The Lost Hunter Page 16

  CHAPTER XV.

  See winter comes to rule the varied year, Sullen and sad with all his rising train Vapors and clouds and storms. THOMSON'S SEASONS.

  The charming poet depicted truthfully, doubtless, as well aspoetically, the English winter, but such is not the character of theseason in New England. Clouds and storms, indeed, herald his adventand attend his march; capricious too his humor; but he is neither"sullen" nor "sad." No brighter skies than his, whether the sunwith rays of mitigated warmth but of intenser light, sparkles o'erboundless fields of snow, or whether the moon, a faded sun, leadingher festal train of stars, listens to the merry sleigh-bells and thelaugh of girls and boys, ever glorified a land. What though sometimeshis trumpet sounds tremendous and frowns o'erspread his face!Transient is his anger, and even then from his white beard he shakesa blessing, to protect with fleecy covering the little seeds in hopeentrusted to the earth, and to contribute to the mirth and sports ofman.

  A few days have passed since the occurrences last detailed. Theweather had gradually become colder; the ground was as hard as astone; there had been a heavy fall of snow, and the streets weremusical with bells. The snow had fallen before the intense coldcommenced, so that the glassy surface of the ice that bridged therivers and lakes was undimmed, and presented unusual attractions tothe skaters.

  It was on the afternoon of a fine day that the smooth Severn, hardenedinto diamond, was covered, just where the Yaupaae and the Wootuppocutunite, to give it form and an independent being, with a gay throngof the people of the village of both sexes. They were mostly youngpersons, consisting principally of boys from school (for it wasSaturday afternoon) with their sisters. Besides these were some youngmen and women, with here and there one more advanced in years.

  It was a scene of gaiety and exuberant enjoyment. The children letloose from school, where they had been confined all the week, put nobounds to the loud and hilarious expression of their delight, whichthe seniors showed no disposition to check--remembering they once werechildren--and the banks of the stream rung with shouts and answeringcries and laughter. Here, flying round in graceful curves, a dexterousskater cut his name in the ice; there, bands of noisy boys wereplaying tag, and on the ringing steel pursuing the chase; while everyonce in a while down would tumble some lubberly urchin, or unskillfulperformer, or new beginner, coming into harder contact with the frozenelement than was pleasant, and seeing stars in the daytime, whilebursts of laughter and ironical invitations to try it again, greetedhis misfortune. In another place were girls on small sleighs or sleds,capable of holding two or three, whirled along by half-a-dozen skaterswith great rapidity; while, holding on to handkerchiefs, were othersdrawn upon their feet at less hazardous speed. Dispersed among thecrowd were little boys with flat, tin boxes suspended by a strapfrom their necks, containing molasses candy, whose brittle sweetnessappeared to possess great attraction. All was fun and jest, and laughand merriment.

  Among others, allured by the beauty of the day, which though clear wasnot so cold as to be uncomfortable, to witness the sports, were FaithArmstrong and Anne Bernard, escorted by Pownal and young Bernard. Thecheeks of the ladies were crimsoned by the wholesome cold, and theireyes shone with a brighter lustre than usual, and many were the looksof envy or of admiration cast upon them as they passed, greeting theiracquaintances and joining in the revel.

  At the time when the little party arrived there happened to be acircle gathered around one of the most accomplished performers towitness an exhibition of his skill, and surely nothing could be moregraceful. Without sensible effort, and as if by mere volition, heseemed to glide over the glossy surface, now forwards, now backwards,now sideways, now swiftly, now slowly, whirling like an eagle in rapidor dilatory curves, describing all the lines that Euclid ever drew orimagined, and cutting such initials of the names of the spectatorsas were desired. The performance, though hailed with verygeneral expressions of admiration, did not seem to give universalsatisfaction.

  "He does pretty well," said an elderly man, with a woollen scarf ormuffler about his neck and a fox-skin cap on his head, "He does itpretty well; but, Captain, did you ever see Sam Allen?"

