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chapter 15 "then go we in, to know his embassy; whichi could, with ready guess, declare, before the frenchmen speak a word of it."--king henry v a few succeeding days were passed amid theprivations, the uproar, and the dangers of the siege, which was vigorously pressed bya power, against whose approaches munro possessed no competent means of resistance. it appeared as if webb, with his army,which lay slumbering on the banks of the hudson, had utterly forgotten the strait towhich his countrymen were reduced. montcalm had filled the woods of theportage with his savages, every yell and
whoop from whom rang through the britishencampment, chilling the hearts of men who were already but too much disposed tomagnify the danger. not so, however, with the besieged. animated by the words, and stimulated bythe examples of their leaders, they had found their courage, and maintained theirancient reputation, with a zeal that did justice to the stern character of theircommander. as if satisfied with the toil of marchingthrough the wilderness to encounter his enemy, the french general, though ofapproved skill, had neglected to seize the adjacent mountains; whence the besieged
might have been exterminated with impunity,and which, in the more modern warfare of the country, would not have been neglectedfor a single hour. this sort of contempt for eminences, orrather dread of the labor of ascending them, might have been termed the besettingweakness of the warfare of the period. it originated in the simplicity of theindian contests, in which, from the nature of the combats, and the density of theforests, fortresses were rare, and artillery next to useless. the carelessness engendered by these usagesdescended even to the war of the revolution and lost the states the important fortressof ticonderoga opening a way for the army
of burgoyne into what was then the bosom ofthe country. we look back at this ignorance, orinfatuation, whichever it may be called, with wonder, knowing that the neglect of aneminence, whose difficulties, like those of mount defiance, have been so greatly exaggerated, would, at the present time,prove fatal to the reputation of the engineer who had planned the works at theirbase, or to that of the general whose lot it was to defend them. the tourist, the valetudinarian, or theamateur of the beauties of nature, who, in the train of his four-in-hand, now rollsthrough the scenes we have attempted to
describe, in quest of information, health, or pleasure, or floats steadily toward hisobject on those artificial waters which have sprung up under the administration ofa statesman (footnote: evidently the late de witt clinton, who died governor of newyork in 1828.) -who has dared to stake his politicalcharacter on the hazardous issue, is not to suppose that his ancestors traversed thosehills, or struggled with the same currents with equal facility. the transportation of a single heavy gunwas often considered equal to a victory gained; if happily, the difficulties of thepassage had not so far separated it from
its necessary concomitant, the ammunition, as to render it no more than a useless tubeof unwieldy iron. the evils of this state of things pressedheavily on the fortunes of the resolute scotsman who now defended william henry. though his adversary neglected the hills,he had planted his batteries with judgment on the plain, and caused them to be servedwith vigor and skill. against this assault, the besieged couldonly oppose the imperfect and hasty preparations of a fortress in thewilderness. it was in the afternoon of the fifth day ofthe siege, and the fourth of his own
service in it, that major heyward profitedby a parley that had just been beaten, by repairing to the ramparts of one of the water bastions, to breathe the cool airfrom the lake, and to take a survey of the progress of the siege. he was alone, if the solitary sentinel whopaced the mound be excepted; for the artillerists had hastened also to profit bythe temporary suspension of their arduous duties. the evening was delightfully calm, and thelight air from the limpid water fresh and soothing.
it seemed as if, with the termination ofthe roar of artillery and the plunging of shot, nature had also seized the moment toassume her mildest and most captivating form. the sun poured down his parting glory onthe scene, without the oppression of those fierce rays that belong to the climate andthe season. the mountains looked green, and fresh, andlovely, tempered with the milder light, or softened in shadow, as thin vapors floatedbetween them and the sun. the numerous islands rested on the bosom ofthe horican, some low and sunken, as if embedded in the waters, and othersappearing to hover about the element, in
little hillocks of green velvet; among which the fishermen of the beleagueringarmy peacefully rowed their skiffs, or floated at rest on the glassy mirror inquiet pursuit of their employment. the scene was at once animated and still. all that pertained to nature was sweet, orsimply grand; while those parts which depended on the temper and movements of manwere lively and playful. two little spotless flags were abroad, theone on a salient angle of the fort, and the other on the advanced battery of thebesiegers; emblems of the truth which existed, not only to the acts, but it would
seem, also, to the enmity of thecombatants. behind these again swung, heavily openingand closing in silken folds, the rival standards of england and france. a hundred gay and thoughtless youngfrenchmen were drawing a net to the pebbly beach, within dangerous proximity to thesullen but silent cannon of the fort, while the eastern mountain was sending back the loud shouts and gay merriment that attendedtheir sport. some were rushing eagerly to enjoy theaquatic games of the lake, and others were already toiling their way up theneighboring hills, with the restless
curiosity of their nation. to all these sports and pursuits, those ofthe enemy who watched the besieged, and the besieged themselves, were, however, merelythe idle though sympathizing spectators. here and there a picket had, indeed, raiseda song, or mingled in a dance, which had drawn the dusky savages around them, fromtheir lairs in the forest. in short, everything wore rather theappearance of a day of pleasure, than of an hour stolen from the dangers and toil of abloody and vindictive warfare. duncan had stood in a musing attitude,contemplating this scene a few minutes, when his eyes were directed to the glacisin front of the sally-port already
mentioned, by the sounds of approachingfootsteps. he walked to an angle of the bastion, andbeheld the scout advancing, under the custody of a french officer, to the body ofthe fort. the countenance of hawkeye was haggard andcareworn, and his air dejected, as though he felt the deepest degradation at havingfallen into the power of his enemies. he was without his favorite weapon, and hisarms were even bound behind him with thongs, made of the skin of a deer. the arrival of flags to cover themessengers of summons, had occurred so often of late, that when heyward firstthrew his careless glance on this group, he
expected to see another of the officers of the enemy, charged with a similar officebut the instant he recognized the tall person and still sturdy though downcastfeatures of his friend, the woodsman, he started with surprise, and turned to descend from the bastion into the bosom ofthe work. the sounds of other voices, however, caughthis attention, and for a moment caused him to forget his purpose. at the inner angle of the mound he met thesisters, walking along the parapet, in search, like himself, of air and relieffrom confinement.
they had not met from that painful momentwhen he deserted them on the plain, only to assure their safety. he had parted from them worn with care, andjaded with fatigue; he now saw them refreshed and blooming, though timid andanxious. under such an inducement it will cause nosurprise that the young man lost sight for a time, of other objects in order toaddress them. he was, however, anticipated by the voiceof the ingenuous and youthful alice. "ah! thou tyrant! thou recreant knight! hewho abandons his damsels in the very lists," she cried; "here have we been days,nay, ages, expecting you at our feet,
imploring mercy and forgetfulness of your craven backsliding, or i should rather say,backrunning--for verily you fled in the manner that no stricken deer, as our worthyfriend the scout would say, could equal!" "you know that alice means our thanks andour blessings," added the graver and more thoughtful cora. "in truth, we have a little wonder why youshould so rigidly absent yourself from a place where the gratitude of the daughtersmight receive the support of a parent's thanks." "your father himself could tell you, that,though absent from your presence, i have
not been altogether forgetful of yoursafety," returned the young man; "the mastery of yonder village of huts," pointing to the neighboring entrenchedcamp, "has been keenly disputed; and he who holds it is sure to be possessed of thisfort, and that which it contains. my days and nights have all been passedthere since we separated, because i thought that duty called me thither. but," he added, with an air of chagrin,which he endeavored, though unsuccessfully, to conceal, "had i been aware that what ithen believed a soldier's conduct could be so construed, shame would have been addedto the list of reasons."
"heyward! duncan!" exclaimed alice, bending forwardto read his half-averted countenance, until a lock of her golden hair rested on herflushed cheek, and nearly concealed the tear that had started to her eye; "did i think this idle tongue of mine had painedyou, i would silence it forever. cora can say, if cora would, how justly wehave prized your services, and how deep--i had almost said, how fervent--is ourgratitude." "and will cora attest the truth of this?"cried duncan, suffering the cloud to be chased from his countenance by a smile ofopen pleasure.
"what says our graver sister? will she find an excuse for the neglect ofthe knight in the duty of a soldier?" cora made no immediate answer, but turnedher face toward the water, as if looking on the sheet of the horican. when she did bend her dark eyes on theyoung man, they were yet filled with an expression of anguish that at once droveevery thought but that of kind solicitude from his mind. "you are not well, dearest miss munro!" heexclaimed; "we have trifled while you are in suffering!""'tis nothing," she answered, refusing his
support with feminine reserve. "that i cannot see the sunny side of thepicture of life, like this artless but ardent enthusiast," she added, laying herhand lightly, but affectionately, on the arm of her sister, "is the penalty of experience, and, perhaps, the misfortune ofmy nature. see," she continued, as if determined toshake off infirmity, in a sense of duty; "look around you, major heyward, and tellme what a prospect is this for the daughter of a soldier whose greatest happiness ishis honor and his military renown." "neither ought nor shall be tarnished bycircumstances over which he has had no
control," duncan warmly replied. "but your words recall me to my own duty.i go now to your gallant father, to hear his determination in matters of the lastmoment to the defense. god bless you in every fortune, noble--cora--i may and must call you." she frankly gave him her hand, though herlip quivered, and her cheeks gradually became of ashly paleness. "in every fortune, i know you will be anornament and honor to your sex. alice, adieu"--his voice changed fromadmiration to tenderness--"adieu, alice; we shall soon meet again; as conquerors, itrust, and amid rejoicings!"
