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Lorsqua la document ast trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un soul cliche, il ast film« ^ partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucho. da gaucha d droita, at da haut an baa. an prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Lea diagrammes suivants iilustrent la m^thode. 22>~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 m: iTi*^. '^v. l>-^ m i^j' S^i McGiLL UNIVERSITY W^ % m ^^t m ■1 .^^ M I'S: '?y{ m ^MM^ W^^i<^^&^>i^^ '^"^rJ-^'Zi. ll'.'H*! ^ i>Jf: K> m Jim*! "NOW, IT IS OUR TURN," ROGERS SAID. WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. BY G. A. HENTY, Author of " With Cllve In India ; " " The Lion of the North ; •• " In Freedom's Cause • " The Dragon and the Raven : '• " By Sheer Pluck ; " " Facing Death j " &c. ' WITB TWELVE FVLl^PAOE ILLCSTSATIOlfS BT aORDOIf BROWNE, ,0^ A k woy \^- NEW YORK WORTHINGTON COMPANY, 747 BROADWAY 1890 BAHB-OlNWtDOlE PBINTINQ « BOOK-BlNOINO CO. SHeiNviiLE, jEiiaer city, ». ,, ' PEEFACE. My dear Lads : In the present volume I have endeavored to give the details of the prmcipul events in a struggle whose import' ance can hardly be overrated M it. impoit- ■PrirrU.i, ^ • ^ "^®^^^^*'^- ^^ 1*8 Commencement the boafd of n T''' ^'''^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ '^' «««tern sea- board of America, hemmed in on all sides by the French n the south, but possessed a chain of posts connecting to a large extent, that of the two mother oountr™ Whet' tte eoa tea began the ehano^, of France becoming the great colomzmg empire of tl. „orId were as good as those of England Not only did she hold far larj^ Lrit„ri n frw"".?"^- "'^ ^"Slaud.but she had rich colon es Le bandit '' "I"? *''^'^S »' ^"g'^-^J ™« "■» beTL fT ^ ^P^Mted, and her prospects in India were h tter than our own. At that time, too, she dispnted with us on equal terms the empire of the sea! seal mth t>,'"" '^"*, ^""'""'" P"'"""^' ">™«d 'he scale, mth the monopoly of aneh a market the n„™n^™» her wfdS, 'T"'" »o™o„sIy, and with her comme ee pLI P""' "' ^''tension. wUle the power of Trance was proportionately crippled. It is true tla tn PREFACE. time the North American colonies, with the exception of Canada, broke away from their connection with the old country, but they still remained English, still continued to be the best market for our goods and manufactures. Never was the short-sightedness of human beings shown more distinctly than when Franco wasted her strength and treasure in a sterile contest on the continent of Europe, and permitted, with scarce an effort, her North American colonies to be torn from her. All the historical details of the war have been drawn from the excellent work entitled Montcalm and Wolfe, by Mr. Francis Parkman, and from the detailed history cf the Louisbourg aud Quebec expeditions, by Major Knox, who served under Generals Amherst and Wolfe. Yours very sincerely. G. A. HENTY. CONTENTS CHAP. I. A Rescue, ^ ^ m n. The Showman's Grandchild, 34 n' '^HE Justice-room 48 IV. The Squire's Granddauohter qq v. A Quiet Time, ^» VI. A Storm, g- VII. Pressed ,,. IH Vin. Discharged, joj IX. The Defeat of Braddock, j^g X. The Fight at Lake George, ....,,... I66 XI. Scouting, joo XII, A Commission, oaa XIII. An Abortive Attack, gjg XIV. Scouting on Lake Champlain 334 XV. Through M^jjy Perils, gsj XVI. The Massacre at Fort William Henry, ... 267 XVII. LOUISBOURG AND TiCONDEROGA 284 XVIII. Quebec, „„„ XIX. A Dangerous Expedition, 322 XX. The Path Down the Heights, 340 XXI. The Capture of Quebec 359 • "ir^-.-g -TY-r ILLUSTEATIOKS. Now IT IS OUB TURN," ROGERS SAID, . . Frontispiece. 203 " No, IT CANNOT BE DONE, SeROEANT WILKS," SAID Mrs. WaLSHAM gg " The Sergeant told him Stories op his Travels and Adventures," go "Grandpapa," she said, "I am Aggie Linthorne," . . 66 On the Look-out for the Fishing-boats, 93 Young James on board the Smuggler, hq The Sergeant's indignation on reading Horton's Let- '^^^' 135 General Braddock's Fatal Mistake, igg A Night ALAKiii at Fort William Henry, 222 James and the Scouts chased by the Indians 253 The French Fire-ships bear down on the British, . . 303 Richard Horton bribes the Canadian Pilot, .... 338 Sketch Map op Lake Champlain and Lake George to illustrate operations, 17d5-1759 192 __lAN 0.- .gUKREc and its neigh boihood to illustrate the operations of Wolfe and Montcalm, 1759, 299 PAGE piece. 203 Mrs. • • 26 AND • • 58 ■ • 66 • • 98 > • 116 Let- • • 135 • • 162 • • 223 • . 252 • . 303 • . 338 E to • • 182 the • • 299 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; OR, THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. CHAPTER I. A BESCUE. Most of the towns standing on our sea-coast have suf- ferod a radical change in the course of the last century. Hallways and the fashion of summer holiday-making have transformed them altogether, and great towns have sprung up where fishing villages once stood. There are a few places, however, which seem to have been passed by by the crowd. The number yearly becomes smaller as the iron roads throw out fresh branches. With the advent of these comes the speculative builder, rows of terraces and shops are run up, promenades are made, bathing-machines and brass bands become familiar objects, and in a few years the original character of the place altogether disappears. Sidraouth for a long time was passed by by the world of holiday-makers. East and west of her great changes took place, and many far smaller villages became fashionable sea-side waterincf-Dlnnon • iha roii,„„,r „ri,;„x, __-j i , , t^ i" ' ~ "••TTcijf rr Biuu paSisuu UJ some twelve miles away carried its tens of thousands westward.but left few of them for Sidmouth, and any one who visited the 8 WITH WOLPE IN CANADA: OR, pretty httle place fifteen years back would have seei. it almost aa it stood when our story opens a century ago There are few places in England with a fairer site; it hes embosomed m the hiils which rise sharply on either ILtlVd'oTt'"; '-f ' l"'"""^' " """^ "ndulaVnrconnt; thickly dotted with orchards and snug homestelds with lanes bnght with wild flowers and ferns! with hiA LZ and trees meeting overhead. The cold breezes which rfn of „:,°r sr-d' r'""' ""^ ""'^ ™™^ '"^ great ma „;; wiZTf ^ >^»f ™ ™ay instead of breaking on the shore within a few feet of the front line of houses. The ohffs, which on either side rise from the water's edee are nerther white like those to the east, nor grey as are the rugged bulwarks to the west. They are ff [ deep i-ed warm and pleasant to the eye, with clumps of green show- mg brightly up against them on every little l°edge Xe fnt evlTr ' 7" f '"'' •"" " ™°°"> '0™' ^'"■feoe slop- ef bT ^ 7°' '""''' ""'' l''"''™' '0 "'k »n ''hen the sea has gone down, and the sun has dried and baked it for an hour or two, but slippery and treacherous when freshly we ted, „, the red cliffs are of clay. Those whol p2 in a boat would hardly believe that this is so, for the sm has baked Its face, and the wind dried it till it is cmcked and seamed, .and makes a brave imitation of red Znite but the clammy ooze when the sea goes down tells tsnt ture only too plainly, and Sidmouth will never be a popuhr watering-place for children, for there is no diggingTand Ld b^^ !' ? ""' ^"""S '"'"'^"» *«• 'ook "^ it they had been at work in ii brickfield. ' But a centurv since the m-!-(-|. nf ,'.., i - where bom,„ ' j ii" '"<"n'>'«i. ot impiovoment had no- where begun, and there were few larger and no prettier THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. $ sea-side villages on the coast than Sidmouth. It was an afternoon in August; the sun was blazing down hotlv scarce a breath of wind was stirring, and the tiny waves broke along the shore with a low rustle like that of falling leaves Some fishermen were at work recaulking a boat hauled up on the shore, others were laying out some nets to dry m tne sun; some fisherboys were lying asleep like dogs basking in the heat; and a knot of lads sitting under the shade of a boat were discussing with some warmth the question of smuggling. "What do you say to it, Jim Walsham?'' one of the party said, looking up at a boy some twelve years old who was leaning against a boat, but who had hitherto taken no part in the discussion. " There is no doubt that it's wrong," the boy said. " Not wrong li^e stealing, and lying, and that sort of thing- still Its wrong because it's against the law, and the revenue men if they come upon a gang landing the tubs fight with them, and if any are killed they are not blamed lor it so there is no doubt about its being wrong. Then on the other hand no one thinks any the worse of the men that do It, and there is scarce a one, gentle or simple, as won't buy some of the stuff if he gets a chance, so i? c^n'tle so very wrong. It must be great fun to be a smuggler, to be always dodging the king's cutters, and runnifg cargoes under the nose of the officers ashore. There is some ex citement in a life like that." "There is plenty of excitement in fishing," one of the boys said sturdily. "If you had been out tn that storm .ist March you would have had as much excitement as you liked For twelve hours we expected to go down every minute, and we were half our time bailing for our lives " An approving murmur broke from th^ Mh.y. ^,^0 V-— • snam, of the fisher class. His clothing differed but little - --|'-"'»i^-i--Tii u 10 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: Oil, from that of the rest; his dark blue pilot trousers were old and sea-stained, his hands and face were dyed brown with exposure to the sun and the salt water; but there was something in his manner and tone of voice which showed that a distinction existed. James Waleham was indeed the son of the late doctor of the village, who had died two years previously. Dr. Walsham had been clever in his profession, but cir- cumstances were against him. Sidmouth and its neighbor- hood were so healthy that his patients were few and far between, and when he died of injuries received from being thrown over his horse's head when the animal one night trod on a stone coming down the hill into Sidmouth, his Widow and son were left almost penniless. Mrs. Walsham was fortunately an energetic woman, and a fortnight after her husband's death she went round among the tradesmen of the place and the farmers of the neighborhood, and an- nounced her intention of opening a school for girls. She had received a good education, being the daughter of a clergyman, and she soon obtained enough pupils to enable her to pay her way and to keep up the pretty home in which her husband lived in the outskirts of Sidmouth. If she would have taken boarders she could have obtained far higher terms, for good schools were scarce, but this she would not do, and her pupils all lived within distances where they could walk backward and forward to their homes. Her evenings she devoted to her son, and though the education which she was enabled to give him would be considered meagre indeed in these days of universal cram- ming, he learned as much as the average boy of the period. He would have learned more had he followed her desires, and devoted the time when she was engaged in teaching to his books; but this he did not do; for a few hours in the day he would work vigorou.sly at his lessons, the rest of his time he spent either on the sea-shore or in the boats THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. H Of the firemen; and he could swim, row, or handle a boat under sail m all weather as well or better than any lad in the village of his own age. His disposition was a happy one, and he was a general favorite among the boatmen. He had not as yet made up low his father's profession; he himself longed to go to sea but he had promised his mother that he would Cer do :? ota" """'' '''' *'^* ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ - ^-pe The better-class people in the village shook their heads gravely over James Walsham, and prophesied no good things of him. They considered that he demeaned himself greatly by association with the fisherboys, and more than once he had fa len into disgrace with the more quiet-minded of the inhabitants by mischievous pranks. His reputa- tion that way once established, every bit of mischief in the place which could not be clearly traced to some one else was put down to him, and as he was not one who would peach upon others to save himself, he was seldom in a posi- tion to prove his innocence. J^)\riT.^^^ ''''"" ^^""'^ "P«^ ^''- Walsham, and had talked to her gravely over her son's delinquencie but his success had not been equal to his anticipations Mr^ Walsham had stood up warmly for her son b„t l^L \? ""? ^'^ i''^ ™^'°^^'^ Bometim'es, Mr. Allanby, but It IS the nature of boys to do so. James is a good boy upright and honorable, and would not tell a lie under any consideration. What is he to do ? If I could afford "o send him to a good school it would be a different thing, but that you know I cannot do. From nine in the morn- Zt^ J't '"^ ^^' '^^''^""^ °^y *i°^« i« occupied by teachiQg, and I cannot expect, nor do I wish, that hLhnJ «u moping indoors all day. He had far better be ouVin the boats with the fishermen than be hanging about tC 12 WITH WOLPE IN CANADA: Oti, place doing nothing. If anything happened to me before he IS started in life there would be nothing for him but to take to the sea. I am laying by a little money every month, and if I live for another year there will be enough to buy him a fishmg-boat and nets. I trust that it may not come to that, but I see nothing derogatory in his earning an honest living with his own hands; he will always be something better than a common fisherman. The education I have striven to give him, and his knowledge that he was born a gentleman will nerve him to try and rise. As to what you say about mischief, so far as I know all boys are mischiev- ous. I know that my own brothers were always getting into scrapes, and I have no doubt, Mr. AUanby, that when you look back upon your own boyhood you will see that you were not an exception to the general rule." Mr. Allanby smiled. He had come rather against his own inclinations; but his wife had urged him to speak to Mrs. Walsham, her temper being ruffled by the disappear- ance of two favorite pigeons, whose loss she, without a shadow of evidence, most unjustly put down to James >Valsham. The parson was by no means strict with his flock He was a tall man, inclined to be portly, a good shot and an ardent fisherman, and although he did not hunt he was frequently seen on his brown cob at the ''meet" whenever It took place within a reasonable distance of Sidmouth and without exactly following the hounds his knowledge of the country often enabled him to see more of the hunt than those who did. As Mrs. Walsham spoke, the memory of his old school and college days came across him. "That is the argumentum ad hominem, Mrs. Walsham and when a lady takes to that we can say no more. YoJ know I like your boy, there is much that is good in him- but it struck me that you were letting him run a MtWo too' wild. However, there is much in what you say, and I don't THE WINNINO OP A CONTINENT. ,3 get8 ored. for. htill you „„,. remember that a little of the curb, just a little, ia good for us all. It spoils rhorse to bo always tugging at his mouth, but he will go "1 badly If he does not feel that there is a hand on the rei J boy If 'ws fir' T' 't':' '" '"^ '"'""■ "^ »P»"^ ™t boy of his, for whom, between ourselves, I have no ereat l.kmg The old man will have trouble with him bSoro he IS done, or I am greatly mistaken " Nothing came of Mr. Allanby's visit. Mrs. Walsham told James that he had been there to remonstrate with h^ hut T.^ "t°P ^^ '■•°"' going out sailing, Jim: but I w sh yon would give up your misohiovous LnS they only get you bad will and a bad name in the place Many people here think that I am wrong in allowing Z to assocate so much with the flsherboys, and when you get mto scrapes it enables them to impress npon me h^w to be named m the same breath with those boys of Eob^ son's, or young Peterson, or Blaine" " But yon know I have nothing to do with them, mother " ■ f^'"^\»."J'''*gnantly. "Theyspendhalf their t me abo'rt the pub hchouse, and they do say that when Peterson hL been ou with that lurcher of his he has been seer omW back w,th h,s coat bulged out, and there is often a smeU of hare ronnd his father's cottage at supper-time You know I wouldn't have anything to do with them." m, Jim, I am sure you would not; but if people mix up your name with theirs it is almost is bad for you aT f lib b ; ^"'f ?r '^'^ P»°P'^ "0 too apt not to distil K snfr r™d *T''!'J'°'' »™ ™% onl/the outcome of vt: Thttt: 'rt °r'.— ■>« ^»"- '» *o, and real I know that though-;; rri-or^f zr:: r;i:rf the day you really do get through a good deal of work" but 14 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, Other people do not give you credit for this. Remember how your father was respected here. Try to act always as you would have done had he been alive, and you cannot go far wrong." James had done his best, but he found it hard to get rid of his reputation for getting into mischief, and more than once, when falsely suspected, he grumbled that he might just as well have the fun of the thing, for he was sure to have the blame. As Jim Walsham and his companions were chatting in the shade of a boat their conversation was abruptly broken off by the sight of a figure coming along the road. It was a tall figure, with a, stiff military bearing; he was pushing before hmi a large box mounted on a framework supported by four wheels; low down, close to the ground, swung a large flat basket. In this, on a shawl spread over a thick bed of hay, sat a little girl some five years old. "It is the sergeant," one of the boys exclaimed. ''I wonder whether he nas got a fresh set of views; the last were first-rate ones." ' The sergeant gave a friendly nod to the boys as he passed, and then turning up the main street from the beach went along until he came to a shaded corner, and there stopped rhe boys had all got up and followed him, and now stood looking on with interest at his proceedings. The little girl had climbed out of her basket as soon as he stopped and after asking leave, trotted back along the street to the beach, and was soon at play among the seaweed and stones, bhe was a singularly pretty child, with dark blue eyes, and brown hair with a touch of gold. Her print dress was spotlessly clean and neat; a huge flapping sun-bonnet snacied her face, whose expression was bright and winning. Well, boys,^' the sergeant said cheerfully, *'how have yoii ..con getting on since I was here lust ? I^obody drowned I hope, or come to any ill; not that we must grumble what-' THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 16 ^ ever comes; we have all got to do our duty, whether it be to march up a hill with shot and shell creambTand sea'^'h'thT -r.''^^ '^' *^^^' -^« b«f-" sea With the wind blowing fit to take the hair off your head as comes to your lot sometimes; or following^ ^ough from year's end to year's end, a; happens to some W have got to make the best of it whatever it is. llZ got a grand new set of pictures from Exeter. They came all the way down fr,m London town for me by wagoT London Bridge, and Windsor Castle, with the fla/fl W over it, telling that the kin^-ftoH '/'*'" ;^® "'^g ^ying jesty-is at hLe. ^^"^"^^^ bless his gracious ma- "Then I have got some pictures of foreign parts that will make you open your eyes. There's NiagL. I don' know whether you've heard of it, but it's a pla'; where a great nver jumps down over a wall of rock af h gh as that teeple there, with a roar like thunder that can be heard they say, on a still night, for twenty miles round I hav« go some that will interest you more still, bec't y u a" Ba lore, or are going to be sailors. I have got one of the X tried "'' '" *™' ^'^ ''«' '^"y ■"igl't do if 1 " "'^^ way up tne (Jhannol /^l^r lUi-1-. -1 -•- ^-gmg on to the great Spaniard; and gMng'ttri «st, but worrymg them and tottering them ti/th™ ■ 16 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OB, gUdto eai away to the Dutch coast; but they were not safe there, for we sent fire-s]>ips at them, and they hud to cut and run; and then a storm came on, and sunk man' and drove others ashore all around our coasts, even Z d the north of Scotland and Ireland. You will see it a here, boys and, as you know, the price is only one penny." By this ime the sergeant had let down one side of the ow stool m front for any of those who were not tall enough ni::^jT'^^^^^ Aconsiderablt number of girls and boys had now gathered round for Sergeant Wilks and his show were old-established favorites at Sidmouth and the news of his arrival had traveHed quickly round the place. Four years before he had at poared there for the first time, and since then had com^ every few months. He travelled round the south-westem counties Dorset and Wilts, Somerset, Devon, and Corn wall and his cheery good temper made him a general L vorite wherever he went. g«"erai la- He was somewhat of a martinet, and would have no crowding and pushing, and always made the boys stand aside till the girls had a good look; but he never w'ed them and allowed each an ample time to see the pictures which were of a better class than ^hose in most tr'avelW peep shows. There was .ome muunuring at first becausf the show contained none of the popular mi-dersTnd b ood curdling scenes to which the people were accustomed No, the sergeant had said firmly, when the omission was suggested to him; "the young ones see quite enZh • cenes of drunkenness and fighting. When I was a cMd I remember seeing in a peep-show the picture of a woman lying with her head nearly cut off, and her husband with a bloody chopper standing beside her, and it spoiled my l!!f, ''^'..r'?' ,^°1 ^-^ «f «-t sort of thing for Ser^^ 6-at ^\uks; he has lought for his country, and' has seen OR, >ut they were not and they hud to I, and sunk many oasts, even round )u will see it all only one penny." 1 one side of the I had arranged a e not tall enough A considerable lored round, for blished favorites al had travelled fore he had ap- then had come le south-western 3Von, and Corn- m a general fa- would have no the boys stand e never hurried ee the pictures, most travelling it first because ders and blood- icustomed. 1 the omission B quite enough I was a child re of a woman husband with it spoiled my thing for Ser- , and has seert, THE msmm of a continent. '"-■e. Sergeant Wi ks Tl'stln ."" '""^-"''« '» l''^"- '"», their „e„„io. vLw" ,: tt T? u ' ^'l,""" ""^ would cost them thousands nf „„ . , *"''' '""l' "« -0 them, and all „» ^a 7 /,:"»' "^ '"-elled to ^'>'nZZnt%'z:ti:'' ™'^ """ '"" «- »- "nd grown-up girls „„d™° """' '""'' '" "'°™ days, pay their pe„';,fes to l / Jo "'" ""™ ""' """""^^ '» was scarcely a farm-houfe ^h u '"«<"'"'» b"^- There wasnotkn/^naXelcl d™';f "' ''" '"'' ''''^™ ^- when he first came round ™s'bu a v""" n*' "'■"''' "'"'' of the women, and a b"wl?f h i 'I' °"' ™" ">« ^^rt one, and a m„g „, beer and A ^ '"-^'^ '"^ *''' ""'" for himself, were ulwavs at hi«. '"''""'''"<' '"«=»■' box ana sh;wed sTondlX Th?" 'f ''' ""^ °P»^"« the house. " '" "■" """^^ and children of boat. There was ulways f „„m™ T ^""'^ "'™ »" •>'« the house of a AshJ^lr' ^^^ l""^ '°'' ""^ ""ere in Saturday, and hegenTrji, s^' ", 1^^ ''^ '"■"'^'^ <"■ ">o he had come to k~-nlTj *'" "'^Monday. Thus place as well as of many o,The »«","' ""^ ^'' "' «'» torn of a Saturday evenL; .« fu ,'■ '" " ™ *'» «■»■ to go and smoke his pipe f' tw '""' ™^ "'^ » ''«<', where he would soraehW , ! T^'""^ °' "''' "Anchor," the assembled flsheXen "b! "a.^' f ^ ^'^"""^^ '« ^uh uis patrons, SerffeaTif w,-ii, - -o" cna.t} aiiu cheery f^ ., sergeant W ilks was a reticent rather than 18 WITH WOLFE IN CANAPA: OR, ; a talkative man. At the "Anchor" ho wus, except when Ofllled upon for a story, a lisrt^ner rather than a talker. A#to his history, or the cuiuity to which ho helongcd, he never alluded to it, although communicative enough as to his military adventures; and any questions which were asked him ho quietly put on one side. He had intimated, indeed, that the father and mother of his grandchild wore both dead; but it was not known whether she was the child of his son or daughter; for under his cheerful talk there was something of military strictness and sternness, and he was not a man of whom idle questions would be asked. "Now, boys and girls," he said, "stop up; the show is ready. Those who have got a penny cannot spend it bet^^cr. Those who haven't must try and get tiieir father or mother to give them one and see tho show later on. Girls first, boys should always give way to their sisters. The bravest m'3n are always tho most conrt'^'^us and gentle with women." Four girls of various ages paid their pennies and took their places at the glasses, and the sergeant then began to describe the pictures, his descriptions of the wonders within being so exciting that several boys and girls stole off from the little crowd and made their way to their homes to coax their parents out of the necessary coin. Jamea Walsham listened a while, and then walked away to the sea, for there would be several sets of girls before it came to the turn of the boys. He strolled along, and as he came within sight of the beach stopped for u iUOi-ieni suddenly, and then with a shout ran forward at the toj* ,1 his speed. The little girl, after playing some time with the seaweed, had climbed into a small boat which lay at the edge of the ac ^n&ing tide, and leaning over the stern watched the liitif. , V, i a% i'ley ran up one after another. A lew min- ute* X'. r r-h? Lad got into it, the rising tide floated the Ropt when ulkor. helongcd, oiiougli m hich were intinuited, jhild Tvore e was the erful talk aternness, would be 18 show is 1 it better, or mother jirls first, 10 bravest li women, and took 1 began to era within 3 off from es to coax Iked away 3 before it ng. and as thn tuX. . ' e seaweed, ige of the bched the lew miu- oated the THE WINNING OI A CONTINKNT. 10 boat, and it drifted out a few yards, us fur as its headro.M allowed It. Ignorant of what hud hupp^aiod, the child was kncclmg uj. at the stern, leaning over, and dubbling her hands V, the wuter. No one had noticed her; the boys hac .,11 deserted the beuch. None of the fishermen were r-arti.c ^iJot. Just before Jumes Wulsham came within si^l.fc of the sea the child had overbulunoed itself. His eye leh on the water just as two arms and a frightened little face appeared above it. There was a little splash and a struggle, and the sea was bare again. At the top of his speed James dashed across the road sprang down the beach, and rushing a few yards into the water, dived down. He know which way the tide was making, and allowed for the set. A few vigorous strokes, and he reached something white on the surface. It was the sun-bonnet which had, in the child's struggles, become unfastened. He dived at onoo, and almost immediately saw a confused mass before him. Another stroke, and he seized th3 child's clothes, and grasping her firmly rose to the surface and swam toward shore. Although the acci- dent had not been perceived, his shout and sudden rush into the water had called the attention of some of the men and two or three of them ran into the water waist deep to help hira out with his little burden. "Well done, Master WalshamI the child would have been drowned if you had not seed it. None of us noticed Her fall over. She was playing on the beach last time I Be; d her.'' "Is she dead ?" James asked, breathless from his exer- tions. "Not she," the fisherman said; "she could not have been under water a minute. Take her into my cottage. Its one of the nighest; my wife will put her between tho blankets, and will soon bring her round." The fisherman s wife met th^m at the door, and taking mmimm 20 WITH V^OLFE IN CANADA: OR, the child from the lad carried it in, and soon had her wrapped up in blankets. But before this was done she had opened her eyes, for she had scarcely lost consciousness when James had seized her. The lad stood outside the door waiting for the news when the sergeant hurried up, one of the iSshermen having gone to tell him what had happened as soon as the child had been carried into the cottage— assuring him, as he did so, that the little one would speedily come round. Just as he came up the door of the cottage opened, and one of the women who i wJ run in to assist the fisherman's wife put her head out. " She has opened her eyes," she said. " The little dear will soon be all right.'' "Thank God for His mercies!" the sergeant said, tak- ing off his hat. "What should I have done if I had lost her ? and I have to thank you next to God," he said, seiz- ing the boy's hand. "May God bless you, young gentle- man! and reward you for having saved my darling. They tell me she must have been drowned but for you, for no one knew she had fallen in. Had it not been for you I shcnld come round to look for her and she would have been gone — gone for ever ! " and the showman dashed the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. "I was only just in time," the lad said. "I did not see her fall out of the boat. She was only a few yards away from it when she came up — just as my eyes fell on the spot. I am very glad to have saved her for you; but of course it was nothing of a swim. She could not have been ' many yards out of my depth. Now I will run home and change my things." James Walsham was too much accustomed to be wet through to care anything about his dripping clothes, but they served him as an excuse to get away, for he felt awk- ward and embarrassed at the gratitude of the old soldier. He pushed his way through the little crowd which had n had her 3 done she isciousness mtside the Lurried up, what had sd into the 3 one would ioor of the 1 run in to little dear t said, tak- I had lost i said, seiz- ing gentle- ing. They j^ou, for no 1 for you I ivould have dashed the did not see yards away fell on the ^ou; but of t have been I home and [ to be wet clothes, but le felt awk- old soldier, which had THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 21 now gathered round, and started at a run; for the news had brought almost all those gathered around the peep- show to the shore, the excitement of somebody beina drowned being superior even to that of the peep-show to the great majority, though a few, who had no hope of ob- taining the necessary pennies, had lingered behind and seized the opportunity for a gratuitous look through the glasses. ^ ^ James ran up-stairs and changed his clothes without see- ing his mother, and then, taking down one of his lesson- books, set to work, shrinking from tiie idea of going out again and being made a hero of. Half an hour later there ivas a knock at the front door, and a few minutes after his mother called him down. He ran down to the parlor, and there found the showman. "Oh, I say,- the boy broke out, "don't say anything more about it! I do hate being thanked, and there was nothing in swimming ten yards in a calm sea. Please don't say anything more about it. I would rather you hit me ever so much.'' The sergeant smiled gravely, and Mrs. Walsham ex- claimed : "Why didn't you come in and tell me about it, Jim ? I could not make out at first what Mr.— Mr. " " Sergeant Wilks, madam." "What Sergeant Wilks meant when he said that ho had called to tell me how grateful he felt to you for saving his little grandchild's life. I am proud of you, Jim " ;' Oh, mother, don't ! " the boy exclaimed. " It is horrid going on so. If I had swum out with a rope through the surf there might be something in it; but just to jump in at the edge of the water is not worth making a fuss about one way or the other." "Not to you perhaps, young gentleman, but it is to me." the showman said. « The child is the light of my life, the 22 WITH WOLI^E IN CANADA: OR, only thing I have to care for in the world, and you have saved her. If it had only been by stretching out your hand I should have been equally grateful. However, I will say no more about it, but I shall not think the less. But don't you believe, madam, that there was no credit in it. It was just the quickness and the promptness which saved her life. Had your son hesitated a moment it would have been too late, for he would never have found her. It is not likely that your son will ever have any occasion for help of mine, but should there be an opportunity he may rely upon it that any service I can render him shall be his to the death; and unlikely as it may seem, it may yet turn out that this brave act of his in saving the life of the granddaughter of a travelling showman will not be with- out its reward." " Is she all right now ? " James asked abruptly, anxious to change the conversation. "Yes. She soon came to herself, and wanted to tell me all about it; but I would not let her talk, and in a few minutes she dropped off to sleep, and there I left her. The women tell me she will probably sleep till morning, and will then be as well as ever. And now I must go and look after my box, or the boys will be pulling it to pieces." It was, however, untouched, for in passing the sergeant had told the little crowd that if they left it alone he would on his return let all see without payment, and during the rest of the afternoon he was fully occupied with successive audiences, being obliged to make his lectures brief in order that all might have their turn. After the sergeant had left, James took his hat and went for a long walk in the country in order to escape the congratulations of the other boys. The next day little Agnes was perfectly well, and appeared with her grand- occupied on the Sundays she spent at Sidmouth. On these THE WIlSrNiNG OF A CONTINENT. 23 id you have it your hand jr, I will say But don't n it. It was li saved her d have been . It is not ion for help he may rely all be his to Lay yet turn life of the lot be with- occasions she was always neatly and prettily dressed, and, indeed, some of the good women of the place, comparing the graceful little thing with their own children, had not been backward in their criticisms on the folly of the old showman in dressing his child out in clothes fit for a lady. tly, anxious d to tell me id in a few ft her. The orning, and ^0 and look Dieces." he sergeant le he would during the 1 successive ief in order is hat and > escape the b day little her grand- i he SiWays . On these CHAPTER II. THE SHOWMAN'S GRANDCHILD. "I have come, madam/' he said nfie^v +!,« « j. • me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem though r can't expkm it now. But I am boating ^abouTtS, and not getting any nearer. I have eome to ask madrm whether you would take eharge of the ehiW for twHtrs' ZP'" "" ' '" "'' ™^"'"'« '""' ^°» ""^ s "But I don't take boarders," Mrs. Walsham said mueb nrpnsed at the proposition. «I only take girls wtoome the morning and go away in the after^on ; besZ t^.ey are .all a good many years oh'er than your gramiehild None of the g„ds who eome to me are under twelve " I know ma'am, I know; and I am sure you must think .t a great hberty on my part to ask s„eh a fhing " the er geant said apologetically. "It is not the te.,ehL llZ ' out just a home for her." ^ ' Mrs. Walsham felt p;zzl.d. She did in her l,eart feel find n'o'd - t -'""^^^^'^ -nderin, showman lu^ find no dimculty n. getting his grandchild taken care of speared ai Leaving idchild to t inquiries mlar busi- nian like though I the bush, .} madam, ;wo years, lay think ■id, much ^^ho come besides, mdchild. re." 1st think ' the ser- ', I want, eart feel 1 would care of ig«isw^w* »jjji- -a I . ' ■_ .. .