The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER XVI

  "_Edg._--Before you fight the battle, ope this letter."

  _King Lear._

  Major Heyward found Munro attended only by his daughters. Alice sat uponhis knee, parting the gray hairs on the forehead of the old man with herdelicate fingers; and, whenever he affected to frown on her trifling,appeasing his assumed anger by pressing her ruby lips fondly on hiswrinkled brow. Cora was seated nigh them, a calm and amused looker-on;regarding the wayward movements of her more youthful sister, with thatspecies of maternal fondness which characterized her love for Alice. Notonly the dangers through which they had passed, but those which stillimpended above them, appeared to be momentarily forgotten, in thesoothing indulgence of such a family meeting. It seemed as if they hadprofited by the short truce, to devote an instant to the purest and bestaffections: the daughters forgetting their fears, and the veteran hiscares, in the security of the moment. Of this scene, Duncan, who in hiseagerness to report his arrival had entered unannounced, stood manymoments an unobserved and a delighted spectator. But the quick anddancing eyes of Alice soon caught a glimpse of his figure reflected froma glass, and she sprang blushing from her father's knee, exclaimingaloud,--

  "Major Heyward!"

  "What of the lad?" demanded the father; "I have sent him to crack alittle with the Frenchman. Ha! sir, you are young, and you're nimble!Away with you, ye baggage; as if there were not troubles enough for asoldier, without having his camp filled with such prattling hussies asyourself!"

  Alice laughingly followed her sister, who instantly led the way from anapartment where she perceived their presence was no longer desirable.Munro, instead of demanding the result of the young man's mission, pacedthe room for a few moments, with his hands behind his back, and his headinclined towards the floor, like a man lost in thought. At length heraised his eyes, glistening with a father's fondness, and exclaimed,--

  "They are a pair of excellent girls, Heyward, and such as any one mayboast of."

  "You are not now to learn my opinion of your daughters, Colonel Munro."

  "True, lad, true," interrupted the impatient old man; "you were aboutopening your mind more fully on that matter the day you got in; but Idid not think it becoming in an old soldier to be talking of nuptialblessings and wedding jokes when the enemies of his king were likely tobe unbidden guests at the feast! But I was wrong, Duncan, boy, I waswrong there; and I am now ready to hear what you have to say."

  "Notwithstanding the pleasure your assurance gives me, dear sir, I havejust now a message from Montcalm--"

  "Let the Frenchman and all his host go to the devil, sir?" exclaimed thehasty veteran. "He is not yet master of William Henry, nor shall he everbe, provided Webb proves himself the man he should. No, sir! thankHeaven, we are not yet in such a strait that it can be said Munro is toomuch pressed to discharge the little domestic duties of his own family.Your mother was the only child of my bosom friend, Duncan; and I'll justgive you a hearing, though all the knights of St. Louis were in a bodyat the sally-port, with the French saint at their head, craving to speaka word under favor. A pretty degree of knighthood, sir, is that whichcan be bought with sugar-hogsheads! and then your two-penny marquisates!The thistle is the order for dignity and antiquity; the veritable _nemome impune lacessit_ of chivalry! Ye had ancestors in that degree,Duncan, and they were an ornament to the nobles of Scotland."

  Heyward, who perceived that his superior took a malicious pleasure inexhibiting his contempt for the message of the French general, was fainto humor a spleen that he knew would be short-lived; he thereforereplied with as much indifference as he could assume on such asubject,--

  "My request, as you know, sir, went so far as to presume to the honor ofbeing your son."

  "Ay, boy, you found words to make yourself very plainly comprehended.But, let me ask ye, sir, have you been as intelligible to the girl?"

  "On my honor, no," exclaimed Duncan, warmly; "there would have been anabuse of a confided trust, had I taken advantage of my situation forsuch a purpose."

  "Your notions are those of a gentleman, Major Heyward, and well enoughin their place. But Cora Munro is a maiden too discreet, and of a mindtoo elevated and improved, to need the guardianship even of a father."

  "Cora!"

  "Ay--Cora! we are talking of your pretensions to Miss Munro, are we not,sir?"

  "I--I--I was not conscious of having mentioned her name," said Duncan,stammering.

  "And to marry whom, then, did you wish my consent, Major Heyward?"demanded the old soldier, erecting himself in the dignity of offendedfeeling.

