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Page 32
"Well, then, corporal," suggested Green, "I vote that as
we're pretty safe, and have yet that piece of plunder,
we set to work and cook it, for I'm devilish hungry, and
so I think we must all be, seeing as how we hain't had
a regular meal the whole day, besides if we rummage the
place, we may chance to light upon somethin' else. I see
the varmint have carried off the nice row of venison hams
that used to hang up round the chimney, but there may
be somethin' in the loft."
"No bad thought that of yours, Green," answered the
corporal, "Cass, you killed the bird, you must pluck it
and grill it."
"That's what I call taking it sensibly," said the latter
leaning his musket against the wall, and dragging the
heavy turkey to the kitchen-corner, where seated on the
very chair on which poor Mr. Heywood had smoked his last
pipe, he commenced plucking out the feathers by handfuls.
"Let fasting without, and feasting within be the word;
but its mortal dry eating that great he turkey, without
something to wash it down. I say, Philips, you are a good
hand at foraging--don't you think you could find out a
little of the Wabash there," and he pointed to the loft.
Philips approached the ladder with the intention of making
a search, but the Virginian checked him.
"Stop a moment," he said, "until I have had another look
out in front." Thus saying he cautiously ascended to his
former position, the view from which was much less
indistinct than before. The obscurity had, in a great
degree, passed away, so much so, that all objects within
the area formed by the enclosures of the garden and the
orchard were thrown into perceptible relief. His first
thought was to cast his glance upon the water, hoping,
he scarcely knew why, that something might be seen of
the skiff which had contained the unfortunate Collins.
Disappointed in that quarter, his eye next turned upon
the walnut tree, the white blossoms of which had dropped
around and upon the spot, where lay the body of the
ill-fated Le Noir, at whose head was still squatted, as
when he had left him, his faithful dog. There was much
in this trait of devotion on the part of the animal which
could not fail to awaken sympathy even in the roughest
heart, and although the corporal was not particularly
sentimental, he could not but be deeply touched by the
contrast forced upon him, between the moaning animal and
the wild lust for blood which reigned in the hearts of
their unprovoked assailants. His first impulse was to
call approvingly to the dog, but the next moment's
reflection on the folly of such a proceeding stifled the
impulse. Then his attention was called not only to the
perfect immunity from further outrage of the victim and
his follower, but to the profound silence, and absence
of danger which seemed to exist in that quarter. That
the Indians had not departed, although they had not been
heard since the yell that followed the cry produced by
the thrust from Green's bayonet, he felt confident, and
it now seemed to him that they must be directing their
efforts against some other part of the building.
No sooner had he admitted this last belief, than he again
descended, and raising the ladder himself, bore it
noiselessly to the spot whence it had been removed, then
ordering the candle to be extinguished, and the embers
to be drawn together, so as to deaden the light of the
fire, he with Green and Weston crept up the ladder, Cass
being left to complete the preparation of the turkey the
best way he could, while Philips and Jackson, posted at
the back and front doors, listened attentively for the
slightest sound of danger, which being heard, they were
at once to warn the party above.
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.
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