  "You mean," answered the person addressed, who was a man of about thesame number of years, "Allen who married old Peter's daughter, andafterwards run away. Yes; it didn't go with him as slick with her ason the ice."

  "Well, she didn't break her heart about it. She got married agin assoon as the law allowed. I was in court when Judge Trumbull grantedthe divorce. 'Twas for three years willful desartion and total neglectof duty."

  "No, I guess she didn't. She was published the very next Lord's Day,and got married in the evening. She was a mighty pretty cretur. Well,I never see such a skater as Sam. This fellow is nothing at all tohim. He don't kind o' turn his letters so nice. Now, there's thatv, you might mistake it for a w. I like to see a man parfect in hisbusiness."

  "I've hearn tell," said the Captain, "though I never see it myself,that Sam could write Jarman text as well as Roman."

  "I never see it," said the Fox-skin cap, "but guess it's so. Therewasn't nothing Sam couldn't do on skates."

  "Do you recollect whether he used smooth irons or hollow?" inquiredthe Captain.

  "Oh, smooth; they ain't so easy for beginners, but when a fellow gitsthe knack of 'em they're a great deal better."

  Very different from the remarks of these _laudatores temporis acti_,were those of the rising generation.

  "How beautiful!" exclaimed Anne. "What wonderful skill! Can anythingbe more graceful?"

  "It is, indeed, graceful," said Faith; "and it must requireconsiderable boldness as well as skill to venture on some of thoseevolutions. The least mistake would cause a violent fall."

  "Dear Faith, why did you mention it?" said Anne. "I was not thinkingof the possibility of falls."

  "Have no fear," said Pownal; "he is too completely master of thescience to hurt himself."

  "In Holland the ladies are said to skate as well as the gentlemen,"said Bernard.

  "That is a poor compliment, William," said Anne. "If I cannot skatebetter without practice, than half of this awkward squad, I will neverbind skates on my feet a second time."

  "I know of nothing you cannot do," said her brother.

  "Come here, Andrew," cried Pownal, to a boy standing opposite in thecircle, and holding a pair of skates in his hand. "Come here and lendme your skates. Here, Miss Bernard," said he, presenting them to her,"here is a fine pair. Allow me to buckle them on. And then like awinged Mercury to fly."

  "Please to compare me to no heathen gods, Mr. Pownal, or you may makethese old Puritans burn me for a witch. Let me see if they fit. No,they are too large, I could never do myself justice on them. Here, mylittle fellow is a ninepence for you; away with you."

  The boy took the little piece of silver with a grin, tied the rejectedskates upon his feet, and was soon lost among his companions.

  "I say," said an urchin, who was looking on with admiring eyes, "Isay, Bill, that beats all natur. Did you ever see such shindys?"

  "They ain't so bad," returned Bill; "but I guess I can do some of 'emmyself."

  "Which ones?" inquired the other.

  "Why," answered Bill, "when he throws himself right about face, andthen goes sculling backwards."

  "I'll bet you can't do it the first time."

  "What will you bet?" cried Bill.

  "I don't care; say a stick o' candy."

  "Agreed!" cried Bill. "You see I've done it afore."

  "You ought to told us that," said his companion.

  "A bet's a bet," said Bill. "You don't want to back out, do ye?"

  "Go ahead," cried the other, with some spirit. "I'll risk it. Let'ssee what you can do."

  Thus exhorted and defied, Bill commenced preparations. He firststooped down on one knee and then on the other, and tightened thestraps of the skates; next he took a handkerchief from his pocket, andfastened it tightly around his waist, and lastly, moved slowly aboutas i
f to determine whether all things were as they should be.

  The spectators who had overheard the conversation between the boys,and were ready for any kind of fun, now began to express interest inthe trial, and various were the words of encouragement addressed toBill, as well as the mutterings of doubt over the result. The skaterwho, until now, had attracted the most attention, ceased hisdiagrams and approached Bill, in order to give him instructions,notwithstanding the remonstrances of his companion, who loudlyvociferated it wasn't fair.

