"No; let's take it up to the house, Master George, and let your father
see the kind of game he's got on his property. I'll show it to my Sarah
too, or she won't believe it was such a big one, or got such poison
fangs."
"You'll have to carry it home," I said, with a shudder.
"No, I shan't, Master George, and it's of no use for you to try to make
me believe you're afraid, because I shan't have it. You killed it, and
I'll twist up a bit o' grass to make a rope, and you shall carry it home
to show master and our Sarah. I can tie it to the end of the pole.
Stop a minute; where's my knife?--must be just here."
He went straight for the low growth and bushes, and began peering about
while I stood leaning on the pole and looking down at the slightly
heaving form of the serpent, when my attention was taken by a hoarse cry
from Morgan.
"What's the matter?" I said, as I saw that he was bending forward
staring in among the bushes.
He did not reply, and feeling certain that he had found another
rattlesnake, I raised the pole once more, and went to where he stood,
when my lips parted, and I turned to call for help, but stopped there,
for I found myself face to face with a similar object to that which had
arrested Morgan. A tall, keen-faced, half-naked Indian stood before me,
with his black hair gathered back and tied up so that a few eagle
feathers were stuck through it; a necklace or two was about his neck and
hanging down upon his breast; a pair of fringed buckskin leggings
covered his legs; and he carried a tomahawk in one hand, and a bow in
the other.
Almost before I could recover from my surprise, I saw that we were
completely surrounded, for at least a dozen more were dotted about the
clearing.
At that moment Morgan seemed to get the better of his start, and backed
to where I stood, with the Indian following him in a slow, stately
manner.
"We're in for it, Master George," whispered Morgan. "What shall we do--
run?"
"It would be of no use to try," I whispered.
"Not a bit, lad, they'd run us down directly. Hold up your head, lad;
you arn't afraid of a rattlesnake, so you needn't be afraid of these
furreners. What are they--Injuns?"
"Yes," I answered; "Red Indians," though I had never seen one before.
"Ah, well, look you, there's nothing to mind--they arn't poisonous. I
shall ask them what they want. I say, what are they all coming close up
to us for?"
"I don't know," I said, as I made a strong effort not to be afraid, and
to keep from thinking about the stories I had heard of the Indians'
cruelty, as the party came forward, evidently at a sign from the man who
had faced me, and who wore more feathers than the rest.
"I say, Master George," whispered Morgan again, "hadn't I better ask 'em
what they want?"
"It's of no use. I don't think they would understand."
"Well," said Morgan, coughing to clear his throat, "I'm a soldier, and
I've been in a fight before now, so I know a little about it. We're
surprised, Master George, by the enemy, and without arms. First dooty
is to retreat, and you being my officer, you says we can't."
"I'm sure we can't," I said, talking to Morgan, but looking sharply
round at the Indians, who all stood gazing at us in the sternest and
most immovable way.
"Quite right, lad. Madness to talk about running, but I'd give all the
wage I've got to take dooring the next ten year, look you, to be able to
let the master know."
"Shall I call to him?"
"Only bring him up to be took prisoner too. Here, let's make the best
of it," cried Morgan, jauntily. "How are you, gentlemen?--strangers in
these parts, arn't you?"
The only man to take any notice of this easy-going address was the
Indian I imagined to be the chief, and he uttered a grunt.
"Ah, I thought so. Nice country isn't it, only we've got some ugly
customers here.--Sure they can't understand, Master George?"
"I feel nearly sure."
"So do I, lad.--Ugly customers, snakes--see?--snakes."
He took the pole quickly from my hand, and at the same moment I saw, as
it were, a shock run through the group of Indians, each man taking
tightly hold of the tomahawk he carried.
But Morgan did not notice it, and thrusting the end of the pole under
the snake, he raised it up.
"See?" he cried. "We just killed it--no, we didn't, for it isn't quite
dead."
The Indians looked at him and then at the snake, but in the most stolid
way, and I stood wondering what was to come next.
