They have seen the boats, and swim slowly, or float upon the water, waiting their approach.
They are taken in, one after another; and all — both dogs and men — are now carried to the island.
They go to continue the search — for there is still some doubt as to the fate of the runaway.
They land — the dogs are sent through the bushes, while the men glide round the edge to the scene of the struggle. They find no track or trace upon the shore.
But there is one upon the water. Some froth still floats — there is a tinge of carmine upon it — beyond a doubt it is the blood of the mulatto.
"All right, boys!" cries a rough fellow; "that’s blueskin’s blood, I’ll sartify. He’s gone under an’ no mistake. Darn the varmint! it’s clean spoilt our sport."
The jest is received with shouts of boisterous laughter.
In such a spirit talked the man-hunters, as they returned from the chase.
Chapter Fourteen
Ringgold’s Revenge
Only the ruder spirits indulged in this ill-timed levity; others of more refined nature regarded the incident with due solemnity — some even with a feeling of awe.
Certainly it seemed as if the hand of God had interposed, so appropriate had been the punishment — almost as if the criminal had perished by his own contrivance.
It was an awful death, but far less hard to endure than that which had been decreed by man. The Almighty had been more mercifuclass="underline" and in thus mitigating the punishment of the guilty wretch, had rebuked his human judges.
I looked around for the young Indian: I was gratified to find he was no longer among the crowd. His quarrel with Ringgold had been broken off abruptly. I had fears that it was not yet ended. His words had irritated some of the white men, and it was through his being there, the criminal had found the opportunity to get off. No doubt, had the latter finally escaped, there would have been more of it: and even as matters stood, I was not without apprehensions about the safety of the bold half-blood. He was not upon his own ground — the other side of the river was the Indian territory; and, therefore, he might be deemed an intruder. True, we were at peace with the Indians; but for all that, there was enough of hostile feeling between the two races. Old wounds received in the war of 1818 still rankled.
I knew Ringgold’s resentful character — he had been humiliated in the eyes of his companions; for, during the short scuffle, the half-blood had the best of it. Ringgold would not be content to let it drop — he would seek revenge.
I was glad, therefore, on perceiving that the Indian had gone away from the ground. Perhaps he had himself become apprehensive of danger, and recrossed the river. There he would be safe from pursuit. Even Ringgold dare not follow him to the other side, for the treaty laws could not have been outraged with impunity. The most reckless of the squatters knew this. An Indian war would have been provoked, and the supreme government, though not over scrupulous, had other views at the time.
I was turning to proceed homeward, when it occurred to me that I would accost Ringgold, and signify to him my disapproval of his conduct. I was indignant at the manner in which he had acted — just angry enough to speak my mind. Ringgold was older than myself, and bigger; but I was not afraid of him. On the contrary, I knew that he was rather afraid of me. The insult he had offered to one who, but the hour before, had risked his life for us, had sufficiently roused my blood, and I was determined to reproach him for it. With this intention, I turned back to look for him. He was not there.
"Have you seen Arens Ringgold?" I inquired of old Hickman.
"Yes — jest gone," was the reply.
"In what direction?"
"Up-river. See ’im gallop off wi’ Bill Williams an’ Ned Spence — desprit keen upon somethin’ they ’peered."
A painful suspicion flashed across my mind.
"Hickman," I asked, "will you lend me your horse for an hour?"
"My old critter? Sartin sure will I: a day, if you wants him. But, Geordy, boy, you can’t ride wi’ your arm that way?"
"O yes; only help me into the saddle."
The old hunter did as desired; and after exchanging another word or two, I rode off in the up-river direction.
Up the river was a ferry; and at its landing it was most likely the young Indian had left his canoe. In that direction, therefore, he should go to get back to his home, and in that direction Ringgold should not go to return to his, for the path to the Ringgold plantation led in a course altogether opposite. Hence the suspicion that occurred to me on hearing that the latter had gone up the river. At such a time it did not look well, and in such company, still worse; for I recognised in the names that Hickman had mentioned, two of the most worthless boys in the settlement. I knew them to be associates, or rather creatures, of Ringgold.
My suspicion was that they had gone after the Indian, and of course with an ill intent. It was hardly a conjecture; I was almost sure of it; and as I advanced along the river road, I became confirmed in the belief. I saw the tracks of their horses along the path that led to the ferry, and now and again I could make out the print of the Indian moccasin where it left its wet mark in the dust. I knew that his dress had not yet dried upon him, and the moccasins would still be saturated with water.
I put the old horse to his speed. As I approached the landing, I could see no one, for there were trees all around it; but the conflict of angry voices proved that I had conjectured aright.
I did not stop to listen; but urging my horse afresh, I rode on. At a bend of the road, I saw three horses tied to the trees. I knew they were those of Ringgold and his companions, but I could not tell why they had left them.
I stayed not to speculate, but galloped forward upon the ground. Just as I had anticipated, the three were there — the half-blood was in their hands!
They had crept upon him unawares — that was why their horses had been left behind — and caught him just as he was about stepping into his canoe. He was unarmed — for the rifle I had given him was still wet, and the mulatto had made away with his knife — he could offer no resistance, and was therefore secured at once.
They had been quick about it, for they had already stripped off his hunting-shirt, and tied him to a tree. They were just about to vent their spite on him — by flogging him on the bare back with cowhides which they carried in their hands. No doubt they would have laid them on heavily, had I not arrived in time.
"Shame, Arens Ringgold! shame!" I cried as I rode up. "This is cowardly, and I shall report it to the whole settlement."
Ringgold stammered out some excuse, but was evidently staggered at my sudden appearance.
"The darned Injun desarves it," growled Williams.
"For what, Master Williams?" I inquired.
"For waggin his jaw so imperent to white men."
"He’s got no business over here," chimed in Spence; "he has got no right to come this side of the river."
"And you have no right to flog him, whether on this side or the other — no more than you have to flog me."
"Ho, ho! That might be done, too," said Spence, in a sneering tone, that set my blood in a boil.
"Not so easily," I cried, leaping from the old horse, and running forward upon the ground.
My right arm was still sound. Apprehensive of an awkward affair, I had borrowed old Hickman’s pistol, and I held it in my hand.
"Now, gentlemen," said I, taking my stand beside the captive, "go on with the flogging; but take my word for it, I shall send a bullet through the first who strikes!"