CHAPTER II.

Several hours had passed away in the interesting discussion

of their war plans, and the council was nearly concluded,

when suddenly the attention both of the officers and

chiefs was arrested by the report of a single cannon.

From the direction of the sound, it was evident the shot

had been fired from the battery placed on the southern

or lakeward extremity of the Island of Bois Blanc, and

as the circumstance was unusual enough to indicate the

existence of some approaching cause for excitement,

several of the younger of both, who, from their youth,

had been prevented from taking any active share in the

deliberations of the day, stole, successively and

unobservedly, through the large folding doors of the

building, which, owing to the great heat of the weather,

bad been left open. After traversing about fifty yards

of sward, intersecting the high road, which, running

parallel with the river, separated the council hall from

the elevated bank, the officers found, collected in groups

on the extreme verge of this latter and anxiously watching

certain movements in the battery opposite to them, most

of the troops and inferior Indians they had left loitering

there at the commencement of the council. Those movements

were hasty, and as of men preparing to repeat the shot,

the report of which had reached them from, the opposite

extremity of the Island. Presently the forms, hitherto

intermingled, became separate and stationary--an arm of

one was next extended--then was seen to rise a flash of

light, and then a volume of dense smoke, amid which the

loud report found its sullen way, bellowing like thunder

through some blackening cloud, while, from the peculiar

nature of the sound, it was recognized, by the experienced

in those matters, to have proceeded from a shotted gun.

The war in Canada had its beginning in the manner thus

described. They were the first shots fired in that

struggle, and although at an object little calculated to

inspire ranch alarm, still, as the first indications of

an active hostility, they were proportionably exciting

to those whose lot it was thus to "break ground," for

operations on a larger scale.

Although many an eager chief had found it difficult to

repress the strong feeling of mingled curiosity and

excitement, that half raised him from the floor on which

he sat, the first shot had been heard without the effect

of actually disturbing the assembly from its fair propriety;

but no sooner had the second report, accompanied as it

was by the wild yell of their followers without, reached

their ears, than, wholly losing sight of the dignity

attached to their position as councillors, they sprang

wildly up, and seizing the weapons that lay at their

side, rushed confusedly forth, leaving Tecumseh, and two

or three only of the more aged chiefs, behind them. The

debate thus interrupted, the council was adjourned, and

soon afterwards General Brock, accompanied by his staff,

and conversing, through his interpreter, with the Shawanee

chieftain as they walked, approached the groups still

crowded along the bank of the river.

Meanwhile, after the discharge of the last gun, the

battery on the Island had been quitted by the officer in

command, who, descending to the beach, preceded by two

of his men, stepped into a light skiff that lay chained

to the gnarled root of a tree overhanging the current,

and close under the battery. A few sturdy strokes of the

oars soon brought the boat into the centre of the stream,

when the stout, broad built, figure, and carbuncled face

of an officer in the uniform of the ---- regiment, were

successively recognised, as he stood upright in the stem.

"What the deuce brings Tom Raymond to us in such a hurry?

I thought the order of the General was that he should on

no account leave his post, unless summoned by signal,"

observed one of the group of younger officers who had

first quitted the council hall, and who now waited with

interest for the landing of their companion.

"What brings him here, can you ask?" replied one at the

side of the questioner, and with a solemnity of tone and

manner that caused the whole of the group to torn their

eyes upon him, as he mournfully shook his head.

"Aye, WHAT brings him here?" repeated more than one voice,

while all closed inquiringly around for information.

"Why, the thing is as clear as the carbuncles on his own

face--the boat to be sure. "And the truism was perpetrated

with the same provokingly ludicrous, yet evidently forced,

gravity of tone and manner.

"Execrable, Middlemore--will you never give over that

vile habit of punning?"

"Detestable," said another.

"Ridiculous," repeated a third.

"Pshaw, the worst you ever uttered, "exclaimed a fourth,

and each, as he thus expressed himself, turned away with

a movement of impatience.

"That animal, Raymond, grows like a very porpoise,"

remarked a young captain, who prided himself much on the

excessive smallness of his waist. "Methinks that, like

the ground hogs that abound on his Island, he must fatten

on hickory nuts. Only see how the man melts in the noon-day

sun. But as you say, Villiers, what can bring him here

without an order from the General? And then the gun last

fired. Ha! I have it. He has discovered a Yankee boat

stealing along through the other channel."

