For an Indian isle she shapes her way
With constant mind both night and day:
She seems to hold her home in view
And sails as if the path she knew,
So calm and stately in her motion
Across the unfathomed, trackless ocean.
-- WILSON.
It has been said that Peter was in advance. When his canoe was nearly
abreast of the usual landing at the hut, he saw two canoes coming out
from among the rice, and distant from him not more than a hundred
yards. At a greater distance, indeed, it would not have been easy to
distinguish such an object on the water at all. Instead of attempting to
avoid these two canoes, the chief instantly called to them, drawing the
attention of those in them to himself, speaking so loud as to be easily
overheard by those who followed.
“My young men are too late,” he said. “The pale-faces have been seen in
the openings above by our warriors, and must soon be here. Let us land,
and be ready to meet them at the wigwam.”
Peter's voice was immediately recognized. The confident, quiet, natural
manner in which he spoke served to mislead those in the canoes; and when
he joined them, and entered the passage among the rice that led to the
landing, preceding the others, the last followed him as regularly as the
colt follows its dam. Le Bourdon heard the conversation, and understood
the movement, though he could not see the canoes. Peter continued
talking aloud, as he went up the passage, receiving answers to all he
said from his new companions, his voice serving to let the fugitives
know precisely where they were. All this was understood and improved by
the last, who lost no time in turning the adventure to account.
The first impulse of le Bourdon had been to turn and fly up stream.
But, ascertaining that these dangerous enemies were so fully occupied
by Peter as not to see the canoes behind, he merely inclined a little
toward the other side of the channel, and slackened his rate of
movement, in order not to come too near. The instant he was satisfied
that all three of the canoes in advance had entered the passage
mentioned, and were moving toward the landing, he let out, and glided
down stream like an arrow. It required but half a minute to cross the
opening of the passage, but Peter's conversation kept his followers
looking ahead, which greatly lessened the risk. Le Bourdon's heart was
in his mouth several times, while thus running the gauntlet, as it might
be; but fortune favored them; or, as Margery more piously understood the
circumstances, a Divine Providence led them in safety past the danger.
At the mouth of the river both le Bourdon and Gershom thought it highly
probable that they should fall in with more lookouts, and each prepared
his arms for a fight. But no canoe was there, and the fugitives were
soon in the lake. Michigan is a large body of water, and a bark canoe is
but a frail craft to put to sea in, when there is any wind or commotion.
On the present occasion, there was a good deal of both; so much as
greatly to terrify the females. Of all the craft known, however, one
of these egg-shells is really the safest, if properly managed, among
breakers or amid the combing of seas. We have ourselves ridden in them
safely through a surf that would have swamped the best man-of-war cutter
that ever floated; and done it, too, without taking on board as much
water as would serve to wash one's hands. The light vessel floats on so
little of the element, indeed, that the foam of a large sea has scarce
a chance of getting above it, or aboard it; the great point in the
handling being to prevent the canoe from falling broadside to. By
keeping it end on to the sea, in our opinion, a smart gale might be
weathered in one of these craft, provided the endurance of a man could
bear up against the unceasing watchfulness and incessant labor of
sweeping with the paddle, in order to prevent broaching to.
Le Bourdon, it has been said, was very skilful in the management of his
craft; and Gershom, now perforce a sober and useful man, was not
much behind him in this particular. The former had foreseen this very
difficulty, and made all his arrangements to counteract it. No sooner,
therefore, did he find the canoes in rough water than he brought them
together, side by side, and lashed them there. This greatly lessened the
danger of capsizing, though it increased the labor of managing the craft
when disposed to turn broadside to. It only remained to get sail on the
catamaran, for some such thing was it now, in order to keep ahead of the
sea as much as possible. Light cotton lugs were soon spread, one in each
canoe, and away they went, as sailors term it, wing and wing.
