ItwasafeaturepeculiartothecolonialwarsofNorthAmerica,thatthetoilsanddangersofthewildernessweretobeencounteredbeforetheadversehostscouldmeet.
AwideandapparentlyanimperviousboundaryofforestsseveredthepossessionsofthehostileprovincesofFranceandEngland.
Thehardycolonist,andthetrainedEuropeanwhofoughtathisside,frequentlyexpendedmonthsinstrugglingagainsttherapidsofthestreams,orineffectingtheruggedpassesofthemountains,inquestofanopportunitytoexhibittheircourageinamoremartialconflict.
But,emulatingthepatienceandself-denialofthepracticednativewarriors,theylearnedtoovercomeeverydifficulty;anditwouldseemthat,intime,therewasnorecessofthewoodssodark,noranysecretplacesolovely,thatitmightclaimexemptionfromtheinroadsofthosewhohadpledgedtheirbloodtosatiatetheirvengeance,ortoupholdthecoldandselfishpolicyofthedistantmonarchsofEurope.
PerhapsnodistrictthroughoutthewideextentoftheintermediatefrontierscanfurnishalivelierpictureofthecrueltyandfiercenessofthesavagewarfareofthoseperiodsthanthecountrywhichliesbetweentheheadwatersoftheHudsonandtheadjacentlakes.
ThelengthenedsheetoftheChamplainstretchedfromthefrontiersofCanada,deepwithinthebordersoftheneighboringprovinceofNewYork,forminganaturalpassageacrosshalfthedistancethattheFrenchwerecompelledtomasterinordertostriketheirenemies.
Nearitssoutherntermination,itreceivedthecontributionsofanotherlake,whosewatersweresolimpidastohavebeenexclusivelyselectedbytheJesuitmissionariestoperformthetypicalpurificationofbaptism,andtoobtainforitthetitleoflake“duSaintSacrement.”
ThelesszealousEnglishthoughttheyconferredasufficienthonoronitsunsulliedfountains,whentheybestowedthenameoftheirreigningprince,thesecondofthehouseofHanover.
Thetwounitedtorobtheuntutoredpossessorsofitswoodedsceneryoftheirnativerighttoperpetuateitsoriginalappellationof“Horican.”
(Note:AseachnationoftheIndianshaditslanguageoritsdialect,theyusuallygavedifferentnamestothesameplaces,thoughnearlyalloftheirappellationsweredescriptiveoftheobject.
Thusaliteraltranslationofthenameofthisbeautifulsheetofwater,usedbythetribethatdweltonitsbanks,wouldbe“TheTailoftheLake.”
LakeGeorge,asitisvulgarly,andnow,indeed,legally,called,formsasortoftailtoLakeChamplain,whenviewedonthemap.Hence,thename.)
Windingitswayamongcountlessislands,andimbeddedinmountains,the“holylake”extendedadozenleaguesstillfurthertothesouth.
Withthehighplainthatthereinterposeditselftothefurtherpassageofthewater,commencedaportageofasmanymiles,whichconductedtheadventurertothebanksoftheHudson,atapointwhere,withtheusualobstructionsoftherapids,orrifts,astheywerethentermedinthelanguageofthecountry,theriverbecamenavigabletothetide.
While,inthepursuitoftheirdaringplansofannoyance,therestlessenterpriseoftheFrenchevenattemptedthedistantanddifficultgorgesoftheAlleghany,itmayeasilybeimaginedthattheirproverbialacutenesswouldnotoverlookthenaturaladvantagesofthedistrictwehavejustdescribed.
Itbecame,emphatically,thebloodyarena,inwhichmostofthebattlesforthemasteryofthecolonieswerecontested.
Fortswereerectedatthedifferentpointsthatcommandedthefacilitiesoftheroute,andweretakenandretaken,razedandrebuilt,asvictoryalightedonthehostilebanners.
Whilethehusbandmanshrankbackfromthedangerouspasses,withinthesaferboundariesofthemoreancientsettlements,armieslargerthanthosethathadoftendisposedofthesceptersofthemothercountries,wereseentoburythemselvesintheseforests,whencetheyrarelyreturnedbutinskeletonbands,thatwerehaggardwithcareordejectedbydefeat.
Thoughtheartsofpeacewereunknowntothisfatalregion,itsforestswerealivewithmen;itsshadesandglensrangwiththesoundsofmartialmusic,andtheechoesofitsmountainsthrewbackthelaugh,orrepeatedthewantoncry,ofmanyagallantandrecklessyouth,ashehurriedbythem,inthenoontideofhisspirits,toslumberinalongnightofforgetfulness.