-Mfj w tijj ii t i i f! THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 25 among people of his own rank in life. It did seem most singular that he should seek to place the child with her. Mrs. Walsham was not given to thinking what her neigh- bors would say, but she thought of the buzz of comment and astonishment which her taking the charge of this child would excite. She had been particular in keeping her little school to some extent select, and as it was now as large as she could manage unaided, she was able to make it almost a favor to the farmers' wives to take their girls. But to do Mrs. "Walsham justice this thought had less influence with her than that of the time and care which would be required by a child of that age in the house. Certainly, she thought, as she looked at her sitting with her eyes wide open and an expression of grave wonder in her face, " she is a little darling, and as Jim saved her life I have a special interest in her; but this is out of the question." It was two or three minutes before she an- swered the showman's last words. "No, it cannot be done. Sergeant Wilks. No money that could be paid me would make up to me for the charge of a child of her age. I am all day in school, and what could a child, especially one accustomed to be out all day, do with herself ? The worry and anxiety would be im- mense. Were it not for my school it would be different altogether. A cliild of that age, especially such a sweet little thing as your granddaughter seems to be, would be a pet and amusement; but as it is, I am sorry to say that it is out of the question. But surely you will have no diflfi-' culty in finding plenty of good women who would be glad to take her, and to whom, having children of the same age, she would be no trouble whatever." " Yes," the sergeant said slowly, " I was afraid you would say that, ma'am. Besides, though you are good enough not to say it, I know that there must be other objections. I know you must be surprised at my wanting her to be 26 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, with a lady like yourself. So fur as money goes I could afford to pay fifty pounds a year, and perhaps you might get a girl who could look after Aggie while you are busy." ^' Fifty pounds a year! " Mrs. Walsham said, greatly sur- prised. " That is a large sum, a great deal too large a sum for you to pay for the care of such a little child. For half that there are scores of farmers' wives who would be happy to take her, and where she would be far more happy and comfortable than she would be with me." "I know I could get plenty to take her," the soldier said, " but I have reasons, very particular reasons, why I wish to place her with a lady for two years. I cannot ex- plain those reasons to you, but you may imagine they must be strong ones for me to be willing to pay fifty pounds a year for her. That money has been laid by from the day she was born, for that purpose. I have other reasons of my own for wishing that she should be at Sidmouth rather than at any other place; and I have another reason," and a slight smile stole across his face, " for preferring that she should be with you rather than any one else. All this must seem very strange to you, madam; but at the end of the two years, when you know what my reasons were, you will acknowledge that they were good ones. "God knows," he went on, looking very grave, "what a wrench it will be for me to part with her. How lonely I shall be as I tramp the country without her pretty prattle to listen to; but I have got to do it sooner or later, and these two years, when I can see her sometimes, will be a break, and accustom me to do without her sweet face. Please, madam," he urged, "do not give me a final answer to-day. I shall not go till Monday, and will call again, if you will let me, that morning; and believe me, if I could tell 3*ou all, I could give you reasons which would, I think, iaduce you to change your mind." THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 27 So saying he made a military salute, took the child's hand in his, and was soon striding along toward the sea. Mrs. Walsham was some time before she recovered from her surprise. This was, indeed, a mysterious affair. The earnestness with which the old soldier pleaded his cause had moved her strongly, and had almost persuaded her to accept the proposal which had at first seemed pre- posterous. Fifty pounds a year, too, was certainly a hand- some sum. She could get a girl from the village for two or three shillings a week to look after the child and go out with her during school hours, and a hundred pounds would be a very handsome addition to the sum which she had begun, little by little, to lay by for Jim's preparation for the medical profession. ^ In the five years which would elapse before it would be time for him to enter upon his studies for it she could hardly hope to lay by more than that sum, and this would at a stroke double it. Certainly it was a tempting offer. She could not do justice to the child, could not give her the care and attention which she ought to have, and which she could have for such a sum elsewhere; but the sergeant knew exactly how she was placed, and if he was willing and anxious for her to assume the charge of the child why should she refuse this good offer ? However, her pupils were waiting for her in the next room, and with an effort Mrs. Walsham put the matter aside, and went in to them. When James returned home to dinner his mother related to him the whole conversation. James was more amused than puzzled. ''It seems a rum idea, mother; but I don't see why you shouldn't take her. She is a sweet little thing, and will be a great amusement. Fifty pounds a year seems a tre- mendous sum for a man like that to pay; but I suppose he knows his own business, and. it will be a great pull for you. You will be able to have all sorts of comforts. I 28 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA : OR, shou d hko It very much. I have often wished I Imd had a httlo sister, and sho can go out walks ^vith me, you know It won d be like having a big dog with one, only much jollier. ' "^ "Yes," his mother said smiling; ''and I shouldn't be surprised if you wanted to throw sticks into the water for her to fetch them out, and to be taking her out for a nigh s fishing and be constantly bringing her home splashed with that nasty red mud from head to foot You would be a nice playmate for a little girl, Jim. Perhapp It is that special advantage that the sergeant had in his mmd s eye when he was so anxious to put her with me " James laughed. "I would see that she didn't come to any harm anyhow you know; and after all, I suppose it was my picking he; out of the sea that had something to do with his first think- ing of putting her with you." " I suppose it had, Jim," she said more seriously '< But What do you think, my boy? You know theu- are disad- vantages in it. There will be a good deal of talk about my taking this showman's grandchild, and some of the farmers' wives won't like it." ^ "Then let them dislike it/' James said indignantly, ine child IS as good as their daughters any day. Why I noticed her in church looking like a little lady. There was not a child there to compare to her." - qI^^"' ^ ^""^^ ''''^''''''^ ''^'' "myself," Mrs. Walsham said. t5he IS a singularly pretty and graceful child; but it will certainly cause remark." "Well, mother, you can easily say, what is really the fact, that you naturally felt an interest in her because I picked her out of the water. Besides, if people make remarks they will soon be tired of that; and if not, I can get into some scrape or other .and give them somofching else to talk about." THE WINNING OF A C!()NTINENT. 29 Accordingly when Sergeant Wilks c.-illccl on Monday morning for his nnswor Mrs. Wulsluim told him that she had decided to accept his offer. "You are aware how I am placed," she said, "and that I cannot give her the care and time which I could wish, and which she ought to have for such a liberal i)ayment us you propose; but you know thar beforehand, and you see that for two years' payments I could not sacrifice my school connection, which I should have to do if I gave her the time I should wish." "I understand, madam," he said, "and I am grateful to } on for consenting to take her. She is getting too old now to wander about with me, and since the narrow escape she had last time 1 was here I have felt anxious whenever she was out of my sight. It would not suit me to put her in a farm-house. I want her to learn to speak nicely, and I have done my best to teach her; but if she went to a farm- house she would be picking up all sorts of country words, and I want her to talk like a little lady. So that is settled, ma'am. I am i^oing on to Exeter from here, and shall get her a stock of clothes there, and will bring her back next Saturday. Will it suit you to take her then ? " Mrs. Walsham said that would suit very well; and an hour later the sergeant set out from Sidmouth with his box, Aggie trotting alongside talking continuously. "But why am I to stop with that lady, grampa, and not to go about with you any more ? I shan't like it. I like going about, though I get so tired sometimes when you are showing the pictures, and I like being with you. It isn't 'cause I have been naughty, is it ? 'cause I fell out of the boat into the water ? I won't never get into a boat again, and I didn't mean to fall out, you know." " No, Aggie, it's not that," the sergeant said, " You are always a good girl— at least, not always, because sometimes you get into passions, you know. Still, altogether you are -r^ 30 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, a^oo.1 littlo girl. Sull, you see, you can't always bo going about the country with me." 6""^i{ "JJut why not, granipu?" "Well my dear, hv.emm groat girls can't go about the riZld?''''"""^ it wouldn't bo right andVopo: t^ ;; Why shouldn't it be, grampa ? " the child persisted. «n .,^'"'f?^'«'I ^'"»t exactly explain to you why but «o It 18. Men and boys have to work; they go St in Bhips, or as soldiers to fight for their country,'rt as I did Oirls and women have to stop at home and keep house and haid and rough and to work and go about; he made wo cTmfoS^'"l "'' '' ''''' ''' ''^« -^ rnlkrthing; comfo.table. Aggie n.editated for some distance in si lonce upon this view of the case. "But I have seen women working in the fields, eramna Hnd some of them didn't seem very soft and gentle ''^' No, Aggie, things don't always go just as they ou^ht to do; and you see when people are poor, and men can' earn enough wages, then their wives Ld daugliTers have to help; and then you see they get rough, mor! iTk men because they are not doing their proper work; but I want^ you to grow up soft and gentle, and so for a time I wan you to live with that lady with the nice boy who puHed you ou the water, and they will make you very hapt and I shall come and see you some time " ^^^' "I like him," the child said with a nod; "but I would rather be with you, you know." "And the lady will teach you to read, Aggie; you have learned your letters, you know." ^ Aggie shook her head, to show that this part of the pro- gramme was not particularly to her liking. ^ "Do you think the bov will nW ^"Hh - - — - o- I daresay he will, Aggie, when you are very good; and mce m si- THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 31 you must novoi forgot, you know, tluit ho'scvod your life JuHt think how unlmppy I Bhould ho if he had not got you out of tho wutor." "Tho water was cohl and nasty," Aggie said, "and it seemed so warm and nice to my luinds. Aggie won't go near tlie water any more. Of course if tlie boy is witli mo I can go, because he won't let me tumble in. Shall I got into the basket now, gram] a ? I is tired." " Oh, nonsense, little woman ! you have not walked ha^f a mile yet. Anyhow, you nmst trot along until you get to the top of this hill, then you shall have a lift for a bit." And so, with the child sometimes walking and sometimes riding, sometimes asleep in her basket and sometimes chat- tmg merrily to her gi-andfatlior, the pair made their way across the country toward Exeter. There was no little talk in Sidmouth when on the fol- lowing Sunday the .shownuui's g- andehild appeared in Mrs • Walsham's pew in church, and it became known that she had become an inmate of her house. It was generally con- sidered that Mrs. Walsham had let herself down greatly by taking the showman's grandchild, and one or two of the mothers of her pupils talked about taking them away. Oue or two indeed called upon her to remonstrate personally but they gained nothing by the step. "I do not understand what you mean," she said quietly 'by saying that the child is not fit to associate with my other pupils. She is singularly gentle and taking in her manner. She expresses herself better than any child of her own age in Sidmouth, so far as I know. There are few so neatly and prettily dressed. Vy^hat is there to object to ^ Her grandfather has been a sergeant in the army; he bears a good character, and is liked wherever he ffoes. I do nnt consider that James or myself are in an^' way demeaned by sittmg down to meals with the child, who indeed behaves 32 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OB, <« prettily and nicely as one could wish, and I certainlv dn "he 'zx:t "y """"^ '="" "^ -^•™..%:S ; the tact tiiat for an hour or two in tlie day slie learns h/v lessons m the same room with them Hi/tTL w ., I they would be, I shonW not have r^^eiv^d h r Tf' U ol course, be sorry if any of my pupils are taken aw ; bt a l^ZrZ ^"\ ™'^ ™'«°S ^« ™»»™«=. it would mate no difference to me pecuniarily " ™,nnf '°i'.''-Wned that Mrs. Walsham lost none of her tWh'lT, '" t*"' ""•' "-^ ™"'1<«- t and painstaking during thohalf-hours in the motrg ana afternoon when she was in the school-room whika? WoaJ-timea her prattle and talk amused both mothe ^d ■ I certainly do tsly affected by she learns her r thought that 3r. I shall, of n away, but as cies, it would 3t none of her out; indeed her ways that er personally, tiniand which r. Her eyes ould scarcely issionate out- her that the ugh she was, parting with- from stream- le bade him The pain of Wilks as to :y voice that Mrs. Wal- - 'ery quickly amuse her, ' a walk to )oat for her ham found s. She was !ie morning 31, while at lother ani THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 33 eon, and altogether she made the house brighter and hap- pier than it was before. ^ In two months the sergeant came round again. He did llLeZI ?"' "''\^"^ '^""^ '''' '' '' ^^« ^-t halting place telling James, who happened to meet him as he came ''It will be better for the child." he explained. "She has done with the peep-show now, and I do not want her to be any longer associated with it '* Aggie was delighted to see him, ^nd sprang into his arms with a scream of joy as he entered Aff^.t f ■ \ , Mir M..a WIT, tnrerea. Alter a few minutes' talk Mis. Walsham suggested that she should put on her hat and go for a walk with him, and in high contentment tl tt Tn'.f' ''''"^" '^^ grandf athe?' s hand. Turn- mg to the left the sergeant took the path up the hill, and when he reached the top, sat down on the short turf, w'th Aggie nestling up against him. ;;So you are quite well and happy, Aggie ?» he asked. much /h /^ ' ^'"""T '"^ ""''^ ^^PP^' b"* I d« ^i«h so much that you were here. Oh, it would be so nice to have you to go out with every day ! " "lam afraid that cannot be managed, Aggie. I have been busy so long that I could not settle down qui tly here- besides, I must live, you know " ^ ' vou Hved'T^'^'''* ^""^^: ^''' y^^^ "^^^^y f<^^ *he show if Zelllt'l^Z^' ' ^-^ ^'-^^^ ^^' --^ h- the davind 7 u"' ^V ''"^^ ""* ^^* ^^««h Pi«<^"res every day, and snould soon tire them by showing the old house.^^ with you^'" "'' '"'"^ sometimes, grampa, not to have me andTtl'^f'"* 7r- V"'^- ^ '^''' y°^^ ^^^"^b^ sometimes, « mif '''^^ thinking about you." Then why don't you take me away again, grampa ? » • i 34 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, " Because, as I told you, Aggie, I want you to learn to read, and to grow up quite a little lady/' " Does reading make one a lady, grampa ? " " No, Aggie, not by itself, but with other things." "And when I am quite grown up and big, and know how to read nicely, shall I be able to go with you again ?" " We will see about that, Aggie, when the time comes. There is plenty of time yet to think about that." " But I am getting on very fast, grampa, and the lady says I am a good girl. So it won't be such a very long time before I can leave." " It will be some time yet. Yc". have only got to read little words yet, but there are lots of long words which you will come to presently. But Mrs. Walsham tells me that you are getting on nicely, and that you are a very good girl, which pleases me very much, and when I am walking along with my box I shall like to be able to think of you as being- quite comfortable and happy." "And I go walks with Jim, grampa, and Jim has made me a boat, and he says some day when it is very fine and quiet he will take me out in a big boat, like that boat, you know; and he is going to ask you if he may, for the lady said I must not go out with him till he has asked you. And he said he won't let me tumble over, and I am going to sit quite, quite still." **Yes, Aggie, I don't see any harm in your going out with him. I am sure he will only take you when it is fine, and he will look af for you well. You like him, don't you ? " "Oh! I do, grampa; and you know it was him who got me out of the water, else I should never have come out, and never have seen grampa again; and he has made me a boat. Oh ! yes, I do like him ! " "That's right, my dear; always stick to those who are good to you.'' A few days after this, as James was sailing the toy boat u to learn to THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 35 for Aggie's amusement in a pool, a boy sauntered up He was somewhat taller than James Walsham, and at least two years older. He was well dressed, and James knew him as the nephew and heir of the squire. It ^vas.not often that Eichard Hortou came down into the Yil age He was accustomed to be treated with a good deal of defei-ence at the Hall, and to order servants and glooms about pretty much as he chose, and the indifference with which the fisherboys regarded him offended him greatly. He was a spoilt boy. His uncle had a resident tutor for him, but the selection had been a bad one. The ibrary was large and good, the tutor fond of reading, and he was content to let the boy learn as little as he chose pro- viding that he did not trouble him. As to any instruction beyond books, he never thought of giving it The squire never interfered. He was a silent and disat,- a'nd t: thT' ''' ''''ff '' ^""^ ^"^^^^ - ^ -'^^^'t:i Tnt,^ 1 "management of his estate, but seldom went be- yond the lodge gates. He took his meals by himself and no Idea butif T, '^^ '^^'^" ''' ^ "^^^ *^^'^^-' -^ ^^^ no Idea but that he was pursuing his studies regularly with his tutor. Thus the character of Richard Horton formed itse f unchecked. At the best it was a bad one, but under other circumstances it might have been improved. Tip to the age of ten he had lived in London with his father and mother, the latter a sister of the squire who having married beneath her, to the indignation ofMr.'^n' horne, he had never seen her afterward. Four years before the story begins she had received a letter from'him lyTng that as her eldest son was now his heir, he wished him to tl tffer Id tT 7 ^ti'"""^''"^^ foniily, at once accepted the offer, and Richard, hearing tliat h. was going to a 4nd nice things, left his father and mother without a tear. m m 36 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, if P He was essentially selfish; he was vain of his good looks' which were certainly striking; and with his changed for- tunes he became arrogant, and, as the squire's servants said, hateful, and yet the change had brought him less pleasure than he expected. It was true that he had the pony, that he was not obliged to trouble himself with lessons, that he was an important person at the Hall; but he had no play-fellows, no one to admire his grandeur, and the days often passed heavily, and there was a look of discontent and peevishness upon his handsome face. Perhaps the reason why he so seldom came down into Sidmouth was not only because the fisherboys were not sufficiently impressed with his importance, but because they looked so much happier and more contented than he felt m spite of his numerous advantages. On this day he was m a particularly bad temper. He had lamed his pony the day before by riding it furiously over a bad road after It had cast a shoe. The gardener had objected to his pick- ing more than half a dozen peaches which had just come into perfection, and had threatened to appeal to the squire. Altogether he was out of sorts, and had walked down to the sea with a vague hope that something might turn up to amuse him. He stood for some little time watching James sail the boat, and then strode down to the edge of the pool. The boat was a model of a smack, with brown sails. James had taken a good deal of pains with it, and It was an excellent model. Presently in crossing she ctuck in a shallow some twelve feet from the edge. The inter- vening stretch of water was a foot deep. James picked up some small stones and threw them close to her, that the tiny wave they made might float her off. He tried several times without success. ''What's the use of such little stones as that?" Richard said roughly; "you will never got her off like tliat:" and picking up one as large as his fist, he threw it with some R, his good looks, is changed for- 's servants said, m less pleasure the pony, that h lessons, that but he had no •, and the days of discontent me down into boys were not ), but because ented than he On this day he amed his pony 3ad road after 3d to his pick- bad just come [ to the squire, alked down to light turn up ime watching to the edge of :, with brown s with it, and ing she ctuck . The inter- threw them ight float her t?" Richard 3 that;" and it with some THE WINNING OF A CONTINSN an angry exclamation "'"""^ ^"'*'-™' """■'^J "You are a bad bov" Ao-o-i-o ^..n are a bad boy to break if IT" STl^' "^''" tears. ^ '"'*' """1 *.e burst into an^iir^'erCre^tis"'/:",""'' ""' «'*"^ -■" age it had caused «WMt"r'°'v" "'™ "* *'' ''™- noise about ?" and heltl Z f;.""'""' "* " '^»^«^ the'cixrfoot'Xp^d' rd*shTnr'.r -^'-y »" pool, her dress goin^/;!, „ ttl fwat "^1^^ "' "'" -nstant Hiclmrd reeled and almost felTb lide be f """' wm pay >. ,„.. ,,,.,»rbe rtrrir^""^'^' "^ Jtinr^dTenltVel^r wr ^^ »' -'- more than balanced the adlt^ f;,^^:^^^^^^^^ adversary. He had Im^ +^ " "^^^g^i; and age of his time, and^fter\t'fl';ttdrb?rs '"oTo""^ "«"' '» »" the overthrow of Asrrie h! f i!. P'"""" """^'='5 ^T while Richard ledTi:*^! X^Sratte^ "^' to guard his face. ^ witnout attempting ti.e\'rch!'i:kiu^tr :f oth"' ™" "7'"^ '™^'^ '--^ mending ; „et JlVZnTZr T. t" bT ^T^^' '" reach them to beg for aid for 1.71 ''"'. ""='»■•<' *e could over, terminating by a heav;rirff''";T *''" «8l.t was which landed EfchardHni *,"""'' '"""■<"" J"™"' James stood quiX Itit"^ a euTwarof'tf "<,"■" ''°°'- he arose, but Eichard had bfd e"" Ih l ' t 0^" n ' ""'"" was already puffed nnrl ^.^ i • '^ "^^ ^^ ^"^ eyes -^-cix:traSf:rhrt'otz^^^ ¥ ! 1 S8 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, witli red mud. " I will pay you out for this, you see if 1 don't," Richard gasped hoarsely. " What! have you had enough of it ? " James said scorn- fully. "I thought you weren't any good; a fello-y who would bully a little girl is sure to be a coward." Richard moved as if he would renew the fight, but he thought better of it, and with a furious exclamation hur- ried away toAvard the Hall. James, without paying dny further heed to him, waded after the boat, and having recovered it walked off toward the child, who on seeing his opponent had moved off was running down to meet him. "Here is the boat, Aggie," he said; "the. j is no great harm done, only the mast and yard broken. I can easily put you in fresh ones;" but the child paid no attention to the boat. " He is a wicked bad boy, Jim; and did he hurt you ?" " Oh, no, he didn't hurt me, Aggie, at least nothing to speak of. I hurt him a good deal more; I paid him out well for breaking your boat and pushing you down, the cowardly brute!" " Only look, Jim," she said, holding out her frock; " what will she say ? " James laughed. "Mother won't say anything," he said; "she is accus- tomed to my coming in all muddy." "But she said 'Keep your frock clean,' and it's not clean," A.ggie said in dismay. " Yes, but that is not your fault, little one; I will make it all right with her, don't you fret. Come on, we had better go home and change it as soon as possible." • They passed close by the two fisherm_en on their way. "Yon n-avc it to the young squire finely? Mi.ister Wal- sham," one of them said, " and served liim right, too. We chanced to be looking at the moment and saw it all. He THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 39 you see if 1 i8 said scorn- felloTv who fight, but he mation hur- him, waded d off toward oved off was is no great I can easily attention to liurt you ? " it nothing to 3aid him out )u down, the 'rock ; " what she is accus- and it's not ; I will raake B on, we had ble." tlieir way. Master Wal- Tht, too. We w it all. IIo is a bad un, he is, by what tliey say up at tlie Hall. I heard one of the grooms talking last night down at the * Ship,' and a nice character he gave him. This thrashing may do him some good; and look you, Master Walsham, if he makes a complaint to the squire, and it's likely enougli he will get up a fine story of how it cameabout — the groom said he could lie like King Pharaoh — you just send word to me, and me and Bill will go up to the squire and tell him the truth of the matter." Mrs. Walsham felt somewhat alarmed when her son told her what had happened, for the squire was a great man at Sidmouth, a magistrate, and the owner of the greater part of the place as well as of the land around it; and although Mrs. Walsham did not hold the same exaggerated opinion of his powers as did the majority of his neighbors, who would scarcely have dreamt of opposing it had the squire ordered any one to be hung and quartered, still she felt that it was a somewhat terrible thing that her son should have thrashed the nephew and heir of the great man. In the evening there was a knock at the door, and the little maid came in with eyes wide open with alarm, for she had heard of the afternoon's battle, to say that the con- stable wished to speak to Mrs. Walsham. " Servant, ma'am," he said as he entered. " I am sorry to be here on an unpleasant business; but I have got to say as the squire wishes to see Master Walsham in the justice- room at ten o'clock on a charge of 'sault and battery. Don't you be afeard, ma'am," he went on confidentially. " I don't think as anything is going to be done to him. I ain't got no warrant, and so I don't look upon it as regular business. I expects it will be just a blowing up. It will be just the squire and not the magistrate, I takes it. He told me to have him up there at ten, but as he said nothinsr about custody I tliought T would do it my own way and come to you quiet like; so if you say as Master Walsham shall be 40 WITp WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, up there at ten o'clock I'll just take your word for it and won t come to fetch him. The doctor was alius very good to me and my missus, and I shouldn't like to be walking through Sidmouth with my hand on his son's collar." " Thank you, llobson," Mrs. Walsham said quietly. " You can rely upon it my son shall be there punctually; he has notlnng to be afraid or ashamed of." Full of rage as Richard Horton had been as he stavted for home, he would never have brought the matter before the squire -n his o;vn account. His case was too weak, and he had been thrashed by a boy younger than himself. Thus he would have probably chosen some other way of taking • his vengeance; but it happened that just as he arrived home he had met his tutor coming out. The latter was astounded at Richard's appearance, his eyes were already puffed so much that he could scarcely see out of them, his lips were cut and swollen, his shirt stained with blood, his clothes - drenched and plastered with red mud. " Why, what on earth has happened, Richard ? " Richard had already determined upon his version of the story. "A brute of a boy knocked me down into the water," he said, '^and then knocked me about till he almost killed me." ''But what made him assault you in this outrageous manner?" his tutor asked. " Surely all the boys about here must know you by sight; and how one of them would dare to strike you I cannot conceive." "I know the fellow," Richard said angrily; "he is the son of that doctor fellow who died two years ago." ^'^'But what made him do it ?" the tutor repeated. ''He was sailing his boat and it got stuck, and he threw in some stones to got it off, and I helped him, and I hap- pened to hit the mast of his bmstly boat, and then he flew at me like a tiger, and that's all." THE WINNINO OP A CONTINENT. 41 "Well it Beoms to be a moiistroi.s assault, Eiclmrd and yon mast s,,eak to the squire about it " "Oh, ,10. 1 shan't," Itichard said hastily; "I don't want any ro. about it. and I will pay him oft some other way i, f '""■,'"? ""'^ ™°"K'' " i' '""J been a fair &Ii only he k,»cked me down before I was on my guard No I shan't si.y anything .about it." J g"™. jno. But Richard's tutor on thinking the matter over deter- m„,ed to speak to the squire. Only the evening before questions as to Ei.hard's progress .ind conduct, and had said some hnig about examining him himself, ti see how he was getting on. This had caused Mr. Eober son .olittll alarm, for he knew that even the most superficial question mg would betray the extent of Richard's ignorance and he had resolved that henceforth he would endeavor °'o assert lis authority and to insist upon Richard's devotinga c I tain portion of each day regularly to study. Should the 8qu.re meet the boy anywhere about the house he must at once notice the condition of his face, and even if heZd no meet him he could not fail to notice it on Sunday when he sat beside him in the pew. It would be better, '^1^0 that he should at once report the matter to him Without wi;"t"to",r' '" ?"'""■ "' "= ""»*-- "» th" wei.t to the squire's study and told him what had taken fe'rersnX':"'"™'"'"'""*^''- ^"^--^^^ mllZVif!' f' ^^"'i"""' y»" '"« q-ite right to tell treated ! '• ""'""' ' """""^ '"^"^ "y -OP''^ t» bo «f wZ ' """""V *" ''"" ""^ I "■» «»■•■•? that it was Walsham's son. I don't know anything about the esTe'eL" t I^s'f t '"T """ ^'™ "^ »'«'"' '»"" esteem for his father, who was a hard-working mnn and I oelieve clever; he used to attend here whenevCT any of the servants were ill, and I had intended to do something lor (I •i»l 'Il 42 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA. the boy. I am sorry he has turned out so badly; however, I will have him up here and speak to him. This sort of thing cannot bo permitted.*' And accordingly orders were given to the constable. When in the evening Mr. Robertson informed Richard what h^ had done, the boy flew into a terrible passion, and abused his tutor with a violence of language which shocked and astonibiied him, and opened his eyes to his own culpability in allowing him to go on his way unchecked. He in vain endeavored to silence the furious lad. He had been so long without exercising any authority that he had now no au- thority to exercise, and after an angry scene Richard flung himself out of the room and left his tutor in a state bor° dering on consternation. adly; however. This sort of the constable. 1 Kiehard what on, and abused li shocked and >wn culpability d. He in vain id been so long ad now no au- Kichard flung in a state bor- CHAPTER III. THE JUSTICE-ROOM. «,»?.''°tr*^'f ?"'«' ''"'' ""' '° '"' ""«<' »» h° % awake hat mght th,„k,ng over what had taken place in the mora! ng. It had never for a moment entered his mind that his tutor would repeat his statement to the squire, and he would have g.v-n a good deal if he had not made it; how ever, there was nothing for him now but to stick to the story, and he felt but little doubt of .he result He had no ,dea that any but the actors in it had witnessed Z scene by the pool, and he felt confident that his uncle tTlhaJortr"!!" °' ™"''' "^ '"^ '"'■'i ■" P^^'o^noe himself Of" ^^' T, ° TT" ""'"""^ '^" ''"^ to ^■•™n himself Of course the child was there, but no one would mmd what a baby like that said. Still it was a nuirnce and he gnashed his teeth with rage at the interfrnce of his tutor m the matter. "I will get rid of him somehow before long," he said The next morning at breakfast Richard received a mes- sage from the squire that he was to be present at ten o'cfock n od h!l li'T' '-^"^^^^^^rdingly at that hour he pre- waid feehng of missrivin^. Tbo .n,.i.. ,,-- -JH^- - - • t.ible with his clerk beside him. Mr. Robertson was in a j.\ 44 S'm If'. !■ ( WITH WOLFE m CANADA: OR, chiiir a short distanco off. Tho constable was staiuling by tho side of James WuLsluim at tlio other end of tho room. Mr. Linthorno nodded to his ne])liew. "I wish yon to repeat tho story which you told Mr. Robertson yesterday." Richard had thought over whether it would bo better to soften his story, but as it had already been told to tho squire he had concluded that there would be more danger in contradicting his first version than in sticking to it. Accordingly ho repeated his story almost word for word as he had told it to Mr. Robertson. "What have you to say to this, James Walsham ?" the squire asked. " This is a serious charge, that you without any provocation assaulted and maltreated my nephew." . "I say it is all a lie, sir," James said fearlessly. Tlie squire uttered a short exclamation of surprise and anger. lie hud been at first favorably impressed with the appearance of the young prisoner, tliough he had been surprised at seeing that ho was younger than his nephew, for he had expected to see a much older boy. " That is not the way to speak, sir," he said sternly, while the constable pressed a warning hand on James's shoulder. "Well, sir, it's not true then," the boy said; "it's all* false from beginning to end, except that I did strike him first; but I struck him, not because he had thrown a great stone and broken my boat, but becausf he pushed a little girl who was with me down into the witer." " She slipped down; I never pushed her," Richard broke jn. "Hold your tongue, sir," the squire said sternlv; "you have given your evidence. I have now to hear what the accused has to say. Kow tell your story." James now gave his version of the affair. i™ ., ^,^,, x^xu:,iiorno sum gravely, ••Have you any witnesses to call ? " you told Mr. Richard broke aveiy, "' Have THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 45 "Yes, «lr thoro aro two fishermen outside who saw it " Bring thoni m,' the magistrate said to the constable. Nota wonl was spoken in the justiee-room until the con- table re urned. As James had told his story the magis- rate had listened with disbelief; it had not occurred to him that his nephew could have told a lie. and he wondered at the calmness with which this boy told his story. AVhv were i^, true, Ricliard was a coward as well as a liar, for with his superior age and height he should have been able to thrash his boy in a fair fight, yet James's face had not a mark, while Hs nephew's showed how severelv he had been punished But his eye fell upon Richard when James sad hat he had witnesses; ho saw an unmistakable look of terror came over his face, and the bitter conviction flashed across him that James's story Avas the true one " There is no occasion to give him the book, Ilobson " he said as the constable was about to hand the Testament to one of the fishermen; "this is a private investigation no a formal mag,sterial sitting, :,„d there is no occasion at jhis stage to take any .- " 1 aee on oath." "What is your name, my man ?" "John Mullens, your iionor " "I was a-meiKli„g mynets.yor honor.along with Simon Harte, and young Master Walsimm was a-safling l^UhZ in a pool alo, , with the little gal as lives at his Lther's ' How fa.- were you from the spot where he was' - the squire asked. ' '"^ "Two hundred yards or so, I should say," the flshc man rephed; 'wo was working behind a boat, but we could see • over >t well enough; presently we saw Master Horton come down and stand alongside the others. T .aid f^ ,Qi„ ' ?T- is a good-looking young fellow, is the" s"qnire's neph;w • " and the hsherman's eye twinkled with a grim humor J'he 46 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, ^ Tif f ?l°'""-<''^ ™Il™ face. "The boat mt stuck and M»3tcr Walsh.m threw something in dose to^tt to get .t off, then I see Master Ilorton stoop and piclc „p a chunic of stone and chuck it hard, and it hit the boat and knocked o M ; IT f" "*"" «'■•' '"" ''""^ "" »y something to Mas er Horton, and then she put her apron „p to he! ■ iTT. >™.'° "'' '"' S»" '""■ " «»rt of shove and she tumbled do™ mto the edge of the pool. I says to Simon What a shame ! ' but afore the words was out of my mS' Master Walsham he hits him, and hits him hard too then there was a fight, but Master Horton he hadn't a chance with James, who gave him as sound a licking as ever you see d and cnd.ng with knocking him baekwfrd into the pool, then he gets np and shakes his flst at James and then go s oil as hard as l>e could. That's all I know about it '' Its a wicked he," Rich,ard burst out; " they have made It up between them. There was nobody there " stern vtharBieTT'^'f "■/]'" ^°"'" ">' ")"" -i" »<> sternly that R.ehard, who had risen from his seat, shrank back again and remained silent; while Simon Uarto give otheTSrm:;:"' ™"""°^' '''™"-' ^"" «-' "*^: JaZ™ ^™ ""^ """" witnesses?" the magistrate asked . " °"'y "1° '""o g'>'' sir, but I did not bring her un- she .s so httle I thought it was better she should not com'i' bu I can send for her if you wish it," "It is not necessary," Mr. Linthorne said. « I h,ave heard quite sufficient. The manner in which you and these flshe, men have given your evidence convinces me that you are speaking the truth, and I am sorry that you shouM hZ tirisl^t a r "",' "°^'"°"- Y™' '"» """erst d tl a heard the story of whaVtook pia^art'Ll;;?