without waiting for an answer from either,the young man threw himself down the grassy steps of the bastion, and moving rapidlyacross the parade, he was quickly in the presence of their father. munro was pacing his narrow apartment witha disturbed air and gigantic strides as duncan entered. "you have anticipated my wishes, majorheyward," he said; "i was about to request this favor." "i am sorry to see, sir, that the messengeri so warmly recommended has returned in custody of the french!i hope there is no reason to distrust his
fidelity?" "the fidelity of 'the long rifle' is wellknown to me," returned munro, "and is above suspicion; though his usual good fortuneseems, at last, to have failed. montcalm has got him, and with the accursedpoliteness of his nation, he has sent him in with a doleful tale, of 'knowing how ivalued the fellow, he could not think of retaining him.' a jesuitical way that, major duncanheyward, of telling a man of his misfortunes!""but the general and his succor?" "did ye look to the south as ye entered,and could ye not see them?" said the old
soldier, laughing bitterly. "hoot! hoot! you're an impatient boy, sir,and cannot give the gentlemen leisure for their march!""they are coming, then? the scout has said as much?" "when? and by what path? for the dunce hasomitted to tell me this. there is a letter, it would seem, too; andthat is the only agreeable part of the matter. for the customary attentions of yourmarquis of montcalm--i warrant me, duncan, that he of lothian would buy a dozen suchmarquisates--but if the news of the letter
were bad, the gentility of this french monsieur would certainly compel him to letus know it." "he keeps the letter, then, while hereleases the messenger?" "ay, that does he, and all for the sake ofwhat you call your 'bonhommie' i would venture, if the truth was known, thefellow's grandfather taught the noble science of dancing." "but what says the scout? he has eyes andears, and a tongue. what verbal report does he make?" "oh! sir, he is not wanting in naturalorgans, and he is free to tell all that he
has seen and heard. the whole amount is this; there is a fortof his majesty's on the banks of the hudson, called edward, in honor of hisgracious highness of york, you'll know; and it is well filled with armed men, as such awork should be." "but was there no movement, no signs of anyintention to advance to our relief?" "there were the morning and eveningparades; and when one of the provincial loons--you'll know, duncan, you're half ascotsman yourself--when one of them dropped his powder over his porretch, if it touchedthe coals, it just burned!" then, suddenly changing his bitter,ironical manner, to one more grave and
thoughtful, he continued: "and yet theremight, and must be, something in that letter which it would be well to know!" "our decision should be speedy," saidduncan, gladly availing himself of this change of humor, to press the moreimportant objects of their interview; "i cannot conceal from you, sir, that the camp will not be much longer tenable; and i amsorry to add, that things appear no better in the fort; more than half the guns arebursted." "and how should it be otherwise? some were fished from the bottom of thelake; some have been rusting in woods since
the discovery of the country; and some werenever guns at all--mere privateersmen's playthings! do you think, sir, you can have woolwichwarren in the midst of a wilderness, three thousand miles from great britain?" "the walls are crumbling about our ears,and provisions begin to fail us," continued heyward, without regarding the new burst ofindignation; "even the men show signs of discontent and alarm." "major heyward," said munro, turning to hisyouthful associate with the dignity of his years and superior rank; "i should haveserved his majesty for half a century, and
earned these gray hairs in vain, were i ignorant of all you say, and of thepressing nature of our circumstances; still, there is everything due to the honorof the king's arms, and something to ourselves. while there is hope of succor, thisfortress will i defend, though it be to be done with pebbles gathered on the lakeshore. it is a sight of the letter, therefore,that we want, that we may know the intentions of the man the earl of loudonhas left among us as his substitute." "and can i be of service in the matter?"
"sir, you can; the marquis of montcalm has,in addition to his other civilities, invited me to a personal interview betweenthe works and his own camp; in order, as he says, to impart some additionalinformation. now, i think it would not be wise to showany undue solicitude to meet him, and i would employ you, an officer of rank, as mysubstitute; for it would but ill comport with the honor of scotland to let it be said one of her gentlemen was outdone incivility by a native of any other country on earth." without assuming the supererogatory task ofentering into a discussion of the
comparative merits of national courtesy,duncan cheerfully assented to supply the place of the veteran in the approachinginterview. a long and confidential communication nowsucceeded, during which the young man received some additional insight into hisduty, from the experience and native acuteness of his commander, and then theformer took his leave. as duncan could only act as therepresentative of the commandant of the fort, the ceremonies which should haveaccompanied a meeting between the heads of the adverse forces were, of course,dispensed with. the truce still existed, and with a rolland beat of the drum, and covered by a
little white flag, duncan left the sally-port, within ten minutes after his instructions were ended. he was received by the french officer inadvance with the usual formalities, and immediately accompanied to a distantmarquee of the renowned soldier who led the forces of france. the general of the enemy received theyouthful messenger, surrounded by his principal officers, and by a swarthy bandof the native chiefs, who had followed him to the field, with the warriors of theirseveral tribes. heyward paused short, when, in glancing hiseyes rapidly over the dark group of the
latter, he beheld the malignant countenanceof magua, regarding him with the calm but sullen attention which marked theexpression of that subtle savage. a slight exclamation of surprise even burstfrom the lips of the young man, but instantly, recollecting his errand, and thepresence in which he stood, he suppressed every appearance of emotion, and turned to the hostile leader, who had alreadyadvanced a step to receive him. the marquis of montcalm was, at the periodof which we write, in the flower of his age, and, it may be added, in the zenith ofhis fortunes. but even in that enviable situation, he wasaffable, and distinguished as much for his
attention to the forms of courtesy, as forthat chivalrous courage which, only two short years afterward, induced him to throwaway his life on the plains of abraham. duncan, in turning his eyes from the malignexpression of magua, suffered them to rest with pleasure on the smiling and polishedfeatures, and the noble military air, of the french general. "monsieur," said the latter, "j'ai beaucoupde plaisir a--bah!--ou est cet interprete?" "je crois, monsieur, qu'il ne sear pasnecessaire," heyward modestly replied; "je parle un peu francais." "ah! j'en suis bien aise," said montcalm,taking duncan familiarly by the arm, and
leading him deep into the marquee, a littleout of earshot; "je deteste ces fripons-la; on ne sait jamais sur quel pie on est aveceux. eh, bien! monsieur," he continued stillspeaking in french; "though i should have been proud of receiving your commandant, iam very happy that he has seen proper to employ an officer so distinguished, and who, i am sure, is so amiable, asyourself." duncan bowed low, pleased with thecompliment, in spite of a most heroic determination to suffer no artifice toallure him into forgetfulness of the interest of his prince; and montcalm, after
a pause of a moment, as if to collect histhoughts, proceeded: "your commandant is a brave man, and wellqualified to repel my assault. mais, monsieur, is it not time to begin totake more counsel of humanity, and less of your courage?the one as strongly characterizes the hero as the other." "we consider the qualities as inseparable,"returned duncan, smiling; "but while we find in the vigor of your excellency everymotive to stimulate the one, we can, as yet, see no particular call for theexercise of the other." montcalm, in his turn, slightly bowed, butit was with the air of a man too practised
to remember the language of flattery. after musing a moment, he added:"it is possible my glasses have deceived me, and that your works resist our cannonbetter than i had supposed. you know our force?" "our accounts vary," said duncan,carelessly; "the highest, however, has not exceeded twenty thousand men." the frenchman bit his lip, and fastened hiseyes keenly on the other as if to read his thoughts; then, with a readiness peculiarto himself, he continued, as if assenting to the truth of an enumeration which quitedoubled his army:
"it is a poor compliment to the vigilanceof us soldiers, monsieur, that, do what we will, we never can conceal our numbers. if it were to be done at all, one wouldbelieve it might succeed in these woods. though you think it too soon to listen tothe calls of humanity," he added, smiling archly, "i may be permitted to believe thatgallantry is not forgotten by one so young as yourself. the daughters of the commandant, i learn,have passed into the fort since it was invested?" "it is true, monsieur; but, so far fromweakening our efforts, they set us an
example of courage in their own fortitude. were nothing but resolution necessary torepel so accomplished a soldier as m. de montcalm, i would gladly trust the defenseof william henry to the elder of those ladies." "we have a wise ordinance in our saliquelaws, which says, 'the crown of france shall never degrade the lance to thedistaff'," said montcalm, dryly, and with a little hauteur; but instantly adding, with his former frank and easy air: "as all thenobler qualities are hereditary, i can easily credit you; though, as i saidbefore, courage has its limits, and
humanity must not be forgotten. i trust, monsieur, you come authorized totreat for the surrender of the place?" "has your excellency found our defense sofeeble as to believe the measure necessary?" "i should be sorry to have the defenseprotracted in such a manner as to irritate my red friends there," continued montcalm,glancing his eyes at the group of grave and attentive indians, without attending to the other's questions; "i find it difficult,even now, to limit them to the usages of war."
heyward was silent; for a painfulrecollection of the dangers he had so recently escaped came over his mind, andrecalled the images of those defenseless beings who had shared in all hissufferings. "ces messieurs-la," said montcalm,following up the advantage which he conceived he had gained, "are mostformidable when baffled; and it is unnecessary to tell you with what difficulty they are restrained in theiranger. eh bien, monsieur! shall we speak of theterms?" "i fear your excellency has been deceivedas to the strength of william henry, and
the resources of its garrison!" "i have not sat down before quebec, but anearthen work, that is defended by twenty- three hundred gallant men," was the laconicreply. "our mounds are earthen, certainly--nor arethey seated on the rocks of cape diamond; but they stand on that shore which provedso destructive to dieskau and his army. there is also a powerful force within a fewhours' march of us, which we account upon as a part of our means." "some six or eight thousand men," returnedmontcalm, with much apparent indifference, "whom their leader wisely judges to besafer in their works than in the field."
it was now heyward's turn to bite his lipwith vexation as the other so coolly alluded to a force which the young man knewto be overrated. both mused a little while in silence, whenmontcalm renewed the conversation, in a way that showed he believed the visit of hisguest was solely to propose terms of capitulation. on the other hand, heyward began to throwsundry inducements in the way of the french general, to betray the discoveries he hadmade through the intercepted letter. the artifice of neither, however,succeeded; and after a protracted and fruitless interview, duncan took his leave,favorably impressed with an opinion of the
courtesy and talents of the enemy's captain, but as ignorant of what he came tolearn as when he arrived. montcalm followed him as far as theentrance of the marquee, renewing his invitations to the commandant of the fortto give him an immediate meeting in the open ground between the two armies. there they separated, and duncan returnedto the advanced post of the french, accompanied as before; whence he instantlyproceeded to the fort, and to the quarters of his own commander. >
chapter 16 "edg.--before you fight the battle ope thisletter." --lear major heyward found munro attended only byhis daughters. alice sat upon his knee, parting the grayhairs on the forehead of the old man with her delicate fingers; and whenever heaffected to frown on her trifling, appeasing his assumed anger by pressing herruby lips fondly on his wrinkled brow. cora was seated nigh them, a calm andamused looker-on; regarding the wayward movements of her more youthful sister withthat species of maternal fondness which
characterized her love for alice. not only the dangers through which they hadpassed, but those which still impended above them, appeared to be momentarilyforgotten, in the soothing indulgence of such a family meeting. it seemed as if they had profited by theshort truce, to devote an instant to the purest and best affection; the daughtersforgetting their fears, and the veteran his cares, in the security of the moment. of this scene, duncan, who, in hiseagerness to report his arrival, had entered unannounced, stood many moments anunobserved and a delighted spectator.
but the quick and dancing eyes of alicesoon caught a glimpse of his figure reflected from a glass, and she sprangblushing from her father's knee, exclaiming aloud: "major heyward!""what of the lad?" demanded her father; "i have sent him to crack a little with thefrenchman. ha, sir, you are young, and you're nimble! away with you, ye baggage; as if there werenot troubles enough for a soldier, without having his camp filled with such prattlinghussies as yourself!" alice laughingly followed her sister, whoinstantly led the way from an apartment
where she perceived their presence was nolonger desirable. munro, instead of demanding the result ofthe young man's mission, paced the room for a few moments, with his hands behind hisback, and his head inclined toward the floor, like a man lost in thought. at length he raised his eyes, glisteningwith a father's fondness, and exclaimed: "they are a pair of excellent girls,heyward, and such as any one may boast of." "you are not now to learn my opinion ofyour daughters, colonel munro." "true, lad, true," interrupted theimpatient old man; "you were about opening your mind more fully on that matter the dayyou got in, but i did not think it becoming
in an old soldier to be talking of nuptial blessings and wedding jokes when theenemies of his king were likely to be unbidden guests at the feast. but i was wrong, duncan, boy, i was wrongthere; and i am now ready to hear what you have to say." "notwithstanding the pleasure yourassurance gives me, dear sir, i have just now, a message from montcalm--" "let the frenchman and all his host go tothe devil, sir!" exclaimed the hasty veteran.
