English
“Begaysecurely;
Dispel,myfair,withsmiles,thetim’rousclouds,
Thathangonthyclearbrow.”
—DeathofAgrippina
Thesuddenandalmostmagicalchange,fromthestirringincidentsofthecombattothestillnessthatnowreignedaroundhim,actedontheheatedimaginationofHeywardlikesomeexcitingdream.
Whilealltheimagesandeventshehadwitnessedremaineddeeplyimpressedonhismemory,hefeltadifficultyinpersuadinghimoftheirtruth.
Stillignorantofthefateofthosewhohadtrustedtotheaidoftheswiftcurrent,heatfirstlistenedintentlytoanysignalorsoundsofalarm,whichmightannouncethegoodorevilfortuneoftheirhazardousundertaking.
Hisattentionwas,however,bestowedinvain;forwiththedisappearanceofUncas,everysignoftheadventurershadbeenlost,leavinghimintotaluncertaintyoftheirfate.
Inamomentofsuchpainfuldoubt,Duncandidnothesitatetolookaroundhim,withoutconsultingthatprotectionfromtherockswhichjustbeforehadbeensonecessarytohissafety.
Everyeffort,however,todetecttheleastevidenceoftheapproachoftheirhiddenenemieswasasfruitlessastheinquiryafterhislatecompanions.
Thewoodedbanksoftheriverseemedagaindesertedbyeverythingpossessinganimallife.
Theuproarwhichhadsolatelyechoedthroughthevaultsoftheforestwasgone,leavingtherushofthewaterstoswellandsinkonthecurrentsoftheair,intheunmingledsweetnessofnature.
Afish–hawk,which,secureonthetopmostbranchesofadeadpine,hadbeenadistantspectatorofthefray,nowswoopedfromhishighandraggedperch,andsoared,inwidesweeps,abovehisprey;whileajay,whosenoisyvoicehadbeenstilledbythehoarsercriesofthesavages,venturedagaintoopenhisdiscordantthroat,asthoughoncemoreinundisturbedpossessionofhiswilddomains.
Duncancaughtfromthesenaturalaccompanimentsofthesolitarysceneaglimmeringofhope;andhebegantorallyhisfacultiestorenewedexertions,withsomethinglikearevivingconfidenceofsuccess.
“TheHuronsarenottobeseen,”hesaid,addressingDavid,whohadbynomeansrecoveredfromtheeffectsofthestunningblowhehadreceived;“letusconcealourselvesinthecavern,andtrusttheresttoProvidence.”
“Iremembertohaveunitedwithtwocomelymaidens,inliftingupourvoicesinpraiseandthanksgiving,”returnedthebewilderedsinging–master;“sincewhichtimeIhavebeenvisitedbyaheavyjudgmentformysins.
Ihavebeenmockedwiththelikenessofsleep,whilesoundsofdiscordhaverentmyears,suchasmightmanifestthefullnessoftime,andthatnaturehadforgottenherharmony.”
“Poorfellow!thineownperiodwas,intruth,nearitsaccomplishment!Butarouse,andcomewithme;Iwillleadyouwhereallothersoundsbutthoseofyourownpsalmodyshallbeexcluded.”
“Thereismelodyinthefallofthecataract,andtherushingofmanywatersissweettothesenses!”
saidDavid,pressinghishandconfusedlyonhisbrow.
“Isnottheairyetfilledwithshrieksandcries,asthoughthedepartedspiritsofthedamned––”
“Notnow,notnow,”interruptedtheimpatientHeyward,“theyhaveceased,andtheywhoraisedthem,ItrustinGod,theyaregone,too!
everythingbutthewaterisstillandatpeace;in,then,whereyoumaycreatethosesoundsyoulovesowelltohear.”
Davidsmiledsadly,thoughnotwithoutamomentarygleamofpleasure,atthisallusiontohisbelovedvocation.
Henolongerhesitatedtobeledtoaspotwhichpromisedsuchunalloyedgratificationtohisweariedsenses;andleaningonthearmofhiscompanion,heenteredthenarrowmouthofthecave.
Duncanseizedapileofthesassafras,whichhedrewbeforethepassage,studiouslyconcealingeveryappearanceofanaperture.
