LEON MARCHAND.
While Alec and I gazed at the frightened-looking occupant of the
bateau, our craft was gliding swiftly by, and the lad, believing we
intended to leave him in his plight, shrieked wildly:--
“In the name of mercy take me aboard your boat! Do not desert me!”
From his manner of speaking I understood that he was what we round
about Presque Isle call a French-Canadian, and as such it was
reasonable to suppose he had no very great love for the British.
However, whether he had been a friend or foe it was not my purpose to
leave him, for should the wind increase to a gale he would be in great
danger, while if it fell calm the lad was like to die from thirst or
hunger.
Our craft was not to be brought around in an instant, and the boy, who
could have known but little of seamanship, believing we intended to run
away from him, redoubled his cries for help.
“Have patience until we can lay you alongside,” Alec shouted with no
little tinge of anger in his tones, for it seemed childish that this
fellow should suppose we could bring the eighteen-foot boat up into the
wind as we pleased.
The lad was so thoroughly frightened that he seemingly failed
to understand anything we said to him; but continued to shriek
imploringly, while we manœuvred our boat as best we might in a wind so
strong that it was necessary to run off for a mile or more before we
could stand back toward him.
“He is even more than an ordinary coward!” Alec exclaimed, as the boy’s
cries came to us, while, if he had had his wits about him, he must have
seen that we were doing all in our power to get alongside the bateau.
“It is not strange he shows signs of fear,” I said, feeling wondrous
kind toward him just then because of the timorousness which had been in
my heart a few moments previous. “He who is adrift on the lake without
means of even so much as steering his boat, has a hard lookout ahead of
him.”
“He might at least hold his peace, knowing what we are trying to do.”
“It may be he is no sailor, and fails to understand why it is necessary
we run so far down before putting back,” I replied; and from that
moment Alec held his peace, although I understood full well by the
expression on his face that the lad’s continued appeals for help
annoyed him greatly.
Well, to make a long story short, we laid him alongside in due time,
and once our craft rubbed against the gunwale of the boat, he leaped
aboard in frantic haste, as if believing every second was precious.
As a matter of course his light craft, propelled by the impetus
which he gave her in jumping, swung off beyond our reach, and, much
as I pitied the lad, it was impossible to prevent an exclamation of
impatience because of his carelessness.
The boat was worth more dollars than I had ever been possessed of at
one time, and to send her adrift thus recklessly was an extravagance
such as I could not countenance.
“What are you about?” Alec asked, when I swung the boat around in order
to come at the skiff.
“I am counting on picking up the bateau. There is no reason why she
should be allowed to go adrift when we may as well tow her into Presque
Isle. A craft like that won’t hold our boat back a half a mile in an
hour.”
“You didn’t set out for the purpose of making a dollar,” Alec said,
speaking more sharply than I had ever heard him. “We have no right
to waste time, and that same I would say even though yonder skiff was
worth ten times what she will fetch.”
Involuntarily I allowed our boat to swing around into the wind once
more, surprised as well as pained by his tone, and until we were on our
course again I gave no heed to the passenger who had so unceremoniously
come aboard.
Alec, understanding that he had spoken roughly, said in a soothing
tone, such as no lad, however angry, could withstand:--
“It was not in my mind to say aught to offend, Dicky; but knowing how
important it is that we perform our mission, any delay, however slight,
seems criminal.”
My anger fled on the instant, and after one regretful glance at the
bateau now so far astern, I held out my hand to him in token that I
bore no ill-will, after which, following the direction of his gaze, I
looked at the stranger.
He was a slight, weakly lad, with eyes such as would cause one to
trust in him; but a certain timid way that told he had been delicately
reared--a lad toward whom one’s sympathy went out before he asked it.
“How came you adrift in a bateau?” and Alec looked at him searchingly
as he spoke.
“The English soldiers, who last night sailed toward the American shore,
left me to drown or starve.”
“Left you?” I repeated, not understanding the words. “Do you live on
our side of the lake?”
“My home is on the North Foreland, or, as perhaps you call it, Long
Point. I offended the soldiers, and they took me with them, counting,
as I then believed, to leave me with the Americans. Instead of which I
was, shortly before daylight, put into the boat and told to go my way.”
“Then the Britishers were reconnoitring Presque Isle Bay?” Alec asked
quickly.
“They went in that direction, as I understood from their words, to see
what preparations were being made.”
“Where did they come from?”
“From the North Foreland.”
“How many are there?”
“More than a thousand; and it is said they will march across the United
States even into the capital city, Washington.”
Alec looked at me as if to say that in befriending this lad we had
indeed found a prize, for before having sailed half-way across the lake
there was come to us such information as must be valuable to those at
Presque Isle, who were waiting in vain for reënforcements.
“How did it chance that they could find pleasure in thus setting you
in danger of death?” I asked, still so taken by the lad’s pitiful face
that I failed to realize how important was the information he gave us.
“I refused to show them where my mother had hidden our store of
provisions, and they could have killed me before I would have led them
to it, for once it was taken, my mother and my sister might starve on
the North Foreland, and I was not minded to bring about their death.”