  "Hold your yaup," cried another boy, standing by; "if you don't likeyour bet, Hen Billings, I'll take it off your hands."

  But little Billings seemed to think he had made a good bet, andalthough loth to concede to Bill any advantage that did not of strictright belong to him, was far from being disposed to relinquish it. "Goyour length, Bill," he said, "I ain't afeard of the expense."

  The space being now cleared, Bill began to circle round preparatory tothe trial. It was evident he was not very skillful, and the opinion ofthe bystanders, who amused themselves with criticising his preliminaryperformances, was about equally divided respecting his ability toperform the undertaking. After a few turns Bill cried out:

  "Now, Hen, look out." With that he darted forward, until he supposedhe had attained the required momentum, when suddenly making a twistingmotion with his feet, he threw himself round. But unfortunately he hadmade some miscalculation or slip, for instead of alighting square uponthe skates, his heels flew up, and with a tremendous thump, down camepoor Bill upon his back.

  "Hurrah!" cried Hen Billings; "there you go, candy and all. I hope youain't hurt you," he said, good naturedly. "I'd rather lose my bet thanhave you hurt."

  "No," whined Bill, squirming round his body, and rubbing the back ofhis head, "not much. What are you grinning at, you monkey? Did younever see a man fall before?" cried he, shaking his fist at anotherboy, whose face it seems did not wear an expression of condolence tosuit him. "I vow if I don't try that again," he added, after havingrecovered a little from the effects of his fall.

  Thereupon space being again allowed, Bill, with genuine pluck, triedthe experiment once more, and this time with better fortune.His success was greeted with shouts of congratulation, and withexpressions of "true grit," "stuffy little fellow," &c., andhe presently disappeared with his friend, Hen, in search of thecandy-merchant.

  Faith and Anne, with the two young men, had witnessed the whole scenewith some interest, and the different manner in which the girls wereaffected was characteristic. Faith betrayed a lively sensibility whenthe boy fell, and was hardly restrained from condoling with him; whileAnne took but little notice of it, but exhibited exquisite delight athis courage and final success. But something else now attracted theirattention. A shout was raised, and exclamations were heard of "Therecomes the ice-boat; there comes Grant's ice-boat."

  Turning round, they beheld what had the appearance of a boat undersail, flying round the promontory of Okommakemisit. A slight breezewas drawing up the stream, and before its favoring breath, the littlevessel, or whatever else it might be called, advanced with greatrapidity. In a few moments it had reached them, and with a sharpgrating sound as of iron cutting into ice, came suddenly to a stop,and the persons gathering round had an opportunity to examine it. Itwas the work of a village genius, and consisted of some boards, cutin an elliptical form (as, perhaps, the most convenient), supported bytwo pieces of iron, parallel to each other, to which the boards werefastened, and running the whole length from bow to stern. In theforward part was rigged a mast, to which was attached a sail, like themainsail of a sloop, and the whole was controlled by a piece of sharpiron, fixed on the stern in such a manner as to turn like a rudder,and to cut with any required degree of pressure, by means of a lever,into the ice. With this simple regulator it was made perfectly safe,being stopped as readily, and on the same principle, as a skaterarrests his course.

  Grant, to whom Pownal and Bernard were both known, invited the littleparty to take a sail with him, assuring them there was no danger. Theinvitation was at once accepted by Miss Bernard, though the more timidFaith hesitated, and the four took their seats. The group of persons,as before observed, were at the head of the Severn, and the wind wasdrawing up the river, it was, therefore, necessary, to beat againstthe wind at starting. To the surprise, in particular of the ladies,this was done with the most perfect ease, the vessel, on her sharprunners, making but little lee-way, and obeying her helm more readilythan any boat in water. Indeed, obedience was instantaneous. Shewhirled round as quickly as one could turn one's hand, requiringpromptness and presence of mind in the steersman. Thus, like abird, with smooth and equable motion, she flew with her delightedpassengers, in many a zig-zag, down the Severn, until they had goneas far as desired, when round she spun, and before the breeze, houses,and men, and trees, gliding by as in a race, dashed up to the startingpoint.

