture +me--commit any cruelty on me, if such be your savage +will; but outrage not humanity by the fulfilment of your +last disgusting threat. Suffer not a father's heart to +be agonised--a father's eye to be blasted--with a view +of the mangled remains of him to whom he has given life." + +Again the savage rudely pulled the thong that bound his +prisoner to his girdle, and removing his tomahawk from +his belt, and holding its sullied point close under the +eye of the former, exclaimed, as he bent eagerly over +him,-- + +"See you this, Captain de Haldimar? At the still hour of +midnight, while you had abandoned your guard to revel in +the arms of your Indian beauty, I stole into the fort by +means of the same rope that you had used in quitting it. +Unseen by the sentinels I gained your father's apartment. +It was the first time we had met for twenty years; and +I do believe that had the very devil presented himself +in my place, he would have been received with fewer marks +of horror. Oh, how that proud man's eye twinkled beneath +this glittering blade! He attempted to call out, but my +look paralysed his tongue, and cold drops of sweat stole +rapidly down his brow and cheek. Then it was that my +seared heart once more beat with the intoxication of +triumph. Your father was alone and unarmed, and throughout +the fort not a sound was to be heard, save the distant +tread of the sentinels. I could have laid him dead, at +my feet at a single blow, and yet have secured my retreat. +But no, that was not my object. I came to taunt him with +the promise of my revenge--to tell him the hour of my +triumph was approaching fast; and, ha!" he concluded, +laughing hideously as he passed his large rude hand +through the wavy hair of the now uncovered officer," this +is, indeed, a fair and unexpected first earnest of the +full redemption of my pledge. No--no!" he continued, as +if talking to himself, "he must not die. Tantulus-like, +he shall have death ever apparently within his grasp; +but, until all his race have perished before his eyes, +he shall not attain it." + +Hitherto the Indians had preserved an attitude of calm, +listening to the interrogatories put to the prisoner with +that wonder and curiosity with which a savage people hear +a language different from their own; and marking the +several emotions that were elicited in the course of the +animated colloquy of the pale faces. Gradually, however, +they became impatient under its duration; and many of +them, in the excitement produced by the fierce manner of +him who was called Wacousta, fixed their dark eyes upon +the captive, while they grasped the handles of their +tomahawks, as if they would have disputed with the former +the privilege of dying his weapon first in his blood. +When they saw the warrior hold up his menacing blade to +the eye of his victim, while he passed his hand through +the redundant hair, they at once inferred the sacrifice +was about to be completed, and rushing furiously forward, +they bounded, and leaped, and yelled, and brandished +their own weapons in the most appalling manner. + +Already had the unhappy officer given himself self up +for lost; fifty bright tomahawks were playing about his +head at the same instant, and death--that death which is +never without terror to the young, however brave they +may be in the hour of generous conflict--seemed to have +arrived at last. He raised his eyes to Heaven, committing +his soul to his God in the same silent prayer that he +offered up for the preservation of his friends and +comrades; and then bending them upon the earth, summoned +all his collectedness and courage to sustain him through +the trial. At the very moment, however when he expected +to feel the crashing steel within his brain, he felt +himself again violently pulled by the thong that secured +his hands. In the next instant he was pressed close to +the chest of his vast enemy, who, with one arm encircling +his prisoner, and the other brandishing his fierce blade +in rapid evolutions round his head, kept the yelling band +at bay, with the evident unshaken determination to maintain +his sole and acknowledged right to the disposal of his +captive. + +For several moments the event appeared doubtful; but, +notwithstanding his extreme agility in the use of a +weapon, in the management of which he evinced all the +dexterity of the most practised native, the odds were +fearfully against Wacousta; and while his flashing eye +and swelling chest betrayed his purpose rather to perish +himself than suffer the infringement of his claim, it +was evident that numbers must, in the end, prevail against +him. On an appeal to Ponteac, however, of which he now +suddenly bethought himself, the authority of the latter +was successfully exerted, and he was again left in the +full and undisturbed possession of his prisoner. + +A low and earnest conversation now ensued among the +chiefs, in which, as before, Wacousta bore a principal +part. When this was terminated, several Indians approached +the unhappy officer, and unfastening the thong with which +his hands were firmly and even painfully girt, deprived +him both of coat, waistcoat, and shirt. He was then bound +a second time in the same manner, his body besmeared with +paint, and his head so disguised as to give him the +caricature semblance of an Indian warrior. When these +preparations were completed, he was led to the tree in +which he had been previously concealed, and there firmly +secured. Meanwhile Wacousta, at the head of a numerous +band of warriors, had departed once more in the direction +of the fort. + +With the rising of the sun now vanished all traces of +the mist that had fallen since the early hours of morning, +leaving the unfortunate officer ample leisure to survey +the difficulties of his position. He had fancied, from +the course taken by his guide the previous night, that +the plain or oasis, as we have elsewhere termed it, lay +in the very heart of the forest; but that route now proved +to have been circuitous. The tree to which he was bound +was one of a slight belt, separating the encampment from +the open grounds which extended towards the river, and +which was so thin and scattered on that side as to leave +the clear silver waters of the Detroit visible at intervals. +Oh, what would he not have given, at that cheering sight, +to have had his limbs free, and his chance of life staked +on the swiftness of his flight! While he had imagined +himself begirt by interminable forest, he felt as one +whose very thought to elude those who were, in some +degree, the deities of that wild scene, must be paralysed +in its first conception. But here was the vivifying, +picture of civilised nature. Corn fields, although trodden +down and destroyed--dwelling houses, although burnt or +dilapidated--told of the existence of those who were of +the same race with himself; and notwithstanding these +had perished even as he must perish, still there was +something in the aspect of the very ruins of their +habitations which, contrasted with the solemn gloom of +the forest, carried a momentary and indefinable consolation +to his spirit. Then there was the ripe and teeming +orchard, and the low whitewashed cabin of the Canadian +peasant, to whom the offices of charity, and the duties +of humanity, were no strangers; and who, although the +secret enemies of his country, had no motive for personal +hostility towards himself. Then, on the river itself, +even at that early hour, was to be seen, fastened to the +long stake driven into its bed, or secured by the rude +anchor of stone appended to a cable of twisted bark, the +light canoe or clumsy periagua of the peasant fisherman, +who, ever and anon, drew up from its deep bosom the +shoal-loving pickerel or pike, or white or black bass, +or whatever other tenant of these waters might chance to +affix itself to the traitorous hook. It is true that his +view of these objects was only occasional and indistinct; +but his intimate acquaintance with the localities beyond +brought every thing before Captain de Haldimar's eye; +and even while he sighed to think they were for ever cut +off from his reach, he already, in idea, followed the +course of flight he should pursue were the power but +afforded him. + +From this train of painful and exciting thought the +wretched captive was aroused, by a faint but continued +yelling in a distant part of the forest, and in the +direction that had been taken by Wacousta and his warriors. +Then, after a short interval, came the loud booming of +the cannon of the fort, carried on with a spirit and +promptitude that told of some pressing and dangerous +emergency, and fainter afterwards the sharp shrill reports +of the rifles, bearing evidence the savages were already +in close collision with the garrison. Various were the +conjectures that passed rapidly through the mind of the +young officer, during a firing that had called almost +every Indian in the encampment away to the scene of +action, save the two or three young Ottawas who had been +left to guard his own person, and who lay upon the sward +near him, with head erect and ear sharply set, listening +to the startling sounds of conflict. What the motive of +the hurried departure of the Indians was he knew not; +but he had conjectured the object of the fierce Wacousta +was to possess himself of the uniform in which his wretched +servant was clothed, that no mistake might occur in his +identity, when its true owner should be exhibited in it, +within view of the fort, mangled and disfigured, in the +manner that fierce and mysterious man had already +threatened. It was exceedingly probable the body of +Donellan had been mistaken for his own, and that in the +anxiety of his father to prevent the Indians from carrying +it off, the cannon had been directed to open upon them. +But if this were the case, how were the reports of the +rifles, and the fierce yellings that continued, save at +intervals, to ring throughout the forest to be accounted +for? The bullets of the Indians evidently could not reach +the fort, and they were too wily, and attached too much +value to their ammunition, to risk a shot that was not +certain of carrying a wound with it. For a moment the +fact itself flashed across his mind, and he attributed +the fire of small arms to the attack and defence of a +party that had been sent out for the purpose of securing +the body, supposed to be his own; yet, if so, again how +was he to account for his not hearing the report of a +single musket? His ear was too well practised not to know +the sharp crack of the rifle from the heavy dull discharge +of the musket, and as yet the former only had been +distinguishable, amid the intervals that ensued between +each sullen booming of the cannon. While this impression +continued on the mind of the anxious officer, he caught, +with the avidity of desperation, at the faint and improbable +idea that his companions might be able to penetrate to +his place of concealment, and procure his liberation; +but when he found the firing, instead of drawing nearer, +was confined to the same spot, and even more fiercely +kept up by the Indians towards the close, he again gave +way to his despair, and resigning himself to his fate, +no longer sought comfort in vain speculation as to its +cause. His ear now caught the report of the last shell +as it exploded, and then all was still and hushed, as if +what he had so recently heard was but a dream. + +The first intimation given him of the return of the +savages was the death howl, set up by the women within +the encampment. Captain de Haldimar turned his eyes, +instinct with terror, towards the scene, and beheld the +warriors slowly issuing from the opposite side of the +forest into the plain, and bearing in silence the dead +and stiffened forms of those who had been cut down by +the destructive fire from the fort. Their mien was sullen +and revengeful, and more than one dark and gleaming eye +did he encounter turned upon him, with an expression that +seemed to say a separate torture should avenge the death +of each of their fallen comrades. + +The early part of the morning wore away in preparation +for the interment of the slain. These were placed in +rows under the council shed, where they were attended by +their female relatives, who composed the features and +confined the limbs, while the gloomy warriors dug, within +the limit of the encampment, rude graves, of a depth just +sufficient to receive the body. When these were completed, +the dead were deposited, with the usual superstitious +ceremonies of these people, in their several receptacles, +after which a mound of earth was thrown up over each, +and the whole covered with round logs, so disposed as to +form a tomb of semicircular shape: at the head of each +grave was finally planted a pole, bearing various devices +in paint, intended to illustrate the warlike achievements +of the defunct parties. + +Captain de Haldimar had followed the course of these +proceedings with a beating heart; for too plainly had he +read in the dark and threatening manner both of men and +women, that the retribution about to be wreaked upon +himself would be terrible indeed. Much as he clung to +life, and bitterly as he mourned his early cutting off +from the affections hitherto identified with his existence, +his wretchedness would have been less, had he not been +overwhelmed by the conviction that, with him, must perish +every chance of the safety of those, the bare recollection +of whom made the bitterness of death even more bitter. +Harrowing as were these reflections, he felt that immediate +destruction, since it could not be avoided, would be +rather a blessing than otherwise. But such, evidently, +was not the purpose of his relentless enemy. Every +species of torment which his cruel invention could supply +would, he felt convinced, be exercised upon his frame; +and with this impression on his mind, it would have +required sterner nerves than his, not to have shrunk from +the very anticipation of so dreadful an ordeal. + +It was now noon, and yet no visible preparation was making +for the consummation of the sacrifice. This, Captain de +Haldimar imputed to the absence of the fierce Wacousta, +whom he had not seen since the return of the warriors +from their skirmish. The momentary disappearance of this +extraordinary and ferocious man was, however, fraught +with no consolation to his unfortunate prisoner, who felt +he was only engaged in taking such measures as would +render not only his destruction more certain, but his +preliminary sufferings more complicated and protracted. +While he was thus indulging in fruitless speculation as +to the motive for his absence, he fancied he heard the +report of a rifle, succeeded immediately afterwards by +the war-whoop, at a considerable distance, and in the +direction of the river. In this impression he was confirmed, +by the sudden upstarting to their feet of the young +Indians to whose custody he had been committed, who now +advanced to the outer edge of the belt of forest, with +the apparent object of obtaining a more unconfined view +of the open ground that lay beyond. The rapid gliding of +spectral forms from the interior of the encampment in +the same direction, denoted, moreover, that the Indians +generally had heard, and were attracted by the same sound. + +Presently afterwards, repeated "waughs!" and +"Wacousta!