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16 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Thrilling Adventures - Daily

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Speaker 1: Chapter sixteen, quote E. D g. Before you fight the
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Speaker 1: battle Ope this letter unquote from lear Major Heyward, found Monroe,
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Speaker 1: attended only by his daughters. Alice sat upon his knee,
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Speaker 1: parting the gray hairs of the forehead of the old
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Speaker 1: man with her delicate fingers, and whenever he effected to
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Speaker 1: frown on her trifling, appeasing his assumed anger by pressing
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Speaker 1: her ruby lips fondly on his wrinkled brow. Cora was
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Speaker 1: seated nigh them, a calm and amused looker on, regarding
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Speaker 1: the wayward movements of her more youthful sister, with that
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Speaker 1: species of maternal fondness which characterized her love for Alice.
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Speaker 1: Not only the dangers through which they had passed, but
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Speaker 1: those which still impended above them, appeared to be momentarily
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Speaker 1: forgotten in the soothing indulgence of such a family meeting.
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Speaker 1: It seemed as if they had profited by the short
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Speaker 1: truce to devote an instant to the purest and best affection,
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Speaker 1: the daughters forgetting their fears, and the veteran his cares.
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Speaker 1: In the security of the moment of this scene, Duncan,
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Speaker 1: who in his eagerness to report his arrival, had entered unannounced,
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Speaker 1: stood many moments an unobserved and a delighted spectator, But
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Speaker 1: the quick and dancing eyes of Alice soon caught a
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Speaker 1: glimpse of his figure reflected from a glass, and she sprang,
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Speaker 1: blushing from her father's knee, exclaiming aloud, Major Hayward, what
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Speaker 1: of the lad demanded her father, I have sent him
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Speaker 1: to crack a little with the frenchman. Ah, Sir, you
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Speaker 1: are young, and you are nimble away with ye ye
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Speaker 1: bag age, as if there were not troubles enough for
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Speaker 1: a soldier without having his camp filled with such prattling
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Speaker 1: hussies as yourself. Alice laughingly followed her sister, who instantly
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Speaker 1: led the way from an apartment where she perceived their
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Speaker 1: presence was no longer desirable. Monroe, instead of demanding the
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Speaker 1: result of the young man's mission, paced the room for
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Speaker 1: a few moments with his hands behind his back and
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Speaker 1: his head inclined toward the floor, like a man lost
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Speaker 1: in thought. At length, he raised his eyes, glistening with
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Speaker 1: a father's fondness, and exclaimed, they are a pair of
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Speaker 1: excellent girls, Heyward, and such as any one may boast of,
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Speaker 1: you are not now to learn my opinion of your
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Speaker 1: daughter's colonel Monrou True, lad True, interrupted the impatient old man.
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Speaker 1: You were about opening your mind more fully on that
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Speaker 1: matter the day you got in. But I did not
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Speaker 1: think it becoming in an old soldier to be talking
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Speaker 1: of nuptial blessings and wedding jokes when the enemies of
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Speaker 1: his king were likely to be unbidden guessed at the feast.
