Chapter 15
August 14th, 1777
When Mingo explained to Mother Marie-Jeanne, Sisters Bernadette and Geneviève as well as Jean-Marie, Mathurin, Thomas and Rain Cloud, he omitted a few details. He didn't want to upset the nuns; they had been a great help. So he withheld some information on the morning after they had drugged Captain Doyle.
Now, as they neared Cap Rouge and the Huron village, Mingo sat with the Canadians around the fire they had built. Daniel and Mathurin had caught quite a few fish and were broiling them. Mingo had quickly donned his Cherokee clothes, kept in Jean-Marie's pack. His hair was too short to braid, but he had replaced his feathers. As he sat on a log, ready to eat, quiet, he looked at the group of men assembled around. He had made good friends of his traveling companions; the Canadians had saved his life and offered their help - and he had been L'Indien to them, as simply as that. McTavish had taken him at face value, no questions asked, no comments ever made.
And Daniel. Daniel, the old friend, the man who had saved his life so many times, there was no debt of honor between them. They were brothers, in a way brothers often weren't. Mingo knew that, having had one brother once, who hated him so, simply because. Daniel just came one day, saved his life and was his friend ever since.
"Penny for your thoughts, Mingo? "asked the friend he was thinking about just now.
Mingo gave Daniel a small smile and a small frown.
Daniel didn't press the issue; whatever was troubling his Cherokee friend, he would tell in due time. Whatever decision he made about Henry Hartford, was Mingo's, and Mingo's alone. Daniel would simply agree with him and go along.
The men ate, Mathurin humming softly "A la Claire Fontaine," learned in his youth.
As they prepared to return to the trail, Mingo spoke, "I have to tell you about something Captain Doyle said. If you don't mind, gentlemen."
Daniel sat back down, so did everyone else.
"So, L'Indien, tell us," pressed Jean-Marie.
"I told all of you that Captain Doyle said Henry Hartford wanted Daniel delivered to the British for the prize money and for me to hang for treason. I said Henry hated me. There is something more personal to this. I would not want to involve any of you in this, which is why we've been heading west for the last week. And why I kept silent. I realize you all want to go home, and so do I. However, I can't leave yet. And I can't ask you to stay with me. But I will tell you why I am staying," Mingo began.
The fire extinguished, warm ashes remained. Mathurin played with a stick, moving them around. McTavish, while sitting down, in buckskins, was at attention. Rain Cloud knew his friend was disturbed. Daniel had heard all; it was just a matter of Mingo addressing the issue left.
Jean-Marie laughed, "So, L'Indien, tell us, before we turn to stones. Think of Mother Marie-Jeanne, you'll speak faster perhaps."
Mingo laughed at Jean-Marie's good humor.
"It's true what I said about Henry Hartford wanting to deliver Daniel to the British. While he's a major in the British army, he has spent too much time spying, and not enough making friends in the right places. He's an ambitious one. He hoped to gain some power with Daniel's capture." Mingo stopped to look at the men around him. One Indian, two Canadians, one young Continental Army officer and Daniel - a mismatch of strong individuals.
"Bringing Daniel in for bounty was a good way to be noticed by the right officers," Mingo continued. "But there is more to Henry Hartford than just plain ambition. He was sent to England as a boy, like me, to stay with a grandfather he didn't know. His grandfather was of noble blood, highly disappointed with his daughter's choice to marry and remain in America. My father, a lord of the kingdom, was an officer in charge of a surveying team. Henry's mother married William Hartford, against her father's wishes. They had three children together, Henry was the oldest."
Mingo went on, explaining how Henry had ended up at his grandfather's estate, the earl of Christham. How the two boys had grown to play and study together; mostly at the estate of Mingo's father. They had shared the same tutors, and had helped one another to live the way of their titled parents. What Mingo had never noticed was the real transformation of Henry. While Mingo had enjoyed learning, reading, growing strong and bright, in body and intellect, there was always somewhere deep inside the knowledge of his shameful birth. Henry knew Mingo's secret but had never betrayed it. They shared laughter, Shakespeare, their first few dances and courting. They attended the same academy, helped each other with all the studying required: be it book, horsemanship, dress or etiquette.
Mingo had never forgotten his homeland, his people, his heritage; he dreamed always of going back. Henry had told him the same thing, though less and less as time passed. Mingo never noticed. Then one day, Mingo, the man, went to his father, and said good-bye. He booked passage on a ship in Liverpool. An English gentleman left Liverpool, a buckskinned man landed in Boston, and a Cherokee Indian arrived in Chota, the village of his mother and of his birth. Mingo never regretted his decision and had been happy ever since.
What Mingo learned from Captain Doyle was of a hatred that Henry had fostered for a long time. He didn't simply want Mingo hanged for treason. He wanted Mingo to admit to treason, so Henry could use the confession to blackmail Lord Dunsmore into saving Henry's grandfather's estate from being sold. Henry wanted it all back. He wanted the title that wasn't his. And he had formed a deep hate for Mingo, who had the right to a title, but who had refused it.
Henry hated the man who turned down a title and as much as he liked the child Mingo had been.