Withinthisfragilebarrierhearrangedtheblanketsabandonedbytheforesters,darkeningtheinnerextremityofthecavern,whileitsouterreceivedachastenedlightfromthenarrowravine,throughwhichonearmoftheriverrushedtoformthejunctionwithitssisterbranchafewrodsbelow.
“Ilikenottheprincipleofthenatives,whichteachesthemtosubmitwithoutastruggle,inemergenciesthatappeardesperate,”hesaid,whilebusiedinthisemployment;“ourownmaxim,whichsays,‘whileliferemainsthereishope’,ismoreconsoling,andbettersuitedtoasoldier’stemperament.
Toyou,Cora,Iwillurgenowordsofidleencouragement;yourownfortitudeandundisturbedreasonwillteachyouallthatmaybecomeyoursex;butcannotwedrythetearsofthattremblingweeperonyourbosom?”
“Iamcalmer,Duncan,”saidAlice,raisingherselffromthearmsofhersister,andforcinganappearanceofcomposurethroughhertears;“muchcalmer,now.
Surely,inthishiddenspotwearesafe,wearesecret,freefrominjury;wewillhopeeverythingfromthosegenerousmenwhohaveriskedsomuchalreadyinourbehalf.”
“NowdoesourgentleAlicespeaklikeadaughterofMunro!”
saidHeyward,pausingtopressherhandashepassedtowardtheouterentranceofthecavern.
“Withtwosuchexamplesofcouragebeforehim,amanwouldbeashamedtoproveotherthanahero.”
Hethenseatedhimselfinthecenterofthecavern,graspinghisremainingpistolwithahandconvulsivelyclenched,whilehiscontractedandfrowningeyeannouncedthesullendesperationofhispurpose.
“TheHurons,iftheycome,maynotgainourpositionsoeasilyastheythink,”heslowlymuttered;andproppinghisheadbackagainsttherock,heseemedtoawaittheresultinpatience,thoughhisgazewasunceasinglybentontheopenavenuetotheirplaceofretreat.
Withthelastsoundofhisvoice,adeep,along,andalmostbreathlesssilencesucceeded.
Thefreshairofthemorninghadpenetratedtherecess,anditsinfluencewasgraduallyfeltonthespiritsofitsinmates.
Asminuteafterminutepassedby,leavingtheminundisturbedsecurity,theinsinuatingfeelingofhopewasgraduallygainingpossessionofeverybosom,thougheachonefeltreluctanttogiveutterancetoexpectationsthatthenextmomentmightsofearfullydestroy.
Davidaloneformedanexceptiontothesevaryingemotions.
Agleamoflightfromtheopeningcrossedhiswancountenance,andfelluponthepagesofthelittlevolume,whoseleaveshewasagainoccupiedinturning,asifsearchingforsomesongmorefittedtotheirconditionthananythathadyetmettheireye.
Hewas,mostprobably,actingallthistimeunderaconfusedrecollectionofthepromisedconsolationofDuncan.
Atlength,itwouldseem,hispatientindustryfounditsreward;for,withoutexplanationorapology,hepronouncedaloudthewords“IsleofWight,”drewalong,sweetsoundfromhispitch–pipe,andthenranthroughthepreliminarymodulationsoftheairwhosenamehehadjustmentioned,withthesweetertonesofhisownmusicalvoice.
“Maynotthisprovedangerous?”askedCora,glancingherdarkeyeatMajorHeyward.
“Poorfellow!hisvoiceistoofeebletobeheardabovethedinofthefalls,”wastheanswer;“beside,thecavernwillprovehisfriend.
Lethimindulgehispassionssinceitmaybedonewithouthazard.”
“IsleofWight!”repeatedDavid,lookingabouthimwiththatdignitywithwhichhehadlongbeenwonttosilencethewhisperingechoesofhisschool;”’tisabravetune,andsettosolemnwords!letitbesungwithmeetrespect!”
Afterallowingamomentofstillnesstoenforcehisdiscipline,thevoiceofthesingerwasheard,inlow,murmuringsyllables,graduallystealingontheear,untilitfilledthenarrowvaultwithsoundsrenderedtreblythrillingbythefeebleandtremulousutteranceproducedbyhisdebility.
