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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hardscrabble, by John Richardson
+#8 in our series by John Richardson
+
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+Title: Hardscrabble
+       The Fall of Chicago: A Tale of Indian Warfare
+
+Author: John Richardson
+
+Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5169]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 27, 2002]
+[Date last updated: July 18, 2005]
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+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARDSCRABBLE ***
+
+
+
+
+This etext was produced by Gardner Buchanan with help from
+Charles Franks and Distributed Proofers.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+HARDSCRABBLE; or, The Fall of Chicago
+A Tale of Indian Warfare
+
+by John Richardson
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+It was on a beautiful day in the early part of the month
+of April, 1812, that four persons were met in a rude
+farm-house, situated on the Southern Branch of the Chicago
+river, and about four miles distant from the fort of that
+name. They had just risen from their humble mid-day meal,
+and three of them were now lingering near the fire-place,
+filled with blazing logs, which, at that early season,
+diffused a warmth by no means disagreeable, and gave an
+air of cheerfulness to the interior of the smoke-discolored
+building.
+
+He who appeared to be master of the establishment was a
+tall, good looking man of about forty-five, who had,
+evidently, been long a denizen of the forest, for his
+bronzed countenance bore traces of care and toil, while
+his rugged, yet well-formed hands conveyed the impression
+of the unceasing war he had waged against the gigantic
+trees of this Western land. He was habited in a
+hunting-frock of grey homespun, reaching about half way
+down to his knee, and trimmed with a full fringe of a
+somewhat darker hue. His trowsers were of the same
+material, and both were girt around his loins by a common
+belt of black leather, fastened by a plain white buckle,
+into which was thrust a sheath of black leather also,
+containing a large knife peculiar to the backwoodsmen of
+that day. His feet were encased in moccasins, and on his
+head, covered with strong dark hair, was carelessly donned
+a slouched hat of common black felt, with several plaited
+folds of the sweet grass, of the adjoining prairie for
+a band. He was seemingly a man of strong muscular power,
+while his stern dark eye denoted firmness and daring.
+
+The elder of the two men, to whom this individual stood,
+evidently, in the character of a superior, was a short
+thick-set person of about fifty, with huge whiskers that,
+originally black, had been slightly grizzled by time.
+His eyebrows were bushy and overhanging, and almost
+concealed the small, and twinkling eyes, which it required
+the beholder to encounter more than once before he could
+decide their true color to be a dark gray. A blanket coat
+that had once been white, but which the action of some
+half dozen winters had changed into a dirty yellow,
+enveloped his rather full form, around which it was
+confined by a coarse worsted sash of mingled blue and
+red, thickly studded with minute white beads. His trowsers,
+with broad seams, after the fashion of the Indian legging,
+were of a dark crimson, approaching to a brick-dust color,
+and on his feet he wore the stiff shoe-pack, which, with
+the bonnet bleu on his grizzled head, and the other parts
+of his dress already described, attested him to be what
+he was--a French Canadian. Close at his heels, and moving
+as he moved, or squatted on his haunches, gazing into
+the face of his master when stationary, was a large dog
+of the mongrel breed peculiar to the country--evidently
+with wolf blood in his veins.
+
+His companion was of a different style of figure and
+costume. He was a thin, weak-looking man, of middle
+height, with a complexion that denoted his Saxon origin.
+Very thin brows, retrousse nose, and a light gray eye in
+which might be traced an expression half simple, half
+cunning, completed the picture of this personage, whose
+lank body was encased in an old American uniform of faded
+blue, so scanty in its proportions that the wrists of
+the wearer wholly exposed themselves beneath the short,
+narrow sleeves, while the skirts only "shadowed not
+concealed," that part of the body they had been originally
+intended to cover. A pair of blue pantaloons, perfectly
+in keeping, on the score of scantiness and age, with the
+coat, covered the attenuated lower limbs of the wearer,
+on whose head, moreover, was stuck a conical cap that
+had all the appearance of having been once a portion of
+the same uniform, and had only undergone change in the
+loss of its peak. A small black leather, narrow ridged
+stock was clasped around his thin, and scare-crow neck,
+and that so tightly that it was the wonder of his companions
+how strangulation had so long been avoided. A dirty, and
+very coarse linen shirt, showed itself partially between
+the bottom of the stock, and the uppermost button of the
+coat, which was carefully closed, while his feet were
+protected from the friction of the stiff, though nearly
+wornout, military shoes, by wisps of hay, that supplied
+the absence of the sock. This man was about five and
+thirty.
+
+The last of the little party was a boy. He was a raw-boned
+lad of about fourteen years of age, and of fair complexion,
+with blue eyes, and an immense head of bushy hair, of
+the same hue, which seemed never to have known the use
+of the comb. His feet were naked, and his trowsers and
+shirt, the only articles of dress upon him at the moment,
+were of a homespun somewhat resembling in color the
+hunting frock of his master. A thick black leather strap
+was also around his loins--evidently part of an old bridle
+rein.
+
+The two men first described, drew near the fire and
+lighted their pipes. The ex-militaire thrust a quid of
+tobacco into his cheek, and taking up a small piece of
+pine board that rested against the chimney corner, split
+a portion off this with his jack-knife, and commenced
+whittling. The boy busied himself in clearing the table,
+throwing occasionally scraps of bread and dried venison,
+which had constituted the chief portion of the meal, to
+the dog, which, however, contrary to custom, paid little
+attention to these marks of favor, but moved impatiently,
+at intervals, to the door, then returning, squatted
+himself again on his haunches, at a short distance from
+his master, and uttering a low sound betwixt a whine and
+a growl, looked piteously up into his face.
+
+"Vat the devil is de matter wid you, Loup Garou?" remarked
+the Canadian at length, as, removing the pipe from his
+lips, he stretched his legs, and poised himself in his
+low wood-bottomed chair, putting forth his right hand at
+the same time to his canine follower. "You not eat, and
+you make noise as if you wish me to see one racoon in de
+tree."
+
+"Loup Garou don't prate about coons I guess," drawled
+the man in the faded uniform, without, however, removing
+his eyes from the very interesting occupation in which
+he was engaged. "That dog I take it, Le Noir, means
+something else--something more than we human critters
+know. By gosh, boss," looking for the first time at him
+who stood in that position to the rest of the party--"If
+WE can't smell the varmint, I take it Loup Garou does."
+
+At this early period of civilization, in these remote
+countries, there was little distinction of rank between
+the master and the man--the employer and the employed.
+Indeed the one was distinguished from the other only by
+the instructions given and received, in regard to certain
+services to be performed. They labored together--took
+their meals together--generally smoked together--drank
+together--conversed together, and if they did not
+absolutely sleep together, often reposed in the same
+room. There was, therefore, nothing extraordinary in the
+familiar tone in which the ci-devant soldier now addressed
+him whose hired help he was. The latter, however, was in
+an irritable mood, and he answered sharply.
+
+"What have you got into your foolish head now, Ephraim
+Giles? You do nothing but prophesy evil. What varmint do
+you talk of, and what has Loup Garou to do with it? Speak,
+what do you mean?--if you mean anything at all."
+
+As he uttered this half rebuke, he rose abruptly from
+his chair, shook the ashes from his pipe, and drew himself
+to his full height, with his back to the fire. There had
+been nothing very remarkable in the observation made by
+the man to whom he had addressed himself, but he was in
+a peculiar state of mind, that gave undue importance to
+every word, sounding, as it did, a vague presentiment of
+some coming evil, which the very singular manner of the
+dog had created, although he would scarcely acknowledge
+this to himself.
+
+The man made no reply, but continued whittling, humming,
+at the same time, the air of "Yankee Doodle."
+
+"Answer me, Ephraim Giles," peremptorily resumed his
+master; "leave off that eternal whittling of yours, if
+you can, and explain to me your meaning."
+
+"Etarnal whittling! do you call it, Boss? I guess it's
+no such thing. No man knows better nor you, that, if I
+can whittle the smallest stick in creation, I can bring
+down the stoutest tree as well as ere a fellow in Michigan.
+Work is work--play is play. It's only the difference, I
+reckon, of the axe and the knife."
+
+"Will you answer my question like a man, and not like a
+fool, as you are?" shouted the other, stooping, and
+extending his left hand, the fingers of which he insinuated
+into the stock already described, while, with a powerful
+jerk, he both brought the man to his feet, and the blood
+into his usually cadaverous cheek.
+
+Ephraim Giles, half-throttled, and writhing with pain,
+made a movement as if he would have used the knife in a
+much less innocent manner than whittling, but the quick,
+stern eye of his master, detected the involuntary act,
+and his hand, suddenly relinquishing its hold of the
+collar, grasped the wrist of the soldier with such a
+vice-like pressure, that the fingers immediately opened,
+and the knife fell upon the hearth.
+
+The violence of his own act, brought Mr. Heywood at once
+to a sense of the undue severity he had exercised towards
+his servant, and he immediately said, taking his hand:
+
+"Ephraim Giles, forgive me, but it was not intended. Yet,
+I know not how it is, the few words you spoke just now
+made me anxious to know what you meant, and I could not
+repress my impatience to hear your explanation."
+
+The soldier had never before remarked so much dignity of
+manner about his Boss, as he termed Mr. Heywood, and this
+fact, added to the recollection of the severe handling
+he had just met with, caused him to be a little more
+respectful in his address.
+
+"Well, I reckon," he said, picking up his knife, and
+resuming his whittling, but in a less absorbed manner,
+"I meant no harm, but merely that Loup Garou can nose an
+Injin better than ere a one of us."
+
+"Nose an Indian better than any one of us! Well, perhaps
+he can--he sees them every day, but what has that to do
+with his whining and growling just now?"
+
+"Well, I'll tell you, Boss, what I mean, more plain-like.
+You know that patch of wood borderin' on the prairie,
+where you set me to cut, t'other day?"
+
+"I do. What of that?"
+
+"Well, then, this mornin' I was cuttin' down as big an
+oak as ever grew in Michigan, when, as it went thunderin'
+through the branches, with noise enough to scare every
+buffalo within a day's hunt, up started, not twenty yards
+from it's tip, ten or a dozen or so of Injins, all gruntin'
+like pigs, and looking as fierce as so many red devils.
+They didn't look quite pleasant, I calcilate."
+
+"Indeed," remarked Mr. Heywood, musingly; "a party of
+Pottawattamies I presume, from the Fort. We all know
+there is a large encampment of them in the neighborhood,
+but they are our friends."
+
+"May-be so," continued Ephraim Giles, "but these varmint
+didn't look over friendly, and then I guess the
+Pottawattamies don't dress in war paint, 'cept when they
+dance for liquor."
+
+"And are you quite sure these Indians were in their war
+paint?" asked his master, with an ill-concealed look of
+anxiety.
+
+"No mistake about it," replied Giles, still whittling,
+"and I could almost swear, short as the squint was I got
+of 'em, that they were part of those who fought us on
+the Wabash, two years ago."
+
+"How so, den, you are here, Gile. If dey wicked Injin,
+how you keep your funny little cap, an' your scalp under
+de cap?"
+
+This question was asked by the Canadian, who had hitherto,
+while puffing his pipe, listened indifferently to the
+conversation, but whose attention had now become arrested,
+from the moment that his fellow-laborer had spoken of
+the savages, so strangely disturbed by him.
+
+"Well, I don't exactly know about that, myself," returned
+the soldier, slightly raising his cap and scratching his
+crown, as if in recollection of some narrowly escaped
+danger. "I reckon, tho', when I see them slope up like
+a covey of red-legged pattridges, my heart was in my
+mouth, for I looked for nothin' else but that same
+operation: but I wur just as well pleased, when, after
+talkin' their gibberish, and makin' all sorts of signs
+among themselves, they made tracks towards the open
+prairie."
+
+"And why did you not name this, the instant you got home?"
+somewhat sternly questioned Mr. Heywood.
+
+"Where's the use of spilin' a good dinner?" returned the
+soldier. "It was all smokin' hot when I came in from
+choppin', and I thought it best for every man to tuck it
+in before I said a word about it. Besides, I reckon I
+don't know as they meant any harm, seein' as how they
+never carried off my top-knot;--only it was a little
+queer they were hid in that way in the woods, and looked
+so fierce when they first jumped up in their nasty paint."
+
+"Who knows," remarked Mr. Heywood, taking down his rifle
+from the side of the hut opposite to the chimney, and
+examining the priming, "but these fellows may have tracked
+you back, and are even now, lurking near us. Ephraim
+Giles, you should have told me of this before."
+
+"And so," replied the soldier, "I was goin' to, when Loup
+Garou began with his capers. Then it was I gave a parable
+like, about his scentin' the varmint better nor we human
+critters could."
+
+"Ephraim Giles," said Mr. Heywood, sharply, while he
+fixed his dark eye upon him, as if he would have read
+his inmost soul, "you say that you have been a soldier,
+and fought with our army on the Wabash. Why did you leave
+the service?"
+
+"Because," drawled the ex-militaire, with a leering
+expression of his eye, "my captin was a bad judge of good
+men when he had 'em, and reckoned I was shammin' when I
+fell down rale sick, and was left behind in a charge made
+on the Injins at Tippecanoe. I couldn't stand the abuse
+he gave me for this, and so I left him."
+
+"Cool, indeed," sneered Mr. Heywood; "now then, Ephraim
+Giles, hear my opinion. Your captain thought you were a
+coward, for he judged you from your conduct. I, too,
+judge you from your conduct, and have no hesitation in
+pronouncing you to be a rogue or a fool."
+
+"Well, I want to know!" was the only rejoinder of the
+man, as he went on unconcernedly with his whittling.
+
+"Le Noir," said his master to the Canadian, who, imitating
+his example, had taken down a long duck gun from the same
+side of the hut, "take your dog with you and reconnoitre
+in the neighborhood. You speak Indian, and if any of
+these people are to be seen, ascertain who they are and
+why--"
+
+Here he was interrupted by the gradually approaching
+sounds of rattling deer hoofs, so well known as composing
+one of the lower ornaments of the Indian war-dress, while,
+at the same moment, the wild moaning of Loup Garou, then
+standing at the front door-way, was renewed even more
+plaintively than before.
+
+Mr. Heywood's cheek blanched. It was not with fear, for
+he was a man incapable of fear in the common acceptation
+of the word, but independently of certain vague
+apprehensions for others, his mind had been in a great
+degree unhinged by an unaccountable presentiment of evil,
+which instinctively had come over it that day. It was
+this, that, inducing a certain irresoluteness of thought
+and action, had led him into a manifestation of peevish
+contradiction in his address to Ephraim Giles. There are
+moments, when, without knowing why, the nerves of the
+strongest--the purposes of the wisest, are unstrung--and
+when it requires all our tact and self-possession to
+conceal from others, the momentary weakness we almost
+blush to admit to ourselves.
+
+But there was no time for reflection. The approach to
+the door was suddenly shaded, and in the next instant
+the dark forms of three or four savages, speedily followed
+by others, amounting in all to twelve, besides their
+chief, who was in the advance, crossed the threshold,
+and, without uttering a word, either of anger or salutation,
+squatted themselves upon the floor. They were stout,
+athletic warriors, the perfect symmetry of whose persons
+could not be concealed even by the hideous war-paint with
+which they were thickly streaked--inspiring anything but
+confidence in the honesty or friendliness of their
+intentions. The head of each was shaved and painted as
+well as his person, and only on the extreme crown had
+been left a tuft of hair, to which were attached feathers,
+and small bones, and other fantastic ornaments peculiar
+to their race--a few of them carried American rifles--the
+majority, the common gun periodically dealt out to the
+several tribes, as presents from the British Government,
+while all had in addition to their pipe-tomahawks the
+formidable and polished war-club.
+
+Such visitors, and so armed, were not of a description
+to remove the apprehensions of the little party in the
+farm-house. Their very silence, added to their dark and
+threatening looks, created more than mere suspicion--a
+certainty of evil design--and deeply did Mr. Heywood
+deplore the folly of Ephraim Giles in failing to apprise
+him of his meeting with these people, at the earliest
+moment after his return. Had he done so, there might have
+been a chance, nay, every assurance of relief, for he
+knew that a party from the fort, consisting of a
+non-commissioned officer and six men, were even now
+fishing not more than two miles higher up the river. He
+was aware that the boy, Wilton, was an excellent runner,
+and that within an hour, at least, he could have reached
+and brought down that party, who, as was their wont, when
+absenting themselves on these fishing excursions, were
+provided with their arms. However, it might not yet be
+too late, and he determined to make the attempt. To call
+and speak to the boy aside, would, he was well aware,
+excite the suspicions of his unwelcome guests, while it
+was possible that, as they did not understand English,
+(so at least he took it for granted) a communication made
+to him boldly in their presence, would be construed into
+some domestic order.
+
+"Wilton," he said calmly to the boy, who stood near the
+doorway with alarm visibly depicted on his countenance,
+and looking as if he would eagerly seize a favorable
+opportunity of escape, "make all haste to the fishing
+party, and tell Corporal Nixon who commands it, to lose
+no time in pulling down the stream. You will come back
+with them. Quick, lose not a moment."
+
+Delighted at the order, the boy made no answer, but
+hatless--shoeless as he was, disappeared round the corner
+of the house. Strange to say, the Indians, although they
+had seemingly listened with attention to Mr. Heywood
+while issuing these directions, did not make the slightest
+movement to arrest the departure of the boy, or even to
+remark upon it--merely turning to their chief, who uttered
+a sharp and satisfied "ugh."
+
+During all this time, Mr. Heywood and Le Noir stood at
+some little distance from the Indians, and nearly on the
+spot they had occupied at their entrance, the one holding
+his rifle, the other his duck-gun, the butts of both,
+resting on the floor. At each moment their anxiety
+increased, and it seemed an age before the succor they
+had sent for could arrive. How long, moreover, would
+these taciturn and forbidding-mannered savages wait before
+they gave some indication of overt hostility, and even
+if nothing were done prior to the arrival of the fishing
+party, would these latter be in sufficient force to awe
+them into a pacific departure? The Indians were twelve
+in number, exclusive of their chief, all fierce and
+determined. They, with the soldiers, nine; for neither
+Mr. Heywood nor Le Noir seemed disposed to count upon
+any efficient aid from Ephraim Giles, who, during this
+dumb scene, continued whittling before the Indians,
+apparently as cool and indifferent to their presence, as
+if he had conceived them to be the most peaceably disposed
+persons in the world. He had, however, listened attentively
+to the order given to Wilton by his master, and had not
+failed to remark that the Indians had not, in any way,
+attempted to impede his departure.
+
+"What do you think of these people, Le Noir," at length
+asked Mr. Heywood, without, however removing his gaze
+from his visitors. "Can they be friendly Pottawattamies?"
+
+"Friendly Pottawattamies! no, sare," returned the Canadian
+seriously, and shrugging up his shoulders. "Dey no dress,
+no paint like de Pottawattamie, and I not like der black
+look--no, sare, dey Winnebago."
+
+He laid a strong emphasis on the last word, and as he
+expected, a general "ugh" among the party attested that
+he had correctly named their tribe.
+
+While they were thus expressing their conjectures in
+regard to the character and intentions of their guests,
+and inwardly determining to sell their lives as dearly
+as possible if attacked. Ephraim Giles had risen from
+his seat in the corner of the chimney, and with his eyes
+fixed on the stick he was whittling, walked coolly out
+of the door, and sauntered down the pathway leading to
+the river. But if he had calculated on the same indifference
+to his actions that the Indians had manifested towards
+the boy, he was mistaken. They all watched him keenly as
+he slowly sauntered towards the water, and then, when he
+had got about half way, the chief suddenly springing to
+his feet, and brandishing his tomahawk demanded in broken,
+but perfectly intelligible English, where he was going.
+
+"Well, I want to know," exclaimed the soldier, turning
+round, and in a tone indicating surprise that he had thus
+been questioned--"only goin over thar," he continued,
+pointing to the haystacks on the opposite side of the
+river, around which stood many cattle, "goin I guess to
+give out some grub to the beasts, and I'll he back in no
+time, to give you out some whisky." Then, resuming his
+course, he went on whittling as unconcernedly as before.
+
+The chief turned to his followers, and a low, yet eager
+conversation ensued. Whether it was that the seeming
+indifference of the man, or his promise of the whisky on
+his return, or that some other motive influenced them,
+they contented themselves with keeping a vigilant watch
+upon his movements.
+
+Mr. Heywood and the Frenchman exchanged looks of surprise;
+they could not account for the action of Ephraim Giles,
+for although it was his office to cross the river daily
+for the purpose he had named, it had never been at that
+period of the day. How the Indians could suffer his
+departure, if their intentions were really hostile, it
+was moreover impossible for them to comprehend; and in
+proportion as the hopes of the one were raised by this
+circumstance, so were those of the other depressed.
+
+Mr. Heywood began to think that the suspicions of the
+Canadian were unfounded, and that their guests were,
+after all, but a party of warriors on their way to the
+Fort, either for purposes of traffic with the only merchant
+residing in its vicinity, or of business with the officer
+commanding. It was not likely, he reasoned, that men
+coming with hostile designs, would have suffered first
+the boy to be despatched on a mission which, obscurely
+as he had worded his directions, must in some measure
+have been understood by the chief; and, secondly, permitted
+Ephraim Giles to leave the house in the manner just
+seen--particularly when the suspicion entertained by him
+as well as by Le Noir and himself, must have been apparent.
+
+But the Canadian drew no such inference from these facts.
+Although he could not speak the Winnebago language, he was
+too conversant with the customs of the Indians, to perceive,
+in what they permitted in this seeming confidence, anything
+but guile. He felt assured they had allowed the boy to
+depart on his errand SOLELY that they might have a greater
+number of victims in their power. Nothing was more easy,
+numerous as they were, than to despatch THEM, and then,
+lying in ambush among the trees that skirted the banks, to
+shoot down every one in the fishing boat before a landing
+could be effected, and preparations made for defence; while,
+in the indifference of their conduct in regard to the
+departure of Ephraim Giles, he saw but a design to disarm
+suspicion, and thus induce them to lay by their arms, the
+reports of which would necessarily alarm the party expected,
+and so far put them on their guard as to defeat their plans.
+The very appearance of Giles, moreover, crossing the water,
+if seen by the descending boat would, he thought they
+imagined, be a means of lulling the party into security,
+and thus rendering them a more easy prey.
+
+While the master and the servant were thus indulging
+their opposite reflections, without, however, making any
+intercommunication of them, Ephraim Giles, who had now
+thrust his knife and stick into the pocket of his short
+skirt, shoved off the only canoe that was to be seen,
+and stepping into it, and seizing the paddle, urged it
+slowly, and without the slightest appearance of hurry,
+to the opposite bank, where, within less than ten minutes,
+he had again hauled it up. Then, as coolly ascending the
+bank, he approached one of the haystacks, and drew from
+it a few handfuls of fodder which he spread upon the
+ground, continuing to do so, as the cattle assembled
+around, until he had gained the outermost haystack
+bordering immediately upon the wood. This reached, he
+gave a loud yell, which was promptly answered by the
+Indians, who had continued to watch his movements up to
+the very moment of his disappearance; and darting along
+a narrow path which skirted the wood, ran with all his
+speed towards the Fort. His flight had not lasted five
+minutes, when the reports of several guns, fired from
+the direction he had just quitted, met his ear, and urged
+him to even greater exertion, until at length, haggard
+and breathless, he gained his destination, and made his
+way to the commanding officer, to whom he briefly detailed
+the startling occurrences he had witnessed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+The Fort of Chicago, at that period, stood upon a portion
+of the same ground occupied by its successor, and was,
+in fact, a very epitome of a fortress. On the western
+side, two block-houses constituted its chief defence,
+while on the north, a subterranean passage led from the
+parade-ground to the river, near the banks of which it
+had been erected. The uses of this sally port were
+two-fold--firstly, to afford the garrison a supply of
+water in the event of a siege--secondly, to facilitate
+escape, if necessary. The country around, now the seat
+of fruitfulness and industry, was at that time a wilderness,
+tenanted only by the savage, and by the few daring and
+adventurous whites who had devoted their lives to purposes
+of traffic, yet whose numbers was so small as to induce
+them, with a view to their safety, to establish themselves
+as near the Fort as possible. Roads, there were none,
+and the half formed trail of the Indian furnished the
+only means of communication between this distant port,
+and the less thinly-settled portions of Michigan. Nor
+were these journeys of frequent occurrence, but performed
+at long intervals, by the enterprising and the robust
+men--who feared not to encounter privations and
+hardships--camping at night in the woods, or finding a
+less desirable repose in the squalid wigwam of the
+uncertain Indian.
+
+The mouth of the Chicago River was then nearly half a
+mile more to the southward than it is now. At a short
+distance from the lake, which gives its name to the
+territory, it soon branched off abruptly to the north,
+and then again, taking another turn, pursued its original
+westernly coarse, and, passing near the Fort, gave to
+the latter the appearance of a slightly elevated peninsula,
+separated only from the water by a gentle declivity of
+no great extent. On the same side of the river was the
+Government Agency House, and at about a quarter of a mile
+from that, a spot generally used as a place of encampment
+by the friendly Indians--at that moment occupied by a
+numerous band of Pottawattamies. Immediately opposite to
+the Fort, stood the residence and trading establishment
+of Mr. Mackenzie--a gentleman who had long mixed with
+the Indians--had much influence with, and was highly
+regarded by them; and, close to his abode, lived with
+his family, consisting of his wife and her sister, French
+Canadians like himself, Ouilmette, one of the most attached
+of his people, and enjoying almost equal popularity with
+the red men. About a quarter of a mile beyond Ouilmettes,
+and immediately opposite to the Pottawattamie encampment,
+from which it was divided only by the river, was another
+small but neat dwelling. This belonged to Mr. Heywood,
+and was then inhabited by his wife and daughter, whom he
+would not permit to reside at the farm, as well on account
+of its rudeness of accommodation, as of the dread of
+exposing them, in that remote situation, to the very
+danger which we have seen he had himself so recently
+encountered.
+
+Such was the civilian population of that sparsely inhabited
+country in 1812. Let us now see the strength of its
+garrison.
+
+For the defence of so distant an outpost, almost cut off,
+as we have already shown, from communication with the
+more inhabited portions of the States, the American
+government had not thought it requisite to provide more
+than a single company of soldiers, a force utterly
+inadequate to contend in a case of emergency, with the
+hordes of savages that could be collected around them
+within a few hours, and WEEKS before any efficient succor
+could be obtained. This error, grave at any time, in
+those who sought to extend the influence of their name
+and arms throughout that fertile region which has now,
+within little more than a quarter of a century, become
+the very head of American commerce and navigation, was
+especially so at this particular epoch, when the Indian
+spirit, stirred to action by the great chief who had so
+recently measured his strength with his hated enemies at
+Tippecanoe, was likely to be aroused on all occasions
+where facility of conquest seemed to present itself. And,
+yet, that government well knew that there were, even at
+that moment, difficulties existing between themselves
+and Great Britain of a character to lead to an interruption
+of the friendly intercourse that had hitherto subsisted
+between the two countries, and which, if suffered to
+ripen into hostilities, would necessarily, associate many
+of the Indian tribes with the forces of England, drawing
+down certain destruction on those remoter posts, whose
+chief reliance on immunity from danger, lay, in a great
+degree, in the array of strength they could oppose to
+their subtle and calculating enemy.
+
+This company, consisting, of seventy-five men--many of
+them married and with families--was under the command of
+an officer whose conduct throughout the eventful and
+trying scenes about to be recorded, has often been the
+subject of much censure--with what justice our readers
+must determine.
+
+Captain Headley was one of those officers who, without
+having acquired no greater rank at the age of forty than
+he now possessed, had served in the army of the United
+States from his boyhood, and was, in all the minutiae of
+the service, a strict disciplinarian. He had, moreover,
+acquired habits of deference to authority, which caused
+him, on all necessary occasions, to regulate his conduct
+by the orders of his superiors, and so strongly was this
+engrafted on his nature, that while he possessed mind
+and energy sufficient to plan the most feasible measures
+himself, his dread of that responsibility which
+circumstances had now forced upon him, induced the utmost
+disinclination to depart from the letter of an instruction
+once received, and unrevoked.
+
+These, however, were purely faults of his military
+education. To a commanding person and dignified manners,
+Captain Headley united a mind highly cultivated, and
+feelings and sentiments which could not fail to secure
+the respect even of those who were most ready to condemn
+that caution and prudence of character which so eminently
+distinguished his career as a subordinate soldier. It
+was well known and conceded that, if he erred, the error
+grew not so much out of his own want of judgment, but
+was rather the fruit of the too great deference to
+authority which led him, implicitly, to adopt the judgment
+of others. In the private relations of life, he was
+deservedly esteemed, excelling in all those higher
+accomplishments that ensure favor with society, and seldom
+fail to win for their possessor the approbation of women.
+Such, indeed, had been his success in this particular
+application of the gifts with which nature had endowed
+him, that he had, for some years, been the possessor of
+the affections and the hand of one of the noblest of her
+sex, whom, however, we shall take a later opportunity of
+introducing to the reader.
+
+The next officer in rank was Lieutenant Elmsley, married
+also, and about ten years the junior of Headley. From
+causes, which will be explained in the coarse of our
+narrative, the subaltern did not incline to place that
+confidence in the measures and judgment of his captain,
+which, it has been shown, the latter almost invariably
+accorded to HIS superiors, and hence arose feelings,
+that, without absolutely alienating them--for, in their
+relative military positions this could never be--rendered
+their intercourse daily more and more formal, until, in
+the end, a sentiment almost of enmity prevailed. In a
+remote garrison like this such an evil was the more to
+be regretted, even while there was the greater probability,
+from absence of serious occupation, of its occurrence.
+
+The junior subaltern was Ensign Ronayne, a high-spirited
+young Southerner, who had now been three years at the
+post, and within that period, had, by his frank demeanor,
+and handsome person, won the regard of all--military and
+civil--there and in the neighborhood. Enterprising,
+ardent, fearless, and chivalrous, this young man had
+passed the first year of what he, then, considered little
+short of banishment, in a restless desire for adventure;
+but at the end of that period, came a marked change over
+him, and the spirit that had panted exclusively for
+action, now bent before a gentler and a holier influence.
+
+Last of the officers of this little fort, was the surgeon.
+Doctor Von Vottenberg, who as his name would imply, was
+a descendant from one of the earlier Dutch settlers in
+the colonies. There was nothing remarkable about this
+gentleman. He was short, stoat, rather of a bilious
+temperament--clever in his profession, and much addicted
+to compounding whisky punch, which he not only brewed,
+but drank most satisfactorily. What other attributes and
+accomplishments he possessed, the incidents herein related
+must develop.
+
+It has been said that, on its Western side, the Fort was
+protected by two block-houses, while on the northern a
+sally port communicated with the tower. On each side of
+the sally port were two small stores, reserved for the
+ammunition and arms, and for the provisions and spare
+clothing of the garrison. On the north and south faces,
+rose a series of small low wooden buildings, appropriated
+to the officers, and capable of containing thrice the
+number now occupying them. The southern face, or that
+which looks towards the locale of the scene described in
+our last chapter, was now the residence of the commanding
+officer, and of his senior subordinate, who, with their
+families and domestics, tenanted the whole of that range
+of buildings, with the exception of one large room in
+the centre, generally used as a hall of council with the
+Indians. In the other range, precisely similar in
+construction, were quartered Ensign Ronayne and the
+surgeon Von Vottenberg, who each, however occupied but
+one apartment. The central and largest serving as their
+mess-room. The other half of the building was vacant, or
+rather had been so, until the doctor obtained the permission
+of the commanding officer to use it as a temporary
+surgery--the hospital being a distinct edifice between
+the two block-houses. These latter, capacious for the
+size of the fort, accommodated the non-commissioned
+officers and men--the company being divided as equally
+as possible between the two.
+
+Without the whole of these buildings stood a strong
+stockade, about twelve feet high, loop-holed for musquetry,
+with a bastion at each angle, facing the four principal
+points of the compass, on each of which was placed a
+small gun, that the men had been trained to work. The
+entrance to the fort was from the westward, and in the
+direction of the agency house, which two of these bastions
+immediately flanked.
+
+The guard consisted of a non-commissioned officer and
+nine men--three sentries being furnished for the necessary
+duties--one for the stores already described--another
+for the commanding officer's quarters--the mess-room and
+the surgery, and the third for the, southern bastion,
+upon which floated the glorious stars and stripes of the
+Union. A fourth sentry at the gate had been dispensed
+with, in consequence of the proximity to it of the
+guard-house. This, was a small building immediately in
+front of the hospital, which, with the gate, came
+particularly under the surveillance of the non-commissioned
+officer of the guard.
+
+With the character for strict attention to discipline,
+which has been ascribed to Captain Headley, it will be
+easily understood that every man on duty was expected to
+be as correct in the execution of its details, as though
+he had been at the Head Quarters of his regiment, or at
+the Seat of Government itself. The utmost regard to dress,
+and to the efficiency of arms was moreover enjoined, and
+so far did their commander feel indisposed to trust the
+inspection of them to the non-commissioned officer of
+the guard, that, although there were in the Fort, but
+two regimental officers besides himself, he had, from
+the moment of assuming the command, required them
+alternately to perform the necessary duties; superintending
+the relief of guards, and parading all men off duty and
+out of hospital, in full dress, at least once in the
+twenty-four hours.
+
+At the outset, this had been a source of much discontent
+with the men, who conceiving that, in that remote region,
+the rigor of the service might be dispensed with, almost
+openly expressed their desire that there might be sent
+to command them, some officer less severe in his exactions.
+This had been reported to Captain Headley by his senior
+subaltern, from whose manner, while communicating the
+information, it was apparent that he did not wholly
+disapprove of a remonstrance against measures which
+involved the sacrifice of his own comfort. His superior
+was not slow to remark this, he, however, quietly observed
+that he was not, at his years, and in his responsible
+position, to be told the duty required to be performed
+by the troops under his command; and that, if he perceived
+any symptoms of insubordination, he would take the proper
+means to suppress it. The lieutenant made no reply, but
+bit his lip, and withdrew. This was the first manifestation
+of any thing approaching to disunion, between these two
+officers.
+
+Lieutenant Elmsley, although by no means a negligent
+officer, was no disciplinarian. He could not but look
+upon formal guard mountings and parades, in that isolated
+quarter, as unnecessary--serving only to create discontent
+amongst the men, and to induce them--the unmarried
+especially--to desert, whenever an opportunity presented
+itself; while, bringing the subject more immediately home
+to himself, he deemed it to be a needlessly severe tax
+upon the only two subalterns of the garrison. This, he
+thought might, situated as they were, have been dispensed
+with, without the slightest inconvenience to the service;
+and the duty left to the superintendence of the non-
+commissioned part of the force. Hence his annoyance with
+his superior.
+
+But Captain Headley was of a different opinion. He thought
+that the very remoteness of his post, rendered it the
+more necessary that no appearance of carelessness should
+be remarked by the tribes of Indians, who were in the
+vicinity, and who, however amicable their relations THEN
+with the United States, might later, from caprice or
+events yet unforeseen, take advantage of the slightest
+negligence, to attempt the destruction of all.
+
+Better, he thought, that they who received the pay of
+the Government, for upholding its interests and dignity,
+should be subject to a frequent recurrence of duty--not
+in itself particularly irksome-than that an important
+post--the nucleus of the future prosperity of the
+State--should be perilled by the absence of that vigilance
+which ought to characterize the soldier. If he allowed
+to be retrenched, or indeed left unemployed, any of that
+military exhibition, which tends to impress upon the many
+the moral superiority of the few, where, he argued, would
+be their safety in the hour of need; and if those duties
+were performed in a slovenly manner, and without due
+regard to SCENIC effect, the result would be to induce
+the wily savage to undervalue that superiority which
+discipline chiefly secured to the white warrior. Captain
+Headley was discriminating and observant. He had, more
+than once, remarked the surprise and admiration created
+among the Indians who had access within the stockade, at
+the promptness and regularity of the system introduced
+into it, and this, of itself, was a sufficient motive to
+cause him to persevere in the course his judgment had
+adopted.
