The crisis might have been my cue to come down; but I was overpowered
with a sense of delightful happiness, and could not stir from my seat.
The arrow had been drawn out of my breast, leaving not a taint of its
poison--the blood coursed pleasantly through my veins--my pulse throbbed
firm and free--my soul was triumphant. I could have cried out for very
joy.
With an effort, I held my peace, and waited for the _denouement_--for I
saw that the scene was not yet at an end.
"Mistress, indeed!" exclaimed the bold beauty in scornful accent. "And
this is the motive of your proffered friendship. Vile wretch! for what
do you mistake me? a camp-wench, or a facile squaw of the Yamassee?
Know, sir, that I am your equal in blood and race; and though your
pale-faced friends have robbed me of my inheritance, there is that which
neither they nor you can take from me--the honour of my name. Mistress,
indeed! Silly fellow! No--not even your _wife_. Sooner than sell
myself to such base love as yours, I should wander naked through the
wild woods, and live upon the acorns of the oak. Rather than redeem him
at such a price, my brave brother would spend his lifetime in your
chains. Oh, that he were here! Oh, that he were witness of this foul
insult! Wretch! he would smite thee like a reed to the earth."
The eye, the attitude, the foot firmly planted, the fearless determined
bearing--all reminded me of Osceola while delivering himself before the
council. Maumee was undoubtedly his sister.
The _soi-disant_ lover quailed before the withering reproach, and for
some time stood shrinking and abashed.
He had more than one cause for abasement. He might feel regret at
having made a proposal so ill received; but far more at the
disappointment of his hopes, and the utter discomfiture of his designs.
Perhaps, the moment before, he would have smothered his chagrin, and
permitted the girl to depart without molestation; but the scornful
apostrophe had roused him to a sort of frenzied recklessness; and
probably it was only at that moment that he formed the resolve to carry
his rudeness still further, and effect his purpose by force.
I could not think that he had held such design, anterior to his coming
on the ground. Professed libertine though he was, he was not the man
for such perilous emprise. He was but a speck of vain conceit, and
lacked the reckless daring of the ravisher. It was only when stung by
the reproaches of the Indian maiden, that he resolved upon proceeding to
extremes.
She had turned her back upon him, and was moving away.
"Not so fast!" cried he, rushing after, and grasping her by the wrist;
"not so fast, my brown-skinned charmer! Do you think you can cast me
off so lightly? I have followed you for months, and, by the god of
Phoebus, I shall make you pay for the false smiles you have treated me
to. You needn't struggle; we are alone here; and ere we part, I
shall--"
I heard no more of this hurried speech--I had risen from my perch, and
was hurrying down to the rescue; but before I could reach the spot,
another was before me.
Haj-Ewa--her eyes glaring fiercely--with a wild maniac laugh upon her
lips--was rushing forward. She held the body of the rattlesnake in her
extended hands, its head projected in front, while its long neck was
oscillating from side to side, showing that the reptile was angry, and
eager to make an attack. Its hiss, and the harsh "skirr-rr" of its
rattles could be heard sounding at intervals as it was carried forward.
In another instant, the maniac was face to face with the would-be
ravisher--who, startled by her approach, had released his hold of the
girl, and falling back a pace, stood gazing with amazement at this
singular intruder.
"_Ho, ho_!" screamed the maniac, as she glided up to the spot. "His
son, his son! _Ho_! I am sure of it, just like his false father--just
as he on the day he wronged the trusting Ewa. _Hulwak_! It is the
hour--the very hour--the moon in the same quarter, horned and wicked--
smiling upon the guilt. _Ho, ho_! the hour of the deed--the hour of
vengeance! The father's crime shall be atoned by the son. Great
Spirit! give me revenge! _Chitta mico_! give me revenge!"
As she uttered these apostrophic appeals, she sprang forward, holding
the snake far outstretched--as if to give it the opportunity of striking
the now terrified man.
The latter mechanically drew his sword, and then, as if inspired by the
necessity of defending himself, cried out:
"Hellish sorceress! if you come a step nearer, I shall run you through
the body. Back, now! Keep off, or, by--I shall do it!"
The resolution expressed by his tone proved that the speaker was in
earnest; but the appeal was unheeded. The maniac continued to advance
despite the shining blade that menaced her, and within reach of whose
point she had already arrived.
I was now close to the spot; I had drawn my own blade, and was hurrying
forward to ward off the fatal blow which I expected every moment would
be struck. It was my design to save Haj-Ewa, who seemed recklessly
rushing upon her destruction.
In all probability, I should have been too late, had the thrust been
given; but it was not.
Whether from terror at the wild unearthly aspect of his assailants, or,
what is more likely, fearing that she was about to fling the snake upon
him, the man appeared struck with a sudden panic, and retreated
backward.
A step or two brought him to the edge of the water. There were loose
stones strewed thickly along the shore; among these his feet became
entangled; and, balancing backward, he fell with a plash upon the pond!
The water deepened abruptly, and he sank out of sight. Perhaps the
sudden immersion was the means of saving his life; but the moment after,
he rose above the surface, and clambered hastily up on the bank.
He was now furious, and with his drawn sword, which he had managed to
retain hold of, he rushed towards the spot where Haj-Ewa still stood.
His angry oaths told his determination to slay her.
It was not the soft, yielding body of a woman, nor yet of a reptile,
that his blade was to encounter. It struck against steel, hard and
shining as his own.
I had thrown myself between him and his victims, and had succeeded in
restraining Haj-Ewa from carrying out her vengeful design. As the
assailant approached, his rage, but more, the water half-blinding him,
hindered him from seeing me; and it was not till our blades had rasped
together, that he seemed aware of my presence.
There was a momentary pause, accompanied by silence.
"You, Randolph!" at length he exclaimed in a tone of surprise.
"Ay, Lieutenant Scott--Randolph it is. Pardon my intrusion, but your
pretty love-scene changing so suddenly to a quarrel, I deemed it my duty
to interfere."
"You have been listening?--you have heard?--and pray, sir, what business
have you either to play the spy on my actions, or interfere in my
affairs?"
"Business--right--duty--the duty which all men have to protect weak
innocence from the designs of such a terrible Blue Beard as you appear
to be."
"By --, you shall rue this."
"Now?--or when?"
"Whenever you please."
"No time like the present. Come on."
Not another word was spoken between us; but, the instant after, our
blades were clinking in the fierce game of thrust and parry.
The affair was short. At the third or fourth lunge, I ran my antagonist
through the right shoulder, disabling his arm. His sword fell jingling
among the pebbles.
"You have wounded me!" cried he; "I am disarmed," he added, pointing to
the fallen blade. "Enough, sir; I am satisfied."
"But not I--not till you have knelt upon these stones, and asked pardon
from her whom you have so grossly insulted."
"Never!" cried he; "never!"--and as he uttered these words, giving, as I
presumed, a proof of determined courage, he turned suddenly; and, to my
utter astonishment, commenced running away from the ground!
I ran after, and soon overtook him. I could have thrust him in the
back, had I been sanguinarily inclined; but instead, I contented myself
with giving him a foot-salute, in what Gallagher would have termed his
"postayriors," and with no other adieu, left him to continue his
shameful flight.