University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

Besides the house with its walls of stone, however, there
were numerous out-buildings. The carriage-house, stables,
and home-barn, were all of stone also: but a brand thrown
into a hay-mow would easily produce a conflagration.
The barns, hay-ricks, &c., on the flats, and near the dwelling
of Miller, were all of wood, according to the custom of
the country, and it was not death to set fire to a barn. The

`disguised and armed' who should commit this last offence,
would incur no other risk than that which had already been
incurred in carrying out his desperate plans. I thought of
these things for a moment, when I opened a passage through
the currant-bushes, intending to pass by a breach in the decayed
fence into the garden, and thus by a private way to
the house. To my astonishment, and in a slight degree to
my alarm, a man stood before me the instant I emerged
from the thicket.

“Who be—where go—what want?” demanded one of the
real red-skins, significantly; this being a sentinel of the
party whose vigilance even my guarded approach had not
eluded.

I told him who I was, and that I came to seek the interpreter,
Manytongues. No sooner was I recognised, than my
red friend offered me his hand to shake, American fashion,
and seemed satisfied. He asked no question, manifested no
curiosity at this visit at an hour so unusual, and took it all
as one in ordinary life would receive a call in a morning
between the permitted hours of twelve and three. Something
had brought me there, he must have known; but, what that
something was appeared to give him no concern. This man
accompanied me to the house, and pointed to the spot where
I should find the person I sought, snoring on his well-shaken
bundles of straw.

At the first touch of my finger, Manytongues awoke, and
stood erect. He recognised me in an instant, dark as was
the room, and touching my arm as a signal to follow, led
the way into the open air. After moving out of ear-shot, he
stopped and proceeded to business himself, like one accustomed
to such interruptions.

“Anything stirring to-night?” demanded this frontierman,
with the coolness of one who was ever ready. “Am
I to call my red-skins; or is it only a notice that is to be
given?”

“Of that you shall judge for yourself. You doubtless
know the condition of this part of the country, and the troubles
that exist on the subject of the rents paid for the use of
the farms. What you saw to-day is a specimen of the
scenes that are now constantly acted among us.”

“Colonel, I can't say I do rightly understand the state of

things down here-a-way,” drawled out the interpreter, after
yawning like a hound, and giving me the most favourite title
of the frontiers. “It seems to be neither one thing nor
t'other; nuther tomahawk nor law. I can understand both
of them, but this half-and-half sort of thing bothers me, and
puts me out. You ought to have law, or you hadn't ought;
but what you have should be stuck to.”

“You mean that you do not find this part of the country
either civilized or savage. Not submitting to the laws, nor
yet permitting the natural appeal to force?”

“Something of that sort. The agent told me, when I
came on with this party of red-skins, that I was comin' down
into a quarter of the country where there was justices of the
peace, and that no man, red or pale, could or should right
himself. So we've all on us indivour'd to go by that rule;
and I can qualify that not a critter has been shot or scalped
since we crossed the Mississippi. Some sich law was necessary
among us, as we came from different and hostile tribes,
and nothing would be easier than to breed a quarrel among
ourselves, if a body was so disposed. But, I must say, that
I'm not only disapp'inted myself, but most of my chiefs be
dreadfully disapp'inted likewise.”

“In what particular have you been most disappointed?”

“In many matters. The first thing that set me a-thinkin'
was to hear folks read them newspapers. The way men
talk of each other, in them things, is wonderful, and to me
it's a surprise any's left, at the end of the year, to begin the
same game the next. Why, Colonel Littlepage—”

“I am no colonel—not even an ensign—you must be
confounding me with some other of my family.”

“You ought to be, sir, and I shall not do you the injustice
to call you by any lower title. I've known gentlemen
of not one-quarter your pretensions tarmed gin'rals, out
West. I've hunted on the prer-ies these twenty-five years,
and have now crossed the Upper Lakes six times, and know
what is due to a gentleman as well as any man. And so,
as I was sayin', Colonel Littlepage, was men to talk of each
other out on the prer-ies as they print of each other down
here among the meetin-'uses, scalps would be so plenty as
to fall considerable in valie. I'm not at all spiteful, but my
feelin's has been r'iled at only just hearin' 'em things read;

for, as for reading myself, that's a thing I never condescended
to. This somewhat prepared me for findin' things
different as I got deeper into the settlements, and I've not
been disapp'inted so far as them expectations went—it's the
old idee that's been crossed.”

