Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy--Volume 1

we had need of all our diligence and caution. Captain de Haldimar is missing, and the gate has be

ed!" exclaimed a number of voices. "Impossibl

," resumed the communicator of this startling piece

deposit the stiffening body of the unfortunate Murphy, which they still supported, upon the rampart. Then addre

ot fired at random, then, I find," observed the adjutant, as the

nadiers," was the r

Haldimar missing. We had few officers enough to spare before, and their loss will be sever

ants," observed Ensign Delme, who, as well as the ill-fated Murphy, had risen from t

have you learnt connected with his disappearan

ry which no one can unravel; even at this moment the sentinel, Frank Halloway, who is strongly suspecte

t; "surely Halloway could never prove a traitor,-and especially

emen, fall in," quickly pronounced by Major Blackwater, prevente

to support each face in the event of its being broken by numbers. Close to these, and within the square, stood the number of gunners necessary to the duty of the field-pieces, each of which was commanded by a bombardier. At the foot of the ramparts, outside the square, and immediately opposite to their several embrasures, were stationed the gunners required for the batteries, under a non-commissioned officer also, and the whole under the direction of a superior officer of that arm, who now walked to and fro, conversing in a low voic

vancing towards Major Blackwater, communicated a message, that was followed by the command of the latter officer for the three divisions to face inwards. The officer of artillery also gave the word to his men to form lines of single files immediately in the rear of their respective guns, leaving space e

t a murmur, escaped from the ranks: but, though the etiquette and strict laws of military discipline chained all speech, the workings of the inward mind remained unchecked; and as they recognised in the prisoner Frank Halloway, one of the bravest and boldest in the field, and, as all had hitherto imagined, one of the most devoted to his duty, an irrepressible thrill of amazement and dismay crept throughout the frames, and for a moment blanched the cheeks of those especially who belonged to the same comp

e of his defalcation, they could not disguise from themselves the almost certainty of his guilt, for each, as he now gazed upon the prisone

ed 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 ap

a minute, a tall martial-looking man, habited in a blue military frock, and of handsome, though stern, haughty, and inf

esent, Mr. Lawson? are t

ant, touching his hat with a submission that was scrupu

that guard had called up recollections which gave him pain; and it might be so, for his eldest son, Captain

" again demanded the Governor, after a moment of s

fficer, following the example of t

immediately, Mr. Lawson, and without reference to

ir 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

amily.-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 ja

The officers, especially, who were fully conversant with the general merit of Halloway, were deeply affe

ighing and deducing inferences from the expressions just uttered. "What mean you, by stating, but for that (

mness in it than before,-"Colonel de Haldimar, I am not at liberty to state my meaning

ls? 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 fell

Governor in the same clear firm voi

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

is angels, let mercy reach yo

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 shir

o much apparent deep thought and conjecture, the

ich 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 ag

prisoner's chest, as allusion was made to the disgrace that would attach to his memory, there was e

y my conduct at the hour I have named, a full disclosure of all I know touching this affair shall be made. And may Go

a feeling of the utmost awe crept into the bosoms of the surrounding throng; and more than one veteran of the grenadiers,

est; but recollect,-your disclosure ensures no hope of pardon, unless, indeed, you

gain he placed his cap on his head, and r

, and conducted to one of the private ce

tescue," wa

cell himself. Tell him, moreover, I shall hol

ed 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

otice; but on this repetition of the expression of her feelings he briefly summon

on all occasions of this kind, the women of the reg

nowledged, 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 fut

ratitude to Heaven give offence, may the hour never come when m

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

tly waiting for the order of their superior, before they should resume their respective stations. As the quick and comprehensive glance of Colonel de Haldimar

turned from delivering over his prisoner to Ensign Fortescue, "I th

," returned the Adjutant, in a tone which, without being d

utenant

hot 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

r; without, however, manifesting the slightest su

of," observed Captain Blessington, as the adjutant looked to

e commandant,-"there was a shot fired als

orward from the ranks, "and at what I conceived t

e 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 occas

t 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 shad

ou imagine, Sir Everard Valletort, the ai

n, that the officers around simultaneously raised their eyes to those of their colonel with an expression

emotion; "but may I hope (and this was said with emphasis), in the evident dis

eaker, as if he would have read his inmost mind;

out 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 unh

sent; 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 ob

ce 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

ving disposed of their respective companies, now proceeded along the ramparts to assist at the last funeral offices of their unhappy a

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 o

probability he would not have uttered them. As he concluded the last sentence, however, he felt his arm gently

l 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 h

. Still, I confess, notwithstanding the rigidity of manner which he seems, on all occasions, to think so indispensable

ed 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 bloo

e gate was found unlocked, and that my brother is missing. HE, at least, was flesh and blood, as you say, and yet he has

, could he be conveyed away without the alarm being given? Numbers only could have succeeded in so desperate

nown 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 tri

re 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

ued, "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,

dle and superstitious fancies. I pity Halloway from my soul, and feel the deepest interest in his pretty and unhappy wife;

ed, you acknowledge the influence of the same feelings. I thank you for the attempt, but time al

occupied in digging a grave in the precise spot on which the unfortunate Murphy had stood when he received his death-wo