diff options
Diffstat (limited to '17856.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 17856.txt | 12373 |
1 files changed, 12373 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/17856.txt b/17856.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7aefbe --- /dev/null +++ b/17856.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12373 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Prisoners of Chance, by Randall Parrish + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Prisoners of Chance + The Story of What Befell Geoffrey Benteen, Borderman, + through His Love for a Lady of France + +Author: Randall Parrish + +Illustrator: The Kinneys + +Release Date: February 25, 2006 [EBook #17856] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISONERS OF CHANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: I could merely clasp the hands she gave so unreservedly +into my keeping, gaze into the depths of her dark eyes, and murmur a +few broken words of confidence and farewell.] + + + + + + +PRISONERS OF CHANCE + +THE STORY OF WHAT BEFELL GEOFFREY BENTEEN, BORDERMAN, THROUGH HIS LOVE +FOR A LADY OF FRANCE + + + +BY + +RANDALL PARRISH + + + + + +Author of "When Wilderness was King," "My Lady of the North," "Bob +Hampton of Placer," etc. + + + + + +ILLUSTRATED IN FULL COLOR BY THE KINNEYS + + + + +CHICAGO + +A. C. McCLURG & CO. + +1908 + + + + +COPYRIGHT + +A. C. McCLURG & CO. + +1908 + + + +Entered at Stationers' Hall, London + + +All rights reserved + + +Published March 28, 1908 + + + +THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +FOREWORD + + +CHAPTER + + I THE REQUEST FOR AID + II A PERILOUS VENTURE + III A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP + IV WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR + V ON THE DECK OF THE "SANTA MARIA" + VI THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI + VII THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN + VIII FAVORED OF THE GODS + IX THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN + X A COVERT IN THE CANE + XI A NIGHT IN THE BOAT + XII WE LAND AN ODD FISH + XIII WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT + XIV THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS + XV A PASSAGE AT ARMS + XVI WE CHANGE OUR COURSE + XVII WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT + XVIII A HARD DAY'S MARCH + XIX DEMON, OR WHAT? + XX BACKS TO THE WALL + XXI THE STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ + XXII PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE + XXIII THE VOTE OF DEATH + XXIV THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN + XXV A VISITANT FROM THE SUN + XXVI THE CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ + XXVII A VENTURE IN THE DARK + XXVIII SPEECH WITH NALADI + XXIX IN AND OUT THE SHADOW + XXX UNDERGROUND + XXXI WE MOUNT THE CLIFF + XXXII CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN + XXXIII PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER + XXXIV THE TALE OF THE PRIEST + XXXV NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES + XXXVI THE INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT + XXXVII THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +I could merely clasp the hands she gave so unreservedly into my +keeping, gaze into the depths of her dark eyes, and murmur a few broken +words of confidence and farewell. . . . _Frontispiece_ + +Had I ventured upon a smile at his predicament he would have popped +instantly forth again. + +"I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my children, given unto me by +the great Sun-god. . . . None of white blood may set foot in this +valley and live." + +The woman stood gazing intently down, her red robe sweeping to her +feet; below the flaring torches in the hands of her barbaric followers +cast their light full upon her. + + + + +FOREWORD + +The manuscript of this tale has been in my possession several years. +It reached me through natural lines of inheritance, but remained nearly +forgotten, until a chance reading revealed a certain historic basis; +then, making note of correspondences in minor details, I realized that +what I had cast aside as mere fiction might possess a substantial +foundation of fact. Impelled by this conviction, I now submit the +narrative to public inspection, that others, better fitted than I, may +judge as to the worth of this Geoffrey Benteen. + +According to the earlier records of Louisiana Province, Geoffrey +Benteen was, during his later years, a resident of La Petite Rocher, a +man of note and character among his fellows. There he died in old age, +leaving no indication of the extent of his knowledge, other than what +is to be found in the yellowed pages of his manuscript; and these +afford no evidence that this "Gentleman Adventurer" possessed any +information derived from books regarding those relics of a prehistoric +people, which are widely scattered throughout the Middle and Southern +States of the Union and constitute the grounds on which our century has +applied to the race the term "Mound Builders." + +Apparently in all simplicity and faithfulness he recorded merely what +he saw and heard. Later research, antedating his death, has seemingly +proven that in the extinct Natchez tribe was to be found the last +remnant of that mysterious and unfortunate race. + +Who were the Mound Builders? No living man may answer. Their +history--strange, weird, mysterious--stretches backward into the dim +twilight before tradition, its sole remaining record graven upon the +surface of the earth, vaguely guessed at by those who study graves; +their pathetic ending has long been pictured in our country's story as +occurring amid the shadows of that dreadful midnight upon the banks of +the Ocatahoola, when vengeful Frenchmen put them to the sword. Whence +they came, whether from fabled Atlantis, or the extinct Aztec empire of +the South, no living tongue can tell; whither fled their remnant,--if +remnant there was left to flee,--and what proved its ultimate fate, no +previous pen has written. Out from the darkness of the unknown, +scarcely more than spectral figures, they came, wrote their single line +upon the earth's surface, and vanished, kings and people alike sinking +into speechless oblivion. + +That Geoffrey Benteen witnessed the tragic ending of this strange +people I no longer question; for I have compared his narrative with all +we moderns have learned regarding them, as recorded in the pages of +Parkman, Charlevoix, Du Pratz, and Duponceau, discovering nothing to +awaken the slightest suspicion that he dealt with other than what he +saw. More, I have traced with exactitude the route these fugitives +followed in their flight northward, and, although the features of the +country are greatly altered by settlements of nearly two hundred years, +one may easily discern evidence of this man's honesty. For me it is +enough to feel that I have stood beside the massive tomb of this +mysterious people--a people once opulent and powerful, the warriors of +forgotten battle-fields, the builders of lost civilizations, the +masters of that imperial domain stretching from the Red River of the +North to the sea-coast of the Carolinas; a people swept backward as by +the wrath of the Infinite, scourged by famine, decimated by pestilence, +warred against by flame, stricken by storm, torn asunder by vengeful +enemies, until a weakened remnant, harassed by the French sword, fled +northward in the night to fulfil the fate ordained of God, and finally +perished amid the gloomy shadows of the grim Ozarks, bequeathing to the +curious future neither a language nor a name. + +But this I leave with Geoffrey Benteen, and turn to my own simpler +task, a review of the peculiar circumstances leading up to this +narrative, involving a brief chapter from the records of our Southwest. + +The early history of the Province of Louisiana is so complicated by +rapid changes in government as to confuse the student, rendering it +extremely difficult to comprehend correctly the varied and conflicting +interests--aristocratic, official, and commercial--actuating her +pioneer colonists. The written records, so far as translated and +published, afford only a faint reflection of the varied characteristics +of her peculiar, changing population. The blue-eyed Arcadian of her +western plateaus, yet dreaming upon his more northern freedom; the +royalist planter of the Mississippi bottoms, proud of those broad acres +granted him by letters-patent of the King; the gay, volatile, +passionate Creole of the town, one day a thoughtless lover of pleasure, +the next a truculent wielder of the sword; the daring smugglers of +Barataria, already rapidly drifting into open defiance of all legal +restraint; together with the quiet market gardeners of the +_Cote-des-Allemands_, formed a heterogeneous population impossible to +please and extremely difficult to control. + +Varied as were these types, yet there were others, easy to name, but +far more difficult to classify in their political relationships--such +as priests of the Capuchin order; scattered representatives of Britain; +sailors from ships ever swinging to the current beside the levee; +sinewy backwoodsmen from the wilds of the Blue Ridge; naked savages +from Indian villages north and east; raftsmen from the distant waters +of the Ohio and Illinois, scarcely less barbarian than those with +redder skin; Spaniards from the Gulf islands, together with a negro +population, part slave, part free, nearly equal in point of numbers to +all the rest. + +And over all who was the master? + +It would have been difficult at times to tell, so swiftly did change +follow change--Crozat, Law, Louis the Fifteenth, Charles the Third, +each had his turn; flag succeeded flag upon the high staff which, ever +since the days of Bienville, had ornamented the Place d'Armes, while +great merchants of Europe played the occupants of thrones for the +bauble of this far western province, whose heart, nevertheless, +remained forever faithful to sunny France. + +As late as 1768 New Orleans contained scarcely more than three thousand +two hundred persons, a third of these being black slaves. Sixty-three +years previously Bienville had founded Louisiana Province, making +choice of the city site, but in 1763 it suited the schemes of him, who +ruled the destinies of the mother country, to convey the yet struggling +colony into the control of the King of Spain. It was fully two years +later before word of this unwelcome transfer reached the distant +province, while as much more time elapsed ere Don Antonio de Ulloa, the +newly appointed Spanish governor, landed at New Orleans, and, under +guard of but two companies of infantry, took unto himself the reins. +Unrest was already in the air,--petitions and delegations laden with +vehement protests crossed the Atlantic. Both were alike returned, +disregarded by the French King. Where it is probable that a single +word of wise counsel, even of kindly explanation, might have calmed the +rising tumult, silence and contempt merely served to aggravate it. + +It has been written by conscientious historians that commercial +interests, not loyalty to French traditions, were the real cause of +this struggle of 1768. Be that as it may, its leaders were found in +the Superior Council, a body of governors older even than New Orleans, +of which the patriotic Lafreniere was then the presiding officer, and +whose membership contained such representative citizens as Foucault, +Jean and Joseph Milhet, Caresse, Petit, Poupet, a prominent lawyer. +Marquis, a Swiss captain, with Bathasar de Masan, Hardy de Boisblanc, +and Joseph Villere, planters of the upper Mississippi, as well as two +nephews of the great Bienville, Charles de Noyan, a young ex-captain of +cavalry, lately married to the only daughter of Lafreniere, and his +younger brother, a lieutenant in the navy. + +On the twenty-seventh of October, 1768, every Frenchman in Louisiana +Province was marching toward New Orleans. That same night the guns at +the Tehoupitoulas Gate--the upper river corner--were spiked; while yet +farther away, along a narrow road bordering the great stream, armed +with fowling pieces, muskets, even axes, the Arcadians, and the aroused +inhabitants of the German coast, came sweeping down to unite with the +impatient Creoles of the town. In the dull gray of early morning they +pushed past the spiked and useless cannon, and, with De Noyan and +Villere at their head, forced the other gates and noisily paraded the +streets under the _fleur de lis_. The people rose _en masse_ to greet +them, until, utterly unable to resist the rising tide of popular +enthusiasm, Ulloa retired on board the Spanish frigate, which slipped +her cables, and came to anchor far out in the stream. Two days later, +hurried no doubt by demands of the council, the governor set sail for +the West Indies, leaving the fair province under control of what was +little better than a headless mob. + +For now, having achieved success, the strange listlessness of the +Southern nature reasserted itself, and from that moment no apparent +effort was made to strengthen their position--no government was +established, no basis of credit effected, no diplomatic relations were +assumed. They had battled for results like men, yet were content to +play with them like children. For more than seven months they thus +enjoyed a false security, as delightful as their sunny summer-time. +Then suddenly, as breaks an ocean storm, that slumbering community was +rudely aroused from its siestas and day-dreaming by the report that +Spaniards were at the mouth of the river in overwhelming force. + +Confusion reigned on every hand; scarcely a hundred men rallied to +defend the town; yet no one fled. The Spanish fleet consisted of +twenty-four vessels. For more than three weeks they felt their +uncertain way around the bends of the Mississippi, and on the +eighteenth of August, 1769, furled their canvas before the silent +batteries. Firing a single gun from the deck of his flag-ship, the +frigate "Santa Maria," Don Alexandro O'Reilly, accompanied by +twenty-six hundred chosen Spanish troops and fifty pieces of artillery, +landed, amid all the pomp of Continental war, taking formal possession +of the province. That night his soldiers patrolled the streets, and +his cannon swept the river front, while not a Frenchman ventured to +stray beyond the doorway of his home. + +Within the narrow space of two days the iron hand of Spain's new +Captain-General had closed upon the leaders of the bloodless +insurrection, his judgments falling with such severity as to earn for +him in the annals of Louisiana the title of "Cruel O'Reilly." Among +those of the revolutionists before mentioned, Petit, Masan, Doucet, +Boisblanc, Jean Milhet, and Poupet were consigned to Moro Castle, +Havana, where they remained a year, and then were stripped of their +property and forbidden ever again to enter the province of Louisiana. +The younger Bienville escaped with the loss of his fortune. Foucault +met his fate resisting the guard on board the "Santa Maria," where he +was held prisoner; while Lafreniere, De Noyan, Caresse, Marquis, and +Joseph Milhet were condemned to be publicly hanged. The earnest +supplication, both of colonists and Spanish officials, shocked by the +unjust severity of this sentence, sufficed to save them from the +disgrace of the gallows, but fated them to fall before the volley of a +file of grenadiers. + +With the firing of the sunset gun the evening of their last earthly +day, the post-captain visited the condemned men, and spoke with each in +turn; they numbered five. All through the dark hours of that night +heavily armed sentries stood in the narrow passageway before +nail-studded doors, while each hour, as the ship's bell struck, the +Commandant of Marine peered within each lighted apartment where rested +five plainly outlined forms. With the first gray of the dawn the +unfortunate prisoners were mustered upon deck, but they numbered only +four. And four only, white faced, yet firm of step and clear of eye, +stood an hour later with backs to the rising sun and hearts to the +levelled rifles, and when the single volley had echoed and reechoed +across the wide river, the white smoke slowly lifting and blown away +above the trees, only four lifeless bodies lay closely pressed against +the red-brick wall--the fifth condemned man was not there: _Chevalier +Charles de Noyan had escaped his fate_. Like a spirit had he vanished +during those mysterious hours between midnight and dawn, leaving no +trace of his going save a newly severed rope which hung dangling from a +foreyard. + +But had he escaped? + +That morning--as we learn from private letters sent home by officers of +the Spanish fleet--there came to the puzzled O'Reilly a report that in +the dense blackness of that starless night a single boat sought to slip +silently past beneath the deep shadows of the upper battery. Unhalting +in response to a hail of the sentry, a volley was hastily fired toward +its uncertain outline, and, in the flare of the guns, the officer of +the guard noted the black figure of a man leap high into air, and +disappear beneath the dark surface of the river. So it was the +Captain-General wrote also the name "Charles de Noyan" with those of +the other four, endorsing it with the same terse military record, "Shot +at sunrise." + +Nor since that fateful hour has the world known otherwise, for, +although strange rumors floated down the great river to be whispered +about from lip to lip, and New Orleans wondered many a long month +whither had vanished the fair young wife, the daughter of Lafreniere, +yet no authentic message found its way out of the vast northern +wilderness. For nearly one hundred and fifty years history has +accepted without question the testimony of the Spanish records. The +man who alone could tell the strange story was in old age impelled to +do so by a feeling of sacred duty to the dead; and his papers, +disarranged, ill-written, already yellowed by years, have fallen to my +keeping. I submit them without comment or change, save only as to the +subdivision into chapters, with an occasional substitution for some +old-time phrase of its more modern equivalent. He who calls himself +"Geoffrey Benteen, Gentleman Adventurer," shall tell his own tale. + +R. P. + + + + +Prisoners of Chance + + +CHAPTER I + +THE REQUEST FOR AID + +I am Geoffrey Benteen, Gentleman Adventurer, with much experience upon +the border, where I have passed my life. My father was that Robert +Benteen, merchant in furs, the first of the English race to make +permanent settlement in New Orleans. Here he established a highly +profitable trade with the Indians, his bateaux voyaging as far +northward as the falls of the Ohio, while his influence among the +tribesmen extended to the eastern mountains. My mother was of Spanish +blood, a native of Saint Augustine, so I grew up fairly proficient in +three languages, and to them I later added an odd medley of tribal +tongues which often stood me in excellent stead amid the vicissitudes +of the frontier. The early death of my mother compelled me to become +companion to my father in his wanderings, so that before I was +seventeen the dim forest trails, the sombre rivers, and the dark lodges +of savages had grown as familiar to me as were the streets and houses +of my native town. Hence it happened, that when my father fell the +victim of a treacherous blow, although he left to my care considerable +property and a widely scattered trade, I could not easily content +myself with the sameness of New Orleans; there I felt almost a +stranger, ever hungering for the woods and the free life of the +mountains. + +Yet I held myself to the work in hand until successful in straightening +out the tangled threads, and might have remained engaged in peaceful +traffic until the end of life, had it not been for a misunderstanding +with her who held my heart in captivity to her slightest whim. It +matters little now the cause of the quarrel, or where rested the +greater blame; enough that its occurrence drove me forth reckless of +everything, desirous only to leave all of my own race, and seek amid +savage environment and excitement forgetfulness of the past. + +It was in September of the year 1769--just forty-eight years ago as I +write--that I found myself once again in New Orleans, feeling almost a +stranger to the town, except for the few rough flatboat-men in company +with whom I had floated down the great river. Five years previously, +heartsick and utterly careless of life, I had plunged into the +trackless wilderness stretching in almost unbroken virginity to north +and east, desiring merely to be left alone, that I might in solitude +fight out my first grim battle with despair, saying to myself in all +bitterness of soul that never again would I turn face to southward or +enter the boundaries of Louisiana Province. During those years, beyond +reach of news and the tongue of gossip, I wandered aimlessly from +village to village, ever certain of welcome within the lodges of Creeks +and Shawnees, or farther away amid those little French border towns +dotting the Ohio and the Illinois, constantly feeling how little the +world held of value since both my parents were gone, and this last blow +had fallen. I loved the free, wild life of the warriors with whom I +hunted, and the _voyageurs_ beside whom I camped, and had learned to +distrust my own race; yet no sooner did I chance to stand again beside +the sweeping current of the broad Mississippi, than I was gripped by +the old irresistible yearning, and, although uninspired by either hope +or purpose, drifted downward to the hated Creole town. + +I had left it a typical frontier French city, touched alike by the +glamour of reflected civilization and the barbarism of savagery, yet +ever alive with the gayety of that lively, changeable people; I +returned, after those five years of burial in forest depths, to +discover it under the harsh rule of Spain, and outwardly so quiet as to +appear fairly deserted of inhabitants. The Spanish ships of war--I +counted nineteen--lay anchored in the broad river, their prows up +stream, and the gloomy, black muzzles of their guns depressed so as to +command the landing, while scarcely a French face greeted me along the +streets, whose rough stone pavements echoed to the constant tread of +armed soldiers. + +Spanish sentries were on guard at nearly every corner. Not a few +halted me with rough questioning, and once I was haled before an +officer, who, hearing my story, and possibly impressed by my +proficiency in his language, was kind enough to provide me with a pass +good within the lines. Yet it proved far from pleasant loitering +about, as drunken soldiers, dressed in every variety of uniform, +staggered along the narrow walks, ready to pick a quarrel with any +stranger chancing their way, while groups of officers, gorgeous in +white coats and gold lace, lounged in shaded corners, greeting each +passer-by with jokes that stung. Every tavern was crowded to the +threshold with roistering blades whose drunken curses, directed against +both French and English, quickly taught me the discretion of keeping +well away from their company, so there was little left but to move on, +never halting long enough in one place to become involved in useless +controversy. + +It all appeared so unnatural that I felt strangely saddened by the +change, and continued aimlessly drifting about the town as curiosity +led, resolved to leave its confines at the earliest opportunity. I +stared long at the strange vessels of war, whose like I had never +before seen, and finally, as I now remember, paused upon the ragged +grass of the Place d'Armes, watching the evolutions of a battery of +artillery. This was all new to me, representing as it did a line of +service seldom met with in the wilderness; and soon quite a number of +curious loiterers gathered likewise along the edge of the parade. +Among them I could distinguish a few French faces, with here and there +a woman of the lower orders, ill clad and coarse of speech. A party of +soldiers, boisterous and quarrelsome from liquor, pressed me so closely +that, hopeful of avoiding trouble, I drew farther back toward the curb, +and standing thus, well away from others, enjoyed an unobstructed view +across the entire field. + +The battery had hitched up preparatory to returning to their quarters +before I lost interest in the spectacle and reluctantly turned away +with the slowly dispersing crowd. Just then I became aware of the +close proximity of a well-dressed negro, apparently the favored servant +in some family of quality. The fellow was observing me with an +intentness which aroused my suspicion. That was a time and place for +exercising extreme caution, so that instinctively I turned away, moving +directly across the vacated field. Scarcely had I taken ten steps +before I saw that he was following, and as I wheeled to front him the +fellow made a painful effort to address me in English. + +"Mornin', sah," he said, making a deep salutation with his entire body. +"Am you dat Englisher Massa Benteen from up de ribber?" + +Leaning upon my rifle, I gazed directly at him in astonishment. How, +by all that was miraculous, did this strange black know my name and +nationality? His was a round face, filled with good humor; nothing in +it surely to mistrust, yet totally unknown to me. + +"You speak correctly," I made reply, surprise evident in the tones of +my voice. "I have no reason to deny my name, which is held an honest +one here in New Orleans. How you learned it, however, remains a +mystery, for I never looked upon your face before." + +"No, sah; I s'pects not, sah, 'cause I nebber yet hab been in dem dere +parts, sah. I was sent yere wid a most 'portant message fer Massa +Benteen, an' I done reckon as how dat am you, sah." + +"An important message for me? Surely, boy, you either mistake, or are +crazy. Yet stay! Does it come from Nick Burton, the flatboat-man?" + +"No, sah; it am a lady wat sent me yere." + +He was excessively polite, exhibiting an earnestness which caused me to +suspect his mission a grave one. + +"A lady?" + +I echoed the unexpected word, scarcely capable of believing the +testimony of my own ears. Yet as I did so my heart almost ceased its +throbbing, while I felt the hot blood rush to my face. That was an age +of social gallantry; yet I was no gay courtier of the town, but a +hunter of the woods, attired in rough habiliments, little fitted to +attract the attention of womanly eyes amid the military glitter all +about. + +A lady! In the name of all the gods, what lady? Even in the old days +I enjoyed but a limited circle of acquaintance among women. Indeed, I +recalled only one in all the wide province of Louisiana who might +justly be accorded so high an appellation even by a negro slave, and +certainly she knew nothing of my presence in New Orleans, nor would she +dream of sending for me if she did. Convinced of this, I dismissed the +thought upon the instant, with a smile. The black must have made a +mistake, or else some old-time acquaintance of our family, a forgotten +friend of my mother perhaps, had chanced to hear of my return. +Meanwhile the negro stood gazing at me with open mouth, and the sight +of him partially restored my presence of mind. + +"Is she English, boy?" + +"No, sah, she am a French lady, sah, if ebber dar was one in dis hyar +province. She libs ober yonder in de Rue Dumaine, an' she said to me, +'Yah, Alphonse, you follow dat dar young feller wid de long rifle under +his arm an' de coon-skin cap, an' fotch him hyar to me!' Dem am de +bery words wat she done said, sah, when you went by our house a +half-hour ago." + +"Is your mistress young or old?" + +The black chuckled, his round face assuming a good-natured grin. + +"Fo' de Lawd, Massa, but dat am jest de way wid all you white folks!" +he ejaculated. "If she was ol', an' wrinkled, an' fat, den dat settle +de whole ting. Jest don't want to know no mor'." + +"Well," I interrupted impatiently, "keep your moralizing to yourself +until we become better acquainted, and answer my question--Is the woman +young?" + +My tone was sufficiently stern to sober him, his black face +straightening out as if it had been ironed. + +"Now, don't you go an' git cross, Massa Benteen, case a laugh don't +nebber do nobody no hurt," he cried, shrinking back as if expecting a +blow. "But dat's jest wat she am, sah, an' a heap sweeter dan de +vi'lets in de springtime, sah." + +"And she actually told you my name?" + +"Yas, sah, she did dat fer suah--'Massa Geoffrey Benteen, an Englisher +from up de ribber,' dem was her bery words; but somehow I done +disremember jest persactly de place." + +For another moment I hesitated, scarcely daring to utter the one vital +question trembling on my lips. + +"But who is the lady? What is her name?" As I put the simple query I +felt my voice tremble in spite of every effort to hold it firm. + +"Madame de Noyan, sah; one ob de bery first famblies. Massa de Noyan +am one ob de Bienvilles, sah." + +"De Noyan? De Noyan?" I repeated the unfamiliar name over slowly, with +a feeling of relief. "Most certainly I never before heard other." + +"I dunno nothin' 'tall 'bout dat, Massa, but suah's you born dat am her +name and Massa's; an' you is de bery man she done sent me after, fer I +nebber onct took my eyes off you all dis time." + +There remained no reasonable doubt as to the fellow's sincerity. His +face was a picture of disinterested earnestness as he fronted me; yet I +hesitated, eying him closely, half inclined to think him the +unsuspecting representative of some rogue. That was a time and place +where one of my birth needed to practise caution; racial rivalry ran so +high throughout all the sparsely settled province that any +misunderstanding between an English stranger and either Frenchman or +Spaniard was certain to involve serious results. We of Northern blood +were bitterly envied because of commercial supremacy. I had, during my +brief residence in New Orleans, witnessed jealous treachery on every +hand. This had taught me that enemies of my race were numerous, while, +it was probable, not more than a dozen fellow-countrymen were then in +New Orleans. They would prove powerless were I to become involved in +any quarrel. Extreme caution under such conditions became a paramount +duty, and it can scarcely be wondered at that I hesitated to trust the +black, continuing to study the real purpose of his mysterious message. +Yet the rare good-humor and simple interest of his face tended to +reassure me. A lady, he said--well, surely no great harm would result +from such an interview; and if, as was probable, it should prove a mere +case of mistaken identity, a correction could easily follow, and I +should then be free to go my way. On the other hand, if some friend +really needed me, a question of duty was involved, which--God +helping--I was never one to shun; for who could know in how brief a +space I might also be asking assistance of some countryman. This +mysterious stranger, this Madame de Noyan of whom I had never heard, +knew my name--possibly had learned it from another, some wandering +Englishman, perchance, whom she would aid in trouble, some old-time +friend in danger, who, afraid to reveal himself, now appealed through +her instrumentality for help in a strange land. Deciding to brave the +doubt and solve the mystery by action, I flung the long rifle across my +shoulder and stood erect. + +"All right, boy, lead on," I said shortly. "I intend to learn what is +behind this, and who it is that sends for me in New Orleans." + +Far from satisfied with the situation, yet determined now to probe the +mystery to the bottom, I silently followed the black, attentive to his +slightest movement. It was a brief walk down one of the narrow streets +leading directly back from the river front, so that within less than +five minutes I was being silently shown into the small reception room +of a tasty cottage, whose picturesque front was half concealed by a +brilliant mass of trailing vines. The heavy shades being closely drawn +at the windows, the interior was in such gloom that for the moment +after my entrance from the outside glare I was unable to distinguish +one object from another. Then slowly my eyes adjusted themselves to +the change, and, taking one uncertain step forward, I came suddenly +face to face with a Capuchin priest appearing almost ghastly with his +long, pale, ascetic countenance, and ghostly gray robe sweeping to the +floor. + +Startled by this unexpected apparition, and experiencing an American +borderer's dislike and distrust for his class, I made a hasty move back +toward where, with unusual carelessness, I had deposited my rifle +against the wall. Yet as I placed hand upon it I had sufficiently +recovered to laugh silently at my fears. + +"Thou hast responded with much promptitude, my son," the priest said in +gentle voice, speaking the purest of French, and apparently not +choosing to notice my momentary confusion. "It is indeed an excellent +trait--one long inculcated by our Order." + +"And one not unknown to mine--free rangers of the woods, sir priest," I +replied coldly, resolving not to be outdone in bluntness of speech. "I +suppose you are the 'lady' desiring speech with me; I note you come +dressed in character. And now I am here, what may the message be?" + +There was neither smile nor resentment visible on his pale face, +although he slightly uplifted one slender hand as if in silent rebuke +of my rude words. + +"Nay, nay, my son," he said gravely. "Be not over-hasty in speech. It +is indeed a serious matter which doth require thy presence in this +house, and the question of life or death for a human being can never be +fit subject for jesting. She who despatched the messenger will be here +directly to make clear her need." + +"In truth it was a woman, then?" + +"Yes, a woman, and--ah! she cometh now." + +Even as he gave utterance to the words, I turned, attracted by the soft +rustle of a silken skirt at my very side, stole one quick, startled +glance into a young, sweet face, lightened by dark, dreamy eyes, and +within the instant was warmly clasping two outstretched hands, totally +oblivious of all else save her. + +"Eloise!" I exclaimed in astonishment. "Eloise--Mademoiselle +Lafreniere--can this indeed be you? Have you sent for me?" + +It seemed for that one moment as if the world held but the two of us, +and there was a glad confidence in her brimming eyes quickly +dissipating all mists of the past. Yet only for that one weak, +thoughtless instant did she yield to what appeared real joy at my +presence. + +"Yes, dear friend, it is Eloise," she answered, gazing anxiously into +my face, and clinging to my strong hands as though fearful lest I might +tear them away when she spoke those hard words which must follow. "Yet +surely you know, Geoffrey Benteen, that I am Mademoiselle Lafreniere no +longer?" + +It seemed to me my very heart stopped beating, so intense was the pain +which overswept it. Yet I held to the soft hands, for there was such a +pitiful look of suffering upon her upturned face as to steady me. + +"No, I knew it not," I answered brokenly. "I--I have been buried in +the forest all these years since we parted, where few rumors of the +town have reached me. But let that pass; it--it is easy to see you are +now in great sorrow. Was it because of this--in search of help, in +need, perchance--that you have sent for me?" + +She bowed her head; a tear fell upon my broad hand and glistened there. + +"Yes, Geoffrey." + +The words were scarcely more than a whisper; then the low voice seemed +to strengthen with return of confidence, her dark eyes anxiously +searching my face. + +"I sent for you, Geoffrey, because of deep trouble; because I am left +alone, without friends, saving only the _pere_. I know well your +faithfulness. In spite of the wrong, the misunderstanding between +us--and for it I take all the blame--I have ever trusted in your word, +your honor; and now, when I can turn nowhere else for earthly aid, the +good God has guided you back to New Orleans. Geoffrey Benteen, do not +gaze at me so! It breaks my heart to see that look in your eyes; but, +my friend, my dearest friend, do you still recall what you said to me +so bravely the night you went away?" + +Did I remember! God knew I did; ay! each word of that interview had +been burned into my life, had been repeated again and again in the +silence of my heart amid the loneliness of the woods; nothing in all +those years had for one moment obliterated her face or speech from +memory. + +"I remember, Eloise," I answered more calmly. "The words you mean +were: 'If ever you have need of one on whom you may rely for any +service, however desperate (and in New Orleans such necessity might +arise at any moment), one who would gladly yield his very life to serve +you, then, wherever he may be, send for Geoffrey Benteen.' My poor +girl, has that moment come?" + +The brown head drooped until it rested in unconsciousness against my +arm, while I could feel the sobs which shook her form and choked her +utterance. + +"It has come," she whispered at last; "I am trusting in your promise." + +"Nor in vain; my life is at your command." + +She stopped my passionate utterance with quick, impulsive gesture. + +"No! pledge not yourself again until you hear my words, and ponder +them," she cried, with return to that imperiousness of manner I had +loved so well. "This is no ordinary matter. It will try your utmost +love; perchance place your life in such deadly peril as you never faced +before. For I must ask of you what no one else would ever venture to +require--nor can I hold out before you the slightest reward, save my +deepest gratitude." + +I gazed fixedly at her flushed face, scarcely comprehending the strange +words she spoke. + +"What may all this be that you require--this sacrifice so vast that you +doubt me? Surely I have never stood a coward, a dastard in your sight?" + +She stood erect, facing me, proudly confident in her power, with tears +still clinging to her long lashes. + +"No! you wrong me uttering such a thought. I doubt you not, although I +might well doubt any other walking this earth. But listen, and you can +no longer question my words; this which I dare ask of you--because I +trust you--is _to save my husband_." + +"Your husband?" The very utterance of the word choked me. "Your +husband? Save him from what? Where is he?" + +"A prisoner to the Spaniards; condemned to die to-morrow at sunrise." + +"His name?" + +"Chevalier Charles de Noyan." + +"Where confined?" + +"Upon the flag-ship in the river." + +I turned away and stood with my back to them both. I could no longer +bear to gaze upon her agonized face uplifted in such eager pleading, +such confiding trust; that one sweet face I loved as nothing else on +earth. + +Save her husband! For the moment it seemed as if a thousand emotions +swayed me. What might it not mean if this man should die? His living +could only add infinitely to my pain; his death might insure my +happiness--at least he alone, as far as I knew, stood in the way. "To +die to-morrow!" The very words sounded sweet in my ears, and it would +be such an easy thing for me to promise her, to appear to do my very +best--and fail. "To die to-morrow!" The perspiration gathered in +drops upon my forehead as I wavered an instant to the tempting thought. +Then I shook the foul temptation from me. Merciful God! could I dream +of being such a dastard? Why not attempt what she asked? After all, +what was left for me in life, except to give her happiness? + +The sound of a faint sob reached me, and wheeling instantly I stood at +her side. + +"Madame de Noyan," I said with forced calmness, surprising myself, "I +will redeem my pledge, and either save your husband, or meet my fate at +his side." + +Before I could prevent her action she had flung herself at my feet, and +was kissing my hand. + +"God bless you, Geoffrey Benteen! God bless you!" she sobbed +impulsively; and then from out the dense shadows of the farther wall, +solemnly as though he stood at altar service, the watchful Capuchin +said: + +"Amen!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A PERILOUS VENTURE + +Any call to action, of either hazard or pleasure, steadies my nerves. +To realize necessity for doing renders me a new man, clear of brain, +quick of decision. Possibly this comes from that active life I have +always led in the open. Be the cause what it may, I was the first to +recover speech. + +"I hope to show myself worthy your trust, Madame," I said somewhat +stiffly, for it hurt to realize that this emotion arose from her +husband's peril. "At best I am only an adventurer, and rely upon those +means with which life upon the border renders me familiar. Such may +prove useless where I have soldiers of skill to deal with. However, we +have need of these minutes flying past so rapidly; they might be put to +better use than tears, or words of gratitude." + +She looked upward at me with wet eyes. + +"You are right; I am a child, it seems. Tell me your desire, and I +will endeavor to act the woman." + +"First, I must comprehend more clearly the nature of the work before +me. The Chevalier de Noyan is already under sentence of death; the +hour of execution to-morrow at sunrise?" + +She bent her head in quiet acquiescence, her anxious eyes never leaving +my face. + +"It is now already approaching noon, leaving us barely eighteen hours +in which to effect his rescue. Faith! 't is short space for action." + +I glanced uneasily aside at the silently observant priest, now +standing, a slender gray figure, close beside the door. He was not of +an Order I greatly loved. + +"You need have no fear," she exclaimed, hastily interpreting my +thought. "Father Petreni can be fully trusted. He is more than my +religious confessor; he has been my friend from childhood." + +"Yes, Monsieur," he interposed sadly, yet with a grave smile lighting +his thin white face. "I shall be able to accomplish little in your +aid, for my trade is not that of arms, yet, within my physical +limitations, I am freely at your service." + +"That is well," I responded heartily, words and tone yielding me fresh +confidence in the man. "This is likely to prove a night when comrades +will need to know each other. Now a few questions, after which I will +look over the ground before attempting to outline any plan of action. +You say, Madame, that your--Chevalier de Noyan is a prisoner on the +fleet in the river. Upon which ship is he confined?" + +"The 'Santa Maria.'" + +"The 'Santa Maria'?--if memory serve, the largest of them all?" + +"Yes! the flag-ship." + +"She lies, as I remember, for I stood on the levee two hours ago +watching the strange spectacle, close in toward the shore, beside the +old sugar warehouse of Bomanceaux et fils." + +"You are correct," returned the Capuchin soberly, the lady hesitating. +"The ship swingeth by her cable scarce thirty feet from the bank." + +"That, at least, has sound of good fortune," I thought, revolving +rapidly a sudden inspiration from his answer, "yet it will prove a +desperate trick to try." + +Then I spoke aloud once more. + +"She appeared a veritable monster of the sea to my backwoods eyes; +enough to pluck the heart out of a man. Has either of you stepped +aboard her?" + +The priest shook his shaven head despondently. + +"Nay; never any Frenchman, except as prisoner in shackles, has found +foothold upon that deck since O'Reilly came. It is reported no negro +boatmen are permitted to approach her side with cargoes of fruit and +vegetables, so closely is she guarded against all chances of treachery." + +"Faith! it must be an important crime to bring such extremity of +vigilance. With what is De Noyan charged?" + +"He, with others, is held for treason against the King of Spain." + +"There are more than one, then?" + +"Five." He lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "Madame de Noyan's +father is among them." + +"Lafreniere?" I uttered the name in astonishment. "Then why am I not +asked to assist him?" + +The thoughtless exclamation cut her deeply with its seeming implication +of neglect, yet the words she strove to speak failed to come. The +priest rebuked me gravely: + +"Thou doest great injustice by such inconsiderate speech, my son. +There are hearts loyal to France in this province, who would count +living a crime if it were won at the cost of Lafreniere. He hath been +already offered liberty, yet deliberately chooseth to remain and meet +his fate. Holy Mother! we can do no more." + +I bent, taking her moist hands gently between my own. + +"I beg you pardon me, Madame; I am not yet wholly myself, and intended +no such offence as my hasty words would seem to imply. One's manners +do not improve with long dwelling among savages." + +She met my stumbling apology with a radiant smile. + +"I know your heart too well to misjudge. Yet it hurt me to feel you +could deem me thoughtless toward my father." + +"You have seen him since his arrest?" + +"Once only--at the Captain-General's office, before they were condemned +and taken aboard the flag-ship." + +"But the prisoners are Catholics; surely they are permitted the offices +of the Church at such a time?" + +A hard look swept across the Capuchin's pale, ascetic face. + +"Oh, ay! I had quite forgotten," he explained bitterly. "They enjoy +the ministrations of Father Cassati, of our Order, as representative of +Holy Church." + +"Pouf!" I muttered gloomily. "It is bad to have the guard-lines drawn +so closely. Besides, I know little about the way of ships; how they +are arranged within, or even along the open decks. We meet them not in +the backwoods, so this is an adventure little to my taste. It would +hardly be prudent, even could I obtain safe footing there, to attempt +following a trail in the dark when I knew not where it led. I must +either see the path I am to travel by good daylight, or else procure a +guide. This Father Cassati might answer. Is he one to trust?" + +The priest turned his head away with a quick gesture of indignant +dissent. + +"Nay!" he exclaimed emphatically. "He must never be approached upon +such a matter. He can be sweet enough with all men to their faces; the +words of his mouth are as honey; yet he would be true to none. It is +not according to the canons of our Order for me thus to speak, yet I +only give utterance to truth as I know it in the sight of God. Not +even the Spaniards themselves have faith in him. He has not been +permitted to set foot upon shore since first he went aboard." + +"And you have no plan, no suggestion to offer for my guidance?" + +"Mon Dieu, no!" he cried dramatically. "I cannot think the first +thing." + +"And you, Madame?" + +She was kneeling close beside a large chair, her fine dark eyes eagerly +searching my face. + +"It rests wholly with you," she said solemnly, "and God." + +Twice, three times, I paced slowly across the floor in anxious +reflection; each time, as I turned, I gazed again into her trustful, +appealing eyes. It was love calling to me in silent language far more +effective than speech; at last, I paused and faced her. + +"Madame de Noyan," I said deliberately, my voice seeming to falter with +the intensity of my feelings, "I beg you do not expect too much from +me. Your appeal has been made to a simple frontiersman, unskilled in +war except with savages, and it is hardly probable I shall be able to +outwit the trained guardsmen of Spain. Yet this I will say: I have +determined to venture all at your desire. As I possess small skill or +knowledge to aid me, I shall put audacity to the front, permitting +sheer daring either to succeed or fail. But it would be wrong, Madame, +for me to encourage you with false expectation. I deem it best to be +perfectly frank, and I do not clearly see how this rescue is to be +accomplished. I can form no definite plan of action; all I even hope +for is, that the good God will open up a path, showing me how such +desperate purpose may be accomplished. If this prove true--and I beg +you pray fervently to that end--you may trust me to accept the +guidance, let the personal danger be what it may. But I cannot plan, +cannot promise--I can only go forward blindly, seeking some opening not +now apparent. This alone I know, to remain here in conversation is +useless. I must discover means by which I may reach the 'Santa Maria' +and penetrate below her deck if possible. That is my first object, and +it alone presents a problem sufficient to tax my poor wits to the +uttermost. So all I dare say now, Madame, is, that I will use my +utmost endeavor to save your hus--the Chevalier de Noyan. I request +you both remain here--it would be well in prayer--ready to receive, and +obey at once, any message I may need to send. If possible I will visit +you again in person before nightfall, but in any case, and whatever +happens, try to believe that I am doing all I can with such brains as I +possess, and that I count my own life nothing in your service." + +However they may sound now, there was no spirit of boasting in these +words. Conceit is not of my nature, and, indeed, at that time I had +small enough faith in myself. I merely sought to encourage the poor +girl with what little hope I possessed, and knew she read the truth +behind those utterances which sounded so brave. Even as I finished she +arose to her feet, standing erect before me, looking a very queen. + +"Never will I doubt that, Geoffrey Benteen," she declared impulsively. +"I have seen you in danger, and never forgotten it. If it is any +encouragement to hear it spoken from my lips, know, even as you go +forth from here, that never did woman trust man as I trust you." + +The hot blood surged into my face with a madness I retained barely +sufficient strength to conquer. + +"I--I accept your words in the same spirit with which they are +offered," I stammered, hardly aware of what I said. "They are of +greatest worth to me." + +I bowed low above the white hand resting so confidingly within mine, +anxious to escape from the room before my love gave utterance to some +foolish speech. Yet even as I turned hastily toward the door, I paused +with a final question. + +"The negro who guided me here, Madame; is he one in whom I may repose +confidence?" + +"In all things," she answered gravely. "He has been with the De Noyan +family from a child, and is devoted to his master." + +"Then I take him with me for use should I chance to require a +messenger." + +With a swift backward glance into her earnest dark eyes, an indulgence +I could not deny myself, I bowed my way forth from the room, and +discovering Alphonse upon the porch, where he evidently felt himself on +guard, and bidding him it was the will of his mistress that he follow, +I flung my rifle across my shoulder, and strode straight ahead until I +came out upon the river bank. Turning to the right I worked my way +rapidly up the stream, passing numerous groups of lounging soldiers, +who made little effort to bar my passage, beyond some idle chaffing, +until I found myself opposite the anchorage of the Spanish fleet. + +In the character of an unsophisticated frontiersman, I felt no danger +in joining others of my class, lounging listlessly about in small +groups discussing the situation, and gazing with awe upon those strange +ships of war, swinging by their cables in the broad stream. It was a +motley crew among whom I foregathered, one to awaken interest at any +other time--French _voyageurs_ from the far-off Illinois country, as +barbarian in dress and actions as the native denizens of those northern +plains, commingling freely with Creole hunters freshly arrived from the +bayous of the swamp lands; sunburnt fishermen from the sandy beaches of +Barataria, long-haired flatboat-men, their northern skin faintly +visible through the tan and dirt acquired in the long voyage from the +upper Ohio; here and there some stolid Indian brave, resplendent in +paint and feathers, and not a few drunken soldiers temporarily escaped +from their commands. Yet I gave these little thought, except to push +my way through them to where I could obtain unobstructed view of the +great ships. + +The largest of these, a grim monster to my eyes, with bulging sides +towering high above the water, and masts uplifting heavy spars far into +the blue sky, rendered especially formidable by gaping muzzles of +numerous black cannon visible through her open ports, floated just +beyond the landing. I measured carefully the apparent distance between +the flat roof of the sugar warehouse, against the corner of which I +leaned in seeming listlessness, and the lower yards of her forward +mast--it was no farther than I had often cast a riata, yet it would be +a skilful toss on a black night. + +However, I received small comfort from the thought, for there was that +about this great gloomy war-ship--frigate those about me called +her--which awed and depressed my spirits; all appeared so ponderously +sullen, so massive with concealed power, so mysteriously silent. My +eyes, searching for each visible object, detected scarcely a stir of +life aboard, except as some head would arise for an instant above the +rail, or my glance fell upon the motionless figure of a sentry, +standing at the top of the narrow steps leading downward to the water, +a huge burly fellow, whose side-arms glistened ominously in the sun. +These were the sole signs of human presence; yet, from snatches of +conversation, I learned that hidden away in the heart of that black +floating monster of wood and iron, were nearly four hundred men, and +the mere knowledge made the sombre silence more impressive than ever. + +Except for gossiping spectators lining the shore, nothing living +appeared about the entire scene, if I except a dozen or more small +boats, propelled by lusty black oarsmen, deeply laden with produce, +busily plying back and forth between various vessels, seeking market +for their wares. Even these, as the priest told me, had apparently +been warned away from the flag-ship, as I observed how carefully they +avoided any approach to her boarding-ladder. The longer I remained, +the more thoroughly hopeless appeared any prospect of success. Nor +could I conjure up a practical--nay! even possible--method of placing +so much as a foot on board the "Santa Maria." Surely never was +prison-ship guarded with more jealous care, and never did man face more +hopeless quest than this confronting me. The longer I gazed upon that +grim, black, sullen mass of wood and iron--that floating fortress of +despotic Spanish power--the more desperate appeared my mission; the +darker grew every possibility of plucking a victim from out that +monster's tightly closed jaws. Yet I was not one to forego an +enterprise lightly because of difficulty or danger, so with dogged +persistency I clung to the water front, knowing nowhere else to go, and +blindly trusting that some happening might open to me a door of +opportunity. + +It frequently seems that when a man once comes, in a just cause, to +such mind as this, when he trusts God rather than himself, there is a +divinity which aids him. Surely it was well I waited in patience, for +suddenly another produce boat, evidently new to the trade, deeply laden +with fruit and roots, bore down the river, the two negroes at the oars +pointing its blunt nose directly toward the flag-ship, attracted no +doubt by its superior size. Instantly noting their course I awaited +their reception with interest, an interest intensified by a drawling +English voice from amid the crowd about me, saying: + +"I reckon thar'll be some dead niggers in thet thar bumboat if they +don't sheer off almighty soon." + +Scarcely were these prophetic words uttered, when the soldier statue at +the head of the boarding-stairs swung his musket forward into position, +and hailed in emphatic Spanish, a language which, thanks to my mother, +I knew fairly well. There followed a moment of angry controversy, +during which the startled negroes rested upon their oars, while the +enraged guard threatened to fire if they drifted a yard closer. In the +midst of this hubbub a head suddenly popped up above the rail. Then a +tall, ungainly figure, clad in a faded, ill-fitting uniform, raised +itself slowly, leaning far out over the side, a pair of weak eyes, +shadowed by colored glasses, gazing down inquiringly into the small +boat. + +"Vat ees it you say you have zare?" he asked in an attempt at French, +which I may only pretend to reproduce in English. "Vat ees ze cargo of +ze leetle boat?" + +Instantly the two hucksters gave voice, fairly running over each other +in their confused jargon, during which I managed to distinguish native +names for potatoes, yams, sweet corn, peaches, apples, and I know not +what else. + +The Spaniard perched high on the rail waved his long arms in +unmitigated disgust. + +"_Caramba_!" he cried the moment he could make his voice distinguished +above the uproar. "I vant none of zos zings; Saint Cristoval, non! +non! Ze Capitaine he tole me get him some of ze olif--haf you no olif +in ze leetle boat?" + +The darkies shook their heads, instantly starting in again to call +their wares, but the fellow on the rail waved them back. + +"Zen ve don't vant you here!" he cried shrilly. "Go vay dam quick, or +else ze soldier shoot." As if in obedience to an order the stolid +guard brought his weapon menacingly to the shoulder. + +How the episode terminated I did not remain to learn. At that moment I +only clearly comprehended this--I had a way opened, an exceedingly +slight one to be sure, of doubtful utility, yet still a way, which +might lead me into the guarded mystery of that ship. The time for +action had arrived, and that was like a draught of wine to me. Eagerly +I slipped back through the increasing crowd of gaping countrymen, to +where the negro had found a spot of comfort in the sun. + +"Alphonse!" I called, careful to modulate my voice. "Wake up, you +black sleepy-head! Ay! I have you at last in the world again. Now +stop blinking, and pay heed to what I say. Do you chance to know +where, for love, money, or any consideration, you could lay hands on +olives in this town?" + +The fellow, scarcely awake, rolled up the whites of his eyes for a +moment, and scratched his woolly pate, as if seeking vainly to conjure +up some long-neglected memory. Then his naturally good-humored +countenance relaxed into a broad grin. + +"Fo' de Lord, yas sah! I'se your man dis time suah 'nough. Dat fat +ol' Dutchman, down by de Tehoupitoulas Gate, suah as you're born had a +whole barrel ob dem yesterday. I done disremember fer de minute, boss, +jist whar I done saw dem olibs, but I reckon as how de money 'd fotch +'em all right." + +I drew forth a handful of French coins. + +"Then run for it, lad!" I exclaimed in some excitement. "Your master's +life hangs upon your speed--hold, wait! do you remember that old +tumble-down shed we passed on our way here; the one which had once been +a farrier's shop?" + +The negro nodded, his eyes filled with awakened interest. + +"Good; then first of all bring me a suit of the worst looking old +clothes you can scare up in the negro quarters of this town. Leave +them there. Then go directly to this Dutchman's, buy every olive he +has for sale at any price, load them into a boat--a common huckster's +boat, mind you, and remain there with them until I come. Do you +understand all that?" + +"Yas, Massa; I reckon as how I kin do dat all right 'nough." The +fellow grinned, every white ivory showing between his thick red lips. + +"Don't stop to speak to any one, black or white. Now trot along +lively, and may the Lord have mercy on you if you fail me, for I pledge +you I shall have none." + +I watched him disappear up the street in a sort of swinging dog-trot, +took one more glance backward at the huge war-ship, now swinging by her +cable silent and mysterious as ever, and turned away from the river +front, my brain teeming with a scheme upon the final issue of which +hung life or death. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP + +I had seldom assumed disguise, except when wearing Indian garb upon the +war-trail. Yet in boyhood I had occasionally masqueraded as a negro so +successfully as to deceive even my own family. With this in mind the +resolve was taken that in no other guise than that of a foolish, +huckstering darky could I hope to attain the guarded deck of that +Spanish frigate. This offered only the barest chance of success, yet +such chances had previously served me well, and must be trusted now. +Opportunity frequently opens to the push of a venturesome shoulder. + +Once determined upon this I set to work, perfecting each detail which +might aid in the hazardous undertaking. Much was to be accomplished, +and consequently it was late in the afternoon before the two of us, +myself as much a negro to outward appearance as my sable companion, +floated anxiously down the broad river in a battered old scow heaped +high with every variety of country produce obtainable. Drifting with +the current, I kept the blunt nose pointed directly toward the bulging +side of the "Santa Maria," yet without venturing to glance in that +direction, until a sharp challenge of the vigilant sentinel warned us +to sheer off. + +Slowly shipping the heavy steering oar, finding it difficult even in +that moment of suspense to suppress a smile at the expression of terror +on Alphonse's black face, I stood up, awed by the solemn massiveness of +the vast bulk towering above me, now barely thirty feet away. For the +first time I realized fully the desperation of my task, and my heart +sank. But the gesticulations of the wrathful guard could no longer be +ignored, and, smothering an exclamation of disgust at my momentary +weakness, I nerved myself for the play. + +"_Caramba_!" the fellow shouted roughly in his native tongue. "Stop +there, you lazy niggers; don't let that boat drift any closer. Come, +sheer off, or, by all the saints, I 'll blow a hole clear through the +black hide of one of you!" + +"Hold her back, boy!" I muttered hurriedly to the willing slave. "That +soldier means to shoot." + +Then I held up a handful of our choicest fruit into view. + +"I have got plenty vegetables, an' lot fruit fer sell," I shouted +eagerly in negro French, putting all the volume possible into my voice, +hopeful my words might penetrate the hidden deck above. "Plenty +'tatoes, peaches, olibs--eberyting fer de oppercers." + +"Don't want them--pull away, and be lively about it." + +It was a moment of despair, every hope suspended in the balance; my +heart beating like a trip-hammer with suspense. The thoroughly enraged +guard lifted his gun to the shoulder; there was threat in his eyes, yet +I ventured a desperate chance of one more word. + +"I got de only _olibs_ on dis ribber." + +"_Bastenade_!" yelled the infuriated fellow. "I 'll give you a shot to +pay for your insolence." + +Even as he spoke, fumbling the lock of his gun, that same head observed +before suddenly popped over the high rail like Punch at a pantomime. + +"Vat zat you say, nigger?" its owner cried doubtingly. "Vas it ze olif +you haf zare in ze leetle boat?" + +I eagerly held up into view a choice handful of green fruit, my eyes +hopeful. + +"Oui, Senor Oppercer--fresh olibs; same as ob your lan'." + +The Spaniard was standing upright on the rail by this time, clinging +fast to a rope dangling from above, leaning far over, no slight +interest depicted upon his pinched, sallow countenance. + +"It's all right, sentry," he said sharply to the soldier, who lowered +his gun with a scowl indicating his real desire. My newly found friend +lifted his squeaking voice again in unfamiliar speech. + +"Bring ze leetle boat along ze side of ze sheep, you black fellar, an' +come up here wiz ze olif fer ze Capitaine." + +"Scull in close against those steps, Alphonse," I muttered, overjoyed +at this rare stroke of good fortune. "Then pull out a few strokes; but +stay alongside until I come back. Don't let any one get aboard, and +keep a quiet tongue yourself." + +The whites of his eyes alone answered me, he being too badly frightened +for speech. The situation was one to grate upon any nerves +unaccustomed to danger, yet, trusting the long training of the slave +would hold him obedient, I turned away, and, in another moment, had +scrambled up the rope ladder, plunging awkwardly over the high rail on +to the hitherto concealed deck. My pulses throbbed with excitement +over the desperate game fronting me, yet, with a coolness surprising to +myself, I lost at that instant every sensation of personal fear, in +determination to act thoroughly my assumed character. More lives than +one hung in the balance, and, with tightly clenched teeth, I swore to +prove equal to the venture. The very touch of those deck planks to my +bare feet put new recklessness into my blood, causing me to marvel at +the perfection of my own fool play. + +The gaunt Spaniard commanding my presence stood waiting, hardly more +than five paces from where I landed, yet so intense became my immediate +interest in the strange scene--an interest partly real, but largely +simulated for the occasion--that he contented himself watching my +confused antics with much apparent amusement, and without addressing +me. Even to this hour that scene lies distinct before my eyes. +Possessed I skill with pencil I could sketch each small detail from the +retina of memory--the solitary sentinel beside the rail, his well-worn +uniform of blue and white dingy in the sun; another farther forward, +where a great opening yawned; with yet a third, standing rigid before a +closed door of the after cabin. An officer, his coat richly decorated +with gold braid, wearing epaulets, and having a short sword dangling at +his side, paced back and forth across the top of a little house near +the stern. I heard him utter some command to a sailor near the wheel, +but he never so much as glanced toward me. Perhaps thirty or more +seamen, bronzed of face, and oddly bedecked as to hair, lounged idly +amid the shadows opposite, while, more closely at hand, that gaunt, +cadaverous Spaniard, at whose invitation I was present, leaned against +a big gun, puffing nonchalantly at a cigarette, held between lean, +saffron-colored fingers. The deck was white as the snows of a northern +Winter, while the brass work along the railings and about the cannon +glittered brilliantly in the sunshine. There was a gaudy +yellow-and-white striped canopy stretched above a portion of the deck +aft; the huge masts seemed to pierce into the blue of the skies; while +on every side were ranged grim guns of brass and iron. + +My role was that of an ignorant, green, half-frightened darky, and I +presume I both appeared and acted the natural-born idiot, if I might +judge from the expression upon the Spaniard's face, and the broad grin +lighting up the fierce countenance of the sentry at the gangway. Yet +back of this mask there was grim determination and fixed purpose, so +that no article of furniture was along that broad deck which I did not +mentally photograph, so as to know its whereabouts if ever I chanced +that way again. Ay! even to a little cuddy door beside the cookhouse, +apparently opening directly into the mysterious regions below, and a +great chest lashed hard against the rail, within which I distinguished +the bright colors of numerous flags. I noticed also the odd manner in +which queer rope ladders led up from either side of the broad deck to +the vast spars high above, rising tier on tier until my head grew dazed +with gazing at them. + +"Vel, Sambo, my black fellow," grinned the officer, whose eyes were +still lazily following my erratic movements as I peered innocently into +the muzzle of a brass carronade in apparent hope of discovering the +ball, "zis vus ze first time you vus ever on ze war-sheep, I sink +likely. How you like stop here, hey, an' fight wis dos sings?" And he +rested his yellow hand caressingly upon the breech of the gun. + +I shook my head energetically, rendering as prominent as possible the +whites of my eyes, at which he grinned wider than ever. + +"No, sah, Mister Oppercer Man; you don't git dis hyer nigger into no +fought, sah," I protested with vehemence. "I done fought wid de Injuns +onct, sah, an' I done don't want no mo'." + +"Veil, you not vorry, boy; you voud be no good on ze war-sheep. But +now you come wis me to ze Capitaine--bring ze olif." + +Bearing a tempting sample of the Spaniard's favorite fruit tightly +clutched in my black hand, and pulling my battered straw hat lower in +concealment of my telltale hair, I made awkward attempt to shuffle +along behind him, as he carelessly advanced toward the after part of +the vessel. But I loitered along our passage to examine so many +objects of curiosity, asking such a multitude of extremely absurd +questions, that we consumed considerable time in traversing even the +comparatively short distance to where the rigid sentinel fronted us +before the cabin door. My queries were simple enough to have birth in +the brain of a fool, yet my guide was of rare good humor, and evidently +so amused at my ignorant curiosity that his patience withstood the +strain. On my part none were blindly asked, but were intended to open +a way toward others of the utmost importance. My sole purpose at that +moment was to lull suspicion to rest; when that had been accomplished, +then I might confidently hope to pump my trustful victim of such +information as I imperatively required. The ignorant questions of an +imbecile will oftentimes be frankly responded to, where a wise man +might ask in vain, and my first play was to establish my character as a +fool. That I had succeeded was already evident. + +The statuesque guard before the cabin brought his musket up at our +approach with so smart a snap as to startle me into a moment's apparent +terror. To the officer's request that we be admitted to the presence +of the Captain, he responded briefly that that officer had gone forward +half an hour before. My guide glanced about as if uncertain where he +had better turn in search. + +"Did he go down the hatch?" he queried shortly. + +"I know not, Senor Gonzales," was the respectful reply. "But I believe +he may be with the prisoners' guard below." + +The officer promptly started forward, and, awaiting no formal +invitation, I shambled briskly after, keeping as close as possible to +his heels. Could I gain a brief glimpse below the deck it would be +worth more to me than any amount of blind questioning, and my heart +thumped painfully in remembrance of what hung upon his movements. With +a single sharp word to the sentry at the hatch he swung himself +carelessly over the edge, mysteriously disappearing into the gloom +beneath. That was no time for hesitancy, and I was already preparing +to do likewise, when the guard, a surly-looking brute, promptly +inserted the point of his bayonet into my ragged garment, accompanying +this kindly act with a stern order to remain where I was. + +"An' what fo' yo' do dat, Senor Sojer?" I cried, in unaffected anguish, +rubbing the injured part tenderly, yet speaking loud so that my words +should be distinctly audible below. "Dat oppercer man he done tol' me +to foller him to de Captain. What fo' yo' stop me wid dat toastin' +fork?" + +"It's all right, Manuel," sung out a voice in Spanish from the lower +darkness. "Let the fool nigger come down." + +The thoroughly disgusted soldier muttered something about his orders, +that his lieutenant had not ever authorized him to pass fools. +Overlooking this personal allusion, and fearing more serious opposition +from some one higher in authority, I took advantage of his momentary +doubt, promptly swung my legs over the edge of the hatch opening, +groped blindly about with my bare feet until they struck the rungs of a +narrow ladder, and went scrambling down into the semi-darkness of +between-decks, managing awkwardly to miss my final footing, thus +flopping in a ragged heap at the bottom. + +"Holy Mother! you make more noise zan a sheep in action," grumbled the +startled officer, as I landed at his feet. "Vat for you come down ze +ladder zat vay?" + +Rubbing my numerous bruises energetically, I contented myself with +staring up at him as if completely dazed by my fall. Reading in his +amused countenance no symptom of awakening suspicion I ventured a quick +glance at my new surroundings. We were in what appeared a large +unfurnished room, with doors of all sizes opening in every direction, +while I could perceive a narrow entry, or passageway, extending toward +the after part of the vessel. The roof, formed of the upper deck, was +low, upheld by immense timbers, and the apartment, nearly square, was +dimly flooded by the sparse light sifting down through the single +hatch-opening above, so that, in spite of its large dimensions, it had +a cramped and stuffy appearance. The vast butt of the mainmast arose +directly in front of me, and, upon a narrow bench surrounding it, a +dozen soldiers were lounging, while near the entrance to the +passageway, scarcely more than a shadow in that dimness, stood a +sentry, stiff and erect, with musket at his shoulder. They were mostly +slightly built, dark-featured men, attired in blue and white uniforms, +the worse for wear, and were all laughing at my crazy entrance. No +doubt my coming afforded some relief to their tiresome, dull routine. +While lying there, apparently breathless from my fall, my brains +effectively muddled, a young officer advanced hastily from out the +gloom to inquire into so unusual an uproar. + +"What is all this noise about?" he questioned sharply, striding toward +us. "Ah, Gonzales; whom have you here? Another bird to add to our +fine collection?" + +"If so, it must be a rare blackbird, Senor Francisco," returned my +friend, vainly endeavoring to recover his customary gravity. "By Saint +Cristobal! I have not laughed so heartily for a year past as at this +poor black fool. Faith, I sought to enlist him in the service of His +Most Christian Majesty, yet his method of coming down a companion +ladder convinced me he sadly lacks the necessary qualifications for a +sailor. Hast seen aught of the Captain here below?" + +"Ay, comrade, thou wilt find him aft. He hath just had speech once +more with the chief rebel, the graybeard they call Lafreniere, and was +in raging temper when last we met. _Caramba_! he even called me an +ass, for no more serious fault, forsooth, than that I made the round of +my guard unattended. Hath your darky news for him?" + +"Nay; the fellow possesseth not sufficient sense to be a messenger, +except it may be a message for his stomach to make his humor better," +was the reply. "Come, trot along now, boy, and mind where you put down +those big feet in the passage." + +I struggled upright in response to his order, assisted by the sharp tap +of a boot accompanying it, tripped over a gun barrel one of the guard +facetiously inserted between my legs, and went down once more, uttering +such howl of terror as could be only partially drowned beneath the +uproarious laughter of my merry tormentors. It developed into a +gantlet, yet I ran the line with little damage, and, after much ducking +and pleading, managed to regain my position close to the heels of Senor +Gonzales before he turned into the passageway, which, as I now +perceived, was dimly illumined by means of a single lantern, hung to a +blackened upper beam. + +"Well, good luck to both of you," called out the young officer of the +guard laughingly as we disappeared. "Yet I 'd hate to have the +steering of such a crazy craft as follows in your wake, Gonzales, and I +warn you again the Senor Captain will be found in beastly humor." + +"I fear nothing," returned my guide, his lean yellow face turned +backward over his shoulder. "I have what will bring him greater +happiness than a decoration from the King." + +Shambling awkwardly forward, simulating all the uncouthness possible, I +retained my wits sufficiently to note our surroundings--the long, +narrow passage, scarcely exceeding a yard in width, with numerous doors +opening on either side. Several of these stood ajar, and I perceived +berths within, marking them as sleeping apartments, although one upon +the right was evidently being utilized as a linen closet, while yet +another, just beyond, and considerably larger, seemed littered with a +medley of boxes, barrels, and great bags. This apartment appeared so +much lighter than those others, even a stray ray of sunshine pouring +directly down into it from above, that I instinctively connected it in +my mind with the cook-house on the upper deck, and the open cuddy door +I had chanced to notice. + +As we approached the farther end this passage suddenly widened into a +half circle, sufficiently extended to accommodate the huge butt of the +mizzenmast, which was completely surrounded by an arm-rack crowded with +short-swords, together with all manner of small arms. A grimly silent +guard stood at either side, and I perceived the dark shadow of a third +still farther beyond, while the half-dozen cabins close at hand had +their doors tightly closed, and fastened with iron bars. + +Instinctively I felt that here were confined those French prisoners, +the knowledge of whose exact whereabouts I sought amid such +surroundings of personal peril, and my heart bounded from sudden +excitement. In simulated awkwardness, I unfortunately overdid my part. +Shuffling forward, more eager than ever to keep at the heels of my +protector, yet with eyes wandering in search of any opening, my bare +feet struck against a projecting ring-bolt in the deck, and over I +went, striving vainly to regain my balance. Before that human statue +on guard could even lower his gun to repel boarders, my head struck him +soundly in the stomach, sending him crashing back against one of those +tightly closed doors. Tangled up with the surprised soldier, who +promptly clinched his unexpected antagonist, and, with shocking +profanity, strove to throttle me, I yet chanced to take note of the +number "18" painted upon the white wood just above us. Then the door +itself was hurled hastily open, and with fierce exclamation of rage a +gray-hooded Capuchin monk bounded forth like a rubber ball, and +instantly began kicking vigorously right and left at our struggling +figures. It gives me pleasure to record that the Spaniard, being on +top, received by far the worst of it, yet I might also bear testimony +to the vigor of the priest's legs, while we shared equally in the +volubility of his tongue. + +"_Sacre_!" he screamed in French, punctuating each sentence with a +fresh blow. "Get away from here, you drunken, quarrelling brutes! Has +it come to this, that a respectable priest of Holy Church may not hold +private converse with the condemned without a brawl at the very door? +Mother of God! what meaneth the fracas? Where is the guard? Why don't +some of them jab their steel in the blasphemous ragamuffins who thus +make mock of the holy offices of religion? Take that, you black, +sprawling beast!" + +He aimed a vicious stroke at my head, which I ducked in the nick of +time to permit of its landing with full force in my companion's ribs. +I heard him grunt in acknowledgment of its receipt. + +"Where is the guard, I say! If they come not I will strangle the dogs +with my own consecrated hands to the glory of God. By the sainted +Benedine! was ever one of our Order so basely treated before? Get +away, I tell you! 