But to his country he left a rich heritage, with which his name is ever linked in high honour. Canada became then and is now one of the brightest jewels of the British Empire. She was bought with the price of many a young and noble life, but, ever loyal and true to England and her sovereigns, she has proved herself worthy of the sacrifice.
Canada has, moreover, taught the world the lesson that two peoples, supposed to be antagonistic, can live together in perfect peace and harmony, side by side in the same cities, each speaking their own language and retaining their own customs. The wisdom and conciliatory policy of the British Government effected this union, which has been pacifically maintained ever since. The French population, which far outnumbered the English, finding themselves treated with justice, and, instead of being driven forth, encouraged to remain in the land, assured of religious freedom and the equity of the laws, willingly submitted to the new rule, and have proved as faithful subjects as their English brethren.
CHAPTER XXX
THE VANQUISHED
The Indians had fought bravely. Charles Langlade and their chief Ominipeg had kept them steady. Long after the Canadians were in full retreat they lay behind a mound firing without ceasing on the English, who were advancing upon them. Then a strange thing happened.
Ominipeg stood on a grassy knoll, on the left side of which were high bushes, and looked around upon the battle-field. He knew that Montcalm was wounded; he saw the Canadians flying before the English: the cause was lost; he and his tribe would ere long be prisoners.
The Black Eagle could not brook defeat. Charles Langlade, lying on the ground at a little distance firing on the English, saw him suddenly stoop behind the bushes and gather something in his arms. A cry, a child’s cry, even through the din of battle reached his ears, and a terrified baby face, round which the soft fair curls clustered, appeared before his agonised gaze. To spring forward to seize him would have been the work of a second, but Ominipeg was too quick for him. Clasping the child tightly in his arms, with horrible cries, brandishing his enormous battle-axe, the Indian chief, followed by his whole tribe, dashed into the midst of the enemy.
The yells and war-whoops of the savages gradually died out as the English bayonets pierced their naked bodies, and they lay upon the ground a bleeding mass of humanity. They had fulfilled their code of honour; they had died for the cause they could not save!
And the Black Eagle, with his daughter’s child, the little “White Chief,” as he had been surnamed, lay foremost among the slain. A shot had struck Charles Langlade to the ground before he could advance a step to save the child.
That morning, at early dawn, when the first alarm had reached Quebec, a young Indian had passed rapidly through the streets, gained the house inhabited by Mercèdes, and knocked loudly at the door of her apartment.
“Who is there?” asked Marthe.