CHAPTER XXXI
Sixteen thousand gallant men, led by a brave and experienced general,and supported by a fine, though not very large park of artillery,seemed certainly sufficient for the reduction of a small fortress notvery well garrisoned, nor supplied with any great abundance of stores.But it seemed the fate of English officers in North America to adherestrictly to all ancient rules, when ancient rules could be of noservice in face of a new and totally different mode of warfare, and toabandon those rules at times and in circumstances when only they couldbe available.
A large fleet of bateaux had been collected at the southern extremityof Lake George, ready to transport the troops to the destined point ofattack; and a council of the most experienced officers was held on theevening of the third of July, to consider the farther proceedings ofthe army.
All had now assembled at what was then commonly called in the province"Fort Lyman," although the name was already formally changed to "FortEdward."
General Abercrombie was there in person, and a number of otherofficers appeared at the council likewise, whose experience in Indianwarfare was superior to his own. There is much reason to believe thathad Abercrombie's own opinion been followed in acting against a Frenchfort, under French command, all the operations would have beenconducted in the same manner, and upon the same system which wouldhave guided a similar enterprise in Europe, and thus much bloodshedand some disgrace would have been spared.
It was represented to the commander-in-chief, however, that numerousbodies of Indians were acting upon the side of France; that alloperations carried on according to European rules had hitherto failedin America, and more than one bloody disaster was held up as a warningto his eyes; which he unhappily suffered to bias his own betterjudgment. In a word, as it was known that every day freshreinforcements were being thrown into Ticonderoga, large bodies ofIndians being collected for its defence, and preparations of everykind in progress, it was determined that a sudden and rapid rushshould be made upon the fort, and that no consideration should be putin competition with celerity of movement and boldness of attack. LordH---- alone represented that, from what he had personally learnedduring the last six months, it was absolutely necessary to employcannon; though, perhaps with a want of proper confidence in his ownreputation, he offered to lead the advanced parties, lest the opinionhe expressed should seem to anyone to savor of timidity.
At as early an hour as possible the march commenced along what wascalled the King's road; and in high spirits, regiment after regimententered the forest, confident in their numbers and their prowess. Theregular troops pursued the well constructed causeway, while clouds ofMohawks were scattered on the flanks, sweeping the forest ground oneither side. The artillery, on the heavy and clumsy carriages of thatday, the tumbrels and the baggage wagons, came lumbering in the rear,and a large troop of stragglers followed, comprising the scouts, whomight have been much more advantageously employed in the front, butwho, for some reason unexplained, had very little service assigned tothem on the expedition. General Abercrombie and his staff, withseveral of the superior officers, followed slowly behind all the rest,well aware that the advance of the forces would meet with noopposition, at least upon the first day's march. To this group, fromevery quarter, came numerous messengers throughout the day, somebringing news of a fresh levy marching up from the eastern States;some, from the front, seeking clearer orders when any littledifficulty or impediment occurred; some from Albany, with intelligencefrom that city or New York: and several Indian runners from the west,bearing more important tidings from the Indian tribes, now all inmovement to support their British allies.
Amongst the rest appeared the silent runner Proctor, with a letter toGeneral Abercrombie, who, as soon as he had read it, turned to LordH----, saying: "This is a communication from your friends the Oneidas,my lord, but written by some Englishman who signs himself 'Gore.' Hestates that a war party of the nation is already on the western bankof the lake, and that the main body, under Black Eagle himself, isexpected in the course of the day. I suppose we may therefore considerourselves secure upon our left flank."
"Undoubtedly," replied Lord H----, with a look of anxiety which almostinduced the Commander-in-chief to believe that he did entertain doubtswhich he did not choose to express.
"You think so, I presume," said Abercrombie, gazing at him.
"Entirely," replied Lord H----; "but I was in hopes of hearing someother intelligence of a private nature, concerning Mr. Prevost's son,whose alarming position amongst the Oneidas I mentioned to you, if yourecollect."
