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Title: Wacousta (Volume II)
       or The Prophecy

Author: John Richardson

Release Date: December, 2003 [Etext #4720]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on March 7, 2002]

Edition: 10

Language: English

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WACOUSTA;
  or
THE PROPHECY.

Volume Two of Three




CHAPTER I.

It was on the evening of that day, so fertile in melancholy
incident, to which our first volume has been devoted,
that the drawbridge of Detroit was, for the third time
since the investment of the garrison, lowered; not, as
previously, with a disregard of the intimation that might
be given to those without by the sullen and echoing rattle
of its ponderous chains, but with a caution attesting
how much secrecy of purpose was sought to be preserved.
There was, however, no array of armed men within the
walls, that denoted an expedition of a hostile character.
Overcome with the harassing duties of the day, the chief
portion of the troops had retired to rest, and a few
groups of the guard alone were to be seen walking up and
down in front of their post, apparently with a view to
check the influence of midnight drowsiness, but, in
reality, to witness the result of certain preparations
going on by torchlight in the centre of the barrack
square.

In the midst of an anxious group of officers, comprising
nearly all of that rank within the fort, stood two
individuals, attired in a costume having nothing in common
with the gay and martial habiliments of the former. They
were tall, handsome young men, whose native elegance of
carriage was but imperfectly hidden under an equipment
evidently adopted for, and otherwise fully answering,
the purpose of disguise. A blue cotton shell jacket,
closely fitting to the person, trowsers of the same
material, a pair of strong deer-skin mocassins, and a
coloured handkerchief tied loosely round the collar of
a checked shirt, the whole surmounted by one of those
rough blanket coats, elsewhere described, formed the
principal portion of their garb. Each, moreover, wore a
false queue of about nine inches in length, the effect
of which was completely to change the character of the
countenance, and lend to the features a Canadian-like
expression. A red worsted cap, resembling a bonnet de
nuit, was thrown carelessly over the side of the head,
which could, at any moment, when deeper disguise should
be deemed necessary, command the additional protection
of the rude hood that fell back upon the shoulders from
the collar of the coat to which it was attached. They
were both well armed. Into a broad belt, that encircled
the jacket of each, were thrust a brace of pistols and
a strong dagger; the whole so disposed, however, as to
be invisible when the outer garment was closed: this,
again, was confined by a rude sash of worsted of different
colours, not unlike, in texture and quality, what is worn
by our sergeants at the present day. They were otherwise
armed, however, and in a less secret manner. Across the
right shoulder of each was thrown a belt of worsted also,
to which were attached a rude powder horn and shot pouch,
with a few straggling bullets, placed there as if rather
by accident than design. Each held carelessly in his left
hand, and with its butt resting on the earth, a long gun;
completing an appearance, the attainment of which had,
in all probability, been sedulously sought,--that of a
Canadian duck-hunter.

A metamorphosis so ludicrously operated in the usually
elegant costume of two young English officers,--for such
they were,--might have been expected to afford scope to
the pleasantry of their companions, and to call forth
those sallies which the intimacy of friendship and the
freemasonry of the profession would have fully justified.
But the events that had occurred in such rapid succession,
since the preceding midnight, were still painfully
impressed on the recollection of all, and some there were
who looked as if they never would smile again; neither
laugh nor jeering, therefore, escaped the lips of one of
the surrounding group. Every countenance wore a cast of
thought,--a character of abstraction, ill suited to the
indulgence of levity; and the little conversation that
passed between them was in a low and serious tone. It
was evident some powerful and absorbing dread existed in
the mind of each, inducing him rather to indulge in
communion with his own thoughts and impressions, than to
communicate them to others. Even the governor himself
had, for a moment, put off the dignity and distance of
his usually unapproachable nature, to assume an air of
unfeigned concern, and it might be dejection, contrasting
strongly with his habitual haughtiness. Hitherto he had
been walking to and fro, a little apart from the group,
and with a hurriedness and indecision of movement that
betrayed to all the extreme agitation of his mind. For
once, however, he appeared to be insensible to observation,
or, if not insensible, indifferent to whatever comments
might be formed or expressed by those who witnessed his
undissembled emotion. He was at length interrupted by
the adjutant, who communicated something in a low voice.

"Let him be brought up, Mr. Lawson," was the reply. Then
advancing into the heart of the group, and addressing
the two adventurers, he enquired, in a tone that startled
from its singular mildness, "if they were provided with
every thing they required."

An affirmative reply was given, when the governor, taking
the taller of the young men aside, conversed with him
earnestly, and in a tone of affection strangely blended
with despondency. The interview, however, was short, for
Mr. Lawson now made his appearance, conducting an individual
who has already been introduced to our readers. It was
the Canadian of the Fleur de lis. The adjutant placed a
small wooden crucifix in the hands of the governor.

"Francois," said the latter, impressively, "you know the
terms on which I have consented to spare your life. Swear,
then, by this cross; that you will be faithful to your
trust; that neither treachery nor evasion shall be
practised; and that you will, to the utmost of your power,
aid in conveying these gentlemen to their destination.
Kneel and swear it."

"I do swear it!" fervently repeated the aubergiste,
kneeling and imprinting his lips with becoming reverence
on the symbol of martyrdom. "I swear to do dat I shall
engage, and may de bon Dieu have mercy to my soul as I
shall fulfil my oat."

"Amen," pronounced the governor, "and may Heaven deal by
you even as you deal by us. Bear in mind, moreover, that
as your treachery will be punished, so also shall your
fidelity be rewarded. But the night wears apace, and ye
have much to do." Then turning to the young officers who
were to be his companions,--"God bless you both; may your
enterprise be successful! I fear," offering his hand to
the younger, "I have spoken harshly to you, but at a
moment like the present you will no longer cherish a
recollection of the unpleasant past."

The only answer was a cordial return of his own pressure.
The Canadian in his turn now announced the necessity for
instant departure, when the young men, following his
example, threw their long guns carelessly over the left
shoulder. Low, rapid, and fervent adieus were uttered on
both sides; and although the hands of the separating
parties met only in a short and hurried grasp, there was
an expression in the touch of each that spoke to their
several hearts long after the separation had actually
taken place.

"Stay one moment!" exclaimed a voice, as the little party
now moved towards the gateway; "ye are both gallantly
enough provided without, but have forgotten there is
something quite as necessary to sustain the inward man.
Duck shooting, you know, is wet work. The last lips that
were moistened from this," he proceeded, as the younger
of the disguised men threw the strap of the proffered
canteen over his shoulder, "were those of poor Ellen
Halloway."

The mention of that name, so heedlessly pronounced by
the brave but inconsiderate Erskine, produced a startling
effect on the taller of the departing officers. He struck
his brow violently with his hand, uttered a faint groan,
and bending his head upon his chest, stood in an attitude
expressive of the deep suffering of his mind. The governor,
too, appeared agitated; and sounds like those of suppressed
sobs came from one who lingered at the side of him who
had accepted the offer of the canteen. The remainder of
the officers preserved a deep and mournful silence.

"It is times dat we should start," again observed the
Canadian, "or we shall be taken by de daylight before we
can clear de river."

This intimation once more aroused the slumbering energies
of the taller officer. Again he drew up his commanding
figure, extended his hand to the governor in silence,
and turning abruptly round, hastened to follow close in
the footsteps of his conductor.

"You will not forget all I have said to you," whispered
the voice of one who had reserved his parting for the
last, and who now held the hand of the younger adventurer
closely clasped in his own. "Think, oh, think how much
depends on the event of your dangerous enterprise."

"When you behold me again," was the reply, "it will be
with smiles on my lip and gladness in my heart; for if
we fail, there is that within me, which whispers I shall
never see you more. But keep up your spirits, and hope
for the best. We embark under cheerless auspices, it is
true; but let us trust to Providence for success in so
good a cause,--God bless you!"

In the next minute he had joined his companions; who,
with light and noiseless tread, were already pursuing
their way along the military road that led to the eastern
extremity of the town. Soon afterwards, the heavy chains
of the drawbridge were heard grating on the ear, in
despite of the evident caution used in restoring it to
its wonted position, and all again was still.

It had at first been suggested their course should be
held in an angular direction across the cleared country
alluded to in our last chapter, in order to avoid all
chance of recognition in the town; but as this might have
led them into more dangerous contact with some of the
outlying parties of Indians, who were known to prowl
around the fort at night, this plan had been abandoned
for the more circuitous and safe passage by the village.
Through this our little party now pursued their way, and
without encountering aught to impede their progress. The
simple mannered inhabitants had long since retired to
rest, and neither light nor sound denoted the existence
of man or beast within its precincts. At length they
reached that part of the road which turned off abruptly
in the direction of the Fleur de lis. The rude hut threw
its dark shadows across their path, but all was still
and deathlike as in the village they had just quitted.
Presently, however, as they drew nearer, they beheld,
reflected from one of the upper windows, a faint light
that fell upon the ground immediately in front of the
auberge; and, at intervals, the figure of a human being
approaching and receding from it as if in the act of
pacing the apartment.

An instinctive feeling of danger rose at the same moment
to the hearts of the young officers; and each, obeying
the same impulse, unfastened one of the large horn buttons
of his blanket coat, and thrust his right hand into the
opening.

"Francois, recollect your oath," hastily aspirated the
elder, as he grasped the hand of their conductor rather
in supplication than in threat; "if there be aught to
harm us here, your own life will most assuredly pay the
forfeit of your faith."

"It is noting but a womans," calmly returned the Canadian;
"it is my Babette who is sorry at my loss. But I shall
come and tell you directly."

He then stole gently round the corner of the hut, leaving
his anxious companions in the rear of the little building,
and completely veiled in the obscurity produced by the
mingling shadows of the hut itself, and a few tall pear
trees that overhung the paling of the orchard at some
yards from the spot on which they stood.

They waited some minutes to hear the result of the
Canadian's admittance into his dwelling; but although
each with suppressed breathing sought to catch those
sounds of welcome with which a daughter might be supposed
to greet a parent so unexpectedly restored, they listened
in vain. At length, however, while the ears of both were
on the rack to drink in the tones of a human voice, a
faint scream floated on the hushed air, and all again
was still.

"Good!" whispered the elder of the officers; "that scream
is sweeter to my ear than the softest accents of woman's
love. It is evident the ordinary tones of speech cannot
find their way to us here from the front of the hut. The
faintness of yon cry, which was unquestionably that of
a female, is a convincing proof of it."

"Hist!" urged his companion, in the same almost inaudible
whisper, "what sound was that?"

Both again listened attentively, when the noise was
repeated. It came from the orchard, and resembled the
sound produced by the faint crash of rotten sticks and
leaves under the cautious but unavoidably rending tread
of a human foot. At intervals it ceased, as if the person
treading, alarmed at his own noise, was apprehensive of
betraying his approach; and then recommenced, only to be
checked in the same manner. Finally it ceased altogether.

For upwards of five minutes the young men continued to
listen for a renewal of the sound, but nothing was now
audible, save the short and fitful gusts of a rising wind
among the trees of the orchard.

"It must have been some wild animal in search of its
prey," again whispered the younger officer; "had it been
a man, we should have heard him leap the paling before
this."

"By Heaven, we are betrayed,--here he is," quickly rejoined
the other, in the same low tone. "Keep close to the hut,
and stand behind me. If my dagger fail, you must try
your own. But fire not, on your life, unless there be
more than two, for the report of a pistol will be the
destruction of ourselves and all that are dear to us."

Each with uplifted arm now stood ready to strike, even
while his heart throbbed with a sense of danger, that
had far more than the mere dread of personal suffering
or death to stimulate to exertion in self-defence.
Footsteps were now distinctly heard stealing round that
part of the hut which bordered on the road; and the young
men turned from the orchard, to which their attention
had previously been directed, towards the new quarter
whence they were intruded upon.

It was fortunate this mode of approach had been selected.
That part of the hut which rested on the road was so
exposed as to throw the outline of objects into strong
relief, whereas in the direction of the thickly wooded
orchard all was impenetrable gloom. Had the intruder
stolen unannounced upon the alarmed but determined officers
by the latter route, the dagger of the first would in
all probability have been plunged to its hilt in his
bosom. As it was, each had sufficient presence of mind
to distinguish, as it now doubled the corner of the hut,
and reposed upon the road, the stout square-set figure
of the Canadian. The daggers were instantly restored to
their sheaths, and each, for the first time since the
departure of their companion, respired freely.

