CHAPTER XIV.
THE TWO HUNTERS.
Harry and Dick, whom we saw seated at a table in the meson with RedCedar and Fray Ambrosio, were however, very far from resembling thosetwo men morally. They were free and bold hunters, who had spent thegreater part of their life in the desert, and who, in the vast solitudeof the prairie, had accustomed themselves to a life free and exempt fromthose vices which accompany a town residence.
For them gold was only the means to procure the necessary objects fortheir trade as hunters and trappers; and they never imagined that thepossession of a large quantity of that yellow metal they despised wouldplace them in a position to enjoy other pleasures than those they foundin their long hunts of wild beasts--hunts so full of strange incidentsand striking joys.
Thus Dick had been to the highest degree surprised when he saw hisfriend eagerly accept the monk's offer, and agree to go in search of theplacer; but what even more surprised him was Harry's insisting that RedCedar must take the lead of the expedition. Though no one couldpositively accuse the squatter, owing to the precautions he took, ofleading a life of rapine and murder, still the mysterious conduct heaffected, and the solitude in which he lived with his family, had caston him a shadow of reprobation.
Every one regarded him as a scalp hunter, and yet no one would haveventured to affirm the odious deeds of which he was accused. The resultof the general reprobation that fell on the squatter, and which we knowto be fully merited, was that he and his family were placed under a banby the frontier hunters and trappers, and every one fled not only theirsociety, but any contact with them. Dick was thoroughly acquainted withhis friend's upright character and nobility of heart. Hence his conductunder the present circumstances seemed to him perfectlyincomprehensible, and he resolved to have an explanation with him.
They had scarce quitted the meson ere Dick bent down to his companion,and said, while looking at him curiously,--
"We have been hunting together for five years, Harry, and up to thepresent I have ever let myself be guided by you, leaving you free to actas you pleased for our mutual welfare. Still this evening your conducthas appeared to me so extraordinary that I am obliged, in the name ofour friendship, which has never suffered a break up to this day, to askyou for an explanation of what has occurred in my presence."
"For what good, my boy? Do you not know me well enough to be certainthat I would not consent to do any dishonourable deed?"
"Up to this evening I would have sworn it, Harry: yes, on my honor Iwould have sworn it--"
"And now?" the young man asked, stopping and looking his friend in theface.
"Now," Dick answered, with a certain degree of hesitation, "hang it all!I will be frank with you, Harry, as an honest hunter should ever be. NowI do not know if I should do so: no, indeed I should not."
"What you say there causes me great pain, Dick. You oblige me, in orderto dissipate your unjust suspicions, to confide to you a secret which isnot my own, and which I would not have revealed for anything in theworld."
"Pardon me, Harry, but in my place I am convinced you would act as I amdoing. We are very far from our country, which we shall never see again,perhaps. We are responsible for each other, and our actions must be freefrom all double interpretation."
"I will do what you ask, Dick, whatever it may cost me. I recognise thejustice of your observations. I understand how much my conduct thisnight must have hurt you and appeared ambiguous. I do not wish ourfriendship to receive the least wound, or the slightest cloud to arisebetween us. You shall be satisfied."
"I thank you, Harry. What you tell me relieves my bosom of a heavy load.I confess that I should have been in despair to think badly of you; butthe words of that intriguing monk, and the manners of that worthyacolyte, Red Cedar, put me in a passion. Had you not warned me soquickly to silence, I believe--Heaven pardon me!--that I should haveended by telling them a piece of my mind."
"You displayed considerable prudence in keeping silence, and be assuredyou will completely approve me."
"I do not doubt it, Harry; and now I feel certain I deceived myself. Ifeel all jolly again."
While speaking thus the two hunters, who were walking with that rapidstep peculiar to men habituated to traverse great distances on foot, hadcrossed the village, and found themselves already far in the plain. Thenight was magnificent--the sky of a deep blue. An infinite number ofglistening stars seemed floating in ether. The moon spread its silveryrays profusely over the landscape. The sharp odour of the flowersperfumed the atmosphere. The two hunters still walked on.
"Where are we going now, Harry?" Dick asked. "I fancy we should dobetter by taking a few hours' rest, instead of fatiguing ourselveswithout any definite object."
"I never do anything without a reason, friend, as you know," Harryanswered; "so let me guide you, and we shall soon arrive."
"Do as you think proper, my boy; I shall say nothing."
"In the first place you must know that the French hunter, Koutonepi, hasbegged me, for reasons he did not tell me, to watch Fray Ambrosio. Thatis one of the motives which made me be present at this night'sinterview, although I care as little for a placer as for a musk-rat'sskin."
"Koutonepi is the first hunter on the frontier; he has often done us aservice in the desert. You acted rightly, Harry, in doing what heasked."
"As for the second reason that dictated my conduct, Dick, you shall soonknow it."
Half talking, half dreaming, the young men reached Buffalo Valley, andsoon entered the forest which served as a lair for the squatter and hisfamily.
"Where the deuce are we going?" Dick could not refrain from saying.
"Silence!" said the other: "We are approaching."
The darkness was profound in the forest: the density of the leafy domeunder which they walked completely intercepted the light of themoonbeams. Still the Canadians, long accustomed to a night march,advanced as easily through the chaos of creepers and trees tangled ineach other as if they had been in open day. On reaching a certain spotwhere the trees, growing less closely together, formed a species ofclearing, and allowed an uncertain and tremorous light to pass, Harrystopped, and made his comrade a sign to do the same.