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Speaker 1: But I was wrong, Duncan boy, I was wrong there,
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Speaker 1: and I am now ready to hear what you have
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Speaker 1: to say, notwithstanding the pleasure your assurance gives me. Dear Sir,
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Speaker 1: I have just now a message from one calm. Let
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Speaker 1: the Frenchman and all his hosts go to the devil, Sir,
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Speaker 1: exclaimed the hasty veteran. He has not yet master of
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Speaker 1: William Henry, nor shall he ever be, provided Webb proves
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Speaker 1: himself the man he should no, sir, Thank Heaven, we
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Speaker 1: are not yet in such a strait that it can
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Speaker 1: be said Monroe is too much pressed to discharge the
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Speaker 1: little domestic duties of his own family. Your mother was
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Speaker 1: the only child of my bosom friend, Duncan, and I'll
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Speaker 1: just give you a hearing. Though all the knights of
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Speaker 1: Saint Louis, were he in a body at the sally
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Speaker 1: Port with the French ain't at their head crying to
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Speaker 1: speak a word under favor. A pretty degree of knighthood, sir,
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Speaker 1: is that which can be brought with sugar hogsheads. And
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Speaker 1: then your two penny mark, you sates the thistle is
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Speaker 1: the order for dignity and antiguity, the veritable neimo me
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Speaker 1: impune la sit of chivalry. He had ancestors in that degree, Duncan,
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Speaker 1: and they were an ornament to the nobles of Scotland. Heyward,
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Speaker 1: who perceived that his superior took a malicious pleasure in
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Speaker 1: exhibiting his contempt for the message of the French general,
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Speaker 1: was fain to humor, a spleen that he knew would
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Speaker 1: be short lived. He therefore replied with as much indifference
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Speaker 1: as he could assume on such a subject. My request,
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Speaker 1: as you know, Sir, went so far as to presume
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Speaker 1: the honor of being your son. Ah, you found words
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Speaker 1: to make yourself very plainly comprehended. But let me ask ye, sir,
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Speaker 1: have you been as intelligible to the girl? Oh? My honor, no,
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Speaker 1: exclaimed Duncan warmly. There would have been an abuse of
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Speaker 1: a confided trust. Had I taken advantage of my situation
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Speaker 1: for such a purpose. Your notions are those of a gentleman,
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Speaker 1: Major Heyward, and well enough in their place. But Cora
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Speaker 1: Monroe is a maiden too discreet and of a mind
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Speaker 1: too elevated and improved to need the guardianship even of
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Speaker 1: a father. Cora, I, Cora, we are talking of your
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Speaker 1: pretensions to miss Monroe, are we not, sir? I I
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Speaker 1: was not conscious of having mentioned her name, said Duncan, stammering,
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Speaker 1: And to marry whom? Then did you wish? My concer,
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Speaker 1: Major Heyward, demanded the old soldier, erecting himself in the
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Speaker 1: dignity of offended feeling. You have another and not less
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Speaker 1: lovely child, Alice, exclaimed the father, in an astonishment equal
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Speaker 1: to that with which Duncan had just repeated the name
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Speaker 1: of her sister. Such was the direction of my wishes, sir.
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Speaker 1: The young man waited in silence, the result of the
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Speaker 1: extraordinary effect produced by communication, which, as it now appeared,
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Speaker 1: was so unexpected. For several minutes Monroe paced the chamber
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Speaker 1: with long and rapid strides, his rigid features working convulsively,
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Speaker 1: and every faculty seemingly absorbed in the musings of his
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Speaker 1: own mind. At length, he paused directly in front of Heyward,
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Speaker 1: and riveting his eyes upon those of the other, he said,
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Speaker 1: with a lip that quivered violently, Duncan Hayward, I have
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Speaker 1: loved you for the sake of him whose blood is
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Speaker 1: in your veins. I have loved you for your own
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Speaker 1: good qualities. And I have loved you because I thought
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Speaker 1: you would contribute to the happiness of my child. But
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Speaker 1: all this love would turn to hatred where I assured
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Speaker 1: that what I so much apprehend is true. God forbid
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Speaker 1: that any act or thought of mine should lead to
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Speaker 1: such a change, exclaimed the young man, whose eye never
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Speaker 1: quailed under the penetrating look it encountered. Without adverting to
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Speaker 1: the impossibility of the others comprehending those feelings which were
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Speaker 1: hid in his own Bosom Monroe suffered himself to be
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Speaker 1: appeased by the unaltered countenance he meant, and with a
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Speaker 1: voice sensibly softened, he continued, he would be my son, Duncan,
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Speaker 1: and you're ignorant of the history the man you wish
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Speaker 1: to call your father. Sit ye down, young man, and
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Speaker 1: I will open to you the wounds of a sacred
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Speaker 1: heart in as few words as may be suitable. By
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Speaker 1: this time the message of Montcalm was as much forgotten
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Speaker 1: by him who bored as by the man for whose
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Speaker 1: ears it was intended. Each drew a chair, and while
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Speaker 1: the veteran communed a few moments with his own thoughts,
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Speaker 1: apparently in sadness, the youth suppressed his impatience in a
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Speaker 1: look and attitude of respectful attention. At length, the former spoke,
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Speaker 1: you know already, Major Heyward, that my family was both
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Speaker 1: ancient and honorable, commenced the Scotsman, though it might not
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Speaker 1: altogether be endowed with that amount of wealth that should
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Speaker 1: correspond with its degree. I was maybe such an one
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Speaker 1: as yourself when I plighted my faith to Alice Graham,
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Speaker 1: the only child of a neighboring laird of some estate.
