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Page 35
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."
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