"It is quite well," whispered the latter as he approached.
"It was my poor Babette, who tought I was gone to be
kill. She scream so loud, as if she had seen my ghost.
But we must wait a few minute in de house, and you shall
see how glad my girl is to see me once again."

"Why this delay, Francois? why not start directly?" urged
the taller officer; "we shall never clear the river in
time; and if the dawn catches us in the waters of the
Detroit, we are lost for ever."

"But you see I am not quite prepare yet," was the answer.
"I have many tings to get ready for de canoe, which I
have not use for a long times. But you shall not wait
ten minute, if you do not like. Dere is a good fire, and
Babette shall give you some ting to eat while I get it
all ready."

The young men hesitated. The delay of the Canadian, who
had so repeatedly urged the necessity for expedition
while in the fort, had, to say the least of it, an
appearance of incongruity. Still it was evident, if
disposed to harm them, he had full opportunity to do so
without much risk of effectual opposition from themselves.
Under all circumstances, therefore, it was advisable
rather to appear to confide implicitly in his truth,
than, by manifesting suspicion, to pique his self-love,
and neutralize whatever favourable intentions he might
cherish in their behalf. In this mode of conduct they
were confirmed, by a recollection of the sacredness
attached by the religion of their conductor to the oath
so solemnly pledged on the symbol of the cross, and by
a conviction of the danger of observation to which they
stood exposed, if, as they had apprehended, it was actually
a human footstep they had heard in the orchard. This
last recollection suggested a remark.

"We heard a strange sound within the orchard, while
waiting here for your return," said the taller officer;
"it was like the footstep of a man treading cautiously
over rotten leaves and branches. How do you account for
it?"

"Oh, it was my pigs," replied the Canadian, without
manifesting the slightest uneasiness at the information.
"They run about in de orchard for de apples what blows
down wid de wind."

"It could not be a pig we heard," pursued his questioner;
"but another thing, Francois, before we consent to enter
the hut,--how will you account to your daughter for our
presence? and what suspicion may she not form at seeing
two armed strangers in company with you at this unseasonable
hour."

"I have tell her," replied the Canadian, "dat I have
bring two friends, who go wid me in de canoe to shoot de
ducks for two tree days. You know, sir, I go always in
de fall to kill de ducks wid my friends, and she will
not tink it strange."

"You have managed well, my brave fellow; and now we follow
you in confidence. But in the name of Heaven, use all
possible despatch, and if money will lend a spur to your
actions, you shall have plenty of it when our enterprise
has been accomplished."

Our adventurers followed their conductor in the track by
which he had so recently rejoined them. As they turned
the corner of the hut, the younger, who brought up the
rear, fancied he again heard a sound in the direction of
the orchard, resembling that of one lightly leaping to
the ground. A gust of wind, however, passing rapidly at
the moment through the dense foliage, led him to believe
it might have been produced by the sullen fall of one of
the heavy fruits it had detached in its course. Unwilling
to excite new and unnecessary suspicion in his companion,
he confined the circumstance to his own breast, and
followed into the hut.

After ascending a flight of about a dozen rude steps,
they found themselves in a small room, furnished with no
other ceiling than the sloping roof itself, and lighted
by an unwieldy iron lamp, placed on a heavy oak table,
near the only window with which the apartment was provided.
This latter had suffered much from the influence of time
and tempest; and owing to the difficulty of procuring
glass in so remote a region, had been patched with slips
of paper in various parts. The two corner and lower panes
of the bottom sash were out altogether, and pine shingles,
such as are used even at the present day for covering
the roofs of dwelling houses, had been fitted into the
squares, excluding air and light at the same time. The
centre pane of this tier was, however, clear and free
from flaw of every description. Opposite to the window
blazed a cheerful wood fire, recently supplied with fuel;
and at one of the inner corners of the room was placed
a low uncurtained bed, that exhibited marks of having
been lain in since it was last made. On a chair at its
side were heaped a few dark-looking garments, the precise
nature of which were not distinguishable at a cursory
and distant glance.

Such were the more remarkable features of the apartment
into which our adventurers were now ushered. Both looked
cautiously around on entering, as if expecting to find
it tenanted by spirits as daring as their own; but, with
the exception of the daughter of their conductor, whose
moist black eyes expressed, as much by tears as by smiles,
the joy she felt at this unexpected return of her parent,
no living object met their enquiring glance. The Canadian
placed a couple of rush-bottomed chairs near the fire,
invited his companions to seat themselves until he had
completed his preparation for departure, and then, desiring

Babette to hasten supper for the young hunters, quitted
the room and descended the stairs.




CHAPTER II.

The position of the young men was one of embarrassment;
for while the daughter, who was busied in executing the
command of her father, remained in the room, it was
impossible they could converse together without betraying
the secret of their country, and, as a result of this,
the falsehood of the character under which they appeared.
Long residence in the country had, it is true, rendered
the patois of that class of people whom they personated
familiar to one, but the other spoke only the pure and
native language of which it was a corruption. It might
have occurred to them at a cooler moment, and under less
critical circumstances, that, even if their disguise had
been penetrated, it was unlikely a female, manifesting
so much lively affection for her parent, would have done
aught to injure those with whom he had evidently connected
himself. But the importance attached to their entire
security from danger left them but little room for
reflections of a calming character, while a doubt of that
security remained.

One singularity struck them both. They had expected the
young woman, urged by a natural curiosity, would have
commenced a conversation, even if they did not; and he
who spoke the patois was prepared to sustain it as well
as his anxious and overcharged spirit would enable him;
and as he was aware the morning had furnished sufficient
incident of fearful interest, he had naturally looked
for a verbal re-enactment of the harrowing and dreadful
scene. To their surprise, however, they both remarked
that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation,
the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered
constantly near the table, and facing the window. Still,
to avoid an appearance of singularity on their own parts
as far as possible, the elder of the officers motioned
to his companion, who, following his example, took a
small pipe and some tobacco from a compartment in his
shot pouch, and commenced puffing the wreathing smoke
from his lips,--an occupation, more than any other,
seeming to justify their silence.

The elder officer sat with his back to the window, and
immediately in front of the fire; his companion, at a
corner of the rude hearth, and in such a manner that,
without turning his head, he could command every part of
the room at a glance. In the corner facing him stood the
bed already described. A faint ray of the fire-light fell
on some minute object glittering in the chair, the contents
of which were heaped up in disorder. Urged by that wayward
curiosity, which is sometimes excited, even under
circumstances of the greatest danger and otherwise
absorbing interest, the young man kicked the hickory log
that lay nearest to it with his mocassined foot, and
produced a bright crackling flame, the reflection of
which was thrown entirely upon the object of his gaze;
it was a large metal button, on which the number of his
regiment was distinctly visible. Unable to check his
desire to know further, he left his seat, to examine the
contents of the chair. As he moved across the room, he
fancied he heard a light sound from without; his companion,
also, seemed to manifest a similar impression by an almost
imperceptible start; but the noise was so momentary, and
so fanciful, neither felt it worth his while to pause
upon the circumstance. The young officer now raised the
garments from the chair: they consisted of a small grey
great-coat, and trowsers, a waistcoat of coarse white
cloth, a pair of worsted stockings, and the half-boots
of a boy; the whole forming the drum-boy's equipment,
worn by the wretched wife of Halloway when borne senseless
into the hut on that fatal morning. Hastily quitting a
dress that called up so many dreadful recollections, and
turning to his companion with a look that denoted
apprehension, lest he too should have beheld these
melancholy remembrances of the harrowing scene, the young
officer hastened to resume his seat. In the act of so
doing, his eye fell upon the window, at which the female
still lingered. Had a blast from Heaven struck his sight,
the terror of his soul could not have been greater. He
felt his cheek to pale, and his hair to bristle beneath
his cap, while the checked blood crept slowly and coldly,
as if its very function had been paralysed; still he had
presence of mind sufficient not to falter in his step,
or to betray, by any extraordinary movement, that his
eye had rested on any thing hateful to behold.

His companion had emptied his first pipe, and was in the
act of refilling it, when he resumed his seat. He was
evidently impatient at the delay of the Canadian, and
already were his lips opening to give utterance to his
disappointment, when he felt his foot significantly
pressed by that of his friend. An instinctive sense of
something fearful that was to ensue, but still demanding
caution on his part, prevented him from turning hastily
round to know the cause. Satisfied, however, there was
danger, though not of an instantaneous character, he put
his pipe gently by, and stealing his hand under his coat,
again grasped the hilt of his dagger. At length he slowly
and partially turned his head, while his eyes inquiringly
demanded of his friend the cause of his alarm.

Partly to aid in concealing his increasing paleness, and
partly with a view to render it a medium for the conveyance
of subdued sound, the hand of the latter was raised to
his face in such a manner that the motion of his lips
could not be distinguished from behind.

"We are betrayed," he scarcely breathed. "If you can
command yourself, turn and look at the window; but for
God's sake arm yourself with resolution, or look not at
all: first draw the hood over your head, and without any
appearance of design. Our only chance of safety lies in
this,--that the Canadian may still be true, and that our
disguise may not be penetrated."

In despite of his native courage,--and this had often
been put to honourable proof,--he, thus mysteriously
addressed, felt his heart to throb violently. There was
something so appalled in the countenance of his
friend--something so alarming in the very caution he had
recommended--that a vague dread of the horrible reality
rushed at once to his mind, and for a moment his own
cheek became ashy pale, and his breathing painfully
oppressed. It was the natural weakness of the physical
man, over which the moral faculties had, for an instant,
lost their directing power. Speedily recovering himself,
the young man prepared to encounter the alarming object
which had already so greatly intimidated his friend.
Carefully drawing the blanket hood over his head, he rose
from his seat, and, with the energetic movement of one
who has formed some desperate determination, turned his
back to the fire-place, and threw his eyes rapidly and
eagerly upon the window. They fell only on the rude
patchwork of which it was principally composed. The
female had quitted the room.

"You must have been deceived," he whispered, keeping his
eye still bent upon the window, and with so imperceptible
a movement of the lips that sound alone could have betrayed
he was speaking,--"I see nothing to justify your alarm.
Look again."

The younger officer once more directed his glance towards
the window, and with a shuddering of the whole person,
as he recollected what had met his eye when he last looked
upon it. "It is no longer there, indeed," he returned in
the same scarcely audible tone. "Yet I could not be
mistaken; it was between those two corner squares of wood
in the lower sash."

"Perhaps it was merely a reflection produced by the lamp
on the centre pane," rejoined his friend, still keeping
his eye riveted on the suspicious point.

"Impossible! but I will examine the window from the spot
on which I stood when I first beheld it."

Again he quitted his seat, and carelessly crossed the
room. As he returned he threw his glance upon the pane,
when, to his infinite horror and surprise, the same
frightful vision presented itself.

"God of Heaven!" he exclaimed aloud, and unable longer
to check the ebullition of his feelings,--"what means
this?--Is my brain turned? and am I the sport of my own
delusive fancy?--Do you not see it NOW?"

No answer was returned. His friend stood mute and
motionless, with his left hand grasping his gun, and his
right thrust into the waist of his coat. His eye grew
upon the window, and his chest heaved, and his cheek
paled and flushed alternately with the subdued emotion
of his heart. A human face was placed close to the
unblemished glass, and every feature was distinctly
revealed by the lamp that still lay upon the table. The
glaring eye was fixed on the taller of the officers; but
though the expression was unfathomably guileful, there
was nothing that denoted any thing like a recognition of
the party. The brightness of the wood fire had so far
subsided as to throw the interior of the room into partial
obscurity, and under the disguise of his hood it was
impossible for one without to distinguish the features
of the taller officer. The younger, who was scarcely an
object of attention, passed comparatively unnoticed.

Fatigued and dimmed with the long and eager tension of
its nerves, the eye of the latter now began to fail him.
For a moment he closed it; and when again it fell upon
the window; it encountered nothing but the clear and
glittering pane. For upwards of a minute he and his friend
still continued to rivet their gaze, but the face was no
longer visible.

Why is it that what is called the "human face divine" is
sometimes gifted with a power to paralyse, that the most
loathsome reptile in the creation cannot attain? Had a
hyena or cougar of the American forest, roaring for prey,
appeared at that window, ready to burst the fragile
barrier, and fasten its talons in their hearts, its
presence would not have struck such sickness to the soul
of our adventurers as did that human face. It is that
man, naturally fierce and inexorable, is alone the enemy
of his own species. The solution of this problem--this
glorious paradox in nature, we leave to profounder
philosophers to resolve. Sufficient for us be it to know,
and to deplore that it is so.

