Part 10 (2/2)
”Oh, save him, save him! They have seized Nigel. What will they do to him?” cried Constance, as she sank into her father's arms.
The count saw that pursuit was hopeless, for the priest, tucking up his long dress to enable him to scramble over the fences, had already got to a considerable distance; besides, it would have been vain to attempt rescuing Nigel from a party of armed men. The count could only say, ”Trust in G.o.d, my child. He alone can help us.”
Poor Constance, overcome with grief and terror, could scarcely, even with her father's a.s.sistance, reach the house. He placed her on a couch by his side, vainly endeavouring to console her. He indeed feared that the priests would not allow them to escape with impunity, and he guessed truly that it had been only for the sake of inflicting a greater cruelty that Nigel had first been carried off.
Monsieur Laporte with the good doctor happily came in, having heard a rumour of what had occurred. Both were required, for Constance became seriously ill; but the words of the former were of more value than any medicine the latter could prescribe. The minister at, once turned to G.o.d's word; not to the Book itself, for that he did not dare to carry about, but to the numerous blessed texts which he had committed to memory, and from these he was able to draw that effectual comfort which could alone avail with the poor young wife. No one dared to speak of the future, for they knew well the bitter hatred felt by the governor and priests towards Nigel, and that they would rejoice at having a victim in their power on whom they would wreak their vengeance. While they were seated with Constance and the count, Tec.u.mah and his sister arrived, on their way to pay their usual visit to Monsieur Laporte.
They were overwhelmed with grief and indignation when they heard what had occurred. Cora threw herself by the side of Constance, and poured out her expressions of sympathy from her woman's heart. Indian as she was, she could feel for her white sister, her affectionate tones tending somewhat to soothe her friend's outraged feelings.
”Do not give up hope,” she whispered, ”We will gladly devote our lives, if necessary, to save him. We Indians are accustomed to do many things which would astonish the white people, and if a friend is in danger, every one of our tribe is ready to help him.”
”They dare not kill him!” exclaimed Tec.u.mah, ”and if a hair of his head is injured I will arouse our people, and instead of being friends and ready to fight on their side, we will come over with our strong bows and attack them.”
”Even for the sake of a friend we would not urge you to use violent measures,” said the minister. ”Remember the precepts of our blessed Lord and Master; He who was ever mild, gentle, and forgiving, doing good to those who injured Him.”
”Yes, I know that, and desire to obey our Saviour's law; but He does not forbid us to help our friends,” exclaimed the young Indian.
CHAPTER TEN.
IMPRISONMENT AND RESCUE.
Tec.u.mah and his sister remained for some time with their friend.
Tec.u.mah then accompanied the minister to his house. They pa.s.sed on their way through the count's garden, as it afforded them a shorter cut than the public path. As they got to the further end of the garden they turned aside to visit the spot where Nigel had been seized. On reaching it, Tec.u.mah sprang forward, for there he saw before him on the ground the Bible, which the priest, in his eagerness to hold back Constance, had let drop, and had forgotten to take with him when the count appeared.
”Blessed Book!” exclaimed Tec.u.mah. ”Let me be its guardian. Your cruel persecutors shall not burn it while I have it in charge, and you may come over to read it, or when the search is over I will bring it back to you.”
To this proposal Monsieur Laporte willingly agreed; and while the Indian, wrapping it up carefully, concealed it beneath his cloak, the minister closed the box in which it was wont to be put, and covered it over again with earth and leaves.
Cora begged that she might be allowed to continue with Constance till the following morning or longer. ”We were not observed coming into the house,” she said, ”and it will not be known that I am here. I have my reasons for wis.h.i.+ng to remain.”
The count and Constance of course agreed to what Cora wished. Before her brother quitted the house she had a short and earnest conversation with him. Tec.u.mah, having spent some time with the minister, hurried to his canoe and rapidly crossed to the north side of the harbour.
Meanwhile, Nigel was dragged along by his captors. He had been so completely surprised that it was impossible for him to escape; and finding this, he walked along without making any further resistance.
The priest soon overtook the party. In vain Nigel tried to learn from him what had become of Constance.
”It's not my duty to answer questions,” he replied; ”but I have some, notwithstanding, to ask you. How is it that, knowing the orders of the governor, you ventured to read that book from which you draw all your heresies?”
”I am not aware that I have drawn anything but truth through the teaching of the Holy Spirit,” answered Nigel.
”That is the notion all you heretics hold!” exclaimed the priest. ”It is the origin of your pestiferous principles.”
”I was not prohibited from reading it in my own country, and I claim as a Scotchman the right to do so wherever I am,” answered Nigel.
”No person of whatever country has the right to act contrary to the commands of the Catholic Church,” answered the priest, furiously; ”and that Church positively forbids laymen from reading the Bible, or putting their own interpretations on it, therefore to whatever nation you belong you are under its rule, and are equally guilty. But I waste words in arguing with a heretic. Your only hope of escape from death is to recant without delay and become a faithful Catholic, and the governor, at my intercession, will overlook your offence. Come, you will be wise; so give up your errors.”
”Never will I give up my faith,” answered Nigel, firmly.
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