Books: Hardscrabble
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John Richardson >> Hardscrabble
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When the corporal had gained the top of the ladder, Green,
who was the last, having yet his foot on the first step,
the former was evidently startled by some new danger.
But just as he was in the act of springing to the upper
floor, the ladder, too frail to sustain their united
weight, snapped suddenly asunder in the middle and fell
with some noise, thus separating him from his companions.
Regardless of this and having secured his own footing,
he now moved cautiously towards the opposite end of the
loft, where a small opening, about two feet in length,
and one in height, seemingly intended as a ventilator,
appeared nearly vertical to the window of the bed-room
below. Casting his glance downwards through the opening,
he beheld five or six savages standing grouped together,
leaning on their guns, and apparently watching some object
above them. This, naturally, drew the corporal's attention
to the same quarter, when to his dismay he found that
the long ladder usually kept at the barn was now resting
against the gable of the house, not three feet from the
right corner of the aperture, through which he gazed. In
an instant it occurred to him that this had been the work
of the Indians, and at once accounted for the grating
sounds that had so often met his ears that night. There
could be no doubt that the plan of the enemy now was to
enter the roof, which could be done by removing part of
the raw buffalo hides of which it was composed. Indeed
it was a slight noise made in the direction of that very
angle of the roof where the ladder now stood, that had
caught his attention on first putting his head through
the aperture while preceding his men. This had suddenly
ceased at the moment when the ladder broke and fell, nor
had there been a repetition of the sound. Still, satisfied
that some discovery of the true designs of the Indians
would result from his remaining a little longer, he
continued at the opening, which was too small to betray
his presence if using precaution, while it enabled him
to observe the movements of the enemy. Soon afterwards
he heard them speaking in earnest but low tones, as if
addressing somebody above them, and then a prolonged
yell, which was answered by others from the front of the
house, echoed through the surrounding forests. Even amid
the horrid discord, the quick ear of the Virginian, now
painfully on the stretch, caught the same sound that had
first attracted his attention. It was exactly at the
angle of the roof, and only a pace or two from him. The
peculiar noise was not to be mistaken even by an unpractised
ear. It was, evidently, that of a knife, not very sharp,
cautiously cutting through a tough and resisting leather.
The corporal became now more anxious than ever, but this
feeling did not in the slightest degree, disturb his
self-possession, or cause him to waver in the resolution
he had from the first adopted. He waited patiently, until,
as he expected, he heard a corner of one of the buffalo
hides turned up, and beheld reflected, against the
back-ground of light, thus suddenly introduced, the upper
part of a human being, whose shorn head, covered on the
crown with straight and slightly streaming feathers, too
plainly indicated his purpose. What a target for the
bullet--what an object for the bayonet of the soldier,
who, had not prudence and coolness interposed, had
certainly used one or the other. But the Virginian had
hit upon another, and as he conceived, a better plan to
get rid of his enemy, and in his fate, of further probable
annoyance from his ferocious companions. It was not his
object to let himself be seen, or that the Indians should
even suspect that they had been detected in this new
device, for he was well aware that if he fired, or used
his bayonet against the man, those below would rush up
the ladder to succeed him, and by their weight prevent
the accomplishment of what he had in view; therefore cut
off as he in a measure was, from his party, it was
incumbent on him to adopt the only sure means of relief
from danger, and that without a moment of delay.
While the Indian, who finding, evidently, that the orifice
he had made in the roof was not yet large enough for his
purpose, had dropped the incised portion of the hide,
and was again using his knife; the Virginian, stooping
slightly at the off-side of the window, ascertained that
the feet of the former were resting on one of the upper
steps of the ladder. This was what he desired, and all
he now wanted was a hard, flat substance to fasten on
the point of his bayonet. After reflecting vainly for a
few moments how this was to be attained, he suddenly
bethought him of his thick-soled ammunition-boots. Removing
one of these without noise, he pierced the inner leather,
by pressing it firmly against the point of the bayonet,
so as to secure without allowing it to pass through.