Footsteps were now heard upon the stairs; and the officers,
aroused to a full sense of their danger, hastily and
silently prepared themselves for the encounter.

"Drop a bullet into your gun," whispered the elder,
setting the example himself. "We may be obliged to have
recourse to it at last. Yet make no show of hostility
unless circumstances satisfy us we are betrayed; then,
indeed, all that remains for us will be to sell our lives
as dearly as we can. Hist! he is here."

The door opened; and at the entrance, which was already
filled up in the imaginations of the young men with a
terrible and alarming figure, appeared one whose return
had been anxiously and long desired. It was a relief,
indeed, to their gallant but excited hearts to behold
another than the form they had expected; and although,
for the moment, they knew not whether the Canadian came
in hostility or in friendship, each quitted the attitude
of caution into which he had thrown himself, and met him
midway in his passage through the room. There was nothing
in the expression of his naturally open and good-humoured
countenance to denote he was at all aware of the causes
for alarm that had operated so powerfully on themselves.
He announced with a frank look and unfaltering voice
every thing was in readiness for their departure.

The officers hesitated; and the taller fixed his eyes
upon those of mine host, as if his gaze would have
penetrated to the innermost recesses of his heart. Could
this be a refinement of his treachery? and was he really
ignorant of the existence of the danger which threatened
them? Was it not more probable his object was to disarm
their fears, that they might be given unprepared and,
therefore, unresisting victims to the ferocity of their
enemies? Aware as he was, that they were both well provided
with arms, and fully determined to use them with effect,
might not his aim be to decoy them to destruction without,
lest the blood spilt under his roof, in the desperation
of their defence, should hereafter attest against him,
and expose him to the punishment he would so richly merit?
Distracted by these doubts, the young men scarcely knew
what to think or how to act; and anxious as they had
previously been to quit the hut, they now considered the
moment of their doing so would be that of their destruction.
The importance of the enterprise on which they were
embarked was such as to sink all personal considerations.
If they had felt the influence of intimidation on their
spirits, it arose less from any apprehension of consequences
to themselves, than from the recollection of the dearer
interests involved in their perfect security from discovery.

"Francois," feelingly urged the taller officer, again
adverting to his vow, "you recollect the oath you so
solemnly pledged upon the cross of your Saviour. Tell
me, then, as you hope for mercy, have you taken that oath
only that you might the more securely betray us to our
enemies? What connection have you with them at this
moment? and who is HE who stood looking through that
window not ten minutes since?"

"As I shall hope for mercy in my God," exclaimed the
Canadian with unfeigned astonishment, "I have not see
nobody. But what for do you tink so? It is not just. I
have given my oat to serve you, and I shall do it."

There was candour both in the tone and countenance of
the man as he uttered these words, half in reproach, half
in justification; and the officers no longer doubted.

"You must forgive our suspicions at a moment like the
present," soothingly observed the younger; "yet, Francois,
your daughter saw and exchanged signals with the person
we mean. She left the room soon after he made his
appearance. What has become of her?"

The Canadian gave a sudden start, looked hastily round,
and seemed to perceive for the first time the girl was
absent. He then put a finger to his lip to enjoin silence,
advanced to the table, and extinguished the light. Desiring
his companions, in a low whisper, to tread cautiously
and follow, he now led the way with almost noiseless step
to the entrance of the hut. At the threshold of the door
were placed a large well-filled sack, a light mast and
sail, and half a dozen paddles. The latter burden he
divided between the officers, on whose shoulders he
carefully balanced them. The sack he threw across his
own; and, without expressing even a regret that an
opportunity of bidding adieu to his child was denied him,
hastily skirted the paling of the orchard until, at the
further extremity, he had gained the high road.

The heavens were obscured by passing clouds driven rapidly
by the wind, during the short pauses of which our
adventurers anxiously and frequently turned to listen if
they were pursued. Save the rustling of the trees that
lined the road, and the slight dashing of the waters on
the beach, however, no sound was distinguishable. At
length they gained the point whence they were to start.
It was the fatal bridge, the events connected with which
were yet so painfully fresh in their recollection.

"Stop one minutes here," whispered the Canadian, throwing
his sack upon the sand near the mouth of the lesser river;
"my canoe is chain about twenty yards up de bridge. I
shall come to you directly." Then cautioning the officers
to keep themselves concealed under the bridge, he moved
hastily under the arch, and disappeared in the dark shadow
which it threw across the rivulet.

The extremities of the bridge rested on the banks of the
little river in such a manner as to leave a narrow passage
along the sands immediately under the declination of the
arch. In accordance with the caution of their conductor,
the officers had placed themselves under it; and with
their backs slightly bent forward to meet the curvature
of the bridge, so that no ray of light could pass between
their bodies and the fabric itself, now awaited the
arrival of the vessel on which their only hope depended.
We shall not attempt to describe their feelings on finding
themselves, at that lone hour of the night, immediately
under a spot rendered fearfully memorable by the tragic
occurrences of the morning. The terrible pursuit of the
fugitive, the execution of the soldier, the curse and
prophecy of his maniac wife, and, above all, the forcible
abduction and threatened espousal of that unhappy woman
by the formidable being who seemed to have identified
himself with the evils with which they stood menaced,--all
rushed with rapid tracery on the mind, and excited the
imagination, until each, filled with a sentiment not
unallied to superstitious awe, feared to whisper forth
his thoughts, lest in so doing he should invoke the
presence of those who had principally figured in the
harrowing and revolting scene.

"Did you not hear a noise?" at length whispered the elder,
as he leaned himself forward, and bent his head to the
sand, to catch more distinctly a repetition of the sound.

"I did; there again! It is upon the bridge, and not unlike
the step of one endeavouring to tread lightly. It may be
some wild beast, however."

"We must not be taken by surprise," returned his companion.
"If it be a man, the wary tread indicates consciousness
of our presence. If an animal, there can be no harm in
setting our fears at rest."

Cautiously stealing from his lurking-place, the young
officer emerged into the open sands, and in a few measured
noiseless strides gained the extremity of the bridge.
The dark shadow of something upon its centre caught his
eye, and a low sound like that of a dog lapping met his
ear. While his gaze yet lingered on the shapeless object,
endeavouring to give it a character, the clouds which
had so long obscured it passed momentarily from before
the moon, and disclosed the appalling truth. It was a
wolf-dog lapping up from the earth, in which they were
encrusted, the blood and brains of the unfortunate Frank
Halloway.

Sick and faint at the disgusting sight, the young man
rested his elbow on the railing that passed along the
edge of the bridge, and, leaning his head on his hand
for a moment, forgot the risk of exposure he incurred,
in the intenseness of the sorrow that assailed his soul.
His heart and imagination were already far from the spot
on which he stood, when he felt an iron hand upon his
shoulder. He turned, shuddering with an instinctive
knowledge of his yet unseen visitant, and beheld standing
over him the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis.

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the savage in a low triumphant
tone, "the place of our meeting is well timed, though
somewhat singular, it must be confessed. Nay," he fiercely
added, grasping as in a vice the arm that was already
lifted to strike him, "force me not to annihilate you on
the spot. Ha! hear you the cry of my wolf-dog?" as that
animal now set up a low but fearful howl; "it is for your
blood he asks, but your hour is not yet come."

"No, by Heaven, is it not!" exclaimed a voice; a rapid
and rushing sweep was heard through the air for an instant,
and then a report like a stunning blow. The warrior
released his grasp--placed his hand upon his tomahawk,
but without strength to remove it from his belt tottered
a pace or two backwards--and then fell, uttering a cry
of mingled pain and disappointment, at his length upon
the earth.

"Quick, quick to our cover!" exclaimed the younger officer,
as a loud shout was now heard from the forest in reply
to the yell of the fallen warrior. "If Francois come not,
we are lost; the howl of that wolf-dog alone will betray
us, even if his master should be beyond all chance of
recovery."

"Desperate diseases require desperate remedies," was the
reply; "there is little glory in destroying a helpless
enemy, but the necessity is urgent, and we must leave
nothing to chance." As he spoke, he knelt upon the huge
form of the senseless warrior, whose scalping knife he
drew from its sheath, and striking a firm and steady
blow, quitted not the weapon until he felt his hand
reposing on the chest of his enemy.

The howl of the wolf-dog, whose eyes glared like two
burning coals through the surrounding gloom, was now
exchanged to a fierce and snappish bark. He made a leap
at the officer while in the act of rising from the body;
but his fangs fastened only in the chest of the shaggy
coat, which he wrung with the strength and fury
characteristic of his peculiar species. This new and
ferocious attack was fraught with danger little inferior
to that which they had just escaped, and required the
utmost promptitude of action. The young man seized the
brute behind the neck in a firm and vigorous grasp, while
he stooped upon the motionless form over which this novel
struggle was maintained, and succeeded in making himself
once more master of the scalping knife. Half choked by
the hand that unflinchingly grappled with him, the savage
animal quitted his hold and struggled violently to free
himself. This was the critical moment. The officer drew
the heavy sharp blade, from the handle to the point,
across the throat of the infuriated beast, with a force
that divided the principal artery. He made a desperate
leap upwards, spouting his blood over his destroyer, and
then fell gasping across the body of his master. A low
growl, intermingled with faint attempts to bark, which
the rapidly oozing life rendered more and more indistinct,
succeeded; and at length nothing but a gurgling sound
was distinguishable.

Meanwhile the anxious and harassed officers had regained
their place of concealment under the bridge, where they
listened with suppressed breathing for the slightest
sound to indicate the approach of the canoe. At intervals
they fancied they could hear a noise resembling the
rippling of water against the prow of a light vessel,
but the swelling cries of the rushing band, becoming at
every instant more distinct, were too unceasingly kept
up to admit of their judging with accuracy.

They now began to give themselves up for lost, and many
and bitter were the curses they inwardly bestowed on the
Canadian, when the outline of a human form was seen
advancing along the sands, and a dark object upon the
water. It was their conductor, dragging the canoe along,
with all the strength and activity of which he was capable.

"What the devil have you been about all this time,
Francois?" exclaimed the taller officer, as he bounded
to meet him. "Quick, quick, or we shall be too late. Hear
you not the blood-hounds on their scent?" Then seizing
the chain in his hand, with a powerful effort he sent
the canoe flying through the arch to the very entrance
of the river. The burdens that had been deposited on the
sands were hastily flung in, the officers stepping lightly
after. The Canadian took the helm, directing the frail
vessel almost noiselessly through the water, and with
such velocity, that when the cry of the disappointed
savages was heard resounding from the bridge, it had
already gained the centre of the Detroit.




CHAPTER III.

Two days had succeeded to the departure of the officers
from the fort, but unproductive of any event of importance.
About daybreak, however, on the morning of the third,
the harassed garrison were once more summoned to arms,
by an alarm from the sentinels planted in rear of the
works; a body of Indians they had traced and lost at
intervals, as they wound along the skirt of the forest,
in their progress from their encampment, were at length
developing themselves in force near the bomb proof. With
a readiness which long experience and watchfulness had
rendered in some degree habitual to them, the troops flew
to their respective posts; while a few of the senior
officers, among whom was the governor, hastened to the
ramparts to reconnoitre the strength and purpose of their
enemies. It was evident the views of these latter were
not immediately hostile; for neither were they in their
war paint, nor were their arms of a description to carry
intimidation to a disciplined and fortified soldiery.
Bows, arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, spears, and scalping
knives, constituted their warlike equipments, but neither
rifle nor fire-arms of any kind were discernible. Several
of their leaders, distinguishable by a certain haughty
carriage and commanding gesticulation, were collected
within the elevated bomb-proof, apparently holding a
short but important conference apart from their people,
most of whom stood or lay in picturesque attitudes around
the ruin. These also had a directing spirit. A tall and
noble looking warrior, wearing a deer-skin hunting frock
closely girded around his loins, appeared to command the
deference of his colleagues, claiming profound attention
when he spoke himself, and manifesting his assent or
dissent to the apparently expressed opinions of the lesser
chiefs merely by a slight movement of the head.

