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1 2 3

WAGOUSTA ;

OR,

THE PROPHECY.

^ '^aU of \i)t ^anaDajS..

" Vengeance is still alive ; from her dark covert,

With all her snakes erect upon her crest,

She stalks in view, and fires me with her c!!;i. 'ns."

Thf Revenf(e.

" THE AUTHOR OF ECARTR."

INTHUfi.E' VOIiUJ«Kv>i

• » , . • , • • » V

. • • « • t » a „■ ^ I

C J .> « fc « V -J V

• I. I ^ • •

LONDON:

T. CADELL, STRAND; AND W. BLACKWOOD,

EDINBURGH.

1839.

■MWi

ttriwurn i Liwi

WACOUSTA;

0»,

THE PROPHECY.

•V

CHAP. I.

INTRODUCTORY.

As we are about to introduce our readers
to scenes with which the European is little
familiarised, some few cursory remarks, illus-
trative of the general features of the country
into which we have shifted our labours, may not
be deemed misplaced at the opening of this
volume.

Without entering into minute geographical
detail, it may be necessary merely to point out
the outline of such portions of the vast conti-
nent of America as still acknowledge alle-
giance to the English crown, in order that the

VOL. I.

^ /

23525

•ammmm

WACOUSTA.

reader, understanding the localities, may enter
with deeper interest into the incidents of a tale
connected with a ground hitherto untouched by
the wand of the modern novelist.

All who have ever taken the trouble to
inform themselves of the features of a country
so little interesting to the majority of English-
men in their individual character must be
aware, —and for the information of those who
are not, we state, — that that portion of the
northern continent of America which is known
as the United States is divided from the Ca-
nadas by a continuous chain of lakes and
rivers, commencing at the ocean into which
they empty themselves, and extending in a
north-western direction to the remotest parts of
these wild regions, which have never yet been
pressed by other footsteps than those of the
•native hunters of the soil. First we have the
magnificent St. Lawrence, fed from the lesser
and tributary streams, rolling her sweet and
silver waters into thp foggy seas of the New-
foundland. — But perhaps it will better tend to
impress our readers with a panoramic picture

WACOUSTA.

may enter
s of a tale
ouched by

rouble to
a country
' English-
must be
;hose who
)n of the
is known
the Ca-
ikes and
to which
ing in a
t parts of
yet been
e of the
have the
le lesser
^eet and
he New-
' tend to
picture

of the country in which our scene of action is
more immediately laid, by commencing at those
exti-eme and remote points of our Canadian
possessions to which their attention will be
especially directed in the course of our nar-
rative.

The most distant of the north-western settle-
ments of America is MichilUmackinac, a name
given by the Indians, and preserved by the
Americans, who possess the fort even to this
hour. It is situated at the head of the Lakes
Michigan and Huron, and adjacent to the
Island of St. Joseph's, where, since the ex-
istence of the United States as an independent
republic, an English garrison has been main-
tained, with a view of keeping the original
fortress in check. From the lakes above men-
tioned we descend into the River Sinclair, whicli,
in turn, disembogues itself into the lake of the
same name. This again renders tribute to ihe
Detroit, a broad majestic river, not less than a
mile in breadth at its source, and progressively
widening towards its mouth until it is finally lost
in the beautiful Lake Erie, computed at about one

B 2

[

* WAC0U8TA.

hunarecl and sixty miles in circumference. From
the embouchure of this latter lake commences
the Chippawa, better known in Europe from the
celebrity of its stupendous falls of Niagara,
which form an impassable barrier to the sea-
man, and, for a short space, sever the other-
wise ujiinterrupted chain connecting the re-
mote fortresses we have described with the
Atlantic. At a distance of a few miles from
the falls, the Chippawa finally empties itself
into the Ontario, the most splendid of the
gorgeous American lakes, on the bright bosom
of which, during the late war, frigates, seventy-
fours, and even a ship of one hundred and
twelve guns, manned by a crew of one thousand
men, reflected the proud pennants of England !
At the opposite extremity of this magnificent and
sea-like lake, which is upwards of two hundred
miles in circumference, the far-famed St. Law-
rence takes her source; and after passing
through a vast tract of country, whose elevated
banks bear every trace of fertility and cultiva-
tion, connects itself with the Lake Champlain,
celebrated, as well as Erie, for a signal defeat

WACOtrSTA. 5

of our flotilla during the late contest with the
Americans. Pushing her bold waters through
this somewhat inferior lake, the St. Lawrence
pursues her course seaward with impetuosity,
until arrested near La Chine by rock-studded
shallows, which produce those strong currents
and eddies, the dangers of which are so beauti-
fully expressed in the Canadian Boat Song, — a
composition that has rendered the "rapids"
almost as familiar to the imagination of the Eu-
ropean as the falls of Niagara themselves. Beyond
La Chine the St. Lawrence gradually unfolds
herself into greater majesty and expanse, and
rolling past the busy commercial town of
Montreal, is once more increased in volume
by the insignificant lake of St. Peter's, nearly
opposite to the settlement of Three Rivers,
midway between Montreal and Quebec. From
thence she pursues her course unfed, except
by a few inferior streams, and gradually
widens as she rolls past the capital of the Ca-
nadas, whose tall and precipitous battlements,
bristled with cannon, and frowning defiance
from the clouds in which they appear half im-

B 3

L«ii. i iffw wji iBi j, juji ii w u a i a i

6 WACOUSTA.

bedded, might be taken by the imaginative en-
thusiast for the strong tower of the Spirit of
those stupendous scenes. From this point the
St. Lawrence increases in expanse, until, at
length, after traversing a country where the
traces of civilisation become gradually less and
less visible, she finally merges in the guif,
from the centre of which the shores on either
hand are often invisible to the naked eye ; and
in this manner is it imperceptibly lost in that
misty ocean, so dangerous to mariners from its
deceptive and almost perpetual fogs.

In following the links of this extensive chain
of lakes and rivers, it must be borne in recol-
lection, that, proceeding seaward from Michil-
limackinac and its contiguous district, all that
tract of country which lies to the right consti-
tutes what is now known as the United States
of America, and all on the left the two pro-
vinces of Upper and Lower Canada, tributary
to the English government, subject to the En-
glish laws, and garrisoned by English troops.
The several forts and harbours established
along the left bank of the St. Lawrence, and

WACOUSTA.

Qtive en-
Spirit of
point the
until, at
here the
less and
he gulf,
)n either
!ye; and
t in that
from its

ve chain
in recol-
Michil-
all that
t consti-
d States
wo pro-
ributary
the En-
troops.
Eiblished
ce, and

throughout that portion of our possessions
which is known as Lower Canada, are neces-
sarily, from the improved rendition and more
numerous population of that province, on a
larger scale and of better appointment ; but in
Upper Canada, where the traces of civilisation
are less evident throughout, and become gra-
dually more faint as we advance westward, the
fortresses and harbours bear the same propor-
tion in strength and extent to the scantiness of
the population they are erected to protect.
Even at the present day, along that line of
remote country we have selected for the theatre
of our labours, the garrisons are both few in
number and weak in strength, and evidence of
cultivation is seldom to be found at any distance
in the interior ; so that all beyond a certain
extent of clearing, continued along the banks of
the lakes and rivers, is thick, impervious, rayless
forest, the limits of which have never yet been
explored, perhaps, by the natives themselves.

Such being the general features of the country
even at the present day, it will readily be com-
prehended how much more wild and desolate

B 4

WACOUStA.

was the character they exhibited as far back as
the middle of the last century, about which
period our story commences. At that epoch,
it will be borne in mind, what we have de-
scribed as being the United States were then
the British colonies of America dependent on
the mother-country J while the Canadas, on the
contrary, were, or had very recently been, under
the dominion of France, from whom they had
been wrested after a long struggle, greatly ad-
vanced in favour of England by the glorious
battle fought on the plains of Abraham, near
Quebec, and celebrated for the defeat of Mont-
calm and the death of Wolfe.

The several attempts made to repossess them-
selves of the strong hold of Quebec having, in
every instance, been met by discomfiture and
disappointment, the French, in despair, relin-
quished the contest, and, by treaty, ceded their
claims to the Canadas, — an event that was
hastened by the capitulation of the garrison of
Montreal, commanded by the Marquis de Vau-
dreuil, to the victorious arms of General Am-
herst. Still, though conquered as a people,

11!

WACOUSTA. 9

many of the leading men in the country, ac-
tuated by that jealousy for which they were
remarkable, contrived to oppose obstacles to
the quiet possession of a conquest by those
whom they seemed to look upon as their here-
ditary enemies ; and in furtherance of this ob-
ject, paid agents, men of artful and intriguing
character, were dispersed among the numerous
tiibes of savages, with a view of exciting them
to acts of hostility against their conquerors.
The long and uninterrupted possession, by the
French, of those countries immediately border-
ing on the hunting grounds and haunts of the
natives, with whom they carried on an extensive
traffic in furs, had established a communionship
of interest between themselves and those savage
and warlike people, which failed not to turn to
account the vindictive views of the former. The
whole of the province of Upper Canada at that
time possessed but a scanty population, pro-
tected in its most flourishing and defensive
points by stockade forts; the chief object of
which was to secure the garrisons, consisting
each of a few companies, from any sudden sur-

B 5

NMMaWa.

WAC0U8TA.

W4-

prise on the part of the natives, who, although
apparently inclining to acknowledge the change
of neighbours, and professing amity, were, it was
well known, too much in the interest of their
old friends the French, and even the French
Canadians themselves, not to be regarded with
the most cautious distrust.

These stockade forts were never, at any one
period, nearer to each other than from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred miles, so
that, in the event of surprise or alarm, there
was little prospect of obtaining assistance from
without. Each garrison, therefore, was almost
wholly dependent on its own resources; and,
when surrounded unexpectedly by numerous
bands of hostile Indians, had no other alterna*
tive than to hold out to the death. Capitula-
tion was out of the question j for, although the
wile and artifice of the natives might induce
them to promise mercy, the moment their ene-
p ies were in their power promises and treaties
were alike broken, and indiscriminate massacre
ensued. Communication by water was, except
during a period of profound peace, almost im-

t-rrxt^ m m Mimm\ ^

WACOUSTA.

practicable; for, although of late years the
lakes of Canada have been covered with vessels
of war, many of them, as we have already
remarked, of vast magnitude, and been the
theatres of conflicts that would not have dis-
graced the salt waters of ocean itself, at the
period to which our story refers the flag of
England was seen to wave only on the solitary
mast of some ill-armed and ill-manned gun-
boat, employed rather for the purpose of con-
veying despatches from fort to fort, than with
any serious view to acts either of aggression or
defence.

In proportion as the colonies of America,
now the United States, pushed their course of
civilisation westward, in the same degree did
the numerous tribes of Indians, who had hitherto
dwelt more seaward, retire upon those of their
own countrymen, who, buried in vast and impe-
netrable forests, had seldom yet seen the face
of the European stronger ; so that, in the end,
all the more central parts of those stupendous
wilds became doubly peopled. Hitherto, how-
ever, that civilisation had not been carried

B 6

■

ITACOUSTA.

iitJ

!1
f

beyond the state of New York ; and all those
countries which have, since the American revo-
lution, been added to the Union under the
names of Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan,
&c., were, at the period embraced by our story,
inhospitable and unproductive woods, subject
only to the dominion of the native, and as yet
unshorn by the axe of the cultivator. A few
portions only of the opposite shores of Michi-
gan were occupied by emigrants from the
Canadas, who, finding no one to oppose or
molest them, selected the most fertile spots
along the banks of the river ; and of the ex-
istence of these infant settlements, the English
colonists, who had never ventured so far, were
not even aware until after the conquest of Ca-
nada by the mother-country. This particular
district was the centre around which the nu-
merous warriors, who had been driven westward
by the colonists, had finally assembled ; and rude
villages and encampments rose far and near for
a circuit of many miles around this infant set-
tlement and fort of the Canadians, to both of
which they had given the name of Detroit, after

WACOUSTA.

the river on whose elevated banks they stood.
Proceeding westward from this point, and
along the tract of country that diverged from
the banks of the Lakes Huron, Sinclair, and
Michigan, all traces of that partial civilisation
were again lost in impervious wilds, tenanted
only by the fiercest of the Indian tribes, whose
homes were principally along the banks of that
greatest of American waters, the Lake Supe-
rior, and in the country surrounding the isolated
fort of Michillimackinac, the last and most
remote of the European fortresses in Canada.

When at a later period the Canadas were
ceded to us by France, those parts of the oppo-'
site frontier which we have just described be-
came also tributary to the English crown, and
were, by the peculiar difficulties that existed to
communication with the more central and popu-
lous districts, rendered especially favourable to
the exercise of hostile intrigue by the nume-
^rous active French emissaries every where dis-
persed among the Indian tribes. During the
first few years of the conquest, 'the inhabitants
of Canada, who were all either European

.^f>.w*^.."*..

WACOUSTA.

French, or immediate descendants of that na-
tion, "-vere, as might naturally be expected, more
than restive under their new governors, and
many of the most impatient spirits of the
country sought every opportunity of sowing the
seeds of distrust and jealousy in the hearts of
the natives. By these people it was artfully
suggested to the Indians, that their new op-
pressors were of the race of those who had
driven them from the sea, and were progres-
sively advancing on their territories until scarce
a hunting ground or a village would be left to
them. They described them, moreover, as
being the hereditary enemies of their great
father, the King of France, with whose go-
vernors they had buried the hatchet for ever,
and smoked the calumet of perpetual peace.
Fired by these wily suggestions, the high and
jealous spirit of the Indian chiefs took the
alarm, and they beheld with impatience the
" Red Coat," or « Saganaw*," usurping, as

• This word thu^ pronounced by themselves, in refer-
ence to the English soldiery, is, in all probability, de-
rived from the original English settlers in Saganavir Bay.

WACOUSTA.

that na-
ed, more
ors, and
1 of the
wing the
hearts of
artfully
new op-
?v'ho had
progres-
til scarce
e left to
over, as
sir great
lose go-
br ever,
i peace,
igh and
3ok the
nee the
ping, as

in refer-
bility, de-
iw Bay.

they deemed it, those possessions which had so
recently acknowledged the supremacy of the
pale flag of their ancient ally. The cause of ihe
Indians, and that of the Canadians, became, in
some degree, identified as one, and each felt it
was the interest, and it may be said the natural
instinct, of both, to hold communionship of pur-
pose, and to indulge the same jealousies and
fears. Such was the state of things in 1763,
the period at which our story commences, — an
epoch fruitful in designs of hostility and
treachery on the part of the Indians, who, too
crafty and too politic to manifest their feelings
by overt acts declaratory of the hatred carefully
instilled into their breasts, sought every oppor-
tunity to compass the destruction of the En-
glish, wherever they were most vulnerable to the
effects of stratagem. Several inferior forts situ-
ated on the Ohio had already fallen into their
hands, when they summoned all their address
and cunning to accomplish the fall of the two
important though remote posts of Detroit and
Michillimackinac. For a length of time they
were baffled by the activity and vigilance of the

WACOUSTA.

respective governors of these forts, who had
had too much fatal experience in the fate of
their companions not to be perpetually on the
alert against their guile ; but when they had at
length, in some degree, succeeded in lulling the
suspicions of the English, they determined on a
scheme, suggested by a leading chiaf, a man of
more than ordinary character, which promised
fair to rid them altogether of a race they so
cordially detested. We will not, however, mar
the interest of our tale, by anticipating, at this
early stage, either the nature or the success of
a stratagem which forms the essential ground-
work of our story.

While giving, for the information of the many,
what, we trust, will not be considered a too
compendious outline of the Canadas, and the
events connected with them, we are led to re-
mark, that, powerful as was the feeling of hos-
tility cherished by the French Canadians towards
the English when the yoke of early conquest
yet hung heavily on them, this feeling eventually
died away under the mild influence of a govern-
ment that preserved to them the exercise of all

tVACOUSTA.

J many,
1 a too
nd the

to re-
)f hos-
3wards
nquest
itually
overn-

of all

their customary privileges, and abolished all
invidious distinctions between the descendants of
France and those of the mother-country. So
universally, too, has this system of conciliation
been pursued, we believe we may with safety
aver, of all the numerous colonies that have
succumbed to the genius and power of England,
there are none whose inhabitants entertain
stronger feelings of attachment and loyalty to
her than those of Canada ; and whatever may
be the transient differences, — differences grow-
ing entirely out of circumstances and interests
of a local character, and in no way tending to
impeach the acknowledged fidelity of the mass
of French Canadians, — whatever, we repeat,
may be the ephemeral differences that occa-
sionally spring up between the governors of
those provinces and individual members of the
Houses of Assembly, they must, in no way, be
construed into a general feeling of disaffection
towards the English crown.

In proportion also as the Canadians have
felt and acknowledged the beneficent effects
arising from a change of rulers, so have the

•«?*"

ttm^nm' t t u ^mm m

WACOUSTA.

Indian tribes been gradually weaned from their
first fierce principle of hostility, until they have
subsequently become as much distinguished by
their attachment to, as they were three quarters
of a century ago remarkable for their untame-
able aversion for, every thing that bore the En-
glish name, or assumed the English character.
Indeed, the hatred which they bore to the ori-
ginal colonists has been continued to their
descendants, the subjects of the United States ;
and the same spirit of union subsisted between
the natives and British troops, and people of
Canada, during the late American war, that at
an earlier period of the history of that country
prevailed so powerfully to the disadvantage of
England.

And now we have explained a course of
events which were in some measure necessary
to the full understanding of the country by the
majority of our readers, we shall, in furtherance
of the same object, proceed to sketch a few of
the most prominent scenes more immediately
before us.

The fort of D^roit, as it was originally con-

WACOUSTA.

structed by the French, stands in the middle of
a common, or description of small prairie,
bounded by woods, which, though now par-
tially thinned in their outskirts, were at tliat
period untouched by the hand of civilisation.
Erected at a distance of about half a mile
from the banks of the river, which at that
particular point are high and precipitous, it
stood then just far enough from the woods thot
swept round it in a semicircular form to be
secure from the rifle of the Indian ; while from
its batteries it commanded a range of country
on every hand, which no enemy unsupported
by cannon could traverse with impunity. Im-
mediately in the rear, and on the skirt of the
wood, the French had constructed a sort of
bomb-proof, possibly intended to serve as a
cover to the workmen originally employed in
clearing the woods, but long since suffered to
fall into decay. Without the fortification rose a
strong and triple line of pickets, each of about
two feet and a half in circumference, and so
fitted into each other as to leave no other inter-
stices than those which were perforated for the

,.i

WACOUSTA.

discl.argc of musketry. They ucrc * fonned
of the hardest and most knotted pines that
could be procured ; the sharp points of which
were seasoned by Hre until they acquired nearly
the durability and consistency of iron. Beyond
these firmly imbedded pickets was a ditch, en-
circling the fort, of about twenty feet in width,
and of proportionate depth, the only communi'
cation over wJu'ch to and from the garrison was
by means of a drawbridge, protected by a strong
chevaux-de-frise. The only gate with which the
fortress was provided faced the river ; on the
more inmiediate banks of which, and to the left
of the fort, rose the yet infant and straggling
village that bore the name of both. Numerous
farm-houses, however, most joining each other,
contributed to form a continuity of many miles
along the borders of the river, both on the right
and on the left ; while the opposite shores of
Canada, distinctly seen in the distance, pr^v
as far as the eye could reach, the sam^ .aiiven-
ing character of fertility. The banks, covered
with verdure on either shore, were more or less
undulating at intervals ; but in general they were

WAC0U8TA.

high without being abrupt, and picturesque
without being bold, presenting, in their partial
cultivation, a striking contrast to the dark, tall,
and frowning forests bounding every point of
the p» • spcctive.

At a distance of about five miles on the left of
the town the course of the river was interrupted
by a small and thickly wooded island, along
whose sandy beach occasionally rose the low
cabin or wigwam which the birch canoe, carefully
upturned and left to dry upon the sands, attestetl
to be the temporary habitation of the wandering
Indian. That branch of the river which swept
by the shores of Canada was (as at this day)
the only navigable one for vessels of burden,
while that on the opposite coast abounded in
shallows and bars, affording passage merely to
the light barks of the natives, which seemed
literally to skim the very sirfface of its waves.
Midway, between that point of the continent
which immediately faced the eastern extremity
of the island we have just named and the town
of Detroit, flowed a small tributary river, the
approaches to which, on either hand, were over

WACOUSTA.

In^

r 5 '

a slightly sloping ground, the view of which
could be entirely commanded from the fort.
The depth of this river, now nearly dried up,
at that period varied from three to ten or twelve
feet; and over this, at a distance of about
twenty yards from the Detroit, into which it
emptied itself, rose,commuuicating with the high
road, a bridge, which will more than once be
noticed in the course of our tale. Even to the
present hour it retains the name given to it
during these disastrous times ; and there are few
modern Canadians, or even Americans, who tra-
verse the *' Bloody Bridge," especially at the
still hours of advanced night, without recalling
to memory the tragic events of those days,
(handed down as they have been by their fathers,
who were eye-witnesses of the transaction,) and
jieopling the surrounding gloom witlj the shades
of those whose life-blood erst crimsoned the
once pure waters of that now nearly exhausted
stream ; and whose mangled and headless corses
were slowly borne by its tranquil current into
the bosom of the parent river, where all traces
of them finally disappeared.

«f

WACOUSTA.

These are the minuter features of the scene we
have brought more immediately under the pro-
vince of our pen. What Detroit was in 1 763 it
nearly is at the present day, with this difference,
however, that many of those points which were
then in a great degree isolated and rude are
now redolent with the beneficent effects of
improved cultivation; and in the immediate
vicinity of that memorable bridge, where for-
merly stood merely the occasional encampment
of the Indian warrior, are now to be seen
flourishing farms and crops, and other marks of
agricultural industry. Of the fort of Detroit
itself we will give the following brief history: —
It was, as we have already stated, erected by the
French while in the occupancy of the country
by which it is more immediately environed;
subsequently, and at the final cession of the
Canadas, it was delivered over to England,
with whom it remained until the acknowledge-
ment of the independence of the colonists by the
mother-country, when it hoisted the colours of
the republic; the British garrison marching out,
and crossing over into Canada, followed by such
of the loyalists as still retained their attachment

WACOUSTA.

1 i

i' t

to the English crown. At the commencement
of the late war with America it was the first
and more immediate theatre of conflict, and
was remarkable, as well as Michillimackinac,
for being one of the first posts of the Americans
that fell into our hands. The gallant daring, and
promptness of decision, for which the lamented
general. Sir Isaac Brock, was so eminently
distinguished, achieved the conquest almost as
soon as the American declaration of war had
been made known in Canada ; and on this oc-
casion we ourselves had the good fortune to be
selected as part of the guard of honour, whose
duty it was to lower the flag of America, and
substitute that of England in its place. On the
approach, however, of an overwhelming army
of the enemy in the autumn of the ensuing year
it was abandoned by our troops, after having
been dismantled and reduced, in its more com-
bustible parts, to ashes. The Americans, who
have erected new fortifications on the site of the
old, still retain possession of a post to which
they attach considerable importance, from the
circumstance of its being a key to the more
western portions of the Union.

S^tHrOiitvSmf&mwiHf^-faiaftitKaamtBm

WACOUSTA.

CHAPTER II.

It was during the midnight watch, late in
September, 1763, that the English garrison of
Detroit, in North America, was thrown into
the utmost consternation by the sudden and
mysterious introduction of a stranger within
its walls. The circumstance at this moment
was particularly remarkable; for the period
was so fearful and pregnant with events of
danger, the fort being assailed on every side .
by a powerful and vindictive foe, that a caution
and vigilance of no common kind were unceas-
ingly exercised by the prudent governor for
the safety of those committed to his charge. A
long series of hostilities had been pursued by
the North-American Indians against the subjects
of England, within the few years that had suc-
ceeded to the final subjection of the Canadas to
her victorious arms ; and many and sanguinary

VOL. I. f.

WACOUSTA,

were- the conflicts in which the devoted soldiery
were made to succumb to the cunning and
numbers of their savage enemies. In those
lone regions, both officers and men, in their
respective ranks, were, by a communionship of
suffering, isolation, and peculiarity of duty,
drawn towards each other with feelings of
almost fraternal affection ; and the fates of those
who fell were lamented with sincerity of soul,
and avenged, whei^ opportunity offered, with a
determination prompted equally by indignation
and despair. This sentiment of union, existing
even between men and officers of different
corps, was, with occasional exceptions, of course
doubly strengthened among those who fought
under the same colours, and acknowledged the
same head ; and, as it often happened in Canada,
during this interesting period, that a single
regiment was distributed into two or three
fortresses, each so far removed from the other
that communication could with the utmost fa-
cility be cut off, the anxiety and uncertainty of
these detachments became proportioned to the
danger with which they knew themselves to be

Wacousta.

ttiore immediately beset. The garrison of
t)^troit, at the date above named, consisted of

a third of the regiment, the remainder of

which occupied the forts of Michillimackinac
and Niagara, and to each division of this regi-
ment was attached an officer's command of
artillery. It is true that no immediate overt
act of hostility had for some time been per-
petrated by the Indians, who were assembled
in force around the former garrison j but the
experienced officer to whom the command had
been intrusted was too sensible of the craftiness
of the surrounding hordes to be deceived, by
any outward semblance of amity, into neglect
ol those measures of precaution which were so
indispensable to the surety of his trust.

In this he pursued a line of policy happily
adapted to the delicate nature of his position.
Unwilling to excite the anger or wound the
pride of the chiefs, by any outward manifest-
ation of distrust, he affected to confide in the
sincerity of their professions, and, by inducing
his officers to mix occasionally i„ their councils,
and his men in the amusements of the inferior

c 2

WACOUSTA.

warriors, contrived to impress the conviction
that he reposed altogether on their faith. But,
although these acts were in some degree coerced
by the necessity of the times, and a perfect
knowledge of all the misery that must accrue to
them in the event of their provoking the Indians
into acts of open hostility, the prudent governor
took such precautions as were deemed efficient
to defeat any treacherous attempt at violation of
the tacit treaty on the part of the natives. The
officers never ventured out, unless escorted by
a portion of their men, who, although appearing
to be dispersed among the warriors, still kept
sufficiently together to be enabled, in a moment
of emergency, to affi^rd succour not only to
each other but to their superiors. On these
occasions, as a further security against surprise,
the troops left within were instructed to be in
readiness, at a moment's warning, to render
assistance, if necessary, to their companions,
who seldom, on any occasion, ventured out of
reach of the cannon of the fort, the gate of
which was hermetically closed, while nu-
merous supernumerary sentinels w^e posted

WACOUSTA.

onviction
h. But,

coerced
I perfect
iccrue to
'- Indians
governor

efficient
lation of
Js. The
•rted by
)pearing
till kept
moment
only to
n these
urprise,
3 be in

render
>anions,

out of
gate of
lie nu-

posted

along the ramparts, with a view to give the
alarm if any thing extraordinary was observed
to occur without.

Painful and harassing as were the precautions
it was found necessary to adopt on these occa-
sions, and little desirous as were the garrison to
mingle with the natives on such terms, still the
plan was pursued by the Governor from the
policy already named : nay, it was absolutely
essential to the future interests of England that
the Indians should be won over by acts of con-
fidence and kindness ; and so little disposition
had hitherto been manifested by the English to
conciliate, that every thing was to be appre*
hended from the untameable rancour with
which these people were but too well disposed
to repay a neglect at once galling to their pride
and injurious to their interests.

Such, for a term of many months, had been
the trying and painful duty that had devolved
on the governor of Detroit; when, in the sum-
mer of .1763, the whole of the western tribes of
Indians, as if actuated by one common impulse,
suddenly threw off the mask, and commenced a

C 3

WACOUSTA.

series of the most savage trespasses upon the
English settlers in the vicinity of the several
garrisons, who were cut off in detail, without
mercy, and without reference to either age or
sex. On the first alarm the weak bodies of
troops, as a last measure of security, shut them-
selves up in their respective forts, where they
were as incapable of rendering assistance to
others as of receiving it themselves. la this
emergency the prudence and forethought of the
governor of Detroit were eminently conspicu-
ous ; for, having long foreseen the possibility of
such a crisis, he had caused a plentiful supply
of all that was necessary to the subsistence and
defence of the garrison to be provided at an
earlier period, so that, if foiled in their attempts
at stratagem, there was little chance that the
Indians would speedily reduce them by famine.
To guard against the former, a vigilant watch
was constantly kept by the garrison both day
and night, while the sentinels, doubled in num-
ber, were constantly on the alert. Strict atten-
tion, moreover, was paid to such parts of the
ramparts as were considered most assailable by

WACOUSTA.

%?•

a cunning and midnight enemy ; and, in order
to prevent any imprudence on the part of the
garrison, all egress or ingress was prohibited
that had not the immediate sanction of the chief.
With this view the keys of the gate were
given in trust to the officer of the guard ; to
whom, however, it was interdicted to use them
unless by direct and positive order of the Go-
vernor. In addition to this precaution, the
sentinels on duty at the gate had strict private
instructions not to suffer any one to pass
either in or out unless conducted by the go-
vernor in person ; and this restriction extended
even to the officer of the guard.

Such being the cautious discipline established
in the fort, the appearance of a stranger within
its walls at the still hour of midnight could not
fail to be regarded as an extraordinary event,
and to excite an apprehension which could
scarcely have been surpassed had a numerous
and armed band of savages suddenly appeared
among them. The first intimation of this fact
was given by the violent ringing of an alarm
bell J a- rope communicating with which was sus-

c 4

^^ WACOUSTA.

pended in the Governor's apartments, for the
purpose of arousing the slumbering soldiers in
any case of presshig emergency. Soon after-
wards the Governor himself was seen to issue
from his rooms into the open area of the parade,
clad m his dressing-gown, and bearing a lamp
ill one hand and a naked sword in the other.
His countenance was pale; and his features, vio-
lently agitated, betrayed a source of alarm which
those who were familiar with his usual haughti-
ness of manner were ill able to comprehend.

"Which way did he go ?-^ why stand ye
here ? - follow -- pursue him quickly-let him
not escape, on your lives !"

These sentences, hurriedly and impatiently
uttered, were addressed to the two sentij^els
who, stationed in front of his apartments, had,
on the first sound of alarm from the portentous
bell, lowered their muskets to the charge, and
now stood immovable in that position.

" Who does your honour mane ?" replied one
of the men, startled, yet bringing his arms to
the recover, in salutation of his chief.

WACOUSTA.

<« Why, the man — the stranger — the fellow
who has just passed you."

" Not a living soul has passed us since our
watch commenced, your honour," observed the
second sentinel ; " and we Iiave now been here
upwards of an hour."

" Impossible, sirs : ye have been asleep on
your posts, or ye must have seen him. He
passed this way, and could not have escaped
your observation had ye been attentive to your
duty."

" Well, sure, and your honour knows bist,"
rejoined the first sentinel ; « but so hilp me St.
Patrick, as I have sirved man and boy in your
honour's riglmint this twilve years, not even
the fitch of a man has passed me this blissed
night. And here 's my comrade. Jack Halford,
who will take his Bible oath to the same, with
all due difirince to your honour."

The pithy reply to this eloquent attempt at
exculpation was a brief " Silence, sirrah, walk
about ! " '

The men brought their muskets once moi*e,
and in silence, to the shoulder, and, in obedience

c 5

WACOUSTA.

to the command of their chief, resumed the
limited walk allotted to them; crossing each
other at regular intervals in the semicircular
course that enfiladed, as it were, the only
entrance to the Governor's apartments.

