The Little Red Foot Part 76

The Yellow Leaf came to me with the courier, one Barent Westerfelt, who had brought presents from Colonel c.o.x; and I had no discretion in the matter, nor would have exercised any if I had.

"Brother," said I, taking him by both hands, "go freely with this messenger from General Herkimer; because if you were not sorely needed our brother Corlear had not ordered an express to find and fetch you."

He replied that he made nothing of the presents sent him, but desired to remain with me. I patiently pointed out to him that I was merely a subaltern in the State Rangers and unattached, and that I must await my turn of duty like a good soldier, nor feel aggrieved if fortune called others first.

Still he seemed reluctant, and would not go, and scowled at the express rider and his sack of gew-gaws.

"Brother," said I, "would you shame me who, as you say, found you a wild beast and have taught you that you are a real man?"

"I am a man and a warrior," he said quickly.

"Real men and warriors are known by their actions, my younger brother.

When there is war they s.h.i.+ne their hatchets. When the call comes, they bound into the war-trail. Brother, the call has come! Hiero!"

The Montagnais straightened his body and threw back his narrow, dangerous head.

"Haih!" he said. "I hear my brother's voice coming to me through the forests! Very far away beyond the mountains I hear the panther-cry of the Mengwe! My axe is bright! I am in my paint. Koue! I go!"

He left within the hour; and I had become attached to the wild rover of the Saguenay, and missed him the more, perhaps, because of my own sore heart which beat so impotently within my idle body.

That Herkimer had taken him disconcerted and discouraged me; but there was a more bitter blow in store for a young soldier of no experience in discipline or in the slow habit of military procedure; for, judge of my wrath when one rainy day in August comes Nick Stoner to me in a new uniform of the line, saying that Colonel Livingston's regiment lacked musicians, and he had thought it best to transfer and to 'list and not let opportunity go a-glimmering.

"My G.o.d, Jack," says he, "you can not blame me very well, for my father is drafted to the same regiment, and my brother John is a drummer in it.

It is a marching regiment and certain to fight, for there be three Livingstons commanding of it, and who knows what old Herkimer can do with his militia, or what the militia themselves can do?"

"You are perfectly right, Nick," said I in a mortified voice. "I am not envious; no! only it wounds me to feel I am so utterly forgotten, and my application for transfer unnoticed."

Nick took leave of us that night, sobered not at all by the imminence of battle, for he danced around my chamber in Burke's Inn, a-playing upon his fife and capering so that Penelope was like to suffocate with laughter, though inclined to seriousness.

We supped all together in my chamber as we had so often gathered at Summer House, but if I were inclined to gloomy brooding, and if Penelope seemed concerned at parting with a comrade, Nick permitted no sad reflexions to disturb us whom he was leaving behind.

He made us drink a very devilish flip-cup, which he had devised in the tap-room below with Jimmy Burke's aid, and which filled our young noddles with a gaiety not natural.

He sang and offered toasts, and played on his fife and capered until we were breathless with mirth.

Also, he took from his new knapsack a penny broadside,--witty, but like most broadsides of the kind, somewhat broad,--which he had for thrippence of a pedlar, the same being a parody on the Danbury Broadside; and this he read aloud to us, bursting with laughter, while standing upon his chair at table to recite it:

THE EXPEDITION TO JOHNSTOWN[32]

(In search of provisions)

Scene--New York City

(_Enter_ General Sir Wm. Howe and Mrs. ----, preceded by Fame in cap and bells, flouris.h.i.+ng a bladder.)

_Fame_ (speaks)

"Without wit, without wisdom, half stupid, half drunk, And rolling along arm-in-arm with his Punk, Comes gallant Sir William, the warrior (by proxy) To harangue his soldiers (held up by his Doxy)!"

_Sir Wm._ (speaks)

"My boys, I'm a-going to send you to Tryon, To Johnstown, where _you'll_ get as groggy as I am!

By a Tory from there I have just been informed That there's n.o.body there, so the town shall be stormed!

For if n.o.body's there and n.o.body near it, My army shall conquer that town, never fear it!"

(_Enter_ Joe Gallopaway, a refugee Tory)

_Joe_

"Brave soldiers, go fight that we all may get rich!"

_Regular Soldiers_

"We'll fetch you a halter, you * * * * !

Get out! And go live in the woods upon nuts, Or we'll give you our bayonets plump in your guts!

Do you think we are fighting to feed such a crew As Butler, Sir John, Mr. Singler and you?"

(_Enter_ Sir John Johnson)

_Sir John_

"Come on, my brave boys! Now! as bold as a lion!

And march at my heels to the County called Tryon; My lads, there's no danger, for this you should know, That I'd let it alone if I thought it was so!

So point all your noses towards the Dominion And we'll all live like lords is my honest opinion!"

Scene--Buck Island Trail

(_Enter_ Fame, Sir John, and his Royal Greens)

_Fame_

"In cunning and canting, deceit and disguise, In breaking parole by inventing cheap lies, Sir John is a match for the worst of his species, But in this undertaking he'll soon go to pieces.

He'll fall to the rear, for he'd rather go last, Crying, 'Forward, my boys! Let me see you all past!

For his Majesty's service (so reads my commission) Requires I push forward the whole expedition!"

_Sir John_

"I care not a louse for the United States,-- For General Schuyler or General Gates!

March forward, my lads, and account for each sinner, While Butler, St. Leger, and I go to dinner.

For plenty's in Tryon of eating and drinking, Who'd stay in New York to be starving and stinking."

March over the Mohawk! March over, march over, You'll live like a parcel of hogs in sweet clover!"

Scene--Outside Fort Stanwix

(A council of war. At a distance the new American flag flying above the bastions)