"There he is indeed!" exclaimed Captain Erskine, speaking
as one who communes with his own thoughts, while he kept
his telescope levelled on the form of the last warrior;
"looking just as noble as when, three years ago, he
opposed himself to the progress of the first English
detachment that had ever penetrated to this part of the
world. What a pity such a fine fellow should be so
desperate and determined an enemy!"

"True; you were with Major Rogers on that expedition,"
observed the governor, in a tone now completely divested
of the haughtiness which formerly characterised his
address to his officers. "I have often heard him speak
of it. You had many difficulties to contend against, if
I recollect."

"We had indeed, sir," returned the frank-hearted Erskine,
dropping the glass from his eye. "So many, in fact, that
more than once, in the course of our progress through
the wilderness, did I wish myself at head-quarters with
my company. Never shall I forget the proud and determined
expression of Ponteac's countenance, when he told Rogers,
in his figurative language, 'he stood in the path in
which he travelled.' "

"Thank Heaven, he at least stands not in the path in
which OTHERS travel," musingly rejoined the governor.
"But what sudden movement is that within the ruin?"

"The Indians are preparing to show a white flag," shouted
an artillery-man from his station in one of the embrasures
below.

The governor and his officers received this intelligence
without surprise: the former took the glass from Captain
Erskine, and coolly raised it to his eye. The consultation
had ceased; and the several chiefs, with the exception
of their leader and two others, were now seen quitting
the bomb-proof to join their respective tribes. One of
those who remained, sprang upon an elevated fragment of
the ruin, and uttered a prolonged cry, the purport of
which,--and it was fully understood from its peculiar
nature,--was to claim attention from the fort. He then
received from the hands of the other chief a long spear,
to the end of which was attached a piece of white linen.
This he waved several times above his head; then stuck
the barb of the spear firmly into the projecting fragment.
Quitting his elevated station, he next stood at the side
of the Ottawa chief, who had already assumed the air and
attitude of one waiting to observe in what manner his
signal would be received.

"A flag of truce in all its bearings, by Jupiter!" remarked
Captain Erskine. "Ponteac seems to have acquired a few
lessons since we first met."

"This is evidently the suggestion of some European,"
observed Major Blackwater; "for how should he understand
any thing of the nature of a white flag? Some of those
vile spies have put him up to this."

"True enough, Blackwater; and they appear to have found
an intelligent pupil," observed Captain Wentworth. "I
was curious to know how he would make the attempt to
approach us; but certainly never once dreamt of his having
recourse to so civilised a method. Their plot works well,
no doubt; still we have the counter-plot to oppose to
it."

"We must foil them with their own weapons," remarked the
governor, "even if it be only with a view to gain time.
Wentworth, desire one of your bombardiers to hoist the
large French flag on the staff."

The order was promptly obeyed. The Indians made a
simultaneous movement expressive of their satisfaction;
and in the course of a minute, the tall warrior, accompanied
by nearly a dozen inferior chiefs, was seen slowly
advancing across the common, towards the group of officers.

"What generous confidence the fellow has, for an Indian!"
observed Captain Erskine, who could not dissemble his
admiration of the warrior. "He steps as firmly and as
proudly within reach of our muskets, as if he was leading
in the war-dance."

"How strange," mused Captain Blessington, "that one who
meditates so deep a treachery, should have no apprehension
of it in others!"

"It is a compliment to the honour of our flag," observed
the governor, "which it must be our interest to encourage.
If, as you say, Erskine, the man is really endowed with
generosity, the result of this affair will assuredly call
it forth."

"If it prove otherwise, sir," was the reply, "we must
only attribute his perseverance to the influence which
that terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis is said to
exercise over his better feelings. By the by, I see
nothing of him among this flag of truce party. It could
scarcely be called a violation of faith to cut off such
a rascally renegade. Were he of the number of those
advancing, and Valletort's rifle within my reach, I know
not what use I might not be tempted to make of the last."

Poor Erskine was singularly infelicitous in touching,
and ever unconsciously, on a subject sure to give pain
to more than one of his brother officers. A cloud passed
over the brow of the governor, but it was one that
originated more in sorrow than in anger. Neither had he
time to linger on the painful recollections hastily and
confusedly called up by the allusion made to this formidable
and mysterious being, for the attention of all was now
absorbed by the approaching Indians. With a bold and
confiding carriage the fierce Ponteac moved at the head
of his little party, nor hesitated one moment in his
course, until he got near the brink of the ditch, and
stood face to face with the governor, at a distance that
gave both parties not only the facility of tracing the
expression of each other's features, but of conversing
without effort. There he made a sudden stand, and thrusting
his spear into the earth, assumed an attitude as devoid
of apprehension as if he had been in the heart of his
own encampment.

"My father has understood my sign," said the haughty
chief. "The warriors of a dozen tribes are far behind
the path the Ottawa has just travelled; but when the red
skin comes unarmed, the hand of the Saganaw is tied behind
his back."

"The strong hold of the Saganaw is his safeguard," replied
the governor, adopting the language of the Indian. "When
the enemies of his great father come in strength, he
knows how to disperse them; but when a warrior throws
himself unarmed into his power, he respects his confidence,
and his arms hang rusting at his side."

"The talk of my father is big," replied the warrior, with
a scornful expression that seemed to doubt the fact of
so much indifference as to himself; "but when it is a
great chief who directs the nations, and that chief his
sworn enemy, the temptation to the Saganaw may be strong."

"The Saganaw is without fear," emphatically rejoined the
governor; "he is strong in his own honour; and he would
rather die under the tomahawk of the red skin, than
procure a peace by an act of treachery."

The Indian paused; cold, calm looks of intelligence passed
between him and his followers, and a few indistinct and
guttural sentences were exchanged among themselves.

"But our father asks not why our mocassins have brushed
the dew from off the common," resumed the chief; "and
yet it is long since the Saganaw and the red skin have
spoken to each other, except through the war whoop. My
father must wonder to see the great chief of the Ottawas
without the hatchet in his hand."

"The hatchet often wounds those who use it unskilfully,"
calmly returned the governor. "The Saganaw is not blind.
The Ottawas, and the other tribes, find the war paint
heavy on their skins. They see that my young men are not
to be conquered, and they have sent the great head of
all the nations to sue for peace."

In spite of the habitual reserve and self-possession of
his race, the haughty warrior could not repress a movement
of impatience at the bold and taunting language of his
enemy, and for a moment there was a fire in his eye that
told how willingly he would have washed away the insult
in his blood. The same low guttural exclamations that
had previously escaped their lips, marked the sense
entertained of the remark by his companions.

"My father is right," pursued the chief, resuming his
self-command; "the Ottawas, and the other tribes, ask
for peace, but not because they are afraid of war. When
they strike the hatchet into the war post, they leave it
there until their enemies ask them to take it out."

"Why come they now, then, to ask for peace?" was the cool
demand.

The warrior hesitated, evidently at a loss to give a
reply that could reconcile the palpable contradiction of
his words.

"The rich furs of our forests have become many," he at
length observed, "since we first took up the hatchet
against the Saganaw; and every bullet we keep for our
enemies is a loss to our trade. We once exchanged furs
with the children of our father of the pale flag. They
gave us, in return, guns, blankets, powder, ball, and
all that the red man requires in the hunting season.
These are all expended; and my young men would deal with
the Saganaw as they did with the French."

"Good; the red skins would make peace; and although the
arm of the Saganaw is strong, he will not turn a deaf
ear to their desire."

"All the strong holds of the Saganaw, except two, have
fallen before the great chief of the Ottawas!" proudly
returned the Indian, with a look of mingled scorn and
defiance. "They, too, thought themselves beyond the
reach of our tomahawks; but they were deceived. In less
than a single moon nine of them have fallen, and the
tents of my young warriors are darkened with their scalps;
but this is past. If the red skin asks for peace, it is
because he is tired of seeing the blood of the Saganaw
on his tomahawk. Does my father hear?"

"We will listen to the great chief of the Ottawas, and
hear what he has to say," returned the governor, who, as
well as the officers at his side, could with difficulty
conceal their disgust and sorrow at the dreadful
intelligence thus imparted of the fates of their companions.
"But peace," he pursued with dignity, "can only be made
in the council room, and under the sacred pledge of the
calumet. The great chief has a wampum belt on his shoulder,
and a calumet in his hand. His aged warriors, too, are
at his side. What says the Ottawa? Will he enter? If so,
the gate of the Saganaw shall be open to him."

The warrior started; and for a moment the confidence that
had hitherto distinguished him seemed to give place to
an apprehension of meditated treachery. He, however,
speedily recovered himself, and observed emphatically,
"It is the great head of all the nations whom my father
invites to the council seat. Were he to remain in the
hands of the Saganaw, his young men would lose their
strength. They would bury the hatchet for ever in despair,
and hide their faces in the laps of their women."

"Does the Ottawa chief see the pale flag on the strong
hold of his enemies. While that continues to fly, he is
safe as if he were under the cover of his own wigwam. If
the Saganaw could use guile like the fox" (and this was
said with marked emphasis), "what should prevent him from
cutting off the Ottawa and his chiefs, even where they
now stand?"

A half smile of derision passed over the dark cheek of
the Indian. "If the arm of an Ottawa is strong," he said,
"his foot is not less swift. The short guns of the chiefs
of the Saganaw" (pointing to the pistols of the officers)
"could not reach us; and before the voice of our father
could be raised, or his eye turned, to call his warriors
to his side, the Ottawa would be already far on his way
to the forest."

"The great chief of the Ottawas shall judge better of
the Saganaw," returned the governor.--"He shall see
that his young men are ever watchful at their posts:--Up,
men, and show yourselves."

A second or two sufficed to bring the whole, of Captain
Erskine's company, who had been lying flat on their faces,
to their feet on the rampart. The Indians were evidently
taken by surprise, though they evinced no fear. The low
and guttural "Ugh!" was the only expression they gave to
their astonishment, not unmingled with admiration.

But, although the chiefs preserved their presence of
mind, the sudden appearance of the soldiers had excited
alarm among their warriors, who, grouped in and around
the bomb-proof, were watching every movement of the
conferring parties, with an interest proportioned to the
risk they conceived their head men had incurred in
venturing under the very walls of their enemies. Fierce
yells were uttered; and more than a hundred dusky warriors,
brandishing their tomahawks in air, leaped along the
skirt of the common, evidently only awaiting the signal
of their great chief, to advance and cover his retreat.
At the command of the governor, however, the men had
again suddenly disappeared from the surface of the rampart;
so that when the Indians finally perceived their leader
stood unharmed and unmolested, on the spot he had previously
occupied, the excitement died away, and they once more
assumed their attitude of profound attention.

"What thinks the great chief of the Ottawas now?" asked
the governor;--"did he imagine that the young white men
lie sleeping like beavers in their dams, when the hunter
sets his traps to catch them?--did he imagine that they
foresee not the designs of their enemies? and that they
are not always on the watch to prevent them?"

"My father is a great warrior," returned the Indian; "and
if his arm is full of strength, his head is fall of
wisdom. The chiefs will no longer hesitate;--they will
enter the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sit with him
in the council."

He next addressed a few words, and in a language not
understood by those upon the walls, to one of the younger
of the Indians. The latter acknowledged his sense and
approbation of what was said to him by an assentient and
expressive "Ugh!" which came from his chest without any
apparent emotion of the lips, much in the manner of a
modern ventriloquist. He then hastened, with rapid and
lengthened boundings, across the common towards his band.
After the lapse of a minute or two from reaching them,
another simultaneous cry arose, differing in expression
from any that had hitherto been heard. It was one denoting
submission to the will, and compliance with some conveyed
desire, of their superior.

"Is the gate of the Saganaw open?" asked the latter, as
soon as his ear had been greeted with the cry we have
just named. "The Ottawa and the other great chiefs are
ready;--their hearts are bold, and they throw themselves
into the hands of the Saganaw without fear."

"The Ottawa chief knows the path," drily rejoined the
governor: "when he comes in peace, it is ever open to
him; but when his young men press it with the tomahawk
in their hands, the big thunder is roused to anger, and
they are scattered away like the leaves of the forest in
the storm." "Even now," he pursued, as the little band of
Indians moved slowly round the walls, "the gate of the
Saganaw opens for the Ottawa and the other chiefs."