Themelody,whichnoweaknesscoulddestroy,graduallywroughtitssweetinfluenceonthesensesofthosewhoheardit.
ItevenprevailedoverthemiserabletravestyofthesongofDavidwhichthesingerhadselectedfromavolumeofsimilareffusions,andcausedthesensetobeforgottenintheinsinuatingharmonyofthesounds.
Aliceunconsciouslydriedhertears,andbenthermeltingeyesonthepallidfeaturesofGamut,withanexpressionofchasteneddelightthatsheneitheraffectedorwishedtoconceal.
CorabestowedanapprovingsmileonthepiouseffortsofthenamesakeoftheJewishprince,andHeywardsoonturnedhissteady,sternlookfromtheoutletofthecavern,tofastenit,withamildercharacter,onthefaceofDavid,ortomeetthewanderingbeamswhichatmomentsstrayedfromthehumideyesofAlice.
Theopensympathyofthelistenersstirredthespiritofthevotaryofmusic,whosevoiceregaineditsrichnessandvolume,withoutlosingthattouchingsoftnesswhichproveditssecretcharm.
Exertinghisrenovatedpowerstotheirutmost,hewasyetfillingthearchesofthecavewithlongandfulltones,whenayellburstintotheairwithout,thatinstantlystilledhispiousstrains,chokinghisvoicesuddenly,asthoughhishearthadliterallyboundedintothepassageofhisthroat.
“Wearelost!”exclaimedAlice,throwingherselfintothearmsofCora.
“Notyet,notyet,”returnedtheagitatedbutundauntedHeyward:“thesoundcamefromthecenteroftheisland,andithasbeenproducedbythesightoftheirdeadcompanions.
Wearenotyetdiscovered,andthereisstillhope.”
Faintandalmostdespairingaswastheprospectofescape,thewordsofDuncanwerenotthrownaway,foritawakenedthepowersofthesistersinsuchamannerthattheyawaitedtheresultsinsilence.
Asecondyellsoonfollowedthefirst,whenarushofvoiceswasheardpouringdowntheisland,fromitsuppertoitslowerextremity,untiltheyreachedthenakedrockabovethecaverns,where,afterashoutofsavagetriumph,theaircontinuedfullofhorriblecriesandscreams,suchasmanalonecanutter,andheonlywheninastateofthefiercestbarbarity.
Thesoundsquicklyspreadaroundthemineverydirection.
Somecalledtotheirfellowsfromthewater’sedge,andwereansweredfromtheheightsabove.
Crieswereheardinthestartlingvicinityofthechasmbetweenthetwocaves,whichmingledwithhoarseryellsthataroseoutoftheabyssofthedeepravine.
Inshort,sorapidlyhadthesavagesoundsdiffusedthemselvesoverthebarrenrock,thatitwasnotdifficultfortheanxiouslistenerstoimaginetheycouldbeheardbeneath,asintruththeywereaboveoneverysideofthem.
Inthemidstofthistumult,atriumphantyellwasraisedwithinafewyardsofthehiddenentrancetothecave.
Heywardabandonedeveryhope,withthebeliefitwasthesignalthattheywerediscovered.
Againtheimpressionpassedaway,asheheardthevoicescollectnearthespotwherethewhitemanhadsoreluctantlyabandonedhisrifle.
AmidthejargonofIndiandialectsthathenowplainlyheard,itwaseasytodistinguishnotonlywords,butsentences,inthepatoisoftheCanadas.
Aburstofvoiceshadshoutedsimultaneously,“LaLongueCarabine!”
causingtheoppositewoodstore–echowithanamewhich,Heywardwellremembered,hadbeengivenbyhisenemiestoacelebratedhunterandscoutoftheEnglishcamp,andwho,henowlearnedforthefirsttime,hadbeenhislatecompanion.
“LaLongueCarabine!LaLongueCarabine!”
passedfrommouthtomouth,untilthewholebandappearedtobecollectedaroundatrophywhichwouldseemtoannouncethedeathofitsformidableowner.