+
+Such was the condition of affairs at the moment when
+Ephraim Giles, breathless with speed, and fancying the
+party of Winnebagoes close upon his heels, made his entry
+into the Fort. The news he brought was of a nature to
+assemble the officers, as well as many of the men and
+women, all anxious to hear the details of an occurrence,
+which now, for the first time since their arrival at the
+Fort, had created serious apprehension. But there was
+one of the party who manifested more than ordinary
+uneasiness. His impatience was great, and, after having
+whispered a few words in the ear of Captain Headley, and
+received an affirmative reply, coupled with an injunction
+of caution, he left the building in haste, and proceeded
+towards the block-houses, where, selecting half a dozen
+men, and ordering them to arm on the instant, he passed
+with them through the gate--sprang into a large scow
+which was unchained from its moorings, on the bank of
+the river, and pulled in the direction of the house
+already said to have been occupied by the wife and
+daughter of Mr. Heywood.
+
+Meanwhile, Captain Headley closely interrogated the
+fugitive as to the number and appearance of the Indians
+who had created all this alarm, their probable object in
+visiting the farm in this seemingly hostile manner, and
+the number of shots he had heard fired. To all these
+questions the soldier, who had now, in some degree,
+recovered from his panic, replied in the usual drawling
+tone, his stick and knife, which had been drawn forth
+again from his pocket, in which he had deposited them in
+crossing from the farm-house, affording him his usual
+amusement, but nothing, of course, was elicited beyond
+what has already been related. Whether any one had been
+killed in the house, or the guns merely discharged to
+frighten the fugitive, or that the reports had proceeded
+from the fishing party that had been sent for, with a
+view to alarm the Indians, and deter them from the
+commission of outrage, were surmises that severally
+occurred to Captain Headley, but without enabling him to
+arrive at any definite opinion. That there was cause for
+apprehension, there was no doubt. The appearance of a
+band of strange Indians in the neighborhood, however
+small in number, dressed in their war-paint, gave earnest
+of coming trouble, not only through their own acts, but
+through the influence of example on the many other tribes
+whom they had been accustomed to look upon as friends
+and allies. In the midst of these reflections arose a
+feeling of self-gratulation that he had preserved that
+discipline and strict attention to duty, which, he knew,
+that all must now admit to have been correct, and which,
+if any difficulty did occur, could not fail to prove of
+the utmost importance.
+
+His first consideration now was the safety of the small
+fishing party, to which allusion has more than once been
+made in the preceding pages, and which it was a source
+of satisfaction to him to recollect were, in accordance
+with an order never departed from on these and similar
+excursions, furnished with the necessary arms and
+ammunition, although only in their fatigue dress.
+
+"Mr. Elmsley," he said turning to that officer, who stood
+waiting his orders, "who commands the fishing party?"
+
+"Corporal Nixon, sir," replied the lieutenant, at once
+entering into his motive for the inquiry, "a brave, but
+discreet soldier, and one who, I am sure, will evince
+all necessary resolution, should he see anything of these
+Indians. The men who are with him are also fine young
+fellows, and among our best shots."
+
+"I am glad to hear this," was the rejoinder, "but still,
+twelve Indians firing from the woods upon half their
+number in an open boat, and taken by surprise, would, I
+fear, render the activity, courage, and skill of these
+latter but of little avail. My hope is, that Corporal
+Nixon may see nothing of them, but that, on the contrary,
+if he has been apprised by the boy, as the fellow says
+he was to be, of their presence at Heywood's farm, he
+will make his way back without stopping, or at least,
+use every precaution to conceal himself, until he can
+drop down under cover of the darkness."
+
+"What, sir," said the lieutenant, with a surprise he
+could ill conceal, "would you desire him not to afford
+the necessary succor to Mr. Heywood, if, indeed, he should
+be in time to render any service?"
+
+"Mr. Elmsley," remarked his captain, somewhat sternly,
+"my sympathy for the fate of those at the farm, is,
+perhaps quite as strong as yours, but I have a higher
+stake at issue--a higher object than the indulgence of
+personal sympathy. I can ill afford, threatening as
+appearances are at this moment, to risk the lives of six
+men, the best you say in the fort, out of the very small
+force at my disposal. Nothing must be left undone to
+secure their safety. Order a gun to be fired immediately
+from the southern bastion. It will be distinctly heard
+by the party, and if not already apprised of the existing
+danger they will at once understand the signal. Moreover
+the report may have the effect of alarming the savages."
+
+Lieutenant Elmsley withdrew to execute the order, and
+soon after the dull booming of a cannon was heard
+reverberating throughout the surrounding woods, and
+winding its echoes along the waters of the narrow and
+tranquil Chicago. So unusual an event as this excited a
+good deal of speculation, not only among the inmates of
+the Fort, but among the numerous friendly Indians encamped
+without, who, wholly unacquainted with the cause of the
+alarm, were, by the strict orders of Captain Headley,
+kept ignorant of the information of which Ephraim Giles
+had been the bearer--
+
+That night there was a more than usual vigilance exercised
+by the sentinels, and although the rest of the garrison
+were exempt from extraordinary duty, the watchful and
+anxious commanding officer slept not until dawn.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+At a distance of about two miles above Heywood's farm,
+and on the southern branch of the Chicago, which winds
+its slightly serpentine course between the wood and the
+prairie. There was at the period of which we treat, a
+small deep bay formed by two adjacent and densely wooded
+points of land, in the cool shades of which the pike,
+the black bass, and the pickerel loved to lie in the heat
+of summer, and where, in early spring, though in less
+numbers, they were wont to congregate. This was the
+customary fishing spot of the garrison--six men and a
+non-commissioned officer, repairing there almost daily,
+with their ample store of lines and spears, as much,
+although not avowedly, for their own amusement, as for
+the supply of the officer's table. What remained, after
+a certain division among these, became the property of
+the captors, who, after appropriating to themselves what
+was necessary for their next day's meal, distributed the
+rest among the non-commissioned, and men of the company.
+As the season advanced, and the fish became more plenty,
+there was little limitation of quantity, for the freight,
+nightly brought home, and taken with the line and spear
+alone, was sufficient to afford every one abundance. In
+truth, even in the depth of winter, there was little
+privation endured by the garrison--the fat venison brought
+in and sold for the veriest trifle by the Indians--the
+luscious and ample prairie hen, chiefly shot by the
+officers, and the fish we have named, leaving no necessity
+for consumption of the salt food with which it was but
+indifferently stored.
+
+On the day on which our narrative has commenced, the
+usual fishing party had ascended the river at an early
+hour, for the newness of the season and the shortness of
+the days rendered it an object that they should be on
+the accustomed haunt as soon as possible. They had left
+the Fort at daylight, passing Heywood's farm at the moment
+when, for the purpose of foddering the cattle on the
+opposite bank, he, with the boy Wilton, was crossing to
+the very canoe in which Ephraim Giles afterwards made
+his escape--the latter with the Canadian, being engaged
+in felling trees higher up the river.
+
+Arrived at the little bay to which we have just adverted,
+the boat was fastened to the gnarled trunk of a tree,
+which projected over the deep water at the nearest point,
+and the party, taking with them their fishing rods, baits,
+and haversacks, but leaving their spears and muskets in
+the boat, dispersed themselves at short distances along
+the curve that formed the bay, which, however, was not
+more than three hundred yards in extent, from point to
+point.
+
+When they first cast their lines into the water, the
+sun's rays were clearly visible through the thick wood
+in their rear. The early morning, too, had been cold--almost
+frosty--so much so, that the wild ducks, which generally
+evinced a good deal of shyness, NOW, seemingly emboldened
+by the briskness of the atmosphere, could be seen gliding
+about in considerable numbers, about half a mile below
+them; while the fish, on the contrary, as though
+dissatisfied with the temperature of their element,
+refused to do what the men called "the amiable," by
+approaching the hook. Their occupation had been continued
+until long past mid-day, during which time not more than
+a dozen fish had been taken. Vexed at his ill luck, for
+he had not had even a nibble, one of the men flung his
+rod upon the bank, impatiently, and then, seating himself
+on the projecting root of a large tree, declared it was
+all nonsense to play the fool any longer, and that the
+most sensible thing they could do, was to take their
+dinners--smoke their pipes--and wash the whole down with
+a little of the Monongahela.
+
+"I say, Collins," remarked the corporal, good-naturedly,
+"we shall have poor fare for the officers' mess, let
+alone our own, if we all follow your example, and give
+up so soon. But, as you say, it's time to have some grub,
+and we'll try our luck afterwards."
+
+"Rome wasn't built in a day," said the man who had been
+fishing next to Collins, and drawing in his line also,
+"we've a good many hours left yet."
+
+Following the recommendation of the corporal, the rest
+of the party sat down on the edge of the bank, and,
+opening their haversacks, produced each his allowance
+of corn bread and venison, or salted pork, after dispatching
+which, with the aid of their clasp knives, they took a
+refreshing "horn" from the general canteen that Collins
+carried suspended over his shoulder, and then drew forth
+and lighted their pipes.
+
+As the latter puffed away with a vigor that proved either
+a preoccupied mind, or extreme gratification with the
+weed, he cast his eyes carelessly down the stream, where
+a large description of duck, called by the French natives
+of the country, the cou rouge, from the color of their
+necks, were disporting themselves as though nothing in
+the shape of a fire arm was near them--now diving--now
+rising on their feet, and shaking their outstretched
+wings, now chasing each other in limited circles, and
+altogether so apparently emboldened by their immunity
+from interruption, as to come close to the bank, at a
+distance of little more than fifty yards from the spot
+where he sat.
+
+"It's very ridiculous," he at length remarked, pouring
+forth at the same time, an unusual volume of smoke, and
+watching the curling eddies as they rose far above his
+head--"it's very ridiculous, I say, the captin's order
+that we sha'nt fire. Look at them ducks--how they seem
+to know all about it, too!"
+
+"By gosh!" said another, "I've a good notion to fetch my
+musket, and have a slap into them. Shall I, corporal?"
+
+"Certainly not, Green," was the answer. "If it was known
+in the Fort I had permitted any of the party to fire, I
+should be broke, if I did'nt get picketed for my pains,
+and none of us would ever get out again."
+
+"No great harm in that, either," said the man who had
+made the novel observation that Rome had not been built
+in a day.
+
+The corporal looked sharply at the last speaker, as if
+not fully comprehending his meaning.
+
+"Jackson means no great harm if we never got out again,"
+interposed Collins, "and I think as he does, for I see
+no fun in rowing four or five miles to fish, and scarcely
+getting a sight of one."
+
+"Well, but Collins, that's not always our luck. I'm sure
+we've had sport enough before. It must be because the
+weather's rather cold today, that the fish won't bite."
+
+"It's of no use his grumbling, Philips," remarked Corporal
+Nixon, "we're here, not so much for own sport as on a
+duty for the garrison. Let me hear no more of this,
+Collins."
+
+"Well, corporal that's true enough," said Green, "but
+dash me if it isn't temptin' to see them fellows there
+stealin' upon us, and we lookin' on, and doin' nothin'."
+
+"What fellows do you mean?" inquired the corporal, suddenly
+starting to his feet, and looking down the river.
+
+"Why, them ducks to be sure, see how they come sailin'
+up to us, as if they knowed all about the captin's
+order--no jumpin' or friskin' now, but all of a heap
+like."
+
+"Yes, but I say, what's that black looking thing beyond
+the ducks?" asked one who had not hitherto spoken, pointing
+his finger.
+
+"Where, where, Weston?" exclaimed one or two voices, and
+the speakers looked in the direction indicated.
+
+"Hang me if it isn't a bear," said Collins in a low,
+anxious tone; "that's the chap that has sent the ducks
+so near us. Do let me have a crack at him, corporal. He's
+large enough to supply us all with fresh meat for three
+days, and will make up for the bad fishing. Only one shy,
+corporal, and I engage not to miss him"
+
+Sure enough, there was, in the centre of the stream, a
+dark object, nearly half a mile distant, which all joined
+in pronouncing to be a bear. It was swimming vigorously
+across to their aide of the river.
+
+"I think we might take him as he lands," observed Green.
+"What say you, corporal; I reckon you'll let us try THAT,
+if you won't let us fire?"
+
+"Stay all where you are," was the reply. "I can manage
+him myself with a spear, if I can only be in time before
+he reaches the shore. If not, it's no matter, for I won't
+allow a trigger to be pulled."
+
+Corporal Nixon was a tall, active, strong-limbed Virginian.
+He soon cleared the space that separated them from the
+boat, and jumping to the stern, seized one of the fishing
+spears, and then moved on through: the wood that densely
+skirted the bank. But he had not been five minutes gone
+when he again made his appearance, not immediately by
+the half-formed path he had previously taken, but by a
+slight detour to the rear.
+
+"Hist, hist," he said in an audible whisper, as soon as
+he saw that he was perceived, motioning at the same time
+with his hand to enjoin silence, and concealment. Then,
+beckoning to Weston to join him; he again moved along
+the path with the light tread of one who fears to alarm
+an object unconscious of interruption.
+
+All had the sense to understand that there was some good
+reason for the caution of the corporal, and with the
+exception of Weston, who had promptly obeyed the signal,
+busily, but silently resumed their morning's occupation.
+
+First, a quarter of an hour, and then minute after minute
+passed slowly away, yet there was no sign of the return
+of their companions. What could be the meaning of this?
+If the bear had not proved to be too much for them, they
+ought to have killed him, and rejoined them before this.
+Curiosity, nay, apprehension finally overcame the strong
+sense of obedience to orders, which had been literally
+drilled into them, and they all, at the suggestion of
+Green, dropped their rods on the bank, and moved cautiously
+in the direction that had been taken by the corporal and
+Weston. Great, however, was the surprise of Collins, then
+a little in advance, when, on nearing the spot where the
+boat lay moored, he beheld, not those of who they were
+in search, but a naked, and hideously painted savage, in
+the very act of untying the rope by which the skiff was
+fastened to the knotted and projecting root of the tree.
+Sensible that there was impending danger, although he
+knew not of what precise kind, inasmuch as there was no
+Reason to apprehend anything hostile from the Indians,
+with--all of whom around the fort, they had always been
+on friendly terms, he sprang forward to arrest the
+movement. But the distance was several rods, and the
+savage, alarmed by the rustling made among the foliage
+and brushwood in his rear, now put his shoulder to the
+boat, and, in the next instant would have had it far
+across this stream, had not a hand suddenly protruded
+from beneath the hollow clump of earth on which the tree
+grew, grasped him firmly by the ankle, even while in the
+act of springing into the forcibly impelled skiff. In
+a moment or two, he grappled tightly with his hands upon
+the bow of the boat, but, finding the pressure on his
+imprisoned limb too great for resistance, he relinquished
+his hold, falling upon his face in the water, from which
+he was dragged, although without violence, by Corporal
+Nixon, who had emerged from his hiding-place.
+
+When the Indian was suffered to rise, there was a
+threatening expression on his countenance, which, not
+even the number of those by whom he was now surrounded
+could check, and he made an involuntary motion of his
+hand to his scalping knife, the only weapon with which
+he was armed, that lay in the sheath dangling from his
+girdle. Seeing, however, that there was no hostile
+disposition manifested by the party, he speedily
+relinquished his first impulse, and stood upright before
+them with a bold, but calm look.
+
+"What you want with boat?" asked the corporal, almost
+involuntarily, and without the slightest expectation that
+his question would be understood.
+
+"Me want 'em cross," replied the Indian, pointing to the
+opposite woods.
+
+"But why you come in bear skin?" and, in his turn, the
+corporal pointed with his finger in the direction in
+which the supposed bear had been seen.
+
+"Ugh!" grunted the savage doggedly, finding that he had
+been detected in his disguise.
+
+"What nation you?--Pottawattamie?"
+
+"Wah! Pottawattamie!"
+
+"Curious enough," pursued the corporal, addressing himself
+to his comrades. "I don't half like the look of the
+fellow, but I suppose it's all right. We musn't offend
+him. You chief?", he continued, pointing to a large silver
+medal suspended over the breast of the athletic and
+well-proportioned Indian.
+
+"Yes, me chief. Pottawattamie chief," and he made a sign
+in the direction of the Fort, near which the encampment
+of that tribe lay.
+
+"You friend, then?" remarked the corporal, extending his
+hand.
+
+"Yes, me friend," he answered promptly, brightening up
+and taking the proffered hand; "you give 'em boat?"
+
+"Do you see any thing green in my eye?" asked the Virginian,
+incapable, even under the circumstances, of repressing
+the indulgence of his humor.
+
+But the party questioned, although speaking a little
+English, was not sufficiently initiated in its elegancies
+to comprehend this; so, he merely answered with a "ugh!"
+while the greater portion of the men laughed boisterously,
+both at the wit of the corporal, and at the seeming
+astonishment it excited.
+
+This mirth by no means suited the humor of the Indian.
+He felt that it was directed towards himself, and again
+he stood fierce, and with a dilating frame before them.
+
+Corporal Nixon at once became sensible of his error. To
+affront one of the friendly chiefs would, he knew, not
+only compromise the interests of the garrison, but incur
+the severe displeasure of the commanding officer, who
+had always enjoined the most scrupulous abstinence from
+any thing offensive to them.
+
+"I only meant to say," he added, as he again extended
+his hand. "I can't give 'em boat. White chief" and he
+pointed in the direction of the Fort, "no let me."
+
+"Ugh!" exclaimed the Indian, his stern features again
+brightening up with a last hope. "'Spose come with Injin?"
+
+For a moment or two, the corporal hesitated whether or
+not to put the man across, but when he reflected on the
+singular manner of his advent, and other circumstances
+connected with his appearance among them, his customary
+prudence came to his aid, and while avoiding all ground
+for offence by his mode of refusal, he gave him peremptorily
+to understand that there was an order against his suffering
+the boat to leave its present station.
+
+Again the countenance of the Indian fell, even while his
+quick eye rolled incessantly from one to the other of
+the group. "You no give 'em boat--Injin swim," he at
+length observed.
+
+"Just as you please," answered corporal Nixon. "By and
+bye, sogers go to the Fort--take Injin with 'em."
+
+"Wah! Injin cross here," and as he spoke, he sprang again
+to the bow of the boat, and at a single bound cleared
+the intervening space to the very stern.
+
+Several heavy splashes in the water.--a muttered curse
+from the corporal--some confusion among his men, and the
+savage was seen nearly half-way across the river, swimming
+like an eel to the opposite shore.
+
+"Damn the awkward brute!" exclaimed the former, angrily.
+"How many muskets are there overboard, Jackson?"
+
+"Only three--and two cartouch boxes."
+
+"ONLY three indeed! I wish the fellow had been at old
+Nick, instead of coming here to create all this confusion.
+Is the water deep at the stern?"
+
+"Nearly a fathom I reckon," was the reply.
+
+"Then, my lads, you must look out for other fish to-day.
+Jackson, can you see the muskets at the bottom?"
+
+"Not a sign of them, corporal," answered the man, as
+lying flat on the boat, he peered intently into the water.
+"The bottom is covered with weeds, and I can just see
+the tails of two large pikes wriggling among them. By
+Gemini, I think if I had my rod here, I could take them
+both!"
+
+"Never mind them," resumed the corporal, again delivering
+himself of a little wit; "muskets will be of far more
+use to us just now than pikes. We must fish them up--there
+will be the devil to pay if we go home without them."
+
+"Then there's no other way than diving for them," said
+Jackson, still looking downwards. "Not even the glitter
+of a barrel can I see. They must have buried themselves
+in the weeds. I say, Weston," slightly raising his head
+and turning his face to the party named, "You're a good
+diver?"
+
+"Yes, and Collins is better than me."
+
+"Well then, here's at it," resumed Jackson, rising and
+commencing to strip. "It's only by groping and feeling
+that we can find the arms, and when once we've tumbled
+on 'em, it will be easy enough to get 'em up with one
+hand, while we swim with the other. We must plunge here
+from the stern," he added, as the men whom he had named
+jumped on board and commenced stripping themselves.
+
+"How came the Injin to knock the muskets overboard,
+Corporal?" inquired one of the party who had not yet
+spoken--a fat, portly man, with a long hooked nose, and
+a peaked chin.
+
+"I'm dashed," replied Nixon, "if I can tell myself, though
+I was looking at him as he jumped from one end of the
+boat to the other. All I know is, the firelocks were
+propped against the stern of the boat as we placed them,
+with the backs of the cartouch boxes slung under the
+ramrods, and I suppose, for I don't know how else it
+could be done, that instead of alighting on the seat, he
+must have passed it, and putting his foot on the muzzles,
+tipped them with the weight of his body, head over heels
+into the water."
+
+"Corporal," Ventured Collins, as he removed his last
+garment, "you asked that painted chap if he saw anything
+green in your eye. Now, that's as it may be, but hang
+me, if it wasn't a little green to take him for a
+Pottawattamie?"
+
+"And how do you know he was'nt a Pottawattamie? Who made
+you a judge of Indian flesh?" retorted the corporal, with
+an air of dissatisfaction.
+
+"Didn't he say he was, and didn't he wear a chiefs medal?"
+
+"Say? Yes, I'll be bound he'd say and wear anything to
+gull us, but I'm sure he's no Pottawattamie. I never seen
+a Pottawattamie of that build. They are tall, thin,
+skinny, bony fellows--while this chap was square, stoat,
+broad-shouldered, and full of muscle."
+
+Corporal Nixon pondered a little, because half-convinced,
+but would not acknowledge that he could have been mistaken.
+"Are you all ready?" he at length inquired, anxious, like
+most men, when driven into a corner on one topic, to
+introduce another.
+
+"All ready," answered Jackson, taking the first plunge
+in the direction in which he knew the muskets must have
+fallen.
+
+Before following his example, the others waited for his
+report. This was soon made. He had got hold of one of
+the muskets, and partly lifted it from its bed, but the
+net-work of strong weeds above it, opposing too much
+resistance, he had been compelled to quit his hold, and
+came to the surface of the water for air.
+
+"Here's for another trial," shouted Collins, as he made
+his plunge in the same direction. In a few seconds he
+too, reappeared, bearing in his right hand, not a firelock,
+but the two missing cartouch boxes.
+
+"Better luck next time," remarked corporal Nixon. "I
+think my lads, if two of you were to separate the weeds
+with your hands, so as to clear each musket, the other
+might easily bring it up."
+
+The suggestion of the corporal was at once acted upon,
+but it was not, until after repeated attempts had been
+made to liberate the arms, from their Web-like canopy,
+that two were finally brought up and placed in the boat.
+The third they groped for in vain, until at length, the
+men, dispirited and tired, declared it was utterly useless
+to prosecute the search, and that the other musket must
+be given up as lost.
+
+This, however, did not suit the views of the correct
+corporal. He said, pointedly, that he would almost as
+soon return without his head as without his arms, and
+that the day having been thus far spent without the
+accomplishment of the object for which they were there,
+he was determined to devote the remainder to the search.
+Not being a bad diver himself, although he had not hitherto
+deemed it necessary to add his exertions to those of his
+comrades, he now stripped, desiring those who had preceded
+him to throw on their shirts and rest themselves for
+another plunge, when he should have succeeded in finding
+out where the missing musket had lodged.
+
+"What's that?" exclaimed Jackson, pointing to a small,
+dark object, of a nearly circular shape, which was floating
+about half way between the surface of the place into
+which the divers had plunged, and the weeds below.
+
+His companions turned their eyes in the direction indicated,
+but, almost immediately after Jackson had spoken, it had
+disappeared wholly from view.
+
+"What did it loot like?" asked the corporal.
+
+"It must have been a mush rat," returned Jackson, "there's
+plenty of them about here, and I reckon our diving has
+disturbed the nest."
+
+Corporal Nixon now took his leap, but some paces farther
+out from the shore than his companions had ventured upon
+theirs. The direction was the right one. Extending his
+arms as he reached a space entirely free from weeds, his
+right hand encountered the cold barrel of the musket,
+but as he sought to glide it along, in order that he
+might grasp the butt, and thus drag it endwise up, his
+hand disturbed some hairy substance which rested upon
+the weapon causing it to float slightly upwards, until
+it came in contact with his naked breast. Now, the corporal
+was a fearless soldier whose nerves were not easily
+shaken, but the idea of a nasty mush rat, as they termed
+it, touching his person in this manner, produced in him
+unconquerable disgust, even while it gave him the desperate
+energy to clutch the object with a nervous grasp, and
+without regard to the chance of being bitten in the act,
+by the small, sharp teeth of the animal. His consternation
+was even greater when, on enclosing it within his rough
+palm, he felt the whole to collapse, as though it had
+been a heavy air-filled bladder, burst by the compression
+of his fingers. A new feeling-a new chain of ideas now
+took possession of him, and leaving the musket where it
+was, he rose near the spot from which he first started,
+and still clutching his hairy and undesirable prize,
+threw it from him towards the boat, into the bottom of
+which it fell, after grazing the cheek of Collins.
+
+"Pooh! pooh! pooh," spluttered the latter, moving as if
+the action was necessary to disembarrass him of the
+unsightly object no longer there.
+
+A new source of curiosity was now created, not only among
+the swimmers, but the idlers who were smoking their pipes
+and looking carelessly on. All now, without venturing to
+touch the loathsome looking thing, gathered around it
+endeavoring to ascertain really what it was. "What do
+you make of the creature?" asked corporal Nixon, who,
+now ascending the side of the boat, observed how much
+the interest of his men had been excited.
+
+"I'm sure I can't say," answered Jackson. "It looks for
+all the world like a rat, only the hair is so long. Dead
+enough though, for it does not budge an inch."
+
+"Let's see what it is," said the man with the long hooked
+nose, and the peaked chin.
+
+By no means anxious, however, to touch it with his hands,
+he took up the spear and turned over and over the clammy
+and motionless mass.
+
+"Just as I thought," exclaimed the corporal, with a
+shudder, as the weapon unfolding the whole to view,
+disclosed alternately the moistened hair and thick and
+bloody skin of a human head.
+
+"Gemini," cried Jackson, how came this scalp here, it
+has been freshly taken--this very day--yet how could it
+get here?"
+
+"Depend upon't," said Green, "that chief that was here
+just now, could tell somethin' about it, if he had a
+mind."
+
+"Then he must have had it in his breech-cloth," remarked
+the corporal seriously, for not a rag besides had he
+about him. "No, no it couldn't be him, and yet it's very
+strange."
+
+"Of course it couldn't be him," maliciously interfered
+Collins, who had so far conquered his first disgust, as
+to take the object of discussion into his own hands, "for
+you know he was a Pottawattamie, and therefore wouldn't
+scalp for the world."
+
+"But whose can it be?" resumed Jackson, and how did it
+get here, I am sure its that of a boy."
+
+"Could it have floated here from the farm?" half questioned
+Green musingly.
+
+"Somethin' struck me like shots from that quarter, about
+an hour before the Injin swam across, and dash me, now
+I recollect it, I'm sure I heard a cry, just after the
+corporal left us to go after that bear."
+
+"Nonsense," said the Virginian, "how could it float
+against the stream, and as for the shots you think you
+heard, you most have taken Ephraim Giles's axe blows for
+them. Besides, you couldn't hear shots at that distance.
+If you did, it most be from some of the hunters."
+
+"But the cry, corporal," urged Jackson, "what say you to
+the cry Green says he heard when you left us?"
+
+"All stuff; did anybody else hear it besides Green, you
+were all sitting on the bank with him?"
+
+No one answering in the affirmative, Corporal Nixon
+declared the thing to be impossible, or he should have
+heard it too; nor could he see what connection there was
+between that cry--supposing there had been one--and the
+facts that had come immediately under their own observation.
+
+"Hist," interrupted Collins, placing one hand upon the
+speaker's shoulder, and with the other directing his
+attention to what, now seen by the whole of the party,
+was ill calculated to re-assure them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+Stealthily gliding through the fresh and thinly foliaged
+wood, that skirted the opposite shore, yet almost concealed
+from view, Corporal Nixon now beheld the crouching forms
+of several armed Indians, nearly naked, and evidently in
+war costume. They were following the serpentine course
+necessitated by the interposing trees, and seeking
+cautiously to establish themselves behind cover on the
+very verge of the bank.
+
+"Back men for your lives, there's nothing friendly there,"
+exclaimed the Virginian the moment that his glance had
+taken in the scene, "out with the arms, and divide the
+dry ammunition. Collins, you are a smart fellow, do you
+and Green set to work and light a fire, but out of sight,
+and dry the muskets as fast as you can. There are twelve
+pounds in each of the five remaining cartouch boxes,
+these will do for a spell. Jackson, Philips, tree
+yourselves, while Cass lies flat in the stern, and keeps
+a good look out on the devils, without exposing himself.
+Now, my lads, do all this very quietly, and as if you
+didn't think there was danger at hand. If they see any
+signs of fear, they will pitch it into you directly. As
+it is, they are only waiting to settle themselves, and
+do it at their leisure."
+
+"Pity they don't make a general of you, corporal," remarked
+Collins, as he proceeded quietly with Green to the execution
+of the duty assigned to them. "I guess Washington himself
+couldn't better command a little army. Is your battle order
+finished, general?"
+
+"None of your nonsense, master Collins, this is no time
+for jesting. Go and dry these arms, and when you have
+them so that they can send a bullet from their throats,
+join Jackson and Philips in covering the boat. Weston
+and I will take up our first station."
+
+And in less time than we have taken to describe the cause
+of the alarm, and the instructions given in consequence,
+the men had hastened to execute the several duties assigned
+to them on shore, while Cass remained, not only with a
+view of showing the Indians that the boat was not wholly
+unguarded, but to be enabled to inform his comrades, who
+could distinctly hear him without rendering any particular
+elevation of the voice necessary, of any important movement
+on the part of the former. This quietude of arrangement
+on the part of Corporal Nixon had, seemingly, been not
+without effect. It was evident that the Indians had no
+suspicion that they had been seen, and even when the men
+coolly quitted the boat, they showed no impatience
+indicative of an impression that the party were seeking
+to shield themselves from an impending danger.
+
+"This silence is strange enough," said the corporal to
+his companion, after they had been some minutes secreted
+in the cavity from which the departure of the Indian with
+the boat had been arrested. "I almost wish they would
+fire a shot, for that would at once tell us how to act,
+and what we are to expect, whether they are friendly
+Indians or not."
+
+But no shot was fired, and from the moment when the men
+quitted the boat, and took up their positions, everything
+had continued silent as the grave on the opposite shore,
+and not the vestige of an Indian could be seen.
+
+"But for that scalp," again remarked the corporal, "I
+should take the party to have been friendly Indians,
+perhaps just returned from a buffalo hunt, and come down
+to the water to drink. They are surely gone again."
+
+"Look there," said Weston, in a subdued tone, while he
+placed his hand on the shoulder of his superior, as both
+lay crouched in their hiding-place, "look there, corporal,"
+and he pointed with his finger to the opposite bank.
+"Do you see that large, blackish log lying near the
+hickory, and with its end towards us?"
+
+"I do--what of it?"
+
+"Well, don't you see something crouching like between
+the log and the tree--something close up to both. See!
+it moves now a little."
+
+Corporal Nixon strained his gaze in the direction indicated,
+but was obliged to admit that, although he distinctly
+enough saw the log and the tree, he could not discern
+any between thing them.
+
+"NOW, do you see it?" again eagerly inquired Weston, as,
+at that moment, the same animal was seen to turn itself
+within the very limited space which had been indicated.
+
+"Yes, I see it now," replied the Virginian, "but it's as
+likely to be a hog as a man, for anything I can make of
+that shape; a hog that has been filling his skin with
+hickory nuts, and is but now waking out of his sleep.
+Still, as the Injins were there just now, it may be that
+if they're gone, they've left a spy behind them. We'll
+soon know how matters stand, for it won't do to remain
+here all night. Cass," addressing the man in the boat
+who was seated low in the stern, only occasionally taking
+a sly peep, and immediately withdrawing his head, "place
+your cap on the rudder, and lie flat in the bottom. If
+they are there, and mean to fire at all, they will try
+their hands at THAT."
+
+"I hope they are good marksmen, corporal," replied the
+man, as raising his right arm, he removed his forage cap
+and placed it so that the upper half only could be seen.
+"I've no great fancy for those rifle bullets, and give
+them a wide berth when I can."
+
+"Now are you convinced?" asked Weston, addressing the
+corporal, as both distinctly saw the object upon which
+their attention had been anxiously fixed, raise his head
+and shoulders, while he deliberately rested his rifle
+against the log on his right.
+
+"Close down, Cass--don't move," enjoined the Virginian;
+"the bait has taken, and we shall have a shot presently."
+
+Two almost imperceptible jets of spiral smoke, and crack,
+crack, went two rifles, while simultaneously with the
+report, fell back into the boat, the perforated forage
+cap. Both balls had passed through it, and lodged in the
+heart of the tree to which the skiff was moored, and
+behind which Jackson and Philips had taken their stand.
+
+Evidently believing that they had killed a man, the whole
+of the band, hitherto concealed behind logs and trees, now
+rose to their feet, and uttered a fierce and triumphant yell.
+
+"Devilish good firin', that," remarked Green, whose face
+had been touched by a splinter of bark torn from the tree
+by one of the balls.
+
+"Don't uncover yourselves, my lads," hastily commanded
+the corporal; "all the fellows want now is to see us
+exposed, that they may have a crack at us."
+
+"We've dried the muskets after a fashion," said Collins,
+as he now approached Jackson and Philips. "Give us a
+cartridge, and let's see if we can't match the varmint
+at that sort of work." Then, having loaded, he, without
+asking the corporal's permission, leaned his musket
+against the tree, and taking a steady aim at the man who
+had fired from the point first noticed by Weston, drew
+the trigger.
+
+The shot had evidently taken effect, for two other Indians
+were now seen going to the assistance of their comrade,
+whom they raised from the ground (where all had secreted
+themselves after the yell), and hurried to the rear.
+
+A loud cheer burst from the lips of Collins, which was
+answered immediately by the whole of the savages, who,
+from various contiguous points, sprang again to their
+feet, and vociferating the war-whoop, dashed into the
+river nearly up to their necks, seemingly thirsting to
+overcome the only obstacle which prevented them from
+getting at their desired victims.
+
+But, at the very moment, when several of them were holding
+their rifles aloft with their right hand, securing their
+powder-horns between their teeth, while Corporal Nixon
+issued to his men injunctions, not to pull another trigger
+until the savages should begin to swim, to the astonishment
+of all, came the sullen and unusual booming of the cannon
+from the Fort.
+
+For a moment, the men, taking their eyes off the sights
+of their muskets, listened attentively for a repetition
+of the shot, but no second report reached their ears.
+
+"That," said Green, "was a warnin' for us."
+
+"It was," observed the corporal. "Had the danger been
+THERE, they would have fired again. Depend upon it, my
+lads, there's more going on about here than we think. So
+don't throw away your ammunition. Every bullet you send
+must tell!"
+
+"Well, we can but sell our scalps as dearly as possible,"
+interposed Collins, who had again loaded, and was now in
+the act of raising and supporting his, musket against
+the tree. "But look--see how the fellows are stealing off?"
+
+"Don't fire, then, don't fire," hastily enjoined the
+corporal. "If they will go quietly, let them. We must
+not lose our time dallying here, but make our way back
+to the Fort. That gun was meant to recall us, as well as
+to warn us, and luckily it has frightened the Indians,
+so they won't care to attack us again."
+
+Meanwhile the band of Winnebagoes, obeying, as it seemed,
+the command of their leader, whom Collins swore he could
+identify from his figure, even at that distance, to be
+the man who had attempted to carry off the boat, quitted
+the river for the cover of the woods, and, after an
+earnest consultation, retreated slowly in the direction
+of the prairie, without clamor of any description.
+
+"Well rid of them, if they are gone," exclaimed the
+corporal, not a little relieved by their departure. "We
+must keep a sharp look out though, and see if they return."
+
+"How many of them are there?" asked Jackson; "can you
+give a guess, Collins?"
+
+"About a dozen I should say--indeed I counted as many as
+they passed through the small patch of clearing made by
+Eph. Giles's axe."
+
+"Can they have started for the farm?" observed the corporal
+musingly; "if so, my lads, we had better get away as soon
+as possible, for there they will find canoes to cross."