"Let the most vigilant caution be used every where along
the works, but especially in the rear," continued the
governor, addressing Captain Blessington, on whom the
duty of the day had devolved. "We are safe, while their
chiefs are with us; but still it will be necessary to
watch the forest closely. We cannot be too much on our
guard. The men had better remain concealed, every twentieth
file only standing up to form a look-out chain. If any
movement of a suspicious nature be observed, let it be
communicated by the discharge of a single musket, that
the drawbridge may be raised on the instant." With the
delivery of these brief instructions he quitted the
rampart with the majority of his officers.

Meanwhile, hasty preparations had been made in the
mess-room to receive the chiefs. The tables had been
removed, and a number of clean rush mats, manufactured,
after the Indian manner, into various figures and devices,
spread carefully upon the floor. At the further end from
the entrance was placed a small table and chair, covered
with scarlet cloth. This was considerably elevated above
the surface of the floor, and intended for the governor.
On either side of the room, near these, were ranged a
number of chairs for the accommodation of the inferior
officers.

Major Blackwater received the chiefs at the gate. With
a firm, proud step, rendered more confident by his very
unwillingness to betray any thing like fear, the tall,
and, as Captain Erskine had justly designated him, the
noble-looking Ponteac trod the yielding planks that might
in the next moment cut him off from his people for ever.
The other chiefs, following the example of their leader,
evinced the same easy fearlessness of demeanour, nor
glanced once behind them to see if there was any thing
to justify the apprehension of hidden danger.

The Ottawa was evidently mortified at not being received
by the governor in person. "My father is not here!" he
said fiercely to the major:--"how is this? The Ottawa
and the other chiefs are kings of all their tribes. The
head of one great people should be received only by the
head of another great people!"

"Our father sits in the council-hall," returned the major.
"He has taken his seat, that he may receive the warriors
with becoming honour. But I am the second chief, and our
father has sent me to receive them."

To the proud spirit of the Indian this explanation scarcely
sufficed. For a moment he seemed to struggle, as if
endeavouring to stifle his keen sense of an affront put
upon him. At length he nodded his head haughtily and
condescendingly, in token of assent; and gathering up
his noble form, and swelling out his chest, as if with
a view to strike terror as well as admiration into the
hearts of those by whom he expected to be surrounded,
stalked majestically forward at the head of his
confederates.

An indifferent observer, or one ignorant of these people,
would have been at fault; but those who understood the
workings of an Indian's spirit could not have been deceived
by the tranquil exterior of these men. The rapid, keen,
and lively glance--the suppressed sneer of exultation--the
half start of surprise--the low, guttural, and almost
inaudible "Ugh!"--all these indicated the eagerness with
which, at one sly but compendious view, they embraced
the whole interior of a fort which it was of such vital
importance to their future interests they should become
possessed of, yet which they had so long and so
unsuccessfully attempted to subdue. As they advanced into
the square, they looked around, expecting to behold the
full array of their enemies; but, to their astonishment,
not a soldier was to be seen. A few women and children
only, in whom curiosity had overcome a natural loathing
and repugnance to the savages, were peeping from the
windows of the block houses. Even at a moment like the
present, the fierce instinct of these latter was not to
be controlled. One of the children, terrified at the wild
appearance of the warriors, screamed violently, and clung
to the bosom of its mother for protection. Fired at the
sound, a young chief raised his hand to his lips, and
was about to peal forth his terrible war whoop in the
very centre of the fort, when the eye of the Ottawa
suddenly arrested him.




CHAPTER IV.

There were few forms of courtesy observed by the warriors
towards the English officers on entering the council
room. Ponteac, who had collected all his native haughtiness
into one proud expression of look and figure, strode in
without taking the slightest notice even of the governor.
The other chiefs imitated his example, and all took their
seats upon the matting in the order prescribed by their
rank among the tribes, and their experience in council.
The Ottawa chief sat at the near extremity of the room,
and immediately facing the governor. A profound silence
was observed for some minutes after the Indians had seated
themselves, during which they proceeded to fill their
pipes. The handle of that of the Ottawa chief was
decorated with numerous feathers fancifully disposed.

"This is well," at length observed the governor. "It is
long since the great chiefs of the nations have smoked
the sweet grass in the council hall of the Saganaw. What
have they to say, that their young men may have peace to
hunt the beaver, and to leave the print of their mocassins
in the country of the Buffalo?--What says the Ottawa
chief?"

"The Ottawa chief is a great warrior," returned the other,
haughtily; and again repudiating, in the indomitableness
of his pride, the very views that a more artful policy
had first led him to avow. "He has already said that,
within a single moon, nine of the strong holds of the
Saganaw have fallen into his hands, and that the scalps
of the white men fill the tents of his warriors. If the
red skins wish for peace, it is because they are sick
with spilling the blood of their enemies. Does my father
hear?"

"The Ottawa has been cunning, like the fox," calmly
returned the governor. "He went with deceit upon his
lips, and said to the great chiefs of the strong holds
of the Saganaw,--'You have no more forts upon the lakes;
they have all fallen before the red skins: they gave
themselves into our hands; and we spared their lives,
and sent them down to the great towns near the salt lake.'
But this was false: the chiefs of the Saganaw, believing
what was said to them, gave up their strong holds; but
their lives were not spared, and the grass of the Canadas
is yet moist with their blood. Does the Ottawa hear?"

Amazement and stupefaction sat for a moment on the features
of the Indians. The fact was as had been stated; and yet,
so completely had the several forts been cut off from
all communication, it was deemed almost impossible one
could have received tidings of the fate of the other,
unless conveyed through the Indians themselves.

"The spies of the Saganaw have been very quick to escape
the vigilance of the red skins," at length replied the
Ottawa; "yet they have returned with a lie upon their
lips. I swear by the Great Spirit, that nine of the strong
holds of the Saganaw have been destroyed. How could the
Ottawa go with deceit upon his lips, when his words were
truth?"

"When the red skins said so to the warriors of the last
forts they took, they said true; but when they went to
the first, and said that all the rest had fallen, they
used deceit. A great nation should overcome their enemies
like warriors, and not seek to beguile them with their
tongues under the edge of the scalping knife!"

"Why did the Saganaw come into the country of the red
skins?" haughtily demanded the chief. "Why did they take
our hunting grounds from us? Why have they strong places
encircling the country of the Indians, like a belt of
wampum round the waist of a warrior?"

"This is not true," rejoined the governor. "It was not
the Saganaw, but the warriors of the pale flag, who first
came and took away the hunting grounds, and built the
strong places. The great father of the Saganaw had beaten
the great father of the pale flag quite out of the Canadas,
and he sent his young men to take their place and to make
peace with the red skins, and to trade with them, and to
call them brothers."

"The Saganaw was false," retorted the Indian. "When a
chief of the Saganaw came for the first time with his
warriors into the country of the Ottawas, the chief of
the Ottawas stood in his path, and asked him why, and
from whom, he came? That chief was a bold warrior, and
his heart was open, and the Ottawa liked him; and when
he said he came to be friendly with the red skins, the
Ottawa believed him, and he shook him by the hand, and
said to his young men, 'Touch not the life of a Saganaw;
for their chief is the friend of the Ottawa chief, and
his young men shall be the friends of the red warriors.'
Look," he proceeded, marking his sense of the discovery
by another of those ejaculatory "Ughs!" so expressive of
surprise in an Indian, "at the right hand of my father
I see a chief," pointing to Captain Erskine, "who came
with those of the Saganaw who first entered the country
of the Detroit;--ask that chief if what the Ottawa says
is not true. When the Saganaw said he came only to remove
the warriors of the pale flag, that he might be friendly
and trade with the red skins, the Ottawa received the
belt of wampum he offered, and smoked the pipe of peace
with him, and he made his men bring bags of parched corn
to his warriors who wanted food, and he sent to all the
nations on the lakes, and said to them, 'The Saganaw must
pass unhurt to the strong hold on the Detroit.' But for
the Ottawa, not a Saganaw would have escaped; for the
nations were thirsting for their blood, and the knives
of the warriors were eager to open their scalps. Ask the
chief who sits at the right hand of my father," he again
energetically repeated, "if what the Ottawa says is not
true."

"What the Ottawa says is true," rejoined the governor;
"for the chief who sits on my right hand has often said
that, but for the Ottawa, the small number of the warriors
of the Saganaw must have been cut off; and his heart is
big with kindness to the Ottawa for what he did. But if
the great chief meant to be friendly, why did he declare
war after smoking the pipe of peace with the Saganaw?
Why did he destroy the wigwams of the settlers, and carry
off the scalps even of their weak women and children?
All this has the Ottawa done; and yet he says that he
wished to be friendly with my young men. But the Saganaw
is not a fool. He knows the Ottawa chief had no will of
his own. On the right hand of the Ottawa sits the great
chief of the Delawares, and on his left the great chief
of the Shawanees. They have long been the sworn enemies
of the Saganaw; and they came from the rivers that run
near the salt lake to stir up the red skins of the Detroit
to war. They whispered wicked words in the ear of the
Ottawa chief, and he determined to take up the bloody
hatchet. This is a shame to a great warrior. The Ottawa
was a king over all the tribes in the country of the
fresh lakes, and yet he weakly took council like a woman
from another."

"My father lies!" fiercely retorted the warrior, half
springing to his feet, and involuntarily putting his hand
upon his tomahawk. "If the settlers of the Saganaw have
fallen," he resumed in a calmer tone, while he again sank
upon his mat, "it is because they did not keep their
faith with the red skins. When they came weak, and were
not yet secure in their strong holds, their tongues were
smooth and full of soft words; but when they became strong
under the protection of their thunder, they no longer
treated the red skins as their friends, and they laughed
at them for letting them come into their country." "But,"
he pursued, elevating his voice, "the Ottawa is a great
chief, and he will be respected." Then adverting in
bitterness to the influence supposed to be exercised over
him,--"What my father has said is false. The Shawanees
and the Delawares are great nations; but the Ottawas are
greater than any, and their chiefs are full of wisdom.
The Shawanees and the Delawares had no talk with the
Ottawa chief to make him do what his own wisdom did not
tell him."

"Then, if the talk came not from the Shawanees and the
Delawares, it came from the spies of the warriors of the
pale flag. The great father of the French was angry with
the great father of the Saganaw, because he conquered
his warriors in many battles; and he sent wicked men to
whisper lies of the Saganaw into the ears of the red
skins, and to make them take up the hatchet against them.
There is a tall spy at this moment in the camp of the
red skins," he pursued with earnestness, and yet paling
as he spoke. "It is said he is the bosom friend of the
great chief of the Ottawas. But I will not believe it.
The head of a great nation would not be the friend of a
spy--of one who is baser than a dog. His people would
despise him; and they would say, 'Our chief is not fit
to sit in council, or to make war; for he is led by the
word of a pale face who is without honour.'"

The swarthy cheek of the Indian reddened, and his eye
kindled into fire. "There is no spy, but a great warrior,
in the camp of the Ottawas," he fiercely replied. "Though
he came from the country that lies beyond the salt lake,
he is now a chief of the red skins, and his arm is mighty,
and his heart is big. Would my father know why he has
become a chief of the Ottawas?" he pursued with scornful
exultation. "When the strong holds of the Saganaw fell,
the tomahawk of the 'white warrior' drank more blood than
that of a red skin, and his tent is hung around with
poles bending under the weight of the scalps he has taken.
When the great chief of the Ottawas dies, the pale face
will lead his warriors, and take the first seat in the
council. The Ottawa chief is his friend."

"If the pale face be the friend of the Ottawa," pursued
the governor, in the hope of obtaining some particular
intelligence in regard to this terrible and mysterious
being, "why is he not here to sit in council with the
chiefs? Perhaps," he proceeded tauntingly, as he fancied
he perceived a disinclination on the part of the Indian
to account for the absence of the warrior, "the pale face
is not worthy to take his place among the head men of
the council. His arm may be strong like that of a warrior,
but his head may be weak like that of a woman; or, perhaps,
he is ashamed to show himself before the pale faces, who
have turned him out of their tribe."

"My father lies!" again unceremoniously retorted the
warrior. "If the friend of the Ottawa is not here, it is
because his voice cannot speak. Does my father recollect
the bridge on which he killed his young warrior? Does he
recollect the terrible chase of the pale face by the
friend of the Ottawa? Ugh!" he continued, as his attention
was now diverted to another object of interest, "that
pale face was swifter than any runner among the red skins,
and for his fleetness he deserved to live to be a great
hunter in the Canadas; but fear broke his heart,--fear
of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The red skins saw
him fall at the feet of the Saganaw without life, and
they saw the young warriors bear him off in their arms.
Is not the Ottawa right?" The Indian paused, threw his
eye rapidly along the room, and then, fixing it on the
governor, seemed to wait with deep but suppressed interest
for his reply.