--Wacousta!" from those who had reached the +extreme skirt of the forest, fell on the dismayed ear of +the young officer. It was evident, from the peculiar +tones in which these words were pronounced, that they +beheld that warrior approaching them with some communication +of interest; and, sick at heart, and filled with +irrepressible dismay, Captain de Haldimar felt his pulse +to throb more violently as each moment brought his enemy +nearer to him. + +A startling interest was now created among the Indians; +for, as the savage warrior neared the forest, his lips +pealed forth that peculiar cry which is meant to announce +some intelligence of alarm. Scarcely had its echoes died +away in the forest, when the whole of the warriors rushed +from the encampment towards the clearing. Directed by +the sound, Captain de Haldimar bent his eyes upon the +thin skirt of wood that lay immediately before him, and +at intervals could see the towering form of that vast +warrior bounding, with incredible speed, up the sloping +ground that led from the town towards the forest. A ravine +lay before him; but this he cleared, with a prodigious +effort, at a single leap; and then, continuing his way +up the slope, amid the low guttural acclamations of the +warriors at his extraordinary dexterity and strength, +finally gained the side of Ponteac, then leaning carelessly +against a tree at a short distance from the prisoner. + +A low and animated conversation now ensued between these +two important personages, which at moments assumed the +character of violent discussion. From what Captain de +Haldimar could collect, the Ottawa chief was severely +reproving his friend for the inconsiderate ardour which +had led him that morning into collision with those whom +it was their object to lull into security by a careful +avoidance of hostility, and urging the possibility of +their plan being defeated in consequence. He moreover +obstinately refused the pressing request of Wacousta, in +regard to some present enterprise which the latter had +just suggested, the precise nature of which, however, +Captain de Haldimar could not learn. Meanwhile, the rapid +flitting of numerous forms to and from the encampment, +arrayed in all the fierce panoply of savage warfare, +while low exclamations of excitement occasionally caught +his ear, led the officer to infer, strange and unusual +as such an occurrence was, that either the detachment +already engaged, or a second, was advancing on their +position. Still, this offered little chance of security +for himself; for more than once, during his long conference +with Ponteac, had the fierce Wacousta bent his eye in +ferocious triumph on his victim, as if he would have +said,--"Come what will--whatever be the result--you, at +least, shall not escape me." Indeed, so confident did +the latter feel that the instant of attack would be the +signal of his own death, that, after the first momentary +and instinctive cheering of his spirit, he rather regretted +the circumstance of their approach; or, if he rejoiced +at all, it was only because it afforded him the prospect +of immediate death, instead of being exposed to all the +horror of a lingering and agonising suffering from the +torture. + +While the chiefs were yet earnestly conversing, the alarm +cry, previously uttered by Wacousta, was repeated, although +in a low and subdued tone, by several of the Indians who +stood on the brow of the eminence. Ponteac started suddenly +to the same point; but Wacousta continued for a moment +or two rooted to the spot on which he stood, with the +air of one in doubt as to what course he should pursue. +He then abruptly raised his head, fixed his dark and +menacing eye on his captive, and was already in the act +of approaching him, when the earnest and repeated demands +for his presence, by the Ottawa chief, drew him once more +to the outskirt of the wood. + +Again Captain de Haldimar breathed freely. The presence +of that fierce man had been a clog upon the vital functions +of his heart; and, to be relieved from it, even at a +moment like the present, when far more important interests +might be supposed to occupy his mind, was a gratification, +of which not even the consciousness of impending death +could wholly deprive him. From the continued pressing of +the Indians towards one particular point in the clearing, +he now conjectured, that, from that point, the advance +of the troops was visible. Anxious to obtain even a +momentary view of those whom he deemed himself fated +never more to mingle with in this life, he raised himself +upon his feet, and stretched his neck and bent his eager +glance in the direction by which Wacousta had approached; +but, so closely were the dark warriors grouped among the +trees, he found it impossible. Once or twice, however, +he thought he could distinguish the gleaming of the +English bayonets in the bright sunshine, as they seemed +to file off in a parallel line with the ravine. Oh, how +his generous heart throbbed at that moment; and how +ardently did he wish that he could have stood in the +position of the meanest soldier in those gallant ranks! +Perhaps his own brave and devoted grenadiers were of the +number, burning with enthusiasm to be led against the +captors or destroyers of their officer; and this thought +added to his wretchedness still more. + +While the unfortunate prisoner, thus strongly excited, +bent his whole soul on the scene before him, he fancied +he heard the approach of a cautious footstep. He turned +his head as well as his confined position would admit, +and beheld, close behind him, a dark Indian, whose eyes +alone were visible above the blanket in which his person +was completely enveloped. His right arm was uplifted, +and the blade of a scalping knife glittered in his hand. +A cold shudder ran through the veins of the young officer, +and he closed his eyes, that he might not see the blow +which he felt was about to be directed at his heart. The +Indian glanced hurriedly yet cautiously around, to see +if he was observed; and then, with the rapidity of thought, +divided, first the thongs that secured the legs, and then +those which confined the arms of the defenceless captive. +When Captain de Haldimar, full of astonishment at finding +himself once more at liberty, again unclosed his eyes, +they fell on the not unhandsome features of the young +chief, the brother of Oucanasta. + +"The Saganaw is the prisoner of Wacousta," said the Indian +hastily; "and Wacousta is the enemy of the young Ottawa +chief. The warriors of the pale faces are there" (and he +pointed directly before him). "If the Saganaw has a bold +heart and a swift foot, he may save his life:" and, with +this intimation, he hurried away in the same cautious +manner, and was in the next instant seen making a circuit +to arrive at the point at which the principal strength +of the Indians was collected. + +The position of Captain de Haldimar had now attained its +acme of interest; for on his own exertions alone depended +every thing that remained to be accomplished. With +wonderful presence of mind he surveyed all the difficulties +of his course, while he availed himself at the same moment +of whatever advantages were within his grasp. On the +approach of Wacousta, the young Indians, to whose custody +he had been committed, had returned to their post; but +no sooner had that warrior, obeying the call of Ponteac, +again departed, than they once more flew to the extreme +skirt of the forest, after first satisfying themselves +the ligatures which confined their prisoner were secure. +Either with a view of avoiding unnecessary encumbrance +in their course, or through hurry and inadvertence, they +had left their blankets near the foot of the tree. The +first thought of the officer was to seize one of these; +for, in order to gain the point whence his final effort +to join the detachment must be made, it was necessary he +should pass through the body of scattered Indians who +stood immediately in his way; and the disguise of the +blanket could alone afford him a reasonable chance of +moving unnoticed among them. Secretly congratulating +himself on the insulting mockery that had inducted his +upper form in the disguising warpaint of his enemies, he +now drew the protecting blanket close up to his eyes; +and then, with every nerve braced up, every faculty of +mind and body called into action, commenced his dangerous +enterprise. + +He had not, however, taken more than two or three steps +in advance, when, to his great discomfiture and alarm, +he beheld the formidable Wacousta approaching from a +distance, evidently in search of his prisoner. With the +quickness of thought he determined on his course. To +appear to avoid him would be to excite the suspicion of +the fierce warrior; and, desperate as the alternative +was, he resolved to move undeviatingly forward. At each +step that drew him nearer to his enemy, the beating of +his heart became more violent; and had it not been for +the thick coat of paint in which he was invested, the +involuntary contraction of the muscles of his face must +inevitably have betrayed him. Nay, even as it was, had +the keen eye of the warrior fallen on him, such was the +agitation of the officer, he felt he must have been +discovered. Happily, however, Wacousta, who evidently +took him for some inferior warrior hastening to the point +where his fellows were already assembled, passed without +deigning to look at him, and so close, their forms almost +touched. Captain de Haldimar now quickened his pace. It +was evident there was no time to be lost; for Wacousta, +on finding him gone, would at once give the alarm, when +a hundred warriors would be ready on the instant to +intercept his flight. Taking the precaution to disguise +his walk by turning in his toes after the Indian manner, +he reached, with a beating heart, the first of the numerous +warriors who were collected within the belt of forest, +anxiously watching the movements of the detachment in +the plain below. To his infinite joy he found that each +was too much intent on what was passing in the distance, +to heed any thing going on near themselves; and when he +at length gained the extreme opening, and stood in a line +with those who were the farthest advanced, without having +excited a single suspicion in his course, he could scarcely +believe the evidence of his senses. + +Still the most difficult part of the enterprise remained +to be completed. Hitherto he had moved under the friendly +cover of the underwood, the advantage of which had been +to conceal that part of his regimental trousers which +the blanket left exposed; and if he moved forward into +the clearing, the quick glance of an Indian would not be +slow in detecting the difference between these and his +own ruder leggings. There was no alternative now but to +commence his flight from the spot on which he stood; and +for this he prepared himself. At one rapid and comprehensive +view he embraced the immediate localities before him. On +the other side of the ravine he could now distinctly see +the English troops, either planning, as he conceived, +their own attack, or waiting in the hope of drawing the +Indians from their cover. It was evident that to reach +them the ravine must be crossed, unless the more circuitous +route by the bridge, which was hid from his view by an +intervening hillock, should be preferred; but as the +former had been cleared by Wacousta in his ascent, and +was the nearest point by which the detachment could be +approached, to this did he now direct his undivided +attention. + +While he yet paused with indecision, at one moment fancying +the time for starting was not yet arrived, and at the +next that he had suffered it to pass away, the powerful +and threatening voice of Wacousta was heard proclaiming +the escape of his captive. Low but expressive exclamations +from the warriors marked their sense of the importance +of the intelligence; and many of them hastily dispersed +themselves in pursuit. This was the critical moment for +action: for, as the anxious officer had rather wished +than expected, those Indians who had been immediately in +front, and whose proximity he most dreaded, were among +the number of those who dashed into the heart of the +forest--Captain de Haldimar now stood alone, and full +twenty paces in front of the nearest of the savages. For +a moment he played with his mocassined foot to satisfy +himself, of the power and flexibility of its muscles, +and then committing himself to his God, dashed the blanket +suddenly from his shoulders, and, with eye and heart +fixed on the distant soldiery, darted down the declivity +with a speed of which he had never yet believed himself +capable. Scarcely, however, had his fleeing form appeared +in the opening, when a tremendous and deafening yell rent +the air, and a dozen wild and naked warriors followed +instantly in pursuit. Attracted by that yell, the terrible +Wacousta, who had been seeking his victim in a different +quarter, bounded forward to the front with an eye flashing +fire, and a brow compressed into the fiercest hate; and +so stupendous were his efforts, so extraordinary was his +speed, that had it not been for the young Ottawa chief, +who was one of the pursuing party, and who, under the +pretence of assisting in the recapture of the prisoner, +sought every opportunity of throwing himself before, and +embarrassing the movements of his enemy, it is highly +probable the latter would have succeeded. Despite of +these obstacles, however, the fierce Wacousta, who had +been the last to follow, soon left the foremost of his +companions far behind him; and but for his sudden fall, +while in the very act of seizing the arm of his prisoner, +his gigantic efforts must have been crowned with the +fullest success. But the reader has already seen how +miraculously Captain de Haldimar, reduced to the last +stage of debility, as much from inanition as from the +unnatural efforts of his flight, finally accomplished +his return to the detachment. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +At the western extremity of the lake Huron, and almost +washed by the waters of that pigmy ocean, stands the fort +of Michilimackinac. Constructed on a smaller scale, and +garrisoned by a less numerical force, the defences of +this post, although less formidable than those of the +Detroit, were nearly similar, at the period embraced by +our story, both in matter and in manner. Unlike the latter +fortress, however, it boasted none of the advantages +afforded by culture; neither, indeed, was there a single +spot in the immediate vicinity that was not clad in the +eternal forest of these regions. It is true, that art +and laborious exertion had so far supplied the deficiencies +of nature as to isolate the fort, and throw it under the +protecting sweep of its cannon; but, while this afforded +security, it failed to produce any thing like a pleasing +effect to the eye. The very site on which the fortress +now stood had at one period been a portion of the wilderness +that every where around was only terminated by the sands +on the lake shore: and, although time and the axe of the +pioneer had in some degree changed its features, still +there was no trace of that blended natural scenery that +so pleasingly diversified the vicinity of the sister +fort. Here and there, along the imperfect clearing, and +amid the dark and thickly studded stumps of the felled +trees, which in themselves were sufficient to give the +most lugubrious character to the scene, rose the rude +log cabin of the settler; but, beyond this, cultivation +appeared to have lost her power in proportion with the +difficulties she had to encounter. Even the two Indian +villages, L'Arbre-Croche and Chabouiga, situate about a +mile from the fort, with which they formed nearly an +equilateral triangle, were hid from the view of the +garrison by the dark dense forest, in the heart of which +they were embedded. + +Lake ward the view was scarcely less monotonous; but it +was not, as in the rear, that monotony which is never +occasionally broken in upon by some occurrence of interest. +If the eye gazed long and anxiously for the white sail +of the well known armed vessel, charged at stated intervals +with letters and tidings of those whom time, and distance, +and danger, far from estranging, rendered more dear to +the memory, and bound more closely to the heart, it was +sure of being rewarded at last; and then there was no +picture on which it could love to linger so well as that +of the silver waves bearing that valued vessel in safety +to its wonted anchorage in the offing. Moreover, the +light swift bark canoes of the natives often danced +joyously on its surface; and while the sight was offended +at the savage, skulking among the trees of the forest, +like some dark spirit moving cautiously in its course of +secret destruction, and watching the moment when he might +pounce unnoticed on his unprepared victim, it followed, +with momentary pleasure and excitement, the activity and +skill displayed by the harmless paddler, in the swift +and meteor-like race that set the troubled surface of +the Huron in a sheet of hissing foam. Nor was this all. +When the eye turned wood-ward, it fell heavily, and +without interest, upon a dim and dusky point, known to +enter upon savage scenes and unexplored countries; whereas, +whenever it reposed upon the lake, it was with an eagerness +and energy that embraced the most vivid recollections of +the past, and led the imagination buoyantly over every +well-remembered scene that had previously been traversed, +and which must be traversed again before the land of the +European could be pressed once more. The forest, in a +word, formed, as it were, the gloomy and impenetrable +walls of the prison-house, and the bright lake that lay +before it the only portal through which happiness