"he is not yet master of william henry, norshall he ever be, provided webb proves himself the man he should. no, sir, thank heaven we are not yet insuch a strait that it can be said munro is too much pressed to discharge the littledomestic duties of his own family. your mother was the only child of my bosomfriend, duncan; and i'll just give you a hearing, though all the knights of st.louis were in a body at the sally-port, with the french saint at their head, cryingto speak a word under favor. a pretty degree of knighthood, sir, is thatwhich can be bought with sugar hogsheads! and then your twopenny marquisates.
the thistle is the order for dignity andantiquity; the veritable 'nemo me impune lacessit' of chivalry. ye had ancestors in that degree, duncan,and they were an ornament to the nobles of scotland." heyward, who perceived that his superiortook a malicious pleasure in exhibiting his contempt for the message of the frenchgeneral, was fain to humor a spleen that he knew would be short-lived; he therefore, replied with as much indifference as hecould assume on such a subject: "my request, as you know, sir, went so faras to presume to the honor of being your
son." "ay, boy, you found words to make yourselfvery plainly comprehended. but, let me ask ye, sir, have you been asintelligible to the girl?" "on my honor, no," exclaimed duncan,warmly; "there would have been an abuse of a confided trust, had i taken advantage ofmy situation for such a purpose." "your notions are those of a gentleman,major heyward, and well enough in their place. but cora munro is a maiden too discreet,and of a mind too elevated and improved, to need the guardianship even of a father.""cora!"
"ay--cora! we are talking of yourpretensions to miss munro, are we not, sir?" "i--i--i was not conscious of havingmentioned her name," said duncan, stammering. "and to marry whom, then, did you wish myconsent, major heyward?" demanded the old soldier, erecting himself in the dignity ofoffended feeling. "you have another, and not less lovelychild." "alice!" exclaimed the father, in anastonishment equal to that with which duncan had just repeated the name of hersister.
"such was the direction of my wishes, sir." the young man awaited in silence the resultof the extraordinary effect produced by a communication, which, as it now appeared,was so unexpected. for several minutes munro paced the chamberwith long and rapid strides, his rigid features working convulsively, and everyfaculty seemingly absorbed in the musings of his own mind. at length, he paused directly in front ofheyward, and riveting his eyes upon those of the other, he said, with a lip thatquivered violently: "duncan heyward, i have loved you for thesake of him whose blood is in your veins;
i have loved you for your own good qualities;and i have loved you, because i thought you would contribute to the happiness of mychild. but all this love would turn to hatred,were i assured that what i so much apprehend is true." "god forbid that any act or thought of mineshould lead to such a change!" exclaimed the young man, whose eye never quailedunder the penetrating look it encountered. without adverting to the impossibility ofthe other's comprehending those feelings which were hid in his own bosom, munrosuffered himself to be appeased by the unaltered countenance he met, and with avoice sensibly softened, he continued:
"you would be my son, duncan, and you'reignorant of the history of the man you wish to call your father. sit ye down, young man, and i will open toyou the wounds of a seared heart, in as few words as may be suitable." by this time, the message of montcalm wasas much forgotten by him who bore it as by the man for whose ears it was intended. each drew a chair, and while the veterancommuned a few moments with his own thoughts, apparently in sadness, the youthsuppressed his impatience in a look and attitude of respectful attention.
at length, the former spoke: "you'll know, already, major heyward, thatmy family was both ancient and honorable," commenced the scotsman; "though it mightnot altogether be endowed with that amount of wealth that should correspond with itsdegree. i was, maybe, such an one as yourself wheni plighted my faith to alice graham, the only child of a neighboring laird of someestate. but the connection was disagreeable to herfather, on more accounts than my poverty. i did, therefore, what an honest manshould--restored the maiden her troth, and departed the country in the service of myking.
i had seen many regions, and had shed muchblood in different lands, before duty called me to the islands of the westindies. there it was my lot to form a connectionwith one who in time became my wife, and the mother of cora. she was the daughter of a gentleman ofthose isles, by a lady whose misfortune it was, if you will," said the old man,proudly, "to be descended, remotely, from that unfortunate class who are so basely enslaved to administer to the wants of aluxurious people. ay, sir, that is a curse, entailed onscotland by her unnatural union with a
foreign and trading people. but could i find a man among them who woulddare to reflect on my child, he should feel the weight of a father's anger! ha! major heyward, you are yourself born atthe south, where these unfortunate beings are considered of a race inferior to yourown." "'tis most unfortunately true, sir," saidduncan, unable any longer to prevent his eyes from sinking to the floor inembarrassment. "and you cast it on my child as a reproach! you scorn to mingle the blood of theheywards with one so degraded--lovely and
virtuous though she be?" fiercely demandedthe jealous parent. "heaven protect me from a prejudice sounworthy of my reason!" returned duncan, at the same time conscious of such a feeling,and that as deeply rooted as if it had been ingrafted in his nature. "the sweetness, the beauty, the witchery ofyour younger daughter, colonel munro, might explain my motives without imputing to methis injustice." "ye are right, sir," returned the old man,again changing his tones to those of gentleness, or rather softness; "the girlis the image of what her mother was at her years, and before she had become acquaintedwith grief.
when death deprived me of my wife ireturned to scotland, enriched by the marriage; and, would you think it, duncan!the suffering angel had remained in the heartless state of celibacy twenty long years, and that for the sake of a man whocould forget her! she did more, sir; she overlooked my wantof faith, and, all difficulties being now removed, she took me for her husband." "and became the mother of alice?" exclaimedduncan, with an eagerness that might have proved dangerous at a moment when thethoughts of munro were less occupied that at present.
"she did, indeed," said the old man, "anddearly did she pay for the blessing she bestowed. but she is a saint in heaven, sir; and itill becomes one whose foot rests on the grave to mourn a lot so blessed. i had her but a single year, though; ashort term of happiness for one who had seen her youth fade in hopeless pining." there was something so commanding in thedistress of the old man, that heyward did not dare to venture a syllable ofconsolation. munro sat utterly unconscious of theother's presence, his features exposed and
working with the anguish of his regrets,while heavy tears fell from his eyes, and rolled unheeded from his cheeks to thefloor. at length he moved, and as if suddenlyrecovering his recollection; when he arose, and taking a single turn across the room,he approached his companion with an air of military grandeur, and demanded: "have you not, major heyward, somecommunication that i should hear from the marquis de montcalm?" duncan started in his turn, and immediatelycommenced in an embarrassed voice, the half-forgotten message.
it is unnecessary to dwell upon the evasivethough polite manner with which the french general had eluded every attempt of heywardto worm from him the purport of the communication he had proposed making, or on the decided, though still polished message,by which he now gave his enemy to understand, that, unless he chose toreceive it in person, he should not receive it at all. as munro listened to the detail of duncan,the excited feelings of the father gradually gave way before the obligationsof his station, and when the other was done, he saw before him nothing but the
veteran, swelling with the wounded feelingsof a soldier. "you have said enough, major heyward,"exclaimed the angry old man; "enough to make a volume of commentary on frenchcivility. here has this gentleman invited me to aconference, and when i send him a capable substitute, for ye're all that, duncan,though your years are but few, he answers me with a riddle." "he may have thought less favorably of thesubstitute, my dear sir; and you will remember that the invitation, which he nowrepeats, was to the commandant of the works, and not to his second."
"well, sir, is not a substitute clothedwith all the power and dignity of him who grants the commission?he wishes to confer with munro! faith, sir, i have much inclination toindulge the man, if it should only be to let him behold the firm countenance wemaintain in spite of his numbers and his summons. there might be not bad policy in such astroke, young man." duncan, who believed it of the lastimportance that they should speedily come to the contents of the letter borne by thescout, gladly encouraged this idea. "without doubt, he could gather noconfidence by witnessing our indifference,"
he said."you never said truer word. i could wish, sir, that he would visit theworks in open day, and in the form of a storming party; that is the least failingmethod of proving the countenance of an enemy, and would be far preferable to thebattering system he has chosen. the beauty and manliness of warfare hasbeen much deformed, major heyward, by the arts of your monsieur vauban. our ancestors were far above suchscientific cowardice!" "it may be very true, sir; but we are nowobliged to repel art by art. what is your pleasure in the matter of theinterview?"
