Part 16 (1/2)

”Nay, nay De Courcy, you are too severe on poor Cranstoun,”

said Captain Granville with provoking sympathy--”that unfortunate bear skin affair should not be revived again, and so immediately in the theatre near which it occurred.

”Particularly when we consider from what DIFFICULT-TIE he was released” said Middlemore, who even under the cannon's mouth could not have forborne his inveterate habit.

”It is the sight of the old place that has stirred up his bile,” remarked Captain Molineux. ”Usually good tempered as he is, he would not have taken offence at De Courcy's unmeaning remark at any other moment.”

”A very nice adventure that--I frequently think of it,”

said Villiers, adding his mite to the persiflage all appeared determined to bestow upon the touchy grenadier.

”Yes, quite AN ICE adventure,” chimed in Middlemore, with the low chuckling laugh that betrayed his consciousness of having something not wholly intolerable.

But Cranstoun, now that his ludicrous disaster had been brought up, was not to be shaken from the imperturbability he ever adopted when it became a topic of conversation among his companions. Drawing his lengthy legs after him with slow and solemn precision, he continued to whistle a Scotch air, in utter seeming abstraction from all around, and in his attempt to appear independent and perfectly at his ease, nearly ran down the pretty girl alluded to by De Courcy, who stood in the door way curtseying graciously, and welcoming each of the British officers, as they pa.s.sed into the house.

”Bread, eggs, milk, fruit, cider, and whatever the remains of yesterday's meal afforded, were successively brought forward by the dark eyed daughter of the farmer, who, as De Courcy had remarked, seemed by no means indisposed towards the gay looking invaders of her home. There was a recklessness about the carriage of most of these, and even a foppery about some, that was likely to be any thing but displeasing to a young girl, who, French Canadian by birth, although living under the Government of the United States, possessed all the natural vivacity of character peculiar to the original stock. Notwithstanding the pertinacity with which her aged father lingered in the room, the handsome and elegant De Courcy contrived more than once to address her in an under tone, and elicit a blush that greatly heightened the brilliant expression of her large black eyes, and Villiers subsequently declared that he had remarked the air of joyousness and triumph that pervaded her features on the young aid-de-camp promising to return to the farm as soon as the place had been entered, and leisure afforded him.

”But the particulars of the flag, De Courcy,” said Captain Granville, as he devoured a hard boiled turkey egg, which in quant.i.ty fully made up for what it wanted in quality.

”When you have finished flirting with that unfortunate girl, come and seat yourself quietly, and tell us what pa.s.sed between the General and the--officer who bore it.

Why, I thought you had a devil of an appet.i.te just now?”

”Ah, true,” returned the young man, taking his seat at the rude naked table which bore their meal. ”I had quite forgotten my appet.i.te-mais ca viendra en mangent, n'est-ce pas?” and he looked at the young girl.

”Plait-il, monsieur?”

”Tais toi ma fille--ce n'est pas a toi qu'on parle,”

gruffly remarked her father.

”The old boy is becoming savage at your attentions,”

remarked Villiers, ”you will get the girl into a sc.r.a.pe.”

”Bah,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed De Courcy, ”Well but of the General.

Who think you was the bearer of the flag. No other than that fine looking fellow, Colonel--what's his name, who came to us the other day.”

”Indeed, singular enough--what said the General to him, on meeting?” asked Henry Grantham.

”'Well, Colonel,' said he smiling, 'you see I have kept my word. This is the day on which I promised that we should meet again.'

”What answer did he make?” demanded Villiers.

”'True, General, and most happily have you chosen. But one day sooner and we should have dared your utmost in our strong-hold: Today,' and he spoke in a tone of deep mortification, 'we have not resolution left to make a show even in vindication of our honor. In a word, I am here to conduct you to those who will offer terms derogatory at once to our national character, and insulting to our personal courage.'

”The General,” pursued De Courcy, ”respecting the humiliated manner of the American, again bowed, but said nothing--After a moment of pause, the latter stated that the Governor and Commander of the fortress were waiting to receive and confer with him as to the terms of capitulation. Whether the General had calculated upon this want of nerve in his antagonist, I know not, but on the communication of the intelligence I remarked a slight curl upon his lip, that seemed to express the triumph of one whose ruse had taken. This might or might not be, however, for as you are all aware, I pretend to very little observation except (and he turned his eye upon the daughter of their host,) where there is a pretty girl in the case. All I know is, that, attended by Stanley, he has accompanied the flag into the town, and that, having no immediate occasion for my valuable services, he sent me back to give to Colonel St. Julian the order you have heard.

”How vary extraordinary, to soorrender the ceetadel without firing a shoat,” said Cranstoun, who ever ready to fight as to eat, seemed rather disappointed at the issue, if one might judge from the lengthened visage with which he listened to these tidings.

”Singular enough,” added Captain Granville. ”Did the Colonel hint at any cause for this sudden change of purpose, De Courcy.”

”Oh, by the way, yes, I had forgotten. He stated with a sneer of contempt, that he believed the nerves of the Governor had been shaken by the reports conveyed to him of the destructive nature of the fire from the batteries, the centre of which especially had so completely got the range that every shot from it came into the fortress with fearful effect. One point blank in particular, had entered the gate which was open, and killed and wounded four officers of rank, who were seated at breakfast in one of their barrack rooms, while a second had carried off no less than three surgeons.”

”Well done, Gerald,” exclaimed Captain Granville, delighted at the reflection, that he had been so mainly instrumental in determining the surrender of the Fort.”

”Cleverly done, indeed,” said Villiers, ”that is pinking off the pill-boxes with a vengeance--an Indian rifle could not do better.”