^ ^et^f nagistrate asked i not come, biit THE WINNINO OP A CONTINENT. 47 stances, Inl tCrpltmet rt' "'^ T^ "'■^•™ to M. was tho-ougMfdrrr tots "/r '-^^ James Walsham and his witnessp. Ipff fT ^ Linthorne rose, and saying tol^^rnephew « f:i/""- ""'• went to his study WihLi 11 !'^^'^^'^> ^^^^ow me, sir/' passed, he to.l 'ioZIZ SLT h? ^h f^' "'' proceeded to examine Eichard inthr "l'/'^''^.^ »'» sufficed to show that tl,«l,„„ , ^ ''"' minutes of Latin, whill It ;„e Lns ? "'™'*t'^'^'«"°-"'' showed that he was eq, al ;'Sc"nt'in^r '' T" ""'"^ "That will do," the squL s7d "'^ ""''! "'">■ and remain there until TZit yoJ' "^ '° ^™' '•"°'"' Mr^Lt;s:X"i:i:s it^'-ttrf '- ^^-^o- driven away to Exete/ Z " W^ tn^ P:: V"'7" Eiehard remained a prisoner in his room m, 7 ''''^' brought up to him, but the serv.nt T' "''° ""^ answered no questions, t 11 n^ 'm thi th''"'' "* *''™ were that he was not o 1,„M "'''"'''» °''d™ There was indlS a Jl „ '^ ^'^ersation with him. the Hall at thetno^Z tl'Stird^lfor't ^ "™"'^ "' grace. The exact cireumftances of th!!,ff ™, " '"'- for the fishermen hn,l n„Vl *^""' """'"' unknown, told his St rHnd Mrs w*h "''T' "■■"' ^'"''"■■^ ^ad when James told 1,„ i,! '™' "'"> ™= """"h 'hocked ..pon him thaUt w fb tt1rT™'"'T' '"^ ''"^^'-"^ " You are clea nThe n !«» r '^ "°"""« ■"<"■" '"'»»« ''• von Th. .r f ^'' •^""' ""d that is enough for Sed iLrr I'loW^S ""''Z"'"'^'' •''^ "^t"-' '"the rtj 48 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, !i ( Ilorton had been thrashed, and that the squire himself had said that it served him figlit, Sidmouth knew nothing of what had taken place in the justice-room. Mr. Linthorne's first impulse had been to send his nephew at once back to his parents, with the message that he would have nothing more to do with him; but though he had the reputation of being a stern man, the squire was a very kind- hearted one. He was shocked to find that the boy was a liar, and that to shield himself he had invented this false- hood against his opponent; but upon reflection he acknowl- edged that he himself had been to blame in the matter. He had taken the boy into his house, had assigned to him the position of his heir, and had paid no further attention to him. Unfortunately the man he had selected as his tutor had proved false to the trust. The boy had been permitted to run wild, his head was turned with the change in his pros- pects, his faults had grown unchecked. It was to be said for him that he hod not intended in the first place to bring his opponent into disgrace by making this false accusation against him, for his tutor had acknowledged that he had said he did not intend to tell him or to take any step in the matter, and his position of accuser had been to some extent forced upon him by the necessity of his confirming the tale which he had told to account for his being thrashed by a boy smaller than himself. Yes, it wmild be unfair upon the boy utterly to cast him off for this first offence; he would gave him one more trial. The result of the squire's reflection was that on the third day of his imprisonment Richard was sent for to the study. The squire did not motion to him to sit down, and he re- mained standing with, as the squire said to himself, a hang- dog look upon his face. " I have been thinking over this matter quietly, Pucliard, for I did not wish to come to any hasty Qonclusion. My THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 49 first impulse was to naolc mn r.ft i to do wL ,ou, but f wZ:^ jr;:rf ifr "^^^; despicable as your conduct has beon I t^P ,1 ^^ '"^ myself for not having seen tW vn. ! ,^^'.^'^^^ ^^^^^e to you, therefore I have relolv / ' ^'^ '"' ^"*^ ^^ but not here. I oulTnot betTi"^'" ""^^"^ ^^^^^-' " Rnf , ?i ^ ^ ^ ^ "^ "P ''^'^ honorable man you deep , ,. , t": * '^ -7 h- "''d its effect, that do you. L,t to b; Ln'eeC: ;' -iht To "t,™"'^^" '° you will at my death occupy t^t'ittr/f ' "'.'"™'' for you; if not, not „ne dL ,Cv "f ™ '" '"'''°'^'''' you get. I am going to put von if. *, , f """"^ *"' be iooked ,tHe!,y ffterall^: L^ ;t1 J t/;" "' chance of retrieving yourself r I,,,! 7 "^''^ friend of mine, a polLpt inL raiilw''" '".'' that tife discipT„e"o7th ra i^rtmlXft'^'V"^ you, and have requested him to L pa t Iht , !nd " '° and let me know occasionally how "fl""^ ""'^ ^^ i>ave told him that your positL a!n ;LTr J,' ? ™- ' ..rge extent depend upon his reports IT , ^™'^ in the na„,c of our old friemU 1 ff, ^"'"'^'""^ «»' and open in them with n,e T ™ t'^ •t""'' 'T"" nephew, but I have others who w U tS , • " ""^ '""'' nnworthy of the position, an" hL t "h^fb' "' '^ " l.e should be found wanting, I'will cl„° " ! '""^ Of aii the tenants and people oi mTestr^fnforXl: ' si tH 50 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, not in ( ory respect an honorable gentleman.' That will do, sir. You need not remain longer in your room, but you will not leave the grounds. My friend's ship is at Portsmouth at present, and doubtless I shall receive an an- swer in the course of a few days. Until then the less we see each other the more pleasant for us both." There were few more miserable boys in England than Eichard H rton during the week which elapsed before the answer to the squire's letter was received. It cannot be said that in the true sense of the word he was sorry for his fault. He was furious with himself, not because he had lied, but because of the consequences of the lie. A thousand times he called himself a fool for having im- perilled his position, and risked being sent back again to the dingy house in London, merely to excuse himself for being thrashed by a boy smaller than himself. Mad with his folly, not in having invented the story, but in having neglected to look round to assure himself that there were no witnesses who would contradict it, he wandered discon- solate about the gardens and park, cursing what he called his fortune. It was an additional sting to his humiliation that he knew every servant in and about the house rejoiced at his discomfiture, and he imagined that there was a veiled smile of satisfaction at his bruised visage and his notorious dis- grace with the squire on the face of every man he met outside, and of every woman who passed him in the house. During the whole week he did not venture near the stables, for there he knew that he had rendered himself specially obnoxious, and there was notliing for him to do but to saunter listlessly about the garden until the day arrived that the letter came granting the squire's request, and beg- ging that he might be sent off at once, as the vessel would probably put to soa in a few days , "Kow, Kichard," the squire said that evening to him iu ing to him in THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 51 a kinder voice than he had used on the last occasion "you understand exactly how we stand toward each other. Th" being so, I do not wish to maintain our present uncon fortable rehations. You have had your punTshmenrand unless hear to the contrary I shall assume that the pun^ ishment has had its effect. When you return from sea after your firs voyage you will come home here as if noth ng had XTuf Tf. ''^: '""r "^^^ ^^^^^ '^ alluded to bt to be T 1 1 ^ "" ""* "' ^ ^'''' ^"*^^^^t« believed you to be, I shall receive you as warmly as if my opinion of you had never been shaken. ^ opinion of "I have requested Captain Sinclair to let me know what IS the average allowance that the midshipmen recZ fTom "I will try sir, I will indeed," Eiclmrd said earnestly • and he spoke from his heart, for the inheritance Trvor; dear to Um. and it would be a terrible thing indeelTo f:Z For two years after Eichard Horton's departure thin™ went on q„,et,y at Sidmouth. James Walsh™ eonttZ to make a pet and a playmate of little Aggie. Her „ ,t of doorhfe had made her strong and sturdyfLd she wa^ ;bt aceompany hi,n in all his „>mbles, while whea he «s ..work at home preparing flshing-Iinos, makhiboats or otherw.se amusing himself, she «s content to sit hours qmetl, beside him chattering incessantly, and „ °it ll„ w.th an oooasional brief answer to her questlZ Whe„ hcwasstudvini shetoow^nV —J. ,t , , however m.mh she might be pt.« ovtX e^rUw Bover d.sturb him by asking him questions wh:^ engaged'! Tl. i i 'Ail 53 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, She was an intelligent child, and the iiour's lesson, morn- ing and afternoon, soon grew into two. She was eager to learn, and rapidly gained ground on Mrs. Walsham's older pupils. During the two years that lady never had cause to regret that she had yielded to the sergeant's entreaties. Aggie was no trouble in the house, wiiich she brightened with her childish laughter and merry talk, and her com- panionship, James' mother could not but think, did the boy much good. It softened his manner, and although he still often went out with the fishermen, he was no longer thrown entirely for companionship upon the boys on the beach. The sergeant came and went, seldom being more than two months without paying a visit to Sidmouth. The child was always delighted to see her grandfather, and James took to him greatly, and likec. nothing better than to stroll up with him to a sheltered spot on the hillside, where he would throw himself down on the grass, while the sergeant smoked his pipe and told him stories of his travels and ad- ventures, and Aggie ran about looking for wild flowers, or occasionally sat down, for a while to listen also. The squire lived his usual lonely life up at the Hall. The absence of his nephew, whose ship had sailed for a foreign station, was a relief rather than otherwise to him. It had from the first been a painful effort to him to regard this boy as his heir, and he had only done it when heart-sick from a long and fruitless search for one who would have been nearer and dearer to him. Nor had he ever taken to the lad personally. The sf^uire felt that there was not the ring of true metal in him. The careless way in which he spoke of his parents showed a want of heart; and although his uncle was ignorant how much the boy made himself dis- liked in the household, he was conscious himself of a cer- tain antipathy for him, which led him to uee as little of him as possible. OB, ir's ](>sson, morn- She was eager to Walsham's older never had cause eant's entreaties. I she brightened k, and her com- t think, did the and although he tie was no longer the boys on the eing more than outh. The child ther, and James ter than to stroll illside, where he lile the sergeant 3 travels and ad- wild flowers, or -Iso. The squire The absence of foreign station, I. It had from ^ard this boy as 3art-sick from a ould have been i^er taken to the WAS not the ring which he spoke id although his de himself dis- imself of a cer- (jee as little of . '*5 J < f 1 r f t; ii ir rii ta si] de ke CO THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 53 JVrZlrXlfZ r">™/7>-"^ though, the » p ac as servant-girl in a farm-J,„„se. She dortt d not herself very closely round her hearf T "'^ ^^"^"^ :-£pei:trifhirc At last she made up her mind ^hat ^ho "'-,,1-1 - . 1 ^ ^ K^ r 54 With wolfe in Canada: or, traviigance, since the money she had received for her would pay for the cost of her keep for years to come. When Mrs. Walsham's mind was once made up, her only fear was that these mysterious plans of the sergeant would not allow him to leave Aggie with her. Punctual to the day Sergeant Wilks arrived, and after a little talk in the parlor, as usual, with James and Aggie present, he formally requested the fuvor of a conversation with Mrs. Walsham alone. "Take Aggie for a walk, James; do not stay out above three-quarters of an hour, as your tea will be ready for you then." " You must have wondered, ma'am, a good deal," the ser- geant began when they were alone, " why I, who get my living by travelling the country with a peep-show, wished to place my grandchild in a position above her, and to have her taught to be a little lady. It is time n dw that I should tell you. Aggie is my granddaughter, but she is the grand' daughter, too, of Squire Linthorne up at the Hall." " Bless me ! " Mrs. Walsham ejaculated, too astonished for any further expression of her feelings. "Yes, ma'am, she is the daughter of the squire's son Herbert, who married my daughter Cissie." " Dear me, dear me," Mrs. Walsham said, " what an ex- traordinary thing! Of course I remember Herbert Lin- thorne, a handsome, pleasant young fellow. He was on bad terms, as every one heard, eight years ago, with his father, because he married somebody beneath — I mean somebody of whom the squire did not approve. A year afterward we heard that he was dead, and there was a report that his wife was dead too, but that was only a rumor. The squire went away just at the time, and did not come back for months afterward, and after that he was altogether changed. Before, he had been one of the most popular men in this part of the country, but now he shut himself up, gave up THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. ' 66 squires son up, gave up all his acquaintances, and never Avent outside the park gates except to come down to church. I remember it gave us quite a shock wlien wo saw liim for the first time— he seemed to have grown an old man all at once. Every one said that the death of his son had broken his heirt. And Aggie is his granddaugliter! Well, well, you have aston- ished me. But why did you not tell me before ? " " There were a good many reasons, ma'am. I thought in the first place you might refuse me, if you know, for it might do you harm. The squire is a vindictive man, and he is landlord of your house; and if he came to know that you had knowingly taken in his granddaughter there was no saying how he might have viewed it. Then, if you had known it, you might have thought you ought to keep her in, and not let her run about the country with your son; and altogether it would not have been so comfortable for you or her. I chose to put her at Sidmouth because I wanted to come here often to hear how the squire was going on; for if he had been taken ill I should have told him sooner than I intended." "But why did you not tell him before ? " Mrs. Walsham asked. "Just selfishness, ma'am. I could not bring n i yself to run the risk of having to give her up. She was mine as much as his, and was a hundred times more to me than she could be to him. T took her a baby from her dead mother's arms. I fed her and nursed her, taught her her first words and her first prayer. Why should I offer to give her up to him, who likely enough would not accept the offer wheu it was made to him ? But I always intended to make it some day. It was my duty to give her the chance at least; but I kept on putting off the day till that Saturday when she was so ij „.„,. .,^u^ iiion X. csaw my uuty oeiore me. " I had from the first put aside a hundred pounds to give her more of an education than I could do; but if it hadn't 1 ' '; I-' t. ,al S6 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OK, P'l I'll , . been for thut fall into the sen it might have been youM before I carried out my pliin. Then I saw it could not go on any longer. She was getting too old and too bold to sit quiet while I was showing my box. She hud had a narrow escape, and who i^ould say what might happen the noxt time she got into mischief ? Then 1 bethought mo thut the squire was growing old, and that it was better not to put it off too long, so, ma'am, I came to you and made up my mind toj)ut her with you." "And you had your way," Mrs. Walsham said, smiling, "though it was with some difficulty." "I expected it would be difficult, ma'am; but 1 made up my mind to that, and had you kept on refusing 1 should as a last chance have told you whose child she was." "But why me?" Mrs. Walsham asked. "Why were you so particularly anxious that she should come to me of all people ? " The sergeant smiled. " It's difficult to tell you, ma'am, but I had a reason." " But what was it ? " Mrs. Walsham persisted. The sergeant hesitated. " You may think me an old fool, ma'am, but I will tell you what fancy came into my mind. Your B'dn saved Aggie's life; he was twelve years old, she was five, seven years' difference." " Why, what nonsense, sergeant ! " Mrs. Walsham broke in with a laugh. " You don't mean to say that fancy en- tered your head ? " " It did, ma'am," Sergeant Wilks said gravely. " I liked the look of the boy much. He was brave and modest, and a gentleman. I spoke about him to the fishermen that night, and every one had a good word for him; so I said to myself, 'I can't reward him for what he has done directly, but it may be that I can indirectly.' Aggie is only a child, but she has a loving, faithful little heart, and I said to my- THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 67 self If I throw hor with this boy, who, she knows, has SHved her hfe, for two years, sh. is sure to have a strong affection for liitn.' ^ "Many things may happen afterward; if the sqniro takes her they will be separated. He may get to care for some one, and so may slio, but it's just giving liim a clianco. Then too, I thought a little about myself. I liked to fancy that even though she would have to r , .,om mo to the squire, my little plan may yet turn out,und i.:, ,.ould be I, not he, who had arranged for the future uuppines. of my little darling. I shouldn t have told you ah thi., ma,«u; but you would nave it. ^. "\^^ ^^t T? ^'''"^^* ^^"^ *^ "^^' ^^'^^^""^ ^^ilks, any. how, Mrs. Walsham said. " for I love her dearly, and she has been a great pleasure to me; but what you are talking about 18 simply nonsense. My son is a good boy, and will, I hope, grow up an honorable gentleman like his father; but he can- not look so high as the granddaughter of Squire Linthorne." ^More unequal marriages have been made than that, ma am the sergeant said sturdily; "but we won't say more about it. I have thought it over and over many a hundred times as I wheeled my box across the hills, and it den t seem to me impossible. I will agree that the squire would never say yes; but the squire may be in his grave years before Aggie comes to think about marriage ' -sides It IS more than likely that ]>o will have nothing to say to my pet If his pride made him cast his son off rather than acknow edge my daughter as his, it will keep him from acknowledging her daughter as his grandchild. I hope it will, with all my heart; I hope so." J' In that case. Sergeant Wilks," Mrs. Walsham said, "let this be her home for the time. Before you told me your story I had made up my mind to ask you to let her remain with me. You need feel under no obligation, for the money you have paid me is amply sufficient to pay for the expenses 58 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, of what she eats for years. It will be a real pleasure for me to keep her, for she has become a part of tlie house, and we should miss her sorely indeed. She is quick and intelligent, and I will teach her all I know, and can train her up to take a situation as a governess in a gentleman's family, or perhaps— "and she laughed. " Your little ro- mance might come true some day, and she can in that case stop in this home until James makes her another." "You are very kind, ma'am," the sergeant said; "truly kind indeed; and I humbly accept your offer, except that so long as I live she shall be no expense to you. I earn more than enough for my wants, and can at any rate do something toward preventing her being altogether a burden on your hands. And now, ma'am, how would you recommend me to go to work with the vindictive old man up at the Hall ? " " I shouldn't have thought he was vindictive. That is not at all the character he bears." "No," the sergeant said, "I hear him spoken well of; but I have seen in other cases men who have had the name of being pleasant and generous were yet tyrants and brutes in their own family. I judge him as I found him— a hard- hearted, tyrannical, vindictive father. I think I had better not see him myself. We have never met. I have never set eyes on him save here in church; but he regards me as responsible for the folly of his son. He wrote me a violent letter, and said I had inve.'jled the lad into the marriage; and although I might have told him it was false I did not answer his letter, for tne mischief was done then, and I hoped he would cool down in time. However, that is all past now; but I don't wish to see him. I was thinking of letting the hild go to the Hall by lierself and drop in sud- denly upon him. She is very like her father, and may possibly ta^-/i his heart by storm." "Yes," Mrs. Walsham assented. " Now I know who she is, I can see the ^'keness strongly. Yes; I should think THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 5d that that would be the best way. People often yield to a sudden impulse who will resist if approached formally or from a distance. But have you any reason to suppose that he will not receive her ? Did he refuse at first to undertake the charge of the child ? Does he even know th-t she is alive ? It may be that all these years he has been anxious to have iier with him, and that you have been doing him injustice altogether," "I never thought of it in that light/' the sergeant said after a pause. " He never came near his son hen he lay dying, never wrote a line in answer to his letters. If a man could not forgive his own son when he lay dying, how could he care for a grandchild he had never seen ?" "That may be so. Sergeant Wilks; but his son's death certainly broke him down terribly, and it may be that he will gladly receive his granddaughter. But there are the young ones back again. I will think over what you have tden telling me, and we can discuss it again to-morrow." CHAPTER IV. THE squire's granddaughter. The following day another council was held, and Mrs. Walsham told the sergoant that on thinking it over she had concluded that the best way would he to take the old butler at the TIail, who had served tlie family for forty-five years, into their confidence, and to ask him to arrange how best Aggie might be introduced to the squire. " I have been thinking over what you said, ma'am, and it may be tluit you are right, and that I Jiave partly misjudged the squire. I hope so, for Aggie's sake, and yet I cannot help feeling sorry. I have always felt iilmost sure he would have nothing to say to her, and I have clung to the hope that I should not lose my little girl. I know, of course, how much better it will be for her, and have done all I could to make her so tliat she should be fit for it if ho took her. But it will be a wrench, ma'am; I can't help feeling it will be a wrench;" and the old soldier's voice quivered as he spoke. "It cannot be otherwise, sergeant," Mrs. Walshnni said kindly. "You have been everything to each other, and though for her good and happiness you are ready to give her up, it is a heavy sacrifice for yoi to make." That afternoon the sergeant wen^j for a long walk alone with Aggie, and when they returned Mrs. AValsham saw by the flushed chocks and the swollen eyos of the child that she had lieen crying. James noticed it also, and saw that she seemed depressed and quiet. He supposed that her grand- ; > A •' ' THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 61 futlier had been telling her tluit ho was ^oiiig to take her away, for iiithorto nothing liud been said in her iiearing as to the approaching termination of the stay with his mother. As they came out of church Mrs. Walsluim had waited for a moment at the door, and had told the butler at tlio llall that she wished particularly to sp. k to him that afternoon if he could manage to come down. They were not strangers, for the doctor had attended John's wife in her last illness' and he had sometimes called with messages from the Hall when the doctor was wswitod. there. John Petersham was astonished indeed when Mrs. Wal- sham informed him thi-t the little girl he had seen in her pew in church was his master's granddaughter. "You don't say so, ma'am; you don't say as that pretty little thing k Master Herbert's chili! But "why didn't you say so afore ? Why, I have caught myself looking at her, and wondering how it was that I seemed to know her face so well; and now of course I sees it, she is the picture of Master Herbert when he was little." "I couldn't say so before, John, because I only knew it myself last night. Her grandfather—that is, her other grandfather, you know— placed lier with me to educ..te, and, as he said, to make a little laay of, two years ago; but it was only last night he told me." "Only to think of it!" the butler ejaculated. "What will the squire say ? " "Yes, that is Mie point, John: what will Lhe squire say? Her grandfather thinks he will have nothing to say to her." "Nothing to say to her, ma'am! why, ht will be off his head with joy. Didn't he search for her, and advertise for hor, and do all he could to find her for months. It wasn't till he tried for over a year thiit he gave it up and sent for Richard Horton to come to him." "Her grandfather can only judge by what he knows, 63 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, 9 John; he tells me that the son wrote to his Mher over and oyer again on his death-bed, and that lie never came near him or took any notice of the letters." " That's true enough, ma'am," the butler said sadly • "and It IS what has pretty nigh broken the squire's heart Ho was obstinate like at first, and he took me with him when he travelled about across the sea among the foreigners and wlien he was at a place they calleu Athens he got a fever and he was down for weeks. We came home by sea, and the wmds was foul arc! ,ve made a long voyage of it, and when we got home the.-e was letters that had been lying months and months for us, and among them was those let- ters of Master Herbert's. The squire wasn't an hour in the house afore the carriage was round to the door, and we posted as hard as horses could take us right across England to iSroadstairs, never stopping a minute except to chan-e horses, and when we got there it was a month too late, and there was nothing to do but to go to the churchynrd and to see the stone under which Master Herbert and his youns wife was laid. ® "The house where they had died was shut up. There h d been a sale, and the man who was the father of Minster Herbert's wife was gone, and we learned there had been a baby born, and that had gone too. The squire was like a madman, blaming himself for his son's death, and a-raving to think what must Master Herbert have thought of him when he never answered his letters. I had a terrible time with him, and then he set to work to find the child; but as I told you, we never did find ii or hear a word of it from' that time to this, and the squire has never held up his head He will be pretty well out of his mind with joy." "I am very glad to hear what you say, John," Mrs AV-il- sham said. "I could hardly fancy the squire, who alwav« has borne such a name for kindness, being so hard that he would not listen to his dying son's entreaties." % THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 63 " No, ma'am. The squire was hard for a bit. Master Her- bert's marriage was a sad disappointment to him; he had made up his mind ho was going to do so well and to cut such a figure in the world; but he would have come round. Lord bless you, he only meant to hold out for a bit. When he was ill at Athons he was talking all the time about forgiving his son, and I could see how hard it had been to him to keep sepurated from him. On the voyage home he fidgeted ever so at the delay, and I knew that the first thing he did when he got back would be to write to Master Herbert and tell him to bring his wife down to the Hall. There's not a hard corner in the squire's heart. I thank the good God for the news you have told me, ma'am; it's the best I ever heard in all my life." Mrs. Walsham now told him how the child had been brought up, and then the sergeant himself, who was waiting in the next room, was brought in; and to him John Peter- sham related the story of the squire's illness, the reason of the letters not reaching him for months after they had been written, and his intense sorrow and self-reproach at having arrived too late, and told him of the efforts that had been made to find the cliild. The sergeant listened in grave silence. " I am glad it is so," he said after a pause. " I have mis- judged the squire, and I am glad of it. It will be a blo'w to me to lose the child; I do not pretend that it won't; bu^ it is for her good, and I nmst be content. He can hardly object to my seeing her sometimes, and if I know that she is well and happy that is all I care for; and now the sooner it's over the better. Can she coiuc up this evening ? " "Surely she can," John Petersham said. "'^'■'.- squire dines at five; if you will bring her up at six I will take her in to him." And so it was arranged, and in his walk with Aggie after- ward the sergeant told her the history of her parents, and -tilt 61 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, that Sp and see him that evenin.. Aggie had uttered hor protest against iate; .he did not M^^sh to leave her grandj-a who had been so go^d to i r and Mrs. Walsham, and Jamoo. The d....riptior of he ^ house and its grandeur, and the pleas^^:; I Xf'r herself, offered no enticement to her, and w. opirg shXZ her a.ms round hor grandfacaer's neck and l^^^ not to give her u]?. wore n'o' "' y!!; l""'' 't '" ",'{ '^"'^'' ^ ""^ ■"> "»^ ^''»' i' ,T Vf!r i„„? T'".^:"' ^ '°™ ^'"■' *SSio, and how hard It 'for me to ,«irt. w,th yo.i; but it is for yo„r good mv !> I. ^ k..ow It, It A-iI) not be so hard now on me, ,Io,w nor on J0« ,s ,t w«,Id have boon had I given yon ^, ZylZ ago but we have learned to do a little without ead othe"^ wonfvon" " 7 ™'""r'' '"" ■"" ^"=' "^ y°» h-ive here, won t you ? Aggie said, still weeping. I I'ope so, my dear. You see, the squire is your father's ttt;'ml r °"'"°" ">"'■'-•= fi'tter.aL some low the l.,w makes him nearer to you than i am, and he will have the right to say what yon must do " ateiv "tf hef^r;'!" '"■"' I ""'V Aggie said passion- aieiy, it he won't let you come." " Yon must not say that, dear," the sergeant said •' We must all do our duty even when that duty is hard to do and your duty will be to obey the squire's orders and to do is he ells you I have no doubt he will be very kind, I, d that you will be very happy with him, and I hope he wm let you see me sometimes." It was a long time before the child was at all reco-,ciled When her sobs began to eease her grandfather ' Mer what she was to do when she saw the squire. You will reme-Vr, my dear, thai I havr ■ -o^ ^ ,re for- tunate than he ha ^- have had you all tlies. .,mdl,e THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 1"; au(i tiiat fie (lid not to Jior, and >f the big <- ipony for ; sho flung iored iiim od Lhat it how hard good, my older you w, nor on wo years h other." ave here, r father's somehow '■ he will passion- d. "We > do, and to do us ind, and he will onciled. old. her ne for- md he 65 has had I to love ■ him. Y( ^A% nust remember that he was not to blame because he objected to his son marrying my daughter. They were not in the same position of life, and it was only natural that he should not like it at first, and as I told you, he was coming home to make thera both happy when he found it was too late. You must think, dear, that while I have been happy all these years with you he has been sorrowing and grieving, and you must try and love him and make up to him for what he has suffered. I know you will not forget your old friends; you will love me whether you see me often or not; and Mrs. Walsham, who has been very kind to you; and James, you know, who saved your life." " I shall never forget any one, grampa. I shall always love you better than any one," the child exclaimed, throwing her arms round his neck with a fresh burst of tears. " There, there, my pet," the sergean-; said soothingly; "you must not cry any more, I want you to look your best this evening, you know, and to do credit to us all. And now I think we have settled everything, so we will be going back to tea." That evening the squire was sitting by himself in the great dining-room, occasionally sipping the glass of port which John Petersham had poured out before he left the room; the curtains were drawn and the candles lighted, for it was late in September and the evenings were closing in fast, and the squire was puzzling over John Petersham's behavior at dinner. Although the squire was not apt to observe closely what was passing around him, he had been struck with the old butler's demeanor; that something was wrong with him was clear. Usually he was the most quiet and methodical of servants, but he had blundered several times in the service, he had handed his master dishes when his plate was already supplied, he had spilled the wine in pouring it out, he had ;! 66 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, Started nervously wlie.i spoken to. Mr. Linthorne even though tluit he had seen tears in his eyes ; altogetlier lie was strangely unlike himself. Mr. Linthorne had asked him if anything was the matter, but John had with almost unnec- essary earnestness declared there was nothing. Altocrether the squire was puzzled; with any other servant he would have thought he had been drinking, but such a supposition in John s case was altogether out of the question. He could have had no bad ne.vs so far as the squire knew, for the only children he had had died young, and he had no near relatives or connections. It was ridiculous to suppose that John at his age, had fallen in love. Altogether the squire faded to suggest to himself any explanation of his old butler s conduct, and had just concluded philosophically by the reflection that he supposed he should know what it Tener'"''" "*' ^""^''^ '^^'^'' *^'' '^*'^' ""^ ^^'^ '■°°"' 'l"^^*^^ The squire did not look up. It closed again as quietly and then he glanced toward it. He could hardly believe his eyes. A child was standing there-a girl with soft smooth hair and large eyes and a sensitive mouth, with an expression fearless but appealing. Her hands were clasped before her and she was standing in doubt whether to advance. There was something so strange in this apparition in the lonely room that the squire did not speak for a moment. It flashed across him vaguely that there was something familiar to him in the face and expression, something Avhich sent a thrill through him; and at the same instant, without knowing why, he felt that there was a connection between the apDeir- ance of the child and the matter he had just been thinking of-John Petersham's strange conduct. He was still look- ing at her when she advanced quietly toward him. Grandpapa,'^ she said, "I am Aggie Linthorne " A low cry of astonishment broke from the squire. He pushed las chair back, irua even !u)r lie was ^ed him if )Et unnec- iltogether he would pposition ire knew, le had no ) suppose ifcher the :>n of his ophically V what it I quietly ietly and lieve his ' smooth pression . fore herj . There e lonely ; flashed r to him a thrill :nowin2 appear- linking II look- e. Ho « THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 67 ^'Ciin it be triiG," ho muttered, "or am I droumin-P " les grundpapa," the child said, ch,.se beside him now 1 am Ag^rie Linthorne, and I have come to see you. If you don t think it'sme,grar-pa said I was to give you this and then ,ou woukl know; " and she heH out a miniature on ivory of a boy some fourteen years old, and a watch and Cham. ;' I do not need them," the sqnire said in low tones, " I see it m your face. You are Herb, , Cn child, whom I looked for so long. Oh ! my child ! my child ! have you come at last v - and he drew her foward him and kissed her passionately, whilo the tears streamed down his cheeks. " I conldn't come before, you know," the child said, " be- cuuso I didir t know about you, and grampa, that's my other grandpapa, she nodded confidentially, " did not know you •anted mo; but now he knows he sent me to you. He told * -i.i 1 was to come because you were lonely; but you can't be T.ore lonely tlian he is," she said, with a quiver in her voioe. Oh ! he will be lonely now ! " " But -e do you come from, my dear, and how did you get here, ui.a what have you been doing all these years ? " Crrampa brought me here," the child said. " I call him grampa, you knew, because I did when I was little, and I have alway. kept to it; but I know, of course, it ought to h- grandpapa. He brought me here, and John-at lea . he called him John- brought m. in. And I have been livi> ir for two years with Mrs. Walsliam down in the town, and 1 used to see you in chuich, but I did not know that you were my grandpapa." ^ The squire, who was holding her close to him whih she spoke, got up and rang the bell, and John opened the door with a quiekno-. that showed that he ha.l been waiting Closfi tn it •iTiv;,...ol, -i.