"i will meet the frenchman, and thatwithout fear or delay; promptly, sir, as becomes a servant of my royal master. go, major heyward, and give them a flourishof the music; and send out a messenger to let them know who is coming. we will follow with a small guard, for suchrespect is due to one who holds the honor of his king in keeping; and hark'ee,duncan," he added, in a half whisper, though they were alone, "it may be prudent to have some aid at hand, in case thereshould be treachery at the bottom of it all."
the young man availed himself of this orderto quit the apartment; and, as the day was fast coming to a close, he hastened withoutdelay, to make the necessary arrangements. a very few minutes only were necessary toparade a few files, and to dispatch an orderly with a flag to announce theapproach of the commandant of the fort. when duncan had done both these, he led theguard to the sally-port, near which he found his superior ready, waiting hisappearance. as soon as the usual ceremonials of amilitary departure were observed, the veteran and his more youthful companionleft the fortress, attended by the escort. they had proceeded only a hundred yardsfrom the works, when the little array which
attended the french general to theconference was seen issuing from the hollow way which formed the bed of a brook that ran between the batteries of the besiegersand the fort. from the moment that munro left his ownworks to appear in front of his enemy's, his air had been grand, and his step andcountenance highly military. the instant he caught a glimpse of thewhite plume that waved in the hat of montcalm, his eye lighted, and age nolonger appeared to possess any influence over his vast and still muscular person. "speak to the boys to be watchful, sir," hesaid, in an undertone, to duncan; "and to
look well to their flints and steel, forone is never safe with a servant of these louis's; at the same time, we shall showthem the front of men in deep security. ye'll understand me, major heyward!" he was interrupted by the clamor of a drumfrom the approaching frenchmen, which was immediately answered, when each partypushed an orderly in advance, bearing a white flag, and the wary scotsman haltedwith his guard close at his back. as soon as this slight salutation hadpassed, montcalm moved toward them with a quick but graceful step, baring his head tothe veteran, and dropping his spotless plume nearly to the earth in courtesy.
if the air of munro was more commanding andmanly, it wanted both the ease and insinuating polish of that of thefrenchman. neither spoke for a few moments, eachregarding the other with curious and interested eyes. then, as became his superior rank and thenature of the interview, montcalm broke the silence. after uttering the usual words of greeting,he turned to duncan, and continued, with a smile of recognition, speaking always infrench: "i am rejoiced, monsieur, that you havegiven us the pleasure of your company on
this occasion. there will be no necessity to employ anordinary interpreter; for, in your hands, i feel the same security as if i spoke yourlanguage myself." duncan acknowledged the compliment, whenmontcalm, turning to his guard, which in imitation of that of their enemies, pressedclose upon him, continued: "en arriere, mes enfants--il fait chaud---retirez-vous un peu." before major heyward would imitate thisproof of confidence, he glanced his eyes around the plain, and beheld withuneasiness the numerous dusky groups of savages, who looked out from the margin of
the surrounding woods, curious spectatorsof the interview. "monsieur de montcalm will readilyacknowledge the difference in our situation," he said, with someembarrassment, pointing at the same time toward those dangerous foes, who were to beseen in almost every direction. "were we to dismiss our guard, we shouldstand here at the mercy of our enemies." "monsieur, you have the plighted faith of'un gentilhomme francais', for your safety," returned montcalm, laying his handimpressively on his heart; "it should suffice." "it shall.fall back," duncan added to the officer who
led the escort; "fall back, sir, beyondhearing, and wait for orders." munro witnessed this movement with manifestuneasiness; nor did he fail to demand an instant explanation."is it not our interest, sir, to betray distrust?" retorted duncan. "monsieur de montcalm pledges his word forour safety, and i have ordered the men to withdraw a little, in order to prove howmuch we depend on his assurance." "it may be all right, sir, but i have nooverweening reliance on the faith of these marquesses, or marquis, as they callthemselves. their patents of nobility are too common tobe certain that they bear the seal of true
honor." "you forget, dear sir, that we confer withan officer, distinguished alike in europe and america for his deeds.from a soldier of his reputation we can have nothing to apprehend." the old man made a gesture of resignation,though his rigid features still betrayed his obstinate adherence to a distrust,which he derived from a sort of hereditary contempt of his enemy, rather than from any present signs which might warrant souncharitable a feeling. montcalm waited patiently until this littledialogue in demi-voice was ended, when he
drew nigher, and opened the subject oftheir conference. "i have solicited this interview from yoursuperior, monsieur," he said, "because i believe he will allow himself to bepersuaded that he has already done everything which is necessary for the honor of his prince, and will now listen to theadmonitions of humanity. i will forever bear testimony that hisresistance has been gallant, and was continued as long as there was hope." when this opening was translated to munro,he answered with dignity, but with sufficient courtesy:
"however i may prize such testimony frommonsieur montcalm, it will be more valuable when it shall be better merited." the french general smiled, as duncan gavehim the purport of this reply, and observed: "what is now so freely accorded to approvedcourage, may be refused to useless obstinacy. monsieur would wish to see my camp, andwitness for himself our numbers, and the impossibility of his resisting them withsuccess?" "i know that the king of france is wellserved," returned the unmoved scotsman, as
soon as duncan ended his translation; "butmy own royal master has as many and as faithful troops." "though not at hand, fortunately for us,"said montcalm, without waiting, in his ardor, for the interpreter. "there is a destiny in war, to which abrave man knows how to submit with the same courage that he faces his foes." "had i been conscious that monsieurmontcalm was master of the english, i should have spared myself the trouble of soawkward a translation," said the vexed duncan, dryly; remembering instantly hisrecent by-play with munro.
"your pardon, monsieur," rejoined thefrenchman, suffering a slight color to appear on his dark cheek. "there is a vast difference betweenunderstanding and speaking a foreign tongue; you will, therefore, please toassist me still." then, after a short pause, he added: "thesehills afford us every opportunity of reconnoitering your works, messieurs, and iam possibly as well acquainted with their weak condition as you can be yourselves." "ask the french general if his glasses canreach to the hudson," said munro, proudly; "and if he knows when and where to expectthe army of webb."
"let general webb be his own interpreter,"returned the politic montcalm, suddenly extending an open letter toward munro as hespoke; "you will there learn, monsieur, that his movements are not likely to proveembarrassing to my army." the veteran seized the offered paper,without waiting for duncan to translate the speech, and with an eagerness that betrayedhow important he deemed its contents. as his eye passed hastily over the words,his countenance changed from its look of military pride to one of deep chagrin; hislip began to quiver; and suffering the paper to fall from his hand, his head dropped upon his chest, like that of a manwhose hopes were withered at a single blow.
duncan caught the letter from the ground,and without apology for the liberty he took, he read at a glance its cruelpurport. their common superior, so far fromencouraging them to resist, advised a speedy surrender, urging in the plainestlanguage, as a reason, the utter impossibility of his sending a single manto their rescue. "here is no deception!" exclaimed duncan,examining the billet both inside and out; "this is the signature of webb, and must bethe captured letter." "the man has betrayed me!" munro at length bitterly exclaimed; "he hasbrought dishonor to the door of one where
disgrace was never before known to dwell,and shame has he heaped heavily on my gray hairs." "say not so," cried duncan; "we are yetmasters of the fort, and of our honor. let us, then, sell our lives at such a rateas shall make our enemies believe the purchase too dear." "boy, i thank thee," exclaimed the old man,rousing himself from his stupor; "you have, for once, reminded munro of his duty.we will go back, and dig our graves behind those ramparts." "messieurs," said montcalm, advancingtoward them a step, in generous interest,
"you little know louis de st. veran if youbelieve him capable of profiting by this letter to humble brave men, or to build upa dishonest reputation for himself. listen to my terms before you leave me." "what says the frenchman?" demanded theveteran, sternly; "does he make a merit of having captured a scout, with a note fromheadquarters? sir, he had better raise this siege, to goand sit down before edward if he wishes to frighten his enemy with words."duncan explained the other's meaning. "monsieur de montcalm, we will hear you,"the veteran added, more calmly, as duncan ended.
"to retain the fort is now impossible,"said his liberal enemy; "it is necessary to the interests of my master that it shouldbe destroyed; but as for yourselves and your brave comrades, there is no privilegedear to a soldier that shall be denied." "our colors?" demanded heyward."carry them to england, and show them to your king." "our arms?""keep them; none can use them better." "our march; the surrender of the place?""shall all be done in a way most honorable to yourselves." duncan now turned to explain theseproposals to his commander, who heard him
with amazement, and a sensibility that wasdeeply touched by so unusual and unexpected generosity. "go you, duncan," he said; "go with thismarquess, as, indeed, marquess he should be; go to his marquee and arrange it all.i have lived to see two things in my old age that never did i expect to behold. an englishman afraid to support a friend,and a frenchman too honest to profit by his advantage." so saying, the veteran again dropped hishead to his chest, and returned slowly toward the fort, exhibiting, by thedejection of his air, to the anxious
garrison, a harbinger of evil tidings. from the shock of this unexpected blow thehaughty feelings of munro never recovered; but from that moment there commenced achange in his determined character, which accompanied him to a speedy grave. duncan remained to settle the terms of thecapitulation. he was seen to re-enter the works duringthe first watches of the night, and immediately after a private conference withthe commandant, to leave them again. it was then openly announced thathostilities must cease--munro having signed a treaty by which the place was to beyielded to the enemy, with the morning; the
garrison to retain their arms, the colors and their baggage, and, consequently,according to military opinion, their honor. chapter 17 "weave we the woof.the thread is spun. the web is wove.the work is done." --gray the hostile armies, which lay in the wildsof the horican, passed the night of the ninth of august, 1757, much in the mannerthey would, had they encountered on the fairest field of europe.
while the conquered were still, sullen, anddejected, the victors triumphed. but there are limits alike to grief andjoy; and long before the watches of the morning came the stillness of thoseboundless woods was only broken by a gay call from some exulting young frenchman of the advanced pickets, or a menacingchallenge from the fort, which sternly forbade the approach of any hostilefootsteps before the stipulated moment. even these occasional threatening soundsceased to be heard in that dull hour which precedes the day, at which period alistener might have sought in vain any evidence of the presence of those armed
powers that then slumbered on the shores ofthe "holy lake." it was during these moments of deep silencethat the canvas which concealed the entrance to a spacious marquee in thefrench encampment was shoved aside, and a man issued from beneath the drapery intothe open air. he was enveloped in a cloak that might havebeen intended as a protection from the chilling damps of the woods, but whichserved equally well as a mantle to conceal his person. he was permitted to pass the grenadier, whowatched over the slumbers of the french commander, without interruption, the manmaking the usual salute which betokens
military deference, as the other passed swiftly through the little city of tents,in the direction of william henry. whenever this unknown individualencountered one of the numberless sentinels who crossed his path, his answer wasprompt, and, as it appeared, satisfactory; for he was uniformly allowed to proceedwithout further interrogation. with the exception of such repeated butbrief interruptions, he had moved silently from the center of the camp to its mostadvanced outposts, when he drew nigh the soldier who held his watch nearest to theworks of the enemy. as he approached he was received with theusual challenge:
"qui vive?" "france," was the reply."le mot d'ordre?" "la victorie," said the other, drawing sonigh as to be heard in a loud whisper. "c'est bien," returned the sentinel,throwing his musket from the charge to his shoulder; "vous promenez bien matin,monsieur!" "il est necessaire d'etre vigilant, monenfant," the other observed, dropping a fold of his cloak, and looking the soldierclose in the face as he passed him, still continuing his way toward the britishfortification. the man started; his arms rattled heavilyas he threw them forward in the lowest and
most respectful salute; and when he hadagain recovered his piece, he turned to walk his post, muttering between his teeth: "il faut etre vigilant, en verite! je croisque nous avons la, un caporal qui ne dort jamais!" the officer proceeded, without affecting tohear the words which escaped the sentinel in his surprise; nor did he again pauseuntil he had reached the low strand, and in a somewhat dangerous vicinity to thewestern water bastion of the fort. the light of an obscure moon was justsufficient to render objects, though dim, perceptible in their outlines.
