Tecumah urged the count and his friends to make all haste. Even now he
feared that there would be barely time for the French to assemble and
prevent the enemy from landing. Once on shore both parties would be on
equal terms, and the most numerous would probably gain the victory. He
had despatched a messenger, however, he said, to his father, to come
with his warriors to the assistance of their friends, as, unfortunately,
they were at a distance from their usual dwelling-place, engaged in
hunting, and might not be able quickly to collect. The count had sent
word to Nigel to warn him and the other officers of the squadron to be
prepared for an attack, and also to entreat as many as could be spared
to come on shore to be in readiness for the defence of the island. The
Protestants had also got under arms, so that they might be able to march
in any direction where their presence might be required.
The governor received the count and his companions in the haughty and
insolent manner he had of late assumed, and at first appeared inclined
to discredit the account Tecumah had brought; but when the young Indian,
with all the eloquence of his race, assured him of the truth of his
statement, and warned him of the danger of delay, he changed his tone.
He was too sagacious an officer not to see in reality that the warning
must not be despised, but, without deigning to thank the count and his
companions for the information they had brought, he desired them to go
back to their friends. They obeyed his orders; while Tecumah, having
fulfilled his mission, hurried away to his canoe, intending to cross to
the mainland for the purpose of urging his tribe to use all speed in
coming to the assistance of the French. The governor, meantime, ordered
the troops to get under arms, and sent off a despatch to the ships,
directing the captains, some to get under weigh and to sail round to the
other side of the island, others to remain ready for an attack near the
landing-place. The calm, however, prevented the first part of his order
from being obeyed.
The whole population of the island was speedily aroused, and began to
assemble at a central spot appointed by the governor. Scouts were also
sent out along the shore, and every precaution was taken which the
sagacity of an experienced officer like Villegagnon could suggest. The
women and children, whose houses were in the more exposed situations,
were brought to the fort, though it was hoped that the enemy might be
driven back before they could effect a landing. Scarcely, however, had
the armed men collected, than the sound of firing was heard coming from
the end of the island, where a little bay was situated. It was a spot
which afforded an easy landing-place; but a fort had been built upon it,
which it was supposed was of sufficient strength to drive back any enemy
who might approach it. Several shots followed the first, and then came
through the calm night air the sounds of strife, the victorious
warwhoops of the Indians, and the shrieks and cries of the conquered.
"Forward, my men, and drive back the enemy," exclaimed Villegagnon.
"The fort has, I fear, been surprised, and the garrison cut to pieces,
and, if so, the enemy have landed, and we must be prepared to encounter
them on shore."
Saying this, the governor, who was not destitute of courage, led forward
the main body of his men, while he despatched a messenger to the ships
with an order for the seamen to advance to his support. The count with
a small number of his men was ordered to keep in the rear, to act as he
might think necessary. The darkness of the night prevented the French
from seeing their invaders. They had not got far when they found
themselves in the face of a force which they could only estimate by the
hot fire which was opened on them. They fired in return with equal
vigour, but it was soon evident that they were greatly outnumbered.
Several of them fell. Showers of bullets whistled amidst them, while
flights of arrows came flying into their ranks. In vain the governor
endeavoured to repel the foe. At last he gave the order to sound the
retreat, intending to fall back on the fort. The unseen enemy pressed
him hard, and their fire increased rather than diminished, showing that
more had landed. The count had now led his men up to take part in the
fight, but they could do no more than check the advance of the enemy,
and prevent them from overpowering the party under the governor. Even
the bravest began to despair of success. The flashes of the guns
lighted up the darkness of the night, and where the fire was the hottest
there the governor and Count de Tourville threw themselves fearlessly,
exposing their own lives to encourage their followers. It was very
evident that they had not only Indians, but civilised Europeans to fight
against. Notwithstanding their bravery, they were quickly driven back;
and, before long, the count saw that his own and the surrounding houses
would be exposed to destruction. At length a shout was heard on one
side. It was recognised as coming from the body of seamen who were
advancing to their support. The governor immediately despatched an
officer to lead them to a position he wished them to occupy; but, before
they had reached it, they found themselves engaged with a strong party
of the enemy who had been sent to intercept them. The fight was now
raging in two quarters, but still the enemy appeared to be gaining
ground.
