CHAPTER X.
Before noon, on the following day, the boat that was to convey MajorMontgomerie and his niece to the American shore, pulled up to thelanding-place in front of the fort. The weather, as on the precedingday, was fine, and the river exhibited the same placidity of surface.Numerous bodies of Indians were collected on the banks, pointing to andremarking on the singularity of the white flag which hung drooping atthe stern of the boat. Presently the prisoners were seen advancing tothe bank, accompanied by General Brock, Commodore Barclay, and theprincipal officers of the garrison. Major Montgomerie appeared pleasedat the prospect of the liberty that awaited him, while the countenanceof his niece, on the contrary, presented an expression of deep thought,although it was afterwards remarked by Granville and Villiers, bothclose observers of her demeanor, that as her eye occasionally glanced inthe direction of Detroit, it lighted up with an animation strongly incontrast with the general calm and abstractedness of her manner. Allbeing now ready, Gerald Grantham, who had received his finalinstructions from the General offered his arm to Miss Montgomerie, who,to all outward appearance, took it mechanically and unconsciously,although, in the animated look which the young sailor turned upon her inthe next instant, there was evidence the contact had thrilledelectrically to his heart. After exchanging a cordial pressure of thehand with his gallant entertainers, and reiterating to the General histhanks for the especial favor conferred upon him, the venerable Majorfollowed them to the boat. His departure was the signal for muchcommotion among the Indians. Hitherto they had had no idea of what wasin contemplation; but when they saw them enter and take their seats inthe boat, they raised one of those terrific shouts which have so oftenstruck terror and dismay; and brandishing their weapons, seemed ready totestify their disapprobation by something more than words. It washowever momentary--a commanding voice made itself heard, even amid thedin of their loud yell, and, when silence had been obtained, a fewanimated sentences, uttered in a tone of deep authority, caused thetumult at once to subside. The voice was that of Tecumseh, and therewere few among his race who, brave and indomitable as they were, couldfind courage to thwart his will. Meanwhile the boat, impelled by eightactive seamen, urged its way through the silvery current, and in lessthan an hour from its departure had disappeared.
Two hours had elapsed--the General and superior officers hadretired--and the Indians, few by few, had repaired to their severalencampments, except a party of young warriors, who, wrapped in theirblankets and mantles, lay indolently extended on the grass, smokingtheir pipes, or producing wild sounds from their melancholy flutes. Notfar from these, sat, with their legs overhanging the edge of the steepbank, a group of the junior officers of the garrison, who, with thatindifference which characterized their years, were occupied in castingpebbles into the river, and watching the bubbles that arose to thesurface. Among the number was Henry Grantham, and, at a short distancefrom him, sat the old but athletic negro, Sambo, who, not having beenrequired to accompany Gerald, to whom he was especially attached, hadcontinued to linger on the bank long after his anxious eye had lostsight of the boat in which the latter had departed. While thus engaged,a new direction was given to the interest of all parties by a peculiarcry, which reached them from a distance over the water, apparently frombeyond the near extremity of the island of Bois Blanc. To the officersthe sound was unintelligible, for it was the first of the kind they hadever heard; but the young Indians appeared fully to understand itsimport. Starting from their lethargy, they sprang abruptly to theirfeet; and giving a sharp, answering yell, stamped upon the green turf,and snuffed the hot air with distended nostrils, like so many wildhorses let loose upon the desert. Nor was the excitement confined tothese, for, all along the line of encampment the same wild notes wereechoed, and forms came bounding again to the front, until the bank wasonce more peopled with savages.
"What was the meaning of that cry, Sambo, and whence came it?" askedHenry Grantham, who, as well as his companions, had strained his eyes inevery direction, but in vain, to discover its cause.
"Dat a calp cry, Massa Henry--see he dere a canoe not bigger than ahick'ry nut," and he pointed with his finger to what in fact had theappearance of being little larger; "I wish," he pursued, withbitterness, "dey bring him calp of dem billains Desborough--Dam himlying tief."
