Carl Russell Fish - "The Path of Empire,"

Maturin Murray - "The Sea Witch"

Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, GA. - "The Divine Comedy of Dante by H. W. Longfellow"

Alice C. Hegan - "Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch"

Wacousta

J >> John Richardson >> Wacousta




With the officers the reputation of Halloway for courage
and fidelity stood no less high; but, while they secretly
lamented the circumstance of his defalcation, they could
not disguise from themselves the almost certainty of his
guilt, for each, as he now gazed upon the prisoner,
recollected the confusion and hesitation of manner he
had evinced when questioned by them preparatory to their
ascending to the ramparts.

Once more the suspense of the moment was interrupted by
the entrance of other forms into the area. They were
those of the Adjutant, followed by a drummer, bearing
his instrument, and the Governor's orderly, charged with
pens, ink, paper, and a book which, from its peculiar
form and colour, every one present knew to be a copy of
the Articles of War. A variety of contending emotions
passed through the breasts of many, as they witnessed
the silent progress of these preparations, rendered
painfully interesting by the peculiarity of their position,
and the wildness of the hour at which they thus found
themselves assembled together. The prisoner himself was
unmoved: he stood proud, calm, and fearless amid the
guard, of whom he had so recently formed one; and though
his countenance was pale, as much, perhaps, from a sense
of the ignominious character in which he appeared as from
more private considerations, still there was nothing to
denote either the abjectness of fear or the consciousness
of merited disgrace. Once or twice a low sobbing, that
proceeded at intervals from one of the barrack windows,
caught his ear, and he turned his glance in that direction
with a restless anxiety, which he exerted himself in the
instant afterwards to repress; but this was the only mark
of emotion he betrayed.

The above dispositions having been hastily made, the
adjutant and his assistants once more retired. After the
lapse of a minute, a tall martial-looking man, habited
in a blue military frock, and of handsome, though stern,
haughty, and inflexible features, entered the area. He
was followed by Major Blackwater, the captain of artillery,
and Adjutant Lawson.

"Are the garrison all present, Mr. Lawson? are the officers
all present? "

"All except those of the guard, sir," replied the Adjutant,
touching his hat with a submission that was scrupulously
exacted on all occasions of duty by his superior.

The Governor passed his hand for a moment over his brows.
It seemed to those around him as if the mention of that
guard had called up recollections which gave him pain;
and it might be so, for his eldest son, Captain Frederick
de Haldimar, had commanded the guard. Whither he had
disappeared, or in what manner, no one knew.

"Are the artillery all present, Captain Wentworth?" again
demanded the Governor, after a moment of silence, and in
his wonted firm authoritative voice.

"All present, sir," rejoined the officer, following the
example of the Adjutant, and saluting his chief.

"Then let a drum-head court-martial be assembled
immediately, Mr. Lawson, and without reference to the
roster let the senior officers be selected."

The Adjutant went round to the respective divisions, and
in a low voice warned Captain Blessington, and the four
senior subalterns, for that duty. One by one the officers,
as they were severally called upon, left their places in
the square, and sheathing their swords, stepped into that
part of the area appointed as their temporary court. They
were now all assembled, and Captain Blessington, the
senior of his rank in the garrison, was preparing to
administer the customary oaths, when the prisoner Halloway
advanced a pace or two in front of his escort, and removing
his cap, in a clear, firm, but respectful voice, thus
addressed the Governor:--

"Colonel de Haldimar, that I am no traitor, as I have
already told you, the Almighty God, before whom I swore
allegiance to his Majesty, can bear me witness. Appearances,
I own, are against me; but, so far from being a traitor,
I would have shed my last drop of blood in defence of
the garrison and your family.--Colonel de Haldimar," he
pursued, after a momentary pause, in which he seemed to
be struggling to subdue the emotion which rose, despite
of himself, to his throat, "I repeat, I am no traitor,
and I scorn the imputation--but here is my best answer
to the charge. This wound, (and he unbuttoned his jacket,
opened his shirt, and disclosed a deep scar upon his
white chest,) this wound I received in defence of my
captain's life at Quebec. Had I not loved him, I should
not so have exposed myself, neither but for that should
I now stand in the situation of shame and danger, in
which my comrades behold me."

