Читать книгу The Crimson Sign - H. A. Cody - Страница 10
ОглавлениеDOWN BY THE RIVER
When David visited the Sorrell house the next morning he was surprised to find Helen Garland assisting Madame Sorrell in the kitchen. He hardly recognized her at first, so greatly was she changed. Instead of the Madonna-like being he had seen the day before, she was now a bright animated girl, with her hair neatly arranged, her cheeks aglow with health, and her eyes beaming with interest. The rest of the past night, together with the kind hospitality of the Sorrells, had wrought this transformation.
David's heart quickened as he stood at the door and watched her. Never before had he beheld such a vision of beauty, so he thought. And when Helen saw him and smiled a glad welcome, he became suddenly confused. He glanced down at his ragged clothes and scarred bare feet. What must she think of him? he wondered. For an instant the idea of beating a hasty retreat came into his mind. This, however, was immediately dispelled as Helen laid down the dish she was wiping and came quickly forward.
"Oh, I am so glad to see you," she accosted. "I was hoping you would come, for there is no one I can speak to here. Dear Madame Sorrell and I have been talking by signs."
These friendly words placed David at his ease, and soon he was seated at the table enjoying some food Madame Sorrell placed before him.
"You look hungry, young English," she said. "I don't believe you have had any breakfast."
"I couldn't eat any, Madame," David replied. "I was thinking about her," and he motioned to Helen. "Isn't she wonderful?"
"Indeed she is, and we must do all we can to protect her. It was fortunate that she fell into Gabriel's hands. This is a bad country for such a girl, and she is never safe from danger."
"I will protect her, Madame," and David straightened his little body as he spoke, and doubled up his fists. "I will fight for her."
"I know you would, young English," and the woman sighed as she thought of what had happened to her own daughter. "But what could you do against bad men? I am afraid we shall have visitors from the fort before long."
A sudden fear leaped into the boy's eyes.
"Foulette?" he asked in a low voice.
"Ah, I see you understand. Yes, Foulette, most likely, and others, too."
"Then, we must hide Mademoiselle where they cannot find her."
Madame Sorrell smiled at the lad's simplicity.
"Hide her! Mon Dieu! where could we hide such a girl?"
David made no reply, although his mind was very active. He glanced at Helen who was watching him. Oh, if he were only a man, and strong, he could take her away and keep her safe from bad men. And he knew where he could go. Pete King and his rangers would protect her. And why should he not take her to them? He knew the direction, off there to the east where the sun rose every morning. How often he had dreamed about the League of the Crimson Sign, and longed to be a member. In his mind those men were most wonderful heroes, true and just, and not like the ones at the fort who were always going forth to capture and to kill. Yes, he would take the girl there as soon as he could.
This idea gave him much comfort, and he became quite happy. What a joy it would be to save such a girl. Although young and weak in body, he possessed the spirit of true chivalry which animated the hearts of knights in all ages. He knew nothing about them, it is true. But such a spirit does not need any special age or place, and may be found in a humble captive lad in a vast wilderness as well as in the courts of mighty kings.
He was aroused from his dream by a light touch upon his arm. Startled he looked quickly up into Helen Garland's smiling face.
"Will you come with me outside?" she asked. "I wish to see what this place is like, and there are some things I want to talk to you about."
"Suppose we go to the river, Mam'selle," David suggested. "It is nice and quiet there. And we can watch if the bad men come."
A sudden expression of fear came into the girl's eyes at these words, and she looked keenly into the boy's face.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "Are there bad men here who would harm me?"
"I will tell you when we are by ourselves, Mam'selle. You follow me and I shall lead the way to the shore."
It was a beautiful spot on the bank of the river where David at length stopped and motioned his companion to a grassy place under the shade of a big tree. Hardly a ripple ruffled the water on this perfect summer morning. The great trees were mirrored in the clear depths, while birds flitted from branch to branch. Butterflies zig-zagged through the air, and various other little winged insects darted here and there. Peace was everywhere on river and land. But Helen's heart was somewhat disturbed. The words David had uttered made her afraid.
"What did you mean by 'bad men'?" she questioned as she seated herself upon the grass.
"The men at the fort, of course. They know you are here, and they will come, most likely, to see you."
"Why should that matter?"
"It might not," and the boy sighed. "But Madame Sorrell is afraid of them. She had a beautiful daughter once, and men came to see her. She is dead now."
"Oh!" This exclamation was almost like a cry of pain.
"Did something stick into you, Mam'selle?" David asked. "Maybe it was a sharp root."
