</CHANCE 
 
 RANDALL PARRISH 
 
LO 
 
65? 
 
 \ 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
BY MR. PARRISH 
 
 WHEN WILDERNESS WAS KING. A Tale of the Illinois 
 Country. Illustrated by the Kinneys. 
 
 MY LADY OF THE NORTH. The Love Story of a Gray- 
 Jacket. Illustrated by E. M . Ashe. 
 
 A SWORD OF THE OLD FRONTIER. A Romance of the 
 Time of Pontiac s Conspiracy. Illustrated by F. C. 
 Yohn. 
 
 BOB HAMPTON OF PLACER. Illustrated by Arthur I. 
 
 Keller. 
 BETH NORVELL. A Romance of the West. Illustrated 
 
 by N. C. Wyeth. 
 PRISONERS OF CHANCE. The Story of What Befell Geoffrey 
 
 Benteen, Borderman. Illustrated by the Kinneys. 
 Each $1.50 
 
 HISTORIC ILLINOIS. The Romance of the Earlier Days. 
 With map and fifty Illustrations. $1.30 net. 
 
 THE GREAT PLAINS. The Romance of Western Amer 
 ican Exploration, Warfare, and Settlement, 1527-1870. 
 With numerous illustrations. $/.7JT net. 
 
 A. C. McCLURG & Co., PUBLISHERS 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 THE STORY OF WHAT BEFELL 
 GEOFFREY BENTEEN, BORDER- 
 MAN, THROUGH HIS LOVE 
 FOR A LADY OF 
 FRANCE 
 
 BY 
 
 RANDALL PARRISH 
 
 Author of " When Wilderness was King," " My Lady of 
 the North," " Bob Hampton of Placer" etc. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED IN FULL COLOR BY THE KINNEYS 
 
 CHICAGO 
 A. C. McCLURG & CO. 
 
 1908 
 
COPYRIGHT 
 
 A. C. MCCLURG & Co, 
 1908 
 
 Entered at Stationers Hall, London 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 Published March 28, 1908 
 
 Composition by the* University Press, Cambridge, U. S. A. 
 Presswork by R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company, Chicago 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 FOREWORD 9 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I THE REQUEST FOR AID 19 
 
 II A PERILOUS VENTURE , 33 
 
 III A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP . . 46 
 
 IV WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR -61 
 
 V ON THE DECK OF THE "SANTA MARIA". . 71 
 
 VI THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI 85 
 
 VII THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 95 
 
 VIII FAVORED OF THE GODS 108 
 
 IX THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN . . . , 117 
 
 X A COVERT IN THE CANE 125 
 
 XI A NIGHT IN THE BOAT , 134 
 
 XII WE LAND AN ODD FISH , 145 
 
 XIII WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 155 
 
 XIV THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS , , . 164 
 XV A PASSAGE AT ARMS .,..172 
 
 XVI WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 181 
 
 XVII WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 191 
 
 XVIII A HARD DAY S MARCH 200 
 
 XIX DEMON, OR WHAT ? . 209 
 
 XX BACKS TO THE WALL 220 
 
 XXI THE STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ . . . 235 
 
 _ .[5] 
 
 mJL 
 
 oLirJO 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 XXII PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 246 
 
 XXIII THE VOTE OF DEATH 254 
 
 XXIV THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 260 
 
 XXV A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 272 
 
 XXVI THE CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ . . . 287 
 
 XXVII A VENTURE IN THE DARK 300 
 
 XXVIII SPEECH WITH NALADI 308 
 
 XXIX IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 318 
 
 XXX UNDERGROUND 331 
 
 XXXI WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 341 
 
 XXXII CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 352 
 
 XXXIII PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 365 
 
 XXXIV THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 380 
 
 XXXV NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 390 
 
 XXXVI THE INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT . . . 403 
 
 XXXVII THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD . . . . 412 
 
 [6] 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I could merely clasp the hands she gave so unre 
 servedly into my keeping, gaze into the depths 
 of her dark eyes, and murmur a few broken 
 words of confidence and farewell. . . . Frontispiece 
 
 Had I ventured upon a smile at his predicament 
 
 he would have popped instantly forth again. . no 
 
 " I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my 
 children, given unto me by the great Sun-god. 
 . . . None of white blood may set foot in this 
 valley and live." 262 
 
 The woman stood gazing intently down, her red 
 robe sweeping to her feet; below the flaring 
 torches in the hands of her barbaric followers 
 cast their light full upon her 396 
 
 [7] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 THE manuscript of this tale has been in my posses 
 sion several years. It reached me through natural 
 lines of inheritance, but remained nearly forgotten, until 
 a chance reading "revealed a certain historic basis ; then, 
 making note of correspondences in minor details, I real 
 ized that what I had cast aside as mere fiction might pos 
 sess a substantial foundation of fact. Impelled by this 
 conviction, I now submit the narrative to public inspec 
 tion, that others, better fitted than I, may judge as to the 
 worth of this Geoffrey Benteen. 
 
 According to the earlier records of Louisiana Province, 
 Geoffrey Benteen was, during his later years, a resident 
 of La Petite Rocher, a man of note and character among 
 his fellows. There he died in old age, leaving no indica 
 tion of the extent of his knowledge, other than what is to 
 be found in the yellowed pages of his manuscript ; and 
 these afford no evidence that this " Gentleman Adven 
 turer " possessed any information derived from books 
 regarding those relics of a prehistoric people, which are 
 widely scattered throughout the Middle and Southern 
 States of the Union and constitute the grounds on 
 which our century has applied to the race the term 
 "Mound Builders." 
 
 Apparently in all simplicity and faithfulness he recorded 
 merely what he saw and heard. Later research, antedat 
 ing his death, has seemingly proven that in the extinct 
 
 [9] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 Natchez tribe was to be found the last remnant of that 
 mysterious and unfortunate race. 
 
 Who were the Mound Builders ? No living man may 
 answer. Their history strange, weird, mysterious 
 stretches backward into the dim twilight before tradition, 
 its sole remaining record graven upon the surface of the 
 earth, vaguely guessed at by those who study graves ; 
 their pathetic ending has long been pictured in our 
 country s story as occurring amid the shadows of that 
 dreadful midnight upon the banks of the Ocatahoola, 
 when vengeful Frenchmen put them to the sword. 
 Whence they came, whether from fabled Atlantis, or the 
 extinct Aztec empire of the South, no living tongue can 
 tell ; whither fled their remnant, if remnant there was 
 left to flee, and what proved its ultimate fate, no previous 
 pen has written. Out from the darkness of the unknown, 
 scarcely more than spectral figures, they came, wrote their 
 single line upon the earth s surface, and vanished, kings 
 and people alike sinking into speechless oblivion. 
 
 That Geoffrey Benteen witnessed the tragic ending of 
 this strange people I no longer question ; for I have 
 compared his narrative with all we moderns have learned 
 regarding them, as recorded in the pages of Parkman, 
 Charlevoix, Du Pratz, and Duponceau, discovering noth 
 ing to awaken the slightest suspicion that he dealt 
 with other than what he saw. More, I have traced 
 with exactitude the route these fugitives followed in their 
 flight northward, and, although the features of the country 
 are greatly altered by settlements of nearly two hundred 
 years, one may easily discern evidence of this man s 
 honesty. For me it is enough to feel that I have stood 
 
 [10] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 beside the massive tomb of this mysterious people a 
 people once opulent and powerful, the warriors of for 
 gotten battle-fields, the builders of lost civilizations, the 
 masters of that imperial domain stretching from the Red 
 River of the North to the sea-coast of the Carolinas ; a 
 people swept backward as by the wrath of the Infinite, 
 scourged by famine, decimated by pestilence, warred 
 against by flame, stricken by storm, torn asunder by 
 vengeful enemies, until a weakened remnant, harassed by 
 the French sword, fled northward in the night to fulfil 
 the fate ordained of God, and finally perished amid the 
 gloomy shadows of the grim Ozarks, bequeathing to the 
 curious future neither a language nor a name. 
 
 But this I leave with Geoffrey Benteen, and turn to 
 my own simpler task, a review of the peculiar circum 
 stances leading up to this narrative, involving a brief 
 chapter from the records of our Southwest. 
 
 The early history of the Province of Louisiana is 
 so complicated by rapid changes in government as to 
 confuse the student, rendering it extremely difficult to 
 comprehend correctly the varied and conflicting inter 
 ests aristocratic, official, and commercial actuating 
 her pioneer colonists. The written records, so far as 
 translated and published, afford only a faint reflection of 
 the varied characteristics of her peculiar, changing popu 
 lation. The blue-eyed Arcadian of her western plateaus, 
 yet dreaming upon his more northern freedom; the 
 royalist planter of the Mississippi bottoms, proud of 
 those broad acres granted him by letters-patent of the 
 King ; the gay, volatile, passionate Creole of the town, 
 one day a thoughtless lover of pleasure, the next a 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 truculent wielder of the sword ; the daring smugglers 
 of Barataria, already rapidly drifting into open defiance 
 of all legal restraint; together with the quiet market 
 gardeners of the Cote-des-Allemands, formed a hetero 
 geneous population impossible to please and extremely 
 difficult to control. 
 
 Varied as were these types, yet there were others, 
 easy to name, but far more difficult to classify in their 
 political relationships such as priests of the Capuchin 
 order; scattered representatives of Britain; sailors from 
 ships ever swinging to the current beside the levee; 
 sinewy backwoodsmen from the wilds of the Blue Ridge; 
 naked savages from Indian villages north and east; rafts 
 men from the distant waters of the Ohio and Illinois, 
 scarcely less barbarian than those with redder skin; 
 Spaniards from the Gulf islands, together with a negro 
 population, part slave, part free, nearly equal in point 
 of numbers to all the rest. 
 
 And over all who was the master ? 
 
 It would have been difficult at times to tell, so swiftly 
 did change follow change Crozat, Law, Louis the 
 Fifteenth, Charles the Third, each had his turn; flag 
 succeeded flag upon the high staff which, ever since the 
 days of Bienville, had ornamented the Place d Armes, 
 while great merchants of Europe played the occupants 
 of thrones for the bauble of this far western province, 
 whose heart, nevertheless, remained forever faithful to 
 sunny France. 
 
 As late as 1768 New Orleans contained scarcely more 
 than three thousand two hundred persons, a third of 
 these being black slaves. Sixty-three years previously 
 
FO REWORD 
 
 Bienville had founded Louisiana Province, making choice 
 of the city site, but in 1763 it suited the schemes of him, 
 who ruled the destinies of the mother country, to convey 
 the yet struggling colony into the control of the King 
 of Spain. It was fully two years later before word of 
 this unwelcome transfer reached the distant province, 
 while as much more time elapsed ere Don Antonio de 
 Ulloa, the newly appointed Spanish governor, landed at 
 New Orleans, and, under guard of but two companies 
 of infantry, took unto himself the reins. Unrest was 
 already in the air, petitions and delegations laden with 
 vehement protests crossed the Atlantic. Both were 
 alike returned, disregarded by the French King. Where 
 it is probable that a single word of wise counsel, even of 
 kindly explanation, might have calmed the rising tumult, 
 silence and contempt merely served to aggravate it. 
 
 It has been written by conscientious historians that 
 commercial interests, not loyalty to French traditions, 
 were the real cause of this struggle of 1768. Be that as 
 it may, its leaders were found in the Superior Council, a 
 body of governors older even than New Orleans, of which 
 the patriotic Lafreniere was then the presiding officer, 
 and whose membership contained such representative 
 citizens as Foucault, Jean and Joseph Milhet, Caresse, 
 Petit, Poupet, a prominent lawyer, Marquis, a Swiss 
 captain, with Bathasar de Masan, Hardy de Boisblanc, 
 and Joseph Villere, planters of the upper Mississippi, as 
 well as two nephews of the great Bienville, Charles de 
 Noyan, a young ex-captain of cavalry, lately married 
 to the only daughter of Lafreniere, and his younger 
 brother, a lieutenant in the navy. 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 On the twenty-seventh of October, 1768, every French 
 man in Louisiana Province was marching toward New 
 Orleans. That same night the guns at the Tehoupi- 
 toulas Gate the upper river corner were spiked; 
 while yet farther away, along a narrow road bordering 
 the great stream, armed with fowling pieces, muskets, 
 even axes, the Arcadians, and the aroused inhabitants 
 of the German coast, came sweeping down to unite with 
 the impatient Creoles of the town. In the dull gray 
 of early morning they pushed past the spiked and useless 
 cannon, and, with De Noyan and Villere at their head, 
 forced the other gates and noisily paraded the streets under 
 the four de Us. The people rose en masse to greet them, 
 until, utterly unable to resist the rising tide of popular 
 enthusiasm, Ulloa retired on board the Spanish frigate, 
 which slipped her cables, and came to anchor far out in 
 the stream. Two days later, hurried no doubt by de 
 mands of the council, the governor set sail for the West 
 Indies, leaving the fair province under control of what 
 was little better than a headless mob. 
 
 For now, having achieved success, the strange listless- 
 ness of the Southern nature reasserted itself, and from 
 that moment no apparent effort was made to strengthen 
 their position no government was established, no basis 
 of credit effected, no diplomatic relations were assumed. 
 They had battled for results like men, yet were content 
 to play with them like children. For more than seven 
 months they thus enjoyed a false security, as delightful 
 as their sunny summer-time. Then suddenly, as breaks 
 an ocean storm, that slumbering community was rudely 
 aroused from its siestas and day-dreaming by the report 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 that Spaniards were at the mouth of the river in 
 overwhelming force. 
 
 Confusion reigned on every hand ; scarcely a hundred 
 men rallied to defend the town ; yet no one fled. The 
 Spanish fleet consisted of twenty-four vessels. For more 
 than three weeks they felt their uncertain way around 
 the bends of the Mississippi, and on the eighteenth of 
 August, 1769, furled their canvas before the silent bat 
 teries. Firing a single gun from the deck of his flag-ship, 
 the frigate "Santa Maria," Don Alexandro O Reilly, 
 accompanied by twenty-six hundred chosen Spanish 
 troops and fifty pieces of artillery, landed, amid all the 
 pomp of Continental war, taking formal possession of the 
 province. That night his soldiers patrolled the streets, 
 and his cannon swept the river front, while not a French 
 man ventured to stray beyond the doorway of his home. 
 
 Within the narrow space of two days the iron hand of 
 Spain s new Captain-General had closed upon the leaders 
 of the bloodless insurrection, his judgments falling with 
 such severity as to earn for him in the annals of Louisi 
 ana the title of" Cruel O Reilly." Among those of the 
 revolutionists before mentioned, Petit, Masan, Doucet, 
 Boisblanc, Jean Milhet, and Poupet were consigned to 
 Moro Castle, Havana, where they remained a year, and 
 then were stripped of their property and forbidden ever 
 again to enter the province of Louisiana. The younger 
 Bienville escaped with the loss of his fortune. Foucault 
 met his fate resisting the guard on board the " Santa 
 Maria," where he was held prisoner ; while Lafren- 
 iere, De Noyan, Caresse, Marquis, and Joseph Milhet 
 were condemned to be publicly hanged. The earnest 
 
 [15] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 supplication, both of colonists and Spanish officials, 
 shocked by the unjust severity of this sentence, sufficed 
 to save them from the disgrace of the gallows, but fated 
 them to fall before the volley of a file of grenadiers. 
 
 With the firing of the sunset gun the evening of their 
 last earthly day, the post-captain visited the condemned 
 men, and spoke with each in turn ; they numbered five. 
 All through the dark hours of that night heavily armed 
 sentries stood in the narrow passageway before nail- 
 studded doors, while each hour, as the ship s bell struck, 
 the Commandant of Marine peered within each lighted 
 apartment where rested five plainly outlined forms. 
 With the first gray of the dawn the unfortunate prisoners 
 were mustered upon deck, but they numbered only four. 
 And four only, white faced, yet firm of step and clear of 
 eye, stood an hour later with backs to the rising sun and 
 hearts to the levelled rifles, and when the single volley had 
 echoed and reechoed across the wide river, the white 
 smoke slowly lifting and blown away above the trees, only 
 four lifeless bodies lay closely pressed against the red 
 brick wall the fifth condemned man was not there : 
 Chevalier Charles de Noyan had escaped his fate. Like a 
 spirit had he vanished during those mysterious hours 
 between midnight and dawn, leaving no trace of his going 
 save a newly severed rope which hung dangling from a 
 foreyard. 
 
 But had he escaped ? 
 
 That morning as we learn from private letters sent 
 home by officers of the Spanish fleet there came to the 
 puzzled O Reilly a report that in the dense blackness of 
 that starless night a single boat sought to slip silently 
 
 [16] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 past beneath the deep shadows of the upper battery. 
 Unhalting in response to a hail of the sentry, a volley 
 was hastily fired toward its uncertain outline, and, in the 
 flare of the guns, the officer of the guard noted the black 
 figure of a man leap high into air, and disappear 
 beneath the dark surface of the river. So it was the 
 Captain-General wrote also the name " Charles de 
 Noyan " with those of the other four, endorsing it with 
 the same terse military record, " Shot at sunrise." 
 
 Nor since that fateful hour has the world known 
 otherwise, for, although strange rumors floated down the 
 great river to be whispered about from lip to lip, and 
 New Orleans wondered many a long month whither had 
 vanished the fair young wife, the daughter of Lafreniere, 
 yet no authentic message found its way out of the vast 
 northern wilderness. For nearly one hundred and fifty 
 years- history has accepted without question the testimony 
 of the Spanish records. The man who alone could tell 
 the strange story was in old age impelled to do so by a 
 feeling of sacred duty to the dead ; and his papers, dis 
 arranged, ill-written, already yellowed by years, have 
 fallen to my keeping. I submit them without com 
 ment or change, save only as to the subdivision into 
 chapters, with an occasional substitution for some old- 
 time phrase of its more modern equivalent. He who 
 calls himself "Geoffrey Benteen, Gentleman Adventurer," 
 
 shall tell his own tale. 
 
 R. P. 
 
 [17] 
 
Prisoners of Chance 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 I AM Geoffrey Benteen, Gentleman Adventurer, with 
 much experience upon the border, where I have 
 passed my life. My father was that Robert Benteen, 
 merchant in furs, the first of the English race to make 
 permanent settlement in New Orleans. Here he estab 
 lished a highly profitable trade with the Indians, his 
 bateaux voyaging as far northward as the falls of the 
 Ohio, while his influence among the tribesmen extended 
 to the eastern mountains. My mother was of Spanish 
 blood, a native of Saint Augustine, so I grew up fairly 
 proficient in three languages, and to them I later added 
 an odd medley of tribal tongues which often stood me in 
 excellent stead amid the vicissitudes of the frontier. The 
 early death of my mother compelled me to become com 
 panion to my father in his wanderings, so that before I 
 was seventeen the dim forest trails, the sombre rivers, 
 and the dark lodges of savages had grown as familiar to 
 me as were the streets and houses of my native town. 
 Hence it happened, that when my father fell the victim 
 of a treacherous blow, although he left to my care con 
 siderable property and a widely scattered trade, I could 
 not easily content myself with the sameness of New 
 Orleans ; there I felt almost a stranger, ever hungering 
 for the woods and the free life of the mountains. 
 
 [19] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Yet I held myself to the work in hand until successful 
 in straightening out the tangled threads, and might have 
 remained engaged in peaceful traffic until the end of life, 
 had it not been for a misunderstanding with her who held 
 my heart in captivity to her slightest whim. It matters 
 little now the cause of the quarrel, or where rested the 
 greater blame; enough that its occurrence drove me 
 forth reckless of everything, desirous only to leave all of 
 my own race, and seek amid savage environment and 
 excitement forgetful ness of the past. 
 
 It was in September of the year 1769 just forty- 
 eight years ago as I write that I found myself once 
 again in New Orleans, feeling almost a stranger to the 
 town, except for the few rough flatboat-men in company 
 with whom I had floated down the great river. Five 
 years previously, heartsick and utterly careless of life, I 
 had plunged into the trackless wilderness stretching in 
 almost unbroken virginity to north and east, desiring 
 merely to be left alone, that I might in solitude fight 
 out my first grim battle with despair, saying to myself in 
 all bitterness of soul that never again would I turn face 
 to southward or enter the boundaries of Louisiana 
 Province. During those years, beyond reach of news 
 and the tongue of gossip, I wandered aimlessly from 
 village to village, ever certain of welcome within the 
 lodges of Creeks and Shawnees, or farther away amid 
 those little French border towns dotting the Ohio and 
 the Illinois, constantly feeling how little the world held 
 of value since both my parents were gone, and this last 
 blow had fallen. I loved the free, wild life of the 
 warriors with whom I hunted, and the voyageurs beside 
 
 [*>] 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 whom I camped, and had learned to distrust my own 
 race ; yet no sooner did I chance to stand again beside 
 the sweeping current of the broad Mississippi, than I 
 was gripped by the old irresistible yearning, and, 
 although uninspired by either hope or purpose, drifted 
 downward to the hated Creole town. 
 
 I had left it a typical frontier French city, touched 
 alike by the glamour of reflected civilization and the bar 
 barism of savagery, yet ever alive with the gayety of that 
 lively, changeable people ; I returned, after those five years 
 of burial in forest depths, to discover it under the harsh 
 rule of Spain, and outwardly so quiet as to appear fairly 
 deserted of inhabitants. The Spanish ships of war I 
 counted nineteen lay anchored in the broad river, their 
 prows up stream, and the gloomy, black muzzles of their 
 guns depressed so as to command the landing, while 
 scarcely a French face greeted me along the streets, whose 
 rough stone pavements echoed to the constant tread of 
 armed soldiers. 
 
 Spanish sentries were on guard at nearly every corner. 
 Not a few halted me with rough questioning, and once I 
 was haled before an officer, who, hearing my story, and 
 possibly impressed by my proficiency in his language, 
 was kind enough to provide me with a pass good within 
 the lines. Yet it proved far from pleasant loitering 
 about, as drunken soldiers, dressed in every variety of 
 uniform, staggered along the narrow walks, ready to pick 
 a quarrel with any stranger chancing their way, while 
 groups of officers, gorgeous in white coats and gold lace, 
 lounged in shaded corners, greeting each passer-by with 
 jokes that stung. Every tavern was crowded to the 
 
 [ai] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 threshold with roistering blades whose drunken curses, 
 directed against both French and English, quickly taught 
 me the discretion of keeping well away from their com 
 pany, so there was little left but to move on, never halt 
 ing long enough in one place to become involved in 
 useless controversy. 
 
 It all appeared so unnatural that I felt strangely sad 
 dened by the change, and continued aimlessly drifting 
 about the town as curiosity led, resolved to leave its con 
 fines at the earliest opportunity. I stared long at the 
 strange vessels of war, whose like I had never before seen, 
 and finally, as I now remember, paused upon the ragged 
 grass of the Place d Armes, watching the evolutions of a 
 battery of artillery. This was all new to me, representing 
 as it did a line of service seldom met with in the wilder 
 ness ; and soon quite a number of curious loiterers 
 gathered likewise along the edge of the parade. Among 
 them I could distinguish a few French faces, with here 
 and there a woman of the lower orders, ill clad and coarse 
 of speech. A party of soldiers, boisterous and quarrelsome 
 from liquor, pressed me so closely that, hopeful of avoid 
 ing trouble, I drew farther back toward the curb, and 
 standing thus, well away from others, enjoyed an 
 unobstructed view across the entire field. 
 
 The battery had hitched up preparatory to returning to 
 their quarters before I lost interest in the spectacle and 
 reluctantly turned away with the slowly dispersing crowd. 
 Just then I became aware of the close proximity of a well- 
 dressed negro, apparently the favored servant in some 
 family of quality. The fellow was observing me with an 
 intentness which aroused my suspicion. That was a time 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 and place for exercising extreme caution, so that instinc 
 tively I turned away, moving directly across the vacated 
 field. Scarcely had I taken ten steps before I saw that 
 he was following, and as I wheeled to front him the fellow 
 made a painful effort to address me in English. 
 
 " Mornin , sah," he said, making a deep salutation 
 with his entire body. "Am you dat Englisher Massa 
 Benteen from up de ribber ? " 
 
 Leaning upon my rifle, I gazed directly at him in aston 
 ishment. How, by all that was miraculous, did this 
 strange black know my name and nationality ? His was 
 a round face, filled with good humor; nothing in it surely 
 to mistrust, yet totally unknown to me. 
 
 " You speak correctly," I made reply, surprise evident 
 in the tones of my voice. " I have no reason to deny my 
 name, which is held an honest one here in New Orleans. 
 How you learned it, however, remains a mystery, for I 
 never looked upon your face before." 
 
 "No, sah ; I s pects not, sah, cause I nebber yet hab 
 been in dem dere parts, sah. I was sent yere wid a most 
 portant message fer Massa Benteen, an* I done reckon 
 as how dat am you, sah." 
 
 " An important message for me ? Surely, boy, you 
 either mistake, or are crazy. Yet stay ! Does it come 
 from Nick Burton, the flatboat-man ? " 
 
 " No, sah ; it am a lady wat sent me yere." 
 
 He was excessively polite, exhibiting an earnestness 
 which caused me to suspect his mission a grave one. 
 
 "A lady?" 
 
 I echoed the unexpected word, scarcely capable of 
 believing the testimony of my own ears. Yet as I did so 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 my heart almost ceased its throbbing, while I felt the hot 
 blood rush to my face. That was an age of social gal 
 lantry ; yet I was no gay courtier of the town, but a 
 hunter of the woods, attired in rough habiliments, little 
 fitted to attract the attention of womanly eyes amid the 
 military glitter all about. 
 
 A lady ! In the name of all the gods, what lady ? 
 Even in the old days I enjoyed but a limited circle of 
 acquaintance among women. Indeed, I recalled only one 
 in all the wide province of Louisiana who might justly be 
 accorded so high an appellation even by a negro slave, and 
 certainly she knew nothing of my presence in New Orleans, 
 nor would she dream of sending for me if she did. Con 
 vinced of this, I dismissed the thought upon the instant, 
 with a smile. The black must have made a mistake, or 
 else some old-time acquaintance of our family, a forgotten 
 friend of my mother perhaps, had chanced to hear of my 
 return. Meanwhile the negro stood gazing at me with 
 open mouth, and the sight of him partially restored my 
 presence of mind. 
 
 " Is she English, boy ? " 
 
 " No, sah ; she am a French lady, sah, if ebber dar was 
 one in dis hyar province. She libs ober yonder in de Rue 
 Dumaine, an she said to me, Yah, Alphonse, you follow 
 dat dar young feller wid de long rifle under his arm an 
 de coon-skin cap, an* fotch him hyar to me ! Dem am 
 de bery words wat she done said, sah, when you went by 
 our house a half-hour ago." 
 
 " Is your mistress young or old ? " 
 
 The black chuckled, his round face assuming a 
 good-natured grin. 
 
 Ml 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 cc Fo de Lawd, Massa, but dat am jest de way wid all 
 you white folks !" he ejaculated. "If she was ol , an* 
 wrinkled, an* fat, den dat settle de whole ting. Jest 
 don t want to know no mor ." 
 
 "Well," I interrupted impatiently, "keep your moral 
 izing to yourself until we become better acquainted, 
 and answer my question Is the woman young?" 
 
 My tone was sufficiently stern to sober him, his black 
 face straightening out as if it had been ironed. 
 
 " Now, don t you go an git cross, Massa Benteen, 
 case a laugh don t nebber do nobody no hurt," he cried, 
 shrinking back as if expecting a blow. " But dat s jest 
 wat she am, sah, an a heap sweeter dan de vi lets in de 
 springtime, sah." 
 
 " And she actually told you my name ? " 
 
 "Yas, sah, she did dat fer suah c Massa Geoffrey 
 Benteen, an Englisher from up de ribber, dem was her 
 bery words ; but somehow I done disremember jest 
 persactly de place." 
 
 For another moment I hesitated, scarcely daring to 
 utter the one vital question trembling on my lips. 
 
 " But who is the lady ? What is her name ? " As I 
 put the simple query I felt my voice tremble in spite of 
 every effort to hold it firm. 
 
 " Madame de Noyan, sah ; one ob de bery first 
 famblies. Massa de Noyan am one ob de Bienvilles, sah." 
 
 " De Noyan ? De Noyan ? " I repeated the unfa 
 miliar name over slowly, with a feeling of relief. " Most 
 certainly I never before heard of her." 
 
 "I dunno nothin tall bout dat, Massa, but suah s 
 you born dat am her name and Massa s ; an* you is 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 de bery man she done sent me after, fer I nebber onct 
 took my eyes off you all dis time." 
 
 There remained no reasonable doubt as to the fellow s 
 sincerity. His face was a picture of disinterested earnest 
 ness as he fronted me ; yet I hesitated, eying him closely, 
 half inclined to think him the unsuspecting representative 
 of some rogue. That was a time and place where one of 
 my birth needed to practise caution ; racial rivalry ran so 
 high throughout all the sparsely settled province that any 
 misunderstanding between an English stranger and either 
 Frenchman or Spaniard was certain to involve serious 
 results. We of Northern blood were bitterly envied 
 because of commercial supremacy. I had, during my 
 brief residence in New Orleans, witnessed jealous treach 
 ery on every hand. This had taught me that enemies of 
 my race were numerous, while, it was probable, not more 
 than a dozen fellow-countrymen were then in New 
 Orleans. They would prove powerless were I to become 
 involved in any quarrel. Extreme caution under such 
 conditions became a paramount duty, and it can scarcely 
 be wondered at that I hesitated to trust the black, continu 
 ing to study the real purpose of his mysterious message. 
 Yet the rare good-humor and simple interest of his face 
 tended to reassure me. A lady, he said well, surely 
 no great harm would result from such an interview ; and 
 if, as was probable, it should prove a mere case of mis 
 taken identity, a correction could easily follow, and I 
 should then be free to go my way. On the other hand, 
 if some friend really needed me, a question of duty was 
 involved, which God helping I was never one to 
 shun ; for who could know in how brief a space I might 
 
 [26] 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 also be asking assistance of some countryman. This 
 mysterious stranger, this Madame de Noyan of whom I 
 had never heard, knew my name possibly had learned 
 it from another, some wandering Englishman, perchance, 
 whom she would aid in trouble, some old-time friend in dan 
 ger, who, afraid to reveal himself, now appealed through 
 her instrumentality for help in a strange land. Deciding 
 to brave the doubt and solve the mystery by action, I flung 
 the long rifle across my shoulder and stood erect. 
 
 " All right, boy, lead on," I said shortly. " I intend 
 to learn what is behind this, and who it is that sends 
 for me in New Orleans." 
 
 Far from satisfied with the situation, yet determined 
 now to probe the mystery to the bottom, I silently fol 
 lowed the black, attentive to his slightest movement. It 
 was a brief walk down one of the narrow streets leading 
 directly back from the river front, so that within less than 
 five minutes I was being silently shown into the small 
 reception room of a tasty cottage, whose picturesque 
 front was half concealed by a brilliant mass of trailing 
 vines. The heavy shades being closely drawn at the 
 windows, the interior was in such gloom that for the 
 moment after my entrance from the outside glare I was 
 unable to distinguish one object from another. Then 
 slowly my eyes adjusted themselves to the change, and, 
 taking one uncertain step forward, I came suddenly face 
 to face with a Capuchin priest appearing almost ghastly 
 with his long, pale, ascetic countenance, and ghostly gray 
 robe sweeping to the floor. 
 
 Startled by this unexpected apparition, and experienc 
 ing an American borderer s dislike and distrust for his 
 
 071 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 class, I made a hasty move back toward where, with 
 unusual carelessness, I had deposited my rifle against the 
 wall. Yet as I placed hand upon it I had sufficiently 
 recovered to laugh silently at my fears. 
 
 " Thou hast responded with much promptitude, my 
 son," the priest said in gentle voice, speaking the purest 
 of French, and apparently not choosing to notice my 
 momentary confusion. " It is indeed an excellent trait 
 one long inculcated by our Order." 
 
 " And one not unknown to mine free rangers of the 
 woods, sir priest," I replied coldly, resolving not to be out 
 done in bluntness of speech. "I suppose you are the lady* 
 desiring speech with me; I note you come dressed in char 
 acter. And now I am here, what may the message be ? " 
 
 There was neither smile nor resentment visible on his 
 pale face, although he slightly uplifted one slender hand 
 as if in silent rebuke of my rude words. 
 
 " Nay, nay, my son," he said gravely. " Be not over- 
 hasty in speech. It is indeed a serious matter which 
 doth require thy presence in this house, and the question 
 of life or death for a human being can never be fit sub 
 ject for jesting. She who despatched the messenger will 
 be here directly to make clear her need." 
 
 "In truth it was a woman, then ? " 
 
 " Yes, a woman, and ah ! she cometh now." 
 
 Even as he gave utterance to the words, I turned, 
 attracted by the soft rustle of a silken skirt at my very 
 side, stole one quick, startled glance into a young, sweet 
 face, lightened by dark, dreamy eyes, and within the 
 instant was warmly clasping two outstretched hands, 
 totally oblivious of all else save her. 
 
 [28] 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 " Eloise ! " I exclaimed in astonishment. " Eloise 
 Mademoiselle Lafreniere can this indeed be you ? 
 Have you sent for me ? " 
 
 It seemed for that one moment as if the world held 
 but the two of us, and there was a glad confidence in her 
 brimming eyes quickly dissipating all mists of the past. 
 Yet only for that one weak, thoughtless instant did she 
 yield to what appeared real joy at my presence. 
 
 " Yes, dear friend, it is Eloise/ she answered, gazing 
 anxiously into my face, and clinging to my strong hands 
 as though fearful lest I might tear them away when she 
 spoke those hard words which must follow. " Yet surely 
 you know, Geoffrey Benteen, that I am Mademoiselle 
 Lafreniere no longer ? " 
 
 It seemed to me my very heart stopped beating, so in 
 tense was the pain which overswept it. Yet I held to the 
 soft hands, for there was such a pitiful look of suffering 
 upon her upturned face as to steady me. 
 
 " No, I knew it not," I answered brokenly. "I I 
 have been buried in the forest all these years since we 
 parted, where few rumors of the town have reached me. 
 But let that pass; it it is easy to see you are now 
 in great sorrow. Was it because of this in search of 
 help, in need, perchance that you have sent for 
 me?" 
 
 She bowed her head ; a tear fell upon my broad hand 
 and glistened there. 
 
 " Yes, Geoffrey." 
 
 The words were scarcely more than a whisper; then 
 the low voice seemed to strengthen with return of 
 confidence, her dark eyes anxiously searching my face. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " I sent for you, Geoffrey, because of deep trouble ; 
 because I am left alone, without friends, saving only the 
 fere. I know well your faithfulness. In spite of the 
 wrong, the misunderstanding between us and for it I 
 take all the blame I have ever trusted in your word, 
 your honor ; and now, when I can turn nowhere else for 
 earthly aid, the good God has guided you back to New 
 Orleans. Geoffrey Benteen, do not gaze at me so ! It 
 breaks my heart to see that look in your eyes ; but, my 
 friend, my dearest friend, do you still recall what you 
 said to me so bravely the night you went away? " 
 
 Did I remember ! God knew I did ; ay ! each word 
 of that interview had been burned into my life, had been 
 repeated again and again in the silence of my heart amid 
 the loneliness of the woods ; nothing in all those years 
 had for one moment obliterated her face or speech from 
 memory. 
 
 "I remember, Eloise," I answered more calmly. 
 " The words you mean were : c If ever you have need 
 of one on whom you may rely for any service, however 
 desperate (and in New Orleans such necessity might arise 
 at any moment), one who would gladly yield his very 
 life to serve you, then, wherever he may be, send for 
 Geoffrey Benteen/ My poor girl, has that moment 
 come ? " 
 
 The brown head drooped until it rested in unconscious 
 ness against my arm, while I could feel the sobs which 
 shook her form and choked her utterance. 
 
 " It has come," she whispered at last ; " I am trusting 
 in your promise." 
 
 " Nor in vain ; my life is at your command." 
 
 [30] 
 
THE REQUEST FOR AID 
 
 She stopped my passionate utterance with quick, 
 impulsive gesture. 
 
 " No ! pledge not yourself again until you hear my 
 words, and ponder them," she cried, with return to that 
 imperiousness of manner I had loved so well. " This 
 is no ordinary matter. It will try your utmost love; per 
 chance place your life in such deadly peril as you never 
 faced before. For I must ask of you what no one else 
 would ever venture to require nor can I hold out before 
 you the slightest reward, save my deepest gratitude." 
 
 I gazed fixedly at her flushed face, scarcely compre 
 hending the strange words she spoke. 
 
 "What may all this be that you require this sacri 
 fice so vast that you doubt me ? Surely I have never 
 stood a coward, a dastard in your sight ? " 
 
 She stood erect, facing me, proudly confident in her 
 power, with tears still clinging to her long lashes. 
 
 " No ! you wrong me uttering such a thought. I 
 doubt you not, although I might well doubt any other 
 walking this earth. But listen, and you can no longer 
 question my words; this which I dare ask of you 
 because I trust you is to save my husband" 
 
 " Your husband ? " The very utterance of the word 
 choked me. " Your husband ? Save him from what ? 
 Where is he ? " 
 
 " A prisoner to the Spaniards ; condemned to die 
 to-morrow at sunrise." 
 
 "His name?" 
 
 " Chevalier Charles de Noyan." 
 
 " Where confined ? " 
 
 " Upon the flag-ship in the river." 
 
 [31] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 I turned away and stood with my back to them both. 
 I could no longer bear to gaze upon her agonized face 
 uplifted in such eager pleading, such confiding trust ; that 
 one sweet face I loved as nothing else on earth. 
 
 Save her husband ! For the moment it seemed as if 
 a thousand emotions swayed me. What might it not 
 mean if this man should die? His living could only 
 add infinitely to my pain ; his death might insure my 
 happiness at least he alone, as far as I knew, stood in 
 the way. " To die to-morrow ! " The very words 
 sounded sweet in my ears, and it would be such an easy 
 thing for me to promise her, to appear to do my very 
 best and fail. " To die to-morrow ! " The perspira 
 tion gathered in drops upon my forehead as I wavered 
 an instant to the tempting thought. Then I shook the 
 foul temptation from me. Merciful God ! could I dream 
 of being such a dastard? Why not attempt what she 
 asked ? After all, what was left for me in life, except to 
 give her happiness ? 
 
 The sound of a faint sob reached me, and wheeling 
 instantly I stood at her side. 
 
 " Madame de Noyan," I said with forced calmness, sur 
 prising myself, " I will redeem my pledge, and either 
 save your husband, or meet my fate at his side." 
 
 Before I could prevent her action she had flung herself 
 at my feet, and was kissing my hand. 
 
 " God bless you, Geoffrey Benteen ! God bless you ! " 
 she sobbed impulsively ; and then from out the dense 
 shadows of the farther wall, solemnly as though he stood 
 at altar service, the watchful Capuchin said : 
 
 " Amen ! " 
 
 [3*] 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 ANY call to action, of either hazard or pleasure, 
 steadies my nerves. To realize necessity for 
 doing renders me a new man, clear of brain, quick 
 of decision. Possibly this comes from that active life 
 I have always led in the open. Be the cause what it 
 may, I was the first to recover speech. 
 
 " I hope to show myself worthy your trust, Madame," 
 I said somewhat stiffly, for it hurt to realize that this 
 emotion arose from her husband s peril. " At best I 
 am only an adventurer, and rely upon those means 
 with which life upon the border renders me familiar. 
 Such may prove useless where I have soldiers of skill 
 to deal with. However, we have need of these minutes 
 flying past so rapidly ; they might be put to better use 
 than tears, or words of gratitude." 
 
 She looked upward at me with wet eyes. 
 
 "You are right; I am a child, it seems. Tell me 
 your desire, and I will endeavor to act the woman." 
 
 " First, I must comprehend more clearly the nature 
 of the work before me. The Chevalier de Noyan is 
 already under sentence of death ; the hour of execu 
 tion to-morrow at sunrise ? " 
 
 She bent her head in quiet acquiescence, her anxious 
 eyes never leaving my face. 
 
 [33] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " It is now already approaching noon, leaving us 
 barely eighteen hours in which to effect his rescue. 
 Faith ! t is short space for action." 
 
 I glanced uneasily aside at the silently observant 
 priest, now standing, a slender gray figure, close beside 
 the door. He was not of an Order I greatly loved. 
 
 "You need have no fear," she exclaimed, hastily inter 
 preting my thought. " Father Petreni can be fully 
 trusted. He is more than my religious confessor ; he 
 has been my friend from childhood/* 
 
 " Yes, Monsieur," he interposed sadly, yet with a grave 
 smile lighting his thin white face. " I shall be able to 
 accomplish little in your aid, for my trade is not that of 
 arms, yet, within my physical limitations, I am freely at 
 your service." 
 
 " That is well," I responded heartily, words and tone 
 yielding me fresh confidence in the man. "This is likely 
 to prove a night when comrades will need to know each 
 other. Now a few questions, after which I will look 
 over the ground before attempting to outline any plan 
 of action. You say, Madame, that your Chevalier de 
 Noyan is a prisoner on the fleet in the river. Upon 
 which ship is he confined ? " 
 
 " The Santa Maria/ " 
 
 " The c Santa Maria ? if memory serve, the largest 
 of them all ? " 
 
 " Yes ! the flag-ship." 
 
 " She lies, as I remember, for I stood on the levee 
 two hours ago watching the strange spectacle, close in 
 toward the shore, beside the old sugar warehouse of 
 Bomanceaux et fils." 
 
 [34] 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 "You are correct," returned the Capuchin soberly, the 
 lady hesitating. " The ship swingeth by her cable scarce 
 thirty feet from the bank." 
 
 " That, at least, has sound of good fortune," I thought, 
 revolving rapidly a sudden inspiration from his answer, 
 " yet it will prove a desperate trick to try." 
 
 Then I spoke aloud once more. 
 
 " She appeared a veritable monster of the sea to my 
 backwoods eyes ; enough to pluck the heart out of a 
 man. Has either of you stepped aboard her ? " 
 
 The priest shook his shaven head despondently. 
 
 " Nay ; never any Frenchman, except as prisoner 
 in shackles, has found foothold upon that deck since 
 O Reilly came. It is reported no negro boatmen are 
 permitted to approach her side with cargoes of fruit and 
 vegetables, so closely is she guarded against all chances 
 of treachery." 
 
 " Faith ! it must be an important crime to bring 
 such extremity of vigilance. With what is De Noyan 
 charged ? " 
 
 " He, with others, is held for treason against the King 
 of Spain." 
 
 "There are more than one, then ? " 
 
 " Five." He lowered his voice almost to a whisper, 
 " Madame de Noyan s father is among them." 
 
 " Lafreniere ? " I uttered the name in astonishment. 
 "Then why am I not asked to assist him?" 
 
 The thoughtless exclamation cut her deeply with 
 its seeming implication of neglect, yet the words she 
 strove to speak failed to come. The priest rebuked 
 me gravely : 
 
 [35] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cc Thou doest great injustice by such inconsiderate 
 speech, my son. There are hearts loyal to France in 
 this province, who would count living a crime if it were 
 won at the cost of Lafreniere. He hath been already 
 offered liberty, yet deliberately chooseth to remain and 
 meet his fate. Holy Mother ! we can do no more." 
 
 I bent, taking her moist hands gently between my 
 own. 
 
 " I beg you pardon me, Madame ; I am not yet 
 wholly myself, and intended no such offence as my 
 hasty words would seem to imply. One s manners 
 do not improve with long dwelling among savages." 
 
 She met my stumbling apology with a radiant smile. 
 
 " I know your heart too well to misjudge. Yet it 
 hurt me to feel you could deem me thoughtless toward 
 my father." 
 
 " You have seen him since his arrest ? " 
 
 "Once only at the Captain-General s office, before 
 they were condemned and taken aboard the flag-ship." 
 
 " But the prisoners are Catholics ; surely they are 
 permitted the offices of the Church at such a time ? " 
 
 A hard look swept across the Capuchin s pale, ascetic 
 face. 
 
 " Oh, ay ! I had quite forgotten," he explained bitterly. 
 " They enjoy the ministrations of Father Cassati, of our 
 Order, as representative of Holy Church." 
 
 " Pouf ! " I muttered gloomily. " It is bad to have the 
 guard-lines drawn so closely. Besides, I know little 
 about the way of ships ; how they are arranged within, 
 or even along the open decks. We meet them not in 
 the backwoods, so this is an adventure little to my taste. 
 
 [36] 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 It would hardly be prudent, even could I obtain safe 
 footing there, to attempt following a trail in the dark 
 when I knew not where it led. I must either see the path 
 I am to travel by good daylight, or else procure a guide. 
 This Father Cassati might answer. Is he one to trust ? " 
 
 The priest turned his head away with a quick gesture 
 of indignant dissent. 
 
 " Nay ! " he exclaimed emphatically. "He must never 
 be approached upon such a matter. He can be sweet 
 enough with all men to their faces ; the words of his 
 mouth are as honey ; yet he would be true to none. It 
 is not according to the canons of our Order for me thus 
 to speak, yet I only give utterance to truth as I know it 
 in the sight of God. Not even the Spaniards themselves 
 have faith in him. He has not been permitted to set 
 foot upon shore since first he went aboard." 
 
 "And you have no plan, no suggestion to offer for 
 my guidance ? " 
 
 "Mon Dieu, no! he cried dramatically. "I cannot 
 think the first thing." 
 
 "And you, Madame? " 
 
 She was kneeling close beside a large chair, her fine 
 dark eyes eagerly searching my face. 
 
 "It rests wholly with you," she said solemnly, "and 
 God." 
 
 Twice, three times, I paced slowly across the floor in 
 anxious reflection ; each time, as I turned, I gazed again 
 into her trustful, appealing eyes. It was love calling to 
 me in silent language far more effective than speech ; at 
 last, I paused and faced her. 
 
 " Madame de Noyan," I said deliberately, my voice 
 
 [37] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 seeming to falter with the intensity of my feelings, " I 
 beg you do not expect too much from me. Your ap 
 peal has been made to a simple frontiersman, unskilled 
 in war except with savages, and it is hardly probable I 
 shall be able to outwit the trained guardsmen of Spain. 
 Yet this I will say : I have determined to venture all at 
 your desire. As I possess small skill or knowledge to 
 aid me, I shall put audacity to the front, permitting 
 sheer daring either to succeed or fail. But it would be 
 wrong, Madame, for me to encourage you with false 
 expectation. I deem it best to be perfectly frank, and I 
 do not clearly see how this rescue is to be accomplished. 
 I can form no definite plan of action ; all I even hope 
 for is, that the good God will open up a path, showing 
 me how such desperate purpose may be accomplished. 
 If this prove true and I beg you pray fervently to that 
 end you may trust me to accept the guidance, let the 
 personal danger be what it may. But I cannot plan, 
 cannot promise I can only go forward blindly, seeking 
 some opening not now apparent. This alone I know, 
 to remain here in conversation is useless. I must dis 
 cover means by which I may reach the * Santa Maria 
 and penetrate below her deck if possible. That is my 
 first object, and it alone presents a problem sufficient to 
 tax my poor wits to the uttermost. So all I dare say now, 
 Madame, is, that I will use my utmost endeavor to save 
 your hus the Chevalier de Noyan. I request you 
 both remain here it would be well in prayer ready 
 to receive, and obey at once, any message I may need to 
 send. If possible I will visit you again in person before 
 nightfall, but in any case, and whatever happens, try to 
 
 [38] 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 believe that I am doing all I can with such brains as I 
 possess, and that I count my own life nothing in your 
 
 service." 
 
 However they may sound now, there was no spirit 
 of boasting in these words. Conceit is not of my nature, 
 and, indeed, at that time I had small enough faith in 
 myself. I merely sought to encourage the poor girl 
 with what little hope I possessed, and knew she read the 
 truth behind those utterances which sounded so brave. 
 Even as I finished she arose to her feet, standing erect 
 before me, looking a very queen. 
 
 " Never will I doubt that, Geoffrey Benteen," she 
 declared impulsively. " I have seen you in danger, and 
 never forgotten it. If it is any encouragement to hear it 
 spoken from my lips, know, even as you go forth from 
 here, that never did woman trust man as I trust you." 
 
 The hot blood surged into my face with a madness I 
 retained barely sufficient strength to conquer. 
 
 "I 1 accept your words in the same spirit with 
 which they are offered," I stammered, hardly aware of 
 what I said. " They are of greatest worth to me." 
 
 I bowed low above the white hand resting so confid 
 ingly within mine, anxious to escape from the room 
 before my love gave utterance to some foolish speech. 
 Yet even as I turned hastily toward the door, I paused 
 with a final question. 
 
 "The negro who guided me here, Madame; is he one 
 in whom I may repose confidence? " 
 
 " In all things," she answered gravely. " He has 
 been with the De Noyan family from a child, and is 
 devoted to his master." 
 
 [39] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 "Then I take him with me for use should I chance to 
 require a messenger." 
 
 With a swift backward glance into her earnest dark 
 eyes, an indulgence I could not deny myself, I bowed my 
 way forth from the room, and discovering Alphonse upon 
 the porch, where he evidently felt himself on guard, and 
 bidding him it was the will of his mistress that he follow, 
 I flung my rifle across my shoulder, and strode straight 
 ahead until I came out upon the river bank. Turning to 
 the right I worked my way rapidly up the stream, pass 
 ing numerous groups of lounging soldiers, who made little 
 effort to bar my passage, beyond some idle chaffing, until 
 I found myself opposite the anchorage of the Spanish 
 fleet. 
 
 In the character of an unsophisticated frontiersman, I 
 felt no danger in joining others of my class, lounging 
 listlessly about in small groups discussing the situation, 
 and gazing with awe upon those strange ships of war, 
 swinging by their cables in the broad stream. It was a 
 motley crew among whom I foregathered, one to awaken 
 interest at any other time French voyageurs from the far- 
 off Illinois country, as barbarian in dress and actions as 
 the native denizens of those northern plains, commingling 
 freely with Creole hunters freshly arrived from the bay 
 ous of the swamp lands; sunburnt fishermen from the 
 sandy beaches of Barataria, long-haired flatboat-men, their 
 northern skin faintly visible through the tan and dirt 
 acquired in the long voyage from the upper Ohio; here 
 and there some stolid Indian brave, resplendent in paint 
 and feathers, and not a few drunken soldiers temporarily 
 escaped from their commands. Yet I gave these little 
 
 [40] 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 thought, except to push my way through them to where 
 I could obtain unobstructed view of the great ships. 
 
 The largest of these, a grim monster to my eyes, with 
 bulging sides towering high above the water, and masts 
 uplifting heavy spars far into the blue sky, rendered 
 especially formidable by gaping muzzles of numerous 
 black cannon visible through her open ports, floated just 
 beyond the landing. I measured carefully the apparent 
 distance between the flat roof of the sugar warehouse, 
 against the corner of which I leaned in seeming listless- 
 ness, and the lower yards of her forward mast it was 
 no farther than I had often cast a riata, yet it would be a 
 skilful toss on a black night. 
 
 However, I received small comfort from the thought, 
 for there was that about this great gloomy war-ship frig 
 ate those about me called her which awed and depressed 
 my spirits; all appeared so ponderously sullen, so massive 
 with concealed power, so mysteriously silent. My eyes, 
 searching for each visible object, detected scarcely a stir 
 of life aboard, except as some head would arise for an 
 instant above the rail, or my glance fell upon the motion 
 less figure of a sentry, standing at the top of the narrow 
 steps leading downward to the water, a huge burly fellow, 
 whose side-arms glistened ominously in the sun. These 
 were the sole signs of human presence; yet, from snatches 
 of conversation, I learned that hidden away in the heart 
 of that black floating monster of wood and iron, were 
 nearly four hundred men, and the mere knowledge made 
 the sombre silence more impressive than ever. 
 
 Except for gossiping spectators lining the shore, noth 
 ing living appeared about the entire scene, if I except a 
 
 [41] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 dozen or more small boats, propelled by lusty black 
 oarsmen, deeply laden with produce, busily plying back 
 and forth between various vessels, seeking market for 
 their wares. Even these, as the priest told me, had 
 apparently been warned away from the flag-ship, as I 
 observed how carefully they avoided any approach to her 
 boarding-ladder. The longer I remained, the more thor 
 oughly hopeless appeared any prospect of success. Nor 
 could I conjure up a practical nay! even possible 
 method of placing so much as a foot on board the "Santa 
 Maria." Surely never was prison-ship guarded with 
 more jealous care, and never did man face more hopeless 
 quest than this confronting me. The longer I gazed 
 upon that grim, black, sullen mass of wood and iron 
 that floating fortress of despotic Spanish power the 
 more desperate appeared my mission ; the darker grew 
 every possibility of plucking a victim from out that mon 
 ster s tightly closed jaws. Yet I was not one to forego 
 an enterprise lightly because of difficulty or danger, so 
 with dogged persistency I clung to the water front, know 
 ing nowhere else to go, and blindly trusting that some 
 happening might open to me a door of opportunity. 
 
 It frequently seems that when a man once comes, in a 
 just cause, to such mind as this, when he trusts God 
 rather than himself, there is a divinity which aids him. 
 Surely it was well I waited in patience, for suddenly 
 another produce boat, evidently new to the trade, deeply 
 laden with fruit and roots, bore down the river, the two 
 negroes at the oars pointing its blunt nose directly toward 
 the flag-ship, attracted no doubt by its superior size. 
 Instantly noting their course I awaited their reception 
 
 [42] 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 with interest, an interest intensified by a drawling English 
 voice from amid the crowd about me, saying : 
 
 "I reckon thar ll be some dead niggers in thet thar 
 bumboat if they don t sheer off almighty soon." 
 
 Scarcely were these prophetic words uttered, when the 
 soldier statue at the head of the boarding-stairs swung his 
 musket forward into position, and hailed in emphatic 
 Spanish, a language which, thanks to my mother, I knew 
 fairly well. There followed a moment of angry contro 
 versy, during which the startled negroes rested upon 
 their oars, while the enraged guard threatened to fire if 
 they drifted a yard closer. In the midst of this hubbub a 
 head suddenly popped up above the rail. Then a tall, 
 ungainly figure, clad in a faded, ill-fitting uniform, raised 
 itself slowly, leaning far out over the side, a pair of weak 
 eyes, shadowed by colored glasses, gazing down inquir 
 ingly into the small boat. 
 
 "Vat ees it you say you have zare?" he asked in an 
 attempt at French, which I may only pretend to repro 
 duce in English. "Vat ees ze cargo of ze leetle boat?" 
 
 Instantly the two hucksters gave voice, fairly running 
 over each other in their confused jargon, during which I 
 managed to distinguish native names for potatoes, yams, 
 sweet corn, peaches, apples, and I know not what else. 
 
 The Spaniard perched high on the rail waved his long 
 arms in unmitigated disgust. 
 
 "Caramfa!" he cried the moment he could make his 
 voice distinguished above the uproar. "I vant none of 
 zos zings ; Saint Cristoval, non ! non ! Ze Capitaine he 
 tole me get him some of ze olif haf you no olif in 
 ze leetle boat?" 
 
