I did not fear death—fear of death was left east of the Sault in those days. On my preservation13 depended Miriam's rescue. Besides, if either Le Grand Diable or myself had to die, I came to the conclusion of other men similarly situated—that my enemy was the one who should go.
Violins, flutes14 and bag-pipes were striking up in different parts of the hall. Simple ballads15, smacking16 of old delights in an older land, songs, with which home-sick white men comforted themselves[Pg 119] in far-off lodges—were roared out in strident tones. Feet were beating time to the rasp of the fiddles18. Men rose and danced wild jigs19, or deftly20 executed some intricate Indian step; and uproarious applause greeted every performer. The hall throbbed21 with confused sounds and the din9 deadened my thinking faculties22. Even now, Eric might be slipping past. In that deafening23 tumult24 I could decide nothing, and when I tried to leave the table, all the lights swam dizzily.
"Excuse me, Sir!" I whispered, clutching the priest's elbow. "You're Father Holland and are to go north in my boats. Come out with me for a moment."
Thinking me tipsy, he gave me a droll25 glance. "'Pon my soul! Strapping26 fellows like you shouldn't need last rites——"
"Please say nothing! Come quickly!" and I gripped his arm.
"Bless us! It's a touch of the head, or the heart!" and he rose and followed me from the hall.
In the fresh air, dizziness left me. Sitting down on the bench, where I had lain the night before, I told him my perplexing mission. At first, I am sure he was convinced that I was drunk or raving27, but my story had the directness of truth. He saw at once how easily he could leave the fort at that late hour without arousing suspicion, and finally offered to come with me to the river bank, where we might intercept28 Hamilton.[Pg 120]
"But we must have a boat, a light cockle-shell thing, so we can dart29 out whenever the brigade appears," declared the priest, casting about in his mind for means to forward our object.
"The canoes are all locked up. Can't you borrow one from the Indians? Don't you know any of them?" I asked with a sudden sinking of heart.
"And have the whole pack of them sneaking30 after us? No—no—that won't do. Where are your wits, boy! Arrah! Me hearty31, but what was that?"
We both heard the shutter32 above our heads suddenly thrown open, but darkness hid anyone who might have been listening.
"Are you there?" came a clear, gentle voice, that fell from the window in the breaking ripples36 of a fountain plash.
The bit of statuary had become suddenly animate37 and was not so marble-cold to mankind as it looked. Thinking we had been taken for an expected lover, I, too, was moving off, when the voice, that sounded like the dropping golden notes of a cremona, called out in tones of vibrating alarm:
"Don't—don't go! Priest! Priest! Father! It's you I'm speaking to. I've heard every word!"[Pg 121]
Father Holland and I were too much amazed to do aught but gape38 from each other to the dark window. We could now see the outlines of a white face there.
"If you'd please put one bench on top of another, and balance a bucket on that, I think I could get down," pleaded the low, thrilling voice.
"An' in the name of the seven wonders of creation, what for would you be getting down?" asked the astonished priest.
"Faith an' we're not! And we have no thought of doing such a thing!" began the good man with severity.
"Then, I'll jump," threatened the voice.
"And break your pretty neck," answered the ungallant father with indignation.
There was a rustling40 of skirts being gathered across the window sill and outlines of a white face gave place to the figure of a frail41 girl preparing for a leap.
"Don't!" I cried, genuinely alarmed, with a mental vision of shattered statuary on the ground. "Don't! I'm getting the benches," and I piled them up, with a rickety bucket on top. "Wait!" I implored42, stepping up on the bottom bench. "Give me your hand," and as I caught her hands, she leaped from the window to the bucket, and the bucket to the ground, with a daintiness, which I thought savored43 of experience in such escapades.[Pg 122]
"What do you mean, young woman?" demanded Father Holland in anger. "I'll have none of your frisky44 nonsense! Do you know, you baggage, that you are delaying this young man in a matter that is of life-and-death importance? Tell me this instant, what do you want?"
"I want to save that woman, Miriam! You're both so slow and stupid! Come, quick!" and she caught us by the arms. "There's a skiff down among the rushes in the flats. I can guide you to it. Cross the river in it! Oh! Quick! Quick! Some of the Hudson's Bay brigades have already passed!"
"How do you know?" we both demanded as in one breath.
"I'm Frances Sutherland. My father is one of the Selkirk settlers and he had word that they would pass to-night! Oh! Come! Come!"
This girl, the daughter of a man who was playing double to both companies! And her service to me would compel me to be loyal to him! Truly, I was becoming involved in a way that complicated simple duty. But the girl had darted45 ahead of us, we following by the flutter of the white gown, and she led us out of the courtyard by a sally-port to the rear of a block-house. She paused in the shadow of some shrubbery.
