IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I E^ IM IIIIM ■" ilM iim ..' m '""^ ^ m liio 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 : < 6" — ► %' V] ^1 >> c^l > ''^ 0% Cif ^>; '/ M Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14.>i)0 (716) 873-4503 ,\ ^V ^ \ \ ^ i i \ \ ■■ On a negr( goin^ to re part) expri counl respo laugl the n trans pecul tende the CI Th tallfi large arden JOHN CANADA. CHAPTER I. THE RAPIDS OF LA CHINIS. On a splendid day in June, a canoe rowed by two strong negroes and having a few other persons on board wa& going down the St. Lawrence. Cordial affection seemed to reign amongst the different members of the little party ; but, in spite of all efforts to be cheerful, an abiding expression of sadness might have been observed on their countenances. Each one made an effort to give a merry response to the exclamations of surprise and the bursts of laughter uttered by a beautiful little boy who stood in the middle of the boat. He was slight of figure and of transparent complexion, with curling hair ; there was a peculiar brightness in his look and in his nmile, and the tenderness and devotion of the three other voyagers in the canoe seemed centred on him. The youngest of these was a lad of about seventeen, tall for his age and remarkably supple of limb. His large bright eyes bespoke a nature at once gentle and ardent. He gazed on the blue-clad child who stood 2 John Canada, among thorn, with an afiPcction almost equal to that of the man who sat in the heat's stern. This latter might he ahout thirty-five, and his face, though marked with deep scars, retained great heauty of expression. His nohle figure and dignified hearing hetrayed high hirth, while his simple attire was that of recent mourning. The last of the voyagers had seen at least sixty summers. Weather and travel in various climes had hronzed his skin ; his determined attitude and the manner in which he occasionally gave an order to the rowers, revealed one of those brave merchant captains, who by their talents realised immense fortunes in the Indies, and at the same time upheld the credit of the French flag, by capturing in every latitude vessels bear- ing English colours. This seaman had braved many a storm, had broken i;^ ater-spouts with his cannon-balls, had endured deadly calms, faced the monsoon and the typhoon, but had never trembled before danger. The soul of a hero animated his iron frame, yet the old sea- dog grew tender almost to weakness when the child clasped one of his horny hands with his tiny fingers and smiling called him " grandfather ! " " Well, Tanguy ! " said the old captain, addressing Herve's father, " we are finishing a marvellous voyage ; when first they spoke to me of the beauty of the shores of this river, I shook my head in a kind of scorn. One who has sailed over all the oceans of the world knows nothing more glorious than that boundless horizon on uhichhis eyes are accustomed to gaze. But I began to Tite Rapids of La Chine, 8 change my mind when the grandeur of the bay gaTe me some idea of what might be expected from the river. The course of the St. Lawrence to Quebec was full of wonder to me ; I should never have thought that a ship of six hundred tons could ascend a river. But my astonishment was greatly increased when I saw that I could continue my course to Montreal, and anchor there as well as in the finest harbour in the world. I did injustice to fresh water, Tanguy, for this river has almost all the beauty of tlie sea." " Yes," replied Tuuguy, " this country seems to me quite superb, and the thing that specially charms me \a the immensity of its solitudes. We are only about three leagues from Montreal and we are already in the \^ Ids. The blue waters anfl 'he vast woods are all we can see. To hearts that have been so deeply afflicted, father, this absolute calmness seems to be a solace. The tumult of Montreal causes me a kind of alarm. I have seen too much of men for some months, I feel the need of escaping from them " " I have known it, Tan(>uy,*' answered his father-in- law, " and I have forestalled the desire which you have not yet expressed. My cargo has been sold to advantage. I bought nothing but French merchandise, and I was sure of disposing of that at Montreal. The mate of the ship is a good fellow, whom I can trust thoroughly. lie takes command of the Lady of Gaul, and will go for the present and trade with South America. He will not undertake long voyages, and will frequently return to Montreal, until we are able to come to sornc decision as John Canada. to our future. My greatest wish is to make it easy for you to choose your place of abode, Tanguy." Tlic young man stretched out his arms towards the river's banks and said, "Father, let us come nearer to the town if you will, but let us not leave the St. Lawrence. This morning, when you proposed that we should take a ride, I understood your meaning and I thanked you from the bottom of my heart. To-day is perhaps the first day during which I have been able to shake off the heavy burden that weighed upon my soul." *' This excursion was planned two days ago, with Toyo and Tambou. I desired them to have a boat ready and to wait for me four leagues from the town. After having made you ride along the shores of the St. Lawrence, I wanted to give you a more complete idea of their beauty by a trip in a canoe. I feared too that Herve might suffer from over-fatigue. In less than three hours, that is at the fall of day, we shall be back in our hotel, and to-morrow we will begin to consider how your projects can best be carried out." Toyo turned towards the Captain, and stopped row- ing, then said, " Massa Halgan, you hear thunder roaring P " The old seaman shrugged his shoulders, looked at the sky and replied, " How can you think of a storm in such weather as this ? Row on, Toyo, row on ; though we have *K)me hours of daylight before us, we must re- member we have to reach the town and return to Montreal before night." Toyo plied his oars again with the passive obedience TJm ttapids of La Chine of a slave, then turning his head tovrurtls his brother Tainbou, continued, ** Brother must have heard it ? " " Yes,*' said Tambou, " but it is not thunder from heaven, it is the thunder of water ! " Both the Indians bent themselves back and worked the oars skilfuUv. Silence had fallen on the passengers. Tun guy's eyes wandered along the banks of the river whose forests had not yet been cleared away. The youth who sat at Herve's side spoke to him in gentle undertones, as if he feared to interrupt Tanguy's day-dreams or to break in upon the Captain's grave reflections. The canoe was gliding over the water with increasing speed, a speed which was not accounted lor by the com- bined efforts of the negroes. A distant tumult reached the ears of Halgan, and he now understood why Toyo had spoken of thunder. There was certainly no sign of a storm to be seen in the sky, but the country was com- pletely new to him, it was intersected by numbers of rivers which were swelled by their tributary streams ; the St. LawrenriG itself sometimes widened into a mighty lake, its course was broken by sudden and stupendous cataracts; and, accustomed as he was to the wide ex- panse of the ocean, the Captain began to wonder whether the St. Lawrence might not have some terrible surprise in store for him. His skill as a mariner however re- assured him, and if his own life only had been in question, he would have sat still with Tangiiy rapt in contemplation of the wondrous prospect before him, but his eye fell on Herve who was smiling and playing I i! d John Canada. II' \irith his youthful friend Patira ; he became alarmed for his beloved grandchild, and rising up went to the fore- part of the boat. The sound which the blacks had been the first to per- ceive was gradually increasing in intensity ; the boat was going down the stream in a manner which dis- quieted him and which was not completely due to the action of the cars. In order the better to comprehend the situation of affairs, Halgan desired the two blacks to stop rowing for a moment ; they obeyed him, but the boat still darted on with the speed of an arrow. ** There certainly is a current." said the Captain, " a river is not the sea, after all. Give me your oars, Toyo, and let yours rest, Tambou ; I can manage the boat." Herve clapped his hands joyfully. " Oh ^ bow quickly we are going,'* he cried ; " we are flying faster than the birds ! " "Indeed," said Tanguy, speaking to Halgaii, "the ooat is going at a wonderful rate. Have we nothing to fear? " " I think not," answered Halgan, " except this sound which is almost deafening. The river seems perfectly calm ; I have no doubt there is some reason for the in- creased speed of our boat, but she is strong and I am an old Bailor. Don't be uneasy, my son, you won't come to grief with me." Tanguy's confidence in the Captain's skill kept him silent, he only placed Herv^ on his knees and held him pressed against his breast. The sun was slowly sinking towards the horizon, the trees of the forest stood out with strange distinctness i i The Mapids of La Chini against ^he crimsoned sky, while great shadows were already hovering over the green low-lying bunks. Twi- light had not yet come, but the sounds of day were stilled and its beauties were dimmed. Calmness, mingled with deep melancholy, took possession of the niiud to quiet it and of the soul to bear it aloft from earth. Tanguy continued silent ; from time to time his lips lightly touched the child's brow, while he interchanged an affectionate glance with the youth who was seated at his feet, and who sang in a low tone a mournful strain, which must have been brought from a distant land, for each note seemed to find an echo in the heart of those who heard it. Far o£E a light wreath of smoke was rising above the trees from an Indian hut hidden within the deep shadows of the wood. While Captain Halgan was listening to the ever ap- proaching thunder of the waters, and Herve sleeping in his father's arms hushed by the murmur of his friend's song, a man came to the river's bank, bent over the branch of a tree in which an iron ring had been made fast, and undid the rope of bark by which a canoe was secured. He got into the light boat, drew in the float- ing rope, seized two oars and began to row without hurrying, but in a manner which proved his thorough acquaintance with the river and with the modes of navi- gation in use among the savages. He had seen from the shore the heavier boat of our travellers, and, impelled by a sudden fear, had decided to prepare for what might happen. 8 John Canada. " Never/' said he to himself, " would a native of this country thus guide his boat on the St. Lawrence. God guard the strangers, they are nearing the Rapids !" And indeed the aspect of the river was changed ; in- stead of the sand over which the limpid waters had rolled, stone now formed the bed of the St. Lawrence, and rose so high that there was scarcely as much water as a canoe might draw. It seemed as if a giant stair- case were formed of living rock beneath the river, and the current was rushiug violently over the steps. To increase yet more the perils of the navigator, the rocks rose here and there above the waters of the St. Lawrence, many reefs appeared above the surface, and amid the many obstacles and unknown dangers of the river, the skill and experience of the best seaman would have been at fault. The increasing speed of the boat's course, and the roaring of the waterfalls surprised Captain Halgan, and he bfcgan to perceive that the lives of the loved beings under his care might be in danger ; he seized the oars in a Icind of desperation, but at this moment their assist- ance was likely to be dangerous rather than useful, the boat was suddenly carried away by the current and glided along swiftly as an arrow from the bow. At one moment its keel touched the rocky bottom, the next its sides came into contact with the reefs. Powerless to slacken the course of the canoe, Halgan's only care now was to hinder it from striking too violently against the rocks, but the oars were soon shattered in his hands, the impetuous rapids dashed the boat against an enormor^ rockl the T] smoc dimij a rei Tlie Rapida of La Chine. 9 rock, and the shock was so great that it rebounded from the rock and was driven into the middle of the river. llie rapids were passed, the St. Lawrence was again smooth as a mirror, but the danger was by no means diminished ; the side of the boat had been shattered by a reef, water was coming in, and the efforts of the passengers to bale it out or to stop the hole could only for a time retard the inevitable catastrophe. At the moment when the boat had struck on the rock with a fearful crash, Herve with a cry of terror had fallen back insensible in his father's arms, and Tanguy, pressing him closely to his heart, was wondering whether it was not time to seek safety by swimming, when the man in the bark canoe, paddling towards them with all possible speed, cried out : "Do not be afraid ! you are saved ! " Tn another moment he was so close to the half-sunken boat, that he was able to take hold of its side. " Spring into my canoe ! " he said calmly, " though it looks but slight it is quite able to bear you all ! " Tanguy went first, then Patira ; the negroes stood in the sinking boat waiting to see Halgan in a place of safety, but he signed to them to get into the canoe. ''The Captain," he observed, "is the last to leave a shipwrecked vessel." As the boat went to pieces and floated down the calm bosom of the river, Halgan sat down at Tanguy's side. " You certainly do not belong to this country, sir," said the man who had so providentially seen them from ir 10 John Canada. the river's bank and saved them from certain death, "you must be strangers or you would know the Rapids of La Chine." " We are Frenchmen, sir,** replied Tanguy, " and have only been in Montreal for a few days.** The youth, plunging one of his hands in the stream, bathed the temples of Herv^, who still lay motionless, while Tanguy gazed on his pale countenance with an expression of tender anxiety. " It will be nothing serious, probably,** said the master of the canoe, " the child has fainted from terror, but there is no danger in his state. Unfortunately, I have no restoratives with me, but the air, no doubt, will set him right : however, allow me to make you an o£Fer, and to ask you a question — Did you mean to re turn to Montreal this evening ? '* " That was our intention," answered the Captain. " Is it absolutely necessary that you should be there?'* " No, unless this child's state '* " Be at ease about him — I have finished my questions, and this is what I can offer you : You see I am draw- ing near the bank of the river, and you may observe a solid dwelling-place half hidden among the trees — will you accept my hospitality, or had you rather return to Montreal by means of this canoe ?" " Sir," said Tanguy, " we owe our lives to you, and we thankfully accept another benefit from your hands — Montreal is at least two leagues distant, and my son does not yet open his eyes.'* The Rapids of La Chine. 11 (( Very well ! and I thank you, sir," responded the o^mer of the canoe ; " a few minutes more and we shall land." Twilight came, and while the travellei's drew near to the ahode of their deliverer, the other shore of the river faded from their view, and the splen- dour of the sunlight passed away. The dark forest seemed to grow larger and larger hefore their faces, as the hlue distance could no longer be distinguished from the line of trees. They were nearing the shore, and when their deliverer found himself close to the mooring-place, he pushed his paddle firmly into the bottom, brought his bark- canoe so near the bank that he could spring on land, then drew out the rope and made it fast to a giant Shumach tree, and gave a helping hand to Tanguy, who, with his child still held in close embrace, in another moment stood at the Canadian's side. Captain Halgan, Patira, Toyo, and Tambou, one after another left the canoe, and their host quickened his steps as he led the way to a great house over which the shadows of night were gathering. As the wanderers passed under some giant sugar maple trees, two different sounds welcomed the owner of the dwelling — one was a joyful barking, and the other a strange guttural cry, which might have been interpreted as an expression of affection. A great dog rushed out to meet his master, bounded round and round him, licking his hands, and raising his beautiful head towards him, while a gigantic brown bear came ■»■•-: 12 John Canada. forward with heavy steps shaking his immense head, then slowly raised himself to an erect position, uttering a dull grumbling growl, and iinally placed his velvet paws on the shoulders of the travellers' kind host. " Gently, Phebus !** said the man, " down Mingo ! you are good faithful creatures ! Draw back and show respect to tbose who are entering our door." The dog raised his head, sniffed at the new-comers, and then rubbed himself against Patira's legs, while Mingo, the bear, trod heavily at Tanguy's side. Neither bear nor dog as yet crossed the threshold of their master's dwelling ; their duty as guardians was not concluded, for they quietly placed themselves one on each side, like sentinels ready to sound an alarm on the first appearance of danger. Two servants hastened to meet the Canadian, and a tall man, wearing the national dress of an Indian tribe, approached him with an air of dignity and an expres- sion of tender affection. *'My brother has made a prosperous trip," he said, " my brother brings back strangers." ** Yes, Black Bison," answered the Canadian, and then turned to Tanguy, and pointing him out to the Indian, said, " Give this beautiful boy into the care of my Indian brother without any fear ; he has a knowledge of medi- cine which might astonish many a learned doctor." Black Bison took hold of Herve cautiouslv, looked at him anxiously, and then turned his eyes to the Cana- dian, as if in expectation of a command rather than a request. The Rapids of La Chine. 13 " Let the Black Bison listen to my words and en^^rave them on his heart. Terror hus deprived this child of all feeling of life — the boy must smile again in his father's arms/' The Indian bowed his head with majestic calmness, and the servants opened the folding doors into the great hall. Black Bison began by taking off Herve's damp garments, warmed his icy limbs by slow friction, wrapped him in a warm rug of the fur of the black fox, took some bottles from a sort of cupboard, and put a few drops of some liquid on the child's mouth. Halgan and Tanguy bent over their darling, and presently his eye-lids quivered, a gentle breathing opened his lips, he gazed around him in wonder, re- cognized Halgan and his father, then threw his arms round Patira's neck, and finally, catchiug sight of the strange figure of Black Bison, uttered a cry of mingled fear and wonder. *' The Wren is afraid of the Black Bison," said the Indian, *' but he will soon learn that the Red Skins are friends of the Pale Faces." At this moment the bell announced the evening meal, the door was opened noiselessly, and a strange and charming being appeared on the threshold. She seemed to be about thirteen years of age, her figure was tall and graceful, and the dress she wore harmonized with her peculiar and surpassing beauty. It consisted of a white tunic adorned with embroidery, and confined by a girdle of rare shells. A long neck- 14 John Canada, lace of many-coloured pearls hung down to her breast. Mocassins worked with porcupine quills and glass beads, covered her tiny feet, her hands were long and delicately formed like those of a European girl. Her skin was of a warm amber tint, and her magnificent long hair was, by some strange, yet graceful freak of nature, white as the foam of the cascade, or the snow of the glacier. A golden band confined this hair which floated around her like a liquid veil. "Father, father," she asked, as she pressed the master's hand to her lips, *' no accident has happened to you P" " None, thank God ! and those who are under my roof are in safety." Herv^, who was now in Patira's arms, looked at the silver-haired maiden with a sweet smile; in another moment she was at his side, the two innocent creatures understood and loved one another at first sight ; Herv6 gave his hand to the silver-haired maiden, and they went together into the vast dining-hall. " Gentlemen," said the Canadian to his guests, " you are at home." In another moment all were grouped around a well- spread table, and after having seen Herv^ comfortably established, the little Indian maiden kissed his brow, and said, in a musical voice, " The Wren and Non- pareille will love each other as if they had been rocked in the same cradle." The Great Jliit. 16 CHAPTER II. THE GREAT HUT. The dwelling in whicli Tanguy had been so hospitably received partook of the character of an Indian cabin in the primitive nature of its materials, and at the same time, resembled a fort in some points which could not fail soon to strike the eye of an observer. The palisade surrounding the immense fnciosure in which the house stood, was formed of trunks of trees, large and solid enough to resist a bullet and presenting serious obstacles even to the axe. Great cross-pieces of wood held the sharpened posts of the palisade together, and heavy bars of iron defended its gates. The house was also made of trunks of trees with the bark left on, the windows, large enough to admit floods of light into the lower apartments, were furnished with good shutters and showed that nothing had been for- gotten in providing for the safety of the house. In the upper storeys, loop-holes served to give light to rooms which were leas frequently used, and at the same time offered an important means of defence in case of attack. The menacing aspect of some of these arrangements was partly concealed by the broad projecting roof from which the snow could easily slide in winter. The house was entered by a flight of fine steps, an 9imense vestibule gave access to rooms whose spacious lOroportions enabled their master to exercise hospitality on a large scale. Phebus and Mingo were generally 16 John Canada. to be found in the court or the vestibule ; the former ever lively and playful, the latter sleepy and sad, unless when fear took possession of him and roused liis over- whelming strength and called forth his terrible growl. Tanguy, Captain Halgan, and the youth Patira were in an immense dining-room ; liberality without luxury presided at the table. The dinner-service was conmion, the provisions substantial, and the beer sound and good, but the habits of the master were evidently temperate. The silver-haired maiden had taken possession of Herv^ with a sort of affectionate despotism. While his blue garments were being dried, she wrapped him in the fur of a black fox, and the pretty boy might have been taken for the model of some picture of the Holy Family, in which St. John is to be seen, smiling, crowned with curling hair, and clad with a fleece which displays the transparent skin of his infant form. The strange attire of his companion, the tender gravity of her expression, the beauty of her necklaces, the grace of her smile, and the wonderful floatinf^ hair which surrounded her, all combined to transport Herve into another world. From time to time he looked at his friend Patira as if he would ask him the meaning of all the marvels which surrounded him, but the youth was absorbed in thought, and perhaps the subject of his meditations was the same as the subject of Herv^'s delighted surprise. The meal began in silence, but by degrees the host succeeded in giving some animation to the conversa- tion ; he described to the rescued travellers the beauty TtiP Great HuK ir of that virgin nature in the midst of which he dveelt, he spoke of Indian tribes w'th whom he seemed to be intimately acquainted, and whenever he praised their courage or made mention of their virtues, his eyes turned to the Black Bison or the silver-haired maiden. The Indian had followed the host into the dining hall, but he did not share the meal, only accepting a draught of the brown beer which he seemed to quaS in honour of the visitors. The maiden who answered to the name of Nonpareille had adopted the European customs of her friendly protectors, although her dress still betrayed her re- membrance of her owii Tce and her affection for it. When the meal was c /er, the guests withdrew into another apartment which was divided into two parts by two different styles in which it was furnished. On one side might be seen convenient and simple pieces of furniture of French form, together with many other things belonging to civilized life ; on the other, were heaps of furs, chiefly those of the bear and the bison, apparently destined to serve as seats. From a carved rack hung pipes with curiously sculptured earthenware bowls set in rings of silver or brass, deco- rated with figures and trimmed with feathers, and fitted into large wooden tubes ; others of yet more extraordi- nary workmanship were fixed to the blade of an axe, had the handle of a tomahawk for a tube, and a stone bowl. The warlike owner of such a calumet could instantly make it a terrible weapon. The host of the great hut offered his guests vipes of a less formidable 1^ John Canada. kind, provided tbem with good tobacco, and said in a voice of remarkable power and sweetness, " Your rooms are ready, gentlemer, you must retire when you like . the pleasure of your visit does not make me forget the fatigue and violent emotion you have to-day gone through.' " Tanguy gave his hand to his host, " You have wel« comed us," he said, "according to the traditions of antiquity and the custom of the desert. We have re- ceived from you the greatest possible services, we have shared your bread and your salt, and you do not yet know even our names." " I know," replied the master, " that you are men of intelligence and good heart ; your speech assures me that you are French ; can anything more be needed to enable us to understand and appreciate each other ?" " I am called Marquis Tanguy of Coetquen," re- joined the young man. ** Captain Hainan was father of the wife for whom I mourn, whose features live again in Herve's countenance. As to this youth who seems already quite abashed, because he is afraid of hearing his own praises, he is Fatira, and he saved our lives on a previous occasion " Patira came forward towards the host and laid his nervous hand in that which the gentleman held out to him. The silver-haired maiden gazed at him with simple-hearted admiration ; evidently it made her happy to know that he was brave. " As for me, sir," said the host in his turn, " 1 am known under the name of John Canada." The Great Hut. 19 " What ! ** exclaimed Coetquen, •* you are John Canada, who fought for New Franc** by the side of Montcalm ! Oh ! believe me, we all know you, and we have admired you from a distance as one of the heroes in the glorious struggle which needs not success to render it immortal. You were at the battle of Carillon, your blood was shed twice on the plains of Abraham. My brave father, who was a connection of the Montcalms, a friend of the Bougainvilles, and a relation of the Marquis of Vaudreuil, has often spoken to me of you ! "What a happiness for exiles to find in this distant land a man so devoted to the old flag ana lu Ihe service of God ! " The manly features of John Canada betrayed deep emotion, a tear stood in his eye as he pressed the hands of Halgan and Tanguy ; slowly, as if fearful of losing his self-command, he uttered the words, " France ! my beloved and noble France !" " Why did you speak of fatigue a little while ago? " rejoined the Marquis of Coetquen, " I never felt less in need of sleep. It would be sucn a pleasure to talk of our common country." A cloud of perplexity passed over John Canada's face. " So you do not mean to retire to your room ?" he said. •' By no means, and until you yourself go to rest — " " I shall not go to bed to-night." " Then we shall remain with you^ unless your duties oblige you to part from those whom you delivered from th« Rapids." " lu any case," answered John Canada, " the hour 20 John Canaaa. for doing so has not yet come, we have still time to speak of France." A shudder passed through the frame of Coetquen, and he said, " We have hardly been a month in Canada. We have fled from France, which now offers us nothing but a scaifold — John Canada ! torrents of blood are flowing in our country, the cross is cast down from the desecrated altars, the nobles are only escaping death by banishment. Kuin is on every side. A red rag has taken the place of the banner with the lily of France for which you have fought, and amid the terrible convulsions which now distract the country, it seems as if its institutions and its glories must com- pletely perish." " Do not believe it ! never believe it !** cried John Canada. " France is suffering ! is in her agony ! she lies a martyr on a blood-stained soil, because she is the prey of the ambitious, of murderers, and unbelievers. But her torture has lasted only four years, while we, Canadians, inhabitants of the old country, have been enduring ruin, persecution, transportation, and death, for thirty years. For thirty years a struggle has been going on in Canada between the Catholic Faith and Protestantism. Our patriotism is punished by exile, our faith is proscribed. It is not enough for our enemies to banish those who speak too loudly, there is wholesale transportation, entire districts are de- populated, and family ties are broken with wanton ferocity. What has been the fate of Acadia ? Where are our exiled brethren P Alas ! what is before us P I , III'' The Great Hut. 81 I ma^? speak, since my name has already readied your ears : I have fought unceasingly for the freedom of my country and if all patriotism had died out of the hearts of the men of New France, it would still be preserved in this dwelling which is called by the wild Indian tribes, the Great Hut. Ever since the day when I was borne back wounded, from the great battle fought by the heroic Vaudreuil, the love of my country has been to me a sacred thing. I am proud of the name of Frenchman, and I husband my remaining powers to be in readiness for the hour when the Canadians may need me. I did not choose the name I bear, it was given to me, and I hold it as a noble title. I seem to have been made the representative of our country which is vanquished indeed, but still alive and ready at the first sound of hope and deliverance, to rise up again and pour forth her blood on the plains which it will fertilize !" " Alas ! " said Halgan, " how you must have suffered !" " We have wanted for everything except courage ; we have slept on the burned ground, we have passed, bare-footed and weak with hunger, through the wild untrodden forests. Bigot, the wretched governor of Canada, who has received the reward of his evil deeds, sold us worn-out muskets, which burst f.n our bleeding hands — yet we held on. French regiments fought side by side with the militia of the country, Indian tomahawks fraternised with our arms. The sound of our bugles was overpowered by the native war cries. I-! 