CHAPTER XIII.
TOM MITCHELL.
The sun had long since gone down, the night was dark and cloudy, nota star shone in the sky. George Clinton, seated on a bench beforehis door, awaited the return of Keen-hand and his two dogs, who hadaccompanied the three travellers a short distance; the two serving menhad gone to bed.
George Clinton, half an hour before, had satisfied himself that hiswounded guest slept soundly.
His eyes fixed on vacancy, the young man was dreaming, giving way tosoft and melancholy reverie; his soul, borne on the wings of fancy, wasfar away; it was wandering in the realms of space after the beloved,after the idolised young girl, for whom he had sacrificed and abandonedeverything, and the mention of whose name made him quiver with delight.
Suddenly he was awakened from his Elysian dream by an almost superhumancry of anguish.
The young man started as if he had received an electric shock; heturned pale, clutched the barrel of his rifle, and then listened,trying in vain to pierce the intense darkness which wrapped all natureas in a winding sheet.
Some minutes passed, during which there was not a breath in the air,not the slightest sound. George Clinton breathed more freely, wipingthe sweat from his brow.
"Heaven be praised," he said, "I was mistaken."
Scarcely had he uttered these words, which he hardly believed, when thesame frightful cry was repeated.
"It is a terrible warning," he cried; "some fearful crime is beingaccomplished. I cannot hesitate."
And, without another thought, he darted off in the direction whencecame the lugubrious sound.
Almost ere George had quite disappeared in the darkness a shrillwhistle, modulated in a certain way, was twice repeated; then a heavyblack mass appeared crawling on the earth; this dark mass stopped atshort intervals, and then again advanced. This strange phenomenon wassoon followed by a second, a third, another, in all ten.
In a few minutes all were round the hut. Then a second whistle washeard, a signal of course, as they all rose and revealed ten armedmen. They were ferocious-looking beings, with sinister features--truebandits of the prairies.
"We are the masters," said one; "the serving men sleep, the master isaway, let us waste no time."
"Do you know where he is?" asked a second.
"I pretty well guess. The place is familiar to me. But let us becareful. I don't want to be caught."
"Be satisfied; Versenca and Jonathan never left their post, and Paddyis on the watch. All is safe."
"I am not more timid than another, but I like to be sure."
"We are losing time, and should act."
"Quite so, Sleepy; but I want to know why the captain, who must haveheard our signal, is still quiet?"
"But you know the captain is wounded."
"True, but he is no puling girl to be affected for long by a wound. Letus go in and find him."
"'Tis useless, I am here," said a grave voice.
And a man leaning on his rifle and walking with some difficultyappeared before them in the doorway.
"The captain!" they all cried.
"Silence, boys," with an imperious gesture; "I am happy to see that youhave not forgotten me."
"Forgotten you!" cried Versenca, boldly; "Do we not follow wherever yougo? Are we not devoted to you body and soul?"
"Quite right," said the captain, with a bitter smile; "let us say nomore about it. I am here, and all is well."
"And now, captain, we await your orders."
"Right! And how many are here?"
"Ten here ready to obey--three on the watch."
"Have you horses?--but of course, I need not ask. Bring them up and letus be off."
"With empty pockets?" cried Sleepy.
"What do you want?" asked the captain.
"Want!" exclaimed Sleepy, shrugging his shoulders; "Why, is not thiswigwam very rich, and the owner absent? There can be no two opinions asto what should be done."
"Comrades," said Tom Mitchell, "the owner of this home found me woundedin the prairie and took me in."
"We know that--what then?"
"What then! Not only did George Clinton shelter me beneath his roof,but saved my life from the lynchers."
"Thank goodness," said Versenca, "that induced him to leave the hut bythe exercise of cunning."
"Without violence, I hope," said Tom.
"Quite so; sent him on a false trail, that is all."
"Then you are agreed with me--no pillage."
"No pillage!" cried all; "Let us go."
None had entered the house, and now, on the order of the chief, theyturned to go. George Clinton was before them.
"Gentlemen," he cried, standing resolutely before them, "what is themeaning of this visit in my absence?"
"Confound the fools who did not warn us."
"I was never far. I have heard nearly all."
"Much good may it do you; and now let us pass."
"On the contrary; I decline to let you pass," said Clinton.
"Good!" said Sleepy, rubbing his hands together; "After all there willbe some broken bones here."
"Perhaps," continued Oliver, clutching his rifle.
"Ah! Ah! So the fun is going to begin," said the outlaw.
"Silence," cried the captain, sternly; "silence, and fall back." Assoon as they had obeyed he advanced to Clinton.
"As you have heard our conversation," he said, "why do you try andoppose our free departure?"
