Books: Hardscrabble
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John Richardson >> Hardscrabble
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"The blow is indeed a fearful one, but act, I pray you,
with courage. Consider, too, your own safety. No one
knows the force of the Indians, or how soon they may be
here. Go in, dearest, prepare what you may more immediately
require for a few days, and my men will carry your trunks
down to the scow which is waiting to receive you."
"And if I should consent to go, Ronayne, you know my poor
mother cannot rise from her bed. What do you propose to
do with her? To remove her, and let her know WHY she is
removed, would soon finish the work her debilitating
disease has begun."
"I have made every necessary provision," answered the
young officer, glad to find that her thoughts could be
diverted from the immediate source of her sorrow. "Elmsley's
wife, to whom I spoke a few hurried words on leaving, is
even now preparing for your temporary reception, and I
have thought of an excuse to be given to your mother.
You must for once in your life use deceit, and say that
Van Vottenberg desires her presence in the fort, because
his duties have become so severe that he can no longer
absent himself to bestow upon her that professional care
she so much requires. Nay, look not so incredulous. I am
aware that the pretext is a meagre one, but I cannot at
present think of a better; and in her enfeebled state
she will not dwell upon the strangeness of the plea. Go
on then, I entreat you, and desire Catherine to collect
what you will want, while my men carry to the scow such
articles of furniture as will be most useful to you in
your new quarters. Quick, dear Maria, I implore you,
there has already been too much time lost, and I expect
every moment an order from Headley to return immediately."
Sensible of a pressing emergency. Miss Heywood, with a
beating heart, regained the cottage, in which so many
blissful hours had been passed within the last two years,
undisturbed by a care for the future, while the young
officer joining his men, left one to take care of the
arms of the party, and with the remainder hastened to
the house making as little noise as possible, in order
not to disturb the invalid. Having chosen such articles
of furniture as he knew Mrs. Elmsley was most deficient
in, and among these a couch and a couple of easy-chairs
(which latter indeed were the work of his own hands),
they were conveyed to the scow in two trips, and then
followed three or four trunks into which had been thrown,
without regard to order, such wearing apparel, and
necessaries of the toilet as the short period allowed
for preparation had permitted the agitated girl to put
together. The most delicate part of the burden, however,
yet remained to be removed, and that was the invalid
herself. Desiring his men to remain without, the youth,
whose long and close intimacy with the family rendered
such a step by no means objectionable, entered the
apartment of Mrs. Heywood, who had already been prepared
by her daughter for the removal, and with the assistance
of Catherine raised the bed on which she lay, and
transferred it to a litter brought for the occasion. This
they carefully bore through the suite of small and
intervening rooms to the front, where two of the men
relieved them, Catherine walking at the side, and
unnecessarily enjoining caution at every step.
"This is, indeed, an unexpected change, Ronayne," said
Miss Heywood, sadly, "but this morning, and I was so
happy, and now! These poor flowers, too (for after having
fastened the windows and doors of the house, they were
now directing their course towards the mound), that
parterre which cost us so much labor, yes, such sweet
labor, must all be left to be destroyed by the hand of
some ruthless savage. Yet, what do I say," she pursued,
in a tone of deep sorrow, "I lament the flowers; yes,
Ronayne, because they have thriven under your care, and
yet, I forget that my father perhaps no longer lives;
that my beloved mother's death may be the early consequence
of this removal. Yet think me not selfish. Think me not
ungrateful. Come what may, you will yet be left to me.
No, Harry," and she looked up to him tearfully, "I shall
never be utterly destitute, while you remain."
"Bless you, thrice bless you for these sweet avowals of
your confidence," exclaimed the youth, suddenly dropping
her arm, and straining her passionately to his heart.
"Yes, Maria, I shall yet remain to love, to cherish, to
make you forget every other tie in that of husband--to
blend every relationship in that of one."
"Nay, Ronayne," she quickly returned, while the color
mounted vividly to her cheek, under the earnest ardor of
his gaze, "I would not now unsay what I have said, and
yet I did not intend that my words should exactly bear
that interpretation--nor is this a moment--"
"But still you will be my wife--tell me, Maria?" and he
looked imploringly into her own not averted eyes. "You
will be the wife, as you have long been the friend and
companion of your Ronayne--answer me. Will you not?"
