“You dam Yankee, stop Injin when him go wigwam,” commenced Ronayne,
rising at the same time and imitating the action of one unsteady from
intoxication. “'Spose tell him gubbernor?”
“Ah! you horrid wretch--I see it all now, yet could I have been so
imposed upon? You then were the pretended drunken Indian I let out that
night? Upon my word, Master Ronayne. I never will forgive you for that
trick.”
“Yes you will, old fellow. It was the only way to save you from a
scrape, but I confess I have often since laughed in my sleeve at the
recollection of the manner in which I deceived you.”
“Hang me if you didn't play your part to admiration, but the best of the
jest is, that on reporting the circumstance to Headley, on the following
morning, he said I had acted perfectly right; so had you known this when
you had that scene on the parade, you might have pleaded his sanction.
However, all that is over. Now then for your adventure.”
“The tale is soon told,” began Ronayne. “On the evening when you and
Von Vottenberg were so busy, the one in concocting his whisky-punch--the
other in cutting up the Virginia, I was sacking my brain for a means
to accomplish my desire to reach the farm, where I had a strong
presentiment, from the lateness of the hour, without bringing any
tidings of them, the fishing-party were, with Mr. Heywood and his
people, in a state of siege, and I at length decided on what seemed to
me to be the only available plan. I was not sorry to see you leave
after taking your second glass, for I knew that I should have little
difficulty in sewing up the doctor, whose tumbler I repeatedly
filled, and made him drink off after sundry toasts, while he did not
perceive--or was by no means sorry if he did--that I merely sipped
from my own. When I thought he had swallowed enough to prevent him from
interfering with my project, I bade him good night and left him, knowing
well that in less than ten minutes he would be asleep. Instead, however,
of going to bed, I hastened at once to preliminaries, having first
got rid of my servant whom I did not wish to implicate, by making him
acquainted with my intended absence. But tell me, did you examine my
room at all the next day?”
“I did.”
“And found nothing missing?”
“Nothing. I scouted everywhere, and found only yourself wanting--the bed
unrumpled, and everything in perfect bachelor order.”
“And that leather dress, my dear fellow, in which I once paid a visit
to the camp of Winnebeg, from whose squaw, indeed, I had bought it. You
know it generally hangs against the wall at the foot of my bed.”
“Ah! now I recollect, that was not there certainly, although I did not
notice its absence then--so then, that was the dress you went out in,
and I such a goose as not to remark it.”
“Because you know that I had had the precaution to throw a blanket over
it in the most approved Pottawattamie style, while my features were
colored with gambouge and Indian ink.”
“Well, say no more about that--I am ashamed to have been so taken in by
a Johnny Raw. We will now suppose you kicked out of the Fort. Did I not
kick you out,” he added humorously, “and say, begone, you drunken dog,
and never show your ugly face here again!”
“On the contrary,” returned his junior in the same mocking strain,
“you were but too glad to be civil when I threatened you with the
'gubbernor!'”
“Once out of the Fort,” he gravely continued, “my course was plain. I
immediately went to the wigwam of Winnebeg, whom I found seated, with
his toes almost in the embers of an expiring fire, and smoking his last
pipe previous to wrapping himself up for the night in his blanket.
You may imagine his surprise, when, after some little difficulty, he
recognized in that garb, and at that hour, particularly after the events
of the day, with which he had been made acquainted by Mr. Frazer, before
the latter, with his family, took refuge in the Fort. Still, true to the
dignified reserve of his race, he concealed as much as possible what
was passing in his mind, and made me sit by his side, near which, I
have omitted to say, was an extremely handsome young Indian, whom he
presented to me as his son, and then bade me tell him the object of my
visit.
“Of course I knew enough of Indian etiquette to be satisfied that
I should gain by not attempting to hurry matters, and I accordingly
suppressed my own impatience while taking a few whiffs from the pipe he
courteously offered to me. Winnebeg then received it back, and while he
sat with his eyes fixed intently on the fire, puffed away in an attitude
of profound attention which encouraged me to proceed.
