Tecumseh : a Drama Part 17

In the lists of each hour crowd the work of a day!

We will follow our leader to fields far and nigh, And for Canada fight, and for Canada die!

[_Exeunt with military music._]

SCENE FOURTH.--FORT DETROIT.--THE AMERICAN CAMP.

_Enter_ GENERAL HULL, COLONEL Ca.s.s _and other Officers._

Ca.s.s. Come, General, we must insist on reasons!

Your order to withdraw from Canada Will blow to mutiny, and put to shame That proclamation which I wrote for you, Wherein 'tis proudly said, "_We are prepared To look down opposition, our strong force But vanguard of a mightier still to come!_"

And men have been attracted to our cause Who now will curse us for this breach of faith.

Consider, sir, again!

HULL. I am not bound To tack my reasons to my orders; this Is my full warrant and authority--

[_Pointing to his Instructions._]

Yet, I have ample grounds for what I do.

Ca.s.s. What are they, then?

HULL. First, that this proclamation Meets not with due response, wins to our side The thief and refugee, not honest men.

These plainly rally round their government.

1ST OFFICER. Why, yes; there's something lacking in this people, If we must conquer them to set them free.

HULL. Ay, and our huge force must be larger still, If we would change these Provinces to States.

Then, Colonel Proctor's intercepted letter-- Bidding the captor of Fort Mackinaw Send but five thousand warriors from the West, Which, be it artifice or not, yet points To great and serious danger.

Add to this Brock's rumoured coming with his Volunteers, All burning to avenge their fathers'

wrongs, And our great foe, Tec.u.mseh, fired o'er his; These are the reasons; grave enough, I think, Which urge me to withdraw from Canada, And wait for further force; so, go at once, And help our soldiers to recross the river.

Ca.s.s. But I see----

HULL. No "buts"! You have my orders.

Ca.s.s. No solid reason here, naught but a group Of flimsy apprehensions----

HULL. Go at once!

Who kicks at judgment, lacks it.

Ca.s.s. I----

HULL. No more! I want not wrangling but obedience here.

[_Exeunt_ Ca.s.s _and other officers incensed._]

Would I had ne'er accepted this command!

Old men are out of favour with the time, And youthful folly scoffs at h.o.a.ry age.

There's not a man who executes my orders With a becoming grace; not one but sulks, And puffs his disapproval with a frown.

And what am I? A man whom Was.h.i.+ngton Nodded approval of, and wrote it too!

Yet here, in judgment and discretion both, Ripe to the dropping, scorned and ridiculed.

Oh, Jefferson, what mischief have you wrought-- Confounding Nature's order, setting fools To prank themselves, and sit in wisdom's seat By right divine, out Heroding a King's!

But I shall keep straight on--pursue my course, Responsible and with authority, Though boasters gird at me, and braggarts frown.

[_Exit._]

SCENE FIFTH.--SANDWICH, ON THE DETROIT.--A ROOM IN THE BABY MANSION.

_Enter_ GENERAL BROCK, COLONELS PROCTOR, GLEGG, BABY, MACDONELL, NICHOL, ELLIOTT _and other Officers_.

BABY. Welcome! thrice welcome!

Brave Brock, to Sandwich and this loyal roof!

Thank G.o.d, your oars, those weary levers bent In many a wave, have been uns.h.i.+pped at last; And, now methinks those lads who stemmed the flood Would boldly face the fire.

BROCK. I never led Men of more cheerful and courageous heart, But for whose pluck, foul weather and short seas, 'Twere truth to say, had made an end of us.

Another trial will, I think, approve The manly strain this Canada hath bred.

PROCTOR. 'Tis pity that must be denied them now, Since all our enemies have left our sh.o.r.es.

BROCK. No, by my soul, it shall not be denied!

Our foe's withdrawal hath a magnet's power And pulls my spirit clean into his fort.

But I have asked you to confer on this.

What keeps Tec.u.mseh?

ELLIOTT. 'Tis his friend, Lefroy, Who now rejoins him, after bootless quest Of Iena, Tec.u.mseh's niece.

BROCK. Lefroy! I had a gentle playmate of that name In Guernsey, long ago.

BABY. It may be he.

I know him, and, discoursing our affairs, Have heard him speak of you, but in a strain Peculiar to the past.

BROCK. He had in youth.

All goods belonging to the human heart, But fell away to Revolution's side-- Impulsive ever, and o'er prompt to see In kings but tyrants, and in laws but chains.

I have not seen or heard of him for years.

BABY. The very man!

BROCK. 'Tis strange to find him here!

ELLIOTT. He calls the red men freedom's last survival; Says truth is only found in Nature's growth-- Her first intention, ere false knowledge rose To frame distinctions, and exhaust the world.