and +liberty could be again secured. + +The principal entrance into the fort, which presented +four equal sides of a square, was from the forest; but, +immediately opposite to this, and behind the apartments +of the commanding officer, there was another small gate +that opened upon the lake shore; but which, since the +investment of the place, had been kept bolted and locked, +with a precaution befitting the danger to which the +garrison was exposed. Still, there were periods, even +now, when its sullen hinges were to be heard moaning on +the midnight breeze; for it served as a medium of +communication between the besieged and others who were +no less critically circumstanced than themselves. + +The very day before the Indians commenced their simultaneous +attack on the several posts of the English, the only +armed vessel that had been constructed on these upper +lakes, serving chiefly as a medium of communication +between Detroit and Michilimackinac, had arrived with +despatches and letters from the former fort. A +well-concerted plan of the savages to seize her in her +passage through the narrow waters of the river Sinclair +had only been defeated by the vigilance of her commander; +but, ever since the breaking out of the war, she had been +imprisoned within the limits of the Huron. Laborious +indeed was the duty of the devoted crew. Several attempts +had been renewed by the Indians to surprise them; but, +although their little fleets stole cautiously and +noiselessly, at the still hour of midnight, to the spot +where, at the last expiring rays of twilight, they had +beheld her carelessly anchored, and apparently lulled +into security, the subject of their search was never to +be met with. No sooner were objects on the shore rendered +indistinct to the eye, than the anchor was silently +weighed, and, gliding wherever the breeze might choose +to carry her, the light bark was made to traverse the +lake, with every sail set, until dawn. None, however, +were suffered to slumber in the presumed security afforded +by this judicious flight. Every man was at his post; and, +while a silence so profound was preserved, that the noise +of a falling pin might have been heard upon her decks, +every thing was in readiness to repel an attack of their +enemies, should the vessel, in her course, come accidentally +in collision with their pigmy fleets. When morning broke, +and no sign of their treacherous foes was visible, the +vessel was again anchored, and the majority of the crew +suffered to retire to their hammocks, while the few whose +turn of duty it chanced to be, kept a vigilant look-out, +that, on the slightest appearance of alarm, their slumbering +comrades might again be aroused to energy and action. + +Severe and harassing as had been the duty on board this +vessel for many months,--at one moment exposed to the +assaults of the savages, at another assailed by the +hurricanes that are so prevalent and so dangerous on the +American lakes,--the situation of the crew was even less +enviable than that of the garrison itself. What chiefly +contributed to their disquietude, was the dreadful +consciousness that, however their present efforts might +secure a temporary safety, the period of their fall was +only protracted. A few months more must bring with them +all the severity of the winter of those climes, and then, +blocked up in a sea of ice,--exposed to all the rigour +of cold,--all the miseries of hunger,--what effectual +resistance could they oppose to the numerous bands of +Indians who, availing themselves of the defenceless +position of their enemies, would rush from every quarter +to their destruction. + +At the outset of these disheartening circumstances the +officer had summoned his faithful crew together, and +pointing out the danger and uncertainty of their position, +stated that two chances of escape still remained to them. +The first was, by an attempt to accomplish the passage +of the river Sinclair during some dark and boisterous +night, when the Indians would be least likely to suspect +such an intention: it was at this point that the efforts +of their enemies were principally to be apprehended; but +if, under cover of storm and darkness, they could accomplish +this difficult passage, they would easily gain the Detroit, +and thence pass into lake Erie, at the further extremity +of which they might, favoured by Providence, effect a +landing, and penetrate to the inhabited parts of the +colony of New York. The other alternative was,--and he +left it to themselves to determine,--to sink the vessel +on the approach of winter, and throw themselves into the +fort before them, there to await and share the destiny +of its gallant defenders. + +With the generous enthusiasm of their profession, the +noble fellows had determined on the latter course. With +their officer they fully coincided in opinion, that their +ultimate hopes of life depended on the safe passage of +the Sinclair; for it was but too obvious, that soon or +late, unless some very extraordinary revolution should +be effected in the intentions of the Indians, the fortress +must be starved into submission. Still, as it was +tolerably well supplied with provisions, this gloomy +prospect was remote, and they were willing to run all +chances with their friends on shore, rather than desert +them in their extremity. The determination expressed by +them, therefore, was, that when they could no longer keep +the lake in safety, they would, if the officer permitted +it, scuttle the vessel, and attempt an entrance into the +fort, where they would share the fate of the troops, +whatever it might chance to be. + +No sooner was this resolution made known, than their +young commander sought an opportunity of communicating +with the garrison, This, however, was no very easy task; +for, so closely was the fort hemmed in by the savages, +it was impossible to introduce a messenger within its +walls; and so sudden had been the cutting off of all +communication between the vessel and the shore, that the +thought had not even occurred to either commander to +establish the most ordinary intelligence by signal. In +this dilemma recourse was had to an ingenious expedient. +The dispatches of the officer were enclosed in one of +the long tin tubes in which were generally deposited the +maps and charts of the schooner, and to this, after having +been carefully soldered, was attached an inch rope of +several hundred fathoms in length: the case was then put +into one of the ship's guns, so placed as to give it the +elevation of a mortar; thus prepared, advantage was taken +of a temporary absence of the Indians to bring the vessel +within half a mile of the shore, and when the attention +of the garrison, naturally attracted by this unusual +movement, was sufficiently awakened, that opportunity +was chosen for the discharge of the gun; and as the +quantity of powder had been proportionably reduced for +the limited range, the tube was soon safely deposited +within the rampart. The same means were adopted in +replying; and one end of the rope remaining attached to +the schooner, all that was necessary was to solder up +the tube as before, and throw it over the ramparts upon +the sands, whence it was immediately pulled over her side +by the watchful mariners. + +As the dispatch conveyed to the garrison, among other +subjects of interest, bore the unwelcome intelligence +that the supplies of the crew were nearly expended, an +arrangement was proposed by which, at stated intervals, +a more immediate communication with the former might be +effected. Whenever, therefore, the wind permitted, the +vessel was kept hovering in sight during the day, beneath +the eyes of the savages, and on the approach of evening +an unshotted gun was discharged, with a view of drawing +their attention more immediately to her movements; every +sail was then set, and under a cloud of canvass the course +of the schooner was directed towards the source of the +Sinclair, as if an attempt to accomplish that passage +was to be made during the night. No sooner, however, +had the darkness fairly set in, than the vessel was put +about, and, beating against the wind, generally contrived +to reach the offing at a stated hour, when a boat, provided +with muffled oars, was sent off to the shore. This ruse +had several times deceived the Indians, and it was on +these occasions that the small gate to which we have +alluded was opened, for the purpose of conveying the +necessary supplies. + +The buildings of the fort consisted chiefly of block-houses, +the internal accommodations of which were fully in keeping +with their rude exterior, being but indifferently provided +with the most ordinary articles of comfort, and fitted +up as the limited resources of that wild and remote +district could supply. The best and most agreeably situated +of these, if a choice could be made, was that of the +commanding officer. This building rose considerably +above the others, and overhanging that part of the rampart +which skirted the shores of the Huron, commanded a full +view of the lake, even to its extremity of frowning and +belting forest. + +To this block-house there were two staircases; the +principal leading to the front entrance from the +barrack-square, the other opening in the rear, close +under the rampart, and communicating by a few rude steps +with the small gate that led upon the sands. In the lower +part of this building, appropriated by the commanding +officer to that exclusive purpose, the official duties +of his situation were usually performed; and on the +ground-floor a large room, that extended from front to +rear of the block-house on one side of the passage, had +formerly been used as a hall of council with the Indian +chiefs. The floor above this comprised both his own +private apartments and those set apart for the general +use of the family; but, above all, and preferable from +their cheerful view over the lake, were others, which +had been reserved for the exclusive accommodation of Miss +de Haldimar. This upper floor consisted of two sleeping +apartments, with a sitting-room, the latter extending +the whole length of the block-house and opening immediately +upon the lake, from the only two windows with which that +side of the building was provided. The principal staircase +led into one of the bed-rooms, and both of the latter +communicated immediately with the sitting-room, which +again, in its turn, opened, at the opposite extremity, +on the narrow staircase that led to the rear of the +block-house. + +The furniture of this apartment, which might be taken as +a fair sample of the best the country could afford, was +wild, yet simple, in the extreme. Neat rush mats, of an +oblong square, and fantastically put together, so as to +exhibit in the weaving of the several coloured reeds both +figures that were known to exist in the creation, and +those which could have no being save in the imagination +of their framers, served as excellent substitutes for +carpets, while rush bottomed chairs, the product of Indian +ingenuity also, occupied those intervals around the room +that were unsupplied by the matting. Upon the walls were +hung numerous specimens both of the dress and of the +equipments of the savages, and mingled with these were +many natural curiosities, the gifts of Indian chiefs to +the commandant at various periods before the war. + +Nothing could be more unlike the embellishments of a +modern European boudoir than those of this apartment, +which had, in some degree, been made the sanctum of its +present occupants. Here was to be seen the scaly carcass +of some huge serpent, extending its now harmless length +from the ceiling to the floor--there an alligator, stuffed +after the same fashion; and in various directions the +skins of the beaver, the marten, the otter, and an +infinitude of others of that genus, filled up spaces that +were left unsupplied by the more ingenious specimens of +Indian art. Head-dresses tastefully wrought in the shape +of the crowning bays of the ancients, and composed of +the gorgeous feathers of the most splendid of the forest +birds--bows and quivers handsomely, and even elegantly +ornamented with that most tasteful of Indian decorations, +the stained quill of the porcupine; war clubs of massive +iron wood, their handles covered with stained horsehair +and feathers curiously mingled together--machecotis, +hunting coats, mocassins, and leggings, all worked in +porcupine quill, and fancifully arranged,--these, with +many others, had been called into requisition to bedeck +and relieve the otherwise rude and naked walls of the +apartment. + +Nor did the walls alone reflect back the picture of savage +ingenuity, for on the various tables, the rude polish of +which was hid from view by the simple covering of green +baize, which moreover constituted the garniture of the +windows, were to be seen other products of their art. +Here stood upon an elevated stand a model of a bark canoe, +filled with its complement of paddlers carved in wood +and dressed in full costume; the latter executed with +such singular fidelity of feature, that although the +speaking figures sprung not from the experienced and +classic chisel of the sculptor but from the rude scalping +knife of the savage, the very tribe to which they belonged +could be discovered at a glance by the European who was +conversant with the features of each: then there were +handsomely ornamented vessels made of the birch bark, +and filled with the delicate sugars which the natives +extract from the maple tree in early spring; these of +all sizes, even to the most tiny that could well be +imagined, were valuable rather as exquisite specimens of +the neatness with which those slight vessels could be +put together, sewn as they were merely with strips of +the same bark, than from any intrinsic value they possessed. +Covered over with fantastic figures, done either in paint, +or in quill work artfully interwoven into the fibres of +the bark, they presented, in their smooth and polished +surface, strong evidence of the address of the savages +in their preparation of this most useful and abundant +produce of the country. Interspersed with these, too, +were numerous stands filled with stuffed birds, some of +which combined in themselves every variety and shade of +dazzling plumage; and numerous rude cases contained the +rarest specimens of the American butterfly, most of which +were of sizes and tints that are no where equalled in +Europe. One solitary table alone was appropriated to +whatever wore a transatlantic character in this wild and +museum-like apartment. On this lay a Spanish guitar, a +few pieces of old music, a collection of English and +French books, a couple of writing-desks, and, scattered +over the whole, several articles of unfinished needle-work. + +Such was the apartment in which Madeline and Clara de +Haldimar were met at the moment we have selected for +their introduction to our readers. It was the morning of +that day on which the second council of the chiefs, the +result of which has already been seen, was held at Detroit. +The sun had risen bright and gorgeously above the adjacent +forest, throwing his golden beams upon the calm glassy +waters of the lake; and now, approaching rapidly towards +the meridian, gradually diminished the tall bold shadows +of the block-houses upon the shore. At the distance of +about a mile lay the armed vessel so often alluded to; +her light low hull dimly seen in the hazy atmosphere that +danced upon the waters, and her attenuated masts and +sloping yards, with their slight tracery of cordage, +recalling rather the complex and delicate ramifications +of the spider's web, than the elastic yet solid machinery +to which the lives of those within had so often been +committed in sea and tempest. Upon the strand, and close +opposite to the small gate which now stood ajar, lay one +of her boats, the crew of which had abandoned her with +the exception only of a single individual, apparently +her cockswain, who, with the tiller under his arm, lay +half extended in the stern-sheets, his naked chest exposed, +and his tarpaulin hat shielding his eyes from the sun +while he indulged in profound repose. These were the only +objects that told of human life. Everywhere beyond the +eye rested on the faint outline of forest, that appeared +like the softened tracing of a pencil at the distant +junction of the waters with the horizon. + +The windows that commanded this prospect were now open; +and through that which was nearest to the gate, half +reclined the elegant, slight, and somewhat petite form +of a female, who, with one small and