Meanwhile every thing was bustle and com-
motion among the garrison, who, roused from
sleep by the appalling sound of the alarm bell
at that late hour, were hastily arming. Through-
out the obscurity might be seen the flitting
forms of men, whose already fully accoutred
persons proclaimed them to be of the guard •
while in the lofty barracks, numerous lights'
flashing to and fro, and moving with rapidity,
attested the alacrity with which the troops off-
duty were equipping themselves for some ser-
vice of more than ordinary interest. So noise-
less, too, was this preparation, as far as speech
was concerned, that the occasional opening and
shuttmg of pans,, and ringing of ramrods to
ascertain the efficiency of the muskets, might
be heard distinctly in the stillness of the night
at a distance of many furlongs.

He, however, who had touched the secret

■fawMBOBSaa

WACOUSTA.

mied the
ing each
licircular
the only

•

nd com-
led from
arm bell
h rough-
flitting
!coutred
guard ;
s lights
apidity,
3ops off*
^e ser-
> noise-
speech
ngand
ods to
might
! night

secret

spring of all this picturesque movement, what-
ever might be his gratification and approval of
the promptitude with which the summons to
arms had been answered by his brave troops,
was far from being wholly satisfied with the
scene he had conjured up. Recovered from
the first and irrepressible agitation which had
driven him to sound the tocsin of alarm, he felt
how derogatory to his military dignity and pro-
verbial coolness of character it might be consi-
dered, to have awakened a whole garrison from
their slumbers, when a few files of the guard
would have answered his purpose equally well.
Besides, so much time had been suffered to
elapse, that the stranger might have escaped ;
and if so, how many might be disposed to ridi-
cule his alarm, and consider it as emanating from
an imagination disturbed by sleep, rather than
caused by the actual presence of one endowed
like themselves with the faculties of speech and
motion. For a moment he hesitated whether he
should not countermand the summons to arms
which had been so precipitately given ; but
when he recollected the harrowing threat that

c 6

WACODSTA.

had been breathed in his ear by

inuisearDynismianigntvi.
siter, _ when l,e reflected, moreover, that even
now It was probable he was lurking withh, the
precmcts of the fort with a view to the destruc.
t,on of all that it contained, _ when, in short,
he thought of the imminent danger that must
attend them should he be suffered to escape,-
he felt the necessity of precaution, and deter-
mined on his measures, even at the risk of ma-
nifesting a prudence which might be construed
nnfavourably. On re-entering his apartments.

he found his orderly, who, roused by the mid.
n.ght tumult, stood waiting to receive the com-
mands of his chief.

" Desire Major Blackwater to come to me

iinmediate]j."

The mandate was quickly obeyed. In a few
seconds a short, thick-set, and elderly officer
made h.s appearance in a grey military undress

" Bl»ekwater, we have traitors within the
Jort. Let diligent search be made in every
part of the barracks for „ stranger, an enemy,
who has managed to procure admittance among

WACOUSTA.

idnight vw
that even
within the
e destruc-
I in short,
that must
Jscape, — -
id deter-
ik of ma-
onstrued
irtments,
the mid-
he com-

' to me

n a few

officer

mdress

in the
every
merny,
imong

us: let every nook and cranny, every empty
cask, be examined forthwith ; and cause a num-
ber of additional sentinels to be stationed along
the ramparts, in order to intercept his escape."

" Good Heaven, is it possible?" said the
Major, wiping the perspiration from his brows,
though the night was unusually chilly for the
season of the year : — « how could he contrive
to enter a place so vigilantly guarded ? "

" Ask me not 7/ow, Blackwater," returned the
Governor seriously; « let it suffice that he has
been in this very room, and that ten minutes
since he stood where you now stand."

The Major looked aghast. — " God bless
me, how singular ! How could the savage con-
trive to obtain admission ? or was he in reality
an Indian?"

" No more questions. Major Blackwaier.
Hasten to distribute the men, and let diligent
search be made every where; and recollect,
neither officer nor man courts his pillow until
dawn."

The « Major" emphatically prefixed to his
name was a sufficient hint to the stout officer

■ I

WACOUSTA.

that the doubts thus famiharly expressed were
here to cease, and that he was now addressed
in the language of authority by his superior,
who expected a direct and prompt compliance
with his orders. He therefore slightly touched
his hat in- salutation, and withdrew to make the
dispositions that had been enjoined by his
Colonel.

On regaining the parade, he caused the men,
already forming into companies and answerinp
to the roll-call of their respective non-commist
sioned officers, to be wheeled into square, and
then in a low but distinct voice stated the cause
of alarm; and, having communicated the orders
of the Governor, finished by recommending
to each the exercise of the most scrutinising
vigilance; as on the discovery of the individual
in question, and the means by which he had
contrived to procure admission, the safety of the
whole garrison, it was evident, must depend.

The soldiers now dispersed in small parties
throughout the interior of the fort, while a
select body were conducted to the ramparts
by the officers themselves, and distributed

iin i g

»_>m] »j i

WAdOUSTA.

essed were
addressed

superior,
ompliance
ly touched

make the
d by his

the

men,

mswerinc
-commis-
Jare, and
the cause
le orders
mending
utinising
idividual

he had
tyofthe
peiid.

parties
while a
amparts
ributed

between the sentinels already posted there, in
such numbers, and at such distances, that it ap-
peared impossible any thing wearing the human
form could pass them unperceived, even in the
obscurity that reigned around.

When this duty was accomplished, the of-
ficers proceeded to the posts of the several
sentinels who had been planted since the last
relief, to ascertain if any or either of them had
observed aught to justify the belief that an
enemy had succeeded in scaling the works. To
all their enquiries, however, they received a ne-
gative reply, accompanied by a declaration,
more or less positive with each, that such had
been their vigilance during the watch, had
any person come within their beat, detection
must have been inevitable. The first question
was put to the sentinel stationed at the gate
of the fort, at which point the whole of the
officers of the garrison were, with one or two
exceptions, now assembled. The man at first
evinced a good deal of confusion; but this
might arise from the singular fact of the alarm
that had been given, and the equally singular

, t

WACOUSTA.

circumstance of his being th„s closely interro-
gated by the collective body of his officers •
be, however, persisted in declaring that he had
been m no wise .inattentive to his duty, and that
no cause for alarm or suspicion had occurred
near his post. The officers then, in order to
save time, separated into two parties, pursuing
opposite circuits, and arranging to meet at that
pomt of the ramparts which was immediately
■n the rear, and overlooking the centre of the
semicrclar sweep of wild forest we have de-
scribed as circumventing the fort.

" Well, Blessington, I know not what you
think of this sort of work," observed Sir Everard

Valletort, a young lieutenant of the regi

ment, recently arrived from England, and one
of the party who now traversed the rampart to
the right; " but confound me if I would not
rather be a barber's apprentice in London, upon
nothmg. and find myself, than continue a life
of this kind much longer. It positively quite
knocks me up; for what with early risings, and
watchings (I had almost added prayings), I am
but the shadow of my former self."

WAC0U8TA.

ely interro-
is officers ;
liat he had
y, and that
I occurred
ti order to
• pursuing
set at that
I mediately
tre of the
have de-

tvhat you
'Everard

regi-

and one
upart to
>uld not
>n, upon
e a Jife
ly quite
gs, and
)j I am

" Hist, Valletortj hist! speak lower," said
Captain Blessington, the senior officer present,
" or our search must be in vain. Poor fellow!"
he pursued, laughing low and good humouredly
at the picture of miseries thus solemnly enu-
merated by his subaltern ; — " how much, in
truth, are you to be pitied, who have so recently
basked in all the sunshine of enjoyment at
home. For our parts, we have lived so long
amid these savage scenes, that we have almost
forgotten what luxury, or even comfort, means.
Doubt not, my fi-iend, that in time you will,
like us, be reconciled to the change."

" Confound me for an idiot, then, if I give
myself time," replied Sir Everard affectedly.
" It was only five minutes before that cursed
alarm bell was sounded in my ears, that I had
made up my mind fully to resign or exchange
the instant I could do so with credit to myself;
and, I am sure, to be called out of a warm bed
at this unseasonable hour offers little induce-
ment for me to change my opinion."

" Resign or exchange with credit to your-
self!" sullenly observed a stout tall officer of

( k

(' !

(III, I

M'ACOUfiTA.

about fifty, whose spleen might well be ac-
counted for in his rank of « Ensign" Dehne.
" Methinks there can be little credit in ex-
changing or resigning, when one's companions
are left behind, and in a post of danger."

" By Jasus, and ye moy say that with your
own pritty mouth," remarked another veteran,
who answered to the name of Lieutenant Mur-
phy ; " for it isn't now, while we are surrounded
and bediviled by the savages, that any man of

the rigimint should be after talking of

bating a retrate."

« I scarcely understand you, gentlemen,"
warmly and quickly retorted Sir Everard, who,
with all his dandyism and effeminacy of manner,
was of a high and resolute spirit. « Do either
of you fancy that I want courage to face a posi-
tive danger, because I may not happen to have
any particular vulgar predilection for early
rising ?" ^

" Nonsense, Valletort, nonsense," inter-
rupted, in accents of almost feminine sweetness,
his friend Lieutenant Charles de Haldimar,
the youngest son of the Governor: " Murphy

WACOIJHTA,

is nn eternnl echo of the opinions of those who
look forward to promotion; ntul ns for Delme
—do you not see the drift of his observation?
Should you retire, ns you have threatened, of
course another lieutenant will he appointed in
your stead; but, should you chance to lose your
scalp during the struggle with the savages, the
step goes in the regiment, and he, being the
senior ensign, obtains promotion in conse-
quence."

« Ah !" observed Captain Blessington, « thia
is indeed the greotest curse attached to the pro-
fession of a soldier. Even among those who
most esteem, ond are drawn towards each other
as well by fellowship in pleasure as companion-
ship in danger, this vile and debasing principle
this insatiable desire for personal advance-
ment — is certain to intrude itself; since we feel
that over the mangled bodies of our dearest
friends and companions, we can alone hope to
attain preferment and distinction.'*

A moment or two of silence ensned, in the
course of which each individual appeared to be
bringing home to his own heart the application

WACOUSTA.

I' /'

? i

of the remark just uttered ; and which, however
they might seek to disguise the truth from them-
selves, was too forcible to find contradiction
from the secret monitor within. And yet of those
assembled there was not one, perhaps, who

would not, in the hour of glory and of danger,
have generously interposed his own frame
between that of his companion and the steel or
bullet of an enemy. Such are the contr..dictory
elements which compose a soldier's life.

This conversation, interrupted only by occa-
S'onal questioning of the sentinels whom thev
passed in their circuit, was carried on i„ an
aud,ble whisper, which the close approximation
of the parties to each other, and the profound
stdlness of the night, enabled them to hear with
distinctness.

" Nay, nay, De Haldimar," at length ob-
served Sir Everard, in reply to the observation
of h,s foend, « do not imagine I intend to
graffy Mr. Delme by any such exhibition as
thatofascalplesshead;but, if such be his
hope, I trust that the hour which sees my love-
Jocks dangling at the top of an Indian pole'

WACOUSTA.

may also let dayl'ght into his own carcass
from a rifle bullet or a tomahawk."

« And yit, Captin, it sames to me," observed
Lieutenant Murphy, in allusion to the remark
of Blessington rather than in reply to the last
speaker, — " it sames to me, I say, that pro-
motion in ony way is all fair and honourable in
times of hardship like thase ; and though we
may drop a tare over our suparior when the
luck of war, in the shape of a tommyhawk,
knocks him over, still there can be no rason
why we shouldn't stip into his shoes the viry
nixt instant; and it's that, we ail know, that we
fight for. And the divil a bitter chance any
man of us all has of promotion thin yoursilf,
Captin: for it'll be mighty strange if our
fat Major doesn't git riddlid like a cuUinder
through and through with the buUits from the
Ingians' rifles before we have quite done with
this business, and thin you will have the rigi-
mintal majority, Captin; and it may be that
one Liftinint Murphy, who is now the sanior
of his rank, may come in for the vacant cap*
tincy."

n i

WACOUSTA.

i I

" And Delme for the lieutenancy," said
Charles de Haldimar significantly. « Well,
Murphy, I am happy to find that you, at least,
have hit on another than Sir Everard Valletort:
one, in fact, who will render the promotion more
general than it would otherwise have been* Se-
riously, I should be sorry if any thing happened
to our worthy Major, who, with all his bustling
and grotesque manner, is as good an officer and
as brave a soldier as any his Majesty's army in
Canada can boast. For my part, I say, perish
all promotion for ever, if it is only to be obtained
over the dead bodies of those with whom I
have lived so long and shared so many dan-

gers

« Nobly uttered, Charles," said Captain
Blessington : « the sentiment is, indeed, one
well worthy of our present position ; and God
knows we are few enough in number already,
without looking forward ta each other's death as
a means of our own more immediate personal
advancement. With you, therefore, I repeat,
perish all my hopes of promotion, if it is only
to be obtained over tlwe corses of my compa-

U '^

iM^

WACOUSTA.

nions ! And let those who are most sanguine
in their expectations beware lest they prove
the first to be cut off, and that even before they
have yet enjoyed the advantages of the promo-
tion they so eagerly covet."

This observation, uttered without acrimony,
had yet enough of delicate reproach in it to
satisfy Lieutenant Murphy that the speaker was
far from approving the expression of such self-
ish anticipations at a moment like the present,
when danger, in its most mysterious guise,
lurked around, and tlireatened the safety of all
most dear to them.

The conversation now dropped, and the
party pursued their course in sileiree. They
had just passed the last sentinel posted in their
line of circuit, and were within a few yards of
the immediate rear of the fortress, when a sharp
»' Hist !" and sudden halt of their leader. Cap-
tain Blessington, threw them all into an attitude
of the most profound attention.

" Did you hear ? " he asked in a subdued
whisper, after a few seconds of silence, in which
he had vainly sought to catch a repetition of
the sound.

p.^«i.^j-T. r

II •:

( I

WACOUSTA.

« Assuredly," he pursued, finding that no
one answered, « I distinctly heard a human
groan."

" Where ? — in what direction ? " asked Sir
Everard and De Ilaldimar in the same
breath.

" Immediately opposite to us on the com-
mon. But see, here are the remainder of the
party stationary, and listening also."

They now stole gently, forward a few paces,
and were soon at the side of their companions,
all of whom were straining their necks and
bending their heads in the attitude of men
listening attentively.

" Have you heard any thing, Erskine?" asked
Captain Blessington in the same low whisper,
and addressing the officer who led the opposite
party.

" Not a sound ourselves, but here is Sir

Everard's black servant, Sambo, who has just

riveted our attention, by declaring that /le

distinctly heard a groan towards the skirt of the

common."

« He is right," hastily rejoined BJessington ;
*' I heard it also."

11 i

WAC0U8TA.

Again a death-like silence ensued, during
which the eyes of the party were strained
eagerly in the direction of the common. The
night was clear and starry, yet the dark shadow
of the broad belt of forest threw all that part
of the waste which came within its immediate
range into impenetrable obscurity.

" Do you see any thing ?" whispered Valle-
tort to his friend, who stood next him : " look —
look!" and he pointed with his finger.

*' Nothing," returned De Haldimar, after an
anxious gaze of a minute, " but that dilapidated
old bomb-proof."

" See you not something dark, and slightly
moving immediately in a line with the left angle
of the bomb-proof? "

De Haldimar looked again. — *' I do begin
to fancy I see something," he refilled ; " but so
confusedly and indistinctly, that I know not
whether it be not merely an illusion of my
imagination. Perhaps it is a stray Indian dog
devouring the carcass of the wolf you shot
yesterday."

VOL. I.

WACOUSTA.

\ '

, .'

i i

I!,

" Be it dog or devil, here is for a trial of his
vulnerability. — Sambo, quick, my rifle."

The young negro handed to his master one
of those long heavy rifles, which the Indians
usually make choice of for killing the buffalo,
elk, and other animals whose wildness renders
them difficult of approach. He then, unbidden,
and as if tutored to the task, placed himself in
a stiff upright position in front of his master,
with every nerve and muscle braced to the
most inflexible steadiness. The young officer
next threw the rifle on the right shoulder of the
boy for a rest, and prepared to take his aim on
the object that had first attracted his attention.
" Make haste, massa, — him go directly, —
Sambo see him get up."

All was breathless attention among the group
of officers ; and when the sharp ticking sound
produced by the cocking of the rifle of their
companion fell on their ears, they bent their
gaze upon the point towards which the mur-
derous weapon was levelled with the most
aching and intense interest.

WACOUSTA.

" Quick, quick, massa, — him quite up,"
again whispered the boy.

The words had scarcely passed his lips, when
the crack of the rifle, followed by a bright blaze
of light, sounded throughout the stillness of the
night with exciting sharpness. For an instant
all was hushed ; but scarcely had the distant
woods ceased to reverberate the spirit-stirring
echoes, when the anxious group of officers were
surprised and startled by a sudden flash, the
report of a second rifle from the common,
and the whizzing of a bullet past their ears.
This was instantly succeeded by a fierce, wild, '
and prolonged cry, expressive at once of triumph
and revenge. It was that peculiar cry which
an Indian utters when the reeking scalp has
been wrested from his murdered victim.

" Missed him, as I am a sinner," exclaimed
Sir Everard, springing to his feet, and knocking
the butt of his rifle on the ground with a
movement of impatience. *' Sambo, you young
scoundrel, it was all your fault, — you moved
your shoulder as I pulled the trigger. Thank
Heaven, however, the aim of the Indian appears

D 2

WACOUSTA.

to have been no better, although the sharp
whistling of his ball proves his piece to have
been well levelled for a random shot.

" His aim has been too true," faintly pro-
nounced the voice of one somewhat in the rear
of his companions. « The ball of the villain
has found a lodgment in my breast. God bless
ye all, my boys ; may your fates be more lucky
than mine ! " While he yet spoke, Lieutenant
Murphy sank into the arms of Blessington and
De Haldimar, who had flown to him at the
first intimation of his wound, and was in the
■next instant a corpse.

WACOUSTA.

CHAPTER III.

" To your companies, gentlemen, to your
companies on the instant. There is treason in
the fort, and we had need of all our diligence
and caution. Captain de Haldimar is missing,
and the gate has been found unlocked. Quick,
gentlemen, quick; even now the savages may
be around us, though unseen."

" Captain de Haldimar missing ! — the gate
unlocked!" exclaimed a number of voices.
" Impossible ! — surely we are not betrayed
by our own men."

" The sentinel has been relieved, and is now
in irons," resumed the communicator of this
startling piece of intelligence. It was the adju-
tant of the regiment.

" Away, gentlemen, to your posts imme-
diately," said Captain Blessington, who, aided
by De Haldimar, hastened to deposit the stiffen-

D 3

■J

'' f

WACOUSTA.

ing body of the unfortunate Murphy, which
they still supported, upon the rampart. Then
addressing the adjutant, " Mr. Lawson, let a
couple of files be sent immediately to remove
the body of their officer."

" That shot which I heard from the common,
as I approached, was not fired at random, then,
I find," observed the adjutant, as they all now
hastily descended to join their men. — « Who
has fallen ?"

'< Murphy, of the grenadiers," was the reply
of one near him.

" Poor fellow ! our work commences badly,"
resumed Mr. Lawson : « Murphy killed, and
Captain de Haldimar missing. We had few
officers enough to spare before, and their loss
will be severely felt; I greatly fear, too, these
casualties may have a tendency to discourage
the men."

" Nothing more easy than to supply their
place, by promoting some of our oldest ser-
geants," observed Ensign Delme, who, as well
as the ill-fated Murphy, had risen from the

WACOUSTA.

ranks. " If they behave themselves well, the
King will confirm their appointments."

" But my poor brother, what of him,Lawson?
what have you learnt connected with his dis-
appearance?" asked Charles de Haldimar with
deep emotion.

« Nothing satisfactory, I am sorry to say,"
returned the adjutant ; *' In fact, the whole affair
is a mystery which no one can unravel ; even
at this moment the ser inel, Frank Halloway,
who is strongly suspected of being privy to his
disappearance, is undergoing a private examin-
ation by your father the governor."

" Frank Halloway ! " repeated the youth
with a start of astonishment ; ** surely Halloway
could never prove a traitor, — and especially
to my brother, whose life he once saved at the
peril of his own."

The officers had now gained the parade,
when the " Fall in, gentlemen, fall in," quickly
pronounced by Major Blackwater, prevented all
further questioning on the part of the younger
De Haldimar.

The scene, though circumscribed in limit,

D 4f

WACOUSTA.

was picturesque in effect, and might have been
happily illustrated by the pencil of the painter.
The immediate area of the parade was filled with
armed men, distributed into three divisions, and
forming, with their respective ranks facing out-
wards, as many sides of a hollow square, the
mode of defence invariably adopted by the Go-
vernor in all cases of sudden alarm. The
vacant space, which communicated with the
powder magazine, was left open to the move-
ments of three three-pounders, which were to
support each face in the event of its being
broken by numbers. Close to these, and within
the square, stood the number of gunners neces-
sary to the duty of the field-pieces, each of
which was commanded by a bombardier. At
the foot of the ramparts, outside the square, and
immediately opposite to their several embra-
sures, were stationed the gunners required for
the batteries, under a non-commissioned officer
also, and the whole under the direction of a
superior officer of that arm, who now walked to
and fro, conversing in a low voice with Major
Blackwater. One gunner at each of these divi-

WACOUSTA.

sions of the artillery held in his hand a blazing
torch, reflecting with picturesque yet gloomy
effect the bright bayonets and equipment of the
soldiers, and the anxious countenances of the
women and invalids, who, bending eagerly
through the windows of the surrounding bar-
racks, appeared to await the issue of these
preparations with an anxiety increased by the
very consciousness of having no other parts
than those of spectators to play in the scene
that was momentarily expected.

In a few minutes from the falling in of the
officers with their respective companies, the
clank of irons was heard in the direction of the
guard-room, and several forms were seen slowly
advancing into the area already occupied as
we have described. This party was preceded
by the Adjutant Lawson, who, advancing
towards Major Blackwater, communicated a
message, that was followed by the command of
the latter officer for the three divisions to face
inwards. The officer of artillery also gave the
word to his men to form lines of single files
immediately in the rear of their respective guns,

D 5

WACOUSTA,

' !

.'If!

il :

',f r

leaving space enough for the entrance of the
approaching party, which consisted of half a
dozen files of the guard, under a non-commis-
sioned officer, and one whose manacled limbs,
rather than his unaccoutred uniform, attested
him to be not merely a prisoner, but a prisoner
confined for some serious and flagrant offence.

This party now advanced through the vacant
quarter of the square, and took their stations
immediately in the centre. Here the counte-
nances of each, and particularly that of the pri-
soner, who was, if we may so term it, the centre
of that centre, were thrown into strong relief
by the bright glare of the torches as they
were occasionally waved in air, to disencum-
ber them of their dross, so that the features
of the prisoner stood revealed to those around
as plainly as if it had been noonday. Not a
sound, not a murmur, escaped from the ranks :
but, though the etiquette and strict laws of mi-
litary discipline chamed all speech, the workings
of the inward mind remained unchecked ; and
as they recognised in the prisoner Frank Hal-
loway, one of the bravest and boldest in the

1 ;
!'i

WACOUSTA.

field, and, as all had hitherto imagined, one of
the most devoted to his duty, an irrepressible
thrill of amazement and dismay crept through-
out the frames, and for a moment blanched the
cheeks of those especially who belonged to the
same company. On being summoned from
their fruitless search after the stranger, to fall
in without delay, it had been whispered among
the men that treason had crept into the fort,
and a traitor, partly detected in his crime, had
been arrested and thrown into irons ; but the
idea of Frank Halloway being that traitor was
the last that could have entered into their
thoughts, and yet they now beheld him covered
with every mark of ignominy, and about to
answer his high offence, in all human proba-
bility, with his life.

With the officers the reputation of Halloway
for courage and fidelity stood no less high ; but,
while they secretly lamented the circumstance of
his defalcation, they could not disguise from
themselves the almost certainty of his guilt, for
each, as he now gazed upon the prisoner, recol-
lected the confusion and hesitation of manner

D 6

WACOUSTA.

I'l [ :.•

he had evinced when questioned by them pre-
paratory to their ascending to the ramparts.

Once more the suspense of the moment was
interrupted by the entrance of other forms into
the area. They were those of the Adjutant,
followed by a drummer, bearing his instrument,
and the Governor's orderly, charged with pens,
ink, paper, and a book which, from its pecu-
liar form and colour, every one present knew
to be a copy of the Articles of War. A va-
riety of contending emotions passed through
the breasts of many, as they witnessed the silent
progress of these preparations, rendered pain-
fully interesting by the peculiarity of their
position, and the wildness of the hour at
which they thus found themselves assembled
together. The prisoner himself was unmoved :
he stood proud, calm, and fearless amid the
guard, of whom he had so recently formed one ;
and though his countenance was pale, as much,
perhaps, from a sense of the ignominious cha-
racter in which he appeared as from more
private considerations, still there was nothing
to denote either the abjectness of fear or the

II I

WACOUSTA,

consciousness of merited disgrace. Once or
twice a low sobbing, that proceeded at intervals
from one of the barrack windows, caught his
ear, and he turned his glance in that direction
with a restless anxiety, which he exerted him-
self in the instant afterwards to repress ; but this
was the only mark of emotion he betrayed.
. The above dispositions having been hastily
made, the adjutant and his assistants once more
retired. After the lapse of a minute, a tall
martial-looking man, habited in a blue military
frock, and of handsome, though stern, haughty,
and inflexible features, entered the area. He
was followed by Major Blackwater, the captain
of artillery, and Adjutant Lawson.

" Are the garrison all present, Mr. Lawson ?
are the officers all present?"

" All except those of the guard, sir," replied
the Adjutant, touching his hat with a submission
that was scrupulously exacted on all occasions
of duty by his superior.

The Governor passed his hand for a moment
over his brows. It seemed to those around him
as if the mention of that guard had called up

WACOU8TA.

recollections which gave him pain ; and it might
be so, for his eldest son, Captain Frederick de
Haldimar, had commanded the guard. Whither
he had disappeared, or in what manner, no
one knew.

" Are the artillery all present. Captain Went-
worth ?» again demanded the Governor, after a
moment of silence, and in his wonted firm
authoritative voice.

" AH present, sir," rejoined the officer, fol-
lowmg the example of the Adjutant, and saluting
his chief. ^

" Then let a drum-head court-martial be
assembled immediately, Mr. Lawson, and with-
out reference to the roster let the senior officers
be selected."

The Adjutant went round to the respective
^visions, and in a low voice warned Captain
Blessington, and the four senior subalterns, for
that duty. One by one the officers, as they
were severally called upon, left their places in
the square, and sheathing their sword., stepped
into that part of the area appointed as their
temporary court. They were now all assembled.

WACOUSTA.

and Captain Blessington, the senior of Ins rank
in the garrison, was preparing to administer the
customary oaths, when the prisoner Halloway
advanced a pace or two in front of his escort,
and removing his cap, in a clear, firm, but re-
spectful voice, thus addressed the Governor : —
" Colonel de Haldimar, that I am no traitor,
as I have already told you, the Almighty God,
before whom I swore allegiance to his Majesty,
can bear me witness. Appearances, I own, are
against me ; but, so far from being a traitor, I
would have shed my last drop of blood in
defence of the garrison and your family. —
Colonel de Haldimar," he pursued, after a mo-
mentary pause, in which he seemed to be strug-
gling to subdue the emotion which rose, despite
of himself, to his throat, " I repeat, I am no
traitor, and I scorn the imputation — but here
is my best answer to the charge. This wound,
(and he unbuttoned his jacket, opened his shirt,
and disclosed a deep scar upon his white chest,)
this wound I received in defence of my cap-
tain's life at Quebec. Had I not loved him, I
should not so have exposed myself, neither

64.

WA CO USTA.

but for that should I now stand in the situation
of shame and danger, in which my comrades
behold me."

Every heart was touched by this appeal —
this bold and manly appeal to the consideration
of the Governor. The officers, especially, who
were fully conversant with the general merit of
Halloway, were deeply affe-^ted, and Charles de
Kaldimar-the young, the generous, the feeling
Charles de Haldimar, - even shed tears.

" What mean you, prisoner?" interrogated
the Governor, after a short pause, during which
he appeared to be weighing and deducing in-
ferences from the expressions just uttered.
« What mean you, by stating, but for thai
(alluding to your regard for Captain de Haldi-
mar) you would not now be in this situation of
shame and danger ? "

The prisoner hesitated a moment ; and then
rejoined, but in a tone that had less of firmness
in it than before, - « Colonel de Haldimar, I
am not at liberty to state my meaning; for,
though a private soldier, I respect my word,
and have pledged myself to secrecy."

WACOUSTA.

" You respect your word, and have pledged
yourself to secrecy ! What mean you, man, by
this rhodomontade ? To whom can you have
pledged yourself, and for what, unless it be to
some secret enemy without the walls ? Gentle-
men, proceed to your duty : it is evident that
the man is a traitor, even from his own admis-
sion. — On my life," he pursued, more hur-
riedly, and speaking in an under tone, as if to
himself, " the fellow has been bribed by, and

is connected with ." The name escaped

not his lips ; for, aware of the emotion he was
betraying, he suddenly checked himself, and
assumed his wonted stern and authoritative

bearing.

Once more the prisoner addressed the Go-
vernor in the same clear firm voice in which he
had opened his appeal.

" Colonel de Haldimar, I have no con-
nection with any living soul without the fort ;
and again I repeat, I am no traitor, but a true
and loyal British soldier, as my services in this
war, and my comrades, can well attest. StiL> I
seek not to shun that death which I have braved

^^ WACOUSTA.

a dozen times at least in the regiment.

AU that I ask is, that I may not be tried-
that I may not have the shame of hearing
sentence pronounced against me yets but if
nothmg should occur before eight o'clock to
vmdicate my character from this disgrace I
Will offer up no further prayer for mercy. In
the name of that life, therefore, which I once
preserved to Captain de Haldimar, at the price
of my own blood, I entreat a respite from trial
until then."

" In the name of God and all his angels, let
mercy reach your soul, and grant his prayer 1"
Every ear was startled - every heart touched
by the plaintive, melancholy, silver tones of the
vou^e that faintly pronounced the last appeal,
and all recognised it for that of the young, inter-
estmg, and attached wife of the prisoner. Again
the latter turned his gaze towards the window
whence the sounds proceeded, and by the
glare of the torches a tear was distinctly seen
by many coursing down his manly cheek. The
weakness was momentary. In the next instant
he closed his shirt and coat, and resuming his

.- ..TUniiTiViaw

WACOUSTA.

cap, stepped back once more amid his guard,
where he remained stationary, with the air of
one who, having nothing further to hope, has
resolved to endure the worst that can happen
with resignation and fortitude.

After the lapse of a few moments, again de-
voted to much apparent deep thought and
conjecture, the Governor once more, and rather
hurriedly, resumed, —

" In the event, prisoner, of this delay in your
trial being granted, will you pledge yourself to
disclose the secret to which you have alluded ?
Recollect, there is nothing but that which can
save your memory from being consigned to
infamy for ever; for who, among your com-
rades, will believe the idle denial of your
treachery, when there is the most direct proof
against you ? If your secret die with you, more-
over, every honest man will consider.it as hav-
ing been one so infamous and injurious to your
character, that you were ashamed to reveal it."

These suggestions of the Colonel were not
without their effect ; for, in the sudden swelling
of the prisoner's chest, as allusion was made to

V/ACOUSTA.

the disgrace that would attach to his memory,
there was evidence of a high and generous
spirit, to whom obloquy was far more hateful
than even death itself.

« I do promise," he at length replied, step-
ping forward, and uncovering himself as before,
-- " if no one appear to justify my conduct
at the hour I have named, a full disclosure of
all I know touching this affair shall be made.
And may God, of his infinite mercjr, grant, for
Captain de Haldimar's sake, as well as mine, I
may not then be wholly deserted ! "

There was something so peculiarl;. solemn
and impressive in the manner in which the un-
happy man now expressed himself, that a feeling
of tlie utmost awe crept into the bosoms of the
surrounding throng ; and more than one veteran
of the grenadiers, the company to which Hal-
loway belonged, was heard to relieve his chest
of the long pent-up sigh that struggled for
release.