'Tis a disgrace to the true faith, and just as I was +about to bring the Chevalier to his knees in confession of his sins!" + +Gonzales was fairly doubled up with laughter at the ludicrous incident, +choking so that speech had become an utter impossibility. By this time +the aroused guards began hurrying forward on a run down the passageway +to rescue their imperilled comrade, yet, before the foremost succeeded +in laying hands upon me, a newcomer, resplendent in glittering uniform, +with an inflamed, almost purple face, leaped madly forth from the +opposite side of the mast and began laying about him vigorously with an +iron pin, making use meanwhile of a vocabulary of choice Spanish +epithets such as I never heard equalled. + +"By the shrine of Saint Gracia!" shouted this new arrival hoarsely, +glaring about in the dim light as if half awakened from a bad dream. +"What meaneth this aboard my ship? _Caramba_! is this a travelling +show--a place for mountebanks and gypsies? Shut the door, you +shrieking gray-back of a monk, or I 'll have you cat-o'-nine-tailed by +the guard, in spite of your robe. Get up, you drunken brute!" + +The crestfallen soldier to whom these last affectionate words were +addressed limped painfully away, and then the justly irate commander of +His Christian Majesty's flag-ship "Santa Maria" glowered down on me +with an astonishment that for the moment held him dumb. + +"Where did this dirty nigger come from?" he roared at last, applying +one of his heavy sea-boots to me with vehemence. "Who is the villain +who dared bring such cattle on board my ship?" + +Gonzales, now thoroughly sobered by the seriousness of the situation, +attempted to account for my presence, but before he had fairly begun +his story, the Captain, who by this time was beyond all reason, burst +roaring forth again: + +"Oh, so you brought him! You did, hey? Well, did n't I tell you to +let no lazy, loafing bumboat-man set foot on board? Do you laugh at my +orders, you good-for-nothing scum of the sea? And above all things why +did you ever drag such a creature as this down between decks to +disgrace the whole of His Majesty's navy? Get up, you bundle of rags!" + +I scrambled to my feet, seeking to shuffle to one side out of his +immediate sight, but a heavy hand closed instantly on my ragged collar +and held me fronting him. For a moment I thought he meant to strike +me, but I appeared such a miserable, dejected specimen of humanity that +the fierce anger died slowly out of his eyes. + +"Francisco," he called sternly, "heave this thing overboard, and be +lively about it! Saints of Mercy! he smells like a butcher-boat in the +tropics." + +Hustled, dragged, cuffed, mercilessly kicked, the fellows got me out +upon the open deck at last; I caught one fleeting glimpse of the great +masts, the white, gleaming planks under foot, the horrified, upturned, +face of Alphonse in the little boat beneath, and then, with a heave and +a curse, over I went, sprawling down from rail to river, as terrified a +darky as ever made hasty departure from a man-of-war. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR + +The last object I remember seeing was the white face of the Capuchin +monk peering at me over the rail, and my earliest thought as I arose to +the surface, was that as the water had probably cleansed my skin it +would be wise to keep well out of sight from the deck. Fortunately the +boat floated close at hand. Laying hasty grasp upon it, but remaining +well immersed in the river, I bade the thoroughly frightened black +paddle with diligence out of that neighborhood. This was a task he was +not slow in accomplishing, fear lending strength to trained muscles, +and we soon had the good fortune to discover a safe landing-place +beneath the lee of a long molasses shed, where our plight was +unobserved by any one. + +Remaining hidden here myself, feeling reasonably secure from prying +eyes, I despatched Alphonse after dry clothing, meanwhile tramping back +and forth across the packed earthen floor to keep chilled blood in +circulation, seeking eagerly to evolve out of the confused events of +the afternoon some programme for future guidance. This task was no +light one. The closer I faced the desperate work remaining +unaccomplished the less I enjoyed the outlook, the more improbable +appeared success. Getting aboard the "Santa Maria" was now, to my +mind, the simplest part of the adventure, but beyond the accomplishment +of that feat I could perceive little to encourage me. What must +necessarily follow my safe gaining of that guarded deck, during the +dark hours of the night, depended so largely upon the occurrence of +helpful circumstances, any definite plan of action arranged beforehand +became simply an impossibility. Still, striving to make allowances for +the unexpected, I managed to put together a chain of details, trusting, +with the blind faith of a fatalist, that these would somehow fall into +line when the hour came. If they failed, as was likely, I determined +to shift them about in any way possible as each fresh emergency arose. +I realized how small a part any preliminary survey holds in such an +enterprise as now fronted me, an enterprise to be worked out amid +darkness and grave personal peril, where any bungling act or false move +might overturn everything in an instant; yet it is always well--or at +least so I have found it--to trace some outline of procedure, rather +than trust wholly to the intuitions of the moment. God's aid seems +usually granted to those doing most for themselves. + +I felt little confidence by the time Alphonse returned, yet my firm +determination to make the effort had in no way abated. Indeed, had +failure been an absolute certainty I should have gone forward exactly +the same, for I was bound to it by my pledge to Eloise de Noyan. I +have reason to suppose dogged determination a part of my nature, but +then something far more compelling than this inherited tendency drove +me irresistibly forward to my fate. This is no story of the rescue of +a prisoner of war, but rather of how love impelled an ordinary man to +the accomplishment of deeds which seemed impossible. + +It was evening, already quite dark, it fortunately proving a night of +cloud and threatened storm, when I ventured to steal into the little +cottage on the Rue Dumaine, and found there, even as I had left them, +Madame de Noyan and the _pere_ awaiting me. How anxious a day she had +been compelled to pass since the hour of my departure was plainly +imprinted upon her beautiful face, gently touched by the softened light +from a shaded candle near which she rested; nor was the naturally pale, +emaciated countenance of her spiritual adviser entirely free from +outward marks of care impressed upon it by his patient vigil. + +I recall still, a pang tugging at my old heart, with what unspeakable +gentleness Eloise came forward, holding forth both white hands in +greeting, while unrestrained tears glistened upon the long lashes +partly veiling the eager glow of soft eyes searching my face. She +uttered never a word of questioning relative to the result of my +mission; merely stood there silent, her warm hands in mine, her gaze +fastened upon me, as if within my eyes she sought to read everything +unasked. Perhaps she did, yet to me it seemed the perfect abandon of +trust, and often since have I thought upon it as illustrative of her +unswerving confidence in my honor. + +"I do so thank you, Geoffrey Benteen," she said in all simplicity, "for +thus coming to us once more." + +"I returned the earliest moment possible, Madame," I replied quietly, +although all my heart must have leaped responsive into my eyes, +contradicting such coolness of speech. Be that as it may, my sweet +mistress never glanced aside, nor drew back her hands from mine. It +was the gravely observant priest, standing behind within the shadows, +whose natural impatience caused him to interrupt our greeting, although +he spoke not unkindly. + +"My son," he said, deep anxiety evident in the tone of his soft speech, +"we have remained in solemn prayer ever since the hour of thy +departure, and, while we doubt not our petitions have found favor of +both Mother and Child, yet the flesh sorroweth, and we yearn greatly to +know all from thine own lips as to the fortunes of this day. Tell us, +I beg thee, hast thou discovered aught of comfort or help for the +condemned?" + +His words brought me back to earth with sudden rush. Releasing the +soft hands I had been clasping so tightly in momentary forgetfulness, I +led the lady to a seat, even finding another myself before venturing +upon reply. + +"I thank you heartily for your prayers, Sir Priest. Often have I heard +my father say the prayer of the righteous availeth much, and although I +be not of Holy Church--for those to whom I looked in earlier years for +guidance were of the dissenting breed--yet I yield respect to all true +religion; and even in the woods, where men grow rough, giving small +thought to the voice of their souls, I have discovered much to tell me +of God, and to make me thankful for His mercies. But you ask a +difficult question. The day has not been ill spent nor wasted. This +much, at least, I may say--I have discovered one weak spot in the +Spanish guard-line, and intend to make the best possible use of it. +Yet the venture is bound to prove a desperate one, and nothing except +the overruling care of Him who guides us all can secure the desired +outcome." + +He piously crossed himself, his thin lips moving silently above the +silver crucifix resting in his white fingers, but Eloise only leaned +more eagerly forward, her dark eyes anxiously scanning my face. + +"Have you seen my--the Chevalier de Noyan?" she questioned tremblingly. + +"No, Madame, yet I have been aboard the 'Santa Maria,'--though in truth +'twas not altogether an enjoyable experience,--and now know precisely +where the prisoners are confined, even to the room of the Chevalier. +If you will listen patiently I will briefly relate the story; then we +can outline together our further plans for the night. Are we alone?" + +Both nodded, far too eager to waste time in words, and as rapidly as +possible I described those incidents already narrated. At the close +Eloise simply thanked me in silence with an appreciative glance, but +the priest proved more demonstrative. + +"Thou hast, indeed, accomplished much, my son," he exclaimed +impulsively, clasping and unclasping the slender fingers of his white +hands nervously. "Surely but for our fervent prayers the good Lord +would never have led you amid such imminent and deadly peril. Yet to +me the venture appeareth even more hopeless than before. You made +mention of plans; shall we not discuss such at once, for the rapidly +speeding time must greatly press us. The great Apostle once said, in +connection with the work of the Spirit, 'Brethren, the time is short'; +it seemeth a fit text for us even now." + +"It is too early for action," I replied thoughtfully. "I require food, +and it will be best to delay until a late hour before moving in such a +scheme as mine. As to plans--faith, the word was ill-chosen if I used +it, for excepting the mode already outlined for attaining the deck, I +have none. Yet there are certain matters I require to have arranged +before I depart. Madame de Noyan, can you furnish me with a strong +boat and two stout oarsmen? They must be men to trust, who will care +little where they go." + +"It shall be done," she answered promptly, her eyes brightening. +"Alphonse will gladly go, and he can select another from among the +slaves." + +"The Chevalier, can he swim if occasion arise?" + +"He is perfectly at home in the water." + +"Good; then we need run no extra risk by keeping a boat beside the +frigate. Let it await our coming beneath the darkest shadows of the +cotton sheds near the North Gate. Have them place within it my rifle +and ammunition, together with whatever weapons of war your husband may +be accustomed to use; see that the boat be well provisioned for a long +voyage, as it will require much travel before we get beyond Spanish +reach, and we go not into a region of settlements. Bid the men exhibit +no light, nor converse above whispers. My word to them will be +'Virginia'; they are to pay heed to no other. You understand all this?" + +"It is engraven upon my heart," she responded gravely. "You need have +no fear." + +"That I think will be all you can do to aid success--nay, wait! +instruct them also, if we have not arrived before the dawn to bide no +longer; it will be useless." + +"Oh, say not so, Geoffrey Benteen," she cried, a sudden sob evidencing +the strain upon her. "Surely the good God will aid us now." + +"It is upon Him I rely," I responded, not knowing how best to minister +to her deep distress. "We will do all we can, Madame, to win His +favor; beyond that nothing remains but to submit to His will." + +She hid her face in her arms upon the table, the light of the candle +streaming almost golden in the heavy masses of her hair. Instinctively +I rested my hand caressingly upon it. + +"Nay, Madame, this is time for strength, not weakness. Afterwards we +may have opportunity to weep; to-night there is call for action." + +She glanced up with a quick, impulsive gesture, and I saw her eyes were +dry of tears. + +"You think me unduly nervous and unstrung," she said quietly, and I +could detect a touch of indignation in the tone. "It is merely my +nature, for the impatient blood of the South has place in my veins, yet +whatsoever a lady of France may do, you can trust me to accomplish, +Monsieur." + +Faith! but she had a way with her which ever left me helpless, and no +doubt my face exhibited how abashed I felt at the regal manner in which +she fronted me. At least I spoke no word, yet the proud look faded +from her eyes, and I felt her hand touch mine. + +"Forgive me, Geoffrey," she whispered softly. "We do not doubt each +other, yet I was over hasty of speech with one who has proven so loyal +a friend." + +"Nor have I aught to forgive, Madame, or more to say, except that my +words meant no injustice," I responded. Then to avoid longer facing +her I turned to where the watchful Capuchin stood. + +"And now, Sir Priest, I propose being perfectly frank with you, as I +do not believe this a time for mincing of words. I am of Protestant +blood; those of my line have ridden at Cromwell's back, and one of my +name stood unrepentant at the stake when Laud turned Scotland into a +slaughter-house. So 't is safe to say I admire neither your robe nor +your Order. Yet the events of this day have gone far toward convincing +me that at heart you are a man in spite of the woman's garb you wear. +So now, what say you--will you be comrade with me this night?" + +At the brutal bluntness of my speech and question--for I fear I took +out upon him those feelings I ventured not to exploit with Madame, +recalling how this same difference of faith had come between us two +with its dread shadow--a red flush sprang into the priest's thin, +wasted cheeks, and I could see how tightly his hands clinched about the +crucifix at his girdle. + +"As to my Order, it hath little to fear from thy dislike, young man, as +that is born from early prejudice, and lack of proper learning," he +returned gravely, meeting I my eyes fairly with his own. "Yet, +speaking as frankly as yourself, I doubt if I would prove of much +assistance upon a ship's deck; such effort as you propose for this +night would be wholly foreign to my habit of life." + +"Spoken truly; nor would I make choice of one with muscles so inert +from disuse were this to be an onset, where men give and take hard +blows. I ask you not upon the ship's deck at all, my friend, nor shall +I require your company one step farther than the roof of the great +sugar warehouse of Bomanceaux et fils. Still, it will require steady +nerve to do even what little I require, and, if you doubt your courage, +say so now, and I will seek among the slaves for stouter heart and +readier hand." + +That my words touched his pride I could read instantly in his uplifted +face. + +"Nay, thou needest seek no further," he announced briefly, his thin +lips tightly pressed together. "I will go, Monsieur." I knew +instantly by the bold ring of the words that henceforward I might trust +him to the death. + +"I thought you would. Now a question more, and then I must have food. +Can you prepare for my use one of your robes?" + +"Easily, Monsieur; Father Cassati left one behind at the chapter-house +when he went aboard ship, and you do not greatly differ in point of +size. But is it possible thou proposest to turn priest, and of our +Order?" + +"In outward vesture merely, and that not for long. It would afford me +greater liberty of movement on the 'Santa Maria' than my own garb, and +may spare me some unpleasant questioning. Yet, perchance, there may be +danger of my overdoing the priestly character, as well as of +overestimating the privileges granted the clergy on board." + +He shrugged his shoulders, nettled somewhat by my words and manner. + +"I have indeed reason for gravely distrusting your naturalness in the +wearing of a robe dedicated to religion," he made answer. "But as for +the other matter, there can be little danger of your overstepping the +mark. Father Cassati is of a somewhat roistering disposition, +over-fond of the bottle, in truth,--although it giveth me pain to speak +thus of one of my own Order,--and I have been informed, moveth at his +own will about the ship. He is of the sort to be 'hail fellow, well +met' with those roistering Spaniards, who care little for God or man, +as he possesseth few scruples of his own." + +"Bear I sufficient resemblance to pass in his stead?" + +"You are not unlike as to height and build; as to face, you are far the +better featured. With the cowl up it might be reasonably safe in a dim +light." + +"My beauty has always been my undoing," I ventured, in awakened good +humor. "Nevertheless I shall be compelled to venture it this time; +moreover, I am pleased to learn that things aboard are as you describe, +for such a state of affairs may greatly serve our purpose." + +I turned away from him to recross the room and murmur a few words of +brighter hope into the ear of Eloise, where she sat in white-faced +silence amid the deeper shadows of the portiere. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE DECK OF THE "SANTA MARIA" + +The Spanish sentries on the Place d'Armes were calling the hour of +midnight when the priest and I stole silently past amid the shadows of +overhanging trees. I find it impossible, even now, after the lapse of +years, to dwell upon my parting with her who despatched me on so +strange an errand. My reluctant pen halts, while the tears, dimming my +old eyes, bid me turn to other scenes. However, under God, the venture +of that night might terminate, I firmly believed I was gazing into her +dear face for the last time; yet, honor sealed my lips, holding back +unspoken those passionate utterances which burned upon my tongue. I +could merely clasp for one brief moment those hands she gave so +unreservedly into my keeping, gaze into the unfathomed depths of her +dark eyes, and murmur a few broken words of confidence and farewell. +Then, half blinded from emotion, I tore myself away from her beloved +presence, and went forth into night and peril for her dear sake. + +However my heart throbbed with hidden anguish as I stepped forth from +that fateful house, the nature of the adventure upon which we were now +fairly launched was sufficient to cool my brain, so that long before we +skirted the guard-lines drawn around the camp of Spanish artillery, I +had become once more the cool, resourceful adventurer, as befitted my +nature and training. + +"Sentries are stationed only along the open side of the square, I +think?" I whispered to my companion questioningly, striving vainly to +penetrate the intense darkness in our front. + +"True," he responded in so low a voice I could scarcely catch the +words, a slight falter betraying that the strange conditions preyed +upon his unaccustomed nerves. "It was thus they were posted last +night." + +"Then we will assume the risk of finding clear passage. Keep close, +and venture no speech, whatever happens." + +It proved slow work at the best, as it would never do to have a Spanish +spy dogging our footsteps. I doubt not it tested good Father Petreni +to the uttermost, yet I thought the better of him for the determined +way in which he clung to my heels through the darkness. As for myself, +such dodging, twisting, climbing of walls, and skulking amid shadows, +merely sufficed to warm the blood, and yielded greater zest for the +more serious work to follow. I claim small credit for courage in such +matters; they have ever been so much a portion of life to me that their +excitement became scarcely more than a draught of heady wine. He was +the truly brave man who, without any such incentive as I possessed, +left his books and quiet cell that night to follow me abroad. + +At last we ran across the great deserted market-place, and paused, +crouching breathlessly in the dense shadows of the huge warehouse +standing upon the very brink of the broad river. As we rested thus we +could hear soft lapping of running water along the further wall, while +occasionally some vagrant puff of air brought to our strained ears the +distant creaking of chains, as the great war-vessels swung by their +cables against the swift current. Beyond this the night was intensely +still, black, unfathomable, mysterious. It seemed fairly to weigh down +upon us with its noiseless burden of gloom. + +"Are you acquainted with the interior arrangement of this building?" I +asked the priest in some anxiety. + +"I was within it only once, and observed little of its features. I was +called there in haste to speak words of peace to a sorely injured man." + +"Could you guide to the ladder leading up to the second floor in the +dark?" + +I thought he gave a gesture of dissent, yet so dense was the night I +could barely note the movement. + +"I am not certain, my son, yet to my remembrance it leadeth up near the +centre upon the river side. The building is doubtless empty of all its +cotton at this time of year, and we should be able to feel our way +across if only once within. How do you purpose gaining entrance?" + +"Pah! that is the simplest portion of the whole venture," I said +confidently. "I am not likely to overlook such a point. The third +window from here has a loosened shutter; I brought this stick to pry it +apart. Then the interior will be ours, unless they keep a watchman +stationed within." + +"Thou needst have small fear of that at this late season, and the +building empty." + +We crept cautiously forward, myself in the lead, and feeling blindly in +the darkness for the loosened shutter previously located. At last my +groping hand touched it, and drawing the bottom outward as far as +possible by mere grip of the fingers, I inserted the stout oaken bar +within the aperture, and, after listening intently to detect any +presence close at hand, exerted my strength upon the rude lever. There +followed a slight rasping, as if a wire dragged along a nail,--a +penetrating shrillness there was to it which sent a tingle to the +nerves,--then the heavy shutter swung outward, leaving ample space for +the passage of a man's body. I lifted myself by my hands and peered +cautiously within. Everywhere was impenetrable blackness, while the +silence was so profound as to give a sudden strange throb to my heart. +Waiting no longer, I drew myself up on to the narrow ledge; then hung +downward until my groping feet touched the floor. Once safely landed I +leaned forth again, and in another moment the priest stood beside me, +the shutter tightly drawn behind us. With a feeling of relief I faced +that black interior. Now, at least, we were beyond chance of discovery +by any prowling Spanish guard, and could advance more freely. + +"Lead on," I commanded shortly, resting my hand upon his shoulder to +make sure of his presence. "I will keep hold upon your robe, so we +shall not part company in the darkness." + +Very slowly we felt uncertain passage across the uneven floor. It +appeared littered with innumerable articles of the box and barrel +order, with here and there a pile of loose lumber, altogether making +such a jumble of obstruction that keeping our direction became simply +impossible in that intense darkness which seemed to fairly swallow us. +We did well to proceed at all, and escape creating a racket by +stumbling over some of the many unseen obstacles in our path. As to +myself, I became so thoroughly confused by constant turning and +climbing as to grow completely lost, but fortunately the priest kept a +somewhat clearer brain, and, after groping blindly for some time, +pausing occasionally as though he would smell his way like a dog, +managed to put hand at last upon the object of his patient search. + +"'T is here," he whispered. "Shall I go up?" + +"Ay!" I returned hopefully, glad I had restrained the impatience of my +tongue. "But try each rung before you venture stepping on it; they may +prove rotten and give way beneath your weight." + +He swung himself up, after carefully tucking in his robe about the +waist, but the ladder creaked so alarmingly beneath his tread I durst +not venture my heavier weight upon it until he had safely reached the +top. Finally the noise of his climbing ceased, and I could hear a +board move high above me. + +"Are you up safe?" I questioned in a low voice. + +"All safe, praise be to God," came the cautious response; "but thou +wilt do well, friend, to exercise grave care, as the way is bad." + +It required brief exploration to convince us that this second story +possessed a strong, firm floor, although there remained some danger of +there being traps in it for the hoisting of cotton, while the boards +might not extend over the entire surface. By this time, however, our +eyes had grown somewhat accustomed to the intense blackness enveloping +us, so the slightest change in the prevailing gloom became quickly +apparent. The air was so fresh and pure, with such a taste of the +night in it, I became convinced there must be an opening somewhere +close at hand, and whispered the suggestion to my companion. He proved +keener of vision than I, for even as we thus spoke he plucked my sleeve +and pointed upward. + +"Then surely it will be yonder," he exclaimed, with more eagerness of +voice than I had before marked in him. "There is certainly a lightness +to the atmosphere overhead, as if it came from a direct opening to the +sky." + +It appeared true even to me, now that he had pointed out the spot. + +"It must be the roof hatch uplifted. Now if we discover a ladder +leading thereto I shall accept it as proof that God guideth us this +night, and feel new courage." + +"Our work is of God," said the _pere_ solemnly, "or I should never be +here with you, and engaged upon it." + +"Nor have I ever doubted it, father," I made haste to answer, creeping +cautiously forward across the ill-matched flooring. "Yet you have been +a luckier man than I if never you found yourself in the wrong when you +believed it to be right." + +There was a ladder there spliced with bits of rope, as we discovered, +yet proving of sufficient strength to up-bear us one at a time. Thus +we were soon out upon the great flat roof, lying prone at the edge, +whither we had crept silently, peering cautiously forth upon the black +river. That is, we gazed into the silent mystery where we knew the +river must be, yet it was like peering into an impenetrable bank of +cloud. There was something awesome about it, for out yonder, within a +few yards of us, swung twenty great vessels of war, manned by thousands +of fighting men, while not a sound reached us, except the slight +creaking of strained cables, or the occasional dash of a wave against +some obstruction in the stream; nor could anything be seen, if I except +flitting sparks of light glimmering here and there like lost stars, +serving to locate the positions of the various ships in their night +anchorage. + +I felt, rather than saw, the devout priest at my side piously cross +himself, and there was a mumbling of his lips in prayer, but I +contented myself with searching through the gloom for a glimpse of the +towering masts of the "Santa Maria," which must be close at hand. They +remained invisible, shrouded behind the mist cloud. For one moment I +cursed the intense blackness of the night, losing confidence in our +venture. Yet, even as hope failed me, the dull creaking of a nearby +cable sounded farther up stream. Guided by this I crept cautiously +along the edge of the roof, aware as I proceeded that Father Petreni, +imitating my example, pressed closely behind. + +Near the northern extremity of the long building we came to a halt, +and, leaning well over the roof edge, I peered anxiously into the +enveloping fog. A deeper density of shadow showed directly in front, +which I felt convinced could be caused only by one of those vast spars +around which canvas had been rolled, as noted that afternoon from the +ship's deck. Vainly endeavoring to pierce the thick mist, I +distinguished the steady tramping of some one pacing far beneath us. +The sound came from farther out in the stream, where I might reasonably +suppose the stern of the vessel to lie. I drew back, and placed my +lips close to the priest's ear. + +"Can you distinguish any outline yonder?" I queried eagerly, pointing +as I spoke, and feeling fearful lest my eyes had been deceived by +fleeting night shadows. + +Resting upon his breast, one hand shading his eyes, he peered long in +the direction indicated before venturing to reply. + +"There is a shade of something yonder," he admitted at last. "It rises +a trifle above us, and almost directly out from this edge. 'T is hard +to say of what it consists, yet 'tis of a peculiar shape, causing me to +think of the foreyard of a big ship." + +"Exactly what I name it," I replied, set at ease by his prompt +decision. "How far would you suppose the thing to lie from where we +are?" + +He studied the barely visible object long and carefully, shading his +eyes again with his hands the better to concentrate his gaze upon that +misty blot. + +"It is like a jump in the dark, my son, to attempt guessing at so +visionary a thing. At times it seemeth to fade away altogether, yet +back it cometh once more into the same spot; from where I lie it might +be twenty, or it might be forty, feet." + +"Saint Giles! not so bad a guess either. I figured it at thirty this +afternoon from the bank below, nor am I apt to prove far wrong in such +judgment. Truss up this confounded skirt of mine, while I uncoil the +rope for a toss." + +He opened his eyes wide in amazement. + +"Do you hope to cast the loop over the end of the spar?" + +"Ay, that offers the only opening to get aboard unobserved," I replied, +loosening as I spoke the slender rope coil from about my waist. "Nor +would it be any trick if the light were a trifle better. As it is, I +may miss a throw or two in getting firm hold. It would prove risky +business attempting to pass across a line insecure at one end. Lie +down now, _pere_, and keep as quiet as if you were dead." + +In instant obedience to my words the priest stretched himself at full +length behind the low wooden gutter. Rising cautiously to my feet, I +passed the cord with utmost care through my fingers, testing its +strands again, making certain it remained perfectly free for the toss. +For a moment I stood thus, swaying forward at the very edge of the +roof, my eyes measuring again and again the hazy, uncertain distance +stretching away toward that slight undulating shadow. It was +practically impossible to determine where the extreme end of the spar +terminated in air, yet as nearly as possible I made selection for my +point of aim, and, with three noiseless circles about my head to give +it impetus, shot the rope forth into the dense gloom. I heard the +opening noose strike something which rattled sharply in the intense +silence. Then the line slipped, hung limp, and finally fell dangling +down over the edge of the roof. It had failed to catch, and I crouched +low, making no effort to draw the loose end back. With the first sound +of the blow against the spar the steady tramping across the deck +ceased. A moment, and a gruff voice hailed in vigorous Spanish from +out the darkness: + +"Aloft there! Who is on the foreyard?" + +For a brief space there came no answer, although we were made aware of +other movements more directly below us. Then some one answered: + +"The watch are all here on the forecastle, Senor. It must have been a +loose block that rattled." + +"Two of you jump into the foretop, and make all fast." + +The steady tramping was resumed, while a moment later we became aware +of the approach of men climbing through the darkness toward us. We +were unable to perceive their shadows, yet their muttered conversation, +as they lay out upon the yard, served to fix its actual position more +clearly in my mind. I believed I knew where I had so grievously +overshot the mark. + +"_Boca del Dragon_!" grumbled one of the fellows hoarsely, seemingly in +our very ears. "The Captain is as nervous over those cursed +frog-eaters down between decks as if we were anchored off Paree." + +"Think you that is the trouble, Jose?" returned the other in the +sprightly voice of a younger man. "I tell thee, comrade, 'tis only +that bloody demon of an O'Reilly he is fearful of. I have sailed with +the 'old man' in many seas since first I left Sargon, and never expect +to see him affrighted of any Johnny Frenchman. But I heard the Admiral +say two days agone, as I hung over his boat in the main chains, that if +the Captain lost so much as a single prisoner it should cost him his +ship. That, I make it, comrade, is why he has n't taken so much as a +glass of wine since first they were put aboard of us. _Bastante_! but +he must have acquired a thirst by this time to make his temper red-hot." + +The other laughed sourly. + +"Poh! I know even a better reason for his going dry than that, Juan. +He does n't have chance for a drink alongside of that gray-bellied +French priest below. _Caramba_! it takes him to polish off the red +liquor." + +"How know you that?" + +"Saint Christopher! how know I? Did I not just meet him at the main +hatch so drunk he fell over the coamings. The sojer on guard set him +up against the butt of the foremast to sober off in the night air." + +I experienced difficulty in repressing a laugh at the words, but the +two fellows were going down by this time, grumbling in their beards +because they had discovered nothing wrong as reward for their trip +aloft, so I contented myself by silently pressing my companion's arm, +although doubtless he had comprehended no word of the conversation. + +We rested there motionless, with no attempt at speech, for fully twenty +minutes before I ventured to haul in the line which dangled downward +from my hand. Everything remained quiet below, and, coiling it +carefully over my arm, I noiselessly arose to my feet once more, +poising myself to essay a second cast. As straight this time as an +arrow from the taut string of a bow the noose sped silently away into +the darkness. I felt a thrill of delight tingle through me as the end +settled softly over the end of the vague, distant spar. I drew the +cord taut and firm, not a sound breaking the intense stillness closing +us in like a wall. A heavy wooden post, with a pulley attachment, +stood behind where we rested, probably fitted there for hauling up +heavy bales of cotton. Creeping back, I wound the slack of the rope +about its base, drawing it as tight as possible, and then placed the +end in the hands of the observant and wondering priest, who continued +to creep after me like a shadow. + +"Now all I expect of you is to hold hard on this rope until I get +across on to the spar," I whispered. "When I give three distinct jerks +on the cord, then let loose of your end; but drop it slowly, mind you, +_pere_, so I can draw it in without noise. You had better creep to the +edge of the roof with it before you release your hold. Do you +understand?" + +He nodded silently, his eyes gazing unwaveringly into mine. I held +forth my hand to him, moved by the sudden impulse of such a movement. +As he gave me his own in response it felt as cold as ice, yet I marked +his grip was strong. + +"As soon as I coil in the rope you had better creep down and go home," +I explained, speaking slowly, for somehow I felt it strangely hard to +part with this last tie between the present and the uncertain future. +"You can be no further use to me; Madame will be anxious to hear your +report, while it might prove exceedingly awkward for one of your cloth +to be trapped here after this night's work is discovered by the Dons. +So now good-bye; you are a man of nerve, even if you are a priest, and +I am glad to have been comrade with you." + +I heard him answer something as I slowly crept down to the edge, +testing again the feel of the rope before venturing to swing off upon +it. I was not unaccustomed to those adventures incident to rough life +on the frontier; my nerves were not easily jarred by strange +experiences, yet I hold it no pleasant sensation to swing out on a +thirty-foot line at that height, amid utter darkness, especially when +you feel uncertain as to its secure fastening at the farther end. +Moreover, the priest's robe hampered my movements sadly, while, being +no light-weight, the strands of the small cord cut my hands. I durst +not hurry, but took the passage inch by inch, gritting my teeth as I +hung suspended above the abyss, lest I might emit a cry. In truth I +thought my arms would pull out of the sockets before I finally came +alongside the spar. Yet, thanks be to God, the rope held nobly, though +it required every pound of remaining strength to haul my dangling body +up, that I could rest across the wood before I felt after the standing +rope beneath. I clung there weak as a child, trembling like a +frightened woman, the cold perspiration standing in drops upon my face. + +I have been in far happier situations than that--lying bent nearly +double across the yard of an enemy's ship on a black night, but at the +moment, so sincerely rejoiced was I to be off that sagging rope, I felt +like humming a tune. Yet I contented myself with sliding along the +smooth spar until I discovered a firm strand of rope beneath my feet, +ventured then to stand upright, and clung for support to the cloth of +the sail. At last I gave our signal, and, as the line slackened to my +hand, drew it cautiously in, coiling it as it came, until all was once +again in my possession. Waiting a moment, to give the _pere_ +opportunity to begin his retreat, I undid the noose yet wound about the +small end of the spar, and, with much care, feeling my uncertain way +through the darkness, worked myself slowly along, inward bound toward +the mast. Finally, close beside it I again made fast the end of my +cord, lowering it, paying out the long coil inch by inch, until I felt +convinced from its limpness it must extend to the deck. + +I acknowledge it was several minutes before I mustered sufficient +courage to slip down into that intense blackness. It was not so much +fear of men which deterred me, but the oppressive silence, the mystery +of what awaited me below, rested heavily upon the nerves, binding me to +the spar, intently gazing and listening for either sight or sound. It +was recollection of that last, trustful look within the dark eyes of +Eloise which finally aroused me to action. Muttering an imprecation +upon my faint-heartedness, I instantly swung off on to the dangling +rope, slipping silently downward through the shadows to meet whatsoever +fate might lurk below. + +It was a confused tangle of ropes I was compelled to traverse, yet none +greatly interfered with my progress, except to render it slower, and +the consequent strain harder upon the arms. The huge foremast, close +against which I swung, grew bulkier as I descended. Suddenly my feet +touched the solid deck. I discovered myself between the foremast and +the rail, so dropping upon hands and knees I crept silently around, +hoping thus to gain clearer view forward. As I circled the vast butt +of the mast I came suddenly face to face with the friar, sitting upon +the deck and blinking at me with drunken gravity. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI + +I have no knowledge as to what the surprised priest thought regarding +the astounding apparition thus bursting upon him. Perchance he mistook +me for the ghost of some ancient Father Superior visiting him in +warning of his sins. However, I permitted him small space for any +reflection. I have ever been swift in action; was awake then with the +excitement of my venture, and little accustomed to hesitancy at such a +time. Moreover, I despised the fellow, and was not loath to be the +instrument of punishment to him, and I never struck any man a deadlier +blow with the bare fist than that I put in just back of his ear. My +posture was not the best for such exercise; nevertheless it permitted +me to do the work, and he went over without word or groan, even as I +have seen a buck fall to the rifle when the ball sang straight to the +heart. + +Indeed, so limp did he drop upon his side, with not a sigh to relieve +the sickening impression, I feared at first I had killed him--for it is +a wicked blow, such as has caused death more than once. I was +reassured, however, by listening intently at his heart, and, not +knowing how soon he might revive in the cool night air, took +precautions to keep him dumb before venturing to leave him huddled +against the butt of the great mast, and proceed forth on my own mission. + +To lower the long gray skirt of my monk's robe until it touched the +deck planks, loosening as I did so the hunting knife securely hidden +within my waist-belt, and to draw up the coarse, ample hood, thus +better to conceal my features, after the same manner I was pleased to +note Cassati wore his, were my first duties. The way of procedure had +been made clear; fate had seemingly solved that problem. My sole +prospect of attaining the guarded space between decks, of reaching the +cell of the man I sought, lay in careful impersonation of the drunken +French priest, now lying insensible at my feet. Nor in this imposture +did I anticipate serious difficulty. Everything thus far had developed +so favorably I became hopeful of the outcome--the inspiration of +success brought with it renewed courage and confidence. The exciting +incidents of the night had awakened me to the humor of the venture, and +I smiled grimly at the rare conceit of the contemplated masquerade. +Nor did it promise an especially difficult part to play. We were of +similar size, broad-shouldered, stocky men, with smoothly shaven faces, +the difference therein hardly likely to be observed by careless eyes, +beneath dimly burning lights. I knew enough regarding his +peculiarities of voice and manner to imitate both fairly well, so only +an accident, or some careless slip of the tongue, would be apt to +reveal the fraud. In short, I was armed with audacity, doubting little +that I should safely pass the guards. Anyway, there was nothing else +for it; 'twas a moment when one must cast timidity to the winds. + +Yet I found it difficult to essay the first step in so desperate an +enterprise. For several moments I waited, hanging back within the +shadow of the mast, gathering my wits together for the chances of the +play, while endeavoring to pick out details of the situation along +those silent, gloomy decks. Owing to the mass of over-hanging cordage +and the high wooden bulwarks on either side, the night appeared even +darker than when I was above, perched on the dizzy yard. Occasionally +some deeper shadow, or the noise of voice or footfall, made apparent to +me the life on board. Toward the stern that steady tramping back and +forth of the officer on watch continued uninterrupted, as he paced +steadily from rail to rail. I could even distinguish the dim outlines +of his lower limbs as he passed and repassed before the single gleaming +point of light on board. I was also assured as to a group of seamen +forward, hard against a steeper rise of the deck; once I heard the +officer aft call out some unintelligible order, when one of the group +detached himself from among those others and passed along the opposite +side of the mast from where I lay, yet so close I could have touched +him with extended hand. I felt convinced a sentinel stood beside the +hatch, and imagined I could distinguish the faint outlines of another +farther back, near the rail. Trusting to avoid interference from this +latter soldier,--for I sought no risk of accident which might be +escaped,--I crept around upon the opposite side of the deck from where +I had been crouching so long. Getting my new bearings as well as +possible amid such confusing darkness, I finally set my teeth to it, +rose, and bore directly down upon the hatchway, lurching somewhat +heavily and unsteadily upon my feet. + +Whatever vestige of doubt lingered as to the nature of my reception on +board the "Santa Maria" was quickly out to rest. In return there came +to me, from that first experience, a measure of confidence in my +assumed character that enabled me to impersonate my drunken priestly +predecessor with a degree of cool perfection that surprised myself. +Faith, 't is always so; life is like the teetering-board of children, +ever up or down. Evidently the father in his night migrations had +passed that way before, as the sentry--he appeared a burly fellow in +the gloom,--after making certain as to the identity of his unsteady +visitor, asked no unpleasant questions, merely contenting himself with +gruff, good-natured warning to the _padre_ to be more careful this time +and not fall down the ladder. + +"Holy saints!" he added soothingly, "your worship's head must be +ringing yet with the blow it got." + +To this uncharitable remark I maintained dignified silence, and, +flinging my somewhat uncertain limbs over the coamings, went scrambling +down, leaving him to his solitary meditations. + +There was no light burning in the big square room below, merely a faint +yellow reflection stealing forth from that passageway leading aft. For +this blessing of Providence I was profoundly thankful. A good +half-dozen of the night guard, wearing similar uniform with those I had +met on duty during the afternoon, were idly lounging about the butt of +the mainmast, evidently awaiting turn on sentry post, and ready enough +to welcome any diversion chancing their way which would help to break +the dull tedium of the night. I observed likewise, as I made a drunken +pause at the foot of the ladder in an apparently vain endeavor to +steady myself, that these roisterers of the night-watch were a set of +jolly dogs, and had been opening numerous bottles of red wine with +which to pass lagging hours more pleasantly. They were already in that +gay, thoughtless spirit of badinage which comes of fair allowance. +Good humor had laid careless hand on duty, until, the stern restraint +of discipline noticeably relaxing, good fellowship had become king. +Their officer lay outstretched at full length upon three camp stools, a +fellow long of limb, with face as dark as a Moor. He made no effort to +arise from his undignified position, yet hailed me as though I had been +a boon companion of his revel. + +"Ha!" he exclaimed gleefully, tapping as he spoke an empty glass +against the deck. "Comrades, 't is as I prophesied; we are not long +robbed of the Church. See, the most reverend Father hath already +returned unto his own. Truly art thou welcome, _padre_, for I fear thy +flock were about to go astray without a shepherd. Ho, Alva! seest thou +not the coming of thine own liege lord? or art thou already so blinded +by good liquor thou would'st dare neglect the very Pope himself, did he +honor us with his company? Alva, I say, you roistering hound, you +drunken blade, bring hither a stool for the worthy confessor! Faith! +doth he not bear the sins of us all, and must he not be greatly aweary +with so vast a load. Saint Theresa! 't is fortunate there is yet a +bottle left uncracked for the good _padre_!" I gathered the heavy hood +closer about my face, so as better to muffle voice as well as conceal +features; made an apparent effort to stand firm, but with such poor +success I noticed the grins expand on the faces watching me. + +"Peace, my son," I hiccoughed, with an assumption of drunken gravity, +uplifting my disengaged arm as if in priestly benediction of the +impious crew. "Tempt me not to turn aside from the solemn path of duty +by offerings of that foul fiend which doth so corrupt and despoil men. +Know you, I am now on my way to perform the sweet offices of our most +holy religion, and need greatly to permit my mind to dwell in peace +upon more soulful things than that which lieth in the wine pot. You +are mere beasts of the field, sons of Belial, children of wrath, every +one of you, doomed to death, even as it is written, 'He that taketh the +sword shall perish by the sword.' Laugh, will you, you drunken scum of +the sea!" I shouted, glaring about savagely on the grimacing faces. +"'T is truth out of Holy Writ I speak, but I waste the precious word in +such company--'t is casting pearls before swine--for there be none here +who comprehend the things of the Spirit." + +"The spirit say you, _padre_?" interrupted the officer, evidently in +rare good humor. "_Bastinade_! thou doest wrong to all this worshipful +company by so grievous a slur. The spirit we know right well, although +I confess thou art ever a full bottle in advance of the most of us." + +I cast upon him a withering glance of scorn as rebuke to his unseemly +levity, venturing to lurch a step nearer. + +"Hush such vain and impious speech, thou man of war," I commanded +thickly, indignation apparent even through my drunkenness. "Thou +makest mock of the sacred teachings of Holy Church, and art from +henceforth accursed by virtue of my office. I pause here, holding +converse no longer with such mocking tongue, nor linger in presence of +this blasphemous crew. There resteth upon me the eternal destiny of a +human, unshriven soul, and I bid thee permit my passage; 't is the +final night of earth for some upon this ship, and I have until now +neglected to perform my priestly duty with one of the condemned. 'T is +upon this holy mission I would pass thee now." + +"I truly think, _padre_," exclaimed one of the group, with a careless +laugh, "if you had another drink of red wine beneath your cassock you +could never tell a prayer from a song; so for the sake of those poor +devils yonder we ought to pass you this time without demanding toll." + +"To whom do you go at such unseemly hour with ghostly consolations?" +inquired the Commandant, negligently rolling a cigarette between his +long fingers, and resting back his head in supreme content. + +"I give absolution unto De Noyan." In spite of my utmost endeavors my +voice trembled mentioning the name. I watched the fellow's face +narrowly, yet read nothing save reckless indifference. + +"Ah! the gay Chevalier. Faith, I doubt not he hath grave need of thee +and thy paternosters ere he find peace. Yet surely, _padre_, 'twas +with him you were this very afternoon, while I was on guard before. I +marvel greatly he should care for your company so much. Saints, he +seems scarcely of the kidney to take kindly to so many prayers." + +I felt a chill sweep across me even at this slight check. Had I dared +too much? Had I ventured too far? I knew not, yet spoke my next words +boldly, realizing that any retreat now would be impossible. + +"Thou knowest little of men at such a moment; even careless hearts +learn fear of God as they face the end. Holy Mother! but 't would even +pale your black face, and put a stopper on that ribald tongue, were +grim Death stalking at your very heels. You may smile now, making +reckless mock of the sacraments, but that hour will come when you will +be as a child at the knee of Mother Church. Ay, I was with the +Chevalier to-day; 'twas the coming of that negro huckster which took me +from his side before, and I seek now to complete the gracious work +which then had well begun. Surely thou wilt not stand between a dying +man and his last confession!" + +"Nay; not I. Let the poor devil have his chance, as may the good Lord +grant me mine. But, _padre_, I have only just returned from my last +round among the prisoners, and am greatly wearied, nor will I journey +that way again with you. In truth, 'tis all I can well do to guide my +own footsteps, without helping along a priest of thy weight. So here, +_padre_, take the key, and, mind ye, have it safely back in my hands +before the ship's bell soundeth the half hour." + +Hastily snatching the bit of iron he flung rattling on the deck at my +feet, I paused merely long enough to favor the company with parting +admonition on their probable future. Then, glad enough to be thus +easily rid of them, I lurched heavily forward into the narrow +passageway. Some coarse joke launched at my expense attracted the +attention of those behindhand speeded me onward. + +My heart throbbed in anxious anticipation of what unknown trial was at +hand. Such rare fortune as had thus far attended my efforts, seemed +too remarkable to endure; nor was it impossible that, through some +unforeseen mischance, the cup of success might yet be stricken from my +very lips. So far at least I had made no mistake; evidently this Pere +Cassati was "hail fellow, well met" among these riotous guards aboard +the "Santa Maria," and I had played the part to their complete undoing. +But now I was facing a new experience, and stiffened myself to meet it +boldly, uncertain still what trick fate might have in store. + +The sentinel, whom I discovered facing forward, hardly more than two +paces from that door having the figures "18" painted upon it, quickly +lowered his gun as I lurched unsteadily into sight. Greatly to my +relief, as soon as he obtained distinct view of his unexpected visitor, +he returned the piece carelessly to his shoulder, and leaned back, his +elbow against the arm-rack. He was a good-natured-looking fellow, with +round, boyish face, upon which streamed the full glare of a +swinging-lamp suspended from a chain fastened to an upper beam. His +unsuspicious appearance served greatly to reassure me. + +"I give thee peace of Holy Church, my son," I muttered solemnly, +leaning heavily against the jamb of the door, uplifting my hand in +benediction. "May the presence of the Mother and Child guard thee in +time of battle." + +The face of the young soldier grew sober, and he withdrew one hand from +its grasp on the shining musket piously to make the sign of the cross. + +"I thank thee, _padre_, for thy blessing," he returned gratefully. "It +will be in accord with the prayers of those I left at home in Spain." + +Whether or not guards on duty in the corridor had orders to pass the +father unquestioned, this lad, at least, made no effort to prevent my +inserting the great iron key within the lock of the door. Doubtless my +possession of it was accepted as evidence of my right to its use; +anyway he remained there in that same careless posture, a pleased smile +on his face, watching me curiously. The heavy nail-studded door swung +noiselessly ajar; with single questioning glance backward at the +motionless sentry, I stepped within, closed it behind me, and stood, my +heart throbbing fiercely, face to face with her husband--the man to +whom had been given the woman I loved,--Chevalier Charles de Noyan, +condemned to die at sunrise. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN + +It seems strange any man should deliberately venture life for one he +had never seen; one whom, moreover, he hated with an intensity of +passion seldom experienced between man and man. I have not been of +revengeful disposition, nor often indulged in grave personal dislike, +yet it would be wrong in this simple narrative for me to attempt +concealment of my own impulses. So it is impossible to deny that, from +the first moment when she called Charles de Noyan husband, I felt +toward him a degree of animosity deeper than I had before supposed it +possible for me to entertain relative to any human being. It was +bitter memory of the past, a belief that I had once won the heart of +this fair girl, only to be balked of reward by spectral hands of +religion, which swayed me thus strongly. To my thought this stranger +was one who had purchased, from priests at the altar, what was mine by +divine decree; what would remain mine forever from the mandate of love +unchangeable, eternally sealed by higher power than any priestly ritual. + +Yet I had already passed through a day and night of intense excitement, +of grave peril, endeavoring to preserve the life of this man whom I +would more gladly see die than any one I ever knew. I stood now in the +open jaws of my own destruction, where the slightest false movement, or +ill-judged word, upon his part or my own, must mean betrayal; where an +awakening of suspicion in the simple mind of the sentry without, or of +his captain in the corridor; the return to consciousness, or chance +discovery, of the bound priest upon the upper deck, would ruin every +hope, sentencing me to a fate no less speedy or certain than that which +now awaited him I sought to serve. All this had I risked that I might +aid in the escape of the one and only man in all the wide world who +stood between me and the woman I loved. + +It was an odd position, a heartless caprice of fate. I felt the full +measure of its strangeness, yet the thought never occurred to me of +shrinking back from duty, nor slightest dream of realizing a personal +victory through any act of baseness. I was not there for his sake, or +my own, but to redeem my pledged word to her whose slightest wish was +law, whose pleading face forever rose before me. Nevertheless, as I +stood fronting him for the first time, there was little except bitter +hatred in my heart--hatred which, no doubt, burned for the instant +within my eyes,--but a hatred which never returned, to curse my memory, +from that day unto this. I may have found much to test my patience, +much to dislike about him in those weary weeks which followed, much of +weakness and of fickle spirit, but naught ever gave birth anew to the +deep resentment I buried there. + +The room in which I found myself was long and narrow, dimly lighted by +an oil lamp screwed fast into a blackened beam overhead. Along one +side was the bare wall, unrelieved in its plain planking except for a +small cracked mirror and a highly colored picture of the Virgin in a +rude frame. Opposite, two berths were arranged one above the other, +both partially concealed by a dingy red curtain extending from ceiling +to floor. The only other furniture I noted in my hasty survey +consisted of a rough stool chair, and a huge iron-bound, wooden +sea-chest, the last so bulky as almost completely to block the narrow +space between the lower berth and the opposite wall. Seated upon the +stool, which was tilted back upon two legs, his shoulders resting +comfortably on a pillow pressed against the wall, his long limbs +extended in posture of supreme contentment and laziness, upon the +chest, was the man of my desperate search, the gallant soldier of +France, the leader of rebellion, condemned to die before the rifles +within four short hours. + +I have never greatly feared death, have witnessed it often and in many +hideous forms, yet always believed it would test my nerves to the +uttermost to face it as a certainty under guard of enemies. Yet here +was one, young in years, strong of limb, vigorous of hope, with all the +joy of life just opening before him; a man of wealth, of fashion, and +of ease, who was seemingly awaiting the inevitable hour of his doom +with as calm indifference as if it meant no more than the pleasant +summons to a Creole ball. With one glance I made a mental picture of +him--a young, high-bred face, marred somewhat by dissipation and late +hours, yet beneath that dim light appearing almost boyishly fresh, and +bearing upon its every feature the plain impress of reckless humor, and +indolent content. It was the face of a youth rather than a man; of one +more accustomed to looking upon gay companions at the club than on the +horrors of a battlefield; one who could justly be expected to boast of +fair conquests, yet who might prove somewhat slow at drawing sword to +front a warrior of mettle, unless his blood were heated with wine. + +Such were my first impressions, until I noted a certain manliness +imparted thereto by the heavy moustaches adorning the upper lip, almost +yellow in color, curled sharply upward, so heavily waxed at the ends as +nearly to reach the ears, or rather to lose themselves amid the +luxuriant growth of hair. This latter, of the same unusual tinge, +swept low over the shoulders, and was trimmed squarely across the +forehead according to a fashion then prevalent among young French +cavaliers. His dress was not a uniform, but that of the latest mode in +the province, somewhat exaggerated, I thought, as to length of the +bronze shoes and glaring color of the waistcoat. All these details I +noted, as he turned somewhat indolently in my direction, calmly +flipping the ash from off a cigarette, and permitting a spiral of thin +blue smoke to curl slowly upward from his lips into the air. + +"So it is you, you miserable, drunken reprobate!" he exclaimed, a touch +of temper tingling in a voice I felt must naturally be soft and low. +"Have you dared come back to pester me with your abominable +consolations? Sacre! did I not bid you this afternoon to let me alone? +I care nothing for your tipsy paternosters. Faith, man, it will be +pleasanter to face that firing squad to-morrow than your drunken +prayers to-night. Come, get out of the room before I lay unregenerate +hands upon your shaven poll. I am but giving you fair warning, priest, +for I am quick of blow when my blood is heated, nor care I greatly for +the curses of Mother Church." + +I stepped quickly forward, coming as directly before him as the great +sea-chest would permit, fearful lest his loud words might be +distinguishable beyond the closed door. Then, with silent gesture of +warning, I flung aside the heavy cowl which had concealed my features. + +"You, I presume, are Charles de Noyan," I said gravely. "I am not +Father Cassati, nor drunken priest of any Order of Holy Church." + +The prisoner was thoroughly astounded. This I could perceive by the +sudden gleam leaping into his eyes, but that he retained marvellous +control over every muscle was abundantly proven by the fact that no +change of attitude, or of voice, gave slightest evidence of emotion. + +"Well, Mother of God preserve me!" he exclaimed, with a short, reckless +laugh. "'Tis some small comfort to know even that much. Yet may I +politely inquire who the devil you are, to invade thus coolly the +bedchamber of a gentleman, without so much as asking leave, at this +unholy hour of the morning? _Pardieu_, man, are you aware that this is +the last night on earth I have?" + +He was staring at me through blue rings of tobacco smoke, very much as +one might observe some peculiar animal seen for the first time. + +"Had it been otherwise you might rest assured I should never have +troubled you," I replied, some constraint in my voice, his boyish +bravado of speech rasping harshly upon my nerves. "But time presses, +Chevalier; there remains small space for useless exchange of +compliment, nor does indifference appear becoming to those in such +grave peril as you and I." + +"_Sacre_! are you also one of us? Surely, I have no recollection of +your face." + +"I am one in so far as I now face the same fate at the hands of the +Spaniards, although, it is true, I had no part in your uprising. I am +not of your race." + +He laughed easily, passing one slender, white hand carelessly through +his long hair. + +"Pah! you scarcely need tell me that, for the taste of the French +tongue seems ill-suited to your lips. Yet I would have you speak out +more plainly! I play not easily into the hands of strangers." + +"Why not? You could hardly be worse off than you are now." + +"_Pardieu_! you are not so far wrong in your philosophy, friend. Still +I stick to my text, and if you care to hold further speech with me it +will be well to declare yourself. I have ever been a bit careful as to +my associates." + +"It makes small odds, Chevalier, who I am; nor will it greatly aid you +to learn my name, which is plain Geoffrey Benteen, without even a +handle of any kind to it, nor repute, save that of an honest hunter +along the upper river. I say who I am makes small odds, for I come not +with application for membership into your social circle, nor with card +of introduction from some mutual friend." + +His expressive eyebrows uplifted in surprise. + +"Then, Monsieur, pray relieve my natural curiosity, and tell me why I +am thus honored by your presence?" + +"To aid your escape from this hole, God willing. That is, provided you +rouse up from lethargy, and bear your part as becomes a man." + +I spoke with heat, for his indifference irritated me; yet I failed to +note that my words made the slightest impression on him, for I did +merely mark a slight shrugging of the shoulders, while he crossed his +legs more comfortably, rolling some fresh tobacco, before he took +trouble to reply. + +"You are evidently of a choleric temper, friend Benteen. Great +Heavens, what names have you English!" he exclaimed. "And you need +greatly to practise better control over yourself, as such weakness is +apt to lead one into just such scrapes as this of ours. _Sacre_! it +hath been my failing also, otherwise would I now be a fat Major of the +Line instead of a poor devil condemned to the volley, for no worse +crime than an over-hot head. But seriously, Monsieur, and I am truly +of a most grave disposition, it is not so easy to accomplish that which +you propose with so glib a tongue. Imagine you I have lain here, under +tender Spanish care, all these weeks, where, as I do most solemnly +affirm, not so much as a glass of decent wine has found way down my +throat, nor have I possessed a bit of pomade for the proper arrangement +of my locks--which will account for their present dishevelment--Saint +Cecilia! but that moon-faced Moor who commands the guard merely laughed +at me when I did request a comb;--think you, I say, I have been through +all this without calculating chances for escape? But, _pardieu_! what +use? A man of sense will not dream such fool dreams. This I know, +there are three sentries yonder in the passageway, a good dozen more +under arms in the guard-room beyond, with still others vigilantly +pacing the deck above. What use, I say, for did not poor Villere try +it, and, before he had covered twenty feet, had three bullets in his +brain? Nay, Master Benteen, to endeavor running such a gantlet would +only give me my fill of Spanish lead before the hour set, which, they +tell me, comes with the sunrise." + +He arose languidly to his feet, paused a moment in front of the cracked +mirror to recurl his long moustaches, and then, turning about, extended +a white hand toward me, smiling pleasantly as he did so. + +"Faith, I fear I shall not look my best when it is all over, but if so +it will be the fault of the Dons--they seem most careless as to +requirements of the toilet. Yet I would not have you deem me +ungrateful, and I thank you heartily, Monsieur. But if it be my turn +to die, and I doubt it not,--for who ever heard of mercy in the black +heart of a Spaniard?--then it is best I front it as becomes a gentleman +of France, not with a bullet in my back, as though I fled from fate +with the faint heart of a coward. Nay, good friend, if death is to be +my portion, I prefer meeting it with a smile, and thus prove, at the +ending, worthy of my race." + +There was a certain dignified manliness in his speech and manner which +for the moment caused me to doubt my earlier reading of his character. +There might be steel beneath the velvet glove of this fair courtier. + +"Do you mean you deliberately choose to remain here, rather than accept +the chance I offer you?" + +"Sacre! I have as yet heard of no chance," he replied easily, sinking +indolently back into his old seat against the wall. "I shall be fairly +comfortable here for the while, though I must say I have used a better +grade of tobacco than this furnished me." + +For the moment I was in despair as to the outcome of my mission, nor +did I accept the proffered hand of the prisoner. Here was a totally +different order of man from what had ever come my way before, nor did I +know how best to meet him. How much of his vain and reckless speech +came from the heart, and how much of it was merely a mask with which to +test my purpose, I could not determine, yet I remained resolute +regarding my own duty, and accordingly sat coolly down upon the chest, +determined to play out his own game with him to the bitter end. + +"Quite true, Chevalier," I said, smiling pleasantly, as if I entered +fully into his reckless spirit. "Doubtless you are right--needs must +when the devil drives. Could you spare me a morsel of that same +tobacco, until I test the quality of which you complain?" I produced a +pipe from the recesses of my monk's habit, knocking the ashes out +carelessly against the chest. + +He passed over his pouch in silence. + +"When one resteth between His Satanic Majesty and the deep sea it makes +small odds at the best which direction he turns. It becomes merely a +matter of taste. Death," I continued musingly as I deliberately rammed +home a charge into the bowl, "must be about the same to one man as to +another, except for matter of temperament; so if you can afford to sit +here and welcome its coming, so can I." + +"Do you mean you are sufficiently crazy to remain deliberately and die +with me?" + +"Certainly. I pledged your devoted wife I would rescue you, or never +return alive myself. As you stubbornly refuse to listen to reason, +this seems to be all that is left me. Opinions might differ as to +which was crazed, but as to that we will probably neither of us ever +know. May I trouble you for a light?" + +I leaned forward, coolly helping myself to the burning cigarette he +held forth doubtingly between his fingers, and, puffing vigorously, +silently resumed my seat. + +"My wife, say you?" A fresh interest appeared to sweep over him at the +word, overcoming his indifference. "Did Eloise de Noyan send you here +seeking to succor me?" + +"It was at her request I came; at her wish I stay," I answered firmly. + +"You knew her?" + +"Several years since, when she was scarcely more than a girl; yet she +retained sufficient faith to call upon me in extremity." + +He sat staring at me as if he would like to question further. + +"The Lord love us, you are a cool fish," he finally exclaimed, bringing +his hand down upon his knee, and speaking with fresh animation in his +soft voice. "What is more, I rather like you. So Eloise really wishes +me to desert the Dons? Queer choice that, for she would make a lovely +widow. Oh, well, what's the odds? 'Tis only the question of a ball in +the back to-night, or a ball in the front to-morrow. If you chance to +have a tuck ready for my hand, friend, I 'll try a dash at the deck +just for the sport of it." + +I shook my head emphatically. + +"We will attempt passage without flashing of weapons, or not at all. I +grant a quick stroke might win us the open, yet would only serve to +rouse the ship; neither of us would ever lift head above the river +surface without a bullet in the brain." + +"It is the only way fit for a gentleman." + +"Confound your gentlemen!" I cried, now thoroughly aroused at this +ill-chosen trifling with time. "Either you do as I bid you, or else we +settle down without any more ado, to wait the file to-morrow. How +often does the Commandant look in?" + +"On the stroke of the ship's bell." + +"Then, Monsieur, the sooner you arrive at some decision the better. If +indifference is your game, I play it out with you to the end." As I +spoke I leaned carelessly back against the lower bunk, puffing away at +my pipe to get it fairly alight once more. + +I could note from the corner of my eye he was watching me closely, and +with no slight degree of aroused interest, but I would have rested +there without further speech until the guard came, had he not first +broken silence. + +"And she sent you?" + +"So I said." + +"To me, not Lafreniere, her father?" + +"There was a possible chance to save one, not two." + +"_Sacre_! yes, I understand that; yet it doth puzzle me why she should +have chosen as she did. Know you just why it was De Noyan instead of +Lafreniere?" + +"Madame selected me for action, not advice," I answered shortly, now +thoroughly tired of his questioning. "Lafreniere, I understood, +positively refused opportunity to escape, from scruples of conscience. +Besides, the father must be near the end of his days, while you were +yet young, with long life before you. No doubt this also had weight +with her decision. As for myself I sincerely wish it might have been +some other, so I could have brought my aid to a man of sense." + +He rose up, shrugging his shoulders. + +"You are not especially choice in speech, yet your purpose harmonizes +somewhat with my present humor. I will risk the effort; so now tell me +your plan?" + +I permitted no sign of pleasure at his decision to appear in my face. + +"I did intend dressing you in this cassock so you might play priest, +and slip safely past the guard beneath its gray cover," I said quietly. +"I purposed remaining behind, arranging for myself as best I might; but +now that we have met, to be perfectly frank about it, I retain no +confidence in your discretion which will warrant the risk. I therefore +decide we had better abide together until this venture be done." + +He smiled, apparently in rare good humor at my words. + +"No doubt it will prove best, my friend. Your wider knowledge should +supplement my boyish enthusiasm," he responded with mocking bow. "I +rather suspect, from outward appearance, you may be some years my +junior, yet in life experience I readily yield you the palm. So lead +on, most noble Captain; from henceforth command me as your devoted +follower. And now, your excellency, I trust you will pardon if I +venture the inquiry, what would you have your humble servant do?" + +I permitted him to ramble along as he pleased. Now I had won his +pledge I cared little for the nature of his raillery. While he talked +I flung open the great chest upon which I had been sitting, and +discovering it packed with clothing, hastily dragged the various +articles forth, flinging them into the lower berth, covering the pile +with blankets in such a manner that they resembled the sleeping figure +of a man. Then I turned toward him. + +"My first order, Monsieur, is that you get in here." + +"_Sacre_! not I--" + +There came a quick, firm footstep sounding along the passageway +without; then a hand fell heavily upon the latch of the door. