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16 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Classic Adventure Books Collection

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Chapter sixteen, quote E. D g. Before you fight the battle Ope
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this letter unquote from lear Major Heyward, found Monroe, attended only by his
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daughters. Alice sat upon his knee, parting the gray hairs of the forehead
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of the old man with her delicate fingers, and whenever he effected to frown
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on her trifling, appeasing his assumed anger by pressing her ruby lips fondly on
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his wrinkled brow. Cora was seated nigh them, a calm and amused looker
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on, regarding the wayward movements of her more youthful sister, with that species
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of maternal fondness which characterized her love for Alice. Not only the dangers through
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which they had passed, but those which still impended above them, appeared to
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be momentarily forgotten in the soothing indulgence of such a family meeting. It seemed
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as if they had profited by the short truce to devote an instant to the
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purest and best affection, the daughters forgetting their fears, and the veteran his
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cares. In the security of the moment of this scene, Duncan, who
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in his eagerness to report his arrival, had entered unannounced, stood many moments
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an unobserved and a delighted spectator, But the quick and dancing eyes of Alice
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soon caught a glimpse of his figure reflected from a glass, and she sprang,
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blushing from her father's knee, exclaiming aloud, Major Hayward, what of
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the lad demanded her father, I have sent him to crack a little with
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the frenchman. Ah, Sir, you are young, and you are nimble
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away with ye ye bag age, as if there were not troubles enough for
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a soldier without having his camp filled with such prattling hussies as yourself. Alice
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laughingly followed her sister, who instantly led the way from an apartment where she
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perceived their presence was no longer desirable. Monroe, instead of demanding the result
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of the young man's mission, paced the room for a few moments with his
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hands behind his back and his head inclined toward the floor, like a man
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lost in thought. At length, he raised his eyes, glistening with a
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father's fondness, and exclaimed, they are a pair of excellent girls, Heyward,
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and such as any one may boast of, you are not now to
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learn my opinion of your daughter's colonel Monrou True, lad True, interrupted the
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impatient old man. You were about opening your mind more fully on that matter
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the day you got in. But I did not think it becoming in an
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old soldier to be talking of nuptial blessings and wedding jokes when the enemies of
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his king were likely to be unbidden guessed at the feast. But I was
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wrong, Duncan boy, I was wrong there, and I am now ready
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to hear what you have to say, notwithstanding the pleasure your assurance gives me.
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Dear Sir, I have just now a message from one calm. Let
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the Frenchman and all his hosts go to the devil, Sir, exclaimed the
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hasty veteran. He has not yet master of William Henry, nor shall he
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ever be, provided Webb proves himself the man he should no, sir,
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Thank Heaven, we are not yet in such a strait that it can be
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said Monroe is too much pressed to discharge the little domestic duties of his own
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family. Your mother was the only child of my bosom friend, Duncan,
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and I'll just give you a hearing. Though all the knights of Saint Louis,
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were he in a body at the sally Port with the French ain't at
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their head crying to speak a word under favor. A pretty degree of knighthood,
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sir, is that which can be brought with sugar hogsheads. And then
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your two penny mark, you sates the thistle is the order for dignity and
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antiguity, the veritable neimo me impune la sit of chivalry. He had ancestors
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in that degree, Duncan, and they were an ornament to the nobles of
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Scotland. Heyward, who perceived that his superior took a malicious pleasure in exhibiting
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his contempt for the message of the French general, was fain to humor,
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a spleen that he knew would be short lived. He therefore replied with as
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much indifference as he could assume on such a subject. My request, as
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you know, Sir, went so far as to presume the honor of being
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your son. Ah, you found words to make yourself very plainly comprehended.
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But let me ask ye, sir, have you been as intelligible to the
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girl? Oh? My honor, no, exclaimed Duncan warmly. There would
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have been an abuse of a confided trust. Had I taken advantage of my
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situation for such a purpose. Your notions are those of a gentleman, Major
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Heyward, and well enough in their place. But Cora Monroe is a maiden
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too discreet and of a mind too elevated and improved to need the guardianship even
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of a father. Cora, I, Cora, we are talking of your
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pretensions to miss Monroe, are we not, sir? I I was not
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conscious of having mentioned her name, said Duncan, stammering, And to marry
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whom? Then did you wish? My concer, Major Heyward, demanded the
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old soldier, erecting himself in the dignity of offended feeling. You have another
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and not less lovely child, Alice, exclaimed the father, in an astonishment
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equal to that with which Duncan had just repeated the name of her sister.