 [43] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 The darkies shook their heads, instantly starting in 
 again to call their wares, but the fellow on the rail waved 
 them back. 
 
 "Zen ve don t vant you here!" he cried shrilly. "Go 
 vay dam quick, or else ze soldier shoot." As if in 
 obedience to an order the stolid guard brought his weapon 
 menacingly to the shoulder. 
 
 How the episode terminated I did not remain to learn. 
 At that moment I only clearly comprehended this / had 
 a way opened, an exceedingly slight one to be sure, of 
 doubtful utility, yet still a way, which might lead me into 
 the guarded mystery of that ship. The time for action 
 had arrived, and that was like a draught of wine to me. 
 Eagerly I slipped back through the increasing crowd of 
 gaping countrymen, to where the negro had found a spot 
 of comfort in the sun. 
 
 "Alphonse!" I called, careful to modulate my voice. 
 "Wake up, you black sleepy- head! Ay! I have you at 
 last in the world again. Now stop blinking, and pay heed 
 to what I say. Do you chance to know where, for love, 
 money, or any consideration, you could lay hands on 
 olives in this town?" 
 
 The fellow, scarcely awake, rolled up the whites of his 
 eyes for a moment, and scratched his woolly pate, as if 
 seeking vainly to conjure up some long-neglected memory. 
 Then his naturally good-humored countenance relaxed 
 into a broad grin. 
 
 "Fo de Lord, yas sah! I se your man dis time suah 
 nough. Dat fat ol Dutchman, down by de Tehoupi- 
 toulas Gate, suah as you re born had a whole barrel ob 
 dem yesterday. I done disremember fer de minute, 
 
A PERILOUS VENTURE 
 
 boss, jist whar I done saw dem olibs, but I reckon as 
 how de money d fotch em all right." 
 
 I drew forth a handful of French coins. 
 
 "Then run for it, lad!" I exclaimed in some excite 
 ment. "Your master s life hangs upon your speed 
 hold, wait! do you remember that old tumble-down shed 
 we passed on our way here ; the one which had once been 
 a farrier s shop?" 
 
 The negro nodded, his eyes filled with awakened 
 interest. 
 
 "Good; then first of all bring me a suit of the worst 
 looking old clothes you can scare up in the negro quar 
 ters of this town. Leave them there. Then go directly 
 to this Dutchman s, buy every olive he has for sale at 
 any price, load them into a boat a common huckster s 
 boat, mind you, and remain there with them until I come. 
 Do you understand all that?" 
 
 "Yas, Massa; I reckon as how I kin do dat all right 
 nough." The fellow grinned, every white ivory showing 
 between his thick red lips. 
 
 "Don t stop to speak to any one, black or white. Now 
 trot along lively, and may the Lord have mercy on you 
 if you fail me, for I pledge you I shall have none." 
 
 I watched him disappear up the street in a sort of 
 swinging dog-trot, took one more glance backward at the 
 huge war-ship, now swinging by her cable silent and mys 
 terious as ever, and turned away from the river front, my 
 brain teeming with a scheme upon the final issue of which 
 hung life or death. 
 
 [45] 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 I HAD seldom assumed disguise, except when wearing 
 Indian garb upon the war-trail. Yet in boyhood I had 
 occasionally masqueraded as a negro so successfully as to 
 deceive even my own family. With this in mind the 
 resolve was taken that in no other guise than that of a 
 foolish, huckstering darky could I hope to attain the 
 guarded deck of that Spanish frigate. This offered only 
 the barest chance of success, yet such chances had pre 
 viously served me well, and must be trusted now. Oppor 
 tunity frequently opens to the push of a venturesome 
 shoulder. 
 
 Once determined upon this I set to work, perfecting 
 each detail which might aid in the hazardous undertaking. 
 Much was to be accomplished, and consequently it was 
 late in the afternoon before the two of us, myself as much 
 a negro to outward appearance as my sable companion, 
 floated anxiously down the broad river in a battered old 
 scow heaped high with every variety of country produce 
 obtainable. Drifting with the current, I kept the blunt 
 nose pointed directly toward the bulging side of the " Santa 
 Maria," yet without venturing to glance in that direction, 
 until a sharp challenge of the vigilant sentinel warned 
 us to sheer off. 
 
 [46] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 Slowly shipping the heavy steering oar, finding it 
 difficult even in that moment of suspense to suppress a 
 smile at the expression of terror on Alphonse s black 
 face, I stood up, awed by the solemn massiveness of the 
 vast bulk towering above me, now barely thirty feet 
 away. For the first time I realized fully the desperation 
 of my task, and my heart sank. But the gesticulations 
 of the wrathful guard could no longer be ignored, and, 
 smothering an exclamation of disgust at my momentary 
 weakness, I nerved myself for the play. 
 
 " Caramba I " the fellow shouted roughly in his native 
 tongue. " Stop there, you lazy niggers ; don t let that 
 boat drift any closer. Come, sheer off, or, by all the 
 saints, I 11 blow a hole clear through the black hide of 
 one of you ! " 
 
 " Hold her back, boy ! " I muttered hurriedly to the 
 willing slave. " That soldier means to shoot." 
 
 Then I held up a handful of our choicest fruit into 
 view. 
 
 " I have got plenty vegetables, an lot fruit fer sell," I 
 shouted eagerly in negro French, putting all the volume 
 possible into my voice, hopeful my words might penetrate 
 the hidden deck above. cc Plenty tatoes, peaches, olibs 
 eberyting fer de oppercers." 
 
 " Don t want them pull away, and be lively about 
 it." 
 
 It was a moment of despair, every hope suspended in 
 the balance ; my heart beating like a trip-hammer with 
 suspense. The thoroughly enraged guard lifted his gun 
 to the shoulder; there was threat in his eyes, yet I 
 ventured a desperate chance of one more word. 
 
 [47] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 <c I got de only olibs on dis ribber." 
 
 " Eastenade ! " yelled the infuriated fellow. " I 11 give 
 you a shot to pay for your insolence." 
 
 Even as he spoke, fumbling the lock of his gun, that 
 same head observed before suddenly popped over the 
 high rail like Punch at a pantomime. 
 
 " Vat zat you say, nigger ? " its owner cried doubtingly. 
 "Vas it ze olif you haf zare in ze leetle boat? " 
 
 I eagerly held up into view a choice handful of green 
 fruit, my eyes hopeful. 
 
 " Oui, Senor Oppercer fresh olibs ; same as ob your 
 Ian / 
 
 The Spaniard was standing upright on the rail by this 
 time, clinging fast to a rope dangling from above, leaning 
 far over, no slight interest depicted upon his pinched, 
 sallow countenance. 
 
 " It s all right, sentry," he said sharply to the soldier, 
 who lowered his gun with a scowl indicating his real 
 desire. My newly found friend lifted his squeaking voice 
 again in unfamiliar speech. 
 
 " Bring ze leetle boat along ze side of ze sheep, 
 you black fellar, an come up here wiz ze olif fer ze 
 Capitaine." 
 
 " Scull in close against those steps, Alphonse," I 
 muttered, overjoyed at this rare stroke of good fortune. 
 " Then pull out a few strokes ; but stay alongside until 
 I come back. Don t let any one get aboard, and keep a 
 quiet tongue yourself." 
 
 The whites of his eyes alone answered me, he being 
 too badly frightened for speech. The situation was one 
 to grate upon any nerves unaccustomed to danger, yet, 
 
 [48] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 trusting the long training of the slave would hold him 
 obedient, I turned away, and, in another moment, had 
 scrambled up the rope ladder, plunging awkwardly over 
 the high rail on to the hitherto concealed deck. My 
 pulses throbbed with excitement over the desperate game 
 fronting me, yet, with a coolness surprising to myself, I 
 lost at that instant every sensation of personal fear, in 
 determination to act thoroughly my assumed character. 
 More lives than one hung in the balance, and, with 
 tightly clenched teeth, I swore to prove equal to the 
 venture. The very touch of those deck planks to my 
 bare feet put new recklessness into my blood, causing 
 me to marvel at the perfection of my own fool play. 
 
 The gaunt Spaniard commanding my presence stood 
 waiting, hardly more than five paces from where I landed, 
 yet so intense became my immediate interest in the 
 strange scene an interest partly real, but largely simu 
 lated for the occasion that he contented himself watch 
 ing my confused antics with much apparent amusement, 
 and without addressing me. Even to this hour that 
 scene lies distinct before my eyes. Possessed I skill with 
 pencil I could sketch each small detail from the retina 
 of memory the solitary sentinel beside the rail, his 
 well-worn uniform of blue and white dingy in the sun ; 
 another farther forward, where a great opening yawned ; 
 with yet a third, standing rigid before a closed door of 
 the after cabin. An officer, his coat richly decorated 
 with gold braid, wearing epaulets, and having a short 
 sword dangling at his side, paced back and forth across 
 the top of a little house near the stern. I heard him 
 utter some command to a sailor near the wheel, but he 
 
 * [49] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 never so much as glanced toward me. Perhaps thirty 
 or more seamen, bronzed of face, and oddly bedecked as 
 to hair, lounged idly amid the shadows opposite, while, 
 more closely at hand, that gaunt, cadaverous Spaniard, at 
 whose invitation I was present, leaned against a big gun, 
 puffing nonchalantly at a cigarette, held between lean, 
 saffron-colored fingers. The deck was white as the 
 snows of a northern Winter, while the brass work along 
 the railings and about the cannon glittered brilliantly in 
 the sunshine. There was a gaudy yellow-and-white 
 striped canopy stretched above a portion of the deck aft ; 
 the huge masts seemed to pierce into the blue of the skies ; 
 while on every side were ranged grim guns of brass and 
 iron. 
 
 My role was that of an ignorant, green, half-frightened 
 darky, and I presume I both appeared and acted the 
 natural-born idiot, if I might judge from the expression 
 upon the Spaniard s face, and the broad grin lighting up 
 the fierce countenance of the sentry at the gangway. Yet 
 back of this mask there was grim determination and 
 fixed purpose, so that no article of furniture was along 
 that broad deck which I did not mentally photograph, so 
 as to know its whereabouts if ever I chanced that way 
 again. Ay ! even to a little cuddy door beside the cook 
 house, apparently opening directly into the mysterious 
 regions below, and a great chest lashed hard against the 
 rail, within which I distinguished the bright colors of 
 numerous flags. I noticed also the odd manner in which 
 queer rope ladders led up from either side of the broad 
 deck to the vast spars high above, rising tier on tier 
 until my head grew dazed with gazing at them. 
 
 [50] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 " Vel, Sambo, my black fellow/ grinned the officer, 
 whose eyes were still lazily following my erratic move 
 ments as I peered innocently into the muzzle of a brass 
 carronade in apparent hope of discovering the ball, "zis 
 vus ze first time you vus ever on ze war-sheep, I sink 
 likely. How you like stop here, hey, an fight wis dos 
 sings ? " And he rested his yellow hand caressingly upon 
 the breech of the gun. 
 
 I shook my head energetically, rendering as prominent 
 as possible the whites of my eyes, at which he grinned 
 wider than ever. 
 
 " No, sah, Mister Oppercer Man ; you don t git dis 
 hyer nigger into no fought, sah," I protested with vehe 
 mence. " I done fought wid de Injuns onct, sah, an I 
 done don t want no mo ." 
 
 " Veil, you not vorry, boy ; you voud be no good 
 on ze war-sheep. But now you come wis me to ze 
 Capitaine bring ze olif." 
 
 Bearing a tempting sample of the Spaniard s favorite 
 fruit tightly clutched in my black hand, and pulling my 
 battered straw hat lower in concealment of my telltale 
 hair, I made awkward attempt to shuffle along behind 
 him, as he carelessly advanced toward the after part of 
 the vessel. But I loitered along our passage to examine 
 so many objects of curiosity, asking such a multitude of 
 extremely absurd questions, that we consumed considerable 
 time in traversing even the comparatively short distance 
 to where the rigid sentinel fronted us before the cabin 
 door. My queries were simple enough to have birth in 
 the brain of a fool, yet my guide was of rare good humor, 
 and evidently so amused at my ignorant curiosity that 
 
 [51] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 his patience withstood the strain. On my part none 
 were blindly asked, but were intended to open a way 
 toward others of the utmost importance. My sole purpose 
 at that moment was to lull suspicion to rest ; when that 
 had been accomplished, then I might confidently hope 
 to pump my trustful victim of such information as I 
 imperatively required. The ignorant questions of an 
 imbecile will oftentimes be frankly responded to, where 
 a wise man might ask in vain, and my first play was to 
 establish my character as a fool. That I had succeeded 
 was already evident. 
 
 The statuesque guard before the cabin brought his 
 musket up at our approach with so smart a snap as to 
 startle me into a moment s apparent terror. To the 
 officer s request that we be admitted to the presence of 
 the Captain, he responded briefly that that officer had 
 gone forward half an hour before. My guide glanced 
 about as if uncertain where he had better turn in search. 
 
 " Did he go down the hatch ? " he queried shortly. 
 
 " I know not, Senor Gonzales," was the respectful 
 reply. " But I believe he may be with the prisoners 
 guard below." 
 
 The officer promptly started forward, and, awaiting no 
 formal invitation, I shambled briskly after, keeping as 
 close as possible to his heels. Could I gain a brief 
 glimpse below the deck it would be worth more to me 
 than any amount of blind questioning, and my heart 
 thumped painfully in remembrance of what hung upon 
 his movements. With a single sharp word to the sentry 
 at the hatch he swung himself carelessly over the edge, 
 mysteriously disappearing into the gloom beneath. That 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 was no time for hesitancy, and I was already preparing 
 to do likewise, when the guard, a surly-looking brute, 
 promptly inserted the point of his bayonet into my 
 ragged garment, accompanying this kindly act with a stern 
 order to remain where I was. 
 
 " An what fo yo do dat, Senor Sojer?" I cried, in 
 unaffected anguish, rubbing the injured part tenderly, yet 
 speaking loud so that my words should be distinctly 
 audible below. u Dat oppercer man he done tol* me to 
 foller him to de Captain. What fo yo stop me wid dat 
 toastin fork ? " 
 
 " It s all right, Manuel/ sung out a voice in Spanish 
 from the lower darkness. " Let the fool nigger come 
 down." 
 
 The thoroughly disgusted soldier muttered something 
 about his orders, that his lieutenant had not ever 
 authorized him to pass fools. Overlooking this personal 
 allusion, and fearing more serious opposition from some 
 one higher in authority, I took advantage of his momen 
 tary doubt, promptly swung my legs over the edge of 
 the hatch opening, groped blindly about with my bare 
 feet until they struck the rungs of a narrow ladder, and 
 went scrambling down into the semi-darkness of between- 
 decks, managing awkwardly to miss my final footing, 
 thus flopping in a ragged heap at the bottom. 
 
 " Holy Mother ! you make more noise zan a sheep in 
 action," grumbled the startled officer, as I landed at his 
 feet. " Vat for you come down ze ladder zat vay ? " 
 
 Rubbing my numerous bruises energetically, I con 
 tented myself with staring up at him as if completely 
 dazed by my fall. Reading in his amused countenance 
 
 [53] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 no symptom of awakening suspicion I ventured a quick 
 glance at my new surroundings. We were in what 
 appeared a large unfurnished room, with doors of all 
 sizes opening in every direction, while I could per 
 ceive a narrow entry, or passageway, extending toward 
 the after part of the vessel. The roof, formed of the 
 upper deck, was low, upheld by immense timbers, and 
 the apartment, nearly square, was dimly flooded by the 
 sparse light sifting down through the single hatch-opening 
 above, so that, in spite of its large dimensions, it had a 
 cramped and stuffy appearance. The vast butt of the 
 mainmast arose directly in front of me, and, upon a 
 narrow bench surrounding it, a dozen soldiers were 
 lounging, while near the entrance to the passageway, 
 scarcely more than a shadow in that dimness, stood a 
 sentry, stiff and erect, with musket at his shoulder. 
 They were mostly slightly built, dark-featured men, 
 attired in blue and white uniforms, the worse for wear, 
 and were all laughing at my crazy entrance. No doubt 
 my coming afforded some relief to their tiresome, dull 
 routine. While lying there, apparently breathless from 
 my fall, my brains effectively muddled, a young officer 
 advanced hastily from out the gloom to inquire into so 
 unusual an uproar. 
 
 " What is all this noise about ? " he questioned sharply, 
 striding toward us. " Ah, Gonzales ; whom have you 
 here ? Another bird to add to our fine collection ? " 
 
 " If so, it must be a rare blackbird, Senor Francisco," 
 returned my friend, vainly endeavoring to recover his 
 customary gravity. " By Saint Cristobal ! I have not 
 laughed so heartily for a year past as at this poor black 
 
 [54] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 fool. Faith, I sought to enlist him in the service of His 
 Most Christian Majesty, yet his method of coming down 
 a companion ladder convinced me he sadly lacks the nec 
 essary qualifications for a sailor. Hast seen aught of the 
 Captain here below ? " 
 
 " Ay/ comrade, thou wilt find him aft. He hath 
 just had speech once more with the chief rebel, the 
 graybeard they call Lafreniere, and was in raging 
 temper when last we met. Carambal he even called 
 me an ass, for no more serious fault, forsooth, than 
 that I made the round of my guard unattended. Hath 
 your darky news for him ? " 
 
 " Nay ; the fellow possesseth not sufficient sense to be 
 a messenger, except it may be a message for his stomach 
 to make his humor better," was the reply. " Come, trot 
 along now, boy, and mind where you put down those big 
 feet in the passage/ 1 
 
 I struggled upright in response to his order, assisted 
 by the sharp tap of a boot accompanying it, tripped over 
 a gun barrel one of the guard facetiously inserted be 
 tween my legs, and went down once more, uttering such 
 howl of terror as could be only partially drowned beneath 
 the uproarious laughter of my merry tormentors. It 
 developed into a gantlet, yet I ran the line with little 
 damage, and, after much ducking and pleading, managed 
 to regain my position close to the heels of Senor Gonzales 
 before he turned into the passageway, which, as I now 
 perceived, was dimly illumined by means of a single 
 lantern, hung to a blackened upper beam. 
 
 "Well, good luck to both of you," called out the 
 young officer of the guard laughingly as we disappeared. 
 
 [55] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Yet I d hate to have the steering of such a crazy craft 
 as follows in your wake, Gonzales, and I warn you again 
 the Senor Captain will be found in beastly humor. * 
 
 " I fear nothing," returned my guide, his lean yellow 
 face turned backward over his shoulder. " I have what 
 will bring him greater happiness than a decoration from 
 the King." 
 
 Shambling awkwardly forward, simulating all the un- 
 couthness possible, I retained my wits sufficiently to note 
 our surroundings the long, narrow passage, scarcely 
 exceeding a yard in width, with numerous doors opening 
 on either side. Several of these stood ajar, and I per 
 ceived berths within, marking them as sleeping apart 
 ments, although one upon the right was evidently being 
 utilized as a linen closet, while yet another, just beyond, 
 and considerably larger, seemed littered with a medley 
 of boxes, barrels, and great bags. This apartment 
 appeared so much lighter than those others, even a 
 stray ray of sunshine pouring directly down into it 
 from above, that I instinctively connected it in my 
 mind with the cook-house on the upper deck, and 
 the open cuddy door I had chanced to notice. 
 
 As we approached the farther end this passage suddenly 
 widened into a half circle, sufficiently extended to accom 
 modate the huge butt of the mizzenmast, which was 
 completely surrounded by an arm-rack crowded with 
 short-swords, together with all manner of small arms. 
 A grimly silent guard stood at either side, and I per 
 ceived the dark shadow of a third still farther beyond, 
 while the half-dozen cabins close at hand had their doors 
 tightly closed, and fastened with iron bars. 
 
 [56] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 Instinctively I felt that here were confined those 
 French prisoners, the knowledge of whose exact where 
 abouts I sought amid such surroundings of personal 
 peril, and my heart bounded from sudden excitement. 
 In simulated awkwardness, I unfortunately overdid my 
 part. Shuffling forward, more eager than ever to keep 
 at the heels of my protector, yet with eyes wandering in 
 search of any opening, my bare feet struck against a pro 
 jecting ring-bolt in the deck, and over I went, striving 
 vainly to regain my balance. Before that human statue 
 on guard could even lower his gun to repel boarders, my 
 head struck him soundly in the stomach, sending him 
 crashing back against one of those tightly closed doors. 
 Tangled up with the surprised soldier, who promptly 
 clinched his unexpected antagonist, and, with shocking 
 profanity, strove to throttle me, I yet chanced to take 
 note of the number " 18 " painted upon the white wood 
 just above us. Then the door itself was hurled hastily 
 open, and with fierce exclamation of rage a gray-hooded 
 Capuchin monk bounded forth like a rubber ball, and 
 instantly began kicking vigorously right and left at our 
 struggling figures. It gives me pleasure to record that 
 the Spaniard, being on top, received by far the worst of 
 it, yet I might also bear testimony to the vigor of the 
 priest s legs, while we shared equally in the volubility of 
 his tongue. 
 
 " Sacre ! " he screamed in French, punctuating each 
 sentence with a fresh blow. " Get away from here, you 
 drunken, quarrelling brutes ! Has it come to this, that 
 a respectable priest of Holy Church may not hold private 
 converse with the condemned without a brawl at the 
 
 [57] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 very door ? Mother of God ! what meaneth the fracas ? 
 Where is the guard ? Why don t some of them jab their 
 steel in the blasphemous ragamuffins who thus make 
 mock of the holy offices of religion ? Take that, you 
 black, sprawling beast ! " 
 
 He aimed a vicious stroke at my head, which I ducked 
 in the nick of time to permit of its landing with full 
 force in my companion s ribs. I heard him grunt in 
 acknowledgment of its receipt. 
 
 " Where is the guard, I say ! If they come not I 
 will strangle the dogs with my own consecrated hands 
 to the glory of God. By the sainted Benedine ! was 
 ever one of our Order so basely treated before ? Get 
 away, I tell you ! T is a disgrace to the true faith, and 
 just as I was about to bring the Chevalier to his knees 
 in confession of his sins ! " 
 
 Gonzales was fairly doubled up with laughter at the 
 ludicrous incident, choking so that speech had become 
 an utter impossibility. By this time the aroused guards 
 began hurrying forward on a run down the passageway 
 to rescue their imperilled comrade, yet, before the fore 
 most succeeded in laying hands upon me, a newcomer, 
 resplendent in glittering uniform, with an inflamed, almost 
 purple face, leaped madly forth from the opposite side 
 of the mast and began laying about him vigorously with 
 an iron pin, making use meanwhile of a vocabulary of 
 choice Spanish epithets such as I never heard equalled. 
 
 " By the shrine of Saint Gracia ! " shouted this new 
 arrival hoarsely, glaring about in the dim light as if half 
 awakened from a bad dream. "What meaneth this 
 aboard my ship ? Caramba ! is this a travelling show 
 
 [58] 
 
A VISIT TO THE FLAG-SHIP 
 
 a place for mountebanks and gypsies ? Shut the door, 
 you shrieking gray-back of a monk, or I 11 have you 
 cat-o -nine-tailed by the guard, in spite of your robe. 
 Get up, you drunken brute ! " 
 
 The crestfallen soldier to whom these last affectionate 
 words were addressed limped painfully away, and then 
 the justly irate commander of His Christian Majesty s 
 flag-ship " Santa Maria " glowered down on me with an 
 astonishment that for the moment held him dumb. 
 
 "Where did this dirty nigger come from?" he roared 
 at last, applying one of his heavy sea-boots to me with 
 vehemence. " Who is the villain who dared bring 
 such cattle on board my ship ? " 
 
 Gonzales, now thoroughly sobered by the seriousness 
 of the situation, attempted to account for my presence, 
 but before he had fairly begun his story, the Captain, 
 who by this time was beyond all reason, burst roaring 
 forth again : 
 
 " Oh, so you brought him ! You did, hey ? Well, 
 did n t I tell you to let no lazy, loafing bumboat-man set 
 foot on board? Do you laugh at my orders, you good- 
 for-nothing scum of the sea? And above all things why 
 did you ever drag such a creature as this down between 
 decks to disgrace the whole of His Majesty s navy ? Get 
 up, you bundle of rags ! " 
 
 I scrambled to my feet, seeking to shuffle to one side 
 out of his immediate sight, but a heavy hand closed 
 instantly on my ragged collar and held me fronting him. 
 For a moment I thought he meant to strike me, but I 
 appeared such a miserable, dejected specimen of humanity 
 that the fierce anger died slowly out of his eyes. 
 
 [59] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Francisco," he called sternly, " heave this thing over 
 board, and be lively about it ! Saints of Mercy ! he smells 
 like a butcher-boat in the tropics." 
 
 Hustled, dragged, cuffed, mercilessly kicked, the 
 fellows got me out upon the open deck at last ; I caught 
 one fleeting glimpse of the great masts, the white, gleam 
 ing planks under foot, the horrified, upturned face of 
 Alphonse in the little boat beneath, and then, with a 
 heave and a curse, over I went, sprawling down from 
 rail to river, as terrified a darky as ever made hasty 
 departure from a man-of-war. 
 
 [60] 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 THE last object I remember seeing was the white 
 face of the Capuchin monk peering at me over the 
 rail, and my earliest thought as I arose to the surface, 
 was that as the water had probably cleansed my skin it 
 would be wise to keep well out of sight from the deck. 
 Fortunately the boat floated close at hand. Laying hasty 
 grasp upon it, but remaining well immersed in the river, 
 I bade the thoroughly frightened black paddle with dili 
 gence out of that neighborhood. This was a task he was 
 not slow in accomplishing, fear lending strength to trained 
 muscles, and we soon had the good fortune to discover a 
 safe landing-place beneath the lee of a long molasses shed, 
 where our plight was unobserved by any one. 
 
 Remaining hidden here myself, feeling reasonably 
 secure from prying eyes, I despatched Alphonse after dry 
 clothing, meanwhile tramping back and forth across the 
 packed earthen floor to keep chilled blood in circulation, 
 seeking eagerly to evolve out of the confused events of 
 the afternoon some programme for future guidance. This 
 task was no light one. The closer I faced the desperate 
 work remaining unaccomplished the less I enjoyed the 
 outlook, the more improbable appeared success. Getting 
 aboard the "Santa Maria" was now, to my mind, the 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 simplest part of the adventure, but beyond the accom 
 plishment of that feat I could perceive little to encourage 
 me. What must necessarily follow my safe gaining of 
 that guarded deck, during the dark hours of the night, 
 depended so largely upon the occurrence of helpful cir 
 cumstances, any definite plan of action arranged before 
 hand became simply an impossibility. Still, striving to 
 make allowances for the unexpected, I managed to put 
 together a chain of details, trusting, with the blind faith 
 of a fatalist, that these would somehow fall into line when 
 the hour came. If they failed, as was likely, I deter 
 mined to shift them about in any way possible as each 
 fresh emergency arose. I realized how small a part any 
 preliminary survey holds in such an enterprise as now 
 fronted me, an enterprise to be worked out amid dark 
 ness and grave personal peril, where any bungling act or 
 false move might overturn everything in an instant; yet 
 it is always well or at least so I have found it to 
 trace some outline of procedure, rather than trust wholly 
 to the intuitions of the moment. God s aid seems usually 
 granted to those doing most for themselves. 
 
 I felt little confidence by the time Alphonse returned, 
 yet my firm determination to make the effort had in no 
 way abated. Indeed, had failure been an absolute cer 
 tainty I should have gone forward exactly the same, for 
 I was bound to it by my pledge to Eloise de Noyan. I 
 have reason to suppose dogged determination a part of 
 my nature, but then something far more compelling than 
 this inherited tendency drove me irresistibly forward to 
 my fate. This is no story of the rescue of a prisoner 
 of war, but rather of how love impelled an ordinary 
 
WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 man to the accomplishment of deeds which seemed 
 impossible. 
 
 It was evening, already quite dark, it fortunately prov 
 ing a night of cloud and threatened storm, when I ven 
 tured to steal into the little cottage on the Rue Dumaine, 
 and found there, even as I had left them, Madame de 
 Noyan and the fere awaiting me. How anxious a day 
 she had been compelled to pass since the hour of my 
 departure was plainly imprinted upon her beautiful face, 
 gently touched by the softened light from a shaded candle 
 near which she rested; nor was the naturally pale, emaci 
 ated countenance of her spiritual adviser entirely free 
 from outward marks of care impressed upon it by his 
 patient vigil. 
 
 I recall still, a pang tugging at my old heart, with what 
 unspeakable gentleness Eloise came forward, holding forth 
 both white hands in greeting, while unrestrained tears 
 glistened upon the long lashes partly veiling the eager 
 glow of soft eyes searching my face. She uttered never 
 a word of questioning relative to the result of my mission; 
 merely stood there silent, her warm hands in mine, her 
 gaze fastened upon me, as if within my eyes she sought 
 to read everything unasked. Perhaps she did, yet to me 
 it seemed the perfect abandon of trust, and often since 
 have I thought upon it as illustrative of her unswerving 
 confidence in my honor. 
 
 " I do so thank you, Geoffrey Benteen," she said in all 
 simplicity, "for thus coming to us once more/ 
 
 "I returned the earliest moment possible, Madame," 
 I replied quietly, although all my heart must have leaped 
 responsive into my eyes, contradicting such coolness of 
 
 [63] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 speech. Be that as it may, my sweet mistress never 
 glanced aside, nor drew back her hands from mine. 
 It was the gravely observant priest, standing behind 
 within the shadows, whose natural impatience caused 
 him to interrupt our greeting, although he spoke not 
 unkindly. 
 
 " My son," he said, deep anxiety evident in the tone 
 of his soft speech, "we have remained in solemn prayer 
 ever since the hour of thy departure, and, while we doubt 
 not our petitions have found favor of both Mother and 
 Child, yet the flesh sorroweth, and we yearn greatly to 
 know all from thine own lips as to the fortunes of this 
 day. Tell us, I beg thee, hast thou discovered aught of 
 comfort or help for the condemned ? " 
 
 His words brought me back to earth with sudden 
 rush. Releasing the soft hands I had been clasping 
 so tightly in momentary forgetful ness, I led the lady 
 to a seat, even finding another myself before venturing 
 upon reply. 
 
 " I thank you heartily for your prayers, Sir Priest. 
 Often have I heard my father say the prayer of the right 
 eous availeth much, and although I be not of Holy 
 Church for those to whom I looked in earlier years 
 for guidance were of the dissenting breed yet I yield 
 respect to all true religion ; and even in the woods, where 
 men grow rough, giving small thought to the voice of 
 their souls, I have discovered much to tell me of God, 
 and to make me thankful for His mercies. But you 
 ask a difficult question. The day has not been ill spent 
 nor wasted. This much, at least, I may say I have 
 discovered one weak spot in the Spanish guard-line, and 
 
 [64] 
 
WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 intend to make the best possible use of it. Yet the ven 
 ture is bound to prove a desperate one, and nothing 
 except the overruling care of Him who guides us all can 
 secure the desired outcome." 
 
 He piously crossed himself, his thin lips moving 
 silently above the silver crucifix resting in his white fingers, 
 but Eloise only leaned more eagerly forward, her dark 
 eyes anxiously scanning my face. 
 
 " Have . you seen my the Chevalier de Noyan ? " 
 she questioned tremblingly. 
 
 " No, Madame, yet I have been aboard the c Santa 
 Maria/ though in truth t was not altogether an enjoy 
 able experience, and now know precisely where the 
 prisoners are confined, even to the room of the Chevalier. 
 If you will listen patiently I will briefly relate the story ; 
 then we can outline together our further plans for the 
 night. Are we alone ? " 
 
 Both nodded, far too eager to waste time in words, and 
 as rapidly as possible I described those incidents already 
 narrated. At the close Eloise simply thanked me in 
 silence with an appreciative glance, but the priest proved 
 more demonstrative. 
 
 " Thou hast, indeed, accomplished much, my son," 
 he exclaimed impulsively, clasping and unclasping the 
 slender fingers of his white hands nervously. " Surely 
 but for our fervent prayers the good Lord would never 
 have led you amid such imminent and deadly peril. 
 Yet to me the venture appeareth even more hopeless 
 than before. You made mention of plans ; shall we not 
 discuss such at once, for the rapidly speeding time 
 must greatly press us. The great Apostle once said, in 
 
 [65] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 connection with the work of the Spirit, c Brethren, the 
 time is short ; it seemeth a fit text for us even now." 
 
 " It is too early for action," I replied thoughtfully. 
 " I require food, and it will be best to delay until a late 
 hour before moving in such a scheme as mine. As to 
 plans faith, the word was ill-chosen if I used it, for 
 excepting the mode already outlined for attaining the 
 deck, I have none. Yet there are certain matters I require 
 to have arranged before I depart. Madame de Noyan, 
 can you furnish me with a strong boat and two stout 
 oarsmen ? They must be men to trust, who will care 
 little where they go." 
 
 " It shall be done," she answered promptly, her eyes 
 brightening. " Alphonse will gladly go, and he can 
 select another from among the slaves." 
 
 " The Chevalier, can he swim if occasion arise ? " 
 
 "He is perfectly at home in the water." 
 
 " Good ; then we need run no extra risk by keeping 
 a boat beside the frigate. Let it await our coming 
 beneath the darkest shadows of the cotton sheds near 
 the North Gate. Have them place within it my rifle 
 and ammunition, together with whatever weapons of war 
 your husband may be accustomed to use ; see that the 
 boat be well provisioned for a long voyage, as it will 
 require much travel before we get beyond Spanish reach, 
 and we go not into a region of settlements. Bid the 
 men exhibit no light, nor converse above whispers. My 
 word to them will be c Virginia ; they are to pay heed 
 to no other. You understand all this ? " 
 
 " It is engraven upon my heart," she responded 
 gravely. " You need have no fear." 
 
 [66] 
 
WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 " That I think will be all you can do to aid success 
 nay, wait ! instruct them also, if we have not arrived 
 before the dawn to bide no longer; it will be useless." 
 
 " Oh, say not so, Geoffrey Benteen," she cried, a 
 sudden sob evidencing the strain upon her. " Surely 
 the good God will aid us now." 
 
 " It is upon Him I rely," I responded, not knowing 
 how best to minister to her deep distress. " We will do 
 all we can, Madame, to win His favor; beyond that 
 nothing remains but to submit to His will." 
 
 She hid her face in her arms upon the table, the light 
 of the candle streaming almost golden in the heavy masses 
 of her hair. Instinctively I rested my hand caressingly 
 upon it. 
 
 " Nay, Madame, this is time for strength, not weak 
 ness. Afterwards we may have opportunity to weep ; 
 to-night there is call for action." 
 
 She glanced up with a quick, impulsive gesture, and I 
 saw her eyes were dry of tears. 
 
 "You think me unduly nervous and unstrung," she 
 said quietly, and I could detect a touch of indignation in 
 the tone. " It is merely my nature, for the impatient 
 blood of the South has place in my veins, yet whatso 
 ever a lady of France may do, you can trust me to 
 accomplish, Monsieur." 
 
 Faith ! but she had a way with her which ever left me 
 helpless, and no doubt my face exhibited how abashed I 
 felt at the regal manner in which she fronted me. At 
 least I spoke no word, yet the proud look faded from 
 her eyes, and I felt her hand touch mine. 
 
 " Forgive me, Geoffrey," she whispered softly. " We 
 
 [67] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 do not doubt each other, yet I was over hasty of speech 
 with one who has proven so loyal a friend." 
 
 " Nor have I aught to forgive, Madame, or more 
 to say, except that my words meant no injustice," I 
 responded. Then to avoid longer facing her I turned 
 to where the watchful Capuchin stood. 
 
 "And now, Sir Priest, I propose being perfectly frank 
 with you, as I do not believe this a time for mincing of 
 words. I am of Protestant blood ; those of my line have 
 ridden at Cromwell s back, and one of my name stood 
 unrepentant at the stake when Laud turned Scotland into 
 a slaughter-house. So tis safe to say 1 admire neither 
 your robe nor your Order. Yet the events of this day 
 have gone far toward convincing me that at heart you 
 are a man in spite of the woman s garb you wear. So 
 now, what say you will you be comrade with me this 
 night?" 
 
 At the brutal bluntness of my speech and question 
 for I fear I took out upon him those feelings I ventured 
 not to exploit with Madame, recalling how this same dif 
 ference of faith had come between us two with its dread 
 shadow a red flush sprang into the priest s thin, wasted 
 cheeks, and I could see how tightly his hands clinched 
 about the crucifix at his girdle. 
 
 "As to my Order, it hath little to fear from thy dis 
 like, young man, as that is born from early prejudice, and 
 lack of proper learning," he returned gravely, meeting 
 my eyes fairly with his own. " Yet, speaking as frankly 
 as yourself, I doubt if I would prove of much assistance 
 upon a ship s deck ; such effort as you propose for this 
 night would be wholly foreign to my habit of life." 
 
 [68] 
 
WE HOLD A COUNCIL OF WAR 
 
 " Spoken truly ; nor would I make choice of one with 
 muscles so inert from disuse were this to be an onset, 
 where men give and take hard blows. I ask you not 
 upon the ship s deck at all, my friend, nor shall I require 
 your company one step farther than the roof of the great 
 sugar warehouse of Bomanceaux et fils. Still, it will 
 require steady nerve to do even what little I require, 
 and, if you doubt your courage, say so now, and I will 
 seek among the slaves for stouter heart and readier 
 hand." 
 
 That my words touched his pride I could read instantly 
 in his uplifted face. 
 
 "Nay, thou needest seek no further," he announced 
 briefly, his thin lips tightly pressed together. " I will 
 go, Monsieur." I knew instantly by the bold ring of 
 the words that henceforward I might trust him to the 
 death. 
 
 "I thought you would. Now a question more, and 
 then I must have food. Can you prepare for my use 
 one of your robes ? " 
 
 " Easily, Monsieur ; Father Cassati left one behind at 
 the chapter-house when he went aboard ship, and you do 
 not greatly differ in point of size. But is it possible thou 
 proposest to turn priest, and of our Order ? " 
 
 "In outward vesture merely, and that not for long. It 
 would afford me greater liberty of movement on the 
 c Santa Maria* than my own garb, and may spare me 
 some unpleasant questioning. Yet, perchance, there may 
 be danger of my overdoing the priestly character, as well 
 as of overestimating the privileges granted the clergy on 
 board." 
 
 [69] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders, nettled somewhat by my 
 words and manner. 
 
 " I have indeed reason for gravely distrusting your 
 naturalness in the wearing of a robe dedicated to reli 
 gion," he made answer. "But as for the other matter, 
 there can be little danger of your overstepping the mark. 
 Father Cassati is of a somewhat roistering disposition, 
 over-fond of the bottle, in truth, although it giveth me 
 pain to speak thus of one of my own Order, and I 
 have been informed, moveth at his own will about the 
 ship. He is of the sort to be c hail fellow, well met 
 with those roistering Spaniards, who care little for God 
 or man, as he possesseth few scruples of his own." 
 
 "Bear I sufficient resemblance to pass in his stead?" 
 
 "You are not unlike as to height and build; as to face, 
 you are far the better featured. With the cowl up it 
 might be reasonably safe in a dim light." 
 
 " My beauty has always been my undoing," I ven 
 tured, in awakened good humor. " Nevertheless I shall 
 be compelled to venture it this time; moreover, I am 
 pleased to learn that things aboard are as you describe, 
 for such a state of affairs may greatly serve our purpose." 
 
 I turned away from him to recross the room and 
 murmur a few words of brighter hope into the ear of 
 Eloise, where she sat in white-faced silence amid the 
 deeper shadows of the portiere. 
 
 [70] 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 ON THE DECK OF THE " SANTA MARIA* 
 
 THE Spanish sentries on the Place d Armes were 
 calling the hour of midnight when the priest and I 
 stole silently past amid the shadows of overhanging trees. 
 I find it impossible, even now, after the lapse of years, to 
 dwell upon my parting with her who despatched me on 
 so strange an errand. My reluctant pen halts, while the 
 tears, dimming my old eyes, bid me turn to other scenes. 
 However, under God, the venture of that night might 
 terminate, I firmly believed I was gazing into her dear 
 face for the last time ; yet, honor sealed my lips, holding 
 back unspoken those passionate utterances which burned 
 upon my tongue. I could merely clasp for one brief 
 moment those hands she gave so unreservedly into my 
 keeping, gaze into the unfathomed depths of her dark 
 eyes, and murmur a few broken words of confidence and 
 farewell. Then, half blinded from emotion, I tore myself 
 away from her beloved presence, and went forth into 
 night and peril for her dear sake. 
 
 However my heart throbbed with hidden anguish as I 
 stepped forth from that fateful house, the nature of the 
 adventure upon which we were now fairly launched was 
 sufficient to cool my brain, so that long before we skirted 
 the guard-lines drawn around the camp of Spanish 
 
 [71] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 artillery, I had become once more the cool, resourceful 
 adventurer, as befitted my nature and training. 
 
 " Sentries are stationed only along the open side of 
 the square, I think ? " I whispered to my companion ques- 
 tioningly, striving vainly to penetrate the intense darkness 
 in our front. 
 
 " True," he responded in so low a voice I could 
 scarcely catch the words, a slight falter betraying that the 
 strange conditions preyed upon his unaccustomed nerves. 
 "It was thus they were posted last night." 
 
 " Then we will assume the risk of finding clear passage. 
 Keep close, and venture no speech, whatever happens." 
 
 It proved slow work at the best, as it would never do 
 to have a Spanish spy dogging our footsteps. I doubt 
 not it tested good Father Petreni to the uttermost, yet I 
 thought the better of him for the determined way in 
 which he clung to my heels through the darkness. As 
 for myself, such dodging, twisting, climbing of walls, and 
 skulking amid shadows, merely sufficed to warm the 
 blood, and yielded greater zest for the more serious work 
 to follow. I claim small credit for courage in such mat 
 ters ; they have ever been so much a portion of life to 
 me that their excitement became scarcely more than a 
 draught of heady wine. He was the truly brave man 
 who, without any such incentive as I possessed, left his 
 books and quiet cell that night to follow me abroad. 
 
 At last we ran across the great deserted market-place, 
 and paused, crouching breathlessly in the dense shadows 
 of the huge warehouse standing upon the very brink of 
 the broad river. As we rested thus we could hear soft 
 lapping of running water along the further wall, while 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 occasionally some vagrant puff of air brought to our 
 strained ears the distant creaking of chains, as the great 
 war-vessels swung by their cables against the swift cur 
 rent. Beyond this the night was intensely still, black, 
 unfathomable, mysterious. It seemed fairly to weigh 
 down upon us with its noiseless burden of gloom. 
 
 " Are you acquainted with the interior arrangement 
 of this building ? " I asked the priest in some anxiety. 
 
 "I was within it only once, and observed little of its 
 features. I was called there in haste to speak words of 
 peace to a sorely injured man." 
 
 " Could you guide to the ladder leading up to the 
 second floor in the dark ? " 
 
 I thought he gave a gesture of dissent, yet so dense 
 was the night I could barely note the movement. 
 
 " I am not certain, my son, yet to my remembrance it 
 leadeth up near the centre upon the river side. The 
 building is doubtless empty of all its cotton at this time 
 of year, and we should be able to feel our way across 
 if only once within. How do you purpose gaining 
 entrance ? " 
 
 " Pah ! that is the simplest portion of the whole ven 
 ture," I said confidently. " I am not likely to overlook 
 such a point The third window from here has a 
 loosened shutter; I brought this stick to pry it apart. 
 Then the interior will be ours, unless they keep a watch 
 man stationed within." 
 
 " Thou needst have small fear of that at this late 
 season, and the building empty." 
 
 We crept cautiously forward, myself in the lead, and 
 feeling blindly in the darkness for the loosened shutter 
 
 [73] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 previously located. At last my groping hand touched it, 
 and drawing the bottom outward as far as possible by 
 mere grip of the fingers, I inserted the stout oaken bar 
 within the aperture, and, after listening intently to detect 
 any presence close at hand, exerted my strength upon the 
 rude lever. There followed a slight rasping, as if a wire 
 dragged along a nail, a penetrating shrillness there 
 was to it which sent a tingle to the nerves, then the 
 heavy shutter swung outward, leaving ample space for 
 the passage of a man s body. I lifted myself by my 
 hands and peered cautiously within. Everywhere was 
 impenetrable blackness, while the silence was so profound 
 as to give a sudden strange throb to my heart. Waiting 
 no longer, I drew myself up on to the narrow ledge ; then 
 hung downward until my groping feet touched the floor. 
 Once safely landed I leaned forth again, and in another 
 moment the priest stood beside me, the shutter tightly 
 drawn behind us. With a feeling of relief I faced that 
 black interior. Now, at least, we were beyond chance 
 of discovery by any prowling Spanish guard, and could 
 advance more freely. 
 
 " Lead on," I commanded shortly, resting my hand upon 
 his shoulder to make sure of his presence. " I will keep 
 hold upon your robe, so we shall not part company in 
 the darkness." 
 
 Very slowly we felt uncertain passage across the uneven 
 floor. It appeared littered with innumerable articles of 
 the box and barrel order, with here and there a pile of 
 loose lumber, altogether making such a jumble of obstruc 
 tion that keeping our direction became simply impossible 
 in that intense darkness which seemed to fairly swallow 
 
 [74] 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 us. We did well to proceed at all, and escape creating a 
 racket by stumbling over some of the many unseen obsta 
 cles in our path. As to myself, I became so thoroughly 
 confused by constant turning and climbing as to grow 
 completely lost, but fortunately the priest kept a somewhat 
 clearer brain, and, after groping blindly for some time, 
 pausing occasionally as though he would smell his way 
 like a dog, managed to put hand at last upon the object 
 of his patient search. 
 
 " T is here," he whispered. " Shall I go up ? " 
 
 cc Ay ! " I returned hopefully, glad I had restrained 
 the impatience of my tongue. " But try each rung before 
 you venture stepping on it ; they may prove rotten and 
 give way beneath your weight." 
 
 He swung himself up, after carefully tucking in his 
 robe about the waist, but the ladder creaked so alarm 
 ingly beneath his tread I durst not venture my heavier 
 weight upon it until he had safely reached the top. 
 Finally the noise of his climbing ceased, and I could hear 
 a board move high above me. 
 
 " Are you up safe ? " I questioned in a low voice. 
 
 "All safe, praise be to God," came the cautious 
 response ; " but thou wilt do well, friend, to exercise 
 grave care, as the way is bad." 
 
 It required brief exploration to convince us that this 
 second story possessed a strong, firm floor, although 
 there remained some danger of there being traps in it 
 for the hoisting of cotton, while the boards might not 
 extend over the entire surface. By this time, however, 
 our eyes had grown somewhat accustomed to the intense 
 blackness enveloping us, so the slightest change in the 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 prevailing gloom became quickly apparent. The air was 
 so fresh and pure, with such a taste of the night in it, I 
 became convinced there must be an opening somewhere 
 close at hand, and whispered the suggestion to my com 
 panion. He proved keener of vision than I, for even 
 as we thus spoke he plucked my sleeve and pointed 
 upward. 
 
 " Then surely it will be yonder," he exclaimed, with 
 more eagerness of voice than I had before marked in 
 him. " There is certainly a lightness to the atmosphere 
 overhead, as if it came from a direct opening to the sky." 
 
 It appeared true even to me, now that he had pointed 
 out the spot. 
 
 " It must be the roof hatch uplifted. Now if we dis 
 cover a ladder leading thereto I shall accept it as proof 
 that God guideth us this night, and feel new courage." 
 
 " Our work is of God," said the pere solemnly, 
 " or I should never be here with you, and engaged 
 upon it." 
 
 " Nor have I ever doubted it, father," I made haste 
 to answer, creeping cautiously forward across the ill- 
 matched flooring. " Yet you have been a luckier man 
 than I if never you found yourself in the wrong when 
 you believed it to be right." 
 
 There was a ladder there spliced with bits of rope, as 
 we discovered, yet proving of sufficient strength to up 
 bear us one at a time. Thus we were soon out upon the 
 great flat roof, lying prone at the edge, whither we had 
 crept silently, peering cautiously forth upon the black 
 river. That is, we gazed into the silent mystery where 
 we knew the river must be, yet it was like peering into 
 
 [76] 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 an impenetrable bank of cloud. There was something 
 awesome about it, for out yonder, within a few yards 
 of us, swung twenty great vessels of war, manned by 
 thousands of fighting men, while not a sound reached 
 us, except the slight creaking of strained cables, or the 
 occasional dash of a wave against some obstruction in 
 the stream; nor could anything be seen, if I except 
 flitting sparks of light glimmering here and there like 
 lost stars, serving to locate the positions of the various 
 ships in their night anchorage. 
 
 I felt, rather than saw, the devout priest at my side 
 piously cross himself, and there was a mumbling of his 
 lips in prayer, but I contented myself with searching 
 through the gloom for a glimpse of the towering masts 
 of the " Santa Maria," which must be close at hand. 
 They remained invisible, shrouded behind the mist cloud. 
 For one moment I cursed the intense blackness of the 
 night, losing confidence in our venture. Yet, even as 
 hope failed me, the dull creaking of a nearby cable 
 sounded farther up stream. Guided by this I crept 
 cautiously along the edge of the roof, aware as I 
 proceeded that Father Petreni, imitating my example, 
 pressed closely behind. 
 
 Near the northern extremity of the long building we 
 came to a halt, and, leaning well over the roof edge, I 
 peered anxiously into the enveloping fog. A deeper 
 density of shadow showed directly in front, which I felt 
 convinced could be caused only by one of those vast 
 spars around which canvas had been rolled, as noted that 
 afternoon from the ship s deck. Vainly endeavoring to 
 pierce the thick mist, I distinguished the steady tramping 
 
 [77] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of some one pacing far beneath us. The sound came 
 from farther out in the stream, where I might reasonably 
 suppose the stern of the vessel to lie. I drew back, and 
 placed my lips close to the priest s ear. 
 
 " Can you distinguish any outline yonder ? " I queried 
 eagerly, pointing as I spoke, and feeling fearful lest my 
 eyes had been deceived by fleeting night shadows. 
 
 Resting upon his breast, one hand shading his eyes, 
 he peered long in the direction indicated before venturing 
 to reply. 
 
 "There is a shade of something yonder, he admitted 
 at last. " It rises a trifle above us, and almost directly 
 out from this edge. T is hard to say of what it consists, 
 yet tis of a peculiar shape, causing me to think of the 
 foreyard of a big ship." 
 
 " Exactly what I name it," I replied, set at ease by his 
 prompt decision. " How far would you suppose the 
 thing to lie from where we are ? " 
 
 He studied the barely visible object long and carefully, 
 shading his eyes again with his hands the better to 
 concentrate his gaze upon that misty blot. 
 
 " It is like a jump in the dark, my son, to attempt 
 guessing at so visionary a thing. At times it seem- 
 eth to fade away altogether, yet back it cometh once 
 more into the same spot ; from where I lie it might be 
 twenty, or it might be forty, feet." 
 
 " Saint Giles ! not so bad a guess either. I figured it 
 at thirty this afternoon from the bank below, nor am I 
 apt to prove far wrong in such judgment. Truss up 
 this confounded skirt of mine, while I uncoil the rope 
 for a toss." 
 
 [78] 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 He opened his eyes wide in amazement. 
 
 " Do you hope to cast the loop over the end of the 
 spar?" 
 
 "Ay, that offers the only opening to get aboard un 
 observed," I replied, loosening as I spoke the slender 
 rope coil from about my waist. " Nor would it be any 
 trick if the light were a trifle better. As it is, I may 
 miss a throw or two in getting firm hold. It would 
 prove risky business attempting to pass across a line 
 insecure at one end. Lie down now, pere, and keep as 
 quiet as if you were dead." 
 
 In instant obedience to my words the priest stretched 
 himself at full length behind the low wooden gutter. 
 Rising cautiously to my feet, I passed the cord with 
 utmost care through my fingers, testing its strands again, 
 making certain it remained perfectly free for the toss. 
 For a moment I stood thus, swaying forward at the very 
 edge of the roof, my eyes measuring again and again 
 the hazy, uncertain distance stretching away toward 
 that slight undulating shadow. It was practically impos 
 sible to determine where the extreme end of the spar ter 
 minated in air, yet as nearly as possible I made selection 
 for my point of aim, and, with three noiseless circles about 
 my head to give it impetus, shot the rope forth into the 
 dense gloom. I heard the opening noose strike some 
 thing which rattled sharply in the intense silence. Then 
 the line slipped, hung limp, and finally fell dangling 
 down over the edge of the roof. It had failed to catch, 
 and I crouched low, making no effort to draw the loose 
 end back. With the first sound of the blow against the 
 spar the steady tramping across the deck ceased. A 
 
 [79] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 moment, and a gruff voice hailed in vigorous Spanish from 
 out the darkness : 
 
 " Aloft there ! Who is on the foreyard ? " 
 
 For a brief space there came no answer, although we 
 were made aware of other movements more directly 
 below us. Then some one answered : 
 
 " The watch are all here on the forecastle, Senor. It 
 must have been a loose block that rattled." 
 
 "Two of you jump into the foretop, and make all fast." 
 
 The steady tramping was resumed, while a moment 
 later we became aware of the approach of men climbing 
 through the darkness toward us. We were unable to 
 perceive their shadows, yet their muttered conversation, 
 as they lay out upon the yard, served to fix its actual 
 position more clearly in my mind. I believed I knew 
 where I had so grievously overshot the mark. 
 
 " Boca del Dragon ! " grumbled one of the fellows 
 hoarsely, seemingly in our very ears. " The Captain 
 is as nervous over those cursed frog-eaters down between 
 decks as if we were anchored off Paree." 
 
 " Think you that is the trouble, Jose ? " returned the 
 other in the sprightly voice of a younger man. " I tell 
 thee, comrade, t is only that bloody demon of an O Reilly 
 he is fearful of. I have sailed with the old man in 
 many seas since first I left Sargon, and never expect to 
 see him affrighted of any Johnny Frenchman. But I 
 heard the Admiral say two days agone, as I hung over 
 his boat in the main chains, that if the Captain lost so 
 much as a single prisoner it should cost him his ship. 
 That, I make it, comrade, is why he has n t taken so 
 much as a glass of wine since first they were put aboard 
 
 [so] 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 of us. Eastante I but he must have acquired a thirst by 
 this time to make his temper red-hot." 
 
 The other laughed sourly. 
 
 " Poh ! I know even a better reason for his going dry 
 than that, Juan. He does n t have chance for a drink 
 alongside of that gray-bellied French priest below. Car- 
 amba ! it takes him to polish off the red liquor." 
 
 " How know you that ? " 
 
 " Saint Christopher ! how know I ? Did I not just 
 meet him at the main hatch so drunk he fell over the 
 coamings. The sojer on guard set him up against the 
 butt of the foremast to sober off in the night air." 
 
 I experienced difficulty in repressing a laugh at the 
 words, but the two fellows were going down by this 
 time, grumbling in their beards because they had dis 
 covered nothing wrong as reward for their trip aloft, 
 so I contented myself by silently pressing my com 
 panion s arm, although doubtless he had comprehended 
 no word of the conversation. 
 