"There is nothing more," said General Abercrombie, handing him theletter; "but there is the messenger. Probably he can give you someinformation."
Lord H---- immediately turned toward Proctor, who was running at asort of trot by the side of the general's horse, and inquired if hehad been at the Castle of the Oneidas. The man shook his head andtrotted on.
"Then where did you last come from?" asked Lord H----; but Proctoronly lifted his hand and pointed toward the northwest.
"How many miles?" demanded the young nobleman, determined to get somespeech out of him. The man lifted up his hands three times with theten fingers spread abroad, without opening his lips.
"Did you hear, amongst those who sent you," asked Lord H----, "anytidings of young Mr. Prevost?"
The man shook his head, but then suddenly stopped in his trot, andsaid, as if upon recollection: "They thought he had been put todeath." He paused, as if what he had said had cost him a great effort,but then added, slowly, when he saw the painful expression of theyoung nobleman's countenance: "They only thought. They did not know.They left before."
"Did you see or hear of a man whom you know as Woodchuck--the man yousaw with me at Albany?" asked Lord H----; but the other shook hishead, and nothing more could be extracted from him. The man was thensent forward to join the rear guard, but his taciturnity gave LordH---- good assurance that Mr. Prevost, who had gone forward, would notbe pained by the terrible rumor which he bore.
The long and fatiguing march to the nearest point of Lake Horicon Ineed not describe. Many of the scenes recorded in the life of thegallant Putnam passed near or on the very route pursued; and the featsof daring and the escapes of that fine soldier are almost as marvelousstill in our eyes as in those of the savage Indians of his own time,who supposed him to bear a charmed life. Suffice it that, afterencountering great difficulty and some fatigue, in dragging the cannonover a road which, in the neighborhood of the settled portion of thecolony was good enough, but which became almost impassable near thelake, in consequence of the heavy rains, the whole army arrived insafety at the newly constructed and yet incomplete works of FortGeorge, lying a little east of the site of the ever memorable FortWilliam Henry. By the care and diligence of the commissary general,everything that could refresh the weary soldiers was found prepared. Afleet of one hundred and thirty-five large boats and nine hundredbateaux were seen lying along the shore of the lake of pure and holywaters; and hardly a head was laid down to slumber in the huts thatnight which did not fondly fancy that Ticonderoga must inevitablyfall.
As usual with him, in camp or on the march, Lord H---- dined with hissoldiers, and shared their simple fare; but he passed the evening withMr. Prevost, who had found quarters in the fort. Both were grave, butthe deeper gravity was with Lord H----; for though, through the mindof the elder man continually flitted painful fancies--thoughts,images, or whatever they may be called--of the fate of Brooks, and hislips murmured twice, almost involuntarily, the words "Poor Woodchuck!"yet the certainty which he felt of the safety of his son, howevergreat the sacrifice which purchased it, was a comfort, a great, amighty consolation, although he almost reproached himself for thesensation of rejoicing which he could not help experiencing.
Lord H----, on the contrary, felt no such certainty. Ever since hisconversation with Proctor, if conversation it can be called, a gloomyfeeling of apprehension had rested on him. He did not doubt poorWoodchuck in the least; he was sure that he
would hold fast to hisresolution. Neither had he any fears that the execution of his purposewould be delayed or prevented by any such accident as that which hadin reality occurred. But he asked himself: "Might he not come toolate?" They had been told the time allowed by the Oneida chief toprovide a substitute for Walter, and had taken it at the Europeancalculation of months; but since he heard that a rumor of the youngman's death was prevalent amongst the Indians, he doubted whetherthere had not been a mistake. The very rumor showed that some of thenatives, at least, imagined the time had expired, and implied thattheir calculation was different. The effect upon the mind of Edith, heknew, would be terrible, when she found that her brother might havebeen saved, but that his life had been lost by such a mistake.
