University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.
The Spies.

Scarlet Feather launched his canoe from the green sward, upon which
it was lying, and placing the lovely Indian maiden therein, seized the carved
paddle, and shot out into the arrowy current. In a few minutes he reached
the opposite shore, and drawing the canoe underneath the foliage of
the bank, where it would lie concealed, he prepared to accompany Willewa
through the forest paths to her lodge.

`Nay, Natanis,' she said, laying her hand upon his arm. `You are already
far enough in the hunting-grounds of Canassa. The warriors of my people
are in action, and their war-parties may be crossing our path at this moment.
Return, Natanis! Reach speedily your own territories, arouse your warriors
and prepare to defend the Pale-faces, our friends. But let not Natanis and
Canassa meet in battle.'

`Never will the Abanaquis look upon the chief of the Nerijewecs, the
father of Willewa, as his foe. I promise thee that I will not let my favor towards
the Bostonee bring me into a war with Canassa.'

`I ask no more, Natanis! Now hasten. If anything occurs that you
should know, I will send thee word. There is one Indian—a youth whom
I can trust to bear a message. If one comes to thy lodges, wearing bound
upon his brow this girdle of wampum, you will know he is a messenger from
Willewa.'

Natanis accompanied the maiden some distance farther, and then parting
from her, retraced his steps towards the river. He thought deeply, as he
went, upon the news that he had received. Although not inclined to enter
into this quarrel between the English and the colonists, and originally intending
to remain passive, nevertheless he had a predilection in favor of the
latter, and a strong prejudice against the former; sufficient motives, in combination,
to lead him, under suitable inducements, to take part in the conflict,
and throw his influence on the side of `the Bostonees,' as the New
Englanders were denominated. This inducement was the desire of Willewa
that he should be their friend; for her deep gratitude to the lovely Christian
daughter of the governor of Massachusetts, extended to the whole people,
and in her heart she regarded every Bostonee as the brother of her benefactress.
These were the deep feelings that led the Indian girl to seek to
enlist Natanis in their cause, when she found that they were likely to be attacked
by the Nerijewees. The struggle in her heart was a painful one. It
was a struggle between parental love, and gratitude to her who opened to
her the knowledge of the way of life! the latter prevailed in her heart.—
But then came another struggle, scarcely less painful. It was whether she
should place Natanis in a hostile position to her father, that the intentions of
Canassa against the ascending army might not be carried into effect. She
felt, as Natanis had suggested, that if he assumed a bold stand with his eight
hundred warriors on the flank of the Bostonees between their line of march
and Canassa's force, that the latter would not venture the battle, and so the
army might pass on securely. Nevertheless, she saw with grief, that this
position would widen the breach between them, even though no battle
should come of it! But her desire to befriend the people of her Christian
teacher, indnced her to run even the risk of a battle, trusting to Natanis's

promise that he would not cross her father's path. She had, however, a
hope at her heart, the realization of which, she trusted, would render all
safe. With this hope, giving lightness and speed to her steps, she hurried
along the gloomy glades of the forest, in the direction of the Lodge of her
father.

In the meanwhile Natanis followed the path towards the river, from which
he had gone half a mile in attendance upon Willewa. He had made up his
mind, immediately on reaching his national Lodges, to despatch Ayane secretly
to the Bostonee General to inform him of the hostile attitude assumed
by Canassa, and put him on his guard against any attack. While he
was forming this plan in his mind, he saw two figures before him at some
distance, crossing a moonlit space in the forest, and disappearing again in its
recesses. They seemed to him, to be bearing a canoe between them. Supposing
them to be some of Canassa's people, he hastened forward to see
whither they were going, at once suspecting them of being on their way to
take the river to descend it, and spy out the movements of the enemy; or it
might be the Damaresc and Kennebis messengers returning. He struck
through the forest higher up than he had seen them, intending to strike their
trail obliquely. In about ten minutes he fell in with it, and then followed
it with that caution, and unerring certainty, characteristic of his race. He
saw by the pressure of the grass, and the bent shrubs which had not yet recovered
their erect from again after being pressed down by their fect, that
they were but two or three minutes before him; and had these failed, the
very air to his keen senses had betrayed their recent passage; for as he inhaled
it, he felt that it had not, many seconds before, been exhaled by human
beings. He proceeded with the steady, stealthy pace of a panther following
his prey, until the bright, moonlit river came in sight through the forest
trees; and by the bluffs on the opposite bank, he recognized the spot to
be a mile above his lodge. Wondering, if those he pursued were to descend
the river in the boat they carried on their shoulders, they should have gone
so high up, he carefully advanced from the wood and saw them standing
upon the bank. He approached them tree by tree, concealing himself as he
advanced, until he was within a few yards of them. To his surprise, he then
saw that they were Sabatis and Sharp Knife. They had laid down their
birchen canoe close to the water's edge, and seating themselves upon the
grass, with their backs against a large sycamore, began to light their pipes
and smoke while they rested.