delicately formed +hand supporting her cheek, while the other played almost +unconsciously with an open letter, glanced her eye +alternately, and with an expression of joyousness, towards +the vessel that lay beyond, and the point in which the +source of the Sinclair was known to lie. It was Clara de +Haldimar. + +Presently the vacant space at the same window was filled +by another form, but of less girlish appearance--one that +embraced all the full rich contour of the Medicean Venus, +and a lazy languor in its movements that harmonised with +the speaking outlines of the form, and without which the +beauty of the whole would have been at variance and +imperfect. Neither did the face belie the general expression +of the figure. The eyes, of a light hazel, were large, +full, and somewhat prominent--the forehead broad, high, +and redolent with an expression of character--and the +cheek rich in that peculiar colour which can be likened +only to the downy hues of the peach, and is, in itself, +a physical earnest of the existence of deep, but not +boisterous--of devoted, but not obtrusive affections; +an impression that was not, in the present instance, +weakened by the full and pouting lip, and the rather +heavy formation of the lower face. The general expression, +moreover, of a countenance which, closely analysed, could +not be termed beautiful, marked a mind at once ardent in +its conceptions, and steady and resolute in its silent +accomplishments of purpose. She was of the middle height. + +Such was the person of Madeline de Haldimar; but attractive, +or rather winning, as were her womanly attributes, her +principal power lay in her voice,--the beauty, nay, the +voluptuousness of which nothing could surpass. It was +impossible to listen to the slow, full, rich, deep, and +melodious tones that fell trembling from her lips upon +the ear, and not feel, aye shudder, under all their +fascination on the soul. In such a voice might the +Madonna of Raphael have been supposed to offer up her +supplications from the gloomy precincts of the cloister. +No wonder that Frederick de Haldimar loved her, and loved +her with all the intense devotedness of his own glowing +heart. His cousin was to him a divinity whom he worshipped +in the innermost recesses of his being; and his, in +return, was the only ear in which the accents of that +almost superhuman voice had breathed the thrilling +confession of an attachment, which its very tones announced +could be deep and imperishable as the soul in which it +had taken root. Often in the hours that preceded the +period when they were to have been united heart and mind +and thought in one common destiny, would he start from +her side, his brain whirling with very intoxication, and +then obeying another wild impulse, rush once more into +her embrace; and clasping his beloved Madeline to his +heart, entreat her again to pour forth all the melody of +that confession in his enraptured ear. Artless and +unaffected as she was generous and impassioned, the fond +and noble girl never hesitated to gratify him whom alone +she loved; and deep and fervent was the joy of the soldier, +when he found that each passionate entreaty, far from +being met with caprice, only drew from the lips of his +cousin warmer and more affectionate expressions of her +attachment. Such expressions, coming from any woman, +must have been rapturous and soothing in the extreme; +but, when they flowed from a voice whose very sound was +melody, they acted on the heart of Captain de Haldimar +with a potency that was as irresistible as the love itself +which she inspired. + +Such was the position of things just before the commencement +of the Indian war. Madeline de Haldimar had been for some +time on a visit to Detroit, and her marriage with her +cousin was to have taken place within a few days. The +unexpected arrival of intelligence from Michilimackinac +that her father was dangerously ill, however, retarded +the ceremony; and, up to the present period, their +intercourse had been completely suspended. If Madeline +de Haldimar was capable of strong attachment to her lover, +the powerful ties of nature were no less deeply rooted +in her heart, and commiseration and anxiety for her father +now engrossed every faculty of her mind. She entreated +her cousin to defer the solemnisation of their nuptials +until her parent should be pronounced out of danger, and, +having obtained his consent to the delay, instantly set +off for Michilimackinac, accompanied by her cousin Clara, +whom, she had prevailed on the governor to part with +until her own return. Hostilities were commenced very +shortly afterwards, and, although Major de Haldimar +speedily recovered from his illness, the fair cousins +were compelled to share the common imprisonment of the +garrison. + +When Miss de Haldimar joined her more youthful cousin at +the window, through which the latter was gazing thoughtfully +on the scene before her, she flung her arm around her +waist with the protecting manner of a mother. The mild +blue eyes of Clara met those that were fastened in +tenderness upon her, and a corresponding movement on her +part brought the more matronly form of her cousin into +close and affectionate contact with her own. + +"Oh, Madeline, what a day is this!" she exclaimed; "and +how often on my bended knees have I prayed to Heaven that +it might arrive! Our trials are ended at last, and +happiness and joy are once more before us. There is the +boat that is to conduct us to the vessel, which, in its +turn, is to bear me to the arms of my dear father, and +you to those of the lover who adores you. How beautiful +does that fabric appear to me now! Never did I feel half +the pleasure in surveying it I do at this moment." + +"Dear, dear girl!" exclaimed Miss de Haldimar,--and she +pressed her closer and in silence to her heart: then, +after a slight pause, during which the mantling glow upon +her brow told how deeply she desired the reunion alluded +to by her cousin--"that, indeed, will be an hour of +happiness to us both, Clara; for irrevocably as our +affections have been pledged, it would be silly in the +extreme to deny that I long most ardently to be restored +to him who is already my husband. But, tell me," she +concluded, with an archness of expression that caused +the long-lashed eyes of her companion to sink beneath +her own, "are you quite sincere in your own case? I know +how deeply you love your father and your brothers, but +do these alone occupy your attention? Is there not a +certain friend of Charles whom you have some little +curiosity to see also?" + +"How silly, Madeline!" and the cheek of the young girl +became suffused with a deeper glow; "you know I have +never seen this friend of my brother, how then can I +possibly feel more than the most ordinary interest in +him? I am disposed to like him, certainly, for the mere +reason that Charles does; but this is all." + +"Well, Clara, I will not pretend to decide; but certain +it is, this is the last letter you received from Charles, +and that it contains the strongest recommendations of +his friend to your notice. Equally certain is it, that +scarcely a day has passed, since we have been shut up +here, that you have not perused and re-perused it half +a dozen times. Now, as I am confessedly one who should +know something of these matters, I must be suffered to +pronounce these are strong symptoms, to say the very +least. Ah! Clara, that blush declares you guilty.--But, +who have we here? Middleton and Baynton." + +The eyes of the cousins now fell upon the ramparts +immediately under the window. Two officers, one apparently +on duty for the day, were passing at the moment; and, as +they heard their names pronounced, stopped, looked up, +and saluted the young ladies with that easy freedom of +manner, which, unmixed with either disrespect or effrontery, +so usually characterises the address of military men. + +"What a contrast, by heaven!" exclaimed he who wore the +badge of duty suspended over his chest, throwing himself +playfully into a theatrical attitude, expressive at once +of admiration and surprise, while his eye glanced +intelligently over the fair but dissimilar forms of the +cousins. "Venus and Psyche in the land of the Pottowatamies +by all that is magnificent! Come, Middleton, quick, out +with that eternal pencil of yours, and perform your +promise." + +"And what may that promise be?" asked Clara, laughingly, +and without adverting to the hyperbolical compliment of +the dark-eyed officer who had just spoken. + +"You shall hear," pursued the lively captain of the guard. +"While making the tour of the ramparts just now, to visit +my sentries, I saw Middleton leaning most sentimentally +against one of the boxes in front, his notebook in one +hand and his pencil in the other. Curious to discover +the subject of his abstraction, I stole cautiously behind +him, and saw that he was sketching the head of a tall +and rather handsome squaw, who, in the midst of a hundred +others, was standing close to the gateway watching the +preparations of the Indian ball-players. I at once taxed +him with having lost his heart; and rallying him on his +bad taste in devoting his pencil to any thing that had +a red skin, never combed its hair, and turned its toes +in while walking, pronounced his sketch to be an absolute +fright. Well, will you believe what I have to add? The +man absolutely flew into a tremendous passion with me, +and swore that she was a Venus, a Juno, a Minerva, a +beauty of the first water in short; and finished by +promising, that when I could point out any woman who was +superior to her in personal attraction, he would on the +instant write no less than a dozen consecutive sonnets +in her praise. I now call upon him to fulfil his promise, +or maintain the superiority of his Indian beauty." + +Before the laughing Middleton could find time to reply +to the light and unmeaning rattle of his friend, the +quick low roll of a drum was heard from the front. The +signal was understood by both officers, and they prepared +to depart. + +"This is the hour appointed for the council," said Captain +Baynton, looking at his watch, "and I must be with my +guard, to receive the chiefs with becoming honour. How +I pity you, Middleton, who will have the infliction of +one of their great big talks, as Murphy would call it, +dinned into your ear for the next two hours at least! +Thank heaven, my tour of duty exempts me from that; and +by way of killing an hour, I think I shall go and carry +on a flirtation with your Indian Minerva, alias Venus, +alias Juno, while you are discussing the affairs of the +nation with closed doors. But hark! there is the assembly +drum again. We must be off. Come, Middleton, come.--Adieu!" +waving his hand to the cousins, "we shall meet at dinner." + +"What an incessant talker Baynton is!" observed Miss de +Haldimar, as the young men now disappeared round an angle +of the rampart; "but he has reminded me of what I had +nearly forgotten, and that is to give orders for dinner. +My father has invited all the officers to dine with him +to day, in commemoration of the peace which is being +concluded. It will be the first time we shall have all +met together since the commencement of this cruel war, +and we must endeavour, Clara, to do honour to the feast." + +"I hope," timidly observed her cousin, shuddering as she +spoke, "that none of those horrid chiefs will be present, +Madeline; for, without any affectation of fear whatever, +I feel that I could not so far overcome my disgust as to +sit at the same table with them. There was a time, it is +true, when I thought nothing of these things; but, since +the war, I have witnessed and heard so much of their +horrid deeds, that I shall never be able to endure the +sight of an Indian face again. Ah!" she concluded, turning +her eyes upon the lake, while she clung more closely to +the embrace of her companion; "would to Heaven, Madeline, +that we were both at this moment gliding in yonder vessel, +and in sight of my father's fort!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The eyes of Miss de Haldimar followed those of her cousin, +and rested on the dark hull of the schooner, with which +so many recollections of the past and anticipations of +the future were associated in their minds. When they had +last looked upon it, all appearance of human life had +vanished from its decks; but now there was strong evidence +of unusual bustle and activity. Numerous persons could +be seen moving hastily to and fro, their heads just +peering above the bulwarks; and presently they beheld a +small boat move from the ship's side, and shoot rapidly +ahead, in a direct line with the well-known bearings of +the Sinclair's source. While they continued to gaze on +this point, following the course of the light vessel, +and forming a variety of conjectures as to the cause of +a movement, especially remarkable from the circumstance +of the commander being at that moment in the fort, whither +he had been summoned to attend the council, another and +scarcely perceptible object was dimly seen, at the distance +of about half a mile in front of the boat. With the aid +of a telescope, which had formed one of the principal +resources of the cousins during their long imprisonment, +Miss de Haldimar now perceived a dark and shapeless mass +moving somewhat heavily along the lake, and in a line +with the schooner and the boat. This was evidently +approaching; for each moment it loomed larger upon the +hazy water, increasing in bulk in the same proportion +that the departing skiff became less distinct: still, it +was impossible to discover, at that distance, in what +manner it was propelled. Wind there was none, not as much +as would have changed the course of a feather dropping +through space; and, except where the dividing oars of +the boatmen had agitated the waters, the whole surface +of the lake was like a sea of pale and liquid gold. + +At length the two dark bodies met, and the men in the +boat were seen to lie upon their oars, while one in the +stem seemed to be in the act of attaching a rope to the +formless matter. For a few moments there was a cessation +of all movement; and then again the active and sturdy +rowing of the boatmen was renewed, and with an exertion +of strength even more vigorous than that they had previously +exhibited. Their course was now directed towards the +vessel; and, as it gradually neared that fabric, the rope +by which the strange-looking object was secured, could +be distinctly though faintly seen with the telescope. It +was impossible to say whether the latter, whatever it +might be, was urged by some invisible means, or merely +floated in the wake of the boat; for, although the waters +through which it passed ran rippling and foaming from +their course, this effect might have been produced by +the boat which preceded it. As it now approached the +vessel, it presented the appearance of a dense wood of +evergreens, the overhanging branches of which descended +close to the water's edge, and baffled every attempt of +the cousins to discover its true character. The boat had +now arrived within a hundred yards of the schooner, when +a man was seen to rise from its bows, and, putting both +his hands to his mouth, after the manner of sailors in +hailing, to continue in that position for some moments, +apparently conversing with those who were grouped along +the nearest gangway. Then were observed rapid movements +on the decks; and men were seen hastening aloft, and +standing out upon the foremast yards. This, however, had +offered no interruption to the exertions of the boatmen, +who still kept plying with a vigour that set even the +sail-less vessel in motion, as the foaming water, thrown +from their bending oar-blades, dashed angrily against +her prow. Soon afterwards both the boat and her prize +disappeared on the opposite side of the schooner, which, +now lying with her broadside immediately on a line with +the shore, completely hid them from the further view of +the cousins. + +"Look!