English
“Thengowein,toknowhisembassy;
WhichIcould,withreadyguess,declare,
BeforetheFrenchmenspeakawordofit.”
—KingHenryV
Afewsucceedingdayswerepassedamidtheprivations,theuproar,andthedangersofthesiege,whichwasvigorouslypressedbyapower,againstwhoseapproachesMunropossessednocompetentmeansofresistance.
ItappearedasifWebb,withhisarmy,whichlayslumberingonthebanksoftheHudson,hadutterlyforgottenthestraittowhichhiscountrymenwerereduced.
Montcalmhadfilledthewoodsoftheportagewithhissavages,everyyellandwhoopfromwhomrangthroughtheBritishencampment,chillingtheheartsofmenwhowerealreadybuttoomuchdisposedtomagnifythedanger.
Notso,however,withthebesieged.Animatedbythewords,andstimulatedbytheexamplesoftheirleaders,theyhadfoundtheircourage,andmaintainedtheirancientreputation,withazealthatdidjusticetothesterncharacteroftheircommander.
Asifsatisfiedwiththetoilofmarchingthroughthewildernesstoencounterhisenemy,theFrenchgeneral,thoughofapprovedskill,hadneglectedtoseizetheadjacentmountains;whencethebesiegedmighthavebeenexterminatedwithimpunity,andwhich,inthemoremodernwarfareofthecountry,wouldnothavebeenneglectedforasinglehour.
Thissortofcontemptforeminences,orratherdreadofthelaborofascendingthem,mighthavebeentermedthebesettingweaknessofthewarfareoftheperiod.
ItoriginatedinthesimplicityoftheIndiancontests,inwhich,fromthenatureofthecombats,andthedensityoftheforests,fortresseswererare,andartillerynexttouseless.
ThecarelessnessengenderedbytheseusagesdescendedeventothewaroftheRevolutionandlosttheStatestheimportantfortressofTiconderogaopeningawayforthearmyofBurgoyneintowhatwasthenthebosomofthecountry.
Welookbackatthisignorance,orinfatuation,whicheveritmaybecalled,withwonder,knowingthattheneglectofaneminence,whosedifficulties,likethoseofMountDefiance,havebeensogreatlyexaggerated,would,atthepresenttime,provefataltothereputationoftheengineerwhohadplannedtheworksattheirbase,ortothatofthegeneralwhoselotitwastodefendthem.
Thetourist,thevaletudinarian,ortheamateurofthebeautiesofnature,who,inthetrainofhisfour–in–hand,nowrollsthroughthesceneswehaveattemptedtodescribe,inquestofinformation,health,orpleasure,orfloatssteadilytowardhisobjectonthoseartificialwaterswhichhavesprungupundertheadministrationofastatesman*whohasdaredtostakehispoliticalcharacteronthehazardousissue,isnottosupposethathisancestorstraversedthosehills,orstruggledwiththesamecurrentswithequalfacility.
Thetransportationofasingleheavygunwasoftenconsideredequaltoavictorygained;ifhappily,thedifficultiesofthepassagehadnotsofarseparateditfromitsnecessaryconcomitant,theammunition,astorenderitnomorethanauselesstubeofunwieldyiron.
(Note:EvidentlythelateDeWittClinton,whodiedgovernorofNewYorkin1828.)
TheevilsofthisstateofthingspressedheavilyonthefortunesoftheresoluteScotsmanwhonowdefendedWilliamHenry.
Thoughhisadversaryneglectedthehills,hehadplantedhisbatterieswithjudgmentontheplain,andcausedthemtobeservedwithvigorandskill.
Againstthisassault,thebesiegedcouldonlyopposetheimperfectandhastypreparationsofafortressinthewilderness.
Itwasintheafternoonofthefifthdayofthesiege,andthefourthofhisownserviceinit,thatMajorHeywardprofitedbyaparleythathadjustbeenbeaten,byrepairingtotherampartsofoneofthewaterbastions,tobreathethecoolairfromthelake,andtotakeasurveyoftheprogressofthesiege.
Hewasalone,ifthesolitarysentinelwhopacedthemoundbeexcepted;fortheartilleristshadhastenedalsotoprofitbythetemporarysuspensionoftheirarduousduties.
Theeveningwasdelightfullycalm,andthelightairfromthelimpidwaterfreshandsoothing.
Itseemedasif,withtheterminationoftheroarofartilleryandtheplungingofshot,naturehadalsoseizedthemomenttoassumehermildestandmostcaptivatingform.