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FAVORED OF THE GODS + +It seemed as if my heart must choke me at sound of those steady +footsteps approaching down the passageway. I heard the sharp click of +a gun-barrel in the sentry's hand as he presented arms, then the noise +of the uplifting latch, yet remained so paralyzed by the suddenness of +it as to be fairly helpless, unable to move from my position. De Noyan +merely smiled lazily, as though this new act formed part of the play, +beginning calmly to roll another cigarette. + +"The devil came likewise," he murmured lightly, sinking back upon his +stool. "Begin your paternosters, friend Benteen, or he will fly away +with both of us." + +Fortunately these mocking words brought me to my senses quickly enough +to permit dropping upon my knees with back to the door before it swung +wide open. Nor did I trust myself to do aught save mumble inarticulate +and mongrel Latin, until it had been safely closed again. Had I sought +to exercise my wits on this occasion, my companion permitted small +opportunity for words. + +"Ah! so it is you, you black-faced Arab?" he exclaimed sneeringly, as +the Commandant of the guard peered curiously in. "Not content to wait +the striking of the ship's bell, you must even interrupt my prayers. +Nice treatment of a gentleman his last night on earth, to push yourself +in between him and the consolations of the holy father. _Sacre_! had I +only a small sword at my side I would write a message across your black +Spanish heart which would teach your master how to guard a French +cavalier safely, and still be decent about it." + +It is doubtful whether the officer comprehended this tirade. It was +voiced in French, yet tone and manner must have conveyed much of its +import, for I distinguished a muttered word or so regarding the +unpleasant duty of a soldier, and the length of time the priest had +retained the key, ere the intruder finally backed out closing the door +behind him. I clung to my knees, however, until his retreating +footsteps had died entirely away in the distance; even until De Noyan +addressed me again in his exasperating drawl. + +"So, Father, you must now realize, if never before, how highly I value +your ministrations. Faith! never until this hour have I truly enjoyed +the prayers of any _padre_; I knew not what I missed. Still there is +limit even to such pleasure, and it is time now to conclude; I have +heard better Latin in my day, while your provincial accent rasps +painfully upon the ears." + +"You made your play quite well, Monsieur," I said shortly, somewhat +mortified he should thus take the leadership out of my hands at the +first symptom of danger. "But there must be something besides +play-acting for us to-night if we get free of this ship. So come now; +do you get into the box?" + +He looked down at it doubtfully, with a shrug of the shoulders. + +"_Pardieu_! I would ask certain questions first," he said with greater +show of seriousness. "For how long a time? for what sort of a passage? +It will prove somewhat cramped, I take it, for a man of my length of +limb." + +"I hope both may prove short," I returned, continuing to hold up the +lid for him to enter. "Yet I know of no other possible means whereby +you can leave this room without being halted by the guard at the door. +There is no certainty in this, yet there is a chance, Chevalier, and +that ought always to be invitation to a brave man. Beyond this it is +God's affair." + +The soldier twisted his long moustaches reflectively, a new light +gleaming in the eyes that fronted me. + +"_Sacre_, man!" he said at last stepping forward in sudden resolution. +"As you say it may be worth trying, but it's not unlike climbing into a +coffin three sizes too small for the deceased. Still I 'll bide +therein for a while, only, I warn you, you better be easy when you put +me down, or the corpse may furnish a sudden resurrection." + +It proved truly no easy task to stow him safely in that contracted +space. At any other time I should have laughed outright, marking the +final result of our combined efforts, especially at the expression, +half ludicrous, half pathetic, upon his face as he gazed up at me just +before the lid was closed. + +"Now mind, Chevalier," I said gravely, for had I ventured upon a smile +at his predicament he would have popped instantly forth again, "you are +to make no movement of any kind until left alone. When certain of that +you may venture out of the chest, but remain quiet until you hear from +me again." + +[Illustration: Had I ventured upon a smile at his predicament he would +have popped instantly forth again.] + +"You believe you know a way?" + +"Under God's guidance yes, if you will only bear your part." + +Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy cover over him, and +gave vent to a sigh of relief. + +So far, at least I had won; thus far the gods had favored me. In spite +of the obstacle of temperament I had found means to attain my end, to +work my will, yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such +uncomfortable posture long; whatever was to be accomplished must be +done quickly. Fortunately my plan, dim and doubtful as it was, had +already taken outline. I had determined what to endeavor; it must be +attempted at once, with bold heart, or the opportunity would be gone +forever. Pulling the hood across my face, I partially opened the door, +glancing out upon the curious sentry. To my relief he was alone. + +"I suppose the Commandant told you to give me a lift out with this +box?" I asked in Spanish. + +"No, senor _padre_." + +The man was exceedingly good-natured, evidently one who had profound +respect for the cloth. + +"_Caramba_!" I growled angrily, using the Spanish tongue so he might +not miss my meaning. "He promised it only a moment ago, when he looked +in. He must have forgotten. There is no sense in having such a great +chest lumbering up the entire room. Know you how it ever came there?" + +"It was the senor Lieutenant's state-room, _padre_, before the +prisoners were brought aboard. I think it might be his sea-chest." + +"Well, the Commandant said it could be removed, so out it goes. It +leaves no space for us to kneel in prayer." + +I bent down as I spoke, exerting all my strength, and succeeded in +dragging the heavy, iron-bound chest forward, across the threshold. My +heart beat fiercely in misgiving lest the guard might feel moved to +interfere, but he never stirred; merely gazed at my movements in stolid +wonder. Concealing from him all the interior possible with my body, I +spoke a brief word of farewell to the prisoner, supposed to be safely +within, then closed and locked the door. + +"Here," I said authoratively, my cheeks flushed with delight at so +successful an issue, "lay hold on one end of this, and give me a lift." + +Obligingly, and apparently without a moment's reflection as to his +duty, the soldier, young in years and doubtless a new recruit, leaned +his gun against the mast, bending down with hand upon the rope handle. + +"Where to, senor _padre_?" + +"The Commandant said it might be placed in the store-room. 'Twill stow +away safely enough there, and bother nobody. Know you where that is?" + +"Ay; only a step this way." + +"Lead on then, yet Saint Cecilia! it makes no light load. The +Lieutenant must have kept his stock of wine within." + +I durst not venture bearing the thing farther, fearful lest we might +run afoul of others of the guard who would prove more suspicious than +this honest fellow, besides, all my hasty plan of escape hung now upon +the faith retained, that the half-open cuddy door had direct +communication with the provisions stored below. Surely they could +never be loaded and unloaded by means of the distant hatch-ladder. So +dull and unintelligent in the dim light appeared the face of the fellow +opposite, as we strained forward beneath the weight of the chest, I +ventured upon a question. + +"How does the cook get out all that provender from here?" + +"I know not, senor _padre_; but I think there will be opening from the +store-room to the upper deck. They were at work there yesterday while +I was on guard." + +By good fortune the room sought was only three doors down the +passageway. As it was, my forehead was wet with perspiration for fear +De Noyan would lose what little stock of patience he possessed before +we reached there, or that the Spaniard would begin to wonder at the +surprising weight. Dropping the chest with good will amid the raffle +littering up the floor space, we came forth together, the soldier to +pick up his gun, while, mopping my face vigorously, I proceeded forth +into the guard-room for the purpose of delivering up the key. + +This was a task I approached with dread. Even now some slight slip of +tongue, or action, could easily ruin everything accomplished, yet I +durst not omit the precaution, lest the missing key awaken suspicion +and lead to immediate pursuit. Here, again, fortune played strangely +into my hands, as I discovered the officer dozing in his chair, and, +stepping softly, so as not to arouse him, I gladly handed that +important bit of iron over to the care of one of the guard, himself too +drowsy from potations to trouble me with questioning. Relieved of this +duty, my heart filled with gratitude for all the mercies of the night, +I betook myself up the ladder unmolested, and a moment later stood in +comparative freedom upon the open deck. + +I could scent the coming dawn in the fresh morning air the moment I +arose through the hatch opening, yet there was no sign of it in the +sky; indeed I felt there must be fog in the atmosphere, it rendered it +so thick, although not sufficiently heavy to drip in moisture. It +required only a moment to locate all life present along the forward +deck, and I became convinced few wakeful eyes remained among them at +this sleepiest of all hours of the night. Trusting to this, as well as +the garb I wore for concealment, I walked boldly back as far as the +mainmast, meeting no one. Then, fearful of observation from the +officer still pacing the poop, I skulked stealthily along in the black +shadow of the cook's galley, until I reached the cuddy door, quaking +with fear lest it fail me. It opened instantly to the touch of the +hand, and with heart throbbing wildly, for now all that had been +accomplished hung in the balance of this last experiment, I groped +about within seeking to solve the mystery of that gloomy interior. The +place had the feel of a big, square box; by stretching out across the +edge I could barely reach the farther side, but could touch no bottom, +nor did I feel the rungs of any ladder leading down. It resembled a +well, and the thought immediately took possession of me that the crew +hauled up their provisions by use of ropes, yet I could discover no +hoisting apparatus of any kind. With head projected far below the deck +level I ventured a soft whisper into the darkness: + +"Are you there, Chevalier?" + +There was a slight movement beneath, as if he drew closer to where I +was. + +"Yes, it is all right," he returned, his voice so modulated as to be +barely audible. "But I discover nothing in this darkness to aid in +reaching the deck. Know you where a rope can be secured?" + +"Ay; lie quiet until I return." + +It was a bit ticklish, yet required doing. A trip to the foremast put +in my possession quite a section of line sliced from off the rope's end +previously left dangling from the upper yard. Incidentally as I passed +back and forth I revisited Father Cassati, still resting easily in his +bonds, but now peacefully sleeping off his earlier potations +undiscovered upon the hard deck. Returning with my treasure, I payed +it out into the intense blackness of the cuddy hole, and anxiously +awaited developments below. + +Nor had I long to wait--there came a touch on the line followed by a +firmer pull, as if the party below tested its strength. For a moment +the cord wiggled about as if the man was working with his end to some +purpose, then there followed three sharp jerks which I interpreted to +mean to hoist away. I promptly put my full strength to it, bracing +both feet firmly against a heavy cross-piece of timber, evidently +nailed there for that very purpose. The rope ran over a small roller +set close against the coaming, which I had failed to observe in my +hasty search, so I found the strain less than expected, although a +heavy weight was evidently attached to the other end. But I uplifted +this, for I was vain of my strength in those days, and the distance was +not so great but that shortly his hands managed to grip hold upon the +deck planks, and a moment later he stood beside me, complacent and +debonair as ever, in the dense shadows of the galley. + +"_Sacre_! 'tis a most scurvy trick we are playing on the Dons, friend +Benteen," he murmured smiling easily, while peering about him in the +darkness. "And now, what is the next act in this midnight melodrama, +most cautious youth?" + +"The keeping of a still tongue until we are both overboard," I replied +somewhat roughly. "Follow me closely, and keep quiet about it, if you +retain the slightest care for your life." + +It was not much of a trick, the rest of it, and within five minutes we +were silently floating down the great river, through the darkness, +seeking after some quiet landing-place below the fleet. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN + +We durst not swim to the nearest landing, just beyond the bow of the +big flag-ship we had so unceremoniously quitted, fearing our efforts to +stem the current might attract the attention of some watcher on board. +So permitting myself to drift silently beneath the vessel's stern, +without the stir of a limb to disturb the water, I was soon well away +from the great black shadow. Without a word De Noyan followed. Yet +time was far too precious to permit long drifting, and at the earliest +moment I dared the venture we turned aside, striking out boldly for the +shore. + +"We must move rapidly, Chevalier, to make up lost time," I cautioned +briefly, wading out, dripping, upon the bank. + +"Are the streets patrolled by the Dons?" + +"Ay! although not as thoroughly as when the Spaniards first landed. We +shall require to exercise caution." + +"Where do you take me? There can be no safe hiding spot in New +Orleans?" + +"I know none. We go to the rear of a long row of tobacco sheds near +the North Gate. A boat thoroughly stocked, with two oar men, awaits +us." + +"I mind the place," he said eagerly, "I outfitted there for hunting +more than once. It is best for me to lead, as I know well every inch +of the path, and have grown interested in the play." + +He certainly proved his familiarity with that labyrinth of sombre +streets and alleys. Selecting a devious course, stooping low beneath +the black shadows of walls and fences, he yet set so swift a gait with +his confounded long legs it kept me puffing to follow. But we found +clear passage, seeing no one close enough to interfere with our rapid +progress, while no challenge sounded, until we crept, silently as +possible, around the dilapidated end of the old tobacco shed, and a +black figure, scarcely distinguishable in the gloom, suddenly arose, +uttering no word, yet with threatening gesture, barring further passage +toward the river. + +"Virginia," I gasped, breathless from the hard run. + +"Bless de Lawd, Massa Benteen," returned a darky voice. "An' Massa +Charlie, as I 'm a sinner. I tell you, sah, we done 'bout gib you both +up fo' suah." + +"Stop talking just now, Alphonse, and lead along lively," said De +Noyan, with returning authority. "We can converse later, in +surroundings more congenial." + +Another moment and we were in the boat, the Chevalier pushing it clear +of the bank, then lightly clambering in over the stern. + +"Benteen," he exclaimed, panting heavily, "I confess I'm about useless +from lack of wind. _Sacre_! I 've been housed so long I am weak as an +invalid, yet I can steer the craft if you inform me where 'tis best to +go." + +"Up country is our only chance," I gasped, grasping an oar, vaguely +noting a second figure huddled within the bow. "All the lower water is +patrolled by the fleet, but above there are plenty of hiding places. +Lay down to it hard, you black rascals; you are pulling for your lives." + +De Noyan extended his hand toward the east. + +"It will be dawn in about an hour," he said, a tone of earnestness +creeping into his soft voice. "We can never pull against this stiff +current so as to get any distance in that time. This east shore is +flat as a board for leagues. I 'm for heading straight across. If we +gain the west bank within an hour, or even two, the Devil himself would +have a hard job to find us." + +"Go on," I muttered, bending grimly to my task. "You know this country +better than I. When we reach upper waters it will be my turn to guide." + +As I uttered these words, a bit impatiently, there sounded a quick step +on the low bank at our right. A sharp voice cleaved the darkness. + +"Halt there! Halt that boat, or I put a ball through you." + +"Sheer off lively, lads," I whispered. "Swing her head out, Chevalier." + +There was a rush of feet down the steep embankment. Then a second +voice questioned eagerly: + +"What was it you saw, Sanchez?" + +"Nothing, Senor; I heard voices out yonder. Listen! As the saints +watch, 't is the dip of oars." + +"Halt that boat, or we shoot!" + +There followed a moment's painful pause. An oar in our bow slipped, +making an awkward splash in the water. "_Caramba_! you will not? Take +aim, men--fire." + +A jagged flash of flame cleaved the night. It lit the steep bank, +flinging a bright glare across the dark waters. In that instant I saw, +my face set shoreward, a dozen black figures clustered in a bunch. One +ball crashed into the planking close beside my hand, hurling a splinter +of wood against my face. The boat gave a sudden tremor, and, with a +quick, sharp cry of pain, the negro next me leaped into the air, and +went plunging overboard. I flung forth a hand in vain effort to +grapple his body, yet never touched it, and everything about became +black once more. + +"The poor devil's gone," muttered De Noyan. "The rest of you lay down +to your oars, before they have time to load again." + +So quickly did this occur I do not believe we lost more than a stroke +or two, and were already well out into the stream, nothing except our +narrow stern pointing toward the bank, where some of the soldiers--we +judged from their voices--were reloading for a second volley, the +others searching the shore after some boat in which to begin the +pursuit. It was a hard pull, especially upon my part, as I chanced to +sit on the lower side, having full sweep of the current tugging against +my oar, while De Noyan headed the boat as directly as possible for the +western shore. The soldiers, completely swallowed in the gloom, made +no further attempt to fire; possibly, having seen the fall of the +black, they believed their work done. Nor did other sounds reach us +evidencing pursuit; for that moment at least we were free. It was then +I watched the coming of the dawn. + +There was a slight, scarcely perceptible, shading into a lighter tinge +of the clinging black shadows that veiled the eastern sky, dimly +revealing misty outlines of white, fleecy clouds extending above the +faint horizon line, until they assumed a spectral brightness, causing +me to dream of the fairies' dwellings which my mother pictured to me in +childhood. Gently the delicate awakening spread along the wider +expanse of sky, which became bluish gray, gradually expanding and +reflecting its glow along the water, until this also became a portion +of the vast arch, while the darker borderland, now far astern, formed +merely a distant shade, a background to the majestic picture. The east +became gradually a lighter, more pronounced gray; rosy streaks shot +upward through the cloud masses, driving them higher into an +ever-deepening upper blue like a flock of frightened birds, until at +last the whole eastern horizon blushed like a red rose, while above the +black line of distant, shadowy trees, the blazing rim of the sun itself +uplifted, casting a wide bar of dazzling gold along our wake. Gazing +thus, every thought of our surroundings, our dangers, and fatigue +passed from memory. Bending to the oar, my soul was far away upon a +voyage of its own. + +Some unusual movement served to attract attention from this +day-dreaming, my eyes falling suddenly upon De Noyan. His face, turned +partially away from the rising sun, was gray with anxiety, and I noted +he shivered in his wet clothes. Yet his smile and speech seemed +jauntily unconcerned as ever. + +"Yonder was to have been my last sunrise," he remarked grimly, nodding +backward across his shoulder. "'Tis about the hour now for those in +the hands of the Dons to have their backs against the wall." + +I caught a sound as of a partially suppressed sob behind me, but before +I could turn sufficiently to ascertain the cause, the Chevalier sprang +past, rocking the little boat furiously, and my ears overheard that +which caused me to keep my face set the other way. + +"Eloise!" he exclaimed exultantly. "Are you here, little wife? Mon +Dieu! I dreamed it not; yet should have known you would never leave +such duty to the slaves." + +"I was simply compelled to come," she answered, and I could mark her +voice falter. "Do not be angry with me. What have I now left except +you? The rising of the sun sealed my father's fate." + +"True," he admitted soberly, lifting his hat in grave gesture. "I feel +like a condemned coward, my name a byword for the rabble, being here in +such comparative safety, when, in honor, I should be lying beside my +comrades." + +"Nay; say not that! You are young; much of life, of usefulness, lies +before you. I knew that at the best only one destined victim might be +plucked from the Spaniard's vengeance. It was at his approval I made +choice of you. My father is robbed of but few years, while you are too +young to die. Somewhere--God guiding--we shall find a home again, and +days of peace." + +"Ay! you were ever of brave heart, Eloise. But let us not forget we +yet remain in reach of Spanish claws, and they are merciless. Go back +to the tiller a while, and let me lay hold upon this oar; 'tis heavy +work for such soft hands as yours. Point the course direct for the +cane island--you must remember it; you were there once with me." + +I fail to recall even glancing into her face as she sat fronting me, +her hands upon the tiller bar. I durst not, fearing some telltale +expression within my eyes might bring her added pain. So I sat with +glance downcast upon the planks, while tugging doggedly at the oar with +all my strength, feeling that same sunrise had brought with it my own +death warrant. So dull and heavy grew my heart with lonely weariness, +I cannot guess how long we pulled before the boat's nose ran up upon +the shore, and De Noyan, springing overboard, dragged it well beyond +view among the thick cane. + +"We shall be safe enough here," he exclaimed lightly, gazing about with +approval. "Come, Eloise, step on this dry sand, for you must be +greatly cramped from so tedious a passage." + +As I arose, the more easily to permit her passing me in the narrow +space, she suddenly grasped both my hands within her own; then my eyes +glanced up once more to meet hers, dark with unshed tears. + +"Do not think, Geoffrey Benteen," she said brokenly, her voice +vibrating with emotion, "that I fail to realize what this means to you. +Your troubled face has been a silent accuser of me this hour past. But +I thank you; you have proven yourself a man, such a man as I have ever +believed you to be. May the good God bless you and bring you peace." + +"Ay!" chimed in her husband, apparently in good humor. "He's the +nerviest fellow ever I met, Eloise. _Sacre_! had you hunted this +province over you could never have found one to perform better work +this night. I wonder how it was you chanced upon him?" + +Without venturing a word in reply to either of them, I helped her +gravely over the boat's side, within grasp of his outstretched hand, +all about us the warm sunshine piercing the thick canes with golden +light. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A COVERT IN THE CANE + +Our boat was securely hidden amid a thick growth of reeds, which +extended their domain far down the shore, even out into the river +shallows. These reeds sprang quickly back into position as we pressed +through, leaving no trail for pursuers to follow. Nevertheless, making +all secure on board, and removing from the locker a quantity of biscuit +and some smoked meat, we took the further precaution of covering the +boat with rushes so as thoroughly to disguise its presence from prying +eyes. Satisfied with the result of these efforts, we clambered up the +slight ridge to where we found a small open space, carpeted with soft +grass, and sufficiently elevated to permit our looking about above the +level of the cane, while remaining concealed ourselves. + +Our lodgment was upon a small island, a stream of languidly flowing +water extending between us and the main west shore. This, so far as my +eyes could distinguish, did not differ in appearance from our present +abiding place, being composed of low, swampy land, thickly covered with +a heavy growth of cane, and exhibiting no sign of human habitation. +The sole break to this dull monotony of outline was a narrow fringe of +trees situated farther back, where doubtless firmer soil gave spread to +their roots. + +Northward the eye might trace the slight curve of the bank for miles. +It appeared irregular and low, slightly diversified by small, marshy +islands, similar to this we occupied, possibly cloven from the mainland +by some eccentricity of current. Occasionally I distinguished openings +into lagoons, such passages into the low-lying mainland being evidenced +by the deeper green of the vegetation bordering them, as well as by +wind-twisted trees clinging despairingly to the crooked banks. East +and south swept the river, so broad our eyes could barely trace the dim +presence of a distant shore. Below, that majestic yellow flood poured +downward unbroken, although De Noyan imagined he perceived distant +spars of the Spanish fleet outlined against the blue background of the +southern sky. This may have been possible, yet to my eyes all was +blank, although I could mark pretty accurately where they should have +been. + +We indulged in little conversation, reclining on the short grass, +partaking of our cold meal. The Chevalier attempted a sorry jest or +two, yet soon subsided, discovering so unresponsive an audience. It +was plain to my mind the reflections of Madame were altogether with her +father--lying dead before this hour--and this sad memory darkened even +the delight of her husband's safety. His affected gayety of manner, +and reckless speech, jarred more harshly upon her in this hour than +perhaps ever before in her life. Yet she made a pathetically brave +effort to appear of good cheer, managing to eat with us, although it +was easy to perceive the food choked her, while her eyes were blurred +with tears resolutely held in restraint. It was plain, I say, yet this +is but my thought, for I question whether De Noyan, in his careless +mood, observed her depression. He was of a nature reflecting slightly +on any save himself; past sorrow being quickly forgotten in any present +gleam of sun. As we thus ended this silent meal it occurred to me they +might require slumber more than I, and I expressed my willingness to +stand guard while they sought rest. Perhaps my face told a tale of +weariness easily read, for this proposal met immediate resistance. + +"No, no, Geoffrey Benteen," exclaimed Madame impulsively, "what have I +done except sit quietly in a boat, waiting the passing of the hours? +You have been through strain and labor which wears out life. It is you +who will lie here upon my wrap, trusting me to call should need arise." + +"Hush, both of you," impatiently burst in De Noyan, rising to his feet, +and gazing across the sparkling water. "A watch would have small +value. There is no safer spot on all the lower river than this; if the +Dons discover it, no way of escape exists even were we all awake and +ready. To remain quiet is all we can do, and how can we accomplish +that better than by going to sleep? _Sacre_! I am a soldier, and not +apt to make light of a guard, yet," and he stifled a yawn, "I see no +necessity here, nor could I be more completely played after a night of +dancing at a Creole ball." + +Thus the matter was agreed upon, not altogether to my liking, but I +yielded owing to too great weariness to argue. At first Madame +protested she could not sleep, yet finally consented to lie down. As +to myself my head had scarcely pressed the soft pillow of grass before +I was lost in slumber. + +A blessing of youth lies in the fact that sleep then truly gives rest. +The tired body responds so thoroughly to the gentle touch of slumber +that the latter becomes a magician capable of restoring every faculty +to complete power. It was thus I rested motionless, and it was nearly +evening before I stirred, although the sun must have been streaming +directly across my upturned face for hours. I awoke to perfect +consciousness of our situation, as naturally as ever in a bed at home. +Dimly impressed that some unusual noise had aroused me, I immediately +sat upright. This change of posture brought my eyes on a level with +the tops of the cane on either side, and, my face being turned +southward, there was outspread before me the full, broad sweep of the +Mississippi, glinting under the westering sun, so that for a moment it +dazzled eyes yet clogged with the heaviness of sleep. Then I perceived +what afforded me so severe a shock that I ducked hastily down into my +covert, every faculty instantly alert. Close in against the reeds, as +though skirting the low line of the shore, loomed the black outline of +a large boat. + +Coming bow on toward the place of our concealment, every eye in her +would naturally be scanning the spot where we lay hidden, and I durst +not raise my head again until assured they had passed by. I rolled +partially over to gain view of the others of our own party. Both were +slumbering heavily, Eloise near the western edge of the little grass +plot, wrapped within a great shawl so as to leave not even her head +visible, while De Noyan rested within easy reach of my outstretched +arm, breathing so heavily I felt it safer to arouse him, before that +strange boat should come abreast. It required severe shaking, his +sleep being that of sheer exhaustion, yet he proved sufficiently a +trained soldier to obey instantly my signal for silence. Nor were +words needed to explain the reason, as by this time the sound of oars +was clearly audible. Suddenly some one spoke, apparently at our very +side. Lying as I was I noticed the shawl pushed hastily down from +Madame's face, her brown eyes gazing questioningly across into my own; +yet, with rare self-control, not so much as a limb quivered. + +"I tell you, _padre_, there's nothing along this cursed cane-marsh," +growled a deep rumbling voice in Spanish. "It is a mere bog, in which +a man would sink to his armpits, were he to venture outside the boat." + +"Bog it may be," retorted a sharper, petulant voice, the sound of which +was oddly familiar, "but I tell you this, Senor, 'tis on this very +shore French gallants come hunting from New Orleans. There is dry land +in plenty beyond the fringe of reeds." + +"_Saprista_! there may be, as there may be water in Hell, but I 'll +never tangle my boat amid that mass of cane to make its discovery. Let +the frog-eaters have it, say I; the saints bless them. Come, pull away +sharply, lads, and we'll see what the shore-line looks like above." + +The sound of dipping oars instantly increased in rapidity. + +"You are one pig-headed fool of an officer, Senor," snarled the sharp +voice contemptuously. + +"Mother of God!" roared the other, enraged. "Speak so again, you dog +of a French priest, and even your gray robe will not save you from +tasting the mud at the bottom. Do you want to know what I think of +you? Well, I 'll tell you, you snivelling, drunken singer of +paternosters--you did more to help that fellow escape than you 'd care +to have known. Now you 're trying to hold us back until he has time to +get safely away up the river. That's my opinion of you, you snarling +gray-back, and if you dare breathe another word, I 'll give orders to +chuck you overboard." + +"Where do you purpose going?" ventured the cowed priest, in a subdued +tone. + +"Straight up the stream. That's where your cursed Frenchman has +disappeared so swiftly, unless the guard at the North Gate shot him, as +they swear to O'Reilly. So sit there quiet, and hold your tongue--you +may command the Devil, for all I care, but I 'm in charge of this boat." + +The sound of angry controversy died away in the distance. Cautiously I +lifted my eyes to the level of the cane, and peered over. The Spanish +boat, a large one propelled by the vigorous sweep of twelve oars, was +already a hundred yards above, swiftly stemming the current. From +their gestures I judged the debate yet raged between the gray-robe +crouched in the stern, and the big, burly fellow, resplendent in gold +lace, standing up and urging his oarsmen to greater exertion. Within +ten minutes they rounded the upper point, and when they again appeared +within vision, the boat was a mere dot floating in the midst of the +golden sunshine, where the setting sun gave a good-night kiss to the +vast, sombre river. + +De Noyan's boyish face was aglow with unconcealed amusement as I turned +toward him. + +"Well, Benteen," he asked, twirling his moustache, and staring after +them, "what was it the Dons said? _Peste_! I could not make out a +word of their lingo, except when the fellows swore." + +I repeated to him the conversation, and he burst into a hearty laugh. + +"Indeed, a sweet-scented Frenchman, that Capuchin priest," he said +carelessly. "I wonder what has so set the drunken fool against me?" + +"It is not you, Chevalier," I acknowledged, feeling a touch of his +spirit; "it is rather that lad who landed so heavily behind his ear +last night, and who ran such a merry masquerade in monk's robe as never +Spanish war-ship saw before. I warrant it is I the holy father seeks +so savagely. Faith, it would be pleasant to know how he got out of the +pickle in which I left him. 'T is odd the Dons did not use him in your +place." + +"Ay, that will be the cause, for I did nothing to anger the fellow, +except it was to laugh at his prayers, with a joke at the quality of +his Latin. But Dieu protect you, Monsieur, if ever he gets whip-hand. +A revengeful priest is more to be feared than a rabid dog. I stirred +one of his breed once at the Cathedral by some wild prank, and carry +the scar of it still. But come, it becomes dusk. Let's break our +fast, and while eating consider the best plan for the night. Eloise, +do you awaken refreshed?" + +She came quickly forward, a smile for us both, looking dainty and +sweet, although the heavy mass of brown hair appeared somewhat +dishevelled from her unaccustomed pillow. + +"I must have been exceedingly tired," she confessed pleasantly, "for I +slept with never a dream, and this is my first experience of lying +without the covering of a roof. It was all strange and solemn at +first, with never a sound except the dismal whispering of wind through +the cane, and the dull murmur of the river. The very, stillness, no +doubt, lulled me to slumber. Nay!" and she sprang hastily forward, +taking from my hands the few provisions I was bearing. "That is to be +my part of the work, Geoffrey Benteen, not yours. You will find hard +enough task before morning, while there remains so little for me that I +refuse to be robbed of any rights." + +I realized, watching her prepare our scant meal, that she was bravely +endeavoring to appear gay, while her heart remained heavy from memory +of her father. Whether this assumed levity deceived De Noyan I cannot +say--he was of a volatile nature, easily swayed by either smile or +tear, and instantly joined responsive to her seeming mood. I left them +thus, engaged in pleasant badinage, while seeking some spot where I +might bathe my heated face. It was no small hardship to watch them +thus together. + +Seated upon the grass, lingering over the rude repast, we discussed our +situation, seeking to outline vaguely our future plans. De Noyan was +for keeping close against the western bank as we progressed northward. +He had hunted amid the marshes, and remembered sufficiently the +formation of the shore-line to be aware that for several leagues it +remained thickly skirted by small islands, while numerous bayous +offered secure hiding-places. In this choice I acquiesced, urging also +that the downward flow of the current would sweep with greater force +along the opposite shore; besides which the search-boat, just passing +us on the way up-stream, would be more likely to return along the +eastern bank. + +"There is no reason," I continued, "why we should delay departure +longer. We can keep the boat beneath the shadows of the bank, and even +if the Dons stop to make camp, they would hardly do so without building +a fire, which would afford ample warning to sheer out into the stream. +If they return along this shore--as is unlikely--we should hear the +heavy strokes of their oars before they caught the sound of our lighter +ones. I am for embarking at once." + +This agreed upon, within a half-hour we were pushing slow passage +through the thick cane, soon finding ourselves once again afloat upon +the broad water, the prow of our boat turned up-stream, while here and +there a dim star winked down upon us between scurrying clouds. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A NIGHT IN THE BOAT + +This was one of many nights we passed in the narrow confines of the +boat during our flight northward. Yet its incidents remain in memory +with peculiar distinctness of detail. I do not recall exactly how it +occurred, but my duty during that first night chanced to place me at +the after oar. In consequence I sat directly facing Madame de Noyan, +operating the rudder bar. It was so warm, merely a delicate, fragrant +breeze blowing from the south, she had felt no necessity for drawing up +her hood, and the soft light of distant stars, glimmering along the +bosom of the river, reflected back into her face, illumining it until I +could almost note the changing expression within her dark eyes. + +It was a sadder, graver face than the one I associated with her +girlhood. Yet I could scarce forbear an impression that it was now a +sweeter one, more womanly, faint lines beginning to mark its satin +smoothness with impress of sorrow. To my thought a new, higher +womanhood had found birth within, during weary days and nights of +suspense and suffering. It was yet torture to me constantly beholding +these two together, but, as I observed her then, I thanked the good God +who had permitted me to be near her in time of trial. In patience I +would serve, even though I must suffer. Tears were clinging to her +long lashes, and occasionally one would glitter an instant upon her +white cheek, as she leaned her face upon one hand, from which the loose +sleeve fell away, revealing an arm like chiselled marble. She made no +effort at concealing these evidences of emotion, doubtless believing +them sufficiently hidden by the gloomy shadows. Nor did she appear to +glance at me, keeping her own gaze directly ahead, where the dark, +swirling waters merged into the mystery of the North. + +We were none of us in talkative mood--although I heard De Noyan, behind +me, humming a light French air, as though perfectly free from +trouble--and I have no recollection of exchanging a word for more than +an hour. We merely continued to pull sturdily against the downward +rush of the stream, the deep silence of the night broken only by the +dripping of uplifted blades, or the occasional far-off hooting of an +owl upon the bank to our left. The pressure of the river's current was +scarcely perceptible close against the shore, so we made fair progress. +Yet it was hard work, neither of us being accustomed to such exercise, +the heavy oars feeling awkward to the hand. The grim uncertainty of +the future, coupled with our solitary surroundings, exercised a +depressing influence upon the spirits of each, although differing +widely in degree, according to our several natures. Undoubtedly this +same sense of dreariness led De Noyan to sing, caused me such painful +restlessness under that same singing, and left Eloise saddened in her +lonely thoughts. + +Every occurrence impressed me that night as unusual. Perchance this +was because both heart and head were sadly out of tune. Yet, at best, +it was a lonesome journey, and remains a grewsome memory, haunting with +many a spectre, as weird as the shadows of delirium. The few stars, +peeping shyly forth between scurrying black cloud masses, were so far +away they merely silvered the cloud edges, leaving them as though +carven from granite. The low shore, often within reach of our oar +blades, appeared gloomy and inhospitable, the spectral rushes creeping +far out upon the water like living things, seeming to grasp after us as +the wind swept them, and we glided past in phantom silence. Beyond, +like a great black wall, arose higher ground, occasionally jutting into +bare bluffs outlined against the lighter sky; again diversified by +gaunt dead trees, their fleshless limbs extended upward toward ghostly +pillars of vapor ever floating from off the river's surface. +Occasionally, jaggedly uneven, close-set trunks of forest growth would +appear, spectral in solemn ugliness, a veritable hedge, impenetrable +and grim. + +If, with a shudder of disgust, I turned away from that lorn, dead line +of shore, my eyes swept a waste of waters slipping solemnly past, while +farther out, where sky and stream met and mingled in wild riot, the +surging river swirled and leaped, its white-capped waves evidencing +resistless volume. It was a sight to awe one, that immense mass +pouring forth from the upper darkness, flashing an instant beneath the +star-gleam, only to disappear, a restless, relentless flood, black, +unpitying, impenetrable, mysterious, a savage monster, beyond whose +outstretched claws we crept, yet who at any moment might clutch us +helpless in a horrible embrace. It was a sight to stun, that brutal +flood, gliding ever downward, while, far as eye could see, stretched +the same drear expanse of cruel waters. + +From out that mystery would suddenly emerge, rolling toward us, as if +born of the shadows, some grim apparition, a wildly tossing figure, +with gaunt, uplifted arms beating the air, to startle for an instant, +then fade from our ken into the dimness below. Well I knew it was only +driftwood, the gnarled trunk of uprooted tree made sport with by mad +waves, yet more than once I shrank backward, my unstrung nerves +tingling, as such shapeless, uncanny thing was hurled past like an +arrow. Nor were the noises that broke the silence less fearsome. Bred +to the wilderness, I little minded loneliness when in the depths of the +backwoods, but this was different. I cared nothing for the honk of +wild fowl overhead, nor those sounds of varied animal life borne to us +from off the black land; but that strange, dull roar, caused by great +logs grinding together in the swirl of the current, and the groaning of +bits of undermined shore as they gave way and dropped heavily into the +water, racked my nerves. + +The peace I found lay in that sweet face, turned partially away, yet +appearing fairer than ever beneath the protecting hood, drawn up as the +night air grew chill. Whether similar sense of strangeness and +timidity rested upon her, I could not determine, yet I believed her +thoughts so far away that our present surroundings were no more to her +than the vaguest dream. She scarcely stirred during all the hours I +watched her; only once did she glance up, to smile as she met my eyes +before I could withdraw them from her face. Had she read aright their +message, perchance this story might never have been written; yet purer, +truer love no man ever gave to woman. We must have continued thus, +pulling silently, for hours before De Noyan broke the oppressive +silence with impatient speech. Indeed, not the least impressive +feature of the grewsome night was his continued stillness. + +"_Le Diable_!" he exclaimed uneasily, shifting in his seat. "If the +Styx be more gloomy than this accursed stream, then Jesu pity its +voyagers. Never have I put in so miserable a night, to say nothing of +a strained back, and a pair of sore hands. What are those black, +crawling things yonder? _Mon Dieu_! I have seen a thousand hideous +demons since we left the cane." + +I glanced across my shoulder in the direction he pointed, glad enough +to hear once again the sound of a voice. + +"Only the fire-seared branch of a tree tossed on the current--the night +rests heavily upon your nerves." + +"Heavily? _Parbleu_! it has unmanned me with hideous silence, with +creeping, ghostly mystery, until I am half mad, scarcely daring to +whisper, in fear of my own voice. Eloise, are you there? or have the +spectres of this haunted journey flown away with you?" + +"Angels or demons, they would have naught of me," she replied in +seeming unconsciousness of his mood. "My thoughts, I fear, have been +sufficiently sad to accord well with the gloom, only my shadows are +within, not without." + +"_Sacre_! mine are all yonder," he exclaimed, indicating with a gesture +the vast extent of angry water. "Why should I bear heavy heart, except +for brooding phantoms of the night? Life is still mine in all its +sweetness. Not that I greatly valued it, to be sure, yet 'tis somewhat +better than I once thought, and there is always pleasure left in the +world for the young. From whence springs your mood of sadness, Eloise?" + +"My thought was with my father." + +"'Tis not strange it should be. Yet, it might be better if you dwelt +upon the brighter view of our own future. He is at rest; no tears can +be of aid. But we can look forward to dreams of happiness. 'Tis my +plan to cross the great ocean, seeking better fortune on the Continent. +France, they say, has ever a vacant place for a good sword, nor is the +king likely to refuse service to a nephew of Bienville. You and I, +Eloise, shall yet tread the Paris streets, nor shall we go as beggars." + +I marked her quick smile, but thought it not wholly untouched by +sadness, as she attempted answer. + +"We will hope for the best; yet, Monsieur, we are still deeply buried +in the wilderness. Ay! worse--in the country of our enemies. You may +not comprehend the full truth of this, but Spain lays claim now to all +this great river, with the country bordering it. O'Reilly has already +despatched soldiers as high as the mouth of the Ohio, to guard its +passage; so there is peril lurking before us, as well as behind." + +"O'Reilly has sent soldiers northward? How know you this, Eloise?" + +"It was common talk in the town. I saw with my own eyes the departure +of one expedition. It was composed of a captain, with twelve soldiers, +destined for the Ohio. I have heard that twice since others have been +despatched northward, although to what points was unknown." + +"The saints defend us! 'tis indeed serious. I supposed the boat which +passed contained all the Dons on the upper river, but if this be true +we may have to desert the stream, and take to the eastern trail on +foot. _Sacre_! I like it not! What say you, you sphinx of an English +borderman? Knew you this all along?" + +"It is news to me," I answered soberly. "But if three expeditions have +already been despatched north, there is little hope the land routes +have been forgotten. Beyond doubt every trail, white or Indian, +leading toward French or English settlements, is by now patrolled by +the Dons. Nor can we hope to gain passage by surprise. That +man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your escape, so every +Spaniard between here and the Ohio will be on the lookout for our +coming." + +I imagine the same thought stole into the mind of both, how easily we +two, travelling light, might press our way through that scattered line +of guard, and attain the upper Ohio; how easily, only for the danger +and distress to which so desperate an attempt would expose her. She +alone ventured to give the idea utterance. + +"Messieurs," she said earnestly, her calm brown eyes uplifted to our +faces, "I have been considering this for an hour past. I know you +would experience small trouble eluding the Spaniards, or even cutting +your way through them, were I not with you. Yet this is not beyond +remedy. I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when I usurped the +slave's place in the boat; instead, I am an encumbrance, a weakling +whom you must protect at the risk of your own lives. Fortunately it is +not yet too late to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New +Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly downward. I have loyal +friends in the town to hide the daughter of Lafreniere, should the +Spaniards wage war against a woman, and surely some means would open +whereby I might make the shores of France. Perhaps I should be there +in advance of you. What say you, Messieurs, to such proposal? Would +it not be best?" + +The indignant feeling which swept me as I listened to this speech +hardly needs dwelling upon. Yet I held my tongue. It was the +privilege of De Noyan to make answer. + +"_Parbleu_!" he cried, seemingly forgetful of caution in instant +enthusiasm. "You have as good a head as heart, Eloise. _Sacre_! never +before did I realize the treasure in my keeping. You gauge well the +wishes of a soldier; 't is not pleasant to one of my blood and training +to lurk thus in the shadows like a skulking spy. _Bish_! nor do I love +this toll at the oars--'tis the work of slaves. I would prefer +trusting all to the rapier, writing with its point a Frenchman's +message of defiance. Holy saints! I am already half inclined to say +yes to your proposal; yet Benteen, what word have you to speak +regarding this plan?" + +"That if she goes back to New Orleans, I make the town in the same +boat," I answered shortly, angered by his flippant words and tone. +"'Tis a plan not to be seriously considered a moment, Chevalier. If +carried out it would merely place Madame de Noyan in the power of Cruel +O'Reilly. I doubt if the sacrifice would preserve our worthless lives. +She can only return by means of the boat; with that gone, we should be +compelled to plunge, unprovisioned, into a trackless wilderness, +feeling our way blindly for hundreds of leagues through unknown, savage +tribes. If we survived their cruelty we should be crazed with hunger +and fatigue long before our eyes were gladdened at sight of the upper +Ohio. I do not say such a journey could not be made, but I retain +vivid memory of one such trip, nor will I lightly seek another. I +imagine, Captain, you have small conception of the horrors of the black +forests, when you choose recklessly to plunge into their depths." + +"I served against the Creeks," he announced somewhat sullenly. + +"So I heard, yet that was mostly boys' play; armored men pitted against +naked savages. You would discover different foemen among the mountain +tribes to the north and east. Do not suppose I question your courage, +but I realize the dangers, as you cannot from your town life, while as +to Madame de Noyan, she will be safer here with us than with those +black brutes in New Orleans." + +"You refuse to be comrade with me then?" + +"Ay, if such comradeship involve the desertion of your wife." + +"Desertion!" The term stung him. "_Sacre_! 'tis not a word to be +lightly flung in the face of a French cavalier. Did I not already owe +you the debt of life, Monsieur, I might endeavor to teach you a lesson +in etiquette." + +"I permit your overlooking all obligations, if you desire to indulge in +such an experiment," I retorted, no wise unwilling. "I am no brawling +roisterer, but have never been above giving and receiving blows." + +I judged from the glint of his eyes, and the manner in which he juggled +his sword hilt, he had grave purpose of backing up his pretty words. I +should rather have enjoyed giving the doughty gentleman a sudden bath +alongside, had not Madame hastily calmed our hot blood with sober +speech other own. + +"Hush, Messieurs," she commanded quietly, her eyes upon my face, +instantly shaming me. "It is not meet you should quarrel. There are +better ways in which to strike blows for me than that. As to my going +on with you, or returning alone, that may all be discussed when we make +camp again at daylight. Then we will settle the matter coolly, not in +the heat of anger. You are both my friends, nor would I awaken between +you any cause for controversy." + +De Noyan laughed. + +"_Sacre_! 'tis the accursed night got into our blood," he exclaimed. +"The very air seems poisoned with horror, while my back aches so with +pulling this oar, I would esteem it relief to fight with my best +friend. It was hard fortune that the boy Alphonse happened in track of +that Spaniard's bullet. With three in the boat there would be some +rest from the toll." + +"I see solid ground yonder," I said, pointing as I spoke to the shadowy +bank ahead. "We might run the boat's nose in, and stretch our cramped +limbs on shore. There is little to be gained endeavoring to work with +wearied muscles." + +"_San Juan_!" he returned, brightening instantly to the suggestion. +"'Tis the first word of good sense reaching my ears this cursed night +of folly. Head her in under the shade of yonder bush, Eloise, until I +see if I can stand upright once more." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +WE LAND AN ODD FISH + +After brief respite Madame steered as closely beside the bank as +possible, thus avoiding the swift current, yet it was no small task to +win our way upward through the lagging hours. More and more frequently +tired muscles drove us to the shore for intervals of relaxation. +Still, in spite of much time thus lost, we made steady progress, so +before morning dawned I was confident many a mile had been placed +behind, although the low shore we skirted remained so similar in +outline as to afford few landmarks with which to gauge our passage. + +De Noyan grew more cheerful toward the end, his sullen mood changing to +a gay semblance of reckless abandon. To me, however, he appeared +scarcely more engaging in snatches of ribald song, and careless speech, +freely interspersed with French oaths and much complaint at unwonted +toll, than in his former moody silence; yet his cheerfulness had effect +upon Madame, who contrived to rally from her mental depression, +becoming in turn a veritable sunburst in the gloom. I experienced a +glow of pleasure listening to her merry banter, and, once or twice, to +a low-voiced French song, sounding sweetly enough as it echoed back +from off the black water. + +In spite of such efforts to appear light-hearted, the nature of our +work, coupled with the sombre surroundings of the night, rested heavily +upon the spirits, and long before morning broke, we had all subsided +into disheartening silence, holding grimly to our onward course through +sheer force of will. With wearied eyes I marked the slow coming of +dawn above that desolation; the faint gray light creeping like some +living thing across the swirling waters, leaving more ghastly than +before the immense flood sweeping past. It was a sombre sight, yet +became more heartsome as crimson light streaked the sky, flashing forth +over the wide river, reddening the heaving surface, until the waters +blazed like burnished metal, and our blinded eyes could hardly gaze +upon it. + +We were at this time approaching a vast curve in the shore-line, +appearing to the eye as if it might prove the mouth of some important +tributary stream. Beyond, perhaps a hundred feet out in the main +river, appeared a low island, a mere rock as it fronted us, yet thickly +covered by small trees and bushes, growing close to the water's edge. +No sign of life was apparent anywhere. The mainland, so far as the +sweep of vision extended, bore the same marshy and inhospitable look, +and I immediately determined upon the island as the more suitable +camping spot. + +"Turn the prow of the canoe toward the upper end of that rock, Madame," +I said, resuming my place at the oar. "It appears the most promising +halting place hereabout, and should afford us excellent vantage of view +both up and down the river." + +"It will prove vantage of sleep for me," grumbled the Chevalier +gruffly. "I take it I should have been resting better had I remained +with the Dons." + +I noticed the sudden uplifting of his wife's face, and seeing a pained +expression upon it, I replied: + +"Such words bespeak little appreciation, Monsieur, of our efforts to +pluck you from a fate which has befallen your companions. Surely your +work is no harder than that of others, while you have more at issue." + +He glanced from her face to mine in apparent surprise, but replied +readily: + +"Those knowing me best, friend Benteen, pay least heed to my words. +When I bark I seldom bite, and when I intend biting I waste small time +on the bark. But, _parbleu_! how can I feel life worth living, if it +is all toil? There may be those who enjoy such existence, but I +discover no pleasure in it. _Sacre_! I love not hard hands and poor +fare, nor will I make pretence of what I do not feel." + +We were then two-thirds of the distance between the mainland and the +island, in the full sweep of the raging current. It struck us +sidelong, with such force as to require all our combined strength to +afford the laboring boat headway. Suddenly Eloise startled us with an +outcry. + +"What is that yonder?" she questioned excitedly, pointing directly +up-stream. "It looks the strangest red thing ever I saw on water. I +believed it moved but now, as if alive." + +Keeping my oar in motion, lest we should drift backward, I made shift +to glance across my shoulder in the direction indicated. The river had +us completely in its grasp, tossing the light boat in a majestic flood +of angry water, whitened by foam, and beaten into waves, where it +rounded the rocky edge of the island. Across this tumbling surge +streamed the glorious sunlight, gilding each billow into beauty, while +in the midst of it, bearing swiftly down toward us, came that strange +thing that had so startled Madame. What in the name of nature it might +prove to be, I could not hazard--it had the appearance of some queer, +shaggy animal, rolled tight into the form of a ball, having fur so +radiantly red as to flash and burn in the sunshine. It bobbed crazily +about, barely above the surface of the river, like some living +creature, while now and then I marked a glimmer of light behind, as if +the water was being vigorously churned by some species of swimming +apparatus in the monster's tail. + +"Stand by with your small sword, De Noyan," I commanded uneasily, "for, +hang me if I ever before set eyes on such a creature! Move, quick, and +pass me over your oar so you may have both hands free for the onset." + +The beast was being swept along rapidly, now appearing to my eyes +somewhat whiter on top, although the surrounding red was so glaringly +prominent as to obscure everything else. Suddenly the creature gave a +kick and whirled over, turning the white expanse directly toward us. +At the same moment De Noyan dropped the point of his rapier against the +side of the boat, with a loud guffaw. + +"May the saints absolve me," he grinned, choking from merriment, "if +it's not the red-headedest man ever my eyes looked upon." + +Forcing back his laughter, he hailed the swimmer, who, perceiving us +for the first time, began sheering off, as if frightened by our +presence, and intent upon escape. + +"Hold there a moment, Master Red-Cap! If in truth you are not a fish, +come on board." + +The fellow heard him plainly enough, for I distinguished a muttered +English exclamation, but he made no pause in urging a peculiar +sidestroke of the arms which threatened to bear him past us like a wild +thing. + +"Hold your hands!" I roared in English, thinking, perhaps, he had not +comprehended the other tongue. "Come in here, sirrah, or, the Lord +help you, we 'll turn and run you down." + +At sound of these words he ceased his efforts, and turned a peculiar +wrinkled face, creased like long-folded parchment, and as yellow, +directly toward us. Even at that distance I imagined I could detect a +twinkle of delight in the shrewd gray eyes. + +"Thy words of greeting are as manna fallen from heaven," boomed a deep, +resonant voice, surprising in its volume. "I take heart anew, young +man, for surely thou art not the spawn of the scarlet woman, but, +verily, one of the chosen people of our own God." + +"I fail to grasp your meaning, friend," I retorted, nettled to be held +at the oars so long in that current. "We are honest voyagers, glad to +be of aid to any one in such distress as you seem to be." + +"Nay; I am not especially uncomfortable, unless my tobacco is soaked, +and if such disaster hath overtaken me, it shall yet go hard with those +blaspheming idolaters who cast me overboard. But thy language is that +of modern Israel, so I will join you in the boat. 'Tis the more +readily done as I have not tasted food since yesternoon, and possess a +hollowness within my physical temple which demandeth attention. The +spirit yieldeth to the craving of the flesh." + +"Catch hold upon the side," I ordered, as he drew near. "We will have +you ashore in a dozen strokes." + +The stranger did as I bade him, and it was truly a wondrous sight to +observe how his head glowed in the sun as the drops of moisture dried, +and brought out the full, ornate color of it. His face had a pinched +look, with thousands of little wrinkles leading away from the corners +of the wide mouth, and about the narrow, glinting gray eyes. But there +was a sly gleam of humor about the expression of it, which, taken in +connection with that fiery headpiece, nearly caused me a fit of +laughter. I noticed, however, that Madame drew slightly away from his +side of the boat, as if close proximity to the fellow were repugnant to +her. + +"Well, friend," said I, as we drew up in shoal water under lee of the +rock, and I noted his short legs and stocky chest, "no doubt you are +well water-logged, and a little healthful exercise will help to warm +your blood, especially as we dare not light a fire for such purpose. +So bend that broad back of yours, and aid us in lifting the boat to +cover." + +He performed his portion of the work well, bearing with apparent ease +fully one-half the burden, while De Noyan and I staggered beneath the +remainder, until together we sank the boat well out of sight behind the +thick brush. + +"And why not a fire?" the stranger questioned abruptly, noticing Eloise +spreading forth our stock of provisions on the grass. "It was in hope +of thus warming the inner man that I consented to come ashore and +companion with you. Are you refugees, fleeing from danger?" + +I glanced aside at De Noyan and muttered hastily in French, "It will be +best to tell him our story--'tis not likely he will prove an emissary +of Spain." + +"As you please; he is more of your class than mine," he returned +indifferently, and, with a shrug of the shoulders, strolled away. + +"You have made fairly correct guess," I said to our new acquaintance; +"so we may as well understand each other first as last. We have +escaped with our lives from New Orleans, and are now seeking refuge on +the Ohio." + +He nodded, his shrewd gray eyes fastened intently on my face, his own +countenance expressionless. + +"Who holdeth New Orleans?" he asked in a tone of interest. + +"The Spanish, under O'Reilly." + +"'Tis what they told me above, yet I believed they lied. Those with +you are French?" + +"Ay." + +"And you?" + +"Of Louisiana birth and English blood; five years I have been a hunter +in the Illinois country." + +He groaned as though the mention of the word awoke unpleasant memories. + +"'Tis an unholy land, no fit abiding place for the elect, as I learned, +having passed through its settlements seeking prayerfully to bear an +evangel unto that stiff-necked people. Friend, thou hast an honest +face, and I will say in confidence I have been ofttimes blessed of the +Spirit in the conversion of souls; yet this people laughed at my +unctuous speech, making merry regarding that head-covering with which +the Almighty chose to adorn his servant. Dost thou know the French +settlement on the Kaskaskia?" + +"I have been there often." + +"Ah! 'tis verily a stronghold of popish superstition. Recall you the +humble cabin of Gabriel La Motte, the Huguenot, close by the ravine? +It was there I abode in much spiritual and temporal comfort with that +godly man, until certain mad roisterers took offence at plain gospel +speech, driving me forth into the wilderness, even as Jehovah's +prophets of old. Since that hour I have been a wanderer on the face of +the earth, finding small comfort in this life; yet Ezekiel Cairnes is +merely the poor servant of the Lord, the chief of sinners, and must +abide in travail until He cometh." + +He cast up his eyes in pious affectation, his lips moving as though he +meditated in prayer. + +"Then your name is Cairnes?" + +"Ezekiel Cairnes, late of the Connecticut colony, and am permitted by +the Lord's mercy to write Reverend before my unworthy appellation." + +"A Puritan preacher!" I exclaimed in some disgust. "I have heard of +your sort before, yet have been spared a meeting until now. Where do +you propose going?" + +"The Lord leadeth His anointed, young man. Even as Jonah abode in the +belly of the whale, so doth the water bear me onward as the Almighty +willeth." + +His wandering eyes rested thoughtfully upon my companion, now returning +toward us, sauntering listlessly along the sandy shore. + +"I know not, friend, who you may be, save as you have seen fit to +reveal," he said shrewdly. "Yet I would venture a guess as to yonder +gayly attired cavalier." + +"A guess?" I echoed, taken completely by surprise. "It is small chance +you would hit right--what might your guess be?" + +"Chevalier Charles de Noyan." + +"How know you that?" + +He chuckled grimly, evidently well pleased at my astonishment. + +"'Tis no work of the evil one, friend. I am but just escaped also from +the hands of the Philistines," he explained, becoming angry at the +thought, and ducking his red head vehemently. "While in their +unhallowed company, a gray-bellied son of Belial questioned me much +regarding yonder fine gentleman, ere he waxed exceedingly wroth at my +plain speech in matters of the spirit, bidding his jabbering crew of +papists to heave me overboard." + +"How far away did this occur?" I asked, looking anxiously up the river. + +"Oh, mayhap some such matter as twenty leagues," he returned +indifferently, his gaze idly following mine. "Let me reflect; it was +at the hour for sunset prayer I fell in with their party. I have heard +it said this stream hereabout hath a sweep of seven or more miles the +hour, and I kept well in the current of it." + +"Do you mean you have been swimming since sunset yesterday?" + +"Nay, friend; I beg be not over-hasty in conclusions. I merely reposed +easily upon my back, with only enough straightening out of the legs to +keep my nose fairly up-tilted above the stream. 'T was thus I made the +passage with much comfort of body, and relaxation of mind. 'T is no +serious trick for one unafraid of the water although it might bring on +cramps were I to keep on as far as New Orleans." + +I stared at him with an astonishment which for the moment precluded +speech. Before I found voice with which to express doubt of his story, +Madame called, bidding us join her upon the grass, where our rude meal +waited. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT + +There could be no doubt regarding the complete emptiness of the +Reverend Ezekiel Cairnes, if the breakfast he devoured from our stock +of cold provisions was evidence. I have been commonly blessed with +robust appetite, yet where that man found space within his ribs to +store away all he ate in that hour remains a mystery. Nothing, except +total inability to address him in intelligible language, held De Noyan +quiet as our limited supply steadily diminished before the Puritan's +onslaught, and long before the latter heaved a sigh of profound +satisfaction the gallant soldier had fallen fast asleep. But Madame +remained in her place opposite, apparently fascinated by that vivid red +crop of hair, now thoroughly dried in the sun, and standing erect above +his odd, pear-shaped head. I had whispered in her ear what the fellow +claimed for himself, and being a most devout Catholic, and he the first +specimen of his class she had ever met, she studied him with no small +amount of curiosity and abhorrence. + +I can clearly recall the picture, as these two, so widely different, +sat facing each other in silence, the golden sunshine checkered over +them through an arch of limbs, the broad river shining away to the +southward, and De Noyan resting upon his back, with face turned up +toward the clear blue sky. The woman, with her soft silken hair +smoothed back from the wide, white brow, her intelligent face lighted +by eyes of deepest brown, looking, what in truth she was, the +aristocratic daughter of a gentleman of France, one whose home had ever +been amid refinements of civilization, and whose surroundings those of +love and courtesy. Even there, in the heart of that wilderness, the +social training of years remained paramount, and she sat silent, toying +with untasted food, out of respect to this stranger guest. And he, +with shoulders so abnormally broad as to appear deformed, clad in sober +Puritan garb, ate serenely on, unconscious of her glances, making use +of both his huge hands in the operation, his little gimlet eyes +twinkling greedily, his head, oddly resembling a cone, blazing like a +fire whenever a ray of sun chanced to fall across it. I noticed he +occasionally stole shy glances at her, nor could I wonder, for, in +spite of fatigue and exposure, Madame remained a winsome sight, to do +the heart of any man good to look upon. + +"The Lord God of Hosts be praised; ay! with harps, cymbals, and +instruments of many strings, will I give praise unto His holy name," he +exclaimed fervently, wiping his wide mouth upon his sleeve, while +casting a look of regret over the debris in his front. "Once again +hath He abundantly supplied His elect with that which upbuildeth and +giveth strength to the flesh. Now my bodily requirements have been +duly attended to, it behooves me to minister likewise unto the +spiritual, and then seek repose. Friends, will you not both join with +me at the throne of grace? It hath been said that I possess much +unction in prayer." + +"No," I answered, not unwilling to be left alone with Eloise; "you are +welcome to put up petitions in our behalf, but this lady is not of your +faith, while as for myself, I have known little about such matters +since childhood. One thing, however,--if you propose making use of +that bull voice of yours, I advise that you select the farther +extremity of the island for the scene of your devotions, lest you +arouse the Chevalier." + +He cast upon me a glance not altogether pleasant, but tramped off +through the bushes without reply, and for several moments we heard the +sturdy rise and fall of his earnest supplications, frequently +interspersed with hearty groans, as of one in all the agony of deep +remorse. + +"'Tis an odd fish we've hooked out of the stream," I said, turning my +head toward the dismal sounds. "Yet he has strong arms, and may be of +considerable use, if he will consent to voyage with us." + +"I scarcely know what to make of the man," Madame admitted candidly. +"He is unlike any I have ever met. Yet I think he may prove honest and +of good heart, although his exterior is far from attractive." + +"And his appetite hardly suggestive of economy," I added. + +The bright look I always loved to see leaped into her clear eyes. + +"Have you faith his labor will offset his eating?" she replied, +laughing. + +"Possibly not; yet it is not labor alone I would select him for. We +may have to fight before we attain a place of safety. For that purpose +I would rank this fellow highly. Never yet have I met a red-headed man +averse to a quarrel. Faith! by that token, this one should be worth a +company if we ever come to blows." + +"But he is a priest, you told me, a preacher of the Protestants." + +"Ay! and the better for it. I have heard my father say the Puritan +breed makes the stoutest men-at-arms; that nothing has been found to +stiffen a battle-line equal to a good text. Give this fellow a pike, +pit him against a boatload of Spanish papists, and, I 'll warrant, he +'ll crack more heads than any two of us. Besides, he controls a +perfect tornado of a voice, fit to frighten the crew of a frigate on a +dark night." + +She was sitting, her back pressed against a small tree, her hands +clasped lightly about one knee, with dark eves gazing afar where the +broad river danced away into the golden sheen. + +"Geoffrey Benteen," she asked soberly, never glancing toward me, "is it +true you do not desire my return to New Orleans?" + +"It is true." + +"Would you honestly tell me why?" and she turned her eyes, looking +searchingly into mine. + +"I have mentioned sufficient reasons," I ventured, resolutely facing +her, determined to speak frankly and abide the result. "All I need add +is, to my judgment it will prove better for you to remain with your +husband." + +She glanced aside at him where he lay, the quick blood flushing her +clear cheek. + +"You do not like him?" the question fell faltering from her lips. + +"That I am not prepared to declare. He is changeable, somewhat +overbearing in speech, not as sober of mind as I am accustomed to find +men, yet it is not true I dislike him. I merely believe that he will +do better, be truer to his manhood, with you near him, than with you +absent." + +"He is French," she explained gently, "by nature of birth different +from your race. Besides, he has led a life filled with the dissipation +of the town." + +"True! for that reason I forbear judging his words and actions by any +standard of my own people. Yet this I cannot be blind to, Madame; he +is of quick temper, hasty in action, easily influenced by others, and +might become careless at times, and under strong temptation, unless +some moral firmness hold him in check. You alone possess the power to +become his good angel." + +She bowed her head, her gaze again far off upon the river, the +deepening surge of color rising upon either cheek. + +"You cannot be angry," I continued gravely, after pausing vainly for a +reply. "Surely I have said no more than you already knew, and I spoke +merely in answer to your questioning." + +"No, I am not angry. But it is not a pleasant reflection underlying +the things mentioned, and I cannot assert your judgment of the +Chevalier false. Still I would press you further. Is this your only +reason for desiring me to remain?" + +"You wish me to answer frankly?" + +"Otherwise I should not ask." + +I felt the quick flush mount even to my hair, yet gripped my breath, +making effort to respond boldly. + +"I had other reason. To deny it would be merely uttering a lie to no +purpose. Madame de Noyan, we are not strangers--we could never be +after that night when we parted beneath the olives of Monsieur +Beaujen's garden. You are wife to a chevalier of France; I, a homeless +adventurer. Yet I have no higher ambition than to prove of service to +you. Whatever I have accomplished has been entirely for your sake, not +for his. Now we are together, the daily opportunity to serve you is +mine; here I can work for you, perchance die for you, should such +sacrifice promise you happiness. But if you decide to go back yonder, +directly into danger as desperate as any confronting us to the +northward, then I must determine for myself where I can serve you best. +Knowing my heart as you must, you can easily judge whether I would +plunge deeper into the wilderness with your husband, or return to New +Orleans with you. There is a sentence in the Bible about the +impossibility of serving two masters, hence I trust I may not be +compelled to choose between, until the hour when you are both safe." + +She listened silently, and I almost feared I had ventured upon too +plain speaking. Yet now, as she turned again toward me, her eyes were +moist with tears. + +"You are a strange man, Geoffrey Benteen," she said gently, and, I know +not how, yet both her hands found way to mine. "I scarcely comprehend +your nature, or gauge your purposes--you are so unlike all others I +have known. Yet this I am assured; you are of honest heart, and I +trust you wholly." + +"You will not return to the town?" + +"I abide with you, and with my husband." Her voice faltered to that +last word, yet she spoke it bravely. + +"It will be better so," I assented. "Better for us all." + +We slept late, undisturbed, in secure retreat among the trees, the vast +river chanting its endless song on either side of us. During the +evening meal, partaken of amid the gathering shadows of twilight, our +newly discovered friend again evidenced his power as a trencherman. + +"_Sacre_!" ejaculated De Noyan in dismay. "I supposed his breakfast +was intended to last the week. We shall need a fleet of boats to +provision the fellow if he keep us company long. How is it, friend +Benteen, are we to enjoy the pleasure of associating with this human +alligator, or do we now part company?" + +"That is not yet determined," I replied, smiling at the look of +consternation with which he regarded him. "I will sound the man on the +subject, while he appears in good humor." + +I crossed the narrow plat of grass to where our guest sat facing the +remains of his late feast, a look of satisfaction visible upon his +withered countenance. + +"My good friend," he exclaimed, observing my approach, "there seems an +over-preponderance of spices in this cured meat; otherwise it meets my +cordial approbation, although your Southern cookery has a peculiarly +greasy flavor to one of my taste in food." + +"I failed to observe your refraining from any on account of that +objection," I retorted, deeply amused by his words. "But if you are +completely satisfied, you may be willing to turn a moment to matters of +business, and inform us what you propose doing. In brief, will you +resume your voyage, or is it your desire to cast your lot with us?" + +He meditatively stroked the thin red stubble adorning his chin, +contemplating me steadily. + +"Doth that which assisteth to nourish and sustain the inner man bid +fair to hold out?" he finally questioned in a tone of anxiety. "I have +need of sufficient food, both temporal and spiritual, and would not +lightly assume any burden of suffering, unless it appear clearly as the +will of God." + +"I know not how long we can withstand such onslaughts as those you have +already made," I returned honestly. "We are fairly well provisioned +for present needs, and when farther up the river will feel free to seek +fresh game." + +"Ah! you have guns in the party? You will shoot deer--deer!" He +smacked his thin lips greedily. "A nice, fat, juicy steak would not go +bad even now. 