  "You have another, and not less lovely child."

  "Alice!" exclaimed the father, in an astonishment equal to that withwhich Duncan had just repeated the name of her sister.

  "Such was the direction of my wishes, sir."

  The young man awaited in silence the result of the extraordinary effectproduced by a communication which, as it now appeared, was sounexpected. For several minutes Munro paced the chamber with long andrapid strides, his rigid features working convulsively, and everyfaculty seemingly absorbed in the musings of his own mind. At length, hepaused directly in front of Heyward, and riveting his eyes upon those ofthe other, he said, with a lip that quivered violently,--

  "Duncan Heyward, I have loved you for the sake of him whose blood is inyour veins; I have loved you for your own good qualities; and I haveloved you, because I thought you would contribute to the happiness of mychild. But all this love would turn to hatred, were I assured that whatI so much apprehend is true."

  "God forbid that any act or thought of mine should lead to such achange!" exclaimed the young man, whose eye never quailed under thepenetrating look it encountered. Without adverting the impossibility ofthe other's comprehending those feelings which were hid in his ownbosom, Munro suffered himself to be appeased by the unalteredcountenance he met, and with a voice sensibly softened, he continued,--

  "You would be my son, Duncan, and you're ignorant of the history of theman you wish to call your father. Sit ye down, young man, and I willopen to you the wounds of a seared heart, in as few words as may besuitable."

  By this time, the message of Montcalm was as much forgotten by him whobore it as by the man for whose ears it was intended. Each drew a chair,and while the veteran communed a few moments with his own thoughts,apparently in sadness, the youth suppressed his impatience in a look andattitude of respectful attention. At length the former spoke:--

  "You'll know, already, Major Heyward, that my family was both ancientand honorable," commenced the Scotsman; "though it might not altogetherbe endowed with that amount of wealth that should correspond with itsdegree. I was, may be, such an one as yourself when I plighted my faithto Alice Graham, the only child of a neighboring laird of some estate.But the connection was disagreeable to her father, on more accounts thanmy poverty. I did therefore what an honest man should--restored themaiden her troth, and departed the country in the service of my king. Ihad seen many regions, and had shed much blood in different lands,before duty called me to the islands of the West Indies. There it was mylot to form a connection with one who in time became my wife, and themother of Cora. She was the daughter of a gentleman of those isles, by alady whose misfortune it was, if you will," said the old man, proudly,"to be descended, remotely, from that unfortunate class who are sobasely enslaved to administer to the wants of a luxurious people. Ay,sir, that is a curse entailed on Scotland by her unnatural union with aforeign and trading people. But could I find a man among them who woulddare to reflect on my child, he should feel the weight of a father'sanger! Ha! Major Heyward, you are yourself born at the south, wherethese unfortunate beings are considered of a race inferior to your own."

  "'Tis most unfortunately true, sir," said Duncan, unable any longer toprevent his eyes from sinking to the floor in embarrassment.

  "And you cast it on my child as a reproach! You scorn to mingle theblood of the Heywards with one so degraded--lovely and virtuous thoughshe be?" fierce
ly demanded the jealous parent.

  "Heaven protect me from a prejudice so unworthy of my reason!" returnedDuncan, at the same time conscious of such a feeling, and that as deeplyrooted as if it had been ingrafted in his nature. "The sweetness, thebeauty, the witchery of your younger daughter, Colonel Munro, mightexplain my motives, without imputing to me this injustice."

  "Ye are right, sir," returned the old man, again changing his tones tothose of gentleness, or rather softness; "the girl is the image of whather mother was at her years, and before she had become acquainted withgrief. When death deprived me of my wife I returned to Scotland,enriched by the marriage; and would you think it, Duncan! The sufferingangel had remained in the heartless state of celibacy twenty long years,and that for the sake of a man who could forget her! She did more, sir;she over-looked my want of faith, and all difficulties being nowremoved, she took me for her husband."

  "And became the mother of Alice?" exclaimed Duncan, with an eagernessthat might have proved dangerous at a moment when the thoughts of Munrowere less occupied than at present.

  "She did, indeed," said the old man, "and dearly did she pay for theblessing she bestowed. But she is a saint in heaven, sir; and it illbecomes one whose foot rests on the grave to mourn a lot so blessed. Ihad her but a single year, though; a short term of happiness for one whohad seen her youth fade in hopeless pining."

