When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill, and looked back, she
could see the Herculean figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadow
far down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow court exactly as
she had found him doing.
The surrounding scenery now looked doubly brilliant to her confused
senses, after the gloomy contrasts of her late subterranean journey. The
fleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the moonbeams shone clearly
forth in undimmed splendour, tipping with silver light each tree and
shrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling like gems along
the rippling current of the purling brook on the banks of which Bacon
waited her approach.
Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat dark and oracular, it
was sufficiently explicit to produce a very sensible effect upon the
mind of Virginia, which our hero was not long in discovering; for as he
extended his hand to assist her across the brook, she tacitly declined
the proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention, and leaped the
streamlet unassisted. He was the more astonished, that in the whole of
their long intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or freak
occurring towards himself. She seemed reserved and formal too, as they
moved up the opposite hill; but without remarking on her altered mood,
he sought to draw from her the result of her expedition. Barely
communicating so much as she had been directed to do, however, she
remained to him inexplicably silent.
While he was revolving these things in his mind his companion, silently
and moodily walking at his side, without availing herself of his offered
arm, they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down the hill than the spot
where they had left him--the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm--a
handkerchief tied round his waist, into which were stuck two pertronels
from his own saddlebow; and in his hand his master's ready for use.
"In the name of all the saints in Ireland, what is the matter, Brian?"
exclaimed Bacon.
"Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it there'ye are? Sure as death,
but I'm the boy that thought ye were clane murthered iny'way."
"Murdered! why who was to murder us?"
"Faix, an there's enough iv them to do that same in _this_ bloody place.
Barrin the tay party wid the great inimy in the side iv the hill
yonther, a'int there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,) ranting
about like so many wild bastes, ready to peale the tap iv your heads
like a pair of onions or murpheys--divil a word a lie's in that iny
way."
"Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?"
"Be the contints iv the book, but there is five yallow rascals gone
over the hill towards the city half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, but
I was as near putting a key note to one of their whistles, as two tin
pinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your own safety, and the beauty by
your side at that same reckning."
"I commend your discretion in not shooting--and I wonder at your
sobriety, considering the condition in which we left you."
"Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's after namin?--an
is'nt it me that's a pathern o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, but
it all comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the larnin iv you, ye
beauty; divil a word a lie's in that."
"Gone towards the town have they?" said Bacon, musing--and then
examining the priming of his petronels, he took them--placed them in
their holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning to his attendant at the
same time, to assist Virginia to the pillion. She being mounted, he
continued his discourse to her. "Keep up your courage my brave pupil; no
danger shall molest you unencountered."
"Strange as it may appear," replied she, for the first time uttering
something more than a monosyllable. "The real danger in which we seem
placed, has few terrors, after my late subterranean visit." This last
part of the sentence was said in an under tone, as they cantered over
the hill.
"You have done bravely, Virginia, and now Brian it is our turn. Do you
ride foremost--but on no account pull trigger, or draw your sword,
without my orders. We are at peace with the confederated tribes of the
peninsula:--should the party therefore prove to be any of these,
bloodshed will be, unnecessary. Remember, and be watchful!"
"Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but there's no more profit in
watchin these skulking nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish to
make them take the bate; both the one and the tother o' them bites when
you laste expect it. Oh! would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste to
walk along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread out before him?"
"Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one would suppose, to hear you
talk, that you were the greatest coward in Christendom."
The conversation of the Hibernian was at all times amusing to our
adventurers, and was enjoyed with more zest, doubtless, on account of
the many excellent qualities which they knew him to possess, being as
they knew, brave, devotedly attached to them both, and of unvarying good
humour. On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged his volubility in
order to divert his companion's attention from dwelling upon the danger
which he but too clearly saw might await them on their passage to the
city; and thus was the time beguiled, until they arrived at the top of
the hill commanding the town and river, without encountering a single
foe, or meeting with any adventure worth recording. As they descended
towards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating himself "that there
was a clane path intirely across the stream." A sudden exclamation of
surprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his steed, in order to
ascertain the cause. This however was clearly seen before the retrograde
movement was completed.
"Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world," said O'Reily, "there they are
in our boat too, as sure as my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a good
shot across that same little river, any way, and by these pair o'
beauties that never lie nor chate" he continued, unslinging his arms,
"but I'll be bound for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestments
but we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a tune that'll ring in their
ears to the day o' their deaths."
