CHAPTER V.
When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill, and looked back, shecould see the Herculean figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadowfar down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow court exactly asshe had found him doing.
The surrounding scenery now looked doubly brilliant to her confusedsenses, after the gloomy contrasts of her late subterranean journey. Thefleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the moonbeams shone clearlyforth in undimmed splendour, tipping with silver light each tree andshrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling like gems alongthe rippling current of the purling brook on the banks of which Baconwaited her approach.
Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat dark and oracular, itwas sufficiently explicit to produce a very sensible effect upon themind of Virginia, which our hero was not long in discovering; for as heextended his hand to assist her across the brook, she tacitly declinedthe proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention, and leaped thestreamlet unassisted. He was the more astonished, that in the whole oftheir long intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or freakoccurring towards himself. She seemed reserved and formal too, as theymoved up the opposite hill; but without remarking on her altered mood,he sought to draw from her the result of her expedition. Barelycommunicating so much as she had been directed to do, however, sheremained to him inexplicably silent.
While he was revolving these things in his mind his companion, silentlyand moodily walking at his side, without availing herself of his offeredarm, they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down the hill than the spotwhere they had left him--the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm--ahandkerchief tied round his waist, into which were stuck two pertronelsfrom his own saddlebow; and in his hand his master's ready for use.
"In the name of all the saints in Ireland, what is the matter, Brian?"exclaimed Bacon.
"Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it there'ye are? Sure as death,but I'm the boy that thought ye were clane murthered iny'way."
"Murdered! why who was to murder us?"
"Faix, an there's enough iv them to do that same in _this_ bloody place.Barrin the tay party wid the great inimy in the side iv the hillyonther, a'int there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,) rantingabout like so many wild bastes, ready to peale the tap iv your headslike a pair of onions or murpheys--divil a word a lie's in that inyway."
"Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?"
"Be the contints iv the book, but there is five yallow rascals goneover the hill towards the city half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, butI was as near putting a key note to one of their whistles, as two tinpinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your own safety, and the beauty byyour side at that same reckning."
"I commend your discretion in not shooting--and I wonder at yoursobriety, considering the condition in which we left you."
"Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's after namin?--anis'nt it me that's a pathern o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, butit all comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the larnin iv you, yebeauty; divil a word a lie's in that."
"Gone towards the town have they?" said Bacon, musing--and thenexamining the priming of his petronels, he took them--placed them intheir holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning to his attendant at thesame time, to assist Virginia to the pillion. She being mounted, hecontinued his discourse to her. "Keep up your courage my brave pupil; nodanger shall molest you unencountered."
"Strange as it may appear," replied she, for the first time utteringsomething more than a monosyllable. "The real danger in which we seemplaced, has few terrors, after my late subterranean visit." This lastpart of the sentence was said in an under tone, as they cantered overthe hill.
"You have done bravely, Virginia, and now Brian it is our turn. Do youride foremost--but on no account pull trigger, or draw your sword,without my orders. We are at peace with the confederated tribes of thepeninsula:--should the party therefore prove to be any of these,bloodshed will be, unnecessary. Remember, and be watchful!"
"Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but there's no more profit inwatchin these skulking nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish tomake them take the bate; both the one and the tother o' them bites whenyou laste expect it. Oh! would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste towalk along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread out before him?"
"Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one would suppose, to hear youtalk, that you were the greatest coward in Christendom."
The conversation of the Hibernian was at all times amusing to ouradventurers, and was enjoyed with more zest, doubtless, on account ofthe many excellent qualities which they knew him to possess, being asthey knew, brave, devotedly attached to them both, and of unvarying goodhumour. On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged his volubility inorder to divert his companion's attention from dwelling upon the dangerwhich he but too clearly saw might await them on their passage to thecity; and thus was the time beguiled, until they arrived at the top ofthe hill commanding the town and river, without encountering a singlefoe, or meeting with any adventure worth recording. As they descendedtowards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating himself "that therewas a clane path intirely across the stream." A sudden exclamation ofsurprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his steed, in order toascertain the cause. This however was clearly seen before the retrogrademovement was completed.
"Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world," said O'Reily, "there they arein our boat too, as sure as my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a goodshot across that same little river, any way, and by these pair o'beauties that never lie nor chate" he continued, unslinging his arms,"but I'll be bound for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestmentsbut we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a tune that'll ring in theirears to the day o' their deaths."