Itwasinthissceneofstrifeandbloodshedthattheincidentsweshallattempttorelateoccurred,duringthethirdyearofthewarwhichEnglandandFrancelastwagedforthepossessionofacountrythatneitherwasdestinedtoretain.
Theimbecilityofhermilitaryleadersabroad,andthefatalwantofenergyinhercouncilsathome,hadloweredthecharacterofGreatBritainfromtheproudelevationonwhichithadbeenplacedbythetalentsandenterpriseofherformerwarriorsandstatesmen.
Inthismortifyingabasement,thecolonists,thoughinnocentofherimbecility,andtoohumbletobetheagentsofherblunders,werebutthenaturalparticipators.
Theyhadrecentlyseenachosenarmyfromthatcountry,which,reverencingasamother,theyhadblindlybelievedinvincible—anarmyledbyachiefwhohadbeenselectedfromacrowdoftrainedwarriors,forhisraremilitaryendowments,disgracefullyroutedbyahandfulofFrenchandIndians,andonlysavedfromannihilationbythecoolnessandspiritofaVirginianboy,whoseriperfamehassincediffuseditself,withthesteadyinfluenceofmoraltruth,totheuttermostconfinesofChristendom.
Awidefrontierhadbeenlaidnakedbythisunexpecteddisaster,andmoresubstantialevilswereprecededbyathousandfancifulandimaginarydangers.
Thealarmedcolonistsbelievedthattheyellsofthesavagesmingledwitheveryfitfulgustofwindthatissuedfromtheinterminableforestsofthewest.
Numberlessrecentmassacreswerestillvividintheirrecollections;norwasthereanyearintheprovincessodeafasnottohavedrunkinwithaviditythenarrativeofsomefearfultaleofmidnightmurder,inwhichthenativesoftheforestsweretheprincipalandbarbarousactors.
Asthecredulousandexcitedtravelerrelatedthehazardouschancesofthewilderness,thebloodofthetimidcurdledwithterror,andmotherscastanxiousglancesevenatthosechildrenwhichslumberedwithinthesecurityofthelargesttowns.
Inshort,themagnifyinginfluenceoffearbegantosetatnaughtthecalculationsofreason,andtorenderthosewhoshouldhaverememberedtheirmanhood,theslavesofthebasestpassions.
Eventhemostconfidentandthestoutestheartsbegantothinktheissueofthecontestwasbecomingdoubtful;andthatabjectclasswashourlyincreasinginnumbers,whothoughttheyforesawallthepossessionsoftheEnglishcrowninAmericasubduedbytheirChristianfoes,orlaidwastebytheinroadsoftheirrelentlessallies.
(Note:Washington,who,afteruselesslyadmonishingtheEuropeangeneralofthedangerintowhichhewasheedlesslyrunning,savedtheremnantsoftheBritisharmy,onthisoccasion,byhisdecisionandcourage.
ThereputationearnedbyWashingtoninthisbattlewastheprincipalcauseofhisbeingselectedtocommandtheAmericanarmiesatalaterday.
Itisacircumstanceworthyofobservation,thatwhileallAmericarangwithhiswell-meritedreputation,hisnamedoesnotoccurinanyEuropeanaccountofthebattle;atleasttheauthorhassearchedforitwithoutsuccess.
When,therefore,intelligencewasreceivedatthefortwhichcoveredthesouthernterminationoftheportagebetweentheHudsonandthelakes,thatMontcalmhadbeenseenmovinguptheChamplain,withanarmy“numerousastheleavesonthetrees,”itstruthwasadmittedwithmoreofthecravenreluctanceoffearthanwiththesternjoythatawarriorshouldfeel,infindinganenemywithinreachofhisblow.
Thenewshadbeenbrought,towardthedeclineofadayinmidsummer,byanIndianrunner,whoalsoboreanurgentrequestfromMunro,thecommanderofaworkontheshoreofthe“holylake,”foraspeedyandpowerfulreinforcement.
Therudepath,whichoriginallyformedtheirlineofcommunication,hadbeenwidenedforthepassageofwagons;sothatthedistancewhichhadbeentraveledbythesonoftheforestintwohours,mighteasilybeeffectedbyadetachmentoftroops,withtheirnecessarybaggage,betweentherisingandsettingofasummersun.
TheloyalservantsoftheBritishcrownhadgiventooneoftheseforest-fastnessesthenameofWilliamHenry,andtotheotherthatofFortEdward,callingeachafterafavoriteprinceofthereigningfamily.