he, therefore, took the precaution to placehimself against the trunk of a tree, where he leaned for many minutes, and seemed tocontemplate the dark and silent mounds of the english works in profound attention. his gaze at the ramparts was not that of acurious or idle spectator; but his looks wandered from point to point, denoting hisknowledge of military usages, and betraying that his search was not unaccompanied bydistrust. at length he appeared satisfied; and havingcast his eyes impatiently upward toward the summit of the eastern mountain, as ifanticipating the approach of the morning, he was in the act of turning on his
footsteps, when a light sound on thenearest angle of the bastion caught his ear, and induced him to remain. just then a figure was seen to approach theedge of the rampart, where it stood, apparently contemplating in its turn thedistant tents of the french encampment. its head was then turned toward the east,as though equally anxious for the appearance of light, when the form leanedagainst the mound, and seemed to gaze upon the glassy expanse of the waters, which, like a submarine firmament, glittered withits thousand mimic stars. the melancholy air, the hour, together withthe vast frame of the man who thus leaned,
musing, against the english ramparts, leftno doubt as to his person in the mind of the observant spectator. delicacy, no less than prudence, now urgedhim to retire; and he had moved cautiously round the body of the tree for thatpurpose, when another sound drew his attention, and once more arrested hisfootsteps. it was a low and almost inaudible movementof the water, and was succeeded by a grating of pebbles one against the other. in a moment he saw a dark form rise, as itwere, out of the lake, and steal without further noise to the land, within a fewfeet of the place where he himself stood.
a rifle next slowly rose between his eyesand the watery mirror; but before it could be discharged his own hand was on the lock. "hugh!" exclaimed the savage, whosetreacherous aim was so singularly and so unexpectedly interrupted. without making any reply, the frenchofficer laid his hand on the shoulder of the indian, and led him in profound silenceto a distance from the spot, where their subsequent dialogue might have proved dangerous, and where it seemed that one ofthem, at least, sought a victim. then throwing open his cloak, so as toexpose his uniform and the cross of st.
louis which was suspended at his breast,montcalm sternly demanded: "what means this? does not my son know that the hatchet isburied between the english and his canadian father?" "what can the hurons do?" returned thesavage, speaking also, though imperfectly, in the french language."not a warrior has a scalp, and the pale faces make friends!" "ha, le renard subtil!methinks this is an excess of zeal for a friend who was so late an enemy!how many suns have set since le renard
struck the war-post of the english?" "where is that sun?" demanded the sullensavage. "behind the hill; and it is dark and cold.but when he comes again, it will be bright and warm. le subtil is the sun of his tribe.there have been clouds, and many mountains between him and his nation; but now heshines and it is a clear sky!" "that le renard has power with his people,i well know," said montcalm; "for yesterday he hunted for their scalps, and to-day theyhear him at the council-fire." "magua is a great chief."
"let him prove it, by teaching his nationhow to conduct themselves toward our new friends." "why did the chief of the canadas bring hisyoung men into the woods, and fire his cannon at the earthen house?" demanded thesubtle indian. "to subdue it. my master owns the land, and your fatherwas ordered to drive off these english squatters.they have consented to go, and now he calls them enemies no longer." "'tis well.magua took the hatchet to color it with
blood.it is now bright; when it is red, it shall be buried." "but magua is pledged not to sully thelilies of france. the enemies of the great king across thesalt lake are his enemies; his friends, the friends of the hurons." "friends!" repeated the indian in scorn."let his father give magua a hand." montcalm, who felt that his influence overthe warlike tribes he had gathered was to be maintained by concession rather than bypower, complied reluctantly with the other's request.
the savage placed the fingers of the frenchcommander on a deep scar in his bosom, and then exultingly demanded:"does my father know that?" "what warrior does not? 'tis where a leaden bullet has cut.""and this?" continued the indian, who had turned his naked back to the other, hisbody being without its usual calico mantle. "this!--my son has been sadly injured here;who has done this?" "magua slept hard in the english wigwams,and the sticks have left their mark," returned the savage, with a hollow laugh,which did not conceal the fierce temper that nearly choked him.
then, recollecting himself, with sudden andnative dignity, he added: "go; teach your young men it is peace.le renard subtil knows how to speak to a huron warrior." without deigning to bestow further words,or to wait for any answer, the savage cast his rifle into the hollow of his arm, andmoved silently through the encampment toward the woods where his own tribe wasknown to lie. every few yards as he proceeded he waschallenged by the sentinels; but he stalked sullenly onward, utterly disregarding thesummons of the soldiers, who only spared his life because they knew the air and
tread no less than the obstinate daring ofan indian. montcalm lingered long and melancholy onthe strand where he had been left by his companion, brooding deeply on the temperwhich his ungovernable ally had just discovered. already had his fair fame been tarnished byone horrid scene, and in circumstances fearfully resembling those under which henow found himself. as he mused he became keenly sensible ofthe deep responsibility they assume who disregard the means to attain the end, andof all the danger of setting in motion an engine which it exceeds human power tocontrol.
then shaking off a train of reflectionsthat he accounted a weakness in such a moment of triumph, he retraced his stepstoward his tent, giving the order as he passed to make the signal that shouldarouse the army from its slumbers. the first tap of the french drums wasechoed from the bosom of the fort, and presently the valley was filled with thestrains of martial music, rising long, thrilling and lively above the rattlingaccompaniment. the horns of the victors sounded merry andcheerful flourishes, until the last laggard of the camp was at his post; but theinstant the british fifes had blown their shrill signal, they became mute.
in the meantime the day had dawned, andwhen the line of the french army was ready to receive its general, the rays of abrilliant sun were glancing along the glittering array. then that success, which was already sowell known, was officially announced; the favored band who were selected to guard thegates of the fort were detailed, and defiled before their chief; the signal of their approach was given, and all the usualpreparations for a change of masters were ordered and executed directly under theguns of the contested works. a very different scene presented itselfwithin the lines of the anglo-american
army. as soon as the warning signal was given, itexhibited all the signs of a hurried and forced departure. the sullen soldiers shouldered their emptytubes and fell into their places, like men whose blood had been heated by the pastcontest, and who only desired the opportunity to revenge an indignity which was still wounding to their pride,concealed as it was under the observances of military etiquette. women and children ran from place to place,some bearing the scanty remnants of their
baggage, and others searching in the ranksfor those countenances they looked up to for protection. munro appeared among his silent troops firmbut dejected. it was evident that the unexpected blow hadstruck deep into his heart, though he struggled to sustain his misfortune withthe port of a man. duncan was touched at the quiet andimpressive exhibition of his grief. he had discharged his own duty, and he nowpressed to the side of the old man, to know in what particular he might serve him. "my daughters," was the brief butexpressive reply.
"good heavens! are not arrangements alreadymade for their convenience?" "to-day i am only a soldier, majorheyward," said the veteran. "all that you see here, claim alike to bemy children." duncan had heard enough. without losing one of those moments whichhad now become so precious, he flew toward the quarters of munro, in quest of thesisters. he found them on the threshold of the lowedifice, already prepared to depart, and surrounded by a clamorous and weepingassemblage of their own sex, that had gathered about the place, with a sort of
instinctive consciousness that it was thepoint most likely to be protected. though the cheeks of cora were pale and hercountenance anxious, she had lost none of her firmness; but the eyes of alice wereinflamed, and betrayed how long and bitterly she had wept. they both, however, received the young manwith undisguised pleasure; the former, for a novelty, being the first to speak. "the fort is lost," she said, with amelancholy smile; "though our good name, i trust, remains.""'tis brighter than ever. but, dearest miss munro, it is time tothink less of others, and to make some
provision for yourself. military usage--pride--that pride on whichyou so much value yourself, demands that your father and i should for a little whilecontinue with the troops. then where to seek a proper protector foryou against the confusion and chances of such a scene?" "none is necessary," returned cora; "whowill dare to injure or insult the daughter of such a father, at a time like this?" "i would not leave you alone," continuedthe youth, looking about him in a hurried manner, "for the command of the bestregiment in the pay of the king.
remember, our alice is not gifted with allyour firmness, and god only knows the terror she might endure.""you may be right," cora replied, smiling again, but far more sadly than before. "listen! chance has already sent us afriend when he is most needed." duncan did listen, and on the instantcomprehended her meaning. the low and serious sounds of the sacredmusic, so well known to the eastern provinces, caught his ear, and instantlydrew him to an apartment in an adjacent building, which had already been desertedby its customary tenants. there he found david, pouring out his piousfeelings through the only medium in which
he ever indulged. duncan waited, until, by the cessation ofthe movement of the hand, he believed the strain was ended, when, by touching hisshoulder, he drew the attention of the other to himself, and in a few wordsexplained his wishes. "even so," replied the single-mindeddisciple of the king of israel, when the young man had ended; "i have found muchthat is comely and melodious in the maidens, and it is fitting that we who have consorted in so much peril, should abidetogether in peace. i will attend them, when i have completedmy morning praise, to which nothing is now
wanting but the doxology. wilt thou bear a part, friend?the meter is common, and the tune 'southwell'." then, extending the little volume, andgiving the pitch of the air anew with considerate attention, david recommencedand finished his strains, with a fixedness of manner that it was not easy tointerrupt. heyward was fain to wait until the versewas ended; when, seeing david relieving himself from the spectacles, and replacingthe book, he continued. "it will be your duty to see that none dareto approach the ladies with any rude
intention, or to offer insult or taunt atthe misfortune of their brave father. in this task you will be seconded by thedomestics of their household." "even so." "it is possible that the indians andstragglers of the enemy may intrude, in which case you will remind them of theterms of the capitulation, and threaten to report their conduct to montcalm. a word will suffice.""if not, i have that here which shall," returned david, exhibiting his book, withan air in which meekness and confidence were singularly blended.
here are words which, uttered, or ratherthundered, with proper emphasis, and in measured time, shall quiet the most unrulytemper: "'why rage the heathen furiously'?" "enough," said heyward, interrupting theburst of his musical invocation; "we understand each other; it is time that weshould now assume our respective duties." gamut cheerfully assented, and togetherthey sought the females. cora received her new and somewhatextraordinary protector courteously, at least; and even the pallid features ofalice lighted again with some of their native archness as she thanked heyward forhis care.
