CONSPIRACY--WARNING.
Ralph was not permitted to return to the village that night--his sturdy
friend Forrester insisting upon his occupying with him the little lodge
of his own, resting on the borders of the settlement, and almost buried
in the forest. Here they conversed until a late hour, previous to
retiring; the woodman entering more largely into his own history than he
had done before. He suffered painfully from the occurrences of the day:
detailed the manner in which he had been worked upon by Munro to take
part in the more fearful transaction with the guard--how the excitement
of the approaching conflict had defeated his capacities of thought, and
led him on to the commission of so great a part of the general offence.
Touching the initial affair with the squatters, he had no compunctious
scruples. That was all fair game in his mode of thinking, and even had
blood been spilled more freely than it was, he seemed to think he should
have had no remorse. But on the subject of the murder of the guard, for
so he himself called his crime, his feeling was so intensely agonizing
that Ralph, though as much shocked as himself at the events, found it
necessary to employ sedative language, and to forbear all manner of
rebuke.
At an early hour of the morning, they proceeding in company to the
village--Forrester having to complete certain arrangements prior to his
flight; which, by the advice of Colleton, he had at once determined
upon. Such, no doubt, was the determination of many among them not
having those resources, in a familiarity with crime and criminal
associations, which were common to Munro and Rivers.
The aspect of the village was somewhat varied from its wont. Its people
were not so far gone in familiarity with occurrences like those of the
preceding day, as to be utterly insensible to their consequences; and a
chill inertness pervaded all faces, and set at defiance every endeavor
on the part of the few who had led, to put the greater number in better
spirits, either with themselves or those around them. They were men
habituated, it may be, to villanies; but of a petty description, and far
beneath that which we have just recorded. It is not, therefore, to be
wondered at, if, when the momentary impulse had passed away, they felt
numerous misgivings. They were all assembled, as on the day
before--their new allies with them--arms in their hands, but seemingly
without much disposition for their use. They sauntered unconsciously
about the village, in little groups or individually, without concert or
combination, and with suspicious or hesitating eye. Occasionally, the
accents of a single voice broke the general silence, though but for a
moment; and then, with a startling and painful influence, which imparted
a still deeper sense of gloom to the spirits of all. It appeared to come
laden with a mysterious and strange terror, and the speaker, aptly
personifying the Fear in Collins's fine "Ode on the Passions," "shrunk
from the sound himself had made."
Ralph, in company with Forrester, made his appearance among the
squatters while thus situated. Seeing them armed as on the previous day,
he was apprehensive of some new evil; and as he approached the several
stray groups, made known his apprehensions to his companion in strong
language. He was not altogether assured of Forrester's own compunction,
and the appearance of those around almost persuaded him to doubt his
sincerity.
"Why are these people assembled, Forrester--is there anything new--is
there more to be done--more bloodletting--more crime and violence--are
they still unsatisfied?"
The earnestness of the inquirer was coupled with a sternness of eye and
warmth of accent which had in them much, that, under other circumstances
and at other times, would have been sorely offensive to the sturdy
woodman; whose spirit, anything in the guise of rebuke would have been
calculated to vex. But he was burdened with thoughts at the moment,
which, in a sufficiently meritorial character, humbled him with a
scourge that lacerated at every stroke.
"God forbid, 'squire, that more harm should be done. There has been more
done already than any of us shall well get rid of. I wish to heaven I
had taken caution from you. But I was mad, 'squire, mad to the heart,
and became the willing tool of men not so mad, but more evil than I! God
forbid, sir, that there should be more harm done."
"Then why this assembly? Why do the villagers, and these ragged and
savage fellows whom you have incorporated among you--why do they lounge
about idly, with arms in their hands, and faces that still seem bent on
mischief?"
"Because, 'squire, it's impossible to do otherwise. We can't go to work,
for the life of us, if we wished to; we all feel that we have gone too
far, and those, whose own consciences do not trouble them, are yet too
much troubled by fear of the consequences to be in any hurry to take up
handspike or hammer again in this quarter of the world."
The too guilty man had indeed spoken his own and the condition of the
people among whom he lived. They could now see and feel the fruits of
that rash error which had led them on; but their consciousness came too
late for retrieval, and they now wondered, with a simplicity truly
surprising to those who know with what facility an uneducated and warm
people may be led to their own ruin, that this consciousness had not
come to them before. Ralph, attended by Forrester, advanced among the
crowd. As he did so, all eyes were turned upon him, and a sullen
conference took place, having reference to himself, between Munro and a
few of the ringleaders. This conference was brief, and as soon as it was
concluded, the landlord turned to the youth, and spoke as follows:--
"You were a witness, Mr. Colleton, of this whole transaction, and can
say whether the soldiers were not guilty of the most unprovoked assault
upon us, without reason or right."
"I can say no such thing, sir," was his reply. "On the contrary, I am
compelled to say, that a more horrible and unjustifiable transaction I
never witnessed. I must say that they were not the aggressors."