 We rested there motionless, with no attempt at speech^ 
 for fully twenty minutes before I ventured to haul in the 
 line which dangled downward from my hand. Every 
 thing remained quiet below, and, coiling it carefully over 
 my arm, I noiselessly arose to my feet once more, poising 
 myself to essay a second cast. As straight this time as an 
 arrow from the taut string of a bow the noose sped silently 
 away into the darkness. I felt a thrill of delight tingle 
 through me as the end settled softly over the end of the 
 vague, distant spar. I drew the cord taut and firm, not a 
 sound breaking the intense stillness closing us in like a 
 wall. A heavy wooden post, with a pulley attachment, 
 6 [81] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 stood behind where we rested, probably fitted there for 
 hauling up heavy bales of cotton. Creeping back, I 
 wound the slack of the rope about its base, drawing it 
 as tight as possible, and then placed the end in the 
 hands of the observant and wondering priest, who 
 continued to creep after me like a shadow. 
 
 " Now all I expect of you is to hold hard on this rope 
 until I get across on to the spar/ I whispered. " When 
 I give three distinct jerks on the cord, then let loose of 
 your end ; but drop it slowly, mind you, pere, so I can 
 draw it in without noise. You had better creep to the 
 edge of the roof with it before you release your hold. 
 Do you understand ? " 
 
 He nodded silently, his eyes gazing unwaveringly 
 into mine. I held forth my hand to him, moved by 
 the sudden impulse of such a movement. As he gave 
 me his own in response it felt as cold as ice, yet I 
 marked his grip was strong. 
 
 " As soon as I coil in the rope you had better creep 
 down and go home," I explained, speaking slowly, for 
 somehow I felt it strangely hard to part with this last 
 tie between the present and the uncertain future. " You 
 can be no further use to me ; Madame will be anxious 
 to hear your report, while it might prove exceedingly 
 awkward for one of your cloth to be trapped here after 
 this night s work is discovered by the Dons. So now 
 good-bye ; you are a man of nerve, even if you are a 
 priest, and I am glad to have been comrade with you." 
 
 I heard him answer something as I slowly crept down 
 to the edge, testing again the feel of the rope before ven 
 turing to swing off upon it. I was not unaccustomed to 
 
 [82] 
 
ON THE "SANTA MARIA" 
 
 those adventures incident to rough life on the frontier ; 
 my nerves were not easily jarred by strange experiences, 
 yet I hold it no pleasant sensation to swing out on a 
 thirty-foot line at that height, amid utter darkness, 
 especially when you feel uncertain as to its secure 
 fastening at the farther end. Moreover, the priest s 
 robe hampered my movements sadly, while, being no 
 light-weight, the strands of the small cord cut my hands. 
 I durst not hurry, but took the passage inch by inch, 
 gritting my teeth as I hung suspended above the abyss, 
 lest I might emit a cry. In truth I thought my arms 
 would pull out of the sockets before I finally came 
 alongside the spar. Yet, thanks be to God, the rope 
 held nobly, though it required every pound of remaining 
 strength to haul my dangling body up, that I could rest 
 across the wood before I felt after the standing rope 
 beneath. I clung there weak as a child, trembling like 
 a frightened woman, the cold perspiration standing in 
 drops upon my face. 
 
 I have been in far happier situations than that lying 
 bent nearly double across the yard of an enemy s ship 
 on a black night, but at the moment, so sincerely 
 rejoiced was I to be off that sagging rope, I felt like hum 
 ming a tune. Yet I contented myself with sliding along 
 the smooth spar until I discovered a firm strand of rope 
 beneath my feet, ventured then to stand upright, and 
 clung for support to the cloth of the sail. At last I gave 
 our signal, and, as the line slackened to my hand, drew it 
 cautiously in, coiling it as it came, until all was once again 
 in my possession. Waiting a moment, to give the per e 
 opportunity to begin his retreat, I undid the noose yet 
 
 [83] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 wound about the small end of the spar, and, with much 
 care, feeling my uncertain way through the darkness, 
 worked myself slowly along, inward bound toward the 
 mast. Finally, close beside it I again made fast the end 
 of my cord, lowering it, paying out the long coil inch by 
 inch, until I felt convinced from its limpness it must 
 extend to the deck. 
 
 I acknowledge it was several minutes before I mustered 
 sufficient courage to slip down into that intense black 
 ness. It was not so much fear of men which deterred me, 
 but the oppressive silence, the mystery of what awaited 
 me below, rested heavily upon the nerves, binding me to 
 the spar, intently gazing and listening for either sight or 
 sound. It was recollection of that last, trustful look 
 within the dark eyes of Eloise which finally aroused me 
 to action. Muttering an imprecation upon my faint 
 heartedness, I instantly swung off on to the dangling rope, 
 slipping silently downward through the shadows to meet 
 whatsoever fate might lurk below. 
 
 It was a confused tangle of ropes I was compelled to 
 traverse, yet none greatly interfered with my progress, 
 except to render it slower, and the consequent strain 
 harder upon the arms. The huge foremast, close against 
 which I swung, grew bulkier as I descended. Suddenly 
 my feet touched the solid deck. I discovered myself 
 between the foremast and the rail, so dropping upon 
 hands and knees I crept silently around, hoping thus to 
 gain clearer view forward. As I circled the vast butt of 
 the mast I came suddenly face to face with the 
 friar, sitting upon the deck and blinking at me with 
 drunken gravity. 
 
 [84] 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI 
 
 1HAVE no knowledge as to what the surprised priest 
 thought regarding the astounding apparition thus 
 bursting upon him. Perchance he mistook me for the 
 ghost of some ancient Father Superior visiting him in 
 warning of his sins. However, I permitted him small 
 space for any reflection. I have ever been swift in action ; 
 was awake then with the excitement of my venture, and 
 little accustomed to hesitancy at such a time. Moreover, 
 I despised the fellow, and was not loath to be the instru 
 ment of punishment to him, and I never struck any man 
 a deadlier blow with the bare fist than that I put in just 
 back of his ear. My posture was not the best for such 
 exercise; nevertheless it permitted me to do the work, 
 and he went over without word or groan, even as I have 
 seen a buck fall to the rifle when the ball sang straight 
 to the heart. 
 
 Indeed, so limp did he drop upon his side, with not a 
 sigh to relieve the sickening impression, I feared at first 
 I had killed him for it is a wicked blow, such as has 
 caused death more than once. I was reassured, however, 
 by listening intently at his heart, and, not knowing how 
 soon he might revive in the cool night air, took pre 
 cautions to keep him dumb before venturing to leave him 
 
 [85] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 huddled against the butt of the great mast, and proceed 
 forth on my own mission. 
 
 To lower the long gray skirt of my monk s robe until 
 it touched the deck planks, loosening as I did so the 
 hunting knife securely hidden within my waist-belt, and 
 to draw up the coarse, ample hood, thus better to con 
 ceal my features, after the same manner I was pleased to 
 note Cassati wore his, were my first duties. The way of 
 procedure had been made clear; fate had seemingly 
 solved that problem. My sole prospect of attaining the 
 guarded space between decks, of reaching the cell of the 
 man I sought, lay in careful impersonation of the drunken 
 French priest, now lying insensible at my feet. Nor in 
 this imposture did I anticipate serious difficulty. Every 
 thing thus far had developed so favorably I became hope 
 ful of the outcome the inspiration of success brought 
 with it renewed courage and confidence. The exciting 
 incidents of the night had awakened me to the humor of 
 the venture, and I smiled grimly at the rare conceit of 
 the contemplated masquerade. Nor did it promise an 
 especially difficult part to play. We were of similar size, 
 broad-shouldered, stocky men, with smoothly shaven 
 faces, the difference therein hardly likely to be observed 
 by careless eyes, beneath dimly burning lights. I knew 
 enough regarding his peculiarities of voice and manner to 
 imitate both fairly well, so only an accident, or some 
 careless slip of the tongue, would be apt to reveal the 
 fraud. In short, I was armed with audacity, doubting 
 little that I should safely pass the guards. Anyway, there 
 was nothing else for it; twas a moment when one must 
 cast timidity to the winds. 
 
 [86] 
 
THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI 
 
 Yet I found it difficult to essay the first step in so 
 desperate an enterprise. For several moments I waited, 
 hanging back within the shadow of the mast, gathering 
 my wits together for the chances of the play, while 
 endeavoring to pick out details of the situation along 
 those silent, gloomy decks. Owing to the mass of over 
 hanging cordage and the high wo^Sfcf bulwarks on either 
 side, the night appeared even darker than when I was 
 above, perched on the dizzy yard. Occasionally some 
 deeper shadow, or the noise of voice or footfall, made 
 apparent to me the life on board. Toward the stern 
 that steady tramping back and forth of the officer on 
 watch continued uninterrupted, as he paced steadily from 
 rail to rail. I could even distinguish the dim outlines 
 of his lower limbs as he passed and repassed before the 
 single gleaming point of light on board. I was also 
 assured as to a group of seamen forward, hard against a 
 steeper rise of the deck ; once I heard the officer aft call 
 out some unintelligible order, when one of the group 
 detached himself from among those others and passed 
 along the opposite side of the mast from where I lay, 
 yet so close I could have touched him with extended 
 hand. I felt convinced a sentinel stood beside the hatch, 
 and imagined I could distinguish the faint outlines of 
 another farther back, near the rail. Trusting to avoid 
 interference from this latter soldier, for I sought no 
 risk of accident which might be escaped, 1 crept 
 around upon the opposite side of the deck from where 
 I had been crouching so long. Getting my new bearings 
 as well as possible amid such confusing darkness, I 
 finally set my teeth to it, rose, and bore directly down 
 
 [8?] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 upon the hatchway, lurching somewhat heavily and 
 unsteadily upon my feet. 
 
 Whatever vestige of doubt lingered as to the nature 
 of my reception on board the " Santa Maria " was quickly 
 put to rest. In return there came to me, from that first 
 experience, a measure of confidence in my assumed 
 character that enabled me to impersonate my drunken 
 priestly predecessor with a degree of cool perfection that 
 surprised myself. Faith, t is always so ; life is like the 
 teetering-board of children, ever up or down. Evidently 
 the father in his night migrations had passed that way 
 before, as the sentry he appeared a burly fellow in the 
 gloom, after making certain as to the identity of his 
 unsteady visitor, asked no unpleasant questions, merely 
 contenting himself with gruff, good-natured warning to 
 the padre to be more careful this time and not fall down 
 the ladder. 
 
 " Holy saints ! " he added soothingly, " your worship s 
 head must be ringing yet with the blow it got." 
 
 To this uncharitable remark I maintained dignified 
 silence, and, flinging my somewhat uncertain limbs over 
 the coamings, went scrambling down, leaving him to his 
 solitary meditations. 
 
 There was no light burning in the big square room 
 below, merely a faint yellow reflection stealing forth 
 from that passageway leading aft. For this blessing of 
 Providence I was profoundly thankful. A good half- 
 dozen of the night guard, wearing similar uniform with 
 those I had met on duty during the afternoon, were idly 
 lounging about the butt of the mainmast, evidently await 
 ing turn on sentry post, and ready enough to welcome 
 
 [88] 
 
THE ROLE OF PfiRE CASSATI 
 
 any diversion chancing their way which would help to 
 break the dull tedium of the night. I observed like 
 wise, as I made a drunken pause at the foot of the ladder 
 in an apparently vain endeavor to steady myself, that 
 these roisterers of the night-watch were a set of jolly 
 dogs, and had been opening numerous bottles of red 
 wine with which to pass lagging hours more pleasantly. 
 They were already in that gay, thoughtless spirit of bad 
 inage which comes of fair allowance. Good humor had 
 laid careless hand on duty, until, the stern restraint of 
 discipline noticeably relaxing, good fellowship had become 
 king. Their officer lay outstretched at full length upon 
 three camp stools, a fellow long of limb, with face as 
 dark as a Moor. He made no effort to arise from his 
 undignified position, yet hailed me as though I had been 
 a boon companion of his revel. 
 
 " Ha ! " he exclaimed gleefully, tapping as he spoke 
 an empty glass against the deck. "Comrades, tis as I 
 prophesied; we are not long robbed of the Church. 
 See, the most reverend Father hath already returned 
 unto his own. Truly art thou welcome, fadre^ for I fear 
 thy flock were about to go astray without a shepherd. 
 Ho, Alva ! seest thou not the coming of thine own liege 
 lord ? or art thou already so blinded by good liquor thou 
 would st dare neglect the very Pope himself, did he 
 honor us with his company ? Alva, I say, you roister 
 ing hound, you drunken blade, bring hither a stool for 
 the worthy confessor ! Faith ! doth he not bear the 
 sins of us all, and must he not be greatly aweary with so 
 vast a load. Saint Theresa! tis fortunate there is yet 
 a bottle left uncracked for the good padre ! " 
 
 [89] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 I gathered the heavy hood closer about my face, so as 
 better to muffle voice as well as conceal features ; made 
 an apparent effort to stand firm, but with such poor suc 
 cess I noticed the grins expand on the faces watching me. 
 
 " Peace, my son," I hiccoughed, with an assumption 
 of drunken gravity, uplifting my disengaged arm as if in 
 priestly benediction of the impious crew. " Tempt me 
 not to turn aside from the solemn path of duty by offer 
 ings of that foul fiend which doth so corrupt and despoil 
 men. Know you, I am now on my way to perform the 
 sweet offices of our most holy religion, and need greatly 
 to permit my mind to dwell in peace upon more soulful 
 things than that which lieth in the wine pot. You are 
 mere beasts of the field, sons of Belial, children of wrath, 
 every one of you, doomed to death, even as it is written, 
 He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword.* 
 Laugh, will you, you drunken scum of the sea ! " I 
 shouted, glaring about savagely on the grimacing faces. 
 " Tis truth out of Holy Writ I speak, but I waste the 
 precious word in such company t is casting pearls before 
 swine for there be none here who comprehend the 
 things of the Spirit." 
 
 "The spirit say you, padre?" interrupted the officer, 
 evidently in rare good humor. "Bastmadet thou doest 
 wrong to all this worshipful company by so grievous a 
 slur. The spirit we know right well, although I confess 
 thou art ever a full bottle in advance of the most of us." 
 
 I cast upon him a withering glance of scorn as rebuke 
 to his unseemly levity, venturing to lurch a step nearer. 
 
 "Hush such vain and impious speech, thou man of 
 war," I commanded thickly, indignation apparent even 
 
 [90] 
 
THE ROLE OF PfiRE CASSATI 
 
 through my drunkenness. " Thou makest mock of the 
 sacred teachings of Holy Church, and art from henceforth 
 accursed by virtue of my office. I pause here, holding 
 converse no longer with such mocking tongue, nor linger 
 in presence of this blasphemous crew. There resteth upon 
 me the eternal destiny of a human, unshriven soul, and I 
 bid thee permit my passage; tis the final night of earth 
 for some upon this ship, and I have until now neglected 
 to perform my priestly duty with one of the condemned. 
 T is upon this holy mission I would pass thee now." 
 
 " I truly think, padre" exclaimed one of the group, 
 with a careless laugh, " if you had another drink of red 
 wine beneath your cassock you could never tell a prayer 
 from a song; so for the sake of those poor devils yonder 
 we ought to pass you this time without demanding 
 toll." 
 
 "To whom do you go at such unseemly hour with 
 ghostly consolations ? " inquired the Commandant, negli 
 gently rolling a cigarette between his long fingers, and 
 resting back his head in supreme content. 
 
 " I give absolution unto De Noyan." In spite of my 
 utmost endeavors my voice trembled mentioning the 
 name. I watched the fellow s face narrowly, yet read 
 nothing save reckless indifference. 
 
 " Ah ! the gay Chevalier. Faith, I doubt not he hath 
 grave need of thee and thy paternosters ere he find peace. 
 Yet surely, padre p , twas with him you were this very 
 afternoon, while I was on guard before. I marvel greatly 
 he should care for your company so much. Saints, he 
 seems scarcely of the kidney to take kindly to so many 
 prayers." 
 
 [91] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 I felt a chill sweep across me even at this slight check. 
 Had I dared too much? Had I ventured too far? I 
 knew not, yet spoke my next words boldly, realizing that 
 any retreat now would be impossible. 
 
 "Thou knowest little of men at such a moment; even 
 careless hearts learn fear of God as they face the end. 
 Holy Mother! but twould even pale your black face, 
 and put a stopper on that ribald tongue, were grim Death 
 stalking at your very heels. You may smile now, mak 
 ing reckless mock of the sacraments, but that hour will 
 come when you will be as a child at the knee of Mother 
 Church. Ay, I was with the Chevalier to-day; twas 
 the coming of that negro huckster which took me from 
 his side before, and I seek now to complete the gracious 
 work which then had well begun. Surely thou wilt 
 not stand between a dying man and his last confession ! " 
 
 " Nay ; not I. Let the poor devil have his chance, as 
 may the good Lord grant me mine. But, fadre y I have 
 only just returned from my last round among the pris 
 oners, and am greatly wearied, nor will I journey that 
 way again with you. In truth, tis all I can well do to 
 guide my own footsteps, without helping along a priest 
 of thy weight. So here, padre, take the key, and, mind 
 ye, have it safely back in my hands before the ship s bell 
 soundeth the half hour." 
 
 Hastily snatching the bit of iron he flung rattling on 
 the deck at my feet, 1 paused merely long enough to 
 favor the company with parting admonition on their 
 probable future. Then, glad enough to be thus easily 
 rid of them, I lurched heavily forward into the narrow 
 passageway. Some coarse joke launched at my expense 
 
 [92] 
 
THE ROLE OF PERE CASSATI 
 
 attracted the attention of those behind, and speeded me 
 onward. 
 
 My heart throbbed in anxious anticipation of what 
 unknown trial was at hand. Such rare fortune as had 
 thus far attended my efforts, seemed too remarkable to 
 endure ; nor was it impossible that, through some unfore 
 seen mischance, the cup of success might yet be stricken 
 from my very lips. So far at least I had made no mistake ; 
 evidently this Pere Cassati was " hail fellow, well met " 
 among these riotous guards aboard the " Santa Maria," 
 and I had played the part to their complete undoing. But 
 now I was facing a new experience, and stiffened myself to 
 meet it boldly, uncertain still what trick fate might have 
 in store. 
 
 The sentinel, whom I discovered facing forward, hardly 
 more than two paces from that door having the figures 
 " 1 8 " painted upon it, quickly lowered his gun as I 
 lurched unsteadily into sight. Greatly to my relief, as 
 soon as he obtained distinct view of his unexpected 
 visitor, he returned the piece carelessly to his shoulder, 
 and leaned back, his elbow against the arm-rack. He 
 was a good-natured-looking fellow, with round, boyish 
 face, upon which streamed the full glare of a swinging- 
 lamp suspended from a chain fastened to an upper beam. 
 His unsuspicious appearance served greatly to reassure 
 me. 
 
 "I give thee peace of Holy Church, my son," I mut 
 tered solemnly, leaning heavily against the jamb of the 
 door, uplifting my hand in benediction. " May the pres 
 ence of the Mother and Child guard thee in time of 
 battle." 
 
 [93] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 The face of the young soldier grew sober, and he with 
 drew one hand from its grasp on the shining musket 
 piously to make the sign of the cross. 
 
 " I thank thee, padre, for thy blessing," he returned 
 gratefully. " It will be in accord with the prayers of 
 those I left at home in Spain." 
 
 Whether or not guards on duty in the corridor had 
 orders to pass the father unquestioned, this lad, at 
 least, made no effort to prevent my inserting the great 
 iron key within the lock of the door. Doubtless my 
 possession of it was accepted as evidence of my right to 
 its use ; anyway he remained there in that same careless 
 posture, a pleased smile on his face, watching me curi 
 ously. The heavy nail-studded door swung noiselessly 
 ajar; with single questioning glance backward at the 
 motionless sentry, I stepped within, closed it behind 
 me, and stood, my heart throbbing fiercely, face to face 
 with her husband the man to whom had been given 
 the woman I loved, Chevalier Charles de Noyan, 
 condemned to die at sunrise. 
 
 [94] 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 IT seems strange any man should deliberately ven 
 ture life for one he had never seen ; one whom, 
 moreover, he hated with an intensity of passion seldom 
 experienced between man and man. I have not been of 
 revengeful disposition, nor often indulged in grave per 
 sonal dislike, yet it would be wrong in this simple narra 
 tive for me to attempt concealment of my own impulses. 
 So it is impossible to deny that, from the first moment 
 when she called Charles de Noyan husband, I felt toward 
 him a degree of animosity deeper than I had before sup 
 posed it possible for me to entertain relative to any human 
 being. It was bitter memory of the past, a belief that I 
 had once won the heart of this fair girl, only to be balked 
 of reward by spectral hands of religion, which swayed me 
 thus strongly. To my thought this stranger was one 
 who had purchased, from priests at the altar, what was 
 mine by divine decree ; what would remain mine forever 
 from the mandate of love unchangeable, eternally sealed 
 by higher power than any priestly ritual. 
 
 Yet I had already passed through a day and night of 
 intense excitement, of grave peril, endeavoring to pre 
 serve the life of this man whom I would more gladly see 
 die than any one I ever knew. I stood now in the open 
 
 [95] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 jaws of my own destruction, where the slightest false 
 movement, or ill-judged word, upon his part or my own, 
 must mean betrayal ; where an awakening of suspicion in 
 the simple mind of the sentry without, or of his captain 
 in the corridor ; the return to consciousness, or chance 
 discovery, of the bound priest upon the upper deck, 
 would ruin every hope, sentencing me to a fate no less 
 speedy or certain than that which now awaited him I 
 sought to serve. All this had I risked that I might aid 
 in the escape of the one and only man in all the wide 
 world who stood between me and the woman I loved. 
 
 It was an odd position, a heartless caprice of fate. I 
 felt the full measure of its strangeness, yet the thought 
 never occurred to me of shrinking back from duty, nor 
 slightest dream of realizing a personal victory through any 
 act of baseness. I was not there for his sake, or my own, 
 but to redeem my pledged word to her whose slightest 
 wish was law, whose pleading face forever rose before me. 
 Nevertheless, as I stood fronting him for the first time, 
 there was little except bitter hatred in my heart hatred 
 which, no doubt, burned for the instant within my eyes, 
 but a hatred which never returned, to curse my mem 
 ory, from that day unto this. I may have found much 
 to test my patience, much to dislike about him in those 
 weary weeks which followed, much of weakness and of 
 fickle spirit, but naught ever gave birth anew to the deep 
 resentment I buried there. 
 
 The room in which I found myself was long and nar 
 row, dimly lighted by an oil lamp screwed fast into a 
 blackened beam overhead. Along one side was the bare 
 wall, unrelieved in its plain planking except for a small 
 
 [96] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 cracked mirror and a highly colored picture of the Vir 
 gin in a rude frame. Opposite, two berths were arranged 
 one above the other, both partially concealed by a dingy 
 red curtain extending from ceiling to floor. The only 
 other furniture I noted in my hasty survey consisted of 
 a rough stool chair, and a huge iron-bound, wooden sea- 
 chest, the last so bulky as almost completely to block the 
 narrow space between the lower berth and the opposite 
 wall. Seated upon the stool, which was tilted back upon 
 two legs, his shoulders resting comfortably on a pillow 
 pressed against the wall, his long limbs extended in 
 posture of supreme contentment and laziness, upon the 
 chest, was the man of my desperate search, the gallant 
 soldier of France, the leader of rebellion, condemned to 
 die before the rifles within four short hours. 
 
 I have never greatly feared death, have witnessed it 
 often and in many hideous forms, yet always believed it 
 would test my nerves to the uttermost to face it as a 
 certainty under guard of enemies. Yet here was one, 
 young in years, strong of limb, vigorous of hope, with 
 all the joy of life just opening before him ; a man of 
 wealth, of fashion, and of ease, who was seemingly await 
 ing the inevitable hour of his doom with as calm indiffer 
 ence as if it meant no more than the pleasant summons 
 to a Creole ball. With one glance I made a mental 
 picture of him a young, high-bred face, marred some 
 what by dissipation and late hours, yet beneath that dim 
 light appearing almost boyishly fresh, and bearing upon 
 its every feature the plain impress of reckless humor, and 
 indolent content. It was the face of a youth rather than 
 a man ; of one more accustomed to looking upon gay 
 
 [97] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 companions at the club than on the horrors of a battle 
 field ; one who could justly be expected to boast of fair 
 conquests, yet who might prove somewhat slow at draw 
 ing sword to front a warrior of mettle, unless his blood 
 were heated with wine. 
 
 Such were my first impressions, until I noted a certain 
 manliness imparted thereto by the heavy moustaches 
 adorning the upper lip, almost yellow in color, curled 
 sharply upward, so heavily waxed at the ends as nearly 
 to reach the ears, or rather to lose themselves amid the 
 luxuriant growth of hair. This latter, of the same 
 unusual tinge, swept low over the shoulders, and was 
 trimmed squarely across the forehead according to a 
 fashion then prevalent among young French cavaliers. 
 His dress was not a uniform, but that of the latest mode 
 in the province, somewhat exaggerated, I thought, as to 
 length of the bronze shoes and glaring color of the waist 
 coat. All these details I noted, as he turned somewhat 
 indolently in my direction, calmly flipping the ash from 
 oflFa cigarette, and permitting a spiral of thin blue smoke 
 to curl slowly upward from his lips into the air. 
 
 "So it is you, you miserable, drunken reprobate!" he 
 exclaimed, a touch of temper tingling in a voice I felt 
 must naturally be soft and low. " Have you dared come 
 back to pester me with your abominable consolations ? 
 Sacrel did I not bid you this afternoon to let me alone? 
 I care nothing for your tipsy paternosters. Faith, man, 
 it will be pleasanter to face that firing squad to-morrow 
 than your drunken prayers to-night. Come, get out of 
 the room before I lay unregenerate hands upon your 
 shaven poll. I am but giving you fair warning, priest, 
 
 [98] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 for I am quick of blow when my blood is heated, nor 
 care I greatly for the curses of Mother Church." 
 
 I stepped quickly forward, coming as directly before 
 him as the great sea-chest would permit, fearful lest his 
 loud words might be distinguishable beyond the closed 
 door. Then, with silent gesture of warning, I flung aside 
 the heavy cowl which had concealed my features. 
 
 "You, I presume, are Charles de Noyan," I said 
 gravely. " I am not Father Cassati, nor drunken priest 
 of any Order of Holy Church." 
 
 The prisoner was thoroughly astounded. This I could 
 perceive by the sudden gleam leaping into his eyes, but 
 that he retained marvellous control over every muscle was 
 abundantly proven by the fact that no change of attitude, 
 or of voice, gave slightest evidence of emotion. 
 
 "Well, Mother of God preserve me!" he exclaimed, 
 with a short, reckless laugh. " Tis some small comfort 
 to know even that much. Yet may I politely inquire 
 who the devil you are, to invade thus coolly the bed 
 chamber of a gentleman, without so much as asking 
 leave, at this unholy hour of the morning? Pardieu, 
 man, are you aware that this is the last night on earth 
 I have?" 
 
 He was staring at me through blue rings of tobacco 
 smoke, very much as one might observe some peculiar 
 animal seen for the first time. 
 
 " Had it been otherwise you might rest assured I should 
 never have troubled you," I replied, some constraint in 
 my voice, his boyish bravado of speech rasping harshly 
 upon my nerves. "But time presses, Chevalier; there 
 remains small space for useless exchange of compliment, 
 
 [99] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 nor does indifference appear becoming to those in such 
 grave peril as you and I." 
 
 "Sacre! are you also one of us? Surely, I have no 
 recollection of your face." 
 
 "I am one in so far as I now face the same fate at the 
 hands of the Spaniards, although, it is true, I had no part 
 in your uprising. I am not of your race." 
 
 He laughed easily, passing one slender, white hand 
 carelessly through his long hair. 
 
 "Pah! you scarcely need tell me that, for the taste of 
 the French tongue seems ill-suited to your lips. Yet I 
 would have you speak out more plainly! I play not 
 easily into the hands of strangers." 
 
 "Why not? You could hardly be worse off than you 
 are now." 
 
 " Pardieu! you are not so far wrong in your philoso 
 phy, friend. Still I stick to my text, and if you care to 
 hold further speech with me it will be well to declare 
 yourself. I have ever been a bit careful as to my 
 associates." 
 
 "It makes small odds, Chevalier, who I am; nor will 
 it greatly aid you to learn my name, which is plain Geof 
 frey Benteen, without even a handle of any kind to it, nor 
 repute, save that of an honest hunter along the upper 
 river. I say who I am makes small odds, for I come not 
 with application for membership into your social circle, 
 nor with card of introduction from some mutual friend." 
 
 His expressive eyebrows uplifted in surprise. 
 
 "Then, Monsieur, pray relieve my natural curiosity, 
 and tell me why I am thus honored by your presence ? " 
 
 "To aid your escape from this hole, God willing. 
 
 [too] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 That is, provided you rouse up from lethargy, and bear 
 your part as becomes a man." 
 
 I spoke with heat, for his indifference irritated me; yet 
 I failed to note that my words made the slightest -nipres- 
 sion on him, for I did merely mark a slight shrugging of 
 the shoulders, while he crossed his legs more comfortably, 
 rolling some fresh tobacco, before he took trouble to reply. 
 
 "You are evidently of a choleric temper, friend Ben- 
 teen. Great Heavens, what names have you English!" 
 he exclaimed. "And you need greatly to practise better 
 control over yourself, as such weakness is apt to lead one 
 into just such scrapes as this of ours. Sacrel it hath 
 been my failing also, otherwise would I now be a fat 
 Major of the Line instead of a poor devil condemned to 
 the volley, for no worse crime than an over-hot head. 
 But seriously, Monsieur, and I am truly of a most grave 
 disposition, it is not so easy to accomplish that which you 
 propose with so glib a tongue. Imagine you I have lain 
 here, under tender Spanish care, all these weeks, where, 
 as I do most solemnly affirm, not so much as a glass of 
 decent wine has found way down my throat, nor have I 
 possessed a bit of pomade for the proper arrangement of 
 my locks which will account for their present dishevel- 
 ment Saint Cecilia! but that moon-faced Moor who 
 commands the guard merely laughed at me when I did 
 request a comb ; think you, I say, I have been through 
 all this without calculating chances for escape? But, 
 pardieu! what use? A man of sense will not dream such 
 fool dreams. This I know, there are three sentries yon 
 der in the passageway, a good dozen more under arms in 
 the guard-room beyond, with still others vigilantly pacing 
 
 [101] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 the deck above. What use, I say, for did not poor 
 Villere try it, and-, before he had covered twenty feet, had 
 three bullets in his brain? Nay, Master Benteen, to 
 endeavor running ; such a gantlet would only give me my 
 fill of Spanish lead before the hour set, which, they tell 
 me, comes with the sunrise/ 
 
 He arose languidly to his feet, paused a moment in 
 front of the cracked mirror to recurl his long moustaches, 
 and then, turning about, extended a white hand toward 
 me, smiling pleasantly as he did so. 
 
 " Faith, I fear I shall not look my best when it is all 
 over, but if so it will be the fault of the Dons they 
 seem most careless as to requirements of the toilet. Yet 
 I would not have you deem me ungrateful, and I thank 
 you heartily, Monsieur. But if it be my turn to die, 
 and I doubt it not, for who ever heard of mercy in 
 the black heart of a Spaniard ? then it is best I front 
 it as becomes a gentleman of France, not with a bullet in 
 my back, as though I fled from fate with the faint heart 
 of a coward. Nay, good friend, if death is to be my 
 portion, I prefer meeting it with a smile, and thus prove, 
 at the ending, worthy of my race." 
 
 There was a certain dignified manliness in his speech 
 and manner which for the moment caused me to doubt 
 my earlier reading of his character. There might be steel 
 beneath the velvet glove of this fair courtier. 
 
 " Do you mean you deliberately choose to remain 
 here, rather than accept the chance I offer you ? " 
 
 " Sacre I I have as yet heard of no chance," he replied 
 easily, sinking indolently back into his old seat against 
 the wall. " I shall be fairly comfortable here for the 
 
 [102] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 while, though I must say I have used a better grade of 
 tobacco than this furnished me." 
 
 For the moment I was in despair as to the outcome 
 of my mission, nor did I accept the proffered hand of 
 the prisoner. Here was a totally different order of man 
 from what had ever come my way before, nor did I know 
 how best to meet him. How much of his vain and reck 
 less speech came from the heart, and how much of it 
 was merely a mask with which to test my purpose, I 
 could not determine, yet I remained resolute regarding 
 my own duty, and accordingly sat coolly down upon the 
 chest, determined to play out his own game with him to 
 the bitter end. 
 
 " Quite true, Chevalier," I said, smiling pleasantly, as 
 if I entered fully into his reckless spirit. " Doubtless 
 you are right needs must when the devil drives. 
 Could you spare me a morsel of that same tobacco, 
 until I test the quality of which you complain ? " I 
 produced a pipe from the recesses of my monk s habit, 
 knocking the ashes out carelessly against the chest. 
 
 He passed over his pouch in silence. 
 
 " When one resteth between His Satanic Majesty 
 and the deep sea it makes small odds at the best 
 which direction he turns. It becomes merely a matter 
 of taste. Death," I continued musingly as I deliberately 
 rammed home a charge into the bowl, " must be about 
 the same to one man as to another, except for matter of 
 temperament; so if you can afford to sit here and wel 
 come its coming, so can I." 
 
 " Do you mean you are sufficiently crazy to remain 
 deliberately and die with me ? " 
 
 [103] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Certainly. I pledged your devoted wife I would 
 rescue you, or never return alive myself. As you 
 stubbornly refuse to listen to reason, this seems to be all 
 that is left me. Opinions might differ as to which was 
 crazed, but as to that we will probably neither of us ever 
 know. May I trouble you for a light ? " 
 
 I leaned forward, coolly helping myself to the burning 
 cigarette he held forth doubtingly between his fingers, 
 and, puffing vigorously, silently resumed my seat. 
 
 " My wife, say you ? " A fresh interest appeared to 
 sweep over him at the word, overcoming his indiffer 
 ence. " Did Eloise de Noyan send you here seeking 
 to succor me ? " 
 
 " It was at her request I came ; at her wish I stay," I 
 answered firmly. 
 
 " You knew her ? " 
 
 " Several years since, when she was scarcely more than 
 a girl ; yet she retained sufficient faith to call upon me 
 in extremity/ 
 
 He sat staring at me as if he would like to question 
 further. 
 
 " The Lord love us, you are a cool fish," he finally 
 exclaimed, bringing his hand down upon his knee, and 
 speaking with fresh animation in his soft voice. " What 
 is more, I rather like you. So Eloise really wishes me 
 to desert the Dons ? Queer choice that, for she would 
 make a lovely widow. Oh, well, what s the odds ? 
 Tis only the question of a ball in the back to-night, 
 or a ball in the front to-morrow. If you chance to have 
 a tuck ready for my hand, friend, I 11 try a dash at the 
 deck just for the sport of it." 
 
 [104] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 I shook my head emphatically. 
 
 " We will attempt passage without flashing of weapons, 
 or not at all. I grant a quick stroke might win us the 
 open, yet would only serve to rouse the ship ; neither of 
 us would ever lift head above the river surface without a 
 bullet in the brain." 
 
 " It is the only way fit for a gentleman." 
 
 " Confound your gentlemen ! " I cried, now thor 
 oughly aroused at this ill-chosen trifling with time. 
 " Either you do as I bid you, or else we settle down 
 without any more ado, to wait the file to-morrow. How 
 often does the Commandant look in ? " 
 
 "On the stroke of the ship s bell." 
 
 "Then, Monsieur, the sooner you arrive at some 
 decision the better. If indifference is your game, I 
 play it out with you to the end." As I spoke I 
 leaned carelessly back against the lower bunk, puffing 
 away at my pipe to get it fairly alight once more. 
 
 I could note from the corner of my eye he was 
 watching me closely, and with no slight degree of 
 aroused interest, but I would have rested there with 
 out further speech until the guard came, had he not 
 first broken silence. 
 
 " And she sent you ? " 
 
 " So I said." 
 
 " To me, not Lafreniere, her father ? " 
 
 " There was a possible chance to save one, not 
 
 two." 
 
 " Sacre ! yes, I understand that ; yet it doth puzzle 
 me why she should have chosen as she did. Know 
 you just why it was De Noyan instead of Lafreniere ? " 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 <c Madame selected me for action, not advice," I 
 answered shortly, now thoroughly tired of his question 
 ing. " Lafreniere, I understood, positively refused oppor 
 tunity to escape, from scruples of conscience. Besides, 
 the father must be near the end of his days, while you 
 were yet young, with long life before you. No doubt 
 this also had weight with her decision. As for myself I 
 sincerely wish it might have been some other, so I could 
 have brought my aid to a man of sense." 
 
 He rose up, shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 "You are not especially choice in speech, yet your 
 purpose harmonizes somewhat with my present humor. 
 I will risk the effort ; so now tell me your plan ? " 
 
 I permitted no sign of pleasure at his decision to 
 appear in my face. 
 
 " I did intend dressing you in this cassock so you 
 might play priest, and slip safely past the guard beneath 
 its gray cover," I said quietly. " I purposed remaining 
 behind, arranging for myself as best I might ; but now 
 that we have met, to be perfectly frank about it, I retain 
 no confidence in your discretion which will warrant the 
 risk. I therefore decide we had better abide together 
 until this venture be done." 
 
 He smiled, apparently in rare good humor at my words. 
 
 " No doubt it will prove best, my friend. Your wider 
 knowledge should supplement my boyish enthusiasm," 
 he responded with mocking bow. " I rather suspect, 
 from outward appearance, you may be some years my 
 junior, yet in life experience I readily yield you the 
 palm. So lead on, most noble Captain ; from hence 
 forth command me as your devoted follower. And now, 
 
 [106] 
 
THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN 
 
 your excellency, I trust you will pardon if I venture the 
 inquiry, what would you have your humble servant do ? " 
 
 I permitted him to ramble along as he pleased. Now 
 I had won his pledge I cared little for the nature of his 
 raillery. While he talked I flung open the great chest 
 upon which I had been sitting, and discovering it packed 
 with clothing, hastily dragged the various articles forth, 
 flinging them into the lower berth, covering the pile with 
 blankets in such a manner that they resembled the 
 sleeping figure of a man. Then I turned toward him. 
 
 "My first order, Monsieur, is that you get in here." 
 
 "Sacre! not I " 
 
 There came a quick, firm footstep sounding along the 
 passageway without ; then a hand fell heavily upon the 
 latch of the door. 
 
 [107] 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 FAVORED OF THE GODS 
 
 IT seemed as if my heart must choke me at sound of 
 those steady footsteps approaching down the pas 
 sageway. I heard the sharp click of a gun-barrel in the 
 sentry s hand as he presented arms, then the noise of the 
 uplifting latch, yet remained so paralyzed by the sudden 
 ness of it as to be fairly helpless, unable to move from 
 my position. De Noyan merely smiled lazily, as though 
 this new act formed part of the play, beginning calmly 
 to roll another cigarette. 
 
 " The devil came likewise," he murmured lightly, 
 sinking back upon his stool. " Begin your paternosters, 
 friend Benteen, or he will fly away with both of us." 
 
 Fortunately these mocking words brought me to my 
 senses quickly enough to permit dropping upon my 
 knees with back to the door before it swung wide open. 
 Nor did I trust myself to do aught save mumble inartic 
 ulate and mongrel Latin, until it had been safely closed 
 again. Had I sought to exercise my wits on this 
 occasion, my companion permitted small opportunity 
 for words. 
 
 " Ah ! so it is you, you black-faced Arab ? " he 
 exclaimed sneeringly, as the Commandant of the guard 
 peered curiously in. " Not content to wait the striking 
 
 [108] 
 
FAVORED OF THE GODS 
 
 of the ship s bell, you must even interrupt my prayers. 
 Nice treatment of a gentleman his last night on earth, 
 to push yourself in between him and the consolations 
 of the holy father. Sacre ! had I only a small sword 
 at my side I would write a message across your black 
 Spanish heart which would teach your master how to 
 guard a French cavalier safely, and still be decent about 
 it" 
 
 It is doubtful whether the officer comprehended this 
 tirade. It was voiced in French, yet tone and manner 
 must have conveyed much of its import, for I distin 
 guished a muttered word or so regarding the unpleasant 
 duty of a soldier, and the length of time the priest had 
 retained the key, ere the intruder finally backed out 
 closing the door behind him. I clung to my knees, 
 however, until his retreating footsteps had died entirely 
 away in the distance ; even until De Noyan addressed 
 me again in his exasperating drawl. 
 
 "So, Father, you must now realize, if never before, 
 how highly I value your ministrations. Faith ! never 
 until this hour have I truly enjoyed the prayers of any 
 padre ; I knew not what I missed. Still there is limit 
 even to such pleasure, and it is time now to conclude ; I 
 have heard better Latin in my day, while your provincial 
 accent rasps painfully upon the ears." 
 
 "You made your play quite well, Monsieur," I said 
 shortly, somewhat mortified he should thus take the 
 leadership out of my hands at the first symptom of 
 danger. " But there must be something besides play 
 acting for us to-night if we get free of this ship. So 
 come now ; do you get into the box ? " 
 
 [109] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 He looked down at it doubtfully, with a shrug of the 
 shoulders. 
 
 "Pardieu! I would ask certain questions first," he 
 said with greater show of seriousness. " For how long a 
 time? for what sort of a passage? It will prove some 
 what cramped, I take it, for a man of my length of 
 limb." 
 
 " I hope both may prove short," I returned, continu 
 ing to hold up the lid for him to enter. " Yet I know 
 of no other possible means whereby you can leave this 
 room without being halted by the guard at the door. 
 There is no certainty in this, yet there is a chance, 
 Chevalier, and that ought always to be invitation to a 
 brave man. Beyond this it is God s affair." 
 
 The soldier twisted his long moustaches reflectively, 
 a new light gleaming in the eyes that fronted me. 
 
 " Sacre, man ! " he said at last stepping forward in 
 sudden resolution. "As you say it may be worth trying, 
 but it s not unlike climbing into a coffin three sizes too 
 small for the deceased. Still I 11 bide therein for a while, 
 only, I warn you, you better be easy when you put me 
 down, or the corpse may furnish a sudden resurrection." 
 
 It proved truly no easy task to stow him safely in that 
 contracted space. At any other time I should have 
 laughed outright, marking the final result of our com 
 bined efforts, especially at the expression, half ludicrous, 
 half pathetic, upon his face as he gazed up at me just 
 before the lid was closed. 
 
 " Now mind, Chevalier," I said gravely, for had I 
 ventured upon a smile at his predicament he would have 
 popped instantly forth again, "you are to make no 
 
 [no] 
 

 
 
 HAD I VENTURED UPON A SMILE AT His PREDICAMENT HE WOULD HAVE POPPED 
 INSTANTLY FORTH AGAIN. 
 
FAVORED OF THE GODS 
 
 movement of any kind until left alone. When certain 
 of that you may venture out of the chest, but remain 
 quiet until you hear from me again." 
 
 " You believe you know a way ? " 
 
 " Under God s guidance yes, if you will only bear 
 your part." 
 
 Without pausing for his answer I dropped the heavy 
 cover over him, and gave vent to a sigh of relief. 
 
 So far, at least I had won ; thus far the gods had 
 favored me. In spite of the obstacle of temperament 
 I had found means to attain my end, to work my will, 
 yet I realized well De Noyan would never bear such 
 uncomfortable posture long ; whatever was to be accom 
 plished must be done quickly. Fortunately my plan, 
 dim and doubtful as it was, had already taken outline. 
 I had determined what to endeavor; it must be attempted 
 at once, with bold heart, or the opportunity would be 
 gone forever. Pulling the hood across my face, I par 
 tially opened the door, glancing out upon the curious 
 sentry. To my relief he was alone. 
 
 " I suppose the Commandant told you to give me a 
 lift out with this box ? " I asked in Spanish. 
 
 " No, senor padre" 
 
 The man was exceedingly good-natured, evidently one 
 who had profound respect for the cloth. 
 
 " Caramba ! " I growled angrily, using the Spanish 
 tongue so he might not miss my meaning. " He 
 promised it only a moment ago, when he looked in. He 
 must have forgotten. There is no sense in having such 
 a great chest lumbering up the entire room. Know you 
 how it ever came there ? " 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " It was the seiior Lieutenant s state-room, padre^ 
 before the prisoners were brought aboard. I think it 
 might be his sea-chest." 
 
 " Well, the Commandant said it could be removed, so 
 out it goes. It leaves no space for us to kneel in 
 prayer." 
 
 I bent down as I spoke, exerting all my strength, and 
 succeeded in dragging the heavy, iron-bound chest for 
 ward, across the threshold. My heart beat fiercely in mis 
 giving lest the guard might feel moved to interfere, but 
 he never stirred; merely gazed at my movements in stolid 
 wonder. Concealing from him all the interior possible 
 with my body, I spoke a brief word of farewell to the 
 prisoner, supposed to be safely within, then closed and 
 locked the door. 
 
 " Here," I said authoratively, my cheeks flushed with 
 delight at so successful an issue, " lay hold on one end 
 of this, and give me a lift." 
 
 Obligingly, and apparently without a moment s reflec 
 tion as to his duty, the soldier, young in years and 
 doubtless a new recruit, leaned his gun against the 
 mast, bending down with hand upon the rope handle. 
 
 " Where to, senor padre ? " 
 
 " The Commandant said it might be placed in the 
 store-room. Twill stow away safely enough there, and 
 bother nobody. Know you where that is ? " 
 
 " Ay ; only a step this way." 
 
 "Lead on then, yet Saint Cecilia! it makes no light 
 load. The Lieutenant must have kept his stock of wine 
 within." 
 
 I durst not venture bearing the thing farther, fearful 
 
 [112] 
 
FAVORED OF THE GODS 
 
 lest we might run afoul of others of the guard who would 
 prove more suspicious than this honest fellow ; besides, 
 all my hasty plan of escape hung now upon the faith 
 retained, that the half-open cuddy door had direct com 
 munication with the provisions stored below. Surely 
 they could never be loaded and unloaded by means of 
 the distant hatch-ladder. So dull and unintelligent in the 
 dim light appeared the face of the fellow opposite, as 
 we strained forward beneath the weight of the chest, I 
 ventured upon a question. 
 
 " How does the cook get out all that provender from 
 here?" 
 
 " I know not, senor padre ; but I think there will be 
 an opening from the store-room to the upper deck. 
 They were at work there yesterday while I was on 
 guard." 
 
 By good fortune the room sought was only three 
 doors down the passageway. As it was, my forehead 
 was wet with perspiration for fear De Noyan would lose 
 what little stock of patience he possessed before we 
 reached there, or that the Spaniard would begin to won 
 der at the surprising weight. Dropping the chest with 
 good will amid the raffle littering up the floor space, we 
 came forth together, the soldier to pick up his gun, 
 while, mopping my face vigorously, I proceeded forth 
 into the guard-room for the purpose of delivering up the 
 key. 
 
 This was a task I approached with dread. Even now 
 some slight slip of tongue, or action, could easily ruin 
 everything accomplished, yet I durst not omit the pre 
 caution, lest the missing key awaken suspicion and lead 
 
 8 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 to immediate pursuit. Here, again, fortune played 
 strangely into my hands, as I discovered the officer 
 dozing in his chair, and, stepping softly, so as not to 
 arouse him, I gladly handed that important bit of iron 
 over to the care of one of the guard, himself too drowsy 
 from potations to trouble me with questioning. Re 
 lieved of this duty, my heart filled with gratitude for all 
 the mercies of the night, I betook myself up the ladder 
 unmolested, and a moment later stood in comparative 
 freedom upon the open deck. 
 
 I could scent the coming dawn in the fresh morning 
 air the moment I arose through the hatch opening, yet 
 there was no sign of it in the sky ; indeed I felt there 
 must be fog in the atmosphere, it rendered it so thick, 
 although not sufficiently heavy to drip in moisture. It 
 required only a moment to locate all life present along 
 the forward deck, and I became convinced few wakeful 
 eyes remained among them at this sleepiest of all hours 
 of the night. Trusting to this, as well as the garb I 
 wore for concealment, I walked boldly back as far as the 
 mainmast, meeting no one. Then, fearful of observation 
 from the officer still pacing the poop, I skulked stealthily 
 along in the black shadow of the cook s galley, until I 
 reached the cuddy door, quaking with fear lest it fail me. 
 It opened instantly to the touch of the hand, and with 
 heart throbbing wildly, for now all that had been accom 
 plished hung in the balance of this last experiment, 
 I groped about within seeking to solve the mystery of 
 that gloomy interior. The place had the feel of a big, 
 square box ; by stretching out across the edge I could 
 barely reach the farther side, but could touch no bottom, 
 
FAVORED OF THE GODS 
 
 nor did I feel the rungs of any ladder leading down. It 
 resembled a well, and the thought immediately took pos 
 session of me that the crew hauled up their provisions 
 by use of ropes, yet I could discover no hoisting appara 
 tus of any kind. With head projected far below the deck 
 level I ventured a soft whisper into the darkness : 
 
 "Are you there, Chevalier?" 
 
 There was a slight movement beneath, as if he drew 
 closer to where I was. 
 
 " Yes, it is all right," he returned, his voice so modu 
 lated as to be barely audible. " But I discover nothing 
 in this darkness to aid in reaching the deck. Know you 
 where a rope can be secured ? " 
 
 " Ay ; lie quiet until I return." 
 
 It was a bit ticklish, yet required doing. A trip to 
 the foremast put in my possession quite a section of line 
 sliced from off the rope s end previously left dangling 
 from the upper yard. Incidentally as I passed back and 
 forth I revisited Father Cassati, still resting easily in his 
 bonds, but now peacefully sleeping off his earlier pota 
 tions undiscovered upon the hard deck. Returning with 
 my treasure, I payed it out into the intense blackness 
 of the cuddy hole, and anxiously awaited developments 
 below. 
 
 Nor had I long to wait there came a touch on the 
 line followed by a firmer pull, as if the party below tested 
 its strength. For a moment the cord wiggled about as 
 if the man was working with his end to some purpose, 
 then there followed three sharp jerks which I interpreted 
 to mean to hoist away. I promptly put my full strength 
 to it, bracing both feet firmly against a heavy cross-piece 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of timber, evidently nailed there for that very purpose. 
 The rope ran over a small roller set close against the 
 coaming, which I had failed to observe in my hasty search, 
 so I found the strain less than expected, although a heavy 
 weight was evidently attached to the other end. But I 
 uplifted this, for I was vain of my strength in those days, 
 and the distance was not so great but that shortly his 
 hands managed to grip hold upon the deck planks, and 
 a moment later he stood beside me, complacent and 
 debonair as ever, in the dense shadows of the galley. 
 
 " Sacre ! tis a most scurvy trick we are playing on 
 the Dons, friend Benteen," he murmured smiling easily, 
 while peering about him in the darkness. " And now, 
 what is the next act in this midnight melodrama, most 
 cautious youth ? " 
 
 " The keeping of a still tongue until we are both 
 overboard," I replied somewhat roughly. " Follow me 
 closely, and keep quiet about it, if you retain the slightest 
 care for your life." 
 
 It was not much of a trick, the rest of it, and within 
 five minutes we were silently floating down the great 
 river, through the darkness, seeking after some quiet 
 landing-place below the fleet. 
 
 [116] 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN 
 
 WE durst not swim to the nearest landing, just be 
 yond the bow of the big flag-ship we had so 
 unceremoniously quitted, fearing our efforts to stem the 
 current might attract the attention of some watcher on 
 board. So permitting myself to drift silently beneath 
 the vessel s stern, without the stir of a limb to disturb 
 the water, I was soon well away from the great black 
 shadow. Without a word De Noyan followed. Yet 
 time was far too precious to permit long drifting, and at 
 the earliest moment I dared the venture we turned aside, 
 striking out boldly for the shore. 
 
 "We must move rapidly, Chevalier, to make up lost 
 time," I cautioned briefly, wading out, dripping, upon the 
 bank. 
 
 " Are the streets patrolled by the Dons ? " 
 
 " Ay ! although not as thoroughly as when the 
 Spaniards first landed. We shall require to exercise 
 caution." 
 
 " Where do you take me P There can be no safe 
 hiding spot in New Orleans?" 
 
 " I know none. We go to the rear of a long row of 
 tobacco sheds near the North Gate. A boat thoroughly 
 stocked, with two oar men, awaits us." 
 
 [1*7] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " I mind the place," he said eagerly. " I outfitted 
 there for hunting more than once. It is best for me to 
 lead, as I know well every inch of the path, and have 
 grown interested in the play." 
 
 He certainly proved his familiarity with that labyrinth 
 of sombre streets and alleys. Selecting a devious course, 
 stooping low beneath the black shadows of walls and 
 fences, he yet set so swift a gait with his confounded 
 long legs it kept me puffing to follow. But we found 
 clear passage, seeing no one close enough to interfere 
 with our rapid progress, while no challenge sounded, 
 until we crept, silently as possible, around the dilapidated 
 end of the old tobacco shed, and a black figure, scarcely 
 distinguishable in the gloom, suddenly arose, uttering no 
 word, yet with threatening gesture, barring further passage 
 toward the river. 
 
 "Virginia," I gasped, breathless from the hard run. 
 
 " Bless de Lawd, Massa Benteen," returned a darky 
 voice. " An Massa Charlie, as I m a sinner. I tell 
 you, sah, we done bout gib you both up fo suah." 
 
 " Stop talking just now, Alphonse, and lead along 
 lively," said De Noyan, with returning authority. " We 
 can converse later, in surroundings more congenial." 
 
 Another moment and we were in the boat, the Cheva 
 lier pushing it clear of the bank, then lightly clambering 
 in over the stern. 
 
 " Benteen," he exclaimed, panting heavily, " I confess 
 I m about useless from lack of wind. Sacrel I Ve been 
 housed so long I am weak as an invalid, yet I can steer 
 the craft if you inform me where tis best to go." 
 
 " Up country is our only chance," I gasped, grasping 
 
 [118] 
 
BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN 
 
 an oar, vaguely noting a second figure huddled within 
 the bow. " All the lower water is patrolled by the fleet, 
 but above there are plenty of hiding places. Lay down 
 to it hard, you black rascals ; you are pulling for your 
 lives." 
 
 De Noyan extended his hand toward the east. 
 
 " It will be dawn in about an hour," he said, a tone 
 of earnestness creeping into his soft voice. " We can 
 never pull against this stiff current so as to get any 
 distance in that time. This east shore is flat as a board 
 for leagues. I m for heading straight across. If we 
 gain the west bank within an hour, or even two, the 
 Devil himself would have a hard job to find us." 
 
 " Go on," I muttered, bending grimly to my task. 
 "You know this country better than I. When we 
 reach upper waters it will be my turn to guide." 
 
 As I uttered these words, a bit impatiently, there 
 sounded a quick step on the low bank at our right. A 
 sharp voice cleaved the darkness. 
 
 " Halt there ! Halt that boat, or I put a ball through 
 you." 
 
 " Sheer off lively, lads," I whispered. cc Swing her 
 head out, Chevalier." 
 
