The Black Eagle; or, Ticonderoga

by G. P. R. James

  CHAPTER XLIV.

  Sixteen thousand gallant men, led by a brave and experienced general,and supported by a fine, though not very large, park of artillery,seemed certainly sufficient for the reduction of a small fortress, notvery well garrisoned, nor supplied with any great abundance of stores.But it seemed the fate of English officers in North America to adherestrictly to all ancient rules, when ancient rules could be of noservice in face of a new and totally different mode of warfare, and toabandon those rules at times and in circumstances when only they couldbe available.

  A large fleet of _bateaux_ had been collected at the southernextremity of Lake George, ready to transport the troops to thedestined point of attack; and a council of the most experiencedofficers was held on the morning of the third of July, to consider thefurther proceedings of the army.

  All had now assembled at what was then commonly called in the province"Fort Lyman," although the name was already changed to "Fort Edward."

  General Abercrombie was there in person; and a number of otherofficers appeared at the council likewise, whose experience in Indianwarfare was superior to his own. There is much reason to believe, thathad Abercrombie's own opinion been followed in acting against a Frenchfort under French command, all the operations would have beenconducted in the same manner, and upon the same system which wouldhave guided a similar enterprise in Europe; and thus much bloodshedand some disgrace would have been spared.

  It was represented to the Commander-in-Chief, however, that numerousbodies of Indians were acting upon the side of France, and that alloperations carried on according to European rules had hitherto failedin America; and more than one bloody disaster was held up as a warningto his eyes, which he unhappily suffered to bias his own betterjudgment. In a word, as it was known that every day freshreinforcements were being thrown into Ticonderoga, that large bodiesof Indians were collected for its defence, and that preparations ofevery kind were in progress, it was determined that a sudden and rapidrush should be made upon the fort, and that no consideration should beput in competition with celerity of movement and boldness of attack.Lord H---- alone represented that, from what he had personally learnedduring the last six months, it was absolutely necessary to employcannon, though, perhaps, with a want of proper confidence in his ownreputation, he offered to lead the advanced parties, lest the opinionhe expressed should seem to any one to savour of timidity.

  At as early an hour as possible the march commenced along what wascalled the King's Road; and in high spirits regiment after regimententered the forest, confident in their numbers and their prowess. Theregular troops pursued the well-constructed causeway, while clouds ofMohawks were scattered on the flanks, sweeping the forest ground oneither side. The artillery, on the heavy and clumsy carriages of thatday, the tumbrils and the baggage-waggons, came lumbering in the rear,and a large crowd of stragglers followed, comprising the scouts, whomight have been much more advantageously employed in the front, butwho, for some reason unexplained, had very little service assignedthem on the expedition. General Abercrombie and his staff, withseveral of the superior officers, followed slowly, well aware that theadvance of the forces would meet with no opposition, at least upon thefirst day's march. To this group, from every quarter, came numerousmessengers throughout the day; some bringing news of a fresh levymarching up from the eastern states; some from the front seekingclearer orders when any little difficulty or impediment occurred; somefrom Albany, with intelligence from that city or New York; and severalIndian runners from the west, bearing far more important tidings fromthe Indian tribes, now all in movement to support their Britishallies.

  Amongst the rest appeared the silent runner Proctor, with a letter toGeneral Abercrombie, who, as soon as he had read it, turned to LordH----, saying,--

  "This is a communication from your friends, the Oneidas, my lord, butwritten by some Englishman, who signs himself 'Gore.' He states that awar-party of the nation is already on the western bank of the lake,and that the main body, under Black Eagle himself, is expected in thecourse of the day. I suppose we may therefore consider ourselvessecure upon our left flank."

  "Undoubtedly," replied Lord H----, with a look of so much anxiety, asalmost to induce the Commander-in-Chief to believe that he entertaineddoubts which he did not choose to express.

  "You _think_ so, I presume," interposed Abercrombie, gazing at him.

  "Entirely," replied Lord H----; "but I was in hopes of hearing someother intelligence of a private nature, concerning Mr. Prevost's son,whose alarming position amongst the Oneidas I mentioned to you, if yourecollect."

  "There is nothing more," said General Abercrombie, handing him theletter; "but there is the messenger. Probably he can give you someinformation."

  Lord H---- immediately turned towards Proctor, who was running at asort of trot by the side of the general's horse, and inquired if hehad been at the Castle of the Oneidas. The man shook his head, andtrotted on.

  "Then where did you last come from?" asked Lord H----.

  But Proctor only lifted his hand, and pointed towards the north-west.