22 Julni Canada. I ! :i7 I!*: The Red Men and the Pale Faces were animated by one common sentiment, all fought for the great Ononthio, and offered their lives for New France. Though the mother country abandoned us we could never forget her. Hatred for our conquerors has outlived the sorrows of defeat. We are, and shall ever be French- men. "We shall never cease to speak that familiar eloquent language which is so ricb in tenderness and in power. Our hearts are still true to her who has forgotten us, and those who have breathed the air that passed over our cradles have a special claim on our friendship." " Brave, noble heart !" exclaimed Coetquen. ** We can now understand each other," rejoined John Canada, " and if what I am about to tell you alarms your conscience, you will forget it." ** On my word of honour !" said the Marquis. "You will answer for Patira, as I do for Non- pareille ?" " Yes," replied Halgan. *' Well !" continued John Canada, "the Great Hut has become the central meeting-place of all who are suffering in body, in mind, or in heart. Here come, singly or in groups, every day and every month, those who need food or counsel ; here at fixed times assemble those who share my hope of raising Canada to new life, and delivering her from the conquerors who have become her tormentors. Oh ! do not say that we are seeking comfort in a vain dream : since the day when the Black Bison brought me here, pierced with three yi-\ The Great Hut. 28 bullets, this abode has been the last refuge where it was possible for us to meet. We have patience, because we have faith and strength. We count our numbers without hurrying into action. Perhaps this band of brothers, united by a single idea, and chosen from all ranks of society, will do nothing more th:m support and console one another. And if it should bo 80, would not our work have still been worth doing ? If God appoints us an hour, we will act — if the hour of action comes not, we will continue to suffer in silence. We do not take part in politics, properly so-called. We cannot even be said to be conspirators. Wo meet together, that is all. Each one leaves our gathering with a fresh impulse for good and a more generous confidence in the ^^ture. The poor, the rich, the learned, and the unlettered, the savage and the missionary, all flock to this wooden house ; hands are clasped in one another, hearts understand each other, and God does the rest." *' But what of the police ?" asked Captain Hal- gan. " Oh ! I am well aware that they would give a good deal to be rid of me, and accordingly I am extremely prudent ; those around me guard me, I leave nothing to chance, and give no reason for violence. If I had listened only to my own feelings, 1 should often and often have drawn down upon me the terrors of the law ; but I owe myself to others, and I have no right to run to destruction. The police are watching for an op- portunity and I make it my business to give them 24 John Canada. Qone. The morrow's success may be sacrificed by to-day's imprudence." "And one of your meetings takes place this evening?" "Yes, this evening. Friends, poor and afflicted persons, will come from MontreaJ and the neighbouring islands, from the villages on the banks of the river and from the depths of the forest, to speak together of the land from which you have taken flight, and of * the old country ' which they would fain deliver from every trace of the English." " But," inquired Tanguy, " besides the snares which may be laid for you, does not your isolated situation of itself expose you to serious dangers ?" ** I have indeed, everything to apprehend, and there- fore, I am always ready for combat. This wooden house could stand a siege. To tell the truth, I have nothing to fear from the English. The day that they catch me in the act of conspiring against the right of the strongest, they will judge me with unmitigated severity, and I need have no hope of mercy ; but until such time as they can take me, condemn and execute me, they will leave me in peace. "What I always look forward to is an attack from the savages friendly to England. I have had five different alarms from them, they were defeated, but not without difficulty. The Indian chief who is calmly smoking his calumet here, was of great use to me, to say nothing of Phebus and Mingo, whose intelligence was equal to their courage. The village of La Chine consists of a few V.;si?^c vvhose inmates are devoted to me ; in case of need The Great But. 25 I can summon them bore and they can easily reach me by a path unknown to the Hurons." " I sincerely admire you," said Tanguy, '* and all the more because your courage endures so long. After all, nothing is easier than the daring that impels us to face a danger however great, under the influence of a noble idea and amid the excitement of generous feeling. But coolly to realize what you are doing, to become the soul of a party, to be the representative of a persecuted nation, and to confine your very courage within the limits of prudence, is indeed heroic and grand." At this moment Black Bison took his long pipe from his lips, raised his tall figure to its utmost height, and left the hall, after having made a feign to John Canada. Ilerve had just fallen asleep, and Patira raising him in his arms, said to the silver-haired maiden, '* Non- pareille, I should like to lay this dear child in the bed which the master of the house intends for me, and myself to return to this hall." " Come !" said the young girl, gently. The cry of the blue owlet was now heard, and gives notice that John Canada's friends were drawing near the Great Hut. Light as a bird the young girl passed before the youth, opened the door of a chamber in which a night-lamp was burning dimly, pointed to a little bed and said, " My young brother will have sweet dreams here." The same cry was heaid for the second time, and the S! / , n 1 1' i ! I I f 1 26 John Canada. silver-liaired maiden took Patira by the hand, and led him back to the great hall whose curtain was raised by the Black Bison. CHAPTER III. SECRET AUDIENCES. The countenance of the Indian betrayed emotion scarcely to be controlled by the gravity habitual to men of his race, who unite great simplicity of heart to their courage. It might have been guessed that the cry which he had heard, and in answer to which he had arisen, proceeded from the lips of some companion of his youth, who had wielded the tomahawk at his side in war with a hostile tribe, or had, with him, shouldered the musket when the Indians joined their French allies in resisting the invaders of Canada. The chief — for his noble mien, the scars which seamed his breast, and the silver and gold medals which hung from his necklace, claimed the title for him — had chosen to appear at John Canada's assembly, not in his war-paint but in mourning colours. Black predomi- nated in the numerous lines drawn on his face, and the buffalo skin which served him as a cloak, bore as cant- ing arms a bleeding heart transpierced by an arrow. His legs were hidden by buckings of supple leather, which were ornamented by the hair taken from enemies slain in battle. A ecalping-knife and a brilliant axe hung from his Secret Audiences. ar girdle ; rings of silver rattled from the immense lobes of his ears, and wampum necklaces fell like a breastplate over his chest where the tattooed totem of his tribe ap- peared beside his paint. Pierced-Heart silently seated himself in a corner of the spacious hall, and accepting the calumet which Black Bison presented to him, began to smoke. John Canada was too well acquainted with Indian customs not to respect the chief's imperturbable reserve ; Halgan, Tanguy, and Patira watched him with a curiosity which was kindly rather than indiscreet. Hardly a moment had passed after the arrival of the Algonquin Sachem, when another visitor reached the hall. He was a tall old man, clad in a torn cassock, and shod with mocassins of bufPalo leather. He leaned on a great maple staff, and wore on his head a black close- fitting skull-cap. A few locks of white hair strayed over his thin neck, and an expression of hidden suffer- ing enhanced the asceticism of his appearance. The missionary came to John Canada as quickly as his weariness permitted him. " I come," he said, " to seek refuge ; for the last week I have been hunted like a wild deer, and I have escaped by little less than a miracle from the Indian partizans of the English power, who look on us as the enemies of their gods and the opponents of their allies. God knows, my son, that I do not concern myself about political affairs or new divisions of country, all I do, is to teach men the law of God and to bear the crucifix from hut to hut. But the English are not content with l-\ 28 John Canada. having taken possession of our territory, they seek to snatch from us that winch has been won by the Gospel. The greatest severity is shown to the tribes which have remained friendly to France, and now protection and peace are offered as the reward of the abjuration of their faith. John Canada ! my feet are bleeding in the mocassins which a kind Indian widow bestowed upon me, and the old missionary is hungry." Tanguy and Halgan gazed at the old man with rever- ent pity and the Silver-haired maiden hastened forward and bent down before him with arms crossed upon her breast. The priest blessed her and she glided from the hall, beckoning to Patira to follow her. When they came into the dining-hall, Nonpareille put some bread, a slice of venison, and a jar of fresh water on a tray, gave it to Patira to carry ; and then taking a basin, a towel and a pitcher, returned to the missionary who had sunk exhausted on a seat. She knelt before him, washed his bleeding feet and bound them up, first with fresh leaves and then with linen bandages, and, when this was done, stood before him silent and modestly graceful, while Patira served his frugal meal. The great hall meanwhile had gradually become filled with visitors belonging to very different social positions. Some of the men had come from Montreal, and the neighing of their horses, which were fastened to the palisades surrounding the court, might be heard ; others had descended the St. Lawrence in their bark canoes, the poorer traders had come on foot through SSecrct Audiences. 29 the forest and arrived worn-out with their journey. Some of them related the crafty expedients to which they had been compelled to resort in order to pass through the districts infested by the Huron bands. While the Europeans gathered around John Canada, the Indian chiefs flocked to the sagamore and took the long pipes presented by the Pierced-Heart. All spoke in an undertone ; the men looked cautiously at each other ; John Canada watched for the great clock which stood in a corner of the hall to give the appointed signal ; its hands moved slowly round the en- amelled dial ; two minutes more and he was to begin to speak, but the door was violently thrown open and a woman with dishevelled locks cast herself at his feet. " Give me back my daughter !** she said, " give me back my daughter !" '* Your daughter ! Amy David, your daughter Lucy ? ** " They have taken her from me, the wicked wretches have stolen her. For a long time I have not had a day of peace or a happy hour ; I knew that the monsters were watching for their prey, and I pressed my child to my heart, as if my love could guard her. You know her, you know she is good, and beautiful, and pure, an angel in her devotion, a saintly soul! "We are poor — my father's fortune has been taken from us — we worked with our hands all day and at least half the night, but we never complained ; we were happy in our affection for one another. Persecution assailed us in a crafty and hidden manner ; work became scarce, we were turned t -1 ,■ n .1 i : :f ! I. I ill dO John Canada. out from several poor abodes which had given us shelter. One day a l*rotcstant Minister visited us on the pretext of taking an interest in our position : he expressed com- passion for us and gave us to understand that our lot might bo ameliorated if I wislicd it. Do you under- stand what he meant ? If I wished it ! I saw that my child was growing pale, and I asked myself if she could endure our protracted martyrdom. Then he spoke to me of apostasy. If I would consent to deny my faith, I should be made more comfortable, if not — alas ! I knew it well, if not, mother and child would soon die of hunger. I bid the tempter begone, but that night we had no supper. Two days after Lucy re- turned to me in a state of terror, she believed she had seen dark-looking men pursuing her. I tranquillized her with some difficulty, and we decided that for the future she should only go out with me. Then, the crafty foes laid a snare for her. A note was written to inform my child that she could obtain remunerative work in a distant part of the town, on condition of going for it immediately. I was out at the moment when Lucy received the letter ; she thought she ought not to wait for me, lest the opportunity should be lost, and accordingly she started. She had hardly gone twenty paces from our dcor, when she was arrested on an odious charge, and in spite of her tears and her pro- testations of innocence, dragged off to one of tliose places of confinement in which thieves t^nd abaT.doned women await trial. When I came home ray house was empty ; I wept and prayed and lo(/kefl for my child's return ; in th^ she" whei only amidj accus such I whicl ordei " Ko ! no !" said the mother, wringing her hands, " I have begged God to give me such courage, but I cannot ! I cannot ! There are men more cruel than the panthers in our woods, men who would drink the blood in our veins, drop by drop. You have lost your mother I but Margaret JeJ^erson, 71 what is the separation for which you moum compared with that which drives me to despair ? Lucy — my Lucy is of your age, she is as beautiful as you are — it seems to me that you are like her, you are so gentle and so compassionate. This angel of goodness, this saintly child has been taken from me, stolen from me, thrown into a prison '' "Why? Oh! why?" asked Margaret. " Persecution is persecution," rejoined the widow. " Canada is Catholic and England is Protestant, that is a reason, is it not ? " " And have you not asked for justice ? " " I have gone on my knees, and bowed my head to the dust, offering my life and liberty in exchange for hers." " Poor mother ! " murmured Margaret. " Do you know the terms that were offered me ? ^* " Some treachery, no doubt ?" " Worse still — apostacy." "And you refused ?" " I put my cause in the hands of God ! '* " You have done nobly," said Margaret, ** and our Lord cannot fail to bless you. He has afflicted you sorely, but believe me He will restore your daughter to you." " If you knew how carefully I have watched over her ! Lucy was a pure bright flower — these wretches have shut her up with the very dregs of society, with women who are a disgrace to our sex, with thieves ." " Good God ! how dreadful ! " exclaimed Margaret ; " and your petition has been everywhere rejected ? " i f 72 John Canada, u It u One man only has promised me his protection : be who is the support, of all sufiFerers.'* "John Canada?" asked Margaret, quickly. " Yes, but John Canada bid me wait. And how can I wait when Lucy is su£Pering and is calling me, and I am afraid of being overwhelmed by despair before I can save her ? " " Have you tried to visit her in prison ? " " That consolation has been denied me." " You gave your name, no doubt ? " " I had to give it. I was asked — they hope to conquer me by making me endure the extremity of miBery." Do you think you can trust me ? " asked Margaret. Yes ! yes ! " replied the unhappy mother. ** Will you let me go and see your daughter ? '* " Go ! I beg you to go ! how I shall bless you ! " " I will at least make the effort, what I should be afraid to do for myself I will venture for you. Your daughter's name ? " " Lucy David." " I will remember it, and your own ? ** " I am Amy." " Listen," said Margaret in a tone of deep feeling^ " God does nothing in vain ; He has brought me across your path that I may be of use to you. Anything I can, I will do ; even if I have no news to give you but only a hope, I will come and tell you. It is growing late, my father will be coming home, and he might be displeased or uneasy at my being out so late. Kiss me ! I will bear your kiss to your daughter." Margaret Jefferson. 73 Amy David clasped Margaret in her arms. " God has sent me an angel I " she said. The young girl left the widow's lodging and hastened on towards her home. Most of the streets were per- fectly dark and she lost her way more than once ; the lateness of the hour and the apprehension of incurring a serious reproof if her father were at home before her filled her with fear. As she drew near to a dark by-street, she heard the sound of song and rude laughter proceeding from a neighbouring tavern ; she hurried her steps hoping to pass it, but three drunken men barred her way. With a cry of alarm she drew back into the shadow of the opposite wall, but her terror only amused and encouraged the men, who began to jest at her fears. Margaret's cry had, however, reached the ear of a man who was passing through the adjoining street. He felt that assistance was needed, came straight to Margaret, pushed the drunkards away, and exclaimed in a voice of thunder, " Who dares to annoy my sister P ** The young man's attitude and tone commanded respect, the three companions turned away with in- distinct excuses and Margaret's defender, taking her arm within his, rapidly walked on. " Where do you live P " he asked. Margaret told him, and, as she walked on at his side, said with a falter- ing voice, " I do not know what would have become of me without you, sir ; ray father will be so glad to thank you — if he has already reached home he must be very uneasy about me — I went out to go to church. m 74 John Canada. and found a person in great trouble, and so was delayed too late." There was something in Margaret's countenance and voice which made the young man think that grati- tude from her v/ould be very sweet. They walked on in silence, he felt her hand still tremble as it rested on his arm, he was much touched by her alarm though he could not account for the sudden sympathy she had awakened in his heart. ** You are French ? *' he said. " My mother was an Acadian, sir." ** A Frenahwoman, then, and a martyr." " Yes," replied Margaret in a tone of iringled sorrow and wonder. " And your father P " " I pray for him," said Margaret. The young man understood her delicate reserve and at the same time guessed her secret sorrow. The little house in the alley was still in darkness ; Jeffei'son had not returned. The young girl slowly took her hand from her protector's arm, and pointing to her humble abode said, " I thank you sir, may God give your mother every blessing ! " " I am alone in the world, quite alone," he replied, " and I should find life very sad were it not that I am struggling for a great cause." " You too I you are hoping for better days ? " "My name is George Malo !" said the young man, with a kind of pride. " Blessings on you, then ! Although my father still Margaret Jefferson. 75 looks on me as but a child, I know that some French- men are hoping to free our country from her invaders and to disinter the sword of Montcalm ; 1 also know that you are John Canada's friend. In future, when I pray for my country I shall not forget your name." Margaret bowed a farewell to George Malo and opened the door of her house. When he saw the young girl in safety, he slowly went away, but not before he had engraved in his memory the name and situation of this remote part of the town. Margaret took up her work again, but it often fell from her hands. Never in the course of her young life had so many events been crowded into one hour. She thought of Amy David weeping at the foot of the Cross, of her own terror when the tipsy men from the tavern stopped her way, and then of George Malo, whose name was often mentioned by young Canadians in accents of hope, and was associated with that of John Canada. After Margaret had been about an hour at home Jefferson returned. He seemed full of spirits and energy, and embraced his daughter with a tenderness which touched her all the more because her soul was already under the influence of deep emotion, and she was intending to beg her father to enable her to sec Lucy David. " You are tired with waiting for me," said Jefferson, " go and rest yourself, Margaret ; the sun will rise again to-morrow and there will be time enough to thread your needle. God grant I may become rich, very rich, to save you from putting out your eyes!" 76 John Canada. *' When you are rich, father, I will work as much as I do now, but I will give more away." She saw him smile and then continued, " Do you know, there is one class of sufferers who interest me more than all others. Misery out of doors under the blue sky is but half misery. Besides, however badly off poor people may be, they still have some friends at whose fireside they can sit down, they can look for work and ask alms ; but there are unfortunate creatures who suffer and groan without any consolation, and I pity them above all." " You mean prisoners, Margaret ? '* " Yes, father." " Prisoners are criminals ; fchey have no right to expect anything but puni? bment. *' " T^Iost of their are criminals, no doubt — but however bad they may be they have a right to pity, and they need to be urged to repent. Their heart rebels and they curse God and man. I would fain speak to them of re- signation — and after all, among captives some innocent persons arc to be found, victims of odious calumny ; they beg that their case may be brought to light, they ask for justice and justice is not done them. Father I those are the poor I should wis^ to help if ever you grow rich." •' Very well ! very well ! Margaret ! I know you are a good girl. " "Is it very difficult to obtain admission to the prisons?" " Yes, very difficult. " ** To whom must one apply for a permission to visit a prisoner ? " Margaret Jefferson, 77 ** The Police authorities only can grant it. Good night, Margaret ; it muy be very yrood to be charitable, but one must not expend one's pity or one's alms on the unworthy. But we will speak of all these things another time when I am rich, very rich." Jefferson kissed his daughter again, and Margaret took a candle and went up to her little room. It was peaceful, like a little sanctuary, adorned with white hangings and protected by a crucifix; the only work jt art it contained was an engraving of no great merit, representing the departure of the Acadians, who were taken by force from their country to a foreign land to die there, caning with despairing voices on the fathers, mothers, and children sent by a cruel power into banish- ment elsewhere, so that loving hearts had the anguish of sepiua*'*' u added to the sadness of exile. Margaret remembered having heard that her mother, an Acadian, had been carried away on board one of the English vessels and had returned to Canada at the risk of worse than banishment. Jefferson had married her, and thus the young woman had been enabled to live nearer her own country and in the midst of a Catholic population. When difiiculties beset Margaret's path, when her task seemed heavy and she felt inclined to despair of bringing her father to share her faith, she looked at the engraving which represented this heart- breukiug scene and hoped for the help she needed from heaven. *• My father will not assist me,'* said Margaret to herself ; " I quite understand it ; he either will not or wmmmmm 78 John Canada. cannot— I will try myself to obtain what I wish for. The police officials havo wives and sisters of their own, they will understand that a young girl wishes to com- fort one of her own age. I love Lucy David already ; poor creature, she is suffering for her faith, and her mother, with the courage of the ancient martyrs, urges her to be constant and endure '* Margaret went to bed and fell asleep. The next morning her father, according to his habit, left her early ; he was not to return until dinner time ; Margaret was free for the day. She put on a simple dress and went to the office where her father had told her that permission to visit the prisoners might be obtained. She was trembling, for she was excessively timid and reserved. Her walk on the previous night and the step she was now about to take appeared to her deeds of extreme daring. She was soon in front of an enor- mous building of gloomy aspect ; a shudder passed through her frame as she crossed its threshold. The men who were moving about the corridors were pale, and the expression of their countenances was dull and sinister. Their very gait betrayed fear ; they glided along close to the wall, frequently turning their heads to look back, a habit no doubt contracted by the con- tinual watchfulness over the prisoners which it was their duty to exercise. Margaret was sent from one department to another ; she observed that curious glances were directed to her and were followed by evil smiles ; the suavity of manner of the more polite among the officials annovod her. At last she found herself in Margaret Jefferson, 79 a passage, at the end of which, behind a kind of grating t n old man was writing at a desk. " Pray, sir, would you give me permission to visit a nrisoner ? '* " What is the prisoner's name ? " " Lucy David." The old clerk opened a register, looked for the name and found it, then having read a note in the margin of the book, added, " there is a bad mark against her for insubordination." " ! sir," said Margaret, whose eyes were now full of tears, " perhaps she will become more tractable if she is allowed some consolation in her trouble. I beg you will not refuse to grant my request." " Is Lucy David a relation ot yours ? " " No, sir." " What is your reason for wishing to visit her ? " " Charity," answered Margaret, raising her great blue eyes to the clerk's face. " What is your own name P '* *' Margaret Jefferson." The old man looked at her, smiled kindly, and an- swered, ** You ought to have begun by saying, ' I am James Jefferson's daughter ; ' that would have been enough. Jones ! a card for this pretty girl. No doubt you would like to visit Lucy David more than once ? Yes, I see it in your face ! well, here is a permanent permission which holds good till it is withdrawn. Go, my child." w^^m 80 John Canada. Margaret thanked the old man cordially, and passed through the office so quickly that she did not hear him say to his colleague, " To think of that wretched Jef- ferson having a daughter, the very sight of whom would be enough to convert a sinner!" Margaret pressed the ticket of admission in one of her little hands ; she was full of joy ; God was helping her; she had at once succeeded in an undertaking so difficult, that her father had begun by giving her to understand that it was almost impossible. The first feeling of satisfaction was, however, soon mingled with some anxiety. Certain things seemed to her inexplicable. Did James JefEerson, the timid, shrinking poor man, whose ambition had often made her smile sadly, and who was, at this very time, gaining but a modest livelihood, really occupy a more important position than Margaret had supposed ? If any one had told her the day before that the name of Jefferson would have been a talisman able to open the heavy doors of a prison, she would have been greatly surprised. But Jefferson himself could not be in ignorance of the power of his name, and if he really knew it why had he at once discouraged Margaret when she had wished to ask his help ? " Lucy David is a Catholic," thought Margaret to herself, " and my father hates Catholics. Nothing but his extreme love for my mother, and the solemn pro- mise which he made to her when she lay on her death- bed, could have induced him to leave me free to worship aa she worshipped." Margaret Jefferson, 81 As often as Margaret showed the ticket which had been given to her, to any one of the officials of whom she had to ask her way, she met with the most polite attention ; hy-and-by she found herself again in the open air, in the street, and hastened her steps that she might the sooner reach the prison. It was a mournful-looking pile, with immense walls, and small barred windows admitting little light or air. All the doors had great iron bolts, and the principal one was doubly fortified ; sentinels kept guard around the place, lest any one should seek to escape. When Margaret had entered the prison court, she stood and looked leisurely at the walls and the iron gratings, and her heart grew heavy as she thought that a young girl of her own age was suffering and weeping in the terrible place. Tremblingly she presented her permission to a tall, masculine-looking woman, with a florid complexion, heavy red hands, and a countenance expressive of savage ferocity. Mrs. Jones seemed to measure the trembling Margaret with a glance, and then roughly asked her, " Do you want to see her in the parlour, or had you rather go into the yard ? " Margaret was anxious to kjiow as much as possible of Lucy David's daily life, in order that she might be able to give an account of it to her mother, therefore she chose to go and see the poor girl in the place where most of her time was spent, and said to the gaoleress, *•■ Pray, take me to the yard." " I hope," added the virago, " that you are going to advise the wretched girl to be obedient. Since she has 7 82 John Canada. been here we have been able to do nothing with her She pretends to be a most devoted Papist, but the rea- son for which she has been sent here does not agree with her appearance of virtue. The other girls under my care are much more tractable." Mrs. Jones opened a massive door, and, holding it in one hand, said to Margaret, " I will come back for you in two hours." The yard was long and narrow, and within it stood a few half-dead trees. Seats were placed here and there along the giant wall, and on them were some women working with their needles. At the extreme end several were