French and English: A Story of the Struggle in America

  Book 4: Wolfe.

  Chapter 1: A Soldier At Home.

  He lay upon a couch beneath the shade of a drooping lime tree,where flickering lights and shadows played upon his tall, slightfigure and pale, quaint face. There was nothing martial in theaspect of this young man, invalided home from active service on theContinent, where the war was fiercely raging between the Europeanpowers. He had a very white skin, and his hair was fair, with adistinct shade of red in it. It was cut short in front, and lightlypowdered when the young man was in full dress, and behind it wastied in the queue so universally worn.

  He was quite young still, barely thirty years old; yet he had seenyears of active service in the army, and had achieved no smalldistinction for intrepidity and cool daring. He had won the noticealready of the man now at the helm of state, whose eyes wereanxiously fixed upon any rising soldier of promise, ready to availhimself of the services of such to sustain England's honour andprestige both on land and sea.

  James Wolfe was the son of a soldier, and had been brought up tothe profession of arms almost as a matter of course. Yet he seemeda man little cut out for the life of the camp; for he suffered fromalmost chronic ill-health, and was often in sore pain of body eventhough the indomitable spirit was never quenched within him. Hisface bore the look of resolution and self mastery which is often tobe seen in those who have been through keen physical suffering.There were lines there which told of weary days and nights of pain;but there was an unquenchable light in the eyes that invariablystruck those who came into contact with the young officer. He hadalready learned the secret of imparting to his men the enthusiasmwhich was kindled in his own breast; and there was not a man in hiscompany but would gladly have laid down his life in his service, ifhe had been called upon to do so.

  Today, however, there was nothing of the soldier and leader offorlorn hope in his aspect. He lay back upon his couch with adreamy abstraction in his gaze. The gambols of his caninefavourites passed unnoticed by him. He had been reading news thatstirred him deeply, and he had fallen into a meditation.

  The news sheet contained a brief and hasty account of the loss ofFort William Henry, with a hint respecting the massacre which hadfollowed. No particulars were as yet forthcoming. This was but thevoice of rumour. But the paragraph, vague as it was, had beensufficient to arouse strange feelings within the young officer. Hehad let the paper fall now, and was turning things over in his ownmind.

  One of the articles had said how needful it was becoming forEngland to awake from her lethargy, and send substantial aid to hercolonies, unless she desired to see them annihilated by theaggressions of France. National feeling against that proud foe wasbeginning to rise high. The Continental war had quickened it, andWolfe, who had served against the armies of France in many aclosely-contested battle, felt his pulses tingling at the recitalof her successes against England's infant colonies.

  Men were wanted for the service, the paper had said--men of courageand proved valour. We had had too many bunglers already out there;it was now time that men of a different stamp should beforthcoming.

  In his ears there seemed beaten the sound of a question and itsreply. Where had he heard those words, and when?

  "Who will go up to battle against this proud foe?"

  "Here am I; send me."

  The light leaped into his eyes; his long, thin hands clasped andunclasped themselves as stirring thoughts swept over him. He knewthat there was a great struggle impending between England and herFrench rival upon the other side of the world. Hitherto hisbattlefields had been in Europe, but a voice from far away seemedto be calling to him in urgent accents. Away in the West, Englishsubjects were being harried and killed, driven like helpless sheepto slaughter. How long was it to continue? Would the mother countrybe content that her provinces should be first contracted and thenslowly strangled by the chains imposed by the boundless ambition ofFrance? Never, never, never! The young officer spoke the wordsaloud, half raising himself from his couch as he did so.

  There was a rising man now at the helm of the state; he had not thefull powers that many desired to see. He had to work hand in handwith a colleague of known incapacity. Yet the voice of the nationwas beginning to make itself heard. England was growing enragedagainst a minister under whose rule so many grievous blunders hadbeen committed. Newcastle still retained his position of foremostof the King's advisers, but Pitt now stood at his side; and it wasunderstood that the younger statesman was to take the real commandof the ship of state, whilst his elder associate confined himselfto those matters in which he could not well do harm.

  "If only it had come three years earlier," breathed Wolfe--"beforewe had suffered such loss and disgrace!"

