Hawk's Nest; or, The Last of the Cahoonshees.: A Tale of the Delaware Valley and Historical Romance of 1690.Allerton, James M. (James Martin)
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Hawk's Nest; or, The Last of the Cahoonshees.: A Tale of the Delaware Valley and Historical Romance of 1690.
Allerton, James M. (James Martin)
Delaware River Valley (N.Y.-Del. and N.J.) -- Fiction; Historical fiction
I accept this office for the present, but I shall resign it if it in any
way interferes with my plans in searching for the absent one in America.
I do not ask, neither do I consent that you should abandon the search you
have in view for that lost child, for something tells me that my lost
child will be found at the same time.
Bang! went the gun to give warning to those on shore to come on board,
and to those on board that the time for parting had come—when wives must
bid their husbands good-bye, and lovers renew their troth.
The parting between Walter and his grand-father was of the most
affectionate character. He conducted his grand-mother to the boat and
passed her to Lieutenant Powers. Lord Wallace followed, but before
entering the boat said:
I regret, my boy, that we must part on so short acquaintance, yet I
appreciate and approve of the motive that actuates you, and hope that you
will be successful. And in case you succeed in finding the girl, you can
assure her that she will be welcomed and received as my grand-daughter.
I doubt not but that your search will be thorough, and to that end, I
ask you to receive this package, and use the contents to further the
enterprise. And now good bye for the present.
Depend upon it, said Walter. The whole country between the Hudson and
Delaware Rivers shall be searched, and Amy shall be found if alive. But I
must detain you no longer. The vessel is moving.
As they sailed down the Thames toward the Atlantic, Walter’s mind
naturally reverted to the contrast between his past and present
condition. But a few weeks before, he was a penniless boy. Now he was the
acknowledged son and heir of two of the first families of the nation.
Then he was an invited guest on board of the Reindeer, dependent upon
the bounty of Captain Davis. Now he was a Lieutenant in His Majesty’s
Service. Then there were grave doubts whether he would be received by
his kindred. Now the relationship between them was established. Now he
had the opportunity and means to prosecute his search for Amy. Yet, he
thought, all this work and wealth without her is a bubble, that floats
for a moment and then disappears. But I forget the package handed me. I
wonder what it contains.
He breaks the seal, and within finds a £1,000 note on the Bank of
England, and on a piece of paper is written:
“Please accept this token of my regard. From your grand-father. I feared
that your manly pride and self-independence would incite you to reject
the gift, which would have pained me. Therefore I hand it to you at the
last moment. Take it and use it as you think best.”
We will pass over the incidents of the voyage between Europe and America,
as nothing unusual occurred. They had a quick and prosperous voyage, and
entered Philadelphia harbor just as the sun was setting, about the middle
of October.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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