Matilda Montgomerie; Or, The Prophecy Fulfilled

by Major Richardson

  CHAPTER XI.

  Conformably with the orders of the British General, the siege of theAmerican fortress was commenced on the day following that of the mutualexchange of flags. The elevated ground above the village of Sandwich,immediately opposite to the enemy's fort, was chosen for the erection ofthree batteries, from which a well sustained and well directed fire waskept up for several successive days, yet without effecting anypracticable breach in their defences. One of these batteries, mannedprincipally by sailors, was under the direction of Gerald Grantham,whose look-out on duty had been in a great degree rendered unnecessary,by the advance of the English flotilla up the river, and who hadconsequently been appointed to this more active service.

  During the whole of Saturday, the 15th of August, the British guns hadcontinued to play upon the fort, vomiting shot and shell as from anexhaustless and angry volcano--and several of the latter falling short,the town which was of wood had been more than once set on fire. As,however, it was by no means the intention of the General to do injury tothe inhabitants, no obstacle was opposed to the attempts of the enemy toget it under, and the flames were as often and as speedily extinguished.An advanced hour of night at length put an end to the firing, and theartillery men and seamen, extended on their great-coats and pea-jackets,in their several embrasures, snatched from fatigue the repose whichtheir unceasing exertions of the many previous hours had rendered atonce a luxury and a want.

  The battery commanded by Gerald Grantham was the central and mostprominent of the three, and it had been remarked by all--and especiallyby the troops stationed in the rear in support of the guns--that hisfiring during the day had been the most efficient, many of his shotsgoing point blank into the hostile fortress, and (as could be distinctlyseen with the telescope) occasioning evident confusion.

  The several officers commanding batteries were now met in that of theyoung sailor, and, habited in a garb befitting the rude duty at whichthey had presided, were earnestly engaged in discussing the contents oftheir haversacks, moistened by occasional drafts of rum and water fromtheir wooden canteens, and seasoned with frequent reference to theevents of the past day, and anticipations of what the morrow would bringforth. A lantern, so closed as to prevent all possibility of contactwith the powder that lay strewed about, was placed in the centre of thecircle, and the dim reflexion from this upon the unwashed hands andfaces of the party, begrimed as they were with powder and perspiration,contributed to give an air of wildness to the whole scene, that foundits origin in the peculiar circumstances of the moment. Nor was thepicture at all lessened in ferocity of effect, by the figure of Sambo inthe back ground, who, dividing his time between the performances of suchoffices as his young master demanded, in the course of the frugal mealof the party, and a most assiduous application of his own white andshining teeth to a huge piece of venison ham, might, without effort,have called up the image of some lawless, yet obedient slave, attendingon and sharing in the orgies of a company of buccaniers.

  At length the meal was ended, and each was preparing to depart, with aview to snatch an hour or two of rest in his own battery, when thepricked ear and forward-thrown head of the old negro, accompanied by aquick, "Hush, Massa Geral," stilled them all into attitudes ofexpectancy. Presently the sound of muffled oars was heard, and then theharsh grating, as of a boat's keel upon the sands.

  In the next minute the officers were at their posts; but before theycould succeed in awakening their jaded men, who seemed to sleep thesleep of death, the sentinel at the first battery had received, inanswer to his hurried challenge, the proper countersign, and, as oncloser inspection it was found that there was only one boat, he knew itmust be their own, and the alarm which had seized them for the securityof their trust passed away.

  They were not long kept in suspense. One individual alone had ascendedfrom the beach, and now stood among them, habited in a dread-noughtjacket and trousers and round hat. His salutation to each was cordial,and he expressed in warm terms the approbation he felt at theindefatigable and efficient manner in which the duty assigned to eachhad been conducted.

  "Well, gentlemen," continued the Commodore, (for it was he,) "you havedone famously to-day. Much has been done, but more remains. To-morrowyou must work double tides. At daylight you must re-open with showers ofshot and shell, for it is, during the confusion caused by your fire,that the General intends crossing his troops and advancing to theassault. But this is not all--we have some suspicion the enemy mayattempt your batteries this very night, with a view of either spikingthe guns, if they cannot maintain the position, or of turning them, ifthey can, on our advancing columns. Now all the troops destined for theassault are assembled ready to effect their landing at daybreak, andnone can be spared unless the emergency be palpable. What I seek is avolunteer to watch the movements of the enemy during the remainder ofthe night--one (and he looked at Grantham,) whose knowledge of thecountry will enable him to approach the opposite coast unseen, and whoseexpedition will enable us to have due warning of any hostile attempt."