 There was a rush of feet down the steep embank 
 ment. Then a second voice questioned eagerly : 
 
 " What was it you saw, Sanchez ? " 
 
 " Nothing, Senor ; I heard voices out yonder. Listen ! 
 As the saints watch, t is the dip of oars." 
 
 " Halt that boat, or we shoot ! " 
 
 There followed a moment s painful pause. An oar in 
 our bow slipped, making an awkward splash in the water. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 "Carambal you will not? Take aim, men fire." 
 
 A jagged flash of flame cleaved the night. It Jit the 
 steep bank, flinging a bright glare across the dark waters. 
 In that instant I saw, my face set shoreward, a dozen 
 black figures clustered in a bunch. One ball crashed 
 into the planking close beside my hand, hurling a splinter 
 of wood against my face. The boat gave a sudden tremor, 
 and, with a quick, sharp cry of pain, the negro next me 
 leaped into the air, and went plunging overboard. I 
 flung forth a hand in vain effort to grapple his body, yet 
 never touched it, and everything about became black 
 once more. 
 
 " The poor devil s gone," muttered De Noyan. " The 
 rest of you lay down to your oars, before they have time 
 to load again." 
 
 So quickly did this occur I do not believe we lost 
 more than a stroke or two, and were already well out 
 into the stream, nothing except our narrow stern pointing 
 toward the bank, where some of the soldiers we judged 
 from their voices were reloading for a second volley, 
 the others searching the shore after some boat in which 
 to begin the pursuit. It was a hard pull, especially upon 
 my part, as I chanced to sit on the lower side, having 
 full sweep of the current tugging against my oar, while 
 De Noyan headed the boat as directly as possible for the 
 western shore. The soldiers, completely swallowed in the 
 gloom, made no further attempt to fire ; possibly, having 
 seen the fall of the black, they believed their work done. 
 Nor did other sounds reach us evidencing pursuit ; for 
 that moment at least we were free. It was then I 
 watched the coming of the dawn. 
 
 [120] 
 
BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN 
 
 There was a slight, scarcely perceptible, shading into a 
 lighter tinge of the clinging black shadows that veiled the 
 eastern sky, dimly revealing misty outlines of white, 
 fleecy clouds extending above the faint horizon line, 
 until they assumed a spectral brightness, causing me to 
 dream of the fairies dwellings which my mother pictured 
 to me in childhood. Gently the delicate awakening spread 
 along the wider expanse of sky, which became bluish gray, 
 gradually expanding and reflecting its glow along the 
 water, until this also became a portion of the vast arch, 
 while the darker borderland, now far astern, formed 
 merely a distant shade, a background to the majestic 
 picture. The east became gradually a lighter, more 
 pronounced gray ; rosy streaks shot upward through the 
 cloud masses, driving them higher into an ever-deepening 
 upper blue like a flock of frightened birds, until at last 
 the whole eastern horizon blushed like a red rose, while 
 above the black line of distant, shadowy trees, the blazing 
 rim of the sun itself uplifted, casting a wide bar of dazzling 
 gold along our wake. Gazing thus, every thought of 
 our surroundings, our dangers, and fatigue passed from 
 memory. Bending to the oar, my soul was far away 
 upon a voyage of its own. 
 
 Some unusual movement served to attract attention 
 from this day-dreaming, my eyes falling suddenly upon 
 De Noyan. His face, turned partially away from the 
 rising sun, was gray with anxiety, and I noted he shiv 
 ered in his wet clothes. Yet his smile and speech seemed 
 jauntily unconcerned as ever. 
 
 " Yonder was to have been my last sunrise," he 
 remarked grimly, nodding backward across his shoulder. 
 
 [12!] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " T is about the hour now for those in the hands of the 
 Dons to have their backs against the wall." 
 
 I caught a sound as of a partially suppressed sob 
 behind me, but before I could turn sufficiently to ascer 
 tain the cause, the Chevalier sprang past, rocking the 
 little boat furiously, and my ears overheard that which 
 caused me to keep my face set the other way. 
 
 "Eloise!" he exclaimed exultantly. "Are you here, 
 little wife ? Mon Dieu ! I dreamed it not ; yet should 
 have known you would never leave such duty to the 
 slaves." 
 
 " I was simply compelled to come," she answered, and 
 I could mark her voice falter. " Do not be angry with 
 me. What have I now left except you? The rising of 
 the sun sealed my father s fate." 
 
 " True," he admitted soberly, lifting his hat in grave 
 gesture. " I feel like a condemned coward, my name a 
 byword for the rabble, being here in such comparative 
 safety, when, in honor, I should be lying beside my 
 comrades." 
 
 "Nay; say not that! You are young; much of life, 
 of usefulness, lies before you. I knew that at the best 
 only one destined victim might be plucked from the 
 Spaniard s vengeance. It was at his approval I made 
 choice of you. My father is robbed of but few years, 
 while you are too young to die. Somewhere God 
 guiding we shall find a home again, and days of peace." 
 
 "Ay! you were ever of brave heart, Eloise. But let 
 us not forget we yet remain in reach of Spanish claws, 
 and they are merciless. Go back to the tiller a while, 
 and let me lay hold upon this oar; tis heavy work for 
 
 [122] 
 
BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN 
 
 such soft hands as yours. Point the course direct for 
 the cane island you must remember it ; you were there 
 once with me." 
 
 I fail to recall even glancing into her face as she sat 
 fronting me, her hands upon the tiller bar. I durst not, 
 fearing some telltale expression within my eyes might 
 bring her added pain. So I sat with glance downcast 
 upon the planks, while tugging doggedly at the oar with 
 all my strength, feeling that same sunrise had brought 
 with it my own death warrant. So dull and heavy grew 
 my heart with lonely weariness, I cannot guess how long 
 we pulled before the boat s nose ran up upon the shore, 
 and De Noyan, springing overboard, dragged it well 
 beyond view among the thick cane. 
 
 "We shall be safe enough here," he exclaimed lightly, 
 gazing about with approval. "Come, Eloise, step on 
 this dry sand, for you must be greatly cramped from so 
 tedious a passage." 
 
 As I arose, the more easily to permit her passing me 
 in the narrow space, she suddenly grasped both my 
 hands within her own; then my eyes glanced up once 
 more to meet hers, dark with unshed tears. 
 
 " Do not think, Geoffrey Benteen," she said brokenly, 
 her voice vibrating with emotion, " that I fail to realize 
 what this means to you. Your troubled face has been a 
 silent accuser of me this hour past. But I thank you ; 
 you have proven yourself a man, such a man as I have 
 ever believed you to be. May the good God bless you 
 and bring you peace." 
 
 "Ay!" chimed in her husband, apparently in good 
 humor. "He s the nerviest fellow ever I met, Eloise. 
 
 123] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Sacrel had you hunted this province over you could 
 never have found one to perform better work this night. 
 I wonder how it was you chanced upon him ? " 
 
 Without venturing a word in reply to either of them, 
 I helped her gravely over the boat s side, within grasp 
 of his outstretched hand, all about us the warm sunshine 
 piercing the thick canes with golden light. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 A COVERT IN THE CANE 
 
 OUR boat was securely hidden amid a thick growth 
 of reeds, which extended their domain far down 
 the shore, even out into the river shallows. These reeds 
 sprang quickly back into position as we pressed through, 
 leaving no trail for pursuers to follow. Nevertheless, 
 making all secure on board, and removing from the 
 locker a quantity of biscuit and some smoked meat, we 
 took the further precaution of covering the boat with 
 rushes so as thoroughly to disguise its presence from 
 prying eyes. Satisfied with the result of these efforts, we 
 clambered up the slight ridge to where we found a small 
 open space, carpeted with soft grass, and sufficiently ele 
 vated to permit our looking about above the level of the 
 cane, while remaining concealed ourselves. 
 
 Our lodgment was upon a small island, a stream of 
 languidly flowing water extending between us and the 
 main west shore. This, so far as my eyes could distin 
 guish, did not differ in appearance from our present 
 abiding place, being composed of low, swampy land, 
 thickly covered with a heavy growth of cane, and exhibit 
 ing no sign of human habitation. The sole break to 
 this dull monotony of outline was a narrow fringe of trees 
 situated farther back, where doubtless firmer soil gave 
 spread to their roots. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Northward the eye might trace the slight curve of the 
 bank for miles. It appeared irregular and low, slightly 
 diversified by small, marshy islands, similar to this we 
 occupied, possibly cloven from the mainland by some 
 eccentricity of current. Occasionally I distinguished 
 openings into lagoons, such passages into the low-lying 
 mainland being evidenced by the deeper green of the 
 vegetation bordering them, as well as by wind-twisted 
 trees clinging despairingly to the crooked banks. East 
 and south swept the river, so broad our eyes could barely 
 trace the dim presence of a distant shore. Below, that 
 majestic yellow flood poured downward unbroken, 
 although De Noyan imagined he perceived distant spars 
 of the Spanish fleet outlined against the blue background 
 of the southern sky. This may have been possible, yet 
 to my eyes all was blank, although I could mark pretty 
 accurately where they should have been. 
 
 We indulged in little conversation, reclining on the 
 short grass, partaking of our cold meal. The Chevalier 
 attempted a sorry jest or two, yet soon subsided, dis 
 covering so unresponsive an audience. It was plain to 
 my mind the reflections of Madame were altogether with 
 her father lying dead before this hour and this sad 
 memory darkened even the delight of her husband s 
 safety. His affected gayety of manner, and reckless 
 speech, jarred more harshly upon her in this hour than 
 perhaps ever before in her life. Yet she made a patheti 
 cally brave effort to appear of good cheer, managing to 
 eat with us, although it was easy to perceive the food 
 choked her, while her eyes were blurred with tears reso 
 lutely held in restraint. It was plain, I say, yet this is 
 
A COVERT IN THE CANE 
 
 but my thought, for I question whether De Noyan, in his 
 careless mood, observed her depression. He was of a 
 nature reflecting slightly on any save himself; past sorrow 
 being quickly forgotten in any present gleam of sun. As 
 we thus ended this silent meal it occurred to me they 
 might require slumber more than I, and I expressed my 
 willingness to stand guard while they sought rest. Per 
 haps my face told a tale of weariness easily read, for this 
 proposal met immediate resistance. 
 
 "No, no, Geoffrey Benteen," exclaimed Madame im 
 pulsively, "what have I done except sit quietly in a boat, 
 waiting the passing of the hours? You have been through 
 strain and labor which wears out life. It is you who will lie 
 here upon my wrap, trusting me to call should need arise." 
 
 "Hush, both of you," impatiently burst in De Noyan, 
 rising to his feet, and gazing across the sparkling water. 
 "A watch would have small value. There is no safer spot 
 on all the lower river than this; if the Dons discover it, 
 no way of escape exists even were we all awake and ready. 
 To remain quiet is all we can do, and how can we accom 
 plish that better than by going to sleep ? Sacre I I am a 
 soldier, and not apt to make light of a guard, yet," and 
 he stifled a yawn, "I see no necessity here, nor could I 
 be more completely played after a night of dancing at a 
 Creole ball." 
 
 Thus the matter was agreed upon, not altogether to my 
 liking, but I yielded owing to too great weariness to argue. 
 At first Madame protested she could not sleep, yet finally 
 consented to lie down. As to myself my head had 
 scarcely pressed the soft pillow of grass before I was lost 
 in slumber. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 A blessing of youth lies in the fact that sleep then truly 
 gives rest. The tired body responds so thoroughly to 
 the gentle touch of slumber that the latter becomes a 
 magician capable of restoring every faculty to complete 
 power. It was thus 1 rested motionless, and it was nearly 
 evening before I stirred, although the sun must have 
 been streaming directly across my upturned face for hours. 
 I awoke to perfect consciousness of our situation, as 
 naturally as ever in a bed at home. Dimly impressed 
 that some unusual noise had aroused me, I immediately 
 sat upright. This change of posture brought my eyes on 
 a level with the tops of the cane on either side, and, my 
 face being turned southward, there was outspread before 
 me the full, broad sweep of the Mississippi, glinting under 
 the westering sun, so that for a moment it dazzled eyes 
 yet clogged with the heaviness of sleep. Then I per 
 ceived what afforded me so severe a shock that I ducked 
 hastily down into my covert, every faculty instantly alert. 
 Close in against the reeds, as though skirting the low line 
 of the shore, loomed the black outline of a large boat. 
 
 Coming bow on toward the place of our concealment, 
 every eye in her would naturally be scanning the spot 
 where we lay hidden, and I durst not raise my head again 
 until assured they had passed by. I rolled partially over 
 to gain view of the others of our own party. Both were 
 slumbering heavily, Eloise near the western edge of the 
 little grass plot, wrapped within a great shawl so as to 
 leave not even her head visible, while De Noyan rested 
 within easy reach of my outstretched arm, breathing so 
 heavily I felt it safer to arouse him, before that strange 
 boat should come abreast. It required severe shaking, 
 
 [128] 
 
A COVERT IN THE CANE 
 
 his sleep being that of sheer exhaustion, yet he proved 
 sufficiently a trained soldier to obey instantly my signal 
 for silence. Nor were words needed to explain the reason, 
 as by this time the sound of oars was clearly audible. 
 Suddenly some one spoke, apparently at our very side. 
 Lying as I was I noticed the shawl pushed hastily down 
 from Madame s face, her brown eyes gazing questioningly 
 across into my own; yet, with rare self-control, not so 
 much as a limb quivered. 
 
 " I tell you, padre, there s nothing along this cursed 
 cane-marsh," growled a deep rumbling voice in Spanish. 
 "It is a mere bog, in which a man would sink to his 
 armpits, were he to venture outside the boat." 
 
 "Bog it may be," retorted a sharper, petulant voice, 
 the sound of which was oddly familiar, " but I tell you 
 this, Senor, tis on this very shore French gallants come 
 hunting from New Orleans. There is dry land in plenty 
 beyond the fringe of reeds." 
 
 "Saprista ! there may be, as there may be water in Hell, 
 but 1 11 never tangle my boat amid that mass of cane to 
 make its discovery. Let the frog-eaters have it, say I; 
 the saints bless them. Come, pull away sharply, lads, and 
 we 11 see what the shore-line looks like above." 
 
 The sound of dipping oars instantly increased in 
 rapidity. 
 
 " You are one pig-headed fool of an officer, Senor," 
 snarled the sharp voice contemptuously. 
 
 " Mother of God ! " roared the other, enraged. 
 
 "Speak so again, you dog of a French priest, and 
 
 even your gray robe will not save you from tasting 
 
 the mud at the bottom. Do you want to know what 
 
 9 [129] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 I think of you ? Well, I 11 tell you, you snivelling, 
 drunken singer of paternosters you did more to help 
 that fellow escape than you d care to have known. Now 
 you re trying to hold us back until he has time to get 
 safely away up the river. That s my opinion of you, 
 you snarling gray-back, and if you dare breathe another 
 word, I 11 give orders to chuck you overboard." 
 
 " Where do you purpose going ? " ventured the cowed 
 priest, in a subdued tone. 
 
 " Straight up the stream. That s where your cursed 
 Frenchman has disappeared so swiftly, unless the guard 
 at the North Gate shot him, as they swear to O Reilly. 
 So sit there quiet, and hold your tongue you may 
 command the Devil, for all I care, but I m in charge of 
 this boat." 
 
 The sound of angry controversy died away in the 
 distance. Cautiously I lifted my eyes to the level of 
 the cane, and peered over. The Spanish boat, a large 
 one propelled by the vigorous sweep of twelve oars, 
 was already a hundred yards above, swiftly stemming 
 the current. From their gestures I judged the debate 
 yet raged between the gray-robe crouched in the stern, 
 and the big, burly fellow, resplendent in gold lace, 
 standing up and urging his oarsmen to greater exer 
 tion. Within ten minutes they rounded the upper 
 point, and when they again appeared within vision, the 
 boat was a mere dot floating in the midst of the golden 
 sunshine, where the setting sun gave a good-night kiss 
 to the vast, sombre river. 
 
 De Noyan s boyish face was aglow with unconcealed 
 amusement as I turned toward him. 
 
A COVERT IN THE CANE 
 
 " Well, Benteen," he asked, twirling his moustache, 
 and staring after them, "what was it the Dons said? 
 Peste! I could not make out a word of their lingo, 
 except when the fellows swore." 
 
 I repeated to him the conversation, and he burst into 
 a hearty laugh. 
 
 "Indeed, a sweet-scented Frenchman, that Capuchin 
 priest," he said carelessly. " I wonder what has so set 
 the drunken fool against me ? " 
 
 " It is not you, Chevalier," I acknowledged, feeling a 
 touch of his spirit; "it is rather that lad who landed so 
 heavily behind his ear last night, and who ran such a 
 merry masquerade in monk s robe as never Spanish 
 war-ship saw before. I warrant it is I the holy father 
 seeks so savagely. Faith, it would be pleasant to know 
 how he got out of the pickle in which I left him. T is 
 odd the Dons did not use him in your place." 
 
 " Ay, that will be the cause, for I did nothing to 
 anger the fellow, except it was to laugh at his prayers, 
 with a joke at the quality of his Latin. But Dieu pro 
 tect you, Monsieur, if ever he gets whip-hand. A re 
 vengeful priest is more to be feared than a rabid dog. 
 I stirred one of his breed once at the Cathedral by some 
 wild prank, and carry the scar of it still. But come, it 
 becomes dusk. Let s break our fast, and while eating 
 consider the best plan for the night. Eloise, do you 
 awaken refreshed ? " 
 
 She came quickly forward, a smile for us both, looking 
 dainty and sweet, although the heavy mass of brown hair 
 appeared somewhat dishevelled from her unaccustomed 
 pillow. 
 
 [130 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " I must have been exceedingly tired," she confessed 
 pleasantly, "for I slept with never a dream, and this is 
 my first experience of lying without the covering of a 
 roof. It was all strange and solemn at first, with never 
 a sound except the dismal whispering of wind through 
 the cane, and the dull murmur of the river. The very 
 stillness, no doubt, lulled me to slumber. Nay ! " and 
 she sprang hastily forward, taking from my hands the 
 few provisions I was bearing. " That is to be my part 
 of the work, Geoffrey Benteen, not yours. You will find 
 hard enough task before morning, while there remains so 
 little for me that I refuse to be robbed of any rights." 
 
 I realized, watching her prepare our scant meal, 
 that she was bravely endeavoring to appear gay, while 
 her heart remained heavy from memory of her father. 
 Whether this assumed levity deceived De Noyan I 
 cannot say he was of a volatile nature, easily swayed 
 by either smile or tear, and instantly joined responsive 
 to her seeming mood. I left them thus, engaged in 
 pleasant badinage, while seeking some spot where I 
 might bathe my heated face. It was no small hardship 
 to watch them thus together. 
 
 Seated upon the grass, lingering over the rude repast, 
 we discussed our situation, seeking to outline vaguely our 
 future plans. De Noyan was for keeping close against 
 the western bank as we progressed northward. He had 
 hunted amid the marshes, and remembered sufficiently 
 the formation of the shore-line to be aware that for 
 several leagues it remained thickly skirted by small 
 islands, while numerous bayous offered secure hiding- 
 places. In this choice I acquiesced, urging also that 
 
A COVERT IN THE CANE 
 
 the downward flow of the current would sweep with 
 greater force along the opposite shore ; besides which 
 the search-boat, just passing us on the way up-stream, 
 would be more likely to return along the eastern bank. 
 
 "There is no reason," I continued, "why we should 
 delay departure longer. We can keep the boat beneath 
 the shadows of the bank, and even if the Dons stop to 
 make camp, they would hardly do so without building a 
 fire, which would afford ample warning to sheer out into 
 the stream. If they return along this shore as is un 
 likely we should hear the heavy strokes of their oars 
 before they caught the sound of our lighter ones. I am 
 for embarking at once/ 
 
 This agreed upon, within a half-hour we were pushing 
 slow passage through the thick cane, soon finding our 
 selves once again afloat upon the broad water, the prow 
 of our boat turned up-stream, while here and there a dim 
 star winked down upon us between scurrying clouds. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 THIS was one of many nights we passed in the 
 narrow confines of the boat during our flight north 
 ward. Yet its incidents remain in memory with peculiar 
 distinctness of detail. I do not recall exactly how it 
 occurred, but my duty during that first night chanced to 
 place me at the after oar. In consequence I sat directly 
 facing Madame de Noyan, operating the rudder bar. It 
 was so warm, merely a delicate, fragrant breeze blowing 
 from the south, she had felt no necessity for drawing up 
 her hood, and the soft light of distant stars, glimmering 
 along the bosom of the river, reflected back into her face, 
 illumining it until I could almost note the changing 
 expression within her dark eyes. 
 
 It was a sadder, graver face than the one I associated 
 with her girlhood. Yet I could scarce forbear an impres 
 sion that it was now a sweeter one, more womanly, faint 
 lines beginning to mark its satin smoothness with impress 
 of sorrow. To my thought a new, higher womanhood 
 had found birth within, during weary days and nights of 
 suspense and suffering. It was yet torture to me con 
 stantly beholding these two together, but, as I observed 
 her then, I thanked the good God who had permitted 
 me to be near her in time of trial. In patience I would 
 
 [134] 
 
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 serve, even though I must suffer. Tears were clinging 
 to her long lashes, and occasionally one would glitter an 
 instant upon her white cheek, as she leaned her face upon 
 one hand, from which the loose sleeve fell away, reveal 
 ing an arm like chiselled marble. She made no effort at 
 concealing these evidences of emotion, doubtless believing 
 them sufficiently hidden by the gloomy shadows. Nor 
 did she appear to glance at me, keeping her own gaze 
 directly ahead, where the dark, swirling waters merged 
 into the mystery of the North. 
 
 We were none of us in talkative mood although I 
 heard De Noyan, behind me, humming a light French 
 air, as though perfectly free from trouble and I have 
 no recollection of exchanging a word for more than an 
 hour. We merely continued to pull sturdily against the 
 downward rush of the stream, the deep silence of the 
 night broken only by the dripping of uplifted blades, or 
 the occasional far-off hooting of an owl upon the bank 
 to our left. The pressure of the river s current was 
 scarcely perceptible close against the shore, so we made 
 fair progress. Yet it was hard work, neither of us being 
 accustomed to such exercise, the heavy oars feeling awk 
 ward to the hand. The grim uncertainty of the future, 
 coupled with our solitary surroundings, exercised a depress 
 ing influence upon the spirits of each, although differ 
 ing widely in degree, according to our several natures. 
 Undoubtedly this same sense of dreariness led De Noyan 
 to sing, caused me such painful restlessness under that 
 same singing, and left Eloise saddened in her lonely 
 thoughts. 
 
 Every occurrence impressed me that night as unusual. 
 
 [135] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Perchance this was because both heart and head were 
 sadly out of tune. Yet, at best, it was a lonesome 
 journey, and remains a grewsome memory, haunting 
 with many a spectre, as weird as the shadows of delirium. 
 The few stars, peeping shyly forth between scurry 
 ing black cloud masses, were so far away they merely 
 silvered the cloud edges, leaving them as though carven 
 from granite. The low shore, often within reach of our 
 oar blades, appeared gloomy and inhospitable, the spectral 
 rushes creeping far out upon the water like living things, 
 seeming to grasp after us as the wind swept them, and 
 we glided past in phantom silence. Beyond, like a great 
 black wall, arose higher ground, occasionally jutting into 
 bare bluffs outlined against the lighter sky; again diver 
 sified by gaunt dead trees, their fleshless limbs extended 
 upward toward ghostly pillars of vapor ever floating from 
 off the river s surface. Occasionally, jaggedly uneven, 
 close-set trunks of forest growth would appear, spectral 
 in solemn ugliness, a veritable hedge, impenetrable and 
 grim. 
 
 If, with a shudder of disgust, I turned away from that 
 lorn, dead line of shore, my eyes swept a waste of waters 
 slipping solemnly past, while farther out, where sky and 
 stream met and mingled in wild riot, the surging river 
 swirled and leaped, its white-capped waves evidencing 
 resistless volume. It was a sight to awe one, that 
 immense mass pouring forth from the upper darkness, 
 flashing an instant beneath the star-gleam, only to disap 
 pear, a restless, relentless flood, black, unpitying, impen 
 etrable, mysterious, a savage monster, beyond whose 
 outstretched claws we crept, yet who at any moment 
 
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 might clutch us helpless in a horrible embrace. It was 
 a sight to stun, that brutal flood, gliding ever downward, 
 while, far as eye could see, stretched the same drear 
 expanse of cruel waters. 
 
 From out that mystery would suddenly emerge, roll 
 ing toward us, as if born of the shadows, some grim 
 apparition, a wildly tossing figure, with gaunt, uplifted 
 arms beating the air, to startle for an instant, then fade 
 from our ken into the dimness below. Well I knew it 
 was only driftwood, the gnarled trunk of uprooted tree 
 made sport with by mad waves, yet more than once I 
 shrank backward, my unstrung nerves tingling, as such 
 shapeless, uncanny thing was hurled past like an arrow. 
 Nor were the noises that broke the silence less fearsome. 
 Bred to the wilderness, I little minded loneliness when 
 in the depths of the backwoods, but this was different. 
 I cared nothing for the honk of wild fowl overhead, nor 
 those sounds of varied animal life borne to us from off the 
 black land ; but that strange, dull roar, caused by great 
 logs grinding together in the swirl of the current, and the 
 groaning of bits of undermined shore as they gave way 
 and dropped heavily into the water, racked my nerves. 
 
 The peace I found lay in that sweet face, turned partially 
 away, yet appearing fairer than ever beneath the protect 
 ing hood, drawn up as the night air grew chill. Whether 
 similar sense of strangeness and timidity rested upon 
 her, I could not determine, yet I believed her thoughts 
 so far away that our present surroundings were no more 
 to her than the vaguest dream. She scarcely stirred dur 
 ing all the hours I watched her ; only once did she glance 
 up, to smile as she met my eyes before I could withdraw 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 them from her face. Had she read aright their message, 
 perchance this story might never have been written ; yet 
 purer, truer love no man ever gave to woman. We must 
 have continued thus, pulling silently, for hours before 
 De Noyan broke the oppressive silence with impatient 
 speech. Indeed, not the least impressive feature of the 
 grewsome night was his continued stillness. 
 
 " Le Diable ! " he exclaimed uneasily, shifting in his 
 seat. " If the Styx be more gloomy than this accursed 
 stream, then Jesu pity its voyagers. Never have I put 
 in so miserable a night, to say nothing of a strained back, 
 and a pair of sore hands. What are those black, crawl 
 ing things yonder ? Mon Dieu ! I have seen a thousand 
 hideous demons since we left the cane. * 
 
 I glanced across my shoulder in the direction he 
 pointed, glad enough to hear once again the sound of a 
 voice. 
 
 " Only the fire-seared branch of a tree tossed on the 
 current the night rests heavily upon your nerves." 
 
 " Heavily ? Parbleu ! it has unmanned me with hide 
 ous silence, with creeping, ghostly mystery, until I am 
 half mad, scarcely daring to whisper, in fear of my own 
 voice. Eloise, are you there ? or have the spectres of 
 this haunted journey flown away with you ? " 
 
 "Angels or demons, they would have naught of me," she 
 replied in seeming unconsciousness of his mood. " My 
 thoughts, I fear, have been sufficiently sad to accord well 
 with the gloom, only my shadows are within, not 
 without." 
 
 " Sacrel mine are all yonder," he exclaimed, indicating 
 with a gesture the vast extent of angry water. " Why 
 
 
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 should I bear heavy heart, except for brooding phantoms 
 of the night ? Life is still mine in all its sweetness. 
 Not that I greatly valued it, to be sure, yet tis some 
 what better than I once thought, and there is always 
 pleasure left in the world for the young. From whence 
 springs your mood of sadness, Eloise ? " 
 
 " My thought was with my father/ 
 
 " T is not strange it should be. Yet, it might be 
 better if you dwelt upon the brighter view of our own 
 future. He is at rest; no tears can be of aid. But we 
 can look forward to dreams of happiness. Tis my plan 
 to cross the great ocean, seeking better fortune on the 
 Continent. France, they say, has ever a vacant place 
 for a good sword, nor is the king likely to refuse service 
 to a nephew of Bienville. You and I, Eloise, shall yet 
 tread the Paris streets, nor shall we go as beggars." 
 
 I marked her quick smile, but thought it not wholly 
 untouched by sadness, as she attempted answer. 
 
 " We will hope for the best ; yet, Monsieur, we are 
 still deeply buried in the wilderness. Ay ! worse in 
 the country of our enemies. You may not comprehend 
 the full truth of this, but Spain lays claim now to all this 
 great river, with the country bordering it. O Reilly has 
 already despatched soldiers as high as the mouth of the 
 Ohio, to guard its passage ; so there is peril lurking 
 before us, as well as behind." 
 
 " O Reilly has sent soldiers northward ? How know 
 you this, Eloise ? " 
 
 " It was common talk in the town. I saw with my 
 own eyes the departure of one expedition. It was com 
 posed of a captain, with twelve soldiers, destined for 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 the Ohio. I have heard that twice since others have 
 been despatched northward, although to what points was 
 unknown." 
 
 " The saints defend us ! t is indeed serious. I sup 
 posed the boat which passed contained all the Dons on the 
 upper river, but if this be true we may have to desert the 
 stream, and take to the eastern trail on foot. Sacrel I 
 like it not ! What say you, you sphinx of an English 
 borderman ? Knew you this all along ? " 
 
 " It is news to me," I answered soberly. " But if 
 three expeditions have already been despatched north, 
 there is little hope the land routes have been forgotten. 
 Beyond doubt every trail, white or Indian, leading toward 
 French or English settlements, is by now patrolled by 
 the Dons. Nor can we hope to gain passage by surprise. 
 That man-of-war boat will spread far the rumor of your 
 escape, so every Spaniard between here and the Ohio 
 will be on the lookout for our coming." 
 
 I imagine the same thought stole into the mind of 
 both, how easily we two, travelling light, might press 
 our way through that scattered line of guard, and attain 
 the upper Ohio ; how easily, only for the danger and 
 distress to which so desperate an attempt would expose 
 her. She alone ventured to give the idea utterance. 
 
 "Messieurs," she said earnestly, her calm brown eyes 
 uplifted to our faces, " I have been considering this for 
 an hour past. I know you would experience small trouble 
 eluding the Spaniards, or even cutting your way through 
 them, were I not with you. Yet this is not beyond 
 remedy. I had sincerely hoped to prove of service when 
 I usurped the slave s place in the boat; instead, I am an 
 
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 encumbrance, a weakling whom you must protect at the 
 risk of your own lives. Fortunately it is not yet too late 
 to leave you free; it cannot be many miles back to New 
 Orleans, and the current would bear me swiftly downward. 
 I have loyal friends in the town to hide the daughter of 
 Lafreniere, should the Spaniards wage war against a 
 woman, and surely some means would open whereby I 
 might make the shores of France. Perhaps I should be 
 there in advance of you. What say you, Messieurs, to 
 such proposal ? Would it not be best ? " 
 
 The indignant feeling which swept me as I listened to 
 this speech hardly needs dwelling upon. Yet I held my 
 tongue. It was the privilege of De Noyan to make 
 answer. 
 
 "Parbleu!" he cried, seemingly forgetful of caution in 
 instant enthusiasm. "You have as good a head as heart, 
 Eloise. Sacrel never before did I realize the treasure in 
 my keeping. You gauge well the wishes of a soldier; t is 
 not pleasant to one of my blood and training to lurk thus 
 in the shadows like a skulking spy. Eish! nor do I love 
 this toil at the oars tis the work of slaves. I would 
 prefer trusting all to the rapier, writing with its point a 
 Frenchman s message of defiance. Holy saints! I am 
 already half inclined to say yes to your proposal; yet 
 Benteen, what word have you to speak regarding this 
 plan?" 
 
 "That if she goes back to New Orleans, I make the 
 town in the same boat," I answered shortly, angered by 
 his flippant words and tone. u> Tis a plan not to be 
 seriously considered a moment, Chevalier. If carried out 
 it would merely place Madame de Noyan in the power 
 
 [ 41] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of Cruel O Reilly. I doubt if the sacrifice would pre 
 serve our worthless lives. She can only return by means 
 of the boat ; with that gone, we should be compelled to 
 plunge, unprovisioned, into a trackless wilderness, feeling 
 our way blindly for hundreds of leagues through unknown, 
 savage tribes. If we survived their cruelty we should be 
 crazed with hunger and fatigue long before our eyes were 
 gladdened at sight of the upper Ohio. I do not say such 
 a journey could not be made, but I retain vivid memory 
 of one such trip, nor will I lightly seek another. I 
 imagine, Captain, you have small conception of the horrors 
 of the black forests, when you choose recklessly to plunge 
 into their depths." 
 
 "I served against the Creeks," he announced somewhat 
 sullenly. 
 
 "So I heard, yet that was mostly boys* play; armored 
 men pitted against naked savages. You would discover 
 different foemen among the mountain tribes to the north 
 and east. Do not suppose I question your courage, but 
 I realize the dangers, as you cannot from your town life, 
 while as to Madame de Noyan, she will be safer here with 
 us than with those black brutes in New Orleans." 
 
 "You refuse to be comrade with me then?" 
 
 "Ay, if such comradeship involve the desertion of your 
 wife." 
 
 "Desertion!" The term stung him. "Sacre! tis 
 not a word to be lightly flung in the face of a French 
 cavalier. Did I not already owe you the debt of life, 
 Monsieur, I might endeavor to teach you a lesson in 
 etiquette." 
 
 "I permit your overlooking all obligations, if you 
 
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT 
 
 desire to indulge in such an experiment," I retorted, no 
 wise unwilling. "I am no brawling roisterer, but have 
 never been above giving and receiving blows." 
 
 I judged from the glint of his eyes, and the manner in 
 which he juggled his sword hilt, he had grave purpose of 
 backing up his pretty words. I should rather have 
 enjoyed giving the doughty gentleman a sudden bath 
 alongside, had not Madame hastily calmed our hot blood 
 with sober speech of her own. 
 
 "Hush, Messieurs," she commanded quietly, her eyes 
 upon my face, instantly shaming me. "It is not meet 
 you should quarrel. There are better ways in which to 
 strike blows for me than that. As to my going on with 
 you, or returning alone, that may all be discussed when 
 we make camp again at daylight. Then we will settle the 
 matter coolly, not in the heat of anger. You are both my 
 friends, nor would I awaken between you any cause for 
 controversy." 
 
 De Noyan laughed. 
 
 "Sacre! tis the accursed night got into our blood," 
 he exclaimed. "The very air seems poisoned with horror, 
 while my back aches so with pulling this oar, I would 
 esteem it relief to fight with my best friend. It was hard 
 fortune that the boy Alphonse happened in track of that 
 Spaniard s bullet. With three in the boat there would 
 be some rest from the toil." 
 
 "I see solid ground yonder," I said, pointing as I 
 spoke to the shadowy bank ahead. "We might run the 
 boat s nose in, and stretch our cramped limbs on shore. 
 There is little to be gained endeavoring to work with 
 wearied muscles." 
 
 [143] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 (C 
 
 San Juan ! " he returned, brightening instantly to the 
 suggestion. " Tis the first word of good sense reaching 
 my ears this cursed night of folly. Head her in under 
 the shade of yonder bush, Eloise, until I see if I can 
 stand upright once more." 
 
 [>44] 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 WE LAND AN ODD FISH 
 
 AFTER brief respite Madame steered as closely 
 beside the bank as possible, thus avoiding the 
 swift current, yet it was no small task to win our way 
 upward through the lagging hours. More and more fre 
 quently tired muscles drove us to the shore for intervals 
 of relaxation. Still, in spite of much time thus lost, we 
 made steady progress, so before morning dawned I was 
 confident many a mile had been placed behind, although 
 the low shore we skirted remained so similar in outline 
 as to afford few landmarks with which to gauge our 
 passage. 
 
 De Noyan grew more cheerful toward the end, his 
 sullen mood changing to a gay semblance of reckless 
 abandon. To me, however, he appeared scarcely more 
 engaging in snatches of ribald song, and careless speech, 
 freely interspersed with French oaths and much com 
 plaint at unwonted toil, than in his former moody silence ; 
 yet his cheerfulness had effect upon Madame, who con 
 trived to rally from her mental depression, becoming in 
 turn a veritable sunburst in the gloom. I experienced a 
 glow of pleasure listening to her merry banter, and, once 
 or twice, to a low-voiced French song, sounding sweetly 
 enough as it echoed back from off the black water. 
 
 [H5] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 In spite of such efforts to appear light-hearted, the 
 nature of our work, coupled with the sombre surround 
 ings of the night, rested heavily upon the spirits, and 
 long before morning broke, we had all subsided into dis 
 heartening silence, holding grimly to our onward course 
 through sheer force of will. With wearied eyes I marked 
 the slow coming of dawn above that desolation ; the 
 faint gray light creeping like some living thing across 
 the swirling waters, leaving more ghastly than before the 
 immense flood sweeping past. It was a sombre sight, 
 yet became more heartsome as crimson light streaked the 
 sky, flashing forth over the wide river, reddening the 
 heaving surface, until the waters blazed like burnished 
 metal, and our blinded eyes could hardly gaze upon it. 
 
 We were at this time approaching a vast curve in the 
 shore-line, appearing to the eye as if it might prove the 
 mouth of some important tributary stream. Beyond, 
 perhaps a hundred feet out in the main river, appeared 
 a low island, a mere rock as it fronted us, yet thickly 
 covered by small trees and bushes, growing close to the 
 waters edge. No sign of life was apparent anywhere. 
 The mainland, so far as the sweep of vision extended, 
 bore the same marshy and inhospitable look, and I imme 
 diately determined upon the island as the more suitable 
 camping spot. 
 
 " Turn the prow of the canoe toward the upper end 
 of that rock, Madame," I said, resuming my place at the 
 oar. " It appears the most promising halting place here 
 about, and should afford us excellent vantage of view 
 both up and down the river." 
 
 " It will prove vantage of sleep for me/* grumbled the 
 
WE LAND AN ODD FISH 
 
 Chevalier gruffly. " I take it I should have been resting 
 better had I remained with the Dons." 
 
 I noticed the sudden uplifting of his wife s face, and 
 seeing a pained expression upon it, I replied : 
 
 " Such words bespeak little appreciation, Monsieur, of 
 our efforts to pluck you from a fate which has befallen 
 your companions. Surely your work is no harder than 
 that of others, while you have more at issue." 
 
 He glanced from her face to mine in apparent sur 
 prise, but replied readily : 
 
 " Those knowing me best, friend Benteen, pay least 
 heed to my words. When I bark I seldom bite, and 
 when I intend biting I waste small time on the bark. 
 But, parbleu ! how can I feel life worth living, if it is all 
 toil ? There may be those who enjoy such existence, 
 but I discover no pleasure in it. Sacrel I love not hard 
 hands and poor fare, nor will I make pretence of what I 
 do not feel." 
 
 We were then two-thirds of the distance between the 
 mainland and the island, in the full sweep of the raging 
 current. It struck us sidelong, with such force as to 
 require all our combined strength to afford the laboring 
 boat headway. Suddenly Eloise startled us with an 
 outcry. 
 
 "What is that yonder?" she questioned excitedly, 
 pointing directly up-stream. " It looks the strangest red 
 thing ever I saw on water. I believed it moved but 
 now, as if alive." 
 
 Keeping my oar in motion, lest we should drift back 
 ward, I made shift to glance across my shoulder in the 
 direction indicated. The river had us completely in its 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 grasp, tossing the light boat in a majestic flood of angry 
 water, whitened by foam, and beaten into waves, where 
 it rounded the rocky edge of the island. Across this 
 tumbling surge streamed the glorious sunlight, gilding 
 each billow into beauty, while in the midst of it, bearing 
 swiftly down toward us, came that strange thing that had 
 so startled Madame. What in the name of nature it 
 might prove to be, I could not hazard it had the 
 appearance of some queer, shaggy animal, rolled tight into 
 the form of a ball, having fur so radiantly red as to 
 flash and burn in the sunshine. It bobbed crazily about, 
 barely above the surface of the river, like some living 
 creature, while now and then I marked a glimmer of light 
 behind, as if the water was being vigorously churned by 
 some species of swimming apparatus in the monster s 
 tail. 
 
 " Stand by with your small sword, De Noyan," I 
 commanded uneasily, cc for, hang < me if I ever before set 
 eyes on such a creature! Move, quick, and pass me over 
 your oar so you may have both hands free for the onset." 
 
 The beast was being swept along rapidly, now appear 
 ing to my eyes somewhat whiter on top, although the 
 surrounding red was so glaringly prominent as to obscure 
 everything else. Suddenly the creature gave a kick and 
 whirled over, turning the white expanse directly toward 
 us. At the same moment De Noyan dropped the point 
 of his rapier against the side of the boat, with a loud 
 guffaw. 
 
 " May the saints absolve me," he grinned, choking 
 from merriment, " if it s not the red-headedest man ever 
 my eyes looked upon." 
 
WE LAND AN ODD FISH 
 
 Forcing back his laughter, he hailed the swimmer, who, 
 perceiving us for the first time, began sheering off, as if 
 frightened by our presence, and intent upon escape. 
 
 " Hold there a moment, Master Red-Cap ! If in 
 truth you are not a fish, come on board." 
 
 The fellow heard him plainly enough, for I distin 
 guished a muttered English exclamation, but he made 
 no pause in urging a peculiar sidestroke of the arms 
 which threatened to bear him past us like a wild thing. 
 
 " Hold your hands ! " I roared in English, thinking, 
 perhaps, he had not comprehended the other tongue. 
 " Come in here, sirrah, or, the Lord help you, we 11 turn 
 and run you down." 
 
 At sound of these words he ceased his efforts, and 
 turned a peculiar wrinkled face, creased like long-folded 
 parchment, and as yellow, directly toward us. Even at 
 that distance I imagined I could detect a twinkle of 
 delight in the shrewd gray eyes. 
 
 " Thy words of greeting are as manna fallen from 
 heaven," boomed a deep, resonant voice, surprising in 
 its volume. " I take heart anew, young man, for surely 
 thou art not the spawn of the scarlet woman, but, verily, 
 one of the chosen people of our own God." 
 
 " I fail to grasp your meaning, friend," I retorted, 
 nettled to be held at the oars so long in that current. 
 " We are honest voyagers, glad to be of aid to any one 
 in such distress as you seem to be." 
 
 "Nay; I am not especially uncomfortable, unless my 
 tobacco is soaked, and if such disaster hath overtaken 
 me, it shall yet go hard with those blaspheming idolaters 
 who cast me overboard. But thy language is that of 
 
 C 49] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 modern Israel, so I will join you in the boat. T is 
 the more readily done as I have not tasted food since 
 yesternoon, and possess a hollowness within my physical 
 temple which demandeth attention. The spirit yieldeth 
 to the craving of the flesh." 
 
 " Catch hold upon the side," I ordered, as he drew 
 near. <c We will have you ashore in a dozen strokes." 
 
 The stranger did as I bade him, and it was truly a 
 wondrous sight to observe how his head glowed in the 
 sun as the drops of moisture dried, and brought out the 
 full, ornate color of it. His face had a pinched look, 
 with thousands of little wrinkles leading away from the 
 corners of the wide mouth, and about the narrow, glint 
 ing gray eyes. But there was a sly gleam of humor about 
 the expression of it, which, taken in connection with that 
 fiery headpiece, nearly caused me a fit of laughter. I 
 noticed, however, that Madame drew slightly away from 
 his side of the boat, as if close proximity to the fellow 
 were repugnant to her. 
 
 " Well, friend," said I, as we drew up in shoal water 
 under lee of the rock, and I noted his short legs and 
 stocky chest, " no doubt you are well water-logged, and 
 a little healthful exercise will help to warm your blood, 
 especially as we dare not light a fire for such purpose. 
 So bend that broad back of yours, and aid us in lifting 
 the boat to cover." 
 
 He performed his portion of the work well, bearing 
 with apparent ease fully one-half the burden, while 
 De Noyan and I staggered beneath the remainder, until 
 together we sank the boat well out of sight behind the 
 thick brush. 
 
WE LAND AN ODD FISH 
 
 " And why not a fire ? " the stranger questioned 
 abruptly, noticing Eloise spreading forth our stock of 
 provisions on the grass. " It was in hope of thus 
 warming the inner man that I consented to come ashore 
 and companion with you. Are you refugees, fleeing from 
 danger?" 
 
 I glanced aside at De Noyan and muttered hastily 
 in French, "It will be best to tell him our story tis 
 not likely he will prove an emissary of Spain." 
 
 "As you please; he is more of your class than mine," 
 he returned indifferently, and, with a shrug of the 
 shoulders, strolled away. 
 
 " You have made fairly correct guess," I said to our 
 new acquaintance ; " so we may as well understand 
 each other first as last. We have escaped with our lives 
 from New Orleans, and are now seeking refuge on the 
 Ohio." 
 
 He nodded, his shrewd gray eyes fastened intently on 
 my face, his own countenance expressionless. 
 
 " Who holdeth New Orleans ? " he asked in a tone of 
 interest. 
 
 "The Spanish, under O Reilly." 
 
 " Tis what they told me above, yet I believed they 
 lied. Those with you are French ? " 
 
 "Ay." 
 
 "And you?" 
 
 " Of Louisiana birth and English blood ; five years I 
 have been a hunter in the Illinois country." 
 
 He groaned as though the mention of the word awoke 
 unpleasant memories. 
 
 " Tis an unholy land, no fit abiding place for the 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 elect, as I learned, having passed through its settlements 
 seeking prayerfully to bear an evangel unto that stiff- 
 necked people. Friend, thou hast an honest face, and 
 I will say in confidence I have been ofttimes blessed of 
 the Spirit in the conversion of souls ; yet this people 
 laughed at my unctuous speech, making merry regarding 
 that head-covering with which the Almighty chose to 
 adorn his servant. Dost thou know the French settlement 
 on the Kaskaskia?" 
 
 " I have been there often." 
 
 " Ah ! t is verily a stronghold of popish superstition. 
 Recall you the humble cabin of Gabriel La Motte, the 
 Huguenot, close by the ravine? It was there I abode 
 in much spiritual and temporal comfort with that godly 
 man, until certain mad roisterers took offence at plain 
 gospel speech, driving me forth into the wilderness, 
 even as Jehovah s prophets of old. Since that hour I 
 have been a wanderer on the face of the earth, finding 
 small comfort in this life ; yet Ezekiel Cairnes is merely 
 the poor servant of the Lord, the chief of sinners, and 
 must abide in travail until He cometh." 
 
 He cast up his eyes in pious affectation, his lips 
 moving as though he meditated in prayer. 
 
 "Then your name is Cairnes ? " 
 
 " Ezekiel Cairnes, late of the Connecticut colony, and 
 am permitted by the Lord s mercy to write Reverend 
 before my unworthy appellation." 
 
 "A Puritan preacher!" I exclaimed in some disgust. 
 " I have heard of your sort before, yet have been 
 spared a meeting until now. Where do you propose 
 going ? " 
 
WE LAND AN ODD FISH 
 
 "The Lord leadeth His anointed, young man. Even 
 as Jonah abode in the belly of the whale, so doth the water 
 bear me onward as the Almighty willeth." 
 
 His wandering eyes rested thoughtfully upon my com 
 panion, now returning toward us, sauntering listlessly 
 along the sandy shore. 
 
 "I know not, friend, who you may be, save as you 
 have seen fit to reveal," he said shrewdly. " Yet I would 
 venture a guess as to yonder gayly attired cavalier." 
 
 " A guess ? " I echoed, taken completely by surprise. 
 " It is small chance you would hit right what might 
 your guess be ? " 
 
 " Chevalier Charles de Noyan." 
 
 " How know you that ? " 
 
 He chuckled grimly, evidently well pleased at my 
 astonishment. 
 
 " T is no work of the evil one, friend. I am but 
 just escaped also from the hands of the Philistines," 
 he explained, becoming angry at the thought, and 
 ducking his red head vehemently. " While in their 
 unhallowed company, a gray-bellied son of Belial ques 
 tioned me much regarding yonder fine gentleman, ere he 
 waxed exceedingly wroth at my plain speech in matters 
 of the spirit, bidding his jabbering crew of papists to heave 
 me overboard." 
 
 " How far away did this occur ? " I asked, looking 
 anxiously up the river. 
 
 " Oh, mayhap some such matter as twenty leagues," 
 he returned indifferently, his gaze idly following mine. 
 " Let me reflect ; it was at the hour for sunset prayer I 
 fell in with their party. I have heard it said this stream 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 hereabout hath a sweep of seven or more miles the hour, 
 and I kept well in the current of it." 
 
 " Do you mean you have been swimming since sunset 
 yesterday ? " 
 
 " Nay, friend ; I beg be not over-hasty in conclusions. 
 I merely reposed easily upon my back, with only enough 
 straightening out of the legs to keep my nose fairly up- 
 tilted above the stream. T was thus I made the passage 
 with much comfort of body, and relaxation of mind. 
 Tis no serious trick for one unafraid of the water, 
 although it might bring on cramps were I to keep on 
 as far as New Orleans." 
 
 I stared at him with an astonishment which for the 
 moment precluded speech. Before I found voice with 
 which to express doubt of his story, Madame called, 
 bidding us join her upon the grass, where our rude 
 meal waited. 
 
 C 54] 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 
 
 could be no doubt regarding the complete 
 emptiness of the Reverend Ezekiel Cairnes, if the 
 breakfast he devoured from our stock of cold provisions 
 was evidence. I have been commonly blessed with robust 
 appetite, yet where that man found space within his ribs 
 to store away all he ate in that hour remains a mystery. 
 Nothing, except total inability to address him in intelligible 
 language, held De Noyan quiet as our limited supply 
 steadily diminished before the Puritan s onslaught, and 
 long before the latter heaved a sigh of profound satis 
 faction the gallant soldier had fallen fast asleep. But 
 Madame remained in her place opposite, apparently 
 fascinated by that vivid red crop of hair, now thor 
 oughly dried in the sun, and standing erect above his 
 odd, pear-shaped head. I had whispered in her ear 
 what the fellow claimed for himself, and being a most 
 devout Catholic, and he the first specimen of his class 
 she had ever met, she studied him with no small amount 
 of curiosity and abhorrence. 
 
 I can clearly recall the picture, as these two, so widely 
 different, sat facing each other in silence, the golden sun 
 shine checkered over them through an arch of limbs, 
 the broad river shining away to the southward, and De 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Noyan resting upon his back, with face turned up toward 
 the clear blue sky. The woman, with her soft silken hair 
 smoothed back from the wide, white brow, her intelligent 
 face lighted by eyes of deepest brown, looking, what in 
 truth she was, the aristocratic daughter of a gentleman 
 of France, one whose home had ever been amid refine 
 ments of civilization, and whose surroundings those of 
 love and courtesy. Even there, in the heart of that 
 wilderness, the social training of years remained para 
 mount, and she sat silent, toying with untasted food, 
 out of respect to this stranger guest. And he, with 
 shoulders so abnormally broad as to appear deformed, 
 clad in sober Puritan garb, ate serenely on, unconscious 
 of her glances, making use of both his huge hands in the 
 operation, his little gimlet eyes twinkling greedily, his 
 head, oddly resembling a cone, blazing like a fire when 
 ever a ray of sun chanced to fall across it. I noticed he 
 occasionally stole shy glances at her, nor could I wonder, 
 for, in spite of fatigue and exposure, Madame remained 
 a winsome sight, to do the heart of any man good to look 
 upon. 
 
 " The Lord God of Hosts be praised ; ay ! with 
 harps, cymbals, and instruments of many strings, will 
 I give praise unto His holy name," he exclaimed fer 
 vently, wiping his wide mouth upon his sleeve, while 
 casting a look of regret over the debris in his front. 
 " Once again hath He abundantly supplied His elect 
 with that which upbuildeth and giveth strength to the 
 flesh. Now my bodily requirements have been duly 
 attended to, it behooves me to minister likewise unto 
 the spiritual, and then seek repose. Friends, will you 
 
WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 
 
 not both join with me at the throne of grace ? It hath 
 been said that I possess much unction in prayer." 
 
 " No," I answered, not unwilling to be left alone with 
 Eloise ; cc you are welcome to put up petitions in our 
 behalf, but this lady is not of your faith, while as for 
 myself, I have known little about such matters since 
 childhood. One thing, however, if you propose mak 
 ing use of that bull voice of yours, I advise that you 
 select the farther extremity of the island for the scene 
 of your devotions, lest you arouse the Chevalier." 
 
 He cast upon me a glance not altogether pleasant, but 
 tramped off through the bushes without reply, and for 
 several moments we heard the sturdy rise and fall of his 
 earnest supplications, frequently interspersed with hearty 
 groans, as of one in all the agony of deep remorse. 
 
 " Tis an odd fish we ve hooked out of the stream," 
 I said, turning my head toward the dismal sounds. 
 " Yet he has strong arms, and may be of considerable 
 use, if he will consent to voyage with us." 
 
 " I scarcely know what to make of the man," Madame 
 admitted candidly. " He is unlike any I have ever met. 
 Yet I think he may prove honest and of good heart, 
 although his exterior is far from attractive." 
 
 " And his appetite hardly suggestive of economy," I 
 added. 
 
 The bright look I always loved to see leaped into her 
 clear eyes. 
 
 " Have you faith his labor will offset his eating ? " she 
 replied, laughing. 
 
 " Possibly not ; yet it is not labor alone I would 
 select him for. We may have to fight before we attain 
 
 [157] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 a place of safety. For that purpose I would rank this 
 fellow highly. Never yet have I met a red-headed man 
 averse to a quarrel. Faith ! by that token, this one 
 should be worth a company if we ever come to blows." 
 
 " But he is a priest, you told me, a preacher of the 
 Protestants." 
 
 " Ay ! and the better for it. I have heard my father 
 say the Puritan breed makes the stoutest men-at-arms ; 
 that nothing has been found to stiffen a battle-line equal 
 to a good text. Give this fellow a pike, pit him against 
 a boatload of Spanish papists, and, I 11 warrant, he 11 
 crack more heads than any two of us. Besides, he con 
 trols a perfect tornado of a voice, fit to frighten the crew 
 of a frigate on a dark night." 
 
 She was sitting, her back pressed against a small tree, 
 her hands clasped lightly about one knee, with dark eyes 
 gazing afar where the broad river danced away into the 
 golden sheen. 
 
 " Geoffrey Benteen," she asked soberly, never glancing 
 toward me, " is it true you do not desire my return to 
 New Orleans?" 
 
 It is true." 
 
 " Would you honestly tell me why ? " and she turned 
 her eyes, looking searchingly into mine. 
 
 " I have mentioned sufficient reasons," I ventured, 
 resolutely facing her, determined to speak frankly and 
 abide the result. " All I need add is, to my judg 
 ment it will prove better for you to remain with your 
 husband." 
 
 She glanced aside at him where he lay, the quick 
 blood flushing her clear cheek. 
 
WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 
 
 "You do not like -him?" the question fell faltering 
 from her lips. 
 
 " That I am not prepared to declare. He is change 
 able, somewhat overbearing in speech, not as sober 
 of mind as I am accustomed to find men, yet it is not 
 true I dislike him. I merely believe that he will do 
 better, be truer to his manhood, with you near him, than 
 with you absent." 
 