From Mr. Prevost he strove to hide his apprehensions as far aspossible, knowing well that previous anxiety never diminishes aninevitable evil; and soon after nightfall he left him to seek thoughtin his own tent.
The sky was clear and cloudless; the stars shining out with alargeness and a luster such as European skies can never give. A lightbreeze stirred the waters of the lake and made them musical along theshore, and one of the voyageurs was singing a tranquil song of home ina clear, mellow voice, as he sat in his bark. The air was mild andgentle as a morning dream, and yet the whole had that solemn calmnesswhich is always allied to melancholy.
He sat there long; no inclination to sleep interrupted his reveries,notwithstanding the fatigue of the day; and at length the moon roseover the high eastern hills, showing an unrivaled scene of solemnbeauty.
The young nobleman rose, and after gazing round him for a few moments,drinking in, as it were, the solemn loveliness, he then walked onslowly toward the blackened remains of Fort William Henry. There waslittle to be seen there. Montcalm had not left his work half done; forall had been destroyed, and little beyond some irregularities in theground, and some large detached fragments of masonry, showed where somany gallant men had fought in their country's cause, only to beslaughtered after surrender by a treacherous enemy. By report he knewthe ground well, and after pausing for a minute or two amongst theruins, he turned down the dark and fearful dell where the horriblemassacre was perpetrated. Every rock around had echoed to the yell ofthe Indians, the groan of the dying soldiers, or the shrieks ofdefenceless women and children. Every tree had seen beneath its boughssome of the deeds of horror and of blood which went to make up thatgreat crime. The bones of hundreds were lying still unburied; and whenthe moonlight fell on the western side of the gorge, some portion of awoman's garment, caught upon a bush, was seen fluttering in thebreeze.
The immediate path along which Lord H---- went was still in profoundshadow; but suddenly, across the moonlit side a little in advance ofhim, he saw gliding along, with noiseless steps, a troop of eight orten shadowy forms, looking like ghosts in the pale moonlight. So muchwas their color the same as the rocks around, that you might almostfancy you saw through them, and that they were but the shadows fromsome other objects, cast upon the broken crags as they passed. LordH---- stood and gazed, when suddenly the band stopped; and,comprehending that he had been perceived, he challenged them inEnglish, judging at once that they must be a troop of friendlyIndians. A deep voice replied in the same language, but with a strongIndian accent: "We are friends, children of the Stone. Can you tell uswhere to find Prevost?"
As he spoke, the leader of the Indians had advanced nearer, down thesloping ground at the foot of the rocks, and there seemed something inhis tall, powerful form, and majesty of carriage, familiar to the eyesof the young nobleman, who exclaimed: "Is that the Black Eagle?"
"It is," answered the other, whose limited knowledge of English didnot suffer him to indulge in his usual figurative language. "Art thouthe Falling Cataract?"
"I am he to whom you gave that name," answered Lord H----; "but whatwant you with Mr. Prevost? Where is his son?"
"On yonder side of Horicon," answered the Indian chief, pointing withhis hand toward the western side of the lake. "The boy is safe; be thymind at rest."
Lord H---- took the hand he proffered, and pressed it in his; but atthe same time he asked: "And poor Woodchuck--what of him?"
"I know not," answered Black Eagle. "We have not beheld him."
"That is strange," answered the young nobleman. "He set out to deliverhimself up to you, to save the young man's life."
"He is brave," answered Black Eagle. "The Good Spirit kept him away."
"Then how was the boy delivered?" asked Lord H----. "We feared yourpeople would be inexorable."
"The Great Spirit spoke by the voices of the women," answered thechief. "She who sees beyond the earth in her visions heard the voiceand told its words. It was decreed that if the boy died, our wives,our daughters, our sisters should all die with him; and we listened tothe voice, and obeyed."
"Come with me quickly," said Lord H----, eagerly. "Let us carry thenews to Mr. Prevost. He is here at the fort now, holding an office inour army."