--Look!" said Clara, clinging sensitively and with +alarm to the almost maternal bosom against which she +reposed, while she pointed with her finger to another +dark mass that was moving through the lake in a circular +sweep from the point of wood terminating the clearing on +the right of the fort. + +Miss de Haldimar threw the glass on the object to which +her attention was now directed. It was evidently some +furred animal, and presented all the appearance either +of a large water-rat or a beaver, the latter of which it +was pronounced to be as a nearer approach rendered its +shape more distinct. Ever and anon, too, it disappeared +altogether under the water; and, when it again came in +sight, it was always several yards nearer. Its course, +at first circuitous, at length took a direct line with +the stern of the boat, where the sailor who was in charge +still lay extended at his drowsy length, his tarpaulin +hat shading his eyes, and his arms folded over his +uncovered and heaving chest, while he continued to sleep +as profoundly as if he had been comfortably berthed in +his hammock in the middle of the Atlantic. + +"What a large bold animal it is," remarked Clara, in die +tone of one who wishes to be confirmed in an impression +but indifferently entertained. "See how close it approaches +the boat! Mad that lazy sailor but his wits about him, +he might easily knock it on the head with his oar. It +is--it is a beaver, Madeline; I can distinguish its head +even with the naked eye." + +"Heaven grant it may be a beaver," answered Miss de +Haldimar, in a voice so deep and full of meaning, that +it made her cousin startle and turn paler even than +before. "Nay, Clara, dearest, command yourself, nor give +way to what may, after all, prove a groundless cause of +alarm. Yet, I know not how it is, my heart misgives me +sadly; for I like not the motions of this animal, which +are strangely and unusually bold. But this is not all: +a beaver or a rat might ruffle the mere surface of the +water, yet this leaves behind it a deep and gurgling +furrow, as if the element had been ploughed to its very +bottom. Observe how the lake is agitated and discoloured +wherever it has passed. Moreover, I dislike this sudden +bustle on board the schooner, knowing, as I do, there is +not an officer present to order the movements now visibly +going forward. The men are evidently getting up the +anchor; and see how her sails are loosened, apparently +courting the breeze, as if she would fly to avoid some +threatened danger. Would to Heaven this council scene +were over; for I do, as much as yourself, dearest Clara, +distrust these cruel Indians!" + +A significant gesture from her trembling cousin again +drew her attention from the vessel to the boat. The +animal, which now exhibited the delicate and glossy fur +of the beaver, had gained the stern, and remained stationary +within a foot of her quarter. Presently the sailor made +a sluggish movement, turning himself heavily on his side, +and with his face towards his curious and daring visitant. +In the act the tarpaulin hat had fallen from his eyes, +but still he awoke not. Scarcely had he settled himself +in his new position, when, to the infinite horror of the +excited cousins, a naked human hand was raised from +beneath the surface of the lake, and placed upon the +gunwale of the boat Then rose slowly, and still covered +with its ingenious disguise, first the neck, then the +shoulders, and finally the form, even to the midwaist, +of a dark and swarthy Indian, who, stooping low and +cautiously over the sailor, now reposed the hand that +had quitted the gunwale upon his form, while the other +was thrust searchingly into the belt encircling his waist. + +Miss de Haldimar would have called out, to apprise the +unhappy man of his danger; but her voice refused its +office, and her cousin was even less capable of exertion +than herself. The deep throbbings of their hearts were +now audible to each; for the dreadful interest they took +in the scene, had excited their feelings to the most +intense stretch of agony. At the very moment, however, +when, with almost suspended animation, they expected to +see the knife of the savage driven into the chest of the +sleeping and unsuspecting sailor, the latter suddenly +started up, and, instinct with the full sense of the +danger by which he was menaced, in less time than we take +to describe it, seized the tiller of his rudder, the only +available instrument within his reach, and directing a +powerful blow at the head of his amphibious enemy, laid +him, without apparent life or motion, across the boat. + +"Almighty God! what can this mean?" exclaimed Miss de +Haldimar, as soon as she could recover her presence of +mind. "There is some fearful treachery in agitation; and +a cloud now hangs over all, that will soon burst with +irresistible fury on our devoted heads. Clara, my love," +and she conducted the almost fainting girl to a seat, +"wait here until I return. The moment is critical, and +my father must be apprised of what we have seen. Unless +the gates of the fort be instantly closed, we are lost." + +"Oh, Madeline, leave me not alone," entreated the sinking +Clara. "We will go together. Perhaps I may be of service +to you below." + +"The thought is good; but have you strength and courage +to face the dark chiefs in the council-room. If so, hasten +there, and put my father on his guard, while I fly across +the parade, and warn Captain Baynton of the danger." + +With these words she drew the arm of her agitated cousin +within her own, and, rapidly traversing the apartment, +gained the bed-room which opened close upon the head of +the principal staircase. Already were they descending +the first steps, when a loud cry, that sent a thrill of +terror through their blood, was heard from without the +fort. For a moment Miss de Haldimar continued irresolute; +and leaning against the rude balustrade for support, +passed her hand rapidly across her brow, as if to collect +her scattered energies. The necessity for prompt and +immediate action was, however, evident; and she alone +was capable of exertion. Speechless with alarm, and +trembling in every joint, the unhappy Clara had now lost +all command of her limbs; and, clinging close to the side +of her cousin, by her wild looks alone betrayed +consciousness had not wholly deserted her. The energy of +despair lent more than woman's strength to Miss de +Haldimar. She caught the fainting girl in her arms, +retraced her way to the chamber, and depositing her burden +on the bed, emphatically enjoined her on no account to +move until her return. She then quitted the room, and +rapidly descended the staircase. + +For some moments all was still and hushed as the waveless +air; and then again a loud chorus of shouts was heard +from the ramparts of the fort. The choked breathing of +the young girl became more free, and the blood rushed +once more from her oppressed heart to the extremities. +Never did tones of the human voice fall more gratefully +on the ear of mariner cast on some desert island, than +did those on that of the highly excited Clara. It was +the loud laugh of the soldiery, who, collected along the +line of rampart in front, were watching the progress of +the ball-players. Cheered by the welcome sounds, she +raised herself from the bed to satisfy her eye her ear +had not deceived her. The windows of both bed-chambers +looked immediately on the barrack square, and commanded +a full view of the principal entrance. From that at which +she now stood, the revived but still anxious girl could +distinctly see all that was passing in front. The ramparts +were covered with soldiers, who, armed merely with their +bayonets, stood grouped in careless attitudes--some with +their wives leaning on their arms--others with their +children upraised, that they might the better observe +the enlivening sports without--some lay indolently with +their legs overhanging the works--others, assuming +pugilistic attitudes, dealt their harmless blows at each +other,--and all were blended together, men, women, and +children, with that heedlessness of thought that told +how little of distrust existed within their breasts. The +soldiers of the guard, too, exhibited the same air of +calm and unsuspecting confidence; some walking to and +fro within the square, while the greater portion either +mixed with their comrades above, or, with arms folded, +legs carelessly crossed, and pipe in mouth, leant lazily +against the gate, and gazed beyond the lowered drawbridge +on the Indian games. + +A mountain weight seemed to have been removed from the +breast of Clara at this sight, as she now dropped upon +her knees before the window, and raised her hands in +pious acknowledgment to Heaven. + +"Almighty God, I thank thee," she fervently exclaimed, +her eye once more lighting up, and her cheek half suffused +with blushes at her late vague and idle fears; while she +embraced, at a single glance, the whole of the gladdening +and inspiriting scene. + +While her soul was yet upturned whither her words had +gone before, her ears were again assailed by sounds that +curdled her blood, and made her spring to her feet as if +stricken by a bullet through the heart; or powerfully +touched by some electric fluid. It was the well-known +and devilish war-cry of the savages, startling the very +air through which it passed, and falling like a deadly +blight upon the spirit. With a mechanical and desperate +effort at courage, the unhappy girl turned her eyes below, +and there met images of death in their most appalling +shapes. Hurry and confusion and despair were every where +visible; for a band of Indians were already in the fort, +and these, fast succeeded by others, rushed like a torrent +into the square, and commenced their dreadful work of +butchery. Many of the terrified soldiers, without thinking +of drawing their bayonets, flew down the ramparts in +order to gain their respective block-houses for their +muskets: but these every where met death from the crashing +tomahawk, short rifle, or gleaming knife;--others who +had presence of mind sufficient to avail themselves of +their only weapons of defence, rushed down in the fury +of desperation on the yelling fiends, resolved to sell +their lives as dearly as possible; and for some minutes +an obstinate contest was maintained: but the vast +superiority of the Indian numbers triumphed; and although +the men fought with all the fierceness of despair, forcing +their way to the block-houses, their mangled corpses +strewed the area in every direction. Neither was the +horrid butchery confined to these. Women clinging to +their husbands for protection, and, in the recklessness +of their despair, impeding the efforts of the latter in +their self-defence--children screaming in terror, or +supplicating mercy on their bonded knees--infants clasped +to their parents' breasts,--all alike sunk under the +unpitying steel of the blood-thirsty savages. At the +guard-house the principal stand had been made; for at +the first rush into the fort, the men on duty had gained +their station, and, having made fast the barricades, +opened their fire upon the enemy. Mixed pele-mele as they +were with the Indians, many of the English were shot by +their own comrades, who, in the confusion of the moment, +were incapable of taking a cool and discriminating aim. +These, however, were finally overcome. A band of desperate +Indians rushed upon the main door, and with repeated +blows from their tomahawks and massive war-clubs, succeeded +in demolishing it, while others diverted the fire of +those within. The door once forced, the struggle was soon +over. Every man of the guard perished; and their scalpless +and disfigured forms were thrown out to swell the number +of those that already deluged the square with their blood. + +Even amid all the horrors of this terrific scene, the +agonised Clara preserved her consciousness. The very +imminence of the danger endued her with strength to +embrace it under all its most disheartening aspects; and +she, whose mind had been wrought up to the highest pitch +of powerful excitement by the mere preliminary threatenings, +was comparatively collected under the catastrophe itself. +Death, certain death, to all, she saw was inevitable; +and while her perception at once embraced the futility +of all attempts at escape from the general doom, she +snatched from despair the power to follow its gloomy +details without being annihilated under their weight. + +The confusion of the garrison had now reached its acme +of horror. The shrieks of women and the shrill cries of +children, as they severally and fruitlessly fled from +the death certain to overtake them in the end,--the +cursings of the soldiers, the yellings of the Indians, +the reports of rifles, and the crashings of tomahawks;-- +these, with the stamping of human feet in the death +struggle maintained in the council-room below between +the chiefs and the officers, and which shook the block-house +to its very foundation, all mixed up in terrible chorus +together, might have called up a not inapt image of hell +to the bewildered and confounding brain. And yet the sun +shone in yellow lustre, and all Nature smiled, and wore +an air of calm, as if the accursed deed had had the +sanction of Heaven, and the spirits of light loved to +look upon the frightful atrocities then in perpetration. + +In the first distraction of her spirit, Clara had utterly +lost all recollection of her cousin; but now that she +had, with unnatural desperation, brought her mind to bear +upon the fiercest points of the grim reality, she turned +her eye every where amid the scene of death in search of +the form of her beloved Madeline, whom she did not remember +to have seen cross the parade in pursuance of the purpose +she had named. While she yet gazed fearfully from the +window, loud bursts of mingled anguish and rage, that +were almost drowned in the fiercer yells with which they +were blended, ascended from the ground floor of the +block-house. These had hitherto been suppressed, as if +the desperate attack of the chiefs on the officers had +been made with closed doors. Now, however, there was an +evident outburst of all parties into the passage; and +there the struggle appeared to be desperately and fearfully +maintained. In the midst of that chaotic scene, the loud +and piercing shriek of a female rose far above the +discordant yell even of the savages. There was an instant +of pause, and then the crashing of a skull was heard, +and the confusion was greater than before, and shrieks, +and groans, and curses, and supplications rent the air. + +The first single shriek came from Madeline de Haldimar, +and vibrated through every chord of the heart on which +it sank. Scarcely conscious of what she did, Clara, +quitting the window, once more gained the top of the +staircase, and at the extremity of her voice called on +the name of her cousin in the most piteous accents. She +was answered by a loud shout from the yelling band; and +presently bounding feet and screaming voices were heard +ascending the stairs. The terrified girl fancied at the +moment she heard a door open on the floor immediately +below her, and some one dart suddenly up the flight +communicating with the spot on which she stood. Without +waiting to satisfy herself, she rushed with all the +mechanical instinct of self-preservation back into her +own apartment. As she passed the bed-room window, she +glanced once more hastily into the area below, and there +beheld a sight that, filling her soul with despair, +paralysed all further exertion. A tall savage was bearing +off the apparently lifeless form of her cousin through +the combatants in the square, her white dress stained +all over with blood, and her beautiful hair loosened and +trailing on the ground. She followed with her burning +eyes until they passed the drawbridge, and finally +disappeared behind the intervening rampart, and then +bowing her head between her hands, and sinking upon her +knees, she reposed her forehead against the sill of the +window, and awaited unshrinkingly, yet in a state of +inconceivable agony, the consummation of her own unhappy +destiny. + +The sounds of ascending feet were now heard in the passage +without; and presently, while the clangour of a thousand +demons seemed to ring throughout the upper part of the +building, a man rushed furiously into the room. The blood +of the young girl curdled in her veins. She mechanically +grasped the ledge of the window on which her aching head +still reposed, and with her eyes firmly closed, to shut +out from view the fiend whose sight she dreaded, even +more than the death which threatened her, quietly awaited +the blow that was to terminate at once her misery and +her life. Scarcely, however, had the feet of the intruder +pressed the sanctuary of her bedchamber, when the heavy +door, strongly studded with nails, was pushed rapidly +to, and bolt and lock were heard sliding into their +several sockets. Before Clara could raise her head to +discover the cause of this movement, she felt herself +firmly secured in the grasp of an encircling arm, and +borne hastily through the room. An instinctive sense of +something worse