"How unjustifiable young sir?" quickly and sternly retorted the landlord
"Did you not behold us ridden down by the soldiery? did they not attack
us in our trenches--in our castle as it were? and have we not a right to
defend our castle from assailants? They took the adventure at their
peril, and suffered accordingly."
"I know not what your title may be to the grounds you have defended so
successfully, and which you have styled your castle, nor shall I stop to
inquire. I do not believe that your right either gave you possession or
authorized your defence in this cruel manner. The matter, however, is
between you and your country. My own impressions are decidedly against
you; and were I called upon for an opinion as to your mode of asserting
your pretended right, I should describe it as brutal and barbarous, and
wholly without excuse or justification, whether examined by divine or
human laws."
"A sermon, a sermon from the young preacher, come, boys, give him Old
Hundred. Really, sir, you promise almost as well as the parson you heard
yesterday; and will take lessons from him, if advised by me. But go
on--come to a finish--mount upon the stump, where you can be better seen
and heard."
The cheek of the youth glowed with indignation at the speech of the
ruffian, but he replied with a concentrated calmness that was full of
significance:--
"You mistake me greatly, sir, if you imagine I am to be provoked into
contest with you by any taunt which you can utter. I pride myself
somewhat in the tact with which I discover a ruffian, and having, at an
early period of your acquaintance, seen what you were, I can not regard
you in any other than a single point of view. Were you not what I know
you to be, whatever might have been the difference of force between us,
I should ere this have driven my dirk into your throat."
"Why, that's something like, now--that's what I call manly. You do seem
to have some pluck in you, young sir, though you might make more use of
it. I like a fellow that can feel when he's touched; and don't think a
bit the worse of you that you think ill of me, and tell me so. But
that's not the thing now. We must talk of other matters. You must answer
a civil question or two for the satisfaction of the company. We want to
know, sir, if we may apprehend any interference on your part between us
and the state. Will you tell the authorities what you saw?"
The youth made no answer to this question, but turning contemptuously
upon his heel, was about to leave the circle, around which the assembly,
in visible anxiety for his reply, was now beginning to crowd.
"Stay, young master, not so fast. You must give us some answer before
you are off. Let us know what we are to expect. Whether, if called upon
by any authority, you would reveal what you know of this business?" was
the further inquiry of Munro.
"I certainly should--every word of it. I should at once say that you
were all criminal, and describe you as the chief actor and instigator in
this unhappy affair."
The response of Colleton had been unhesitating and immediate; and having
given it, he passed through the throng and left the crowd, which,
sullenly parting, made way for him in front. Guy Rivers, in an under
tone, muttered in the ear of Munro as he left the circle:--
"That, by the eternal God, he shall never do. Are you satisfied now of
the necessity of silencing him?"
Munro simply made a sign of silence, and took no seeming note of his
departure; but his determination was made, and there was now no obstacle
in that quarter to the long-contemplated vengeance of his confederate.
While this matter was in progress among the villagers, Counsellor Pippin
vexed himself and his man Hob not a little with inquiries as to the
manner in which he should contrive to make some professional business
grow out of it. He could not well expect any of the persons concerned,
voluntarily to convict themselves; and his thoughts turned necessarily
upon Ralph as the only one on whom he could rest his desire in this
particular. We have seen with what indifferent success his own adventure
on the field of action, and when the danger was all well over, was
attended; but he had heard and seen enough to persuade himself that but
little was wanting, without appearing in the matter himself, to induce
Ralph to prosecute Rivers for the attempt upon his life, a charge which,
in his presence, he had heard him make. He calculated in this way to
secure himself in two jobs--as magistrate, to institute the initial
proceedings by which Rivers was to be brought to trial, and the expense
of which Ralph was required to pay--and, as an attorney-at-law, and the
only one of which the village might boast, to have the satisfaction of
defending and clearing the criminal.
Such being the result of his deliberations, he despatched Hob with a
note to Ralph, requesting to see him at the earliest possible moment,
upon business of the last importance. Hob arrived at the inn just at the
time when, in the court in front, Ralph, in company with the woodman,
had joined the villagers there assembled. Hob, who from long familiarity
with the habits of his master, had acquired something of a like
disposition, felt exceedingly anxious to hear what was going on; but
knowing his situation, and duly valuing his own importance as the
servant of so great a man as the village-lawyer, he conceived it
necessary to proceed with proper caution.
It is more than probable that his presence would have been unregarded
had he made his approaches freely and with confidence; but Hob was
outrageously ambitious, and mystery was delightful. He went to work in
the Indian manner, and what with occasionally taking the cover, now of a
bush, now of a pine tree, and now of a convenient hillock, Hob had got
himself very comfortably lodged in the recess of an old ditch,
originally cut to carry off a body of water which rested on what was now
in part the public mall. Becoming interested in the proceedings, and
hearing of the departure of Ralph, to whom he had been despatched, his
head gradually assumed a more elevated position--he soon forgot his
precaution, and the shoulders of the spy, neither the most diminutive
nor graceful, becoming rather too protuberant, were saluted with a smart
assault, vigorously kept up by the assailant, to whom the use of the
hickory appeared a familiar matter. Hob roared lustily, and was dragged
from his cover. The note was found upon him, and still further tended to
exaggerate the hostile feeling which the party now entertained for the
youth. Under the terrors of the lash, Hob confessed a great deal more
than was true, and roused into a part forgetfulness of their offence by
the increased prospect of its punishment, which the negro had
unhesitatingly represented as near at hand, they proceeded to the office
of the lawyer.
