Читать книгу Crossed Swords. A Canadian-American Tale of Love and Valor - Mary Wilson Alloway - Страница 8
ОглавлениеA BLOOD-STAINED MESSENGER.
In the grey dawn of the following morning, the sentry, pacing before the north-east gate of the city, observed the figure of a man approaching. On disembarking from a canoe, he bade adieu, apparently with some reluctance, to an Indian who had paddled him down the river from some point on the opposite shore. As he neared the fort which defended that part of the town, his disordered appearance and evidence of haste brought the sentry to a halt, and with levelled rifle he challenged:
"Stand! Who goes there?"
"A friend, who has important tidings for the Governor, whom I have urgent need to see with all speed," was the answer.
"What is your business with His Excellency, and your name and rank?" was sharply interrogated by the sentinel, who saw, as the man came from the dusk of the early morning into the light, which still shone from the barred window of the guard-house, the figure of an officer. His features and condition gave proof of his having come through some experience of thrilling excitement, and the man looked sharply at him as he replied:
"My name is Fraser, my rank a lieutenant in His Majesty's Seventh Regiment of Foot,—my business concerns matters of grave moment to the affairs of this Province, and which I would lay before His Excellency without delay."
The guard suspiciously scrutinized the speaker, examining closely his uniform and emblems of military rank, and finding the mud-bespattered and torn garments to be those of the British army, with the decorations of one holding rank therein, he saluted, and lowering his rifle, answered:
"Enter, Lieutenant Fraser, and all's well."
The heavily-riveted oaken door swung slowly open, and the newcomer entered the fortress, and seeking the officer in charge, desired that an orderly be detailed to conduct him to official headquarters. The fort, from which he and his guide then emerged, was a primitive structure, pierced by narrow grated windows, defended by small pieces of cannon, and had been modeled after the plan of the old fortifications of mediaeval France. The British colors were floating above it, where but a few years before had flown the white and blue standard of the proud Bourbons.
The little town of Montreal, in the glistening morning sunlight, lay still asleep, feeling secure in the walls that surrounded it, although a hostile army threatened them. A narrow street ran due west from the fort, on either side of which were dwelling-houses in the quaint architecture of Normandy and Brittany. The peaked tin roofs sloped gracefully to the eaves, their uniformity broken by rows of picturesque dormer windows, the gables ending in ample chimneys. As was usual in a fortified town, the houses were built close together, the windows being furnished with heavy iron shutters and bolts and bars. The street, which the two men traversed in silence, had been called by the pious Jesuit Fathers, Rue de Notre Dame, or Street of "Our Lady," a name which had been the battle-cry of Norman warriors since before Duke William seized the crown of Edward, the Saint-King of Saxon England. They encountered no one on the way except a night watchman, or an occasional habitant, smoking his short clay pipe and cracking the leathern thong of his whip as he jogged to market on his load of hay or wood, gay in brightly colored sash and tuque and pointed capuchin, woven by his own fireside. The stillness of the early morning was broken by the tinkle of a bell calling to matins, which was answered by a silvery chime from the clock over the monastery of the St. Sulpice Fathers, whose white dial had set the time to the town since the days of La Salle, a hundred years before. The stroke of the hour of five had scarce died away when the corporal announced their arrival at their destination, as they turned into the main entrance of the Governor's mansion, a long, low, white-walled building, still known as the Château de Ramezay, from the name of the French noble who had built it some sixty years before.
A sleepy lackey answering the summons, opened the door, and as he asked: "What can I do for ye, sir?" he glanced uneasily at the dark bloodstains which deepened the red of the military scarf with which the right arm of the officer was bound.
"Inform Governor Carleton that a soldier in the British service seeks speech with him on a matter of vital import, and tell His Excellency that it is a case the consideration of which will admit of as little delay as is possible with His Excellency's convenience and comfort."
As the messenger retired, bowing, the stranger sank into a chair to gain a few moments' rest after his forced journey and fast of the night before. At the sound of approaching footsteps and the entrance of a handsome, military-looking man, he arose and saluted, knowing he was in the presence of Sir Guy Carleton, the Commander-in-Chief of the forces in Canada, and the representative in the colony of His Majesty, King George.
Sir Guy looked keenly at the stranger, his brow clouding as he perceived the evident marks of recent conflict and apparent flight.
"To whom have I the honor of speaking?" he inquired brusquely, "and what are the circumstances which bring one wearing the king's coat hither in such a plight?"
"I am, Your Excellency, Malcolm Fraser, of the Seventh Foot; one of the command of Fort St. Johns, which, it is my unhappy fortune to be compelled to report, has been reduced by the American forces under Montgomery, into whose hands it has fallen," was the reluctant reply.
Taking a seat and motioning his informant to do likewise, the commander, giving no sign of the emotions of regret and humiliation which filled his breast at the defeat of the garrison holding that important post, asked quietly:
"What are the details of the disaster? Be explicit."