+
+"Why, sure they can swim across well enough. The river
+is not so wide as to prevent them from doing it on a
+pinch," remarked Philips.
+
+"Of course they can," answered Collins, "but not without
+having their rifles as well soaked as our muskets were
+a little while ago. I say, corporal, I understand now
+the trick of that cunning chief. He jumped upon the arms
+purposely to overturn them into the river, when he found
+he couldn't get the boat, and all our firelocks over with
+him."
+
+"Yes, that WAS a trick," remarked Jackson, "but, corporal,
+you havn't told us how the dickens that fellow came there,
+instead of the bear you went to spear."
+
+"There is no time to talk about it, seriously rejoined
+the Virginian. Some night when we are on guard, I will
+tell you what little I know. At present let us see to
+getting back to our post. Collins, you are the crack shot
+of the party, are you loaded?"
+
+"I am, corporal," returned the man somewhat self-
+sufficiently, "have you got another Injin for me to sink.
+If so, just point him out, and if this good barrel of
+Uncle Sam's don't do his job in no time, I'll give up
+all claim to having hit the first fellow."
+
+"Not just yet," answered his superior, "but hear my
+orders. You'll follow the path along the bank, and move
+along carefully, until you reach Heywood's stacks. Conceal
+yourself behind one of them, until we come down with the
+boat, and keep a sharp lookout on all that you see passing
+in and round the farm. Now remember, Collins, not a shot,
+unless it be to save your life, or else you will get us
+all into a scrape."
+
+"Never fear me, General Nixon, and he touched his cap
+with all the respect he would have accorded to an officer
+of that rank. I brought one of the imps down, and that,
+I reckon, is nearly as good work for one day, as filling
+the old boat with fish, or having a slap at them ducks,
+as I wanted this morning. But now I'm off, if I see
+anything shall I halloo out, and let you know there's
+danger?"
+
+"Not by a long chalk," returned the corporal. "All I want
+you to do is to keep your tongue in your head and your
+eyes open. If you see anything to alarm you, come back
+quietly and let us know. We shall be moving down close
+to the bank of the river; and now start."
+
+Collins threw his musket to the trail, and advanced
+cautiously, though fearlessly, along the scarcely
+perceptible pathway--interrupted, at every third or fourth
+step by creeping vines that protruded from the earth,
+and rendered it necessary, in order to prevent his
+tripping, that he should raise his feet somewhat in the
+manner of a horse with the string-halt.
+
+He had not proceeded half a mile, when, at an angle of
+the ill-defined path, formed by a point where the river
+was the narrowest, he was started at the sight of a human
+body lying across his course, evidently on its face,
+though the head was concealed from view by the trunk of
+a large tree that bordered upon the road. His first
+impulse was to turn back and acquaint the corporal with
+what he had discovered; but a few minutes of reflection
+satisfying him of the ridicule he should incur in reporting,
+without being able to state with accuracy on WHAT, he
+boldly advanced. On approaching it, he found that the
+body was lifeless, while from the red and scalpless head,
+previously hidden from his view, were exuding gouts of
+thick blood that trickled slowly over the pale features
+of a youth of tender age, the expression of which had
+been worked up into an intensity of terror, and there
+remained. At a few paces from the head, and close upon
+the edge of the bank, lay a dressed bear skin which had
+evidently been saturated with water, but was now fast
+drying in the air and what little sunlight was occasionally
+thrown upon it, through the dense branches of the forest.
+
+There are situations in which the mind is moved to do
+that from which in cooler moments it would shrink with
+disgust. It chanced that Collins had retained the scalp
+so singularly found at the bottom of the river, by Corporal
+Nixon, and this circumstance at once determined him.
+
+Instead of hastening by an object so appalling, Collins
+rested his musket against a tree, and taking the scalp
+from between the ramrod and the stock, where he had
+introduced it, knelt by the body, and spreading out the
+humid skin to its fullest extent, applied it to the
+bleeding excavation. As he had suspected, they corresponded
+exactly, making all due allowance for the time they had
+been separated, and he had no longer a doubt that the
+mutilated boy was Mr. Heywood's help, Wilton. A much more
+important discovery than this, however, resulted from
+his vain endeavor to recognise the boy from his features,
+they were so contracted by terror, as has already been
+said, and so covered with blood as to be indistinguishable.
+But on turning him upon his back, and passing his hands
+over his face, Collins was surprised to find that there
+was not that icy chill which he had expected, but on the
+contrary the faint warmth that indicates suspended,
+animation; and deeper yet was the gratification of the
+rude soldier, when, on opening the shirt and placing his
+hand on the heart of the boy, he felt an occasional
+spasmodic pulsation, denoting that life was not utterly
+extinct.
+
+With an eagerness to preserve life, strongly in contrast
+with his recent exultation in destroying it, his anxiety
+for the recovery of the boy was almost paternal. Fortunately
+the latter part of the day had been free from the chilliness
+of the morning, so that, although the naked skull must
+have been some hours exposed, the comparatively bland
+state of the atmosphere gave fair earnest that the brain
+itself, even if affected, had not sustained a mortal
+injury. Spreading wide the scalp in his open palm, Collins
+now breathed heavily upon it, until it attained what he
+conceived to be the necessary warmth, when gently applying
+it to the denuded crown, to which be fitted it as well
+as he could, he passed his handkerchief, which he had
+removed from his throat, over it, and under the chin of
+the boy in such a manner as to prevent the chill of the
+approaching night from affecting the injured part. This
+done, he poured through his closed lips a few drops of
+whisky from the canteen, and then raising him gently on
+his left shoulder, he rose from his stooping posture,
+and seizing in his right hand his musket, which he
+continued at the trail, pursued his route to the haystacks
+as directed.
+
+In the meantime, Corporal Nixon, with the remainder of
+the fishing party, was slowly descending the river,
+hugging the eastern shore as closely as possible, in
+order that, if attacked suddenly, they might, on the
+instant, leap into the river, and covering themselves by
+the boat, fight their enemies at less disadvantage. The
+corporal himself and Weston kept a vigilant look out,
+the one at the bow, the other at the stern, while the
+four remaining men, Jackson, Philips, Green, and Cass
+pulled so noiselessly that the dip of their oars, and
+their unavoidable jar in the row-locks, could not be
+heard at a distance of more than ten yards. At this slow
+rate much time was necessarily consumed, so that it was
+quite dark when they reached the traverse opposite the
+farm, where Ephraim Giles had crossed some hours before,
+and whither Collins had been dispatched to make
+observations.
+
+The patience of the latter had been much tried, for it
+seemed an age had elapsed before his comrades made their
+appearance. The sun was just setting as he reached the
+innermost haystack, and his anxiety for his charge had
+become intense. Seeing the canoe drawn up on the beach,
+and the paddles in it, he had a strong inclination to
+cross and procure some efficient relief for the insensible
+boy, but the silence that reigned around the dwelling
+awed him, and he checked the natural impulse. Not a soul
+was to be seen, not a voice to be heard, not even the
+barking of Loup Garou, the bleating of a sheep, or the
+lowing of an ox. What could this mean? and was the fate
+of the boy connected with that of the other inmates of
+the farm? If so, where were they?
+
+Another consideration induced Collins to suppress his
+first impulse, and that was the apprehension that his
+strange charge would be detained by Mr. Heywood, when
+his only chance of recovery lay in the speedy examination,
+and dressing his injuries by the surgeon of the garrison.
+There was no alternative then, but to wait patiently for
+the arrival of the boat into which the boy could be
+placed; and so conveyed to the fort. Meanwhile, as the
+night air was becoming chill, and a slight fog rising
+from the water, the considerate soldier did all he could
+to shield his protege from their pernicious effect.
+Strewing on the ground a few armfuls of hay, taken from
+the nearest of the stacks, around which the hungry cattle
+now gathered, eager for their food, he extended on it
+the yet inanimate form of the youth, embracing the body
+in order to impart to it the benefit of animal heat and
+in this position, his head being slightly raised, eagerly
+endeavored to discern through the darkness not only what
+might be seen on the opposite shore, but the approach of
+the party in the boat.
+
+The sun had now been down some time, and so dark was it
+that, in that narrow space, obscured by the blending
+shadows of the tall forests on either shore, it was
+difficult, at five yards distance, to make out anything
+on the water, unaccompanied by light or sound. This
+silence was anything but agreeable to Collins, whose
+imagination, excited by the later occurrences of the day,
+was filled with, strange misgivings, as he looked in vain
+for the customary lights in the farm-house. The fishing
+party had never been out so late, and yet, at the first
+fall of darkness, they had been accustomed to see the
+place exhibiting at least one light; and the absence of
+this now caused Collins heartily to wish himself in the
+boat, and safely moored under cover of the fort. Not that
+the soldier was influenced by the apprehension of personal
+danger, but because the deep gloom, the solitude and
+silence of the scene, coupled with his newly-awakened
+interest in the almost corpse that lay in close contact
+with his person, impressed him with a sort of superstitious
+feeling, not at all lessened by the knowledge that his
+only companion, at that moment, belonged rather to the
+grave than to the upper earth.
+
+At length his anxiety was relieved. The sound of the
+oars, cautiously pulled, faintly met his ear, and then
+the boat could be indistinctly seen approaching the canoe.
+To this succeeded a low call uttered by the corporal.
+Collins replied in a similar tone, and then bearing the
+body of the boy, still enveloped in the bear skin, he in
+less than a minute, rejoined his party.
+
+The astonishment of the latter may be conceived on
+beholding so unexpected a sight, nor was their feeling
+of awe diminished when their comrade had briefly related
+what had occurred since he left them.
+
+"Strange enough, this," remarked the corporal musingly;
+"stranger still, there's no light in the house. It's
+neither too early nor too late for that. I'll tell you
+what, my lads, if any thing has happened we must know
+the worst--it will never do to go back to the Fort,
+without being able to give some notion of what took place
+under our very noses."
+
+"What would Mr. Ronayne say, if we did?" added Jackson.
+
+"Yes! and what would that sweet young lady, Miss Heywood,
+think of us, if we returned without giving some good news
+of her father. Why she never would look upon us kindly
+again."
+
+"Right, Philips," said Weston, "and I'm sure I'd rather
+offend the captain himself, any day, than do anything to
+displease her. God grant we bring her no bad news."
+
+"Amen," said the corporal, gravely, for he, like Collins,
+had some strong misgivings, arising naturally from the
+utter darkness and silence that continued to prevail in
+and around the farm-house. "Are you all loaded? Look to
+your primings, but make no noise. Somebody must take
+charge of the beat though. Who volunteers to remain,
+while the rest follow me to the house?"
+
+"I do--I'll remain," said Collins, "one of you can take
+my musket"
+
+"What, Collins, do you shirk the thing," sneered the man
+with the long nose and the peaked chin; "have you had
+enough to-day, or do you fear the ghost of the fellow
+you knocked over?"
+
+"I fear neither man or ghost, as you well know,
+Nutcrackers," warmly rejoined Collins, "but I take it,
+there's no great courage in making a fuss about going
+where there's no enemy to be found. If there has been
+danger in that quarter, I take it, it's passed, and as
+somebody must stop in the boat, why 'not me as well as
+another?"
+
+"Just so," said the corporal. "Cass, this is no time to
+run your rigs. You see well enough that Collins wishes
+to stop behind, on account of the boy he hopes to bring
+to life. Little chance of that, I fear, but if he thinks
+so, it would be unchristian to disappoint him. And now
+push off, but make no noise."
+
+The order was obeyed. In a few minutes the bow of the
+boat touched the landing-place, when all but Collins,
+who was at the helm, slipped noiselessly ashore. The
+corporal repeated his instructions--how to act under
+emergency and if separated--and moved along the path
+leading to the house. Meanwhile Collins pulled back into
+the stream, and remained stationary in the centre.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+The farm-house was, as we have said, of very rude
+construction--such a one as could only spring up in so
+remote a region, and among so sparse a population. With
+the exception of the roof, the frame-work of which had
+been covered with raw buffalo hides, it was built wholly
+of rough logs, notched at the ends in a sort of dove-tail
+fashion, and when not lying closely, filled in with chunks
+of wood, over which a rude plaster of mud had been thrown,
+so that the whole was rendered almost impervious to water,
+while it ran little risk from the agency of fire. It had
+two rooms on the ground floor--one smaller than the other,
+used as a dormitory, and containing all the clothes or
+"traps," as they designated them, of the household. The
+other served as eating-room, parlor, and kitchen, and
+extended over, at least, three-fourths of the area. It
+was provided with two doors--one facing the river and
+close to the partition which divided the rooms--the other
+occupying a remoter position to the rear. The windows of
+this apartment were two in number, and, equidistant from
+the doors, were considerably elevated above the floor.
+These apertures had been formed by simply sawing a few
+of the logs, so as to complete squares, into which were
+fitted rude sashes, each containing four small panes of
+a greenish, and by no means, transparent glass, and
+connected by strong leathern hinges. In winter the
+necessary warmth was afforded, by shutters put up and
+barred from within. The southern gable or dormitory, was
+provided in the centre with one window of similar size
+and construction. The upper floor, a sort of granary and
+depot for the provisions of the family, was ascended by
+means of a ladder, and through a square aperture just
+large enough to admit with ease the body of a man.
+
+There was, in rear of the house, a rather extensive
+corn-field, and beyond the northern gable, where the
+chimney stood, an orchard yet in its infancy, but promising
+future abundance, while at the opposite, or south end of
+the building, a large but very highly cultivated garden,
+was now undergoing the customary spring process of digging
+and manuring, and indeed on that very morning, Mr. Heywood
+had been busily engaged in this occupation with the boy
+Wilton, his men being employed, the one in field labor,
+the other as we have seen, in chopping wood.
+
+In the rear of the garden, and opposite to the corn-field,
+from which it was separated by a road leading to the
+wood, was a tolerably sized barn, likewise constructed
+of rude logs, not, however, filled in. The lower part of
+this was used as a stable; the upper or loft, roofed with
+bark, contained the preceding year's unhusked crop from
+the corn-field, while contiguous to it, and to the rear,
+was another oblong square building, constructed in the
+same manner, but without loft. This, partitioned and
+covered simply with unhewn logs, served not only as a
+pen for sheep and pigs, but as a roasting-place for the
+feathered portion of the stock.
+
+The orchard on the one side, and the garden on the other,
+extended to the bank of the river--a zig-zag, or snake-fence
+separating them from the road, in the centre of which,
+and at about ten feet from the door of the dwelling,
+rose a majestic walnut tree then in early blossom.
+Immediately beyond this tree, was a low enclosure which
+intersected the road, passing across from the kitchen-garden
+to the orchard, and forming the only court or yard upon
+the premises.
+
+When Corporal Nixon, with his little party, had cautiously
+advanced some few paces towards the house, he caused them
+to separate, Cass and Jackson leaping the fence which
+bounded the orchard, and Green and Philips that of the
+garden, while he himself, with Weston, pursued the pathway
+in front. The better to be prepared for any sudden
+attack, bayonets had been quietly fixed, and the firelocks
+at the full cock, carried at the trail--this latter
+precaution after the detached files had crossed the
+fences.
+
+The night, as has already been said, was very dark, and
+each succeeding minute seemed to increase the obscurity,
+so that it was rather from their familiarity with the
+ground, than from any clear indication of correctness of
+course, that the little band were enabled to preserve
+their necessary unity. At length the tall shadows of the
+walnut tree came suddenly upon the sight of the corporal,
+but so completely absorbing was the darkness in the
+heavier gloom, that, without being aware of it's proximity,
+he stumbled against the low and slight enclosure, which,
+yielding to the impetus of his motion, feeble even as
+that was, caused him to fall forward on his face, his
+musket dropping from his grasp without, however, going off.
+
+A low growl from a dog succeeded, and before the Virginian
+could even make the attempt to rise, the animal had sprang
+upon, and fastened his teeth into his shoulder, shaking
+him so violently, that it was not until Weston, who had
+now crossed the enclosure, came up to his assistance,
+guided by the sound of the struggle, that the dog could
+be made to relinquish his hold.
+
+"Loup Garou--Loup Garou, old fellow, what's the matter
+with you," said the latter coaxingly, as he caressed the
+neck of the dog, which he had identified, and now sought
+to appease.
+
+Evidently recognising a friend in the utterer of his
+name, the animal turned suddenly around, licked the hand
+of Weston, and then sent forth a long and piteous howl.
+
+"Mercy, what is that?" suddenly exclaimed the corporal,
+who having regained his legs and musket, had moved on a
+pace or two.
+
+"Where! what?" asked Weston, coming up to his side.
+
+In the darkness before them, there was a deeper darkness
+that bore the indistinct appearance of a human form,
+lying in a stooping posture close to the trunk of the
+tree.
+
+A vague presentiment of the truth flashed upon the mind
+of the Virginian, who enjoining silence on his companion,
+advanced close to the object, and laid his hand upon it.
+There could be no longer a doubt. The blanket coat, and
+woollen sash, which he first touched, and then the shoe
+pack, told him in unmistakable language that it was Le
+Noir, the Canadian owner of the dog. He shook him, and
+twice, in a low voice called him by name. But there was
+no answer, while the body stiff and motionless, fully
+revealed the fate of the unfortunate man.
+
+Meanwhile, Loup Garou, which had followed, squatted
+himself at the head, which was hanging over the front of
+what they knew, from its handles and the peculiar odor,
+exhaling from it, to be a wheel-barrow filled with manure,
+and then commenced licking--moaning at the same time in
+a low and broken whine.
+
+"What can the dog mean by that?" whispered Weston.
+
+"Don't you hear him licking his dead master's face, and
+telling his sorrow in his own way," answered the corporal
+as, in order to assure himself, he dropped his hand to
+the mouth of the dog; but no sooner had he done so, than
+he drew it suddenly back with a shudder of disgust and
+hastily wiped it, clammy with the blood that yet trickled
+from the scalped head of the murdered man.
+
+A low whistle was here given on the left, and a few yards
+above, that startled the Virginian, for it was the signal
+agreed upon if anything suspicious, should be noticed by
+the other parties. He promptly answered it in a different
+call, and in another minute Green and Philips had joined
+him. "What have you seen?" he inquired, not regarding
+the exclamation of surprise of the new comers, at the
+unexpected sight before them.
+
+"We've seen nothin' its so dark," answered Green, "but
+unless the cattle have got into the garden, there's
+somethin' else movin' there. Philips and I listened after
+we heard the dog howl the first time, for we could hear
+as if somethin' like steps were stopped suddenly when he
+moaned the second time we listened again, and thought
+the same thing."
+
+"They couldn't be cattle," added Philips, "for the cattle
+are all kept on the other side."
+
+"Only the young stock, and them as ain't used about the
+farm," remarked Weston.
+
+"Well, but what kind of steps were they?" eagerly questioned
+the corporal, whose, imagination was filled not more with
+the danger that seemed to be near them, than with the
+censure of himself he feared he should incur, on his
+return to the fort, for having subjected the party to
+risk. "Surely you can tell between the tread of cattle
+and the steps of men."
+
+"I should say they, weren't the steps of cattle; they
+were too light for that. Though they couldn't help crushin'
+the dry sticks and rubbish they couldn't help seein'
+lyin' in the way. Don't you think so Philips?"
+
+"I did, corporal, and so sure did I guess them to be no
+cattle that it was me that whistled."
+
+"Then there's no use in going farther," remarked the
+Virginian gravely. "Even if we get to the house, we
+can't see anything in it for the darkness, and the poor
+fellow shows plain enough that it's to use looking out
+to save Mr. Heywood or Ephraim Giles. Come, my lads, we
+must get back to the boat, and down stream as quick and
+as quiet as we can."
+
+Giving his own low whistle of recall, he was answered
+from the opposite direction, and in a few minutes Cass
+and Jackson made their appearance.
+
+These latter were, briefly questioned whether they had
+seen anything, and great was the anxiety of all when it
+was known that they had also heard in the orchard but in
+a fainter manner, what had attracted the attention of
+Green and Philips in the garden.
+
+"Why didn't you give the signal then, as directed?"
+
+"Because," answered Cass, "We weren't quite sure about
+it, and feared the whistle might tell the Injins, if any
+were near, our whereabouts."
+
+Scarce had this explanation been given, when the attention
+of all was arrested by a loud clear shout of the corporals'
+name, evidently uttered by Collins.
+
+"Into the house--into the house," exclaimed the same
+voice. "The Injins are creeping up to you."
+
+As these words came ringing upon the silence of the night
+the dull steps in rapid advance through the two enclosures
+were now distinctly heard, while the flash of a gun fired
+in their rear, lighted up the forms of three or four
+savages, gliding up to them by the pathway by which the
+corporal had come.
+
+The danger was imminent, the necessity for securing the
+important position imperative, and without waiting for
+the order of their superior, or even uttering a word,
+the whole of the party, acting upon the caution of Collins,
+made a rush towards the front entrance of the house,
+which they gained at the very moment when the rattling
+of the snake-fences, and the total overthrow of the slight
+enclosure, announced that their enemies were thus near
+in pursuit.
+
+Fortunately the door was wide open, so that they had all
+passed in, when the Indians on either flank, as though
+by previous arrangement, poured in their cross fire,
+towards that common centre, without, however, striking
+anything but the logs.
+
+Terrific and continuous yells succeeded, and well was it
+that, with cool promptitude, the corporal had sought,
+and found behind the door, where he knew they were usually
+kept, the strong bars, three in number, that secured the
+heavy panels, for as many of the Indians as could find
+room to act together, now applied their shoulders to the
+frame with such violence, that but for those timely
+safeguards, it must have yielded. During more than five
+minutes they persevered in their efforts, the men waiting
+anxiously in attitude of preparation for the result, when
+all at once they ceased, and their footsteps were heard
+cautiously retiring.
+
+"Quick, look to the back-door, two of you," commanded
+the corporal in an eager, but low tone, "they are going
+round; there, if that is not secured we are lost."
+
+Green and Philips sprang forward towards the point
+indicated, but the latter in his excitement stumbled
+heavily against something, and fell at his length upon
+the floor, exclaiming: "I've fallen over a dead man, and
+am half drowned in his blood."
+
+His companion who had escaped this obstruction, had
+scarcely time to assure the corporal that the back door
+was already barred, a fact which he had discovered by
+dint of feeling, when the latch was first heard gently
+tried, then the door violently assaulted. Another loud
+and angry yell from the Indians announced their
+disappointment, then several shots were fired at the
+door, and two or three balls could be heard dropping and
+rolling upon the floor, after having passed through the
+heavy planks.
+
+"Safe enough now for a while, my lads," said the corporal
+exultingly, "and we can have, a little breathing time.
+Who's got the means of striking a light, that we may see
+where we are, and what we're about?"
+
+"I have," answered Green, as taking a flint, steel, and
+tinder from his pocket, he, with a couple of strokes,
+ignited the latter, and approached the hearth, which the
+faint light from the burning "punk" enabled him to reach.
+The fire had long since gone out, but the crisp and
+blackened embers, soon grew under the care of the soldier
+into light sufficient to render objects in the apartment
+gradually more and more distinguishable.
+
+While this process was going on, the rest, leaning on
+their muskets, were anxiously grouped around the spot
+where Philips had fallen. At first, only the outline of
+a man of large stature and proportions could be seen
+lying in a cramped position, as if produced by some strong
+convulsive agony, and then when the fire began to kindle
+and crackle, the dress could be distinguished, and then
+as the light grew brighter, the scalpless head, and then
+the marked and distorted features of the murdered master
+of the house, who lay in a pool of blood that slowly
+trickled along the crevices of the floor. His hands were
+firmly clenched upon the barrel of a rifle which had been
+broken off at the stock, that now lay a few yards beyond,
+while the features, sternly set in death, bore a mingled
+expression of defiance and resolution. A cut, as from a
+tomahawk had laid open his left temple, while on several
+parts of his body could be seen thick encrustations of
+blood that had exuded through the rent clothing, marking
+the seat of several stabs and gunshot wounds. It was
+evident that Mr. Heywood had not lost his life without
+a desperate, struggle, for independently of the testimony
+afforded by his broken rifle, which he seemed to have
+used with fierce determination, the heavy table had been
+overthrown, and the few articles of necessary furniture
+in the room evidently displaced.
+
+"What a tale, this, to carry back," gravely remarked
+Weston. "I wouldn't take the corporal's stripes to-morrow,
+and be the first man to tell Miss Heywood of it."
+
+"Supposing we get back at all," said Cass. "Though we're
+safe enough for the present, I've no notion these devils
+will let us off go soon."
+
+"There's no great danger now," interrupted the corporal.
+"I defy them, if they're not stronger than we saw them
+this morning, to get into the house, with six good
+firelocks to defend it."
+
+"But they may set fire to it, and burn us out," persevered
+the apprehensive man with the hooked nose and the peaked
+chin; "I've heard of those things before."
+
+"Burn your granny out, Nutcrackers; look at them logs
+well, and say if it would'nt take hell-fire itself to
+burn 'em through in a month, but corporal, had'nt we
+better divide the ammunition. We don't know, as Cass
+says, what the imps are about, and what trouble they may
+give us yet."
+
+"Right, Green, there's nothing like being on the sure
+side, and so, my lads look to the pouches. Weston, there's
+a candle in that stone bottle on the shelf--light it,
+and put it on the table as soon as you have got that on
+its legs again."
+
+The examination was soon made. Each small cartouch box,
+expressly made for light excursions, contained, with the
+exception of the single cartridge which Collins had fired,
+the usual allowance of fifteen rounds. Two of these
+however--those of Green and Philips--had been so saturated
+by long immersion in the water, that they were wholly
+unserviceable. They were therefore emptied and dried,
+and the deficiency supplied from the pouches of their
+comrades, thus leaving about a dozen charges to each man.
+
+"A small stock of ammunition, this, I guess, to stand a
+long siege on an empty belly," drawled forth Cass.
+
+"Just like you--always croakin'," sneered Green, "and
+always thinking of your belly. Why man, you've more
+ammunition there, I take it, than ever you'll fire away
+in your life."
+
+"And if we haven't enough," said the corporal, going to,
+and taking down and shaking a powder horn, which hung
+suspended from the wall, that had evidently been overlooked
+by the Indians, "here are a dozen more charges at least,
+and the balls of the cartridges have not, I take it, lost
+their power to drill a hole into a fellow because they've
+been considerably well ducked. But hark! what noise is
+that--listen!"
+
+A low, grating sound, as of some heavy body rubbing
+against the ground, was now audible at short intervals,
+to seemed to proceed from the southern gable--but not a
+voice was heard. From the moment when they had uttered
+their cry of disappointment, on finding the back entrance
+secured, the Indians had preserved the utmost silence.
+
+Suddenly a yell, pealed from the direction of the river,
+caused them for the first time to revert to the exposed
+position of the unfortunate Collins.
+
+"Poor fellow," said Green, dashing away a tear. "I wish
+he was with us. Somehow or other, I feel as if we should
+all have a better chance in a fight, were that lad in
+the middle of it."
+
+"We shall never see him more!" gravely observed the
+Virginian; "That shot fired just after he warned us, did
+his business, depend upon it, and if that one didn't, it
+is not likely the blood-hounds would let him off after
+robbing them of their prey: no, no, poor Collins has lost
+his life in saving us."
+
+Again the yell was repeated, and from the same quarter.
+The corporal sprang to the ladder which communicated with
+the loft, and having placed it under the window on the
+front, hastily ascended and looked out, for no one had
+hitherto thought of closing an opening, from which no
+danger was, seemingly, to be apprehended.
+
+The darkness which had been so excessive at the moment
+of their entrance, had greatly diminished--so much so,
+that he could trace the forms of two or three of the
+warriors who were stooping low, apparently engaged with
+some object lying on the very bank of the river.
+
+"Scalping and mutilating the poor fellow, no doubt," he
+muttered fiercely to himself, "but here goes to revenge
+him!"
+
+Forgetting his usual prudence, he, in the strong excitement
+of the moment, drew up the butt of his musket to his
+shoulder, and as well as his cramped position would
+permit, covered one of the savages, but while in the very
+act of pulling the trigger, they all fell prostrate, and
+the bullet whizzed harmlessly over them. In the next
+instant a ball, aimed at himself, and fired from another
+quarter, passed through the window, grazing the shoulder
+slightly bitten by Loup Garou, and lodged in the opposite
+logs of the room. A third loud yell followed as the
+corporal drew in his head and disappeared from the window.
+The Indians evidently thought he had been hit, and thus
+gave utterance to their triumph.
+
+"There's that grating sound again," remarked Weston.
+
+All now listened, and heard much more distinctly than
+before the peculiar sound. Then followed a scratching
+and bumping of something heavy against the end of the
+house.
+
+"I have it," said the Virginian. "They've dragged the
+ladder from the barn, and are trying to fix it under the
+bedroom window. Cass, do you and Philips go in and see
+what they're doing. But close the door after you that
+they may not pick you off by the light."
+
+The door was cautiously opened and again shut as soon as
+the men had entered. They looked up at the window, which,
+in the darkness that prevailed around, was distinctly
+enough visible, but although open, nothing met their
+glance of a nature to startle them, nor could any movement
+be heard without.
+
+"Hold my firelock," whispered Cass to his companion,
+"while I try and get a look out. I know poor Le Noir's
+bed is directly under the window, and I don't think THAT
+is too high, if I stand on the pillow."
+
+He now cautiously groped his way to the bed, on ascending
+which, being a tall man, he found the top of his head to
+be on a level with the sill of the window. This was not
+sufficient for his purpose, and he sought to elevate
+himself still more. In attempting, with this view, to
+place himself on the head-board, he missed his footing,
+and fell with some force between the head of the bed,
+and the rode log wall. To his dismay, he found that his
+feet had rested not upon the hard floor of the apartment,
+but upon something soft and yielding, which his imagination,
+strongly excited by the events of the day, led him
+unhesitatingly to conclude, was the flesh of a human
+body.
+
+"A light corporal--a light!" he shouted, regardless of
+every thing, but his desire to release himself from his
+present situation. "Bring a light. Here's a fellow, who
+has got hold of me by the leg!"
+
+"Take your musket then and bayonet him," said Philips,
+coolly, as he pushed towards the struggling man the butt
+end of his firelock, which at length reached his hands.
+At the same time, Corporal Nixon, rendered equally
+imprudent by the suddenness of the demand for his presence,
+entered, followed by Weston, bearing the candle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+Nothing can, we conceive, be in worse taste in a fictitious
+narrative, than the wanton introduction of the ludicrous
+upon the solemn, but when in an historical tale these
+extremes do occur, fidelity forbids the suppression of
+the one, lest it should mar the effect of the other. Such
+is the necessity under which we find ourselves.
+
+The first act of the corporal, on seeing how matters
+stood, was to pull back the bedstead behind which Cass
+was imprisoned, so as wholly to uncover him and his
+assailant, but the surprise of all may be imagined, when,
+instead of an Indian, with whom they believed him to be
+struggling, they beheld an immense turkey-cock, well
+known to them all, which was partly under the foot of
+the soldier--partly in a boarded drain or reservoir which
+passed from the apartment into a large hog trough, that
+lay along the wall and daily received the refuse of the
+various meals. The bird, furious with pain, was burying
+its beak into the leg of the soldier, while he, with the
+butt end of his musket aloft, and the bayonet depressed,
+offered the most burlesque representation of St. George
+preparing to give his mortal thrust to the dragon.
+
+In spite of the danger by which they were beset, it was
+impossible for the men to restrain the indulgence of
+their humor at this singular sight, nor was the disposition
+at all checked, when they saw the bayonet descend and
+actually transfix the intruder to the floor-causing him
+to droop his head, and thus free Cass from his furious
+attacks.
+
+"If that's the way you kill your enemies, Nutcrackers,
+we promise to eat them up for you--as many as you like,"
+and as he spoke, Green advanced and seized the dying bird
+by the throat; but as he pulled it suddenly away, a dark
+human hand was observed to relinquish its hold of the
+feet, and rapidly disappear.
+
+The mirth of the men was now succeeded by a seriousness
+befitting the occasion, for it was clear to all that this
+occurrence, absurd as it was, had been the means of
+betraying a new plan of the enemy to get into the house.
+If the drain was large enough to admit of the passage of
+the bird--always remarkable for its size--it was highly
+possible that some of the more slightly formed Indians,
+might force their way through it also. They had evidently
+tried to see if it could be done--the turkey-cock having
+been put forward as a "feeler," and the necessity of
+either closing the avenue, or weakening their strength
+by keeping a man constantly on the watch, was now obvious.
+
+"Find something to stop up that hole with Cass," ordered
+the corporal.
+
+"I can see nothing," replied the other, after a few
+moments search, unless we stop it with the bedding."
+
+"A wise plan that. The Injins would soon set fire to it,
+and if they didn't burn us out, they would soon smoke us
+out. Either would suit their purpose."
+
+"Let him stuff it with his head, corporal," interposed
+Green, "I'm sure that's thick enough for a plug."
+
+"Perhaps there's a head in it already," suggested Philips,
+"there was a hand just now--the other may have followed."
+
+"By jingo I'll try," returned Green, "I'd give a week's
+grog to be able to prick a feller with this playthin'"
+
+So saying, he knelt upon the floor, and holding his musket
+in a horizontal position, a few inches above it, he gave
+a furious thrust into the aperture. To his astonishment,
+for notwithstanding his half bravado, he had not seriously
+anticipated such a result, he found the advance of his
+weapon slightly arrested by a yielding body, and even had
+not a sharp cry of pain from the other extremity of the
+trough, satisfied him of the fact, the peculiar sensation
+he experienced as the steel overcame the resistance was
+sufficient to convince Green, little accustomed even as he
+had been to bayonet men, that the bayonet had entered into
+some soft part of the human body.
+
+To the cry of the wounded man, succeeded a savage and
+threatening yell from the united band, and now re-commenced
+the grating sound which had two or three times before
+excited the conjectures of the besieged.
+
+"Ah I yell away you devils; that's all the good you'll
+get," exclaimed Green, exulting at his success; "but
+don't take so tight a grip of my bayonet. I say, Philips,
+lend us a hand, if I shan't lose my musket with that
+fellow strugglin' like a speared Mascalinga."
+
+Both now pulled at the firelock, with all their strength.
+Suddenly the resistance ceased, and they fell sideways
+on the floor, bringing the musket with them, but without
+the bayonet. At the same moment a shot was fired into
+the aperture, and the ball whizzing by the ear of Philips,
+and passing through Green's right leg, lodged in the
+partition beyond.
+
+"Stand aside, men," shouted the corporal, "stand from
+before that hole, or we shall be marks in this light for
+the skulking villains,"
+
+Jackson, who had been dispatched for one of the small
+round hickory logs that lay piled up in a corner near
+the chimney, now approached with on that was just large
+enough to fit tightly in the aperture. All seized it,
+and taking the precaution to keep their legs out of
+danger, jammed one end into the mouth of the drain, adding
+afterwards a few heavy blows from the axes of Le Noir
+and Ephraim Giles, which had been found in a corner of
+the room.
+
+"Now then," said the Virginian, after having examined
+the small window of the bed room, and securely fastened
+the shutter--"we've not much more to fear. They're two
+to one its true, but I defy them to do us much harm before
+daylight, when, I take it they'll be off, if not sooner."
+
+"Well, then, corporal," suggested Green, "I vote that as
+we're pretty safe, and have yet that piece of plunder,
+we set to work and cook it, for I'm devilish hungry, and
+so I think we must all be, seeing as how we hain't had
+a regular meal the whole day, besides if we rummage the
+place, we may chance to light upon somethin' else. I see
+the varmint have carried off the nice row of venison hams
+that used to hang up round the chimney, but there may
+be somethin' in the loft."
+
+"No bad thought that of yours, Green," answered the
+corporal, "Cass, you killed the bird, you must pluck it
+and grill it."
+
+"That's what I call taking it sensibly," said the latter
+leaning his musket against the wall, and dragging the
+heavy turkey to the kitchen-corner, where seated on the
+very chair on which poor Mr. Heywood had smoked his last
+pipe, he commenced plucking out the feathers by handfuls.
