The Sun of Quebec: A Story of a Great Crisis by Joseph A. Altsheler (top novels to read txt) 📗

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUN OF QUEBEC *** Produced by Chris Nash, Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE SUN OF QUEBEC A STORY OF A GREAT CRISIS BY JOSEPH A. ALTSHELER AUTHOR OF "LORDS OF THE WILD," "THE GREAT SIOUX TRAIL," ETC. APPLETON-CENTURY-CROFTS, INC. NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publishers.

Copyright, 1947, by Sallie B. Altsheler Printed in the United States of America FOREWORD

"The Sun of Quebec" is the sixth and closing volume of the French and Indian War Series of which the predecessors have been "The Hunters of the Hills," "The Shadow of the North," "The Rulers of the Lakes," "The Masters of the Peaks," and "The Lords of the Wild." The important characters in the earlier books reappear, and the mystery in the life of Robert Lennox, the central figure in all the romances, is solved.

CHARACTERS IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR SERIES Robert Lennox A lad of unknown origin Tayoga A young Onondaga warrior David Willet A hunter Raymond Louis de St. Luc A brilliant French officer Aguste de Courcelles A French officer François de Jumonville A French officer Louis de Galisonnière A young French officer Jean de Mézy A corrupt Frenchman Armand Glandelet A young Frenchman Pierre Boucher A bully and bravo Philibert Drouillard A French priest The Marquis Duquesne Governor-General of Canada Marquis de Vaudreuil Governor-General of Canada François Bigot Intendant of Canada Marquis de Montcalm French commander-in-chief De Levis A French general Bourlamaque A French general Bougainville A French general Armand Dubois A follower of St. Luc M. de Chatillard An old French Seigneur Charles Langlade A French partisan The Dove The Indian wife of Langlade Tandakora An Ojibway chief Daganoweda A young Mohawk chief Hendrick An old Mohawk chief Braddock A British general Abercrombie A British general Wolfe A British general Col. William Johnson Anglo-American leader Molly Brant Col. Wm. Johnson's Indian wife Joseph Brant Young brother of Molly Brant, afterward
the great Mohawk chief, Thayendanegea Robert Dinwiddie Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia William Shirley Governor of Massachusetts Benjamin Franklin Famous American patriot James Colden A young Philadelphia captain William Wilton A young Philadelphia lieutenant Hugh Carson A young Philadelphia lieutenant Jacobus Huysman An Albany burgher Caterina Jacobus Huysman's cook Alexander McLean An Albany schoolmaster Benjamin Hardy A New York merchant Johnathan Pillsbury Clerk to Benjamin Hardy Adrian Van Zoon A New York merchant The Slaver A nameless rover Achille Garay A French spy Alfred Grosvenor A young English officer James Cabell A young Virginian Walter Stuart A young Virginian Black Rifle A famous "Indian fighter" Elihu Strong A Massachusetts colonel Alan Hervey A New York financier Stuart White Captain of the British sloop, Hawk John Latham Lieutenant of the British sloop, Hawk Edward Charteris A young officer of the Royal Americans Zebedee Crane A young scout and forest runner Robert Rogers Famous Captain of American Rangers CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I Old Friends 1 II The Chest of Drawers 22 III The Pursuit of Garay 46 IV Out To Sea 66 V Music in the Moonlight 85 VI The Island 104 VII The Pirate's Warning 123 VIII Making the Best of It 142 IX The Voice in the Air 158 X The Sloop of War 176 XI Back To the World 193 XII The Wilderness Again 217 XIII The Reunion 238 XIV Before Quebec 263 XV The Lone Château 284 XVI The Reckoning 303

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THE SUN OF QUEBEC CHAPTER I OLD FRIENDS

Mynheer Jacobus Huysman walked to the window and looked out at the neat red brick houses, the grass, now turning yellow, and the leaves, more brown than green. He was troubled, in truth his heart lay very heavy within him. He was thinking over the terrible news that had come so swiftly, as evil report has a way of doing. But he had cause for satisfaction, too, and recalling it, he turned to gaze once more upon the two lads who, escaping so many perils, had arrived at the shelter of his home.

Robert and Tayoga were thin and worn, their clothing was soiled and torn, but youth was youth and they were forgetting dangers past in a splendid dinner that the fat Caterina was serving for them while Mynheer Jacobus, her master, stood by and saw the good deed well done.

The dining room, large and furnished solidly, was wonderful in its neatness and comfort. The heavy mahogany of table, sideboard and chairs was polished and gleaming. No trace of dirt was allowed to linger any[Pg 2]where. When the door to the adjoining kitchen opened, as Caterina passed through, pleasant odors floated in, inciting the two to fresh efforts at the trencher. It was all as it had been when they were young boys living there, attending the school of Alexander McLean and traveling by painful steps along the road to knowledge. In its snugness, its security and the luxury it offered it was a wonderful contrast to the dark forest, where death lurked in every bush. Robert drew a long sigh of content and poured himself another cup of coffee.

"And you escaped from the French after the great battle?" said Mynheer Jacobus, asking the same question over and over again.

"Yes, sir," replied Robert, "and it was not a difficult thing to do at all. The victory of the French was so remarkable, and I think so unexpected, that they were paying little attention to me. I just walked out of their camp, and the only man I met was the Chevalier de St. Luc, who did not seem at all interested in stopping me—a curious fact, but a fact all the same."