“When he had heard all I had to say in regard to the fears I entertained
for the absent party--for I did not confine my profession of interest to
ONE--my vain application to the commandant, and my strong reliance
upon him to send a party of his young men with me to the farm, his eye
suddenly kindled--his countenance assumed a more animated expression,
and removing the pipe from his lips, and puffing forth a more than usual
volume of smoke, he cordially shook my hands, saying something in Indian
to his son, who immediately sprang to his feet, and disappeared from the
tent.
“After a lapse of time which seemed to me as an age, the youth
re-appeared with a dozen young warriors, all armed and decked in their
war paint. They remained grouped round the entrance for a few minutes,
while Waunangee changed his own dress, and Winnebeg provided me with a
rifle, tomahawk and scalping-knife. Thus accoutred I took the lead with
the former, and after cautiously creeping through the encampment, passed
along the skirt of the wood that almost overhung the river. We moved off
at a quick walk, but soon our pace increased to a half-run, so anxious
were we all to get to the farm.
“We had not proceeded more than half-way when we saw a small boat, which
I immediately distinguished as that belonging to the fishing-party,
slowly descending the river. The Indians simultaneously, and as if
governed by one common instinct, dropped flat on the ground, as I
supposed to remain unseen until the boat should come opposite to them,
while I, uncertain by whom it was occupied, and anxious to ascertain,
after whispering a few words to Waunangee, moved cautiously in advance
along the shore. When I had crept up about fifty yards, I could
distinctly see that it was one of our men, and I immediately hailed to
know who he was, and where the remainder of the party were.
“Scarcely had he answered 'Collins,' and commenced a few words of
explanation of the cause of his being there and alone, when the forms
of two Indians, which I fancied I had before detected creeping along the
shore, regulating their stealthy progress by that of the boat, started
into full height, and silently bounded towards me--one a little in
advance of the other. The moment was critical. They were not twenty
paces from me, and I have often since wondered at the presence of mind
I preserved. It occurred to me that they would not commit the imprudence
of using firearms so near the Fort, and that steel only would be
resorted to by them. This suggested my own course. Throwing my rifle
upon the beach in order that Collins, who was now pulling for the
shore, might seize and use it as occasion should require, I grasped the
scalping-knife in my left hand, and with my tomahawk in my right, did
not wait for the attack, but rushed upon the foremost Indian, for I knew
that my only chance of success lay in the killing or disabling of one
before his comrade could come up. At the same time, both to apprise
Waunangee of my position, and to daunt my adversaries, I uttered one of
these tremendous yells, you know I so well can imitate, and receiving
the blow of his tomahawk upon my own, thrown up in true military guard,
plunged my knife into his body with such suddenness and force, that
on examining it afterwards, I found that at least half an inch of the
tapering handle had followed the blade. The savage fell dead without
uttering a groan, a sight which, instead of checking the advance of his
companion, rather urged him to revenge his fall. He had now come up
with me, brandishing his tomahawk, when I put myself again on my guard,
purposing to use my knife as I had done before, but at the very moment
when the descent of his weapon was expected by me, he was suddenly
seized from behind, raised from his feet, and thrown upon the ground.
This was the act of Collins, who had gained the shore just after the
first Indian fell, and had flown to my assistance.
“At the same moment, Waunangee, who, with his warriors had started up
on hearing my loud yell of defiance, came quickly to the spot, and
they were not a little astounded to see an Indian, whom they instantly
pronounced to be a Winnebago, lying motionless at my feet, nor was their
respect for me at all lessened, when on handing my scalping-knife from
one to the other, they perceived what a proficient I was in the use of
their own favorite weapon.
“Of course I was not silly enough to detract from my own glory, by
admitting that it was as much the result of accident as of design.