  "I shall be most happy, sir, to undertake the task, if you consider meworthy of it," said Grantham, "but----"

  "But what?" interrupted the Commodore, hastily.

  "My only difficulty, sir, is the means. Had I my light canoe here, withSambo for my helmsman, I would seek their secret even on their ownshores."

  "Bravo, my gallant fellow," returned the Commodore, again cordiallyshaking the hand of his Lieutenant. "This I expected of you, and havecome prepared. I have had the precaution to bring your canoe and paddleswith me--you will find them below in my boat."

  "Then is every difficulty at an end," exclaimed the young sailorjoyously. "And our dress, sir?"

  "No disguise whatever, in case of accidents--we must not have you runthe risk of being hanged for a spy."

  Gerald Grantham having secured his cutlass and pistols, now descendedwith the Commodore to the beach, whither Sambo (similarly armed) hadalready preceded him. Under the active and vigorous hands of the latter,the canoe had already been removed from the boat, and now rested on thesands ready to be shoved off. The final instructions of the Commodore tohis officer, as to the manner of communicating intelligence of anymovement on the part of the Americans having been given, the latterglided noiselessly from the shore into the stream, while the boat,resuming the direction by which it had approached, was impelled down theriver with as little noise as possible, and hugging the shore forgreater secrecy, was soon lost both to the eye and to the ear.

  It was with a caution rendered necessary by the presence of the vesselsin the harbor, that Gerald Grantham and his faithful companion, havinggained the middle of the river, now sought to approach nearer to theshore. The night, although not absolutely gloomy, was yet sufficientlyobscure to aid their enterprize; and notwithstanding they coulddistinctly hear the tread of the American sentinels, as they paced thedeck of their flotilla, such was the stillness of Sambo's practisedpaddle, that the little canoe glided past them unheard, and, stealingalong the shore, was enabled to gain the farther extremity of the town,where, however, despite of the most scrupulous inspection, not theslightest evidence of a collective movement was to be observed.Recollecting that most of the American boats used for the transport oftheir army from the Canadian shore, which they had occupied for sometime, were drawn up on the beach at the opposite end of the town, anddeeming that if any attempt on the batteries was in contemplation, thetroops ordered for that duty would naturally embark at a point whence,crossing the river considerably above the object of their expedition,they might drift down with the current, and affect a landing withoutnoise--he determined to direct his course between the merchantmen andvessels of war, and pursue his way to the opposite end of the town. Theenterprize, it is true, was bold, and not by any means without hazard;but Grantham's was a spirit that delighted in excitement, and moreover,he trusted much to the skill of his pilot, the darkness of the night,and the seeming repose of the enemy. Even if seen it was by no meanscertain he should be taken, for his light
skiff could worm its way whereanother dared not follow, and as for any shot that might be sent inpursuit of them, its aim would, in the obscurity of the night, beextremely uncertain.

  Devoted as the old negro was to Gerald's will, it was but to acquainthim with his intention, to secure a compliance; although in this case,it must be admitted, a reluctant one. Cautiously and silently,therefore, they moved between the line of vessels, keeping as close asthey could to the merchantmen, in which there was apparently no guard,so that under the shadow of the hulls of these they might escape allobservation from the more watchful vessels of war without. They hadcleared all but one, when the head of the canoe suddenly came foul ofthe hawser of the latter, and was by the checked motion brought round,with her broadside completely under her stern, in the cabin windows ofwhich, much to the annoyance of our adventurer, a light was plainlyvisible. Rising as gently as he could to clear the bow of the lightskiff, he found his head on a level with the windows, and as his eyenaturally fell on all within, his attention was arrested sufficiently tocause a sign from him to Sambo to remain still. The cabin was spacious,and filled everywhere with female forms, who were lying in variousattitudes of repose, while the whole character of the arrangements wassuch as to induce his belief, that the vessel had been appropriated tothe reception of the families of the principal inhabitants of the place,and this with a view of their being more secure from outrage from theIndians on the ensuing day. In the midst of the profound repose inwhich, forgetful of the dangers of the morrow, all appeared to bewrapped, there was one striking exception. At a small table in thecentre of the cabin, sat a figure enveloped in a long and ample darkcloak, and covered with a slouched hat. There was nothing to indicatesex in the figure, which might have been taken either for a woman, orfor a youth. It was clear, however, that it wanted in its contour theproportions of manhood. At the moment when Gerald's attention was firstarrested, the figure was occupied in reading a letter, which wasafterwards sealed with black. The heart of the sailor beat violently, heknew not wherefore, but before he could explain his feelings ever tohimself, he saw the figure deposit the letter, and remove, apparentlyfrom the bosom of its dress a miniature, on which it gazed intently forupwards of a minute. The back being turned towards the windows, he couldtrace no expression on the countenance, but in the manner there was noneof that emotion, which usually accompanies the contemplation of thefeatures of a beloved object. Depositing the picture in the folds of itscloak, the figure rose, and with a caution indicating desire not todisturb those who slumbered around, moved through the straggling formsthat lay at its feet, and ascending the stairs, finally disappeared fromthe cabin.

