RICHARD PENN SMITH
177
Andre. What noise is this?
Maj. McCrea. Look up, my child; you are in your father's arms once more and he forgives you all.—Look up. She revives. Andre Macklegraith, some water for the love of heaven.
Andre. Ye ken me for Andre weel enough now, and I ken ye too. Why call ye so loud for water man, when the lake is so near at hand? Carry your bairn to the shore and help yourself to what you need.
Maj. McCrea. Unfeeling monster!
Andre. Nay, no abuse, but follow Andre's advice.—Even a fool may at times give good advice to a wise man.—Help yourself, I say, and ye'll have no cause to find fault with your servant. Hoot man, to the shore, you'll find a boat there, make the best use on't and trust to me.
(Apart.)
(Col. McCrea supports Elinor to the shore.)
Sentinel. I reckon, friend, you are not much troubled with Christian charity.
Andre. That's my affair—Charity is a fine topic to talk about and preach about too, but I have remarked that where there is a large stock of charity, there is usually a small stock to answer its demands. Charity is an ungrateful guest, for it is sure to rob the man who entertains it.Take a pinch o' sneezer. A large pinch man, you[']r[e] hearty welcome.
(Boat pushes off.)
Sentinel. Death! He has escaped. Hold on, or I'll fire.
Andre. Fire at a lassie? Shame, where's your manhood.—{Fires.—Andre strikes the gun up. Enter soldiers, Mrs. Mack. and Lucy. Boat disappears. Curtain drops.)
END OF ACT FIRST.
ACT SECOND.
Scene 1. A tavern on Cumberland Head. Folding window through which is seen a view of the lake. Discovered. Four British soldiers drinking, and Captain Peabody, the landlord. Cannon at intervals.)
1st Soldier. Well, comrades, the army is prepared to commence the grand assault, and in a few hours we shall behold his majesty's flag waving over the fortress of Plattsburg.
Landlord. I'll bet you all the grog in my bar to a chew tobacco that you have missed a figure in your calculation, corporal.
1st Soldier. What's that you say, Landlord?
Landlord. I am thinking that if you ever march into Plattsburg it will be under a flag of a different color than that you display at present.
1st Soldier. Ha! Ha! why, you don't suppose that experienced soldiers are to be beaten by a handful of ragged militia, do you?
Landlord. Yes, I do, and they will be switched like tarnation too. Take my word for it, corporal, you'll have your
red jackets drubbed off of your backs, and if you are so fortunate as to return alive, I calculate you'll cut a more sorry figure than the ragged militia you jeer at.
2d Soldier. The fellow's mad.
Landlord. Cuter than you think for. You seem not to reflect that the enemy you despise are fighting for their homes, and remember 't is the nature of a man to fight despert fierce when a foe's at his threshold.
1st Soldier. Then why don't you turn out with your rifle on your shoulder, since you are surrounded with your enemies?
Landlord. Mayhap I'll answer that question when occasion offers, but business in the mean time, you know, must be attended to, and if I can make an honest penny or two out of you before your affairs are settled, it's nothing to Uncle Sam, you know. Old Captain Peabody will make it up to him in the long run I'll war'nt it.
(Enter Major McCrea and Elinor.)
Major. We have mistaken the path, my child, and here we are on Cumberland Head instead of approaching Plattsburg. Cheer up, Elinor.
Elinor. I am faint, very faint.
([He] supports her to a chair.)
Major. Landlord, some wine.—The walk has been too much for you. Yield not to your feelings. A few moments' rest will refresh you.
Elinor. O, my father, this unmerited kindness overwhelms me with confusion.
Major. You are still my child, Elinor, though a villain persuaded you for a time to forget your father.
Landlord. Take a glass of Mrs. Peabody's