collected together and were speaking in loud voices, shouting and gesti- culating. Margaret thought that, between their songs and shouts, she heard a sob. She hurried forward, anxiously thinking that the unhappy girl she had come to see might even now be at the mercy of these outcasts of society. For more than an hour a terrible scene had been going on in the prison yard. If y CHAPTER VII. AN ANGEL AMONG THE LOST. The prison to which Lucy had been conducted was full of the lowest women. The advent of this young creature iwrith her sweet pure face excited among them a kind of astonishment mingled with pity. Soon the prisoners An Angel among the Lost 83 were divided into two camps, one of which affirmed the innocence of the new-comer, convinced by the mere sight of her modest bearing and her clear child-like gaze ; while the other considered her as their fellow. The younger ones felt a sort of pity, and approached Lucy with kindliaess which brought tears to her eyes. The poor child who had been arrested the day before and cast intx) a dungeon with otraw for her bed, had come from the darkness of the prison into the harsh light of the yard. Her eyes were red with weeping, and she only dimly saw through her tears those who were now to be her companions. She looked around her as if scared ; then drew back towards the wall, and, joining her hands on her breast, fixed her imploring eyes on those who were so curiously scrutinizing her. For some minutes the prisoners contented themselves with examining the new-comer ; but a bold-faced girl, of about five-and-twenty, with long, black hair, burst into a loud laugh, and turning to her companions said, " "What crime can this pretty dear have committed ? " " Yes, what can she have done ? *' *' I will ask her," said the great dark girl, who, by reason of her complexion, had been named by her com- panions the Black Pearl. " No," said a woman, who was accused of theft, "lot the child alone, she is unhappy ; she can hardly keep from weeping ; perhaps she is innocent ! " " Innocent ! " exclaimed the Black Pearl. " It is all very well to say that when we are on our trial. We all plead *not guilty; ' it is an understood thing, and it may 84 John Canada. answer, but, betv/eeu ourselves, the pretence is of no use; you, who seem to pity her, are yourself charged with theft and concealment of stolen goods." " What next ? " asked the woman. " Yes, I have stolen ; my daughter was ill, I had no money, and I lost my head ; who among you dares to blame me for having stolen for my daughter ? As to my trial ! I will tell the truth ; it will be the best plan. Maud has died since I have been in prison ; I do not want to live any longer." " And it is in remembrance of your daughter that you wish to befriend our new companion ? " " Yes," she replied. ** Your pity will not overcome our curiosity." " Yes, yes," cried twenty voices at once, " let her tell us her story." The Black Pearl, accompanied by a band of women, soon surrounded Lucy, and she, as spokeswoman, asked *' What is your name ? " " What matters my name to you?" said Lucy, with a sigh ; " you are not the judges ; why should I give up the name my father bore to ridicule ? " Lucy David's reply was received with loud laughter. '* At least," resumed the Black Pearl, " you might confess to us the reason which has brought you here." " I don't know," said Lucy, in a faltering voice. ** She doesn't know ! She was gathered like a spotless lily and brought into the gaol — a flower on a dunghill ! What were you doing when you were arrested ? '* Lucy kept silence for a moment ; she was afraid to An Angel among the Lost. 85 answer, and was but too well aAvaie that no one would believe her simple and tragical story. But when she again raised her eyes she saw that the circle of curious observers had drawn closer and closer to her. The women turned their shameless faces towards her, curi- osity seemed about to give place to menace. Lucy was alarmed. "What danger was to be feared from telling the truth ? God, who sees into the depths of the soul, knew that she would not lie. Summoning up all her courage, she said, in a voice half-smothered with sobs, " I was trying to get work ; my mother and I are poor, very poor ; work is scarce, and for two days we had had no bread in the house. My mother and I still trusted in God's mercy, and when a letter came, telling me I could have some shirts to make, I thought we should be pro- vided for for some days. My mother was absent, so I went alone. When I reached the place mentioned, I found no one there ; some one had made a mockery of our poverty and our tears. I was returning home quick- ly, and, as I passed before an open shop front, a heavy hand was laid on my shoulder, a word of reproach was addressed to me, and, in spite of my supplications and denials, I was arrested." "And is that all?" asked the Black Pearl, with a loud laugh. " That is all ! " " And why should it not be all ?" rejoined the woman who had stolen ; " terrible things are done now-a-days ; what is your religion, young girl ? " " I am a Catholic," replied Lucy. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) } // ^^ ..<^'4f. 1.0 I.I If 11^ K '" '^ IIIIIJl .r m — II 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 J4 6" - ► V] <^ / /y * ^, '/ -^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STREET ^.aSTER,N.Y. )4580 (716) 873-4503 } i ^p 86 John Canada, I IM iii The words raised a dreadful storm. Tho miserable women who, for the most part, did not believe in a God, looked on it as a crime in Lucy to confess her mother's faith. For a moment the most offensive epithets were heaped upon poor Lucy, who, quite unable to support herself, sank upon her knees, and with joined hands and bowed forehead wept hot tears which rolled down her pallid cheeks like a heavy summer shower. She seemed to herself as one in a fearful dream. Each opprobrious term was like the blow of a hammer upon her head and inflicted a separate wound on her heart. She asked herself what she could have done to provoke the animo- sity of thi.se women. She implored their compassion by her tears, her humble attitude, and the beseeching words which iroke from her lips among her sobs. But the furies continued their odious cruelty, and until Mrs. Jones summoned them to return to their dungeoti, Lucy was their butt and victim. During the previous night she had no doubt thought her cell very gloomy and her solitude most desolate, but now when she was left alone without anyone to mock at her tears or to scoff at her sorrow, she deemed herself almost happy. *• My cross is heavy, Lord," she said, ** I am falling beneath the burden ; but Thou wilt raise me up. The martyrs Thou hast chosen may fall beneath the axe of the executioner or faint upon their painful way, but what matters it, O Lord ? Thou art the Sovereign Master, the Lamb whose Blood was shed for the salva- tion of the world, the Dispenser of all graces." An Angel among the Lost. 87 Long did Lucy weep and pray, and tht angels who are always the companions of the sufEering, gathered up her words and soothed her to sleep in her prison. The next day, as soon as Lucy appeared in the prison- yard, her tormentors assailed her with redoubled cruelty. It seemed as if they had been permitted to afflict her as the evil one was to afflict Job. When Lucy found that every word she spoke was cumed into derision, she resolved to preserve an absolute silence. But the per- secution only assumed another form ; seeing that all their efforts to draw from her a complaint or even a word, were useless, the prisoners in their perversity found another way of inflicting suffering on the poor girl. They did not allow her to isolate herself. If she went away from them they pursued her, and as silence was a kind of consolation to her wounded spirit, they did not permit her to enjoy it. Crouched down in a corner, Lucy would try to fix her thoughts upon God and upon her mother, and then these depraved women began to relate their crimes and iniquities in a loud voice. They sought to tarnish the mind of this chaste and beautiful being, as some unclean creature tarnishes the rose-leaf by its slimy track. Lucy asked for mercy, she fled from one end of the yard to the other, she stopped her ears and endeavoured to avoid hearing the foul language, but gestures succeeded words, and while thieves forcibly held Lucy's hands their companions repeated their hateful songs. The same thing went on day after day ; Lucy vainly begged to be left in her dungeon. She was fearful, not 1 1 ■ i ] John Canada, M of being peryerted, but of going mad. She offered to work twenty hours a day and to eat the hardest and blackest bread, but all was in vain ; at the appointed hour the female gaoler, Mrs. Jones, dragged her irxto the yard as young martyrs of old were dragged into the amphitheatre. One evening however, after the other prisonershad been more cruel than ever, the gaoleress went into Lucy's cell. She found her lying unconscious on the heap of straw which served her as a bed, she had no strength to undergo fresh torments. The care of a doctor in time aroused her from her fainting-fit ; she seemed like one waking from a long sleep, and was even able to smile when she saw at her side the doctor and another man with a calm expression of countenance. " Oh I save me, gentlemen ! " she said ; ** save me, for the love of God I Do not let me be sent back to that dreadful place. It would kill me. You see it would kill me. I am burning with fever. Every song of these women seems to split my head, and is like a red-hot iron piercing into my brain. What have I done that I should be shut up here P I swear to you that if they accuse me of theft or any other crime it is a calumny, I do not remember having offended God or man. Only think, sir, how my mother must be weeping for me I I am sure she must come every day to the prison-gate to see if I am not to be let out. Look at me, sir, you see I have not done any harm ! " The doctor shook his head, feeling began to over- power him. An Angel among the Lout. 89 The man who had accompanied him looked long and earnestly on the young sufferer, then said, ** We will see, we will see what can be done for you." " In the first place, let me be separated from the women who have been torturing me.'* " Certainly, as long as you are ill," replied the doctor. " Oh ! if it might please God to call me to Himself !'* murmured Lucy. The doctor and his companion went away. The former was named Jacob Perkins, and the latter was the Rev. Mr. Laird, a minister of the Reformed Com- munion. For the next week, in compliance with the doctor's orders, the greatest care was taken of Lucy. Books were lent her, a bed was arranged, and a sufficient amount of good and tempting nourishmert took the place of the coarse and ill-prepared food which had been her portion ; she had work to do, and the hope of re- lease enabled her to bear her trial with the greater patience. One morning, on awakening, she saw that the books lent .0 her had been changed. The titles of the new volumes gave her to understand that they were on reli- gious subjects. She rejoiced in the hope of finding en- couragement and consolation in their perusal, and at once read some pages with the avidity of a thirsty soul. She, by-and-by, came to a passage which presented difficulties to her comprehension, and accordingly inter- rupted her reading to endeavour by reflection to discover its meaning, and failing to do this, ultimately turned i \ 90 John Canada. m^ 1 : t 1? over tlie page in hopes of finding a solution of her per- plexities After proceeding a few lines further, Lucy again stopped: "No," said she to herself, "although this book speaks of the Saviour, the ideas are not quite like the teaching of the Gospel ; the author misrepresents the meaning of the Apostles. While professing to teach, he is really misleading his readers. Here is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This must be the writing of a Protestant ! They are hoping by degrees to beguile my wearied soul. They deem it easy to deal with a poor young girl who has been alternately tried by lone- liness and by the presence of the wretched beings amongst whom she has been cast. Persecution has taken another form, that is all/* Lucy pushed away the books, and with clasped hands and tearful eye, she said, " My God, Thou wilt be my Defender ! I am weak, and to all appearance forsaken by all, but Thou dost watch over me, and as Thou didst deign to send an angel into the Apostle's prison, Thou wilt send one to me.'' In the evening the Rev. Mr. Laird obtained admis- sion to the prisoner's cell. He glided slowly and stealthily in and looked at the captive with an air of kindly interest. " I hope," he said, *' that your time is passing less tediously and wearily. I would willingly make your position more endurable ; you may depend on my kindly sonsideration and indulgence. " I need mercy from God," replied Lucy, '* for we An Angel among the Lost 91 are all sinners in Uis sight, but as 1 have never com- mitted any voluntary fault, I seek no pardon from men. The authorities have been mistaken in casting me into prison, or else an infamous deed " " I am willing to believe it, you seem to be a modestly brought-up girl. I will ask that your mother may be allowed to come and see you." " You will do that, sir P you really will P" asked Lucy, taking Mr. Laird's hand in her own. " Certainly and most willingly ; if any mistake has been made you will not long remain here." " How good you are ! '* said Lucy, " how very good !** '* I am fulfilling my duty as a Christian minister ; your case interests me ; you seem like a white lamb in the midst of angry wolves. But God, Who protected the children in the furrace, can keep you from all harm.*' " He is my only refuge," replied Lucy. " No doubt you think you pray to Him as He would have you do, and yet you may be in dangerous error. It is not your fault, my child. You follow the religion in which you have been brought up ; but if it were per- mitted me to show you your mistake, to take away the veil that covers your eyes and to bring you to a know- ledge of the truth, I should look on it as a happiness and a privilege. The Papists have perverted your reason and darkened your mind." " Not a word more, sir!" said Lucy, "I am and I will ever be a Catholic ! I wished to give you credit for good intentions, and I fancied that these books had, perhaps, been sent here by some mistake. I am now convinced of ? ■ II 92 John Canada. I M 'M' I :' your real meaning. You hope to procure for me, at the price of my apostasy, some alleviation to my suffer- ings. Do not offer me such favours ; I will never buy them by cowardly denial of my faith. My mother may have to mourn for me, but I will never give her cause to disown me." Mr. Laird tried all the power of his smooth eloquence, and, in a long discourse, in which he explained after his own fashion many of the prophecies contained in Holy Writ, he endeavoured, first to persuade and then to alarm Lucy. Weak and dejected as the young girl had been but an hour before, she found strength and energy to reply to the minister's arguments, and evinced a firmness and presence of mind which left him little room to hope for success in his proselytizing efforts. He withdrew, however, without any appearance of irritation, thinking it possible that time might subdue her moral energy, as it had been expected to wear out her physical strength. Notwithstanding her request that they might be taken away, he left the books on the table. Was it not possible that, in sheer weariness, she might be led to read them, and, if once she did this, was not her faith in the Catholic religion certain to be shaken ? But the Rev. Mr. Laird was greatly mistaken. Lucy tore up the books, and the floor of her cell was strewn with the fragments of their pages. From this time forth the nature of Lucy's sufferings was changed. Instead of spending two hours among the wretched ■Pf^ An Angel among the Lost. 93 women in the yard, whose language had seemed to wound and scoroh her very soul, she was now sub- jected to discourses, controversial arguments, and ex- hortations from Mr. Laird. Sometimes he came with an air of gentle kindness, and his words were sweet and insinuating ; and, on other occasions, he would endea- vour to make it plain to her that she was standing on the very brink of an abyss where devouring flames were ready to consume her. He would speak of Gehenna, and apply to her all the most alarming passages of the Bible, working himself up into a state of angry excite- ment, and, at last, worn out by his own eloquence, and amazed by the force of his arguments, would depart from the cell, treating Lucy as a child of perdition. During these interviews, Lucy used to sit silent and melancholy in the corner of her cell, letting Mr. Laird's words pass by her as if they were but the sound of the wind. She knew that nothing would be gained by attempting to answer ; she endured them as she had endured the insults of the thieves and depraved womer. She tried to avoid hearing what he said, but words would sometimes reach her, and, although they did not actu- ally destroy her quiet of mind, they used to cause a strange feeling of distress which she could hardly have explained. Sometimes she felt as if this man was taking possession of her very soul and dragging it from her, A kind of giddiness would come over her ; her head become weak and confused ; ideas chased one anoth( r through her brain. The visits of Mr. Laird were dreaded as torture would have been. Physical suffer- 94 John Canada. .i^i iog would have been easier to bear th.%n this moral dis- tress and weariness. The unhappy girl, at last, came to regret the prison-yard. One day when she stood upright and undaunted be- fore Mr. Laird, and informed him that his company was even more irksome to her than that of her fellow- prisoners, his look of hatred made it plain to her that there was no more hope for her. Alas ! the poor girl had no hope except to die. " Daughter of perdition ! " said Mr. Laird, in a voice of mockery, " you have refused the light ; you are de- termined to persevere in the ways of sin. Return to your fitting companions ! " " God grant me a place amidst the virgin martyrs ! " She returned to her place in the comer of the cell, an«l, worn out with her sorrows, began to sob. Sweet child ! how sad to be taken from her mother's house and cast into such a den of wickedness I She wept and wrung her hands ; the terrors of death came upon her ; then she called up her happy memories of the past when her father still lived and her mother could smile. How far away it all seemed ! and those blessed days would never return! but, what is earthly bliss after all P Lucy must now give it up and only fix the gaze of her soul on the opened heavens, whence angels were looking and holding out to her the palm of victory. Prayer and visions of heaven comforted her. Next morning Mrs. Jones roughly drew back the bolts of her cell, and, with a hyena laugh, said to her, *' Come, my An A ngel among the Lost. 95 pretty Papist, you have been shut up long enough, here is a fi:ie day to take the air I ** Lucy rose without making any reply ; she knew that she must go back to the yard. As she approached it a cold sweat broke out upon her temples, her heart throbbed violently ; her powerless feet dragged along the pavement, till the gaoleress roughly seized her by the wrist ant', drew her on. A gust of fresh air blew in Lucy's face as Mrs. Jones unfastened the door. Lucy opened her eyes, which she had instinctively closed in order to avoid the sights that would meet her in the yard. She freed her wrist from Mrs. Jones* grasp and sat down, supporting herself against the wall. She had a faint hope that she might not be recognized by her persecutors ; it was possible that, since her departure, they might have chosen an- other victim. And, indeed, more than one new-comer had borne the brunt of their cruel mockery, still nothing had made them forget Lucy David. The Black Pearl was the first to recognise her on her return ; she called her companions together and all rushed to Lucy. Questions and insulting words were rapidly spoken. Some asked if she had established her innocence. Others wanted to know when her trial would take place. She made no reply. From words, the women proceeded to deeds. The kerchief was snatched from her head, and her beautiful fair hair foil in masses down her back. A fresh idea of malice passed through the miud of the cap- tives. Black Pearl seized one of Lucy's hands, while f ;'i ' ll w m\ g. 96 Jo/ni Canada, Louisa took hold of the other. A living chain waw formed ; all began to sing a rude song, dragging Lucy round with them in their mad dance. She tried to re- sist, but she had not strength to stand against their brutal force. She called for help ; but her complaints and cries were drowned by louder shouts. At last, she gave herself up like a dead thing, and was pushed and dragged here and there by her tormentors. Her head fell back, and the long hair came like a veil down to her knees ; the shadow of death seemed to come over her pale face. Still the wild, savage dance went on. Hatred and despair suggested fresh couplets full of horror and malice, and, as the women danced on, their songs were changed into howls and discordant shouts. While this fearful scene was going on, Mrs. Jones opened the door of the yard and admitted Margaret Jefferson. The gaoleress did not at once go away ; she had be- gun by enjoying the barbarous mirth of the prisoners, bat after all, she felt that they might, perhaps, have gone too far. Mrs. Jones was in a position of respon- sibility, and, though the persecution of a Papist might be looked upon with indulgence, it was possible that she might suddenly be called to account for what was going on in the prison. Black Pearl broke off from the dancing circle when she became aware of the gaoleress* presence. She let go the hand of Lucy, who would inevitably have fallen flat on the ground, but that Margaret's kindly instinct 1 :i An Angel ammg the Lost, 97 urged her at once to her side. She supported Lucy in her caressing arms, led her to a quiet seat, and said, in a trembling and sorrowful tone, '*Do not be afraid, Lucy, I have come from your mother." These words revived the poor girl. She looked at the stranger, and, reading a calm compassion in her eyes, she remembered that she had prayed God to send an angel to help her, and gave thanks that her prayer was answered. Margaret helped Lucy to put up her long and dishev- elled hair, arranged her torn garments Wi!l\ sisterly care, and, when she had, in some degree, recovered from her alarm, and was able to listen said again, " Yes, Lucy, I have come from Mrs. Pavid." " You !r7iow her ? — it must be very lately you have become acquainted with her, for I have never seen you." *' We met where those who suffer often meet. She was weeping and I was praying at her side." " Poor, poor mother ! " " She is suffering cruelly from being separated from you." " Oh ! if she knew — if she only knew the truth —you will not tell her all you have seen here ? '' " I will only tell her what you wish.'* " At last some one has taken pity on me. If you knew. My life is a torture, first for the body and then for the soul, and then the physical suffering begins again. But I hope I shall soon die ! my mother will never see me more in this world, if I am left two months here." 8 98 John Canada. I i ^ if " You shall not stay, Lucy ; I am but a poor girl, but I have leemed this morning that my father has more influence than I had thought : his name was enough to open the prison doors for me. You may guess how poor Margaret Jefferson will do her best to enable you to get out of this purgatory. "We are about the same age ; you have no father and my mother is dead ; we are both Catholics ; how many reasons we have for loving one another ! " " Dear, dear Margaret ! " " Oh! I won't content myself with asking to see you; I will bring your mother, whatever efforts it may cost me. "What is the first thing you desire ? " " To be alone ! quite alone, not to see Mr. Laird, the minister who is trying to make me become a Protestant, or these dreadful women who will be the death of me — a dungeon, if they would keep me always in a dungeon." " Would you like some books ? " " They will only let me have Protestant books." " Would it be a comfort to you to have some work ? '* " Yes, Margaret, and besides mother is so poor." " Very well, I will see if I cannot get leave for you fo work." " And you will come back ? " " Twice a week." " When shall you see my mother ? " " When I leave you." '* Tell her that I am brave and that nothing can shake my constancy. Beg her to take courage, that I may bo able to stand firm. You see we must believe An Angel among the Lost 99 in miracles since you are here, helping me like a good Samaritan. I have prayed so much our Lord has heard me. Lot me look at you well, Margaret, so as to re- member your dear face when you are absent. If you cannot come back your features will ever be engraved on my memory. How your father must love you ! Margaret, you will be a second daughter to my mother." " And then I shall be your sister, dear suffering friend!" " And she will not be left childless ! " " Hush ! hush ! " cried Margaret, in a trembling voice ; " I have said, I would save you. Kow is it to be done I know not ; I am but a poor girl and very timid ! A look troubles me, ard a word is enough to upset me ; by-the-by, the very evening I went home with your mother I had the greatest fright I ever had in ray life : some drunken sailors stopped my way. I knew not what to do when a deliverer was sent to me — George Malo, you know his name, perhaps ?" " George Malo, the friend of John Canada, the de- fender of the oppressed ; the Indian's friend ; one of those whom God chooses as apostles or heroes !" " I owe him my life, Lucy ; he told me his name, that I might apply to him, if danger threatened me. I shall never forget him ; he will be of use to you, you may be assured." " Perhaps," said Lucy ; " but, believe me, Margaret, George Malo and John Canada are engaged in matters of such great importance that the fate of a young girl cannot much signify to them. Let us try to do some* II 1 t;' f! i: k i ^ ill |. .. i i 100 t/oAw Canada. thing ourselves. You are powerful, Margaret, since you enter the prison without opposition. Whatever you can do for me will be well done. God has sent you ; one raust welcome angels' visits." The two young girls embraced each other and con- tinued their conversation, which touched on many dif- ferent subjects, and ^^as often interrupted by tears. By-and-by the gaoleress returned and beckon <}d to Margai -^t. "Farewell, for a short time," she said to her new friend, *' I shall see your mother before going home." When Margaret was passing through the long pas- sages with Mrs. Jones, she took a silver piece from her pocket, and, putting it in the guardian's hand said, " I shall often trouble you to let me in." " It will always be a pleasure," answered Mrs. Jones, holding the silver close. "Make Lucy's position as easy as you can; don't make her go out in the yard ; it will be the death of her." " As you express a wish, of course it will be attended to ; you understand, great consideration is due to Mr. Jefferson's daughter.'* For a moment Margaret was tempted to ask for some explanation of the influence exercised by her father, whom she had always believed to be a poor, simple, and timid man, devoured by secret ambition. A feeling, which she could not have explained, kept back the question which had almost risen to her lips. With a last appealing look at Mrs. Jones, whom she had begged to ; fi^ : Perplexities, 101 show kindness to Lucy, she left the prison ; and, when the heavy gate had closed upon her, turned round to look again on its high and gloomy walls, and then bent her steps in the direction of the widow's house. CHAPTER VIII. PERPLEXITIES. When Amy David had parted from Margaret, she had felt consoled by the young girl's sympathy and kind- ness, but she had not based on it any serious hope of her daughter's rescue. She did not, for a moment, im- agine it possible that a pale, delicate, timid young girl, like Jefferson's daughter, could open the doors of Lucy's prison. Amy was thankful to have met with one who could weep with her. She appreciated Margaret's self- devotion and good-will, but, when the mother — with all her rights, her eloquence and her tears — had failed, what could be done by the child whom she bad met by chance in the church where she had gone in quest of that silence which is the friend of great sorrows and the repose of thoughtful souls P Amy felt certain of see- ing Margaret again. In the widow's loneliness she found comfort in knowing that a loving hand would press hers, and that an afiec donate heart would receive her confidences. She slept better that night, and, rising at the dawn of day, arranged her little rooms with special care, rubbed up the cold tiles, dusted the furniture and opened the windows to let in a ray of 102 John Canada. (Sunshine, soon to be followed by the sunshine of Mar- garet's smile. After eating a small piece of hard, black bread, the widow took up her work and waited, sitting near the casement so as to warm her limbs, which were shiver- ing with fever. About three o'clock a gentle knock was heard at her door ; she got up, opened it with trembling hand, and saw Margaret's bright face. " I bring you a kiss from Lucy ! " said the fair young girl, throwing her arms round the widow. " From Lucy P You have seen her ? You have been allowed?" " I do not yet understand my boldness or my suc- cess ; I have succeeded, that is the great point. If I were to say that your child is not suffering, I should speak untruly without convincing you. All that I can say is, that she is patient under trial ; we love each other already. I shall be able to see her twice a week. When next I go to the prison I will bring her a letter from you. When you write to each other you will feel less separated. Here is some work ; I asked for it in a shop in my own name, and I will undertake to bring it back." ** You are my Providence I '* said the widow. "01" answered Margaret, " it is sweet to love, and, for my part, I owe you many thanks ; if you knew how lonely I have brsen I My father is absent all the day ; I used to read or work at my embroidery ; but I have often found the hours very long." I llliil: ri-«iBr ^^fT^ Perplexities, 103 " Would you not have liked to have some young girl of your own age for a friend ?'' " My father does not allow me to have any acquaint- ance with the neighhours/* " And what is your father P" asked the widow. " He is a clerk." ** In some Government office ?