"Get fagots from the Indians to light us across the flats," she whispered to Father Holland. "They'll think nothing of your coming. You're always among them!"[Pg 123]
"Mistress Sutherland!" I began, as the priest hurried forward to the Indian camp-fires, "I hate to think of you risking yourself in this way for——"
"Stop thinking, then," she interrupted abruptly46 in a voice that somehow reminded me of my first vision of statuary.
"I beg your pardon," I blundered on. "Father Holland and I have both forgotten to apologize for our rudeness about helping47 you down."
"Pray don't apologize," answered the marble voice. Then the girl laughed. "Really you're worse than I thought, when I heard you bungling48 over a boat. I didn't mind your rudeness. It was funny."
"I didn't mind your rudeness," she repeated, "and—and—you mustn't mind mine. Homesick people aren't—aren't—responsible, you know. Ah! Here are the torches! Give me one. I thank you—Father Holland—is it not? Please smother50 them down till we reach the river, or we'll be followed."
She was off in a flash, leading us through a high growth of rushes across the flats. So I was both recognized and remembered from the previous night. The thought was not displeasing51. The wind moaned dismally52 through the reeds. I did not know that I had been glancing nervously53 behind at every step, with uncomfortable recollections[Pg 124] of arrows and spear-heads, till Father Holland exclaimed:
"Why, boy! You're timid! What are you scared of?"
"Faith! There's more than yourself runs from His Majesty55; but resist the devil and he will flee from you."
"Not the kind of devil that's my enemy," I explained. I told him of the arrow-shot and spear-head, and all mirth left his manner.
"I know him, I know him well. There's no greater scoundrel between Quebec and Athabasca."
"My devil, or yours?"
"Yours, lad. Let your laughter be turned to mourning! Beware of him! I've known more than one murder of his doing. Eh! But he's cunning, so cunning! We can't trip him up with proofs; and his body's as slippery as an eel56 or we might——"
"Holy Mary save us!" he ejaculated panting to keep up with our guide. "Faith! I thought 'twas the devil himself!"
"Do you really mean it? Would it be right to get hold of Le Grand Diable?" I asked. Frances Sutherland had slackened her pace and we were all three walking abreast58. A dry cane59 crushed noisily under foot and my head ducked down as if more arrows had hissed60 past.[Pg 125]
"Mane it?" he cried, "mane it? If ye knew all the evil he's done ye'd know whether I mane it." It was his custom when in banter61 to drop from English to his native brogue like a merry-andrew.
"But, Father Holland, I had him in my power. I struck him, but I didn't kill him, more's the pity!"
"An' who's talking of killin', ye young cut-throat? I say get howld of his body and when ye've got howld of his body, I'd further advise gettin' howld of the butt62 end of a saplin'——"
"But, Father, he was my canoeman. I had him in my power."
Instantly he squared round throwing the torchlight on my face.
"Had him in your power—knew what he'd done—and—and—didn't?"
"And didn't," said I. "But you almost make me wish I had. What do you take traders for?"
"You're young," said he, "and I take traders for what they are——"
"But I'm a trader and I didn't——" Though a beginner, I wore the airs of a veteran.
"Benedicite!" he cried. "The Lord shall be your avenger63! He shall deliver that evil one into the power of the punisher!"
"Benedicite!" he repeated. "May ye keep as clean a conscience in this land as you've brought to it."
"Amen, Father!" said I.
"Here we are," exclaimed Frances Sutherland[Pg 126] as we emerged from the reeds to the brink64 of the river, where a skiff was moored65. "Go, be quick! I'll stay here! 'Twill be better without me. The Hudson's Bay are keeping close to the far shore!"
"You can't stay alone," objected Father Holland.
"I shall stay alone, and I've had my way once already to-night."
"But we don't wish to lose one woman in finding another," I protested.
"Go," she commanded with a furious little stamp. "You lose time! Stupids! Do you think I stay here for nothing? We may have been followed and I shall stay here and watch! I'll hide in the rushes! Go!" And there was a second stamp.
That stamp of a foot no larger than a boy's hand cowed two strong men and sent us rowing meekly66 across the river.
"Did ye ever—did ever ye see such a little termagant, such a persuasive67, commanding little queen of a termagant?" asked the priest almost breathless with surprise.
"Queen of courage!" I answered back.
"Queen of hearts, too, I'm thinking. Arrah! Me hearty, to be young!"
She must have smothered68 her torch, for there was no light among the reeds when I looked back. We crossed the river slowly, listening between oar17-strokes for the paddle-dips of approaching canoes. There was no sound but the lashing[Pg 127] of water against the pebbled69 shore and we lay in a little bay ready to dash across the fleet's course, when the boats should come abreast.
We had not long to wait. A canoe nose cautiously rounded the headland coming close to our boat. Instantly I shot our skiff straight across its path and Father Holland waved the torches overhead.
"Hist! Hold back there—have a care!" I called.
"Clear the way!" came an angry order from the dark. "Clear—or we fire!"
