CHAPTER III
At late candle-light, Sir William still tarrying, I went to the northblock-house, where Mr. Duncan, the lieutenant commanding the guard,received me with unusual courtesy, the reason of which I did not atthe time suspect.
"An express from Sir William has at this moment come in," said he."Sir William is aware that a belt-bearer from Virginia awaits him."
"How could Sir William, who is at Castle Cumberland, know that?" Ibegan, then was silent, as it flashed into my mind that Mistress Mollyhad sent an express to Sir William as soon as I had told her about thestrange Cayuga. That was the galloping horseman I had heard.
Pondering and perplexed, I looked up to find Mr. Duncan smiling at me.
"I understand," said he, "that Sir William is pleased to approve yourconduct touching the strange Cayuga."
"How do you know?" I asked, quickly, my heart warming with pleasure.
"I know this," said Mr. Duncan, laughing, "that Sir William has leftsomething for you with me, a present, in fact, which I am to deliverto you on the morrow."
"What is it, Mr. Duncan?" I teased; but the laughing officer shook hishead, retiring into the guard-room and pretending to be afraid of me.
The soldiers, lounging around the settles, pipes between their teeth,looked on with respectful grins. Clearly, even they appeared to knowwhat Sir William had sent to me from Castle Cumberland.
As I stood in the guard-room, eager, yet partly vexed, away below inthe village the bell in the new stone church began to ring.
"What is that?" I asked, in surprise.
The soldiers had all risen, taking their muskets from the racks,straightening belts and bandoleers. In the stir and banging ofgun-stocks on the stone floor, my question perhaps was not heard byMr. Duncan, for he stood silent, untwisting his sword knots and eyingthe line which the sergeant, who carried the halberd, was forming inthe room.
A drummer and a trumpeter took station, six paces to the right andfront; the sergeant, at a carry, advanced and saluted with, "Parade isformed, sir."
"'Tention!" sang out Mr. Duncan. "Support arms! Carry arms! Trailarms! File by the left flank! March!" And with drawn claymore on hisshoulder he passed out into the starlight.
I followed; and now, standing by the block-house gate, far away in thevillage I heard the rub-a-dub of a drum and a loud trumpet blowing.
Nearer and nearer came the drum; the trumpet ceased. And now I couldhear the tramp, tramp, tramp of infantry on the hill's black crest.
"Present arms!" cried Mr. Duncan, sharply.
A dark mass which I had not supposed to be moving, suddenly loomed upclose in front of us, taking the shape of a long column, which passedwith the flicker of starlight on musket and belt, tramp, tramp, trampto the ringing drum-beats.
Then our drum rattled and trumpet sang prettily, while Mr. Duncanrendered the officer's salute as a dark stand of colours passed, bornefurled and high above the slanting muskets.
Baggage wains began to creak by, great shapeless hulks rolling in onthe black ocean of the night, with soldiers half asleep on top, andteamsters afoot, heads hanging drowsily and looped raw-hides trailing.
The last yoke of oxen passed, dragging a brass cannon.
"'Tention!" said Mr. Duncan. "Support arms! Trail arms! 'Bout face! Bythe right flank, wheel! March!"
Back into the block-house filed the guard, the drummer bearing hisdrum flat on his hip, the trumpeter swinging his instrument to hisshoulder-knots.
Mr. Duncan sent his claymore ringing into the scabbard, wrapped hisplaid around his throat, and strolled off towards the new barracks,east of the Hall.
"What troops were those, sir?" I asked, respectfully.
"Three companies of Royal Americans from Albany," said he. Then,noticing my puzzled face, he added, "There is to be a big council fireheld here, Master Cardigan. Did you not know it?"
"No," said I, slowly, reluctant to admit that I had not shared SirWilliam's confidence.
"Look yonder," said Mr. Duncan.
Far out in the pale starlight, south and west of the Hall, I saw fireskindled, one by one, until the twinkle of their lights ran for a mileacross the uplands. On a hill in the north a signal fire sent longstreamers of flame straight up into the sky; other beacons flashed outin the darkness, some so distant that I could not be certain they weremore than sparks of my imagination.
"It is the Six Nations gathering," said Mr. Duncan. "We expectimportant guests."
