HELEN'S DIARY.
"Montreal, Feb. ----, 1814.
"Another week of hard driving and marching is over. Sometimes we had
night quarters for the men, always for the officers and women. Still, I
was so tired each night, and there were so many little things to attend
to, that my diary has been neglected. Now, however, we are comfortably
quartered at the foot of the mountain, and while Harold is away
attending to matters of the regiment I will try to make up for lost
time.
"I had a long talk with Sir George at the Commandant's on the night of
the ball at Quebec, and was delighted at his ready consent to have
Emmiline and her husband go with us to Penetang. When he said that she
might be my own special servant I offered to pay the expense of the
journey for her.
"'That cannot be thought of,' was his reply. 'I always intended to
secure another woman to take the place of the one who died, and I assure
you I am more than pleased that you have found one to suit.'
"It was very kind of him, and the next morning I told the good news to
Bateese. In his exuberance of spirits he threw his hat up in the air.
"'By gar!' he exclaimed, 'such fonne to have ma femme. She no spik much
Angleese, but teach soon she quick--tree or four week she spik everyting
goot as Bateese. She bonne scholare an' tak prize when leetle gal at
seminare.'
"And so she came, and they made room for her in the sleigh with the
other women. I was afraid that the soldiers' wives would quarrel with
the little woman, yet, so far, there is not even an inkling of war among
them.
"Speaking of war. Montreal is the place for the signs of it. I was
surprised to see so many troops in the city, more by far than there were
either in Halifax or Quebec, regulars and colonials combined. They are a
determined-looking lot of men and well drilled.
"Harold tells me that everything on the frontier is still quiet and, so
far, the American General Wilkinson has not renewed his attack. Both
sides are making preparations for a final conflict, and it will be fight
to the finish when the summer comes.
"Our rest here is going to be short, for we have a third of our journey
yet to cover, and, being over the roughest part of the road, it will
take longer to accomplish. Lakes and rivers have still to be crossed,
and all must be done before the ice breaks up. Hence, although we
arrived yesterday, we start again to-morrow.
"To-night, however, we are invited by the officers of the Montreal
regiment to a toboggan slide at the mountain, with a supper and dance
afterwards. It will be my first ride on one of these swift-running
sledges. They look dangerous as they fly so quickly down the hills, but
if safe for others they should be safe for me, and I am glad to have the
opportunity to try the sport before we make our final parting from
civilization."
The next day. Diary continued.
"I must jot down the impressions of last evening while fresh in my mind.
The meet was at a place called 'The Cedars,' almost half-way up the
mountain, and from which there is an irregular decline down to the St.
Lawrence. One of the attractions was that the toboggans, by the long
descent, would be carried far out over the surface of the river.
"What a jolly lot of people they were! A score of officers in uniform, a
few civilians and a bevy of Montreal's prettiest girls, chaperoned by
officers' wives and matrons of the city.
"As an Englishwoman, I am loyal to my own land and people. Still,
whether due to the atmosphere, to lighter living, or the freer life they
lead, the young ladies you meet here seem to have more spirit, quicker
movement and clearer skins than the average English girls that I have
known. But this is another digression, Mrs. Diary, and again I say,
'_pecavi_.'
"We were lucky to have so good a night. The air was cold and still, and
our position at the top of the slide gave a fine view of the lower city,
with its myriads of lights from the houses and streets. Countless stars
covered a sky only slightly dulled in lustre by the pale, half moon;
while on the hillsides far and near clumps of evergreens stood out
clearly upon their background of snow.
"Introductions, buzz of voices, gay laughter, occupied some minutes as
we collected on the little plateau at the head of the slide. All were
busy, too, getting their rigs in order. Toboggans are funny-looking
things--flat-bottomed, turned up in front like a South Sea Islander's
war canoe. But they are very comfortable when you have cushions to sit
on and robes to put over you.
"Captain Thompson, of the Montreal Rifles, was our leader, and one would
almost think he was marshalling his troops as he issued his orders.
