FLIGHT.
On leaving the house, the Indian led the way in silence for some
distance. In the immediate neighborhood of the house were open
fields, while in front of it was the road which ran down to the
river. The house was on the declivity of a hill, at the foot of which
were broad dike-lands, which ran far out till they terminated at the
island already mentioned. Beyond this lay the Basin of Minas, and in
the distance the shadowy outline of the surrounding shores.
The Indian led the way for some distance across the fields, and then
turned into the road. Along this he passed till he reached the river.
It was the Gaspereaux, at the mouth of which was the place where
Claude had landed. Here the Indian crossed, and Claude followed, the
water not being much above their knees. On reaching the other side,
the Indian walked down the stream, keeping in the open as much as
possible.
At length they left the river, and went on where the ground rose
gradually. Here they soon entered the woods. It was a broad trail,
and though in the shadow of the trees it was rather dark, yet the
trail was wide enough to allow of Claude following his guide without
any difficulty whatever. For about an hour they walked on in this
way, ascending steadily most of the time, until at length Claude
found himself upon an open space overgrown with shrubbery, and
altogether bare of trees. Here several dusky figures appeared, and
the guide conversed with them for some time.
Claude now seated himself on the ground. He felt so fatigued already
from this first tramp, that he began to experience a sense of
discouragement, and to think that his confinement had affected his
strength. He gazed wearily and dreamily upon the scene before him.
There, spread out at his feet, was a magnificent prospect. The land
went sloping down to the water. Towards the left were the low
dike-lands running out to the island; beyond this the waters of Minas
Basin lay spread out before him. Thus far there had been no
moonlight; but now, as he looked towards the east, he noticed that
the sky was already flushing with the tints of dawn. But even this
failed to rouse him.. A profound weariness and inertness settled
slowly over every sense and limb, and falling back, he fell into a
deep sleep.
When he awaked, he saw that it was broad day, and that the sun was
already high up in the sky. He started to his feet, and his first
thought was one of joy at finding that his strength had all returned.
At his question, the Indian who was the spokesman told him that
Louisbourg was more than twelve days' journey away, and that the path
lay through the woods for the whole distance.
Before setting forth, the Indian gave him a rifle and a sword, which
he said Pere Michel had requested him to give him. There was also a
sufficient supply of powder and ball. Taking these, Claude then set
out on his long tramp. There were six Indians. Of these, three went
in front, and three in the rear, the whole party going in single
file. The trail was a wide one, and comparatively smooth. The guide
drew Claude's attention to tracks on the ground, which could easily
be recognized as the prints of horse hoofs. To Claude's inquiry how
many there were, the Indian informed him that there were four. By
this it seemed to Claude that Mimi and her maid had each one, while
the other two were used by Cazeneau and the priest.
After several hours they at length came to a river. It was like the
Gaspereaux in one respect, for it was turbid, and rolled with a swift
current. The banks also were lined with marshes, and the edges were
composed of soft mud. No way of crossing it appeared, and as they
approached it, the Indians turned away to go up the stream. The
prospect of a long detour was very unpleasant to Claude; and when at
length he came to a place where the tracks of the horses went towards
the river, he asked why this was. The Indians informed him that the
horses had crossed here, but that they would have to go farther up.
It did not turn out so bad as Claude had feared, for after about half
an hour's further walk, they stopped at the bank of the river, and
waited.
To Claude's question why they waited, an extraordinary answer was
given. It was, that they were waiting till the water ran out. This
reminded him of the old classic story about the fool who came to a
river bank and waited for the water to run out, so that he might
cross. Claude could not understand it; but, supposing that his guides
knew what they were about, he waited for the result, taking advantage
of this rest to fortify his inner man with a sound repast. After this
was over, he rose to examine the situation; and the first sight
showed him an astonishing change. He had lingered over his repast,
now eating, now smoking, for about an hour, and in that time there
had been wrought what seemed to him like a wonder of Nature. The
water of the river had indeed been running out, as the Indian said;
and there before him lay the channel, running low, with its waters
still pouring forward at a rate which seemed to threaten final
emptiness. And as he looked, the waters fell lower and lower, until
at length, after he had been there three hours, the channel was
almost empty.
This particular spot was not so muddy as other parts of the river
bed, and therefore it had been chosen as the best place for crossing.
It was quite hard, except in the middle, where the mud and water
together rose over their knees; and thus this mighty flood was
crossed as though it had been some small brook.
A few hours more served to bring them to the foot of some hills; and
here the party halted. They had once more picked up the trail, and
Claude was encouraged by the sight of the horse tracks.
He now unfolded to the Indian his design. To his great pleasure he
found that Pere Michel had already anticipated him, and that the
Indian understood very well what was wanted. He assured Claude that
he could easily communicate with the others so as not to be
suspected, and lead back Pere Michel and the women to him. His plan
was to make a _detour_, and get ahead of them, approaching them from
that direction, so as to avoid suspicion, while Claude might remain
with the other Indians in some place where they could be found again.
This plan seemed to Claude so simple and so feasible that he grew
exultant over the prospect, forgetting the many difficulties that
would still be before him, even if this first enterprise should
succeed.
Their repast was simple and easily procured. The woods and waters
furnished all that they required. A hare and some snipe and plover,
with a few trout and a salmon, were the result of a short excursion,
that did not extend much farther than a stone's throw from the
encampment.
