CHAPTER XIV.
All was pleasant ease at the house of Sir William Johnson, from whichthe stateliness of his manner did not at all detract; for, whenblended with perfect courtesy, as an Irishman, perhaps better than anyman, can blend it, stateliness does not imply restraint.
The conference with the Indians had not ended until too late an hourfor Mr. Prevost and his companions to return to his dwelling on theday when it took place; and, as Walter was not expected with theanswers to Lord H----'s despatches for at least two days more, theparty were not unwilling to prolong their stay till the followingmorning. Several of the guests, indeed, who were proceeding to Albanydirect, set out at once for their destination, certain of reaching thewell-inhabited parts of the country before nightfall; and it was atone time proposed to send a letter by them to young Walter Prevost,directing him to join his father at the Hall.
The inconveniences which so frequently ensue upon deranging plansalready fixed caused this scheme to be rejected; and while her father,Lord H----, and their host, wandered forth for an hour or two alongthe banks of the beautiful Mohawk, Edith remained at the Hall, notwithout hope of seeing Otaitsa present herself with some intelligence.
The Indian girl, however, did not appear, and gloomy thoughts throngedfast upon poor Edith. She strove to banish them; she schooled herselfin regard to the folly of anticipating evils only possible; but whoever mastered completely those internal warnings of coming peril orwoe which as often come to cloud our brightest days, as to darken thegloom of an already tempestuous sky. Edith's chief companion was anold lady, nearly related to Sir William, but very deaf and verysilent; and she had but small relief in conversation.
In the meantime, the three gentlemen and a young _aide-de-camp_pursued their way amongst the neat farmhouses and mechanics' shopswhich had gathered round the Hall. Mr. Prevost gave way to thoughtsapparently as gloomy as those which haunted his daughter, but inreality not so; for his was a mind of a discursive character, whichwas easily led by collateral ideas far away from any course which itwas at first pursuing; and, though he had awoke that morning full ofthe considerations which had engaged him during the preceding day, hewas now busily calculating the results of the meeting which had justbeen held, and arriving at conclusions more just than were reached bymany of the great statesmen and politicians of the time.
Lord H----, on his part, paid no little attention to the demeanour andall the proceedings of their host. The character of his mind was theexact reverse of that of Mr. Prevost, attaching itself keenly to oneobject, and being turned from its contemplation with difficulty. Histhoughts still dwelt upon the consequences which were likely to ensuefrom the death of the Oneida by the hands of Captain Brooks, withoutanything like alarm, indeed, but with careful forethought for thosewho, in a few short days, had won for themselves a greater share ofthe warm affections which lay hidden in his heart than he oftenbestowed upon any one.
As they quitted the door of the house, a mere trifle called hisattention to something peculiar in the conduct of Sir William Johnson,and led him to believe that the mind of that officer was notaltogether at ease, notwithstanding the favourable result of themeeting with the Indians.
After they had taken a step or two on their way, Sir William pausedsuddenly, turned back, and ordered a servant to run up to the top ofthe hill, and there watch till he returned.
"Mark well which paths they take," he said, without specifying thepersons of whom he spoke, "and let me hear if you see anythingpeculiar."
The man seemed to understand him perfectly; and Lord H---- watchedeverything with the utmost attention. In the course of their ramble,not less than nine or ten persons came up at different times, andspoke a word or two to Sir William Johnson. First a negro, then asoldier, then an Irish servant, then another white man, but withfeatures of a strongly-marked Indian character. Each seemed to givesome information in a few words uttered in a low tone, and eachdeparted as soon as he had spoken, some with a brief answer, some withnone.
The evening which succeeded their walk passed somewhat differentlyfrom the preceding one. Fewer persons were present; the conversationwas more general and intimate, and Sir William Johnson, seating Edithat the old-fashioned instrument which, in those days, supplied thelack of pianofortes, asked for a song which, it seems, he had heardher sing before. She complied without any hesitation, with sufficientskill and management of her voice to show that she had been welltaught, but with tones so rich, so pure, and so melodious, that everysound in the room was instantly hushed, and Lord H---- approachednearer and nearer to listen.
Music, I suppose, may be considered as the highest language--thelanguage of the heart and spirit. Mere words can only reach or conveya very limited class of ideas, the distinct and the tangible; butmusic can convey the fine, the indistinct, the intangible shades offeeling and of thought which escape all other means of expression. Itis only, however, to those who understand the language; but LordH---- was full, not only of the love, but of the science of music; andhe drew closer and closer to Edith, as she sang, and, at length, hungover her, with his face turned away from the other guests in the room,and bearing, written on it, feelings which he hardly yet knew were inhis heart.