I failed to understand all he meant by this; but it was evident that
he had proven himself courageous in a certain sense, otherwise the
Britishers would not have dealt so hardly with him.
It is needless for me to set down here word for word the conversation
which was held between us three as we continued on our course, holding
steadily for Long Point, where he had said the enemy were yet in camp,
because the story may be told in fewer words.
From the information given, neither Alec nor I had any doubt but that
the Britishers were still encamped where we had found them on that
certain day in March, and the movement against Presque Isle had been
deferred, not abandoned.
I had no question but that he came from the same place where we were
held prisoners, for by his story we understood that his mother lived
not far from the extreme easterly point of land, where, as I knew full
well, was a small farm under fairly good cultivation.
The British had been there more than three months, and twice during
that time set out toward the American shore, but only to return. Why
they failed to make an attack the lad could not say.
After he had given us all the information in his power, we asked his
name.
“Leon Marchand,” was the reply; “and my mother is the widow of that
Captain Marchand who came hither from France eight years ago.”
There was little in this statement to enlighten us; but I afterward
came to understand why he spoke so proudly of his father, as will any
lad who reads of what occurred nearabout Paris in the year 1804.
It can well be fancied that we looked upon this French lad as a friend,
after once hearing his story, and that we trusted him fully, knowing he
had little cause to feel kindly toward our enemies. In fact, so well
convinced was I of his friendliness that, regardless of Alec’s warning
look, I explained why we were sailing across Lake Erie at a time when
Americans had every reason to shun the Canadian shore.
“I shall help you to find out all you have come to learn,” Leon said
enthusiastically, having regained his cheerfulness immediately I
confided in him. “Trust me to point out a safe harbor, and this night
you may sleep at my mother’s house.”
There was a great question in my mind as to whether Alec and I were
warranted in going ashore, for it seemed at the moment as if we had
already learned that which should be told my father without delay, and
I believed we ought to return at once.
“We will do as Leon suggests,” Alec said, answering the question which
he read in my eyes. “In order to accomplish our work we must know more.
It is not enough that we go back and say there is yet an encampment of
the enemy on Long Point.”
“But we can discover no more by going ashore,” I objected; and
Leon, fearing lest it was in my mind to put about at once, cried
imploringly:--
“Surely you will not take me with you? I can conduct you to a place
where it will be easy to make a landing.”
“You shall be left as near to your home as is safe for us,” I replied,
and immediately Alec added, as if his was the right to direct our
movements:--
“We will sleep at your mother’s home, Leon, and in payment for the
rescue you shall show us during the night so much of the British
encampment as we may wish to see.”
“I am ready to do whatsoever you shall direct,” the lad replied, and
I made no protest, for suddenly, as it were, Alec Perry had taken upon
himself the leadership. I had become no more than a follower who must
obey his commands.
For the moment this sudden and seemingly unwarranted assumption of
authority displeased me greatly, and then, remembering all that had
taken place since we two met, I realized that he had the better head
for such work as we were then engaged in.
Immediately I became only the helmsman, and from that hour Alec Perry
was, in my mind, one who should be obeyed.
Leon gave us all possible information concerning the enemy’s
encampment, described the location of his mother’s farm, and told of
a cove near by where we might put in without great danger of being
observed by the enemy, providing we did not land until after sunset.
Then it was Alec ordered the boat to be held on such a course as would
keep us at a safe distance from the land until nightfall.
We broached the store of provisions which my mother had prepared for
us; found a keg of water in the cuddy of the boat, and made as hearty a
meal as if there was no such thing as war or soldiers in the land.
More than once as we neared the Canadian shore did we sight a sail;
but with the breeze that was blowing, and the handy craft under us, it
was not a difficult matter to give these strangers as wide a berth as
suited our fancy.
Until half an hour before the close of day we stood off four or five
miles from the land, taking good care, however, not to come within view
of the sentinels who were likely posted nearabout the camp.
Then, in accordance with Alec’s command, I hauled our light craft
around for that portion of the shore pointed out by Leon, and we
advanced toward the enemy’s country as calmly as if going to meet a
near and dear friend.
The night had fully come before we ran into a narrow cove, on the upper
side of the North Foreland, where even in broad day we might have
remained hidden from view of any who passed within an hundred yards, so
dense and near to the water’s edge was the forest which lined the shore.
Pulling the light boat as far into the thicket as was possible, we left
her, and Leon led the way toward his home, having explained meanwhile
that the British encampment was not less than a mile and a half away.
The reception which we met with from the Widow Marchand was a warm
one, as can well be imagined, and had we come for no other purpose than
to restore her son, I should have felt that we were fully repaid for
all the labor expended in his behalf.
She, as may well be fancied, had been in great distress of mind because
of his absence, and now that he was with her once more, her anxiety to
show gratitude was so great as to be most painful.
Alec, with a view to checking her efforts at displaying thankfulness,
explained at considerable length how we had come upon him, and why he
might do more for us than we had for him, whereat I could see plainly
that the good woman was in much distress of mind.