"What for?" I asked.
"I don't know," said Mr. Duncan, gravely. "Good-night, Mr. Cardigan."
"Good-night, sir," I said, thoughtfully; then cried after him, "and mypresent, Mr. Duncan?"
"To-morrow," he answered, and passed on his way a-laughing.
I walked quickly back to the Hall, where I encountered Esk and Peter,well bibbed, cleaning the last crumb from their bowls of porridge.
"Did you see the soldiers?" cried Esk, tapping upon his bowl andmarching up and down the hallway.
"Look out of the back windows," added Peter. "The Onondaga fires areburning on the hills."
"Oneidas," corrected Esk.
"Onondagas," persisted Peter, smearing his face with his spoon to lickit.
"Where is Silver Heels?" I asked.
Mistress Molly came into the hall from the pantry, keys jingling ather girdle, and took Peter by his sticky fingers, bidding Esk follow.
"Bed-time," she said, with her pretty smile. "Michael, Felicity isbeing dressed by Betty. If Sir William does not return, you will dinewith Felicity alone; and I expect you to conduct exactly like SirWilliam, and refrain from kicking under the table."
"Yes, Aunt Molly," said I, delighted.
Esk and Peter, being instantly hustled bedward, left lamenting andasserting that they too were old enough to imitate Sir William.
Silver Heels, with her hair done by Betty, and a blue sash over herfresh-flowered cambric, passed them on the stairs coming down, pausingto wish Mistress Molly good-night, and to slyly pinch fat Peter.
"Felicity," said Mistress Molly, "will you conduct as befits yourstation?"
"Oh la, Aunt Molly!" she answered, with that innocent, affected lispwhich I knew was ever the forerunner of mischief.
She made her reverence, waiting on the landing until she heard thenursery door close, then flung both legs astride the balustrade andslid down like a flash.
"Have you seen the soldiers, Micky?--and the fires on the hills?" shecried. "To-morrow all the officers will be here, and I am to wear myhair curled, and my pink dress and tucker, with separate sleeves ofsilver gauze!"
We sat down on the stairs together as friendly and polite as though wenever quarrelled; and she chattered on, smoothing her bib-apron withthose silky hands of hers: "Betty rolled up my hair till I feared shemeant to scalp me, and so told her.
"She coaxed me to endure, and called me her little Miss Honey-bee, butwould not promise me a comfit; so I ran away before my cap was tiedon. Micky, go and put on your silk breeches and lace cuffs and we willbe gay and grand to dine!"
I ran to my chamber, bathed and dressed in all my finery, meaning tolord it in the dining-hall should Sir William not return.
And thus it fell out; for, when I descended the stairs, there was mylady Silver Heels parading before the pier-glass, and a gilliethrowing open the doors of the dining-hall.
So that night Silver Heels and I supped alone together in the greathall, Mr. Butler having hurriedly ridden to his home, and Sir Williamnot yet returned, though two hours past candle-light.
The hall was quiet and vast, and Silver Heels seemed exceedinglysmall, sitting in the big chair at the other end of the table. So Ihad the gillie lay her plate beside mine.
A single pair of candles lighted our supper, and those not of thebest, for they smoked as the wind stirred the curtains.
"Do you not know what is due to quality?" said I, sternly, to thegillie--a raw yokel scented with whiffs of the stables.
The kilted oaf gaped at me.
"
Do you not see it is dark here?" I said.
"'Tis far lichter than ye wud expeck for sae big a room, sir," saidthe gillie, with a foolish grin.
"Young Bareshanks," I retorted; "do you bring instantly a dozen waxcandles and light them, idiot, in a seemly row! Also fetch SirWilliam's sherry and Madeira, and take away those pot-house pewters!"
The gillie made out to do as he was bidden, and I should have feltvery grand and contented at being obeyed without questions had I notperceived him, through the buttery window, wink at the pantry-lad andput his mottled Scotch muzzle into my small-beer.
When the dozen waxen candles stood in a ring, all twinkling, and thedecanters flanked me right and left, I bade the gillie leave us,mistrusting he might bear tales to Sir William touching our behaviourat table. But the dunce loitered, trimming wicks, and casting sidewiselooks at me.