Sir William Johnson was standing on the other side of the beautifulgirl's chair; and, as she concluded one of the stanzas, he raised hiseyes suddenly to the face of Lord H----, with a look of greatsatisfaction. What he saw there made him start, and then smile, forthe characters written on the nobleman's countenance were too plain tobe mistaken, and Sir William, who was not without his share of worldlywisdom, at once divined that Edith Prevost was likely to be a peeressof England.
"What a fine musician she is!" exclaimed the older general to LordH----, after he had conducted Edith to her former seat, but before theenthusiasm had subsided; "one would hardly expect to find such musicin these wild woods of America."
"She is all music," said Lord H----, in an absent tone, and thenadded, rousing himself, "but you must not attribute such powers andsuch perfections, altogether, to America, Sir William, for I find thatMiss Prevost was educated in Europe."
"Only till she was fourteen," replied the other; "but they arealtogether a most remarkable family. If ever girl was perfect, it isherself. Her father, though somewhat too much given to dream, is a manof singular powers of mind; and her brother Walter, whom I look uponalmost as a son, is full of high and noble qualities and energies,which, if he lives, will certainly lead him on to greatness."
"I think so," returned Lord H----. And there the conversation droppedfor the time.
The rest of the evening passed without any incident of notice; and bydaybreak on the following morning the whole household were on foot. Anearly breakfast was ready for the travellers, and nothing betrayedmuch anxiety on the part of their host, till the very moment of theirdeparture. As they were about to set forth, however, and just whenEdith appeared in her riding-habit, or Amazon, as it was then called,and the hat, with large floating ostrich plumes, usually worn at thattime by ladies when on horseback--looking lovely enough, it is true,to justify any compliment--Sir William took her by the hand, saying,with a gay and courteous air,--
"I am going to give you a commission, my fair Hippolyta, which isneither more nor less than the command of half-a-dozen dragoons, whomI wish to go with you for a portion of the way, partly to exercisetheir horses on a road, which is marvellously cleared of stumps andstones, for this part of the country, partly to examine what is goingon a little to the north-east, and partly to bring me the pleasantintelligence that you have gone, at least half way to your home insafety."
Lord H---- looked in his face in silence, and Edith turned a littlepale, but said nothing. Mr. Prevost, however, went directly to thepoint, saying, "You know of some danger, my good friend; you hadbetter inform us of all the particulars, in order that we may be uponour guard."
"None whatever, Prevost," answered Sir William, "except the generalperils of inhabiting an advanced spot on the frontiers of a savagepeople, es
pecially when anything has occurred to offend them. You knowwhat we talked about yesterday morning. The Oneidas do not easilyforgive; and, in this case, they will not forgive. But I have everyreason to believe that they have taken their way homeward for thepresent. My people traced them a good way to the west, and it is onlyfrom some chance stragglers that there is any danger."
Mr. Prevost mused, without moving to the door, which was opened forthem to depart, and then said, in a meditating kind of tone, "I do notthink they will attack any large party, Sir William, even whensatisfied that they cannot get hold of the man who has incensed them.These Indians are a very cunning people, and they often satisfy eventheir notions of honour by an artifice, especially when two duties, asthey consider them, are in opposition to one another. Depend upon it,after what passed yesterday, they will commit no act of nationalhostility against England. They are pledged to us, and will not breaktheir pledge. They will attack no large party, nor slay any Englishmanin open strife, though they may kidnap some solitary individual, and,according to their curious notions of atonement, make him a formalsacrifice, in expiation of the blood shed by another."
"You know the Indians well, Prevost," said Sir William Johnson,gravely; "marvellously well, considering the short time you have beenamongst them."
"I have had little else to do than to study them," responded theother, "and the subject is one of great interest. But do you think Iam wrong in the view I take, my good friend?"
"Quite the contrary," replied Sir William, "and that is the reason Isend the soldiers with you. A party of eight or ten will be perfectlysecure; and I would certainly advise that, for the next two or threemonths, or till this unlucky dog, Brooks, or Woodchuck as he iscalled, has been captured, no one should go any distance from his homesingly. Such a party as yours might be large enough. I am not surethat my lord's red coat, which I am happy to see he has got on to-day,might not be sufficient protection; for they will not risk anythingwhich they themselves deem an act of hostility against the Englishgovernment. Still, the soldiers will make the matter more secure tillyou have passed the spot where there is any chance of their beingfound. I repeat, I know of no peril; but I would fain guard againstall, where a fair lady is concerned." And he bowed gracefully toEdith.
Little more was said; and taking leave of their host, Mr. Prevost'sparty mounted their horses, and set out, followed by a corporal'sguard of dragoons, a small body of which corps was then stationed inthe province of New York, although, from the nature of the country inwhich hostilities had hitherto been carried on, small opportunity hadas yet been afforded them of showing their powers against an enemy.Nor would there have been any very favourable opportunity for so doingin the present instance, even had Mr. Prevost and his companions beenattacked; for though the road they had to travel was broad and open,compared to an ordinary Indian trail, yet, except at one or twopoints, it was hemmed in with impervious forests, where the action ofcavalry would be quite impossible, and under the screen of which askilful marksman might bring down his man, himself unperceived.