« Enough, prisoner," rejoined the Governor;
"on this condition do I grant your request;'
but recollect, — your disclosure ensures no

l:1i

WACOUSTA.

hope of pardon, unless, indeed, you have the
fullest proof to offer in your defence. Do you
perfectly understand me ? "

" I do," replied the soldier firmly; and
again he placed his cap on his head, and retired
a step or two back among the guard.

" Mr. Lawson, let the prisoner be removed,
and conducted to one of the private cells.
Who is the subaltern of the guard ? "

" Ensign Fortescue," was the answer.

" Then let Ensign Fortescue keep the key
of the cell himself. Tell him, moreover, I
shall hold him individually responsible for his
charge."

Once more the prisoner was marched out of
the area; and, as the clanking sound of his
chains became gradually fainter in the distance,
the same voice that had before interrupted the
proceedings, pronounced a " God be praised ! —
God be praised ! " with such melody of sorrow-
in its intonations that no one could listen to it
unmoved. Both officers and men were more or
less affected, and all hoped — they scarcely
knew why or what — but all hoped something

WACOUSTA.

;)

I ' ; (

favourable would occur to save the life of the
brave and unhappy Frank Halloway.

Of the first interruption by the wife of the
prisoner the Governor had taken no notice ; but
on this repetition of the expression of her feel-
ings he briefly summoned, in the absence of the
Adjutant, the sergeant-major of the regiment to

his side.

" Sergeant-major Bletson, I desire that, in
future, on all occasions of this kind, the women
of the regiment may be kept out of the way.
Look to it, sir !"

The sergeant-major, who had stood erect as
his own halbert, which he held before him in a
saluting position, during this brief admonition
of his colonel, acknowledged, by a certain air of
deferential respect and dropping of the eyes,
unaccompanied by speech of any kind, that he
felt the reproof, and would, in future, take care
to avoid all similar cause for complaint. He
then stalked stiffly away, and resumed, in a
few hasty strides, his position in rear of the
troops.

" Hard-hearted man ! " pursued the same

WAC0U8TA.

of the

of the
;e; but
er feel-
j of the
nent to

hat, in
women
le way.

;rect as
im in a
lonition
n air of
e eyes,
that he
ke care
t. He
if in a
of the

e same

voice : " if my prayers of gratitude to Heaven
give oiFence, may the hour never come when
my lips shall pronounce their bitterest curse
upon your severity ! "

There was something so painfully wild — so
solemnly prophetic — in these sounds of sorrow
as they fell faintly upon the ear, and especially
under the extraordinary circumstances of the
night, that they might have been taken for the
warnings of sonie supernatural agency. During
their utterance, not even the breathing of human
life was to be heard in the ranks. In the next
instant, however, Sergeant-major Bletson was
seen repairing, with long and hasty strides, to
the barrack whence the voice proceeded, and
the interruption was heard no more.

Meanwhile the officers, who had been sum-
moned from the ranks for the purpose of forming
the court-martial, still lingered in the centre of
the square, apparently waiting for the order of
their superior, before they should resume their
respective stations. As the quick and compre-
hensive glance of Colonel de Haldimar now
embraced the group, he at once became sensible

WACOUSTA.

of the absence of one of the seniors, all of whom
he had desired should be selected for the court-
martial.

" Mr. Lawson," he remarked, somewhat
sternly, as the Adjutant now returned from
delivering over his prisoner to Ensign Fortescue,
" I thought I understood from your report the
officers were all present !"

" I believe, sir, my report will be found
perfectly correct," returned the Adjutant, in a
tone which, without being disrespectful, marked
his offended sense of the implication.

" And Lieutenant Murphy "

" Is here, sir," said the Adjutant, pointing to
a couple of files of the guard, who were bearing
a heavy burden, and following into the square.
" Lieutenant Murphy," he pursued, «< has been
shot on the ramparts ; and I have, as directed by
Captain Blessington, caused the body to be
brought here, that I may receive your orders
respecting the interment." As he spoke, he
removed a long military grey cloak, which
completely enshrouded the corpse, and disclosed,
by the light of the still brightly flaming torches

WACOUSTA.

of the gunners, the features of the unfortunate
Murphy.

" How did he meet his death ? " enquired
the governor ; without, however, manifesting the
slightest surprise, or a})pcaring at all moved at
the discovery.

" By a rifle shot fired from the common,
near the old bomb proof," observed Captain
Blessington, as the adjutant looked to him for
the particular explanation he could not render
himself.

" Ah ! this reminds me," pursued the austere
commandant, — " there was a shot fired also
from the ramparts. By whom, and at what ? "

" By me, sir," said Lieutenant Valletort,
coming forward from the ranks, " and at what
I conceived to be an Indian, lurking as a spy
upon the common."

" Then, Lieutenant Sir Everard Valletort,
no repetition of these firings, if you please; and
let it be borne in mind by all, that although,
from the peculiar nature of the service in which
we are engaged, I so far depart from the esta-
blished regulations of the army as to permit

VOL. I.

(.1

' i

WACOUSTA.

my officers to arm themseive-i with rifles, they
are to be used only as occasion may require in
the hour of conflict, and not for the purpose of
throwing a whole garrison into alarm by trials
of skill and dexterity upon shadows at diis un-
seasonable hour."

" I was not aware, sir," returned Sir Everard
proudly, and secretly galled at being thus ad-
dressed before the men, " it could be deemed
a military crime to destroy an enemy at what-
ever hour he might present himself, and espe-
cially on such an occasion as the present. As
for my firing at a shadow, those who heard the
yell that followed the second shot, can deter-
mine that it came from no shadow, but from a
fierce and vindictive enemy. The crv denoted
even something more than the ordinary defiance
of an Indian : it seemed to express a fiendish
sentiment of personal triumph and revenge."

The governor started involuntarily. « Do
you imagine, Sir Everard Valletort, the aim of
your rifle was true — that you hit him ?"

This question was asked so hurriedly, and in
a lone so different from that in which he had

WACOUSTA.

hitherto spoken, that the officers around simul-
taneously raised their eyes to those of their
colonel with an expression of undissembled
surprise. He observed it, and instantly re-
sumed his habitual sternness of look and
manner.

" I rather fear not, sir," replied Sir Everard,
who had principally remarked the emotion ;
" but may I hope (and this was said with em-
phasis), in the evident disappointment you ex-
perience at my want of success, my offence may
be overlooked ? "

The governor fixed his penetrating eyes on
the speaker, as if he would have read his in-
most mind ; and then calmly, and even impres-
sively, observed, —

" Sir Everard Valletort, I do overlook the
offence, and hope you may as easily forgive
yourself. It were well, however, that your in-
discretion, which can only find its excuse in
your being so young an officer, had not been
altogether without some good result. Had you
killed or disabled the — the savagie, there might
have been a decent palliative offered ; but what

E 2

U'ACOUSTA.

must be your feelln^rs, sir, when you reflect, the
death or yon officer," and he pointed to the
corpse of the unhappy Murphy, « is, in a great
degree, attributable to yourself? Had you not
provoked tlie anger of the savage, and given a
direction to his aim by the impotent and wanton
discharge of your own rifle, this accident would
never have liappened."

This severe reproving of an officer, who had
acted from the most praiseworthy of motives,
and who could not possibly have anticipated
the unfortunate catastrophe that had occurred,
was considered especially harsh and unkind by
everyone present; and a low and almost in-
audible murmur passed through the company
to which Sir Everard was attaclied. For a mi-
nute or two that officer also appeared deeply
pained, not more from the reproof itself than
from the new light in which the observation of
his chief had taught him to view, for the first
time, the causes that had led to the fall of
Murphy. Finding, however, that the governor
had no further remark to address to him, lie
once more returned to his station in the ranks.

WACOUdTA.

" Mr. Lawson," resumed the commandunt,
turning to the adjutant, " let this victim be
carried to the spot on which he fell, and there in-
terred. I know no better grave for a soldier
than beneath the sod that has been moistened
with his blood. Recollect," he continued, as
the adjutant once more led the party out of the
area, — "no firing, Mr. Lawson. The duty
must be silently performed, and without the
risk of provoking a forest of arrows, or a shower
of bullets from the savages. Major Black-
water," he pur^uedj as soon as tlie corpse had
been removed, " let the men pile their arms
even as they now stand, and remain ready to
fall in at a minute's notice. Should any thing
extraordinary happen before the morning, you
will, of course, apprise me." He then strode out
of the area M'ith the same haughty and measured
step that had characterised his entrance.

" Our colonel does not appear to be in one
of his most amiable moods to-night," observed
Captain Blessington, as the officers, after having
disposed of their respective companies, now
proceeded along the ramparts to assist at the

E 3

(

WACOUSTA.

last funeral offices of their unhappy associate.
" He was disposed to be severe, and must have
put you, in some measure, out of conceit with
your favourite rifle, Valletort."

" True," rejoined the Baronet, who had
already rallied from the momentary depression
of his spirits, « he hit me devilish hard, I
confess, and was disposed to display more of
the commanding officer than quite suits my ideas
of the service. His words were as caustic as
his looks ; and could both have pierced me
to the quick, there was no inclination on his

part wanting. By my soul I could but

I forgive him. He is the father of my friend :
and for that reason will I chew the cud of my
mortification, nor suffer, if possible, a sense of
Ins unkindness to rankle at my heart. At all
events, Blessington, my mind is made up, and
resign or exchange I certainly shall the in-
stant I can find a decent loop-hole to creen
out of." ^

Sir Everard fancied the ear of his cantain
was alone listening to these expressions of his
feeling, or in all probability he would not have

WACOUSTA. 79

Uttered them. As he concluded the last sen-
tence, however, he felt his arm gently grasped
by one who walked a pace or two silently in
their rear. He turned, and recognised Charles
de Haldimar.

« I am sure, Valletort, you will believe how
much pained I have been at the severity of my
father ; but, indeed, there was nothing person-
ally offensive intended. Blessington can tell
you as well as myself it is his manner altogether.
Nay, that although he is the first in seniority
after Blackwrxter, the governor treats him with
the same distance and hauteur he would use
towards the youngest ensign in the service.
Such are the effects of his long military habits,
and his ideas of the absolutism of command.
Am I not right, Blessington ?"

« Quite right, Charles. Sir Everard may
satisfy himself his is no solitary instance of the
stern severity of your father. Still, I confess,
notwithstanding the rigidity of maimer which
he seems, on all occasions, to think so indis-
pensable to the maintenance of authority in a

E 4

m i

111'

WACOUSTA.

commanding officer, I never knew him so in-
clined to find fault as he is to-night."

" Perhaps," observed Valletort, good hu-
■nouredly, "his eonseienee is rather restless;
""'i lie ,s willing to get rid of it and his spleen
together. I would wager my rifle against the
worthless scalp of the rascal I fired ai to-night
that this same stranger, whose asserted appear^
aiice has called us from our comfortable beds,
1^ but the creation of his disturbed dreams.
Indeed, how is it possible any thing formed of
Hesh and blood could have escaped us with the
vigilant watch that has been kept on the ram-
parts? Tlie old gentleman certainly had that
Illusion strongly impressed on his mind when
I'e so sapiently spoke of my firing at a
shadow."

"But the gate," interrupted Charles de
Haldimar, with something of mild reproach in
''" '™«^'-"yo« forget, Valletort, the gate
was found unlocked, and that my brother is
niissmg. He, at least, was fle.h and blood, as -
you say, and yet he has disappeared. What
more probable, therefore, than that this stranger '

WACOUSTA.

s;
in
le
t.

is at once the cause and the agent of his abduc-
tion?"

" Impossible, Charles," observed Captahi
Blessington ; " Frederick was in the midst of
his guard. How, therefore, could he be con-
veyed away without the alarm being given?
Numbers only could have succeeded in so
desperate an enterprise; and yet there is no
evidence, or even suspicion, of more than one
individual having been here."

« It is a singular affair altogether," returned
Sir Everard, musingly. " Of two things, how-
ever, I am satisfied. The first is, that the
stranger, whoever he may be, and if he really
has been here, is no Indian ; the second, that
he is personally known to the governor, who
has been, or I mistake much, more alarmed at
his individual presence than if Ponteac and his
whole band had suddenly broken in upon us.
Did you remark his emotion, when I dwelt on
the peculiar character of personal triumph and
revenge which the cry of the lurking villain
outside seemed to express ? and did you notice
the eagerness with which he encjuired if I

£ 5

WACOUSTA.

thought I had hit him ? Depend upon it, there
« more in all this than is dreamt of in our
philosophy."

" And it was your undisguised perception of
that emotion," remarked Captain Blessington,
« that drew down his severity upon your own
head. It was, however, too palpable not to be
noticed by all; and I dare say conjectr . is as
busily and as vaguely at work among our com-
panions as it is with us. The clue to the
mystery, in a great degree, now dwells with
Frank Halloway; and to him we must look
for Its elucidation. His disclosure will be one,
I apprehend, full of ignominy to himself, but of
the highest interest and importance to us all.
And yet I know not how to believe the man
the traitor he appears."

" Bid you remark that la.v harrowing ex-
clamation of his wife?" observed Charles de Hal-
dunar, in a tone of unspeakable melancholy.
"How fearfully prophetic it sounded in my ears.
I know not how it is," he pursued, « but I wish
I had not heard those sounds; for since that
moment I have had a sad strange presentiment

WACOITSTA.

of evil at my heart. Heaven grant my poor bro-
ther may make his appearance, as I still trust
he will, at the hour Halloway seems to expect,
for if not, the latter most assuredly dies. I
know my father well ; and, if convicted by a
court martial, no human power can alter the
destiny that awaits Frank Halloway."

" Rally, my dear Charles, rally," said Sir
Everard, affecting a confidence he did not feel
himself; " indulge not in these idle and super-
stitious fancies. I pity Halloway from my soul,
and feel the deepest interest in his pretty and
unhappy wife ; but that is no reason why one
should attach importance to the incoherent
expressions wrung from her in the agony of

grief."

« It is kind of you, Valletort, to endeavour

to cheer my spirits, when, if the truth were

confessed, you acknowledge the influence of the

same feelings. I thank you for the attempt,

but time alone can show how far I shall have

reason, or otherwise, to lament the occurrences

of this night."

They had now reached that part of the

£ 6

VVACOUSTA.

•aiiiparts whence the shot from Sir Everard»s
lifle had been fired. Several men were occu-
pied in digging a grave in the precise spot on
which the unfortunate Murphy had stood when
he received his death-woand; and into this,
when completed, the body, enshrouded in the
cloak already alluded to, was deposited by his
companions.

WACOUSTA.

CHAPTER IV.

While the adjutant was yet reading, in a low
and solemn voice, the service for the dead, a
fierce and distant yell, as if from a legion of
devils, burst suddenly from the forest, and
brought the hands of the startLd officers in-
stinctively to their swords. This appalling cry
lasted, without interruption, for many minutes,
and was then as abruptly checked as it had been
unexpectedly delivered, A considerable pause
succeeded, and then again it rose with even
more startling vehemence than before. By
one unaccustomed to those devilish sounds, no
distinction could have been made in the two
several yells that had been thus savagely pealed
forth ; but those to whom practice and long
experience in the warlike habits and customs of
the Indians had rendered their shouts familiar,
at once divined, or fancied they divined, the
cause. The first was, to their conception, a

WACOUSTA.

yell expressive at once of vengeance and dis-
appointment in pursuit, — perhaps of some
prisoner who had escaped from their toils;
the second, of triumph and success, - in all
probability, indicative of the recapture of that
prisoner. For many minutes afterwards the
officers continued to listen, with the most
aching attention, for a repetition of the cry, or
even fainter sounds, that might denote either a
nearer approach to the fort, or the final de-
parture of the Indians. After the second yell,
however, the woods, in the heart of which it
appeared to have been uttered, were buried in
as profound a silence as if they had never yet
echoed back the voice of man j and all at length
became satisfied that the Indians, having ac-
complished some particular purpose, had" re-
tired once more to their distant encampments for
the night. Captain Erskine was the first who
broke the almost breathless silence that prevailed
among themselves.

« On my life De Haldimar is a prisoner with
the Indians. He has been attempting his
escape, -has been detected, - followed, and

WACOUSTA.

again fallen into their hands. I know their in-
fernal yells but too well. The last expressed
their savage joy at the capture of a prisoner ;
and there is no one of us missing but De
Haldimar."

« Not a doubt of it," said Captain Blessington;
" the cry was certainly what you describe it, and
Heaven only knows what will be the fate of
our poor friend."

No other officer spoke, for all were oppressed
by the weight of their own feelings, and sought
rather to give indulgence to speculation in
secret, than to share their impressions with
their companions. Charles de Haldimar stood
a little in the rear, leaning his head upon his
hand against the box of the sentry, (who was
silently, though anxiously, pacing his walk,) and
in an attitude expressive of the deepest dejec-
tion and sorrow.

« I suppose I must finish Lawson's work,
although I am but a poor hand at this sort of
thing," resumed Captain Erskine, taking up the
prayer book the adjutant had, in hastening on
the first alarm to get the men under arms,

.lir

fij ' •

/^.

WACOUSTA.

! f

carelessly thrown on the grave of the now un-
conscious Murphy.

He then commenced the service at the point
where Mr. Lawson had so abruptly broken off,
and went through the remainder of the prayers.
A very few minutes sufficed for the performance
of this solemn duty, which was effected by the
faint dim light of the at length dawning day,
and the men in attendance proceeded to fill up
the grave of their officer.

Gradually the mists, that had fallen during
the latter hours of the night, began to ascend
from the common, and disperse themselves in
air, conveying the appearance of a rolling sheet
of vapour retiring back upon itself, and dis-
closing objects in succession, until the eye could
embrace all that came within its extent of vision.
As the officers yet lingered near the rude grave
of their companion, watching with abstracted
air the languid and almost mechanical action of
their jaded men, as they emptied shovel after
shovel of the damp earth over the body of its
new tenant, they were suddenly startled by an

WACOUSTA.

expression of exultation from Sir Everard
Valletort.

" By Jupiter, I have pinked him," he ex-
claimed triumphantly. " I knew my rifle could
not err ; and as for my sight, I have carried
away too many prizes in target-shooting to have
been deceived in that. How delighted the old
governor will be, Charles, to hear this.
No more lecturing, I am sure, for the next six
months at least ;" and the young officer rubbed
his hands together, at the success of his «hot,
with as much satisfaction and unconcern for
the future, as if he had been in his own native
England, in the midst of a prize-ring.

Roused by the observation of his friend,
De Haldimar quitted his position near the
sentry box, and advanced to the outer edge of
the rampart. To him, as to his companions,
the outline of the old bomb proof was now
distinctly visible, but it was sometime before
they could discover, in the direction in which
Valletort pointed, a dark speck upon the com-
mon ; and this so indistinctly, they could scarcely
distinguish it with the naked eye.

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{I,

WACOUSTA.

"Your sight is quite equal to your aim,
Sir Everard," remarked Lieutenant Johnstone,
one of Erskine's subalterns, « and both are
decidedly superior to mine; yet I used to be
thought a good rifleman too, and have credit
for an eye no less keen than that of an In-
dian. You have the advantage of me, how-
ever,- for I honestly admit I never couM have
picked off" yon fellow in the dark as you have
done."

As the dawn increased, the dark shadow of
a human form, stretched at its length upon
the ground, became perceptible ; and the offi-
cers, with one unanimous voice, bore loud
testimony to the skill and dexterity of him who
had, under such extreme disadvantages, ac
complished the death of their skulking enemy.
"Bravo, Valletort," said Charles de Hal-
dimar, recovering his spirits, as much from the
Idea, now occurring to him, that this might
indeed be the stranger whose appearance had
so greatly disturbed his father, as from the
gratification he felt in the praises bestowed on
his friend. "Bravo, my dear fellow;" then

■h

WACOUSTA.

approaching, and in a half whisper, "when
next I write to Clara, I shall request her, with
my cousin's assistance, to prepare a chaplet of
bays, wherewith I shall myself crown you as
their proxy. But what is the matter now,
Valletort ? Why stand you there gazing upon
the common, as if the victim of your murder-
ous aim was rising from his bloody couch, to
reproach you with his death ? Tell me, shall
I write to Clara for the prize, or will you re-
ceive it from her own hands ? "

« Bid her rather pour her curses on my
head ; and to those, De Haldimar, add your
own," exclaimed Sir Everard, at length raising
himself from the statu'^-like position he had
assumed. " Almighty God," he pursued, in
the same tone of deep agony, " what have I
done? Where, where shall I hide myself?"

As he spoke he turned away from his com-
panions, and covering his eyes with his hand,
with quick and unequal steps, even like those
of a drunken man, walked, or rather ran, along
the rampart, as if fearful of being overtaken.

The whole group of officers, and Charles de

I '■

■11

WACOUSTA.

Haldimar in particular, were struck with dis-
may at the language and action of Sir Everard ;
and for a moment they fancied that fatigue, and
watching, and excitement, had partially affected
his brain. But when, after the lapse of a minute
or two, they again looked out upon the com-
mon, the secret of -his agitation was too faith-
fully and too painfully explained.

What had at first the dusky and dingy hue
of a half-naked Indian, was now perceived, by
the bright beams of light just gathering in the
east, to be the gay and striking uniform of a
British officer. Doubt as to who that officer
was there could be none, for the white sword-
belt suspended over the right shoulder, and
thrown into strong relief by the field of scarlet
on .which it reposed, denoted the wearer of this
distinguishing badge of duty to be one of the
guard.

To comprehend effectually the feelings of the
officers, it would be necessary that one should
have been not. merely a soldier, but a soldier
under the same circumstances. Surrounded on
every hand by a fierce and cruel enemy -pre.

WACO U ST A.

pared at every moment to witness scenes of
barbarity and bloodshed in their most appalling
shapes — isolated from all society beyond the
aates of their own fortress, and by conse-
quence reposing on and regarding each other
as vital links in the chain of their wild and ad-
venturous existence, — it can easily be under-
stood with what sincere and unaffected grief
they lamented the sudden cutting off even of
those who least assimilated in spirit and cha-
racter with themselves. Such, in a great degree,
had been the case in the instance of the officer
over whose grave they were now met to render
the last oilices of companionship, if not of
friendship. Indeed Murphy — a rude, vulgar,
and illiterate, though brave Irishman — having
risen from the ranks, the coarseness of which
he had never been able to shake off, was little
calculated, either by habits or education, to
awaken feelings, except of the most ordinary
description, in his favour ; and he and Ensign
Delme were the only exceptions to those disin-
terested and tacit friendships that had grown
up out of circumstances in common among the

1} i

WACOUSTA.

M /

i '

majority. If, therefore, they could regret the
loss of such a companion as Murphy, how deep
and heartfelt must have been the sorrow they
experienced when they beheld the brave, ge-
nerous, manly, amiable, and highly-talented
Frederick de Haldimar— the pride of the gar-
rison, and the idol of his family — lying ex-
tended, a cold, senseless corpse, slain by the

hand of the bosom friend of his own brother !

Notwithstanding the stern severity and distance
of the governor, whom few circumstances, how-
ever critical or exciting, could surprise into
relaxation of his habitual stateliness, it would
have been difficult to name two young men more
universally liked and esteemed by their brother
officers than were the De Haldimars— the first
for the qualities already named — the second,
for those retiring, mild, winning manners, and
gentle affections, added to extreme and almost
feminine beauty of countenance for which he
was remarkable. Alas, what a gloomy picture
was now exhibited to the minds of all I —
Frederick de Haldimar a corpse, and slain by
the hand of Sir Everard Valletort ! What but

I ;

WACOUSTA.

disunion could follow this melancholy catas-
trophe ? and how could Charles de Haldimar,
even if his bland nature should survive the
shock, ever bear to look again upon the man
who had, however innocently or unintentionally,
deprived him of a brother whom he adored ?

These were the impressions that passed
through the minds of the compassionating offi-
cers, as they directed their glance alternately
from the common to the pale and marble-like
features of the younger De Haldimar, who, with
parted lips and stupid gaze, continued to fix
his eyes upon the inanimate form of his ill-fated
brother, as if the very faculty of life itself had
been for a period suspended. At length, how-
ever, while his companions watched in silence
the mining workings of that grief which they
feared to interrupt by ill-timed observations,
even of condolence, the death-like hue, which
had hitherto suffused the usually blooming
cheek of the young officer, was succeeded by a
flush of the deepest dye, while his eyes, swollen
by the tide of blood now rushing violently to
his face, appeared to be bursting from their

■11

.96

WACOUSTA.

/¥'

sockets. The shock was more than his delicate
frame, exhausted as it was by watching and
fatigue, could bear. He tottered, reeled,
pressetl his hand upon his head, and before any
one could render him assistance, fell senseless
on the ramparts.

During the interval between Sir Everard
Valletort's exclamation, and the fall of Charles
de Haldimar, the men employed at the grave
had performed their duty, and were gazing with
mingled astonishment and concern, both on the
body of their murdered officer, and on the
dumb scene acting around them. Two of these
were now despatched for a litter, with which
they speedily re-appeared. On this Charles de
Haldimar, already delirious with the fever of
intense excitement, was carefully placed, and, .fol-
lowed by Captain Blessington and Lieutenant
Johnstone, borne to his apartment in the small
range of buildings constituting the officers'
barracks. Captain Erskine undertook the dis-
agreeable office of communicating these dis-
tressing events to the governor; and the
remainder of the officers once more hastened

WAC0U8TA.

to join or linger near their respective compa-
nies, in readiness for the order which it was
expected would be given to despatch a numer-
ous party of the garrison to secure the body of
Captain de Haldimar.

VOL, I.

WACOUSTA.

CHAPTER V.

The sun was just rising above the horizon, in
all that peculiar softness of splendour which
characterises the early days of autumn in
America, as Captain Erskine led his company
across the drawbridge that communicated with
the fort. It was the first time it had been
lowered since the investment of the garrison
by the Indians; and as the dull and rusty chains
performed their service with a harsh and
grating sound, it seemed as if an earnest were
given of melancholy boding. Although the
distance to be traversed was small, the risk the
party incurred was great; for it was probable
the savages, ever on the alert, would not suffer
them to effect their object unmolested. It was
perhaps singular, and certainly contradictory,
that an officer of the acknowledged prudence
and forethought ascribed to the governor —
qualities which in a great degree neutralised his

-L

WACOU8TA.

excessive severity in the eyes of his troops —
should have hazarded the chance of having his
garrison enfeebled by the destruction of a part,
if not of the whole, of the company appointed
to this dangerous duty ; but with all his severity,
Colonel de Haldimar was not without strong
affection for his children. The feelings of the
father, therefore, in a great degree triumphed
over the prudence of the commander ; and to
shield the corpse of his son from the indignities
which he well knew would be inflicted on it by
Indian barbarity, he had been induced to accede
to the earnest prayer of Captain Erskine, that
he might be permitted to lead out his company
for the purpose of securing the body. Every
means were, however, taken to cover the ad-
vance, and ensure the retreat of the detachment.
The remainder of the troops were] distributed
along the rearof the ramparts, with instructions
to lie flat on tlwif f^ces «ntir "sinrtmone'd ^%
their officers from ' that ' position ;' wii'ich was to
be done only in 'th*^ event of close p'irsuft from
the savages. Artillerymen were also stationed
at the several guns that flanked the rear of the

F 2

100

WACOUSTA.

fort, and necessarily comnmiided both the com-
mon and the outskirt of the forest, with orders
to fire with grape-shot at a given signal.
Captain Erskine's instructions were, moreover,
if attacked, to retreat back under the guns of the
fort slowly and in good order, and without
turning his back upon the enemy.

Thus confident of support, the party, after
traversing the drawbridge with fixed bayonets,
inclined to the right, and following the wind-
ing of the ditch by which it was surrounded,
made the semi-circuit of the rampart until they
gained the immediate centre of the rear, and
in a direct line with the bomb-proof. Here
their mode of advance was altered, to guard
more effectually against the enemy with whom
they might possibly have to contend. The
front and rear ranks of the company, con-
sisting in all of ninety men, were so placed as
to .leave, space in. the eyeot.-tif attack, of a
portion of each wheeling mwavds so as to pre-
sent in. an. instant- three tii^juaL fac«3S of a square.
As the rear was sufficiently covered by the
cannon of the fort to defeat any attempt to turn

WACOUSTA.

101

their flanks, the manoeuvre was one that ena»
bled them to present a fuller front in whatever
other quarter they might be attacked; and
had this additional advantage, that in the
advance b) single files a narrower front was
given to the aim of the Indians, who, unless
they fired in an oblique direction, could only,
of necessity, bring down two men (the leading
" files) at a time.

In this order, and anxiously overlooked by
their comrades, whose eyes alone peered from
above the surface of the rampart on which
they lay prostrate, the detachment crossed the
common ; one rank headed by Captain Erskine,
the other by Lieutenant Johnstone. They had
now approached within a few yards of the
unfortunate victim, when Captain Erskine com-
manded a halt of his party ; and two files were
detached from the rear of each rank, to place
the body on a litter with which they had pro-
vided themselves. He and Johnstone also
moved in the same direction in advance of
the men, prepared to render assistance if re-

F 3

102

WACOUSTA.

quired. The corpse lay on its face, and in
no way despoiled of any of its glittering habili-
ments ; a circumstance that too well confirmed
the fact of De Haldimar's death having been
accomplished by the ball from Sir Everard
Valletort's rifle. It appeared, however, the
ill-fated ofiicer had struggled mnch in the
agonies of death; for the left leg was drawn
up into an unnatural state of contraction, and
the right hand, closely compressed, grasped a
quantity of grass and soil, which had evidently
been torn up in a paroxysm of suffering and
desprJr.

The men placed the litter at the side of the
body, which they now proceeded to raise. As
they were in the act of depositing it on this
temporary bier, the plumed hat fell from the
head, and disclosed, to the astonishment of all,
the scalpless crown completely saturated in its
own clotted blood and oozing brains.

An exclamation of horror and disgust escaped
at the same moment from the lips of the two
officers, and the men started back from their

WAC0U8TA.

103

charge as if a basilisk had suddenly appeared
before them. Captain Erskine pursued : —

" What the devil is the meaning of all this,
Johnstone?"

"What, indeed!" rejoined his lieutenant,
v/ith a shrug of the shoulders, that was in-
tended to express hif inability to form any
opinion on the subject.

" Unless it should prove," continued Erskine,
" as 1 sincerely trust it may, that poor Valle-
tort is not, after all, the murderer of his friend.
It must be so. De Haldiraar has been slain by
the same Indian who killed Murphy. — Do you
recollect his scalp cry ? He was in the act of
despoiling his victim of this trophy of success,
when Sir Everard fired. Examine the body
well, Mitchell, and discover where the wound

lies."

The old soldier to whom this order was ad-
dressed now prepared, with the assistance of
his comrades, to turn the body upon its back,
when suddenly the air was rent with terrific
yells, that seemed to be uttered in their very
ears, and in the next instant more than a hun-

F 4<

104

WACOUSTA.

dred dark and hideous savages sprang simul-
taneously to their feet within the bomb-proof,
while every tree along the skirt of the forest
gave back the towering form of a warrior. Each
of these, in addition to his rifle, was armed with
all those destructive implements of warfare
which render the Indians of America so for-
midable and so terrible an enemy.

" Stand to your arms, men," shouted Captain
Erskine, recovering from his first and unavoid-
able, though but momentary, surprise. " First
and fourth sections, on your right and left back-
wards wheel : — Quick, men, within the square,
for your lives." As he spoke, he and Lieutenant
Johnstone sprang hastily back, and in time to
obtain admittance within the troops, who had
rapidly executed the manoeuvre commanded.
Not so with Mitchell and his companions. On
the fi St alarm they had quitted the body of
the mutilated officer, -and flown to secure their
arms, but even while in the act of stooping to
take them up, they had been grappled by a
powerful and vindictive foe; and the first thing
they beheld on regaining their upright position,

WACOUSTA.

