CHAPTER XVII
"Comrades," said Clark the next morning, just as we were falling intoline of march, "have you remembered the day? It is the fourth of July,my men--the anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, the birthdayof our liberties--day propitious in the history of the United States ofAmerica! Our guide tells me that we are but six leagues from Kaskaskia,and I have already planned our attack. Bloodless victory awaits us--forI can rely on each man of you to do only and all that is expected ofhim. We will march within half a mile of the fort this morning, concealourselves in the woods until dark, and, then, dividing into twocompanies, we will rush into the town from opposite ends, shouting andbrandishing our knives.
"I am told that the minds of the French in this region have been filledwith terror of the bordermen by horrid tales of our ruthless cruelty; wemay as well take advantage of this impression to overawe them. Perhapswe may prevent bloodshed by producing astonishment and terror in thebreasts of the garrison and citizens. We have no quarrel with theFrench, but are concerned rather with winning them peaceably to ourside. After a night of fear--but you must remember, men, that we wish toarouse apprehension alone, and that a single deed of violence or rapinemay ruin all--the reaction will be the greater, and our liberal terms ofamnesty the more gratefully accepted. As we lie in ambush thisafternoon, you will preserve the strictest silence, and not a man mustventure out of hiding till the command to advance be given. Carry outthis plan successfully, and Kaskaskia is ours to-morrow, and Virginia'sforever!"
Cheers rent the air, and the more enthusiastic waved their caps overtheir heads, and shook each other's hands, as if victory were alreadyours.
The town lay dark and silent under the stars, as our two bands circledit, and simultaneously marched down the principal street from oppositedirections, yelling, and brandishing our unsheathed hunting knives, asdemon-wise as the worst of savages.
"The Long-Knives! The Long-Knives!" shouted the people upon the streets,running from house to house to spread the alarm, while women andchildren screamed, doors were slammed and barred within, and lightsextinguished everywhere. Gradually the pandemonium of shrieks, shouts,and screams subsided into a hush of fearful expectation, during whichGivens and Saunders, each of whom could speak a little French, marchedcaptured citizens from door to door, before which they required them toannounce in loud tones that the general in command of the Long-Kniveshad decreed that all citizens of Kaskaskia who should remain quietlywithin their houses would be unmolested, but that all who ventured outwould be summarily dealt with.
M. Rocheblave, the commandant, was surprised in his bed-chamber, andtaken prisoner. His wife, a pretty, voluble Frenchwoman, went intohysterics, and begged piteously for their lives in broken English, muchmixed with French words, and interpreted with expressive gestures.Colonel Clark assured her, as best he could, that no harm would be donethem, and then bade me search the apartment for papers while he stoodguard in the doorway. Meantime the Commandant and Madame looked on, thelatter regaining her composure, and seating herself on a small trunk,from which she watched my proceedings with smiling scorn. I searchedeverywhere, upsetting furniture, and even ripping open the feather beds,but few papers were found, and they of slight importance. The trunkwhich Madame seemed to be guarding was, evidently, the receptacle forthe more important documents.
"Madame," I said, approaching her, and taking her gently by the arm, "Imust search this trunk also."
But she held her place firmly, and, in better English than she had yetspoken, heaped reproaches upon me, saying that "no man worthy of thename would invade the privacy of a woman's personal belongings." Thenshe began to weep and to wail, and to entreat Clark piteously.
"Let her alone, McElroy," said Clark, at last; "we cannot use violenceto a woman," so we marched off with our prisoner, the Commandant, andleft the little Frenchwoman to destroy his papers at her leisure.
"I tell you, McElroy," said Clark, "I'd rather face a battalion, orstorm a battery, than to encounter another hysterical Frenchwoman."
During the night we took possession of the ungarrisoned fort--a disusedwarehouse, which had served as fort since the burning of the oldone--and Colonel Clark issued strict commands that only the officers andsuch soldiers as he should detail to guard the town from time to time,must leave the fort until further orders. By this ruse the citizens weredeceived for weeks as to our real strength, their imagination readilyusing such adroit hints as Colonel Clark threw out to magnify our forceinto a strong army of invasion, and the squad left at Corn Island, intolarge reinforcements, expected in a few days.