Constance de Tourville had remained at home unwilling to desert the
house till compelled to do so. Several other ladies, whose houses were
in more exposed situations, had come there for shelter, and stood
listening with anxious hearts to the hot strife going forward within a
short distance. At length some of the party proposed that they should
fly to the fort; though, dreading the governor, they were unwilling, if
it could be avoided, to place themselves in his power. Constance
preferred remaining, her father having promised to send timely notice to
her should the French find themselves compelled to retreat. The sounds
of the battle came nearer and nearer. Several of the ladies declared
that they could remain no longer, and hurried to the door to make their
escape; Constance remained firm.
"I will obey my father," she said; "and when he sends me word that it is
time to fly, I will go."
The other ladies, influenced by her example, hesitated, when a shower of
bullets came whistling above their heads, and shouts and shrieks and
cries of the combatants sounded as if they were close at hand. It was
too evident that such was the case. Constance herself began to await
anxiously for the order from her father to quit the house; when
suddenly, in addition to the other sounds, a chorus of wild warwhoops
burst on their ears. The savage cries were replied to by the shouts and
cheers of the French. The musketry rattled as loud as ever, but none of
the shots came near them. In truth, the Tamoyos had arrived just at the
moment the governor had determined to retreat and take shelter in the
fort, leaving the rest of the island to the mercy of the invaders.
Tecumah was at the head of his tribe, who fought with the most desperate
fury against their hereditary enemies the Tuparas. The Portuguese were
now in their turn compelled to retreat; the French and Indians pressed
them hard, and, finding their expectation of surprising the settlement
defeated, they took to flight towards the bay where they had left their
boats. Nigel had landed with a naval force, and, feeling that he was
fighting for everything he held clear, he was regardless of his own
safety. Again and again he led his men on against greatly superior
numbers of the enemy, but till the arrival of Tecumah and his party all
his efforts had been in vain. Again he was leading them on, when he
felt himself struck by a bullet, and, staggering a few paces, fell to
the ground. Still he called on his men to advance. The Portuguese and
Tuparas every now and then faced about in order to cover the embarkation
of those who first reached the boats. Their bravery secured the retreat
of their friends, but the greater portion of the rear-guard were
overtaken and cut to pieces, while the main body shoved off from the
shore and made their escape.
Constance and her friends had been anxiously awaiting the issue of the
strife. When they heard the sounds of battle receding, their courage
rose, and they hoped that their countrymen were gaining the victory.
Still they were left for a long interval. At length Constance
determined to go out and ascertain what had taken place. They provided
themselves with lanterns, several of which had been brought to the house
by those who had taken refuge in it, and, aided by their light, they
went courageously forward. They had a higher motive also. They knew
too well that many must have fallen, and they hoped to carry succour to
some of the wounded, who might have been left behind by their advancing
comrades. After going some way, they reached a spot where the strife
had been hottest. Here lay friends and foes mingled together, Frenchman
and Portuguese; the Indians only being distinguished by their war-paint
and fantastic costume. On all the bullet, or arrow, or the deadly
hatchet, had done its work. As they cast their lanterns on the forms
stretched on the ground they saw that their help could not avail. The
wounded had either been carried off by their companions, or had dragged
themselves away to seek assistance. Still they persevered in their
mission of mercy, searching for others who might be still breathing.
They were attracted by the sound of a groan, which proceeded from a spot
not far off. Again all was silent.
"Here is a wounded man!" exclaimed one of the ladies, calling to
Constance. "He is a naval officer, I see, by his dress."
Constance and her other friends hurried to the spot, and, by the light
of a lantern cast on the countenance of the officer, Constance saw at a
glance that he was Nigel. She threw herself on the ground, and
endeavoured, with the help of her companions, to staunch the blood
flowing from a wound in his side. He was pale as death, but another
groan escaping from his lips showed her that he still breathed. At
length they succeeded in stopping the effusion of blood. She called on
his name, but he was too weak to answer, though once she felt, as she
took his hand, a slight pressure returned, which showed that he
recognised her voice.
"Oh, Marie, hasten to the house, and entreat some of our friends to come
and assist in carrying him there!" she exclaimed to one of her
companions. "Bring a bed, or a door torn from its hinges, on which he
can be placed. We must not allow him to remain here longer than is
possible. Quick, my dear, if you love me!"