Then, cautiously protruding his musket from the opening,
he slowly advanced it, until the sole of the boot touched
the frame of the ladder, not two feet under the round on
which the Indian stood. Here for a moment he allowed the
barrel, concealed by the low depending eaves, to rest
against the jamb of the aperture. His anxiety was now
worked up to the highest possible pitch, for he feared,
notwithstanding his success so far, that something might
yet occur to defeat his purpose, and thus peril not only
his own life, but the lives of the whole of the party
below. Three minutes he remained in this trying position
of uncertainty, which seemed to him as so many hours.
Presently, however, the Indian on the roof, having
evidently accomplished his task, and believing from the
silence that had for some time pervaded around, that no
one was near him, spoke in a low tone to his companions,
who now cautiously crept towards the ladder.
This was the moment for action. The Virginian, who,
although expecting this, had watched their movements with
aching interest, now summoned his whole strength, and
while the first savage below was upon the ladder, pushed
his musket with such violence against the sole, that it
carried it rapidly over the corner of the house, before
the Indian could find presence of mind to throw himself
upon the roof--a sudden backward jerk of the weapon
liberated the bayonet, the extreme point of which only
had entered the wood, and as the Virginian withdrew this,
he could distinctly see the unfortunate savages fall
headlong from the top of the ladder, uttering, as both
descended, a fearful cry of dismay, which was responded
to by fierce yells from the lips of their companions,
who hastened to their succor.
"Well done, that!" said the corporal, exultingly, and
half-aloud to himself, as he slapped his thigh, in a
manner to denote his own self-approval. "That's what I
call doing the business as it should be done. The attempt,"
and he smiled at the conceit, "was not a bootless one to
us all, though it has been a BOOT LESS one to ME."
To understand this facetiousness of the Virginian, it
must be understood that on withdrawing his bayonet, the
boot which it had only slightly pierced, had slipped from
the weapon and fallen to the ground simultaneously with
the other heavier bodies, whose more marked sound had
absorbed its own. It therefore escaped the notice of the
Indians.
"Hilloa there!" he continued in a louder key; "there's
no more danger in this quarter, my lads. Show us a light,
and if Cass has that turkey ready, we'll have some supper.
For my part, I'm devilish sharp set. Here, Green, take
my musket, and give me the candle."
Surprised at the corporal's unwonted humor, for they had
been led to apprehend, from the noise made by the falling
ladder, and the excitement evidently prevailing among
the Indians, that some new act of treachery was about to
be tried by them, the men gathered underneath the opening,
Green taking his musket from the hands of the Virginian,
while in return, he mounted on one of the low chairs,
and extending his arm far above, handed him the light.
After a few minutes search, the corporal appeared again
at the mouth of the loft, not only with a demijohn
half-filled with whisky, but with a large loaf of brown
bread, and part of a shoulder of dried venison, from
which nearly one-half had been chipped away in slices.
This, indeed, was a prize, and the men looked at the
articles of necessary supply, as they were successively
handed down, with an earnestness which denoted, that
whatever might be their apprehensions of danger from
without, they by no means coveted fighting on an empty
stomach. After having lowered the treasures he had been
so fortunate as to secure, the Virginian swung himself
down by his hands, without difficulty, upon the lower
floor.
The fire had been again revived, and having ordered
Jackson up into the loft, to keep watch at the small-window,
and apprise him if any attempt should be made to replace
the ladder, the corporal for the first time lighting his
pipe, sat down to ruminate on his position, and consider
the means by which the party were to be taken back to
the fort. Further serious apprehensions in regard to
their safety he did not now entertain, for baulked, as
the Indians had been, in all their attempts to get into
the house, he felt persuaded that it was more with a view
to annoy and alarm, than with any hope of eventual success,
that they still lingered in the neighborhood. Had they
been in a situation to continue the siege longer than
the morning, the case might have been different. But it
was obvious that in order to secure their own safety,
alarmed as they most know the governor would be at the
absence of the party under his command, they would not
remain longer than daylight exposed to the chances of
being themselves closely assailed from without.
Such was the reasoning of the Virginian, whose greatest
source of discomfort now was the apprehension of serious
reprimand, if not something worse, from the austere
Captain Headley, whose displeasure, he was certain, would
be so much the greater on account of the loss of the
unfortunate Collins. He looked at his watch, but to his
great annoyance, found that it had stopped, the hour-hand
pointing to one o'clock. How long it had been run down,
he could not tell, but from the time which had elapsed
since their abandonment of the boat, and arrival in the
house, he did not think it could be less than four in
the morning.
