Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy--Volume 3

bt. The fears entertained for the fate of their companions, who had set out in the perilous and almost forlorn hope of reaching Michilimackinac, in ti

y their course, it was almost feared, even if they eventually escaped unharmed themselves, they could not possibly reach the fort in time to communicate the danger that awaited their friends. It is true, the time gained by Governor de Haldimar on the first occasion had afforded a considerable interval, of which advantage might be taken; but it was also, on the

of Hog Island, the position of which has been described in our introductory chapter. From this point a certain signal, that could be easily distinguished with the aid of a telescope, was to be made from the canoe, which, without being of a nature to attract the attention of the savages, was yet to be such as could not wel

however, their eager watching had been in vain. As far as our recollection of the Canadian tradition of this story serves us, it must have been on the fourth night after the final discomfiture of the plans of Ponteac, and the tenth from the departure of the adventurers, that the officers were assembled in the mess-room, partaking of the scanty and frugal supper to which their long confinement had reduced them. The subject of their conversation, as it was ever of their thoughts, was the probable f

als, and during a pause in the languid conversation of the officers, the sharp challenge of a sentinel was heard, and then quick steps on the rampart, as of men hastening to the point whence the challenge had been given. The officers, whom this new excitement seemed to arouse into fresh activity, hurriedly

who was in command of the guard, and who had recognised t

e from its stillness; but if it is, it must have rolled there within the last m

but it may be our big friend, come to pay us a visit again? And yet he is not half long enough for him, either.

ves on their chests, and, stretching over the rampart as far as possible, made the attempt to reach the suspicious looking object that lay beyond. No sooner, however, had their arms been extended in such a manner as to be

eyes in astonishment on the spot so recently occupied by the strange object; "but what the devil could be his motive for lying there so long?

ly no arms," sa

eral Erskine. "Curse me if I ever saw any thing in the

fire-arms-no rif

g at his own conceit. "But come, the bird is flown, and we have only to thank ourselves for having

the attention of the party to a peculiar and low sound i

form was seen advancing slowly, but without show either of concealment or hostility in its movements.

aptain Erskine, after a moment's pause. "These grenadiers

n outline for that of a warrior, stood boldly and fearlessly on the brink of the ditch, holding up its left arm, in the hand

ting a reply. He either understood not, or would not answer the question proposed, but continued

ington to De Haldimar, who was his subaltern of the guard. "Has

d through his mind, that as the Indian came not in hostility, he might be the bearer of some communica

nterruptedly gained a door that opened on a narrow passage, at the further extremity of which was the sitting-room usually occupied by his parent. This again was entered from the

y fatigue, had retired into his bed-room, and fallen unconsciously asleep. Imagining, therefore, he could not, without difficulty, succeed in making himself heard, and deeming the urgency of the case required it, he determined to wave the usual ceremony of knocking, and penetrate to his father's bedroom unannounced. The glass door being without fastening within, easily yielded to his pressure of the latch; but as he passed by the table, a strong and natural feeling of curiosity induced him to cast his eye upon the miniature. To his infinite surprise, nay, almost terror, he discovered it was that of his mother-the identical portrait which his sister Clara had worn in her bosom from infancy, and which he had seen clasped round her neck on the very deck of the schooner in which she sailed for Michilimack

er, who, with a stern brow and a quivering lip, stood a few paces from the table

onduct, however, was necessary; and he stammered forth the fact of the portrait having

e that trembled in its attempt to be calm, while he fixed his penetrating eye on

replied the youth, with the humility of conscious wrong. "The action was involuntary, and no sooner commit

than of anger in the tone in which he now spoke. "On what mission are

o take your orders in regard to an Indian who is now without the fort under somewhat extraordinary circums

indness that had latterly distinguished his address to his son, "Was this, then, Charles, the only motive for your abrupt intrusion at this hour? Are you sure no inducement of private curiosity was mixe