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Speaker 1: But the connection was disagreeable to her father on more
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Speaker 1: accounts than my poverty. I did, therefore what an honest
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Speaker 1: man should, restored the maiden her troth, and departed the
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Speaker 1: country in the service of my king. I had seen
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Speaker 1: many regions, and had shed much blood in different lands
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Speaker 1: before duty called me to the islands of the West Indies.
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Speaker 1: There it was my lot to form a connection with
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Speaker 1: one who in time became my wife and the mother
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Speaker 1: of Cora. She was the daughter of a gentleman of
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Speaker 1: those isles, by a lady whose misfortunate was, if you will,
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Speaker 1: said the old man, proudly to be descended remotely from
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Speaker 1: that unfortunate class, who are so basely enslaved to administer
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Speaker 1: to the wants of a luxurious people. Ay, sir, that
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Speaker 1: is a curse entailed on Scotland by her unnatural union
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Speaker 1: with a foreign and trading people. But could I find
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Speaker 1: a man among them who would dare to reflect on
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Speaker 1: my child? He should feel the weight of a father's anger. Ha,
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Speaker 1: Major Heyward, you are yourself born at the South, where
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Speaker 1: these unfortunate beings are considered of a race inferior to
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Speaker 1: your own. Tis most unfortunately true, sir, said duncan unable
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Speaker 1: any longer to prevent his eyes from sinking to the
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Speaker 1: floor in embarrassment. And you cast it on my child
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Speaker 1: as a reproach. You scorned to mingle the blood of
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Speaker 1: the Heywards with one so degraded. Lovely and virtuous, though
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Speaker 1: she be fiercely demanded the jealous parent Heaven protect me
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Speaker 1: from a prejudice so unworthy of my reason, returned Duncan,
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Speaker 1: at the same time, conscious of such a feeling, and
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Speaker 1: that as deeply rooted as if it had been engrafted
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Speaker 1: in his nature. The sweetness, the beauty, the witchery of
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Speaker 1: your younger daughter, Colonel Monroe might explain my motives without
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Speaker 1: imputing to me this injustice. Ye are right, sir, returned
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Speaker 1: the old man again, changing his tones to those of gentleness,
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Speaker 1: or rather softness. That girl is the image of what
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Speaker 1: her mother was at her years, and before she had
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Speaker 1: become acquainted with grief. When death deprived me of my wife,
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Speaker 1: I returned to Scotland enriched by the marriage. And would
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Speaker 1: you think it, Duncan, the suffering angel had remained in
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Speaker 1: the heartless state of celebracy twenty long years, and that
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Speaker 1: for the sake of a man who could forget her,
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Speaker 1: she did more, sir. She overlooked my want of faith,
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Speaker 1: and all difficulties being now removed, she took me for
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Speaker 1: her husband and became the mother of Alice, exclaimed Duncan,
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Speaker 1: with an eagerness that might have proved dangerous at a
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Speaker 1: moment when the thoughts of Monroe were less occupied than
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Speaker 1: at present she did, indeed, said the old man, And
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Speaker 1: dearly did she pay for the blessing she bestowed. But
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Speaker 1: she is a saint in heaven, Sir, and it ill
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Speaker 1: becomes one whose foot rest on the grave to mourn
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Speaker 1: a lot so blessed. I had her been a single year,
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Speaker 1: though a short term of happiness for one who had
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Speaker 1: seen her youth fade in hopeless pining. There was something
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Speaker 1: so commanding in the distress of the old man that
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Speaker 1: Heyward did not dare to venture a syllable of consolation.
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Speaker 1: Monroe sat utterly, unconscious of the other's presence, his features
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Speaker 1: exposed and working with the anguish of his regrets, while
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Speaker 1: heavy tears fell from his eyes and rolled unheeded from
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Speaker 1: his cheeks to the floor. At length he moved, and
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Speaker 1: as if suddenly recovering his recollection, when he arose, and
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Speaker 1: taking a single turn across the room, he approached his
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Speaker 1: companion with an air of military grandeur, and demanded, have
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Speaker 1: ye not, Majored Hayward, some communication that I should hear
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Speaker 1: from the Marquis de del Marcme Duncan started in his turn,
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Speaker 1: and immediately commenced in an embarrassed voice. The half forgotten message.