 "He is French," she explained gently, "by nature 
 of birth different from your race. Besides, he has led a 
 life filled with the dissipation of the town." 
 
 "True! for that reason I forbear judging his words 
 and actions by any standard of my own people. Yet this 
 I cannot be blind to, Madame ; he is of quick temper, 
 hasty in action, easily influenced by others, and might 
 become careless at times, and under strong temptation, 
 unless some moral firmness hold him in check. You 
 alone possess the power to become his good angel." 
 
 She bowed her head, her gaze again far off upon the 
 river, the deepening surge of color rising upon either 
 cheek. 
 
 "You cannot be angry," I continued gravely, after 
 pausing vainly for a reply. " Surely I have said no more 
 than you already knew, and I spoke merely in answer to 
 your questioning." 
 
 " No, I am not angry. But it is not a pleasant reflec 
 tion underlying the things mentioned, and I cannot 
 assert your judgment of the Chevalier false. Still I 
 would press you further. Is this your only reason for 
 desiring me to remain ? " 
 
 " You wish me to answer frankly ? " 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Otherwise I should not ask." 
 
 I felt the quick flush mount even to my hair, yet 
 gripped my breath, making effort to respond boldly. 
 
 " I had other reason. To deny it would be merely 
 uttering a lie to no purpose. Madame de Noyan, we 
 are not strangers we could never be after that night 
 when we parted beneath the olives of Monsieur Beau- 
 Jen s garden. You are wife to a chevalier of France ; 
 I, a homeless adventurer. Yet I have no higher ambi 
 tion than to prove of service to you. Whatever I have 
 accomplished has been entirely for your sake, not for his. 
 Now we are together, the daily opportunity to serve you 
 is mine ; here I can work for you, perchance die for you, 
 should such sacrifice promise you happiness. But if 
 you decide to go back yonder, directly into danger as 
 desperate as any confronting us to the northward, then 
 I must determine for myself where I can serve you best. 
 Knowing my heart as you must, you can easily judge 
 whether I would plunge deeper into the wilderness with 
 your husband, or return to New Orleans with you. 
 There is a sentence in the Bible about the impossibility 
 of serving two masters, hence I trust I may not be com 
 pelled to choose between, until the hour when you are 
 both safe." 
 
 She listened silently, and I almost feared I had ven 
 tured upon too plain speaking. Yet now, as she turned 
 again toward me, her eyes were moist with tears. 
 
 " You are a strange man, Geoffrey Benteen," she said 
 gently, and, I know not how, yet both her hands found 
 way to mine. " I scarcely comprehend your nature, or 
 gauge your purposes you are so unlike all others I 
 
 [160] 
 
WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 
 
 have known. Yet this I am assured ; you are of honest 
 heart, and I trust you wholly." 
 
 " You will not return to the town ? " 
 
 cc I abide with you, and with my husband." Her 
 voice faltered to that last word, yet she spoke it bravely. 
 
 " It will be better so," I assented. " Better for us 
 all." 
 
 We slept late, undisturbed, in secure retreat among 
 the trees, the vast river chanting its endless song on 
 either side of us. During the evening meal, partaken 
 of amid the gathering shadows of twilight, our newly 
 discovered friend again evidenced his power as a 
 trencherman. 
 
 " Sacre I " ejaculated De Noyan in dismay. " I sup 
 posed his breakfast was intended to last the week. We 
 shall need a fleet of boats to provision the fellow if he 
 keep us company long. How is it, friend Benteen, 
 are we to enjoy the pleasure of associating with this 
 human alligator, or do we now part company ? " 
 
 " That is not yet determined," I replied, smiling at 
 the look of consternation with which he regarded him. 
 " I will sound the man on the subject, while he appears 
 in good humor." 
 
 I crossed the narrow plat of grass to where our guest 
 sat facing the remains of his late feast, a look of satis 
 faction visible upon his withered countenance. 
 
 " My good friend," he exclaimed, observing my 
 approach, " there seems an over-preponderance of spices 
 in this cured meat ; otherwise it meets my cordial appro 
 bation, although your Southern cookery has a peculiarly 
 greasy flavor to one of my taste in food." 
 
 [161] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cc I failed to observe your refraining from any on 
 account of that objection," I retorted, deeply amused by 
 his words. " But if you are completely satisfied, you 
 may be willing to turn a moment to matters of business, 
 and inform us what you propose doing. In brief, will 
 you resume your voyage, or is it your desire to cast your 
 lot with us ? " 
 
 He meditatively stroked the thin red stubble adorning 
 his chin, contemplating me steadily. 
 
 " Doth that which assisteth to nourish and sustain the 
 inner man bid fair to hold out ? " he finally questioned 
 in a tone of anxiety. " I have need of sufficient food, 
 both temporal and spiritual, and would not lightly assume 
 any burden of suffering, unless it appear clearly as the 
 will of God." 
 
 " I know not how long we can withstand such 
 onslaughts as those you have already made," I returned 
 honestly. "We are fairly well provisioned for present 
 needs, and when farther up the river will feel free to 
 seek fresh game." 
 
 "Ah! you have guns in the party? You will shoot 
 deer deer!" He smacked his thin lips greedily. "A 
 nice, fat, juicy steak would not go bad even now. T is 
 strange how the mind runneth upon such carnal matters 
 it remindeth us the flesh is weak. Deer tis best 
 turned upon a spit, with live coals not quite touching it. 
 I would one might wander before your gun this very 
 night. Young man, did I not hear you name the 
 destination of your party as the Ohio ? " 
 
 " I so stated." 
 
 " Then let me warn you, friend," he crossed his legs 
 
WE GAIN A NEW RECRUIT 
 
 more comfortably, resting back at ease, " that what you 
 propose may not prove so easy as you dream. The 
 Amalekites and heathen, together with the worshippers 
 of Baal, are everywhere along the upper waters. By the 
 memory of Old Noll, I have seen more black-faced 
 papists in the past two weeks than I ever before laid 
 eyes on." 
 
 " You do not enjoy the prospect of a fight ? " 
 
 " Nay ; it is not that, friend. I am, indeed, a preacher 
 of righteousness, a man of peace, yet I might, upon 
 occasion, strike right lustily for the Lord and Gideon. 
 I am not altogether unaccustomed to feeling carnal 
 weapons of strife, but with yonder fair specimen of 
 womanhood in our care, I should not deem it best to 
 force a struggle, provided passage might be secured 
 through other means/ 
 
 " Have you some plan ? " 
 
 " Nay ; it has not been revealed unto me, although I 
 besought it of the Lord with great earnestness after the 
 morning meal. I will again wrestle in prayer before the 
 throne, and no doubt it shall all be made plain in due 
 season, if we faint not." 
 
 " I take it, then, you propose forming one of our 
 company ? " 
 
 " Such seemeth the will of the Lord," he responded 
 soberly, "and I ever hearken unto His voice. Thou 
 didst state there would be plenty of food, so I abide 
 with you." 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS 
 
 I DO not recall how many leagues we pushed our way 
 up the stream, nor could I name the length of time 
 required for our journey, before we arrived where a large 
 river, bearing a muddier current, led toward the north and 
 west. Those were neither days nor miles that imprinted 
 themselves on memory ; they left only vague impressions, 
 as one sometimes beholds objects through the dense haze 
 of early morning. I remember merely the low, flat line 
 of shore, stretching away to a darker green of the heavy 
 forest behind, and the ever-moving flood of changeless 
 water, no sign of life appearing along its surface. 
 
 Nor was there any happening within our boat to 
 reflect upon, excepting that our new comrade proved 
 himself a stanch man at the oars, thus commending 
 himself to me, in spite of a choleric temper apt to burst 
 forth over trifles. He and De Noyan would have quar 
 relled many times a day, only neither comprehended the 
 language of the other. The greatest cause I found for 
 criticism was his interminable prayers, and the bull voice 
 in which he offered them. I have never made mock of 
 religion, coming of a line of godly ancestors, yet I felt 
 there could be no necessity for making such noise over 
 it morning, noon, and night. Yet neither entreaty nor 
 
THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS 
 
 threat moved him to desist, so I came to the conclusion 
 that he either considered the Almighty deaf, or else was 
 totally unconscious of his own lung power. As to his 
 appetite but there are things of which one may not 
 justly write, so I content myself by saying that, all in 
 all, he was not so bad a comrade. 
 
 De Noyan kept to his nature, and I liked him none 
 the worse for it, although it is not pleasant to have at 
 your side a gay cavalier one moment and a peevish 
 woman the next. You never know which may be upper 
 most. Yet he performed his full share of toil like a man, 
 and, when not curling his long moustachios, or swearing 
 in provincial French, was mostly what he should be, a 
 careless soldier of fortune, to whom life appealed more 
 as a play than a stern duty. He was of that spirit most 
 severely tried by such drudgery, and, looking back upon 
 it, I can only wonder he bore the burden as cheerfully 
 as he did. Beneath his reckless, grumbling exterior, the 
 metal of the man was not of such poor quality. 
 
 However continual labor and enforced companionship 
 told upon the rest, Madame retained her sweetness 
 through it all, hushing our lips from many a sharp retort 
 that had threatened to disrupt our party long before this 
 time. She had merely to glance toward us to silence any 
 rising strife, for no man having a true heart beneath his 
 doublet wuld find spirit to quarrel before the disap 
 proving glance of her dark eyes. It was thus we toiled 
 for waflfl, \3ntil one frosty morning our boat arrived where 
 this great stream poured forth from the west, forcing its 
 reddish, muddy current far out into the wide river against 
 which we had struggled so long. Slowly rounding the 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 low, marshy promontory, and beginning to feel the fierce 
 tug of down-pouring waters against our bow, I observed 
 the old Puritan suddenly cock up his ears, like some sus 
 picious watch-dog, twisting his little glittering eyes from 
 side to side, as though the spot looked familiar. 
 
 "Do you suspect anything wrong, my pious friend," 
 I questioned curiously, "that you indulge in such sniffing 
 of the air?" 
 
 " T is a spot I know well, now it looms fairly into 
 view," he answered solemnly, continuing to peer about 
 like one suddenly aroused from sleep. "It was near here 
 the Philistines made camp as I passed down the river, 
 but I perceive no signs now of human presence in the 
 neighborhood." 
 
 His words startled me, and I began looking anxiously 
 about us. The low shores consisted of the merest bog, 
 overgrown heavily with stunted bushes and brown cane, 
 but some distance beyond rose the crest of a pine forest, 
 evidencing firmer soil. The opposite side of the stream 
 was no whit more inviting, except that the marsh appeared 
 less in extent, with a few outcropping rocks visible, one 
 rising sheer from the water s edge, so crowded with bushes 
 as scarcely to expose the rock surface to the eye. 
 
 "I discover no evidences of life," I answered at last, 
 reassured by my careful survey. "Nor, for the matter 
 of that, Master Cairnes, can I see any spot dry enough 
 to camp upon." 
 
 " Up the stream a few strokes the Spaniards had 
 camp ; not so bad a place, either, when once reached, 
 although the current will prove difficult to overcome as 
 we turn." 
 
 [166] 
 
THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS 
 
 Following his guidance we deflected the boat s head, 
 and, by hard toil at the oars, slowly effected a passage up 
 the swift stream, keeping as close as possible along the 
 southern shore, until, having compassed something like 
 five hundred yards, we found before us a low-lying bank, 
 protected by rushes, dry and thickly carpeted with grass. 
 
 "What is the stream ? " I questioned, marvelling at the 
 red tinge of the water. 
 
 "The Spaniards named it the Arkansas." 
 
 "Oh, ay! I remember, although I passed this way 
 along the other shore. It was here some of La Salle s 
 men made settlement near a hundred years ago, I m told. 
 The stream has trend northward." 
 
 "So the Spaniards claimed to my questioning; they 
 knew little of its upper waters, yet possessed a map 
 placing its source a few leagues from where the Ohio joins 
 the great river. It was yonder they were encamped when 
 I was here before." 
 
 He pointed toward a ridge of higher ground, where 
 two trees hung like sentinels above the bank. Madame 
 immediately turned the prow that way, and, bending our 
 heads low, we shot beneath their trailing branches, 
 grounding softly on the red clay of the bank. A brief 
 search disclosed remains of camp-fires, testimony to the 
 Puritan s remembrance of the spot. Evidently the place 
 had been frequently occupied, and by sizable parties, yet 
 the marks were all ancient; we discovered no signs that 
 any one had been there lately. 
 
 It was barely daylight, although the sun was above the 
 horizon. A vast bank of cloud hung so dense across the 
 eastern sky as to leave the whole scene in shadow, making 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 the hour appear much earlier. I felt, as we searched the 
 camp-fires, a strange uneasiness, for which I could not 
 account it was a premonition of approaching peril. 
 This sense is the gift of many accustomed to border life, 
 and compelled to rely for safety upon minute signs scarcely 
 observable to the eyes of others. I had noticed a broken 
 reed near where we turned into this new stream, so freshly 
 severed as to show green from sap yet flowing, while the 
 soft mud about the base of the big rock bore evidence of 
 having been tramped, although the distance was so great 
 the nature of the marks was not discernible. To be sure, 
 native denizens of the forest might account for this, yet 
 the sight aroused suspicion and a determination to ex 
 amine more closely, while the fear of prowling enemies 
 made me strenuous in objecting to the building of any 
 fire with which to cook our morning meal. 
 
 The eating came to a conclusion at last, although not 
 without grumbling, in both French and English, at being 
 obliged to subsist on cold fare. By use of threats I suc 
 ceeded in inducing the Rev. Mr. Cairnes to retire without 
 indulging in his usual devotional exercise. Discovering 
 De Noyan comfortably settled against a tree-trunk, pipe 
 in mouth, already beginning to look sleepy about the eyes, 
 I muttered in his hearing a word or two regarding a fishing 
 trip into deeper water along the opposite shore, and, 
 quietly leaving him to unsuspicious repose, slipped down 
 to where our boat was tied beneath the tree shadows. As 
 I bent, loosening the rope, I felt rather than perceived 
 the presence of Madame upon the bank above. Turning 
 as she addressed me, I glanced up, holding the untied 
 rope in my hand. 
 
 [168] 
 
THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS 
 
 " You fear Spaniards may be near/ she said quickly, 
 as if she had deciphered my hidden thought. 
 
 "No, Madame," I replied, scarcely able to conceal 
 astonishment at her penetration, yet eager to quiet alarm, 
 particularly as I had no occasion for uneasiness. " I 
 merely feel a curiosity to examine that odd rock beside 
 the entrance the one we passed on the right." 
 
 " Geoffrey Benteen," she said firmly, stepping down 
 the sloping bank until she stood beside me, "there is no 
 occasion for your attempting deceit with me. Besides, 
 you are too open-hearted a man to deceive any one. I 
 have noticed your glances, and interpreted your thoughts, 
 ever since we turned into this stream. I am certain you 
 fear at this moment we have been beguiled into a trap. 
 Tell me, is this not true ? " 
 
 Her clear, questioning eyes gazed so directly into my 
 own, and were so honestly courageous, I up and told her 
 what I had observed, and where I was then bound. 
 
 " It is better to trust me," she commented simply, as 
 I ended my recital. "My eyes have not been altogether 
 idle, although I am no borderer to observe such faint 
 signs. There were several reeds bent low in the water a 
 hundred yards back; their sides scraped as if a large boat 
 had been dragged through them. I thought nothing of 
 it, until I observed how intently you were studying each 
 mark left by man. While you are gone yonder, what 
 would you wish me to do ? " 
 
 I looked at her attentively, noting how heavy her eyes 
 were from weariness. 
 
 "You are too tired to remain on guard, Eloise," I 
 said, forgetting I should not use that name, "or I might 
 
 [169] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 bid you watch here, and, if any misfortune befall me, call 
 the others. Besides, if there are enemies at hand there is 
 no knowing from what direction they may chance upon us. 
 However, all we have observed were probably old marks, 
 or made by roving beasts, and I shall soon return to fling 
 myself on the ground, seeking sleep also. So go and 
 rest those weary eyes, while I scout to satisfy myself. It 
 is only the doubt of a suspicious man. * 
 
 " I shall not sleep until your safe return," she replied 
 firmly. " You shall not go forth thus without one to 
 pray for your safe return. I beg you, exercise care." 
 
 " Have no fear, Madame, I am no reckless hot-head 
 at such work, and shall continue to guard my life while 
 it remains of value to you and yours. Try to rest at 
 ease, for I will soon return, with a laugh at my foolish 
 suspicions." 
 
 I forced the boat into the swollen stream, and, using 
 one oar as a paddle, silently and swiftly propelled it 
 directly across. Discovering a spot seemingly fit for 
 travel, I pushed the prow through the long marsh grass, 
 and stepped ashore. She still stood in the tree shadow 
 of the opposite bank, and waving a hand in reassur 
 ance, I drew forth my long rifle from beneath the seat. 
 Advancing silently, I pressed forward into the thick bed 
 of cane, thinking more of Eloise de Noyan than of the 
 task before me. It proved a hard passage, so extremely 
 difficult as to call back my mind from foolish day-dreams 
 to save myself an ugly fall, for the grass under-foot was 
 matted and tangled, interspersed with marshy pools of 
 brackish water, amid which innumerable projecting roots 
 spread snares for the feet. The sun, now well advanced, 
 
 [170] 
 
THE MOUTH OF THE ARKANSAS 
 
 gave me the points of the compass, and, holding the 
 rifle-stock before my face, I cleared a path through the 
 dense growth, and emerged from the low marsh land upon 
 smooth turf, where some brush found foothold, yet not 
 so thickly as to impede the walking. 
 
 I discovered myself near the bottom of a steep bank, 
 which, curving with the line of the shore, extended for 
 ward for probably fifty feet, crowned along its ridge with 
 numerous stunted trees. Trusting thus to obtain a firmer 
 foothold and more extended view, I breasted the steep 
 ascent and found the summit a narrow plateau, only a 
 few yards in width, with a still more extensive morass 
 upon the opposite side, which stretched away some dis 
 tance in a desolate sea of cane and drooping grass. For 
 tunately it proved easy travelling along the ridge, which 
 appeared of stone formation, probably having a terminus 
 at the big rock, toward which I proposed extending my 
 investigation. 
 
 I moved forward slowly and with caution, not because 
 I expected to meet enemies in this lonely spot, but 
 rather from an instinct of long frontier training. I had 
 advanced possibly a hundred yards, when I approached 
 a small clump of stunted evergreens, so closely woven 
 together I could not wedge a passage between. Round 
 ing their outer edge, my footsteps noiseless on ground 
 thickly strewn with their soft needles, I came to a sudden 
 halt within five paces of a man. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 A PASSAGE AT ARMS 
 
 HE stood motionless, one hand grasping the limb of 
 a tree, leaning far out so as to gaze up the river, 
 totally unconscious of my approach. The fellow was 
 tall, yet heavily built, wearing a great leather helmet 
 with brass facings, his body encased in a slashed doublet, 
 the strap fastenings of a steel breastplate showing at 
 waist and shoulders, while high boots of yellow cordovan 
 leather extended above his knees. I noticed also the 
 upward curve of a huge gray moustache against the stern 
 profile of his face, while a long straight sword dangled 
 at his side. Evidently the stranger was a soldier, and 
 one not to be despised in feats at arms, although in what 
 service I might merely conjecture, as his dress was not 
 distinctive. Yet it was small likelihood any other nation 
 than Spain had armed men in those parts. 
 
 That he had discovered and was watching our camp, 
 I entertained no doubt, yet for the moment the surprise 
 of seeing him was so great I was unable to choose my 
 safer course, should I withdraw silently as I came, or 
 make quick attack? If the first, he would certainly see 
 me recross the river, and suspect my mission. Nor was 
 the other alternative more promising. If I sprang upon 
 him (and he looked a burly antagonist), such combat could 
 
A PASSAGE AT ARMS 
 
 not be noiseless, and surely the fellow was not alone in 
 this wilderness. How close at hand lurked his compan 
 ions was beyond guessing, yet, if the sound of struggle 
 aroused that band of wolves, my life would not be worth 
 the snapping of a finger. I felt cold chills creep up my 
 spine as I stood hesitating, one foot uplifted, my eyes 
 staring at that motionless figure. 
 
 I waited too long, until every vantage left me. Sud 
 denly the soldier swung back from his lookout on to 
 firmer ground, wheeled, and faced me. I marked his 
 start of surprise, noting his right hand drop, with sol 
 dierly instinct, upon the sword hilt, half drawing the 
 blade before recovering from that first impulse. Then 
 curiosity usurped the place of fear. He took one step 
 backward, still upon guard, surveying me carefully with 
 one glinting gray eye, for the other had been closed by 
 a slashing cut, which left an ugly white scar extending 
 half-way down his cheek. Except for this deformity, he 
 was a man of fair appearance, having a stern, clearly chis 
 elled face, with a certain arrogant manner, telling of long 
 authority in scenes of war. A half smile of contempt 
 played across his features as he ran me down from head 
 to foot, evidently with the thought I was little worthy 
 of his steel. It was then I recognized him. There had 
 been familiarity about his great bulk from the first, yet 
 now, as I faced him fairly, marking the haughty sneer 
 curl his lips, I knew him instantly as that officer who 
 passed us in the boat with the priest. 
 
 " By the true cross ! " he exclaimed at last, as if his 
 breath had barely returned, " you gave me a start such 
 as I have not often had in all my soldiering. Yet you 
 
 [173] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 are no ghost ; your aspect is altogether too healthful for 
 one condemned to exist upon air. Sapristal you must 
 have a light foot to steal thus on me unheard. Who 
 are you, fellow? What do you here upon this soil of 
 Spain ? " 
 
 I leaned lightly on my rifle, so that I might swing it 
 easily if occasion warranted, determined now not to fire 
 unless it proved necessary to save my life, and made 
 careless answer, using the same tongue in which I had 
 been addressed. 
 
 " Nor are you more surprised, Senor, at my presence, 
 than was I a moment back to stumble upon you when I 
 supposed our party alone here in this wilderness. Who 
 did you say held dominion over this country ? " 
 
 " His most gracious Christian Majesty, Charles the 
 Third, of Spain," he replied shortly. " As his officer, I 
 require that you give proper heed and direct answer to 
 my questioning. Who are you, and where are you 
 going ? " 
 
 The man s domineering manner amused me, yet I 
 replied civilly to his words. 
 
 "A wandering hunter, Senor, from the Illinois country, 
 homeward bound. I was not aware this territory had 
 fallen into Spanish hands, supposing it still to be under 
 French control. You are then a soldier of Spain ? " 
 
 "Ay," he returned ungraciously, eying me in his 
 irritating way, "of the battalion of Grenada." 
 
 He was evidently in doubt whether to believe my 
 word, and I rejoiced to mark such indecision, accepting 
 it as proof he had not gained a glimpse of De Noyan, for 
 whom he was in eager search. 
 
A PASSAGE AT ARMS 
 
 " It may be, fellow," he consented to say at last, " you 
 speak truth, and it may be your tongue is false as hell. 
 These are times of grave suspicion, yet there are means 
 of discovery open to men of action. I just noted the 
 position of your camp yonder, and have sufficient men 
 within easy reach of my voice to make it mine if need 
 arise. So I warn you to deal fairly, or accept the con 
 sequences. The Marquis de Serrato is not one given to 
 speaking twice in such quest. 1 have a soft tongue in 
 ladies bowers, but my hand is hard enough in camp and 
 field." 
 
 He uttered these words in fierce threat, his one evil 
 eye glaring full at me as though to terrify. Before I 
 could answer, he shot forth a question, direct as a bullet 
 from a gun. 
 
 " I beheld the flap of a dress yonder amid those trees ; 
 what means it? Women are not common in these parts 
 have you one in your company ?" 
 
 "We have, my lord," I replied, holding myself to 
 calmness, striving to speak with apparent respect for his 
 rank. " We are four, altogether ; one has his wife along 
 to cook for us." 
 
 " You are voyaging from New Orleans ? " 
 
 " Nay ; from the savannahs of Red River, where we 
 enjoyed a good season of sport." 
 
 " You are French ? " 
 
 " A natural guess, yet a wrong one, Senor. I am of 
 English blood." 
 
 " Saprista ! t is a beast of a nation ! I like not that 
 such as you should be here. I will call some of my men 
 and visit your camp." He spoke sternly, taking a step 
 
 [175] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 backward as if about to seek his companions. " The 
 tale you tell may be true enough, yet these are troublous 
 days along the river, and my orders are strict against 
 permitting any to pass unsearched." 
 
 My hands clinched hard around the gun-barrel for a 
 swing, while I braced my body for a leap forward, yet 
 held back from such desperate action, making hazard of 
 one more effort to draw him out. 
 
 " I have met soldiers of Spain before, my lord," I said, 
 speaking the words with deference, yet managing to inject 
 sufficient tinge of sarcasm to the tone, " yet never pre 
 viously found them so fearful of a stray hunter s camp as 
 not to dare approach it without a guard of armed men. 
 My companions yonder are asleep, excepting the woman ; 
 we are only three, and of peaceful life. You would dis 
 cover nothing except warm welcome at our fire." 
 
 I caught the quick responsive smile lighting his hard, 
 thin face, observing how suddenly awakened pride and 
 contempt combined to curl his upturned moustache. 
 
 "Ah!" he exclaimed gayly, with a derisive wave of the 
 hand, " so you suppose it is from fear I proposed calling 
 others to accompany me ! Caramba I \ is well you put 
 your suspicion in no stronger words. But stay ; I trust 
 not altogether the truth of your tale. Saints love ! a 
 soldier can place faith only in what he sees yet your 
 face is frank and simple enough, and, as you say, there 
 are but three of you, besides the woman. I did mark 
 that much from yonder tree. It will be small risk to 
 one of my experience in arms, and my men sleep in 
 weariness. Lead on, fellow, yet do not forget I wear 
 this sword for use, not show." 
 
A PASSAGE AT ARMS 
 
 With muttered thanksgiving at my possessing so 
 honest a countenance, and a blessing on the Spaniard s 
 pride, I turned back, beginning to retrace my steps 
 along the narrow ridge, never deigning to glance across 
 my shoulder, yet confident he was close behind. Every 
 additional step I inveigled him from his camp was to my 
 advantage, nor would I permit him to feel suspicion on 
 my part, as fearlessness was certain to beget confidence, 
 and my final plan of action was already made. We thus 
 passed the spot where. I had climbed the steep bank, 
 and were, to the best of my memory, some twenty 
 yards beyond the hiding-place of my boat, when the 
 ridge widened, a thick fringe of low-growing trees com 
 pletely shutting out all view of the water. It was a 
 likely spot enough, having firm ground under-foot, 
 with sufficient room for a royal struggle, and here I 
 determined to try a passage-at-arms with my burly 
 antagonist. It was useless to hope for surprise. He 
 was an old soldier dogging my steps, doubtless eying 
 my every motion, his own hand hard gripping his 
 sword hilt, ready to cut me down did slightest need 
 arise. No; it must be foot to foot, eye to eye, a 
 club of steel against the dancing blade ; yet I felt the 
 strange contest would not prove unfair, for he was a 
 man not as agile as in years agone, while his armor 
 of proof, valuable as it might be in the turning of a 
 sword thrust, would be more burden than protection 
 against my rifle-stock. 
 
 " Senor," I said, in studied courtesy, stopping suddenly 
 and confronting him, " I have hunted across this wil 
 derness more than one season, and dislike greatly being 
 
 [177] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 estopped now by Spanish decree. Nor do I compre 
 hend your right in this matter. Have you warrant for 
 opposing our peaceful passage to the Ohio ? " 
 
 He stared at me in undisguised amazement at my 
 boldness, a grim smile on his hard, set face. 
 
 " Ay ! I have, fellow," he finally retorted angrily, 
 tapping his hilt. " Tis in this scabbard at my side." 
 
 " Then draw it, Senor," I exclaimed, throwing forward 
 my long rifle menacingly. " And may God stand with 
 the better man." 
 
 I have a conception that at the moment he believed he 
 was being fronted by a crazed man, yet there was in my 
 face an expression quickly teaching him otherwise, and } 
 with a swift twist, he flashed his sword forth into the 
 sunlight, standing on guard. 
 
 " For Baco I " he growled savagely, " you must be 
 little better than a fool to hoist that club. It will 
 give me pleasure to teach you better manners toward 
 a grandee of Spain." 
 
 " Grandee, or not," I retorted, angered at his implied 
 contempt, " I may teach you a trick, Senor, with that same 
 club, never learned in your Spanish fencing-schools." 
 
 It was swift, intense fighting from the word, he prov 
 ing past-master of his weapon, yet my stiff rifle-barrel 
 was no mean defence against his lighter blade, with a 
 reach preventing his point touching my body, and suffi 
 cient weight to bear down the thin, murderous steel 
 whenever the two came into contact. It had been 
 long practice with me, having picked up the pretty 
 trick from a French zouave when I was a boy, so I 
 swung the iron as if it were a single-stick ; and, in 
 
A PASSAGE AT ARMS 
 
 truth, I know of no better fence against the stroke 
 of a straight sword, although fencing-masters, I have 
 heard, make light of it. Nevertheless it was new ex 
 perience to this Spaniard, and it did me good to note 
 how it angered the fellow to be held back by such a 
 weapon. He made such stress to press in behind my 
 guard that he began to pant like a man running a hard 
 race. Nor did I venture to strike a blow in return, for, 
 in simple truth, this soldier kept me busier with parry 
 and feint than any swordsman before, while he tried every 
 trick of his trade, not a few of them strange to me. So I 
 bided my time, confident he must make an opening for fit 
 return if he kept up such furious attack, and thus, with 
 retreat and advance, hack and guard, thrust and parry, 
 we tramped up a wide bit of ground, while there was no 
 sound of the struggle, except our hard breathing, with 
 now and then a fierce curse from him as his flashing steel 
 nicked on my gun-barrel, or flew off into thin air just as 
 he thought to send its deadly point home. 
 
 Such fighting is wearing even to seasoned nerves, and 
 the dazzle of the sun bothered my eyes, yet he had 
 pressed me back scarcely more than a couple of yards 
 when his dancing blade slipped stealthily up my brown 
 barrel, suddenly nipping the loose sleeve of my doublet. 
 As it pricked into the cloth, scraping the skin of my 
 forearm, I let the fellow have the end of the muzzle full 
 in the side. It was not the best spot for such a thrust, 
 nor could I give it proper force, yet I think it cracked a 
 rib, from the way the Spaniard drew back, and the sud 
 den pallor of his face; indeed, so ghastly white he got, I 
 thought him done for, and lowered my barrel carelessly. 
 
 [179] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 He was more of a man than I had reckoned on, or 
 else his pride made him averse to accepting defeat, for, 
 with one quick spring, like a wounded tiger, he was 
 inside my guard, his ugly point rasping into me just 
 beneath the shoulder. Saint Andrew! it was an awkward 
 touch, especially as the tough steel held, the punctured 
 flesh burning like fire ; but fortunately the fellow was in 
 too great pain himself to press his advantage, and, as we 
 clinched and went down together, I chanced to be on 
 top, throttling him with right good-will. 
 
 That which followed was but a small matter, yet I left 
 him there, waiting the discovery of his comrades, in as 
 comfortable a posture as possible, confident he could 
 give no alarm. That Spaniard was a brave man, and I 
 have ever had respect for such. 
 
 [180] 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 
 
 MY attempt to recross the river proved difficult. 
 I had lost no small amount of blood from my 
 wound, which, besides weakening me, had so stiffened 
 my right shoulder as to render any strain upon the oars 
 a constant pain. Yet the excitement nerved me to the 
 effort, and, crushing down weakness by sheer force of 
 will, I drove the heavy boat straight through the low, 
 overhanging bushes on to the soft mud of the bank. 
 Before I could arise to my feet Madame was standing 
 beside the dripping prow, her great eyes staring at the 
 blood stains discoloring my doublet. 
 
 " You are hurt ! " she exclaimed, her lips white 
 with apprehension. "I beg you tell me, is it a serious 
 wound ? " 
 
 " Nay, the merest scratch, Madame," I answered 
 hastily, for it added to my pain to mark such anxiety in 
 her face. " Not worthy your thought, but I will ask 
 you to call the others at once, and have them load every 
 thing into the boat without delay. I will await you 
 here, as I find myself weak from loss of blood." 
 
 She stood gazing intently at me, as if she read my 
 most secret thoughts; and no doubt my face was suf 
 ficiently white to alarm her, yet I smiled back into her 
 
 [181] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 eyes, and she turned away, running lightly up the bank. 
 Nor was she long away, or noisy in her mission, scarcely 
 a minute having elapsed before the three came trooping 
 down to the water-side, their hands laden with camp 
 utensils, De Noyan wide awake enough, and filled with 
 intense interest in my adventures, but the Puritan yet 
 cock-eyed from sleep, stumbling as he walked like a man 
 in a dream. 
 
 "Take the oars, both of you," I said quietly, totally 
 ignoring the question in the eyes of the Chevalier. " I 
 have tasted a sword point, and am weakened from loss 
 of blood. Pull up the stream, and be swift and quiet 
 about it." 
 
 " Hast thou been smitten of the Philistine, friend 
 Benteen ? " loudly questioned Cairnes, stumbling noisily 
 across the seats. 
 
 " Time enough to tell my story when we are beyond 
 danger," I returned tartly, annoyed by his awkwardness. 
 " If you utter another word before we are around yonder 
 headland, I will have De Noyan hoist you overboard." 
 
 I saw him glance askance at the unconscious Chevalier 
 as if mentally calculating his ability to perform the feat. 
 Then his glinting gray eyes swept the sodden shore as 
 though vaguely wondering what it was we fled from in 
 such unseemly haste. Nor did I long withdraw my own 
 anxious gaze from that north bank, until we rounded the 
 bend in the stream, and were safely removed from view 
 of any one below. I was able to mark no sign of life 
 along the ridge, my faith reviving that the Spanish 
 sailors yet slept soundly, while as to their irate com 
 mander, I had trussed him with a thoroughness which 
 
WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 
 
 left me confident. Feeling reassured I finally yielded to 
 Eloise s entreaties, laying bare my breast and permitting 
 Madame to wash away the clotted blood and apply such 
 bandages as might easily be procured. She was extremely 
 gentle about it ; but I marvelled somewhat at the trem 
 bling of her white fingers and the pallor of her face, for it 
 was not a bad wound, De Noyan hesitating not to make 
 light of it, although he acknowledged it was a strong 
 wrist which drove the tuck in. Anyway, what with the 
 reaction and the loss of blood, I lay back quite spent, 
 telling over briefly those incidents that had occurred to 
 me while they slept. 
 
 cc And now," I said, addressing the Puritan, who was 
 seated at the bow-oar, where I could see nothing of him 
 except the bobbing of his red crop, " how do you know 
 this stream makes a circuit and approaches the mouth of 
 the Ohio ? It beareth a little to the west of north 
 here," 
 
 " It was the Spanish captain camping here as I passed 
 down," he answered, speaking abominably through his 
 nose. " They called him Castellane, a little fellow, with 
 pop-eyes, who pretended to light his pipe from my hair. 
 He pointed it out upon a map some black-frocked 
 papist had drawn. It was plain enough to the eye, but 
 t is likely they lied, for they were all spawns of Satan." 
 
 "True or false," I commented coolly," we seem likely 
 to find out. I have also heard somewhere no doubt 
 in the Illinois country about a northern trend to this 
 stream, and one thing is certain, there is no hope for us 
 otherwise; there can be no running those guard-lines 
 back yonder." 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 "Do you mean we push on up this river?" broke in 
 De Noyan, who had managed to make something out of 
 our conversation, especially as the Puritan illustrated his 
 knowledge by rudely tracing with a stumped forefinger a 
 map on the board where he sat. "Sacre! tis the dirtiest 
 red slough ever I navigated. Why not try the other 
 thing ? A brush with those gentlemen below would be 
 more to my taste." 
 
 "Ay, Master Benteen," boomed Cairnes with pious 
 emphasis, reading the meaning of the other through his 
 French gestures. "Methinks the Lord of Hosts would 
 assuredly strengthen the hearts of His servants for such 
 a fray. How many, friend, do you suppose they number, 
 those unwashed sons of Belial ? " 
 
 "I can only guess. There were twelve oars in the boat 
 passing us on the lower river, while four others sat with 
 guns in their hands; besides these are the Marquis de 
 Serrato and the Capuchin priest, making a total of 
 eighteen, all of whom we must reckon upon as being 
 fighting men at a pinch." 
 
 "Faith, merely enough to make the affair of interest," 
 muttered De Noyan, as I explained my words to him. 
 " Hardly enough even by your count, as the officer nurses 
 a cracked rib, while the priest would prove of small 
 moment when it came to blows. I am for bearing down 
 upon the knaves in sudden onset; it will require but a 
 crack or two ere the villains let us by." 
 
 " May the God of Battles place me within fair stroke 
 of that accursed gray-backed emissary of Rome," snorted 
 the Puritan, his red hair erect. " I promise, Master 
 Benteen, to smite as did David at Goliath." 
 
WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 
 
 I gazed uneasily about from where I lay at the feet of 
 Madame, only to perceive her eyes resting upon me as 
 if she waited anxiously my decision. 
 
 " Do not suppose," she said quickly as our glances 
 met, " that I shall shrink from the peril of encounter. 
 If it is best, you may trust me to do whatsoever may 
 become a daughter of France." 
 
 " Nor do we question it, Madame," I returned warmly, 
 noting the unrestrained flash of pride leaping into the 
 careless eyes of her husband at these brave words. " But 
 to invite such conflict in our present condition would be 
 sheer madness. There are only two men among us, for I 
 am but half a man, the rapier thrust has robbed me of so 
 large an amount of blood ; nor do we possess fit weapons 
 to wage battle against so well-armed a company as blocks 
 our passage. De Noyan sports his straight sword, which 
 would be well wielded at close quarters ; I possess my 
 rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which are 
 likely to be needed to save us from starving in this wilder 
 ness; while Cairnes here might indeed prove a strong 
 arm with the tuck I brought back with me, yet probably 
 knows nothing of the secrets of thrust and parry. Pish ! 
 t is not worth thinking about. Pit such an outfit as this 
 against eighteen well-armed men, for the Marquis can 
 shoot for all his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting 
 qualities of the priest, and the venture becomes too 
 difficult for parley. Nay," warming up as I noted the 
 hot-headed gallant preparing for speech, " nor is this all 
 we should have to contend with. Above, along the 
 upper river, there are at least three other expeditions of 
 Spanish soldiery. They are warned of De Noyan s 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 escape, already guarding every junction. Suppose we 
 succeeded which in itself would be a miracle in cut 
 ting our way out from here, could we hope to distance a 
 twelve-oared boat racing against the current, or escape a 
 clash with those others ? I know the difference between 
 a bold dash and the utter foolhardiness such a hopeless 
 venture as this would be." 
 
 " Sacre I you appear strangely over-cautious all at once/ 
 and I detected a covert sneer in the Chevalier s low, 
 drawling tone. " The Spaniard s blade must have let out 
 the best of your blood. Were you a soldier, now, instead 
 of a mere forest rover, the odds you mention would only 
 serve to stir you into action." 
 
 " Pardon, Monsieur," I said quietly, holding my 
 temper, " it may be I have seen harder service than 
 some who boast loudly their soldiership. It requires 
 more than a gay dress, with some skill in the fencing- 
 schools, to make a soldier in my country, nor do 1 believe 
 you will ever find me lagging when a proper time comes 
 to strike blows." 
 
 " So I supposed until now ; yet tis evident you would 
 have us continue toiling for weeks against this foul 
 current rather than strike one quick blow, and be free 
 from the mess." 
 
 " Nay, Monsieur," my voice coming stern in rebuke of 
 his rashness, " you are wrong. You know perfectly well, 
 De Noyan, I risk my life readily as any man in a good 
 cause. I have ranged the woods since boyhood, long 
 accustomed to border broil and battle there is scarcely 
 an Indian trail between the Great Lakes and the country 
 of the Creeks I have not followed either in peace or war. 
 
 [186] 
 
WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 
 
 I have faced savage foemen in battle, and crossed steel 
 with those of your own school, and although I may wear 
 no glittering gold lace, nor sport a title with which to 
 dazzle the imagination of a girl, yet the man venturing to 
 sneer at my courage, either amid the wilderness, or in the 
 town, makes answer for the speech, whenever I come to 
 my strength again." 
 
 " Always at your service, Monsieur," he murmured 
 gently, "with the greatest pleasure." 
 
 " Very well then," I went on, barely noting his words, 
 yet marking the look of distress on the face of his young 
 wife, and despising him for it. " Understand this, 
 Monsieur we make no battle here, whether it suit 
 your hot-brained desires or not. I dragged you from 
 the jaws of death at the request of her who sits in silence 
 yonder. I will never consent that your rashness now 
 draw her into the peril of such a melee as the attempt 
 to run that gantlet. Cairnes," I turned to face the 
 Puritan, sitting all this time with open mouth listening 
 to our quarrel, yet scarcely comprehending a word that 
 passed, "this gay French cockerel would throw us 
 against those eighteen men below, to fight our way from 
 here to the Ohio, as if the Spaniards between were so many 
 buzzing mosquitoes, and you are not greatly averse to 
 trying that same experiment." 
 
 "It would be a godly and pious service to smite so 
 black and Papist a crew." 
 
 "No doubt of that; yet, Master Cairnes, you are 
 scarcely the sort who would involve a lady in such broil, 
 when, if we escaped at first, the chances are we should 
 have wounded to care for, or, perchance, be prisoners 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 borne southward under Spanish guard a contingency 
 not over-pleasant, I imagine, to a preacher of your faith." 
 
 I saw him twist his little eyes as if in petition for guid 
 ance, while he ran his hand nervously through his red 
 hair before venturing a reply. 
 
 cc It must ever be as the Lord wills, friend Benteen," 
 he returned soberly, De Noyan surveying the fellow as 
 he might some strange animal whose ways he did not 
 understand. " I am not one to draw back my hand 
 once upon the plough. Yet I have found you of a level 
 and cool head in matters of judgment, and it is meet we 
 exercise due care over this rare flower of womanhood 
 who shares our dangers. I like not the hard pull up 
 this swift current," he cast anxious eyes at the swirling 
 stream. " It is not clear into what additional peril it 
 may lead, nor do I feel gifted at the oars, now the 
 provisions bid fair to become somewhat scant." 
 
 I waited for no more. 
 
 " The Puritan sufficiently agrees with me," I announced 
 to De Noyan firmly. " We will pull on up this stream 
 until we learn its true trend, and are beyond Spanish 
 overhauling. It will be best to lose no time in placing 
 a good stretch of water behind us." 
 
 During this controversy our boat had drifted against 
 the southern bank, its side softly scraping the mud, its 
 bow entangled amid the roots of an overhanging bush. 
 To my surprise the Chevalier, instead of picking up his 
 oar, grasped a bit of the projecting root, and, sword 
 dangling after him, coolly stepped forth upon dry land. 
 
 " You and your cursed canting preacher can do as you 
 please," he announced carelessly, staring down at us, 
 
 [188] 
 
WE CHANGE OUR COURSE 
 
 " but if you desire to retain me as one of this interesting 
 party, you will wait until I return." 
 
 " Surely, man, you do not propose attacking the 
 Spaniards single-handed? This is sheer madness." 
 
 He laughed lightly at the look of consternation on my 
 face, twisting his moustache between his white fingers, 
 his good humor instantly restored. 
 
 " Nay, most valiant hunter of game," he returned 
 gayly. "Le diablel you appear as horrified as your hell- 
 fire friend yonder at sight of a crucifix. Sacre ! I am 
 not such a fool. I know when the odds are too great, 
 even although I wear a uniform. Still, should I chance 
 to meet obstruction during my ramble, it is not likely I 
 shall run from it without a pass or two. I merely return 
 to our camp, and will be back presently, if naught 
 unpleasant occur." 
 
 " Our camp ? You deliberately venture your life, and 
 ours as well, from mere bravado ? " 
 
 " Bravado ! Sacre ! you do wrong to use such term. 
 T is of far greater moment than that I seek the curling 
 iron I have just missed from out my toilet-bag. I mind 
 me now I laid it beside the tree while I slept." 
 
 Before I could recover speech to stay him, he vanished 
 into the thick cane. It was a difficult task to make the 
 practical-headed old Puritan comprehend the nature of 
 his quest, and when it slowly dawned upon him for what 
 trivial matter the Frenchman undertook so desperate a 
 journey, there came across his seamed and withered face 
 so odd a look of complete disgust, I laughed outright in 
 my nervousness, discovering some slight response in the 
 amused eyes of Madame. It proved a good hour before 
 
 [189] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 the Chevalier returned, somewhat bedraggled of attire, 
 yet with his prize dangling at the belt, and dropped 
 wearily upon a seat within the boat. 
 
 " T is time to move," he answered, responding to my 
 look of inquiry. " They were at the camp when I left ; 
 and appeared in ill humor, from what little I could 
 understand of their Spanish mouthings. They had just 
 released the noble Marquis from where you trussed 
 him upon the rock, and his language has given me a 
 headache." 
 
 [190] 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 
 
 I FIND it poor work transcribing so much regarding 
 myself in recounting these small adventures, yet how 
 else may I tell the story rightly ? This all occurred so 
 long ago the young man of whom I write seems hardly 
 the same old man who puts pen to paper. The impres 
 sion grows upon me that I merely narrate incidents 
 which befell a friend I once knew, but who has long 
 since passed from my vision. 
 
 It was wearying work, toiling up the muddy Arkansas, 
 and in the end disastrous. Occasionally, for miles at a 
 stretch, our hearts were gladdened by a curve toward the 
 northward, yet we drew westerly so much we became 
 fearful lest the Jesuit had made false report on the main 
 course of the stream. Every league plunged us deeper 
 into strange, desolate country, until we penetrated regions 
 perhaps never before looked upon by men of our race. 
 The land became more attractive, the sickly marsh giving 
 place to wide, undulating plains richly decorated with 
 wild grasses, abloom with flowers, bordered by a thick 
 fringe of wood. Toward the end of our journeying by 
 boat, after we had passed two cliffs upreared above the 
 water, the higher rising sheer for two hundred feet, we 
 perceived to the northward vast chains of hills rising in 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 dull brown ridges against the sky-line, seemingly crowned 
 with rare forest growth to their very summits. During 
 all these days and nights in only two things could we 
 deem ourselves fortunate we discovered no signs of 
 roving savages, while wild animals were sufficiently nu 
 merous to supply all our needs. 
 
 Three days journey beyond the great cliff for we 
 voyaged now during the daylight, making camp at night 
 fall I became convinced of the utter futility of further 
 effort. By this time I had recovered sufficiently from 
 my wound to assume a share of labor at the oars, and 
 was pulling that afternoon, so my eyes could glance past 
 the fiery red crop of the Puritan, who held the after-oar, 
 to where the Captain and Madame rested in the stern. 
 I remarked De Noyan s dissatisfied stare along the 
 featureless shore we skirted, and the lines of care and 
 trouble becoming daily more manifest upon Madame s 
 face. Thus studying the two, I cast about in my own 
 mind for some possible plan of escape. 
 
 They had been conversing together in low tones, so 
 low, indeed, no words reached me, while the preacher 
 knew nothing of the language employed. Nevertheless 
 I could guess its purport. It was sufficiently clear to all 
 of us that we merely wasted strength longer breasting the 
 swift current of this river, and were constantly drawing 
 farther from our goal. Yet I was of proud spirit in 
 those days, finding it not easy to swallow my hastily 
 spoken words, so I continued to pull steadily at the 
 heavy oars, not seeing clearly how best to conquer 
 myself, confess my former mistake, and advise retreat. 
 Fortunately a stronger influence than false pride urged 
 
 [192] 
 
WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 
 
 me to action. Marking again how sadly Eloise drooped 
 her sobered face above the water, it put the heart of a 
 man in me to acknowledge my error, offering such 
 amends as were still possible. 
 
 It seems simple enough, yet it was not so small a 
 struggle, nor did I fully win the battle over stubbornness 
 until the gray of evening began wrapping about us hazy 
 folds of cloud, the time coming when we must seek suit 
 able night camp. It was then I found tongue, even 
 while glancing across my shoulder, through the shadows, 
 searching for a landing-place. As if all this were yester 
 day, I recall the scene. Everything swam in the gray 
 haze, which, settling across the water, shut off from view 
 much of the land. We were nearly abreast of where a 
 smaller stream came leaping down from the right to hurl 
 its clear current far out into the muddy river. So rapid 
 was this discharge, the waters about us were thrown into 
 turmoil, tossing our boat like a cork, causing Madame to 
 grasp the rail nervously. Its narrow mouth was partially 
 concealed by overhanging shrubbery, so we were well 
 within the sweep of its invading waters before I could 
 conjecture the force with which it came. Through the 
 dim light, confusing to the eyes, I sought to peer ahead. 
 The hills, huddled much closer to the shore, appeared 
 rough in their rocky outlines, while the heavy underbrush, 
 clinging tightly to the water-side, offered nothing in the 
 way of a suitable camping-spot. Beyond the tumultuous 
 sweep of this northern tributary, however, I discovered a 
 considerable patch of grass, overshadowed by giant trees, 
 and there I made selection of the spot which should 
 complete our upward voyage. 
 
 13 [193] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Steer us in toward yonder green bank, Madame," I 
 called to Eloise, " where you see that group of trees 
 through the fog. God willing, it shall prove our last 
 camp before we turn east and south once more." 
 
 It did my heart good to observe the sudden brighten 
 ing of her face at these words of promise, as if they came 
 in direct answer to prayer. I understood then how 
 weary she was with our toil, how cruel I had been to 
 hold her so long at it. She had given utterance to no 
 complaint ; even now, it was not her voice which wel 
 comed my decision. It was the Chevalier, seldom failing 
 in ready speech, whose careless tongue rasped me with 
 quick retort. 
 
 " Ah, so you have really come to your senses, Ben- 
 teen," he cried eagerly. " 1 thought it would not be 
 much longer after you were able to get grip upon an oar. 
 Our red-headed friend has slow tongue of late, yet I 
 warrant he has little love for such man-killing work ; so 
 a turn-about will be the vote of us all. Saint Anne! 
 tis the happiest word to ring in my ears since this 
 cursed trip began." 
 
 Nothing tests the innate quality of a man like the 
 wilderness. However bold of heart, if every utterance is 
 a complaint he will prove a constant hardship. I doubted 
 not both De Noyan and the Puritan would show them 
 selves true men if emergency confronted us; but in the 
 daily plodding routine of travel the Chevalier gave way 
 to little worries, jerking along in the harness of necessity 
 like an ill-broken colt ; while Cairnes, who pulled steadily 
 in sullen discontent, was much the better comrade of 
 the two. 
 
 [194] 
 
WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 
 
 " Call it what you please," I answered shortly, never 
 removing my gaze from the pleased face of Madame, 
 thus keeping better control over my tongue. " I have 
 become convinced the map of the Jesuit priest lied, and 
 this stream runs not northward. It is useless pushing 
 any farther." 
 
 "Where, then?" 
 
 " Back, of course. To drift down-stream will be easy 
 now we know something of the current. We return to 
 the junction of the rivers, where we left the Spaniards 
 t is hardly probable they are still there ; but if they are, 
 then we must trust to our stout arms, and have faith in 
 
 the right. By heavens ! Cairnes, what mean you ? 
 
 Damme, man, would you overturn the boat?" 
 
 This hasty word of expostulation had hardly left my 
 lips before the Puritan scuttled clumsily overboard, his 
 red hair cropping out of the seething water like a rare 
 growth of fungus. Another instant, and the full shock 
 of that racing current struck our bow, hurling it about 
 as if the trembling boat were an eggshell. Over him we 
 went, his pudgy fingers digging vainly for some holding- 
 place along the slippery planks, his eyes staring up in 
 terror. 
 
 " For God s sake, cling tight, Eloise ! " 
 
 I heard this shout of warning from De Noyan as he fell 
 backward into the water, which, luckily, was scarcely above 
 his waist. Helpless to prevent the plunge, I joined 
 company at the bow, going down well over my head 
 without finding footing, and coming to the surface face 
 to face with the Puritan, who was spluttering out river 
 water and scraps of Calvinistic speech, striving madly to 
 
 [195] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 lay hold on some portion of the boat, now spinning away 
 on the swift flood. It was no time to seek explanation 
 from any man wrathful as Cairnes appeared to be, so I 
 devoted my attention to doing the one thing left us, 
 keeping the crazy craft upright to save Madame and 
 the cargo. Nor was this an easy task. Seldom have I 
 breasted such angry, boiling surge as beat against us 
 there was no fronting it for those of us beyond our 
 depths, while even De Noyan, making a manful struggle, 
 was forced slowly back into deeper water, where he floun 
 dered helpless as the rest It spun us about like so 
 many tops, until I heard a great crunching of timbers, 
 accompanied by a peculiar rasping which caused my 
 heart to stop its pulsation. All at once the heavy bow 
 swung around. Caught by it, I was hurled flat against 
 the face of a black rock, and squeezed so tightly between 
 stone and planking I thought my ribs must crack. 
 
 It was then I noted Cairnes, struggling just beyond 
 me, reaching backward with his foot until he found pur 
 chase against the stone, then lifting his great crop to 
 gaze about, sweeping the moisture from his eyes. He 
 braced one mighty shoulder against the boat s side, with 
 such a heave as I never supposed lay in the muscles of 
 any man ; swung that whole dead weight free of the 
 rock, and ere the dancing craft, we clinging desperately 
 to it, had made two circles in the mad boiling, I felt my 
 feet strike bottom, and stood upright, ready to do my 
 share again. 
 
 "Are you safe, Madame?" I questioned anxiously, 
 for I could see no signs of her presence from where I 
 stood, and she uttered no sound. 
 
WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 
 
 " I am uninjured," she returned, " but the boat takes 
 water freely. I fear a plank has given way." 
 
 " Par bleu!" sputtered De Noyan, with a great sound 
 of coughing. "So have I taken water freely. Sacrel I 
 have gulped down enough of the stuff to last me the 
 remainder of life." 
 
 " Hold your wit until we are safe ashore, Monsieur," 
 I commented shortly, for as I stood the strain was heavy 
 on my arms. " Push toward the right, both of you, or 
 the boat will sink before we can beach her ; she takes 
 water like a sieve." 
 
 We slowly won our way backward, the effort requiring 
 every pound of our combined strength, De Noyan and 
 I tugging breathlessly at the stern, the sectary doing 
 yeoman service at the bow. Yet the effort told, bring 
 ing us into quieter water, although we upbore the entire 
 weight of the boat on our shoulders after we made firm 
 footing. The water poured in so rapidly Madame was 
 for going overboard also, but we persuaded her to remain. 
 Anyway, we drove the prow against the bank at last, 
 and, as I rested, panting from exertion, I observed the 
 others dragging themselves wearily ashore. Cairnes was 
 a sight, with his great mat of red hair soaked with black 
 mud, which had oozed down over his face, so as to 
 leave it almost unrecognizable. He shook himself like a 
 shaggy water-dog after a bath, flinging himself down full 
 length with a growl. De Noyan fared somewhat better, 
 coming ashore with a smile, even trolling the snatch of a 
 song as he climbed the bank, but his gay military cap, 
 without which, jauntily perched upon one side of his 
 head, I had scarcely before seen him, had gone floating 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 down-stream, and the fierce upward curl of his long 
 moustachios had vanished. They hung now limp, leav 
 ing so little a la militaire in his appearance that I had to 
 smile, noting the look of surprise in Madame s eyes as 
 he gallantly assisted her to the dry grass, before flinging 
 himself flat for a breathing spell. 
 