  Upon leaving the ice-boat, the eyes of Pownal discovered the tall formof Holden, in the midst of a group of persons whom he appeared to beaddressing; and upon his mentioning the circumstance to the others,it was proposed to join him. Accordingly, they added themselves to hisaudience. Several large baskets were lying near him on the ice, and soengaged was he in his subject that he took no notice of the approachof his four young friends. The address was not without a burst or twoof eloquence, springing out of the intense conviction of the speaker,and was listened to respectfully enough. Not that a convert was made;not that there was a person present who did not regard his notionsas the hallucinations of a disturbed intellect, but a part of thebystanders esteemed and respected him as a man of noble and generousdisposition, lavish of his small means towards those whom heconsidered poorer than himself, and never faltering in any act ofkindness on account of hardship or privation; while the rest, asalready intimated, felt a sort of awe in his presence from the mysterythat surrounded him. Among the spectators was our old friend, TomGladding, leisurely engaged in whittling out a chain from a pineblock, some twelve inches in length, from which he had succeeded inobtaining three or four links that dangled at its end, and listeningwith a comical expression, as if he were anticipating some fun.

  The Enthusiast had hardly concluded his exhortation before Basset, whostood on the outside of the ring during its delivery, stepped forward,and placing his hand on Holden's shoulder, informed him he was hisprisoner. Holden made no resistance, but drawing himself up to hisfull height, and fastening his eyes sternly on the constable, hedemanded:

  "What art thou?"

  "My name is Barnabas Basset," answered the constable, a littleembarrassed.

  "I care not for thy name," said Holden, "but by what authority darestthou to lay thy hand on a free man?"

  "By authority of the State of Connecticut," replied the constable,recovering from his momentary confusion, and feeling quite safe inthe crowd. "It's true, I hain't got my staff, but everybody's bound,according to law, to know the constable."

  "And, therefore, is an innocent man to be treated as a malefactor?"

  "I don't know about the innocence," said Basset, "and it's none of mybusiness. You must talk to the justice about that. All I've got to dois to execute my warrant according to law."

  "It is written, resist not evil," said Holden, musingly. "Behold, I amin thy hands; do with me what thou willest."

  But some of the spectators appeared indisposed to be so passive.Pownal and Bernard walked up to the constable, and demanded to knowthe meaning of the outrage.

  "You may just call it what you please, Mr. Pownal," answered Basset,indignant at being interfered with, as he called it, in the dischargeof his duty, "and I advise you not to git your fingers catched in thelaw; but if you must know, the justice, I guess, will tell you."

  "Keep your advice until it is asked for," said Pownal; "but beforewhat justice are you taking him?"

  "If you come with us, you'll find out," answered Basset, whose illnature seemed to increase.

  "That I certainly will. I must leave you," said Pownal, turning
to theladies, "to see that this brutal fellow behaves himself."

  "Do," cried Faith; "do not let them insult him."

  "Let us go with him," said the impulsive Anne.

  "You would make a fine appearance in a justice court," said herbrother "No, I will see you home, and afterwards join Pownal."

  But an occurrence now happened which made any such arrangementunnecessary. Tom Gladding, who all this while had been quietlywhittling out his chain and listening to the conversation, hereinterposed:

  "Basset," he said, "you hain't showed your warrant."

  "It's all safe enough," cried the constable, striking his hand on hispocket.

  "Well, if that's the case you're safe enough, too," said Tom, as ifnot disposed to press an inquiry.

  But the hint had answered its purpose, and several voices demanded theexhibition of the warrant, to which the constable replied, that it wasnone of their business; he knew what he was about.

  Contrary, however, to what might have been expected from his formersubmission, the prisoner required to see the written authority bywhich he was to be consigned to bonds, and refused to move untilit had been shown, in which determination he was sustained bythe bystanders. Thus unexpectedly resisted, the constable had noalternative but to release Holden or produce the instrument. He,therefore, put his hand into his pocket, and pulling out a number ofpapers, sought for the document. It was in vain; no warrant was to befound; and, after repeatedly shuffling the papers, he exclaimed: "Ideclare I must have lost it."

