Wacousta : a tale of the Pontiac conspiracy (Complete)

uld converse together without betraying the secret of their country, and, as a result of this, the falsehood of the character under which they appeared. Long residence in the country

female, manifesting so much lively affection for her parent, would have done aught to injure those with whom he had evidently connected himself. But the impor

f fearful interest, he had naturally looked for a verbal re-enactment of the harrowing and dreadful scene. To their surprise, however, they both remarked that, far from evincing a desire to enter into conversation, the young woman scarcely ever looked at them, but lingered constantly near the table, and facing the window. Still, to avoid an a

button, on which the number of his regiment was distinctly visible. Unable to check his desire to know further, he left his seat, to examine the contents of the chair. As he moved across the room, he fancied he heard a light sound from without; his companion, also, seemed to manifest a similar impression by an almost imperceptible start; but the noise was so momentary, and so fanciful, neither felt it worth his while to pause upon the circumstance. The young officer now raised the garments from the chair: they consisted of a small grey great-coat, and trowsers, a waistcoat of coarse white cloth, a pair of worsted stockings, and the half-boots of a boy; the whole forming the drum-boy's equipment, worn by the wretched wife of Halloway when borne senseless into the hut on that fatal m

significantly pressed by that of his friend. An instinctive sense of something fearful that was to ensue, but still demanding caution on his part, prevented him from turning hastily round to know the cause. Satisfied, however, there was danger, though not

a medium for the conveyance of subdued sound, the hand of the latter was raised to his

m yourself with resolution, or look not at all: first draw the hood over your head, and without any appearance of design.

or a moment his own cheek became ashy pale, and his breathing painfully oppressed. It was the natural weakness of the physical man, over which the moral faculties had, for an instant, lost their directing power. Speedily recovering himself, the young man prepared to encounter the alarming object which had already so greatly intimidated his friend. Car

window, and with so imperceptible a movement of the lips that sound alone could

recollected what had met his eye when he last looked upon it. "It is no longer there, indeed," he returned in the same

lamp on the centre pane," rejoined his friend, sti

the window from the spot on whic

returned he threw his glance upon the pane, when, to his infinit

ebullition of his feelings,-"what means this?-Is my brain turned?

lose to the unblemished glass, and every feature was distinctly revealed by the lamp that still lay upon the table. The glaring eye was fixed on the taller of the officers; but though the expression was unfathomably guileful, there was nothing that denoted any thing like a recognition of the party. The brig

moment he closed it; and when again it fell upon the window; it encountered nothing but the clear and glittering pan

eared at that window, ready to burst the fragile barrier, and fasten its talons in their hearts, its presence would not have struck such sickness to the soul of our adventurers as did that human face. It is that man, naturally fie

icers, aroused to a full sense of their danger, hasti

ave recourse to it at last. Yet make no show of hostility unless circumstances satisfy us we are betraye

other than the form they had expected; and although, for the moment, they knew not whether the Canadian came in hostility or in friendship, each quitted the attitude of caution into which he had thrown himself, and met him midway in his passage through the room. There was not

ware as he was, that they were both well provided with arms, and fully determined to use them with effect, might not his aim be to decoy them to destruction without, lest the blood spilt under his roof, in the desperation of their defence, should hereafter attest against him, and expose him to the punishment he would so richly merit? Distracted by these doubts, the young men scarcely knew what to think or how to act; and anxious as they had previou

ss of your Saviour. Tell me, then, as you hope for mercy, have you taken that oath only that you might the more securely betray us to ou

igned astonishment, "I have not see nobody. But what for do you tink so

he man as he uttered these words, half in reproach, hal

he younger; "yet, Francois, your daughter saw and exchanged signals with the person w

utiously and follow, he now led the way with almost noiseless step to the entrance of the hut. At the threshold of the door were placed a large well-filled sack, a light mast and sail, and half a dozen paddles. The latter burden he divided between the officers, on whose shou

f they were pursued. Save the rustling of the trees that lined the road, and the slight dashing of the waters on the beach, however, no sound was distinguishable. A

is chain about twenty yards up de bridge. I shall come to you directly." Then cautioning the officers to keep themselves conc

awaited the arrival of the vessel on which their only hope depended. We shall not attempt to describe their feelings on finding themselves, at that lone hour of the night, immediately under a spot rendered fearfully memorable by the tragic occurrences of the morning. The terrible pursuit of the fugitive, the execution of the soldier, the curse and prophecy of his maniac wife, and, above all, the forcible abduction and threatened esp

, as he leaned himself forward, and bent his head to the

not unlike the step of one endeavouring to tre

be a man, the wary tread indicates consciousness of our presence.

ntre caught his eye, and a low sound like that of a dog lapping met his ear. While his gaze yet lingered on the shapeless object, endeavouring to give it a character, the clouds which had so long obscured it

t the risk of exposure he incurred, in the intenseness of the sorrow that assailed his soul. His heart and imagination were already far from the spot on which he stood, when he felt

d. Nay," he fiercely added, grasping as in a vice the arm that was already lifted to strike him, "force me not to annihilate you on the spot. Ha!

like a stunning blow. The warrior released his grasp-placed his hand upon his tomahawk, but without strength to remove it from his

forest in reply to the yell of the fallen warrior. "If Francois come not, we are lost; the howl o

urgent, and we must leave nothing to chance." As he spoke, he knelt upon the huge form of the senseless warrior, whose scalping knife he d

, and required the utmost promptitude of action. The young man seized the brute behind the neck in a firm and vigorous grasp, while he stooped upon the motionless form over which this novel struggle was maintained, and succeeded in making himself once more master of the scalping knife. Half choked by the hand that unflinchingly grappled with him, the savage animal quitted his hold and struggled violently to free himself. This was the critical moment. The officer

test sound to indicate the approach of the canoe. At intervals they fancied they could hear a noise resembling the rippling of water against the prow of a light

e Canadian, when the outline of a human form was seen advancing along the sands, and a dark object upon the wat

is hand, with a powerful effort he sent the canoe flying through the arch to the very entrance of the river. The burdens that had been deposited on the sands were hastily flung in, the officers stepping lightly after. The Canadian to