The girl, however, hardly heard what he said, for she was thinking of other things. She knew now what he meant by the bad men. She had seen them in the canoes, and she was not altogether ignorant of how Gabriel had defended her from them. But here in this lonely place, it was hard to tell what might happen. She turned impulsively to her companion.
"I must get away from here," she declared. "Where can I go to be safe from those men? I know you will help me, for you are English."
"I will do all I can, Mam'selle. But this is a very big country, with woods everywhere."
"I would not mind that, David, so long as the bad men could not get me."
"But they might. They travel through the woods, and maybe they would follow you. There are bears, too, and it is so dark among the trees at night. You are always hearing sounds and seeing terrible things. Oh, I know." The boy shivered and his face grew a shade paler as past memories rose before him.
"But what can I do?" the girl insisted. "I must go somewhere before the bad men come."
"The Saganic is the only safe place, Mam'selle. But that is a long way off."
"How far is it?"
"I do not know, but it is towards the rising sun. I was never there, and I never saw Pete King. But the soldiers at the fort hate him and his rangers. They say he always goes from place to place with a man called Grey, who is a great fighter and very strong. I hope he will come and take me away from here some day."
David shrank back a little, startled by the girl's intense excitement. She was standing now, and trembling.
"You needn't be afraid, Mam'selle," the boy assured her. "The men of the League of the Crimson Sign will not hurt you. They will save you, maybe."
"I know, I know it," Helen cried. "I must go to them at once. And you spoke of a man called Grey. What is his other name?"
"I never heard it?"
"And what is he like?"
"The soldiers say he is tall, straight, and stronger than any other man."
"Has he dark curly hair and blue eyes?" the girl eagerly asked.
"I do not know. Anyway, the soldiers at the fort are afraid of him."
Helen stood for a while staring out upon the water, lost in thought. The light of hope illumined her eyes.
"When can you take me there, David?" she at length asked.
"I do not know, Mam'selle. It will be hard for us to get away from here. I am a captive like you, and if I run away and am caught, I shall be beaten, and will have to work harder than ever."
"Who will beat you? Madame Louise?"
"Oh, no. It is Monsieur LeRocher who will do that. He is very cruel to me sometimes. Madame LeRocher is kind, though, but she has to do what her husband says."
Helen reseated herself upon the ground and invited David to a place by her side. She was calm now, for her sympathy had been aroused by this unfortunate lad. His troubles made her almost forget her own.
"What a terrible time you have had, poor boy. How long have you been here with these French people?"
"Three years, Mam'selle. But I was some time with the Indians, and was almost dead when Monsieur D'Armours bought me from them."
"Has Madame Louise a husband?"
"She did, but he is dead now. After his death Madame let Monsieur LeRocher have me, although I still belong to her in a way."
"And you have met no English people since you came here?"
"Not until you came. But I was here when the English came up the river to attack the fort, and I was sure that they would beat the French and save me. But they didn't, and I felt worse after they went away. We were all hiding in the woods when the English soldiers came, so they did not know anything about me. I lost all hope then."
"It is a wonder you didn't forget how to speak English, David."
The boy smiled, and a slight flush appeared upon his cheeks.
"I always talked to myself in English, Mam'selle. I did not want to forget."
"How did you do that?"
"When by myself at night before I went to sleep. I always say my prayers in English, which my mother taught me. I know 'Our Father', and 'The Lord is my Shepherd'. I have always said them, and some prayers I made up myself. And when I could, I talked to myself in English without anyone hearing me, going over the things I would say when I should escape."
A mistiness came into Helen's eyes as she listened to the lad and noticed the light of animation upon his face. His courage rebuked her. For years he had been a captive, and through all that time he had kept the fire of hope alive in his heart. How she longed to be like him.
"Where is your home, David?" she asked.
"I have no other home than here," was the low reply. "I had a nice home once, but the Indians burnt it, and I don't know what happened to my parents and brother. Maybe they were killed. I am going to look for them some day when I get away from this place."
"We must help each other, David. We are both captives, so we must do all we can to find Pete King, and—and that man Grey. We shall be safe then. I am willing to risk everything if you are."
David, however, did not hear her, for he was staring up river. At once he sprang to his feet.
"They are coming!" he excitedly cried. "Look! Look!"
In an instant Helen was by his side, her heart beating fast.
"Who are they?"
"Men from the fort. I know their canoes. Let us go away."
"Are they the bad men?"
"I guess so. Come."
