Norton awoke, with the strange and persistent idea that the face of
Audubon was bending over him. It was nonsense, of course; he turned
his head, and saw that he lay quite alone, opposite a doorway. The
sun was warm and bright outside.
What of that horrible nightmare, that hell of death and madmen, of
which he had dreamed? The very remembrance brought out the cold
sweat on his brow; he lifted his hand and found his head bandaged.
Yet, looking out that doorway, he slowly recalled what had happened
on that night of horror, for he was gazing across the clearing where
it had taken place. There was no doubt of it; a hundred yards away
were the ruins of the burned building, the cache-barn; he himself,
then, must be lying in that shack to which he had brought the women?
The place seemed deserted, however. There were no Indians in sight;
no bodies strewed the clearing; everyone seemed to have vanished and
left him alone in desolation. No--he was mistaken after all; a voice
strangely like that of Audubon lifted faintly to him.
"--so do you see how he is, sir. I must look to the litter."
"Good heavens, am I mad?" thought Norton. He strained to sit up, but
found himself too weak. An instant later a tall, stooping figure
darkened the doorway and came to his side with a cry of joy.
For a moment Norton shrank away, not recognizing the man who had come
to his knees beside the pallet. Yet--it must be! The shaggy hair
was trimmed, the shaggy matted beard was gone; but from the heavily
lined face, the deep-set eyes of Red Hugh were looking at him.
"Man--man--we thought you never would come round!" And Red Hugh
clasped his hand in a warm pressure.
"By gad, what has happened to you?" Norton essayed a feeble smile of
wonder. Then like a stab memory came back to him; this was no other
than Captain Hugh Moore, the same who had been his own father's
friend and brother-officer!
"Quiet!" commanded Moore sharply, as Norton struggled to sit up in
his high excitement.
"Tell me quickly--are you the same Moore----"
"Yes, lad, the same." Moore forced him back on the pallet, yet with
tender hands. "Oh, lad, had I but known before! Why on earth did
you not tell me your story, tell me----"
"How should I know who you were?"
"True"--and the other nodded, his stern face very sad. "You said you
came from New Orleans, too; I never dreamed of the truth until I had
heard the tale from Kitty and Mr. Audubon----"
"For God's sake, tell me what has happened!" broke out Norton, unable
to stand the suspense longer. "Is Audubon here?"
"Yes, Audubon came two days ago, bringing the Regulators----"
"How long have I been here?"
"It is three days since--since I shot you with my own hand," returned
the other bitterly. "Oh lad, when I owe everything in the world to
you, to think that I myself----"
"Tush, you owe me nothing," interrupted Norton, bewildered. "Then
the Regulators followed us after all?"
"Yes. Audubon met them at Henderson, read the forged note, and
followed us in another boat. He was too late. They found
Brookfield's craft burned to the edge and at length picked up the
trail and came on. Tecumthe and his warriors had already
departed--but let me show you something."
While Moore was still fumbling in his pocket, Audubon stepped into
the shack. He gripped Norton's hand, and the two friends looked at
each other for a moment, until Norton got out a low word.
"Thanks, my friend! I hoped you would come----"
"We did nothing," smiled Audubon gravely. "The work was done, and we
could but bury the dead and care for the living. If he is able to be
moved, Captain Moore, we had best start soon that we may reach the
river by evening. The litter is ready."
Moore bent his head in a gesture of assent.
"Very well, bring the litter here to the door and we will start.
Waken Kitty."
"Yes," added Norton eagerly. "Is she well?"
"Quite," laughed Audubon, and stepped from the door. "She has been
nursing you."
With his departure, Moore stooped and placed something in Norton's
hand. The Louisianian gazed at it with a thrill of remembrance. It
was the golden eagle belonging to Kitty.
"Eh?" He looked up sharply. "Where got you this----"
"From your shirt, lad. Why, Norton--don't you see?"
"See?" repeated Norton, amazed. "What mean you?"
With a great laugh Red Hugh plunged to his knees and caught Norton's
hand; the man seemed transformed with some mad joy too great for
words. Half in fear, Norton drew back, and at this Moore only
laughed out again.
"Oh, blind, blind!" he cried ringingly. "And you knew that Kitty had
been found among Indians, that this pin was hers--yet you never
suspected it!"