A plunge, as of one leaping from a high elevation into the pond — a quick, bold swimmer from the shore — a dark-skinned face, with long black hair that floats behind it on the water — a breast gleaming with bright spangles — a body clad in bead-embroidered garments — a man? a boy!
Who is this strange youth that rushes to our rescue?
He is already by our side — by the side of our terrible antagonist. With all the earnest energy of his look, he utters not a word. He rests one hand upon the shoulder of the huge lizard, and with a sudden spring places himself upon its back. A rider could not have leaped more adroitly to the saddle.
A knife gleams in his uplifted hand. It descends — its blade is buried in the eye of the alligator!
The roar of the saurian betokens its pain. The earth vibrates with the sound; the froth flies up under the lashings of its tail, and a cloud of spray is flung over us. But the monster has now relaxed its gripe, and I am swimming with my sister to the shore.
A glance backward reveals to me a strange sight — I see the alligator diving to the bottom with the bold rider upon its back! He is lost — he is lost!
With painful thoughts, I swim on. I climb out, and place my fainting sister upon the bank. I again look back.
Joy, joy! the strange youth is once more above the surface, and swimming freely to the shore. Upon the further side of the pond, the hideous form is also above water, struggling by the edge — frantic and furious with the agony of its wounds.
Joy, joy! my sister is unharmed. The floating skirt has saved her; scarcely a scratch shows upon her delicate limbs; and now in tender arms, amidst sweet words and looks of kind sympathy, she is borne away from the scene of her peril.
Chapter Ten
The "Half-Blood."
The alligator was soon clubbed to death, and dragged to the shore — a work of delight to the blacks of the plantation.
No one suspected how the reptile had got to the pond — for I had not said a word to any one. The belief was that it had wandered there from the river, or the lagoons — as others had done before; and Yellow Jake, the most active of all in its destruction, was heard several times repeating this hypothesis! Little did the villain suspect that his secret was known. I thought that besides himself I was the only one privy to it; in this, however, I was mistaken.
The domestics had gone back to the house, "toating" the huge carcass with ropes, and uttering shouts of triumph. I was alone with our gallant preserver. I stayed behind purposely to thank him.
Mother, father, all had given expression to their gratitude; all had signified their admiration of his gallant conduct: even my sister, who had recovered consciousness before being carried away, had thanked him with kind words.
He made no reply, further than to acknowledge the compliments paid him; and this he did either by a smile or a simple inclination of the head. With the years of a boy, he seemed to possess the gravity of a man.
He appeared about my own age and size. His figure was perfectly proportioned, and his face handsome. The complexion was not that of a pure Indian, though the style of his dress was so. His skin was nearer brunette than bronze: he was evidently a "half-blood."
His nose was slightly aquiline, which gave him that fine eagle-look peculiar to some of the North American tribes; and his eye, though mild in common mood, was easily lighted up. Under excitement, as I had just witnessed, it shone with the brilliancy of fire.
The admixture of Caucasian blood had tamed down the prominence of Indian features to a perfect regularity, without robbing them of their heroic grandeur of expression; and the black hair was finer than that of the pure native, though equally shining and luxuriant. In short, the tout ensemble of this strange youth was that of a noble and handsome boy that another brace of summers would develop into a splendid-looking man. Even as a boy, there was an individuality about him, that, when once seen, was not to be forgotten.
I have said that his costume was Indian. So was it — purely Indian — not made up altogether of the spoils of the chase, for the buckskin has long, ceased to be the wear of the aborigines of Florida. His moccasins alone were of dressed deer’s hide; his leggings were of scarlet cloth; and his tunic of figured cotton stuff — all three elaborately beaded and embroidered. With these he wore a wampum belt, and a fillet encircled his head, above which rose erect three plumes from the tail of the king vulture — which among Indians is an eagle. Around his neck were strings of party-coloured beads, and upon his breast three demi-lunes of silver, suspended one above the other.
Thus was the youth attired, and, despite the soaking which his garments had received, he presented an aspect as once noble and picturesque.
"You are sure you have received no injury?" I inquired for the second time.
"Quite sure — not the slightest injury."
"But you are wet through and through; let me offer you a change of clothes: mine, I think, would about fit you."
"Thank you. I should not know how to wear them. The sun is strong: my own will soon be dry again."
"You will come up to the house, and eat something?"
"I have eaten but a short while ago. I thank you. I am not in need."
"Some wine?"
"Again I thank you — water is my only drink."
I scarcely knew what to say to my new acquaintance. He refused all my offers of hospitality, and yet he remained by me. He would not accompany me to the house; and still he showed no signs of taking his departure.
Was he expecting something else? A reward for his services? Something more substantial than complimentary phrases?
The thought was not unnatural. Handsome as was the youth, he was but an Indian. Of compliments he had had enough. Indians care little for idle words. It might be that he waited for something more; it was but natural for one in his condition to do so, and equally natural for one in mine to think so.
In an instant my purse was out; in the next it was in his hands — and in the next it was at the bottom of the pond!
"I did not ask you for money," said he, as he flung the dollars indignantly into the water.
I felt pique and shame; the latter predominated. I plunged into the pond, and dived under the surface. It was not after my purse, but my rifle, which I saw lying upon the rocks at the bottom. I gained the piece, and, carrying it ashore, handed it to him.
The peculiar smile with which he received it, told me that I had well corrected my error, and subdued the capricious pride of the singular youth.
"It is my turn to make reparation," said he. "Permit me to restore you your purse, and to ask pardon for my rudeness."
Before I could interpose, he sprang into the water, and dived below the surface. He soon recovered the shining object, and returning to the bank, placed it in my hands.
"This is a splendid gift," he said, handling the rifle, and examining it — "a splendid gift; and I must return home before I can offer you aught in return. We Indians have not much that the white man values — only our lands, I have been told," — he uttered this phrase with peculiar emphasis. "Our rude manufactures," continued he, "are worthless things when put in comparison with those of your people — they are but curiosities to you at best. But stay — you are a hunter? Will you accept a pair of moccasins and a bullet-pouch? Maümee makes them well — "
"Maümee?"
"My sister. You will find the moccasin better for hunting than those heavy shoes you wear: the tread is more silent."
"Above all things, I should like to have a pair of your moccasins."
"I am rejoiced that it will gratify you. Maümee shall make them, and the pouch too."
"Maümee!" I mentally echoed. "Strange, sweet name! Can it be she?"