+"Let fasting without, and feasting within be the word;
+but its mortal dry eating that great he turkey, without
+something to wash it down. I say, Philips, you are a good
+hand at foraging--don't you think you could find out a
+little of the Wabash there," and he pointed to the loft.
+
+Philips approached the ladder with the intention of making
+a search, but the Virginian checked him.
+
+"Stop a moment," he said, "until I have had another look
+out in front." Thus saying he cautiously ascended to his
+former position, the view from which was much less
+indistinct than before. The obscurity had, in a great
+degree, passed away, so much so, that all objects within
+the area formed by the enclosures of the garden and the
+orchard were thrown into perceptible relief. His first
+thought was to cast his glance upon the water, hoping,
+he scarcely knew why, that something might be seen of
+the skiff which had contained the unfortunate Collins.
+Disappointed in that quarter, his eye next turned upon
+the walnut tree, the white blossoms of which had dropped
+around and upon the spot, where lay the body of the
+ill-fated Le Noir, at whose head was still squatted, as
+when he had left him, his faithful dog. There was much
+in this trait of devotion on the part of the animal which
+could not fail to awaken sympathy even in the roughest
+heart, and although the corporal was not particularly
+sentimental, he could not but be deeply touched by the
+contrast forced upon him, between the moaning animal and
+the wild lust for blood which reigned in the hearts of
+their unprovoked assailants. His first impulse was to
+call approvingly to the dog, but the next moment's
+reflection on the folly of such a proceeding stifled the
+impulse. Then his attention was called not only to the
+perfect immunity from further outrage of the victim and
+his follower, but to the profound silence, and absence
+of danger which seemed to exist in that quarter. That
+the Indians had not departed, although they had not been
+heard since the yell that followed the cry produced by
+the thrust from Green's bayonet, he felt confident, and
+it now seemed to him that they must be directing their
+efforts against some other part of the building.
+
+No sooner had he admitted this last belief, than he again
+descended, and raising the ladder himself, bore it
+noiselessly to the spot whence it had been removed, then
+ordering the candle to be extinguished, and the embers
+to be drawn together, so as to deaden the light of the
+fire, he with Green and Weston crept up the ladder, Cass
+being left to complete the preparation of the turkey the
+best way he could, while Philips and Jackson, posted at
+the back and front doors, listened attentively for the
+slightest sound of danger, which being heard, they were
+at once to warn the party above.
+
+When the corporal had gained the top of the ladder, Green,
+who was the last, having yet his foot on the first step,
+the former was evidently startled by some new danger.
+But just as he was in the act of springing to the upper
+floor, the ladder, too frail to sustain their united
+weight, snapped suddenly asunder in the middle and fell
+with some noise, thus separating him from his companions.
+
+Regardless of this and having secured his own footing,
+he now moved cautiously towards the opposite end of the
+loft, where a small opening, about two feet in length,
+and one in height, seemingly intended as a ventilator,
+appeared nearly vertical to the window of the bed-room
+below. Casting his glance downwards through the opening,
+he beheld five or six savages standing grouped together,
+leaning on their guns, and apparently watching some object
+above them. This, naturally, drew the corporal's attention
+to the same quarter, when to his dismay he found that
+the long ladder usually kept at the barn was now resting
+against the gable of the house, not three feet from the
+right corner of the aperture, through which he gazed. In
+an instant it occurred to him that this had been the work
+of the Indians, and at once accounted for the grating
+sounds that had so often met his ears that night. There
+could be no doubt that the plan of the enemy now was to
+enter the roof, which could be done by removing part of
+the raw buffalo hides of which it was composed. Indeed
+it was a slight noise made in the direction of that very
+angle of the roof where the ladder now stood, that had
+caught his attention on first putting his head through
+the aperture while preceding his men. This had suddenly
+ceased at the moment when the ladder broke and fell, nor
+had there been a repetition of the sound. Still, satisfied
+that some discovery of the true designs of the Indians
+would result from his remaining a little longer, he
+continued at the opening, which was too small to betray
+his presence if using precaution, while it enabled him
+to observe the movements of the enemy. Soon afterwards
+he heard them speaking in earnest but low tones, as if
+addressing somebody above them, and then a prolonged
+yell, which was answered by others from the front of the
+house, echoed through the surrounding forests. Even amid
+the horrid discord, the quick ear of the Virginian, now
+painfully on the stretch, caught the same sound that had
+first attracted his attention. It was exactly at the
+angle of the roof, and only a pace or two from him. The
+peculiar noise was not to be mistaken even by an unpractised
+ear. It was, evidently, that of a knife, not very sharp,
+cautiously cutting through a tough and resisting leather.
+
+The corporal became now more anxious than ever, but this
+feeling did not in the slightest degree, disturb his
+self-possession, or cause him to waver in the resolution
+he had from the first adopted. He waited patiently, until,
+as he expected, he heard a corner of one of the buffalo
+hides turned up, and beheld reflected, against the
+back-ground of light, thus suddenly introduced, the upper
+part of a human being, whose shorn head, covered on the
+crown with straight and slightly streaming feathers, too
+plainly indicated his purpose. What a target for the
+bullet--what an object for the bayonet of the soldier,
+who, had not prudence and coolness interposed, had
+certainly used one or the other. But the Virginian had
+hit upon another, and as he conceived, a better plan to
+get rid of his enemy, and in his fate, of further probable
+annoyance from his ferocious companions. It was not his
+object to let himself be seen, or that the Indians should
+even suspect that they had been detected in this new
+device, for he was well aware that if he fired, or used
+his bayonet against the man, those below would rush up
+the ladder to succeed him, and by their weight prevent
+the accomplishment of what he had in view; therefore cut
+off as he in a measure was, from his party, it was
+incumbent on him to adopt the only sure means of relief
+from danger, and that without a moment of delay.
+
+While the Indian, who finding, evidently, that the orifice
+he had made in the roof was not yet large enough for his
+purpose, had dropped the incised portion of the hide,
+and was again using his knife; the Virginian, stooping
+slightly at the off-side of the window, ascertained that
+the feet of the former were resting on one of the upper
+steps of the ladder. This was what he desired, and all
+he now wanted was a hard, flat substance to fasten on
+the point of his bayonet. After reflecting vainly for a
+few moments how this was to be attained, he suddenly
+bethought him of his thick-soled ammunition-boots. Removing
+one of these without noise, he pierced the inner leather,
+by pressing it firmly against the point of the bayonet,
+so as to secure without allowing it to pass through.
+Then, cautiously protruding his musket from the opening,
+he slowly advanced it, until the sole of the boot touched
+the frame of the ladder, not two feet under the round on
+which the Indian stood. Here for a moment he allowed the
+barrel, concealed by the low depending eaves, to rest
+against the jamb of the aperture. His anxiety was now
+worked up to the highest possible pitch, for he feared,
+notwithstanding his success so far, that something might
+yet occur to defeat his purpose, and thus peril not only
+his own life, but the lives of the whole of the party
+below. Three minutes he remained in this trying position
+of uncertainty, which seemed to him as so many hours.
+Presently, however, the Indian on the roof, having
+evidently accomplished his task, and believing from the
+silence that had for some time pervaded around, that no
+one was near him, spoke in a low tone to his companions,
+who now cautiously crept towards the ladder.
+
+This was the moment for action. The Virginian, who,
+although expecting this, had watched their movements with
+aching interest, now summoned his whole strength, and
+while the first savage below was upon the ladder, pushed
+his musket with such violence against the sole, that it
+carried it rapidly over the corner of the house, before
+the Indian could find presence of mind to throw himself
+upon the roof--a sudden backward jerk of the weapon
+liberated the bayonet, the extreme point of which only
+had entered the wood, and as the Virginian withdrew this,
+he could distinctly see the unfortunate savages fall
+headlong from the top of the ladder, uttering, as both
+descended, a fearful cry of dismay, which was responded
+to by fierce yells from the lips of their companions,
+who hastened to their succor.
+
+"Well done, that!" said the corporal, exultingly, and
+half-aloud to himself, as he slapped his thigh, in a
+manner to denote his own self-approval. "That's what I
+call doing the business as it should be done. The attempt,"
+and he smiled at the conceit, "was not a bootless one to
+us all, though it has been a BOOT LESS one to ME."
+
+To understand this facetiousness of the Virginian, it
+must be understood that on withdrawing his bayonet, the
+boot which it had only slightly pierced, had slipped from
+the weapon and fallen to the ground simultaneously with
+the other heavier bodies, whose more marked sound had
+absorbed its own. It therefore escaped the notice of the
+Indians.
+
+"Hilloa there!" he continued in a louder key; "there's
+no more danger in this quarter, my lads. Show us a light,
+and if Cass has that turkey ready, we'll have some supper.
+For my part, I'm devilish sharp set. Here, Green, take
+my musket, and give me the candle."
+
+Surprised at the corporal's unwonted humor, for they had
+been led to apprehend, from the noise made by the falling
+ladder, and the excitement evidently prevailing among
+the Indians, that some new act of treachery was about to
+be tried by them, the men gathered underneath the opening,
+Green taking his musket from the hands of the Virginian,
+while in return, he mounted on one of the low chairs,
+and extending his arm far above, handed him the light.
+
+After a few minutes search, the corporal appeared again
+at the mouth of the loft, not only with a demijohn
+half-filled with whisky, but with a large loaf of brown
+bread, and part of a shoulder of dried venison, from
+which nearly one-half had been chipped away in slices.
+This, indeed, was a prize, and the men looked at the
+articles of necessary supply, as they were successively
+handed down, with an earnestness which denoted, that
+whatever might be their apprehensions of danger from
+without, they by no means coveted fighting on an empty
+stomach. After having lowered the treasures he had been
+so fortunate as to secure, the Virginian swung himself
+down by his hands, without difficulty, upon the lower
+floor.
+
+The fire had been again revived, and having ordered
+Jackson up into the loft, to keep watch at the small-window,
+and apprise him if any attempt should be made to replace
+the ladder, the corporal for the first time lighting his
+pipe, sat down to ruminate on his position, and consider
+the means by which the party were to be taken back to
+the fort. Further serious apprehensions in regard to
+their safety he did not now entertain, for baulked, as
+the Indians had been, in all their attempts to get into
+the house, he felt persuaded that it was more with a view
+to annoy and alarm, than with any hope of eventual success,
+that they still lingered in the neighborhood. Had they
+been in a situation to continue the siege longer than
+the morning, the case might have been different. But it
+was obvious that in order to secure their own safety,
+alarmed as they most know the governor would be at the
+absence of the party under his command, they would not
+remain longer than daylight exposed to the chances of
+being themselves closely assailed from without.
+
+Such was the reasoning of the Virginian, whose greatest
+source of discomfort now was the apprehension of serious
+reprimand, if not something worse, from the austere
+Captain Headley, whose displeasure, he was certain, would
+be so much the greater on account of the loss of the
+unfortunate Collins. He looked at his watch, but to his
+great annoyance, found that it had stopped, the hour-hand
+pointing to one o'clock. How long it had been run down,
+he could not tell, but from the time which had elapsed
+since their abandonment of the boat, and arrival in the
+house, he did not think it could be less than four in
+the morning.
+
+Desirous to satisfy himself by the appearance of the
+heavens, he arose, and with the aid of Green, placed the
+table under the window commanding a view of the river.
+This being too low, a chair was placed upon it, thus
+affording the corporal the advantage of greater elevation
+than he had derived from the use of the ladder itself.
+
+Everything was again quiet. Not a sound broke the stillness,
+save the howling of a few wolves, which, probably, attracted
+by the scent of the human blood that had been spilt that
+day, and by the exposed corpse that was now strewed with
+white blossoms from the tree beneath which it lay, were,
+by the increasing light, indistinctly seen on the opposite
+shore. But not their savage cry of hunger alone was heard.
+Ever and anon, in reply to their fierce howling was heard
+the snappish bark of Loup Garou, as, leaping on the body
+of his unconscious master, he lashed his tail, and seemed
+to bid defiance to those whose errand he seemed so
+perfectly to divine.
+
+"Poor dog! you shall never want a master while I can keep
+you," half murmured the corporal, as he now turned his
+gaze upon the water, anxious to see if any trace could
+be found there of the skiff and its missing occupant.
+Nothing, however, came within his view, but just as he
+was preparing to descend from the window, the outline of
+the boat, for from its peculiar shape he easily identified
+it as their own, riveted his attention as it passed
+quickly up the river, filled with seven or eight savages
+in their war-dress, and having at the bow what had the
+appearance of a pole, from the top of which dangled a
+human scalp.
+
+"Gone at last," he exclaimed, after a moment's pause,
+"but with poor Collins' scalp along with them. Cass," he
+added, as he sprang to the floor, "if that turkey is fit
+to eat let's have it directly, and you, Weston, look
+about and see if there is any more water to be had. Make
+haste, now, for we shall have to tramp it to the fort as
+soon as it's daylight. The devils are gone and carried
+off the boat."
+
+Not less anxious than himself to be once more on their
+way to the fort, which some of them, on entering the
+house that night, had scarcely hoped to reach alive, the
+men, leaning their muskets against the side of the room,
+assisted in preparing the rude, but grateful meal, of
+which they stood so much in need, and which was to sustain
+them during the short-approaching march. The table having
+been placed in the centre of the room, and on it the
+demijohn, and bread and venison, Green and Weston, the
+latter of whom had been unsuccessful in his search for
+water, seized each a leg and a wing of the ample turkey,
+which now denuded and disembowelled, Cass had scientifically
+carved in its raw state, and held them in the blaze of
+the fire, waiting patiently until the blackness of the
+outside should give promise of corresponding warmth
+within. Its slayer held the body of the bird over the
+fire in a similar manner, the poker having been thrust
+into the abdomen. They all sat, or rather stood in a
+squatting position with their faces to the fire.
+
+"Well, now, I reckon we shall make six considerable shares
+of this," drawled Cass, looking fondly at the carcass,
+which was slowly but temptingly spluttering before him
+at the fire. "Are you any ways particular, Green?--what
+part suits your taste best, Weston--a leg or a wing? For
+my part I always stick to the carcass."
+
+"Faith, and I like both, and a slice of the breast to
+boot. I'm just the fellow, now the varmints are gone,
+that could eat all of them."
+
+"Yes, but you know," returned the temporary chef de
+cuisine, "it must be share and share alike--there's two
+legs--two wings and the breast, and the back slit in
+two--that just makes six portions, and we're six men in
+all."
+
+"Cast lots fiddlestick," said Green, "what portion do
+you expect, Nutcrackers? unless it's the neck, and the
+scaly part of the leg, the Injin had hold of when you so
+bravely sent your bayonet through her feathers."
+
+"Well, only think how cunning of the fellows," remarked
+Weston, "who'd ever have thought they would try that
+fashion to get in, cramming an old turkey before them to
+clear the way, and get in his craw the first bullet that
+might be sent."
+
+"Yes, and the tight grip the fellow had of him by the
+leg. Just look, Green, the mark of the devil's hand may
+be upon him yet. It was the right leg, and that's it you
+have."
+
+"Bosh! what do you expect me to find there but the marks
+of your dirty paws while plucking him, I'm too devilish
+hungry for such nonsense, Nutcrackers; but show me the
+Injin that would venture to touch his legs now. If I
+wouldn't mark him, then my name's not Seth Green."
+
+Scarcely had he finished speaking, when a dark naked
+human hand was slowly protruded over his shoulder, and
+seized not the leg of the turkey, which Green now grasped
+with unconscious and convulsive energy, but a brand from
+the fire.
+
+In his terror at that strange and unexpected appearance,
+he dropped the body of the bird in the glowing embers,
+and uttering a faint cry, turned half round and beheld
+what filled him with the deepest dismay: his companions,
+scarcely less terrified than himself, sprang together to
+their feet, with the intention of rushing to their muskets,
+but all hope of recovering them was gone. The savage who
+had snatched the fire was no longer there then, but half
+a dozen others in their war-paint stood between them and
+their firelocks. It seemed as if they were sensible that
+their very silence inspired more awe and apprehension in
+the bosoms of their defenceless enemies than could have
+done the most turbulent expression of their triumph. They
+had evidently entered by the back door, which was now
+quite open, and grouped around the body of Mr. Heywood,
+were apparently more interested in the dead than in the
+living. Not a sign was there of the corporal, and Philips
+stood as if paralyzed, leaning, musket in hand, against
+the opposite entrance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Leaving the little party in the dismay occasioned by
+their new position, and that at a moment when they believed
+themselves secured from further interruption or danger,
+we must now return to the Fort, where their long-continued
+absence, coupled with the startling tidings conveyed by
+Ephraim Giles, had created equal anxiety and apprehension.
+
+It will be recollected that during the examination of
+the latter, Ensign Ronayne had, after communicating with
+the commanding officer, suddenly departed across the
+river, taking with him a few armed men. The destination
+of this little party was the cottage occupied by Mrs.
+Heywood and her daughter, who, with a woman servant, were
+the sole occupants of a dwelling, simple in construction,
+but decorated, both within and without, by the hand of
+good taste. It was a low, one-storied building, painted
+white, with green window-blinds and shutters, and a
+verandah of trellis work of the same color, that extended
+a few feet square round the principal entrance. On either
+side, rose to the roof, on parallel lines, and at equal
+distances, cords of strong twine, on which already had
+began to interlace themselves, the various parasites
+indigenous to the soil, which winter had robbed of their
+freshness, but which a southern sun was now evidently
+vivifying and re-invigorating. A small garden of about
+half-an-acre, surrounded by a similar trellis-work,
+extended equally in front, and on the sides of the
+house--while the graceful form given to the various beds,
+and the selection of the plants and flowers, which,
+although still in their dormant state, were yet
+recognizable--testified the refined taste of those who
+had assisted at their culture. The pathway, which was
+recently gravelled from the adjacent sand-hills, ran in
+a straight line from the verandah, toward the little
+green gate, opening on the front of the garden, took a
+semi-circular sweep on either side, at about one-third
+of the distance from the gate. This form had been given
+to it for the purpose of affording room for the creation
+of a mound, on the summit of which had been placed a
+small summer-house, octagon in shape, and constructed of
+the same description of trellis-work. The sloping sides
+of the mound itself, were profusely covered with dahlias,
+rhododendrons, geraniums, and other plants of the most
+select kind--the whole forming, when in bloom, a circle
+of floral magnificence. A short and narrow path, just
+large enough to admit of the passage of one person at a
+time, led to the entrance of the summer-house, which,
+facing the gate, was also shaded from the light and heat
+of the sun's rays, by closely interlacing vines.
+
+At the bottom of this artificial mound, and near the
+pathway, a small spud, such as is used for pruning, was
+stuck into some earth, newly drawn round a splendid tiger
+lily, and on the handle of the spud, were loosely thrown
+a white silk jacket, a blue velvet cap, and a light pink
+scarf--evidencing that no ordinary gardener had been that
+day employed in bringing into new life the gorgeous
+beauties of the variegated parterre.
+
+"Little did I think," mused the young officer, as, leaving
+his party at the, gate, and hastening towards the cottage,
+his eye fell upon those articles of dress--"little did
+I imagine when I threw off these things a few hours since,
+to obey a summons to the Fort, that on my return to them,
+it would be with this heavy heart, and as the bearer of
+these tidings--but I must be cautious in my disclosure.
+Dear girl, here she is!"
+
+"Why, Ronayne, what in the name of Heaven is the meaning
+of all this? Are you here to take the castle by storm,
+with all these armed warriors? A few hours since you were
+a man of peace, and now I behold in you a most approved
+and valiant knight of the true American school. Sword,
+cap, feather, epaulet, blue broad-cloth, and silver. Well
+it must be confessed that you are not a bad imitation of
+a soldier, in that garb, and it is in pity to me, I
+suppose, that you do not wear it oftener. But seriously,
+Harry, do satisfy my curiosity, and tell me the reason
+of this unusual--manner of visit!"
+
+The question was asked playfully, but in tones replete
+with sweetness, by a tall and elegantly-formed girl, who
+on turning the further circle of the walk, in her approach
+to her favorite flower-bed, had for the first time, beheld
+the young officer, and the party stationed at the gate.
+
+"Nay, dear Maria," returned the youth, deeply grieved at
+the thought of casting a gloom over the spirits of her
+who thus rallied him. "I am sorry to say my errand is
+not one of mere parade--I have come to announce that
+which will give you pain; and but that I am charged with
+the agreeable duty of making you a prisoner, I never
+should have had the courage to be the bearer of the
+intelligence."
+
+Miss Heywood turned very pale, less at the words even
+than at the manner of the young officer, who it was
+evident, felt all the weight of the task he had undertaken.
+
+"Ronayne," she said, her voice suddenly assuming a rich
+melancholy of intonation, in strange contrast with her
+first address, "there is more in this than you would
+acquaint me with. But, tell me," and she fixed her large
+dark eyes on his--"tell me all. What pain is it you fear
+to occasion me, and how is it connected with my being a
+prisoner? Ha!" and she grasped his arm, and betrayed deep
+agitation--"surely nothing in my father's conduct--"
+
+"No, no, Maria," returned the youth, quickly, "far from
+anything of the kind, and yet it is of your father I
+would speak. But have you heard nothing since I left you.
+Have you seen no one?"
+
+"I have heard nothing--seen not a soul from without,"
+she answered, as he tenderly pressed the hand he had
+taken--"But, Ronayne," she pursued, with melancholy
+gravity--"a sudden light dawns upon me--my heart tells
+me that some misfortune or other has happened, or is
+about to happen--you say you would speak about my father.
+You are the bearer of ill-news in regard to him. Yes, I
+know it is so; tell me, Harry," and she looked imploringly
+up to him, "am I not right?--my father has been attacked
+by Indians, and he has fallen. Oh! you do not deny it!"
+
+"Nay, dearest Maria, I know nothing of the kind, although
+I will not conceal from you that there is danger--you
+have guessed correctly as to the Indians having been at
+the farm, but little certain is known as to the result
+of their visit. That half idiot Ephraim Giles, has come
+in with some wild story, but I daresay he exaggerates."
+
+Miss Heywood shook her head doubtingly. "You deceive me,
+Ronayne--with the best intention, but still you deceive
+me. If you really think the rumor be exaggerated, why
+your own restlessness and seriousness of manner? Harry,
+this is no time for concealment, for I feel that I can
+better bear the truth NOW than LATER. Do not hesitate
+then to tell me all you know."
+
+"True, my love, this is no time for concealment since
+such be the state of your feelings. I was unwilling to
+admit my own apprehension on the subject, fearing that
+you might be ill-prepared for the disclosure; but after
+what you have just urged, the blow can never fall less
+heavily than now. You must know, then, that a party of
+hostile Indians have, there is too much reason to fear,
+used violence toward the inmates of the farm-house, but
+to what extent we have no means of knowing; though such
+is the alarm created by their presence that Headley, who
+you know is the very soul of caution, has ordered every
+white in the neighborhood of the Fort, to be removed for
+safety within its walls."
+
+"Would that instead of THAT," remarked Miss Heywood, with
+solemnity, "he had despatched those soldiers, whom I see
+there fully armed, to the rescue of my poor father.
+Perhaps he might be saved yet--the house is strong, and
+might be defended for some time, even by a couple of
+men."
+
+"And me at their head. Is it not so, Maria?" inquired
+the youth.
+
+"Yes, and you at their head, dear Ronayne," repeated Miss
+Heywood; "to no one sooner would I be indebted for my
+father's safety, as no one would, I am sure, more cheerfully
+attempt his deliverance."
+
+The young American mused a moment, and then rejoined,
+despondingly; "Were these men at my disposal, Maria, how
+gladly would I hasten to encounter every difficulty, the
+removal of which would spare your gentle bosom those
+pangs; but you know Headley would never permit it. His
+prudence is a mania, and even were he to yield his
+consent--let me not sustain you with delusive hopes--I
+fear it would be too late."
+
+"God's will be done," she ejaculated, as the large tears
+fell trickling down her pallid cheeks, "but what will
+become of my poor and now nearly death-stricken-mother,
+when she hears of this?"
+
+"The blow is indeed a fearful one, but act, I pray you,
+with courage. Consider, too, your own safety. No one
+knows the force of the Indians, or how soon they may be
+here. Go in, dearest, prepare what you may more immediately
+require for a few days, and my men will carry your trunks
+down to the scow which is waiting to receive you."
+
+"And if I should consent to go, Ronayne, you know my poor
+mother cannot rise from her bed. What do you propose to
+do with her? To remove her, and let her know WHY she is
+removed, would soon finish the work her debilitating
+disease has begun."
+
+"I have made every necessary provision," answered the
+young officer, glad to find that her thoughts could be
+diverted from the immediate source of her sorrow. "Elmsley's
+wife, to whom I spoke a few hurried words on leaving, is
+even now preparing for your temporary reception, and I
+have thought of an excuse to be given to your mother.
+You must for once in your life use deceit, and say that
+Van Vottenberg desires her presence in the fort, because
+his duties have become so severe that he can no longer
+absent himself to bestow upon her that professional care
+she so much requires. Nay, look not so incredulous. I am
+aware that the pretext is a meagre one, but I cannot at
+present think of a better; and in her enfeebled state
+she will not dwell upon the strangeness of the plea. Go
+on then, I entreat you, and desire Catherine to collect
+what you will want, while my men carry to the scow such
+articles of furniture as will be most useful to you in
+your new quarters. Quick, dear Maria, I implore you,
+there has already been too much time lost, and I expect
+every moment an order from Headley to return immediately."
+
+Sensible of a pressing emergency. Miss Heywood, with a
+beating heart, regained the cottage, in which so many
+blissful hours had been passed within the last two years,
+undisturbed by a care for the future, while the young
+officer joining his men, left one to take care of the
+arms of the party, and with the remainder hastened to
+the house making as little noise as possible, in order
+not to disturb the invalid. Having chosen such articles
+of furniture as he knew Mrs. Elmsley was most deficient
+in, and among these a couch and a couple of easy-chairs
+(which latter indeed were the work of his own hands),
+they were conveyed to the scow in two trips, and then
+followed three or four trunks into which had been thrown,
+without regard to order, such wearing apparel, and
+necessaries of the toilet as the short period allowed
+for preparation had permitted the agitated girl to put
+together. The most delicate part of the burden, however,
+yet remained to be removed, and that was the invalid
+herself. Desiring his men to remain without, the youth,
+whose long and close intimacy with the family rendered
+such a step by no means objectionable, entered the
+apartment of Mrs. Heywood, who had already been prepared
+by her daughter for the removal, and with the assistance
+of Catherine raised the bed on which she lay, and
+transferred it to a litter brought for the occasion. This
+they carefully bore through the suite of small and
+intervening rooms to the front, where two of the men
+relieved them, Catherine walking at the side, and
+unnecessarily enjoining caution at every step.
+
+"This is, indeed, an unexpected change, Ronayne," said
+Miss Heywood, sadly, "but this morning, and I was so
+happy, and now! These poor flowers, too (for after having
+fastened the windows and doors of the house, they were
+now directing their course towards the mound), that
+parterre which cost us so much labor, yes, such sweet
+labor, must all be left to be destroyed by the hand of
+some ruthless savage. Yet, what do I say," she pursued,
+in a tone of deep sorrow, "I lament the flowers; yes,
+Ronayne, because they have thriven under your care, and
+yet, I forget that my father perhaps no longer lives;
+that my beloved mother's death may be the early consequence
+of this removal. Yet think me not selfish. Think me not
+ungrateful. Come what may, you will yet be left to me.
+No, Harry," and she looked up to him tearfully, "I shall
+never be utterly destitute, while you remain."
+
+"Bless you, thrice bless you for these sweet avowals of
+your confidence," exclaimed the youth, suddenly dropping
+her arm, and straining her passionately to his heart.
+"Yes, Maria, I shall yet remain to love, to cherish, to
+make you forget every other tie in that of husband--to
+blend every relationship in that of one."
+
+"Nay, Ronayne," she quickly returned, while the color
+mounted vividly to her cheek, under the earnest ardor of
+his gaze, "I would not now unsay what I have said, and
+yet I did not intend that my words should exactly bear
+that interpretation--nor is this a moment--"
+
+"But still you will be my wife--tell me, Maria?" and he
+looked imploringly into her own not averted eyes. "You
+will be the wife, as you have long been the friend and
+companion of your Ronayne--answer me. Will you not?"
+
+Her head sank upon his shoulder, and the heaving of her
+bosom, as she gently returned his embrace, alone conveyed
+the assurance he desired. She was deeply affected. She
+knew the ardent, generous nature of her lover, and she
+felt that every word that had just fallen from his lips,
+tended only to unravel the true emotions of his heart:
+but soothing as was his impassioned language, she deemed
+it almost criminal, at such a moment, to listen to it.
+
+"Nay, dearest Harry," she said, gently disengaging herself
+from his embrace, "we will be seen. They may wonder at
+our delay, and send somebody back from the scow. Let us
+proceed."
+
+"You are right," replied the young officer, again passing
+her arm through his own, while they continued their route,
+"excess of happiness must not cause me to commit an
+imprudence so great, as that of suffering another to
+divine the extent. Yet one word more, dear Maria! and
+ah! think how much depends upon your answer. WHEN shall
+I call you mine?"
+
+"Oh! speak not now of that, Ronayne--consider the position
+of my father--my mother's health."
+
+"It is for that very reason that I do ask it," returned
+the youth. "Should Heaven deprive you of the one, as it
+in some degree threatens you with the loss of the other,
+what shall so well console you as the tenderness of him
+who is blessed with your love?"
+
+"Hush, Harry," and she fondly pressed his arm--"they will
+hear you."
+
+They had now approached the scow, into which the men,
+having previously deposited the furniture and trunks,
+were preparing to embark the litter upon which Mrs.
+Heywood lay extended, with an expression of resignation
+and repose upon her calm features, that touched the hearts
+of even these rude men. Her daughter, half-reproaching
+herself for not having personally attended to her transport,
+and only consoled by the recollection of the endearing
+explanation with her lover, which had chanced to result
+from her absence, now tenderly inquired how she had borne
+it, and was deeply gratified to find that the change of
+air, and gentle exercise to which she had been subjected,
+had somewhat restored her. Here was one source of care
+partly removed, and she felt, if possible, increased
+affection for the youth to whose considerate attention
+was owing this favorable change in the condition of a
+parent, whom she had ever fondly loved.
+
+It was near sunset when Ronayne, who, with the robust
+Catherine, had carefully lifted the invalid into the
+centre of the scow, reached the landing-place below the
+Fort. Here were collected several of the women of the
+company, and among them Mrs. Elmsley, who had come down
+to meet and welcome those for whose reception she had
+made every provision the hurried notice she had received
+would permit. The young officer had been the first to
+step on shore, and after he had whispered something in
+her ear, she for a moment communicated with the group of
+women--then advanced to meet Miss Heywood, whom her lover
+was now handing from the scow. She embraced her with a
+tenderness so unusually affectionate, that a vague
+consciousness of the true cause flashed across the mind
+of the anxious girl, recalling back all that inward grief
+of soul, which the deep emotion of an engrossing love
+had for a time absorbed.
+
+In less than half-an-hour the fugitives were installed
+in the council hall, and in another small apartment,
+dividing it from the rooms occupied by the Elmsleys. The
+ensign, having seen that all was arranged in a suitable
+manner in the former, went out to the parade-ground,
+leaving the ladies in charge of their amiable hostess,
+and of the women she had summoned to assist in bearing
+the latter into the Fort.
+
+On his way to his rooms, he met Captain Headley returning
+from an inspection of the defences. He saluted him, and
+was in the act of addressing him in a friendly and familiar
+tone, when he was checked by the sharply-uttered remark:
+
+"So, sir, you are returned at last. It seems to me that
+you have been much longer absent than was necessary."
+
+The high spirit of the youth was chafed. "Pardon me,
+sir," he answered haughtily, "if I contradict you. No
+one of the least feeling would have thought of removing
+such an invalid as Mrs. Heywood is, without using every
+care her condition required. Have you any orders for me,
+Captain Headley?" he concluded, in a more respectful
+manner, for he had become sensible, the moment after he
+had spoken, of his error in thus evincing asperity under
+the reproof of his superior.
+
+"You are officer of the guard, I believe, Mr. Ronayne?"
+
+"No, sir, Mr. Elmsley relieved me this morning."
+
+At that moment the last-named officer came up, on his
+way to the ensign's quarters, when, the same question
+having been put to him, and answered in the affirmative,
+Captain Headley desired that the moment the fishing-party
+came in they should be reported to him. "And now,
+gentlemen," he concluded, "I expect you both to be
+particularly on the alert to-night. The absence of that
+fishing-party distresses me, and I would give much that
+they were back."
+
+"Captain Headley," said the ensign, quickly and almost
+beseechingly, "let me pick out a dozen men from the
+company, and I pledge myself to restore the party before
+mid-day to-morrow. Nay, sir," seeing strong surprise and
+disapproval on the countenance of the commandant, "I am
+ready to forfeit my commission if I fail--"
+
+"Are you mad, Mr. Ronayne, or do you suppose that I am
+mad enough to entertain such a proposition, and thus
+weaken my force still more? Forfeit your commission if
+you fail! Why, sir, you would deserve to forfeit your
+commission, if you even succeeded in any thing so wholly
+at variance with military prudence. Gentlemen, recollect
+what I have said--I expect you to use the utmost vigilance
+to-night, and, Mr. Elmsley, fail not instantly to report
+the fishing-boat." Thus enjoining, he passed slowly on
+to his quarters.
+
+"D--n your military prudence, and d--n your pompous
+cold-bloodedness!" muttered the fiery ensign between his
+teeth--scarcely waiting until his captain was out of
+hearing.
+
+"Hush," interrupted Elmsley in a whisper. "He will hear
+you. Ha!" he continued after a short pause, during which
+they moved on towards the mess-room, "you begin to find
+out his amiable military qualities, do you! But tell
+me, Ronayne, what the deuce has put this Quixotic expedition
+into your head? What great interest do you take in these
+fishermen, that you should volunteer to break your shins
+in the wood, this dark night, for the purpose of seeking
+them, and that on the very day when your ladye faire
+honors these walls, if I may so dignify our stockade,
+with her presence for the first time. Come, come, thank
+Headley for his refusal. When you sit down to-morrow
+morning, as I intend you shall, to a luxurious breakfast
+of tea, coffee, fried venison, and buckwheat-cakes, you
+will find no reason to complain of his adherence to
+military prudence."
+
+"Elmsley," returned his friend, seriously, "I can have
+no disguise from you at such a moment. You know my regard
+for Maria Heywood, although you cannot divine its depth,
+and could I but be the means of saving her father, you
+can well understand the joy I should feel."
+
+"Certainly, my dear fellow, but you know as well as
+myself, that there exists not the shadow of a hope of
+this. That scarecrow, Giles, half-witted as he is, tells
+too straightforward a story."
+
+"Elmsley," persisted his friend, "there is every hope--
+every reasonable expectation that he may yet survive.
+Maria herself first opened my eyes to the possibility,
+for, until then, I had thought as you do; and deeply did
+her words sink in my heart, when she said, reproachfully,
+that, instead of sending a party to escort her, it would
+have been far better to dispatch them to the farm, where
+her father might, at that moment, be sustaining a siege--
+the house being strong enough to admit of a temporary
+defence, by even a couple of persons."
+
+"And what said you to that?"
+
+"What could I say? I looked like a fool, and felt like
+a school-boy under the iron rod of a pedagogue--but I
+resolved."
+
+"And what did you resolve, my enterprising KNIGHT errant?"
+
+"You have just heard my proposal to the gentleman who
+piques himself upon his military prudence." returned the
+youth, with bitter irony.
+
+"Yes, and he refused you. What then?"
+
+"True, and what then," and he nodded his head impatiently.
+
+"You will sleep upon it, my dear fellow, after we have
+had a glass of the Monongahela, and the pipe. Thus
+refreshed, you will think better of it in the morning."
+
+"We will have the Monongahela and the pipe, for truly I
+feel that I require something to soothe, if not absolutely
+to exhilarate me; but no sleep for me this night. Elmsley,"
+he added, more seriously, "you will pass me out of the gate?"
+
+"Pass you out of what?" exclaimed the other, starting
+from the chair on which he had thrown himself only the
+moment before. "What do you mean, man?"