105

was a dusky Indian at the side, and a gleaming
tomahawk flashing rapidly round the head of
each.

" Fire not, on your lives," exclaimed Captain
Erskine hastily, as he saw several of the men
in front levelling, in the excitement of the mo-
ment, their muskets at the threatening savages.
" Prepare for attack," he pursued ; and in the
next instant each man dropped on his right
knee, and a barrier of bristling bayonets seemed
to rise from the very bowels of the earth. At-
tracted by the novelty of the sight, the bold and
daring warriors, although still retaining their
firm grasp of the unhappy soldiers, were for a
moment diverted from their bloody purpose, and
temporarily suspended the quick and rotatory
motion of their weapons. Captain Erskine took
advantage of this pause to seize the halbert of
one of his sergeants, to the extreme point of
which he hastily attached a white pocket hand-
kerchief, that was loosely thrust into the breast
of his uniform ; this he waved on high three
several times, and then relinquishing the halbert,
dropped also on his knee within the square.

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106

WACOUSTA.

" The dog of a Saganaw asks for mercy,"
said a voice from within the bomb-proof, and
speaking in the dialect of the Ottawas. « His
pale flag bespeaks the quailing of his heart, and
' his attitude denotes the timidity of the hind.
His warriors are like himself, and even now
upon their knees they call upon their Manitou
to preserve them from the vengeance of the
red^skins. But mercy is not for dogs like these.
Now is the time to make our tomahawks warm
in their bloo<1 ; and every head that we count
shall be a scalp upon our war poles."

As he ceased, one universal and portentous
yell burst from the fiend-like band ; and again
the weapons of death were fiercely brandished
around the heads of the stupified soldiers who
had fallen into their power.

« What can they be about?" anxiously ex-
claimed Captain Erskine, in the midst of this
deafening clamour, to his subaltern.—" Quiet,
man ; damn you, quiet, or I '11 cut you down,"
he pursued, addressing one of his soldiers,
whose impatience caused him to bring his musket
half up to the shoulder. And again he turned

WACOUSTA.

107

his head in the direction of the fort: — " Thank
God, here it comes at last, — I feared my signal
had not been noticed."

While he yet spoke, the loud roaring of a
cannon from the ramparts was heard, and a
shower of grape-shot passed over the heads of
the detachment, and was seen tearing up the
earth around the bomb-proof, and scattering
fragments of stone and wood into the air. The
men simultaneously and unbidden gave thres
cheers.

In an instant the scene was changed. As if
moved by some mechanical impulse, the fierce
band that lined the bomb-proof sank below the
surface, and were no longer visible, while the
warriors in the forest again sought shelter
behind the trees. The captured soldiers
were also liberated without injury, so sudden
and startling had been the terror produced in
the savages by the lightning flash that announced
its heavy messengers of destruction. Discharge
after discharge succeeded without intermission ;
but the guns had been levelled so high, to
prevent injury to their own men, they had little

F 6

108

WACOUSTA.

Other effect than to keep the Indians from the
attack. The rush of bullets through the close
forest, and the crashing of trees and branches
as they fell with startling force upon each other,
were, with the peals of artillery, the only noises
now to be heard ; for not a yell, not a word was
uttered by the Indians after the first discharge;
and but for the certainty that existed in every
mind, it might have been supposed the whole
of them had retired.

" Now is your time," cried Captain Erskine ;
*' bring in the litter to the rear, and stoop as
much as possible to avoid the shot."

The poor half-strangled fellows, however,
instead of obeying the order of their captain,'
looked round in every direction for the enemy
by whom they had been so rudely handled, and
who had glided from them almost as imper-
ceptibly and swiftly as they had first approached.
It seemed as if they apprehended that any
attempt to remove the body would be visited
by those fierce devils with the same appalling
and ferocious threatenings.

" Why stand ye there, ye dolts," continued

WACOU8TA.

109

their captain, " looking around as if ye were
bewitched ? Bring the litter in to the rear. —
Mitchell, you old fool, are you grown a coward
in your age? Are you not ashamed to set such
an example to your comrades ? "

The doubt thus implied of the courage of his
men, who, in fact, were merely stupified with
the scene they had gone through, had, as Cap-
tain Erskine expected, the desired effect. They
now bent themselves to the litter, on which they
had previously deposited their muskets, and
with a self-possession that contrasted singularly
with their recent air of wild astonishment, bore
it to the rear at the risk of being cut in two at
every moment by the fire from the fort.

One fierce yell, instinctively proffered by
several of the lurking band in the forest, marked
their disappointment and rage at the escape of
their victims ; but all attempt at uncovering
themselves, so as to be enabled to fire, was pre-
vented by the additional showers of grape which
that yell immediately brought upon them.

The position in which Captain Erskine now
found himself was highly critical. Before him.

• j

ill

ilO

WACOUSTA.

[ I t

' i

and on either flank, was a multitude of savages,
who only awaited the cessation of the fire from
the fort to commence their fierce and impetuous
attack. That that fire could not long be sus-
tained was evident, since ammunition could ill
be spared for the present inefficient purpose,
where supplies of all kinds were so difficult to
be obtained ; and, if he should attempt a re-
treat, the upright position of his men exposed
them to the risk of being swept away by the
ponderous metal, that already fanned their
cheeks with the air it so rapidly divided.
Suddenly, however, the fire from the batteries
was discontinued, and this he knew to be a
signal for himself. He gave an order in a low
voice, and the detachment quitted their recum-
bent and defensive position, still remaining
formed in square. At the same instant, a gun
flashed from the fort; but not as before was
heard the rushing sound of the destructive
shot crushing the trees in its resistless course.
The Indians took courage at this circumstance,
for they deemed the bullets of their enemies
were expended; and that they were merely

WACOUSTA.

Ill

discharging their powder to keep up the ap-
prehension originally produced. Again they
showed themselves, like so many demons, from
behind their lurking places ; and yells and
shouts of the most terrific and threatening cha-
racter once more rent the air, and echoed
through the woods. Their cries of anticipated
triumph were, however, but of short duration.
Presently, a hissing noise was heard in the air ;
and close to the bomb-proof, and at the very
skirt of the forest, they beheld a huge globe of
iron fall perpendicularly to the earth, to the
outer part of which was attached what they
supposed to be a reed, that spat forth innume-
rable sparks of fire, without however, seeming
to threaten the slightest injury. Attracted by
the novel sight, a dozen warriors sprang to the
spot, and fastened their gaze upon it with all
the childish wonder and curiosity of men in a
savage state. One, more eager and restless
than his fellows, stooped over it to feel with his
hand of what it was composed. At that mo-
ment it burst, and limbs, and head, and entrails,
were seen flying in the air, with the fragments

112

WACOUSTA.

of the shell, and prostrate and struggling forms
lay writhing on every hand in the last, fierce
agonies of death.

A yell of despair and a shout of triumph
burst at the same moment from the adverse
parties. Taking advantage of the terror pro-
duced, by this catastrophe, in the savages.
Captain Erskine caused the men bearing the
corpse to retreat, with all possible expedition,
under the ramparts of the fort. He waited
until they got nearly half way, and then
threw forward the wheeling sections, that had
covered this movement, once more into single
file, in which order he commenced his retreat.
Step by step, and almost imperceptibly, the
men paced backwards, ready, at a moment's
notice, to reform the square. Partly recovered
from the terror and surprise produced by the
bursting of the shell, the Indians were quick in
perceiving this movement : filled with rage
at having been so long baulked of their aim,
they threw themselves once more impetuously
from their covers and, with stimulating yells, at
length opened their fire. Several of Captain

WACOUSTA.

113

Erskine*s men were wounded by this discharge ;
when, again, and furiously the cannon opened
from the fort. It was then that the superiority
of the artillery was made manifest. Both right
and left of the retreating files the ponderous
shot flew heavily past, carrying death and terror
to the Indians ; while not a man of those who
intervened was scathed or touched in its pro-
gress. The warriors in the forest were once
more compelled to shelter themselves behind
the trees ; but in the bomb-jiroof, where they
were more secure, they were also more bold.
From this a galling fire, mingled with the most
hideous yells, was now kept up ; and the de-
tachment, in their slow retreat, suffered con-
siderably. Several men had been killed ; and,
about twenty, including Lieutenant Johnstone,
wounded, when again, one of those murderous
globes fell, hissing in the very centre of the
bomb-proof. In an instant, the Indian fire
was discontinued ; and their dark and pliant
forms were seen hurrying with almost incredible
rapidity over the dilapidated walls, and flying
into the very heart of the forest, so that when

tot. '^. • i

WACOUSTA.

the shell exploded, a few seconds aflerwards,
not a warrior was to be seen. From this mo-
ment the attack was not renewed, and Captain
Erskine made good his retreat without further
molestation.

" Well, old buffers !" exclaimed one of the
leading files, as the detachment, preceded by its
dead and wounded, now moved along the moat
in the direction of the draw-bridge, «* how did
you like the grip of them black savages ? — I
say, Mitchell, old Nick will scarcely know the
face of you, it's so much altered by fright.

— Did you see," turning to the man in his
rear, " how harum-scarum he looked, when
the captain called out to him to come off?"

« Hold your clapper, you spooney, and be
damned to you !" exclaimed the angry vet an.

— «* Had the Ingian fastened his paw upon
your ugly neck as he did upon mine, all the
pitiful life your mother ever put into you would
have been spirited away from very fear ; so you
needn't bra^."

" Sure, and if any of ye had a grain of spunk,
ye would have fired, and freed a fellow from

WACOUSTA.

115

the clutch of them hell thieves," muttered
nuother of the men at the litter. " All the
time, the devil hud me by the throat, swinging
his tommyhawk about my head, I saw ye
dancing up and down in the heavens, instead
of being on your marrow bones on the com-
mon."

" And didn't I want to do it?" rejoined the
first speaker. ** Ask Tom Winkler here, if
the captain didn't swear he'd cut the soul out
of my body if I even offered so much as to
touch the trigger of my musket."

"Faith, and lucky he did," replied his covering
man (for the ranks had again joined), " since
but for that, there wouldn't be at this moment
so much as a hair of the scalp of one of you
left."

" And how so, Mr. Wiseacre?" rejoined his
comrade.

** How so ! Because the first shot that we
fired would have set the devils upon them in
right earnest — and then their top-kiiots
wouldn't have been worth a brass farthing.

116

WACOUSTA.

I H

M r ?

They would have been scalped before they
could say Jack Robinson."

" It was a hell of a risk," resumed another
of the litter men, " to give four men a chance
of having their skull pieces cracked open like
so many egg-shells, and all to get possession of
a dead officer."

" And sure, you beast," remarked a different
voice in a tone of anger, " the dead body of the
brave captain was worth a dozen such rotten
carcasses with all the life in them. What mat-
ter would it be if ye had all been scalped ? "
Then with a significant half glance to the rear,
which was brought up by their commander, on
whose arm leaned the slightly wounded John-
stone, " Take care tlie captain doesn't hear ye
prating after that fashion. Will Burford."

" By Jasus," said a good-humoured, quaint
looking Irishman, who had been fixing his
eyes on the litter during this pithy and charac-
teristic colloquy ; " it sames to me, my boys,
that ye have caught the wrong cow by the
horns, and that all your pains has been for
nothing at all, at all. By the holy pope, ye

WACOUSTA.

117

are all wrong; it's like bringing salt butter to
Cork, or coals to your Newcastle, as ye call it.
Who the divil ever heard of the officer wearing
ammunition shoes ?"

The men all turned their gaze on that part
of the vestment of the corpse to which their
attention had been directed by this remark,
when it was at once perceived, although it had
hitherto escaped the observation even of the
officers, that, not only the shoes were those
usually worn by the soldiers, and termed ammu-
nition or store shoes, but also, the trowsers
were of the description of coarse grey, peculiar
to that class.

" By the piper that played before Moses,
and ye're right, Dick Doherty," exclaimed
another Irishman ; " sure, and it isn't the offi-
cer at all ! Just look at the great black fist of
him too, and never call me Phil Shehan, if it
ever was made for the handling of an officer's
spit."

" Well said, Shehan," observed the man who
had so warmly reproved Will Burford, and who
had formerly been servant to De Haldimar ;

l-t

118

WACOUSTA.

. ■ iii

*' the captain's liand is as white and as soft as
my cross-belt, or, what's saying a great deal
more, as Miss Clara's herself, heaven bless her
sweet countenance ! and Lieutenant Valletort's
nigger's couldn't well be much blacker nor
this."

" What a set of hignoramuses ye must be,"
grunted old Mitchell, " not to see that the
captain's hand is only covered with dirt; and
as for the ammunition shoes and trowsers, why
you know our officers wear any thing since we
have been cooped up in this here fort."

" Yes, by the holy poker, " (and here we
must beg to refer the reader to the soldier's
vocabulary for any terms that may be, in the
course of this dialogue, incomprehensible to
him or her,) — " Yes, by the holy poker, ofFduty,
if they like it, returned Phil Shehan ; but it
isn't even the colonel's own born son that dare
to do so while officer of the guard."

" Ye are right, comrade," said Burford ;
" there would soon be hell and toAmy to pay if
he did."

At this point of their conversation, one of

i'M

-s.

:acousta.

119

the leading men at the litter, in turning to look
at its subject, stumbled over the root of a
stump that lay in his way, and fell violently
forward. The sudden action destroyed the
equilibrium of the corpse, which rolled off its
temporary bier upon the earth, and disclosed,
for the first time, a face begrimmed with masses
of clotted blood, which had streamed forth from
the scalped brain during the night.

" It's the divil himself," said Phil Shehan,
making the sign of the cross, half in jest, half
in earnest : " for it isn't the captin at all, and
who but the divil could have managed to clap
on his rigimintals ?"

" No, it's an Ingian," remarked Dick Bur-
ford, sagaciously; "it's an Ingian that has
killed the captain, and dressed himself in his
clothes. I thought he smelt strong, when I
helped to pick him up."

"And that's the reason why the bloody
heathens wouldn't let us carry him off," said
another of the litter men. « I thought they
wouldn't ha* made such a rout about the officer.

iii:

t I,:

:>ii

120

WACOUSTA.

wlien they had his scalp already in dieir pouch-
belts."

" What a set of ])ratiiig fools ye are," in-
terrupted the leading sergeant ; *' who ever saw
an Ingian with light hair? and sure this hair
in the neck is that of a Christian."

At that moment Captain Erskine, attracted by
the sudden halt produced by the falling of the
body, came quickly up to the front.

" What is the meaning of all this, Cassidy ?"
he sternly demanded of the sergeant ; " why is
this halt without my orders, and how comes
the body here?"

" Carter stumbled against a root, sir, and the
body rolled over upon the ground."

"And was the body to roll back again?"
angrily rejoined his captain. — " What mean ye,
fellows, by standing there; quick, replace it
upon the litter, and mind this does not occur
again."

** They say, sir," said the sergeant, respect-
fully, as the men proceeded to their duty, "that
it is not Captain de Haldimar after all, but an
Ingian."

WACOUSTA.

]2I

*' Not Captain de Kaldimar ! are ye all
mad ? and have the Indians, in reality, turned
your brains with fear ?"

What, however, was his own surprise, and
that of Lieutenant Johnstone, when, on a closer
examination of the corpse, which the men had
now placed with its face uppermost, they dis-
covered the bewildering fact that it was not,
indeed, Captain de Haldimar who lay before
them, but a stranger, dressed in the uniform of
that officer.

There was no time to solve, or even to dwell
on the singular mystery; for the Indians,
though now retired, might be expected to rally
and renew the attack. Once more, therefore,
the detachment moved forward; the officers
dropping as before to the rear, to watch any
movements of the enemy should he re-appear.
Nodiing, however, occurred to interrupt their
march ; and in a few minutes the heavy clank-
ing sound of the chains of the drawbridge, as
it was again raised by its strong pullies, and
the dull creaking sound of the rusty bolts and
locks that secured the ponderous gate, an-

VOL. I. Q

122

WACOUSTA.

nounced the detacliment was once more safely
within the fort.

While the wounded men were being con-
veyed to the hospital, a group, comprising
almost all the officers of the garrison, hastened
to meet Captain Erskine and Lieutenant John-
stone. Congratulations on the escape of the
one, and compliments, rather than condolences,
on the accident of the other, which the arm
eti hharpe denoted to be slight, were hastily
and warmly proffered. These felicitations
were the genuine ebullitions of the hearts of
men who really felt a pride, unmixed with
jealousy, in the conduct of their fellows ; and
so cool and excellent had been the manner in
which Captain Erskine had accomplished his
object, that it had clamied the undivided ad-
miration of all who had been spectators of the
affair, and had, with the aid of their telescopes,
been enabled to follow the minutest movements
of the detachment.

" By heaven ! " he at length replied, his
chest swelling with gratified pride at the warm
and generous approval of his companions, "this

WACOUSTA.

123

more than repays me for every risk. Yet, to
be sincere, the credit is not mine, but Went-
worth's. But for you, my dear fellow," grasp-
ing and shaking the hand of that officer, " we
should have rendered but a Flemish account of
ourselves. How beautifully those guns covered
our retreat ! and the first mortar that sent
the howling devils flying in air like so many
Will-o'the-wisps, who placed that, Went-
worth ?"

" I did," replied the officer, with a quickness
that denoted a natural feeling of exultation;
" but Bombardier Kitson's was the most effec-
tive. It was his shell that drove the Indians
finally out of the bomb-proof, and left the coast
clear for your retreat."

" Then Kitson, and his gunners also, merit
our best thanks," pursued Captain Erskine,
whose spirits, now that his detachment was in
safety, were more than usually exhilarated by
the exciting events of the last hour; "and
what will be more acceptable, perhaps, they
shall each have a glass of my best old Jamaica
before they sleep, — and such stuff is not to be

a 2

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124.

WACOUSTA.

met with every day in this wilderness of a
country. But, confound my stupid head ! where
are Charles de Haldimar and Sir Everard
Valletort?"

"Poor Charles is in a high fever, and
confined to his bed," remarked Captain Bles-
sington, who now came up adding his congra-
tulations in a low tone, that marked the
despondency of his heart ; " and Sir Everard I
have just left on the rampart with the com-
pany, looking, as he well may, the very image
of despair."

" Run to them, Sumners, my dear boy," said
Erskine, hastily addressing himself to a young
ensign who stood near him ; " run quickly, and
relieve them of their enor. Say it is not
De Haldimar who has been killed, therefore
they need not make themselves any longer
uneasy on that score."

The officers gave a start of surprise. Sum-
ners, however, hastened to acquit himself of the
pleasing task assigned him, without waiting to
hear the explanation of the singular declaration.
" Not De Haldimar !" eagerly and anxiously

WACOUSTA.

125

exclaimed Captain Blessington; <'who then
have you brought to us in his uniform, which
I clearly distinguished from the rampart as
you passed ? Surely you would not tamper
with us at such a moment, Erskine ?"

" Who it is, I know not more than Adam,"
rejoined the other; « unless, indeed, it be
the devil himself. All I do know, is, it is not
our friend De Haldimar; although, as you
observe, he most certainly wears his uniform.
But you shall see and judge for yourselves,
gentlemen. Sergeant Cassidy," he enquired of
that individual, who now came to ask if the
detachment was to be dismissed, " where have
you placed the litter?"

" Under the piazza of the guard-room. Sir,"
answered the sergeant.

These words had scarcely been uttered, when
a general and hasty movement of the officers,
anxious to satisfy themselves by personal ob-
servation it was not indeed De Haldimar who
had fallen, took place in the direction alluded
to, and in the next moment they were at the
side of the litter.

G 3

.,,»^r^-

125

WACOUSTA.

A blanket had been thrown upon the corpse
to conceal the loathsome disfigurement of the
face,, over which masses of thick coagulated
blood were laid in patches and streaks, that set
all recognition at defiance. The formation of
the head alone, which was round and short,
denoted it to be not De Haldimar*s. Not a
feature was left undefiledj and even the eyes
were so covered, it was impossible to say
whether their lids were closed or open. More
than one officer's cheek paled with the sickness
that rose to his heart as he gazed on the
hideous spectacle ; yet, as the curiosity of all
was strongly excited to know who the mur-
dered man really was who had been so unac-
countably inducted in the uniform of their lost
companion, they were resolved to satisfy them-
selves without further delay. A basin of warm
water and a sponge wer^ procured from the
guard- room of Ensign Fortescue, who now join-
ed them, and with these Captain Blessington
proceeded to remove the disguise.

In the course of this lavation, it was dis-
covered the extraordinary flow of blood and

WACOUSTA.

127

brains had been produced by the infliction of
a deep wound on the back of the head, by the
sharp and ponderous tomahawk of an Indian.
It was the only blow that had been given ; and
the circumstance of the deceased having been
found lying on his face, accounted for the
quantity of gore, that, trickling downwards, had
so completely disguised every feature. As thj
coat of thick encrusted matter gave way be-
neath the frequent application of the moistening
sponge, the pallid hue of the countenance de-
noted the murdered man to be a white. All
doubt, however, was soon at an end. The
ammunition shoes, the grey trowsers, the coarse
linen, and the stiff leathern stock encircling
the neck, attested the sufferer to be a soldier
of the garrison ; but it was not until the face
had been completely denuded of its unsightly
covering, and every feature fully exposed, that
that soldier was at length recognised to be
Harry Donellan, the trusty and attached servant
of Captain de Haldimar.

While yet the ofHcers stood apart, gazing at
the corpse, and forming a variety of conjectures,

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WACOUSTA.

as vjigiie as tliey were unsntisfuctory, in regard
to their new mystery, Sir Everard Valletort,
pale and breathless with the speed he had used,
suddenly appeared among them.

" God of heaven ! can it be true — and is it
really not ]lc Haldimar whom I have shot ? '*
wildly asked the agitated young man. " Who
is this, Erskine ?" he continued, glancing at the
litter. " Explain, for pity's sake, and quickly."
" Compose yourself, my dear Valletort," re-
plied the officer addressed. " You see this is
not Be Haldimar, but his servant Donellan.
Neither has the latter met his death from your
rifle ; there is no mark of a bullet about him.
It was an Indian tomahawk that did his
business ; and I will stake my heiid against a
hickory nut the blow came from the same
rascal at whom you fired, and who gave back
the shot and the scalp halloo."

This opinion was unanimously expressed by
the remainder of the officers. Sir Everard was
almost as much overpowered by his joy, as he
kad previously been overwhelmed bv his des-
pair, and he grasped and shook the hand of

WACOUSTA.

129

Captain Erskine, who had thus been the means
of relieving his conscience, with an energy of
gratitude and feeling that almost drew tears
from the eyes of that blunt but gallant officer.

" Thank God, thank God ! " he fervently
exclaimed : " I have not then even the death of
poor Donellan to answer for;" and hastening
from the guard-room, he pursued his course
hurriedly and delightedly to the barrack-room
of his friend.

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WACOUSTA,

CHAPTER VI.

The hour fixed for the trial of the prisoner
Halloway had now arrived, and the officers
composing the court were all met in the mess-
room of the garrison, surrounding a long table
covered with green cloth, over which were
distributed pens, ink, and paper for taking
minutes of the evidence, and such notes of the
proceedings as the several members might deem
necessary in the course of the trial. Captain
Blessington presided ; and next him, on either
hand, were the first in seniority, the two junior
occupying the lowest places. The demeanour
of the several officers, serious and befitting
the duty they were met to perform, was render-
ed more especially solemn from the presence
of the governor, who sat a little to the right
of the president, and without the circle,
remained covered, and with his arms folded
across his chest. At a signal given by the

WACOUSTA.

131

president to the orderly in waiting, that in-
dividual disappeared from the room, and soon
afterwards Frank Halloway, strongly ironed,
as on the preceding night, was ushered in by
several files of the guard, under Ensign
Fortescue himself.

The prisoner having been stationed a few
paces on the left of the president, that officer
stood up to administer the customary oath.
His example was followed by the rest of the
court, who now rose, and extending each his
right hand upon the prayer book, repeated,
after the president, the form of words prescribed
by military law. They then, after successively
touching the sacred volume with their lips, once
more resumed their seats at the table.

The prosecutor was the Adjutant Lawson,
who now handed over to the president a paper,
from which the latter officer read, in a clear
and distinct voice, the following charges, viz. —

"1st. For having on the night of the
— th September 1763, while on duty at the gate
of the Fortress of Detroit, either admitted a
stranger into the garrison himself, or suffered

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132

WACOUSTA.

him to obtain, admission, without giving the
alarm, or using the means necessary to ensure
his apprehension, such conduct being treason-
able, and in breach of the articles of war.

" 2d. For having been accessary to the ab-
duction of Captain Frederick de Haldimar and
private Harry Donellan, the disappearance of
whom from the garrison can only be attributed
to a secret understanding existing between the
prisoner and the enemy without the walls, such
conduct being treasonable, and in breach of the
articles of war."

" Private Frank Halloway," continued Cap-
tain Blessington, after having perused these
two short but important charges, "you have
heard what has been preferred against you;
what say you, therefore ? Are you guilty, or
not guilty?"

"Not guilty," firmly and somewhat exult-
ingly replied the prisoner, laying his hand at
the same time on his swelling heart.

" Stay, sir," sternly observed the governor,
addressing the president ; "you have not read
all the charges."

WACOUSTA.

133

Captain Blessington took up the paper from
the table, on which he had carelessly thrown
it, after reading the accusations above detailed,
and perceived, for the first time, that a portion
had been doubled back. His eye now glanced
over a third charge, which had previously
escaped his attention.

*' Prisoner," he pursued, after the lapse of a
minute, « there is a third charge against you,
viz. for having, on the night of the — th Sept.
1763, suffered Captain De Haldimar to unclose
the gate of the fortress, and, accompanied by his
servant, private Harry Donellan, to pass your
post without the sanction of the governor, such
conduct being in direct violation of a standing
order of the garrison, and ,punishable with
death."

The prisoner started. *< What ! " he ex-
claimed, his cheek paling for the first time with
momentary apprehension ; « is tBis voluntary
confession of my own to be turned into a charge
that threatens my life ? Colonel de Haldimar,
is the explanation which I gave you only this
very hour, and in private, to be made the public

134

WACOUSTA.

instrument of my condemnation ? Am I to die
because I had not firmness to resist the prayer
of my captain and of your son, Colonel de Hal-
dimar ? "

Tiie president looked towards the governor,
but a significant motion of the head was the only
reply ; he proceeded, —

" Prisoner Halloway, what plead you to this
charge? Guilty, or not guilty?"

" I see plainly," said Halloway, after the
pause of a minute, dur g which he appeared
to be summoning all his energies to his aid ;
" I see plainly that it is useless to strive against
my fate/ Captain de Haldimar is not here, and
I must die. Still I shall not have the disgrace
of dying as a traitor, though I own I have vio-
lated the orders of the garrison."

" Prisoner," interrupted Captain Blessing-
ton, " whatever you may have to urge, you
had better reserve for your defence. Mean-
while, what answer do you make to the last
charge preferred ? — Are you guilty, or not
guilty ?M

" Guilty," said'.Halloway, in a tone of mingled

(

WACOUSTA.

135

pride and sorrow, " guilty of having listened to
the earnest prayer of my captain, and suffered
him, in violation of my orders, to pass my post.
Of the other charges I am innocent."

The court listened with the most profound
attention and interest to the words of the pri-
soner, and they glanced at each other in a
manner that marked their sense of the truth they
attached to his declaration.

« Halloway, prisoner,*' resumed Captain
Blessington, mildly, yet impressively ; recollect
the severe penalty which the third charge, no
less than the others, entails, and recall your ad-
mission. Be advised by me," he pursued, ob-
serving his hesitation. « Withdraw your plea,
then, and substitute that of not guilty to the
whole."

" Captain Blessington," returned the prisoner
with deep emotion, « I feel all the kindness of
your motive ; and if any thing can console me
in my present situation, it is the circumstance
of having presiding at my trial an officer so
universally beloved by the whole corps; Still,"
and again his voice acquired itsVonted firmness.

1S6

WACOUSTA.

and his cheek glowed with honest pride, " still,
I say, I scorn to retract my words. Of the two
first charges I am as innocent as the babe
unborn. To the last I plead guilty ; and vain
would it be to say otherwise, since the gate was
found open while I was on duty, and I know
the penalty attached to the disobedience of
orders."

After some further but ineffectual remon-
strance on the part of the president, the pleas of
the prisoner were recorded, and the examination
commenced. Governor de Haldimar was the
first witness.

That officer, having been sworn, stated, that
on the preceding night he had been intruded
upon in his apartment by a stranger, who could
have obtained admission only through the gate
of the fortress, by which also he must have
made good his escape. That it was evident the
prisoner had been in correspondence with their
enemies ; since, on proceeding to examine the
gate it had been found unlocked, while the
confusion manifested by him on being ac-
cused, satisfied all who were present of the

WACOUSTA.

1S7

enormity of his guilt. Search had been made
every where for the keys, but without success.

The second charge was supported by pre-
sumptive evidence alone ; for although the go-
vernor swore to the disappearance of his son,
and the murder of his servant, and dwelt em-
phatically on the fact of their having been
forcibly carried off with the connivance of the
prisoner, still there was no other proof of this,
than the deductions drawn from the circum-
stances already detailed. To meet this difficulty,
however, the third charge had been framed.

In proof of this the governor stated, " that
the prisoner, on being interrogated by him im-
mediately subsequent to his being relieved from
his post, had evinced such confusion and hesi-
tation, as to leave no doubt whatever of his
guilt ; that, influenced by the half promise of
communication, which the court had heard as
well as himself, he had suffered the trial of the
prisoner to be delayed until the present hour,
strongly hoping he might then be hiduced to
reveal the share he had borne in these unworthy
and treasonable practices ; that, with a view to

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WACOUSTA.

obtain this disclosure, so essential to the safety
of the garrison, he had, conjointly with Major
Blackwater, visited the cell of the prisoner, to
whom he related the fact of the murder of
Donellan, in the disguise of his master's uni-
form, conjuring him, at the same time, if he
regarded his own life, and the safety of those
who were most dear to him, to give a clue to
the solution of this mysterious circumstance,
and disclose the nature and extent of his con-
nection with the enemy without; that the
prisoner however resolutely denied, as before,
the guilt imputed to him, but having had time
to concoct a plausible story, stated, (doubtless
with a view to shield himself from the severe
punishment he well knew to be attached to his
offence,) that Captain de Haldimar himself had
removed the keys from the guard-room, opened
the gate of the fortress, and accompanied by his
servant, dressed in a coloured coat, had sallied
forth upon the common. And this, empha-
tically pursued the governor, the prisoner
admits he permitted, although well aware
that, by an order of long standing for the

WACOUSTA.

139

security of the garrison, such a fragrant de-
reliction of his duty subjected him to the
punishment of death.

Major Blackwater was the next witness ex-
amined. His testimony went to prove the fact
of the gate having been found open, and the
confusion manifested by the prisoner. It also
substantiated that part of the governor's evi-
dence on the third charge, which related to the
confession recently made by Halloway, on which
that charge had been framed.