--- "wiuixjg this is f bf^ ''^- 'T'l '^' '^""' '"^^' " ^^^« ^^ :^«"r ^^^^> inis is the hapjpiest day of my life." 'in 68 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, How did The two men wriin^' >"iich other's luuuls. Tlicy hud been friends ever since John Petevsluun, wlio was twelve years the senior of the two, first Ciinio to the lionsp, :i young fel- low of eighteen, to assist his father, who had held the same post before him. ■ "God be thanked, squire! " he said huskily. "God be thanked, indeed, John ! " the squire rejoined reverently. " So this was the reason, old friend, why your hand shook as you pound out my wine. How could you keep the secret from me ? " " I did not know how to begin to tell you, but I was pretty nigh letting it out, and only the thought that it was better the little lady should tell you herself, as we had agreed, kept it in. Only to think, squire, after all these years! But I never quite gave her up. I always thought ' somehow as she would como just like this." " Did you, John ? I gave up hope years ago. it come about, John ? " " Mrs. "Walsham told me as I came out of church to-day as she wanted to speak to mo, so I went down, and she told me all about it, and then I saw him—" John hesitated at the name, for he knew that perhaps the only man in the world against whom his master cherished a bitter resentment was the father of his son's wife. " It seems he never saw your advertisements, never knew as you wanted to hear anything of the child, so he took her away and kept her. He has been here oil and on all these years. I heard tell of him often and often when I had been down into Sidmouth, but never dreamt as it was him. He went about the country with a box on wheels with glasses— a peep-show as they calls it." The squire winced. "He is well spoken of, squire," John said, "and I am bound to say as he doesn't seem the sort of man we took means. He did not know you him for by vmiedi to have her, but he thought it his duty to give her THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 69 the chance, and so ho put her with Mrs. "Walshum, and never told her till yesterday who she was. Mrs. WaJKham was quite grieved at parting with her, for she says slie is won- derfully quick at her lessons, and has heen like a daughter with her for tlu; lust two years." The child had sat quietly down in a chair and was look- ing into the fire while the two men were si)eaking. Sho had done what she was told to do, and was waiting quietly for what was to come next. Tier quick ear, however, caught in the tones of John Petersham an apologetic tone when speaking of her grandfather, and she was moved to instant anger. " Why do you speak like that of my grampa ? " she said, rising to her feet and standing indignantly hefore him. "lie is the best man in the world, and the kindest and the nicest, and if you don't like him I can go away to him again. I don't want to stay here, not one minute. You may be my grandpapa," she went on, turning to the squire, '*' and you may bo lonely, but he is lonely too, and you have got a great house and all sorts of nice things, and you can do better without me than he can, for he has got nothing to love but me, poor grampa! " and her eyes filled with sudden tears as she thought of him tramping on his lonely walks over the hills. " We do not mean to speak unkindly of your grandfather, my dear," the squire said gently. " I have never seen him, you know, and John has never seen him but once. I have thought all these years bitterly of him, but perhaps I have been mistaken. He has over been kind and good to you, and, above all, he has give^i you back to me, and that will make me think differently of him in future. We all make mistakes, you know, and I have made terrible mistakes, and have been terribly punished for them. I dare say I have made a mistake here; but whether or no, you shall never hear a word from me against the man who has been so kind to you/ }> !'t' ro WITH WOLFr IN CANADA: OR, "And you will let me see him sometimes, grandpapa ? " the child said, taking his hand i^leadingly. " He said if you said no I must do as you told me, because somehow you are nearer to me than he is, though I don't know how that can be; but you won't say that, will you ? for, oh I I know he is so lonely without me, and I should never be happy think- ing of him all alone, not if you were to be ever so kind to me and to give me all sorts of grand things." " No, my dear, I certainly shall not say sr. You shall see him as often as you like," "Oh, thank you, grandpapa!" she exclaimed joyfully, and she .leld up her face to kiss him. The squire lifted her in his arms and held her closely to him. "John," he said, "you must tell Mrs. Morcombe to get a room ready for my granddaughter at once, and you had better bring the tea in hero, and then we will think of other things. I feel quite bewildered at present." "When John returned with the tea Aggie was sitting on the squire's knee. She was perfectly at home now, and had been chattering to him of her life with her grandfather, and had just related the incident of her narrow escape from drowning, "Do you hear that, John ?" the squire said. "She was nearly drowned here, within sight of our home, and I might never have known anything about it. It seems that lad of Dr. Walsham's saved her life. He is a fine lad. He was her champion, you know, in that affair with my nephew. How strange that the t ,vo boys should have quarrelled over my granddaughter ! " "Yes, squire, and young Walsham came "well out of it! " John said heartily; for to him only did the squire mention the circumstances of the case, and he chuckled now to him- self as he tiioughl that Richard llorlon had made iin even greater mistake in that matter than he thought of, for THP. WINNING CV A CONTINENT. ri John det( stcd the boy with all his heart, and had only ab- stained from reporting his conduct to the squire from feur of giving his master pain. The squire's brow clouded a little at the allusion. " It will make a difference to him, John," he said, " for of course now my granddaughter will take his place." "And a good thing toe!" John said heartily. "I hav9 never said a word before, squire, because, as you had chosen him as your heir, there was no use in setting you against him, but a more hatefuller lad than Richard Horton I never corned across, and so said every one here. You did not see much of him, squire, and natural thought well of him, for he was a good-looking boy, and could speak fair enough when he liked. I thought well of him myself when he first came, but I larned better afterward." "There are many excuses to be made for him, John," the squire said, " and I have had good reports of him since. Of c(uirse I shall see that, although lie can no longer be re- garded as my heir here, he shall be well provided for. But there will be plenty of time to think of this." " Mr. Wilks asked me to say, sir," the butler said as he prepared to leave them, " that he shall be staying in Sid- mouth to-morrow, and that if you wish to see him he will cc.ne up here." " Certainly I wish to see him," the squire replied. " I have many things to ask him. Let the boy go down the first thing in the morning, or— no, if you don't mind, John, wondd you go down yourself to-night ? lie will naturally be anxious to know how his grandchild is getting on. Tell him v/ith what joy I have received her, and take any mes- sage she may give you. Is there anything you would like to say to your grandfather, child ? " " Oh, yes; please tell him that I iJiink I shall like it, and that he is to come and see me when he likes, and that of course he is to see me whcu ho comes in the morning, and then I can toll him all about it." <-^ m 12 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, hJntf T^>!^ '^'"^^•^' ^^'^ *" '^^ ^""^ *^^ fi^«^ thing after breakfast," the squire added. The housekeeper soon entered, and Aggie, very sleenv after the excitements of the day, was takenlff 'to be'd. Her sleepu.oss, however, disappeared in her wonder at the size of ^the house and at the vastness of her bedroom. men! " /'" ^"'"" ^"' 't ^''' " '^'' ^^^^"^"^^^^ ^^ '^'^^onish- ment I never saw a fire in a bedroom before." « buJ b ' ^'^-^ ^7 '^'' ''^'^' '^'''" ''''' housekeeper said ; but because it is a long time since the room was slept in be ore, and because I tliought it would be cheerful for you I shall sleep m the next room till things are settled, so that If you want anything you will only have to run in " so Z IVT'" ^^^'" ''"'"^ g^-atef ully. " It does all seem so^big, but I am sure not to want anything; thank you." undrtTyrur- '^^' -- ^^-^^ you like me to help J' ^^'' ''^'r ,^^^'' ^''''^^''^' " ^^hy, of course I can un- beWrr ' •"' f"^"^^^"' '' ^^^^^-^^ --tance being requirea m such a matter. "'i]Hm good-night!" the housekeeper said. "I shall W the door ajar between the two rooms when I come to The next morning, soon after breakfast. Sergeant Wilks was ushered into the study, where the squire w.ts expel^ him Iho two nien had had. hard thoughts of each other who had inveigled hi. son into marrying his daughter, while he sergeant reg.u-ded the squire as a heartless a^d uii^tu! ral father who had left his son to die alone among strangers The conversation witli John Petersham had taught the ser-' ^;r' ^:l ^.r '^'l^'^^' -^^- ^^- hlamed in the matter. The squire, on his part, w geant for the care he had bestowed" upoi7the ^idtefui lu the ser- upon the child and for THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. ^3 restoring her to him, and was inclined, indeed, at the mo- ment to a universal good-will to all men. The sergeant was pale but self-possessed and quiet; while the squire, moved by the events of the night before out of the silent reserve m which he had for years enveloj^ed himself, was agitated and nervous. He was the first to speak. "Mr. Wilks," he said, "I have to give you my heartfelt thanks for having restored my granddaughter to me-tho niore so as I know, from what she has said, how great a sac- rifice you must be making. John has been telling me of his conversation with you, and you have learned from him that I was not so wholly heartless and unnatural a father as you must have thought me, deeply as I blame myself, and shall always blame myself, in tlie matter." "Yes," the sergeant said; " I have learned that T have misread you. Had it not been so I should have brought the child to you long ago-should never have taken her away indeed. Perhaps we have both misjudged each other." ' 1 fear that we have," the squire said, remembering the letters he wrote to his son in his anger, denouncing the sergeant in violent language.. ^ "It does not matter now," the sergeant wont on quietly; _ but as I do not wish Aggie ever to come tu think ill of me m the future it is better to set it right. When I left the army I had saved enough money to furnish a bouse, and I took one at Southampton and set up taking lodgers there. 1 had my pension, and lived well until my wife died-a year before your son came down from London with another ien- tleman and took my rooms. My daughter was seventeen when her mother died, and she took to managing the house I was careful of her, and gave her orders that on no account was she ever to go into the lodgers' rooms. I waited on them myself. How your son first saw her and got to spp^k to her, 1 don t know; but I am not surprised that when he aid he loved her, for there was no prettier or sweeter girl w WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, in Hampshire. They took the room, first onlv for a fort- "tafd 0^ " ■■ ^'""™" «"' ""y ""d y»»'' »0" ^oITh ■'"^T'* "^'"'' "P"" ""» '*" " thunderbolt-you. n told .„e he wanted to marry my Agn,, I was ang ; at fl,st. Angry heoause it had been done behind my hack and beeause I had been deceived. Isaidasmueh; bJtyo„ son assured me that he had never spoken to I er in t h use but had met her when she weit out for her walk St.ll, t was wrong, and I told him so, and I told' her so thongh ■„ my heart I did not altogether blame them hr young people will be young people, and as he had" ted honorably ,„ coming to me at onee, I let that pass itt Z Prid °;f '"'['r'^-' i" H'» ^f'J-'y's -rvice. Id' wou d no g,ve ray eonsent to my daughter's marrying him until yon had given yours, and that he must leave the house atoneoand not see Agnes again until he eame v^il Z r written wmseiit to show me. ^ "He went away at once. After a time he began to write to me urging me to change my decision, and fmm this, .1 though he never said so, I was sure that yon had refused to auction his marriage. However, I stuck to what I had said hough It was hard for me to do so with my child growing' thin and pale before my eyes, with all her bright happL"! gone^ So It went on for three months, and then one morn- ing she was gone, and I found a letter on her table for me saymgt hatshe had been married to him a week before, when she went out, as I thought, to spend the day with a filud She bejged and pniyod me to forgive her' and said how ZS,teIC!^"'"^"-^'-™'d--ynoto ■' I wrote to the address she had given me, saying that she .efuosd my consent Oeeause it would have seemed a dishon- for a fort- your son olt — you I ivas angry my back, but your Br in the er walks, i her so, ihem, for ad acted 3s, But, ice, I had ce that I ring him he house ith your to write this, al- fused to lad said, growing ppiness 3 morn- for me, e, when friend, id how y no to bat she td only lislion- I THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 'J'5 orable action to allow your son to marry her without your consent, she knew how hard it had been for me to do my duty when I saw her pining before my eyes, but I forgave her wholly, and did not altogether blame her, seeing that it was the way of Nature that young women, when they once took to loving, should put their father altogether in the second place, but that until you had given way I could not see her or sanction her marriage. It was hard to me to write that letter, for I longed to see her bonny face again. But I thought it was my duty. I thought so then; but I think now it was pride. "From time to time she wrote to me. I learned that you sti 1 refused to see your son, and I gathered, though she did not say much of this, that things were going badly with them. At last she wrote that her husband wa>^ ill, very ill she feared; he had in vain tried to get employment. I don't think he was naturally strong, and the anxiety had broken him down Then I went up to London at once and found tliem m a little room without the necessaries of life I brought them down home and nursed him for three mouths till Jie died. "A week later Aggie was born. Ten days afterward I laid her mother by the side of her father. No answer had come to the letters he had written to you while he had been ill though in the later ones he had told you that he was dying! feo I looked upon the child as mine. Things had gone badly with me. I had been able to take no lodgern while they were with me. I had got into debt, and even could I have clmxred myself I could not well have kept the house on without a woman to look after it. I was restless, too, and longed to be moving about, so I sold otf the furniture, paid my debts, and hid by the money that remained for the child's use in the future. " I had some time before met an old comrade travel] ins the country with a show. I happened to meet him again ♦ -1 76 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA. just as I was leaving, and he told me the name of a man in London who sold such things. I left the child for a year oteZToTo'd ' "T I ''^ ''''''' ^"^ ^' SouthamX cune up to London, bought a show, and started. It was away and took her round the country with me and for four years had a happy time of it. ' became uneasy in my mmd as to whether I was doing r-rht and whether for the child's sake I ought not to te you that tLTer ir^T to give her up if you were willing to take her. I heard how your son's death had changed vou and th^,gh that maybe you would like to take hifdl 'gt tei , but before bnnging her to you, I thought she should W a better education than I had time to give her and that she should be placed with a lady, so that if you took her you need not be ashamed of her manners I hoped you would not take her. I wanted to keep her for myself; but my duty to her was clear; and now! si re you know all about it. I have been wrong to kel; llr so ma y m,s akes, my conscience is clear that I did the best as iar as it seemed to me at the time/' CHAPTER V. A QUIET TIME. As the sergeant was tolling the story the squire had sat with Ins face shaded by his hand, but more than one tear had droi)ped heavily on the table. S^ Y't^ ""I'^'^. '''^ '''' "^"'^^^" ^'^ '^''^ '-^^^y ^vhen the other ftitS il ""-''i^'^^Sod you cruelly, and that without at he of the reason which you had for thinking me utterly tho r. """"'- ""'" ''''' ''■''' '^^^^-^ t'-t I never got ton oulv f fi°T;r1 T''''^ '^''"^ ^ i''''''^ *° Southamp- ton only to find that I was too late, and that for a year I did all m my power to find the chihu Still all this is no excuse. I re used to forgive him, returned his letter un- answered, and left him, as it seemed, to his fate. It IS no excuse to say that I had made up my mind to orgive him when he was, as I thought, sufficiently pun shed He did not know that. A« to the poverty in lich you found him, I can only plead that I did not dream tit he would come to that. He had, 1 knew, some mone/ or I had just sent him his half-year's allowance before 1 J'wrote to me about ^ us business. Then there was the furniture o I had tliought he could go on very well for a year. Of moupv "«r,'7." r'T/'; ""'^'■^'^"^ ^^''^« "^^^^e at hand. Aggie has been for two years with Mrs. V- ;;i. iiim, who is a lady in every way; she is very fond of the •hill, and the child is very fond of her. Every one says sIk* k nn excellent teacher; she would be the very woman to take charge of her." " The very thing! " the squire exclaimed with great satis- faction. " But she has a school," he went on, his face fall- ing a little, " and there is a son." " I have thought of that," the sergeant said. " The school enables them to live, but it cannot do much more, so that I should think she would feel no reluctance at giving that up." " Money would bo no object," the squire said. " I am a wealthy man, Mr. Wilks, and have been laying by the best part of my income for the last eight years. I would pay any salary she chose, for the comfort of such an arrangement would be immense, to say nothing of the advantage and pleasure it would be to the child. But bow about the boy?" " "We both owe a good deal to the bey, squire," the ser- geant said gravely, " for if it had not been for him the child would have been lost to us." THE WINNING OF A CONriNENT. 81 u gover- suit/' the h sort of out with tly young ith mo at iiy young iv, what is our mind iver her." n't know could be e got the wo years le is very r. Every the very eat satis- faco fail- le school so that I .hat up." " I am a the best luld pay igement age and out the the Ser- bs child « 'And "So she was telling me last night," the squire said ne really saved her li fe ' " i.o. at,o„ „„ |,i, p„rt and notl.in, =o„ ' „ tZZol I mailo lip my mind last night," the squire Kiid "Vr.,, mfeTt 1 I ft n '""■" """ '° " S""" '•^'"'»' "i" mother miglit 111 .lortake the management of Aggie; she could either go home ot an evening or sleep here !ll h „n r house, as yon might arrange with her, living, of con fe at home when the hoy was home for his lioMays and oiify coming up for a portion of the day." ^ " T'"" ™'W be a eaj,ital plan," the sc|i,ire agreed warmlv the very thing. I should get off all the bother with rtranJa tne work. Nothing could he better. I will walk d„„„ this afternoon and see her myself, and I ha TZTi shall be able to arrange it. And now about yonrself-wllt are your plans?" j^u^ou wnal; " I shall start to-morrow morning on my tramp as neml •■ the sergean answered quietly; ".,ntl.,hdl take car ^fu tnrethatldonot come with my box within .1, ; mi es or so of Sm mouth. I do not want Aggie's future to b„ any way associated with a sliowman's\x "l s , , c„me but I will not abuse the privilege by coming too often 'ctrjz T'' '^^' ^ '^y »- --y *■'- m:nthr:„' th''?*™''' *"'= .it altogether wrong and monstrous!" hlldl" ',th"T"';r' ','°"y- " ^°" ""^ "o™ "rtnally the ohild s father for the last seven years. You have oared for • t' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ 1.0 I.I ■^ liiiB 112 2 ^ 1^ 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 S : ^ 6" — ► .. -^ v^ 7x 'c-1 ■c^y 'c3 ^ ""^. V /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ iV ^^ <^ % V 6^ ^^L 82 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, her, and loved her, and worked for lier. She is everything to you, and I feel how vast are your claims to her compared to mine; and now you talk about going away and coming to see her once every three months; the idea is unnatural, it is downright monstrous ! No, you and I understand each other at last; would to Heaven we had done so eight years back! I feel how much more nobly you acted in that un- happy matter than I did, and I esteem and honor you. We are both getting on in life, we have one common love and interest, we stand in the same relation to the child, and I say emphatically that you have a right, and more than a right, to a half share in her. You must go away no more, but remain here as my friend and as joint guardian of the child. " I will hare no refusal, man," he went on as the sergeant shook his head. " Your presence here will be almost as great a comfort to me as to the child. I am -. lonely man. For years I have cut myself loose from the world; I have neither associates ncr friends. But now that this great load is off my mind my first want is a friend; and who could be so great a friend, who could enter into my plans and hopes for the future so well as yourself, who Avould have an in- terest in them equal to my own ? " The sergeant was much moved by the squire's earnestness. He saw that the latter had really at heart the proposal he made. " You are very good, squire," he said in a low voice; " but even if I could bring myself to eat another man's bread as long as I can work for my own, it would not do. I am neither by birth nor education fitted for such a position as that you offer to me.'' " Pooh ! nonsense ! " the squire said hotly ; " you have seen the world, you have travelled and mixed with men, you are fit to associate as an equal with any one. Don't you deceive yourself; you certainly do not deceive me. It is pride that THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT 33 mmmm the wind sweeping tlie moors to ihinl f . """^ along .bout th country whL'e T H ^'^ *'"^^"^^ hy a warm fire. ^ "'" '^"^"^ ^^^S^J l^C^'e coif :^;;;^tl"!v^r i^ ^"^"'"^ "^^ ^^^^ ^* ^- «« won't hear of it cZJ '"''"^ ^'''^^ ^^' ^^^' I ifc. Come, say no more; I want a friend am sure we shall suit each other. I wau! a badly, and I companion. Whv m-m if t ' ' '-T "''"'^^''' ^ ^^^'" » were a poor old hdv a d TT ' "''' "^'^ ^^^^-^ ^"^ ^^^ ways be in -a,,i„„ss fl™ irf^^.^^'^ «'-" f" co»e back C„„e, give L yourC: r„V," S ^ '" eivlly i„ wi„tc when Ir ,!','' '"'™ '"='"y' ■'""' «=Pe- «-d to brT , ;t ' e fef 1,™' "V""?"" '"-""s - '« was, however ..17.^ f ;"5 '^S^'o always near him rt JtM 0^ i I 84 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, ii- saries wliich ho might require, and would thus save him from hoing altogether dependent on the squire. Aggie was wiUl with delight when she was called in and informed of the arratigement. The thought of her grand- father tramping the country alone had been the one draw- back to the pleasure of her life at Mrs. Waisham's, and many a time she had cried herself to sleep as she pictured to herself his loneliness. That he v. as to be with her always, was to give up his work to settle down in comfort, was in- deed a delight to her. Greatly pleased was she also to hear that Mrs. Walsham was to be asked to come up to be her governess. Oh, it will be nice ! " she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Just like the fairy stories you used to tell me, grampa, when every one was made happy at the end by the good fairy. Grandpapa is the good faiiy, and you and I are the prince and princess; ami James— and what is to be done with James— is he to come up too ? " " No, my dear," the squire said smiling. "James is to go to a good school, but you will see him when he comes home for his holidays; but that part of it is not aged yet, you know; butifyou will put on your hat you ca. walk down with us to the town and introduce me to Mrs. Walsham." • Mrs. Walsham had just dismissed her pupils when the party arrived, and was thinking how quiet and dull the house was without Aggie, when the door opened and the child rushed in and threw her arms round her neck. " Oh, I have such good news to tell you ! Grandpapa is so good and kind, and grampa is going to live with us, and you are to come up too, and James is to go to school. Isn't it all splendid?" "What are you talking about, Aggie?" Mrs. Walsham asked bewildered, as the child poured out her news. "Aggie is too fast, madam," the squire said, entering the room accompanied by the sergeant. "She is taking It all THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. gr, for granted wliilo it luis yet to bo amngod. I must .nolo •>''" ^"^ yo"r groat kindness to my littlo D-r.,7i,i to mm lor having saved licr life two yours irm Ar,.„. unfoldccl l,is i,h„a to Mrs. WaUh,!n "" "'" "1"'™ The squire explained his intention of sendiTur T. ! eood solinnl af 1;^^^+ • "^" "^ sending James to a good school at Exeter as an instalment of the debt he owed Mrs. Walshiim was ilolishtod with tl,« „ff„. Janios' s.ako than hor ow„ , tholn, ,1 ' "" """•" '"■' was most nlcasL,, tT "'"'° "SI' Hio prospect for horsclf with wtaf r; „gh wX'tl '""■° '"Z""" "'"' '"* ::;T'^sr T f " "■' ^^'"-riir it? horn at „i'ht f °'"° "'t' ^'" ='■"•"■• P-f- -t-^ing j 86 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, they heard that tlieir teacher was going to live as governess at the Hall. Indeed, the surprise of Sidmouth and the neighborhood at learning that the little girl at Mrs. Wal- . sham's was the squire's granddaughter, and that tlie show- man was therefore a connection of the squire and was going also to live at the Hall, was so great that there was no room for any other emotion. Save for wrecks, or the arrival of shoals of fish off the coast, or of troubles between the smug- glers and the revenue officers, Sidmouth had few excite- ments, and the present news afforded food for endless talk and conjecture. On comparing notes it appeared that there was not a woman in the place who had not been all along convinced that the little girl at Mrs. Walsham's was something more than she seemed to be, and that the showman was a man quite out of the ordinary way. And when on the following Sunday the sergeant, who had in the mean time been to Exeter, walked quietly into church with the squire, all agreed that the well-dressed military-looking man was a gentleman, and that he had only been masquerading under the name of Sergeant Wilks until somehow or other the quarrel between him and the squire was arranged, and the little heiress restored to her position; and Sidmouth re- mained in that belief to the end. The sergeant's military title was henceforth dropped. Mr. Linthornc introduced him to his acquaintances— who soon began to flock in when it was known that the squire's granddaughter had come home, and that he was willing to see his friends and join in society again— as " My friend Mr. AVilks, the father of my poor boy's wife." And the impression made was generally favorable. None had ever known the exact story of Herbert's mar- riage. It was generally supposed that he hod married be- neath him; but the opinion now was that this must have been a mistake, for there was nothing in any way vulgar THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 81 about the quiet military-looking gentleman with whom the squire was evidently on terms of warm friendship. The only person somewhat dissatisfied with tlie arrange- ment was James Walsham. He loved his motlier so much that he had never offered the slightest dissent to her plan that he should follow in his father's footsteps. She was so much set on the matter that he could never bring himself to utter a word in opposition. At heart, however, he longed for a more stirring and more adventurous life, such as that of a soldier or sailor, and he had all along cherished a secret hope that something might occur to prevent his preparing for the medical profession, and so enable him to carry out his secret wishes. But the present arrangement seemed to put an end to all such hopes, and although grateful to the squire for sending him to a good school, he wished with all his heart that he had chosen some other way of manifest- ing his gratitude. Four years passed quietly. James "Walsham worked hard when at school, and during his holidays spent his time for the most part on board the fishermen's boats. Sometimes he went up to the Hall, generally at the invitation of Mr. Wilks. " Why don't you come oftener, Jim ? " the latter asked him one day. "Aggie was saying only yesterday that you used to be such friends with her, and now you hardly ever come near her. The squire is as pleased as I am to see you." " I don't know," Jim replied. " You see, I am always com- fortable with you; I can chat with you, and tell you about school and about fishing, and so on. The squire is very kind, but I know it is only because of that picking Aggie out of the water, and I never seem to know what to talk about with him: and then, you see, Aggie is growing a young lady, and can't go rambling about at my heels as she used to do when she was a little girl. I like her, you know. 1 J i • nl ' ''' . mB H^^K ' n i 1 ^H: 1 ! 6d WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; Ottj, Mr. Wilks, just as I used to do; but I can't curry her on my sliouldor now and make a playfellow of her." "I suppose that's all natural enough, Jim," Aggie's grandfather said; " but I do think it is a pity you don't come up more often. You know we are all fond of you, and it will give us a pleasure to have you here." Jim was, in fact, getting to the awkward ago witli boys. When younger they tyrannize over tlieir little sisters, when older they may again take pleasure in girls' society; but there is an age in every boy's life when he is inclined to think girls a nuisance, as creatures incapable of joining in games, and as being apt to get in the way. Still, Jim Was very fond of his former playmate, and had she been atill living down in Sid mouth with his mother they would have been as great friends as ever. At the end of the fourth year Richard Ilorton came back after an absence of five years. He was now nearly twenty, and had just passed as lieutenant. He was bronzed with the Eastern sun, and had grown from a good-looking boy into a handsome young man, and was perfectly conscious of his good looks. Among his comrades he had gained the nickname of " The Dandy "—a name which he accepted in good part, although it had not been intended as compli- mentary, for Ricluird Ilorton was by no means a popular member of his mess. Boys are quick to detect each other's failings, and several sharp thrasliings when he first joiiied had taught Richard that it was very inexpedient to tell a lie on board a ship if there was any chance of its being detected. As he had become one of the senior midshipmen his natu- ral haughtiness made him disliked by the younger lads, while among those of his own standing he had not one sin- cere friend, for there was a general feeling among them, that although Ricliard Horton was a pleasant companion and a very agreeable fellow when he liked, he was not THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 89 somehow straight, not the sort of fellow to bo depended upon in all emergencies. By the ci.ptuiti and lieutenants, he was considered a smart young officer. He was always caref.il to do his duty, quiet and gentlemanly in manner, and in j.oint of appearance and dress a credit to the ship. Accordingly all the reports that his ciiptam had sent homo of him had been favorable, breat as was the rage and disappointment which Kichard had felt when he received the letter from his uncle tellinff him of the discovery of his long-lost granddaughter, he had the tact toprevent any signs of his feelings being visible in the letter in which he replied. The squire had told him that a though the discovery would, of course, make a con- siderable difference in his prospects, he should still, if the reports of his conduct continued satisfactory, feel h his duty to make a handsome provision for him. "Thanks to my quiet life during the last ten years," the squire had written, " I have plenty for both of you The estate will, of course, go to her; but, always supposing that your conduct will be satisfactory, I shall continue durincr my hfe-time the allowance you at present receive, and you will find yourself set down in my will for the r n' ot twenty thousand pounds." Kichard had replied in terms which delighted the squire You see the boy has a good heart," he said, as he handed he letter to Mr. Wilks. "No one could express himself better." His companion read the letter over in silence ^^ "Charmingly expressed," he said as he returned it. Alm.ost too charmingly, it seems to me." " Come, come, Wilks, you are prejudiced against the young fellow for that business with Aggie and young Walsham." ^ 1 Hope I am not prejudiced, squire," his friend mpliod • • but when I know that a lad is a liar, and that he will bring false accusationa to shield himself, and when I know that I t ^^ do ! lit [II i WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, ho was detested by all who Oiimo in contact with liim— John Pctersliam, the gardonor. n-ul tl.cgrooms-I r(.,,uire ugood deal more tluin a few 8atisfa(^tory reports from his (■ai)tain who can know very little of his j-rivato clmract.r, arul a soft- Boldering letter like that, to reinstate him in my good onin- i.m. I wdl wager that if you and I had been standing behind lum when he opened your letter you would have heard an expression of very different sentiments from those he writes you here. Look at this: ' I regret, indeed, my dear uncle, that my now cousin must have such a bad oi)inion of me owing to my roughness in that unfortunate affair, which I have never ceased to regret; but I hope that when we meet I shall be able to overcome the dislike which she must feel for me.' Bah!'' the old soldier said scornfully, "I would lay all my pension to a shilling that that boy has already made up his mind that some day he will marry Aggie and so contrive to get the estates after all." * The squire burst into a good-humored laugh. "It's_ vvell I don't take up your wager. Such ideas as that might occur to you and me., but hardly to a lad not yet seventeen." ''Well, we shall see," the other said, cooling down "I hope I may be mistaken in him; we shaH see when he comes home." When he did come home, the old soldier could find but little fault with the young man. He had a frank and open manner such as is common to men of his profession He was full of life and anecdote; his manner to the squire was admirable, affectionate, and quietly respectful, without any air of endeavoring especially to ingratiate himself with him • nor could the ex-sergeant find anything to complain of in the young man's manner toward himself. He took the first opportunity when they were alone to say how glad he had been to hear that his grandfather had mot with a friend and companion in his lonely life, and to express a hope that the TilK WlNNlNCi OF A CONTINENT. 