“I am not astonished to hear this, and agree with you
entirely in thinking that the nations which can withstand a
press of which the general character is as degraded as that
of this country, must be composed of beings of a higher
order than man. But, to come to business; you must have
some notions of these mock savages, and of the people called
anti-renters?”

“Sort o', and sort o' not. I can't understand when a
man has agreed to pay rent, why he should not pay it. A
bargain is a bargain, and the word of a gentleman is as
good as his bond.”

“These opinions would surprise some among us, a few
legislators included. They appear to think that the moral
test of every engagement is whether the parties like it or
not.”

“One word, if you please, Colonel. Do they give in as
much to complaints of the owners of the sile as to the complaints
of them that hire the land in order to work it?”

“Not at all. The complaints of the landlords would not
find a single sympathetic chord in the breast of the softest
hearted politician in America, let them be ever so well-founded.
Surely, you, who are a rover on the prairies, can
have no great respect for land titles?”

“The prer-ie is the prer-ie, Colonel, and men live and
act by prer-ie law on prer-ie ground. But right is right, too,
Colonel, as well as prer-ie is prer-ie; and I like to see it
pervail. I do not think you will find a red-skin among all
the chiefs who are asleep under that roof who will not give
his voice ag'in flying from the tarms of a solemn bargain.
A man must be well steeped in the ways of the law, I
should judge, to bring his mind to such an act.”

“Do these red-men, then, know anything of the nature
of the difficulties that exist here?”

“They have heard on 'em, and have talked a good deal
together on the subject. It's opposyte to the very natur' of
an Indian, like, to agree to one thing, and to do another.

But, here is a Chippewa, who is on the look-out. I will ask
him a question, and you shall hear his answer.”

Manytongues now spoke to the sentinel, who was sauntering
near. After a brief exchange of questions and answers
in the tongue of the latter, the interpreter communicated what
had passed.

“This Chippewa has heard somewhere,” he said, “that
there are folks in this part of the world who get into wigwams,
by agreeing to pay rent for them, and, when once in
possession, they want to fly from their agreements, and
make the man they got it from prove his right to it. Is that
true, Colonel?”

“It is true, out of all question, and not only do the tenants
wish to enact this treachery, but they have found others,
that call themselves legislators, who are willing to sustain
them in the fraud. It is much as if you should borrow, or
hire a rifle for a day's sporting, and when the man who let
you have it, came to claim it at night, you should tell him
to prove he was the right owner.”

“What's that to me? I got the rifle of him; have no right
but such as he had; and am bound to stand by my bargain.
No. no. Colonel; not a redskin on the prer-ies but would
revolutionize at that! But, what may have brought you
here, at this time o' night? Them that sleep in beds, don't
like to quit them 'till mornin' comes to tell 'em to rise.”

I then gave Manytongues an account of the visit I had
received, without mentioning the name of Opportunity, however,
and related the nature of the warning I had heard.
The interpreter was, in no wise, disturbed at this prospect
of a collision with the Injins, against whom he had a grudge,
not only on account of the little affair of the preceding day,
but mainly in consequence of their having brought real
savages into discredit, by the craven and clumsy manner in
which they had carried out their imitation.

“Nothin' better is to be expected from such critturs,” he
observed, after we had discussed the matter together, at
some little length, “though fire is held to be lawful warfare,
even on the prer-ies. For my part, I'm not at all sorry
there is something to do; nor will my chiefs be melancholy
on this account, for it is dull work to be doing nothing, for
months and months at a time, but smoking at councils,

making speeches to folks who live by talking, and eating
and drinking. Activity is the natur' of a prer-ie man, and
he's always glad to pick his flint, after a spell of considerable
quiet. I'll tell the Chippewa to step in, and bring out
the redskins, a'ter which you can give your orders.”

“I could wish watchfulness rather than violence. The
men can lie in watch, near the principal buildings, and it
might be well to have some water ready, to extinguish any
flames that may be lighted, before they get too far ahead.”

“Just as you say, Colonel, for you are my Captain-General.
But, I can tell you how I did once, out on the prer-ies,
when I caught a rascal of a Sioux blowing a fire he had kindled
at one of my own lodges. I just laid him on the flames,
and let him put them out himself by bleeding on them.”

“We must have no violence, unless it become indispensable
to save the buildings. The law will not justify us, in
using our arms, except in the last extremity. Prisoners I
wish you to take; for they may serve as hostages, besides
furnishing examples to intimidate other offenders. I rely
on you to give due warning to our red friends, on this
subject.”