  Somewhat startled, the young officer hesitated as to what course heshould pursue, for it was evident that if the figure, whoever it mightprove, should come to the stern of the vessel, he and his companion mustbe discovered. For a moment he continued motionless, but with ear andeye keenly on the alert. At length he fancied he heard footsteps, as ofone treading the loose plank that led from the vessel's side to thewharf. He pushed the canoe lightly along so as to enable him to getclear of her stern, when glancing his eye in that direction, he saw thefigure, still in the same dress, quit the plank it had been traversing,and move rapidly along the wharf towards the centre of the town.

  Ruminating on the singularity of what he had observed, our adventurernow pursued his course up the river, but still without discovering anyevidence of hostile preparation. On the contrary, a deep silenceappeared to pervade every part of the town, the repose of which was themore remarkable, as it was generally known that the attack on the fortwas to be made on the following day. Arrived opposite the point wherethe town terminated, Grantham could distinctly count some twenty orthirty large boats drawn up on the beach, while in the fields beyond thedrowsy guard evidently stationed there for their protection, and visibleby the dying embers of their watch-fire denoted anything but theactivity which should have governed an enterprize of the natureapprehended. Satisfied that the information conveyed to his superiorswas incorrect, the young officer dismissed from his mind all furtheranxiety on the subject; yet, impelled by recollections well befittingthe hour and the circumstances, he could not avoid lingering near a spotwhich tradition had invested with much to excite the imagination andfeeling. It was familiar to his memory, for he had frequently heard itin boyhood, that some dreadful tragedy had in former days beenperpetrated near this bridge; and he had reason to believe that some ofthe actors in it were those whose blood flowed in his young veins. Theextreme pain it seemed to give his parents, however, whenever allusionwas made to the subject, had ever repressed inquiry, and all hisknowledge of these events was confined to what he had been enabled toglean from the aged Canadians. That Sambo, who was a very old servant ofthe family, had more than hear-say acquaintance with the circumstances,he was almost certain; for he had frequently remarked, when after havinghad his imagination excited by the oft-told tale, he felt desirous ofvisiting the spot, the negro, obedient in all things else, ever foundsome excuse to avoid accompanying him, nor, within his own recollection,had he once approached the scene. Certain vague allusions of late date,by the old man, had, moreover, confirmed him in his impression, and henow called forcibly to mind an observation made by his faithfulattendant on the night of their pursuit of the younger Desborough, whichevidently referred to that period Even on the present occasion, he hadbeen struck by the urgency with which he contended for a return to theirown shore, without pursuing their course to the extreme end of the town;nor was his unwillingness to approach the bridge overcome, until Geraldtold him it was the positive order of the Commodore, that they shouldembrace the whole of the American lines in their inspection, and even_then_ it was with a relaxed vigor of arm that he obeyed the instructionto proceed.

  Determined to sound him as to his knowledge of the fact, Grantham stolegently from the bow to the stern of the canoe, and he was about toquestion him, when the other, grasping his arm with an expressive touch,pointed to a dark object moving across the road. Gerald turned his head,and beheld the same figure that had so recently quitted the cabin of themerchantman. Following its movements, he saw it noiselessly enter intothe grounds of a cottage, opposite an old tannery, where it totallydisappeared.

  A new direction was now given to the curiosity of the sailor. Expressingin a whisper to Sambo his determination to follow, he desired him tomake for the shore near the tannery, beneath the shadow of which hemight be secure, while he himself advanced, and tracked the movements ofthe mysterious wanderer.

  "Oh Massa Geral," urged the old man in the same whisper--his teethchattering with fear--"for Hebben's sake he no go ashore. All dis aplace berry bad, and dat no a livin' ting what he see yonder. Do MassaGeral take poor nigger word, and not go dere affer he ghost."

  "Nay, Sambo, it is no ghost, but flesh and blood, for I saw it in thebrig we were foul of just now; however, be under no alarm. Armed as Iam, I have nothing to fear from one individual, and if I am seen andpursued in my turn, it is but to spring in again, and before any one canput off in chase, we shall have nearly reached the opposite shore.--Youshall remain in the canoe if you please, but I most certainly will seewhere that figure went."

