Part 12 (1/2)
By turning to your map of North America you can easily distinguish Cape Canso, at the eastern extremity of the mainland of Nova Scotia. Upon an island, about a mile from the sh.o.r.e and forming with it the harbor of Canso, is the gra.s.s-grown fortress which I have mentioned. The name of the island is George's; the fort has had several high-sounding t.i.tles.
Why should it not? It is old--older perhaps than others with claims of easier proof. In 1518, over a century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, legend says that Baron de Lery threw up the first embankments and claimed the country for the crown of France. Several times this fort has been besieged and captured, at heavy loss of life. New England sent expeditions against it. The bloodthirsty Indians repeatedly raided the place. In 1745 Pepperell and his valiant little army of Ma.s.sachusetts, New Hamps.h.i.+re, and Connecticut militia remained here for some weeks, in order to acquire drill and discipline before moving upon the boasted Louisburg. And many another martial display has this neglected old fort witnessed, and personages celebrated in our history have walked within its ramparts upon occasion.
In the year 1757 Fort George, as it was then called, had as its garrison a small detachment from Colonel Warburton's regiment of foot. This trifling force was compelled to watch over a wide extent of territory in addition to the special place they occupied. France and England were again at war, and both regular expeditions and lawless guerillas abounded.
On a certain day in midsummer the garrison embarked upon a small vessel and sailed away to the relief of a threatened settlement. Rupert Haydon, the drummer-boy, was left in charge of the fort. With him were several women, wives of soldiers, and their small children.
”We shall be gone but a week at most, drummer,” Captain Peabody had announced. ”It suits me not to leave women and stores so ill protected, but the commands of my superiors must be obeyed. However, it is scarce likely that the enemy will have knowledge of the fort's weakness in time to profit thereby.”
The drummer-boy stood at attention and saluted as the soldiers marched out through the covered way. With the aid of the women he hoisted the drawbridge and closed the ma.s.sive timber gates. Then, scrambling up on top of the parapet, he watched the little sailing craft, her decks all bright with the scarlet-coated warriors, pa.s.s out through the narrow harbor entrance and disappear from view around the first headland.
Scarcely had the transport so vanished, when Rupert's keen eyes discovered another vessel making for the harbor from the opposite side.
Mere supposition was useless. The newcomer might prove to be a friend.
If an enemy, the chance of being let alone was problematical. It was now too late to recall the recently departed garrison. Upon the drummer's young shoulders lay the whole burden of maintaining the dignity of the English flag.
Rupert Haydon was only a poorly educated boy, but he must have had a great deal of latent talent. Even while gazing in consternation at the fast-approaching vessel, he mentally mapped out a plan of campaign.
Hastily gathering the women about him, he explained the matter to them, and secured their aid. They were all well used to the happening of the unexpected, and inured to danger and fatigue. The wife of a British soldier has never had an easy lot. These rugged-looking though golden-hearted women donned some uniforms left behind by their husbands, and became, in outward appearance at least, full-fledged soldiers. The six small cannon mounted in the fort's bastions were loaded, small-arms served out, and ammunition placed conveniently to hand. One of the soldier-women mounted guard upon the ramparts, and marched up and down, in plain view, with musket upon shoulder. The English ensign was, of course, flying from the tall staff in the centre of the redoubt.
As the vessel drew nearer, the little garrison began to bustle with activity, and continued in the same fas.h.i.+on for some while. Two of the soldier-women would come out of the fort, stroll down to the sh.o.r.e, examine the stranger with an apparently mild curiosity, and then walk off together over the hills. Meanwhile the others, including Rupert, would come and go, disappearing and reappearing in all directions with the aid of the rocky ravines and clumps of trees upon the island. The idea of all this was to convince the new-comers, whoever they might be, that the fort's garrison remained unimpaired, and took no special notice of a single vessel. That the scheme had a certain effect was shown in the fact that the stranger came to anchor far down the harbor, well out of range of Fort George's cannon. It looked very much as if the appearance of these redcoats coming and going about the island had impressed her commander unfavorably.
After some delay the s.h.i.+p hoisted a French ensign, and a small boat put off from her side and headed for the fort landing. This boat contained three men--two rowing, and one in the stern holding aloft a piece of white cloth. It was evidently a flag of truce, coming to parley.
Although his worst fears were now realized, and they plainly had a formidable enemy to deal with, Rupert never wavered, but proceeded to dispose of his forces in the best manner possible. Leaving only the sentry upon the parapet, he marched out of the fort at the head of the others, as if they merely const.i.tuted a suitable escorting party. One of the squad he had equipped beforehand with a flag of truce similar to that carried by the man in the boat. The drummer drew up his little company in a single rank upon the glacis, about half-way between the intrenchments and the water's edge. At such a distance their disguises could not be discovered. Alone he advanced to the border of the pebble-strewn strand, and there awaited the coming of the emissary.
The latter was wary of approaching too hastily. He bade his oarsmen back the skiff stern first to within ten or fifteen yards of the sh.o.r.e. Then he stopped them, and, while they kept the boat in position with gentle strokes, he held converse with the intrepid drummer by means of l.u.s.ty shoutings.
”I wish to speak with your Commandant,” began the stranger, using good English, yet with a decided Gallic accent. ”You are only a child.... A drummer-boy?... Am I not right?... I judged so by your small stature and pretty coat.... Inform the Commandant of your fort that I desire a few words with him.”
”It is impossible,” replied Rupert, coolly.
”What? Impossible?”
”Yes; I regret to say that the Commandant will not be able to see you at present. But I am his representative, and can also act as your messenger if you have something of importance to transmit.”
”O-ho! We are very high and mighty, it seems!” retorted the stranger, angrily. ”Like should have like for meals. I will not be so civil as I first intended. Tell your Commandant that my name is Rabentine--Captain Rabentine. I have the honor of commanding _La Belle Cerise_, privateer, of St. Malo.”
”A French privateer!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Rupert.
”Just so,” went on Captain Rabentine, looking from the drummer to his escort, up at the fort, and back again to the drummer, with some appearance of suspicion.
”I had thought you were a navy frigate,” rejoined Rupert, promptly. ”We are getting rusty for the want of a little fighting.”
The other seemed slightly taken aback at this statement.
”Perhaps you may have such a chance even yet,” he growled.
”Well, Captain Rabentine,” cried the boy, courteously, ”what else am I to say to the Commandant? For surely you took not all this trouble merely to let us know whom our visitor might be?”
”Inform him,” shouted the privateer Captain, waxing wroth, ”that I had intended simply to lay in harbor here and weather out the coming gale.
That a good prize-s.h.i.+p is more to my liking than an empty fort! Perhaps there might even have been a case of rare wine sent ash.o.r.e by way of compliment. But as he chooses to be so distant, and sends a drummer-boy as fitting amba.s.sador to a French Captain, I shall give myself the pleasure of--But, pshaw! there is no money in this for my owners. Inform your Commandant that I have a mind to anchor farther up the harbor, where the shelter is good, for a few days. That I will not molest him if he leaves me alone. There you have it in a nutsh.e.l.l. Go, and haste quickly with the answer.”