The interpreter gave a sort of grunt, but he said nothing.
The conversation went no farther, however, just then; for,
by this time, the Indians came stealing out of the house,
every man of them armed, looking dusky, prepared and full
of wariness. Manytongues did not keep them long, but
soon told his story. After this, his authority appeared, in a
great measure, to cease. Flintyheart was now the most
prominent of the party, though Prairiefire, and another warrior,
were also connected with the orders given to the rest.
I observed that Eaglesflight had no part in these arrangements,
which were peculiarly military, though he appeared,
armed and ready, and went forth on the sudden call, like
the rest. In five minutes the Indians were all off, principally
in pairs, leaving the interpreter and myself still standing
together, in front of the deserted house.

It was, by this time, past one o'clock, and I thought it
probable my enemies would soon appear, if they came
that night. Accompanied by the interpreter, I took the
way towards the Nest House, it occurring to me that arms
might be wanted, in the course of the morning. On quitting

my room, the rifle and pistol provided by John had
been left there, and I thought of stealing into the house
again, obtaining those weapons, extinguish my lights, and
rejoin my present companion, without giving alarm to any
of the sleepers.

This plan was successfully executed, so far as ascending
to my room and descending to the door were concerned,
but there it met with an interruption. While in the very
act of closing the little postern, as we used to call it, by
way of pleasantry, I felt a small soft hand laid on the one
of my own which was drawing to the door after me. In
an instant I had turned, and was at the side of Mary Warren.
I expressed my surprise at finding her still up, and
concern lest she might suffer in health, in consequence of
so much unusual watchfulness.

“I could not sleep after what has passed to-night,” she
answered, “without knowing the meaning of all these
movements. I have been looking from my window, and
saw you assist Opportunity to get on her horse, and afterward
walk towards the old farm-house, where the Indians
are lodged. Tell me frankly, Mr. Littlepage, is there any
danger to be apprehended?”

“I shall be frank with you, Mary” — how easy and
pleasant it was to me to use this gentle familiarity, which
might now be assumed without appearing to be presumptuous,
under all the circumstances of our intercourse; “I
shall be frank with you, Mary; for I know that your prudence
and self-command will prevent any unnecessary
alarm, while your watchfulness may be of use. There is
some reason to fear the brand.”

“The brand!”

“So Opportunity has given me reason to suppose; and I
do not think she would have ridden the distance she did, at
such an hour, unless her business were serious. The brand
is the proper instrument of the anti-renter, and renders his
disguise convenient. I have got all the red-men on the
look-out, however; and I do not think that mischief can be
done to-night, without its being detected. To-morrow, we
can appeal to the authorities for protection.”

“I will not sleep this night!” exclaimed Mary, drawing
the light shawl she wore, as a protection against the air of

that summer-night, more closely around her person, as a
sterner being might be supposed to gird on his armour in a
moment of peril. “I care not for rest. They ought not,
they shall not, Mr. Littlepage, do you this wrong. Have
you apprehensions for this house?”

“One never knows. This house is not easily set fire to
from without, and I scarcely think there can be any enemy
within. The domestics are old and tried, and I do not believe
that either of them could be bought. I feel little apprehension,
therefore, from any within, while I confess to a good
deal from those without. Fire is such a dreadful foe, and
one is usually so helpless against its ravages in the country!
I will not ask you to retire, for I know you will not
—nay, cannot sleep; but, by passing from window to window,
for the next hour, or until I rejoin you, your mind
will be occupied, and possibly some injury might be prevented.
An unseen observer from a window might detect
an attempt that would escape those on the watch without.”

“I will do so,” said Mary, eagerly; “and should I discover
anything, I will open a leaf of the shutter of my own
room. You can then see the light of the candle within,
and by coming at once to this door, you will find me here,
ready to let you know my discovery.”

With this understanding we parted, but not until I had
shaken hands affectionately with this gentle-looking, but
really resolute and clear-headed girl. I rejoined Manytongues,
who stood in the shadows of the piazza, where
there was no possibility of his being seen, except by one
quite near his person. After a brief explanation, we parted,
one taking the north side of the buildings, and the other the
south, in order to make certain no incendiary was at work
on either of the wings.