  "Berry well, Massa Geral," and the old man spoke piquedly, althoughpartly re-assured by the assurance that it was no ghost. "If he take hepoor nigger wice he do as he like; but I no top in he canoe while he goand have him troat cut, or carry off by a debbil--I dam if he go, I gotoo."

  This energetic rejoinder being conclusive, and in no wise opposed by hismaster, the old man made for the shore as desired. Both havingdisembarked, a cautious examination was made of the premises, whichtending to satisfy them that all within slumbered, the canoe wassecreted under the shadow of the cottage, the adventurers crossed theroad in the direction taken by the figure--Sambo following close in therear of his master, and looking occasionally behind him, not with theair of one who fears a mortal enemy, but of one rather who shrinks fromcollision with a spirit of another world.

  T
he front grounds of the cottage were separated from the high road by afence of open pallisades, in the centre of which was a small gate of thesame description. It was evidently through this latter that the figurehad disappeared, and as its entrance had been effected without effort,Gerald came to the conclusion, on finding the latter yield to his touch,that this was the abode of the midnight wanderer. Perhaps some youngAmerican officer, whom intrigue or frolic had led forth in disguise onan excursion from which he was now returned. His curiosity was thereforeon the point of yielding to the prudence which dictated an immediaterelinquishment of the adventure, when he felt his right arm suddenlyseized in the convulsed and trembling grasp of his attendant. Turning toascertain the cause, he beheld as distinctly as the gloom of the nightwould permit, the features of the old man worked into an expression ofhorror, while trembling in every joint, he pointed to the mound of earthat the far extremity of the garden, which was known to contain the ashesof those from whom his imagination had been so suddenly diverted by thereappearance of the figure. This, owing to the position in which hestood, had hitherto escaped the notice of the officer, whose surprisemay be imagined, when, looking in the direction pointed out to him, hebeheld the same muffled figure reposing its head, apparently in anattitude of profound sorrow, against one of the white tomb-stones thatrose perpendicularly from the graves.

  That Sambo feared nothing which emanated not from the world of spirits,Grantham well knew. It therefore became his first care to dismiss fromthe mind of the poor fellow the superstitious alarm that had taken careof every faculty. From their proximity to the party, this could only bedone by energetic signs, the progress of which was however interruptedby their mutual attention being diverted by a change in the position ofthe figure, which, throwing itself at its length upon the grave, for amoment or two sobbed audibly. Presently afterwards it rose abruptly, andwrapping its disguise more closely around it, quitted the mound anddisappeared in the rear of the house.

  The emotion of the figure, in giving evidence of its materiality, had,more than all the signs of his master, contributed to allay theagitation of the old negro. When therefore Gerald, urged by hisirrepressible curiosity, in a whisper declared his intention topenetrate to the rear of the house, he was enabled to answer.

  "For Gorramity's sake, Massa Geral, nebber go dare. Dis a place allberry bad for he family. Poor Sambo hair white now but when he blacklike a quirrel he see all a dis a people kill--" (and he pointed to themound) "oh, berry much blood spill here, Massa Geral. It makes a poornigger heart sick to tink of it."

  Gerald grasped the shoulder of the old man. "Sambo," he whispered, inthe same low, but in a determined tone, "I have long thought youacquainted with the history of this place, although you have eluded mydesire for information on the subject. After the admission you have nowmade, however, I expect you will tell me all and everything connectedwith it. Not now--for I am resolved to see who that singular being is,who apparently, like myself, feels an interest in these moulderingbones. As you perceive it is no ghost, but flesh and blood likeourselves, stay here if you will, until I return; but something moremust I see of this mystery before I quit the spot."

  Without waiting for reply, he gently pushed the unlatched gate beforehim. It opened without noise, and quitting the pathway he moved alongthe green sward in the direction in which the figure had disappeared.Love for his master, even more than the superstitious awe he felt onbeing left alone, in that memorable spot, at so late an hour, put an endto the indecision of the old man. Entering and cautiously closing thegate, he followed in the footsteps of his master, and both in the nextminute were opposite to the mound where the figure had first beenobserved.