+
+"I mean that, as officer of the guard, you alone can pass
+me through after dark, and this service you must render me."
+
+"Why! where are you going? Single-handed like Jack the
+Giant Killer to deliver, not a beautiful damsel from the
+fangs of a winged monster, but a tough old backwoodsman
+from the dark paws of the savage?"
+
+"Elmsley," again urged the ensign, "you forget that Mr.
+Heywood is the father of my future wife."
+
+"Ah! is it come to that at last. Well, I am right glad
+of it. But, my dear Ronayne," taking and cordially pressing
+his hand, "forgive my levity. I only sought to divert
+you from your purpose. What I can do for you, I will do;
+but tell me what it is you intend."
+
+"Yet, Elmsley, before we enter further into the matter,
+do you not think that you will incur the serious displeasure
+of Military Prudence?"
+
+"If he discovers that you are gone, certainly; and I
+cannot see how it can be otherwise; he will be in the
+fidgets all night, and probably ask for you; but even if
+not THEN, he will miss you on parade in the morning."
+
+"And what will be the consequence to you? Answer me
+candidly, I entreat."
+
+"Then, candidly, Ronayne, the captain likes me not well
+enough to pass lightly over such a breach of duty. The
+most peremptory orders have, since the arrival of this
+startling news, been given not to allow any one to leave
+the fort, and (since you wish me to be sincere) should
+I allow you to pass, it will go hard with my commission."
+
+"How foolish of me not to have thought of that before!
+How utterly stupid to ask that which I ought to have
+known myself; but enough, Elmsley. I abandon the scheme
+altogether. You shall never incur that risk for me."
+
+"Yet understand me," resumed the other, "if you really
+think that there is a hope of its proving more than a
+mere wild goose chase, I will cheerfully incur that risk;
+but on my honor, Ronayne, I myself feel convinced that
+nothing you can do will avail."
+
+"Not another word on the subject," answered his friend;
+"here is what will banish all care, at least for the
+present."
+
+His servant had just entered, and deposited on the
+mess-table hot and cold water, sugar, lime-juice, pipes,
+tobacco, and tumblers; when the two officers with Von
+Vottenberg who had just come in from visiting Mr. Heywood,
+sat down to indulge their social humors. Whilst the
+latter, according to custom, mixed the punch, which when
+made was pronounced to be his chef d'oeuvre, Elmsley
+amused himself with cutting up the tobacco, and filling
+the pipes. The ensign, taking advantage of their occupation,
+indulged himself in a reverie that lasted until the
+beverage had been declared ready.
+
+The presence of the doctor, acting as a check upon the
+further allusion by the friends to the topic that had
+hitherto engrossed their attention, the little conversation
+that ensued was of a general nature, neither of them,
+however, cared much to contribute to it, so that the
+doctor found and pronounced them for that evening anything
+but entertaining companions. He, however, consoled himself
+with copious potations from the punch-bowl, and filled
+the room with dense clouds of smoke, that were in
+themselves, sufficient to produce the drowsiness that
+Ronayne pleaded in excuse of his taciturnity.
+
+After his second glass, Elmsley, reminding the ensign
+that he expected him as well as the punch-brewer to
+breakfast with him in the morning at eight o'clock
+precisely, took his departure for the guard room, for
+the night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+It was about seven o'clock on the morning succeeding the
+occurrences detailed in the preceding chapters, that
+Lieutenant Elmsley waited on the commanding officer, to
+relate that the fishing boat was at length in sight.
+These tidings were communicated as Captain Headley was
+preparing to sit down to breakfast--a refreshment, to
+which the fatigue of mind and body he had undergone during
+the night had not a little disposed him. True, however,
+to his character, he stayed not for the meal, but instantly
+arose, and taking his telescope accompanied the subaltern
+to the flagstaff battery, whence the best view of the
+river was commanded.
+
+"Any thing to report, Mr. Elmsley; but I presume not, or
+it scarcely would have been necessary for me to ask the
+question?"
+
+"Nothing, sir, of any consequence," replied the lieutenant
+after a moment's hesitation, "beyond a slight altercation
+that took place between a drunken Pottawattamie and the
+sergeant of the guard--but it was of a nature too.
+trivial to disturb you about."
+
+"What was it, Mr. Elmsley?" inquired his superior, abruptly
+turning to him.
+
+"The Indian who had probably been lying dead drunk during
+the day within the Fort, and had evidently just awakened
+from his sleep, was anxious to go to his encampment, but
+the sergeant, strictly obeying the order he had received
+from me, refused to open the gate, which seemed to annoy
+the Indian very much. At that moment I came up. I knew
+well of course that the order was not meant to extend
+rigidly to our Indian friends, the great mass of whom
+might be offended by the detention of one of their number,
+and I desired the sergeant to pass him through. Was I
+right, sir?"
+
+"Perfectly, Mr. Elmsley; we must not offend those of the
+Indian tribes that are disposed to be friendly toward
+us, for no one knows how soon we may require their aid.
+The official advices I have received not only from Detroit
+but from Washington are of a nature to induce apprehension
+of hostilities between Great Britain and the United
+States; therefore, it would, as you justly observe, and
+just now particularly, be extremely bad policy to offend
+those whom it is so much our interest to conciliate.
+Still you ought to have reported the circumstance to me,
+and not acted on your own responsibility."
+
+Lieutenant Elmsley bit his lip, and could scarcely control
+a movement of impatience. "I am glad, however, sir," he
+resumed after a pause, "that you find no fault with my
+conduct; I confess I had some little uneasiness on that
+score, for with you I felt that I had no right to assume
+the responsibility, but I knew that you had retired to
+your rooms, and I was unwilling to disturb you."
+
+"You ought to have known, Mr. Elmsley, that where duty
+is concerned I can never be disturbed. However, no matter.
+What you did was correctly done; only in future, fail
+not to make your report. The slightest unauthorized step
+might be a false one, and that, under all the circumstances,
+is to be avoided."
+
+Whatever the subaltern thought of the seeming self-
+sufficiency which had dictated the concluding part of
+the lecture of the commanding officer, he made no further
+observation, and both in silence pursued the remainder
+of their short route to the bastion.
+
+Many of the men, dressed and accoutred for the morning
+parade, which usually took place at about nine o'clock,
+were grouped around, and anxiously watching the approach
+of the boat, as of something they had despaired of ever
+again beholding. Captain Headley drew his telescope to
+the proper focus, and after looking through it a few
+minutes--remarked--
+
+"Thank Heaven, all is right--they are all there, although
+it is quite unaccountable to me how they could have been
+detained until this morning. And, oh! it seems they have
+taken a heavy draught of fish, for, although I cannot
+see the bottom of the boat, their feet are raised as if
+to prevent crushing or injuring something beneath them.
+But hold! there is something wrong, too. I do not see
+the usual number of muskets piled in the stern. How can
+this be, Mr. Elmsley?"
+
+"Perhaps there is not the same number of men," suggested
+the lieutenant--"some of them, for causes connected with
+their detention, may be coming by land."
+
+"Not at all. There are seven men. I think seven men
+compose the fishing party; do they not?"
+
+"Six men, besides the non-commissioned officer; yes, sir."
+
+"I can make out Corporal Nixon, for he is steering and
+facing me, but for the others, I do not know them well
+enough to distinguish. Here, Mr. Elmsley, take the glass,
+and try what you can make of them."
+
+The lieutenant gazed through the glass a moment, and then
+pronounced name after name, as the men severally came
+under the range of the lens. "Yes, sir, as you say,
+there is Corporal Nixon steering--then, with, their backs
+to us, and pulling, are first, Collins, then Green, then
+Jackson, then Weston, then Cass, and then Philips. But
+what they have in the bottom of the boat, for I now can
+see that plain enough, is not fish, sir, but a human
+body, and a dog crouched at its side. Yes! it is indeed
+the Frenchman's dog--Loup Garou."
+
+"Well, I want to know!" exclaimed Ephraim Giles, who had
+ascended the bastion, and now stood amid the group of
+men, "I take it, that if that's Loup Garou, his master
+can't be far off. I never knowed them to be separate."
+
+"Yes, sir, that is certainly a dead body," pursued the
+lieutenant--"somebody killed at the farm, no doubt. Have
+you any orders for the direction of the party, when they
+land, sir?" he inquired, as he handed back the glass to
+the captain.
+
+"Just desire the drum to beat to parade," was the answer.
+"It wants only a few minutes of guard-mounting, and by
+the time the men have fallen in, and the roll is called,
+the boat will be here. Where is Mr. Ronayne?"
+
+"I have not seen him this morning, sir, but believe that
+he is in his own rooms. He, however, knows the hour, and
+doubtless will be here presently."
+
+"When the men have fallen in, come and report to me,"
+said the captain, as he descended from the bastion, and
+proceeded to his own quarters, to eat his untasted
+breakfast.
+
+The lieutenant touched his cap in assent, and then, having
+despatched a man with orders to the temporary drum-major,
+crossed over to the apartments of the ensign, anxious
+not only to excuse himself for not being able to receive
+his friend to his own breakfast, at the hour he had named,
+but to prepare him for the reception of the body of Mr.
+Heywood, which he doubted not, was that now on its way
+for interment at his own house.
+
+On entering the mess-room, in which they had taken their
+punch, the previous evening, everything bore evidence of
+a late debauch. Ashes and tobacco were liberally strewed
+upon the table, while around the empty bowl, were, in
+some disorder, pipes and glasses--one of each emptied of
+all but the ashes and sediment--the other two only
+half-smoked, half-full, and standing amid a pool of wet,
+which had evidently been spilt by a not very steady hand.
+The windows were closed, so that the smoke clung to what
+little furniture there was in the room, and the whole
+scent of the place was an abominable compound of stale
+tobacco and strong whisky.
+
+A loud snoring in the room on his right attracted his
+attention. He knew that it was Von Vottenberg's, and he
+entered to see what had kept him in bed until that late
+hour. The surgeon, only half-undressed, was fast asleep,
+not within, but on the outside of the bed-clothes. Somewhat
+disgusted at the sight, for Elmsley was comparatively
+abstemious, he shook him not very gently, when the doctor,
+opening his eyes with a start, half-rose upon his elbow.
+"Ha!" he exclaimed, "I know you mean to say that breakfast
+is waiting; I had forgotten all about it, old fellow."
+
+"I mean nothing of the kind," was the reply, "but I
+recommend you to lose no time in dressing and turning
+out. The men are already on parade, and if Captain Headley,
+finding that you are absent, tends over here to inquire
+the cause, I would not give much for your future chances
+of swallowing whisky-punch within the walls of Chicago."
+
+"Eh? what! what!" spluttered the surgeon, as he jumped
+up, drew on his boots, dipped his face in a basin of
+water, and hastily completed his toilet. In less than
+five minutes he was on parade.
+
+Meanwhile, Lieutenant Elmsley, after giving this warning,
+had passed again through the mess-room, and knocked at
+Ronayne's door. But there was no answer.
+
+"Hilloa, Ronayne," he called loudly, as he turned the
+handle of the latch, "are YOU in bed too?"
+
+But no Ronayne was there. He looked at the bed--like the
+doctor's, it had been laid upon, but no one had been
+within the clothes.
+
+What was the meaning of this? After a few moments of
+delay, he flew back to Von Vottenberg's room, but the
+latter was already gone. Retracing his steps, he met
+Ronayne's servant entering at the mess-room door.
+
+"Where is your master?" he inquired. "How is it that he
+is not in his room--has not been in bed?"
+
+"Not been in bed?" repeated the lad, with surprise. "Why,
+sir, he told me last night that he was very drowsy and
+should lie late; and, that he mightn't be disturbed, he
+desired me to sleep in one of the block-houses. I was
+only to wake him in time for guard-mounting, and as it
+wants but ten minutes to that, I am just come to call him."
+
+"Clean out the mess-room directly--open the windows, and
+pat every thing in order," said the lieutenant, fearing
+that Captain Headley might, on hearing of the absence of
+the young officer, pay his quarters a visit in search of
+some clue to the cause. "I see it all," he mused, as he
+moved across the parade-ground. "He would not, generous
+fellow, get me into a scrape, by making me privy to his
+design, and to avoid the difficulty of the gate, has got
+over the pickets somewhere--yet, if so, he must have had
+a rope, and assistance of some kind, for he never could
+have crossed them without. Yet, where can he be gone,
+and what could he have expected to result from his mad
+scheme? Had he waited until now, he would have known by
+the arrival of the fishing-party with their sad charge,
+how utterly useless was all this risk."
+
+"Well, Mr. Elmsley," said the captain, who now appeared
+at the front of his own door, fully dressed for parade,
+and preparing to issue forth in all the stateliness of
+command.
+
+"The parade is formed, sir," remarked the lieutenant,
+confusedly, "but I cannot find the officer of the guard."
+
+"Sir!" exclaimed Captain Headley.
+
+"I cannot find Mr. Ronayne, sir--I have myself been over
+to his quarters, and looked into his bed-room, but it is
+clear that he has not been in bed all night."
+
+"What is the meaning of all this? Send Doctor Von Vottenberg
+here immediately."
+
+And lucky was it for that gentleman that the officer who
+now desired his attendance on the commandant had roused
+him from that Lethean slumber in which he had been, only
+a few minutes before, so luxuriously indulging.
+
+"Doctor Von Vottenberg," commenced the captain, as soon
+as that official made his appearance before him; "you
+are quartered with Mr. Ronayne. Have you seen any thing
+of him last night or this morning--no evasion, nay,"
+seeing that the doctor's brow began to be overclouded,
+"I mean no attempt to shield the young man by a suppression
+of the truth."
+
+"I certainly saw him last night, Captain Headley, but
+not at a very late hour. We took a glass or two of punch,
+and smoked a couple of pipes together, but we both went
+to bed early, and for my part, I know that I slept so
+soundly as to have heard nothing--seen nothing, until I
+got up this morning."
+
+The doctor spoke truly as to the time of their retirement
+to rest, for the ensign had left him early in the night,
+while he had found his way to his own bed, early in the
+morning.
+
+"The boat is nearing the landing-place, sir," reported
+the sergeant of the guard, who now came up, and more
+immediately addressed Lieutenant Elmsley.
+
+This information, for the moment, banished the subject
+under discussion. "Let the men pile their arms," ordered
+Captain Headley; "and when this is done, Mr. Elmsley,
+follow me to the landing-place."
+
+In a few minutes both officers were there. The boat was
+within fifty yards, when the subaltern joined his captain;
+and the oarsmen, evidently desirous of doing their best
+in the presence of the commanding officer, were polling
+silently and with a vigor that soon brought it to its
+accustomed berth.
+
+"What body is that, Corporal Nixon?" inquired the latter,
+"and how is it that you are only here this morning?"
+
+"Sir," answered the corporal, removing one of his hands
+from the steer-oar, and respectfully touching his cap,
+"it's poor Le Noir, the Frenchman, killed by the Injins
+yesterday, and as for our absence, it couldn't be helped,
+sir; but it's a long report I have to make, and perhaps,
+captain, you would like to hear it more at leisure than
+I can tell it here."
+
+By this time the men had landed from the boat, leaving
+the Canadian to be disposed of afterwards as the commanding
+officer might direct. The quick eye of the latter
+immediately detected the slight limping of Green, whose
+wound had become stiff from neglect, cold, and the cramped
+position in which he had been sitting in the boat.
+
+"What is the matter with this man?" he inquired of the
+corporal. "What makes him walk so stiffly?"
+
+"Nothing much the matter, captain," was the indifferent
+reply. "It's only a ball he got in his leg in the scrimmage
+last night."
+
+"Ha! the first gun-shot wound that has come under my
+treatment during the three long years I have been stationed
+here. Quick, my fine fellow, take yourself to the hospital,
+and tell the orderly to prepare my instruments for
+probing."
+
+"Scrimmage last night; what do you mean, Corporal
+Nixon--whom had you the scrimmage with?"
+
+These remarks fell at the same moment from the lips of
+the commander and those of the surgeon, the latter rubbing
+his hands with delightful anticipation of the treat in
+store for him.
+
+"With the Indians, captain," replied Nixon; "the Indians
+that attacked Mr. Heywood's farm."
+
+"Captain Headley," interrupted the lieutenant, with
+unusual deference of manner, for he was anxious that no
+further reference should be made to the subject in presence
+of the invalids and women, who, attracted by the news of
+the arrival of the boat, had gathered around, partly from
+curiosity, partly for the purpose of getting their expected
+supply of fish, "do you not think it better to examine
+Corporal Nixon first, and then the others in turn?"
+
+"Very true, Mr. Elmsley, I will examine them separately
+in the orderly-room to see how far their statements
+agree; yet one question you can answer here, corporal.
+You say that it is the body of Le Noir, killed by the
+Indians. Where is Mr. Heywood, then?"
+
+The generous Elmsley felt faint, absolutely sick at heart
+on hearing this question; the very object be had in view
+in proposing this private examination was thereby threatened
+with discomfiture.
+
+"Mr. Heywood has been carried off by the Indians," calmly
+replied the corporal, yet perceptibly paling as he spoke.
+
+"Indeed! this is unfortunate. Let the men go to their
+barracks, and there remain until I send for them," ordered
+the commandant. "You, corporal, will come to me at the
+orderly-room, in half an hour from this. That will be
+sufficient time for you to clean yourself, and take your
+breakfast. None of your party, I presume, have had their
+breakfast yet?"
+
+"No, your honor," answered Green, who seemed to fancy
+that his wound gave him the privilege of a little license
+in the presence of his chief, "not unless an old turkey,
+the grandfather of fifty broods, and as tough as shoe-
+leather, can be called a breakfast."
+
+Captain Headley looked at the speaker sternly, but took
+no other notice of what he, evidently, deemed a very
+great liberty, than to demand how he presumed to disobey
+the order of the surgeon. Then desiring him to proceed
+forthwith to the hospital and have his leg dressed, he
+himself withdrew after postponing the parade to one
+o'clock.
+
+"And are you sure, Nixon, that Mr. Heywood has been
+carried off by the Indians," asked Lieutenant Elmsley,
+the revulsion of whose feelings on hearing the corporal's
+answer to the question put by Captain Headley had been
+in striking contrast with what he had experienced only
+a moment before; "are you quite sure of this?"
+
+The interrogatory was put, immediately after the commanding
+officer had retired, doubtingly, in a low tone, and apart
+from the rest of the men.
+
+"I saw them carry him off myself, sir," again deliberately
+said the corporal. "The whole of the party saw it too."
+
+"Enough, enough," pursued the lieutenant, in a friendly
+tone. "I believe you, Nixon. But another question. Were
+you joined last night by any one of the regiment? recollect
+yourself."
+
+The corporal declaring that nothing in the shape of an
+American uniform had come under his notice, since he
+departed from the Fort the preceding evening, the officer
+next turned his attention to the boat.
+
+"What are you fumbling about there, Collins?" he asked,
+rather sharply--"Why do you not go and join your mess?"
+This was said as the rest of the party were now in the
+act of moving off with their muskets and fishing apparatus.
+
+"Poor fellow!" interposed the corporal, "he is not himself
+to-day; but I am sure, Mr. Elmsley, you will not be hard
+upon him, when I tell you that, but for him, there wouldn't
+be a man of us here of the whole party."
+
+"Indeed!" exclaimed the lieutenant, not a little surprised
+at the information; "but we shall hear all about that
+presently; yet what is he fidgetting about at the bottom
+of the bow of the boat?"
+
+"There's another body there, sir, besides Le Noir's. It's
+that of the poor boy at Heywood's--an Indian scalped him
+and left him for dead. Collins, who put a bullet into
+the same fellow, not an hour afterwards, found the boy
+by accident, while retreating from the place where we
+had the first scrimmage with the red devils. He was still
+breathing, and he took every pains to recover him, but
+the cold night air was too much for him, and he died in
+the poor fellow's arms."
+
+"Well, this is a strange night's adventure, or rather
+series of adventures," remarked the lieutenant half aside
+to himself. "Then, I suppose," he resumed, more immediately
+addressing the corporal, "he has brought the body of the
+boy to have him interred with Le Noir?"
+
+"Just so, sir, for he mourns him as if he had been his
+own child," answered Nixon, as the officer departed--
+"here, Loup Garou, Loup Garou," and he whistled to the
+dog. "Come along, old fellow, and get some breakfast."
+
+But Loup Garou would not stir at the call of his new
+master. Sorrow was the only feast in which he seemed
+inclined to indulge, and he continued to crouch near the
+body of the Canadian as impassible and motionless as if
+he was no longer of earth himself.
+
+"Come along, Collins," gently urged the Virginian,
+approaching the boat, where the former was still feeling
+the bosom of the dead boy in the vain hope of finding
+that life was not yet extinct. "It's no use thinking
+about it; you have done your duty as a soldier, and as
+a good man, but you see he is gone, and there is no help
+for it. By and by, we will bury them both together; but
+come along now. The dog will let nobody near them."
+
+"Dash me, corporal, if I ever felt so queer in my life!"
+answered Collins, in a melancholy tone, strongly in
+contrast with his habitual brusque gaiety; "but, as you
+say, it's no use. The poor lad is dead enough at last,
+and my only comfort now is to bury him, and sometimes
+look at his grave."
+
+The half-hour given by Captain Headley to the men to
+clean themselves and eat their breakfasts, afforded his
+subaltern ample time to take his own, which had all this
+time been waiting. When he readied his rooms he found
+that he had another ordeal to go through. Mrs. Elmsley
+was already at the bead of the table, and pouring out
+the coffee, with Miss Heywood seated on her left--the
+latter very pale, and having evidently passed a sleepless
+night. As the officer entered the room, a slight flush
+overspread her features, for she looked as if she expected
+him to be accompanied by another, but when he hastily
+unbuckled his sword, and placed it, with his cap, on a
+side-table, desiring his wife to lose no time in pouring
+out the coffee, as he must be off again immediately, she
+felt, she knew not wherefore, very sick at heart, and
+became even paler than before. Nor was she at all re-assured
+by the tone of commiseration in which, after drawing a
+chair to her side, and affectionately pressing her hand,
+he inquired after her own and her mother's health.
+
+"Why, George," said Mrs. Elmsley, who remarked this change
+in her friend, and in some degree divined the cause,
+"where are Mr. Ronayne and the doctor? You told me last
+night they were to breakfast here--and see, one, two,
+three, four, five cups (pointing at each with her finger),
+I have prepared accordingly. Indeed, I scarcely think
+this young lady would have made her appearance at the
+breakfast-table, had she not expected to meet--who was
+it, my dear? and she turned an arch look upon her friend
+--"ah! I know now--Von Vottenberg."
+
+"Nay, I have no more need of disguise from your husband
+than from yourself, Margaret," replied Miss Heywood, her
+coloring cheek in a measure contradicting her words--"it
+was Harry Ronayne I expected; but," she added, with a
+faint smile, "do not imagine I am quite so romantic as
+not to be able to take my breakfast, because he is not
+present to share it; therefore if you please, I also will
+trouble you for a cup of coffee."
+
+"All in good time," remarked Mrs. Elmsley. "I dare say,
+Ronayne is engaged in some duty which has prevented him
+from keeping his engagement as punctually as he could
+have desired. We shall certainly see him before the
+breakfast things are removed."
+
+"It seems to me," said her husband, who was taking his
+meal with the appetite of any other than a hungry man,
+and even with a shade of vexation on his features, "that
+you all appear to be very much in the dark here. Why,
+Margaret, have you not heard what has occurred during
+the night, as well as this morning?"
+
+"How should I have heard any thing, George?" replied Mrs.
+Elmsley. "I have seen no one since you went out this
+morning--who could have communicated news from without?
+Surely you ought to know that. Will you have more coffee?"
+
+"No, thank you--I have no appetite for coffee or for any
+thing else. I almost wish I had not come. Dear Maria,"
+he added, impetuously, taking Miss Heywood's hand in his
+own; "I know you have a noble--a courageous heart, and
+can bear philosophically what I have to tell you."
+
+"I can bear much," was the reply, accompanied by a forced
+smile, that was contradicted by the quivering of the
+compressed lip; "and if I could not, I find I must begin
+to learn. Yet what can you have to tell me, my dear Mr.
+Elmsley, more than I already divine--my poor father--"
+and the tears started from her eyes.
+
+"Ha! there at least, I have comfort for you--although
+there has been sad work at the farm--the fishing-party
+have come in with the bodies of poor Le Noir and the boy
+Wilton, but they all say that Mr. Heywood was carried
+off a prisoner by the Indians."
+
+"Carried off a prisoner," repeated Miss Heywood, a sudden
+glow animating her pale features--"oh! Elmsley, thank you
+for that. There is still a hope then?"
+
+"There is indeed a hope; but, dearest Miss Heywood, why
+must I heal with one hand and wound with the other. If
+I give comparative good news of your father, there is
+another who ought to be here, and whose absence at this
+moment is to me at once a pain and a mystery."
+
+"You mean Harry Ronayne?" she said, hesitatingly, but
+without manifesting surprise.
+
+"Where the foolish fellow has gone," he continued, "I do
+not know, but he has disappeared from the Fort, nor has
+he left the slightest clue by which he may be traced."
+
+"Does Captain Headley know this?" she inquired,
+recollecting, that part of the conversation that had
+passed between them the preceding day, in reference to
+the succor that might have been afforded at the farm.
+
+"He does. I made the report of Ronayne's absence to him
+personally, and the doctor was summoned to state if he
+had seen any thing of him. He, however, was as ignorant
+as a man, who had been drunk during the night, and was
+not yet quite sober in the morning, could well be. The
+captain was as much surprised as displeased, but further
+inquiry was delayed on the sergeant of the guard coming
+up and announcing the near approach of the boat containing
+the fishing-party."
+
+"Tell me, dear Mr. Elmsley," said Miss Heywood, after a
+few moments of seeming reflection; "what is your own
+opinion of the matter? How do you account--or have you
+at all endeavored to account for Ronayne's absence?"
+
+"I can easily understand the cause," he replied, "but
+confound me if I can attempt to divine the means he took
+to accomplish his object."
+
+He then proceeded to relate the circumstances of his
+proposal to Captain Headley--the abrupt refusal he had
+met with--his subsequent application to himself to pass
+him out of the gate, and the final abandonment of his
+request when he found that his acquiescence would seriously
+compromise him, as officer of the guard.
+
+"Noble Harry!" thought Miss Heywood--"your confusion,
+your vexation of yesterday, arose from not being able to
+follow your own generous impulses: but now I fully
+understand the resolve you secretly made--and all for my
+sake. Do not think me very romantic," she said aloud to
+Mr. Elmsley, "but really, Margaret, I cannot despair
+that all will yet, and speedily, be well. The only fear
+I entertain is that the strict Captain Headley may rebuke
+him in terms that will call up all the fire of his nature,
+and induce a retort that may prove a source of serious
+misunderstanding--unless, indeed, the greatness of the
+service rendered, plead his justification."
+
+"Now that we are on the subject, dear Miss Heywood,"
+remarked Elmsley, "let me once for all disabuse you of
+an impression which I fear you entertain--or is it so?
+Do you think that Ronayne has had an opportunity of
+joining the party at the farm?"
+
+"Certainly, I do," she answered, gravely, "or why should
+he have gone forth? Pray do not rob me of what little
+comfort, in expectation, I have left."
+
+"That he went forth madly and single-handed for the
+purpose, I can believe--nay, I am sure of it; but I grieve
+to add that he has not been seen there."
+
+"This, indeed, is strange," she returned in faltering
+tones, and with ill-disguised emotion, for, hitherto she
+had been sustained by the belief that he was merely
+lingering behind the party, in order to satisfy himself
+of facts, the detail of which could not fail to be
+satisfactory to her ear. "How know you this?"
+
+"I questioned Corporal Nixon, who commanded the party,
+and who apprised me of Mr. Heywood's having been carried
+off by the Indians, for I was deeply anxious, as you may
+presume, to know what had become of my friend--and this
+far less even for my own sake than for yours."
+
+"And his answer was?" and there was deep melancholy in
+the question.
+
+"That no American uniform had come under his notice during
+his absence from the Fort, save those of the party he
+commanded. These, as far as I can recollect, were his
+precise words."
+
+"Mr. Elmsley," said a sentry, who now appeared at the
+door of the breakfast-parlor, "Captain Headley waits for
+you in the orderly room."
+
+"Is Corporal Nixon there?" asked the lieutenant.
+
+"He is, sir."
+
+"Good, Dixon, I shall be there immediately."
+
+"God bless you," he continued, to Miss Heywood, when the
+man had departed. "We shall, perhaps, elicit from him,
+something that will throw light upon the obscure part of
+this matter. Margaret, do not leave the dear girl alone,
+but cheer up her spirits, and make her hope for the best."
+
+So saying, he shook her hand affectionately, pushed back
+his chair from the table, and resuming his cap and sword,
+left the friends together, promising to return as soon
+as the examination of the man should be concluded.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+Mr. Heywood's history may be told in a few words. He was
+the son of an officer who had served in one of the American
+partizan corps, during the Revolution, and had been killed
+at the attack made by General Green upon the stronghold
+of Ninety-Six, in the South. At that time he was a mere
+youth, and found himself a few years after, and at the
+age of eighteen, without fortune, and wholly dependent
+upon his own resources. The war being soon ended, his
+naturally enterprising disposition, added to great
+physical strength, induced him to unite himself with one
+of the many bands of adventurers that poured into the
+then, wilds of Kentucky, where, within five years, and
+by dint of mere exertion and industry, he amassed money
+enough to enable him to repair to Charleston, in South
+Carolina, and espouse a lady of considerable landed
+property, with whom he had formed a partial engagement,
+prior to his entering on that adventurous life. The only
+fruit of this union was a daughter, and here, as far as
+fortune was concerned, they might have enjoyed every
+comfort in life, for Mrs. Heywood's property was
+principally situated in the neighborhood, but her husband
+was of too restless a nature to content himself with a
+sedentary life. He had at the outset embarked in commerce
+--the experience of a few years, however, convincing him
+that he was quite unsuited to such pursuits, he had the
+good sense to abandon them before his affairs could be
+involved. He next attempted the cultivation of the estate,
+but this failing to afford him the excitement he craved,
+he suddenly took leave of his family, and placing every
+thing under the control of a manager, once more obeyed
+the strong impulse, which urged him again to Kentucky.
+Here, following as a passion the occupation of his earlier
+years, he passed several seasons, scarcely communicating
+during that period, with his amiable and gentle wife,
+for whom, however, as well as for his daughter--now
+fifteen years of age, and growing rapidly into womanhood
+--he was by no means wanting in affection. Nor was his
+return home THEN purely a matter of choice. Although
+neither quarrelsome nor dissipated in his habits, he had
+had the misfortune to kill, in a duel, a young lawyer of
+good family who had accompanied him to Kentucky, and had
+consequently fled. Great exertions were made by the
+relatives of the deceased to have him arrested on the
+plea that the duel, the result of a tavern dispute, had
+been unfair on the part of the survivor. As there was
+some slight ground for this charge, the fact of Mr.
+Heywood's flight afforded increased presumption of his
+guilt, and such was the publicity given to the matter by
+his enemies, that the rumor soon reached Charleston, and
+finally, the ears of his family.
+
+Revealing, in this extremity, his true position to his
+wife, Mr. Heywood declared it to be his intention either
+to cross the sea, or to bury himself forever in the
+remotest civilized portion of their own continent, leaving
+her however, to the undisturbed possession of the property
+she had brought him, which would of course descend to
+their child.
+
+But Mrs. Heywood would not listen to the proposal. Although
+she had much to complain of, and to pain her, all
+recollection of the past faded from her memory, when she
+beheld her husband in a position of danger, and even in
+some degree of humiliation, for she was not ignorant that
+even in the eyes of people not over scrupulous, ineffaceable
+infamy attaches to the man, who, in a duel, aims with
+unfair deliberation at the life of his opponent; and
+anxious to satisfy herself that such a stain rested not
+on the father of her child, she conjured him to tell her
+if such really was the case. He solemnly denied the fact,
+although he admitted there were certain appearances
+against him, which, slight as they were, his enemies had
+sought to deepen into proofs--and in the difficulty of
+disproving these lay his chief embarrassment.
+
+The tone--the manner--the whole demeanor of Mr. Heywood
+carried conviction with his denial, and his wife at once
+expressed her determination to renounce for his sake,
+all those local ties and associations by which she had
+been surrounded from childhood, and follow his fortunes,
+whithersoever they might lead. This, she persisted, she
+was the more ready and willing to do, because her daughter's
+education having been some months completed, under the
+best masters, there was now no anxiety on her account,
+other than what might arise from her own sense of the
+contemplated change.
+
+Maria Heywood was accordingly summoned to the consultation
+--made acquainted with her father's position, and the
+necessity for his instant departure from that section of
+the country--and finally told that with her it rested to
+decide, not only whether he should go alone, but if they
+accompanied him, whether it should be to Europe, or to
+the Far West.
+
+"Rest with me to decide!" exclaimed the warm-hearted girl
+as she threw herself into her mother's arms. "Oh, how
+good of you both thus to consult me, whose duty it is to
+obey. But do not think that it is any privation for me
+to leave this. I cannot claim the poor merit of the
+sacrifice. I have no enjoyment in cities. Give me the
+solitude of nature, books, and music, and I will live in
+a wigwam without regret."
+
+"Dear enthusiast," said Mrs. Heywood, pressing her fondly
+to her heart; "I knew well in what spirit would be your
+answer. You decide then for the Far West?"
+
+"Oh, yes, dear mamma! the Far West for me--no Europe.
+Give me the tall, dense forests of our own noble land!
+I desire no other home--long have I pictured to myself
+the vast lakes--the trackless woods and the boundless
+prairies of that region of which I have read so much,
+and now," she concluded, with exaltation, "my fondest
+wishes will be realized, and I shall pass my life in the
+midst of them. But, dear papa, to what particular spot
+do we go?"
+
+"To Chicago, my noble girl! It is the remotest of our
+Western possessions, and quite a new country. There I
+may hope to pass unheeded, but how will you, dear Maria,
+endure being buried alive there, when so many advantages
+await you here?"
+
+"Only figuratively, papa," she replied with a pensive
+smile stealing over her fine intellectual features. "Have
+no fear for me on that score, for depend upon it, with
+so much natural beauty to interest, it will be my own
+fault, if I suffer myself to be buried alive. What think
+you, dear mamma?"
+
+"I think with you, my child," replied Mrs. Heywood,
+looking approvingly at her daughter, "that it is our
+duty, as it assuredly will be our pleasure to accompany
+your father wherever he may go."
+
+It was now arranged that Mr. Heywood, furnished with a
+considerable sum of money in gold, should set out alone
+on the following night for their new destination, and
+make the necessary preparations for their reception,
+while his wife, through her agent, should endeavor to
+dispose of the estate. As it would require some time
+for this, and as the arrangements at Chicago could not
+well be completed within several months, it was settled
+that they should meet at Albany, early in the following
+autumn, where they should proceed to take possession of
+their new abode. For his better security and freedom from
+interruption, Mr. Heywood, while travelling, was to assume
+a feigned name, but his own was to be resumed immediately
+after his arrival at Chicago, for neither he nor his
+family could for a moment think of increasing the suspicion
+of guilt, by continuing a name that was not their own;
+and, finally, as a last measure of precaution, the free
+servants of the establishment, had, with the exception
+of Catharine, whom they were to take with them, been
+discharged, while a purchaser having fortunately been
+found, the slaves, with the estate, were handed over to
+a new master, proverbial for his kindness to that usually
+oppressed race. By these means they found themselves
+provided with funds more than adequate to all their future
+wants, the great bulk of the sum arising from the sale
+of the estate being vested in two of the most stable
+banks of the Union.