"No doubt there is CRAFT of some description IN THE WIND,"

pursued the incorrigible Middlemore, with the same affected

unconsciousness; "and that may account for poor Raymond

being BLOWN here."

"Ha! severe, are you," returned Captain Molineux, the

Officer who had commented so freely upon the appearance

of the fat Lieutenant in the boat." But your pun, infamous

as it would be at the best, is utterly without point now,

for there has not been a breath of wind stirring during

the whole morning."

"Pun, did you say?" exclaimed Middlemore, with well affected

surprise at the charge." My dear fellow, I meant no pun."

Further remark was checked by an impatience to learn the

cause of Lieutenant Raymond's abrupt appearance, and the

officers approached the principal group. The former had

now reached the shore, and, shuffling up the bank as fast

as his own corpulency and the abruptness of the ascent

would permit, hastened to the General, who stood at some

little distance awaiting the expected communication of

the messenger.

"Well, Mr. Raymond, what is it--what have you discovered

from your post?" demanded the General, who, with those

around him, found difficulty in repressing a smile at

the heated appearance of the fat subaltern, the loud

puffing of whose lungs had been audible before he himself

drew near enough to address the chief--"something important,

I should imagine, if we may judge from the haste with

which you appear to have travelled over the short distance

that separates us?"

"Something very important, indeed, General," answered

the officer, touching his undress cap, and speaking

huskily from exertion; "there is a large bark, sir, filled

with men, stealing along shore in the American channel,

and I can see nothing of the gun boat that should be

stationed there. A shot was fired from the eastern battery,

in the hope of bringing her to, but, as the guns mounted

there are only carronades, the ball fell short, and the

suspicious looking boat crept still closer to the shore--

I ordered a shot from my battery to be tried, but without

success, for, although within range, the boat hugs the

land so closely that it is impossible to distinguish her

hull with the naked eye."

"The gun boat not to be seen, Mr. Raymond?" exclaimed

the General; "how is this, and who is the officer in

command of her?"

"One," quickly rejoined the Commodore, to whom the last

query was addressed; "whom I had selected for that duty

for the very vigilance and desire for service attributed

to him by my predecessor--of course I have not been long

enough here, to have much personal knowledge of him

myself."

"His name?" asked the General.

"Lieutenant Grantham."

"Grantham?" repeated the General, with a movement of

surprise; "It is indeed strange that HE should forego

such an opportunity."

"Still more strange," remarked the Commodore, "that the

boat he commands should have disappeared altogether. Can

there be any question of his fidelity? the Granthams are

Canadians, I understand."

The General smiled, while the young officer who had been

noticed so particularly by Tecumseh on his landing,

colored deeply.

"If," said the former, "the mere circumstance of their

having received existence amid these wilds can make them

Canadians, they certainly are Canadians; but if the blood

of a proud race can make them Britons, such they are. Be

they which they may however, I would stake my life on

the fidelity of the Granthams--still, the cause of this

young officer's absence must be inquired into, and no

doubt it will be satisfactorily explained. Meanwhile,

let a second gunboat be detached in pursuit."

The Commodore having given the necessary instructions to

a young midshipman, who attended him in the capacity of

an aid-de-camp, and the general having dismissed Lieutenant

Raymond back to his post on the island, these officers

detached themselves from the, crowd, and, while awaiting

the execution of the order, engaged in earnest conversation.

"By Jove, the Commodore is quite right in his observation,"

remarked the young and affected looking officer, who had

been to profuse in his witticisms on the corpulency of

Lieutenant Raymond; "the General may say what he will in

their favour, but this is the result of entrusting so

important a command to a Canadian."

"What do you mean, sir?" hastily demanded one even younger

than himself--it was the youth already named, whose

uniform attested him to be a brother officer of the

speaker. He had been absent for a few minutes, and only

now rejoined his companions, in time to hear the remark

which had just been uttered.

"What do you mean, Captain Molineux?" he continued, his

dark eye flashing indignation, and his downy cheek

crimsoning with warmth. "Why this remark before me, sir,

and wherefore this reflection on the Canadians?"