 " God guide us ! " I exclaimed, so soon as I could trust 
 myself to speak. " This is a hard ending to all our toil, 
 nor do I understand how it came about." 
 
 "Sacrel" commented De Noyan, glancing across at 
 the fellow. " It looked to me as if yonder canting 
 preacher either was taken with a fit, or sought to make 
 ending here of two papists." 
 
 I turned to face the grim-faced sectary, still too thor 
 oughly winded by his late exertions to try the lift of a 
 Psalm. 
 
 " See here, sirrah," I began angrily in English, " per 
 haps you will explain what sort of a Connecticut trick 
 you attempted to play there in the current?" 
 
 He twisted his narrow eyes in my direction, apparently 
 studying the full meaning of my words before venturing 
 an answer. 
 
 " I know not what you mean, friend," he returned at 
 last, in that deep booming voice of his. " Did I not 
 perform my work with the best of ye ? " 
 
 " Ay, you were man enough after we went overboard, 
 but why, in the name of all the fiends, did you make so 
 foul a leap, bringing us into such imminent peril ? " The 
 gleam of his eyes was no longer visible, but I marked 
 the rise of his great shoulders, his voice rumbling angrily, 
 like distant thunder, as he made reply. 
 
WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT 
 
 " Why did I make the leap, you unregenerated infidel, 
 you thick-headed heretic ? Why did I ? Better were I 
 to ask why you ran the boat s nose into that bubbling 
 hell. Why did I ? What else saved us losing every 
 pound we carried, together with the woman, you cock 
 eyed spawn of the devil, only that Ezekiel Cairnes pos 
 sessed sufficient sense to throw himself in the way, 
 upbearing the bulk of the strain ? The water was some 
 what deeper than I supposed, and my feet found no 
 bottom, yet t was the best thing to do, and the only 
 hope of steadying the boat. Better for you and that 
 grinning papist yonder to be on your knees thanking the 
 Almighty He sent you a man this day, than lie there 
 like so many hooked cods, gasping for breath with which 
 to abuse one of the Lord s anointed. Yet t is but right 
 eous judgment visited upon me for consorting with 
 papists and unbelievers." 
 
 Feeling the possible justice of his claim I hastened to 
 make amends to the wrathful and worthy man. 
 
 " You may be right," I admitted slowly. " Certainly 
 we will return thanks for deliverance each in his own 
 way. As for me, I greatly regret having mistrusted 
 your act. Perhaps it was best, yet I think we have 
 small chance ever to use this boat again. It appears 
 badly injured. However, we must await daylight to note 
 the damage. In the meantime, let us make shift to 
 camp ; a hot fire will dry our limbs and clothing, and 
 put us in better humor for the morrow." 
 
 [ 991 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A HARD DAY S MARCH 
 
 THE dawn came with rosy promise of a fair day, a 
 frost lying white over the grass-land, sufficient nip 
 in the air to stir the blood. Before the others were 
 aroused I examined the boat, which rested high in the 
 mud where we had heaved it the evening previous. The 
 cruel rent in the solid planking was such as to afford 
 little hope of our ever being able to repair it. How the 
 accident occurred I did not rightly comprehend, but we 
 had been cast ashore on the western bank of that swift 
 maelstrom. In the light of dawn, I gazed forth upon 
 the whirlpool extending between the rock against which 
 we had struck and the bank where I stood, in speech 
 less wonder at the miracle of our rescue. Standing there 
 in silence broken only by the wild tumult of the waters, 
 I thought of Eloise tossed helpless in their merciless 
 grip, and bowed my head humbly above the shattered 
 boat, offering up a heartfelt petition. I was not in those 
 days a man of prayer, yet the germ of my father s robust 
 faith was ever in my blood, and love teaches many a 
 good lesson. Certainly I felt better within my own heart 
 for that instant of communion under the paling stars. 
 
 My head was yet bowed over the gunwale when the 
 heavy footsteps of the Puritan sounded close at hand. 
 
 [200] 
 
A HARD DAY S MARCH 
 
 I could not fail to remark a softness in his deep voice as 
 he spoke, resting one hand upon my shoulder. 
 
 " Thou knowest not, friend Benteen, how it gladdens 
 my old heart to find thee before the throne of grace. I 
 fear thou art not greatly accustomed to look up unto 
 God in time of trouble, yet doing so can never weaken 
 thy arm for the moment of trial. Acknowledge the Lord 
 of Hosts, nor dream thou wilt ever prove less of a man 
 because thy heart responds to His many mercies." 
 
 "You speak truly," I returned soberly, feeling a new 
 respect for him in that hour. " There is no better way 
 in which to start the day ; and, unless my eyes deceive 
 me, this bids fair to prove a day of sore trial. Have 
 you looked to the damage done the boat? " 
 
 " Nay," he returned earnestly, bending low to examine 
 the rent. " I slept like a man in drink, and even now 
 am scarcely well awakened. Tis, indeed, a serious 
 break, friend ; one, I fear, which will prove beyond our 
 remedying." 
 
 " Have you skill with tools ? " 
 
 " It is one of my gifts ; yet of what use in the wilder 
 ness where tools are not to be found? However, I will 
 see what may be done, after we break our fast there is 
 little accomplished working on an empty stomach." 
 
 It was a morning of sorrowful labor ; from the begin 
 ning a perfectly hopeless one. The planking had been 
 so badly crushed that a portion was actually ground into 
 powder, leaving a great gaping hole. To patch this we 
 possessed no tool to shape the wood properly, or, indeed, 
 any wood to shape, except the seats of the oarsmen. 
 Nor did we possess nails. More than one expedient 
 
 [201] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 was resorted to with bits of canvas, wooden pegs, or 
 whatsoever else we could lay hands upon, but our 
 efforts resulted each time in sickening failure. At last, 
 long before the sun had attained the zenith, the old 
 preacher looked up, disappointment written on every 
 line of his rough face, to say grimly : 
 
 " We waste toil, friends ; the boat floats no more for 
 all our labors. Nor do I deem it the will of the Lord 
 we longer continue to wear ourselves out in vain effort 
 to undo His work." 
 
 He wiped the beads of perspiration from his low 
 forehead, pushing his hand through his matted hair. 
 
 " Were it not for the woman," he added more cheer 
 fully, " the accident would not be so bad either. I am 
 cramped by long boat service, and would welcome a stiff 
 tramp to loosen out the joints of my legs." 
 
 I glanced across uneasily at Madame, for we were all 
 seated on the grass in the sunshine, but could perceive 
 nothing except encouragement in the clear depths of her 
 brave eyes. 
 
 " Fear nothing on my account," she said quietly, 
 instantly reading my thoughts as if my face were an 
 open book. " I am strong, and shall not greatly mind 
 the walking." 
 
 " At least you are strong of heart," I returned gravely. 
 " But such a trip as now lies before us will test your 
 power of endurance greatly. Yet what must be done is 
 best done quickly, and there are unpleasant memories 
 clustering about this spot, making me anxious to leave 
 it before another night. Let each one speak frankly his 
 thought as to our future course, so we may choose the 
 
 [202] 
 
A HARD DAY S MARCH 
 
 route aright. De Noyan, you are a soldier, accus 
 tomed to places of difficulty and peril. What would 
 you suggest ? " 
 
 He was lying flat upon his back, hands clasped beneath 
 his head, puffs of white smoke from his pipe curling lazily 
 up into the blue sky ; nor did he remove the stem from 
 between his lips as he made easy answer. 
 
 " Faith, man, my service on campaign has ever been 
 with the horse ; nor am I fond of using my own limbs 
 for travelling. It would be far easier, I think, to knock 
 up the old boat here ; then, with whatsoever else we 
 might find in this God-forsaken wilderness, construct 
 some sort of raft to upbear our company, and so drift 
 down with the stream. Par bleu ! it would be a relief 
 from those cursed oars. If the load be too heavy, the 
 preacher can be left behind ; t would be small loss." 
 
 "Your plan sounds bravely in words, Chevalier, but 
 were we to attempt it, we should soon find ourselves in 
 more serious stress than now, ay ! before we had 
 covered the first day s journey. My Calvinistic friend, 
 what advice have you for our guidance ? " 
 
 The sectary s eyes were fastened upon the ragged line 
 of hills at our back, and for the moment he made no 
 response, his seamed face grave with thought. 
 
 " How far, Master Benteen," he queried finally, " do 
 you make it from here to the mouth of this river?" 
 
 " Not much short of sixty leagues," I answered, after 
 a bit of thinking. " The stream bends and twists so it 
 is difficult to judge the true distance." 
 
 "It was a grievous journey," he admitted with a groan, 
 "one I care not to travel again, unless it be revealed 
 
 [203] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 plainly to me as the will of the Lord. I name the dis 
 tance full seventy leagues. What has been the main 
 direction of our course ? " 
 
 " To north of west." 
 
 " Ay ! Are we, think you, thirty leagues to northward 
 of where we left the Spaniards ? " 
 
 " I should say yes ; maybe ten leagues more." 
 
 " I doubt the extra ten, but even at thirty it would be 
 foolishness to retrace all that hard- won distance merely 
 for the sake of keeping in sight of this muddy stream, the 
 very water of which is unfit for Christian stomach, and 
 of no value otherwise. Tis my vote we strike directly 
 east and north, following as straight a trail as possible 
 until we find the great river. It should be as easy travel 
 ling as along this bank, and will bring us out above the 
 Spanish lines of guard." 
 
 I know not how long I sat there gazing silently into 
 his impassive leathern face, turning over within my own 
 mind the argument of his words. He was neither woods 
 man nor mountaineer, yet possessed some judgment. 
 Thus considering, I saw but one possible objection to his 
 plan lack of water or of game along the unknown route 
 to be traversed. But serious scarcity of either was hardly 
 to be expected at this season among the mountains, while 
 the weary leagues of southing thus saved would make no 
 small difference in the length and time of our journey. 
 
 " It appears to me our best hope," I admitted candidly. 
 " It will involve clambering over rocks, yet yonder range 
 does not appear high, nor of a width to keep us long in 
 its shadow ; besides, the lower reaches of this river are 
 marshy leagues upon leagues, and to my mind walking 
 
 [204] 
 
A HARD DAY S MARCH 
 
 will be easier if we take higher ground. It is all guess 
 work at the best. We know how impassable the trail 
 will be below, and, even if we retrace our steps down the 
 river, we shall have to make a wide detour to cross this 
 mad stream. But wait; we have heard no word from 
 Madame de Noyan." 
 
 She also was looking upon those cool, blue hills, 
 apparently close at hand, but turned instantly at my 
 addressing her, making quick and confident answer. 
 
 "My word is only this, Geoffrey Ben teen : you are a 
 woodsman, better capable of such decision than any 
 woman whose life has been lived within the town. I go 
 cheerfully wheresoever your choice lies." 
 
 It has ever been a source of strength to me to be 
 thoroughly trusted by some other, and I instantly arose 
 to my feet, feeling a new man under the inspiration of 
 these heartsome words. 
 
 " Then that matter is decided," I announced, a ring of 
 confidence in my voice. " We will break bread once 
 more, and then commence our journey." 
 
 " Sacre!" ejaculated the Captain, yet lolling upon his 
 back, " if it be like that same biscuit I had an hour since, 
 breaking it will prove no small matter." 
 
 The blazing sun stood an hour low in the west when 
 we divided our small stock of necessaries so as to trans 
 port them, and, with merely a last regretful glance at the 
 damaged boat which had been our home so long, turned 
 our faces hopefully toward those northern hills, com 
 mencing a journey destined to prove for more than one 
 a trip unto death. God s way is best, and there is a noble 
 purpose in it all; for had we that day been enabled to 
 
 [205] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 view the future, not a single step would we have taken, 
 nor should I have had in my memory a tale worthy 
 of being written down. 
 
 I led the little company, bearing rifle in hand, keeping 
 vigilant outlook for game ; De Noyan followed, where he 
 might easily afford aid to his wife if she required the 
 strength of his arm along the rough path ; while the old 
 Puritan, grumbling ever to himself, lumbered along well 
 in the rear, although we were careful to keep within speak 
 ing distance of each other. We traversed a gently rising 
 slope of grass land, with numerous rocks scattered over 
 its surface, keeping as close as possible along the bank of 
 the brawling stream, that we might make use of its nar 
 row valley through the rocky bluffs, which threatened to 
 bar our passage. These were no great distance away, so 
 a steady gait I set the pace slow not to distress Madame, 
 who was cramped from long sitting within the boat 
 brought us in an hour to where our narrowing path was 
 overhung and darkened by the closing in of gloomy 
 mountain heights upon either side. It had an awesome 
 look, like the yawning mouth of a cave, opening to 
 intense darkness and mysterious danger. I saw a look 
 almost of terror in Madame s eyes as she gazed, yet her 
 lips uttered no protest, and I flung aside a desire to 
 shrink back, with a muttered curse at my own folly. Saint 
 Andrew! it is odd how superstition grips the best of us. 
 Those rock walls, binding us within their scant confines 
 as in a prison, were not particularly precipitous or high, 
 yet our way was sufficiently perilous, leading along a con 
 tracted defile, the merest chasm, indeed, steep cliffs rising 
 sheer on either side, merely the raging stream and a 
 
A HARD DAY S MARCH 
 
 ribbonlike path between. The slight expanse of sky 
 above was blue and clear, but it was sombre and gloomy 
 enough down in that black hollow, where we made 
 difficult progress amid loose bowlders. 
 
 Where this snake-like ravine widened out slightly we 
 made choice for our first camp. We reached there near 
 the sunset hour, although the sun itself had utterly van 
 ished from our view long before, and we moved forward 
 amid a semi-darkness most depressing. On the spot 
 selected the towering wall of rock on our side of the 
 little river overhung sufficiently to form a comfortable 
 shelter at its base. I *had a goodly supply of fresh pine 
 boughs strewn so as to form a soft bed, while the Puritan 
 busied himself gathering together ample materials for a 
 fire, the reflected light of which caused the deep chasm 
 where we rested to appear more gloomy than before, 
 while scurrying night clouds closed us in as if imprisoned 
 within a grave. 
 
 That evening was not devoted to much conversation. 
 We were alike wearied from our long tramp, heavy- 
 hearted, and strangely depressed by the desolate gloom 
 of the rock cavern in which we lay. Even De Noyan 
 yielded to this spirit of brooding and, after a faint effort 
 at forced gayety, crept silently to his sleeping-place. The 
 other two were not long in following him. I was thus 
 left alone to keep the first watch of the night. Four 
 lonelier, more miserable hours I do not remember serv 
 ing at the call of duty. The round moon crept slowly 
 through the black sky, until its soft, silvery beams rested, 
 brighter than daylight had been in that gorge, in glowing 
 radiance along the surface of the smooth, gleaming wall 
 
 [207] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 opposite, yet merely succeeded in rendering more weird 
 and uncanny the sombre desolation. The night wind 
 arose, causing the shadows of clinging pines to sway back 
 and forth like spectral figures, while a solemn silence, 
 awesome in its intensity, brooded over all, broken only 
 by the noise of tumbling water, with occasional rasping 
 of boughs against the face of the cliff. The fire died 
 away into a few red embers, occasionally fanned into 
 uncertain flame by breaths of air sucked up the gorge. 
 By the time my guard ended I was so thoroughly 
 unstrung that each flitting glimpse of deeper shadow 
 tempted me to fire. 
 
 It was at midnight, or as close to that hour as I was 
 capable of judging, when I aroused De Noyan and 
 crawled into his place on the bed of boughs. I lay there 
 watching him a brief space, as he walked over to the 
 stream and plunged his face into the cool water. The 
 last I recall previous to dropping off into deep slumber 
 was how large his shadow loomed, silhouetted in the 
 bright moonshine against a huge black bowlder directly 
 in my front. 
 
 I know not the hour, yet I noted, even in awakening, 
 that the moon had already passed from out the narrow 
 ribbon of sky above, although still fringing in silver 
 beauty the sharp summit of the crest, when a quick, 
 nervous pressure upon my arm awoke me with a start 
 of alarm. Lying at full length, his head uplifted, was 
 De Noyan. 
 
 " Keep still, Benteen," he whispered, his voice vibrant 
 with excitement, "and look yonder. In the name of all 
 the fiends, what is that ? " 
 
 [208] 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 1HAVE been free from superstitious terror as most 
 men, yet there were few in those days who did not 
 yield to the sway of the supernatural. Occasionally, 
 among those of higher education, there may have been 
 leaders of thought who had shaken off these ghostly 
 chains of the dark ages, seeking amid the laws of nature 
 a solution for all the seeming mysteries in human life. 
 Yet it could scarcely be expected a plain wood-ranger 
 should rise altogether above the popular spell which still 
 made of the Devil a very potent personality. 
 
 Consequently, as my anxious eyes uplifted toward the 
 spot where De Noyan pointed, it need be no occasion 
 for wonder that my blood turned to ice in my veins, and 
 I felt convinced I looked upon His Satanic Majesty. 
 The vast wall of rock, arising a sheer hundred feet 
 directly opposite to where we lay, appeared densely black 
 now in the shadow, but as my glance swept higher along 
 its irregularity, the upper edge, jagged from outcropping 
 stones, stood clearly revealed in the full silver sheen of 
 the moon, each exposed line, carven as from marble, 
 standing distinctly forth in delicate tracery against the 
 background of the night sky. 
 
 Appearing to my affrighted eyes the gigantic form 
 of two men strangely merged into one, there uprose on 
 4 [209] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 that summit a figure so odd, weird, and grimly fantastic, 
 it was small wonder I gazed, never thinking it could be 
 other than the Evil One. It was unclothed from head 
 to heel, and, gleaming ghastly white beneath the moon 
 beams, it brought no Indian suggestion to mind. High 
 above the head, causing the latter to appear hideously 
 deformed, arose something the nature of which I could 
 not rightly judge. It reminded me of a vast mat of hair 
 sticking directly upward, ever waving back and forth to 
 the breath of the night wind. Nor did this horrid figure 
 remain one moment still. There upon the very edge of 
 the precipice, it would leap high into the air, flinging 
 aloft long gaunt arms, even appearing to float bodily 
 forth into the space above us, to disappear instantly, like 
 some phantom of imagination, amid the shrouding gloom 
 of those rock shadows flitting swiftly, and as upon 
 wings, along the crest ; now showing directly in our 
 front, looming like a threatening giant, mocking with 
 wild, furious gestures ; then dancing far to right or left, 
 a vague shade in the sheen, a mere nothing in the 
 shadow, yet ever returning, the same weird, unnatural, 
 spectral figure, wildly gyrating upon the air, leering down 
 upon our speechless misery. 
 
 My eyes, wide-opened by terror, followed these move 
 ments, marking this ghastly shape. I listened vainly for 
 the slightest sound to connect it with aught human. 
 The mantle of the night s solemn silence, the dread 
 stillness of wilderness solitudes, rested everywhere. I 
 heard the mournful sighing of the wind amid jagged rocks 
 and among the swaying branches of the cedars ; the dull 
 roar of the little river, even the stentorian breathing of 
 
 [210] 
 
DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 the Puritan lying asleep behind us, but that was all. 
 That hideous apparition dancing so madly along the cliff 
 summit emitted no sound of foot or voice yet there it 
 hung, foreboding evil, gesticulating in mockery ; a being 
 too hideous for earth, ever playing the mad antics of a 
 fiend. 
 
 My gaze rested questioningly upon De Noyan s 
 upturned face, and saw it ghost-like in lack of color, 
 drawn and haggard. Mine no doubt was the same, for 
 never have I felt such uncontrollable horror as that 
 which, for the moment, fairly paralyzed me in brain and 
 limb. It is the mysterious that appals brave men, for 
 who of earth might hope to struggle against the very 
 fiends of the air? 
 
 " Mon Dieu I " whispered my comrade, his voice shaking 
 as if from an ague fit. " Is it not Old Nick himself? " 
 
 " If not," I answered, my words scarce steadier, " then 
 some one must tell me what ; never before did I gaze on 
 such a sight. Has it been there long? " 
 
 " I know not whence it came, or how. I was not 
 watching the crest. After I bathed at the stream to 
 open my eyes better, I began overhauling the commissary 
 for a bite with which to refresh the inner man. I was 
 sitting yonder, my back against the big stone, munching 
 away contentedly, humming the words of a song to keep 
 me awake, when I chanced to glance up to mark the 
 position of the moon, and there that hell s imp danced in 
 the sheen as he has been dancing ever since. Sacrel it 
 was the bravest deed of my life to crawl here and awaken 
 you ; the devilish thing did charm me as a snake does 
 a bird." 
 
 [aii] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 The mere sound of human speech put new heart into 
 me, yet I found it difficult to avert my eyes from that 
 fantastic figure. 
 
 " If that is the Devil/ I said more composedly, still 
 enthralled by the baleful presence, "surely we have 
 neither of us done so much evil as to make us especially 
 his victims." 
 
 As I concluded these words, my courage creeping 
 back, a sudden rustling among the pines at our back 
 startled us to glance around. Out of the gloom of the 
 rock shelter a figure uplifted itself on all fours, and the 
 faint light of a star glimmered directly down upon an up 
 raised, terror-stricken face. Before either De Noyan ^r 
 myself could mutter a hasty warning, the half-awakened 
 preacher sent his great, gruff voice booming out into the 
 air : 
 
 " O Lord God of Israel deliver Thy servant from 
 destruction and the clutch of the Evil One. O Lord 
 God of " 
 
 I flung myself on him, clutching his brawny throat, 
 throttling his speech into a vain gurgle. The fellow 
 made so fierce a struggle, mistaking me for an assistant 
 of the fiend, my fierce hold was jerked loose, and I was 
 hurled heavily backward at full length upon the stones, 
 striking with no pleasant force upon my shoulder. 
 
 " Verily have I overcome the Devil by Thy strength, 
 
 Lord ! " he began fervently. 
 
 " Be still, you red-headed Connecticut fool," I com 
 manded sharply, now thoroughly aroused. " Stop, or 
 
 1 11 drive into you a leaden slug to silence that blundering 
 tongue of yours for good and all. Get up from your 
 
 [212] 
 
DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 knees there, and play the man. If needs be you must 
 pray, keep grip on that bull voice of yours. * 
 
 "It makes small odds now," chimed in De Noyan 
 with easier tone. " The Devil, or what, has disappeared 
 from the rock." 
 
 I glanced up at his words, to find them true. The 
 sky was assuming a faint grayish tinge, as if the dawn 
 were near. The vanishing of that spectral figure relieved 
 us greatly, while the steady coming of daylight revived 
 those spirits upon which the haunted night had rested 
 grimly. Nevertheless I felt it incumbent to speak some 
 what harshly to the yet sulking sectary for such untimely 
 uproar. 
 
 " Did you mistake this for a conventicle, Master 
 Cairnes," I asked grimly, " an assembly of crop-eared 
 worshippers, that you venture to lift your voice in such 
 a howl when you wake? It will be better if you learn to 
 keep still at such a time, if you hope to companion long 
 with me." 
 
 " You ! " he scarcely deigned to lift his eyes to regard 
 me. "You are but an unbelieving and damned heretic. 
 Had it not been in all the earnestness of a contrite spirit 
 I besought the Lord in prayer, wrestling even as did 
 David of old, t is not likely the foul fiend I beheld on 
 yonder crest would have departed so easily. I tell you, 
 you unregenerated son of iniquity, it is naught save the 
 faith of the elect, the prayer of the redeemed, which over 
 comes the wiles of the Devil, and relieves the children of 
 God from his snares." 
 
 It was useless arguing with the fanatic ; yet much of 
 my previous superstitious terror at our unwelcome visitant 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 had already vanished, there growing upon my mind a firm 
 conviction that the apparition was not a denizen of the 
 sulphurous regions of the damned, but was composed of 
 flesh and blood, even as ourselves. I think Madame had 
 been awake through the greater part of the commotion, 
 as I noted her stir slightly even when De Noyan first 
 informed me of the strange presence. Yet she spoke 
 not a word. Realizing her judgment was ever clearer 
 than that of either of my male companions, I turned 
 to awaken her to some expression. 
 
 "And do you also, Madame, believe that we have 
 been honored by a visit from His Satanic Majesty 
 in person ? " I asked, wondering as I spoke that she 
 should appear so undisturbed in midst of our turmoil. 
 
 "It would be less terrifying to me could I so believe," 
 she replied gravely, her eyes questioning my face, as if to 
 read therein what answer I desired. " I have that about 
 my person," and I marked that her fingers toyed with 
 the beads of a rosary at her throat, "which would 
 protect me from his touch." 
 
 " What then did you make of that fantastic figure ? 
 I was so gravely startled myself by the apparition I 
 saw double, scarcely retaining sufficient strength for the 
 uplifting of a hand. So speak, Madame, and plainly, for 
 our comforting, was that flesh and blood, or was it 
 some ghastly visitant from the unknown ? " 
 
 "I believe," she answered firmly, "it was human. 
 To my eyes a wild man, partially arrayed in white 
 skins, decorated with a multitude of great feathers, 
 appearing ghastly tall, and weirdly distorted in the 
 moonlight a fiend, indeed, yet not of the upper air." 
 
DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 "An Indian?" 
 
 " I know not what other name to choose. A savage 
 surely, yet possessing a skin strangely fair in the sheen 
 for one of the red race." 
 
 My roving, unsatisfied eyes met those of De Noyan. 
 
 cc Blessed Mother ! " he ejaculated with a short, uneasy 
 laugh. " I never would have thought it in the night. 
 Holy Saints preserve me, if I was ever more a child ! 
 Yet now the dawn brings me new heart of courage, and 
 I would not swear but Eloise may be right." 
 
 " And you, friend Cairnes ? " In a few, brief English 
 sentences I retold to the sectary this opinion expressed 
 by Madame. " Does your mind agree with ours ? " 
 
 He stared at me gloomily, his hands knotting into 
 each other, and his lips moving oddly ere he found 
 speech. 
 
 " Nay," he muttered at last, " you know little about 
 such matters. I tell you again that it was the Devil my 
 eyes saw. Twice have I looked upon him, and each time, 
 in response to prayer, has the good Lord delivered His 
 servant from the bondage of sin, the snares of the fowler. 
 Not by carnal weapons of the flesh are we bidden to over 
 come, but by spiritual wrestling ; even as did he of old 
 wrestle with the angel, are we to master the adversary of 
 souls." 
 
 " Madame possesses that also," and I pointed to the 
 rosary at her white throat, " by which she is able to resist 
 the contamination of evil." 
 
 He sniffed disdainfully, his coarse red hair appearing 
 to bristle all over his bullet head. 
 
 " T is a foul device designed to rob men of the true 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 power of prayer," he declared angrily. " I say to you, it 
 was the voice of prayer which caused that foul fiend 
 to fly away to his own. The prayer of the righteous 
 availeth much." 
 
 " True, friend," I admitted as he paused for breath, 
 amused to behold a man thus played upon. " If it is a 
 comfort to you, we all confess it was your voice which 
 put an end to the dancing. Yet if there is a time for 
 prayer, so there is time also for action, and the latter 
 must be here now. Whatever adventure awaits us before 
 nightfall, we shall meet it no less bravely if we first have 
 food. So let us break our fast, and depart from this 
 accursed spot." 
 
 It was not a cheerful meal, our nerves being still at 
 high tension, and we partook more from duty than any 
 feeling of enjoyment. I must except the old Puritan, 
 however, who would have eaten, I believe, had that 
 same figure been dancing at his elbow. Many anxious 
 looks were cast upward at the rock crest, every un 
 wonted sound causing us to start and glance about in 
 nervous terror. It seems to me now Eloise remained the 
 most self-controlled among us, and I have felt sincerely 
 ashamed at yielding to my weaker nature in thus betray 
 ing nervousness before that company. Yet had she been 
 in safety I would have proven more of a man, as by this 
 time no haunting superstition remained to burden my 
 heart. I realized we were leaguered by flesh and blood, 
 not by demons of the air, and had never counted my 
 life specially valuable in Indian campaign. But to be 
 compelled to look into her fair face, to feel constantly 
 the trustful gaze of her brown eyes, knowing well what 
 
DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 would be her certain fate should she fall into savage 
 hands, operated in breaking down all the manliness 
 within me, leaving me like a helpless child, ready to start 
 at the slightest sound. De Noyan barely touched the 
 food placed in front of him, and, long before Cairnes had 
 completed his meal, the Chevalier was restlessly pacing 
 the rocks beside the stream, casting impatient glances in 
 our direction. 
 
 " Mon Dieu ! " he ejaculated at last, " it is not the 
 nature of a Frenchman to remain longer cooped in such 
 a hole. I beg you, Benteen, bid that gluttonous English 
 animal cease stuffing himself like an anaconda, and let us 
 get away ; each moment I am compelled to bide here is 
 torture." 
 
 Experiencing the same tension, I persuaded the Puri 
 tan to suspend his onslaught, and, undisturbed by sight 
 or sound, we began a slow advance, clambering across the 
 bowlders strewing the narrow way, discovering as we 
 moved forward that those towering cliffs on either side 
 were becoming lower, although no possibility of scaling 
 them became apparent. We travelled thus upwards of 
 a quarter of a mile, our progress being necessarily slow, 
 when a dull roar stole gradually upon our hearing. A 
 moment later, rounding a sharp edge of projecting rock, 
 and picking our way cautiously along a narrow slab of 
 stone extending out above the swirling water, we came 
 forth in full view of a vast cliff, with unbroken front 
 extending from wall to wall across the gorge, while over 
 it plunged the stream in a magnificent leap of fully one 
 hundred and fifty feet. It was a scene of rare, romantic 
 beauty, the boiling stream surging and dancing madly 
 
 [2173 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 away from its foot, and the multicolored mists rising up 
 like a gauzy veil between us and the column of greenish- 
 blue water. Yet it pleased us little then, for it barred 
 our progress northward as completely as would a hostile 
 army. 
 
 Our depth of disappointment at facing this barrier was 
 beyond expression. We could but stand in silence, gaz 
 ing upon the broad, impassable sheet of water, blocking 
 further advance. De Noyan was earliest to recover 
 power of speech. 
 
 " Le Diable!" he swore, half unconsciously. "This 
 cursed place is surely damned! Yet it has some consola 
 tion to my mind, for that will drive us backward into the 
 lowlands, out of this demon-haunted defile." 
 
 " Your judgment is right," I returned gravely enough, 
 not unrelieved myself by the thought. " There is no 
 other course open to us. We shall be compelled to 
 retrace our steps, and if we desire to reach the open 
 before another night, we need be at it. May the good 
 God grant us free passage, with no skulking enemies in 
 ambuscade, for never saw I poorer spot for defence than 
 along this narrow shelf." 
 
 Fortunately, the way proved easier travelling as we 
 proceeded downward, and we were not long in passing 
 beyond our haunted camp of the previous night. Below 
 this spot which was passed in painful anxiety we 
 entered into that narrower, gloomy gorge leading directly 
 toward the plain beyond. The little river foamed and 
 leaped in deep black waves upon our left, the rocks 
 encroaching so near that we were compelled to pass in 
 single file, picking a way with extreme caution lest we slip 
 
 [218] 
 
DEMON, OR WHAT? 
 
 upon the wet stones, and having neither time nor breath 
 for speech. The Puritan led, bearing the Spaniard s 
 naked rapier in his hand. Suddenly, from where I brought 
 up the rear, his voice sounded so noisily I made haste 
 forward fearing he had been attacked. 
 
 He stood halted, staring like a demented man at a 
 massive rock, a huge monster with sheer, precipitous 
 front, filling every foot of space from the cliff wall to the 
 river, completely closing, as by a wall of masonry, the 
 narrow foot-path along which we had advanced unhin 
 dered the day before. It was easy to see from whence 
 that rock mass came ; the great fresh scar on the over 
 hanging cliff summit high above told the fatal story of 
 its detachment. Yet how had it fallen so suddenly and 
 with such deadly accuracy across the path ? Was it a 
 strange accident, a caprice of fate, or was it rather the 
 hellish work of design? 
 
 None knew at that moment ; yet we stood there 
 stupefied, staring into each others despairing faces, feel 
 ing we were hopeless prisoners doomed to perish misera 
 bly within the gloomy confines of that ghastly, haunted 
 hell. 
 
 [219] 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 " ^T^HIS is Indian treachery," I said decisively, my 
 
 A eyes searching the cliffs, " nor will they remain 
 
 long inactive now they have fairly caught us in their 
 
 trap. Let us get back out of this narrow way ; there 
 
 may be other loosened rocks where this one came from." 
 
 " Back where ? " 
 
 " To some spot where we can defend ourselves in case 
 of attack. These will prove different from any savages 
 I have ever known if we fail to hear from them as soon 
 as we are ready." 
 
 " But," protested De Noyan, as we scrambled retreat 
 ing up the slope, " if there is no way leading from this 
 pit of death, how are those devils going to get in ? Will 
 it not be more likely they will be content to starve us ? " 
 " Tis not Indian nature to hide in patience after hav 
 ing trapped their victims. Although there is no appar 
 ent way out to our eyes, nor time to search for one, yet 
 we may put confidence in this : they never bottled us 
 here without knowing some means whereby they might 
 complete their work." 
 
 " It is likely to be a fight, then ?" 
 " Either that or a massacre ; God knoweth." 
 " If, friend Benteen," boomed Cairnes, now well in 
 
 [220] 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 our front, and prodigal of voice as ever, " you expect a 
 stand-up battle with the devils, t is my judgment you 
 will find few spots better adapted for defence than yon 
 der there where the rock juts out so far; tis like a 
 sloping roof to protect us from above." 
 
 It was as he described, a place fitted by nature for such 
 a contest, the upper stratum of rock projecting so far for 
 ward as almost to form a cave beneath, while, partially 
 blocking the centre of this darkened opening, uprose a 
 great square slab of stone, forming of itself no small pro 
 tection to a party crouching in its shadow. Moreover 
 the ground fell away sharply, the higher point being 
 twenty feet above the water level, and this at the widest 
 part of the gorge, the entire slope thickly strewn with 
 bowlders of varying size. 
 
 "You have made soldierly choice," I acknowledged 
 heartily, after a hasty survey. "It would be difficult to 
 discover a more proper spot for purposes of defence. 
 St. Andrew ! but three of us ought to hold that mound 
 against quite a party." 
 
 De Noyan broke in, perfectly at his ease with actual 
 fighting in prospect. (f Somewhat open as yet, but that can 
 be remedied by use of those scattered stones. Upbuild 
 the circle here, leaving in front of the great bowlder room 
 enough for the three of us to battle at ease, with ample 
 space in which to swing our sword-arms, the solid rock 
 at our backs. Saint Anne ! but it is beautiful ! Bring 
 the stones here so I may place them to the best purpose 
 for such defence." And he drew a rapid half-circle about 
 the mouth of the shallow cave, his eyes brightening with 
 interest. 
 
 [221] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cc 
 
 Pah ! your doughty Frenchman appears overly anx 
 ious to be killed/ began Cairnes, casting an eager glance 
 toward the provisions dropped upon the ground. " To 
 my mind we had better break our fast before commenc 
 ing such labor. It may happen we shall have no other 
 chance to eat, and it would go hard against my nature to 
 waste that pickled meat on naked savages. Ecod ! it 
 would try Job himself to stand by helpless, watching a 
 clouted heathen gorge himself on what should be lying 
 comfortable in our own stomachs. What say ye, Master 
 Benteen ? " 
 
 " That our first effort be with the stones, * I returned 
 with decision. " After that, we can partake of food. The 
 latter can be made ready while we work, if Madame will 
 spread it here at the mouth of the cave a bit farther 
 back would prove better, under the protection of that 
 slab of rock." 
 
 Rejoicing at thus inducing our fair companion to seek 
 safety under shelter, the three of us fell to work with 
 energy. Under the direction of De Noyan, the scat 
 tered bowlders were rolled up the steep and piled in a solid 
 wall, reaching nearly waist high, completely circling the 
 open front of the cave, its centre somewhat advanced 
 from the stone slab, with either flank resting solidly 
 against the face of the cliff. It did me good to listen 
 while De Noyan issued energetic orders, swearing at us 
 ardently in army French as if we were of his own 
 squadron of chasseurs. 
 
 It required the greater part of an hour to get our rude 
 rock rampart in such condition as to satisfy the military 
 taste of the Chevalier even measurably, and during that 
 
 [222] 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 time we toiled as men must when their lives are soon to 
 depend upon the result of their labor. 
 
 " Saprista!" he commented at last, wiping his stream 
 ing brow, and gazing about him critically. " It will 
 answer fairly well, I think, although another row might 
 strengthen the curves. Still, tis not likely we shall be 
 called upon to battle against gun or pike, and if too high 
 the stones might interfere with proper thrust of the 
 sword. So let us lunch. Egad ! the sight of that hun 
 gry preacher haunts me every time I turn around ; 
 besides, whatever resting-spell we get ere the ball opens 
 will serve to steady our nerves for the onset. Have 
 you spread forth a rare feast for our comrades, 
 Eloise?" 
 
 She stood within the shadow, leaning lightly against 
 the great stone, smiling at us. 
 
 " All I have awaits your pleasure, gentlemen," she 
 returned bravely, "and I trust you may consider it a 
 pleasant duty to do full justice to my skill." 
 
 It has lingered a unique memory of those days, the 
 outward carelessness with which we chattered away during 
 that strange meal. Surely no company of wanderers was 
 ever in more desperate stress than we at that moment. 
 It was the merest chance of fate if one among us all lived 
 to see the peaceful setting of the sun, now blazing high 
 overhead. Yet that simple noonday repast, partaken of 
 beneath the shadow of the overhanging rock, remains in 
 memory as more redundant with merriment of tongue 
 and face than any since we made departure from New 
 Orleans. Were I not writing truthful narrative, I might 
 hesitate at setting this down, yet there are doubtless others 
 
 [223] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 living to bear witness with me that there is often experi 
 enced an odd relief in discovering the presence of actual 
 danger ; that uncertainty and mystery try most severely 
 the temper of men. 
 
 It certainly proved so with us that day, and De Noy- 
 an s high spirits found echo even in the grim Puritan, 
 who, being at last convinced that he was not called upon 
 to wrestle with demons from the pit, was as full of manly 
 fight as the best of us. Eloise added her gentle speech, 
 while even I relaxed my anxiety, though I was careful 
 enough to select a seat from which I could keep watch 
 both up and down the ravine, convinced that our time of 
 trial was not far away. In consequence of this chosen 
 vantage of position I was the first to note those stealthy 
 nude figures silently stealing from rock to rock, like so 
 many flitting shadows, making their way down toward our 
 position from the north. How they attained entrance to 
 the gorge I could not conjecture ; my eyes first detected 
 their movement when their leaders stole noiselessly as 
 phantoms about the great shelf of rock higher up the 
 gorge. More than this fleeting glimpse I was unable to 
 perceive from where I sat, our rude rampart somewhat 
 obstructing the view, nor did I call the attention of the 
 others to their approach. Nothing could be gained by 
 exposing ourselves before need arose. Indeed, De Noyan 
 chanced to observe their presence before I ventured upon 
 speech at all. 
 
 " Ha, my masters ! " he exclaimed suddenly, rising 
 to peer above the low breastworks. " What have we 
 here ? By my soul, the ball is about to open, gentle 
 men ; the enemy creeps forward as though uncertain of 
 
 [224] 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 our whereabouts, yet hardly as if greatly fearing our 
 numbers. What do you make of the fellows, Master 
 Benteen ? " 
 
 " Beyond doubt savages, but not of any tribe within 
 my knowledge." 
 
 " Saint Denis ! nor mine," he acknowledged gravely, 
 staring at them. " At this distance they seem to be of 
 strangely whitish skin, and I am not over pleased with 
 their mode of advance ; it has the steadiness of a drilled 
 column, such as I never before witnessed in Indian cam 
 paign. Sacrel note yonder how that tall fellow on the 
 right guides them with his gestures. They take intervals 
 as firmly as French grenadiers. Eloise," he turned hastily 
 toward his wife, more tenderness in his manner than I had 
 ever before remarked, " it is going to be a hard battle, or 
 I mistake greatly the temper of yonder warriors. Take 
 this pistol ; it is all I have of the kind. I will trust my 
 fortune on the blade. You know how best to use it 
 should things go wrong with us at the front." 
 
 " I know," she answered calmly, cc I have lived all my 
 life within hearing of Indian tales ; yet could I not prove 
 some aid beside you ? " 
 
 " Nay, little woman ; there is scarcely room for three 
 of us to stand at the wall ; we shall fight with freer hand 
 knowing you are safe from savage blow behind the rock. 
 Come, my lady, it is full time you were there now." 
 
 She shook hands with us in turn, giving to each man 
 a lightsome, hopeful word ere she drew back out of sight, 
 and never before did I have such incentive to battle as I 
 read within the depths of her dark eyes as she came to 
 me the last of all. For a moment after she regretfully 
 15 ["S3 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 withdrew her hands from my clasp I remained motionless, 
 absolutely forgetful of all else, until De Noyan s voice, 
 harsh now with excitement of approaching combat, recalled 
 me to myself and my post of duty. 
 
 " It is time we took our positions, Messieurs, he 
 said, bowing with the rare French courtesy of battle. 
 " Let Monsieur Cairnes find place upon my right, while 
 Master Benteen, do you keep the left. It will be better 
 to crouch low until I speak the word, and then God 
 give you both strong arms and hearts." 
 
 From behind the roughly piled bowlders in my front 
 I had a fair view up the valley, and was enabled to mark 
 clearly the attacking party as it advanced cautiously 
 toward our position. It was composed of some thirty 
 members, well-appearing fellows for savages, naked from 
 the waist up, their exposed bodies quite light in color, 
 and unpainted as is the usual Indian custom for war. 
 Their leader was a tall fellow, having a head of matted 
 coarse hair, which stood almost erect, thus yielding him 
 a peculiarly ferocious aspect. The entire band moved 
 forward, as if in response to prearranged signals, which 
 must have been conveyed by motion, as I could distin 
 guish not the slightest sound of speech. However, it was a 
 relief to note they bore no weapons in their hands except 
 ing the spear and the war-club, clear evidence that they 
 had limited, if any, trade intercourse with Europeans. 
 Yet they came on with such steadiness of purpose, amid 
 such impressive silence, I instinctively felt we stood 
 opposed to no tribe of cowards, whatever their name. 
 
 As they crept, rather than walked, forward into the 
 open space in our front, their restless, searching eyes were 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 not long in perceiving the irregular outlines of our rude 
 barricade, nor were they dilatory in deciding that behind 
 that pile of rock were to be discovered those they sought. 
 No attacking party operating upon the eastern continent, 
 guided by all the strategy of civilized war, could have 
 acted more promptly, or to better purpose. The old 
 chief made a quick, peculiar gesture from left to right, and 
 in instant response his clustered bunch of warriors spread 
 out in regulated intervals, assuming positions not unlike 
 the sticks of a fan such as the Creoles use, until they 
 formed a complete semicircle, their flanks close in against 
 the cliff, and their centre well back upon the bank of the 
 stream. It was a pretty movement, executed with the 
 precision of long discipline, and De Noyan brought his 
 hand down applauding upon his knee. 
 
 " Parbleu ! " he exclaimed with enthusiasm. " T was 
 as well done as by troops of the line. I look for a warm 
 time presently, when we cross arms with those fellows." 
 
 Even as he spoke, I observed the old chief passing 
 rapidly from man to man, speaking briefly to each in turn 
 and pointing toward us, as though giving special directions 
 for the coming assault. 
 
 " Chevalier," I whispered, " would it not be well to 
 try a shot at that tall-haired fellow ? " 
 
 " It appears too great a distance to my eye." 
 
 " I have dropped a buck through forest limbs fifty 
 feet farther." 
 
 " Then try your fortune," he said eagerly. "It may 
 be those fellows have never heard the crack of a gun. 
 The sound and sudden death might terrorize them." 
 
 I took careful aim above the wall, resting my long 
 
 [227] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 rifle-barrel in a groove between the stones, and fired. 
 Ever since, it has seemed to me that God, for some 
 mysterious purpose of His own, deflected the speeding 
 ball, for never before or since did I miss such aim. Yet 
 miss I did, for while the old chief leaped wildly backward, 
 his cheek fanned by the bullet, it was the savage he con 
 versed with who sprang high into air, coming down dead. 
 Nor did a single warrior make a movement to flee. Instead 
 of frightening, it enraged, driving them into savage fury 
 as they stared at the stiffening body of their comrade. 
 Scarcely had the smoke of the discharge drifted upward 
 when, all their former impressive silence broken, and 
 yelling like fiends incarnate, they made an impetuous rush 
 for the hill. 
 
 " Francais ! Francais I " 
 
 I was certain they used the word, fairly hissing it forth 
 as if in bitter hatred, yet I had short enough time in 
 which to listen as I hastily rammed home a second 
 charge with which to greet them as they came. 
 
 " It will be best to draw, Messieurs," spoke De 
 Noyan in a cool, drawling voice. <c Ah, that was better, 
 Master Benteen ! " as two of the advancing mob went 
 stumbling to the bullet. " It leaves but twenty-seven 
 to the three of us ; not such bad odds ! Now, friends, 
 yield no step backward, and strike as you never struck 
 before." 
 
 I enjoyed little space in which to glance behind where 
 I knew Eloise crouched beneath the protecting shadow 
 of the great stone, yet I am certain I felt the full magic 
 of her eyes upon me. As I wheeled, newly armed for 
 strife, my hands clutched hard about the rifle-barrel, our 
 
 [228] 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 fierce assailants came surging up against the stone wall. 
 It was no time to note what others did; one realizes 
 little at such a supreme moment except the flashing in his 
 eyes where menacing weapons play across his front ; the 
 swift blows continually threatening to crush his guard ; 
 the fierce, cruel faces glaring at him eye to eye, and his 
 own desperate efforts to drive and kill. It all abides in 
 fevered memory not unlike those pictures of horror 
 coming of a dark night when lightning leaps from the 
 black void. I mind the first man to reach me, a burly 
 ruffian, whose shining spear-point missed my throat by 
 so narrow a margin it tasted blood ere my rifle-stock 
 crushed the side of his head and sent him backward, a 
 reeling corpse into the mass at his heels. Then all 
 was confusion, a riot of leaping figures, frantic shouting, 
 and clanging weapons, and I know not what was done, 
 except that I struck out like a crazed man, heedless 
 of what might be aimed at me, but letting drive at 
 every savage head within range, until, at last, there 
 seemed no others in my front. Then, as I paused, 
 breathless and uncertain, passing my hand across my 
 eyes to clear them from the blood and hair which half 
 blinded me, I heard De Noyan s drawling tone. 
 
 " Most beautifully done, Master Benteen, and as for 
 our red-headed preacher, by the memory of Jeanne 
 d Arc, the like of him as fighting man I have never 
 
 seen." 
 
 I leaned back heavily against the stones, now the 
 strain of battle had relaxed, feeling strangely weakened 
 by my exertions as well as the loss of blood, and glanced 
 about me. The discomfited savages had fallen sullenly 
 
 [229] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 back to the bank of the stream, where they bunched 
 together as if in council, and I noted more than one 
 wounded man among them. De Noyan sat recklessly 
 upon the stone wall, dangling his long legs, and, back 
 turned contemptuously upon our foe, was carefully ex 
 amining the edge of his sword. 
 
 " I was fool enough to attempt a down cut," he ex 
 plained, observing my eyes upon him. " I tried it on that 
 savage who lies yonder, and it was rather a neat stroke, 
 yet has sorely nicked the blade." 
 
 " Where is the Puritan ? " I asked, not seeing him. 
 
 "Stretched yonder at rest; he did needlessly exhaust 
 himself, not knowing how best to wield his weapon. 
 Sacre I he struck hard blows, and will have two savages 
 for whom to make answer in the Day of Judgment." 
 
 "What loss did the fellows sustain?" I questioned, 
 the cut at the edge of my hair half blinding me with 
 dripping blood. 
 
 " We dropped seven between us, counting those who 
 fell to your fire, and there are others who hardly appear 
 in condition for further fighting. As to the garrison, 
 you seem to possess a flesh wound or two, the head 
 of the Puritan rings merrily yet from the tap of a war- 
 club, while I boast a boot full of blood ; t is none of it 
 
 serious." 
 
 " They will attack again ? " 
 
 " Ay ! those lads are not of the breed to let up with one 
 bite ; and mark you, man, it is going to be the next turn 
 that will test our mettle." 
 
 He deliberately changed his posture, glancing carelessly 
 across his shoulder. 
 
 [230] 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 " Do you know aught regarding those devils, Master 
 Benteen ? " 
 
 " They are strange to me ; no kin, I think, to any 
 tribe east of the great river." 
 
 He sat in silent contemplation a long moment, his 
 eyes fastened upon the savage group. 
 
 " Did you chance to notice," he asked at last, speaking 
 more thoughtfully, "how they hissed that word c Fran- 
 rais y y when they first rushed up the hill upon us ? It 
 somehow recalled to memory an odd tale told me long 
 ago by old Major Duponceau, who was out with the 
 troops in 1729, about a strange people they warred 
 against down on the Ocatahoola. These must be either 
 the same savages although he swore they were put 
 to the sword or else of the same stock, and have felt 
 the taste of French steel." 
 
 "What did he call them?" 
 
 " Natchez ; although I remember now he referred to 
 them once as c White Apples/ saying they were of fair 
 skin. He told me, but I recall little of it, many a 
 strange story of their habits and appearance, to illustrate 
 how greatly they differed from other tribes of savages 
 with whom he had met. They worshipped the sun." 
 
 cc> Tis true of the Creeks." 
 
 " Ay ! they play at it, but with the Natchez t is a real 
 religion ; they had a priesthood and altars of sacrifice, on 
 which the fires were never quenched. Their victims died 
 with all the ardor of fanaticism, and in peace and war 
 the sun was their god, ever demanding offering of blood. 
 But see, the moment comes when we must front those 
 fiends again." 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 The afternoon sun had lowered so that its glaring rays 
 no longer brightened the depths of the canyon, all upon 
 our side of the stream lying quiet in the shadow. The 
 Indians began their advance toward us in much the same 
 formation as before, but more cautiously, with less noisy 
 demonstration, permitting me to note they had slung 
 their weapons to their backs, bearing in their hands 
 ugly fragments of rock. The old matted-hair savage, 
 who had received a severe slash upon his shoulder 
 during our last melee, hung well to the rear, contenting 
 himself with giving encouragement to the others. 
 
 " Stand stoutly to the work, friend Cairnes," I called 
 across to him, feeling the heartsome sound of English 
 speech might prove welcome. " If we drive them this 
 time, they will hardly seek more at our hands." 
 
 "It will be even according to the will of the Lord of 
 Hosts," he returned piously. " Yet I greatly fear lest 
 my sword-blade be not sound within its hilt." 
 
 " Stoop low for the volley of rocks," commanded 
 De Noyan, hastily, "then stand up to it with all the 
 strength you have." 
 
 Halfway up the little hill they let fly a vicious volley, 
 the hard missiles crashing against the face of the rock, 
 and showering down on backs and heads, some of them 
 with painful force. As we sprang to our posts of defence 
 once more, the savages were already nearly within spear- 
 length of us, and, to our disastrous surprise, delivered 
 a second volley of stones directly into our faces. One 
 jagged rock glanced from off my rifle-barrel, striking me 
 on the side of the head with sufficient force to send me 
 staggering back against the stone slab. Before I could 
 
BACKS TO THE WALL 
 
 regain place the Indians swarmed over the low wall, two 
 of them, in spite of fierce struggles, bearing me backward 
 to the ground. Through a half-blinding mist of blood I 
 beheld a carven war-club uplifted in the air, noted the 
 face, distorted by passion, of the naked giant wielding 
 it ; yet, before I could close my eyes to the swift blow, 
 there came a sudden flash of fire mingled with a sharp 
 report. As if stricken by a lightning-bolt the huge 
 fellow plunged forward, his body across my feet. Invol 
 untarily I gave vent to a groan of despair, realizing that 
 Madame, in an effort to preserve my life, had thrown 
 away her sole chance to escape torture, or an existence 
 worse than death. 
 
 The knowledge nerved me to renewed struggle, but 
 ere I could rid myself of that body pinning me fast, 
 others hurled themselves upon us, striking and snarling 
 like a pack of hounds who had overtaken their quarry. 
 It would have been over in another minute ; I already 
 felt the grind of a stone knife-point at my throat, able to 
 gain only a poor grip on the fellow s wrist, when sud 
 denly, sounding clear as a bell above that hellish uproar, 
 a single voice uttered an imperative command. 
 
 Instantly each Indian s face was upturned toward 
 where such unexpected summons came, and, lying as 
 I did flat upon my back, my eyes gazed across the 
 narrow valley, to the summit of the cliff on the farther 
 side. There, solitary, a carven statue full in the glow 
 of the westering sun, turning her garments golden, and 
 lightening her rich profusion of hair into radiant beauty, 
 stood a young woman of white face and slender, stately 
 figure. It was no time to note dress, yet I could not 
 
 [233] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 fail to observe the flowing white robe, draped from 
 shoulders to feet, gracefully falling away from an ex 
 tended arm, as she stood thus in regal poise looking 
 down upon us. There was a suggestion of despotic power 
 in both face and posture, and the ring of stern authority 
 spoke in the sound of her voice. 
 
 Twice she addressed our savage captors in brief sen 
 tences strange to my ears, once pointing directly at us^, 
 once with sweeping gesture up the valley. A moment 
 longer she remained motionless, bending slightly forward, 
 permitting the rich, reddish gold of her hair to flash and 
 shimmer in the sunshine ; then she stepped swiftly back 
 from the dizzy summit, vanishing instantly, as if dissolved 
 in the haze. 
 
 [234] 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 WE were hopelessly prisoners. On my part further 
 struggle had become impossible, nor elsewhere 
 did any effort last long, although Cairnes had to be 
 knocked insensible before the heathen finally mastered 
 him. I believed the obstinate fellow dead, so ghastly 
 white appeared his usually florid face as the victorious 
 savages dragged him roughly past where I lay, flinging 
 his heavy body down like carrion upon the rocks. De 
 Noyan appeared badly cut, his gallant clothing clinging to 
 him in fluttering rags, silent witnesses to the manliness 
 of his struggle. Yet the Chevalier was far from done. 
 
 " Let me sit up, you villains ! " he cried, vigorously 
 kicking at a passing shin. " T is not my custom to lie 
 with head so low. Ah, Benteen," he smiled pleasantly 
 across at me, his eyes kindling at the recollection, " that 
 was the noblest fighting that ever came my way, yet t is 
 likely we shall pay well for our fun. Sacrel tis no 
 pleasant face, that of their grim war-chief, nor one to 
 inspire a man with hope as he makes plea for mercy." 
 
