Part 71 (1/2)
Then the Yellow Moth hung my new blue blanket, which I had lately drawn from our Commissary of Issues, across the door of my hut; two huge boatmen came up with Lana's box, swung between them, and deposited it within the hut.
”By the time you are ready,” said I, ”we will have a breakfast for you such as only the streams of this country can afford.”
The six o'clock gun awoke the camp and found me already at the General's tent, awaiting permission to see him.
He seemed surprised that Clinton had allowed any ladies to accompany the Otsego army, but it was evident that the happiness and relief he experienced at learning that Clinton was on the Ouleout had put him into a most excellent humour. And he straightway sent an officer with orders to remove Lana's box to Block-Fort No. 2 in the new fort, where were already domiciled the wives of two sergeants and a corporal, and gave me an order a.s.signing to Lois and Lana a rough loft there.
But the General's chief concern and curiosity was for Boyd and the eight riflemen who had come through from the Ouleout as the first advanced guard of that impatiently awaited Otsego army; and I heard Boyd telling him very gaily that they were bringing more than two hundred batteaux, loaded with provisions. And, this, I think, was the best news any man could have brought to our Commander at that moment.
One thing I do know; from that time Boyd was an indulged favourite of our General, who admired his many admirable qualities, his gay spirits, his das.h.i.+ng enterprise, his utter fearlessness; and who overlooked his military failings, which were rashness to the point of folly, and a tendency to obey orders in a manner which best suited his own ideas.
Captain c.u.mmings was a far safer man.
I say this with nothing in my heart but kindness for Boyd. G.o.d knows I desire to do him justice--would wish it for him even more than for myself. And I not only was not envious of his good fortune in so pleasing our General, but was glad of it, hoping that this honour might carry with it a new and graver responsibility sufficiently heavy to curb in him what was least admirable and bring out in him those n.o.bler qualities so desirable in officer and man.
When I returned to my hut there were any fish smoking hot on their bark plates, and Lana and Lois in dry woollen dresses, worsted stockings, and stout, buckled shoon, already at porridge.
So I sat down with them and ate, and it was, or seemed to be, a happy company there before our little hut, with officers and troops pa.s.sing to and fro and glancing curiously at us, and our Indians squatted behind us all a-row, and s.h.i.+ning up knife and hatchet and rifle; and the bugle-horns of the various regiments sounding prettily at intervals, and the fifers and drummers down by the river at distant morning practice.
”You love best the bellowing conch-horn of the rifles,” observed Lana to Lois, with a touch of her old-time impudence.
”I?” exclaimed Lois.
”You once told me that every blast of it sets you a-trembling,”
insisted Lana. ”Naturally I take it that you quiver with delight--having some friend in that corps----”
”Lana! Have done, you little baggage!”
”Lord!” said Lana. ”'Twas Major Parr I meant. What does an infant Ensign concern such aged dames as you and I?”
Lois, lovely under her mounting colour, continued busy with her porridge. Lana said in my ear:
”She is a wild thing, Euan, and endures neither plaguing nor wooing easily. How I have gained her I do not know.... Perhaps because I am aging very fast these days, and she hath a heart as tender as a forest dove's.”
Lois looked up, seeing us whispering together.
”Uncouth manners!” said she. ”I am greatly ashamed of you both.”
I thought to myself, wondering, how utter a change had come over the characters of these two in twice as many weeks! Lois had now something of that quick and mischievous gaiety that once was Lana's; and the troubled eyes that once belonged to Lois now were hers no longer, but Lana's. It seemed very strange and sad to me.
”Had I a dozen beaux,” quoth Lois airily, ”I might ask of one o' them another bit of trout.” And, ”Oh!” she exclaimed, in affected surprise, as I aided her. ”It would seem that I have at least one young man who aspires to that ridiculous t.i.tle. Do you covet it, Euan? And humbly?”
”Do I merit it?” I asked, laughing.
”Upon my honour,” she exclaimed, turning to Lana, ”I believe the poor young gentleman thinks he does merit the t.i.tle. Did you ever hear of such insufferable conceit? And merely because he offers me a bit of trout.”
”I caught them, too,” said I. ”That should secure me in my t.i.tle.”
”Oh! You caught them too, did you! And so you deem yourself ent.i.tled to be a beau of mine? Lana, do you very kindly explain to the unfortunate Ensign that you and I were accustomed at Otsego to a popularity and an adulation of which he has no conception. Colonels and majors were at our feet. Inform him very gently, Lana.”