MANOEUVRES OF ZAC.
Zac slept but little that night. There were two causes for
wakefulness. The first was Margot, who had wrought such mischief with
his thoughts and feelings that he did not know what was the matter
with him. The second cause was the condition of Claude.
Gradually Margot's image faded away, and he began to turn his
thoughts towards the problem of delivering Claude. How was that to be
done?
Over this he thought for the greater part of that night. Towards
morning he called Terry, who was to watch for the remainder of the
night, and proceeded to hold a council of war.
First of all he acquainted Terry with the general state of affairs.
Part of Margot's information had been overheard by him; but Terry,
seeing how things were, had discreetly withdrawn aft, and kept up a
loud whistle, so as to prevent himself from overhearing their words;
so that now the greater part of this information was news to the
Irish boy.
"And have ye thought of anythin' at all, at all?" he asked.
"Wal, I've thought over most everythin'," said Zac. "You see, the
state of the case is this: they've got one of us a prisoner ashore
over there, but we've got six of them a prisoner out here."
"Thrue for you," said Terry.
"Wal, now, you see, if this Cazeneau was here, he hates Motier so
like pison that he'd sacrifice a hundred Frenchmen rayther'n let him
go--an' in my 'pinion he's worth a hundred Frenchmen, an' more. But
now, bein' as Cazeneau's goin' away to-morrer, we'll be in a position
to deal with the people here that's a keepin' Motier; an' when it
comes to them--why, they won't feel like losin' six of their men for
the sake of one stranger."
"I wonder," said Terry, "whether the owld boy that came out in the
boat found out anythin'. 'Deed, if he'd had his wits about him, an'
eyes in his head, he'd have seen it all,--so he would."
"Wal, we'll hev to let 'em know, right straight off."
"To-morra'd be best."
"Yes; an' then Cazeneau'll be off. I'd rayther wait till then; it'll
be better for us to have him out of the way."
"What'll ye do?"
"Wal, I'll sail up, and send word ashore."
"How'll you sind word? We can't spake a word of the lingo."
"Wal, I ben a thinkin' it over, an' I've about come to the conclusion
that the old Frenchman down thar in the cabin'll be the best one to
send."
"Sure, an' ye won't sind the Frenchman ashore in yer own boat!"
"Why not?"
"He'll niver bring it back; so he won't."
"Then we'll keep the other five Frenchmen."
"Sure, an' it's a hard thing altogether, so it is, to hev to thrust
him. He'll be after rousin' the country, an' they'll power down upon
us in five hundred fishin' boats; so they will."
"Wal, if I staid here to anchor, that might be dangerous," said Zac;
"but I ain't got no idee of standin' still in one place for them to
attack me."
"Sure, an' it'll be best to let him see that if he don't come back
wid Misther Motier, the whole five'll hev their brains blown out."
"Sartin. He'll have to go with that in his mind; an' what's more,
I'll make him swear an oath to come back."
"Sure, an' it'll be the hard thing to do when neither of yez
ondherstan' enough of one another's lingo to ax the time af day."
"Wal, then I'll have to be satisfied with the other five Moosoos. If
the first Moosoo runs for it, he'll leave the other five, an' I ain't
goin' to b'lieve that the farmers here air goin' to let five of their
own relatives and connections perish, rayther'n give up one stranger."
A few more words followed, and then Zac retired below, leaving Terry
on deck.
A few hours' sleep sufficed for Zac, and not long after sunrise he
was all ready for action. But the tide was not quite high enough for
his purposes. The long-extended mud flats lay bare in the distance
for miles, and Zac had to wait until a portion, at least, of this
space should be covered. At length the water had spread over as much
of the red mud as seemed desirable, while every hour the schooner
would have a greater depth beneath her; so Zac concluded to start. Up
then went the anchor, the sails were set, and yielding to the impulse
of a favorable breeze, the Parson turned her head towards the
landing-place at Grand Pre.
Various preparations had to be made, and these now engaged the
attention of Zac, who committed the care of the helm to Terry. The
first was the composition of a letter. It was to be short and to the
point. Zac had already settled in his own mind about the wording of
this, so that the writing of it now occupied but a little time. It
was as follows:--
"_To any Magistrate at Grand Pre_:--
"Know all men by this, that the six Acadians sent to take charge of
the schooner 'Rev. Amos Adams,' are now held by me as my prisoners
until such time as Mr. Claude Motier shall be delivered free from
prison. And if Mr. Claude Motier shall not be set free, these six
shall be carried to prison to Boston. And if Mr. Claude Motier be put
to death, these six shall one and all be put to death likewise.
"An answer is required within three hours.
"Zion Awake Cox,
"Master of the schooner 'Rev. Amos Adams.'
"Minas Basin, May 28, 1743."
This Zac folded and addressed, thinking that if no one in Grand Pre
could read English, it would be taken to Claude himself for
translation.
He next prepared to hoist a large British ensign. It was not often
that the Parson showed her colors, but on this occasion it was
necessary, and Zac saw that this display of English colors would be
an act which would tell its own story, and show Moosoo that the
schooner had once more changed masters. The colors lay on deck, ready
to be hoisted at the proper moment. What that moment was to be he had
already decided. Zac, in his preparations on this occasion, showed
that he possessed a line eye for dramatic effect, and knew how to
create a sensation. There was a small howitzer amidships,--Zac's joy
and pride,--which, like the ensign, was made use of only on great and
rare occasions, such as the king's birthday, or other seasons of
general rejoicing. This he determined to make use of at the present
crisis, thinking that it would speak in tones that would strike
terror to the heart of Moosoo, both on board and ashore.
