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

ne led his company across the drawbridge that communicated with the fort. It was the first time it had been lowered since the investment of the garrison by the

all his severity, Colonel de Haldimar was not without strong affection for his children. The feelings of the father, therefore, in a great degree triumphed over the prudence of the commander; and to shield the corpse of his son from the indignities which he well knew would be inflicted on it by Indian barbarity, he had been induced to accede to the earnest prayer of Captain Erskine, that he might be permitted to lead out his company for the purpose of securing the body. Every means were, however, taken to cover the advance, and ensure the retreat of the detachment. The remainder of the troops were

inst the enemy with whom they might possibly have to contend. The front and rear ranks of the company, consisting in all of ninety men, were so placed as to leave space in the event of attack, of a portion of each wheeling inwards so as to present in an instant three equal faces of a square. As the rear was sufficiently covered by the cannon of the fort to defeat any attempt to

iles were detached from the rear of each rank, to place the body on a litter with which they had provided themselves. He and Johnstone also moved in the same direction in advance of the men, prepared to render assistance if required. The corpse lay on its face, and in no way despoiled of any of its glittering habiliments; a circumstance that too well confirmed the fact of De Haldimar'

e act of depositing it on this temporary bier, the plumed hat fell from the head, and disclosed, to the

ficers, and the men started back from their charge as if a basilisk had suddenly appeared b

rug of the shoulders, that was intended to express

nd. It must be so. De Haldimar has been slain by the same Indian who killed Murphy.-Do you recollect his scalp cry? He was in the act of d

ed in their very ears, and in the next instant more than a hundred dark and hideous savages sprang simultaneously to their feet within the bomb-proof, while every tree along the skirt of the forest gave back

ohnstone sprang hastily back, and in time to obtain admittance within the troops, who had rapidly executed the manoeuvre commanded. Not so with Mitchell and his companions. On the first alarm they had quitted the body of the mutilated officer, and flown to secure their arms,

rise from the very bowels of the earth. Attracted by the novelty of the sight, the bold and daring warriors, although still retaining their firm grasp of the unhappy soldiers, were for a moment diverted from their bloody purpose, and temporarily suspended the quick and rotatory motion of their weapons. Captain Erskine took a

d his attitude denotes the timidity of the hind. His warriors are like himself, and even now upon their knees they call upon their Manitou to preserve them from the vengeance of

ike band; and again the weapons of death were fiercely brandished arou

, quiet, or I'll cut you down," he pursued, addressing one of his soldiers, whose impatience caused him to bring his musket half up to the sho

passed over the heads of the detachment, and was seen tearing up the earth around the bomb-proof, and s

duced in the savages by the lightning flash that announced its heavy messengers of destruction. Discharge after discharge succeeded without intermission; but the guns had been levelled so high, to prevent injury to their own men, they had little other effect than to keep the Indians from the attack. The rush of bullets through the close forest, a

"bring in the litter to the rear, and sto

they had been so rudely handled, and who had glided from them almost as imperceptibly and swiftly as they had first approached. It seemed as if

re bewitched? Bring the litter in to the rear.-Mitchell, you old fool, are you grown

ed, the desired effect. They now bent themselves to the litter, on which they had previously deposited their muskets, and with a self-possession that cont

intment and rage at the escape of their victims; but all attempt at uncovering themselves, so as to be enab

ment quitted their recumbent and defensive position, still remaining formed in square. At the same instant, a gun flashed from the fort; but not as before was heard the rushing sound of the destructive shot crushing the trees in its resistless course. The Indians took courage at this circumstance, for they deemed the bullets of their enemies were expended; and that they were merely discharging their powder to keep up the apprehension originally produced. Again they showed themselves, like so many demons, from behind their lurking places; and yells and shouts of the most terrific and threatening character once more rent the air, and echoed through the woods. Their cries of anticipated triumph were, however, but of short duration. Presently, a hissing noise was heard in the air; and close

d with rage at having been so long baulked of their aim, they threw themselves once more impetuously from their cover; and, with stimulating yells, at length opened their fire. Several of Captain Erskine's men were wounded by this discharge; when, again, and furiously the cannon opened from the fort. It was then that the superiority of the artillery was made manifest. Both right and left of the retreating files the ponderous shot flew heavily past, carrying death and terror to the Indians; while not a man of those who intervened was scathed or touched in its progress. The warriors in the forest were once more compelled to shelter themselves behind the trees; but in the bomb-proof, where they were more secure, they were also more bo

