Meanwhile, accustomed to think and act for herself, Old Peg, on the
first alarm, had made up her mind to do her fair share of work quietly.
She did not require to be told that danger threatened the family and
that flight had been resolved on. A shout from some one that
Nor'-Westers were coming, coupled with the hasty preparations, might
have enlightened a mind much less intelligent than that of the old
woman. She knew that she could do nothing to help where smart bodily
exercise was needed, but, down by the creek close by, there was a small
stable in which a sedate, lumbering old cart-horse dwelt. The horse,
she felt sure, would be wanted. She could not harness it, but she could
put a bridle on it and lead it up to the house.
This animal, which was named Elephant on account of its size, had been
totally forgotten by the family in the hurry of departure.
Old Peg found the putting of a bridle on the huge creature more
difficult work than she had expected, and only succeeded at last by dint
of perseverance, standing on three or four bundles of hay, and much
coaxing--for the creature had evidently taken it into its head that the
old woman had come there to fondle it--perhaps to feed it with sugar
after the manner of Elspie.
She managed the thing at last, however, and led the horse up towards the
house.
Now, while she had been thus engaged the family had left, and the
half-breeds--having combined their forces--had arrived.
Ben Nevis was the first house the scoundrels came to. Dismounting, and
finding the place deserted, they helped themselves to whatever was
attractive and portable--especially to a large quantity of Canada twist
tobacco, which old Duncan had found it impossible to carry away. Then
they applied fire to the mansion, and, in a wonderfully short time Ben
Nevis was reduced to a level with the plain. Another party treated
Prairie Cottage in a similar manner.
It was when the first volume of black smoke rose into the sky that Old
Peg came to the edge of the bushes that fringed the creek and discovered
that Ben Nevis had suddenly become volcanic! She instantly became fully
aware of the state of matters, and rightly judged that the family must
have escaped, else there would have been some evidence of resistance.
Fortunately the old woman had not yet passed quite from the shelter of
the bushes. She drew back with a degree of caution worthy of a
Red-skin, leading the horse with her. When well out of sight she paused
for the purpose of meditation. What was now to be done! As we have
said, she possessed decision of character in an eminent degree. She
never at any time had taken long to make up her mind; she was not going
to begin now, though the position was probably the most perplexing that
she had ever experienced. Suddenly she raised her head and laughed.
In the circumstances it would not have been surprising had hysteria
seized Old Peg, but there was nothing hysterical in her nature. Calm,
cool, calculating courage dominated her every thought and feeling, but
the idea of what she was driven to in her old age had tickled her fancy.
Leading the big cart-horse close up to a bank, she prepared to mount
him--having previously broken off a good strong switch from a
neighbouring bush.
Never before in her life had Peg mounted a steed of any kind whatever.
She knew the lady's position on horseback by sight, of course, but not
by practice. To attempt it even with a side-saddle would have been
impossible; but Elephant was barebacked. Fortunately he was fat and
broad, and without a visible back-bone. Old Peg at once made up her
mind, and, climbing the bank, scrambled on his back in gentleman's
position. It was more comfortable than she had dared to hope.
But now an unexpected difficulty met her. Elephant declined to move!
She pulled at his bridle, and he turned sluggishly, but he would not
advance. Peg administered a sounding whack with the switch. She might
as well have hit a neighbouring tree. Elephant's hide was like that of
his namesake, and he had no feelings to speak of that could be touched,
or hurt, or worked upon.
In this dilemma the old woman had recourse to a weapon with which her
broad bosom was at all times furnished. She drew a large pin, and drove
the point into Elephant's flank. The result was instantaneous. Up went
his hindquarters, and Peg found herself sprawling on his bushy mane.
She held on to that, however, and, gradually working her way back,
regained her old position--thankful that she had not been thrown to the
ground.
Another result was that Elephant condescended to walk. But this was not
enough. Escape at such a pace was impossible. Old Peg prodded him
again--this time on the shoulder, for she rightly conjectured that he
could not well kick up with his fore-legs. But he might rear! The
thought caused her to grasp the bushy mane with both hands and hold on.
He did not rear, but he trotted, and poor Old Peg came to the conclusion
that there were disagreeable novelties in life, even for her.
When Elephant at length burst out of the fringe of wood and gained the
track that followed the course of the river, she was immediately seen by
the plunderers, who laughed at the strange rider but did not follow her,
with the exception of one man--an Indian, painted and feathered,--who
started in pursuit, hoping, possibly, for an easy scalp.
He soon came close up, and, being armed with a bow, sent an arrow in
advance of him. The shaft was well aimed. It grazed the flank of
Elephant, inflicting a painful wound. This woke up the old horse
surprisingly, so that it not only broke into a gallop, but set off at
racing speed as it used to do when young. The Indian was badly mounted,
and gradually lost ground, whereupon he sent after the fugitives several
more arrows which all fell wide of the mark.
The change to Old Peg was as a reprieve from death! The trot had almost
dislocated her bones, and shaken her up like an addled egg, and the
change to racing speed afforded infinite relief. She could scarcely
credit her senses, and she felt a tendency to laugh again as she glanced
over her shoulder. But that glance removed the tendency, for it
revealed the Indian warrior, in all his paint and feathers and streaming
scalp-locks, in hot pursuit, while the whiz of another arrow close past
her ear convinced our heroine that it was not a dream.
The jolting to which the poor old creature was subjected had disturbed
her costume not a little. Her shawl came nearly off, and, holding on by
one pin, fluttered like a flag of defiance. Her slippers, which were of
the carpet pattern, were left behind on the prairie to perplex the
wolves, and her voluminous hair--once a rich auburn, but now a pearly
grey--having escaped its cap and fastenings, was streaming out gaily in
the breeze, as if to tempt the fingers and knife of the pursuer.
A stern-chase is a long one, whether ashore or afloat. Pursuer and
pursued went rapidly down the Settlement until they came in sight of the
band which had come to rescue Peg. They received her with a wild cheer
of surprise and joy, which turned the Red-skin to the right-about, and
sent him back to his friends much faster than he had come.
On receiving his report, the half-breeds at once dashed off in pursuit
of the settlers, and did not draw rein until they reached the place
where the Scotchmen had made a stand. The latter were greatly
outnumbered, at least in fighting men, but they showed such a resolute
front, that Cuthbert Grant, the half-breed leader, again interfered to
prevent bloodshed if possible. After calming his men, and advising
forbearance, he turned to Duncan McKay senior, who was the settlers'
spokesman, and said--
"If you will go peaceably away out of the colony, we will spare you, but
if you show fight your blood be on your own heads, for I cannot restrain
my men much longer."
"Iss it sparin' us you will be talkin' of, Cuthbert Grant?" answered the
Highlander, with scorn. "Wow! but if it wass not for the weemen an'
children that's with us, you would hev a goot chance o' bein' in need o'
sparin' yoursels; an' it iss not much o' the blood o' the Grants,
either, that's in _your_ veins, or ye would scorn to consort wi' such
fire-raisin' cut-throats. It iss the fortune of war--whatever, and we
can't affoord to leave our weemen an' bairns defenceless. So we accept
your terms, if we are not hindered from carryin' away our arms."
"Carry away whatever you like," replied Grant, quietly, "only be off at
once, or I'll not answer for the consequences."
Thus the angry Highlander was dismissed, and in the end the unfortunate
settlers, being a second time driven into exile, took refuge, as before,
at Jack River.