CHAPTER XVII

B

THE SONG OF THE DRUM

URR had carried his point. He and his party

had received a cordial welcome from both the

Prince and the Princess, and, although he did not express his intention to his companions, his mind. was made up to remain upon the island until he had secured every possible advantage from the new acquaintance that he had made. He was not sorry, all things considered, that there had been a misunderstanding and some explanations had become necessary. The result

had been that he was now on a much better footing with his host and hostess than he would have been had the visit been but a casual call with no attendant exciting circumstances. The incidents which had transpired had broken the ice and had opened several avenues through which he could present his schemes to his entertainers.

The dinner was very enjoyable. In addition to Colonel Burr's party, there were Mr. and Mrs. Reed and their daughter. No reference was made during the repast to the business relations between Mr. Blennerhassett and Mr. Reed, but the pleased expression on the latter gentleman's face, and the looks of contentment upon those of his wife and daughter, indicated that Mr. Blennerhassett's kind treatment of them in their financial difficulties was greatly appreciated.

After dinner, Burr walked down to the little boatlanding. The boat was there and James Gray was its sole occupant. Burr entered the boat and signified his

desire to be rowed back to the raft. There he obtained the trunk containing his personal wearing apparel, and, also, those belonging to his daughter and Kate. These were placed in the boat. Then Burr called the hands together and informed them that he would probably stay for a week or ten days at Blennerhassett Island. He had decided to retain Tom Walters, one of the boatmen, and Bob, the negro boy. He paid Gray and the other boatman for their services and told them that he had no further employment for them. Then Walters rowed him and the baggage back to the island. He then returned to the raft, Burr informing him that he would signal him if he wished the boat at any time.

The evening of the first day was passed very pleasantly in Mr. Blennerhassett's library. The walls were covered with bookcases, upon the shelves of which but few vacant spaces could be found, for his library was extensive, consisting mainly of valuable scientific works. A door opened from the library into the laboratory in which he carried on his scientific experiments— which, unfortunately, had been experimental only for they had resulted in no new and valuable discoveries. Burr felt equally as well at home in a library as he did upon the battle-field. On the latter, he commanded men; in the former, he commanded authorities, and marshalled them in line as though they had been infantry, cavalry, and artillery. On this first evening, he deftly introduced the subject which was uppermost in his mind. He took occasion, however, to employ only his literary infantry, for the time had not come to open fire with his literary artillery, or to have his literary cavalry make the final charge.

The wearied party soon retired so as to arise at an early hour, and the first day of what was to become a most memorable epoch in American history had passed.

The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Blennerhassett devoted themselves exclusively to the entertainment of their

guests. There was a boating trip upon the river, in the course of which Mrs. Blennerhassett pointed out many natural beauties which would ordinarily have escaped the eye of a casual observer. Then there was another quiet journey into the uncleared portion of the island.

Towards evening, the sky became overcast and dark clouds shrouded both moon and stars from sight. After supper, Ransome sought his master, bearing a request from the other servants that they might be allowed to take the big boat and go fishing by torch-light. The request was overheard by Burr, and when Mrs. Blennerhassett asked him if he would like to accompany the party he gladly consented. Then Kate asked if she might be allowed to go, but as there were to be no other ladies in the party, Burr convinced her that her request was inappropriate, and induced her to withdraw it.

The party set off, many of the number holding aloft huge, flaring torches which emitted not only light, but a great quantity of pungent smoke. Mrs. Blenner

hassett, Theodosia, and Kate watched the party from the little boat-landing. When a good catch was made, the cries of the pleased fishermen were borne across the water, the little party of listeners entering into their enjoyment. Finally, the zest of the fishermen was satisfied and they started on their homeward trip. When they had progressed a short distance, one of the negro boatmen struck up in a loud, resonant voice the wellknown patriotic air called "The Song of the Drum."

Burr sat in the stern of the boat, the light of the torches falling upon his face. As he heard the wellknown words ""Twas in the merry month of May," the boat, its occupants, the flaring torches, and the darkly-flowing river vanished from his view and he saw another sight. His mind went back to the evening of the Fourth of July, 1804, just one week previous

to the meeting on the field at Weehawken Heights. The occasion was the annual dinner of the New York branch of the Society of the Cincinnati, of which Alexander Hamilton was president. Burr was a member, but he took no active part in the festivities. He sat with his eyes fixed upon the man who, in one short week, he was to meet upon the field of honor.

As the fact of the forth-coming duel was known to but few persons, the real cause of Hamilton's apparent lack of interest in the proceedings could not have been divined by those present. He was usually the life of such gatherings, entering into them, even at his age, with all the enthusiasm and vivacity of a young man. When requested to sing a song, he refused. When the request was again preferred, he refused for the second time, but, in response to the universal demand that he should sing one song at least, he finally said, "Well, if you must have it, I will. You know I can only sing one song anyway." Then he sang "The Song of the Drum," but it was noticed by many, who afterwards referred to it, that it was not given with the dash and spirit that he had shown on former occasions.

While this was passing through Burr's mind the boat had reached the landing. Burr joined the little party and they walked towards the house, while the fishermen took their catch to the storehouse in which meat, fish, vegetables, and other food supplies for the great house were kept.

As they walked slowly along, Kate remarked: "The song sung by the boatmen was really enchanting as the melody came floating over the water."

"Yes," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, "I like that song and I don't like it. I like it because it is patriotic and because the melody is simple but sweet."

"What is your reason for disliking it?" inquired Burr.

"Because," remarked Mrs. Blennerhassett, "our

boys have been able to learn the words of two stanzas only, and they have sung them over and over so many times that I have really become tired of them. I have written some poetry myself, but I find it impossible to write anything to match the ones they have."

"I am no singer," Burr remarked, "but I have heard the song a great many times. I have a fairly good memory, and if I can recall the words of some of the other stanzas I shall be pleased to give you a copy of them.' "You may be sure," said Mrs. Blennerhassett, “that I shall be greatly pleased to receive them, and that pleasure will be shared by our boys."

The next morning, when they gathered at the breakfast table, Burr laid a folded sheet of paper beside his plate as he took his seat. The fact was that every word in "The Song of the Drum" had been indelibly engraved upon his memory while he sat that night with his eyes fixed upon the man who had been his foe for thirty years, so he had little difficulty in writing out the words of the song after he had retired to his room. When the morning meal was over, he passed the written sheet to Mrs. Blennerhassett, remarking that it contained, as nearly as he could remember, the missing stanzas of the song.

"Oh! please read it to us, Mrs. Blennerhassett," cried Kate, and her request was echoed by Burr and his daughter. They had heard that their hostess possessed marked elocutionary ability and this seemed to offer a favorable opportunity for the display of her powers.

Mrs. Blennerhassett consented graciously, and delivered with great fervor and dramatic expression the words of the song:

I

"'Twas in the merry month of May,

When bees from flower to flower did hum, Soldiers through the town marched gay,

The village flew to the scund of the drum.