All night guards patrolled the streets. The inhabitants, however, obeyedorders strictly, and did not venture forth next morning until permissionwas given them, with the information that the fort and the town were inour possession, and M. Rocheblave a prisoner.
Their distressed faces presented a strong contrast to the cheerful scenewhich greeted our eyes with the beaming sunlight of the morning.Kaskaskia, situated on the right bank of the Kaskaskia or the OkanRiver, six miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, was then avillage of two hundred and fifty houses, situated on a beautiful androlling peninsula. The velvet verdure of the plain, dotted with littlegroves of pecan, maple, ash, and button-wood, the glassy surface of theidle river, the lofty hill opposite, with its stately forest, the airscented with the fragrance of its wild flowers, the little springsgushing from its sides in sparkling beauty, all reposing in the lap ofnature, with their virgin freshness yet upon them--there was a landscapeto charm her most capricious lover. We gazed enchanted on the fairpicture and felt that we had reached a Canaan, rich reward for all wehad dared and endured.
Presently came the priest to Colonel Clark, asking that the people beallowed to assemble once more in the church to say to each other a lastfarewell before leaving their homes, and separating forever. "Theirs,"he said, "was the fortune of war, and they made no murmur--since an allwise God had willed it so. Nor could they complain of their conquerors,who so far had treated them with unexampled consideration. They had butone other favor to ask--that the men might not be separated from theirwives and their little ones."
Doubtless all the night through the woeful fate of the hapless Acadianshad been present to the anxious minds of the people, who were expectingfor themselves, as the best to be hoped, a similar fate.
When the priest's words had been translated to Colonel Clark bySaunders, he answered with a winning smile, and a convincing air offriendliness:
"Monsieur Gibault, we have nothing whatever against your religion, noragainst the citizens of Kaskaskia. Assemble your people in church whenand for what purpose you will; worship God freely, as your consciencesdictate. It is to win freedom of belief and personal liberty for all theinhabitants of this broad continent we have taken up our arms. But wecame not to fight against the French; our quarrel is against King Georgeof England. And why should the citizens of Kaskaskia, for the sake ofbeing loyal to a power which has but lately subdued them, desert theircomfortable homes, and wander forth again into the wilderness? Whyshould they not make peace, and live in harmony with the allies of theirfather land? Have they not heard the great news--that France and Americahave formed a close alliance--that a French fleet and a French army areon their way to help us fight the armies who have invaded us because wewould not submit to tyranny and injustice? Does not this allianceabsolve the citizens of Kaskaskia from all allegiance to England? Is notblood thicker than treaties forced upon a people at the point of thesword?
"No! M. Gibault, there is no necessity for your flock to bid each otherfarewell, and scatter into the wilderness to fall prey to wild beast andcruel savage! Remain peacefully in your homes! swear allegiance toVirginia! conclude with us the same alliance that France has latelyentered into with the United States of America, and not a drop of bloodneed be shed, not a man, woman, or child need leave his home, nor resigneither his religion, nor a franc's worth of his lawful property! We willpledge ourselves to secure your safety, and to main
tain you in theenjoyment of all the rights and privileges of American citizens!"
The gentle face of the priest passed from distressful entreaty, throughall the varying expressions of surprise, doubt, conviction, relief, andrapture, as Colonel Clark's speech, phrase by phrase, was interpreted tohim. He poured out fervid and voluble thanks, called down Heaven'sblessing upon such merciful conquerors, and repaired quickly to thechurch to spread the glad news among his flock.
Never have I witnessed a more affecting scene than the one whichfollowed. The child-like Kaskaskians passed in an instant from despairto joy, from fear and horror of us, to enthusiastic admiration andaffection. We were their allies, their brothers, not only would theyshare all they had with us, but they would assist us against our commonenemy.