Her head sank upon his shoulder, and the heaving of her
bosom, as she gently returned his embrace, alone conveyed
the assurance he desired. She was deeply affected. She
knew the ardent, generous nature of her lover, and she
felt that every word that had just fallen from his lips,
tended only to unravel the true emotions of his heart:
but soothing as was his impassioned language, she deemed
it almost criminal, at such a moment, to listen to it.
"Nay, dearest Harry," she said, gently disengaging herself
from his embrace, "we will be seen. They may wonder at
our delay, and send somebody back from the scow. Let us
proceed."
"You are right," replied the young officer, again passing
her arm through his own, while they continued their route,
"excess of happiness must not cause me to commit an
imprudence so great, as that of suffering another to
divine the extent. Yet one word more, dear Maria! and
ah! think how much depends upon your answer. WHEN shall
I call you mine?"
"Oh! speak not now of that, Ronayne--consider the position
of my father--my mother's health."
"It is for that very reason that I do ask it," returned
the youth. "Should Heaven deprive you of the one, as it
in some degree threatens you with the loss of the other,
what shall so well console you as the tenderness of him
who is blessed with your love?"
"Hush, Harry," and she fondly pressed his arm--"they will
hear you."
They had now approached the scow, into which the men,
having previously deposited the furniture and trunks,
were preparing to embark the litter upon which Mrs.
Heywood lay extended, with an expression of resignation
and repose upon her calm features, that touched the hearts
of even these rude men. Her daughter, half-reproaching
herself for not having personally attended to her transport,
and only consoled by the recollection of the endearing
explanation with her lover, which had chanced to result
from her absence, now tenderly inquired how she had borne
it, and was deeply gratified to find that the change of
air, and gentle exercise to which she had been subjected,
had somewhat restored her. Here was one source of care
partly removed, and she felt, if possible, increased
affection for the youth to whose considerate attention
was owing this favorable change in the condition of a
parent, whom she had ever fondly loved.
It was near sunset when Ronayne, who, with the robust
Catherine, had carefully lifted the invalid into the
centre of the scow, reached the landing-place below the
Fort. Here were collected several of the women of the
company, and among them Mrs. Elmsley, who had come down
to meet and welcome those for whose reception she had
made every provision the hurried notice she had received
would permit. The young officer had been the first to
step on shore, and after he had whispered something in
her ear, she for a moment communicated with the group of
women--then advanced to meet Miss Heywood, whom her lover
was now handing from the scow. She embraced her with a
tenderness so unusually affectionate, that a vague
consciousness of the true cause flashed across the mind
of the anxious girl, recalling back all that inward grief
of soul, which the deep emotion of an engrossing love
had for a time absorbed.
In less than half-an-hour the fugitives were installed
in the council hall, and in another small apartment,
dividing it from the rooms occupied by the Elmsleys. The
ensign, having seen that all was arranged in a suitable
manner in the former, went out to the parade-ground,
leaving the ladies in charge of their amiable hostess,
and of the women she had summoned to assist in bearing
the latter into the Fort.
On his way to his rooms, he met Captain Headley returning
from an inspection of the defences. He saluted him, and
was in the act of addressing him in a friendly and familiar
tone, when he was checked by the sharply-uttered remark:
"So, sir, you are returned at last. It seems to me that
you have been much longer absent than was necessary."
The high spirit of the youth was chafed. "Pardon me,
sir," he answered haughtily, "if I contradict you. No
one of the least feeling would have thought of removing
such an invalid as Mrs. Heywood is, without using every
care her condition required. Have you any orders for me,
Captain Headley?" he concluded, in a more respectful
manner, for he had become sensible, the moment after he
had spoken, of his error in thus evincing asperity under
the reproof of his superior.
"You are officer of the guard, I believe, Mr. Ronayne?"
"No, sir, Mr. Elmsley relieved me this morning."
At that moment the last-named officer came up, on his
way to the ensign's quarters, when, the same question
having been put to him, and answered in the affirmative,
Captain Headley desired that the moment the fishing-party
came in they should be reported to him. "And now,
gentlemen," he concluded, "I expect you both to be
particularly on the alert to-night. The absence of that
fishing-party distresses me, and I would give much that
they were back."
