Young Lion of the Woods | Page 6

the St. John. At ten o'clock, a.m., June 30th, he set sail
to recross the Bay of Fundy and rejoin his wife and family at Fort
Frederick. He arrived off the harbour the following morning quite early,
but was unable to anchor off Fort Frederick, till the evening on account
of fog. On arriving at the Fort he was greatly relieved of apprehensions
that would obtrude themselves upon him during his lonely trip by
finding his wife and children all well.
The following day he commenced to get his merchandize on board the
sloop. His wife and eldest son assisting. It took fully ten days to
accomplish the task, which proved to be a tedious and toilsome one
indeed. At last, everything being ready, he vacated Fort Frederick and
sailed for his possessions up the river, intending there to settle and
trade.
Not many hours after they had left the Fort the report of a musket was
heard from the shore. Soon a canoe was seen approaching the sloop. As
it came near the vessel, an Indian was seen as its only occupant. He
paddled his canoe alongside the sloop. Captain Godfrey attentively
watched his every movement while Mrs. Godfrey seemed quite

indifferent at the presence of the stranger. She threw him a small line
and made signs to him to make fast his canoe, which he appeared
quickly to understand. Mrs. Godfrey then motioned to the Indian to
come on board, and he at once bounded over the rail. As he stood on
deck, his comely Indian features were lit up by a good humoured smile.
He looked a giant, brave and active. He was teeming all over with
youthful vigour. His eyes were black like polished jet, sparkling and
deep set. His mouth large, square and firm; and his hair like threads of
coarse, black silk, brushed back from a low, narrow forehead, hung
loosely down over his broad, square shoulders.
His whole frame seemed stirred with a strong nervous action, and a
quick but expressive motion of his small brown hand appeared as a
signal for conversation. He at once spoke, "May be if go to Grimross be
scalped," and every word brought with it increased action of both hand
and body. He continued, "Indians say war coming, must have pale face
blood and scalp."
Capt. Godfrey said not a word, but looked serious and pale; while deep
anxiety was pictured on every feature of his face. He felt that it was no
use to retreat, and situated as they were, where could they retreat in
safety. Fort Frederick at the mouth of the river had been surrounded by
blood-thirsty savages, who had threatened them with fire and murder if
they did not abandon the place. In this distracting situation Captain
Godfrey held a council of war within himself, and finally decided,
come what might, evil or good, he would push on to his destination.
He wondered how the Indian knew he was bound for Grimross. It
occurred to him that perhaps the savage was trying to find out where he
intended to land, and there be on hand to murder all on board and seize
the sloop and cargo. He thought, "if the Indian is sincere in warning us,
what interest has he in doing so? What could he expect in return for his
kind act?" These and many similar thoughts rushed quickly through the
agitated brain of the Captain. The Indian stood silent and motionless for
a moment, then returned to his canoe and paddled toward the shore.
The eyes of Captain Godfrey followed the Red man to the shore and
watched him until he disappeared among the trees on the river bank.

The sloop was kept on her course up the river. Just after the sun had
sunk beneath the horizon, Captain Godfrey, by the persuasion of his
wife, anchored the sloop in a small recess in the shore. From the time
the Indian had reached the bank the Captain's wife scarcely ever lifted
her eyes from gazing on the right bank of the river. Was she watching
for a place to safely anchor at night? Or was she watching for the
Indian's return? These questions were agitating the Captain's thoughts.
Captain Godfrey had never fully recovered from a weakness to his
nervous system, caused by the severe hardships he had endured in the
Gulf of St Lawrence. He was strongly opposed to anchoring the sloop
so near the shore. He felt fearful that during the long watches of the
night all on board might be murdered. The armament of the vessel
consisted of two muskets, two pistols, and a sword. Her cargo was
valued at over two thousand pounds sterling. She was deeply laden, and
it was with great difficulty that all the goods and