An hour later, when the first outburst of joy had somewhat subsided,Father Gibault called his flock to assemble again in the church, thatthey might offer to God a solemn thanksgiving for this greatdeliverance. Colonel Clark and I, with two others of the officers,attended this service and gave respectful attention. In a far corner ofthe dim little chapel I recognized the slim form of young Givens bowedin worship. Again I fell to puzzling over the lad--some mysteryattended, evidently, his presence among us. Could he be a Catholic? yetCatholics were as rare as Jews in our part of the State; Ellen had beenthe single one in our county as far as I knew. There was no solving themystery, unless Givens chose to disclose what he knew, and that he waslittle likely to do, without good reason. Well, mysteries were not rarein the New World, and we were little accustomed to concern ourselvesabout them beyond idle speculation.
When the religious ceremonies were over, Father Gibault announced thatthe rest of the day would be celebrated as a fete day, and asked thatthe panins, or slaves, should be given holiday. Festoons of flowers werequickly woven, and hung from house to house; maidens and youths dancedupon the green; flutes, violins, fife, and drum filled the air withmusic; and later a supper of pan cakes and maple syrup was served to allby soft-voiced, bright-eyed Frenchwomen. Dancing, feasting and rejoicingwere kept up in many of the houses until midnight. Intoxicating drinkshad flowed so freely, meantime, that there was much disorder on thestreets, and several fights among the panins, who mingled with theirmasters in a familiar manner, strange to us. To their brawls, however,we paid no attention, since only friendly demonstrations were made us,and no one ventured near the fort, in which the men were kept with somedifficulty.
To Colonel Bowman's company fell the lot of marching up the river totake possession of the town and fort of Cahokia. Several of the citizensof Kaskaskia had volunteered to go with us, and, entering the townbefore us, easily persuaded the inhabitants to transfer their allegiancefrom Great Britain to Virginia. As in Kaskaskia, the news of the Frenchalliance was all that was needed to incline to a bloodless surrender.
Chosen by Captain Bowman to carry the news of our easy success toColonel Clark, and ask for further instructions, I was again inKaskaskia within the week. My interview over with Colonel Clark--whotook my news with rather disappointing calmness--I found Givens waitingfor me, his anxious face and air of mystery giving me a sharp surprise.He led me aside, and asked abruptly,
"You hed er cousin by ther name uv Ellen O'Niel?"
"Yes," I answered, still more surprised.
"She's yander in the fort, en lyin' low. What'll we do erbout et?"
"Here, in Kaskaskia? It is not to be believed."
"All ther same, Capt'n, et's so. John Givens es Ellen O'Niel, dressed enboy's clothes. Howsomever she's down with ther swamp fever now, en musthev woman's nussin' en' priest's docterin' es soon es it's ter be gotfur 'er. It's yer es must tell Colonel Clark, en' have 'er moved frumther fort at onct."
"How came she with you, Givens? And why did you let her come all thisway from her friends--and dressed, too, in men's clothes?" I questionedangrily.
"'Tain't no time fur explanations now, Capt'n. Ther gal needs tendin'ter, right away," and he stalked on in front of me with imperturbablemanner, but anxious countenance.
It took few words to explain so much as was necessary to Colonel Clark,and not many more to enlist the sympathies of Madame Rocheblave. We soonhad the poor child,--yet in her rifleman's garb, but too far gone in thestupor of her disease to know anything--removed to the Commandant'shouse, and left her in the care of Madame, and a fresh faced girl whomMadame called Angelique, and recommended as an excellent nurse. Then wewent to see Dr. Lafonte, the village doctor, and Father Gibault, who wasreputed to be skilled in herbs and roots, and especially successful intreating fevers.