Leaning his head upon his hand, he listened moodily to the recital as his visitor continued tersely and with undisguised mortification:
"Our force, as Your Excellency is aware, was only about four hundred strong, with the addition of one hundred Indians. Early in September we received intelligence of the approach of the enemy. Appearing duly in sight, they landed on the west bank of the Richelieu, about two miles distant, and at once took up march toward our outworks. Immediate preparations were commenced to resist the attack, and when within range we opened fire upon them, but with little apparent effect. After consuming considerable time in skirmishing and various man[oe]uvres, the surrender of the fort was demanded, our signal of compliance to be the blank discharge of a cannon. I need not inform Your Excellency that this was peremptorily refused. Again a flag was sent with a written order for our capitulation and the avoidance of a needless effusion of blood. Aware that efforts were here being made to come to our succor, we required that four days be given us for consideration. This being denied, and the attack renewed, after a resistance which had lasted fifty days, we were forced to comply with their stipulations,—that we march out with the honors of war and ground our arms on the plain near by. The perfidious Indians had deserted us some time before. Goaded to desperation at the thought of my country's flag falling thus easily into the hands of the invading rebels, I made a lunge at the first bluecoat who offered to lay hands upon it, but a sharp thrust from his broadsword striking my arm, I lost my balance and fell from the bastion into a bog near the drawbridge. Although stunned, I was not seriously hurt, having fallen where there was no great depth of water. Dragging myself along the edge of the stockade, with the protection offered by some low alders which fringed the marsh, and being covered with the wet soil, I managed to crawl out close to the hut of a friendly Abenakis scout, who took what parched corn and other provisions the place afforded, and motioning me to follow, stole out into the woods.
"After some delay," he continued, "a canoe was obtained, in which we dropped down stream. Favored by the gathering darkness, we hastened on, and by hiding by daylight and on any signs of alarm, succeeded in reaching the river just below the rapids. Knowing the necessity of advising Your Excellency of the fall of the fort and the capture of Major John André and other officers and men, I made all possible haste to bring hither tidings of the defeat."
"Lieutenant Fraser, you most certainly have done myself and your country signal service by this night's work, and immediate measures must be concerted to meet the attack which menaces these walls."
Pulling a bell-rope which hung by the hearth, he said to the servant who responded:
"Conduct Lieutenant Fraser to a chamber and provide him with everything that is needful for his comfort and refreshment until the army surgeon shall arrive to determine what are the nature and extent of his injuries."
"Have no concern about my wound, Sir Guy," begged Fraser, rising to follow the servant; "'tis but a flesh scratch, for which a few days' rest and care are all that are needed; but for the refreshment I shall have honest welcome, as my last meal was but a scant one, some twelve hours since, in the lodge of an Indian known to my guide."
The wound itself had no serious aspects, but the fasting, night exposure and tardiness in obtaining needful tendance, brought on a fever, which for some days rendered Malcolm Fraser oblivious to passing events. When sufficiently recovered to appear in the official apartments, he found a general air of unrest apparent. Withdrawing with him to an ante-room, Sir Guy informed him that it had been learned from the most reliable sources that the American troops were advancing toward the city, and if not detained, as they had hitherto been, by rains and impassable roads, might be expected within a few days' time. With a frown and look of extreme disquietude, as of one who feared that his shield of honor was about to be tarnished, he added in a voice deep with the intensity of painful yet suppressed feeling:
"It has been decided by council of war, that it is of the utmost importance that my person should not fall into the hands of the enemy. It has, therefore, been urged upon me, much against my personal wishes, that I make a determined attempt to leave this point and reach Quebec, and there make a firm and what is hoped will be a successful stand for the saving of our country. With a consideration of the extreme weakness of this place, I cannot deny the wisdom of the conclusion. Aware of the impossibility of obtaining assistance from Britain or the armies under Gage and Howe, I must perforce waive personal feelings at the indignity of the course proposed, and acquiesce."
"When does Your Excellency purpose taking this most unwelcome step?" Fraser inquired respectfully. "Being an absolute necessity from the exigencies of the situation, I take it it cannot in the least degree cause reflection on your honor or valor."
"All is ready to embark at a moment's warning," was the gloomy reply.
"May I be informed what are the intended arrangements for the proposed venture, Sir Guy?" again asked the officer, with increasing seriousness.
"Your late services, Fraser, entitle you to my fullest confidence, but it is deemed expedient that only those who will form my escort be put in possession of the time, place and manner of the projected flight—for flight," he continued, bitterly, "however disguised in polite phrase, it must be called."
"That precaution need not preclude my being cognizant of them," was the hearty rejoinder. "If I may be permitted the glory of sharing the dangers which threaten Your Excellency, and menace the sovereignty of my king in this land, I will gladly form one of your body-guard, if I may be so honored."
Wringing his hand, Sir Guy, with an emotion he could scarce control, exclaimed:
"With men of such spirit under my command, our king need have no concern for his royal supremacy in these provinces. I have affairs of moment to arrange and letters to write which are necessary in the contingency of my never reaching Quebec, which is among the possibilities, nay, rather I may say, probabilities; as the chances are one to a hundred of our being able to successfully pass down the river, along the shores of which, for fifty miles, are bivouacked the troops of the enemy, their batteries commanding the situation."