duncan took occasion to assure them he haddone the best that circumstances permitted, and, as he believed, quite enough for thesecurity of their feelings; of danger there was none. he then spoke gladly of his intention torejoin them the moment he had led the advance a few miles toward the hudson, andimmediately took his leave. by this time the signal for departure hadbeen given, and the head of the english column was in motion. the sisters started at the sound, andglancing their eyes around, they saw the white uniforms of the french grenadiers,who had already taken possession of the
gates of the fort. at that moment an enormous cloud seemed topass suddenly above their heads, and, looking upward, they discovered that theystood beneath the wide folds of the standard of france. "let us go," said cora; "this is no longera fit place for the children of an english officer." alice clung to the arm of her sister, andtogether they left the parade, accompanied by the moving throng that surrounded them. as they passed the gates, the frenchofficers, who had learned their rank, bowed
often and low, forbearing, however, tointrude those attentions which they saw, with peculiar tact, might not be agreeable. as every vehicle and each beast of burdenwas occupied by the sick and wounded, cora had decided to endure the fatigues of afoot march, rather than interfere with their comforts. indeed, many a maimed and feeble soldierwas compelled to drag his exhausted limbs in the rear of the columns, for the want ofthe necessary means of conveyance in that wilderness. the whole, however, was in motion; the weakand wounded, groaning and in suffering;
their comrades silent and sullen; and thewomen and children in terror, they knew not of what. as the confused and timid throng left theprotecting mounds of the fort, and issued on the open plain, the whole scene was atonce presented to their eyes. at a little distance on the right, andsomewhat in the rear, the french army stood to their arms, montcalm having collectedhis parties, so soon as his guards had possession of the works. they were attentive but silent observers ofthe proceedings of the vanquished, failing in none of the stipulated military honors,and offering no taunt or insult, in their
success, to their less fortunate foes. living masses of the english, to theamount, in the whole, of near three thousand, were moving slowly across theplain, toward the common center, and gradually approached each other, as they converged to the point of their march, avista cut through the lofty trees, where the road to the hudson entered the forest. along the sweeping borders of the woodshung a dark cloud of savages, eyeing the passage of their enemies, and hovering at adistance, like vultures who were only kept from swooping on their prey by the presenceand restraint of a superior army.
a few had straggled among the conqueredcolumns, where they stalked in sullen discontent; attentive, though, as yet,passive observers of the moving multitude. the advance, with heyward at its head, hadalready reached the defile, and was slowly disappearing, when the attention of corawas drawn to a collection of stragglers by the sounds of contention. a truant provincial was paying the forfeitof his disobedience, by being plundered of those very effects which had caused him todesert his place in the ranks. the man was of powerful frame, and tooavaricious to part with his goods without a struggle.
individuals from either party interfered;the one side to prevent and the other to aid in the robbery. voices grew loud and angry, and a hundredsavages appeared, as it were, by magic, where a dozen only had been seen a minutebefore. it was then that cora saw the form of maguagliding among his countrymen, and speaking with his fatal and artful eloquence. the mass of women and children stopped, andhovered together like alarmed and fluttering birds. but the cupidity of the indian was soongratified, and the different bodies again
moved slowly onward. the savages now fell back, and seemedcontent to let their enemies advance without further molestation. but, as the female crowd approached them,the gaudy colors of a shawl attracted the eyes of a wild and untutored huron.he advanced to seize it without the least hesitation. the woman, more in terror than through loveof the ornament, wrapped her child in the coveted article, and folded both moreclosely to her bosom. cora was in the act of speaking, with anintent to advise the woman to abandon the
trifle, when the savage relinquished hishold of the shawl, and tore the screaming infant from her arms. abandoning everything to the greedy graspof those around her, the mother darted, with distraction in her mien, to reclaimher child. the indian smiled grimly, and extended onehand, in sign of a willingness to exchange, while, with the other, he flourished thebabe over his head, holding it by the feet as if to enhance the value of the ransom. "here--here--there--all--any--everything!"exclaimed the breathless woman, tearing the lighter articles of dress from her personwith ill-directed and trembling fingers;
"take all, but give me my babe!" the savage spurned the worthless rags, andperceiving that the shawl had already become a prize to another, his banteringbut sullen smile changing to a gleam of ferocity, he dashed the head of the infant against a rock, and cast its quiveringremains to her very feet. for an instant the mother stood, like astatue of despair, looking wildly down at the unseemly object, which had so latelynestled in her bosom and smiled in her face; and then she raised her eyes and countenance toward heaven, as if calling ongod to curse the perpetrator of the foul
deed. she was spared the sin of such a prayerfor, maddened at his disappointment, and excited at the sight of blood, the huronmercifully drove his tomahawk into her own brain. the mother sank under the blow, and fell,grasping at her child, in death, with the same engrossing love that had caused her tocherish it when living. at that dangerous moment, magua placed hishands to his mouth, and raised the fatal and appalling whoop. the scattered indians started at the well-known cry, as coursers bound at the signal
to quit the goal; and directly there arosesuch a yell along the plain, and through the arches of the wood, as seldom burstfrom human lips before. they who heard it listened with a curdlinghorror at the heart, little inferior to that dread which may be expected to attendthe blasts of the final summons. more than two thousand raving savages brokefrom the forest at the signal, and threw themselves across the fatal plain withinstinctive alacrity. we shall not dwell on the revolting horrorsthat succeeded. death was everywhere, and in his mostterrific and disgusting aspects. resistance only served to inflame themurderers, who inflicted their furious
blows long after their victims were beyondthe power of their resentment. the flow of blood might be likened to theoutbreaking of a torrent; and as the natives became heated and maddened by thesight, many among them even kneeled to the earth, and drank freely, exultingly,hellishly, of the crimson tide. the trained bodies of the troops threwthemselves quickly into solid masses, endeavoring to awe their assailants by theimposing appearance of a military front. the experiment in some measure succeeded,though far too many suffered their unloaded muskets to be torn from their hands, in thevain hope of appeasing the savages. in such a scene none had leisure to notethe fleeting moments.
it might have been ten minutes (it seemedan age) that the sisters had stood riveted to one spot, horror-stricken and nearlyhelpless. when the first blow was struck, theirscreaming companions had pressed upon them in a body, rendering flight impossible; andnow that fear or death had scattered most, if not all, from around them, they saw no avenue open, but such as conducted to thetomahawks of their foes. on every side arose shrieks, groans,exhortations and curses. at this moment, alice caught a glimpse ofthe vast form of her father, moving rapidly across the plain, in the direction of thefrench army.
he was, in truth, proceeding to montcalm,fearless of every danger, to claim the tardy escort for which he had beforeconditioned. fifty glittering axes and barbed spearswere offered unheeded at his life, but the savages respected his rank and calmness,even in their fury. the dangerous weapons were brushed aside bythe still nervous arm of the veteran, or fell of themselves, after menacing an actthat it would seem no one had courage to perform. fortunately, the vindictive magua wassearching for his victim in the very band the veteran had just quitted.
"father--father--we are here!" shriekedalice, as he passed, at no great distance, without appearing to heed them."come to us, father, or we die!" the cry was repeated, and in terms andtones that might have melted a heart of stone, but it was unanswered. once, indeed, the old man appeared to catchthe sound, for he paused and listened; but alice had dropped senseless on the earth,and cora had sunk at her side, hovering in untiring tenderness over her lifeless form. munro shook his head in disappointment, andproceeded, bent on the high duty of his station.
"lady," said gamut, who, helpless anduseless as he was, had not yet dreamed of deserting his trust, "it is the jubilee ofthe devils, and this is not a meet place for christians to tarry in. let us up and fly.""go," said cora, still gazing at her unconscious sister; "save thyself.to me thou canst not be of further use." david comprehended the unyielding characterof her resolution, by the simple but expressive gesture that accompanied herwords. he gazed for a moment at the dusky formsthat were acting their hellish rites on every side of him, and his tall person grewmore erect while his chest heaved, and
every feature swelled, and seemed to speak with the power of the feelings by which hewas governed. "if the jewish boy might tame the greatspirit of saul by the sound of his harp, and the words of sacred song, it may not beamiss," he said, "to try the potency of music here." then raising his voice to its highest tone,he poured out a strain so powerful as to be heard even amid the din of that bloodyfield. more than one savage rushed toward them,thinking to rifle the unprotected sisters of their attire, and bear away theirscalps; but when they found this strange
and unmoved figure riveted to his post,they paused to listen. astonishment soon changed to admiration,and they passed on to other and less courageous victims, openly expressing theirsatisfaction at the firmness with which the white warrior sang his death song. encouraged and deluded by his success,david exerted all his powers to extend what he believed so holy an influence. the unwonted sounds caught the ears of adistant savage, who flew raging from group to group, like one who, scorning to touchthe vulgar herd, hunted for some victim more worthy of his renown.
it was magua, who uttered a yell ofpleasure when he beheld his ancient prisoners again at his mercy. "come," he said, laying his soiled hands onthe dress of cora, "the wigwam of the huron is still open.is it not better than this place?" "away!" cried cora, veiling her eyes fromhis revolting aspect. the indian laughed tauntingly, as he heldup his reeking hand, and answered: "it is red, but it comes from white veins!" "monster! there is blood, oceans of blood,upon thy soul; thy spirit has moved this scene."
"magua is a great chief!" returned theexulting savage, "will the dark-hair go to his tribe?""never! strike if thou wilt, and complete thy revenge." he hesitated a moment, and then catchingthe light and senseless form of alice in his arms, the subtle indian moved swiftlyacross the plain toward the woods. "hold!" shrieked cora, following wildly onhis footsteps; "release the child! wretch! what is't you do?" but magua was deaf to her voice; or,rather, he knew his power, and was determined to maintain it."stay--lady--stay," called gamut, after the
unconscious cora. "the holy charm is beginning to be felt,and soon shalt thou see this horrid tumult stilled." perceiving that, in his turn, he wasunheeded, the faithful david followed the distracted sister, raising his voice againin sacred song, and sweeping the air to the measure, with his long arm, in diligentaccompaniment. in this manner they traversed the plain,through the flying, the wounded and the dead. the fierce huron was, at any time,sufficient for himself and the victim that
he bore; though cora would have fallen morethan once under the blows of her savage enemies, but for the extraordinary being who stalked in her rear, and who nowappeared to the astonished natives gifted with the protecting spirit of madness. magua, who knew how to avoid the morepressing dangers, and also to elude pursuit, entered the woods through a lowravine, where he quickly found the narragansetts, which the travelers had abandoned so shortly before, awaiting hisappearance, in custody of a savage as fierce and malign in his expression ashimself.