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Such was the direction of my wishes, sir. The young man waited in
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silence, the result of the extraordinary effect produced by communication, which, as
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it now appeared, was so unexpected. For several minutes Monroe paced the chamber
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with long and rapid strides, his rigid features working convulsively, and every faculty
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seemingly absorbed in the musings of his own mind. At length, he paused
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directly in front of Heyward, and riveting his eyes upon those of the other,
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he said, with a lip that quivered violently, Duncan Hayward, I
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have loved you for the sake of him whose blood is in your veins.
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I have loved you for your own good qualities. And I have loved you
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because I thought you would contribute to the happiness of my child. But all
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this love would turn to hatred where I assured that what I so much apprehend
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is true. God forbid that any act or thought of mine should lead to
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such a change, exclaimed the young man, whose eye never quailed under the
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penetrating look it encountered. Without adverting to the impossibility of the others comprehending those
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feelings which were hid in his own Bosom Monroe suffered himself to be appeased by
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the unaltered countenance he meant, and with a voice sensibly softened, he continued,
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he would be my son, Duncan, and you're ignorant of the history
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the man you wish to call your father. Sit ye down, young man,
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and I will open to you the wounds of a sacred heart in as
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few words as may be suitable. By this time the message of Montcalm was
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as much forgotten by him who bored as by the man for whose ears it
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was intended. Each drew a chair, and while the veteran communed a few
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moments with his own thoughts, apparently in sadness, the youth suppressed his impatience
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in a look and attitude of respectful attention. At length, the former spoke,
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you know already, Major Heyward, that my family was both ancient and
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honorable, commenced the Scotsman, though it might not altogether be endowed with that
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amount of wealth that should correspond with its degree. I was maybe such an
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one as yourself when I plighted my faith to Alice Graham, the only child
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of a neighboring laird of some estate. But the connection was disagreeable to her
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father on more accounts than my poverty. I did, therefore what an honest
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man should, restored the maiden her troth, and departed the country in the
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service of my king. I had seen many regions, and had shed much
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blood in different lands before duty called me to the islands of the West Indies.
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There it was my lot to form a connection with one who in time
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became my wife and the mother of Cora. She was the daughter of a
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gentleman of those isles, by a lady whose misfortunate was, if you will,
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said the old man, proudly to be descended remotely from that unfortunate class,
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who are so basely enslaved to administer to the wants of a luxurious people.
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Ay, sir, that is a curse entailed on Scotland by her unnatural
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union with a foreign and trading people. But could I find a man among
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them who would dare to reflect on my child? He should feel the weight
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of a father's anger. Ha, Major Heyward, you are yourself born at
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the South, where these unfortunate beings are considered of a race inferior to your
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own. Tis most unfortunately true, sir, said duncan unable any longer to
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prevent his eyes from sinking to the floor in embarrassment. And you cast it
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on my child as a reproach. You scorned to mingle the blood of the
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Heywards with one so degraded. Lovely and virtuous, though she be fiercely demanded
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the jealous parent Heaven protect me from a prejudice so unworthy of my reason,
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returned Duncan, at the same time, conscious of such a feeling, and
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that as deeply rooted as if it had been engrafted in his nature. The
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sweetness, the beauty, the witchery of your younger daughter, Colonel Monroe might
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explain my motives without imputing to me this injustice. Ye are right, sir,
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returned the old man again, changing his tones to those of gentleness,
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or rather softness. That girl is the image of what her mother was at
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her years, and before she had become acquainted with grief. When death deprived
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me of my wife, I returned to Scotland enriched by the marriage. And
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would you think it, Duncan, the suffering angel had remained in the heartless
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state of celebracy twenty long years, and that for the sake of a man
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who could forget her, she did more, sir. She overlooked my want
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of faith, and all difficulties being now removed, she took me for her
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husband and became the mother of Alice, exclaimed Duncan, with an eagerness that
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might have proved dangerous at a moment when the thoughts of Monroe were less occupied
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than at present she did, indeed, said the old man, And dearly
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did she pay for the blessing she bestowed. But she is a saint in
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heaven, Sir, and it ill becomes one whose foot rest on the grave
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to mourn a lot so blessed. I had her been a single year,
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though a short term of happiness for one who had seen her youth fade in