The Nest House was much less exposed to attempts like
those we apprehended, than most American dwellings. The
structure being of stone, left but little inflammable material
accessible; and the doors, on the exterior, were only two—
those already mentioned. There was a great gate, it is
true; one large enough to admit a cart into the inner court,
on the southern face of the wing, beneath the arch of which
an incendiary might, indeed, make his attempt, though a
practised rogue would at once see the difficulties. Little

wood was even there, beyond that of the massive gate itself,
which, once burnt, would leave no further fuel for flames.
I examined the place, notwithstanding; and finding all safe
on my side of the building, I went to rejoin the interpreter,
who was to meet me at the foot of a fine beech, which spread
its broad arms over the lawn, at the distance of about a
hundred yards from the house, and so nearly in its front, as
to afford us, in all respects, the most eligible position for
sentinels on duty like ours, far or near.

At the foot of that beech I found Manytongues, and the
deep obscurity in which his form was embedded, was, of
itself, a high recommendation of the position. I did not see
him until almost near enough to touch him. He was seated
on a bench, and seemed entirely at his ease, like one accustomed
to ambushes, vigilance, and midnight assaults. We
exchanged reports, ascertained all was well, and then I took
my seat at the interpreter's side, willing to beguile the time
by such discourse as occurred to my mind.

“That was a most interesting scene, last evening,” I remarked;
“the interview between Old Trackless and your
red companions! I own a lively curiosity to know what
particular claim our aged friend has on those distant tribes,
that chiefs of note have come so far to see him?”

“They have not come all the way from the prer-ies, to
this spot, on any such ar'n'd, though I do not question their
readiness to do so. In the first place, old age, when accompanied
by wisdom, and sobriety, and a good character, goes
a great way with savages, in gin'ral. But, there is something
partic'lar about the acts of Susquesus that I do not
know, which raises him higher than common in redskin
eyes. I intend to l'arn what it is before we quit this country.”

A pause succeeded; then I spoke of the “prer-ies,” as
almost all western men pronounce the word. I drew such
an outline of the life as I supposed my companion passed
there, thinking it might be agreeable to hear his own habits
and enjoyments extolled.

“I 'll tell you how it is, Colonel,” returned the interpreter,
with a little show of feeling; much more than he had
previously manifested on any occasion during our short acquaintance;
“yes, I 'll jist tell you how it is. Prer-ie life
is delightsome to them that loves freedom and justice.”

“Freedom I can understand,” said I, interrupting him, in
my surprise—“but as for justice, I should think that laws
are absolutely necessary.”

“Ay, that 's a settlement idee, I know, but it 's not as
true as some supposes. There is no court and jury like
this, Colonel,” slapping the breech of his rifle with energy;
“and eastern powder conspired with Galena lead, makes
the best of attorneys. I 've tried both, and speak on sartainty.
Law druv' me out upon the prer-ies, and love for
them keeps me there. Down this-a-way, you 're neither one
thing nor tuther—law nor rifle; for, if you had law, as law
ought to be, you and I wouldn't be sitting here, at this time
of night, to prevent your mock Injins from setting fire to
your houses and barns.”

There was only too much truth in this last position of
the straightforward interpreter to be gainsaid. After making
some proper allowances for the difficulties of the case, and
the unexpected circumstances, no impartial man could deny
that the laws had been trifled with, or things never would
have reached the pass they had: as Manytongues affirmed,
we had neither the protection of the law, nor the use of the
rifle. It ought to be written in letters of brass in all the
highways and places of resort in the country, that A STATE
OF SOCIETY WHICH PRETENDS TO THE PROTECTION THAT
BELONGS TO CIVILIZATION, AND FAILS TO GIVE IT, ONLY
MAKES THE CONDITION OF THE HONEST PORTION OF THE
COMMUNITY SO MUCH THE WORSE, BY DEPRIVING IT OF THE
PROTECTION CONFERRED BY NATURE, WITHOUT SUPPLYING
THE SUBSTITUTE.

I dare say the interpreter and I sat an hour under that
tree, conversing in low voices, on such matters and things
as came uppermost in our minds. There was a good deal
of true prer-ie philosophy in the opinions of my companion,
which is much as if one should say his notions were a mixture
of clear natural justice and strong local prejudices.
The last sentiment he uttered was so very characteristic as
to merit particular notice.

“I'll tell you how it is, Colonel,” he said, “right is
right, and nonsense is nonsense. If so be, we should happen
to catch one of these mocking rascals firing your
house or barn, it would be a smart chance at justice to settle

things on the spot. If I had my way, I should just tie the
fellow, hands and feet, and toss him into the flames to help
him along with his own work. A rascal makes the best of
kindling-wood!”