Thesunpoureddownhispartinggloryonthescene,withouttheoppressionofthosefierceraysthatbelongtotheclimateandtheseason.
Themountainslookedgreen,andfresh,andlovely,temperedwiththemilderlight,orsoftenedinshadow,asthinvaporsfloatedbetweenthemandthesun.
ThenumerousislandsrestedonthebosomoftheHorican,somelowandsunken,asifembeddedinthewaters,andothersappearingtohoverabouttheelement,inlittlehillocksofgreenvelvet;amongwhichthefishermenofthebeleagueringarmypeacefullyrowedtheirskiffs,orfloatedatrestontheglassymirrorinquietpursuitoftheiremployment.
Thescenewasatonceanimatedandstill.Allthatpertainedtonaturewassweet,orsimplygrand;whilethosepartswhichdependedonthetemperandmovementsofmanwerelivelyandplayful.
Twolittlespotlessflagswereabroad,theoneonasalientangleofthefort,andtheotherontheadvancedbatteryofthebesiegers;emblemsofthetruthwhichexisted,notonlytotheacts,butitwouldseem,also,totheenmityofthecombatants.
Behindtheseagainswung,heavilyopeningandclosinginsilkenfolds,therivalstandardsofEnglandandFrance.
AhundredgayandthoughtlessyoungFrenchmenweredrawinganettothepebblybeach,withindangerousproximitytothesullenbutsilentcannonofthefort,whiletheeasternmountainwassendingbacktheloudshoutsandgaymerrimentthatattendedtheirsport.
Somewererushingeagerlytoenjoytheaquaticgamesofthelake,andotherswerealreadytoilingtheirwayuptheneighboringhills,withtherestlesscuriosityoftheirnation.
Toallthesesportsandpursuits,thoseoftheenemywhowatchedthebesieged,andthebesiegedthemselves,were,however,merelytheidlethoughsympathizingspectators.
Hereandthereapickethad,indeed,raisedasong,ormingledinadance,whichhaddrawntheduskysavagesaroundthem,fromtheirlairsintheforest.
Inshort,everythingworerathertheappearanceofadayofpleasure,thanofanhourstolenfromthedangersandtoilofabloodyandvindictivewarfare.
Duncanhadstoodinamusingattitude,contemplatingthissceneafewminutes,whenhiseyesweredirectedtotheglacisinfrontofthesally–portalreadymentioned,bythesoundsofapproachingfootsteps.
Hewalkedtoanangleofthebastion,andbeheldthescoutadvancing,underthecustodyofaFrenchofficer,tothebodyofthefort.
ThecountenanceofHawkeyewashaggardandcareworn,andhisairdejected,asthoughhefeltthedeepestdegradationathavingfallenintothepowerofhisenemies.
Hewaswithouthisfavoriteweapon,andhisarmswereevenboundbehindhimwiththongs,madeoftheskinofadeer.
Thearrivalofflagstocoverthemessengersofsummons,hadoccurredsooftenoflate,thatwhenHeywardfirstthrewhiscarelessglanceonthisgroup,heexpectedtoseeanotheroftheofficersoftheenemy,chargedwithasimilarofficebuttheinstantherecognizedthetallpersonandstillsturdythoughdowncastfeaturesofhisfriend,thewoodsman,hestartedwithsurprise,andturnedtodescendfromthebastionintothebosomofthework.
Thesoundsofothervoices,however,caughthisattention,andforamomentcausedhimtoforgethispurpose.
Attheinnerangleofthemoundhemetthesisters,walkingalongtheparapet,insearch,likehimself,ofairandrelieffromconfinement.
Theyhadnotmetfromthatpainfulmomentwhenhedesertedthemontheplain,onlytoassuretheirsafety.
Hehadpartedfromthemwornwithcare,andjadedwithfatigue;henowsawthemrefreshedandblooming,thoughtimidandanxious.
Undersuchaninducementitwillcausenosurprisethattheyoungmanlostsightforatime,ofotherobjectsinordertoaddressthem.
Hewas,however,anticipatedbythevoiceoftheingenuousandyouthfulAlice.
“Ah!thoutyrant!thourecreantknight!
hewhoabandonshisdamselsintheverylists,”shecried;“herehavewebeendays,nay,ages,expectingyouatourfeet,imploringmercyandforgetfulnessofyourcravenbacksliding,orIshouldrathersay,backrunning—forverilyyoufledinthemannerthatnostrickendeer,asourworthyfriendthescoutwouldsay,couldequal!”