laying alice on one of the horses, he madea sign to cora to mount the other. notwithstanding the horror excited by thepresence of her captor, there was a present relief in escaping from the bloody sceneenacting on the plain, to which cora could not be altogether insensible. she took her seat, and held forth her armsfor her sister, with an air of entreaty and love that even the huron could not deny. placing alice, then, on the same animalwith cora, he seized the bridle, and commenced his route by plunging deeper intothe forest. david, perceiving that he was left alone,utterly disregarded as a subject too
worthless even to destroy, threw his longlimb across the saddle of the beast they had deserted, and made such progress in the pursuit as the difficulties of the pathpermitted. they soon began to ascend; but as themotion had a tendency to revive the dormant faculties of her sister, the attention ofcora was too much divided between the tenderest solicitude in her behalf, and in listening to the cries which were still tooaudible on the plain, to note the direction in which they journeyed. when, however, they gained the flattenedsurface of the mountain-top, and approached
the eastern precipice, she recognized thespot to which she had once before been led under the more friendly auspices of thescout. here magua suffered them to dismount; andnotwithstanding their own captivity, the curiosity which seems inseparable fromhorror, induced them to gaze at the sickening sight below. the cruel work was still unchecked. on every side the captured were flyingbefore their relentless persecutors, while the armed columns of the christian kingstood fast in an apathy which has never been explained, and which has left an
immovable blot on the otherwise fairescutcheon of their leader. nor was the sword of death stayed untilcupidity got the mastery of revenge. then, indeed, the shrieks of the wounded,and the yells of their murderers grew less frequent, until, finally, the cries ofhorror were lost to their ear, or were drowned in the loud, long and piercingwhoops of the triumphant savages. chapter 18 "why, anything; an honorable murderer, ifyou will; for naught i did in hate, but all in honor."--othello the bloody and inhuman scene ratherincidentally mentioned than described in
the preceding chapter, is conspicuous inthe pages of colonial history by the merited title of "the massacre of williamhenry." it so far deepened the stain which aprevious and very similar event had left upon the reputation of the french commanderthat it was not entirely erased by his early and glorious death. it is now becoming obscured by time; andthousands, who know that montcalm died like a hero on the plains of abraham, have yetto learn how much he was deficient in that moral courage without which no man can betruly great. pages might yet be written to prove, fromthis illustrious example, the defects of
human excellence; to show how easy it isfor generous sentiments, high courtesy, and chivalrous courage to lose their influence beneath the chilling blight of selfishness,and to exhibit to the world a man who was great in all the minor attributes ofcharacter, but who was found wanting when it became necessary to prove how muchprinciple is superior to policy. but the task would exceed our prerogatives;and, as history, like love, is so apt to surround her heroes with an atmosphere ofimaginary brightness, it is probable that louis de saint veran will be viewed by posterity only as the gallant defender ofhis country, while his cruel apathy on the
shores of the oswego and of the horicanwill be forgotten. deeply regretting this weakness on the partof a sister muse, we shall at once retire from her sacred precincts, within theproper limits of our own humble vocation. the third day from the capture of the fortwas drawing to a close, but the business of the narrative must still detain the readeron the shores of the "holy lake." when last seen, the environs of the workswere filled with violence and uproar. they were now possessed by stillness anddeath. the blood-stained conquerors had departed;and their camp, which had so lately rung with the merry rejoicings of a victoriousarmy, lay a silent and deserted city of
huts. the fortress was a smoldering ruin; charredrafters, fragments of exploded artillery, and rent mason-work covering its earthenmounds in confused disorder. a frightful change had also occurred in theseason. the sun had hid its warmth behind animpenetrable mass of vapor, and hundreds of human forms, which had blackened beneaththe fierce heats of august, were stiffening in their deformity before the blasts of apremature november. the curling and spotless mists, which hadbeen seen sailing above the hills toward the north, were now returning in aninterminable dusky sheet, that was urged
along by the fury of a tempest. the crowded mirror of the horican was gone;and, in its place, the green and angry waters lashed the shores, as if indignantlycasting back its impurities to the polluted strand. still the clear fountain retained a portionof its charmed influence, but it reflected only the somber gloom that fell from theimpending heavens. that humid and congenial atmosphere whichcommonly adorned the view, veiling its harshness, and softening its asperities,had disappeared, the northern air poured across the waste of water so harsh and
unmingled, that nothing was left to beconjectured by the eye, or fashioned by the fancy. the fiercer element had cropped the verdureof the plain, which looked as though it were scathed by the consuming lightning. but, here and there, a dark green tuft rosein the midst of the desolation; the earliest fruits of a soil that had beenfattened with human blood. the whole landscape, which, seen by afavoring light, and in a genial temperature, had been found so lovely,appeared now like some pictured allegory of life, in which objects were arrayed in
their harshest but truest colors, andwithout the relief of any shadowing. the solitary and arid blades of grass arosefrom the passing gusts fearfully perceptible; the bold and rocky mountainswere too distinct in their barrenness, and the eye even sought relief, in vain, by attempting to pierce the illimitable voidof heaven, which was shut to its gaze by the dusky sheet of ragged and drivingvapor. the wind blew unequally; sometimes sweepingheavily along the ground, seeming to whisper its moanings in the cold ears ofthe dead, then rising in a shrill and mournful whistling, it entered the forest
with a rush that filled the air with theleaves and branches it scattered in its path. amid the unnatural shower, a few hungryravens struggled with the gale; but no sooner was the green ocean of woods whichstretched beneath them, passed, than they gladly stopped, at random, to their hideousbanquet. in short, it was a scene of wildness anddesolation; and it appeared as if all who had profanely entered it had been stricken,at a blow, by the relentless arm of death. but the prohibition had ceased; and for thefirst time since the perpetrators of those foul deeds which had assisted to disfigurethe scene were gone, living human beings
had now presumed to approach the place. about an hour before the setting of thesun, on the day already mentioned, the forms of five men might have been seenissuing from the narrow vista of trees, where the path to the hudson entered the forest, and advancing in the direction ofthe ruined works. at first their progress was slow andguarded, as though they entered with reluctance amid the horrors of the post, ordreaded the renewal of its frightful incidents. a light figure preceded the rest of theparty, with the caution and activity of a
native; ascending every hillock toreconnoiter, and indicating by gestures, to his companions, the route he deemed it mostprudent to pursue. nor were those in the rear wanting in everycaution and foresight known to forest warfare. one among them, he also was an indian,moved a little on one flank, and watched the margin of the woods, with eyes longaccustomed to read the smallest sign of danger. the remaining three were white, though cladin vestments adapted, both in quality and color, to their present hazardous pursuit--that of hanging on the skirts of a retiring
army in the wilderness. the effects produced by the appallingsights that constantly arose in their path to the lake shore, were as different as thecharacters of the respective individuals who composed the party. the youth in front threw serious butfurtive glances at the mangled victims, as he stepped lightly across the plain, afraidto exhibit his feelings, and yet too inexperienced to quell entirely theirsudden and powerful influence. his red associate, however, was superior tosuch a weakness. he passed the groups of dead with asteadiness of purpose, and an eye so calm,
that nothing but long and inveteratepractise could enable him to maintain. the sensations produced in the minds ofeven the white men were different, though uniformly sorrowful. one, whose gray locks and furrowedlineaments, blending with a martial air and tread, betrayed, in spite of the disguiseof a woodsman's dress, a man long experienced in scenes of war, was not ashamed to groan aloud, whenever aspectacle of more than usual horror came under his view. the young man at his elbow shuddered, butseemed to suppress his feelings in
tenderness to his companion. of them all, the straggler who brought upthe rear appeared alone to betray his real thoughts, without fear of observation ordread of consequences. he gazed at the most appalling sight witheyes and muscles that knew not how to waver, but with execrations so bitter anddeep as to denote how much he denounced the crime of his enemies. the reader will perceive at once, in theserespective characters, the mohicans, and their white friend, the scout; togetherwith munro and heyward. it was, in truth, the father in quest ofhis children, attended by the youth who
felt so deep a stake in their happiness,and those brave and trusty foresters, who had already proved their skill and fidelitythrough the trying scenes related. when uncas, who moved in front, had reachedthe center of the plain, he raised a cry that drew his companions in a body to thespot. the young warrior had halted over a groupof females who lay in a cluster, a confused mass of dead. notwithstanding the revolting horror of theexhibition, munro and heyward flew toward the festering heap, endeavoring, with alove that no unseemliness could extinguish, to discover whether any vestiges of those
they sought were to be seen among thetattered and many-colored garments. the father and the lover found instantrelief in the search; though each was condemned again to experience the misery ofan uncertainty that was hardly less insupportable than the most revoltingtruth. they were standing, silent and thoughtful,around the melancholy pile, when the scout approached. eyeing the sad spectacle with an angrycountenance, the sturdy woodsman, for the first time since his entering the plain,spoke intelligibly and aloud: "i have been on many a shocking field, andhave followed a trail of blood for weary
miles," he said, "but never have i foundthe hand of the devil so plain as it is here to be seen! revenge is an indian feeling, and all whoknow me know that there is no cross in my veins; but this much will i say--here, inthe face of heaven, and with the power of the lord so manifest in this howling wilderness--that should these frenchersever trust themselves again within the range of a ragged bullet, there is onerifle which shall play its part so long as flint will fire or powder burn! i leave the tomahawk and knife to such ashave a natural gift to use them.
what say you, chingachgook," he added, indelaware; "shall the hurons boast of this to their women when the deep snows come?" a gleam of resentment flashed across thedark lineaments of the mohican chief; he loosened his knife in his sheath; and thenturning calmly from the sight, his countenance settled into a repose as deepas if he knew the instigation of passion. "montcalm! montcalm!" continued the deeply resentfuland less self-restrained scout; "they say a time must come when all the deeds done inthe flesh will be seen at a single look; and that by eyes cleared from mortalinfirmities.
woe betide the wretch who is born to beholdthis plain, with the judgment hanging about his soul! ha--as i am a man of white blood, yonderlies a red-skin, without the hair of his head where nature rooted it! look to him, delaware; it may be one ofyour missing people; and he should have burial like a stout warrior. i see it in your eye, sagamore; a huronpays for this, afore the fall winds have blown away the scent of the blood!" chingachgook approached the mutilated form,and, turning it over, he found the
distinguishing marks of one of those sixallied tribes, or nations, as they were called, who, while they fought in the english ranks, were so deadly hostile tohis own people. spurning the loathsome object with hisfoot, he turned from it with the same indifference he would have quitted a brutecarcass. the scout comprehended the action, and verydeliberately pursued his own way, continuing, however, his denunciationsagainst the french commander in the same resentful strain. "nothing but vast wisdom and unlimitedpower should dare to sweep off men in
multitudes," he added; "for it is only theone that can know the necessity of the judgment; and what is there, short of the other, that can replace the creatures ofthe lord? i hold it a sin to kill the second buckafore the first is eaten, unless a march in front, or an ambushment, be contemplated. it is a different matter with a fewwarriors in open and rugged fight, for 'tis their gift to die with the rifle or thetomahawk in hand; according as their natures may happen to be, white or red. uncas, come this way, lad, and let theravens settle upon the mingo.
i know, from often seeing it, that theyhave a craving for the flesh of an oneida; and it is as well to let the bird followthe gift of its natural appetite." "hugh!" exclaimed the young mohican, risingon the extremities of his feet, and gazing intently in his front, frightening theravens to some other prey by the sound and the action. "what is it, boy?" whispered the scout,lowering his tall form into a crouching attitude, like a panther about to take hisleap; "god send it be a tardy frencher, skulking for plunder. i do believe 'killdeer' would take anuncommon range today!"