+
+With the money he took with him, carefully deposited in
+his saddlebags, for he performed the whole of the journey
+on horseback, Mr. Heywood had caused the cottage already
+described, to be built and furnished from Detroit, in
+what, at that period, and so completely at the ultima
+thule of American civilization, was considered a style
+of great luxury. He had, however, shortly prior to his
+setting out for Albany, purchased several hundred acres
+of land, about two miles up the Southern branch of the
+Chicago, leaving instructions with Le Noir, whom he had
+engaged for a long term of service, to erect upon it a
+log building and outhouses. This he had been induced to
+do from that aching desire for physical exertion which
+had been familiar to him from boyhood, and which he felt
+could never be sufficiently indulged within the limited
+compass of the little village itself--subjected as he
+must be to the observation of the curious and the
+impertinent. He returned from Albany after a few months'
+absence, in the autumn of 1809, bringing with him his
+friends who occupied the cottage, while he himself obtained
+their assent that he should inhabit the farm house,
+completed soon after his return. Here he cut with his
+own hands, many a cord of the wood that his servants
+floated down in rafts, not only for his own family, but
+to supply the far more extensive wants of the garrison,
+with which, however, he had little or no intercourse,
+beyond that resulting from his business relations.
+
+Such was the condition of things at the period at which
+our narrative has opened. Maria Heywood had now been
+three years an occupant of the cottage, and within that
+time solitude and habits of reflection had greatly matured
+her mind, as years had given every womanly grace to her
+person. The past had also tended much to form her
+character, upon which the development of physical beauty
+so often depends. At her first debut into society at
+Charleston, in her fourteenth year--an age that would
+have been considered premature, but for the rapidity with
+which form and intellect are known to ripen in that
+precocious climate--she had received, but listened with
+indifference to the vapid compliments of men whose
+shallowness she was not slow to detect, and whose homage
+conveyed rather a fulsome tribute to her mere personal
+beauty, than a correct appreciation of her heart and
+understanding. Not that it is to be inferred that she
+prided herself unduly upon this latter, but because it
+was by that standard of conduct chiefly, that she was
+enabled to judge of the minds of those who evinced so
+imperfect a knowledge of the female heart, when, emerging
+from the gaiety of girlhood, it passes into the earnestness
+of womanly feeling.
+
+But although cold--almost repellant to all who had poured
+their ephemeral and seldom varying homage in her ear--no
+woman's heart ever beat with more kind--more generous--more
+devoted sentiments, than her own. Possessed of a vivid
+imagination, which the general quietude of her demeanor
+in a great degree disowned, she had already sketched
+within her glowing mind her own beau ideal, whose image
+was a talisman to deaden her heart against the influence
+of these soulless realities.
+
+With such sentiments as these had Maria Heywood cheerfully
+consented to accompany her parents to that secluded spot,
+from which there was little probability of a speedy
+return; but solitude, so far from weakening the strong
+impressions that had entwined themselves around her heart,
+from the moment of her emancipation from childhood, only
+served to invest them with new power. The more her feelings
+repined--the more expanded her intellect--the stronger
+became the sense of absence of one who could enter into,
+and in some degree, give a direction to all her thoughts
+and emotions--sharing with her the rich fruit that
+springs from the consciousness of kindred associations
+of mind. But this was the secret of her own heart--of
+the heart of one whose personal attractions were well
+suited to the rich and overflowing character of her soul,
+and who had now attained that age which gives eloquent
+expression to every movement of the ripely moulded form.
+
+Above the middle size, the figure of Maria Heywood was
+at once gracefully and nobly formed. Her face, of a
+chiselled oval, was of a delicate olive tint, which well
+harmonized with eyes of a lustrous hazel, and hair of
+glossy raven black. A small mouth, bordered by lips of
+coral fulness, disclosed, when she smiled, teeth white
+and even; while a forehead, high for her sex, combined
+with a nose, somewhat more aquiline than Grecian, to give
+dignity to a countenance that might, otherwise, have
+exhibited a character of voluptuous beauty. Yet, although
+her features, when lighted up by vivacity or emotion,
+were radiant with intelligence; their expression when in
+repose was of a pensive cast, that, contrasted with her
+general appearance, gave to it a charm, addressed at once
+to sense and sentiment, of which it is impossible, by
+description, to give an adequate idea. A dimpled cheek,
+an arm, hand and foot, that might have served the statuary
+as a model, completed a person which, without exaggeration,
+might be deemed almost, if not wholly faultless.
+
+The habits of Mr. Heywood were of that peculiar nature
+--his desire of isolation from every thing that could be
+called society was so obvious, that for the first year
+of the residence of the family at Chicago, scarcely any
+intercourse had been maintained between the inmates of
+the cottage and the officers' wives; and it was only on
+the occasion of the commanding officer giving a party,
+to celebrate the anniversary of American Independence on
+the following year, that the first approach to an
+acquaintance had been made. It had been deemed by him a
+matter of duty to invite all of the few American families
+that were settled in the neighborhood, and of course the
+Heywoods were of the number. On the same principle of
+conventionalism the invitation was accepted, and not
+slight was the surprise of the ladies of the garrison,
+when they found in the secluded occupants of the cottage,
+to whom they had assigned a doubtful position in society,
+those to whom no effort of their own prejudice could
+refuse that correct estimate, which quiet dignity without
+ostentation, is ever certain to command.
+
+At the announcement of the names of Mrs. and Miss Heywood,
+the somewhat stately Mrs. Headley was disposed to receive
+with hauteur the inmates of the cottage, but no sooner
+had Maria Heywood, accompanied by her gentle mother,
+entered the apartment with the easy and composed air of
+one to whom the drawing-room is familiar, than all her
+prejudices vanished, and with a heart warming towards
+her, as though she, had been the cherished sister of her
+love, she arose, pressed her hand affectionately and
+welcomed her to the Fort with the sincerity of a generous
+and elevated nature, anxious to repair its own wrong.
+
+From that period, both by the wife of the commandant,
+and by Mrs. Elmsley--the only two ladies in the garrison,
+Maria Heywood was as much liked and courted, as she had
+previously been disregarded. To deny that the noble girl
+did in some measure exult in this change, would be to do
+wrong to the commendable pride of a woman, who feels that
+the unjust prejudice which had cast a false shadow over
+her recent life, has at last been removed, and that the
+value, of which she was modestly conscious, began to be
+appreciated.
+
+It was at this party that her acquaintance with the young
+Southerner had commenced, and it is needless to trace
+the gradual rise of an attachment which similarity of
+tastes had engendered. Naturally of an ardent disposition,
+the youth had, as we have remarked on a previous occasion,
+hitherto loved to indulge in the excitement of the wild
+sports of the forest and the prairie, as the only present
+means of giving freedom to that spirit of enterprise, so
+usually wedded to the generous and unoccupied mind; but,
+from the period of his acquaintance with Maria Heywood,
+a total change had come over his manner of life. The
+hunt--the chase--and the cup that so often succeeded,
+were now almost wholly abandoned, and his only delight
+NOW in excursions was to ride with her across the prairie,
+or to pull her in his light skiff either along the shores
+of the Michigan, or through the various branches of the
+river, contemplating the beautiful Heavens by moonlight,
+and indulging in speculations, which were not more the
+fruit of romantic temperament, than of the intensity of
+Love. He had, moreover, four dogs trained to draw her in
+a light sledge of his own device and construction, in
+winter. In these rambles she was usually accompanied
+either by Mrs. Headley, or by the wife of his friend and
+brother subaltern, and after the invigorating exercise
+of the day, his evenings, whenever he could absent himself
+from the Fort, were devoted within the cottage to books,
+magic, and the far more endearing interchange of the
+resources of their gifted minds. In summer there were
+other employments of a domestic character, for in addition
+to their rides, walks, and excursions on the water, both
+found ample scope for the indulgence of their partiality
+for flowers, in the taste for practical horticulture
+possessed by Ronayne, under whose care had grown the
+luxuriant beauty which every where pervaded the little
+garden, and made it to the grateful girl a paradise in
+miniature.
+
+Thus had passed nearly two years, and insensibly, without
+a word of love having been breathed, each felt all the
+security which a consciousness of being beloved alone
+could yield, and that assurance imparted to their manner
+and address when alone a confiding air, the more
+endearing from the silence of their lips. But although
+no word uttered by themselves proclaimed the existence
+of the secret and holy compact, not only were they fully
+sensible of it themselves, but it was obvious to all
+--even to the least observant of the garrison, and many
+were there, both among the soldiers and their wives--by
+all of whom the young ensign was liked for his openness
+and manliness of character--who expressed a fervent hope
+that the beautiful and amiable Miss Heywood would soon
+become the bride of their favorite officer. This it was,
+which had led the men of the fishing-party to express in
+their way, their sorrow for the young lady, when she
+should hear of the events at the farm-house, even while
+passing their rude encomiums on the sweetness of
+disposition of her, whom they already regarded as the
+wife of their young officer.
+
+It was nearly noon, and Lieutenant Elmsley had not yet
+made his appearance with the promised report. Maria
+Heywood had, after passing an hour with her mother,
+returned to the breakfast-room, which it will be
+recollected opened immediately upon the barrack-square.
+Her friend being engaged with her domestic affairs, which
+every lady was at that period in a measure compelled to
+superintend, she had thrown herself (still in her morning
+dishabille) on a couch with a book in her hand, but with
+a mind wholly distracted from the subject of its pages.
+After continuing some time thus, a prey to nervous
+anxiety, as much the result of Elmsley's long absence as
+of her former fears, the sound of the fifes and drums
+fell startlingly, she knew not wherefore, upon her ear
+and drew her to the door. The men were falling in, and
+in the course of a few minutes the little line was formed
+a few yards to her left, with its flanks resting on
+either range of building, so that the mess-room door,
+then open, was distinctly visible in front. At the same
+moment, Captain Headley and the lieutenant, followed by
+Corporal Nixon and the other men of the fishing-party--
+Green only excepted--passed out of the orderly room on
+her right, moved across, and took up their position in
+front of the parade.
+
+"God bless me, Maria, what is that, or is it his ghost!"
+suddenly and unguardedly exclaimed Mrs. Elmsley, who
+had that moment joined her friend--placing her arm at
+the same time round her waist.
+
+"What do you mean, Mar--" but before Maria Heywood could
+complete her sentence, all power of speech was taken from
+her in the emotion with which she regarded what, after
+a momentary glance, met her view.
+
+It was her lover, fully equipped for parade, and walking
+towards the men with a calm and deliberate step, which
+seemed to evince total unconsciousness that any thing
+unusual had happened.
+
+"Here is a chair, my love--you really tremble as if the
+man was a ghost. Now then, we shall have a scene between
+him and our amiable commandant."
+
+"God forbid!" tremulously answered the almost bewildered
+girl; "I am the cause of all."
+
+"You! Stuff, Maria. What nonsense you talk, for a sensible
+girl. How should you be the cause? but, positively,
+Ronayne can never have been away from the Fort."
+
+"Do you think so, Margaret?"
+
+"I am sure of it. Only look at him. He is as spruce as
+if he had only just come out of a band-box. But hush,
+not a word. There, that's a dear. Lean your head against
+my shoulder. Don Bombastes speaks!"
+
+"No sign of Mr. Ronayne yet?" demanded Captain Headley,
+his back turned to the slowly advancing officer, whose
+proximity not one of the men seemed inclined to announce,
+possibly because they feared rebuke for insubordination.
+Mr. Elmsley, he pursued to that officer, who, acting on
+a significant half-glance from his friend, was silent
+also as to his approach. "Let a formal report of his
+absence without leave, be made to me immediately after
+the parade has been dismissed."
+
+"Nay, sir," said the ensign, in his ordinary voice and
+close in the ear of the speaker, "not as having been absent
+from duty, I trust. I am not aware that I have ever missed
+a guard or a parade yet, without your leave."
+
+At the first sound of his voice, the surprised commandant
+had turned quickly round, and there encountered the usual
+deferential salute of his subordinate.
+
+"But, Mr. Ronayne, what means this? Where, sir, have you
+been? and, if not absent, why thus late? Do you know that
+the men have already been paraded, and that when required
+for your guard, you were not to be found?"
+
+"The fatigues of the night, Captain Headley," returned
+the young officer, with some hesitation of manner; "the
+incessant watching--surely there--"
+
+"I knew he had not been out of the Fort. Courage, Maria!
+was audible to the men who were nearest to the speaker,
+from Elmsley's doorway.
+
+"I know what you would urge, Mr. Ronayne," remarked the
+captain; you would offer this in plea for your late
+appearance. I make all due allowance in the matter; but,
+let me tell you, sir, that an officer who thoroughly
+understands his duty, and consults the interests of the
+service, would make light of these matters, in cases of
+strong emergency."
+
+"Poor Ronayne!" sighed Maria, to her friend. "This is
+terrible to his proud spirit. In presence of the whole
+of the men, too!"
+
+"I told you, my dear, there would be a row, but never
+fear--Elmsley be there. See, he is looking significantly
+at us, as if to call our attention to what is passing."
+
+The lieutenant had been no less astonished than the
+captain, at the unexpected appearance of Ronayne--even
+more so, indeed--because he had observed, without, however,
+remarking on it, the cool and unhastened pace at which
+he moved along the square, from the direction of the
+mess-room. "Now it is coming," he thought, and half-
+murmured to himself, as he saw the crimson gathering on
+his brow, during the last harsh address of his superior.
+
+"Captain Headley," said the young man, drawing himself
+up to his full height, and somewhat elevating his voice,
+for be had remarked there were other and dearer eyes upon
+him, than those immediately around. "I WILL NOT be spoken
+to in this manner, before the men. If you think I have
+been guilty of a breach of duty or of discipline, I am
+prepared to meet your charges before the proper tribunal,
+but you shall not take the liberty of thus addressing me
+in public parade. My sword, sir," and he unbuckled it,
+and offered the handle, "is at, your disposal, but I deny
+your further right."
+
+"No, no, no!" shouted several men from the ranks
+
+"No. no, no!" repeated almost every man of the fishing-
+party, in even more energetic tones, while the commanding
+officer was glancing his eye keenly and rapidly along
+the little line, to detect those who had set the example
+of insubordination.
+
+"Ugh! wah! good soger!" came from one of a small party
+of Indians in the rear, as the disconcerted captain
+turned, frowningly, from the men in front to those who
+had followed him from the orderly room, and now stood
+grouped on the inner flank.
+
+"What is the meaning of all this?" he cried, in a loud
+and angry voice.
+
+"Am I braved in my own command, and by my own men? Mr.
+Elmsley, who are these Indians, and how came they in?"
+
+"They are a part of the encampment without, sir. There
+was no order given against their admission this morning,
+besides it is Winnebeg, and you have said that the gates
+of the Fort was to be open to him at all hours."
+
+"Ah! Winnebeg, my friend, how do you do. I did not know
+it was you or your people. You know you are always
+welcome."
+
+"How do, gubbernor," answered the chief, coming round
+from the rear of the line, and taking the proffered
+hand--"'Spose not very angry now--him good warrior--him
+good soger," and he pointed to the young subaltern.
+
+"Ensign Ronayne is, no doubt, very sensible to your good
+opinion," remarked the captain, with evident pique; "but,
+Winnebeg, as I am sure you never allow a white man to
+interfere with you, when you find fault with your young
+chiefs, you must let me do the same."
+
+"What find him fault for?" asked the chief, with some
+surprise; "brave like a devil!"
+
+"Captain Headley," interposed the ensign, with some
+impatience, "am I to surrender my sword, or resume my
+duty?"
+
+But the captain either could not, or would not give a
+direct answer. "Can you give me a good reason, Mr.
+Ronayne, why I should not receive your sword? Do you deny
+that you have been guilty of neglect of duty?"
+
+"In what?" was the brief demand.
+
+"In being absent from the Fort, without leave, sir."
+
+"Indeed! To substantiate that, you must bring proofs,
+Captain Headley. Who," and he looked around him, as if
+challenging his accuser, "pretends to have seen me beyond
+these defences?"
+
+The commandant was for some moments at a loss, for he
+had not anticipated this difficulty. At length he resumed.
+"Was it not to be absent without leave, that, when the
+guard was all ready to be marched off, you were not to
+be found?"
+
+"Had the guard been marched off, or the parade even
+formed, I should of course, have come justly under your
+censure, Captain Headley; but it was not so--you ordered
+the parade and guard-mounting for a later hour. I am here
+at that hour."
+
+"Hem!" returned the commandant, who was in some degree
+obliged to admit the justice of the remark; "you defend
+yourself more in the spirit of a lawyer, than of a soldier,
+Mr. Ronayne, but all this difficulty is soon set at rest.
+I require but your simple denial that you have been absent
+from the Fort, within the last twenty-four hours. That
+given, I shall be satisfied."
+
+"And that, sir," was the firm reply of the youth, "I am
+not disposed to give. I am not much versed in military
+prudence, Captain Headley," he pursued, after a few
+moments' pause, and in a tone of slight irony, which that
+officer did not seem to perceive, "but at least sufficient
+to induce me to reserve what I have to say for my defence.
+You have charged me, sir, with having been absent from
+the Fort without leave; and it is for you to prove that
+fact before a competent authority."
+
+"March off your guard, Mr. Ronayne," was the abrupt
+rejoinder of the commandant, for he liked not the
+continuation of a scene in which the advantage seemed
+not to rest with him, but with the very party whom he
+had sought to chasten; "Mr. Elmsley dismiss the parade.
+I had intended promoting on the spot, Corporal Nixon and
+private Collins for their conduct yesterday, but the
+gross insubordination I have just seen, has caused me to
+change my mind. Neither shall have the rank intended,
+until the guilty parties are named. I give until the hour
+of parade to-morrow for their production, and if, by that
+time, their names are not laid before me, no such promotion
+shall take place while I command the garrison. Dismiss
+the men, sir. Here, Winnebeg, my good fellow, you have
+come at a good moment. I have dispatches to send to
+Detroit this very evening, and I know no one I can trust
+so well as yourself."
+
+"Good," was the answer, "Winnebeg always ready to do him
+order--no angry more, gubbernor, with young chief,"
+pointing to the ensign, as he moved off with his small
+guard. "Dam good soger--you see dis?" and he touched his
+scalping-knife with his left hand, and looked very
+significantly.
+
+"No, Winnebeg, not angry any more," was the reply; "but
+how do you know him to be good soger? What has your
+scalping-knife to do with it?"
+
+"Winnebeg know all," said the chief gravely, as he laid
+his heavy hand upon the shoulder of the commandant, "but
+can't tell. Young chief say no, and Winnebeg love young
+chief."
+
+This remark forcibly struck Captain Headley, and brought
+back to his mind, certain recollections. He, however,
+asked no further question, but pointed, as they moved in
+the direction of his own apartments, towards the sun,
+showing by his gesture that it was not too early to take
+the mid-day dram.
+
+"Where the devil have you been, man, and with what
+confounded impudence you got through the scrape," was
+remarked at a distant part of the same ground, and at
+the same moment with the conversation just given.
+
+"How is Maria?" eagerly asked Ronayne. "When shall I see
+her?"
+
+"Well enough to hear all that passed between you and
+Military Prudence," returned his friend; "but that is no
+answer to my question."
+
+"There was nothing like braving it," answered the other
+evasively; "but I say, Elmsley, I am devilish hungry,
+that breakfast you invited me to last night is over long
+ago, of course." This last sentence was uttered in a mock
+piteous tone.
+
+"Just what I was going to speak about, my dear boy. We
+have had number ONE, but before half an hour, we shall
+be seated at number TWO. When your sergeant has relieved
+his sentries, come over and you will find a piping hot
+breakfast."
+
+"Will it be quite consistent with military prudence to
+leave my guard so soon, after the lecture I have had?"
+remarked the ensign, with a smile--"but, ah! I had nearly
+forgotten. Elmsley, I must say a few words to you before
+I go in, and a better opportunity cannot be afforded than
+while we are walking from this to your place. Just go
+then, and order the breakfast as you propose, and return
+here. I shall have completed the arrangements of the
+guard by that time, and all that I have to ask of you,
+can be answered as we go along."
+
+"I hope it is no great secret you have to impart," returned
+the lieutenant, "for I am a sad hand at the mysterious,
+and shall be sure to tell my wife, if I do not tell Maria."
+
+"Not you--you will tell neither, but au revoir."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+At the moment when Ensign Ronayne removed his sword, with
+the intention of handing it to his commanding officer,
+in anticipation of the arrest which he expected, Maria
+Heywood, little conversant with those military formalities,
+and apprehending from the previous high tone of her lover,
+that something fearful was about to occur, had not
+absolutely fainted, but become so agitated, that Mrs.
+Elmsley was induced to take her back to the sofa, on
+which she had previously been reclining. As she was
+leaving her chair, Mrs. Headley, whose attention had also
+been arrested by the loud and angry voice of her husband,
+came from her own door and joined the little group,
+anxiously inquiring the cause of the disturbance without.
+
+In a few brief sentences, and as correctly as she was
+able, Mrs. Elmsley explained to her the circumstances,
+and although her attentive auditor offered no very pointed
+remark, it was evident from her manner that she deeply
+deplored that strict military punctilio, which had led
+the husband whom she both loved and esteemed, to place
+himself in a false position with his own force--for that
+it was a false position in some degree, to provoke
+insubordination, and yet be without the power to punish
+it, she had too much good sense not to perceive. She felt
+the more annoyed, because she had on more than one
+occasion, observed that there was not that unanimity
+between her husband and Lieutenant Elmsley, which she
+conceived ought to exist between parties so circumstanced
+--a commander of a remote post, and his second in command,
+on whose mutual good understanding, not only the personal
+security of all might depend, but the existence of those
+social relations, without which, their isolated position
+involved all the unpleasantness of a voluntary banishment.
+This had ever been to her a source of regret, and she
+had on several occasions, although in the most delicate
+and unobtrusive manner, hinted at the fact; but the man
+who doated upon her, and to whom, in all other respects,
+her desire was law, evinced so much inflexibility in all
+that appertained to military etiquette, that she had
+never ventured to carry her allusions beyond the light
+commentary induced by casual reference to the subject.
+
+If then she lamented that unfortunate coolness, if not
+absolute estrangement, which existed between Lieutenant
+Elmsley and her husband, bow much more acutely did she
+feel the difficulty of the position now, when the only
+other responsible officer of the garrison--and that a
+young man of high feeling and accomplishment, whom she
+had ever liked and admired--was fast being led into the
+same antagonism. Nay, what rendered the matter more
+painful to her, was the fact of the latter being the
+lover, or perhaps the affianced of a girl, whom she
+regarded with a fervor not often felt by one woman for
+another, and for whose interests she could have made
+every sacrifice, not affecting those of her husband.
+
+Such were the women who were now seated on the ottoman,
+engaged more in their own reflections, than in conversation,
+when Lieutenant Elmsley entered the room, announcing that
+the truant would shortly be in for breakfast, which, he
+requested, might be instantly prepared in the usual
+manner, only adding thereto a couple of bottles of claret.
+
+"Ah! pardon me, Mrs. Headley," he added, somewhat stiffly,
+as his wife left the room to issue the necessary orders,
+"I did not see you, or I should have been rather more
+ceremonious in my domestic communications."
+
+Mrs. Headley slightly colored. She was sensible that
+pique towards her husband, and a belief that she wholly
+shared his sentiments, had induced this rather sarcastic
+speech.
+
+"By no means, Mr. Elmsley. I trust you will not put ME
+down as a stranger, whatever your disposition to others."
+
+There was a significance in the manner in which this was
+said, that deeply touched the lieutenant, and his tone
+immediately changed.
+
+"Then, I take you at your word," he said. "It is a long
+time since I have had the pleasure of seeing you here,
+and you must positively join our second breakfast. I know
+Captain Headley is engaged with Winnebeg, whom he purposes
+sending off this evening with despatches, so that you
+will not be missed for at least an hour. There, look at
+Miss Heywood's imploring look--she pleads with her eyes
+in my favor, although there is no chance, it appears, of
+getting a word from her lips."
+
+"Nay," remarked the other, who had rallied from her late
+despondency, on hearing the object of the breakfast; "you
+are very unreasonable, Mr. Elmsley. You do not deserve
+that I should speak to you to-day, and I am not quite
+sure that I shall."
+
+"And pray, fair lady, why not? Wherein have I had the
+misfortune to offend?"
+
+"Ah! do you forget? You promised to bring me a certain
+report of certain occurrences, and yet instead of that,
+not a word have you condescended to address to me until
+this moment."
+
+"I plead guilty," he answered deprecatingly, "but pray
+for a suspension of sentence, until the return of one
+through whose influence I hope to obtain your pardon! I
+go now," he whispered, "to lead him to your feet."
+
+"Well, what is the great question you have to put to me?"
+said the lieutenant to his friend, whom he had rejoined,
+and with whom he now returned slowly towards the house--"one
+involving a case of life and death it might be imagined,
+from the long face you put on when alluding to the matter."
+
+"Nay, not exactly that, but still involving a good deal.
+Tell me frankly, Elmsley, has Miss Heywood heard any
+further account of the events at the farm-house?"
+
+"She has heard the report brought in by Nixon and the
+rest of the fishing-party."
+
+"And what was that, I pray you?" eagerly returned the
+ensign.
+
+"That Mr. Heywood had been carried off by the Indians."
+
+"From whom did she hear it?"
+
+"It was I who told her, on the strength of what the
+corporal reported, not only to myself, but to Captain
+Headley."
+
+"You are a considerate fellow, Elmsley," said his friend,
+warmly pressing his hand. "I thank you for that, and now
+that the great question, as you term it, is answered, I
+am quite ready for the promised breakfast. Did these
+fellows bring home any fish? I have a great fancy for
+fish this morning."
+
+"No; they brought home dead men," and the lieutenant
+looked searchingly into the face of his companion, dwelling
+on every word, moreover, as if he would convey that he
+(Ronayne), knew perfectly well what freight the boat had
+brought to the Fort.
+
+Further remark was prevented by their arrival at their
+destination--the front-door being open, and revealing
+the little party within. The first upon, whom the young
+officer's eye fell, was Mrs. Headley, of whose intended
+presence, his friend had not thought of apprising him.
+Still smarting under a keen sense of the severity of
+reproof of his commanding officer, and falling into the
+common error of involving the wife in the unamiability
+of the husband, Ronayne would have retired, even at the
+risk of losing his breakfast, and, what was of far more
+moment to him, of delaying his meeting with her to whom
+his every thought was devoted. But when Mrs. Headley,
+who had remarked the movement, came forward to the door,
+and gave him her hand with all the warmth and candor of
+her noble nature, the pique vanished from his mind, and
+in an instant, he, like Elmsley, evinced that devotion
+and regard for her, which her fascinating manner could
+not fail to inspire.
+
+The sense of constraint being thus banished by the only
+one whose presence had occasioned it, the party, after
+a few minutes low conversation between the lovers, sat
+down gaily to a meal--half-break fast, half-luncheon, at
+which the most conspicuous actor was the lately reprimanded
+ensign.
+
+"Really, Mr. Ronayne, you must have met with a perfect
+chapter of adventures during your absence last night.
+You have devoured the last four fresh eggs, my cook says,
+there were in the house--three limbs of a prairie fowl,
+and nearly the half of a young bear ham. Do, pray, tell
+us where you have been to gain such an appetite? Indeed
+you must--I am dying to know."
+
+"My dear Mrs. Elmsley," he replied, coloring, "where
+should I have been but in the Fort?"
+
+"True! where SHOULD you have been, indeed; but this is
+not the point, my hungry gentleman. Where WERE you? If
+I was, I KNOW WHO," she added, significantly, "I should
+have my suspicions, unless, indeed, you have already
+confessed within the few minutes you have been in the
+room."
+
+"Nay, do not imagine I have so much influence over the
+truant, as to compel him to the confessional," said Maria
+Heywood. "I assure you I am quite as much in the dark as
+any one present."
+
+"Come, Mr. Ronayne, recount your adventures," added Mrs.
+Headley. "Recollect you are not on parade now, or exactly
+before the sternest Court of Inquiry in the world, and
+should therefore, entertain no dread of punishment on
+your self-conviction."
+
+"Thus urged and encouraged," said the ensign, during one
+of the short pauses of his knife and fork, which, in
+truth, he had handled as much to study what he should
+say, as to satisfy his hunger; "who could resist such
+pleading, were there really any thing to communicate;
+but I am quite at a loss to conceive why so general an
+opinion seems to prevail that I have been out of the
+Fort, and in quest of adventure. Why not rather ascribe
+my tardiness at parade to some less flattering cause--a
+head-ache--fatigue from night-watching--indolence, or
+even a little entetement, arising from the denial of a
+very imprudent request I made to Captain Headley last
+evening, to allow me the command of a detachment for a
+particular purpose. Pardon me, I have made quite a speech,
+but indeed you compel me."
+
+"Let us drown this inquisition in a bumper of claret,"
+interposed Elmsley, coming to the assistance of his
+friend, whose motive for thus parrying inquiry into his
+conduct, he thought he could divine. "I say, my dear
+fellow, you may wish yourself a head-ache--fatigue--
+indolence, or even a little entetement every morning of
+your life, if it is to be cured in this manner. This is
+some of the most splendid Lafayette that ever found its
+way into these western wilds. Look well at it. It is of
+the clearest, the purest blood of the grape--taste it
+again. A bottle of it will do you no harm if you had
+twenty guards in charge."
+
+As he had desired and expected, the introduction of his
+remarks on the wine proved not only a means of changing
+the conversation, but of causing the ladies to withdraw
+from the table, round which they had been sitting, rather
+to keep the young officer company, than to participate
+in the repast themselves. Mrs. Headley was the first to
+move.
+
+"Give me your arm, and see me home," she said carelessly,
+to Ronayne, who now having finished his breakfast, had
+also risen. "Do not be jealous, my dear Miss Heywood,
+but you will later know, if you do not know already, that
+the wife of the commanding officer always appropriates
+to herself, the handsomest unmarried young officer of
+the regiment."
+
+Both Ronayne and his betrothed were too quick of
+apprehension not to perceive, under this light gaiety,
+a deep interest, and a desire to convey to them both,
+that, if unhappily, there did not exist a cordial
+understanding between her husband and the former, in
+matters purely military, and in relation to subjects
+which should have no influence over private life, she
+was by no means, a party to the disunion.
+
+"Not very difficult to choose between the handsomest and
+the cleverest of the unmarried officers of the garrison
+of Chicago," replied Maria Heywood with an effort at
+cheerfulness; "therefore, Mr. Ronayne, I advise you not
+to be too much elated by Mrs. Headley's compliment. After
+that caution, I think you may be trusted with her."
+
+"What a noble creature, and what a pity she has so cold
+and pompous a husband," remarked Lieutenant Elmsley, as
+Mrs. Headley disappeared from the door-way. "I never knew
+her so well as this morning, and upon my word, Margaret,
+were both HE and YOU out of the way, I should be greatly
+tempted to fall in love with her."
+
+"You would act wisely if you did, George; I have always
+thought most highly of her. She is, it is true, a little
+reserved in manner, but that I am sure comes wholly from
+a certain restraint, imposed upon her by her husband's
+formality of character. I say I am sure of this, for
+there have been occasions when I have seen her exhibit
+a warmth of address, as different from her general
+demeanor, as light is from shadow."
+
+"Perhaps Headley has systematically drilled her into the
+particular bearing that ought to be assumed by the wife
+of the commandant of a garrison."
+
+"Nay, George! that is not generous, but I know you are
+not serious in what you say. You judge Mrs. Headley
+better, and that she is not a woman to be so drilled.
+She has too much good sense, despite all her partiality
+for her husband, to allow herself to be improperly
+influenced, where her judgment condemns; and although,
+as his wife, she must necessarily act in concert with
+him, it by no means follows that she approves unreservedly,
+all that he does."
+
+"You are a dear, noble creature yourself!" exclaimed the
+gratified Elmsley, as he fondly embraced his wife. "There
+is nothing I love so much as to see one woman warm in
+the defence of another--one so seldom meets with that
+sort of thing. What, Maria, tears?"
+
+"Yes--tears of pleasure!" she answered earnestly, as she
+held her handkerchief to her eyes--"tears of joy to see
+so much generosity of feeling among those whom I have so
+much reason to esteem and admire. You are right," she
+pursued, addressing Mrs. Elmsley, "she is indeed a noble
+woman. Perhaps I may justly be accused of a little
+partiality, for I never can forget the frank and cordial
+proffers of friendship with which she received me on the
+first night of my appearance here."
+
+"Ha! Von Vottenberg to the rescue!" exclaimed Elmsley,
+with sudden animation, as the stout figure of the former
+shaded the door-way. "Well, doctor, have you passed away
+in the evaporation produced by fright, the violent
+head-ache you were suffering from this morning? If not,
+try that claret. It is capital stuff, and a tumbler of
+it will make up for the breakfast you have lost."
+
+"Faith, and there is no breakfast lost, that I can
+perceive," chuckled the doctor, seating himself
+unceremoniously at the table, and commencing upon the
+remains of the bear ham, and prairie hen.
+
+"I fear the tea and coffee are cold," said Mrs. Elmsley;
+"let me get some hot for you?"
+
+"By no means, my dear Mrs. Elmsley, I could not think of
+such slops with generous claret at my elbow. Nay, do not
+look offended. Your tea and coffee are always of the
+best, but they do not just now, suit my taste. Miss
+Heywood, how do you do this morning? How is your gentle
+mother? I have called expressly to see her. Elmsley,
+where is that runaway, Ronayne?"
+
+And where indeed was he? They had not walked more than
+three or four paces, when Mrs. Headley, after some little
+hesitation, addressed him thus:--
+
+"Mr. Ronayne, notwithstanding your evident desire to
+conceal the fact, I can plainly see that you were not
+within the Fort last night. I can fully comprehend that
+your motive for absenting yourself, has been praiseworthy,
+but you must also admit that the reproof you met with
+this morning, was not altogether undeserved. Pray do not
+start or look grave, for, believe me, I am speaking to
+you only as a friend--indeed it was to have the opportunity
+of convincing you that I am such, that I asked you to
+escort me."
+
+"Really, Mrs. Headley," interrupted the young officer,
+little divining to what all this was to tend, and feeling
+not altogether at his ease, from the abruptness with
+which the subject had been introduced, "I feel as I ought,
+the interest you profess to take in me, but how is that
+connected either with my asserted absence, or the reproof
+it entailed?"
+
+"It is so far connected with it, that I wish to point
+out the means by which any unpleasant result may be
+avoided!"
+
+"Unpleasant result! Mrs. Headley?"
+
+"Yes, unpleasant result, for I have too good an opinion
+of you not to believe that any thing tending to destroy
+the harmony of our very limited society, would be considered
+such by you."
+
+"I am all attention, Madam. Pray, proceed."
+
+"The pithiness of your manner does not afford me much
+encouragement yet I will not be diverted from my purpose,
+even by that. You have had the Commandant's lecture,"
+she continued, with an attempt at pleasantry, "and now
+you must prepare yourself for (pardon the coinage of the
+term) that of the Commandantess."
+
+"The plot thickens," said the ensign, somewhat sharply--
+"both the husband and the wife. Jupiter Tonans and Juno
+the Superb in judgment upon poor me in succession. Ah!
+that is too bad. But seriously, Mrs. Headley, I shall
+receive with all due humility, whatever castigation you
+may choose to inflict."
+
+"No castigation I assure you, Ronayne, but wholesome
+advice from one, who, recollect, is nearly old enough to
+be your mother. However, you shall hear and then decide
+for yourself."
+
+"Although," she pursued, after a short pause, "we women
+are supposed to know nothing of those matters, it would
+be difficult, in a small place like this, to be ignorant
+of what is going on. Hence it is that I have long since
+remarked, with pain and sorrow, the little animosity
+which exists between Headley and yourself--(I will not
+introduce Mr. Elmsley's name, because what I have to say
+has no immediate reference to him), and the almost daily
+widening breach. Now, Ronayne, I would appeal to your
+reason. Place yourself for a moment in my husband's
+position. Consider his years, nearly double your own--his
+great responsibility and the peculiar school of discipline
+in which he has been brought up. Place yourself, I repeat,
+in his position, and decide what would be your sentiments
+if, in the conscientious discharge of your duty, you
+thought yourself thwarted by those very men--much your
+juniors both in years and military experience--on whose
+co-operation you had every fair reason to rely."
+
+"You have, my dear Mrs. Headley, put the case forcibly
+yet simply." returned the ensign, who had listened with
+marked deference to the whole of her remonstrance. "In
+such a case I should feel no slight annoyance, but why
+imagine that I have sought to thwart Captain Headley?"
