In Paths of Peril: A Boy's Adventures in Nova Scotia
Page 10
CHAPTER X
ADVENTURE IN BOSTON
The _Clement_ was found and boarded without much difficulty, and atdaybreak she was on her way to Boston, bearing the La Tours and Raoul.
They were well received at the quaint capital of the New EnglandProvince, and, after a good deal of negotiation, for the shrewdcolonists knew how to drive good bargains, La Tour succeeded inarranging for four ships, carrying nearly two score guns, and onehundred and fifty men. With this force he felt quite equal to gettingthe better of his rival, and set sail from Boston in high spirits. Forsix weeks Fort La Tour had been silent as a tomb, the besiegers, whowere quite unaware of the La Tours having slipped away, trusting tostarvation to do their work for them, while the garrison, lookingforward to their commander's return in force, made no attempt atsorties, but got along, as best they could, on the scanty rations leftthem. They kept a sharp and steady look-out, however, and one daytheir eyes were gladdened by the sight of many sails in the offing.
"La Tour! La Tour!" they cried joyously, and at once proceeded towelcome him with a salute in which every cannon on the ramparts had apart. La Tour did his best to capture some of Charnace's vessels, butboth wind and tide favoured their escape, although he chased them asfar as the Penobscot. There was great rejoicing at the fort, andfeasting followed famine for the remainder of the week.
"Will Monsieur Charnace come back again, do you think?" Raoul asked ofhis aunt as they sat in her room, having grown weary of the revelling.
"I am afraid so," she answered with a sigh. "He is a proud, determinedman, and this defeat will only cause him to try again with a strongerforce. I fear there is trouble in store for us."
"But why can't he leave us alone?" Raoul cried petulantly. "We havenever made any attack upon him."
"Because this world, big as it may seem, Raoul, is all too small forsuch men as your uncle and Charnace," Madame replied. "They cannotbrook a rival, and they must needs fight until one or the other isoverthrown," and she sighed again deeply, for her gentle heart shrankfrom conflict, and she infinitely preferred teaching religion to theIndians, to all her husband's grand plans for wealth and power.
Foiled in his first attempt, but not shaken in his purpose, Charnacewent off across the ocean to France to see if something could not bedone there to humble his rival, and La Tour was left to pursue his wayin peace.
Raoul now took an active part in what went on, and led quite a busylife. He accompanied his uncle in his trips up the River St. John,where they met with Indians from the interior, who brought rich furs tobarter for goods. Twice he crossed over to Fort St. Louis, and eachtime congratulated himself on the move to Fort La Tour; and whatpleased him most of all, he was allowed to go on one of the ships toBoston, for he had very pleasant recollections of his first visitthere. His visit was made memorable by an experience which wascertainly of too exciting a nature to be soon forgotten. Having aleisure afternoon, he went off alone for a stroll along the river-bank,where he felt sure he would find something to interest him. And inthis he was not disappointed.
He had gone about half-a-mile from the town when, seeing a group ofboys evidently much interested in something, he hurried towards them.To his surprise he saw that they were making sport of a strange-lookinglad of about his own age, who seemed to be only half-witted. Theywanted him to go into the water, but he held back in a terror-strickenway that ought to have caused them to desist, but only served to spurthem on. Just as Raoul reached them, they had dragged the poor fellowto the edge of a little point below which the water was fairly deep,and, crying out: "Give him a dip; he needs a good wash!" were about toshove him over the edge, when Raoul, stirred to such indignation thathe quite forgot that he stood alone against half-a-dozen, called out:
"Shame! Shame! Let the poor fellow be! Why do you torment him so?"and springing into their midst, he tore them away from their victim,and set him free.
So sudden was his onset--for the boys, being intent upon their _fun_,had not noticed his approach--that they were completely taken aback,and the idiot boy, finding himself free, had sufficient sense to make abreak, whereby he got out of their reach ere they recovered from theirsurprise. Then they turned upon Raoul, and with coarse oaths demandedwho he was, and what business he had interfering with them. Raoulrealized that he was in a pretty tight place, and had no idea just howhe was to get out of it, but he put on a bold front and replied:
"It's no matter who I am. You had no right to be tormenting that poorchap."
"Oh, ho! he's a Frenchie. Let us put him in instead," was the cryraised, and at once they threw themselves upon Raoul.
There were none of them larger than he, but they were six to one, and,although he fought splendidly, they were not long in bringing him tothe ground. Seizing him roughly by the arms and legs they bore him tothe edge of the bank, and in another instant they would have pitchedhim over, when a commanding voice shouted:
"Stop! Let that boy alone!" and again the young rowdies were checkedin their rough sport. This time the interposition came from no lessimportant a personage than Governor Winthrop himself, who, chancing totake his afternoon constitutional in that direction, had observed thedisturbance, and hurried up to ascertain its meaning. He carried astout cane, and followed up his command by laying it upon the backs ofthe boys nearest him with such good effect that they dashed offhowling, and in a moment Raoul was left free to pick himself up andarrange his disordered dress.
"Pray, sir, what were they doing to you?" inquired Governor Winthropwith grave concern.
"They were trying to throw me into the river," responded Raoul, "andbut for you, sir, they would have done it." And then he went on toexplain what had taken place, while the Governor listened with anapproving smile; and when he had finished, he placed his hand uponRaoul's shoulder, saying:
"You have borne yourself nobly, my son, and I feel ashamed that thechildren of our own townspeople should behave in so unseemly a fashion.And now tell me who are you and whence you come, for you are assuredlya stranger here."
When he learned that Raoul was the nephew of Charles La Tour,Lieutenant-General of Acadia, his interest manifestly deepened.
"Indeed, indeed," he said. "I know your worthy uncle well, and holdhim in high esteem. You must come and sup with me, and I shall seethat you return to your ship in due time."
Raoul was only too glad to accept such an attractive invitation, and sothe close of this eventful day found him the guest of the Governor, andkeenly relishing the excellent fare that his table afforded.