Natanis, after hearing the news brought him by Willewa, had recalled his
brother's visit and manner, and the thought that his movements might have
had some connection with the appearance of the Colonial army in the wilderness,
forced itself strongly upon his mind: and the more he reflected
upon his brother's words to him, the more he was impressed with the belief
that he not only knew the ascent of the army, but that he was acting treacherously
in reference to it. Upon now seeing them here his suspicions were
confirmed. He, therefore, hearing them talking together, cautiously moved
forward, creeping upon the ground with noiseless advance, until he was
within three length of his hunting-spear of the spot where they reclined
with their backs to the forest. He listened with the deepest attention, for
he hoped to discover by their words their treachery, whatever it might be,
or whomsoever might be its victim.

`That canoe ar'nt the lightest one I ever did handle, sagamore,' said Sharp
Knife, as he drew his first whiff of tobacco smoke deliberately through the
stem of his pipe, and then blew it a yard out from his lips in a straight line,
a favorite way he had of smoking. `It is a long tramp, four miles through
the woods with such a load. We have, however, completely blinded Natanis.
It would'nt have done to let him know our business.'

`Natanis will soon hear that the pale-faces are below. He will then suspect
our mission,' answered Sabatis, placing his tomahawk to his lips, the

handle of which was perforated like a pipe tube, and the head of it hollowed
to form a bowl.

`True! but we shall have gone on beyond his reach. What I was afraid
of was, that if he guessed we were hurrying forward to give intelligence to
Governor Carlton of the approach of the Colonists, he would try and stop
us. He could easily have done it by sending a score of his braves after
us.'

`It was for this reason I was not more plain in my interview with him.
I was afraid the Abanaquis would possess my secret, and then use it to favor
the Bostonees.'

`Well, Sagamore, we are well escaped from him. In ten minutes let us
push on up stream. We have no time for delay. The sooner we reach
Quebee with the news, the greater will be our service done, and the heavier
the gold in our belts.'

`Sabatis does not this service for gold,' answered the Sagamore proudly.
`I am the friend of the great Sachem Carlton, and I do it to serve him, as
one Chief serves another, in alliance with him. Sabatis does not this for
gold! The Tarratine is a warrior, not a merchant.'

`Them may be your sentiments, Sagamore, but not mine, I can tell you!
If I did'nt expect a belt full of English guineas, I would'nt take another step
north. The colonists might march in silence, and come popping down out
of the wilderness upon the fortress of Quebec like a flight of eagles upon
a lion's lair. It's nat'ral for white men to love gold, and I consider myself a
white, though I was raised a Injun! Do you think, Sagamore, the Chief
Canassa will take part in this affair? You know he has pledged his faith to
the English, as well as you.'

`Canassa is an independant Sagamore, and will act as he sees fit. Though
we are both allies of the English, we are not friends to each other.'

`True. I know the Tarratines and Abanaquies have little love for the
Nerijewec. It is my opinion Canassa would anticipate us if he knew our
mission; for he would like this opportunity of securing the good will of the
English. You have done right, Sagamore, to go yourself in person. It
will enable you to secure on the spot what reward you want for your services.
Governor Carlton will see at a glance the great service you will have
done him in giving him timely notice of the advance of a foe in this direction.'

`I shall ask only for the hunting-ground of the Nerijewecs. These were
once part of the territories of the Tarratine nation, and were wrested from
us by rebellion in the tribe, when the oldest forest tree upon them was a
sapling.'

`What will you do with Canassa, and his people?'