ction of the draw-bridge, "how did you like the grip of them black savages?-I say, Mitchell, old Nick will scarcely know the face of you, it's so

e Ingian fastened his paw upon your ugly neck as he did upon mine, all the pitiful life your

ieves," muttered another of the men at the litter. "All the time, the devil had me by the throat, swinging his tommyh

inkler here, if the captain didn't swear he'd cut the soul out of my

nks had again joined), "since but for that, there wouldn't be a

Wiseacre?" rejo

them in right earnest-and then their top-knots wouldn't have been worth a bra

ive four men a chance of having their skull pieces cracked open lik

h all the life in them. What matter would it be if ye had all been scalped?" Then with a significant half glance to the rear, which was brought up by

es to me, my boys, that ye have caught the wrong cow by the horns, and that all your pains has been for nothing at all, at all. By the holy pope, ye are all

as at once perceived, although it had hitherto escaped the observation even of the officers, that, not only the shoes were those usually worn

ishman; "sure, and it isn't the officer at all! Just look at the great black fist of him too

ldimar; "the captain's hand is as white and as soft as my cross-belt, or, what's saying a great deal more, as Miss Clara'

tain's hand is only covered with dirt; and as for the ammunition shoes and trowsers, wh

be, in the course of this dialogue, incomprehensible to him or her,)-"Yes, by the holy poker, off duty, if they like

urford; "there would soon be he

ay in his way, and fell violently forward. The sudden action destroyed the equilibrium of the corpse, which rolled off its temporary bier upon the ear

oss, half in jest, half in earnest: "for it isn't the captin at all,

n Ingian that has killed the captain, and dressed himself in his

," said another of the litter men. "I thought they wouldn't ha' made such a

ading sergeant; "who ever saw an Ingian with light hair?

by the sudden halt produced by the falling

ernly demanded of the sergeant; "why is this halt

root, sir, and the body r

aptain.-"What mean ye, fellows, by standing there; quick, rep

as the men proceeded to their duty, "that it is

l mad? and have the Indians, in rea

orpse, which the men had now placed with its face uppermost, they discovered the bewildering fact that it was

fficers dropping as before to the rear, to watch any movements of the enemy should he re-appear. Nothing, however, occurred to interrupt their march; and in a few minutes the heavy clanking sound of the chains of

dent of the other, which the arm en echarpe denoted to be slight, were hastily and warmly proffered. These felicitations were the genuine ebullitions of the hearts of men who really felt a pride, unmixed with jealousy, in the conduct of their fellows; and so cool and excell

sincere, the credit is not mine, but Wentworth's. But for you, my dear fellow," grasping and shaking the hand of that officer, "we should have rendered but a Flemish account of ou

tation; "but Bombardier Kitson's was the most effective. It was his shell that drove

ilarated by the exciting events of the last hour; "and what will be more acceptable, perhaps, they shall each have a glass of my best old Jamaica before they sleep,-

up adding his congratulations in a low tone, that marked the despondency of his heart; "and Sir Everard

n who stood near him; "run quickly, and relieve them of their error. Say it is not De Haldimar

ned to acquit himself of the pleasing task assigned him, witho

have you brought to us in his uniform, which I clearly distinguished from the ramp

nd De Haldimar; although, as you observe, he most certainly wears his uniform. But you shall see and judge for yourselves, gentlemen. Serge

the guard-room, Sir,"

s to satisfy themselves by personal observation it was not indeed De Haldimar who had fallen, to

s left undefiled; and even the eyes were so covered, it was impossible to say whether their lids were closed or open. More than one officer's cheek paled with the sickness that rose to his heart as he gazed on the hideous spectacle; yet, as the curiosity of all was strongly excited to know who the murdered man really was

quantity of gore, that, trickling downwards, had so completely disguised every feature. As the coat of thick encrusted matter gave way beneath the frequent application of the moistening sponge, the pallid hue of the countenance denoted the murdered man to be a white. All doubt, however, was soon at an end. The ammunition shoes, the grey trowsers, the c

ctures, as vague as they were unsatisfactory, in regard to their new mystery, Sir Everar

e shot?" wildly asked the agitated young man. "Who is this, Erskine?" he c

the latter met his death from your rifle; there is no mark of a bullet about him. It was an Indian tomahawk that did his business; and I wil

had previously been overwhelmed by his despair, and he grasped and shook the hand of Captain Erskine, who had thus been the means of r

ath of poor Donellan to answer for;" and hastening from the guard-room, he p