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hopeless pining. There was something so commanding in the distress of the old man
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that Heyward did not dare to venture a syllable of consolation. Monroe sat utterly,
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unconscious of the other's presence, his features exposed and working with the anguish
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of his regrets, while heavy tears fell from his eyes and rolled unheeded from
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his cheeks to the floor. At length he moved, and as if suddenly
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recovering his recollection, when he arose, and taking a single turn across the
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room, he approached his companion with an air of military grandeur, and demanded,
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have ye not, Majored Hayward, some communication that I should hear from
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the Marquis de del Marcme Duncan started in his turn, and immediately commenced in
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an embarrassed voice. The half forgotten message. It is unnecessary to dwell upon
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the evasive, though polite manner with which the French general had eluded every attempt
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of Heyward to warm from him the purport of the communication he had proposed making,
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or on the decided, though still polished message by which he now gave
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his enemy to understand that unless he chose to receive it in person, he
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should not receive it at all. As Munroe listened to the detail of Duncan,
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the excited feelings of the father gradually gave way before the obligations of his
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station, And when the other was done, he saw before him nothing but
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the veteran swelling with the wounded feelings of a soldier. Ye have said enough,
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Major Heyward, exclaimed the angry old man, enough to make a volume
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of commentary on French civility. Here has this gentleman invited me to a conference,
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and when I sent him a capable substitute, figure out of that Duncan
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their yet years beef few, He answers me with a riddle. Ye may
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have thought less favorably of the substitute, my dear sir, And you will
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remember that the invitation which he now repeats was to the commandant of the works,
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and not to his second, who, well, Sir, is not
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a substitute clothed with all the powder and dignity of him who grants the commission
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he wishes to confer with Monroe faith, Sir, I have much inclination to
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indulge the man, if it should only be to let him behold the firm
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countenance we maintain in spite of his numbers and his summons, there might not
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be bad policy in such a stroke. Young Man Duncan, who believed it
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of the last importance that they should speedily come to the contents of the letter
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borne by the scout, gladly encouraged this idea. Without a doubt. He
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could gather no confidence by witnessing our indifference. He said, you never said
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a truer word. I could wish, Sir, that he would visit the
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works in open day and in the forum of a storming party. That is
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the least failing method of proving the countenance of an enemy, and would be
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far preferable to the battering system he has chosen. But the beauty and manliness
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of warfare has been much deformed Major Heyward by the arts of Monsieur Vauban,
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our ancestors were far above such scientific cowardice. It may be very true,
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sir, but we are now obliged to repel art by art. What is
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your pleasure in the matter of the interview? I will meet the Frenchman,
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and that without fear or delay. Promptly, sir, as becomes a servant
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of my royal master, go Major Heyward and give them a flourish of the
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music, and send out a messenger to let them know who is coming.
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We will follow with a small guard, for such respect is due to one
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who holds the honor of his king in keeping. And harkye duncan he added
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in a half whisper, Though they were alone, it may be prudent to
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have some aid at hand in case there should be treachery at the bottom of
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it all. The young man availed himself of this order to quit the apartment,
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and as the day was fast coming to a close, he hastened without
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delay to make the necessary arrangements at very few minutes, only where necessary,
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to pray a few files, and to despatch an orderly with a flag to
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announce the approach of the commandant of the fort. When Duncan had done both
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these. He led the guard to the sally port, near which he found
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his superior ready waiting his appearance. As soon as the usual ceremonials of a
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military departure were observed, the veteran and his more youthful companion left the fortress,
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attended by the escort. They had proceeded only a few hundred yards from
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the works when the little array which attended the French general to the conference was
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seen issuing from a hollow way which formed the bed of a brook that ran
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between the batteries of the besiegers and the fort From the moment that Monroe left
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his own works to appear in front of his enemies, his heir had been
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grand, and his step and countenance highly military. The instant he caught a
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glimpse of the white plume that waved in the hat of Montcalm. His eye
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lighted an age no longer appeared to possess any influence over his vast and steel
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muscular person. Speak to the boys. To be watchfun, sir, he
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said, in an eye undertoned to Duncan, and to look well to their
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fins and steel, for one is never safe with a servant of these louise.