`The English must find other lands for them. Let Canassa drive out the
Damaresc and Kennebis if he will have new hunting-grounds.'

`Canassa will fight to the last for his lands,' answered Sharp Knife.—
`Come, Sagamore! It is time we pushed forward.'

`I have been thinking, Sharp Knife, that if Natanis finds I have left orders
for war-parties of my braves to molest and obstruct the passage of the
Bostonees as much as they can, he may bring his warriors into their aid, and
war with mine.'

`Let him, Sagamore! It will only weaken his own power. His warriors
now, are three hundred less than yours. If Natanis is slain, you are
Chief of both tribes.'

`But if Natanis and my warriors come to battle on this quarrel, Natanis
and Canassa will surely be friends and unite their warriors against me and
mine.'

`The Abanaquis and the Nerijewec never can be allies, Sagamore. Their
hatred is too long lived.'

`If Natanis and I are at war, Canassa finding he is to be driven from his
hunting-grounds that I may occupy them, will make proposals of union
with Natanis.'

`But he will not accept them without some deeper motive than I can now
see at the bottom. The proud Scarlet Feather will never smoke the calumet
of peace with Canassa. But let us move, Sagamore.'

The majestic Indian Chief rose from the ground, elevating his Herculean
frame to its full height, and casting a quick, searching glance around him,
followed Sharp Knife into the canoe. It soon disappeared with them in the
shadows which overhung the banks of the river. Natanis listened until he
could no longer hear the dip of their paddles as they propelled the little
bark up the current, and then rapidly took his way down the shores of the
stream towards the place where he had left his own boat on debarking with
Willewa. Springing into it, he shot down the river like an arrow, and leaped
on shore before his hunting-lodge. To his surprise, he was met in the
door by Ayane!

`My Chief, pardon Ayane for hunting you out in your seclusion!' said
the young Indian as he saw Natanis start back with surprise.

`Natanis has nothing to forgive his friend. Why do you seek me?

`I knew that you could only seek the lodges of the Nerijewec that you
might be near the footsteps of the daughter of Canassa. I waited two days
for your return, and fearing for your safety amid your enemies territories, I
sought you.'

`You are welcome, Ayane! I would rather see thee now than any man.
I was hastening to find you.'

`What service can Ayane perform for his chief?'

`Willewa has brought me intelligence to-night that a Damaresc warrior
has been to Canassa's lodge and reported that a thousand warriors of the
Bostonee race are ascending the Kennebis in white-winged canoes. They
are now just below the Cushnoc falls, encamped and building boats to ascend
higher. You look surprised, Ayane, and grasp your spear firmly!—
What think you, is their purpose?'

`I know not, my chief, unless to invade our hunting-grounds,' answered
the young brave with animation.

`Are we not at peace with them?'

`And is not the Abananquis the friend of the Bostonec? What has Natanis
done, that a thousand warriors should come hither so secretly?'

`They seek not Natanis, brother. Their object is to war upon the English.'

`The English have no lodges on the Kennebis!'

`But they have, on the great St. Lawrence. Dost thou not know their
purpose? But, come hither! see'st thou then, this dressed skin? Knowest
thou what these figures I have drawn upon it mean?'

And Natanis displayed to him in the light of the moon, a white deer-skin
on which was drawn with vermillion, a rude but accurate delineation of the
rivers of Maine, of the situation of the Highlands, and the direction of the
Chaudiere into the St. Lawrence.

`I have seen thee make in such a manner the lines of your hunting-grounds,
separating them from those around; but I have not seen this
before.'

`This is a map of the Kennebis to its source, and also of the rivers that
flow north, the other side of the mountains of the wilderness. I have been
amusing myself while here, in drawing it, partly from my own observation,
partly from the accounts of my father, and also from what the hunters who
have passed along these rivers have told me. Look you, now, Ayane! You
have asked me why the Bostonee seeks his English foe on the Kennebis.
Here is the sea where the Kennebis loses itself after washing the lands of