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Speaker 1: It is unnecessary to dwell upon the evasive, though polite
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Speaker 1: manner with which the French general had eluded every attempt
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Speaker 1: of Heyward to warm from him the purport of the
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Speaker 1: communication he had proposed making, or on the decided, though
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Speaker 1: still polished message by which he now gave his enemy
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Speaker 1: to understand that unless he chose to receive it in person,
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Speaker 1: he should not receive it at all. As Munroe listened
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Speaker 1: to the detail of Duncan, the excited feelings of the
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Speaker 1: father gradually gave way before the obligations of his station,
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Speaker 1: And when the other was done, he saw before him
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Speaker 1: nothing but the veteran swelling with the wounded feelings of
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Speaker 1: a soldier. Ye have said enough, Major Heyward, exclaimed the
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Speaker 1: angry old man, enough to make a volume of commentary
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Speaker 1: on French civility. Here has this gentleman invited me to
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Speaker 1: a conference, and when I sent him a capable substitute,
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Speaker 1: figure out of that Duncan their yet years beef few,
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Speaker 1: He answers me with a riddle. Ye may have thought
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Speaker 1: less favorably of the substitute, my dear sir, And you
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Speaker 1: will remember that the invitation which he now repeats was
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Speaker 1: to the commandant of the works, and not to his second, who, well, Sir,
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Speaker 1: is not a substitute clothed with all the powder and
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Speaker 1: dignity of him who grants the commission he wishes to
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Speaker 1: confer with Monroe faith, Sir, I have much inclination to
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Speaker 1: indulge the man, if it should only be to let
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Speaker 1: him behold the firm countenance we maintain in spite of
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Speaker 1: his numbers and his summons, there might not be bad
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Speaker 1: policy in such a stroke. Young Man Duncan, who believed
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Speaker 1: it of the last importance that they should speedily come
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Speaker 1: to the contents of the letter borne by the scout,
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Speaker 1: gladly encouraged this idea. Without a doubt. He could gather
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Speaker 1: no confidence by witnessing our indifference. He said, you never
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Speaker 1: said a truer word. I could wish, Sir, that he
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Speaker 1: would visit the works in open day and in the
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Speaker 1: forum of a storming party. That is the least failing
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Speaker 1: method of proving the countenance of an enemy, and would
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Speaker 1: be far preferable to the battering system he has chosen.
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Speaker 1: But the beauty and manliness of warfare has been much
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Speaker 1: deformed Major Heyward by the arts of Monsieur Vauban, our
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Speaker 1: ancestors were far above such scientific cowardice. It may be
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Speaker 1: very true, sir, but we are now obliged to repel
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Speaker 1: art by art. What is your pleasure in the matter
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Speaker 1: of the interview? I will meet the Frenchman, and that
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Speaker 1: without fear or delay. Promptly, sir, as becomes a servant
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Speaker 1: of my royal master, go Major Heyward and give them
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Speaker 1: a flourish of the music, and send out a messenger
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Speaker 1: to let them know who is coming. We will follow
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Speaker 1: with a small guard, for such respect is due to
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Speaker 1: one who holds the honor of his king in keeping.
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Speaker 1: And harkye duncan he added in a half whisper, Though
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Speaker 1: they were alone, it may be prudent to have some
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Speaker 1: aid at hand in case there should be treachery at
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Speaker 1: the bottom of it all. The young man availed himself
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Speaker 1: of this order to quit the apartment, and as the
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Speaker 1: day was fast coming to a close, he hastened without
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Speaker 1: delay to make the necessary arrangements at very few minutes,
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Speaker 1: only where necessary, to pray a few files, and to
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Speaker 1: despatch an orderly with a flag to announce the approach
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Speaker 1: of the commandant of the fort. When Duncan had done
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Speaker 1: both these. He led the guard to the sally port,
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Speaker 1: near which he found his superior ready waiting his appearance.