"Will you be gone?" said I, in a passion.
"Maister Michael," he whined; "ye'll no be soopin' till the blessing'ssaid? Sir William gave us a grand discoorse this noon dinner, sir,verra suitable words, sir."
Mortified at my forgetfulness, I rose; so did Silver Heels, thecandle-light sparkling under her half-closed lashes, for she ever keptone eye on duty.
In a rage I said grace before meat, then glared at the gillie.
"Aave heerd waur, sir," quoth he; "but aa never sleep the nichtwithout ma blessing, and aa'l no begin noo!"
"Get out, you Scotch loon," said I, "or I'll let this bottle fly withmy blessing!"
He ran for it, at which Silver Heels and I laughed heartily until shespilled her wine on her knees, which spoiled her temper.
When the echoing of our laughter had died away in the dark corners ofthe room, an unaccustomed depression fell upon me. I peered up at thestags' shaggy heads, set around the wall; their dark glazed eyesreflected the little candle flames like fiery eyeballs of livingbucks. The stillness in the familiar room troubled me.
Something of this Silver Heels also experienced, but the novelty ofplaying the grand lady with her sherry and her tea set her tonguea-swinging, clip-clap! She shrugged her shoulders and tossed her chin,pretending to trifle with a dish of cakes, vowing she had no appetite;but her hunger could not long withstand the pastry, and she ate allthe suckets and cakes before I either perceived or prevented it.
Distressed at her greediness, I removed the caraways from the plateand pouched them to eat at my pleasure, whereupon she kicked my shinsunder the table.
But she would still play my Lady Languish, sighing and protesting shecould not touch another morsel, and her cheeks full the while. Too,she drank of both sherry and Madeira, which was forbidden by SirWilliam, and became over-loud in speech until her humour changed to afit of upbraiding me, and ended in the sulks.
I remember we had a brandied syrup, of which she also took too much,it making her pettish and sleepy; and after supper, when we sattogether on the stairs, she harped ever on the same string,reproaching me for playing the high and mighty, whereas all couldplainly see I was nothing but a boy like Esk and Peter and need givemyself no plumes.
"My legs," she said, drowsily, "can touch the floor from the thirdstair as well as yours;" and she stretched them down to prove it,falling short an inch.
"If you are no longer a child," said I, "why do they harness you tothe back-board and make you wear pack-thread stays?"
This madded her.
"You shall see," she said, in a temper, "you shall see me in floweredcaushets, silk stockings, and shoes of Paddington's make, which befitmy station and rank! You shall see me in padusoy and ribbons and a hatof gauze! I shall wear pompadour gloves and shall take no notice ofyou, with your big hands and feet, pardieu!"
"Nor I of you," said I, "tricked out in your silly flummery." And Idrew a caraway from my pocket and bit deep.
"Yes, you will," said Silver Heels; "give me a caraway, piggy."
Sitting there in the dark, nibbling in silence, I could hear thedistant stir of the convoy at the barracks, and wondered why thesoldiers had come. Surely not because of danger to us at the Hall, forwe had our Mohawks, our militia, and yeoman tenantry at beck and call.Besides, who would dare threaten Sir William Johnson, the greatest manin the colonies, and very dearly esteemed by our King?
"They say," said Silver Heels, "that there are men in Boston who haveeven defied the King himself."
"Never fear," said I, "they'll all hang for it."
"Would you like to fight for the King?" she asked, civilly, andwithout a trace of that mockery which left a sting, much as Ipretended to despise it.
I said I should like to very much; that my father had died for hisKing, and that I should one day avenge him.
I would have said more, perhaps boasted, for Silver Heels was inclinedto listen; but black Betty came down-stairs, her double ear-ringsa-jingle, calling her "li'l Miss Honey-bee" to come to bed.
Silver Heels stood up, rubbing her eyes and stretching. I could nothelp noticing that she seemed to be growing very tall.
"Good-night, Micky," she said, with her mechanical curtsey, and tookBetty's black hand.
Although there was now nobody to bid me retire, I went to my chambergladly, for, what with the excitement of the morning, the arrival ofthe Cayuga, and, later, the soldiers--and also, I think, Sir William'ssherry--my head was tired and confused.