Every heart was touched by this appeal--this bold and
manly appeal to the consideration of the Governor. The
officers, especially, who were fully conversant with the
general merit of Halloway, were deeply affected, and
Charles de Haldimar--the young, the generous, the feeling
Charles de Haldimar,--even shed tears.

"What mean you, prisoner?" interrogated the Governor,
after a short pause, during which he appeared to be
weighing and deducing inferences from the expressions
just uttered. "What mean you, by stating, but for that
(alluding to your regard for Captain de Haldimar) you
would not now be in this situation of shame and danger?"

The prisoner hesitated a moment; and then rejoined, but
in a tone that had less of firmness in it than
before,--"Colonel de Haldimar, I am not at liberty to
state my meaning; for, though a private soldier, I respect
my word, and have pledged myself to secrecy."

"You respect your word, and have pledged yourself to
secrecy! What mean you, man, by this rhodomontade? To
whom can you have pledged yourself, and for what, unless
it be to some secret enemy without the walls? Gentlemen,
proceed to your duty: it is evident that the man is a
traitor, even from his own admission.--On my life," he
pursued, more hurriedly, and speaking in an under tone,
as if to himself, "the fellow has been bribed by, and is
connected with--." The name escaped not his lips; for,
aware of the emotion he was betraying, he suddenly checked
himself, and assumed his wonted stern and authoritative
bearing.

Once more the prisoner addressed the Governor in the same
clear firm voice in which he had opened his appeal.

"Colonel de Haldimar, I have no connection with any living
soul without the fort; and again I repeat, I am no traitor,
but a true and loyal British soldier, as my services in
this war, and my comrades, can well attest. Still, I seek
not to shun that death which I have braved a dozen times
at least in the ---- regiment. All that I ask is, that
I may not be tried--that I may not have the shame of
hearing sentence pronounced against me YET; but if nothing
should occur before eight o'clock to vindicate my character
from this disgrace, I will offer up no further prayer
for mercy. In the name of that life, therefore, which I
once preserved to Captain de Haldimar, at the price of
my own blood, I entreat a respite from trial until then."

"In the name of God and all his angels, let mercy reach
your soul, and grant his prayer!"

Every ear was startled--every heart touched by the
plaintive, melancholy, silver tones of the voice that
faintly pronounced the last appeal, and all recognised
it for that of the young, interesting, and attached wife
of the prisoner. Again the latter turned his gaze towards
the window whence the sounds proceeded, and by the glare
of the torches a tear was distinctly seen by many coursing
down his manly cheek. The weakness was momentary. In the
next instant he closed his shirt and coat, and resuming
his cap, stepped back once more amid his guard, where he
remained stationary, with the air of one who, having
nothing further to hope, has resolved to endure the worst
that can happen with resignation and fortitude.

After the lapse of a few moments, again devoted to much
apparent deep thought and conjecture, the Governor once
more, and rather hurriedly, resumed,--

"In the event, prisoner, of this delay in your trial
being granted, will you pledge yourself to disclose the
secret to which you have alluded? Recollect, there is
nothing but that which can save your memory from being
consigned to infamy for ever; for who, among your comrades,
will believe the idle denial of your treachery, when
there is the most direct proof against you? If your secret
die with you, moreover, every honest man will consider
it as having been one so infamous and injurious to your
character, that you were ashamed to reveal it."

These suggestions of the Colonel were not without their
effect; for, in the sudden swelling of the prisoner's
chest, as allusion was made to the disgrace that would
attach to his memory, there was evidence of a high and
generous spirit, to whom obloquy was far more hateful
than even death itself.

"I do promise," he at length replied, stepping forward,
and uncovering himself as before,--"if no one appear to
justify my conduct at the hour I have named, a full
disclosure of all I know touching this affair shall be
made. And may God, of his infinite mercy, grant, for
Captain de Haldimar's sake, as well as mine, I may not
then be wholly deserted!"

There was something so peculiarly solemn and impressive
in the manner in which the unhappy man now expressed
himself, that a feeling of the utmost awe crept into the
bosoms of the surrounding throng; and more than one
veteran of the grenadiers, the company to which Halloway
belonged, was heard to relieve his chest of the long
pent-up sigh that struggled for release.

"Enough, prisoner," rejoined the Governor; "on this
condition do I grant your request; but recollect,--your
disclosure ensures no hope of pardon, unless, indeed,
you have the fullest proof to offer in your defence. Do
you perfectly understand me? "

"I do," replied the soldier firmly; and again he placed
his cap on his head, and retired a step or two back among
the guard.