“YouknowthatAlicemeansourthanksandourblessings,”addedthegraverandmorethoughtfulCora.
“Intruth,wehavealittlewonderwhyyoushouldsorigidlyabsentyourselffromaplacewherethegratitudeofthedaughtersmightreceivethesupportofaparent’sthanks.”
“Yourfatherhimselfcouldtellyou,that,thoughabsentfromyourpresence,Ihavenotbeenaltogetherforgetfulofyoursafety,”returnedtheyoungman;“themasteryofyondervillageofhuts,”pointingtotheneighboringentrenchedcamp,“hasbeenkeenlydisputed;andhewhoholdsitissuretobepossessedofthisfort,andthatwhichitcontains.
Mydaysandnightshaveallbeenpassedtheresinceweseparated,becauseIthoughtthatdutycalledmethither.
But,”headded,withanairofchagrin,whichheendeavored,thoughunsuccessfully,toconceal,“hadIbeenawarethatwhatIthenbelievedasoldier’sconductcouldbesoconstrued,shamewouldhavebeenaddedtothelistofreasons.”
“Heyward!Duncan!”
exclaimedAlice,bendingforwardtoreadhishalf–avertedcountenance,untilalockofhergoldenhairrestedonherflushedcheek,andnearlyconcealedthetearthathadstartedtohereye;“didIthinkthisidletongueofminehadpainedyou,Iwouldsilenceitforever.
Coracansay,ifCorawould,howjustlywehaveprizedyourservices,andhowdeep—Ihadalmostsaid,howfervent—isourgratitude.”
“AndwillCoraattestthetruthofthis?”
criedDuncan,sufferingthecloudtobechasedfromhiscountenancebyasmileofopenpleasure.“Whatsaysourgraversister?
Willshefindanexcusefortheneglectoftheknightinthedutyofasoldier?”
Coramadenoimmediateanswer,butturnedherfacetowardthewater,asiflookingonthesheetoftheHorican.
Whenshedidbendherdarkeyesontheyoungman,theywereyetfilledwithanexpressionofanguishthatatoncedroveeverythoughtbutthatofkindsolicitudefromhismind.
“Youarenotwell,dearestMissMunro!”heexclaimed;“wehavetrifledwhileyouareinsuffering!”
”’Tisnothing,”sheanswered,refusinghissupportwithfemininereserve.
“ThatIcannotseethesunnysideofthepictureoflife,likethisartlessbutardententhusiast,”sheadded,layingherhandlightly,butaffectionately,onthearmofhersister,“isthepenaltyofexperience,and,perhaps,themisfortuneofmynature.
See,”shecontinued,asifdeterminedtoshakeoffinfirmity,inasenseofduty;“lookaroundyou,MajorHeyward,andtellmewhataprospectisthisforthedaughterofasoldierwhosegreatesthappinessishishonorandhismilitaryrenown.”
“Neitheroughtnorshallbetarnishedbycircumstancesoverwhichhehashadnocontrol,”Duncanwarmlyreplied.
“Butyourwordsrecallmetomyownduty.
Igonowtoyourgallantfather,tohearhisdeterminationinmattersofthelastmomenttothedefense.
Godblessyouineveryfortune,noble—Cora—Imayandmustcallyou.”
Shefranklygavehimherhand,thoughherlipquivered,andhercheeksgraduallybecameofashlypaleness.
“Ineveryfortune,Iknowyouwillbeanornamentandhonortoyoursex.
Alice,adieu”—hisvoicechangedfromadmirationtotenderness—”adieu,Alice;weshallsoonmeetagain;asconquerors,Itrust,andamidrejoicings!”
Withoutwaitingforananswerfromeither,theyoungmanthrewhimselfdownthegrassystepsofthebastion,andmovingrapidlyacrosstheparade,hewasquicklyinthepresenceoftheirfather.
MunrowaspacinghisnarrowapartmentwithadisturbedairandgiganticstridesasDuncanentered.
“Youhaveanticipatedmywishes,MajorHeyward,”hesaid;“Iwasabouttorequestthisfavor.”
“Iamsorrytosee,sir,thatthemessengerIsowarmlyrecommendedhasreturnedincustodyoftheFrench!Ihopethereisnoreasontodistrusthisfidelity?”
“Thefidelityof‘TheLongRifle’iswellknowntome,”returnedMunro,“andisabovesuspicion;thoughhisusualgoodfortuneseems,atlast,tohavefailed.
