DONALD AND CHRISTIE CEMENT A FRIENDSHIP
The ready wit and fertility of resource, shown by Paymaster Bullen on
the speedy journey he had just accomplished, gave Donald such a
different impression of the man, from that conceived at their first
meeting, that he was now quite willing to accept him as a travelling
companion. This he was the more ready to do, as from the upper end of
the Niagara river he must part company with Christie, whose course
would be along the south shore of the lake, while, to follow Cuyler's
expedition, Donald and the paymaster must skirt the northern shore.
Consequently it was arranged that while Christie should continue his
journey in a bateau that was about to carry several recruits to Presque
Isle, the others, including "Tummas," should be provided with a large
canoe and a crew of four Seneca Indians. Donald's belief that the
Senecas were about to go on the war-path, if indeed they had not
already done so, was not shared by Major Wilkins, who declared it could
not possibly be, as he was in constant communication with prominent
members of that tribe, and had discovered no indication of ill-feeling
toward the whites. The major also ridiculed the idea that any of the
western Indians would dare wage war against the English, now that they
could no longer hope for French assistance.
"Much as I respect your father's judgment in such matters, my dear
boy," he said to Donald, as they parted early on the following morning,
"I am certain that in the present case he must be mistaken. If fear of
an Indian outbreak is all that keeps him at Detroit, tell him from me
that he may return east at once, bringing his pretty daughter, your
charming sister, with him. Tell him, too, that we shall expect him to
make a long visit at Fort Niagara _en route_. We are all longing for a
further acquaintance with Miss Edith; for though I did succeed in
detaining Cuyler two whole days solely on her account, her stay with us
was far too short. Pray present my compliments to Madam Rothsay also,
and tell her that we live only in the hope of her return.
"Yes, I mean it all, and a great deal more too," laughed the gallant
major; "so speed your journey, that we may not die of despair.
Good-bye and good luck to you, lad. Good-bye, Christie. Run over and
call on us as often as your duties will permit. I fear you will find
life at Presque Isle a deadly monotony. Farewell, paymaster. It is
delightful to see the king's livery borne into the wilderness with such
grace and dignity. I predict that you will make an impression at
Detroit, upon whites as well as reds, and I will guarantee peace with
the latter so long as you and your wonderful tub remain in the country.
Bon voyage, gentlemen! Shove off!"
This last order was given to the crew of a light whale-boat, in which
our travellers were already seated, and which was to convey them a few
miles up the river to the lower end of the portage, where the town of
Lewiston now stands. At that time it was the site of a fortified camp
maintained for the protection of the men, pack-horses, and ox-teams
employed in transporting freight over the rugged road between there and
Fort Schlosser, a small post situated at the beginning of navigable
waters above the falls.
Here the luggage of our party, including Bullen's tub, was transferred
to an ox-wagon that was escorted by the paymaster on horseback, as he
refused to lose sight of his belongings even for a short time.
Scorning the horses proffered for their use, and delighting in the
opportunity for stretching their legs, the two younger officers set
briskly forth on foot, and were soon far in advance of the slow-moving
wagon.
"I would that our journeyings beyond this point lay in the same
direction, Hester," remarked Ensign Christie, when they found
themselves alone. "Although we have not known each other long, I feel
as though we were old friends, for I have rarely met a fellow to whom I
have taken so great a liking in so short a time."
"Thank you, old man. For my part, I heartily reciprocate the feeling,"
replied Donald, "and I wish with all my heart that you were going to
Detroit with me. Not only should I rejoice in your company, but I
should like to have you meet my father and sister."
"I have already had the pleasure of meeting Miss Hester," rejoined
Christie.
"You have!" exclaimed Donald; "when? where? why didn't you tell me
before?"
"I met her at a ball given by General Amherst, the night before her
departure from New York, and had the honor of dancing with her. That I
have not mentioned the fact was because I feared to recall to you an
unpleasant memory of a conversation between Bullen and myself,
regarding her, that you must have overheard at Sir William's, that
time, you know, when you so neatly floored my Latin."
"What an asinine thing that was, on my part," laughed Donald. "I only
overheard a few bits of your conversation, and interrupted it in that
stupid manner, for fear lest I should be tempted to act the
eavesdropper. But tell me, since you have seen Edith so recently, is
she so good looking as they say? I have not seen her for more than a
year, you know."