"Mr. Lawson, let the prisoner be removed, and conducted
to one of the private cells. Who is the subaltern of
the guard?"

"Ensign Fortescue," was the answer.

"Then let Ensign Fortescue keep the key of the cell
himself. Tell him, moreover, I shall hold him individually
responsible for his charge."

Once more the prisoner was marched out of the area; and,
as the clanking sound of his chains became gradually
fainter in the distance, the same voice that had before
interrupted the proceedings, pronounced a "God be praised!--
God be praised!" with such melody of sorrow in its
intonations that no one could listen to it unmoved. Both
officers and men were more or less affected, and all
hoped--they scarcely knew why or what--but all hoped
something favourable would occur to save the life of the
brave and unhappy Frank Halloway.

Of the first interruption by the wife of the prisoner
the Governor had taken no notice; but on this repetition
of the expression of her feelings he briefly summoned,
in the absence of the Adjutant, the sergeant-major of
the regiment to his side.

"Sergeant-major Bletson, I desire that, in future, on
all occasions of this kind, the women of the regiment
may be kept out of the way. Look to it, sir!"

The sergeant-major, who had stood erect as his own halbert,
which he held before him in a saluting position, during
this brief admonition of his colonel, acknowledged, by
a certain air of deferential respect and dropping of the
eyes, unaccompanied by speech of any kind, that he felt
the reproof, and would, in future, take care to avoid
all similar cause for complaint. He then stalked stiffly
away, and resumed, in a few hasty strides, his position
in rear of the troops.

"Hard-hearted man!" pursued the same voice: "if my prayers
of gratitude to Heaven give offence, may the hour never
come when my lips shall pronounce their bitterest curse
upon your severity!"

There was something so painfully wild--so solemnly
prophetic--in these sounds of sorrow as they fell faintly
upon the ear, and especially under the extraordinary
circumstances of the night, that they might have been
taken for the warnings of some supernatural agency. During
their utterance, not even the breathing of human life
was to be heard in the ranks. In the next instant, however,
Sergeant-major Bletson was seen repairing, with long and
hasty strides, to the barrack whence the voice proceeded,
and the interruption was heard no more.

Meanwhile the officers, who had been summoned from the
ranks for the purpose of forming the court-martial, still
lingered in the centre of the square, apparently waiting
for the order of their superior, before they should resume
their respective stations. As the quick and comprehensive
glance of Colonel de Haldimar now embraced the group, he
at once became sensible of the absence of one of the
seniors, all of whom he had desired should be selected
for the court-martial.

"Mr. Lawson," he remarked, somewhat sternly, as the
Adjutant now returned from delivering over his prisoner
to Ensign Fortescue, "I thought I understood from your
report the officers were all present!"

"I believe, sir, my report will be found perfectly
correct," returned the Adjutant, in a tone which, without
being disrespectful, marked his offended sense of the
implication.

"And Lieutenant Murphy--"

"Is here, sir," said the Adjutant, pointing to a couple
of files of the guard, who were bearing a heavy burden,
and following into the square. "Lieutenant Murphy," he
pursued, "has been shot on the ramparts; and I have, as
directed by Captain Blessington, caused the body to be
brought here, that I may receive your orders respecting
the interment." As he spoke, he removed a long military
grey cloak, which completely enshrouded the corpse, and
disclosed, by the light of the still brightly flaming
torches of the gunners, the features of the unfortunate
Murphy.

"How did he meet his death?" enquired the governor;
without, however, manifesting the slightest surprise, or
appearing at all moved at the discovery.

"By a rifle shot fired from the common, near the old bomb
proof," observed Captain Blessington, as the adjutant
looked to him for the particular explanation he could
not render himself.

"Ah! this reminds me," pursued the austere
commandant,--"there was a shot fired also from the
ramparts. By whom, and at what?"

"By me, sir," said Lieutenant Valletort, coming forward
from the ranks, "and at what I conceived to be an Indian,
lurking as a spy upon the common."

"Then, Lieutenant Sir Everard Valletort, no repetition
of these firings, if you please; and let it be borne in
mind by all, that although, from the peculiar nature of
the service in which we are engaged, I so far depart from
the established regulations of the army as to permit my
officers to arm themselves with rifles, they are to be
used only as occasion may require in the hour of conflict,
and not for the purpose of throwing a whole garrison into
alarm by trials of skill and dexterity upon shadows at
this unseasonable hour."