"A great leader and a fine man iss the Chevalier de St. Luc," said Mr. Huysman.

"He's both, as I've had many chances to learn, and I intend to know more about him some day."

"It may be that you will know even more than you think."

Robert looked sharply at the burgher, and he was about to ask questions, but he reflected that Mynheer Jacobus, if he were able to answer, would be evasive like all the others and so he checked the words at his lips.

"I suppose that time will disclose everything," he contented himself with saying. "Meanwhile, I want to tell you, sir, that Tayoga and I appreciate to the full your[Pg 3] hospitality. It is noble, it always was noble, as we've had ample occasion to discover."

The full red face of Mynheer Jacobus bloomed into a smile. The corners of his mouth turned up, and his eyes twinkled.

"I must have had a premonition that you two were coming," he said, "and so I stocked the larder. I remembered of old your appetites, a hunger that could be satisfied only with great effort, and then could come back again an hour later, as fresh and keen as ever. You are strong and healthy boys, for which you should be grateful."

"We are," said Robert, with great emphasis.

"And you do not know whether Montcalm iss advancing with his army?"

"We don't, sir, but is Albany alarmed?"

"It iss! It iss alarmed very greatly. It wass not dreamed by any of us that our army could be defeated, that magnificent army which I saw go away to what I thought was certain victory. Ah, how could it have happened? How could it have happened, Robert?"

"We simply threw away our chances, sir. I saw it all. We underrated the French. If we had brought up our big guns it would have been easy. There was no lack of courage on the part of our men. I don't believe that people of British blood ever showed greater bravery, and that means bravery equal to anybody's."

Mynheer Jacobus Huysman sighed heavily.

"What a waste! What a waste!" he said. "Now the army hass retreated and the whole border iss uncovered. The tomahawk and scalping knife are at work. Tales of slaughter come in efery day, and it iss said that Montcalm iss advancing on Albany itself."

"I don't believe, sir, that he will come," said Robert.[Pg 4] "The French numbers are much fewer than is generally supposed, and I can't think he will dare to attack Albany."

"It does not seem reasonable, but there iss great alarm. Many people are leaving on the packets for New York. Who would have thought it? Who could have thought it! But I mean to stay, and if Montcalm comes I will help fight in the defense."

"I knew you wouldn't leave, sir. But despite our defeat we've a powerful army yet, and England and the Colonies will not sit down and just weep."

"What you say iss so, Robert, my boy. I am not of English blood, but when things look worst iss the time when England shows best, and the people here are of the same breed. I do not despair. What did you say had become of Willet?"

"Shortly before we reached Albany he turned aside to see Sir William Johnson. We had, too, with us, a young Englishman named Grosvenor, a fine fellow, but he went at once to the English camp here to report for duty. He was in the battle at Ticonderoga and he also will testify that our army, although beaten, could have brought up its artillery and have fought again in a day or two. It would have gained the victory, too."

"I suppose so! I suppose so! But it did not fight again, and what might have been did not happen. It means a longer war in this country and a longer war all over the world. It spreads! It iss a great war, extending to most of the civilized lands, the greatest war of modern times and many think it will be the last war, but I know not. The character of mankind does not change. What do you two boys mean to do?"

"We have not decided yet," replied Robert, speaking for both. "We'll go back to the war, of course, which[Pg 5] means that we'll travel once more toward the north, but we'll have to rest a few days."

"And this house iss for you to rest in—a few days or many days, as you please, though I hope it will be many. Caterina shall cook for you four, five meals a day, if you wish, and much at every meal. I do not forget how when you were little you raided the fruit trees, and the berry bushes and the vines. Well, the fruit will soon be ripe again und I will turn my back the other way. I will make that fat Caterina do the same, and you and Tayoga can imagine that you are little boys once more."

"I know you mean that, Mynheer Jacobus, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts," said Robert, as the moisture came into his eyes.

"Here comes Master Alexander McLean," said Mr. Huysman, who had turned back to the window. "He must have heard of your arrival and he wishes to see if your perils in the woods have made you forget your ancient history."

In a minute or two Master McLean, tall, thin, reddish of hair, and severe of gaze entered, his frosty blue eyes lighting up as he shook hands with the boys, though his manner remained austere.

"I heard that you had arrived after the great defeat at Ticonderoga," he said, "and you are fortunate to have escaped with your lives. I rejoice at it, but those who go into the woods in such times must expect great perils. It is of course well for all our young men to offer their lives now for their country, but I thought I saw in you at least, Robert Lennox, the germ of a great scholar, and it would be a pity for you to lose your life in some forest skirmish."

"I thank you for the compliment," said Robert, "but as[Pg 6] I was telling Mynheer Jacobus I mean to go back into the woods."

"I doubt it not. The young of this generation are wise in their own conceit. It was hard enough to control Tayoga and you several years ago, and I cannot expect to do it now. Doubtless all the knowledge that I have been at such pains to instill into you will be lost in the excitement of trail and camp."

"I hope not, sir, though it's true that we've had some very stirring times. When one is in imminent danger of his life he cannot think much of his Latin, his Greek and his ancient history."

The severe features of Master Alexander McLean wrinkled into a frown.

"I do not know about that," he said. "Alexander the Great slept with his Homer under his pillow, and doubtless he also carried the book with him on his Asiatic campaigns, refreshing and strengthening his mind from time to time with dips into its inspiring pages. There is no crisis in which it is pardonable for you to forget your learning, though I fear me much