The Canadian Highland

by Ken Busato

Chapter 20

  Free from the bondage of York Factory. The oars strike the water, and the men pull them with tense muscles… We are making our way inland: The Promised Land. The river parts as York boats, loaded down with supplies, people, hope, glide further from the enslavement of nine months. Bitter cold, hunger, closed quarters, anger, unhappiness… each pull with the oar wipes the slate clean. The Factory fades into distance, fades into memory. Ice melts, leaving green grass in its wake. The call of birds can be heard, and the soft sound of rushing water. The days are warm with anticipation. Moses led his people out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea so that they could escape their prison. He had his staff, and we carry an oar…

  It has been nine months since we first left the Edward and Anne to spend the winter at York Factory. And now, after such a winter filled with suffering and difficulties, we are packed and making the last leg of our journey: the long trip down the river to the forks of the Red and Assiniboia.

  Not everyone is making this journey with us, but a couple of months ago I thought even fewer people would come. Hugh Redden will not travel with us since there is nothing a man with one arm can do. Two other Irishmen, Higgins and Hart, are being sent home for a vicious, almost deadly, drunken attack on an Orkneyman just over a month ago. Even Father Burke, the only man of God among us, has decided to go back to Scotland and not stay on. Yet the men who I thought for sure would not come, the men who rebelled against MacDonell, will make the final leg of the voyage with the rest of the settlers along the Hayes River.

  For a long time, these men made the twenty mile trip back and forth to the Factory for supplies. While the ice held along the river, while the path was clear between our camp and the fort, Finlay and his gang were able to hold out against MacDonell and the Company. A secret stash of guns helped their cause. But once the ice started to melt, things changed for the rebels. Without the proper craft to make it back to camp, it was only a matter of time before the men were forced to surrender their firearms, and themselves, to the mercy of the Company. MacDonell had waited them out. Instead of taking out his anger on these men as I had expected, he decided they would once again join the expedition and help with the creation of the Red River Settlement. I thought it strange for Mr. MacDonell to forgive these men, until Papa pointed out that all of us were brought here at great expense, and to send men back would be seen as a failure in the eyes of our great hidden benefactor Lord Selkirk.

  May and June were both warm months, and everyone was ready to leave. Being used to cold conditions, it took a while to adjust to the heat and mosquitoes. Much of the fur and animal skins that acted as a second layer were replaced with the old, dirty, and torn clothing we came with from Scotland. I know it must have been my imagination, but I sometimes think I can smell the textile factory from New Lanark on my clothes.

  Five York boats will take us to Red River. MacDonell thinks the boats don’t look sturdy enough to make it to our destination. He looks at these boats with disgust. They may not be as strong as crafts built by people of this country, but we were able to build cabins to survive the winter, so I have no doubt these boats will take us safely to our destination. Papa says they can’t be any worse than that Edward and Anne, and we made it safely across the ocean, may God have mercy on poor Isabella McIntyre’s soul.

  Most of the ice melted when the heat came, yet there were still thick patches on the river, and it seemed to me like they would never melt. As each day passed, people were becoming more and more impatient since fur traders almost daily could be seen rowing along the river with their canoes filled to overflowing with animal skins. Thankfully, a few days ago, at the beginning of July, all looked clear, and it was a huge sigh of relief for everyone when the order came to depart.

  Although very large, each boat was filled to the top with people and supplies. In our boat alone, there were fourteen people. Everyone from our cabin was in our boat along with Dr. Edwards and George Cooper. It pleased me to hear George would be travelling with us, and Mama was equally pleased to find out that the Doctor was travelling with us too.

  The start of the journey was pleasant enough. The winds were calm, and the water was steady. If this is what we should expect, I thought to myself, the journey to our home should be an easy one.

  It was on our third day when the morning came with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud could be seen as far as the eye could see. The day was beautiful, but I knew the heat of the midday would be uncomfortable. As we started pulling away from shore, Mr. Bethune took a break from rowing to pull out his bagpipes.

  He began with some of my favourite marching songs. As the music started to float lightly in the air, the rowing started to speed up. Everyone recognized songs like Scotland the Brave and Highland Laddie. Beside me, I could hear Mama hum to the music, a slight smile on her lips as she had her eyes closed.