Montcalmhasgothim,andwiththeaccursedpolitenessofhisnation,hehassenthiminwithadolefultale,of‘knowinghowIvaluedthefellow,hecouldnotthinkofretaininghim.’
AJesuiticalwaythat,MajorDuncanHeyward,oftellingamanofhismisfortunes!”
“Butthegeneralandhissuccor?”
“Didyelooktothesouthasyeentered,andcouldyenotseethem?”saidtheoldsoldier,laughingbitterly.
“Hoot!hoot!you’reanimpatientboy,sir,andcannotgivethegentlemenleisurefortheirmarch!”
“Theyarecoming,then?Thescouthassaidasmuch?”
“When?andbywhatpath?
fortheduncehasomittedtotellmethis.
Thereisaletter,itwouldseem,too;andthatistheonlyagreeablepartofthematter.
ForthecustomaryattentionsofyourMarquisofMontcalm—Iwarrantme,Duncan,thatheofLothianwouldbuyadozensuchmarquisates—butifthenewsoftheletterwerebad,thegentilityofthisFrenchmonsieurwouldcertainlycompelhimtoletusknowit.”
“Hekeepstheletter,then,whilehereleasesthemessenger?”
“Ay,thatdoeshe,andallforthesakeofwhatyoucallyour‘bonhommie’Iwouldventure,ifthetruthwasknown,thefellow’sgrandfathertaughtthenoblescienceofdancing.”
“Butwhatsaysthescout?hehaseyesandears,andatongue.Whatverbalreportdoeshemake?”
“Oh!sir,heisnotwantinginnaturalorgans,andheisfreetotellallthathehasseenandheard.
Thewholeamountisthis;thereisafortofhismajesty’sonthebanksoftheHudson,calledEdward,inhonorofhisgracioushighnessofYork,you’llknow;anditiswellfilledwitharmedmen,assuchaworkshouldbe.”
“Butwastherenomovement,nosignsofanyintentiontoadvancetoourrelief?”
“Therewerethemorningandeveningparades;andwhenoneoftheprovincialloons—you’llknow,Duncan,you’rehalfaScotsmanyourself—whenoneofthemdroppedhispowderoverhisporretch,ifittouchedthecoals,itjustburned!”
Then,suddenlychanginghisbitter,ironicalmanner,toonemoregraveandthoughtful,hecontinued:“andyettheremight,andmustbe,somethinginthatletterwhichitwouldbewelltoknow!”
“Ourdecisionshouldbespeedy,”saidDuncan,gladlyavailinghimselfofthischangeofhumor,topressthemoreimportantobjectsoftheirinterview;“Icannotconcealfromyou,sir,thatthecampwillnotbemuchlongertenable;andIamsorrytoadd,thatthingsappearnobetterinthefort;morethanhalfthegunsarebursted.”
“Andhowshoulditbeotherwise?Somewerefishedfromthebottomofthelake;somehavebeenrustinginwoodssincethediscoveryofthecountry;andsomewerenevergunsatall—mereprivateersmen’splaythings!
Doyouthink,sir,youcanhaveWoolwichWarreninthemidstofawilderness,threethousandmilesfromGreatBritain?”
“Thewallsarecrumblingaboutourears,andprovisionsbegintofailus,”continuedHeyward,withoutregardingthenewburstofindignation;“eventhemenshowsignsofdiscontentandalarm.”
“MajorHeyward,”saidMunro,turningtohisyouthfulassociatewiththedignityofhisyearsandsuperiorrank;“Ishouldhaveservedhismajestyforhalfacentury,andearnedthesegrayhairsinvain,wereIignorantofallyousay,andofthepressingnatureofourcircumstances;still,thereiseverythingduetothehonoroftheking’sarms,andsomethingtoourselves.
Whilethereishopeofsuccor,thisfortresswillIdefend,thoughitbetobedonewithpebblesgatheredonthelakeshore.
Itisasightoftheletter,therefore,thatwewant,thatwemayknowtheintentionsofthemantheearlofLoudonhasleftamongusashissubstitute.”
“AndcanIbeofserviceinthematter?”
“Sir,youcan;themarquisofMontcalmhas,inadditiontohisothercivilities,invitedmetoapersonalinterviewbetweentheworksandhisowncamp;inorder,ashesays,toimpartsomeadditionalinformation.
Now,Ithinkitwouldnotbewisetoshowanyunduesolicitudetomeethim,andIwouldemployyou,anofficerofrank,asmysubstitute;foritwouldbutillcomportwiththehonorofScotlandtoletitbesaidoneofhergentlemenwasoutdoneincivilitybyanativeofanyothercountryonearth.”
