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

tall spars glittering in their covering of white canvass, and marking the direction of her course. At length she came to a point in the river that offered no other interruption

colours, hitherto concealed by the folds of the canvass,

atform was placed a long eighteen pounder, that commanded the whole extent of road leading from the drawbridge to the river. Hither the officers had all repaired, while the schooner was i

spoke Captain Erskine; "I count but half a dozen hands alto

m reception," observed Lieutenant Johnstone; "but where can our

nd each felt discouraged and disa

ajor Blackwater. "By Heaven! the very water i

ent the air, while their dripping paddles, gleaming like silver in the rays of the rising sun, were alternately

t either open his fire, or crowd sail and

" said Mr. Lawson, ascending the plat

he deck!" sh

could mistake for other than that of triumphant defiance. Presently he drew from the bosom of his hunting coat a dark parcel, and springing into the rigging of the main-mast, ascended with incredible activity to the point where the English ensign was faintly floating in the breeze. This he tore furiously away, and rending it into many pieces, cast the fragments into the silver element beneath him, on whose bosom they were see

aptain Erskine. "Come, Wentworth, give us a second edition of the sortie firing; I know no man who

ldimar. His companions made way on either side; and several gunners, who were already at their stations, havin

fully along the gun, he found it pointed immediately on the gigantic frame of

ce warrior was seen standing apparently unharmed on the same spot in the rigging. The shot had, however, been well aimed, for a large rent in the outstretched canvass, close at his side, and about mid-height of his person, marked the direction it had taken. Again he tore away, and triumphantly waved the black flag around his head, while from his capacious lungs there burst yells of defiance and scorn, that could be distinguished for his own even at that

ared, not a vestige of human life was to be seen along that vista so recently peopled with human forms. An order from Colonel de Haldimar to the adjutant, countermanding the sortie, was the first interruption to the silence that had continued to pervade the little band of office

momentarily leaping to her deck, the forms of those in whom they were most interested. A group of some half dozen men, apparently common sailors, and those, in all probability, whose services had been compelled in the working of the vessel, were the only evidences that civilised man formed a portion of that grotesque assemblage. These, with their arms evidently bo

n and regard him with surprise. "That black flag announces the triumph of my foe in the too certain destruction of my childre

by the report of the cannon, he had flown to the rampart to ascertain the cause, and had reached his companions only to learn the strong hope so recently kindled in his breast was fled for ever. His cheek, over which hung his neglec

nor with emotion, as he remarked, and started at the death-like

e proffered embrace, and sank his head upon the cheek of his father. It was the first time he had enjoye

in any, and with emotion by several. None felt more gratified at this demonstr

een momentarily lost sight of in the ebullition of his feelings,-"I cannot yet persuade myself things are altogether so bad as

ficance. The very substitution of yon black flag, in his insolent triumph, was the pledge of redemption of a threat breathed in my ear within this very fort: on what occasion I need not state, since the events connected with that unhappy night are still fresh in the recollections of us all. That he is my personal enemy, gentle

ciding in the opinion now expressed by Captain Wentworth, that the fact of the schooner having fallen into the hands of the savages by no means implied the capture of the fort whence she came

pturing any others than the unfortunate crew of the schooner; for had this been the case, he would not have lost th

ry circumstance in our favour; but may it not, after all, mer

iful, a manner. Depend upon it, colonel, had any of those in whom we are more immediately interested, fal

; "he is not one to exercise his vengeance in a summary, and merciful manner. The deed is yet unaccomplished, for even now t

wildness of expression in his handsome features, marking the mind utterly dead to hope, yet struggling to work itself up to passive endurance of the worst. Colonel de Haldimar sighed painfu

ldish, unsoldierlike; yet can it be wondered at, when I have been so often latterly deceived by false hopes, that now my heart has room for no other tenant than despair. I am very wretched," he pursued, with affecting despon

ng his back against the sentry box near him, passed his ha

he self-command you pledged yourself to exercise? For Heaven's sake, agitate not your father thus, by the indulgence of a grief that can have no ot

n him by the almost infantine despair of the younger De Haldimar: "surely it is-yet, no, it cannot be-yes, see how they are dragging several prisoners from the wood to the beach. I can distin

he frail bark. Presently a tall warrior was seen bounding from the wood towards the beach. The crowd of gesticulating Indians made way, and the warrior was seen to stoop and apply his shoulder to the canoe, one half of which was high and dry upon the sands. The heavily laden vessel obeyed the impetus with a rapidity that proved the muscular power of him who gave it. Like some wild animal, instinct with life, it lashed the foaming waters from its bow

sudden recollection, and with a trepidation in his voice and manner that spoke volumes of despair to the you

ssed the hand extended to secure it, and fell upon the very stone the youth had formerly pointed out to Blessington, as marking the particular spot on which he stood during the execution of Halloway. The violence of the fall se

would be found to contain some intelligence from our friends. It is only this moment it occurred to me to take

nac is taken. We are prisoners, and doomed to die within eight and forty hours. Alas! Clara and Madeline are of our number. Still there is a hope, if my father deem it prudent to incur the risk. A surprise, well managed, may do much; but it must be tomorrow night; forty-eight hours more, and it will be of no a

one word of comment was offered by an individual of the group. No explanation was necessary. The

n enquiring look at his two captains,

are off duty to-

enoted how deeply rejoiced he felt at the fact,

I will answer for them; they never embarked on a duty of t

s he stepped forward and grasped in turn the hands of the generous-heart

nel?" enquired the o

nerous interest in my children-this forwardness in an enterprise on which depend the lives of so many dear friends. I am not one given to express warm emotion, but I do, in

personal inspection of the efficiency in all respects of their several companies; and in a few minutes, the only individual to be se