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Wacousta

J >> John Richardson >> Wacousta




Inspirited by the success of his shot, and expecting
momentarily to see him fall weakened with the loss of
blood, the excited Valletort redoubled his exertions. To
his infinite joy, he found that the efforts of the fugitive
became feebler at each moment Johnstone was about twenty
paces behind him, and the pursuing party at about the
same distance from Johnstone. The baronet had now reached
his enemy, and already was the butt of his rifle raised
with both hands with murderous intent, when suddenly
Wacousta, every feature distorted with rage and pain,
turned like a wounded lion at bay, and eluding the blow,
deposited the unconscious form of his victim upon the
sward. Springing upon his infinitely weaker pursuer, he
grappled him furiously by the throat, exclaiming through
his clenched teeth:--

"Nay then, since you will provoke your fate--be it so.
Die like a dog, and be d--d, for having balked me--of my
just revenge!"

As he spoke, he hurled the gasping officer to the earth
with a violence that betrayed the dreadful excitement of
his soul, and again hastened to assure himself of his
prize.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Johnstone had come up, and, seeing
his companion struggling as he presumed, with advantage,
with his severely wounded enemy, made it his first care
to secure the unhappy girl; for whose recovery the pursuit
had been principally instituted. Quitting his rifle, he
now essayed to raise her in his arms. She was without
life or consciousness, and the impression on his mind
was that she was dead.

While in the act of raising her, the terrible Wacousta
stood at his side, his vast chest heaving forth a laugh
of mingled rage and contempt. Before the officer could
extricate, with a view of defending himself, his arms
were pinioned as though in a vice; and ere he could
recover from his surprise, he felt himself lifted up and
thrown to a considerable distance. When he opened his
eyes a moment afterwards, he was lying amid the moving
feet of his own men.

From the instant of the closing of the unfortunate
Valletort with his enemy, the Indians, hastening to the
assistance of their chief, had come up, and a desultory
fire had already commenced, diverting, in a great degree,
the attention of the troops from the pursued. Emboldened
by this new aspect of things Wacousta now deliberately
grasped the rifle that had been abandoned by Johnstone;
and raising it to his shoulder, fired among the group
collected on the ramparts. For a moment he watched the
result of his shot, and then, pealing forth another fierce
yell, he hurled the now useless weapon into the very
heart of his pursuers; and again raising Clara in his
arms, once more commenced his retreat, which, under cover
of the fire of his party, was easily effected.

"Who has fallen?" demanded the governor of his adjutant,
perceiving that some one had been hit at his side, yet
without taking his eyes off his terrible enemy.

"Mr. Delme, sir," was the reply. "He has been shot through
the heart, and his men are bearing him from the rampart."

"This must not be," resumed the governor with energy.
"Private feelings must no longer be studied at the expense
of the public good. That pursuit is hopeless; and already
too many of my officers have fallen. Desire the retreat
to be sounded, Mr. Lawson. Captain Wentworth, let one or
two covering guns be brought to bear upon the savages.
They are gradually increasing hi numbers; and if we delay,
the party will be wholly cut off."

In issuing these orders, Colonel de Haldimar evinced a
composedness that astonished all who heard him. But
although his voice was calm, despair was upon his brow.
Still he continued to gaze fixedly on the retreating form
of his enemy, until he finally disappeared behind the
orchard of the Canadian of the Fleur de lis.

Obeying the summons from the fort, the troops without
now commenced their retreat, bearing off the bodies of
their fallen officers and several of their comrades who
had fallen by the Indian fire. There was a show of
harassing them on their return; but they were too near
the fort to apprehend much danger. Two or three
well-directed discharges of artillery effectually checked
the onward progress of the savages; and, in the course
of a minute, they had again wholly disappeared.

In gloomy silence, and with anger and disappointment in
their hearts, the detachment now re-entered the fort.
Johnstone was only severely bruised; Sir Everard Valletort
not dead. Both were conveyed to the same room, where they
were instantly attended by the surgeon, who pronounced
the situation of the latter hopeless.

Major Blackwater, Captains Blessington and Erskine,
Lieutenants Leslie and Boyce, and Ensigns Fortescue and
Summers, were now the only regimental officers that
remained of thirteen originally comprising the strength
of the garrison. The whole of these stood grouped around
their colonel, who seemed transfixed to the spot he had
first occupied on the rampart, with his arms folded, and
his gaze bent in the direction in which he had lost sight
of Wacousta and his child.

