Part 8 (1/2)
CHAPTER IX.
The course of Stackpole was through the woods, in a direction immediately opposite to that by which Roland had ridden to his a.s.sistance.
”He is going to the Lower Ford,” said Telie, anxiously. ”It is not too late for us to follow him. If there are Indians in the wood, it is the only way to escape them!”
”And why should we believe there _are_ Indians in the wood?” demanded Roland; ”because that half-mad rogue, made still madder by his terrors, saw something which his fancy converted into the imaginary Nick of the Woods? You must give me a better reason than that, my good Telie, if you would have me desert the road. I have no faith in your Jibbenainosays.”
But a better reason than her disinclination to travel it, and her fears lest, if Indians were abroad, they would be found lying in ambush at the upper and more frequented pa.s.s of the river, the girl had none to give; and, in consequence, Roland (though secretly wondering at her pertinacity, and still connecting it in thought with his oft-remembered dream), expressing some impatience at the delays they had already experienced, led the way back to the buffalo-road, resolved to prosecute it with vigour. But fate had prepared for him other and more serious obstructions.
He had scarce regained the path, before he became sensible, from the tracks freshly printed in the damp earth, that a horseman, coming from the very river towards which he was bending his way, had pa.s.sed by whilst he was engaged in the wood liberating the horse-thief. This was a circ.u.mstance that both pleased and annoyed him. It was so far agreeable, as it seemed to offer the best proof that the road was open, with none of those dreadful savages about it, who had so long haunted the brain of Telie Doe. But what chiefly concerned the young soldier was the knowledge that he had lost an opportunity of inquiring after his friends, and ascertaining whether they had really pitched their camp on the banks of the river; a circ.u.mstance which he now rather hoped than dared to be certain of, the tempest not seeming to have been so violent in that quarter as, of a necessity, to bring the company to a halt. If they had _not_ encamped in the expected place, but, on the contrary, had continued their course to the appointed Station, he saw nothing before him but the gloomy prospect of concluding his journey over an unknown road, after night-fall, or returning to the Station he had left, also by night; for much time had been lost by the various delays, and the day was now declining fast.
These considerations threw a damp over his spirits, but taught him the necessity of activity; and he was, accordingly, urging his little party forward with such speed as he could, when there was suddenly heard at a distance on the rear the sound of fire-arms, as if five or six pieces were discharged together, followed by cries not less wild and alarming than those uttered by the despairing horse-thief.
These bringing the party to a stand, the quick ears of the soldier detected the rattling of hoofs on the road behind, and presently their came rus.h.i.+ng towards them with furious speed a solitary horseman, his head bare, his locks streaming in the wind, and his whole appearance betraying the extremity of confusion and terror; which was the more remarkable, as he was well mounted and armed with the usual rifle, knife, and hatchet of the back-woodsman. He looked as if flying from pursuing foes, his eyes being cast backwards, and that so eagerly that he failed to notice the party of wondering strangers drawn up before him on the road, until saluted by a halloo from Roland; at which he checked his steed, looking for an instant ten times more confounded and frightened than before.
”You tarnation critturs!” he at last bawled, with the accents of one driven to desperation, ”if there a'n't no dodging you, then there _a'n't_. Here's for you, you everlasting varmints--due your darndest!”
With that he clubbed his rifle, and advanced towards the party in what seemed a paroxysm of insane fury, brandis.h.i.+ng the weapon and rolling his eyes with a ferocity that could have only arisen from his being in that happy frame of mind which is properly termed ”frightened out of fear.”
”How, you villain!” said Roland, in amazement, ”do you take us for wild Indians?”
”What, by the holy hokey, and _a'n't_ you?” cried the stranger, his rage giving way to the most lively transports; ”Christian men!” he exclaimed in admiration, ”and one of 'em a niggur, and two of em wimming! oh hokey!
You're Capting Forrester, and I've heerd on you! Thought there was nothing in the wood but Injuns, blast their ugly picturs! and blast him, Sy Jones, as was, that brought me among 'em! And now I'm talking of 'em, Capting, don't stop to ax questions, but run,--cut and run, Capting, for there's an everlasting sight of 'em behind me!--six of 'em, Capting, or my name a'n't Pardon Dodge,--six of 'em,--all except one, and _him_ I shot, the blasted crittur! for, you see, they followed me behind, and they cut me off before: and there was no dodging 'em,--(Dodge's my name, and dodging's my natur')--without getting lost in the woods; and it was either losing myself or my scalp; and so that riz my ebenezer, and I banged the first of 'em all to smash--if I didn't, then it a'n't no matter!”
”What, in Heaven's name,” said Roland, overcome by the man's volubility and alarm together,--”what means all this? Are there Indians behind us?”
