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Файл:Satanstoe; or, The Littlepage Manuscripts
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
some of you; but I will run ahead and let her know the glad
tidings. It is but fi ve minutes since I left her, starting at every
sound, lest it prove the foot of some ill-omened messenger».
Guert stopped to say no more. In a minute he was inside of
Herman Mordaunt’s house – in another Anneke and Mary
Wallace were locked in each other’s arms. After exchanging
salutes, Mrs. Bogart was conveyed to her own residence, and
there was a termination to that memorable expedition.
Guert had less to communicate, in the way of dangers and
marvels, than I had anticipated. It seemed, that when he and
Miss Wallace reached the inner margin of the last island,
a large cake of ice had entered the strait, and got jammed; or
rather, that it went through, forced by the tremendous pressure above; though not without losing large masses, as it
came in contact with the shores, and grinding much of its material into powder, by the attrition. Guert’s presence of mind
and decision did him excellent service here. Without delaying
an instant, the moment it was in his power, he led Mary on that
cake, and crossed the narrow branch of the river, which alone
separated him from the main land, on it, dry-shod. The water was beginning to fi nd its way over this cake, as it usually
did on all those that lay low, and which even stopped in their
progress; but this did not offer any serious obstacles to persons
who were so prompt Safe themselves, our friends remained to
see if we could not be induced to join them; and the call we
heard, was from Guert, who had actually re-crossed to the island, in the hope of meeting us, and directing us to a place of
safety. Guert never said anything to me on the subject, himself;
but I subsequently gathered from Mary Wallace’s accounts,
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
that the young man did not rejoin her without a good deal of
hazard and diffi culty, and after a long and fruitless search for
his companions. Finding it useless to remain any longer on
the river-side, Guert and his companion held their way towards Albany. About midnight they reached the ferry, opposite to the town; having walked quite six miles, fi lled with uneasiness on account of those who had been left behind. Guert
was a man of decision, and he wisely determined it would be
better to proceed, than to attempt waking up the inmates of
any of the houses he passed. The river was now substantially
free from ice, though running with great velocity. But, Guert
was an expert oarsman; and, fi nding a skiff, he persuaded Mary
Wallace to enter it; actually succeeding, by means of the eddies, in landing her within ten feet of the very spot where
the hand-sled had deposited him and myself, only a few days
before. From this point, there was no diffi culty in walking
home; and Miss Wallace actually slept in her own bed, that
eventful night if, indeed, she could sleep.
Such was the termination of this adventure; one that I have
rightly termed memorable. In the end, Jack and Moses came in
safe and sound; having probably swum ashore. They were
found in the public road, only a short distance from the town,
and were brought in to their master the same day. Every one
who took any interest in horses – and what Dutchman does
not? – knew Jack and Moses, and there was no diffi culty in ascertaining to whom they belonged. What is singular, however,
both sleighs were recovered; though at long intervals of time,
and under very different circumstances. That of Guert, wolves’
skins and all, actually went down the whole length of the riv-
352
SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
er on the ice; passing out to sea through the Narrows. It must
have gone by New York in the night, or doubtless it would have
been picked up; while the diffi culty of reaching it, was its protector on the descent, above the town. Once outside of the Narrows, it was thrown by the tide and winds upon the shore of
Staten Island; where it was hauled to land, housed, and, being
properly advertised in our New York paper, Guert actually got
tidings of it in time to receive it, skins and all, by one of the fi rst
sloops that ascended the Hudson that year; which was within a fortnight after the river had opened. The year 1758 was
one of great activity, on account of the movements of the army,
and no time was then unnecessarily lost.
The history of Herman Mordaunt’s sleigh was very different. The poor bays must have drowned soon after we saw them
fl oating past us in the torrent. Of course, life had no sooner
left them, than they sank to the bottom of the river, carrying with them the sleigh to which they were still attached.
In a few days the animals rose to the surface – as is usual with
all swollen bodies – bringing up the sleigh again. In this condition, the wreck was overtaken by a downward bound sloop,
the men of which saved the sleigh, harness, skins, foot-stoves,
and such other articles as would not fl oat away.
Our adventure made a good deal of noise in the circle of
Albany; and I have reason to think that my own conduct was
approved by those who heard of it. Bulstrode paid me an especial visit of thanks, the very day of my return, when the following conversation took place between us: –
«You seem fated, my dear Corny», the Major observed, after he had paid the usual compliments, «to be always serving
353
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
me in the most material way, and I scarcely know how to express all I feel on the occasion. First, the lion, and now this
affair of the river – but, that Guert will drown, or make away
with the whole family before the summer is over, unless
Mr. Mordaunt puts a stop to his interference».