I slept none too soundly. Dreams came crowding around my pillow;visions of Mr. Butler chasing Silver Heels awoke me.
I sat up in my bed and parted the curtains. Through the window I couldsee the watchful eyes of Indian fires glimmering from hill and hollow,and over all the little stars, all awake, watching the sleeping world.
A cock began crowing somewhere down in the village, although no tintof dawn appeared. But the crickets had ceased, and the stars grewpaler, and that silence which is the dawn's true herald warned me tosleep again ere the red sun should steal over the edge of the worldand catch me waking.
Then I slept soundly, and the sly sun had painted many a figure on mywalls ere I waked to hear the bugle playing at the barracks, and SirWilliam's hounds baying in their kennels.
Dub! dub! rub-a-dub-dub! Dub! dub! rub-a-dub-dub!
The guard was changing at the block-house, while I, all shivers,dashed cold water over me from head to foot and rubbed my limbs into atingle.
How sweetly came the matins of the robins! A kennel-lad, standing inthe sunshine by the stables, wound his hunting-horn till thedeep-jowled hounds drowned all with their baying.
In breeches and shirt I leaned from the open window to smell the youngyear, and saw Silver Heels's head at the next window, her hair in hereyes, and bare arms propping her chin.
She put out her tongue at me, but I bade her good-morning so civillythat she smiled and asked me if I had slept well.
"No," said I; "dreams disturbed me."
"It was the cakes and sherry," she observed, with a grimace.
"I also dreamed, and screamed until Betty came and rocked me in herarms. Which proves," she added, "that we are both too young to dineand wine imprudently. I am coming in to tell you what I dreamed. Openthe door."
She entered, bundled in a wool blanket, and sat cross-legged on thebed, chattering of her dreams, how, in her sleep, she saw me mammockedby savages, among them Peter, who had grown big and sly and fiercelike a fat bear cub in December.
Meanwhile I made of my hair a neat queue and tied it; then put on mybuckskin vest with flaps, and my short hunting-shirt over it.
"Are you going to fish?" asked Silver Heels, enviously.
"If Sir William does," said I. "He sent me a present from CastleCumberland last night. I doubt not that it may be a new fish-rod forsalmon."
Presently she went away to be dressed by Betty, and I hastened downthe stairs, impatient to find Mr. Duncan and have my present; nay, sofast and blindly did I speed that, swinging around the balustrade, Iplumped clean into Sir William, coming up.
"What's to do! What's to do!" he exclaimed, testily. "Is there no goutin the world, then, wooden fee
t!"
"Oh, Sir William! My present from Castle Cumberland!" I stammered. "Isit a salmon-rod?"
"Now the wraith of old Isaac pinch ye!" said Sir William, halflaughing, half angry. "What the devil have I to do with your presentsand your fish-rods? Presents! Gad! It's a new algebra you need!"
"You promised not to," said I, stoutly.
"Did I?" said Sir William, with a twinkle in his eyes. "So I did, lad;so I did! Well, perhaps it is not an algebra book after all."
"Then let us go to Mr. Duncan and get it now," I replied, promptly.
"You may not want my present when you see it," argued Sir William, whodid ever enjoy to plague those whom he loved best.
But I pulled him by the hand, and he pretended to go with reluctanceand many misgivings.
At the door of the north block-house, Mr. Duncan rendered Sir Williamthe officer's salute, which Sir William returned.
"Mr. Duncan," said he, "have you knowledge hereabouts of a certainpresent sent in your care for Mr. Cardigan here?"
"Now that you mention it, sir," replied Mr. Duncan, gravely, "I dodimly recall something of the sort."
"Was it not a school-book?" inquired Sir William.
"It was a parcel," replied Mr. Duncan, dubiously; "belike it hid adozen good stout Latin books, sir."
I endured their plaguing with rising excitement. What could my presentbe?
"Take him in, Mr. Duncan," said Sir William at last. "And," to me,"remember, sir, that you forget not your manners when you return tome, for I shall await you here at the door."