"Know what it is, I suppose?" continued Morgan, who kept on talking in
an excited way, as if to gain time while he tried to think out some
plan, as was really the case; but the audience merely looked on
frowningly, and I saw the chief draw back slightly as Morgan picked up
the head and pointed to its fangs with his finger.
The thoughts of the risk he might be running made me forget for the
moment any that was threatening us from the Indians, and I cried, in
warning tones--
"Be careful; it may be dangerous though it's dead."
"Yes; this seems to be dead," replied Morgan; "but I say, Master George,
I don't know whatever to do."
"Scrape a hole first, and bury that horrid thing," I said; "and then
perhaps we shall see what they are going to do."
"Not to kill us, are they?" he whispered.
I could not help giving a start of horror, and looking wildly round at
the Indians, who stood like so many statues looking on, as, in a hasty,
excited way, Morgan roughly kicked away some of the loose gravel, and
then with the rake-handle scraped out a good-sized hole, into which he
threw the snake's head and dragged the body, raking the loose gravel
back over them and stamping it down.
"Now then, Master George, what 'll us do next?"
"I don't know; let them take us away as prisoners, I suppose. We must
not try to run away, because they would follow, and we should lead them
home. Shall we run into the woods?"
"Never get there, my lad," he replied, sadly. "They'd have us before we
got a hundred yards."
All doubt as to our next proceedings were put an end to at once, for the
chief laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said, in a deep voice,
something which was quite unintelligible to us both.
I shook my head, but he grasped my arm firmly, and pointed toward the
forest.
"He means us to go," I said; and in obedience I walked toward the
darkest part, but the chief checked me, and pointed toward the spot
where our faint track lay which led toward the house; and feeling
constrained to obey, I gave Morgan a disconsolate look, and went slowly
on with the Indian walking by my side.
"We can't help it, Master George," said Morgan. "Don't be down-hearted,
lad. Perhaps they don't mean any harm, and let's hope your father or my
Sarah will see us in time to shut up the place, and get the guns down
from the racks."
The distance was very short, but it was the most painful walk I ever
had, for I felt as if I was being the guide to take the enemy right to
the place my father had toiled so hard to win from the wilderness, and
twice over I tried to deviate from the path, and lead the party into the
forest, so as to bear right away from the house.
But it was of no use. A strong hand gripped my arm instantly; there was
a stern look, a low, deep utterance, and the chief pointed again to the
right track.
It was useless to try and misunderstand him, and at last, after two more
feints, I felt that there was nothing else to be done but to allow
myself to be forced onward.
Just before we came in sight of the house, the chief said something, and
two of the men pushed Morgan forward till he was close to me, and one of
the men walked on his left and the other came behind.
"See what that means, Master George?"
"No; what does it mean?"
"That Indians are clever as white men, and they've put us in the front
rank to keep any one from firing at them."
I saw it plainly enough now, for as we advanced, my father appeared at
the window, and I saw a gun in his hand.
He started as he caught sight of us two prisoners, but feeling, I
suppose, that any attempt at defence was useless under the
circumstances, he left the window for a moment or two, and I heard his
voice speaking. Then he reappeared, and climbed out of the window, the
door being closed and fastened.
He stepped forward boldly with the firelock resting on his arm, and
walked to where the Indians had halted, holding out his hand in token of
friendship, but it was not taken, the Indians' eyes running from him all
over and about the place, as if they were astonished at what they saw.
"Tell me quickly," said my father, "but be cool. Everything depends
upon our treating them in a friendly way, and not being afraid."
I told him how we had been surprised, and his face looked very grave as
he listened.
"Well," he said, "we are in their power. If I fired it might bring
help, but it would be too late to benefit us; and for aught we know, the
rest of the tribe may already be up in the settlement. Stay with them
and don't attempt to escape."
The Indian chief watched us curiously as my father talked to me, and two
of his men half started forward as my father turned away to go back to
the house.
But a word from the chief checked them, and every eye was fixed upon the
returning figure, as my father walked to the door, beat upon it, called
Sarah to open, and then passed in.
The faces of the Indians were a study, but they preserved their stolid
looks, and uttered a sigh of satisfaction as my father appeared again
with such provisions as the place afforded, and proceeded to offer them
to our visitors.