** " I believe he is at an armourer's," answered Mar- garet. " What ! you don't know the name of the office to which your father goes daily P " "No." " That is odd ; but I beg your pardon for my curi- osity, Margaret ; it proceeds from my interest in you." " Your questions cannot hurt my feelings, Mrs. David ; if I cannot answer you, it is because my father never spoke of his business to my mother or me, and on your account I have learnt more of his position than I had done in fifteen years before." "How is that?" " By what I have been doing for Lucy. You may imagine that yesterday I was very anxious to know what steps I must take in order to see the dear pri- soner. I was trembling like an aspen leaf ou my way to the police office. Well ! a permission was, at once, given to me, as soon as I had said that my name was Margaret Jefferson. A common name, however ! In the prison, Mrs. Jones, the gaoleress, was almost respectful to me. I conclude that my father is right when he says to me, as he sometimes does when he bids m \\\ \ ¥ \ 104 John Canada. iK> II rae good-bye, * Little Margaret, you shall be ricb— very rich — and ^ye shall be as good as the proudest people in Montreal !'»' Hours passed quickly to Amy David and Jefferson's daughter. The widow gave the girl a letter for Lucy, and when they parted, pressed her to her heart as if she had known and loved her from her infancy. Margaret's step was light, and her heart beat like that of a young bird trying its wings for the first time, as she went back to her gloomy home. She gathered a branch of lilac and placed it near her by the window. She craved for the fresh perfume and the sight of the flowers ; her soul was opening into a new life. The events which had happened during the last forty- eight hours had changed the current of her existence, and f t the first time, great interests had taken the place of tne dull and melancholy aspect of her days. Her tender pity for two suffering fellow- creatures, the efforts she was making on their behalf, and her hope of being able to do them good, filled her soul with a sense of something new and unforeseen. And another cause tended to ex- cite and agitate her ; she could not get rid of the desire to know something more of her father's occupations. On what grounds did his ambition refi^t ? What did he look for P What did he hope for ? TJp to this time she had believed him to be poor and lowly. When others had thought his look cruel and mocking, she had considered it gentle and tender. What to his superiors seemed servility, was, in her eyes, but a modest opinion of his own merits. But she now perceived that his complex Perplexities. 105 nature presented some strange contradictions. There was some mystery which Margaret could not fathom, and she began anxiously to seek for its solu- tion. Moreover, she was troubled by a kind of remorse. She felt conscious that her father would not approve of what she had been doing. For a moment she asked herself if she ought not to tell him everything, but the apprehension that he might positively forbid her to have anything more to do with the widow or her daughter, made her see this course to be impossible. She ex- amined her conscience carefully, but could not discover anything wrong in her conduct. Jefferson returned early ; he seemed very cheerful, and, rubbing his horny hands together, said, "Have you got a nice little dinner ready, Margaret, my dar- ling ? we may begin to enjoy our future fortune. Is it not time that my daughter should leave off wearing such common dresses and cooking my dinner herself P Your housekeeping is admirable, certainly, and you are quite a pattern manager ; but I don't want to have you leaning over the stove ; the heat is bad for you, and I will not have you blacken your fingers with the charcoal ; and how gloomy this house is ! " " It is, certainly,** answered Margaret, " but it is full of memories ; my mother died here, and I was born here. Do you think this dream of fortune will soon be realized, father P ** Soon — yes, certainly soon, my dear child." " Your armourer is powerful and generous then P" ll w 106 John Canada. " How ? "What do you mean ? " asked JefEerson, looking with a piercing eye at his daughter. " But, father, it is all quite simple ; if your salary is increased, it must be because you are of great use." " Yes," answered Jefferson, in a low voice, ** I am of great use." He went towards the window, inhaled the perfume of the lilac, and heaved a deep sigh. He needed air ; his daughter's simple remark had brought a deep colour to his face, and his thin, sickly frame trembled. If Margaret suspected anything ! But she suspected no- thing. Her question was really a very natural one, and the only thing that need have astonished Jefferson was that it had not sooner been asked. Fearing, however, that the conversation might again turn on subjects which he wished to avoid, he asked his daughter to read to him. While Margaret read the book which hcT father had selected, Jefferson was occupied with his own reflections, and gave no heed to the inter- esting story with which Margaret's attention was soon completely engrossed. About nine o'clock, Jefferson rose from his seat ; Margaret closed the book, and he said to her : " I am tired ; good-night, my little girl!" Margaret took a candle and went up to her room. Instead of retiring to rest, however, Jefferson opened his desk, took out paper, pens, and ink, and then taking sundry memoranda from a greasy portfolio, began to copy them with great speed. Fron^. time to time he ""■Ill i Perplexities. 107 stopped, passed his hand over his forehead, then resumed his work with intense earnestness. Margaret had gone quietly up to her own room. She was glad to be alone, not that she did not love her father, but because she could now think oyer so many things that she was not afraid of being weary. She walked round the narrow room in which she was accustomed to live. She looked at the picture repre- senting the embarkation of the exiled Acadians, she joined her hands before her mother's picture, and, fall- ing on her knees, raised her soul to God. When she rose up, she felt strong. She knew that, by her means, comfort would be brought to two unhappy creatures, and this hope made up to her for her life of loneliness. Generally Margaret — whose sleep was wont to be like that of an infant — used to go to bed quickly, but this evening the moonlight was so beautiful, and the air so pure, that, instead of shutting her window, she sat down on a seat beside it, and began to think of Amy David, of Lucy, and then, for a moment, of that brave young George Malo, who, with John Canada, aspired after the deliverance of New France. All Margaret's sympathies were for the " old country." Canada — the Catholic and chivalrous — was the country of her soul. Her mother's fervent heart was beating within her. Kind as her father was to her, Margaret felt that there was an abyss be- tween them. Where the sacred bond of religion does not exist, afEection is not solid or durable. In order to be lasting, it must have its source in God. Margaret il .1: It 108 John Canada. tt tt sat there dreamy and melanclioly, looking at tlio calm heavens above her and giving full scope to the white wings of her dreams. Eleven o'clock sounded from the neighbouring steeple, and, as the last note died away in the air, footsteps were heard in the street. Two men came to the wooden gate of Jefferson's house and carefully opened it, he at once meeting them. Is it you. Long ? " asked Margaret's father. Yes, JefEerson, and I have brought the man I men- tioned to you." " I Was expecting you," replied the agent. The door was shut, and Margaret heard no more ; but her curiosity was deeply excited, and she could not think of sleep until after the departure of the nocturnal visitors. " Another strange thing," said the young girl to her- self, " is that my father should send me away on pre- tence of going to rest, when he was really expecting two visitors. Is this visit connected with his hopes of for- tune ? He was almost angry with me for asking where his place of business is, and the name of the armourer who employs him. But it is natural, very natural. These men are speaking very low — there is but a thin ceiling between my room and the hall, yet I hear no- thing — nothing at all. But, after all, why should I wish to know their business. It is wrong of me to be growing so curious. It would seem as if I was acting the spy towards my father I No ! no ! that is not my reason for regretting that I do not understand what is 1 Perplexities, 109 going on. If what is being said did not concern me in some way, I should not feel so anxious ** Margaret remained in her place by the window ; rest was further than ever horn, her thoughts. A long hour passed. A sort of oppression and shiver- ing came over the young girl. She thought that the night air had chilled her ; still she determined that she would not close her casement until the visitors were gone. Ali last, she heard the sound of ;;hair8 being moved downstairs, and, standing up, she remained hidden in the shadow of the window, but in a position from which she could see everything. The two visitors were now under the lilac trees. The lane was completely deserted, and the three men thought they could talk as securely there as in the house. It had never even occurred to JefEerson that his daughter might still be up. " All is settled then, Dick/' he said, '* and you thor- oughly understand all I have said ? " "As well as if I had made the plan myself. My friend and comrade, Tom Smith, the best of Canadian runners, will go to Eagle-Plume's village and tell him that the moment for action has come; or, to use the language of those strange tribes, he will bid him * over- turn the sacred caldron, dig up the buried war-axe and take his scalping-knife.' " " Very well," answered Jefferson ; " Tom Smith will provide himself with everything that can excite the de- sires of these childish and savage creatures. Above all, 110 John Canada, Wr ■'11 ll^! he will not spare fire-water, for that gWes the Indians who serve us, without loving us, bound hand-and-foot into our power. Let us pay them well, Tom Smith, and not be taken in, in any way ; the savages all lean to the side of the detestable French, and though some tribes consent to aid us, they will never devote them- selves to our cause from real affection." " There will always be time to do away with the In- dians," said Dick Long. "I will undertake to bring fifty men," said Tom Smith ; *' will they be enough for the expedition? " ** Half the number will do," said Jefferson ; " thedwell- ing-house is carefully built, but there are not many servants in it." " You are sure that there will be no bargaining about the reward ? '* " Not if you succeed." *' Good-bye, Jefferson ! *' said Dick Long, shaking hands with him. '* Good luck to you, Tom Smith ! *' rejoined Jeffer- son. The two men went away whistling a hunting tune. Jefferson watched them depart, shrugged his shoulders, and then shut and bolted the door. Margaret noiselessly closed her window, and, kneel- ing down beside her bed, hid her face in the coverings She felt that she must pray ; must trust in God ; must cast herself into his arms as a frightened child casts it- self on its mother's bosom ; she needed to beg Him to show mercy to the guilty and to grant his protection to ! PerjptexUuB. Ill the weak. In her trouhle and aiixtety, and amid the strange and new emotions which filled her soul, she felt that her whole hope must he founded on Him who never deceives is. What had she heard that could overwhelm her with such sudden anguish ? Margaret could not have given a precise and definite answer to the question. Long and Smith had heen speaking to her father about the Hu- rons— a vacillating tribe of Indians who sold themselves alternately to England and to France — but the gentle maiden knew nothing of politics, and might easily have misapprehended what they said. Her sleep was broken and unrestf .:;id at dawn she rose and went down to the hall, trembling at the thought of seeing her father again, and yet urged towards him by a feeling of ex- treme curiosity, which was not free from a mixture of terror. Jefferson's appearance might have dispelled her vague fears. He was laughing and humming as he paced up and down the room ; and, according to his custom when pleased, was rubbing his hands together. " Come and kiss me, Margaret ! " he said ; " you look fresher than the flowers which are trying to come in at our window. Have you slept well ? I never wakened once, and I dreamt that I had bought a pretty house in the outskirts of the town for you. I had given up my office, and we were living happily in a green, shady nook. It is pleasant to dream! And you? Why, Margaret, you are pale and trembling ! Can you be feverish, you naughty girl P Come, another kiss, to ii til 112 John Canada. prove to your father that you understand all his tender love for you." The young girl presented her forehead to her father, but she did not that morning feel impelled to throw herself into his arms and cover him with caresse.'i. His persistent falsehood increased her sadness. Little was said during breakfast. Jefferson was absorbed in serious thought and took no heed of his daughter's dejected attitude. By-and-by he went out, promising to return early. When she was left alone, Margaret at once thought of fulfilling the promises she had made to Lucy and Amy David. She had found some work for the latter, but not enough ; more must be obtained elsewhere. Be- sides, the shop which had furnished it was English, and she preferred having dealings with French peoploc She set out, consoled by the thought of doing a good action, a\id went to a ladies' outfit' '.ji> shop to ask for work. Margaret's countenance was so open and pleasant, that her request was received with smiles. The specimen of embroidery which she brought with her was much admired, and the mistress of the estab- lishment gave directions that all work of the kind which had not yet been promised to others should be entrusted to Margaret. The parcel was tied up and Margaret was about to take it away, when the head of the shop opened an account book and said, "Kindly give me your name that I may enter the number of piecesyou are taking and the rate of payment to be made.'' Perplexities. 113 '* Margaret Jefferson," answered the girl. "Your address?" " Lilac- tree Lane.** Madame Delphine stopped before entering the name and addr-^3. " Margaret JefEerson!" she repeated ; are you Jacob Jefferson's daughter ?" " Yes, ma'am." " I am very sorry. Miss Jefferson, very sorry indeed for you; but it is impossible forme to give you this work." " Bui} why ? " asked Margaret, with sorrowful anxiety. " I forgot that I had made previous arrangements." At a sign from Madame Delphine one of the young shop-girls undid the packet, and Margaret turned away from the counter with tearful eyes. As she was leaving the shop, Madame Delphine ob- served, in a low voice, " Poor girl ! it is not her fault." She was an object of pity, and why ? It seemed as if she were suspected and accused of some fault which an- other had committed. Who was this other ? People had seemed kindly disposed towards her, but her name had changed their feelings. When she was known to be Margaret Jefferson, daughter of Jacob Jefferson, there was neither smile nor work for her. The sudden alteration of manner must proceed from somo cruel mystery. Margaret would have given much to know what it was. In her disappointment, she thought at first of going straight home ; but then she remembered that Amy's living depended on her exertions, and, ac- cordingly, she went to a second shop. The proprietor 9 114 John Canada. 11 ti began by asking her name and address. She gave them humbly and timidly, looking anxiously at him. Two customers turned their heads and drew back hastily, as if they thought that their garments would be soiled by touching Margaret's. *' I can do nothing, Miss Jefferson, nothing at all," said Monsieur Bertrand, drily. Margaret went quickly away, covered with confusion, for she felt that her very name, in some mysterious manner, was looked upon as evil. Coming to another shop, a few doors further on, she went in. A yoimg woman, a fervent Presbyterian, who was well known among the members of her denomina- tion, and whose name Margaret had heard mentioned in connection with certain religious meetings, came for- ward and politely asked to know her wishes. Margaret stammered out her name and her request. " Work !" answered the young woman. " As long as there is any in the shop you shall never be refused. Mr. Jefferson's daughter is always welcome here. We know how much her father has done for the cause of true religion and the authority of the king." On this occasion, Margaret felt much inclined to re- fuse the proffered work ; however, as it was to be of use to Amy and Lucy, she decided that she had no right to do so, but the gracious manner of the Presbyterian troubled her even more than the repulses she had met with in the two French houses. " What does this mean ?" she asked herself ; "what service can my father be rendering to the Protestant i • 'ii;- Perplexities. 115 of 'hat tant cause. English and Schismatica speak his praises, while French and Catholics reject him. I did not think that the sorrow I felt yesterday could be so much increased to-day." Under the influence of this painful anxiety, Mar- garet reached Amy David's house. The widow's affec- tionate greeting dispelled her sadness for a moment, and the happiness she felt in being able to do good made her forget her own troubles. Amy spoke of Lucy constantly, and Margaret promised to visit her on the following day. The doors of Lucy s prison were again opened without any difficulty, and the two young girls were soon in each other's arms. When the emotions of the first moment had subsided, Lucy read her mother's letter, and afterwards gave Margaret four pages written in pencil to convey to her. " Tell her that my courage is keeping up," said Lucy; " suffering is nothing when one is fulfilling a duty. I know that God will deliver rae ; my confidence in Him is unbounded. Would He have sent you to me unless He meant to give me com- fort ? The very gaoleress has become different towards me — who would have thought that a little timid creature like you could do so much P Dear sister and friend ! if you only knew all the happiness I have prayed God to give you.*' *• Happiness !" answered Margaret ; " that is a great deal to ask ; it will be enough for me if I always have strength to suffer." "To suffer I you to suffer ! " i:i i ; \ t : '■ 116 John Canada. " Perhaps by suifering more, I shall better learn to console others." ** Tell me, Margaret, have you any hope of obtaining justice for me?" " I will do all I can, be assured of it — look, here is a book which you may hide in your dress; read it again and again ; it is " The Following of Christ." Pray for me, Lucy, and now farewell, your luother is anxious for tidings of you." Margaret left the prison in deep dejection ; the generous and enthusiastic excitement which leads youth to deeds of self-devotion for the innocent, the virtuous, and the suffering, had passed away, and she now felt as if she was accomplishing an imposed task, and paying a compulsory debt. In the evening, her father's gaiety had a false ring to her ear ; she left him early and heard him go out. Before he came in she had fallen asleep. The next day, as she passed beneath the lilacs, she saw a paper on the ground, took it up mechanically, and read the few lines it contained. It was a list of about thirty names, the last, under- lined with red ink, was that of George Malo, and a note was added to the effect that he was to he watched, ^Margaret fell back on the bench and burst into tears. I! 1 A Red Sky. 117 CHAPTER IX. A RED SKY. The dwellers in the House of tlie Bapids had spent a calm and peacefid day. According to his nightly custom, Captain Halgan with his servants had gone round to see that all was right. The iron bars were in their places, the bolts were fastened, and the family, exiled by the horrors of the French Revolution, went tranquilly to sleep. The Captain had long been at rest ; Tanguy of Coetquen was forgetful of his regrets in the illusions oi a dream ; Patira had just laid aside an interesting volume, and extinguished the lamp which stood on a little table beside him. One alone was still awake in the House of the Rapids ; it was the silver-haired maiden. Since the Coetquen family had come to the village of La Chine a great interest had taken possession of her life. Formerly, the orphan, whose first memories were of a flight through the forests after the massacre of her people, had lived at John Canada's side in com- plete security, but in the depths of her heart she cherished the images of a past which nothing could restore. Nonpareille could not without ingratitude think of returning to the woods which once concealed the villages of her tribe. And what would have become of her there? It was almost certain that no member of her family had survived the ruin of her race. Could 1 .?-- 'I 1 it I" Iff 118 Joht} Canada. Rt i i i ' \\ i she go and take her place by the fire of strangers ? Yet, more than once, in spite of her gratitude, and notwithstanding the civilizing effects of John Canada^s society, she asked herself whether happiness and liberty were not to be found in a hut of branches, beneath the shadow of the brilliant foliaged shumach, by a river's side or on the banks of a lake. But, no doubt, what Nonpareille really wanted most was the companionship of those of her own age, for from the day that Herve and Patira crossed the threshold of the Great Hut she ceased to suffer from that home- sick longing for the wild woods, and the whole aspect of life was changed for her. She sang like the birds whose nests had once hung close to her swinging cradle, and while she retained the native pride of her race, she became fonder of study. Having submitted to civilization, she at last grew to love it. The hours spent with Patira and Herv^ seemed to be hours of blessing. She was delighted with her own progress, and often ima- gined the astonishment mingled with fear which would fill the mind of a member of the tribe of Great Beaver, if by any possibility one had survived, at seeing her read a printed book, and express her ideas by the aid of characters which had long been a mystery to her. She never made up her mind to the sacrifice of her picturesque costume. She felt so free in her elaborately embroidered tunic, and her feet were so light and nimble in her leather bead- worked mocassins that she resolutely refused to make any concession on this point. One day a Canadian lady brought Non- ti.aisi: A Red Sky. 119 pareille some European garments, and insisted on her putting them on. The poor little thing felt paralysed and disfigured ; the long hair which she loved to have floating ahout her like a veil was fastened up and she was brought before a long looking-glass, but when she saw the effect of her new attire, she tore it in- dignantly, took down her hair again, and for a long time could hardly forgive the Canadian lady. " Father Flavian who poured the cleansing water on my forehead," said the silver-haired maiden, " does not bid us give up the totem of our tribe. He knows that the image of our Saviour is engraved on it, and hangs to the wampum necklace. When Non- pareille dies, she will go to heaven in the dress of a daughter of the race of Abenaquis, and she will take her place by the side of St. Catherine of the woods. Nonpareille will learn to use the pen and the pencil, she will work like a European woman, but she will keep the dress of her mother and the tokens of her ancestors." Herve's simple admiration gave fresh strength to Nonpareille's will; she felt that the costume of the Abenaquis gave her a strange influence over the Marquis of Coetquen's son and over Patira, and she added rows of necklaces, brilliant bands, and bracelets. Nothing was now wanting to her. She was waking up to a new life beside these other young ones. Hitherto the gravity of those around her had somewhat weighed upon her spirit ; the coming of the Coetquen family brought a fresh and mighty interest into her m f •;■ n 120 John Canada. i- •:; m f 11"^ life. And how many dreams passed througli her young brain, how many castles in the air were built up, and suddenly replaced by others ! Every day brought its own amusement and its own joy ; and she rose at dawn to lengthen the time which was so full of pleasures. On the evening of which we are now speaking, full of thoughts of an excursion to be made on the morrow, and entranced by the beauty of the hour, Nonpareille went to her own room when Tan guy dismissed the family to rest ; but she had no wish to sleep, and open- ing her window she leant on her elbows and looked out. The moon was shining in all her marvellous beauty in a pure blue sky. The St. Lawrence sparkled in the silvery light, each little ripple in its turn re- flecting it till it seemed as if the very river were full of drifting brightness. On the horizon, earth and heaven met in an indistinct line of yapour. Nonpareille was lost in the contemplation of this scene of nocturnal splendour. She remembered sleeping on nights like this in the shades of the forest, while the note of some bird died away in a neighbouring nest, and the young of the deer moved among the branches. In the midst of her peaceful enjoyment, Nonpareille turned her eyes in the direction of the village of La Chine, and all at once a cloud appeared to rise from the earth towards the sky. At first she thought she was mistaken, but soon all doubt was at an end, the column increased in volume and rose up straight and defiant towards heaven, through the calm still air. What could be going on in the village ? It oonsiated c£ some huts belonging to Inc no In( A Red Shj. 121 Indian fishermen ; the smoke from their hearths couW not be visible at so great a distance, and, moreover, no Indian would be awake at so late an hour of night. All at once Nonpareille saw the cloud change, it grew lighter and more transparent, and assumed lumi- nous colours. The very sky put on a different aspect, and was rapidly dyed with the hues of dawn ; then the yellow light grew stronger, red was mingled with it, and suddenly a bright purple spread over the heavens. The river rolled on as if dyed with blood, and Nonpa- reille holding her head in her two hands, exclaimed, " Fire ! Fire ! " She rose from the window, crossed the passage, and hastened to the room where Herve slept under Patira's guardianship. " Get up ! get up!" she cried, " misfortune has come upon the Great Hut. It is not Montreal in flames, — look at the redness of the sky, ! son of a land of heath ! John Canada's dwelling will be to-morrow only a heap of ruins !" Nonpareille hastened down- stairs, knocked at Tanguy's door, and then at Halgan's with a cry of alarm ; then she returned to the casement in the lobby and watched with dismay the progress of the fire. In a moment, Halgan, Tanguy, and Patira were at her side. *'Look!" said the Indian girl, with outstretched arm. " The town is on fire !" said Tanguy. " No," answered Nonpareille ; " John Canada's house is burning." " John Canada ! let us run and help bim I" r'lr 122 John Canada. *' Do not go ! do not go !" cried Nonpareille ; "you see you can do nothing, nothing at all!" " But Black Bison, and the servants ?*' " Men are men, they will save themselves if fire alone is the danger.'* " Fire alone — what do you mean, Nonpareille ?" "The thunderbolt has not fallen on the Great Hut — the servants are faithful, but the Hurons are cowards." " You think " " The Hurons wish to wreak their vengeance on John Canada. No one knows that be has gone from the Great Hut. The Hurons have surrounded it, to burn the enemy of the English alive." " Thank God ! Jobn Canada is far away, but the hapless men who have stayed there will perish for lack of help. It would be mean of us to leave them there unaided." The little hand of the silver-haired maiden was laid on Tanguy's arm. " The daughter of the forests knows the customs of the Mingos. They killed her mother and scalped her father. After having burned the Great Hut in the hope of getting fire-water, blankets, and necklaces from the Indians, they will come and pillage the House of the Rapids." " They would venture?" " Perhaps they may !" said N^onpareille. " Upon my word," answered Halgan, " if so, they will find out whom they have to do with. My eye is true, and I have a good musket, at least I shall have I nil ave A Heel Shj. 123 the satisfaction of laying some of those miserable Red- skins low." " Certainly, father, we have some pistols and knives, but what are these weapons in comparison with those of our enemies ? If Nonpareille is not mistaken in her conjectures, the Indians are provided with muskets and powder. We have hardly yet settled ourselves, and there has not been time to prepare for a siege. Would it not be better to seek safety in flight ?" " The forests near us are full of Hurons,*' said Non- pareille ; " it is better for men to defend themselves." " His lordship is mistaken," said Patira, " we have an arsenal here." " An arsenal," cried Halgan, '* where did that come from, my friend ? " '* From your ship. Captain." " How ? you thought of it ?" ** You gave me permission to bring from the Lady of Gaul anything I thought I wanted for the adorn- ment of the House of the Eapids ; I took the furniture first, and then half the arms. The ship can still hold her own against a corsair, and though we are few in number, we shall be able to defend ourselves against t^ ose flendish Hurons, whom Nonpareille calls Mingos." Halgan pressed Patira's hand so as to give him pain. ''* It is always your part to save us, is it not ?" " I do what I can," replied the youth. " Come, my lord! and come, Captain! the cellars are full of weapons, I filled a waggon with them ; we have even got a mortar here." i j 1 IP 124 John Cmuiih. A M .1 El',! i !' 