"Peace to the bones of a brave warrior!" seriously and
evasively returned the governor: "the pale face is no
longer in the land of the Canadas, and the young warriors
of the Saganaw are sorry for his loss; but what would
the Ottawa say of the bridge? and what has the pale
warrior, the friend of the Ottawa, to do with it?"

A gleam of satisfaction pervaded the countenance
of the Indian, as he eagerly bent his
ear to receive the assurance that the fugitive
was no more; but when allusion was again
made to the strange warrior, his brow became
overcast, and he replied with mingled haughtiness
and anger,--

"Does my father ask? He has dogs of spies among the
settlers of the pale flag, but the tomahawk of the red
skins will find them out, and they shall perish even as
the Saganaw themselves. Two nights ago, when the warriors
of the Ottawas were returning from their scout upon the
common, they heard the voice of Onondato, the great
wolf-dog of the friend of the Ottawa chief. The voice
came from the bridge where the Saganaw killed his young
warrior, and it called upon the red skins for assistance.
My young men gave their war cry, and ran like wild deer
to destroy the enemies of their chief; but when they
came, the spies had fled, and the voice of Onondato was
low and weak as that of a new fawn; and when the warriors
came to the other end of the bridge, they found the pale
chief lying across the road and covered over with blood.
They thought he was dead, and their cry was terrible;
for the pale warrior is a great chief, and the Ottawas
love him; but when they looked again, they saw that the
blood was the blood of Onondato, whose throat the spies
of the Saganaw had cut, that he might not hunt them and
give them to the tomahawk of the red skins."

Frequent glances, expressive of their deep interest in
the announcement of this intelligence, passed between
the governor and his officers. It was clear the party
who had encountered the terrible warrior of the Fleur de
lis were not spies (for none were employed by the garrison),
but their adventurous companions who had so recently
quitted them. This was put beyond all doubt by the night,
the hour, and the not less important feet of the locality;
for it was from the bridge described by the Indian, near
which the Canadian had stated his canoe to be chained,
they were to embark on their perilous and uncertain
enterprise. The question of their own escape from danger
in this unlooked for collision with so powerful and
ferocious an enemy, and of the fidelity of the Canadian,
still remained involved in doubt, which it might be
imprudent, if not dangerous, to seek to have resolved by
any direct remark on the subject to the keen and observant
warrior. The governor removed this difficulty by artfully
observing,--

"The great chief of the Ottawas has said they were the
spies of the Saganaw who killed the pale warrior. His
young men has found them, then; or how could he know they
were spies?"

"Is there a warrior among the Saganaw who dares to show
himself in the path of the red skins, unless he come in
strength and surrounded by his thunder?" was the sneering
demand. "But my father is wrong, if he supposes the friend
of the Ottawa is killed. No," he pursued fiercely, "the
dogs of spies could not kill him; they were afraid to
face so terrible a warrior. They came behind him in the
dark, and they struck him on the head like cowards and
foxes as they were. The warrior of the pale face, and
the friend of the Ottawa chief, is sick, but not dead.
He lies without motion in his tent, and his voice cannot
speak to his friend to tell him who were his enemies,
that he may bring their scalps to hang up within his
wigwam. But the great chief will soon be well, and his
arm will be stronger than ever to spill the blood of the
Saganaw as he has done before."

"The talk of the Ottawa chief is strange," returned the
governor, emphatically and with dignity. "He says he
conies to smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, and
yet he talks of spilling their blood as if it was water
from the lake. What does the Ottawa mean?"

"Ugh!" exclaimed the Indian, in his surprise. "My father
is right, but the Ottawa and the Saganaw have not yet
smoked together. When they have, the hatchet will be
buried for ever. Until then, they are still enemies."

During this long and important colloquy of the leading
parties, the strictest silence had been preserved by the
remainder of the council. The inferior chiefs had
continued deliberately puffing the smoke from their curled
lips, as they sat cross-legged on their mats, and nodding
their heads at intervals in confirmation of the occasional
appeal made by the rapid glance of the Ottawa, and uttering
their guttural "Ugh!" whenever any observation of the
parlant parties touched their feelings, or called forth
their surprise. The officers had been no less silent and
attentive listeners, to a conversation on the issue of
which hung so many dear and paramount interests. A pause
in the conference gave them an opportunity of commenting
in a low tone on the communication made, in the strong
excitement of his pride, by the Ottawa chief, in regard
to the terrible warrior of the Fleur de lis; who, it was
evident, swayed the councils of the Indians, and
consequently exercised an influence over the ultimate
destinies of the English, which it was impossible to
contemplate without alarm. It was evident to all, from
whatsoever cause it might arise, this man cherished a
rancour towards certain individuals in the fort, inducing
an anxiety in its reduction scarcely equalled by that
entertained on the part of the Indians themselves. Beyond
this, however, all was mystery and doubt; nor had any
clue been given to enable them to arrive even at a well
founded apprehension of the motives which had given birth
to the vindictiveness of purpose, so universally ascribed
to him even by the savages themselves.

The chiefs also availed themselves of this pause in the
conversation of the principals, to sustain a low and
animated discussion. Those of the Shawanee and Delaware
nations were especially earnest; and, as they spoke across
the Ottawa, betrayed, by their vehemence of gesture, the
action of some strong feeling upon their minds, the
precise nature of which could not be ascertained from
their speech at the opposite extremity of the room. The
Ottawa did not deign to join in their conversation, but
sat smoking his pipe in all the calm and forbidding
dignity of a proud Indian warrior conscious of his own
importance.

"Does the great chief of the Ottawas, then, seek for
peace in his heart at length?" resumed the governor; "or
is he come to the strong hold of Detroit, as he went to
the other strong holds, with deceit on his lips?"

The Indian slowly removed his pipe from his mouth, fixed
his keen eye searchingly on that of the questioner for
nearly a minute, and then briefly and haughtily said,
"The Ottawa chief has spoken."

"And do the great chiefs of the Shawanees, and the great
chiefs of the Delawares, and the great chiefs of the
other nations, ask for peace also?" demanded the governor.
"If so, let them speak for themselves, and for their
warriors."

We will not trespass on the reader, on whom we have
already inflicted too much of this scene, by a transcript
of the declarations of the inferior chiefs. Suffice it
to observe, each in his turn avowed motives similar to
those of the Ottawa for wishing the hatchet might be
buried for ever, and that their young men should mingle
once more in confidence, not only with the English troops,
but with the settlers, who would again be brought into
the country at the cessation of hostilities. When each
had spoken, the Ottawa passed the pipe of ceremony, with
which he was provided, to the governor.

The latter put it to his lips, and commenced smoking.
The Indians keenly, and half furtively, watched the act;
and looks of deep intelligence, that escaped not the
notice of the equally anxious and observant officers,
passed among them.

"The pipe of the great chief of the Ottawas smokes well,"
calmly remarked the governor; "but the Ottawa chief, in
his hurry to come and ask for peace, has made a mistake.
The pipe and all its ornaments are red like blood: it
is the pipe of war, and not the pipe of peace. The great
chief of the Ottawas will be angry with himself; he has
entered the strong hold of the Saganaw, and sat in the
council, without doing any good for his young men. The
Ottawa must come again."

A deep but subdued expression of disappointment passed
over the features of the chiefs. They watched the
countenances of the officers, to see whether the
substitution of one pipe for the other had been attributed,
in their estimation, to accident or design. There was
nothing, however, to indicate the slightest doubt of
their sincerity.

"My father is right," replied the Indian, with an appearance
of embarrassment, which, whether natural or feigned, had
nothing suspicious in it. "The great chief of the Ottawas
has been foolish, like an old woman. The young chiefs of
his tribe will laugh at him for this. But the Ottawa
chief will come again, and the other chiefs with him,
for, as my father sees, they all wish for peace; and that
my father may know all the nations wish for peace, as
well as their head men, the warriors of the Ottawa, and
of the Shawanee, and of the Delaware, shall play at ball
upon the common, to amuse his young men, while the chiefs
sit in council with the chiefs of the Saganaw. The red
skins shall come naked, and without their rifles and
their tomahawks; and even the squaws of the warriors
shall come upon the common, to show the Saganaw they may
be without fear. Does my father hear?"

"The Ottawa chief says well," returned the governor; "but
will the pale friend of the Ottawa come also to take his
seat in the council hall? The great chief has said the
pale warrior has become the second chief among the Ottawas;
and that when he is dead, the pale warrior will lead the
Ottawas, and take the first seat in the council. He, too,
should smoke the pipe of peace with the Saganaw, that
they may know he is no longer their enemy."

The Indian hesitated, uttering merely his quick ejaculatory
"Ugh!" in expression of his surprise at so unexpected a
requisition. "The pale warrior, the friend of the Ottawa,
is very sick," he at length said; "but if the Great Spirit
should give him back his voice before the chiefs come
again to the council, the pale face will come too. If my
father does not see him then, he will know the friend of
the Ottawa chief is very sick."

The governor deemed it prudent not to press the question
too closely, lest in so doing he should excite suspicion,
and defeat his own object. "When will the Ottawa and the
other chiefs come again?" he asked; "and when will their
warriors play at ball upon the common, that the Saganaw
may see them and be amused?"

"When the sun has travelled so many times," replied
Ponteac, holding up three fingers of his left hand. "Then
will the Ottawa and the other chiefs bring their young
warriors and their women."

"It is too soon," was the reply;. "the Saganaw must have
time to collect their presents, that they may give them
to the young warriors who are swiftest in the race, and
the most active at the ball. The great chief of the
Ottawas, too, must let the settlers of the pale flag,
who are the friends of the red skins, bring in food for
the Saganaw, that a great feast may be given to the
chiefs, and to the warriors, and that the Saganaw may
make peace with the Ottawas and the other nations as
becomes a great people. In twice so many days," holding
up three of his fingers in imitation of the Indian, "the
Saganaw will be ready to receive the chiefs in council,
that they may smoke the pipe of peace, and bury the
hatchet for ever. What says the great chief of the
Ottawas?"

"It is good," was the reply of the Indian, his eye lighting
up with deep and exulting expression. "The settlers of
the pale flag shall bring food to the Saganaw. The Ottawa
chief will send them, and he will desire his young men
not to prevent them. In so many days, then," indicating
with his fingers, "the great chiefs will sit again in
council with the Saganaw, and the Ottawa chief will not
be a fool to bring the pipe he does not want."

With this assurance the conference terminated. Ponteac
raised his tall frame from the mat on which he had been
squatted, nodded condescendingly to the governor, and
strode haughtily into the square or area of the fort.
The other chiefs followed his example; and to Major
Blackwater was again assigned the duty of accompanying
them without the works. The glance of the savages, and
that of Ponteac in particular, was less wary than at
their entrance. Each seemed to embrace every object on
which the eye could rest, as if to fix its position
indelibly in his memory. The young chief, who had been
so suddenly and opportunely checked while in the very
act of pealing forth his terrible war whoop, again looked
up at the windows of the block house, in quest of those
whom his savage instinct had already devoted in intention
to his tomahawk, but they were no longer there. Such was
the silence that reigned every where, the fort appeared
to be tenanted only by the few men of the guard, who
lingered near their stations, attentively watching the
Indians, as they passed towards the gate. A very few
minutes sufficed to bring the latter once more in the
midst of their warriors, whom, for a few moments, they
harangued earnestly, when the whole body again moved off
in the direction of their encampment.




CHAPTER V.