"Quickly he had us going, and it was jolly enough as soon as we got used
to it. Off our toboggans sped, one after another, down the mountain,
crackling and whistling over the snow, giving each and all a vivid
pleasure in the swift, exhilarating ride. At first the grade was even
and smooth in its descent, then undulating, then on a level for another
hundred feet, finally down a little abyss, and away for hundreds of
yards over the icy surface of the river, between mighty ships frozen at
their anchorage for the winter. Here, carryalls for the riders and long
sleighs for the toboggans awaited us to take all back again to repeat
the sport.
"Harold and I sat together on one of the sledges, and I must confess
that when we started to descend the hill at almost lightning speed I
felt terribly frightened and grasped him firmly around the waist. He
only laughed while he whispered:
"'Don't be frightened, dear; you'll get used to it in another minute,'
and so I did.
"We had a number of rides and were commencing our last one when an
accident happened. It was on the sled in front of ours, and we were in
the act of starting when I saw a man fall off.
"'Why, that is Captain Cummings!' I exclaimed, my heart making a
tremendous leap.
"'Yes, it is,' returned Harold; 'what can have happened?' and he rushed
over to give assistance.
"He was trying to rise to his feet but could not.
"'It's that confounded leg of mine,' I heard him say. 'My ankle got
twisted under the runner. I don't think it's broken though. What do you
say about it, Beaumont?'
"And the Doctor on his knees examined the joint, the Captain being
propped up by another officer.
"'No bones broken,' was his comment. 'You must have got a terrible
wrench though, the way the joint flaps about. Is it very painful?'
"'Excruciating,' returned Cummings. 'The joint has been weak ever since
Vittoria. I got it twisted then.'
"'Well, we'll take you back to quarters and dress it. No dancing for you
to-night, that is certain. Don't know that it will be safe for you to
travel with us to-morrow, either.'
"'In both of which I differ from you,' said the Captain, with a supreme
effort at self-control, notwithstanding the pain. 'Take me back to the
hotel and dress the joint. Then help me into the ballroom. I can watch
the others even if I cannot waltz. As to going with the troop, why
certainly I'll go,' and for a moment he cast a sharp glance in my
direction.
"I believe I shivered again.
"An hour later all our party were at the French hostelry partaking of
prairie chicken, oyster patties and singaree, and when we made our entry
into the ballroom, there sat in state Captain Cummings. He had evidently
preceded us. Of course, he was the lion, and the ladies rivalled with
each other to sit out the different dances with him. Harold told me I
must do it, too, so my turn came with the rest.
"'I don't know but I'm a lucky dog after all,' he undertoned, as he
squeezed my hand.
"'It cannot be lucky to be lame,' I replied, as I sat down beside him.
"'A soldier takes his knocks as he gets them,' was his comment, 'but I
had no expectation of taking Lieutenant Smith's place so soon.
"'Perhaps you won't need to. A night's rest will do wonders, mayhap the
injury is more imaginary than real,' I said.
"'I know the effects too well to be deceived. The injury is too devilish
to heal in a week or fortnight, either,' he replied, drily.
"'Why go with us at all, then?'
"'Because I'm wanted when I get there. I won't be in anybody's way,
except for the riding instead of walking, and as yours is the most
comfortable sleigh for an invalid, I fear, dear madam, I must crave your
indulgence--Say, Manning!' he exclaimed to Harold, who just then joined
us. 'I was telling your wife that Smith gives such a capital report
about your sleigh that I feel like begging the privilege of occupying a
part of it for the next two or three days.'
"Harold winced and flushed as well. Was he, too, getting suspicious?
"'I think that might be arranged satisfactorily, dearie,' he said to me
in somewhat constrained tone.
"'That depends upon the Captain's meaning,' I replied. 'It would be too
much for me to give up your seat when it is your turn to ride. But for
the rest of the time it is different.'
"'Thank you,' responded Cummings. 'That is exactly what I mean.'
"So in order to secure half a loaf he asked for a whole one, and got it
without demur. How could I help it?"