  There was something so commanding in the distress of the old man, thatHeyward did not dare to venture a syllable of consolation. Munro satutterly unconscious of the other's presence, his features exposed andworking with the anguish of his regrets, while heavy tears fell from hiseyes, and rolled unheeded from his cheeks to the floor. At length hemoved, as if suddenly recovering his recollection; when he arose, andtaking a single turn across the room, he approached his companion withan air of military grandeur, and demanded,--

  "Have you not, Major Heyward, some communication that I should hear fromthe Marquis de Montcalm?"

  Duncan started, in his turn, and immediately commenced, in anembarrassed voice, the half-forgotten message. It is unnecessary todwell upon the evasive, though polite manner, with which the Frenchgeneral had eluded every attempt of Heyward to worm from him the purportof the communication he had proposed making, or on the decided, thoughstill polished message, by which he now gave his enemy to understand,that unless he chose to receive it in person, he should not receive itat all. As Munro listened to the detail of Duncan, the excited feelingsof the father gradually gave way before the obligations of his station,and when the other was done, he saw before him nothing but the veteran,swelling with the wounded feelings of a soldier.

  "You have said enough, Major Heyward!" exclaimed the angry old man:"enough to make a volume of commentary on French civility. Here has thisgentleman invited me to a conference, and when I send him a capablesubstitute, for ye're all that, Duncan, though your years are but few,he answers me with a riddle."

  "He may have thought less favorably of the substitute, my dear sir; andyou will remember that the invitation, which he now repeats, was to thecommandant of the works, and not to his second."

  "Well, sir, is not a substitute clothed with all the power and dignityof him who grants the commission? He wishes to confer with Munro! Faith,sir, I have much inclination to indulge the man, if it should only be tolet him behold the firm countenance we maintain in spite of his numbersand his summons. There might be no bad policy in such a stroke, youngman."

  Duncan, who believed it of the last importance that they should speedilycome at the contents of the letter borne by the scout, gladly encouragedthis idea.

  "Without doubt, he could gather no confidence by witnessing ourindifference," he said.

  "You never said truer word. I could wish, sir, that he would visit theworks in open day, and in the form of a storming party: that is theleast failing method of proving the countenance of an enemy, and wouldbe far preferable to the battering system he has chosen. The beauty andmanliness of warfare has been much deformed, Major Heyward, by the artsof your Monsieur Vauban. Our ancestors were far above such scientificcowardice!"

  "It may be very true, sir; but we are now obliged to repel art by art.What is your pleasure in the matter of the interview?"

  "I will meet the Frenchman, and that without fear or delay; promptly;sir, as becomes a servant of my royal master. Go, Major Heyward, andgive them a flourish of the music; and send out a messenger to let themknow who is coming. We will follow with a small guard, for such respectis due to one who holds the honor of his king in keeping; and harkee,Duncan," he added, in a half whisper, though they were alone, "it may beprudent to have some aid at hand, in case there should be treachery atthe bottom of it all."

  The young man availed himself of this order to quit the apartment; and,as the day was fast coming to a close, he hastened, without delay, tomake the necessary arrangements. A very few minutes only were necessaryto parade a few files, and to despatch an orderly with a flag toannounce the approach of the commandant of the fort. When Duncan haddone both these, he led the guard to the sally-port, near which he foundhis superior ready, waiting his appearance. As soon as the usualceremonials of a military departure were observed, the veteran and hismore youthful companion left the fortress, attended by the escort.

  They had proceeded only a hundred yards from the works, when the littlearray which attended the French general to the conference, was seenissuing from the hollow way, which formed the bed of a brook that ranbetween the batteries of the besiegers and the fort. From the momentthat Munro left his own works to appear in front of his enemies, his airhad been grand, and his step and countenance highly military. Theinstant he caught a glimpse of the white plume that waved in the hat ofMontcalm, his eye lighted, and age no longer appeared to possess anyinfluence over his vast and still muscular person.

  "Speak to the boys to be watchful, sir," he said, in an undertone, toDuncan; "and to look well to their flints and steel, for one is neversafe with a servant of these Louises; at the same time, we will showthem the front of men in deep security. Ye'll understand me, MajorHeyward!"