'Tis strange how the mind runneth upon such carnal +matters--it remindeth us the flesh is weak. Deer--'tis best turned +upon a spit, with live coats not quite touching it. I would one might +wander before your gun this very night. Young man, did I not hear you +name the destination of your party as the Ohio?" + +"I so stated." + +"Then let me warn you, friend," he crossed his legs more comfortably, +resting back at ease, "that what you propose may not prove so easy as +you dream. The Amalekites and heathen, together with the worshippers +of Baal, are everywhere along the upper waters. By the memory of Old +Noll, I have seen more black-faced papists in the past two weeks than I +ever before laid eyes on." + +"You do not enjoy the prospect of a fight?" + +"Nay; it is not that, friend. I am, indeed, a preacher of +righteousness, a man of peace, yet I might, upon occasion, strike right +lustily for the Lord and Gideon. I am not altogether unaccustomed to +feeling carnal weapons of strife, but with yonder fair specimen of +womanhood in our care, I should not deem it best to force a struggle, +provided passage might be secured through other means." + +"Have you some plan?" + +"Nay; it has not been revealed unto me, although I besought it of the +Lord with great earnestness after the morning meal. I will again +wrestle in prayer before the throne, and no doubt it shall all be made +plain in due season, if we faint not." + +"I take it, then, you propose forming one of our company?" + +"Such seemeth the will of the Lord," he responded soberly, "and I ever +hearken unto His voice. Thou didst state there would be plenty of +food, so I abide with you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS + +I do not recall how many leagues we pushed our way up the stream, nor +could I name the length of time required for our journey, before we +arrived where a large river, bearing a muddier current, led toward the +north and west. Those were neither days nor miles that imprinted +themselves on memory; they left only vague impressions, as one +sometimes beholds objects through the dense haze of early morning. I +remember merely the low, flat line of shore, stretching away to a +darker green of the heavy forest behind, and the ever-moving flood of +changeless water, no sign of life appearing along its surface. + +Nor was there any happening within our boat to reflect upon, excepting +that our new comrade proved himself a stanch man at the oars, thus +commending himself to me, in spite of a choleric temper apt to burst +forth over trifles. He and De Noyan would have quarrelled many times a +day, only neither comprehended the language of the other. The greatest +cause I found for criticism was his interminable prayers, and the bull +voice in which he offered them. I have never made mock of religion, +coming of a line of godly ancestors, yet I felt there could be no +necessity for making such noise over it morning, noon, and night. Yet +neither entreaty nor threat moved him to desist, so I came to the +conclusion that he either considered the Almighty deaf, or else was +totally unconscious of his own lung power. As to his appetite--but +there are things of which one may not justly write, so I content myself +by saying that, all in all, he was not so bad a comrade. + +De Noyan kept to his nature, and I liked him none the worse for it, +although it is not pleasant to have at your side a gay cavalier one +moment and a peevish woman the next. You never know which may be +uppermost. Yet he performed his full share of toil like a man, and, +when not curling his long moustachios, or swearing in provincial +French, was mostly what he should be, a careless soldier of fortune, to +whom life appealed more as a play than a stern duty. He was of that +spirit most severely tried by such drudgery, and, looking back upon it, +I can only wonder he bore the burden as cheerfully as he did. Beneath +his reckless, grumbling exterior, the metal of the man was not of such +poor quality. + +However continual labor and enforced companionship told upon the rest, +Madame retained her sweetness through it all, hushing our lips from +many a sharp retort that had threatened to disrupt our party long +before this time. She had merely to glance toward us to silence any +rising strife, for no man having a true heart beneath his doublet could +find spirit to quarrel before the disapproving glance of her dark eyes. +It was thus we toiled forward, until one frosty morning our boat +arrived where this great stream poured forth from the west, forcing its +reddish, muddy current far out into the wide river against which we had +struggled so long. Slowly rounding the low, marshy promontory, and +beginning to feel the fierce tug of down-pouring waters against our +bow, I observed the old Puritan suddenly cock up his ears, like some +suspicious watch-dog, twisting his little glittering eyes from side to +side, as though the spot looked familiar. + +"Do you suspect anything wrong, my pious friend," I questioned +curiously, "that you indulge in such sniffing of the air?" + +"'Tis a spot I know well, now it looms fairly into view," he answered +solemnly, continuing to peer about like one suddenly aroused from +sleep. "It was near here the Philistines made camp as I passed down +the river, but I perceive no signs now of human presence in the +neighborhood." + +His words startled me, and I began looking anxiously about us. The low +shores consisted of the merest bog, overgrown heavily with stunted +bushes and brown cane, but some distance beyond rose the crest of a +pine forest, evidencing firmer soil. The opposite side of the stream +was no whit more inviting, except that the marsh appeared less in +extent, with a few outcropping rocks visible, one rising sheer from the +water's edge, so crowded with bushes as scarcely to expose the rock +surface to the eye. + +"I discover no evidences of life," I answered at last, reassured by my +careful survey. "Nor, for the matter of that, Master Cairnes, can I +see any spot dry enough to camp upon." + +"Up the stream a few strokes the Spaniards had camp; not so bad a +place, either, when once reached, although the current will prove +difficult to overcome as we turn." + +Following his guidance we deflected the boat's head, and, by hard toil +at the oars, slowly effected a passage up the swift stream, keeping as +close as possible along the southern shore, until, having compassed +something like five hundred yards, we found before us a low-lying bank, +protected by rushes, dry and thickly carpeted with grass. + +"What is the stream?" I questioned, marvelling at the red tinge of the +water. + +"The Spaniards named it the Arkansas." + +"Oh, ay! I remember, although I passed this way along the other shore. +It was here some of La Salle's men made settlement near a hundred years +ago, I 'm told. The stream has trend northward." + +"So the Spaniards claimed to my questioning; they knew little of its +upper waters, yet possessed a map placing its source a few leagues from +where the Ohio joins the great river. It was yonder they were encamped +when I was here before." + +He pointed toward a ridge of higher ground, where two trees hung like +sentinels above the bank. Madame immediately turned the prow that way, +and, bending our heads low, we shot beneath their trailing branches, +grounding softly on the red clay of the bank. A brief search disclosed +remains of camp-fires, testimony to the Puritan's remembrance of the +spot. Evidently the place had been frequently occupied, and by sizable +parties, yet the marks were all ancient; we discovered no signs that +any one had been there lately. + +It was barely daylight, although the sun was above the horizon. A vast +bank of cloud hung so dense across the eastern sky as to leave the +whole scene in shadow, making the hour appear much earlier. I felt, as +we searched the camp-fires, a strange uneasiness, for which I could not +account--it was a premonition of approaching peril. This sense is the +gift of many accustomed to border life, and compelled to rely for +safety upon minute signs scarcely observable to the eyes of others. I +had noticed a broken reed near where we turned into this new stream, so +freshly severed as to show green from sap yet flowing, while the soft +mud about the base of the big rock bore evidence of having been +tramped, although the distance was so great the nature of the marks was +not discernible. To be sure, native denizens of the forest might +account for this, yet the sight aroused suspicion and a determination +to examine more closely, while the fear of prowling enemies made me +strenuous in objecting to the building of any fire with which to cook +our morning meal. + +The eating came to a conclusion at last, although not without +grumbling, in both French and English, at being obliged to subsist on +cold fare. By use of threats I succeeded in inducing the Rev. Mr. +Cairnes to retire without indulging in his usual devotional exercise. +Discovering De Noyan comfortably settled against a tree-trunk, pipe in +mouth, already beginning to look sleepy about the eyes, I muttered in +his hearing a word or two regarding a fishing trip into deeper water +along the opposite shore, and, quietly leaving him to unsuspicious +repose, slipped down to where our boat was tied beneath the tree +shadows. As I bent, loosening the rope, I felt rather than perceived +the presence of Madame upon the bank above. Turning as she addressed +me, I glanced up, holding the untied rope in my hand. + +"You fear Spaniards may be near," she said quickly, as if she had +deciphered my hidden thought. + +"No, Madame," I replied, scarcely able to conceal astonishment at her +penetration, yet eager to quiet alarm, particularly as I had no +occasion for uneasiness. "I merely feel a curiosity to examine that +odd rock beside the entrance--the one we passed on the right." + +"Geoffrey Benteen," she said firmly, stepping down the sloping bank +until she stood beside me, "there is no occasion for your attempting +deceit with me. Besides, you are too open-hearted a man to deceive any +one. I have noticed your glances, and interpreted your thoughts, ever +since we turned into this stream. I am certain you fear at this moment +we have been beguiled into a trap. Tell me, is this not true?" + +Her clear, questioning eyes gazed so directly into my own, and were so +honestly courageous, I up and told her what I had observed, and where I +was then bound. + +"It is better to trust me," she commented simply, as I ended my +recital. "My eyes have not been altogether idle, although I am no +borderer to observe such faint signs. There were several reeds bent +low in the water a hundred yards back; their sides scraped as if a +large boat had been dragged through them. I thought nothing of it, +until I observed how intently you were studying each mark left by man. +While you are gone yonder, what would you wish me to do?" + +I looked at her attentively, noting how heavy her eyes were from +weariness. + +"You are too tired to remain on guard, Eloise," I said, forgetting I +should not use that name, "or I might bid you watch here, and, if any +misfortune befall me, call the others. Besides, if there are enemies +at hand there is no knowing from what direction they may chance upon +us. However, all we have observed were probably old marks, or made by +roving beasts, and I shall soon return to fling myself on the ground, +seeking sleep also. So go and rest those weary eyes, while I scout to +satisfy myself. It is only the doubt of a suspicious man." + +"I shall not sleep until your safe return," she replied firmly. "You +shall not go forth thus without one to pray for your safe return. I +beg you, exercise care." + +"Have no fear, Madame, I am no reckless hot-head at such work, and +shall continue to guard my life while it remains of value to you and +yours. Try to rest at ease, for I will soon return, with a laugh at my +foolish suspicions." + +I forced the boat into the swollen stream, and, using one oar as a +paddle, silently and swiftly propelled it directly across. Discovering +a spot seemingly fit for travel, I pushed the prow through the long +marsh grass, and stepped ashore. She still stood in the tree shadow of +the opposite bank, and waving a hand in reassurance, I drew forth my +long rifle from beneath the seat. Advancing silently, I pressed +forward into the thick bed of cane, thinking more of Eloise de Noyan +than of the task before me. It proved a hard passage, so extremely +difficult as to call back my mind from foolish day-dreams to save +myself an ugly fall, for the grass under-foot was matted and tangled, +interspersed with marshy pools of brackish water, amid which +innumerable projecting roots spread snares for the feet. The sun, now +well advanced, gave me the points of the compass, and, holding the +rifle-stock before my face, I cleared a path through the dense growth, +and emerged from the low marsh land upon smooth turf, where some brush +found foothold, yet not so thickly as to impede the walking. + +I discovered myself near the bottom of a steep bank, which, curving +with the line of the shore, extended forward for probably fifty feet, +crowned along its ridge with numerous stunted trees. Trusting thus to +obtain a firmer foothold and more extended view, I breasted the steep +ascent and found the summit a narrow plateau, only a few yards in +width, with a still more extensive morass upon the opposite side, which +stretched away some distance in a desolate sea of cane and drooping +grass. Fortunately it proved easy travelling along the ridge, which +appeared of stone formation, probably having a terminus at the big +rock, toward which I proposed extending my investigation. + +I moved forward slowly and with caution, not because I expected to meet +enemies in this lonely spot, but rather from an instinct of long +frontier training. I had advanced possibly a hundred yards, when I +approached a small clump of stunted evergreens, so closely woven +together I could not wedge a passage between. Rounding their outer +edge, my footsteps noiseless on ground thickly strewn with their soft +needles, I came to a sudden halt within five paces of a man. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A PASSAGE AT ARMS + +He stood motionless, one hand grasping the limb of a tree, leaning far +out so as to gaze up the river, totally unconscious of my approach. +The fellow was tall, yet heavily built, wearing a great leather helmet +with brass facings, his body encased in a slashed doublet, the strap +fastenings of a steel breastplate showing at waist and shoulders, while +high boots of yellow cordovan leather extended above his knees. I +noticed also the upward curve of a huge gray moustache against the +stern profile of his face, while a long straight sword dangled at his +side. Evidently the stranger was a soldier, and one not to be despised +in feats at arms, although in what service I might merely conjecture, +as his dress was not distinctive. Yet it was small likelihood any +other nation than Spain had armed men in those parts. + +That he had discovered and was watching our camp, I entertained no +doubt, yet for the moment the surprise of seeing him was so great I was +unable to choose my safer course,--should I withdraw silently as I +came, or make quick attack? If the first, he would certainly see me +recross the river, and suspect my mission. Nor was the other +alternative more promising. If I sprang upon him (and he looked a +burly antagonist), such combat could not be noiseless, and surely the +fellow was not alone in this wilderness. How close at hand lurked his +companions was beyond guessing, yet, if the sound of struggle aroused +that band of wolves, my life would not be worth the snapping of a +finger. I felt cold chills creep up my spine as I stood hesitating, +one foot uplifted, my eyes staring at that motionless figure. + +I waited too long, until every vantage left me. Suddenly the soldier +swung back from his lookout on to firmer ground, wheeled, and faced me. +I marked his start of surprise, noting his right hand drop, with +soldierly instinct, upon the sword hilt, half drawing the blade before +recovering from that first impulse. Then curiosity usurped the place +of fear. He took one step backward, still upon guard, surveying me +carefully with one glinting gray eye, for the other had been closed by +a slashing cut, which left an ugly white scar extending half-way down +his cheek. Except for this deformity, he was a man of fair appearance, +having a stern, clearly chiselled face, with a certain arrogant manner, +telling of long authority in scenes of war. A half smile of contempt +played across his features as he ran me down from head to foot, +evidently with the thought I was little worthy of his steel. It was +then I recognized him. There had been familiarity about his great bulk +from the first, yet now, as I faced him fairly, marking the haughty +sneer curl his lips, I knew him instantly as that officer who passed us +in the boat with the priest. + +"By the true cross!" he exclaimed at last, as if his breath had barely +returned, "you gave me a start such as I have not often had in all my +soldiering. Yet you are no ghost; your aspect is altogether too +healthful for one condemned to exist upon air. _Saprista_! you must +have a light foot to steal thus on me unheard. Who are you, fellow? +What do you here upon this soil of Spain?" + +I leaned lightly on my rifle, so that I might swing it easily if +occasion warranted, determined now not to fire unless it proved +necessary to save my life, and made careless answer, using the same +tongue in which I had been addressed. + +"Nor are you more surprised, Senor, at my presence, than was I a moment +back to stumble upon you when I supposed our party alone here in this +wilderness. Who did you say held dominion over this country?" + +"His most gracious Christian Majesty, Charles the Third, of Spain," he +replied shortly. "As his officer, I require that you give proper heed +and direct answer to my questioning. Who are you, and where are you +going?" + +The man's domineering manner amused me, yet I replied civilly to his +words. + +"A wandering hunter, Senor, from the Illinois country, homeward bound. +I was not aware this territory had fallen into Spanish hands, supposing +it still to be under French control. You are then a soldier of Spain?" + +"Ay," he returned ungraciously, eying me in his irritating way, "of the +battalion of Grenada." + +He was evidently in doubt whether to believe my word, and I rejoiced to +mark such indecision, accepting it as proof he had not gained a glimpse +of De Noyan, for whom he was in eager search. + +"It may be, fellow," he consented to say at last, "you speak truth, and +it may be your tongue is false as hell. These are times of grave +suspicion, yet there are means of discovery open to men of action. I +just noted the position of your camp yonder, and have sufficient men +within easy reach of my voice to make it mine if need arise. So I warn +you to deal fairly, or accept the consequences. The Marquis de Serrato +is not one given to speaking twice in such quest. I have a soft tongue +in ladies' bowers, but my hand is hard enough in camp and field." + +He uttered these words in fierce threat, his one evil eye glaring full +at me as though to terrify. Before I could answer, he shot forth a +question, direct as a bullet from a gun. + +"I beheld the flap of a dress yonder amid those trees; what means it? +Women are not common in these parts--have you one in your company?" + +"We have, my lord," I replied, holding myself to calmness, striving to +speak with apparent respect for his rank. "We are four, altogether; +one has his wife along to cook for us." + +"You are voyaging from New Orleans?" + +"Nay; from the savannahs of Red River, where we enjoyed a good season +of sport." + +"You are French?" + +"A natural guess, yet a wrong one, Senor. I am of English blood." + +"_Saprista_! 't is a beast of a nation! I like not that such as you +should be here. I will call some of my men and visit your camp." He +spoke sternly, taking a step backward as if about to seek his +companions. "The tale you tell may be true enough, yet these are +troublous days along the river, and my orders are strict against +permitting any to pass unsearched." + +My hands clinched hard around the gun-barrel for a swing, while I +braced my body for a leap forward, yet held back from such desperate +action, making hazard of one more effort to draw him out. + +"I have met soldiers of Spain before, my lord," I said, speaking the +words with deference, yet managing to inject sufficient tinge of +sarcasm to the tone, "yet never previously found them so fearful of a +stray hunter's camp as not to dare approach it without a guard of armed +men. My companions yonder are asleep, excepting the woman; we are only +three, and of peaceful life. You would discover nothing except warm +welcome at our fire." + +I caught the quick responsive smile lighting his hard, thin face, +observing how suddenly awakened pride and contempt combined to curl his +upturned moustache. + +"Ah!" he exclaimed gayly, with a derisive wave of the hand, "so you +suppose it is from fear I proposed calling others to accompany me! +_Caramba_! 'tis well you put your suspicion in no stronger words. But +stay; I trust not altogether the truth of your tale. Saints' love! a +soldier can place faith only in what he sees--yet your face is frank +and simple enough, and, as you say, there are but three of you, besides +the woman. I did mark that much from yonder tree. It will be small +risk to one of my experience in arms, and my men sleep in weariness. +Lead on, fellow, yet do not forget I wear this sword for use, not show." + +With muttered thanksgiving at my possessing so honest a countenance, +and a blessing on the Spaniard's pride, I turned back, beginning to +retrace my steps along the narrow ridge, never deigning to glance +across my shoulder, yet confident he was close behind. Every +additional step I inveigled him from his camp was to my advantage, nor +would I permit him to feel suspicion on my part, as fearlessness was +certain to beget confidence, and my final plan of action was already +made. We thus passed the spot where I had climbed the steep bank, and +were, to the best of my memory, some twenty yards beyond the +hiding-place of my boat, when the ridge widened, a thick fringe of +low-growing trees completely shutting out all view of the water. It +was a likely spot enough, having firm ground under-foot, with +sufficient room for a royal struggle, and here I determined to try a +passage-at-arms with my burly antagonist. It was useless to hope for +surprise. He was an old soldier dogging my steps, doubtless eying my +every motion, his own hand hard gripping his sword hilt, ready to cut +me down did slightest need arise. No; it must be foot to foot, eye to +eye, a club of steel against the dancing blade; yet I felt the strange +contest would not prove unfair, for he was a man not as agile as in +years agone, while his armor of proof, valuable as it might be in the +turning of a sword thrust, would be more burden than protection against +my rifle-stock. + +"Senor," I said, in studied courtesy, stopping suddenly and confronting +him, "I have hunted across this wilderness more than one season, and +dislike greatly being estopped now by Spanish decree. Nor do I +comprehend your right in this matter. Have you warrant for opposing +our peaceful passage to the Ohio?" + +He stared at me in undisguised amazement at my boldness, a grim smile +on his hard, set face. + +"Ay! I have, fellow," he finally retorted angrily, tapping his hilt. +"'Tis in this scabbard at my side." + +"Then draw it, Senor," I exclaimed, throwing forward my long rifle +menacingly. "And may God stand with the better man." + +I have a conception that at the moment he believed he was being fronted +by a crazed man, yet there was in my face an expression quickly +teaching him otherwise, and, with a swift twist, he flashed his sword +forth into the sunlight, standing on guard. + +"_Por Baco_!" he growled savagely, "you must be little better than a +fool to hoist that club. It will give me pleasure to teach you better +manners toward a grandee of Spain." + +"Grandee, or not," I retorted, angered at his implied contempt, "I may +teach you a trick, Senor, with that same club, never learned in your +Spanish fencing-schools." + +It was swift, intense fighting from the word, he proving past-master of +his weapon, yet my stiff rifle-barrel was no mean defence against his +lighter blade, with a reach preventing his point touching my body, and +sufficient weight to bear down the thin, murderous steel whenever the +two came into contact. It had been long practice with me, having +picked up the pretty trick from a French zouave when I was a boy, so I +swung the iron as if it were a single-stick; and, in truth, I know of +no better fence against the stroke of a straight sword, although +fencing-masters, I have heard, make light of it. Nevertheless it was +new experience to this Spaniard, and it did me good to note how it +angered the fellow to be held back by such a weapon. He made such +stress to press in behind my guard that he began to pant like a man +running a hard race. Nor did I venture to strike a blow in return, +for, in simple truth, this soldier kept me busier with parry and feint +than any swordsman before, while he tried every trick of his trade, not +a few of them strange to me. So I bided my time, confident he must +make an opening for fit return if he kept up such furious attack, and +thus, with retreat and advance, hack and guard, thrust and parry, we +tramped up a wide bit of ground, while there was no sound of the +struggle, except our hard breathing, with now and then a fierce curse +from him as his flashing steel nicked on my gun-barrel, or flew off +into thin air just as he thought to send its deadly point home. + +Such fighting is wearing even to seasoned nerves, and the dazzle of the +sun bothered my eyes, yet he had pressed me back scarcely more than a +couple of yards when his dancing blade slipped stealthily up my brown +barrel, suddenly nipping the loose sleeve of my doublet. As it pricked +into the cloth, scraping the skin of my forearm, I let the fellow have +the end of the muzzle full in the side. It was not the best spot for +such a thrust, nor could I give it proper force, yet I think it cracked +a rib, from the way the Spaniard drew back, and the sudden pallor of +his face; indeed, so ghastly white he got, I thought him done for, and +lowered my barrel carelessly. He was more of a man than I had reckoned +on, or else his pride made him averse to accepting defeat, for with one +quick spring, like a wounded tiger, he was inside my guard, his ugly +point rasping into me just beneath the shoulder. Saint Andrew! It was +an awkward touch, especially as the tough steel held, the punctured +flesh burning like fire; but fortunately the fellow was in too great +pain himself to press his advantage, and, as we clinched and went down +together, I chanced to be on top, throttling him with right good-will. + +That which followed was but a small matter, yet I left him there, +waiting the discovery of his comrades, in as comfortable a posture as +possible, confident he could give no alarm. That Spaniard was a brave +man, and I have ever had respect for such. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WE CHANGE OUR COURSE + +My attempt to recross the river proved difficult. I had lost no small +amount of blood from my wound, which, besides weakening me, had so +stiffened my right shoulder as to render any strain upon the oars a +constant pain. Yet the excitement nerved me to the effort, and, +crushing down weakness by sheer force of will, I drove the heavy boat +straight through the low, overhanging bushes on to the soft mud of the +bank. Before I could arise to my feet Madame was standing beside the +dripping prow, her great eyes staring at the blood stains discoloring +my doublet. + +"You are hurt!" she exclaimed, her lips white with apprehension. "I +beg you tell me, is it a serious wound?" + +"Nay, the merest scratch, Madame," I answered hastily, for it added to +my pain to mark such anxiety in her face. "Not worthy your thought, +but I will ask you to call the others at once, and have them load +everything into the boat without delay. I will await you here, as I +find myself weak from loss of blood." + +She stood gazing intently at me, as if she read my most secret +thoughts; and no doubt my face was sufficiently white to alarm her, yet +I smiled back into her eyes, and she turned away, running lightly up +the bank. Nor was she long away, or noisy in her mission, scarcely a +minute having elapsed before the three came trooping down to the +water-side, their hands laden with camp utensils, De Noyan wide awake +enough, and filled with intense interest in my adventures, but the +Puritan yet cock-eyed from sleep, stumbling as he walked like a man in +a dream. + +"Take the oars, both of you," I said quietly, totally ignoring the +question in the eyes of the Chevalier. "I have tasted a sword point, +and am weakened from loss of blood. Pull up the stream, and be swift +and quiet about it." + +"Hast thou been smitten of the Philistine, friend Benteen?" loudly +questioned Cairnes, stumbling noisily across the seats. + +"Time enough to tell my story when we are beyond danger," I returned +tartly, annoyed by his awkwardness. "If you utter another word before +we are around yonder headland, I will have De Noyan hoist you +overboard." + +I saw him glance askance at the unconscious Chevalier as if mentally +calculating his ability to perform the feat. Then his glinting gray +eyes swept the sodden shore as though vaguely wondering what it was we +fled from in such unseemly haste. Nor did I long withdraw my own +anxious gaze from that north bank, until we rounded the bend in the +stream, and were safely removed from view of any one below. I was able +to mark no sign of life along the ridge, my faith reviving that the +Spanish sailors yet slept soundly, while as to their irate commander, I +had trussed him with a thoroughness which left me confident. Feeling +reassured I finally yielded to Eloise's entreaties, laying bare my +breast and permitting Madame to wash away the clotted blood and apply +such bandages as might easily be procured. She was extremely gentle +about it; but I marvelled somewhat at the trembling of her white +fingers and the pallor of her face, for it was not a bad wound, De +Noyan hesitating not to make light of it, although he acknowledged it +was a strong wrist which drove the tuck in. Anyway, what with the +reaction and the loss of blood, I lay back quite spent, telling over +briefly those incidents that had occurred to me while they slept. + +"And now," I said, addressing the Puritan, who was seated at the +bow-oar, where I could see nothing of him except the bobbing of his red +crop, "how do you know this stream makes a circuit and approaches the +mouth of the Ohio? It beareth a little to the west of north here." + +"It was the Spanish captain camping here as I passed down," he +answered, speaking abominably through his nose. "They called him +Castellane, a little fellow, with pop-eyes, who pretended to light his +pipe from my hair. He pointed it out upon a map some black-frocked +papist had drawn. It was plain enough to the eye, but 'tis likely they +lied, for they were all spawns of Satan." + +"True or false," I commented coolly, "we seem likely to find out. I +have also heard somewhere--no doubt in the Illinois country--about a +northern trend to this stream, and one thing is certain, there is no +hope for us otherwise; there can be no running those guard-lines back +yonder." + +"Do you mean we push on up this river?" broke in De Noyan, who had +managed to make something out of our conversation, especially as the +Puritan illustrated his knowledge by rudely tracing with a stumped +forefinger a map on the board where he sat. "_Sacre_! 'tis the +dirtiest red slough ever I navigated. Why not try the other thing? A +brush with those gentlemen below would be more to my taste." + +"Ay, Master Benteen," boomed Cairnes with pious emphasis, reading the +meaning of the other through his French gestures. "Methinks the Lord +of Hosts would assuredly strengthen the hearts of His servants for such +a fray. How many, friend, do you suppose they number, those unwashed +sons of Belial?" + +"I can only guess. There were twelve oars in the boat passing us on +the lower river, while four others sat with guns in their hands; +besides these are the Marquis de Serrato and the Capuchin priest, +making a total of eighteen, all of whom we must reckon upon as being +fighting men at a pinch." + +"Faith, merely enough to make the affair of interest," muttered De +Noyan, as I explained my words to him. "Hardly enough even by your +count, as the officer nurses a cracked rib, while the priest would +prove of small moment when it came to blows. I am for bearing down +upon the knaves in sudden onset; it will require but a crack or two ere +the villains let us by." + +"May the God of Battles place me within fair stroke of that accursed +gray-backed emissary of Rome," snorted the Puritan, his red hair erect. +"I promise, Master Benteen, to smite as did David at Goliath." + +I gazed uneasily about from where I lay at the feet of Madame, only to +perceive her eyes resting upon me as if she waited anxiously my +decision. + +"Do not suppose," she said quickly as our glances met, "that I shall +shrink from the peril of encounter. If it is best, you may trust me to +do whatsoever may become a daughter of France." + +"Nor do we question it, Madame," I returned warmly, noting the +unrestrained flash of pride leaping into the careless eyes of her +husband at these brave words. "But to invite such conflict in our +present condition would be sheer madness. There are only two men among +us, for I am but half a man, the rapier thrust has robbed me of so +large an amount of blood; nor do we possess fit weapons to wage battle +against so well-armed a company as blocks our passage. De Noyan sports +his straight sword, which would be well wielded at close quarters; I +possess my rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which are +likely to be needed to save us from starving in this wilderness; while +Cairnes here might indeed prove a strong arm with the tuck I brought +back with me, yet probably knows nothing of the secrets of thrust and +parry. Pish! 'tis not worth thinking about. Pit such an outfit as +this against eighteen well-armed men,--for the Marquis can shoot for +all his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting qualities of the +priest,--and the venture becomes too difficult for parley. Nay," +warming up as I noted the hot-headed gallant preparing for speech, "nor +is this all we should have to contend with. Above, along the upper +river, there are at least three other expeditions of Spanish soldiery. +They are warned of De Noyan's escape, already guarding every junction. +Suppose we succeeded--which in itself would be a miracle--in cutting +our way out from here, could we hope to distance a twelve-oared boat +racing against the current, or escape a clash with those others? I +know the difference between a bold dash and the utter foolhardiness +such a hopeless venture as this would be." + +"_Sacre_! you appear strangely over-cautious all at once," and I +detected a covert sneer in the Chevalier's low, drawling tone. "The +Spaniard's blade must have let out the best of your blood. Were you a +soldier, now, instead of a mere forest rover, the odds you mention +would only serve to stir you into action." + +"Pardon, Monsieur," I said quietly, holding my temper, "it may be I +have seen harder service than some who boast loudly their soldiership. +It requires more than a gay dress, with some skill in the +fencing-schools, to make a soldier in my country, nor do I believe you +will ever find me lagging when a proper time comes to strike blows." + +"So I supposed until now; yet 'tis evident you would have us continue +toiling for weeks against this foul current rather than strike one +quick blow, and be free from the mess." + +"Nay, Monsieur," my voice coming stern in rebuke of his rashness, "you +are wrong. You know perfectly well, De Noyan, I risk my life readily +as any man in a good cause. I have ranged the woods since boyhood, +long accustomed to border broil and battle--there is scarcely an Indian +trail between the Great Lakes and the country of the Creeks I have not +followed either in peace or war. I have faced savage foemen in battle, +and crossed steel with those of your own school, and although I may +wear no glittering gold lace, nor sport a title with which to dazzle +the imagination of a girl, yet the man venturing to sneer at my +courage, either amid the wilderness, or in the town, makes answer for +the speech, whenever I come to my strength again." + +"Always at your service, Monsieur," he murmured gently, "with the +greatest pleasure." + +"Very well then," I went on, barely noting his words, yet marking the +look of distress on the face of his young wife, and despising him for +it. "Understand this, Monsieur--we make no battle here, whether it +suit your hot-brained desires or not. I dragged you from the jaws of +death at the request of her who sits in silence yonder. I will never +consent that your rashness now draw her into the peril of such a +_melee_ as the attempt to run that gantlet. Cairnes,"--I turned to +face the Puritan, sitting all this time with open mouth listening to +our quarrel, yet scarcely comprehending a word that passed,--"this gay +French cockerel would throw us against those eighteen men below, to +fight our way from here to the Ohio, as if the Spaniards between were +so many buzzing mosquitoes, and you are not greatly averse to trying +that same experiment." + +"It would be a godly and pious service to smite so black and Papist a +crew." + +"No doubt of that; yet, Master Cairnes, you are scarcely the sort who +would involve a lady in such broil, when, if we escaped at first, the +chances are we should have wounded to care for, or, perchance, be +prisoners borne southward under Spanish guard--a contingency not +over-pleasant, I imagine, to a preacher of your faith." + +I saw him twist his little eyes as if in petition for guidance, while +he ran his hand nervously through his red hair before venturing a reply. + +"It must ever be as the Lord wills, friend Benteen," he returned +soberly, De Noyan surveying the fellow as he might some strange animal +whose ways he did not understand. "I am not one to draw back my hand +once upon the plough. Yet I have found you of a level and cool head in +matters of judgment, and it is meet we exercise due care over this rare +flower of womanhood who shares our dangers. I like not the hard pull +up this swift current," he cast anxious eyes at the swirling stream. +"It is not clear into what additional peril it may lead, nor do I feel +gifted at the oars, now the provisions bid fair to become somewhat +scant." + +I waited for no more. + +"The Puritan sufficiently agrees with me," I announced to De Noyan +firmly. "We will pull on up this stream until we learn its true trend, +and are beyond Spanish overhauling. It will be best to lose no time in +placing a good stretch of water behind us." + +During this controversy our boat had drifted against the southern bank, +its side softly scraping the mud, its bow entangled amid the roots of +an overhanging bush. To my surprise the Chevalier, instead of picking +up his oar, grasped a bit of the projecting root, and, sword dangling +after him, coolly stepped forth upon dry land. + +"You and your cursed canting preacher can do as you please," he +announced carelessly, staring down at us, "but if you desire to retain +me as one of this interesting party, you will wait until I return." + +"Surely, man, you do not propose attacking the Spaniards single-handed? +This is sheer madness." + +He laughed lightly at the look of consternation on my face, twisting +his moustache between his white fingers, his good humor instantly +restored. + +"Nay, most valiant hunter of game," he returned gayly. "_Le diable_! +you appear as horrified as your hellfire friend yonder at sight of a +crucifix. _Sacre_! I am not such a fool. I know when the odds are +too great, even although I wear a uniform. Still, should I chance to +meet obstruction during my ramble, it is not likely I shall run from it +without a pass or two. I merely return to our camp, and will be back +presently, if naught unpleasant occur." + +"Our camp? You deliberately venture your life, and ours as well, from +mere bravado?" + +"_Bravado_! _Sacre_! you do wrong to use such term. 'T is of far +greater moment than that--I seek the curling iron I have just missed +from out my toilet-bag. I mind me now I laid it beside the tree while +I slept." + +Before I could recover speech to stay him, he vanished into the thick +cane. It was a difficult task to make the practical-headed old Puritan +comprehend the nature of his quest, and when it slowly dawned upon him +for what trivial matter the Frenchman undertook so desperate a journey, +there came across his seamed and withered face so odd a look of +complete disgust, I laughed outright in my nervousness, discovering +some slight response in the amused eyes or Madame. It proved a good +hour before the Chevalier returned, somewhat bedraggled of attire, yet +with his prize dangling at the belt, and dropped wearily upon a seat +within the boat. + +"'Tis time to move," he answered, responding to my look of inquiry. +"They were at the camp when I left; and appeared in ill humor, from +what little I could understand of their Spanish mouthings. They had +just released the noble Marquis from where you trussed him upon the +rock, and his language has given me a headache." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT + +I find it poor work transcribing so much regarding myself in recounting +these small adventures, yet how else may I tell the story rightly? +This all occurred so long ago the young man of whom I write seems +hardly the same old man who puts pen to paper. The impression grows +upon me that I merely narrate incidents which befell a friend I once +knew, but who has long since passed from my vision. + +It was wearying work, toiling up the muddy Arkansas, and in the end +disastrous. Occasionally, for miles at a stretch, our hearts were +gladdened by a curve toward the northward, yet we drew westerly so much +we became fearful lest the Jesuit had made false report on the main +course of the stream. Every league plunged us deeper into strange, +desolate country, until we penetrated regions perhaps never before +looked upon by men of our race. The land became more attractive, the +sickly marsh giving place to wide, undulating plains richly decorated +with wild grasses, abloom with flowers, bordered by a thick fringe of +wood. Toward the end of our journeying by boat, after we had passed +two cliffs upreared above the water, the higher rising sheer for two +hundred feet, we perceived to the northward vast chains of hills rising +in dull brown ridges against the sky-line, seemingly crowned with rare +forest growth to their very summits. During all these days and nights +in only two things could we deem ourselves fortunate--we discovered no +signs of roving savages, while wild animals were sufficiently numerous +to supply all our needs. + +Three days' journey beyond the great cliff--for we voyaged now during +the daylight, making camp at nightfall--I became convinced of the utter +futility of further effort. By this time I had recovered sufficiently +from my wound to assume a share of labor at the oars, and was pulling +that afternoon, so my eyes could glance past the fiery red crop of the +Puritan, who held the after-oar, to where the Captain and Madame rested +in the stern. I remarked De Noyan's dissatisfied stare along the +featureless shore we skirted, and the lines of care and trouble +becoming daily more manifest upon Madame's face. Thus studying the +two, I cast about in my own mind for some possible plan of escape. + +They had been conversing together in low tones, so low, indeed, no +words reached me, while the preacher knew nothing of the language +employed. Nevertheless I could guess its purport. It was sufficiently +clear to all of us that we merely wasted strength longer breasting the +swift current of this river, and were constantly drawing farther from +our goal. Yet I was of proud spirit in those days, finding it not easy +to swallow my hastily spoken words, so I continued to pull steadily at +the heavy oars, not seeing clearly how best to conquer myself, confess +my former mistake, and advise retreat. Fortunately a stronger +influence than false pride urged me to action. Marking again how sadly +Eloise drooped her sobered face above the water, it put the heart of a +man in me to acknowledge my error, offering such amends as were still +possible. + +It seems simple enough, yet it was not so small a struggle, nor did I +fully win the battle over stubbornness until the gray of evening began +wrapping about us hazy folds of cloud, the time coming when we must +seek suitable night camp. It was then I found tongue, even while +glancing across my shoulder, through the shadows, searching for a +landing-place. As if all this were yesterday, I recall the scene. +Everything swam in the gray haze, which, settling across the water, +shut off from view much of the land. We were nearly abreast of where a +smaller stream came leaping down from the right to hurl its clear +current far out into the muddy river. So rapid was this discharge, the +waters about us were thrown into turmoil, tossing our boat like a cork, +causing Madame to grasp the rail nervously. Its narrow mouth was +partially concealed by overhanging shrubbery, so we were well within +the sweep of its invading waters before I could conjecture the force +with which it came. Through the dim light, confusing to the eyes, I +sought to peer ahead. The hills, huddled much closer to the shore, +appeared rough in their rocky outlines, while the heavy underbrush, +clinging tightly to the water-side, offered nothing in the way of a +suitable camping-spot. Beyond the tumultuous sweep of this northern +tributary, however, I discovered a considerable patch of grass, +overshadowed by giant trees, and there I made selection of the spot +which should complete our upward voyage. + +"Steer us in toward yonder green bank, Madame," I called to Eloise, +"where you see that group of trees through the fog. God willing, it +shall prove our last camp before we turn east and south once more." + +It did my heart good to observe the sudden brightening of her face at +these words of promise, as if they came in direct answer to prayer. I +understood then how weary she was with our toll, how cruel I had been +to hold her so long at it. She had given utterance to no complaint; +even now, it was not her voice which welcomed my decision. It was the +Chevalier, seldom failing in ready speech, whose careless tongue rasped +me with quick retort. + +"Ah, so you have really come to your senses, Benteen," he cried +eagerly. "I thought it would not be much longer after you were able to +get grip upon an oar. Our red-headed friend has slow tongue of late, +yet I warrant he has little love for such man-killing work; so a +turn-about will be the vote of us all. Saint Anne! 'tis the happiest +word to ring in my ears since this cursed trip began." + +Nothing tests the innate quality of a man like the wilderness. However +bold of heart, if every utterance is a complaint he will prove a +constant hardship. I doubted not both De Noyan and the Puritan would +show themselves true men if emergency confronted us; but in the daily +plodding routine of travel the Chevalier gave way to little worries, +jerking along in the harness of necessity like an ill-broken colt; +while Cairnes, who pulled steadily in sullen discontent, was much the +better comrade of the two. + +"Call it what you please," I answered shortly, never removing my gaze +from the pleased face of Madame, thus keeping better control over my +tongue. "I have become convinced the map of the Jesuit priest lied, +and this stream runs not northward. It is useless pushing any farther." + +"Where, then?" + +"Back, of course. To drift down-stream will be easy now we know +something of the current. We return to the junction of the rivers, +where we left the Spaniards--'tis hardly probable they are still there; +but if they are, then we must trust to our stout arms, and have faith +in the right.------ By heavens! Cairnes, what mean you? Damme, man, +would you overturn the boat?" + +This hasty word of expostulation had hardly left my lips before the +Puritan scuttled clumsily overboard, his red hair cropping out of the +seething water like a rare growth of fungus. Another instant, and the +full shock of that racing current struck our bow, hurling it about as +if the trembling boat were an eggshell. Over him we went, his pudgy +fingers digging vainly for some holding-place along the slippery +planks, his eyes staring up in terror. + +"For God's sake, cling tight, Eloise!" + +I heard this shout of warning from De Noyan as he fell backward into +the water, which, luckily, was scarcely above his waist. Helpless to +prevent the plunge, I joined company at the bow, going down well over +my head without finding footing, and coming to the surface face to face +with the Puritan, who was spluttering out river water and scraps of +Calvinistic speech, striving madly to lay hold on some portion of the +boat, now spinning away on the swift flood. It was no time to seek +explanation from any man wrathful as Cairnes appeared to be, so I +devoted my attention to doing the one thing left us,--keeping the crazy +craft upright to save Madame and the cargo. Nor was this an easy task. +Seldom have I breasted such angry, boiling surge as beat against +us--there was no fronting it for those of us beyond our depths, while +even De Noyan, making a manful struggle, was forced slowly back into +deeper water, where he floundered helpless as the rest. It spun us +about like so many tops, until I heard a great crunching of timbers, +accompanied by a peculiar rasping which caused my heart to stop its +pulsation. All at once the heavy bow swung around. Caught by it, I +was hurled flat against the face of a black rock, and squeezed so +tightly between stone and planking I thought my ribs must crack. + +It was then I noted Cairnes, struggling just beyond me, reaching +backward with his foot until he found purchase against the stone, then +lifting his great crop to gaze about, sweeping the moisture from his +eyes. He braced one mighty shoulder against the boat's side, with such +a heave as I never supposed lay in the muscles of any man; swung that +whole dead weight free of the rock, and ere the dancing craft, we +clinging desperately to it, had made two circles in the mad boiling, I +felt my feet strike bottom, and stood upright, ready to do my share +again. + +"Are you safe, Madame?" I questioned anxiously, for I could see no +signs of her presence from where I stood, and she uttered no sound. + +"I am uninjured," she returned, "but the boat takes water freely. I +fear a plank has given way." + +"_Parbleu_!" sputtered De Noyan, with a great sound of coughing. "So +have I taken water freely. _Sacre_! I have gulped down enough of the +stuff to last me the remainder of life." + +"Hold your wit until we are safe ashore, Monsieur," I commented +shortly, for as I stood the strain was heavy on my arms. "Push toward +the right, both of you, or the boat will sink before we can beach her; +she takes water like a sieve." + +We slowly won our way backward, the effort requiring every pound of our +combined strength, De Noyan and I tugging breathlessly at the stern, +the sectary doing yeoman service at the bow. Yet the effort told, +bringing us into quieter water, although we upbore the entire weight of +the boat on our shoulders after we made firm footing. The water poured +in so rapidly Madame was for going overboard also, but we persuaded her +to remain. Anyway, we drove the prow against the bank at last, and, as +I rested, panting from exertion, I observed the others dragging +themselves wearily ashore, Cairnes was a sight, with his great mat of +red hair soaked with black mud, which had oozed down over his face, so +as to leave it almost unrecognizable. He shook himself like a shaggy +water-dog after a bath, flinging himself down full length with a growl. +De Noyan fared somewhat better, coming ashore with a smile, even +trolling the snatch of a song as he climbed the bank, but his gay +military cap, without which, jauntily perched upon one side of his +head, I had scarcely before seen him, had gone floating down-stream, +and the fierce upward curl of his long moustachios had vanished. They +hung now limp, leaving so little _a la militaire_ in his appearance +that I had to smile, noting the look of surprise in Madame's eyes as he +gallantly assisted her to the dry grass, before flinging himself flat +for a breathing spell. + +"God guide us!" I exclaimed, so soon as I could trust myself to speak. +"This is a hard ending to all our toil, nor do I understand how it came +about." + +"_Sacre_!" commented De Noyan, glancing across at the fellow. "It +looked to me as if yonder canting preacher either was taken with a fit, +or sought to make ending here of two papists." + +I turned to face the grim-faced sectary, still too thoroughly winded by +his late exertions to try the lift of a Psalm. + +"See here, sirrah," I began angrily in English, "perhaps you will +explain what sort of a Connecticut trick you attempted to play there in +the current?" + +He twisted his narrow eyes in my direction, apparently studying the +full meaning of my words before venturing an answer. + +"I know not what you mean, friend," he returned at last, in that deep +booming voice of his. "Did I not perform my work with the best of ye?" + +"Ay, you were man enough after we went overboard, but why, in the name +of all the fiends, did you make so foul a leap, bringing us into such +imminent peril?" The gleam of his eyes was no longer visible, but I +marked the rise of his great shoulders, his voice rumbling angrily, +like distant thunder, as he made reply. + +"Why did I make the leap, you unregenerated infidel, you thick-headed +heretic? Why did I? Better were I to ask why you ran the boat's nose +into that bubbling hell. Why did I? What else saved us losing every +pound we carried, together with the woman, you cock-eyed spawn of the +devil, only that Ezekiel Cairnes possessed sufficient sense to throw +himself in the way, upbearing the bulk of the strain? The water was +somewhat deeper than I supposed, and my feet found no bottom, yet 't +was the best thing to do, and the only hope of steadying the boat. +Better for you and that grinning papist yonder to be on your knees +thanking the Almighty He sent you a man this day, than lie there like +so many hooked cods, gasping for breath with which to abuse one of the +Lord's anointed. Yet 'tis but righteous judgment visited upon me for +consorting with papists and unbelievers." + +Feeling the possible justice of his claim I hastened to make amends to +the wrathful and worthy man. + +"You may be right," I admitted slowly. "Certainly we will return +thanks for deliverance each in his own way. As for me, I greatly +regret having mistrusted your act. Perhaps it was best, yet I think we +have small chance ever to use this boat again. It appears badly +injured. However, we must await daylight to note the damage. In the +meantime, let us make shift to camp; a hot fire will dry our limbs and +clothing, and put us in better humor for the morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A HARD DAY'S MARCH + +The dawn came with rosy promise of a fair day, a frost lying white over +the grass-land, sufficient nip in the air to stir the blood. Before +the others were aroused I examined the boat, which rested high in the +mud where we had heaved it the evening previous. The cruel rent in the +solid planking was such as to afford little hope of our ever being able +to repair it. How the accident occurred I did not rightly comprehend, +but we had been cast ashore on the western bank of that swift +maelstrom. In the light of dawn, I gazed forth upon the whirlpool +extending between the rock against which we had struck and the bank +where I stood, in speechless wonder at the miracle of our rescue. +Standing there in silence broken only by the wild tumult of the waters, +I thought of Eloise tossed helpless in their merciless grip, and bowed +my head humbly above the shattered boat, offering up a heartfelt +petition. I was not in those days a man of prayer, yet the germ of my +father's robust faith was ever in my blood, and love teaches many a +good lesson. Certainly I felt better within my own heart for that +instant of communion under the paling stars. + +My head was yet bowed over the gunwale when the heavy footsteps of the +Puritan sounded close at hand. I could not fail to remark a softness +in his deep voice as he spoke, resting one hand upon my shoulder. + +"Thou knowest not, friend Benteen, how it gladdens my old heart to find +thee before the throne of grace. I fear thou art not greatly +accustomed to look up unto God in time of trouble, yet doing so can +never weaken thy arm for the moment of trial. Acknowledge the Lord of +Hosts, nor dream thou wilt ever prove less of a man because thy heart +responds to His many mercies." + +"You speak truly," I returned soberly, feeling a new respect for him in +that hour. "There is no better way in which to start the day; and, +unless my eyes deceive me, this bids fair to prove a day of sore trial. +Have you looked to the damage done the boat?" + +"Nay," he returned earnestly, bending low to examine the rent. "I +slept like a man in drink, and even now am scarcely well awakened. 'T +is, indeed, a serious break, friend; one, I fear, which will prove +beyond our remedying." + +"Have you skill with tools?" + +"It is one of my gifts; yet of what use in the wilderness where tools +are not to be found? However, I will see what may be done, after we +break our fast--there is little accomplished working on an empty +stomach." + +It was a morning of sorrowful labor; from the beginning a perfectly +hopeless one. The planking had been so badly crushed that a portion +was actually ground into powder, leaving a great gaping hole. To patch +this we possessed no tool to shape the wood properly, or, indeed, any +wood to shape, except the seats of the oarsmen. Nor did we possess +nails. More than one expedient was resorted to with bits of canvas, +wooden pegs, or whatsoever else we could lay hands upon, but our +efforts resulted each time in sickening failure. At last, long before +the sun had attained the zenith, the old preacher looked up, +disappointment written on every line of his rough face, to say grimly: + +"We waste toil, friends; the boat floats no more for all our labors. +Nor do I deem it the will of the Lord we longer continue to wear +ourselves out in vain effort to undo His work." + +He wiped the beads of perspiration from his low forehead, pushing his +hand through his matted hair. + +"Were it not for the woman," he added more cheerfully, "the accident +would not be so bad either. I am cramped by long boat service, and +would welcome a stiff tramp to loosen out the joints of my legs." + +I glanced across uneasily at Madame, for we were all seated on the +grass in the sunshine, but could perceive nothing except encouragement +in the clear depths of her brave eyes. + +"Fear nothing on my account," she said quietly, instantly reading my +thoughts as if my face were an open book. "I am strong, and shall not +greatly mind the walking." + +"At least you are strong of heart," I returned gravely. "But such a +trip as now lies before us will test your power of endurance greatly. +Yet what must be done is best done quickly, and there are unpleasant +memories clustering about this spot, making me anxious to leave it +before another night. Let each one speak frankly his thought as to our +future course, so we may choose the route aright. De Noyan, you are a +soldier, accustomed to places of difficulty and peril. What would you +suggest?" + +He was lying flat upon his back, hands clasped beneath his head, puffs +of white smoke from his pipe curling lazily up into the blue sky; nor +did he remove the stem from between his lips as he made easy answer. + +"Faith, man, my service on campaign has ever been with the horse; nor +am I fond of using my own limbs for travelling. It would be far +easier, I think, to knock up the old boat here; then, with whatsoever +else we might find in this God-forsaken wilderness, construct some sort +of raft to upbear our company, and so drift down with the stream. +_Parbleu_! it would be a relief from those cursed oars. If the load be +too heavy, the preacher can be left behind; 't would be small loss." + +"Your plan sounds bravely in words, Chevalier, but were we to attempt +it, we should soon find ourselves in more serious stress than now,--ay! +before we had covered the first day's journey. My Calvinistic friend, +what advice have you for our guidance?" + +The sectary's eyes were fastened upon the ragged line of hills at our +back, and for the moment he made no response, his seamed face grave +with thought. + +"How far, Master Benteen," he queried finally, "do you make it from +here to the mouth of this river?" + +"Not much short of sixty leagues," I answered, after a bit of thinking. +"The stream bends and twists so it is difficult to judge the true +distance." + +"It was a grievous journey," he admitted with a groan, "one I care not +to travel again, unless it be revealed plainly to me as the will of the +Lord. I name the distance full seventy leagues. What has been the +main direction of our course?" + +"To north of west." + +"Ay! Are we, think you, thirty leagues to northward of where we left +the Spaniards?" + +"I should say yes, maybe ten leagues more." + +"I doubt the extra ten, but even at thirty it would be foolishness to +retrace all that hard-won distance merely for the sake of keeping in +sight of this muddy stream, the very water of which is unfit for +Christian stomach, and of no value otherwise. 'Tis my vote we strike +directly east and north, following as straight a trail as possible +until we find the great river. It should be as easy travelling as +along this bank, and will bring us out above the Spanish lines of +guard." + +I know not how long I sat there gazing silently into his impassive +leathern face, turning over within my own mind the argument of his +words. He was neither woodsman nor mountaineer, yet possessed some +judgment. Thus considering, I saw but one possible objection to his +plan--lack of water or of game along the unknown route to be traversed. +But serious scarcity of either was hardly to be expected at this season +among the mountains, while the weary leagues of southing thus saved +would make no small difference in the length and time of our journey. + +"It appears to me our best hope," I admitted candidly. "It will +involve clambering over rocks, yet yonder range does not appear high, +nor of a width to keep us long in its shadow; besides, the lower +reaches of this river are marshy leagues upon leagues, and to my mind +walking will be easier if we take higher ground. It is all guesswork +at the best. We know how impassable the trail will be below, and, even +if we retrace our steps down the river, we shall have to make a wide +detour to cross this mad stream. But wait; we have heard no word from +Madame de Noyan." + +She also was looking upon those cool, blue hills, apparently close at +hand, but turned instantly at my addressing her, making quick and +confident answer. + +"My word is only this, Geoffrey Benteen: you are a woodsman, better +capable of such decision than any woman whose life has been lived +within the town. I go cheerfully wheresoever your choice lies." + +It has ever been a source of strength to me to be thoroughly trusted by +some other, and I instantly arose to my feet, feeling a new man under +the inspiration of these heartsome words. + +"Then that matter is decided," I announced, a ring of confidence in my +voice. "We will break bread once more, and then commence our journey." + +"_Sacre_!" ejaculated the Captain, yet lolling upon his back, "if it be +like that same biscuit I had an hour since, breaking it will prove no +small matter." + +The blazing sun stood an hour low in the west when we divided our small +stock of necessaries so as to transport them, and, with merely a last +regretful glance at the damaged boat which had been our home so long, +turned our faces hopefully toward those northern hills, commencing a +journey destined to prove for more than one a trip unto death. God's +way is best, and there is a noble purpose in it all; for had we that +day been enabled to view the future, not a single step would we have +taken, nor should I have had in my memory a tale worthy of being +written down. + +I led the little company, bearing rifle in hand, keeping vigilant +outlook for game; De Noyan followed, where he might easily afford aid +to his wife if she required the strength of his arm along the rough +path; while the old Puritan, grumbling ever to himself, lumbered along +well in the rear, although we were careful to keep within speaking +distance of each other. We traversed a gently rising slope of grass +land, with numerous rocks scattered over its surface, keeping as close +as possible along the bank of the brawling stream, that we might make +use of its narrow valley through the rocky bluffs, which threatened to +bar our passage. These were no great distance away, so a steady +gait--I set the pace slow not to distress Madame, who was cramped from +long sitting within the boat--brought us in an hour to where our +narrowing path was overhung and darkened by the closing in of gloomy +mountain heights upon either side. It had an awesome look, like the +yawning mouth of a cave, opening to intense darkness and mysterious +danger. I saw a look almost of terror in Madame's eyes as she gazed, +yet her lips uttered no protest, and I flung aside a desire to shrink +back, with a muttered curse at my own folly. Saint Andrew! it is odd +how superstition grips the best of us. Those rock walls, binding us +within their scant confines as in a prison, were not particularly +precipitous or high, yet our way was sufficiently perilous, leading +along a contracted defile, the merest chasm, indeed, steep cliffs +rising sheer on either side, merely the raging stream and a ribbonlike +path between. The slight expanse of sky above was blue and clear, but +it was sombre and gloomy enough down in that black hollow, where we +made difficult progress amid loose bowlders. + +Where this snake-like ravine widened out slightly we made choice for +our first camp. We reached there near the sunset hour, although the +sun itself had utterly vanished from our view long before, and we moved +forward amid a semi-darkness most depressing. On the spot selected the +towering wall of rock on our side of the little river overhung +sufficiently to form a comfortable shelter at its base. I had a goodly +supply of fresh pine boughs strewn so as to form a soft bed, while the +Puritan busied himself gathering together ample materials for a fire, +the reflected light of which caused the deep chasm where we rested to +appear more gloomy than before, while scurrying night clouds closed us +in as if imprisoned within a grave. + +That evening was not devoted to much conversation. We were alike +wearied from our long tramp, heavy-hearted, and strangely depressed by +the desolate gloom of the rock cavern in which we lay. Even De Noyan +yielded to this spirit of brooding and, after a faint effort at forced +gayety, crept silently to his sleeping-place. The other two were not +long in following him. I was thus left alone to keep the first watch +of the night. Four lonelier, more miserable hours I do not remember +serving at the call of duty. The round moon crept slowly through the +black sky, until its soft, silvery beams rested, brighter than daylight +had been in that gorge, in glowing radiance along the surface of the +smooth, gleaming wall opposite, yet merely succeeded in rendering more +weird and uncanny the sombre desolation. The night wind arose, causing +the shadows of clinging pines to sway back and forth like spectral +figures, while a solemn silence, awesome in its intensity, brooded over +all, broken only by the noise of tumbling water, with occasional +rasping of boughs against the face of the cliff. The fire died away +into a few red embers, occasionally fanned into uncertain flame by +breaths of air sucked up the gorge. By the time my guard ended I was +so thoroughly unstrung that each flitting glimpse of deeper shadow +tempted me to fire. + +It was at midnight, or as close to that hour as I was capable of +judging, when I aroused De Noyan and crawled into his place on the bed +of boughs. I lay there watching him a brief space, as he walked over +to the stream and plunged his face into the cool water. The last I +recall previous to dropping off into deep slumber was how large his +shadow loomed, silhouetted in the bright moonshine against a huge black +bowlder directly in my front. + +I know not the hour, yet I noted, even in awakening, that the moon had +already passed from out the narrow ribbon of sky above, although still +fringing in silver beauty the sharp summit of the crest, when a quick, +nervous pressure upon my arm awoke me with a start of alarm. Lying at +full length, his head uplifted, was De Noyan. + +"Keep still, Benteen," he whispered, his voice vibrant with excitement, +"and look yonder. In the name of all the fiends, what is that?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +DEMON, OR WHAT? + +I have been free from superstitious terror as most men, yet there were +few in those days who did not yield to the sway of the supernatural. +Occasionally, among those of higher education, there may have been +leaders of thought who had shaken off these ghostly chains of the dark +ages, seeking amid the laws of nature a solution for all the seeming +mysteries in human life. Yet it could scarcely be expected a plain +wood-ranger should rise altogether above the popular spell which still +made of the Devil a very potent personality. + +Consequently, as my anxious eyes uplifted toward the spot where De +Noyan pointed, it need be no occasion for wonder that my blood turned +to ice in my veins, and I felt convinced I looked upon His Satanic +Majesty. The vast wall of rock, arising a sheer hundred feet directly +opposite to where we lay, appeared densely black now in the shadow, but +as my glance swept higher along its irregularity, the upper edge, +jagged from outcropping stones, stood clearly revealed in the full +silver sheen of the moon, each exposed line, carven as from marble, +standing distinctly forth in delicate tracery against the background of +the night sky. + +Appearing to my affrighted eyes the gigantic form of two men strangely +merged into one, there uprose on that summit a figure so odd, weird, +and grimly fantastic, it was small wonder I gazed, never thinking it +could be other than the Evil One. It was unclothed from head to heel, +and, gleaming ghastly white beneath the moonbeams, it brought no Indian +suggestion to mind. High above the head, causing the latter to appear +hideously deformed, arose something the nature of which I could not +rightly judge. It reminded me of a vast mat of hair sticking directly +upward, ever waving back and forth to the breath of the night wind. +Nor did this horrid figure remain one moment still. There upon the +very edge of the precipice, it would leap high into the air, flinging +aloft long gaunt arms, even appearing to float bodily forth into the +space above us, to disappear instantly, like some phantom of +imagination, amid the shrouding gloom of those rock shadows--flitting +swiftly, and as upon wings, along the crest; now showing directly in +our front, looming like a threatening giant, mocking with wild, furious +gestures; then dancing far to right or left, a vague shade in the +sheen, a mere nothing in the shadow, yet ever returning, the same +weird, unnatural, spectral figure, wildly gyrating upon the air, +leering down upon our speechless misery. + +My eyes, wide-opened by terror, followed these movements, marking this +ghastly shape. I listened vainly for the slightest sound to connect it +with aught human. The mantle of the night's solemn silence, the dread +stillness of wilderness solitudes, rested everywhere. I heard the +mournful sighing of the wind amid jagged rocks and among the swaying +branches of the cedars; the dull roar of the little river, even the +stentorian breathing of the Puritan lying asleep behind us, but that +was all. That hideous apparition dancing so madly along the cliff +summit emitted no sound of foot or voice--yet there it hung, foreboding +evil, gesticulating in mockery; a being too hideous for earth, ever +playing the mad antics of a fiend. + +My gaze rested questioningly upon De Noyan's upturned face, and saw it +ghost-like in lack of color, drawn and haggard. Mine no doubt was the +same, for never have I felt such uncontrollable horror as that which, +for the moment, fairly paralyzed me in brain and limb. It is the +mysterious that appals brave men, for who of earth might hope to +struggle against the very fiends of the air? + +"_Mon Dieu_!" whispered my comrade, his voice shaking as if from an +ague fit. "Is it not Old Nick himself?" + +"If not," I answered, my words scarce steadier, "then some one must +tell me what; never before did I gaze on such a sight. Has it been +there long?" + +"I know not whence it came, or how. I was not watching the crest. +After I bathed at the stream to open my eyes better, I began +overhauling the commissary for a bite with which to refresh the inner +man. I was sitting yonder, my back against the big stone, munching +away contentedly, humming the words of a song to keep me awake, when I +chanced to glance up to mark the position of the moon, and there that +hell's imp danced in the sheen as he has been dancing ever since. +_Sacre_! it was the bravest deed of my life to crawl here and awaken +you; the devilish thing did charm me as a snake does a bird." + +The mere sound of human speech put new heart into me, yet I found it +difficult to avert my eyes from that fantastic figure. + +"If that is the Devil," I said more composedly, still enthralled by the +baleful presence, "surely we have neither of us done so much evil as to +make us especially his victims." + +As I concluded these words, my courage creeping back, a sudden rustling +among the pines at our back startled us to glance around. Out of the +gloom of the rock shelter a figure uplifted itself on all fours, and +the faint light of a star glimmered directly down upon an upraised, +terror-stricken face. Before either De Noyan or myself could mutter a +hasty warning, the half-awakened preacher sent his great, gruff voice +booming out into the air: + +"O Lord God of Israel deliver Thy servant from destruction and the +clutch of the Evil One. O Lord God of----" + +I flung myself on him, clutching his brawny throat, throttling his +speech into a vain gurgle. The fellow made so fierce a struggle, +mistaking me for an assistant of the fiend, my fierce hold was jerked +loose, and I was hurled heavily backward at full length upon the +stones, striking with no pleasant force upon my shoulder. + +"Verily have I overcome the Devil by Thy strength, O Lord!" he began +fervently. + +"Be still, you red-headed Connecticut fool," I commanded sharply, now +thoroughly aroused. "Stop, or I 'll drive into you a leaden slug to +silence that blundering tongue of yours for good and all. Get up from +your knees there, and play the man. If needs be you must pray, keep +grip on that bull voice of yours." + +"It makes small odds now," chimed in De Noyan with easier tone. "The +Devil, or what, has disappeared from the rock." + +I glanced up at his words, to find them true. The sky was assuming a +faint grayish tinge, as if the dawn were near. The vanishing of that +spectral figure relieved us greatly, while the steady coming of +daylight revived those spirits upon which the haunted night had rested +grimly. Nevertheless I felt it incumbent to speak somewhat harshly to +the yet sulking sectary for such untimely uproar. + +"Did you mistake this for a conventicle, Master Cairnes," I asked +grimly, "an assembly of crop-eared worshippers, that you venture to +lift your voice in such a howl when you wake? It will be better if you +learn to keep still at such a time, if you hope to companion long with +me." + +"You!" he scarcely deigned to lift his eyes to regard me. "You are but +an unbelieving and damned heretic. Had it not been in all the +earnestness of a contrite spirit I besought the Lord in prayer, +wrestling even as did David of old, 'tis not likely the foul fiend I +beheld on yonder crest would have departed so easily. I tell you, you +unregenerated son of iniquity, it is naught save the faith of the +elect, the prayer of the redeemed, which overcomes the wiles of the +Devil, and relieves the children of God from his snares." + +It was useless arguing with the fanatic; yet much of my previous +superstitious terror at our unwelcome visitant had already vanished, +there growing upon my mind a firm conviction that the apparition was +not a denizen of the sulphurous regions of the damned, but was composed +of flesh and blood, even as ourselves. I think Madame had been awake +through the greater part of the commotion, as I noted her stir slightly +even when De Noyan first informed me of the strange presence. Yet she +spoke not a word. Realizing her judgment was ever clearer than that of +either of my male companions, I turned to awaken her to some expression. + +"And do you also, Madame, believe that we have been honored by a visit +from His Satanic Majesty in person?" I asked, wondering as I spoke that +she should appear so undisturbed in midst of our turmoil. + +"It would be less terrifying to me could I so believe," she replied +gravely, her eyes questioning my face, as if to read therein what +answer I desired. "I have that about my person," and I marked that her +fingers toyed with the beads of a rosary at her throat, "which would +protect me from his touch." + +"What then did you make of that fantastic figure? I was so gravely +startled myself by the apparition I saw double, scarcely retaining +sufficient strength for the uplifting of a hand. So speak, Madame, and +plainly, for our comforting,--was that flesh and blood, or was it some +ghastly visitant from the unknown?" + +"I believe," she answered firmly, "it was human. To my eyes a wild +man, partially arrayed in white skins, decorated with a multitude of +great feathers, appearing ghastly tall, and weirdly distorted in the +moonlight--a fiend, indeed, yet not of the upper air." + +"An Indian?" + +"I know not what other name to choose. A savage surely, yet possessing +a skin strangely fair in the sheen for one of the red race." + +My roving, unsatisfied eyes met those of De Noyan. + +"Blessed Mother!" he ejaculated with a short, uneasy laugh. "I never +would have thought it in the night. Holy Saints preserve me, if I was +ever more a child! Yet now the dawn brings me new heart of courage, +and I would not swear but Eloise may be right." + +"And you, friend Cairnes?" In a few, brief English sentences I retold +to the sectary this opinion expressed by Madame. "Does your mind agree +with ours?" + +He stared at me gloomily, his hands knotting into each other, and his +lips moving oddly ere he found speech. + +"Nay," he muttered at last, "you know little about such matters. I +tell you again that it was the Devil my eyes saw. Twice have I looked +upon him, and each time, in response to prayer, has the good Lord +delivered His servant from the bondage of sin, the snares of the +fowler. Not by carnal weapons of the flesh are we bidden to overcome, +but by spiritual wrestling; even as did he of old wrestle with the +angel, are we to master the adversary of souls." + +"Madame possesses that also," and I pointed to the rosary at her white +throat, "by which she is able to resist the contamination of evil." + +He sniffed disdainfully, his coarse red hair appearing to bristle all +over his bullet head. + +"'T is a foul device designed to rob men of the true power of prayer," +he declared angrily. "I say to you, it was the voice of prayer which +caused that foul fiend to fly away to his own. The prayer of the +righteous availeth much." + +"True, friend," I admitted as he paused for breath, amused to behold a +man thus played upon. "If it is a comfort to you, we all confess it +was your voice which put an end to the dancing. Yet if there is a time +for prayer, so there is time also for action, and the latter must be +here now. Whatever adventure awaits us before nightfall, we shall meet +it no less bravely if we first have food. So let us break our fast, +and depart from this accursed spot." + +It was not a cheerful meal, our nerves being still at high tension, and +we partook more from duty than any feeling of enjoyment. I must except +the old Puritan, however, who would have eaten, I believe, had that +same figure been dancing at his elbow. Many anxious looks were cast +upward at the rock crest, every unwonted sound causing us to start and +glance about in nervous terror. It seems to me now Eloise remained the +most self-controlled among us, and I have felt sincerely ashamed at +yielding to my weaker nature in thus betraying nervousness before that +company. Yet had she been in safety I would have proven more of a man, +as by this time no haunting superstition remained to burden my heart. +I realized we were leaguered by flesh and blood, not by demons of the +air, and had never counted my life specially valuable in Indian +campaign. But to be compelled to look into her fair face, to feel +constantly the trustful gaze of her brown eyes, knowing well what would +be her certain fate should she fall into savage hands, operated in +breaking down all the manliness within me, leaving me like a helpless +child, ready to start at the slightest sound. De Noyan barely touched +the food placed in front of him, and, long before Cairnes had completed +his meal, the Chevalier was restlessly pacing the rocks beside the +stream, casting impatient glances in our direction. + +"_Mon Dieu_!" he ejaculated at last, "it is not the nature of a +Frenchman to remain longer cooped in such a hole. I beg you, Benteen, +bid that gluttonous English animal cease stuffing himself like an +anaconda, and let us get away; each moment I am compelled to bide here +is torture." + +Experiencing the same tension, I persuaded the Puritan to suspend his +onslaught, and, undisturbed by sight or sound, we began a slow advance, +clambering across the bowlders strewing the narrow way, discovering as +we moved forward that those towering cliffs on either side were +becoming lower, although no possibility of scaling them became +apparent. We travelled thus upwards of a quarter of a mile, our +progress being necessarily slow, when a dull roar stole gradually upon +our hearing. A moment later, rounding a sharp edge of projecting rock, +and picking our way cautiously along a narrow slab of stone extending +out above the swirling water, we came forth in full view of a vast +cliff, with unbroken front extending from wall to wall across the +gorge, while over it plunged the stream in a magnificent leap of fully +one hundred and fifty feet. It was a scene of rare, romantic beauty, +the boiling stream surging and dancing madly away from its foot, and +the multicolored mists rising up like a gauzy veil between us and the +column of greenish-blue water. Yet it pleased us little then, for it +barred our progress northward as completely as would a hostile army. + +Our depth of disappointment at facing this barrier was beyond +expression. We could but stand in silence, gazing upon the broad, +impassable sheet of water, blocking further advance. De Noyan was +earliest to recover power of speech. + +"_Le Diable_!" he swore, half unconsciously. "This cursed place is +surely damned! Yet it has some consolation to my mind, for that will +drive us backward into the lowlands, out of this demon-haunted defile." + +"Your judgment is right," I returned gravely enough, not unrelieved +myself by the thought. "There is no other course open to us. We shall +be compelled to retrace our steps, and if we desire to reach the open +before another night, we need be at it. May the good God grant us free +passage, with no skulking enemies in ambuscade, for never saw I poorer +spot for defence than along this narrow shelf." + +Fortunately, the way proved easier travelling as we proceeded downward, +and we were not long in passing beyond our haunted camp of the previous +night. Below this spot--which was passed in painful anxiety--we +entered into that narrower, gloomy gorge leading directly toward the +plain beyond. The little river foamed and leaped in deep black waves +upon our left, the rocks encroaching so near that we were compelled to +pass in single file, picking a way with extreme caution lest we slip +upon the wet stones, and having neither time nor breath for speech. +The Puritan led, bearing the Spaniard's naked rapier in his hand. +Suddenly, from where I brought up the rear, his voice sounded so +noisily I made haste forward fearing he had been attacked. + +He stood halted, staring like a demented man at a massive rock, a huge +monster with sheer, precipitous front, filling every foot of space from +the cliff wall to the river, completely closing, as by a wall of +masonry, the narrow foot-path along which we had advanced unhindered +the day before. It was easy to see from whence that rock mass came; +the great fresh scar on the overhanging cliff summit high above told +the fatal story of its detachment. Yet how had it fallen so suddenly +and with such deadly accuracy across the path? Was it a strange +accident, a caprice of fate, or was it rather the hellish work of +design? + +None knew at that moment; yet we stood there stupefied, staring into +each others' despairing faces, feeling we were hopeless prisoners +doomed to perish miserably within the gloom confines of that ghastly, +haunted hell. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +BACKS TO THE WALL + +"This is Indian treachery," I said decisively, my eyes searching the +cliffs, "nor will they remain long inactive now they have fairly caught +us in their trap. Let us get back out of this narrow way; there may be +other loosened rocks where this one came from." + +"Back where?" + +"To some spot where we can defend ourselves in case of attack. These +will prove different from any savages I have ever known if we fail to +hear from them as soon as we are ready." + +"But," protested De Noyan, as we scrambled retreating up the slope, "if +there is no way leading from this pit of death, how are those devils +going to get in? Will it not be more likely they will be content to +starve us?" + +"'Tis not Indian nature to hide in patience after having trapped their +victims. Although there is no apparent way out to our eyes, nor time +to search for one, yet we may put confidence in this: they never +bottled us here without knowing some means whereby they might complete +their work." + +"It is likely to be a fight, then?" + +"Either that or a massacre; God knoweth." + +"If, friend Benteen," boomed Cairnes, now well in our front, and +prodigal of voice as ever, "you expect a stand-up battle with the +devils, 'tis my judgment you will find few spots better adapted for +defence than yonder--there where the rock juts out so far; 'tis like a +sloping roof to protect us from above." + +It was as he described, a place fitted by nature for such a contest, +the upper stratum of rock projecting so far forward as almost to form a +cave beneath, while, partially blocking the centre of this darkened +opening, uprose a great square slab of stone, forming of itself no +small protection to a party crouching in its shadow. Moreover the +ground fell away sharply, the higher point being twenty feet above the +water level; and this at the widest part of the gorge, the entire slope +thickly strewn with bowlders of varying size. + +"You have made soldierly choice," I acknowledged heartily, after a +hasty survey. "It would be difficult to discover a more proper spot +for purposes of defence. St. Andrew! but three of us ought to hold +that mound against quite a party." + +De Noyan broke in, perfectly at his ease with actual fighting in +prospect. "Somewhat open as yet, but that can be remedied by use of +those scattered stones. Upbuild the circle here, leaving in front of +the great bowlder room enough for the three of us to battle at ease, +with ample space in which to swing our sword-arms, the solid rock at +our backs. Saint Anne! but it is beautiful! Bring the stones here so +I may place them to the best purpose for such defence." And he drew a +rapid half-circle about the mouth of the shallow cave, his eyes +brightening with interest. + +"Pah! your doughty Frenchman appears overly anxious to be killed," +began Cairnes, casting an eager glance toward the provisions dropped +upon the ground. "To my mind we had better break our fast before +commencing such labor. It may happen we shall have no other chance to +eat, and it would go hard against my nature to waste that pickled meat +on naked savages. Ecod! it would try Job himself to stand by helpless, +watching a clouted heathen gorge himself on what should be lying +comfortable in our own stomachs. What say ye, Master Benteen?" + +"That our first effort be with the stones," I returned with decision. +"After that, we can partake of food. The latter can be made ready +while we work, if Madame will spread it here at the mouth of the +cave--a bit farther back would prove better, under the protection of +that slab of rock." + +Rejoicing at thus inducing our fair companion to seek safety under +shelter, the three of us fell to work with energy. Under the direction +of De Noyan, the scattered bowlders were rolled up the steep and piled +in a solid wall, reaching nearly waist high, completely circling the +open front of the cave, its centre somewhat advanced from the stone +slab, with either flank resting solidly against the face of the cliff. +It did me good to listen while De Noyan issued energetic orders, +swearing at us ardently in army French as if we were of his own +squadron of chasseurs. + +It required the greater part of an hour to get our rude rock rampart in +such condition as to satisfy the military taste of the Chevalier even +measurably, and during that time we toiled as men must when their lives +are soon to depend upon the result of their labor. + +"_Saprista_!" he commented at last, wiping his streaming brow, and +gazing about him critically. "It will answer fairly well, I think, +although another row might strengthen the curves. Still, 'tis not +likely we shall be called upon to battle against gun or pike, and if +too high the stones might interfere with proper thrust of the sword. +So let us lunch. Egad! the sight of that hungry preacher haunts me +every time I turn around; besides, whatever resting-spell we get ere +the ball opens will serve to steady our nerves for the onset. Have you +spread forth a rare feast for our comrades, Eloise?" + +She stood within the shadow, leaning lightly against the great stone, +smiling at us. + +"All I have awaits your pleasure, gentlemen," she returned bravely, +"and I trust you may consider it a pleasant duty to do full justice to +my skill." + +It has lingered a unique memory of those days, the outward carelessness +with which we chattered away during that strange meal. Surely no +company of wanderers was ever in more desperate stress than we at that +moment. It was the merest chance of fate if one among us all lived to +see the peaceful setting of the sun, now blazing high overhead. Yet +that simple noonday repast, partaken of beneath the shadow of the +overhanging rock, remains in memory as more redundant with merriment of +tongue and face than any since we made departure from New Orleans. +Were I not writing truthful narrative, I might hesitate at setting this +down, yet there are doubtless others living to bear witness with me +that there is often experienced an odd relief in discovering the +presence of actual danger; that uncertainty and mystery try most +severely the temper of men. + +It certainly proved so with us that day, and De Noyan's high spirits +found echo even in the grim Puritan, who, being at last convinced that +he was not called upon to wrestle with demons from the pit, was as full +of manly fight as the best of us. Eloise added her gentle speech, +while even I relaxed my anxiety, though I was careful enough to select +a seat from which I could keep watch both up and down the ravine, +convinced that our time of trial was not far away. In consequence of +this chosen vantage of position I was the first to note those stealthy +nude figures silently stealing from rock to rock, like so many flitting +shadows, making their way down toward our position from the north. How +they attained entrance to the gorge I could not conjecture; my eyes +first detected their movement when their leaders stole noiselessly as +phantoms about the great shelf of rock higher up the gorge. More than +this fleeting glimpse I was unable to perceive from where I sat, our +rude rampart somewhat obstructing the view, nor did I call the +attention of the others to their approach. Nothing could be gained by +exposing ourselves before need arose. Indeed, De Noyan chanced to +observe their presence before I ventured upon speech at all. + +"Ha, my masters!" he exclaimed suddenly, rising to peer above the low +breastworks. "What have we here? By my soul, the ball is about to +open, gentlemen; the enemy creeps forward as though uncertain of our +whereabouts, yet hardly as if greatly fearing our numbers. What do you +make of the fellows, Master Benteen?" + +"Beyond doubt savages, but not of any tribe within my knowledge." + +"Saint Denis! nor mine," he acknowledged gravely, staring at them. "At +this distance they seem to be of strangely whitish skin, and I am not +over pleased with their mode of advance; it has the steadiness of a +drilled column, such as I never before witnessed in Indian campaign. +_Sacre_! note yonder how that tall fellow on the right guides them with +his gestures. They take intervals as firmly as French grenadiers. +Eloise," he turned hastily toward his wife, more tenderness in his +manner than I had ever before remarked, "it is going to be a hard +battle, or I mistake greatly the temper of yonder warriors. Take this +pistol; it is all I have of the kind. I will trust my fortune on the +blade. You know how best to use it should things go wrong with us at +the front." + +"I know," she answered calmly, "I have lived all my life within hearing +of Indian tales; yet could I not prove some aid beside you?" + +"Nay, little woman; there is scarcely room for three of us to stand at +the wall; we shall fight with freer hand knowing you are safe from +savage blow behind the rock. Come, my lady, it is full time you were +there now." + +She shook hands with us in turn, giving to each man a lightsome, +hopeful word ere she drew back out of sight, and never before did I +have such incentive to battle as I read within the depths of her dark +eyes as she came to me the last of all. For a moment after she +regretfully withdrew her hands from my clasp I remained motionless, +absolutely forgetful of all else, until De Noyan's voice, harsh now +with excitement of approaching combat, recalled me to myself and my +post of duty. + +"It is time we took our positions, Messieurs," he said, bowing with the +rare French courtesy of battle. "Let Monsieur Cairnes find place upon +my right, while Master Benteen, do you keep the left. It will be +better to crouch low until I speak the word, and then God give you both +strong arms and hearts." + +From behind the roughly piled bowlders in my front I had a fair view up +the valley, and was enabled to mark clearly the attacking party as it +advanced cautiously toward our position. It was composed of some +thirty members, well-appearing fellows for savages, naked from the +waist up, their exposed bodies quite light in color, and unpainted as +is the usual Indian custom for war. Their leader was a tall fellow, +having a head of matted coarse hair, which stood almost erect, thus +yielding him a peculiarly ferocious aspect. The entire band moved +forward, as if in response to prearranged signals, which must have been +conveyed by motion, as I could distinguish not the slightest sound of +speech. However, it was a relief to note they bore no weapons in their +hands excepting the spear and the war-club, clear evidence that they +had limited, if any, trade intercourse with Europeans. Yet they came +on with such steadiness of purpose, amid such impressive silence, I +instinctively felt we stood opposed to no tribe of cowards, whatever +their name. + +As they crept, rather than walked, forward into the open space in our +front, their restless, searching eyes were not long in perceiving the +irregular outlines of our rude barricade, nor were they dilatory in +deciding that behind that pile of rock were to be discovered those they +sought. No attacking party operating upon the eastern continent, +guided by all the strategy of civilized war, could have acted more +promptly, or to better purpose. The old chief made a quick, peculiar +gesture from left to right, and in instant response his clustered bunch +of warriors spread out in regulated intervals, assuming positions not +unlike the sticks of a fan such as the Creoles use, until they formed a +complete semicircle, their flanks close in against the cliff, and their +centre well back upon the bank of the stream. It was a pretty +movement, executed with the precision of long discipline, and De Noyan +brought his hand down applauding upon his knee. + +"_Parbleu_!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm. "'Twas as well done as by +troops of the line. I look for a warm time presently, when we cross +arms with those fellows." + +Even as he spoke, I observed the old chief passing rapidly from man to +man, speaking briefly to each in turn and pointing toward us, as though +giving special directions for the coming assault. + +"Chevalier," I whispered, "would it not be well to try a shot at that +tall-haired fellow?" + +"It appears too great a distance to my eye." + +"I have dropped a buck through forest limbs fifty feet farther." + +"Then try your fortune," he said eagerly. "It may be those fellows +have never heard the crack of a gun. The sound and sudden death might +terrorize them." + +I took careful aim above the wall, resting my long rifle-barrel in a +groove between the stones, and fired. Ever since, it has seemed to me +that God, for some mysterious purpose of His own, deflected the +speeding ball, for never before or since did I miss such aim. Yet miss +I did, for while the old chief leaped wildly backward, his cheek fanned +by the bullet, it was the savage he conversed with who sprang high into +air, coming down dead. Nor did a single warrior make a movement to +flee. Instead of frightening, it enraged, driving them into savage +fury as they stared at the stiffening body of their comrade. Scarcely +had the smoke of the discharge drifted upward when, all their former +impressive silence broken, and yelling like fiends incarnate, they made +an impetuous rush for the hill. + +"_Francais_! _Francais_!" + +I was certain they used the word, fairly hissing it forth as if in +bitter hatred, yet I had short enough time in which to listen as I +hastily rammed home a second charge with which to greet them as they +came. + +"It will be best to draw, Messieurs," spoke De Noyan in a cool, +drawling voice. "Ah, that was better, Master Benteen!" as two of the +advancing mob went stumbling to the bullet. "It leaves but +twenty-seven to the three of us; not such bad odds! Now, friends, +yield no step backward, and strike as you never struck before." + +I enjoyed little space in which to glance behind where I knew Eloise +crouched beneath the protecting shadow of the great stone, yet I am +certain I felt the full magic of her eyes upon me. As I wheeled, newly +armed for strife, my hands clutched hard about the rifle-barrel, our +fierce assailants came surging up against the stone wall. It was no +time to note what others did; one realizes little at such a supreme +moment except the flashing in his eyes where menacing weapons play +across his front; the swift blows continually threatening to crush his +guard; the fierce, cruel faces glaring at him eye to eye, and his own +desperate efforts to drive and kill. It all abides in fevered memory +not unlike those pictures of horror coming of a dark night when +lightning leaps from the black void. I mind the first man to reach me, +a burly ruffian, whose shining spear-point missed my throat by so +narrow a margin it tasted blood ere my rifle-stock crushed the side of +his head and sent him backward, a reeling corpse into the mass at his +heels. Then all was confusion, a riot of leaping figures, frantic +shouting, and clanging weapons, and I know not what was done, except +that I struck out like a crazed man, heedless of what might be aimed at +me, but letting drive at every savage head within range, until, at +last, there seemed no others in my front. Then, as I paused, +breathless and uncertain, passing my hand across my eyes to clear them +from the blood and hair which half blinded me, I heard De Noyan's +drawling tone. + +"Most beautifully done, Master Benteen, and as for our red-headed +preacher, by the memory of Jeanne d'Arc, the like of him as fighting +man I have never seen." + +I leaned back heavily against the stones, now the strain of battle had +relaxed, feeling strangely weakened by my exertions as well as the loss +of blood, and glanced about me. The discomfited savages had fallen +sullenly back to the bank of the stream, where they bunched together as +if in council, and I noted more than one wounded man among them. De +Noyan sat recklessly upon the stone wall, dangling his long legs, and, +back turned contemptuously upon our foe, was carefully examining the +edge of his sword. + +"I was fool enough to attempt a down cut," he explained, observing my +eyes upon him. "I tried it on that savage who lies yonder, and it was +rather a neat stroke, yet has sorely nicked the blade." + +"Where is the Puritan?" I asked, not seeing him. + +"Stretched yonder at rest; he did needlessly exhaust himself, not +knowing how best to wield his weapon. _Sacre_! he struck hard blows, +and will have two savages for whom to make answer in the Day of +Judgment." + +"What loss did the fellows sustain?" I questioned, the cut at the edge +of my hair half blinding me with dripping blood. + +"We dropped seven between us, counting those who fell to your fire, and +there are others who hardly appear in condition for further fighting. +As to the garrison, you seem to possess a flesh wound or two, the head +of the Puritan rings merrily yet from the tap of a war-club, while I +boast a boot full of blood; 'tis none of it serious." + +"They will attack again?" + +"Ay! those lads are not of the breed to let up with one bite; and mark +you, man, it is going to be the next turn that will test our mettle." + +He deliberately changed his posture, glancing carelessly across his +shoulder. + +"Do you know aught regarding those devils, Master Benteen?" + +"They are strange to me; no kin, I think, to any tribe east of the +great river." + +He sat in silent contemplation a long moment, his eyes fastened upon +the savage group. + +"Did you chance to notice," he asked at last, speaking more +thoughtfully, "how they hissed that word 'Francais,' when they first +rushed up the hill upon us? It somehow recalled to memory an odd tale +told me long ago by old Major Duponceau, who was out with the troops in +1729, about a strange people they warred against down on the +Ocatahoola. These must be either the same savages--although he swore +they were put to the sword--or else of the same stock, and have felt +the taste of French steel." + +"What did he call them?" + +"Natchez; although I remember now he referred to them once as 'White +Apples,' saying they were of fair skin. He told me, but I recall +little of it, many a strange story of their habits and appearance, to +illustrate how greatly they differed from other tribes of savages with +whom he had met. They worshipped the sun." + +"'T is true of the Creeks." + +"Ay! they play at it, but with the Natchez 't is a real religion; they +had a priesthood and altars of sacrifice, on which the fires were never +quenched. Their victims died with all the ardor of fanaticism, and in +peace and war the sun was their god, ever demanding offering of blood. +But see, the moment comes when we must front those fiends again." + +The afternoon sun had lowered so that its glaring rays no longer +brightened the depths of the canyon, all upon our side of the stream +lying quiet in the shadow. The Indians began their advance toward us +in much the same formation as before, but more cautiously, with less +noisy demonstration, permitting me to note they had slung their weapons +to their backs, bearing in their hands ugly fragments of rock. The old +matted-hair savage, who had received a severe slash upon his shoulder +during our last _melee_, hung well to the rear, contenting himself with +giving encouragement to the others. + +"Stand stoutly to the work, friend Cairnes," I called across to him, +feeling the heartsome sound of English speech might prove welcome. "If +we drive them this time, they will hardly seek more at our hands." + +"It will be even according to the will of the Lord of Hosts," he +returned piously. "Yet I greatly fear lest my sword-blade be not sound +within its hilt." + +"Stoop low for the volley of rocks," commanded De Noyan, hastily, "then +stand up to it with all the strength you have." + +Halfway up the little hill they let fly a vicious volley, the hard +missiles crashing against the face of the rock, and showering down on +backs and heads, some of them with painful force. As we sprang to our +posts of defence once more, the savages were already nearly within +spear-length of us, and, to our disastrous surprise, delivered a second +volley of stones directly into our faces. One jagged rock glanced from +off my rifle-barrel, striking me on the side of the head with +sufficient force to send me staggering back against the stone slab. +Before I could regain place the Indians swarmed over the low wall, two +of them, in spite of fierce struggles, bearing me backward to the +ground. Through a half-blinding mist of blood I beheld a carven +war-club uplifted in the air, noted the face, distorted by passion, of +the naked giant wielding it; yet, before I could close my eyes to the +swift blow, there came a sudden flash of fire mingled with a sharp +report. As if stricken by a lightning-bolt the huge fellow plunged +forward, his body across my feet. Involuntarily I gave vent to a groan +of despair, realizing that Madame, in an effort to preserve my life, +had thrown away her sole chance to escape torture, or an existence +worse than death. + +The knowledge nerved me to renewed struggle, but ere I could rid myself +of that body pinning me fast, others hurled themselves upon us, +striking and snarling like a pack of hounds who had overtaken their +quarry. It would have been over in another minute; I already felt the +grind of a stone knife-point at my throat, able to gain only a poor +grip on the fellow's wrist, when suddenly, sounding clear as a bell +above that hellish uproar, a single voice uttered an imperative command. + +Instantly each Indian's face was upturned toward where such unexpected +summons came, and, lying as I did flat upon my back, my eyes gazed +across the narrow valley, to the summit of the cliff on the farther +side. There, solitary, a carven statue full in the glow of the +westering sun, turning her garments golden, and lightening her rich +profusion of hair into radiant beauty, stood a young woman of white +face and slender, stately figure. It was no time to note dress, yet I +could not fail to observe the flowing white robe, draped from shoulders +to feet, gracefully falling away from an extended arm, as she stood +thus in regal poise looking down upon us. There was a suggestion of +despotic power in both face and posture, and the ring of stern +authority spoke in the sound of her voice. + +Twice she addressed our savage captors in brief sentences strange to my +ears, once pointing directly at us, once with sweeping gesture up the +valley. A moment longer she remained motionless, bending slightly +forward, permitting the rich, reddish gold of her hair to flash and +shimmer in the sunshine; then she stepped swiftly back from the dizzy +summit, vanishing instantly, as if dissolved in the haze. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ + +We were hopelessly prisoners. On my part further struggle had become +impossible, nor elsewhere did any effort last long, although Cairnes +had to be knocked insensible before the heathen finally mastered him. +I believed the obstinate fellow dead, so ghastly white appeared his +usually florid face as the victorious savages dragged him roughly past +where I lay, flinging his heavy body down like carrion upon the rocks. +De Noyan appeared badly cut, his gallant clothing clinging to him in +fluttering rags, silent witnesses to the manliness of his struggle. +Yet the Chevalier was far from done. + +"Let me sit up, you villains!" he cried, vigorously kicking at a +passing shin. "'T is not my custom to lie with head so low. Ah, +Benteen," he smiled pleasantly across at me, his eyes kindling at the +recollection, "that was the noblest fighting that ever came my way, yet +'tis likely we shall pay well for our fun. _Sacre_! 't is no pleasant +face, that of their grim war-chief, nor one to inspire a man with hope +as he makes plea for mercy." + +"Marry, no," I replied, determined on exhibiting no greater outward +concern than he. "Nor will the ugly clip on his shoulder leave his +humor happier." + +The Chevalier's eyes danced at the recollection. + +"'T was our preacher friend who sheared him. I hold it a +master-stroke; but for a spear-butt on the way it would have cleft the +fellow into two equal parts. Have you seen aught of Eloise since the +fight?" + +"She lies yonder against the wall at my left, and remains unhurt, I +think. I will make effort to turn over, and have speech with her." + +So securely had I been bound with coarse grass rope, I found it no +small task to change the position of my body sufficiently to peer about +the corner of intervening rock, and clearly perceive my lady. She was +reclining in a half sitting posture well within the darker shadow, +bound as were the rest of us. + +"You remain uninjured, I trust, Madame?" I asked gently, and it +heartened me to observe the smile with which she instantly glanced up +at sound of my voice. + +"No blow has touched me," was her immediate response, "yet I suffer +noticing the stains of blood disfiguring both you and my husband. Are +the wounds serious ones?" + +"Nay, mere scratches of the flesh, to heal in a week. Why did you +waste your last shot on that savage who would have struck me? It was +not the will of De Noyan that it be expended thus." + +"You must have formed a poor conception of me, Geoffrey Benteen," she +answered, as if my words pained her, "if you suppose I value my life +more highly than your own. But for my solicitation you would never +have been in such stress, and, whatever else may be true, Eloise de +Noyan is not one accustomed to deserting her friends." + +"Yet there are fates possible to a woman more to be dreaded than death." + +"Ay, and frontier bred, I know it well, yet none so bad as would have +been the knowledge that I was guilty of ingratitude. My life, my +honor, are in the care of God, Geoffrey, and if I remain grateful for +aught this day, it is that my shot proved timely, saving you from that +blow. Tell me, was it not a woman at whose command the combat ceased?" + +"It was; a white woman at that, unless my eyes deceived me. She stood +on yonder point of rock, appearing a veritable queen in the sunshine." + +"So I thought, a fair face enough, yet not devoid of savage cruelty. +Her presence brings me some rays of hope, making me feel I may have +less to fear in the future than you. If a woman, however debased and +barbarous, rules these savages, she will not be altogether without +heart to the supplications of a woman." + +I felt less assured of this, yet it was better she be buoyed up by all +possible hope, so ventured upon no answer. There was that in the +Queen's face as she gazed down upon us that made me doubt her +womanliness; doubt if behind that countenance of wild beauty there did +not lurk a soul as savage and untamed as any among her barbarous +followers. What but a spirit of insatiate cruelty could animate and +control such fierce warriors in their battle rage? Thinking of this, +my eyes on Madame, a movement occurred among our captors quickly +challenging my attention. Fresh shouts and cries evidenced new +arrivals. These came swarming down the ravine, and in another moment +began crawling noisily about us, chattering with our surly captors, or +scowling into our faces with savage eyes boding no good. It would be +unjust were I to write that these fellows were a brutal lot, as such +words would be void of that truth I seek to convey. I lived to learn +that many among them had the stuff of which true men are made; yet, +nevertheless, they were savages, scarcely touched by the virtues or +vices of civilization, a people nursing within their memory a great +wrong, and inflamed by the fierce passions of battle. Gazing about on +the stiffening forms of their stricken warriors, all alike exhibited in +eyes and gestures how eagerly they longed for the hour of vengeance, +when implacable hate might have full vent in the unutterable agony of +their victims. I gazed up into their scowling, distorted faces, +imagining a final moment of reckoning was at hand; yet some authority, +either of chief or tribal custom, restrained their pitiless hatred, +reserving us for longer, more intense suffering. + +But the wild thirst for blood was mirrored in those fierce eyes glaring +down into mine, and echoed in the shrill cries with which they marked +us yet alive for their barbaric ingenuity to practise upon at leisure. +Even as I observed this, realizing from my knowledge of Indian nature +that our ultimate fate would be infinitely worse than merciful death in +battle, I could not remain blind to the wide difference between these +naked warriors and those other savages with whom my wandering border +life had made me familiar. My awakened memory dwelt upon the peculiar +tribal characteristics of the Mingoes north of the Ohio, the Kaskaskias +in the Illinois country, the Shawnees, the Cherokees, even the Creeks, +in whose villages I had dwelt as a friend, and beside whose young men I +had hunted as a brother. Yet here was surely a distinct race, one less +clearly marked with those features peculiarly Indian,--the cheek-bones +not prominent, the form of nose more varied, the skin decidedly +lighter, the heads better shapen, and the figures more thoroughly +developed. More, their language had little of the guttural so +universal among Eastern tribes, but had a peculiar, sharp, hissing +sound; so, although the faces peering into mine were wild and ferocious +enough to leave no doubt as to their barbarous nature, or our probable +fate, yet these peculiarities, with the total absence of paint, such as +disfigures and renders grotesquely hideous other Indians upon the +war-path, were sufficient to stamp these savages as members of a +distinct race. + +"Natchez?" I ventured to inquire of the burly brute who stood over me +grasping spear and war-club. + +"_Sa_," he grinned savagely. "_Francais, Francais_." + +I shook my head and tried him again, but soon desisted on discovering +that these two words marked the full extent of our common language, and +so was obliged to be content with silently contemplating the crowds of +curious, naked heathen swarming on the hill. + +Fortunately, it was not long we were doomed to wait, uncomfortably +trussed with our ropes of plaited grass. The old chief who had led the +assault gave his order, and, in immediate obedience, we were roughly +dragged forth, the bonds about our lower limbs severed, and, under +zealous guards, despatched up the canyon, the entire party promptly +falling in at the rear, bearing with them their wounded and dead. De +Noyan and I, thus released from our cramped, painful position on the +rocks, were jerked rudely upon our feet, and, in obedience to +threatening gestures, driven rapidly forward like dumb beasts; but +Madame and the Puritan, the latter not yet having regained +consciousness, were swung aloft in hammocks of coarsely woven cloth, +and thus borne upon the shoulders of four stout carriers. In this way +we advanced northward, not moving as slowly as I desired, for I was +sore and aching from head to foot, besides being weakened by loss of +blood. Yet there was no hope of escape, no evidence of mercy. If we +ventured to lag, the vigilant guard promptly quickened our movements by +the vigorous application of spear-points, so we soon learned the +necessity of keeping fully abreast of our assigned position in the +column. + +Coming nearer to that great cataract which had effectually dammed our +progress up the valley, the leaders swerved toward the left, passing so +closely beside the leaping, foaming flood as to be enveloped in the +spray as if in a cloud of mist. Almost beneath the fall, the water +crashing on the rocks within reach of an outstretched hand, we +commenced a toilsome climb, along a deep, rocky gully completely +shrouded by overhanging bushes, as if we traversed a tunnel dug by the +hands of men. Indeed, I have little doubt that this peculiar +passageway had been constructed by artificial means. Every now and +then, when a faint light from without straggled through the interlaced +boughs overhead, I caught a glimpse of the evidences of human labor. +This odd passage, crooked and intricate, at times so steep as to +require the chiselling of steps in the solid rock, wound in and out +along the side of the cliff, then ran back into the very face of the +precipice, for more than a hundred and fifty yards. Suddenly we +emerged, fifty yards back from the crest, in the heart of a great +circular hole resembling the crater of a burned-out volcano, having +great ragged points of rock, blackened as if incased with lava, jutting +up upon every side, and forming as desolate and barren a picture as +ever eyes looked upon. + +I was completely fagged by this time, the climb being a heavy one, and +I noticed De Noyan was ghastly of face, his body trembling like that of +a palsied man. But our relentless drivers permitted no halting to +recruit strength. The Chevalier was evidently in greater distress than +I, so from pity I bade him lean on my shoulder; but as he sought to +draw near, the merciless brute on guard struck him savagely, and there +was such shaking of spears and fierce uproar on the part of our escort, +we could do naught else than set our teeth to it, and go staggering on. +The slight path, if it might be named a path, led in and out among the +black lava cones in such labyrinthine fashion that no man could hope to +retain memory of its course, while the floor being of irregular stone, +the passing feet left no trail for future guidance. We travelled +blindly, and reckless through suffering and exhaustion, some distance, +until, perhaps a mile above the spot where we had surmounted the cliff, +a sudden twist was made to the right, our company creeping on all fours +through a narrow opening, having a great tree-trunk on one side and a +huge black bowlder on the other. We came forth high in air above the +swift, deep water, footing the insecure bark of a rude tree-bridge +spanning the current. Once safe on the other bank, our path merely a +narrow shelf of stone, we wormed around a sharp projection of the +cliff, rising to even greater height than in the gorge below. A dense +mass of interlaced and overshadowing cedars was partially pressed +aside, partially crawled under, and from this we finally emerged into +an open space, containing, I imagine, not far from five hundred acres +of land, having vast towering precipices of black frowning rock on +every side, with no outlet apparent, save to one blessed with wings. +Saint Andrew! 'twas an awesome place, yet oddly beautiful, so soft and +green below, with those massive walls completely shutting out all the +rest of the world, and shadowing the little valley with impregnable +grandeur. + +I had but a moment in which to view the impressive scene. Scarcely had +the head of our column entered this natural prison when it was greeted +with wild shouts of triumph, immediately succeeded by shrieks of +distress, while there streamed forward to meet us a tumultuous band of +savages, a large proportion of whom were women and children. The +children were absolutely nude and peculiarly white of skin, while the +former wore rude skirts of coarsely woven cloth fastened about the +waist, their long hair in many instances trailing upon the ground, +yielding them a wildness of aspect beyond description; yet withal they +were not uncomely of features. These newcomers thronged about us with +scowling faces, and, when sternly forced back by the lowered weapons of +the guard, either joined the procession, or else trooped alongside, +yelling and jeering. + +Pressed forward, although by now so utterly spent I could barely +stagger rapidly enough to escape those pitiless thrusts, I mechanically +noted enough of our surroundings to understand that we traversed ground +which had been cultivated; that low fences, here and there encountered, +divided the land into small sections, even as in more civilized regions +farmers protect their fields. What their crops may have been I could +not determine, the season of harvest being already past, yet I +distinguished what I supposed must be evidences of garden culture, +observing also a considerable ditch, certainly four feet in width, +filled with clear running water, which seemed to encircle the entire +basin, the deeper green of vegetation marking its course close up +against the farther rock wall. + +The view directly in advance was at first obscured by the leaping +figures of the exultant savages leading the way, whooping with +excitement, and wildly brandishing their war-clubs. These at length +fell back along either side, our guards hurrying us across the ditch, +spanned by the great trunk of a tree, and thus on into the village. +This town resembled no other encampment of savages on which my eyes had +ever looked. I saw a wide open space, a blackened stake set in the +middle of it, the ground bare of vegetation, and tramped hard as if by +countless feet. Beyond, circling this plaza upon two sides, were +several rows of houses, all facing the same direction. It reminded me +of pictures I had seen of Hebrew camps in my father's great Bible, only +the houses were built of sun-dried clay, such as peons use in the far +Southwest on the Brazos, square in shape, of but a single story, having +dome-shaped roofs, heavily thatched with cane. They were windowless, +with one narrow opening for a door, protected by a heavy matting of +grass. Behind these, perhaps a hundred yards or more, and within a +short distance of the steep cliffs bounding the upper extremity of the +valley, there arose from the surface of the plain two immense rounded +mounds of earth, each fully a hundred paces wide at its base, sloping +sharply upward. Considerable vacant space lay between the two, while +on the apex of each stood buildings of sun-baked clay, resembling in +form those below, yet much larger, and, because of their elevation, +appearing spacious and imposing. Above one were posed three rudely +carven figures bearing a slight resemblance to giant eagles, their +wings outspread as if for flight. The other was surmounted by a +hideous, grotesque figure, blackened as by fire, with distorted face +daubed a glaring yellow, and long hair glittering from red pigment. +Here the grass curtain had been drawn aside, while before the entrance, +their faces striped with disfiguring black lines, their dull vestments +trailing to the ground and gaudily trimmed with fanciful trappings, +their coarse hair so trained as to stand almost erect, were two aged +men, who, with wild gesticulations, and solemn chanting, were +apparently paying adoration to the setting sun, the last beams +streaming over them through a rift in the western wall. + +Directly past these priests we were driven like cattle, finding +ourselves plunged into a vast square gloomy apartment, having an +earthen floor, but utterly devoid of either furnishings or ornament. +There was another mat-draped opening at the farther side, and in the +centre a huge log smouldered, resting upon what bore the appearance of +a rudely chipped altar of rock. About this were ranged numerous +fancifully painted statues of wood, grotesque and hideous, while a +third figure, attired as were the aged priests without, lay prone upon +the earth moaning as if in agony. The walls were hung thickly with +undressed skins of wild animals, and at the back stood a slightly +upraised platform of logs, cut in halves by a narrow passageway leading +toward the second curtained door. It was in the midst of this we +halted, still under strict surveillance of our brutal guards. These, +however, permitted us to sink down exhausted on the hard floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE + +A fear of impending danger will not always prove sufficiently strong to +prevent yielding to the demands of fatigue. I realized the desperation +of our position, feeling no doubt regarding our ultimate fate. I read +it plainly in our surroundings, as well as within those vengeful, +scowling faces, yet so dulled was every physical sense from excessive +weariness that I had passed through much already described like a man +in a dream. The brief repose of the previous night, broken by nervous, +superstitious terrors, the anxious effort to escape from the haunted +canyon, the hurried labor on our rude defences, the two fierce combats +with the savages, my numerous wounds, none dangerous yet weakening me +by loss of blood, together with the rapid marching and the difficult +climb up the cliff, combined to exhaust my vitality so completely that, +the moment we halted within the sacred precincts of this temple, I +flung myself full length upon the floor. I remember the sun had +already disappeared behind the western heights. I retain some slight +memory of a tender hand resting softly on my forehead, of a familiar +voice questioning me, yet if I made response, it must have been in the +unconsciousness of sleep, as these faint remembrances were my last. + +I had no means of telling how long I lay thus, close against the north +wall of the building in that very posture in which I had first fallen. +It must have been after hours of unconsciousness I was at last +partially aroused by the reviving touch of cool water with which my +face was being bathed. As I slowly unclosed my heavy eyes the huge +smouldering log in the centre of the room burst into sudden flame, +lighting the interior, casting weird, dancing shadows along the black +walls, its red radiance falling upon the face bending above me, and +permitting me to look into the dark, troubled eyes of Eloise de Noyan. + +"There is no necessity for moving," she explained softly. "Nothing of +moment has occurred since you fell asleep, except that the savages +brought us food." + +"Have you been watching over me all this time without rest?" + +"Nay; at least no more over you than the others," she answered with a +smile, "yet you appeared in greatest stress. The others have been some +time awake and have partaken of food while you remained in stupor. Do +not look at me like that! I am not tired; I was borne all the way upon +a litter, never once placing foot upon the ground." + +"Have you knowledge as to the hour?" + +"Only that it must be well into the night." + +I lifted my body into a more erect posture, finding myself stiff and +sore from head to foot, and glanced curiously around our prison-house. +In the centre was the blazing log, the sole bit of color my eyes could +perceive. Kneeling upon either side were the motionless figures of +four priests, robed from head to foot in black, their faces, darkened +by some pigment, appearing ghastly and repulsive under the flickering +flame. Their lips muttered in monotonous chant a weird incantation +which sent to my heart a chill of superstitious dread. High above the +altar, blackened by the constantly ascending cloud of smoke, swayed +uneasily a peculiar graven image of wood, hideous in disfigurement of +form and diabolical of visage, appearing to float upon outspread wings, +and gloating down upon us through eyes glittering ominously in the fire +sheen. At either extremity of the apartment, where I supposed were the +entrance and exit previously noted, stood those savages remaining on +guard, grim, naked fellows, whose restless eyes, gleaming in the glow, +followed our slightest movements, and whose weapons were constantly +uplifted as though they longed for some excuse to strike. It composed +a grewsome scene, savage, cruel, devilish, exhibiting within its gloomy +outlines small promise for the morrow. + +The old Puritan was leaning heavily against a small stake driven into +the earth, resting his aching head upon one hand as he peered at me +from beneath thatched brows. + +"You have a white face, Master Benteen," he ventured, wondrously soft +spoken for him, "yet if the heart remain strong and at peace with God, +the body will mend itself." + +"The heart has never yet failed me," I returned, striving to speak +cheerfully, feeling that he would like to hear hearty English words +again. "I am glad to behold you safely recovered, friend; that was a +hard crack they landed on your skull." + +"'T is not the will of the Almighty that I ignominiously perish at the +hands of the heathen," he responded in his old manner, and as his voice +roared out, not unlike a clap of thunder in that silence, I observed +how the savages about us started. "Again, and yet again hath He +miraculously delivered his servant from the mouth of the lion. Surely +He must yet have labor for me in His vineyard; perchance the bearing +unto these children of Amalek the message of peace." + +"Do you propose preaching unto them?" + +"Ay, why not? Inspired thereunto by the Spirit, I have already sought +serious converse with yonder priest of Baal, kneeling at this side of +that accursed shrine of idolatry. Yet so wedded is he to idols of wood +and stone, he merely chattered back at me in unintelligible speech, and +when I laid hand upon him to compel him to listen, the brown savage +beyond grievously thrust me with a spear. But I retain faith that the +Lord, in His own time, will open up a way unto their rebellious and +sinful hearts." + +"Such way may be opened, yet I fear these savages will only take +unkindly your efforts at ministry, even if they permit opportunity for +the carrying on of such work." + +"I should be overjoyed to minister unto them with the sharp edge of a +steel blade," interposed De Noyan decidedly, and I noticed him for the +first time, lying beyond his wife. "What do you expect, Master +Benteen, these villains will do to us?" + +"I read no sign of mercy in any face yet seen," I answered cautiously. +"It would be against all savage nature to forgive the loss of those +warriors sent home this day." + +"You look for death?" + +"I expect nothing less, and by torture; still they may permit us the +slight chance of the gantlet, although I know not the war customs of +the tribe." + +He subsided into silence, as though my words merely echoed his own +gloomy thought, and for a few moments no sound arose except the dismal +droning of the priests about the altar. Then Cairnes silently pushed +over toward me what remained of their evening meal, and I forgot gloomy +forebodings in a new realization of hunger. It was while thus busily +engaged Madame spoke to me, whispering her words softly, so that they +could not reach the ears of the others. + +"If the end prove according to our fears, could you outline my probable +fate?" + +No lack of courage prompted the question, I could perceive that in her +eyes as they looked into my own, and some way their expression yielded +me boldness to answer truthfully. + +"I am afraid, Madame, you may be spared," I said gravely. + +Her hands closed down tightly about each other. + +"That is what renders my heart so heavy in this peril, Geoffrey +Benteen. I could die easily, without tremor, beside you; nor would I +shrink back from torture, did it of necessity come to me, for I possess +a faith in Christ which would sustain me in such an ordeal. But +this--O God!--it is too much! The thought that I may be reserved for a +worse fate than death, may be compelled to live for months, perhaps +years, as the humiliated companion of these murderous savages--I, a +lady of France! It is more than I can bear." + +I saw tears shining in her eyes, and my hand, seeking her own, closed +over it with sympathetic pressure. + +"God grant there be some escape," I said earnestly; it was all that +came to my lips. + +"But I feel there is none. I have not lived upon the border of this +vast wilderness all my life without learning something regarding the +customs of savages. If they spare a woman from stake or knife it is +that they may doom her to a fate more horrible, making of her their +degraded slave. I know this, and have read the truth anew in those +faces glaring upon me to-day. There remains but one faint hope--that +woman who seems to exercise control over them may incline the savages +to mercy." + +"I cannot encourage you to place much trust in such tenderness," I +confessed sadly. "'T is not likely, despite her white face, and +certain graces bespeaking knowledge of civilization, she will prove any +less a savage than those she governs. She would not be here, able to +control so wild a brood of wolves, if she were not of their breed in +heart; nor do women chiefs have much choice against the vote of the +tribe. I do not trust her, Madame; I studied her face--a fair one, I +grant--as she stood in the sun upon the rock summit. It was hard set, +and savage with the scent of blood and battle. No mercy led her to +protect us then; like a great cat she prefers playing with her mice +before killing. Has she been here while I slept?" + +"No one has visited us excepting the old chief who led the assault; he +did nothing but strike the Puritan, who sought speech with him." + +She paused a moment, her head bent low; then she lifted her face to +mine again, and I read within it the quick determination of her soul. + +"Geoffrey Benteen, listen. What would you do to save her who was +Eloise Lafreniere from such a fate of horror as now overhangs her?" + +"Anything within the power of a man," I answered instantly, a painful +throbbing at the heart. "I would even drive the saving steel into your +heart to keep you unsoiled from the clutch of such foul hands. Ay! +hard as the task must prove, yet I could do it, believing I performed +the will of God as I struck the blow. But even for that I am helpless, +as I possess no weapon." + +I felt her hands touch mine, something cold being pressed against my +flesh. + +"I thank thee, Father, there is one whom I may trust even unto death," +she sobbed prayerfully. "Take this knife, Geoffrey Benteen. The +Indians did not think to search a woman for such weapons of war. If +the moment comes when all hope is gone, when naught else is left, I +pray you, as a helpless woman utterly dependent upon your aid, let that +sharp point save me endless shame and agony. Have I your promise?" + +"But--but why not ask this of your husband?" I questioned, shrinking, +in spite of my belief in its righteousness, from the committal of so +dreadful a deed. + +"Surely he would better make answer for the necessity of so desperate a +sacrifice." + +Her dark eyes never wavered from my face, nor did her hands relax their +confident grasp of mine. + +"Not because I believe he would refuse, but he is of a temper +changeable as the winds of Spring. I must rest in peace, not in +perpetual doubting. You I trust implicitly; your word, once gravely +given, will be kept to the death; nay, surely this is no time in which +to practise deceit with each other, or act parts like mummers upon the +stage. I know you love me even as of old. I know this, Geoffrey +Benteen, and will abide in my extremity with no other promise than your +own." + +"Eloise," I answered, strangely calmed and strengthened by her faith, +"it shall be as you wish. I thank you for the words, and am better for +them. When the last faint hope flees, and dishonor or death alone is +left, I will strike that blow which sets free your soul." + +I felt her kisses and tears commingled on my roughened hands, but +before further words might be uttered, the heavy mat concealing the +western entrance was suddenly lifted, and in from the dark night there +stalked in solemn silence and dignity a long line of stalwart savages. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE VOTE OF DEATH + +I have already written that I was never easily affected by supernatural +fears, yet something about that grim entrance chilled the very blood. +There was no cessation of the monotonous, dismal chanting of the +priests, as these newcomers,--whose sinister purpose no one could +doubt,--moving with the silence of spectres, their bodies draped in +shapeless robes of skin, appearing ghostlike beneath the uncertain +flickering of flame, moved forward like a great writhing snake, passed +along the southern wall beneath the face of the flying dragon overhead, +until they found seats on the hard floor between altar and platform; +two or three, evidently superior chiefs, by their richer trappings, +ascended the raised logs and solemnly squatted thereon, so as to face +us. How many composed this uncanny company I cannot say, having failed +to count as they filed past, yet they completely filled the great room +with scowling, upturned faces, and were probably all the available +warriors of the tribe. + +This was accomplished in stealthy silence, as wild animals creep upon +their prey, nor did any among them take seats until the old +war-chief--he who had led the assault in the gulch--made signal to that +end. Responding to a second gesture, we were driven roughly forward by +our guard, until permitted to sink down once more, directly in their +front, within full focus of their cruel eyes. + +It was a fearful spot to be in. That dark interior, dimly lighted by +fitful bursts of flame, seemed more the abode of the damned than a +place of human habitation, nor was there anything to remind us of mercy +in that savage company gloating over our desperate plight. No one of +us doubted what fate dwelt in the decision of that grewsome gathering, +and in those faces we saw nothing except eagerness for revenge. It was +their speechless silence, their stolid imperturbability, which rested +heaviest upon me. It told plainly that we were helpless victims of +their cruel pleasure. Deliberately, as if desirous of prolonging the +agony of our uncertainty, for more than an hour--to us it seemed an +age--they sat thus, unmoved as so many statues, except for their +restless eyes, while the four ministering priests, robed in black from +throat to sandals, slaughtered animals beneath the frowning shadow of +the huge winged dragon, pouring warm blood over the stones of the +altar, or smearing it upon their faces. Then, appearing fiendishly +hideous, ghastlier than words can fitly picture, these revolting +figures began with wild chanting to make offerings to their gods, +dancing and capering before the flame to an accompaniment of dismal +music, burning some incense which polluted the air. + +It was a hellish scene, arousing every sleeping devil within those +savage hearts; it preyed upon our strained nerves, and the Puritan lost +all control, roaring out objurgations on the foul, idolatrous crowd +until he was silenced by the sharp tap of a guard's club on his bushy +pate. Nor was it easy for De Noyan to remain quiet, while Madame hid +her shocked white face in her hands, venturing not to glance up while +the sound of these rites continued. Whatever this religious +ceremony--for such I supposed it to be--may have symbolized, it was +finally concluded by the entire party uniting in a fierce chant. As +grim silence settled once more throughout the black interior, the old +war-chief, appearing taller than ever in the weird light, and rendered +peculiarly repulsive by the bandages wrapping his wounds, rose to his +feet, commencing an impassioned address. + +No word spoken was intelligible to us, yet I knew so well the nature +and customs of savages as to experience little difficulty in deciding +the purpose of this harangue. Without doubt the fellow demanded an +immediate sacrifice in payment for the loss inflicted on their tribe. +With this conception as guide I noted his continually pointing toward +us, one after another, as if singling us out as special subjects for +denunciation, perhaps for torture, as with each he seemed to associate +a peculiar term, repeating it again and again with changing cadence, as +if thus to force its dread significance more firmly home into the minds +of his listeners. The word I distinguished most frequently had the +sound "_ca-tah_," which became associated in my thought as some special +form of torture to which he desired us sentenced. Nor did I fail to +remark in this connection, my every faculty alert and strained to grasp +the slightest revealment, that, whenever the orator's baleful glance +rested upon the shrinking woman, his lips uttered another word, his +silent audience nodding as though in assent to each demand. + +One followed another, no doubt in accordance with rank. Those chiefs +upon the platform spoke first, each in turn seeming to pronounce +against us in favor of that same unknown fate, making use of those two +words, gesticulating toward us as they gave judgment. Nowhere amid all +that vengeful black circle did I discern a single face not set in +savage hatred, while slowly at first, but gathering force as it +proceeded, there passed from lip to lip the sullen murmur of that dread +word "_ca-tah_." As it was pronounced each voter pointed at us, three +times making repetition of the word, until the last warrior had spoken, +and we knew that our doom had been formally pronounced by a tribunal +knowing no mercy, from whose decision there was no appeal. + +No hapless prisoner confined, as I have read they were in olden times, +within a dungeon whose walls slowly closed to crush him into pulp, +could have seen the coming of death, resistless and horrible, with +clearer vision than was ours as that group of savages pronounced our +doom. It was by exercising the greatest effort of will that I +conquered the dread sense of utter hopelessness which seemed to numb my +every faculty; for, although I was to be tortured to the end, and +perish at last in utmost physical agony, yet before that moment came +there still remained a duty to be performed for one I loved. For that +I must retain mind and strength to act like a man. + +Slowly, cautiously, moving inch by inch across the small space +intervening, so as not to attract the attention of our guard, I crept +forward, pausing at last close beside Madame. Even as I reached her +the final warrior cast his useless vote with the others, the excited +concourse voicing appreciation in noisy acclaim. I bent low, trembling +from weakness, until my lips were close to her ear. + +"Eloise," I whispered softly, forgetting at the awful moment that she +possessed another name, "it has been voted that three of us perish by +torture, but you are not in the list; you are named for a different +fate. Is it still your wish that I fulfil the pledge?" + +As she glanced up, the old war-chief pointed directly toward her. I +could perceive the baleful gleam of his eyes, and noted with what quick +aversion she shrank back until her shoulder pressed my own. + +"Yes, Geoffrey Benteen," she made immediate, resolute answer. "It will +be mercy. I beg you strike." + +"You forgive the blow?" + +"Forgive!" An instant her clear eyes, unfrightened, looked directly +into mine, a message in their depths I had never seen there before. +"More, I love the heart and hand which speed it." + +My hands were bound tightly together, but my arms remained free, the +hilt of the knife resting firmly between the palms. Although I drew my +body somewhat back in readiness for the stroke, I delayed the terrible +deed until the last possible moment, the perspiration standing in great +beads upon my face. Oh, how I loved her then! how my half-blinded eyes +feasted upon her sweet, sad face, the flames casting a ruddy glow upon +it, and playing fitfully amid the masses of her dark, tangled hair! +There swept across my mind every memory of our past, and she was again +with me in her girlhood, before sorrow had stamped her with its seal, +and she had turned me away tenderly as ever a woman could. And now she +was doomed to death by my hand; with one blow I was to blot out the +life I loved a thousand times better than my own. Merciful God! what a +trick had fate played me! Nor durst I speak to her again, for her +fingers toyed with the rosary at her throat, the beads glowing dully in +the flame, and I knew she was in prayer, expecting with each instant +the coming of that stroke which should send her trusting soul to God. +I, who have seen much of conflict and peril, much of suffering and +atrocity, look back on no moment in all my life so fraught with agony +as this, when, grasping that deadly knife in both hands, I watched +every threatening movement of the savage arbiters of her fate, praying +unto God for strength with which to perform my duty. + +At last the chiefs stood erect. In response to their gestures of +command, the massed warriors below sprang to their feet, flocking +eagerly toward us, giving utterance to one deep vengeful cry. Already +their clutches were upon the struggling Puritan, when I swung high the +gleaming knife in both my hands. For one terrible second I met her +unflinching gaze, a glance which will abide with me until my dying +day--then the keen steel fell, barely deflected from the heart, +slashing open the bosom of her dress, yet--thanks be to a kind +God!--finding harmless sheath, not within her quivering flesh but in +the hard-packed earth. It was scarcely less than a miracle that I was +thus able to turn the blow, but, even as I aimed it, putting to the +hilt my full strength that I might send it surely home, there came into +my vision a sudden flash of bright color against the dark, skin-draped +wall, and I knew the Queen had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN + +At first my dimmed eyes beheld her through a mist, my hands shaking as +if stricken by palsy, nor did I retain sufficient strength of body to +uplift myself from the spot where I had fallen with the force of my +blow. Nevertheless I shall forever retain the vivid picture imprinted +on memory. Before us stood a tall, fair-skinned woman, having dignity +of command in every movement, her face thin, strong, dominant, with +large, dark, passionate eyes, flashing in scornful beauty over the +excited warriors at her feet. Pride, power, imperious will, a scarcely +hidden tigerish cruelty, were in every line of her features; yet she +remained strikingly handsome, with that rare beauty which drives men +mad and laughs mockingly at its victims. She was robed completely in +red, the brilliant color harmonizing strangely with her countenance, +the single outer garment extending, devoid of ornament, from throat to +heel, loosely gathered at the waist, and resembling in form and drapery +those pictures I have seen of Roman togas, while her magnificent wealth +of hair, of richest reddish gold, appeared to shimmer and glow in the +sparkle of leaping flames as if she wore a tiara of rubies. + +With quick, passionate speech she poured forth her purpose, and I saw +the savage throng shrink before her, as if they knew and dreaded the +outburst of her anger. Yet, as she paused breathless, the old +war-chief ventured to face her, returning a stern reply. This +disregard of her temper so imparted courage to the others that they +rallied about their leader as one man, numerous hoarse voices +supplementing his protest, until it was plain to be seen that the woman +remained alone and unsupported against the savage crew. Yet the lines +of determination but deepened in her face, her lips curled in scorn, +and she turned from them to look down where we were huddled in despair. +A moment her flashing eyes swept across our upturned faces, the howls +of her opponents growing fiercer on every side. With one imperious +gesture she commanded silence, and, as the gruff voices died away in +muttered discontent, the woman addressed us, speaking a clear, pure +Spanish, making use now and then of words unknown to me. + +"Prisoners, can any among you interpret my speech?" + +I caught my breath in glad surprise, struggling to my feet, and making +haste to answer. + +"If you speak slowly," I said, "I shall be able to understand." + +"'Tis well, as it is a tongue unknown to these Indians," her eyes +lighting up with cunning. "Then, Senor, mark with care what I say, +and, if the meaning of any escape your ears, bid me speak again, so no +mistake be made." + +"It will give me great pleasure, O Queen." + +"I am the Daughter of the Sun," she interposed proudly, as if +correcting my mode of address. "These are my children, given unto me +by the great Sun-god. For what purpose have you of white skin dared +invade the land of the Sun?" + +"We knew nothing of your presence here, merely seeking a passage +through these mountains northward." + +"But you killed the warriors of our nation; you have stricken the +people of the Sun." + +"True, Daughter of the Sun; yet it was done only in self-defence. When +attacked we struck hard blows." + +Her eyes glowed angrily, her face becoming cruelly hard. + +"None of white blood may set foot in this valley and live. It is the +land of the Sun," she said haughtily. "None have ever before ventured +to do so, and found safe way back to their own. Are you French?" + +[Illustration: "I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my children, +given unto me by the great Sun-god. . . . None of white blood may set +foot in this valley and live."] + +"Not all,--the lady and yonder cavalier are of French blood, I am a +hunter of the Ohio country, while he who crouches beyond also calls +himself American." + +"I know nothing of your Ohio, nor what may be an American," she replied +with an impatient stamp of the foot, "but it is bad any among you +should prove French. What does the woman do here?" + +In a few brief sentences I told our story, marking as I spoke that she +followed my words with care. As I concluded she merely gazed more +closely into Madame's upturned face, speaking as though communing with +herself. + +"She has the appearance of a fair woman; we need no such here." She +raised her voice slightly, addressing me in cold reserve. + +"Your story sounds well. True or false, it makes small odds. We +attacked your party, believing you French, whom the children of the Sun +have good reason to hate. You have cost us the lives of many warriors, +and the Sun calls for vengeance. Already has the tribe solemnly voted +your death by fire. Now mark me closely. 