The Black Eagle; or, Ticonderoga
Page 20
CHAPTER XX.
The morning of the following day broke fresh and beautiful. A brightclearness was in the sky--a brisk elasticity in the air--that had notbeen seen or felt for weeks. Everything looked sparkling, and sharp,and distinct. Distances were diminished; woods and hills, which hadlooked dim, seemed near and definite; and the whole world appeared inharmony with energy and effort. The heavy rains of the precedingmorning had cleared the overcharged atmosphere, as tears willsometimes relieve the loaded breast; and when Lord H---- and Mr.Prevost mounted their horses to set out, it seemed as if theinvigorating air had restored to the latter the firmness and courageof which the grief and horror of the preceding day had deprived him.
Edith embraced her father, and gave her cheek to the warm touch of herlover's lips; and then she watched them as they rode away, till thewood shut them out from her sight.
The soldiers were by this time installed in the part of the housedestined for them; and some of the negroes were busy in preparing fortheir accommodation; but old Agrippa, and the gardener's boy, and awoman-servant, stood near, watching their master and his guest as theydeparted.
As soon as the little party was out of sight, however, Edith turned toAgrippa, and said,--
"Send Chando to me in the parlour; I wish to speak with him."
When the man appeared, she gazed at him earnestly, saying,--
"How far is it to Oneida Creek, Chando? Have you ever been there?"
"Ah, yes, missa, often, when I was a little boy. Why, you know, myfadder run away and live with Ingins long time, 'cause he had badmaster. But Ingins cut him and thump him more nor worst massa in deworld, and so he come back again. How far be it? Oh, long way; twiceso far as Johnson Castle, or more--oh yes, tree time so far."
Edith knew how vague a negro's ideas of distance are, and she then puther question in a form which would get her a more distinct answer.
"Bethink you, Chando," she said, "how long it would take me to reachthe lake--how long it would take any one. Consider it well, and let meknow."
"You, missy, you!" cried the negro, in great astonishment; "_you_never think of going there?"
"I don't know, Chando," she replied: "it might be needful; and I wishto know how long it would take."
"Dat 'pend upon how you go, missy," returned the man. "Ride so far asJohnson Castle; but can't ride no farder. Den walk as I walk? Younever do dat; and, if you do, take you five day, and walk hard too."
Poor Edith's heart sank.
"Otaitsa walks," she said, in a desponding tone; "but, it is true, shecan do much that I cannot do."
"_She_ walk! Oh dee no, missy," replied the negro; "she walk littlebit o' way from what dey call Wood Creek, or from de Mohawk. She walkno farder. All de rest she go in canoe, sometimes on Mohawk, sometimeson lake, sometimes on creek. She come here once in tree day. I hearold Grey Buzzard, de pipe-bearer, say dat, time when de Sachem camewid his warriors."
"And can I do the same?" asked Edith, eagerly.
"Sure you can, if you get canoe," answered Chando; "but oh, missy,tink ob de Ingins. Dey kidnap Massa Walter--dey kill you too."
"There is no fear, Chando," replied Edith. "Even my father owns that Icould safely go from one lodge to another through the whole land ofthe Five Nations, because Black Eagle has put his blanket round me,and made me his daughter."
"Massa know best," said Chando; "but, if so, why dey kidnap MassaWalter?"
"Black Eagle refused to make him his son, or my father his brother,"said Edith, with the tears rising in her eyes. "But the truth, Chando,is, that I go to try if I can save poor Walter's life--I go to tellthe Blossom that they hold _my_ Walter, _her_ Walter, a prisoner, andsee whether we cannot find means to rescue him."
"I see--I see, missy," said the man, gravely; and then, after pausingfor a moment, he asked, abruptly, "I go with you?"
"Some one I must have to show me the way," replied Edith. "Are youafraid, Chando?"
"Afraid!" cried the man, bursting into a fit of joyous laughter. "Oh,no, not afraid: Ingins no hurt nigger--kick him, cuff him, no scalphim, cause nigger got no scalp-lock. Ha, ha, ha! I go help save MassaWalter. He never hab no good ting, but he give Chando some. Oh, Imanage all for you. We find plenty canoe--Mohawk canoe--Oneidacanoe--if we say you Black Eagle's daughter going to see you sisterOtaitsa. When you go, missy?"
"Very soon, Chando," replied Edith.
She then proceeded to explain to him her plan still further. She saidthat she wished to set out that very day, and as soon as possible, inorder first to communicate the tidings of Walter's capture to Otaitsawithout delay, and secondly to save her father as many hours ofanxiety as possible. She did not absolutely tell the man that she hadnot informed her father of her intention; but he divined it well.
Nevertheless, when he heard somewhat more at large the conduct ofBlack Eagle towards her on the night of poor Walter's capture, he wasquite satisfied of her safety, as far as the Indians were concerned.He urged her, however, to go, in the first place, to Johnson Castle,where she could procure a canoe, or even a _bateau_, he felt certain;and it was long before he comprehended her objection to that course.At length, however, his usual "I see--I see," showed that he hadcaught a light; and then he was soon ready with his resources.
"Den we walk to de nearest end of little pond--only tree mile," hesaid; "fishing canoe all ready. Next we go down little pond, and decreek, into lake; keep by nort side, and den walk to Mohawk, tree milemore. I carry canoe cross on my back. Den, Ingin or no Ingin, we getalong. If missy like to take oder nigger too, we get on very fast, andhe carry bundle."
"I must have one of the women with me," said Edith, in a thoughtfultone; "but which?"
