Part 10 (1/2)
”Listen,” she answered, sorrowfully; ”for two years I have thought deeply, and the more I reflect the more does it appear to me that Red Cedar is not my father.”
”Can it be possible?” the hunter exclaimed, in amazement.
”I can say nothing certain; but when I go back I fancy (though this is vague and surrounded by shadows in my mind) I can remember another existence, very different from the one I am leading at present.”
”You can remember nothing positive?”
”Nothing: I see pa.s.s, as in a vision, a lovely pale lady, a man with a proud glance, and of tall stature, who takes me in his arms, and covers me with kisses, and then--”
”Well, and then?” the hunters exclaimed, in a panting voice.
”And then I see flames, blood, and nothing more, but a man carrying me off through the night on an impetuous steed.”
The maiden, after uttering these words in a broken voice, hid her head in her hands. There was a lengthened silence, during which the Canadians attentively observed her: at length they drew themselves up, and Harry laid his hand on her shoulder: she raised her head.
”What would you of me?” she said.
”Ask you a question.”
”Speak!”
”Since you have grown up have you never tried to clear up your doubts by questioning Red Cedar?”
”Yes,” she answered, ”once.”
”Well?”
”He listened to me attentively, let me say all I had to say, and then gave me a glance of undefinable meaning, shrugged his shoulders, and answered, 'You are silly, Ellen; you must have had a bad dream. That story is absurd.' Then he added, in an ironical voice, 'I feel sorry for you, poor creature, but you are really my daughter.'”
”Well,” d.i.c.k said, in a tone of conviction, as he struck the b.u.t.t of his rifle fiercely on the ground, ”I tell you that he lied, and that man is not your father.”
”Doves do not lay their eggs in the nests of vultures,” Harry added.
”No, Ellen, no, you are not that man's daughter.”
The maiden rose, seized each of the hunters by the arm, and, after looking at them for a moment, said:
”Well, and I believe so too. I know not why, but for some days past a secret voice has cried in my heart and told me that this man cannot be my father; that is why I, who, up to this day, have always refused your offers, have come to trust myself to your honour, and ask you if you will protect my flight.”
”Ellen,” Harry answered in a grave voice, and with an accent full of respect, ”I swear to you before that G.o.d who hears us, that my companion and myself will risk death to protect or defend. You shall always be a sister to us, and in that desert we are about to traverse in order to reach civilised countries, you shall be as safe and treated with as much respect as if you were in Quebec Cathedral, at the foot of the high altar.”
”I swear that I will do all Harry has just said; and that you can, in all confidence, place yourself under the safeguard of our honour,” d.i.c.k added, raising his right hand to Heaven.
”Thanks, my friends,” the maiden answered. ”I know your honour. I accept without reservation, persuaded as I am that you will fulfil your promise.”
The two men bowed.
”When shall we start?” Harry asked.
”It will be better to take advantage of Red Cedar's absence to fly,”
said d.i.c.k.