even than death now flashed across the +mind of the unhappy girl; and while she feared to unclose +her eyes, she struggled violently to disengage herself. + +"Clara! dear Miss de Haldimar, do you not know me?" +exclaimed her supporter, while, placing her for a moment +on a seat, he proceeded to secure the fastenings of the +second door, that led from the bed-chamber into the larger +apartment. + +Re-assured by the tones of a voice which, even in that +dreadful moment of trial and destruction, were familiar +to her ear, the trembling girl opened her eyes wildly +upon her protector. A slight scream of terror marked her +painful sense of the recognition. It was Captain Baynton +whom she beheld: but how unlike the officer who a few +minutes before had been conversing with her from the +ramparts. His fine hair, matted with blood, now hung +loosely and disfiguringly over his eyes, and his pallid +face and brow were covered with gore spots, the evident +spatterings from the wounds of others; while a stream +that issued from one side of his head attested he himself +had not escaped unhurt in the cruel melee. A skirt and +a lappel had been torn from his uniform, which, together +with other portions of his dress, were now stained in +various parts by the blood continually flowing from his +wound. + +"Oh, Captain Baynton," murmured the fainting girl, her +whole soul sinking within her, as she gazed shudderingly +on his person, "is there no hope for us? must we die?" + +"No, by Heaven, not while I have strength to save you," +returned the officer, with energy. "If the savages have +not penetrated to the rear, we may yet escape. I saw the +postern open just now, on my passage round the rampart, +and the boat of the schooner upon the strand. Ha!" he +exclaimed, as he flew to the window, and cast his eye +rapidly below, "we are lost! The gate is still clear, +and not an Indian to be seen; but the coward sailor is +pulling for his life towards the vessel. But hold! another +boat is now quitting the ship's side. See, how manfully +they give themselves to the oars: in a few minutes they +will be here. Come, Clara, let us fly!" and again he +caught her in his arms, and bore her across the room. +"Hark, hear you not the exulting yellings of the monsters? +They are forcing the outer door: mark how they redouble +their efforts to break it open! That passed, but one more +barrier remains between us and inevitable and instant +death." + +"And my cousin, my uncle!" shrieked the unhappy girl, as +the officer now bore her rapidly down the back staircase. + +"Oh, ask me not!" exclaimed Baynton: "were I to linger +again on all I have witnessed, I should go mad. All, all +have perished! but, hark!" + +A tremendous yell now bursting from the passage, announced +at once, the triumph of the savages in having effected +an entrance into the bed-room, and their disappointment +at finding their pursuit baulked by a second door. +Presently afterwards their heavy weapons were to be heard +thundering at this new obstacle, in the most furious +manner. This gave new stimulus to the exertions of the +generous officer. Each winding of the staircase was +familiar to him, and he now descended it with a rapidity +which, considering the burden that reposed against his +chest, could only have been inspired by his despair. The +flight terminated at a door that led directly upon the +rampart, without communicating with any of the passages +of the building; and in this consisted the principal +facility of escape: for, in order to reach them, the +savages must either make the circuit of the block-house, +or overtake them in the course they were now following. +In this trying emergency, the presence of mind of the +young officer, wounded and bleeding as he was, did not +desert him. On quitting the larger apartment above, he +had secured the outside fastenings of a small door at +the top of the stairs, and having now gained the bottom, +he took a similar precaution. All that remained was to +unclose the bolts of the ponderous door that opened upon +their final chance of escape: this was speedily done, +but here the feelings of the officer were put to a severe +test. A rude partition divided him from the fatal +council-room; and while he undid the fastenings, the +faint and dying groans of his butchered brother officers +rung in his ears, even at the moment that he felt his +feet dabbling in the blood that oozed through the +imperfectly closed planks of which the partition was +composed. As for Clara, she was insensible to all that +was passing. From the moment of the Indian yell, announcing +their entry into the bed-room, she had fainted. + +The huge door came now creaking back upon its hinges, +when the sounds of the yet unfinished conflict in front, +which had hitherto been deadened in their descent through +the remote staircase, rang once more fiercely and +startlingly upon the ear. A single glance satisfied +Captain Baynton the moment for exertion was come, and +that the way to the lake shore, which, by some strange +oversight, both the Indians and the men had overlooked, +was perfectly clear. He clasped his unconscious burden +closer to his chest, and then, setting his life upon the +cast, hastened down the few steps that led to the rampart, +and dashed rapidly through the postern; in the next minute +he stood on the uttermost verge of the sands, unharmed +and onfollowed. He cast his eyes anxiously along the +surface of the lake; but such was the excitement and +confusion of his mind, produced by the horrid recollection +of the past scene, it was not until he had been abruptly +hailed from it, he could see a boat, at the distance of +about two hundred yards, the crew of which were lying on +their oars. It was the long boat of the schooner, which, +prevented from a nearer approach by a sand bar that ran +along the lake to a considerable extent, had taken her +station there to receive the fugitives. Two tall young +men in the dress, yet having little the mien, of common +sailors, were standing up in her stern; and one of these, +with evident anxiety in his manner, called on Baynton by +name to make the best of his way to the boat. At that +moment a loud and frantic yell came from the block-house +the latter had just quitted. In the wild impulse of his +excited feelings, he answered with a cheer of defiance, +as he turned to discover the precise point whence it +proceeded. The windows of the apartment so recently +occupied by the unhappy cousins, were darkened with savage +forms, who now pealed forth their mingled fury and +disappointment in the most terrific manner. + +"Fly, fly, Baynton, or you are lost!" exclaimed the same +voice from the boat; "the devils are levelling from the +windows." + +While he yet spake several shots came whizzing along the +waters, and a spent ball even struck the now rapidly +fleeing officer in the back; but the distance was too +great for serious injury. The guns of the savages had +been cut so short for their desperate enterprise, that +they carried little further than a horse pistol. + +Again, in the desperation of his feelings, and heedless +of the danger he was drawing on himself and charge, the +officer turned fiercely round and shouted, at his utmost +lungs, a peal of triumph in the ears of his enemies. +Scarcely, however, had the sounds escaped his lips, when +two hideously painted Indians sprang through the postern, +and, silent as the spectres they resembled, rushed down +the sands, and thence into the lake. Loud shouts from +the windows above were again pealed forth, and from the +consternation visible on the features of those within +the boat, the nearly exhausted Baynton learnt all the +risk he incurred. Summoning all his strength, he now made +the most desperate efforts to reach his friends. The lake +was little more than knee deep from the shore to the bar, +but, encumbered as he was, the difficulty opposed to his +movements was immeasurably against him, and yet he seemed +generously resolved rather to perish than relinquish his +charge. Already were his pursuers, now closely followed +by a numerous band, within twenty yards of him, when the +two young men, each armed with a cutlass and pistol, +sprang from the boat upon the sand bar: as the Indians +came on they fired deliberately at them, but both missed +their aim. Encouraged by this failure, the fearless devils +dashed eagerly on, brandishing their gleaming tomahawks, +but littering not a sound. Already was the unfortunate +Baynton within a few feet of the bar, when he felt that +the savages were immediately upon him. + +"Take, take, for God's sake take her!" he cried, as with +a desperate effort he threw the light form of the still +unconscious girl into the arms of one of the young men. +"My strength is quite exhausted, and I can do no more." + +For the first time a yell burst from the lips of the +pursuing savages, as they saw him, to whom the guardianship +of the wretched Clara was now confided, suddenly spring +from the sand bar into the lake, and in a few rapid +strokes gain the side of the boat. Leaving the hapless +Baynton to be disposed of by his companion, the foremost +darted upon the bank, burning with disappointment, and +resolved to immolate another victim. For a moment he +balanced his tomahawk, and then, with the rapidity of +thought, darted it at the covered head of the youth who +still lingered on the bar. A well-timed movement of the +latter averted the blow, and the whizzing steel passed +harmlessly on. A gutteral "Ugh!" marked the disappointment +of the Indian, now reduced to his scalping-knife; but +before he could determine whether to advance or to retreat, +his opponent had darted upon him, and, with a single blow +from his cutlass, cleft his skull nearly asunder. The +next instantaneous purpose of the victor was to advance +to the rescue of the exhausted Baynton; but, when he +turned to look for him, he saw the mangled form of what +had once been that gallant and handsome officer floating, +without life or motion, on the blood-stained surface of +the Huron, while his fiendish murderer, calmly awaiting +the approach of his companions, held up the reeking scalp, +in triumph, to the view of the still yelling groups within +the block-house. + +"Noble, generous, self-devoted fellow!" exclaimed the +youth, as he fixed his burning tearless eye for a moment +on the unfortunate victim; "even you, then, are not spared +to tell the horrid story of this butchery; yet is the +fate of the fallen far, far more enviable than that of +those who have survived this day." He then committed his +cutlass to its sheath; and, leaping into the deep water +that lay beyond the bar, was, in a few seconds, once more +in the stern of the boat. + +Meanwhile, the numerous band, who followed their two +first fierce comrades into the lake, bounded rapidly +forward; and, so active were their movements, that, at +almost the same moment when the second of the youths had +gained his temporary place of refuge, they stood yelling +and screaming on the sand bar he had just quitted. Two +or three, excited to desperation by the blood they had +seen spilt, plunged unhesitatingly into the opposite +depths of the lake; and the foremost of these was the +destroyer of the ill-fated Baynton. With his bloody +scalping-knife closely clutched between his teeth, and +his tomahawk in his right hand, this fierce warrior +buffeted the waves lustily with one arm, and, noiselessly +as in the early part of his pursuit, urged his way towards +the boat. In the stern of this a few planks from the +schooner had been firmly lashed, to serve as a shield +against the weapons of the savages, and was so arranged +as to conceal all within while retiring from the shore. +A small aperture had, however, been bored for the purpose +of observing the movements of the enemy without risk. +Through this an eye was now directed, while only the +blades of the oars were to be seen projecting from the +boat's sides as they reposed in their rowlocks. Encouraged +by the seeming apathy and inertness of the crew, the +swimming savages paused not to consider of consequences, +but continued their daring course as if they had apprehended +neither risk nor resistance. Presently a desperate splash +was heard near the stern of the boat, and the sinuous +form of the first savage was raised above the gunwale, +his grim face looking devilish in its war-paint, and his +fierce eyes gleaming and rolling like fire-balls in their +sockets. Scarcely was he seen, however, when he had again +disappeared. A blow from the cutlass that had destroyed +his companion descended like lightning on his naked and +hairless head; and, in the agony of death, he might be +seen grinding his teeth against the knife which the +instinctive ferocity of his nature forbade his +relinquishing. A yell of fury burst from the savages on +the bar, and presently a shower of bullets ran whistling +through the air. Several were heard striking the rude +rampart in the stem; but, although the boat was scarcely +out of pistol-shot, the thickness of the wood prevented +all injury to those within. Another fierce yell followed +this volley; and then nearly a score of warriors, giving +their guns in charge to their companions, plunged furiously +into the water; and, with an air of the most infuriated +determination, leaped rather than swam along its surface. + +"Now, then, my lads, give way," said he at the look-out; +"there are more than a dozen of the devils in full cry; +and our only chance is in flight! Ha! another here!" as, +turning to issue these directions, he chanced to see the +dark hand of a savage at that moment grasping the gunwale +of the boat, as if with a view to retard her movements +until the arrival of his companions. + +A heavy blow from his cutlass accompanied these words. +The fingers, divided at their very roots, rolled to the +bottom of the boat, and the carcase of the savage dropped, +with a yell of anguish, far in the rear. The heavy +oar-blades of the seamen now made play, dashing the lake +away in sheets of foam; and, in less than five minutes, +the heads of the swimming savages were seen mingling like +so many rats upon the water, as they returned once more +in disappointment from their fruitless pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +The sun had gone down, as he had risen, in all the +gloriousness of his autumnal splendour, and twilight was +now fast descending on the waters of the Huron. A slight +breeze was just beginning to make itself felt from the +land, the gradual rising of which was hailed by many an +anxious heart, as the schooner, which had been making +vain attempts to quit her anchorage during the day, now +urged her light bows through the slightly curling element. +A death-like silence, interrupted only by the low gruff +voice of a veteran seaman, as he issued, in technical +language, the necessary orders for the management of the +vessel, prevailed every where along her decks. The dress +and general appearance of this individual announced him +for a petty officer of the royal service; and it was +evident, from the tone of authority with which he spoke, +he was now in the enjoyment of a temporary command. The +crew, consisting of about thirty souls, and chiefly +veterans of the same class, were assembled along the +gangways, each man wearing a brace of pistols in the +belt, which, moreover, secured a naked cutlass around +his loins; and these now lingered near the several guns +that were thrown out from their gloomy looking ports, as +if ready for some active service. But, although the arming +of these men indicated hostile preparation, there was +none of that buoyancy of movement and animation of feature +to be observed, which so usually characterise the +indomitable daring of the British sailor. Some stood +leaning their heads pensively on their hands against the +rigging and hammocks that were stowed away along the +bulwarks, after the fashion of war ships in boarding; +others, with arms tightly folded across their chests, +spirted the tobacco juice thoughtfully from their closed +teeth into the receding waters; while not a few gazed +earnestly and despondingly on the burning fort in the +distance, amid the rolling volumes of smoke and flame +from which, ever and anon, arose the fiendish yell of +those who, having already sacked, were now reducing it +to ashes. Nor was this the only object of their attention. +On the sand bank alluded to in our last chapter were to +be dimly seen through the growing dusk, the dark outlines +of many of the savages, who, frantic with rage at their +inability to devote them to the same doom, were still +unwilling