THE NIGHT OF TERROR.
Few words were interchanged during the evening. George and Rosalind had
enough to occupy their minds, and Zeb, finding them taciturn, relapsed
into a sullen silence.
At an early hour each retired. Rosalind now felt more than George that
unaccountable presentiment which sometimes comes over one in cases of
danger. During the last few hours it had increased until it nearly
resolved itself into a certainty.
The view from the front of the house was clear and unobstructed to the
river, a quarter of a mile distant. Along this lay the cultivated
clearing, while the forest, stretching miles away, approached to within
a few yards of the rear of the house.
Rosalind's room overlooked this wilderness. Instead of retiring, she
seated herself by the window to gaze out upon it. There was a faint
moon, and the tree-tops for a considerable distance could be seen
swaying in the gentle night-wind. The silence was so profound that it
seemed to make itself _felt_ and, in that vast solitude, few indeed
could remain without being impressed with the solemn grandeur of nature
around.
Hour after hour wore away; still Rosalind remained at the window. As
there was no inclination to sleep, she determined to remain in her
position until morning. She knew that it must be far beyond midnight,
and at the thought there sprung up a faint hope within her breast. But
she was startled by the dismal hoot of an owl. She sprang up, with a
beating heart, listening intently and painfully; but no other sound was
heard. Trying to smile at her trepidation, she again seated herself and
listened; in a moment that cry was repeated, now in an opposite
direction from which the first note was heard.
Rosalind wondered that the simple circumstance should so affect her; but
try as much as she might, she could not shake it off. Again, for a few
minutes, she remained trembling with an undefinable fear, when there
came another hoot, followed instantly by another, in an opposite
direction. She began now to entertain a fearful suspicion.
Her first impulse was to awaken her brother, but, after a moment's
thought, she concluded to wait a short time. A few more sounds were
heard, when they entirely ceased. During this time, Rosalind, although
suffering an intense fear, had been gazing vacantly toward the point or
clearing nearest the house. As her eyes rested upon the spot, she caught
the shadowy outlines of a dark body moving stealthily and noiselessly
along upon the ground.
Without waiting a moment, she darted to George's room. He had not slept,
and in an instant was by her side.
"Call Zeb," she exclaimed. "We are surrounded by Indians."
Leland disappeared, and in a moment came back with the negro.
"Gorra mighty!" said the latter, in a hurried, husky whisper, "where am
de cussed niggers? Heigh, Miss Rosa?"
"Keep quiet," she replied, "or you will be heard."
"Dat's just what I wants to be, and I calkilates I'll be _felt_ too, if
dar are any of 'em 'bout."
"Stay here a moment," said George, "while I look out. Rosalind, what did
you see?"
"A body approaching the house from the woods. Be careful and do not
expose yourself, George."
He made no answer and entered her room, followed by herself and the
negro, who remained at a safe distance, while he cautiously approached
the window. He had no more than reached it, when Zeb asked:
"See noffin'?"
This question was repeated perhaps a dozen times without an answer, when
the patience of Zeb becoming exhausted, he shuffled to the window and
pressed his head forward, exclaiming:
"Gorra mighty, whar am dey?"
"Hist! there is one now--yes, two of them!"
"Whar--whar?"
"Keep your mouth shut," interrupted the young man, his vexation causing
him to speak louder than he intended.
"Heigh! dat's him! Look out!"
And before young Leland suspected his intentions or could prevent it,
Zeb had taken aim and fired. This was so sudden and unexpected that, for
a moment, nothing was heard but the dull echo, rolling off over the
forest and up the river. Then arose a piercing, agonized yell, that told
how effectual was the shot of the negro. Rosalind's face blanched with
terror as she heard the fearful chorus of enraged voices, and thought of
the fearful scene that must follow.
"Are the doors secured?" she asked, laying her hand upon George's
shoulder.
"Yes, I barricaded them all," he answered. "If they do not fire the
building, we may be able to keep them off until morning. I don't know
but what Zeb's shot was the best, after all--God save us!"
This last exclamation was caused by a bullet whizzing past, within an
inch of his face. For a while Leland was uncertain of the proper course
to pursue. Should he expose his person at the window, he was almost
certain to be struck; yet this or some other one equally exposed, was
the only place where he could exchange shots, and the savages must be
kept in check.
Zeb had reloaded his gun, and peering around the edge of the window,
caught a glimpse of an Indian. As reckless of danger as usual, he raised
his rifle and discharged it. He was a good marksman, and the shot was as
effective as the other.
"Gorra mighty!" he exclaimed, "I can dodge dar lead. Didn't I pick dat
darkey off awful nice? Just wait till I load ag'n." Chuckling over his
achievements, he proceeded to prime his rifle. George Leland withdrew to
the window of another room, from which he succeeded in slaying a
savage, and by being careful and cautious, he was able to make his few
shots tell with effect.
When Zeb shot the first savage, the red-skins sprung to their feet and
commenced yelling and leaping, feeling that those within were already at
their mercy; but the succeeding shots convinced them of their mistake,
and retreating to cover, they were more careful in exposing themselves.
Several stole around to the front of the house, but George had
anticipated them, and there being no means of concealing their
appearance, they were easily kept at a distance. Rosalind followed and
assisted him as far as lay in her power, while Zeb was left alone in his
delight and glory.
