Part 17 (1/2)
”Seize this fellow!” he cried to his Indians; ”seize him! In the name of your great father, the King of France, seize him, I tell you!”
The Indians looked forward. There, behind Claude, they saw six other Indians--their own friends. They shook their heads.
”Too many,” said they.
”You fellows!” cried Cazeneau to Claude's Indians, ”I am the officer of your great father, the King of France. This man is a traitor. I order you to seize him, in the king's name.”
Claude's Indians stood there motionless. They did not seem to understand.
All this time Cazeneau was keeping up a defence, and parrying Claude's attack. He was a skilful swordsman, and he wished to take Claude alive if possible, rather than to fight with him. So he tried once more. He supposed that Claude's Indians did not understand. He therefore told his Indians to tell the others in their language what was wanted. At this the two walked over to the six, and began talking. Caseneau watched them earnestly. He saw, to his infinite rage, that his words had no effect whatever on Claude's Indians.
”Coward,” cried Claude, ”coward and villain! you must fight. My Indians are faithful to me. You hate to fight,--you are afraid,--but you must, or I will beat you to death with the blade of my sword.”
At this Cazeneau turned purple with rage. He saw how it was. He determined to show this colonist all his skill, and wound him, and still take him alive. So, with a curse, he rushed upon Claude. But his own excitement interfered with that display of skill which he intended to show; and Claude, who had regained his coolness, had the advantage in this respect.
A few strokes showed Cazeneau that he had found his master. But this discovery only added to his rage. He determined to bring the contest to a speedy issue. With this intent he lunged forward with a deadly thrust. But the thrust was turned aside, and the next instant Claude's sword pa.s.sed through the body of Cazeneau.
CHAPTER XVI.
REUNION.
The wounded man fell to the ground, and Claude, dropping his sword, sank on his knees beside him. In that one instant all his anger and his hate fled away. It was no longer Cazeneau, his mortal enemy, whom he saw, but his fellow-creature, laid low by his hand. The thought sent a quiver through every nerve, and it was with no ordinary emotion that Claude sought to relieve his fallen enemy. But Cazeneau was unchanged in his implacable hate; or, if possible, he was even more bitter and more malignant now, since he had thus been beaten.
”Away!” he cried, in a faint voice. ”Away! Touch me not. Do not exult yet, Montresor. You think you have--avenged--your cursed father--and your mother. Do not exult too soon; at least you are--a pauper--a pauper--a pauper! Away! My own people--will care for me.”
Claude rose at this, and motioned to Cazeneau's Indians. They came up. One of them examined the wound. He then looked up at Claude, and solemnly shook his head.
”May Heaven have mercy on his soul!” murmured Claude. ”I thank Heaven that I do not know all the bitter wrong that he has done to my parents. What he has done to me I forgive.”
Then, by a sudden impulse, he bent down over the fallen man.
”Cazeneau,” said he, ”you're a dying man. You have something on your conscience now. What you have done to me I forgive. May others whom you have injured do the same.”
At this magnanimous speech Cazeneau rolled his glaring eyes furiously towards the young man, and then, supplied with a sudden spasmodic strength by his own pa.s.sion, he cried out, with bitter oaths and execrations,--
”Curse you! you and all your race!”
He raised himself slightly as he said this. The next instant he fell back, senseless. For a moment Claude stood looking at the lifeless form, undecided what to do. Should he remain here longer? If Cazeneau should revive, it would only be to curse him; if he died, he could do nothing. Would it not be better to hurry forward after the rest of the party, who could not be very far away? If so, he could send back the priest, who would come in time either for life or death. The moment that he thought of this he decided that he would hurry forward for the priest. He then explained to his guide what he wished, and asked the Indians of Cazeneau how far the rest of the party were.
They could speak but very little French, but managed to make Claude understand that they were not far. To his Indian they said more, and he told his employer. What they said was to this effect: that on this morning Cazeneau had left the party with these two Indians, for the sake of a little recreation in hunting. The rest had gone forward, with the understanding that they should not go more than two or three hours. Then they were to halt and wait. Cazeneau was just about to go after them as Claude came up.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Curse You And All Your Race.”]
This information showed Claude that the rest of the party were within easy distance, and that the priest could be reached and sent back before evening. Accordingly he hesitated no longer, but set forth at once in the greatest haste.
The thought that Mimi was so near inspired Claude with fresh energy.
Although he had been on the tramp all day, and without rest,--although he had received a severe and unparalleled shock in the terrible fate of Cazeneau,--yet the thought of Mimi had sufficient power over him to chase away the gloom that for a time had fallen over his soul. It was enough to him now that a priest was within reach. Upon that priest he could throw all the responsibility which arose out of the situation of his enemy. These were the thoughts that animated him, and urged him forward.