  “This is perhaps one of the nicest days we have had in this country,” Willie said as he continued to row. “What could be more beautiful than a lovely tune in full sunshine?”

  “A young lass bringing you a nice ale?” Doctor Edwards suggested.

  Everyone laughed. Doctor Edwards is always so serious, and it was nice to see his mood lighten.

  “Why good doctor”, Willie continued, “It sounds like you woke up in a good mood. You’re quite right: a nice drink with an equally nice woman would be preferable to this.”

  “Willie,” Mama interrupted, “Would you shut your mouth so the good Mr. Bethune can continue with his lovely playing?”

  Willie did what she asked. He didn’t have to be told twice. The morning was one of the best in a while, and no one was going to change it with a silly argument.

  The music continued for a couple of hours until Mr. Bethune started to tire, yet he was not the only one to tire. Ever since we left the fort, the river has been very slow. It requires more strength and energy from the men to pull the oars through the water. Every so often, Doctor Edwards calls out to everyone to stop for a while to take some rest and a drink. As I look out on the water, I notice the other boats doing the same thing.

  “Molly,” Liam pulled at my shirt, “Look how beautiful the shore is.”

  I can’t believe I had not seen it before. While taking a rest, the boat had come into an area with tall banks on all sides, some as high as one hundred feet. As my eyes moved steadily up the bank to the West, I noticed how smooth the surface was, and how white the sand appeared. Only God himself could create a place so beautiful.

  “The banks on all sides are incredible,” I said, wondering if anyone would listen.

  Coming to sit beside me, George started to tell me the little that he knew. “I heard we would be crossing this place today Molly. The journey from here will get more difficult.”

  “More difficult?”

  “It’s been an easy voyage so far, but this is a pretty big boat, and the waters we have to travel through are going to be rougher than the ones we’ve been on since leaving the fort.”

  “Why does something so beautiful always have to be mixed up with something so difficult and dangerous?”

  “That’s very true,” interrupted Doctor Edwards who was listening in on the conversation. “These banks you see all around you are very close in appearance to the White Cliffs of Dover, a place I had a chance to see when I was a small boy. The Cliffs of Dover are made of chalk, but what you see here is white clay. Dover is beautiful, but it’s a place that has had its share of misery and misfortune. If Napoleon invades, it will be at Dover with its beautiful white cliffs. I may not have a full love of England, but the idea of the French taking whatever they want infuriates me.” Doctor Edwards paused for a moment, lost in thought about the land he has left behind. Then, as if waking from a dream, he raised his hand, gesturing at the land all around, and continued his thoughts. “And right here, this is the start of our journey down a section called Hill River. George is right Molly when he says things are about to get more diffic
ult. All too often, beauty and danger can be found mixed together.”

  After resting for a few more minutes we continued our journey, rowing through beautiful scenery on all sides. To pass the time, Doctor Edwards talked about his different travels in England, as well as his visits to France and Italy.

  The water remained calm as we rowed throughout the afternoon. The sun was close to the Western horizon when we decided to head for shore and make camp. We had passed the white cliffs and found a clearing where there was enough room for all five boats. Everyone was in good spirits as three large fires were started. Soon, there was enough hot water for a nice cup of tea for anyone who wanted it. I decided to take a little walk, making sure not to stray too far. It was dusk, and the mosquitoes were starting to swarm in large circles above my head.

  As I daydreamed while staring at the horizon, I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Molly?” it was Mama, “Are you alright darling?”

  “Where’s Calum,” I asked.

  “Oh, he’s with Papa and Willie. Last I looked, he was down by the shore, picking up rocks and letting them drop in the water. It certainly does my heart good to see he is alright, and getting better by the day.”

  “The winter was tough on him.”

  “It was tough on us all Molly, especially you. There were days in that cabin I thought would never end, and the nights were even worse. I thank God everyday and pray he keeps us safe.” She let these words sink in for a moment, and then turned to look me in the eyes. “Sweetie, is everything alright with you?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve seen the way Mr. Cooper looks at you. He seems like a fine young man to me. Very helpful he is. But if he is bothering you in any way, I want you to tell me.

  “Mama,” I exclaimed, “George is a nice boy who has not bothered me at all. Ever since we met, he has been kind and helpful.”