It was now much easier steering, though untiring vigilance was still
necessary. A boat may appear to fly, and yet the “send of the sea”
shall glance ahead of it with the velocity of a bird. Nothing that goes
through, or ON, the water--and the last is the phrase best suited to
the floating of a bark canoe--can ever be made to keep company with
that feathery foam, which, under the several names of “white-caps”--an
in-shore and lubber's term--“combs,” “breaking of the seas,” “the wash,”
etc., etc., glances by a vessel in a blow, or comes on board her even
when she is running before it. We have often watched these clouds of
water, as they have shot ahead of us, when ploughing our own ten or
eleven knot through the brine, and they have ever appeared to us as so
many useful admonishers of what the power of God is, as compared to the
power of man. The last shall construct his ship, fit her with all the
appliances of his utmost art, sail her with the seaman's skill, and
force her through her element with something like railroad speed;
yet will the seas “send” their feathery crests past her, like so
many dolphins, or porpoises, sporting under her fore-foot. It is this
following sea which becomes so very dangerous in heavy gales, and which
compels the largest ships frequently to heave to, in order that they may
present their bows to its almost resistless power.
But our adventurers had no such gales as those we mean, or any such seas
to withstand. The wind blew fresh from the south, and Michigan can get
up a very respectable swell at need. Like the seas in all the great
lakes, it was short, and all the worse for that. The larger the expanse
of water over which the wind passes, the longer is the sea, and the
easier is it for the ship to ride on it. Those of Lake Michigan,
however, were quite long enough for a bark canoe, and glad enough were
both Margery and Dorothy when they found their two little vessels lashed
together, and wearing an air of more stability than was common to them.
Le Bourdon's sail was first spread, and it produced an immediate relief
from the washing of the waves. The drift of a bark canoe, in a smart
blow, is considerable, it having no hold on the water to resist it; but
our adventurers fairly flew as soon as the cotton cloth was opened. The
wind being exactly south, by steering due north, or dead before it, it
was found possible to carry the sail in the other canoe, borne out
on the opposite side; and from the moment that was opened, all the
difficulty was reduced to steering so “small,” as seamen term it, as
to prevent one or the other of the lugs from jibing. Had this occurred,
however, no very serious consequences would have followed, the
precaution taken of lashing the craft together rendering capsizing next
to impossible.
The Kalamazoo and its mouth were soon far behind, and le Bourdon no
longer felt the least apprehension of the savages left in it. The
Indians are not bold navigators, and he felt certain that the lake was
too rough for the savages to venture out, while his own course gradually
carried him off the land, and out of the track of anything that kept
near the shore. A short time produced a sense of security, and the
wind appearing to fall, instead of increasing in violence, it was soon
arranged that one of the men should sleep, while the other looked to the
safety of the canoes.
It was about nine o'clock when the fugitives made sail, off the mouth of
the Kalamazoo; and, at the return of light, seven hours later, they were
more than forty miles from the place of starting. The wind still stood,
with symptoms of growing fresher again as the sun rose, and the land
could just be seen in the eastern board, the coast in that direction
having made a considerable curvature inland. This had brought the canoes
farther from the land than le Bourdon wished to be, but he could not
materially change his course without taking in one of his sails. As much
variation was made, however, as was prudent, and by nine o'clock, or
twelve hours after entering the lake, the canoes again drew near to the
shore, which met them ahead. By the bee hunter's calculations, they were
now about seventy miles from the mouth of the Kalamazoo, having passed
the outlets of two or three of the largest streams of those regions.
The fugitives selected a favorable spot, and landed behind a headland
that gave them a sufficient lee for the canoes. They had now reached a
point where the coast trends a little to the eastward, which brought the
wind in a slight degree off the land. This change produced no very
great effect on the seas, but it enabled the canoes to keep close to
the shore, making something of a lee for them. This they did about noon,
after having lighted a fire, caught some fish in a small stream, killed
a deer and dressed it, and cooked enough provisions to last for two
or three days. The canoes were now separated again; it being easier to
manage them in that state than when lashed together, besides enabling
them to carry both sails. The farther north they got the more of a lee
was found, though it was in no place sufficient to bring smooth water.