  The young soldier knew that an expedition had been fitted out a fewmonths ago for Louisbourg in Acadia--that French fortress of CapeBreton which alone had been able to resist the English arms. Thecapture of Louisbourg had been the one thing determined upon by thetardy government for the relief of their colonies in the Westernworld. It had been surmised that this action on their part woulddraw away the French troops from the frontier, and thus relieve thecolonists from any pressing anxiety; but although there had beenlittle definite news from the fleet so far, it began to be rearedthat the Admirals had mismanaged matters, and that no blow would bestruck this season.

  September had come--a hot, sunny, summer-like month in England. ButWolfe had heard something of the rock-bound coasts of Cape Breton,and he was well aware that if the furious equinoctial gales shouldonce threaten the English fleet, no Admiral would be able toattempt an action by sea, or even the landing of the troops.

  Young Wolfe had one friend out With the expedition, and from him hehad received a letter only a short time ago, telling him of all thedelays and procrastinations which were already beginning to renderabortive a well-planned scheme. It made his blood boil in his veinsto think how the incapacity of those in command doomed the hopes ofso many to such bitter disappointment, and lowered the prestige ofEngland in the eyes of the whole civilized world.

  "If Pitt could but have a free hand, things would be different!"exclaimed Wolfe again, speaking aloud, as is the fashion of lonelymen. "But the King is beginning to value and appreciate him, andthe nation is learning confidence. The time will come--yes, thetime will come! Heaven send that I live to see the day, and have ahand in the glorious work!"

  As he spoke these words he observed a certain excitement amongstthe dogs playing around him, and guessed that their quick ears hadcaught sounds of an arrival of some sort. In a few minutes' timehis servant approached him, bearing a letter which he handed to hismaster, who opened it and cast his eyes over its contents.

  "Are the two gentlemen here?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir; they asked that the letter might be given to you, andthat they might wait until you had read it."

  "Then show them out to me here, and bring us coffee," said Wolfe,whose face had put on a look of considerable eagerness andanimation; and as the servant retired towards the house, thesoldier remained looking after him, as though wistful to catch thefirst glimpse of the expected guests.

  In a few minutes they appeared in the wake of the servant. Bothwere quietly dressed in sober riding suits; but there theresemblance ended. One of the pair was a very tall man, with fairhair cut short all round his head, and a pair of large blue-greyeyes that had a trick of seeming to look through and beyond theobjects upon which they were bent, and a thoroughly English type offeature; whilst his companion was more slightly built, albeit a manof fine proportions, too, with a darker face, more chiselledfeatures, and hair dressed according to the prevailing mode,lightly powdered in front, and tied in a queue behind.

  Wolfe rose slowly to his feet, his brow slightly contracting withthe effort. Upon his face there was a very attractive smile, and heheld out his hand in turn to the two newcomers.

  "You are very welcome, gentlemen--more welcome than I can say. I amgrateful to my friend Sir Charles for giving me this opportunity ofmaking your acquaintance. It ha
s been my great wish to speak faceto face with men who have lived in that great land whither all eyesare now turning. Be seated, I pray you, gentlemen, and tell mewhich of you is Mr. Julia Dautray, and which Mr. Humphrey Angell."

  "My name is Dautray," answered the dark-eyed man. "We havetravelled to England together, my friend and I, but have also beenin France, to visit some of those there still bearing my name,although my immediate forefathers have lived and died in the landsof the far West. We have met with much kindness in this country,and have some time since accomplished the mission on which we weredispatched. Our thoughts are turning once more towards the land ofour birth. Had we not been in France at the time, we would gladlyhave accompanied the expedition which set sail for Louisbourg notlong since."

  "I cannot regret that you failed to do so," answered Wolfe, in hiswinning way, "since it has brought me the pleasure of this visit. Itrust, gentlemen, that you will honour me by being my guests for afew days at least. There is very much that I desire to learn aboutthe lands from which you come. My friend Sir Charles speaks asthough you were wanderers upon the face of the earth. If that beso, I may hope that you will stay your wanderings meantime, andmake my home yours for a while."

  "You are very kind, Captain Wolfe," said Julian gratefully; "if itbe not trespassing too far upon your hospitality, we should be gladand grateful to accept it."

  "The honour will be mine," said Wolfe; "I have long desired to knowmore of that world beyond the seas. Hitherto I have seen nothingsave my own country, and a few of those which lie nearest to it.But I have the feeling within me that the time is coming when Ishall be sent farther afield. Men will be needed for the strifewhich must soon be waged on the far side of the Atlantic, and itmay be that I shall be chosen as one of those who will go thither."