Just at that instant I saw an upper leaf of the inside shutter
of Mary Warren's room open, for my eye was resting on the
window at that very moment. The light had been brought
so near the opening as plainly to show the change, leaving no
doubt that my fair sentinel within had made some important
discovery. At such a summons I could not hesitate; but, telling
Manytongues to continue his watchfulness, I went across
the lawn with the steps of youth and haste. In two minutes
my hand was on the latch of the little door; and, in two seconds
more, it was open, and I found myself standing in front
of Mary Warren. A gesture from her hand induced me to be
cautious, and closing the door silently, I asked an explanation.

“Speak not too loud,” whispered the anxious girl, preserving
a wonderful self-command, nevertheless, for the
extraordinary circumstances in which she was placed.” I
have discovered them; they are here!”

“Here!—not in the house, surely?”

“In the house itself!—in the kitchen, where they are
kindling a fire on the floor at this instant. Come quickly;
—there is not a moment to lose.”

It may be well to explain here the arrangement of the
kitchens and offices, in order to render what is to follow the
more intelligible. The gateway mentioned cut the southern
wing of the house into two equal parts, the chambers, however,
extending the whole length, and of course passing
over it. On the western side of this gateway were certain
offices connected with the eating-rooms, and those eating-rooms
themselves. On the eastern side were the kitchen,
servants' hall, scullery, &c., and a flight of narrow stairs
that led to the chambers occupied by the domestics. The
outside door to this latter portion of the building was beneath
the arch of the gateway, one corresponding to it
opening on its opposite side, and by means of which the
service was ordinarily made. There was a court, environed
on three of its sides by the main edifice, and by the two
long, low wings that have been so often mentioned, while it
was open on the fourth to the cliff. This cliff was low,

and, while it was nearly perpendicular, it was possible for
an active man to ascend, or even to descend it, by clinging
to the rocks, which were sufficiently ragged to admit of
such an adventure. When a boy I had done both fifty
times, and it was a somewhat common experiment among
the male domestics and hirelings of the household. It
occurred to me at once that the incendiaries had most probably
entered the house by ascending the cliff, the kitchen
of itself furnishing all the materials to light a conflagration.

The reader will be assured that, after receiving the startling
communication of Mary Warren, I did not stop to discuss
all these matters with her. My first impulse was to
desire her to run to the beech, and bid Manytongues join
me, but she refused to quit my side.

“No—no—no. You must not go to the kitchen alone,”
she said, hurriedly. “There are two of them, and desperate
looking wretches are they, with their faces blackened, and
they have muskets. No—no—no. Come, I will accompany
you.”

I hesitated no longer, but moved forward, Mary keeping
close at my side. Fortunately, I had brought the rifle with
me, and the revolving pistol was in my pocket. We went
by the eating-rooms and offices, the course taken by Mary
herself on her watch; and who, in looking through a small
window of one of the last, that opened beneath the gateway,
had discovered what was going on, by means of a similar
window in the kitchen. As we went, the noble girl told me
that she had kept moving through the lower rooms of the
whole house during the time I had been on watch out of
doors, and, attracted by the light that gleamed through these
windows, she had distinctly seen two men, with blackened
faces, kindling a fire in a corner of the kitchen, where
the flames must soon communicate with the stairs, by means
of which they would speedily reach the attics and the wood
work of the roof. Fortunately, the floors of all that part of
the house were made of bricks; that of the servants' hall
excepted, which was a room beyond the narrow passage
that contained the stairs. As soon as apprised of the danger,
Mary Warren had flown to the window of her own room, to
make the signal to me, and then to the door to meet me.
But three or four minutes had elapsed between the time

when she became apprised of the danger and that when we
were walking hurriedly to the window beneath the gateway.

A bright light, which shone through the opposite window.
announced the progress made by the incendiaries. Requesting
Mary to remain where she was, I passed through the
door, and descended to the pavement of the gateway. The
little window beneath the arch was too high for my purposes,
when on that level, but there was a row of low windows
that opened on the court. To one of these I moved
swiftly, and got a clear view of all that was passing within.

“There they are!” exclaimed Mary, who, neglectful of
my request, still kept close at my side. “Two men with
blackened faces, and the wood of which they have made
their fire is blazing brightly.”

The fire, now I saw it, did not confirm the dread I felt
when I had it before me only in imagination. The stairway
had an open plaze beneath it, and on the brick floor
below had the incendiaries built their pile. It was constructed,
at the bottom, of some of the common wood that
was found there, in readiness for the wants of the cook in
the morning, lighted by coals taken from the fire-place. A
considerable pile had been made with the wood, which was
now burning pretty freely, and the two rascals were busy
piling on the chairs when I first saw them. They had made
a good beginning, and in ten or fifteen minutes longer there
is no doubt that all that portion of the house would have been
in flames.

