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God bless you, Joyce, said the captain, squeezing the serjeant s hand as he
was on the point of descending. We are on ticklish service, and require all
our wits about us. If anything happen to me, remember that my wife and
daughter will mainly depend on you for protection.
I shall consider that as your honour s orders, sir, and no more need be said
to me, Captain Willoughby.
The captain smiled on his old follower, and Joyce thought that never had he
seen the fine manly face of his superior beam with a calmer, or sweeter
expression, than it did as he returned his own pressure of the hand. The two
adventurers were both careful, and their descent was noiseless. The men above
listened, in breathless silence, but the stealthy approach of the cat upon the
bird could not have been more still, than that of these two experienced
warriors.
The place where Joyce was left with the men, might have been fifty feet above
the roof of the cabin, and almost perpendicularly over the narrow vacancy that
was known to exist between the rocks and the lean-to. Still the bushes and
trees were so thick as to prevent the smallest glimpse at objects below, had
the shape of the cliff allowed it, while they even intercepted sounds. Joyce
fancied, nevertheless, that he heard the rustling bushes, as the captain
forced his way into the narrow space he was to occupy, and he augured well of
the fact, since it proved that no opposition had been encountered. Half an
hour of forest silence followed, that was only interrupted by the tumbling of
the waters over the natural dam. At the end of that weary period, a shout was
heard in front of the mills, and the party raised their pieces, in a vague
apprehension that some discovery had been made that was about to bring on a
crisis. Nothing further occurred, however, to confirm this impression, and an
occasional burst of laughter, that evidently came from white men, rather
served to allay the apprehension. Another half-hour passed, during which no
interruption was heard. By this time Joyce became uneasy, a state of things
having arrived for which no provision had been made in his instructions. He
was about to leave his command under the charge of Jamie, and descend himself
to reconnoitre, when a footstep was heard coming up the path. Nothing but the
deep attention, and breathless stillness of the men could have rendered the
sound of a tread so nearly noiseless, audible; but heard it was, at a moment
when every sense was wrought up to its greatest powers. Rifles were lowered,
in readiness to receive assailants, but each was raised again, as Nick came
slowly into view. The Tuscarora was calm in manner, as if no incident had
occurred to disconcert the arrangement, though his eyes glanced around him,
like those of a man who searched for an absent person.
Where cap in? -- Where major? Nick asked, as soon as his glance had taken
in the faces of all present.
We must ask that of you, Nick, returned Joyce. We have not seen the
captain, nor had any orders from him, since he left us.
This answer seemed to cause the Indian more surprise than it was usual for
him to betray, and he pondered a moment in obvious uneasiness.
Can t stay here, alway, he muttered. Best go see. Bye m-by trouble come;
then, too late.
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The serjeant was greatly averse to moving without orders. He had his
instructions how to act in every probable contingency, but none that covered
the case of absolute inaction on the part of those below. Nevertheless, twice
the time necessary to bring things to issue had gone by, and neither signal,
shot, nor alarm had reached his ears.
Do you know anything of the major, Nick? the serjeant demanded, determined
to examine the case thoroughly ere he came to a decision.
Major dere -- see him at door -- plenty sentinel. All good -- where cap in?
Where did you leave him? -- You can give the last account of him.
Go in behind cupboard--under rock--plenty bushes-- all right--son dere.
This must be looked to--perhaps his honour has fallen into a fit--such
things sometimes happen--and a man who is fighting for his own child, doesn t
feel, Jamie, all the same as one who fights on a general principle, as it
might be.
Na--ye re right, sairjeant J yce, and ye ll be doing the kind and prudent
act, to gang doon yersal , and investigate the trainsaction with yer ain een.
This Joyce determined to do, directing Nick to accompany him, as a guide. The
Indian seemed glad to comply, and there was no delay in proceeding. It
required but a minute to reach the narrow passage between the cliff and the
lean-to. The bushes were carefully shoved aside, and Joyce entered. He soon
caught a glimpse of the hunting-shirt, and then he was about to withdraw,
believing that he was in error, in anticipating orders. But a short look at
his commander removed all scruples; for he observed that he was seated on a
projection of the rocks, with his body bowed forward, apparently leaning on
the logs of the building. This seemed to corroborate the thought about a fit,
and the serjeant pressed eagerly forward to ascertain the truth.
Joyce touched his commander s arm, but no sign of consciousness came from the
latter. He then raised his body upright, placing the back in a reclining
attitude against the rocks, and started back himself when he caught a glimpse
of the death-like hue of the face. At first, the notion of the fit was strong
with the serjeant; but, in changing his own position, he caught a glimpse of a
little pool of blood, which at once announced that violence had been used.
Although the serjeant was a man of great steadiness of nerves, and
unchangeable method, he fairly trembled as he ascertained the serious
condition of his old and well-beloved commander. Notwithstanding, he was too
much of a soldier to neglect anything that circumstances required. On
examination, he discovered a deep and fatal wound between two of the ribs,
which had evidently been inflicted with a common knife. The blow had passed
into the heart, and Captain Willoughby was, out of all question, dead! He had
breathed his last, within six feet of his own gallant son, who, ignorant of
all that passed, was little dreaming of the proximity of one so dear to him,
as well as of his dire condition.
Joyce was a man of powerful frame, and, at that moment, he felt he was master
of a giant s strength. First assuring himself of the fact that the wounded man
had certainly ceased to breathe, he brought the arms over his own shoulders,
raised the body on his back, and walked from the place, with less attention to
caution than on entering, but with sufficient care to prevent exposure. Nick
stood watching his movements with a wondering look, and as soon as there was
room, he aided in supporting the corpse.
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In this manner the two went up the path, bearing their senseless burden. A
gesture directed the party with Jamie to precede the two who had been below,
and the serjeant did not pause even to breathe, until he had fairly reached
the summit of the cliff; then he halted in a place removed from the danger of
immediate discovery. The body was laid reverently on the ground, and Joyce
renewed his examination with greater ease and accuracy, until perfectly
satisfied that the captain must have ceased to breathe, nearly an hour.
This was a sad and fearful blow to the whole party. No one, at such a moment,
thought of inquiring into the manner in which their excellent master had
received his death-blow; but every thought was bent either on the extent of
the calamity, or on the means of getting back to the Hut. Joyce was the soul
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