  “My dear girl,” Mama replied, “It sounds like you and this Mr. Cooper have some affection for each other.”

  I could feel the redness reach my cheeks. I wished for a horde of mosquitoes to come down and force me to run and jump into the river. Mama probably knew from the start how I felt about George. She would not let up too unless I told her what she wanted to hear.

  “I do have some affection for George,” I started. “He has shown me nothing but respect and kindness. I hope whatever happens to him in the future, he will be successful. All we have is friendship, and that is all I want. Too many things happen to this family to have me thinking about boys.”

  Mama started to smile, almost laugh a little bit. “Molly, darling, I don’t think you have to worry too much about us. You are still young, but when the time is right, and you meet a man you wish to marry, your family will be with you.”

  “Please don’t tell Papa or Willie about this Mama. And please, don’t change the way you talk to George.”

  “Don’t worry Molly: this talk is just between the two of us.”

  We started to make our way back to camp. The sun was refusing to set. In this country, the nights are long in the winter, and the days are equally long in the summer. Tents had been pitched, and you could hear the sound of snoring. As Mama and I made our way back up to the fire, we could see Papa speaking loudly. Liam and Angus were sitting quite close, hanging on to his every word.

  “Doctor Edwards looks upon those cliffs and thinks of Dover, but I look on them and think of Great Uncle Donnan, one of the greatest Frasers ever.” It had been a while since I had heard Papa talk like this. I remember his love of storytelling, and I thought it was something he had lost forever.

  “Tell us about this Donnan Fraser then,” Doctor Edwards replied, clearly interested.

  “Donnan was in Canada a long time ago, fighting against his will for a country and king that would see him thrown in jail if he did not do what was commanded. The war I’m talking about was against the French outside the fortress of Quebec.”

  “This battle is well known to me,” Doctor Edwards replied. “Please tell us what heroic role your great uncle played.”

  “As some of you may know, the battle went poorly for the English for most of the summer. The commander, James Wolfe, had made a mistake trying to take the river close to the fortress itself. Thankfully, my great uncle was not a part of that invasion, at a place called Beauport I think, for certainly he would have died and not made it back home.”

  “In September, Wolfe made his final stand in Quebec some ways up the river at a place called Abraham. Throughout the night, my uncle, with his regiment of Scottish Highlanders, scaled the cliffs from the river. They were trying to catch the French by surprise. Men had to climb quietly through the night, and yet still have the energy to fight in the morning.”

  “That must have been quite an honour for your great uncle to be a part of such an important battle,” remarked the Doctor.

  “You may have that opinion, but not Donnan. He was fighting someone else’s war, and he played the part of the hero, but not for any love of the British.”

  Angus and Liam were getting impatient. “Papa,” Liam pleaded, “Did Donnan kill any of those French?”

  “He would have you think he alone was responsible for the French surrender, but he did manage to kill one or two. My boys, the Redcoats did something a little different that day. Instead of lining up three rows deep, they stretched their line two rows deep and a mile long.”

  “The Thin Red Line,” added Doctor Edwards.

  “I have not heard the name,” Papa replied, “But it makes sense. The English did something not done before, and the French did not know how to respond. Their first shot was too far, and as they approached this ‘thin red line’, they started to get confused and not stay together. When Wolfe gave the order to fire, he certainly let them have it. Donnan said he killed two with one shot, but who knows what you hit when so many men shoot at the same time. The bagpipes started to play, and Highlanders pulled out swords long enough and sharp enough to cut a man in two. Donnan cut down one soldier as he tried to run back to the city.”

  “The Great Battle for the American Continent finished in a matter of minutes,” remarked Doctor Edwards.

  “Thankfully, Donnan was not commanded to stay behind in Quebec for the winter. Many men died defending a broken and burned fortress.”

  “All right,” Mama interrupted, “I know the boys want to hear more, but these days on the river are long, and tomorrow will get here before you know it.”

  “Fiona is right,” added Doctor Edwards. “We need to get as much sleep as we can, since the calm water we have enjoyed travelling on will soon change.”

  Although everyone was enjoying the story telling by the fire, we all knew the Doctor was right. We will not have to climb up any cliffs, or face any enemies across a battlefield. Our enemy may end up being the very river itself.