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Speaker 1: As soon as the usual ceremonials of a military departure
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Speaker 1: were observed, the veteran and his more youthful companion left
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Speaker 1: the fortress, attended by the escort. They had proceeded only
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Speaker 1: a few hundred yards from the works when the little
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Speaker 1: array which attended the French general to the conference was
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Speaker 1: seen issuing from a hollow way which formed the bed
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Speaker 1: of a brook that ran between the batteries of the
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Speaker 1: besiegers and the fort From the moment that Monroe left
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Speaker 1: his own works to appear in front of his enemies,
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Speaker 1: his heir had been grand, and his step and countenance
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Speaker 1: highly military. The instant he caught a glimpse of the
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Speaker 1: white plume that waved in the hat of Montcalm. His
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Speaker 1: eye lighted an age no longer appeared to possess any
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Speaker 1: influence over his vast and steel muscular person. Speak to
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Speaker 1: the boys. To be watchfun, sir, he said, in an
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Speaker 1: eye undertoned to Duncan, and to look well to their
19:03
Speaker 1: fins and steel, for one is never safe with a
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Speaker 1: servant of these louise. At the same time, we shall
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Speaker 1: show them the front of men in deep security. Ye'll
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Speaker 1: understand me, Major Heyward. He was interrupted by the clamor
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Speaker 1: of a drum from the approaching Frenchman, which was immediately
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Speaker 1: answered when each party pushed and orderly in advance, bearing
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Speaker 1: a white flag, and the warry Scotsman halted with his
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Speaker 1: guard close at his back. As soon as this slight
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Speaker 1: salutation had passed, Montcalm moved toward them with a quick
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Speaker 1: but graceful step, bearing his head to the veteran and
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Speaker 1: dropping his spotless plume neatly to the earth in courtesy.
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Speaker 1: If the air of Monroe was more commanding and manly,
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Speaker 1: it wanted both the ease and insinuating polish of that
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Speaker 1: of the Frenchman. Neither spoke for a few moments, each
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Speaker 1: regarding the other with curious and interested eyes. Then, as
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Speaker 1: became his superior rank and the nature of the interview,
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Speaker 1: Montcalm broke the silence. After uttering the usual words of greeting,
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Speaker 1: he turned to Duncan and continued with a smile of recognition,
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Speaker 1: speaking always in French, I am rejoiced, monsieur, that you
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Speaker 1: have given us the pleasure of your company on this occasion,
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Speaker 1: there will be no necessity to employ an ordinary interpreter,
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Speaker 1: for in your hands I feel the same security as
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Speaker 1: if I spoke your language myself. Duncan acknowledged the compliment,
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Speaker 1: when Montcalm, turning to his guard, which in imitation of
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Speaker 1: that of their enemies, pressed close upon him, continued and
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Speaker 1: arie masafants if fal chald retiree vau old peu. Before
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Speaker 1: Major Heyward could imitate this proof of confidevidence, he glanced
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Speaker 1: his eyes around the plane and beheld with uneasiness the
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Speaker 1: numerous dusky groups of savages who looked out from the
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Speaker 1: margin of the surrounding woods, curious spectators of the interview.
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Speaker 1: Monsieur deig Montcalm will readily acknowledge the difference in our situation,
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Speaker 1: he said, with some embarrassment, pointing at the same time
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Speaker 1: toward those danger's foes, who were to be seen in
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Speaker 1: almost every direction. Were we to dismiss our guard, we
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Speaker 1: should stand here at the mercy of our enemies. Monsieur,
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Speaker 1: you have the plighted faith of un gentulum francaise for
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Speaker 1: your safety, returned Montcalm, laying his hand impressively on his heart,
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Speaker 1: it should suffice, it shall fall back, Duncan added to
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Speaker 1: the officer who led the escort, fall back, Sir, beyond
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Speaker 1: hearing and wait for orders. Monroe witnessed this movement with
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Speaker 1: manifest uneasy, Nor did he fail to demand an instant explanation.
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Speaker 1: Is it not our interests, sir, to betray distrust? Retorted Duncan.
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Speaker 1: Monsieur de Montcalm pledges his word for our safety, and
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Speaker 1: I have ordered the men to withdraw a little in
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Speaker 1: order to prove how much we depend on his assurance.
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Speaker 1: Yet may be all right, sir, but I have no
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Speaker 1: overwhelming reliance on the faith of these marquesses or my keys.