"Captain Headley," said the ensign, quickly and almost
beseechingly, "let me pick out a dozen men from the
company, and I pledge myself to restore the party before
mid-day to-morrow. Nay, sir," seeing strong surprise and
disapproval on the countenance of the commandant, "I am
ready to forfeit my commission if I fail--"
"Are you mad, Mr. Ronayne, or do you suppose that I am
mad enough to entertain such a proposition, and thus
weaken my force still more? Forfeit your commission if
you fail! Why, sir, you would deserve to forfeit your
commission, if you even succeeded in any thing so wholly
at variance with military prudence. Gentlemen, recollect
what I have said--I expect you to use the utmost vigilance
to-night, and, Mr. Elmsley, fail not instantly to report
the fishing-boat." Thus enjoining, he passed slowly on
to his quarters.
"D--n your military prudence, and d--n your pompous
cold-bloodedness!" muttered the fiery ensign between his
teeth--scarcely waiting until his captain was out of
hearing.
"Hush," interrupted Elmsley in a whisper. "He will hear
you. Ha!" he continued after a short pause, during which
they moved on towards the mess-room, "you begin to find
out his amiable military qualities, do you! But tell
me, Ronayne, what the deuce has put this Quixotic expedition
into your head? What great interest do you take in these
fishermen, that you should volunteer to break your shins
in the wood, this dark night, for the purpose of seeking
them, and that on the very day when your ladye faire
honors these walls, if I may so dignify our stockade,
with her presence for the first time. Come, come, thank
Headley for his refusal. When you sit down to-morrow
morning, as I intend you shall, to a luxurious breakfast
of tea, coffee, fried venison, and buckwheat-cakes, you
will find no reason to complain of his adherence to
military prudence."
"Elmsley," returned his friend, seriously, "I can have
no disguise from you at such a moment. You know my regard
for Maria Heywood, although you cannot divine its depth,
and could I but be the means of saving her father, you
can well understand the joy I should feel."
"Certainly, my dear fellow, but you know as well as
myself, that there exists not the shadow of a hope of
this. That scarecrow, Giles, half-witted as he is, tells
too straightforward a story."
"Elmsley," persisted his friend, "there is every hope--
every reasonable expectation that he may yet survive.
Maria herself first opened my eyes to the possibility,
for, until then, I had thought as you do; and deeply did
her words sink in my heart, when she said, reproachfully,
that, instead of sending a party to escort her, it would
have been far better to dispatch them to the farm, where
her father might, at that moment, be sustaining a siege--
the house being strong enough to admit of a temporary
defence, by even a couple of persons."
"And what said you to that?"
"What could I say? I looked like a fool, and felt like
a school-boy under the iron rod of a pedagogue--but I
resolved."
"And what did you resolve, my enterprising KNIGHT errant?"
"You have just heard my proposal to the gentleman who
piques himself upon his military prudence." returned the
youth, with bitter irony.
"Yes, and he refused you. What then?"
"True, and what then," and he nodded his head impatiently.
"You will sleep upon it, my dear fellow, after we have
had a glass of the Monongahela, and the pipe. Thus
refreshed, you will think better of it in the morning."
"We will have the Monongahela and the pipe, for truly I
feel that I require something to soothe, if not absolutely
to exhilarate me; but no sleep for me this night. Elmsley,"
he added, more seriously, "you will pass me out of the gate?"
"Pass you out of what?" exclaimed the other, starting
from the chair on which he had thrown himself only the
moment before. "What do you mean, man?"
"I mean that, as officer of the guard, you alone can pass
me through after dark, and this service you must render me."
"Why! where are you going? Single-handed like Jack the
Giant Killer to deliver, not a beautiful damsel from the
fangs of a winged monster, but a tough old backwoodsman
from the dark paws of the savage?"
"Elmsley," again urged the ensign, "you forget that Mr.
Heywood is the father of my future wife."
"Ah! is it come to that at last. Well, I am right glad
of it. But, my dear Ronayne," taking and cordially pressing
his hand, "forgive my levity. I only sought to divert
you from your purpose. What I can do for you, I will do;
but tell me what it is you intend."
"Yet, Elmsley, before we enter further into the matter,
do you not think that you will incur the serious displeasure
of Military Prudence?"
"If he discovers that you are gone, certainly; and I
cannot see how it can be otherwise; he will be in the
fidgets all night, and probably ask for you; but even if
not THEN, he will miss you on parade in the morning."
"And what will be the consequence to you? Answer me
candidly, I entreat."