The sergeant of the guard, and the go-
vernor's orderly having severally corroborated
the first portions of Major Blackwater's evi-
dence, the examination on the part of the pro-
secution terminated ; when the president called
on the prisoner Halloway for his defence. The
latter, in a clear, firm, and collected tone, and
in terms that surprised his auditory, thus ad-
dressed the Court ; —

" Mr. President, and gentlemen, — Although
standing before you in the capacity of a private
soldier, and, oh ! bitter and humiliating re-
flection, in that most wretched and disgraceful

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140

WACOUSTA.

t f

r <

of all situations, a suspected traitor, I am not
indeed what I seem to be. It is not for me
here to enter into the history of my past life;
neither will I tarnish the hitherto unsullied
reputation of my family by disclosing my true
name. Suffice it to observe, I am a gentleman by
birth ; and although, of late years, I have known
all the hardships and privations attendant on
my fallen fortunes, I was once used to bask in
the luxuries of affluence, and to look upon those
who now preside in judgment over me as my
equals. A marriage of affection, — a marriage
with one who had nodiing but her own virtues
and her own beauty to recommend her, drew
upon me the displeasure of my family, and the
little I possessed, independently of the pleasure
of my relations, was soon dissipated. My proud
soul scorned all thought of supplication to
those who had originally spurned my wife from
their presence ; and yet my heart bled for the
privations of her who, alike respectable in
family, was, both from sex and the natural
delicacy of her frame, so far less con-
stituted to bear up against the frowns of ad-

WACOUSTA.

versity than myself. Our extremity had now
become great, -too great for l.uman endur-
ance; when, through the medium of the public
prints, I became acquainted with the glorious
action that liad been fought in this country by
the army under General Wolfe. A new light
burst suddenly upon my mind, and visions of
after prosperity constantly presented themselves
to my view. The field of honour was open
before me, and there was a probability I might,
by good conduct, so far merit the approbation
of my superiors, as to obtain, in course of time,
that rank among themselves to which by birth
and education I was so justly entitled to aspire.
Without waiting to consult my Ellen, whose
opposition I feared to encounter until opposition
would be fruitless, I hastened to Lieutenant
Walgrave, the recruiting officer of the regiment,
- tendered my services, - was accepted and
approved, - received the bounty money,— and
became definitively a soldier, under the assumed
name of Frank Halloway.

"It would be tedious and impertinent,
gentlemen, resumed the prisoner, after a short

WACOUSTA.

I )'

( r

pause, to dwell on the humiliations of spirit to
which both my wife and myself were subjected
at our first introduction to our new associates,
who, although invariably kind to us, were,
nevertheless, ill suited, both by education and
habit, to awaken any thing like congeniality of
feeling or similarity of pursuit. Still we en-
deavoured, as much as possible, to lessen the
distance that existed between us ; and from the
first moment of our joining the regiment, deter-
mined to adopt the phraseology and manners
of those with whom an adverse destiny had so
singularly connected us. In this we succeeded ;
for no one, up to the present moment, has
imagined either my wife or myself to be other
than the simple and unpretending Frank and
Ellen Halloway.

" On joining the regiment in this country,"
pursued the prisoner, after another pause,
marked by much emotion, « I had the good
fortune to be appointed to the grenadier com-
pany. Gentlemen, you all know the amiable
qualities of Captain de Haldimar. But although,
unlike yourselves, I have learnt to admire that

WACOUSTA.

143

spirit to
ubjected
sociates,
5, were,
ion and
liality of

we en-
ssen the
rom the
, deter-
nanners

had so
leeded ;
It, has
e other
nk and

mtry"

pause,
good
com-

miable

lough,

e that

officer only at a distance, my devotion to his
interests has been proportioned to the kindness
with which I have ever been treated by him ; and
may I not add, after this avowal of my former
condition, my most fervent desire has all along
been to seize the first favourable opportunity of
performing some action that would eventually
elevate me to a position in which I might,
withoutblushing for the absence of the ennobiino-
qualities of birth and condition, avow myself
his friend, and solicit that distinction from my
equal which was partially extended to me by
my superior? The opportunity I sought, was
not long wanting. At the memorable aflfair
with the French general, Levi, at Quebec, in
which our regiment bore so conspicuous a part,
I had the good fortune to save the life of my
captain. A band of Indians, as you all, gentle-
men, must recollect, had approached our rifrht
flank unperceived, and while busily engaged
with the French in front, we were compelled to
divide our fire between them and our new
and fierce assailants. The leader of that band
was a French officer, who seemed particularly

WACOUSTA.

to direct his attempts against the life of Cap-
tain de Haldimar. He was a man of powerful

proportions and gigantic stature "

" Hold ] " said the governor, starting suddenly
from the seat in which he had listened with
evident impatience to this long outline of the
prisoner's history. "Gentlemen," addrel^ino-
the court, " that is the very stranger who was in
my apartment last night, — the being with
whom the prisoner is evidently in treacherous
correspondence, and all this absurd tale is but
a blind to deceive your judgment, and mitigate
his own punishment. Who is there to prove
the man he has just described was the same
who aimed at Captain de Haldimar's life at
Quebec?"

A flush of deep indignation overspread the
features of the prisoner, M-hose high spirit, now
he had avowed his true origin, could ill brook
the affront thus put upon his veracity.

"Colonel de Haldimar!" he proudly re-
plied, while his chains clanked with the energy
and force with which he drew up his person
into an attitude of striking dignity; "for once

WACOUSTA.

145

I sink the private soldier, and address you in
the character of the gentleman and your equal.
I have a soul, Sir, notwithstanding my fallen
fortunes, as keenly alive to honour as your own ;
and not even to save my wretched life, would
I be guilty of the baseness you now attribute to
me. You have asked," he pursued, in a more
solemn tone, "what proof I have to show this
individual to be the same who attempted the
life of Captain de Haldimar. To Captain de
Haldimar himself, should Providence have
spared his days, I shall leave the melancholy
task of bearing witness to all I here advance,
when I shall be no more. Nay, Sir," and his
look partook at once of mingled scorn and
despondency, « well do I know the fate that
awaits me; for in these proceedings —in that
third charge-I plainly read my" death-war-
rant. But what, save my poor and wretched
wife, have I to regret ? Colonel de Haldimar, "
he continued, with a vehemence meant to check
the growing weakness which the thought of
his unfortunate companion called up to his

VOL. I. *>

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il '

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146

WACOUSTA.

heart, « I saved the life of your son, even by
your own admission, no matter whose the arm
that threatened his existence; and in every
other action in which I have been engaged,
honourable mention has ever been made of my
conduct. Now, Sir, I ask what has been my
reward ? So far from attending to the repeated
recommendations of my captain for promotion,
even in a subordinate rank, have you once
deemed it necessary to acknowledge my ser-
vices by even a recognition of them in any way
whatever?"

"Mr. President, Captain Blessington," in-
terrupted the governor, haughtily, " are we
met here to listen to such language from a
private soldier? You will do well. Sir, to
exercise your prerogative, and stay such im-
pertinent matter, which can have no reference
whatever to the defence of the prisoner."

" Prisoner," resumed the president, who, as
well as the other members of the court, had
listened with the most profound and absorbing
interest to the singular disclosure of him whom
they still only knew as Frank Halloway, « this

WACOUSTA.

147

language cannot be permitted ; you must con-
fine yourself to your defence."

"Pardon me, gentlemen," returned Hal-
loway, in his usual firm but respectful tone of
voice i "pardon me, if, standing on the brink of
the grave as I do, I have so far forgotten the
rules of military discipline as to sink for a
moment the soldier in the gentleman ; but to
be taxed with an unworthy fabrication, and to
be treated with contumely when avowing the
secret of my condition, was more than human
pride and human feeling could tolerate."

*' Confine yourself, prisoner, to your de-
fence," again remarked Captain Blessington,
perceiving the restlessness with which the
governor listened to these bold and additional
observations of Halloway.

Again the governor interposed : — " What
possible connexion can there be between this
man's life, and the crime with which he stands
charged? Captain Blessington, this is trifling
with the court, who are assembled to try the
prisoner for his treason, and not to waste their

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WACOUSTA.

time in listening to a history utterly foreign to
the subject."

" The history of my past life — Colonel de
Haldimar," proudly returned the prisoner,
*« although tedious and uninteresting to you, is
of the utmost importance to myself; for on that
do I ground the most essential part of my
defence. There is nothing but circumstantial
evidence against me on the two first charges ;
and as those alone can reflect dishonour on my
memory, it is for the wisdom of this court to
determine whether that evidence is to be
credited in opposition to the solemn declara-
tion of him, who, in admitting one charge,
equally affecting his life with the others, re-
pudiates as foul those only which would attaint
his honour. Gentlemen," he pursued, address-
ing the court, "it is for you to determine
whether my defence is to be continued or not;
yet, whatever be my fate, I would fain remove
all injurious impression from the minds of my
judges ; and this can only be done by a simple
detail of circumstances, which may, by the un-
prejudiced, be as simply believed."

WACOUSTA.

149

Here the prisoner paused : when, after some
low and earnest conversation among the mem-
bers of the court, two or three slips of written
paper were passed to the President. He
glanced his eye hurriedly over them, and then
directed Halloway to proceed with his defence.
"I have stated," pursued the interesting
soldier, "that the officer who led the band of
Indians was a man of gigantic stature, and of
apparently great strength. T>.y attention was
particularly directed to him from this cir-
cumstance, and as I was on the extreme
flank of the grenadiers, and close to Captain
de Haldimar, had every opportunity of observ-
ing his movements principally pointed at that
officer. He first discharged a carbine, the
ball of which killed a man of the company
at his (Captain de Haldimar's) side; and then,
with evident rage at having been defeated in
his aim, he took a pistol from his belt, and
advancing with rapid strides to within a few
paces of his intended victim, presented it in the
most deliberate manner. At that moment,
gentlemen, (and it was but the work of a

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WACOUSTA.

moment,) a thousand confused and almost in-
explicable feelings rose to my heart. The
occasion I had long sought was at length within
my reach; but even the personal considera-
tions, which had hitherto influenced my mind,
were sunk in the anxious desire I entertained
to preserve the life of an officer so universally
beloved, and so every way worthy of the
sacrifice. While yet the pistol remained
levelled, I sprang before Captain de Haldimar,
received the ball in my breast, and had just
strength sufficient to fire my musket at this
formidable enemy when I sank senseless to the
earth,

" It will not be difficult for you, gentlemen,
who have feeling minds, to understand the plea-
surable pride with which, on being conveyed to
Captain de Haldimar's own apartments in
Quebec, I found myself almost overwhelmed by
the touching marks of gratitude showered on
me by his amiable relatives. Miss Clara de
Haldimar, in particular, like a ministering angel,
visited my couch of suffering at almost every
hour> and always provided with some little

WACOUSTA.

151

delicacy, suitable to my condition, of which I
had long since tutored myself to forget even
the use. But what principally afforded me
pleasure, was to remark the consolations which
she tendered to my poor drooping Ellen, who,
already more than half subdued by the melan-
choly change in our condition in life, frequently,
spent hours together in silent grief at the side
of my couch, and watching every change in my
countenance with all the intense anxiety of one
who feels the last stay on earth is about to be
severea for ever. Ah ! how I then longed to
disclose to this kind and compassionating being
the true position of her on whom she la-
vished her attention, and to make her known,
not as the inferior honored by her notice, but
as the equal alike worthy of her friendship and
deserving of her esteem j but the wide, wide
barrier that divided the wife of the private
soldier from the daughter and sister of the com-
missioned officer sealed my lips, and our true
condition continued unrevealed.

" Gentlemen," resumed Halloway, after a
short pause, « if I dwell on these circumstances,

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WACOUSTA.

it is witli n view to show how vile are the
charges preferred against me. Is it likely,
with all the incentives to good conduct I have
named, I should have proved a traitor to my
country ? And, even if so, what to gain, I
vonld ask; and by what means was a corre-
s}H)ndence with the enemy to be maintained by
one in my humble station ? As for the second
charge, how infamous, how injurious is it to my
reputation, how unworthy to be entertained !
I'rom the moment of my recovery from that
severe wound, every mark of favour that could
be bestowed on persons in our situation had
been extended to my wife and myself, by the
family of Colonel de Haldimar; and my cap-
tain, knowing me merely as the simple and
low born Frank Halloway, although still the
preserver of his life, has been unceasing in his
exertions to obtain such promotion as he thought
my conduct generally, independently of my de-
votedness to his person, might claim. How these
applications were met, gentlemen, I have already
stated; but notwithstanding Colonel de Haldimar
has never deemed me worthy of the promotion.

51 !

WACOUSTA.

153

solicited, that circumstance could in no way
weaken my regard and attachment for him who
had so often demanded it. How then, in the
name of heaven, can a charge so improbable,
so extravagant, as that of having been instru-
mental in the abduction of Captain dc Hal-
dimar, be entertained ? and who is there among
you, gentlemen, who will for one moment believe
I could harbour a thought so absurd as that of
lending myself to the destruction of one for
whom I once cheerfully offered up the sacrifice
of my blood ? And now," pursued the prisoner,
after another short pause, "I come to the third
charge, —that charge which most affects my
life, but impugns neither my honour nor my
fidelity. That God, befbre whom I know I shall
shortly appear, can attest the sincerity of my
statement, and before him do I now solemnly
declare what I am about to relate is true.

" Soon after the commencement of my watch
last night, I heard a voice distinctly on the
outside of the rampart, near my post, calling in
a low and subdued tone on the name of Captain
de Haldimar. The accents, hastily and anxi-

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WACOUSTA.

ously uttered, were apparently those of a female.
For a moment I continued irresolute how to act,
and hesitated whether or not I should alarm the
garrison ; but, at length, presuming it was some
young female of the village with whom my
captain was acquainted, it occurred to me the
most prudent course would be to apprize
that officer himself. While I yet hesitated
whether to leave my post for a moment for the
purpose, a man crossed the parade a few yards
in my front; it was Captain de Haldimar's
servant, Donellan, then in the act of carrying
some things from his master's apartment to the
guard-room. I called to him, to say the sentinel
at the gate wished to see the captain of the
guard hnmediately. In the course of a few
minutes he came up to my post, when I told
him what I had heard. At that moment, the
voice again repeated his name, when he
abruptly left me and turned to the left of
the gate, evidently on his way to the ram-
part. Soon afterwards I heard Captain de
Haldimar immediately above me, sharply call-
ing out * Hist, hist ! ' as if the person on the

WACOUSTA.

155

outside, despairing of success, was in the act of
retreating. A moment or two of silence suc-
ceeded, when a low conversation ensued be-
tween the parties. The distance was so great
I could only distinguish inarticulate sounds;
yet it seemed to me as if they spoke not in
English, but in the language of the Ottawa
Indians, a tongue with which, as you are well
aware, gentlemen, Captain de Haldimar is
familiar. This had continued about ten minutes,
when I again heard footsteps hastily descending
the rampart, and moving in the direction of the
guard-house. Soon afterwards Captain de
Haldimar re-appeared at my post, accompanied
by his servant Donellan ; the former had the
keys of the gate in his hand, and he told me
that he must pass to the skirt of the forest on
some business of the last importance to the
safety of the garrison.

At first I peremptorily refused, stating the
severe penalty attached to the infringement of
an order, the observation of which had so
especially been insisted upon by the governor,
whose permission, however, I ventured respect-

H 6

156

WACOUSTA.

II'

fully to urge might, without difliculty, be ob-
laiueil, if the business was really of the import-
ance he described it. Captain de Haldiniar,
liowever, declared he well knew the governor
would not accord that permission, unless he was
positively acquainted with the nature and ex-
tent of the danger to be apprehended ; and of
tliese, he. said, he was not himself sufficiently
aware. All argument of this nature proving
ineffectual, he attempted to enforce his authority,
not only in his capacity of officer of the guard,
but also as my captain, ordering me, on pain
of confinement, not to interfere with or attempt
to impede his departure. This, however, pro-
duced no better result ; for I knew that, in this
instance, I was amenable to the order of the
governor alone, and I again firmly refused to
violate my duty.

" Finding himself thwarted in his attempt to
enforce my obedience, Captain de Haldimar,
who seemed much agitated and annoyed by
what he termed my obstinacy, now descended
to entreaty ; and in the name of that life which
I had preserved to him, and of that deep

WACOUSTA.

''ij

157

gratitude wliich he had ever since borne to me/
conjured me not to prevent his departure!
* Halloway,' he urged, *your life, my life, my
father's Hfe, -- the life of my sister Clara per-
haps, who nursed you in illness, and who has
ever treated your wife with attention and kind-
ness, - all these depend upon your compliance
with my request. Hear me,* he pursued, fol-
lowing i,p the impression which lie clearly
perceived he had produced in me by this
singular and touching language : ' I promise
to be back within the hour ; there is no danger
attending my departure, and here will I be
before you are relieved from your post ; no
one can know I have been absent, and your
secret will remain with Donellan and myself.
Do you think,' he concluded, « I would en-
courage a soldier of my regiment to disobey a
standing order of the garrison, unless there was
some very extraordinary reason for my so doing ?
But there is no time to be lost in parley.
Halloway ! I entreat you to offer no further
opposition to my departure. I pledge myself
to be back before you are relieved.*

s U

158

WACO U ST A.

" Gentlemen," impressively continued the
prisoner, after a pause, during which each
member of the court seemed to breathe for the
first time, so deeply had the attention of all
been riveted by the latter part of this singular
declaration, " how, under these circumstances,
could I be expected to act ? Assured by
Captain de Haldimar, in the most solemn
mauner, that the existence of those most dear
to his heart hung on my compliance with his
request, how could I refuse to him, whose life
I had saved, and whose character I so much
esteemed, a boon so earnestly, nay, so im-
ploringly solicited ? I acceded to his prayer,
intimating, at the same time, if he returned
not before another sentinel should relieve me,
the discovery of my breach of duty must be
made, and my punishment inevitable. His last
words, however, were to assure me he should
return at the hour he had named, and when I
closed the gate upon him it was under the firm
impression his absence would only prove of the
temporary nature he had stated. — Gentlemen,"
abruptly concluded Halloway, " I have nothing

WACOUSTA.

159

'f I

further to add ; if I have failed in my duty as
a soldier, I have, at least, fulfilled that of a man ;
and although the violation of the first entail
upon me the punishment of death, the motives
which impelled me to that violation will not, I
trust, be utterly lost sight of by those by whom
my punishment is to be awarded."

The candid, fearless, and manly tone in which
Halloway had delivered this long and singular
statement, however little the governor appeared
to be affected by it, evidently made a deep im-
pression on the court, who had listened with
undiverted attention to the close. Some con-
versation again ensued, in a low tone, among
several members, when two slips of written
paper were passed up, as before, to the presi-
dent. These elicited the following interroga-
tories : —

" You have stated, prisoner, that Captain de
Haldimar left the fort accompanied by his
servant Donellan. How were they respectively
dressed?"

" Captain de Haldimar in his uniform ;
Donellan, as far as I could observe, in his

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WACOUSTA.

^! 'I

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■

regimental clothing also, with this difFerence,
that he wore his servant's round glazed hat and
his grey great coat."

" How then do you account for the ex-
traordinary circumstance of Donellan having
been found murdered in his master's clothes ?
Was any allusioli made to a change of dress
before they left the fort ?"

" Not the slightest," returned the prisoner ;
" nor can I in any way account for this myste-
rious fact. When they quitted the garrison,
each wore the dress I have described."

" In what manner did Captain de Haldimar
and Donellan effect their passage across the
ditch?" continued the president, after glancing
at the second slip of paper. " The draw-bridge
was evidently not lowered, and there were no
other means at hand to enable him to effect
his object with promptitude. How do you
explain this, prisoner?"

When this question was put, the whole body
of officers, and the governor especially, turned
their eyes simultaneously on Halloway, for on
his hesitation or promptness in replying seemed

WACOUSTA.

161

to attach much of the credit they were disposed
to accord his statement. Halloway observed
it, and coloured. His reply, however, was
free, unfaltering, and unstudied.

" A rope with which Donellan had provided
himself, was secured to one of the iron hooks
that support the pullies immediately above the
gate. With this they swung themselves in
succession to the opposite bank."

The members of the court looked at each
other, apparently glad that an answer so con-
firmatory of the truth of the prisoner's state-
ment, had been thus readily given.

« Were they to have returned in the same
manner?" pursued the president, framhig his
interrogatory from the contents of another slip
of paper, which, at the suggestion of the go-
vernor, had been passed to him by the prose-
cutor, Mr. Lawson.

" They were," firmly replied the prisoner.
" At least I presumed they were, for, I believe
in the hurry of Captain de Haldimar's departure,
he never once made any direct allusion to the
manner of his return ; nor did it occur to me

162

WACOUSTA.

I :

until this moment how they were to regain pos-
session of the rope, without assistance from
within."

" Of course," observed Colonel de Haldi-
mar, addressing the president, " the rope still
remains. Mr. Lawson, examine the gate, and
report accordingly."

The adjutant hastened to acquit himself of
this laconic order, and soon afterwards re-
turned, stating not only that there was no rope,
but that the hook alluded to had disappeared
altogether.

For a moment the cheek of the prisoner
paled ; but it was evidently less from any fear
connected with his individual existence, than
from the shame he felt at having been detected
in a supposed falsehood. He however speedily
recovered his self-possession, and exhibited the
same character of unconcern by which his
general bearing throughout the trial had been
distinguished.

On this announcement of the adjutant, the
governor betrayed a movement of impatience,
that was meant to convey his utter disbelief of

WACOUSTA.

163

the whole of the prisoner's statement, and his
look seemed to express to the court it should
also arrive, and without hesitation, at the same
conclusion. Even all authoritative as he was,
however, he felt that military etiquette and strict
discipline prevented his interfering further in
this advanced state of the proceedings.

" Prisoner," again remarked Captain Bles-
sington, « your statement in regard to the
means employed by Captain de Haldimar in
effecting his departure, is, you must admit,
unsupported by appearances. How happens it
the rope is no longer where you say it was
placed ? No one could have removed it but
yourself. Have you done so? and if so, can
you produce it, or say where it is to be
found?"

" Captain Blessington," replied Halloway,
proudly, yet respectfully, " I have already
invoked that great Being, before whose tribunal
I am so shortly to appear, in testimony of the
truth of my assertion ; and again, in his pre-
sence, do I repeat, every word I have uttered is
true. I did not remove the rope, neither do I

}64>

WACOUSTA.

know what is become of it. I admit its disap-
pearance is extraordinary, but a moment's re-
flection must satisfy the court I would not
have devised a tale, the falsehood of which
could at once have been detected on an exa-
mination such as that which has just been insti-
tuted. When Mr. Lawson left this room just
now, I fully expected he would have found the
rope lying as it had been left. What has
become of it, I repeat, I know not ; but in the
manner I have stated did Captain de Haldimar
and Donellan cross the ditch. I have nothing
further to add," he concluded once more, draw-
ing up his fine tall person, the native elegance
of which could not be wholly disguised even in
the dress of a private soldier; « nothing further
to disclose. Yet do I repel with scorn the inju-
rious insinuation against my fidelity, suggested in
these doubts. I am prepared to meet my death
as best may become a soldier, and, let me add,
as best may become a proud and well born gen-
tleman; but humanity and common justice should
at least be accorded to my memory. I am an
unfortunate man, but no traitor.'

WACOUSTA.

165

The members were visibly impressed by the
last sentences of the prisoner. No further
question however was asked, atid he was again
removed by the escort, who had been won-
dering spectators of the scene, to the cell he
had so recently occupied. The room was then
cleared of the witnesses and strangers, the latter
comprising nearly the whole of the officers off
duty, when the court proceeded to deliberate
on the evidence, and pass sentence on the
accused.

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166

WACOUSTA.

CHAPTER VII.

Although the young and sensitive De Hal-
dimar had found physical relief in the summary
means resorted to by the surgeon, the moral
wound at his heart not only remained unsoothed,
but was rendered more acutely painful by the
wretched reflections, which, now that he had full
leisure to review the past, and anticipate the
future in all the gloom attached to both, so
violently assailed him. From the moment when
his brother's strange and mysterious disap-
pearance had been communicated by the adju-
tant in the manner we have already seen, his
spirits had been deeply and fearfully depressed.
Still he had every reason to expect, from the
well-known character of Halloway, the strong
hope expressed by the latter might be realised ;
and that, at the hour appointed for trial, his
brother would be present to explain the cause
of his mysterious absence, justify the conduct

WAC0U8TA. ■ ley

of his subordinate, and exonerate him from the
treachery witli which he now stood charged.
Yet, powerful as this hope was, it was unavoid-
ably qualified by dispiriting doubt; for a nature
aiFectionate and bland, as that of Charles de
Haldimar, could not but harbour distrust, while
a shadow of uncertainty, in regard to the fate of
a brother so tenderly loved, remained. He had
forced himself to believe as much as possible
what he wished, and the effort had, to a certain
extent succeeded ; but there had been something
so solemn and so impressive in the scene that
had passed when the prisoner was first brought
up for trial, something so fearfully prophetic in-
the wild language of his unhappy wife, he had
found it impossible to resist the influence of the
almost superstitious awe they had awakened in
his heart.

What the feelings of the young officer were
subsequently, when in the person of the mur-
dered man on the common, the victim of Sir
Everard Valletort's aim, he recognised that
brother, whose disappearance had occasioned
him so much inquietude, we shall not attempt

168

WACOUSTA.

^-h :

■if

to describe: their nature \' best sl^ own in the
effect they produced — the almocst overwhelm-,
ing agony of body and mind, which had borne
him, like a stricken plant, unresisting to the
earth. But now that, in the calm and solit'K^''
of his chamber, he had leisure to review the
fearful events conspiring to produce this ex-
tremity, his anguish of spirit was even deeper
than when the fiist rude shock of conviction had
flashed upon his understanding. A tide of
suffering, that overpowered, without rendering
him sensible of its positive and abstract cha-
racter, had, in the first instance, oppressed his
faculties, and obscured his perception ; but now,
slow, sure, stinging, and gradually succeeding
each other, came every bitter thought and re-
flection of which that tide was composed ; and
the generous heart of Charles de Haldimar was
a prey to feelings that would have wrung the
soul, and wounded the sensibilities of one far
less gentle and susceptible than himself.

Between Sir Everard Valletort anel Charles
de Haldimar, who, it has already been remarked,
were lieutenants in Captain Blessington*s com-

WACOUSTA.

169

pany, a sentiment of friendsliip had been suf-
fered to spring up almost from the moment of'8ir
Everard's joining. The young men were nearly
of the same age; and although the one was all
gentleness, the other all spirit and vivacity,
not a shade of disunion had at any period
intervened to interrupt the almost brotherly
attachment subsisting between them, and each
felt the disposition of the other was the one most
assimilated to his own. In fact. Sir Everard
was far from being the ephemeral character he
was often willing to appear. Under a semblance
of affectation, and much assumed levity of
manner, never, however, personally offensive, he
concealed a brave, generous, warm, and manly
heart, and talents becoming the rank he held in
society, such as would not have reflected dis-
credit on one numbering twice his years. He
had entered the army, as most young men of
rank usually did at that period, rather for the
agremens it held forth, than with any serious
view to advancement in it as a profession. Still
he entertained the praiseworthy desire of being
something more than what is, among military

VOL. I. I

170

WAC0U8TA.

! '■]

men, emphatically termed a feather-beil soldier;
and, contrary to the wishes of his fashionable
mother, who would have preferred seeing him
exhibit his uniform in the drawing-rooms of
London, had purchased the step into his present
corps from a cavalry regiment at home. Not
that we mean, however, to assert he was not a
feather-bed soldier in its more literal sense:
no man that ever glittered in gold and scarlet
was fonder of a feather-bed than the young
baronet ; and, in fact, his own observations, re-
corded in the early part of this volume, suf-
ficiently prove his predilection for an indulgence
which, we take it, in no way impugned his cha-
racter as a soldier. Sir Everard would have
fought twenty battles in the course of the month,
if necessary, and yet not complained of the
fatigue or severity of his service, provided only
he had been suffered to press his downy couch
to what is termed a decent hour in the day.
But he had an innate and, perhaps, it may be,
an instinctive horror of drills and early rising ;
a pastime in which the martinets and dis-
ciplinarians of the last century were very much

WACOUSTA.

171

1 tl

soldier;
hionable
2ing him
•ooms of
s present
[le. Not
^as not a
il sense :
d scarlet
le young
tions, re-
ame, suf-
idulgence
i his cha-
3uld have
be month,
>d of the
aded only
t^ny couch

the day.

it may be,

rly rising ;

and dis-

^rery much

given to indulge. He frequently upheld an
opinion that must have been little less than
treason in the eyes of a commander so strict as
Colonel de Haldimar, that an officer who rose
at eight, with all his faculties refreshed and in-
vigorated, might evince as much of the true
bearing of the soldier in the field, as he who,
having quitted his couch at dawn, naturally felt
the necessity of repose at a moment when
activity and exertion were most required.

We need scarcely state. Sir Everard's theories
on this important subject were seldom reduced
to practice ; for, even long before the Indians
had broken out into open acts of hostility, when
such precautions were rendered indispensa-
ble, Colonel de Haldimar had never suffered
either officer or man to linger on his pillow
after the first faint dawn had appeared. This
was a system to which Sir Everard could never
reconcile himself. He had quitted England
with a view to active service abroad, it is true,
but he had never taken "active service" in its
present literal sense, and, as he frequently de-
clared to his companions, he preferred aivino-

I 2

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WACOUSTA.

an Indian warrior a chance for his scalp any
hour after breakfast, to rising at daybreak,
when, from very stupefaction, he seldom knew
whether he stood on his head or his heels. " If
the men must be drilled," he urged, "with a view
to their health and discipline, why not place
them under the direction of the adjutant or the
officer of the day, whoever he might chance to
be, and not unnecessarily disturb a body of
gentlemen from their comfortable slumbers at
that unconscionable hour ? " Poor Sir Everard !
this was the only grievance of which he com-
plained, and he complained bitterly. Scarcely
a morning passed without his inveighing loudly
against the barbarity of such a custom ; threat-
ening at the same time, amid the laughter of
his companions, to quit the service in disgust
at what he called so ungentlemanly and gothic
a habit. All he waited for, he protested, was
to have an opportunity of bearing away the
spoils of some Indian chief, that, on his return
to England, he might afford his lady mother
an opportunity of judging with her own eyes
of the sort of enemy he had relinquished

WACOUSTA.

173

the comforts of home to contend against,
and exhibiting to her very dear friends the
barbarous proofs of the prowess of her son.
Though these observations were usually made
half in jest half in earnest, there was no reason
to doubt the young and lively baronet was, in
truth, heartily tired of a service which seemed
to offer nothing but privations and annoyances,
unmixed with even the chances of obtaining
those trophies to which he alluded; and, but
for two motives, there is every probability he
would have seriously availed himself of the
earliest opportunity of retiring. The first of
these was his growing friendship for the ami-
able and gentle Charles de Haldimar; the
second the secret, and scarcely to himself
acknc ./ledged, interest which had been created
in his heart for his sister Clara ; whom he only
knew from the glowing descriptions of his friend,
and the strong resemblance she was said to
bear to him by the other officers.

Clara de Haldimar was the constant theme
of her younger brother's praise. Her image
was ever uppermost in his thoughts— her name

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174

WACOUSTA.

ever hovering on his lips; and when alone
with his friend Valletort, it was his delight to
dwell on the worth and accomplishments of his
amiable and beloved sister. Then, indeed,
would his usually calm blue eye sparkle with
the animation of his subject, while his colouring
cheek marked all the warmth and sincerity
with which he bore attestation to her gentle-
ness and her goodness. The heart of Charles
de Haldimar, soldier as he was, was pure,
generous, and unsophisticated as that of the
sister whom he so constantly eulogized ; and,
while Hstening to his eloquent praises. Sir
Everard learnt to feel an interest in a being
whom all had declared to be the counterpart of
her brother, as well in personal attraction as in
singleness of nature. With all his affected
levity, and notwithstanding his early initiation
Into fashionable life— that matter-of-fact life
which strikes at the existence of our earlier
and dearer illusions — there was a dash of
romance in the character of the young baronet
which tended much to increase the pleasure
he always took in the warm descriptions of his

11:

WACOUSTA.