TheveteranScotchmanjustnamedheldthefirst,witharegimentofregularsandafewprovincials;aforcereallybyfartoosmalltomakeheadagainsttheformidablepowerthatMontcalmwasleadingtothefootofhisearthenmounds.
Atthelatter,however,layGeneralWebb,whocommandedthearmiesofthekinginthenorthernprovinces,withabodyofmorethanfivethousandmen.
Byunitingtheseveraldetachmentsofhiscommand,thisofficermighthavearrayednearlydoublethatnumberofcombatantsagainsttheenterprisingFrenchman,whohadventuredsofarfromhisreinforcements,withanarmybutlittlesuperiorinnumbers.
Butundertheinfluenceoftheirdegradedfortunes,bothofficersandmenappearedbetterdisposedtoawaittheapproachoftheirformidableantagonists,withintheirworks,thantoresisttheprogressoftheirmarch,byemulatingthesuccessfulexampleoftheFrenchatFortduQuesne,andstrikingablowontheiradvance.
Afterthefirstsurpriseoftheintelligencehadalittleabated,arumorwasspreadthroughtheentrenchedcamp,whichstretchedalongthemarginoftheHudson,formingachainofoutworkstothebodyofthefortitself,thatachosendetachmentoffifteenhundredmenwastodepart,withthedawn,forWilliamHenry,thepostatthenorthernextremityoftheportage.
Thatwhichatfirstwasonlyrumor,soonbecamecertainty,asorderspassedfromthequartersofthecommander-in-chieftotheseveralcorpshehadselectedforthisservice,topreparefortheirspeedydeparture.
AlldoubtsastotheintentionofWebbnowvanished,andanhourortwoofhurriedfootstepsandanxiousfacessucceeded.
Thenoviceinthemilitaryartflewfrompointtopoint,retardinghisownpreparationsbytheexcessofhisviolentandsomewhatdistemperedzeal;whilethemorepracticedveteranmadehisarrangementswithadeliberationthatscornedeveryappearanceofhaste;thoughhissoberlineamentsandanxiouseyesufficientlybetrayedthathehadnoverystrongprofessionalrelishforthe,asyet,untriedanddreadedwarfareofthewilderness.
Atlengththesunsetinafloodofglory,behindthedistantwesternhills,andasdarknessdrewitsveilaroundthesecludedspotthesoundsofpreparationdiminished;thelastlightfinallydisappearedfromthelogcabinofsomeofficer;thetreescasttheirdeepershadowsoverthemoundsandtheripplingstream,andasilencesoonpervadedthecamp,asdeepasthatwhichreignedinthevastforestbywhichitwasenvironed.
Accordingtotheordersoftheprecedingnight,theheavysleepofthearmywasbrokenbytherollingofthewarningdrums,whoserattlingechoeswereheardissuing,onthedampmorningair,outofeveryvistaofthewoods,justasdaybegantodrawtheshaggyoutlinesofsometallpinesofthevicinity,ontheopeningbrightnessofasoftandcloudlesseasternsky.
Inaninstantthewholecampwasinmotion;themeanestsoldierarousingfromhislairtowitnessthedepartureofhiscomrades,andtoshareintheexcitementandincidentsofthehour.
Whiletheregularandtrainedhirelingsofthekingmarchedwithhaughtinesstotherightoftheline,thelesspretendingcoloniststooktheirhumblerpositiononitsleft,withadocilitythatlongpracticehadrenderedeasy.
Thescoutsdeparted;strongguardsprecededandfollowedthelumberingvehiclesthatborethebaggage;andbeforethegraylightofthemorningwasmellowedbytheraysofthesun,themainbodyofthecombatantswheeledintocolumn,andlefttheencampmentwithashowofhighmilitarybearing,thatservedtodrowntheslumberingapprehensionsofmanyanovice,whowasnowabouttomakehisfirstessayinarms.
Whileinviewoftheiradmiringcomrades,thesameproudfrontandorderedarraywasobserved,untilthenotesoftheirfifesgrowingfainterindistance,theforestatlengthappearedtoswallowupthelivingmasswhichhadslowlyentereditsbosom.
Thedeepestsoundsoftheretiringandinvisiblecolumnhadceasedtobeborneonthebreezetothelisteners,andthelateststragglerhadalreadydisappearedinpursuit;buttherestillremainedthesignsofanotherdeparture,beforealogcabinofunusualsizeandaccommodations,infrontofwhichthosesentinelspacedtheirrounds,whowereknowntoguardthepersonoftheEnglishgeneral.