Sir William Johnson was nevertheless sincere in saying that hebelieved the very sight of the English soldiers would be quitesufficient protection. The Indians, he knew right well, would avoidanything like a struggle or a contest, and would more especially takecare not to come into collision of any kind with the troops of theirBritish allies. It was likely that they would depend entirely uponcunning to obtain a victim wherewith to appease their vengeance; buton this probability he did not choose altogether to rely. He saw hisfriends depart, however, with perfect confidence, as the soldiers wentwith them; and they proceeded without seeing a single human beingafter they quitted his settlement, till they reached the shores of thesmall lake near which they had halted on their previous journey, andwhere they again dismounted to take refreshment.
It was a very pleasant spot, and well fitted for a resting-place; norwas repose altogether needless, though the distance already travelledwas not great either for man or horse. But the day was exceedinglyoppressive, like one of those which come in what is called the Indiansummer, when the weather, after many a frosty day, becomes suddenlysultry, as if in the middle of June, and the air is loaded with thinyellow vapour, well deserving the term of "smoky," usually given to iton the western side of the Atlantic. Yet there was no want of air; thewind blew from the south-east, but there was no freshness on thebreeze. It was like the Sirocco, taking away strength and firmnessfrom all it breathed upon; and the horses, after being freed from theburden they bore, stood for several minutes with bent heads andheaving sides, without attempting to crop the forest grass beneath thetrees.
Thus repose was sweet, and the look of the little lake was cool andrefreshing. The travellers lingered there somewhat after the hour atwhich they had proposed to depart, and it was the negro who took careof the luggage who first warned them of the waning of the day.
"Massa forget," he said, "sun go early to bed in October. Twelve mileto go yet, and road wuss nor dis."
"True, true," replied Mr. Prevost, rising. "We had better go on, mylord, for it is now past two, and we shall barely reach home bydaylight. I really think, corporal," he continued, turning to thenon-commissioned officer, who had been seated with his men hard by,enjoying some of the good things of life, "that we need not troubleyou to go farther. There is no trace of any Indians, or indeed of anyhuman beings, in the forest, but ourselves. Had there been so, my goodfriend Chundo, here, would have discovered it, for he knows theirtracks as well as any of their own people."
"Dat I do, massa," replied the negro, to whom he pointed. "No Inginpass dis road since yesterday, I swear."
"My orders were to go to the big blazed Basswood-tree, sir, four milesfarther," observed the soldier, in a firm but respectful tone, "and Imust obey orders."
"You are right," said Lord H----, pleased with the man's demeanour."What is your name, corporal?"
"Clithero, my lord," replied the man, with a militarysalute--"Corporal Clithero."
Lord H---- bowed his head; and the party, remounting, pursued theirway. The road, however, as the negro had said, was more difficult inadvance than it had been nearer to Sir William Johnson's settlement,and it took the whole party an hour to reach the great Basswood-tree,which had been mentioned, and which was marked out from the rest ofthe forest by three large marks upon the bark, hewn by some surveyor'saxe when the road had been laid out. There the party stopped for amoment or two, and with a few words of thanks, Mr. Prevost and hiscompanions parted from their escort.
"How dim the air along the path is!" ejaculated Lord H----, lookingon; "and yet the sun, getting to the west, is shining right down itthrough the valley. One could almost imagine it was filled withsmoke."
"This is what we call a smoky day in America," replied Mr. Prevost;"but I never knew the Indian summer come on us with such a wind."
No more was said on that matter at the time; and, as the road grewnarrower, Mr. Prevost and the negro, as best acquainted with the way,rode first, while Lord H---- followed by Edith's side, conversing withher in quiet and easy tones; but with words which sometimes caused thecolour to vary a little in her cheek.
These words were not exactly words of love. Write them down, and theymight have very little meaning--less application; but all things havesuch a harmony throughout the universe, that everything separated fromits accessories means nothing, or worse than nothing. His tones, Ihave said, were low and easy; but they were tender, too. His wordswere not words of love, but they had a fire in them that nothing butlove could give; and the contrast between the low, easy tone, and thatrich, glowing language, added all that was needful to give them themeaning of the heart, rather than the meaning of dictionaries. Hespoke of her singing the night before, and of music in general; hespoke of the beauties of the scenery, the tints of the landscape; hespoke of the old world and the new, and society and solitude. But itmattered not; whatever he spoke of, he thought of Edith Prevost, andthere was something that showed her he did so.