"I was not aware, sir," returned Sir Everard proudly,
and secretly galled at being thus addressed before the
men, "it could be deemed a military crime to destroy an
enemy at whatever hour he might present himself, and
especially on such an occasion as the present. As for my
firing at a shadow, those who heard the yell that followed
the second shot, can determine that it came from no
shadow, but from a fierce and vindictive enemy. The cry
denoted even something more than the ordinary defiance
of an Indian: it seemed to express a fiendish sentiment
of personal triumph and revenge."

The governor started involuntarily. "Do you imagine, Sir
Everard Valletort, the aim of your rifle was true--that
you hit him?"

This question was asked so hurriedly, and in a tone so
different from that in which he had hitherto spoken, that
the officers around simultaneously raised their eyes to
those of their colonel with an expression of undissembled
surprise. He observed it, and instantly resumed his
habitual sternness of look and manner.

"I rather fear not, sir," replied Sir Everard, who had
principally remarked the emotion; "but may I hope (and
this was said with emphasis), in the evident disappointment
you experience at my want of success, my offence may be
overlooked?"

The governor fixed his penetrating eyes on the speaker,
as if he would have read his inmost mind; and then calmly,
and even impressively, observed,--

"Sir Everard Valletort, I do overlook the offence, and
hope you may as easily forgive yourself. It were well,
however, that your indiscretion, which can only find its
excuse in your being so young an officer, had not been
altogether without some good result. Had you killed or
disabled the--the savage, there might have been a decent
palliative offered; but what must be your feelings, sir,
when you reflect, the death of yon officer," and he
pointed to the corpse of the unhappy Murphy, "is, in a
great degree, attributable to yourself? Had you not
provoked the anger of the savage, and given a direction
to his aim by the impotent and wanton discharge of your
own rifle, this accident would never have happened."

This severe reproving of an officer, who had acted from
the most praiseworthy of motives, and who could not
possibly have anticipated the unfortunate catastrophe
that had occurred, was considered especially harsh and
unkind by every one present; and a low and almost inaudible
murmur passed through the company to which Sir Everard
was attached. For a minute or two that officer also
appeared deeply pained, not more from the reproof itself
than from the new light in which the observation of his
chief had taught him to view, for the first time, the
causes that had led to the fall of Murphy. Finding,
however, that the governor had no further remark to
address to him, he once more returned to his station in
the ranks.

"Mr. Lawson," resumed the commandant, turning to the
adjutant, "let this victim be carried to the spot on
which he fell, and there interred. I know no better grave
for a soldier than beneath the sod that has been moistened
with his blood. Recollect," he continued, as the adjutant
once more led the party out of the area,--"no firing,
Mr. Lawson. The duty must be silently performed, and
without the risk of provoking a forest of arrows, or a
shower of bullets from the savages. Major Blackwater,"
he pursued, as soon as the corpse had been removed, "let
the men pile their arms even as they now stand, and remain
ready to fall in at a minute's notice. Should any thing
extraordinary happen before the morning, you will, of
course, apprise me." He then strode out of the area with
the same haughty and measured step that had characterised
his entrance.

"Our colonel does not appear to be in one of his most
amiable moods to-night," observed Captain Blessington,
as the officers, after having disposed of their respective
companies, now proceeded along the ramparts to assist at
the last funeral offices of their unhappy associate.
"He was disposed to be severe, and must have put you, in
some measure, out of conceit with your favourite rifle,
Valletort."

"True," rejoined the Baronet, who had already rallied
from the momentary depression of his spirits, "he hit me
devilish hard, I confess, and was disposed to display
more of the commanding officer than quite suits my ideas
of the service. His words were as caustic as his looks;
and could both have pierced me to the quick, there was
no inclination on his part wanting. By my soul I could.
...but I forgive him. He is the father of my friend:
and for that reason will I chew the cud of my mortification,
nor suffer, if possible, a sense of his unkindness to
rankle at my heart. At all events, Blessington, my mind
is made up, and resign or exchange I certainly shall the
instant I can find a decent loop-hole to creep out of."

Sir Everard fancied the ear of his captain was alone
listening to these expressions of his feeling, or in all
probability he would not have uttered them. As he concluded
the last sentence, however, he felt his arm gently grasped
by one who walked a pace or two silently in their rear.
He turned, and recognised Charles de Haldimar.