Her friend hurried away, eager to bring assistance which the young
officer so greatly needed. Constance in the mean time sat by the side
of Nigel, resting his head on her arm, while she bent over him, and
assured herself that he still breathed. Though dreading every moment to
hear his last sigh, with loving and gentle words she endeavoured to
recall him to consciousness. How fearfully long the time seemed. The
sounds of the strife still going forward reached her ears, though she
scarcely heeded them, for all her thoughts and all her feelings were
centred on Nigel. Anxiously she and her friend waited the arrival of
the party from the house. The latter every now and then got up and
advanced a few paces to listen. At length lights were seen in the
distance, and footsteps were heard approaching. Constance uttered an
exclamation of thankfulness when she saw her friends approaching with a
litter they had hastily constructed with three poles supporting a
mattress. With gentle care Nigel was placed upon it, and the ladies
lifting it from the ground proceeded towards the house. Soon after they
had reached it, the count arrived with the intelligence that the enemy
had been driven off the island, and that the boats of the squadron had
gone in pursuit of them. His sorrow at hearing of Nigel's dangerous
state was very great, and, ordering restoratives to be given him, he
immediately set off in search of the surgeon, who had come out with the
first party of the settlers, and had remained faithful to the truth. He
happily discovered him attending to some of the wounded men who had been
carried to one of the neighbouring houses. As soon as he could leave
them he hastened to Nigel's side. After examining his wound, he
expressed a hope that, by constant watchfulness and care, he would
recover, though the loss of blood had greatly exhausted him, and all
would depend on his being kept perfectly quiet. One thing was certain,
that he would be unable to move for many weeks to come, without risking
his life. On hearing the surgeon's report, Constance entreated her
father not to carry out his intention of proceeding to Europe.
"I will certainly on no account leave him," he answered. "Possibly the
ships may be delayed, or the governor will be unwilling to let them
sail, on the probability of the island being again attacked; but if so,
he must treat the Protestants with more justice than he has been doing
for some time, and we must live in hopes that fresh arrivals from Europe
will again turn the scale in our favour."
Whether or not the governor suspected that the Protestants hoped, with
increased numbers, to recover their influence, it was difficult to say.
The next day was devoted to rejoicings for the victory. The bells of
the Romish church rang out, the fort fired salutes, and a procession
with crucifixes, banners, and images, marched through the island. The
priests sang praises in honour of the Virgin Mary, whom they asserted
had given them the victory, in answer to their petitions. The
Protestants assembled in their place of worship to return thanks to God
for their deliverance. While the service, which had taken place at an
earlier hour than usual, was going forward, an officer and party of
soldiers arrived in front of the chapel. Without knocking, or asking
for admission, the officer entered the chapel with his hat on his head,
and, in a loud voice, exclaimed--
"I bring you an order from the governor to disperse. He will allow of
no meetings, except in the church he has built for the use of the
colony."
"Allow us, sir, to finish the service in which we are engaged," answered
the minister, in a deep tone. "It may be the last many of us will enjoy
for some time to come."
"My orders are to put a stop to your meeting," said the officer. "If
you refuse to obey, I must use force to compel you."
Several of the persons present showed an inclination to dispute the
point, but the minister and count urged them to yield obedience to the
orders of the governor, and they quickly departed, when the officer,
closing the door, put a seal on it, cautioning the people not again to
enter, the governor having threatened severely to punish any who might
do so. With sad hearts they returned to their homes. The victory over
their enemies, instead of having improved their condition, appeared to
have made it still more unbearable. Many who had before intended to
remain on the island now determined to proceed in the ships which the
governor announced would sail in a couple of days. When, however, they
went on board to arrange their sleeping places they found the vessels in
so battered and unseaworthy a condition, and so overrun with vermin,
that many resolved to remain rather than undergo the risk of a voyage on
board them. The officers and crews confessed that they were very
unwilling to sail; at the same time, as they were all Protestants, they
were anxious to get away from the island. The governor had also
threatened them with punishment should they refuse. They promised, for
their own sakes, as well as for that of their passengers, to repair the
ships as much as time would allow. Indeed, the crews were already
working hard to fit them for sea. If the governor would permit them to
remain another week, they might, it was hoped, be placed in a tolerably
efficient state to cross the Atlantic. The governor, however, would
only allow them two more days, at the end of which time he insisted that
all who intended to go must embark. A third of the original number,
therefore, abandoned their purpose and resolved to remain and endure all
the indignities to which they were likely to be subjected, while the
rest, with many forebodings, went on board the two ships. They were, as
it was, much overcrowded, and it was with difficulty that they could
obtain sufficient provisions for the voyage, the governor asserting that
no more could be spared from the stores of the garrison.