In this manner several more hours were passed, and six times as many
more miles were made in distance. When le Bourdon again landed, which
he did shortly before the sun set, he calculated his distance from
the mouth of the Kalamazoo to be rather more than a hundred miles. His
principal object was to ascend a bluff and to take a look at the coast,
in order to examine it for canoes. This his glass enabled him to do with
some accuracy, and when he rejoined the party, he was rejoiced to have
it in his power to report that the coast was clear. After refreshing
themselves, the canoes were again brought together, in order to divide
the watches, and a new start was made for the night. In this manner did
our adventurers make their way to the northward for two nights and days,
landing often, to fish, hunt, rest, and cook, as well as to examine the
coast. At the end of the time mentioned, the celebrated straits of the
Michillimackinac, or Mackinaw, as they are almost universally termed,
came in sight. The course had been gradually changing toward the
eastward, and, luckily for the progress of the fugitives, the wind with
it, leaving them always a favorable breeze. But it was felt to be no
longer safe to use a sail, and recourse was had to the paddles, until
the straits and island were passed. This caused some delay, and added a
good deal to the labor; but it was deemed so dangerous to display
their white cotton sails, objects that might be seen for a considerable
distance, that it was thought preferable to adopt this caution. Nor
was it useless. In consequence of this foresight, a fleet of canoes was
passed in safety, which were crossing from the post at Mackinaw to ward
the main land of Michigan. The number of the canoes in this fleet could
not have been less than fifty, but getting a timely view of them, le
Bourdon hid his own craft in a cove, and remained there until the danger
was over.
The course now changed still more, while the wind got quite round to the
westward. This made a fair wind at first, and gave the canoes a good lee
as they advanced. Lake Huron, which was the water the fugitives were now
on, lies nearly parallel to Michigan, and the course was southeasterly.
As le Bourdon had often passed both ways on these waters, he had his
favorite harbors, and knew those signs which teach navigators how to
make their prognostics of the weather. On the whole, the fugitives did
very well, though they lost two days between Mackinaw and Saginaw Bay;
one on account of the strength of the wind, and one on account of rain.
During the last, they remained in a hut that le Bourdon had himself
constructed in one of his many voyages, and which he had left standing.
These empty cabins, or chientes, are of frequent occurrence in new
countries, being used, like the Refuges in the Alps, by every traveller
as he has need of them.
The sight of the fleet of canoes, in the straits of Michillimackinac,
caused the fugitives the only real trouble they had felt, between the
time when they left the mouth of the Kalamazoo, and the ten days that
succeeded. By the end of that period the party had crossed Saginaw,
and was fast coming up with Point au Barques, a landmark for all who
navigate the waters of Huron, when a canoe was seen coming out from
under the land, steering as if to intercept them. This sight gave both
concern and pleasure; concern, as it might lead to a hostile encounter,
and pleasure, because the bee-hunter hoped for information that might be
useful in governing his future course. Here his glass came in play, with
good effect. By means of that instrument, it was soon ascertained that
the strange canoe contained but two men, both Indians, and as that was
just their own force no great danger was apprehended from the meeting.
The craft, therefore, continued to approach each other, le Bourdon
keeping his glass levelled on the strangers much of the time.
“As I live, yonder are Peter and Pigeonswing,” suddenly exclaimed our
hero. “They have crossed the Peninsula, and have come out from the
point, in that canoe, to meet us.”
“With important news, then, depend on it, Benjamin,” answered the wife.
“Tell this to brother, that he and Dolly may not feel more alarm than is
necessary.”
The bee-hunter called out to his friends in the other canoe, and
communicated the discovery just made, the two craft keeping always
within hailing distance of each other.
“Them Injins are not here for nothing,” answered Dorothy. “You will find
they have something serious to say.”
“We shall soon know,” called out le Bourdon. “Ten minutes will bring us
alongside of them.”
The ten minutes did that much, and before the expiration of the short
space, the three canoes were fastened together, that of Peter being in
the centre. The bee-hunter saw, at a glance, that the expedition of
the Indians had been hurried; for their canoe, besides being of
very indifferent qualities, was not provided with the implements and
conveniences usual to a voyage of any length. Still, he would not ask
a question, but lighting his pipe, after a few puffs, he passed it
courteously over to Peter. The great chief smoked a while, and gave it
to Pigeonswing, in his turn, who appeared to enjoy it quite as much as
any of the party.
“My father does not believe he is a Jew?” said le Bourdon, smiling;
willing to commence a discourse, though still determined not to betray a
womanish curiosity.
“We are poor Injins, Bourdon; just as the Great Spirit made us. Dat
bess. Can't help what Manitou do. If he don't make us Jew, can't be Jew.
If he make us Injin, muss be Injin. For my part, b'lieve I'm Injin, and
don't want to be pale-face. Can love pale-face, now, juss as well as
love Injin.”
“Oh, I hope this is true, Peter,” exclaimed Margery, her handsome face
flushing with delight, at hearing these words. “So long as your heart
tells you this, be certain that the Spirit of God is in you.”