+
+"Was it not apparently to thwart him--bear in mind I
+speak to you dispassionately and as a friend--to refuse
+in the presence of the whole garrison this morning to
+account for your absence of last night, which might have
+been easily explained, had you been so disposed?"
+
+"But, my dear Mrs. Headley, why is it persisted in, that
+I was absent--and even if such were the case, might not
+I have had a good reason for refusing to commit myself
+by the avowal."
+
+"Admitting this, could you have maintained your position
+without, in a measure, setting his authority at defiance
+--thus encouraging the men to do the same. Was this right,
+I ask? Was this officer-like?"
+
+"Well, no, perhaps not. I blush not to make the admission
+to YOU, for indeed, there is no resisting so bewitching
+a master in petticoats. Yet, what would you have me do?"
+
+"Ah, now, I begin to entertain some hope of you," she
+replied, in a gayer tone, placing her hand at the same
+time familiarly on his shoulder and looking approvingly
+in his face. "Ronayne, you are engaged--perhaps will
+shortly become the husband of the noble girl, whom I love
+even as though she were my own daughter--yes," she repeated
+energetically, as she felt his grateful pressure of her
+hand, "even as though she were my own daughter--nay,
+you know I like yourself for your open, although rather
+too impetuous character. Do you then think that feeling
+this it can be any other than a source of deep pain and
+vexation to me, to see those in whom I feel so much
+interest, alienated from each other--in some degree even
+mutually hating and hated?"
+
+"Yet, what would you have me to do, my dear Mrs. Headley?
+Some concession I suppose, must be made. Any thing in
+honor and in reason will I do for your sake," returned
+the young officer, deeply touched by her manner and
+language.
+
+"This I wish you to do, Ronayne. Take the first favorable
+opportunity, either while on guard to-day, or when relieved
+to-morrow, to see Headley privately, and by such language
+as you well know how to use, remove the unfavorable
+impression you have left on his mind--depend upon it,
+although extremely cold and inflexible when apparently
+braved, my husband has a warm and generous--aye, a noble
+heart, and will freely grant what is frankly solicited.
+Bear in mind, moreover, Ronayne, that it is no humiliation
+to admit error when conscious of having committed it;
+and if this be so in the social relations of life, how
+much less derogatory is it in a military sense."
+
+"Say no more, dearest Mrs. Headley, since it is your
+wish, I will go, no matter what the reception I encounter;
+and any further rebuke I may meet with, I will cheerfully
+endure for your sake."
+
+"Now then, Ronayne, you are once more yourself, the
+generous, high-minded boy, in whom I delighted, even as
+a mother would delight in her son, when you first arrived
+here about three years ago. Yet, recollect that not only
+_I_ shall be gratified and benefitted by this, but YOU
+and YOURS. Let but this unhappy discord terminate, and
+we shall then be what soldiers and those connected with
+them, ought ever to be--one undivided family. And now,
+for the present, farewell."
+
+"God bless you!" fervently exclaimed the ensign, as he
+took his leave of the graceful and noble wife of the
+commanding officer, with emotions that fully testified
+the effect produced upon him by her generous confidence
+and candor.
+
+From the frequent reference made by Mrs. Headley to her
+own riper years, one might have been induced to consider
+her rather in the decline of life; but such was not the
+case. Her splendid and matronly figure might indeed have
+impressed the superficial observer with the belief that
+she had numbered more than forty summers, but the unchained
+and luxuriant hair--the white, even and perfect teeth--
+the rich, full lip, and unwrinkled brow, and smooth and
+brilliant cheek, would not have permitted the woman most
+jealous of her charms, could such have been found, to
+pronounce her more than six-and-thirty, which was, indeed,
+her age. It was a source of gratification to her to
+consider and represent herself as older than she really
+was; and if she had any peculiarity--a weakness it could
+not be called--it was that of loving to look upon those
+younger persons who claimed a place in her friendship
+and esteem, as though she actually stood in the maternal
+relation to them. This may have, in some degree, arisen
+from the fact of her having ever been childless herself.
+
+As Ronayne approached Elmsley's house on his return, a
+remarkably handsome and noble-looking Indian--quite a
+youth--was leaning against the frame of the door, and
+according to the simple habit of his race, indulging his
+curiosity by looking at, and admiring all that he beheld
+within. Elmsley himself had gone out, but Von Vottenberg,
+still seated at the breakfast-table, was discussing, with
+its remains, the now nearly finished claret, while Mrs.
+Elmsley and Maria Heywood were seated on the sofa opposite
+to the door, passing their whispered remarks on the
+Indian, whose softened dark glances occasionally fell
+with intense admiration on the former, when he fancied
+the act unseen, but as instantly were withdrawn, when he
+perceived that it was observed.
+
+Mrs. Elmsley was endeavoring to dissipate the dejection
+of her friend by rallying her, as the young officer came
+to the door, on the evidently new conquest she had made.
+The Indian turned to look at the intruder upon his pleasant
+musings, when a "wah!" expressive of deep satisfaction
+escaped him, and at the same moment, Ronayne grasped,
+and cordially shook his hand.
+
+"Ha! there is his formidable rival, and seemingly his
+friend," whispered Mrs. Elmsley, in the ear of Maria--
+"handsome fellows, both of them, so much so, that were
+I single, like you, I should have some difficulty in
+choosing between them."
+
+As she uttered these words, a sharp and unaccountable
+pang, sudden and fleeting as electricity, shot through
+the frame of her friend. The blood suddenly receded from
+her cheek, and then rapidly returning, suffused it with
+a burning heat.
+
+"What is the matter, my love? Are you ill, you looked so
+pale just now?" tenderly inquired Mrs. Elmsley.
+
+"I cannot account for what I experienced. It was a feeling
+different from any I had ever known before--a strange,
+wild, and inexplicable dread of I know not what. But it
+has passed away. Take no notice of it, dear, before
+Ronayne."
+
+"Mrs. Elmsley," said the latter, almost using force to
+induce the modest-looking young Indian to enter the
+room, "will you allow me first to introduce my friend
+Waunangee to you, and then to give him a glass of claret?
+Forgive the liberty I take, but I confess a good deal of
+obligation to him, and would fain do the civil in return."
+
+"Indeed! what a set speech for a glass of wine. Give it
+to him by all means, if it is only for his beautiful
+eyes--that is to say, if the doctor has left any--or
+stay, I will get another bottle."
+
+"By no means," returned the young officer, "this
+unconscionable man has just left about half a tumbler
+foil, and I do not intend he shall have more. Waunangee,"
+he pursued, after filling and presenting him with the
+glass, "that is the lady of the house," pointing to Mrs.
+Elmsley, "you must drink to her health."
+
+"And dis you handsome squaw," remarked the Indian, a
+moment or two after having tossed off the wine, which
+quickly circulated through his veins. "Dis you wife!"
+he repeated, throwing his expressive eyes upon Miss
+Heywood, while a rich glow lighted up his dark, but
+finely formed features.
+
+"Hush!" said Ronayne, making a sign to intimate that he
+was not to indulge in such observations.
+
+But even the small quantity of wine he had taken was
+acting potently on the fast animating Indian. "Dis no
+you squaw--dis Waunangee squaw," he said, with strong
+excitement of manner. "Waunangee, see him beautiful,
+Waunangee got warm heart--love him very much!"
+
+"Tolerably well for a modest youth!" exclaimed the laughing
+Mrs. Elmsley. "Who would have thought that one with
+those soft black eyes, more fitted for a woman than a
+man, would hazard so glowing a speech, after an acquaintance
+of barely five minutes?"
+
+"Who says Chicago doesn't abound in adventure?" sneered
+Von Vottenberg, as he arose and passed into the apartment
+of his patient. "I shall certainly write a book about
+this when I get back into the civilized world, and entitle
+it 'The Loves of the Handsome Waunangee, and the Beautiful
+American.'"
+
+"You had better write 'The Loves of the Fat Von Vottenberg,
+and his Mistress, Whisky Punch,'" remarked Ronayne,
+peevishly, for in spite of himself, he felt annoyed at
+an observation, which he thought delicacy might have
+spared. "Come, Waunangee, my good friend, we must go."
+
+But the young Indian was not so easily led. "Waunangee
+have him first dis nice squaw," he said, with all that
+show of dogged obstinacy which so usually distinguishes
+his race, when under the influence of liquor, and bent
+upon the attainment of a particular object.
+
+"Hear me, Waunangee," replied the other, placing his hand
+upon his shoulder, and now, that Mrs. Elmsley only was
+present with his affianced, feeling less scruple in
+explaining to the young savage--"that is my squaw--my
+wife."
+
+"Why you no tell him so?" asked the youth, gravely, and
+with an air of reproach, while, at the same time, he
+fixed his soft and melancholy eyes upon Miss Heywood.
+"Waunangee love officer's squaw--but Waunangee good heart.
+Shake him hand, my friend," he continued, walking up to
+her, and tendering his own, while, singular as it seemed
+to all, a tear dimmed his eye, and stole down his cheek.
+"'Spose no Waunangee wife--you Waunangee's friend?"
+
+The generous but trembling girl, shook cordially the hand
+that rested in her own, and assured the youth, in a way
+easily intelligible to him, that, as the friend of her
+husband, and she blushed deeply, as the moment afterwards
+she became sensible she had used a word, she could not
+but feel to be premature, she would always regard him
+with friendship and esteem.
+
+"What a nice little scene we might get up out of this
+morning's adventure," said the ever gay Mrs. Elmsley, as
+Waunangee, after having shaken hands with herself, departed
+with Ronayne. "Really, my dear, he is a fine looking,
+and certainly a warm-hearted fellow, that Wau--Wan--what's
+his name, Maria?"
+
+"Waunangee. I know not how it is, Margaret, or why--I
+should attach so much importance to the thing, but if
+ever those glimpses of the future, called presentiments,
+had foundation in truth, that young Indian is destined
+to exercise some sort of influence over my fate."
+
+"You do not mean that he is to supplant Ronayne, I hope,"
+returned her friend, trying to laugh her oat of the
+serious mood, in which she seemed so much inclined to
+indulge.
+
+"How can you speak so, Margaret? No, my presentiment is
+of a different character. But it is very foolish and
+silly to allow the feeling to weigh with me. I will try
+to think more rationally. Say nothing of this, however,
+and least of all to Ronayne."
+
+"Not a word, dearest. Good bye for the present. I must
+look after the dinner. You know who dines with us."
+
+A look expressive of the deep sense she entertained of
+the consideration of her friend, was the only commentary
+of Miss Heywood, as she passed into her mother's apartment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+It was now the middle of May. A month had elapsed since
+the events detailed in the preceding chapters. The
+recollection of the outrage at Heywood's farm, committed
+early in April was fast dying away, save in the bosoms
+of those more immediately interested in the fate of its
+proprietor, and apprehensions of a repetition of similar
+atrocities had, in a great measure, ceased. A better
+understanding between the commanding officer and his
+subordinates--the result of a long private interview,
+which Ensign Ronayne had had with the former, on the
+morning after his promise to Mrs. Headley, followed by
+an apology on parade that day, had arisen. Corporal Nixon
+was now Sergeant Nixon--Collins had succeeded to him,
+and Le Noir and the boy--Catholic and Protestant--had
+been buried in one grave. Ephraim Giles filled the office
+of factotum to Von Vottenberg, whose love of whisky
+punch, was, if possible, on the increase. Winnebeg, the
+bearer of confidential despatches, announcing the hostile
+disposition and acts of certain of the Winnebagoes, had
+not returned, and Waunangee, who, recovered from the
+fumes of the claret, had, in an earnest manner, expressed
+to Ronayne contrition for the liberty he had taken with
+Miss Heywood, had departed from the neighborhood, no one
+knew whither. Harmony, in a word, had been some days
+restored in the Fort, and the only thing that detracted
+from the general contentment, was the uncertainty
+attending the fate of Mr. Heywood--regretted less,
+however, for his own sake, than for that of his amiable
+daughter, who vainly sought to conceal from her friends,
+the anxiety induced by an absence, the duration of which
+it was utterly impossible to divine. As for Mrs. Heywood,
+she was still in ignorance, so well had things been
+managed by the Elmsleys, that any of the fearful scenes
+had occurred. She still believed her husband to be at
+the farm.
+
+But, as it was not likely she could much longer remain
+in ignorance of what had been the subject of conversation
+with every one around her, it was advised by Von Vottenberg,
+that, as the warmth of spring was now fully developed,
+and all dread of the Indians resuming their hostile visit,
+at an end, she should be conveyed back to the cottage,
+the pure air around which, was much more likely to improve
+her health, than the confined atmosphere of the Fort.
+She had accordingly been removed thither early in May,
+accompanied by her daughter and Catherine.
+
+Ronayne, of course, become once more a daily visitor,
+and soon beneath his hand, the garden began again to
+assume the beautiful garb it had worn at that season,
+for the last two years. The interviews of the lovers
+here, freed from the restraints imposed upon them while
+in the Fort, had resumed that fervent character which
+had marked them on the afternoon of the day when they so
+solemnly interchanged their vows of undying faith. They
+now no longer merely looked their love. They spoke of
+it--drank in the sweet avowal from each others lips, and
+luxuriated in the sweet pleasure it imparted. They were
+as the whole world to each other, and although language
+could not convey a warmer expression of their feelings,
+than had already gone forth from their lips, still was
+the repetition replete with a sweetness that never palled
+upon the ear. Like the man who never tires of gazing upon
+his gold, so did they never tire of the treasures of the
+expressed love, that daily grew more intense in their
+hearts. And yet, notwithstanding this utter devotedness
+of soul--notwithstanding her flattering heart confessed
+in secret the fullest realization of those dreams which
+had filled and sustained her in early girlhood--albeit
+the assurance the felt that, in Ronayne, she had found
+the impersonation of the imaginings of her maturer life,
+still whenever he urged her in glowing language to name
+the day when she would become his wife, she evaded an
+answer, not from caprice, but because she would not bring
+to him a heart clouded by the slightest tinge of that
+anxiety with which ignorance of her father's fate, could
+not fail to shade it. A painful circumstance which happened
+about that period, at length, however, brought affairs
+to a crisis.
+
+It was a lovely evening towards the close of May, and
+after a somewhat sultry morning which had been devoted
+to a ride on horseback along the lakeshore--Mrs. Headley
+and Mrs. Elmsley, who had accompanied them, having returned
+home, that Ronayne and his betrothed sat in the little
+summer-house already described. Mrs. Heywood who had been
+so far recovered from her weakness by the change of air,
+as to take slight exercise in the garden, supported by
+her daughter, and the young officer, had on this occasion
+expressed a wish to join them, in order that she might
+inhale the soft breeze that blew from the south, and
+enjoy once more the scenery of the long reach of the
+river, which wound its serpentine course from the direction
+of the farm. To this desire no other objection was offered,
+than what was suggested by her companions, from an
+apprehension that the fatigue of the ascent would be too
+great for her. She, however, persisted in her wish,
+declaring that she felt herself quite strong enough--an
+assertion for which her returning color gave some evidence.
+They ceased to oppose her. It was the first time the
+invalid had been in the summer-house, since the same
+period the preceding spring, and naturally associating
+the recollection of her husband, with the familiar objects
+in the distance, she took her daughter's hand, and said
+in a low and husky voice, that proved how much she had
+overrated her own strength:
+
+"How is it, Maria, my love, that we have seen nothing of
+your father, lately? I have never known him, since we
+have been in this part of the country, to be so long
+absent from us at one time."
+
+"Nay, dear mamma," returned the pained girl, the tears
+starting to her eyes, in spite of her efforts to restrain
+them, "I do not exactly know what can detain him. Perhaps
+he is not at the farm," and here her tears forced their
+way--"you know, dearest mamma, that he is very fond of
+long hunting excursions."
+
+"Yes, but, my child, why do you weep? Surely there is
+nothing in that to produce such emotion. He will soon be
+back again."
+
+"Oh! yes, I hope so. Forgive me, my dear mamma, but I
+have a very bad head-ache, and never felt more nervous
+than I do this evening. Perhaps it is the effect of my
+ride in the heat of the sun. Shall we go on. It is nearly
+sunset, and I dread your being exposed to the night-air."
+
+"Oh! it is so delicious," softly returned the invalid;
+"I feel as if I had not lived for the last twelve months,
+until now. Only a little while longer, shall I not, Mr.
+Ronayne? Perhaps I may never have an opportunity of
+ascending to this summer-house again."
+
+During this short conversation, trifling in itself, but
+conveying, under the circumstances, so much subject for
+deep and painful reflections, the young officer had
+evinced much restlessness of manner, yet without interposing
+any other remark than to join Miss Heywood's entreaties
+that her mother would suffer herself to be conducted
+home, before the dew should begin to fall. In order,
+moreover, as much as possible to leave them uninterrupted
+in the indulgence of their feelings, he had from the
+first risen, and stood with his back to them, within the
+entrance of the summer house, and was now, with a view
+to drown their conversation to his own ear, whistling to
+Loup Garou, sitting on his haunches outside the garden-gate,
+looking fixedly at him.
+
+Touched by the account he had received of the fidelity
+of the dog, he, had, with the consent of Sergeant Nixon,
+who was glad to secure for his favorite so kind a protector,
+become possessed of him from the moment of his return
+home; and time, which had in some degree blunted the
+sorrow of the animal for the loss of one master, rendered
+equally keen his instinct of attachment for the other.
+Within the month he had been his, every care had been
+taken by Ronayne himself, as well as by his servant, to
+wean the mourner from the grave of Le Noir, on which,
+for the first few days, he had lain, absorbed in
+grief--refusing all food, until, yielding at length to
+the voice of kindness, his memory of the past seemed to
+have faded wholly away.
+
+Ronayne, however, from a fear of exciting unpleasant
+recollections in those who were not ignorant of the former
+position of the dog, had endeavoured as much as possible,
+to prevent him from crossing the river during his visits
+to the cottage; but, within the last four or five days,
+Loup Garou would not thus be kept back, and when expelled
+from the boat, had swam across, taking up his station at
+the gate, beyond which, however, he did not presume to
+pass, as if sensible that the delicate parterres within,
+were interdicted ground, and there generally lay squatted
+with his nose resting on the grass, between his outstretched
+fore-paws, until his master came forth on his return home.
+
+The unexpected and encouraging whistle of the latter on
+this occasion, which had been given in pure unconsciousness,
+caused him to prick his ears, and uttering a sharp cry,
+he sprang over the gate, bounding rapidly towards the
+eminence on which his master stood. About half-way between
+its base and the summit, there was a beautiful rose-bush
+which had been planted by Ronayne, and from which he had
+plucked two flowers, for the mother and daughter, during
+the ascent, and presented with a hand that was observed
+by Maria Heywood to tremble, and a cheek unwontedly pale.
+
+On arriving opposite the rose-tree, the animal suddenly
+stopped, and putting his nose to the ground close under
+it, and sniffing almost furiously, uttered a prolonged
+and melancholy howl, while, with his fore-paws he began
+to scratch up the loose earth around, regardless of the
+voice of his master, who renewed his whistling, and called
+upon him almost angrily to desist.
+
+Alarmed at this perseverance of action, the ensign
+descended to the spot--laid hands on Loup Garou, and
+sought to remove him, but the animal, strong of neck--
+full in the chest--and on the present occasion, under
+the influence of furious impulse, was not to be restrained.
+
+The moaning of the dog--the descent-the corrective voice
+of his master, and the seeming struggle of both to attain
+opposite purposes, naturally attracted the attention of
+those above, and they both rose and neared to the doorway
+Ronayne had so recently quitted. Their horror may well
+be imagined when, on looking down, they found that the
+dog had already uncovered a human body, which, though
+disfigured and partially decomposed, filial and conjugal
+affection too clearly distinguished as the father of the
+one, the husband of the other!
+
+Uttering a feeble shriek, Mrs. Heywood fell insensible
+within the threshold of the summer-house, while her
+daughter, less overwhelmed, but with feelings impossible
+to describe, stooped and chafed her mother's temples,
+and notwithstanding a horrid thought, which, despite her
+own will, shot through her mind, that the man to whom
+she had given every affection of her heart, was in some
+degree connected with this horrid spectacle, she called
+vehemently to him for assistance.
+
+The situation of the perplexed officer was scarcely less
+painful. On the one hand, feeling all the necessity of
+retaining his grasp of Loup Garou, as the only means of
+preventing him from further uncovering of the body--on
+the other, urged by the summons of her, whom he knew,
+from her very manner, to be in possession of this fearful
+secret, his mind become a perfect chaos, and large drops
+of perspiration streamed from his brow. In this irritating
+dilemma, a sudden transport of rage took possession of
+his heart, and seizing Loup Garou with both his hands,
+he so compressed them around his throat, that the dog,
+already exhausted with his exertions, was half-strangled
+before being raised with a frantic effort, and dashed
+with violence upon the body he had so unhappily been
+instrumental in discovering.
+
+Scarcely had this been done--a low moaning from Loup
+Garou, as if reproaching him for the act, alone denoting
+that he breathed, when the ensign flew up the steps of
+the summer-house, and regardless of the involuntary
+half-shudder of his betrothed, as he approached, caught
+the insensible invalid in his arms, and so carrying her,
+that her eyes, if she should open them, could not encounter
+the horrid spectacle below, again rapidly descended, and
+hurried towards the house. Maria Heywood, on passing the
+rose-tree so recently prized, but now so abhorrent to
+her sight, could not resist a strong impulse to look upon
+the mysteries so strangely unveiled, but although the
+twilight had not yet passed away, nothing could be seen
+but the displaced earth, and stretched over the excavation
+he himself had made, the motionless body of the dog.
+
+Sick at heart, and with wild and unconnected images
+floating through her heated brain, she followed almost
+mechanically to the cottage.
+
+This was no time for ceremony. When answering the loud
+ring, Catherine appeared hurriedly at the door, Ronayne
+bore his inanimate charge into her bedroom, and in silence
+and deep grief, sought, by every means in his power, to
+restore her. But all his efforts proving vain, he, in a
+state of mind difficult to describe, tore a leaf from
+his pocket-book, wrote a few hurried lines to Elmsley,
+requesting him to allow his wife to come over immediately
+with Von Vottenberg, and when they had departed, to call
+upon Captain Headley and explain the cause of his absence.
+This note he gave to Catherine, with instructions to
+cross in the boat which was waiting for himself, and to
+return with Mrs. Elmsley, or if she did not come, with
+the doctor.
+
+When left together, beside the insensible body of Mrs.
+Heywood, the lovers experienced for the first time, a
+feeling of restraint, for in the hearts of both, were
+passing thoughts which neither seemed desirous of imparting.
+But, Maria Heywood, gentle as she was, was not of a
+character long to endure the state of uncertainty under
+which she labored. The strange wild apprehensions which
+had arisen, she knew not how or why, had so preyed upon
+her quiet, that suspense became intolerable, and at
+length, addressing her lover in a voice, never more
+melancholy or touching than at that moment, and looking
+at him with an expression of deep sadness, while the
+large tears trickled down her cheeks.
+
+"Ronayne, you know--you must have known--your whole
+conduct throughout this affair, proves you must have
+known of my poor father's death, and of his rude--almost
+insulting burial in that fatal spot. How he came hither,
+you best can tell. Oh! Harry, it is very cruel thus to
+have reposed the confidence of the entire soul, and then
+to have been disappointed. This cruel discovery will be
+the means of destroying my peace forever, unless you give
+the explanation which alone can restore our confidence
+in each other--yet how can I, with these glaring truths
+before my eyes, expect that you will?"
+
+"Insulting burial! oh, Maria, I feel that I never loved
+you more than now when you would break my heart with this
+unkindness." He bent his head upon the same pillow, upon
+which reclined the unconscious head of the mother of the
+woman whom he so ardently loved, and wept tears of
+bitterness and sorrow.
+
+"I cannot stand this, Ronayne, dear Ronayne, whatever
+you be--whatever you may have done, I love you with all
+the ardor of the most devoted soul! But," she continued,
+more composedly, "forgive me, if my feelings and my
+judgment are at issue. One question I must ask, cost what
+it may, for I cannot longer endure this agony of suspense
+--no, for your sake I cannot endure it. How is it that
+you have always made a secret--a mystery even to me, of
+the motive of your absence on that fatal night succeeding
+the massacre at the firm."
+
+"Dear Maria. I can well forgive the question in the
+excitement which must have been produced in you by the
+startling events of this evening."
+
+"Ronayne," she mournfully interrupted--"your sudden
+interference with the dog--your struggle with him--nay,
+your very manner of speaking now, convince me that you
+knew my father lay buried beneath that rose-tree. In
+candor, answer me. Yes or no."
+
+"And, admitting I had had that knowledge, Maria--can you
+imagine no good reason for my forbearing all allusion to
+the subject?"
+
+"Yet, why conceal the fact from one who had supposed you
+could have no concealment from her--and then again, how
+am I to reconcile the circumstance of my poor father
+having been reported to be a prisoner--a report which,
+sanctioned by yourself, left me not utterly hopeless--and
+the fact of his burial here--evidently with your knowledge."
+
+"Maria," returned Ronayne, impressively, and with an
+expression of much pain at the remark, "as I have already
+said, I can make every allowance, in recollection of the
+painful scene of which I have, in some degree, been the
+cause, but is it generous--is it quite appreciating my
+character and my feelings towards yourself, to doubt that
+I had intended from the first, and at a fitting moment,
+to explain every thing to you?"
+
+Again was the confidence of the generous girl established,
+and with almost passionate warmth, she exclaimed. "Oh!
+Ronayne, forgive--forgive me, but this melancholy--this
+harrowing occurrence has made me so far not myself--that
+I almost hate myself. Tell me, dear Ronayne, do you
+forgive me?"
+
+"Yes, from the bottom of my soul, do I forgive you, and
+yet, dearest, there is nothing to forgive, for how could
+it be otherwise, than that your poor and sorely tried
+heart should be subjected to wild imaginings inexplicable
+to yourself. The ordeal to which you have been submitted,
+is a severe one, but I am sure your oppressed heart will
+be greatly lightened when you shall have been in possession
+of the truth connected with this most melancholy affair--
+your regard for me, will if possible, be even greater
+than before. Pardon this seeming vanity. I make the
+assertion because I know it will not a little console
+you, under this terrible infliction."
+
+It was a strange sight, that of these lovers, hitherto
+so devoted and now only temporarily half-doubting, talking
+of the fate of one parent while leaning over the apparent
+death-bed of the other.
+
+"Ronayne, dear Ronayne, I am satisfied--fully, wholly
+satisfied, and as you observe, the assurance which you
+have now given me, will form my chief support under this
+double affliction," and she pointed, weeping, to her
+mother, whose scarcely perceptible breathing alone attested
+that she lived.
+
+"Maria," he said tenderly and gravely, as he took her
+hand in his, over the invalid--"the hour of your promise
+is come--the fate of your father is known--would that it
+had been less abruptly revealed--and were other inducement
+to keep it wanting, is it not to be found here? But at
+this moment I will ask nothing which you may feel reluctance
+in granting. To-morrow we will speak of this again--to-morrow
+you shall know how much I have sought--how much I have
+risked--to soften the pang which I knew would, soon or
+late be inflicted on her whom I so love."
+
+"Generous--kind--considerate Ronayne, I can fully understand
+you, yet, ah! what must you think of me, who could for
+a moment doubt your power to explain every act of your
+life, however ambiguous in appearance. But what is that
+paper you have taken from your pocket-book?"
+
+"One that I have long designed for your perusal. It was
+written a few days after the events at the farm, and I
+have since then frequently determined to place it in your
+hands in order that, in the sacredness of solitude, you
+might indulge in the bitter tears its few pages will
+wring from you; but too selfish--yes, selfish, and severely
+am I punished for it--to suffer the joy of the hour to
+be broken in upon by sadness, I have hitherto delayed
+putting you in possession of that which, if only
+communicated a day earlier, would have spared us this
+painful scene. But I hear footsteps approaching. They
+must be those of Mrs. Elmsley and the doctor, with
+Catherine. Be not surprised, dearest, if I leave you soon
+after they enter, for I have something to do this evening
+which will require my presence in the Fort. Early in the
+morning, however, I shall be here."
+
+"I understand well what demands your presence elsewhere,"
+she returned with a look of deep gratitude and love. "Oh!
+Ronayne, whatever may happen," and the tears streamed
+down her pale face, as she pointed to her mother--"hear
+me declare that whatever you may ask of me one month
+hence, I shall not consider myself justified in refusing."
+
+Scarcely had he time to impress upon her lips his deep
+but chastened sense of happiness, when the party expected,
+entered the room--Von Vottenberg immediately applying
+himself to an examination of the patient, whose condition,
+it was evident from his unusually grave look, he conceived
+to be highly critical.
+
+Dreading to hear his opinion pronounced in the presence
+of his betrothed, and the more so, because he had in some
+degree been its cause, the young officer, after having
+warmly shaken hands with Mrs. Elmsley, whom he thanked
+for her prompt attention, urged her to do all in her
+power to soothe Maria, to whom, at parting, he also
+offered his hand, while his eye was eloquent with the
+feelings he could not well openly express.
+
+He first directed his course towards the rose-bush, and
+approached it with a feeling almost similar to what would
+have been experienced by him, had he been the actual
+murderer of Mr. Heywood. Loup Garou was sitting crouched
+near the head and was so far recovered as to growl rather
+fiercely at him, as he approached. On hearing the voice
+of his master, not in anger but in conciliation, he arose,
+slightly wagged his tail, and came forward slowly and
+crouching, as if in dread of further punishment, his lip
+uncurled, showing all his upper teeth, and with a short,
+quick sneeze, peculiar to his half-wolf-blooded race.
+
+Calling gently to the animal, he preceded him to the
+gate, desiring him to wait there until he returned--an
+injunction evidently understood by the dog, which,
+crouching down in his accustomed posture, ventured not
+to move. With the small spud, already alluded to, and
+then near the rose-tree, he put back in small quantities
+the displaced earth, until the ghastly face, indistinctly
+seen in the star-light, was again wholly hidden from
+view. This done, he approached the bank of the river,
+followed by the dog, and gave a shrill whistle, which,
+without being answered, speedily brought over the boat
+in which he now embarked for the opposite shore.
+
+His first care was to seek Elmsley, who, as officer of
+the guard, was up accoutred for duty, and was now looking
+over an old "Washington Intelligencer," that had been
+read at least a dozen times before, while he smoked his
+pipe and sipped from a bowl of whisky punch, which Von
+Vottenberg had just finished brewing, when so suddenly
+summoned to the cottage.
+
+After Ronayne had detailed to his friend the occurrences
+of the evening, and communicated his views, they both
+issued forth to the guard-room, where Sergeant Nixon
+happened to be upon duty. With the latter, a brief
+conversation was held by Ronayne, ending with an injunction
+for him to come to Lieutenant Elmsley's quarters and
+announce to him (the former), when certain arrangements
+which had been agreed upon, were completed.
+
+Returned to the abode of the latter, the young officer
+required no very great pressing to induce him to join
+his superior in the beverage, to which anxiety of mind
+not less than fatigue of body had so much disposed him,
+yet of which both partook moderately. While so employed,
+and awaiting the appearance of the sergeant, Ronayne,
+who had now no motive for further mystery or concealment,
+detailed at the request of his friend, but in much more
+succinct terms than he had done in the paper he had handed
+to Maria Heywood, the circumstances connected with his
+absence from the Fort, on the night of the attack upon
+the farm, and the means taken by him to attain the object
+in which he had been thwarted by Captain Headley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+"You dam Yankee, stop Injin when him go wigwam," commenced
+Ronayne, rising at the same time and imitating the action
+of one unsteady from intoxication. "'Spose tell him
+gubbernor?"
+
+"Ah! you horrid wretch--I see it all now, yet could I
+have been so imposed upon? You then were the pretended
+drunken Indian I let out that night? Upon my word, Master
+Ronayne. I never will forgive you for that trick."
+
+"Yes you will, old fellow. It was the only way to save
+you from a scrape, but I confess I have often since
+laughed in my sleeve at the recollection of the manner
+in which I deceived you."
+
+"Hang me if you didn't play your part to admiration, but
+the best of the jest is, that on reporting the circumstance
+to Headley, on the following morning, he said I had acted
+perfectly right; so had you known this when you had that
+scene on the parade, you might have pleaded his sanction.
+However, all that is over. Now then for your adventure."
+
+"The tale is soon told," began Ronayne. "On the evening
+when you and Von Vottenberg were so busy, the one in
+concocting his whisky-punch--the other in cutting up the
+Virginia, I was sacking my brain for a means to accomplish
+my desire to reach the farm, where I had a strong
+presentiment, from the lateness of the hour, without
+bringing any tidings of them, the fishing-party were,
+with Mr. Heywood and his people, in a state of siege,
+and I at length decided on what seemed to me to be the
+only available plan. I was not sorry to see you leave
+after taking your second glass, for I knew that I should
+have little difficulty in sewing up the doctor, whose
+tumbler I repeatedly filled, and made him drink off after
+sundry toasts, while he did not perceive--or was by no
+means sorry if he did--that I merely sipped from my own.
+When I thought he had swallowed enough to prevent him
+from interfering with my project, I bade him good night
+and left him, knowing well that in less than ten minutes
+he would be asleep. Instead, however, of going to bed,
+I hastened at once to preliminaries, having first got
+rid of my servant whom I did not wish to implicate, by
+making him acquainted with my intended absence. But tell
+me, did you examine my room at all the next day?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"And found nothing missing?"
+
+"Nothing. I scouted everywhere, and found only yourself
+wanting--the bed unrumpled, and everything in perfect
+bachelor order."
+
+"And that leather dress, my dear fellow, in which I once
+paid a visit to the camp of Winnebeg, from whose squaw,
+indeed, I had bought it. You know it generally hangs
+against the wall at the foot of my bed."
+
+"Ah! now I recollect, that was not there certainly,
+although I did not notice its absence then--so then, that
+was the dress you went out in, and I such a goose as not
+to remark it."
+
+"Because you know that I had had the precaution to throw
+a blanket over it in the most approved Pottawattamie
+style, while my features were colored with gambouge and
+Indian ink."
+
+"Well, say no more about that--I am ashamed to have been
+so taken in by a Johnny Raw. We will now suppose you
+kicked out of the Fort. Did I not kick you out," he added
+humorously, "and say, begone, you drunken dog, and never
+show your ugly face here again!"
+
+"On the contrary," returned his junior in the same mocking
+strain, "you were but too glad to be civil when I threatened
+you with the 'gubbernor!'"
+
+"Once out of the Fort," he gravely continued, "my course
+was plain. I immediately went to the wigwam of Winnebeg,
+whom I found seated, with his toes almost in the embers
+of an expiring fire, and smoking his last pipe previous
+to wrapping himself up for the night in his blanket. You
+may imagine his surprise, when, after some little
+difficulty, he recognized in that garb, and at that hour,
+particularly after the events of the day, with which he
+had been made acquainted by Mr. Frazer, before the latter,
+with his family, took refuge in the Fort. Still, true to
+the dignified reserve of his race, he concealed as much
+as possible what was passing in his mind, and made me
+sit by his side, near which, I have omitted to say, was
+an extremely handsome young Indian, whom he presented to
+me as his son, and then bade me tell him the object of
+my visit.
+
+"Of course I knew enough of Indian etiquette to be
+satisfied that I should gain by not attempting to hurry
+matters, and I accordingly suppressed my own impatience
+while taking a few whiffs from the pipe he courteously
+offered to me. Winnebeg then received it back, and while
+he sat with his eyes fixed intently on the fire, puffed
+away in an attitude of profound attention which encouraged
+me to proceed.
+
+"When he had heard all I had to say in regard to the
+fears I entertained for the absent party--for I did not
+confine my profession of interest to ONE--my vain
+application to the commandant, and my strong reliance
+upon him to send a party of his young men with me to the
+farm, his eye suddenly kindled--his countenance assumed
+a more animated expression, and removing the pipe from
+his lips, and puffing forth a more than usual volume of
+smoke, he cordially shook my hands, saying something in
+Indian to his son, who immediately sprang to his feet,
+and disappeared from the tent.