'Tis not often I interfere +in such affairs as this, nor do I now for any higher object than my own +gratification. The Daughter of the Sun is no angel, nor ambitious to +become one. I have looked on unmoved at the torture of the stake more +than once, so 'tis no weak sentimentality that leads me to try to avert +your fate. Nor am I sure I can, whatever my motive be. I possess no +power to overturn the united vote of these warriors--they are all +children of the Sun. I can think of but one method by which I can even +hope to encompass your escape from immediate torture. If by some +subterfuge I can delay action until day-dawn, I may be able to control +these savages. The children of the Sun do not light their fires in the +presence of their Father. There is but one possible way to that +end,--does yonder red-headed man comprehend the Spanish tongue?" + +"He does not." + +"That is bad," her brows contracting. "Still he must be used, as no +other among you will answer my purpose. Bid him advance to my side on +the platform; bid him pretend to hold converse with me, and, above all +else, have him attend my every gesture and obey. Will he do your +bidding?" + +"I know not," I replied honestly. "He is of a bull-headed breed, yet I +may be able to drive into him a moment of sense." + +"Do your part thoroughly, nor be too long about it. The chiefs grow +restless at our talk, and may yet take affairs into their own hands." + +I turned doubtfully toward the Puritan, who was glaring up at the woman +from beneath his shaggy brows, much as he might have looked upon some +wild animal seen for the first time. I presume the fiery red drapery +caused him to deem her that veritable scarlet woman about whom he +prated so much. He appeared far from being a promising subject for my +overtures, especially as his great head must have ached still from +contact with the club, which had alone beaten him into sullen silence. +Yet she commanding the attempt was so desperately in earnest that I +determined to do my part. + +"Watch carefully my words," I said sternly in English, "and bear in +mind the preservation of all our lives depends on the part you play. +The woman chief has made choice of you to help in winning mercy from +these savages. I know not why you are the one thus chosen, yet I +suspect that fiery crop of hair may have something to do with the +honor. The main point is, are you in a humor to do her bidding?" + +"Nay!" he replied, gazing at me stubbornly. + +"You refuse to assist in saving your own life, and the lives of your +comrades?" + +"I touch not the accursed abominations of this place," he answered, +hoarse with anger, "nor will I have aught to do with yonder shameless +creature." + +"Sirrah!" I cried, thoroughly aroused by his mulishness, "do you +deliberately choose to sacrifice the life of this lady to your +bull-headed fanaticism? Do you refuse to unbend your miserable +Connecticut sectarianism, your Puritan cant, although by so doing you +might keep your comrades from the horrors of the stake? If this is +what you mean, I denounce you as unworthy to be called a man, and I +name your loud protestations of religion no more than a hissing and a +byword before the ungodly you profess to despise. You are no better +than a Pharisee, full of loud-mouthed prayers and vain conceit of +righteousness, a false prophet, haggling over formalism when the +slightest sacrifice of what you hold the letter of the law would result +in the salvation of human life. You call yourself a Christian, a +follower of that Nazarene who died for sinners on the cross, deeming +yourself better than those who cling to other creed. You sneer at that +rosary in Madame's fingers, yet do you suppose it possible she would +not endeavor to pluck your life from the jaws of death if it lay in her +power? Ay! and never waste speech about abominations in the path." + +"The spirit is of greater value than the body," he persisted doggedly. +"Yea, 'tis better the flesh perish miserably in the flame than +surrender up the soul unto the devil." + +"That is no issue here; you seek to deceive yourself by false words. I +denounce you openly as a false follower, for if I read rightly the +language of Holy Writ, it was He whom you so delight to term Master who +gave his life freely for His friends. But you--you are all words, a +charnel-house of dead men's bones." + +Had he been free I might have rued my hasty words, for his eyes were +hot with anger, and he strained fiercely at his bonds in effort to +break free. Yet I felt safe enough beyond the sweep of his great arm, +rejoicing that my tongue was sharp enough to penetrate so thick a hide, +and make the man squirm beneath his outer vestment of piety. + +"You speak falsely," he bellowed, nearly beside himself. "Satan puts +those foul words upon your lips tempting me to do evil." + +"Nay; the words are true," I went on, determined to drive him by +taunts. "They are neither foul nor false, and right glad I am to +discover your real character even at this eleventh hour. I make no +loud boasting of my religion, dinning it into the ears of all I meet as +if I were the only righteous man on earth, but I do thank God from the +depths of my heart I have never yet basely deserted a friend in time of +trouble. I did consider you a good comrade, but I know now you are +nothing but a whited sepulchre, a miserable hypocrite, a Judas +betraying his master with a kiss. Pah! go your way, you are unclean; +nor ever hope again for word of fellowship from lips of honest men. I +shall die having performed my duty to the extent of my knowledge, but +you as a dog, a traitor to your comrades, the betrayer of a woman in +time of peril." + +"'Tis false, I say; I would yield life gladly to aid her." + +"Zounds! that sounds good from such lips. Why, you have just refused +much less." + +"Yonder is an emissary of the Evil One." + +"Keep your cowardly excuses to yourself. Whatever the woman may be, +she offers us a chance for our lives, provided only you will perform +her will in sundry matters." + +He hesitated, his uncertain eyes shifting from her face to mine. + +"What does this scarlet priestess of Baal require that I do?" he +questioned sullenly. + +"Good lack, 'tis little enough even to satisfy your conscience. Merely +that you stand beside her on the platform, pretending converse, marking +carefully her every signal, and obeying it." + +"I play no idolatrous mummery with her." + +"Then may the devil fly away with you," I retorted, so enraged by this +time I could scarcely refrain from grappling him with my hands. "I go +to tell Madame of the fool you are." + +He gave vent to a deep groan, rolling his eyes as was his habit in time +of trial, yet never removing his gaze from that red figure, standing +motionless as a statue, impatiently awaiting his decision. + +"In the name of the holy prophets of Israel!" he snorted desperately at +last. "'T is, indeed, a grievous trial like unto that which befell +Daniel in the den of the lions. If I go upon yonder sinful platform +before these hosts of Satan, it will be only as led by the Almighty, +and that I may wrestle mightily in prayer for the redemption of the +heathen." + +"I care not, man, so you go. Pray loud as you please, yet give heed to +the signals of the woman if you value your own life or ours." + +Odds! it was a picture to see the fellow start on his unwelcome +mission, slouching through the ranks of the surprised savages with as +hangdog a look on his mournful countenance as though he mounted the +gallows. It was with faint hope as to the result that I watched him +lumber onto the platform, doubting not he would perform some crazy +trick to offset any good he might endeavor. I could scarce restrain a +smile as the two actors faced each other, marking the look of +undisguised horror on his leathern face, and how he shrank back as her +hand extended to touch him. The wild, discordant cries of the grouped +savages ceased in wonderment at this unanticipated scene; even the +perpetual incantations of the priests died away, every eye gazing +curiously on the strange spectacle. The Puritan had appropriated one +of De Noyan's hats, broad of brim, and so ample of crown the high +peaked head of the worthy sectary was almost lost within its capacious +interior. No sooner, however, did he attain her side than the woman +grasped it in her white fingers, flinging it disdainfully upon the +floor, and, like a flash of unexpected color in the dancing light of +the fire, there blazed forth before us his flaming covering with a +brilliancy which startled even me. Saint Andrew! it was a glow to make +the eyes blink. + +The sudden effect of this disclosure upon the thronging warriors was +beyond words of mine. There followed a hush so painful in intensity I +could distinguish the quick throbbing of my own heart. I saw the woman +point at the fellow, giving eager utterance to a single word, her eyes +sweeping the faces below. Then came an irregular rush forward, +inarticulate cries pierced the air, war weapons were dashed clanging +upon the earthen floor, while numerous torches, grasped from off the +sacred altar, were waved aloft by excited hands, all serving to form as +demoniacal a scene as was ever witnessed this side of hell. + +The full truth flashed across my mind--our comrade had in that moment +been changed from a helpless, beaten prisoner into an object of +superstitious worship. By the magic of a word, the alchemy of a +thought, he had become to these superstitious savages a mysterious +visitant from the Sun, and for once, at least, he might fervently bless +Nature, who had bestowed upon him so rich a coloring of hair. Whether +or not the fellow comprehended the meaning of that uproar, of those +wildly dancing figures in his front, I could never determine; but, +before the woman could in any way interfere, the sectary plumped down +upon his knees, and, with head bent so low that every separate hair +caught the reflection of the ruddy flames, began pouring forth a +petition in sturdy English, and with a volume of voice that shook the +whole interior. It was not such a bad play, I take it, although he was +desperately in earnest. Very plainly he compared his worshipping +auditory to certain scriptural characters, in a way that would not have +proven flattering to them could they have interpreted his language. + +"Oh, Lord God!" he roared, rolling his eyes upward and interjecting +many a deep groan after each sentence. "Infinite Jehovah, for some +just reason of Thy own, Thou hast seen fit to lead Thy most humble +servant into this den of iniquity. Thou hast placed me in the fiery +furnace of tribulation, it may be in the test of that faith which was +delivered unto the saints, yet will I not bow down in the tents of the +idolaters, nor profane Thy Holy Name by the worship of their false +gods. Here in the midst of the ravening lions I uplift my eyes unto +Jerusalem, and my lips unto the throne of grace, beseeching Thee to +give unto me the salvation of these heathen, even as brands plucked +from the burning. Quench the fire on this altar of Baal, O Lord, by +the outpouring of Thy Spirit, and give unto this people a manifestation +of Thy mighty power, redeeming them from their manifold sins. Yea, +Lord, give ear unto the words of my petition, and as of old times thou +didst send a message of fire unto Thy prophet Elijah, so come down even +now to visit these unbelieving and mocking hearts with the terror of +Thy just wrath. Make bare Thy arm of infinite power that this +abomination of heathendom may be purged of its vain idolatry, and that +Thy Israel may triumph over the hosts of the sinful. Even as Thou +didst scatter the forces of the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea, +even so, O Lord, visit now Thy wrath upon those who mock Thee and +degrade Thy image. Save us from the snare of this scarlet woman, this +proud harlot of Babylon, and forgive Thy servant for thus seeming to +obey her will. Thou knowest, O Lord, that it is only that I may the +better serve Thee, and thus overcome the wiles of the Wicked One. Give +unto me in this hour the strength of Samson that I may overturn the +pillars of this temple of abominations, even though we all perish in +its destruction. Yea, visit us with power and righteousness, and +scatter Thy enemies over the face of the earth. O Lord! I am as +nothing, a mere worm of the dust: smite me if Thou wilt, yet I but +wrestle with Thee in prayer that through me the heathen may be brought +low, and led to see the error of their way." + +There was no halting him, yet even as he continued to pour forth +fervent supplication, the warriors drew back from the dense circle +pressing against the platform, taking solemn counsel together. Then +the old war-chief advanced to the centre, pointing maliciously toward +De Noyan and myself. I observed the Queen wave her hand in a gesture +of apparent carelessness, and before I could clearly conjecture the +full meaning of it, strong hands clutched us, and, in spite of +struggles, we were dragged roughly back toward the shrouded entrance of +the lodge. There was no shouting, no din of any kind to disturb the +devotions of the Puritan, who prayed on with closed eyes and a vigor of +utterance making mock of all other sound. Silently as they moved, it +was nevertheless plain to be read in the grim, savage faces closing +about us, that we were being driven forth to no scene of pleasure. +Harshly did their gripping hands hustle us forward. The heavy mat +shading the entrance was flung aside, and like the unexpected flight of +an arrow, into the black gloom of the lodge, weirdly lighting up the +wild faces, streamed the clear, white light of the dawn. Far off upon +the highest summit of the yellow cliff there already rested the first +rosy reflection of the rising sun. One shout rang discordant from the +surprised throats of our captors; the brutal hands released their +grasp, and De Noyan and myself sank back helpless upon the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +A VISITANT FROM THE SUN + +As by magic the uproar of the infuriated savages died away. Gazing up +from where I lay, my eyes beheld every face turned outward, every eye +fastened upon that distant wall of rock. Suddenly a strange cry arose, +each throat giving utterance to the same sound as if in trained +obedience to some recognized signal, and immediately every Indian lay +prostrate, his face in the dust. Gazing toward the spot they had +watched so intently, I could perceive how the rose tints of the early +sun flecked the upper extremity of the precipitous rock with spots of +color, checkers of red and gold, while just below its lofty crest, +seemingly touching the deep blue of the morning sky, hardly more than +dim specks against the dull background of gray rock, appeared several +moving black figures, and I could distinguish a series of flashes as if +they waved blazing torches in welcome to the King of Day. + +"_Sacre_! 'tis an uncanny sight," muttered my companion uneasily. +"Have yonder foul priests been given wings whereby they mount the very +rock in their devil worship?" + +"Hardly that," I returned tersely. "There will be a footpath leading +to the spot either from above or below." + +"True, perchance; yet 'tis not from above. Of that I am certain, as +the crest of the rock overhangs; you may perceive the deep shadow of it +even from here." + +Before I could distinguish clearly the peculiarity pointed out, the +woman chief came forth through the open entrance, appearing more fair +and white of skin than ever in the clear light of the dawn. Scarcely +glancing toward either the prostrate tribesmen or those distant +signalling priests, she advanced directly toward where we lay helpless +in our bonds. There was a flush upon her cheeks, a light of animation +in her eyes, yet she stood looking down upon me much as she might have +viewed an insensate stone. + +"Senor," she said coldly, still speaking the Spanish tongue, "it did +please my humor but now to play a small trick upon these innocent +children of nature, knowing their faith and tribal customs. For the +time being I won, and it is you who benefit. You, and these others, +are for the present delivered from that torture to which you were +condemned: the rising of yonder Sun has saved you; 'tis the law of the +Natchez. Nay, thank me not," as I sought to express my words of +gratitude. "I told you before it was not from any desire to show +mercy, but for a purpose of my own. Yet if you would continue to +profit through my strange whim--and surely I have seldom been thus +swayed to action--then it will be well to give heed unto my words. I +bid you proceed at once to that second hut yonder, nor dare venture +forth again until I send. The children of the Sun bow now to the +commands of their ancient faith, yet are of temper hard to control." + +"You fear they may yet demand us in sacrifice?" + +"Not to-day, unless you do that which shall arouse their passions +beyond my power of restraint. While the sun dominates the sky your +lives are preserved from violence, but if you would live longer it must +be through careful guarding of speech and action. I promise nothing +beyond the present day. But now," she bent over, severing my bonds +with a flint blade, "go; do exactly as I bade you, and no longer bandy +words with me." + +"But the lady within the lodge?" I ventured anxiously, as I struggled +to my feet, standing erect before her. + +"She bides elsewhere." + +"It will be hard for her alone--" + +"What is all that to you, sirrah?" she interrupted haughtily. +"According to the tale told, you are not her husband. He who might +have right to question separation has made no complaint." + +"He does not comprehend your speech. For that reason he remains dumb." + +"Mean you it is he who inspires your objection?" she asked scornfully. + +"No; yet I doubt not 'tis in his heart even as upon my lips." + +She turned aside, an incredulous smile curling her lips, looking +curiously down upon him, and their eyes met. She stooped swiftly, +severing the thongs of grass binding his arms, and with her own hands +assisted him to rise. + +"A fair and noble gallant," she said softly, reluctantly turning back +from him to me. "Not of hard, stern visage like yours, but with the +bearing of a gentleman, the smile of a courtier. Pish! he will not +miss her over-much, or else I read not rightly the challenge of his +eyes. But come, hunter, I bade you go in haste, nor is it well for any +one to wait my bidding twice." + +"'T is no more than just we should be told the destiny of our +companions," I persisted, determined not to desert them thus. "May not +both the Puritan and the woman abide with us?" + +Her eyes flashed in uncontrolled anger, her lips giving vent to a low, +cruel laugh. + +"I tell you no, and understand once for all my word is law. You are +not standing before a French court to haggle over trifles, and dispute +about your rights. Bah! you have no rights; you live from day to day +merely by my whim. The red-headed man tarries where he is as long as +it remains my pleasure; while as to yon dainty creature, she shall meet +no harm. Forsooth, it will not greatly hurt her to be beyond your +sight for a space." + +"Does she bide with you?" + +"If I so will it, yes; if not, no. Who are you, hunter, to dare +question Naladi after she bids you cease?" she exclaimed, her cheeks +crimsoning. "Now go; go ere I am tempted to show you I possess power +to enforce my will. Another word, and you will long regret it." + +She was a tigress now, her eyes burning into mine with the fierceness +of a wild animal scenting blood. It would have been sheer madness to +attempt more, with those scowling, savage faces lowering at us from +every side, their possessors only too eager to spring forward in cruel +obedience to a gesture of their Queen. A single word from her red lips +would, in spite of all superstition, cause them to rend us limb from +limb, so I bade De Noyan follow me, feeling relief when once beyond her +sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut. + +"Well, Master Benteen," remarked my comrade easily, finding a soft +bearskin upon which to rest his aching limbs, "this is an odd company +among whom you have piloted us; one not altogether appealing to my +taste in its masculine elements. Yet, damme, but you possess rare +advantage over the rest of us in holding converse with these people, +while I must remain dumb as an oyster, save for a glance of the eye. +Perhaps, now that we have time for it, you will kindly explain the +meaning of all this mummery with which we passed the night, for, by all +the gods of Rome, it was weird enough to turn my hair gray, yet I +understood neither word nor deed. How came that grim preacher to +attain such honor, taking position beside their peerless Queen?" + +His idiotic lightness of speech and manner jarred unpleasantly upon my +humor. I was heavy-hearted from what had passed, retaining little +confidence in the future, yet I told him the story as best I could, +trusting the recital might serve to sober him, so we could counsel +together regarding our plans. + +"_Pardieu_! 'twas rather a pretty trick of the lady," he exclaimed +laughingly, as I ended the tale. "She would do honor to a more +pretentious court with her wit as well as beauty. What did you call +the title she bore?" + +"'Daughter of the Sun' was the name given in the altar-house yonder; +later she made use of the word Naladi." + +"Ay! that was it. 'T is a name fitting her well to my taste, and I +boast of some experience with the sex. _Sacre_! I trust not to have +seen the last of so fair a vision as this Queen Naladi." + +He was twirling his moustache, such a look of complacency upon his +features I could only stare at him in bewildered surprise. + +"You appear reconciled to our situation with marvellous good grace," I +managed to say at last, in a tone which made no attempt to conceal my +disgust at his coxcombry. "For myself I can see very little to hope +for." + +"Tut, tut, man," stretching himself negligently into a posture of +greater ease, "an old soldier learns to take things as they come, +without complaint; to extract sweets from every flower. Surely here is +a rare rose we have uncovered blooming in the wilderness; nor am I +blind to its beauty, or unmindful of my privileges. Besides, lad, what +is there greatly to worry about? We are preserved, you tell me, from +torture; food will undoubtedly be supplied in plenty, while the lady is +surely fair enough to promise pleasant companionship in exile--provided +I ever learn to have private speech with her. What was the tongue?" + +"We conversed in Spanish." + +"I thought as much; there were certain familiar words. But, as I said, +why complain of fate, with all these blessings showered upon us. +_Pardieu_! it would prove us ungrateful wretches. Surely 'tis better +than the tender mercy of O'Reilly, ay, or the hardship and starvation +of the trail." + +"You have forgotten your wife." + +"Forgotten? _Sacre_! I should say not, Master Benteen; nor is that +likely to occur. Yet what cause have I to worry regarding her present +comfort. Did you not say that the Queen pledged her safety and good +care? What more could I accomplish for her than that, even were we +back in New Orleans, beneath French protection? Saint Denis! you are +of a complaining breed, inclined to act as conscience for your betters. +True, there are some few things I greatly miss, that would minister to +comfort. I was ever careful in my toilet, and choice as to my wines in +town; still, if these savages have not lost my soaps and brushes, I +will strive to exist even here, and be content until a way opens toward +that which is better." + +"I greatly admire your patience." + +"Pah! 'tis but the long practice of a soldier. Yet I am somewhat weary +from the night, and, if you have talked enough, will seek rest to dream +of Naladi, trusting she may send for me ere long. Did you note the +beauty of her eyes?" + +"I marked their cruelty." + +"_Le Diable_! I ever admired spirit in a woman; 'tis the greater +pleasure to watch them take on softer light. In such orbs love shines +the clearer, once awakened." + +I sat there some time in silence until he fell asleep. Then, realizing +how useless it was for me, wearily as my eyelids drooped, to strive +longer in thought, I sought another robe to rest upon, and was soon +happily unconscious also. + +I presume some unusual noise aroused me, for as I awoke and stared +about, unable at the moment to comprehend my situation, I noticed, by +evidence of the sun shining through the entrance of the hut, it was +already past the noon hour. Consciousness becoming more acute, I +perceived, standing barely within the shadows of the interior, the +dusky figure of a warrior, unarmed, and motionless except for a gesture +of the hand which seemed to command my following him. Retaining +concealed within my doublet the sharp knife intrusted to me by Madame, +I felt little trepidation at the fellow's presence, nor was there +anything about his countenance to foster alarm, he appearing the least +ferocious of aspect of all I had observed among the tribe. A moment I +hesitated, then believing him a messenger from the Queen, I followed +his retreating figure out into the sunlight. + +The village reposed in loneliness and silence, nor did I see even child +or dog playing before the square huts as we passed them. As we mounted +higher along the slope and began climbing the strangely rounded hill on +the summit of which perched the altar-house, I glanced back curiously +over the plain outspread below. Little clusters of dark figures were +scattered here and there throughout the pleasant valley, many of them +congregated along the greener banks of the circling water-course, +others scattered more widely afield, yet all earnestly engaged in +cultivation of the ground. This quiet, pastoral scene was so foreign +to all my previous conception of Indian nature that for the moment I +paused amazed, gazing upon this picture of peaceful agriculture in the +heart of the wilderness. Surely, cruel, revengeful savages though they +were, yet here was a people retaining traditions of a higher life than +that of the wild chase and desert war. I could perceive no guards +stationed anywhere, yet felt no doubt that every entrance leading into +this hidden paradise, this rock-barricaded basin amid the hills, would +be amply protected by armed and vigilant warriors, confining us as +securely within its narrow limits as if a dozen savages followed our +every footfall. My silent guide, after one glance across his naked +shoulder, to assure himself that I followed, led straight forward up +the hill on a dog-trot, soon placing him far in advance. At the +entrance of the altar-house he paused, showing disinclination to enter. +In obedience to a gesture I passed within, leaving him standing there, +as if awaiting my return, a silent statue in light bronze, the glow of +the sunshine upon him. + +Wondering what my mission might be, I remained a moment motionless +slightly within the entrance, my eyes almost totally blinded by the +sudden transition from the garish day to that dull interior. Slowly +the scene within resolved itself into clearer detail. I began to +perceive the crawling red flames licking with hungry tongues along the +sides of the huge log resting upon the altar block, and later +distinguished the black figure of a priest moving silently from point +to point amid the shadows, engaged upon the grewsome functions of his +office, his presence ever manifested by the dismal crooning with which +he worked his magic spells. Beyond these vague suggestions of +life--for they seemed scarcely more--it was like endeavoring to sound +the depths of a cavern, so black, still, and void was all within and +about. Yet, even as I stood thus, peering uneasily into the gloom, I +was thoroughly startled at the sudden booming forth of a voice, +apparently issuing from the darkest corner. + +"May the Lord God forgive ye, Master Benteen, and be merciful unto ye, +for thus placing His minister in such stress. 'T is I, Ezekiel +Cairnes, who hath become an abomination unto Israel." + +There was a tone of such utter depression in the great roaring voice, I +feared some serious mishap had befallen him, and hastened to cross the +room, heading toward the corner whence the sound came. As I attained +the outer edge of the platform, groping my passage through the dense +gloom, I was halted in the midst of a dozen or more savages, lying +prone upon the hard floor, evidently in adoration of that grotesque +figure perched above, and now clearly revealed by a blazing up of the +charred log. Not one among them stirred from his prostrate position at +my approach. Forgetting them instantly, my whole attention became +riveted upon the marvellous transformation presented by my old Puritan +comrade. Odds! what a sight! He sat bolt upright, as though bound in +that stiff posture, occupying a low dais, almost at the edge of the +platform. This latter had been covered with a glaring crimson cloth, +roughly woven, presumably of native manufacture, peculiarly brilliant +in its coloring, and hence of rare beauty to Indian eyes. At my +approach he began straining at the cords which held him helpless, and I +soon saw that his entire body was wrapped about with ropes of grass in +such a manner as to render vain any hope of escape. His oddly shapen +figure, with the wide, square shoulders and short legs, was +likewise-draped in red, above which flared his fiery shock of +dishevelled hair, while a face fairly distorted with rage, gray from +loss of sleep, and rendered ludicrous by its little snapping eyes, +glared down upon me. + +"Memory of Beelzebub! It would be no matter of laughter for ye, Master +Benteen," he snorted savagely, straining at his cords, "could I burst +these accursed strings, and lay my hands to your throat. Ay! nor would +yonder idolatrous swine lie there long if I once got free among them. +Imagine not, vain and presumptuous unbeliever that the Lord God +Almighty--He who rideth in the chariot of the whirlwind--will long +permit the heathen to profane His holy places, or triumph in the misery +of one of the elect. There cometh the Day of Judgment, when the wicked +shall be scattered as chaff." + +"You are in a most unpleasant condition, friend," I replied, +endeavoring to speak so as to calm his temper. "It is in sorrow, not +pleasure, I behold you thus." + +"I am entangled in the snare of the Evil One, Master Benteen. But I +continue manfully to war against the adversary even as becomes my high +station." + +"Have you been long in so pitiful a state? I dreamed not it would ever +come to this." + +"It may be true you were ignorant of the wiles of that emissary of +Satan who doth encompass us," he acknowledged, a trifle mollified by my +sympathy. "I would not be guilty of evil thought even toward an +unregenerated heretic. Yet I have sat thus, wrapped like a mummy of +the Egyptians, since early dawn. Ay, verily have I been sore oppressed +both of body and spirit. Nor has there been any surcease, when the +heathen have not lain thus at my feet. What means such action?" + +"They mistake you for a god, and prostrate themselves in worship. You +are unto them a mysterious visitant from the Sun--so the Queen named +you, inspired by the color of your hair." + +He groaned aloud, his chin dropping dejectedly upon his breast. + +"I feared as much, and the thought greatly oppressed me. 'T is as if I +were a golden calf set aloft in the wilderness to mock the true God. +It resteth heavy on my spirit to abide as a vain idol in the tents of +these idolaters. When first they draped me with this foul livery of +Satan," he touched the scarlet robe gingerly with his chin, "I made so +vigorous a protest two of the black imps went down before me, but the +others overpowered my struggles, binding me fast, as you see. But, +verily, I have delivered unto them the whole truth as revealed unto the +saints; have struck and spared not--ay! the very language of the +scriptures have I poured forth unstinted upon them, and drawn before +their eyes that fiery hell over which they dangle in their sins. It +must be their understandings are darkened, for they hearken not unto my +exhortations, only lie thus, or dance before me by the hour in unholy +worship, snapping their fingers and shouting strange words, while twice +yonder black emissary of false religion held his smoking torch so +closely to my face the flame scorched the skin. Nor have my most +fervent prayers availed to drive them hence, or ease the prickings of +the spirit. 'T is as if the ear of the Lord had been turned aside from +the supplications of His servant; yea, verily, as if the vials of His +wrath were being poured forth upon my head, because, in a moment of +weakness, I yielded to the machinations of that scarlet woman." + +"Have you again seen her?" I questioned anxiously, as he paused for +breath. + +"Seen her!--the accursed of God, the moral leper who rules this foul +nest? Ay; I have, and may the Lord forgive my ever casting eyes upon +such a shameless creature. 'T was she who brought me this disgrace. +She stood by with mocking smile, bidding her savage minions bind me +fast. She is the chief imp of Satan in spite of her fair face, and +shall yet be stricken low by the avenging arm of the Almighty. 'Tis no +gleam of mercy cometh to me from her taunts, nor in the harlot blood +flowing through her veins. I tell you, Master Benteen, she is the +worst devil, for all her softness, in all this heathen crew; and if she +spared our lives from the torture, it was done through some dark +project born of the demon within her soul. Nothing good can come forth +from such as she. Marked you the eyes she cast on De Noyan?" + +"I paid no heed," I answered, wondering he had observed so much. "Have +you supposed we may owe our escape unto him?" + +"Ay! she has marked him victim to her snare, nor do I doubt the full +success of her venture. 'T is small stock of virtue which bedecks +itself in such Punchinello dress as that gay gallant wears. Amalekite +is written upon his raiment, and he is ever attired as becomes a +bridegroom to the shameless harlot ruling this devils' den. Marry, he +may be good enough wielding a sword, yet will prove the undoing of all +who company with him in this adventure." + +"You are unjustly angry," I insisted, striving to make light of his +words. "I value not the mercy of the woman, yet she used the only +means she had for restraining her savage followers. It was stern +necessity driving her to reliance on the magic of your red hair with +which to save us all. No doubt she intends giving you early release +from so painful a situation." + +"You also are bewitched by her vain fleshly beauty," he bellowed +stoutly. "'Tis a carnal generation. I tell you, Master Benteen, I am +an old man, uplifted by communion of the Spirit above all fleshly +lusts. I have faithfully preached the word of salvation to civilized +and savage more than forty years, and am not likely to be led astray by +a glimpse of a fair face tempting me hellward. I speak you truth, as +delivered of God, so surely as were the tablets of the law delivered +unto Moses, when I say that she who, by some wile of the Devil, rules +this tribe and holds our lives in her hands, is an incarnate fiend, who +will yet mock our agony whenever her own accursed lust shall be +satisfied. 'T is not only that she jeered at me with cruel smiles, and +affronted a preacher of the Word by so ribald a covering; she did as +clearly reveal the hideous sin of her heart unto that sweet lady we +have in our keeping." + +"Madame de Noyan?" I cried in awakened interest. "Mean you this woman +dared do wrong by her?" + +"I report only what my eyes beheld, for I can make nothing out of their +heathen gibberish. Yet she who journeyed with us, ever proving herself +a modest, high-bred lady in times of sore trial, begged upon her knees, +with tears hot upon her cheeks, to be permitted to accompany you and +her husband. What result? Why, this good Queen; this charming +creature, stood there, like an insensate stone, gazing down upon her; +and later, when the poor lady would not walk voluntarily, that painted +harlot ordered two lecherous warriors to drag her forth, and laughed +like a fiend at the scene." + +"Where did they take her?" + +"I know not; beyond the entrance she made no outcry that reached my +ears, while that red-draped witch came back smiling to work her will on +me." + +This comprised all he knew, and, no matter what depth of sympathy I may +have then felt for Master Cairnes in his unfortunate predicament, it +was equally clear I could do nothing to aid him. My heart was so +heavily laden by the plight of Eloise, I retained no other desire than +a longing to return at once to the hut and hold consultation with De +Noyan. That same silent spectre accompanied me along the brief +journey, leaving me unguarded at the entrance. I entered hastily only +to find the room vacant, my comrade gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ + +These pages have been poorly written if he who reads has not discovered +that I am of a nature not easily discouraged by events, or disheartened +by misfortune. God had sufficiently armored me with hope; so that in +the midst of much darkness I sought for whatever light of guidance +there might be, making the most of it. Yet the intense, unanticipated +loneliness of that bare hut chilled my blood, and I scarcely recall a +more wretched time than while I waited, stung and tortured by fears, +for the return of De Noyan. + +In truth the rough conclusions voiced by the angry sectary merely +confirmed my own fear. I had marked within the eyes of Naladi--dreamy +as they appeared beneath the shading of long lashes--no promise of +tenderness of heart. I believed it was seldom she inclined to mercy, +seldom she would step between her warriors and their revenge. I +acknowledge freely I felt to some degree the strange spell of her +power, the magic influence of her soft, sinuous beauty, which I doubt +if any man could utterly resist. Yet I recognized her from the first, +even as she stood wrapped in the sun's rays on the rock summit, as one +who, by instinct and nature, was scarce less a savage than her most +desperate follower, although she possessed the rare gift of masking her +cruelty beneath the pleasing smile of a woman not entirely unacquainted +with the courtesies of refinement. + +I marvelled greatly who she could be, thus sporting the polite graces +of a reception-room in the midst of these squalid huts. What was her +strange life-story? How ever came such a woman, with charm of face, +and grace of manner, to be acknowledged leader over such a people? It +was not so odd that a clever, resourceful woman, driven perhaps by +necessity, should have made unscrupulous use of their dominant +superstitions, and, by naming herself "Daughter of the Sun," have +obtained supreme power. The perfect acting of such an assumed +character would not prove difficult to her, while their servile worship +of the protesting Puritan, whose red hair alone had elevated him to +sainthood, proved how easily these savages might be deceived, and led +slaves by subtle magic. Yet who was the woman? Whence came she? Why +should she ever have chosen such a life? + +And Eloise! Through what misfortune had she already attained the +undisguised dislike of this Amazon? To what fate would this unmerited +disfavor condemn her? It is a terrible thing to remain chained and +helpless at such a time, to realize that cruel wrong, possibly torture, +is being visited upon another, upon one you know and love, and yet be +unable to uplift hand or voice in warning. I am by nature cool in +action, yet there are few who fret more grievously when held in leash, +compelled to await in uncertainty the coming of the unknown. + +All I could do that day was to pace the hard earthen floor, vainly +endeavoring to quiet the wild throbbing of my heart with every hope I +might conjure up, now and then approaching the unguarded entrance of +the lodge to search anxiously for some ground of hope. It was thus the +long afternoon wore away, until the deepening shadows of sun-setting +rested heavily along the western cliffs, and the workers in the fields +began trooping through the village, their shouts of greeting shrill and +discordant, while the grim priests found place before the draped +entrance to their dread altar-house, with blazing fagots signalling +their distant brethren on the dizzy summit. It was then De Noyan +finally returned and found me raging from wall to wall like one +distracted. + +It required but a glance to note the subtile change the afternoon had +wrought in his personal appearance, yet at the time I did not greatly +marvel at it. The stains of battle and exposure, that had so decidedly +disfigured him, had disappeared before the magic of new raiment, which +had about it the color and cut of French fashion; so it was now a fair +and prosperous gallant of the court, powdered of hair, waxen of +moustache, who came jauntily forward with his greetings. + +"What said I, Master Benteen?" he questioned cheerily to my stare of +surprise. "Did I not boldly contend that this would yet prove a +pleasant resting-place to relieve the tedium of a journey? Can you +gaze upon this gay attire, longer doubting the verity of my dreams? +But no happiness finds reflection in your face; 'tis gloomy as a day of +rain. Prithie, the afternoon must have been passed by you far less +pleasantly than its hours sped with me." + +"I have been conversing with good Master Cairnes," I responded gravely. +"I found him in no state of mind or body to bring me pleasant thought." + +"_Parbleu_! I warrant not from all I hear of that worthy servant," the +Chevalier laughed gayly. "'T is told me the grim-faced old hypocrite +sits in worshipful state, a veritable god, trussed like a bronze idol +or some mummy of the Egyptians. By my faith, I should enjoy gazing on +his solemn face, and listening to his words withal." + +"'T is an unhappy experience for a Christian." + +"Ay! a pity; yet it should do the canting preacher good to play heathen +god a while. She pictured to me most vividly his struggles to escape a +fit draping with which to match his hair. _Sacre_! I have not laughed +so heartily since leaving New Orleans." + +"She?" I exclaimed in new interest. "Have you been with your wife?" + +He stroked his moustache, gazing at me in apparent surprise. + +"Nay, friend Benteen; you must be the very soul of innocence to make +such hasty guess. I rested beneath the same roof with her, so I was +informed, yet she who spake thus regarding the plight of the Puritan +chanced to be the fair Queen, Naladi." + +"Naladi? But you speak no Spanish,--how could you hold converse with +her?" + +"There are always ways, if the lady be fair. The hands, eyes, lips can +all be made into messengers of speech. But in this case she brought +forth a black boy--a most mischievous imp--who managed to convey her +words in my own tongue. Still it was difficult to do justice in such a +way to so charming a woman; much came to my lips which I hesitated to +utter through the medium of that interpreter." + +I looked at him in speechless amazement at this revelation of his +supreme conceit, his reckless vanity. Anxiety alone prompted me to +smother my resentment, hoping thus to obtain information. + +"But your wife, Madame de Noyan? You say she was beneath the same +roof, and yet you saw her not? Do you mean you made no effort to +obtain speech with her?" + +He leaned back against the wall of the hut, crossing his long limbs +negligently over the soft fur of the robe beneath, drawing from his +pocket a small mirror. + +"Ay, I mentioned it; but _la reine Naladi_ appeared not overly well +pleased with the suggestion, so I concluded not to press the matter +unduly. One never gains by being ungallant at such a time. Besides, +there is no doubt Eloise is well attended; the Queen referred to her +most kindly." + +"The preacher told me," I broke forth indignantly, determined to test +him to the full, "that this same sweet Naladi compelled her savage +minions to drag Madame harshly forth from the altar-house, despite her +pleadings. Perchance this tender-spoken Queen has little of the angel +beneath her fairness of skin." + +"_Sacre_! I hope not. I opine an angel would prove wearisome to +company with for long. My own taste inclines toward flesh and blood. +You say Master Cairnes told you this sad tale?" + +"Ay, adding that the pitiful Naladi only laughed at the sobs of Madame." + +"Pish! between the two, her word has most weight with me. No doubt +'twas a vision born of his own temper. The Queen assured me most +graciously of the welfare and contentment of Eloise. It would have +been boorish to question her further. Besides, she took my thought +from other things, repeating to me the strange tale of these savages, +although the black made poor enough work with her words." + +It was abundantly evident the man was fairly crazed with conceit, +already well entangled in the web of this designing creature. For the +hour, at least, all serious consideration of her who should rightfully +claim his attention had been completely blotted out. He had become a +willing victim to a will infinitely stronger than his own, his +conscience deadened by the poison of beauty; so, while my blood rioted +in protest to his simpering French vanity, I could perceive no means by +which I might arouse him to more manly action. To cross such a man +only invites to the surface the worst elements of his nature; besides, +were I to stir him by strong protest, it might be doubtful if he +comprehended the nature of my scruples in the matter. Any such +misunderstanding would result in the exchange of hard words, and in my +making an enemy where now I possessed a friend. Not that the Chevalier +was a particularly valuable ally, yet he wielded a good sword upon +occasion, and would prove more useful in friendship than in enmity. I +might despise him, yet he remained the husband of Madame, and I durst +pick no quarrel with him. To do so would raise a barrier between us, +rendering our situation among the savages darker than ever. As to the +moral side of the affair, it would be sheer waste of words to broach +it, as De Noyan could form no clearer conception of such an issue than +a babe unborn. He swung as the wind blew, and in all his pampered life +had probably never dreamed of denying himself a liberty. Saint Andrew! +it was a knotty problem for such a head as mine to solve. I believe I +chose the better course in assuming the role of a neutral, as I sat +staring at the fellow while he twisted his moustaches into their +old-time curl, gazing at himself in the pocket mirror, utterly +oblivious of my presence. + +"So this beauty of a Queen told you the tale of her people," I remarked +at last, determining to humor his mood. "It would interest me to hear +the story. Those I have thus far seen differ widely from any other +order of savages with whom I have come in contact." + +"Your judgment is right. As she tells the story, they are not of +Indian blood, but belong to a far older race. She says they are the +remnant of a master people--although regarding their exact lineage she +spoke but little--who once, hundreds of years ago no doubt, held +undisputed dominion from the banks of a great red river flowing through +the prairies far to the northward, down to the salted sea bounding the +land upon the east. She said their ancestors mined in the rocks, and +cultivated the rich land of the valleys. They were ruled over by five +kings; and when one of these died all their wives were burned above the +grave, and a hundred slaves sacrificed to the Sun, which they +worshipped, and called Elagabalus. These were all buried around the +body of the king, whose tomb was of rock, and a huge mound of earth +erected over them by the labor of thousands of slaves taken in battle. +Yet their chief king, in the day of their great power, she called +Palenque, placing his capital to north and east of this place, a land +journey of thirty days. Here was built a great city of wood and stone, +surrounded by an immense wall of earth, to which all the smaller kings +journeyed in state once each year to make account of their kingdoms, +and offer up slaves on the altar of the great temple in sacrifice to +the Sun. They would gather thus from noon to noon, and thousands of +captives would be slaughtered before the altar by the priests. She +told me they once possessed vast store of yellow metal and flashing +stones, with other treasures. Cities were set apart under guard to +have special care over them. Some of these have descended even unto +the present, but are kept hidden away by the priests, though she +promised later to let me view them secretly. And she related a most +strange tale of destiny--of a long, barbarous war, filled with the +names of warriors and towns sounding most uncouth to my ears; a war +lasting many years, during which the Chichimes--for so she named the +wild hordes sweeping down upon them from the northward--drove their +fathers backward from city to city, beginning far away in the kingdom +named Talapa, and pillaging clear to the banks of the great river where +Palenque reigned. Their ancestors erected vast forts of earth, thus +managing to hold their own against the invaders, so long as their +slaves remained loyal. But at last these also rose in revolt, and, +when all supplies had been cut off, the hopeless remnant of defenders +fell back down the broad river, bearing with them much of their most +valued treasure, never permitting the sacred flame, which was the gift +of the Sun, to die out upon their altars. Like flies they died in the +preservation of this symbol of their religion; for 'tis their faith, +that if it be kept burning undimmed, there will yet come to them a +great leader from the Sun to restore their lost glories. She described +to me the arts of that past, the many beautiful things the race had +made, those wondrous cities protected by high walls, the vast mounds of +earth moulded into strange figures of extinct animals, uplifted as +altars, and sometimes utilized for the burial of their dead and their +treasure. _Sacre_! I can recall a portion of the story, yet it was a +weird, fascinating tale as she told it slowly, and with all +seriousness, although the black boy stammered so badly in his words I +got only dim pictures here and there." + +"But how came they here?" I questioned. + +"I was coming to that. It was some trouble with the French in +Bienville's day. Only a few escaped, and they were driven into these +hills; yet 't is said they saved a considerable amount of treasure +which had come to them from their fathers, together with some of the +mummified bodies of their kings. It is forty years since they +discovered this dell, and only the older men have any memory of the +discovery." + +"What do they call themselves?" + +"'Nalmas' was the word the Queen used, but they are that same people +whom we knew about in New Orleans as 'Natchez'; their old country was +called Tlapalan." + +I sat silent, pondering upon his words, but before I thought out +further questioning, a warrior, bearing food, entered the hut. Setting +this down upon the ground before us, he drew back into the gathering +night shadows without uttering a word. That which I had just heard +caused me to gaze upon the fellow--a tall, stalwart savage--with newly +awakened interest, and I could not help observing again how widely the +type differed from those Indian tribes with whom my wandering border +life had rendered me familiar. Not only was this man of fairer, +clearer complexion, but his cheek-bones were not in the least +prominent, his nose was wide at the base and somewhat flattened, while +his forehead sloped sharply backward in such peculiar form as to +warrant the opinion that the deformity arose from a compression of the +frontal bone in infancy. The hair, although worn long and flowing down +the back, was decidedly wavy, and not coarse; the color was a ruddy +brown. The eyes of these Indians were bold, cruel, crafty, yet in many +instances the coloring was so light as to be startling; the average +stature was greater than that of those other Indians that I knew. In +short, they impressed me as being all that was claimed, a distinct +race, with characteristics more nearly allied to the Ethiopian and the +Mongolian than to the surrounding red races. As I figured this out +somewhat slowly, De Noyan busted himself with the meal, and, thus +engrossed, apparently forgot the topic of our conversation. + +"And did this Queen Naladi claim to belong to this old race?" I +questioned, thinking thus to test his observation. + +"Why not?" he asked in return, suspending operations, and glancing up +at me in surprise. "She referred to herself as the 'Daughter of the +Sun,' once saying that her ancestors ruled over this people for a +thousand years." + +"She told you that?" + +"At least so the black interpreted her words. Why question it?" + +"Doubtless to your thought there exists small cause for questioning the +word of so fair a woman," I acknowledged dryly. "Yet to my vision, not +wholly blinded by her charms, she possesses more of the Caucasian in +face and manner than any other of the race. If she is not of European +birth I am a poor judge, Monsieur, and 't is my belief, if she told you +she was not, the woman lied." + +I was scarcely prepared for the result of my words upon him; his face +flushed, a sudden glow of anger sweeping into his eyes. + +"You are, indeed, of bold heart," he exclaimed scornfully, "to malign a +woman in her absence." + +"There are women no words can malign," I retorted sharply, stung by his +tone, "I opine this Queen of savages belongs to that class. To my mind +it would be better were you to wax indignant over the wrongs of your +wife rather than over a just picturing of this harlot." + +Before I could move to draw aside, he was upon his feet, and I felt the +stinging blow of his hand across my lips. + +"_Sacre_!" he cried, transported by sudden rage, "Charles de Noyan +takes such affront from no man. I denounce you as a cowardly vilifier +of an absent woman." + +I know not why I failed to strike the fellow down. My hand was hard on +the knife hilt within my doublet, yet I drew it not as we stood there +eye to eye. There was that between us--the dim, shadowy face of a +woman--which held me as by a chain. It seemed to me then as if my +knife point would have to pass through her before it touched his heart, +and, feeling thus, God gave me power to choke back the hot resentment, +and restrain my hand. + +"Monsieur," I said sternly, "never has the hand of man touched me +before in anger without my making full return for the blow. Yet now I +strike you not. The time may come when I shall wipe out this insult, +but here and now you stand safe from my arm." + +"Safe!" he sneered. "_Parbleu_! you are a cowardly hound to talk thus. +Safe! think you I have anything to fear at your hands?" + +"I bid you restrain your tongue, Chevalier," I said, my voice unsteady. +"God being my witness, never before did you stand so close to death as +now. Look," and I held up the keen blade before his eyes. "This steel +thirsts for your blood; only one thought has intervened to save you." + +"What was that?" + +"The fact that you are the husband of one who was once Eloise +Lafreniere." + +I know not how much of the truth he suspected, but for a moment we +stood thus, I half imagining he contemplated a leap at my throat. Then +his eyes fell, and he drew back with a short laugh. + +"_Le Diable_! 'tis easy for some people to discover excuses at such a +time. Still, Monsieur, as you refuse to fight I may as well lie down; +having been early awake I am somewhat weary." + +I watched him silently while he arranged his robes for the night. + +"Before you sleep," I ventured, "it would please my curiosity to know +where this pure and peerless Queen of yours makes her abode." + +"Ah! would you pay her a visit?" he asked suspiciously. + +"Far from it; rather that I may avoid her. Yet we are not in specially +pleasant surroundings, and such information might not come amiss." + +He sulked a moment over his answer, but finally relented. + +"In that large hut upon the second mound." + +"You spoke as if Madame de Noyan were beneath the same roof, yet you +saw her not. Does the hut differ from this in being divided into +rooms?" + +"A partition runs through it from roof to floor. Naladi holds court in +the south room, which is decorated most lavishly with things of beauty." + +"Then Madame occupies the northern portion?" + +"So I understood," with a sleepy yawn. "I asked little in detail; +'twas enough for me to be assured she was well." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A VENTURE IN THE DARK + +It is occasion for deep regret that I was so blind to my opportunities +for learning much relative to this strange people. During those hours +of trial my thoughts were so occupied with our own dangers, it was +merely incidentally I considered anything else. No small temptation +now assails me to record many things I believe true, things I remember +vaguely; but I pass the temptation by, determined to write only what I +may vouch for as of my own observation. + +I remained silent, leaning against the wall and making vigorous use of +my pipe, a long time after De Noyan fell peacefully asleep. While the +fast fading daylight clung dimly to the interior, my eyes were fastened +upon his upturned face, almost boyish in the unconsciousness of repose, +and I began to feel pity for his weakness, my anger against him fading +away. As the darkness became pronounced I remained there still, my +sleepless eyes paying small heed to night, the scenes I saw being of +the brain, memory awakening to paint with glowing colors across the +black screen. The evening was quiet,--within, no more was heard than +the regular breathing of my companion; without, an occasional savage +outcry, mingled with the low moaning of the night wind. + +It became a lonely vigil, my thoughts unhappy. I had much to reflect +upon. The extreme difficulty of our present situation, encompassed and +separated as we were: De Noyan was bewitched by a siren who had already +bound him by silken cords to any nefarious scheme her unscrupulous +desires might compass; Cairnes was as helplessly entangled in her +power, although held to his fate by ropes of a different nature; while +Madame was scarcely less a prisoner, powerless to escape the ruthless +grasp of a false-hearted woman whose jealousy might at any instant lead +to measures of extremity. I alone of all our little company remained +somewhat my own master. My hands and heart at least were free from all +visible bonds. Yet what hideous mockery was such freedom! I realized +that I could venture no step beyond the door of the lodge without +becoming the focus of spying eyes; that all about was evidence of the +despotic power of this renegade white queen, who deigned to spare me +merely because she deemed I was utterly powerless to interfere with her +cruel purposes. Saint Andrew! it was an environment of evil to chill +the blood of any man, nor amid its gathering gloom could I distinguish +any gleam promising dawn. About us watched impatiently a horde of +ruthless savages, eager to make us victims of their torture, held back +temporarily only by the imperious will of this self-styled "Daughter of +the Sun," who ruled through appeal to their grossest superstitions. +She, I believed, in spite of fair face and evidences of culture, was as +vindictive, barbarous, and relentless as the wildest in that savage +band. + +Over and over I turned such unhappy thoughts in my seething brain, +until the faintest sound from without had died away. I may have spent +hours thus, while De Noyan slept on peacefully as a tired child. At +last a wild desire for action overcame my lassitude, conquered all +lingering discretion. There arose before me, clearly as a painted +picture, the pleading face of her I loved. I knew that to no other was +she looking for aid in her despair. There might be little I could +accomplish for her succor, yet it would bring her new courage even to +exchange a brief word with some faithful friend, as proof that she was +not forgotten. Besides, I longed, as no expression can make clear, to +gaze again, if only for an instant, into her clear gray eyes, to listen +to the gentle murmur of her trustful voice. In brief, I was in the +mood for a desperate venture. + +I crept to the open door, peering cautiously forth into the darkness. +It was a heavy night, the little basin was wrapped in shadow, and not +even a star peeped forth from the rifts of low-scudding clouds. In no +direction could I distinguish any twinkling of lights except a single +fitful flash from off the altar, where black-robed priests guarded the +sacred fire or worshipped before the Puritan. Encouraged by the +darkness I crept along the outer wall, unchallenged by the skulking +guard, and finally attained the upper corner. Here I observed a second +glimmer, which I instantly recognized as coming from the other great +house upon the summit of the mound--that house in which I understood +dwelt Queen Naladi, and where De Noyan said his wife remained prisoner. + +I scarcely know what I hoped to accomplish by such a move, yet helpful +circumstances are apt to develop when one attempts boldly to do his own +part the best he may. It was in blind faith I crept forward through +the dry grass, drawing ever closer toward that beckoning light. It was +a long journey and a slow one, as the tribe would guard vigilantly the +dwelling-place of their Queen. At every rustle in the grass, every +flap of wing overhead, I paused, listening to the pounding of my heart. + +I clasped closely in one hand the knife, my sole weapon of defence, +and, as my eyes became accustomed to the gloom and could distinguish +some things more clearly, I paused often, with uplifted head, to study +some indistinct object in the darkness. Thus advancing inch by inch, +avoiding with care the least rustling of dry grass, I wriggled +snake-like forward, until I began breasting the steeper incline of the +mound, its summit now outlined against the lighter space of overarching +sky. + +All my rage deserted me when again in the open, actually attempting to +achieve a purpose. My brain cleared as by magic, every nerve steadying +itself to meet whatsoever peril might be lurking along the path. +Half-way up the mound I lay close to the earth, peering steadily +through the gloom. There was no cover to crouch behind, the slope +being totally bare of vegetation except for the short, dry grass, yet I +felt reasonably secure from observation unless I entered that bar of +light. Unable to do more than guess, I concluded that the single +flame, splitting the night like the shining blade of a sword, came from +the northern compartment, while the southern half remained wrapped in +silent darkness. Outwardly this Queen's residence was constructed much +like the building used by the priests as a temple. In the latter I +recalled two entrances opening respectively toward east and west. Were +a partition run between, as in this private dwelling, the eastern door +would open into the southern apartment. It was the west door through +which the light streamed, and, daring approach it no closer, my only +recourse lay in trying my fortune on the opposite side. + +I began a winding advance along the sloping side of the hill, but sank +suddenly to earth as a spectral figure moved forth from the darkness, +stood a moment in the bright glare, and then strode past, vanishing +within the gloom like a shadow. It was an Indian, spear in hand, one +of the body-guard of the Queen. With renewed caution, my imminent +danger being manifest, I barely lifted my head from the level of the +grass, and began to work onward, reaching out until I got firm grasp on +a bunch of grass, then drawing my body forward the full extent of my +arms. The progress was slow, involving much labor, and it required a +full half-hour to attain the other side of the mound. I could now look +above, perceiving nothing except the black shadow of the house. If +Eloise was within, and if this door led to her prison, it was scarcely +possible that it was unguarded. Naladi had special reasons for looking +carefully after the safe keeping of this captive, and was not likely to +forget. I discovered no outward signs of life, but was too thoroughly +versed in wilderness ways to count upon that, knowing that each dark +shadow along the wall might conceal some crouching stealthy figure, +ready to pounce forth. With utmost care, anxiously scanning the silent +hillside, I drew myself forward, hardly venturing upon a full breath, +until I finally rested on my breast barely three paces from where I +believed the entrance must be. + +I dreaded any attempt to advance into the unknown, yet I had no +intention of withdrawing until I had accomplished that end for which I +came. To retreat was foreign to my nature; indeed, I was now so close +to Eloise, it required an effort of will to restrain a desire to rush +blindly forward. But long training overcame this rash impulse. I +rested there, silent as a savage, seeking to trace each detail of what +was barely beyond my hand. It was little enough I could distinguish, +straining my eyes to the utmost; and finally, despairing of learning +more, I advanced my hands, silently groping for something to grasp, +when I was instantly frozen into a recumbent statue by a slight +movement of something directly in front. This was so faint that, had +not my every nerve been tense, I should scarcely have noted it at all. +Yet there could be no doubt--some one had given a slight shiver, as +though from the chill of the night air; whoever it might be, the person +was not three paces from my out-stretched hands, and, as near as I +could judge, must be sitting on the very threshold of the entrance. + +I was in an awkward position. How I had succeeded in arriving there +without attracting attention was little short of miraculous. I durst +not venture on any retrograde movement; I even pressed my mouth against +the hard earth, the better to deaden the sound of breathing. I know +not how long I remained thus; it was until my strained muscles appeared +to cord themselves, and I could scarcely keep back a moan of pain. Yet +no other sound came from that mysterious presence. Intently as I +listened, not so much as the faint sound of breathing reached me. +Still I could not have been deceived; there assuredly had been +movement; I distinctly felt a consciousness of other presence, so that +every nerve tingled, and it required the utmost self-control to hold me +still. I fairly throbbed with insane impulses to leap forward and +solve the mystery. + +Who could be lurking there in such silence? It must assuredly be an +enemy, a guard stationed to watch over the fair prisoner within; +doubtless, he would remain until relieved by some other. What hope for +successful advance held me in such agony of mind and body? I felt that +I must relieve my cramped limbs or else scream aloud in spite of every +effort at control. Slowly I drew back, my outspread hands searching +for some hummock of grass against which I might press, to force my body +silently downward, but discovered none. Then there sounded, slightly +to my left, the soft rustle of a moccasoned foot, and a low, guttural +voice muttered some indistinct sentences. The lurking form in my front +appeared to rise, and there was a brief grunt as if in response to +command. Then a huge warrior stalked past so close that his moccasoned +foot planted itself fairly between my outstretched arms. Instantly he +faded away within the enveloping gloom, and with hardly the hesitation +of a moment I was on hands and knees creeping toward my goal. With +groping fingers I touched the riven trunk that formed the threshold, +and, reaching upward, noted with a thrill of delight that merely a +heavy curtain of woven straw guarded the interior. There was no time +for hesitancy; at any instant the savage guard might return to his +deserted post. Pushing the slight barrier noiselessly aside, I gained +the interior, dropped the mat behind me, and, for the first time, +ventured to pause and survey my surroundings. + +The single partition did not extend to the roof by a foot or more, so +sufficient light found passage through the narrow aperture to render +dimly visible the principal features of this apartment into which I had +ventured. It was evidently a sleeping-chamber, handsomely furnished in +barbaric fashion, the faint light gleaming on numerous burnished +ornaments, while a carpet of soft skins concealed the floor. To this I +gave brief attention, my anxious glance falling almost instantly upon +the draped figure of a woman, vaguely defined in the dimness, lying +outstretched on a slightly raised cushioned couch, her face concealed +by the denser shadows of the wall, sound asleep. + +Cautiously I crept forward, hesitating to touch her lest so sudden an +awakening might cause alarm. It seemed safer to trust in speech, as +then she would recognize at once who was by her side. + +"Madame," I whispered softly, my lips as close as possible to her tiny +ear, "I seek brief word with you to-night." + +She must have slept lightly, for at my faint whisper I perceived that +her wide-opened eyes were scrutinizing my face. + +"'Tis I, Madame, Geoffrey Benteen. I beg you make no noise." + +"You need have no fear," returned a soft voice in purest Spanish. "You +do me honor by so unexpected a visit; I bid you welcome, Geoffrey +Benteen." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +SPEECH WITH NALADI + +If you were ever rudely aroused from pleasant dreams by a sudden dash +of cold water in your face, you may partially comprehend my emotions +upon hearing these words of greeting, and realizing that I was looking +into the beautiful, pitiless eyes of the Daughter of the Sun, now +sitting upright on the couch, happily smiling at my embarrassment. + +"Nay, Geoffrey Benteen," she exclaimed, significantly waving her white +hand as she noted my swift glance backward, "retire not thus suddenly. +You must be a marvellous woodsman to have attained this place through +the watchful cordon of my guards, but 'tis not likely you would so +safely run the gantlet of return. You are not so fair of visage as +your gay companion the Chevalier, yet now you are here I will enjoy a +short time with you. Yet first let us understand each other. For what +purpose do you invade my apartment so boldly?" + +"I came," I replied, believing frankness would prove my best play in +this crisis, "expecting to find not you, but your prisoner." + +"Ah! you are honest, if not complimentary," a quick flash of +understanding in her bright eyes. "So it was another woman for whose +sake you came creeping recklessly through the night! God's mercy! I +even ventured to dream my charms had pierced the dull armor of your +cold English heart, yet here you merely stand and laugh at me,--would +even flee my presence as though pestilence were upon my breath. Why, I +wonder? am I not also fair? Why then flout me thus disdainfully? +Naladi has not been accustomed to such harsh treatment at the hands of +your sex." + +"You are, indeed, beautiful both in form and face," I answered, seeking +to avoid quarrel, "but it is not for a mere adventurer of the woods to +utter words of love to such as you." + +Her lips curled in sarcastic smile. + +"Pish! you grow marvellously modest all at once. I bid you note that +the passion of love cares nothing for a registry of birth--it looks to +flesh and blood, not records. There is more hidden in your secret +heart to-night than finds utterance upon the lips. You have the soft +speech of a diplomat, full of guile and cunning. Come, I bid you tell +me the whole truth. Do you think me an untutored savage, that you deny +me in such disdain?" + +"I know not how it may prove regarding your heart," I said boldly, not +hesitating to meet her questioning eyes, "but in manner and graces you +exhibit the gloss of courts." + +She smiled mockingly, rising to her feet and saluting me with a low +curtsy. + +"Ah! very prettily said, senor. I perceive your objection then: you +think me fairer without than within. I dare not contend you are +altogether wrong in such conjecture. Faith, why not, senor? It would +be strange otherwise. All lives do not flow gently amid prosaic +routine, and my ship has been often enough upon the rocks. I have +learned reasons of deceit and cruelty in the hard school of experience. +If, in years of trial, I have grown hard of judgment, reckless of +action, it is because others have been harsh with me. Power is +naturally tyrannical. But then what use for us to dwell upon the past? +So you came to-night to meet another? 'T is strange the risks a man +will run for so infinitesimal a reward. Yet, Mother of God, it gives +me a pleasant tale to pour into the ears of him you call De Noyan when +we meet again to-morrow. If I mistake not, the one you seek in secret +bears the name of that gay gallant. At least, she masquerades in this +wilderness under the title of Madame de Noyan. But 'tis you, not he, +her reputed husband, forsooth, who seeks her chamber in the midnight. +Truly 'tis a pretty tale of romance." + +It flashed upon me, as she thus lightly spoke, what infernal use an +unscrupulous woman might easily make of this. The imputation lurking +in her words aroused me to defiant anger, yet before I could collect my +thought to make reply, she marked my hesitancy and continued with +bitter sarcasm. + +"Madame possesses so sweetly innocent a face I should never have +suspected her of being an immodest wanton, were it not for the evidence +of my own eyes. 'T is a strange world, senor. Yet I have often heard +this is the way with these _grandes dames_ of France." + +"It is only your own foulness of thought which places such construction +upon my coming here," I broke forth, determined I would face her down +at every hazard. "You know well my purpose; I came seeking to aid one +you held prisoner. It is all because of your sin, not ours. You have +robbed this Chevalier de Noyan of all his manhood by your cursed smiles +and honeyed speech. You have made him forget his sworn duty unto her +who is his wife." + +"How interesting you grow," she interrupted, her lips curling, her eyes +hardening. "Senor, you grow almost handsome when your eyes flash. So +you felt called upon to devote yourself to this poor, misused, +neglected wife? I trust you have not found it an unpleasant service, +or entirely without reward?" + +"I felt called upon to aid her in escaping from your grip." + +"Ah, indeed? Would you kindly, senor, tell me how you proposed +performing such a miracle? It remains in my memory some such effort at +release has been made before," her eyes hardening like diamonds. "Down +yonder stands a blackened post which tells how Naladi deals with those +daring to mock her will." + +"You may spare threats," I retorted, gathering courage from rising +anger, "as I care nothing for your good will, nor shall I swerve an +inch in the hope of escaping your savage vengeance. Madame de Noyan is +so far above you in every attribute of unsullied womanhood that no +words of yours can ever besmirch her reputation; while, as to myself, I +remain so certain of my own rectitude in the action of this night, I +challenge you to do your worst." + +"No doubt the Chevalier will also feel confidence in all you say," she +added maliciously. "I understand it is the way with the French." + +"With whom your previous acquaintance seems to have rendered you most +familiar." + +It was a wild, chance shot, for firing which I had no reason excepting +that twice she had openly sneered at that people, and once had spoken +of ships in a way strange to an inland savage. It was worth trying, +however, and I marked her slight start of surprise at my insinuating +tone, and the dark shadow sweeping across her face. + +"Think you so, senor? It is passing strange, then, that I should be +ignorant of the tongue." + +"Yes, were it true," I made quick reply, encouraged by her manner, +determined now to press this guessing home, and abide results. "But +you had small difficulty comprehending the language a moment back. +Permit me to remind you that it chanced to be French I spoke when first +kneeling at your bedside." + +She savagely bit her red lips in rage at my words; yet more, I thought, +at her own forgetfulness. + +"Pish! perhaps so;" and she stamped her foot angrily on the stone slabs +of the floor. "What does that prove to my discredit for you to harp +upon?" + +Why my accidental words should thus worry her I could not even guess. +Yet, clearly enough, there lay hidden some secret here--a hideous +secret I had harshly probed. Believing this, I felt that I could +enhance my power over her by pressing it relentlessly home with +whatsoever directness of speech I dared to venture. With me, at such a +crisis, decision meant action, and I advanced a step nearer, looking +her directly in the eyes. A single moment she met me with a haughty +stare; then defiance faded away into pleading, and her glance wavered. +Whatever the cause, she was clearly afraid. + +"Who--who are you?" she faltered. "Surely we have never met before?" + +"As you know already, I am Geoffrey Benteen. I only regret that your +memory is so faulty." + +"What is it you know of me?" + +"Oh, nothing, nothing, Madame," and I threw into the utterance of these +words all the irony possible. "It is not altogether strange Madame +should forget acquaintances of other days, even her native tongue, +living so long in the wilderness." + +It was a reckless shot, but somehow it struck the mark. + +"I am a Toltec!" she cried wildly. "You speak to the Daughter of the +Sun." + +"No doubt; 'tis a neat superstition with which to overawe savages, yet +there was one once across the water greatly resembling you,--a bit +younger, perhaps,--yet who was content then with a title not nearly so +high-sounding, until--oh, well, what need to tell the rest? Of course, +it was not you?" + +I would never have believed so sudden a change could come over the +countenance of a human being, had I not witnessed it with these eyes. +She had sunk back against the couch, her hands pressing her breast as +if to still the wild throbbing of the heart, her great eyes staring at +me in silent horror. Twice her lips moved as if attempting speech, yet +no articulated sound issued from between them. + +"Are you a fiend from hell?" she sobbed at last. "Why have you pursued +me here?" + +"You do me far too great an honor." I made her a low bow, thoroughly +confident I held the whip hand, provided only I did not overplay my +part. "It is the merest accident of fate which has thus thrown me +again across your path. Nor have I the slightest desire to cause you +trouble, only that through your power may come our safety." + +"You--you have not followed me, then?" + +"No." + +I saw she was diligently studying my face in the dim light, vainly +endeavoring to recall where, under what circumstances, we had met +before. + +"Who are you?" + +"Bah! what difference can a name make? Surely you are careless enough +about your own to be lenient with another choosing to forget." + +"You also are a fugitive?" I caught the sudden ring of hope in her +voice, saw a new light flash into her eyes. + +"I have fled the Spaniards," I answered carelessly enough. "What odds +is that, so long as what I did has been for France? Still, as I say, I +have no desire to play you harm provided you deal justly with us all." + +"Harm? You? How could you harm me?" she questioned, evidently more at +ease from the change in my tone of speech. "You presume, senor; surely +you forget you address the Queen of the Nahuacs; that even in our +remnant there remain more than a hundred warriors to do my bidding! I +can laugh at threats, senor." + +I stared at her coldly. + +"As you please, Madame _la reine_ Naladi, Daughter of the Sun, formerly +woman of--ah! so you do not care for me to speak that accursed word? +Well, I thought you might not, so I spare you the shame. 