175

friend. The very circumstance of her being
personally unknown to him, was, with Sir Eve-
rard, an additional motive for interest in Miss
de Haldimar.

Imagination and mystery generally work
their way together ; and as there was a shade
of mystery attached to Sir Everard's very
ignorance of the person of one whom he ad-
mired and esteemed from report alone, imagin-
ation was not slow to improve the opportunity,
and to endow the object with characteristics,
which perhaps a more intimate knowledge of
the party might have led him to qualify. In
this manner, in early youth, are the silken and
willing fetters of the generous and the en-
thusiastic forged. We invest some object,
whose praises, whispered secretly in the ear,
have glided imperceptibly to the heart, with all
the attributes supplied by our own vivid and
readily according imaginations ; and so accus-
tomed do we become to linger on the picture,
we adore the semblance with an ardour which
the original often fails to excite. When, how-
ever, the high standard of our fancy's fair

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176

WACOUSTA.

creation is attained, we worship as something
sacred that which was to our hearts a source
of pure and absorbing interest, hallowed by the
very secresy in which such interest was in-
dulged. Even where it fails, so unwilling are
we to lose sight of the illusion to which our
thoughts have fondly clung, so loth to destroy
the identity of the semblance with its origina'
that we throw a veil over that reason which is
then so little in unison with our wishes, and
forgive much in consideration of the very
mystery which first gave a direction to our
interest, and subsequently chained our prefer-
ence. How is it to be lamented, that illusions
so dear, and images so fanciful, should find
their level with time ; or that intercourse with
the world, which should be the means rather
of promoting than marring human happiness,
should leave on the heart so little vestige of
those impressions which characterize the fer-
vency of youth; and which, dispassionately
considered, constitute the only true felicity of
riper life ! It is then that man, in all the vigour
and capacity of his intellectual nature, feels

WACOUSTA.

177

the sentiment of love upon him in all its en-
nobling force. It is then that his impetuous
feelings, untinged by the romance which im-
poses its check upon the more youthful, like the
wild flow of the mighty torrent, seeks a channel
wherein they may empty themselves ; and were
he to follow the guidance of those feelings, of
which in that riper life he seems ashamed as
of a weakness unworthy his sex, in the warm
and glowing bosom of Nature's divinity-—
wo»z«« — would he pour forth the swollen tide
of his affection j and acknowledge, in the ful-
ness of his expanding heart, the vast bounty of
Providence, who had bestowed on him so in-
valuable—so unspeakably invaluable, a blessing.
— But no; in the pursuit of ambition, in the
acquisition of wealth, in the thirst after power,
and the craving after distinction, nay, nineteen
times out of twenty, in the most frivolous oc-
cupations, the most unsatisfactory amusements,
do the great mass of the maturer man sink
those feelings ; divested of which, we become
mere plodders on the earth, mert. creatures of
materialism : nor is it until aftf r age and in-

T 5

178

WACOUSTA.

H* i •

firrnity have overtaken them, they look back
with regret to that real and substantial, but
unenjoyed happiness, which the occupied heart
and the soul's communion alone can bestow.
Then indeed, when too late, are they ready to
acknowledge the futility of those pursuits, the
inadequacy of those mere ephemeral pleasures,
to which in the full meridian of their manhood
they sacrificed, as a thing unworthy of their
dignity, the mysterious charm of woman's in-
fluence and woman's beauty.

We do not mean to say Clara de Haldimar
would have fallen short of the high estimate
formed of her worth by the friend of her bro-
ther ; neither is it to be understood, Sir Eve-
rard suffered this fair vision of his fancy to lead
him into the wild and labyrinthian paths of
boyish romance ; but certain it is, the floating
illusions, conjured up by his imagination, exer-
cised a mysterious injuence over his heart, that
hourly acquired a deeper and less equivocal
character. It might have been curiosity in the
first instance, or that mere repose of the fancy
upon an object of its own creation, which was

WACOUSTA.

179

! :i

natural to a young man placed like himself for
the moment out of the pale of all female society.
It has been remarked, and justly, there is
nothing so dangerous to the peace of the human
heart as solitude. It is in solitude, our
thoughts, taking their colouring from our feel-
ings, invest themselves with the power of mul-
tiplying ideal beauty, until we become in a
measure tenants of a world of our own creation,
from which we never descend, without 'oathing
and disgust, into the dull and matter-of-fact
routine of actual existence. Hence the misery
of the imaginative man ! — hence his little
sympathy with the mass, who, tame and soulless,
look upon life and the things of life, not through
the refining medium of ideality, but through
the grossly magnifying optics of mere sense and
materialism.

But, though we could, and perhaps may, at
some future period, write volumes on this sub-
ject, we return for the present from a digression
into which we have been insensibly led by the
temporary excitement of our own feelings.
Whatever were the impressions of the young

I 6

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Hi'

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mat

III

: 1

I.'
i

■

1' ■

■b

'¥ I

t ■;
5 ■

180

WACOUSTA.

baronet, and however he might have been
inclined to suffer the fair image of the gentle
Clara, such as he was perhaps wont to paint
it, to exercise its spell upon his fancy, certain it
is, he never expressed to her brother more than
that esteem and interest which it was but na-
tural he should accord to the sister of his friend.
Neither had Charles de Haldimar, even amid
all his warmth of commendation, ever made the
slightest allusion to his sister, that could be
construed into a desire she should awaken any
unusual or extraordinary sentiment of pre-
ference. Much and fervently as he desired
such an event, there was an innate sense of
decorum, and it may be secret pride, that caused
him to abstain from any observation having
the remotest tendency to compromise the spot-
less delicacy of his adored sister; and such he
would have considered any expression of his
own hopes and wishes, where no declaration of
preference had been previously made. There
was another motive for this reserve on the part
of the young officer. The baronet was an only
child, and would, on attaining his majority, of

.^>i^

WACOUSTA.

181

which he wanted only a few months, become
the possessor of a large fortune. His sister
Clara, on the contrary, had little beyond her
own fair fame and the beauty transmitted to her
by the mother she had lost. Colonel de Hal-
dimar was a younger son, and had made his
way through life with his sword, and an unble-
mished reputation alone, - advantages he had
shared with his children, for the two eldest of
whom his interest and long services had pro-
cured commissions in his own regiment.

But even while Charles de Haldimar ab-
stained from all' expression of his hopes, he had
fully made up his mind that Sir Everard and
his sister were so formed for each other, it was
next to an impossibility they could meet with-
out loving. In one of his letters to the latter,
he had alluded to his friend in terms of so high
and earnest panegyric, that Clara had acknow-
ledged, in reply, she was prepared to find in the
young baronet one whom she should regard
with partiality, if it were only on account of
the friendship subsisting between him and her
brother. This admission, however, was com-

182

WACOUSTA.

municated in confidence, and the young officer
had religiously preserved his sister's secret.

These and fifly other recollections now
crowded on the mind of the sufferer, only to
render the intensity of his anguish more com-
plete ; among the bitterest oi which was the
certainty that the mysterious events of the past
night had raised up an insuperable barrier to
this union ; for how could Clara de Haldimar
become the wife of him whose hands were,
however innocently, stained with the life-blood
of her brother ! To dwell on this, and the loss
of that brother, was little short of madness,
and yet De Haldimar could think of nothing
else ; nor for a period could the loud booming of
the cannon from the ramparts, every report of
which shook his chamber to its very foundations,
call off his attention from a subject which,
while it pained, engrossed every faculty and
absorbed every thought. At length, towards
the close, he called faintly to the old and faith-
ful soldier, who, at the foot of the bed, stood
watching every change of his master's counte-
nance, to know the cause of the cannonade. On

WACOUSTA.

183

being informed tlie batteries in the rear were
covering the retreat of Captain Erskine, who,
in his attempt to obtain the botly, had been
surprised by the Indians, a new direction was
temporarily given to his thoughts, and he now
manifested the utmost impatience to know the
result.

In a few minutes Morrison, who, in defiance
of the surgeon's strict order not on any account
to quit the room, had flown to obtain some
intelligence which he trusted might remove the
anxiety of his suffering master, again made his
appearance, stating the corpse was already
secured, and close under the guns of the fort,
beneath which the detachment, though hotly as-
sailed from the forest, were also fast retreating.

" And is it really my brother, Morrison ?
Are you quite certain that it is Captain de Hal-
dimar?" asked the young officer, in the eager
accents of one who, with the fullest conviction
on his mind, yet grasps at the faintest shadow
of a consoling doubt. " Tell me that it is not
my brother, and half of what I possess in the
world shall be yours."

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The old soldier brushed a tear from his eye.
" God bless you, Mr. de Haldimar, I would give
half rtiy grey hairs to be able to do so ; but it
is, indeed, too truly the captain who has been
killed. I saw the very wings of his regimentals
as he lay on his face on the litter."

Charles de Haldimar groaned aloud. " Oh
God ! oh God ! would I had never lived to
see this day." Then springing suddenly up in
his bed. — " Morrison, where are my clothes ?
I insist on seeing my slaughtered brother
myself."

" Good Heaven, sir, consider," said the old
man approaching the bed, and attempting to
replace the covering which had been spurned
to its very foot, — " consider you are in a burn-
ing fever, and the slightest cold may kill you
altogether. The doctor's orders are, you were
on no account to get up."

The effort made by the unfortunate youth
was momentary. Faint from the blood he had
lost, and giddy from the excitement of his feel-
ings, he sank back exhausted on his pillow, and
wept like a child.

WACOUSTA. iQg

Old Morrison shed tears also; for his heart
bled for the sufferings of one whom he had
nursed and played with even in early infancy,
and whom, although his master, he regarded with
the affection he would have borne to his own
child. As he had justly observed, he would
have willingly given half his remaining years to
be able to remove the source of the sorrow
which so deeply oppressed him.

When this violent paroxysm had somewhat
subsided, De Haldimar became more composed;
but his was rather that composure which grows
out of the apathy produced by overwhelming
grief, than the result of any relief afforded to
his suffering heart by the tears he had shed.
He had continued some time in this faint and
apparently tranquil state, when confused sounds
in the barrack-yard, followed by the raising of
the heavy drawbridge, announced the return of
the detachment Again he started ud in his
bed and demanded his clothes, declaring his in-
tention to go out and receive the corpse of his
murdered brother. AH opposition on the part
of the faithful Morrison was now likely to prove

186

WACOUSTA.

fruitless, when suddenly the door opened, and
an officer burst hurriedly into the room.

*' Courage ! courage ! my dear De Haldi-
mar; I am the bearer of good news. Your
brother is not the person who has been slain."

Again De Haldimar sank back upon his
pillow, overcome by a variety of conflicting
emotions. A moment afterwards, and he ex-
claimed reproachfully, yet almost gasping with
tlie eagerness of his manner, —

" For God's sake, Sumners — in the name
of common humanity, do not trifle with my feel-
ings. If you would seek to lull me with false
hopes, you are wrong. I am prepared to hear
and bear the worst at present ; but to be unde-
ceived again would break my heart."

" I swear to you by every thing I have been
taught to revere as sacred," solemnly returned
Ensign Sumners, deeply touched by the afflic-
tion he witnessed, " what I state is strictly
true. Captain Erskine himself sent me to tell
you."

" What, is he only wounded then?" and a
glow of mingled hope and satisfaction was

WACOUSTA.

187

visible even through the flush of previous ex-
citement on the cheek of the sufferer. « Quick,
Morrison, give me my clothes.- Where is my
brother, Sumners ?" and again he raised up his
debilitated frame with the intention of quitting
his couch.

" De Haldimar, my dear De Haldimar,
compose yourself, and listen to me. Your bro-
ther is still missing, and we are as much in the
dark about his fate as ever. All that is certain
is, we have no positive knowledge of his death ;
but surely that is a thousand times preferable to
the horrid apprehensions under wliich we have
all hitlerto laboured."

" What mean you, Sumners ? or am I so
bewildered by my sufferings as not to com-
prehend you clearly ?- Nay, nay, forgive me ;
but I am almost heart-broken at this loss,
and scarcely know what I say. But what is it
you mean ? I saw my unhappy brother lying
on the common with my own eyes. Poor

Valletort himself » here a rush of bitter

recollections flashed on the memory of the
young man, and the tears coursed each other

1^88

WACOUSTA.

r 1 1

• <■

rapidly down his cheek. His emotion lasted
for a few moments, and he pursued, — " Poor
Valietort himself saw him, for he was nearly
as much overwhelmed with affliction as I
was; and even Morrison beheld him also,
not ten minutes since, under the very walls of
the fort; nay, distinguished the wings of his
uniform : and yet you would persuade me my
brother, instead of being brought in a corpse,
is still missing and alive. This is little better
than trifling with my wretchedness, Sumners,"
and again he sank back exhausted on his
pillow.

" I can easily forgive your doubts, De Hal-
dimar," returned the sympathizing Sumners,
taking the hand of his companion, and pressing
it gently in his own ; «< for, in truth, there is a
great deal of mystery attached to the whole
affair. I have not seen the body myself; but I
distinctly heard Captain Erskine state it cer-
tainly was not your brother, and he requested
me to apprise both Sir Everard Valietort and
yourself of the fact."

" Who is the murdered man, then ? and how

■ J

WACOUSTA.

189

comes he to be clad in the unifo™ of one of our
officers? Psl,a„, u ;, ^ .^surd to be ere-
d.ted. Erskine is mistaken _ he must be mis-
take„_,t can be no other than my poor brother
Fredenck. Sumners, I am sick, faint, with
th.s cruel uncertainty: go, my dear fellow, at
once, and examine the body; then return to
me, and satisfy my doubts, if possible."

" Most willingly, if you desire iV returned
bumners, moving towards the door; " but be
l.eve me, De Haldimar, you may make your
m,nd tranquil on the subject - Erskine spoke
with certainty."

" ""^ y" «««" Valletort?" asked De Hal-
dimar, while an involuntary shudder pervaded
his fame.

" I have. He flew on the instant to make
further enquiries; and was in the act of gbing
to examine the body of the murdered man
when I came here.-But here he is himself, and
his countenance is the harbinger of any thing
but a denial of my intelligence."

« Oh, Charles, what a weight of misery has
been removed from my heart!" exclaimed that

190

WACOUSTA.

officer, now rushing to the bedside of his friend,
and seizing his extended hand, — " Your bro-
ther, let us hope, still lives."

" Almighty God, I thank thee ! " fervently
ejaculated De Haldimar ; and then, overcome
with joy, surprise, and gratitude, he again sank
back upon his pillow, sobbing and weeping
violently.

Sumners had, with delicate tact, retired the
moment Sir Everard made his appearance ; for
he, as well as the whole body of officers, was
aware of the close friendship that subsisted
between the young men, and he felt, at such a
moment, the presence of a third person must
be a sort of violation of the sacredness of their
interview.

For some minutes the young baronet stood
watching in silence, and with his friend's hand
closely clasped in his own, the course of those
tears which seemed to afford so much relief to
the overcharged heart of the suiFerer. At length
they passed gradually away; and a smile,
expressive of the altered state, of his feel-
ings, for the first time animated the flushed

WACOUSTA.

his friend,
Sfour bro-

fervently

overcome

igain sank

1 weeping

■etired the
ranee ; for
ficers, was
subsisted
at such a
rson must
5s of their

)net stood
nd's hand
i of those
1 relief to
At length
a smile,
his feel-
»e flushed

191

but handsome features of the younger De
Haldimar.

We shall not attempt to paint all that passed
between the friends during the first interesting
moments of an interview which neither had
expected to enjov again, or the delight and
satisfaction with wnich they congratulated them-
selves on the futility of those fears, which, if
realised, must have embittered every future
moment of their lives with the most bar-
rowing recoUections. Sir Everard, particularly,
felt, and was not slow to express, his joy on this
occasion ; for, as he gazed upon the countenance
of his friend, he was more than ever inclined to
confess an interest in the sister he was said so
much to resemble.

With that facility with which in youth the
generous and susceptible are prone to exchange
their tears for smiles, as some powerful motive
for the reaction may prompt, the invalid had
already, and for the moment, lost sight of the
pamful past in the pleasurable present, so that
his actual excitement was strongly in contrast
with the melancholy he had so recently ex-

)■

: i \^.

i I

•^11

1,1

fV r

192 WACOUSTA.

hibited. Never had Charles de Haldimar
appeared so eminently handsome ; and yet his
beauty resembled that of a frail and delicate
woman, rather than that of one called to the
manly and arduous profession of a soldier. It
was that delicate and Medor-like beauty which
might have won the heart and fascinated the
sense of a second Angelica. The light brown
hair flowing in thick and natural waves over a
high white forehead; the rich bloom of the
transparent and downy cheek ; the large, blue,
long, dark-lashed eye, in which a shade of lan-
guor harmonised with the soft but animated
expression of the whole countenance, — the
dimpled mouth,— the small, clear, and even

teeth, all these now characterised Charles de

Haldimar ; and if to these we add a voice rich,
full, and melodious, and a smile sweet and
fascinating, we shall be at no loss to account
for the readiness with which Sir Everard
suffered his imagination to draw on the brother
for those attributes he ascribed to the sister.

It was while this impression was strong upon
his fancy, he took occasion to remark, in reply

WACOUSTA.

193

to an observation of De Haldimar's, alluding to
the despair with which his sister would have
been seized, had she known one brother
had fallen by the hand of the friend of the
other.

" The grief of my own heart, Charles, on
this occasion, would have been little inferior to
her own. The truth is, my feelings during the
last three hours have let me into a secret, of the
existence of which I was, in a great degree,
ignorant until then: I scarcely know how to
express myself, for the communication is so
truly absurd and romantic you will not credit
it." He paused, hesitated, and then, as if de-
termined to anticipate the ridicule he seemed to
feel would be attached to his confesssion, with
a forced half laugh pursued : « The fact is,
Charles, I have been so much used to listen to
your warm and eloquent praises of your sister,
I have absolutely, I will not say fallen in love
with (that would be going too far), but con-
ceived so strong an interest in her, that my
most ardent desire would be to find favour in
her eyes. What say you, my friend ? are you

VOL. I. K

J I

194

WACOUSTA.

inclined to forward my suit; and if so, is there
any chance for me, think you, with herself?"

The breast of Charles de Haldimar, who had
listened with deep and increasing attention to
this avowal, swelled high with pleasurable ex-
citement, and raising himself up in his bed with
one hand, while he grasped one of Sir Everard's
with the other, he exclaimed with a transport
of affection too forcible to be controlled, —

"Oh, Valletort, Valletort ! this is, indeed,
all that was wanting to complete my happiness.
My sister Clara I adore with all the affection of
my nature; I love her better than my own life,
which is wrapped up in hers. She is an angel
in disposition, — all that is dear, tender, and
affectionate, — all that is gentle and lovely in
woman; one whose welfare is dearer far to
me than my own, and without whose presence
I could not live. Valletort, that prize,—
that treasure, that dearer half of myself, is
yours,— yours for ever. I have long wished
you should love each other, and I felt, when
you met, you would. If I have hitherto
forborne from expressing this fondest wish of

WAC0U8TA.

195

my heart, it has been from delicacy — from a
natural fear of compromising the purity of my
adored Clara. Now, however, you have con-
fessed yourself interested, by a description that
falls far short of the true merit of that deo.-
girl, I can no longer disguise my gratification
and delight. Valletort," he concluded, im-
pressively, « there is no other man on earth to
whom I would say so much; but you were
formed for each other, and you will, you must,
be the husband of my sister."

If the youthful and affectionate De Haldimar
was happy. Sir Everard was no less so ; for
already, with the enthusiasm of a young man of
twenty, he painted to himself the entire fruition
of those dreams of happiness that had so long
been familiarised to his imagination. One doubt
alone crossed his mind.

" But if your sister should have decided
differently, Charles," he at length remarked, as
he gently quitted the embrace of his friend :
" who knows if her heart may not already throb
for another; and even if not, it is possible she

K 2

196

WACOUSTA.

may judge me far less flatteringly than you
do."

" "Valletort, your fears are groundless.
Having admitted thus far, I will even go
farther, and add, you have been the subject of
one of my letters to Clara, who, in her turn,
' confesses a strong interest in one of whom
she has heard so much.' She writes playfully,
of course, butrit is quite evident to me she is
prepared to like you." .

" Indeed ! But, Charles, liking is many
degrees removed you know from loving; be-
sides, I understand there are two or three
handsome and accomplished fellows among the
garrison of Michillimackinac, and your sister's
visit to her cousin may not have been paid alto-
gether with impunity."

" Think not thus meanly of Clara's under-
standing, Valletort. There must be some-
thing more than mere beauty and accomplish-
ment to fix the heart of my sister. The dark
eyed and elegant Baynton, and the musical and
sonnetteering Middleton, to whom you, doubt-
less, allude, are very excellent fellows in their

WACOUSTA.

:i97

way ; but handsome and accomplished as they
are, they are not exactly the men to please
Clara de Haldimar."

" But, my dear Charles, you forget also any
little merit of my own is doubly enhanced in
your eyes, by the sincerity of the friendship
subsisting between us; your sister may think
very differently."

" Psha, Valletort ! these difficulties are all of
your own creation," returned his friend, im-
patiently; «I know the heart of Clara is
disengaged. What would you more ?"

« Enough, De Haldimar ; I will no longer
doubt my own prospects. If she but approve
me, my whole life shall be devoted to the happi-
ness of your sister."

A single knock was now heard at the- door
of the apartment; it was opened, and a sergeant
appeared at the entrance.

" The company are under arms for punish-
ment parade, Lieutenant Valletort," said the
man, touching his cap.

In an instant, the visionary prospects of the
young men gave place to the stern realities

K 3

198

WACOUSTA.

connected with that announcement of punish-
ment. The treason of Hallo way, — the ab-
sence of Frederick de Haldimar, — the dangers
by which they were beset, — and the little
present probability of a re-union with those who
were most dear to them, — all these recollec-
tions now flashed across their minds with the
rapidity of thought ; and the conversation that
had so recently passed between them seemed
to leave no other impression than what is pro-
duced from some visionary speculation of the
moment.

WACOUSTA.

199

CHAPTER VIII.

As the bells of the fort tolled the tenth hour
of morning, the groups of dispersed soldiery,
warned by the rolling of the assembly drum,
once more fell into their respective ranks in the
order described in the opening of this volume.
Soon afterwards the prisoner Hallovvay was re-
conducted into the square by a strong escort,
who took their stations as before in the imme-
diate centre, where the former stood princi-
pally conspicuous to the observation of his
comrades. His countenance was paler, and
had less, perhaps, of the indifference he had
previously manifested; but to supply this there
was a certain subdued air of calm dignity, and
a composure that sprang, doubtless, from the
consciousness of the new character in which he
now appeared before his superiors. Colonel de
Haldimar almost immediately followed, and

K 4t

200

WACOUSTA.

I'^-l

■ 'I

\ I

with him were the principal staiF of the gar-
rison, all of whom, with the exception of the
sick and wounded and their attendants, were
present to a man. The former took from the
hands of the adjutant, Lawson, a large packet,
consisting of several sheets of folded paper
closely written upon. These were the proceed-
ings of the court martial.

After enumerating the several charges, and
detailing the evidence of the witnesses ex-
amined, the adjutant came at length to the
finding and sentence of the court, which were
as follows : —

" The court having duly considered the evi-
dence adduced against the prisoner private
Frank Halloway, together with what he has
urged in his defence, are of opinion, —

" That with regard to the first charge, it is
not proved.

" That with regard to the second charge, it
is not proved.

" That with regard to the third charge, even
by his own voluntary confession, the prisoner is
guilty.

WACOUSTA.

201

" The court having found the prisoner pri.
vate Frank Halloway guilty of the third charge
preferred against him, which is in direct viola-
tion of a standing order of the garrison, entail-
ing capital punishment, do hereby sentence him,
the said prisoner, private Frank Halloway, to
be shot to death at such time and place as the
officer commanding may deem fit to appoint."

Although the utmost order pervaded the
ranks, every breath had been suspended, every
ear stretched during the reading of the sen-
tence ; and now that it came arrayed in terror
and in blood, every glance was turned in pity
on its unhappy victim. But Halloway heard it
with the ears of one who has made up his mind
to suffer; and the faint half smile that played '
upon his lip spoke more in scorn than in sor-
row. Colonel de Haldimar pursued : —

" The court having found it imperatively in-
cumbent on them to award the punishment of
death to the prisoner, private Frank Halloway,
at the same time gladly avail themselves of their
privilege by strongly recommending him to
mercy. The court cannot, in justice to the

K 5

202

WACOUSTA.

character of the prisoner, refrain from express-
ing their unanimous conviction, that notwith-
standing the mysterious circumstances which
have led to his confinement and trial, he is en-
tirely innocent of the treachery ascribed to him.
The court have founded this conviction on the
excellent character, both on duty and in the
field, hitherto borne by the prisoner, — his well-
known attachment to the officer with whose
abduction he stands charged, — and the manly,
open, and (as the court are satisfied) correct
history given of his former life. It is, more-
over, the impression of the court, that, as stated
by the prisoner, his guilt on the third charge
has been the result only of his attachment for
Captain de Haldimar. And for this, and the
reasons above assigned, do they strongly re-
commend the prisoner to mercy.

(Signed) " Noel Blessington,

Captain and President.

" Sentence approved and confirmed.

" Charles de Haldimar,
Colonel Commandant."

WACOUSTA.

203

While these concluding remarks of the court
were being read, the prisoner manifested the
deepest emotion. If a smile of scorn had pre-
viously played upon his lip, it was because he
fancied the court, before whom he had sought
to vindicate his fame, had judged him with a
severity not inferior to his colonel's ; but now
that, in the presence of his companions, he
heard the flattering attestation of his services,
coupled even as it was with the sentence that
condemned him to die, tears of gratitude and
pleasure rose despite of himself to his eyes ;
and it required all his self-command to enable
him to abstain from giving expression to his
feelings towards those who had so generously
interpreted the motives of his dereliction from
duty. But when the melancholy and startling
fact of the approval and confirmation of the
sentence met his ear, without the slightest allu-
sion to that mercy which had been so urgently
recommended, he again overcame his weakness,
and exhibited his wonted air of calm and un-
concern.

" Let the prisoner be removed, Mr. Lawson,"

K 6

204

WACOUSTA.

•;■

ordered the governor, whose stern and some-
what dissatisfied expression of countenance was
the only comment on the recommendation for
mercy.

The order was promptly executed. Once
more Halloway left the square, and was re-
conducted to the cell he had occupied since the
preceding night.

" Major Blackwater," pursued the governor,
** let a detachment consisting of one half the
garrison be got in readiness to leave the fort
within the hour. Captain Wentworth, three
pieces of field artillery will be required. Let
them be got ready also." He then retired from
the area with the forbidding dignity and stately
haughtiness of manner that was habitual to
him ; while the-oflBcers, who had just received
his commands, prepared to fulfil the respective
duties assigned them.

Since the first alarm of the garrison no op-
portunity had hitherto been afforded the officers
to snatch the slightest refreshment Advantage
was now taken of the short interval allowed by
the governor, and they all repaired to the mess-

WACOUSTA.

205

room, where their breakfast had long since been
provided.

« Well, Blessington," remarked Captain Er-
skine, as he filled his plate for the third time
from a large haunch of smoke-dried venison,
for which his recent skirmish with the Indians
had given him an unusual relish, « so it ap-
pears your recommendation of poor Halloway
to mercy is little likely to be attended to. Did
you remark how displeased the colonel looked
as he bungled through it? One might almost
be tempted to think he had an interest in the
man's death, so determined does he appear to
carry his point."

Although several of his companions, per-
haps, felt and thought the same, still there was
no one who would have ventured to avow his
real sentiments in so unqualified a manner.
Indeed such an observation proceeding from
the lips of any other officer would have excited
the utmost surprise; but Captain Erskine, a
brave, bold, frank, and somewhat thoughtless
soldier, was one of those beings who are privi-
leged to say any thing. His opinions were

'■i

206

WAC0U8TA.

usually expressed without ceremony; and his
speech was not the most circumspect now^ as
since his return to the fort he had swallowed,
fasting, two or three glasses of a favourite spirit,
which, without intoxicating, had greatly excited
him.

" I remarked enough," said Captain Bles-
sington, who sat leaning his head on one hand,
while with the other he occasionally, and almost
mechanically, raised a cup filled with a liquid
of a pale blood colour to his lips, — " quite
enough to make me regret from my very soul
I should have been his principal judge. Poor
Halloway, I pity him much ; for, on my honour,
I believe him to be the gentleman he represents
himself."

" A finer fellow does not live," remarked the
last remaining officer of the grenadiers. " But
surely Colonel de Haldimar cannot mean to
carry the sentence into effect. The recom-
mendation of a court, couched in such terms
as these, ought alone to have some weight with
him."

" It is quite clear, from the fact of his having

WACOUSTA.

207

been remanded to his cell, the execution of the
poor fellow will be deferred at least," observed
one of Captain Erskine's subalterns. «< If the
governor had intended he should suffer imme-
diately, he would have had him shot the mo-
ment after his sentence was read. But what is
the meaning and object of this new sortie? and
whither are we now going ? Do you know,
Captain Erskine, our company is again ordered
for this duty ? "

" Know it, Leslie ! of course I do ; and for
that reason am I paying my court to the more
substantial part of the breakfast. Come, Bles-
sington, my dear fellow, you have quite lost
your appetite, and we may have sharp work
before we get back. Follow my example:
throw that nasty blood-thickening sassafras
away, and lay a foundation from this venison.
None sweeter is to be found in the forests of
America. A few slices of that, and then a glass
each of my best Jamaica, and we shall have
strength to go through the expedition, if its
object be the capture of the bold Ponteace him-
self."

i !l

SOS

WACOUSTA.

it-

" I presume the object is rather to seek for
Captain cle Haldimar/' said Lieutenant Boyce,
the officer of grenadiers ; ** but in that case why
not send out his own company ? "

" Because the Colonel prefers trusting to
cooler heads and more experienced arms,"
good-humouredly observed Captain Erskine.
« Blessington is our senior, and his men are all
old stagers. My lads, too, have had their
mettle up already this morning, and there is
nothing like that to prepare men for a dash of
enterprise. It is with them as with blood
horses, the more you put them on their speed
the less anxious are they to quit the course.
Well, Johnstone, my brave Scot, ready for
another skirmish?" he asked, as '' it officer
now entered to satisfy the cravings Oi an appe-
tite little inferior to that of his captain.

" With * Nunquam non paratus' for my
motto," gaily returned the young man, " it
were odd, indeed, if a mere scratch like this
should prevent me from establishing my claim
to it by following wherever my gallant captain
leads."

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209

" Most courteously spoken, and little in the
spirit of a man yet smarting under the inflic-
tion of a rifle wound, it must be confessed,"
remarked Lieutenant Leslie. « But, John-
stone, you should bear in mind a too close ad-
herence to thtit motto has been, in some degree,
fatnl to your family."

" No reflections, Leslie, if you please," re-
turned his brother subaltern, slightly reddening.
• " If the head of our family was unfortunate
enough to be considered a traitor to England,
he was not so, at least, to Scotland; and Scot-
land was the land of his birth. But let his
political errors be forgotten. Though the
winged spur no longer adorn the booted heel
of an Earl of Annandale, the time may not be
far distant when some liberal and popular mon-
arch of England shall restore a title forfeited
neither through cowardice nor dishonour, but
from an erroneous sense of duty."

' ' That is to say," muttered Ensign Delme,
looking round for approval as ho spoke, « that
our present king is neither liberal nor popular.
Well, Mr. Johnstone, were such an observation

210

WACOUSTA.

to reach the ears of Colonel de Haldimar you
would stand a very fair chance of being brought
to a court martial."