to quit a spot which approached them nearest +to the last surviving objects of their enmity. Around +this point, were collected numerous canoes, filled also +with warriors; and, at the moment when the vessel, obeying +the impulse given by her flowing sails, glided from her +anchorage, these followed, scudding in her wake, and made +a show of attacking her in the stern. The sudden yawing +of the schooner, however, in bringing her tier of bristling +ports into view, had checked the ardour of the pursuing +fleet; and the discharge of a single gun, destroying in +its course three of their canoes, and carrying death +among those who directed them, had driven them back, in +the greatest hurry and confusion, to their yelling and +disappointed comrades. + +The after-deck of the schooner presented a different, +though not less sombre and discouraging, scene. On a pile +of mattresses lay the light and almost inanimate form of +Clara de Haldimar; her fair and redundant hair overshadowing +her pallid brow and cheek, and the dress she had worn at +the moment of her escape from the fort still spotted with +the blood of her generous but unfortunate preserver. +Close at her side, with her hands clasped in his, while +he watched the expression of deep suffering reflected +from each set feature, and yet with the air of one +pre-occupied with some other subject of painful interest, +sat, on an empty shot-box, the young man in sailor's +attire, whose cutlass had performed the double service +of destroying his own immediate opponent, and avenging +the death of the devoted Baynton. At the head of the rude +couch, and leaning against a portion of the schooner's +stern-work, stood his companion, who from delicacy appeared +to have turned away his eyes from the group below, merely +to cast them vacantly on the dark waters through which +the vessel was now beginning to urge her course. + +Such was the immediate position of this little party, +when the gun fired at the Indians was heard booming +heavily along the lake. The loud report, in exciting +new sources of alarm, seemed to have dissipated the spell +that had hitherto chained the energies and perception of +the still weak, but now highly excited girl. + +"Oh, Captain Baynton, where are we?" she exclaimed, +starting up suddenly in terror, and throwing her arms +around him, who sat at her side, as if she would have +clung to him for protection. "Is the horrid massacre not +finished yet? Where is Madeline? where is my cousin? Oh, +I cannot leave the fort without her." + +"Ha! where indeed is she?" exclaimed the youth, as he +clasped his trembling and scarcely conscious burden to +his chest, "Almighty God, where is she?" Then, after a +short pause, and in a voice of tender but exquisite +anguish, "Clara, my beloved sister, do you not know me? +It is not Baynton but your brother, who now clasps you +to his breaking heart." + +A deluge of tears was the only answer of the wretched +girl. They were the first she had shed,--the first marks +of consciousness she had exhibited. Hitherto her heart +had been oppressed; every fibre of her brain racked almost +to bursting, and filled only with ghastly flitting visions +of the dreadful horrors she had seen perpetrated, she +had continued, since the moment of her fainting in the +block-house, as one bereft of all memory of the past, or +apprehension of the present. But now, the full outpouring +of her grief relieved her overcharged brain and heart, +even while the confused images floating before her +recollection acquired a more tangible and painful character. +She raised herself a moment from the chest on which her +burning head reposed, looked steadfastly in the face that +hung anxiously over her own, and saw indeed that it was +her brother. She tried to speak, but she could not utter +a word, for the memory of all that had occurred that +fatal morning rushed with mountain weight upon her fainting +spirit, and again she wept, and more bitterly than before. + +The young man pressed her in silence to his chest; nor +was it until she had given full vent to her grief, that +he ventured to address her on the subject of his own +immediate sorrows. At length, when she appeared somewhat +more calm, he observed, in a voice broken by emotion,-- + +"Clara, dearest, what account have you to give me of +Madeline? Has she shared the fate of all? or have you +reason to suppose her life has been spared?" + +Another burst of tears succeeded to these questions, for +coupled with the name of her cousin arose all the horrid +associations connected with her loss. As soon, however, +as she could compose herself, she briefly stated all she +had witnessed of the affair, from the moment when the +boat of the schooner was seen to meet the strange looking +object on the water, to that when she had beheld her +ill-fated cousin borne away apparently lifeless in the +arms of the tall Indian by whom she had been captured. + +During this recital, the heart of Captain de Haldimar, +--for it was he,--beat audibly against the cheek that +still reposed on his breast; but when his sister had, in +a faint voice, closed her melancholy narrative with the +manner of her cousin's disappearance, he gave a sudden +start, uttering at the same time an exclamation of joy. + +"Thank God, she still lives!" he cried, pressing his +sister once more in fondness to his heart; then turning +to his companion, who, although seemingly abstracted, +had been a silent and attentive witness of the scene,--"By +Heaven! Valletort, there is yet a hope. She it was indeed +whom we saw borne out of the fort, and subsequently made +to walk by the cruel Indian who had charge of her." + +"Valletort, Valletort," murmured Clara unconsciously, +her sick heart throbbing with she knew not what. "How is +this, Frederick?--Where, then, is Captain Baynton? and +how came you here?" + +"Alas! Clara, poor Baynton is no more. Even at the moment +when he confided the unconscious burden, preserved at +the peril of his own life, to the arms of Sir Everard +here, he fell beneath the tomahawk of a pursuing savage. +Poor, noble, generous Baynton," he continued, mournfully; +"to him, indeed, Clara, are you indebted for your life; +yet was it purchased at the price of his own." + +Again the pained and affectionate girl wept bitterly, +and her brother proceeded:-- + +"The strange object you saw on the lake, my love, was +nothing more than a canoe disguised with leafy boughs, +in which Sir Everard Valletort and myself, under the +guidance of old Francois of the Fleur de lis, whom you +must recollect, have made the dangerous passage of the +Sinclair in the garb of duck hunters,--which latter we +had only discarded on reaching the schooner, in order to +assume another we conceived better suited to our purpose. +Alas!" and he struck his hand violently against his brow, +"had we made directly for the shore without touching the +vessel at all, there might have been time to save those +we came to apprise of their danger. Do you not think +there was, Valletort?" + +"Most assuredly not," returned his companion, anxious to +remove the impression of self-blame that existed in the +mind of Captain de Haldimar. "From the moment of our +reaching the schooner, which lay immediately in our route, +to that when the shout was raised by the savages as they +rushed into the fort, there was scarcely an interval of +three minutes; and it would have required a longer period +to have enabled us even to gain the shore." + +"Thank, thank you for that!" exclaimed the officer, +drawing himself up with the air of one who breathes more +freely. "I would not, for the wealth and honours of the +united world, that such a cause for self-reproach should +linger on my mind. By Heaven! it would break my heart to +think we had been in time to save them, and yet had lost +the opportunity through even one moment of neglect." Then +turning once more to his sister,--"Now, Clara, that I +see you in safety, I have another sacred duty to perform. +I must leave you, but not alone." + +"What mean you, Frederick?" exclaimed his agitated sister, +clinging more closely to his embrace. "Scarce have we +met, and you talk of leaving me. Oh, whither would you +go?" + +"Surely, my love," and he spoke half reproachfully, +although with tenderness of accent, "my meaning must be +obvious. But what do I say? You know it not. Madeline +still lives. We saw her, as we pulled towards the shore, +led across the clearing in the direction of Chabouiga. +Hear me, then: the canoe in which we came is still towing +from the vessel's stern, and in this do I mean to embark, +without further loss of time, in search of her who is +dearer to me than existence. I know," he pursued with +emotion, "I have but little hope of rescuing, even if I +do succeed in finding her; but at least I shall not have +to suffer under the self-reproach of having neglected +the only chance that now lies within my reach. If she +be doomed to die, I shall then have nothing left to live +for--except you, Clara," he concluded, after a pause, +pressing the weeping girl to his heart, as he remarked +how much she seemed pained by the declaration. + +Having placed his sister once more on the couch, and +covered her with a cloak that had been brought from the +cabin of the unfortunate commander, Captain de Haldimar +now rose from his humble seat, and grasping the hand of +his friend,-- + +"Valletort," he said, "I commit this dear girl to your +keeping. Hitherto we have been equal sharers in an +enterprise having for its object the preservation of our +mutual companions and friends. At present, interests of +a more personal nature occupy my attention; and to these +must I devote myself alone. I trust you will reach Detroit +in safety; and when you have delivered my unfortunate +sister into the arms of her father, you will say to him +from me, I could not survive the loss of that being to +whom I had sworn eternal fidelity and affection. Francois +must be my only companion on this occasion. Nay," he +continued, pointing to his sister, in answer to the rising +remonstrance of the baronet," will you desert the precious +charge I have confided to your keeping? Recollect, +Valletort," in a more subdued tone, "that besides yourself, +there will be none near her but rude and uneducated +sailors;--honest men enough in their way, it is true; +but not the sort of people to whom I should like to +confide my poor sister." + +The warm and silent pressure by Sir Everard of his hand +announced his participation in the sentiment; and Captain +de Haldimar now hastened forward to apprise the Canadian +of his purpose. He found mine host of the Fleur de lis +seated in the forecastle of the schooner; and with an +air of the most perfect unconcern discussing a substantial +meal, consisting of dried uncooked venison, raw onions, +and Indian corn bread, the contents of a large bag or +wallet that lay at his feet. No sooner, however, had the +impatient officer communicated his design, asking at the +same time if he might expect his assistance in the +enterprise, than the unfinished meal of the Canadian was +discontinued, the wallet refilled, and the large greasy +clasp-knife with which the portions had been separated, +closed and thrust into a pocket of his blanket coat. + +"I shall go to de devils for you, capitaine, if we must," +he said, as he raised his portly form, not without effort, +from the deck, slapping the shoulder of the officer at +the same time somewhat rudely with his hand. There was +nothing, however, offensively familiar in this action. +It expressed merely the devotedness of heart with which +the man lent himself to the service to which he had +pledged himself, and was rather complimentary than +otherwise to him to whom it was directed. Captain de +Haldimar took it in the light in which we have just shown +it, and he grasped and shook the rough hand of the Canadian +with an earnestness highly gratifying to the latter. + +Every thing was now in readiness for their departure. +The canoe, still covered with its streaming boughs, was +drawn close up to the gangway, and a few hasty necessaries +thrown in. While this was passing, the officer had again +assumed his disguise of a duck-hunter; and he now appeared +in the blanket costume in which we introduced Sir Everard +and himself at the opening of this volume. + +"If I may be so bold as to put in my oar, your +honour,"--said the veteran boatswain, on whom the command +of the schooner had fallen, as he now advanced, rolling +his quid in his mouth, and dropping his hat on his +shoulder, while the fingers of the hand which clutched +it were busily occupied in scratching his bald head,--"if +I may be so bold, there is another chap here as might +better sarve your honour's purpose than that 'ere fat +Canadian, who seems to think only of stuffing while his +betters are fasting." + +"And who is he, my good Mullins?" asked Captain de +Haldimar. + +"Why, that 'ere Ingian, your honour, as began the butchery +in the fort, yonder, by trying to kill Jack Fuller while +he laid asleep this morning, waiting for the captain in +the jolly boat. Jack never seed him coming, until he felt +his black hands upon his throat, and then he ups with +the tiller at his noddle, and sends him floundering across +the boat's thwarts like a flat-fish. I thought, your +honour, seeing as how I have got the command of the +schooner, of tying him up to the mainmast, and giving +him two or three round dozen or so, and then sending him +to swim among the mascannungy with a twenty-four pound +shot in his neckcloth; but, seeing as how your honour is +going among them savages agin, I thought as how some good +might be done with him, if your honour could contrive to +keep him in tow, and close under your lee quarter, to +prevent his escape." + +"At all events," returned the officer, after a pause of +some moments, during which he appeared to be deliberating +on his course of action, "it may be dangerous to keep +him in the vessel; and yet, if we take him ashore, he +may be the means of our more immediate destruction; +unless, indeed, as you observe, he can be so secured as +to prevent the possibility of escape: but that I very +much doubt indeed. Where is he, Mullins? I should like +to see and question him." + +"He shall be up, your honour, in no time," replied the +sailor, once more resuming his hat, and moving a pace or +two forward. Then addressing two or three men in the +starboard gangway in the authoritative tone of command: +--"Bear a hand there, my men, and cast off the lashings +of that black Ingian, and send him aft, here, to the +officer." + +The order was speedily executed. In a few minutes the +Indian stood on the quarter-deck, his hands firmly secured +behind, and his head sunk upon his chest in sullen +despondency. In the increasing gloom in which objects +were now gradually becoming more and more indistinct, it +was impossible for Captain de Haldimar to distinguish +his features; but there was something in the outline of +the Indian's form that impressed him with the conviction +he had seen it before. Advancing a pace or two forward, +he pronounced, in an emphatic and audible whisper, the +name of "Oucanasta!" + +The Indian gave an involuntary start,--uttered a deep +interjectional "Ugh!"--and, raising his head from his +chest, fixed his eye heavily on the officer. + +"Hookynaster!--Hookynaster!" growled Jack Fuller, who +had followed to hear the examination of his immediate +captive: "why, your honour, that jaw-breaking name reminds +me as how the chap had a bit of a paper when I chucked +him into the jolly boat, stuck in his girdle. It was +covered over with pencil-marks, as writing like; but all +was rubbed out agin, except some such sort of a name as +that." + +"Where is it?