  "That is what Sir Charles said when he gave us this letter foryou," said Julian. "He said that Mr. Pitt had named you once ortwice as a rising officer, likely to be chosen for service there.That is why Sir Charles thought that a visit from us would bewelcome. I do not know whether we can give you any news which youhave not heard already; but we can at least answer such questionsas to the country and its life as may be interesting to you, thoughit is now two years since we sailed from its shores."

  Into Wolfe's eyes there had leaped a bright light.

  "Spoke Sir Charles such words of me?" he said eagerly. "Has Mr.Pitt named me as likely for this service?"

  "So it was told us," answered Julian. "We came to England in theearly spring of last year, with letters and urgent appeals tofriends in England from their kinfolk beyond the sea. We went fromplace to place, as our directions were, and saw many men and heardmuch hot discussion; but it seemed hard to get a hearing in highplaces, and for a while we thought we had had our journey in vain.Nevertheless they would not let us go. One and another would keepus, hoping to gain introduction to some influential man, in whoseears we could tell our tale. And so matters went on, and we werepassed from place to place, always well treated and well cared for.In the spring we went to France, though we were warned of danger,because of the war. But we met with no hurt. Humphrey passed as myservant, and I have French blood in my veins, and can speak thelanguage as one born there. Nor did we go to any large centres, butcontented ourselves with the remote spots, where I found kinsfolkof mine own name living still. And we reached England again onlytwo months ago."

  "And then?"

  "There was more excitement then. The fleet had sailed forLouisbourg; men's hearts were stirred within them. Tales of freshatrocities along the border had reached home. Anger against Francewas stirred up by the war. It was then we were brought before SirCharles Graham, and told our tale to him. He is the friend of Mr.Pitt, and he came back to us many times to learn more of what wehad to tell of the difficulties of the provinces, and of the apathythat prevailed there, even though terrible things Were passingdaily close by.

  "It was he who at last bid us go to you. He said you were hisfriend, and would make us welcome for his sake and ours. And whenhe gave us this letter, he told us the words of Mr. Pitt respectingyou."

  "And have you other news besides?" asked Wolfe eagerly. "When leftyou London? And is it yet known there whether this rumour of freshdisaster is true? See, there is the Western news sheet; it speaksof a disquieting rumour as to the fall of Fort William Henry, ouroutpost on Lake George. Have fresh tidings been received? for ifthat place fall, we are in evil case indeed."

  Julian gravely shook his head.

  "The rumour is all too true. Had you not heard? A fast-sailingvessel has brought it to Southampton--the evil tidings of disasterand death. The fort held out bravely through a terrible cannonade;but no relief was sent, and the walls were battered down. There wasnothing for it but surrender. The garrison obtained honourableterms; but the French either could not or would not restrain theirIndian allies. Surrender was followed by a brutal massacre of thehapless soldiers and their wives and children. It is horrible toread the story of the atrocities committed. We have seen Indians attheir hideous work. We know, as you in this land never can do, whatit is like."

  Wolfe's eyes flashed fire.

  "A surrendered garrison massacred! and the French stood by andsuffered it!"

  "The account is confused. Some say they did try without avail; somethat they were callous and indifferent; some that they did much toavert the horrors, and saved large numbers of victims out of theirclutches. But they did not succeed in stopping an awful loss oflife. The pages of history will be stained dark when the story ofthat day is written!"

  "Ay, truly!" cried Humphrey, in his deep, resonant voice, speakingfor the first time; "the page of history should be written incharacters of blood and fire. I have seen the work of those savagefiends. I have seen, and I shall remember to the last day of mylife!"

  "Tell me," said Wolfe, looking straight at the stalwart youth,whose lips had slightly drawn themselves back, showing the firmline of the white teeth beneath.

  Humphrey had told his tale many times during the past months. Hetold it to Wolfe that day--told it with a curious graphic power,considering that his words were few, and that his manner wasperfectly quiet.

  A red flush mounted into Wolfe's face, and died away again. He drewhis breath through, his teeth with a slightly whistling sound. Withhim this was a sign of keen emotion.

  "You saw all that?"

  "With my own eyes. I am telling no tale of hearsay. And men havetales yet more horrid to tell--tales to which a man may scarcelisten for the horror and the shame. This is the way the Indiansserve the subjects of the English crown at the bidding of theservants of France!"

  Wolfe raised his right hand, and let it slowly drop again.