The week that intervened between the visit of the chiefs
and the day appointed for their second meeting in council,
was passed by the garrison in perfect freedom from alarm,
although, as usual, in diligent watchfulness and

preparations for casualties. In conformity with his
promise, the Indian had despatched many of the Canadian
settlers, with such provisions as the country then
afforded, to the governor, and these, happy to obtain
the gold of the troops in return for what they could
conveniently spare, were not slow in availing themselves
of the permission. Dried bears' meat, venison, and Indian
corn, composed the substance of these supplies, which
were in sufficient abundance to produce a six weeks'
increase to the stock of the garrison. Hitherto they had
been subsisting, in a great degree, upon salt provisions;
the food furtively supplied by the Canadians being
necessarily, from their dread of detection, on so limited
a scale, that a very small portion of the troops had been
enabled to profit by it. This, therefore, was an important
and unexpected benefit, derived from the falling in of
the garrison with the professed views of the savages;
and one which, perhaps, few officers would, like Colonel
de Haldimar, have possessed the forethought to have
secured. But although it served to relieve the animal
wants of the man, there was little to remove his moral
inquietude. Discouraged by the sanguinary character of
the warfare in which they seemed doomed to be for ever
engaged, and harassed by constant watchings,--seldom
taking off their clothes for weeks together,--the men
had gradually been losing their energy of spirit, in the
contemplation of the almost irremediable evils by which
they were beset; and looked forward with sad and
disheartening conviction to a fate, that all things tended
to prove to them was unavoidable, however the period of
its consummation might be protracted. Among the officers,
this dejection, although proceeding from a different
cause, was no less prevalent; and notwithstanding they
sought to disguise it before their men, when left to
themselves, they gave unlimited rein to a despondency
hourly acquiring strength, as the day fixed on for the
second council with the Indians drew near.

At length it came, that terrible and eventful day, and,
as if in mockery of those who saw no beauty in its golden
beams, arrayed in all the gorgeous softness of its autumnal
glory. Sad and heavy were the hearts of many within that
far distant and isolated fort, as they rose, at the first
glimmering of light above the horizon, to prepare for
the several duties assigned them. All felt the influence
of a feeling that laid prostrate the moral energies even
of the boldest: but there was one young officer in
particular, who exhibited a dejection, degenerating almost
into stupefaction; and more than once, when he received
an order from his superior, hesitated as one who either
heard not, or, in attempting to perform it, mistook the
purport of his instructions, and executed some entirely
different duty. The countenance of this officer, whose
attenuated person otherwise bore traces of languor and
debility, but too plainly marked the abstractedness and
terror of his mind, while the set stiff features and
contracted muscles of the face contributed to give an
expression of vacuity, that one who knew him not might
have interpreted unfavourably. Several times, during the
inspection of his company at the early parade, he was
seen to raise his head, and throw forward his ear, as if
expecting to catch the echo of some horrible and appalling
cry, until the men themselves remarked, and commented,
by interchange of looks, on the singular conduct of their
officer, whose thoughts had evidently no connection with
the duty he was performing, or the spot on which he stood.

When this customary inspection had been accomplished,--how
imperfectly, has been seen,--and the men dismissed from
their ranks, the same young officer was observed, by one
who followed his every movement with interest, to ascend
that part of the rampart which commanded an unbroken view
of the country westward, from the point where the encampment
of the Indians was supposed to lie, down to the bridge
on which the terrible tragedy of Halloway's death had
been so recently enacted. Unconscious of the presence of
two sentinels, who moved to and fro near their respective
posts, on either side of him, the young officer folded
his arms, and gazed in that direction for some minutes,
with his whole soul riveted on the scene. Then, as if
overcome by recollections called up by that on which he
gazed, he covered his eyes hurriedly with his hands, and
betrayed, by the convulsed movement of his slender form,
he was weeping bitterly. This paroxysm past, he uncovered
his face, sank with one knee upon the ground, and upraising
his clasped hands, as if in appeal to his God, seemed to
pray deeply and fervently. In this attitude he continued
for some moments, when he became sensible of the approach
of an intruder. He raised himself from his knee, turned,
and beheld one whose countenance was stamped with a
dejection scarcely inferior to his own. It was Captain
Blessington.

"Charles, my dear Charles!" exclaimed the latter hurriedly,
as he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the emaciated
De Haldimar, "consider you are not alone. For God's sake,
check this weakness! There are men observing you on every
side, and your strange manner has already been the subject
of remark in the company."

"When the heart is sick, like mine," replied the youth,
in a tone of fearful despondency, "it is alike reckless
of forms, and careless of appearances. I trust, however,"
and here spoke the soldier, "there are few within this
fort who will believe me less courageous, because I have
been seen to bend my knee in supplication to my God. I
did not think that YOU, Blessington, would have been the
first to condemn the act."

"I condemn it, Charles! you mistake me, indeed you do,"
feelingly returned his captain, secretly pained at the
mild reproach contained in the concluding sentence; "but
there are two things to be considered. In the first
instance, the men, who are yet in ignorance of the great
evils with which we are threatened, may mistake the cause
of your agitation; you were in tears just now, Charles,
and the sentinels must have remarked it as well as myself.
I would not have them to believe that one of their officers
was affected by the anticipation of coming disaster, in
a way their own hearts are incapable of estimating. You
understand me, Charles? I would not have them too much
discouraged by an example that may become infectious."

"I DO understand you, Blessington," and a forced and
sickly smile played for a moment over the wan yet handsome
features of the young officer; "you would not have me
appear a weeping coward in their eyes."

"Nay, dear Charles, I did not say it."

"But you meant it, Blessington; yet, think not,"--and he
warmly pressed the hand of his captain,--"think not, I
repeat, I take your hint in any other than the friendly
light in which it was intended. That I have been no
coward, however, I hope I have given proof more than once
before the men, most of whom have known me from my very
cradle; yet, whatever they may think, is to me, at this
moment, a matter of utter indifference. Blessington,"
and again the tears rolled from his fixed eyes over his
cheek, while he pointed with his finger to the western
horizon, "I have neither thought nor feeling for myself;
my whole heart lies buried there. Oh, God of Heaven!" he
pursued after a pause, and again raising his eyes in
supplication, "avert the dreadful destiny that awaits my
beloved sister."

"Charles, Charles, if only for that sister's sake, then,
calm an agitation which, if thus indulged in, will
assuredly destroy you. All will yet be well. The delay
obtained by your father has been sufficient for the
purpose proposed. Let us hope for the best: if we are
deceived in our expectation, it will then be time enough
to indulge in a grief, which could scarcely be exceeded,
were the fearful misgivings of your mind to be realised
before your eyes."

"Blessington," returned the young officer,--and his
features exhibited the liveliest image of despair,--"all
hope has long since been extinct within my breast. See
you yon theatre of death?" he mournfully pursued, pointing
to the fatal bridge, which was thrown into full relief
against the placid bosom of the Detroit: "recollect you
the scene that was acted on it? As for me, it is ever
present to my mind,--it haunts me in my thoughts by day,
and in my dreams by night. I shall never forget it while
memory is left to curse me with the power of retrospection.
On the very spot on which I now stand was I borne in a
chair, to witness the dreadful punishment; you see the
stone at my feet, I marked it by that. I saw you conduct
Halloway to the centre of the bridge; I beheld him kneel
to receive his death; I saw, too, the terrible race for
life, that interrupted the proceedings; I marked the
sudden upspring of Halloway to his feet upon the coffin,
and the exulting waving of his hand, as he seemed to
recognise the rivals for mastery in that race. Then was
heard the fatal volley, and I saw the death-struggle of
him who had saved my brother's life. I could have died,
too, at that moment; and would to Providence I had! but
it was otherwise decreed. My aching interest was, for a
moment, diverted by the fearful chase now renewed upon
the height; and, in common with those around me, I watched
the efforts of the pursuer and the pursued with painful
earnestness and doubt as to the final result. Ah,
Blessington, why was not this all? The terrible shriek,
uttered at the moment when the fugitive fell, apparently
dead, at the feet of the firing party, reached us even
here. I felt as if my heart must have burst, for I knew
it to be the shriek of poor Ellen Halloway,--the suffering
wife,--the broken-hearted woman who had so recently, in
all the wild abandonment of her grief, wetted my pillow,
and even my cheek, with her burning tears, while
supplicating an intercession with my father for mercy,
which I knew it would be utterly fruitless to promise.
Oh, Blessington," pursued the sensitive and affectionate
young officer, "I should vainly attempt to paint all that
passed in my mind at that dreadful moment. Nothing but
the depth of my despair gave me strength to support the
scene throughout. I saw the frantic and half-naked woman
glide like a phantom past the troops, dividing the air
with the rapidity of thought. I knew it to be Ellen; for
the discovery of her exchange of clothes with one of the
drum boys of the grenadiers was made soon after you left
the fort. I saw her leap upon the coffin, and, standing
over the body of her unhappy husband, raise her hands to
heaven in adjuration, and my heart died within me. I
recollected the words she had spoken on a previous
occasion, during the first examination of Halloway, and
I felt it to be the prophetic denunciation, then threatened,
that she was now uttering on all the race of De Haldimar.
I saw no more, Blessington. Sick, dizzy, and with every
faculty of my mind annihilated, I turned away from the
horrid scene, and was again borne to my room. I tried to
give vent to my overcharged heart in tears; but the power
was denied me, and I sank at once into that stupefaction
which you have since remarked in me, and which has been
increasing every hour. What additional cause I have had
for the indulgence of this confirmed despondency you are
well acquainted with. It is childish, it is unsoldierlike,
I admit: but, alas! that dreadful scene is eternally
before my eyes, and absorbs my mind, to the exclusion of
every other feeling. I have not a thought or a care but
for the fate that too certainly awaits those who are most
dear to me; and if this be a weakness, it is one I shall
never have the power to shake off. In a word, Blessington,
I am heart-broken."

Captain Blessington was deeply affected; for there was
a solemnity in the voice and manner of the young officer
that carried conviction to the heart; and it was some
moments before he could so far recover himself as to
observe,--

"That scene, Charles, was doubtless a heart-rending one
to us all; for I well recollect, on turning to remark
the impression made on my men when the wretched Ellen
Halloway pronounced her appalling curse to have seen the
large tears coursing each other over the furrowed cheeks
of some of our oldest soldiers: and if THEY could feel
thus, how much more acute must have been the grief of
those immediately interested in its application!"

"THEIR tears were not for the denounced race of De
Haldimar," returned the youth,--"they were shed for
their unhappy comrade--they were wrung from their stubborn
hearts by the agonising grief of the wife of Halloway."

"That this was the case in part, I admit," returned
Captain Blessington. "The feelings of the men partook of
a mixed character. It was evident that grief for Halloway,
compassion for his wife, secret indignation and, it may
be, disgust at the severity of your father, and sorrow
for his innocent family, who were included in that
denunciation, predominated with equal force in their
hearts at the same moment. There was an expression that
told how little they would have pitied any anguish of
mind inflicted on their colonel, provided his children,
whom they loved, were not to be sacrificed to its
accomplishment."

"You admit, then, Blessington, although indirectly,"
replied the young De Haldimar in a voice of touching
sorrow, "that the consummation of the sacrifice IS to be
looked for. Alas! it is that on which my mind perpetually
lingers; yet, Heaven knows, my fears are not for myself."

"You mistake me, dearest Charles. I look upon the
observations of the unhappy woman as the ravings of a
distracted mind--the last wild outpourings of a broken
heart, turning with animal instinct on the hand that has
inflicted its death-blow."

"Ah, why did she except no one member of that family!"
said the unhappy De Haldimar, pursuing rather the chain
of his reflections than replying to the observation of
his captain. "Had the weight of her malediction fallen
on all else than my adored sister, I could have borne
the infliction, and awaited the issue with resignation,
if not without apprehension. But my poor gentle and
unoffending Clara,--alike innocent of the cause, and
ignorant of the effect,--what had she done to be included
in this terrible curse?--she, who, in the warm and generous
affection of her nature, had ever treated Ellen Halloway
rather as a sister than as the dependant she always
appeared." Again he covered his eyes with his hands, to
conceal the starting tears.

"De Haldimar," said Captain Blessington reprovingly, but
mildly, "this immoderate grief is wrong--it is unmanly,
and should be repressed. I can feel and understand the
nature of your sorrow; but others may not judge so
favourably. We shall soon be summoned to fall in; and I
would not that Mr. Delme, in particular, should notice
an emotion he is so incapable of understanding."

The hand of the young officer dropped from his face to
the hilt of his sword. His cheek became scarlet; and even
through the tears which he half choked himself to command,
there was an unwonted flashing from his blue eye, that
told how deeply the insinuation had entered into his
heart.

"Think you, Captain Blessington," he proudly retorted,
"there is an officer in the fort who should dare to taunt
me with my feelings as you have done? I came here, sir,
in the expectation I should be alone. At a fitting hour
I shall be found where Captain Blessington's subaltern
should be--with his company."

