Wacousta: A Tale of the Pontiac Conspiracy--Volume 3

his cloak over his eyes, given full rein to the wanderings of his excited imagination. It was in vain the faithful old Morrison, who never suffered his master to mount a guard without finding s

of one whom he had always looked upon more as a dependant on his family than as the mere rude soldier. Still he could not summon courage to disclose the true nature of his grief, which the other merely ascribed to general causes and vague apprehensions of a yet unaccomplished evil. Morrison had ever loved his sister with an affection in no way inferior to that which he bore towards himself. He had also nursed her in childhood; and his memory was ever faithful to trace, as his tongue was to dwell on, those gentle and a

, now that he had every evidence his adored sister was no more, and that the illusion of hope was past for ever, to have heard her name even mentioned by one who, ignorant of the fearful truth the events of that night had elucidated, was still ready to renew a strain every chord of which had lost its power of harmony, was repugnant beyond bearing to his heart. At one moment he resolved briefly to acquaint the old man with the dreadful fact, but unwillingness to give pain prevented him; and, moreover, he felt the grief the commun

s being required, he might be found without difficulty, he ascended to that quarter of the works where the Indian had been first seen who had so mysteriously conveyed the sad token he still retained in his breast. It was on the same side with that particular point whence we have already stated a full view of the bridge with its surrounding scenery, together with the waters of the Detroit, where they were intersected by Hog

hin and around the fort; and, but for the howling of some Indian wolf-dog in the distance, or the low and monotonous beat of their drums in the death-dance, there was nought that gave evidence of the existence of the dreadful enemy by whom they were beset. But the whole being of the acutely suffering De Haldimar was absorbed in recollections connected with the spot on which

n imagination filled with the most fearful forebodings, and with a heart throbbing with the most painful excitement. Hitherto, since the discovery of the contents of the packet, his mind had been so exclusively absorbed in stupifying grief for his sister, that his perception seemed utterly incapable of outstepping the limited sphere drawn around it; but now, other remembrances, connected with the localities, forced themselves upon his attention; and although, in all

st, could never be replaced. What could be the motive for this mystery?-and why had he sought to impress him with the belief it was the identical portrait worn by his sister which had so unintentionally been exposed to his view? Why, too, had he evinced so much anxiety to remove from his mind all unfavourable impressions in regard to his mother? Why have been so energetic in his caution not to suffer a taint of impurity to attach to her memory? Why should he have supposed the possibility of such impression, unless there had been sufficient cause for it? In what, moreover, originated his triumphant expression of feature, when, on that occasion, he reminded him that HIS name was not Reginald? Who, then, was this Reginald? Then came the reco

e used by the implacable enemy of his father, that uncouth and ferocious warrior of the Fleur de lis, not only on the occasion of the execution of Halloway, but afterwards to his brother, during his short captivity; and, subsequently, when, disguised as a black, he penetrated, with the band of Ponteac, into the fort, and aimed his murderous weapon at his father's head. What had made him the enemy of his family? and where and how had originated his father's connection with so e

ikely to go down with his father to the grave; for, however humiliating the reflection to a haughty parent, compelled to vindicate the honour of a mother to her son, and in direct opposition to evidence that scarcely bore a shadow of misin

ing in his rear, whose footsteps he distinguished from the heavy pace of the

ove of solitude? What possible result can it produce, but an utter prostration of every moral and physical energy? Come, come, summon a little fortitude; all

d, and, I believe, have ever loved me; seek not, therefore, to draw me from the present temper of my mind; depriv

isten to such language. You absol

erent subject. Answer me one question with sincerity. What were the contents of the packet yo

d, he believed the packet contained letters which Halloway had stated to him were of a nature to throw some light on his famil

rom the lips of the youth. "Has my father ever m

I confess, his failing to do so has often e

ather's apartment to apprise him of what was going on here, I saw,-I can scarcely tell you what, but certainly enough to convince me, from what you have no

t if I might judge from the peculiar form and weight of the packet

same," returned De Haldimar. "They were addressed to 'Reginald;' and H

on; "but what were their contents, and by whom written, that you deem

" he replied, after a pause, "you will not think me capable of unworthy mystery towards yourself but the conten

t what had now been disclosed to him; "but surely, Charles," he pursued, "if the packet handed me by Halloway were the s

e we to separate the identity of the packets

at baffles all my powers of penetration. Were I in possession of the co

t say, for the secret is not my own; and feelings, which it would be dishonour to outrage, alone bind me to silenc

ave been too long absent from our guard, and I confess I have no par

im to a fire that now suddenly rose, apparently at a great distance, and rapidly increased in volume. The singularity of this occurrence riveted the officers for a moment in silent observation; until

e ever apprehensive De Haldimar. "Francois has been detected in rendering aid to our friends; and the Ind

of a cannon was heard in the direction of the fire. The alarm was given hastily by the sentinels, and sounds of preparation and arming were audible in the course of a minute or two every where throughout the fort. Startled by the report, which they had half inclined to imagi

ppearance became an object of minor consideration, since it might be attributed to some caprice or desire on the part of the Indians to excite apprehension in their enemies. But how was the report which had reached their ears to be accounted for? It

d been called into requisition; and as they were now levelled in the direction of the fire

Lieutenant Johnstone. "I can distinctly see the forms of a multitude of

"How I should like to be able to discharge a twenty-four pound batt

ds among them?" eagerly and tremblingly enquire

d; but apparently without success. He announced that he could discover no

essington. "My experience furnishes me with no one instance in w

uld have been thus engaged all night; in w

re flying to their canoes, bounding and leaping like so many devils

gallant schooner! see how beautifully she drives past the island. It was

graceful vessel, with every stitch of canvass set, was shooting rapidly past the low bushes skirting the sands that still concealed her hull; and

, dropping the glass upon the rampart, and rubbing

f fifty canoes are following in the schooner's wake. But Danv

o had joined his officers just as the schooner cleared the island; "we must cover the

d by, and scarcely crediting what he saw. Could Clara,-could his cousin-could his brother-could his friend be on board? He scarcely dared to ask himself these questions; still it was