The next day they resumed their journey. It lay over the hills, which
were steep, though not very high. The trail now grew rougher, being
covered with stones in many places, so as to resemble the dry channel
of a mountain torrent, while in other places the roots of trees which
ran across interfered with rapid progress. This Claude saw with great
satisfaction, for he knew that horses could go but slowly over a path
like this; and therefore every step seemed to lessen the distance
between him and Mimi. All that day they were traversing these hills.
The next day their journey lay through a gentle, undulating country,
where the towering trees of the forest rose high all around, while at
their feet were mosses, and wild grasses, and ferns, and flowers of a
kind that were utterly strange to Claude. It was the month of June,
the time when all nature in Acadie robes herself in her fairest
charms.
Thus day after day passed, each day being the counterpart of the
other in its cloudless skies, its breath from the perfumed woods, and
the song of birds. On the sixth day the tracks of the horses seemed
to be fresher than usual; and to Claude's question the Indian replied
that they must be close by them. At this Claude hurried on more
vigorously, and kept up his march later than usual. He was even
anxious to go forward all night; but the Indian was unwilling. He
wished to approach them by day rather than by night, and was afraid
of coming too suddenly upon them, and thus being discovered, if they
went on while the others might be resting. Thus Claude was compelled
to restrain his impatient desires, and wait for the following day.
When it came they set forth, and kept up a rapid pace for some hours.
At length they came to an opening in the woods where the scene was no
longer shut in by trees, but showed a wide-extended prospect. It was
a valley, through which ran a small stream, bordered on each side
with willows. The valley was green with the richest vegetation.
Clusters of maples appeared like groves, here and there interspersed
with beech and towering oaks, while at intervals appeared the
magnificent forms of grand elms all covered with drooping foliage,
and even the massive trunks green with the garlands of tender and
gracefully-bending shoots.
For a moment Claude stood full of admiration at this lovely scene,
and then hurried on after his guide. The guide now appeared desirous
of slackening his pace, for he saw that if the other party were not
far away he would be more liable to discovery in this open valley;
but it was not very wide. About half a mile farther on, the deep
woods arose once more; and, as there were no signs of life here, he
yielded to Claude's impatient entreaty, and went on at his usual
pace.
Half way across the valley there was a grove of maple trees; the path
ran close beside it, skirting it, and then going beyond it. Along
this they went, and were just emerging from its shelter, when the
guide made a warning movement, and stood still. The next instant
Claude was at his side. The Indian grasped Claude's arm, and made a
stealthy movement backward.
That very instant Claude saw it all. A man was there--a European. Two
Indians were with him. He was counting some birds which the Indians
were carrying. It seemed as though they had been shooting through the
valley, and this was their game. They could not have been shooting
very recently, however, as no sound had been heard. This was the
sight that met Claude's eyes as he stood by the Indian, and as the
Indian grasped his arm.
It was too late. The European looked up. It was Cazeneau!
For a moment he stood staring at Claude as though he was some
apparition. But the Indians who were behind, and who came forward,
not knowing what was the matter, gave to this vision too practical a
character; and Cazeneau saw plainly enough that, however
unaccountable it might be, this was in very deed the man whom he
believed to be in safe confinement at Grand Pre. A bitter curse
escaped him. He rushed towards Claude, followed by his Indians.
"Scoundrel," he cried, "you have escaped! Aha! and do you dare to
come on my track! This time I will make sure of you."
He gnashed his teeth in his fury, and, snatching a rifle from one of
his Indians who were near him, aimed it at Claude, and pulled the
trigger.
But the trigger clicked, and that was all. It was not loaded. With
another curse Cazeneau dashed the rifle to the ground, and turned
towards the other Indian. All this had been the work of a moment. The
next moment Claude sprang forward with drawn sword.
"Villain," he cried, "and assassin! draw, and fight like a man!"
At these words Cazeneau was forced to turn, without having had time
to get the other Indian's rifle, for Claude was close to him, and the
glittering steel flashed before his eyes. He drew his sword, and
retreating backward, put himself on guard.
"Seize this fellow!" he cried to his Indians; "seize him! In the name
of your great father, the King of France, seize him, I tell you!"
The Indians looked forward. There, behind Claude, they saw six other
Indians--their own friends. They shook their heads.
"Too many," said they.
"You fellows!" cried Cazeneau to Claude's Indians, "I am the officer
of your great father, the King of France. This man is a traitor. I
order you to seize him, in the king's name."
Claude's Indians stood there motionless. They did not seem to
understand.
All this time Cazeneau was keeping up a defence, and parrying
Claude's attack. He was a skilful swordsman, and he wished to take
Claude alive if possible, rather than to fight with him. So he tried
once more. He supposed that Claude's Indians did not understand. He
therefore told his Indians to tell the others in their language what
was wanted. At this the two walked over to the six, and began
talking. Caseneau watched them earnestly. He saw, to his infinite
rage, that his words had no effect whatever on Claude's Indians.
"Coward," cried Claude, "coward and villain! you must fight. My
Indians are faithful to me. You hate to fight,--you are afraid,--but
you must, or I will beat you to death with the blade of my sword."
At this Cazeneau turned purple with rage. He saw how it was. He
determined to show this colonist all his skill, and wound him, and
still take him alive. So, with a curse, he rushed upon Claude. But
his own excitement interfered with that display of skill which he
intended to show; and Claude, who had regained his coolness, had the
advantage in this respect.
A few strokes showed Cazeneau that he had found his master. But this
discovery only added to his rage. He determined to bring the contest
to a speedy issue. With this intent he lunged forward with a deadly
thrust. But the thrust was turned aside, and the next instant
Claude's sword passed through the body of Cazeneau.