01 bad opinion which lio liud duubtloss formed of liini from his conduct Avhonuboy would not bo allowed to oporato against liim now. But though there was nothing lie couhl find fault with, the old soldier's prejudices were in no way shaken, and in- deed his antipathy was increased rather than dinunished by the young oflicer's conduct toward Aggie. It might bo, of course, that he was only striving to overcome the prejudiced feoling against him; but every time the old soldier saw him with his granddaugliter he felt angry. In point of fact Aggie was disposed to like Richard even before his arrival. Six years Jiad eradicated every tinge of animosity for that shove on the sand, [f is letters had been long, bright, and amusing, and with the mementos of travel which he picked up in the ports of India and China, and from time to time sent home to his uncle, there was always a little box with some pretty trinket " for my cousin." She found him now a delightful companion; he treated her as It she had been seventeen instead of eleven, was ready to ride or walk with her, or to tell her stories of the countries he had seen, as she might choose, and to humor all her whims and fancies. "Confound him and his pleasant manners!" the ex-ser- goant would mutter to :.::^,self as he Avatched them together and saw, as he believed, in the distance, the overthrow of the scheme he had at heart. "Ho is turning tlie child's head; and that foolish boy James is throwing away his chances." James indeed came home from school for the last time two or three weeks after Richard Ilorton's return. He was now nearly eighteen, and although a broad and powerful fellow was still a boy at heart. He did not show to advan- tage by the side of Richard Ilorton. The first time he went up to the Hall after his return the latter had met him with outstretched hand. '.'•Xi 0'* WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; OU, " I am glad to moct yoii ugaiii," ho Hiiid. " I behaved liko )i blackguard last tiino wo met, and yon gave mo the thrash- ing wlueh I deserved. I hope wo shall get on bettor in the future." Aggio and her two grand fathers wore present, and James Walsham eortaiidy did not show to advantage by the side of tlw easy and Kelf-poHseased young oflicer. He muttered something about its being all riglit, and then found nothing else to say, bring uncomfortable and ill at ease. Ho made some excuse about being wanted at home, and took his leave; nor did ho again go up to call. Several times the old soldier went down to Sidmouth to see him, and on one occa- sion remonstrated with him for not coming up to the Hall. " What s the use ? " James said riMighly. " I have got lots of reading to do, for in ttvo months, you know, T am to go up to London to walk tho hos])ita i. No one wants mo up there. Aggio has got that cousin of hers to amuso her, and I should feel only in tho way if I went." Mr. Wilks was fairly out of temper at the way things were going. Ho was angry with James; angry with the squire, who evidently viewed with satisfaction tho good understand- ing between liis granddaughter and nephew; angry for the first time in his life with Aggio herself. "You are growing a downright little flirt, Miss Aggie," lio said one day when the girl came in from the garden, where she had been laughing and chatting with her cousin, lie had intended to speak playfully, but there was an earnestness in his tone which the girl at onco detected. "Are you really in curnest, gramjja ? " she asked, for she still retained the childish name for her grandfather— so distinguishing him from the squire, whom she always called grandpapa. " No; I don't know that I am in earnest, Aggie," he said, trying to speak lightly; "and yet perhaps to some extent I am." *I boliiivod liko ) mo the thrush- )n better in tlio "" •' ""'1 111" (.».,,, ,.t Inm, Ims turno,! i,,,." ' '" ''"''' " '"'"'III lo Woll, 1 liiiviin't iioirli.otml I,:.., gloctod m„. If,, I,,,, ,„r' f, ™' ''"'"I"': ''» ''^'« MO- and you k„„„ , „ n . ' ''i;''' '"■•"• «"'- H-t li™i day, -y5ohi„,,w.!o.„'lr;r «;;-;;-!,';> .Sid ^.Ji "Whyishe?"AgKio,-,8k<.d,8„rnri8cd "Tfl r, iiig idMMit better tl,„„ coi„i„„ ,, r , " ''" ''''™ »"'!- yon see Jim ,„„ XiJZl T '•'': '"™^' ^^'«'"- '" '»«'■ h"Kl.,and Ulk,,,„d tc :„ r'"""'- """ ''" ''^°'« ''" »""'' tomo,. to 1,,.,^ yo'To ' '"""« •"""' '" '""K "oous- «-reiit:r;r.::dt:'r''""!'-'^'-^^-"- tl.0 old d.y» when I vo Mown t,'" "'.? """ "" '""1 '" ont why he has changed so " ""'" """ ' «'"''' ""ke on!X'andte',!;r"t ';:„•;- ^"^"^^ "- "^ "- tod of sailing and o th^',! °"'^' ■"' ""^ ^'"'- H" « '■e doesn't fooUt om and co TT n", ""°^^ '"'"■' '»' ™" you vhen you „,, a lltJo „M ^ ^"' »' ''" ''"I with ■■'«I.ty„unsfeIIo.. Hot 'irt ^ft"" ?°"°™""' """ "'- tdeasant-spoken young sailor" '"" '"''-'"'i'M Pi 1"!. 94 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, " I know James is good and kind, grampa," the girl said earnestly; "but you see he is not very amusing, and Eichard is very nice." " Nice ! yes," the old soldier said ; " a fair-weather sort of niceness, Aggie. Richard Ilorton is the squire's nephew, and I don't wish to say anything against him; but mark my words, £ind remember them, there's more goodness in James' little finger than there is in his wliole body. But there, I am a fool to be talking about it. There is your cousin calling you in the garden. Go along with you." The girl went off slowly, wondering at her grandfather's earnestness. She knew she liked her old playmate far better than Richard Horton, although the latter's atten- tions pleased and flattered her. The old soldier went straight off to the squire's study. . " Squire," he said, " you remember that talk we had three years ago when your nephew's answer came to your letter, telling him that Aggie was found ? I told you that I would wager he had made up his mind to marry her. You laughed at me; but I was right. Child though she still is, he is already paving the way for the future." " Master Richard certainly is carrying on a sort of flirta- tion with the little witch," the squire said, smiling; "but as she is such a mere child as you say, what does it matter ? " ""' 1 think it matters a great deal," the old soldier said seri- ously. "I see, squire, the young fellow has quite regained your good opinion; and unless I am mistaken you have already thought to yourself that it would not be a bad thing if they were to come together some day. I have thought it over, and have made up my mind that, in spite of your four years' continued kindness to me and of the warm friendship between us, I must go away for a time. My box is still lying at Exeter, and I would rather tramp the country again and live on it and my pension tlian stay here and see my darling growing up a Avoman with that THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 91; future b( follow as 8tronglv as I did »f T ' '^°"'" *•"" Joing only had Ws ,fi ™ td Ti" r ' '"""'■ '^^«" ? "-e the evidence of ^J f senV V° «° ^■^■- "»'' I doubt him from my heart T fl/n"7;"°"""«' """ ^ »■'»- 1« was when a beyV T-^o ' &^I that he is&rse,that what him." yneu'-ow. There ,8 no true ring about The squire was silent for r ii„,,,. „, . «moere friendship a..dlikir, '"'?'' <"^'™- He had a very coufidenee in his judgmeT ™d t" ""T'"™' " "'"'"'gl' self-sacrifleing na„re"°dtbtl,^ •"'''• "" '^'">'' «« W» love for hfs pJd^hnd ™ °"'^ ^1""''''"? '■'"m s completely ch»n«d I hope that he is. You think he .s not. At any rate ife must have a longer trial, and until it .s proved to ;t; sttTsfaction, as well as mine that he ,s rn ev^y way » " desirable husband for Aggie, the less ^^XVlt^'^^ the better. I therefore propose to write at once te my friend Admiral Hewson to ask him to use h.s .nfluence at fheadmiralty to get the young fellow appornted to a sh.p. nnes that meet your approval, my tnena .' "Q e s" " the other said cordially; "nothing could ho ,.ottS In he mean time, as you say, should K.chard turn :";ell,and the young people take a "^g for e,ieh t , no match could be more satisfactory. What I wan s she should take no girlish fancy for hmr at present. "lo be it then," the squire said. " I think, you know, that we Ire a corbie of dd fools to be troubl ng onrse ves about Aggie's future at present. Sfll .n -"J '^'"f concerns us both so nearly we cannot be too cireful. THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 97 we had a woman with us wo could safely leave the matter in her hands; as it is we must blunder on as best we may." And so it was settled, and a week later Richard Ilorton received an official letter from the admiralty ordering him to proceed at once to Portsmouth to join the Thetis, to which he was appointed as fourth lieutenant. The order gave Richard extreme satisfaction, lie was beginning to find his life desperately dull, and he was heartily sick of playing the attentive nephew. He was well content with the progress he had made; nothing had gone wrong since he returned, his uncle had clearly taken him back into his favor, and he had no doubt that Aggie quite appreciated the pains he had bestowed to gain her liking. He detested the squire's companion, for he felt that the latter disliked and distrusted him, and that his projects would meet with a warm opposition on his part. Still, with the squire and Aggie herself on his side he did not fear the result. As to James Walsham, whom he had come home prepared to regard as a possible rival from his early intimacy with the child, and the fact that his mother was her governess, he now regarded him with contempt mingled with a revengeful determination to pay off the old score should a chance ever present itself. He therefore started next day in high spirits, assuming, however, a great reluctance to tear himself away. A few days later a letter came from him, saying that he hoped that he should be able to come back sometimes for a day or two, as the Thetis was at present to be attached to the Channel squadron, and it was not expected that she would for some time proceed on foreign service. Early in October James Walsham was to go up to London to commence his medical course. A week before he was to start Mr. Wilks went down in the morning, intending to insist on his returning with him to the Hall. x\s he went down toward Sidmouth the old soldier noticed how strongly 7 I li I 93 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, the wind was blowing, tho trees were swaying and tlirashing in the wind, the clouds were flying fast overhead. Every- thing portended a severe gale. Finding at Mrs. Walsham's that James was down on the beach, he continued his course until he Joined him there. James was standing with a group of fishermen who were looking seaward. Now that he was exposed to the full force of the wind, Mr. Wilks felt that not only was it going to blow a gale, but that it was blow- ing one already. The heavy clouds on the horizon seemed to lie upon the water, the waves were breaking Avith great force upon the beach, and tho fishermen had hauled their boats up across the road. " It's blowing hard, Jim," he said, laying his hand on the young fellow's shoulder. "It is blowing hrrd, and it will blow a great deal harder before nightfall ; the fishermen all think it is going to be an exceptional gale. It ig blowing dead on shore. It will be bad work for any ships that happen to be coming up Channel to-day. Eight or ten of our boats are out. We thought we had made out three of them just before you came, but the cloud closed down on them. The fishermen are just going to get life lines ready. I am afraid we are going to have a terrible night of it." " I came down to ask you if you will come up to lunch, Jim, but I suppose you will not be able to tear yourself away from here." " I shouldn't like to leave now, indeed. There is no say- ing what may happen. Besides, so many of the fishermen are away that I may be useful here if a vessel comes ashore, and there may be half a dozen before the morning. Every hand will be wanted to give assistance." ^* But you could not get a boat out through those break- ers, could you, Jim ? " " Yes," Jim replied, " we might get one of the big boata through it }iow J hut it's going tq be WPrse pveseutly. When, 1^ 1 tlirashing I. Every- ^''alshtim's his course til a group hat he was s felt that was blow- on seemed with great luled their s hand on leal harder oing to be •e. It will coming up J out. We before you : fishermen •aid we are p to lunch, ir yourself e is no say- ! fishermen tnes ashore, ig. Every lose break- e big boatL Ltly. Wheu :^ •'9 ON THE LOOK.OUT FOR THE FISHmCBOATS. THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT 99 I went out lust year with a boat to the brig wJiicli was driven ashore, it was worse than this. I shall be very glad to come up to-morrow if juu will let mo. I hear that fel- low Ilorton went away last week." "Yes, he went away, Jim. But why his being there should have kept you from going up is beyond me." " I don't like the fellow, Mr. Wilks. He may mean very well, but I don't like him. I have been in one row about him with the squire, and I don't want another; but I am quite sure if I had gone up much while he was there it would have ended in my trying to punch his head again." ^^ "In that case, perhaps," the old soldier said, smiling, "you were wise to stay away, Jim. I don't like the lad myself; still, punching his head would not have been a desirable thing." ^^ "I am glad you don't like him," James said warmly. "Somehow I made up my mind that you were all sure to like him, and I don't suppose the idea made me like him any the better. He was just the free-and-easy sort of fellow to get along well, and I was quite sure that Aggie would not want me when she had him to go about with her. I saw him drive through in the pony-carriage with her two or three times, and it was easy to see how thoroughly she was enjoying herself." " Well, it was your own xault, my boy. If vou choose to sulk down here and never to go up to the Hall, you can't blame Aggie for letting herself be amused by some one else." "Oh! I don't blame her," James said hastily. "Of course it is all right that she should enjoy herself with her cousin; only somehow you know after being great friends with any one, one doesn't like to see some one else stepping into your place." " But as I have told you over and over again during the last three years, Jim, you liave wilfully stepped out of :i:i 100 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR. in your i)liico. You know how often I have uskod you to como up, and how seldom you liavc come. You have never shown Agyie that you have any wisli to continue on the footing of friendsliip on whicli you stood toward each other wlicn uhe was at your mother's, and as you have chosen to throw her over, I don't see wliy she shouldn't take to any one else who takes pains to make himself pleas- ant to her." "Oh! I don't blame her a bit, Mr. Wilks; how could you think such a thing ? I was very fond of little Aggie when slie was at my mother's; but of course I was not ass enougli to suppose tliat she was going trotting about the country with mo when she once went up to tlie Hall as the squire's granddaughter. Of course the whole thing was changed. Ah I here comes the rain." As he spoke a sudden splash of rain struck them. It might have been noticed coming across the water in a white line. With it came a gust of wind, to which that which had already been blowing was a trifle. There was no more talking, for nothing less than a shout could have been heard above tlie roaring of the wind. It was scarcely possible to stand against the fury of the squall, and they were driven across the road, and took shelter at the corner of some houses where the fishermen had already retired. The squall lasted but a few minutes, but was soon suc- ceeded by another almost equally furious, and this seemed to increase in 'itrength until the wind was blowing a per- fect hurricane; but the fishermen now struggled across the road again, for between the rain squalls a glimpse had been caught of two of the fishing-boats, and these were now ap- proaching the shore; a mere rag of sail was set on each, and yet they tore over the waves at tremendous speed. One was some two hundred yards iihead of the other, and by the course they were making they would come iishore nearly at the same spot. The news that two boats iii Hi iS It THE WINNING 6f A CONTINKNT. 101 3cl you to You have •ntinuo on iWtird each you have shouldn't iself pleas- how could ittlo Aggio vua not ass about the [lall as the thing was them. It water in a kvhich that There was could have fas scarcely 1, and they the corner y retired. ,s soon suc- this seemed wing a p.er- i across the se had been ere now ap- et on each, 3 speed. the other, vould come it two boats ■I were in sight spread rapidly, and many of the fishermen's wives witli shawls over their heads ran down and stood peering out from behind shelter, for it was well-nigli im- possible to stiind exposed to tlu; fury of the gulo. An old fisherman stood with a coil of rope in his Imnd close to the water's edge. Several of the others stood close to him, and four of them had hold of the other end of the rope. When the boat was within fifty yards of shore the sail was lowered; but she still drove straight on before the wind with scarce an abatement in her speed. A man stood in her bow, also with a coil of rope in his hand, and as he approached threw it fur ahead. The fisherman rushed waist-deep into the water and caught the end of it, which in a moment was knotted to the one in his hand. " Run along with her," he shouted. For a moment the boat towered on tlie top of a wave which raced in toward the shore. The next as it came took her stern, and she was in the act of swinging round when the strain of the rope came upon her and brought her straight again. Higher and higher the wave rose and then crashed down, and the boat shot forward like an ar- row in the foam. The fishermen rushed forward and caught it; those on board leaped out waist-deep; all were taken off their feet by the backward rush, but they clung to the sides of the boat, while the men at the head-rope, with their heels dug deeply into the sand, withstood the strain, and kept her from being swept out again. A few seconds and the boat was left dry,°and the next •wave carried it high up on the beach amid a loud cheer from the fishermen and lookers-on; but there was no time to waste, for the next boat was close at hand. Again the rope was thrown to the shore, but this time the strain came a moment too late, the following wave turned the boat round, the next struck it broadside and rolled it over and over toward the shore. The fishermen in an instant i: 1 -^"W 103 WITH WOLPE IN CANADA: OR, joined hands, and rushing down into the wiiter strove to grasp the men. vSeveriil times those in front were knocked down and rolled up on the beach, but three of the crew were brought in with them. There was one still missing, and there was a shout as he was seen clinging to an oar just outside the line of breakers. James Walsham had been working with the fishermen in saving those already brought to shore. He now fastened the end of a line round his body. "You can never get through those rollers — they will break you up like an egg-shell," the old fisherman shouted. " I will dive through them," Jim shouted back. " Give me plenty of slack, and don't pull till you see I have got him." The lad waited for his opportunity, and then rushing down after the sheet of white foam he stood waist-deep as a great wave, some tAvelve feet high, towered up like a wall toward him. It was just going to break when James plunged head foremost into it. There was a crash which shook the earth, a mass of wildly rushing foam, and then, some ten yards beyond the spot where the wave had broken, Jim's head appeared above the surface. It was but for a moment, for he inynediately di^ 1 again under the next wave and then came up within a few yards of the floating oar. A stroke or two and he was alongside; he seized the man and held up one arm as a signal. In a moment the rope tightened and they moved toward shore. When they were close to the edge of the breaking waves Jim held up his hand and the strain stopped. " Now," he said to the man, " the moment they begin to pull leave go of the oar and throw your arms round me." He waited until a wave bigger than ordinary approached, and just as it began to pass under him gave the signal. Higher and higher they seemed to rise, then they were dashed down with a tremendous shock; there was a mo- r strove to THE WINNING Of a CONTINENT. 103 meat's confusion as they were swept along in the white water, Jim felt a terrific strain, and it soonied to liim that the rope would cut him in sunder; then ho was seized by a dozen strong arms and carried high and dry before the next wave could reach him. For a minute or two ho was scarce conscious; the breath had been almost knocked out of his body with tlie break of the wave, and the rushing water seemed still singing in his ears. "Are you hurt, my boy? are jou hurt, James?" were the first words ho clearly heard. " No, I think I am all right," he said, trying to sit up. Is the other fellow all right ?" _ " He has broken his arm," one of the fishermen who had just helped the man to his feet replied ; « he may be thank- ful it's no worse." James was now helped to his feet. "I am all right," he repeated to Mr. Wilks, "except that 1 feel as If I had a hot iron round my body; that rope has taken the skm off all round mo, I fancy, and doesn't it smart just with the salt water! " "0 James, how could you do it?" a girl's voice said suddenly. The fishermen drew aside, and Aggie Linthorne pressed forward. ^ The equire had gone into her school-room and had said, Mrs. Walsham, I think you had better give up your les- sons for the morning and get home; it is blowing a gale now and we shall probably have the rain down before long I^all walk down with you; the wind is dead on the shore, and it will be a grand sight." Aggie at once set her mind on going too; but the squire refused until Mrs. Walsham suggested that if it came on wet Aggie could stop at her house until it cleared up or If necessary, till morning. Whereupon the squire had given way and the three had started together for Sidmouth,leav. mg Mrs. Walsham at her house as they passed. The others JiV: I . , I i . ••"■MM 104 WITH WOLFE IN CAMADA: OR, had struggled .Jown ai^i^inat tho wind until tlioy cumo within siglit, of thf fioa. The i., 4 boat had just been run safely on shore when tliey arrived, and Aggie gave a cry and put lior hands over her fuco us the second boat was seen to capsize. " Cling to mo, Aggie," the squire said. " Soo, they are rushing in the water to save them; they will have them yet!" At the cheer which l)roke out from the spectators, chis- tering thickly now, as the first of the shipwrecked crew was brought to shore, Aggie looked out again. It was a eight she never forgot; with the groat waves crashing down on the shore, and the line of straggling figures w.-ist-doep in the white foam, in which wore scattered here and there portions of the boat, oars, sails, and nets. " Well done ! well done ! " the squire exclaimed. " They have dragged up three of them. I don't Jcnow whether there are ajiy more." "Yes, yes, look!" Aggie cried; "there, out in the waves —there, I can see a head. That's Just about whore I was nearly drowned. grandpapa, take mo away-I can't look at it." "There's some one going out to save him, Aggie; listen to the cheer." Aggie looked again. "0 grandpapa, stop him! stop him ! " she cried; " it's James." But at the .s;.me moment the plunge was made and the figure lost to sig'.L. Aggie threw her arms round her grandfather an; hid her face. '^'^ 1 can't look, I can't look," she cried ; " tell me about it." "There, he is up; bravo!" the squire exclaimed, almost as excited as she was; "he has dived again, dear "—then .'':-•■(' pu^ipe— -there he is close to him; he has got him, ..i.,, ;o/ IScw he his wa^^^-ng his hand; now they are tighten- r>g ac rope; no.- Me is waving his hand again and they nre Waiting. There!" 'or 30,, 8l,o„|,, „„t ;,"y, '''•'■• "'"J- '""y bo liurt; it', ,„,t. Tho si,-l stood with Iior i,,in,I. ni ■"•mo,, g,.o„j,„,! „„ ti,^. ;■'""« "''"i'cl enzins.t th.fl,!,- ■•« down to i„i„ „„;;,;' "■■" "" »"'« «". The. tho ..iH "IHiy, Aggio!" Jnmea oxch.in,,.,! • ■ m this storn, ? ^n ,to,cT ;ni tf'''' " "" ''""«» J""" '«"■ , /'The sn„i,o h„, 1,„, h '1 "'"'"■r'"-" horno ..id, foUo.;,,^. h ,' I "'V, '"'"■-'■"." «.. Lin- ' '-a I'c is glnd ho dtl, Cn '"f S™"'l-'gbtor; fgl't. You arc a m,o M „ '• " ,7 ''"' ■"""' " e™"'l "■"A "Affrand fellow, WilL', is,:'t"hoT,r'-""»" "« "'» ^-.•n;:j:irrtiS,:;':;!':^;- ;^" -w.- ^-d, 1,^ f„ee and Aggie, too-the child,,,-,, ' 1'°' "■'S<" '""> ''omo, » nu„„te or two tlioy oo„,d „t . ,"' ""^" ""' '»>■ '1"I tho men and women n^' ? ''"""'' °^' »» do»ly by the hand. AtZ tly Ct him" """ """ »'-^° ''"" -.owd of ..heenng boys, id im rokT; h,"' ""IT''^:' '^ > our son is a hero Jf« ,vt "">"'" «■ ^'»i-od as they entered; ' but do 't Tit t ^'""■•'' '- »""• "n, a glass of hot gr„<- Wi,L' ""' '° '"" ■>»»■.■ bnt "10 blankets directly. I "m t, l , '^'°" ^"^ '"" '""»-™ -Wlosbo is .ni..ingtl/e „'",''?,'"?" "" »'»"' " tbc child, she's fainted," ^ ^ '"°' '^^S'"' *l'y, bless rrlO nrin] 1,., J 1 ->-h ?he „;• id crbi::;!' &„:"-:: "r ""'""• *»-^ t. 'IS snt ing to her 7 «'l 106 With wolfe in Canada: or. ^ grandfather's arm; but the excitement had been too much for her, and the instant they entered the room she had dropped into an arm-chair and at once lost consciousness. Mrs, Walsham kept her presence of mind in spite of her bewilderment at these sudden occurrences. She at once laid the girl on the sofa, removed her dripping bonnet and cloak, and poured a few drops of brandy between her lips, while she set the squire to work to cY fe her hands. Aggie soon opened her eyes and recovered her consciousness. " Don't try to get up, Aggie," Mrs. Walsham said. " You are faint and shaken Avith all this excitement. Your grand- papa and I were two very foolish people to let you come out, Now, Mr. Wilks, the best thing you can do is to find a boy outside, and send him up to the Hall with a message that the carriage is to come down directly. I think, Mr. Linthorne, she had better get back home. I should be glad enough, as you know, to keep her here for the night; but this house is rocking with the wind now, and she would not be likely to get any sleep here. I will run up and see how James is, and if he is all right I will come up with her and stop the night. She is very much shaken, and had better not be alone." Mrs. Walsham soon came down-stairs again and said that James said he never felt better in his life, and that by all means she was to go up to the Hall. She then set about and prepared a cup of tea, which greatly restored Aggie, and by the time the carriige arrived the girl was able to walk to the gate. Mr. Wilks had offered to remain with James, but the latter would not hear of it. The lad was indeed well pleased to hear that they were all going up to the Hall, as thereby he escaped hearing any more of his own praises. Besides, he was most anxious to get down to the beach again, for no one could say what miglit take place there before morning. As soon, therefore, as he heard the door close he jumped OR, i been too much ! room she had it consciousness, id in spite of her s. She at once ping bonnet and »et\veen her lips, er hands. Aggie msciousness. ham said. " You t. Yourgrand- let you come can do is to find 1 with a message r. I think, Mr. I should be glad • the night; but , and she would run up and see 1 come up with ch shaken, and in and said that and that by all then set about restored Aggie, girl was able to James, but the ecd well pleased lall, as thereby aises. Besides, ch again, for no before morning, lose he jumped WE wmmm op a conti^nt. <"" of be "'" l^^^b. «nt -mo the Wtchen, and tX tt . '"""^ "■" ^'"i"' «» gomg out; then Lving Id'" v.""^ *^ ^"^ "'"' '>" ™d cold meat, he jnu on hE oTlsk " "^ ""•■" °' ''«»d the shore. "^ °"«'^"i<' agam and started for He (lid not, however w.if i «ow that nothing what;v! '„o,™f,,^7 ''^»7 «« the sea sel drive ashore, and as fortl,! « , '''""' =''»"« mv ves t::;r;f -^ "-^" of: hr''r^i,"--'"»-''o„i awy to the west, so the chaps -, I't P ^ "''"''= 'a^her ">ay have got ;„ somewher Teftf ■V''""'" '""» "«! 'hoy not, >t must have gone hTrd I ' «°' '° "'e worst- if *l>o.-e was nothing'tob •'„,"" f""" ^^ding thll »ore stiff and brfiscd ZnZ' Z hr" *' ™= ""-" is way back again and turned Loh ^ T'^' •^™ "«"Jo »sloep and did not wake unt I t c f„n ' """"''' '"' »»» ^11 One of tlie grooms hnd „ , blowing mornin,. O'clock to i.,uire"h:w T^ H '"-" '"» HalUt six " 'hegirl that he had been o^'bM ! T''''^' ^iven by '" Tnd v If , ^^- ^''"'^ham, and In- fo needed her care mo ™ " , ""'""°" '" ''«• olmrge, ■lood, the squire had sent ,) ""• ^'ofore night ,^, sham's successor, who said ttl". ° ^'■'"""'"' '"^ »? V ." "-' "0 kept pe'rfec ,;" t-e tf !5"T -ry feverish and P "oothiug draughtf a'ud M r w7J"''- "' »<"" hor "" "ght, She slept but li til j *"'" "" 'T with her «-b;, sometimes rlHiig":*,';;;™'' '.*od almost ince: ---onh;-:--;-:tt;s;rr'- *4i'"e at once sent WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, off a man on horseback to Exeter for the leading physician of that town. When he arrived late in the afternoon Ag- gie was sornewhii t quieter and his report was more cheering. Her pulse is very high," he said; "but Mr. Langford tells me that it is not so rapid as it was in the morning, and . that he thinks the symptoms are iibating. Undoubtedly it is a sharp feverish attack brought on by excitement and exposure. A very little more and it would have been a case of brain fever, but I trust now that it will soon pass off. The sedatives that have been administered are taking effect, and I trust she will soon fall asleep. As you re- quested, I have made my arrangements for staying here to- night, and I trust that by the morning we shall have her convalescent." Mr. Wilks had gone down the first thing in the morning to see James, and found him up and about as usual. He was very greatly concerned at hearing that Aggie had passed a bad night, and came four times up to the Hall during the day to inquire about her; and on his last visit, late in the evening, he was told that she was sleeping quietly, and that the doctor had every hope that she would wake in the morning free from fever. This proved to be the case ; but she was ordered to keep her bed for a day or two. On the morning after the storm the wind had gone down much, although a tremendous sea was still breaking on the shore. Messages arrived in the course of the day to say that all the missing boats, with one exception, had suc- ceeded in gaining the shore before the storm was full on. The missing boat was never heard of again. Two days later James Walsham had strolled up the hill to the east of the town, and was lying with a book before him in a favorite nook of his looking over the sea. It was one of the lovely days which sometimes come late in au- tumn, as if the summer were determined to show itself at its best before leaving. It could not be said' that James THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. - 109 destined ,0, a, „JjJ[;-=,»-«f-tt,.,th^ mstead of being freo to cimose „t of •. ' ' ,''7"'', '''""«' Presentiy l,o hoard voices boTind h m T " v'""'"' wiiich lie was lying wasa 1iftl„ i 7 , "* Position in on tho seaward side ottlh'T' ''•"™ °" ""=^>°P'^« grew behind it ho could n^fh T '''™''" °' '"»'''°^ along. ""■" ""' '"' «<^™ by any one passing -iue trit™ i\tk f *, r? """"-» "- '" - give them orders t„„e a^d'ttV"""""' ""' "° ■"" one so as not to attract .tt™' r " """"^ "P ""o ^^ assemble at tho s m ho" J"' '^'f™"'"''^ '"™ »■■« 'o time, I thinh, tbeT s r^lr^^Tl'" ""' "^ ^'™ landed where I told vo„ u ni V" "'"'«'> '" 'o bo o'clock, and they a e s" 'e to H J'^^' '"» ^' '«'™ cutter can run cLe in V? °'' """ '"""■' =° "'I't the back to Weymontrf": the "' '™' °" " »™ ™ ''o«e. 11 she's in tfr we s °il Lrr'T !""" "> ™™» ■•°>""'- -ell as her carg^ S^i ts V *;r'"'^'°""""es- »» the last year. Ih s time 1 , " """'" "' """ '^<^'' ^r , The speakers U:JZiu'Z 7 1'' "T -''•" flalsham recognized the voice s at of tT"'°"' ''"' '''""•'^ commanding the force at s!dm„„,h '^"^""^ "Oecr Smuggling was at that time c^irri^d „, "long the coast, and there wl^eZ * ,?•" " '"S" "<='■''« those engaged in it and tl '™1°ont collisions between "■Id the cheating of tho revonu v "^I t n '"'"^'«''"-»' "' tbo light of a crime. Many of Ifi V ''""^'dered to time took a hand in smntHn! .''''"'™'™ fr"™ time r«ple were always rLvT^tdl:™;::;"';" ,*'",™"""^ cirrynig the cargoes ' '-™ '"'■"°t''"ce in landing and ^Vhen out in their boats at night James had of ten heard- ' Tiiai 1^ = ■WW owmRiMi f) ' ! !;l i 'r''- '-at fen and to oause them to „ , , ° '''="'"™ the revenue '^e the point reailyTetrmtLT'" 1 """ «Pet, and ^o V,th an exelamaCt/Z L'Tt";'''"" '"' »i'™"ons havn,, been Jeceived, Jan.es r™ n ti? "T^ '"'^""^ '^ P?. ,"!?-"' "■'•J then tooktb^ ?„ r'^Saiu at the i^r t ^^o miles h ^■- ^ «iass m front of hi:,, tliout took the road He interr tunied »'o»g fche cliff. ;tion,aiidthensuwa offmstuntlytothe -'!! ' mi !i WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, left. Doubtless ho laid been he;ir-t suddenly the shore and joined n';,^" «^^ilors ran up along f-m the othei st ti , ' L :^;.,| "" "\«/^otachmen? little distance along the .sTore fo L "" 'T'""^ ""' «^"^« " To Ihe boat h(?s " f 1. 7 f '''^''''^ ^^^"^ '^bove. "we are oJl^t l^\^,}'''''' ^' ^^- ^-u.glers shouted; The smugglers rushed to tho boats rmd T standing by the water's edoo l 1 , '''"°'' '^^'^ ^^s Most of the country ,0 >fir';to:" 'T' '''''' ''''^' pursued by some of therovln '' ''^^"^ *^« ^^^ore, yards from the shore P -t Y^T ^'^'^ *^^°^t a few their stern, andtihe m t rlt ^^ f^^P^^ -r ment the %ht be-u, H 1 ^ '''"^"^ ^"^ ^he mo- hisses, and the boats wero !^ "^'^tp" off with oars and eut- The grapnels J^f^nr::a^T' "'' "^^ '^^^ "^*-- wounded more or less ;v^^^^^^^^^ o-s and pulled to the w"^;"^ ''''7'^^' -t their shots from shore ^^ droppmg fire of pistol- 8 r^ u CHAPTER VII. PRESSED. Many and deep were the maledictions uttered as the smugglers climbed on board their vessel; but their captain said cheerily: " Never mind, lads, it might have been v/orse; it was only the first cargo of tubs, and half of those weren't ashore; the lace and silk are all right, so no great harm is done. Set to work and get up sail as soon as you can; likely enough there is a cutter in the offing; that blue light must have been a signal. They seem to have got news of our landing somehow." The crew at once set to work to get up sail. Three or four of the countrymen, who had, like James, got on board the boats, stood in a group looking on confused and helpless; but James lent his assistance until the sails were hoisted and tlie craft began to move through the water. " Now then," the captain said, " let us go below and look at the wounds; we daren't show a light here on deck." The wounds were for the most part slashes and blows with cutlasses, for in the darkness and confusion of the fight only two of the bullets had taken effect : one of the smugglers had fallen shot through the head, while one of those on board had his arm broken by a pistol ball. " Now for our passengers," the captain said after the wounds had been bandaged. " Who are you ? " and he lifted a lantern to James' face, r, Walsham ! " he exclaimed in TOunj rpns THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 115 James know tho man now, for tlie lugger had several hmes put m at Hi.Imouth, where, coming in as a peaceublo trader, tlio revenue olficers, altliougli well aware of the na- ture of her vocation, wore unable to touch her, as vessels could only be seized when thoy had contraband on board. Why, whiit brings you into this affair, young master '■'" James related the conversation he had overheard, and his determmution to warn the smugglers of their danger. I should have munaged it in })lenty of time if I had known tho exact spot on which you were going to land ; but i saw a signal light two miles down the coast, und that kept me there for half an hour. It struck me then it was a ruse to attract the officers from the real spot of landing but thoiigh I ran as hard as I conld I was only just before them." ihank you heartily," the smuggler said. " I expect you saved us from a much worse mess than we got into. I have no doubt they meant to capture the tubs as they were loaded without raising an alarm, and the fellows on the shore would have come up quietly and taken us by surprise as we were landing the last boat-loads. Thanks to you, we have got well out of it, and have only lost one of our hands and a score or so of tubs." 3r ''''''''*' ^"^ "'^ '^"^'^''^^ ■'■ ^"PPose ?" James said. Ihat I can't," the smuggler replied. "I have no doubt that cutter from Weymouth is somewhere outside us, and we must get well off the coast before morning. If we give her the slip I will send you off in a boat some time to-mor- row. I must go ashore myself to make fresh arrangements ior getting my cargo landed." James went on deck again; the breeze was light, and the ^agger was slipping along quietly through the water. He could faintly see the loom of the cliffs on his right, and Knew that tho lugger was running west, keeping as close inshore as she could to avoid the cutter watching for her outside. He wondered what they would say at home when JHi tM 33' 116 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, it was found that ho was missing; but consoled himself by thinking tliat his mother, who was still up at the Hall, would no doubt suppose tliat he had gone out for a night's fishing, as he had often done before, and that as she was away he liad forgotten to leave word with the servant. Suddenly a blue light burned out on the top of the cliff. An angry exclamation broke from the captain, who was standing at the helm. "Confound it!" he exclaimed; " they have caught sight of us from the cliflE, and are signalling our whereabouts to the cutter." As he spoke he turned the vessel's head seaward, and for a quarter of an hour sailed straight out. " Now," he said quietly, " I think we must be out of sight of those fellows on shore. Get her on the other tack, lads, but be as quiet as you can about it; there's no saying how close the cutter may be to us." The great sails wore lowered as the boat's head paid off to the east. The yards were shifted to the other sides of the masts, and the sails hoisted again, and the lugger began to retrace her way back along the coast. " It's just a chance now," the captain said to James, who was standing close by him, " whether the commander of the cutter guesses or not that we shall change our course; he will know we are likely enough to do it," " What should you do if you were in his place ? " James said. " I should run straight out to sea and lay to eight or ten miles off; he would be able to make us out then at daylight whichever course we take, whereas, by trying to follow in the dark he would run the chance of missing us altogether. I wish the wind would get up a bit; we are not moving through the )7ater more than three knots an hour, and it's dying uway. However, I fancy it will blow up again in the morning." 