Afteravociferousconsultation,whichwas,attimes,deafenedbyburstsofsavagejoy,theyagainseparated,fillingtheairwiththenameofafoe,whosebody,Heywoodcouldcollectfromtheirexpressions,theyhopedtofindconcealedinsomecreviceoftheisland.
“Now,”hewhisperedtothetremblingsisters,“nowisthemomentofuncertainty!
ifourplaceofretreatescapethisscrutiny,wearestillsafe!
Ineveryevent,weareassured,bywhathasfallenfromourenemies,thatourfriendshaveescaped,andintwoshorthourswemaylookforsuccorfromWebb.”
Therewerenowafewminutesoffearfulstillness,duringwhichHeywardwellknewthatthesavagesconductedtheirsearchwithgreatervigilanceandmethod.
Morethanoncehecoulddistinguishtheirfootsteps,astheybrushedthesassafras,causingthefadedleavestorustle,andthebranchestosnap.
Atlength,thepileyieldedalittle,acornerofablanketfell,andafaintrayoflightgleamedintotheinnerpartofthecave.
CorafoldedAlicetoherbosominagony,andDuncansprangtohisfeet.
Ashoutwasatthatmomentheard,asifissuingfromthecenteroftherock,announcingthattheneighboringcavernhadatlengthbeenentered.
Inaminute,thenumberandloudnessofthevoicesindicatedthatthewholepartywascollectedinandaroundthatsecretplace.
Astheinnerpassagestothetwocavesweresoclosetoeachother,Duncan,believingthatescapewasnolongerpossible,passedDavidandthesisters,toplacehimselfbetweenthelatterandthefirstonsetoftheterriblemeeting.
Growndesperatebyhissituation,hedrewnightheslightbarrierwhichseparatedhimonlybyafewfeetfromhisrelentlesspursuers,andplacinghisfacetothecasualopening,heevenlookedoutwithasortofdesperateindifference,ontheirmovements.
WithinreachofhisarmwasthebrawnyshoulderofagiganticIndian,whosedeepandauthoritativevoiceappearedtogivedirectionstotheproceedingsofhisfellows.
Beyondhimagain,Duncancouldlookintothevaultopposite,whichwasfilledwithsavages,upturningandriflingthehumblefurnitureofthescout.
ThewoundofDavidhaddyedtheleavesofsassafraswithacolorthatthenativewellknewasanticipatingtheseason.
Overthissignoftheirsuccess,theysentupahowl,likeanopeningfromsomanyhoundswhohadrecoveredalosttrail.
Afterthisyellofvictory,theytoreupthefragrantbedofthecavern,andborethebranchesintothechasm,scatteringtheboughs,asiftheysuspectedthemofconcealingthepersonofthemantheyhadsolonghatedandfeared.
Onefierceandwild–lookingwarriorapproachedthechief,bearingaloadofthebrush,andpointingexultinglytothedeepredstainswithwhichitwassprinkled,utteredhisjoyinIndianyells,whosemeaningHeywardwasonlyenabledtocomprehendbythefrequentrepetitionofthename“LaLongueCarabine!”
Whenhistriumphhadceased,hecastthebrushontheslightheapDuncanhadmadebeforetheentranceofthesecondcavern,andclosedtheview.
Hisexamplewasfollowedbyothers,who,astheydrewthebranchesfromthecaveofthescout,threwthemintoonepile,adding,unconsciously,tothesecurityofthosetheysought.
Theveryslightnessofthedefensewasitschiefmerit,fornoonethoughtofdisturbingamassofbrush,whichallofthembelieved,inthatmomentofhurryandconfusion,hadbeenaccidentallyraisedbythehandsoftheirownparty.
Astheblanketsyieldedbeforetheoutwardpressure,andthebranchessettledinthefissureoftherockbytheirownweight,formingacompactbody,Duncanoncemorebreathedfreely.
Withalightstepandlighterheart,hereturnedtothecenterofthecave,andtooktheplacehehadleft,wherehecouldcommandaviewoftheopeningnexttheriver.
Whilehewasintheactofmakingthismovement,theIndians,asifchangingtheirpurposebyacommonimpulse,brokeawayfromthechasminabody,andwereheardrushinguptheislandagain,towardthepointwhencetheyhadoriginallydescended.