'Ji The servants alarmed by the atir going on in the house, had risen hastily and assembled in the vestibule. Tanguy found them agitated, questioning each other without in the least understanding what was taking place, but ready to meet any danger that might arise." " Follow me," said Tanguy. Patira, bearing a lantern, was the first to descend into a cellar whose appearance a8t<»nished the Captain. Nothing that could be done to make it safe and to preserve the weapons it contained from damp, had been neglected. Along the walls were ranged rows of muskets ; axes and swords glittered in the comers, and a mortar opened its immense throat at the side of a barrel whose contents the Captain readily guessed. Halgan gave each of the servants an axe and a musket. He and the Marquis armed themselves com- pletely, and Patira, choosing weapons proportioned to his stature, placed himself at the Captain's side. " You will confide the care of Herv^ to me, will you not P" he asked. " That is my portion," said Nonpareille; " while men are fighting, women watch." The barrel of powder was brought up by the servants and placed in the yard. The racntar was placed on the steps, just opposite the door of the palisade, and the Captain having loaded it with a. heavy charge entrusted it to Patira. " Fire and I are old acquaintances !" said the youth. " How often have I heated John Anvil's furnace !" Two servants were left in the court beside the great A Red Skfj. 126 door, which was carefully barricaded, and then Tanguy, Halgau, and the rest of the inmates went up to the first storey of the house. This commanded both the river and the forest, and in case of attack the defenders could fire from the windows, and might hold out during a long siege. The sky had grown redder and redder and its bright- ness intensified the gloom of the surrounding forest. The flames, however, no longer darted up towards heaven, and by degrees the glow of the fire seemed to begin to fade. The Great Hut, which was made of wood, had fallen, and in its place was now a mass of burning frag- ments. " If the Indians have completed their work to-night, they will attack this house," said Nonpareille. "And if not r ** If not, they will sleep in the forest.'* *' And come back to-morrow night ?" " Most likely — there is spoil to carry away, and there are heads to scalp ; the Hurons can seldom resist such temptations.'* " John Canada has lived a long time in this country," said Tanguy ; "I cannot understand this outbreak of sudden hatred.'* " John Canada is too fond of the French — Hurons are paid." " Father," said Tanguy, " if we escape the danger which now threatens us, to-morrow we will leave the Hapids and go to Montreal.'* ■ 126 John Canada. h-l 1-; At this moment a piercing cry resounded from the outskirts of the forest. " The cry of the Mingos ! '* said Nonpareille. " I know it ; it sounded in my ears the night my mother was killed." " Herv^ ! Herve I" exclaimed Tanguy. " Let the Pale- face fear nothing," said Nonpareille ; *' I will take care of him.** The Indian girl went to the child ; he was still asleep. She gave a rapid glance round the room, tied a long scarf ahout her waist and placed a knife at her side, then shutting the shutters returned to observe the movements of the savages, but they continued invisible. No doubt they had assembled their forces, and were holding counsel as to the manner of attack. The first part of their dreadful work was easier than the second would prove. The Huron assailants had been ordered to destroy the Great Hut, and absolutely forbidden to make prisoners. This prohibition seemed to them a hard one. No doubt the savages love fire-water, blankets, and necklaces, but they equally love to bring back to their village a number of prisoners, and feast their eyes on the tortures which they inflict upon them. The present exrjedition was looked upon as a mercenary and un- i^^rthy undertaking, and the Huron s resolved that they would not be satisfied without some act of prompt and terrible revenge on those whom they looked on as their foes. The emissaries sent to make themselves acquainted A Red Shh 127 irith the position of John Canada's habitation neces- sarily passed before the House of the Rapids. This dwelling had not been mentioned to them, and evidently its inhabitants were net as yet obnoxious to the posses- sors of Canada. But although the Hurons had not been sent to make war against Marquis Tanguy, it occurred to them that they might, by attacking his house, make up for their disappointment at the Great Hut. The owners of the House of the Kapids were apparently much richer than John Canada. Immense spoil might be found there, and besides bearing home the scalps of the slain, the Hurons would lead prisoners back to their villages and make them a gazing-stock to the men of their tribe. In order to have more time for their, work of blood and pillage, the Hurons resolved to make an end of the Great Hut as soon as possible. Many precious hours might be wasted in a combat, men might be lost and morning dawn before they could take the inhabitants of the House of the Rapids captive. The death of John Canada and his companions was the primary object of the expedition ; therefore, the fifty Hurons encircled the palisade of wood which formed the de- fence of the house, then collected branches and dry moss in several heaps outside it, and simultaneously set fire to them ; the flames soon caught the wooden stakes and they crackled and fell. The savages formed a living circle outside the circle of fire. Lance in hand, for under these circumstances they ? ';■■;' I fi^mr^m 128 John Canada. f r TM ! ,' did not use their muskets, they waited till the flames should alarm the inmates of the Great Hut. The burning heat and the sense of intense suffocation suddenly aroused the sleepers. In a moment Toyo and Tambou as well as the Black Bison were on their feet. The two former uttered cries of distress and kissed the amulets which hung about their necks ; the Indian Chief looked at the burning palisade, and sought some means to escape from the peril. Until the Hurons saw that the inhabitants of the Great Hut were aware of their danger they kept silence, but as soon as the frightened countenances appeared at the windows, and cries of anguish arose from the beleagured house, they broke forth into wild shouts of joy. The wooden wall gave way on every side almost at the same moment, and a ring of fire encircled the dwelling and its inmates. The savages, holding their lances in one hand, with the other seized pieces of the burning wood, and cast them with fiendish skill on the shingle roof. The terrible missiles were flying through the air in all directions, and the inmates could not hope to defend themselves against their deadly assailants. Toyo and Tambou, after having cried like children, rose up suddenly when the Black Bison appeared before them and said in a tone of mockery : " The children of the Ebony Coast are not men but squaws. The red flesh of the Hurons bleeds beneath the knife, and it is possible to scalp them. What would the master say if he heard that the Black children wept and did not EghtP" I J A Red Sky. 129 " Poor darky is lost," said Toyo ; " that is quite certain." " Nothing is certain but that you are cowards. The Ebony Coasts have nothing but death to look to, why not try a chance of escape ?'' Tambou shook his head hopelessly, but replied, " You tell niggers what to do." " My black brothers will each take one of these bars of iron and use it as a club ; they will not leave each other, and will strike together ; without waiting to continue the struggle, they will leap over the fire and run towards the river. The river is edged with reeds, and my black brothers can swim." The two negroes understood the Bed- skin's reason- ing. It was possible that the unfortunate men might not succeed in their endeavour, but at least they would have done everything in their power to defend their lives. Black Bison kept up the courage of the servants, endeavouring to convince them that a passage might be made through the flames, and pointing out to them that the lances of the Hurons were less formidable than the fire. He himself, endeavouring to avoid observation, anxiously watched all that was taking place around him. Two of John's Canadian servants, armed with long knives, dashed through the fire kicking aside the burning embers, and endeavoured to make a passage for themselves, but they were met by eight Indians who, with a lance, tried to separate them. The house was burning, and no longer offered 10 .; I? fr ' m lip. ■IMIii liil-i' 11 m^'! I J li' 130 John Canada. hope of refuge. The two men seized the Ilurons' lance and sought to hreak it ; the Uurons tugged it ^vith all their might, and then suddenly let it go with a cry of savage joy. The result of this manoeuvre was to throw the two Canadians violently to the ground, and they fell forward across the hurning wood. Two blows of a lance left them dead where they lay. Meanwhile, the two negroes, in obedience to Black Bison's advice, in their turn tried to make a way for themselves through the terrible circle. The dusky hue of their skin enabled them to crawl un- perceived along the ground ; when they rose up, three Mingos opposed their further progress, but their iron bars were heavy, the river was near at hand, and the love of life redoubled their muscular strength. With a desperate effort they cleared the line of fire by a prodigious leap. Black Bison was behind them ; his costume, whose details could not in the confusion and darkness be observed, and the manner in which his hair was knotted on the top of his head as if ready for the scalping knife, concurred in misleading the Hurons, and making them believe that the Indian who was following the negroes was one of their own company. Only, as it seemed unlikely that a single warrior would be able to kill or to secure the two negroes, three Huron warriors darted off in pursuit of them. " Bun ! run as hard as you can !" said Black Bison to Toyo and Tambou. The two brothers were gaining ground, but the i, ■f : 'I' A Red 8hj. 131 Hurons were renowned as swift runners, and soon were within a short distance of Black Bison, who turned suddenly round and confronted the three pursuers; with a hlow of his tomahawk he cleft the skull of the first Indian, and disahled the arm of the second just as he was going to seize his tuft and scalp him. The Mingos now saw that they had to do not with one of their own tribe, but with a formidable enemy. In answer to their cry some other Hurons appeared, pursuing the nagroes whom Blaclc Bison constantly encouraged in their flight. The last of the three Mingos struck Black Bison on the shoulder, but had hardly time to congratulate himself on having shed the blood of the brave Abenaquis, for he fell flat on the ground, just as the Hurons came up with the two negroes. They had thought themselves safe ; the banks of the river were so near that they could almost touch the reeds that grew at the water's edge when the point of the Hurons' lances caught them in the flank. They had no time to wreak their cruelty on their victims, for Black Bison's axe laid one of them low, and the next moment he himself fell amid the reeds. The whole house was now in flames and the agonized cries of the wounded servants were mingled with the Mingos' shouts of joy. Mi 'W 132 Johi Canada, li|. CHAPTER X. , FBISONERS. When the work of destruction was finisbed the Indians rushed along the road leading to the House of the Rapids. They counted on finding its inmates asleep, and surprising them during their first slumber. The Hurone, according to their custom, went in sin* gle file, er/ savage putting his foot in the print of the one who preceded him, so that their numbers might UB it' as . i s possible in the moonlight be un- kno^vn to their victims. A deep silence had succeeded the terrible shouts that had filled the air during the conflagration of the Great Hut. The band of savages advanced noiselessly, and in the distance resembled a giant serpent gliding along the bank of the river whose waters still reflected the varying hues of the fire. Halgan, Tan guy, Patira and the servants watched from the upper windows, musket in hand. When the Indians reached the palisade which sur- rounded Tanguy's house, they walked round it, carefully ascertained the position of the gates, and then consulted in a low voice as to their line of action. As they were anxious to secure booty and scalps, they could not think of employing the bame means which hud succeeded in the destruction of the Great Hut. To climb the barrier would have been difficult, for not only were the trunks Prisoners. 133 the of the trees which formed it high and smooth, hut the tops of the stakes had been carefully pointed. After having struck the palisade in many places to ascertain whether the resistance was equal everywhere, the chief of the expedition made a sign, and seizing his tomahawk, dealt a heavy blow to the lower part of the wall ; this blow re-echoed so as to alarm the Hurons, and it seemed probable that the noise would awaken the inmates of the dwelling. Ihe savage drew back a little, and carefully examined the front of Tanguy's abode, then, having observed no sign of life, he again raised his weapon, and this time the stake was almost cut through. Twenty more strokes of the axe resounded through the air, the upper cross-piece of wood was attacked and four of the posts cracked and fell into the court. The breach was opened. All was still motion- less and silent about the house, save that a distant bark and an angry growl were heard. No doubt, some faithful guardians were imprisoned in an inner court, or were keeping watch in the passages of the house. Eagle's Plume, the chief of the attacking party, looked round him uneasily, the silence and stillness disquieted him. But one of his companions got through the breach and raised up the fallen stakes which formed a sort of barricade in front of the hedge. At that very moment the report of fire-arms was heard, and the Huron fell to the ground. A cry of fury burst from the lips of the Indians. They perceived that the quiet aspect of things was delusive. They had no information as to the number of inmates living in the '■■ : i !!' '■: m^^ T^r 134 Jfohn Canada, ■In \ ■ [fifit^ 1 '\ i ' ■! , 1 ■ ^i^ 1 'J Ml A . House of the Rapids. They were a party of fifty, and imagining that Tanguy of Coetquen might have ten servants, they had feit no douht as to the result of their attack. Two alternatives were before them ; they might either retire now that it was evident that the house was in a state of defence, or, trusting to their skill and courage, might endeavour to storm it, to reach the storey whence shots had been fired, kill those who per- sisted in offering resistance, and make as many prisoners as possible. The last plan was the one adopted. A council was held outside the palisade, and after the first Indian had been struck by the ball, no other appeared. Halgan and Tanguy watched with their arms loaded and ready. The servants also were on the alert, prepared to fire at a moment's notice. Patira had noiselessly left his post by the window and glided down the stairs. The door of the corridor had been left half open, and the mortar on the top step of the entrance lay like a black monster. The youth took his place beside it, and also closely watched every move- ment of the Indians. If the Hurons had entered the court one by one, the defenders of the house would have been able to see them and to deal with them with fearful promptitude. In a general and simultaneous assault of the whole force, many, no doubt, would fall beneath the fire of the besieged, but ultimately the place could be taken by assault. Eagle's Plume determined on the former course. The Prisoners, 135 desire of pillage was so intense that the savages never thought of the greater peril to which those foremost in the attack would be exposed ; their fury almost blinded them to danger. Tomahawk in hand, they uttered the hoarse yell which is their battle-cry, and rushing upon the palisade were soon within the quick-set hedge. But almost at the same moment the barrier fell beneath the half-naked crowd, a dense smoke obscured their view, and a storm of fire met them. The rattle of musketry was mingled with the thunder of the mortar, and a bloody breach was made in the advancing column. Shouts, which were fiendish rather than human, answered the unexpected volley, the wounded rolled upon the earth with broken heads and shattered limbs. But on this occasion, contrary to their usual custom, the Indians did not tarry to bear their wounded to a place of safety, the time needed to carry them away would have permitted the inhabitants of the House of the Rapids to reload their fire-arms. The Hurons sprang over corpses and wounded who lay writhing in their agony, and continued their headlong course. Just as they reached the threshold of the House of the Kapids, the bars of iron were rapidly drawn back; Patira having discharged the mortar was aware that he could not keep up the fire, and accordingly he re- joined the Marquis and the Captain. They were both calm and resolute. But what words can express the feelings of Tan guy's heart ? If he had been alone in the world, he would .< » W 1 !.! in ^' ,1 136 John Canada. M '^.'.y M^- Hi have helci his life cheap ; Herve, however, was there, — Herve with no defence at present save the arms of Nonpareille. Had his heloved child escaped all previous perils only to become a prey to the savages ? Condemned to death, even before his birth, delivered by Patira's marvellous devotion, rescued from the Round Tower, after the baptism of Blanche's tears, hidden in the Cobbold's Cave, shut up in Spinning Jennie's hut, re- ceived by the Abbot of Lehon — was he now to die in this distant land, with his grandfather and father, and the two young creatures who loved him as their brother ? But if Tanguy's mind was full of anguish for Herve, Patira's fears were no less anxious. The heroic Breton youth considered himself as having a sort of right over the last of the Coetquens ; so after leaving the mortar which had cast such terror among the savages, he hastened to the upper room where !Nonpareille and Herve were to be found. " Has the silver-haired maiden courage ?" inquired Patira, who loved to use the language dear to Non- pareille's heart. " My brother may lay his hand upon my heart, it never beats faster when there is danger." ** The Mingos will be here in two minutes." " That means that the Pale -faces have two minutes to live." " God knows it is so." " What does my brother desire ?'* ot prisoners. 137 «f The child's safety. n young brother t think of himself ?" " He has no right to do so at such a moment." The sound of the attack made by the Huron s on the gate reached the two young people. Patira looked around him as if he would ask counsel of external objects. The report of a fresh discharge of musketry assured him that the Hurons had lost more men. In his anxiety and despair he looked up to heaven with a supplicating glance. Patira was with Herve and Nonpareille in an apartment on the side of the house opposite to that threatened by the Hurons. A door opened from this side of the house into the forest, while the other door looked down on the St. Lawrence. The part of house next the forest was in complete shade, while the front, illuminated by the brilliant moonlight, was visible almost as clearly jis in broad daylight. Tanguy and his father had too much feeling for the beauties of nature to allow a great clearing to be made round their habitation. Strictly speaking, the forest served as a park to the house, and over the most projecting part of the roof fell the shade of giant branches which the Marquis had made a point of preserving. As Patira was praying for some means of deliverance, his eye was caught by the enormous branch of a sugar- maple tree, which hung over the roof at a distance of about nine feet. It seemed almost impossible to reach :!ai m :\ I If 138 John Canada. ,:. "iffiafn! Hi it, and yet, when Patira observed it, he felt as if God had heard his prayer. Above the rooms which were now about to become the scene of a merciless struggle, were some lofts with narrow windows from which it was possible to get on the roof. Patira held Herve closely in his arras. " You know I love you," he said, ** and that for long I was in place of a father to you. Will you obey me as you obey him, as you obey God ?" "Yes," said the child, "you know I did not crj when we went through the underground passage at the abbey." " And you won't be afraid now ? ' " Not if you come with me." " I will fight at your father's side, but Nonpareillc won't leave you." A terrible crash was heard at this moment, the door of the house had been broken in by the savages. " It is time ! it is time !" cried Noiipareille. ** Let my young brother save the Wren of the Woods, and afterwards go and fight at his muster's side." Patira grasped Nonpareille's hand, and with her climbed the stair leading to the lofts. As soon as thev were in the lofts, Patira took Non- pareille's long scarf, got through the narrow window out on the roof which happily was not a steep one. He weighted one end of the scarf with a heavy knife, threw it over the maple bough, drew it as tight as he could, and then secured it to the window by driving i: : i yisonvn. 139 m the blade uf the knife into a joint of the window-frame ; he then stretched out one arm to Herve who clung to him, and with his other hand drew Nonpareille forward. In auother moment the three were on the roof. The report of fire- arms was heard from anew direction, and Patira knew that the conflict was going on on the stairs. He seized the maple bough with both his hands, bent himself back and said to the silver-haired maiden : " I have strength to hold it back until you reach the trunk of the tree and hide yourself among the foliage. Have you courage to try this way ?" Nonpareille looked at Patira with a sort of enthusi- astic admiration. ** Yes, yes," she said, " I can die for those I love. I will take back the scarf as you do not now require it to hold back the branch, and I need it to bind Tanguy's child to me." With equal agility and coolness, Nonpareille un- fastened the scarf, wound it thrice round herself and Herv^, and then with the calmness of her race, put her foot on the flexible bridge which she had to cross. Herve shut his eyes, repressed a cry and clasped his arms around Nonpareille' s neck. Shouts and cries, the clashing of weapons and the sound of blows from the butts of muskets reached their ears. " Quick ! quick !" said Patira, " the Mingos are in the upper rooms." BZ^ 140 John Canada. Iv. Ill Nonpareille stood on the great bough, and, aiding herself by the smaller branches which sprung from it, went forward with cautious slowness ; her foot did not falter, she went straight up the perilous ascent with the skill of a rope-dancer. Patira meanwhile was on his knees, with outstretched arms, expending all his remaining strength in keeping the enormous bough in its position. He was praying with the fervour of a martyr for the safety of these two young creatures. A cry of alarm rose from his lips : Nonpareille had made a false step, she was no longer erect but was slipping along the branch. Notwith- standing all her lightness and agility he feared that her head had suddenly become giddy. Patira's hands were covered with blood, he had no longer power to hold the maple bough, and he trembled at the idea of seeing it escape from his grasp, but the Eong of a mocking bird was heard amid the foliage, Nonpa- reille was in safety and for the time she and Herve had nothing more to fear. Patira hastened down from the loft, sprang into the corridor, knife in hand, and looked round for the Captain and Tanguy. The corridor and the stairs, like the court, presented a fearful spectacle. Two of Tanguy's men lay pros- trate on the floor, the head of each was terribly wounded and their scalps hung from Eagle's Plume's girdle. The third of Tanguy's retainers was fighting desperately »^gainst five Hurons who were disputing amongst each other for his life and his scalp. The others mm^^ Prisoners. 141 were determined to sell their lives dearly to a troop of assailing fiends. The Captain and Tanguy had taken shelter in the recess of a window whose depth was some defence to them. Their enemies could attack them only in front, and Tanguy's courage and Halgan's sk^'U might prolong the contest and keep victory trembling in the balance. Eagle's Plume, the dreaded chief of his tribe, had found in Halgan a worthy antagonist. The boarding axe was well able to hold its own against the tomahawl:. Fire flashed from the weapons as they met with deadly clash. Eagle's Plume fought with savage fury, but the Captain never lost his calmness and self-possession. Equal courage shone from the eye of each combatant, both had determined to conquer. One was fighting for the safety of those near and dear to him, the other longed to add to the number of bloody trophies which adorned his girdle, and aspired to the glory of leading captive one of the Pale- faces whose torture would here- after furnish him with a spectacle of delight. While the Captain was struggling with Eagle's Plume, Tanguy was holding his own against two Hurons; the first of them. Bed- Head, was of giant stature, but the second. Swift Panther, was hardly more than a youth ; he persistently strove to dislodge Tanguy from the shelter of the window, with a view of throwing him down and taking his scalp. Swift Panther did not yet rank among the warriors of his tribe, and longed to perform some brilliant action. With this fixed idea in his mind, the young Indian : V, m ! an i t 142 John Canada. f id: I wielded no weapon but his great scalping knife, while Red-Head brandished a lance whose blade had been broken and reduced to the dimensions of a javelin. The sword which Tanguy used with admirable skill enabled him to resist the shock of his two assailants. The Indians, furious as they were, could not but do justice to the valour of the white men, and would ^pve deemed their chances of victory doubtful, but that iree more of their tribe, each with two scalps at his girdle, rushed on the Captain and Tanguy. Five Hurons were now opposed to Halgan and Tanguy, and it seemed as if their courage could not withstand such shocks. Neither Halgan nor his son-in-law, however, appeared weary ; the boarding axe of the former had wounded the hand of Eagle's Plume, and blood was flowing from the Captain's shoulder. All at once, as it was impossible that one sword should long keep the arms of four Hurons in check, the Marquis dealt a blow to the right, and pierced an Indian's breast, but an axe thrown at him and aimed at his wrist, shattered his sword and left him with nothing in his hand but a shapeless and use- less stump. At the very moment when a knife- wound called forth a cry of fury from one of Tanguy's adversaries, Red- Head turned round in frantic rage, for he had been struck from behind ; the Hurons who had been fighting with Tanguy now directed their efforts against the new adversary who appeared on the scene. One of the savages was tripped up and fell to the ground, and wmm Prisoners. 143 striding over Red-Head's fallen form, Patira with an axe in eacH hand, glided to Tanguy's side. Tanguy was more anxious for his child's safety than for his own. " Herv6 !" he said ; " what have you done with Herv^ P" " He is safe with Nonpareille.** Red-Head, who had risen from the ground, threw his heavy axe at a venture, and hit Tan^i^uy on the temple with a violence which elicited a cry of pain. Struggles continued in the corridors and rooms of the House of the Rapids. £y-and-by but one group continued to offer a desperate resistance to the savages ; two servants, who had not succumbed in the fight, had just been made prisoners, and their fate foreshadowed that which awaited Halgan and the Marquis. The latter continued to fight, but he no longer hoped that victory would reward his desperate courage. " Patira," he said, while still withstanding the shock of his assailants, ''you know where my son isP' "Yes," replied the youth, dealing a blow at Swift Panther's arm. " Go and join him," said Tanguy. " Oh ! this hate- ful Huron ! I am wounded, Patira ; go to Herv^, pro- tect him I save yourself ! John Canada will return, you may trust in him." " Let me die with you," said Patira ; " I am fighting like a man, these Mingos are not yet our masters." But they will be — my eyes are growing dim and r:\k - 11! !J. 144 Jo/m Canada, my arm is weak — ^my child ! save my child ! Nonpa- reille will not be able to defend him !" '* You command me, my lord P" ** Yes," said Tanguy ; " what God wills will happen to us." Patira made no objection, he passed into the re- cess behind the Marquis, seized the bar which sup- ported the window with his two hands, and let him- self down till he stood on a narrow projecting wooden cornice. The comer of the house was not far off, the trunk of an immense tree as high as a mast formed its support ; the youth remembered the time when he had been one of a troop of acrobats, but never, even in those days had his coolness and agility been more severely tested. He crept along the cornice, reached the comer of the house, and then slid down the trunk of the maple tree. I'^or a moment he re- mained lying on the ground and listening attentively to every sound, then he crept round the house to the porch. The mortar stood at the top of the steps and three corpses lay near it. A dull growl reached his ear, and in a low voice he called, " Mingo ! Mingo !" The bear slowly approached; Patira caressed his great head, and with him crossed the threshold of the House of the Eapids, passed through the rooms and passages which had been the scene of such fearful tragedies, and made his way to the maple in which Nonpa- reille and Herve had taken refuge ; he clasped his arms around its great trunk and began to climb up, while prisoners. 145 hile <( ti tt Mingo walked round and round shaking his great nead. In a few moments Patira was with Herve and Non- pareille. " Does my young brother bring bad news ?