5. V.
THE ESCAPE.
THE morning brought light and cheerfulness.
The sleepers aroused themselves; Miss Argal retired
for a time, to make her toilet, and soon all
had re-assembled in the large apartment where a
plentiful breakfast was smoking upon the hospitable board.
“Suppose we have the Injun rascal up,” said Captain
Wagner. “I think the sight of his copper-colored mug will
give me a better appetite.”
And every one acquiescing in this suggestion, the Borderer
directed several of the servants to lead up the prisoner.
They promptly left the apartment, and Wagner turned to
Falconbridge.
“Do you know, my dear comrade,” he said, “that I think
you are the pearl of gallants?”
“Pray, how?” asked the young man, smiling.
“Why, you came so promptly to Miss Argal's assistance
last night, that you shamed us all, companion.”
Falconbridge smiled again, and said:
“I deserve no praise, Captain. I had not retired. I was
sitting at the window thinking, as I often do—a bad habit I
confess—when Miss Argal screamed. To go to her assistance
was surely natural.”
“Dooms natural!” said the Captain, pushing up his
black moustache; “and Miss Bertha needed you.”
“I—thought—it was—father,” replied the young lady coloring.
“Good, good! We're not expected to see in the dark,”
was the Borderer's sardonic answer; “and when Injuns are
about, a woman may run into the arms of the first fighter
she sees—faith, 'twas a pretty picture!”
A suppressed flash of the young lady's eye seemed to indicate
that she discovered in these words something more
than they expressed: but otherwise she betrayed no emotion.
“Well, well,” added the Borderer, “let us think of the
rascal we caught. I'm mistaken if we don't get out of him
the real meaning of this little scrimmage in the dark—which
I think was a wandering party only, that is safe a score of
miles away by now in the Southwest Mountains.”
Old John appeared at the door, as the words were uttered
—his face elongated, his eyes full of meaning.
“Where's the copper-colored rattle-snake—the serpent?”
cried Wagner.
“Gone, sir! clean gone!” said the old body servant, holding
up both hands.
Captain Wagner rose with sudden energy, and hastened
to the cellar, followed by his companions.
“Gone, as I'm a man!” he cried, twisting his moustache.
“Look! Falconbridge, he got through there, the snake!”
And the speaker pointed to a low window from which two
rusty iron bars had been wrested by main force.
“He managed to get his hands loose, and by this time is
at the end of the world. I'm a hog not to see better to his
tying up!”
And having thus unburdened his mind, the Captain slowly
retired from the cellar, shaking his head, and returned to the
breakfast-room. The sight of the smoking meal seemed to
restore his equanimity; and his huge nostrils evidently experienced
the utmost pleasure in snuffing up the savory
odor of the rich broils and hashes.
“Faith! something yet remains!” was the philosophic remark
of the worthy; “life is not gloomy when a man can
eat as I am going to. Come friends, let us get to work!”
And first regaling himself with a huge gulp from the pungent
“dram” which old John had concocted, the Borderer
applied himself with energy to the business before him. It
was a spectacle full of interest to see the piles of edibles disappear
before him. Not until almost everything had vanished
did the Captain lean back in his chair, like a son of
Anak, twist his moustache, and open his lips for the purpose
of conversation.
The movements of the entire party were discussed, and
very soon every one had determined upon his plans of the
day. There was not the least danger of any attack from the
Indians, said the Captain, in broad day, out of the woods:
but his intention was to scour the surrounding country, and
pick up every detail. George declared he would go with
him.
“And I,” said Falconbridge, “shall accompany Miss
Argal as far as her home, if she will permit me.”
“I shall be very glad,” said the young lady, looking at him
with her strangely fascinating glance. Then casting down
her eyes, she added, “but pray do not let me inconvenience
you.”
“ 'Tis none, I assure you,” he replied. “Captain Wagner
has spoken to me of a certain `Van Doring's Ordinary' in
the same direction, and here I purpose stopping until I arrange
some business with my Lord Fairfax.”
With these words, Falconbridge offered his hand to the
young lady to assist her in mounting her horse, which stood
ready at the steps. The young girl's hand was ungloved
like his own, and—could he be mistaken?—did the soft,
slender fingers press and cling to his own, as if she would
retain the hand of the youth? His eyes filled with sudden
light, and mounting his glossy white throughbred, he cantered
off joyfully by the side of the young lady: Mr. Argal
following more leisurely upon his cob.
“What a noble face!” said George, looking after them.
“Do you know, Captain, that I can't help loving him?”
“Who? Falconbridge?”
“Yes—though I've known him less than a day.”
“Well, you're right. 'Tis as fine a head as ever I saw on
human shoulders. There's only one fault I can see in it—
not enough of gray hairs.”
“Gray hairs!”
“Yes, my young friend; he's too grand and true and unsuspecting.
All that won't answer in this miserable world,
that's full of snakes, Injuns, rascals, and deception. Don't
ask me what I mean—I never mean anything. Let us rather
take a drink of this fine October air, that is better by far
than twenty year old Jamaica, or I'm a dandy!”
And the Borderer inhaled the breezy atmosphere, drinking
in life at every pore. His eye wandered over the great
landscape of prairie, forest, mountain, and river, variegated
by the shadows of vast floating clouds; and his whole face
glowed with pleasure.
“His lordship's got a splendid country here, friend
George,” he said: “I envy him the look he's taking at it
now.”
“Lord Fairfax?”
“Yes, he's in the mountains yonder, 'unting, as the worthy
John says—is this good Baron of Cameron, and Earl of
Fairfax. When we shall see him, the devil only knows. He's
a perfect Nimrod, a wild Injun on the trail of game, a real
iron fellow, or I'm a dandy. I expect him back at Christmas
—not before!”
A sonorous neigh arrested the Captain's remarks, and two
servants led up “Injunhater” and George's sorrel. They
were soon in the saddle, and the Borderer paused only to
give old John his parting injunctions.
“Tell my Lord Fairfax, if he comes back before dinner,
that I'm coming too—Injuns and wild beasts to the contrary
notwithstanding. Also friend George, who rides with me.
And hark you, John, have up some of that old Jamaica that we
know about—and one of the old hams, a round of beef, some
fowls, and other trifles. You know I'm one of the family—
good day, my friend.”
And leaving old John bowing hospitably and respectfully,
the companions set forward.
We shall not accompany them, as nothing in the shape of
an adventure befell them. After a wide circuit around the
Greenway Court domain, they came to the conclusion that
the wandering party of Indians had hastily fled from the region
into the western mountains. They accordingly returned
to Greenway to dinner, and rest. The Earl had not
made his appearance—nor had Falconbridge.