Hitherto the morning had been cold and cheerless, and
objects in the far distance were but indistinctly seen
through a humid atmosphere. At about half an hour before
mid-day the air became more rarified, and, the murky
clouds gradually disappearing, left the blue autumnal
sky without spot or blemish. Presently, as the bells of
the fort struck twelve, a yell as of a legion of devils
rent the air; and, riveting their gaze in that direction,
all beheld the bridge, hitherto deserted, suddenly covered
with a multitude of savages, among whom were several
individuals attired in the European garb, and evidently
prisoners. Each officer had a telescope raised to his
eye, and each prepared himself, shudderingly, for some
horrid consummation. Presently the bridge was cleared of
all but a double line of what appeared to be women, armed
with war-clubs and tomahawks. Along the line were now
seen to pass, in slow succession, the prisoners that had
previously been observed. At each step they took (and it
was evident they had been compelled to run the gauntlet),
a blow was inflicted by some one or other of the line,
until the wretched victims were successively despatched.
A loud yell from the warriors, who, although hidden from
view by the intervening orchards, were evidently merely
spectators in the bloody drama, announced each death.
These yells were repeated, at intervals, to about the
number of thirty, when, suddenly, the bridge was again
deserted as before.

After the lapse of a minute, the tall figure of a warrior
was seen to advance, holding a female in his arms. No
one could mistake, even at that distance, the gigantic
proportions of Wacousta,--as he stood in the extreme
centre of the bridge, in imposing relief against the
flood that glittered like a sea of glass beyond. From
his chest there now burst a single yell; but, although
audible, it was fainter than any remembered ever to have
been heard from him by the garrison. He then advanced to
the extreme edge of the bridge; and, raising the form of
the female far above his head with his left hand, seemed
to wave her in vengeful triumph. A second warrior was
seen upon the bridge, and stealing cautiously to the same
point. The right hand of the first warrior was now raised
and brandished in air; in the next instant it descended
upon the breast of the female, who fell from his arms
into the ravine beneath. Yells of triumph from the Indians,
and shouts of execration from the soldiers, mingled
faintly together. At that moment the arm of the second
warrior was raised, and a blade was seen to glitter in
the sunshine. His arm descended, and Wacousta was observed
to stagger forward and fall. heavily into the abyss into
which his victim had the instant before been precipitated.
Another loud yell, but of disappointment and anger, was
heard drowning that of exultation pealed by the triumphant
warrior, who, darting to the open extremity of the bridge,
directed his flight along the margin of the river, where
a light canoe was ready to receive him. Into this he
sprang, and, seizing the paddle, sent the waters foaming
from its sides; and, pursuing his way across the river,
had nearly gained the shores of Canada before a bark was
to be seen following in pursuit.

How felt--how acted Colonel de Haldimar throughout this
brief but terrible scene? He uttered not a word. With
his arms still folded across his breast, he gazed upon
the murder of his child; but he heaved not a groan, he
shed not a tear. A momentary triumph seemed to, irradiate
his pallid features, when he saw the blow struck that
annihilated his enemy; but it was again instantly shaded
by an expression of the most profound despair.

"It is done, gentlemen," he at length remarked. "The
tragedy is closed, the curse of Ellen Halloway is fulfilled,
and I am--childless!--Blackwater," he pursued, endeavouring
to stifle the emotion produced by the last reflection,
"pay every attention to the security of the garrison,
see that the drawbridge is again properly chained up,
and direct that the duties of the troops be prosecuted
in every way as heretofore."

Leaving his officers to wonder at and pity that apathy
of mind that could mingle the mere forms of duty with
the most heart-rending associations, Colonel de Haldimar
now quitted the rampart; and, with a head that was remarked
for the first time to droop over his chest, paced his
way musingly to his apartments.




CHAPTER XIV.

Night had long since drawn her circling mantle over the
western hemisphere; and deeper, far deeper than the gloom
of that night was the despair which filled every bosom
of the devoted garrison, whose fortunes it has fallen to
our lot to record. A silence, profound as that of death,
pervaded the ramparts and exterior defences of the
fortress, interrupted only, at long intervals, by the
customary "All's well!" of the several sentinels; which,
after the awful events of the day, seemed to many who
now heard it as if uttered in mockery of their hopelessness
of sorrow. The lights within the barracks of the men
had been long since extinguished; and, consigned to a
mere repose of limb, in which the eye and heart shared
not, the inferior soldiery pressed their rude couches
with spirits worn out by a succession of painful
excitements, and frames debilitated, by much abstinence
and watching. It was an hour at which sleep was wont to
afford them the blessing of a temporary forgetfulness of
endurances that weighed the more heavily as they were
believed to be endless and without fruit; but sleep had
now apparently been banished from all; for the low and
confused murmur that met the ear from the several
block-houses was continuous and general, betraying at
times, and in a louder key, words that bore reference to
the tragic occurrences of the day.