Peter made no answer, but he looked profoundly impressed with the novel
feeling that had taken possession of his soul. As for the bee-hunter, he
did not meddle with Margery's convictions or emotions on such subjects,
resembling, in this particular, most men, who, however indifferent to
religion in their own persons, are never sorry to find that their wives
profoundly submit to its influence. After a short pause, a species
of homage involuntarily paid to the subject, he thought he might now
inquire into the circumstances that brought the Indians on their route,
without incurring the imputation of a weak and impatient curiosity. In
reply, Peter's story was soon told. He had rejoined the chiefs without
exciting distrust, and all had waited for the young men to bring in the
captives. As soon as it was ascertained that the intended victims had
escaped, and by water, parties proceeded to different points, in order
to intercept them. Some followed in canoes, but, being less bold in
their navigation than the bee-hunter, they did not make the straits
until some time after the fugitives had passed. Peter, himself,
had joined Bear's Meat and some twenty warriors who had crossed the
Peninsula, procured canoes at the head of Saginaw Bay, and had come out
at Point au Barques, the very spot our party was now approaching, three
days before its arrival.
Tired with waiting, and uncertain whether his enemies had not got the
start of him, Bear's Meat had gone into the river below, intending to
keep his watch there, leaving Peter at the Point, with three young men
and one canoe, to have a lookout. These young men the great chief had
found an excuse for sending to the head of the Bay, in quest of another
canoe, which left him, of course, quite alone on the Point. Scarce had
the young man got out of sight, ere Pigeonswing joined his confederate,
for it seems that this faithful friend had kept on the skirts of the
enemy the whole time, travelling hundreds of miles, and enduring hunger
and fatigue, besides risking his life at nearly every step, in order to
be of use to those whom he considered himself pledged to serve.
Of course, Peter and Pigeonswing understood each other. One hour after
they joined company, the canoes of the fugitives came in sight, and
were immediately recognized by their sails. They were met, as has been
mentioned, and the explanations that we have given were made before the
party landed at the Point.
It was something to know where the risk was to be apprehended; but le
Bourdon foresaw great danger. He had brought his canoes, already, quite
five hundred miles, along a hazardous coast--though a little craft, like
one of those he navigated, ran less risk, perhaps, than a larger
vessel, since a shelter might, at any time, be found within a reasonable
distance for it. From Pointe au Barques to the outlet of the lake
was less than a hundred miles more. This outlet was a river, as it is
called--a strait, in fact--which communicates with the small shallow
lake of St. Clair, by a passage of some thirty miles in length. Then
the lake St. Clair was to be crossed about an equal distance, when the
canoes would come out in what is called the Detroit River, a strait
again, as its name indicates. Some six or eight miles down this passage,
and on its western side, stands the city of Detroit, then a village of
no great extent, with a fort better situated to repel an attack of the
savages, than to withstand a siege of white men. This place was now in
the possession of the British, and, according to le Bourdon's notion, it
was scarcely less dangerous to him than the hostility of Bear's Meat and
his companions.
Delay, however, was quite as dangerous as anything else. After cooking
and eating, therefore, the canoes continued their course, Peter and
Pigeonswing accompanying them, though they abandoned their own craft.
Peter went with the bee-hunter and Margery, while the Chippewa took a
seat and a paddle in the canoe of Gershom. This change was made in
order to put a double power in each canoe, since it was possible that
downright speed might become the only means of safety.
The wind still stood at the westward, and the rate of sailing was rapid.
About the close of the day the party drew near to the outlet, when Peter
directed the sails to be taken in. This was done to prevent their being
seen, a precaution that was now aided by keeping as near to the shore
as possible, where objects so small and low would be very apt to be
confounded with others on the land.
It was quite dark when the canoes entered the St. Clair river. Favored
by the current and the wind, their progress was rapid, and ere the day
returned, changing his direction from the course ordinarily taken, Peter
entered the lake by a circuitous passage; one of the many that lead from
the river to the lake, among aquatic plants that form a perfect shelter.