*' asked the silver-haired maiden. " The Hurons are masters," said Patira; " the Hurons are ten against one." ** And Tanguy, the noble-hearted ?" "Tanguy is in the hands of God." " Halgan ?" He is fighting like a lion." They sent Patira to be with us ?" Yes, Nonpareille, and with all my love for Herve, I was near disobeying the Marquis. I could only think of dying at his father^s side." ** Tanguy will not be killed," said Nonpareille, " he will be taken prisoner." " Does not that mean the same thing ?" " To gain time is to save life." An immense clamour rose through the air, and the hearts of the three young creatures sank ; these fierce shouts meant a decided victory. And indeed, a few moments later, a band of savages rushed out of the house. Each one of them bore away a share of the spoil, and in the midst of a group of warriors, Patira distinguished the Marquis of Coetqucn, Halgan, and two servants, closely boimd and guarded as prisoners. The red reflection of the fire had gradually faded 11 irn^ 146 John Cano/fa. from the sky, tlie pale hues of da\m had taken the place of the bloody crimson, the sun was about to rise, and the brightness of morning would reveal in all their horrors the traces of the nocturnal battle. Those Hurons who had succeeded in taking Coetquen and Halgan captive, satisfied withthe^'r share in the victory scorned, pillage, but their companions searched the house for powder and shot, and fire-water. Their greed delayed them on the scene of action, and Red-Head, Swift Panther, and Eagle's Plume impatiently waited while their comrades collected as much booty as they desired. Eagle's Plume moreover would not leave the House of the Rapids without giving burial to the dead. In a commanding voice he summoned four of the warriors who had followed him, and at his desire they went to the edge of the forest and hollowed out a great pit. "When it was ready the Indians left Halgan, Tanguy and the two servants under the care of five of their number, the rest of the Indians gathered round the pit, the dead were wrapped in bison skins and laid in it, and when the turf was closed over their grave, Eagle's Plume bade them farewell, wishing them all the happiness that awaits warriors who gain the happy hunting-grounds. He commended their courage and vowed that their memory should always be kept alive in the hearts of men of his tribe, then turned way from the resting-place where the trophies of the dead were buried with them. Tanguy and Halgan meanwhile conversed in low tones ; their countenances bespoke courageous resigna- Frmners. 147 tioxL, but their eyes looked anxiously around as if seeking for some trace of Patira and Herve. For one moment Patira was tempted to imitate the song of some bird of his native land, in order to reassure the Marquis, but Nonpareille laid her little hand on his mouth. " The Mingos know the note of all the birds of this country ; if the least sound betrayed the presence of the Wren of the Forest, we should be lost.** By this time day had fully dawned. From their high point of observation, Patira and Nonpareille saw the troop of Hurons, now reduced to twenty in number. During the burning of the Great Hut and the assault on the House of the Rapids, they had lost thirty warriors. Their victory was indeed very like a defeat ; Patira's mortar had certainly laid ten victims low, by the ample charge of grape-shot with which the brave youth had loaded it. At last Eagle's Plume gave the signal for departure, the prisoners were placed in the midst of the Hurons, and the troop was lost in the shades of the wood. 1 CHAPTER XI. THE THOUSAND ISLES. The Hurons continued their way in the shelter of the forest where the shades of night still seemed to reign, though daylight had come in all its radiant beauty to f m 148 John Canada. light up the river, and the sun was slowly rising higher find higher in apurehlue sky. Intoxicated with slaughter, with the odour of bloodshed and the joy of the pillage, the savage warriors seemed insensible to the fatigues of this night of blood and fire. Their haste to be secure from pursuit and their impatience to reach the village where they were expected, banished all thoughts of re- pose. The wounded seemed to forget their sufferings. Their scorn of physical pain, and the stoical pride which concealed all emotion, sustained them during their forced march. One of their number had fixed three scalps to the point of his lance, and marched in front waving this terrible banner to the sound of war- songs. Halgan and Tanguy were bound with ropes of bark, and followed their conquerors without either complaint or bravado. Both had received wounds, and both sulEered in mind more than in body. The thoughts of the old seaman and the young noble turned to Herve, the last being whom heaven had spared to their affection, the only descendant of a glorious race which had suffered in France, and had now come to take root in a distant land which was still France. They spoke no word. What could they have said ? Notwithstanding all their strength of mind they feared being overcome by their feelings. Contemptible as their tormentors might be they wished to prove their courage before them. After they had marched for an hour through the forest, Eagle's Plume and Red- Head consulted together for a moment and then gave the order to halt. Throe The Thomand hks. 149 men were desired to seek some game, and the captives, who were chained together at the foot of a tree, saw the Hurons begin to make preparations for a meal. A quarter of an hour had not gone by when the hunters returned ; one brought a buck and the others some birds, and while the younger warriors made ready the venison. Eagle's Plume came near to Halgan and Tanguy. His face was calm and his voice betrayed neither hatred nor wrath. " The Pale-faces need care and food," he said, "the Red- skins are men. . . Until the great wizard of the Tribe can cure them, Eagle's Plume brings them heal- ing herbs." Tanguy took the leaves which the savage offered him, but at the same time explained to him that he was unable to dress the wounds of his companion. Eagle's Plume, who knew enough English to make himself understood, asked : " Will the Pale-faces pro- mise on the Manitou they worship, not to try to escape ? " " We promise," said Halgan and Tanguy, with one voice. * At a sign from the chief the chains of the prisoners fell off, and the Captain and Tanguy rendered each other what service they could. They had both received several wounds, none of which however were dangerous ; but they had lost a great deal of blood and were reduced to a state of great weakness. The apparent compassion with which the Hurons t «; w^''f>m 150 Jo/m Canada. i iW- now treated them was not due to any sentiment of hu- manity, but was in accordance with a custom resulting from their pride and cruelty. Any enemy not massa- cred at once for the sake of his scalp, was reserved as a spectacle for the rest of the tribe. Equal glory was to be gained from making captives and from collect- ing scalps. The men, women, and children, who had remained in the villages or encampments impatiently awaited the return of the conquerors, and awarded great praise to those who provided them with the spectacle of the torture. But this horrible entertainment would have lost half its value if the prisoners had been ex- hausted by forced marches or by suffering, and had soon sunk into the semi- torpor of approaching death. The Indians wished the unhappy victims who were to be made the sport of their barbarity and the target of their skill, to be robust men, capable of enduring lengthened torments and of feasting their curious gaze by the protracted misery they could undergo. Halgan and Tanguy were well aware that the hu- manity of Eagle's Plume was false, but they considered it their duty to live until the hour appointed by God to call them hence : and, moreover, the heart of man is slow to give up hope, and, even in the most desperate situa- tion, finds some consolation and some prospect of deliverance. Halgan had often battled with the angry waves; he had borne the brunt of the attack of English ships ; he had been so often in the midst of tempest and of conflict that his calmness did not fors»kp him in this new trial The Thousand Isles. 161 As for Tanguy, he recalled the terrible hour when he had flung himself from the Gallows of the Dimnamas, he remembered the attack on the Abbey of L^hon, the perils he had undergone amid the ruins of the manor of Guildo, the squall which had almost upset the little vessel in which he and his child were flying from his distracted country, and his wonderful rescue by Halgan at the moment when hope was almost lost ; with these things in his mind he felt he could not doubt that God's protecting care would still watch over him, and a vag^e, dim light seemed to arise in the darkness of his night and bid him expect and believe that he would yet be delivered. When their wounds had been dressed and they had partaken of the venison and slept for a short time, the prisoners were in some degree refreshed, and when their new masters aroused them they were able to take their places in the midst of the band. Their fetters had again been put on, but although they were solid they did not hurt their wrists or their legs. The Hurons knew that their escape was im- possible, and therefore put them to no unnecessary suffering. The next night was again spent in the forest. The prisoners could not in the least guess the in- tentions of their Huron captors nor find out where they were going. They only knew that the savages were keeping near the river and journeying towards its source. If, therefore, any opportunity of escaping presented itself they could not mistake their way. m w 152 John Canada. i 'Pi m^ I^j i^.6 1 f' More than once, recollecting tales of travels they had read at the manor of Coetquen or on board ship, Halgan and Tanguy endeavoured to leave traces of their course by breaking the branches of trees, or disturbing the foliage of shrubs, but a warning word accompanied with a threatening glance from Eagle's Plume made them feel the prudence of giving up all such attempts ; and yet it was necessary to find some means of giving their friends a clue to their whereabouts. All at once an idea occurred to Tanguy. He had about his neck a rosary with links of gold, a remem- brance of his dead mother. Patira was the only human being who would seek to foUow Tanguy and Halgan, and Patira knew this rosary. Tanguy succeeded in putting one of his hands to his breast, and, keeping it there as if he were in pain, contrived to break one of the golden links and detach a coral bead. In another moment this fragment of the treasured keepsake lay on the short smooth turf of the forest like a berry fallen from the beak of some passing bird. But tbe journey might be a long one and these precious beads must be sparingly used. The way lay under great trees and the Indians seemed to have no intention of encamping for a few days of rest. When they wanted food, one ofthei number would take his bow and arrows and soot u bowed down beneath the weight of a buck. . re of dry wood, which emits but little smoke, was lighicJ, the meat was broiled, and after the repast all the f ragmentb were carefully gathered up and then the march was continued. The Thousand hies. 163 Notwithstanding the fatigue of the long journey, Tanguy and Halgan improved in strength, and their wounds gradually healed. But as they travelled on and the distance which separated them from Montreal increased, the hopes which they had at first cherished grew weaker and weaker. With all Patira's intelligence and devotion, what could he do for Tanguy if the Indians took him away to some village buried in the depths of the forest ? For eight days the troop marched on in this way, and for eight nights in his dreams the Marquis of Coetquen beheld John Canada's house in flames, and saw all the horrible pictures of the siege of his own dwelling. At the end of that time the Indians halted in a glade of the forest remarkable for its ancient and immense trees. Four Hurons advanced towards the oldest which wei-e hollowed by age and retained life only in their highest branches. From the great hollow trunks of these trees the Indians drew forth four bark canoes and placed them on their heads and then the whole band left the forest and came down to the bank of tlie river. Evidently any one who might endeavour to follow and to rescue the prisoners would here lose all trace of them. As Tanguy got into the canoe he sacrificed the last beads of his rosarv. He was in the same canoe as the Captain, Eagle's Plume, Swift Panther and Red- F'^ad. Though they were going against the stream, the ( : I i I 1 I 154 John Canada. strong men rowed rapidly on, and the little flotilla made way without going far from the shore. But as they proceeded, the river seemed to widen, and soon islands of variouo aspect rose from its bosom. Some were very large and were covered with immense trees, others were formed of abrupt rocks. No two among them were alike in shape or size. Capes and bays and indented shores lay over against one other, and within the green recesses the pure blue water seemed to sleep, forgetting the rapids of the river, and bathing the masses of flowers with caressing ripples. Tht aspect of the St. Lawrence in this part of its course was like that of a verdant Venice, with endless lagoons inter- mingling and crossing one another like an inextricable net-work. No ship or barge could have navigated this labyrinth, but the light canoes of the Indians mat e their way securely through the intricate passages. The savages knew each little promontory, each tree and each tongue of land. This archipelago is called the Archipelago of the Thousand Isles, although their number has probably never been accurately ascertained. It is altogether unlike anything elae on earth, and on its surface the bark canoes floated like birds. If Coetquen and Halgan had been tourists, or travellers for pleasure the scene now before their eyes would have filled them with inexpressible de- light ; they gazed on islets clothed in green of every possible shade, and on dark rcoks which formed a striking contrast with the verdure, while here and there it seemed as if a lovely flower-garden varied The Thousand hies. 155 the wilder aspect of iiadiie. Some of the islets were a complete mass of reeds, the narrow depth of earth could only produce this v/aving nosegay to be swayed by every breeze. But instead of finding consolation in the beautiful picture, Tanguy and the Captain felt that it increased the intensity of their sufferings. No doubt, all trace of their fate would now be utterly lost. Supposing Patira, with the devotion of which he had already given such ample proof, to be capable of fol- lowing the Marquis and his conquerors through the forest, it would still be impossible for the youth, in his ignorance of the wiles and deceits of the Ilurons, to track Tanguy's way through the interminable lagoons. The prisoners' eyes met, and each saw that his fellow-captive knew the extent of the peril from which no human hand could save them ; but they spoke not of their fears, their heroic courage was called into play more than it ever yet had been. By-and-by the canoes reached a pleasant bay offer- ing an easy landing-place, indeed the long bark ropes showed that it was an accustomed mooring-place for the canoes of the wandering tribe. As Eagle's Plume and his companions drew near to the shore, columns of smoke rising up through the trees informed the captives that the island was inhabited. The Hurons grasped their prisoners by ilic arms nnd made them leave the canoe, all the band then landed, fastened their boats to the bark cables and bent their steps in the direction whence the smoke appeared. At a certain distance from the native village, the mr' 156 John Canada. Hurons attered their death-cry. It would be impos- sible to give any idea of thig heart-rending sound; before relating their exploita and displaying their trophies of victory and their booty, they lamented those who had fallen in the double attack on the Great Hut and the House of the Rapids. A cry of mourning was raised for each of the tribe who had fallen, and inunediately from the distance came in response a mingled howl of men and wail of women and children. The soxmds of weeping and sorrowing from the two answering bands drew nearer and nearer together, till the inhabitants of the island village joined the re- turning band, and warriors, old men, squaws, and chil- dren were mingled in one group. For the rest of the way the cries continued with increasing rage and grief ; then when the savages were opposite to a great cabin which was adorned with special care, and had fearful figures standing at its four corners. Eagle's Plume began to speak, and in an eloquent and able discourse recounted the merits of the warriors who had died in battle with the Pale-faces. He praised their courage in war, and their wisdom in council ; he swore that their children should be adopted by the Huron warriors, that the wigwams of their widows should be provided with fresh venison by the chiefs, and he concluded by declaring that each one of them had shown himself worthy of the protection of the Great Spirit, and had found an eternal entrance into the land of the happy hunting-grounds. His words in some degree culmed the sorrow of his The Thousand Isles. 157 hearers ; moreover, Eagle's Plume endeavoured to turn their minds from the memory of the dead to the glory of those who had returned to their brethren. The nocturnal attack on the two houses assumed the pro- portions of a great battle. Swift Panther madly shook the lance to which he had fastened the scalps of a negro and two Canadians. Each Huron in turn boasted of his deeds with savage pride and exhibited his scalps and his share of the spoil. At last Eagle's Plume said, " The sons of the Great Spirit, protected by Areskoui, the God of War, have brought back two Pale- faces whom they have made prisoners. Their wounds are not yet closed, they must be thoroughly healed before the council decides on their fate." Enthusiastic applause greeted Eagle's Plume's words. At this moment all the objects pillaged from the House of the Rapids were spread out on the ground ; the women greedily drew near, and the children slipped in between the rows of warriors. The Hurons, who had fought with indescribable fury, were like children in the deJ'ght and pride with which they took possession of a necklace, a bit of red cloth, or a weapon. Eagle's Plume considered it more consistent with his dignity as a chief to leave his share of the spoil to his comrades. The prisoners he had taken brought him glory enough. After they had mourned for the dead, and divided the spoil, the warriors who had taken part in the ex- pedition held a hasty council, and then Eagle's Plume, ^1:1 158 John Canada. Swift Panther, and Red-Head drew near to the prisoners. " The Pale-faces are not accustomed to marching through the forests, and they are still suffering from their wounds. They may henceforth rest in the empty hut in this village. The women and the warriors will hring them venison, with a strengthening drink, and the perfimied leaf whose smoke sends care to sleep." Tanguy understood the words of the chief, who spoke English, he took Halgan's arm, and together they entered an empty house. Its owner had perished in the fire at the Great Hut, and his widow had gone to live with the wife of Red-Head. This log-house was primitive in its simplicity. In the middle was a hearth on which no fire was at present burning ; in one corner a heap of sassafras branches seemed prepared to serve as a bed, and two boar-skins with some earthen pots completed its scanty furniture. The Hurons thought it unworthy to chain their prisoners The hut would be so well guarded that such a precaution would be unnecessary. Just as Halgan and Tanguy were rejoicing in the thought of being left alone, a youth, whose years did not yet warrant his participation in the expeditions of the tribe, entered the cabin, took up his position on one of the stones of the hearth and silently began to smoke. He was the prisoners' apnointed gaoler. 'Die T/iOusand Isld. 159 Tanguy knelt down in the comer of the cabin. The ardent neophyte, who had entreated Father Ambrose to admit him into the number of the monks of Lehon, was still full of the faith which had been revived in his heart beneath the convent roof. In his great grief he cast himself into the arms of God, knowing full well that consolation and salvation come from Him alone. Halgan, the veteran seaman, had somewhat for- gotten the lessons of his mother. He had sailed over distant oceans, had entered many temples, and looked with curious eyes at heathen idols, and in his wander- ings he had lost the sentiment of faith. No doubt he vaguely remembered its teaching, but it was somewhat as one remembers an air heard in former days, he did not, like Tanguy of Coetquen, rest upon his faith ; he did not embrace the cross with that grasp which makes the weakest strong. Halgan looked to his own strength, Tanguy sought courage from God. He prayed for a long time, while the Captain, with his head buried in his hands, called up the memory of the beloved beings whom he could never see again. Blanche of Coetquen buried beneath the shadow of the Oak of the Twelve Archers, and the beautiful boy, Merve, whose little arms would never again be clasped around his neck. After an embrace, which silently expressed t^eir grief and their courage, Tanguy and Halgan lay down on the sassafras and went to sleep. The youthful warrior, who had been desired to watch over their sleep, spent the night seated on the hearth -stones, persist-ently ' 1 160 John Canada. smoking his long calumet, and from time to time cast- ing an anxious glance towards the sleepers. At dawn another Indian took his place ; Tan guy and Halgan still slept. When day broke upon the island, colouring the sky, casting brightness on the summits of the rocks, spangling the water with gold, and spreading a carpet of beauty over the ground, a young woman timidly crossed the threshold of the hut. She held in her hand a basket filled with plants, and coming near to the wounded men made them understand that she would take care of them. Tanguy interchanged a few words with her and learned that she was called Nuaga Rose, and that her father was one of the Sachems of the tribe. Without expressing in words the compassion which filled her soul, she endeavoured to make the prisoners understand that in the presence of their young Huron guardian it was impossible for her to answer the questions which they were longing to ask her. But with a rapid move- ment she took a copper cross from her bosom and showed it to them as a token that they had a right to expect assistance from her. When she had performed her errand, she left the house without looking back, for she feared to see the curious eyes of the young Huron fixed upon her. Later in the day, two hideous old squaws brought food to the prisoners. The gaoler was allowed to leave his post, and Eagle's Plume came and solemnly informed Halgan that no fetters would be put on him, the the The Thousand lales. 161 , and that he and his companion were free to walk about the island. The hearts of the captives beat with joy at this announcement. They were allowed to go where they would, might they not consider themselves as almost certain to regain their freedom ? Eagle's Plume read their thought in the glance which they interchanged. " The Pale-faces are men," he oaid ; " the Hurons were not the first to take the war-axe from its resting-place. Until the Sachems have decided the fate of the captives they must remain within the bounds of the island, and never pass over its girdle of blue water." Although these words were spoken calmly, Tanguy understood the threat which they conveyed. " Father," he said to Halgan, " God alone knows the number of the days we have to spend here, in the midst of enemies who are reserving us for further suffering. But, without absolutely giving up all hope of escape from our enemies, it is evident that we must act with the greatest possible prudence. Keen eyes are watching us on every side. Men, women, and children are all observing us closely. The gaoler who kept us in this house has been removed, but every Indian is a new gaoler." " I know it," said Halgan, "I see it ; and with such a future before us, and the certainty that a Huron has never shown mercy, I had rather be bound to the stake to-day, than wait in the expectation of torture." " Perhaps to-morrow may bring us deliverance." 12 |, 1 ;■ ! 162 John Canada. " Deliverance ! Tanguy — I am a seaman, and per- haps people are not wrong in thinking me a good Captain, but I declare to you that after having passed through all those endless canals and passages, I should never be able to find my way back to the St. Lawrence." " You are mistaken, father, you could do it." " Without a compass or instrument of any kind P'' " There is a star which never fails us, father, the Providence of God." Halgan buried his face in his hands ana made no reply to Tanguy's words. CHAPTER XII. II WILD BINDWEED. The sun rose bright and glorious next morning. The great fatigue they had undergone had brought sleep to the prisoners. When they rose from their deep re- pose they embraced each other warmly ; courage came back to their hearts, that calm courage which bears any trouble that may come. The door of the hut was gently opened and a young girl stood before the captives. She was tall and graceful, her dress was simple and elegant, and her brown hair was adorned with bright-coloured flowers. Her timid glance be- trayed compassion, and after having placed some pro- Wild Bindweed, 163 risions on the ground, she was turning away when the Captain said to her in English, " Does the Wild Bindweed know the fate that is before us P '' " The chiefs have not yet assembled in the Council Hut." " Are all prisoners as a matter of course condemned to death ? " " No, not all," answered the Wild Bindweed ; " an old man often adopts a captive, and in such a case he at once becomes one of the tribe." " Can we leave this hut ? " " The Pale-faces bear no chains." ** And will the Wild Bindweed serve us, as a sister would serve a brother ? '* " The young Eed-skinned maiden was once the captive of the Pale-faces ; she remembers that they showed her respect." Wild Bindweed pronounced these words in tones of emotion, and then fearing no doubt that the Hurons might suspect her of some pity for their prisoners she left them uttering in her own mother-tongue a word whose sweetness they understood although they could not have translated its meaning. Halgan and Tanguy shared the meal of venison and wild roots which the young girl had brought, and then, wishing to make sure that they really were in the enjoyment of comparative liberty, advanced to the threshold of the cabin. No sentinel guarded the way and they were emboldened to take a few steps beneath Ike shade of the trees, and were able to observe the ; / 164 John Canada, general plan of the village : it was a collection of huts constructed by a horde of Indians who were ready to take service with the English, or to share in the chances of any private enterprise. The dwellings had been erected without order and as it were by chance. Trees furnished the principal materials, the walls were made of boughs and moss, and bisons' skins sufficed for the roof. The Hurons, not intending to make a long sojourn in this spot, had not in any way prepared for the snowy season. Fishing and hunting provided them with the principal part of their food, and a few roots and some Indian com, grown in a plot of ground tilled by the women, completed their provision. A hut larger than the rest and decorated by two idols' heads affixed to posts, was the meeting-place of the chiefs of this nomad tribe. Here they held counsel, and discussed the interests of the nation. The death of the twenty Indians who had been slain in the recent ex- pedition had cast their respective families into mourn- ing. Nothing short of the possession of a share of the coveted spoil could allay the noisy demonstrations of grief. When Halgan and Tanguy left their cabin, each of the victors had adorned himself with some object stolen from the House of the Kapids, a rag of purple, a weapon, or a necklace ; the women were walking about the village to exhibit the gifts received from their husbands or brothers. Among these men and women were certainly some possessed of human feeling, whose hearts were bleeding from a cruel blow ; but the Indian is, from an early age, accustomed to repress ill V. Wild Bindueed. 165 all expression or token of feeling, and save in the turbulent manifestations of public mourning looks upon it as a point of Honour to let no trace appear upon his countenance of what is passing in the depths of his heart. As Wild Bindweed had told the prisoners, there were no sentinels charged to take special care of them, and yet they soon found that as this duty was entrusted to no particular person, every member of the tribe was expected to perform it. Seated at the doors of their cabins the young women and girls gazed at the strangers with persistent curiosity . The men who, either by chance or as a precaution, were scattered about the village, while busy preparing their weapons, mending their nets or mah'ng bark canoes, never lost sight of those whose death was one day to provide them with the pleasure of a spectacle. Neither Halgan nor Tanguy was mistaken as to the general feeling. Delay was granted to them and their limbs were left unfettered, but only on condition that they should make no attempt to escape. Moreover, when the two captives had gone round a part of the island, they began to wonder whether such an attempt would not really be an act of the greatest folly. "Weakened as they were by their wounds, what could they do when the whole population of the island care- fully guarded them ? The archipelago of the Thousand Isles was even more secure than a prison. They could not think of getting possession of a canoe, and though Wild Bindweed's countenance had convinced them of her H^[ [^ 166 John Canada. liilll^ compassion they knew that she was powerless to save them. The scenery which surrounded them was beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Fresh and luxuriant f oilage hung over the mirror of blue water. On every side this delta, with its rocks, its flowers and its giant vegetation, called forth their wonder and admiration. It surpassed in its loveliness all that a painter or poet could have dreamed. Tanguy of Coetquen, accustomed as he was to the wild aspect of Brittany, felt the charm of this new world. The Captain seemed less sensible to its marvels. His soul was oppressed by the gloomy future which seemed to be before him. He thought of Herv^, Blanche's child, and of Blanche who had died so terrible a death. The Marquis and Halgan sat by the river's side and gazed on the panorama of sea and earth and sky ; the Indians were astonished at the tranquil bearing of their prisoners. They had often been told that the Pale- faces were cowardly when death was before them, and they had looked for some sign of weakness in Halgan and Tangly. A savage pride gave the Bed- skins that fortitude which has often been the wonder of those who have witnessed their silent endurance of fearful tortures ; but the Indians little knew that men of Tanguy 's stamp draw from their faith a courage far superior to the stoical bravery of the savage. Moreover, Tanguy and Halgan saw the importance of avoiding everything that might excite the suspicion of the Hurons, and accord- ingly they were extremely prudent in all their proceed- ings. When the day drew to its close they left the Wild Bindweed. 