The only lights visible in the fort proceeded from the
guard-house and a room adjoining that of the ill-fated
Charles de Haldimar. Within the latter were collected,
with the exception of the governor, and grouped around
a bed on which lay one of their companions in a nearly
expiring state, the officers of the garrison, reduced
nearly one third in number since we first offered them
to the notice of our readers. The dying man was Sir
Everard Valletort, who, supported by pillows, was
concluding a narrative that had chained the earnest
attention of his auditory, even amid the deep and heartfelt
sympathy perceptible in each for the forlorn and hopeless
condition of the narrator. At the side of the unhappy
baronet, and enveloped in a dressing gown, as if recently
out of bed, sat, reclining in a rude elbow chair, one
whose pallid countenance denoted, that, although far less
seriously injured, he, too, had suffered severely:--it
was Lieutenant Johnstone.

The narrative was at length closed; and the officer,
exhausted by the effort he had made in his anxiety to
communicate every particular to his attentive and surprised
companions, had sunk back upon his pillow, when, suddenly,
the loud and unusual "Who comes there?" of the sentinel
stationed on the rampart above the gateway, arrested
every ear. A moment of pause succeeded, when again was
heard the "Stand, friend!" evidently given in reply to
the familiar answer to the original challenge. Then were
audible rapid movements in the guard-house, as of men
aroused from temporary slumber, and hastening to the
point whence the voice proceeded.

Silently yet hurriedly the officers now quitted the
bedside of the dying man, leaving only the surgeon and
the invalid Johnstone behind them; and, flying to the
rampart, stood in the next minute confounded with the
guard, who were already grouped round the challenging
sentinel, bending their gaze eagerly in the direction of
the road.

"What now, man?--whom have you challenged?" asked Major
Blackwater.

"It is I--De Haldimar," hoarsely exclaimed one of four
dark figures that, hitherto, unnoticed by the officers,
stood immediately beyond the ditch, with a burden deposited
at their feet. "Quick, Blackwater, let us in for God's
sake! Each succeeding minute may bring a scouting party
on our track. Lower the drawbridge!"

"Impossible!" exclaimed the major: "after all that has
passed, it is more than my commission is worth to lower
the bridge without permission. Mr. Lawson, quick to the
governor, and report that Captain de Haldimar is here:
with whom shall he say?" again addressing the impatient
and almost indignant officer.

"With Miss de Haldimar, Francois the Canadian, and one
to whom we all owe our lives," hurriedly returned the
officer; "and you may add," he continued gloomily, "the
corpse of my sister. But while we stand in parley here,
we are lost: Lawson, fly to my father, and tell him we
wait for entrance."

With nearly the speed enjoined the adjutant departed.
Scarcely a minute elapsed when he again stood upon the
rampart, and advancing closely to the major, whispered
a few words in his ear.

"Good God! can it be possible? When? How came this? but
we will enquire later. Open the gate; down with the
bridge, Leslie," addressing the officer of the guard.

The command was instantly obeyed. The officers flew to
receive the fugitives; and as the latter crossed the
drawbridge, the light of a lantern, that had been brought
from the guard-room, flashed full upon the harassed
countenances of Captain and Miss de Haldimar, Francois
the Canadian, and the devoted Oucanasta.

Silent and melancholy was the greeting that took place
between the parties: the voice spoke not; the hand alone
was eloquent; but it was in the eloquence of sorrow only
that it indulged. Pleasure, even in this almost despaired
of re-union, could not be expressed; and even the eye
shrank from mutual encounter, as if its very glance at
such a moment were sacrilege. Recalled to a sense of her
situation by the preparation of the men to raise the
bridge, the Indian woman was the first to break the
silence.

"The Saganaw is safe within his fort, and the girl of
the pale faces will lay her head upon his bosom," she
remarked solemnly. "Oucanasta will go to her solitary
wigwam among the red skins."

The heart of Madeline de Haldimar was oppressed by the
weight of many griefs; yet she could not see the generous
preserver of her life, and the rescuer of the body of
her ill-fated cousin, depart without emotion. Drawing a
ring, of some value and great beauty, from her finger,
which she had more than once observed the Indian to
admire, she placed it on her hand; and then, throwing
herself on the bosom of the faithful creature, embraced
her with deep manifestations of affection, but without
uttering a word.