  "May Heaven give to me the grace," he said, in a voice thatvibrated with tense feeling, "to go forth to the succour of mycountrymen there--to fight and to avenge!"

  After that there was silence for a while, and the servant came andbrought coffee, and took orders for the entertainment and lodgingof the guests. When he had gone Wolfe was calm again, and listenedwith keen interest to the story they had to tell of their arrivalin Pennsylvania, and of the extraordinary apathy of the colonistsin the eastern towns, and the difficulty of arousing them to anyconcerted action with their own countrymen in the neighbouringprovinces, even for the common defence.

  Wolfe knew something of that, and of the causes at work to bringabout such a result. He talked with more comprehension and insightas to the state of infant colonies, partially self-governed andself-dependent, struggling out of leading strings, and intent upongrowing to man's estate, than anybody had hitherto done.

  "We shall never have a second Canada out there such as France haswon--a country wholly dependent upon the one at home, lookingalways to her for government, help, care, money. No, no; the spiritof those who went forth from England was utterly different. Theyare English subjects still, but they want to rule themselves aftertheir own way. They will never be helpless and dependent; they willbe more like to shake our yoke from off their necks when theyar
rive at man's estate. But what matter if they do? We shall bebrothers, even though the sea roll between them. The parent countryhas sent them forth, and must protect them till they are able toprotect themselves, even as the birds and the beasts of the fieldsdefend their young. After that we shall see. But for my part Iprefer that struggling spirit of independence and desire afterself-government. It can be carried too far; but it shows life,energy, youth, and strength. If Canada were not bound hand and footto the throne of the French tyrant, she would be a more formidablefoe to tackle than she can show herself now."

  "Yet she has done us grievous hurt. We seem able to make no headwayagainst her, in spite of our best efforts."

  "Let us see what better efforts we can make then," cried Wolfe,with eager eyes. "Best! why, man, we have done nothing butprocrastinate and blunder, till my ears tingle with shame as I readthe story! But we are awakening at last, and we have a man to lookto who is no blunderer. The tide will turn ere long, you will see;and when it does, may I be there to see and to bear my share!"

  Julian looked at the gaunt, prostrate form of the soldier, and saidgravely:

  "But you are surely in no fit state for military service?"

  Wolfe threw back his head with a little gesture of impatience, andthen smiled brightly.

  "This carcass of mine has been a source of trouble and pain to mefrom my boyhood, and there come moments when I must needs give it alittle rest. But yet I have found that it can carry me through thenecessary fatigues with a vigour I had scarcely expected of it. Itis being patched up again after a hard campaign; and now that thesummer has closed, nothing can be set afoot till the spring comes.By that time I shall be fit for service once more, you will see. Iam taking the waters of Bath with sedulous care. They have donemuch for me as it is. Soon I trust to be hale and sound once more."

  "Have you been wounded, sir?"

  "Many times, but not seriously; only that everything tells when oneis afflicted by such a rickety body as this," and the young officersmiled his peculiarly brilliant smile, which made the chief charmof his pale, unusual face. "I got both a wound and a severe strainin my last campaign, which has bothered me ever since, and stillkeeps me to my couch the greater part of the day. But rheumatism ismy chronic foe; it follows me wherever I go, lying in wait topounce upon me, and hold me a cripple in its red-hot iron hand.That is the trouble of my life on the march. It is so often all butimpossible to get through the day's work, and yet it is wonderfulhow the foe can be held at bay when some task has to be donewhether or not.

  "But a truce to such talk! A soldier has other things to think ofthan aching joints and weary bones. A man can but once die for hiscountry, and that is all I ask to do. That mine will not he a longlife I feel a certain assurance. All I ask is the power to serve mycountry as long as I am able, and to die for her, sword in hand,when the hour has come."

  The eyes kindled and the smile flashed forth. Julian and Humphreylooked into the face of the man whom they had heard described asone of the most promising and intrepid young officers of theEnglish army, and felt a thrill of admiration run through them. Theframe was so frail and weak and helpless; but the indomitablespirit seemed as though it would be able to bear its master throughany and every peril which duty might bid him face.

  They had consented to be his guests for a few days; but it had notoccurred to them that this visit would be prolonged to any greatlength, and yet thus it came about.