"She is the most beautiful creature that ever I laid eyes on, as well
as the sweetest and most charming," replied Christie, with such warmth
that Donald eyed him curiously.
"It was the unanimous opinion of all the men who saw her that evening,"
continued Christie, flushing slightly beneath the other's searching
gaze. "As for poor Bullen, he was so completely fascinated, that he
had neither eyes nor speech for any one else, though there were dozens
of charming girls present. But, I say, Hester! Saw you ever a more
frightful place than this, or a more deadly situation for an ambuscade?"
Their road had, after its first sharp ascent from the river, followed
the verge of those stupendous cliffs which rise sheer and bare on the
eastern side of the mighty torrent that has channelled them. The young
men had paused many times to gaze on the leaping surges and awful
billows that raged in fury two hundred feet beneath them, or to listen,
awe-struck, to the ceaseless thunder of falling waters, with which
earth and air quivered. Now, within three miles of the cataract, they
paused again on the brink of a lateral rent in the sheer wall of rock,
so deep and black as to have won for itself the name of Devil's Hole.
The road winding around the brink of this abyss was skirted on its
further side by a steep and densely wooded slope. It was indeed a
deadly place for an ambuscade, as several bodies of British troops
subsequently discovered to their sorrow, and the young soldiers
shuddered as they reflected upon its possibilities.
Suddenly, as they stood motionless and silent, Christie was amazed to
have his companion spring from his side as though he had been shot,
dart across the road, and disappear in the bushes beyond. There was a
momentary sound of crackling sticks and swishing branches, and then all
was still. Unable to account for this mysterious proceeding, and not
knowing what action to take, Ensign Christie stood motionless, where he
was left, for some minutes. Then Donald reappeared, walking down the
road as calmly as though nothing extraordinary had happened, though
breathing heavily from his recent exertions.
"The rascal was too quick for me," he said, as he rejoined his
companion.
"What rascal? What do you mean?" asked the bewildered ensign.
"I don't know; wish I did. All I know is that it was an Indian, and
that he was watching us. I noticed his tracks some distance back, and
also noticed that just before we reached this point they turned
abruptly into the underbrush. As we stood looking down that hole, I
heard a twig snap, and knew he was close at hand. I thought I might
surprise him, but, as I said, he was too quick for me, and I only
caught a flying glimpse of him as he disappeared."
"Well, it seems curious," meditated Christie, "but I neither noticed
any footprints nor heard a sound, save the thunder of yonder waters."
"It doesn't strike me so," replied Donald; "for if I had not been born
and brought up in the woods, I should not be apt to notice such things
either. As it is, I should feel very much ashamed not to have noticed
them. Now, I think we had best wait here for the rest of the party.
It is possible there may be mischief afoot. I wouldn't say anything to
needlessly alarm the paymaster, though."
"All right," agreed Christie; "but what could be the chap's object in
spying our movements?"
"It is hard to say; but I am satisfied that there is a general Indian
war much nearer at hand than Major Wilkins is willing to admit, and in
that case we must be prepared at any moment for all sorts of unexpected
happenings. I only wish I was by my sister's side in one of Cuyler's
boats, and could give the lieutenant warning of what to expect."
"So do I," assented Christie so heartily that the other looked at him
quizzically, and he hastened to add, "I mean so do I wish you were
there, though I trust you may be mistaken in your prophecy. In case
there is any trouble, though, I hope I may reach my post before it
breaks out."
"I hope you may, old man, with all my heart. At any rate, you want to
keep both eyes and ears wide open every minute between here and there,
and after you get there, too. Hello! Here comes Bullen!"
"By Jove! What a beastly place!" cried the little paymaster, as he
peered into the dim depths of the Devil's Hole. "It actually makes one
feel creepy, don't you know. Tummas, you rascal, gad up those snails
of bulls and let us move on."
An hour later, as they came abreast of the stupendous cataract, whose
mighty voice had throbbed in their ears all that morning, the younger
men would gladly have lingered to gaze on its grandeur; but the
paymaster complained that the volume of water was not nearly so great
as he had been led to expect, and refused to waste any time in gazing
on it.
"But surely, Bullen, you are going to drown the Fire Demon, and we want
to see the last of the tub," expostulated Christie.
"You'll have to want then, and want till you're gray, and longer,"
retorted the little man. "So we might as well move on. Tummas, you
idiot, gad up those bulls!"