Oucanasta was sensibly gratified: she raised her large
eyes to heaven as if in thankfulness; and by the light
of the lantern, which fell upon her dark but expressive
countenance, tears were to be seen starting unbidden from
their source.

Released from the embrace of her, whose life she had
twice preserved at imminent peril to her own, the Indian
again prepared to depart; but there was another, who,
like Madeline, although stricken by many sorrows, could
not forego the testimony of his heart's gratitude.
Captain de Haldimar, who, during this short scene, had
despatched a messenger to his room for the purpose, now
advanced to the poor girl, bearing a short but elegantly
mounted dagger, which he begged her to deliver as a token
of his friendship to the young chief her brother. He then
dropped on one knee at her feet, and raising her hand,
pressed it fervently against his heart; an action which,
even to the untutored mind of the Indian, bore evidence
only of the feeling that prompted it, A heavy sigh escaped
her labouring chest; and as the officer now rose and
quitted her hand, she turned slowly and with dignity from
him, and crossing the drawbridge, was in a few minutes
lost in the surrounding gloom.

Our readers have, doubtless, anticipated the communication
made to Major Blackwater by the Adjutant Lawson. Bowed
down to the dust by the accomplishment of the curse of
Ellen Halloway, the inflexibility of Colonel de Haldimar's
pride was not proof against the utter annihilation wrought
to his hopes as a father by the unrelenting hatred of
the enemy his early falsehood and treachery had raised
up to him. When the adjutant entered his apartment, the
stony coldness of his cheek attested he had been dead
some hours.

We pass over the few days of bitter trial that succeeded
to the restoration of Captain de Haldimar and his bride
to their friends; days, during which were consigned to
the same grave the bodies of the governor, his lamented
children, and the scarcely less regretted Sir Everard
Valletort. The funeral service was attempted by Captain
Blessington; but the strong affection of that excellent
officer, for three of the defunct parties at least, was
not armed against the trial. He had undertaken a task
far beyond his strength; and scarcely had commenced, ere
he was compelled to relinquish the performance of the
ritual to the adjutant. A large grave had been dug close
under the rampart, and near the fatal flag-staff, to
receive the bodies of their deceased friends; and, as
they were lowered successively into their last earthly
resting place, tears fell unrestrainedly over the bronzed
cheeks of the oldest soldiers, while many a female sob
blended with and gave touching solemnity to the scene.

On the morning of the third day from this quadruple
interment, notice was given by one of the sentinels that
an Indian was approaching the fort, making signs as if
in demand for a parley. The officers, headed by Major
Blackwater, now become the commandant of the place,
immediately ascended the rampart, when the stranger was
at once recognised by Captain de Haldimar for the young
Ottawa, the preserver of his life, and the avenger of
the deaths of those they mourned, in whose girdle was
thrust, in seeming pride, the richly mounted dagger that
officer had caused to be conveyed to him through his no
less generous sister. A long conference ensued, in the
language of the Ottawas, between the parties just named,
the purport of which was of high moment to the garrison,
now nearly reduced to the last extremity. The young chief
had come to apprise them, that, won by the noble conduct
of the English, on a late occasion, when his warriors
were wholly in their power, Ponteac had expressed a
generous determination to conclude a peace with the
garrison, and henceforth to consider them as his friends.
This he had publicly declared in a large council of the
chiefs, held the preceding night; and the motive of the
Ottawa's coming was, to assure the English, that, on this
occasion, their great leader was perfectly sincere in a
resolution, at which he had the more readily arrived,
now that his terrible coadjutor and vindictive adviser
was no more. He prepared them for the coming of Ponteac
and the principal chiefs of the league to demand a council
on the morrow; and, with this final communication, again
withdrew.

The Ottawa was right Within a week from that period the
English were to be seen once more issuing from their
fort; and, although many months elapsed before the wounds
of their suffering hearts were healed, still were they
grateful to Providence for their final preservation from
a doom that had fallen, without exception, on every
fortress on the line of frontier in which they lay.

Time rolled on; and, in the course of years, Oucanasta
might be seen associating with and bearing curious
presents, the fruits of Indian ingenuity, to the daughters
of De Haldimar, now become the colonel of the ----
regiment; while her brother, the chief, instructed his
sons in the athletic and active exercises peculiar to
his race. As for poor Ellen Halloway, search had been
made for her, but she never was heard of afterwards.




THE END

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