Atthisspotweregatheredsomehalfdozenhorses,caparisonedinamannerwhichshowedthattwo,atleast,weredestinedtobearthepersonsoffemales,ofarankthatitwasnotusualtomeetsofarinthewildsofthecountry.
Athirdworetrappingsandarmsofanofficerofthestaff;whiletherest,fromtheplainnessofthehousings,andthetravelingmailswithwhichtheywereencumbered,wereevidentlyfittedforthereceptionofasmanymenials,whowere,seemingly,alreadywaitingthepleasureofthosetheyserved.
Atarespectfuldistancefromthisunusualshow,weregathereddiversgroupsofcuriousidlers;someadmiringthebloodandboneofthehigh-mettledmilitarycharger,andothersgazingatthepreparations,withthedullwonderofvulgarcuriosity.
Therewasoneman,however,who,byhiscountenanceandactions,formedamarkedexceptiontothosewhocomposedthelatterclassofspectators,beingneitheridle,norseeminglyveryignorant.
Erect,hisstaturesurpassedthatofhisfellows;thoughseated,heappearedreducedwithintheordinarylimitsoftherace.
Hislegsandthighswerethin,nearlytoemaciation,butofextraordinarylength;andhiskneeswouldhavebeenconsideredtremendous,hadtheynotbeenoutdonebythebroaderfoundationsonwhichthisfalsesuperstructureofblendedhumanorderswassoprofanelyreared.
Asky-bluecoat,withshortandbroadskirtsandlowcape,exposedalong,thinneck,andlongerandthinnerlegs,totheworstanimadversionsoftheevil-disposed.
Hisnethergarmentwasayellownankeen,closelyfittedtotheshape,andtiedathisbunchesofkneesbylargeknotsofwhiteribbon,agooddealsulliedbyuse.
Cloudedcottonstockings,andshoes,ononeofthelatterofwhichwasaplatedspur,completedthecostumeofthelowerextremityofthisfigure,nocurveorangleofwhichwasconcealed,but,ontheotherhand,studiouslyexhibited,throughthevanityorsimplicityofitsowner.
Frombeneaththeflapofanenormouspocketofasoiledvestofembossedsilk,heavilyornamentedwithtarnishedsilverlace,projectedaninstrument,which,frombeingseeninsuchmartialcompany,mighthavebeeneasilymistakenforsomemischievousandunknownimplementofwar.
Smallasitwas,thisuncommonenginehadexcitedthecuriosityofmostoftheEuropeansinthecamp,thoughseveraloftheprovincialswereseentohandleit,notonlywithoutfear,butwiththeutmostfamiliarity.
Alarge,civilcockedhat,likethosewornbyclergymenwithinthelastthirtyyears,surmountedthewhole,furnishingdignitytoagood-naturedandsomewhatvacantcountenance,thatapparentlyneededsuchartificialaid,tosupportthegravityofsomehighandextraordinarytrust.
Whilethecommonherdstoodaloof,indeferencetothequartersofWebb,thefigurewehavedescribedstalkedintothecenterofthedomestics,freelyexpressinghiscensuresorcommendationsonthemeritsofthehorses,asbychancetheydispleasedorsatisfiedhisjudgment.
“Thisbeast,Iratherconclude,friend,isnotofhomeraising,butisfromforeignlands,orperhapsfromthelittleislanditselfoverthebluewater?”
hesaid,inavoiceasremarkableforthesoftnessandsweetnessofitstones,aswashispersonforitsrareproportions;“Imayspeakofthesethings,andbenobraggart;forIhavebeendownatbothhavens;thatwhichissituateatthemouthofThames,andisnamedafterthecapitalofOldEngland,andthatwhichiscalled‘Haven’,withtheadditionoftheword‘New’;andhaveseenthescowsandbrigantinescollectingtheirdroves,likethegatheringtotheark,beingoutwardboundtotheIslandofJamaica,forthepurposeofbarterandtrafficinfour-footedanimals;butneverbeforehaveIbeheldabeastwhichverifiedthetruescripturewar-horselikethis:‘Hepawethinthevalley,andrejoicethinhisstrength;hegoethontomeetthearmedmen.
Hesaithamongthetrumpets,Ha,ha;andhesmelleththebattleafaroff,thethunderofthecaptains,andtheshouting’ItwouldseemthatthestockofthehorseofIsraelhaddescendedtoourowntime;woulditnot,friend?”