"Be careful," said Leland; "don't come too near. Just have the powder
and wadding ready and hand it to me when I need it."
"I will," she replied, in a calm, unexcited voice, as she reached him
his rod.
"Just see what Zeb is at, while I watch my chance."
She disappeared, and in a moment returned.
"He seems frantic with delight, and is yet unharmed."
"God preserve him," said George, "for his assistance is needed."
"Be careful," said Rosalind, as George approached the window.
"I shall--whew! that's a close rub!" he muttered, as a bullet pierced
his cap. "There, _you're_ past harm," he added, as he discharged his
gun.
Thus the contest was kept up for over an hour. But few shots were
interchanged on either side, each party becoming more careful in their
action. Young Leland remained at his window, and kept a close watch upon
his field; but no human being was seen. Zeb laughed, ducked his head,
and made numerous threats toward his enemies, but seemed to attract no
notice from them.
Now and then Rosalind spoke a word to her brother, but the suspense
which the silence of their enemies had put them in, sealed their lips,
and, for a long while, the silence was unbroken by either. They were
startled at length by the report of Zeb's rifle, and the next minute he
appeared among them, exclaiming:
"Gorra mighty! I shot out my ramrod. I seen a good chance, and blazed
away 'fore I thought to take it out. It went through six of 'em, and
stuck into a tree and hung 'em fast. Heigh! it's fun to see 'em."
"Here, take mine, and for God's sake, cease your jesting!" said Leland,
handing his rod to him.
"Wish I could string some more up," added Zeb, as he rammed home his
charge. "Yer oughter seen it, Miss Rosa. It went right frough de fust
feller's eye, and den frough de oder one's foot, den frough de oder's
gizzard, and half way frough de tree. Gorra, how dey wriggled! Looked
just like a lot of mackerel hung up to dry. Heigh!"
At this point Leland discharged his gun, and said, without changing his
position:
"They are trying to approach the house. Go, Zeb, and attend to your
side. Be very sharp!"
"Yes, I's dar, stringing 'em up," he rejoined, as he turned away.
"Hark!" exclaimed Rosalind, when he had gone. "What noise is that?"
Leland listened awhile, and his heart died within him as he answered:
"Merciful Heaven! the house is on fire! All hope is now gone!"
"Shall we give ourselves up?" hurriedly asked Rosalind.
"No; come with me."
"Hurry up, massa, dey's gwine to roast us. De grease begins to siss in
my face a'ready," said Zeb, as he joined them.
The fugitives retreated to the lower story, and Leland led the way to a
door which opened upon the kitchen, at the end of the house. His hope
was that from this they might have a chance of escaping to the wood, but
a short distance off, ere they were discovered.
Cautiously opening the door, he saw with anxious, hopeful joy, that no
Indians were visible.
"Now, Rosalind," he whispered, "be quick. Make for the nearest trees,
and if you succeed in reaching them, pass to the river-bank and wait for
me. Move softly and rapidly."
Rosalind stepped quickly out. The yells of the infuriated savages
deafened her; but, although fearfully near, she saw none, and started
rapidly forward. Leland watched each step with an agony of fear and
anxiety which cannot be described. The trees were within twenty yards,
and half the distance was passed, when Leland knew that her flight was
discovered. A number of savages darted forward, but a shot from him
stopped the course of the foremost. Taking advantage of the confusion
which this had occasioned, Rosalind sprung away and succeeded in
reaching the cover; but here, upon the very threshold of escape, she was
reached and captured.
"Gorra mighty!" shouted Zeb, as he saw her seized and borne away. "Ef I
don't cowhide ebery nigger of 'em for dat trick."
And clenching his hands he stalked boldly forward and demanded:
"Whar's dat lady? Ef you doesn't want to git into trouble, I calkilate
you'd better bring her back in double-quick time."
Several savages sprung toward him, and Zeb prepared himself for the
struggle. His huge fist felled the first and the second; but ere he
could do further damage he found himself thrown down and bound.
"Well, dar, if dat ain't de meanest trick yet, servin' a decent prisoner
dis way. I'll cowhide ebery one ob you. Oh, dear, I wish I had de whip!"
he muttered, writhing and rolling in helpless rage upon the ground.
Leland had seen this occurrence and taken advantage of it. It had served
to divert the action of the savages, and the attention of all being
occupied with their two prisoners, he managed with considerable
difficulty to reach the wood without being discovered.
Here, at a safe distance, he watched the progress of things. The
building was now one mass of flame, which lit up the sky with a lurid,
unearthly glare. The border of the forest was visible and the trunks
and limbs of the trees appeared as if scorched and reddened by the
consuming heat. The savages resembled demons dancing and yelling around
the ruin which they had caused. It was with difficulty that Leland
restrained himself from firing upon them. With a sad heart he saw the
house which had sheltered him from infancy fall inward with a crash. The
splinters and ashes of fire were hurled in the air and fell at his feet,
and the thick volume of smoke reached him.
Yet he thought more of the captives which were in the hands of their
merciless enemies. Their safety demanded his attention. Thoughtfully and
despondingly he turned upon his heel and disappeared in the shadows of
the great forest.