"Then, candidly, Ronayne, the captain likes me not well
enough to pass lightly over such a breach of duty. The
most peremptory orders have, since the arrival of this
startling news, been given not to allow any one to leave
the fort, and (since you wish me to be sincere) should
I allow you to pass, it will go hard with my commission."
"How foolish of me not to have thought of that before!
How utterly stupid to ask that which I ought to have
known myself; but enough, Elmsley. I abandon the scheme
altogether. You shall never incur that risk for me."
"Yet understand me," resumed the other, "if you really
think that there is a hope of its proving more than a
mere wild goose chase, I will cheerfully incur that risk;
but on my honor, Ronayne, I myself feel convinced that
nothing you can do will avail."
"Not another word on the subject," answered his friend;
"here is what will banish all care, at least for the
present."
His servant had just entered, and deposited on the
mess-table hot and cold water, sugar, lime-juice, pipes,
tobacco, and tumblers; when the two officers with Von
Vottenberg who had just come in from visiting Mr. Heywood,
sat down to indulge their social humors. Whilst the
latter, according to custom, mixed the punch, which when
made was pronounced to be his chef d'oeuvre, Elmsley
amused himself with cutting up the tobacco, and filling
the pipes. The ensign, taking advantage of their occupation,
indulged himself in a reverie that lasted until the
beverage had been declared ready.
The presence of the doctor, acting as a check upon the
further allusion by the friends to the topic that had
hitherto engrossed their attention, the little conversation
that ensued was of a general nature, neither of them,
however, cared much to contribute to it, so that the
doctor found and pronounced them for that evening anything
but entertaining companions. He, however, consoled himself
with copious potations from the punch-bowl, and filled
the room with dense clouds of smoke, that were in
themselves, sufficient to produce the drowsiness that
Ronayne pleaded in excuse of his taciturnity.
After his second glass, Elmsley, reminding the ensign
that he expected him as well as the punch-brewer to
breakfast with him in the morning at eight o'clock
precisely, took his departure for the guard room, for
the night.
CHAPTER VIII.
It was about seven o'clock on the morning succeeding the
occurrences detailed in the preceding chapters, that
Lieutenant Elmsley waited on the commanding officer, to
relate that the fishing boat was at length in sight.
These tidings were communicated as Captain Headley was
preparing to sit down to breakfast--a refreshment, to
which the fatigue of mind and body he had undergone during
the night had not a little disposed him. True, however,
to his character, he stayed not for the meal, but instantly
arose, and taking his telescope accompanied the subaltern
to the flagstaff battery, whence the best view of the
river was commanded.
"Any thing to report, Mr. Elmsley; but I presume not, or
it scarcely would have been necessary for me to ask the
question?"
"Nothing, sir, of any consequence," replied the lieutenant
after a moment's hesitation, "beyond a slight altercation
that took place between a drunken Pottawattamie and the
sergeant of the guard--but it was of a nature too.
trivial to disturb you about."
"What was it, Mr. Elmsley?" inquired his superior, abruptly
turning to him.
"The Indian who had probably been lying dead drunk during
the day within the Fort, and had evidently just awakened
from his sleep, was anxious to go to his encampment, but
the sergeant, strictly obeying the order he had received
from me, refused to open the gate, which seemed to annoy
the Indian very much. At that moment I came up. I knew
well of course that the order was not meant to extend
rigidly to our Indian friends, the great mass of whom
might be offended by the detention of one of their number,
and I desired the sergeant to pass him through. Was I
right, sir?"
"Perfectly, Mr. Elmsley; we must not offend those of the
Indian tribes that are disposed to be friendly toward
us, for no one knows how soon we may require their aid.
The official advices I have received not only from Detroit
but from Washington are of a nature to induce apprehension
of hostilities between Great Britain and the United
States; therefore, it would, as you justly observe, and
just now particularly, be extremely bad policy to offend
those whom it is so much our interest to conciliate.
Still you ought to have reported the circumstance to me,
and not acted on your own responsibility."
Lieutenant Elmsley bit his lip, and could scarcely control
a movement of impatience. "I am glad, however, sir," he
resumed after a pause, "that you find no fault with my
conduct; I confess I had some little uneasiness on that
score, for with you I felt that I had no right to assume
the responsibility, but I knew that you had retired to
your rooms, and I was unwilling to disturb you."
"You ought to have known, Mr. Elmsley, that where duty
is concerned I can never be disturbed. However, no matter.