the tribe of Kennebis and that of the Damaresc. Now follow the point of
my dagger as I trace upward along this wavy line, which is the river.—
From the sea the Bostonee fleet of war-canoes came up to the falls of Cushnoc,
where you see I have painted an arrow-head. There they are now encamped,
building batteaus to ascend further; for their big war-canoes will
not go higher. Now follow my dagger's point, and I will show you where
they will follow, and whither they go. Here where I detain my dagger and
you see a deer's antler represented is where my lodge now is. There opposite,
where I have painted a heart, is the lodge of the fair Willewa, and
beyond it the Lodges of Canassa and his people. Now I ascend the river,
passing fall after fall, till you see I stop and turn aside into another stream.
This is a tributary to the Kennebis. I ascend it so far—a half day's journey
—and then cross this space, which is forest. If I was in a canoe, I should
have to carry my boat across it eighteen miles. I thus pass the mountains
here, and launch my canoe into this red space which represents the lake
Megantic. It is connected, you see, with another river flowing out of it.'

`That river, I see, flows contrary to the Kennebis,' said Ayane, who,
bending on one knee as Natanis held the skin unrolled upon his, was eagerly
and earnestly regarding the skilfully-drawn map as his chief was pointing
out to him its several parts.

`Yes, it flows northward. It is the Chaudiere. Now follow my finger
down until you see it empties into a river—'

`That runs eastward toward the rising sun!' exclaimed Ayane with surprise.

`Yes. All rivers do not flow southward like our native Kennebis. This
great river is the St. Lawrence. It flows through the lands of the English
Sachem, and here where you see I have placed a cross is their great Lodge,
Quebec.'

`Quebec!' exclaimed the youthful brave, with surprise.

`What makes Ayane wonder? speak and Natanis will listen,' he said, seeing
him grave and thoughtful.

`If,' said Ayane placing one finger on the cross, and another at the mouth
of the Kennebis, `there is situated the English Sachem's lodge, and one can
so easily reach it in a canoe from here, why does not the Great Sachem of
Quebec come up the Chaudiere and descend the Kennebis with his warriors
to attack the Bostonees? If he saw this map, Natanis, he would do it!'
added the youth with sparkling eyes.

`And do you wish it, Ayane? Is the young friend of Natanis the foe of
the Bostonee?'

`No, Natanis. I knew that the English Sachem was at war with them,
and when I saw your rivers here, and beheld how easily he could reach his
foes by passing through the wilderness, I spoke my thoughts.'

`Ayane, I am the friend of the Bostonee. Willewa is their friend. Is
Ayane their foe?' said the Chief with gentle reproach.

`Ayane loves only his chief. His friends are Ayane's friends,' answered
the youth warmly and sincerely.

`Then listen, Ayane. Thy thought has hit the truth, but not in reference
to the English. It is the Bostonee that marches with his warriors through
the wilderness by these rivers. The English Sachem comes not south to
attack Boston, but the Boston Sachem goes north to attack Quebec. It is
for this end that their warriors are now already so far advanced in their
progress through the wilderness. The thought that came to thy mind, came
to them also. Dost thou rejoice at it as much as if it were the English who
were thus in motion?'

`Ayane rejoices with Natanis. If Natanis is glad, so is Ayane. The joys
of his chief are his.'

`Thou knowest, then, why this band of white warriors build their bat-You

see that it is important the English should be taken by surprise.
Now there have passed up the river to-night two spies, if I may so call
them, who having discovered the approach of the Bostonees, and ascertained
their intention, have hastened forward to the wilderness to forewarn the
English Sachem at Quebec of the approach of his foes. These spies are
Sabatis, my warlike brother-chief of the Tarratines, and Sharp Knife, a
Pale face who was brought up in his tribe, and whom you have heard of as
a great brave and skilful hunter. Their object I have accidentally discovered
from their own words. They are now on their way in a canoe, having
got by this time nearly as far as the Sebasticoc rapids, five miles hence.—
Remain here, Ayane, and be watchful that you are not surprised by any foe
while I hasten to my Lodges and send thee seven young braves with two
canoes. When they meet you, take to the river, and pursue Sabatis swiftly
and secretly. Overtake him, surprise him and make him and Sharp Knife
prisoner. Injure neither of them, for Sabatis is the brother of Natanis.—
Conduct them in safety to my council Lodge, and there guard them until you
see me.'

The next moment they parted, and Natanis, entering the forest, took his
way swiftly towards the beautiful lake among the hills where, clustered in
numerous picturesque villages and hamlets, were congregated the lodges of
his nation.