"This is the place," he said. "Still, I as the person I have come to seeexpects me to be alone, and your unexpected presence might cause alarm,hide yourself behind that larch tree: above all, be careful not to stirtill I call I you."
"Oh, oh!" the hunter said, with a laugh, "have you perchance led me to alove meeting, Harry?"
"You shall judge," Harry replied laconically. "Hide yourself."
Dick, greatly troubled, did not need the invitation to be repeated: heconcealed himself behind the tree his friend had indicated, and whichwould have sheltered a dozen men behind its enormous stem. So soon asHarry was alone, he raised his fingers to his lips, and at threedifferent intervals imitated the cry of an owl with such perfection thatDick himself was deceived, and mechanically looked up to seek the birdin the tall branches of the tree by which he stood. Almost immediately,a slight noise was audible in the shrubs, and a graceful and white formappeared in the glade. It was Ellen, who rapidly walked toward the youngman.
"Oh, it is you, Harry!" she said with joy. "Heaven be blessed, I wasafraid you would not come, as it is late."
"It is true, Ellen: pardon me. I made all possible speed, however; andit is not my fault that I did not arrive sooner."
"How good you are, Harry, to take so much trouble for my sake! How can Iever recognise the continual services you do me?"
"Oh! Do not speak about them. It is a happiness for me to do anythingagreeable to you."
"Alas!" the maiden murmured, "Heaven is my witness that I feel a deepfriendship for you, Harry."
The young man sighed gently.
"I have done what you asked of me," he said suddenly.
"Then it is true my father is thinking about leaving this country to gofurther still?"
"Yes, Ellen, and into frightful countries, among the ferocious I
ndians."
The girl gave a start of terror.
"Do you know the reason of his going?" she continued.
"Yes; he is about to look for a gold placer."
"Alas! Who will protect me, who will defend me in future, if we goaway?"
"I, Ellen!" the hunter exclaimed impetuously. "Have I not sworn tofollow you everywhere?"
"It is true," she said sadly; "but why should you risk your life on thedistant journey we are about to undertake? No, Harry, remain here; Icannot consent to your departure. From what I have heard say, the bandmy father commands will be numerous--it will have scarce anything tofear from the Indians; while, on the other hand, you, compelled to hideyourself, will be exposed alone to terrible danger. No, Harry, I willnot permit it."
"Undeceive yourself, Ellen. I shall not be forced to conceal myself; Ishall not be alone, for I am a member of your father's band."
"Is it possible, Harry?" she exclaimed, with an expression of joy thatmade the young man quiver.
"I enrolled myself this very evening."
"Oh!" she said, "Then in that case we can often meet?"
"Whenever you please, Ellen, as I shall be there."
"Oh! Now I am anxious to be away from here, and wish we had alreadystarted."
"It will not be long first, set your mind at rest. I am convinced thatwe shall start within the week."
"Thanks for the good news you bring me, Harry."
"Are your father and mother still unkind to you, Ellen?"
"It is nearly always the same thing; and yet their conduct toward me isstrange. It often seems to me incomprehensible, as it is so marked withpeculiarities. There are moments in which they seem to love me dearly.My father especially caresses and embraces me, and then all at once, Iknow not why, repulses me rudely, and looks at me in a way that causesme to shudder."
"That is indeed strange, Ellen."
"Is it not? There is one thing above all I cannot explain."
"Tell it me, Ellen; perhaps I can do so."
"You know that all my family are Protestants?"
"Yes."
"Well, I am a Catholic."
"That is certainly curious."
"I wear around my neck a small golden crucifix. Every time accidentmakes this trinket glisten before my father and mother they growfurious, threaten to beat me, and order me to hide it at once. Do youunderstand the meaning of this, Harry?"
"No, I do not, Ellen; but, believe me, leave everything to time; perhapsit will enable us to find the clue to the mystery which we seek in vainat this moment."
"Well, your presence has rendered me happy for a long time, Harry, sonow I will retire."
"Already?"
"I must, my friend. Believe me that I am as sad as yourself at thisseparation; but my father has not yet returned, and may arrive at anymoment. If he noticed that I was not asleep, who knows what mighthappen?"
While saying the last words the girl held out her delicate hand to thehunter, who raised it to his lips passionately. Ellen withdrew itsuddenly, and bounding like a startled fawn, darted into the forest,where she soon disappeared, giving the young man a parting word, whichcaused him to quiver with joy:--
"We shall meet soon."
Harry stood for a long time with his eyes fixed on the spot where theseductive vision had disappeared. At length he uttered a sigh, threw hisrifle over his shoulder, and turned as if to depart. Dick was beforehim. Harry gave a start of surprise, for he had forgotten his friend'spresence; but the latter smiled good-humouredly.
"I now comprehend your conduct, Harry," he said to him; "you were rightto act as you did. Pardon my unjust suspicions, and count on meeverywhere and always."
Harry silently pressed the hand his friend offered him, and they walkedback rapidly in the direction of the village. As they emerged from theforest they passed, a man who did not see them. It was Red Cedar. Sosoon as he had gone a short distance Harry stopped his companion, andpointing to the squatter, whose long black shadow glided through thetrees, said, as he laid his hand on his shoulder,--
"That man hides in his heart a horrible secret, which I am ignorant of,but have sworn to discover."