Thus
they went on for some four miles farther; and the evening wasevidently closing round them rapidly, though no ray had yet passedfrom the sky. Suddenly Mr. Prevost drew in his rein, saying, in a lowbut distinct voice to the negro, "What is that crossing the road?"
"No Ingin," cried the negro, whose eyes had been constantly bentforward.
"Surely there is smoke drifting across the path," said Mr. Prevost,"and I think I smell it also."
"I have thought so for some time," said Lord H----, who was now closeto them with Edith. "Are fires common in these woods?"
"Not very," answered Mr. Prevost, "but the season has been unusuallydry. Good heavens! I hope my fears are not prophetic: I've beenthinking all day of what would become of the Lodge if the forest wereto take fire."
"We had better ride on as fast as possible," said the nobleman; "forthen, if the worst happens, we may be able to save some of yourproperty."
"We must be cautious, we must be cautious," returned the other in athoughtful tone. "Fire is a capricious element, and often runs indirections the least expected. I have heard of people getting soentangled in a burning wood as not to be able to escape."
"O yes," cried the negro; "when I were little boy, I remember quitewell, Massa John Bostock, and five other men wid him, git in pine woodbehind Albany, and it catch fire. He run here and dere, but it git allround him, and roast him up black as I be. I saw dem bring in what deyfancied was he, but it no better dan a great pine stump."
"If I remember," observed Lord H----, "we passed a high hill somewherenear this spot where we had a fine clear view over the whole of thewoody region round. We had better make for that at once. The firecannot yet have reached it, if my remembrance of the distance iscorrect; for though the wind sets towards us, the smoke is as yetanything but dense. It may be miles off, even beyond your house."
"Pray God it be so!" ejaculated Mr. Prevost, spurring forward; "but Ifear it is nearer."
The rest followed as quickly as the stumps and the fallen trees wouldlet them; and at the distance of half a mile began the ascent of thehill to which Lord H---- had alluded. As far as that spot the smokehad been growing denser and denser every moment; apparently pouringalong the valley formed by that hill and another on the left, throughwhich valley, let it be remarked, the small river in which Walter hadbeen seen fishing by Sir William Johnson, but now a broad and veryshallow stream, took its course onwards toward the Mohawk. As theybegan to ascend, however, the smoke decreased, and Edith exclaimed,joyfully,--
"I hope, dear father, the fire is farther to the north."
"We shall see, we shall see," said Mr. Prevost, still pushing hishorse forward. "The sun is going down fast; and a little haste will bebetter on all accounts."
In about five minutes more the summit of the hill was reached, at aspot where, in laying out two roads which crossed each other there,the surveyors had cleared away a considerable portion of the wood,leaving, as Lord H---- had said, a clear view over the greater part ofthe undulating forest country, lying in the angle formed by the upperHudson and the Mohawk. Towns have now risen up; villages are scatteredover the face of the land; rich fields of wheat and maize, gardens,orchards, and peaceful farmhouses, greet the eye wherever it isturned from the summit of that hill; but it was different then. Withthe few exceptions of a small pond or lake, a rushing stream, or anatural savanna of a few hundred acres, it was all forest; and theonly sign of man's habitation which could be descried at any time wasthe roof and chimneys of Mr. Prevost's house, which, in general, couldbe discerned rising above the trees, upon an eminence a good deallower than the summit which the travellers had reached. Now, however,the house could not be seen.
The sight which the country presented was a fine but a terrible one.On the one side, the sun, with his lower limb just dipped beneath theforest, was casting up floods of many-coloured light, orange andpurple, gold, and even green, upon the light fantastic cloudsscattered over the western sky; while above, some fleecy vapours,fleeting quickly along, were all rosy with the touch of his beams.
Onward to the east and north, filling up the whole valley between thehill on which they stood, and the eminence crowned by Mr. Prevost'shouse, and forming an almost semi-circular line, of some three or fourmiles in extent, was a dense, reddish-brown cloud of smoke, markingwhere the fire raged, and softening off at each extreme into a bluishgrey. No general flame could be perceived through this heavy cloud;but, ever and anon, a sudden flash would break across it, not brightand vivid, but dull and half obscured, when the fierce element gothold of some of the drier and more combustible materials of theforest. Once or twice, too, suddenly, at one point of the line oranother, a single tree, taller, perhaps, than the rest, or moreinflammable, or garmented in a. thick matting of dry vine, would catchthe flame, and burst forth from the root to the topmost branch like atall column of fire; and here and there, too, from what cause I knownot--perhaps, from an accumulation of dry grass and withered leaves,seized upon by the fire and wind together--a volley of bright sparkswould mingle with the cloud of smoke, and be thrown up, for a moment,to the westward.
It was a grand, but an awful, spectacle; and, as Mr. Prevost gazedupon it, thoughts and feelings crowded into his bosom, which evenEdith herself could not estimate.
The Black Eagle; or, Ticonderoga Page 14