“You said they had muskets,” I whispered to Mary. “Do
you see them now?”

“No: when I saw them, each held his musket in one
hand, and worked with the other.”

I could have shot the villains without difficulty or risk to
myself, but felt deeply averse to taking human life. Still,
there was the prospect of a serious struggle before me, and
I saw the necessity of obtaining assistance.

“Will you go to my uncle's room, Mary, and tell him to
rise immediately. Then to the front door of the house, and
call out, “Manytongues, come here as fast as possible.' It
will take but two minutes to do both, and I will watch these
rascals in the mean time.”

“I dread leaving you here alone with the wretches, Mr.
Littlepage,” whispered Mary, gently.

An earnest entreaty on my part, however, induced her
to comply; and, no sooner did the dear girl set about the
accomplishment of the task, than she flew rather than ran.
It did not seem to me a minute ere I heard her call to the interpreter.
The night was so still, that, sweet as were those
tones, and busy as were the incendiaries, they heard them
too; or fancied they heard something which alarmed them.
They spoke to each other, looked intently at their infernal
work for a single instant, sought their arms, which were
standing in the corner of the kitchen, and were evidently
preparing to depart.

The crisis was near. There was not time to receive assistance
before the two fellows would be out, and I must
either meet them in conflict, or suffer them to escape. My
first impression was to shoot down the leading man, and
grapple with the other ere he had time to prepare his arms.
But a timely thought prevented this hazardous step. The
incendiaries were retiring, and I had a doubt of the legality
of killing a retreating felon. I believed that my chances
before a jury would be far less than those of an ordinary
pick-pocket or highway robber, and had heard and read
enough to be certain there were thousands around me who
would fancy it a sufficient moral provocation for all which
had passed, that I held the fee of farms that other men desired
to possess.

A majority of my countrymen will scout this idea as forced
and improbable. But, majorities are far from being infallible
in their judgments. Let any discreet and observant man
take a near view of that which is daily going on around him.
If he do not find in men this disposition to distort principles,
to pervert justice, and to attain their ends regardless of the
means, then will I admit I do not understand human nature,
as human nature exhibits its deformity in this blessed republic
of ours.

There was no time to lose, however; and the course I
actually decided to take will be soonest told by relating
things as they occurred. I heard the door open, and was
ready for action. Whether the incendiaries intended to
retreat by the cliff, or to open the gate, which was barred

within, I could not tell; but I was ready for either alternative.

No sooner did I hear a step on the pavement of the gateway
than I discharged my rifle in the air. This was done
as an alarm-signal. Clubbing the piece, I sprang forward,
and felled the foremost of the two, with a sharp blow on his
hat. The fellow came down on the pavement like an ox
under the axe of the slaughter-house. Dropping the rifle, I
bounded over his body, and grappled with his companion.
All this was done so rapidly as to take the rascals completely
by surprise. So sudden, indeed, was my assault on
the fellow who stood erect, that he was under the necessity
of dropping his rifle, and at it we went, clenched like bears
in the death-hug. I was young and active, but my antagonist
was the stronger man of the two. He had also the
advantage of being practised in wrestling, and I soon went
down, my enemy falling on top of me. Luckily, I fell on
the body of the other incendiary, who was just beginning to
discover signs of consciousness after the crushing blow he
had received. My chance would now have been small but
for assistance. The incendiary had caught my neck-handkerchief,
and was twisting it to choke me, when I felt a
sudden relief. The light of the fire shone through the
kitchen doors, rendering everything distinct beneath the arch.
Mary came flying back just in time to rescue me. With a
resolution that did her honour, she caught up the rifle I had
dropped, and passed its small end between the bent arms of
my antagonist and his own back, raising it at the same time
like a lever. In the brief interval of breathing this ready
expedient gave me, I rallied my force, caught my enemy by
the throat, made a desperate effort, threw him off, and over
on his side, and was on my feet in an instant. Drawing the
pistol, I ordered the rascal to yield, or to take the consequences.
The sight of this weapon secured the victory, the
black-faced villain shrinking back into a corner, begging
piteously not to be shot. At the next moment, the interpreter
appeared under the arch, followed by a stream of red-skins,
which had been turned in this direction by the alarm
given by my rifle.