Cramping with curiosity, I followed Mr. Duncan into his own privatechamber, which connected with the guard-room. But I saw no parcelsanywhere; in fact, there was nothing to be noticed save an officer'svalise at the foot of Mr. Duncan's bed.
"It is for you," he said; "open it."
At the same moment I perceived my own name painted on the leatherside, and the next instant I had stripped the lid back. Buff and goldand scarlet swam the colours of the clothing before my amazed eyes; Iput out a trembling hand and drew an officer's vest from the valise.
"Here are the boots, Mr. Cardigan," said the lieutenant, lifting apair of dress boots from behind a curtain. "Here is the hat and sword,too, and a holster with pistols."
"Mine!" I gasped.
"By this commission of our Governor," said Mr. Duncan, solemnly,drawing from his breast a parchment with seal and tape. "Mr. Cardigan,let me be the first to welcome you as a brother officer."
I had gone so blind with happy tears that I scarce could find hiskind, warm hand outstretched, nor could I decipher the commission ascornet of horse in the Royal Border Regiment of irregulars.
He mercifully left me then, and I stood with head pinched in myfingers, striving to realize what had arrived to me.
But I did not tarry long to gape and devour my uniform with my eyes.One after another my hunting-shirt, vest, leggings, shoon, flew fromme. I pulled on the buff breeches, and laced them tight, drew on theboots, set the vest close and buttoned it, then put on coat and hat,and lastly tied my silver gorget.
What I could see of myself in Mr. Duncan's glass left me dazed withadmiration. I set my sword belt, hung the sword with one glove in thehilt, and so, walking on air, I passed the guard-room with all thesoldiers at stiff attention, and came to Sir William.
He looked up sharply, without the familiar smile. But my wits were atwork and I stopped short at three paces, heels together, and gave theofficer's salute.
Sir William's lips twitched as he rendered the salute, then, castinghis ivory cane on the grass, he stepped forward with armsoutstretched, and I fell into them like a blubbering schoolboy.
To those contented and peaceful people who have never known thatgnawing desire for the noblest of all professions, the soldier's, Ican only say that I was contented. To those who themselves have knownthe longing it is needless to describe my happiness and pride, mygratitude to those who had honoured me, my impetuous thirst forservice, my resolve to set heart and soul towards high ideals andthoughts, my solemn boyish prayers that I might conduct nobly in theeyes of all men, for God and King and country.
Something of my thoughts may have disclosed themselves in my face asSir William laid both hands on my shoulders, for he looked at me along while with kindly, steady eyes. His countenance was serene andbenign when he spoke in that clear voice whose harmony and perfectcadence has charmed a thousand council fires, and turned feverishspleen and hatred into forbearance and reconciliation.
"My boy," he said, "the key to it all is faith. Keep faith with allmen; keep faith with thyself. This wins all battles, even the greatestand last!"
Very soberly we returned to the Hall, where a small company wereassembled for breakfast--Mistress Molly, Major Wilkes of the battalionwhich arrived the night before, Captains Priestly, Borrow, and McNeil,of the same regiment, my friend Lieutenant Duncan of the militia, andSilver Heels.
When Sir William and I entered the Hall the officers came to pay theirrespects to the Baronet, and I, red as a Dutch pippin, crossed theroom to where Mistress Molly stood with Silver Heels.
Bending to salute her hand, cocked hat crushed under one arm, Idischarged my duties with what composure I could command; but MistressMolly put both arms around me and kissed me on both cheeks.
"I knew all about it," she whispered. "We are very proud, Sir Williamand I. Be tender and faithful. It is all we ask."
Dear, dear Aunt Molly! While life lasts can I ever forget those sweet,grave words of love, spoken to a boy who stood alone on the thresholdof life?
Slowly I turned to look at Silver Heels, all my vanity, conceit, andcondescension vanished.
She had turned quite pale; her eyes seemed set and fascinated, and shewished me happiness in a low voice, as though uncertain of her ownwords.
Chilled by her lifeless greeting, I returned to Sir William, whopresented me to the guests with unconcealed pride:
"My kinsman, Mr. Cardigan, gentlemen; Captain Cardigan's only son!"
The officers, all in full dress, brilliant with the red, green, andgold of the Royal Americans, greeted me most kindly, some claimingacquaintance with my honoured father, and all speaking of his nobledeath before Quebec.