re, disarmed the youth of the bitterness he would have flung into his observation,-"That no m

sed but satisfied air, as if he had not expected the manifestation of s

aring to depart; "you have read that letter" (and he pointed to that which had principally arrested the attention of the officer): "what impression has

most impiety of such a belief, but he could not resist the conviction that forced itself on his mind; the letter in her handwriting spoke for itself; and though the idea was full of wr

perhaps a brother, or an uncle. But I never knew," he pursued, with a look of appeal to his f

ernor, but in a tone of indecision, th

Sinclair; and when I quitted the deck of the schooner to return, I particula

abitual to him, "dare not to sully the memory of your mother by a doubt of her purity. An accident has given this letter to your inspection, but breathe not it

art he found that the Indian, during his long absence, had departed; yet not without depositing, on the outer edge of the ditch, the substance to which he had previously directed their attention. At the moment of De Haldimar's approach,

on: "it is evident, from the energetic manner of him who left it, it is of

mously pronounced th

se slight wound had been perfectly healed. "But what do you

l, without loweri

ter all, and that the rascal who placed it there is not lying withi

e, laughingly, "we will r

m non paratus, Johnstone," sl

an. "Yet think not I hesitate, for I did but jest: make fast a

ly stripped himself of his uniform and shoes. He then suffered himself to drop gently over the edge of the rampart, his companions gradually lowering the rope, until a deep and gasping aspiration, such as is usually wrung from one coming s

n could not but attach to the mysterious occurrence they had just witnessed. Willing even as they were to believe their present visitor, whoever he was, came not in a spirit of enmity, they could not altogether divest themselves of a fear that it was only a subtle artifice to decoy one of them within the reach of their traitorous weapons. They, therefore, watched the movements of their companion with quickening pulses; and it was with a lively satisfaction they saw him, at length, after

in the same breath, as the dripping Johnstone buried himself

dry clothes. I have no particular ambition to contract an American ague fit just now; yet, unless you take pity on me, and

, until after he had changed his dress, and swallowed a couple of glasses of Captain Erskine's never failing spirit, that they

f red morocco, precisely similar, in size and form, to that which had so recently attracted the notice of his son. For a moment he hesitated, and his cheek was observed to turn pale, and his hand to tre

absent from the possession of the former since her mother's death; and feeling satisfied as they did that its extraordinary appearance among them, at the present moment, was an announcement of some dreadful disaster, their countenances wore

n was sought to be subdued by his pride, "this, I fear me, is an unwelcome token. It comes to announce to

e pursued: "I know not why, sir; but my impression is, the appearance of this portrait,

ason to believe," he observed, smiling in mournful bitterne

rious ravisher of the wife of Halloway Colonel de Haldimar had a fierce and inexorabl

confident, although I confess I have no other motive for it than what springs from a recollection of the manner

of his position. Was it merely intended in the light in which you consider it, Colonel, the case or the miniature itself might have been returned, but c

t had been intended it should meet with no injury on the way. I certainly think the

rom harm," remarked Captain Wentworth. "He surely never would have stood so fearlessly on the brink of the di

mpression he had stated to have existed in his own mind. Meanwhile, Captain Blessington had turned and examined the miniature in fifty different ways, but without succeeding in discovering any thing that could confirm

he drew up his person to its lordly height, as if that act reminded him the commander was not to be lost in the father, and quitting the room with a heavy brow and step, recommended to his officers the repose of which they appeared to stand so much in need. But not one was there who felt inclined to court the solitude of his pillow. No sooner

oung friend. Knowing his passionate fondness for his sister, he was not without fear that the sudden shock produced by the appearance of her miniature might destroy his reason, even if it affected not his life; and as the moment was now come when tears might be shed without exciting invidious rem

as to be able to attend to the summons of the sergeant of the guard, who came to say the relief were ready, and waiting to be inspected before they were finally marched off. Clasping the extended hand of his captain between his own, with a pressure indicative of his deep gratitud