I watched everything attentively, and saw the men stand fast without
looking either at my father or the provisions which he placed before
them, till the chief said a few words in a loud tone.
Then with an eagerness in sharp contrast to their former apathy, they
seized the food and began to eat.
My father spoke to the chief again and again, and the Indian said
something coldly in reply; but they were wasted words, and the rough
meal was partaken of in comparative silence.
"They only mean to be friendly, father, do they?" I said at last.
"It is impossible to say; they may prove treacherous," he replied. "But
don't talk, and if you grasp anything they seem to want, tell me, so
that I can satisfy them. It would be terrible if they attempted to
destroy all we have been at such pains to get together."
"Couldn't we all make a dart for indoors, sir?" said Morgan, in a
whisper. "We have got plenty of weepons there, sir, and might manage to
keep them off till help came."
"The risk is too great," said my father. "These men are as active as
leopards, and before we could get within doors we should each have an
axe in his brain."
"But, begging your pardon, sir, we can all run."
"As fast as a tomahawk can fly? No; they are peaceful now, and
friendly; let us treat them as friends, and hope that they will soon
go."
At that moment the chief made a sign with his hands to his lips, a sign
that was unmistakable, and a large pail of water was fetched out by
Morgan, and drunk from with avidity.
This done, the Indians sat and stood about watching everything within
reach, while we were in the unpleasantly helpless state of being unable
to speak, or to make them understand, and in the more unpleasant or
perilous position of being unable to grasp their intentions.
As the time went on my father appeared to grow more hopeful. He had
evidently come to the conclusion that it was useless to attempt
resistance, and he seemed to think that our friendly treatment might win
the respect of these stern, morose-looking men. Then, all at once, I
saw that his hopes were dashed. He looked at me wildly, and I saw the
firelock he held tremble in his hand.
"Try and be firm, George," he said, quietly, "and do not look as if I am
saying anything serious to you," he continued, laughing.
"I understand, father," I said, cheerfully, though my heart kept giving
great thumps against my ribs.
"Can you hear what I am saying, Morgan?" continued my father,
pleasantly, and not appearing to pay the slightest attention to the
Indians.
"Every word, sir; but it's hard work, for I want to run indoors to try
and comfort that poor woman who is trembling there."
"So we all do," said my father, and he looked quite merry; "but don't
look like that, man. It is inviting an attack if these men do mean
evil."
"Right, sir; I am quite laughing now," said Morgan.
"Ah, that's worse," cried my father, "that ghastly grin will ruin us.
There, listen to what I am saying. When these savages attack us, it
will be in some treacherous way, so as to get the advantage of us
without injury to themselves. If they do attack, never mind who goes
down, the survivors must rush into the house and defend it to the last,
for that poor woman's sake. Fight hopefully if I am not with you; for
as soon as firing begins it may bring help from the settlement."
"Then why not fire at once, sir?" cried Morgan, earnestly.
"Because, as I intimated before, it would bring help, but help that came
too late."
The calm forced way in which my father spoke seemed to be the most
terrible part of the whole day's work. The inaction was bad enough, and
to sit there expecting that at any moment the Indians might turn upon us
and kill us with their axes, made it almost impossible to sit there as
my father wished; but sit there we did, and as my eyes wandered from one
to the other of the weird, fierce-looking Indians, who seemed to be
doing nothing but watch us for an excuse to make an attack, it made my
brain swim.
How it was all burnt into my memory, and how I can picture it all now!
The bright garden, the flowers, and the promise of fruit, and the house
beginning to look more lovely every month; and now in front of it Red
Indians squatting about, or standing with their bows strung, arrows in a
case behind them, and axes in hand, ready at the word from their chief
to spring upon us.
All at once the chief uttered a peculiar sound, and the men who were
seated sprang to their feet, and stood watching the tall, fierce-looking
fellow.
He spoke again, and without a word they all moved off quickly toward the
settlement, making straight for Colonel Preston's estate.
I sat there watching them till the last man had disappeared. Then all
the bright sunshiny scene around began to swim, and wave, and grow
distant, and all was blank.