Desirous to satisfy himself by the appearance of the
heavens, he arose, and with the aid of Green, placed the
table under the window commanding a view of the river.
This being too low, a chair was placed upon it, thus
affording the corporal the advantage of greater elevation
than he had derived from the use of the ladder itself.
Everything was again quiet. Not a sound broke the stillness,
save the howling of a few wolves, which, probably, attracted
by the scent of the human blood that had been spilt that
day, and by the exposed corpse that was now strewed with
white blossoms from the tree beneath which it lay, were,
by the increasing light, indistinctly seen on the opposite
shore. But not their savage cry of hunger alone was heard.
Ever and anon, in reply to their fierce howling was heard
the snappish bark of Loup Garou, as, leaping on the body
of his unconscious master, he lashed his tail, and seemed
to bid defiance to those whose errand he seemed so
perfectly to divine.
"Poor dog! you shall never want a master while I can keep
you," half murmured the corporal, as he now turned his
gaze upon the water, anxious to see if any trace could
be found there of the skiff and its missing occupant.
Nothing, however, came within his view, but just as he
was preparing to descend from the window, the outline of
the boat, for from its peculiar shape he easily identified
it as their own, riveted his attention as it passed
quickly up the river, filled with seven or eight savages
in their war-dress, and having at the bow what had the
appearance of a pole, from the top of which dangled a
human scalp.
"Gone at last," he exclaimed, after a moment's pause,
"but with poor Collins' scalp along with them. Cass," he
added, as he sprang to the floor, "if that turkey is fit
to eat let's have it directly, and you, Weston, look
about and see if there is any more water to be had. Make
haste, now, for we shall have to tramp it to the fort as
soon as it's daylight. The devils are gone and carried
off the boat."
Not less anxious than himself to be once more on their
way to the fort, which some of them, on entering the
house that night, had scarcely hoped to reach alive, the
men, leaning their muskets against the side of the room,
assisted in preparing the rude, but grateful meal, of
which they stood so much in need, and which was to sustain
them during the short-approaching march. The table having
been placed in the centre of the room, and on it the
demijohn, and bread and venison, Green and Weston, the
latter of whom had been unsuccessful in his search for
water, seized each a leg and a wing of the ample turkey,
which now denuded and disembowelled, Cass had scientifically
carved in its raw state, and held them in the blaze of
the fire, waiting patiently until the blackness of the
outside should give promise of corresponding warmth
within. Its slayer held the body of the bird over the
fire in a similar manner, the poker having been thrust
into the abdomen. They all sat, or rather stood in a
squatting position with their faces to the fire.
"Well, now, I reckon we shall make six considerable shares
of this," drawled Cass, looking fondly at the carcass,
which was slowly but temptingly spluttering before him
at the fire. "Are you any ways particular, Green?--what
part suits your taste best, Weston--a leg or a wing? For
my part I always stick to the carcass."
"Faith, and I like both, and a slice of the breast to
boot. I'm just the fellow, now the varmints are gone,
that could eat all of them."
"Yes, but you know," returned the temporary chef de
cuisine, "it must be share and share alike--there's two
legs--two wings and the breast, and the back slit in
two--that just makes six portions, and we're six men in
all."
"Cast lots fiddlestick," said Green, "what portion do
you expect, Nutcrackers? unless it's the neck, and the
scaly part of the leg, the Injin had hold of when you so
bravely sent your bayonet through her feathers."
"Well, only think how cunning of the fellows," remarked
Weston, "who'd ever have thought they would try that
fashion to get in, cramming an old turkey before them to
clear the way, and get in his craw the first bullet that
might be sent."
"Yes, and the tight grip the fellow had of him by the
leg. Just look, Green, the mark of the devil's hand may
be upon him yet. It was the right leg, and that's it you
have."
"Bosh! what do you expect me to find there but the marks
of your dirty paws while plucking him, I'm too devilish
hungry for such nonsense, Nutcrackers; but show me the
Injin that would venture to touch his legs now. If I
wouldn't mark him, then my name's not Seth Green."