--what have you done with it?" hastily asked +Captain de Haldimar. + +"Here, in my backy-box, your honour. I kept it safe, +thinking as how it might sarve to let us know all about +it afterwards." + +The sailor now drew from the receptacle just named a +dirty piece of folded paper, deeply impregnated with the +perfume of stale and oft rechewed quids of coarse tobacco; +and then, with the air of one conscious of having "rendered +the state some service," hitched up his trowsers with +one hand, while with the other he extended the important +document. + +To glance his eye hurriedly over the paper by the light +of a dark lanthorn that had meanwhile been brought upon +deck, unclasp his hunting-knife, and divide the ligatures +of the captive, and then warmly press his liberated hands +within his own, were, with Captain de Haldimar, but the +work of a minute. + +"Hilloa! which the devil way does the wind blow now?" +muttered Fuller, the leer of self-satisfaction that had +hitherto played in his eye rapidly giving place to an +air of seriousness and surprise; an expression that was +not at all diminished by an observation from his new +commander. + +"I tell you what it is, Jack," said the latter, +impressively; "I don't pretend to have more gumption (qu. +discernment?) than my messmates; but I can see through +a millstone as clear as any man as ever heaved a lead in +these here lakes; and may I never pipe boatswain's whistle +again, if you 'ar'n't, some how or other, in the wrong +box. That 'ere Ingian's one of us!" + +The feelings of Captain de Haldimar may easily be +comprehended by our readers, when, on glancing at the +paper, he found himself confirmed in the impression +previously made on him by the outline of the captive's +form. The writing, nearly obliterated by damp, had been +rudely traced by his own pencil on a leaf torn from his +pocket-book. In the night of his visit to the Indian +encampment, and at the moment when, seated on the fatal +log, Oucanasta had generously promised her assistance in +at least rescuing his betrothed bride. They were addressed +to Major de Haldimar, and briefly stated that a treacherous +plan was in contemplation by the enemy to surprise the +fort, which the bearer, Oucanasta (the latter word strongly +marked), would fully explain, if she could possibly obtain +access within. From the narrative entered into by Clara, +who had particularly dwelt on the emotions of fear that +had sprung up in her own and cousin's heart by the sudden +transformation of a supposed harmless beaver into a fierce +and threatening savage, he had no difficulty in solving +the enigma. + +The Indian, in whom he had recognised the young chief +who had saved him from the fury of Wacousta, had evidently +been won upon by his sister to perform a service which +offered so much less difficulty to a warrior than to a +woman; and it was clear, that, finding all other means +of communication with the fort, undiscovered by his own +people, impracticable, he had availed himself of the +opportunity, when he saw the boat waiting on the strand, +to assume a disguise so well adapted to insure success. +It was no remarkable thing in these countries, to see +both the beaver and the otter moving on the calm surface +of the waters in the vicinity of the forts, even at +mid-day; and occupied as the Indians were, to a man, at +that moment with their cruel projects, it was by no means +likely that their attention should have been called off +from these to so apparently unimportant a circumstance. +The act that had principally alarmed the cousins, and +terminated, as we have seen, in the sudden attack of the +sailor, had evidently been misconceived. The hand supposed +to be feeling for the heart of the sluggard, had, in all +probability, been placed on his chest with a view to +arouse him from his slumber; while that which was believed +to have been dropped to the handle of his knife, was, in +reality, merely seeking the paper that contained the +announcement, which, if then delivered, might have saved +the garrison. + +Such was the tram of conjecture that now passed through +the mind of the officer; but, although he thus placed +the conduct of the Indian in the most favourable light, +his impression received no confirmation from the lips of +the latter. Sullen and doggedly, notwithstanding the +release from his bonds, the Ottawa hung his head upon +his chest, with his eyes riveted on the deck, and +obstinately refused to answer every question put to him +by his deliverer. This, however, did not the less tend +to confirm Captain de Haldimar in his belief. He knew +enough of the Indian character, to understand the indignant +and even revengeful spirit likely to be aroused by the +treatment the savage had met with in return for his +intended services. He was aware that, without pausing to +reflect on the fact, that the sailor, ignorant of his +actual purpose, could merely have seen in him an enemy +in the act of attempting his life, the chief would only +consider and inflame himself over the recollection of +the blow inflicted; and that, with the true obstinacy of +his race, he would rather suffer captivity or death +itself, than humble the haughty pride of his nature, by +condescending to an explanation with those by whom he +felt himself so deeply injured. Still, even amid all his +own personal griefs,--griefs that rendered the boon in +some degree at present valueless,--Captain de Haldimar +could not forget that the youth, no matter by what motive +induced, had rescued him from a dreadful death on a +previous occasion. With the generous warmth, therefore, +of a grateful mind, he now sought to impress on the Indian +the deep sense of obligation under which he laboured; +explaining at the same time the very natural error into +which the sailor had fallen, and concluding with a +declaration that he was free to quit the vessel in the +canoe in which he himself was about to take his departure +for the shore, in search of her whom his sister had +pledged herself, at all hazards, to save. + +The address of the officer, touching and impressive as +language ever is that comes from the heart, was not +altogether without effect on the Indian. Several times +he interrupted him with a short, quick, approving "Ugh!" +and when he at length received the assurance that he was +no longer a prisoner, he raised his eyes rapidly, although +without moving his head, to the countenance of his +deliverer. Already were his lips opening to speak for +the first time, when the attention of the group around +him was arrested by his giving a sudden start of surprise. +At the same moment he raised his head, stretched his +neck, threw forward his right ear, and, uttering a loud +and emphatic "Waugh!" pointed with his finger over the +bows of the vessel. + +All listened for upwards of a minute in mute suspense; +and then a faint and scarcely distinguishable sound was +heard in the direction in which he pointed. Scarcely had +it floated on the air, when a shrill, loud, and prolonged +cry, of peculiar tendency, burst hurriedly and eagerly +from the lips of the captive; and, spreading over the +broad expanse of water, seemed to be re-echoed back from +every point of the surrounding shore. + +Great was the confusion that followed this startling yell +on the decks of the schooner. "Cut the hell-fiend +down!"--"Chuck him overboard!"--" We are betrayed!"--"Every +man to his gun!"--"Put the craft about!" were among the +numerous exclamations that now rose simultaneously from +at least twenty lips, and almost drowned the loud shriek +that burst again from the wretched Clara de Haldimar. + +"Stop, Mullins!--Stop, men!" shouted Captain de Haldimar, +firmly, as the excited boatswain, with two or three of +his companions,--now advanced with the intention of +laying violent hands on the Indian. "I will answer for +his fidelity with my life. If he be false, it will be +time enough to punish him afterwards; but let us calmly +await the issue like men. Hear me," he proceeded, as he +remarked their incredulous, uncertain, and still threatening +air;--"this Indian saved me from the tomahawks of his +tribe not a week ago; and, even now, he has become our +captive in the act of taking a note from me to the +garrison, to warn them of their danger. But for that +slumbering fool," he added, bitterly, pointing to Fuller, +who slept when he should have watched, "your fort would +not now have been what it is,--a mass of smoking ruins. +He has an ocean of blood upon his soul, that all the +waters of the Huron can never wash out!" + +Struck by the vehement manner of the officer, and the +disclosure he had just made, the sailors sunk once more +into inaction and silence. The boatswain alone spoke. + +"I thought, your honour, as how Jack Fuller, who sartainly +is a better hand at a snooze than a watch, had got into +a bit of a mess; but, shiver my topsails, if I think it's +quite fair to blame him, neither, for clapping a stopper +on the Indian's cable, seeing as how he was expecting a +shot between wind and water. Still, as the chap turns +out to be an honest chap, and has saved your honour's +life above all, I don't much care if I give him a grip. +Here, old fellow, tip us your fist!" + +Without seeming to understand that his cry had been +productive of general and intense alarm throughout the +vessel, the Indian had viewed the sudden rushing of the +crew towards him as an act of gratuitous hostility; and, +without shrinking from the attack, had once more resumed +his original air of dogged sullenness. It was evident +to him, from the discussion going on, that some violence, +about to be offered to his person, had only been prevented +by the interference of the officer. With the natural +haughtiness of his savage nature, he therefore rejected +the overtures of the sailor, whose hand he had observed +among the first that were raised against him. + +While the angry boatswain was yet rolling his quid within +his capacious jaws, racking his brain for the strongest +language wherein to give vent to his indignation, his +ears were suddenly saluted by a low but clear "Hilloa!" +from the bows of the schooner. + +"Ay, ay!" was the brief response. + +"There's something approaching us ahead, on the weather +fore quarter," continued the same voice, which was that +of the man on the look-out. + +The most profound silence now pervaded the deck. Every +individual, including Captain de Haldimar and the boatswain, +had flown to the gangway of the quarter indicated, which +was on the side occupied by the couch of the unfortunate +Clara. Presently a noise like that produced by a single +paddle rapidly dividing the water, was heard by every +anxious ear. Night had long since thrown her mantle over +the surrounding waste; and all that was to be seen +reflected from the bosom of the gradually darkening river, +scarcely ruffled by the yet incipient breeze, were a few +straggling stars, that here and there appeared in the +overcast heavens. Hitherto no object could be discovered +by those who strained their eyes eagerly and painfully +through the gloom, although the sounds became at each +moment more distinct. It was evident the party, guided +by the noise of the rippling waves that fell from the +bows of the schooner, was enabled to follow up a course, +the direct clue to which had been indicated by the cry +of the captive. Every man stood near his gun on the +starboard battery, and the burning matches hanging over +their respective buckets ready to be seized at a moment's +notice. Still, but little room for apprehension existed; +for the practised ear of the mariners could easily tell +that a solitary bark alone approached; and of one, or +even ten, they entertained no fear. Suddenly, as the +course of the vessel was now changed a point to windward, +--a movement that brought her bows more off the adjacent +shore,--the sound, in which all were more or less +interested, was heard not more than twenty yards off, +and in a line with the gangway at which the principal of +the crew were assembled. In the next minute the low hull +of a canoe came in sight, and then a tall and solitary +human figure was seen in the stern, bending alternately +to the right and to the left, as the paddle was rapidly +and successively changed from side to side. + +Another deep and exulting "Ugh!" was now heaved from the +chest of the Indian, who stood calmly on the spot on +which he had first rested, while Fuller prepared a coil +of rope to throw to the active steersman. + +"Avast there, Jack!" growled the boatswain, addressing +the sailor; "how can the stranger keep the bow of his +craft on, and grapple at the same time? Just pass one +end of the coil round your waist, and swing yourself +gently into her." + +The head of the canoe was now near enough for the purpose. +The sailor did as he was desired, having previously +divested himself of his shoes, and leaping forward, +alighted on what appeared to be a bundle of blankets +stowed away in her bows. No sooner, however, had he +secured his footing, when with another desperate leap, +and greatly to the astonishment of all around, he bounded +once more to the deck of the schooner, his countenance +exhibiting every mark of superstitious alarm. In the act +of quitting the canoe he had spurned her violently several +feet from the vessel, which the silent steersman was +again making every effort to reach. + +"Why what the devil's the matter with you now?" exclaimed +the rough boatswain, who, as well as Captain de Haldimar +and the rest of the crew, had quitted the gangway to +learn the cause of this extraordinary conduct. "Damn my +eyes, if you ar'n't worse scared than when the Ingian +stood over you in the jolly boat." + +"Scared, ay, to be sure I am; and so would you be scared +too, if you'd a see'd what I did. May I never touch the +point at Portsmouth, if I a'n't seen her ghost." + +"Where?--whose ghost?--what ghost?--what do you mean, +Jack?" exclaimed several of the startled men in the same +breath, while the superstitious dread so common to mariners +drew them still closer in the group that encircled their +companion. + +"Well, then, as I am a miserable sinner," returned the +man, impressively, and in a low tone, "I see'd in the +bows of the canoe,--and the hand that steered it was not +made of flesh and blood like ours,--what do you think?-- +the ghost of---" + +Captain de Haldimar heard no more. At a single bound he +had gained the ship's side. He strained his eyes anxiously +over the gangway in search of the canoe, but it was gone. +A death-like silence throughout the deck followed the +communication of the sailor, and in that pause the sound +of the receding boat could be heard, not urged, as it +had approached, by one paddle, but by two. The heart of +the officer throbbed almost to suffocation; and his +firmness, hitherto supported by the manly energies of +his nature, now failed him quite. Heedless of appearances, +regardless of being overlooked, he tottered like a drunken +man for support against the mainmast. For a moment or +two he leant his head upon his hand, with the air of one +immersed in the most profound abstraction; while the +crew, at once alarmed and touched by the deep distress +into which this mysterious circumstance had plunged him, +stood silently and respectfully watching his emotion. +Suddenly he started from his attitude of painful repose, +like one awaking from a dream, and demanded what had +become of the Indian. + +Every one looked around, but the captive was nowhere to +be seen. Search was made below, both in the cabin and in +the fore decks, and men were sent up aloft to see if he +had secreted himself in the rigging; but all returned, +stating he was nowhere to be found. He had disappeared +from the vessel altogether, yet no one knew how; for he +had not been observed to stir from the spot on which he +had first planted himself. It was plain, however, he had +joined the mysterious party in the canoe, from the fact +of the second paddle having been detected; and all attempts +at pursuit, without endangering the vessel on the shallows, +whither the course of the fugitives was now directed, +was declared by the boatswain utterly impracticable. + +The announcement of the Indian's disappearance seemed to +put the climax to the despair of the unfortunate officer. +--"Then is our every hope lost!" he groaned aloud, as, +quitting the centre of the vessel, he slowly traversed +the deck, and once more stood at the side of his no less +unhappy and excited sister. For a moment or two he remained +with his arms folded across his chest, gazing on the dark +outline of her form; and then, in a wild paroxysm of +silent tearless grief, threw himself suddenly on the edge +of the couch, and clasping her in a long close embrace +to his audibly beating heart, lay like one bereft of all +sense and consciousness of surrounding objects. + + + + +END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. + + + + + + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Wacousta (Volume II), by John Richardson +*********This file should be named wcst210.txt or wcst210.zip********* + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, wcst211.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, wcst210a.txt + +This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan + +More information about this book is at the top of this file. + +We are now trying to release all our etexts one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. 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