Before we sat at table, they gave me a standing toast, all touchingglasses with me, and Sir William, smiling, with one arm around myshoulder.
So we sat down to breakfast, a breakfast I, being excited, scarcelytasted; but I listened with all my ears to the discourse touching thelate troubles in New York and Massachusetts, concerning theimportation of tea by the East India Company. The discussion soonbecame a monologue, for the subject was one which Sir Williamunderstood from A to Zed, and his eloquence upon it had amazed andirritated people of more importance than our Governor Tryon himself.
"Look you," said Sir William, in his clear voice like a bell; "lookyou, gentlemen; I yield to no man in loyalty and love to my King; butthis I know and dare maintain here or at St. James: that his Majestywhom I serve and honour is misled by his ministers, and neither he northey suspect the truth concerning these colonies!"
The officers were all attention, some leaning forward to lose no wordor inflection; Mistress Molly poured the roundly abused tea, and hergentle dark eyes ever stole proudly towards Sir William.
"Gentlemen," said Sir William, blandly, "you all are aware that sincelast December the Atlantic Ocean is become but a vast pot of coldtea."
The laughter which followed sounded to me a trifle strained, as wellit might be, considering the insolence of the people who had flungthis defiance into the King's ocean.
"Very well," said Sir William, with that tight crease running aroundhis jaw which meant his mind was made up. "This is the true history ofthat trouble, gentlemen. Judge for yourselves where lies the blame."And, leaning back in his chair, one hand lifted, he began:
"That damned East India Company, floundering about with thenon-importation pill in its gullet, found itself owing the governmentfourteen hundred thousand pounds, with se
venteen million pounds ofunsold tea on its hands.
"Nobody likes bankruptcy, so off go the East India gentlemen withtheir petition to Parliament for permission to export their tea toAmerica, free of duty, and so put it in the power of the company tosell tea here cheaper than in England. And now I ask you, gentlemen,whether in all these broad colonies there are not some few men whosemotives are other than sordid?
"Your answers must be 'yes!'--because the colonists themselves soanswered when they burned the _Gaspee_!--when they gathered atGriffin's wharf and made tea enough for the world to drink!--when JohnLamb set his back to the portcullis of the fort and the teacommissioners ran like rabbits!
"God forbid that I, a humble loyal subject of my King, should everbear out the work of rebels or traitors. But I solemnly say to youthat the rebels and traitors are not the counterfeit Indians ofGriffin's wharf, not the men who fired the _Gaspee_ aflame from spritto topmast, not that man who set his back to the fort in New York! Butthey are those who whisper evil to my King at St. James--and may Godhave mercy on their souls!"
In the silence which followed, Sir William leaned forward, his heavychin set on his fists, his eyes looking into the future which he alonesaw so clearly.
None durst interrupt him. The officers watched him silently--thisgreat man--this great Irishman who had been the sole architect of hisown greatness; this great American who saw what we, even now, cannotsee as clearly as did he.
There he sat, dumb, eyes on vacancy; a plain man, a Baronet of theBritish realm, a member of the King's Council, a major-general ofmilitia, and the superintendent of the Indian Department in NorthAmerica.
A plain man; but a vast land-holder, the one man in America trustedblindly by the Indians, a man whose influence was enormous; a man whowas as simple as a maid, as truthful as a child, as kind as theSamaritan who passed not on the other side.
A plain man, but a prophet.
* * * * *
There was a step at the door; Mr. Duncan spoke in a low tone with theorderly, then returned to Sir William.
"The Indian belt-bearer is at the block-house, sir," he said.
Sir William rose. The officers made their adieux and left. Only SirWilliam, Mistress Molly, Silver Heels, and I remained in thedining-hall.
The Baronet looked across at Mistress Molly, and a sad smile touchedhis eyes.
She took Silver Heels by the hand and quietly left the room.
"Michael," said Sir William; "listen closely, but remain silentconcerning what this belt-bearer has to say. My honour is at stake, myson. Promise!"
"I promise, sir," said I, under my breath.
The next moment the door behind me opened and the Indian stole intothe room.