'T is nothing +to me your past, yet I would have you remember there is a people we +both know to whom your miserable horde of savages would be but a +mouthful. This tribe has already tested the sharpness of the French +sword." + +Her troubled eyes fell before mine, the last faint gleam of defiance +dying from her face. She glanced about the apartment, evidently +meditating retreat from my presence, or the swift summoning of her +guards. Whichever it might have been, she as evidently thought better +of it, turning toward me once more, no longer a frightened, angry +Amazon, but instead a smiling, pleasant-faced woman. + +"We have surely jested long enough, senor," she exclaimed with apparent +lightness of demeanor. "It can never be best for us to be other than +good friends. I doubt not you are a bold man, loyal to those trusting +you, and I honor you for it. Take me, also, into that charmed circle, +yet never forget I am a woman capable of doing great harm if I choose, +for I have those at my command here who would die gladly at my bidding. +The threat of French vengeance moves me little, senor; France is +strong, cruel, relentless; but France is not here." + +"Quite true," I replied, feeling best now to permit her to enjoy her +own way. "But France never forgets, never pardons, and France +possesses arms which reach across the seas, even into this wilderness. +All she needs is a guide, and I could become that. Yet if you grant my +request I pledge that no words of mine shall result in your injury." + +"Your half threat does not greatly trouble me, senor. I am no frail +reed fearing a puff of air. I merely seek that duty which seems most +fair to all concerned. Pray tell me then what it is you would ask at +my hands. Nay, wait; before we go into this business be seated here, +so we may more easily converse together." + +It was a low stool beside the couch she indicated, and I could do no +less than silently accept her courtesy, the soft, mysterious charm of +the woman blunting my prejudice. + +"Now, senor," an engaging smile rendering more beautiful the face +turned toward me. "I pray you trust me fully, and state frankly your +demands upon Naladi." + +If slightest sarcasm lurked in these softly spoken words I acknowledge +total oblivion to it. Her fair face was the picture of earnestness, +her eyes gazed frankly into mine. + +"Our release, Madame." + +She lifted her white hands in a sudden gesture of expostulation. + +"Why ask that? It is utterly beyond my power, senor--at least, at +once," in a tone of despair, convincing me she spoke truly. "We have +our laws, which must be obeyed. It was the tribe who in battle took +you prisoners, not I; it would cost me my position did I endeavor to +give you immediate release." + +"Could it be accomplished later?" + +"Possibly it might." + +"Will you promise me it shall?" + +She hesitated, her eyes downcast, her bosom rising and falling to +tumultuous breathing. + +"Yes," at last slowly, as if she had weighed the problem with care. "I +will pledge you my utmost help to that end." + +"There is one thing more, Queen Naladi," I contended earnestly. "It is +that Madame de Noyan be permitted meanwhile to abide with her husband." + +The fair face darkened ominously. Instead of immediately answering she +stepped across the room; returning, she held in her hands a small box +in which I perceived papers. + +"One moment, senor; move your stool here; yes, a trifle to the left +where we may have clearer light shed upon these documents." + +I drew it unsuspectingly to the spot indicated by her gesture, bending +forward, wondering what it might be of importance she held in her hands. + +"This, senor," she began calmly, slightly unrolling a written sheet, +"is, as you will easily comprehend, the very document causing my +unfortunate exile in this wilderness. You will take notice--" + +As she spoke, I felt myself falling. She sprang hastily back, barely +in time to escape my frenzied clutch upon her draperies; for one +instant I clung to the stone slab of the floor desperately. Then she +laughed, her heel crunched on my gripping fingers, and, with one +muffled cry of despair, I went plunging down into the blackness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +IN AND OUT THE SHADOW + +It is strange I remember so little from that instant when my tortured +hands released their frantic grasp on the stone slab of the floor. I +recall the sharp pain, as that fair-faced fiend stamped upon my +clutching fingers; I heard the echo of sneering laughter with which she +mocked my last upward look of agony, but, with the plunge downward into +that black, unknown abyss, all clear recollection ceased--I even retain +no memory of the severe shock which must have occurred as my fall +ended. Whether excess of fear paralyzed the brain, or what may have +been the cause for such a phenomenon, I know not. I merely state the +fact. + +I awoke--how much later God alone knows--lying upon the rough stone +bottom of an awful well, huddled in its blackness. When I finally made +attempt at straightening my cramped limbs it seemed as if each separate +muscle had been beaten and bruised, and it required no little +manipulation before I even recovered sufficient strength to stand +upright and endeavor to ascertain the nature of my grewsome +prison-house. My stiffness caused me to believe that I must have lain +motionless for several hours in the same cramped position into which I +fell, before even regaining consciousness. Another evidence of this +was the blood which, having flowed copiously from a severe cut upon the +back of my head, had so thoroughly hardened as to stanch the ugly +wound, thus, perhaps, preserving my life. + +Slowly I returned to a clear realization of my position, for my eyes +opened upon such intense darkness I could scarcely comprehend in my +weakened, dazed condition that it was not all a dream from which I was +yet to awaken. Little by little the mind began asserting itself, +vaguely feeling here and there, putting scrap with scrap, until +returning memory poured in upon me like a flood, and I grasped the +terrible truth that I was buried alive. The knowledge was a deathlike +blow, with which I struggled desperately, seeking to regain control +over my shattered nerves. I recall yet the frenzied laugh bursting +from my lips--seemingly the lips of a stranger--ringing wild and +hollow, not unlike the laughter of the insane; I remember tearing wide +open the front of my doublet, feeling I must surely choke from the +suffocating pressure upon my chest; I retain memory of glaring +violently into the darkness; how I fondled the sharp edge of the +hunting knife, crying and shouting impotent curses, which I trust God +has long ago forgiven, at that incarnate devil who had hurled me down +to such living death. Terror dominated my brain, pulsed like molten +fire through my blood, until, as the desperation of my situation became +more clearly defined, I tottered upon the very verge of insanity, +feeling I should soon become a helpless, gibbering imbecile. + +Yet, as I succeeded in staggering weakly to my feet, the movement and +exertion served to quiet my apprehensions, while hope came faintly +back, bringing with it, as though newly born, a determination never to +yield without one manly struggle. I possessed a knife; perchance there +might be discovered some opportunity for using it. With outspread +hands, and groping feet, I attempted to advance, but found I had fallen +so close to the centre of the well that I had to make several steps +before my extended fingers touched the cold wall. This I followed +slowly, passing exploring hands with utmost care over each inch, from +the floor to as high as I could reach on tiptoe, until confident I had +made the complete circuit. It was all the same, vast slabs of flat +stone, welded together by some rude yet effective masonry, the mortar +between impervious to the sharp probing of the knife. Again and again +I made that circuit, testing each crack, sounding every separate stone +in the hope of discovering some slight fault in construction by which I +might profit. Everywhere I was confronted by the same dull, dead wall +of cold, hard rock, against which I exerted strength and skill +uselessly. Finally I dropped upon my knees, creeping inch by inch +across the floor, but with no better result. It likewise was composed +of great slabs of stone, one having an irregular crack running through +it from corner to corner, but all alike solid and immovable. + +Then the last faint flicker of hope deserted me. Yet the exercise of +that fruitless search had restored some measure of manhood; my brain no +longer throbbed with dull agony, nor did my veins burn as with liquid +fire. I felt convinced this black vault was destined to become my +grave; here in after years, perhaps, some straying hunter might uncover +my mouldering bones, wondering idly at my unknown story, for here I was +surely doomed to face all that was mysterious and terrible in death. +Well, that end must come to me some time, as to all men; I had seen +many die, and, although fate faced me in far more horrid guise than any +of these others, yet after all it was merely death, and I had no more +cause to fear it here in the dark than yonder in the sunshine. +Besides, I retained the keen knife-blade; if worse came to worse that +was available for release. I passed it caressingly through my fingers, +wondering would God forgive its use if the moment came when I must +choose between insanity and death. + +Merciful Heaven! how time dragged! What awful conceptions were formed +in my fevered brain! What leering, sardonic faces pictured themselves +against the black wall; what demon voices spoke and laughed in the void +above! At times I stood in a cave thronged with jeering devils, some +with the savage countenance of the heathen, some yet more satanic; yet +ever in the midst of their maddest orgies, the cruel mockery of the +infamous Naladi appeared more hellish than that of the rest. She +leered down upon me from every side until I seemed to stare into a +thousand faces, each wearing her hateful, sardonic smile. + +I paced the floor with feverish impatience, counting my steps from wall +to wall, hoping by this means to retain control of my brain. +Experiencing the sharp pangs of hunger, I slashed a bit of leather from +my belt, and chewed it savagely as a dog might chew a dry bone. In my +despair, I danced, snapping my fingers, and hurling bitter taunts at +the unseen upper world. Exhausted by such useless frenzy, I would sink +prone to the floor, every nerve unstrung, lying there panting in +helplessness until returning strength again sent me back and forth in +that awful tramp from wall to wall. I perceived that the strain of +that horrible haunted silence was driving me mad. There was no escape, +no hope, no peace. Again and again did I break from incoherent ravings +to sink upon my knees, beseeching God for mercy. Yet I arose without +rest, without peace. At last I sank weakly down against the wall and +lay trembling in every limb, staring blindly with wide-open, unseeing +eyes. + +I had come to the very end--to that moment when my limbs refused longer +to support my swaying body, when my tortured brain was picturing scenes +of hellish ingenuity. Ah! look! see! yonder comes now another to +torment my soul. O God! Mark that grim, gray face floating against +the wall! Away, you foul fiend! I am not yet your prey! But see! see +how the ghastly horror grows! It is as large as a man; and mark those +long, gaunt arms reaching up until they meet overhead. Suddenly it +seemed to shed a strange, unnatural radiance over the cave. I imagined +I saw things about me. What, Mother of Mercies, can it be? Daylight! +Oh, good God! do my eyes actually look upon the day once more--the +sweet, sweet, blessed day? Surely it is but a dream; yet no! it must +truly be light streaming down from above. + +I staggered to my feet, trembling so that I was compelled to clutch the +wall for support. Swinging and swaying down toward me through the dim +light, now in the radiance, anon in the shadow, twisting and turning +like a great snake, a grass rope steadily dropped ring by ring until +its loosened end coiled on the stone floor. I saw it, never believing +the testimony of my own eyes, until my trembling hand had actually +closed upon it. Then, with the touch in my fingers, the hot tears +gushed from my blinded eyes, the tension on my brain gave way, and I +was Geoffrey Benteen once more. A cautious whisper pierced the silence. + +"If you remain alive, have you strength to mount the rope quickly?" + +So parched and swollen were my lips I could not answer, yet managed to +take stronger grasp upon the cord, and, finding it firmly held above, +made earnest effort to climb. 'Twas a desperate undertaking for one +who had passed through the strain which had befallen me; but now, the +trembling having somewhat passed, I found myself not entirely devoid of +strength, while an intense desire to escape from that hell made me +willing to venture. I was dimly conscious of a face gazing intently +down through the small aperture, yet, with the swaying of that loosened +rope, the slipperiness of its grassy strands between my fingers, I +found little opportunity for glancing upward while slowly winning +toilsome way toward the light. It was as hard a struggle for life as I +ever made, my heart almost ceasing to hope, when I finally felt a hand +close firmly upon the collar of my jacket. With that help, I struggled +on, until, panting and exhausted, I sank upon the skin-carpeted floor +of the apartment from whence I had been hurled into that living tomb. + +Half turning as I fell, I gazed into the face of my rescuer, +endeavoring to smile as my glad eyes met those of Eloise de Noyan. + +"Oh, hush!" she sobbed. "Do not speak of what you have suffered, for I +read it all in your eyes. Oh, my poor, poor boy! I thank the merciful +Christ you are still alive. Yet I know not how long that demon in form +of woman may be absent; besides, her savage guards are everywhere. The +slightest sound might bring one to the door, and it will be better that +she believe you her victim, buried forever in that foul grave." + +I could but gaze at her, my breath coming in sobs of pain. + +"How chanced it, Madame, you knew I was thus entombed?" and my hand, +yet bleeding from contact with the rope, ventured to touch her own. +She looked into my eyes bravely, a red flush in either cheek. + +"I overheard those bold words you spoke to her last night across the +partition." + +"Last night? Rather a week since." + +She smiled, her hand-clasp tightening. + +"Ah, no, Geoffrey. It has seemed that long even to me waiting +opportunity for service, yet 'tis scarcely eight hours since you were +hurled into yonder hole. See; the sun in the sky tells the story +truly. But every moment we delay only serves to increase our peril of +discovery. Assist me, if you have strength, to relay this stone slab. +It tested my muscles sorely to drag it aside. No doubt there is a +cunning spring somewhere, by use of which it moves easily, yet I sought +after it in vain." + +Toiling together we finally succeeded in returning the flat cover to +its proper position in the flooring, and spread over it a thick skin. +Seeing everything was left exactly as when she entered, Madame, who had +become a new woman to my eyes, capable and alert, silently led me +through a narrow curtained recess to the second apartment. This had +evidently been designed as the Queen's reception room, being fairly +gorgeous in coloring, the low walls covered with shields of beaten +copper, while burnished bits of the same metal, mingled with duller +tones of gold and iron, were scattered everywhere in strange profusion. +Varied tinted stones and sea-shells had been built into a raised +platform, on which stood a couch hidden beneath rich robes of skin, and +draped about with multicolored cloth of rude design and texture. +Altogether it was an interior of rich barbaric splendor, savage in its +unusual beauty, yet possessing here and there an odd touch of +civilization almost startling by contrast. You must understand that I +enjoyed little opportunity to gaze about and note such details, for +Madame was impatient of delay, hurrying me forward until we entered +together a partially concealed passage behind where the couch stood. +Here my fair guide paused, thrusting into my hands a quantity of food +hastily appropriated from a long shelf, concealed by a curtain of +scarlet cloth. + +"Eat heartily," she commanded quickly, "for you seem very weak. +Meanwhile I will stand here, keeping watch lest we be taken by +surprise. Should I give a signal, lift yonder red curtain at its +farther end, and hide there in silence until I come again." + +I partook of the coarse food eagerly enough, yet my eyes were ever upon +her, my lips even finding time for speech. + +"Have you some plan, Madame?" I questioned anxiously. "You said but +now this house was held under heavy guard." + +"I spoke truly. I may not step forth into the air but some savage is +at my side driving me back again. Oftentimes they peer within when the +Queen is absent, to assure themselves that I am safely caged." + +"And this Naladi--does she treat you well?" + +The swift color mounted into her clear cheeks. + +"Not ill, so far, at least, as relates to the physical," she responded +gravely. "No hand has been angrily laid upon me since I was dragged +forth from the altar-house. Yet there are other forms of torture; and +she constantly mocks me with my helplessness, and, I believe, even +hates me for no better reason than that I stand between her and the +Chevalier." + +"You have seen him?" + +"No; but have heard his voice while he held private converse with her, +the shameless wanton; have listened to words ill suited to the ears of +a wife. She is a witch, and the slumbering devil in her has made snare +for his weakness." + +"I greatly fear there may be truth in this," I returned, scarcely +knowing how best to speak at such a time, marking the agitation of her +breathing. "Naladi is a fair woman, softly spoken and seductive when +it is her purpose to please. There are not many men who could resist +her wiles. Yet possibly, Madame, were you to have converse with the +Chevalier your plea might break the spell." + +She turned toward me with proud, impetuous gesture, and I was surprised +at the sudden indignant light glowing within her dark eyes. + +"No, Geoffrey Benteen, that will never be. I am this man's wife. He +has vowed himself to me before the sacred altar of Holy Church. Think +you that I, a lady born of France, would abase myself to beseech his +loyalty? Not though life or death hung upon the issue! If he can cast +me aside for the caresses of this savage harlot, he may forever go his +way; never will my hand halt him, or my voice claim his allegiance. I +am his wife before God; to the end I will be true unto my solemn +pledges to Holy Church; yet I hope never to look again upon the false +face of Charles de Noyan." + +"Are you not over-hasty in such decision?" I ventured, conscious of a +gladness in my own heart at her impulsive speech. "Possibly this is a +mere passing whim, an idle fancy; he may yet emerge from the craze +purified by trial." + +She looked hard at me, as if seeking to penetrate the flimsy mask I +wore, and I beheld a pride in her uplifted face such as had never been +visible there before. + +"Such might be the way with some women," she returned firmly. "I am of +a race to whom honor is everything. My father gave his life for no +less, and I hold him right in his choice. I may forgive much of +wrong--ay! have forgiven--yet the stain of dishonor now rests upon the +proud name I bear, and that can never be forgiven. Whether in New +Orleans, or the heart of this wilderness, I am still Eloise Lafreniere, +the daughter of a gentleman of France. I would die by the torture of +these savages before I would surrender the honor due my race." + +There was that in her proud speech silencing my tongue from further +expostulation, even had I believed De Noyan deserved a defender. He +had deliberately chosen his path, now let him follow it; any man who +would thus lightly tread on the heart of such a woman was clearly +outside the radius of human sympathy, deserving to be. Certainly I +felt no call to stand between him and his fate. + +"I may not comprehend the claims of family pride, Madame," I responded +finally, for want of something better. "Of that I know little. Yet I +cannot contend that your decision is wrong. However, let us talk of +other things, permitting this disagreement to adjust itself. You have +not stated how I am to escape from this present predicament. It surely +looks a problem not easily solved." + +"Nor is it clear even in my mind," she admitted, evidently relieved by +the change of topic, "because I do not know the ending of a certain +passage underground. Yet I have a plan. Behind the curtain, yonder, a +concealed opening leads downward into an underground gallery. I have +ventured to explore it for only a brief distance, but trust it may end +under the open sky. At least our only hope is that you may discover +some such ending. If not, you can only return to me, and we wilt seek +other means for escape, if, indeed, there are any." + +"I am to understand you do not flee with me?" + +She shook her head gravely, her cheeks flushed, her dark eyes lowered. + +"No; I deem such move not best after those words the Queen spoke to you +last night," she answered simply. "Besides, our best efforts at escape +would be futile should she suspect you have not perished where she +entombed you. I am safe here, for the present at least, while you can +accomplish much more for all of us if she believes you dead and takes +no precautions to guard against you." + +I could scarcely bear the thought of her remaining in the power of that +half-savage creature, who wielded such despotic power over her wild +tribesmen. Inspired by fear of the result I begged reconsideration, +urging her to accompany me in flight; but she was firm in refusal. + +"No; urge it no longer, good friend. I know you speak from the heart, +yet it is not best. You cannot know to what depths of peril, or +disappointment, this passage may lead, while, by remaining behind, I +can help to hide your trail, and possibly open to you some way of +retreat. But hush!" She held up her hand. "It is the Queen +returning; neither of us must be discovered here." + +I took a step forward, gaining undisputed possession of the uplifted +palm. + +"I depart at your wish, Madame," I said brokenly; "but may the merciful +God bring us to each other again." + +For a breathless instant, even while the sounds without drew nearer, +her eyes looked confidingly into mine. + +"All must be as God wills," she replied gravely. "Here or hereafter, +Geoffrey Benteen, I believe it shall be. Until then, continue to prove +the same true man you have ever been, doubting not the trust of her who +now bids you speed." + +There were voices lightly conversing at the entrance, and I +distinguished clearly the senseless laughter of De Noyan. Lower I bent +above the white hand reposing in my rough grasp, until my lips pressed +the soft flesh; nor was it withdrawn from the caress. + +"Good-bye, Eloise," I whispered, and, sweeping aside the heavy folds of +curtain, vanished from her sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +UNDERGROUND + +A slight radiance found passage through the coarsely woven curtain, +proving sufficient, as my eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, to +reveal, rude steps excavated from the earth, leading down into lower +darkness. Pausing merely to assure myself that the meeting between +Naladi and Madame was outwardly courteous, while De Noyan seemed shamed +into silence by the presence of his wife, I began the descent, quickly +finding myself in an apartment, rounded in outline, not greatly +dissimilar to that other from which I had been so lately rescued. +This, however, was smaller, the floor littered with various articles, +the nature of which I found it difficult to determine in such dim +light. Nor did I pause for close inspection, but, so soon as search +revealed an opening into a narrow passageway beyond, I pressed forward +amid dense gloom, feeling my way, fearful lest I meet some pitfall. It +was a low, contracted gallery, so extremely irregular in excavation +that I sometimes stood erect, unable to reach the roof with extended +fingers, yet a moment later was compelled to creep on hands and knees +in order to progress at all. Had it led through solid rock I should +have accepted this as evidence of natural origin, but sides, floor, and +roof were of earth, while every few feet, rendering progress uncertain +and perilous, were huge posts of wood, usually roughly hewn tree +trunks, each topped by a flat piece of stone, supporting the sagging +roof. + +Altogether it was a surprising excavation, exhibiting some degree of +engineering skill on the part of these savages. I wondered whether the +conception originated within the brain of their alien Queen, or was +another of the unique inheritances of their race. Perhaps I may be +permitted to add here some information which reached me later, that +abundant evidences of the existence of similar passages have been noted +elsewhere in the old homes of this people beside the Mississippi. +While at Petite Rocher River, I met lately a Jesuit, who had travelled +widely and read many books, and he gravely assured me that in the vast +cities of the Aztecs, far to the south in Mexico, their temples and +palaces were connected by means of such long, secret, covered ways. +Hence I incline to the belief that this excavation was largely the +labor of slaves; for these Nahuacs had many such, some of negro, others +of Indian blood, and that the earth thus removed had been utilized in +constructing those mounds above, the entire method of building merely a +tradition from the past. + +Let that be as it may, here the tunnel extended stretching its +snake-like course before me. Along it I carefully felt a passage, +nervously gripping the knife hilt, and vainly seeking to distinguish +definite outlines amid the darkness. My groping feet encountered +numerous obstructions along the path--here a pile of loosened earth +over which I plunged headlong, or a flat stone dropped by the rotting +away of its supporting prop, or some sharp declivity, as though softer +earth had yielded to rude implements; yet it became evident from the +start that the tunnel level rapidly descended, boring deeper and deeper +into the bosom of the earth. Finally, my fingers came into contact +with small fragments of rock strewing the side walls, and I +comprehended I must already be beneath the base of that rounded mound +upon the summit of which the house of Naladi stood. What worried me +most was to what end this tunnel was made. Such vast labor had surely +never been performed without adequate purpose. Besides, completed, the +passage was well cared for. I met frequently in my blind groping with +evidences of comparatively recent labor. Yet for what purpose was it +designed? Where did it lead? To my bewildered judgment the general +trend appeared northward; but that would carry it directly across the +broadest portion of the upper basin. To have an unconcealed entrance +in the centre of that unprotected, open plain would be foreign to +savage nature; while to imagine that such a tunnel as this, from which +a vast amount of earth had been borne upon the backs of workmen, could +extend below the full extent of that valley, was beyond conception. +Besides, the air was light and pure, as sweet to inhale as if it blew +directly upon me from the open sky; itself proof positive that some +opening could not be far distant. + +Thus questioning, I groped slowly forward. To one accustomed to living +in the open there is something peculiarly oppressive in being cooped +within the confines of such narrow entries, and being compelled to +reflect upon the immense mass of rock and earth resting above, and +prevented from crushing him down into everlasting silence only by +insignificant props of wood, whose melancholy groaning in the darkness +bore evidence of the vast weight they upheld. There was nothing for me +but to struggle onward, although I do not claim that it was without +quaking heart, or many a start at odd noises echoing and re-echoing +along that grim gallery. It is comparatively easy to be courageous +where the peril is of a nature to which we have long accustomed +ourselves, but many a trained nerve gives way before little ventures +amid the unknown. I am told that soldiers coming to these +colonies--veterans who had faced unflinchingly the flames of +battle--will tremble and shrink like frightened girls at the slightest +sign of a storm at sea; and there was once a famous war-chief of the +Shawnees, who had fought fiercely with tomahawk and knife, yet who fell +dead at the first crash of a field gun, although the piece was +uncharged with ball. So I conceive that physical courage is not so +high a virtue after all, and am not greatly ashamed to acknowledge I +went timidly forward down that black slope, and with a wild inclination +to fly backward at every sound. Nor do I boast of keeping on, for it +was largely because I knew well what reception would await me; the look +of scorn with which Madame would discover that a faint heart had made +me afraid of the dark. So it was love, or pride, I scarce know which, +that kept my reluctant feet moving; and, possibly, both of these are +the true sponsors for most of the courage in the world, except that +engendered by excitement. + +Finally, when, with many a quaking of the heart I thought there must be +above me a full hundred feet of earth, I perceived a flickering ray of +light stealing along the floor. It grew more pronounced with each +advancing step and soon crimsoned the upper walls. I dropped +cautiously upon hands and knees, and crept slowly forward, beside the +dancing shadows, taking concealment behind every irregularity. Thus +approaching, I discovered the flaring beacon to be a huge pine knot +stuck into the earth wall, blazing right merrily. Lying at full +length, with head outstretched from behind the tree trunk that +concealed my body, I gazed forward into a small room, possibly a dozen +feet in width, the walls concealed by grotesquely pictured bark, its +floor covered with a rude matting, dyed in fanciful colors. Somewhat +to the left of where I lay uprose a huge, grim figure, roughly shapen +from wood, having two uplifted wings pressing the roof, while directly +in front reposed numerous dishes of untasted food. This idol, for such +I conceived it to be, was a most hideous, repulsive object, colored +lavishly with strange pigments, the face and head decorated in crimson, +while the huge right hand, grasping a club, was uplifted as if about to +strike down an approaching enemy. The flaring light of the pine knot +glittered on great staring eyes which appeared to sparkle as if +composed of precious stones; while about neck, zone, and ankles shone +the duller gleam of gold, with the shimmer of some brighter metal. + +It was a grewsome sight to approach in such a place, especially as the +peculiar eyes appeared to follow my slightest movement. Yet only for a +breathless moment did I experience doubt as to its nature, then laughed +grimly at myself for a superstitious fool. The remaining portion of +this dimly revealed underground apartment appeared bare, except for a +gayly decorated skin or two, and the figure of a man, garbed in the +gloomy attire of a priest, lying fast asleep at the very feet of the +statue. Beyond showed a dark opening where the tunnel continued onward +into the earth. + +It required brief observation to note these outlines, nor did they +greatly serve to delay my advance. I paused merely long enough to +become thoroughly convinced of the reality of the priest's slumber, and +then crept silently past, keeping close as possible within the shadow +of the eastern wall, until once again safely swallowed within the +blackness of the passage. Oddly enough the mere sight of that fellow +lying there unconscious served to yield me new courage, robbing the +cave of its loneliness, and I plunged directly ahead. + +The passage I now followed rose with a sharp pitch, evidently inclining +toward the surface, the opening not far distant. It was like mounting +a hill, so marked was the incline, yet I covered a distance fully +equalling that of my previous descent before becoming aware of a +steadily increasing gray tingeing the side walls. Halting in this +faint illumination I was suddenly startled by the sound of vigorous +English speech. I advanced cautiously. The words were so confused by +the echoes that little could be made of them until I reached a coarsely +matted curtain, through which dimly sifted the welcome daylight. Here +I paused, listening intently, striving to discover what mystery lay +hidden beyond. + +For some moments nothing reached me, excepting a low, dull murmur, as +if voices chanted in muffled monotone, the sound commingling with a +sharp crackling of flames, and an occasional doleful beating upon some +surface resembling the taut parchment of a drum. Suddenly a deep voice +close at hand roared out hoarsely, and my heart leaped in excitement, +although I at once recognized it. + +"You black-faced son of Belial," came a savage snort, "do you give all +that food unto a dumb idol, when a Christian man, a ministering servant +of the Most High, lies groaning with a stomach which has n't tasted +food for four and twenty hours? Possess you no bowels of compassion +for the long sufferings of a fellow-man? Come now, give me just a bite +of the white meat, and yonder grinning wooden image will never miss it. +You won't, you spawn of Baal, yet I marked plain enough how you filled +your own lean belly with the best there was." + +The straining of cords, together with sound of struggle, bore evidence +that the Reverend Mr. Cairnes was making heroic effort to attain unto +that food offered before idols. That such strenuous effort was vain +was soon proven by the bursting forth of his voice once more. + +"Oh, gracious Lord," he cried, in a tone evidencing more anger than +spiritual exaltation, "surely thy ancient servant Job never bowed +before greater affliction than this now visited upon me. Verily 't is +even as the experiences of the Apostle Paul, yet without his reward in +the flesh. I beseech Thee from the depth of humiliation--even as did +Daniel from the lions' den--loosen my arms that I may smite as with Thy +wrath this profaner of Thy most holy name, thus bringing peace unto the +smitten heart of Thy faithful servant. O Lord, what have I done to be +deserted in this hour of extremity? As Elijah called down fire from +Heaven, so I call upon Thee to smite with the terror of Thy might the +ranks of these foul idolaters. He who hath boldly proclaimed Thy truth +in the wilderness, who hath proven a faithful witness unto these +savages, through many years of trial and tribulation, doth now call +upon Thee in dire distress. Shall it be in vain, that he thus uplifts +his voice supplicating in the wilderness?" + +His deep rumbling died away until I could distinguish little except +those moans with which he punctuated the conclusion of each sentence. +Finally, hearing no other sound to restrain me, I ventured to slightly +uplift one corner of the heavy curtain, and peer into the room. The +entrance opened upon the back of the rude platform, my position being +within less than three paces from the famine-stricken Puritan, who, +with low-bowed head and hidden face, was still wrestling in fervent +prayer. I was unable, from where I hid, to distinguish the form of the +crouching priest, yet knew he could not be far distant, and therefore I +durst not speak above a whisper lest the sound awaken his suspicion. + +"Cairnes," I said softly, "hush that unseemly racket, man, and give +heed to my words." + +Three times I was compelled to repeat this warning before I noticed him +lift his head, in evidence that the faint sound had finally reached his +ears. Unable to turn, he rolled his eyes inquiringly upward. + +"What is it, O Lord?" he questioned, with such unbounded faith in a +celestial visitant I found it hard to restrain a laugh. + +"Don't be a fool," I whispered back hastily. "The Almighty may have +guided me here, but 'tis a man in the flesh who speaks." + +The sectary made hard efforts to glance behind, but the cords held too +firmly, so I merely gained a glimpse of the side of his face. + +"Merciful Jehovah! 'tis the voice of Master Benteen," he exclaimed +joyfully. "I know not how you could come there unless you descended +from the sky." + +"From the opposite quarter, my friend," I replied, awake to the humor. +"Pray speak with less noise, and pay heed to what I say. Tell me where +the priest stands; you are so confounded broad of shoulder I can see +nothing beyond." + +"He kneels to the right of the altar, the crawling spawn of hell, where +he has good chance to fill his lean body with food he makes pretence to +feed unto that foul figure of wood. He is a full imp of Satan, the +black-faced idolater." + +"I care little as to that. Are there others present?" + +"None, save the guard, a naked savage. He leans in the doorway, +looking without." + +"Then be quiet while I cut your bonds; afterwards move back toward me. +But mark well you tread lightly along the floor, with no sound to +attract attention." + +He chuckled grimly. + +"Fathers of Israel! it will astound those fellows to discover this +place empty--'t is likely they will imagine me gone back to the Sun." + +Making no response to this natural conceit, I stretched myself forward +the full length of my body, quickly drew the keen knife edge across his +bonds, severing them with one stroke, thus setting free his arms. As +the sundered cords dropped noiselessly to the floor I drew back into +hiding, leaving him to rid himself of whatever might remain. A moment +later he joined me, silently as a great shadow, and I cordially +extended my hand to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +WE MOUNT THE CLIFF + +"May the gracious blessing of the Lord rest upon you, Geoffrey +Benteen," exclaimed the old Puritan fervently, as we faced each other +in that gloomy passage, and it somehow heartened me to note tears in +his gray eyes. There was heart, then, under all his crabbedness. "I +have suffered much of late both in spirit and flesh, and the very sight +of you is as a gift of mercy unto me. No angel with healing in his +wings could prove more welcome, yet I dislike leaving yonder food for +the sustenance of that foul idolater." + +"You hunger then?" I questioned, amused at the regret with which he +glanced backward. + +"Is it hungered you call a man who has had but two dry bones to pick +since yester-noon?" he groaned, pressing both hands upon his stomach. +"I am lean as the Egyptian kine, and fain would welcome even locusts +and wild honey." + +"Well, friend," I insisted firmly, "if you follow, within fifteen +minutes you shall partake of a meal equalling that left behind. I +myself know well what a long fast means." + +"'T is truly a grievous affliction, difficult to sustain in meekness of +spirit," he admitted, yet ever keeping me close company through the +increasing darkness of descent; "yet more am I distressed by the loss +of all spiritual nurture amid these wild heathen. Perchance, Master +Benteen, you might be led to unite with me in a moment's fervent +supplication before the throne of grace?" + +"Ay; when the right time comes I will gladly join, yet I warn you now +not to send your bull voice roaring through these passages, or you will +have small opportunity for another meal." + +"A time to work and a time to pray has ever been my motto, most worthy +youth, but my soul is so filled with gratitude at my providential +deliverance from pagan bondage--even as was Daniel from the lions' +den--I long to pour forth my joy in songs of praise. Patience, but +were I out of here, verily would I venture to uplift a psalm of Zion." + +He spoke in such ecstasy I feared lest his zeal might conquer his +prudence, although in truth this latter virtue was one never apparent +in his composition, and I determined once for all to nip in the bud all +such inclination. So I halted in the darkness, and, as he lumbered +past, laid a restraining hand upon his shoulder. + +"Now hark you, Ezekiel Cairnes," I muttered sternly, "I admire your +piety, but this is no conventicle of the elect we are in; rather a +place where your life, and those of others, depend on our caution. The +echoing of that bull voice along these galleries might cause the +blocking of our passage, caging us in here like rats in a hole. So +hold quiet, Master Preacher, and let me hear no more about either +prayers or psalms." + +The grave determination in my voice served to sober him. + +"'T is in my blood," he admitted doggedly, "to fight and work better to +the holy songs of Israel. It would bring renewed peace to my soul +merely to uplift a paean of victory over the discomfiture of my +enemies. But I seek no quarrel here, and hence bide in silence until a +proper moment to unseal my lips." + +"'Twill be well you do. Now follow close at my heels, and I 'll +promise a swift diversion to your thoughts." + +Thus cautiously we crept toward the distant flickering of the torch, +the unsteady light from which already began to yellow the packed earth +about us, until we finally emerged into its full glare. I had crawled +forth, perhaps half my length beyond the concealment of the wooden +pillar, and, knife in hand, was stealthily drawing in toward the +motionless form of the still slumbering priest, when the roving eyes of +Cairnes encountered the idol, with its flashing gems and widely +outspread wings, towering above like an avenging demon. I doubt not +the sight was startling to the fellow, terrorized by the underground +gloom, and he gave utterance to one gruff cry: + +"'T is Beelzebub!" + +The sleeping priest leaped to his feet, glaring about in bewilderment. +Where I lay outstretched it required an instant to gather myself for +action, and, before I could place restraining grip upon him, the fellow +saw us both, and, with echoing scream of terror, fled frantically up +the dark entry to the right. I made desperate effort to halt him, but +my swift-flung knife found bloodless sheath within the soft earth of +the wall. + +"Zounds! are you a screeching woman with no control over your tongue?" +I exclaimed angrily, panting for breath. "'T is likely that priest +will rouse the tribe, and we shall have a run for it. What caused you +to make such an uproar?" + +"Saints of Israel!" he said, repentantly enough, his glinting eyes +still roving over the silent, leering image, "never before did I behold +such monster as that. For the moment, I believed it Satan himself. +But, for the love of the prophets, what is this?" He began eagerly +sniffing the air with his great nose like a pointer dog. "'T is food I +scent; that which will stay a famished stomach. I beg you, friend, +pause shortly while I satisfy in some measure the yearnings of the +body. Then shall I be better fitted to withstand the temptations of +the world." + +"Odds, man, I hope so," I responded gloomily, watching his eager attack +upon the supply outspread before the idol. "So far you have acted like +a lunkhead, and I begin to regret making you comrade in this adventure. +If a full stomach inspires to a man's duty, it would be policy always +to bear food about with you." + +"Ay, 'tis strange, indeed," he mumbled, his mouth too full for clear +speech, "that one who ever strives to live in spiritual exercise should +be so completely the bound slave of mere bodily indulgence. Yet I did +inherit all such ungodly tendency from my mother who was of Dutch +blood, as round of form as a Holland churn, while my father was spare +of build, and throve marvellously upon the water of life." + +Leaving the engrossed sectary to refresh himself to the full of his +capacity, I anxiously set to work searching after some species of +cross-tunnel, shrewdly guessing this underground altar masked a +junction point, from whence some such branch passageway would lead +toward the open air. With diligent care I passed along the walls, +testing each separate section, yet discovering nothing to reward my +efforts, until, finally creeping between the spreading feet of the +effigy, which appeared to sway unsteadily, I lifted the crimson drapery +hanging down its back, thus disclosing an opening, barely sufficient to +permit the easy passage of a small man while lying flat. + +"Most noble scavenger," I said, feeling in better humor from this +chance discovery of the means of escape, "are the wants of nature +finally satisfied? For if so, I have found a path which will lead us +from this hole of iniquity." + +"Nay, call it not so while it offers such excellent bodily nurture," he +replied with fervor, cocking one eye up at me, yet keeping both hands +busily employed in crowding his pockets full of eatables. "Say rather +the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, or a well of water in +desert places. I shall be ready to accompany you upon a journey after +I lay in these few necessaries. The Lord hath given me manna in the +wilderness--even as the ravens fed Elijah so hath He succored me--and +'twould be sin to make mock of His mercy." + +"Very well; only hurry and follow my lead." + +"Will you not carry the torch to help guide?" he questioned, peering +doubtfully into the yawning black opening. + +"No; the light would serve to betray us to any spying eyes. Perhaps +that frightened priest may deem us spirits, and muster courage to come +creeping back. If so, it will be best for him to find things here +unchanged, although in faith he will scarcely doubt we possess earthly +appetites when he notes your onslaught on the sacred food. Come, man, +enough of stuffing; your pockets can hold no more, so press on with me." + +"It grieves me sorely to leave behind so much good pabulum," he +explained, eying still the few morsels left. "It would be well, to my +judgment, did you pack the rest of this providential supply." + +Never pausing to answer, I crept between the spreading wooden limbs, +and, with the expenditure of no small effort, succeeded in wriggling +into the narrow hole beyond. It was a cramped passage for a man of my +girth, yet, by digging in firmly with both hands and feet, I managed to +advance, until I finally emerged, within space of perhaps a yard, into +a much larger excavation, resembling the tunnel we had previously +traversed. + +"Now, Master Cairnes," I spoke back encouragingly, "it is only a short +distance to good footing; so take fresh breath and come on." + +His massive head completely shut out the faint light of the narrow +opening, and I heard heavy breathing as the fellow squeezed his broad +shoulders through the hole. There followed sounds of violent struggle +during his slow and painful advance. + +"By all the prophets and the patriarchs," he groaned wearily, "'tis not +in me to make it! Had I endeavored this before eating I could have +slipped through, scarcely touching either side. But now I am scraped +like a pig for the feast. Baste me, friend Benteen, but I can move +neither forward nor back in this accursed place; I am full aground in +the centre, and can never hope to progress without aid." + +I reached down until I laid firm hold upon his groping fingers. + +"Find some projection to push against with your feet," I advised +disgustedly. + +"Fervently will I endeavor to dig in, and thus render all assistance in +my power, yet I feel little to encourage me here in good works. Would +it not be wise to test the potency of prayer? Verily the prayer of the +righteous availeth much." + +"I try earthly power first," I returned testily. "So lay to it, and we +will have you out." + +I braced my knees against the firm wall, exerting all the strength I +possessed. There followed a series of moans and heated expostulations, +then the sound of rending cloth, and the disgruntled Puritan came forth +with a suddenness of exit which landed us both in a heap on the floor. + +"May all the spawn of hell be your playmates," he roared in mad anger. +"By the bones of Moses! you have scraped every bit of skin off me, and +half my coat is ripped loose and left behind. Thou art an ungodly, +blaspheming--" + +He gasped wildly for breath as I throttled him, but the grip of my +hands stilled his speech. + +"It was only that you gorged like a bear preparing for Winter, or you +would have passed through even as I did," I muttered, heedless of his +effort to release my clutch. "Lie still now, or, by all the devils in +the pit, I 'll shut down harder on your throat. Ah, so you can keep +quiet, friend? Then I will let you go, for I would be free to explore +this passage." + +I could perceive, by means of the faint light streaming through the +narrow opening, that he was busily engaged in rubbing his sorely +lacerated sides, and I noted his brown jerkin had been fairly wrenched +off his shoulders. + +"Where did you leave your coat?" + +"Yonder in that accursed hole! It has store of provisions in its +pockets. Lord save me, but was there ever such a time!" + +He turned, groping anxiously about in the scene of his late adventure +until he finally brought forth the missing garment. Carefully testing +the pockets to see their contents remained intact, a smile lit up his +leathern face, and he flung it across his shoulders, like a pair of +well-filled saddle-bags. I reached in also, lowered the drapery, and +then led down the dark tunnel as rapidly as the grim uncertainty of the +way would permit. + +The passage proved long and tedious; at least so it seemed to us +compelled to grope slowly onward through the darkness. However, it ran +straight and upon a level, although the numerous supports of the roof +gave us occasional foul blows, and proved so confusing we were +considerable time in traversing its distance. All I have already +pictured as occurring since I departed from the presence of Madame, and +first plunged blindly into the underground labyrinths, had required +several hours, and it must have been close upon sunset when we emerged +from the gloom of the tunnel into the fresh sweet air. + +The passage traversed so long terminated abruptly, and with a sheer +turn to the left, coming forth between two huge rocks. To all +appearances, it ended at the high bank of a noisy stream, and was +partly hidden by the overhanging cliff. The latter, devoid of path or +chasm, now barred our progress, towering aloft until its ragged summit +appeared to press the blue sky. At first view I thought the way ended +here, but Cairnes pointed silently toward the right, and then I +perceived where a path led upward, along the merest narrow, jagged +shelf, skirting the boiling water, yet ever rising higher above it, +until, as my eyes followed its serpentine windings from terrace to +terrace, I grew dizzy contemplating the possibilities of so mad a climb. + +"I suppose it must be tried," I admitted soberly, "for there is +apparently no other passage. Doubtless it leads straight to the top of +the cliff." + +"Ay," with more of indifference than I had expected, "and it will be no +easy trick in the night." + +"The night?" + +"Surely, yes; when else could we expect to compass the path? Is it not +plain, friend, that before we rose fifty feet we should be in full view +of every eye in the valley with the sun bright upon us? I tell you we +must foot yonder rocks amid the night shadows, or else it will be safer +to lie hidden here." + +I perceived the truth of his words and I confess to a sinking of the +heart, as I contemplated the work before us. I was never an adept in +clambering, it addles my head; and, bad as it appeared by day, surely +doubly bad would it prove by night. Yet there was little help for it, +and I made shift to win back my oozing courage by more cheerful speech. +"Odds, but that is no such trip as I would seek after, yet needs must +if the devil drives," I said. "So, now, brother Cairnes, if you wilt +consent to divide your store of food, we shall both front our night's +work with stronger bodies." + +"Saints' rest! and if we go over the edge," he replied, cheerfully +emptying his bulging pockets on the rock, "it will be a comfort to bear +loaded stomachs with us. It was ever against my pleasure to die half +filled." + +We lingered as long as possible over our meal, conversing in such a way +as to encourage each other and indulging in frequent draughts from the +clear stream. Nothing occurred to disturb us, and, finally, both +yielded to the soothing influence of the drowsy evening, and, resting +back upon the rocks, dropped asleep. I know not the hour of my +awakening, yet it greatly heartened me to be greeted by the sight of a +nearly full moon, and to observe how the clear silvery light flooded +the rocks, revealing the winding path leading upward. To arouse +Cairnes was no easy task, but at last we advanced on our path. The +huge rocks overhead appeared to arch us in, while, with utmost caution, +we crept along the narrow, irregular ledge, which at times was level, +and anon rose abruptly like the steps of a stair; occasionally it wound +about projecting rocks and over vast, unknown depths, until my brain +whirled, while I hugged the smooth rock wall at my right, and felt +cautiously forward for solid foothold. + +I imagine we had progressed thus for upwards of three or four hundred +yards, and were elevated so far above the stream that scarcely an echo +of its noise assailed our ears even in the silence of the night, when +suddenly we came to the end of our path. The rocky shelf was so narrow +the very conception of turning about smote me with terror. Directly in +front, extending to the very edge, stretched a solid wall of rock. My +eyes sank to the shelf on which I stood. Lying close against the sheer +cliff was the root of a tree, its trunk, perhaps a foot or more in +diameter, stretching over the abyss, whose depth I durst not guess. I +stooped cautiously, my heart throbbing, and ran my fingers along the +bark. + +"Oak," I announced soberly, "and feels solid and strong. No doubt +those Indians must cross here, but it is a bridge to rack the nerves." + +"Will you adventure the passage?" questioned Cairnes, striving to peer +across my shoulder. "As for me I would rather attempt the Red Sea." + +"Odds, man, the choice is not given. 'T is either turn and go back, or +foot the tree; of the two the attempt at turning would addle me worse." + +I leaned out over the edge as far as I dared, clinging desperately to +the root, and gazed down. It was like peering into the mouth of a +great well. Then I nerved myself for the ordeal, and the next moment +was fairly launched over the abyss, hanging on grimly to the log, my +brain reeling as if with drunkenness. Yet I kept moving inch by inch, +for there was now no stopping, and soon felt solid rock once more +beneath my groping feet. With prayer on lips I crouched, sick and +dizzy, close in against the wall, watching Cairnes where he followed +along the same perilous path. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN + +The rock shelf we followed became gradually somewhat wider, so I moved +forward with greater freedom. The path continued to ascend, winding +unevenly along the precipitous face of the cliff, until we must have +climbed nearly to the summit of the mighty bluff. But the overhanging +crest rendered it impossible for us to do more than guess the +situation. We were but ants clinging to a wall and unable to see more +than a few yards ahead. Finally we attained a point where the cliff +bulged outward in a wide curve, not unlike the rounded bow of a ship, +and were compelled to move with renewed caution along the narrowed +shelf, which was seemingly unsupported. Creeping fearfully forward on +hands and knees around the sharp corner I found myself before the +yawning entrance to a cavern. I realized that here was the ending of +our toilsome climb, for I could see nothing beyond, excepting a +precipitous wall of stone. If the path had continuation, it must pass +through the cave. + +"Yonder yawns a gloomy-looking hole, Master Benteen," muttered the +Puritan, lying at full length beside me, and staring ahead. "Yet my +eyes see no sign of life to alarm us." + +"The front is unguarded surely," I admitted gravely, "but do not feel +confident that there are no occupants within. If I mistake not, we +have stumbled upon the very spot whence the priests signal down to the +valley the rising and setting of the sun." + +"I never witnessed such ceremony, yet to my mind it would be far +pleasanter going forward than lying here on the hard rock." + +Realizing the truth of his comment, yet muttering over my shoulder a +word of caution, I began crawling forward into the interior. No sign +of human presence appeared, and I ventured to stand upright. The +cavern possessed a wide opening, with a broad platform of rock +extending well out beyond the face of the cliff. Along the edge I +could observe the rather dim outlines of an immense altar, built of +detached stones, rising to a considerable height, and partially +blocking the entrance. From below it might serve to conceal the mouth +of the cave. This obstruction shut off much of the moon's light, +rendering the interior intensely dark. We were compelled to grope our +way forward with hands pressed against the walls. I had not advanced +more than thirty feet, my every nerve tingling, when I saw the ruddy +reflection of a fire, hitherto completely concealed by a sharp turn in +the tunnel. Rounding this abrupt point we found ourselves in a large +room capable of containing upwards of three hundred persons. This +chamber was partly natural in formation, but, as I discovered later, +had been considerably enlarged by artificial means. So high was it +that, in the dim light, I could scarcely distinguish its vaulted roof, +while its length was hidden in the darkness. In the very centre of +this apartment arose a great pile of irregular rock, flattened and +hollowed along the top, where was burning a vast log, the smoke +ascending straight upward, evidently finding outlet above. The light, +red and yellow, flared and flickered upon the surrounding bare gray +walls, nothing else arresting the eye except a second wide rock +platform close to where we crouched. This was partially concealed by a +great mat of coarsely woven scarlet cloth, which brought to me a +conjecture that here, perhaps, the Queen was throned. + +Wherever there was fire burning there must, of necessity, be attendants +to feed the flame, but I could detect no sign of life, no sign of any +kind, other than the crackling of the blazing log, and the heavy +breathing of my companion. The silence oppressed me. + +"Go to the right," I advised at last, nervous from inaction, "I will +try the left, until we meet again. Keep close against the wall, and +move with care." + +"'Tis not wholly unlike a visit to hell," he muttered gloomily, "but I +am weary of lying shivering here." + +I watched the fellow creep forward on his knees, his brilliant +head-covering revealed in the glare like a flame. Then I took up my +own part of this work of exploration. I had compassed half my distance +amid profound stillness, perceiving nothing strange, and constantly +feeling more intensely the solemn loneliness of the place, which by +now, to my awakened imagination, appeared peopled with bloodless +victims of heathen superstition. I felt no doubt this was a torture +chamber; that many a hapless slave, or shrieking captive, had yielded +up life in agony upon the summit of the gloomy pile, and the haunting +spectres seemed to grin at me with distorted faces from every crevice +along the walls. I was weakly yielding to such weird dreams, when a +wild, shrill scream rang forth from the darkness in front. The cry +contained such note of affright that, for an instant, I connected it +with the fantasies which thronged my brain. I stood still, rooted to +the spot, the blood curdling in my veins, my eyes straining in vain +effort to pierce the darkness. Then there arose a roar not unlike that +of an angry lion; the sound of a fierce struggle; the dull thud of a +blow, and Cairnes's deep voice boomed forth. + +"Ye black-faced villain! 'T is the strength of the righteous you have +felt this day. Blessed be the name of the Lord, who hath given me the +victory! Lie there in your sins, and no longer affront your Maker." + +I sprang eagerly forward, but at my first step came into contact with a +fleeing figure, which rounded the end of the altar in such blind terror +as nearly to hurl me from my feet. I grasped at the floating robe, but +missed, and the next instant was rushing blindly after the fellow down +the dark passage toward where the moonlight silvered the outer rocks. +Fright gave him wings, but desperate determination lightened my feet, +and I was nearly upon him when the fleeing man rounded the great rock. +One instant he paused, glancing behind. What he saw, or imagined he +saw, I have no means of knowing; perchance some shrieking victim of his +foul rites risen from the dead. With one wild, echoing cry, which rang +in my ears like the scream of a lost soul, he gave a mad leap out into +the air, and went plunging down to the jagged rocks at the base. Sick +and pulseless I drew back. Trembling in every limb, even in the +silence which followed I could detect no sound of his body as it struck +the earth. I crept to the edge, lying prone upon my face, and looked +over. The moonlight ended a hundred feet beneath me; beyond its line +there was nothing but a black void. There could be no question as to +what had occurred--the man was dead. I made my way back into the cave +seeking to discover what had befallen the Puritan. I found him at the +farther extremity of the great altar, calmly enjoying a quantity of +cold meat he had discovered. He was squatting upon the floor, in close +proximity to the motionless, extended figure of a savage arrayed in the +black garments of the priesthood. They formed a picture so startlingly +grotesque I could but stare in amazement. + +"Jerked venison," he explained, glowering up at me, as I came into the +firelight. "'T is of a peculiar flavor not altogether to my taste, yet +not a food to be despised in the wilderness. Did you lay hands upon +the heathen who fled?" + +"No, he escaped me, but only to leap over the outer rock. He lies dead +below. Have you slain this man?" + +He turned the huddled up body over contemptuously with his foot, and I +perceived the wrinkled countenance of an aged man, the eyes bright, the +thick hair on his head long and nearly white. The face, thin and +emaciated, was so sinister I involuntarily drew back. + +"A snake is not so easily killed," he answered in indifference. "I +struck but once, and not very hard as I rank blows, yet the fellow has +not stirred since. 'T is well for him to remain quiet until I finish +this repast, for I am of a merciful disposition when my carnal +requirements are properly ministered unto. Faith, had my eyes not +fallen on the food I might have got both the fellows." + +Paying slight heed to his gossip I bent over the priest, rubbing his +limbs until the blood began to circulate. Before the testy sectary had +ended his munching, the old savage was sitting up, his back propped +against a rock, the firelight playing over his wrinkled face, as he +gazed at us, yet dazed and frightened. This was one whom I had never +before seen; there was something of distinction about him, both as +regards face and costume, which instantly convinced me he held high +rank in the tribe--no doubt the chief priest. His sharp, black, +malicious eyes wandered unsteadily from the Puritan to myself, as if he +sought to regain his scattered senses. Finally he ventured a single +word of inquiry: + +"_Francais_?" + +"No," I answered shortly, speaking deliberately in French, hopeful he +might know something of the tongue. "We are not of that people, yet I +speak the language." + +"I glad you not _Francais_," he said brokenly, yet intelligibly, his +tone gruff, his accent guttural; "but I talk you some in that tongue." + +"How come you to speak French?" + +His lean face hardened. As he bent forward, his fingers clinched +convulsively. At first I thought he would not answer. + +"'T was much time since I learn; when I was young man," he answered +slowly, recalling the unfamiliar words. "Then no snow in hair, no lame +in leg, and my people dwell beside the great river toward the +sun-rising. We were a great nation, with slaves to work our land, +warriors to fight our battles, and priests to make sacrifice. Then we +had much of treasure from our fathers." He bowed his head, mumbling +indistinctly; then continued, as if talking to himself, after the +fashion of the aged: "Long time before that there came to our village +men in canoes, floating down the great river out of the north. They +were of white face, and wore shining things on their bodies and heads, +and bore in their hands that which spouted fire and death. This was +before I was born, yet I was told it often of my fathers. My people +believed them children of the Sun, because of their white faces and +light hair; they were made welcome, taken into the house of the altar, +fed, warmed, and loved. I know not who they were, or whence they came, +yet they spoke this tongue, did point at themselves and say +'_Francais_,' and told of a mighty King away off, and worshipped before +a cross-piece of wood. My people knew not what to make of them; yet +they were not afraid, and treated the strangers with kindness, and +there was no war between them. He who seemed their leader had one hard +hand of metal, and they named him 'Tonty.' Know you such a man of your +color?" + +"No," I answered, already deeply interested in his simple story. "That +was all before my time, nor do I even remember hearing the name till +now, yet there were Frenchmen upon the great river full a hundred years +ago, I have been told. 'Twas most likely they who came to your people. +Did they do harm to your fathers?" + +"They passed away in peace," he continued, using the language with +greater ease as he proceeded, "for we were then strong, and of courage +in battle; the fire bright on our altars. Nor did we look again upon +any white face for so long a time that this visit became no more than a +tradition among the people. More and more did the fathers believe this +Tonty was a visitant from the Sun--many there were who worshipped him +as a god. When he left he said he would come again, and with every +sunrise the eyes of my people were turned in watching up the river. +Then, when I was but a child, there came to our village canoes from +below, from the way of the salt water. They did land, unmolested of +our people, who supposed Tonty had come back; fair-faced men with +yellow hair and beards and dressed in shining metal from head to heel. +I was at the shore with the others when they came, and heard them speak +in this tongue, and call themselves _Francais_. Others of that race +followed, and we welcomed and fed them all, even as our fathers had +done to Tonty. Some were warriors with swords, and fire-sticks, but +with these were also some strange, black-robed men, who sought to tell +us of another God, greater than the Sun our fathers worshipped. They +had pictures, and crosses of wood, and prayed to these as we to the +Sun. But we believed not in their God, and tried to drive them away +from our village when they put out our fires, for they made much +trouble among our people, so that the priests came to hate them--the +black-robes. Some among them went, but one would not go, and so we +made offering of him in sacrifice to the Sun. Then we thought we were +rid of the black-robes, and could again live as we had been taught of +our fathers." + +He stopped speaking, his head bent low on his breast, his eyes on the +altar name. I waited without a word. + +"But they were of strong heart," he went on at last, never looking at +me, "and returned again, until finally war arose between my people and +these white-faced _Francais_. Many came up the great river from the +salt water in big boats, and drove us forth from our village, the home +of our fathers, and gave it up to fire, after killing many warriors. +We could not fight against their fire-sticks, yet we saved much that we +valued, and wandered far toward the sunset, bearing along with us the +bodies of our chiefs, and the sacred fire from our altar. The +_Francais_ lost us in the wilderness. We came to a little river which +flowed down to greet us from out the sunset. Here we stopped once +more, built our village, erecting about it a great wall of earth such +as our fathers did in those days when we were strong and mighty. We +dwelt there in peace for three seasons of sun and cold, having little +trouble with those tribes that roamed about us, until one day there +came into our new village another _Francais_, a black-robe. How he got +there I know not, but we laid hands upon him,--remembering the +past,--bound him before our altar-house, and made of him a sacrifice +unto our god, the Sun. Yet it was not well. Even that very night, +while we worshipped before the fire which had consumed him, there came +upon us many _Francais_ out from the dark woods, with fire-sticks and +sharp knives, so that only few of our people escaped, and got away to +the north. I was one, bearing ever with me the sacred fire, which I +was sworn to guard. We travelled across many rivers, suffering much +from want, until those who lived wandered to this place, and here set +up once more our fathers' ancient altars. 'T was thus I learned the +words of the tongue, this accursed _Francais_, and learned also to hate +those with white faces and black hearts who speak it." + +His voice ceased, and his chin sank wearily upon his breast. My ear +caught the heavy breathing of Cairnes, and I turned to mark him lying +at full length upon the stone floor sound asleep. Admiring his +indifference to surroundings, I was yet so deeply engrossed in this +tale of the old priest as to be myself insensible of fatigue. + +"You are indeed of an old race," I said, hoping to make him talk +further, "if the traditions of your people extend to those first +Frenchmen who came floating south along the great river." + +The old eyes, now scanning my face, gleamed with awakened pride. + +"'T is no more than a page out of our history I have related," he +exclaimed hastily, evidently aroused by my interest. "We are the +oldest and greatest people of the earth. Ay, more; we are children of +the Sun, and, ages ago, when our fathers were true to their faith and +their God, there were none who could contend against us. We had our +great altars on every hilltop, and our villages were in every valley. +Our kings ruled from far above the great fresh water down to where the +salt sea kisses the white sand; our slaves toiled in the fields to +produce us food, and in the rocks to give us store of metal for the +chase and war. It was then the Sun shone warm upon his children, and +there were none among men who dared to face our warriors in battle. We +were masters of all the land we trod; we feared no people, for we were +blessed of the Sun." + +"How came the end?" + +"It was a curse upon us--curse because we made mock of the Sun. The +sacred fire died out on our altars, while recreant priests slept, and +so there came upon the nation a breath of pestilence from the sky which +swept away the people as if by fire. It has been told to me that our +dead lay everywhere; that whole villages were destroyed in a single +night; that those who survived wandered in the woods foodless, until +only a pitiful remnant of those who were once so powerful lived in that +tainted air, poisoned by decaying bodies. Then the surviving slaves +banded themselves together, fell upon their wandering masters, driving +and killing, until the few who were left drew together on the banks of +the great river. Here, by lighting the sacred fire again, they made +peace and were saved. It was there I was born." + +I fail utterly to picture the true solemnity of the scene, as the aged +priest, white-haired and evil-eyed, slowly mumbled it forth in his +broken, halting French, leaning with his back against the rough stones +of the great altar, on the summit of which flamed the sacred fire he +had passed his life in guarding. 'T was like a voice speaking from a +forgotten past, which looked forth from sunken eyes, and became visible +in snow-white hair. A grave yawned to give me a glimpse of all which +that grave contained--the hopes, the struggles, the death of a once +powerful tribe. Yet it all stands forth perfectly clear to my memory +as I write--the vast black chamber lying in shadow and flame; the dark +figure of the bulky Puritan outstretched upon the stones at our feet; +the ghastly, corpse-like face of the savage old priest, whose eyes +gleamed so fiercely, as he dreamed once again of the vanished glories +of his race. + +"But the woman who now rules over you?" I questioned, waiting vainly +for him to resume. "Is she not white?" + +He did not answer; apparently he did not hear. + +"I ask regarding Queen Naladi--is she also of your people?" + +"We are alike children of the Sun," he responded, his tone more sullen. +"She is of the Sun and was sent to rule; sent by the Sun to lead us +once again unto our own." + +"She told you this?" + +"We know it by signs, by the prophecy of our fathers; we were long +looking for her coming; she was promised us by the Sun. In the hour of +deepest need, a woman fair of face with hair of reddish gold, a goddess +in earthly form, was to be sent to guide us. She came out of the +mystery, and we wait her will." + +"Then she is not of your race?" + +"I have answered--she came to our people from the Sun." + +I have not often felt too secure while in any position of danger, but +this feeble old savage rested so helplessly back against the base of +the altar, I lost all thought of him as an enemy against whom I needed +to guard. Sunk in contemplation of his story, I sat carelessly, my +head somewhat lowered as I mentally viewed the picture drawn. Cairnes +moved uneasily in his sleep, muttering something indistinctly, and I +turned partially so that I might look at him. Instantly, with the leap +of a tiger, the priest hurled himself upon me. I flung up one arm, +barely in time to intercept a jagged stone aimed full at my head. As +we clinched and went down, the incarnate fiend buried his yellow teeth +in my hand, and, in spite of his weight of years, I found myself hard +pressed in a death struggle. A very demon seemed to possess him; his +grip was satanic in its hate. In truth it was Cairnes who seized him +by the throat, dragging him off me. He struggled insanely against the +two of us, until we bound him so securely that nothing except his eyes +could move. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER + +"You treacherous, white-headed old villain," I exclaimed angrily, "I am +half inclined to kill you for so savage a trick. Odds! but my arm +feels as if it were broken." + +The fellow grinned at me, showing his yellow fangs. + +"I care not if you kill," he answered, with true Indian stoicism. "I +am old, and have served the Sun long. Kill, but I will not be +unavenged of my people; for, whether I live or die, it matters +not--there is no escape for you." + +He spoke with such confidence as to stun me. + +"No escape? Why?" + +His lips curled with undisguised contempt. + +"So my words sting. Well, they are true, nor am I unwilling to tell +you. You are trapped here. There is no path you can travel, either by +night or day, unseen of our people. You have already climbed along the +only passage leading here, and you dare not go back. This way you have +reached the end. Behind is the village; here the altar of +sacrifice--choose either, and you die like the _Francais_ dogs you are." + +"Who is here to touch us?" I asked derisively. "There is food in +plenty; we can wait our chance." + +"Ay, you have grace of this day in which to make ready," his wrinkled +face lighting maliciously. "When yonder moon becomes round it will be +the night of sacrifice. Know you what will happen then?" he licked his +thin lips greedily. "I may not be here to see, but it will be the +same. Up that path of rocks will swarm all of my race, and what then +can save you from the altar? How they will welcome the victims waiting +their pleasure--white-faced _Francais_." + +His old, deeply sunken eyes gleamed so with hatred, I drew +involuntarily back, my blood chilled with a conviction that he did not +lie. + +"Here? Do you tell me the tribe comes here?" + +"Ay, here, _Francais_,--here to make sacrifice of blood, that they may +go forth once more, and conquer the land of their fathers." + +"'T is your custom to kill slaves?" + +"When there be none better, but now we have other victims sent us by +the Sun, all _Francais_, and you two cooped up here to be added to the +others. 'T will be a sweet sacrifice, and I should like to live to +hear your cries for mercy, and drink of the warm blood." + +I stared at him, unable to deny our helplessness. + +"You would make us believe there is no upper entrance to this accursed +hole!" + +"Seek as you please--there is none. You are trapped beyond struggle; +you cannot escape the vengeance of the Sun." + +I pointed, still incredulous, toward the great burning log. + +"Did you grow yonder tree in this cavern? or was it borne here on the +back of a slave?" + +"It was lowered from above, over the edge of the cliff, by grass ropes." + +"I believe you lie," I cried, now thoroughly shaken by his surly +contempt; but the fellow only leered at me, and I strode across the +great room, where I might reflect beyond sight of his eyes. As I +passed to the other side of the altar I observed a little gray daylight +flooding the mouth of the cave. The sight recalled to mind another +possible danger. + +"Cairnes," I called, "it is about the hour of sunrise. Down in the +village I have noticed that whenever the sun touches the crest of these +rocks the priests up here go forth, waving a flame into the air from +yonder platform. I fear if it were missed, the savages below would +come swarming up to discover the cause. Take a light from the pile, +and wave it yonder." + +The stubborn preacher grimly shook his head. + +"Nay," he replied. "I have borne part enough in their heathen orgies +already; it will take a lifetime to purge my soul. I bow down to Baal +no more." + +It was useless to argue with such as he, nor had I spirit to do it. + +"Then keep close guard over the priest," I retorted; and, grasping a +torch from among the burning mass upon the altar, made haste toward the +outer stone. + +My eyes have seldom gazed upon a grander view of nature than that which +greeted me, as I crept around the great rock, and peered over the edge +down into that beautiful basin wherein the remnant of the Natchez had +established their home. The early sun had not as yet illumined the +lower levels, and all beneath my dizzy perch remained wrapped in the +sombre gray of promised dawn; the slightly rolling valley was dotted +with numerous square-topped huts of yellow straw, surrounded by +ponderous walls of gray stone or dun-colored earth, and the irregular +green fields were intersected by a silvery ribbon of running water: the +whole composed such a fair picture of restful, peaceful beauty, that +for the moment it held me at the edge in silent contemplation. It +appeared impossible that so sweet, secluded a spot could be the +habitation of savages, vengeful and cruel. Yet those black, moving +dots down yonder, clustering in front of the various lodges, I knew +were naked heathen, blood-thirsty and vindictive. Now that the +earliest rays of sunlight were beginning to tinge with gold the crest +above me, every expectant face in the tribe would be upturned toward my +perch, wondering at the slightest delay in their morning signal. My +eyes becoming accustomed to the distance, could even distinguish those +faint sparks of light where the priests below gathered before the great +altar-house to wave back response. If we would live for even another +day there must be no failure now. Nerving myself for the task, I +stepped forth on to the narrow shelf--no more than the merest black dot +to the watching eyes beneath--and flung forth the flaming torch in +fiery welcome to the Sun. A shrill cry from the throats far below +reached my ears in the merest thread of sound, yet before I drew back +from the edge, I witnessed a responsive signal of flame from the mound +summit, and inferred that no suspicion had been aroused in the minds of +the guardians of these heathen rites. Satisfied of our present safety +I walked back to the great chamber, and beheld the old priest and +Cairnes glaring angrily at each other, while the latter nursed his leg +so tenderly as to make me apprehensive of further trouble having arisen +between them. + +"What now, brother Cairnes?" I questioned in some anxiety, noting as I +came nearer stains of fresh blood on his hose. + +"Yonder black-faced cannibal buried his teeth in my calf," he growled +gloomily. "Saints of Israel! I did merely lean over seeking another +bit of meat, when he fastened on to me in that fashion, and hung there +like a bull-dog until I choked him loose. 'Tis my vote we kill the +ungodly man-eater, who has already feasted off your hand and my leg." + +The energetic movement of his red head clearly evidenced the sincerity +of his feelings, yet it was not in my heart to avenge our wrongs upon a +helpless prisoner. + +"No, friend; we are white, not red. The pain will pass presently, and +it would not be a Christian act to dispose thus of one bound in our +hands. I will give him other food to chew upon, then make fast his +mouth while we go together and search out the secrets of this hole. It +will be best to discover early whether this varlet speaks true or false +as to the chances of escape. Hand over here the meat and water." + +I endeavored to question the fellow further while he sullenly partook +of the food offered, but he gave back merely short, uncivil answers, +and those of little value. Finally, despairing of learning more from +such a source, we securely bucked the sullen fool, rolled his body +close against the wall out of sight of any chance visitant, and then +made preparation to explore our prison-house and discover for ourselves +the mystery of this gloomy cave. The dense blackness showing directly +ahead seemed to promise an extension of passageway into the rock; so, +lighting a pine knot at the altar fire, and bidding Cairnes follow me +closely, I led forward down the narrow tunnel. The floor was uneven, +while so irregular and rough appeared roof and walls as to convince me +this was a natural excavation, probably the run-way for some ancient +watercourse. Yet, as I tested the nature of the stone with the point +of my hunting knife, it proved easily workable with tools, and +apparently revealed softer material the deeper we progressed into the +hill. Slightly beyond the entrance leading from the main chamber, +several rudely fashioned steps led into a sort of gallery. This was of +considerable proportions, elevated perhaps ten or more feet above the +main floor, its outer parapet formed of loose stones, through the +chinks of which one might command unseen a wide view of the cavern and +its altar. But, to our rather hasty inspection, this gallery contained +nothing except bare rock, and, after a single curious glance about we +drew back and moved on cautiously in exploration of the lower tunnel. +This curved gradually toward the left, and held a rather steep pitch +downward. It was not above three feet in width until we had traversed +fully fifty paces, when it suddenly broadened, and the fitful glare of +the torch, which I held over my head, flashed back rays of light from +two horribly gleaming green eyes. For an instant I believed we had +invaded the lair of some wild animal, and drew back quickly, my hand on +the knife hilt. + +"Hell's kitchen!" I exclaimed nervously, "but the den has an occupant +already." + +"Ay, and of a kind common enough in these hills, but nothing fit to +affright a servant of the true God," echoed Cairnes, striding past me. +"I am not wont to fear heathen idols, Master Benteen, nor will I bear +back now before those green eyes." + +As he spoke he laid rough hand on the thing, and I heard a sharp rattle +of metal against wood. + +"Come hither friend," he called, with a laugh, "'tis no worse than +another painted devil we are called to face. Surely it is you who have +the faint heart now." + +"The glow of the torch blinded me to all except the green stones," I +explained, coming forward and throwing the radiance of the flame full +upon the hideous object. "Saint George! 