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Page 77
"Perceiving that Winnebeg was, like his young men, ready
to do any thing for me. I explained to him my desire to
convey the body of Mr. Heywood across the river, and
bury him secretly in his own grounds, but that it was
necessary, in order to do this effectually, that he and
his son should go with me, and by some circuitous route.
Entering at once into my views, he said he would show me
a place where we could cross without being seen either
from the Fort or from his own encampment, and then led
the way back to the wood where the party were still
waiting.
"The rest is soon told. Dismissing the young men into
the encampment. Winnebeg, with his son, bore the body
within the skirt of the wood, until we reached a bend of
the river hidden from observation, where a canoe with
paddles was drawn up on the beach. There we crossed, and
going round to the rear of the cottage, entered the
garden, and proceeded to the upper end, where at the
summer house, near a favorite rose-tree of Maria's, I
dug with my own hands a hasty grave, in which Winnebeg
and Waunangee placed the body--its only coffin being the
bark that was swathed around it. Of course I always
intended to disinter it at some future, but not distant
period, and bestow upon it the usual rites of burial.
"This painful task accomplished, and the soil having been
carefully replaced, so as to leave no inequality of
surface, I accompanied my friends back by the same route,
and about nine o'clock left the Pottawattamie encampment
with them and a few other warriors of the tribe for the
Fort, which in the crowd I entered without difficulty or
creating suspicion. Watching my opportunity, I stole to
the rear of my bed-room--opened and entered the window--
changed my dress, and made my appearance on parade as
you saw."
"All is ready, sir," said Sergeant Nixon, entering just
as he had concluded, and before Elmsley could offer any
remark on this singular adventure--"the coffin is in the
scow, and Corporal Collins, Green and Philips are there
also with their shovels, ropes, and picks. If Mr. Elmsley
will give me permission," and he touched his cap to that
officer. "I will go too, sir."
"As sergeant of the guard--no, Nixon, my good fellow,
that will never do. The three men you have named, are,
with myself, quite enough. Be on the look-out though, to
let us in on our return. Have you provided a dark lantern?"
"Yes, sir, Collins has the lantern belonging to the guard
house."
"Good. I will follow you in a moment, Elmsley," he
continued, rising and draining off his half-emptied glass,
"lend me your prayer-book. I wish that you could be
present at this dismal ceremony, but of course that is
wholly out of the question."
"It is, indeed, my dear fellow. It would never do for us
both to be absent. Not only ourselves but the men would
be brought into the scrape, for you know Headley always
sleeps with one eye open."
"I do not like to do any thing clandestinely," remarked
the ensign--"particularly after our reconciliation with
him. Moreover, it is, as you say, in some degree
compromising the men and myself with them. I have a great
mind before I start to see and explain every thing to
Headley, and obtain his sanction to my absence."
"Nonsense," returned his friend, "he will never know it;
besides it is possible that he may refuse to let you go
before morning, and your object is, of course, to have
every thing finished to-night. Take my advice; go without
speaking to him on the subject, and if your remorse of
conscience," and he smiled archly, "be so great afterwards,
as to deprive you of more rest and appetite than you lost
after killing that poor devil of a Winnebago, go to him
as you did before--confess that you have again been a
naughty boy--ask his pardon, and I am sure he will forgive
the crime."
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