Last of all, it remained to explain to the Acadians on board the
purposes upon which he was bent. They were still below. Jericho had
supplied them with their breakfast there, but Zac had not allowed
them on deck. Now, however, he summoned forth their chief man,
leaving the others behind, and proceeded to endeavor, as far as
possible, to explain to this man what he wished.
The Acadian's stock of English words was but small, yet Zac was able,
after all, by the help of signs, to give him some idea of his
purpose. The letter also was shown him, and he seemed able to gather
from it a general idea of its meaning. His words to Zac indicated a
very lively idea of the danger which was impending over the
prisoners.
"Me go," he said. "Put me 'shore. Me go _tout de suite_; me deliver
M. Motier; make come here _tout de suite--bon_!"
"All right," said Zac; "but mind you, he must be here in three
hours--three," he repeated, holding up three fingers; "three hours."
"O, _oui_--yes--_certainement_--tree hour."
"These others will be all prisoners if he don't come."
"O, _oui_--yes; all personaire; _mais_ he vill come, _tout
certainement_."
"You und'stand now, Moosoo, sure?"
"O, _oui_; me _comprends_--ond'stand--_certainement_."
"Well, then, you wait up here till we get nearer, and then you can go
ashore in the boat."
But Zac's preparations were destined to undergo some delay, for the
wind died out, and the schooner lay idle upon the surface of the
water. For several hours Zac waited patiently, hoping for a change;
but no change came. At length the tide turned, and after a time the
schooner, which had already been drifting helplessly, now began to be
carried back towards the place from which she had started.
Zac was now left to his own invention, and could only decide that on
the following day, if the wind should fail him, he would send the
boat ashore from his present anchorage, and wait the result. For
various reasons, however, he preferred going nearer; and therefore he
had refrained from sending the boat ashore that day.
The next day came. There was a fresh breeze and a favorable one. The
waters began to rise. Zac was all ready. Up went the anchor, the
sails were set, and once more the Parson was turned towards the
landing. The breeze now blew steadily, and in course of time Zac
found himself sufficiently near for his purposes, and he began to
act.
First of all, up went the British ensign. Then, the howitzer was
fired. The noise of the report did not fail of the effect which Zac
had anticipated. He saw the people turning out from their houses,
some standing still and looking, others running towards the landing.
Again and again the gun was fired, each report serving to increase
the excitement among the people ashore. The British ensign was fully
visible, and showed them what had taken place.
After this Zac sent Jericho ashore in the boat, along with the chief
Acadian. The others were confined below. Zac saw the Acadian land,
and Jericho return. Then he waited.
But it was not possible for him to wait here, nor was it safe. The
tide would soon fall, leaving, as it retreated, a vast expanse of
bare mud flats. He did not wish to run any risk of the schooner
grounding in a place like this, and therefore allowed her to fall
with the tide, and gradually move back to the bay without. All the
time, however, he kept one eye on the shore. The three hours passed.
He had drifted down again for several miles, and it was no longer
easy to discern objects. But at length he saw a boat sailing from the
shore to the schooner.
As the boat came nearer, he saw that Claude was not on board. Two men
were in her, one of whom was the man whom he had sent away, and the
other was a stranger. This stranger was an elderly man, of venerable
appearance. They came up, and both went on board.
The elderly man was one of the chief men of the settlement, and spoke
English sufficiently well to carry on a conversation. The information
which he gave Zac was not at all to the satisfaction of the latter.
It was to the following effect:--
That M. Motier had been kept in confinement at the house of Comeau;
that early on the previous day M. Cazeneau had departed for
Louisbourg, with the Abbe Michel, and the Countess de Laborde and her
maid; that M. Motier, however, on the previous night, had somehow
effected his escape.
Then the old man tried to induce Zac to set the Acadians free, except
one, arguing that one life was enough to hold against that of Motier.
But to this Zac sternly responded that one hundred Acadians would not
be of sufficient value to counterbalance the sacred life of his
friend. The only thing that Zac conceded was the liberty of the
Acadian whom he had sent ashore; for he felt touched by the plucky
conduct of this man in returning to the schooner. To his amazement,
however, this man refused to go, declaring that he had come back to
stand by his friends, and one of the others might be freed instead.
On referring the matter to them, one was found who was weak enough to
take advantage of this offer, and he it was who rowed the old man
ashore.
Towards evening a canoe came gliding over the water, containing a
single Indian. This Indian held aloof at a certain distance, scanning
the schooner curiously. Zac, seeing this, sprang upon the taffrail,
and called and beckoned to him; for a sudden thought came to him that
the Indian might have been despatched by Claude to tell him
something, and not knowing that he was no longer a prisoner, might be
hesitating as to the best way of approaching. His conjecture seemed
to be right, for this Indian, on seeing him, at once drew near, and
came on board.
The Indian said not a word, but handed Zac a letter. Zac opened it,
and read the following:--
"Claude Motier is free. Indians hafe safed him, and guide him to
Louisbourg on the trail of Cazeneau. He wishes that you go to Canso,
where you will be useful. He hope to safe Comtesse de Laborde, and
want you to help to safe she. Go, then, to Canso; and if you arrive
immediately, you sall see Indians, and must tell. They sall bing the
intelligence to us.
"The Pere Michel."
On reading this, Zac understood all. He saw that Pere Michel had been
a friend, and had engaged the Indians to help Claude. He at once
determined to go to Canso. That very night he sent the Acadians
ashore, and set sail.