Eliza F. Pollard

“ Soldiers of that poor defeated army, inhabitants of Quebec, Canadians, savages, pressed around to take a last look at the brave General who had so gallantly defended them. In the dim morning light the torches flared, showing the half-ruined church, the roof laid open, through which the sky looked down, shattered pillars, the pavement torn up by bombs which in bursting had made deep holes; and in the centre of all this ruin, surrounded by his officers, lay that still figure wrapped in his black mantle, looking grander in death than he had done in life. ”

“ The mere fact of living is in itself a joy. You, with your high European civilisation, have mental and intellectual enjoyments; but we colonists have nothing of all that—we know only the primitive pleasures of hunting, fishing, and warfare. And then there is a strange poetry, a wonderful charm, in this Indian life. To lie in a birch canoe throughout the calm summer days upon the bosom of some great inland lake, to cast the line into its deep, pellucid waters, and, gazing down into its depths, watch the trout glide shadowy and silent over the glistening pebbles, has a mysterious fascination ”

“ Father Nat gave a deep groan, and Martha, sinking on a settle, threw her apron over her head and sobbed bitterly.
Loïs, kneeling down beside her mother, laid her head on her shoulder. No one spoke; they were realising for the first time how great the barrier must needs be which had arisen between them and Charles Langlade, the Indian chief.
“I’d sooner have seen him lying dead before me,” moaned Martha.
“Nay, nay, Martha, say not so; life is life—there is no hope in the grave! ”

“ The last thing Loïs saw was Nadjii, who, thrusting her behind her, with blood flowing down her own half-naked body, held aloft a glittering steel knife stained with gore.
The sun rose upon a scene of utter devastation. The village of Marshwood lay in ruins; upwards of one hundred men had been killed, or, worse still, were missing.
Almost the only house which stood uninjured was Alpha Marsh; evidently the Indians had their reasons for respecting it. Their own loss was immense. The sudden appearance of the Rangers had been totally unexpected. ”

“ Loïs, as she knelt beside Nadjii, seemed to hear the wailing of the infant, the helpless cry for mother’s milk and mother’s kisses. “O Father, have mercy on the innocent babe,” she prayed; “let it not die this terrible death! My poor Nadjii has been faithful and true, and has laid down her life for her husband’s people, moved by the great love she bears him.”
Truly love, the great purifier, entering this poor heathen’s heart, had taught her many things, lightening her darkness! ”

“ One thing is in our favour: in the darkness they cannot recognise friend from foe. We must try to push through them. Let no man speak. If they challenge us the word is ‘Français.’ I’ll give it!”
He was right in his surmise. It was Langy with his three hundred and fifty men who had got lost in the woods, and now found themselves in the very centre of the English army, dividing it, so to speak, Roger and the Royal Rangers in front, Howe and the remainder of the English army behind. For a few minutes the two armies were mingled, until a suspicion of the truth dawned on the French. ”

“ The Indian canoes now advanced in a semicircle, widening out, somewhat slowly, because their boats were heavily laden. Each man had his hatchet in his hand and his knife between his teeth, ready to slay or to scalp his victims. By degrees the Indians approached so close upon the three canoes that a few yards alone lay between them and their prey; they uttered a hideous cry of victory, which was re-echoed in the woods.
“Row for your lives!” said Roger suddenly. “If we reach the tree before the Indians we are saved!” ”

“ I ask for nothing better than to serve the cause of France, to keep Canada for the old country. But the English are strong; they are determined. Pitt is Minister, and he is sending out troops. It will be a hard struggle, a desperate struggle; but if you conciliate the Indians they will side with France, and they are a power in themselves. You do not know me yet; but in Quebec Charles Langlade’s name is familiar, and you will learn that I am a true man, ready to support you, and that you may have faith in me. ”

“ From far and near, from villages and lonely farmhouses, in sleighs, on foot, by land in the most primitive conveyances, skating along the icebound lakes and rivers, the people came flocking to Marshwood to celebrate Roger the Ranger’s and Loïs Langlade’s wedding-day.
Never in the memory of man had such a Christmas Eve been witnessed. ”

“ Montcalm’s career in Canada was a struggle against an inexorable destiny. He bore hunger, thirst, and fatigue without a murmur, caring for his soldiers, but with no thought for himself. In the midst of general corruption he stood forth immaculate, having but one thought, the good of the colony; the savages themselves declared they learnt from him patience in suffering.
A story is told of an Indian chief, when presented to Montcalm, expressing his astonishment that a man who was capable of such great deeds should be so diminutive in stature. ”

“ Instant obedience followed his command, though to all appearance they were going to their destruction; the frail barks must necessarily be dashed to pieces against the huge trunk of the tree barring their way. Calm and immovable, his eyes fixed upon the Indian canoes gradually coming nearer and nearer, Roger stood ready, as it seemed, to throw himself into the river. Indians lined the banks, but they dared not shoot, for fear of injuring their own people. ”