 " Marry, no," I replied, determined on exhibiting no 
 greater outward concern than he. " Nor will the ugly 
 clip on his shoulder leave his humor happier." 
 
 The Chevalier s eyes danced at the recollection. 
 
 [235] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " T was our preacher friend who sheared him. I hold 
 it a master-stroke ; but for a spear-butt on the way it 
 would have cleft the fellow into two equal parts. Have 
 you seen aught of Eloise since the fight ? " 
 
 " She lies yonder against the wall at my left, and 
 remains unhurt, I think. I will make effort to turn over, 
 and have speech with her." 
 
 So securely had I been bound with coarse grass rope, I 
 found it no small task to change the position of my body 
 sufficiently to peer about the corner of intervening rock, 
 and clearly perceive my lady. She was reclining in a half 
 sitting posture well within the darker shadow, bound as 
 were the rest of us. 
 
 " You remain uninjured, I trust, Madame ? " I asked 
 gently, and it heartened me to observe the smile with 
 which she instantly glanced up at sound of my voice. 
 
 " No blow has touched me," was her immediate 
 response, " yet I suffer noticing the stains of blood 
 disfiguring both you and my husband. Are the wounds 
 serious ones ? " 
 
 " Nay, mere scratches of the flesh, to heal in a week. 
 Why did you waste your last shot on that savage who 
 would have struck me ? It was not the will of De 
 Noyan that it be expended thus." 
 
 " You must have formed a poor conception of me, 
 Geoffrey Benteen," she answered, as if my words pained 
 her, "if you suppose I value my life more highly than 
 your own. But for my solicitation you would never 
 have been in such stress, and, whatever else may be true, 
 Eloise de Noyan is not one accustomed to deserting 
 her friends." 
 
 [236] 
 
STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 " Yet there are fates possible to a woman more to be 
 dreaded than death." 
 
 "Ay, and frontier bred, I know it well, yet none so 
 bad as would have been the knowledge that I was guilty 
 of ingratitude. My life, my honor, are in the care of 
 God, Geoffrey, and if I remain grateful for aught this 
 day, it is that my shot proved timely, saving you from 
 that blow. Tell me, was it not a woman at whose 
 command the combat ceased ? " 
 
 " It was ; a white woman at that, unless my eyes 
 deceived me. She stood on yonder point of rock, 
 appearing a veritable queen in the sunshine." 
 
 " So I thought, a fair face enough, yet not devoid of 
 savage cruelty. Her presence brings me some rays of 
 hope, making me feel I may have less to fear in the 
 future than you. If a woman, however debased and 
 barbarous, rules these savages, she will not be altogether 
 without heart to the supplications of a woman." 
 
 I felt less assured of this, yet it was better she be 
 buoyed up by all possible hope, so ventured upon no 
 answer. There was that in the Queen s face as she gazed 
 down upon us that made me doubt her womanliness ; 
 doubt if behind that countenance of wild beauty there 
 did not lurk a soul as savage and untamed as any among 
 her barbarous followers. What but a spirit of insatiate 
 cruelty could animate and control such fierce warriors in 
 their battle rage ? Thinking of this, my eyes on Madame, 
 a movement occurred among our captors quickly chal 
 lenging my attention. Fresh shouts and cries evidenced 
 new arrivals. These came swarming down the ravine, 
 and in another moment began crawling noisily about us, 
 
 [237] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 chattering with our surly captors, or scowling into our 
 faces with savage eyes boding no good. It would be 
 unjust were I to write that these fellows were a brutal 
 lot, as such words would be void of that truth I seek to 
 convey. I lived to learn that many among them had 
 the stuff of which true men are made; yet, nevertheless, 
 they were savages, scarcely touched by the virtues or 
 vices of civilization, a people nursing within their mem 
 ory a great wrong, and inflamed by the fierce passions of 
 battle. Gazing about on the stiffening forms of their 
 stricken warriors, all alike exhibited in eyes and gestures 
 how eagerly they longed for the hour of vengeance, when 
 implacable hate might have full vent in the unutterable 
 agony of their victims. I gazed up into their scowling, 
 distorted faces, imagining a final moment of reckoning 
 was at hand ; yet some authority, either of chief or tribal 
 custom, restrained their pitiless hatred, reserving us for 
 longer, more intense suffering. 
 
 But the wild thirst for blood was mirrored in those 
 fierce eyes glaring down into mine, and echoed in the 
 shrill cries with which they marked us yet alive for their 
 barbaric ingenuity to practise upon at leisure. Even 
 as I observed this, realizing from my knowledge of Indian 
 nature that our ultimate fate would be infinitely worse 
 than merciful death in battle, I could not remain blind to 
 the wide difference between these naked warriors and those 
 other savages with whom my wandering border life had 
 made me familiar. My awakened memory dwelt upon 
 the peculiar tribal characteristics of the Mingoes north 
 of the Ohio, the Kaskaskias in the Illinois country, 
 the Shawnees, the Cherokees, even the Creeks, in whose 
 
STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 villages I had dwelt as a friend, and beside whose young 
 men I had hunted as a brother. Yet here was surely a 
 distinct race, one less clearly marked with those features 
 peculiarly Indian, the cheek-bones not prominent, the 
 form of nose more varied, the skin decidedly lighter, the 
 heads better shapen, and the figures more thoroughly de 
 veloped. More, their language had little of the guttural 
 so universal among Eastern tribes, but had a peculiar, 
 sharp, hissing sound ; so, although the faces peering into 
 mine were wild and ferocious enough to leave no doubt 
 as to their barbarous nature, or our probable fate, yet 
 these peculiarities, with the total absence of paint, such as 
 disfigures and renders grotesquely hideous other Indians 
 upon the war-path, were sufficient to stamp these savages 
 as members of a distinct race. 
 
 " Natchez ? " I ventured to inquire of the burly brute 
 who stood over me grasping spear and war-club. 
 
 " Sa" he grinned savagely. " Fran$ais, Fran$ais" 
 
 I shook my head and tried him again, but soon desisted 
 on discovering that these two words marked the full extent 
 of our common language, and so was obliged to be con 
 tent with silently contemplating the crowds of curious, 
 naked heathen swarming on the hill. 
 
 Fortunately, it was not long we were doomed to wait, 
 uncomfortably trussed with our ropes of plaited grass. 
 The old chief who had led the assault gave his order, 
 and, in immediate obedience, we were roughly dragged 
 forth, the bonds about our lower limbs severed, and, 
 under zealous guards, despatched up the canyon, the 
 entire party prompty falling in at the rear, bearing with 
 them their wounded and dead. De Noyan and I, thus 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 released from our cramped, painful position on the rocks, 
 were jerked rudely upon our feet, and, in obedience to 
 threatening gestures, driven rapidly forward like dumb 
 beasts ; but Madame and the Puritan, the latter not yet 
 having regained consciousness, were swung aloft in ham 
 mocks of coarsely woven cloth, and thus borne upon the 
 shoulders of four stout carriers. In this way we advanced 
 northward, not moving as slowly as I desired, for I was 
 sore and aching from head to foot, besides being weakened 
 by loss of blood. Yet there was no hope of escape, no 
 evidence of mercy. If we ventured to lag, the vigilant 
 guard promptly quickened our movements by the vigor 
 ous application of spear-points, so we soon learned the 
 necessity of keeping fully abreast of our assigned position 
 in the column. 
 
 Coming nearer to that great cataract which had effectu 
 ally dammed our progress up the valley, the leaders 
 swerved toward the left, passing so closely beside the leap 
 ing, foaming flood as to be enveloped in the spray as if 
 in a cloud of mist. Almost beneath the fall, the water 
 crashing on the rocks within reach of an outstretched 
 hand, we commenced a toilsome climb, along a deep, 
 rocky gully completely shrouded by overhanging bushes, 
 as if we traversed a tunnel dug by the hands of men. 
 Indeed, I have little doubt that this peculiar passageway 
 had been constructed by artificial means. Every now and 
 then, when a faint light from without straggled through 
 the interlaced boughs overhead, I caught a glimpse of the 
 evidences of human labor. This odd passage, crooked 
 and intricate, at times so steep as to require the chiselling 
 of steps in the solid rock, wound in and out along the 
 
 [240] 
 
STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 * 
 
 side of the cliff, then ran back into the very face of the 
 precipice, for more than a hundred and fifty yards. Sud 
 denly we emerged, fifty yards back from the crest, in the 
 heart of a great circular hole resembling the crater of a 
 burned-out volcano, having great ragged points of rock, 
 blackened as if incased with lava, jutting up upon every 
 side, and forming as desolate and barren a picture as ever 
 eyes looked upon. 
 
 I was completely fagged by this time, the climb being 
 a heavy one, and I noticed De Noyan was ghastly of face, 
 his body trembling like that of a palsied man. But our 
 relentless drivers permitted no halting to recruit strength. 
 The Chevalier was evidently in greater distress than I, 
 so from pity I bade him lean on my shoulder ; but as he 
 sought to draw near, the merciless brute on guard struck 
 him savagely, and there was such shaking of spears and 
 fierce uproar on the part of our escort, we could do naught 
 else than set our teeth to it, and go staggering on. The 
 slight path, if it might be named a path, led in and out 
 among the black lava cones in such labyrinthine fashion 
 that no man could hope to retain memory of its course, 
 while the floor being of irregular stone, the passing feet 
 left no trail for future guidance. We travelled blindly, 
 and reckless through suffering and exhaustion, some 
 distance, until, perhaps a mile above the spot where we 
 had surmounted the cliff, a sudden twist was made to 
 the right, our company creeping on all fours through a 
 narrow opening, having a great tree-trunk on one side 
 and a huge black bowlder on the other. We came forth 
 high in air above the swift, deep water, footing the in 
 secure bark of a rude tree-bridge spanning the current. 
 
 16 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Once safe on the other bank, our path merely a narrow 
 shelf of stone, we wormed around a sharp projection of 
 the cliff, rising to even greater height than in the gorge 
 below. A dense mass of interlaced and overshadowing 
 cedars was partially pressed aside, partially crawled under, 
 and from this we finally emerged into an open space, 
 containing, I imagine, not far from five hundred acres of 
 land, having vast towering precipices of black frowning 
 rock on every side, with no outlet apparent, save to one 
 blessed with wings. Saint Andrew! twas an awesome 
 place, yet oddly beautiful, so soft and green below, with 
 those massive walls completely shutting out all the rest of 
 the world, and shadowing the little valley with impregnable 
 grandeur. 
 
 I had but a moment in which to view the impressive 
 scene. Scarcely had the head of our column entered 
 this natural prison when it was greeted with wild shouts 
 of triumph, immediately succeeded by shrieks of dis 
 tress, while there streamed forward to meet us a tumul 
 tuous band of savages, a large proportion of whom were 
 women and children. The children were absolutely nude 
 and peculiarly white of skin, while the former wore 
 rude skirts of coarsely woven cloth fastened about the 
 waist, their long hair in many instances trailing upon the 
 ground, yielding them a wildness of aspect beyond 
 description ; yet withal they were not uncomely of fea 
 tures. These newcomers thronged about us with scowl 
 ing faces, and, when sternly forced back by the lowered 
 weapons of the guard, either joined the procession, or 
 else trooped alongside, yelling and jeering. 
 
 Pressed forward, although by now so utterly spent I 
 
 [242] 
 
STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 could barely stagger rapidly enough to escape those 
 pitiless thrusts, I mechanically noted enough of our sur 
 roundings to understand that we traversed ground which 
 had been cultivated ; that low fences, here and there 
 encountered, divided the land into small sections, even 
 as in more civilized regions farmers protect their fields. 
 What their crops may have been I could not determine, 
 the season of harvest being already past, yet I distin 
 guished what I supposed must be evidences of garden 
 culture, observing also a considerable ditch, certainly 
 four feet in width, filled with clear running water, which 
 seemed to encircle the entire basin, the deeper green of 
 vegetation marking its course close up against the farther 
 rock wall. 
 
 The view directly in advance was at first obscured by 
 the leaping figures of the exultant savages leading the 
 way, whooping with excitement, and wildly brandishing 
 their war-clubs. These at length fell back along either 
 side, our guards hurrying us across the ditch, spanned by 
 the great trunk of a tree, and thus on into the village. 
 This town resembled no other encampment of savages 
 on which my eyes had ever looked. I saw a wide open 
 space, a blackened stake set in the middle of it, the 
 ground bare of vegetation, and tramped hard as if by 
 countless feet. Beyond, circling this plaza upon two 
 sides, were several rows of houses, all facing the same 
 direction. It reminded me of pictures I had seen of 
 Hebrew camps in my father s great Bible, only the 
 houses were built of sun-dried clay, such as peons use in 
 the far Southwest on the Brazos, square in shape, of but 
 a single story, having dome-shaped roofs, heavily thatched 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 with cane. They were windowless, with one narrow 
 opening for a door, protected by a heavy matting of grass. 
 Behind these, perhaps a hundred yards or more, and 
 within a short distance of the steep cliffs bounding the 
 upper extremity of the valley, there arose from the sur 
 face of the plain two immense rounded mounds of earth, 
 each fully a hundred paces wide at its base, sloping 
 sharply upward. Considerable vacant space lay between 
 the two, while on the apex of each stood buildings of 
 sun-baked clay, resembling in form those below, yet 
 much larger, and, because of their elevation, appearing 
 spacious and imposing. Above one were posed three 
 rudely carven figures bearing a slight resemblance to 
 giant eagles, their wings outspread as if for flight. The 
 other was surmounted by a hideous, grotesque figure, 
 blackened as by fire, with distorted face daubed a glaring 
 yellow, and long hair glittering from red pigment. Here 
 the grass curtain had been drawn aside, while before the 
 entrance, their faces striped with disfiguring black lines, 
 their dull vestments trailing to the ground and gaudily 
 trimmed with fanciful trappings, their coarse hair so 
 trained as to stand almost erect, were two aged men, 
 who, with wild gesticulations, and solemn chanting, were 
 apparently paying adoration to the setting sun, the last 
 beams streaming over them through a rift in the western 
 wall. 
 
 Directly past these priests we were driven like cattle, 
 finding ourselves plunged into a vast square gloomy apart 
 ment, having an earthen floor, but utterly devoid of either 
 furnishings or ornament. There was another mat-draped 
 opening at the farther side, and in the centre a huge log 
 
 [244] 
 
STRONGHOLD OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 smouldered, resting upon what bore the appearance of a 
 rudely chipped altar of rock. About this were ranged 
 numerous fancifully painted statues of wood, grotesque 
 and hideous, while a third figure, attired as were the aged 
 priests without, lay prone upon the earth moaning as if 
 in agony. The walls were hung thickly with undressed 
 skins of wild animals, and at the back stood a slightly 
 upraised platform of logs, cut in halves by a narrow 
 passageway leading toward the second curtained door. 
 It was in the midst of this we halted, still under strict 
 surveillance of our brutal guards. These, however, per 
 mitted us to sink down exhausted on the hard floor. 
 
 [245] 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 A FEAR of impending danger will not always prove 
 sufficiently strong to prevent yielding to the de 
 mands of fatigue. I realized the desperation of our 
 position, feeling no doubt regarding our ultimate fate. I 
 read it plainly in our surroundings, as well as within 
 those vengeful, scowling faces, yet so duljed was every 
 physical sense from excessive weariness that I had passed 
 through much already described like a man in a dream. 
 The brief repose of the previous night, broken by ner 
 vous, superstitious terrors, the anxious effort to escape 
 from the haunted canyon, the hurried labor on our rude 
 defences, the two fierce combats with the savages, my 
 numerous wounds, none dangerous yet weakening me by 
 loss of blood, together with the rapid marching and the 
 difficult climb up the cliff, combined to exhaust my 
 vitality so completely that, the moment we halted within 
 the sacred precincts of this temple, I flung myself full 
 length upon the floor. I remember the sun had already 
 disappeared behind the western heights. I retain some 
 slight memory of a tender hand resting softly on my 
 forehead, of a familiar voice questioning me, yet if I 
 made response, it must have been in the unconsciousness 
 of sleep, as these faint remembrances were my last. 
 
PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 I had no means of telling how long I lay thus, close 
 against the north wall of the building in that very pos 
 ture in which I had first fallen. It must have been after 
 hours of unconsciousness I was at last partially aroused 
 by the reviving touch of cool water with which my face 
 was being bathed. As I slowly unclosed my heavy eyes 
 the huge smouldering log in the centre of the room burst 
 into sudden flame, lighting the interior, casting weird, 
 dancing shadows along the black walls, its red radiance 
 falling upon the face bending above me, and permitting 
 me to look into the dark, troubled eyes of Eloise de 
 Noyan. 
 
 "There is no necessity for moving," she explained 
 softly. " Nothing of moment has occurred since you fell 
 asleep, except that the savages brought us food. * 
 
 "Have you been watching over me all this time with 
 out rest ? " 
 
 " Nay ; at least no more over you than the others," 
 she answered with a smile, " yet you appeared in greatest 
 stress. The others have been some time awake and have 
 partaken of food while you remained in stupor. Do not 
 look at me like that ! I am not tired ; I was borne all 
 the way upon a litter, never once placing foot upon the 
 ground. * 
 
 " Have you knowledge as to the hour ? " 
 
 " Only that it must be well into the night." 
 
 I lifted my body into a more erect posture, finding 
 myself stiflf and sore from head to foot, and glanced 
 curiously around our prison-house. In the centre 
 was the blazing log, the sole bit of color my eyes 
 could perceive. Kneeling upon either side were the 
 
 [247] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 motionless figures of four priests, robed from head to 
 foot in black, their faces, darkened by some pigment, 
 appearing ghastly and repulsive under the flickering 
 flame. Their lips muttered in monotonous chant a weird 
 incantation which sent to my heart a chill of supersti 
 tious dread. High above the altar, blackened by the 
 constantly ascending cloud of smoke, swayed uneasily a 
 peculiar graven image of wood, hideous in disfigurement 
 of form and diabolical of visage, appearing to float upon 
 outspread wings, and gloating down upon us through 
 eyes glittering ominously in the fire sheen. At either 
 extremity of the apartment, where I supposed were the 
 entrance and exit previously noted, stood those savages 
 remaining on guard, grim, naked fellows, whose restless 
 eyes, gleaming in the glow, followed our slightest move 
 ments, and whose weapons were constantly uplifted as 
 though they longed for some excuse to strike. It com 
 posed a grewsome scene, savage, cruel, devilish, exhibit 
 ing within its gloomy outlines small promise for the 
 morrow. 
 
 The old Puritan was leaning heavily against a small 
 stake driven into the earth, resting his aching head upon 
 one hand as he peered at me from beneath thatched 
 brows. 
 
 " You have a white face, Master Benteen," he ven 
 tured, wondrously soft spoken for him, "yet if the heart 
 remain strong and at peace with God, the body will mend 
 itself." 
 
 " The heart has never yet failed me," I returned, striv 
 ing to speak cheerfully, feeling that he would like to hear 
 hearty English words again. " I am glad to behold you 
 
 [248] 
 
PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 safely recovered, friend ; that was a hard crack they 
 landed on your skull." 
 
 " T is not the will of the Almighty that I ignomini- 
 ously perish at the hands of the heathen," he responded 
 in his old manner, and as his voice roared out, not unlike 
 a clap of thunder in that silence, I observed how the 
 savages about us started. " Again, and yet again hath 
 He miraculously delivered his servant from the mouth 
 of the lion. Surely He must yet have labor for me in 
 His vineyard ; perchance the bearing unto these children 
 of Amalek the message of peace." 
 
 " Do you propose preaching unto them ? " 
 
 " Ay, why not? Inspired thereunto by the Spirit, I 
 have already sought serious converse with yonder priest 
 of Baal, kneeling at this side of that accursed shrine of 
 idolatry. Yet so wedded is he to idols of wood and stone, 
 he merely chattered back at me in unintelligible speech, 
 and when I laid hand upon him to compel him to listen, 
 the brown savage beyond grievously thrust me with a 
 spear. But I retain faith that the Lord, in His own 
 time, will open up a way unto their rebellious and 
 sinful hearts." 
 
 " Such way may be opened, yet I fear these savages 
 will only take unkindly your efforts at ministry, even 
 if they permit opportunity for the carrying on of such 
 work." 
 
 " I should be overjoyed to minister unto them with 
 the sharp edge of a steel blade," interposed De Noyan 
 decidedly, and I noticed him for the first time, lying 
 beyond his wife. " What do you expect, Master 
 Benteen, these villains will do to us ? " 
 
 [ 2 49] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " I read no sign of mercy in any face yet seen," I 
 answered cautiously. "It would be against all savage 
 nature to forgive the loss of those warriors sent home 
 this day." 
 
 " You look for death ? " 
 
 " I expect nothing less, and by torture ; still they may 
 permit us the slight chance of the gantlet, although I 
 know not the war customs of the tribe." 
 
 He subsided into silence, as though my words merely 
 echoed his own gloomy thought, and for a few moments 
 no sound arose except the dismal droning of the priests 
 about the altar. Then Cairnes silently pushed over 
 toward me what remained of their evening meal, and I 
 forgot gloomy forebodings in a new realization of hunger. 
 It was while thus busily engaged Madame spoke to 
 me, whispering her words softly, so that they could 
 not reach the ears of the others. 
 
 "If the end prove according to our fears, could you 
 outline my probable fate ? " 
 
 No lack of courage prompted the question. I could 
 perceive that in her eyes as they looked into my own, 
 and some way their expression yielded me boldness to 
 answer truthfully. 
 
 " I am afraid, Madame, you may be spared," I said 
 gravely. 
 
 Her hands closed down tightly about each other. 
 
 " That is what renders my heart so heavy in this peril, 
 Geoffrey Benteen. I could die easily, without tremor, 
 beside you ; nor would I shrink back from torture, did 
 it of necessity come to me, for I possess a faith in Christ 
 which would sustain me in such an ordeal. But this O 
 
 [250] 
 
PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 God ! it is too much ! The thought that I may be 
 reserved for a worse fate than death, may be compelled 
 to live for months, perhaps years, as the humiliated com 
 panion of these murderous savages I, a lady of France! 
 It is more than I can bear." 
 
 I saw tears shining in her eyes, and my hand, seeking 
 her own, closed over it with sympathetic pressure. 
 
 " God grant there be some escape," 1 said earnestly ; 
 it was all that came to my lips. 
 
 " But I feel there is none. I have not lived upon the 
 border of this vast wilderness all my life without learning 
 something regarding the customs of savages. If they 
 spare a woman from stake or knife it is that they may 
 doom her to a fate more horrible, making of her their 
 degraded slave. I know this, and have read the truth 
 anew in those faces glaring upon me to-day. There 
 remains but one faint hope that woman who seems to 
 exercise control over them may incline the savages to 
 mercy." 
 
 " I cannot encourage you to place much trust in such 
 tenderness," I confessed sadly. " T is not likely, despite 
 her white face, and certain graces bespeaking knowledge 
 of civilization, she will prove any less a savage than those 
 she governs. She would not be here, able to control so 
 wild a brood of wolves, if she were not of their breed in 
 heart; nor do women chiefs have much choice against 
 the vote of the tribe. I do not trust her, Madame ; I 
 studied her face a fair one, I grant as she stood in 
 the sun upon the rock summit. It was hard set, and 
 savage with the scent of blood and battle. No mercy 
 led her to protect us then ; like a great cat she prefers 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 playing with her mice before killing. Has she been here 
 while I slept? " 
 
 " No one has visited us excepting the old chief who 
 led the assault; he did nothing but strike the Puritan, 
 who sought speech with him/ 
 
 She paused a moment, her head bent low ; then she 
 lifted her face to mine again, and I read within it the 
 quick determination of her soul. 
 
 " Geoffrey Benteen, listen. What would you do to 
 save her who was Eloise Lafreniere from such a fate of 
 horror as now overhangs her ? " 
 
 "Anything within the power of a man," I answered 
 instantly, a painful throbbing at the heart. " I would 
 even drive the saving steel into your heart to keep you 
 unsoiled from the clutch of such foul hands. Ay ! hard 
 as the task must prove, yet I could do it, believing I per 
 formed the will of God as I struck the blow. But even 
 for that I am helpless, as I possess no weapon." 
 
 I felt her hands touch mine, something cold being 
 pressed against my flesh. 
 
 " I thank thee, Father, there is one whom I may trust 
 even unto death," she sobbed prayerfully. " Take this 
 knife, Geoffrey Benteen. The Indians did not think to 
 search a woman for such weapons of war. If the 
 moment comes when all hope is gone, when naught else 
 is left, I pray you, as a helpless woman utterly dependent 
 upon your aid, let that sharp point save me endless shame 
 and agony. Have I your promise ? " 
 
 "But but why not ask this of your husband?" I 
 questioned, shrinking, in spite of my belief in its right 
 eousness, from the committal of so dreadful a deed. 
 
 [252] 
 
PRISONERS IN THE TEMPLE 
 
 " Surely he would better make answer for the necessity 
 of so desperate a sacrifice. * 
 
 Her dark eyes never wavered from my face, nor did 
 her hands relax their confident grasp of mine. 
 
 " Not because I believe he would refuse, but he is of 
 a temper changeable as the winds of Spring. I must 
 rest in peace, not in perpetual doubting. You I trust 
 implicitly ; your word, once gravely given, will be kept 
 to the death ; nay, surely this is no time in which to 
 practise deceit with each other, or act parts like mum 
 mers upon the stage. I know you love me even as of 
 old. I know this, Geoffrey Benteen, and will abide in 
 my extremity with no other promise than your own." 
 
 " Eloise," I answered, strangely calmed and strength 
 ened by her faith, "it shall be as you wish. I thank 
 you for the words, and am better for them. When the 
 last faint hope flees, and dishonor or death alone is left, 
 I will strike that blow which sets free your soul." 
 
 I felt her kisses and tears commingled on my rough 
 ened hands, but before further words might be uttered, 
 the heavy mat concealing the western entrance was sud 
 denly lifted, and in from the dark night there stalked 
 in solemn silence and dignity a long line of stalwart 
 savages. 
 
 [253] 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 THE VOTE OF DEATH 
 
 I HAVE already written that I was never easily affected 
 by supernatural fears, yet something about that grim 
 entrance chilled the very blood. There was no cessation 
 of the monotonous, dismal chanting of the priests, as 
 these newcomers, whose sinister purpose no one could 
 doubt, moving with the silence of spectres, their bodies 
 draped in shapeless robes of skin, appearing ghostlike 
 beneath the uncertain flickering of flame, moved forward 
 like a great writhing snake, passed along the southern 
 wall beneath the face of the flying dragon overhead, until 
 they found seats on the hard floor between altar and 
 platform ; two or three, evidently superior chiefs, by their 
 richer trappings, ascended the raised logs and solemnly 
 squatted thereon, so as to face us. How many composed 
 this uncanny company I cannot say, having failed to 
 count as they filed past, yet they completely filled the 
 great room with scowling, upturned faces, and were 
 probably all the available warriors of the tribe. 
 
 This was accomplished in stealthy silence, as wild 
 animals creep upon their prey, nor did any among them 
 take seats until the old war-chief he who had led the 
 assault in the gulch made signal to that end. Respond 
 ing to a second gesture, we were driven roughly forward 
 
 [254] 
 
THE VOTE OF DEATH 
 
 by our guard, until permitted to sink down once more, 
 directly in their front, within full focus of their cruel eyes. 
 
 It was a fearful spot to be in. That dark interior, 
 dimly lighted by fitful bursts of flame, seemed more the 
 abode of the damned than a place of human habitation, 
 nor was there anything to remind us of mercy in that 
 savage company gloating over our desperate plight. No 
 one of us doubted what fate dwelt in the decision of that 
 grewsome gathering, and in those faces we saw nothing 
 except eagerness for revenge. It was their speechless 
 silence, their stolid imperturbability, which rested heaviest 
 upon me. It told plainly that we were helpless victims 
 of their cruel pleasure. Deliberately, as if desirous of 
 prolonging the agony of our uncertainty, for more than 
 an hour to us it seemed an age they sat thus, 
 unmoved as so many statues, except for their restless eyes, 
 while the four ministering priests, robed in black from 
 throat to sandals, slaughtered animals beneath the frown 
 ing shadow of the huge winged dragon, pouring warm 
 blood over the stones of the altar, or smearing it upon 
 their faces. Then, appearing fiendishly hideous, ghastlier 
 than words can fitly picture, these revolting figures began 
 with wild chanting to make offerings to their gods, danc 
 ing and capering before the flame to an accompaniment of 
 dismal music, burning some incense which polluted the air. 
 
 It was a hellish scene, arousing every sleeping devil 
 within those savage hearts ; it preyed upon our strained 
 nerves, and the Puritan lost all control, roaring out objur 
 gations on the foul, idolatrous crowd until he was silenced 
 by the sharp tap of a guard s club on his bushy pate. 
 Nor was it easy for De Noyan to remain quiet, while 
 
 [>5SJ 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Madame hid her shocked white face in her hands, ventur 
 ing not to glance up while the sound of these rites con 
 tinued. Whatever this religious ceremony for such I 
 supposed it to be may have symbolized, it was finally 
 concluded by the entire party uniting in a fierce chant. 
 As grim silence settled once more throughout the black 
 interior, the old war-chief, appearing taller than ever in 
 the weird light, and rendered peculiarly repulsive by 
 the bandages wrapping his wounds, rose to his feet, 
 commencing an impassioned address. 
 
 No word spoken was intelligible to us, yet I knew so 
 well the nature and customs of savages as to experience 
 little difficulty in deciding the purpose of this harangue. 
 Without doubt the fellow demanded an immediate sacri 
 fice in payment for the loss inflicted on their tribe. With 
 this conception as guide I noted his continually pointing 
 toward us, one after another, as if singling us out as spe 
 cial subjects for denunciation, perhaps for torture, as with 
 each he seemed to associate a peculiar term, repeating it 
 again and again with changing cadence, as if thus to force 
 its dread significance more firmly home into the minds of 
 his listeners. The word I distinguished most frequently 
 had the sound " ca-tah" which became associated in my 
 thought as some special form of torture to which he 
 desired us sentenced. Nor did I fail to remark in this 
 connection, my every faculty alert and strained to grasp 
 the slightest revealment, that, whenever the orator s 
 baleful glance rested upon the shrinking woman, his 
 lips uttered another word, his silent audience nodding 
 as though in assent to each demand. 
 
 One followed another, no doubt in accordance with 
 
 [356] 
 
THE VOTE OF DEATH 
 
 rank. Those chiefs upon the platform spoke first, each 
 in turn seeming to pronounce against us in favor of that 
 same unknown fate, making use of those two words, ges 
 ticulating toward us as they gave judgment. Nowhere 
 amid all that vengeful black circle did I discern a single 
 face not set in savage hatred, while slowly at first, but 
 gathering force as it proceeded, there passed from lip to 
 lip the sullen murmur of that dread word " ca-tah" As 
 it was pronounced each voter pointed at us, three times 
 making repetition of the word, until the last warrior had 
 spoken, and we knew that our doom had been formally 
 pronounced by a tribunal knowing no mercy, from whose 
 decision there was no appeal. 
 
 No hapless prisoner confined, as I have read they 
 were in olden times, within a dungeon whose walls slowly 
 closed to crush him into pulp, could have seen the com 
 ing of death, resistless and horrible, with clearer vision 
 than was ours as that group of savages pronounced our 
 doom. It was by exercising the greatest effort of will 
 that I conquered the dread sense of utter hopelessness 
 which seemed to numb my every faculty ; for, although 
 I was to be tortured to the end, and perish at last in 
 utmost physical agony, yet before that moment came 
 there still remained a duty to be performed for one I 
 loved. For that I must retain mind and strength to act 
 like a man. 
 
 Slowly, cautiously, moving inch by inch across the 
 small space intervening, so as not to attract the attention 
 of our guard, I crept forward, pausing at last close beside 
 Madame. Even as I reached her the final warrior cast his 
 useless vote with the others, the excited concourse voicing 
 17 [257] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 appreciation in noisy acclaim. I bent low, trembling 
 from weakness, until my lips were close to her ear. 
 
 "Eloise," I whispered softly, forgetting at the awful 
 moment that she possessed another name, "it has been 
 voted that three of us perish by torture, but you are not 
 in the list; you are named for a different fate. Is it still 
 your wish that I fulfil the pledge ? " 
 
 As she glanced up, the old war-chief pointed directly 
 toward her. I could perceive the baleful gleam of his 
 eyes, and noted with what quick aversion she shrank 
 back until her shoulder pressed my own. 
 
 "Yes, Geoffrey Benteen," she made immediate, reso 
 lute answer. " It will be mercy. I beg you strike." 
 
 " You forgive the blow ? " 
 
 " Forgive ! " An instant her clear eyes, unfrightened, 
 looked directly into mine, a message in their depths I 
 had never seen there before. " More, I love the heart 
 and hand which speed it." 
 
 My hands were bound tightly together, but my arms 
 remained free, the hilt of the knife resting firmly between 
 the palms. Although I drew my body somewhat back 
 in readiness for the stroke, I delayed the terrible deed 
 until the last possible moment, the perspiration standing 
 in great beads upon my face. Oh, how I loved her 
 then ! how my half-blinded eyes feasted upon her sweet, 
 sad face, the flames casting a ruddy glow upon it, and 
 playing fitfully amid the masses of her dark, tangled hair ! 
 There swept across my mind every memory of our past, 
 and she was again with me in her girlhood, before sorrow 
 had stamped her with its seal, and she had turned me 
 away tenderly as ever a woman could. And now she 
 
 [258] 
 
THE VOTE OF DEATH 
 
 was doomed to death by my hand ; with one blow I was 
 to blot out the life I loved a thousand times better than 
 my own. Merciful God ! what a trick had fate played 
 me! Nor durst I speak to her again, for her fingers toyed 
 with the rosary at her throat, the beads glowing dully in 
 the flame, and I knew she was in prayer, expecting with 
 each instant the coming of that stroke which should send 
 her trusting soul to God. I, who have seen much of 
 conflict and peril, much of suffering and atrocity, look 
 back on no moment in all my life so fraught with agony 
 as this, when, grasping that deadly knife in both hands, 
 I watched every threatening movement of the savage 
 arbiters of her fate, praying unto God for strength with 
 which to perform my duty. 
 
 At last the chiefs stood erect. In response to their 
 gestures of command, the massed warriors below sprang 
 to their feet, flocking eagerly toward us, giving utterance 
 to one deep vengeful cry. Already their clutches were 
 upon the struggling Puritan, when I swung high the 
 gleaming knife in both my hands. For one terrible 
 second I met her unflinching gaze, a glance which will 
 abide with me until my dying day then the keen steel 
 fell, barely deflected from the heart, slashing open the 
 bosom of her dress, yet thanks be to a kind God ! 
 finding harmless sheath, not within her quivering flesh 
 but in the hard-packed earth. It was scarcely less than 
 a miracle that I was thus able to turn the blow, but, even 
 as I aimed it, putting to the hilt my full strength that I 
 might send it surely home, there came into my vision a 
 sudden flash of bright color against the dark, skin-draped 
 wall, and I knew the Queen had come. 
 
 C 2 S9J 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 AT first my dimmed eyes beheld her through a mist, 
 my hands shaking as if stricken by palsy, nor 
 did I retain sufficient strength of body to uplift myself 
 from the spot where I had fallen with the force of my 
 blow. Nevertheless I shall forever retain the vivid pic 
 ture imprinted on memory. Before us stood a tall, fair- 
 skinned woman, having dignity of command in every 
 movement, her face thin, strong, dominant, with large, 
 dark, passionate eyes, flashing in scornful beauty over the 
 excited warriors at her feet. Pride, power, imperious will, 
 a scarcely hidden tigerish cruelty, were in every line of 
 her features; yet she remained strikingly handsome, with 
 that rare beauty which drives men mad and laughs 
 mockingly at its victims. She was robed completely 
 in red, the brilliant color harmonizing strangely with her 
 countenance, the single outer garment extending, devoid 
 of ornament, from throat to heel, loosely gathered at 
 the waist, and resembling in form and drapery those 
 pictures I have seen of Roman togas, while her magnifi 
 cent wealth of hair, of richest reddish gold, appeared 
 to shimmer and glow in the sparkle of leaping flames as 
 if she wore a tiara of rubies. 
 
 With quick, passionate speech she poured forth her 
 purpose, and I saw the savage throng shrink before her, 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 as if they knew and dreaded the outburst of her anger. 
 Yet, as she paused breathless, the old war-chief ven 
 tured to face her, returning a stern reply. This disregard 
 of her temper so imparted courage to the others that they 
 rallied about their leader as one man, numerous hoarse 
 voices supplementing his protest, until it was plain to be 
 seen that the woman remained alone and unsupported 
 against the savage crew. Yet the lines of determination 
 but deepened in her face, her lips curled in scorn, and 
 she turned from them to look down where we were hud 
 dled in despair. A moment her flashing eyes swept 
 across our upturned faces, the howls of her opponents 
 growing fiercer on every side. With one imperious ges 
 ture she commanded silence, and, as the gruff voices died 
 away in muttered discontent, the woman addressed us, 
 speaking a clear, pure Spanish, making use now and then 
 of words unknown to me. 
 
 " Prisoners, can any among you interpret my speech ? " 
 I caught my breath in glad surprise, struggling to my 
 feet, and making haste to answer. 
 
 " If you speak slowly," I said, " I shall be able to 
 understand." 
 
 " T is well, as it is a tongue unknown to these 
 Indians," her eyes lighting up with cunning. "Then, 
 Senor, mark with care what I say, and, if the meaning of 
 any escape your ears, bid me speak again, so no mistake 
 be made." 
 
 " It will give me great pleasure, O Queen." 
 " I am the Daughter of the Sun," she interposed 
 proudly, as if correcting my mode of address. " These 
 are my children, given unto me by the great Sun-god. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 For what purpose have you of white skin dared invade 
 the land of the Sun ? " 
 
 "We knew nothing of your presence here, merely 
 seeking a passage through these mountains northward." 
 
 " But you killed the warriors of our nation ; you have 
 stricken the people of the Sun." 
 
 " True, Daughter of the Sun ; yet it was done only in 
 self-defence. When attacked we struck hard blows." 
 
 Her eyes glowed angrily, her face becoming cruelly 
 hard. 
 
 " None of white blood may set foot in this valley and 
 live. It is the land of the Sun," she said haughtily. 
 " None have ever before ventured to do so, and found 
 safe way back to their own. Are you French ? " 
 
 " Not all, the lady and yonder cavalier are of French 
 blood, I am a hunter of the Ohio country, while he who 
 crouches beyond also calls himself American." 
 
 " I know nothing of your Ohio, nor what may be an 
 American," she replied with an impatient stamp of the 
 foot, " but it is bad any among you should prove French. 
 What does the woman do here ? " 
 
 In a few brief sentences I told our story, marking as I 
 spoke that she followed my words with care. As I con 
 cluded she merely gazed more closely into Madame s 
 upturned face, speaking as though communing with 
 herself. 
 
 " She has the appearance of a fair woman ; we need no 
 such here." She raised her voice slightly, addressing me 
 in cold reserve. 
 
 " Your story sounds well. True or false, it makes 
 small odds. We attacked your party, believing you 
 
 [262] 
 
"I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN. THESE ARE MY CHILDREN, GIVEN UNTO ME 
 BY THE GREAT SUN-GOD. . . . NONE OF WHITE BLOOD MAY SET FOOT IN THIS 
 VALLEY AND LIVE." 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN" 
 
 French, whom the children of the Sun have good reason 
 to hate. You have cost us the lives of many warriors, 
 and the Sun calls for vengeance. Already has the tribe 
 solemnly voted your death by fire. Now mark me 
 closely. T is not often I interfere in such affairs as this, 
 nor do I now for any higher object than my own gratifi 
 cation. The Daughter of the Sun is no angel, nor ambi 
 tious to become one. I have looked on unmoved at the 
 torture of the stake more than once, so t is no weak 
 sentimentality that leads me to try to avert your fate. 
 Nor am I sure I can, whatever my motive be. I possess 
 no power to overturn the united vote of these warriors 
 they are all children of the Sun. I can think of but one 
 method by which I can even hope to encompass your 
 escape from immediate torture. If by some subterfuge I 
 can delay action until day-dawn, I may be able to control 
 these savages. The children of the Sun do not light 
 their fires in the presence of their Father. There is but 
 one possible way to that end, does yonder red-headed 
 man comprehend the Spanish tongue? " 
 
 " He does not." 
 
 " That is bad," her brows contracting. " Still he must 
 be used, as no other among you will answer my purpose. 
 Bid him advance to my side on the platform ; bid him 
 pretend to hold converse with me, and, above all else, 
 have him attend my every gesture and obey. Will he 
 do your bidding ? " 
 
 " I know not," I replied honestly. " He is of a bull- 
 headed breed, yet I may be able to drive into him a 
 moment of sense." 
 
 " Do your part thoroughly, nor be too long about it. 
 
 [263] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 The chiefs grow restless at our talk, and may yet take 
 affairs into their own hands." 
 
 I turned doubtfully toward the Puritan, who was glar 
 ing up at the woman from beneath his shaggy brows, much 
 as he might have looked upon some wild animal seen for 
 the first time. I presume the fiery red drapery caused 
 him to deem her that veritable scarlet woman about 
 whom he prated so much. He appeared far from being 
 a promising subject for my overtures, especially as his 
 great head must have ached still from contact with the 
 club, which had alone beaten him into sullen silence. 
 Yet she commanding the attempt was so desperately in 
 earnest that I determined to do my part. 
 
 "Watch carefully my words," I said sternly in Eng 
 lish, " and bear in mind the preservation of all our lives 
 depends on the part you play. The woman chief has 
 made choice of you to help in winning mercy from these 
 savages. I know not why you are the one thus chosen, 
 yet I suspect that fiery crop of hair may have something 
 to do with the honor. The main point is, are you in 
 a humor to do her bidding ? " 
 
 " Nay ! " he replied, gazing at me stubbornly. 
 
 " You refuse to assist in saving your own life, and the 
 lives of your comrades ? " 
 
 " I touch not the accursed abominations of this place," 
 he answered, hoarse with anger, " nor will I have aught 
 to do with yonder shameless creature." 
 
 "Sirrah!" I cried, thoroughly aroused by his mulish- 
 ness, " do you deliberately choose to sacrifice the life of 
 this lady to your bull-headed fanaticism? Do you re 
 fuse to unbend your miserable Connecticut sectarianism, 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 your Puritan cant, although by so doing you might 
 keep your comrades from the horrors of the stake? 
 If this is what you mean, I denounce you as unworthy 
 to be called a man, and I name your loud protestations 
 of religion no more than a hissing and a byword before 
 the ungodly you profess to despise. You are no better 
 than a Pharisee, full of loud-mouthed prayers and vain 
 conceit of righteousness, a false prophet, haggling over 
 formalism when the slightest sacrifice of what you hold 
 the letter of the law would result in the salvation of hu 
 man life. You call yourself a Christian, a follower of that 
 Nazarene who died for sinners on the cross, deeming 
 yourself better than those who cling to other creed. You 
 sneer at that rosary in Madame s fingers, yet do you 
 suppose it possible she would not endeavor to pluck your 
 life from the jaws of death if it lay in her power ? Ay ! 
 and never waste speech about abominations in the path. 
 
 "The spirit is of greater value than the body," he 
 persisted doggedly. " Yea, t is better the flesh perish 
 miserably in the flame than surrender up the soul unto 
 the devil." 
 
 " That is no issue here ; you seek to deceive yourself 
 by false words. I denounce you openly as a false fol 
 lower, for if I read rightly the language of Holy Writ, 
 it was He whom you so delight to term Master who 
 gave his life freely for His friends. But you you are 
 all words, a charnel-house of dead men s bones/ 
 
 Had he been free I might have rued my hasty words, 
 for his eyes were hot with anger, and he strained fiercely 
 at his bonds in effort to break free. Yet I felt safe 
 enough beyond the sweep of his great arm, rejoicing that 
 
 [265] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 my tongue was sharp enough to penetrate so thick a hide, 
 and make the man squirm beneath his outer vestment 
 of piety. 
 
 " You speak falsely," he bellowed, nearly beside him 
 self. " Satan puts those foul words upon your lips 
 tempting me to do evil/* 
 
 " Nay ; the words are true/ 7 I went on, determined to 
 drive him by taunts. "They are neither foul nor false, and 
 right glad I am to discover your real character even at this 
 eleventh hour. I make no loud boasting of my religion, 
 dinning it into the ears of all I meet as if I were the only 
 righteous man on earth, but I do thank God from the 
 depths of my heart I have never yet basely deserted a 
 friend in time of trouble. I did consider you a good com 
 rade, but I know now you are nothing but a whited sep 
 ulchre, a miserable hypocrite, a Judas betraying his master 
 with a kiss. Pah ! go your way, you are unclean; nor ever 
 hope again for word of fellowship from lips of honest men. 
 I shall die having performed my duty to the extent of my 
 knowledge, but you as a dog, a traitor to your comrades, 
 the betrayer of a woman in time of peril." 
 
 " Tis false, I say; I would yield life gladly to aid her." 
 " Zounds ! that sounds good from such lips. Why, 
 you have just refused much less." 
 
 "Yonder is an emissary of the Evil One." 
 " Keep your cowardly excuses to yourself. Whatever 
 the woman may be, she offers us a chance for our lives, 
 provided only you will perform her will in sundry 
 
 matters." 
 
 He hesitated, his uncertain eyes shifting from her face 
 to mine. 
 
 [266] 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 " What does this scarlet priestess of Baal require that 
 I do ? " he questioned sullenly. 
 
 " Good lack, t is little enough even to satisfy your 
 conscience. Merely that you stand beside her on the 
 platform, pretending converse, marking carefully her 
 every signal, and obeying it." 
 
 " I play no idolatrous mummery with her." 
 
 " Then may the devil fly away with you," I retorted, 
 so enraged by this time I could scarcely refrain from 
 grappling him with my hands. " I go to tell Madame 
 of the fool you are." 
 
 He gave vent to a deep groan, rolling his eyes as was 
 his habit in time of trial, yet never removing his gaze 
 from that red figure, standing motionless as a statue, 
 impatiently awaiting his decision. 
 
 "In the name of the holy prophets of Israel!" he 
 snorted desperately at last. " T is, indeed, a grievous 
 trial like unto that which befell Daniel in the den of the 
 lions. If I go upon yonder sinful platform before these 
 hosts of Satan, it will be only as led by the Almighty, and 
 that I may wrestle mightily in prayer for the redemption 
 of the heathen." 
 
 " I care not, man, so you go. Pray loud as you 
 please, yet give heed to the signals of the woman if you 
 value your own life or ours." 
 
 Odds ! it was a picture to see the fellow start on his 
 unwelcome mission, slouching through the ranks of the 
 surprised savages with as hangdog a look on his mourn 
 ful countenance as though he mounted the gallows. It 
 was with faint hope as to the result that I watched 
 him lumber onto the platform, doubting not he would 
 
 [267] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 perform some crazy trick to offset any good he might 
 endeavor. I could scarce restrain a smile as the two 
 actors faced each other, marking the look of undisguised 
 horror on his leathern face, and how he shrank back as 
 her hand extended to touch him. The wild, discordant 
 cries of the grouped savages ceased in wonderment at 
 this unanticipated scene ; even the perpetual incantations 
 of the priests died away, every eye gazing curiously on 
 the strange spectacle. The Puritan had appropriated 
 one of De Noyan s hats, broad of brim, and so ample of 
 crown the high peaked head of the worthy sectary was 
 almost lost within its capacious interior. No sooner, 
 however, did he attain her side than the woman grasped 
 it in her white fingers, flinging it disdainfully upon the 
 floor, and, like a flash of unexpected color in the dancing 
 light of the fire, there blazed forth before us his flaming 
 covering with a brilliancy which startled even me. Saint 
 Andrew ! it was a glow to make the eyes blink. 
 
 The sudden effect of this disclosure upon the throng 
 ing warriors was beyond words of mine. There followed 
 a hush so painful in intensity I could distinguish the 
 quick throbbing of my own heart. I saw the woman 
 point at the fellow, giving eager utterance to a single 
 word, her eyes sweeping the faces below. Then came 
 an irregular rush forward, inarticulate cries pierced the 
 air, war weapons were dashed clanging upon the earthen 
 floor, while numerous torches, grasped from off the 
 sacred altar, were waved aloft by excited hands, all 
 serving to form as demoniacal a scene as was ever 
 witnessed this side of hell. 
 
 The full truth flashed across my mind our comrade 
 
 [268] 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 had in that moment been changed from a helpless, beaten 
 prisoner into an object of superstitious worship. By the 
 magic of a word, the alchemy of a thought, he had 
 become to these superstitious savages a mysterious visit 
 ant from the Sun, and for once, at least, he might fer 
 vently bless Nature, who had bestowed upon him so 
 rich a coloring of hair. Whether or not the fellow com 
 prehended the meaning of that uproar, of those wildly 
 dancing figures in his front, I could never determine; but, 
 before the woman could in any way interfere, the sectary 
 plumped down upon his knees, and, with head bent so 
 low that every separate hair caught the reflection of the 
 ruddy flames, began pouring forth a petition in sturdy 
 English, and with a volume of voice that shook the 
 whole interior. It was not such a bad play, I take it, 
 although he was desperately in earnest. Very plainly he 
 compared his worshipping auditory to certain scriptural 
 characters, in a way that would not have proven flattering 
 to them could they have interpreted his language. 
 
 " Oh, Lord God ! " he roared, rolling his eyes upward 
 and interjecting many a deep groan after each sentence. 
 <c Infinite Jehovah, for some just reason of Thy own, 
 Thou hast seen fit to lead Thy most humble servant 
 into this den of iniquity. Thou hast placed me in the 
 fiery furnace of tribulation, it may be in the test of that 
 faith which was delivered unto the saints, yet will I not 
 bow down in the tents of the idolaters, nor profane Thy 
 Holy Name by the worship of their false gods. Here 
 in the midst of the ravening lions I uplift my eyes unto 
 Jerusalem, and my lips unto the throne of grace, beseech 
 ing Thee to give unto me the salvation of these heathen, 
 
 [269] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 even as brands plucked from the burning. Quench the 
 fire on this altar of Baal, O Lord, by the outpouring of 
 Thy Spirit, and give unto this people a manifestation of 
 Thy mighty power, redeeming them from their manifold 
 sins. Yea, Lord, give ear unto the words of my petition, 
 and as of old times thou didst send a message of fire unto 
 Thy prophet Elijah, so come down even now to visit 
 these unbelieving and mocking hearts with the terror of 
 Thy just wrath. Make bare Thy arm of infinite power 
 that this abomination of heathendom may be purged of 
 its vain idolatry, and that Thy Israel may triumph over 
 the hosts of the sinful. Even as Thou didst scatter the 
 forces of the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea, 
 even so, O Lord, visit now Thy wrath upon those who 
 mock Thee and degrade Thy image. Save us from the 
 snare of this scarlet woman, this proud harlot of Babylon, 
 and forgive Thy servant for thus seeming to obey her 
 will. Thou knowest, O Lord, that it is only that I may 
 the better serve Thee, and thus overcome the wiles of the 
 Wicked One. Give unto me in this hour the strength 
 of Samson that I may overturn the pillars of this temple 
 of abominations, even though we all perish in its destruc 
 tion. Yea, visit us with power and righteousness, and 
 scatter Thy enemies over the face of the earth. O Lord ! 
 I am as nothing, a mere worm of the dust : smite me if 
 Thou wilt, yet I but wrestle with Thee in prayer that 
 through me the heathen may be brought low, and led to 
 see the error of their way." 
 
 There was no halting him, yet even as he continued 
 to pour forth fervent supplication, the warriors drew 
 back from the dense circle pressing against the platform, 
 
 [270] 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN 
 
 taking solemn counsel together. Then the old war- 
 chief advanced to the centre, pointing maliciously to 
 ward De Noyan and myself. I observed the Queen 
 wave her hand in a gesture of apparent carelessness, and 
 before I could clearly conjecture the full meaning of it, 
 strong hands clutched us, and, in spite of struggles, we 
 were dragged roughly back toward the shrouded entrance 
 of the lodge. There was no shouting, no din of any 
 kind to disturb the devotions of the Puritan, who 
 prayed on with closed eyes and a vigor of utterance 
 making mock of all other sound. Silently as they 
 moved, it was nevertheless plain to be read in the grim, 
 savage faces closing about us, that we were being driven 
 forth to no scene of pleasure. Harshly did their grip 
 ping hands hustle us forward. The heavy mat shading 
 the entrance was flung aside, and like the unexpected 
 flight of an arrow, into the black gloom of the lodge, 
 weirdly lighting up the wild faces, streamed the clear, 
 white light of the dawn. Far off upon the highest sum 
 mit of the yellow cliff there already rested the first rosy 
 reflection of the rising sun. One shout rang discordant 
 from the surprised throats of our captors ; the brutal 
 hands released their grasp, and De Noyan and myself 
 sank back helpless upon the ground. 
 
 [ay i] 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 AS by magic the uproar of the infuriated savages died 
 away. Gazing up from where I lay, my eyes beheld 
 every face turned outward, every eye fastened upon that 
 distant wall of rock. Suddenly a strange cry arose, each 
 throat giving utterance to the same sound as if in trained 
 obedience to some recognized signal, and immediately 
 every Indian lay prostrate, his face in the dust. Gazing 
 toward the spot they had watched so intently, I could 
 perceive how the rose tints of the early sun flecked the 
 upper extremity of the precipitous rock with spots of 
 color, checkers of red and gold, while just below its lofty 
 crest, seemingly touching the deep blue of the morning 
 sky, hardly more than dim specks against the dull back 
 ground of gray rock, appeared several moving black 
 figures, and I could distinguish a series of flashes as if 
 they waved blazing torches in welcome to the King of 
 Day. 
 
 "Sacre! tis an uncanny sight," muttered my com 
 panion uneasily. " Have yonder foul priests been given 
 wings whereby they mount the very rock in their devil 
 worship ? " 
 
 " Hardly that," I returned tersely. " There will be a 
 footpath leading to the spot either from above or below." 
 
 [272] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 cc True, perchance ; yet t is not from above. Of that 
 I am certain, as the crest of the rock overhangs ; you may 
 perceive the deep shadow of it even from here." 
 
 Before I could distinguish clearly the peculiarity 
 pointed out, the woman chief came forth through the 
 open entrance, appearing more fair and white of skin than 
 ever in the clear light of the dawn. Scarcely glancing 
 toward either the prostrate tribesmen or those distant sig 
 nalling priests, she advanced directly toward where we 
 lay helpless in our bonds. There was a flush upon her 
 cheeks, a light of animation in her eyes, yet she stood 
 looking down upon me much as she might have viewed 
 an insensate stone. 
 