The negro's countenance fell a little. He was very proud of theconfidence placed in him, and he did not like to share it with a whitewoman. His tone, then, was rather dejected, though submissive, when heasked,--
"Do missy take white woman Sally wid her? Sally no walk--Sally norun--Sally no paddle, when Chando is tired."
"No," replied Edith, at once. "I can take no white person with me,Chando, for it would risk her life; and, even to save my poor brother,I must not lure another into such peril. One of your colour, Chando,they will not hurt; for it is a white man's blood they will have for awhite man's act."
"Then take Sister Bab!" cried Chando, rubbing his hands, with thepeculiar low negro chuckle. "Sister Bab walk, run, carry bundle, andtwirl paddle wid anybody."
Now, Bab was a stout negro woman of about forty years of age, with apleasant countenance, and very fine white teeth, who rejoiced in thecognomen of sister, though, to the best of Edith's knowledge, she wassister to no one in the house, at least. Her usual occupations were inthe farmyard, the dairy, and the pigsty; so that Edith had not seenvery much of her. But all that she had seen was pleasant; for SisterBab seemed continually on the watch to do everything for everybody,receiving all orders even from "Massa Walter," who was sometimes alittle inconsiderate, with a broad, good-humoured grin. Her constantactivity and indefatigable energy promised well for an undertakingsuch as that in which Edith was engaged.
"Well, Chando," said the young lady, "I do not know that I could makea better choice. Send Sister Bab to me; for where dangers such asthese are to be encountered, I will not take any woman without her ownfree consent."
"Oh, she go; I talk wid her," said Chando; "you nebber troubleyourself, missy. She go to world's end wid Miss Edith, and fight likedebbel, if dere be need. I nebber saw woman so good at catching fish;she'll hook 'em out like cabbages."
"That also may be useful to us," said Edith, with a faint smile. "Butsend her to me, Chando; I must speak with her before we go."
The good woman, when she came, made not the slightest objection; but,on the contrary, looked upon the expedition as something very amusing,which would give her relief from the tedium of her daily labours, andat the same time afford full occupation for her active spirit. She wasas ready with suggestions as Chando; told Edith everything she hadbest take with
her; detailed all her own proposed preparations, andeven begged for a rifle, declaring that she was as good a shot as"Massa Walter," and had often fired his gun when he had brought ithome undischarged.
Edith declined, however, to have a rifle-woman in her train; andhaving told her two chosen attendants that she would be ready in anhour, retired to make her preparations, and write a few lines to herfather and her lover, to account for her absence when they returned.Both letters were brief; but we will only look at that which she leftfor Mr. Prevost.
"My dear father," she wrote, "I am half afraid I am doing wrong intaking the step I am about to take, without your knowledge orapprobation; but I cannot sit still and do nothing, while all areexerting themselves to save my dear brother. I feel that it isabsolutely necessary to any hope of his safety, that Otaitsa should beinformed immediately of his situation.
"It may be months before any Indian runner is found, and meanwhile mypoor brother's fate may be sealed. Were it to cost my life, I shouldthink myself bound to go; but I am the only one who can go in perfectsafety, for, while promising his protection to me, and insuring meagainst all danger, the Black Eagle refused to give any assurance inregard to others. You have yourself acknowledged, my dear father, thatI shall be perfectly safe; and I have also the advantage of speakingthe Indian language well. In these circumstances, would it not bewrong--would it not be criminal--in me to remain here idle, when Ihave even a chance of saving my poor brother? Forgive me, then, if Ido wrong, on account of the motives which lead me.
"My course is straight to the Mohawk, by the little pond and the lake,and then up the Mohawk and Wood Creek, as far as they will carry me;for, wishing to save myself as much fatigue as possible, I shallventure to take the canoe from the pond.
"I have asked Chando and Sister Bab to accompany me, as I know youwould wish me to have protection and assistance on the way, in case ofany difficulty. I hope to be back in six days at the furthest; and, ifpossible, I will send a runner to inform you of my safe arrivalamongst the Oneidas.
"Once more, my dear father, think of the great object I have in view,and forgive your affectionate daughter."
When her letters were written, Edith dressed herself in a full Indiancostume, which had been given her by Otaitsa; and a beautiful Indianmaiden she looked, though the skin was somewhat too fair, and the hairwanted the jetty black. In the Indian pouch, or wallet, she placedsome articles of European convenience, and a hunter's large knife.Then making up a small package of clothes for Sister Bab to carry, shedescended to the lower story.
Here, however, she met with some impediments which she had notexpected. The news of her proposed expedition had spread through thewhole household, and caused almost an open revolt. The white womenwere in tears; old Agrippa was clamorous; and the fat black cookdeclared loudly that Miss Edith was mad and should not go. So far,indeed, did she carry her opposition, that the young lady was obligedto assume a stern and severe tone, which was seldom heard in Edith'svoice, and command her to retire at once from her presence. The poorwoman was instantly overawed, for her courage was not very permanent,and, bursting into tears, she left the room, declaring she was sureshe should never see Miss Edith again.
Edith then gave all the keys of the house to old Agrippa, with the twoletters which she had written. Chando took up the bag of provisionswhich he had prepared; Sister Bab charged herself with the packet ofclothes, and Edith, walking between them, turned away from herfather's house, amidst the tears of the white women, and a vociferousburst of grief from the negroes.
Her own heart sank for a moment, and she asked herself,--
"Shall I ever pass that threshold again? Shall I ever be pressedhereafter in the arms of those I so much love?"
But she banished such feelings, and drove away such thoughts; andmurmuring,--
"My brother--my poor brother!" she walked on.