"Why really, Mr. Grantham," somewhat sententiously drawled

the captain; "I do not altogether understand your right

to question in this tone--nor am I accountable for any

observations I may make. Let me tell you, moreover--"

this was said with the advising air of a superior in

rank--"that it will neither be wise not prudent in you,

having been received into a British regiment, to become

the Don Quixotte of your countrymen."

"RECEIVED into a British regiment, sir! do you then

imagine that I, more than yourself, should feel this to

be a distinction," haughtily returned the indignant youth.

"But, gentlemen, your pardon," checking himself and

glancing at the rest of the group, who were silent

witnesses of the scene; "I confess I do feel the distinction

of being admitted into so gallant a corps--this in a way,

however, that must be common to us all. Again I ask,

Captain Molineux," turning to that officer, "the tendency

of the observation you have publicly made in regard to

my brother."

"Your question, Mr. Grantham, might, with as much propriety,

be addressed to any other person in the full enjoyment

of his senses, whom you see here, since it is the general

topic of conversation; but, as you seem to require an

answer from me particularly, you shall have it. My remark

referred to the absence of the officer in charge of the

gun boat, from the station allotted to him, at a moment

when an ARMED vessel of the enemy is in sight. Is this

the fact, or is it not?"

"By which remark," returned the other, "you would imply

that officer is either guilty of gross neglect or--"

"I draw no inferences, Mr. Grantham, but, even if I did,

I should be more borne out by circumstances than you

imagine."

"It is plain you would insinuate that my brother shuns

the enemy, Captain Molineux--You shall answer to me for

this insult, sir."

"As you please, Mr. Grantham, but on one condition only."

"Name it, sir, name it," said the younger officer quickly.

"That it is satisfactorily proved your brother has NOT

shunned the enemy."

Bitter feelings swelled the heart of the enthusiastic

Grantham, as, unconsciously touching the hilt of his

sword, he replied: "If your hope of avoidance rest on

this, sir, it will be found to hang upon a very thread

indeed."

The attention of the group where this unpleasant scene

had occurred, and indeed of all parties, was now diverted

by the sudden appearance of the American boat, as, shooting

past the head of the Island, which had hitherto concealed

her from the view of the assembled crowds, her spars and

white sails became visible in the far distance. A slight

and favorable breeze, blowing off the shore which she

still closely hugged, had now apparently sprung up, and,

spreading all her canvass, she was evidently making every

effort to get beyond the reach of the battery, (whither

Lieutenant Raymond had returned) under whose range she

was unavoidably impelled by the very wind that favored

her advance. Owing to some temporary difficulty, the gun

boat, just ordered by the Commodore to follow in pursuit,

was longer than suited the emergency in getting under

way, and when she had succeeded in so doing, nearly half

an hour elapsed, before, owing to the utter absence of

wind (which was partial and wholly confined to the opposite

shore) as well as the rapidity of the current, she could

be brought by the aid of her long and cumbrous sweeps to

clear the head of the Island. The American, now discovered

to be full of troops, had by this time succeeded in

getting out of the range of a fire, which although well

directed had proved harmless, and, using every exertion

of oar and sail, bade fair, favored as she was by the

breeze which reached not the canvass of her enemy, to

effect her escape.

Concern sat on every brow, and was variously expressed--

loud yells marking the fierce disappointment of the

Indians, and undisguised murmurs that of the more

disciplined troops. Coupled with this feeling, among

the officers at least, naturally arose the recollection

of him to whose apparent neglect this escape of the enemy

was to be attributed, until at length the conduct of

Lieutenant Grantham was canvassed generally, and with a

freedom little inferior to that which, falling from the

lips of Captain Molineux, had so pained his sensitive

brother; with this difference, however, that, in this

instance they were the candidly expressed opinions of

men arraigning the conduct of one of their fellows

apparently guilty of a gross dereliction from duty, and

not, as in the former they had seemed to be, with any

ungenerous allusion to his fidelity.

Warmly, and therefore audibly, commented on as was the

unaccountable absence of the officer, by individuals of

almost every rank, it was impossible that many of those

observations could escape the attention of the excited

Henry Grantham. Mortified beyond measure at the fact,

yet unable, as be had done before, to stand forth the

champion of his brother's honor, where all (with a very

few exceptions, among whom he had the consolation to find

the General) were united in opinion against him, his

situation was most painful. Not that he entertained the

remotest doubt of his brother bearing himself harmlessly

through the ordeal, but that his generous, yet haughty

spirit, could ill endure the thought of any human being

daring to cherish, much less to cast the slightest

aspersion on his blood.

Finding it vain to oppose himself to the torrent of openly

expressed opinion, the mortified youth withdrew to a

distance, and, hastening among the rude tumuli we have

described, as being scattered about the edge of the bank,

stood watching, with folded arms and heaving chest, the

gradually receding bark of the enemy. Alternately, as he

thus gazed, his dark eye now flashed with the indignation

of wounded pride, now dilated with the exulting

consciousness of cooling triumph. The assurance was strong

within him, not only that his brother would soon make

his appearance before the assembled groups who had had

the cruelty to impugn his conduct, but that he would do

so under circumstances calculated to change their warm

censure into even more vehement applause. Fully impressed

with the integrity of his absent relative, the impetuous

and generous hearted youth paused not to reflect that

circumstances were such as to justify the belief--or at

least, the doubt--that had been expressed, even by the

most impartial of those who had condemned him. It seemed

to him that others ought to have known and judged him as

he himself did, and he took a secret delight in dwelling

on the self-reproach which (measuring the feelings of

others by the standard of his own,) he conceived would

attach to them, when it should be found how erroneous

had been the estimate formed of his character.

While he thus gazed, with eyes intently bent upon the

river, and manifesting even a deeper interest as the

fleeing bark drew momentarily nearer to one particular

point in the distance, the young officer heard footsteps

approaching him. Hastily dashing away a tear which had

been called up by a variety of emotions, he tamed and

beheld the Chieftain Tecumseh, and with him one, who, in

the full uniform of the British Staff, united, in his

tall and portly figure, the martial bearing of the soldier

to the more polished graces of the habitual courtier.

"Henry, my noble boy," exclaimed the latter, as he pressed

the hand of the youth, "you must not yield to these

feelings. I have marked your impatience at the observations

caused by Gerald's strange absence, but I have brought

you one who is too partial to you both, to join in the

condemnation. I have explained every thing to him, and

he it was who, remarking you to be alone and suspecting

the cause, first proposed coming to rouse you from your

reverie."

Affectionately answering the grasp of his noble looking

uncle, (such was the consanguinity of the parties,) Henry

Grantham turned at the same time his eloquent eye upon

that of the chieftain, and, in a few brief but expressive

sentences, conveyed, in the language of the Warrior,

(with which the brothers were partially conversant), the

gratification he experienced in his unchanged confidence

in the absent officer.

As he concluded, with a warmth of manner that delighted

him to whom he addressed himself, their hands met for

the third time that day. Tecumseh at length replied, by

pointing significantly to the canoes which still lay

floating on the river, unemptied of their warriors,

staling at the same time, that had not his confidence in

his young friend been unbounded, he would long since have

dispatched those canoes in pursuit; but he was unwilling

the officer should lose any of the credit that must attach

to the capture. "I know," he concluded, "where he is

lying like the red skin in ambush for his enemy. Be

patient, and we shall soon see him."

Before Henry Grantham could find time to inquire if the

place of ambush was not the same to which his own hopes,

induced by his perfect knowledge of localities, had,

throughout, pointed as the spot most likely to conceal

the hitherto invisible gun boat, his attention, and that

of his immediate companion, was drawn to a scene that

carried a glow of exaltation to the bosoms of them all.

The American boat, long since out of range of the battery,

and scudding with a speed that mocked the useless exertion

of those on board of the second gun boat, who could with

difficulty impel her through the powerful eddy, formed

by the Island, had been gradually edging from her own

shore into the centre of the stream. This movement,

however, had the effect of rendering her more

distinguishable to the eye, breasting, as she did, the

rapid stream, than while hugging the land, even when much

nearer, she had been confounded with the dark outline of

brushwood which connected the forest with the shore. She

had now arrived opposite a neck of land beyond which ran

a narrow, deep creek, the existence of which was known

only to few, and here it chanced that in the exultation

of escape, (for they were not slow to perceive the

difficulties opposed to the progress of their pursuer,)

they gave a cheer that was echoed back from either shore,

hoisting at the same moment the American colours. Scarcely,

however, had this cheer been uttered, when a second and

more animating, was heard from a different point, and

presently, dashing into the river, and apparently issuing

from the very heart of the wood, was to be seen the gun

boat which had been the subject of so much conversation,

every stitch of her white canvass bellying from the masts,

and her dark prow buried in a wreath of foam created by

her own speed. As she neared the American, a column of

smoke, followed a second or two later, by a dull report,

rose from her bows, enveloping her a moment from the

view, and when next visible she was rapidly gaining on

the chase. The yells of the Indians, and the hurrahs of

the soldiers gave an indescribable animation to the scene.

This was, indeed, a moment of proud triumph to the heart

of Henry Grantham. He saw his brother not only freed from

every ungenerous imputation, but placed in a situation

to win to himself the first laurels that were to be

plucked in the approaching strife. The "Canadian" as he

imagined he had been superciliously termed, would be the

first to reap for Britain's sons the fruits of a war in

which those latter were not only the most prominent

actors, but also the most interested. Already in the

enthusiasm of his imagination, he pictured to himself

the honor and promotion, which bestowed upon his gallant

brother, would be reflected upon himself, and, in the

deep excitement of his feelings he could not avoid saying

aloud, heedless of the presence of his uncle:

"Now, Captain Molineux, your own difficulty is removed--my

brother has revenged himself. With me you will have an

account to settle on my own score."

"What do you mean, Henry?" seriously inquired Colonel

D'Egville; "surely you have not been imprudent enough to

engage in a quarrel with one of your brother officers."

Henry briefly recounted the conversation which had taken

place between Captain Molineux and himself.

"Far be it from my intention to check the nice sense of

honor which should be inherent in the breast of every

soldier," returned his uncle impressively, "but you are

too sensitive, Henry; Captain Molineux, who is, moreover,

a very young man, may not have expressed himself in the

most guarded manner, but he only repeated what I have

been compelled to hear myself--and from persons not only

older, but much higher in rank. Take my advice, therefore,

and let the matter rest where it is; Gerald, you see, has

given the most practical denial to any observations which

have been uttered of a nature derogatory to his honor."

"True," quickly returned the youth, with a flushing cheek,

"Gerald is sufficiently avenged, but you forget the taunt

he uttered against Canadians."

"And if he did utter such taunt, why acknowledge it as

such," calmly rejoined Colonel D'Egville, "are you ashamed

of the name? I too am a Canadian, but so far from

endeavoring to repudiate my country, I feel pride in

having received my being in a land where every thing

attests the sublimity and magnificence of nature. Look

around you, my nephew, and ask yourself what there in

the wild grandeur of these scenes to disown? But ha!" as

he cast his eyes upon the water; "I fear Gerald will lose

his prize after all--that cunning Yankee is giving him

the Indian double."

During the foregoing short conversation, an important

change had been effected in the position of the adverse

boats. The shot fired, apparently with the view of

bringing the enemy to, had produced no favorable result;

but no sooner had the gun boat come abreast with the

chase, than the latter, suddenly clewing up her sails,

put her helm about, and plying every oar with an exertion

proportioned to the emergency, made rapidly for the coast

she had recently left. The intention of the crew was,

evidently to abandon the unarmed boat, and to seek safety

in the woods. Urged by the rapidity of her own course,

the gun boat had shot considerably ahead, and when at

length she also was put about, the breeze blew so

immediately in her teeth that it was found impossible to

regain the advantage which had been lost. Meanwhile, the

American continued her flight, making directly for the

land, with a rapidity that promised fair to baffle every

exertion on the part of her pursuer. The moment was one

of intense interest to the crowd of spectators who lined

the bank. At each instant it was expected the fire of

the gun boat would open upon the fugitives; but although

this was obviously the course to be adopted, it being

apparent a single shot was sufficient to sink her, not

a flash was visible--not a report was heard. Presently,

however, while the disappointment of the spectators from

the bank was rising into murmurs, a skiff filled with

men was seen to pull from the gun boat in the direction

taken by the chase, which was speedily hidden from view

by the point of land from which the latter had previously

been observed to issue. Behind this, her pursuer, also

disappeared, and after the lapse of a few minutes pistol

and musket shots were distinguished, although they came

but faintly on the ear. These gradually became more

frequent and less distinct, until suddenly there was a

profound pause--then three cheers were faintly heard--and

all again was still.