When both had come, while we waited for their verdict, Givens sat downbeside me on the steps of the house and told me the following story:
"Twuz one bitter cold en' snowy evenin', las' winter, as I wuz out onther mountin', huntin'. I seed a dark heap 'long side er ther parth, en'thort 'twuz er wild beast uv sum descripshun. When I got closter I heerder human moan, en' seed it wuz er woman, hurt, en' harf froze. I toted'er home on my shoulder, laid 'er on my bed, en' rubbed sum life inter'er. Fur days she did'n' know nothin'; then, when she did 'pear ternotice sum, she lay ther', too weak ter speak, en' lookin' more like erghost than like er woman. When she could talk she 'peared not ter wan'ter, en' specully not ter keer ter talk erbout herself. I didn't ask 'erno questions, en' one day I tole 'er I'd call 'er Mary ef she'd eslieve--thet having been ther name of my own leetle gal, es ther redskindevils killed, en' her eyes somehow remindin' me uv ther chile's. She'greed ter thet, en' got more friendly.
"One day she axed me if I could give her some paper en' er quill. I guv'em ter 'er, made 'er sum poke-berry ink, en' she writ' er letter; thinI tramped ter Charlottsville ter post et fur er. She waited en' waited,en' twiset I went ter town ter git ther answer, afore it cum. When etdid cum, et sot her ter cryin', en' took all ther red out'n her cheeksergin--fur by this time she wuz well en' strong, doin' all my cookin'en' mendin', and makin' cheerful company fur me evenin's. She said 'twuzher own letter cum back frum ther postman, who had writ on et thet therpeople et wuz sont ter didn't live in Baltimore no longer. She didn'thev no whar, now, ter go, she said, crying pitiful. She could stay withme es long es she'd er mind ter, I tole her, en' I'd be glad to hev herfur my own chile--sence the red-skinned devils hedn't left me none. Thetseemed ter cumfort her some, but you cum er few days arter thet, en' sheheerd me tell yer I'd like ter go with Clark. You wuz no sooner gonethen she declared she wuz goin' off so es not to be er hinderunce terme, nur my plans. Ter thet I wouldn't ergree nohow, spechully arter shehed tole me er leetle 'bout how she happened ter be on ther mountin thetevenin'--though she never did tell me her name, nur ther name uv her kinfolks.
"We talked mos' all thet night; she argified, en' I argified; et las wecum ter this ergreement:--she wuz ter go with me ter Kaintucky es myfoster-son, en' we'd settle out ther, when she'd put on her gal clothesergin, en' be my daughter fur good en' all.
"I went ter Charlottesville, got er rifleman's uniform fur 'er, en' sheput it right on ter practice wearin' it, en' lookin' natural en it.Every day she went huntin' with me ter practice shootin', en' I tuk tercallin' her John. By ther time we started, 'twas all es nat'ral as if'twere so, en' everything went smooth tel you en' Mr. Mitchell come. Shewuz skeered fur fear you'd fine 'er out, en' staid most er the time atthe settlement. 'Twuz my intention to leave er ther, even ef I went onwith Clark, but she wuz mad fur adventure by thet time, en' would cum'on. The reason I let 'er wuz becus' uv yer two bein' her kin, in case'twuz needful ter mek known she wuz er woman. Her being in 'tothercompany kept you frum seein' 'er much, en' nights I allus slept nigh 'eres you know. She's been awful sick now fur twenty-four hours, en' bothuv yer gone. Et's been er terrable responserbility frum fust terlast--es fatherly as I feel ter ther poor gal," and Givens mopped thesweat from his brow, and drew a long, deep sigh of intense relief.
"Will she recover?" I asked eagerly of Dr. Lafonte, who just then openedthe front door softly. To translate my question was beyond Givens'strictly limited French,
but somehow Dr. Lafonte understood, and repliedin his own tongue.
I gazed at him hopelessly, for then I could not understand a single wordof the French language. Father Gibault, gliding behind the littledoctor, smiled at my bewilderment and translated for me with many shrugsand gestures.
"He would say, Monsieur, that Mademoiselle ees very seek--boot she eesyoung and strong, eef le bon Dieu ees weeling she weel make recovery. I,Monsieur, have plenty Peruvian bark, et ees la grande medicine;Mademoiselle weel make recovery, I theenk, Monsieur," and he gave me abenign and reassuring smile.