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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 A partir de Tangle superieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MATILDA MONTGOMERIE: ^n. THE PROPHECY FULFILLED. ) h TALE OF THE LATE AMERICAN WAR. BEIJSa THE SEQUEL TO '• WACOUSTA." BY MAJOR RICPIARDSON, KNIOHT OP THE ORDER OP »T. FERCWAND, 4lJTnOB OP "WAOOUSTA." « HARDSCRABBLB." "BOARTl," *8^ «ft At'V ir^t vi4 ¥ jM i!^!f?i};q :iipf ■|14W;3*A'^U^I^A il^ i :UU\iii |i^t Vi ' » ie^^..4!'^ a" -I » Vfs.'^f^ f ■•* Uf^l I. if. ^4 ■:i:*'; 5 j'.^ \ i -v^fiieifw, I<*'^ \rvi MATILDA MONTGOMERIE; OH, THE PROPHECY FULFILLED ' CHAPTER I. ;• At the nortlicrn extremity of the small town which bears its nam(^ pituated at the head of Lake Erie, stands, or rather stood — for the fortiflcik- tions then existing were subsequently destroyed — the small fortress of Maldoii. Few places in America, or in the world, could, at the period embraced by our narrative, have otiered more delightful associations than tliat which \vd have selected for an opening scene. Atnherstburg was at that time one of th"9 loveliest spots that ever issued from the wdl of a beneficent and gorgeorfs nature, and were the world-disgusted wanderer to have selected a homo in which to lose all memory of conventional and artificial forms, his choice would assiux'dly have fallen here. And insensible, indeed, to the beautiful rcalitiefS of the sweet vild solitude that reigned around, must that man have been, who could have gazed unmoved from the b;inks of the Erie, on the placid lake b<|- neath his feet, nrrroring the bright stajred heavens on its unbroken surface, or throwing into full relief the snow-white sail and dark hull of some stately war-ship, becalmed in the offing, and only waiting the rising of the capricious breeze, to waft her onward on her tften peaceful mission of dispatcli. Lost indeed to all perception of the natural must he have been, who co\iUl ha^ listened, without a fjeling of voluptuous melancholy, to the plaintive notes of the whi{>-poor-wdl, breaking on the silence of night, and harmonising with tUo general stillness of the scene, llow often have we ourselves, in joyous boy- hood, lingered amid the beautiful hannts, drinking in the fascinating song oi this strange night-bird, and revelling in a feeling we were too young to ana- lyze, yp*. cherished deeplj' — yea, frequently, up to this hour, do we in our dreams revisit .scenes no parallel to which has met our view, even in the cou|"SO of a life passed ni many climes ; and on awaking, our first emotion is regret that the illusion is no more. Such was Amherstburg. and its immediate vicinity, daring the early yeahl of the present century, and up to the period at which our story commenced. Not, bo it understood that even then the scenery it.sclf had lost one particlo of its loveliness, or failed in aught to awaken and fix the same tender interest. The same placidity tf earth and sky and lake remained, but the poor whip- poor-will, driven from his customary abode by the noisy hum of warlike preparation, was no longer heard, and the minds of the inhabitants, hitherto disposed, by the quiet pursuits of their uneventful lives, to feel pleasure in its 6ong, had eye or ear for rKiught beyond what tern od to the preservation of their threatened homes. It was the commencement of the war of 18J 2. Let us, however introduce the reader more immediately to the scene. CloM MATILDA MONTOOMKItlE ; OR, in Iiis rear, as ho Ktnnrls on the elevated hank of the mapjniflcRnt river of De troit, and about a mile from its point of junction with Lake Krio. was the fori of Amhcrstburg, its defences consistnipj eliiell}' of stockade works, ilankcd, at its several angles, by strong bastions, and covered by adotni-lunc of live guns, 00 placed as to command every approach by water; Distant about three luin- dred yards on his right, was a larj^e, oblonp;, square building, resembling in appearance the red, low-roofed blockhouses peering above the outward defences of the fort. Surrounding this, and extending to the skirt of tho tliinned forest, the original boundary of which was marked by an infinitude of dingy, half blackened stumps, were to be .seen numerous huts or wig- wams of the Indians, from the Ures before which arose a smoke that contri- buted, with the slight haze of the atmosphere, to envelope tho tops of the tall trees in a veil of blue vapor, rendering them almo.st invisible. Between thcso wigwams and the extreme verge of the thickly wooded banks, which sweep- ing in bold curvature for an extent of many miles, brought into view tbo eastern extremity of Turkey Island, situated midway between Amherstbur^ •nd Detroit, were to be .seen, containing the accumulated Indian dead of many years, tumuli, rudely executed, it is true, but picturesquely decorated with euch adornments as it is the custom of these simple mannered people to bo- stow on the last sanctuaries of their departed friends. Some three or four mile.s, and across tho water, (for it is hero that tho river acquires