They made signs for me to scalp him, but having no particular desire to
possess this trophy of my successful hand to hand encounter, one of the
young men asked me to waive my right in his favor. This I did, and
the scalp of the Winnebago was soon dangling from his waist. The other
spoils I did not object to, and his rifle, tomahawk, and knife are
now in Winnebago's tent, until there offers a favorable opportunity of
bringing them to my quarters. But to proceed.
“So much time had been passed in the examination of the body of the
slain Winnebago, that his comrade had found ample time to escape. The
Pottawattamies had not seen him, and Collins, after having temporarily
disabled him, had run up to afford me further assistance, on seeing
advancing in the rear, those whom he took to be of the same hostile
party. Thus left unwatched, the savage had managed to creep away into
the wood, and when attention was at length drawn to him, he was not to
be seen.
“When Collins had explained the position of the party at the farm, whose
danger, on finding himself of no service there, he was then on his way
to report, I proposed to Waunangee that half of his warriors should
ascend by land, while the remainder with himself, accompanied me in
the boat. We accordingly separated, and made what haste we could to our
destination--the party on shore regulating their progress by that of the
boat. During the descent my anxiety was very great, for my whole soul
was bent upon the attainment of one object--that of restoring Mr.
Heywood unharmed to his family. But the absence of all sound indicating
conflict was by no means favorable, and I had already begun to fear that
the silence which prevailed, was but the result of victory on the part
of the hostile band who had departed, when suddenly the loud,
fierce yell of disappointment which burst from them, as I have since
understood, when a ladder by which they attempted to enter was thrown
from the roof by Nixon, rang encouragingly upon my ear, and urged me to
increased exertion. Our progress, however, was by no means proportioned
to my anxiety, for somehow or other, only two oars were in the boat,
and, as the Indians did not much care or know how to pull in time, the
task devolved wholly upon Collins and myself. At length, just as the day
was beginning to dawn, we reached the farm-house, about a hundred yards
beyond which we put in and landed, making a detour by the barn, so as
to meet the remainder of our little force in the rear, and thus to place
the enemy, if actually surrounding the house, between two fires.
“After waiting, however, some little time, and finding every thing
quiet, my apprehensions increased, for, although not the sign of a
Winnebago could be seen, so profound was the stillness within, that
I began to think the whole of the party had been either captured or
murdered. Suddenly, however, while hesitating as to the course to be
pursued--for I feared that if the party were all right, and the enemy
departed, they might fire upon us as we approached--I saw a man in
American undress uniform, whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as
Corporal Nixon, issue from the back of the house with a basket in his
hands, and turning the corner with an appearance of much caution, make
hastily for the river. Directing Waunangee, whose two bands had now
joined, and were then lying closely concealed in the barn, to enter the
house as cautiously and noiselessly as possible, I hastened after Nixon,
from whom, after recovering from his first fright at finding himself
unarmed, and in the power of one whom he naturally took for one of his
recent assailants, I received a brief account of all that had occurred.
On entering the house with him, shortly afterwards, what a contrast was
present--on the one hand the ludicrous--the horrible on the other.
“Close within the doorway lay the dead body of Mr. Heywood--”
“The dead body of Mr. Heywood!” exclaimed Elmsley, starting from his
chair in almost dismay at the intelligence. “How comes it, Ronayne, that
you have never spoken of this before?”
“No interruption, Elmsley--hear me to the close--close within the
doorway, I repeat, lay the dead body of Mr. Heywood--his face much
disfigured--and his large frame almost rigid in a pool of clotted blood.