When all were on board, and the anchors were about to be weighed,
Captain Beauport was led out from prison in chains under a strong guard,
and, not being allowed to communicate with any of his friends on shore,
was conveyed on board; the captain to whose charge he was committed
being directed by the governor to deliver up his prisoner to the
authorities at the first port at which he could touch, charged with
rebellion and heresy. Captain Dupre merely replied that he would do his
duty, as far as he had the power. He was a silent undemonstrative man,
not given unnecessarily to express his opinions. He had never shown a
disposition to disregard the orders of the governor, who was, therefore,
persuaded that he would carry them out on the present occasion. With
sad hearts those remaining saw their countrymen sail away. They were
anxious about their fate; but they had still greater cause to be anxious
about their own.
In the mean time, Nigel, under Constance's unremitting care, and that of
the good surgeon who remained, was progressing favourably. Some days
passed before he had sufficient strength to speak, and not till more
than a week had elapsed would the surgeon allow him to be told what had
happened; he was then deeply grieved to hear that the count and
Constance had remained behind for his sake. He dreaded even more than
they did the treachery and cruelty of Villegagnon, knowing him as he did
to be so completely under the influence of the priests.
"He is but a wretched tool in their hands; and they, acting according to
the dictates of their accursed system, which they call `The Church,' are
determined to drive every Protestant out of the island, so that they may
again be masters over the consciences of all the inhabitants. Why,"
exclaimed poor Nigel to Constance, "did I not denounce the traitor to
the admiral, who would not then, I feel convinced, have trusted the
colony to his government? Even had I failed to convince him, it would
have been better to have been dismissed, and to have sought my fortune
elsewhere. But then, Constance, I should not have met you; and even
now, if God wills that I should recover, I may be the means of
preserving you from the dangers by which you are surrounded."
"You acted as you believed right, and you must not blame yourself," said
Constance. "We must trust in God, and remember that, whatever happens,
He orders all things for the best. Should He permit these wicked men to
triumph, let us feel sure that He has some object in view, though we may
not see it."
The count also exonerated Nigel from any blame, and was much inclined to
find fault with himself for having quitted France, instead of remaining
at his post, and looking after his dependants.
"We are but weak fallible creatures at best," he observed. "We often
fancy that we are following God's will when we are pursuing only the
promptings of our own inclinations. It shows how absolutely necessary
it is to seek for guidance at the throne of grace in all our actions,
even in what we may consider the most minute. When we remember that the
hairs of our head are all numbered, and that God has told us that not a
sparrow falls to the ground but He knows of it, we should remember that
no act is too minute and inconsiderable to seek for counsel from Him
regarding it. I might say that at every word we utter we should ask Him
to direct us, for a single word may have an effect for good or for evil
on those who hear it."
Still Nigel was not satisfied with himself. Few people can be so, when
they review their past actions, unless they have acted as the count
advised, and sought for guidance from above.
For a short time the Protestant settlers were left to act as they
thought fit; but their place of worship continued shut up, and they were
not allowed to enter it. They met, however, at each other's houses to
read the Scriptures and offer up prayer and praise together. But they
thought it wise to do so with closed doors, and they always had some one
on the watch outside to give notice of the approach of any of the
Papists. Indeed, they found it necessary to use the same precautions
which they had been accustomed to employ in France. They were now
subjected to the same persecuting spirit as that from which they had
attempted to escape. Their only hope of being freed from their present
galling condition was by a large influx of Protestant settlers, when the
scales might be again turned in their favour. Would Villegagnon,
however, allow such to land? In all probability he would send them over
to settle on the southern shore.
This state of affairs continued for some weeks, during which Nigel
slowly recovered, much owing to the loving care of Constance, and the
skill of their friend, the surgeon. At length his health was considered
fairly re-established. The count, however, advised him not to return to
his ship until absolutely compelled to do so; indeed, having the
permission of the admiral to quit the service, Villegagnon could not
legally insist on his remaining in it.
"Indeed, my dear friend," said the count, "I feel that my own life is so
uncertain, and should I be taken away, my daughter would be left without
a protector in whom I could place confidence, that I desire forthwith to
commit her to your care. You will, I know, devote yourself to her, and,
as far as a human being has power, defend her from all dangers."
Nigel grasped the count's hand, and with a proud joy at his heart,
promised not to disappoint his expectations. He took no vain oath: he
did not call on God to witness that he intended to fulfil his promise,
for he and the count knew that what he uttered was heard in heaven, and
required no other ratification. Constance willingly agreed to her
father's wishes, and it was settled that in a few days the marriage
ceremony should be performed by their minister and friend, Monsieur
Laporte. Their love was mutual and equally intense, and they felt that
they could together face the dangers of many sorts surrounding them far
better than apart. Constance implicitly confided in Nigel, and he felt
unspeakable pride and joy in having the power of supporting and
protecting her.