Part 6 (2/2)
”Out o' the way, _I_ know how to stir him up,” said Tolly, coming forward with a pail of water and sending the contents violently into his friend's face--thus drenching him from head to foot.
The result was that Paul Bevan sneezed, and, sitting up, looked astonished.
”Ha! I thought that 'ud fetch you,” said the boy, with a grin. ”Come, you'd better look alive if you don't want to lose yer scalp.”
”Ho! ho!” exclaimed Bevan, rising with a sudden look of intelligence and staggering to the door, ”here, give me the old sword, Betty, and the blunderbuss. Now then.”
He went out at the door, and Tom Brixton was following, when the girl stopped him.
”Oh! Mr Brixton,” she said, ”do not _kill_ any one, if you can help it.”
”I won't if I can help it. But listen, Betty,” said the youth, hurriedly seizing the girl's hand. ”I have tried hard to speak with you alone to-day, to tell you that I am _guilty_, and to say good-bye _for ever_.”
”Guilty! what do you mean?” she exclaimed in bewildered surprise.
”No time to explain. I may be shot, you know, or taken prisoner, though the latter's not likely. In any case remember that I confess myself _guilty_! G.o.d bless you, dear, _dear_ girl.”
Without waiting for a reply, he ran to a hollow on the top of the mound where his friend and Tolly were already ensconced, and whence they could see every part of the clearing around the little fortress.
”I see the reptiles,” whispered Bevan, as Tom joined them. ”They are mustering for an attack on the south side. Just what I wish,” he added, with a suppressed chuckle, ”for I've got a pretty little arrangement of cod-hooks and man-traps in that direction.”
As he spoke several dark figures were seen gliding among the trees. A moment later, and these made a quick silent rush over the clearing to gain the slight shelter of the shrubs that fringed the streamlet.
”Just so,” remarked Bevan, in an undertone, when a crash of branches told that one of his traps had taken effect; ”an' from the row I should guess that two have gone into the hole at the same time. Ha! that's a fish hooked!” he added, as a short sharp yell of pain, mingled with surprise, suddenly increased the noise.
”An' there goes another!” whispered Tolly, scarcely able to contain himself with delight at such an effective yet comparatively bloodless way of embarra.s.sing their foes.
”And another,” added Bevan; ”but look out now; they'll retreat presently. Give 'em a dose o' slug as they go back, but take 'em low, lads--about the feet and ankles. It's only a fancy of my dear little gal, but I like to humour her fancies.”
Bevan was right. Finding that they were not only surrounded by hidden pit-falls, but caught by painfully sharp little instruments, and entangled among cordage, the Indians used their scalping-knives to free themselves, and rushed back again towards the wood, but before gaining its shelter they received the slug-dose above referred to, and instantly filled the air with shrieks of rage, rather than of pain. At that moment a volley was fired from the other side of the fortress, and several b.a.l.l.s pa.s.sed close over the defenders' heads.
”Surrounded and outnumbered!” exclaimed Bevan, with something like a groan.
As he spoke another, but more distant, volley was heard, accompanied by shouts of anger and confusion among the men who were a.s.saulting the fortress.
”The attackers are attacked,” exclaimed Bevan, in surprise; ”I wonder who by.”
He looked round for a reply, but only saw the crouching figure of Tolly beside him.
”Where's Brixton?” he asked.
”Bolted into the hut,” answered the boy.
”Betty,” exclaimed Tom, springing into the little parlour or hall, where he found the poor girl on her knees, ”you are safe now. I heard the voice of Gashford, and the Indians are flying. But I too must fly. I am guilty, as I have said, but my crime is not worthy of death, yet death is the award, and, G.o.d knows, I am not fit to die. Once more-- farewell!”
He spoke rapidly, and was turning to go without even venturing to look at the girl, when she said--
”Whatever your crime may be, remember that there is a Saviour from sin.
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