This detour saved the fugitives from falling into the hands of one party
of their enemies, as was afterward ascertained by the Indians. Bear's
Meat had left two canoes, each manned by five warriors, to watch the
principal passages into Lake St. Clair, not anticipating that any
particular caution would be used by the bee-hunter and his friends, at
this great distance from the place where they had escaped from their
foes. But the arrival of Peter, his sagacity, and knowledge of Indian
habits, prevented the result that was expected. The canoes got into
the lake unseen, and crossed it a little diagonally, so as to reach the
Canada shore in the middle of the afternoon of the succeeding day, using
their sails only when far from land, and not exposed to watchful eyes.
The bee-hunter and his friends landed that afternoon at the cabin of
a Canadian Frenchman, on the shore of the lake, and at a safe distance
from the outlet which led still farther south. Here the females were
hospitably received, and treated with that kindness which marks the
character of the Canadian French. It mattered little to these simple
people, whether the travellers were of the hostile nation or not. It is
true, they did not like the “Yankees,” as all Americans are termed by
them, but they were not particularly in love with their English masters.
It was well enough to be repossessed of both banks of the Detroit,
for both banks were then peopled principally by their own race, the
descendants of Frenchmen of the time of Louis XIV., and who still
preserved much of the language, and many of the usages, of the French
of that period. They spoke then, as now, only the language of their
fathers.
The bee-hunter left the cottage of these simple and hospitable people,
as soon as the night was fairly set in; or, rather, as soon as a young
moon had gone down. Peter now took the command, steering the canoe of
le Bourdon, while Gershom followed so close as to keep the bow of his
little craft within reach of the Indian's arm. In less than an hour the
fugitives reached the opening of the river, which is here divided into
two channels by a large island. On that very island, and at that precise
moment, was Bear's Meat lying in wait for their appearance, provided
with three canoes, each having a crew of six men. It would have been
easy for this chief to go to Detroit, and give the alarm to the savages
who were then collected there in a large force, and to have made such
a disposition of the canoes as would have rendered escape by water
impossible; but this would have been robbing himself and his friends of
all the credit of taking the scalps, and throwing away what is termed
“honor” among others as well as among savages. He chose, therefore, to
trust to his own ability to succeed; and supposing the fugitives would
not be particularly on their guard at this point, had little doubt of
intercepting them here, should they succeed in eluding those he had left
above.
The bee-hunter distrusted that island, and used extra caution in passing
it. In the first place, the two canoes were brought together, so as to
give them, in the dark, the appearance of only one; while the four men
added so much to the crew as to aid the deception. In the end it proved
that one of Bear's Meat's canoes that was paddling about in the middle
of the river had actually seen them, but mistook the party for a canoe
of their own, which ought to have been near that spot, with precisely
six persons in it, just at that time. These six warriors had landed, and
gone up among the cottages of the French to obtain some fruit, of which
they were very fond, and of which they got but little in their own
villages. Owing to this lucky coincidence, which the pretty Margery ever
regarded as another special interposition of Providence in their favor,
the fugitives passed the island without molestation, and actually got
below the last lookouts of Bear's Meat, though without their knowledge.
It was by no means a difficult thing to go down the river, now that so
many canoes were in motion on it, at all hours. The bee-hunter knew what
points were to be avoided, and took care not to approach a sentinel. The
river, or strait, is less than a mile wide, and by keeping in the centre
of the passage, the canoes, favored by both wind and current, drove by
the town, then an inconsiderable village, without detection. As soon as
far enough below, the canoes were again cast loose from each other, and
sail was made on each. The water was smooth, and some time before
the return of light the fugitives were abreast of Malden, but in the
American channel. Had it been otherwise, the danger could not have been
great. So completely were the Americans subdued by Hull's capitulation,
and so numerous were the Indian allies of the British, that the passage
of a bark canoe, more or less, would hardly have attracted attention. At
that time, Michigan was a province of but little more than a name. The
territory was wide, to be sure, but the entire population was not larger
than that of a moderately sized English market town, and Detroit was
then regarded as a distant and isolated point. It is true that Mackinac
and Chicago were both more remote, and both more isolated, but an
English force, in possession of Detroit, could be approached by the
Americans on the side of the land only by overcoming the obstacles of a
broad belt of difficult wilderness. This was done the succeeding year,
it is true, but time is always necessary to bring out Jonathan's latent
military energies. When aroused, they are not trifling, as all his
enemies have been made to feel; but a good deal of miscalculation,
pretending ignorance, and useless talking must be expended, before the
really efficient are allowed to set about serving the country in their
own way.