" That is to say nothing of the kind, sir,"
somewhat fiercely retorted the young Scot ;
" but any thhig I do say you are at liberty to
repeat to Colonel de Haldimar, or whom you
will. I cannot understand, Leslie, why you
should have made any allusion to the misfor-
tunes of my family at this particular moment,
and in this public manner. I trust it was not
with a view to offend me;" and he fixed his
large black eyes upon his brother subaltern, as
if he would have read every thought of his
mind.

" Upon my honour, Johnstone, I meant
nothing of the kind," frankly returned Leslie.
" I merely meant to hint that as you had had
your share of service this morning, you might,
at least, have suffered me to borrow your spurs,
while you reposed for the present on your
laurels."

" There are my gay and gallant Scots," ex-
claimed Captain Erskine, as he swallowed off a

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211

glass of the old Jamaica which lay before him,
and with which he usually neutralised the acidi-
ties of a meat breakfast. « Settled like gentle-
men and lads of spirit as ye are," he pursued,
as the young men cordially shook each other's
hand across the table. « What an enviable
command is mine, to have a company of brave
fellows who would face the devil himself were
it necessary; and two hot and impatient subs.,
who are ready to cut each other's throat for the
pleasure of accompanying me against a set of
savages that are little better than so many
devils. Come, Johnstone, you know the Co-
lonel allows us but one sub. at a time, in conse-
quence of our scarcity of officers, therefore it is
but fair Leslie should have Iris turn. It will
not be long, I dare say, before we shall have
another brush with the rascals."

« In my opinion,*' observed Captain Bles-
sington, who had been a silent and thoughtful
witness of what was passing around him, « nei-
ther Leslie nor Johnstone would evmce so much
anxiety, were they aware of the true nature of
the duty for which our companies have been

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WACOUSTA.

ordered. Depend upon it, it is no search after
Captain de Haldimar in which we are about to
be engaged ; for much as the colonel loves his
son, he would on no account compromise the
safety of the garrison, by sending a party into
the forest, where poor De Haldimar, if alive, ?s
at all likely to be found."

" Faith you are right, Blessington ; the go-
vernor is not one to run these sort of risks on
every occasion. My chief surprise, indeed, is,
that he suffered me to venture even upon the
common ; but if we are not designed for some
hostile expedition, why leave the fort at all?"

** The question will need no answer, if Hal-
loway be found to accompany us."

" Psha ! why should Halloway be taken out
for the purpose ? If he be shot at all, he will
be shot on the ramparts, in the presence of, and
as an example to, the whole garrison. Still, on
reflection, I cannot but think it impossible the
sentence should be carried into full effect, afler
the strong, nay, the almost unprecedented re-
commendation to mercy recorded on the face of
the proceedings.'*

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WACOUSTA.

213

Captain Blessington shook his head des-
pondingly. « What think you, Erskine, of the
poh'cy of making an example, which may be
witnessed by the enemy as well as the garrison?
It is evident, from his demeanour throughout,
nothing will convince the colonel that Halloway
IS not a traitor, and he may think it advisable to
strike terror in the minds of the savages, by an
execution which will have the effect of showing
the treason of the soldier to have been dis-
covered."

In this opinion many of the officers now con-
curred ; and as the fate of the unfortunate Hal-
loway began to assume a character of almost
certainty, even the spirit of the gallant Erskine,
the least subdued by the recent distressing
events, was overclouded; and all sank, as if by
one consent, into silent communion with their
thoughts, as they almost mechanically com-
pleted the meal, at which habit rather than
appetite stiH continued them. Before any of
them had yet risen from the table, a loud
and piercing scream met their ears from
without; and so quick and universal was the

214

WACOUSTA.

i^i

movement it produced, that its echo had scarcely
yet died away in distance, when the whole of
the breakfast party had issued from the room,
and were already spectators of the cause.

The barracks of the officers, consisting of a
range of low buildings, occupied the two con-
tiguous sides of a square, and in the front of
these ran a narrow and covered piazza, some-
what similar to those attached to the guard-
houses in England, which description of build-
ing the barracks themselves most resembled.
On the other two faces of the square stood
several block-houses, a style of structure which,
from their adaptation to purposes of defence as
well as of accommodation, were every where at
that period in use in America, and are even now
continued along the more exposed parts of the
frontier. These, capable of containing each
a company of men, were, as their name im-
plies, formed of huge masses of roughly-
shapen timber, fitted into each other at the
extremities by rude incisions from the axe, and
filled in with smaller wedges of wood. The
upper part of these block-houses projected on

WACOUSTA.

215

every side several feet beyond the ground floor;
and over the whole was a sheathing of planks,
which, as well as those covering the barracks
of the officers, were painted of a brick-red
colour. Unlike the latter, they rose considerably
above the surface of the ramparts; and, in
addition to the small window to be seen on each
Side of each story of the block-house, were
numerous smaller square holes, perforated for
the discharge of musketry. Between both these
barracks and the ramparts there was just space
sufficient to admit of the passage of artillery of
a heavy calibre; and at each of the four angles
composing the lines of the fort, was an opening
of several feet in extent, not only to affl-rd the
gunners room to work their batteries, but to
enable them to reach their posts with greater
expedition in the event of any sudden emer-
gency. On the right, on entering the fort over the
drawbridge, were the block-houses of the men ■
and immediately in front, and on the left thj
barracks of the officers, terminated at the outer
extremity by the guard-house, and at the inner
by the quarters of the commanding officer.

n;if

216

WACOUSTA.

i.'

As the officers now issued from the mess-
room nearly opposite to the gate, they observed,
at that part of the barracks which ran at right
angles with it, and immediately in front of the
apartment of the younger De Haldimar, whence
he had apparently just issued, the governor,
struggling, though gently, to disengage himself
from a female, who, with disordered hair and
dress, lay almost prostrate upon the piazza, and
clasping his booted leg with an energy evidently
borrowed from the most rooted despair. The
quick eye of the haughty man had already
rested on the group of officers drawn by the
scream of the supplicant. Numbers, too, of the
men, attracted by the same cause, were collected
in front of their respective block-houses, and
looking from the windows of the rooms in which
they were also breakfasting, preparatory to the
expedition. Vexed and irritated beyond mea-
sure, at being thus made a conspicuous object of
observation to his inferiors, the unbending go-
vernor made a violent and successful effort to
disengage his leg ; and then, without uttering a
word, or otherwise noticing the unhappy being

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WACOUSTA.

217

^^o^ extended at his feet, he stalked acmss /
the parade to his apartments at the opposite /
angle, without spearing to manifest the slight/'
est consciousness of the scene that had awaken|/l
such universal attentioii.

Several of the officers, among whom/was
Captain Blessington, now hastened to the^sist^
ance of the female, whom all had recc^gnised,
from the first, to be the interesting and,4inhappy
wife of Halloway. Many of the co/irades oV
the latter, who had been pained ^nd pitying
spectators of the scene, also advanied for. the
same purpose j but, on perceiving their objelt
anticipated by their superiors, they withdrew^o *^
the block^houses, whence f.ey had issued: #•
Never was grief more forcibly depicted, than "
in the whole appearance of this unfortunate
woman ; never did anguish assume a character
more fitted to touch the soul, or to command
respect. Her long fair hair, that had hitherto
been hid under the coarse mob-cap, usually
worn by the wives of the sojdiers, was now
divested of all fastening, and lay shadowing a
white and polished bosom, which, in her violent

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WACOUSTA.

Struggles to detain the governor, had burst
from its rude but modest confinement, and was
now displayed in all the dazzling delicacy of
youth and sex. If the officers gazed for a
moment with excited look upon charms that
had long been strangers to their sight, and of
an order they had little deemed to find in
Ellen Halloway, it was but the involuntary
tribute rendered by nature unto beauty. The
depth and sacredness of that sorrow, which
had left the wretched woman unconscious of her
exposure, in the instant afterwards imposed a
check upon admiration, which each felt to be a
violation of the first principles of human delicacy,
and the feeling was repressed almost in the
moment that gave it birth.

They were immediately in front of the room
occupied by Charles de Haldimar, in the piazza
of which were a few old chairs, on which the
officers were in the habit of throwing themselves
during the heat of the day. On one of these
Captain Blessington, assisted by the officer of
grenadiers, now seated the suffering and sob-
bing wife of Halloway. His first care was to

WACOUSTA. 219

repair the disorder of her dress ; and never was
the same office performed by man with greater
delicacy, or absence of levity by those who
witnessed it. This was the first moment of her
consciousness. The inviolability of modesty
for a moment rose paramount even to the
desolation of her heart, and putting rudely
aside the hand that reposed unavoidably upon
her person, the poor woman started from her
seat, and looked wildly about her, as if en-
deavouring to identify those by whom she was
surrounded. ^ But when she observe' the
pitying gaze of the officers fixed upon her, in
earnestness and commiseration, and heard the
benevolent accents of the ever kind Blessington
exhorting her to composure, her weeping be-
came more violent, and her sobs more con-
vulsive. Captain Blessington threw an arm
round her waist to prevent her from falling ;
and then motioning to two or three women
of the company to which her husband was
attached, who stood at a little distance, in front
of one of the block-houses, prepared to deliver
her over to their charge.

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WACOUSTA.

((

No, no, not yet ! " burst at length from the

lips of the

lised

she shrank

woman, as

from the rude but well-intentioned touch of the
sympathising assistants, wIjo had promptly an-
swered the signal ; then, as if obeying some new
direction of her feelings, some new impulse of
her grief, she liberated herself from the slight
grasp of Captain Blessington, turned suddenly
round, and, before any one could anticipate the
movement, entered an opening on the piazza,
raised the latch of a door situated at its ex-
tremity, and was, in the next instant, in the
apartment of the younger De Haldimar.

The scene that met the eyes of the officers,
who now followed close after her, was one well
calculated to make an impression on the hearts
even of the most insensible. In the despair
and recklessness of her extreme sorrow, the
young wife of Halloway had already 'thrown
herself upon her knees at the bedside of the sick
officer ; and, with her hands upraised and firmly
clasped together, was now supplicating him in
tones, contrasting singularly in their gentleness
with the depth of the sorrow that had rendered

Wacousta.

221

her thus regardless of appearances, and in-
sensible to observation.

" Oh, Mr. de Haldimar !" she implored, "in
the name of God and of our blessed Saviour, if
you would save me from madness, intercede for
my unhappy husband, and preserve him from the
horrid fate that awaits him. You are too good,
too gentle, too amiable, to reject the prayer of a
heart-broken woman. Moreover, Mr. de Hal-
dimar," she proceeded, with deeper energy,
while she caught and pressed, between her own
white and bloodless hands, one nearly as deli-
cate that lay extended near her, " consider all
my dear but unfortunate husband has done for
your family. Think of the blood he once spilt
in the defence of your brother's life; that
brother, through whom alone, oh God ! he is
now condemned to die. Call to mind the days
and nights of anguish I passed near his couch
of suffering, when yet writhing beneath the
wound aimed at the life of Captain de Hal-
dimar. Almighty Providence ! " she pursued,
in the same impassioned yet plaintive voice,
"why is not Miss Clara here to plead the

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WACOUSTA.

cause of the innocent, and to touch the stubborn
heart of her merciless fatlier? She would,
indeed, move heaven and earth to save the life
of him to whom she so often vowed eternal
gratitude and acknowledgment. Ah, she little
dreams of his danger now ; or, if prayer and
intercession could avail, my husband should
yet live, and this terrible struggle at my heart
would be no more."

Overcome by her emotion, the unfortunate
woman suffered her aching head to droop
upon the edge of the bed, and her sobbing
became so painfully violent, that all who heard
her expected, at every moment, some fatal
termination to her immoderate grief. Charles
de Haldimar was little less affected ; and his
sorrow was the more bitter, as he had just
proved the utter inefficacy of any thing in the
shape of appeal to his inflexible father.

" Mrs. Halloway, my dear Mrs. Halloway,
compose yourself," said Captain Blessington,
now approaching, and endeavouring to raise her
gently from the floor, on which she still knelt,
while her hands even more firmly grasped that

WAC0U8TA.

223

of De Hnldimar. " You are ill, very ill, niul
the consequences of this dreadful excitement
may be fatal. Be advised by me, and retire.
I have desired my room to be prepared for you,
and Sergeant Wilmot's wife shall remain with
you as long as you may require it.

"No, no, no!" she again exclaimed with
energy ; " what care I for my own wretched
life — my beloved and unhappy husband is to
die. Oh God ! to die without guilt — to be
cut off in his youth — to be shot as a traitor —
and that simply for obeying the wishes of the
officer whom he loved ! — the son of the man
who now spurns all supplication from his pre-
sence. It is inhuman — it is unjust — and Heaven
will punish the hard-hearted man who murders
him — yes, murders him ! for such a punishment
for such an offence is nothing less than mur-
der." Again she wept bitterly, and as Captain
Blessington still essayed to soothe and raise
her: — "No, no! I will not leave this spot,"
she continued ; " I will not quit the side of
Mr. de Haldimar, until he pledges himself to
intercede for my poor husband. It is his duty

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WACOUSTA.

f- I

to save the life of him who saved his brother's
life ; and God and human justice are with my
appeal. Oh, tell me, then, Mr. de Haldimar, —
if you would save my wretched heart from
breaking,— tell me you will intercede for, and
obtain the pardon of, my husband ! "

As she concluded this last sentence in pas-
sionate appeal, she had risen from her knees ;
and, conscious only of the importance of the
boon solicited, now threw herself upon the
breast of the highly pained and agitated young
officer. Her long and beiutiful hair fell float-
ing over his face, and mingled with his own,
while her arms were wildly clasped around
him, in all the energy of frantic and hopeless
adjuration.

"Almighty God!" exclaimed the agitated
young man, as he made a feeble and fruitless
effort to raise the form of the unhappy woman j
"what shall I say to impart comfort to this
suffering being? Oh, Mrs. Halloway," he
pursued, « I would willingly give all I possess
in this world to be the means of saving your
iinforlunate husband, —and as much for his own*

WACOUSTA.

225

sake as for yours would I do this; but, alas ?
I have not the power. Do not think I speak
without conviction. My father has just been
with me, and I have pleaded the cause of your
husband with an earnestness I should scarcely
have used had my own life been at stake. But
«ll my entreaties have been in vain. He is
obstinate in the belief my brother's strange
absence, and Donellan's death, are attributaWe
only to the treason of Halloway. Still there is
a hope. A detachment is to leave the fort
within the hour, and Halloway is to accompany
them. It may be, my father intends this mea-
sure only with a view to terrify him into a con-
fession of guilt; and that he deems it politic to
make him undergo all the fearful preliminaries
without carrying the sentence itself into effect."
The unfortunate woman said no more. When
she raised her heaving chest from that of the
young officer, her eyes, though red and shrunk
to half their usual size with weeping, were tear-
less; but on her countenance there was an
expression of wild woe, infinitely more distress-
ing to behold, in consequence of the almost

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WACOUSTA.

unnatural check so suddenly imposed upon her
feelings. She tottered, rather than walked,
through the group of officers, who gave way
on either hand to let her pass ; and rejecting all
assistance from the women who had followed
into the room, and who now, in obedience to
another signal from Captain Blessington, hast-
ened to her support, finally gained the door,
and quitted the apartment.

WACOUSTA.

227

CHAPTER IX.

The sun was high in the meridian, as the
second detachment, commanded by Colonel de
Haldimar in person, issued from the fort of
Detroit. It was that soft and hazy season, pe-
culiar to the bland and beautiful autumns of
Canada, when the golden light of Heaven seems
as if transmitted through a veil of tissue, and all
of animate and inanimate nature, expanding
and fructifying beneath its fostering influence^
breathes the most delicious languor and volup-
tuous repose. It was one of these still, calm,
warm, and genial days, which in those regions
come under the vulgar designation of the
Indian summer; a season that is ever hailed by
the Canadian with a satisfaction proportioned
to the extreme sultriness of the summer, and
the equally oppressive rigour of the winter, by
which it is immediately preceded and followed.
It is then that Nature, who seems from the

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WACOUSTA.

creation to have bestowed all of grandeur and
sublimity on the stupendous Americas, looks
gladly and complacently on her work; and,
staying the course of parching suns and desolat-
ing frosts, loves to luxuriate for a period in the
broad and teeming bosom of her gigantic off-
spring. It is then that the forest-leaves, alike
free from the influence of the howling hurricane
of summer, and the paralysing and unfathom-
able snows of winter, cleave, tame and stirless in
their varying tints, o the parent branch ; while
the broad rivers and majestic lakes exliibit a sur-
face resembling rather the incrustation of the
polished mirror than the resistless, viewless par-
ticles of which the golden element is composed.
It is then that, casting its satisfied glance across
those magnificent rivers, the eye beholds, as if
reflected from a mirror (so similar in produc-
tion and appearance are the contiguous shores),
bodi the fertility of cultivated and the rudeness
of uncultivated nature, that every where sur-
round and diversify the view. The tall and
sloping banks, covered with verdure to the
very sands, that unite with the waters lying

WACOUSTA.

229

motionless at their base; the continuous chain
of neat farm-houses (we speak principally of
Detroit and its opposite shores) ; the luxuriant
and bending orchards, teeming with fruits of
every kind and of every colour; the ripe and
yellow corn vying in hue with the soft atmo-
sphere, which reflects and gives full effect
to its abundance and its richness, - these, with
the intervening waters unruffled, save by the
lazy skiff, or the light bark canoe urged with
the rapidity of thought along its surface by
the slight and elegantly ornamented paddle of
the Indian ; or by the sudden leaping of the
large salmon, the unwieldly sturgeon, the
bearded cat-fish, or the delicately flavoured
maskinonge, and fifty other tenants of their
bosom;— all these contribute to form the fore-
ground of a picture bounded in perspective by
no less interesting, though perhaps ruder marks
of the magnificence of that great architect —
Nature, on which the eye never lingers without
calm; while feelings, at once voluptuous and
tender, creep insensibly over the heart, and
raise the mind in adoration to the one great

230

WACOUSTA.

and sole Cause by which the stupendous whole
has been produced.

Such a day as that we have just described

was the of September, 1763, when the chief

portion of the English garrison of Detroit
issued forth from the fortifications in which
they had so long been cooped up, and in the
presumed execution of a duty undeniably the
most trying and painful that ever fell to the lot
of so'dier to perform. The heavy dull move-
ment of the guns, as they traversed the draw-
bridge resembled in that confined atmosphere
the rumbling of low and distant thunder ; and
as they shook the rude and hollow sounding
planks, over which they were slowly dragged,
called up to every heart the sad recollection of
the service for which they had been required.
Even the tramp of the men, as they moved
heavily and measuredly across the yielding
bridge, seemed to wear the character of the re-
luctance with which they proceeded on so hateful
a duty ; and more than one individual, as he mo-
mentarily turned his eye upon the ram parts, where
many of his comrades were grouped together

WACOUSTA.

SSI

watching the departure of the detachment, testi-
fied by the significant and mournful movement
of his head how much he envied tlieir exemp.
tion from the task.

The direct niUitary road runs in a straight
line from the fort to the banks of the Detroit,
and the eastern extremity of the town. Here
it is intersected by the highway running paral-
lel with the river, and branching'off at right
angles on either hand; the right, leading in
the direction of the more populous States; the
left, through the town, and thence towards
the more remote and western parts, where
European influence has yet been but partially
extended. The only difference between its
present and former character is, that what is
now a flourishing commercial town was then
a mere village; while the adjacent country, at
present teeming with every mark of vegetation,
bore no other evidence of fertility than what
was afforded by a few scattered form-houses,
many of which skirted various parts of the
forest. Along this road the detachment now
wended its slow and solemn course, and with

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WACOUSTA.

a mournful pageantry of preparation that gave
fearful earnest of the tragedy expected to be
enacted.

In front, and dragged by the hands of
the gunners, moved two of the three three-
pounders, that had been ordered for the duty.
Behind these came Captain Blessington's com-
pany, and in their rear, the prisoner Halloway,
divested of his uniform, and clad in a white
cotton jacket, and cap of the same material.
Six rank and file of the grenadiers followed,
under the command of a corporal, and behind
these again, came eight men of the same com*
pany ; four of whom bore on their shoulders a
coffin, covered with a coarse black pall that had
perhaps already assisted at fifty interments; while
the other four carried, in addition to their own,
the muskets of their burdened comrades. After
these, marched a solitary drummer-boy ; whose
tall bear-skin cap attested him to be of the
grenadiers also, while his muffled instrument
marked the duty for which he had been se-
lected. Like his comrades, none of whom
exhibited their scarlet uniforms, he wore the

WACOUSTA.

2S3

collar of his great coat closely buttoned be-
neath his chin, which was only partially visible
above the stiff leathern stock that encircled his
neck. Although his features were half buried
in bis huge cap and the high collar of his coat,
there was an air of delicacy about his person
that seemed to render him unsuited to such
an office; and more than once was Captain
Erskine, who followed immediately behind him
at the head of his company, compelled to call
■sharply to the urchin, threatening him with a
week's drill unless he mended his feeble and
unequal pace, and kept from under the feet of
his men. The remaining gun brought up the
rear of the detachment, who marched with fixed
bayonets and two balls in each musket ; the
whole presenting a front of sections, that com-
pletely filled up the road along which they
passed. Colonel de Haldimar, Captain Went-
worth, and the Adjutant Lawson followed in
the extreme rear.

An event so singular as that of the appear-
ance of the English without their fort, beset as
they were by a host of fierce and dangerous

;234.

WACOUSTA.

enemies, was not likely to pass unnoticed by a
single individual in the little village of Detroit.
We have already observed, that most of the
colonist settlers had been cruelly massacred
at the very onset of hostilities. Not so,
however, with the Canadians, who, from their
anterior relatiojis with the natives, and the
mutual and tacit good understanding that sub-
sisted between both parties, were suffered to
continue in quiet and unmolested possession of
their homes, where they preserved an avowed
neutrality, never otherwise infringed than by
the assistance secretly and occasionally ren-
dered to the English troops, whose gold they
were glad to receive in exchange for the ne-
cessaries of life.

Every dwelling of the infant town had com-
menced giving up its tenants, from the moment
when the head of the detachment was seen
traversing the drawbridge; so that, by the
time it reached the highway, and took its
direction to the left, the whole population of
Detroit were already assembled in groups, and
giving expression to their several conjectures,

WACOUSTA.

235

with a vivacity of language and energy of gesticu-
lation that would not have disgraced the parent
land itself. As the troops drew nearer, how-
ever, they all sank at once into a silence, as
much the result of certain unacknowledged and
undefined fears, as of the respect the English
had ever been accustomed to exact. The men
removed their short dingy clay pipes from their
mouths with one hand, and uncovered them-
selves with the other, while the women made
their hasty reverence with the air of people who
seek to proi)itiate by an act of civility ; even
the very children scraped and bowed, as if they
feared the omission might be fatal to them, and,
clinging to the hands and dress of their parents,
looked up occasionally to their countenances to
discover whether the apprehensions of their
own fluttering and timid hearts were likely to
be realised. Still there was sufficient of curiosity
with all to render them attentive spectators of
the passing troop. Hitherto, it had been
imagined, the object of the English was an
attack on the encampments of their enemies ;
but when the gaze of each adult inhabitant fell

I
I

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1 1

236

WACOUSTA.

on the unaccoutred form of the lone soldier,
who, calm though pale, now moved among his
comrades in the ignominious garb of death,
they could no longer doubt its true destination.

The aged made the sign of the cross, and
mumbled over a short prayer for the repose of
his soul, while the more youthful indulged in
half-breathed ejaculations of pity and concern
that so fine and interesting a man should be
doomed to so dreadful a fate.

At the further extremity of the town, and at
a bend in the road, which branched off more
immediately towards the river, stood a small
public house, whose creaking sign bore three
ill executed fleurs-de-lis, apologetic emblems of
the arms of France. The building itself was
little more than a rude log hut, along the front
of which ran a plank, supported by two stumps
of trees, and serving as a temporary accommo^
dation both for the traveller and the inmate.
On this bench three persons, apparently at-
tracted by the beauty of the day and the mild-
ness of the autumnal sun, were now seated, two
of whom were leisurely puffing their pipes,

WACOUSTA.

887

while the third, a female, was employed i„
carding wool, a quantity of which lay in a
basket at her feet, while she warbled, in a low
tone, one of the simple airs of her native land.
The elder of the two men, whose age might
be about fifty, offered nothing particularly re-
markable in his appearance ; he was dressed in
one of those thick coats made of the common
white blanket, which, even to this day, are so
generally worn by the Canadians, while his
hair, cut square upon the forehead, and tied
into a club of nearly a foot long, fell into the
cape, or hood, attached to it: his face was
ruddy and shining as that of any rival Boniface
among the race of the hereditary enemies of his
forefathers ; and his thick short neck, and round
fat person, attested he was no more an enemy to
the good things of this world than themselves,
while he was as little oppressed by its cares:'
his nether garments were of a coarse blue
homespun, and his feet were protected by that
rudest of all rude coverings, the Canadian
shoe-pack. This was composed of a single
piece of stiff brown leather, curved and puck.

238

WACOUSTA.

ered round the sides and front, where it was
met by a tongue of softer material, which
helped to confine it in that position, and to form
the shoe. A bandana handkercliief fell from
his neck upon his chest; the covering of which
was so imperfectly drawn, as to disclose a
quantitity of long, coarse, black, and grisly
hair.

His companion was habited in a still more
extraordinary manner. His lower limbs were
cased, up to the mid-thigh, in leathern leggings,
the seam of which was on the outside, leaving
a margin, or border, of about an inch wide,
which had been slit into innumerable small
fringes, giving them an air of elegance and
Ijo-htness: a garter of leather, curiously wrought,
with the stained quills of the porcupine, en-
circled each leg, immediately under the knee,
where it was tied in a bow, and then suffered to
hang pendant half way down the limb ; to the
fringes of the leggings, moreover, were attached
numerous dark-coloured horny substances,
emitting, as they rattled against each other, at
the slightest movement of the wearer, a tinkling

WACOUSTA.

239

sound, resembling that produced by a number
of small thin delicate brass bells; these were
the tender hoofs of the wild deer, dried, scraped,
and otherwise prepared for this ornamental
purpose. Upon his large feet he wore mo-
cassms, made of the same pliant material with
his leggings, and differing in shape from the
foot-gear of his companion in this particular
only, that they had no tongue introduced into
the front : they were puckered together by a
strong sinew of the deer, until they met along
the instep in a seam concealed by the same ort
namental quill-work that decorated the garters •
a sort of flap, fringed like the leggings, was
folded back from the ankle, upon the sides of
the foot, and the whole was confined by a
strong though neat leathern thong, made of
smoked deer-skin also, which, after passing
once or twice under the foot, was then tightly
drawn several times round the ankle, where it
was finally secured. Two strips of leather,
about an inch and a half in width, attached
to the outer side of each legging, were made
fast at their opposite extremities to a stron.r

i 5

24-0

WACOUSTA.

girdle, encircling the loins, and supporting a
piece of coarse blue cloth, which, after passing
completely under the body, fell in short flaps
both before and behind. The remainder of the
dress consisted of a cotton shirt, figured and
sprigged on a dark ground, that fell unconfined
over the person ; a close deer-skin hunting-coat,
fringed also at its edges ; and a coarse common
felt hat, in the string of which (for there was
no band) were twisted a number of variegated
feathers, furnished by the most beautiful and
I'are of the American autumnal birds. Outside
this hunting-coat, and across the right shoulder,
was flung an ornamented belt, to which were
appended, on the left side, and in a line with
the elbow, a shot-pouch, made of the untanned
hide of some wild animal, and a flask for
powder, formed of the horn of the buffalo ; on
which, highly polished for this purpose, were
inscribed, with singular accuracy of proportion,
a variety of figures, both of men, and birds, and
beasts, and fishes ; two or three small horn
measures for powder, and a long thin wire,
intended to serve as a pricker fpr the rifle that

WACOUSTA.

241

reclined against the outside of the hut, were
also attached to this belt by strips of deer-skin
of about six inches in length. Into another
broad leathern belt, that confined the hunting
coat, was thrust a tomahawk, the glittering
head of which was uppermost, and unsheathed ;
while at the opposite side, and half supporting
the powder-horn, the huge handle of a knife,
whose blade was buried in a strong leathern
sheath, was distinctly visible.

The form and face of this individual were in
perfect keeping with the style of his costume,
and the formidable character of his equipment.
His stature was considerably beyond that of
the ordinary race of men, and his athletic and
muscular limbs united the extremes of strength
and activity in a singular degree. His features,
marked and prominent, wore a cast of habitual
thought, strangely tinctured with ferocity ; and
the general expression of his otherwise not un-
handscmie countenance was repellent and dis-
dainful. At the first glance he might have been
taken for one of the swarthy natives of the soil ;
but though time and constant exposure to

VOL. I.

i Sm

242

!.'

WACOUSTA.

scorching suns had given to his complexion a
dusky hue, still there were wanting the quick,
black, penetrating eye; the high cheek-bone;
the straight, coarse, shining, black hair; the
small bony hand and foot; and the placidly
proud and serious «ir, by which the former is
distinguished. His own eye was of a deep
bluish gray; his hair short, dark, and wavy;
his hands large and muscular; and so far from
exhibiting any of the self-command of the In-
dian, the constant play of his features betrayed
each passing thought with the same rapidity
with which it was conceived. But if any doubt
could have existed in the mind of him who be-
held this strangely accoutred figure, it would
have been instantly dispelled by a glance at his
lower limbs. We have already stated the upper
part of his leggings terminated about mid-
thigh ; from this to the hip, that portion of the
hmb was completely bare, and disclosed, at each
movement of the garment that was suffered to
fall loosely over it, not the swarthy and copper-
coloured flesh of the Indian, but the pale
though sun-burnt skin of one of a more tem.

WACOUSTA.

243

perate clime. His age might be about forty-
five.

At the moment when the English detachment
approached the bend in the road, these two
individuals were conversing earnestly together,
pausing only to pufF at intervals thick and
wreathing volumes of smoke from their pipes,
which were filled with a mixture of tobacco
and odoriferous herbs. Presently, however,
sounds that appeared famil' ^ to his ear ar-
rested the attention of the wildly accoutred
being we have last described. It was the heavy
roll of the artilleiy carriages already advancing
along the road, and somewhat in the rear of
the hut. To dash his pipe to the ground,
seize and cock and raise his rifle to his shoulder,
and throw himself forward in the eager attitude
of one waiting until the object of his aim should
appear in sight, was but the work of a moment.
Startled by the suddenness of the action, his
male companion moved a few paces also from
his seat, to discover the cause of this singular
movement. The female, on the contrary, stirred
not, but ceasing for a moment the occupation

M 2

244

WACOUSTA.

in which she had been engaged, fixed her dark
and brilliant eyes upon the tall and picturesque
form of the rifleman, whose active and athletic
limbs, thrown into powerful relief by the dis-
tention of each nerve and muscle, appeared to
engross her whole admiration and interest, with-
out any reference to the cause that had pro-
duced this abrupt and hostile change in his
movements. It was evident that, unlike the
other inhabitants of the town, this group had
been taken by surprise, and were utterly un-
prepared to expect any thing in the shape of
interruption.

For upwards of a minute, during which the
march of the men became audible even to the
ears of the female, the formidable warrior, for
such his garb denoted him to be, continued
motionless in the attitude he had at first as-
sumed — his right cheek reposing on the orna-
mented stock of his rifle, and his quick and
steady eye fixed in one undeviating line with
the sight near the breech, and that which sur-
mounted the extreme end of the deadly weapon.
No sooner, however, had the head of the ad-

WACOUSTA.

245

vancing column come within sight, than the
trigger was pulled, and the small and raggeil
bullet sped hissing from the grooved and deli-
cate barrel. A triumphant cry was next pealed
from the lips of the warrior, — a cry produced
by the quickly repeated application and removal
of one hand to and from the mouth, while the
other suffered the butt end of the now harmless
weapon to fall loosely upon the earth. He then
slowly and deliberately withdrew within the
cover of the hut.