Withoutassumingthesupererogatorytaskofenteringintoadiscussionofthecomparativemeritsofnationalcourtesy,Duncancheerfullyassentedtosupplytheplaceoftheveteranintheapproachinginterview.
Alongandconfidentialcommunicationnowsucceeded,duringwhichtheyoungmanreceivedsomeadditionalinsightintohisduty,fromtheexperienceandnativeacutenessofhiscommander,andthentheformertookhisleave.
AsDuncancouldonlyactastherepresentativeofthecommandantofthefort,theceremonieswhichshouldhaveaccompaniedameetingbetweentheheadsoftheadverseforceswere,ofcourse,dispensedwith.
Thetrucestillexisted,andwitharollandbeatofthedrum,andcoveredbyalittlewhiteflag,Duncanleftthesally–port,withintenminutesafterhisinstructionswereended.
HewasreceivedbytheFrenchofficerinadvancewiththeusualformalities,andimmediatelyaccompaniedtoadistantmarqueeoftherenownedsoldierwholedtheforcesofFrance.
Thegeneraloftheenemyreceivedtheyouthfulmessenger,surroundedbyhisprincipalofficers,andbyaswarthybandofthenativechiefs,whohadfollowedhimtothefield,withthewarriorsoftheirseveraltribes.
Heywardpausedshort,when,inglancinghiseyesrapidlyoverthedarkgroupofthelatter,hebeheldthemalignantcountenanceofMagua,regardinghimwiththecalmbutsullenattentionwhichmarkedtheexpressionofthatsubtlesavage.
Aslightexclamationofsurpriseevenburstfromthelipsoftheyoungman,butinstantly,recollectinghiserrand,andthepresenceinwhichhestood,hesuppressedeveryappearanceofemotion,andturnedtothehostileleader,whohadalreadyadvancedasteptoreceivehim.
ThemarquisofMontcalmwas,attheperiodofwhichwewrite,intheflowerofhisage,and,itmaybeadded,inthezenithofhisfortunes.
Buteveninthatenviablesituation,hewasaffable,anddistinguishedasmuchforhisattentiontotheformsofcourtesy,asforthatchivalrouscouragewhich,onlytwoshortyearsafterward,inducedhimtothrowawayhislifeontheplainsofAbraham.
Duncan,inturninghiseyesfromthemalignexpressionofMagua,sufferedthemtorestwithpleasureonthesmilingandpolishedfeatures,andthenoblemilitaryair,oftheFrenchgeneral.
“Monsieur,”saidthelatter,“j’aibeaucoupdeplaisira—bah!—ouestcetinterprete?”
“Jecrois,monsieur,qu’ilnesearpasnecessaire,”Heywardmodestlyreplied;“jeparleunpeufrancais.”
“Ah!j’ensuisbienaise,”saidMontcalm,takingDuncanfamiliarlybythearm,andleadinghimdeepintothemarquee,alittleoutofearshot;“jedetestecesfripons–la;onnesaitjamaissurquelpieonestaveceux.Eh,bien!
monsieur,”hecontinuedstillspeakinginFrench;“thoughIshouldhavebeenproudofreceivingyourcommandant,Iamveryhappythathehasseenpropertoemployanofficersodistinguished,andwho,Iamsure,issoamiable,asyourself.”
Duncanbowedlow,pleasedwiththecompliment,inspiteofamostheroicdeterminationtosuffernoartificetoallurehimintoforgetfulnessoftheinterestofhisprince;andMontcalm,afterapauseofamoment,asiftocollecthisthoughts,proceeded:
“Yourcommandantisabraveman,andwellqualifiedtorepelmyassault.
Mais,monsieur,isitnottimetobegintotakemorecounselofhumanity,andlessofyourcourage?
Theoneasstronglycharacterizestheheroastheother.”
“Weconsiderthequalitiesasinseparable,”returnedDuncan,smiling;“butwhilewefindinthevigorofyourexcellencyeverymotivetostimulatetheone,wecan,asyet,seenoparticularcallfortheexerciseoftheother.”
Montcalm,inhisturn,slightlybowed,butitwaswiththeairofamantoopractisedtorememberthelanguageofflattery.Aftermusingamoment,headded:
“Itispossiblemyglasseshavedeceivedme,andthatyourworksresistourcannonbetterthanIhadsupposed.Youknowourforce?”
“Ouraccountsvary,”saidDuncan,carelessly;“thehighest,however,hasnotexceededtwentythousandmen.”
