The Bride Of Fort Edward: Founded On An Incident Of The Revolution Part 21

_Bur_. Captain Maitland! Good heavens, I thought you were at Skeensborough by this,--what has happened? or am I to congratulate myself that the necessity of your emba.s.sy is obviated. You met them, perhaps?--

_Maitland_. There's but little cause of congratulation, Sir, as these dispatches will prove to you. I returned only because my emba.s.sy was accomplished.

_Bur_. Do you mean to say, Captain Maitland, that you have seen the waters of Lake Champlain, since you left here this morning?

_Mait_. I do, Sir.

_Bur_. On my word, these roads must have improved since we travelled them some two days agone. I am sorry for your horses, Sir. You saw General Reidesel?

_Mait_. I left him only at nine o'clock this morning.

(_Burgoyne examines the dispatches_.)

_Bur_. "Twelve oxen to one batteaux!"--"and but fifty teams!" This news was scarcely worth so much haste, I think,--but fifty teams?--Captain Maitland, had those draught horses from Canada not arrived yet?

_Mait_. They were just landing this morning as I left, but only one-fourth of the number contracted for.

_Bur_. Humph! I would like to know what time, at this rate----sit down, Captain Maitland, sit down--we are like to spend the summer here, for aught I see, after all. (_A long pause, in which Burgoyne resumes his reading_.)

_Mait_. General Burgoyne, I am entrusted with a message from General Reidsel to the Baroness. If this is all----

_Bur_. What were you saying?--The Baroness--ay, ay--that's all well enough,--but Captain Maitland is aware, no doubt, there are more important subjects on the tapis just now than a lady's behests.

_Mait_. Sir?----

_Bur_. (_Pus.h.i.+ng the papers impatiently from him_.) This will never do.

St. George! We'll give these rebels other work ere many days, than driving away cattle and breaking down bridges for our convenience.

Meanwhile we must open some new source of supplies, or we may starve to death among these hills yet. Captain Maitland, I have a proposal to make to you. You are impatient, Sir.

_Mait_. General Burgoyne!----

_Bur_. Nay, nay,--there's no haste about it. It were cruel to detain you now, after the toil of this wild journey. You'll find your quarters changed, Captain Maitland. We sent a small detachment across the river just now. Some of our copper-colored allies had got into a fray with the enemy there.

_Mait_. Ha! (_returning_.)

_Bur_. Nothing of consequence, as it turns out. We hoped it would have ended in something. A few of the enemy, who were stationed as a guard on a hill not far from Fort Edward, were surprised by a party of Indians, and killed, to a man, I believe. Afterwards, the victors got into a deadly fray among themselves as usual. A quarrel between a couple of these chiefs, at some famous watering place of theirs, and in the midst of it, a party from the fort drove them from the ground;--this is Alaska's own story at least.

_Mait_. _Alaska's!_

_Bur_. Alaska?--Alaska?--yes, I think it was,--one of these new allies we have picked up here.

_Mait_. (_In a whisper_.) Good G.o.d!

_Bur_. By the time our detachment arrived there, however, the ground was cleared, and they took quiet possession. Are you ill, Captain Maitland?

_Mait_. A little,--it is nothing. I am to cross the river.

_Bur_, Yes. You will take these papers to Captain Andre. You have over-fatigued yourself. You should have taken more time for this wild journey.

(_Maitland goes out_.)

_Bur_. I do not like the idea of division, but it cannot be helped now.

This gallant young soldier were a fitting leader for such an enterprize.

DIALOGUE IV.

SCENE. _The ground before Maitland's Tent_.

(_Maitland and the Indian Chief, Manida, enter_.)

_Mait_. This is well. (_He writes on a slip of paper, and gives it to the Indian_.) Take that, they will give you the reward you ask for it.

Let me see your face no more, that is all.

_Manida_. Ha, _Monsieur_?

_Mait_. Let me see your face no more, I say. Do you understand me?

_Manida_. (_Smiling_.) Oui.

(_Maitland turns from him. The Indian goes off in the opposite direction. He stops a moment, and steals a look at Maitland,--throws his head back with a long silent laugh, and then goes on toward the woods_.)

_Mait_. (_Musing_.) I like this. _This_ is womanly! Nay, perhaps there is no caprice about it. I may have misinterpreted that letter in my haste last night. Very likely. Well,--better this, than that Helen Grey should come to evil through fault of mine,--better this, than the anguish of the horrible misgivings that haunted me amid my journey.

And so pa.s.s these faery visions! Nay, not thus. It will take longer than this to unlink this one day's hope from its thousand fastnesses. I thought, ere this, to have met the spirit of those beaming eyes, to have taken to my heart for ever this soft, pure being of another life. And yet, even as I rode through those lonely hills this morning, with every picture my hope painted, there came a strange misgiving;--like some scene of laughing noonday loveliness, darkening in the shadow of a summer's cloud.

Strange that Alaska should abandon my trust! I cannot understand it.

Why, I should never have trusted her with this rascal Indian. There was something in his eye, hateful beyond all thought,--and once or twice I caught a strange expression in it, like malignant triumph it seemed. It may be--no, he must have seen her--that glove he showed me was hers, I know. Good G.o.d!--what if----I think my old experience should have taught me there was little danger of her risking much in my behalf. Well--even this is better, than that Helen Grey should have come to evil through fault of mine.

PART SIXTH