This daring action, which had been viewed
by the leading troops with astonishment not
unmingled with alarm, occasioned a temporary
confusion in the ranks, for all believed they had
fallen into an ambuscade o{ the Indians. A
halt was instantly commanded by Captain
Blessington, in order to give time to the go-
vernor to come up from the rear, while he
proceeded with one of the leading sections to
reconnoitre the front of the hut To his infi-
nite surprise, however, he found neither enemy,
nor evidence that an enemy had been there.
The only individuals visible were the Canadian

M 3

246

WAC0U8TA.

already alluded to, and the dark-eyed female.
Both were seated on the bench; — the one
smoking his pipe with a well assumed appearance
of unconcern — the other carding her wool,
but with a hand that by a close observer might
be seen to tremble in its office, and a cheek that
was paler considerably than at the moment
when we first placed her before the imagin-
ation of the reader. Both, however, started
with unaffected surprise on seeing Captain
Blessington and his little force turn the corner
of the house from the main road ; and certain
looks of recognition passed between all parties,
that proved them to be no strangers to each
other.

"Ah, monsieur," said the Canadian, in a
mingled dialect, neither French nor English,
but partaking in some degree of the idiom of
both, while he attempted an ease and freedom
of manner that was tob miserably affected to
pass current with the mild but observant officer
whom he addressed, "how much surprise I
am, and glad to see you. It is a long times
since you came out of de fort. I hope de go-

WACOU8TA.

247

verneur and de officir be all very well. I was
linking to go to-day to see if you want any
ting. I have got some nice mm of the Ja-
maique for Capitaine Erskine. Will you please
to try some?" While speaking, the voluble
host of the Fleur de lis had risen from his seat,
laid aside his pipe, and now stood with his
hands thrust into the pockets of his blanket
coat

" It is, indeed, a long time since we have
been here, master Fran9ois," somewhat sarcas-
tically and drily replied Captam Blessington;
" and you have not visited us quite so often lat-
terly yourself, though well aware we were in
want of fresh provisions. I give you all due
credit, however, for your intention of coming
to-day, but you see we have anticipated you.
Still this is not the point. Where is the Indian
who fired at us just now ? and how is it we
find you leagued with our enemies ?"

« What, sir, is it you say?" asked the Ca-
nadian, holding up his hands with feigned
astonishment. " Me league myself with de
savage. Upon my honour I did not see no-

M 4

248

WACOUSTA.

1 1

body fire, or I should tell you. I love de Eng-
lish too well to do dem harms."

" Come, come, Fran9ois, no nonsense. If J
cannot make you confess, there is one not far
from me who will. You know Colonel de
Haldimar too well to imagine he will be trifled
with in this manner : if he detects you in a
falsehood, he will certainly cause you to be
hanged up at the first tree. Take my advice,
therefore, and say where you have secreted this
Indian ; and recollect, if we fall into an ambus-
cade, your life will be forfeited at the first shot
we hear fired."

At this moment the governor, followed by his
adjutant, came rapidly up to the spot. Cap-
tain Blessington communicated the ill success
of his queries, when the former cast on the
terrified Canadian one of those severe and
searching looks which he so well knew how
to assume.

" Where is the rascal who fired at us, sir-
rah ? tell me instantly, or you have not five
minutes to live."

The heart of mine host of the Fleur de Us

WACOUSTA.

249

' ^^

quailed within him at this formidable threat;
and the usually ruddy hue of his countenance
had now given place to an ashy paleness. Still,
as he had positively denied all knowledge of
the matter on which he was questioned, he ap-
peared to feel his safety lay in adhering to his
original statement. Again, therefore, he assured
the governor, on his honour (laying his hand
upon his heart as he spoke), that what he had
already stated was the fact.

" Your honour— you pitiful trading scoundrel
— how dare you talk to me of your honour ?
Come, sir, confess at once where you have
secreted this fellow, or prepare to die."

" If I may be so bold, your Honour," said
one of Captain Blessington's men, "the French-
man lies. When the Ingian fired among us,
this fellow was peeping under his shoulder and
watching us also. If I had not seen him too
often at the fort to be mistaken in his person, I
should have known him, at all events, by his
blanket coat and red handkerchief."

This blunt statement of the soldier, con-
firmed as it was the instant afterwards by one

M 5

960

WACOUSTA.

of his comrades, was damning proof against the
Canadian, even if the fact of the rifle being
discharged from the front of the hut had not
already satisfied all parties of the falsehood of
his assertion.

" Come forward, a couple of files, and seize
this villain," resumed the governor with his
wonted sternness of manner. " Mr. Lawson,
see if his hut does not afford a rope strong
enough to hang the traitor from one of his own
apple trees."

Both parties proceeded at the same moment
to execute the two distinct orders of their chief.
The Canadian was now firmly secured in the
grasp of the two men who had given evidence
against him, when, seeing all the horror of the
summary and dreadful fate that awaited him,
he confessed the individual who had fired had
been sitting with him the instant previously,
but that he knew no more of him than of any
other savage occasionally calling at the Fleur
de lis. He added, that on discharging 'he
rifle he had bounded across the palings of the
orchard, and fled in the direction of the forest.

WAC0U8TA.

2.51

He denied, on interrogation, all knowledge or
belief of an enemy waiting in ambush ; stating,
moreover, even the individual in question had
not been aware of the sortie of the detachment
until apprised of their near approach by the
heavy sound of the gun-carriages.

" Here are undeniable proofs of the man's
villany, sir," said the adjutant, returning from
the hut and exhibiting objects of new and fearful
interest to the governor. " This hat and rope
I found secreted in one of the bed-rooms of
the auberge. The first is evidently Donellan's ;
and from the hook attached to the latter, I ap-
prehend it to be the same stated to have been
used by Captain de Haldimar in crossing the
ditch."

The governor took the hat and rope from
the hands of his subordinate, examined them
attentively, and after a few moments of deep
musing, during which his countenance under-
went several rapid though' scarcely perceptible
changes, turned suddenly and eagerly to the
soldier who had first convicted the Canadian in
his falsehood, and demanded if he had seen

M 6

252

WACOUSTA,

enough of the man who had fired to be able to
give even a general description of his person.

« Why yes, your Honour, I think I can; for
the fellow stood long enough after firing his
piece, for a painter to have taken him off from
head to foot. He was a taller and larger man
by far than our biggest grenadier, and that is
poor Harry Donellan, as your iionour knows.
But as for his dress, though I could see it all,
I scarcely can tell how to describe it. All I
know is, he was covered with smoked deer-skin,
in some such fashion as the great chief Ponteac,
only, instead of having his head bare and shaved,
he wore a strange outlandish sort of a hat,
covered over with wild birds' feathers in front."
" Enough," interrupted the governor, mo-
tioning the man to silence ; then, in an under-
tone to himself, — « By Heaven, the very same."
A shade of disappointment, not unmingled with
suppressed alarm, passed rapidly across his
brow ; it was but momentary. « Captain Bles-
sington," he ordered quickly and impatiently,
« search the hut and grounds for this lurking
Indian, who is, no doubt, secreted in the neif^ht

"^ACOUSTA.

258

bourhood. Quick, quick, sir; there is no time
to be lost." Then in an angry and intimidating
tone to the Canadian, who had already dropped
on his knees, supplicating mercy, and vocife-
rating his innocence in the same breath,— "So,
you infernal scoundrel, this is the manner in
which you have repaid our confidence. Where
is my son, sir ? or have you already murdered
him, as you did his servant ? Tell me, you
villain, what have you to say to these proofs of
your treachery? But stay, I shall take another
and fitter opportunity to question you. Mr.
Lawson, secure this traitor properly, and let
him be conveyed to the centre of the detach-
ment."

The mandate was promptly obeyed ; and in
despite of his own unceasing prayers and pro-
testations of innocence, and the tears and en-
treaties of his dark-eyed daughter Babette, who
had thrown herself on her knees at his side,
the stout arms of mine host of the Fleur de lis
were soon firmly secured behind his back with
the jstrong rope that had been found under such
suspicious circumstances in his possession.

254

WACOUSTA.

n H

■B

^Hl

Before he was marched off, however, two of the
men who had been sent in pursuit, returned from
the orchard, stating that further search was now
fruitless. They had penetrated through a small
thicket at the extremity of the grounds, and had
distinctly seen a man answering the description
given by their comrades, in full flight towards
the forest skirting the heights in front.

The governor was evidently far from being
satisfied with the result of a search too late in-
stituted to leave even a prospect of success.
« Where are the Indians principally encamped,
s»irrah ?" he sternly demanded of his captive ;
« answer me truly, or I will carry off this
wench as well, and if a single hair of a man of
mine be even singed by a shot from a skulking
enemy, you may expect to see her bayoneted
before your eyes."

" Ah, my God ! Monsieur le Gouverneur,"
exclaimed the affrighted aubergiste, « as I am
an honest man, I shall tell de truth, but spare
my child. They are all in de forest, and half
a mile from de little river dat runs between dis
and de Pork Island."

WACOUSTA.

255

> of the

td from

as now

3. small

ndhad

ription

awards

being

ate in-

iccess.

mped,

ptive ;

F this

nan of

Hiking

)neted

■

leur

I am

spare
1 half
in dis

" Hog Island, I suppose you mean."
« Yes sir, de Hog Island is de one I means."
« Conduct him to the centre, and let him be
confronted with the prisoner," directed the go-
vernor, addressing his adjutant; " Captain Bles-
sington, your men may resume their stations in
the ranks."

The order was obeyed ; and notwithstanding
the tears and supplications of the now highly
excited Babette, who flung herself upon his
neck, and was only removed by force, the ter-
rified Canadian was borne off from his premises
by the troops.

256

WACOUSTA,

CHAPTER X.

While this scene was enacting in front of
the Fleur de lis, one of a far more touching and
painful nature was passing in the very heart of
the detachment itself. At the moment when
the halt was ordered by Captain Blessington,
a rumour ran through the ranks that they had
reached the spot destined for the execution of
their ill-fated comrade. Those only in the im-
mediate front were aware of the true cause j but
although the report of the rifle had been dis-
tinctly heard by all, it had been attributed by
those in the rear to the accidental discharge of
one of their own muskets. A low murmur,
expressive of the opinion generally entertained,
passed gradually from rear to front, until it at
length reached the ears of the delicate drummer
boy who marched behind the coffin. His
face was still buried in the collar of his coat ;
and what was left uncovered of his features by

WACOUSTA.

25.7

the cap, was in some degrea hidden by the
forward drooping of his head upon his chest.
Hitherto he had moved almost mechanically
along, tottering and embarrassing himself at
every step under the cumbrous drum that was
suspended from a belt round his neck over the
left thigh; but now there, was a certain inde-
scribable drawing up of the frame, and tension
of the whole person, denoting a concentration
of all the moral and physical energies, — a
sudden working up, as it were, of the intellectual
and corporeal being to some determined and
momentous purpose.

At the first halt of the detachment, the weary
supporters of the coffin had deposited their rude
and sombre burden upon the earth, preparatory
to its being resumed by those appointed to
relieve them. The dull sound emitted by the
hollow fabric, as it touched the ground, caught
the ear of him for whom it was destined, and
he turned to gaze upon the sad and lonely
tenement so shortly to become his final resting
place. There was an air of calm composure
find dignified sorrow upon his brow, that in-

! i

258

WACOUSTA.

fused respect into the hearts of all who beheld
him J and even the men selected to do the duty
of executioners sought to evade his glance, as
his steady eye wandered from right to left of
the fatal rank. His attention, however, was
principally directed towards the coffin, which
lay before him ; on this he gazed fixedly for
upwards of a minute. He then turned his eyes
in the direction of the fort, shuddered, heaved
a profound sigh, arsd looking up to heaven
with the apparent fervour that became his situ-
ation, seemed to pray for a moment or two
inwardly and devoutly. The thick and almost
suiFocating breathing of one immediately beyond
the coffin, was now distinctly heard by all,
Halloway started from his attitude of devotion,
gazed earnestly on the form whence it pro-
ceeded, and then wildly extending his arms,
suffered a smUe of satisfaction to illumine his
pale features. All eyes were now turned upon
the drummer boy, who, evidently labouring
under convulsive excitement of feeling, suddenly
dashed his cap and instrument to the earth, and
flew as fast as his tottering and uncertain steps

WACOUSTA.

259

would admit across the coffin, and into the arms
extended to receive him.

" My Ellen ! oh, my own devoted, but too
unhappy Ellen ! " passionately exclaimed the
soldier, as he clasped the slight and agitated
form of his disguised wife to his throbbing
heart. « This, this, indeed, is joy even in death.
I thought I could have died more happily
without you, but nature tugs powerfully at my
heart; and to see you once more, to feel you
once more here'* (and he pressed her wildly to
his chest) « is indeed a bliss that robs my ap-
proaching fate of half its terror."

" Oh Reginald ! my dearly beloved Regi-
nald ! my murdered husband!" shrieked the.
unhappy woman ; «*your Ellen will not survive
you. Her heart is already broken, though she
cannot weep ; but the same grave shall contain
us both. Reginald, do you believe me? I
swear it; the same grave shall contain us
both."

Exhausted with the fatigue and excitement
she had undergone, the faithful and affectionate
creature now lay, without sense or motion, in

260

WACOUSTA.

ii; ]
t

the arms of her wretched husband. Halloway
bore her, unopposed, a pace or two in advance,
and deposited her unconscious form on the fatal
coffin.

No language of ours can render justice to
the trying character of the scene. All who
witnessed it were painfully affected, and over
the bronzed cheek of many a veteran coursed
a tear, that, like that of Sterne's recording
angel, might have blotted out a catalogue of
sins. Although each was prepared to expect
a reprimand from the governor, for suffering
the prisoner to quit his station in the ranks,
humanity and nature pleaded too powerfully in
his behalf, and neither officer nor man attempted
to interfere, unless with a view to render assist-
ance. Captain Erskine, in particular, was
deeply pained, and would have given any thing
to recal the harsh language he had used towards
the supposed idle and inattentive drummer boy.
Taking from a pocket in his uniform a small
flask of brandy, which he had provided against
casualties, the compassionating officer slightly
raised the head of the pale and unconscious

WACOUSTA.

261

woman with one hand, while with the other he
introduced a few drops between her parted lips.
Halloway knelt at the opposite side of the coffin ;
one hand searching, but in vain, the suspended
pulse of his inanimate wife; the other, un-
buttoning the breast of the drum-boy's jacket,
which, with every other part of the equipment,'
she wore beneath the loose great coat so effect-
ually accomplishing her disguise.
- Such was the position of the chief actors in
this truly distressing drama, at the moment
when Colonel de Haldimar came up with his
new prisoner, to mark what effect would be
produced on Halloway by his unexpected ap-
pearance. His own surprise and disappoint-
ment may be easily conceived, when, in the
form of the recumbent being who seemed to
engross universal attention, he recognised, by
the fair and streaming hair, and half exposed
bosom, the unfortunate being whom, only two
hours previously, he had spurned from his feet
in the costume of her own sex, and reduced,
by the violence of her grief, to almost infantine
debility. Question succeeded question to those

262

WACOUSTA.

around, but without eliciting any clue to the
means by which this rnystfrious disguise had
been effected. No one had been aware, until
the truth was so singularly and suddenly re-
vealed, the supposed drummer was any other
than one of the lads attached to thu grenadiers ;
and as for the other facts, they spoke too plainly
to the comprehension of the governor to need
explanation. Once more, however, the de-
tachment was called to order. Halloway struck
his hand violently upon his brow, kissed the
wan lips of his still unconscious wife, breathing,
as he did so, a half murmured hope she might
indeed be the corpse she appeared. He then
raised himself from the earth with a light and
elastic yet firm movement, and resumed the
place he had previously occupied, where, to his
surprise, he beheld a second victim bound, and,
apparently, devoted to the same death. When
the eyes of the two unhappy men met, the
governor closely watched the expression of the
countenance of each; but although the Canadian
started on beholding the soldier, it might be
merely because he sav/ the latter arrayed in the

263

WACOUSTA.

garb of death, and followed b, the most «„.
equivocal demonstrations of a doom to which
he himself was. in all probability, d.vou=d. As
for Halloway, his look betrayed neither con-
sciousness nor recognition ; and though too
pro.ul to express complaint or to give vent to
the feehngs of his heart, his whole soul ap-
peared to be absorbed in the unhappy partner
of h,s luckless destiny. Presently he saw her
home, and in the same state of insensibility, in
the arms of Captain Krskine and Lieutenant
Leshe, towards the hut of his fellow prisoner,
«n<i he heard the former officer enjoin the
weeping girf, Babette, to whose charge they
delivered her over, to pay every attention to her
her situation might require. The detachment
then proceeded.

The narrow but deep and rapid river alluded
to by the Canadian, as running midway between
the town and Hog Island, derived its source
far within the forest, and formed the bed of
one of those wild. dark, and thickly wooded
ravmes so common in America. As it neared
the Detroit, however, the abruptness of its

26i

WACOUSTA.

banks was so considerably lessened, as to render
the approach to it on the town side over an
almost imperceptible slope. Within a few
yards of its mouth, as we have already observed
in our introductory chapter, a rude but strong
wooden bridge, over which lay the high road,
had been constructed by the French ; and from
the centre of this, all the circuit of inter-
mediate clearing, even to the very skirt of the
forest, was distinctly commanded by the naked
eye. To the right, on approaching it from the
town, lay the adjacent shores of Canada,
washed by the broad waters of the Detroit, on
which it was thrown into strong relief, and
which, at the distance of about a mile in front,
was seen to diverge into two distinct channels,
pursuing each a separate course, until they
again met at the western extremity of Hog
Island. On the left, and in the front, rose a
succession of slightly undulating hills, which,
at a distance of little more than half a mile,
terminated in an elevation considerably above
the immediate level of the Detroit side of the
ravine. That, again, was crowned with thick

WACOUSTA.

265

o render
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ief, and
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th thick

and overhanging forest, taking its circuhir
sweep, as we have elsewhere shown, around the
fort. The intermediate ground was studded
over with rude stumps of trees, and bore, in
various directions, distinct proofs of the spoli-
ation wrought among the infant possessions of
the murdered English settlers. The view to
the rear was less open ; the town being partially
hidden by the fruit-laden orchards that lined
the intervening high road, and hung principally
on its left. This was not the case with the fort.
Between these orchards and the distant ibrest
lay a line of open country, fully commanded by
its cannon, even to the ravine we have de-
scribed, and in a sweep that embraced every
thing from the bridge itself to the forest, in
which all traces of its source was lost.

When the detachment had arrived within
twenty yards of the bridge, they were made to
file off to the left, until the last gun had come
up. They were then fronted; the rear section
of Captain Erskine's company resting on the^
road, and the left flank, covered by the two
first guns pointed obliquely, both in front and

VOL. I.

266

WACOUSTA.

rear, to guard against surprise, iii the event of
any of the Indians stealing round to the cover
of the orchards. The route by which they
had approached this spot was upwards of two
miles in extent ; but, as they now filed off into
the open ground, the leading sections observed,
in a direct line over the cleared country, and at
the distance of little more than three quarters
of a mile, the dark ramparts of the fortress that
contained their comrades, and could even dis-
tinguish the uniforms of the officers and men
drawn up in line along the works, where they
were evidently assembled to witness the execu-
tion of the sentence on Halloway.

Such a sight as that cf the English so far
from their, fort, was not likely to escape the
notice of the Indians. Their encampment,
as the Canadian had truly stated, lay within
the forest, and beyond the elevated ground
already alluded to ; and to have crossed the
ravine, or ventured out of reach of the cannon
of the fort, would have been to have sealed
the destruction of the detachment. But the
officer to whom their security was entrusted.

; j

WACOUSTA.

267

although he had his own pnrticular views for
venturing thus far, knew also at what point to
stop; and such was the confidence of his men
in his skill and prudence, they would have fear-
lessly followed wherever he might have chosen to
lead. Still, even amid all the solemnity of pre-
|)aration attendant on the duty they were out to
perform, there was a natural and secret appre-
hensiveness about each, that caused him to cast
his eyes frequently and fixedly on that part of
the forest which was known to afford cover to
their merciless foes. At times they fancied
they beheld the dark and flitting forms of
men gliding from tree to tree along the skirt of
the wood ; but when they gazed again, nothing
of the kind was to be seen, and the illusion was
at once ascribed to the heavy state of the at-
mosphere, and the action of their own precau-
tionary instincts.

Meanwhile the solemn tragedy of death was
preparing In mournful silence. On the centre of
the bridge, and visible to those ever within the
fort, was placed the coffin of Ilalloway, and at
twelve paces in front were drawn up the six

N 2

268

WACOUSTA.

rank and file on whom had devolved, by lot,
the cruel duty of the day. With calm and
fearless eye the prisoner surveyed the prepar-
ations for his approaching end ; and whatever
might be the inward workings of his mind,
there was not among the assembled soldiery one
individual whose countenance betrayed so little
of sorrow and emotion as his own. With a
firm step, when sunjmoned, he moved towards
the fatal coffin, dashing his cap to the earth as
he advanced, and baring his chest with the
characteristic contempt of death of the soldier.
When he had reached the centre of the bridge,
he turned facing his comrades, and knelt upon
the coffin. Captain Blessington, who, permitted
bv the governor, had followed him with a sad
heart and heavy step, now drew a Prayer-book
from his pocket, and read from it in a low
voice. He then closed the volume, listened to
something the prisoner earnestly communicated
to him, received a small packet which he drew
from the bosom of his shirt, shook him long
and cordially by the hand, and then hastily

WACOUSTA.

269

resumed his post at the head of the detach-
ment.

The principal inhabitants of the village, led
by curiosity, had followed at a distance to wit-
ness the execution of the condemned soldier ;
and above the heads of the line, and crowning
the slope, were collected groups of both sexes
and of all ages, that gave a still more im-
posing character to the scene. Every eye was
now turned upon the firing party, who only
awaited the signal to execute their melancholy
office, when suddenly, in the direction of the
forest, and upon the extreme height, there burst
the tremendous and deafening yells of upwards
of a thousand savages. For an instant Hallo-
way was forgotten in the instinctive sense of
individual danger, and all gazed eagerly to as-
certain the movements of their enemy. Pre-
sently a man, naked to the waist, his body and
face besmeared with streaks of black and red
paint, and his whole attitude expressing despair
and horror, was seen flying down the height
with a rapidity proportioned to the extreme
peril in which he stood. At about fifty paces

N 3

270

WACOUSTA.

in his rear followed a dozen bounding, scream-
ing Indians, armed with uphTted tomahawks,
whose anxiety in pursuit lent them a speed that
even surpassed the efforts of flight itself. It
was evident the object of the pursued was to
reach the detachment, that of the pursuers to
prevent him. The struggle was maintained for
a few moments with equality, but in the e. ' the
latter were triumphant, and at each step the dis-
tance that separated them became less. At the
first alarm, the detachment, with the exception
of the firing party, who still occupied their
ground, had been thrown into square, and, with
a gun planted in each angle, awaited the attack
momentarily expected. But although the heights
were now alive with the dusky forms of naked
warriors, who, from the skirt of the forest,
watched the exertions of their fti'.ows, the pur-
suit of the wretched fugitive was confined to
these alone. Foremost of the latter, and
distinguished by his violent exertions and
fiendish cries, was the tall and wildly attired
warrior of the Fleur de lis. At every bound
he took he increased the space that divided

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him from his companions, and lessened that
which kept him from his panting and nearly
exhausted victim. Already were they descend-
ing the nearest of the undulating hills, and
both now became conspicuous objects to all
around; but principally the pursuer, whose
gigantic frame and extraordinary speed riveted
every eye, even while the interest of all was
excited for the wretched fugitive alone.

At that moment Halloway, who had been
gazing on the scene, with an astonishment little
inferior to that of his comrades, sprang sud-
denly to his feet upon the coffin, and waving
his hand in the direction of the pursuing enemy,
shouted aloud in a voice of mingled joy and
triumph, —

" Ha ! Almighty God, I thank thee ! Here,
here comes one who alone has the power to
snatch me from my impending doom."

" By Heaven, the traitor confesses, and pre-
sumes to triumph in his guilt," exclaimed the
voice of one, who, while closely attending to
every movement of the Indiana, was also vigi-
lantly watching the effect likely to be produced

N 4f

272

WACOUSTA.

on the prisoner by this unexpected interruption.
" Corpora], do your duty."

" Stay, stay — one moment stay ! " implored
Halloway with uplifted hands.

"Do your duty, sir," fiercely repeated the

governor.

" Oh stop — for God's sake, stop ! Another
moment and he will be here, and I "

He said no more — a dozen bullets pene-
trated his body — one passed directly through
his heart. He leaped several feet in the air,
and then fell heavily, a lifeless bleeding corpse,
across the coffin.

" Meanwhile the pursuit of the fugitive was
continued, but by the warrior of the Fleur de lis
alone. Aware of their inefficiency to keep pace
with this singular being, his companions had
relinquished the chace, and now stood resting
on the brow of the hill where the wretched
Halloway had first recognised his supposed
deliverer, watching eagerly, though within
musket shot of the detachment, the result of a
race on which so much apparently depended.
Neither party, however, attempted to interfere

WACOUSTA.

273

with the other, for all eyes were now tiuned
on the flying man and his pursuer with an
interest that denoted the extraordinary efforts
of the one to evade and the other to attain the
accomplishment of his object. Although the
exertions of the former had been stupendous,
such was the eagerness and determination of the
latter, that at each step he gained perceptibly
on his victim. The immediate course taken
was in a direct line for the ravine, which it
evidently was the object of the fugitive to clear
at its nearest point. Already had he approached
within a few paces of its brink, and every eye
was fastened on the point where it was expected
the doubtful leap would be taken, when sud-
denly, as if despairing to accomplish it at a
bound, he turned to the left, and winding along
its bank, renewed his efforts in the direction of
the bridge. This movement occasioned a change
in the position of the parties which was favour-
able to the pursued. Hitherto they had been
so immediately on a line with each other, it was
impossible for the detachment to bring a musket
to bear upon the warrior, without endangering

274

WACOUSTA.

him whose life they were anxious to preserve.
For a moment or two his body was fairly exposed,
and a dozen muskets were discharged at inter-
vals from the square, but all without success.
Recovering his lost ground, he soon brought
the pursued again in a line between himself and
the detachment, edging rapidly nearer to him as
he advanced,and uttering terrific yells, that were
echoed back from his companions on the brow
of the hill. It was evident, however, his object
was the recapture, not the destruction, of the
flying man, for more than once did he brandish
his menacing tomahawk in rapid sweeps around
his head, as if preparing to dart it, and as often
did he check the movement. The scene at
each succeeding moment became more critical
and intensely interesting. The strength of the
pursued was now nearly exhausted, while that
of his formidable enemy seemed to suffer no
diminution. Leap after leap he took with
fearful superiority, sideling as he advanced.
Already had he closed upon his victim, while
with a springing effort a large and bony hand
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WACOU8TA.

275

grasp. The effort was fatal to him ; for in
reaching too far he lost his balance, and fell
heavily upon the sward. A shout of exultation
burst from the English troops, and numerous
voices now encouraged the pursued to renew
his exertions. The advice was not lost; and
although only a few seconds had elapsed between
the fall and recovery of his pursuer, the
wretched fugitivehad already greatly increased
the distance that separated them. A cry of
savage rage and disappointment burst from the
lips of the gigantic warrior; and concentrating
all his remaining strength and speed into one
final effort, he bounded and leapt like a deer of
the forest whence he came. The opportunity
for recapture, however, had been lost in his
fall, for already the pursued was within a few
feet of the high road, and on the point of
turning the extremity of the bridge. One only
resource was now left: the warrior suddenly
chqpked himself in his course, and remained
stationary; then raising and dropping his glit-
tering weapon several times in a balancing
position, he waited until the pursued had gained

I* .«

276

WACOUSTA.

the highest point of the open bridge. At that
moment the glittering steel, aimed with singular
accuracy and precision, ran whistling through
the air, and with such velocity of movement as
to be almost invisible to the eyes of those who
attempted to follow it' in its threatening course.
All expected to see it enter into the brain against
which it had been directed ; but the fugitive had
marked the movement in time to save himself
by stooping low to the earth, while the weapon,
passing over him, entered with a deadly and
crashing sound into the brain of the weltering
corpse. This danger passed, he sprang once
more to his feet, nor paused again in his flight,
until, faint and exhausted, he sank without
motion under the very bayonets of the firing
party.

A new direction was now given to the interest
of the assembled and distinct crowds that had
witnessed these startling incidents. Scarcely
had the wretched man gained the protection of
the soldiery, when a shriek divided the air, so
wild, so piercing, and so unearthly, that even the
warrior of the Fleur de lis seemed to lose sight

WACOUSTA.

277

of his victim, in the harrowing interest pro-
duced by that dreadful scream. AH turned
their eyes for a moment in the quarter wlience
It proceeded ; when presently, from behind the
groups of Canadians crowning the slope, was
seen flying, with the rapidity of thought, one
who resembled rather a spectre than a being of
earth;— it was the wife of Halloway. Her
long fair hair was wild and streaming-her feet,
and legs, and arms were naked— and one
solitary and scanty garment displayed rather
than concealed the symmetry of her delicate
person. She flew to the fatal bridge, threw
herself on the body of her bleeding husband,
and imprinting her warm kisses on his bloody
lips, for a moment or two presented the image
of one whose reason has fled for ever. Sud-
^enly she started from the earth; her face,
her hands, and her garment so saturated with
the blood of her husband, that a fueling of
horror crept throughout the veins of all who
beheld her. She stood upon the coffin, and
across the corpse - raised her eyes and hands
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278

WACOUSTA.

wilder even than her words, uttered an impre-
cation that sounded like the prophetic warning
of some unholy spirit.

" Inhuman murderer ! " she exclaimed, in
tones that almost paralysed the ears on which it
fell, " if there be a God of justice and of truth,
he will avenge this devilish deed. Yes, Colonel
de Haldimar, a prophetic voice whispers to my
soul, that even as I have seen perish before my
eyes all I loved on earth, without mercy and
without hope, so even shall you witness the
destruction of your accursed race. Here —
here — here," and she pointed downwards, with
singular energy of action, to the corpse of her
husband, " here shall their blood flow till every
vestige of his own is washed away ; and oh, if
there be spared one branch of thy detested
family, may it only be that they may be reserved
for some death too horrible to be conceived ! "

Overcome by the frantic energy with which
she had uttered these appalling words, she
sank backwards, and fell, uttering another
shriek, into the arms of the warrior of the Fleur
de lis.

WACOUSTA.

279

"Hear you this, Colonel de Haldimar?"
shouted the latter in a fierce and powerful
voice, and in the purest English accent;
" hear you the curse and prophecy of this
heart-broken woman ? You have slain her
husband, but she has found another. Ay, she
shall be my bride, if only for her detestation of
yourself. When next you see us here," he
thundered, "tremble for your race. Ha, ha, ha !
no doubt this is another victim of your cold
and calculating guile ; but it shall be the last.
By Heaven, my very heart leaps upward in
anticipation of thy coming hour. Woman,
thy hatred to this man has made me love theej
yes, thou Shalt be my bride, and with my plans'
of vengeance will I woo thee. By this kiss I
swear it."

As he spoke, he bent his face over that of
the pale and inanimate woman, and pressed his
lips to hers, yet red and moist with blood spots
from the wounds of her husband. Then
wresting, with a violent : -e^oy^ . W^ r-eekiny'
tomahawk from the crancKecj kai^'of 'the un-
fortunate soldier, and b.ef9i'€ 'any one couM-*

i J

280

WACOUSTA.

recover sufficiently from the effect of the scene
altogether to think even of interfering, he bore
off his prize in triumph, and fled, with nearly
the same expedition he had previously mani-
fested, in the direction of the forest.

END OF T^E FIRST VOLUME.

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