The maniac gazed upon me for some moments without speaking. The expression of her eye I could not read; for the last few minutes, it had been one of reproach and scorn. As I uttered the name, it changed to a look of bewilderment; and then her glance became fixed upon me, as if searching my thoughts.
"If it be Maumee," I continued, without awaiting her reply--for I was now carried away by the ardour of my resuscitated pa.s.sion--"if it be she, know, Ewa, that her I love--Maumee I love."
"You love Maumee? You still love Maumee?" interrogated the maniac with startling quickness.
"Ay, Ewa--by my life--by my--"
"_Cooree, cooree_! swear not--_his_ very oath. _Hulwak_! and he was false. Speak again, young mico? say you love Maumee--say you are true, but do not swear."
"True--true?"
"Hinklas!" cried the woman in a loud and apparently joyful tone--"_Hinklas_! the mico is true--the pretty pale-faced mico is true, and the _haintc.l.i.tz_ [the pretty one] will be happy."
Ho, ho!
Now for the love, the sweet young love Under the tala tree [Palm, _Chamaerops palmetto_].
Who would not be like yonder dove-- The wild little dove-- The soft little dove-- Sitting close by his mate in the shade of the grove-- Co-cooing to his mate in the shade of the grove, With none to hear or see?
"Down, _chitta mico_!" she exclaimed, once more addressing the rattlesnake; "and you, _ocola chitta_! [Green snake.] Be quiet both.
It is _not_ an enemy. Quiet, or I crush your heads!"
"Good Ewa--"
"Ho! you call me good Ewa. Some day, you may call me bad Ewa. Hear me!" she continued, raising her voice, and speaking with increased earnestness--"hear me, George Randolph! If ever you are bad--false like _him_, like _him_, then Haj-Ewa will be your enemy; _chitta mico_ will destroy you. You will, my king of serpents? you will? Ho, ho, ho!"
As she spoke the reptile appeared to comprehend her, for its head was suddenly raised aloft, its bright basilisk eyes gleamed as though emitting sparks of fire--its forked, glittering tongue was protruded from its mouth, and the "skirr-rr" of the rattles could be heard for some moments sounding continuously.
"Quiet! now quiet!" said she, with a motion of her fingers, causing the serpent to resume its att.i.tude of repose. "Not he, _chitta_! not he, thou king of the crawlers! Quiet, I say!"
"Why do you threaten me, Ewa? You have no cause."
"_Hinklas_! I believe it, fair mico, gallant mico; true, I believe it."
"But, good Ewa, explain to me--tell me of--"
"_Cooree, cooree_! not now, not to-night. There is no time, _chep.a.w.nee_! See! look yonder to the west! _Netle-ha.s.se_ [the night sun--the moon] is going to bed. You must be gone. You dare not walk in the darkness. You must get back to the _topekee_ before the moon is hid--go, go, go!"
"But I told you, Ewa, I had business here. I dare not leave till it is done."
"_Hulwak_! there is danger then. What business, mico! Ah! I guess.
See! they come for whom you wait?"
"True--it is they, I believe."
I said this, as I perceived the tall shadows of the two chiefs flitting along the further edge of the pond.
"Be quick, then: do what you must, but waste not time. In the darkness you will meet danger. Haj-Ewa must be gone. Good night, young mico: good night."
I returned the salutation; and facing round to await the arrival of the chiefs, lost sight of my strange companion.
The Indians soon came upon the ground, and briefly delivered their report.
Holata Mico had struck his tents, and was moving away from the encampment.
I was too much disgusted with these traitorous men to spend a moment in their company; and, as soon as I had gained the required information, I hurried away from their presence.
Warned by Haj-Ewa, as well as by the words of Arens Ringgold, I lost no time in returning to the fort. The moon was still above the horizon; and I had the advantage of her light to protect me from being surprised by any sudden onset.
I walked hastily, taking the precaution to keep in the open ground, and giving a wide berth to any covert that might shelter an a.s.sa.s.sin.
I saw no one on the way, nor around the back of the stockade. On arriving opposite the gate of the fort, however, I perceived the figure of a man--not far from the sutler"s store--apparently skulking behind some logs. I fancied I knew the man; I fancied he was the mulatto.
I would have gone after him, and satisfied myself; but I had already hailed the sentinel, and given the countersign; and I did not desire to cause a flurry among the guard--particularly as I had received injunctions to pa.s.s in as privately as possible.
Another time, I should likely encounter this Jacob _redivivus_; when I should be less embarra.s.sed, and perhaps have a better opportunity of calling him and his diabolical a.s.sociates to an account. With this reflection, I pa.s.sed through the gate, and carried my report to the quarters of the commander-in-chief.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
IN NEED OF A FRIEND.
To pa.s.s the night under the same roof with a man who intends to murder you is anything but pleasant, and repose under the circ.u.mstance, is next to impossible. I slept but little, and the little sleep I did obtain was not tranquil.
Before retiring for the night, I had seen nothing of the Ringgolds, neither father nor son; but I knew they were still in the fort, where they were to remain as guests a day or two longer. They had either gone to bed before my return, or were entertained in the quarters of some friendly officer. At all events, they did not appear to me during the remainder of the night.
Neither saw I aught of Spence and Williams. These worthies, if in the fort, would find a lodgment among the soldiers, but I did not seek them.
Most of the night I lay awake, pondering on the strange incidents of the day, or rather upon that one episode that had made me acquainted with such deadly enemies.
I was in a state of sad perplexity as to what course I should pursue-- uncertain all night long; and when daylight shone through the shutters, still uncertain.
My first impulse had been to disclose the whole affair at head-quarters, and demand an investigation--a punishment.
On reflection, this course would not do. What proofs could I offer of so grave an accusation? Only my own a.s.sertions, unbacked by any other evidence--unsustained even by probability--for who would have given credence to crime so unparalleled in atrocity?
Though certain the a.s.sa.s.sins referred to me, I could not a.s.sert that they had even mentioned my name. My story would be treated with ridicule, myself perhaps with something worse. The Ringgolds were mighty men--personal friends both of the general and commissioner--and though known to be a little scoundrelly and unscrupulous in worldly affairs, still holding the rank of gentlemen. It would need better evidence than I could offer to prove Arens Ringgold a would-be murderer.
I saw the difficulty, and kept my secret.
Another plan appeared more feasible--to accuse Arens Ringgold openly before all, and challenge him to mortal combat. This, at least, would prove that I was sincere in my allegations.
But duelling was against the laws of the service. It would require some management to keep clear of an arrest--which of course would frustrate the scheme before satisfaction could be obtained. I had my own thoughts about Master Arens Ringgold. I knew his courage was but slippery. He would be likely enough to play the poltroon; but whether so or not, the charge and challenge would go some way towards exposing him.
I had almost decided on adopting this course, though it was morning before I had come to any determination.
I stood sadly in need of a friend; not merely a second--for this I could easily procure--but a companion in whom I could confide, and who might aid me by his counsel. As ill luck would have it, every officer in the fort was a perfect stranger to me. With the Ringgolds alone had I any previous acquaintance.
In my dilemma, I thought of one whose advice might stand me in good stead, and I determined to seek it. Black Jake was the man--he should be my counsellor.