Receivingnoreplytothisextraordinaryappeal,whichintruth,asitwasdeliveredwiththevigoroffullandsonoroustones,meritedsomesortofnotice,hewhohadthussungforththelanguageoftheholybookturnedtothesilentfiguretowhomhehadunwittinglyaddressedhimself,andfoundanewandmorepowerfulsubjectofadmirationintheobjectthatencounteredhisgaze.
Hiseyesfellonthestill,upright,andrigidformofthe“Indianrunner,”whohadbornetothecamptheunwelcometidingsoftheprecedingevening.
Althoughinastateofperfectrepose,andapparentlydisregarding,withcharacteristicstoicism,theexcitementandbustlearoundhim,therewasasullenfiercenessmingledwiththequietofthesavage,thatwaslikelytoarresttheattentionofmuchmoreexperiencedeyesthanthosewhichnowscannedhim,inunconcealedamazement.
Onthecontrary,therewasanairofneglectabouthisperson,likethatwhichmighthaveproceededfromgreatandrecentexertion,whichhehadnotyetfoundleisuretorepair.
Thecolorsofthewar-painthadblendedindarkconfusionabouthisfiercecountenance,andrenderedhisswarthylineamentsstillmoresavageandrepulsivethanifarthadattemptedaneffectwhichhadbeenthusproducedbychance.
Forasingleinstanthissearchingandyetwaryglancemetthewonderinglookoftheother,andthenchangingitsdirection,partlyincunning,andpartlyindisdain,itremainedfixed,asifpenetratingthedistantair.
Itisimpossibletosaywhatunlooked-forremarkthisshortandsilentcommunication,betweentwosuchsingularmen,mighthaveelicitedfromthewhiteman,hadnothisactivecuriositybeenagaindrawntootherobjects.
Ageneralmovementamongthedomestics,andalowsoundofgentlevoices,announcedtheapproachofthosewhosepresencealonewaswantedtoenablethecavalcadetomove.
Thesimpleadmirerofthewar-horseinstantlyfellbacktoalow,gaunt,switch-tailedmare,thatwasunconsciouslygleaningthefadedherbageofthecampnighby;where,leaningwithoneelbowontheblanketthatconcealedanapologyforasaddle,hebecameaspectatorofthedeparture,whileafoalwasquietlymakingitsmorningrepast,ontheoppositesideofthesameanimal.
Ayoungman,inthedressofanofficer,conductedtotheirsteedstwofemales,who,asitwasapparentbytheirdresses,werepreparedtoencounterthefatiguesofajourneyinthewoods.
One,andshewasthemorejuvenileinherappearance,thoughbothwereyoung,permittedglimpsesofherdazzlingcomplexion,fairgoldenhair,andbrightblueeyes,tobecaught,assheartlesslysufferedthemorningairtoblowasidethegreenveilwhichdescendedlowfromherbeaver.
Theflushwhichstilllingeredabovethepinesinthewesternskywasnotmorebrightnordelicatethanthebloomonhercheek;norwastheopeningdaymorecheeringthantheanimatedsmilewhichshebestowedontheyouth,asheassistedherintothesaddle.
Theother,whoappearedtoshareequallyintheattentionoftheyoungofficer,concealedhercharmsfromthegazeofthesoldierywithacarethatseemedbetterfittedtotheexperienceoffourorfiveadditionalyears.
Itcouldbeseen,however,thatherperson,thoughmoldedwiththesameexquisiteproportions,ofwhichnoneofthegraceswerelostbythetravelingdressshewore,wasratherfullerandmorematurethanthatofhercompanion.
Nosoonerwerethesefemalesseated,thantheirattendantspranglightlyintothesaddleofthewar-horse,whenthewholethreebowedtoWebb,whoincourtesy,awaitedtheirpartingonthethresholdofhiscabinandturningtheirhorses’heads,theyproceededataslowamble,followedbytheirtrain,towardthenorthernentranceoftheencampment.
Astheytraversedthatshortdistance,notavoicewasheardamongthem;butaslightexclamationproceededfromtheyoungerofthefemales,astheIndianrunnerglidedbyher,unexpectedly,andledthewayalongthemilitaryroadinherfront.
ThoughthissuddenandstartlingmovementoftheIndianproducednosoundfromtheother,inthesurpriseherveilalsowasallowedtoopenitsfolds,andbetrayedanindescribablelookofpity,admiration,andhorror,asherdarkeyefollowedtheeasymotionsofthesavage.
Hercomplexionwasnotbrown,butitratherappearedchargedwiththecoloroftherichblood,thatseemedreadytoburstitsbounds.
Share this article to
FINISH