Imagine what a sight this was to me, whose sole object and hope it
had been to restore the father in safety to the daughter, although at
intervals during the route, I had more than once dreaded something of
the sort. Stupefied at the spectacle, I felt my heart to sicken, as the
idea of the grief by which Maria would be overwhelmed when this sad
tale should be revealed to her, rose to my imagination. But even then my
presence of mind did not desert me, and I already determined on what was
to be done. In some degree consoled by this, I raised my glance from the
body to observe what further atrocity had been committed. Three or four
Indians were grouped around, evidently regarding the corpse with deep
interest, for Mr. Heywood had often hunted with them, and given them
refreshments when stopping to rest at his place, while on their way
to the Fort laden with game. Further on the great body of Waunangee's
people were standing leaning on their rifles, and enjoying the mistake
of three of our fellows, who naturally taking them, from the great
resemblance of dress, to be their enemies who had obtained an entrance,
were holding aloft, in an attitude of defiance--one a huge poker thrust
through the carcass of an enormous bird, and two others a blackened leg
and wing, evidently belonging to the same animal, which they ever and
anon brandished over their heads, while their eyes were rivetted on the
dusky forms before them. The wooden partition sustained their muskets,
from which the interposing Indians had cut them off, and against the
front door of the house, which was closed and barred, leaned the only
armed man of the party, deprived, however, of all power of action.”
“What a scene for some American Hogarth!” interrupted the lieutenant,
“and how graphically you have described it. I can see the picture before
me now.”
“I confess,” answered Ronayne, “I could not even, amid all my own
painful feelings, suppress a smile at its extreme absurdity, for the
appearance of three men seeking to defend themselves from what they
believed to be fierce and blood-thirsty enemies, with the burnt carcass
and limbs of an old turkey-cock, was such a burlesque on the chivalrous,
that, knowing as I did how little their supposed enemy was to be
dreaded, I could not suppress thoughts which, while they forced
themselves upon me, I was angry at allowing myself to entertain. To
understand the scene fully, you must have looked on it yourself. Had
I recounted this to you yesterday, or even this morning, I could have
filled up the picture more grotesquely, and yet not less truly. But
now I have too great a weight on my spirits to give more than a simple
sketch.
“At the announcement of my name and purpose, the statue at the door
became suddenly disenchanted--the legs and wings fell--a man dropped
lightly from the loft, musket in hand, and Cass only, with his gaze
intently fixed on the mocking savages before him, of whom he took me
indeed to be one, continued his defensive attitude with the poker, nor
was it until I had advanced and taken his weapon from him, amid the loud
laughter of the young Indians, that he finally came to his senses. And
yet, after all, poor devil, his distrust was but natural.
“No time was to be lost. While some of the men were, according to my
instructions, wrapping in a blanket the body of Mr. Heywood, after
removing from it what blood they could, and the others bore to the
boat the unfortunate Le Noir, whom I had not at first distinguished, so
completely had he been covered over by his dog and walnut blossoms, I
took the corporal aside, and explained to him how important it was that
nothing should be known at the Fort of the fate of Mr. Heywood. On
his asking what he should say if questioned, I desired him (with some
hesitation, I confess, for I knew I was setting a bad example to the
men, which only the peculiar circumstances of the case could justify),
to give an evasive answer, and say that the Indians had carried him off
with them, which indeed would be the fact, as I intended him to be borne
away by the party I had brought. I told him, moreover, that at a fitting
opportunity, I would explain every thing to Captain Headley, and take
all the responsibility upon myself.
“On his promptly saying that he would, I added that the men of his party
should be made acquainted with my wish, and asked if I might depend upon
their secrecy. He replied that there was not a man among them who did
not so love Miss Heywood, as to run the risk of any punishment, rather
than utter one word that could be the means of giving her pain, and that
while on the way down he would take care to warn them.
“Elmsley, I was touched at this--almost to tears--for it was a source
of proud yet tender pleasure to me--much more so than I can express--to
know that Maria was so great a favorite with these rude-hearted fellows.
Assured that every thing was right, I told the corporal to embark his
men immediately, and pull for the Fort, while I, with Waunangee and his
Indians proceeded by land with the body of Mr. Heywood.