"Bravo!" exclaimed De Courcy, who, in common with his companions,recollecting Gerald's story of the preceding day, was at no loss tounderstand why the latter epithet had been so emphatically bestowed; "Isee (winking to Henry Grantham) you have not forgiven his paddling roundthe gun-boat the other night, while you and the rest of the crew wereasleep, eh, Sambo?"
"So help me hebben, Obbicer, he no sail around a gun-boat, he dam aYankee. He come along a lake like a dam tief in e night and I tell aMassa Geral--and Massa Geral and me chase him all ober e water--I notasleep. Massa Courcy," pursued the old man, with pique; "I nebbersleep--Massa Geral nebber sleep."
"The devil ye don't," observed De Courcy, quaintly; "then the Lorddeliver _me_ from gun-boat service, I say."
"Amen!" responded Villiers.
"Why," asked Middlemore, "do Gerald Grantham and old Frumpy here remindone of a certain Irish festival? Do you give it up? Because they are_awake_----"
The abuse heaped on the pre-eminently vile attempt was unmeasured--Samboconceived it a personal affront to himself, and he said, with an air ofmortification and wounded dignity, not unmixed with anger:
"Sambo poor black nigger--obbicer berry white man, but him heart all oba color. He no Frumpy--Massa Geral no like an Irish bestibal. I wonderhe no tick up for a broder, Massa Henry." His agitation here wasextreme.
"Nonsense, Sambo--don't you see we are only jesting with you?" said theyouth, in the kindest tone--for he perceived that the faithful creaturewas striving hard to check the rising tear--"there is not an officerhere who does not respect you for your long attachment to my family, andnone would willingly give you pain; neither should you suppose theywould say anything offensive in regard of my brother Gerald."
Pacified by this assurance, which was moreover corroborated by severalof his companions, really annoyed at having pained the old man, Sambosank once more into respectful silence, still however continuing tooccupy the same spot. During this colloquy the cry had been severaltimes repeated, and as often replied to from the shore; and now a canoewas distinctly visible, urging its way to the beach. The warriors itcontained were a scouting party, six in number--four paddling the lightbark, and one at the helm, while the sixth, who appeared to be theleader, stood upright in the bow, waving from the long pole, to which itwas attached, a human scalp. A few minutes and the whole had landed, andwere encircled on the bank by their eager and inquiring comrades. Theirstory was soon told. They had encountered two Americans at some distanceon the opposite shore, who were evidently making the best of their waythrough the forest to Detroit. They called upon them to deliverthemselves up, but the only answer was an attempt at flight. The Indiansfired, and one fell dead, pierced by many balls. The other, however, whohappened to be considerably in advance, threw all his energy into hismuscular frame; and being untouched by the discharge that had slain hiscompanion, succeeded in gaining a dense underwood, through which hefinally effected his escape. The scouts continued their pursuit forupwards of an hour, but finding it fruitless, returned to the placewhere they had left their canoe, having first secured the scalp andspoils of the fallen man.
"Dam him, debbel," exclaimed Sambo, who, as well as the officers, hadapproached the party detailing their exploit, and had fixed his dark eyeon the dangling trophy--"May I nebber see a hebben ib he not a calp of ayounger Desborough. I know him lying tief by he hair--he all yaller likea soger's breastplate--curse him rascal (and his white and even teethwere exhibited in the grin that accompanied the remark,) he nebber moresay he sail round Massa Geral's gun-boat, and Massa Geral and Sambosleep."
"By Jove he is right," said De Courcy. "I recollect remarking the colorof the fellow's hair yesterday, when, on calling for a glass
of "ginsling," at the inn to which I had conducted him, he threw his slouchedhat unceremoniously on the table, and rubbed the fingers of both handsthrough his carrotty locks, until they appeared to stand like those ofthe Gorgon, perfectly on end."
"And were there other proof wanting," said Villiers, "we have it here inthe spoil his slayers are exhibiting to their companions. There is theidentical powder horn, bullet pouch, and waist belt, which he wore whenhe landed on this very spot."