Scarcely had he finished speaking, when a dark naked
human hand was slowly protruded over his shoulder, and
seized not the leg of the turkey, which Green now grasped
with unconscious and convulsive energy, but a brand from
the fire.
In his terror at that strange and unexpected appearance,
he dropped the body of the bird in the glowing embers,
and uttering a faint cry, turned half round and beheld
what filled him with the deepest dismay: his companions,
scarcely less terrified than himself, sprang together to
their feet, with the intention of rushing to their muskets,
but all hope of recovering them was gone. The savage who
had snatched the fire was no longer there then, but half
a dozen others in their war-paint stood between them and
their firelocks. It seemed as if they were sensible that
their very silence inspired more awe and apprehension in
the bosoms of their defenceless enemies than could have
done the most turbulent expression of their triumph. They
had evidently entered by the back door, which was now
quite open, and grouped around the body of Mr. Heywood,
were apparently more interested in the dead than in the
living. Not a sign was there of the corporal, and Philips
stood as if paralyzed, leaning, musket in hand, against
the opposite entrance.
CHAPTER VII.
Leaving the little party in the dismay occasioned by
their new position, and that at a moment when they believed
themselves secured from further interruption or danger,
we must now return to the Fort, where their long-continued
absence, coupled with the startling tidings conveyed by
Ephraim Giles, had created equal anxiety and apprehension.
It will be recollected that during the examination of
the latter, Ensign Ronayne had, after communicating with
the commanding officer, suddenly departed across the
river, taking with him a few armed men. The destination
of this little party was the cottage occupied by Mrs.
Heywood and her daughter, who, with a woman servant, were
the sole occupants of a dwelling, simple in construction,
but decorated, both within and without, by the hand of
good taste. It was a low, one-storied building, painted
white, with green window-blinds and shutters, and a
verandah of trellis work of the same color, that extended
a few feet square round the principal entrance. On either
side, rose to the roof, on parallel lines, and at equal
distances, cords of strong twine, on which already had
began to interlace themselves, the various parasites
indigenous to the soil, which winter had robbed of their
freshness, but which a southern sun was now evidently
vivifying and re-invigorating. A small garden of about
half-an-acre, surrounded by a similar trellis-work,
extended equally in front, and on the sides of the
house--while the graceful form given to the various beds,
and the selection of the plants and flowers, which,
although still in their dormant state, were yet
recognizable--testified the refined taste of those who
had assisted at their culture. The pathway, which was
recently gravelled from the adjacent sand-hills, ran in
a straight line from the verandah, toward the little
green gate, opening on the front of the garden, took a
semi-circular sweep on either side, at about one-third
of the distance from the gate. This form had been given
to it for the purpose of affording room for the creation
of a mound, on the summit of which had been placed a
small summer-house, octagon in shape, and constructed of
the same description of trellis-work. The sloping sides
of the mound itself, were profusely covered with dahlias,
rhododendrons, geraniums, and other plants of the most
select kind--the whole forming, when in bloom, a circle
of floral magnificence. A short and narrow path, just
large enough to admit of the passage of one person at a
time, led to the entrance of the summer-house, which,
facing the gate, was also shaded from the light and heat
of the sun's rays, by closely interlacing vines.
At the bottom of this artificial mound, and near the
pathway, a small spud, such as is used for pruning, was
stuck into some earth, newly drawn round a splendid tiger
lily, and on the handle of the spud, were loosely thrown
a white silk jacket, a blue velvet cap, and a light pink
scarf--evidencing that no ordinary gardener had been that
day employed in bringing into new life the gorgeous
beauties of the variegated parterre.
"Little did I think," mused the young officer, as, leaving
his party at the, gate, and hastening towards the cottage,
his eye fell upon those articles of dress--"little did
I imagine when I threw off these things a few hours since,
to obey a summons to the Fort, that on my return to them,
it would be with this heavy heart, and as the bearer of
these tidings--but I must be cautious in my disclosure.
Dear girl, here she is!"
"Why, Ronayne, what in the name of Heaven is the meaning
of all this? Are you here to take the castle by storm,
with all these armed warriors? A few hours since you were
a man of peace, and now I behold in you a most approved
and valiant knight of the true American school. Sword,
cap, feather, epaulet, blue broad-cloth, and silver. Well
it must be confessed that you are not a bad imitation of
a soldier, in that garb, and it is in pity to me, I
suppose, that you do not wear it oftener. But seriously,
Harry, do satisfy my curiosity, and tell me the reason
of this unusual--manner of visit!"