337 YOUNG JAMES ON BOARD THE SMUGGLER. •m. ■m > '■•J |**^n^WBand was [ully. "An- line on the hing like a erand then true breeze rce till the t her bow. ling breeze, i that there n the boats, lugger was had hauled that they " we should can, but she )f us." James had already perceived this, and wondered that the lugger did not pay off before the wind so as to make a stern chase of it. ,, "I want to get a few miles farther out," the skipper said. Likely enough there is another cutter somewhere inshore. It is quite enough to have one of these fellows at one's heels." Another half-liour and the cutter, edging in, was little over three miles distant; then the skipper gave the word, the helm was put down, the sheets slackened off, ana in a mmute the lugger was running dead before the wind witli her sails boomed out one on either side. The cutter fol- lowed her example, and hoisted a large square sail The wind was blowing fresh now, and the sea was getting up. Not a cloud was to be seen in the sky, and the sun shone brightly on the white heads which were beginning to show on the water. The lugger was tearing along, occasionally throwing a cloud of spray over her bows and leaving a track of white water behind her. "I think she still gains on us," the captain said to the mate, who had taken the helm. "Ay, she is gaining," the sailor agreed; "but the wind is freshening every minute. She can't carry that top-sail much longer. It's pressing her bows under now." "She will go almost as fast without it," the skipper said. The commander of the cutter seemed to be of the same opinion, for just as lie spoke the top-sail was seen to flutter, and then descended to the deck. It was a quarter of an hour before the skipper spoke again. " I think we just about hold our own." he said. " I didn't think the Polhj could have held her running." " She couldn't in a light wind," the mate replied; "but with this wind it will want a fast, hn.-it to beat her." The hands were now set to work shifting the kegs further aft. m ■■ i|i II igpa 130 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OH, ' "Tha.s better," the skipper suid present! V -To. we are ffa nina- ffrminri ..r,/ presently. i am sure gaiiinig ground, una our masts will «f.inri ,•+ --e li cutter's will." stand it if the With her stern low in the w.tpr fi.^ i iog along at a tremend"; J^f ' groul'^f ' ""r" "'"'- "lid strong the stavs T.,m». w . , '**'''' '""■ ™««'s . standing the tra ntf' tt ?"'""' "■'""''"•«' »' "'«"• ant as the craft was, the w^'es V; fo.t" Ct„ J""^" flooded her deeks and sheets of spray ^70,^ her iauled on board. '^' " '"""" "» "I thought it would be too much for them " ti, , ■ "" r,!'T'^ " ^'-^y "■■" go».g t! "eef " • '^ ''""P" "shets^ttXs'Z'*"",'/ "■"''''■ '■'^ -'^ -i"; "I'll hnM r T ''^"^'-^ '''^^' ^'^^- some time " "ever"h:?;i:;::r„:r"- '»■■«-." the shipper taid; oth^rre^^rfl'lherr V'f'' ■'-' »™ »«" ™- was still clo .dies b "t he? "'"' '" '™'"'''- T)"" ^''y and a heav, J^lsty;;:;:,™ rZ "^ ''^"" " "'^ '"^• nttt: dTnlX" S °"' '™'" "■^''"'"- ^'« skipper astorn,and he knew ],"""",?' T'" "'"" "'-« -""o-^ Thereweresovenll 1 "°"'''"."'^^^<'«"»e''»a«ignal. down the Ch™ t'*;. ';' "' -^'S'" "" "'"'■ ™y -1' or The skipperTdtd Is' ;:: :f ;::;:;"■' "-" "--; .'»■■<>■ esily at a large shin 07, fl, Vi ^ ''''''^ ^'^^^'^ e'i"i- away. ^ "^ °" "^^ ^^^^^^^^ beam some four miles "That is a frigate, sure enough/' he exclaimed. ', ^"^ ™ ^"e trigate s she ™ on the sa^e Zl as th „ "t VulTlf ""''' now abont e,ni.,i.tant ,ro™ i.eru::'^2Z"' ^^:„Z: n>i.esto,ee.ar.,b„ts,r;a:"„,?:i,X™''''^"' J-horoisno way out of it," the skipper said bitterlv slie IS piling on sail! " ^°°'' """' iistaandrrfT"' "'^""P'"'"''"?"™"; some shook their wilJ outbursts of raee Slv tl th " f"° '"'^ '" toward each oti.er, fo^,!lrti'':4t^l:::"^^^^^ 4an edrnnV^;^ ""'"'"■ '™ ■^"'•■"^»^' »""»>- the f,.i„a,: "."",?, t"' ""■. "IT"'' "'«'" ""' ''»*«■■ »' '"= '^a^iit nur rapidly down PrPQm.fi,r „ i aTunrdtrT;;-: '"-' -- --"Xi: r::^ J it, . 4i s ^ : . I 122 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OK, '^-^>, '•' Lower the sails," the skinner s-ii.i ■• Tt • further. Tlie iiisi,!,. „r • , " '* "" "so go ng - of the sen,ZZ!" '"'""" " """'"' """' ''''' ^°"<"n in ''uZ:zx:lri ','" "^r '^^ '■»"'"« '>-i„ »l.it„ r„„ oTwltef ontTsL"" '°™ "''™ ''^'- -'» » "Get ready, kds," the skinner Slid "Th,.«,- ■ » ohaneeyet. She will run by „; TJ,e i,„t I ^"'' """' »il again. We shall be a m^ir^.v L' " " " P""' "^ round into the wind a4 " If Tl ^ '? "'"^ ™" «"* ^er her shot we may we th her vet' t T^'" '" '""' cutter." ^"'^ ^^'^ ""edn ' mind the Jo^ hef 'ThriltrZef ?' ""= r'' ""^^ - "'"« to round to, thellt^ftl u'';:^^ u";;' k™^ "'^^ "™^ she was soon tearing aloniralmntn.t ^ ''" ""'''6"'' "»* if to meet the eutter wS „ " '^^ °' "■'' ""'i «» "Down below lads ^^r "'""'"« "°™ '"-"d ^or. s.-ted; "we sLltCIhLSe i I:;:!"""'''"''' «owly round, and then, as her guns omelt K" ""P' Bhot was fired at the lugger X 2 H ' '''°' """ ■nile to the windward. £ si „t t.I'T''""'','''''' "' " Btruck the water alongside itnl. ""''^<^' """ sl>o was untouched. ^ '"' "'° ""^ ^nt still tou'"™;:ki';;:r"::id""4r """■■'/: ™«"'" '"^^ '"" » 'vippersam. f5ne won't fire .ifT-iin « was brought up :^Z^ ^'^^'^^^ ^^7"'' '"" sl>e carried on her br„,adside as srtme on ,d Tb T ger's head was paid o'* and thi, r>l„„ »u ^'"' '"«" starboard <,u„rL, both :rLg":ef "^L'";: r^"" ''''• ellmg c.„ raster, but a gun was fired from thrc^ttlr.: l:; use going' the bottom ng heavily lier with a is just one is past, up an get her le us with mind the in taking preparing lagic, and e wind as ward her. i captain 3 skipper te swept hot after ers of a ead, one but still they did h, when irse and w guns 'he lug- on her is tray- 's bow^ THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. they will have hs yoT» '''' "" '"■" ^''^'l; " "ot, ir^: !'h ' :r Lr.t:r :;: "■"" ™^ - »-" •• » »>"" above the deck ^irTiU . ""'""' ""»»' » 'ew feet The., ;::^r4tr;t"4.^'" '^" °- ■--"• was lowerecUnd't I'u^;' :;' J T"> "'•" ^^^ -" nntil the cutter came UBatll^.^''"' '" "'» w„ter A boat ™ at oreZ; , 7„r""" '"""^''^ »' '-• the lugger. "wereu, and au clicer was rowed to ^eslZl 'rw7" ^""' -y «e«da, at h^st," he said as «;^" T^J:ZT^ " '' " "^^ "«' "- '« the «piS: n'wLrwro^id hav"? "'^ " '""■•'" ">» ««- make all the dii^ercLe to ,t !h ™' " ""''°'" ''^'- " *"' for y„„ have made a brave cht of it^"' '"'"' ""'' ' "°''^' a veryi^r strtMrtr'it-iTr ""'^'^ ' ™'^ '-'^ boat; I own two-thirds of w » "^ """"S'' '» '™» ■»y »pHtsTt r;::r :-; ii" f''^^ '''"' "-^ '■« -= - high pleasant. "iC eomes*!:^'",'^™'' ™"W "ff°«' to I played " been for that lucky shot of trick, and might have got off if it hadn't ours. I see you were just get 124 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, fL'^] ^' «t°rn-chaser," and he pointed to the gun - It I well for you that you didn't fire it, as you can't bo charged with armed resistance." ^ ^^ "I wish I had fired it. for 'il^ flmf t*. • i.^ , my luck to cripple you." ' " ""«■■' ''"™ '"""' The boat from the frigate now can>o alo' gs de it. r; for^rCe;^r; ;t »2r"'; tt' ^ ^^ was so savage at that triclc they plued him ha^ H r™ ho ™,ld have sunk her whe,/h'e Tme p o Lr atil" I heard h,m say to the first lieutenaut, '1 wo„°t leZ f chance to play me such a trick a<.ain '•' ^ ;; What orders have you brought ? " the other asked Wo are outward bound, so vou are to ^„f . board and take her into port- tot .!! ^ ^ ™ hands we wii. relievo you^flietisirsr "'^ *"* °' 4l=a^nf:el7ford7„:rsir 0^ '"'° ""^ rii:^:;;rr 7" ;sr "r"^^ - "- ..a. boon restored^; ti!: caill^XTuIget "^ "™- u 1,-°" f 1"'°"' ="'""« y°" ^ °''«™. tat I dl't « «: boTrd^:^' nS" '" *™ " "'^^' ^^™' - " -"- eir willingness to volunt wer. legun. "It 'ou can't bo it have been id/' the offi- lauled you; rour." e. he stepped 3ut I think he captain it I believe her again, give her a asked. a crew on •y short of 1 into the n gaining ptain and 16 former eads and iga fight make it , Imiglit 'n't want h is it to a cruise forward THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT 1 or. thZ':XmT„:"™ •' " "'^ """*""- -'<°'>. >«oki„g ., ,;, boat w t St;/' Y™?'™ ""'' "^™ »™ '" "- »n,e had bettor stay „„ boa™ an Z „ ' f «° '•"°''- Y"" The countrymen 11" „ I T "?'"' """" "' >"">•" o'-war. ^ ' "™™'' P'-efcrred a prison to a man- presence except by aeknowfedrii ^1 ""' '""^°™* '"' '"» them. It would certainlv hi , ^ '"' '"' ™ """-o *» wwu " -w be kettrt't, Lr^b nrT/i f-"^ longing for the spt ot,/i t, ^- -^^^ ^^d been him for abandon^ tlfe etrl", ""^"'"""^ "P""^'' ^^ him without setti So ' n o"' v"'" '"'^"^«' f- Surely she would pfefTtlth"?'?,''/"" *" ^"" »"'^''™- or two to his being d sgra ' d bvt? " '■" ''' '°' " ^^^ fore now stepped forward ^ ""P"™nmcnt. He there- spot at the time ! am „ot^°' , °"^'" ' "" ^ ™ O" »! good deal of tmo on C,d1't^'"r''!"'""'-P»''' whom I see there icnows „» '^ f" S-'«'»'x- Mr. Horton, -n of a doctor in SMmoutr b1 *' ', ''" ^°" *''»' ^ ™ » I would rather serv Th " to b J" '.''""S"' '"'" " '"'--P^ " Very well, my 'p m! '!?,':""'' ^'.""" '■' «">■" spirit, and will 1, my lad/' the captain said; «I cop my eye on vou 1 1 ke tr ihe three countrymen and fmir our . f' 1 f li.. of the French sailors •urt" 136 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, who declined to join tlio Thetis were taken back to the cutter, and the Thetis at once proceeded on her way down channeh James had given a hastily-scribbled line on the back of an old letter which ho happened to have in his pocket, to the men who were to be taken ashore, but he had very little hope that it would ever reach his mother. Nor indeea dM it ever do so. When the cutter reached Wey- mouth with the lugger, the men captured in her were at once sent to prison, where they remained until they were tried at assizes three months afterward; and although all were acquitted of the charge of unlawful resistance to the king's officers, as there was no proof against any of the six men individually, they were sentenced to a year's imprison- ment for smuggling. Whether Jim's hurriedly-written letter was thrown overboard, or whether it was carried in the pocket of the man to whom he gave it until worn into fragments, James never knew, but it never reached his mother. The news that James was missing was brought to her upon the day after the event by Mr. Wilks. He had, as usual, gone down after breakfast to report how Aggie was getting on, witli a message from his mother that her charge was now so completely restored that it was unnecessary for her to stay longer at the Hall, and that she should come home that evening at her usual time. Hearing from the girl that James had not returned since he went out at nine o'clock on the previous evening, the old soldier sauntered down to the beach to inquire of the fishermen in whose boat James had gone out. To his surprise he found that none of the boats had put to sea the evening before. The men seemed less chatty and communicative than usual; most of them were preparing to go out with their boats, and none seemed inclined to enter into a conversation. Rather wondering at their un- usual reticence, Mr. .Filks strolled along to where the offi- ik to the ray down ae on the ^e in his it he had er. Nor ed Wey- • were at hey were lough all oe to the f the six mprison- -written irried in orn into ;hed his ; to her had, as Igie was r charge sary for d come fom the at nine Lintered )se boat lad put tty and sparing ned to eir un- he ofli- THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 137 "A flno morning, lieutenant." " Yes," tlio latter assented. " There ^^ill bo wind rres JNo, Mr. W.lks said in surprise, " I have heard nothing I was just speaking to the fishermen, but they don't som' m^as commun.eative a mood a, usual this morning." Ihe soamps know it is safest for them to keen their mouths shut just at present," the offieer said grimly «I have no doubt a good many of them were ooncemed in tha affa,r last n.ght. We had a fight with the smugrfers two of my men were shot and one of theirs, and thefwere a good many eutlass wounds on eaeh side. We have token a score of prisoners, but they are all country people who 71Z i '" '" ""'"■«• ">" ™«««>- themseWes all got off. We made a mess of the affair altogether, thanks psTdUb"',"'"' "f f '""■"^^ 8"^ fhoalarmld upset all the plans we had laid. " It is too provoking. I had got news of the exact snot and hour at which the landing was to take pLe I hTd .y men „,1 up „„ the eliff, and as the fellows eame ,p with kegs they were to have been allowed to get a hundred v"ds lolT" °f ™?"' '"™ ""-^ '-» seized, and" „; shout they made would not have boon heard below, uj. be a httle way aloug at the foot of the eli£fs,and when the boats eame with the second bateh he was to rush Ward and eapture them while we came down from above ta "^naZ:V: T °f ""' ""'^ ''"' '"gger-there was not Wind enough for her to get away on the eliff ran down si;o';u,?;;r:i::i^"\;:iZo™ at once, but arrived too late. They showed light and kept • IT 128 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; OR, US back till Fisher's party came up; but by that time tho boats were afloat, and the smugglers managed to get in and carry them off in si)ito of us. We cauglit, as 1 tell you, some of tho countrymen, and Fisher has taken them oH to Weyi outh, but most of them got away. There are several places where the cliff can be climbed by men who know it, and I have no doubt half those fishermen you see there were engaged in tlie business." '^'Then the smuggler got away ?" Mr. Wilks asked. " I don't know," the lieutenant said shortly. " I had sent word Ko Weymouth, and I hope they will catch her in the offing. The lugger came down this way first, but we made her out and showed a blue light. She must have turned and gone back again, for this morning at daylight we made her out to the east. The cutter was giving chase, and at first ran down fast toward her. Then the smugglers got the wind, and the last wo saw of them they were running up the Channel, the cutter some three miles astern. I would give a couple of months' pay to know who it was that gave the alarm. I expect it was one of those fishermen. As far as my men could make out in the darkness the fellow was dressed as a sailor. But I must say good-morning, for I am just going to turn in." Mr. Wilks had been on the point of mentioning that James was missing, but a vague idea that he might in some way be mixed up with the events of the previous night checked the question on his lips, and yet he thought, as the officer walked away, it was not probable. Had James been foolish enough to take part in such a business he would either have been taken prisoner, or would, after Jie escaped, have returned home. He had evidently not been taken' prisoner, or the officer would have been sure to mention it. Much puzzled, he walked slowly back to the fishermen. Some of the boats had already pushed off. TTo went up to throe of the men, whose boat, being higher up than the yest, would not be afloat for .'mother (juartcr of an hour. b time tho ?et in and tell you, loni oli" to re several > know it, see there ked. . had sent ler in the we made e turned we made e, and at 's got the ining up I would hat gave . As fur How was ug, for I ing that i in some IS night it, as the fies been e would escaped, n taken ntion it. hermen. fit up to ban the hour, THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. "Look hero, lads," ho said. "My young friend Jim Walsham is missing this morning, and hasn't been at home all night. As none of the fishing-boats put out in the evening he cannot have gone to sea. Can any of you tell me anything about him ? " The men gave no answer. " You need not be afraid of speaking to me, yon know,'* he went on, "and it's no business of mine whether any of the men on the shore were concerned in that allair. The lieutenant has just been telling me of last night; but hear- ing of that, and finding Jim is missing, I can't help thinking thert is some connection between the two things. Nothing you say to me will go further, that I can promise you; but the lad's mother will be in a terrible way. I can't make it out, for I know that if he had anything to do with this smuggling business he would have told me. Again, if he was there and got away, he would naturally have come straight home, for his absence would only throw suspicion upon him." "Well, Mr. Wilks," the youngest of the sailors said, "I don't know nothing about it myself. No one does, so far as I know, but I have heard say this morning as how he was there or thereabouts; but don't you let out as I told you, 'cause they would want to know who I heard it from." " You can rely upon my silence, my lad, and here's half a guinea to drink my health between you. But can't you tell me a little more ? " " Well, sir, they do say as how it war Mr. Jim as came running down into the middle of them on the beach, shout- ing the alarm, with the revenue men close at his heels. I don't say as it were he— likely enough it weren't— but that' 3 the talk, and that's all I have beared about the matter. How he came for to know of it or how he got there no one knows, for sartin he has had nought to do with any land- ings afore. He was a lot among us, but I know as he never 9 ■Ml it ^^ Kl f 1.30 Wmr WOLFE IN CANADA. he shouldn't be et IZl Tv' "'" ^'*"«'" """'^ ™ likes Jim." ■^"'^' """^ °" "« shore here wa.-w,,sH:M::;:r:c:hro^^ '»" -^ '» tice abont others.'^ ^ ''^"^^' "^'^^' ^^""^^^^^ ^o no- " He may liave been wounded " f}.n ..n . t iously, "and mav he in i r . ^'° "''^ so^dici- said unx- place/' ^ ^' '^ ^"^"^^-^^ ««^»« house near the J^he fisherman was silent. Such a thin, was of course ■ yetTd^a*^:"^^^^^^^ "and think any one wou" del': trjhl?ulrr^^ home would have got away I ^honl.] . ' ^'' ^'"-^ likely as he got on' oard ote o 1 boa^7 T^ "" ""^ as though he might have come t "warn; hTV' "" to warn them, I mean— in«f f» a 7 "^— ^iiat is to say, was always ready to d , i f b! t ^V ''''' *"^"' ^ ^- wouldn/havehaLly I'^ttl" ^"^ ^« might have been standing mLlikf !?T^'^^^ the other lot came aW fT J ^'^' *^" ^°^^^« ^'hen thegamewu up hemi.ht ?t 1 ''' '"^ *^'^"' «^^"^^ as boar^ and gon^'offt^e'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^"°"^^^ ^^^^ ^"^P^^ on "That IS possible," Mr. Wilks said. "Anyhow J ^.iu off at once and make inquiries a^ .ll ih I ' '" ^^ milp nr ^o -^^ ^i'- 1- ./"'i".'"®^ at all the houses within n. Iwivo trusted H!ru])uttho lit bettor us shore hero en prisoner J mo if he us. Bill?" le had got , and I ex- self to no- • said jinx- near the of course %, "and d I don't e his way air more ns to me is to say, fn, as he But he age, and is wlien ?eing as nped on will go dthin a. I- CHAPTEB VIII. DISCHAKOED, CosTnAKY to his usual l,abit, of punctuality, Mr. Wilt. Ho lud been to all the furm-housea within two miles ol t},« scene of tto flglu, and had asoertained for oorLfathatV^t! was not ly.ng wounded al, any of them. At first his" ,„m ncs had overywi been coldly received ThT™^ scarce a farm.1,„use near the coast bu . loetupant hdT m 'nTt ;t''i.lr""^''"r ^'''-^ ^^^^^^z men at the l.uidmgs, or having hiding-places where goods could be .towod away. At first, tl,erefore, all proSed entire ignorance of the events of the previous night tat when persuaded by the earnerfness of the old soldi!,"! man... r that his mission was a friendly one 1 b tmo more communieative, and even owned that some of tW men ,.ad been taken prisoners and marched to Waym„„tT ta none of them had heard of any wounded man bel^t ■"^gefr wl'"' y 'r^' »"'^' ""^ S°- »fl '0 the uiggei, Ml. Wilks returned to Sidmouth -i nro^ + I ™"c"Lred%^'"«r''^"''^''"°"»"""'^'''-^ t> 133 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, If she got away all would be well. Thev would dnnhf studies there He metT),. '^™ ""^ '"""'"»'=« ^is starting f„;siaf:„rh '^"'" ^"' "^ '■'^ '"*'— was migMy landed tha^r .T.*'" '° '"™''' "^ first ap^ea J„:f 1;t ^^ Tok t d t.TZ ^' ,5" anything gone wrong?" '°'"""«'' ""d fagged. Has mZiZT '"y"°"S'«V..>e." And he related " What ™ elr^r S t:"^' '^"■""" "'•"-"'-» ™" ^ upwitrrhti^risSrr''^''"^'""^''""-""-^ "B/f'»/ '°°,"* ■""'"'''' "i""''" 'he old soldier agreed por^To::^r:rt;x-»-— sir tfdrtret:rr-=-x?^^^^^^^^^^^^^ anMut'itTr "':^ T'''" '""^ "i""' "g^^^'J -l«ot- -.f'tstrL,er'sirj::tttttor^^^ ■ould doubt- itter that he t should at mmence his i latter was were lost," lunch, and here at her ?ged. Has he related 'd, and his the lugger, i irritably, self mixed ier agreed, lers, I sup- which the s, the fish- nt to give ack again that he's ig fellows d reluct- 3 lad gets nt it will broken- 11 take it , though eo years, Je nuite Me Winning op a continent. 133 "Wo must hope tlie lugger will get safely over to France " h« oo„pa,„on said; "then no great harm will haveTeen "W-8mu8thopeso,"thesquireassentedmoodily. "Con- found the joung Jackanapes, turning everything uoside down and upsetting us all with his mad-brain frefk^" Mrs. Walsham was greatly distressed when the news was stfrtVt'lasr''/!"'""'^'""' ^^«'^ -»<• »"" "h sqmre at last said she must go straight up to bed unless she stopped, for she would be making herself Ul aga^ n every light, but the only conclusion to be arrived at was Of course my dear madam," the squire said, " if thev are taken I wdl do my best to get a pardon 'for yor son I am afraid he will have to stand his trial with th rest •' bu I thmk that, with the representations I will make as It^r Xt;i TuTttaVif "^1"" r-'" °^» alarm therewill Jn^e^f " :rl:rhu''t i^^^^^^^^^^^^ come out one would represent his being there as a mTre boy.sh freak of adventure, and in that cas'e I mighTg^t Mm a free pardon. You must not take the matter t!o sfriou ly to heart; ,t was a foolish business, and that is the wo I that can be said of it." "'"^01- "for^!!^f i^^as a grand thing," Aggie said indignantly, or areadtul things, just to save other people." If every one were to go and mix themselves up in other people's busmess there would be no end of trouble I suT pose nex you will say that if you heard me arrtging wit'h the constable to make a capture of som« burS^'t tTrrn'hlV ^-^ ^^^"^ to put on your hat tl'^ 0I y^-'i. i flJv 134 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, leagued to breaV tho i..w a r. ",*''*. ^' °o'^*i oi them are bet; are inL„f with r'rtt"''°°"8" '» ''-'' facts of the "«'' of sending it ashore by tl,e revenue cutter Thutle, which is lying aknLide 'f giin. birr ":r '"" ^"^^ ""p'"-"'^ mtuy si;: gling lugger, w.th a cargo of lace, silk, and spirits Y™ tt ; e:rth:^'""'^""'x"' ^™^^'' '» >'-t!^^t'^^^^^^ thecre« of the lugger was James Walsham. Icould hardiv P it^'irbet'/.r 'r "■ ^""^ O-ep"! co'J,! wtre;h„rr.M . """ '"-^ ''" P""' "•"'l""'-- As we ger 1 Choi e :? r"""'""""""^" '"""^^o' ">o lu^! .or ..al. .lost „x them chose the formcralternative, among nngV* the > different, ers; smug- in without :he eyes of them are 3 take life aeral esti- ' favorable to know ; alter the quire was her, and I a highly reed that md after into Sid' t she was ire from lines to t ashore gside of y smug- 3. You t among '■ hardly •le com- As we he Ing- ti shore among y 1 ^ ^ .t r*-* \ •i ml 1 1 n. ;i»:5£ ^tsi THE WINNING OP A CONTDfENT. I35 them James Walsham, of which I was glad, as his mother wi 1 be spared the disgrace of his being placed in the dock with his associates. I need not say that if I could have obtained his release I should have done so, knowing that you had a high opinion of him; but it was, of course, out of my power to interfere." The squire was alone in his study when he received the letter for it was mid-day before the post arrived at Sid- mouth, when a man from the Hall went down each day with a bag to fetch the letters. He rang the bell and ordered the servant to tell Mr. Wilks he should be glad if he would step in to him. When his friend came he handed him the letter without a word. "That settles the matter," he said, as he threw the letter angnly down upon the tab?e. «A malicious young viper I I wish I had him here." s * i'--^ » "It is not nicely worded," the squire said -jravely: "but It was an unpleasant story to have to tell," "It was nofran unpleasant story for him to tell," the olci soldier said hotly. -There is malice in every line of it iie speaks of the men as James's associates, talks about the disgrace he would bring on his mother. There's malice squire, m every line of it." "I'm afraid it's a bad letter," the squire assented gravely. It s a natural letter," Mr. Wilks said savagely "It is written in a hurry, and he's had no time to pick and choose his words and round off his sentences as he generally does n /I i.?' ^"^ ^°"- ^' "^^^ '° ^^" ^' malicious exultation that he did not think how much he was showing his feeling as he wrote." " ° - r l^['^^-^^ ^'**''* ^'''^ ^ ''^'^^ ^'**^^'" *h« squire assented : but let that puss now. The first question is-How are we to tell Jim's mother ? Do you think it will be a r«i;«f fo iier or otherwise ? " " " Ji. will V.Q r. T,l i_ i_ ,1 , ,, igger has b 1 'es« . cap- 136 I i ii ik WITH WOLFE LV CANADA: OR, ^ill be a heavy blow ton f i . ? ''"' ^^^^« "P^^^ It -.man before'] it^hu Til ?"'" "^^* ^^™- - ^ see him again, and tha^ n 1 p^ns JT ^^-^--" «et. But I think this will h! ^ ! ^'' ^"^^""^ ^'^ "P" she knew he was a nrill ^ '^^'' ^"" ^^^^ ^^^^ i^ Between o.:;;;;"; TsT'' !?r^*^^^-"^ ^ *-5: ooncerned I am not u that . "^ .'^' ^'^ ^"^^^^^^ ^^ that events have turne'o 't 1 ,1 I '' ''*°^"^*^"^ ^^^^ gether he has often confided to m I'tT '" ^"^*^^^« *- wore altogether for a life of aoH^f i' '^^ inclinations , that, as hismother's heart wa'1^ '^^ adventure; but fatlier^s profession, he had ''V'^''^'^ his following his ^ord to her which would lead W^^^ "^°" ""T '"'^'^^ ' Wishes lay in any other di cLn TI "T' '^'' ^"^ °^^ him the opportunity he las on'.P.f r^"''' ^"^ ^^^« without his appearinVTn !, ^ f ^^""^ *^ '^^ *^« world plans.- ^^ '"^ '^ "^y ^^y t« thwart his mother's "At any rate,- the squire said « t has got oif being tried Even f r i T ^''"'^'^^ ^^^'^ ^« for him, it would have h.T ^'"^ ^°* ^ ^^«« Pardon he had been impied T > '"'T ''''' "^^^ ^^"^ that ^orusall in thXr '/^iTtlkH '7/^^'^-^ jou to break it to his mother" ' ""'" ^'^^' ^^ *^ "Very weU," the other agreed «Tf i. business, squire: but nerhnnt t i . . ^^ unpleasant console her if I tell L^r b'T' /, ^''\ \''''' ^« i*- It may SO to sea, and that accu told T -^^ '"^^^'^^ ™*«^ *« the fishermen's boa^he tTfin" itVo^ h^ dT ' ^'^^^ ^^ a man-o'-war and mil come bit Tv. ^'^'^"^ "^ ^^^^^ three years none the worsTfor V ^' '°"''^ ^^ *^'> ^^ he will take up doctorZ . 1''"^''' ^^' ^^^ ^hink n.v doubts whfthe; e 1^^^^^^^^^^^ *^on^h 'l have usoin tellinr.her.0 ^'] ii r i ' however, there is ro o so. .hall I show her that letter, squire ? iff abt, for her s upon. It James is a ore she will ure are up- fier than if ind a trial, fiimseif is ;her sorry ir talks to- clinations , ;ur':; but owing his saying a t his own will gixe he world mother's glad he pardon lim that wkward ive it to )leasant It may ited to bout in t board two or ■ think f have ia no [ire?'' THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. '''Sfn^iU^ • 137 ■L>o, tAe squire renlied- "nf ^^. What's in it: but I will II f . '' ^^^^ '^^ *^" l^er give a good deaUf h. bad If '' .f " '^'''''' ' ^^^^ badly worded, tn ugh\vhy he hoTld /^ ''' '' '' ^^^^^^^^ the other is more tlL I can tdl" '"^ """^''' *'^^^^ of i^:rdirhrt Ztti;^. n^^ ^^^ *^-^^* -^^^r Mrs. Walsham ' """'^ ^^"* *^ ^^^^^ the news to Mrs. Walsham was terribly umpf An own Mod I will toiT ■'^ P "° ^'"' y<"^r son for his wi,id /ri^;^^ro:e::rd^T°"'?^-■'- h«&(hortpr„fes8i„^. HeisTdSi •'"""*''«»■■' hates give jon pain he was m,^,rJ ♦ T' ""'' ''•'"'"'r than ingBand wishes. toSad Is flH', T "".'"' "^ '<'''- dull edstenoe of a ooantrv !nr ' ""'' ''™'-83''- t^^ fa the last he wo"ld ad»t n,T" '" " '1'"' '"™ ""^^ 'W^ that I am not surprised ftar.^'77 ''^°'"'' »'"> ^ '"'■' a more adventurous iTfe I .it u1 "'""' *™" '»"?'«■• »go, and advised you that ,f 1m .^"' ™ ^'"' ">!» long put it frankly to him ^hl 1^ t" """ *<" ^"'^ ^"'h *» like to see Jm following I, f .1!*''. ^"^ *""''' ""'"""y you felt that heshouIdoL ^ i" ^'''°'''''''"' '"" "="' he select any oth mode „, Me ' .""' ""* *»""'' wishes against hi. Buft- , t ^^ """''' "<" «* yur ing so; he said that ratle^tV ™f "°* ''»''' " -"I do- he would gladl, conse! „ i;;"'^' ^ur cherished plans life. I honored hmifirf- '^°"" "' ^'"■""'"h for he was wrong. Cetle f 't '"T'l 'i'" '^""^ ^ 'hinfc ?or aspirited^ad t:::tfi: I™^r^]:.^ '" ".''^-op. i own that although I ~„rf l^"" ''^''"'■■un, village; and cannot look upon It as Vf ?''""^'" »' ^'' g°i"g. I upon It as an unmixed evil that the force of (I ^ 138 With wolfe in Canada: or, circumstances has taken him out of the course marked out for him, and that he will have an opportunity of seeing life and adventure." Mrs. Walsham had listened with a surprise too great to admit of her interrupting the old soldier's remarks. "I never dreamed of this/' sh.. said at last when he ceased. "I cannot remember now that I ever asked him, but I took it for granted that he would like nothing better than to follow in his father's steps. Had I known that he objected to it I would not for a moment have forced him against his inclinations. Of course it is natural that, being alone m the world, I should like to have him Avith me still but I would never have been so selfish as to have sacrificed his life to mine. Still, though it would be hard to have parted from him in any way, it is harder still to part like this. If he was to go he need not have gone as a common sailor. Tuv squire, who has done so much for him, would no doubt, instead of sending him to school, have obtained a midshipman's berth for him or a commission in the army • but it is dreadful to think of him as a common sailor, lia- ble to be flogged." "Well, Mrs. Walsham, perhaps we may set the matte- partly to rights. I will speak to the squire, and I am sure he will write to his friend at the admiralty, and have an order sent out at once for Jim's discharge. At the same time it would be better that he should not return here jupt at present. His name may come out at the trial of the smugglers as being concerned in the affair, and it would bo better that he should stay away till that matter blows over. At any rate, if I were you I should write to him, telling him that you know now that he has no taste for the medical profession, and that should he see anythin(r that he thinks will suit him .in America, you would not wish him to come home immediately if he has a fancy for staying out there; but that, if he chooses to return, you are arked out of seeing 3 great to ks. when he 3ked him, ng better n that he Tced him lat, being I me still, sacrificed I to have part like common n, would obtained le army; lilor, lia- e matter am sure have an ;he same lere jupt of the it would sr blows to him, ;aste for nything uld not mcy for you are THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 139 sure that the squfre will exert himself to give him a start in any other profession he may choose." ^ ^'^ t^^admiralty, and tLe X:l::Z::J:! ^^ tiol walSnto?: r^'" "" "^^^^^*^^^^- II- ^estina- trtronnf ^ '"' f ^^'' °P^«^"g ^^ Chesapeake Bay, where to ioin the forooat Port Cumbe land tL tibr,7e:: employed in taking stores „p the river in boats a.tral:s;^o^,trditer^t-" flAing-boats was Lm " him „„„ fnd b''°™'"=' '" "" to do his work as an able-bord" e^tn IT ™ 7" ""' and ^iiingness rendered hi.1r;.^-,..t;rHT::: gad that he was not put in the s.™e watoh with Eir^Ir^ r e7n:;i;rfZg^:ir i^ ^'^ «"" Z Z V, ' '°"" ™ •'""'■'l ^^o had served witli vltC '^"™"""^^«^ ^^ -"yt"'- to his" A fortnight after the arrival of the T7iPh\ nf tt . iie"™^ !""• ,.®» '"■■"■y sent in their names that the P^-t P n rtt tnv^f M "^ '" "'""^'"S ten, who werelooked upon w.th envy by the rest of the ship's eompany, for there Pi 140 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; OR, seemed little chance at present of fighting at sea, and the excitement of a march on shore, with adventures of all sorts, and encounters with the French and their Indian allies, seemed delightful to the tars. Upon the following day a ship arrived from Engknd, and an hour afterward an order was passed forward that the first lieutenant wanted James Walsham upon the quartor-der-k admiralty for your discharge, and you are to have a passage m the first ship returning, if you choose to take it. I am sorry you are leaving the ship, for I have noticed that you show great wrilingness and activity, and will make a first- rate sailor Still, I suppose your friends in England did rot care about your remaining before the mast.'' James touched his hat and walked forward. He was scarcely surprised for he had thought that his mother would probably ask the squire to use his influence to obtain his discharge. He scarcely knew whether he was glad or sorry. He was in a false position, and could not hope for promotion except by some lucky chance, such as was not likely to occur, of distinguishing himself. At the same time he sighed as he thought that he must now return and take up the profession for which his mother had intended him. A quarter of an hour later, however, the ship s corporal came round and distributed the mails and James to his delight found there were three letters for him He tore open that from his mother. It began by gently upbraiding him forgetting himself mixed up in the fight between the smugglers and the revenue men. In the next place, my dear boy," she said, "I must scold you even more for not confiding in your mother as to your wishes about your future profession. Mr. Wilks has opened my eyes to the fact that, while I have all along been taking It for granted that your wishes argeed with mine as ,, - — ^ .,^,,, jou aavu reujiy been sacriiicing ail your THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 141 thau had ,,„i, .!,„„ drwit^*- ::j,:^::'; ;»,^»j;'e less no^Xn T h iZ -f/"" Tf'' ^°"»^«; »'» happy and oo^/o^t L^"'" ^^ Th f/™"'^ »."" "■» "8 set uside at onoo all Td^a if '^\^"'^°">- '"V ^oy, let There is „o oco„Zl Z v < T" '""'™""« " '^<'<'*<"-- you will do Y„ " / ^V" "'"""" '"""'^diately what «nd it Ltiuiir, ::;^„xxr■d'''^™^"'■■"^' ™yo„ ha. the opp„.t„.