"And I," said Middlemore, "will swear by the crooked buckhorn handle ofthat huge knife or dagger; for in our struggle on the sands yesterdaymorning, his blanket coat came open, and discovered the weapon, on whichI kept a sharp eye during the whole affair. Had he but managed to plantthat monster (and he affected to shudder,) under my middle ribs, thenwould it have been all over with poor Middlemore."
"There cannot be a doubt," remarked Henry Grantham. "With Sambo and DeCourcy, I well recollect the hair, and I also particularly noticed thehandle of his dagger, which, as you perceive, has a remarkable twist init."
All doubt was put to rest by Sambo, who, having spoken with itspossessor for a moment, now returned, bearing the knife, at theextremity of the handle of which was engraved, on a silver shield, theletters P. E. T. A. Ens. M. M.
"Paul Emilius Theophilus Arnoldi, Ensign Michigan Militia," pursuedGrantham, reading. "This, then, is conclusive, and we have tocongratulate ourselves that one at least of two of the vilest scoundrelsthis country ever harbored, has at length met the fate he merited."
"Fate him merit, Massa Henry!" muttered the aged and privileged negro,with something like anger in his tones, as he returned the knife to theIndian, "he dam 'serter from a king! No, no he nebber deserb a die likedis. He ought to hab a rope roun him neck and die him lying tief like adog."
"I guess, however, our friend Jeremiah has got clean slick off," saidVilliers, imitating the tone and language of that individual, "and he, Itake it, is by far the more formidable of the two. I expect that, beforehe dies, he will give one of us a long shot yet, in revenge for the fallof young hopeful."
"Traitorous and revengeful scoundrel!" aspirated Henry Grantham, as therecollection of the manner of his father's death came over his mind. "Itis, at least, some consolation to think his villainy has in part met itsreward. I confess, I exult in the death of young Desborough, less evenbecause a dangerous enemy has been removed, than because in his fall theheart of the father will be racked in its only assailable point. I trustI am not naturally cruel, yet do I hope the image of his slain partnerin infamy may ever after revisit his memory, and remind him of hiscrime."
An exclamation of the Indians now drew the attention of the officers toa boat that came in sight, in the direction in which that of GeraldGrantham had long since disappeared, and as she drew nearer, a whiteflag floating in the stern, became gradually distinguishable.Expressions of surprise passed among the officers, by whom variousmotives were assigned as the cause of the return of the flag of truce,for that it was their own boat no one doubted, especially as, onapproaching sufficiently near, the blue uniform of the officer whosteered the boat was visible to the naked eye. On a yet nearer approach,however, it was perceived that the individual in question wore not theuniform of the British navy, but that of an officer of the Americanline, the same precisely, indeed, as that of Major Montgomerie. It wasfurther remarked that there was no lady in the boat, and that,independently of the crew, there was besides the officer already named,merely one individual, dressed in the non-commissioned uniform, whoseemed to serve as his orderly. Full evidence being now had that thiswas a flag sent from the American fort, which had, in all probability,missed Gerald by descending one channel of the river formed by TurkeyIsland, while the latter had ascended by the other, the aid-de-camp, DeCourcy, hastened to acquaint General Brock with the circumstance, and toreceive his orders. By the time the American reached the landing-place,the youth had returned, accompanying a superior officer of the staff.Both descended the flight of steps leading to the river, when, havingsaluted the officer, after a moment or two of conversation, theyproceeded to blindfold him. This precaution having been taken, theAmerican was then handed over the gun-wale of the boat, and assisted upthe flight of steps by the two British officers on whose arms he leaned.As they passed through the crowd, on their way to the fort, the ears ofthe stranger were assailed by loud yells from the bands of Indians, who,with looks of intense curiosity and interest, gazed on the passing, andto them in some degree inexplicable, scene. Startling as was the fiercecry, the officer pursued his course without moving a muscle of his fineand manly form, beyond what was necessary to the action in which he wasengaged. It was a position that demanded all his collectedness andcourage, and he seemed as though he had previously made up his mind notto be deficient in either. Perhaps it was well that he had beentemporarily deprived of sight, for could he have beheld the numeroustomahawks that were raised towards him in pantomimic representation ofwhat they would have done had they been permitted, the view would in noway have assisted his self-possession. The entrance to the fort oncegained by the little party, the clamor began to subside, and theIndians, by whom they had been followed, returned to the bank of theriver to satisfy their curiosity with a view of those who had been leftin the boat, to which, as a security against all possible outrage, asergeant's command had meanwhile been despatched.