"Softly! softly, O'Reily" said Bacon, "you are as far on the one extreme
now as I thought you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that two
watch on this side, besides the three in the boat? And as I live, they
are preparing to push off. Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behind
these bushes! we must despatch these two, at least, without the use of
firearms. And you, my gentle pupil, must remain with the horses. If we
fall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever it is they are
endeavouring to steal, and then leave the horses, and seek a passage by
the bridge. I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the best
we can do under the circumstances."
"Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!" said Virginia, suddenly recovering her feelings
as well as her voice. "It is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself,
and I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the bridge, and from
thence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel, suffer me to go."
"Not for worlds!" answered Bacon; "do you not perceive that it would be
impossible for you to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides, were
you even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk you before you could
arouse one person in the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself on
the sward and hide your eyes, if you will, until we despatch these two,
and then we can hold the others at bay."
"But what is the necessity of attacking them at all, Nathaniel?"
"Do you not see that they have been committing some
depredation?--perhaps worse, and would be sure to make fight were we to
show ourselves in so small force. But come, O'Reily, we are losing
precious time; follow me, and for your life do not shoot."
This short and earnest dialogue was held in whispers, and in much less
time than we have taken to record it.
The precaution against using firearms was doubtless given for fear of
betraying to the inhabitants of the town the delicate and apparently
equivocal position in which Virginia was placed. "We must be upon these
two with our good swords, O'Reily," said Bacon, "before the others can
join them, and if possible before they perceive us."
"Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted wid the taste o'
their skulls any way. Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keep
the others to see their own funerals iny way."
In a few moments, Bacon and his trusty follower were silently gliding
through the bushes on the banks of the river, and advanced to within a
few rods of the savages, unperceived either by the party on the beach or
those loading the boat on the opposite shore. But as they were just
emerging from the last bush which protected their movements, a
characteristic and startling exclamation "hugh!" from the watch
stationed in the boat, at once precipitated their movements, and put the
two on their guard whom they were about to attack.
There was at that day no male inhabitant of Jamestown or the surrounding
Colony, arrived at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirely
unacquainted with the mode and usual end of Indian warfare. Of course,
on such occasions as the present, the contest was for life or death.
Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already acquired some renown as a
warrior in these desperate single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gave
him and his companion more assurance of success on this occasion,
notwithstanding the fearful odds which it was possible might be brought
against them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as has been seen,
were on their guard, the conflict at once became desperate, while those
in the boat made the utmost efforts to join their companions and
overpower their unexpected enemies. No sooner were the two good swords
of Bacon and O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than corresponding
motions of the savage war clubs gave evidence that they also were ready
for battle. Many and hard were the blows which were given on both sides
in the struggle, a mere protraction of which Bacon perceived was
destruction. Accordingly bracing up his own nerves, and cheering
O'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful lunge at his immediate
antagonist, but not before the reinforcement of the enemy was on the
ground to take his place. A contest of this kind, when the parties were
any thing like equal in number, was generally not long doubtful--victory
in most instances being upon the side of superior skill and weapons. But
O'Reily, although a veteran soldier, had met his match in this instance,
his antagonist being a tall and brawny warrior of most fearful
proportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly, while Bacon, merely having
time to catch his breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of the
new assailants, the third at the same time joining his already too
powerful chief against the Irishman. The conflict was now desperate and
bloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully, every blow was
followed by a crimson stream, and they too in their turn were more than
once beaten to their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs. At
one time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly recovering and
rising to his knees he continued to defend himself until he had once
more regained his feet.
This warfare had now lasted for some minutes, which seemed an age to the
trembling maiden who stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on the
side of the hill above them. But victory appeared at length about to
crown the desperate efforts of her friends, whose assailants were now
reduced to exactly their own number, and one; the tall old chief opposed
to Brian, covered with his own blood and just ready to fall, when a
sudden and terrific yell immediately behind them announced a
reinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the earth in terror and despair.
"Plunge into the stream and swim for your life," shouted Brian--"Oh! but
I'll keep their hands busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of the
yellow devils afore me!"
Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they seemed to our
adventurers) now leaped into the midst of the conflict, relieving their
own brethren and thundering their blows upon the heads of their already
exhausted adversaries. In vain they made furious lunges, forgetting the
cunning of fence in the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict.
At length they both fell under the weapons of their new enemies and two
of the savages, flashing their knives from their sheaths, prepared to
complete the sacrifice; indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announced
that the butchery had already commenced; when in an instant the head of
the old Chief stooping over him was severed from the trunk, and in the
next a second blow from the same gigantic arm prostrated the one about
to tear the bloody trophy from the fallen Cavalier.
Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing look upon the fate
of him who was the cherished companion of her childhood. In that moment,
doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions of the Recluse were
forgotten, or if remembered, instantly set aside as the over prudential
suggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power, governing the
feelings of her friends, or of him who undertook to give her counsel in
their stead.
But there were still enemies left besides the two who had flourished the
scalping knife over our prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse
(for he it was who had come so opportunely to the rescue) at once
renewed the conflict. Placing his back against a tree, and throwing away
his castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife with a zest like that
of an epicure who bares his arm to the exercise of the carving
knive--whirling his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs with the
precision, ease and coolness of a professor exhibiting his skill with
the harmless foils. His first exertions were, of course, on the
defensive, among so many assailants, but if his blows were rare they
were sure and fatal. He was evidently but putting in practice a sort of
exercise in which he must have both delighted and excelled in days long
past.
At every blow or thrust a savage went down to rise no more, Bacon, too,
now rallied his scattered senses and exhausted strength, and resumed his
part in the conflict, with enough of both to render him a valuable
auxiliary in the way of defence, which the Recluse perceiving, sprang
into the midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or the sword,
the exhausted and disheartened remnant. When Virginia saw this
devoutly-prayed-for termination to the battle, she sank upon the ground
as powerless and exhausted as if she too had been actively engaged. The
Recluse stooping over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastened
to the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel with which the water was
usually bailed out, returned and bathed his face and temples. Not so
swift were his motions however as to prevent his stopping for a moment
at the boat and gazing with astonishment at Something which it
contained; but there was little time for wonder, and he hastened on his
errand. When Brian's face was cleansed from blood it was found that the
scalping knife of the old warrior had probably been struck from its
intended destination so that the point had caught in one corner of his
mouth and inflicted a wound of some magnitude across his face. While he
was thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he was able to exert,
toward the spot where he had left his helpless companion. He found her
just recovering from the listless stupor in which we left her. "Oh,
Nathaniel!" was all that she was enabled to articulate as she fell into
his arms, forgetting in the deep excitement of the moment every feeling
save the strong and innocent affection which had so long existed between
them.
Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking the bridle in one hand, and
holding her steady in her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene of
the late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily sitting up, with his mouth
already bandaged, and his late assistant and protector gone, having
first, as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat, as if there
were something there which craved attention. Their own perceptions were
now startled from the same quarter, by the sound of groans. Bacon ran to
the spot, and found a female bound, and lying upon her face in the
bottom of the boat. Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face and
temples, he speedily restored her to something like consciousness, and
then bore her to the shore and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily now
recognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie Jamieson, principal
fisherman to the town, whose hut, for convenient purposes in his
avocation, was situated without the protection of the fort. This
statement also accounted to Bacon for the presence of a quantity of fish
netting in the boat, which doubtless excited the cupidity of the poor
ignorant savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet.
New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers in the face at every
step on this eventful night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to his
senses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to give hopes of recovery,
when it occurred to our hero that something must be done with the dead
bodies. But when he came to reflect upon the appearance which the battle
ground itself would present, he determined to leave the rest to chance,
and to say nothing himself or through his follower, and thus leave the
gossips of the town to account for the slaughter of the Indians as they
might. Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the boat, and O'Reily
assisted to his post at the _tiller_, while Bacon, having seated
Virginia, occupied Brian's usual place at the oar, being the least
injured of the two.
The former was for once in his life perfectly silent, perhaps owing to
the awkward accident which had happened to his mouth, thereby rendering
it difficult for him to enunciate with the true Hibernian pathos.
The females having been landed, Bacon desiring Virginia to sit by the
still benumbed Mrs. Jamieson, returned for his horses, which were led by
the side of the boat without any difficulty.
The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's hut, Bacon supporting
the feeble steps of its exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaited
them. A few yards from the house towards the river, they discovered the
body of the fisherman himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily was
directed to remain with the woman of the house until she should
completely recover her senses, but on no account to stay longer, or
enter into any explanations.
Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort unchallenged, and
proceeded to the house of Mr. Fairfax, when the latter entered as
quietly and as unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he officiated
as ostler to his own steed, which service being finished to his
satisfaction he sought his apartment; the morning being far advanced
towards the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily imagined, were
not profound and undisturbed,--the restless nervousness of over exertion
in mind and body, being very similar in its effects to that of too much
repose.