Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-09

victors triumphed. But there are
limits alike to grief and joy; and
| long before the watches of the morn
ing came, the stiffness of those
boundless woods was only broken by
a gay call from some exulting young
Frenchman of the advanced pickets,
or a menacing challenge from the
fort, which sternly forbade the ap-
proach of any hostile footsteps before
the stipulated moment. Even these
occasional threatening sounds ceased
to be heard in that dull hour which
precedes the day, at which period a
listener might have sought in vain
any evidence of the presence of those
armed powers that then slumbered
on the shores of the ''holy lake"
1t was during these moments of
deep silence, that the canvas which
concealed the entrance to a spacious
marquee in the French encampment
was showed aside, and % man issued
from beneath the drapery into the
open air. He was enveloped in q
| cloak, but which served equally we'll
as mantle, to conceal his person.
He was permitted to pass the grena-
dier, who watched over the slumbers,
Of the French commander, without
interruption, the man making the US
ual salute which betokcns military
Difference, as the other passed swiftly
through the little city of tents, in the
direction of William Henry.
With the exception ofrepeated, but
brief Interruptions, he had moved,
silently, from the center Of the camp,
to its most advanced outposts, when
he drew nigh the soldiers who held
his watch nearest to the works of the
enemy. As he approached he was
received with the usual challenge
"QW vive?'
"France," was the reply.
"Le mot d'ordre: -
ola victorie," said the other.
''Cest bien, returned the sentinel,
throwing his musket from the charge
to his shoulder; "vous vous promenez
bien niatin, monsieur.
The officer proceeded, without
affecting to hear the words which es-
capped the sentinel in his surprise !;
nor did he again pause until he had
reached the low strand, and in a
somewhat dangerous vicinity to the
western water bastion of the fort.
Just then a figure was seen to ap-
proach the edge Of the rampant,
where it stood, apparently contcm-
plating in its turn the distant tents
of the French encampment.
"Hugh" exclaimed the avage
whose treacherous aim was so sing
ularly and so unexpectedly interrupt
ed.
Without making any reply, the
French officer laid his hand on the
shoulder of the Indian, and led him in
profound silence to Il distance from
the spot, where their subsequent
dialogue might have proved danger
ous and where it seemed that one of
them, at least, sought a victim. Then,
throwing open his cloak, so as to ex-
pose his uniform and the cross of St.
Louis which was suspended at his
breast, Montcalm sternly demand,
ed
"What means this. does not my son
know that the hatchet is buried be-
tween the English and his Canadian
Father"
What can the Hurons do ?" return
ed the savage. "Not a warrior has
scalp, and the pale faces make
friends.
'IIa LIE Renard Subtil. Methinks
this is an excess of zeal for friend
who was SO late an enemy? How
many suns have set since lie Renard
struck the war post of the English ?"
'Where is the sun ?" demanded
the sullen savage. "Behind the hill
and it is dark and cold. But when
he comes again, it will be bright and
warm. lie Subtil is the sun of his
tribe. There have been clouds, and
many mountains between him and
his nation; but now he shines, and
it is clear sky"
"That lie Renard has power with
his people, | well know" said Mont
calm; ''for yesterday he hunted for
their scalps, and to-day they hear
him at the council fire."
"Magua is a great chief"
"Let him prove it, by teaching his