  "How many miles?" demanded the nobleman, determined to get some speechout of him.

  But he lifted up his hands three times with the ten fingers spreadabroad, without ever opening his lips.

  "Did you hear amongst those who sent you," asked Lord H----, "anytidings of young Mr. Prevost?"

  The man shook his head; but then suddenly stopped in his trot, andsaid, as if upon recollection,--

  "They thought he had been put to death."

  He paused, as if what he had said had cost him a great effort; butthen added, slowly, when he saw the painful expression of the youngnobleman's countenance, "They only _thought_. They did not _know_.They left before."

  "Did you see or hear of a man whom you know as Woodchuck--the man yousaw with me at Albany?" asked Lord H----.

  But the other shook his head; and nothing more could be extracted fromhim. He was then sent forward to join the rear-guard; but histaciturnity gave Lord H---- good assurance that Mr. Prevost, who hadgone forward, would not be pained by the terrible rumour which hebore.

  The long and fatiguing march to the nearest point of Lake Horicon Ineed not describe. Many of the scenes recorded in the life of thegallant Putnam passed near or on the very route pursued; and the featsof daring and the escapes of that fine soldier are almost asmarvellous still in our eyes as in those of the savage Indians of hisown time, who supposed him to bear a charmed life. Suffice it, that,after encountering great difficulty and severe fatigue in dragging thecannon over a road which in the neighbourhood of the settled portionof the colony was good enough, but which became almost impassable nearthe lake, in consequence of the heavy rains, the whole army arrived insafety at the newly-constructed and yet incomplete works of FortGeorge, lying a little to the east of the site of ever-memorable FortWilliam-Henry.

  By the care and diligence of the commissary-general, everything thatcould refresh the weary soldiers was found prepared; a fleet of onehundred and thirty-five large boats and nine hundred _bateaux_ wasseen lying along the shore of the lake of pure and holy waters; andhardly a head was laid down to slumber in the tents that night, whichdid not fondly fancy that Ticonderoga must inevitably fall.

  As usual in camp, or on the march, Lord H---- dined with his soldiers,and shared their simple fare; but he passed the evening with Mr.Prevost, who had found quarters in the fort. Both were grave, but thedeeper gravity was with Lord H----; for though through the mind of theelder man continually flitted painful fancies--thoughts, images, orwhatever they may be called--of the fate of poor Brooks, and his lipsmurmured twice, almost involuntarily, the words, "Poor Woodchuck!" yetthe certainty which he felt of the safety of his son, however greatthe sacrifice which purchased it, was a comfort--a great, a mightyconsolation, although he almost reproached himself for the sensationof rejoicing, which he could not help experiencing.

  Lord H----, on the contrary, felt no such certainty. Ever since hisconversation wi
th Proctor, if conversation it can be called, a gloomyfeeling of apprehension had rested on him. He did not doubt poorWoodchuck in the least: he was sure that he would hold fast to hisresolution. Neither had he any fears that the execution of his purposewould be delayed or prevented by any such accident as that which hadin reality occurred. But he asked himself, "Might he not come toolate?" They had been told the time allowed by the Oneida chief toprovide a substitute for Walter, and had taken it at the Europeancalculation of months; but, since he heard that a rumour of the youngman's death was prevalent amongst the Indians, he doubted whetherthere had not here been a mistake. The very rumour showed that some ofthe natives, at least, imagined the time had expired, and implied thattheir calculation was different. The effect upon the mind of Edith, heknew, would be terrible, when she found that her brother might havebeen saved, but that his life had been lost by such a mistake.

  From Mr. Prevost, he strove to hide his apprehensions as far aspossible; knowing well that previous anxiety never diminishes aninevitable evil; and soon after nightfall he left him, to seek thoughtin his own tent.

  The sky was clear and cloudless; the stars shining out with alargeness and a lustre such as European skies can never give; a lightbreeze stirred the waters of the lake, and made them musical along theshore; and one of the voyageurs was singing a tranquil song of home ina clear, mellow voice, as he sat in his bark. The air was mild andgentle as a morning dream: yet the whole had that solemn calmnesswhich is always allied to melancholy. All things which, in theircalmness, detach us from this untranquil earth, bring with them thefeeling of parting from old friends.