^i; „t:S4-:;:i7„T:^ J^iSiirdnTarwS s tr^rwh" ' h' was lirst missed. ^^* ^^®» ^e and many months might have ;L?;Lf:l ^^ ^//^ been lost, and the squire is writing to-night to obtain i ■ u r 143 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, i your diaohargc, which ho assures n.o there will bo no dim. cuity wlmtevcr about." "'™ The squire's was a very cordial letter, and he too in closed notes for a hundred pounds thZhtr/d ° t'"' ■""'?' ="'''• " """ ^™ 'Jo »°t like the thought of doetonng. I „m not surprised, and I think that a young fellow of such spirit and courage as you hive St r™ri ,' 'V^ '"^? '""-ething bette'r tl .Ldml! «tenng pills and draughts to the old women of hidmouth Tell mc frankly when y„„ write what you would nkeYeu are, of course, too old for the royal Jy. Uy,^',^, JZ tor the merchant service I have no doubt I iuuZ^Z part owner of the sh,p. If, „„ the other hand vou would n- nVt' "" °™^r™'' " '^^™ *° - tltt' here e rti.i ing times approaching-I think that through one or thin thi, V " ""^'""^ <''"' y»° ™>W "k" better than this you may command my best services I never s':«Te;?;;„',;:tbtorr '" "- ^■™ ^"" "'"" '-^ -'■ fi J""*! °'\'°";" "™'e » characteristic letter. In the 'iltTn : '"'"i"""" ">''">e regarded himasafoolf' be* Jv?l """ ™i ^ ""^'y "''*'' »"'" '"' Mi's. " for having betrayed your confidence and told the truth to your mother wet aft:';an f^rtb T'f "^^''■^^'-^-^ "ef that tMn^^ my news n be V I J ""'' I ">ust say that madam took till ™ 1",*%™"^ ""''* ?"'• «"<' I "™ »"» you will see -V — .rfter » you, There is no one I honor and es- JO no (lifti- le too in- )t like the [ I think you have m admin- idmouth. ke. You ike to en- arrango lako caro d also be )u would there are h one or imission e better I never iYiii hap- feel my- In the fool for a what- 3ircum- l never ' having lother. things n took nil see ,nd es- THE WINNING OP A ( ONTINENT. , -- 143 teem more than I do h«r nr.^ r were "mkin,. . „;, ^ ^ ^^-^^ i^-™ »" "long that ,ou wishes «ro. N„„ vou hZ * '>".'• '"'nklj' what your « time, and it winbel ' If? VT' """•""'''"^ tor best of it. There is if} TA '' ^°'' ''''"'' ">"' - 'ho colonies, and y„rarVoti,^ be "n editing time in the die a^y y«„r'ti:.e . ^ 1 'td'™/" '■' ^^ "»"■ going on in the forest " °' '~'°« "l"* « the squire Tt , M l"', "rT"' ""',"■• '" "' ■"«- to ™a said that above! , g" Z™ f/" '^ ""«-«», m the army. !£„ „rot„ „™!' ° ''"'"''' '"''e » commission tcr to his motlie td W 7 '■"; "'"' "« "'""""te let- ».g h™ to choose thi life h! iiked "'"" ""' '■' »"- -Ihank Aggie," heconcluded "f„rtl,„„ hyyou. Give liermylove and ^ll'^ - !T "''«'"'"'™°' To the old soldier he w oLa to! ' ''°' '"'^"^ ™e." «ge. "It was implsre,"r3''"fortr°'''' '"'"''■ d.schargoto haveeomeat'a bette;n;„m:;t"'%"r; °','"^ from the fleet aregoing with GenerTBrTdlJ.f ''"'"^' every one else is envying their ^ond h,T, ""' """^ Nov I shall go un Jnr,L I S""'^ '«ck_I among them. which is acofm;rn; ng h:;'" Tu' ■^"^'"'''■' ^°«™»' either of the lil r XntTas I . T ""* ''"'^'«' »' Besides, it the squire i,. be' Z f '"""' "''''' ^ "^e- would have beeS p easan e fol ^1 T " "™>™i«»ion, it here as a volunteef tl" ';Hvrrn ^11!^" '''''"' rate a march throu^hthp..Jr! V ^ '^^' butatany »„chance of a br^ht*;L^rretktr:■;^r-"'■^^^ - -.rnaps by the time it is oyer I mav I'kVlM *r" '""• .ay.ng that I have got my com^S^n'^'l'tt:!;;;;^™ ■ H: J 'I 144 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, a chance of a regular war between the French »„,! ... i After fln,8h.ng his letters and giving them tn th« !J, - corporal to place in the next cost ba» t!„ ] ^'^ ' to his „>essn,ates and preptrto ^f ':T„rT ^t^' him and touched his hat respectfully. ^^ ^ "I wish to thank you, Lieutenant Horton for vm,r-n. tremely kind letter telling my friends tS T w ^ f ." this ship. It has been the mLn of Jv 1. '" ''^ Without another word he turned, and walking tn i\. ^stonng James' hberty rendered him well-nigh mad wit°h On landing James T^alsham at once disnn.»^ „f i,- sador's clothes and purchased a suit s.m lar t^" ose Lrn by the colonists; then he obtained a passage np the river Virginia corps wal stftio^drd^Jam' s SC'thaf tW .^.-s^^ts.^-^- .^s-;s^ h and us out n this Bide." to the ship's 'aid good-by e. The ten he point of in a state of 'accompany ' spped up to or your'ex- ts on board ing my dis- my months an answer ng to the with some a state of obtaining once felt ihe letter, e effect of mad with id of his lose worn the river )ught the es of the ;hat they la Creek, ? landed THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. Jj. the costume used b/hmt" ,""">'' "'™ """'' '" were moving about unooncernedlv t f "'"' «''"''™' musket on shoulder were ^nl /' ''" » '"* »' ""^m. P-sentiy a tail, 1 gh ;!built^v" ""*' "''^"^ ^'o™ but resolute face, cfme rid"n! T"^ T,' '•""> " l"<«'™' dose to where J.,Zl"s7J^''^^'''} '^"^'""^ "= ''»■■»'' the men on sentry ThrhadZ,*' """' """"^'^ ""'t down on fallen lot of "ood b , ""°" ?"'' '"=™ fitting came handy, with !Lt. Z v ^ '' "' ''"y*'"'^? «'»» which ing beside iC.gotZZftr^'' '""^ ''"^^^ ^ '-"■ «ome semhlanoe'of mnCpo'S?"""'^ *° »^ ^- ''"'' ing by " ""* ^™"S "» ■'" "e a^ked a teamster stand- " That is Colonel Washine-tnr. » f i Of the smartest of the c ^oS^^iice'^'"'"' ''''^^' "»- -drfj^ris:'' '"'^ "'^ "' '""^ »^ t-nty," Jame, ' dou'^;'rLrrh'ere"an'dT,*'',T ^"'^^ """' -«» tant-general of the Virt'iln v ^''^'"g*''" i« adju- back he n,ade a joul f" h dt^ '^ °"'^ " ''^ ■"»"">' forests to the French In t "p rt IT fT"" *' then he has been in command r.f u f ""'' ""'' «"™ to build a fort at theTkTo, the h-'''^ ^.T''''''' """' °"* fighting with the French A 'n%i°',™^ """* «ome sharp they say he i,, just Tctl whrttet im"'^™"*"*-' sitting on horseback " ''""<"'' "'■'' %!»« »« if waXrr ^i-h-rrhe'^r ''''^'^ '° ^o-' militia. ^ '* ^^ "^'^^^ join the Virginian He accordingly went up to him nnd f^^-^h.-? ' • i. ■ • if you nleasfi ai-n t ' .' -"^^nea ms hat. J Ptase, s,r, I am anx,oue to join the Virginian S '" 146 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, militia, and as they toll mo that you are adjutant-general ^ have come to ask you if I can do so " ^ ''I so^ no diffinulty in it, my lad," the colonel said • " but f you have run away from home in search of adventure wittrr.::'^^^^ "-' ^^^- ^-- - iX^to " i don't mind that, sir, and I have not run away I am over nere, but my friends in England procured mv « f .1 ■'•1 I *> i . ii CLaPTER IX. THE DEFEAT OF BRADDOCK. Engtixd and France were at this time at peace in Europe, although the troops of both nations were about to engage in conflict in the forests of America. Their posi- tion there was an anomalous one. England owned the belt of colonies on the east coast. France was mistress of Canada in the north, of Louisiana in the south, and more- over claimed the whole of the vast country lying behind the British colonies, which were thus cooped up on the sea- b.ard. Her hold, however, of this great territory wac ex- tremely slight. She had strong posts along the chain of lakes frori the St. Lawrence to Lake Superior, but between these and Louisiana her supremacy was little more than nominal. The Canadian population were frugal and hardy, but they were deficient in enterprise; and the priests, who ruled them with a rod of iron — for Canada was intensely Catholic — discouraged any movements which would take their flocks from under their charge. Upon the other hand, the colonists of New England, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were men of enterprise and energy, and their trad- ers, pushing in large numbers across the Alleghanies, carried on an extensive trade with the Indians in the valley of the Ohio, thereby greatly exciting the Jealousy of the French, who beared that the Indians would ally themselves with THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 149 the British colonists, and that the connection between Canada and Louisiana would be thereby cut. The English colonists were greatly superior to the French in number; but they labored under the disadvantage that the colonies were wholly independent of each other, with strong mutual jealousies, which paralyzed their action and prevented thoir embarking upon any concerted operations. Upon the other hand, Canada was governed by the French as a military colony. The governor was practically abso- lute, and every man capable of bearing arms could, if nec- essary, be called by him into the field. He had at his dis- posal not only the wealth of the colony, but large assistance from France, and the French agents were therefore able to outbid the agents of the British colonies with the Indians. For years there had been occasional troubles between the New England States and the French, the latter employing • the Indians in harassing the border; but until the middle of the eighteenth century there had been nothing like a general trouble. In 1749 the Marquis of Galissoniere was governor-general of Canada; the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle had been signed; but this had done nothing to settle the vexed question of the boundaries between theEn^r^ish and French colonies. Meanwhile the English trade-s from Pennsylvania, and Virginia were poaching on the domain which France claimed as hers, ruining the French fui trade and making friends witli the Indian allies of Canada! Worse still, farmers were pudiing westward and setilinff in the valley of the Ohio. In order to drive these back, to impress the natives with the power of France, and to bring them back to their alle- giance, the governor of Canada in the summer of 1749 sent Celoron de Bienville. He had with him fourteen officers twenty French soldiers, a hundred and eighty Canadians ana ii band of Indians. They embarked in twenty-three birch-bark canoes, and pushing up the St. Lawrence, reached t - I i* .♦: WITH WOIJ^^E IN CANADA: OJ?, Lake Ontario, stopping for a time at the Irench f.v^t of Frontonac, and avoiding the rival Eugiish port cf Oswego on the southern shore, wheie a trade in beaver skins disas- trous to French interests was being carried on fort^eEug- Hsh traders sold their goods .i vastly lower prices than those which the French had charged. On T;he Uh of July the party reached l^iagara, whero thero was i mmXi French fort, and thence, carrying their canoes round the uataruct, launched them upon Lake Erie. Landing agnbi '.v tlio aouthern shore of the lak-L^. they car- ried their car:,:.es nine miles through the forest to Chautau- qua Lake, and then dropped down the stream ruiining out of it until they reached the Ohio. The fertile cou- try here was inhabited by the Delawares, Shawanoes, Wyandots, and Iroquois, or Indians of the Five Nations, who had migrated thither from their original territories in the colony of New York. Further west, on the banks of the Miami, the Wa- bash, and other streams, was a confederacy of the Miamis and their kindred tribes; still further west in the country of the Illinois, near the Mississippi, the French had a strong stone fort called Fort Ohartres, which formed one of the chief links of the chain of posts that connected Quebec with New Orleans. The French missionaries and the French political agents had for seventy years labored hard to bring these Indian tribes into close connection with France. The missionaries had failed signally; but the presents so lavishly bestowed had inclined the tribes to the side of their donors, until the English traders with their cheap goods came pushive Engl i eel omes Had France remained master of America thflndian. lands of their forefathers. France is not a colonizinrr „., tion; she would have traded with the Indians wo Mb„ endeavored to Christianize them, and wouM havl I them .romi:f fir "^" '^''^"^ -'" 'he fi: r ^;,^ t^, but on England conquering the soil, her armies of extinct on the continent of which he was once the lord reachT^' ''''"""°" ^'"'■"' "■"'" "•" Ohio until' it reached the mouth of the Miami, and toiled for Urteen daysagainst its shallow current until they reached vH ^ Freacht. n T f *' °^" ''^ " "h^' called by th! J-rench La Demoiselle, but whom the English, whose fast friend he was, called Old Britain. He was" the gr at chfef wtMrewrih™''*""^"; '''" ^"S"^" trafetf tf 0^ wl held ^^,Tr °' "f ^'^""''- T''^ »«"" "ou- oil was held, and Celorou urged the chief to remove from pi rat^wth V" b"'r' "^"'^ """^""'' »"'» "™ thanr.Tv,- , ,, '"""''""^ ">« Frenchman's gifts thanked him for his good advice, and promised to fol W ij at a more convenient time; but neither promises nor threats could induce him to stir at once No sooner, indeed, had the French denarted (!,.„ »l, chief gathered the greater part of the mem'he fof " federa ion on that spot, until, in less than two years aft™ the visit of Celeron, its population had increased cTgltMd and It became one of the greatest Indian towns of the wrt Tit. MtS t?f'" '"'°-'""' '"""™- "^«™ aiiix, audtliuxi returned northward to Lake Erie, THE WINNING Of A CONTINENT. 163 e™or''tl.TErJ[il°*„"'™''"'"" "^ ""-'"'J '» *••» gov- ernor Uu,t English mflueueo was supreme in the valley of fJl^^V"^^"™^ ^""' " ^^P^ny "8 'omed in Virsini,. tlf';!"®^,"""'""''""'' '^'""'""'l " party pro oeded west to the village of the chief called Old Britafn by wh„m they were received with great friendship, and a t™tv of mans. While the festivities consequent on the affair wern wSr^'"", ''«"™ '"'''""» »"'-d from thXnol with the French flag and gifts, but they were dismissed with an answer of defiance. If at this time the colon ss em d have cemented their alliance with the Indians with «f^ «m.Iar to tliose with which the French endeavored to P- chase their friendship, a permanent peace with the Indins might have been established, but the mutual ieatondes ^? the colonies and the nature of the v.arious col I I em b les rendered any common action impossible. Pennriva- nia was jealous of the westward advance of Virg1n"a and desired to thwart rather than to assist her. ^ ' wl ftlr'""" °' ^"^ '^'"•''' P'-^ylvania, and Virginia were fuly conscious of the importance of the Indian aU TW y T'? "» ""*"■« ""'■o"' their «bHe riiose of New York and Pennsylvania were largely com- pesed of tradesmen and farmer, absorbed in localSrest and animated but by two motives, the cutting down of tu expenditure and bitter and continuous oppLtirto the governor who represented the royal authori ty Vi !ii° ™r t ""'^r'" ''"™"''<' ""O"* '^"'^ respective rfglUs efuselr ' °' *'" ^"°- ^"^ '^^^"""^ »' New S eiused to , ,n any common action, saying "We will The States further removed from the fear of any d' n-^;r iXwr^""" °' "•-^"O'— f "Virginia, seeing the approaching danger, made the great- etifc efforts to induce the other colonies to join in common acti' but North Carolina alone answered the appeal, and gave u.jney enough to raise three or four hundred men. Two independent companies maintained by England in New York, and one in South Carolina, received orders to march to Virginia. The governor had raised with great difficulty tJiree hundred men. They were calle ' the V'r- ginia Regiment. An English gentleman named ioshua Fry was appointed the colonel and Washington their major. Fry was hu Alexandria, on the Potomac, with half the regi- ment. Washington with the other half had pushed for- ward to the store-house at Wills Creek, which was to form the base o*" operations. Besides these Captain Trent with a band of backwoodsmen had crossed the mountain to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio, where Pittsburg now stands. Trent had ^on o back to Wills Creek, leaving En- sign Ward with forty men at work upon the fort, when, on ilii ! i ii ' wl t 166 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, the 17th of April, a swarm of canous came down the Al- leghany with over five hundred Frenchmen, who planted cannon against the unfinished stockade and summoned the ensign to surrender; he had no recourse but to submit, and was allowed to depart with his men across the mountains. The Frencli at once sot to to build a strong fort, which they named Fort Duquesne. While the governor of Vir- ginia had been toiling in vain to get the colonists to move, the French had acted promptly, and the erection of their new fort at once covered their line of communication to the west, barred the advance of the English down the Ohio valley, and secured the allegiance of all the wavering In- dian tribes. Although war had not yet been declared between Eng- land and France, the colonists, after this seizure by French soldiers of a fort over which the English flag was flying, henceforth acted as if the two powers were at war. Wash- ington moved forward from Wills Creek with his hundred and fifty men, and surprised a French force which had gone out scouting. Several of the French were killed, and the commander of Fort Duquesne sent dispatches to France to say that ho had sent this party out with a communication to Washing- ton, and that they had been treacherously assassinated. This obscure skirmish was the commencement of a war which set two continents on fire. Colonel Fry died a few days after this fight, and Washington succeeded to the command of the regiment, and collected his three hundred men at Green Meadow, where he was joined by a few In- dians and by a company from South Carolina. The French at Duquesne were quickly reinforced, and the command was given to Coulon de Villiers, the brother of an officer who had been killed in the skirmish with mgton. lie at once advanced aiiist the English, had fallen back to a rough breastwork which they wr wn the Al- vho planted [imoned tlio submit, and mountains, fort, which rnor of Vir- jts to move, ion of their mioation to vn the Ohio avering In- tween Eng- 3 by French was flying, ar. Wash- lis hundred which had commander say that ho Washing- ssassinated. t of a war died a few ied to the 36 hundred f a few In- forced, and the brother rmish with 10 English, i^hich they THE WINNING OF A CONTINKNT. 157 called Fort Nocossity, Washington havingbut four hundred men against five hundred French and as many Indians. l^or nine hours tlie French k,.i>t up a hot fire on the in- trenchment but without success, and at nightfall Villicrs proposed a parley. The French ammunition was nuii.in- short, the men were fatigued by their marches and drendied by the ram which had been falling the whole day. The Eng ,8h were in a still worse plight; their powder was nearly spent, their guns were foul, and among them thev had but two cleaning-rods. After a parley it was agreed that the English should march off with drums beating and the honors of war, carry- ing with them all their, property; that the prisoners taken ni the previous affair should be set free, two officers re- mammg with the French as hostages until they were handed over. Washington and his men arrived utterly worn out with fatigue and famine at Wills Creek. This action left the French masters of the whole country beyond the Al- leghanies. The two mother nations wore now preparing for war, and in the middle of January, 1755, Major-Gen- eral Braddock, with the 44th and 48th Regiments, each five hundred strong, sailed from Cork for Virginia, while the ^rench sent eighteen ships of war and six battalions to Canada. Admiral Hoscawen, with eleven ships of the line and one frigate, set out to intercept the French expedition The greater part of the fleet evaded him, but he came up with three of the French men-of-war, opened fire upon them and captured them. Up to this time a pretence of nego- tiations had been maincai led between England and France but the capture of the Pre:ich ships brought the negotia- tions to a sudden end, and the war began. A worse selection than that of Major-General Braddock could hardly have been made; he was a brave officer and a "++ i'"7"' " "^^^° ^"i^t^n, uuarse, ana obsiimite; he Utterly despised the colonial troops, and regarded all m •M I 'ill 158 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, methods of fighting save those pursued by regular armies ill the field with absolute contempt. To send such a man to command troops destined to fight in thick forests against an enemy skilled in warfare of that kind was to court defeat. As might be expected, Braddock was very soon on the worst possible terms with the whole of the colonial authori- ties, and the delays caused by the indecision or obstinacy of the colonial assemblies chafed him to madness. At last, however, his force was assembled at Wills Creek. The two English regiments had been raised by enlistment in Viji'- ginia to 700 men each. There were nine Virginian com- panies of fifty men and the thirty sailors lent by Commo- dore Keppel. General Braddock had three aides-de-camp — Captain Robert Orme, Captain Eoger Morris, and Colonel George Washington. It was the 1st of June when James Walsham rode with Colonel Washington into the camp, and three days later the last companies of the Virginian corps marched in. During the next week some of the English officers at-- tempted to drill the Virginians in the manner of English trooj^s. "It is a waste of time," Colonel Washington said to James one day when he was watching them, " and worse. These men can fight their own way, most of them are good shots and have a fair idea of forest-fighting; let them go their own way and they can be trusted to hold their own against at least an equal number cf French and Indians, but they would be hopelessly at sea if they were called upon to fight like English regulars. Most likely the ene- my will attack us in the forest, and what good will form- ing in line, or wheeling on a flank, or any of the things which the general is trying to drum into their heads do to +1>riTvi \i T^ i-\yri Ti^Tf itT** H or" -fnolioT^ /i-n/Mincl^ +/\ ttroif of Trnff Duquesne until we arrive, I have no doubt w? shall beu^ THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. gular armies [ s'ach a man hick forests kind was to soon on the >nial authori- or ohstinacy ;ss. At last, k. The two nent in Yir- 'ginian com- by Commo- des-de-camp , and Colonel .m rode with se days later marched in. I officers at-- ir of English yton said to " and worse, tiem are good let them go lid their own md Indians, r were called kely the ene- )d will form- f the things • heads do to tI7qi+ of T?/%T«f V? shall beut t]jem,^but if they attack us in the woods it will go h^^ and thl"V^r ^ ^"^' "^^"'^^ '^''^''^ between his arrival and the start James was kept hard at work, being for the most par en^ployed galloping up and down the r'oad u ' mg up the wagoners, and bringing back ronnrf« ..« T.v ? ™d the Z^r'"'''' 'f '^^ ™^' '^•"""g »""i "tearing to tne woods to guard against surprise "" toile. „, o.o.i„g the AlCt; M?„l :i ^g^at^ mi e a dav 1. /"■"^''T ™' '"" "» """^ «■»» three miies a day, and it was not until the 7th of Tnlv ih^t ti the progress of thfi^'. "i"'^' I' i"iurmed by the scouts of progiess of the English, and when thu latter approached ICO WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, ! !■ the Monongaliela a party under Captain Beaujeu set out to meet tliem. His force consisted of 037 Indians, 100 French ofticers and soldiers, and 14G Canadians, in all about 900 men. At one o'clock in the day Braddock crossed the Mo- nongaheJa for the second time; the troops had all the day been expecting the attack and had prepared for it. At the second ford the army marched in martial order with music playing and flags flying. Once across the river, they halted for a short time and then again continued their advance. Braddock made every disposition for preventing a sur- prise. Several guides with six Virginian light horsemen led the way, then came the advanced column consisting of 300 soldiers under Gage, and a large body of axe-men un- der Sir John Sinclair with two cannon. The main body followed close beliind. The artillery and wagons moved along the road, the troops marched through the woods on either hand, numerous flanking parties wore thrown out a hundred yards or more right and left, and in the space be- tween tiiem and the line of troops the pack-horses and cattle made their way as they best could among the trees. Beau- jeu had intended to place hie men in ambuscade at the ford, but owing to various delays caused by the Indians he was still a mile away from the ford when the British crossed. He was marching forward when he came suddenly upon the little party of guides and Virginian light horse- men. These at once fell back, the Indians raised their war-whoop, and spreading right and left among the trees opened a sharp fire upon the British. Gage's column wheeled deliberately into line and fired volley after volley with great steadiness at the invisible op- ponents. The greater part of the Canadians bolted at once, but the Indians kept up their fire from behind the shelter of the trees. Gage brought up his two cannon and opened fire, and the Indians, who had a horror of artillery, began ^IsQ to fall back. The Englisli advuiiced in regular lines, THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 161 Cheering loudly Beaujeu tell dead; but Crptain Dumas, who succeeded him in command, advanced at the head of his small party of French soldiers and opened a heavy fire. Ihe Indians, encouraged by the example, rallied and again came forward, and while the French regulars and the few Canadians who had not fled held the ground in front of the column, the Indians swarmed through the for- ests along both flanks of the English, and from behind trees bushes, and rocks opened a withering fire upon them. The troops, bewildered and amazed by the fire poured into them by an invisible foe and by the wild war-whoops of the Indmns, ceased to advance, and standing close together fTelt ""^"^^ "^"""'^ "^^"^ ^^"^y ^^t« tJ^e surrounding On hearing the firing, Braddock, leaving 400 men in the rear under Sir Peter Ilalket to guard the baggage, ad- vanced with the main body to support Gage; but j'ust as he came up the soldiers, appalled by the fire which was mowing them down in scores, abandoned their cannon and fell back m confusion. This threw the advancing force into disorder, and the two regiments became mixed to- gether, massed in several dense bodio. within a small space of ground, facing some one way arid some another, ail alike exposed without shelter to the hail of bullets. Men and oflEicers were alike new to warfare like this; they had been taught to fight in lino against solid masses of the enemy and against an invisible foe like the present they were help- less. The Virginians alone were equal to the emergency. They at once adopted their familiar forest tactics, and tak- ing their post behind trees began to fight the Indians in tneir own way. Had Braddock been a man of judgment and temper the fortunes of the day might yet have been retrieved, for the - irginians could have clieeked the Indians until the Eng- lish troops were rallied and prepared to meet the difficulty- i t, 163 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, !■ !: H' but to Braddock the idea of men fighting beliind trees was at once cowardly and opposed to all military discipline, and he dashed forward on his horse and with fierce oaths ordered the Virginians to form line. A body of them, however, under Captain Waggoner, made a dash for a huge fallen tree far out toward the lurking-places of the In- dians, and crouching behind it opened fire upon them; but the regulars seeing the smoke among the bushes took them for the enemy, and firing killed many and forced the rest to return. A few of the soldiers tried to imitate the Indians and fight behind the trees, but Bradd/x-k beat them ba<;k with the fiat of his sword and forced them to stand with the others, who were now huddled in a mass forming a target for the enemy's bullets. Lieutenant-Colonel Burton led 100 of them toward a knoll from which the puffs came thickest, but he fell wounded, and his men, on whom the enemy instantly concentrated their fire, fell back. The soldiers, powerless against the unseen foe— for afterward some of the officers and men who escaped declared that throughout the whole fight they had not seen a single Indian — discharged their guns aimlessly among the trees. They were half stupefied now with the terror and con- fusion of the scene, the rain of bullets, the wild yells which burst ceaselessly from their GOO savage foemen; while the horses, wild with terror and wounds, added to the con- fusion by dashnig madly hither and thitlier. Braddock behaved with furious intrepidity; he dashed hither and thither shouting and storming at the men and striving to get them in order and to lead them to attack the enemy. Four horses were one after the other shot under him: his officers behaved with equal courage and self-devotion, and in vain attempted to lead on the men, sometimes advanc- ing in parties toward the Indian in hopes that the soldiers would fol'ow them. Sir Peter Ilalket was killed; Home nd trees was y discipline, fierce oaths dy of them, h for a huge of the In- 1 them; but !s took them eed the rest Indians and n back with tid with the ing a target Burton led puffs came n whom the back. The r afterward iclared that en a single g the trees, or and con- yells which nen ; while [ to the con- Brad dock hither and striving to the enemy, ir him: his votion, and nes ad vane- the soldiers led; Home f ii ' THE WINNING OF A .CONTINENT. 103 I and Morris the two aides-de-camp, Sinclair the quarter- master-general, Gates, Gage, and Gladwin were wounded. Of 86 officers 63 were killed or disabled, while of 1,373 non- commissioned officers and privates only 459 came off un- harmed. JameE Walsham had been riding by the side of Washing- ton when the fight began, and followed him closely as he galloped among the troops trying to rally and lead them forward. Washington's horse was pierced by a ball and, staggering, fell. James leaped from his horse and gave it to the colonel, and then, seeing that there was nothing for him to do, withdrew a short distance from the crowd of soldiers and crouched down between the trunks of two great trees growing close to each other, one of which pro- tected him for the most part from the fire of the Indians and the other from the not less dangerous fire of the Eng- lish. Presently, seeing a soldier fall at a short distance from him, he ran out and picked up his musket and cartridge- box and began to fire at tue bushes where the puffs of smoke showed that men were in hiding. After three hours' passive endurance of this terrible fire, Braddock, seeing that all was lost, commanded a retreat, and he and such officers as were left strove to draw off the soldiers in some semblance of order; but at this moment a bullet struck him, and passing through his arm penetrated his lungs, and he tell from his horse. He demanded to be left where he lay, but Captain Stewart, of the Virginians, and one of his men bore him between them to the rear. The soldiers had now spent all their ammunition, and,, no long- 1- kevit in their places bj their general, broke away in a wild panic. Washington's second horse had now been shot, and as, trying to check the men, he passed the trees where James had taken u'*) his position, the latter joined him. In vain Washington and his other officers tried to teii^ii:?! U ... I! 164 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA. rally the men at the ford. They dashed across it, wild with fear, leaving their wounded comrades, cannon, baggage, and military chest a prey to the Indians. Fortunately only about fifty of the Indians followed as far as the ford, the rest being occupied in killing the wounded and scalping the dead. Dumas, who had now but twenty Frenchmen left, fell back to the fort, and the rem- nants of Braddock's force continued the flight unmolested. if- CHAPTER X. THE FIGHT AT LAKE GEORGE. Fortunate was it for the remnant of Braddock's force that the Indians were too much occupied in gathering the abundant harvest of scalps, too anxious to return to the fort to exhibit tliese trophies of their bravery, to press on in pursuit; for had they done so few indeed of the panic- stricken fugitives would ever have lived to tell the tale. All night these continued their flight, expecting every mo- ment to hear the dreaded war-whoop burst out again in the woods round them. Colonel Washington had been ordered by the dying gen- eral to press on on horseback to the camp of Dunbar, and to tell him to forward wagons, provisions, and ammunition; but the panic which had seized the main force had already been spread by flying teamsters to Dunbar's camp; many soldiers and wagoners at once took flight, and the panic was heightened when the remnants of Braddock's force arrived. There was no reason to suppose that they were pursued, and even had they been so their force was ample to repel any attack that could be made ipon it; but proba- bly their commander saw that in their present state of utter demoralization they could not be trusted to fight, and that the first Indian war-whoop would start them again in flight. Still if -arQa rtlnn^. 4-U^i- „ _-,f x . •,-,■, ., u 1 " V. " "'"' '-^'-'" ■""'• ^ reticuL wouia ieave the whole border open to the rava<'os " the Indians, and Col- onel Dunbar was greatly blamed . -. the course he took. ■m I, iN h« ! 1, WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, A hundred wagons were burned, the cannon and shells burst, and the barrels of powder emptied into the stream, the stores of provisions poattered through the woods, and then the force began its retreat over the mountains to Fort Cumberland, sixty miles away. General Braddock died the day that the retreat began ; his last words were, " We shall know better how to deal with them next time." The news of the disaster came like a thunderbolt upon the colonists; success had been regarded as certain, and the news that some fourteen hundred English troops had been utterly routed by a body of French and Indians of half their strength seemed almost incredible. The only consolation was that the hundred and fifty Virginians who had accom- panied the rrri^iTlars had all, as was acknowledged by the English off ;.!