167 the shore of the island and returned to the centre of the encampment. Before a hut of which the door was raised up, Wild Bindweed was preparing the evening meal. Her father was dead and she took charge of a young family of hrothers and sisters. The captives greeted her with a smile of recognition, and then seeing a group of old men seated in front of a large hut, they joined them and sat down amongst them. The Indians did not seem surprised, they respected the silence of their guests and offered them pipes. Tanguy mildly declined the calumet, but Halgan accepted it and began to smoke in company with the Sachems. " The Great "Wizard of the Red-skins was to have brought some healing plants to the Pale-faces," said Halgan, " but we have not seen him. If men are not afraid of suffering it is well to preserve their strength that they may sing their death-song nobly." " The Great Wizard is driving the bad spirit away from a sick man's hut," replied the old man whom he had addressed, "he will not forget the Pale-faces — they will be able to recover their energy and their wounds will have time to heal before they are called upon to prove that they are not squaws but famous warriors among the chiefs." These words of Red-Head's confirmed what Wild Bindweed had said : if the captives were to die it would not be for a considerable time ; indeed, the Sachems themselves did not yet seem to have fixed the date. The best thing they could do therefore was to have m 168 Jo/m Canada. patience and endeavour to regain their vigour of limb, aiid then if possible to procure canoes or to make t'leir escape by swimming. At the moment when they had landed on one of the Thousand Isles which are rocked by the St. Lawrence, Halgan and the Marquis were ready to make the sacri- fice of their lives. The terrible scenes of the night of blood and pillage through which they had passed, and the sufferings of the march, had combined to take from them all hope of escape ; but as hours wore on they had got accustomed to the enjoyment of their liberty, and the love of life had begun to revive within them. They were still ceaselessly watched. By night some of the young Indians slept at the door of their hut and during the day some of the Hurons came with them under the pretext of fishing or shooting in their company. Nothing in the attitude or words of these Indians showed hatred or ill-will ; they seemed to be merely performing a duty. Halgan thought of escape. He did not consider it impossible to leave the island by night, to swim across the narrow passage, and thus to go from one island or promontory to another, leaving no trace behind them. No doubt they would be pursued, but after all they were not prisoners bound by their word of honour. The right of regaining his liberty belongs to a captive. Eight days had gone by since the Indians had burned the Great Hut, Eagle's Plume was absent, and the Indians were giving themselves t-o the pleasures of the chase with passionate enthusiasm. Wild Bindweed, 169 fiometimefl they pursued the roehuck hv night, dazzling it by th« light of their pine- wood toi ches, and striking it while it was stunned by the noise and blinded by the brightness which broke upon the silence and calm of the ni^ht. At other times they aimed at nobler game and watched for the greedy bear that sought for honey in the hollow trunk of some old tree. One morning they determined to hunt a bear well- known for his enormous size and believed to be a hundred years old. The prisoners accepted the Indians' invitation and joined the chase ; they knew that it might involve peril, but their situation made them in- different on this subject. The bear in question had hitherto avoided all snares and escaped from all attempts made on his life, and a close and desperate struggle was now expected. The Indians set off in good spirits, armed with mus- kets, lances, and hunting-knives. They followed the track of the bears, from the hollow tree which served as a hive to the wild bees, and the prints of his gigantic paws redoubled their anxiety to secure so magnificent a prey. It was not long before they caught sight of the monster, who was returning at the same hour as on the preceding day to the neighbourhood of the maple- tree; he walked along confidently, quietly, and heavily, shaking his great head at every step. All at once a sound from a thicket made him turn his head and look round. He soon suspected the presence of men and stood still, his eyes grew bright and he uttered a dull growl, which was presently changed into \l 170 John Canada. a terrible cry of pain as a shot was fired by Eagle's Plume ; the ball bad struck tbe bear near the shoulder and he rushed furiously towards the bushes where the hunters were concealed. They saw that a desperate conflict was before them, and Eagle's Plume, who longed to distinguish himself, sprang over the underwood and stood face to face with the furious animal. The bear reised himself on his hind legs, and with irresistible force flung himself upon Swift Panther and hugged him with a violence which elicited a stifled groan from the youth. His two arms were rendered powerless by the immense paws of the beast, he was unable to vxq the hunting-knife which he grasped in his hand and he would inevitably have perished, had not Eagle's Plume rushed forward and plunged his scalping- knife between the shoulders of his enemy. Swift Panther and the bear fell to the ground together, the weight of the monster overwhelmed the young man, but he managed to free himself and left his adversary rolling on the grass with furious cries. The hunters then broke forth into imprecations and mocked the foe who \. d not courage to endure. " We thought you were a hero, a patriarch of the forest," said Eagle's Plume, addressing the dying bear, " but you groan and wail like a squaw. If, instead of being struck by my weapon, you had wounded me, I would have suffered like an intrepid warrior end died before I let my pain be known, the tribe of bears." You are a disgrace to Wild Bindweed. 171 But the monster victim heard not the words of the Hurons, it continued to writhe in spasms of agony. Before the hlood had all flowed forth through a great wound, the body of the bear was agitated by painful convulsions, then his paws grew stiff and the mass lay motionless. The hunters' next care was the transport of their game to the village ; they did not for a moment entertain the idea of cutting np so fine a quarry, accordingly four of the youngest among them formed a bier of strong branches and thus bore the fallen foe whose deeds had long been handed down by tradition in the forest, in triumph to the village. The hunters had reached a very thickly wooded and iifficult part of the way when a rustling of the grass warned them to be on their guard. They stopped suddenly, and the sound drew gradually nearer to them, till they presently perceived the flat head of a serpent with red eyes which darted fire as it saw the Indians. Well armed though they were and brave as the slaughter of the bear had proved them to be, they did not endeavour to kill the reptile with a musket ball, or to crush its head with the back of a tomahawk but stood still and paid him every mark of deep respect. Then, bending down to the ground, they puffed out tobacco smoke in great clouds before the rattle-snake, made meoy genuflections and protestations of friendship and sub- mission to their "grandfather," for so they are accustomed to call this formidable reptile. The rattle-snake being no doubt conciliated by the honour 172 John Canada. 11 paid to him, and also half stifled by the smoke, made no attempt to harm his worshippers, but slowly pursued his way among the tall grass and disappeared amid the bushes. "Atahocan protects his red children," said Eagle's Plume ; " the capture of the bear and the meeting with the serpent are proofs of his bounty. Therefore after a few more moons his grateful children will celebrate great festivals." The return of the hunters was a triumphal progress ; the corpse of the bear was drawn round the open space in the middle of the village, and as the day was now far advanced, the dividing of the immense beast was deferred till the morrow." The squaws at the doors of their cabins busied them- selves in the preparation of boiled sagamitz, talked with wonder of the exploits of the day, and rejoiced in the prospect of receiving a share of the giant game. When the time of the repast had come, Halgan and Tangiiy, according to their custom, went into a cabin, and seating themselves in silence by the hearth, waited for their share of the evening meal. They chose Swift Panther's hut, and knowing that he understood something of English the Marquis addressed him in that language. " My brother has been fortunate in the chase," he said. " Swift Panther's knife seldom misses its mark," re- plied the young man. " Has my brother ever hunted the bear P" " No," answered Tanguy, " but wild boars which are Wikf Bsn 6^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 % — ^^BHWBi 180 John Catiada, la^.U *i !■) 'M ;:l ' m completely healed of their wounds, and they were also anxious that the execution should be the occasion of religious ceremonies to render thanks to Areskoni the god of battles, for the victory they had gained over a tribe of Abenaquis with whom they had been at war on account of the claims each party made to a certain territory. After its double success in war and in the chase the tribe was prepared to enter fully into the savage delight to be found in tho spectacle of the death of the two Europeans ; and the valour displayed by Halgan and the Marquis durii.q^ the attack on the House of the Rapids, as well as their resolute bearing ever since their arrival in the Thousand Isles, had raised expecta- tion to the highest point. One of the Sachems was so struck with Tanguy's valour that he made a proposal to the chiefs, himself to adopt him ; this idea which would perhaps under other circumstances have been favourably received was rejected from fear of offending the English. The chiefs assembled in the Council Hut had smoked in silence for more than an hour when Eagle's Plume arose and after having extolled the valour of the warriors and the wisdom of the Sachems, gave an account of his own actions and boasted that he had directed the twofold expedition which had set fire to John Canada's abode and destroyed Tanguy's. " The Ilurons," he proceeded, " have overturned the war cauldron, their tomahawks are athirst for the blood of the Pale-faces. The warriors of our tribe An Apparition. 181 will see the enemy whom they have taken prisoner faint and tremble, for the Huron alone can die a hero and sing his death-song amid tortures. Before we start on a fresh expedition let us sacrifice the prisoners to the gods, and avenge the warriors who are gone to the happy hunting grounds.'* The conclusion of Eagle's Flume's speech called forth unanimous approbation from the chiefs, and it wms decided that the captives should be sent for, and should learn the fate that awaited them on the morrow. Swift Panther, one of the youngest warriors, was chosen as the messenger to inform Halgan and Tanguy that the chiefs desired their presence in the Council Hut. Wild Bindweed had not been mistaken as to the nature of Swift Panther's commission. She understood that the death-sentence of the prisoners had just been pronounced. Although this sentence could not be considered an unexpected one, Wild Bindweed was struck down as by a heavy blow ; for a moment she gave free course to her compassion for those whom she would fain have saved, then rising from the ground where she lay, and bending her steps towards the cabin, she leaned against the wall and watched the movements of the unhappy beings who had refused to owe their deliverance to her. Halgan and Tanguy supported each other ua they entered the Council Hut ; the Captain with his long white hair was a complete contrast to Tonguy, whose *v 182 John Canada, \ V if -'r' I h \ !!■ ( I finely-formed and noble head was closely cropped ; his hair had been cut in the Abbey of L^hon and had not yet had time to grow long enough to curl over his forehead and neck. But this circumstance instead of altering the character of his countenance perhaps only gave it an expression of greater determination and strength. The Indians observed the two men for some time and then Eagle's Plume with a semblance of gentleness began to speak. " The return of the Hurons to their village has been met by sounds of mourning/' said he, looking one by one at the chiefs who sat around the hearth, " for if the warriors brought back spoil, they also brought back tidings to wives of their husbands, and to fathers of their sons who were sleeping on the banks of the river. Those brave warriors have gone to the happy hunting grounds, and yet they complain that the Hurons forget them. The dead have no slaves where they are gone to load their fire-arms and bring back the game. They accuse their sons, their friends and companions, of having lost all remembrance of them. They are in- dignant, they expect that those who smote them with the ball or the knife be sent to join them. The Pale- faces are not squaws but men ; they will pay the debt of blood.'* " Yes, Hurons," replied Tanguy, " we are men, and we are reckoned among the brave. In warfare and on the waves we have done our duty, and with the help of God, we will do it still. If our bodily strength m An Apparition. 183 should fail, if the tortured nerves give way amid violent suffering, it will be none the less true that throughout life we have given an example of courage. Let me remind you, though the words may find no echo in your hearts^ that we have not unearthed the battle- axe. Neither of us has lived long in Canada. We have been less than a year in the country, and we never thought of declaring war against the Red-skins. The Great Ononthio loved them. I say these things not for the sake of imploring your pity, but in order to make you see that in condemning us, you are committing an injustice. We have not attacked you, and you have burned John Canada's hut, and massacred our servants. Let the blood of the innocent be upon those who shed it!" '* The Red- Children must honour their dead ; our words have fallen on the ear of two great chiefs," said Red- Head. "And so,** inquired Halgan, "we shall die to- morrow P** " To-morrow,** replied Eagle's Plume. Tan guy pressed Halgan to his heart in a close embrace. They were both about to go out, when Wild Bindweed came into the hut. " For the time they have still to live,'* she said, " I will be the slave of these two men.'* " That is your right," answered Eagle*s Plume. The two prisoners were led back, not to the hut which they had occupied ever since their arrival, but to a cabin of much larger size. Lest the idea of wnii ) m i \ Bins: 184 John Canada, the tortures whicli they were to undergo in presence of the assembled tribes, should induce them to seek an easier death beneath the waves of the river, their limbs were fettered, and two warriors were appointed to guard them and remain at the entrance of the hut. The men whom the chiefs honoured by selecting them for this duty were sons of Sachems, and re- nowned for their courage, and the choice made of these young men excited much jealousy amongst those Indians whose age did not yet permit them to take part in great expeditions, but who were anxious to give proofs of their courage. Wild Bindweed prepared the yenison and wild rice in the prisoners' cabin. She did not now weep. It might have been thought that in spite of the sentence which had been pronoimced, some secret hope sustained her. Perhaps she thought that the proposal which Tanguy had rejected before his condemnation to death, would seem to him welcome and even desirable, now that its acceptance would give him life and restore his child to his arms. The Marquis and Halgan hardly seemed to be aware of the young girl's presence. For the hours which were still left to them, they wished to be occupied entirely with the thought of God and of death. Tanguy had not lost the fervour which had long made him wish to wear the serge habit of his holy and learned companions in the Abbey of L^hon. But it must be owned that Halgan's life^ spent as it had been in warfare with corsairs, in trading at sea, and often on An Apparition, 185 distant shores, far away from priest or church, with but fleeting visits to his native Brittany, had tended to make him with his ardent passion for adventure, if not completely forgetful of his religion, at least negligent in its practice. At this solemn hour when about to appear before the Supreme Judge of all men, he was afraid because he had thought so little of God, and he won'^sred anxiously if he could indeed find mercy from Him Whom he had so long forgotten. His feelings were still keen notwithstanding his age, his imagination was active, and he soon fell into the depths of despair. The old Captain was, so to speak, completely scared by the thought of eternity. Hitherto he had held his head high with a proud conviction that no better man than himself could be lound; but now, looking back on long years spent in iieglect of most important duties, he smote on his bieust and in accents of terror murmured, '* Judgment ! Judgment I" He did not think of the tortures which the savages would inflict upon him, he did not fear the suffering that their barbarity might cause, but he asked himself how he should give an account to the Lord for his past years. Forgetfulness, negligences, and faults, assumed in his eyes the proportion of desperate crimes, and the word which alarmed him returned to his lips with a cry of terror. Tanguy knelt down, he took the Captain's hands in his, and in tones of deep tenderness, and firm convic- tion, said, "You are right, father, we must indeed tremble in the presence of eternal justice, for we are all MA 180 John Canada. i?i sinners in God's sight. But the goodness of God is infinite, His mercy is oyer us, the Blood of Jesus is our protection, and our death united to His Passion will be accepted by God in reparation for our sins. Weep for them, but belieye ; repent of them, but do not cease to hope. If we had a priest to assist us we would bow our heads before him, and beg him to restore the inno- cence of our souls. We are alone, but Jesus, the Eternal Priest stretches forth over us His bleeding hands. Oh ! father I father ! let us pray I God is listen- ing to us, let us pray ! the angels are around us ; let us pray, for death is at hand ! A most consoling thought occurs to me at this moment. You have heard what Bindweed has said ; you know that if I had only spoken the word, I should have been set at liberty. You would have enjoyed the same privilege if you had consented to live as the Indians do, accepting their laws and their religion. We shall be martyrs rathei than prisoners, for apostasy would save our lives.*' '*You are right, Tanguy,*' said Halgan; "thanks, thanks, my friend, my son I we will die bravely, like men, and like Christians, and God in his mercy will reunite us to our lost one.'* The remembrance of Blanche recalled Tanguy's child to his mind. Where was he? What would become of him ? Herv^, the tender child, was the only link that still bound Tanguy to earth. Tanguy wept when he thought of him ; but with an effort collected all the powers of his soul and commended him to God; the two men then knelt down in the cabin and both prayed aloud. An Apparition. 187 ud is is our ill be ep for ase to dbow 1 inno- .8, the 9eding listen- let us louglit d what spoken You ou bad ^ their rathei »i IS. thanks, ly, like •cy will 's child ome of lat still thought Iwers of ^o men loud. The Marquis repeated the Psalms oi DaTid, those marvellous songs of sorrow and repentance. The sufferers found in these words the expression of their own feelings and the tears of the Royal Prophet brought consolation to their hearts. The young Indians who heard them through the wall of trees and bison-skins, said to one another, "The Pale- faces are repeating their death-song." While Halgan and Tanguy were endeavouring to turn their last thoughts to heaven, a arrange scene was passing in the most desert part of the island beneath the weird light of the moon. A deep bay lay between two sandy promontories. The branches of the great trees hung over it like a moving curtain ; the blu9 water sparkled beneath the cascade of penetrating light, and the islands of varied aspect, low or lofty, covered with green sward or crowned with giant vegetation, formed a picture whose grace and harmony surpassed de- scription. A bark canoe soon appeared on this enchanted lake. It was steered with the greatest caution, the paddles worked noiselessly, and no word was exchanged between the youth who wielded them and a strange being who stood beside him, clothed in Indian fashion, with long hair which shone in the moonlight like spun silver, while a heavy black shapeless mass lay at her feet. ** The place is good," said the young girl. " This is not the first time that Nonpareille has found her way among these islands, which are as like one another as each mesh in a fishing net is to the next. The Hurons m »M' ' H^p't^- ^^V f < ' Hi ^' ' ^Bi 1 ''' ■1 iL :. Hi ' ^ HHh' H| '.<' ^^■^ ^^^bI K "= n «'' ' m I ■ wiJ' m ■ '*! ^ ' ' V I 'i'^ ■ ij .: / - Hi - : . H ^ ' i ■ H' t i< \'- 1* i;^ R' ' 1 'J ■ ■ iJlft: I •■ " ^^^■ r-,: i; ( ■ S ■ iUh ' m^ 1 ■ I i ■ if ' ■ lii ■ i :ll I < i'l'. m ;, .. , , . ; ,., ii \L^ 188 John Canada. are cunning dogs, but the children of the Algonquius are keen-eyed eagles/' The Indian girl sprang on shore without a sound. The youth did likewise, then the heavy mass moved in its turn, and followed the young girl who gently caressed a large dark head. Nonpareille leaned on the youth's shoulder. " Patira," she said, ** you are painted with the war colours of the Hurons, and no one will ever find out that you are a Pale-face. If you lived in the country of the Algonquins, our brothers would surname you the Valiant Heart. But whatever be the name you bear, you continue devoted to those you love. No one has a right to hinder you from shedding your blood for your friends. Only listen to the words of a Red Child who knows the wiles of the Hurons. Take care ! the prisoners must be brought back here, and no useless risks must be run. Let me act first and get into the village. The Hurons are asleep, I shall be able to examine their cabins at leisure. If the Hurons see me, they will take me for a spirit, and will do me no harm. Let my young brother be at ease, Mingo will not leave me." The little Indian maiden patted the immense bear which rubbed itself against her with an air of intelli- gence and submission. *' I am afraid I I am afraid for you T said Patira, in a voice of emotion. *'My young brother cannot help me in the visit of observation I am going to try to make. When I want him I will come and seek him.*' t I ■ i An Apparition. 189 Patira hesitated, but Nonpareille*3 urgency gained the victory over his impatience, and he consented to await her return in the bay. The young girl left the trees beneath whose shadei Patira and the canoe were shrouded. She walked on lightly, followed by the bear Mingo, which sniffed the air and seemed to seek some track to follow. It was not long before Nonpareille perceived the first huts of the Indian village. She walked on beneath the shadow cast by the trees, and with a rapid glance studied the situation. When she arrived at the place prepared for the dances and the tortures, she could not but shudder to see at one end a stake painted red, which seemed to be trickling with blood. A little further on, the great hut with its rude idols met her view. " The prison cannot be far away from the Council Hut," thought Nonpareille. She went on with yet greater caution, then suddenly stood still ; the sound of two voices reached her ear. With one hand laid on Mingo's head as if to impose silence, she listened, leaning forward, anxious and breathless. Her heart was beating so hard that for a moment she could not distinguish the accents which were borne upon the night breeze. But when she had recovered herself, she recognised the prayers which she had learned from Father Flavian, and joining her hands with an expression of infinite gratitude, she blessed God that those whom she had thought lost were yet alive. i I jj ' ill U.I ill 1 11- ■ ■ 5 'J '■i < .; ! Plj 190 c/oAn Canada. Hastening on her way with the lightness of a bird, she went round the cabin in which Tanguy and Halgan were devoting their last hours to prayer. But when she drew near the door, she peroeiyed the two Indians placed in charge of the prisoners. What could be done ? Must she give up the idea of reaching them P or go back to Patira and claim his aid ? But it would be impossible for Patira to overcome the guards before they could arouse the whole village, and the only result would be a double number of victims. Nonpareille's knowledge of the superstitious nature of the Indians, gave her still a last hope. She thought that her strange hair, the airy lightness of her form and the apparition of the colossal Mingo might strike terror it least for a moment. Into the Indian sentinels. If only she could gain time to cut the bonds of the captives and drag them out of the cabin, she deemed success to be certain. An hour of night was still before her, if the captives could reach the main stream of the St. Lawrence by the first dawn of the morning they would be saved, for the Hurons in their consterna- tion at the boldness of the escape would hesitate to pursue them. Nonpareille resolved on a course of simple daring. With one hand laid on Mingo's head while the other grasped the handle of a dagger, the silver-haired maiden left the dark shade in which she had been concealed, and stood forth in the full light. The moonbeams wrapped her in a gentle radiance. Her long, plain Indian dress added to her height, and it An Apparition. 191 El bird, lalgan t when [ndians luld be tbexnP b would 5 before le only \ nature bbougbt )rmand e terror els. If of tbe deemed as still stream Qoming istema- )itate to daring, le other maiden Qcealed, idianoe. t, and it would be impossible to give an idea of her strange beauty as she stood, proud and self- possessed, before the guardians of Halgan and Tanguy, wiapped in her flow- ing hair. The unexpected apparition produced great agitation in the minds of the young men, and this agitation was increased by the sight of the giant bear at the girl's side, which shook its great head with a monotonous movement as if menacing them with destruction. There was a belief in the tribe, founded on the words of some ancient chief, that certain four-footed patriarchs of the forest were under the protection of the spirits, and must on no accc/it.-, >, be put to death. To hunt them was a crime erid to shed their blood would be to bring overwhelming misfortunes on the tribe. It had often been said in the island, that the immense bear lately slain by the hunters, belonged to the privileged race which ought to have been untouched by fire or steel, and which was believed to have the marvellous power of returning to life, and taking cruel vengeance on the imprudent hunters. The yoimg warriors were well aware that their fallen foe had been hidden in a cavern and that the old wizard kept guard over it, and yet they were at once convinced that Mingo was the same bear restored to life, and that the strange, bright- haired being at his side was the presiding spirit of the chase, and was gazing at them with eyes of anger. The two Indians therefore suddenly drew back from the presence of Mingo and Nonpareille. Leaning against the side of the cabin, they were for the W'<- •I ' 192 t/bAw Canada. ■l\^ first time in their lives, afraid. The silver-haired maiden made a sign and Mingo rose up and stretched out his great paws towards the guardians of the captives. They fell on their knees and howed their foreheads to the ground; Mingo laid a paw on one of the trembling forms, while Nor.pareille struck the other with her foot. Within the cabin the two captives continued to recite their death-psalms. They had lost all hope of regain- ing their freedom ; their hearts were far above this earth and when Nonpareille raised the back door of the cabin, they did not hear her light foot-fall. She laid her hand on Tanguy's arm and said in her musical voice : " Nonpareille and Patira have watched. The guards are asleep. Come ! " With a steady hand she cut the cords which bound the captives* arms and legs, laid her finger on her lips to impose silence, and then, with the captives, gained the threshold of the hut. The two sentinels lay still as death, with their faces on the ground. Nonpareille drew her hand through Mingo's long fur and he released the trembling Indian, and followed her and the rescued prisoners to the shelter of the oaks and maples. No word was spoken by any one of the three. Non- pareille led the way, listening attentively to every soimd, and wondering whether the stratagem which had so far succeeded, might not yet be baffled by the skill of less credulous Indians. Tanguy and Halgan slowly proceeded ^ the midst of the most thickly-wooded An Appantion, 193 maiden out his . They to the inbling th her bo recite regain- >ve this r of the d in her v^atched. h bound her lips ined the nr faces through Indian, to the Non- sound, had so 1 skill of slowly Iwooded portion of the island. The moonlight did not perml them to estimute the obstacles before them. With outstretched arms they groped their way amidst the trunks of immense trees and clumps of bush<^8 till at last they gained an open space. Nonpareille no longer dared to do as she had done when alone with Mingo. The little Indian maiden was aware of the impression which her appearance had caused, but she knew that the superstitious dread thus awakened would vanish as soon as it was discovered that she had made her way to the island in order to rescue the prisoners. They went on however, and were now approaching the bay in which Patira awaited the arrival of his com- panion ; in another quarter of an hour, miraculous as it appeared, the captives might feel certain of their safety; but at this moment a prolonged yell was heard, a yell expressing rage and menacing vengeance, and Nonpareille could not mistake its import. The escape of the prisoners was known in the village. As soon as the sentinels had heard the bear depart, supposing the silver-haired apparition to have gone with him, they slowly raised themselves, and looked round on every side with mingled curiosity and fear. When they saw that they were alone, their courage revived, and instinctively they hastened to raise the mat which formed the door of the hut. The hut was empty. In one moment they knew that they had been duped by a crafty scheme whose object was the rescue of the naptives. The vision of the Silver-haired Maiden and 14 ''■m BBU 1 1, III ■ if. Ji ■ i 194 John Canada. [■3 H' the apparition of the giant Mingo, whom they had taken for the ancient monarch of the forest restored to life, now seemed to them a magical illusion ; the evil spirit had blinded them to baffle their vigilance, and the strange silver-haired form T7hich had stood forth in the moon- shine, was dovubtless a phantom evoked by the Pale-faces, who were well skilled in the sorcerer's art. Then, with speed quickened by resentment for the great wrong done them and by the desire to repair it, the Indians raised their voices and made known the escape of the prisoners, attributing this catastrophe to the strange adventure which had occurred. In one moment all the able-bodied men were astir. Wild Bindweed rushed out, her grief had kept her awake, and she had not even laid aside her garments. Her countenance betrayed deep sorrow ; she was deadly pale, and turning to the elder of the two young men, she hastily said : " Why does my brother set the cruel hunters on the track of the wounded deer ? The Daughter of the Forests hoped that the Golden Lizard meant to build her a wigwam. But how can Wild Bindweed consent to ur.ite her life to the Lizard's if she sees him no longer harmless, but ready to dart forth death- giving poison ?" The Indian looked hard at the young girl by the uncertain light of the torches which moved to and fro around them. They were going to hunt down these men as the wild deer is hunted. " The young girPs voice," said the Golden Lizard, " is Bweet as the bird's song. She does not consider that the S i An Apparition. 