  He was interrupted by the clamor of a drum from the approachingFrenchmen, which was immediately answered, when each party pushed anorderly in advance, bearing a white flag, and the wary Scotsman halted,with his guard close at his back. As soon as this slight salutation hadpassed, Montcalm moved towards them with a quick but graceful step,baring his head to the veteran, and dropping his spotless plume nearlyto the earth in courtesy. If the air of Munro was more commanding andmanly, it wanted both the ease and insinuating polish of that of theFrenchman. Neither spoke for a few moments, each regarding the otherwith curious and interested eyes. Then, as became his superior rank andthe nature of the interview, Montcalm broke the silence. After utteringthe usual words of greeting, he turned to Duncan, and continued with asmile of recognition, speaking always in French,--

  _Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons_

  THE MEETING OF THE GENERALS

  _As soon as this slight salutation had passed, Montcalm moved towardsthem with a quick but graceful step, baring his head to the veteran, anddropping his spotless plume nearly to the earth in courtesy_]

  "I am rejoiced, monsieur, that you have given us the pleasure of yourcompany on this occasion. There will be no necessity to employ anordinary interpreter; for, in your hands, I feel the same security as ifI spoke your language myself."

  Duncan acknowledged the compliment, when Montcalm, turning to his guard,which, in imitation of that of their enemies, pressed close upon him,continued,--

  "En arriere, mes enfans--il fait chaud; retirez-vous un peu."

  Before Major Heyward would imitate this proof of confidence, he glancedhis eyes around the plain, and beheld with uneasiness the numerous duskygroups of savages, who looked out from the margin of the surroundingwoods, curious spectators of the interview.

  "Monsieur de Montcalm will readily acknowledge the difference in oursituation," he said, with some embarrassment, pointing at the same
timetowards those dangerous foes, who were to be seen in almost everydirection. "Were we to dismiss our guard, we should stand here at themercy of our enemies."

  "Monsieur, you have the plighted faith of _un gentilhomme Francais_; foryour safety," returned Montcalm, laying his hand impressively on hisheart; "it should suffice."

  "It shall. Fall back," Duncan added to the officer who led the escort;"fall back, sir, beyond hearing, and wait for orders."

  Munro witnessed this movement with manifest uneasiness; nor did he failto demand an instant explanation.

  "Is it not our interest, sir, to betray no distrust?" retorted Duncan."Monsieur de Montcalm pledges his word for our safety, and I haveordered the men to withdraw a little, in order to prove how much wedepend on his assurance."

  "It may be all right, sir, but I have no overweening reliance on thefaith of these marquesses, or marquis, as they call themselves. Theirpatents of nobility are too common to be certain that they bear the sealof true honor."

  "You forget, dear sir, that we confer with an officer distinguishedalike in Europe and America for his deeds. From a soldier of hisreputation we can have nothing to apprehend."

  The old man made a gesture of resignation, though his rigid featuresstill betrayed his obstinate adherence to a distrust, which he derivedfrom a sort of hereditary contempt of his enemy, rather than from anypresent signs which might warrant so uncharitable a feeling. Montcalmwaited patiently until this little dialogue in demi-voice was ended,when he drew nigher, and opened the subject of their conference.

  "I have solicited this interview from your superior, monsieur," he said,"because I believe he will allow himself to be persuaded that he hasalready done everything which is necessary for the honor of his prince,and will not listen to the admonitions of humanity. I will forever beartestimony that his resistance has been gallant, and was continued aslong as there was hope."

  When this opening was translated to Munro, he answered with dignity, butwith sufficient courtesy,--

  "However I may prize such testimony from Monsieur Montcalm, it will bemore valuable when it shall be better merited."

  The French general smiled, as Duncan gave him the purport of this reply,and observed,--

  "What is now so freely accorded to approved courage, may be refused touseless obstinacy. Monsieur would wish to see my camp, and witness, forhimself, our numbers, and the impossibility of his resisting them, withsuccess?"

  "I know that the king of France is well served," returned the unmovedScotsman, as soon as Duncan ended his translation; "but my own royalmaster has as many and as faithful troops."

  "Though not at hand, fortunately for us," said Montcalm, withoutwaiting, in his ardor, for the interpreter. "There is a destiny in war,to which a brave man knows how to submit, with the same courage that hefaces his foes."

  "Had I been conscious that Monsieur Montcalm was master of the English,I should have spared myself the trouble of so awkward a translation,"said the vexed Duncan, dryly; remembering instantly his recent by-playwith Munro.

