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 Yama.s.see?
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 att.i.tude, 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 abas.e.m.e.nt. 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 G.o.d 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:
"h.e.l.lish 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 a.s.sailants, 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 sh.o.r.e; 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 a.s.sailant 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.
CHAPTER FORTY SIX.
A SILENT DECLARATION.
"Now for the love, the sweet young love, Under the _tala_ tree," etc.
It was the voice of Haj-Ewa, chanting one of her favourite melodies.
Far sweeter the tones of another voice p.r.o.nouncing my own name:
"George Randolph!"
"Maumee!"
"_Ho, ho_! you both remember?--still remember? _Hinklas_! The island-- that fair island--fair to you, but dark in the memory of Haj-Ewa.
_Hulwak_! I"ll think of"t no more--no, no, no!