"Fire if you dare, you fools!" I retorted, knowing well they would not alarm the fort, and we edged nearer the boat.
"Where's Eric Hamilton?" I demanded.
"Answer—quick!" I urged Father Holland, thinking they would respect holy orders; and I succeeded in bumping my craft against their canoe.
"Strike him with your paddle, man!" yelled the steersman, who was beyond reach.
"Give 'im a bullet!" called another.
"For shame, ye saucy71 divils!" shouted the priest, shaking his torch aloft and displaying his garb72. "Shame to ye, threatenin' to shoot a missionary! Ye'd be much better showin' respect to the Church. Whur's Eric Hamilton?" he demanded in a fine show of indignation, and[Pg 128] he caught the edge of their craft in his right hand.
"Let go!" and the steersman threateningly raised a pole that shone steel-shod.
"Let go—is ut ye're orderin' me?" thundered the holy man, now in a towering rage, and he flaunted73 the torch over the crew. "Howld y'r imp'dent tongues!" he shouted, shaking the canoe. "Be civil this minute, or I'll spill ye to the bottom, ye load of cursin' braggarts! Faith an' ut's a durty meal ye'd make for the fush! Foine answers ye give polite questions! How d'y' know we're not here to warn ye about the fort? For shame to ye. Whur's Eric Hamilton, I say?"
Some of the canoemen recognized the priest. Conciliatory whispers passed from man to man.
"Hamilton's far ahead—above the falls now," answered the steersman.
"Then, as ye hope to save your soul," warned Father Holland not yet appeased74, "deliver this young man's message!"
"Tell Hamilton," I cried, "that she whom he seeks is held captive by a band of Sioux on Lake Winnipeg and to make haste. Tell him that and he'll reward you well!"
"Vary by one word from the message," added the priest, "and my curses'll track your soul to the furnace."
Father Holland relaxed his grasp, the paddles dipped down and the canoe was lost in the darkness.[Pg 129]
More than once I thought that a shadowy thing like an Indian's boat had hung on our rear and the craft seemed to be dogging us back to the flats. Father Holland raised his torch and could see nothing on the water but the glassy reflection of our own forms. He said it was a phantom75 boat I had seen; and, truly, visions of Le Grande Diable had haunted me so persistently76 of late, I could scarcely trust my senses. Frances Sutherland's torch suddenly appeared waving above the flats. I put muscle to the oar and before we had landed she called out—
"An Indian's canoe shot past a moment ago. Did you see it?"
"No," returned Father Holland.
"I think we did," said I.
"How can I thank you for what you have done?" I was saying to Frances Sutherland as we entered the fort by the same sally-port.
"Do you really want to know how?"
"Do I?" I was prepared to offer dramatic sacrifice.
"Then never think of it again, nor speak of it again, nor know me any more than if it hadn't happened——"
"The conditions are hard."
"And——"
"And what?" I asked eagerly.
"And help me back the way I came down. For if my father—oh! if my father knew—he would kill me!"[Pg 130]
"Faith! So he ought!" ejaculated the priest. "Risking such precious treasure among vandals!"
Again I piled up the benches. From the bench, she stepped to the bucket, and from the bucket to my shoulder, and as the light weight left my shoulder for the window sill, unknown to her, I caught the fluffy77 skirt, now bedraggled with the night dew, and kissed it gratefully.
"Not unless it's in your nose," I returned huffily. "Show me a man of all the hundreds inside, Father Holland, that wouldn't go on his marrow-bones to a woman who risks life and reputation, which is dearer than life, to save another woman!"
"Bless you, me hearty, if he wouldn't, he'd be a villain," said the priest.
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收听单词发音
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1
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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7
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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8
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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12
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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14
flutes
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| 长笛( flute的名词复数 )； 细长香槟杯（形似长笛） | |
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15
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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16
smacking
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| 活泼的，发出响声的，精力充沛的 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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18
fiddles
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| n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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19
jigs
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| n.快步舞（曲）极快地( jig的名词复数 )；夹具v.（使）上下急动( jig的第三人称单数 ) | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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21
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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22
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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23
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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24
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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25
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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26
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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27
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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28
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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30
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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32
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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eavesdropper
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| 偷听者 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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39
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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40
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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41
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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42
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
savored
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| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
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44
frisky
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| adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地 | |
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45
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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46
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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47
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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48
bungling
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| adj.笨拙的，粗劣的v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的现在分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成 | |
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49
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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51
displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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52
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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53
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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54
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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55
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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56
eel
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| n.鳗鲡 | |
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57
loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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58
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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59
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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60
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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61
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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63
avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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64
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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65
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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66
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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67
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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68
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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69
pebbled
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| 用卵石铺（pebble的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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70
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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71
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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72
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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73
flaunted
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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74
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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75
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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76
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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77
fluffy
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| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
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78
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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