She realized that Leon should do somewhat toward repaying us; but
feared to have him venture within reach of those men who had shown to
what length their cruelty could go.
“Your son has no need to do more than point out the location of the
encampment, in case we decide to go there,” I said, hastening to quiet
her mind, and Leon interrupted by declaring positively that he should
not leave us until we had accomplished our mission.
Well, we had a controversy there, Alec taking sides with me in the
declaration that we would not lead the lad into further danger,
and his mother, her gratitude outweighing her fears, insisting with
him that it was his duty to do whatsoever lay in his power toward
furthering our mission.
The result of it was that after partaking of a supper cooked in an
outlandish fashion, although most palatable, we three lads set out to
reconnoitre the British camp, I saying to myself meanwhile that it was
not only a hazardous, but a foolish proceeding, for what could we hope
to learn more than was known already?
The British were there in force, for Leon had good proof of such fact,
and were threatening Presque Isle, which to my mind was as much as we
needed to ascertain.
I did not venture to dissuade Alec from the reconnoissance, knowing
full well that it would be useless, but believing we were venturing
more recklessly into danger than when we had skated straight toward
this same encampment three months before.
Leon led us by a roundabout way, skirting here along the shore, and
again making a detour across the wooded lands until we were come to
what was seemingly the rear of the camp, and here lay all the proof we
needed.
So far as eye could see in the darkness, there appeared to be twice
one thousand soldiers in the camp, and off the shore lay four vessels
which I doubted not belonged to Captain Finnis’s squadron, rendezvoused
here ready to transport troops when the moment had come for the attack
upon Presque Isle.
Leon, knowing full well all the paths through the woods, and the places
where the sentinels were stationed, conducted us in safety from one
point to another until I came to a halt, whispering to Alec:--
“There is no reason why we should continue this investigation any
further. We already know as much as is necessary, and ought to be well
on our way toward the American shore before day breaks.”
“It was said that we should be absent two or three days, and I am not
minded to leave here with no more information than has been gained,” my
comrade said stoutly, and in such a tone as told me that argument on my
part would be useless.
“You will wait here to no further end than that we may be made
prisoners,” I replied hotly, and perhaps might have said what would
have caused bad blood between us but that we were suddenly confronted
by what seemed to me most imminent danger.
We were standing on one side of a broad path which ran, so Leon had
declared, directly through the camp, when without warning a group of
men appeared in the distance, coming directly toward us.
To have made any effort then at running away would have simply been to
betray our whereabouts, for the rustling of the foliage must have told
plainly where we were, and instinct prompted my companions as well as
myself to step quietly back a few paces, where we might be screened by
the leaves.
It was as if we had been led to the spot by some invisible power, for
perhaps nowhere else could have been learned what we then heard.
The officers, for such we soon made out the strangers to be, were
walking leisurely up the path in earnest conversation, as if strolling
in the night simply to find relief from the heat; and soon we could
distinguish their words.
They were speaking of certain vessels which would arrive most likely
before sunrise; of yet more troops to come, and before having passed
out of earshot referred to the defenceless position of our fleet at
Presque Isle, although not putting it as strong as was the fact.
All this my father knew full well from rumors which had been brought
to him by the people round about, and also through messages sent by
General Porter of Black Rock.
We had gained nothing especial save the confirmation of his fears, and
it surely seemed as if now was come the moment when we could discover
all it was necessary our people should know.
Such thought was in my mind when Alec pressed my arm to attract
attention, and motioned that we follow the group.
I was not averse to obeying him, for at that moment danger was
forgotten.
It was not a simple matter to thus play the part of spies successfully,
and in order to avoid discovery we were forced to remain at such a
distance in the rear that only now and then was it possible to catch a
word of the conversation.
Intent on discovering the time set for the attack, we became more
heedless, and gave attention only to those in advance, when, without
the slightest warning, we came full upon a squad of soldiers most
likely sent out to relieve the sentinels.
So near were we to these redcoats before they discovered us, or we
them, that I might, by stretching out my hand, have touched the
foremost, and for an instant they must have believed us a portion of
the force from the encampment.
One of them hailed us in a friendly manner, asking where we were bound,
and another continued on as if to pass us by.
Had we been quicker witted I believe there was a chance of giving them
the slip; but our silence, and the attempt on Leon’s part to make his
way into the bushes, betrayed us.
The man nearest touched me on the shoulder, and with the weight of his
hand there came into my mind full knowledge of the imminent peril which
threatened. Taken prisoners now, it was reasonable to suppose some
one might recognize us as the lads who had been captured three months
before, and there could no longer be any question but that we were
spies.
It would be almost certain death to yield, and the position of affairs
could not be rendered worse by resistance.
“We must never be taken!” I said half to myself, and for an instant it
was as if I had in my arms the strength of a dozen men.
Wresting, by a sudden movement, the musket from the hands of the man
who would have made me his prisoner, I struck out right and left, and
in an instant we three lads were fighting desperately, as will even
rats when they find themselves cornered.