Henry would blackmail Lord Dunsmore, and hunt Mingo. It would not end until one of them was dead.
Mingo would remain behind. Henry Hartford was due in Quebec in less that a week.
Jean-Marie laughed again, "I can't believe Mon Indien is one of them English uppity lords! Well, if you think I'm going to let you have all that fun alone, you're wrong. I'm sticking by your side, L'Indien."
Mingo searched everyone's eyes, Daniel's last. They were all laughing with Jean-Marie.
No one was leaving Quebec.
No one wanted to go anywhere near a convent. Even if they had been a great help, the nuns had exceeded all of the Cherokees' patience. Rain Cloud, Thomas and Jean-Marie went west toward Cap Rouge. They planned to lodge with the Huron. Mingo, Daniel and Mathurin headed back to Quebec. They made a camp just two days walk from the Plain of Abraham. Instead of following the St. Lawrence River trail, they would go by Ste. Foy.
They knew Henry would arrive at the Citadel within a week with a small division of militia. Mingo knew why Henry hadn't pursued him after his escape from Fort Chambly – Henry knew where the Cherokee would head. Since Mingo hadn't signed the confession, Henry would still want it signed and sealed.
Mingo wanted to seize Henry before he reached the Citadel, and take him to Trois-Rivières where Willie Ferguson would be waiting. If Willie had made the proper contacts, it would be possible to return Henry to the new United States where he could himself be tried for treason. Even though he was a Continental Army officer, Henry had betrayed his father's trust, created the renegade tribe, and set the trap for Daniel and Mingo.
August 20th, dawn
Daniel and Mingo went no further than their camp at the edge of the Ste-Foy village. Rain Cloud and Jean-Marie ventured east a few times, making sure to stay on friendly terms with the Huron. Sometimes Jean-Marie stayed with Daniel and Mingo at their camp, entertaining them with local history and more tall tales.
It was decided that Thomas and Mathurin should head toward Trois-Rivières. If anything were to happen to Daniel or Mingo, at least the truth would be known.
As Daniel grew fidgety, Mingo persuaded him to stay in the camp. The summer was hot and humid, though their camp was situated high above a cliff. From a vantage point, they could see both the St. Charles and the St. Lawrence rivers. Most days, Mingo sat under a huge, shady maple tree staring at the water and the trail below – waiting for Henry to arrive.
Mingo was familiar with Henry's vanity; he expected him to arrive with a fair-sized militia of uniformed Redcoats, who would be hard to miss. He asked Daniel to figure out how to capture Henry and escape from the regiment who were sure to pursue them. Daniel wasn't fooled. He grew more restive, and nothing Mingo or Jean-Marie said pacified him.
The days grew longer. The sun was hotter. The water was inviting. Since Daniel had the morning watch, Mingo did a great deal of swimming or fishing with Rain Cloud.
It was now the middle of the week, the sky fresh and blue and Mingo was ready for his morning swim, when Daniel called, "Mingo, hold off on that swim, and come here!"
Four very large canoes were arriving in the middle of the St-Lawrence. Although, they couldn't distinguish anyone in the canoes, there were definitely people wearing red.
Mingo whistled a bird call and Jean-Marie and Rain Cloud quietly came to join the two friends on their lookout point.
"Four canoes, at least 20 people. Could be our men, L'Indien," Jean-Marie said, hopefully.
Daniel was ready for action. They waited until the canoers came nearer.
There were four privates, 14 Canadian militia, and another officer as they watched. To everyone's surprise, the canoes pulled up less than two miles from the port. Henry dismissed the militia, ordering them to return for him in two days. The privates were sent to the Citadel on foot. Rain Cloud and Jean-Marie followed them quietly, and dispatched them. Henry and the other officer remained alone, making camp and resting.
It looked much too easy.
Daniel was cautious and curious. Why had Henry dismissed his militia?
Daniel told Mingo to stand guard, that he would follow them.
Mingo quickly put a stop to this, "Daniel, you're not going to understand a word they say if they are Canadians and not British. I will follow them and you will stand guard."
Daniel understood his friend's reasoning, even if he was miffed at Mingo for taking charge. He stayed behind while the Cherokee quietly followed them.
Mingo came back hours later.
"My old friend is going visiting tomorrow morning. That is why he didn't go straight to the port. He has a rendezvous with a lady friend. He'll leave alone in the morning, climbing this hill, straight into our arms."
"Do you mean to tell me he'll leave his fellow officer for two whole days here alone? And that no one will expect him back until Friday?" asked Daniel. His predatory smile was contagious.
"Exactly," said Mingo. "We can seize him in the morning, and take him with us. We'll have a good lead before they realize he's missing."
Rain Cloud and Jean-Marie came back reporting that the soldiers would not arrive at the Citadel either. The four men got their packs ready. As soon as they had Henry Hartford, they would head for the Huron village and the canoe the chief had promised them. They would be in Trois-Rivières under the protection of the officers and soldiers Willie Ferguson had organized before anyone realized that Major Henry Hartford, British turncoat, was missing.