her fullest majesty of expansion.) is to be .seen the American i.sland of Gros Lsle, which, lit the period of which we write, bore few traces of cultivation — scarcely a ha bitation being visible throughout its extent — various necks of land, however shoot out abruptly, and independently of the channel running between it and the American mam shore, form small bays or harbors in which boats may always find shelter and concealment. Thus far the view to the right of the spectator, whom we assume to bo facing the river. Immediately opposite to the covering demi-lune, and in front of the fort, appeared, at a distance of less than half a mile, a blockhou.se and battery, crowning the western extremity of the island of Bois Blanc, one mile in length, and la.shed at its opposite extremity by the waters of Lake Erie, which, at this precise point receives into her capacious bosom the vast tribute of the noble river connecting her with tho higher lakes. Between this island and the Canadian shore lies the only navigable channel for .ships of heavy ton- nage, for although the waters of the Detroit are of vast depth every whcro above the i.sland, they are near their point of junction with the lake, and, in what is called the American channel, so interrupted byshallows and sandbars, that no craft larger than tho.se of a description termed " Durham boats," can cftcct the passage — on the other hand the channel dividing the island from tho Canadian shore is at once deep and . apid, and capable of receiving vessels of the largest h\zi}. The importance of such a passage was obvious ; but although a state of war necessarily prevented aid from armed vessels t« such forts of the Americ:ina as lay to the westward of the lake, it by no means effectually cut off their supplies through the medium of the Durham boats already alluded to. In ordoi to intercept those, a most vigilant watch was kept by the light gun .,boats despatched into the lesser channel for that purpose. *^ A blockhouse and battery crowned also the eastern extremity of the i.sland, and both, provided with a tlagstaff for the purpose of communication by .signal with the fort, were far fro«n being wanting in picturesque effect. Asubaltern'a command of infant^3^ and a bombvadier's of artillery, were the only troops Stationed there, and these were rather to look out for and report the approach of whatever American boats might be soon stealing along th<^'ir own channel, than with any view to the serious defence of a post already sufflciently com- ■nanded by the adjacent fortress. In every other direction the island wart thickly wooded — not a house, not a hut arose, to diversify the wild beauty of the scene. Frequently, it is true, along the margin of its sands might be'seen a succ«*si6n of Indian wigwams, and the dusky and sinewy forms of ineii glidi.Mg roimd tUoir fires, as they danced to the monotonous sound of the war ver of De •ns the fall Hiuikctl, at f five puns, three ium- cnibling in e outward kirt of the 1 infinitude its or wig- hat contri- ; of the tall ween thcso uch sweep- to view tbo mhcrsthurfi ;ad of many orated with icoplc to be- iroe or four ^ her fullest Isle, which, arcely a ha nd, however twcen it and I boats may .savune to bo and in front jkhousc and inc. one milo »f Lake Erie, vast tribute n this island >f heavy ton- every whero lake, and, in 1(1 sandbars, boats," can md from tho i;; vessels of )ut althou|;h I forts of the cctually cut y alluded to. le light gun f the island, on by signal \ subaltern's only troops the ap])roaoh wn channel, cicntly com- 1 island wa.>< (1 beauty of ight be 'seen irnis of liieri 1 of the war THE PUOPIIECY FULFILLED. § dance -, but these migratory people seldom continuing long in tho same «i ot, t!u' island was again and again left to its solitude. Strongly contrasted with thi^;, would the spectator, whom we still s\ipp.'»w ptanly — (the younivr at least) — witii leaping — wrestling — ball-playing— and the foot race — in all which exercises they are unrivalled. The elders boro no part in these amusements, but stood, or sat cross-legged on the edge of the bank, smoking their pipes, and expressing their approbation of the prowess or dexterity of the victors in the gtunes. by guttu- ral, yet rapidly uttered exclamations. Mingled with these were >-on>c six Or seven individuals, whose glittering costume of scarl't announced them for ofUcers of the garrison, and elsewhere disposed, soi.ic along the bank.s and crowding the battery in front of the fort, or immediately round the buildsn^ yet quite apart from their officers, Avere a numerous body of the inferior soldiery. But although these distinct partl&s were assembled, to all appearance, witti a view, tho one to perform in, the other to 'vitness. the active sports wo hayo enumerated, a clo.se observer of the movements of all would have perce4vcd there was something more important ia contemplation, to the enactment of MATILDA MONTOOMEniE; OR, which tlicse expiriscs were but the prchi'lo, Both ofllcors and men. nnd own the pnrticipatnrs ill the sports, turm-d their paze freqmiilly up the Di'tnnt. nn H* they expected some iinpurlaiit ajjprourli. 