Hereanotherwailingcrybetrayedthattheywereagaincollectedaroundthebodiesoftheirdeadcomrades.
Duncannowventuredtolookathiscompanions;for,duringthemostcriticalmomentsoftheirdanger,hehadbeenapprehensivethattheanxietyofhiscountenancemightcommunicatesomeadditionalalarmtothosewhoweresolittleabletosustainit.
“Theyaregone,Cora!”hewhispered;“Alice,theyarereturnedwhencetheycame,andwearesaved!ToHeaven,thathasalonedeliveredusfromthegraspofsomercilessanenemy,beallthepraise!”
“ThentoHeavenwillIreturnmythanks!”
exclaimedtheyoungersister,risingfromtheencirclingarmofCora,andcastingherselfwithenthusiasticgratitudeonthenakedrock;“tothatHeavenwhohassparedthetearsofagray–headedfather;hassavedthelivesofthoseIsomuchlove.”
BothHeywardandthemoretemperateCorawitnessedtheactofinvoluntaryemotionwithpowerfulsympathy,theformersecretlybelievingthatpietyhadneverwornaformsolovelyasithadnowassumedintheyouthfulpersonofAlice.
Hereyeswereradiantwiththeglowofgratefulfeelings;theflushofherbeautywasagainseatedonhercheeks,andherwholesoulseemedreadyandanxioustopouroutitsthanksgivingsthroughthemediumofhereloquentfeatures.
Butwhenherlipsmoved,thewordstheyshouldhaveutteredappearedfrozenbysomenewandsuddenchill.
Herbloomgaveplacetothepalenessofdeath;hersoftandmeltingeyesgrewhard,andseemedcontractingwithhorror;whilethosehands,whichshehadraised,claspedineachother,towardheaven,droppedinhorizontallinesbeforeher,thefingerspointedforwardinconvulsedmotion.
Heywardturnedtheinstantshegaveadirectiontohissuspicions,andpeeringjustabovetheledgewhichformedthethresholdoftheopenoutletofthecavern,hebeheldthemalignant,fierceandsavagefeaturesofLeRenardSubtil.
Inthatmomentofsurprise,theself–possessionofHeywarddidnotdeserthim.
HeobservedbythevacantexpressionoftheIndian’scountenance,thathiseye,accustomedtotheopenairhadnotyetbeenabletopenetratetheduskylightwhichpervadedthedepthofthecavern.
Hehadeventhoughtofretreatingbeyondacurvatureinthenaturalwall,whichmightstillconcealhimandhiscompanions,whenbythesuddengleamofintelligencethatshotacrossthefeaturesofthesavage,hesawitwastoolate,andthattheywerebetrayed.
Thelookofexultationandbrutaltriumphwhichannouncedthisterribletruthwasirresistiblyirritating.
Forgetfulofeverythingbuttheimpulsesofhishotblood,Duncanleveledhispistolandfired.
Thereportoftheweaponmadethecavernbellowlikeaneruptionfromavolcano;andwhenthesmokeitvomitedhadbeendrivenawaybeforethecurrentofairwhichissuedfromtheravinetheplacesolatelyoccupiedbythefeaturesofhistreacherousguidewasvacant.
Rushingtotheoutlet,Heywardcaughtaglimpseofhisdarkfigurestealingaroundalowandnarrowledge,whichsoonhidhimentirelyfromsight.
Amongthesavagesafrightfulstillnesssucceededtheexplosion,whichhadjustbeenheardburstingfromthebowelsoftherock.
ButwhenLeRenardraisedhisvoiceinalongandintelligiblewhoop,itwasansweredbyaspontaneousyellfromthemouthofeveryIndianwithinhearingofthesound.
Theclamorousnoisesagainrusheddowntheisland;andbeforeDuncanhadtimetorecoverfromtheshock,hisfeeblebarrierofbrushwasscatteredtothewinds,thecavernwasenteredatbothitsextremities,andheandhiscompanionsweredraggedfromtheirshelterandborneintotheday,wheretheystoodsurroundedbythewholebandofthetriumphantHurons.
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