“Did ye see that crathure?” asked Mike, with emphasis.
“Sartain—he is often seen here, at the Hut. He may be said to live here, half his time.”
“A pritty hut, then, ye must have of it! Why do ye tolerate the vagabond? He’s not fit for Christian society.”
“Oh! he’s good company, sometimes, Mike. When you know him better, you’ll like him better. Come; up with the bundles, and let us follow. The captain is looking after us, as you see.”
“Well may he look, to see us in sich company!—Will he har-r-m the missus?”
“Not he. I tell you, you’ll like him yourself when you come to know him.”
“If I do, burn me! Why, he says himself, that he’s Ould Nick, and I’m sure I never fancied the crathure but it was in just some such for-r-m. Och! he’s ill-looking enough, for twenty Ould Nicks.”
Lest the reader get an exaggerated notion of Michael’s credulity, it may be well to say that Nick had painted a few days before, in a fit of caprice, and that one-half of his face was black, and the other a deep red, while each of his eyes was surrounded with a circle of white, all of which had got to be a little confused in consequence of a night or two of orgies, succeeded by mornings in which the toilet had been altogether neglected. His dress, too, a blanket with tawdry red and yellow trimmings, with ornamented leggings and moccasins to correspond, had all aided in maintaining the accidental mystification. Mike followed his companion, growling out his discontent, and watching the form of the Indian, as the latter still went loping over the flat, having passed the captain, with a message to the barns.
“I’ll warrant ye, now, the captain wouldn’t tolerate such a crathure, but he’s sent him off to the woods, as ye may see, like a divil, as he is! To think of such a thing’s spakeing to the missus! Will I fight him?—That will I, rather than he’ll say an uncivil word to the likes of her! He’s claws they tell me, though he kapes them so well covered in his fine brogues; divil burn me, but I’d grapple him by the toes.”
Joel now saw how deep was Michael’s delusion, and knowing it must soon be over, he determined to make a merit of necessity, by letting his friend into the truth, thereby creating a confidence that would open the way to a hundre’d future mischievous scenes.
“Claws!” he repeated, with an air of surprise—“And why do you think an Injin has claws, Mike?”
“An Injin! D’ye call that miscoloured crathure an Injin Joel. Isn’t it one of yer yankee divils?”
“Out upon you, for an Irish ninny. Do you think the captain would board a devil! The fellow’s a Tuscarora, and is as well known here as the owner of the Hut himself. It’s Saucy Nick.”
“Yes, saucy Ould Nick—had it from his very mout’ and even the divil would hardly be such a blackguard as to lie about his own name. Och! he’s a roarer, sure enough; and then for the tusks you mintion, I didn’t see ‘em, with my eyes; but the crathure has a mouth that might hould a basket-full.”
Joel now perceived that he must go more seriously to work to undeceive his companion. Mike honestly believed he had met an American devil, and it required no little argumentation to persuade him of the contrary. We shall leave Joel employed in this difficult task, in which he finally succeeded, and follow the captain and his wife to the hut.
The lord and lady of the manor examined everything around their future residence, with curious eyes. Jamie Allen, the Scotch mason mentioned, was standing in front of the house, to hear what might be said of his wall, while two or three other mechanics betrayed some such agitation as the tyro in literature manifests, ere he learns what the critics have said of his first work. The exterior gave great satisfaction to the captain. The wall was not only solid and secure, but it was really handsome. This was in some measure owing to the quality of the stones, but quite as much to Jamie’s dexterity in using them. The wall and chimneys, of the latter of which there were no less than six, were all laid in lime, too; it having been found necessary to burn some of the material to plaster the interior. Then the gates were massive, being framed in oak, filled in with four-inch plank, and might have resisted a very formidable assault. Their strong iron hinges were all in their places, but the heavy job of hanging had been deferred to a leisure moment, when all the strength of the manor might be collected for that purpose. There they stood, inclining against the wall, one on each side of the gateway, like indolent sentinels on post, who felt too secure from attack to raise their eyes.
The different mechanics crowded round the captain, each eager to show his own portion of what had been done. The winter had not been wasted, but, proper materials being in abundance, and on the spot, captain Willoughby had every reason to be satisfied with what he got for his money. Completely shut out from the rest of the world, the men had worked cheerfully and with little interruption; for their labours composed their recreation. Mrs. Willoughby found the cart of the building her family was to occupy, with the usual offices, done and furnished. This comprised all the front on the-eastern side of the gateway, and most of the wing, in the same half, extending back to the cliff. It is true, the finish was plain; but everything was comfortable. The ceilings were only ten feet high certainly, but it was thought prodigious in the colony in that day; and then the plastering of Jamie was by no means as unexceptionable as his stone-work; still every room had its two coats, and white-wash gave them a clean and healthful aspect. The end of the wing that came next the cliff was a laundry, and a pump was fitted, by means of which water was raised from the rivulet. Next came the kitchen, a spacious and comfortable room of thirty by twenty feet; an upper-servant’s apartment succeeded; after which were the bed-rooms of the family a large parlour, and a library, or office, for the captain. As the entire range, on this particular side of the house, extended near or quite two hundred and fifty feet, there was no want of space or accommodation.
The opposite, or western half of the edifice, was devoted to more homely uses. It contained an eating-room and divers sleeping-rooms far the domestics and labourers, besides store-rooms, garners, and omnium gatherums of all sorts. The vast ranges of garrets, too, answered for various purposes of household and farming economy. All the windows, and sundry doors, opened into the court, while the whole of the exterior wall, both wooden and stone, presented a perfect blank, in the way of outlets. It was the captain’s intention, however, to cut divers loops through the logs, at some convenient moment, so that men stationed in the garrets might command the different faces of the structure with their musketry. But, like the gates, these means of defence were laid aside for a more favourable opportunity.
Our excellent matron was delighted with her domestic arrangements. They much surpassed any of the various barracks in which she had dwelt, and a smile of happiness beamed on her handsome face, as she followed her husband from room to room, listening to his explanations. When they entered their private apartments, and these were furnished and ready to receive them, respect caused the rest to leave them by themselves, and once more they found that they were alone.
“Well, Wilhelmina,” asked the gratified husband—gratified, because he saw pleasure beaming in the mild countenance and serene blue eyes of one of the best wives living—“Well, Wilhelmina,” he asked, “can you give up Albany, and all the comforts of your friends’ dwellings, to be satisfied in a home like this? It is not probable I shall ever build again, whatever Bob may do, when he comes after me. This structure, then, part house, part barrack, part fort, as it is, must be our residence for the remainder of our days. We are hutted for life.”
“It is all-sufficient, Willoughby. It has space, comfort, warmth, coolness and security. What more can a wife and a mother ask, when she is surrounded by those she most loves? Only attend to the security, Hugh. Remember how far we are removed from any succour, and how sudden and fierce the Indians are in their attacks. Twice have we, ourselves, been near being destroyed by surprises, from which accident, or God’s providence, protected us, rather than our own vigilance. If this could happen in garrisons, and with king’s troops around us, how much more easily might it happen here, with only common labourers to watch what is going on!”
“You exaggerate the danger, wife.