University of Virginia Library

5. CHAPTER V.

When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill,
and looked back, she could see the Herculean
figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadow far
down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow
court exactly as she had found him doing.

The surrounding scenery now looked doubly
brilliant to her confused senses, after the gloomy
contrasts of her late subterranean journey. The
fleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the
moonbeams shone clearly forth in undimmed
splendour, tipping with silver light each tree and
shrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling
like gems along the rippling current of the purling
brook on the banks of which Bacon waited
her approach.

Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat
dark and oracular, it was sufficiently explicit
to produce a very sensible effect upon the
mind of Virginia, which our hero was not long
in discovering; for as he extended his hand to assist
her across the brook, she tacitly declined the
proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention,
and leaped the streamlet unassisted. He was the
more astonished, that in the whole of their long
intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or
freak occurring towards himself. She seemed reserved

and formal too, as they moved up the opposite
hill; but without remarking on her altered
mood, he sought to draw from her the result of her
expedition. Barely communicating so much as
she had been directed to do, however, she remained
to him inexplicably silent.

While he was revolving these things in his mind
his companion, silently and moodily walking at his
side, without availing herself of his offered arm,
they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down
the hill than the spot where they had left him—
the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm—a
handkerchief tied round his waist, into which were
stuck two pertronels from his own saddlebow;
and in his hand his master's, ready for use.

“In the name of all the saints in Ireland,
what is the matter, Brian?” exclaimed Bacon.

“Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it
there ye are? Sure as death, but I'm the boy
that thought ye were clane murthered iny way.”

“Murdered! why who was to murder us?”

“Faix, an there's enoughiv them to do that same
in this bloody place. Barrin the tay party wid the
great inimy in the side iv the hill yonther, a'int
there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,)
ranting about like so many wild bastes, ready to
peale the tap iv your heads like a pair of onions
or murpheys—divil a word a lie's in that iny
way.”

“Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?”

“Be the contints iv the book, but there is five

yallow rascals gone over the hill towards the city
half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, but I was
as near putting a key note to one of their whistles,
as two tin pinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your
own safety, and the beauty by your side at that
same reckning.”

“I commend your discretion in not shooting—
and I wonder at your sobriety, considering the
condition in which we left you.”

“Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's
after namin?—an is'nt it me that's a pathern
o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, but it all
comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the
larnin iv you, ye beauty; divil a word a lie's in
that.”

“Gone towards the town have they?” said Bacon,
musing—and then examining the priming
of his petronels, he took them—placed them in
their holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning
to his attendant at the same time, to assist Virginia
to the pillion. She being mounted, he continued
his discourse to her. “Keep up your courage my
brave pupil; no danger shall molest you unencountered.”

“Strange as it may appear,” replied she, for the
first time uttering something more than a monosyllable.
“The real danger in which we seem
placed, has few terrors, after my late subterranean
visit.” This last part of the sentence was said
in an under tone, as they cantered over the hill.

“You have done bravely, Virginia, and now

Brian it is our turn. Do you ride foremost—
but on no account pull trigger, or draw your
sword, without my orders. We are at peace with
the confederated tribes of the peninsula:—should
the party therefore prove to be any of these,
bloodshed will be unnecessary. Remember, and
be watchful!”

“Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but
there's no more profit in watchin these skulking
nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish to make
them take the bate; both the one and the tother o'
them bites when you laste expect it. Oh!
would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste to walk
along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread
out before him?”

“Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one
would suppose, to hear you talk, that you were
the greatest coward in Christendom.”

The conversation of the Hibernian was at all
times amusing to our adventurers, and was enjoyed
with more zest, doubtless, on account of the
many excellent qualities which they knew him to
possess, being as they knew, brave, devotedly attached
to them both, and of unvarying good humour.
On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged
his volubility in order to divert his companion's
attention from dwelling upon the danger which
he but too clearly saw might await them on their
passage to the city; and thus was the time beguiled,
until they arrived at the top of the hill
commanding the town and river, without encountering

a single foe, or meeting with any adventure
worth recording. As they descended
towards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating
himself “that there was a clane path intirely
across the stream.” A sudden exclamation of
surprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his
steed, in order to ascertain the cause. This however
was clearly seen before the retrograde movement
was completed.

“Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world,” said
O'Reily, “there they are in our boat too, as sure as
my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a good shot
across that same little river, any way, and by
these pair o' beauties that never lie nor chate” he
continued, unslinging his arms, “but I'll be bound
for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestments
but we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a
tune that'll ring in their ears to the day o' their
deaths.”