-. hemselves, fought with the greatest brav- ery, and huA iit'j.t tb'jir coolness and presence of mind till the last, dA^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I i^ ilM 3.2 6 |M IM M 1.8 1.25 M. i 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation <^ /%> MP iJ" :/j iV ^: /^ % 23 WEST MAIN STREliT WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 168 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, upon a village or solitary farm-house, murder and scalp the inhabitants, burn the buildings to the ground, and in an hour be far away beyond reach of pursuit. All that I can do is to occupy the chief roads by which they can advance into the heart of the colony, and the people of the settle- ments lying west of that must, perforce, abiindon their homesteads and fly east until we are strong enough to again take up the offensive. Were I in your place I would at once take horse and ride north. You will then be in plenty of time, if inclined, to join in the expedition against the French on Fort George, or in that -which is going to march on Nicgara. I fancy the former will be ready first. You will find things better managed there than here. The colonists in that part have for many years been accustomed to Indian-fighting, and they vill not bo hampered by having regular troops with them, whose officers' only idea of war- fare is to keep their men standing in line as targets for the enemy. There are many bodies of experienced scouts to which you can attach yourself, and you will see that white men can beat the Indians at their own game." Although sorry to leave the young Virginian officer, James Walsham thought that he could not do better than follow his advice; and accordingly the next day, having procured another horse, he set off to join the column des- tined to operate on the lakes. The prevision of Washington was shortly realized, and a cloud of red warriors descended on the border settlements, carrying murderj rapine, and ruin before them. Scores of quiet settlements were destroyed, hundreds of men, women, and children massacred, and in a short time the whole of the outlying farms were deserted, and crowds of weeping fugitives flocked eastward behind the line held by Wash- ington's regiment. But bad as affairs were in Virginia, those in Pennsylvania were infinitely worse. They had for many years been on J' scalp the md in an hat I can 1 advance ,he settle- ion their nough to e I would len be in n against going to sady first, are. The customed by having a of war- Tgets for ed scouts see that e." n officer, tter than y, having umu des- ;ed, and a tlements. Scores of I, women, whole of weeping by Wash- nsylvania been on THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 169 such friendly terms with the Indians that many of the set- tiers had no arms, nor had they the protection in the way of troops which the government of Virginia put upon the frontier. The government of the colony was at Philadel- phia far to the east, and sheltered from danger, and the Quaker assembly there refused to vote money for a single soldier to protect the unhappy colonists on the frontier. They held it a sin to fight, and above all to fight with In- dians, and as long as they themselves were free from the danger, they turned a deaf ear to the tales of massacre and to the pitiful cries for aid which came from the frontier But even greater than their objection to war was their pas^ sion of resistance to the representative of royalty, the gov- ernor. "^ ^ Petition after petition came from the border for arms and ammunition, and for a militia law to enable the people to organize and defend themselves; but the Quakers resisted, declaring that Braddock's defeat was a just judgment upon him and his soldiers for molesting the French in their set- tlement in Ohio. They passed, indeed, a bill for raising fifty thousand pounds for the king's use, but affixed to it a condition to which they knew well the governor could not assent, viz., that the proprietary lauds were to pay their share of the tax. ^ ^ To this condition the governor was unable to assent, for according to the constitution of the colony, to which he was bound, the lands of William Penn and his descendants were free of all taxation. For weeks the dead-lock contin- ued; every day brouglit news of massacres of tens, fifties and even hundreds of persons, but the assembly remained obstinate until tlie mayor, aldermen, and principal citizens clamored against them, and four thousand frontiersmen started on their march to Philadelphia to compel them to take measiires for defence. Bodies of massacred men were brought from the frontier . (' ')^^H ■m .i» («f' m fe ■ 1. J '««•.! mi it mil 1:0 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, villages and paraded through the town, and so threatening became the aspect of the population tluit the assembly of Quakers were at last obliged to pass a militia law. It was, however, an absolutely useless one; it specially excepted the Quakers from service, and constrained nobody, but declared it lawful for such as chose to form themselves into com- panies, and to elect officers by ballot. The company officers might, if they saw fit, elect, also by ballot, colonels, lieu- tenant-colonels, and majors. These last might then, in conjunction with the governor, frame articles of war, to which, however, no officer or man was to be subjected unless, after three days' consideration, he subscribed them in presence of a justice of the peace and declared his will- ingness to be bound by them. This mockery of a bill, drawn by Benjamin Franklin while the savages were raging in the colony and the smoke of a hundred villages was ascending to the skies, was re- ceived with indignation by the people, and this rose to such a height that the assembly must have yielded uncon- ditionally had not a circumstance occurred which gave them a decent pretext for retreat. The governor informed them that he had just received a letter from the proprietors, as Penn's heirs were called, giving to the province fi^e thousand pounds to aid in its defence, on condition that the money should be accepted as a free gift and not as their proportion of any tax that was or might be laid by the as- sembly. Thereupon the assembly struck out the clause taxing the proprietory estates, and the governor signed the bill. A small force was then raised which enabled the Indians to be to some extent kept in check; but there was no safety for the unhappy settlers in the west of Pennsylvania durino- the next three years, while the French from Montreal were hounding on. their savage allies l)y gifts and rewards to deeds of massacre and bloodshed. The northern colonies threatening assembly of law. It was, excepted the but declared iS into com- pany officers Oionels, lieu- ?ht then, in !S of war, to )e subjected cribed them red his will- in Franklin d the smoke kies, was re- this rose to sided uncon- which gave or informed proprietors, Tovince fi^e edition that not as their id by the as- lause taxing ed the bill, e Indians to as no safety ^ania during mtreal were rewards to ern colonies THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 171 had shown a better spirit. Massachusetts, which had always been the foremost of the northern colonies in resisting French and Indian aggression, had at once taken the lead m preparation for war. No less than 4,500 men, being one in eight of her adult males, volunteered to fight the French and enlisted for the various expeditions, some in the pa^ ot the province, some in that of the king Shirley, the governor of Massachusetts, himself a colonist, was requested by his assembly to nominate the commander! He did no choose an officer of that province, as this would have excited the jealousy of the others, but nominated William Johnson, of New York-a choice which not only pleased that important province, but had great influence in securing the alliance of the Indians of the Five Nations among whom Johnson, who had held the post of Indian commissioner, was extremely popular T i^''^''!""""* ''^^'^ ^'^^^ '^^''' ^'^ Hampshire 500, Rhode Island 400, and New York 800, all at their own charge Johnson before assuming the command, invited the war- riors of the Five Nations to assemble in council. Eleven hundred Indian warriors answered the invitation, and after lour days speech-making agreed to join. Only 300 of them however, took the field, for so many of their friends and relatives were fighting for the Frencli that the rest, when they sobered down after the excitement of the council, re- turned to their homes. The object of the expedition was the attack of Crown romt-an important military post on Lake Champlain- and the colonists assembled near Albany; but there were great delays. The five colonial assemblies controlled their own troops and supplies. Connecticut had refused to send her men until Shirley promised that her commanding officer should rank next to Johnson, and the whole movement wa- fer some time at a dead-lock because the five governments could not agree about their contributions of artillery and I" 172 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, The troops were a rough-looking body. Only one of the corps had a blue uniform, faced with red ; the rest wore their ordinary farm clotliing. All had brought their own guns of every description and fashion. They had no bayonets, but carried hatchets in their belts as a sort of substitute. In point of morals the army, composed almost entirely of farmers and farmers' sons, was exemplary. It is recorded that not a chicken was stolen. In the camps of the Puritan soldiers of New England sermons were preached twice a week, and there were daily prayers and much singing of psalms; but these good people were much shocked by the profane language of the troops from New York and Rhode Island, and some prophesied that disaster would be sure to ftill upon the army from this cause. Montlis were consumed in various delays; and on the 21st of August, just as they were moving forward, four Mohawks, whom Johnson had sent into Canada, returned with 'the news that the French were making great preparations and that 8,000 men were marching to defend Crown Point. The papers of General Braddook, which fell with all the baggage of the army into the hands of the French, had informed them of the object of the gathering at Albany, and now that they had no fear of any further attempt against their posts in Ohio, they were able to concentrate all their force for the defence of their posts on Lake Champlain. On the receipt of this alarming news a council of war was held at Albany, and messages were sent to the colonies ask- ing for reinforcements. In the mean time the army moved up the Hudson to the spot called the Great Carrying-place, where Colonel Lyman, who was second in command, had gone forward and erected a fort, which his men called after him, but was afterward named Fort Edward. James Walsham joined the army a few days before it moved forward. He was received with great heartiness by General Johnson, to whom he brought a letter of introduc- THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 173 fuse, and his private melrh^l , ° '™P''"'ity »"« pro- a capita, .'a'-l' wlthir the"^ ?! rh^rj^" '" ^7 upon a great picnic rath,.rtT '"' '"'"■'= "'"'■'ing against! superbr for "e " "''™ "" """'"''^ """^h ta.t:rrr:3!stLtH^r= "' »™^ ^-"' axemen were sent to how a wav 1^ *f "'S"- <^'*"«« »' marelied for tlie lake J,iT7r ,,",""'*''* ^'""O "«>■> Hampshire,re™:in d ;•« t°o «: ""fr'' "' ^^* Lyman. TI,e marclr w„ n>ade n alt "f """"'^ ^°^' the force took two days to trave se th f^ "l """'""' "'"' tween Fort Lyman and thebk tL:" " ""''" ^" country hitherto nntrodden hy ^k^^ reVlC; whlhliCtLd^reetedToE ',"', '"^ ^^"«- ■'•^''' first caned Lake Ge:;'^ ZnoTtCt^'Z """ :tt eiLV^f™ tr " '^ey .J:£arerrsr water, and poste^d t^'n!X^7,lZl%:::it%:\ f hill. Things went on t^, ''"'=''«'»<>,»de to clearM ; he forts ?„tr' U^ ''."™'" "" afford excellent cover forlnv 1 ' .''°"«'' " *'""''» them, nor were Z Ltt= Jad"T'^ '"'°"" """"^ abouts or intention of the enemy """"'" '"^ ''^"'^ "»< 'f t Ir 174 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, IIHII 11 im m Every day Avagons came up with provisions and boats. On September 7th an Indian scout arrived about sunset and reported that lie had found the trail of a body of men moving from South Bay, the southern extremity of Lake thamplam, toward Fort Lyman. Johnson called for a volunteer to carry a letter of warning to Colonel Blanchard. A wagoner named Adams offered to undertake the perilous service and rode off with the letter. Sentries were posted and the camp fell asleep. While Johnson had boon taking his leisure on Lake Oeorge the commander of the French force, a German baron named Dieskau was preparing a surprise for him; he had reached Crown Point at the head of 3,573 men-regulars, Canadians, and Indians— and ho at once moved forward with the greater portion of his command on Cariolon, or, as It was afterward called, Ticonderoga, a promontory at the junction of Lake George with Lake Champlain, where he would bar the advance of the English whichever road they might take. The Indians with the French caused great trouble to their commander, doing nothing but feast and sleep, but on September 4th a party of them came in bring- ing a scalp and an English prisoner caught near Fort Lyman. He was questioned under the threat of being given over to the Indians to torture if he did not tell the truth, but the brave fellow, thinking he should lead the enemy into a trap, told them that the English army had fallen back to Albany, leaving 500 men at Fort Lyman, which he repre- sented as being entirely indefensible. Dieskau at once determined to attack that place, and with 216 regulars of the battalions of Languedoc and La Reine, 684 Canadians, and about 600 Indians started in canoes and advanced up Lake Champlain till they came to the end of South Bay. Each officer and man carried provisions for eight days in his knapsack. Two days' march brought them to withm three miles of Fort Lyman, and they encamped THE wmmm OP A CONTINENT. close to the road which I,.,l *„ t i tLoyhad encamped ataLro,„h° "r^"' '"'' """^ Adams, Johnson^ mesr„lr ir„^ °" i'""""'*- » ™« and the letter f„„n,i ZThiJ' T '^1 ''^ '"■' '"■J""' twelve wagons appeared in cha™ 0,°°" """""'' '"" »■• who had left the English "l"f°°' """""•"'"»■> drivers Some of the drivZ ^'^ '"""'' ""'s™. the rest ran X ™T L":;";^"!' '« ta-cen prisoners, and tn.ry to the assertion o] tl e prCeTIt Ti"'"?' """' "»»■ force lay encamped by the lake Th. T f °°»?'"-°«a. a large and presently infcrm^ed D.cstu Iw If""" ^"'^ " "O"™''. the fort, which thoy belfeted to 1 "'%«"'<' "ot attack ^nt would join i/,„ Tel on tl'f ' '"'^ ""'""'"' Djoskau judged from the ronort of tt ^ ^^ "'° ''""'• colonists considerably outnnmh! , ! P'-^oners that the there was no great ImJ^^ ^t '"'"'. "'""""Sh '" ^ct French column n„mberi„',%„ '"?""'"'' ^'--ongth, the %800, besides 300 Mohtk In 'i ^.t D*^ f °""' '"- of repeating the defeat of BradZk .^f""' ""»'»"» ^ertions of the Canadians that «! en! "".?"""""« ""e as- temptible, determined to atttl 'f ■"""'" "» »»«- the column moved along the rl,T "'"^ '" *''^ """"-S When within four miL „f C '""f "^ "''' ''"'<'• "mgged valley. On heir rf^h'r™' "''"'? "-'y »tered bushes, beyond which rose 2 T "J""^" ^'''^"'^ '" Mountain. On their lef rose ^ .rf/ ."f '«''* »' ^"»«h Mountain. The ground waTtSr ^ "^ ^'°P^^ »' ^^-^ and forest. The reg,"lars Ird ]^ T"""'^ "■"'' '""i^et Canadians and IndiafspuheTtw"* "'""S »« "-oad; the a» best they conld. When Ih^ ,r^ *'"'™«'' ""> ''""ds their scout brought Ta LC„ ° f "' ""''^ »' ««' '"ko English column waap;ro!chr'''T?°'°", """" 'l^"' >>- on the road; the CanaSs " !' r,''"''«"''™ ""^ halted and hid themselves in amh,. ham »' ""^^ "" "'"'ad o« either side of the road ^"^ " "'"' """J bushes I! ■ !i. f"-l 176 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA; OB, Ihewiigonorswhohad escaped the evening before had reached Johns's e™,, about midnight and r^rtod h at there waa a war party on the road near Fort T.yman ception of the force of the enemy and the belief that thev would apeclily fall back from Fort Lyman tws det- m.ned to send out two detachments, each 600 str ng,1„e re reat. Ilondr.ek, the chief of the Mohawks, Lresscd h.s strong disapproval of this plan, and accordi;.^ t w„8 resolved that the thousand men should go as one bodv nendr,ek still disapproved of the plan, but'nevertheless re-' solved to accompany the column, and mounting on a gua- earrmge he harangued his "warriors with passlenate^lo- was too old and fat to go on foot, and the general lent him of' hfcorr. " """"''^ ""^ *-" "'» P'- »t ".0 head r„?.°.'!rwJ!""™'' ™ '" <»"""'">'J. with Lieutenant- Colonel Wh,t„,g as second. They had no idea of meeting the enemy near the camp, and moved forward so carelessly that not a single scout was thrown out in front or flank a s4n onhe :„ "' °". 'f """ """ ™ *» «-' '° 'Jeteci a sign of the enemy, and almost at the same moment a gun was flred from the bushes. It is said that the Iroquois seeks the Mohawks, who were an allied tribe, in the van, w she! to warn them of danger; the warning came too lat tos ve Prr r?. T/^^f ' ""* '* '"^-J " "■»™ destruction the head of he column was almost swept away. Hendrick's horse was shot and the chief killed with a bayonet a he tried to gam his feet. *^ fon/r^r ^^'"i"- '"'' '"'"''^ ''''''^ ^''''''^ «" ^^« right made for It, calling his men to follow; but as he climbed the slope the enemy's fire flashed out from behind every tree, andZ THE WINNING Off a «^ " OF A CONTINENT. "oil dead TJio n • i their conirados, wh:n ^i:^::::;^--^ Wd to «"Prort ^uiik also opened firo T J 'n "'^^'^ ^'^ ^ho rtht oncofortheeaxnp,..! tt Xr --oiled' ^"8ion,as from all sides thl T^''''''' ^^'««^led i„ con gelling. Colonel wZTnJZ "'' ^''''' «"t, shoutin ' Z oj ^nlliams' regiment SlSv""^^^'^^"^^ «nd by a detachment which Jo nt ^ '""" "^ ^^'^ ^^^^hawks «red the retreat, %l.tinrbehi .f ''"^ ""* ^o his aid, cov So stern and obstinate was tlJi 1 ? ''' *" "^^ «nemy. -Ited three-quarters of Tm . rth""^ nflicted a heavy blow hnthTi n ^^ ^""^P" They had \^S the complete su Ls ttv l'^^'^"^^^ ^'^^'^^^ i" obtain fefenceofWhitinga^HL eLnd ' '"• ^^^^ o^^tin e hem. and Dieskau, when h " :c^^^^^^ Indians sullen and immunllli.''''^'^'^^''''^ the willing to advance furtherlf .' '"^ "^^ ^'-^"^^ians „n! by tl.e loss of a veteran officr%"?r^"^ ^^P^-sld "landed them and who had hn ' f !!;"t-^^erre, who com- ength, however, he ^ed :;u^ '^ ^^^ '^^'' At wasp: 7:,tr::U;^^ the column, and " of a tree m front of his ten^ IZT "'°" ''' ^he stump sound broke out. '' ""^^'^ «^^ - «till air a rattling "Musketry!^' was t},. , -nd Wkmg vm hushed ^.ir?*^' ""* '""""i <>' laughing 'he shots could uo Ion Jm, 71 *'"' '"''™' «ound unt I ""f ^become a stead™^!! """"^"''h"'' "Part; U™ W,!!,ams> columu." "" """^ '«>«* have attaoked 12 t iHHIl 6 r 1 jS?.!,! 178 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA.: OK, Ocncnil Johnson ordered one of his orderlies to mount and rido out ut full Hi)ecd and see what was f;oing on. A quarter of an hour passed; no one returned to his work; tlie men stood in groups talking in low voices and listen- ing to the distant roar. "It is clearer than it was," the general cxclnimed. Sev- eral of the oflieers standing round agreed that the sound was approaching. " To work, lads! " the general said; " there is no time to be lost. Let all the axe-men fell trees and lay them end to end to make a breastwork; the rest of you range the wagons in a line behind and lay the boats up in the intervals. Carry the line from the swamp on the right there to the slope of the hill." In an instant the camp »va8 a scene of animation, and the forest resounded with the strokes of the axes and the shouts of the men as they dragged the wagons ti their position. " I was a fool," Johnson exclaimed, " not to fortify the camp before ; but who could have supposed that the French would have come down from Crown Point to attack us here ! " In a few minutes terror-striclien men, whites and Indians, arrived at a run through the forest and reported that they had been attacked and surprised by a great force in the forest, that Hendrick and Colonel Williams were killed; and numbers of the men shot down. They reported that all was lost; but the heavy roll of fire in the distance con- tradicted their words and showed that a portion of the col- umn at least was fighting sternly and steadily, though the sound indicated that they were falling l..ck. Two hundred men had already been dispatched to their assistance, and the only effect of the news was to redouble the efforts of the rest. Soon parties arrived carrying wounded; but it w;is not until an hour and a half after the engagement began that the niaiu body of the column wer© THK VVINNINO OP A CONTINKNT. 170 t IS n.o tho hasty defences were woll-„igh completed and all the „.un were employed in cutting ,lown the hick bj-UHhwood outside so as to clear the ground as fa as pi , soendeTthnr I T" ^'""'"^ '' ^^^^^^ "^« '^''^^^ ^^'^t ^e- riu^t or the nil. l^o hundred and fifty men wore now pluee on each flank of tho camp; the mafn bodyl d bo hind the wagons or lay flat behind the logs and boats the Massachusetts men on the right, tho Con^ecti^it meVon "Kow, my lads," Johnson shouted in his cheery voice you have ^ ^ to fight. Remember, if they get iS Tot' one of you Will ever go back to your fandlies to telUlL at'etfgh^/^" '''' ''^'''^^'^ -^" ^-^ them Lick In a few minutes ranks of white-coated soldiers could be between the boughs; at the same time Indka war-wlZ! rose loud m the forest, and then dark forms could be s n ^;t^a:!:r;v^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ There was a movement of uneasiness among the youn^ rus ics, few of whom ever heard a shot fired in anger befor! hat morning; but the officers, standing pistoMn hand threatened to shoot any man who moved Iron hie liUon Could Dieskau have launched his whole force at once upon It, but 18 he was powerless to do. His regular troom :::: "^l"^ 'T'' '"^ '^^ "^^^ -* CanadiansTnd InZ were scattered through the forest, shouting, yellinrand finng from behind trees. Jemng, and He thought, however;that if he led the regular, to the mI^ IV j i 180 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, attack the others would come forward, and he therefore gave the word for the advance. The French soldiers ad- vanced steadily until the trees grew thinner. They were deployed into line and opened fire in regular volleys. Scarcely had they done so, however, when Captain Eyre, who commanded the artillery, opened upon them with grape from his three guns, while from wagon, and boat, and fallen log the musketry fire flashed out hot and bitter, and, reeling under the shower of iron and lead, the French line broke up, the soldiers took shelter behind trees, and thence returned the fire of the defenders. Johnson received a flesh-wound in the thigh and retired to his tent, where he spent the rest of the day; Lyman took the command, and to him the credit of the victory is en- tirely due. For four hours the combat raged. The young soldiers had soon got over their first uneasiness, and fought as steadily and coolly as veterans; the musketry fire was unbroken ; from every tree, bush, and rock the rifles flashed out, and the leaden hail flew in .« storm over the camp and cut the leaves in a shower from the forest. Through this Lyman moved to and fro among the men, directing, en- couraging, cheering them on, escaping as by a miracle the balls which whistled round him. Save the Indians on the English side not a man but was engaged, the wagoners taking their guns anr"" joining in the fight. The Mohawks, however, held aloof, saying that they had come to see their English brothers fight, but animated no doubt with the idea that if they abstained from taking part in the fray and the day went against the English, their friends the Iroquois would not harm them. The French Indians worked round on to high ground beyond the swamp on the left, and their fire thence took the defenders in the flank. Captain Eyre speedily turned his guns in that direction, and a few well-directed shells soon drove the Indians from Jih [-■».♦ . THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. ,, . —- 181 «o stoutly tl,at l,e nex tn'ed tn f' ^""T"""' ""^ ^^gl" held the line. F„™ , h" h 7" ' ^"'"s''^'' "'"^ ^^™i»'"» tl.ro„gh the intren hments b 'DT t '° ''"•* "^ "^ «tood firm, although TUoomb w t n ?*"««'"'««"» men heavy. At length Die 1°"™?^ """ *'"='■• '"«» ^"^ "•nge of the English fn"' ^ Tfi '"""" ''">"" 'h"' adjutant Mont.u^ul'r „•; tt^ :o,"'' l^^ ^^""f '"» agam hit in the knee and n.il tt ""e general was behind a tree and ordered M*^ ; f '""' '''"'="" P'^"^"'' in a last effort agist t'c.™;'" > '"" *'" '■''«"'''™ blood of the colonic. , '^' "' " ™" '"o >•''«• The bodiesthey;:tt ™ ™;ii"nt:fb™^'r^ '" ™"" ing up among the trees townr I h ■ '"''■™ade and work- ment becamf ge'»^T ^JTI '''''"™''"'«- The move- -n, gave .heVord^^^^'thnhoi^Ttl,!': ^^'"' "' "-'^ shout leaped up and dashed ih™^h tte wo ?"'" '''"' " ene„, fa,,., „,„„ ,,„ ,,^ AtlernS t^: on'tsV^rrthTs^llth*^^^^^^^^^^ '--e CO.. s::^roi^t^;:;xsHi"™^^^^^^^^ and shot him throChbo I egs oil" ' '™' "' "■" -r:2rhrr;:itt'r""^-"^»^^^^ ~ kindness ^ Sr^rrXrpati toll^. "^^ I 1. ■■*- hat direction. Indiana frQin 182 WITH WOLtTE IN CANADA. SKETCH MAP OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND LAKE GEOEGB, TO lU-USTRATB 0PKBAT10N8 1756-1769. 4-'S CHAPTER XI. SCOUTWG. came Kpon them and opened fire T^ r v " Indian, „„t„umbe„„, L^tX.^'^XtZ^ some tme, but were finally defeated and fled ZaLiZ was m„rt,„, ,„,„,^,_ ,„^ ^^_^^.^^^_j d fl i M Gm„ nto't' r;"';-- ."^'^ """^'^^ "' "« ^>^» were thro™ Blood) Pod."' '"'' '° "™ '"^ "^"^ '"" -»o "The forl''t\rd" m^^^f ' °' ^r* '"8"'^- -""»d - the torest and made their way back to their eanoes in Sontb fli/ht' »d tfd ♦., T" ""^ ""=''■ '^""P«^*» in their nght until thoy rejomcd their comrades. to torture and hnrrrn; T "'^^*'"^® ^^ ^^^ camp, wanted Hendrick and tt '" '"^ ''"'"^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ath of iiendnck and their warriors who had fallen in the ambush. 184 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, He, however, succeeded in doing so, and sent him in a lit- ter under a strong escort to Albany. Dieskau was after- ward taken to England and remained for some years at Bath, after which he returned to Paris. He never, how- ever, recovered from his numerous wounds, and died a few years later. He always spoke in the highest terms of the kindness he had received from the colonial officers. Of the provincial soldiers he said that in the morning they fought like boys, about noon like men, and in the after- noon like devils. The English loss in killed, wounded, and missing Was two hundred and sixty-two, for the most part killed in the ambush in the morning. The French, according to their own account, lost two hundred and twenty-eight, dut it probably exceeded four hundred, the principal portion of whom were regulars, for the Indians and Canadians kept themselves so well under cover that they and the provin- cials behind their logs were able to inflict but little loss on each other. Had Johnson followed up his success he might have reached South Bay before the French, in which case the whole of Dieskau's column must have fnllen into his hands; nor did he press forward against Ticonderoga, which he might easily have captured. For ten days nothing was done except to fortify the camp, and when at the end of that time he thought of advancing against Ticonderoga, the French had already fortified the place so strongly that they were able to defy attack. The colonists sent him large reinforcements, but the season was getting late, and after keeping the army stationary until the end of Novem- ber, the troops, having suflFered terribly from the cold and exposure, becamealmost mutinous, and were finally marched back to Albany, a small detachment being left to hold the fort by the lake. This was now christened Fort William Henry. THE WINNING OP A CONTINENT. 185 The victory was due principally to the gallantry and coolness of Lyman; but Johnson in his report of the bat- tle made no mention of that officer's name, and took all the credit to himself. lie was rewarded by being made a baronet and by being voted a pension by Parliament of five thousand a year. James Walsham, having no duties during the fight at the camp, had taken a musket and lain down behind the logs with the soldiers, and had all the afternoon kept up a fire at the trees and bushes behind which the enemy were hid- ing. After the battle ho had volunteered to assist the over- worked surgeons, whose labors lasted through the night. When he found that no forward movement was likely to take place he determined to leave the camp. lie therefore asked Captain Rogers, who was the leader of a band of scouts and a man of extraordinary energy and enterprise, to allow him to accompany him on a scouting expedition toward Ticonderoga. "I shall be glad to have you with me," Rogers replied; " but you know it is a service of danger; it is not like work with regular troops, where all march, fight, stand, or fall together. Here each man fights for himself. Mind, there is not a man among my band who would not risk his life for the rest; but scattered through the woods as each man is, each must perforce rely principally on himself. The woods near Ticonderoga will be full of lurking redskins, and a man may be brained and scalped without his fellow a few yards away hearing a sound. I only say this that you may feel that you must take your chances. The men under me are every one old hunters and Indian fighters, and are a match for the redskin in every move of forest war. They are true grit to the backbone, but they are rough outspoken men, and on a service when a foot care- lessly placed on a dried twig or a word spoken above a whisper may bring a crowd of yelping redskins upon us '"■ * Si, ft' 1 186 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, f%- and cost every man his scalp, they woukl speak sharply to the king himself if he wore on the scout with them, and you must not take offence at any rough word that may be James laughed and said that he should not care how much he was blown up, and that he should thankfully re- ceije any lessons from such masters of forest craft «.Hl 7^ 7'";^ f'^^'^'' ^"^^'^ ''''^' "I^ th«t else it is settled I wi 1 let you have a pair of moccasins. You cannoi go walking about in the woods in those boots. You had better get a rifle. Your sword you had best leave be- hind It will be of no use to you and will only be in y«rr way. j^"* James had no difficulty in providing himself with a gun for numbers of weapons picked up in the woods after the rout of the enemy were stored in camp. The rifles had however, been all taken bj the troops, who had exchanged their own firelocks for tliem. Captain Rogers went with him among the men, and selected a well-finished rifle of which one of them had possessed himself. Its owner read- ily agreed to accept five pounds for it, taking in its stead one of the guns m the store. Before choosing it Captain Rogers placed a bit of paper against a tree, and fired sev- eral shots at various distances at it. ; It is a beautiful rifle," he said. " Its only fault is that It IS rather heavy, but it shoots all the better for it It is evidently a French gun, I should say by a first-rate maker, built probably for some French officer wJio knew what he was about. It is a good workmanlike piece, and when you * learn to hold it straight you can trust it to shoot " That evening James, having made all his preparations, eaid good-by to the general and to his otlier friends, and joiied the scouts who were gathering by the shore of the lake. Ten canoes, each of which would carry three men were lying by the shore. * peak sharply to vith them, and Td that may be not care how thankfully re- it craft. that case it is )ccasins. You se boots. You best leave be- nly be in ytrrrr lelf with a gun, oods after the 'he rifles had, uid exchanged :ers went with lished rifle of ts owner read- ? in its stead ng it Captain ud fired sev- '■ fault is that for it. It is t-rate maker, new what ho nd when you oot." preparations, friends, and siiore of the ' three men. THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. Igf "Nat, you and Jonatl.an will take this yonnff fellovi' with you. He is a lad and it is his first sjt. You wiU after ^Z 1 ^'t "^" "°^'- ^e was with Braddoclc and " hat'll"h"H "P '"" '"-^flsl'tingon the ikes, lie can t have two better nurses than you are. He is goins to be an offieer .n the king's ar„,y, and wants to iZ "f much as he can, so that if he ever gets with his men fnto • r^" "5''> ''-''P^'''^^^ ^^ wi" do our best for him It's risky sor of business ours for a greenhorn, but S' he i anyways teachable we will soon make a man of him/' 1 he speaker was a wiry, active man of some forty years o d, with a weather-beaten face and a keen gray eye Jon athan, his comrade, was a head taller, with broad shoul ders powerful limbs and a quiet but good-tempetd t t That s so, isn't it, Jonathan ? " Nat asked Jonathan nodded. He was not a man of m'any words. quired."^' ^'"^ '"'' ^"''^ '"^ ^ '^"'^ ^^^^^^?" Nat in- allZr'"7'"''?''^' "^"^ ^ """^ accustomed to boats of all sorts, and can handle an oar fairly." -Oars ain't no good here," the scout said. "You will have to learn to paddle; but first of all you have got o earn to sit still. These here canoes are awkward things for a beginner. Now, you hand in your traps and wfl stow them away, then you take your place in the midd e of he boat. Here's a paddle for you, and when you begin to feel yourself comfortable you can start to try with it easy and gentle to begin with, but you must lay it'in wh n we get near where we may expect that redskins may leZ the wc^ds, for the splash of a paddle might cost us 111 our James took his seat in the middle of the boat. Jonathan was behind him, Nat handled the paddle in Uie bow . ^ in 188 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, II There was but a brief delay in starting, and the ten boats darted noiselessly out on to the lake. For a time James did not attempt to use his paddle. The canoe was of birch bark, so thin that it seemed to him that an incautious movement would instantly knock a hole through her. Once under way she was steadier than he had expected, aod James could feel her bound forward with each stroke of the paddles. When he became accustomed to the motion of the boat he raised himself from a sitting position in the bottom, and kneeling as t^he others were doing, he began to dip his paddle quietly in the water in time with theii* stroke. His familiarity with rowing rendered it easy for him to keep time and swing, and ere long he found him- self putting a considerable amount of force into each stroke. Nat looked back over his shoulder. " Well done, young \in. That's first-rate for a beginner, and it makes a deal of difference on our arms. The others are all paddling three, and though Jonathan and I have beaten three before now, when our scalps depended on our doing so, it makes all the difference in the work whether you have a sitter to take along or an extra paddle going." It was falling dusk when the boat started, and was by this time quite dark. Scarce a word was heard in the ten canoes as, keeping near the right-hand shore of the lake, they glided rapidly along in a close body. So noiselessly were the paddles dipped into the water that the drip from them as they were lifted wa^ the only sound heard. Four hours' steady paddling took them to the narrows about five-and-twenty miles from their starting-point. Here, on the whispered order of Nat, James laid in his pad- dle ; for, careful as he was, he occasionally made a slight splash as he put it in the water. The canoes now kept in single file almost under the trees on the risrht bank» for the lake was here scarce a mile across, and watchful eyes might be on the look-out on the shore to the left. Another ten THE WINNING OF A CONTINENT. 189 le narrows miles was passed, and then the canoes were steered in to the shore. The guns, blankets, and bundles were lifted out; the canoes raised on the shoulders of the men and carried a couple of hundred yards among tlio trees; then, with scarcely a word spoken, each man rolled himself in his blanket and lay down to sleep, four being sent out as scouts in various directions. Soon after daybreak all were on foot again, although it had been arranged that no move should be made till night set in. No fires were lighted, for they had brought with them a supply of biscuit and dry deer's flesh sufficient for a week. " How did you get on yesterday ?" Captain Rogers asked as he came up to the spot where James had just risen to his feet. " First-rate, captain ! " Nat answered for him. " I hardly believed that a young fellow could have handled a paddle so well at the first attempt. He rowed all the way, except just the narrows, and though I don't say as he was noise- less, he did wonderfully well, and we came along with the rest as easy as may be." " I thought I heard a little splash now and then," the captain said, smiling; " but it was very slight and could do no harm where the lake is two or three miles wide, as it is here; but you will have to lay in your paddle when we get near the other end, for the sides narrow in there, and the redskins would hear a fish jump half a mile away." During the day the men passed their time in sleep, in mending their clothes, or in talking quietly together. The use of tea had not yet become general in America, and the meals were washed down with water drawn from the lake, where an overhanging bush shaded the shore from the sight of any one on the opposite bank, mixed with rum from the gourds which all the scouts carried. Nat spent some time in pointing out to James the signs wmm 11 w ■ Ml ■• 190 WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: OR, by which the hunters found their way through the forest; by the moss and lichens growing more tliickly on the side of the trunks of the trees opposed to tlic course of tlie pre- vailing winds, or by a slight inclination of tlie upper boughs of the trees in the same direction. "An old woodsman can toll," he said, " on the darkest night, on running his hand round the trunk of a tree, by the feel of the bark, which is north and south; but it would be long before you can get to such niceties as that; but if you keep your eyes open as you go along, and look at the signs on the trunks, which are just as plain when you once know them as the marks on a man's face, you will be able to make your way through the woods in the daytime. Of course when the sun is shin- ing you get its help, for although it is not often a gleam comes down through the leaves, sometimes you come upon a little patch, and you are sure, now and then, to strike on a gap where a tree has fallen, and that gives you a lino again. A great help to a young beginner is the sun, for a young hand in the woods gets confused and doubts the signs of the trees; but in course when becomes on a patch of sunlight he can't make a mistake nohow as to the direc- tion." James indulged in a silent hope I'hat if ht were ever lost in the woods the sun would be shining, for look as earn- estly as he would he could not perceive the signs which appeared so plain and distinct to the scout. Occasionally, indeed, he fancied that there was some slight difference be- tween one side of the trunk and the other; but he was by no means sure that even in these cases he should have no- ticed it unless it had been pointed out to him, while in the greater part of the trees he could discern no difference whatever. " It's just habit, my lad," Nat said encouragingly to him ; "there's just as much difference between one side of the tree m