uncas, without making any reply, boundedaway from the spot, and in the next instant he was seen tearing from a bush, and wavingin triumph, a fragment of the green riding- veil of cora. the movement, the exhibition, and the crywhich again burst from the lips of the young mohican, instantly drew the wholeparty about him. "my child!" said munro, speaking quicklyand wildly; "give me my child!" "uncas will try," was the short andtouching answer. the simple but meaning assurance was loston the father, who seized the piece of gauze, and crushed it in his hand, whilehis eyes roamed fearfully among the bushes,
as if he equally dreaded and hoped for thesecrets they might reveal. "here are no dead," said heyward; "thestorm seems not to have passed this way." "that's manifest; and clearer than theheavens above our heads," returned the undisturbed scout; "but either she, or theythat have robbed her, have passed the bush; for i remember the rag she wore to hide aface that all did love to look upon. uncas, you are right; the dark-hair hasbeen here, and she has fled like a frightened fawn, to the wood; none whocould fly would remain to be murdered. let us search for the marks she left; for,to indian eyes, i sometimes think a humming-bird leaves his trail in the air."
the young mohican darted away at thesuggestion, and the scout had hardly done speaking, before the former raised a cry ofsuccess from the margin of the forest. on reaching the spot, the anxious partyperceived another portion of the veil fluttering on the lower branch of a beech. "softly, softly," said the scout, extendinghis long rifle in front of the eager heyward; "we now know our work, but thebeauty of the trail must not be deformed. a step too soon may give us hours oftrouble. we have them, though; that much is beyonddenial." "bless ye, bless ye, worthy man!" exclaimedmunro; "whither then, have they fled, and
where are my babes?""the path they have taken depends on many chances. if they have gone alone, they are quite aslikely to move in a circle as straight, and they may be within a dozen miles of us; butif the hurons, or any of the french indians, have laid hands on them, 'tis probably they are now near the borders ofthe canadas. but what matters that?" continued thedeliberate scout, observing the powerful anxiety and disappointment the listenersexhibited; "here are the mohicans and i on one end of the trail, and, rely on it, we
find the other, though they should be ahundred leagues asunder! gently, gently, uncas, you are as impatientas a man in the settlements; you forget that light feet leave but faint marks!" "hugh!" exclaimed chingachgook, who hadbeen occupied in examining an opening that had been evidently made through the lowunderbrush which skirted the forest; and who now stood erect, as he pointed downward, in the attitude and with the airof a man who beheld a disgusting serpent. "here is the palpable impression of thefootstep of a man," cried heyward, bending over the indicated spot; "he has trod inthe margin of this pool, and the mark
cannot be mistaken. they are captives.""better so than left to starve in the wilderness," returned the scout; "and theywill leave a wider trail. i would wager fifty beaver skins against asmany flints, that the mohicans and i enter their wigwams within the month! stoop to it, uncas, and try what you canmake of the moccasin; for moccasin it plainly is, and no shoe." the young mohican bent over the track, andremoving the scattered leaves from around the place, he examined it with much of thatsort of scrutiny that a money dealer, in
these days of pecuniary doubts, wouldbestow on a suspected due-bill. at length he arose from his knees,satisfied with the result of the examination. "well, boy," demanded the attentive scout;"what does it say? can you make anything of the tell-tale?""le renard subtil!" "ha! that rampaging devil again! there willnever be an end of his loping till 'killdeer' has said a friendly word tohim." heyward reluctantly admitted the truth ofthis intelligence, and now expressed rather his hopes than his doubts by saying:"one moccasin is so much like another, it
is probable there is some mistake." "one moccasin like another! you may as wellsay that one foot is like another; though we all know that some are long, and othersshort; some broad and others narrow; some with high, and some with low insteps; someintoed, and some out. one moccasin is no more like another thanone book is like another: though they who can read in one are seldom able to tell themarks of the other. which is all ordered for the best, givingto every man his natural advantages. let me get down to it, uncas; neither booknor moccasin is the worse for having two opinions, instead of one."
the scout stooped to the task, andinstantly added: "you are right, boy; here is the patch wesaw so often in the other chase. and the fellow will drink when he can getan opportunity; your drinking indian always learns to walk with a wider toe than thenatural savage, it being the gift of a drunkard to straddle, whether of white orred skin. 'tis just the length and breadth, too! lookat it, sagamore; you measured the prints more than once, when we hunted the varmintsfrom glenn's to the health springs." chingachgook complied; and after finishinghis short examination, he arose, and with a quiet demeanor, he merely pronounced theword:
"magua!" "ay, 'tis a settled thing; here, then, havepassed the dark-hair and magua." "and not alice?" demanded heyward. "of her we have not yet seen the signs,"returned the scout, looking closely around at the trees, the bushes and the ground."what have we there? uncas, bring hither the thing you seedangling from yonder thorn-bush." when the indian had complied, the scoutreceived the prize, and holding it on high, he laughed in his silent but heartfeltmanner. "'tis the tooting we'pon of the singer! nowwe shall have a trail a priest might
travel," he said. "uncas, look for the marks of a shoe thatis long enough to uphold six feet two of tottering human flesh. i begin to have some hopes of the fellow,since he has given up squalling to follow some better trade.""at least he has been faithful to his trust," said heyward. "and cora and alice are not without afriend." "yes," said hawkeye, dropping his rifle,and leaning on it with an air of visible contempt, "he will do their singing.
can he slay a buck for their dinner;journey by the moss on the beeches, or cut the throat of a huron? if not, the first catbird (footnote: thepowers of the american mocking-bird are generally known. but the true mocking-bird is not found sofar north as the state of new york, where it has, however, two substitutes ofinferior excellence, the catbird, so often named by the scout, and the bird vulgarlycalled ground- thresher. either of these last two birds is superiorto the nightingale or the lark, though, in general, the american birds are lessmusical than those of europe.)
-he meets is the cleverer of the two. well, boy, any signs of such a foundation?""here is something like the footstep of one who has worn a shoe; can it be that of ourfriend?" "touch the leaves lightly or you'lldisconsart the formation. that! that is the print of a foot, but 'tisthe dark-hair's; and small it is, too, for one of such a noble height and grandappearance. the singer would cover it with his heel." "where! let me look on the footsteps of mychild," said munro, shoving the bushes aside, and bending fondly over the nearlyobliterated impression.
though the tread which had left the markhad been light and rapid, it was still plainly visible. the aged soldier examined it with eyes thatgrew dim as he gazed; nor did he rise from this stooping posture until heyward sawthat he had watered the trace of his daughter's passage with a scalding tear. willing to divert a distress whichthreatened each moment to break through the restraint of appearances, by giving theveteran something to do, the young man said to the scout: "as we now possess these infallible signs,let us commence our march.
a moment, at such a time, will appear anage to the captives." "it is not the swiftest leaping deer thatgives the longest chase," returned hawkeye, without moving his eyes from the differentmarks that had come under his view; "we know that the rampaging huron has passed, and the dark-hair, and the singer, butwhere is she of the yellow locks and blue eyes? though little, and far from being as boldas her sister, she is fair to the view, and pleasant in discourse.has she no friend, that none care for her?" "god forbid she should ever want hundreds!
are we not now in her pursuit?for one, i will never cease the search till she be found." "in that case we may have to journey bydifferent paths; for here she has not passed, light and little as her footstepswould be." heyward drew back, all his ardor to proceedseeming to vanish on the instant. without attending to this sudden change inthe other's humor, the scout after musing a moment continued: "there is no woman in this wilderness couldleave such a print as that, but the dark- hair or her sister.we know that the first has been here, but
where are the signs of the other? let us push deeper on the trail, and ifnothing offers, we must go back to the plain and strike another scent.move on, uncas, and keep your eyes on the dried leaves. i will watch the bushes, while your fathershall run with a low nose to the ground. move on, friends; the sun is getting behindthe hills." "is there nothing that i can do?" demandedthe anxious heyward. "you?" repeated the scout, who, with hisred friends, was already advancing in the order he had prescribed; "yes, you can keepin our rear and be careful not to cross the
trail." before they had proceeded many rods, theindians stopped, and appeared to gaze at some signs on the earth with more thantheir usual keenness. both father and son spoke quick and loud,now looking at the object of their mutual admiration, and now regarding each otherwith the most unequivocal pleasure. "they have found the little foot!"exclaimed the scout, moving forward, without attending further to his ownportion of the duty. "what have we here? an ambushment has been planted in the spot!no, by the truest rifle on the frontiers,
here have been them one-sided horses again!now the whole secret is out, and all is plain as the north star at midnight. yes, here they have mounted.there the beasts have been bound to a sapling, in waiting; and yonder runs thebroad path away to the north, in full sweep for the canadas." "but still there are no signs of alice, ofthe younger miss munro," said duncan. "unless the shining bauble uncas has justlifted from the ground should prove one. pass it this way, lad, that we may look atit." heyward instantly knew it for a trinketthat alice was fond of wearing, and which
he recollected, with the tenacious memoryof a lover, to have seen, on the fatal morning of the massacre, dangling from thefair neck of his mistress. he seized the highly prized jewel; and ashe proclaimed the fact, it vanished from the eyes of the wondering scout, who invain looked for it on the ground, long after it was warmly pressed against thebeating heart of duncan. "pshaw!" said the disappointed hawkeye,ceasing to rake the leaves with the breech of his rifle; "'tis a certain sign of age,when the sight begins to weaken. such a glittering gewgaw, and not to beseen! well, well, i can squint along a cloudedbarrel yet, and that is enough to settle
all disputes between me and the mingoes. i should like to find the thing, too, if itwere only to carry it to the right owner, and that would be bringing the two ends ofwhat i call a long trail together, for by this time the broad st. lawrence, or perhaps, the great lakes themselves, arebetween us." "so much the more reason why we should notdelay our march," returned heyward; "let us proceed." "young blood and hot blood, they say, aremuch the same thing. we are not about to start on a squirrelhunt, or to drive a deer into the horican,
but to outlie for days and nights, and tostretch across a wilderness where the feet of men seldom go, and where no bookishknowledge would carry you through harmless. an indian never starts on such anexpedition without smoking over his council-fire; and, though a man of whiteblood, i honor their customs in this particular, seeing that they are deliberateand wise. we will, therefore, go back, and light ourfire to-night in the ruins of the old fort, and in the morning we shall be fresh, andready to undertake our work like men, and not like babbling women or eager boys." heyward saw, by the manner of the scout,that altercation would be useless.
munro had again sunk into that sort ofapathy which had beset him since his late overwhelming misfortunes, and from which hewas apparently to be roused only by some new and powerful excitement. making a merit of necessity, the young mantook the veteran by the arm, and followed in the footsteps of the indians and thescout, who had already begun to retrace the path which conducted them to the plain.
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