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Speaker 1: As they tell themselves, their patents of nobility are too
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Speaker 1: common to be certain that they bear the seal of
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Speaker 1: true honor. You forget, dear Sir, that we confer with
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Speaker 1: an officer distinguished alike in Europe and America for his
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Speaker 1: deeds from a soldier of his reputation, we can have
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Speaker 1: nothing to apprehend. The old man made a gesture of resignation,
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Speaker 1: though his rigid features still betrayed his obstinate adherence to
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Speaker 1: a distrust which he derived from a sort of hereditary
23:05
Speaker 1: contempt of his enemy, rather than from any present signs
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Speaker 1: which might warrant so uncharitable. A feeling Montcalm waited patiently
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Speaker 1: until this little dialog in demi voice was ended. When
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Speaker 1: he drew Nigher and opened the subject of their conference.
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Speaker 1: I have solicited this interview from your superior Monsieur, he said,
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Speaker 1: because I believe he will allow himself to be persuaded,
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Speaker 1: that he has already done everything which is necessary for
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Speaker 1: the honor of his prince, and will now listen to
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Speaker 1: the admonitions of humanity. I will forever bear testimony that
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Speaker 1: his resistance has been gallant and has continued as long
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Speaker 1: as there was hope. When this opening was translated to Monroe,
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Speaker 1: he answered with dignity, but with sufficient curtis. See, however
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Speaker 1: I may prize such testimony from Monsieur Mancombe. It will
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Speaker 1: be more valuable when it shall be better merited. The
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Speaker 1: French general smiled as Duncan gave him the purport of
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Speaker 1: his reply, and observed, what is so freely accorded to
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Speaker 1: approved courage may be refused to useless obstinacy. Monsieur would
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Speaker 1: wish to see my camp and witness for himself are numbers,
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Speaker 1: and the impossibility of his resisting them with success. I
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Speaker 1: know that the King of Frances well served, returned the
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Speaker 1: unmoved Scotsman, as soon as Duncan ended his translation. That
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Speaker 1: my own master has as many and as faithful troops,
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Speaker 1: though not at hand fortunately for us, said Montcalm, without
24:51
Speaker 1: waiting in his ardor for the interpreter. There is destiny
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Speaker 1: in war to which a brave man knows how to
24:58
Speaker 1: submit with the same courage that he faces his foes.
25:04
Speaker 1: Had I been conscious that Monsieur Montcalm was a master
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Speaker 1: of the English, I should have spared myself the trouble
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Speaker 1: of so awkward a translation, said the vexed Duncan, dryly,
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Speaker 1: remembering instantly his recent by play with Monroe. Your pardon, monsieur,
25:22
Speaker 1: rejoined the Frenchman, suffering a slight color to appear in
25:25
Speaker 1: his dark cheek. There is a vast difference between understanding
25:30
Speaker 1: and speaking a foreign tongue. You will therefore please to
25:34
Speaker 1: assist me. Still, then, after a short pause, he added,
25:39
Speaker 1: these hills afford us every opportunity of reconnoitering your works, monsieurs,
25:45
Speaker 1: and I am possibly as well acquainted with their weak condition.
25:49
Speaker 1: As you can be yourselves. Ask the French general if
25:53
Speaker 1: he has glasses to reach the Hudson, said Monroe proudly,
25:57
Speaker 1: And if he knows when and where to expect the
26:00
Speaker 1: army of Webb, let General web Be his own interpreter,
26:04
Speaker 1: returned the politic Montcalm, suddenly extending an open letter toward Monroe.
26:09
Speaker 1: As he spoke, ye, will they learn, monsieur, that his
26:14
Speaker 1: movements are not likely to prove embarrassing to my army.
26:19
Speaker 1: The veteran seized the offered paper, without waiting for Duncan
26:23
Speaker 1: to translate the speech, and with an eagerness that betrayed
26:27
Speaker 1: how important he deemed its contents. As his eyes passed
26:31
Speaker 1: hastily over the words, his countenance changed from its look
26:36
Speaker 1: of military pride to one of deep chagrin. His lip
26:41
Speaker 1: began to quiver, and, suffering the paper to fall from
26:44
Speaker 1: his hand, his head dropped upon his chest, like that
26:49
Speaker 1: of a man whose hopes were withered in a single blow.
26:54
Speaker 1: Duncan caught the letter from the ground, and, without apology
26:58
Speaker 1: for the liberty he took, he read at a glance
27:01
Speaker 1: its cruel report their common superior, so far from encouraging
27:08
Speaker 1: them to resist advised a speedy surrender, urging in the
27:13
Speaker 1: plainest language as a reason the utter impossibility of his
27:19
Speaker 1: sending a single man to their rescue. Here is no deception,
27:24
Speaker 1: exclaimed Duncan, examining the billet both inside and out. This
27:30
Speaker 1: is the signature of Webb and must be the captured letter.