It was in the drawing-room of Colonel D'Egville, that the General,surrounded by his chief officers, awaited the arrival of the flag oftruce. Into this the American Colonel, for such was his rank, aftertraversing the area of the fort that lay between, was now ushered, and,the bandage being removed, his eye encountered several to whom he waspersonally known, and with these such salutations as became the occasionwere exchanged.
"The flag you bear, sir," commenced the general, after a few moments ofpause succeeding these greetings, "relates, I presume, to the prisonersso recently fallen into our hands."
"By no means, General," returned the American, "this is the firstintimation I have had of such fact--my mission is of a wholly differentnature. I am deputed by the officer commanding the forces of the UnitedStates to summon the garrison of Amherstburg, with all its navaldependencies, to surrender within ten days from this period."
The General smiled. "A similar purpose seems to have actuated us both,"he observed. "A shorter limit have I prescribed to the officer by whom Ihave, this very day, sent a message to General Hull; where, may I ask,did you pass my flag?"
"I met with none, General, and yet my boat kept as nearly in the middleof the stream as possible."
"Then must ye have passed each other on the opposite sides of TurkeyIsland. The officer in charge was moreover accompanied by two of theprisoners to whom I have alluded--one a field officer in your ownregiment."
"May I ask who?" interrupted the American quickly, and slightlycoloring.
"Major Montgomerie."
"So I suspected. Was the other of my regiment?"
"The other," said the General, "bears no commission, and is simply avolunteer in the expedition--one, in short, whose earnest wish to reachDetroit, was the principal motive for my offering the Major his libertyon parole."
"And may I ask the name of this individual, so unimportant in rank, andyet so filled with ardor in the cause, as to be thus anxious to gain thetheatre of war?"
"One probably not unknown to you, Colonel, as the niece of your brotherofficer--Miss Montgomerie."
"Miss Montgomerie here!" faltered the American, rising and paling as hespoke, while he mechanically placed on the table a glass of wine he hadthe instant before raised to his lips--"surely it cannot be."
There was much to excite interest, not only in the changed tone but inthe altered features of the American, as he thus involuntarily gaveexpression to his surprise. The younger officers winked at each other,and smiled their conviction of _une affaire de coeur_--while the seniorwere no less ready to infer that they had now arrived at the true secretof the impatience of Miss Montgomerie to reach the place
of herdestination. To the penetrating eye of the General, however, there wasan expression of pain on the countenance of the officer, which accordedill with the feeling which a lover might be supposed to entertain, whohad been unexpectedly brought nearer to an object of attachment, and hekindly sought to relieve his evident embarrassment by remarking:
"I can readily comprehend your surprise, Colonel. One would scarcelyhave supposed that a female could have had courage to brave the dangersattendant on an expedition of this kind, in an open boat; but MissMontgomerie I confess, appears to me to be one whom no danger coulddaunt, and whose resoluteness of purpose, once directed, no secondaryobject could divert from its original aim."
Before the officer could reply, Colonel D'Egville, who had absentedhimself during the latter part of the conversation, returned, andaddressing the former in terms that proved their acquaintance to havebeen of previous date, invited him to partake of some refreshment thathad been prepared for him in an adjoining apartment. This the Americanat first faintly declined, on the plea of delay having been prohibitedby his chief; but, on the general jocosely remarking that, sharing theirhospitality on the present occasion would be no barrier to breaking alance a week hence, he assented; and, following Colonel D'Egville,passed through a short corridor into a smaller apartment, where acopious but hurried refreshment had been prepared.