“ Probably had he continued to lead the life of an ordinary hunter he would never have attained this degree of perfection; and we need such a man now. Surely God has raised him up for our deliverance.”
“Maybe, maybe,” answered Father Nat; “Loïs has said as much, and she is far-sighted.”
“She seems a right noble woman,” said Howe. “Has she taken Roger’s desertion much to heart?”
“You have seen her; does she look like a love-sick girl?” said Father Nat, almost indignantly. “Nay, nay; our Loïs is a brave, God-fearing maiden. ”

“ They were not going alone; besides his two faithful servants, a company of Roger’s Rangers volunteered to accompany them; so that when they started from Quebec they mustered about a score of souls. Loïs was like a queen amongst them. General Levis had sent them free passes through the French lines, so that no difficulties arose to impede their rapid progress.
The land was icebound, the cold intense, but the weather brilliant. Down the great St. Lawrence they went; across country, as only men born in the land and knowing every inch of the ground they traversed could have done. ”

“ And Nat shook the ashes out of his pipe and relapsed into silence.
“It is a sad story; something I had heard of it before coming here,” said Howe. “But cheer up, father. God’s ways are not man’s ways: it is hard for us to understand His dealings with us,—better not try; better in simple faith believe that what ‘He doeth is well done.’ I have heard Roger’s exploits spoken of as something marvellous. His knowledge of Indian warfare is so perfect that it is almost impossible for them to waylay him. It is averred that he could conduct an army through the forest on the darkest night. ”

“ He had been standing in the high road; he moved quickly behind a clump of trees, only just in time. The front door opened, and a stream of light poured forth as Marcus stepped out on to the garden path and looked around, cautiously peering into the dark shadows cast by the house and the trees. He heard him say, “I can see no one. Had I better let Bob loose?” The dog’s bark had changed into a whine, which Charles Langlade knew full well to mean that his instinct had discovered a friend, not a foe, in the night watcher. ”

“ If I offered myself for service to the present Government of Canada, I should have to wink at much of which I disapprove. Peculation and robbery are the order of the day. Vaudreuil is a fool, and Bigot, his Controller of Finance, a knave. No, thank you; I prefer my savage chiefs to such civilised rascals. You know I went to both Quebec and Montreal to see for myself how matters stood, and I came away disgusted. If France loses Canada, it will be through the incapacity of the men she has placed at the helm.”
“And you will marry Ominipeg’s daughter?” said Roger. ”

“ In springtime the earth bursts forth, leaf and bud and flower, and the heart of man rejoices and is made glad. Surely it is but the shadow of that joy which shall be ours when the graves shall give up their dead, and we shall see our loved ones glorified, made perfect, released from the bondage of earth, knowing but one law, the great law of Love, by the divine power of which their chains have been broken and they have been loosed. Truly then, and then only, shall we give utterance to the cry, “O death, where is thy sting? ”

“ But with two hundred devils rushing into a half-deserted village, ten chances to one they would never meet; they would have scalped him before Charles came up. Besides, he could not restrain them. I know too well what Indians are like when they have once tasted blood. And to think that a Langlade should consort with such devils! There is little doubt, Loïs, if Old Britain has been attacked, and Roger happened to be there, as I am pretty sure he was, I shall never see my son again,—and he is my only son! ”

“ The General did not remain long in the salons, and as soon as he had disappeared there arose an excited murmur in the group surrounding Madame Péan. She rose. “You will never tell me again I am no diplomate, Monsieur,” she said, turning to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.
The Governor smiled. “Who is your last conquest, Madame?” he said. “Not Montcalm? He is as impregnable as Quebec itself!”
“We shall see,” said the lady. “There is a weak point in every fortress. Have you heard that he has been mad enough to bring a daughter out here, to make her a nun at the Ursulines opposite?” ”

“ Major Péan was speaking only yesterday of your services, how inestimable they are. Will you not come in and partake of supper? We happen to be almost alone to-night, and our little nun will then come out of her shell. You and she are great friends, if I mistake not.”
“You honour me too much, Madame,” answered Charles. “I am but a poor hunter, a chief among savages. I can scarcely venture to call myself the friend of my illustrious General’s daughter. When, as now, I have been with her father, if I happen to meet her, I give her news of him—that is all.” ”

“ The last part of the journey was comparatively easy; their road lay through many a Canadian village, where they found ready hospitality; and when by chance the General made himself known, the enthusiasm of the inhabitants was unbounded. The population was entirely French, and intensely patriotic, loving the old France with a, so to speak, idealised affection.
“You may rest assured they will rise to a man when you call upon them to do so,” said Charles Langlade; and then he added, with something very like a sigh, “To-morrow you will reach Quebec.” ”

“ It is a land of savages, where they eat one another;” and her eyes filled with tears, and the white bejewelled hands resting on her lap were clasped together with nervous energy.
“Nay, madame,” said a younger lady, turning round, for she had been gazing earnestly along the white road which ran through the valley, “why terrify the children? If their father accepts this post of danger and of honour, surely it is more for their sakes than his own! We are noble, but we are poor, and there are many children to establish in the world—a serious matter as times go.” ”