Part 13 (1/2)
”Aye, I do my best,” replied Hardy in the same subdued tones, ”but he is bold of spirit, full of imagination and adventurous, and, though I would fain keep him out of the war, I cannot. Yet if I were his age I would go into it myself.”
”It iss the way of youth. He lives in times troubled und full of danger, yet he ha.s.s in the hunter, Willet, and the Onondaga, Tayoga, friends who are a flaming sword on each side of him. Willet ha.s.s a great mind. He iss as brave as a lion und full of resource.”
”Right well do I know it, Jacobus.”
”And the young Onondaga, Tayoga, is of the antique mold. Do I not know it, I who haf taught him so long? Often I could think he was a young Greek or Roman of the best type, reincarnated und sent to the forest. He does haf the lofty nature, the n.o.ble character und simplicity of a young Roman of the republic, before it was corrupted by conquest. I tell you, Benjamin Hardy, that we do not value the red men at their true worth, especially those of the Hodenosaunee!”
”Right well do I know that, too, Jacobus. I had a fair reading in the cla.s.sics, when I was a schoolboy, and I should call the lad, Tayoga, more Greek in spirit than Roman. I have found in him the spiritual quality, the love of beauty and the kindliness of soul which the books say the Greeks had and which the Romans lacked.”
”It iss fairly put, Benjamin, und I bethink me you are right. But there iss one thing which you do not know, but which you ought to know, because it iss of much importance.”
”What is it?” asked Hardy, impressed by the manner of Jacobus.
”It iss the fact that Adrian Van Zoon arrived in Albany this morning.”
The merchant started slightly in surprise, and then his face became a mask.
”Adrian Van Zoon is a merchant like myself,” he said. ”He has a right to come to Albany. Perhaps he feels the necessity, too, as no doubt he is interested in large contracts for the army.”
”It iss true, Benjamin, but you und I would rather he had not come. He arrived but this morning on his own sloop, the _Dirkhoeven_, und I feel that wherever Adrian Van Zoon iss the air becomes noxious, full of poisonous vapors und dangerous to those about him.”
”You're right, Jacobus. I see that your faculties are as keen as ever.
You can see through a mill stone, and you can put together much larger figures than two and two.”
Mynheer Jacobus smiled complacently.
”I haf not yet reached my zenith,” he said, ”und I am very glad I am not yet an old man, because I am so full of curiosity.”
”I don't take your meaning, Jacobus.”
”I would not like to die before this great und long war iss ended because I wish to see how it does end. Und I want to see the nature of the mighty changes which I feel are coming in the world.”
”What changes, for instance, Jacobus?”
”The action of the New World upon the Old, und the action of the old monarchies upon one another. All things change, Benjamin. You und I know that. The veil of majesty that wraps around kings und thrones iss not visible to us here in der American forest, und maybe for dot reason we see the changes coming in Europe better than those who are closer by.
France is the oldest of all the old und great monarchies und for dot reason the French monarchy iss most overripe. Steeped in luxury und corruption, the day of its decay ha.s.s set in.”
”But the French people are valiant and great, Jacobus. Think not that we have in them a weak antagonist.”
”I said nothing of the French nation, Benjamin, mein friend. I spoke of the French throne. The French leaders in Canada are brave und enterprising. They will inflict on us many defeats, but the French throne will not give to them the support to which they as Frenchmen are ent.i.tled.”
”You probably see the truth, Jacobus, and it's to our advantage. Perhaps 'tis better that the French throne should decay. But we'll return to affairs closer by. You've had Van Zoon watched?”
”My stable boy, Peter, ha.s.s not let him out of sight, since he landed from the _Dirkhoeven_. Peter is not a lad of brilliant appearance, which iss perhaps all the better for our purpose, but he will keep Van Zoon in sight, if it iss humanly possible, without being himself suspected.”
”Well done, Jacobus, but I might have known that you would take all needful precautions.”
Robert came back from the window, and they promptly changed the current of the talk, speaking now of the army, its equipment, and the probable time of its march to meet Dieskau. Presently they left Mynheer Huysman's house, and Robert and the merchant went toward the camp on the flats.
Here they beheld a scene of great activity and of enormous interest to Robert.
Few stranger armies have ever been gathered than that which Colonel William Johnson was preparing to lead against Crown Point. The New Englanders brought with them all their characteristics, their independence, their love of individualism and their piety. Despite this piety it was an army that swore hugely, and, despite its huge swearing, it was an honest army. It survives in written testimony that the greatest swearers were from the provinces of New York and Rhode Island, and Colonel Ephraim Williams, an officer among them writing at the time, said that the language they most used was ”the language of h.e.l.l.” And, on the other hand, a New York officer testified that not a housewife in Albany or its suburbs could mourn the loss of a single chicken. Private property everywhere was absolutely safe, and, despite the oaths and rough appearance of the men, no woman was ever insulted.