THE KING'S RANGERS
Several days had passed in quiet contentment at the little settlement
of Loyal after Dane's departure. Jean missed him very much and longed
for his return. The evenings were now dark and cool, so as she and her
father sat before the fire they often talked about the absent one, and
wondered what could be detaining him. Neighbours at times joined them,
and discussed the possibility of an attack by the Indians and the
slashers. But the Colonel scoffed at such an idea. He maintained that
the natives were at peace with the English, and would not be aroused by
the rebels to molest the Loyalists.
Each day anxious eyes were turned upon the river, hoping to see the
white sails of the _Polly_ bearing up stream. Captain Leavitt had
promised to return before winter to bring the needed supplies for the
long, hard months ahead.
Something, however, at length occurred which diverted their attention
from the _Polly_, and gave them considerable concern. This was the
arrival of several canoes filled with men. There were a score of men
in all, and they received a most hearty welcome. The leader was
William Davidson, the King's purveyor, who, with several others, was
entertained at supper by the Colonel and his daughter. That evening a
bonfire was built upon the shore, and around this the visitors and most
of the people of the settlement gathered. It was a pleasant assembly,
even though the night was cool. A liberal supply of Jamaica rum was
passed around, and this was supposed to add greatly to the comfort of
all.
Jean sat by her father's side, deeply interested in all that was taking
place. Her heart was light, for Davidson had told her that Dane would
be with her in a day or two. He and Pete were at present away on
special business, the nature of which he did not say. Jean liked the
looks of these visitors. They were all hardy, keen, well-built, and
fearless-eyed rangers in the service of their King. They had to be all
that, for their leader would employ no others. But they were full of
life and spirit when they met together, and many were the stories told
of their various adventures. This night, notwithstanding the
seriousness of the business which lay ahead, they were like a number of
boys just out of school. It was something new to them to meet so many
interesting strangers such as they found at Loyal.
William Davidson was a worthy leader of such a band of men, and they
held him in the highest regard. He was a man in the prime of life, and
had led a stirring career. Coming from Scotland, he had settled on the
Miramichi River, where for a time he engaged in the fishery and fur
trade. During the war his Indian neighbours, incited by certain
rebels, made his life so unbearable that he was forced to flee to the
St. John River where he settled near the mouth of the Oromocto River.
Even here he could not find peace, for the following summer he was
plundered by the Indians, who took all his goods upon which they could
lay their hands. Davidson was a marked man owing to his loyalty to
King George, and the rebels here also aroused the natives against him.
Little wonder, then, that when he was appointed the King's purveyor in
supplying masts for His Majesty's navy that the hostility between him
and the rebels, as well as many Indians, still continued.
But Davidson was a man not easily daunted. His courage, combined with
his cool judgment, was well known all along the river. And since his
entrance into the King's service he had given many outstanding proofs
of his bravery and ability. He was quick to act, but never more so
than when Dane Norwood brought him word at Oromocto of the plot against
the Loyalists.
When he at length rose to speak, all talking ceased, and the people of
the settlement felt that they were now to learn the reason of the
rangers' presence in their midst. And neither were they mistaken.
After Davidson had thanked them for their kindly reception, he told
them of the danger which threatened their homes, and perhaps their
lives. He mentioned the council which had been held on the shore of
the Wedneebak, and how Dane Norwood and Pete, the Indian, had brought
him the news. He and his men had accordingly hastened down river as
fast as possible to ask the men of Loyal to join them in overcoming and
putting the plotters to rout.
"But why should they attack us?" the Colonel asked when Davidson had
ended. "They do not know us, and we have never harmed them."
"Simply because you are loyal to King George," was the reply. "The
half-breeds, who are descended from the Acadians, think they have a
great grievance against England for expelling their forefathers from
Grand Pré in 1755. During the war they made no end of trouble, and did
their best to stir up the Indians to rebellion. I know only too well
what they did, for they drove me from my home on the Miramichi, and
caused me a great deal of annoyance up river. They are at their old
tricks again, and this is their last hope.
"But have they not reason for being angry at what England did to their
forefathers at Grand Pré?" Henry Watson, a Loyalist, asked. "We have
heard much about that transaction, and it was all very unfavourable to
England. Perhaps there is another side to the story."