“'Don't you think, sir,' said the corporal, hesitatingly, as he prepared
to execute my orders--'don't you think it would be well for the ladies'
sake that they should not be reminded of the name of this place, more
than can be helped?'
“'Undoubtedly, Nixon, but what do you mean?'
“'Why, sir, I mean that as poor Mr. Heywood never can be here again,
it would be better nothing should be left to remind them of the bloody
doings of yesterday.'
“'And what other name would you give it?' I asked.
“'If it was left to me, Mr. Ronayne,' replied the corporal; 'I would
call it HARDSCRABBLE, on account of the hard struggle the fellows must
have had with Mr. Heywood, judging from his wounds and his broken rifle,
before they mastered him.'
“'Then, HARDSCRABBLE be it,' I said, 'not that I can really see it will
make much difference in calling the thing to mind, yet it would scarcely
be fair to deny to you, who have so bravely defended the place, the
privilege of giving it a new name, if the old one is to be abandoned.'
“'Thank you, sir,' returned Nixon, 'but if you hadn't come to our
assistance, I don't know what the upshot might have been, I suspect
that fellow whose comrade you killed, sent them off sooner than they
intended.'
“'No more of that, Nixon--and now do you remember what you are to say
when you get back to the Fort?'
“'I do, sir, and every man shall be told to say as I do--but about the
new name, Mr. Ronayne,' he pursued, returning, after he had gone a few
paces, 'do you think, sir, Mrs. Heywood will consent to it?'
“'My good fellow,' I answered, 'recollect that Mrs. Heywood must know
nothing about it--at least for the present. I will settle all that
later. In the mean time, as you have called it HARDSCRABBLE, so let it
remain.'
“And HARDSCRABBLE that scene of blood is called to this hour.
“I had at first apprehended,” pursued Ronayne, “that the Indians would
evince disinclination to carry the body so long a distance, or even at
all, but on Waunangee explaining my desire, they all to my surprise,
expressed even eagerness to meet my wishes, for, as he assured me, the
young men looked upon me as a great warrior who had achieved a deed of
heroism that might procure the distinction of a chief, and entitling me
to their services in all things.
“I certainly thought my honors cheaply enough purchased; however I was
but too glad to appropriate to myself the respect and good-will which
the killing of the Winnebago had entailed--and matters were soon
arranged.
“The body having been removed outside, and the doors secured as well as,
under the circumstances, could be done, one of the warriors cut from a
tree in the adjacent wood, a semi-circular piece of tough and flexible
bark, about six feet in length, and in the hollow of this, the murdered
father of Maria Heywood, already swathed tightly in a blanket, was
placed. A long pole was then passed through the equidistant loops of
cord that encircled the whole, and two of the Indians having, with the
assistance of their companions, raised it upon their shoulders, it was
thus borne--the parties being relieved at intervals--over the two long
miles of road that led to the skirt of the woods near the encampment.
Here the body of Indians stopped, while Waunangee and myself repaired to
the tent of his father, who no sooner had heard detailed by his son the
account of my Winnebago killing practice of the preceding evening, than
he overwhelmed me with congratulations, and looked proudly on the knife,
still stained with a spot or two of blood, which I returned to him, and
which he restored to its usual resting-place on his hip.
“Perceiving that Winnebeg was, like his young men, ready to do any thing
for me. I explained to him my desire to convey the body of Mr. Heywood
across the river, and bury him secretly in his own grounds, but that
it was necessary, in order to do this effectually, that he and his son
should go with me, and by some circuitous route. Entering at once into
my views, he said he would show me a place where we could cross without
being seen either from the Fort or from his own encampment, and then led
the way back to the wood where the party were still waiting.
“The rest is soon told. Dismissing the young men into the encampment.