'I'lio liroad reach of the wido river, aflordinp an iindisturlted view, hk we have stated, for n distance of somo •ino or ten miles, whera commenced the near extremity of Tiirlcey island, presented nothing, liowever, ns yet, to their gaze, ami tepealc lly were t^io lelescopes of the ofllcers raised only to fall in di.Hai)poinlnient from the eye. At length a nmnhcr of small dark speck.s were seen studding the tranquil bosom of the river, n» tlicy emerged rapidly, one after the other, from tho cover of the i.shiad. The commiiiii(;ation was made. l)y him who first disco- Kpred them, to his companions. The elder Indians who sat near tlie spot on which the pfHcers stooned them, were naked in all save their leggings and waist cloths, their bodies and faces begrimed with paint: and as they drew near, fifteen was observed lo be the complement of each. They sat by twos on the narrow thwarts •, and, Mcith their faces to the prow, dipped their paddles simultaneously into tho •trcHin, with a regularity of movement not to be surpassed by the mostexpe- wenced boat's crew of Europe. In the stern of each sat a chief guiding \m liark with the same unpretending but skilful and efficient paddle, and behind mm drooping in the brcczeless air, and trailing in the silvery tide, was to be Wmu a long pendant, bearing the red cross of England. It was a novel and beautiful sight to behold tliat imposing fleet of canoes, apparently so frail in toxt)ire that the dropping of a pebble between the skel- eton ribs might be deemed sufficient to perforate and sink them, yet withal /JO nigeniously contrived as to bear safely not only the warriors who formed their crews, but also their arms of all descriptions, and such light equipment of raiment and necessaries as were uidispcnsable to men who had to voyage .wng and far in pursuit of the goal they were now rapif the wido nee of somo key island, y wiTC l4io m tlm eye. he tninquil •r. from tho first flisco- the spot on their own nmj; to his )n(ler at tho he truth of tonjuics to A-ded to tho u'uiior. rily in size. npelled.nnd ipinj; thcni- 're of bark, ;ht, without 10 now pro- thcir bodies IS observed warts ; and, iy into tlio inostc.vpe- guidinj: ilia and behind was to be of canoea, •n the skel- ■et withal \o forjned equipment to voyage The In- j; rendered ic (hstrict, >n witli the the North intelligent Delawares romincnt a ination of I) have sct- ilicaily, ro- ifuseiy bo- rriors who nlUience— that of the Iheir wiMa e had ren- fiire but Ko he might ewfly liftvo been confounded with one of their own encc of the English chief; btik this was expressed rather by a certain outswelling of his chest, and the search* ing glance of his restless eye, than by any words that fell from his lips. Prc- Bently, he whom he sought, and whose person had hitherto been concealed br the battery on tho bank, was seen advancing towards him, accompanied by his personal staff. In a moment the shade passed away from the brow of thO' warrior, and w irmly grasping and pressing, for the second time, the hand of a youth — one of he group of Junior officers among whom he yet stood, aad whO' MATILDA MONTaOMERIC; OH, hdil nianrfe5it(!(l cTen more tlmn his companions tho nnboandcd pli>a.<;nr« h4 look in tho diicfluin's ro-nfipoarance— ho moved forwanl. with an ardor of niiuini'r t)iat waa with (UlUculty rcstrainud hy \m sense of d'tcuity, to give ihem the trirctmi;. Tlio lirst of tlic ndvancinp party was a tall, martial lookinp man, wearing the dress and insij^nia of a general ofileer. 11 is rather florid countenance wiw ♦iniiiently fine, if not handsome, oirerin<», in ifs more Roman than Grecian contour, a model of quiet, inaidy beauty ; while the eye beaming with intelli- pence and candor, pave, in the occasional flashes which it emitted, indication of a miiiil of no common order. There was, notwith.standinp, a hcnevolenco of expression about it that blended (in a manner to excite attention) with n dipnity of deportment, as much the result of habitual .self command, as of tho proud eminence of distinction on which ho stood. Tho secci-et bond of smpathy which chained his interest to the sailor, might have i>wem|mnion, u was that carriage of i},'idity wo iniiiiander. CO, and al- rn by . . untcnance. character ; iny of that needed no )]c service, this thero cad luoro y exposed, ntatioiisly iiflercd to 1 by hini- !^ht be ex- held tho while tho to be duo Pirat time, learmlesa iiir to his on. Tho ght have lerc was fire, that features ; reducing der. that al seemed dore, Ilia the first ough tht TIIR PROP II BOY rULPILLIiD. V nicdinn of an intrrprnter then in nttundance on the npncral, that a wiir- conncil had been onhfrt'd, for tho purposo of tukiii;^ into romidtTiilion the buRl nieim.s of (IffejitinKthodesij^nsof thi; Americans, who, with a vww to oH'cnsivc oiHTfttions. Iiad, in the interval of tho warrior's ub^ienciv pu-di-d on n conside- rable force to the frontier. Tho oonncil, howtvi-r, had been delayed, in or