"De Haldimar--dear De Haldimar, forgive me!" returned
his captain. "Heaven knows I would not, on any
consideration, wantonly inflict pain on your sensitive
heart. My design was to draw you out of this desponding
humour; and with this view I sought to arouse your pride,
but certainly not to wound your feelings. De Haldimar,"
he concluded, with marked expression, "you must not,
indeed, feel offended with one who has known and esteemed
you from very boyhood. Friendship and interest in your
deep affliction of spirit alone brought me here--the same
feelings prompted my remark. Do you not believe me?"

"I do," impressively returned the young man, grasping
the hand that was extended to him in amity. "It is I,
rather, Blessington, who should ask you to forgive my
petulance; but, indeed, indeed," and again his tone
faltered, and his eye was dimmed, "I am more wretched
even than I am willing to confess. Pardon my silly
conduct--it was but the vain and momentary flashing of
the soldier's spirit impatient of an assumed imputation,
and the man less than the profession is to be taxed with
it. But it is past; and already do you behold me once
more the tame and apprehensive being I must ever continue
until all is over."

"What can I possibly urge to console one who seems so
willing to nurse into conviction all the melancholy
imaginings of a diseased mind," observed Captain
Blessington, in a voice that told how deeply he felt for
the situation of his young friend. "Recollect, dearest
Charles, the time that has been afforded to our friends.
More than a week has gone by since they left the fort,
and a less period was deemed sufficient for their purpose.
Before this they must have gained their destination. In
fact, it is my positive belief they have; for there could
be nothing to detect them in their disguise. Had I the
famous lamp of Aladdin," he pursued, in a livelier tone,
"over the history of which Clara and yourself used to
spend so many hours in childhood, I have no doubt I could
show them to you quietly seated within the fort, recounting
their adventures to Clara and her cousin, and discoursing
of their absent friends."

"Would I to Heaven you had the power to do so!" replied
De Haldimar, smiling faintly at the conceit, while a ray
of hope beamed for a moment upon his sick soul; "for
then, indeed, would all my fears for the present be at
rest. But you forget, Blessington, the encounter stated
to have taken place between them and that terrible stranger
near the bridge. Besides, is it not highly probable the
object of their expedition was divined by that singular
and mysterious being, and that means have been taken to
intercept their passage? If so, all hope is at an end."

"Why persevere in viewing only the more sombre side of
the picture?" returned his friend. "In your anxiety to
anticipate evil, Charles, you have overlooked one important
fact. Ponteac distinctly stated that his ruffian friend
was still lying deprived of consciousness and speech
within his tent, and yet two days had elapsed since the
encounter was said to have taken place. Surely we have
every reason then to infer they were beyond all reach of
pursuit, even admitting, what is by no means probable
the recovery of the wretch immediately after the return
of the chiefs from the council."

A gleam of satisfaction, but so transient as to be scarcely
noticeable, passed over the pale features of the youthful
De Haldimar. He looked his thanks to the kind officer
who was thus solicitous to tender him consolation; and
was about to reply, when the attention of both was diverted
by the report of a musket from the rear of the fort.
Presently afterwards, the word was passed along the chain
of sentinels, upon the ramparts, that the Indians were
issuing in force from the forest upon the common near
the bomb-proof. Then was heard, as the sentinel at the
gate delivered the password, the heavy roll of the drum
summoning to arms.

"Ha! here already!" said Captain Blessington, as, glancing
towards the forest, he beheld the skirt of the wood now
alive with dusky human forms: "Ponteac's visit is earlier
than we had been taught to expect; but we are as well
prepared to receive him now, as later; and, in fact, the
sooner the interview is terminated, the sooner we shall
know what we have to depend upon. Come, Charles, we must
join the company, and let me entreat you to evince less
despondency before the men. It is hard, I know, to
sustain an artificial character under such disheartening
circumstances; still, for example's sake, it must be
done."

"What I can I will do, Blessington," rejoined the youth,
as they both moved from the ramparts; "but the task is,
in truth, one to which I find myself wholly unequal. How
do I know that, even at this moment, my defenceless,
terrified, and innocent sister may not be invoking the
name and arm of her brother to save her from destruction."

"Trust in Providence, Charles. Even although our worst
apprehensions be realised, as I fervently trust they will
not, your sister may be spared. The Canadian could not
have been unfaithful, or we should have learnt something
of his treachery from the Indians. Another week will
confirm us in the truth or fallacy of our impressions.
Until then, let us arm our hearts with hope. Trust me,
we shall yet see the laughing eyes of Clara fill with
tears of affection, as I recount to her all her too
sensitive and too desponding brother has suffered for
her sake."

De Haldimar made no reply. He deeply felt the kind
intention of his captain, but was far from cherishing
the hope that had been recommended. He sighed heavily,
pressed the arm, on which he leaned, in gratitude for
the motive, and moved silently with his friend to join
their company below the rampart.




CHAPTER VI.

Meanwhile the white flag had again been raised by the
Indians upon the bomb-proof; and this having been readily
met by a corresponding signal from the fort, a numerous
band of savages now issued from the cover with which
their dark forms had hitherto been identified, and spread
themselves far and near upon the common. On this occasion
they were without arms, offensive or defensive, of any
kind, if we may except the knife which was always carried
at the girdle, and which constituted a part rather of
their necessary dress than of their warlike equipment.
These warriors might have been about five hundred in
number, and were composed chiefly of picked men from the
nations of the Ottawas, the Delawares, and the Shawanees;
each race being distinctly recognisable from the others
by certain peculiarities of form and feature which
individualised, if we may so term it, the several tribes.
Their only covering was the legging before described,
composed in some instances of cloth, but principally of
smoked deerskin, and the flap that passed through the
girdle around the loins, by which the straps attached to
the leggings were secured. Their bodies, necks, and arms
were, with the exception of a few slight ornaments,
entirely naked; and even the blanket, that served them
as a couch by night and a covering by day, had, with one
single exception, been dispensed with, apparently with
a view to avoid any thing like encumbrance in their
approaching sport. Each individual was provided with a
stout sapling of about three feet in length, curved, and
flattened at the root extremity, like that used at the
Irish hurdle; which game, in fact, the manner of
ball-playing among the Indians in every way resembled.

Interspersed among these warriors were a nearly equal
number of squaws. These were to be seen lounging carelessly
about in small groups, and were of all ages; from the
hoary-headed, shrivelled-up hag, whose eyes still sparkled
with a fire that her lank and attenuated frame denied,
to the young girl of twelve, whose dark and glowing cheek,
rounded bust, and penetrating glance, bore striking
evidence of the precociousness of Indian beauty. These
latter looked with evident interest on the sports of the
younger warriors, who, throwing down their hurdles, either
vied with each other in the short but incredibly swift
foot-race, or indulged themselves in wrestling and leaping;
while their companions, abandoned to the full security
they felt to be attached to the white flag waving on the
fort, lay at their lazy length upon the sward, ostensibly
following the movements of the several competitors in
these sports, but in reality with heart and eye directed
solely to the fortification that lay beyond. Each of
these females, in addition to the machecoti, or petticoat,
which in one solid square of broad-cloth was tightly
wrapped around the loins, also carried a blanket loosely
thrown around the person, but closely confined over the
shoulders in front, and reaching below the knee. There
was an air of constraint in their movements, which accorded
ill with the occasion of festivity for which they were
assembled; and it was remarkable, whether it arose from
deference to those to whom they were slaves, as well as
wives and daughters, or from whatever other cause it
might be, none of them ventured to recline themselves
upon the sward in imitation of the warriors.

When it had been made known to the governor that the
Indians had begun to develop themselves in force upon
the common unarmed, yet redolent with the spirit that
was to direct their meditated sports, the soldiers were
dismissed from their respective companies to the ramparts;
where they were now to be seen, not drawn up in formidable
and hostile array, but collected together in careless
groups, and simply in their side-arms. This reciprocation
of confidence on the part of the garrison was acknowledged
by the Indians by marks of approbation, expressed as much
by the sudden and classic disposition of their fine forms
into attitudes strikingly illustrative of their admiration
and pleasure, as by the interjectional sounds that passed
from one to the other of the throng. From the increased
alacrity with which they now lent themselves to the
preparatory and inferior amusements of the day, it was
evident their satisfaction was complete.

Hitherto the principal chiefs had, as on the previous
occasion, occupied the bomb-proof; and now, as then, they
appeared to be deliberating among themselves, but evidently
in a more energetic and serious manner. At length they
separated, when Ponteac, accompanied by the chiefs who
had attended him on the former day, once more led in the
direction of the fort. The moment of his advance was the
signal for the commencement of the principal game. In an
instant those of the warriors who lay reclining on the
sward sprang to their feet, while the wrestlers and racers
resumed their hurdles, and prepared themselves for the
trial of mingled skill and swiftness. At first they formed
a dense group in the centre of the common; and then,
diverging in two equal files both to the right and to
the left of the immediate centre, where the large ball
was placed, formed an open chain, extending from the
skirt of the forest to the commencement of the village.
On the one side were ranged the Delawares and the Shawanees,
and on the other the more numerous nation of the Ottawas.
The women of these several tribes, apparently much
interested in the issue of an amusement in which the
manliness and activity of their respective friends were
staked, had gradually and imperceptibly gained the front
of the fort, where they were now huddled in groups at
about twenty paces from the drawbridge, and bending
eagerly forward to command the movements of the
ball-players.

In his circuit round the walls, Ponteac was seen to remark
the confiding appearance of the unarmed soldiery with a
satisfaction that was not sought to be disguised; and
from the manner in which he threw his glance along each
face of the rampart, it was evident his object was to
embrace the numerical strength collected there. It was
moreover observed, when he passed the groups of squaws
on his way to the gate, he addressed some words in a
strange tongue to the elder matrons of each.

Once more the dark warriors were received at the gate by
Major Blackwater; and, as with firm but elastic tread,
they moved across the square, each threw his fierce eyes
rapidly and anxiously around, and with less of concealment
in his manner than had been manifested on the former
occasion. On every hand the same air of nakedness and
desertion met their gaze. Not even a soldier of the
guard was to be seen; and when they cast their eyes
upwards to the windows of the blockhouses, they were
found to be tenantless as the area through which they
passed. A gleam of fierce satisfaction pervaded the
swarthy countenances of the Indians; and the features of
Ponteac, in particular, expressed the deepest exultation.
Instead of leading his party, he now brought up the rear;
and when arrived in the centre of the fort, he, without
any visible cause for the accident, stumbled, and fell
to the earth. The other chiefs for a moment lost sight
of their ordinary gravity, and marked their sense of the
circumstance by a prolonged sound, partaking of the
mingled character of a laugh and a yell. Startled at
the cry, Major Blackwater, who was in front, turned to
ascertain the cause. At that moment Ponteac sprang lightly
again to his feet, responding to the yell of his
confederates by another even more startling, fierce, and
prolonged than their own. He then stalked proudly to the
head of the party, and even preceded Major Blackwater
into the council room.

In this rude theatre of conference some changes had been
made since their recent visit, which escaped not the
observation of the quick-sighted chiefs. Their mats lay
in the position they had previously occupied, and the
chairs of the officers were placed as before, but the
room itself had been considerably enlarged. The slight
partition terminating the interior extremity of the
mess-room, and dividing it from that of one of the
officers, had been removed; and midway through this,
extending entirely across, was drawn a curtain of scarlet
cloth, against which the imposing figure of the governor,
elevated as his seat was above those of the other officers,
was thrown into strong relief. There was another change,
that escaped not the observation of the Indians, and that
was, not more than one half of the officers who had been
present at the first conference being now in the room.
Of these latter, one had, moreover, been sent away by
the governor the moment the chiefs were ushered in.

"Ugh!" ejaculated the proud leader, as he took his seat
unceremoniously, and yet not without reluctance, upon
the mat. "The council-room of my father is bigger than
when the Ottawa was here before, yet the number of his
chiefs is not so many."

"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the Saganaw
has promised the red skins a feast," returned the governor.
"Were he to leave it to his young warriors to provide
it, he would not be able to receive the Ottawa like a
great chief, and to make peace with him as he could wish."

"My father has a great deal of cloth, red, like the blood
of a pale face," pursued the Indian, rather in demand
than in observation, as he pointed with his finger to
the opposite end of the room. "When the Ottawa was here
last, he did not see it."

"The great chief of the Ottawas knows that the great
father of the Saganaw has a big
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