The entry of the officers was greeted by the presence of threeladies--Mrs. D'Egville and her daughters--all of whom received him withthe frank cordiality that bespoke intimacy, while, on the countenance ofone of the latter, might be detected evidences of an interest that hadits foundation in something more than the mere esteem which dictated theconduct of her mother and sister. If Julia D'Egville was in reality thelaughing, light hearted, creature represented in the mess roomconversation of the officers of the garrison, it would have beendifficult for a stranger to have recognised her in the somewhat seriousgirl who now added her greetings to theirs, but in a manner slightlytinctured with embarrassment.
The American, who seemed not to notice it, directed his conversation, ashe partook of the refreshment, principally to Mrs. D'Egville, to whom hespoke various ladies at Detroit, friends of both, who were deepdeplorers of the war and the non-communication which it occasioned;alluded to the many delightful parties that had taken place, yet werenow interrupted; and to the many warm friendships which had been formed,yet might by this event be severed for ever. He concluded by presentinga note from a very intimate friend of the family, to which, he said, hehad been requested to take back a written answer.
A feeling of deep gratification pervaded the benevolent countenance ofMrs. D'Egville, as, on perusal, she found that it contained the offer ofan asylum for herself and daughters in case Amherstburgh should becarried by storm.
"Excellent, kind hearted friend!" she exclaimed when she hadfinished--"this indeed does merit an answer. Need of assistance,however, there is none, since my noble friend, the General has pledgedhimself to anticipate any attempt to make our soil the theatre ofwar--still, does it give me pleasure to be enabled to reciprocate heroffer, by promising, in my turn, an asylum against all chances ofoutrage on the part of the wild Indians, attached to our cause"--and sheleft the room.
No sooner did the American find himself alone with the sisters, forColonel D'Egville had previously retired to the General, than discardingall reserve, and throwing himself on his knees at the feet of her whosat next him, he exclaimed in accents of the most touching pathos:
"Julia, dearest Julia! for this chiefly am I here. I volunteered to bethe bearer of the summons to the British General, in the hope that somekind chance would give you to my view, and now that fortune, propitiousbeyond my utmost expectations, affords me the happiness of speaking toyou whom I had feared never to behold more, oh, tell me that, whateverbe the result of this unhappy war, you will not forget me. For me, Ishall ever cherish you in my heart's core."
The glow which mantled over the cheek of the agitated girl, plainly toldthat this passionate appeal was made to no unwilling ear. Still shespoke not.
"Dearest Julia, answer me--the moments of my stay are few, and at eachinstant we are liable to interruption. In one word, therefore, may Ihope? In less than a week, many who have long been friends will meet asenemies. Let me then at least have the consolation to know from yourlips, that whatever be the event, that dearest of all gifts--your loveis unchangeably mine."
"I do promise, Ernest," faltered the trembling girl. "My heart is yoursand yours for ever--but do not unnecessarily expose yourself," and herhead sank confidingly on the shoulder of her lover.
"Thank you, dearest," and the encircling arm of the impassioned officerdrew her form closer to his beating heart. "Gertrude, you are witness ofher vow, and before you, under more auspicious circumstances, will Iclaim its fulfilment. Oh Julia, Julia, this indeed does recompense mefor many a long hour of anxiety and doubt."
"And hers too have been hours of anxiety and doubt," said the gentleGertrude. "Ever since the war has been spoken of as certain, Julia hasbeen no longer the gay girl she was. Her dejection has been subject ofremark with all, and such is her dislike to any allusion to the past,that she never even rallies Captain Cranstoun on his bear-skin adventureof last winter on the ice."
"Ah," interrupted the American, "never shall I forget the evening thatpreceded that adventure. It was then, dearest Julia, that I ventured toexpress the feeling with which you had inspired me. It was then I hadfirst the delight of hearing from your lips that I need not entirelydespair. I often, often, think of that night."
"Of course you have not yet received my note, Ernest. Perhaps you willdeem it inconsiderate in me to have written, but I could not resist thedesire to afford you what I conceived would be a gratification, bycommunicating intelligence of ourselves."
"Note! what note! and by whom conveyed?"