In this respect, thanks to West Point, a well-organized staff, and
well-educated officers, matters are a little improving. Congress has
not been able to destroy the army, in the present war, though it did its
best to attain that end; and all because the nucleus was too powerful
to be totally eclipsed by the gas of the usual legislative tail of the
Great National Comet, of which neither the materials nor the orbit can
any man say he knows. One day, it declares war with a hurrah; the next,
it denies the legislation necessary to carry it on, as if it distrusted
its own acts, and already repented of its patriotism. And this is
the body, soulless, the very school of faction, as a whole of very
questionable quality in the outset, that, according to certain
expounders of the constitution, is to perform all the functions of a
government; which is not only to pass laws, but is to interpret them;
which is to command the army, aye, even to wheeling its platoons;
which reads the constitution as an abbe mumbles his aves and paters, or
looking at everything but his texts; and which is never to have its
acts vetoed, unless in cases where the Supreme Court would spare the
Executive that trouble. We never yet could see either the elements or
the fruits of this great sanctity in the National Council. In our eyes
it is scarcely ever in its proper place on the railway of the Union, has
degenerated into a mere electioneering machine, performing the little
it really does convulsively, by sudden impulses, equally without
deliberation or a sense of responsibility. In a word, we deem it the
power of all others in the state that needs the closest watching, and
were we what is termed in this country “politicians,” we should go for
the executive who is the most ready to apply the curb to these vagaries
of faction and interested partisans! Vetoes. Would to Heaven we could
see the days of Good Queen Bess revived for one session of Congress at
least, and find that more laws were sent back for the second thoughts
of their framers than were approved! Then, indeed, might the country be
brought back to a knowledge of the very material constitutional facts
that the legislature is not commander-in-chief, does not negotiate
or make treaties, and has no right to do that which it has done so
often--appoint to office by act of Congress.
As a consequence of the little apprehension entertained by the English
of being soon disturbed in their new conquests, le Bourdon and his
friends got out of the Detroit River, and into Lake Erie, without
discovery or molestation. There still remained a long journey before
them. In that day the American side of the shores of all the Great Lakes
was little more than a wilderness. There were exceptions at particular
points, but these were few and far asunder. The whole coast of
Ohio--for Ohio has its coast as well as Bohemia [Footnote: See
Shakespeare--Winter's Tale.]--was mostly in a state of nature, as was
much of those of Pennsylvania and New York, on the side of the fresh
water. The port which the bee-hunter had in view was Presque Isle, now
known as Erie, a harbor in Pennsylvania, that has since become somewhat
celebrated in consequence of its being the port out of which the
American vessels sailed, about a year later than the period of which we
are writing, to fight the battle that gave them the mastery of the lake.
This was a little voyage of itself, of near two hundred miles, following
the islands and the coast, but it was safely made in the course of
the succeeding week. Once in Lake Erie and on the American side, our
adventurers felt reasonably safe against all dangers but those of the
elements. It is true that a renowned annalist, whose information is
sustained by the collected wisdom of a State Historical Society, does
tell us that the enemy possessed both shores of Lake Erie in 1814; but
this was so small a mistake, compared with some others that this Nestor
in history had made, that we shall not stop to explain it. Le Bourdon
and his party found all the south shore of Lake Erie in possession
of the Americans, so far as it was in the possession of any one, and
consequently ran no risks from this blunder of the historian and his
highly intelligent associates!
Peter and Pigeonswing left their friends before they reached Presque
Isle. The bee-hunter gave them his own canoe, and the parting was not
only friendly, but touching. In the course of their journey, and during
their many stops, Margery had frequently prayed with the great chief.
His constant and burning desire, now, was to learn to read, that he
might peruse the word of the Great Spirit, and regulate his future life
by its wisdom and tenets. Margery promised, should they ever meet again,
and under circumstances favorable to such a design, to help him attain
his wishes.
Pigeonswing parted from his friend with the same light-hearted vivacity
as he had manifested in all their intercourse. Le Bourdon gave him his
own rifle, plenty of ammunition, and various other small articles that
were of value to an Indian, accepting the Chippewa's arms in return. The
exchange, however, was greatly to the advantage of the savage. As for
Peter, he declined all presents. He carried weapons now, indeed, merely
for the purpose of hunting; but the dignity of his character and station
would have placed him above such compensations, had the fact been
otherwise.