Читать книгу The Red Ranger - H. A. Cody - Страница 7
ОглавлениеThe Island Maiden
"It must mean war!"
The girl was looking at the northern sky, her eyes filled with wonder and awe. The light of departing day touched with a soft and gentle radiance her fair animated face, and glinted upon the neatly-arranged coils of her jet-black hair. Her strong lithe body was tense with interest as she watched the magnificent and unusual scene.
"Yes, it must mean war!" she repeated as she intuitively crossed herself.
She watched the strange display until it gradually faded, and at last disappeared reluctantly, so it seemed, in obedience to some unseen command. She then sighed as she withdrew her eyes from the sky, and looked down upon the water at her feet.
"I wonder if Noel and Marie have seen it," she mused. "The Indians say there were terrible signs in the sky years ago when old Biencourt came to this island and made trouble with the traders here. Perhaps it will be the same now. I do hope something will happen for I am tired of this lonely place."
She remained lost in thought, dipping her bare feet in the water which touched the large stone upon which she was sitting. She was about seventeen years of age, of medium height, and well-formed. Her face was exceedingly attractive, and her slightly-dark features were in harmony with her hair and sparkling eyes. The traders who visited the place always vied with one another for her favor, and the memory of her sunny smile and animated face lingered long in their minds as they wandered through the great trackless forest depths. They talked about her around their camp fires, and all were eager to see again the beautiful maiden of the "Isle au Garce", the name they had given the island for her sake.
Lucille LeNoir was well aware of her attractiveness to the traders, and it pleased her. But they came only at rare intervals, and there were so many long weeks when she had only her father, Noel and Marie as companions. Indians sometimes halted on their way up and down the river. But they did not appeal to her, for their stolid impassive faces never showed any signs of admiration. She needed men of her own race to appreciate her beauty and strive for her attention. Of them she dreamed, especially of one who had come several times to the post. To her he seemed a very superior person, and in imagination she surrounded him with a bright halo of romance in which she herself played a very important part.
Lucille had plenty of time for such dreams, and they were a great comfort to her in her lonely life. So as she sat on the stone she allowed herself to be carried away on the wings of fancy. No longer was she an unknown and poorly-clad girl at a small trading post in the wilderness. She was a finely-dressed lady living at Quebec, leading a gay life, surrounded by men of courtly bearing, and the recipient of attention on all sides. And Jean LeJeune was her husband occupying a high position, and next in rank to the great Count Frontenac himself. It was a wonderful vision, as the glow in her eyes and the flush upon her cheeks plainly revealed.
A raucous sound nearby disturbed her meditation. A smile of amusement overspread her face and her eyes twinkled as she looked to the right and saw a big black crow walking jauntily towards her along the shore. She held out her hand.
"What do you want Minuit? Are you lonesome, too?"
The bird came close and looked up at the girl as if expecting something.
"Hungry are you? Oh, you rascal, you only come to me when you want food. Well, take this."
She dropped upon the ground several pieces of dried meat which she had hidden in a pocket of her dress. The bird quickly devoured the morsels and looked up for more.
"Not satisfied, Minuit? You never know when you have enough. But you will have to wait until we go back to the house."
She gave a chirp, and the bird hopped up on her lap. Lucille stroked him fondly.
"Pretty fellow," she murmured. "You do love me, I know. But what will you do when I go to Quebec? Will you miss me? I would like to take you with me but what would the grand people there think if I had a tame crow always following me around? I am sure they would make fun of me. You will have to stay here, I guess."
Lucille was in the right frame of mind for more pleasant dreams. She looked out upon the river with a far-away expression in her eyes. As she did so, she gave a start and sprang to her feet, her body tense with excitement. The crow thus rudely disturbed, fluttered away with a coarse caw, surprised and angry at such rude treatment. But Lucille was not thinking of him, for her attention was centred upon a large vessel coming up the Long Vue. The sails were full set and they gleamed like polished silver. It was a larger ship than any that usually came up the river, and the sight of it caused the girl to tremble with fear. She had sighed for something to happen, and when it seemed as if her wish was about to be granted she was afraid.
For a few minutes she stood staring at the oncoming vessel. It fascinated her, not only because of its beautiful appearance, but what it might mean. Then she stooped, and thrust her feet into a pair of rough shoes lying nearby. Quickly tying them with their rawhide laces, she left the stone and sped swiftly along the shore.
Noel was seated on a rude bench at the open gate of the palisade which surrounded the log house. He was smoking and watching a small brush fire a short distance away. He had been clearing up around the place that afternoon to make it more presentable when the traders arrived, and also as a pleasant surprise to his master when he returned. He was wondering what had detained Pierre as he should have arrived several days ago. Perhaps something had happened to him. He may have been caught in the falls or swamped in the Bay, for Pierre was very reckless. And if he did not return, Lucille would own the post. And she would need him and Marie more than ever for she knew nothing about trading. He could then manage things as he liked with no rough master to threaten him with dismissal. Yes, it would be much more pleasant if his master did not come back, and he could have more rum to drink.