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At the same time, we shall show them the front of men in
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deep security. Ye'll understand me, Major Heyward. He was interrupted by the
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clamor of a drum from the approaching Frenchman, which was immediately answered when each
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party pushed and orderly in advance, bearing a white flag, and the warry
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Scotsman halted with his guard close at his back. As soon as this slight
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salutation had passed, Montcalm moved toward them with a quick but graceful step,
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bearing his head to the veteran and dropping his spotless plume neatly to the earth
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in courtesy. If the air of Monroe was more commanding and manly, it
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wanted both the ease and insinuating polish of that of the Frenchman. Neither spoke
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for a few moments, each regarding the other with curious and interested eyes.
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Then, as became his superior rank and the nature of the interview, Montcalm
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broke the silence. After uttering the usual words of greeting, he turned to
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Duncan and continued with a smile of recognition, speaking always in French, I
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am rejoiced, monsieur, that you have given us the pleasure of your company
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on this occasion, there will be no necessity to employ an ordinary interpreter,
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for in your hands I feel the same security as if I spoke your language
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myself. Duncan acknowledged the compliment, when Montcalm, turning to his guard,
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which in imitation of that of their enemies, pressed close upon him, continued
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and arie masafants if fal chald retiree vau old peu. Before Major Heyward could
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imitate this proof of confidevidence, he glanced his eyes around the plane and beheld
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with uneasiness the numerous dusky groups of savages who looked out from the margin of
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the surrounding woods, curious spectators of the interview. Monsieur deig Montcalm will readily
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acknowledge the difference in our situation, he said, with some embarrassment, pointing
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at the same time toward those danger's foes, who were to be seen in
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almost every direction. Were we to dismiss our guard, we should stand here
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at the mercy of our enemies. Monsieur, you have the plighted faith of
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un gentulum francaise for your safety, returned Montcalm, laying his hand impressively on
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his heart, it should suffice, it shall fall back, Duncan added to
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the officer who led the escort, fall back, Sir, beyond hearing and
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wait for orders. Monroe witnessed this movement with manifest uneasy, Nor did he
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fail to demand an instant explanation. Is it not our interests, sir,
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to betray distrust? Retorted Duncan. Monsieur de Montcalm pledges his word for our
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safety, and I have ordered the men to withdraw a little in order to
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prove how much we depend on his assurance. Yet may be all right,
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sir, but I have no overwhelming reliance on the faith of these marquesses or
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my keys. As they tell themselves, their patents of nobility are too common
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to be certain that they bear the seal of true honor. You forget,
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dear Sir, that we confer with an officer distinguished alike in Europe and America
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for his deeds from a soldier of his reputation, we can have nothing to
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apprehend. The old man made a gesture of resignation, though his rigid features
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still betrayed his obstinate adherence to a distrust which he derived from a sort of
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hereditary contempt of his enemy, rather than from any present signs which might warrant
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so uncharitable. A feeling Montcalm waited patiently until this little dialog in demi voice
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was ended. When he drew Nigher and opened the subject of their conference.
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I have solicited this interview from your superior Monsieur, he said, because I
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believe he will allow himself to be persuaded, that he has already done everything
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which is necessary for the honor of his prince, and will now listen to
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the admonitions of humanity. I will forever bear testimony that his resistance has been
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gallant and has continued as long as there was hope. When this opening was
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translated to Monroe, he answered with dignity, but with sufficient curtis. See,
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however I may prize such testimony from Monsieur Mancombe. It will be more
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valuable when it shall be better merited. The French general smiled as Duncan gave
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him the purport of his reply, and observed, what is so freely accorded
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to approved courage may be refused to useless obstinacy. Monsieur would wish to see
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my camp and witness for himself are numbers, and the impossibility of his resisting
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them with success. I know that the King of Frances well served, returned
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the unmoved Scotsman, as soon as Duncan ended his translation. That my own
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master has as many and as faithful troops, though not at hand fortunately for
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us, said Montcalm, without waiting in his ardor for the interpreter. There
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is destiny in war to which a brave man knows how to submit with the
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same courage that he faces his foes. Had I been conscious that Monsieur Montcalm
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was a master of the English, I should have spared myself the trouble of
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so awkward a translation, said the vexed Duncan, dryly, remembering instantly his
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recent by play with Monroe. Your pardon, monsieur, rejoined the Frenchman,
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suffering a slight color to appear in his dark cheek. There is a vast
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difference between understanding and speaking a foreign tongue. You will therefore please to assist
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me. Still, then, after a short pause, he added, these
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hills afford us every opportunity of reconnoitering your works, monsieurs, and I am
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possibly as well acquainted with their weak condition. As you can be yourselves.
