Part 33 (1/2)

Many of their evenings, delightfully cool in contrast with the intense heat of the day, were spent on the river. The largest canoe of the village was fitted out with a broad, comfortable seat in the stern, upon which it was possible to recline lazily while several strong-armed natives paddled the craft through the s.h.i.+mmering, moonlit waters above the rapids.

One evening, a month after the raising of the flag, they came from the river, the night having been the most perfect they had seen, dark, sombre, picturesque. The moon was hidden behind the banks of clouds, which foretold the coming of rain, yet there was a soft, exquisite glow on land and water, as if blue-black tints were being cast from aloft by some mysterious, experimenting artist among the G.o.ds. It had been a quiet, dreamy hour for both. As they walked slowly across the little plain, followed by the oarsmen, they became cognizant of an extraordinary commotion in the village. Pootoo and a dozen men came running toward them excitedly.

”What's up, I wonder?” cried Hugh.

”It is the enemy. I know they have been sighted,” she exclaimed breathlessly.

And she was right. Just before sunset the guard at the top of the gatepost had sighted the canoes of the invaders, far to the north.

According to the king, to whom the flying messenger had come, there were myriads of canoes and they were headed for a part of the beach about three leagues north of the village. It was the best place for landing along the entire coast and was, besides, the point nearest the home of the coming foe. It was evident that the enemy had miscalculated. They came within eye range of the island before darkness set in. A half an hour later and it would have been impossible to discern the boats in the gloom. By merest chance their arrival was betrayed.

”Thank G.o.d, they can't surprise us,” cried Hugh after he had learned all. He was mad with excitement, burning with eagerness for the fray.

The possibility of defeat, did not enter his head, so sure was he that he and his warriors could overthrow the invaders. His brain was filled with the hope that he might some day tell the story of this battle to the fellows at his club in Chicago. He could imagine himself sitting with his heels on the window seat, relating to envious listeners the details of the fight in the pa.s.s, the repulsing of the enemy, the chase to the sh.o.r.e; the annihilation and--but no time was to be lost in dreaming of the future when the imperative present demanded so much of him.

At his side hurried the distressed, trembling young Englishwoman, her heart almost paralyzed with fear. Two or three times she tried to speak to him; once she timidly, though frantically, sought to grasp his hand to stay him in his excited rush toward the temple. Up to this moment she had been brave, even confident; now a weakness a.s.sailed her and every vestige of courage was gone. But one thought filled her mind: the possibility of disaster befalling Hugh Ridgeway.

They reached the temple and he dashed inside, going direct to his room, where the sword and daggers hung. She sank weakly upon one of the big blocks in the long corridor, leaning her head against the part.i.tion, breathing heavily, hopelessly. He, unconscious of the pain she was suffering, began to whistle joyously as he bustled about.

”Tennys,” he called, ”do you know what has become of my s.h.i.+eld?”

”It is out here,” she answered shrilly, her voice pitched high with the tension imposed. He came forth, tossing his sword on the ground at her feet, hastily taking the s.h.i.+eld from a peg in the wall.

”Say, we won't see a live Ooloozer for a hundred years after the fight,”

he exploded exuberantly. ”Is my army out there in front?”

”Hugh,” she said piteously, following him about in the hall, ”it isn't necessary for you to accompany them.”

”Oh, great Scott! I wouldn't miss it for a million. I'm the biggest pig in the puddle,” stopping to look at her in amazement.

”But it isn't your--our war, Hugh. Why do you risk so much? They may kill you and then--then what will become of me?”

In an instant his hilarity subsided and deep solicitude came in its stead, every particle of tenderness in his heart a.s.serting itself in response to the rueful appeal. There was a queer rus.h.i.+ng of blood to his head, a dizziness, a great thrumming against, the drums of his ears, from all of which sprung, like lightning, the remembrance of his suspicions concerning her feelings toward him.

”You are not worried, are you? Why, there's no danger, not the slightest. We've got them whipped before the fight. I didn't think you'd lose courage. You've been so brave and confident all the time.” He took her hands in his own and looked tenderly down into the wavering eyes of blue.

”It is dreadful, Hugh. I never knew how dreadful until now. I cannot bear to see you go out there to-night, perhaps never to come back. I shall die if you go!”

”But I must go, Tennys,” he said firmly. ”I'd rather die than be a coward. Your fears are utterly ridiculous.”

His rather petulant speech caused her to withdraw her hands, her wide eyes sending a glance of wounded pride up into his. That look of reproach haunted him the whole night long. Even in the next moment he sought to withdraw the unintentional sting from his words by the gentle reminder that he would come back to her a victor and that she would be proud of him. Still the hurt eyes looked into his.

”I--I did not mean to interfere, Hugh. You must pay no attention to me.

I was selfish and absurdly afraid,” she said, a trace of coldness in her voice, her manner entirely altered.

”Any woman might well be afraid at such a time,” he said quickly.

”I am not afraid for myself. It is not the kind of cowardice you think it is.”