  Whether he discovered the loss then for the first time, or what is farmore probable, did not anticipate its demand from one so flighty asHolden, and meant to procure one afterwards, is not certainly known,but the fact is certain, he had no written authority to arrest.

  "You never had one. Is this the way you treat a free American? Youdesarve a ducking; you had better make tracks," exclaimed severalindignant voices from the crowd, with whom a constable cannot be apopular character.

  "It's my opinion," said the man in the fox skin cap, "Basset has madehimself liable for assault and battery. What do you think, Captain?"

  "I ain't clear on that point," returned his cautious companion, "butfree trade and sailors' rights, I say, and I've no notion of a man'sbeing took without law. I'm clear so far."

  The discomfited constable not venturing to proceed, and, indeed,unable to conceive how, without Holden's assent, he could take himbefore the justice, now relinquished his prey, and endeavored to makehis way out of the circle. Hereupon an agitation arose, none couldsay how, the persons composing it began to be swayed backwards andforwards in a strange manner, and somehow or other poor Basset's heelsgot tripped up, and before he could rise, several men and boys fellover him and crushed him with their weight, so that when he becamevisible in the heap, he presented a most pitiable appearance. His coatwas torn, his neckerchief twisted so tight about his neck, that hewas half choked, and his hat jammed out of all shape. It is doubtfulwhether he would have escaped so cheaply, had it not been forGladding, who, after he thought Basset had suffered sufficiently, cameto his assistance.

  "I always stand by the law," said Tom, helping him to his feet, "butI admire your imprudence, Basset, in trying to take up a man without awarrant."

  Basset's faculties were too confused to enter into a discussion ofthe subject then, and with many threats of taking the law against histormentors, and, attended by Tom, he limped off the ice.

  Loud and boisterous were the congratulations with which the crowd hadgreeted Holden on his escape from the clutches of the constable, buthe waved them off with a dignity which repressed their advances, andgave some offence.

  "If I'd known the old fellow was so proud," said one, "I guess Bassetmight have taken him for all I cared."

  "I sort o' sprained my wrist in that last jam agin the constable,"said another, laughing, "and it's een about as good as thrown away."

  "Perhaps," cried a third, "when he's took agin, I'll be there to help,and perhaps I won't."

  While these various speeches were being made, the young men withthe ladies, had gathered around Holden, and were expressing theirmortification at the annoyance he had experienced, and their pleasureat his escape.

  "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" criedthe enthusiast. "Surely their devices shall be brought to naught,and their counsels to no effect. He that sitteth on the circle of theheavens shall laugh them to scorn, and spurn them in His displeasure.Because for Thy sake, I have borne reproach; shame hath covered myface. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto mymother's children."

  He waited for no remark; he looked at no one; but taking up the pileof baskets which were tied together, threw them upon his back, andstalked over the ice in the direction of his cabin.

  On their way home the young people discussed the events of theafternoon, dwelling on the meeting with Holden as on that which mostoccupied their minds.

  "It is with a painful interest," said Pownal, "that I meet the oldman, nor can I think of him without a feeling of more than commonregard. I am sure it is not merely because he was lately of so greatservice to me, that I cannot listen to the tones of his voice withoutemotion. There is in them a wild melancholy, like the sighing of thewind through pine trees, that affects me more than I can describe."

  "I know the feeling," said Faith. "There is to me also a strangepathos in his voice that brings the tears sometimes into my eyesbefore I am aware. What is the cause, I do not know. I never heardit spoken of till now, and did not suppose there was another affectedlike myself."

  "You are a couple of romantic, silly things," cried Anne. "I flattermyself there is some poetry in me, but it takes a different shape.Now, when I see Father Holden, I begin to think of Jeremiah andZachariah, and all the old prophets, but with no disposition to cry."

  "Tears were never meant to dim those blue eyes, dear Anne," saidFaith.