't is of no beauty to my sight +even now, and, as you say, of small fear to Christian heart. The +saints defend us! What was that? As I live, I heard English speech!" + +He was earnestly engaged in an endeavor to detach a bit of dull metal +from the throat of the image, and scarcely deigned to glance around. + +"Nay, there was no sound other than the chattering of your own tongue. +This shining thing is gold, I believe." + +"Let it be; 't is of small value here. I tell you I heard a strange +voice; so hold still and listen." + +For a minute or more we waited in almost breathless suspense, no +unusual sound greeting our ears. Then the Puritan sniffed disdainfully. + +"You grow childish, Master Benteen," he growled roughly, turning back +to his labor. "The dark has overstrained your nerves--" + +"I bespeak help of de Englishmen for de sake of God!" + +There was no mistaking the truth this time--a strange voice was +speaking broken English almost at our very feet. Cairnes clattered to +the floor with a rough exclamation of surprise, while I stared vainly +at the idol, from which the sound apparently came. + +"In Heaven's name, who are you?" I asked earnestly, "and where are you +who make appeal to us?" + +"I am Andre Lafossier, native of France, for two months past a prisoner +to these savages. If you are Christian men I beseech assistance." + +"Nor do you ask vainly. Are you behind the wooden image?" + +"Ay, in a small room hollowed out from the rock." + +"Except for that are you free to aid us in your escape?" + +"No, Monsieur; I am lamed in limb, and fastened to the stone by a metal +band." + +A hoarse growl of rage burst from the throat of the Puritan. "Prophets +of God!" he roared. "Surely we are the selected instruments of the +Lord sent hither for the salvation of this worthy man; we are the +soldiers of Gideon, the chosen of the Most High." + +Before I could lift hand or voice in interference he had braced his +massive shoulder against the towering figure of wood, and, with a +mighty heave sent the monster crashing over upon the rock floor, +himself sprawling beside it as it fell. As they came down together in +a cloud of dust, an opening was revealed behind the stone pedestal on +which the idol had stood. Torch in hand I instantly crept forward. I +found myself in what was little more than the merest cell, yet dimly +illumined by a single beam of light streaming downward as if +penetrating through some slight crevice in the rock. The narrow hole, +for it was hardly more, was bare of all furnishing; both walls and +floor were damp, but there were remnants of coarse food and a pannikin +of water. + +Its sole occupant sat cross-legged on the hard floor, bound about the +waist with a band of metal. One end of this was attached to the wall +in such a manner that the prisoner could neither rise to his feet nor +lie down. Never have these wandering eyes of mine looked upon a figure +more pathetic. For an instant I stood there, swaying upon my feet as +though from sickness, staring at him incredulously. His thin, pale, +effeminate face was rendered wonderfully piteous by the depth of +suffering so plainly revealed within the great, black, appealing eyes. +So peculiarly delicate were the features, so slender the fragile form, +about which a frayed and rusty robe clung loosely, that for a moment I +actually believed I was looking upon a young girl. So strong was this +impression that I drew back, almost abashed. This slight pause enabled +Cairnes to regain his feet and press past me. As his eager glance fell +upon that slender, crouching figure, I observed how suddenly his eyes +hardened, his whole expression changed. + +"You are a priest of Rome!" he exclaimed harshly, staring down. + +The white, girlish face brightened instantly, the two thin hands +plucking forth from some fold in the tattered robe a small silver +crucifix. At sight of this the stern-mouthed Puritan drew sharply +back, as if he feared contamination from the symbol. + +"_Oui, Monsieur_," answered the soft voice, with an odd note of joy in +it. "I am of the Society of Jesus." + +"'T is plain to see. What do you here?" + +The priest smiled gently, his eyes dimming with tears fixed upon the +cross. + +"'Tis strange question. Surely Monsieur knoweth little of our Order, +or he would not need to ask. We are soldiers of Christ, commissioned +for war, even to life or death. We ask nothing but the privilege of +service, and the command of our superior. I am named missionary unto +the savage tribes of this river. It has been the will of God that I +suffer in order that through me some souls born into heathendom may +thus be redeemed from the torments of the damned." + +The sectary's rough, gray face reddened until it was nearly the color +of his hair. + +"'Tis false!" he growled, smiting one hand hard upon the other in +anger. "You only lead the way straight to hell with your false +doctrine. Have you made any converts to the Roman harlot in this +tribe?" + +"Nay, Monsieur, I cannot lay claim to such reward." His eyes slowly +uplifted to the face of his questioner. "Jesu hath not as yet opened +before my understanding the way which leadeth to their hearts. I can +but work, and pray for guidance. I have only baptised one who was +dying of a fever, and sprinkled with holy water an infant, unknown to +its mother. It is not much, yet I bless the good Mary for the +salvation of those precious souls." + +"Saints of Israel! do you think that mummery saved them?" + +"Surely yes, Monsieur; is it not so taught of our Order?" + +I shall never forget the look upon Cairnes's face. At the moment I +believed him wrestling with temptation to strike the helpless man, so +irritated was he by these confident words of Romish faith. Determined +to prevent discussion, I elbowed him aside, and bent down over the +fastenings of the Jesuit. + +"Enough of this," I said sternly, barely glancing at Cairnes. "Keep +the rest of your Puritanical sermonizing for a conventicle. We have +here a fellow-Christian to be rescued from the savages; this is no time +to jangle over creeds." + +"A fellow-Christian! I hold no fellowship with such; he is but an +emissary of a false religion, a slave to the Evil One." + +"Enough, I say," and I rose to my feet fronting him. "I care little +which is right in doctrine, you or he. Here is a man begging aid of us +in extremity. Surely the priest has suffered for the sake of Christ, +regarding whom you speak so freely. So have done with dogma, and play +the man a while--press here with your strength on this knife-blade +until I bend back the metal and set him free." + +He yielded, ungraciously enough, to my command, giving so good a turn +to the steel with his vice-like fingers that in another moment the +Jesuit was released from the wall. Slowly and painfully, clinging fast +to my hand for aid, the man arose and stood before us, swaying wearily, +his thin lips pressed tightly together as if he would stifle a cry of +pain. + +"Are you suffering?" I asked, greatly moved by the expression of agony +imprinted on his pallid face. + +"It will pass, Monsieur," he answered bravely, trying to smile at me. +"'Tis strange the spirit of man is so enslaved to the flesh that one +cannot wholly master a bit of physical pain. No doubt I am somewhat +cramped from my long imprisonment, and, perchance, my wounds have not +rightly healed." + +"Are you wounded? I beg you permit me to attend to that. I possess +some small skill in the bandaging and dressing of cuts." + +His eyes rested upon me with all the tenderness of a woman. + +"I truly thank you, Monsieur, but it is beyond your skill to aid me, +even were you of the school of Paris. They be of a savage nature, +which God alone may beautify." + +He slightly lifted his long black robe as he spoke, and may the +merciful Father forgive the oath which sprang to my lips as I gazed in +horror at the disfiguration--two fleshless limbs, one without even the +semblance of a foot, merely a blackened, charred stump rested on the +rock floor. + +"Mother of God!" I sobbed, "it has been burned off!" + +"Ay," he returned, in all gentleness, covering the awful sight. "Yet +were they gladly given for Christ's sake." + +"I doubt that not," gazing in wonder at his girlish face. "But tell +me, who were guilty of such fiendish cruelty--the savages of this +tribe?" + +"Two months ago it was done in the valley below, in the village of the +Natchez," his eyes again upon the crucifix. "Yet dwell not upon it, +Monsieur, for it is so little I can hope to do for the glory of God. +It may be I am not even worthy of martyrdom." + +"So the Natchez did that!" the breath hissing between my teeth. "Where +was their gentle-hearted Queen?" + +"I know not, Monsieur, if they have a Queen. I saw none exercising +authority excepting priests of their strange worship. It was the chief +priest who held me in the flame." + +I crushed back the hot, useless words burning on my lips, and turned to +look at the Puritan. We had conversed in English, and he must have +comprehended every word, yet there was no softening in the glint of his +hard, gray eyes. + +"Hear you the priest's story, sirrah?" I asked, feeling strong +inclination to vent my spleen on him for such bull-headedness. "Is he +not one to honor rather than pick a quarrel with in such place as this?" + +"'T is no quarrel I seek, nor am I like to question the fanatical +courage of a Jesuit. But I tell you his teaching is false, an outrage +on the true religion of the saints, and I am of a strain which can +never companion with any of that black-robed breed. Call me what ye +please, Master Benteen, but I am too old a man, too long indoctrined in +the faith, ever to acknowledge brotherhood with hirelings of the Romish +church." + +"Companion with whom you please," I retorted savagely. "But I tell you +this, preacher, and once for all,--you 'll bear yourself like a human +being to this poor lad while I 'm with you, or else make answer to me. +Is that plain? I care nothing for your dogma, or your hair-splitting, +but I know what fair play is between man and man,--ay, and mean to have +it here, even if it costs you a split head." + +"I beg you will both be at peace, Messieurs," broke in the soft, +caressing voice at my elbow. "There can be no cause for comrades +quarrelling over me. I am not worthy a ruptured friendship. Yet I +fail to understand any occasion for your seeming trouble; has the older +man some reason to distrust my robe?" + +"Reason! Saint George! 'tis precious little that ever bothers him. +The fellow is a Puritan preacher--of the same breed as the +Huguenots--and possesses a head as hard as an oaken plank." + +I nearly laughed at the unrestrained expression of aversion which swept +the girlish face. An instant the black eyes lost their gentleness, the +thin fingers clutched the silver cross. + +"Mother of God! a heretic! a preacher of that doctrine! Never before +have I met his kind, nor do I care now to make close acquaintance. A +Puritan! _Sainte Marie_, have mercy! Yet surely in such stress as +this we may for the time overlook our differences in faith, and be as +men together? Is it not God's will? But I know little of conditions. +Is there some path open for escape from here? Then will I let this +Puritan be, save for a prayer to the Virgin." + +"I fear there is none, unless you know of some back opening to this +rock hole." + +He shook his head sadly, his gaze still on Cairnes. + +"None, Monsieur; the passage endeth here." + +"Then the three of us are safely cooped for those savages to work their +will upon. No pleasant thought that, yet little good can arise from +losing hope. For one, I fight it out, and let others do the praying. +Let us retrace our way to the big room, where we can hold council in +more comfort; perchance we may find yet some opening to the upper air. +Cairnes, lay hold upon the other side, and help to bear back this lamed +man to the altar." + +I doubted greatly his compliance with my order, and determined to +settle this affair between us without more delay. But he came forward, +unwillingly enough and muttering. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +THE TALE OF THE PRIEST + +With all possible tenderness we bore the slender form of the helpless +priest along the dark, crooked passage, until we found a comfortable +resting-place for him against the altar. + +"I thank you much, Messieurs," he said simply, the depth of his +gratitude apparent in uplifted dark eyes, glistening in the light of +the fire. "Members of our Order are more accustomed to blows than +kindness, so I have no words with which to express thanks for your +care." + +"Think nothing of it," I returned hastily, and then, observing how the +Puritan drew back from beside him, added, "Master Cairnes, you might +busy yourself hunting more food--it will be exactly in your line--while +I attempt to bathe the limbs of the priest, and see what little may be +done toward alleviating his pain." + +The mere thought of eating was sufficient to put the Puritan in good +humor, and he was soon diligently scouring nooks and corners with scent +for provender as keen as that of a pointer dog. I noticed with +curiosity how the motionless Jesuit followed the movements of his +hulking figure as he passed back and forth amid the shadows, his dark +eyes filled with wonder and aversion. + +"'Tis truly a strange thing, Monsieur," the latter remarked soberly, +"to meet with one pretending love for Christ, yet who hateth Mother +Church, and dares make open mock of Her most holy offices. Thou didst +name thy comrade Puritan?" + +"Ay, of the same breed as the Huguenots of your country, rebels against +the Pope." + +He made the sign of the Cross. + +"The curse of Holy Church is upon them all; they are condemned to +hell," he exclaimed with fervor. "A vile pestilence to be stamped out; +yet it would afford me joy beyond words could I save this man's soul +from eternal torture, and lead him back into the true faith. Mother of +God! what was it moved yonder?" + +I glanced quickly about toward where he pointed, seeing the shadowed +figure of our forgotten prisoner. + +"'Tis only one of the savages we have captured and bound. He guarded +this altar, ministering to the superstition of the tribe; an old man, +perchance the very chief priest who held you in the flame." + +I anticipated seeing the light of revenge leap into his eyes, but, +instead, a rush of pity softened them, and before I could extend my +hand to interfere, he crept across the intervening space, and bent over +the fellow. + +"A most cruel turn on the rope, Monsieur," he exclaimed, busying +himself at the knot. "Surely the man will rest easier, and no less +safely, with back propped against the rock. Nay, have no fear; I will +keep him tied fast if that be your wish, yet I seek to relieve his pain +so I may profitably converse with him upon the needs of his soul." + +"With him! Saint George! he had small enough mercy on you." + +"That is of the past, and abideth not in memory," and the white hands +held up the crucifix into the light. "He who died on this Cross +prayed, 'Father forgive, they know not what they do,' and who is Andre +Lafossier, to be harsher than his Master?" + +Not until after he had prayed long and earnestly, holding the silver +cross ever before the wicked eyes of the unrepentant savage, did he +permit me to bathe his disfigured limbs, dressing them as best I could +with what rude materials I found at hand. Even while I worked he +seemingly thought nothing of himself, but, oblivious to pain, his face +was ever turned to the prisoner, his lips moving in petition for his +soul. I caught but scattered sentences. + +"Oh, Christ, this one--unworthy, yet I beseech Thee--Be merciful, O +Virgin--out of the wilderness ariseth the voice of Thy servant--purge +the soul of all past iniquity--yield me this one brand plucked from the +burning--Thine be the glory forever--let my life be given for this +soul--this one precious reward for my ministry." + +A little later the three of us partook, although largely in silence, of +the sustaining food which Cairnes furnished in abundance. Throughout +the meal I felt it necessary to be ever watchful to prevent the two +zealots, who were now my comrades, from clashing. Again and again the +priest sought to lead the sectary to his way of thinking, but the gray +face only hardened ominously, his bull voice denouncing bitterly all +Romish deeds. + +"Come, be at peace, you two," I commanded at last, thoroughly tired and +angry. "Hold your tongues over those questions, at least while I am +with you. Odds! I care nothing as to your Catholic or Protestant, +your popes or preachers. Be done, and bear yourselves like men. I +will no longer have you vexing the air with controversy while our very +lives are hanging by a thread. There are other things to talk about +just now. So, Cairnes, if you cannot bide quietly in our company, then +stay here alone while I take the Jesuit out into the sunlight, where we +can hold sensible counsel together." + +Leaving the fellow growling to himself over the remnants of the meal, I +bore the priest along the short passage, until we discovered a secure, +comfortable resting-place outside, where our eyes could sweep the full +extent of the wide valley. It was a quietly beautiful scene at this +hour, the glow of the sun over all. We could distinguish gangs of +slaves toiling in the fields, and a group of warriors, their spears +glistening, clustered together before the gloomy altar-house. Yet my +eyes barely rested upon either scene, for there, close beside the open +door of the Queen's dwelling, my glance, sharpened by love, perceived +the movements of a woman's apparel, and from the faint color of it, +distinguishable, even at that distance in the sun glare, I knew I +looked once more upon Eloise. It would be difficult to express in +prosaic English with what intense relief I realized, through the +evidence of my own eyes, her continued safety. It seemed years already +since our last parting, when she had chosen to remain prisoner in those +savage hands. Father of all! how I loved her then; how I yearned to +have word with her, to read again the silent message of her pure eyes. + +The priest was gazing silently far away up the valley. Busied with my +own thoughts, forgetting him utterly, I kept my eyes eagerly, hungrily +upon that single, far-off figure, until, finally, I saw her arise and +disappear within the open door. I growled forth a bitter curse, +observing the cause for retreat--a man and a woman slowly climbing the +mound together. There was no doubt in my mind as to the identity of +the Queen and De Noyan. Faith! but it would have pleased me then to +put hand upon the false coxcomb and choke him back to decency and duty. +The look of it was in my face, no doubt, as I stared down upon them in +helplessness, for the Jesuit rested his fingers gently upon my arm, as +though he would restrain my passion. + +"There seemeth something below which angers you, my friend," he said +softly. "'Tis a battle-light flaming in your eyes." + +"'Tis the shame of it all which crazes me," I responded, trembling with +passion, yet yielding to the influence of his presence. "You have not +yet heard the story, so cannot rightly judge our position here." + +As briefly as possible I reviewed the adventures of our little party +since leaving New Orleans, and it was good to observe with what growing +interest he followed the simple story, interrupting with but few +questions until I reached the end. Then his soft hand closed warmly +over mine, his eyes upon my face. + +"It is a brave tale," he said kindly, "one not unworthy the days of +knighthood. Yet, good friend, it is scarcely well for you to think +thus tenderly regarding the wife of another. 'T is against the laws of +Holy Church, and can only lead to harm and suffering. But, Mother of +God! who am I to pass judgment?--I, who am also guilty of this sin." + +He had uplifted his crucifix, sitting with bowed head before it, with +so sad a face I could not forbear questioning. + +"Have you, then, such another tale in your life?" + +He did not look at me, yet hesitated not in reply. + +"Ay, 'tis true, yet not so pure a one. I like not to dwell upon it +even in thought; but you have trusted me, and we are here together as +men of a common race in face of death. Perchance our hearts may better +comprehend each other through such confidences. Do you care to hear my +tale?" + +"I listen gladly, for in truth I know of nothing better to do," I +returned uneasily. "Pish! but I feel as if we were locked in a cell +awaiting the headsman." + +"Yet God can open the doors even as He did for Peter," he said +solemnly, fastening his eyes on the blue sky. For a moment neither +spoke; then the gentle voice took up the story, as if telling it over +to himself. + +"I was not always of the black robe; only six years since I wore the +blue and gold of a soldier of France in the dragoon regiment of +Auvergne. I came of good family, and was even known and trusted of the +King. But let that pass. We were stationed at Saint-Rienes, in the +south country, as fair a spot, Monsieur, as this world holds, yet +strangely inhabited by those discontented under the faith of Holy +Church. But we rode rough shod over all such in those days, for it was +the will of the King to crush out heresy. 'Tis a pleasure to see the +shrinking of a heretic before the wrath of God. Yet this tale has +little to do with this service, however I love to dwell upon it. As I +said, we were quartered in garrison at Saint-Rienes, and it was there I +first met Marie Fousard, the girl wife of a Captain in His Majesty's +Guard. She was a creature of beauty, Monsieur, with clear cheeks, lips +of the rose, and great trustful eyes. I was but a boy then, she not +much older in years, but with that knowledge of the world and of men +which enabled her to make poor, blinded fool--her helpless slave for +evil. Merciful Mary! how I did worship her! To me she was as an +angel; divinity lurked in her smile and found utterance upon her lips. +I could have died at her word, happy to know it was her pleasure. Yet, +as I know now, all the love-making between us was no more than play to +her; she merely sought to amuse herself with my passion through a dull +season. No, not quite all, for back of her smiles lurked a purpose so +dark, so diabolical, 'twas not strange I failed to fathom it. 'Tis +hard to associate crime with such young womanhood, to feel that evil +thoughts lurk behind eyes soft with love and lips breathing tenderness. +Yet behind the outer angel of Marie Fousard there was a devil +incarnate. I was blind, crazed, helpless to resist an evil I failed to +perceive. I loved her; in that passion all else was lost. She had +confessed love for me; in that was all the heaven I desired. Little by +little she fanned within my heart a hatred for the man whose wife she +was, my comrade in arms. I cannot relate the details, the stories of +wrong, the lies, the upbraidings which turned my blood to flame, +picturing him ever to me as a monster. Ah, it means much, Monsieur, +when such things are told with tears, when every sob rings in the ears +as though crying for vengeance. I listened, believing it all, until +deep in my heart hate was born. Once she showed me her shoulder, the +white flesh discolored as if by a blow, swearing that he did it. The +sight maddened me to action. I left her to seek him at the inn, +cursing in my teeth, and caring not what happened, so I killed him. +What boots now the insult offered which forced him to the field? I can +see his face yet, full of wonder at my words, doubting my very sanity; +yet I saw only her and that bruised shoulder. I would kill him, and I +did, running my sword through his body, and gazing down remorselessly +into his glazing eyes. What cared I for aught but her? It was a duel, +fairly fought, and I was safe from censure. God! in that hour it never +came to me that it was foul murder; that I had stricken down an +innocent man at the word of a harlot." + +He stopped, his white face buried in his hands, his slender form +trembling. I remained motionless. With an effort he resumed. + +"I went back to her at our trysting-place, intoxicated by my deed, +confident she would come to my arms in gratitude. Instead she laughed, +tore from her face the mask of innocence, called me fool, boasted that +she had merely used me for her own vile purposes. I shrank away, +horrified by my deed, despising her, my love stricken dead. In that +moment my life was changed; I cared for nothing except to get away from +my fellows, to expiate my sin in the sight of God. I felt no interest +in what became of her; I neither smiled nor wept, when, three days +later, she married the prefect of that village. All was over; the fire +within me had become ashes." + +"But the woman? this Marie Fousard?" + +"She went her way, the broad road leading to destruction. We met never +again, yet I heard, for there were those eager to tell such things. A +year, and the prefect was dead of poison, but, before the gendarmes +learned the truth, the widow fled by night taking much property. One +D'Anse was her paramour, a sub-lieutenant of hussars. 'T is all I +know; they took ship together at Marseilles. Mother of Mercy! wherever +she lives it will be under the spell of the Evil One. To my heart God +hath brought peace, but for such as she there can be no peace; she hath +been damned already." + +I know not how long we sat there motionless, our eyes on the sunlit +valley, our thoughts on past years. The father ran the beads swiftly +through his white fingers, his lips moving noiselessly; but I found no +such help, no such consolation in my struggle. His story was forever +ended; mine was not, the very scene beneath bringing home to me anew +the desperate burden. Oh, Eloise! Eloise! what of fate awaited us in +the coming night shadows? What sacrifice of mine could bring to you +life and liberty? It is one thing to rush headlong into danger; a +vastly different one to sit awaiting disaster which it is impossible to +avert. The desire to act, to attempt something, became an imperative +passion, and I sprang to my feet. + +"Come, _pere_," I broke forth impatiently, "let us get back inside. +Before we are aware it will be night, and we must learn first if there +is any chance for escape. We can dream no longer over the past. Saint +George! the present holds sufficient work for us to do." + +I bore him back in my arms and left him lying beside the savage priest, +testing again on him the efficacy of prayer, while Cairnes and I fared +forth to explore. We sought long and painfully, trying the walls for +some concealed opening, groping in the corners, and squirming through +narrow crevices. The effort was useless, except to convince us that +the cavern had but the single entrance. All we discovered was an +assortment of odd weapons, war-clubs and stone-tipped spears, collected +in one corner of the gallery. Everywhere else were bare walls. +Feeling like rats in a trap we dragged tired limbs back to the +altar-room, our sole remaining hope a possible escape down the rocks +under the early shadows of the night. This might be accomplished if +sufficient time were granted us, and if the good Lord guided. It was a +hope, a cheer to the spirits of the others, yet in, my own heart I +counted little upon it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES + +The hours of waiting dragged terribly. We conversed little, all alike +nervous, irritable under the strain of our desperate situation. The +Jesuit was much in prayer; but Cairnes fell asleep and twisted about +uneasily, his head pillowed on his arm. I could only pace the rock +floor, harassed by bitter, useless thoughts. What a memory picture it +is!--the great bare cavern, with black interior only partially revealed +by the gleam of the altar flame; the old savage huddled in his bonds, +his baleful eyes glowing in the firelight as he watched every movement; +the slender _pere_ close beside him upon his knees, his frayed black +gown rendering more conspicuous the rapt, upraised face, his white +fingers clasping the crucifix; beyond, Cairnes outstretched on the hard +stone, his bulky figure motionless but for nervous twitching, his red +hair glaring like a spot of paint. I rejoiced that the fellow slept, +for he rasped me with his ceaseless, senseless attacks on the Roman +Church. Yet the gentle-voiced priest had tamed his open hatred +somewhat; so before he lay down the sectary sat long in moody silence +staring at the other with glinting eyes, as though fit speech failed +him. + +As the sun sank to the horizon I went forth again upon the platform, +waving a blazing signal torch to the expectant groups below. The sky +overhead was blue, but to the north and east, as far as I could see for +overhanging cliff, great masses of black cloud were showing ominously, +their ragged edges emitting lightning flashes, although too distant for +me to distinguish the thunder. Below, in the valley, the approaching +storm would not yet be visible; but from my aerie I prayed for a dark +night, the swift approach of a battle of the elements. + +Arousing Cairnes, who was already awake but lying glowering at the +unconscious priest, I despatched him to the jutting platform, with +instructions to keep close watch on all movements in the village. Then +I busied myself with final preparations for our desperate sortie. The +earliest shades of evening would have to be utilized, for then only +could we hope for a clear path. Before those wild fanatics swarmed +upward to their monthly sacrifice, we must traverse that narrow cliff +path and penetrate the tunnel beyond as far as the underground altar. +Nowhere between the cave entrance and that spot could I recall any +place of concealment. Inspired by this necessity, so soon as darkness +began to blot the mouth of the cave, I bore the priest that way in my +arms, although he begged earnestly to be left behind, saying he was a +useless burden. The slowly advancing clouds had not yet mounted high +enough to obscure the moon, but hung densely massed across half the +sky, low thunder echoing among the rocks, and jagged streaks of +lightning tearing the gloom asunder. The burly Puritan lay, a black +silhouette against the silvered rocks, leaning far over, staring down +into the void. As I touched him, he turned his face toward me, +pointing below with one hand. + +"We are securely blocked, Master Benteen," he asserted gruffly. "A fit +reward for associating with papists." + +"Blocked?" failing to comprehend. "How? Are the savages already +astir?" + +"Look for yourself. See yonder; lights are on the pathway as high as +the tree-bridge." + +I dropped upon my knees, clinging to a bowlder, and peered over. He +spoke truth, and my heart rose choking into my throat. Resembling +innumerable fireflies tiny flames were gleaming along the entire front +of the cliff--torches borne by human hands. Breathless the three of us +clung there staring down, each realizing the utter futility of our +efforts at escape, yet none reckless enough to give the thought +utterance. The Puritan first found speech. + +"The spawn of hell!" he growled savagely, shaking his great fist, +remembering the indignities of the altar-house. "Good Lord, deliver us +from this iniquity; lead us through the waters dry-shod, even as Thou +didst Thy people of old from the land of Egypt." + +"Come," I said, "we must seek whatever hiding-place is within, and +trust God for it." + +The priest looked at me pleadingly, his eyes like stars. + +"I would at such an hour you were of my faith, Monsieur." + +"I might do worse," I admitted, watching intently the lights on the +cliff-path, "but it was not the teaching of my childhood. There is one +below whose prayers are as yours." + +"Madame de Noyan?" + +I bowed my head in gesture of reverence. + +"Yes, Monsieur, and whatever she loves is not far from my heart. But +come, we have scant time for preparation; no, do not endeavor to walk; +your weight is nothing to my arms." + +There was no spot within where, even for a short period, we might hope +to avoid discovery, except the rock gallery. Here, crouching behind +the parapet, we could see without being seen, unless some savage +chanced to stray that way. At my order the sullen, psalm-quoting +preacher dragged the helpless old chief priest after him, and so we +went groping forward through the darkness of the short passage, until +we attained the stone steps. Stumbling blindly upward, our hearts +throbbing in realization of the peril that was closing us in, we flung +our bodies flat behind the concealing rocks, peering fearfully forth +into the great deserted chamber. Even amid that lonely silence it was +a sight to chill the heart; and to us, comprehending something of what +it would soon reveal of savage orgy. It was like gazing down into the +mouth of the Pit. The single touch of color in the drear picture came +from the crimson drapery hanging over the edge of the raised platform. +Seeing all this at one glance my anxious eyes sought the deeper gloom +shrouding the tunnel leading toward the entrance. As I stared that way +a sudden flash of fierce lightning illumined it. So brilliant it burst +forth from the opaque night, I hid my blinded eyes, every nerve of my +body quivering. + +"Great God!" burst forth Cairnes, his voice so close as to startle me. +"'T is like the end of the world!" + +"Be still," I commanded hastily, pressing him flat, "there they come." + +A dozen flaming torches rounded the rock projection the lights +glistening over the half-naked bodies of the bearers. Saint Andrew! it +was a weird sight, one to strike terror to the soul! With gritted +teeth, my heart pounding, I looked out upon it. The leader was a +priest, black from head to heel, his face showing devilish in the torch +flare, his coarse hair matted high in horrid resemblance to some wild +beast. Behind surged a mob of warriors, women, and children, half-nude +bodies striped with red and yellow, a malignant demoniacal crew, +yelling and pushing under the flaming lights, rushing tumultuously +forward to fling themselves prostrate before the altar. It seemed they +would never cease pouring forth from the narrow tunnel, a struggling, +gesticulating stream. Behind them lightning played in jagged streaks +across the little patch of sky, and the black smoke of the torches +curled upward to the roof. Their appearance was not human, but that of +demons incarnate; some ran upon all fours like wolves, gnashing their +teeth and howling; many yelped in fiendish chorus; others brandished +weapons aloft in the yellow flame, or lay, writhing like glistening +snakes on the rock floor. It was a pandemonium, a babel, an +unspeakable hell. To count was impossible, but the great room was +filled with bodies, and rang with guttural, inarticulate cries. The +busily flitting priests stirred up the wood until the blaze leaped +nearly to the roof, mumbling as they worked, the incessant moaning of +the tribesmen deepening into a weird chant. The frenzied singers leapt +into the air, flinging their limbs about in wild contortion, their +movements increasing in violence, their grotesquely painted faces +becoming hellish from awakening passion. They became brutes, fiends, +whose only thought was cruelty. I saw them strike each other with +stone knives, slashing the flesh till blood ran. Heartsick and +trembling, I glanced aside at my companions. The _pere_ lay clasping +the stone, his eyes wide with horror, his countenance death-like; +Cairnes was upon his knees, his great hands gripped, staring straight +down like some animal crouching for a spring. + +It was when I turned back, loathing the sight yet unable to resist +facing it, that I beheld for the first time those I sought--Eloise, De +Noyan, and the Queen Naladi. An instant I blinded my eyes with +uplifted arm, half believing that the horror had turned my brain, that +all this was vision. Yet, as I ventured to look again, they were there +before me in the flesh--Naladi all in red, a wondrous figure amid that +spectral glow, tall, straight, with proud, imperious face, crowned by +the brilliant hair, radiant and sparkling in the flame. Beside her +loitered De Noyan, like one who enjoyed a spectacle arranged for his +pleasure, his face darkening somewhat as though the sight were not +altogether to his liking, yet debonair and careless, his waxed +moustaches standing forth conspicuous, his fingers in his waist-belt. +About the two were ranged a fringe of warriors, their flint-headed +spears rising an impenetrable wall, while farther behind, separated and +alone, the light of the fire barely revealing her presence, stood +Eloise, a savage guard on either side of her. I caught the outline of +her face, imprinted with horror, the lips moving as if in supplication; +then I perceived something else--_her hands were bound_! Smothering an +oath, I crept back to the pile of weapons in the corner, gripped a +war-club, and, returning as silently, thrust a second into the +unconscious hands of Cairnes. Our eyes met, the sectary nodding +grimly, his jaws set like a steel trap. If need should arise we would +die fighting like cornered rats. + +Their yells reverberating to the vaulted roof, the smoking torches +gyrating wildly above them, the throng of crazed fanatics were now upon +their feet, crowding toward the platform, every tongue clamoring in +incessant demand. All was confusion, a medley of noise and motion, +tossing arms, and painted faces. Finally, I caught a glimpse of +Naladi's red robe scarcely ten feet away, and behind her the +countenance of De Noyan, still contemptuously smiling at that shrieking +rabble. God! my face burned, my grasp tightened on the club. Yet I +lay motionless, knowing well the time of sacrifice was not yet. + +The woman stood at the edge of the rock platform, gazing intently down, +a silent, motionless statue, her red robe sweeping to her feet, and +below her the crimson drapery; the flaring torches in the hands of her +barbaric followers cast their light full upon her. I stared at the +strange creature, comprehending something of the power of passion such +as she could exercise over De Noyan, causing him to forget all honor in +her presence. Saint Andrew! she was a witch, a hell-cat, whose smile +was death. Ay! and she was smiling then, a smile of cruel, unrelenting +triumph, gazing down upon the howling slaves who should do her +pleasure. She knew them well, every superstition, every wild impulse, +and she played contemptuously on their savagery. Not fear, but +command, was stamped upon her features; she ruled by legerdemain, by +lie and trick, and she stood, the supreme she-devil, the master spirit +in that raging hell. It seemed to me my heart would burst as I waited, +seeing nothing then of Eloise amid the crush, and compelled to gaze on +that dominant scarlet figure. + +[Illustration: The woman gazing intently down, her red robe sweeping to +her feet; below the flaring torches in the hands of her barbaric +followers cast their light full upon her.] + +The cries of the multitude ceased, and a black-draped priest shouted +unintelligible words. Naladi listened, extending one hand. Then her +thin lips spoke a single sentence in the sharp tone of command. +Instantly burst forth a fierce roar of disapproval; war-clubs pounded +the floor, spears rattled as they were brandished overhead, while above +the din I caught, again and again, the shriek, "_Francais_! +_Francais_!" The Queen shook her head, her fair face darkening, and +glanced aside into the questioning eyes of De Noyan. Below them the +tumult increased, the mass surging forward and staring upward, every +voice yelping that one term of hate, "_Francais_!" There was no +doubting the dread menace--they were demanding French victims for the +torture of sacrifice; they clamored for white blood with which to +sprinkle the altar. I could dimly perceive now a dozen crouching +slaves against the farther wall, the whites of their eyes showing in +terror, and--oh, God!--there, to the right of them, alone, except for +her burly guards, kneeling on the rock floor, with face hidden in her +hands, was Eloise. I half rose to my feet, my whole body pulsating +with agony. What was to be the ending? What was that mad woman's +purpose? Could she control the fierce blood-lust of those savage +fanatics? If she cared to do so, would she dare test her power in so +desperate a game? If one must be sacrificed which would she spare, De +Noyan or his hapless wife? Looking at her, cold, cynical, lustful, her +eyes still turned on his face, I felt no doubt. Let the foul fiend +choose! by all the gods, Cairnes should brain her where she stood, and, +Heaven helping me to do the deed, the one I loved should never die by +torture! + +She took her own time for decision, indifferently ignoring the howls of +rage, her thin lips curling in contemptuous smile, her glance yet upon +the startled Chevalier. Laying her hand upon his sleeve, she said in +French: + +"You hear the wolves howl, Monsieur? They are mad for French blood." + +He shrugged his shoulders, staring into her expressionless face, then +down upon the surging mob below. + +"Saint Giles! give them sufficient of something else," he replied, +striving to pretend indifference, yet with a falter in his voice. "You +pledged us safety if we would accompany you here." + +"I pledged _you_ safety, Monsieur," she corrected haughtily. "I gave +no word of promise as to others. Yet circumstances have changed. I +supposed then we had enough of victims to appease even such blood-lust +as yelps yonder." + +"You mean the preacher and Benteen?" + +"Ay; they would suffice, with plenty of slaves for good measure. But +now, only two remain from which to choose. _Sacre_! there are times +when those dogs break away even from my control, and mock me. I know +not now whether one alone will glut their desire, yet I am of a mind to +try the experiment before the wolves drag me to hell also. Heard you +ever such yelping of wild beasts?" + +"You would sacrifice me?" his face whitening from horror. "You would +give me to the knife and fire? _Mon Dieu_! is this the end of all your +vows?" + +She smiled, a cold, cruel smile, her eyes burning. + +"I did not say you," tauntingly. "There is another here." + +He drew away from her grasp, lips ashen, eyes unbelieving. + +"Eloise! _Mon Dieu_! not Eloise?" + +"And if not Eloise, what then, Monsieur?" The low voice hardened, +becoming oddly metallic. "The wolves cry for blood--French blood. Is +it your wish to die together? _Pardi_! if it be between you two, am I +to have no choice which one I deliver? Why should you shrink back like +a baby at first sight of blood? I thought you a soldier, a man. Did +you not tell me you loved her no longer? did you not swear it with your +lips to mine?" + +He made no response, staring at her with eyes full of unbelief, the +hideous uproar clanging about them in ceaseless volume. Naladi's face +flushed with rising anger. + +"Yet you do! _Mon Dieu_, you do!" she panted, the tiger within +breaking loose. "Your words were a lie! Here, look at me," extending +her arms, the white flesh of her bosom clearly revealed in the parting +of her drapery. "Am I such as she? will I shrink like a coward, +mumbling prayer and fingering rosary? Am I afraid to work my will? Am +I not worth being loved? Am I the kind you think to play with? God's +mercy! I am minded to throw you both to the beasts. No, no, not that; +you dare not front me! I make my own choice of who shall die and who +live." She laughed mockingly. "Bah! I know your sort, Monsieur--'tis +as the wind blows; you love to-day, and forget to-morrow. Yet I keep +you for a plaything--I have no use for her. I care no longer how the +wolves tear her dainty limbs. Before this I have tasted vengeance and +found it sweet." + +He shrank before her fury, all conceit and audacity fled, and words +failed him. Not even yet could he believe it true, but she permitted +no recovery. + +"You think I lie. You think I threaten, but dare not act. You think +me a soft-hearted fool because I listened to your words of love. By +the gods! you shall learn better. I have heard love words before; none +ever spoke them to my ears without paying the price of deceit. _Mon +Dieu_! and shall you escape? I can hate as well as love; strike as +well as caress. So you played with me, Monsieur? used me to pass a +dull hour in the wilderness? _Sacre_! 't is now my chance to sport +with you. You forget who I am--I, Naladi, Daughter of the Sun, Queen +of the Natchez. Look down! there are hands waiting to rend at my word. +I will give them the girl-face for their blood-lust. Seek to stop me +if you dare!" + +Never can I forget the expression on De Noyan's face as he listened. +Incredulity changed to loathing, then to despair. As though the woman +had snatched a mask from off her features he gazed now upon the demon +soul revealed in all its hideousness. Instantly all that was +physically beautiful became loathsome from the foulness within. He +endeavored to speak, to protest, but all his recklessness had deserted +him and he trembled like a leaf. Already the gesticulating priests, +thinking themselves cheated of their victims, were half way up the rude +steps of stone; behind them surged the mob, screaming "_Francais_," +their torches waving madly. Naladi laughed. + +"So your nerve fails, Monsieur," she sneered coldly. "'Tis well it +does, for you need expect no mercy from me. I also hate the French." + +She turned from him, her arms outspread, the crimson drapery extended +like wings. The glare of a hundred torches reflected on her face, and +her lips spoke one word of stern command. Every voice ceased its +howling, every form became motionless, the silence so sudden it was +painful. The woman stood above them, dominant; every eye was fastened +upon her; the priests were prostrate on the stair. I saw De Noyan +leaning forward, his teeth clinched, his face death-like. From wall to +wall Naladi's gaze wandered; once she looked into his eyes, then down +again upon the mob of savages. Like the sharp hiss of a snake a single +sentence leaped from her thin lips. The effect was magical. I +scarcely realized the transformation, so rapidly was it accomplished. +Confusion filled the chamber, yet out of the tumult I caught sight of +Madame being driven toward the altar, her white face full of pleading, +her hands, now freed, clasping her rosary. De Noyan must have beheld +her at the same instant. With shout of rage he leaped recklessly +forward, hurled aside the scarlet figure, and, uttering an oath, sprang +on the parapet. + +"By God! you foul fiend of hell!" he screamed madly. "I 'll fight for +it; fight like a gentleman of France!" + +I leaped to my feet, Cairnes beside me. Desperate as the chance was, +we would be with him on that floor, with him smiting to the death. Yet +even as he poised for the leap downward the woman's scarlet arms +struck, and he went over like a stone, crashing into a huddled heap on +the rock floor. Naladi laughed, leaning far out to look down, like a +gloating devil. + +"Fight, you poor fool!" she exclaimed in French. "_Sacre_! who struck +hardest?" + +Sick, trembling like a frightened child, I dragged the dazed Puritan +down again, crouching behind the stones. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +THE INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT + +I could look no longer on that hellish scene. It seemed as if all +strength, all manhood, had deserted me before the utter helplessness of +our position. There was nothing left except useless sacrifice--a +moment's hopeless struggle, the sole reward death under the war-club or +by torture. God knows it was not myself I considered, but Eloise. It +was thought of her which so unnerved me, so paralyzed body and mind. +The Puritan dropped his heavy hand on my shoulder. + +"Great Jehovah," he muttered, "look there!" + +How he ever made it I know not; how he ever crept on tortured stumps +down those rude steps, and along the dark, rocky tunnel; how he ever +succeeded in penetrating unscathed that howling mob of savages--yet +there, in the very midst of them, fully revealed in the torch glare, +his pallid, girlish face uplifted, but concealed beneath the shadow of +his cowl, the silver cross gleaming in the light, beside Eloise, knelt +the black-robed Jesuit. Amid the sudden hush of surprise I overheard +his voice, fearless, calm, unfaltering, as he gave the weeping woman +sacrament of the Church. A great brute struck at him; the frail figure +reeled sideways to the force of the blow, but the words of prayer did +not cease, nor his grasp on her hand relax. Rallying from their +astonishment, the warriors crowded in upon them, and a fanatical priest +hurled the _pere_ headlong to the floor. I saw a brandishing of clubs, +a glitter of spears, yet the poor fellow came erect once more, his arm +resting for support on the woman's shoulder. It was all in a flash of +time, like some swift transformation on the stage we could scarcely +comprehend. At the instant a voice spoke, ringing above the babel, +which ceased suddenly. I glanced involuntarily toward Naladi. She +stood leaning forward, her hands gripping the stone parapet, +conflicting emotions playing across her face. + +As the torches, uplifted, gleamed brighter upon the motionless Queen, +they revealed a look of perplexity, almost fear, in her cold eyes. +What held her speechless? Was it remembrance of another life, when the +stern word of the Church had been law? or was she merely troubled by so +mysterious an appearance, her guilty soul swayed by superstitious +terror? She was all too strange a riddle for my reading, but some +occult power held her helpless, silent. The vengeful cries of her +savage followers died away into threatening murmurs; the _pere_ +remained motionless, one hand on Eloise's bowed head, his white face +shadowed by the hood, calmly fronting her who had commanded quiet. +Slowly he lifted one arm, the loose sleeve lending dignity and power to +the simple gesture, his white extended hand seeming to have in it the +authority of command. A moment, heedless of the scowling, painted +faces all about, the slight figure stood erect and firm, the dark eyes +bearing witness to his earnestness, and never wavering from Naladi's +scornful face. + +"Woman," he said calmly, even as I imagine Christ may have spoken of +old, "release this prisoner, and make thy peace with God." + +She endeavored to laugh mockingly, yet only a hollow semblance came +from between her white lips. "Pah!" she cried nervously, "you speak +bravely; pray, who gave you authority to give orders to the Daughter of +the Sun?" + +"One greater than the Sun, woman," he answered. "I speak to you in the +name of Jesus of Nazareth, and by authority of the Holy Catholic +Church." + +She leaned yet farther forward, as though seeking to penetrate the +shadow concealing his face, a perceptible tremor apparent in her voice. + +"Who are you? Answer me!" + +"I am called Father Ignatius, a priest of the Order of Jesuits." + +"And what do you suppose I care for your Romish orders? They have no +power here; a single wave of my hand would condemn you to the place of +yonder slaves." Her color rose in the wave of passion, sweeping fear +aside. "I have nothing but hatred for your black robe, and your +interference only intensifies my purpose. Mark you now what I say; if +it be the will of my people to put this cringing French woman to the +torture, I lift not so much as a finger to change her fate. More, +because of your insolence I give you also into their hands. We take no +orders from the Church of Rome." + +"Your people!" the words rang forth with such clearness as almost to +bring me to my feet. "You foul fiend of hell, do you think thus to +impose your vile imposture on me? I fear neither your power nor the +cruelty of your savage satellites. My life is in the hands of my +Master, who will give me strength to mock your torture. Two months ago +I was bound to a stake in the valley below. Ask these fiends, who do +your bidding, whether I shrank back in terror, or made outcry as the +flame ate into my flesh. Gaze on these stumps blackened by fire, and +learn how I value your threats. Peace, woman, and no longer mock the +faith of your childhood." + +"My childhood? You know nothing of that!" + +"Do I not? Look upon my face, and judge." + +He flung back his cowl, and the light fell full upon his countenance. +Upon the silence broke a sharp cry, in which fear and surprise were +strangely blended: + +"Andre Lafossier!" + +"Right, woman; you have not forgotten. Sunk as you are in shame and +evil deeds, conscience yet lives and haunts you. What do I know of +you? Enough to justify calling you joint heir with all the fiends of +hell, unless, like the thief on the Cross, repentance make white your +black soul. Yet, 'tis in my heart that yours is the sin against the +Spirit for which there is no forgiveness. Nothing in your face tells +me of an awakening soul. You are a Queen, you say? Ay, of evil, of +devils incarnate. I would rather be this poor woman bound to the stake +than you upon a throne. Do your worst with us, but know that Andre +Lafossier has nothing for you save disgust; still, as priest of Holy +Church, I hold open the door of salvation through Jesus Christ." + +Evidences of struggle marked Naladi's face, yet by now she had +outwardly conquered the first shock of recognition, and stood a cold, +stately statue, with glittering eyes on the slender figure of the +priest. + +"I care as little for your Romish mummery," she said sneeringly, "as I +do for the senseless rites of these savages. But I am glad it is you I +have in my power. If I am the queen of devils, they serve me well. +You are to die, Andre Lafossier. I might have spared you had you kept +your tongue, but after those words you die. I shall stand here and +mock you to the last breath. You say I have no soul; to-night you +shall know it true while I laugh at your agony." + +She paused as if seeking to mark the effect of her words, but the +_pere_ merely stooped slightly, whispering some message of comfort into +the ear of Eloise. Then he stood erect again. + +"As you will, woman; to die for Christ is gain." + +The face of Naladi, which had been pale and drawn, flushed, her eyes +fairly blazing. + +"So you dare mock me, you hireling priest!" she hissed. "'T is not for +long; I am no snivelling French girl, afraid of blood. And now I give +you a taste of my power." + +As the words fell from her thin lips, she flung up one hand, exhibiting +with a peculiar gesture a glittering metallic substance shining in the +light. It must have been a signal for unrestrained sacrifice, for it +was greeted with fierce howls of delight, the savage herd pressing in +upon the prisoners, so that I lost sight of them an instant in the +crush. + +"Wait, woman!" rose the priest's voice above the uproar. "I admit your +power here to take physical life; I expect no mercy from such as you. +But, if you be not lost to all shame, grant me one favor, Marie +Fousard." + +"What?" + +"A moment of time in which I may give absolution to this child of God +before we die." + +"Pish! is that all? Go on with your fool mummery. I will hold back +the savages till that be done, though the sight of it will but anger +them." + +Eloise had sunk down against the altar, with face buried in her hands. +The _pere_ dropped upon his knees beside her. About them surged the +glistening forms of the savages, maddened with blood-lust, but Naladi +clapped her hands, with voice and gesture bidding them wait her further +word. An instant they swayed passionately back and forth, their +fanatical priests clamoring in opposition to this halting of vengeance. +Then Naladi shook loose her hair, permitting its wealth to fall in a +golden-red shower, until it veiled her from head to foot. The silenced +crowd stared as if in worship of the supernatural. I know not what she +said, uplifting her white arms from out that red-gold canopy, yet I can +guess. + +"Natchez, I dare you to disobey the Daughter of the Sun!" + +Swept by a superstition stronger than hate, they flung themselves at +her feet, prostrating their faces to the rock, grovelling like worms, +heedless of all except her presence and her supremacy. She was a +goddess, one whose will was destruction. Gazing down upon them, +conscious of her power, her thin lips smiled in contempt. 'T was so I +saw her last; so I shall always picture her in memory--a motionless, +statuesque figure, covered with a veil of red-gold hair, her eyes like +diamonds, her bare, white arms gleaming, her lips curved in proud +disdain; a queen of savages, a high priestess of Hell. + +The sudden cessation of noise was awesome, uncanny. It rendered +manifest the ceaseless roar of thunder without. Directly in front of +me yawned the cave entrance, plainly illuminated by vivid lightning. +Dreadful as was the spectacle, it yielded me a flash of hope--here +opportunity pointed a path of escape. With no pause for thought I +whirled to arouse the Puritan, every nerve a-tingle with desperation. +His deep-set eyes glowed like two coals, his square jaw projecting like +that of a fighting bulldog. + +"Cairnes," I muttered, almost heedless of what I said in the necessity +for haste. "If we could attain the tree-bridge, we might hold the +devils. See! the way is clear! What say you to the trial? Will you +bear the priest?" + +His grip tightened about the war-club, as he half rose to his feet like +a maddened bear. + +"Saints of Israel! yes," he growled, "the Jesuit is a man." + +"Then come!" + +With one leap I was upon the floor; almost at the same second he landed +beside me. Twice I struck savagely at some obstructing figure, and in +five strides was at the side of Eloise. One shrill cry of warning from +the lips of Naladi echoed through the chamber, and was answered by the +yell of the warriors. I was already clasping Eloise against my breast, +and speeding toward the opening. Not a savage stood between, and now, +all hope centred upon the desperate race, I dashed forward down the +rocky path, rendered hideous by the lightning. All the fires of hell +seemed swirling about us, writhing serpents of flame leaping from the +sky, while fierce crashes of thunder echoed from rock to rock. I +scarcely heard or saw. Below yawned the abyss, black with night; above +stretched solid, overhanging stone, painted by green and yellow flames. +I realized nothing except that ribbon of a path, the need of haste, the +white, upturned face in my arms. God! was ever such a race as that run +before? Did ever men dash headlong over such a path of death? No one +need ask how it was done; how speeding feet clung to the narrow rock. +I know not; I never knew. Twice I stumbled, sobbing in despair, yet +ran on like a madman. Under the glare of the lightning I leaped +downward where I had crept in climbing; protruding splinters of rock +tore my clothes, bruised my body; my forehead dripped with +perspiration, my breath came panting, yet I ran still, her form crushed +against my breast. I shudder now in the recollection; then I scarcely +knew. Ahead loomed black the tree-bridge; but I recall no shrinking +fear, only exultation, as I bore down recklessly upon it. It must be +crossed, upright, swiftly, with no thought of the yawning depth. If +death came we should go down together. + +"Eloise, steady me with hand against the cliff," I panted, and stepped +forth boldly upon the trunk. My moccasoned feet gripped the rough bark +firmly, yet I swayed horribly under my burden, as I footed the +treacherous way. Again and again I felt myself swaying wildly, yet +some power held us, until, at last, I stood on solid rock, utterly +unable to essay another yard. Panting for breath, my arms yet clasping +the motionless figure of Eloise, I glanced backward in apprehension. I +could perceive Cairnes footing the log, the head of the priest showing +black and distinct above his broad shoulder; beyond, a medley of dark +figures appeared to dance dizzily along the cliff face. I staggered to +my knees. With a growl of relief the Puritan dropped his burden. The +next instant he had one great shoulder under the tree root. Heaving +with all his mighty strength he slowly moved the great trunk, and I saw +it topple over into the abyss; I saw his burly figure tottering on the +very brink--then one awful flash lit up the sky, so blinding me that I +sank face downward on the rock. The cliff shook as if riven from crest +to valley, a single peal of thunder reverberating like the report of a +thousand guns. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD + +I may have lost consciousness; I do not know. That awful glare, the +thunderous report, the speechless terror of feeling myself a mere pygmy +in the midst of such tremendous convulsions of nature, shocked me into +momentary insensibility. I lay huddled against the rock like a man +dead, one arm yet clasping the motionless form of Eloise. Stunned, +unable to move a muscle, I believed death had overtaken us all; that +out from the very heavens a bolt had stricken us down. I struggled +painfully to arouse myself, every nerve in my body appearing paralyzed. +At first I could not even see, but light came back gradually to my +blinded eyes, and I staggered to my feet, slowly adjusting my mind to +the situation. + +I began to understand then what had happened--that deadly bolt had +smitten the cliff as by the wrath of God, yet I was spared. I still +lived, as by a miracle. I stared across the chasm and up the steep +ascent beyond, still clearly revealed in the lightning flashes. It was +vacant; not a human form stood where those pursuing savages had been. +A cry burst from my lips as I gazed--a vast, irregular gash showed +clearly in the cliff face, but where the entrance to the cave had +yawned was a solid front of rock. I staggered with the shock, reeling +on the very edge of the path, and barely saved myself by dropping to my +knees. Again I looked, half believing my brain crazed, that I beheld +visions. As God guards me, it was true! Out of the very heavens He +had struck, sealing those fiends into a living tomb. Trembling like a +frightened child, I bowed my face and sobbed as I prayed for mercy. + +I know not how long I lay unable for either thought or action. But at +last I was upon my knees again, creeping forward to where a black +figure lay at the very edge of the chasm, one arm dangling over the +brink. I drew the inert body back to safety, peering down into the +white face of the priest. My touch seemed to arouse him into +consciousness, his dark eyes staring up into my face. I helped him to +sit up and lean back against the wall. An instant he gazed about +wildly, like one suddenly awakened from sound sleep, then hid his face +in his hands. + +"The Puritan--" I questioned--"the man who bore you here--what happened +to him?" + +He shuddered, and pointed into the black abyss. + +"'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for +his friends,'" he quoted solemnly. + +"He went down?" + +He bowed his head silently, his fingers searching for his crucifix. I +sat staring at him, crushed into helplessness. + +In a few moments I felt the pressure of his fingers. + +"The Lord hath preserved us as by fire," he said in low, solemn tone, +"He hath ridden upon the flaming skies in his chariot, accompanied by +angels and archangels. 'T is ours to bless His holy name." + +I gazed into the rapt, boyish face, and said: + +"On my knees have I already acknowledged His mercy. I am not +ungrateful." + +The troubled countenance brightened with a quick smile. + +"God is most good," he murmured; "He hath spared us that we may +continue to honor Him, and do His work. The woman--does she also live?" + +The question brought me instantly to my feet, wondering how I could +have neglected her so long. But before I could advance to where she +lay, she sat partially up, her face turned toward us. + +"Eloise," I cried, the heart joy apparent in my voice. "Good God! I +had forgotten." + +She held forth her hand, her eyes smiling. + +"I hold that not strange," she answered, the soft voice faltering +slightly. "I saw you groping like a blind man, yet could neither move +nor speak. I lay helpless as if paralyzed. Tell me what has happened." + +I held her hand, falling upon my knees beside her, my eyes searching +her sweet face. + +"A lightning bolt smote the cliff," I explained rapidly, "rending the +solid rock. Master Cairnes was hurled headlong into the chasm, and our +pursuers were swept from the path. The very mouth of the cavern has +been forever sealed." + +"The cavern?" as if stifled, her eyes opening wide. "They--they are +buried alive?" + +"I doubt if any lived to know," I answered soberly. "'T is likely +those within were crushed to death." + +She dropped her face into her hands, sobbing hysterically. Unable to +speak, I bowed my head until it touched her shoulder. The crippled +priest crept toward us, forgetful of his own pain in the call of duty. + +"Daughter," he said tenderly, stroking her brown hair with his slender +fingers, "to live or die is as Christ wills. The Lord gave, the Lord +hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Be of good comfort, +remembering these words of promise, 'Lo! I am with you alway, even +unto the end of the world.'" + +She looked up through the mist of her tears, first into his face, then +into mine. + +"I have passed through much," she confessed simply, "yet 'tis not the +spirit but the body which has become weakened. Forgive me, both of +you." + +"Brave heart!" I echoed, caring nothing for the presence of the father. +"No woman ever upbore grievous burden better. If we rest first, you +will regain courage to go on." + +Both her hands were resting trustfully in my own. + +"With you," she acknowledged softly. "In all confidence with you." + +We sat there until the coming of dawn, speaking only seldom, our very +thoughts holding us silent. Occasionally I could feel Eloise's hand +touch mine as if she sought thus to be reassured of my presence, and I +could distinguish an inarticulate murmur from the priest's lips, as if +he continually counted his beads in prayer. The glare of lightning +gradually ceased, the storm passing away to the westward with distant +reverberations. Yet clouds overcast the skies, leaving the early +morning hours dark and cheerless. With the first faint glow of day +lighting the pathway, I stood up, dizzy at viewing the awful abyss +below our narrow shelf. We could perceive now more plainly the +terrific havoc wrought above, but our eyes turned away from it in +horror. We must linger there no longer, but press forward with +whatever of courage remained. + +"I must ask you to attempt to walk alone, Eloise," I said regretfully, +"as I must bear the _pere_, whose limbs are crippled." + +Her startled eyes were filled with womanly sympathy. + +"Crippled? Was it done last night in the storm?" + +"No, a month ago; he was tortured at the stake in the village below. +Ever since then he has been held prisoner for sacrifice." + +"Do not worry, daughter; my wounds are not worthy your tears," broke in +the soft voice; "they are but a small part of my debt to Him who +perished upon the cross. Yet I think I might manage to walk, Monsieur, +without assistance. Surely, with God's help, I can master the pain." + +"Make no attempt," I said; "your slight figure will prove no burden to +me. It was of Eloise I thought." + +"Then do so in that way no longer," she burst forth eagerly. "I have +been trouble enough to you, Geoffrey. I will not consent to remain +helpless. See! I can stand alone--ay, and walk; even this great +height does not render my head dizzy." + +We advanced slowly and cautiously down the path, feeling yet the +exhaustion of the night. The way proved less difficult than we +expected. The tunnel was by far the hardest portion, as we were +compelled to grope the entire distance through intense darkness, +guiding ourselves with hands against the wall. Having little fear that +any of the tribe remained to dispute our passage, we conversed freely +and cheerfully, avoiding all unnecessary reference to the recent +tragedy. We emerged from the dark hole somewhat before noon, making +use of the entrance leading through the altar-house. The sight of the +deserted platform reminded us of the Puritan, and as I glanced aside at +Eloise, her gray eyes were filled with tears. A fire smouldered on the +altar, waiting replenishment from hands that would labor no more; and +we gladly hurried from the gloomy interior to the sunlit slope without. + +The desolate, deserted village presented a scene of loneliness +impossible to describe; not a figure was moving among the huts, no sign +of life anywhere. We discovered an abundance of food, and partook of +it in the open. Eloise appeared unwilling to accompany me, so I went +alone to explore the mystery of Naladi's house, leaving her assiduously +ministering to the needs of the priest. My search was rewarded by the +discovery of my lost rifle, with what remained of ammunition, together +with a variety of feminine garments with which to replace those sadly +soiled and tattered ones Madame wore. The desire was in the hearts of +us all to get away as soon as possible, to put behind us that desolate +spot, those deserted houses, and the haunting cliff. The _pere_ had +constructed, during my absence, a pair of rude crutches for his use; +and, so soon as Eloise had more becomingly clothed herself, we +departed, bearing such provisions as we could conveniently carry. With +the gun in my possession, I expected no great shortness in the food +supply. Madame carried it at first, however, as we made swifter +progress by my taking the father on my shoulder. He was no great +burden, his weight scarcely more than that of a child. + +In this manner we tramped steadily forward through the bright sunshine, +along canals filled with clear, cool water, and across fields no longer +tilled by slaves, until we discovered the secret path which led forth +from this death valley. A moment we paused, glancing back toward the +village, and up at the frowning front of rock, the tomb of the Natchez. +Then silently, soberly, as befitted those who had witnessed an act of +God, we pressed on into the labyrinth, shutting out forever that scene, +except as a hideous memory. To me the change was like entering upon a +new world; I was a prisoner released, breathing once again the clear +air of hope and manhood. Burdened as we were, the passage through the +tangled cedars to where the stream flowed down the canyon proved one of +severe exertion. When we finally attained the outer rocks, with the +sullen roar of the falls just below, I was breathing heavily from +exhaustion, and a flush had come back into Eloise's pale cheeks. Very +gladly I deposited the priest in a position of comfort, and the three +of us rested in silence, gazing about upon the wilderness scene. We +had spoken little to each other regarding the future; under the +depressing influence of that dread valley we felt incapable of thought, +our minds yet dazed by the tragic events we had experienced. Even now +I constantly saw before me the faces of Cairnes and De Noyan, scarcely +able to banish their memory long enough to face intelligently the +requirements of the present. Yet now it must be done. The _pere_ sat, +with crutches lying across his rusty black robe, his girlish features +softened by a look of infinite peace; Eloise leaned against the rock in +a posture of weariness, her bosom rising and falling with tumultuous +breathing. I recalled to mind the leagues of desolate wilderness yet +to be traversed. Possibly I indulged unconsciously in outward +expression, for the priest gazed across at me. + +"The sun is still sufficiently high for considerable travel, my son," +he remarked quietly, "and you will require daylight for the earlier +part of your journey." + +"It was upon my mind, but I scarcely knew how best to proceed." + +"Possibly my experience may guide you. The way should not prove unduly +fatiguing after you pass the falls," with a wave of the hand downward, +and a slight smile. "I wandered here alone up that valley, seeking the +Indian village somewhat blindly, discovering much of interest on the +way. Would that my own future path led me through such ease; but 'tis +mine to go whithersoever the Lord wills. However, my discoveries will +be of value. Slightly below the falls, concealed beneath an +outcropping rock, you will find several stanch Indian boats. The +lightest one will transport safely the two of you, together with what +provisions you require. The current runs swiftly, yet a strong, +skilful hand on the steering oar should bring you through without +mishap." + +We both stared at him, greatly puzzled by his strange speech. Eloise +was first to speak in protest. + +"What do you mean by two of us? Do you deem us dastards enough to +leave you here alone?" + +He smiled into her face with the tender smile of a woman, and held up +his shining silver crucifix. + +"Daughter," he said modestly, "my work is not yet done. Upon this +symbol I took solemn oath to live and die in faithful service to the +heathen tribes of this river. Would you have me retreat in cowardice? +Would you have me false to the vows of my Order? to the voice of the +Master?" + +"But you are crippled, helpless, in continual pain!" She crossed +hastily to him, dropping upon her knees at his side. "Oh, _pere_, we +cannot leave you; it would mean death." + +His slender fingers stroked her brown hair, his eyes alight with the +fire of enthusiasm. + +"Whether or not I am worthy of martyrdom, God knows. All I see is my +plain duty, and the beckoning hand of the bleeding Christ. Daughter, +you are a child of the true Church; your pleading should never retard +the labor of the priesthood. My suffering is nothing, my life nothing, +if only through such sacrifice souls may be rescued from the consuming +flames of hell." + +She could not speak, but sobbed, her face hidden. + +"Where do you go seeking other tribes?" I asked hoarsely, scarcely +believing his words. + +He arose with difficulty to his feet, holding himself erect on the rude +crutches. I noticed now, for the first time, a bag of woven grass +hanging at his girdle. + +"Yonder, Monsieur, to the westward," a new dignity in his manner as he +pointed up the narrow canyon. "There are tribes a few days' journey +away. I have learned of them, without being told their names. To +such, under God, I bear my message of salvation." + +"But you will starve on the journey." + +"I carry food here," touching the bag. "It will suffice; if not, there +are berries and roots in abundance. My Master has always fed me in the +wilderness." + +What more could I say or do to change his purpose? It was a girlish +face fronting me, yet the thin lips were pressed tightly together, the +dark eyes fearless and resolute. I laid my hand on Eloise's shoulder. + +"It must be as he says," I acknowledged regretfully. "We can but +depart." + +She arose slowly to her feet, her eyes still sadly pleading. The +_pere_ gazed questioningly into both our faces, the rigid lines of his +mouth softening. + +"My daughter," he said, in calm dignity, "we of a desert priesthood are +ordained unto strange duties, and unusual privileges. Do you love this +man?" + +A wave of color surged into her cheeks, as she gave one rapid glance +aside into my face. Then she answered in all simplicity: + +"Yes, _pere_, from childhood." + +Resting upon his crutch, he touched her with his hand. + +"Yet he who perished yonder was your husband. How came you thus to +marry, with your heart elsewhere?" + +"It was the desire of my father, and the will of the Church." + +He bowed his head, his lips moving in silent prayer for guidance. + +"Then the will of the Church hath been done," he said humbly. "Here in +the wilderness we perform the will of God, untrammelled by the councils +of men. 'T is my dispensation to bury the dead, baptize the living, +and join in marriage those of one heart. It is not meet that you two +journey together except with the solemn sanction of Holy Church." + +My pulses throbbed, yet I could only look at her, as she stood +trembling, her eyes downcast, her cheeks burning. + +"But--but, _pere_, will it be right?" she faltered faintly. + +"Let the dead past bury its dead," he answered gravely. "I hold it +right in the name of Christ, from whom I derive authority. Geoffrey +Benteen, take within your own the hand of this woman." + +'T is but a dream, our standing there together in the sun; a dream, +those words of the marriage rite spoken by him in the desolation and +silence of the desert. We knelt together upon the stones, hand +clasping hand, while above our bowed heads were uplifted the priest's +thin, white hands in benediction. Whether or not in that hour Andre +Lafossier exceeded his authority I cannot tell. In heart we were +joined of God; our union has never been questioned of man. + +We stood there watching, longing to prevent the sacrifice, as he moved +away from us slowly upon his crutches. It was a pitiful sight, that +slender figure, in frayed, tattered black robe, going forward alone, +and in agony, to death or torture. It was in my heart to cry after +him, but she understood far better the mighty motive of his sacrifice, +and restrained me with uplifted hand. Far up the canyon, he paused a +moment and glanced back. The distance already veiled his face, but up +into the sunlight he lifted the silver crucifix. Then he +disappeared--to endure his fate in Christ's name. Then, hand in hand +and heart to heart, our voices silent, Eloise and I went down into the +valley to where the boats lay. The dead past was behind us; the future +was our own. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Prisoners of Chance, by Randall Parrish + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRISONERS OF CHANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 17856.txt or 17856.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/8/5/17856/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + |