Part 10 (1/2)
”Many thanks, but he won't trespa.s.s on your hospitality,” said the new-comer, a tall, handsome young settler, entering as he spoke. ”No, McArthur, I cannot stay. I have come but for five minutes on my way back to the village.”
”You can at least sit down,” said McArthur, pulling forward a chair.
”What is the latest news?”
”Nothing, beyond the report that the Indians appear to have s.h.i.+fted themselves elsewhere.”
”Well, that is news,” said Rosalind, looking up with a smile.
”You say, 'appear to have s.h.i.+fted themselves,'” said McArthur. ”I shall still keep on the defensive. I wouldn't trust a Redskin for a good deal.”
”True enough,” was the answer. ”McArthur, whom could you send to the village for need at a critical time?”
”I doubt if I could spare a man. Every hand would be wanted, every rifle needed, for I know not in what numbers the Redskins might come.”
[Sidenote: ”I could go!”]
”I could ride to the village,” announced Rosalind calmly. ”Golightly and I would cover the ground in no time.”
”You, my darling!” Mrs. McArthur e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed in horror.
McArthur waved his daughter's words aside.
”You do not know, my child, what danger you would court.”
”Of course, Miss McArthur is out of the question,” said the young man, and smiled as Rosalind darted an indignant glance at him.
”At any rate, I am at your service if you need me,” he continued. ”I trust I may not be called out for such a purpose, but if I am, I and my rifle are at your disposal.”
”Thanks, Robertson, you are a good fellow,” returned McArthur heartily, grasping the young man's hand.
In a few minutes he rose to go. Rosalind accompanied him to the house door.
”Mr. Robertson,” she said abruptly, as soon as they were out of hearing, ”which would be the shortest cut to the village? By the woods or by the river?” He looked keenly at her.
”You meant what you said just now?”
”Of course I meant it. I--I would do anything to save my father's and mother's lives, and their property, which father has secured by dint of so much labour.”
He took her hand in his.
”Rosalind,” he said softly, ”if anything happened to you, my life would be of no worth to me.”
She flushed all over her fair skin.
”It is better to be prepared for an emergency,” she answered gently, ”and I do not think I would run such a great risk as you and my father think.”
”You do not know the Redskin,” was the grave answer.
”You heard my father say he couldn't spare a man. How much more use I would be if I brought help than stayed here and perhaps shot a couple of Indians, who might overpower us by their numbers. I was wondering if Golightly and the woods would be a shorter way than my canoe and the river?”