  Colonel Wolfe and his wife, the mother of whom the young soldieroften spoke in tender and loving terms, were detained fromrejoining their son, as they had purposed doing before the wintercame. Colonel Wolfe had a property of his own in Kent, and hispresence was wanted there. The son was compelled to remain in theneighbourhood of Bath for the sake of his shattered health. Theyhad intended all spending the winter there together in the pleasanthouse they had taken; but this soon became impossible, and it wasthen that Wolfe said to his new friends, with that quaint look ofappeal in his eyes which they had come to know by this time:

  "Could you two be persuaded to take pity upon a capricious andwhimsical sick man, and be his companions through the wintermonths? Then with the spring, when we know what is to be done forthe succour of our comrades in the West, we will make shift to goforth to their assistance. If you will stay with me till then, Iwill promise you shall not lack fitting equipment to follow thearmy when it sails hence."

  There was nothing the two companions desired more by that time thanto remain with Wolfe, the charm of whose personality had by thattime quite fascinated them. They felt almost like brothers already.It was upon Humphrey's strong arm that Wolfe would take his dailywalk into the town for the needful baths or water drinkings. It wasJulian who read to him the news of the day, and they all discussedit eagerly together. Moreover, he saw to the drilling and trainingof these two fine men with the keenest interest and enthusiasm.They had the making in them of excellent soldiers, and showed anaptitude which delighted him for all sorts of exercises and featsof arms.

  The war fever permeated the whole country by that time, andtraining and drilling were going on all around. It was easy for thetravellers to pick up all that was needful to them of comprehensionas to military terms and commands. Hours were spent by themselvesand Wolfe over books and maps in the library, whilst he fought overagain with them campaign after campaign--those where he had served,and those before his time with which he had close acquaintance; andthey entered more and more into the spirit of martial exercise,learning to comprehend military tactics and the art of war as theyhad never done before.

  Meantime the news from the Western world was all bad. The attemptupon Louisbourg had been abortive, owing to the tardiness of theEnglish Admiral, of London the Governor out there, and the earlystorms which had obliged the fleet to retire even when it hadmustered for the attack.

  "It is shameful!" cried Wolfe with flashing eyes, as the news wasmade known; "England will become the laughingstock of the wholeworld! Fort Oswego lost, William Henry lost, and its garrisonmassacred! Louisbourg left to the French, without a blow beingstruck! Shame upon us! shame upon us! We should blush for our tardyprocrastination. But mark my word, this will be the last suchblunder! Pitt will take the reins in his own grasp. We shall see achange now."

  "I trust so," said Humphrey grimly; "it is time indeed. I know whatthese attacks against Louisbourg will mean for those along thefrontier--death, disaster, more Indian raids, less power ofprotection. The Governor will draw off the levies which might cometo their assistance for the work at Louisbourg. The French willhound on the Indians to ravage more and more. We shall hear freshtales of horror there before the end comes."

  "Which we will avenge!" spoke Wolfe, between his shut teeth. "Itshall not always be said of England that she slept whilst hersubjects died!"

  With the turn of the year active preparations began to bediscussed, and Wolfe to receive letters from headquarters. All wasnow excitement in that household, for there was no doubt thatEngland's great minister was going to take active measures, andthat the day of tardy blundering was to be brought to an end.

  Wolfe was found one day in a state of keen excitement.

  "I have heard from Mr. Pitt myself!" he cried, waving the paperover his head. "He has taken the great resolve, not only to checkthe aggressions of France upon the border, but to sweep her outfrom the Western world, till she can find no place for herselfthere! That is the spirit I delight in; that is the task I long toaid in; that is the one and only thing to do. Leave her neitherroot nor branch in the world of the West! If we do, she will be athorn in our side, a upas tree poisoning the air. Let Canada beours once for all, and we have no more to fear!"

  Humphrey and Julian exchanged glances of amaze. Such a scheme asthis seemed to smack of madness.

  "You think it cannot be done, my friends? England has done greaterfeats before."

  "But there is Quebec," said Julian gravely; "I have heard that itis a fortress absolutely impregnable. And Quebec is the key ofCanada."

  "I k
now it," answered Wolfe, with a light in his eyes, "I know itwell. I have seen drawings; I have heard descriptions of it. Thatit will be a nut hard to crack I do not doubt. But yet--butyet--ah, well, we may not boast of what we will do in the future.Let it suffice us first to take Louisbourg from the foe. But thatonce done, I shall know no rest, day or night, till I stand asvictor at the walls of Quebec!"