“Softly! softly, O'Reily” said Bacon, “you
are as far on the one extreme now as I thought
you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that
two watch on this side, besides the three in the
boat? And as I live, they are preparing to push off.
Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behind these
bushes! we must despatch these two, at least,
without the use of firearms. And you, my gentle
pupil, must remain with the horses. If we
fall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever
it is they are endeavouring to steal, and then
leave the horses and seek a passage by the bridge,

I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the
best we can do under the circumstances.”

“Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!” said Virginia, suddenly
recovering her feelings as well as her voice. “It
is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself, and
I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the
bridge, and from thence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel,
suffer me to go.”

“Not for worlds!” answered Bacon; “do you
not perceive that it would be impossible for you
to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides,
were you even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk
you before you could arouse one person in
the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself
on the sward and hide your eyes, if you will,
until we despatch these two, and then we can hold
the others at bay.”

“But what is the necessity of attacking them at
all, Nathaniel?”

“Do you not see that they have been committing
some depredation?—perhaps worse, and would
be sure to make fight were we to show ourselves
in so small force. But come; O'Reily, we are losing
precious time; follow me, and for your life do
not shoot.”

This short and earnest dialogue was held in
whispers, and in much less time than we have
taken to record it.

The precaution against using firearms was doubtless
given for fear of betraying to the inhabitants

of the town the delicate and apparently equivocal
position in which Virginia was placed. “We
must be upon these two with our good swords, O'
Reily,” said Bacon, “before the others can join
them, and if possible before they perceive us.”

“Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted
wid the taste o' their skulls any way.
Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keep
the others to see their own funerals iny way.”

In a few moments, Bacon and his trusty follower
were silently gliding through the bushes on the
banks of the river, and advanced to within a few
rods of the savages, unperceived either by the
party on the beach or those loading the boat on the
opposite shore. But as they were just emerging
from the last bush which protected their movements,
a characteristic and startling exclamation
“hugh!” from the watch stationed in the boat, at
once precipitated their movements, and put the two
on their guard whom they were about to attack.

There was at that day no male inhabitant of
Jamestown or the surrounding Colony, arrived
at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirely
unacquainted with the mode and usual end
of Indian warfare. Of course, on such occasions
as the present, the contest was for life or death.

Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already
acquired some renown as a warrior in these desperate
single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gave
him and his companion more assurance of success

on this occasion, notwithstanding the fearful odds
which it was possible might be brought against
them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as
has been seen, were on their guard, the conflict at
once became desperate, while those in the boat
made the utmost efforts to join their companions
and overpower their unexpected enemies. No
sooner were the two good swords of Bacon and
O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than corresponding
motions of the savage war clubs gave evidence
that they also were ready for battle. Many
and hard were the blows which were given on
both sides in the struggle, a mere protraction of
which Bacon perceived was destruction. Accordingly
bracing up his own nerves, and cheering
O'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful
lunge at his immediate antagonist, but not before
the reinforcement of the enemy was on the ground
to take his place. A contest of this kind, when
the parties were any thing like equal in number,
was generally not long doubtful—victory in most
instances being upon the side of superior skill and
weapons. But O'Reily, although a veteran soldier,
had met his match in this instance, his antagonist
being a tall and brawny warrior of most
fearful proportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly,
while Bacon, merely having time to catch his
breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of
the new assailants, the third at the same time joining
his already too powerful chief against the
Irishman. The conflict was now desperate and
bloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully,
every blow was followed by a crimson stream, and
they too in their turn were more than once beaten to
their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs.
At one time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly
recovering and rising to his knees he continued
to defend himself until he had once more
regained his feet.

This warfare had now lasted for some minutes,
which seemed an age to the trembling maiden who
stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on the
side of the hill above them. But victory appeared
at length about to crown the desperate efforts of
her friends, whose assailants were now reduced to
exactly their own number, and one, the tall old
chief opposed to Brian, covered with his own
blood and just ready to fall, when a sudden and
terrific yell immediately behind them announced
a reinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the
earth in terror and despair.

“Plunge into the stream and swim for your life.”
shouted Brian—“Oh! but I'll keep their hands
busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of the yellow
devils afore me!”

Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they
seemed to our adventurers) now leaped into the
midst of the conflict, relieving their-own brethren
and thundering their blows upon the heads of their
already exhausted adversaries. In vain they made
furious lunges, forgetting the cunning of fence in

the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict. At
length they both fell under the weapons of their new
enemies and two of the savages, flashing their knives
from their sheaths, prepared to complete the sacrifice;
indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announced
that the butchery had already commenced;
when in an instant the head of the old Chief stooping
over him was severed from the trunk, and in
the next a second blow from the same gigantic arm
prostrated the one about to tear the bloody trophy
from the fallen Cavalier.

Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing
look upon the fate of him who was the
cherished companion of her childhood. In that
moment, doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions
of the Recluse were forgotten, or if remembered,
instantly set aside as the over prudential
suggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power,
governing the feelings of her friends, or of him
who undertook to give her counsel in their stead.

But there were still enemies left besides the two
who had flourished the scalping knife over our
prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse
(for he it was who had come so opportunely to
the rescue) at once renewed the conflict. Placing
his back against a tree, and throwing away
his castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife
with a zest like that of an epicure who bares his
arm to the exercise of the carving knive—whirling
his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs
with the precision, ease and coolness of a professor

exhibiting his skill with the harmless foils.
His first exertions were, of course, on the defensive,
among so many assailants, but if his blows
were rare they were sure and fatal. He was evidently
but putting in practice a sort of exercise
in which he must have both delighted and excelled
in days long past.

At every blow or thrust a savage went down to
rise no more, Bacon, too, now rallied his scattered
senses and exhausted strength, and resumed his
part in the conflict, with enough of both to render
him a valuable auxiliary in the way of defence,
which the Recluse perceiving, sprang into the
midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or
the sword, the exhausted and disheartened remnant.
When Virginia saw this devoutly-prayed-for
termination to the battle, she sank upon the
ground as powerless and exhausted as if she too
had heen actively engaged. The Recluse stooping
over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastened
to the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel
with which the water was usually bailed out, returned
and bathed his face and temples. Not so
swift were his motions however as to prevent his
stopping for a moment at the boat and gazing with
astonishment at something which it contained; but
there was little time for wonder, and he hastened
on his errand. When Brian's face was cleansed
from blood it was found that the scalping knife of
the old warrior had probably been struck from its
intended destination so that the point had caught

in one corner of his mouth and inflicted a wound of
some magnitude across his face. While he was
thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he
was able to exert, toward the spot where he had
left his helpless companion. He found her just
recovering from the listless stupor in which we
left her. “Oh, Nathaniel!” was all that she was
enabled to articulate as she fell into his arms, forgetting
in the deep excitment of the moment every
feeling save the strong and innocent affection
which had so long existed between them.

Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking
the bridle in one hand, and holding her steady in
her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene of
the late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily.
sitting up, with his mouth already bandaged, and
his late assistant and protector gone, having first,
as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat,
as if there were something there which craved attention.
Their own perceptions were now startled
from the same quarter, by the sound of groans.
Bacon ran to the spot, and found a female bound,
and lying upon her face in the bottom of the boat.
Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face
and temples, he speedily restored her to something
like consciousness, and then bore her to the shore
and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily now
recognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie
Jamieson, principal fisherman to the town, whose
hut, for convenient purposes in his avocation, was
situated without the protection of the fort. This

statement also accounted to Bacon for the presence
of a quantity of fish netting in the boat, which
doubtless excited the cupidity of the poor ignorant
savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet.

New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers
in the face at every step on this eventful
night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to his
senses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to
give hopes of recovery, when it occurred to our
hero that something must be done with the dead
bodies. But when he came to reflect upon the
appearance which the battle ground itself would
present, he determined to leave the rest to chance,
and to say nothing himself or through his follower,
and thus leave the gossips of the town to account
for the slaughter of the Indians as they might.
Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the
boat, and O'Reily assisted to his post at the tiller,
while Bacon, having seated Virginia, occupied
Brian's usual place at the oar, being the least injured
of the two.

The former was for once in his life perfectly
silent, perhaps owing to the awkward accident
which had happened to his mouth, thereby rendering
it difficult for him to enunciate with the true
Hibernian pathos.

The females having been landed, Bacon desiring
Virginia to sit by the still benumbed Mrs. Jamieson,
returned for his horses, which were led by the
side of the boat without any difficulty.

The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's

hut, Bacon supporting the feeble steps of its
exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaited
them. A few yards from the house towards the
river, they discovered the body of the fisherman
himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily was
directed to remain with the woman of the house
until she should completely recover her senses,
but on no account to stay longer, or enter into
any explanations.

Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort
unchallenged, and proceeded to the house of Mr.
Fairfax, when the latter entered as quietly and as
unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he
officiated as ostler to his own steed, which service
being finished to his satisfaction he sought his
apartment; the morning being far advanced towards
the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily
imagined, were not profound and undisturbed,—
the restless nervousness of over exertion in mind
and body, being very similar in its effects to that
of too much repose.