  Under the influence of such sensations, he went not more than ahundred steps from the gates of the fort; but seated himself upon amass of the dark gray marble recently quarried for building, and gavehimself up to the thoughts in which he would have indulged had he beenin his tent. They were sadder perhaps than they had ever been beforein life--without anything like presentiment, without anything likeapprehension, on his own account. But new ties, new affections,tenderer sympathies, warmer hopes, than any he had yet tasted inexistence, had lately grown up around him; and it is a sad fact, withman, as with states, that the more he increases his possessions--bethey mundane, or be they of the heart--the more defenceless pointsdoes he expose to ever-ready enemies.

  Nor was he in the fresh hey-day of life, when the down of thebutterfly has never been crushed--when all is joy: the present infruition--the future in anticipation--the past forgotten. He knew thatthere were sorrows: he felt that there were dangers to his peace; hewas conscious how frail is the thread upon which mortal happiness ispoised in the midst of the dark abyss. True, he would not have yieldedthe blessing of Edith's love for all that earth could give ofsecurity; still, he was well aware that his heart had now a vulnerablepoint to be reached by weapons which had never yet been encountered.All that touched her, touched him; and the uncertainty of Walter'sfate threw a sadness over his meditations. What would have been hissensations, had he known that for Walter he need have no fear? that itwas _her_ fate he had to dread? But that was spared him.

  He sat there long: no inclination to sleep interrupted his reveries,notwithstanding the fatigues of the day; and at length the moon roseover the high eastern hills, showing an unrivalled scene of solemnbeauty. The moment the beams touched the waters, they were convertedinto a flood of liquid silver: the grand forms of RattlesnakeMountain, and its fellow giants, to the east, and of that high hillnow called French Mountain to the north-west, the deep gloomy woods,the walls of the fortress, picturesque in their rugged incompleteness,the tents of the sleeping army, with here and there the light of anight-Gwatcher gleaming amongst them, and the slopes of the nearerhills dotted with Indian fires, formed a scene such as the eye of manhas seldom rested on; while over all poured the lustrous stream oflight, calm and passionless like the look of a good, pure being castover the troublous scene of mortal life.

  Lord H---- rose; and, after gazing round him for a few moments,drinking in as it were the solemn loveliness, walked on slowly towardsthe blackened remains of Fort William-Henry. Little was to be seenthere. Montcalm had not left his work half done; for all had beendestroyed, and little beyond some irregularities in the ground, andsome large detached fragments of masonry, showed where so many gallantmen had fought in their country's cause, only to be slaughtered aftersurrender by a treacherous enemy.

  By report, he knew the ground well; and after pausing for a minute ortwo amongst the ruins, he turned down the dark and fearful dell wherethe horrible massacre was perpetrated. Every rock around had echoed tothe yell of the Indians, the groan of the dying soldier, or theshrieks of defenceless women and children. Every tree had seen beneathits boughs some of the deeds of horror and of blood which went to makeup that great crime. The bones of hundreds were lying still unburied;and where the moonlight fell on the western side of the gorge, someportion of a woman's garment, which had caught upon a bush, was seenfluttering in the breeze.

  The immediate path along which Lord H---- went, was still in profoundshadow; but, suddenly, across the moonlight side, a little in advanceof him, he saw, gliding along with noiseless step, a troop of eight orten shadowy figures, looking like ghosts in the pale moonlight. Somuch was their colour the same as the rocks around, that you mightalmost fancy you saw through them, and that they were but the shadowsfrom some other objects cast upon the broken crags as they passed.

  Lord H---- stood and gazed; when suddenly the band stopped, and,comprehending that he had been perceived, he challenged them inEnglish, judging at once that they must be a troop of friendlyIndians. A deep voice replied in the same language, but with a strongIndian accent, "We are friends--children of the Stone. Can you tell uswhere to find Prevost?"

  As he spoke, the leader of the Indians had advanced nearer down thesloping ground at the foot of the rocks, and there seemed something inhis tall, powerful form, and majesty of carriage, familiar to the eyesof the young nobleman, who exclaimed, "Is that the Black Eagle?"

  "It is," answered the other, whose limited knowledge of English didnot suffer him to indulge in his usual figurative language. "Art notthou the Falling Cataract?"

  "I am he to whom you gave that name," returned Lord H----. "But whatwant you with Mr. Prevost? Where is his son?"

  "On yonder side of Horicon," answered the Indian chief, pointing withhis hand towards the western side of the lake. "The boy is safe; bethy mind at rest."

  Lord H---- took the hand he proffered, and pressed it in his; but atthe same time he asked, "And poor Woodchuck--what of him?"

  "I know not," answered Black Eagle; "we have not beheld him."

  "That is strange," rejoined the nobleman; "he set out to deliverhimself up to you, to save the young man's life."