"Softly! softly, O'Reily" said Bacon, "you are as far on the one extremenow as I thought you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that twowatch on this side, besides the three in the boat? And as I live, theyare preparing to push off. Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behindthese bushes! we must despatch these two, at least, without the use offirearms. And you, my gentle pupil, must remain with the horses. If wefall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever it is they areendeavouring to steal, and then leave the horses, and seek a passage bythe bridge. I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the bestwe can do under the circumstances."
"Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!" said Virginia, suddenly recovering her feelingsas well as her voice. "It is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself,and I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the bridge, and fromthence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel, suffer me to go."
"Not for worlds!" answered Bacon; "do you not perceive that it would beimpossible for you to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides, wereyou even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk you before you couldarouse one person in the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself onthe sward and hide your eyes, if you will, until we despatch these two,and then we can hold the others at bay."
"But what is the necessity of attacking them at all, Nathaniel?"
"Do you not see that they have been committing somedepredation?--perhaps worse, and would be sure to make fight were we toshow ourselves in so small force. But come, O'Reily, we are losingprecious time; follow me, and for your life do not shoot."
This short and earnest dialogue was held in whispers, and in much lesstime than we have taken to record it.
The precaution against using firearms was doubtless given for fear ofbetraying to the inhabitants of the town the delicate and apparentlyequivocal position in which Virginia was placed. "We must be upon thesetwo with our good swords, O'Reily," said Bacon, "before the others canjoin them, and if possible before they perceive us."
"Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted wid the taste o'their skulls any way. Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keepthe others to see their own funerals iny way."
In a few moments, Bacon and
his trusty follower were silently glidingthrough the bushes on the banks of the river, and advanced to within afew rods of the savages, unperceived either by the party on the beach orthose loading the boat on the opposite shore. But as they were justemerging from the last bush which protected their movements, acharacteristic and startling exclamation "hugh!" from the watchstationed in the boat, at once precipitated their movements, and put thetwo on their guard whom they were about to attack.
There was at that day no male inhabitant of Jamestown or the surroundingColony, arrived at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirelyunacquainted with the mode and usual end of Indian warfare. Of course,on such occasions as the present, the contest was for life or death.
Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already acquired some renown as awarrior in these desperate single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gavehim and his companion more assurance of success on this occasion,notwithstanding the fearful odds which it was possible might be broughtagainst them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as has been seen,were on their guard, the conflict at once became desperate, while thosein the boat made the utmost efforts to join their companions andoverpower their unexpected enemies. No sooner were the two good swordsof Bacon and O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than correspondingmotions of the savage war clubs gave evidence that they also were readyfor battle. Many and hard were the blows which were given on both sidesin the struggle, a mere protraction of which Bacon perceived wasdestruction. Accordingly bracing up his own nerves, and cheeringO'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful lunge at his immediateantagonist, but not before the reinforcement of the enemy was on theground to take his place. A contest of this kind, when the parties wereany thing like equal in number, was generally not long doubtful--victoryin most instances being upon the side of superior skill and weapons. ButO'Reily, although a veteran soldier, had met his match in this instance,his antagonist being a tall and brawny warrior of most fearfulproportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly, while Bacon, merely havingtime to catch his breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of thenew assailants, the third at the same time joining his already toopowerful chief against the Irishman. The conflict was now desperate andbloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully, every blow wasfollowed by a crimson stream, and they too in their turn were more thanonce beaten to their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs. Atone time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly recovering andrising to his knees he continued to defend himself until he had oncemore regained his feet.
This warfare had now lasted for some minutes, which seemed an age to thetrembling maiden who stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on theside of the hill above them. But victory appeared at length about tocrown the desperate efforts of her friends, whose assailants were nowreduced to exactly their own number, and one; the tall old chief opposedto Brian, covered with his own blood and just ready to fall, when asudden and terrific yell immediately behind them announced areinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the earth in terror and despair.
"Plunge into the stream and swim for your life," shouted Brian--"Oh! butI'll keep their hands busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of theyellow devils afore me!"
Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they seemed to ouradventurers) now leaped into the midst of the conflict, relieving theirown brethren and thundering their blows upon the heads of their alreadyexhausted adversaries. In vain they made furious lunges, forgetting thecunning of fence in the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict.At length they both fell under the weapons of their new enemies and twoof the savages, flashing their knives from their sheaths, prepared tocomplete the sacrifice; indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announcedthat the butchery had already commenced; when in an instant the head ofthe old Chief stooping over him was severed from the trunk, and in thenext a second blow from the same gigantic arm prostrated the one aboutto tear the bloody trophy from the fallen Cavalier.
Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing look upon the fateof him who was the cherished companion of her childhood. In that moment,doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions of the Recluse wereforgotten, or if remembered, instantly set aside as the over prudentialsuggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power, governing thefeelings of her friends, or of him who undertook to give her counsel intheir stead.
But there were still enemies left besides the two who had flourished thescalping knife over our prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse(for he it was who had come so opportunely to the rescue) at oncerenewed the conflict. Placing his back against a tree, and throwing awayhis castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife with a zest like thatof an epicure who bares his arm to the exercise of the carvingknive--whirling his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs with theprecision, ease and coolness of a professor exhibiting his skill withthe harmless foils. His first exertions were, of course, on thedefensive, among so many assailants, but if his blows were rare theywere sure and fatal. He was evidently but putting in practice a sort ofexercise in which he must have both delighted and excelled in days longpast.
At every blow or thrust a savage went down to rise no more, Bacon, too,now rallied his scattered senses and exhausted strength, and resumed hispart in the conflict, with enough of both to render him a valuableauxiliary in the way of defence, which the Recluse perceiving, spranginto the midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or the sword,the exhausted and disheartened remnant. When Virginia saw thisdevoutly-prayed-for termination to the battle, she sank upon the groundas powerless and exhausted as if she too had been actively engaged. TheRecluse stooping over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastenedto the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel with which the water wasusually bailed out, returned and bathed his face and temples. Not soswift were his motions however as to prevent his stopping for a momentat the boat and gazing with astonishment at Something which itcontained; but there was little time for wonder, and he hastened on hiserrand. When Brian's face was cleansed from blood it was found that thescalping knife of the old warrior had probably been struck from itsintended destination so that the point had caught in one corner of hismouth and inflicted a wound of some magnitude across his face. While hewas thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he was able to exert,toward the spot where he had left his helpless companion. He found herjust recovering from the listless stupor in which we left her. "Oh,Nathaniel!" was all that she was enabled to articulate as she fell intohis arms, forgetting in the deep excitement of the moment every feelingsave the strong and innocent affection which had so long existed betweenthem.
Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking the bridle in one hand, andholding her steady in her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene ofthe late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily sitting up, with his mouthalready bandaged, and his late assistant and protector gone, havingfirst, as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat, as if therewere something there which craved attention. Their own perceptions werenow startled from the same quarter, by the sound of groans. Bacon ran tothe spot, and found a female bound, and lying upon her face in thebottom of the boat. Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face andtemples, he speedily restored her to something like consciousness, andthen bore her to the shore and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily nowrecognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie Jamieson, principalfisherman to the town, whose hut, for convenient purposes in hisavocation, was situated without the protection of the fort. Thisstatement also accounted to Bacon for the presence of a quantity of fishnetting in the boat, which doubtless excited the cupidity of the poorignorant savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet.
New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers in the face at everystep on this eventful night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to hissenses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to give hopes of recovery,when it occurred to our hero that something must be done with the deadbodies. But when he came to reflect upon the appearance which the battleground itself would present, he determined to leave the re
st to chance,and to say nothing himself or through his follower, and thus leave thegossips of the town to account for the slaughter of the Indians as theymight. Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the boat, and O'Reilyassisted to his post at the _tiller_, while Bacon, having seatedVirginia, occupied Brian's usual place at the oar, being the leastinjured of the two.
The former was for once in his life perfectly silent, perhaps owing tothe awkward accident which had happened to his mouth, thereby renderingit difficult for him to enunciate with the true Hibernian pathos.
The females having been landed, Bacon desiring Virginia to sit by thestill benumbed Mrs. Jamieson, returned for his horses, which were led bythe side of the boat without any difficulty.
The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's hut, Bacon supportingthe feeble steps of its exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaitedthem. A few yards from the house towards the river, they discovered thebody of the fisherman himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily wasdirected to remain with the woman of the house until she shouldcompletely recover her senses, but on no account to stay longer, orenter into any explanations.
Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort unchallenged, andproceeded to the house of Mr. Fairfax, when the latter entered asquietly and as unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he officiatedas ostler to his own steed, which service being finished to hissatisfaction he sought his apartment; the morning being far advancedtowards the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily imagined, werenot profound and undisturbed,--the restless nervousness of over exertionin mind and body, being very similar in its effects to that of too muchrepose.