27:35
Speaker 1: The man has betrayed me, Monroe at length bitterly exclaimed.
27:39
Speaker 1: He has brought dishonor to the door of one where
27:43
Speaker 1: disgrace has never before known to dwell, And shame has
27:47
Speaker 1: he reaped heavily on my gray hairs. Say not so,
27:52
Speaker 1: cried Duncan. We are yet masters of the fort and
27:56
Speaker 1: of our honor. Let us then sell our lives at
28:00
Speaker 1: such a rate as shall make our enemies believe the
28:02
Speaker 1: purchase too. Dear boy, I thank thee, exclaimed the old man,
28:07
Speaker 1: rousing himself from his stupor. You have for once reminded
28:11
Speaker 1: Monroe of his duty. We will go back and dig
28:15
Speaker 1: our graves behind those ramparts, monsieurs, said montcalm, advancing toward
28:21
Speaker 1: them a step in generous interest. You little know, Louise
28:26
Speaker 1: de Saint Valin, if you believe him capable of profiting
28:30
Speaker 1: by this letter to humble brave men, or to build
28:34
Speaker 1: up a dishonest reputation for himself. Listen to my terms
28:39
Speaker 1: before you leave me. What said is the frenchman, demanded
28:43
Speaker 1: the veteran sternly, does he make a merit of having
28:47
Speaker 1: captured a scout with a note from headquarters? Sir, he
28:52
Speaker 1: had better raise his siege to go and sit before
28:55
Speaker 1: Edward if he wishes to frighten his enemy with words,
28:58
Speaker 1: Duncan explained the other, meaning Monseilles mantues, we will hear you.
29:04
Speaker 1: The veteran added, more calmly as Duncan ended. To retain
29:09
Speaker 1: the forte is now impossible, said his liberal enemy. It
29:14
Speaker 1: is necessary in the interest of my master that it
29:18
Speaker 1: should be destroyed. But as for yourself and your brave comrades,
29:24
Speaker 1: there is no privilege, dear a soldier that shall be denied.
29:29
Speaker 1: Are colors? Demanded, Heyward, Carry them to England and show
29:34
Speaker 1: them to your king our arms keep them. None can
29:40
Speaker 1: use them better our march. The surrender of the place
29:46
Speaker 1: shall be done in a way most honorable to yourselves.
29:51
Speaker 1: Duncan now turned to explain these proposals to his commander,
29:55
Speaker 1: who heard them with amazement and a sensibility that was
29:58
Speaker 1: deeply touched by soigny usual and unexpected generosity. Go you, Duncan,
30:04
Speaker 1: he said, go with this marquise, as indeed marquise he
30:08
Speaker 1: should be. Go to his marquis and arrange it all.
30:13
Speaker 1: I have lived to see two things in my old
30:15
Speaker 1: age that never did I expect to behold an Englishman
30:21
Speaker 1: afraid to support a friend, and a Frenchman too honest
30:26
Speaker 1: to profit by his advantage. So saying, the veteran again
30:31
Speaker 1: dropped his head to his chest and returned slowly toward
30:35
Speaker 1: the fort, exhibiting by the dejection of his heir to
30:39
Speaker 1: the anxious garrison a harbinger of evil tidings. From the
30:43
Speaker 1: shock of this unexpected blow, the haughty feelings of Monroe
30:48
Speaker 1: never recovered, but from that moment there commenced a change
30:52
Speaker 1: in his determined character which accompanied him to a speedy grave.
30:58
Speaker 1: Duncan remained to settle the terms of the capitulation. He
31:03
Speaker 1: was seen to re enter the works during the first
31:05
Speaker 1: watches of the night, and immediately after a private conference
31:09
Speaker 1: with the commonant to leave them again. It was then
31:14
Speaker 1: openly announced that hostilities must cease. Monroe, having signed a
31:19
Speaker 1: treaty by which the place was to be yielded to
31:21
Speaker 1: the enemy. With the morning the garrison to retain their arms,
31:26
Speaker 1: the colors, and their baggage, and consequently, according to military opinion,
31:32
Speaker 1: their honor. End of Chapter sixteen