”Five of 'em, and the dead feller,--shocking long-legged crittur he was; jumped out of a bush, and seized me by the bridle--hokey! how he skeared me!--Gun went off of her own accord, and shot him into bits as small as fourpence-ha'pennies. Then there was a squeaking and squalling, and the hull of e'm let fly at me; and then, I cut on the back track, and they took and took atter; and I calculate, if we wait here a quarter of a minute longer, they will be on us jist like devils and roaring lions.--But where shall we run? You can't gin us a hint how to make way through the woods?--Shocking bad woods to be lost in! Bad place here for talking, Capting,--right 'twixt two fires,--six Injuns behind (and one of 'em dead), and an almighty pa.s.sel before,--the Ford's full on 'em!”
”What!” said Roland, ”did you pa.s.s the Ford? and is not Colonel Johnson, with his emigrants, there?”
”Not a man on 'em; saw 'em streaking through the mud, half way to Jackson's. Everlasting lying critturs, them emigrants! told me there was no Injuns on the road! when what should I do but see a hull grist on 'em dodging among the bushes at the river, to surround me, the tarnation critturs. But I kinder had the start on 'em, and I whipped, and I cut, and I run, and I dodged. And so says I, 'I've beat you, you tarnation scalping varmints!' when up jumps that long-legged feller, and the five behind him; and, blast 'em, that riz my corruption. And I--”
”In a word,” said Roland, impatiently, and with a stern accent, a.s.sumed perhaps to rea.s.sure his kinswoman, whom the alarming communications of the stranger, uttered in an agony of terror and haste, filled with an agitation which she could not conceal, ”you have seen Indians, or you say you have. If you tell the truth, there is no time left for deliberation; if a falsehood--”
”Why should we wait upon the road to question and wonder?” said Telie Doe, with a boldness and firmness that at another moment would have excited surprise; ”why should we wait here, while the Indians may be approaching? The forest is open, and the Lower Ford is free.”
”If you can yet lead us thither,” said Roland, eagerly, ”all is not yet lost. We can neither advance nor return. On, maiden, for the love of Heaven!”
These hasty expressions revealed to Edith the deep and serious light in which her kinsman regarded their present situation, though at first seeking to hide his anxiety under a veil of composure. In fact, there was not an individual present on whom the fatal news of the vicinity of the redman had produced a more alarming impression than on Roland. Young, bravo, acquainted with war, and accustomed to scenes of blood and peril, it is not to be supposed that he entertained fear on his own account; but the presence of one whom he loved, and whom he would have rescued from danger, at any moment, at the sacrifice of his own life thrice over, was enough to cause, and excuse, a temporary fainting of spirit, and a desire to fly the scene of peril, of which, under any other circ.u.mstances, he would have been heartily ashamed. The suddenness of the terror--for up to the present moment he had dreamed of no difficulty comprising danger, or of no danger implying the presence of savages in the forest--had somewhat shocked his mind from its propriety, and left him in a manner unfitted to exercise the decision and energy so necessary to the welfare of his feeble and well-nigh helpless followers. The vastness of his embarra.s.sment, all disclosed at once,--his friends and fellow-emigrants now far away; the few miles which he had, to the last, hoped separated him from them, converted into leagues; Indian enemies at hand; advance and retreat both alike cut off; and night approaching fast, in which, without a guide, any attempt to retreat through the wild forest would be as likely to secure his destruction as deliverance;--these were circ.u.mstances that crowded into his mind with benumbing effect, engrossing his faculties, when the most active use of them was essential to the preservation of his party.
It was at this moment of weakness and confusion, while uttering what was meant to throw some little discredit over the story of Dodge, to abate the terrors of Edith, that the words of Telie Doe fell on his ears, bringing both aid and hope to his embarra.s.sed spirits. _She_, at least, was acquainted with the woods; she, at least, could conduct him, if not to the fortified Station he had left (and bitterly now did he regret having left it), to the neglected ford of the river, which her former attempts to lead him thither, and the memory of his dream, caused him now to regard as a city of refuge pointed out by destiny itself.
”You shall have your way, at last, fair Telie,” he said, with a laugh, but not with merriment: ”Fate speaks for you; and whether I will or not, we must go to the Lower Ford”
”You will never repent it,” said the girl, the bright looks which she had worn for the few moments she was permitted to control the motions of the party, returning to her visage, and seeming to emanate from a rejoicing spirit;--”they will not think of waylaying us at the Lower Ford.”
With that, she darted into the wood, and, followed by the others, including the new-comer, Dodge, was soon at a considerable distance from the road.
”Singular,” said Roland to Edith, at whose rein he now rode, endeavouring to remove her terrors, which, though she uttered no words, were manifestly overpowering,--”singular that the girl should look so glad and fearless, while we are, I believe, all horribly frightened. It is, however, a good omen. When one so timorous as she casts aside fear, there is little reason for others to be frighted.”