TheFrenchmanbithislip,andfastenedhiseyeskeenlyontheotherasiftoreadhisthoughts;then,withareadinesspeculiartohimself,hecontinued,asifassentingtothetruthofanenumerationwhichquitedoubledhisarmy:
“Itisapoorcomplimenttothevigilanceofussoldiers,monsieur,that,dowhatwewill,wenevercanconcealournumbers.
Ifitweretobedoneatall,onewouldbelieveitmightsucceedinthesewoods.
Thoughyouthinkittoosoontolistentothecallsofhumanity,”headded,smilingarchly,“Imaybepermittedtobelievethatgallantryisnotforgottenbyonesoyoungasyourself.
Thedaughtersofthecommandant,Ilearn,havepassedintothefortsinceitwasinvested?”
“Itistrue,monsieur;but,sofarfromweakeningourefforts,theysetusanexampleofcourageintheirownfortitude.
WerenothingbutresolutionnecessarytorepelsoaccomplishedasoldierasM.deMontcalm,IwouldgladlytrustthedefenseofWilliamHenrytotheelderofthoseladies.”
“WehaveawiseordinanceinourSaliquelaws,whichsays,‘ThecrownofFranceshallneverdegradethelancetothedistaff’,”saidMontcalm,dryly,andwithalittlehauteur;butinstantlyadding,withhisformerfrankandeasyair:“asallthenoblerqualitiesarehereditary,Icaneasilycredityou;though,asIsaidbefore,couragehasitslimits,andhumanitymustnotbeforgotten.
Itrust,monsieur,youcomeauthorizedtotreatforthesurrenderoftheplace?”
“Hasyourexcellencyfoundourdefensesofeebleastobelievethemeasurenecessary?”
“Ishouldbesorrytohavethedefenseprotractedinsuchamannerastoirritatemyredfriendsthere,”continuedMontcalm,glancinghiseyesatthegroupofgraveandattentiveIndians,withoutattendingtotheother’squestions;“Ifinditdifficult,evennow,tolimitthemtotheusagesofwar.”
Heywardwassilent;forapainfulrecollectionofthedangershehadsorecentlyescapedcameoverhismind,andrecalledtheimagesofthosedefenselessbeingswhohadsharedinallhissufferings.
“Cesmessieurs–la,”saidMontcalm,followinguptheadvantagewhichheconceivedhehadgained,“aremostformidablewhenbaffled;anditisunnecessarytotellyouwithwhatdifficultytheyarerestrainedintheiranger.Ehbien,monsieur!shallwespeakoftheterms?”
“IfearyourexcellencyhasbeendeceivedastothestrengthofWilliamHenry,andtheresourcesofitsgarrison!”
“IhavenotsatdownbeforeQuebec,butanearthenwork,thatisdefendedbytwenty–threehundredgallantmen,”wasthelaconicreply.
“Ourmoundsareearthen,certainly—noraretheyseatedontherocksofCapeDiamond;buttheystandonthatshorewhichprovedsodestructivetoDieskauandhisarmy.
Thereisalsoapowerfulforcewithinafewhours’marchofus,whichweaccountuponasapartofourmeans.”
“Somesixoreightthousandmen,”returnedMontcalm,withmuchapparentindifference,“whomtheirleaderwiselyjudgestobesaferintheirworksthaninthefield.”
ItwasnowHeyward’sturntobitehislipwithvexationastheothersocoollyalludedtoaforcewhichtheyoungmanknewtobeoverrated.
Bothmusedalittlewhileinsilence,whenMontcalmrenewedtheconversation,inawaythatshowedhebelievedthevisitofhisguestwassolelytoproposetermsofcapitulation.
Ontheotherhand,HeywardbegantothrowsundryinducementsinthewayoftheFrenchgeneral,tobetraythediscoverieshehadmadethroughtheinterceptedletter.
Theartificeofneither,however,succeeded;andafteraprotractedandfruitlessinterview,Duncantookhisleave,favorablyimpressedwithanopinionofthecourtesyandtalentsoftheenemy’scaptain,butasignorantofwhathecametolearnaswhenhearrived.
Montcalmfollowedhimasfarastheentranceofthemarquee,renewinghisinvitationstothecommandantoftheforttogivehimanimmediatemeetingintheopengroundbetweenthetwoarmies.
Theretheyseparated,andDuncanreturnedtotheadvancedpostoftheFrench,accompaniedasbefore;whenceheinstantlyproceededtothefort,andtothequartersofhisowncommander.
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