Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison

CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI U P O N A R R I V I N G AT MONtreal , I proceeded to the "St. LawrenceHall." Captain "Henry" and his wife had proposed that I should join them at Niagara; but, not having heard from them for some time, I waited till I could ascertain their exact whereabouts. In Montreal I met many Southern families, refugees, and many Confederate sympathizers. The British provinces were at this time a haven of rest for American exiles—much as England has always been to the victims ofpersecution on the European continent. I learned that my friendsat Niagarawere expecting me, and accordingly set off to join them, the Guards serenading me just before my departure. Niagara, with its sublime scenery, I will not attempt to describe. We were stopping at the Clifton House, and from my windows I could plainly seethe Yankee side of the Falls.There, lower down, was the Suspension Bridge, offering almost irresistible temptation to cross from Canada to the States. We heard, on good authority, that above a hundred thousand dollars was being expended on the retaking of Captain "Henry" and myself. Spies were stationed on the bridge to watch, and, if possible, to entrap us, should we by chance be foolish enough to venture within their power. About a week after our arrival at Niagara we noticed, at the table d'hote, two very foppishly-dressed men, with thin, waxed mustaches a la Napoleon, and who apparently took great seeming interest in the B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N 205 movements of our entire party. Wewatched them closely, and werevery soon convinced beyond doubt that they were Yankee detectives. Shortly after this discovery, we left for Quebec. It was in the morning, about eight o' clock, that wequitted Niagara and proceeded by rail to Toronto, where we arrived about noon. Imagine our surprise at finding the fair imitation dandies, whom we had left quietly at the "Clifton House," watching for us at the Toronto terminus! It transpired that they had seen us going, and had quietly entered another car in the same train. The Canadian journals commented severelyupon these fellows, and the system of espionage practised on us whilst we remained in the provinces. The brace of detectives accompanied us in the steamer that left Toronto a few hours afterwards, and which plies regularly during the summer months between that place and Montreal. We noticed that they hovered round, eyeing us narrowly; and we determined to ascertain whether it was really our party that they were watching. When, therefore, we arrived at our destination, Captain "Henry" repaired to the "Donegana Hotel," whilst I went to the "St. LawrenceHall." In afew hours I learned that one of these fellows had engaged a room at the same hotel where I was stopping; and, when Captain "Henry" called, he told me that the other detective had taken up his abode at the "Donegana"! When we resumed our journeyto Quebec, the spies still dogged us. Captain "Henry" embarked at once for Halifax. I remained some time in Quebec, previous to sailing for Europe; and when, at length, I quitted the American shores, one of the spies endeavored to secure a passage on board the same vessel! The Canadians, however, detesting this odious calling, insisted that he should be denied this opportunity. My trip across the Atlantic was, on the whole, favored by calm weather and a smooth sea; so that I did not suffer much from my enemy , the mal de mer. Off the banks of Newfoundland we were, to make use of a nautical expression, "tied up" for more than a week by the fogs, amid fields and bergs of ice. The latter I had never before seen; and I gazed upon their majestic grandeur with feelings of awe and amazement . So near, at times, did we pass them, that it is no wonder that I felt 2O6 B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N somewhat nervous; for, had we struck, it would have been instantaneous death to us all. While crossing the banks we encountered a fearful storm, and for one entire night the steamer rolled and plunged with the force of the waves like some living creature. It wasmidnight on the ocean, And a storm was on the deep...