«This accident was one that might have overtaken the oldest and most prudent man in Albany. The river seemed as solid
as the street when we went on it; and another hour, even as it
was, would have brought us all home, in entire safety».
«Ay, but that hour came near bringing death and desolation into the most charming family in the colony; and you
have been the means of averting the heaviest part of the blow.
I wish to Heaven, Littlepage, that you would consent to come
into the army! Join us as a volunteer, the moment we move,
and I will write to Sir Harry to obtain a pair of colours for you.
As soon as he hears that we are indebted to your coolness and
courage for the life of Miss Mordaunt, he will move heaven
and earth, to manifest his gratitude. The instant this good parent made up his mind to accept Miss Mordaunt as a daughter,
he began to consider her as a child of his own».
«And Anneke – Miss Mordaunt, herself, Mr. Bulstrode –
does she regard Sir Harry as a father?»
«Why, that must be coming by slow degrees, as a matter of
course, you know. Women are slower than us men to admit
such totally novel impressions; and I dare say Anneke fancies
one father enough for her, just at this moment: though she
sends very pleasant messages to Sir Harry, I can assure you,
when in the humour! But, what makes you so grave, my good
Corny?»
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
«Mr. Bulstrode, I conceive it no more than fair, to be as
honest as yourself in this matter. You have told me that you
are a suitor for Miss Mordaunt’s hand; I will now own to you
that I am your rival».
My companion heard this declaration with a quiet smile,
and the most perfect good-nature.
«So you actually wish to become the husband of Anneke
Mordaunt, yourself, my dear Corny, do you?» he said, so coolly,
that I was at a loss to know of what sort of materials the man
could be made.
«I do, Major Bulstrode – it is the fi rst and last wish of
my heart».
«Since you seem disposed to reciprocate my confi dence you
will not take offence if I ask you a question or two!»
«Certainly not, sir; your own frankness shall be a rule for
my government».
«Have you ever let Miss Mordaunt know that such are your
wishes?»
«I have, sir; and that in the plainest terms – such as cannot
well be misunderstood».
«What! last night? – On that infernal ice! – While she
thought her life was in your hands!»
«Nothing was said on the subject, last night, for we had
other thoughts to occupy our minds».
«It would have been a most ungenerous thing to take advantage of a lady’s fears –»
«Major Bulstrode! – I cannot submit –»
«Hush, my dear Corny», interrupted the other, holding
out a hand in a most quiet and friendly manner; «there must
355
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
be no misunderstanding between you and me. Men are never
greater simpletons, than when they let the secret consciousness of their love of life push them into swaggering about their
honour; when their honour has, in fact, nothing to do with
the matter in hand. I shall not quarrel with you; and must beg
you, in advance, to receive my apologies for any little indecorum into which I may be betrayed by surprise; as for great
pieces of indecorum, I shall endeavour to avoid them».
«Enough has been said, Mr. Bulstrode; I am no wrangler, to
quarrel with a shadow; and, I trust, not in the least, that most
contemptible of all human beings, a social bully, to be on all
occasions menacing the sword or the pistol. Such men usually
do nothing, when matters come to a crisis. Even when they
fi ght, they fi ght bunglingly, and innocently».
«You are right, Littlepage, and I honour your sentiments.
I have remarked that the most expert swordsman with his
tongue, and the deadest shot at a shingle, are commonly as innocent as lambs of the shedding of blood on the ground. They
can sometimes screw themselves up to meet an adversary, but
it exceeds their powers to use their weapons properly, when it
comes to serious work. The swaggerer is ever a coward at heart,
however well he may wear a mask for a time. But enough of
this. – We understand each other, and are to remain friends,
under all circumstances. May I question further?»
«Ask what you please, Bulstrode – I shall answer, or not, at
my own discretion».
«Then, permit me to inquire, if Major Littlepage has authorized you to offer proper settlements?»
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SATANSTOE; OR, THE LITTLEPAGE MANUSCRIPTS
«I am authorized to offer nothing. – Nor is it usual for
the husband to make settlements on his wife, in these colonies, further than what the law does for her, in favour of
her own. The father, sometimes, has a care for the third generation. I should expect Herman Mordaunt to settle his estate on his daughter, and her rightful heirs, let her marry
whom she may».