195 taken ;, now It had range moon- -faces, or the pair it, rn the )phe to >e astir. 3pt her rments. ; deadly ig men, e cruel 1? The Lizard In Wild lard's if to dart by the land fro ^n these lard, " is Ithat the flight of the captives is a disgrace to the young warriors. Tho spirits of the night have troubled the sight of the warriors. The oldest of the captives is a medicine man, whose knowledge would make Tabouka blush. He cast a spell over the eyes of the Golden Lizard, who saw through the darkness a magical being wrapped in a veil of hair whiter than the moss on the oak trees, and more dazzling than the snow of winter. The Sachems would have the right to banish the Lizard for ever from the rank of the warriors, and to refuse him a place in the Hut of Council, if he did not endeavour to repair his involuntary fault. Wild Bindweed knows the heart of the Indian as the mother knows the smile of her child. She would not unite her life to that of a disgraced Huron, or cross the threshold of a coward's cabin. The Golden Lizard must find the prisoners unless he would be considered as an old woman." A. shudder passed through the girl's frame. She forgot what she had taken as scorn from Tanguy, and only remembered the words of benediction which he had spoken to her. The idea of his death seemed to her so terrible, that she would rather have fallen beneath the daggers of her fellow-countrymen than have seen him again the Hurons' captive. " The Lizard is not guilty," she said ; " the Sachems are wise, they will make no accusation against him who has asked to build me a cabin. But how can Wild Bindweed believe that her husband will be kind and indulgent to her, if he refuses her the first favour she asks P " m\ w §: If;;' 196 John Canada. \ f "And this favour asked by the Flower of the Forests ?" " Is the deliverance of the Pale-faces." " Wild Bindweed is under the influence of a malevo- lent spirit/' said the Golden Lizard, in a harsh voice. " Her tongue is forked like that of the viper. Her words are of one colour, and her thoughts of another The young warrior will do his duty." " His duty is to bring back the captives ?'* " And to bind them to-morrow to the stake." Wild Bindweed uttered a cry of anguish, stretched out her arms towards the Golden Lizard, and exclaimed, as she turned away from him, " Never will I cross the threshold of your wigwam." The Golden Lizard watched the maiden depart, then ran from hut to hut calling the chiefs, and imploring them to aid him in recapturing the prisoners. In a short time a numerous band of Indians was gathered in the open space. Most of them held resin torches in their hands, and by Eagle's Plume's order dispersed in different directions, making for the shore in order to render it impossible for the prisoners to leave the island. The Indians were somewhat reassured on this matter, because Tanguy and Halgan were without a vessel, while the Hurons could at once cover the lake with a numerous fleet. A hundred torches were soon waving amongst the branches of the fftrest trees. The Indians brandished them about with loud, sharp cries of death and vengeance, but too well understood by the captives as they fled through the deep gloom of the forest. An Appariiwn. Id7 Tanguy, Halgan, and the Silver-haired Maiden hastened onward towards the Delta of the Thousand Isles. When they reached the place where Patira was waiting for them with the canoe, they had hoped and even felt certain that they would escape from their enemies. They did not yet think that the hatred of the Hurons would change the night into a false day. Nonpareille and Mingo, who in the first place had protected the escape of Tanguy and his companion by observing From a distance what went on in the village, had now taken the lead. The young girl was anxious to warn Patira ; she could not again count upon success until the two Frenchmen were actually in the canoe. Alas! the night which had aided her work of self- devotion soon gave place to a ruddy glow of light. Either by accident or purposely, an Indian with his torch set fire to a grove of trees, and this fire soon spread widely, so that the river and the shore were lighted up by the glare of the conflagration. Halgan and Tanguy ran at full speed, breathless and exhausted as they were \ they knew that their safety depended on their speed, and they went like the wind, pursued by the flames which were driving them towards the river. While his friends were surrounded by double danger, Patira trembled at the thought that his patient toil and Nonpareille's self-devotion were in vain. He called them in heart-rending tones, at the risk of betraying his hiding-place. Notwithstanding all his confidence in the marvellous instinct of the Siver-haired Maiden by tv.% r-. m Ui 198 John Canada, 4 i I" i t 'I ; t •li ■ ■ iM ■>:«< ^^■f f ^^■t' ' ! H^f ;f 1 •:|: II ih^ whose aid he had been able to follow the traces of the Captain and the Marquis of Coetquen, he thought it impossible to take too many precautions on behalf of those whom he was endeavouring to rescue. Three times his voice was lost amid the hissing of the fire and the shouts of the pursuing Hiirons, but at last Tanguj answered his call and another moment saw him in the canoe which Patira had just unmoored. Halgan took up the Silver-haired Maiden as if she were but a babe and placed her in the canoe, and then got in himself while the bear heavily lay down at the feet of his young mistress. " The oars ! give me the oars ! " said Halgan. Patira gave them to the Captain, who wielded them with an energy quickened by the imminent danger, and by a few strokes left the shore at some distance. When Patira ventured to look back he saw a troop of Indians rushing from the centre of the island towards the shore. The Huron s who first saw the canoe uttered cries of rage and astonishment ; some of them cast them- selves into the water to swim after it and arrest its course, but the greater number were called back by the voice of Eagle's Plume, who thought the attempt of the Golden Lizard and his followers rash and unwise. A few words from their chief sufficed to calm the violence of the Hurons' anger, and the silver-haired Maiden who stood erect in the middle of the boat with her eyes fixed on the shore while the Captain rowed desperately on, soon guessed the means which the Indians were about to employ. An Apparition. I9d of the ight it lalf of Three ire and 'anguy in the if she id then L at the id them rer, and ;roop of towards uttered them- rest its ack by mpt of unwise. ,1m the haired at with rowed ch the A dozen Indians went to a group of ancient trees whose trunks were hollow and afEorded shelter to their canoes. Nonpareille knew that such hiding-places were often used; she saw that they were about to be pursued, and leaning towards the Captain, said in a low voice : " Try to reach that island where you see a great black rock ; we may perhaps find refuge in the cavern.'* Just as she had spoken these words the first canoe left the shore in pursuit of the unfortunate captives. It was followed rapidly by another and then another, until a little fleet maimed by armed Hurons was hastening in the wake of the boat which bore Patira, Halgan, Nonpareille and Tanguy. Mingo navmg scented the Indians rose from his place at the feet of his mistress, and with his two front paws on the side of the boat, and his head turned towards the enemy, uttered low, growling sounds, which bespoke his readiness for battle. Eagle's Plume steered the fore- most canoe, and under his direction the flotilla instead of advancing in a straight line formed a crescent whose ex- tremities were lengthened out so as effectually to prevent Halgan from following Nonpareille's advice and reach- ing the rock. It was evident that, notwithstanding the speed of the canoe, the Hurons would sooner or later surround it and impede its further progress* w M^'V m ^:i\ 200 John Vanaila. .Sis ;, ■1 9-1 I i 1^5 f mi . : 1 i! I CHAPTER XIV. THK PURSUIT. Fortunately the glare of light from the burning grove soon faded completely away. Darkness would have been an unspeakable boon to Halgan and his companions. Skilfully as the Indians managed their canoes, they could not have followed the little craft through the labyrinth of the Thousand Isles, and, more- over, the single canoe could easily make its way through narrow straits and passages where the tv.elve pirogues could not at once enter. It was far ahead of the others. Halgan, incited by the peril of the hour, rowed with desperate force, following the directions of Nonpareille who knew the river in all its windings, and pointed out the narrowest passages, and most difficult turns, in order to bewilder in the midst of the network of waters the twelve pursuing pirogues. The Silver-haired Maiden had lost none of her cool- ness and composure ; without considering that her white hair and the conspicuous position she had chosen, would make her a mark for the rage of the Indians, she stood calm and unmoved, pointing out with one hand the course to be followed, while with the other she leaned on Patira*s shoulder. Certainly there was a strange sight to be seen that night on the St. Lawrence, from whose bosom rose the The Pursuit, 201 Thousand Isles. The last glow of the fire was dying away in the sky and on the water, and in the fading light the canoe containing the fugitives was rapidly gliding away like a bird ; Halgan bent to his oars and nerved himself to withstand the fatigue which threatimc d to paralyze his muscles ; Tanguy sat with his furclje id leaning on his hands, thinking of Herv^ whom he would probably never see again, of death which seemed to bo swiftly approaching, and of Patira and N onpareille bound to his fate by their self-devotion. His heart was rent and his hands worked nervously, for he sufPered not only from his sorrow but from his impotence to help. Unskilled in rowing, he dreaded lest Halgun's powers should give way, with none to take his place save Patira and the little Indian maiden. They both understood the danger and seemed to foresee the end of the unequal struggle, yet calmness reigned on Patira's brow and on the countenance of Nonpareille. Widely as the two young creatures differed in race and in education, at this terrible moment they felt that they were children of the same great family. When Patira raised his eyes to Nonpareille he entered into her thoughts as clearly as if the Child of the Forest had opened her lips and told him all that was passing in her mind. Mingo meanwhile continued his low growling with his head turned towards the Hurons. They rowed vigorously and their plan of action would have been crowned with speedy success if Non- pareille's erratic course had not so greatly impeded their pursuit. J- Hi E^i •' i i s 1, ;,l • t '^ 1 1 F 1 I 1 , ; ill: 1 if Hi i II IM" ! 1 ; i 't Hi' ikt^ li! 202 JbAn Canoeiifi. For a moment the young girl hoped that the Hurons had completely lost the track of the canoe; for a moment the darkness protected the flight of the captives. But alas ! dawn came too soon, and with its first ray Patira distinguished a boat in eager pursuit and rapidly gain- ing upon them in a narrow passage. The idea of fight- ing hand to hand for their lives occurred to the fugitives, but five armed men were in the pursuing boat and Patira and Nonpareille only had each a knife. At the very moment, however, when they had made up their minds against this measure, they were compelled to have recourse to it. The Indians perceiving that there was but one man to be feared, determined to get rid of Halgan, feeling sure that they would have no difficulty in dealing with the two young people and Tanguy. If the latter did not take his part in the management of the canoe, his ignorance of the art must, they argued, be the cause of his inaction. The canoe left to the guidance of Patira and Nonpareille, would drift along, and a few strokes of their oars would enable the Hurons to over- take it and not only to re-capture Tanguy and Halgan, but also to secure the strange Silver-haired Maiden and her young companion. Red-Head, who was keen in the pursuit, shot an arrow in the direction of the canoe, and it passed so close to the Silver-haired Maiden that the long veil which hung around her was stirred as by the wind. She did not tremble, but her hand pressed more closely on Patira's shoulder. " If the Child of the Forest remains standing," Th4 Pursuit 203 he said gently, " she will serve as a mark for the arrows of the Hurons." " I know it, but I am protecting the rower/' was her reply. Alas ! her heroism could not defend him whom Red- Head had chosen for his victim ; a second arrow pierced one of the hands of the Captain and elic:t«d a cry of pain. His oar fell into the river, and f-Ai^ther flight would have been impossible if the Silver-haired Maiden had not bent over the side of the canoe and grasped it just as the current was about to carry it away. The Captain pulled the arrow out of his hand ; Patira took up the oars and the canoe continued its desperate course. But in spite of the youth's courage, his arms had not the vigour required for continued rowing ; the increasing daylight redoubled the danger of the fugitives, and while Patira exhausted himself in the endless course through the labyrinth of islands. Red- Head's boat gained upon them considerably, and Halgan's canoe was now but a few oars' lengths in advance of that of Red-Head. Four Indians manned the boat with this chief, who had taken an active part in the destruction of the House of the Rapids ; the Golden Lizard, eager to repair the error of the preceding night, was there with three others well-known for their ferocity, and decorated with scalps which bore witness to the barbarous exploits they had already performed. Patira, still wielding his oars, placed his great knife in Tanguy's hands. Nonpareille grasped hers in her 204 John Catuida. tj ii i: I i ^1 ' iK I'i delicate hand, and Halgan armed himself with the arrow which had just transpierced his left hand for a javelin. A terrible cry burst from the lips of the Indians, and Bed-Head stretching himself over the side of his canoe, with his two hands seized the extremity of the boat occupied by Tanguy, and using his strong hands as grappling-irons drew it violently towards him, then rose up and springing in with terrible agility threw himself into the canoe of the fugitives, brandishing his heavy tomahawk. No one of the actors in this terrible drama lost his self-possession. Tanguy, with his arm pluccd close to his breast and his knife pointed forward, awaited the Red-skin's attack ; but Nonpareille did not leave him time to strike or to meet the Huron's advance ; she pointed to the Red-skin, and turning to Mingo, ex- claimed : ** Choke him, Mingo ! choke him ! " The bear understood the command, rose on his hind legs, and in a deadly embrace pressed the paralyzed Huron, who fell backwards, crushed by the weight of his enemy. Patira urged the boat forward, and Mingo and Red-Head rolled together into the waves. In another moment the bear reappeared on the surface alone. Then, warming to the battle and excited by Nonpareille's voice, he clung to the Indian's canoe, and before they had recovered from their astonishment had laid hold of another victim. The surprise of the Indians soon gave place to over- whelming rage. Two furious strokes of a tomahawk The Pursuit, 205 he arrow i for a iaos, and lis canoe, the boat hands as im, then ty threw shing his a lost his 1 close to raited the leave him ince ; she ingo, ex- his hind )aralyzod rht of his Lingo and another ICC alone, pareille's fore they d hold of to over- ^mahawk inflicted two great wounds on Mingo, but the faithful creature seemed aware that Nonparcille's safety de- pended on his courage, and leaving the Golden Lizard half-dead, he rushed upon the Indian who had wounded him and crushed his arm in his terrible jaws. The canoe became the scene of an unprecedented combat ; the bear springing in amongst the Indians tore the breast of one with his sharp claws, bit another severely, and pushed back another with a blow from his monstrous head. No one of the wounded Indians was capable of continuing the pursiv't of the captives; Mingo's last effort overturned the . nue, and of the five Indians who manned it, three found a watery grave together with Bed-Head. While the combat lasted, Patira continued to row. His strength was sensibly failing, but at this moment the prisoners might deem themselves in safety, for no other canoe was in sight. " Let my brother gain the island above which the rocks rise ! ** said Nonpareille. Patira threw himself back and gave a fresh impulse to the canoe. He had just left the narrow strait in which Red- Head had pursued hira, and had now before him a clear expanse of water on which the morning sun- beams were playing, and opposite to which rose up blocks of blackish stones. There, and there alone might it be possible for the captives to find a refuge, for the islands around them instead of being covered with trees, presented nothing but brushwood and masses of reeds or narrow strips of earth on which the grass encroaclied. m 206 John Canada. JMHfct f m |jHK| WbS^riii: Mf^kt KSj*.'^^ ■MnV'f ,-. '»■,? '• ■HiH>l -*•: i:!i;i^i: ^ ^ •• >„ . - . : ii!! if V. .M ■ f W I iMamii But at tlie momont when the canoe entered this open space, an infernal clamour arose from ten points at once, and from every channel between the different islands came forth a pirogue full of Indians. Just when Tanguy's companions imagined they had thrown the Hurons off the scent, they doubled the islands and pur- sued the fugitives through the labyrinth, supposing that the little Indian maiden who seemed to be thoroughly acquainted with the resources of the country, would lead them to the isle of caverns. This time neither Patira nor Tanguy thought it possible to resist the horde of enemies that rushed upon them. A companion of their warfare however still re- mained ; bleeding and wounded as Mingo was, he had followed their boat, and climbed again into it as the Indian flotilla arranged in crescent form, advanced towards the Frenchmen. After having completely closed them in behind, some of the bo'^'^s advanced in front of them and narrowing the circle thus formed, proceeded to surround them entirely. Patira saw an expression of the deepest anguish pass over Nonpareille's countenance, and said to her in those tones which had once consoled Blanche of Coetquen in her prison in the Round Tower : " The Child of the Forest is the Child of God ; the Black Kobe who baptized her, taught her that those who die in faith, sacrificing their lives for others, become saints and angels in heaven. Nonpareille will follow the Virgins of the Lamb in the Paradise of delights." " The Child of the Forest does not weep for herself," murmured the girl. IM Pursuit 207 UB open at once, b islandu )t wbeu 3wn the md pur- ipposing 1 to be country, DUgllt it Led upon still re- ly he had it as the idvanoed mpletely meed in formed, lish pass in those :quen in of the De who faith, nts and Virgins lerself," Q The Indinns dreir nearer and nearer ; in another moment the oanoe would be at their mercy. Tanguy andHalgan stood up, crossed their arms on th^ir breasts, and waited. Escape from their enemies was hopeless and therefore to use their weapons seemed useless murder. God, Who permitted them to defend their Uves when they quitted the Great Island, seemed now to have chosen them as martyrs. The Indians easily boarded the little boat. Tanguy, Halgan, and Patira were fettered cruelly, and the Silver- haired Maiden ofE^tred her hands to be bound. The strange beauty of the young girl, her white hair and het inspired air, made the Indians look upon her with superstitious respecc. They did not venture to bruise the delicate hands which she extended towards them with fetters. Her courage excited their admiration, and they hoped *o attach to their own tribe this strange heing who seemed of a nature different from and superior to that of other mortals. When Nonpareille saw that it was in vain for her to seek to share the fate of the other captives, she sat down at the bottom of the boat where the)' had been cast. Slowly and gently she bathed a wound which Patira had received in his temple, and endeavoured to loosen Tanguy's bonds ; the Indians, whose hearts were full of savage joy, did not venture to hinder the Silver-haired Maiden in her work of consolation and charity. The prisoners were praying in a low voice. Day had fully come ; birds were singing and moving about among III I .ii> iff'' ^* 208 John Canada. '■• :. 1 .; - ! S ■ 1 •in.. ; - -- i *• !;hi 1 ( ft !• i H i l» iS i ;1; : 1 '• |W|| ^.^. the branches, the fleet doer r&a through the brushwood, Nature had risen in all its varied charms from the refreshing influence of night. The canoes were glidinj> noiselessly on the river's bosom. The rowers rested from the fatigues of the nocturnal pursuit. The Golden Lizard, who had succeeded in swimming till he reached a canoe, was relating to Eagle's Plume the details of the combat. Slowly though the pirogues proceeded over the brilliant surface of the river, which with its islets was a very Venice of verdure, they by-and-by came within view of the Great Island. At the utmost point of a sandy promontory stood Wild Bindweed in an attitude of despair. All niglit she had remained on this spot, praying tiiat the Hurotis might lose all traces of those whom she had en- deavoured to save. Her pride had been deeply wounded, but in the end Wild Bindweed had become resigned. Her soul wud agitated by feelings which she could not have defined ,* though she did not well understand Tanguy's reasons for refusing to owe his liberty to her, she felt that he was right. Her heart divined more than her intellect could comprehend. Her humiliation melted into a deep regret which overpowered her ignorant soul. Tanguy's re* fusal made him appear greater in her eyes. At this moment she envied but one being on earth, and that being was the Silver-haired Maiden who had the courage and skill to attempt a rescue which seemed almost im- possible. She was jealous of Nonpareille, the weak, frail The Pursuit, 209 irusliwocd, from the Die gliding ^ers rested [he Golden lie reached details of proceeded 3I1 witli its by-and-by atory stood All night the Hurons bad e en- in the end er soul was ,ve defined,' reasons for ;bat be was lellect could Ideep regret jinguy's re* At this 1, and that the courage I almost im- reak, frail creature who had sought to save her friends. She despised b,nd hated herself for having in some degree laid down conditions to Tanguy of Coetquen. Had the little Indian maid such calculations? She had just risked her life for a bare chance of success ; she had failed, but her heart and her countenance were still calm, and her sadness added a fresh charm to her childish beauty. "Wild Bindweed said to herself, " If that child could have a little affection for me, I would sacrifice my life for her." At last the canoes came to the shore. Eagle's Flume's was the first to be moored to the trunk of a tree. The prisoners who were calm, but pale from fatigue and exhaustion, were led back to the hut from which they had escaped. The sentinels instead of remaining outside now came in with them. The tidings of the recapture of the French prisoners were received with loud cries of joy by the old men, women, and children, who had been left in the camp. The spectacle which they had feared to lose would after all, they believed, be given to them ; attributing the flight of their captives to fear of torture, they over- whelmed them with reproaches. The decrepit squaws were particularly vehement in their persecution of the unhappy men. They excited the anger of the young warriors and told the children tales of the sufferings which had formerly been inflicted on Frenchmen taken prisoners by the Hurons on the shores of Lake Ontario. The young men, roused to the utmost 15 i!ll it I?" hL' v^-n if) if 210 e/oAn Canada. by these pitiless termagants, sharpened stakes, tried the points of their arrows, twisted ropes of fibre, and poured forth insults on those who were about to be massacred. The Golden Lizard fixed fresh stakes in the ground, for it seemed certain that Fatira and Nonpareille would meet a fate similar to that of Tanguy and Halgan. After having planted the stakes in enormous holes, he painted them red ; these preliminary preparations being concluded, the warriors returned to their wigwams and restored their strength by partaking of boiled sagamitz and venison, together with a calabash of maple wine and a few mouthfuk of fire-water ; the greater number of them, in order to give more splendour to the ceremon^'^ which was to take place at mid- day, painted their faces and bodies with the colours reserved for national festivals. Eagle's Plume chose a style of decoration calculated to distinguish him from all the other members of his tribe. He had found means of making his countenance appear threefold. Looking at him full face his thin nose seemed to end in a shapeless knot. One side of his face was painted black and the other red, and his eyebrows were of different shades ; never had a more fearful countenance been offered to human view, and Eagle's Plume with his hair knotted into a tuft and adorned by a feather from the monarch of birds, might well pass as the most magnificent specimen of his tribe. A patient hand had drawn on his breast with a fish-bone, pictures representing the history of his life, and the Ml The Pursuit. 211 , tried re, and r to be ground, i would lalgan. oles, he 18 being ims and agamitz )le wine number to tbe painted rved for Iculated rs of bis atenance lis thin side of and his a more lew, and tuft and , might his tribe, ish-bone, and the Is battles in which he had taken part. The burned bark of a trCiO had given to the lines of the drawing an intense colour which told well against the coppery tint of his skin. In this manner he bore about him his patent of nobility among the other warriors, each one of whom followed his own fancy or the traditions of his race in contributing his share to the pomp of the savage spectacle. The women changed their simple cotton tunics for embroidered garments ; they put row after row of chains about their necks; their arms were encircled with bracelets, their flowing hair was confined by bands or by wreaths of flowers. Even ♦he oldest among them were not proof against the general impulse, and it would have been hard to find anything more hideous than the group of wrinkled, tanned, aged creatures who stood crying and gesticulating in the midst of the open space. The children silently watched the preparations for the torture or gathered up branches to feed the flames. The spectacle was perhaps rendered even more imposing by the dazzling beauty of the weather, the fresh verdure of the trees, the blue girdle of water around the Great Island, and the charming perspec- tive formed by islands covered with flowers and grass, or rocky and reed-grown, melting away into the misty distance. When the chiefs had finished painting themselves in the colours suitable to a festival, Eagle's Plume with equal pride and joy gave orders that the victims should m 212 John Canada. ' ^. B-1 i : '. tii M?' iiii'i^ ri III ■' , be sent for. Shut up in the hut whence they had escaped, they had now lost all hope and were making up their minds to death. Their sacrifice had really been accomplished the night before, but an additional pain was added to it by the thought that Patira would lose his life on account of his generous efPorts on their behalf. Tanguy's heart would not have been rent as it was with anguish if he had known that he was leaving Herve under Patira's fostering care. Patira could have taken Herve back to France when the course of events there made his return possible. He would have placed him among such friends as might have survived the storm of revolution. Some distant mem- ber of the Ooetquen family or of that of the Chateau- briands might still be alive, perchance even one or two of the monks of L6hon might have escaped the general massacre, and return to wander amidst the ruins of the Abbey ; Patira would confide to them the child who had grown up within the walls of the holy house, and the learned old men would train him up to be a brave nobleman, capable of maintaining with his sword the rights of his race and the privileges of the throne, or else a devoted priest at God's altar, who would con- stantly implore pardon from heaven for the murderers of their brethren. Patira seemed to read what was passing in the soul of the Marquis. "My lord," said he, "God himself wp/tchep. over your child. I have told you that he was -I - "^t V , but I have not had time to relate to you all .