"Have you not heard," inquired Gertrude, warming into animation, "thatthe General has sent a flag this morning to Detroit, and, under itsprotection, two prisoners captured by my cousin, who is the officer thatconducts them."
"And to that cousin you have confided the letter?" interrupted theColonel, somewhat eagerly.
"No, not my cousin," said Julia, "but to one I conceived better suitedto the trust. You must know that my father, with his usual hospitality,insisted on Major Montgomerie and his niece, the parties in question,taking up their abode with us during the short time they remained."
"And to Miss Montgomerie you gave your letter," hurriedly exclaimed theColonel, starting to his feet, and exhibiting a countenance of extremepaleness.
"Good heaven, Ernest! what is the matter? Surely you do not think meguilty of imprudence in this affair. I was anxious to write to you,--Iimagined you would be glad to hear from me, and thought that the nieceof one of your officers would be the most suitable medium ofcommunication. I therefore confessed to her my secret, and requested herto take charge of the letter."
"Oh, Julia, you have been indeed imprudent. But what said she--howlooked she when you confided to her our secret?"
"She made no other remark than to ask how long our attachment hadexisted, and her look and voice were calm, and her cheek underwent novariation from the settled paleness observable there since her arrival."
"And in what manner did she receive her trust?" again eagerly demandedthe Colonel.
"With a solemn assurance that it should be delivered to you with her ownhand--then, and then only, did a faint smile animate her still butbeautiful features. Yet why all these questions, Ernest? Or, can itreally be? Tell me," and the voice of the young girl became imperative,"has Miss Montgomerie any claim upon your hand--she admitted to haveknown you?"
"On my honor, none;" impressively returned the Colonel.
"Oh, what a weight you have removed from my heart, Ernest, but whereforeyou alarm, and wherein consists my imprudence?"
"In this only, dearest Julia, that I had much rather another than shehad been admitted into your confidence. But as you have acted for thebest, I c
annot blame you. Still I doubt not," and the tones of theAmerican were low and desponding, "that, as she has promised, she willfind means to deliver your note into my own hands--the seal is----?"
"A fancy one--Andromache disarming Hector."
"Rise, for Heaven's sake rise," interrupted Gertrude; "here comesmamma."
One fond pressure of her graceful form, and the Colonel had resumed hisseat. In the next moment Mrs. D'Egville entered, by one door, andimmediately afterwards her husband by another. The former handed hernote, and during the remarks which accompanied its delivery, gave thelittle party--for Gertrude was scarcely less agitated than hersister--time to recover from their embarrassment. Some casualconversation then ensued, when the American, despite of Mrs. D'Egville'sdeclaration that he could not have touched a single thing during herabsence, expressed his anxiety to depart. The same testimonies offriendly greeting, which had marked his entrance, were exchanged, and,preceded by his kind host, the Colonel once more gained the apartmentwhere the General still lingered, awaiting his reappearance.
Nothing remaining to be added to the answer already given to thesummons, the American, after exchanging salutations with such of theEnglish officers as were personally known to him, again submittedhimself to the operation of blindfolding; after which he was reconductedto the beach, where his boat's crew, who had in their turn been suppliedwith refreshments, were ready to receive him. As, on his arrival, theloud yellings of the Indians accompanied his departure, but as these hadbeen found to be harmless, they were even less heeded than before.Within two hours, despite of the strong current, the boat haddisappeared altogether from their view.
Late in that day, the barge of Gerald Grantham returned from Detroit.Ushered into the presence of the General, the young sailor communicatedthe delivery of his charge into the hands of the American Chief, who hadreturned his personal acknowledgments for the courtesy. His answer tothe summons, however, was that having a force fully adequate to thepurpose, he was prepared to defend the fort to the last extremity, andwaiving his own original plan of attack, would await the British Generalon the defensive, when to the God of Battles should be left the decisionof the contest. To a question on the subject, the young officer addedthat he had seen nothing of the American flag of truce, either in goingor returning.
That night orders were issued to the heads of the different departments,immediately to prepare _material_ for a short siege; and, an assault atthe termination of the third day.
Matilda Montgomerie; Or, The Prophecy Fulfilled Page 10