The question was asked playfully, but in tones replete
with sweetness, by a tall and elegantly-formed girl, who
on turning the further circle of the walk, in her approach
to her favorite flower-bed, had for the first time, beheld
the young officer, and the party stationed at the gate.
"Nay, dear Maria," returned the youth, deeply grieved at
the thought of casting a gloom over the spirits of her
who thus rallied him. "I am sorry to say my errand is
not one of mere parade--I have come to announce that
which will give you pain; and but that I am charged with
the agreeable duty of making you a prisoner, I never
should have had the courage to be the bearer of the
intelligence."
Miss Heywood turned very pale, less at the words even
than at the manner of the young officer, who it was
evident, felt all the weight of the task he had undertaken.
"Ronayne," she said, her voice suddenly assuming a rich
melancholy of intonation, in strange contrast with her
first address, "there is more in this than you would
acquaint me with. But, tell me," and she fixed her large
dark eyes on his--"tell me all. What pain is it you fear
to occasion me, and how is it connected with my being a
prisoner? Ha!" and she grasped his arm, and betrayed deep
agitation--"surely nothing in my father's conduct--"
"No, no, Maria," returned the youth, quickly, "far from
anything of the kind, and yet it is of your father I
would speak. But have you heard nothing since I left you.
Have you seen no one?"
"I have heard nothing--seen not a soul from without,"
she answered, as he tenderly pressed the hand he had
taken--"But, Ronayne," she pursued, with melancholy
gravity--"a sudden light dawns upon me--my heart tells
me that some misfortune or other has happened, or is
about to happen--you say you would speak about my father.
You are the bearer of ill-news in regard to him. Yes, I
know it is so; tell me, Harry," and she looked imploringly
up to him, "am I not right?--my father has been attacked
by Indians, and he has fallen. Oh! you do not deny it!"
"Nay, dearest Maria, I know nothing of the kind, although
I will not conceal from you that there is danger--you
have guessed correctly as to the Indians having been at
the farm, but little certain is known as to the result
of their visit. That half idiot Ephraim Giles, has come
in with some wild story, but I daresay he exaggerates."
Miss Heywood shook her head doubtingly. "You deceive me,
Ronayne--with the best intention, but still you deceive
me. If you really think the rumor be exaggerated, why
your own restlessness and seriousness of manner? Harry,
this is no time for concealment, for I feel that I can
better bear the truth NOW than LATER. Do not hesitate
then to tell me all you know."
"True, my love, this is no time for concealment since
such be the state of your feelings. I was unwilling to
admit my own apprehension on the subject, fearing that
you might be ill-prepared for the disclosure; but after
what you have just urged, the blow can never fall less
heavily than now. You must know, then, that a party of
hostile Indians have, there is too much reason to fear,
used violence toward the inmates of the farm-house, but
to what extent we have no means of knowing; though such
is the alarm created by their presence that Headley, who
you know is the very soul of caution, has ordered every
white in the neighborhood of the Fort, to be removed for
safety within its walls."
"Would that instead of THAT," remarked Miss Heywood, with
solemnity, "he had despatched those soldiers, whom I see
there fully armed, to the rescue of my poor father.
Perhaps he might be saved yet--the house is strong, and
might be defended for some time, even by a couple of
men."
"And me at their head. Is it not so, Maria?" inquired
the youth.
"Yes, and you at their head, dear Ronayne," repeated Miss
Heywood; "to no one sooner would I be indebted for my
father's safety, as no one would, I am sure, more cheerfully
attempt his deliverance."
The young American mused a moment, and then rejoined,
despondingly; "Were these men at my disposal, Maria, how
gladly would I hasten to encounter every difficulty, the
removal of which would spare your gentle bosom those
pangs; but you know Headley would never permit it. His
prudence is a mania, and even were he to yield his
consent--let me not sustain you with delusive hopes--I
fear it would be too late."
"God's will be done," she ejaculated, as the large tears
fell trickling down her pallid cheeks, "but what will
become of my poor and now nearly death-stricken-mother,
when she hears of this?"
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