"Many thanks, but he won"t trespa.s.s on your hospitality," said the new-comer, a tall, handsome young settler, entering as he spoke. "No, McArthur, I cannot stay. I have come but for five minutes on my way back to the village."
"You can at least sit down," said McArthur, pulling forward a chair.
"What is the latest news?"
"Nothing, beyond the report that the Indians appear to have shifted themselves elsewhere."
"Well, that is news," said Rosalind, looking up with a smile.
"You say, "appear to have shifted themselves,"" said McArthur. "I shall still keep on the defensive. I wouldn"t trust a Redskin for a good deal."
"True enough," was the answer. "McArthur, whom could you send to the village for need at a critical time?"
"I doubt if I could spare a man. Every hand would be wanted, every rifle needed, for I know not in what numbers the Redskins might come."
[Sidenote: "I could go!"]
"I could ride to the village," announced Rosalind calmly. "Golightly and I would cover the ground in no time."
"You, my darling!" Mrs. McArthur e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed in horror.
McArthur waved his daughter"s words aside.
"You do not know, my child, what danger you would court."
"Of course, Miss McArthur is out of the question," said the young man, and smiled as Rosalind darted an indignant glance at him.
"At any rate, I am at your service if you need me," he continued. "I trust I may not be called out for such a purpose, but if I am, I and my rifle are at your disposal."
"Thanks, Robertson, you are a good fellow," returned McArthur heartily, grasping the young man"s hand.
In a few minutes he rose to go. Rosalind accompanied him to the house door.
"Mr. Robertson," she said abruptly, as soon as they were out of hearing, "which would be the shortest cut to the village? By the woods or by the river?" He looked keenly at her.
"You meant what you said just now?"
"Of course I meant it. I--I would do anything to save my father"s and mother"s lives, and their property, which father has secured by dint of so much labour."
He took her hand in his.
"Rosalind," he said softly, "if anything happened to you, my life would be of no worth to me."
She flushed all over her fair skin.
"It is better to be prepared for an emergency," she answered gently, "and I do not think I would run such a great risk as you and my father think."
"You do not know the Redskin," was the grave answer.
"You heard my father say he couldn"t spare a man. How much more use I would be if I brought help than stayed here and perhaps shot a couple of Indians, who might overpower us by their numbers. I was wondering if Golightly and the woods would be a shorter way than my canoe and the river?"
He had both her hands in his, and was looking down into her eyes.
"The woods and Golightly would be the swiftest way to communicate with us in the village."
"Then if need be I shall do it."
"Take the right-hand track straight through the wood, and G.o.d protect you, Rosalind. My house will be the first one you will come to. Let me be the first to spring to your aid. No man will step into the stirrup with greater alacrity than I. But, please G.o.d, there may be no need for you to go."
He lifted her hands to his lips and was gone.
Two days pa.s.sed and nothing of moment happened. But on the evening of the third, two men in McArthur"s employ entered the house breathless with excitement. Feathertop--an Indian chief noted for the number of scalps which adorned his person--had been seen in the vicinity of the small settlement.
McArthur, with a grim fixedness of countenance, saw to the priming of his rifle for the fiftieth time; and Rosalind, with her father"s courage, examined her own weapon, which she had resolved to take with her for safety if Golightly had to be requisitioned.
"Rosalind, those chaps will be on us to-night or to-morrow morning."
It was McArthur who spoke, and Rosalind knew that her own misgivings had taken root also within her father"s mind.
"Because of Feathertop?" she asked bravely.
"Yes. He is never lurking about unless he means business."
"Could David and Jim have been misinformed?"
"I don"t think so."
"Then, father, I shall ride to the village."
[Sidenote: Rosalind"s Resolve]
McArthur looked at his daughter. He saw her face, he saw her figure.
Both were alive with determination and courage.
"Rosalind, you will kill your mother if you attempt to do such a thing."
"Don"t tell her unless you are obliged. It is to save her that I do it.
Give her a rifle--keep her employed--let her think I am with some of the neighbours. Father, we do not know if we shall be outnumbered. If we are, what will happen? All your cattle will go--your whole property will be ruined, and, worse than all put together, we shall probably lose our lives in a horrible manner."
"I acknowledge all that you say, but one of the men must go. You with your rifle can take his place, and do just as much execution as he can----"
David put his head in at the door.
"We"ve brought all the live-stock as close to the house as possible. Jim has been stealing round the plantation by the river, and says he has distinctly seen three Redskins on the other side of the river. We must be prepared for an attack this evening."
"David, can you get me Golightly without attracting attention? I am going to ride him at once to the village."
"Mercy on us!" exclaimed David. "Is there no one but you to do that?"