Lucille's abrupt appearance and her excited manner startled him.
"A ship! a ship!" she cried. "A big one!"
Noel was on his feet in an instant, and the pipe fell from his mouth.
"Where?"
"Down the Long Vue, sailing fast. Come quick. Where is Marie?"
"Never mind her. She's over at the house."
Noel followed Lucille, his heart filled with a nameless fear. It must be an English ship sent to capture and destroy the French trading posts along the river, so he believed. He was well aware that the traders of Massachusetts desired this, as they were forced to pay a license for fishing and trading privileges in Acadia. This ship, then, must be the outcome of the bitterness which rankled in their hearts at what they considered an injustice. Yes, it must be an English ship, he decided.
This opinion was fully confirmed when he at length reached the lower end of the island and beheld the vessel. Lucille had been right. It was a big ship, and English, so it first appeared to him. But as it drew nearer and he saw the red, white, and blue streaks on her flag he knew that she was a Dutch man of war. This gave him no comfort, for news had drifted to the river that summer of the daring deeds along the coast of Jurriaen Aernouts and John Rhoade. Yes, it must be their ship, the _Flying Horse_, which was now approaching to destroy the posts along the river.
The vessel was out in mid-channel now, and for a while Noel hoped that the Dutchmen were ignorant of the little settlement on the island and would sail by. But soon he was doomed to disappointment, for ere long the ship swung to the left and headed towards the narrow channel on the western side of the island. Then Noel knew there was a pilot on board who was well acquainted with the river. He turned to Lucille.
"Come, let us go back and get ready to receive our visitors. Oh, for men and a few big guns!"
The girl made no reply as she followed Noel back to the house. They made their way among the great beech, birch, oak and walnut trees which grew in abundance on the island. Darkness was now deepening, and the quiet sombre gloom of the forest caused Lucille to tremble with fear. These noble trees which had always seemed so friendly might soon be concealing cruel men skulking through their dark depths. She drew closer to her companion and caught him by the arm.
"Don't be afraid," he assured her. "The Dutchmen will not harm us."
This was a brave effort on Noel's part to comfort her. But his own heart was very heavy at the thought of what might happen to a defenceless girl among a band of rough reckless pirates. He wondered how he might shield her from harm. He was not so much worried over his wife for she was old and would be no attraction to impassioned men. With this young, beautiful maiden, however, it would be different.
Having reached the gate of the palisade, they stopped and stood silently watching the vessel which had dropped anchor at the entrance to the narrow channel. Lights gleamed, and voices could be faintly heard. They stood there until the vessel was lost in the darkness and only the lights were visible. Then the thundering roar of a cannon sounded forth, causing Lucille to give a startled cry of dismay and clutch Noel by the arm.
"Oh! Let us go inside."
"Very well. But we are as safe here as there if they turn their guns on us."
No sooner had they reached the house than another roar rent the air, followed instantly by the crashing of a log in the palisade where the ball had struck.
"Let us go away in the canoe while there is time," Lucille pleaded. "We can escape up the creek. They can't get us there."
"I shall not leave this post," Noel declared. "Your father left me in charge, and I intend to remain. Go and get Marie. The canoe is on the shore, and you both will soon be safe."
As Lucille hesitated, Noel laid a heavy hand upon her shoulder.
"Go quick!" he gasped. "They are upon us! See, they are coming!"
He pushed her fiercely towards a door at the rear of the palisade and sent her out into the night. She knew that resistance was useless, so speeding across the clearing she reached the shelter of the friendly trees where she crouched fearfully at the foot of a towering oak. Here she waited and listened with fast-beating heart for whatever might happen. For a while all was still, and then ensued shouts, loud laughter, and fierce words all in a strange language. She trembled for Noel. What were those terrible men doing to him?
At length so wild became the clamor of voices, and the sound of breaking furniture that she felt unsafe so near the building. The raiders might rush out and find her. She, accordingly, moved to the left along the edge of the clearing which brought her somewhat farther from the post. And as she waited here, a bright light pierced the darkness. It was a flame! The house was on fire! Soon it was burning fiercely, lighting the ground for rods around. Lucille did not think of herself now, nor how she was exposed as soon as she stood at the border of the forest. She was thinking only of Noel among the crowd of men in front of the palisade. She could tell that he was a prisoner, and she wondered what his captors would do with him. They seemed to be enjoying the fire, for they were singing and shouting in the wildest manner. Lucille was numb with fear and anxiety. What was she to do? Noel would be taken away and she and Marie would be left alone on the island with no human being near.
The house was now a seething fiery inferno, and huge flames were leaping up into the night. The heat was intense, forcing the men to move back nearer to the shore. Lucille felt the hot breath upon her face, and at times a wreath of smoke swirled down upon her almost choking her.
As one of these passed and she opened her eyes, she saw a man creeping towards her on the left but a short distance away. Startled, she stared for an instant, and then with a cry she fled among the trees. But the man was already too close for her to escape. Like a panther he bounded after the fleeing girl, overtook her, caught her in his strong arms, and held her fast.