  "He is brave," answered Black Eagle; "the Good Spirit kept him away."

  "Then, how was the boy delivered?" asked Lord H----. "We feared thatyour people would be inexorable."

  "The Great Spirit spoke by the voices of the women," answered thechief. "She who sees beyond the earth in her visions, heard the voice,and told its words. It was decreed that if the boy died, our wives,our daughters, our sisters, should all die with him; and we listenedto the voice, and obeyed."

  "Come with me quickly," said Lord H---- eagerly; "let us carry thenews to Mr. Prevost. He is here at the fort, now holding an office inour army."

  "I know it," replied Black Eagle. "I have been to his lodge, and foundno one but the slaves, who told me. The boy I sent on with my people;for the children of the Stone have taken the war-path for England, anda thousand warriors are on their way to the place of the SoundingWaters. He goes to fight amongst us as our son. But I must speak withPrevost before I go, for the wings of the Black Eagle are spread,perhaps, for his last flight; and who knows but he will leave hisscalp on the war-post of the Huron?"

  Lord H---- led the way with a quick step; and the chief and hiscompanions followed. At the first outpost they were of coursechallenged; and, strict orders havin
g been given to admit no troop ofIndians within the limits of the fort, the young nobleman and thechief proceeded alone to the quarters of Mr. Prevost. They found himstill up, and busily writing orders for the following morning. When hebeheld the face of Black Eagle following his noble friend, he startedup, and, at first, drew back; but then, with a sudden change offeeling, he seized the warrior's hand, exclaiming, "My son lives! myson lives, or you would not be here!"

  "He lives," replied Black Eagle.

  He then proceeded to give the same account to Mr. Prevost which hadbeen heard by Lord H----. The former, however, understanding theIndian better, soon drew from him, partly in English, and partly inIroquois, the whole particulars of Walter's deliverance.

  "And would you really have slain him?" asked Mr. Prevost.

  "I would," replied Black Eagle, calmly and firmly. "I would have tornout my own heart, had the laws of my people required it."

  The father mused for a few moments, and then said, in a thoughtfultone,--

  "I believe you would. Dear Otaitsa, did she then really peril her lifeto save her young friend?"

  "She did more," answered Black Eagle; "she was one of those preparedto go to the happy hunting-ground, with him; but I tell thee, Prevost,not the sight of my child, with the knife in her hand ready to plungeit into her own heart, made the Black Eagle pause or hesitate. It was,that we heard the voice of the Great Spirit in the words that werespoken. He only can change the laws of the Oneida, and he changedthem. But now hear me, Prevost, for I must back to my people and thyson. I sent them forward towards the Sounding Waters, while I soughtthee first at thy lodge, and then here; and I must join them, for theymust not throw a hatchet or fire a rifle without the Black Eagle."

  He had seated himself when first he entered, but now he rose, andstood erect, as if about to make a speech.

  "There is a Blossom on the Black Eagle's tree," he said, "which isdear to his eyes; and thou hast a Bough on thy tree, which is dear tothee. Otaitsa is a Christian--believes in your Good Spirit. She isdescended from a race of warriors, every one of whom has left a namein the hearts of his people. She is of the highest race of the highesttribe of the children of the Stone. The blood of the red man is asfine as the blood of the white. Her mother was the daughter of a greatchief, and of a race as good as thine own; a race that is renowned."

  Mr. Prevost bent down his head; but he knew the Indian customs toowell to interrupt, and the chief went on:--

  "The Blossom loves the Bough: the Bough loves the Blossom. She haspurchased him; she has bought him for herself; she has offered herheart's blood for his price. Is he not hers? If the Black Eagle shouldnever return from his war-flight--if the bullet of the French shouldbreak his wing, or the arrow of the Huron pierce his heart, will hisbrother Prevost bind the Blossom and the Bough together as the whitemen bind them, and as the Christian people unite those who love? Willhe take the Blossom to his own home, and make her indeed hisdaughter?"

  Mr. Prevost rose, and threw his arms round the chief, saying,--

  "Thou art my brother; I will do as thou hast said; and may the GoodSpirit deal with me as I deal with thee in this matter! _Thy_ daughteris _my_ daughter; _my_ son is _thy_ son. But thou knowest not,perhaps----"

  Black Eagle raised his hand, saying, in Iroquois,--

  "Forbear! I know what I know; thou knowest what thou knowest. We maybelieve much that it is not right to prove. Silence is a good thingwhen secrets are dangerous. Now go I to my people with my heart atrest."

  And, without more words, he glided out of the room.