What you did was correctly done; only in future, fail
not to make your report. The slightest unauthorized step
might be a false one, and that, under all the circumstances,
is to be avoided."
Whatever the subaltern thought of the seeming self-
sufficiency which had dictated the concluding part of
the lecture of the commanding officer, he made no further
observation, and both in silence pursued the remainder
of their short route to the bastion.
Many of the men, dressed and accoutred for the morning
parade, which usually took place at about nine o'clock,
were grouped around, and anxiously watching the approach
of the boat, as of something they had despaired of ever
again beholding. Captain Headley drew his telescope to
the proper focus, and after looking through it a few
minutes--remarked--
"Thank Heaven, all is right--they are all there, although
it is quite unaccountable to me how they could have been
detained until this morning. And, oh! it seems they have
taken a heavy draught of fish, for, although I cannot
see the bottom of the boat, their feet are raised as if
to prevent crushing or injuring something beneath them.
But hold! there is something wrong, too. I do not see
the usual number of muskets piled in the stern. How can
this be, Mr. Elmsley?"
"Perhaps there is not the same number of men," suggested
the lieutenant--"some of them, for causes connected with
their detention, may be coming by land."
"Not at all. There are seven men. I think seven men
compose the fishing party; do they not?"
"Six men, besides the non-commissioned officer; yes, sir."
"I can make out Corporal Nixon, for he is steering and
facing me, but for the others, I do not know them well
enough to distinguish. Here, Mr. Elmsley, take the glass,
and try what you can make of them."
The lieutenant gazed through the glass a moment, and then
pronounced name after name, as the men severally came
under the range of the lens. "Yes, sir, as you say,
there is Corporal Nixon steering--then, with, their backs
to us, and pulling, are first, Collins, then Green, then
Jackson, then Weston, then Cass, and then Philips. But
what they have in the bottom of the boat, for I now can
see that plain enough, is not fish, sir, but a human
body, and a dog crouched at its side. Yes! it is indeed
the Frenchman's dog--Loup Garou."
"Well, I want to know!" exclaimed Ephraim Giles, who had
ascended the bastion, and now stood amid the group of
men, "I take it, that if that's Loup Garou, his master
can't be far off. I never knowed them to be separate."
"Yes, sir, that is certainly a dead body," pursued the
lieutenant--"somebody killed at the farm, no doubt. Have
you any orders for the direction of the party, when they
land, sir?" he inquired, as he handed back the glass to
the captain.
"Just desire the drum to beat to parade," was the answer.
"It wants only a few minutes of guard-mounting, and by
the time the men have fallen in, and the roll is called,
the boat will be here. Where is Mr. Ronayne?"
"I have not seen him this morning, sir, but believe that
he is in his own rooms. He, however, knows the hour, and
doubtless will be here presently."
"When the men have fallen in, come and report to me,"
said the captain, as he descended from the bastion, and
proceeded to his own quarters, to eat his untasted
breakfast.
The lieutenant touched his cap in assent, and then, having
despatched a man with orders to the temporary drum-major,
crossed over to the apartments of the ensign, anxious
not only to excuse himself for not being able to receive
his friend to his own breakfast, at the hour he had named,
but to prepare him for the reception of the body of Mr.
Heywood, which he doubted not, was that now on its way
for interment at his own house.
On entering the mess-room, in which they had taken their
punch, the previous evening, everything bore evidence of
a late debauch. Ashes and tobacco were liberally strewed
upon the table, while around the empty bowl, were, in
some disorder, pipes and glasses--one of each emptied of
all but the ashes and sediment--the other two only
half-smoked, half-full, and standing amid a pool of wet,
which had evidently been spilt by a not very steady hand.
The windows were closed, so that the smoke clung to what
little furniture there was in the room, and the whole
scent of the place was an abominable compound of stale
tobacco and strong whisky.
A loud snoring in the room on his right attracted his
attention. He knew that it was Von Vottenberg's, and he
entered to see what had kept him in bed until that late
hour. The surgeon, only half-undressed, was fast asleep,
not within, but on the outside of the bed-clothes. Somewhat
disgusted at the sight, for Elmsley was comparatively
abstemious, he shook him not very gently, when the doctor,
opening his eyes with a start, half-rose upon his elbow.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, "I know you mean to say that breakfast
is waiting; I had forgotten all about it, old fellow."
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