It was in vain that Pippin denied all the statements of his negro--his
note was thrust into his face; and without scruple, seizing upon his
papers, they consigned to the flames, deed, process, and document--all
the fair and unfair proceedings alike, of the lawyer, collected
carefully through a busy period of twenty years' litigation. They would
have proceeded in like manner to the treatment of Ralph, but that Guy
Rivers himself interposed to allay, and otherwise direct their fury. The
cunning ruffian well knew that Forrester would stand by the youth, and
unwilling to incur any risk, where the game in another way seemed so
secure, he succeeded in quieting the party, by claiming to himself the
privilege, on the part of his wounded honor, of a fair field with one
who had so grievously assailed it. Taking the landlord aside, therefore,
they discussed various propositions for taking the life of one hateful
to the one person and dangerous to them all. Munro was now not unwilling
to recognise the necessity of taking him off; and without entering into
the feelings of Rivers, which were almost entirely personal, he gave his
assent to the deed, the mode of performing which was somewhat to depend
upon circumstances. These will find their due development as we proceed.
In the meanwhile, Ralph had returned to the village-inn, encountering,
at the first step, upon entering the threshold, the person of the very
interesting girl, almost the only redeeming spirit of that
establishment. She had heard of the occurrence--as who, indeed, had
not--and the first expression of her face as her eyes met those of
Ralph, though with a smile, had in it something of rebuke for not having
taken the counsel which she had given him on his departure from the
place of prayer. With a gentleness strictly in character, he conversed
with her for some time on indifferent topics--surprised at every uttered
word from her lips--so musical, so true to the modest weaknesses of her
own, yet so full of the wisdom and energy which are the more legitimate
characteristics of the other sex. At length she brought him back to the
subject of the recent strife.
"You must go from this place, Mr. Colleton--you are not safe in this
house--in this country. You can now travel without inconvenience from
your late injuries, which do not appear to affect you; and the sooner
you are gone the better for your safety. There are those here"--and she
looked around with a studious caution as she spoke, while her voice sunk
into a whisper--"who only wait the hour and the opportunity to"--and
here her voice faltered as if she felt the imagined prospect--"to put
you to a merciless death. Believe me, and in your confident strength do
not despise my warnings. Nothing but prudence and flight can save you."
"Why," said the youth, smiling, and taking her hand in reply, "why
should I fear to linger in a region, where one so much more alive to its
sternnesses than myself may yet dare to abide? Think you, sweet Lucy,
that I am less hardy, less fearless of the dangers and the difficulties
of this region than yourself? You little know how much at this moment my
spirit is willing to encounter," and as he spoke, though his lips wore a
smile, there was a stern sadness in his look, and a gloomy contraction
of his brow, which made the expression one of the fullest melancholy.
The girl looked upon him with an eye full of a deep, though unconscious
interest. She seemed desirous of searching into that spirit which he had
described as so reckless. Withdrawing her hand suddenly, however, as if
now for the first time aware of its position, she replied hastily:--
"Yet, I pray you, Mr. Colleton, let nothing make you indifferent to the
warning I have given you. There is danger--more danger here to you than
to me--though, to me"--the tears filled in her eyes as she spoke, and
her head sunk down on her breast with an air of the saddest
self-abandonment--"there is more than death."
The youth again took her hand. He understood too well the signification
of her speech, and the sad sacrifice which it referred to; and an
interest in her fate was awakened in his bosom, which made him for a
moment forget himself and the gentle Edith of his own dreams.
"Command me, Miss Munro, though I peril my life in your behalf; say that
I can serve you in anything, and trust me to obey."
She shook her head mournfully, but without reply. Again he pressed his
services, which were still refused. A little more firmly, however, she
again urged his departure.
"My solicitations have no idle origin. Believe me, you are in danger,
and have but little time for delay. I would not thus hurry you, but that
I would not have you perish. No, no! you have been gentle and kind, as
few others have been, to the poor orphan; and, though I would still see
and hear you, I would not that you should suffer. I would rather suffer
myself."
Much of this was evidently uttered with the most childish
unconsciousness. Her mind was obviously deeply excited with her fears,
and when the youth assured her, in answer to her inquiries, that he
should proceed in the morning on his journey, she interrupted him
quickly--
"To-day--to-day--now--do not delay, I pray you. You know not the perils
which a night may bring forth."
When assured that he himself could perceive no cause of peril, and when,
with a manner sufficiently lofty, he gave her to understand that a
feeling of pride alone, if there were no other cause, would prevent a
procedure savoring so much of flight, she shook her head mournfully,
though saying nothing. In reply to his offer of service, she returned
him her thanks, but assuring him he could do her none, she retired from
the apartment.