"Because, as you know, I am answerable for your person. I promised youshould not leave my house until you were quite cured of your wounds."
"Your solicitude for my health is charming," said the captain,ironically, "and I really know not how to thank you."
"I take little interest in you. My honour is concerned."
"You are not polite, while I try to be courteous. I will thereforesimply remark that strength is on my side. Still I should be sorry toproceed to extremities."
"Menaces are useless. Will you return to the house?"
"The demand is ridiculous," cried the captain.
"How so?" said a voice, and at the same time two magnificent dogsbounded to where Clinton stood.
There was a moment of profound stupefaction on the part of the outlaws,who saw this succour arrive.
Tom Mitchell, however, stooped towards Sleepy and whispered a few wordsin his ear. The man nodded, turned away and disappeared.
"Beware!" said the captain; "I have hesitated to attack one man. But ifblood is shed it is your fault."
"We shall see," said Keen-hand, appearing beside his master, "you areten and we are five. What do you think?"
"Nothing," replied the chief, laughing; "but you seem to forget that wehave the advantage of the situation. If we like we can take possessionof the hut, whence I fancy my good friend will find it difficult todislodge us."
"Without counting that we are master of the person of the owner of thewigwam," cried Versenca, triumphantly.
It was true. Assisted by the sentinels whom the outlaw had brought upbehind, he had been seized.
He was at once taken inside and then secured with his servants, whomthe noise had at last aroused.
But even this had not been done without a struggle. The two splendiddogs on seeing their master attacked had flown at the throats of thebandits, had knocked two down and throttled them in a minute; then,obedient to a whistle from Charbonneau, they had darted into a thicket,whence came a discharge of firearms. The three young men had returned.
The outlaws retreated into the hut, prepared to defend themselves tothe last gasp. Battle was imminent.
"Stop," cried the voice of Oliver, "stop, for heaven's sake," andrushing forward he added, "Captain Tom Mitchell, I demand safety formyself and friends, and a truce until this unfortunate affair can besettled amicably. Speak."
"I consent at once," said the captain, frankly; "what has happened wasnot of my doing. Down with your arms. Let all retain their positions.As for you, sir, you may advance, you are entirely under
the protectionof my honour."
"I am here," replied Oliver, advancing.
The two men went into the house and seated themselves at a table nearan open window.
"I am prepared to listen," said the captain; "I suppose you think Ideceived you, or the young girl was gone."
"It was our opinion, sir."
"Don't be in the least uneasy," said the captain, "I only secured thegirl as a hostage for my own safety."
"A hostage!" replied Oliver.
"Yes. I have an important question to treat of with her tribe. But letus speak of our own affairs."
"I don't understand you."
"I will explain, and you will find that all that has taken place todayhas been caused by yourself."
"Really," cried Oliver, "I understand you less and less."
"I have no doubt you are astonished," said the captain; "but we cancome to an explanation in a few words, M. Oliver."
"You know my name."
"And a great many other things besides, as you will soon know,"continued the other, coldly; "but let me explain. For reasons which itis unnecessary to mention, I had deep interest in making acquaintancewith two new arrivals in this country, you, sir, and Mr. GeorgeClinton. My plan of introduction was rough. My wound, which I inflictedon myself, and which is only a scratch, deceived you all. I am nowpersonally acquainted with you both, and I am delighted. Still, thingslooked ugly for me--but what is the use of a battle in which half ofus would be massacred? I want nothing of the kind. I have importantbusiness to transact and must go. In this instance I count wholly onyou."
"On me, sir! By what title?"
"I cannot explain. I have promised to restore Evening Dew, and I willkeep my promise. Just now she serves as a hostage. She is treated withthe utmost deference and respect. Now let me pass at once. Delay isuseless."
"But, sir--can I--" stammered Oliver.
"Save an outlaw, a man with a price on his head!" said the other,bitterly; "But I am not what I seem. One day--"
But Oliver was thinking, and, after some minutes of reflection, said,"It shall be as you wish."
"Thank you; and now away to your friends and take George Clinton withyou," said the captain.
Oliver went out with the young American and soon returned.
"You are free to return with your companions," he said, on re-enteringthe hut; "I give you my word."
"Farewell until we meet again. We part friends."
"I have no hatred against you, but I sincerely hope we shall never meetagain."
"It shall be as Providence wills," was the reply.
Five minutes later the outlaws were galloping away, and soondisappeared in the darkness.
"Who is this man?" murmured Oliver, sadly; "Is he one of those enemieswho pursue me everywhere?"
At that moment his friends came up and his thoughts went into adifferent channel. Still he did not easily forget his interview withthat extraordinary man, who seemed to know him, and by whom he wasreally fascinated.