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Ask the French general if he has glasses to reach the Hudson, said Monroe
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proudly, And if he knows when and where to expect the army of Webb,
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let General web Be his own interpreter, returned the politic Montcalm, suddenly
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extending an open letter toward Monroe. As he spoke, ye, will they
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learn, monsieur, that his movements are not likely to prove embarrassing to my
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army. The veteran seized the offered paper, without waiting for Duncan to translate
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the speech, and with an eagerness that betrayed how important he deemed its contents.
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As his eyes passed hastily over the words, his countenance changed from its
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look of military pride to one of deep chagrin. His lip began to quiver,
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and, suffering the paper to fall from his hand, his head dropped
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upon his chest, like that of a man whose hopes were withered in a
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single blow. Duncan caught the letter from the ground, and, without apology
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for the liberty he took, he read at a glance its cruel report their
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common superior, so far from encouraging them to resist advised a speedy surrender,
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urging in the plainest language as a reason the utter impossibility of his sending a
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single man to their rescue. Here is no deception, exclaimed Duncan, examining
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the billet both inside and out. This is the signature of Webb and must
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be the captured letter. The man has betrayed me, Monroe at length bitterly
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exclaimed. He has brought dishonor to the door of one where disgrace has never
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before known to dwell, And shame has he reaped heavily on my gray hairs.
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Say not so, cried Duncan. We are yet masters of the fort
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and of our honor. Let us then sell our lives at such a rate
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as shall make our enemies believe the purchase too. Dear boy, I thank
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thee, exclaimed the old man, rousing himself from his stupor. You have
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for once reminded Monroe of his duty. We will go back and dig our
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graves behind those ramparts, monsieurs, said montcalm, advancing toward them a step
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in generous interest. You little know, Louise de Saint Valin, if you
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believe him capable of profiting by this letter to humble brave men, or to
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build up a dishonest reputation for himself. Listen to my terms before you leave
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me. What said is the frenchman, demanded the veteran sternly, does he
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make a merit of having captured a scout with a note from headquarters? Sir,
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he had better raise his siege to go and sit before Edward if he
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wishes to frighten his enemy with words, Duncan explained the other, meaning Monseilles
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mantues, we will hear you. The veteran added, more calmly as Duncan
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ended. To retain the forte is now impossible, said his liberal enemy.
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It is necessary in the interest of my master that it should be destroyed.
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But as for yourself and your brave comrades, there is no privilege, dear
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a soldier that shall be denied. Are colors? Demanded, Heyward, Carry
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them to England and show them to your king our arms keep them. None
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can use them better our march. The surrender of the place shall be done
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in a way most honorable to yourselves. Duncan now turned to explain these proposals
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to his commander, who heard them with amazement and a sensibility that was deeply
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touched by soigny usual and unexpected generosity. Go you, Duncan, he said,
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go with this marquise, as indeed marquise he should be. Go to
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his marquis and arrange it all. I have lived to see two things in
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my old age that never did I expect to behold an Englishman afraid to support
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a friend, and a Frenchman too honest to profit by his advantage. So
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saying, the veteran again dropped his head to his chest and returned slowly toward
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the fort, exhibiting by the dejection of his heir to the anxious garrison a
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harbinger of evil tidings. From the shock of this unexpected blow, the haughty
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feelings of Monroe never recovered, but from that moment there commenced a change in
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his determined character which accompanied him to a speedy grave. Duncan remained to settle
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the terms of the capitulation. He was seen to re enter the works during
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the first watches of the night, and immediately after a private conference with the
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commonant to leave them again. It was then openly announced that hostilities must cease.
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Monroe, having signed a treaty by which the place was to be yielded
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to the enemy. With the morning the garrison to retain their arms, the
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colors, and their baggage, and consequently, according to military opinion, their
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honor. End of Chapter sixteen