  "Your pardon, monsieur," rejoined the Frenchman, suffering a slightcolor to appear on his dark cheek. "There is a vast difference betweenunderstanding and speaking a foreign tongue; you will, therefore, pleaseto assist me still." Then after a short pause, he added, "These hillsafford us every opportunity of reconnoitring your works, messieurs, andI am possibly as well acquainted with their weak condition as you can beyourselves."

  "Ask the French general if his glasses can reach to the Hudson," saidMunro, proudly; "and if he knows when and where to expect the army ofWebb."

  "Let General Webb be his own interpreter," returned the politicMontcalm, suddenly extending an open letter towards Munro, as he spoke;"you will there learn, monsieur, that his movements are not likely toprove embarrassing to my army."

  The veteran seized the offered paper, without waiting for Duncan totranslate the speech, and with an eagerness that betrayed how importanthe deemed its contents. As his eye passed hastily over the words, hiscountenance changed from its look of military pride to one of deepchagrin: his lip began to quiver; and, suffering the paper to fall fromhis hand, his head dropped upon his chest, like that of a man whosehopes were withered at a single blow. Duncan caught the letter from theground, and without apology for the liberty he took, he read at a glanceits cruel purport. Their common superior, so far from encouraging themto resist, advised a speedy surrender, urging in the plainest languageas a reason, the utter impossibility of his sending a single man totheir rescue.

  "Here is no deception!" exclaimed Duncan, examining the billet bothinside and out; "this is the signature of Webb, and must be the capturedletter."

  "The man has betrayed me!" Munro at length bitterly exclaimed: "he hasbrought dishonor to the door of one where disgrace was never beforeknown to dwell, and shame has he heaped heavily on my gray hairs."

  "Say not so," cried Duncan; "we are yet masters of the fort, and of ourhonor. Let us then sell our lives at such a rate as shall make ourenemies believe the purchase too dear."

  "Boy, I thank thee," exclaimed the old man, rousing himself from hisstupor; "you have, for once, reminded Munro of his duty. We will goback, and dig our graves behind those ramparts."

  "Messieurs," said Montcalm, advancing towards them a step, in generousinterest, "you little know Louis de St. Veran, if you believe himcapable of profiting by this letter to humble brave men, or to build upa dishonest reputation for himself. Listen to my terms before you leaveme."

  "What says the Frenchman?" demanded the veteran, sternly; "does he makea merit of having captured a scout, with a note from headquarters? Sir,he had better raise this siege, to go and sit down before Edward if hewishes to frighten his enemy with words."

  Duncan explained the other's meaning.

  "Monsieur de Montcalm, we will hear you," the veteran added, more calmly,as Duncan ended.

  "To retain the fort is now impossible," said his liberal enemy; "it isnecessary to the interests of my master that it should be destroyed;but, as for yourselves, and your brave comrades, there is no privilegedear to a soldier that shall be denied."

  "Our colors?" demanded Heyward.

  "Carry them to England, and show them to your king."

  "Our arms?"

  "Keep them; none can use them better."

  "Our march; the surrender of the place?"

  "Shall all be done in a way most honorable to yourselves."

  Duncan now turned to explain these proposals to his commander, who heardhim with amazement, and a sensibility that was deeply touched by suchunusual and unexpected generosity.

  "Go you, Duncan," he said; "go with this marquess, as indeed marquess heshould be; go to his marquee and arrange it all. I have lived to see twothings in my old age, that never did I expect to behold. An Englishmanafraid to support a friend, and a Frenchman too honest to profit by hisadvantage."

  So saying, the veteran again dropped his head to his chest, and returnedslowly towards the fort, exhibiting, by the dejection of his air, to theanxious garrison, a harbinger of evil tidings.

  From the shock of this unexpected blow the haughty feelings of Munronever recovered; but from that moment there commenced a change in hisdetermined character, which accompanied him to a speedy grave. Duncanremained to settle the terms of the capitulation. He was seen tore-enter the works during the first watches of the night, andimmediately after a private conference with the commandant, to leavethem again, It was then openly announced, that hostilities mustcease--Munro having signed a treaty, by which the place was to beyielded to the enemy, with the morning; the garrison to retain theirarms, their colors, and their baggage, and consequently, according tomilitary opinion, their honor.