Winnebeg, with his son, bore the body within the skirt of the wood,
until we reached a bend of the river hidden from observation, where
a canoe with paddles was drawn up on the beach. There we crossed,
and going round to the rear of the cottage, entered the garden, and
proceeded to the upper end, where at the summer house, near a favorite
rose-tree of Maria's, I dug with my own hands a hasty grave, in which
Winnebeg and Waunangee placed the body--its only coffin being the bark
that was swathed around it. Of course I always intended to disinter it
at some future, but not distant period, and bestow upon it the usual
rites of burial.
“This painful task accomplished, and the soil having been carefully
replaced, so as to leave no inequality of surface, I accompanied
my friends back by the same route, and about nine o'clock left the
Pottawattamie encampment with them and a few other warriors of the
tribe for the Fort, which in the crowd I entered without difficulty or
creating suspicion. Watching my opportunity, I stole to the rear of my
bed-room--opened and entered the window--changed my dress, and made my
appearance on parade as you saw.”
“All is ready, sir,” said Sergeant Nixon, entering just as he had
concluded, and before Elmsley could offer any remark on this singular
adventure--“the coffin is in the scow, and Corporal Collins, Green and
Philips are there also with their shovels, ropes, and picks. If Mr.
Elmsley will give me permission,” and he touched his cap to that
officer. “I will go too, sir.”
“As sergeant of the guard--no, Nixon, my good fellow, that will never
do. The three men you have named, are, with myself, quite enough. Be
on the look-out though, to let us in on our return. Have you provided a
dark lantern?”
“Yes, sir, Collins has the lantern belonging to the guard house.”
“Good. I will follow you in a moment, Elmsley,” he continued, rising and
draining off his half-emptied glass, “lend me your prayer-book. I wish
that you could be present at this dismal ceremony, but of course that is
wholly out of the question.”
“It is, indeed, my dear fellow. It would never do for us both to be
absent. Not only ourselves but the men would be brought into the scrape,
for you know Headley always sleeps with one eye open.”
“I do not like to do any thing clandestinely,” remarked the
ensign--“particularly after our reconciliation with him. Moreover, it
is, as you say, in some degree compromising the men and myself with
them. I have a great mind before I start to see and explain every thing
to Headley, and obtain his sanction to my absence.”
“Nonsense,” returned his friend, “he will never know it; besides it
is possible that he may refuse to let you go before morning, and your
object is, of course, to have every thing finished to-night. Take my
advice; go without speaking to him on the subject, and if your remorse
of conscience,” and he smiled archly, “be so great afterwards, as to
deprive you of more rest and appetite than you lost after killing that
poor devil of a Winnebago, go to him as you did before--confess that
you have again been a naughty boy--ask his pardon, and I am sure he will
forgive the crime.”
“Well, I believe you are right. Be it so. Adieu, I shall be back within
a couple of hours at the latest.”
“If you do, you will in all probability find me still poring over this
old Intelligencer, which is full of rumors of approaching war with the
British.”
“I shall be more inclined to hug my pillow,” replied the ensign as
he departed, “for I must again cross to the cottage, and be back here
before guard-mounting to-morrow.”
Within ten minutes the party--two of them having borne the empty coffin,
and the corporal the necessary implements, stood near the rose-tree in
the garden. The body of Mr. Heywood was disinterred--the bark in which
it lay wound round with many folds of a large sheet, and placed in the
coffin, which after being screwed down, was deposited in a grave dug at
least five feet under the surface. Then commenced the burial service,
which was read by the young officer in a slow and impressive tone, and
by the light of the shaded lantern, which, falling obliquely upon the
forms of the men, discovered them standing around the grave--one foot
resting on the edge--the other drawn back, as they awaited the signal
to lower their almost offensive burden into its last resting-place. At
length the prayers for the dead were ended, and the grave was carefully
filled up, leaving as before, no inequality, but too deep to attract the
scent of Loup Garou. Then after having dug up a few small roots of the
sweet briar, and placed them at intervals on the newly-turned earth.
Ronayne crossed with his little party to the Fort, glad to obtain a few
hours of that repose, for which the harassing events of the day had so
much predisposed him.