  As he was about to quit the grass, and enter upon the gravelled walkthat led to the rear of the cottage, he fancied he distinguished a soundwithin, similar to that of a door cautiously opening. Pausing again tolisten, he saw a light strongly reflected from an upper window, uponwhat had the appearance of a court yard in the rear, and in that lightthe dark shadow of a human form. This he at once recognised, from itspeculiar costume to be the mysterious person who had so strongly excitedhis curiosity. For a moment or two all was obscurity, when again, butfrom a more distant window, the same light and figure were againreflected. Presently the figure disappeared, but the light stillremained. Impelled by an uncontrollable desire to behold the features,and ascertain, if possible, the object of this strange wanderer, theyoung sailor cast his eye rapidly in search of the means of raisinghimself to a level with the window, when, much to his satisfaction, heremarked immediately beneath, a large water butt which was fullyadequate to the purpose, and near this a rude wooden stool which wouldenable him to gain a footing on its edge, without exertion, or noise. Itis true there was every reason to believe that what he had seen was, anofficer belonging to the guard stationed in the adjoining field, who hadhis temporary residence in this building, and was now, after theprosecution of some love adventure returning home; but Gerald could notreconcile this with the strong emotion he had manifested near the tomb,and the startling secrecy with which, even when he had entered, he movedalong his own apartments. These contradictions were stimulants to thegratification of his own curiosity, or interest, or whatever it mightbe; and although he could not conceal from himself that he incurred noinconsiderable risk from observation, by the party itself, the desire tosee into the interior of the apartment and learn something further, roseparamount to all consideration for his personal safety. His first carenow was to disencumber himself of his shoes and cutlass, which he gavein charge to Sambo, with directions to the latter to remain stationaryon the sward, keeping a good look-out to guard against surprise. As bythis arrangement his master would be kept in tolerable proximity, theold negro, whose repugnance to be left alone in that melancholy spot wasinvincible, offered no longer an objection, and Gerald, bracing moretightly round his loins, the belt which contained his pistols, proceededcautiously to secure the stool, by the aid of which he speedily foundhis feet resting on the edge of the water butt, and his face level withthe window. This, owing to the activity of his professional habits, hehad been enabled to accomplish without perceptible noise.

  The scene that met the fixed gaze of the adventurous officer, was one tostartle and excite in no ordinary degree. The room into which he lookedwas square, with deep recesses on the side where he lingered, formed bythe projection of a chimney in which, however, owing to the sultryseason of the year, no traces of recent fire were visible. In the spacebetween the chimney and wall forming the innermost recess, was placed arude uncurtained bed, and on this lay extended, and delineated beneaththe covering, a human form, the upper extremities of which were hiddenfrom view by the projecting chimney. The whole attitude of repose ofthis latter indicated the unconsciousness of profound slumber. On asmall table near the foot, were placed several books and papers, and anextinguished candle. Leaning over the bed and holding a small lamp whichhad evidently been brought and lighted since its entrance, stood themysterious figure on whom the interest of Gerald had been so stronglyexcited. It seemed to be gazing intently on the features of the sleeper,and more than once, by the convulsed movements of its form, betrayedintense agitation. Once it made a motion as if to awaken the person onwhom it gazed, but suddenly changing its purpose, drew from its dress aletter which Gerald recognised to be that so recently prepared in thecabin of the brig. Presently both letter and lamp were deposited on thebed, and in one upraised hand of the figure gleamed the blade of a knifeor dagger, while the left grasped and shook, with an evident view toarouse, the sleeper. An exclamation of horror, accompanied by a violentstruggle of its limbs, proclaimed reviving consciousness in the latter.A low wild laugh burst in scorn from the lips of the figure, and thestrongly nerved arm was already descending to strike its assassin blow,when suddenly the pistol, which Gerald had almost unconsciously cockedand raised to the window, was discharged with a loud explosion. Theawakened slumberer was now seen to spring from the bed to the floor, andin the action the lamp was overturned a
nd extinguished; but all struggleappeared to have ceased.

  Bewildered beyond measure in his reflection, yet secure in theconviction that he had by this desperate step saved the life of a humanbeing from the dagger of the assassin, the only object of Gerald now wasto secure himself from the consequences. Springing from his position hewas soon at the side of the startled Sambo, who had witnessed his lastact with inconceivable dismay. Already were the guard in the adjoiningfield, alarmed by the report of the pistol, hurrying toward the house,when they reached the little gate, and some even appeared to be makingfor their boats on the beach. With these motives to exertion, neitherGerald nor the old negro were likely to be deficient in activity.Bending low as they crossed the road, they managed unperceived to reachthe part of the tannery where their canoe had been secreted, and Sambohaving hastily launched it, they made directly for the opposite shore,unharmed by some fifteen or twenty shots that were fired at them by theguard, and drifting down with the current, reached, about an hour beforedawn, the battery from which they had started.