+
+"After a lapse of time which seemed to me as an age, the
+youth re-appeared with a dozen young warriors, all armed
+and decked in their war paint. They remained grouped
+round the entrance for a few minutes, while Waunangee
+changed his own dress, and Winnebeg provided me with a
+rifle, tomahawk and scalping-knife. Thus accoutred I took
+the lead with the former, and after cautiously creeping
+through the encampment, passed along the skirt of the
+wood that almost overhung the river. We moved off at a
+quick walk, but soon our pace increased to a half-run,
+so anxious were we all to get to the farm.
+
+"We had not proceeded more than half-way when we saw a
+small boat, which I immediately distinguished as that
+belonging to the fishing-party, slowly descending the
+river. The Indians simultaneously, and as if governed by
+one common instinct, dropped flat on the ground, as I
+supposed to remain unseen until the boat should come
+opposite to them, while I, uncertain by whom it was
+occupied, and anxious to ascertain, after whispering a
+few words to Waunangee, moved cautiously in advance along
+the shore. When I had crept up about fifty yards, I could
+distinctly see that it was one of our men, and I immediately
+hailed to know who he was, and where the remainder of
+the party were.
+
+"Scarcely had he answered 'Collins,' and commenced a few
+words of explanation of the cause of his being there and
+alone, when the forms of two Indians, which I fancied I
+had before detected creeping along the shore, regulating
+their stealthy progress by that of the boat, started into
+full height, and silently bounded towards me--one a little
+in advance of the other. The moment was critical. They
+were not twenty paces from me, and I have often since
+wondered at the presence of mind I preserved. It occurred
+to me that they would not commit the imprudence of using
+firearms so near the Fort, and that steel only would be
+resorted to by them. This suggested my own course. Throwing
+my rifle upon the beach in order that Collins, who was
+now pulling for the shore, might seize and use it as
+occasion should require, I grasped the scalping-knife in
+my left hand, and with my tomahawk in my right, did not
+wait for the attack, but rushed upon the foremost Indian,
+for I knew that my only chance of success lay in the
+killing or disabling of one before his comrade could come
+up. At the same time, both to apprise Waunangee of my
+position, and to daunt my adversaries, I uttered one of
+these tremendous yells, you know I so well can imitate,
+and receiving the blow of his tomahawk upon my own, thrown
+up in true military guard, plunged my knife into his body
+with such suddenness and force, that on examining it
+afterwards, I found that at least half an inch of the
+tapering handle had followed the blade. The savage fell
+dead without uttering a groan, a sight which, instead of
+checking the advance of his companion, rather urged him
+to revenge his fall. He had now come up with me, brandishing
+his tomahawk, when I put myself again on my guard,
+purposing to use my knife as I had done before, but at
+the very moment when the descent of his weapon was expected
+by me, he was suddenly seized from behind, raised from
+his feet, and thrown upon the ground. This was the act
+of Collins, who had gained the shore just after the first
+Indian fell, and had flown to my assistance.
+
+"At the same moment, Waunangee, who, with his warriors
+had started up on hearing my loud yell of defiance, came
+quickly to the spot, and they were not a little astounded
+to see an Indian, whom they instantly pronounced to be
+a Winnebago, lying motionless at my feet, nor was their
+respect for me at all lessened, when on handing my
+scalping-knife from one to the other, they perceived what
+a proficient I was in the use of their own favorite weapon.
+
+"Of course I was not silly enough to detract from my own
+glory, by admitting that it was as much the result of
+accident as of design. They made signs for me to scalp
+him, but having no particular desire to possess this
+trophy of my successful hand to hand encounter, one of
+the young men asked me to waive my right in his favor.
+This I did, and the scalp of the Winnebago was soon
+dangling from his waist. The other spoils I did not
+object to, and his rifle, tomahawk, and knife are now
+in Winnebago's tent, until there offers a favorable
+opportunity of bringing them to my quarters. But to
+proceed.
+
+"So much time had been passed in the examination of the
+body of the slain Winnebago, that his comrade had found
+ample time to escape. The Pottawattamies had not seen
+him, and Collins, after having temporarily disabled him,
+had run up to afford me further assistance, on seeing
+advancing in the rear, those whom he took to be of the
+same hostile party. Thus left unwatched, the savage had
+managed to creep away into the wood, and when attention
+was at length drawn to him, he was not to be seen.
+
+"When Collins had explained the position of the party at
+the farm, whose danger, on finding himself of no service
+there, he was then on his way to report, I proposed to
+Waunangee that half of his warriors should ascend by
+land, while the remainder with himself, accompanied me
+in the boat. We accordingly separated, and made what
+haste we could to our destination--the party on shore
+regulating their progress by that of the boat. During
+the descent my anxiety was very great, for my whole soul
+was bent upon the attainment of one object--that of
+restoring Mr. Heywood unharmed to his family. But the
+absence of all sound indicating conflict was by no means
+favorable, and I had already begun to fear that the
+silence which prevailed, was but the result of victory
+on the part of the hostile band who had departed, when
+suddenly the loud, fierce yell of disappointment which
+burst from them, as I have since understood, when a ladder
+by which they attempted to enter was thrown from the roof
+by Nixon, rang encouragingly upon my ear, and urged me
+to increased exertion. Our progress, however, was by no
+means proportioned to my anxiety, for somehow or other,
+only two oars were in the boat, and, as the Indians did
+not much care or know how to pull in time, the task
+devolved wholly upon Collins and myself. At length, just
+as the day was beginning to dawn, we reached the farm-house,
+about a hundred yards beyond which we put in and landed,
+making a detour by the barn, so as to meet the remainder
+of our little force in the rear, and thus to place the
+enemy, if actually surrounding the house, between two
+fires.
+
+"After waiting, however, some little time, and finding
+every thing quiet, my apprehensions increased, for,
+although not the sign of a Winnebago could be seen, so
+profound was the stillness within, that I began to think
+the whole of the party had been either captured or
+murdered. Suddenly, however, while hesitating as to the
+course to be pursued--for I feared that if the party were
+all right, and the enemy departed, they might fire upon
+us as we approached--I saw a man in American undress
+uniform, whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as
+Corporal Nixon, issue from the back of the house with a
+basket in his hands, and turning the corner with an
+appearance of much caution, make hastily for the river.
+Directing Waunangee, whose two bands had now joined, and
+were then lying closely concealed in the barn, to enter
+the house as cautiously and noiselessly as possible, I
+hastened after Nixon, from whom, after recovering from
+his first fright at finding himself unarmed, and in the
+power of one whom he naturally took for one of his recent
+assailants, I received a brief account of all that had
+occurred. On entering the house with him, shortly
+afterwards, what a contrast was present--on the one hand
+the ludicrous--the horrible on the other.
+
+"Close within the doorway lay the dead body of Mr.
+Heywood--"
+
+"The dead body of Mr. Heywood!" exclaimed Elmsley, starting
+from his chair in almost dismay at the intelligence. "How
+comes it, Ronayne, that you have never spoken of this
+before?"
+
+"No interruption, Elmsley--hear me to the close--close
+within the doorway, I repeat, lay the dead body of Mr.
+Heywood--his face much disfigured--and his large frame
+almost rigid in a pool of clotted blood. Imagine what a
+sight this was to me, whose sole object and hope it had
+been to restore the father in safety to the daughter,
+although at intervals during the route, I had more than
+once dreaded something of the sort. Stupefied at the
+spectacle, I felt my heart to sicken, as the idea of the
+grief by which Maria would be overwhelmed when this sad
+tale should be revealed to her, rose to my imagination.
+But even then my presence of mind did not desert me, and
+I already determined on what was to be done. In some
+degree consoled by this, I raised my glance from the body
+to observe what further atrocity had been committed.
+Three or four Indians were grouped around, evidently
+regarding the corpse with deep interest, for Mr. Heywood
+had often hunted with them, and given them refreshments
+when stopping to rest at his place, while on their way
+to the Fort laden with game. Further on the great body
+of Waunangee's people were standing leaning on their
+rifles, and enjoying the mistake of three of our fellows,
+who naturally taking them, from the great resemblance of
+dress, to be their enemies who had obtained an entrance,
+were holding aloft, in an attitude of defiance--one a
+huge poker thrust through the carcass of an enormous
+bird, and two others a blackened leg and wing, evidently
+belonging to the same animal, which they ever and anon
+brandished over their heads, while their eyes were rivetted
+on the dusky forms before them. The wooden partition
+sustained their muskets, from which the interposing
+Indians had cut them off, and against the front door of
+the house, which was closed and barred, leaned the only
+armed man of the party, deprived, however, of all power
+of action."
+
+"What a scene for some American Hogarth!" interrupted
+the lieutenant, "and how graphically you have described
+it. I can see the picture before me now."
+
+"I confess," answered Ronayne, "I could not even, amid
+all my own painful feelings, suppress a smile at its
+extreme absurdity, for the appearance of three men seeking
+to defend themselves from what they believed to be fierce
+and blood-thirsty enemies, with the burnt carcass and
+limbs of an old turkey-cock, was such a burlesque on the
+chivalrous, that, knowing as I did how little their
+supposed enemy was to be dreaded, I could not suppress
+thoughts which, while they forced themselves upon me, I
+was angry at allowing myself to entertain. To understand
+the scene fully, you must have looked on it yourself.
+Had I recounted this to you yesterday, or even this
+morning, I could have filled up the picture more
+grotesquely, and yet not less truly. But now I have too
+great a weight on my spirits to give more than a simple
+sketch.
+
+"At the announcement of my name and purpose, the statue
+at the door became suddenly disenchanted--the legs and
+wings fell--a man dropped lightly from the loft, musket
+in hand, and Cass only, with his gaze intently fixed on
+the mocking savages before him, of whom he took me indeed
+to be one, continued his defensive attitude with the
+poker, nor was it until I had advanced and taken his
+weapon from him, amid the loud laughter of the young
+Indians, that he finally came to his senses. And yet,
+after all, poor devil, his distrust was but natural.
+
+"No time was to be lost. While some of the men were,
+according to my instructions, wrapping in a blanket the
+body of Mr. Heywood, after removing from it what blood
+they could, and the others bore to the boat the unfortunate
+Le Noir, whom I had not at first distinguished, so
+completely had he been covered over by his dog and walnut
+blossoms, I took the corporal aside, and explained to
+him how important it was that nothing should be known at
+the Fort of the fate of Mr. Heywood. On his asking what
+he should say if questioned, I desired him (with some
+hesitation, I confess, for I knew I was setting a bad
+example to the men, which only the peculiar circumstances
+of the case could justify), to give an evasive answer,
+and say that the Indians had carried him off with them,
+which indeed would be the fact, as I intended him to be
+borne away by the party I had brought. I told him,
+moreover, that at a fitting opportunity, I would explain
+every thing to Captain Headley, and take all the
+responsibility upon myself.
+
+"On his promptly saying that he would, I added that the
+men of his party should be made acquainted with my wish,
+and asked if I might depend upon their secrecy. He replied
+that there was not a man among them who did not so love
+Miss Heywood, as to run the risk of any punishment, rather
+than utter one word that could be the means of giving
+her pain, and that while on the way down he would take
+care to warn them.
+
+"Elmsley, I was touched at this--almost to tears--for it
+was a source of proud yet tender pleasure to me--much
+more so than I can express--to know that Maria was so
+great a favorite with these rude-hearted fellows. Assured
+that every thing was right, I told the corporal to embark
+his men immediately, and pull for the Fort, while I, with
+Waunangee and his Indians proceeded by land with the body
+of Mr. Heywood.
+
+"'Don't you think, sir,' said the corporal, hesitatingly,
+as he prepared to execute my orders--'don't you think it
+would be well for the ladies' sake that they should not
+be reminded of the name of this place, more than can be
+helped?'
+
+"'Undoubtedly, Nixon, but what do you mean?'
+
+"'Why, sir, I mean that as poor Mr. Heywood never can be
+here again, it would be better nothing should be left to
+remind them of the bloody doings of yesterday.'
+
+"'And what other name would you give it?' I asked.
+
+"'If it was left to me, Mr. Ronayne,' replied the corporal;
+'I would call it HARDSCRABBLE, on account of the hard
+struggle the fellows must have had with Mr. Heywood,
+judging from his wounds and his broken rifle, before they
+mastered him.'
+
+"'Then, HARDSCRABBLE be it,' I said, 'not that I can
+really see it will make much difference in calling the
+thing to mind, yet it would scarcely be fair to deny to
+you, who have so bravely defended the place, the privilege
+of giving it a new name, if the old one is to be abandoned.'
+
+"'Thank you, sir,' returned Nixon, 'but if you hadn't
+come to our assistance, I don't know what the upshot
+might have been, I suspect that fellow whose comrade you
+killed, sent them off sooner than they intended.'
+
+"'No more of that, Nixon--and now do you remember what
+you are to say when you get back to the Fort?'
+
+"'I do, sir, and every man shall be told to say as I
+do--but about the new name, Mr. Ronayne,' he pursued,
+returning, after he had gone a few paces, 'do you think,
+sir, Mrs. Heywood will consent to it?'
+
+"'My good fellow,' I answered, 'recollect that Mrs.
+Heywood must know nothing about it--at least for the
+present. I will settle all that later. In the mean time,
+as you have called it HARDSCRABBLE, so let it remain.'
+
+"And HARDSCRABBLE that scene of blood is called to this
+hour.
+
+"I had at first apprehended," pursued Ronayne, "that the
+Indians would evince disinclination to carry the body so
+long a distance, or even at all, but on Waunangee explaining
+my desire, they all to my surprise, expressed even eagerness
+to meet my wishes, for, as he assured me, the young men
+looked upon me as a great warrior who had achieved a deed
+of heroism that might procure the distinction of a chief,
+and entitling me to their services in all things.
+
+"I certainly thought my honors cheaply enough purchased;
+however I was but too glad to appropriate to myself the
+respect and good-will which the killing of the Winnebago
+had entailed--and matters were soon arranged.
+
+"The body having been removed outside, and the doors
+secured as well as, under the circumstances, could be
+done, one of the warriors cut from a tree in the adjacent
+wood, a semi-circular piece of tough and flexible bark,
+about six feet in length, and in the hollow of this, the
+murdered father of Maria Heywood, already swathed tightly
+in a blanket, was placed. A long pole was then passed
+through the equi-distant loops of cord that encircled
+the whole, and two of the Indians having, with the
+assistance of their companions, raised it upon their
+shoulders, it was thus borne--the parties being relieved
+at intervals--over the two long miles of road that led
+to the skirt of the woods near the encampment. Here the
+body of Indians stopped, while Waunangee and myself
+repaired to the tent of his father, who no sooner had
+heard detailed by his son the account of my Winnebago
+killing practice of the preceding evening, than he
+overwhelmed me with congratulations, and looked proudly
+on the knife, still stained with a spot or two of blood,
+which I returned to him, and which he restored to its
+usual resting-place on his hip.
+
+"Perceiving that Winnebeg was, like his young men, ready
+to do any thing for me. I explained to him my desire to
+convey the body of Mr. Heywood across the river, and
+bury him secretly in his own grounds, but that it was
+necessary, in order to do this effectually, that he and
+his son should go with me, and by some circuitous route.
+Entering at once into my views, he said he would show me
+a place where we could cross without being seen either
+from the Fort or from his own encampment, and then led
+the way back to the wood where the party were still
+waiting.
+
+"The rest is soon told. Dismissing the young men into
+the encampment. Winnebeg, with his son, bore the body
+within the skirt of the wood, until we reached a bend of
+the river hidden from observation, where a canoe with
+paddles was drawn up on the beach. There we crossed, and
+going round to the rear of the cottage, entered the
+garden, and proceeded to the upper end, where at the
+summer house, near a favorite rose-tree of Maria's, I
+dug with my own hands a hasty grave, in which Winnebeg
+and Waunangee placed the body--its only coffin being the
+bark that was swathed around it. Of course I always
+intended to disinter it at some future, but not distant
+period, and bestow upon it the usual rites of burial.
+
+"This painful task accomplished, and the soil having been
+carefully replaced, so as to leave no inequality of
+surface, I accompanied my friends back by the same route,
+and about nine o'clock left the Pottawattamie encampment
+with them and a few other warriors of the tribe for the
+Fort, which in the crowd I entered without difficulty or
+creating suspicion. Watching my opportunity, I stole to
+the rear of my bed-room--opened and entered the window--
+changed my dress, and made my appearance on parade as
+you saw."
+
+"All is ready, sir," said Sergeant Nixon, entering just
+as he had concluded, and before Elmsley could offer any
+remark on this singular adventure--"the coffin is in the
+scow, and Corporal Collins, Green and Philips are there
+also with their shovels, ropes, and picks. If Mr. Elmsley
+will give me permission," and he touched his cap to that
+officer. "I will go too, sir."
+
+"As sergeant of the guard--no, Nixon, my good fellow,
+that will never do. The three men you have named, are,
+with myself, quite enough. Be on the look-out though, to
+let us in on our return. Have you provided a dark lantern?"
+
+"Yes, sir, Collins has the lantern belonging to the guard
+house."
+
+"Good. I will follow you in a moment, Elmsley," he
+continued, rising and draining off his half-emptied glass,
+"lend me your prayer-book. I wish that you could be
+present at this dismal ceremony, but of course that is
+wholly out of the question."
+
+"It is, indeed, my dear fellow. It would never do for us
+both to be absent. Not only ourselves but the men would
+be brought into the scrape, for you know Headley always
+sleeps with one eye open."
+
+"I do not like to do any thing clandestinely," remarked
+the ensign--"particularly after our reconciliation with
+him. Moreover, it is, as you say, in some degree
+compromising the men and myself with them. I have a great
+mind before I start to see and explain every thing to
+Headley, and obtain his sanction to my absence."
+
+"Nonsense," returned his friend, "he will never know it;
+besides it is possible that he may refuse to let you go
+before morning, and your object is, of course, to have
+every thing finished to-night. Take my advice; go without
+speaking to him on the subject, and if your remorse of
+conscience," and he smiled archly, "be so great afterwards,
+as to deprive you of more rest and appetite than you lost
+after killing that poor devil of a Winnebago, go to him
+as you did before--confess that you have again been a
+naughty boy--ask his pardon, and I am sure he will forgive
+the crime."
+
+"Well, I believe you are right. Be it so. Adieu, I shall
+be back within a couple of hours at the latest."
+
+"If you do, you will in all probability find me still
+poring over this old Intelligencer, which is full of
+rumors of approaching war with the British."
+
+"I shall be more inclined to hug my pillow," replied the
+ensign as he departed, "for I must again cross to the
+cottage, and be back here before guard-mounting to-morrow."
+
+Within ten minutes the party--two of them having borne
+the empty coffin, and the corporal the necessary implements,
+stood near the rose-tree in the garden. The body of Mr.
+Heywood was disinterred--the bark in which it lay wound
+round with many folds of a large sheet, and placed in
+the coffin, which after being screwed down, was deposited
+in a grave dug at least five feet under the surface. Then
+commenced the burial service, which was read by the young
+officer in a slow and impressive tone, and by the light
+of the shaded lantern, which, falling obliquely upon the
+forms of the men, discovered them standing around the
+grave--one foot resting on the edge--the other drawn
+back, as they awaited the signal to lower their almost
+offensive burden into its last resting-place. At length
+the prayers for the dead were ended, and the grave was
+carefully filled up, leaving as before, no inequality,
+but too deep to attract the scent of Loup Garou. Then
+after having dug up a few small roots of the sweet briar,
+and placed them at intervals on the newly-turned earth.
+Ronayne crossed with his little party to the Fort, glad
+to obtain a few hours of that repose, for which the
+harassing events of the day had so much predisposed him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+The fourth of July 1812, was a more than usual gala-day
+in the little Fort of Chicago, for in addition to the
+National Jubilee, there was to be celebrated one of a
+private, yet not less interesting nature. On that evening
+Ensign Ronayne was to espouse, in the very room in which
+he had first been introduced to her the woman he had so
+long and so ardently loved, and who, her mother having
+after a severe struggle become convalescent, had conformably
+to her promise, yielded a not reluctant consent to his
+proposal that this day of general joy, should be that of
+the commencement of their own happiness.
+
+At that remote period, and in the absence of duly ordained
+clergymen, it was customary for marriages to be performed
+by the Governors of Districts and by commanding officers
+of distant Forts, and these, perfectly legal, were
+subsequently as inclination, or scruple of conscience
+induced, celebrated in the usual manner. The early
+marriages of British subjects in Canada, soon after its
+conquest from the French, as well as many of those of
+the colonies now known as the United States, took place
+in this manner, and the custom had been continued until
+increased population provided the means of securing that
+spiritual comfort, which it must, of course, have been
+impossible for one dressed in a red coat instead of a
+black one, to impart.
+
+But neither Maria Heywood or Ronayne stood much on this
+punctilio. Provided the ceremony was legal, and according
+to the customs of the country, it mattered little who
+married them--the governor of a district--the commandant
+of a garrison, or a Gretna Green blacksmith--had they
+felt at all disposed to avail themselves of the services
+of the latter.
+
+It was a lovely day, and every thing seemed to smile upon
+the denizens of that region, from the early dawn until
+the setting of the sun. Officers and men were in their
+brightest uniforms--the women and children in their
+holiday dresses. A splendid new Star Spangled Banner--the
+work of Maria Heywood's hands--floated in the dazzling
+rays of the sun, upon the southern bastion of the Fort.
+Joy and pride sat on every brow. They exulted at the
+recollection of that hardly won freedom from injustice,
+which was that day to be celebrated for the thirty-sixth
+time.
+
+At noon the cannon thundered forth their bursts of
+rejoicing. This was the signal for the numerous
+Pottawattamies outside, all of whom had decked themselves
+for the occasion, to approach nearer to the Fort. On the
+glacis they discharged their guns and rifles, and seemed
+to have but one spirit with the allies to whom they
+appeared to have devoted themselves. Winnebeg, however,
+though long expected, had not yet returned, and nothing
+yet had been seen of Waunangee, since his departure on
+the day following the little incident which occurred in
+Elmsley's apartments.
+
+Contrary to that unnatural etiquette which enjoins that
+two betrothed persons, who are expected to be inseparable
+after marriage, should never show themselves together in
+public immediately before, Ronayne had after parade
+ascended the rampart, with Maria Heywood leaning upon
+his arm, occasionally glancing at the group of
+gaily-costumed Indians, who were amusing themselves on
+the green, but oftener admiring the lovely view, softened
+by distance, which was presented in various points, and
+particularly towards the farm--the theatre of events
+which the otherwise happy girl, could not at that moment
+avoid bringing to her recollection.
+
+While gazing in that direction, her eye fell upon the
+form of a young Indian who was leaning against the corner
+of the picketed bastion on her left, in the shallow, dry,
+and grass-covered ditch that surrounded it. At first her
+glance caught an indistinct human form dressed in the
+Indian garb, but as her gaze settled on the object, her
+surprise was great to recognise Waunangee, who was even
+then looking at her with the same softened and eloquent
+expression, which had given her so much anxiety on a
+former occasion. The impression produced upon her was
+exactly what it had been then--indescribable--inexplicable
+to herself.
+
+"What is the matter, my love?" inquired Ronayne tenderly,
+and pressing her arm to his heart--"what fixes your
+attention below?" then seeing the Indian himself. "Ah!
+Waunangee, my friend!" he exclaimed, "where have you been
+all this time? Come round to the gate and shake hands
+with my wife."
+
+"No, no, no, do not call him up, Ronayne--you cannot
+think how much the presence of that Indian troubles me."
+
+"Nay, dearest Maria, you are not yourself. Why continue
+this strong dislike against the poor fellow? I thought
+you had quite forgiven him."
+
+Was it accident--was it modesty, or was it a consciousness
+that his presence was not desired by at least one of the
+parties, that prevented the young Indian from obeying
+the summons of the officer. Whatever the cause, he assumed
+a serious mein, and playing one of those melancholy airs
+which so often, at that time, might be heard proceeding
+from the rude flute of their race, walked slowly away.
+
+"I fear you have offended him, Maria. Oh! if you knew--"
+
+"Ronayne--dearest Harry!" interrupted his betrothed--"I
+have never said anything of this before to you, because,
+after all, it is but an idle fancy, yet I cannot divest
+myself of the idea that this Indian, interesting and
+prepossessing as he is, is somehow or other connected
+with my future fate. Nay," as the young officer smiled
+in playful mockery, "you may ridicule my presentiment,
+which is, I confess, so much at variance with good sense,
+that I almost blush to introduce the subject, but still
+I cannot banish the impression."
+
+"Then, I will assist you in doing so, dearest, even though
+at the risk of re-opening a newly-closed wound," remarked
+her lover, with deep affection of manner. "In my narrative
+of those events, hastily thrown together, which I gave
+you on that memorable night, when I suffered for a period,
+almost the torments of the damned, I did not, it seems
+to me, name the young Indian, who, with his father, so
+greatly aided me on my return to the farm, and even bore
+upon his shoulders the sacred charge."
+
+"No, Harry, you did not," quickly rejoined Maria Heywood;
+"but I know now whom you mean. It was Waunangee."
+
+"It was," said the ensign--"I know your knowledge of that
+fact will change your feelings towards him."
+
+"They are changed--even at this moment, and henceforth
+I shall be to him as a sister. Ah! how ungrateful must
+I have appeared to the poor fellow. I shall conquer this
+silly weakness: I have misunderstood my own impressions,
+and it must have been that I have mistaken the influence
+Waunangee has had for that which is to be. Call him up
+now, Ronayne, and I will cheerfully give him my hand,
+and promise to love him as a brother in return for the
+devotion he has evinced, not less for you than for my
+poor father."
+
+"Time enough, repentant sinner," returned the young
+officer, at the same time casting his glance rapidly over
+the group of Indians, who were amusing themselves at
+various athletic games. "I can see nothing of him. Your
+evident displeasure," he added playfully, "has destroyed
+his peace, as indeed you might have known from that
+plaintive ditty. However, dearest girl, I shall see him
+soon, and make him promise to be present this evening at
+the nuptials of his friend and sister. Nay, if I had not
+engaged Elmsley, I should insist on his being my bridesman."
+
+The only notice taken of this sally was a faint smile
+from his companion, who now descended with him from the
+rampart and proceeded to the apartments of Mrs. Elmsley,
+where her mother and herself had once more been visitors
+for the last few days. Here they separated to meet again
+in the evening--Ronayne directing his attention to his
+various duties, and looking out at intervals for his
+young Indian friend.
+
+It was night. No accident had occurred beyond the laceration
+of two of Ephraim Giles's fingers, who having that day
+been presented with a new suit by the doctor--the fac-simile
+in fashion of the old--had been whittling almost in front
+of one of the guns when discharged, and lost, with the
+skin of his finger, both his stick and his knife. The
+sultriness of the day had been succeeded by a cool and
+refreshing air. Gaiety and content every where prevailed,
+and many were the voices--male and female--that exclaimed,
+as allusion was made to the ceremony all knew, to be in
+progress: "God bless them, and make them happy, as they
+deserve to be." A large tub of whisky-punch, the gift of
+the commanding officer, had been brewed by Von Vottenberg,
+for their mid-day revel, and this, all had been unanimous
+in pronouncing the best medicine the doctor had ever
+administered to them; and now in small social messes,
+seated round their rude tables, covered with tin goblets,
+and pitchers of the same metal--the mothers with their
+children at their side or upon their knees, and the
+fathers and unmarried men puffing clouds of smoke from
+their short pipes--which they filled from two others
+placed on an elevated settle--one in each block house
+--which the happy Ronayne had given them on the occasion.
+
+Even the guard was moderately supplied, and the sentries
+alone, pacing to and fro in their limited walk, felt the
+bitterness of privation, as they counted the minutes that
+must elapse before they could join in the festivities
+which the loud voice and ringing laugh, occasionally
+wafted to their ears, told them were in progress.
+
+In the rooms of the commanding officer there was more
+than the usual manifestation of the anniversary. All had
+dined at an early hour, but a large side-board that stood
+in one corner of the council room--always fitted up on
+these occasions--was covered with vases containing wines,
+liqueurs, juleps, and punches of various kinds--the latter
+the work of the indefatigable son of Esculapius, and of
+these the host and his guests partook freely, in
+commemoration of the day. At the opposite end of the room
+had been raised a sort of tribune for the orator of the
+day, but as it was intended the address should be impromptu,
+no name had been mentioned, nor could any one know, until
+the moment when the majority of voices should select him
+on whom the office was to devolve. In the fear entertained
+by each that he should be the party selected, the glass,
+to impart the necessary courage, was not spared. But he
+who was not in the room, or of the number of those devoted
+to the punch-bowl was the person chosen. As if by one
+impulsive consent, Ronayne, who was seated in the inner
+room, and discoursing of any thing but politics to his
+betrothed, found himself loudly called upon--knew it
+was in vain to object--and reluctantly rose in obedience
+to the summons.
+
+"Come young gentleman," said Captain Headley, entering
+with an air of gaiety by no means usual to him, "you are,
+it appears, in all things," and he bowed significantly
+to Maria Heywood, "the chosen of the evening--but
+recollect," he added, as he drew his arm through his own,
+and proceeded towards the larger apartment where Ronayne
+was awaited, "as you acquit yourself of YOUR duty, so
+shall I of MINE."
+
+"I shall do my best, sir," replied the youth, in the same
+light tone, "but of the two orations, I know which will
+be the best suited to my own taste."
+
+The other ladies, with the exception of Mrs. Heywood,
+had also risen, and now stood grouped near Captain Headley,
+who, with Maria Heywood on his arm, leaned against the
+door-way separating the two rooms--while Ronayne, amid
+cheers and congratulations, made his way to the tribune,
+at the farther end of the apartment.
+
+His address was necessarily not long--for independently
+of the impatience he could not but entertain at that
+moment of all subjects but that nearest his heart, he
+was by no means ambitious of making a display of his
+powers of elocution. Yet, notwithstanding this, he treated
+his theme in so masterly a manner, and in such perfectly
+good taste, omitting all expressions of that rancor
+towards Great Britain, which forms so leading a feature
+in American orations on this occasion, and yet reflecting
+honor on the land of his birth--alluding, moreover, to
+the high position even then occupied by the nation, and
+the future greatness which he predicted, from its laws,
+its institutions, and peculiar form of government, awaited
+it--that Maria Heywood could not fail to experience a
+secret pride in the warm, and evidently sincere acclamation
+of the little party present, attesting as they did, their
+estimate of the worth of him, who in another hour, would
+be her own for life.
+
+As Ronayne descending from the tribune, passed to the
+other side of the room, he looked out of the door which
+had been left open, not more on account of the heat, than
+to afford the men and their families an opportunity of
+hearing the discourse thus delivered--almost the first
+person who came under his glance was Waunangee, for whose
+admission he had given orders to the serjeant of the
+guard, and who now, in compliance with his pressing
+entreaty, had attended. He was becomingly dressed in deer
+skin, richly embroidered, pliant and of a clear brown
+that harmonized well with the snowy whiteness of his
+linen shirt, which was fastened with silver brooches,
+while on the equally decorated leggins, he wore around
+the ankle, strings of minute brass bells. On his head
+floated the rich plumage of various rare birds, but no
+paint was visible beyond the slightest tint of vermilion
+on the very top of each cheek-bone, rendering even more
+striking the expression of his soft dark eyes.
+
+Beckoning to him, Ronayne drew the young Indian within
+the door, which had he not accidentally distinguished
+him in the crowd, he was quite too modest to enter alone.
+Then drawing his arm through his own, he led him, coloring
+and embarrassed at the novelty of the scene, to the place
+where Captain Headley was still lingering with his charge.
+The moment they were near enough, the latter held out
+her hand to Waunangee, and with all the warmth of her
+generous nature, pressed that which he extended. The
+young Indian colored more deeply even than before--his
+hand trembled in hers--and the look of thankfulness which
+he bent upon her, in return for this unmistakable
+confidence, had all the touching melancholy of expression
+which she had remarked in them at their first meeting.
+Again a mingled sentiment of confusion and distrust
+suffused the cheek, and for a moment oppressed the spirit
+of Maria Heywood in despite of herself, and she almost
+wished Waunangee had not returned. The thought however,
+was momentary. She felt the folly, the injustice of her
+feelings, and anxious to atone for them, she nervously
+--almost convulsively grasped the hand of the Indian,
+carried it to her lips, and said in her full, sweet and
+earnest tones, that he must ever be her brother as she
+would ever be his sister.
+
+"And now," said Captain Headley to the young officer,
+"what reward do you expect for your maiden oration? What
+shall it be, Miss Heywood?"
+
+"I will spare her the trouble of an answer," interposed
+Ronayne, as he took the arm which had just disengaged
+itself from that of the commandant, and placed it within
+his own, "until you have set your seal to the priceless
+gift," and his eyes looked all the intensity of his
+feeling; "I part not with it again."
+
+"Every thing is ready is the next room," answered Captain
+Headley--"go in. When I have announced that the ceremony
+is about to take place, I shall hasten to give you the
+dear girl for life," and imprinting a kiss upon her brow,
+he passed on to those who were paying their homage to
+the punch-bowl, and discussing the merits of the oration
+just delivered.
+
+It was with a flushed cheek, and a beating heart that
+Maria Heywood was led by Ronayne, radiant with hope and
+joy, to the little table covered with plain, white linen,
+and illuminated by half a dozen tall candles, behind
+which the commanding officer had placed himself on an
+elevated estrade.
+
+All of the guests were grouped around, a little in the
+rear, while Lieutenant Elmsley stood on the right hand
+of his friend, and his wife on the left of the betrothed.
+Next to her, in an arm chair, which, provided with rollers,
+was easily moved, Mrs. Heywood--and with her beautiful
+arms reposing on the high back of this, stood Mrs. Headley
+in graceful attitude, watching the ceremony with almost
+maternal interest. Immediately behind Ronayne, from whom
+he evidently did not like to be separated, stood Waunangee,
+with an air of deep dejection, yet casting glances rapidly
+from one to the other of his two friends.
+
+When the young officer, after having formally received
+the bride from her mother, whose strength barely permitted
+her to rise and go through that part of the ceremony,
+proceeded to place the ring upon the finger of his wife,
+it fell, either from nervousness or accident upon the
+matted floor. Quick as thought, Waunangee, who had now
+his whole attention bent upon the passing scene, stooped,
+picked it up, and attempted to place it on the finger,
+still extended, for which it was designed.
+
+"Gently, Waunangee, my good fellow," said the officer,
+piqued not less at his own awkwardness at such a moment,
+than at the outre act of the youth, from whom he rather
+unceremoniously took it--"the husband only does this."
+
+"Wah!" involuntarily exclaimed the other, his cheek
+becoming brighter, and his eyes kindling into sudden
+fierceness, while his hand intuitively clutched the handle
+of his knife--yet the moment afterwards relinquished it.
+The motion had been so quick, indeed, that only Mr.
+Headley and the bride herself had noticed it.
+
+Still fascinated as it were by the novel scene, Waunangee
+moved not away, but the expression of his eyes had wholly
+changed. There was no longer to be remarked there the
+great melancholy of the past--but the wild restless,
+flashing glance that told of strong excitement within.
+
+When immediately afterwards they knelt, and had their
+hands joined by Captain Headley, Waunangee bent eagerly
+forward, as if apprehensive of losing the slightest part
+of the ceremonial, but when at the conclusion, Ronayne
+saluted his wife in the usual manner, his cheek became
+suddenly pale as its native hue would permit, and with
+folded arms and proud attitude he withdrew slowly from
+the place he had hitherto occupied, to mingle more with
+the crowd behind.
+
+When Ronayne, who, remembering the little incident of
+the ring, and the possible pique Waunangee might feel,
+turned to look for him, that he might again present his
+bride in her new character, he was no where to be seen,
+nor was he ever again beheld within the precincts of that
+stockade.
+
+And under those singular and somewhat ominous circumstances,
+were the long-delayed nuptials of Harry Ronayne and Maria
+Heywood--the great favorites of the garrison--celebrated
+to the joy of all within the Fort of Chicago.
+
+
+END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hardscrabble, by John Richardson
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