"I am sure, Valletort, you will believe how much pained
I have been at the severity of my father; but, indeed,
there was nothing personally offensive intended. Blessington
can tell you as well as myself it is his manner altogether.
Nay, that although he is the first in seniority after
Blackwater, the governor treats him with the same distance
and hauteur he would use towards the youngest ensign in
the service. Such are the effects of his long military
habits, and his ideas of the absolutism of command. Am
I not right, Blessington?"

"Quite right, Charles. Sir Everard may satisfy himself
his is no solitary instance of the stern severity of your
father. Still, I confess, notwithstanding the rigidity
of manner which he seems, on all occasions, to think so
indispensable to the maintenance of authority in a
commanding officer, I never knew him so inclined to find
fault as he is to-night."

"Perhaps," observed Valletort, good humouredly, "his
conscience is rather restless; and he is willing to get
rid of it and his spleen together. I would wager my rifle
against the worthless scalp of the rascal I fired at
to-night, that this same stranger, whose asserted appearance
has called us from our comfortable beds, is but the
creation of his disturbed dreams. Indeed, how is it
possible any thing formed of flesh and blood could have
escaped us with the vigilant watch that has been kept on
the ramparts? The old gentleman certainly had that illusion
strongly impressed on his mind when he so sapiently spoke
of my firing at a shadow."

"But the gate," interrupted Charles de Haldimar, with
something of mild reproach in his tones,--"you forget,
Valletort, the gate was found unlocked, and that my
brother is missing. HE, at least, was flesh and blood,
as you say, and yet he has disappeared. What more probable,
therefore, than that this stranger is at once the cause
and the agent of his abduction?"

"Impossible, Charles," observed Captain Blessington;
"Frederick was in the midst of his guard. How, therefore,
could he be conveyed away without the alarm being given?
Numbers only could have succeeded in so desperate an
enterprise; and yet there is no evidence, or even suspicion,
of more than one individual having been here."

"It is a singular affair altogether," returned Sir Everard,
musingly. "Of two things, however, I am satisfied. The
first is, that the stranger, whoever he may be, and if
he really has been here, is no Indian; the second, that
he is personally known to the governor, who has been, or
I mistake much, more alarmed at his individual presence
than if Ponteac and his whole band had suddenly broken
in upon us. Did you remark his emotion, when I dwelt on
the peculiar character of personal triumph and revenge
which the cry of the lurking villain outside seemed to
express? and did you notice the eagerness with which he
enquired if I thought I had hit him? Depend upon it,
there is more in all this than is dreamt of in our
philosophy."

"And it was your undisguised perception of that emotion,"
remarked Captain Blessington, "that drew down his severity
upon your own head. It was, however, too palpable not to
be noticed by all; and I dare say conjecture is as busily
and as vaguely at work among our companions as it is with
us. The clue to the mystery, in a great degree, now dwells
with Frank Halloway; and to him we must look for its
elucidation. His disclosure will be one, I apprehend,
full of ignominy to himself, but of the highest interest
and importance to us all. And yet I know not how to
believe the man the traitor he appears."

"Did you remark that last harrowing exclamation of his
wife?" observed Charles de Haldimar, in a tone of
unspeakable melancholy. "How fearfully prophetic it
sounded in my ears. I know not how it is," he pursued,
"but I wish I had not heard those sounds; for since that
moment I have had a sad strange presentiment of evil at
my heart. Heaven grant my poor brother may make his
appearance, as I still trust he will, at the hour Halloway
seems to expect, for if not, the latter most assuredly
dies. I know my father well; and, if convicted by a court
martial, no human power can alter the destiny that awaits
Frank Halloway."

"Rally, my dear Charles, rally," said Sir Everard,
affecting a confidence he did not feel himself; "indulge
not in these idle and superstitious fancies. I pity
Halloway from my soul, and feel the deepest interest in
his pretty and unhappy wife; but that is no reason why
one should attach importance to the incoherent expressions
wrung from her in the agony of grief."

"It is kind of you, Valletort, to endeavour to cheer my
spirits, when, if the truth were confessed, you acknowledge
the influence of the same feelings. I thank you for the
attempt, but time alone can show how far I shall have
reason, or otherwise, to lament the occurrences of this
night."

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