«Ay, that is a very American notion; and one on which
Herman Mordaunt, who remembers his extraction, will be
little likely to act. Well, Corny, we are rivals, as it would seem;
but that is no reason we should not remain friends. We understand each other – though, perhaps, I ought to tell you all».
«I should be glad to know all, Mr. Bulstrode; and can meet
my fate, I hope, like a man. Whatever it may cost me, if Anneke
prefer another, her happiness will be dearer to me than my
own».
«Yes, my dear fellow, we all say and think so at one-andtwenty; which is about your age, I believe. At two-and-twenty,
we begin to see that our own happiness has an equal claim on
us; and, at three-and-twenty, we even give it the preference.
However, I will be just, if I am selfi sh. I have no reason to believe Anne Mordaunt does prefer me; though my perhaps is
not altogether without a meaning, either».
«In which case, I may possibly be permitted to know to
what it refers?»
«It refers to the father; and, I can tell you, my fi ne fellow,
that fathers are of some account, in the arrangement of marriages between parties of any standing. Had not Sir Harry authorized my own proposals, where should I have been? Not
357
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
a farthing of settlement could I have offered, while he remained Sir Harry; notwithstanding I had the prodigious advantage of the entail. I can tell you what it is, Corny; the existing power is always an important power since we all think
more of the present time, than of the future. That is the reason
so few of us get to Heaven. As for Herman Mordaunt, I deem it
no more than fair to tell you, he is on my side, heart and hand.
He likes my offers of settlement; he likes my family; he likes
my rank, civil and military; and I am not altogether without
the hope, that he likes me».
I made no direct answer, and the conversation soon
changed. Bulstrode’s declaration, however, caused me to remember both the speech and manner of Herman Mordaunt,
when he thanked me for saving his daughter’s life. I now began to refl ect on it; and refl ected on it much during the next
few months. In the end, the reader will learn the effect it
had on my happiness.
CHAPTER XVIII
“Good Sir, why do you start; and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I’ the name of truth,
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show?”
Banquo.
As I have said already, the adventure on the river made
a good deal of noise, in that simple community; and it had
the effect to render Guert and myself a sort of heroes, in a small
way; bringing me much more into notice, than would otherwise have been the case. I thought that Guert, in particular,
would be likely to reap its benefi t; for, various elderly persons,
who were in the habit of frowning, whenever his name was
mentioned, I was given to understand, could now smile; and
two or three of the most severe among the Albany moralists,
were heard to say that, «after all, there was some good about
that Guert Ten Eyck». The reader will not require to be told,
that a high-school moralist, in a place as retired and insulated
as Albany, must necessarily be a being that became subject to
a very severe code. Morality, as I understand the matter, has
a good deal of convention about it. There is town-morality and
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
country-morality, all over the world, as they tell me. But, in
America, our morals were, and long have been, separated into
three great and very distinct classes; viz. – New England, or
puritan-morals; middle colonies, or liberal morals; and southern colonies, or latitudinarian morals. I shall not pretend to
point out all the shades of difference in these several schools;
though that in which I had myself been taught, was necessarily
the most in conformity with my own tastes. There were minor
shades to be found in the same school; Guert and myself belonging to different classes. His morals were of the Dutch class;
while mine more properly belonged to the English. The great
characteristic of the Dutch school, was the tendency to excess
that prevailed, when indulgences were sought. With them, it
did not rain often; but, when it did rain, it was pretty certain to
pour. Old Col. Follock was a case in point, on this scare; nor was
his son Dirck, young and diffi dent as he was, altogether an exception to the rule. There was not a more respectable man in
the colony, in the main, than Col. Van Valkenburgh. He was
well connected; had a handsome unencumbered estate; and
money at interest; – was a principal prop, in the church of his
neighbourhood; was esteemed as a good husband; a good father; a true friend; a kind neighbour; an excellent, and loyal
subject, and a thoroughly honest man. Nevertheless, Col. Van
Valkenburgh had his weak times and seasons. He would have
a frolic; and the Dominie was obliged to wink at this propensity. Mr. Worden often nicknamed him Col. Frolic. His frolics
might be divided into two classes; viz. the moderate and immoderate. Of the fi rst, he had two or three turns a year; and
these were the occasions on which he commonly visited Sa-
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