"I know it," replied Black Eagle. "I have been to his lodge, and foundno one but the slaves, who told me. The boy I sent on with my people,for the children of the Stone have taken the warpath for England, anda thousand warriors are on their way to the place of the soundingwaters. He goes to fight amongst us as our son. But I must speak withPrevost before I go, for the wings of the Black Eagle are spread,perhaps for his last flight; and who knows but he will leave his scalpon the warpost of the Huron?"
Lord H---- led the way with a quick step, and the chief and hiscompanions followed. At the first outpost they were, of course,challenged, and strict orders having been given to admit no troop ofIndians within the limits of the fort, the young nobleman and thechief proceeded alone to the quarters of Mr. Prevost. They found himstill up, and busily writing orders for the following morning. When hebeheld the face of Black Eagle following his noble friend, he startedup, and at first drew back; but then, with a sudden change of feeling,he seized the warrior's hand, exclaiming: "My son lives! My son lives,or you would not be here!"
"He lives," replied the Black Eagle; and he then proceeded to give thesame account to Mr. Prevost which had been heard by Lord H----. Theformer, however, understanding the Indian better, soon drew from him,partly in English, and partly in Iroquois, the whole particulars ofWalter's deliverance.
"And would you really have slain him?" asked Mr. Prevost.
"I would," replied Black Eagle, calmly and firmly. "I would have tornout my own heart had the laws of my people required it!"
The father mused for a few moments, and then said, in a thoughtfultone: "I believe you would. Dear Otaitsa, did she really, then, perilher life to save her young friend?"
"She did more," answered Black Eagle. "She was one of those whoprepared to go to the happy hunting grounds with him; but I tell thee,Prevost, not the sight of my child, with the knife in her hand, readyto plunge it into her own heart, made the Black Eagle pause orhesitate. It was that we heard the voice of the Great Spirit in thewords that were spoken. He only can change the laws of the Oneida, andHe changed them. But now hear me, Prevost, for I must back to mypeople and thy son. I sent them forward toward the Sounding Waters,while I sought thee, first at thy lodge and then here; and I must jointhem, for they must not throw a hatchet or fire a rifle without theBlack Eagle."
He had seated himself when first he entered, but now he rose and stooderect, as if about to make a speech. "There is a blossom on the boughof the Black Eagle's tree," he said, "which is dear to his eyes, andthou hast a bough on thy tree which is dear to thee. Otaitsa is aChristian--believes in your Good Spirit. She is descended from a raceof warriors, every one of whom has left a name in the hearts of theirpeople. She is of the highest race of the highest tribe of thechildren of the Stone. The blood of the redman is as fine as the bloodof the white. Her mother was the daughter of a great chief, and of arace as good as thine own; a race that is renowned."
Mr. Prevost bent down his head, but he knew the Indian customs toowell to interrupt, and the chief went on, sayin
g: "The Blossom lovesthe Bough; the Bough loves the Blossom. She has purchased him, she hasbought him for herself; she has offered her heart's blood for hisprice. Is he not hers? If the Black Eagle should never return from hiswar flight, if the bullet of the French should break his wing, or thearrow of the Huron pierce his heart, will his brother Prevost bind theBlossom and the Bough together as the white men bind them, and as theChristian people unite those who love, together? Will he take theBlossom to his own home, and make her indeed his daughter?"
Mr. Prevost rose and threw his arms round the chief, saying: "Thou artmy brother. I will do as thou hast said, and may the Good Spirit dealwith me as I deal with thee in this matter. Thy daughter is mydaughter, my son is thy son. But thou knowest not, perhaps----"
Black Eagle raised his hand, saying in Iroquois: "Forbear! I know whatI know; thou knowest what thou knowest. We may believe much that it isnot right to prove. Silence is a good thing when secrets aredangerous. Now go I to my people with my heart at rest;" and withoutmore words he glided out of the room.