"Indeed there is," Davidson replied, "although it is very difficult to
separate the truth from the fiction. It was a very sad affair, and it
is a pity that it ever happened. Perhaps England made a mistake and
acted hastily, but we must consider how serious was the situation when
the expulsion took place. Sentiment has played an important part, and
the thought of thousands of people deprived of their lands, and driven
out to wander as exiles in strange countries has naturally stirred many
hearts."
"But were the Acadians disloyal?" the Colonel asked. "We have been
told that they were not, and that all were punished for the
indiscretions of a few."
"That may be so," and Davidson looked thoughtfully before him. "But
the English contend that when the Acadians settled on their lands over
forty years before it was with the distinct understanding that they
could only retain them by becoming British subjects. But they had not
complied with those terms. The English contend that the Acadians did
everything in their power to assist the French and embarrass the
English. Many of them joined with the Indians in the attacks on the
garrison at Annapolis, and on other English fortified posts. They
supplied England's enemies with cattle and grain at Louisbourg,
Beauséjour, and elsewhere. They acted the part of spies on the
English, and maintained a constant correspondence with the French.
They were on friendly terms with the Indians, who were such a menace to
the English that an English settler could scarcely venture beyond his
barn, or a soldier beyond musket shot of his fort for fear of being
killed or scalped. That is the English version of the affair which I
heard in Halifax. The Acadians deny it, and say it is all false."
"We heard," one of the settlers said, "that the Acadians were expelled
because the greedy English colonists looked upon their fair farms with
covetous eyes, and that the government was influenced by these persons."
"I have heard that, too," Davidson replied, "and I have made enquiries
about that matter. But I do not believe it is true, because those
abandoned farms were not settled by the English until years after the
Acadians were expelled, and the lands at Annapolis were not occupied
until nine or ten years after the French had left them. Why did not
the English colonists settle upon those abandoned farms at once, if
they were so anxious to have them? They did nothing of the kind, so I
do not think that had anything to do with the expulsion."
"What was the real cause, then?" Henry Watson asked.
"It was the seriousness of the whole situation. England was just
entering upon a great war with France. It was a death-struggle, so
there was no room for half-way measures. Feeling ran high, and the
English may have become panicky. There was a bitter hatred, too, which
may have had something to do with it. The English believed that with
so many concealed enemies in the country, and such a large number of
open enemies on the borders, their position was far from secure. They
thought that the Acadians were beginning to show their real feelings,
especially so whenever a rumour reached them that a French fleet was in
the Bay of Fundy. Anyway, they at last became so much worked up that
they ordered the Acadians to give up the arms they had in their
possession, and to take the oath of allegiance to King George.
Refusing to take the oath, the Acadians were expelled. You now know
both sides of the pathetic affair. The story of the expelled people is
generally believed, partly, no doubt, for sentimental reasons. The
English may have acted hastily and unwisely, but they contend that
there was nothing else to do under the circumstances."
"So some of those expelled people came here, and are now trying to make
trouble for us; is that it?" the Colonel asked.
"Some of them are. Others are living very quietly, and behaving
themselves in a proper manner. But there are several very bitter and
unscrupulous agitators, chief of whom are the half breeds, Flazeet and
Rauchad, who will stop at almost nothing. They are full of hatred and
long for revenge. They have not only drawn with them a number of
lawless Acadians, and English-speaking traitors, but they are now
inducing too many Indians to unite with them. I have suspected them
for some time, and watch has been kept upon their movements. They have
been plotting all summer, and now they are about to act. But thanks to
our couriers, Dane Norwood, and Pete, the Indian, I know of their
plans. We are, therefore, here to ask you to assist us. Others, we
believe, will come to our aid, so we should be able to put the rebels
to rout without much difficulty."
The conversation now became general. The Loyalists were thoroughly
aroused, and all the men agreed to help the rangers against the enemy.
Davidson did not explain what he intended to do, but asked all to trust
him for the present. With this the Loyalists were satisfied, and they
went back to their houses to make preparations for their march against
the rebels.
Davidson and his men slept upon the ground that night, wrapped in their
blankets. This had been their life for years, so they thought nothing
of it. These rangers who knew every trail and stream in the country,
were at home wherever night overtook them. Possessions they had none.
A life of indolence and ease they despised. The spirit of adventure
animated their souls, and their only creed was loyalty to King George.
With such men Davidson wielded a strong influence in a region where the
King's regular forces could not penetrate. It was largely due to such
bands of men that England's prestige was maintained in the heart of the
wilderness.