 " Senor," she said coldly, still speaking the Spanish 
 tongue, " it did please my humor but now to play a 
 small trick upon these innocent children of nature, know 
 ing their faith and tribal customs. For the time being I 
 won, and it is you who benefit. You, and these others, 
 are for the present delivered from that torture to which 
 you were condemned : the rising of yonder Sun has saved 
 you ; t is the law of the Natchez. Nay, thank me not," 
 as I sought to express my words of gratitude. " I told 
 you before it was not from any desire to show mercy, but 
 for a purpose of my own. Yet if you would continue to 
 profit through my strange whim and surely I have 
 seldom been thus swayed to action then it will be well 
 to give heed unto my words. I bid you proceed at once 
 to that second hut yonder, nor dare venture forth again 
 until I send. The children of the Sun bow now to the 
 commands of their ancient faith, yet are of temper hard 
 to control." 
 
 [273] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 "You fear they may yet demand us in sacrifice? " 
 
 " Not to-day, unless you do that which shall arouse 
 their passions beyond my power of restraint. While the 
 sun dominates the sky your lives are preserved from vio 
 lence, but if you would live longer it must be through 
 careful guarding of speech and action. I promise nothing 
 beyond the present day. But now," she bent over, 
 severing my bonds with a flint blade, "go; do exactly 
 as I bade you, and no longer bandy words with me." 
 
 " But the lady within the lodge ? " I ventured anx 
 iously, as I struggled to my feet, standing erect before 
 her. 
 
 " She bides elsewhere." 
 
 " It will be hard for her alone " 
 
 " What is all that to you, sirrah ? " she interrupted 
 haughtily. " According to the tale told, you are not her 
 husband. He who might have right to question separa 
 tion has made no complaint." 
 
 " He does not comprehend your speech. For that 
 reason he remains dumb." 
 
 " Mean you it is he who inspires your objection ? " she 
 asked scornfully. 
 
 " No ; yet I doubt not t is in his heart even as upon 
 my lips." 
 
 She turned aside, an incredulous smile curling her lips, 
 looking curiously down upon him, and their eyes met. 
 She stooped swiftly, severing the thongs of grass binding 
 his arms, and with her own hands assisted him to rise. 
 
 " A fair and noble gallant," she said softly, reluctantly 
 turning back from him to me. " Not of hard, stern 
 visage like yours, but with the bearing of a gentleman, the 
 
 [^74] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 smile of a courtier. Pish ! he will not miss her over 
 much, or else I read not rightly the challenge of his eyes. 
 But come, hunter, I bade you go in haste, nor is it well 
 for any one to wait my bidding twice." 
 
 " T is no more than just we should be told the destiny 
 of our companions," I persisted, determined not to 
 desert them thus. " May not both the Puritan and the 
 woman abide with us ? " 
 
 Her eyes flashed in uncontrolled anger, her lips giving 
 vent to a low, cruel laugh. 
 
 " I tell you no, and understand once for all my word 
 is law. You are not standing before a French court to 
 haggle over trifles, and dispute about your rights. Bah ! 
 you have no rights ; you live from day to day merely by 
 my whim. The red-headed man tarries where he is as 
 long as it remains my pleasure ; while as to yon dainty 
 creature, she shall meet no harm. Forsooth, it will not 
 greatly hurt her to be beyond your sight for a space." 
 
 " Does she bide with you ? " 
 
 " If I so will it, yes ; if not, no. Who are you, hunter, 
 to dare question Naladi after she bids you cease ? " she 
 exclaimed, her cheeks crimsoning. " Now go ; go ere I 
 am tempted to show you I possess power to enforce my 
 will. Another word, and you will long regret it." 
 
 She was a tigress now, her eyes burning into mine 
 with the fierceness of a wild animal scenting blood. It 
 would have been sheer madness to attempt more, with 
 those scowling, savage faces lowering at us from every 
 side, their possessors only too eager to spring forward in 
 cruel obedience to a gesture of their Queen. A single 
 word from her red lips would, in spite of all superstition, 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cause them to rend us limb from limb, so I bade De 
 Noyan follow me, feeling relief when once beyond her 
 sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut. 
 
 " Well, Master Benteen," remarked my comrade easily, 
 finding a soft bearskin upon which to rest his aching 
 limbs, " this is an odd company among whom you have 
 piloted us; one not altogether appealing to my taste in 
 its masculine elements. Yet, damme, but you possess 
 rare advantage over the rest of us in holding converse 
 with these people, while I must remain dumb as an 
 oyster, save for a glance of the eye. Perhaps, now that 
 we have time for it, you will kindly explain the meaning 
 of all this mummery with which we passed the night, for, 
 by all the gods of Rome, it was weird enough to turn 
 my hair gray, yet I understood neither word nor deed. 
 How came that grim preacher to attain such honor, 
 taking position beside their peerless Queen ? " 
 
 His idiotic lightness of speech and manner jarred 
 unpleasantly upon my humor. I was heavy-hearted 
 from what had passed, retaining little confidence in the 
 future, yet I told him the story as best I could, trusting 
 the recital might serve to sober him, so we could counsel 
 together regarding our plans. 
 
 " Pardieu! twas rather a pretty trick of the lady," he 
 exclaimed laughingly, as I ended the tale. " She would 
 do honor to a more pretentious court with her wit as well 
 as beauty. What did you call the title she bore ? " 
 
 " c Daughter of the Sun was the name given in the 
 altar-house yonder; later she made use of the word 
 Naladi." 
 
 " Ay ! that was it. T is a name fitting her well to my 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 taste, and I boast of some experience with the sex. 
 Sacrel I trust not to have seen the last of so fair a 
 vision as this Queen Naladi." 
 
 He was twirling his moustache, such a look of compla 
 cency upon his features I could only stare at him in 
 bewildered surprise. 
 
 " You appear reconciled to our situation with marvel 
 lous good grace," I managed to say at last, in a tone 
 which made no attempt to conceal my disgust at his 
 coxcombry. u For myself I can see very little to hope 
 for." 
 
 "Tut, tut, man," stretching himself negligently into 
 a posture of greater ease, " an old soldier learns to take 
 things as they come, without complaint ; to extract 
 sweets from every flower. Surely here is a rare rose we 
 have uncovered blooming in the wilderness; nor am I 
 blind to its beauty, or unmindful of my privileges. 
 Besides, lad, what is there greatly to worry about ? We 
 are preserved, you tell me, from torture ; food will 
 undoubtedly be supplied in plenty, while the lady is 
 surely fair enough to promise pleasant companionship in 
 exile provided I ever learn to have private speech 
 with her. What was the tongue ? " 
 
 " We conversed in Spanish." 
 
 " I thought as much ; there were certain familiar words. 
 But, as I said, why complain of fate, with all these bless 
 ings showered upon us. Pardieu ! it would prove us 
 ungrateful wretches. Surely tis better than the tender 
 mercy of O Reilly, ay, or the hardship and starvation of 
 the trail." 
 
 " You have forgotten your wife." 
 
 [>77] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Forgotten ? Sacrel I should say not, Master Benteen ; 
 nor is that likely to occur. Yet what cause have I to 
 worry regarding her present comfort. Did you not say 
 that the Queen pledged her safety and good care ? What 
 more could I accomplish for her than that, even were we 
 back in New Orleans, beneath French protection ? Saint 
 Denis ! you are of a complaining breed, inclined to act 
 as conscience for your betters. True, there are some 
 few things I greatly miss, that would minister to com 
 fort. I was ever careful in my toilet, and choice as to 
 my wines in town ; still, if these savages have not lost my 
 soaps and brushes, I will strive to exist even here, and be 
 content until a way opens toward that which is better." 
 
 " I greatly admire your patience." 
 
 " Pah ! t is but the long practice of a soldier. Yet I 
 am somewhat weary from the night, and, if you have 
 talked enough, will seek rest to dream of Naladi, trusting 
 she may send for me ere long. Did you note the beauty 
 of her eyes ? " 
 
 " I marked their cruelty." 
 
 " Le Diable! I ever admired spirit in a woman ; t is 
 the greater pleasure to watch them take on softer light. 
 In such orbs love shines the clearer, once awakened." 
 
 I sat there some time in silence until he fell asleep. 
 Then, realizing how useless it was for me, wearily as 
 my eyelids drooped, to strive longer in thought, I 
 sought another robe to rest upon, and was soon happily 
 unconscious also. 
 
 I presume some unusual noise aroused me, for as I 
 awoke and stared about, unable at the moment to com 
 prehend my situation, I noticed, by evidence of the sun 
 
 [278] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 shining through the entrance of the hut, it was already 
 past the noon hour. Consciousness becoming more acute, 
 I perceived, standing barely within the shadows of the 
 interior, the dusky figure of a warrior, unarmed, and 
 motionless except for a gesture of the hand which seemed 
 to command my following him. Retaining concealed 
 within my doublet the sharp knife intrusted to me by 
 Madame, I felt little trepidation at the fellow s presence, 
 nor was there anything about his countenance to foster 
 alarm, he appearing the least ferocious of aspect of all I had 
 observed among the tribe. A moment I hesitated, then 
 believing him a messenger from the Queen, I followed 
 his retreating figure out into the sunlight. 
 
 The village reposed in loneliness and silence, nor did I 
 see even child or dog playing before the square huts as 
 we passed them. As we mounted higher along the slope 
 and began climbing the strangely rounded hill on the 
 summit of which perched the altar-house, I glanced back 
 curiously over the plain outspread below. Little clusters 
 of dark figures were scattered here and there throughout 
 the pleasant valley, many of them congregated along the 
 greener banks of the circling water-course, others scat 
 tered more widely afield, yet all earnestly engaged in 
 cultivation of the ground. This quiet, pastoral scene 
 was so foreign to all my previous conception of Indian 
 nature that for the moment I paused amazed, gazing 
 upon this picture of peaceful agriculture in the heart of 
 the wilderness. Surely, cruel, revengeful savages though 
 they were, yet here was a people retaining traditions 
 of a higher life than that of the wild chase and desert 
 war. I could perceive no guards stationed anywhere, yet 
 
 [ 2 79] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 felt no doubt that every entrance leading into this hidden 
 paradise, this rock-barricaded basin amid the hills, would 
 be amply protected by armed and vigilant warriors, con 
 fining us as securely within its narrow limits as if a dozen 
 savages followed our every footfall. My silent guide, 
 after one glance across his naked shoulder, to assure 
 himself that I followed, led straight forward up the hill 
 on a dog-trot, soon placing him far in advance. At the 
 entrance of the altar-house he paused, showing disincli 
 nation to enter. In obedience to a gesture I passed 
 within, leaving him standing there, as if awaiting my 
 return, a silent statue in light bronze, the glow of the 
 sunshine upon him. 
 
 Wondering what my mission might be, I remained a 
 moment motionless slightly within the entrance, my eyes 
 almost totally blinded by the sudden transition from the 
 garish day to that dull interior. Slowly the scene within 
 resolved itself into clearer detail. I began to perceive 
 the crawling red flames licking with hungry tongues 
 along the sides of the huge log resting upon the altar 
 block, and later distinguished the black figure of a priest 
 moving silently from point to point amid the shadows, 
 engaged upon the grewsome functions of his office, his 
 presence ever manifested by the dismal crooning with 
 which he worked his magic spells. Beyond these vague 
 suggestions of life for they seemed scarcelv more 
 it was like endeavoring to sound the depths of a cavern, 
 so black, still, and void was all within and about. Yet, 
 even as I stood thus, peering uneasily into the gloom, I 
 was thoroughly startled at the sudden booming forth of a 
 voice, apparently issuing from the darkest corner. 
 
 [280] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 " May the Lord God forgive ye, Master Benteen, and 
 be merciful unto ye, for thus placing His minister in such 
 stress. T is I, Ezekiel Cairnes, who hath become an 
 abomination unto Israel." 
 
 There was a tone of such utter depression in the great 
 roaring voice, I feared some serious mishap had befallen 
 him, and hastened to cross the room, heading toward the 
 corner whence the sound came. As I attained the outer 
 edge of the platform, groping my passage through the 
 dense gloom, I was halted in the midst of a dozen or 
 more savages, lying prone upon the hard floor, evidently 
 in adoration of that grotesque figure perched above, and 
 now clearly revealed by a blazing up of the charred log. 
 Not one among them stirred from his prostrate position 
 at my approach. Forgetting them instantly, my whole 
 attention became riveted upon the marvellous transfor 
 mation presented by my old Puritan comrade. Odds ! 
 what a sight ! He sat bolt upright, as though bound 
 in that stiff posture, occupying a low dais, almost at the 
 edge of the platform. This latter had been covered with 
 a glaring crimson cloth, roughly woven, presumably of 
 native manufacture, peculiarly brilliant in its coloring, 
 and hence of rare beauty to Indian eyes. At my 
 approach he began straining at the cords which held 
 him helpless, and I soon saw that his entire body was 
 wrapped about with ropes of grass in such a manner 
 as to render vain any hope of escape. His oddly 
 shapen figure, with the wide, square shoulders and short 
 legs, was likewise draped in red, above which flared his 
 fiery shock of dishevelled hair, while a face fairly dis 
 torted with rage, gray from loss of sleep, and rendered 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 ludicrous by its little snapping eyes, glared down upon 
 me. 
 
 " Memory of Beelzebub ! It would be no matter of 
 laughter for ye, Master Benteen," he snorted savagely, 
 straining at his cords, " could I burst these accursed 
 strings, and lay my hands to your throat. Ay ! nor 
 would yonder idolatrous swine lie there long if I once 
 got free among them. Imagine not, vain and presump 
 tuous unbeliever that the Lord God Almighty He 
 who rideth in the chariot of the whirlwind will long 
 permit the heathen to profane His holy places, or 
 triumph in the misery of one of the elect. There 
 cometh the Day of Judgment, when the wicked shall be 
 scattered as chaff. " 
 
 "You are in a most unpleasant condition, friend," I 
 replied, endeavoring to speak so as to calm his temper. 
 " It is in sorrow, not pleasure, I behold you thus." 
 
 " I am entangled in the snare of the Evil One, Master 
 Benteen. But I continue manfully to war against the 
 adversary even as becomes my high station." 
 
 " Have you been long in so pitiful a state ? I dreamed 
 not it would ever come to this." 
 
 " It may be true you were ignorant of the wiles of that 
 emissary of Satan who doth encompass us," he acknowl 
 edged, a trifle mollified by my sympathy. " I would not 
 be guilty of evil thought even toward an unregenerated 
 heretic. Yet I have sat thus, wrapped like a mummy 
 of the Egyptians, since early dawn. Ay, verily have I 
 been sore oppressed both of body and spirit. Nor has 
 there been any surcease, when the heathen have not lain 
 thus at my feet. What means such action ? " 
 
 [282] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 "They mistake you for a god, and prostrate them 
 selves in worship. You are unto them a mysterious visit 
 ant from the Sun so the Queen named you, inspired 
 by the color of your hair." 
 
 He groaned aloud, his chin dropping dejectedly upon 
 his breast. 
 
 " I feared as much, and the thought greatly oppressed 
 me. T is as if I were a golden calf set aloft in the wil 
 derness to mock the true God. It resteth heavy on my 
 spirit to abide as a vain idol in the tents of these idola 
 ters. When first they draped me with this foul livery of 
 Satan," he touched the scarlet robe gingerly with his 
 chin, " I made so vigorous a protest two of the black 
 imps went down before me, but the others overpowered 
 my struggles, binding me fast, as you see. But, verily, I 
 have delivered unto them the whole truth as revealed 
 unto the saints; have struck and spared not ay! the 
 very language of the scriptures have I poured forth 
 unstinted upon them, and drawn before their eyes that 
 fiery hell over which they dangle in their sins. It must 
 be their understandings are darkened, for they hearken 
 not unto my exhortations, only lie thus, or dance before 
 me by the hour in unholy worship, snapping their fingers 
 and shouting strange words, while twice yonder black 
 emissary of false religion held his smoking torch so 
 closely to my face the flame scorched the skin. Nor 
 have my most fervent prayers availed to drive them 
 hence, or ease the prickings of the spirit. T is as if 
 the ear of the Lord had been turned aside from the sup 
 plications of His servant ; yea, verily, as if the vials of His 
 wrath were being poured forth upon my head, because, 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 in a moment of weakness, I yielded to the machinations 
 of that scarlet woman." 
 
 " Have you again seen her?" I questioned anxiously, 
 as he paused for breath. 
 
 "Seen her! the accursed of God, the moral leper 
 who rules this foul nest ? Ay ; I have, and may the 
 Lord forgive my ever casting eyes upon such a shameless 
 creature. T was she who brought me this disgrace. She 
 stood by with mocking smile, bidding her savage min 
 ions bind me fast. She is the chief imp of Satan in spite 
 of her fair face, and shall yet be stricken low by the 
 avenging arm of the Almighty. T is no gleam of mercy 
 cometh to me from her taunts, nor in the harlot blood 
 flowing through her veins. I tell you, Master Benteen, 
 she is the worst devil, for all her softness, in all this 
 heathen crew; and if she spared our lives from the tor 
 ture, it was done through some dark project born of the 
 demon within her soul. Nothing good can come forth 
 from such as she. Marked you the eyes she cast on 
 De Noyan ? " 
 
 " I paid no heed," I answered, wondering he had 
 observed so much. " Have you supposed we may owe 
 our escape unto him ? " 
 
 " Ay ! she has marked him victim to her snare, nor do 
 I doubt the full success of her venture. T is small stock 
 of virtue which bedecks itself in such Punchinello dress 
 as that gay gallant wears. Amalekite is written upon his 
 raiment, and he is ever attired as becomes a bridegroom 
 to the shameless harlot ruling this devils den. Marry, he 
 may be good enough wielding a sword, yet will prove the 
 undoing of all who company with him in this adventure." 
 
 [284] 
 
A VISITANT FROM THE SUN 
 
 "You are unjustly angry/ I insisted, striving to 
 make light of his words. " I value not the mercy of the 
 woman, yet she used the only means she had for restrain 
 ing her savage followers. It was stern necessity driving 
 her to reliance on the magic of your red hair with which 
 to save us all. No doubt she intends giving you early 
 release from so painful a situation." 
 
 " You also are bewitched by her vain fleshly beauty," 
 he bellowed stoutly. " Tis a carnal generation. I tell 
 you, Master Benteen, I am an old man, uplifted by 
 communion of the Spirit above all fleshly lusts. I have 
 faithfully preached the word of salvation to civilized and 
 savage more than forty years, and am not likely to be 
 led astray by a glimpse of a fair face tempting me hell- 
 ward. I speak you truth, as delivered of God, so surely 
 as were the tablets of the law delivered unto Moses, 
 when I say that she who, by some wile of the Devil, rules 
 this tribe and holds our lives in her hands, is an incarnate 
 fiend, who will yet mock our agony whenever her own 
 accursed lust shall be satisfied. T is not only that she 
 jeered at me with cruel smiles, and affronted a preacher 
 of the Word by so ribald a covering ; she did as clearly 
 reveal the hideous sin of her heart unto that sweet lady 
 we have in our keeping." 
 
 " Madame de Noyan ? " I cried in awakened interest. 
 " Mean you this woman dared do wrong by her ? " 
 
 " I report only what my eyes beheld, for I can make 
 nothing out of their heathen gibberish. Yet she who 
 journeyed with us, ever proving herself a modest, high 
 bred lady in times of sore trial, begged upon her knees, 
 with tears hot upon her cheeks, to be permitted to 
 
 [285] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 accompany you and her husband. What result? Why, 
 this good Queen, this charming creature, stood there, like 
 an insensate stone, gazing down upon her; and later, when 
 the poor lady would not walk voluntarily, that painted 
 harlot ordered two lecherous warriors to drag her forth, 
 and laughed like a fiend at the scene." 
 
 " Where did they take her ? " 
 
 " I know not ; beyond the entrance she made no out 
 cry that reached my ears, while that red-draped witch 
 came back smiling to work her will on me." 
 
 This comprised all he knew, and, no matter what 
 depth of sympathy I may have then felt for Master 
 Cairnes in his unfortunate predicament, it was equally 
 clear I could do nothing to aid him. My heart was so 
 heavily laden by the plight of Eloise, I retained no other 
 desire than a longing to return at once to the hut and 
 hold consultation with De Noyan. That same silent 
 spectre accompanied me along the brief journey, leaving 
 me unguarded at the entrance. I entered hastily only to 
 find the room vacant, my comrade gone. 
 
 [286] 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 THE CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 THESE pages have been poorly written if he who 
 reads has not discovered that I am of a nature 
 not easily discouraged by events, or disheartened by 
 misfortune. God had sufficiently armored me with hope ; 
 so that in the midst of much darkness I sought for what 
 ever light of guidance there might be, making the most 
 of it. Yet the intense, unanticipated loneliness of that 
 bare hut chilled my blood, and I scarcely recall a more 
 wretched time than while I waited, stung and tortured by 
 fears, for the return of De Noyan. 
 
 In truth the rough conclusions voiced by the angry 
 sectary merely confirmed my own fear. I had marked 
 within the eyes of Naladi dreamy as they appeared be 
 neath the shading of long lashes no promise of tender 
 ness of heart. I believed it was seldom she inclined to 
 mercy, seldom she would step between her warriors and 
 their revenge. I acknowledge freely I felt to some de 
 gree the strange spell of her power, the magic influence 
 of her soft, sinuous beauty, which I doubt if any man 
 could utterly resist. Yet I recognized her from the 
 first, even as she stood wrapped in the sun s rays on the 
 rock summit, as one who, by instinct and nature, was 
 scarce less a savage than her most desperate follower, 
 
 [287] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 although she possessed the rare gift of masking her 
 cruelty beneath the pleasing smile of a woman not 
 entirely unacquainted with the courtesies of refinement. 
 
 I marvelled greatly who she couL be, thus sporting 
 the polite graces of a reception-room in the midst of these 
 squalid huts. What was her strange life-story? How 
 ever came such a woman, with charm of face, and grace 
 of manner, to be acknowledged leader over such a people? 
 It was not so odd that a clever, resourceful woman, 
 driven perhaps by necessity, should have made unscrupu 
 lous use of their dominant superstitions, and, by naming 
 herself " Daughter of the Sun," have obtained supreme 
 power. The perfect acting of such an assumed character 
 would not prove difficult to her, while their servile wor 
 ship of the protesting Puritan, whose red hair alone had 
 elevated him to sainthood, proved how easily these 
 savages might be deceived, and led slaves by subtle 
 magic. Yet who was the woman ? Whence came she ? 
 Why should she ever have chosen such a life ? 
 
 And Eloise ! Through what misfortune had she 
 already attained the undisguised dislike of this Amazon ? 
 To what fate would this unmerited disfavor condemn 
 her? It is a terrible thing to remain chained and help 
 less at such a time, to realize that cruel wrong, possibly 
 torture, is being visited upon another, upon one you know 
 and love, and yet be unable to uplift hand or voice in 
 warning. I am by nature cool in action, yet there are 
 few who fret more grievously when held in leash, 
 compelled to await in uncertainty the coming of the 
 unknown. 
 
 All I could do that day was to pace the hard earthen 
 
 [288] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 floor, vainly endeavoring to quiet the wild throbbing of 
 my heart with every hope I might conjure up, now and 
 then approaching the unguarded entrance of the lodge 
 to search anxiously for some ground of hope. It was 
 thus the long afternoon wore away, until the deepening 
 shadows of sun-setting rested heavily along the western 
 cliffs, and the workers in the fields began trooping 
 through the village, their shouts of greeting shrill and 
 discordant, while the grim priests found place before the 
 draped entrance to their dread altar-house, with blazing 
 fagots signalling their distant brethren on the dizzy sum 
 mit. It was then De Noyan finally returned and found 
 me raging from wall to wall like one distracted. 
 
 It required but a glance to note the subtile change the 
 afternoon had wrought in his personal appearance, yet at 
 the time I did not greatly marvel at it. The stains of 
 battle and exposure, that had so decidedly disfigured him, 
 had disappeared before the magic of new raiment, which 
 had about it the color and cut of French fashion ; so 
 it was now a fair and prosperous gallant of the court, 
 powdered of hair, waxen of moustache, who came jauntily 
 forward with his greetings. 
 
 "What said I, Master Benteen ? " he questioned 
 cheerily to my stare of surprise. " Did I not boldly 
 contend that this would yet prove a pleasant resting- 
 place to relieve the tedium of a journey ? Can you 
 gaze upon this gay attire, longer doubting the verity 
 of my dreams ? But no happiness finds reflection 
 in your face; tis gloomy as a day of rain. Prithie, 
 the afternoon must have been passed by you far less 
 pleasantly than its hours sped with me." 
 9 [289] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 < I have been conversing with good Master Cairnes," 
 I responded gravely. " I found him in no state of mind 
 or body to bring me pleasant thought." 
 
 " Parbleu ! I warrant not from all I hear of that 
 worthy servant," the Chevalier laughed gayly. " T is 
 told me the grim-faced old hypocrite sits in worshipful 
 state, a veritable god, trussed like a bronze idol or some 
 mummy of the Egyptians. By my faith, I should enjoy 
 gazing on his solemn face, and listening to his words 
 withal." 
 
 " T is an unhappy experience for a Christian." 
 
 " Ay ! a pity ; yet it should do the canting preacher 
 good to play heathen god a while. She pictured to me 
 most vividly his struggles to escape a fit draping with 
 which to match his hair. Sacrel I have not laughed so 
 heartily since leaving New Orleans." 
 
 "She?" I exclaimed in new interest. "Have you 
 been with your wife ? " 
 
 He stroked his moustache, gazing at me in apparent 
 surprise. 
 
 " Nay, friend Benteen ; you must be the very soul of 
 innocence to make such hasty guess. I rested beneath 
 the same roof with her, so I was informed, yet she who 
 spake thus regarding the plight of the Puritan chanced 
 to be the fair Queen, Naladi." 
 
 " Naladi ? But you speak no Spanish, how could 
 you hold converse with her ? " 
 
 " There are always ways, if the lady be fair. The 
 hands, eyes, lips can all be made into messengers of 
 speech. But in this case she brought forth a black boy 
 a most mischievous imp who managed to convey 
 
 [290] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 her words in my own tongue. Still it was difficult to do 
 justice in such a way to so charming a woman ; much 
 came to my lips which I hesitated to utter through the 
 medium of that interpreter." 
 
 I looked at him in speechless amazement at this 
 revelation of his supreme conceit, his reckless vanity. 
 Anxiety alone prompted me to smother my resentment, 
 hoping thus to obtain information. 
 
 " But your wife, Madame de Noyan ? You say she 
 was beneath the same roof, and yet you saw her not? 
 Do you mean you made no effort to obtain speech with 
 her?" 
 
 He leaned back against the wall of the hut, crossing 
 his long limbs negligently over the soft fur of the robe 
 beneath, drawing from his pocket a small mirror. 
 
 " Ay, I mentioned it ; but la reine Naladi appeared not 
 overly well pleased with the suggestion, so I concluded 
 not to press the matter unduly. One never gains by 
 being ungallant at such a time. Besides, there is no 
 doubt Eloise is well attended ; the Queen referred to 
 her most kindly." 
 
 "The preacher told me," I broke forth indignantly, 
 determined to test him to the full, " that this same sweet 
 Naladi compelled her savage minions to drag Madame 
 harshly forth from the altar-house, despite her pleadings. 
 Perchance this tender-spoken Queen has little of the angel 
 beneath her fairness of skin." 
 
 "Sacre! I hope not. I opine an angel would prove 
 wearisome to company with for long. My own taste 
 inclines toward flesh and blood. You say Master 
 Cairnes told you this sad tale ? " 
 
 [291] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Ay, adding that the pitiful Naladi only laughed at 
 the sobs of Madame." 
 
 " Pish ! between the two, her word has most weight 
 with me. No doubt t was a vision born of his own 
 temper. The Queen assured me most graciously of the 
 welfare and contentment of Eloise. It would have been 
 boorish to question her further. Besides, she took my 
 thought from other things, repeating to me the strange 
 tale of these savages, although the black made poor 
 enough work with her words." 
 
 It was abundantly evident the man was fairly crazed 
 with conceit, already well entangled in the web of this 
 designing creature. For the hour, at least, all serious 
 consideration of her who should rightfully claim his atten 
 tion had been completely blotted out. He had become 
 a willing victim to a will infinitely stronger than his own, 
 his conscience deadened by the poison of beauty ; so, 
 while my blood rioted in protest to his simpering French 
 vanity, I could perceive no means by which I might 
 arouse him to more manly action. To cross such a man 
 only invites to the surface the worst elements of his 
 nature ; besides, were I to stir him by strong protest, it 
 might be doubtful if he comprehended the nature of my 
 scruples in the matter. Any such misunderstanding 
 would result in the exchange of hard words, and in my 
 making an enemy where now I possessed a friend. Not 
 that the Chevalier was a particularly valuable ally, yet he 
 wielded a good sword upon occasion, and would prove 
 more useful in friendship than in enmity. I might 
 despise him, yet he remained the husband of Madame, 
 and I durst pick no quarrel with him. To do so would 
 
 [292] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 raise a barrier between us, rendering our situation among 
 the savages darker than ever. As to the moral side of 
 the affair, it would be sheer waste of words to broach it, 
 as De Noyan could form no clearer conception of such 
 an issue than a babe unborn. He swung as the wind 
 blew, and in all his pampered life had probably never 
 dreamed of denying himself a liberty. Saint Andrew ! 
 it was a knotty problem for such a head as mine to solve. 
 I believe I chose the better course in assuming the role 
 of a neutral, as I sat staring at the fellow while he twisted 
 his moustaches into their old-time curl, gazing at himself 
 in the pocket mirror, utterly oblivious of my presence. 
 
 " So this beauty of a Queen told you the tale of her 
 people," I remarked at last, determining to humor his 
 mood. " It would interest me to hear the story. Those 
 I have thus far seen differ widely from any other order 
 of savages with whom I have come in contact." 
 
 " Your judgment is right. As she tells the story, they 
 are not of Indian blood, but belong to a far older race. 
 She says they are the remnant of a master people 
 although regarding their exact lineage she spoke but 
 little who once, hundreds of years ago no doubt, held 
 undisputed dominion from the banks of a great red river 
 flowing through the prairies far to the northward, down 
 to the salted sea bounding the land upon the east. She 
 said their ancestors mined in the rocks, and cultivated 
 the rich land of the valleys. They were ruled over by 
 five kings; and when one of these died all their wives 
 were burned above the grave, and a hundred slaves 
 sacrificed to the Sun, which they worshipped, and called 
 Elagabalus. These were all buried around the body 
 
 [ 2 93] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of the king, whose tomb was of rock, and a huge 
 mound of earth erected over them by the labor of thou 
 sands of slaves taken in battle. Yet their chief king, in 
 the day of their great power, she called Palenque, placing 
 his capital to north and east of this place, a land journey 
 of thirty days. Here was built a great city of wood and 
 stone, surrounded by an immense wall of earth, to which 
 all the smaller kings journeyed in state once each year 
 to make account of their kingdoms, and offer up slaves 
 on the altar of the great temple in sacrifice to the Sun. 
 They would gather thus from noon to noon, and thou 
 sands of captives would be slaughtered before the altar by 
 the priests. She told me they once possessed vast store 
 of yellow metal and flashing stones, with other treasures. 
 Cities were set apart under guard to have special care 
 over them. Some of these have descended even unto the 
 present, but are kept hidden away by the priests, though 
 she promised later to let me view them secretly. And 
 she related a most strange tale of destiny of a long, 
 barbarous war, filled with the names of warriors and 
 towns sounding most uncouth to my ears ; a war lasting 
 many years, during which the Chichimes for so she 
 named the wild hordes sweeping down upon them from 
 the northward drove their fathers backward from city 
 to city, beginning far away in the kingdom named Talapa, 
 and pillaging clear to the banks of the great river where 
 Palenque reigned. Their ancestors erected vast forts 
 of earth, thus managing to hold their own against the 
 invaders, so long as their slaves remained loyal. But at 
 last these also rose in revolt, and, when all supplies had 
 been cut off, the hopeless remnant of defenders fell back 
 
 [294] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 down the broad river, bearing with them much of their 
 most valued treasure, never permitting the sacred flame, 
 which was the gift of the Sun, to die out upon their altars. 
 Like flies they died in the preservation of this symbol 
 of their religion ; for t is their faith, that if it be kept 
 burning undimmed, there will yet come to them a great 
 leader from the Sun to restore their lost glories. She 
 described to me the arts of that past, the many beautiful 
 things the race had made, those wondrous cities protected 
 by high walls, the vast mounds of earth moulded into 
 strange figures of extinct animals, uplifted as altars, and 
 sometimes utilized for the burial of their dead and their 
 treasure. Sacre! I can recall a portion of the story, yet 
 it was a weird, fascinating tale as she told it slowly, and 
 with all seriousness, although the black boy stammered so 
 badly in his words I got only dim pictures here and there." 
 
 " But how came they here?" I questioned. 
 
 " I was coming to that. It was some trouble with the 
 French in Bienville s day. Only a few escaped, and they 
 were driven into these hills ; yet t is said they saved a 
 considerable amount of treasure which had come to them 
 from their fathers, together with some of the mummified 
 bodies of their kings. It is forty years since they discov 
 ered this dell, and only the older men have any memory 
 of the discovery." 
 
 "What do they call themselves ? " 
 
 " c Nalmas was the word the Queen used, but they are 
 that same people whom we knew about in New Orleans 
 as Natchez ; their old country was called Tlapalan." 
 
 I sat silent, pondering upon his words, but before I 
 thought out further questioning, a warrior, bearing food, 
 
 L 2 9S] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 entered the hut. Setting this down upon the ground 
 before us, he drew back into the gathering night shadows 
 without uttering a word. That which I had just heard 
 caused me to gaze upon the fellow a tall, stalwart sav 
 age with newly awakened interest, and I could not help 
 observing again how widely the type differed from those 
 Indian tribes with whom my wandering border life had 
 rendered me familiar. Not only was this man of fairer, 
 clearer complexion, but his cheek-bones were not in the 
 least prominent, his nose was wide at the base and some 
 what flattened, while his forehead sloped sharply back 
 ward in such peculiar form as to warrant the opinion 
 that the deformity arose from a compression of the 
 frontal bone in infancy. The hair, although worn long 
 and flowing down the back, was decidedly wavy, and not 
 coarse; the color was a ruddy brown. The eyes of these 
 Indians were bold, cruel, crafty, yet in many instances 
 the coloring was so light as to be startling ; the average 
 stature was greater than that of those other Indians that 
 I knew. In short, they impressed me as being all that 
 was claimed, a distinct race, with characteristics more 
 nearly allied to the Ethiopian and the Mongolian than 
 to the surrounding red races. As I figured this out 
 somewhat slowly, De Noyan busied himself with the 
 meal, and, thus engrossed, apparently forgot the topic of 
 our conversation. 
 
 " And did this Queen Naladi claim to belong to this 
 old race ? " I questioned, thinking thus to test his 
 observation. 
 
 "Why not?" he asked in return, suspending opera 
 tions, and glancing up at me in surprise. " She referred 
 
 [296] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 to herself as the Daughter of the Sun, once saying that 
 her ancestors ruled over this people for a thousand 
 years." 
 
 "She told you that?" 
 
 "At least so the black interpreted her words. Why 
 question it ? " 
 
 " Doubtless to your thought there exists small cause 
 for questioning the word of so fair a woman," I acknowl 
 edged dryly. " Yet to my vision, not wholly blinded by 
 her charms, she possesses more of the Caucasian in face 
 and manner than any other of the race. If she is not of 
 European birth I am a poor judge, Monsieur, and tis 
 my belief, if she told you she was not, the woman lied." 
 
 I was scarcely prepared for the result of my words upon 
 him ; his face flushed, a sudden glow of anger sweeping 
 into his eyes. 
 
 " You are, indeed, of bold heart," he exclaimed 
 scornfully, " to malign a woman in her absence." 
 
 " There are women no words can malign," I retorted 
 sharply, stung by his tone, " I opine this Queen of sav 
 ages belongs to that class. To my mind it would be 
 better were you to wax indignant over the wrongs of your 
 wife rather than over a just picturing of this harlot." 
 
 Before I could move to draw aside, he was upon his feet, 
 and I felt the stinging blow of his hand across my lips. 
 
 " Sacre ! " he cried, transported by sudden rage, 
 " Charles de Noyan takes such affront from no man. I 
 denounce you as a cowardly vilifier of an absent woman." 
 
 I know not why I failed to strike the fellow down. 
 My hand was hard on the knife hilt within my doublet, 
 yet I drew it not as we stood there eye to eye. There 
 
 [ 2 97] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 was that between us the dim, shadowy face of a woman 
 which held me as by a chain. It seemed to me then 
 as if my knife point would have to pass through her 
 before it touched his heart, and, feeling thus, God gave 
 me power to choke back the hot resentment, and restrain 
 my hand. 
 
 " Monsieur/ I said sternly, " never has the hand of 
 man touched me before in anger without my making full 
 return for the blow. Yet now I strike you not. The 
 time may come when I shall wipe out this insult, but 
 here and now you stand safe from my arm." 
 
 " Safe ! " he sneered. " Par bleu ! you are a cowardly 
 hound to talk thus. Safe ! think you I have anything to 
 fear at your hands ? " 
 
 " I bid you restrain your tongue, Chevalier," I said, 
 my voice unsteady. " God being my witness, never before 
 did you stand so close to death as now. Look," and I 
 held up the keen blade before his eyes. " This steel 
 thirsts for your blood ; only one thought has intervened 
 to save you." 
 
 " What was that ? " 
 
 " The fact that you are the husband of one who was 
 once Eloise Lafreniere." 
 
 I know not how much of the truth he suspected, but 
 for a moment we stood thus, I half imagining he con 
 templated a leap at my throat. Then his eyes fell, and 
 he drew back with a short laugh. 
 
 " Le Diable ! tis easy for some people to discover 
 excuses at such a time. Still, Monsieur, as you refuse to 
 fight I may as well lie down ; having been early awake I 
 am somewhat weary." 
 
 [298] 
 
CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ 
 
 I watched him silently while he arranged his robes for 
 the night. 
 
 " Before you sleep," I ventured, "it would please my 
 curiosity to know where this pure and peerless Queen of 
 yours makes her abode." 
 
 " Ah ! would you pay her a visit ? " he asked 
 suspiciously. 
 
 " Far from it; rather that I may avoid her. Yet we 
 are not in specially pleasant surroundings, and such 
 information might not come amiss." 
 
 He sulked a moment over his answer, but finally 
 relented. 
 
 " In that large hut upon the second mound." 
 
 "You spoke as if Madame de Noyan were beneath 
 the same roof, yet you saw her not. Does the hut differ 
 from this in being divided into rooms ? " 
 
 "A partition runs through it from roof to floor. 
 Naladi holds court in the south room, which is decorated 
 most lavishly with things of beauty." 
 
 " Then Madame occupies the northern portion ? " 
 
 " So I understood," with a sleepy yawn. " I asked 
 little in detail; twas enough for me to be assured she 
 was well." 
 
 [299] 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 A VENTURE IN THE DARK 
 
 IT is occasion for deep regret that I was so blind to 
 my opportunities for learning much relative to this 
 strange people. During those hours of trial my thoughts 
 were so occupied with our own dangers, it was merely 
 incidentally I considered anything else. No small tempta 
 tion now assails me to record many things I believe true, 
 things I remember vaguely ; but I pass the temptation 
 by, determined to write only what I may vouch for as of 
 my own observation. 
 
 I remained silent, leaning against the wall and making 
 vigorous use of my pipe, a long time after De Noyan 
 fell peacefully asleep. While the fast fading daylight 
 clung dimly to the interior, my eyes were fastened upon 
 his upturned face, almost boyish in the unconsciousness 
 of repose, and I began to feel pity for his weakness, my 
 anger against him fading away. As the darkness became 
 pronounced I remained there still, my sleepless eyes 
 paying small heed to night, the scenes I saw being of the 
 brain, memory awakening to paint with glowing colors 
 across the black screen. The evening was quiet, 
 within, no more was heard than the regular breathing 
 of my companion; without, an occasional savage outcry, 
 mingled with the low moaning of the night wind. 
 
 [300] 
 
A VENTURE IN THE DARK 
 
 It became a lonely vigil, my thoughts unhappy. I 
 had much to reflect upon. The extreme difficulty of our 
 present situation, encompassed and separated as we were : 
 De Noyan was bewitched by a siren who had already 
 bound him by silken cords to any nefarious scheme her 
 unscrupulous desires might compass ; Cairnes was as 
 helplessly entangled in her power, although held to his 
 fate by ropes of a different nature ; while Madame was 
 scarcely less a prisoner, powerless to escape the ruthless 
 grasp of a false-hearted woman whose jealousy might at 
 any instant lead to measures of extremity. I alone of all 
 our little company remained somewhat my own master. 
 My hands and heart at least were free from all visible 
 bonds. Yet what hideous mockery was such freedom ! 
 I realized that I could venture no step beyond the door 
 of the lodge without becoming the focus of spying eyes ; 
 that all about was evidence of the despotic power of this 
 renegade white queen, who deigned to spare me merely 
 because she deemed I was utterly powerless to interfere 
 with her cruel purposes. Saint Andrew ! it was an envi 
 ronment of evil to chill the blood of any man, nor amid 
 its gathering gloom could I distinguish any gleam promis 
 ing dawn. About us watched impatiently a horde of ruth 
 less savages, eager to make us victims of their torture, held 
 back temporarily only by the imperious will of this self- 
 styled "Daughter of the Sun," who ruled through appeal 
 to their grossest superstitions. She, I believed, in spite 
 of fair face and evidences of culture, was as vindictive, bar 
 barous, and relentless as the wildest in that savage band. 
 
 Over and over I turned such unhappy thoughts in my 
 seething brain, until the faintest sound from without had 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 died away. I may have spent hours thus, while De 
 Noyan slept on peacefully as a tired child. At last a 
 wild desire for action overcame my lassitude, conquered 
 all lingering discretion. There arose before me, clearly 
 as a painted picture, the pleading face of her I loved. I 
 knew that to no other was she looking for aid in her 
 despair. There might be little I could accomplish for 
 her succor, yet it would bring her new courage even to 
 exchange a brief word with some faithful friend, as proof 
 that she was not forgotten. Besides, I longed, as no 
 expression can make clear, to gaze again, if only for an 
 instant, into her clear gray eyes, to listen to the gentle 
 murmur of her trustful voice. In brief, I was in the 
 mood for a desperate venture. 
 
 I crept to the open door, peering cautiously forth into 
 the darkness. It was a heavy night, the little basin was 
 wrapped in shadow, and not even a star peeped forth 
 from the rifts of low-scudding clouds. In no direction 
 could I distinguish any twinkling of lights except a single 
 fitful flash from off the altar, where black-robed priests 
 guarded the sacred fire or worshipped before the Puritan. 
 Encouraged by the darkness I crept along the outer wall, 
 unchallenged by the skulking guard, and finally attained 
 the upper corner. Here I observed a second glimmer, 
 which I instantly recognized as coming from the other 
 great house upon the summit of the mound that house 
 in which I understood dwelt Queen Naladi, and where 
 De Noyan said his wife remained prisoner. 
 
 I scarcely know what I hoped to accomplish by such a 
 move, yet helpful circumstances are apt to develop when 
 one attempts boldly to do his own part the best he may. 
 
 [302] 
 
A VENTURE IN THE DARK 
 
 It was in blind faith I crept forward through the dry 
 grass, drawing ever closer toward that beckoning light. 
 It was a long journey and a slow one, as the tribe would 
 guard vigilantly the dwelling-place of their Queen. At 
 every rustle in the grass, every flap of wing overhead, I 
 paused, listening to the pounding of my heart. 
 
 I clasped closely in one hand the knife, my sole 
 weapon of defence, and, as my eyes became accustomed 
 to the gloom and could distinguish some things more 
 clearly, I paused often, with uplifted head, to study some 
 indistinct object in the darkness. Thus advancing inch 
 by inch, avoiding with care the least rustling of dry 
 grass, I wriggled snake-like forward, until I began breast 
 ing the steeper incline of the mound, its summit now 
 outlined against the lighter space of overarching sky. 
 
 All my rage deserted me when again in the open, act 
 ually attempting to achieve a purpose. My brain cleared 
 as by magic, every nerve steadying itself to meet what 
 soever peril might be lurking along the path. Half-way 
 up the mound I lay close to the earth, peering steadily 
 through the gloom. There was no cover to crouch 
 behind, the slope being totally bare of vegetation except 
 for the short, dry grass, yet I felt reasonably secure from 
 observation unless I entered that bar of light. Unable 
 to do more than guess, I concluded that the single flame, 
 splitting the night like the shining blade of a sword, 
 came from the northern compartment, while the southern 
 half remained wrapped in silent darkness. Outwardly 
 this Queen s residence was constructed much like the 
 building used by the priests as a temple. In the latter I 
 recalled two entrances opening respectively toward east 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 and west. Were a partition run between, as in this private 
 dwelling, the eastern door would open into the southern 
 apartment. It was the west door through which the light 
 streamed, and, daring approach it no closer, my only 
 recourse lay in trying my fortune on the opposite side. 
 
 I began a winding advance along the sloping side of 
 the hill, but sank suddenly to earth as a spectral figure 
 moved forth from the darkness, stood a moment in the 
 bright glare, and then strode past, vanishing within the 
 gloom like a shadow. It was an Indian, spear in hand, 
 one of the body-guard of the Queen. With renewed 
 caution, my imminent danger being manifest, I barely 
 lifted my head from the level of the grass, and began to 
 work onward, reaching out until I got firm grasp on a 
 bunch of grass, then drawing my body forward the full 
 extent of my arms. The progress was slow, involving 
 much labor, and it required a full half-hour to attain the 
 other side of the mound. I could now look above, per 
 ceiving nothing except the black shadow of the house. 
 If Eloise was within, and if this door led to her prison, 
 it was scarcely possible that it was unguarded. Naladi 
 had special reasons for looking carefully after the safe 
 keeping of this captive, and was not likely to forget. I 
 discovered no outward signs of life, but was too thor 
 oughly versed in wilderness ways to count upon that, 
 knowing that each dark shadow along the wall might 
 conceal some crouching stealthy figure, ready to pounce 
 forth. With utmost care, anxiously scanning the silent 
 hillside, I drew myself forward, hardly venturing upon a 
 full breath, until I finally rested on my breast barely 
 three paces from where I believed the entrance must be. 
 
 [304] 
 
A VENTURE IN THE DARK 
 
 I dreaded any attempt to advance into the unknown, 
 yet I had no intention of withdrawing until I had accom 
 plished that end for which I came. To retreat was foreign 
 to my nature ; indeed, I was now so close to Eloise, it 
 required an effort of will to restrain a desire to rush 
 blindly forward. But long training overcame this rash 
 impulse. I rested there, silent as a savage, seeking to 
 trace each detail of what was barely beyond my hand. 
 It was little enough I could distinguish, straining my 
 eyes to the utmost; and finally, despairing of learning 
 more, I advanced my hands, silently groping for some 
 thing to grasp, when I was instantly frozen into a recum 
 bent statue by a slight movement of something directly 
 in front. This was so faint that, had not my every nerve 
 been tense, I should scarcely have noted it at all. Yet 
 there could be no doubt some one had given a slight 
 shiver, as though from the chill of the night air ; whoever 
 it might be, the person was not three paces from my out 
 stretched hands, and, as near as I could judge, must be 
 sitting on the very threshold of the entrance. 
 
 I was in an awkward position. How I had succeeded 
 in arriving there without attracting attention was little 
 short of miraculous. I durst not venture on any retro 
 grade movement ; I even pressed my mouth against the 
 hard earth, the better to deaden the sound of breathing. 
 I know not how long I remained thus ; it was until 
 my strained muscles appeared to cord themselves, and 
 I could scarcely keep back a moan of pain. Yet no 
 other sound came from that mysterious presence. In 
 tently as I listened, not so much as the faint sound of 
 breathing reached me. Still I could not have been 
 
 [305] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 deceived ; there assuredly had been movement ; I dis 
 tinctly felt a consciousness of other presence, so that 
 every nerve tingled, and it required the utmost self- 
 control to hold me still. I fairly throbbed with insane 
 impulses to leap forward and solve the mystery. 
 
 Who could be lurking there in such silence? It 
 must assuredly be an enemy, a guard stationed to 
 watch over the fair prisoner within ; doubtless, he 
 would remain until relieved by some other. What 
 hope for successful advance held me in such agony of 
 mind and body ? I felt that I must relieve my cramped 
 limbs or else scream aloud in spite of every effort at 
 control. Slowly I drew back, my outspread hands search 
 ing for some hummock of grass against which I might 
 press, to force my body silently downward, but dis 
 covered none. Then there sounded, slightly to my 
 left, the soft rustle of a moccasoned foot, and a low, 
 guttural voice muttered some indistinct sentences. The 
 lurking form in my front appeared to rise, and there was 
 a brief grunt as if in response to command. Then a 
 huge warrior stalked past so close that his moccasoned 
 foot planted itself fairly between my outstretched arms. 
 Instantly he faded away within the enveloping gloom, 
 and with hardly the hesitation of a moment I was on 
 hands and knees creeping toward my goal. With grop 
 ing fingers I touched the riven trunk that formed the 
 threshold, and, reaching upward, noted with a thrill 
 of delight that merely a heavy curtain of woven straw 
 guarded the interior. There was no time for hesitancy ; 
 at any instant the savage guard might return to his 
 deserted post. Pushing the slight barrier noiselessly 
 
 [306] 
 
A VENTURE IN THE DARK 
 
 aside, I gained the interior, dropped the mat behind 
 me, and, for the first time, ventured to pause and 
 survey my surroundings. 
 
 The single partition did not extend to the roof by a 
 foot or more, so sufficient light found passage through 
 the narrow aperture to render dimly visible the principal 
 features of this apartment into which I had ventured. 
 It was evidently a sleeping-chamber, handsomely fur 
 nished in barbaric fashion, the faint light gleaming on 
 numerous burnished ornaments, while a carpet of soft 
 skins concealed the floor. To this I gave brief atten 
 tion, my anxious glance falling almost instantly upon 
 the draped figure of a woman, vaguely defined in 
 the dimness, lying outstretched on a slightly raised 
 cushioned couch, her face concealed by the denser 
 shadows of the wall, sound asleep. 
 
 Cautiously I crept forward, hesitating to touch her 
 lest so sudden an awakening might cause alarm. It 
 seemed safer to trust in speech, as then she would 
 recognize at once who was by her side. 
 
 "Madame," I whispered softly, my lips as close as possi 
 ble to her tiny ear, "I seek brief word with you to-night." 
 
 She must have slept lightly, for at my faint whisper 
 I perceived that her wide-opened eyes were scrutinizing 
 my face. 
 
 " Tis I, Madame, Geoffrey Benteen. I beg you 
 make no noise." 
 
 "You need have no fear," returned a soft voice in 
 purest Spanish. " You do me honor by so unexpected 
 a visit ; I bid you welcome, Geoffrey Benteen." 
 
 [307] 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 IF you were ever rudely aroused from pleasant dreams 
 by a sudden dash of cold water in your face, you 
 may partially comprehend my emotions upon hearing 
 these words of greeting, and realizing that I was looking 
 into the beautiful, pitiless eyes of the Daughter of the 
 Sun, now sitting upright on the couch, happily smiling 
 at my embarrassment. 
 
 " Nay, Geoffrey Benteen," she exclaimed, significantly 
 waving her white hand as she noted my swift glance 
 backward, " retire not thus suddenly. You must be a 
 marvellous woodsman to have attained this place through 
 the watchful cordon of my guards, but tis not likely you 
 would so safely run the gantlet of return. You are not 
 so fair of visage as your gay companion the Chevalier, 
 yet now you are here I will enjoy a short time with you. 
 Yet first let us understand each other. For what pur 
 pose do you invade my apartment so boldly ? " 
 
 " I came," I replied, believing frankness would prove 
 my best play in this crisis, " expecting to find not you, 
 but your prisoner." 
 
 " Ah ! you are honest, if not complimentary," a quick 
 flash of understanding in her bright eyes. " So it was 
 another woman for whose sake you came creeping 
 
 [308] 
 
SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 recklessly through the night ! God s mercy ! I even ven 
 tured to dream my charms had pierced the dull armor 
 of your cold English heart, yet here you merely stand 
 and laugh at me, would even flee my presence as 
 though pestilence were upon my breath. Why, I won 
 der ? am I not also fair ? Why then flout me thus 
 disdainfully ? Naladi has not been accustomed to such 
 harsh treatment at the hands of your sex." 
 
 " You are, indeed, beautiful both in form and face," I 
 answered, seeking to avoid quarrel, " but it is not for a 
 mere adventurer of the woods to utter words of love to 
 such as you." 
 
 Her lips curled in sarcastic smile. 
 
 " Pish ! you grow marvellously modest all at once. I 
 bid you note that the passion of love cares nothing for 
 a registry of birth it looks to flesh and blood, not 
 records. There is more hidden in your secret heart 
 to-night than finds utterance upon the lips. You have 
 the soft speech of a diplomat, full of guile and cunning. 
 Come, I bid you tell me the whole truth. Do you 
 think me an untutored savage, that you deny me in such 
 disdain?" 
 
 " I know not how it may prove regarding your heart," 
 I said boldly, not hesitating to meet her questioning 
 eyes, " but in manner and graces you exhibit the gloss 
 of courts." 
 
 She smiled mockingly, rising to her feet and saluting 
 me with a low curtsy. 
 
 " Ah ! very prettily said, senor. I perceive your ob 
 jection then : you think me fairer without than within. 
 I dare not contend you are altogether wrong in such 
 
 [309] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 conjecture. Faith, why not, senor? It would be strange 
 otherwise. All lives do not flow gently amid prosaic 
 routine, and my ship has been often enough upon the 
 rocks. I have learned lessons of deceit and cruelty in 
 the hard school of experience. If, in years of trial, I 
 have grown hard of judgment, reckless of action, it is 
 because others have been harsh with me. Power is 
 naturally tyrannical. But then what use for us to dwell 
 upon the past ? So you came to-night to meet another ? 
 T is strange the risks a man will run for so infinitesimal 
 a reward. Yet, Mother of God, it gives me a pleasant 
 tale to pour into the ears of him you call De Noyan 
 when we meet again to-morrow. If I mistake not, the 
 one you seek in secret bears the name of that gay 
 gallant. At least, she masquerades in this wilderness 
 under the title of Madame de Noyan. But tis you, 
 not he, her reputed husband, forsooth, who seeks her 
 chamber in the midnight. Truly t is a pretty tale 
 of romance." 
 
 It flashed upon me, as she thus lightly spoke, what 
 infernal use an unscrupulous woman might easily make 
 of this. The imputation lurking in her words aroused 
 me to defiant anger, yet before I could collect my thought 
 to make reply, she marked my hesitancy and continued 
 with bitter sarcasm. 
 
 " Madame possesses so sweetly innocent a face I 
 should never have suspected her of being an immodest 
 wanton, were it not for the evidence of my own eyes. 
 "T is a strange world, senor. Yet I have often heard 
 this is the way with these grandes dames of France." 
 
 " It is only your own foulness of thought which places 
 
SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 such construction upon my coming here," I broke forth, 
 determined I would face her down at every hazard. 
 " You know well my purpose ; I came seeking to aid 
 one you held prisoner. It is all because of your sin, not 
 ours. You have robbed this Chevalier de Noyan of all 
 his manhood by your cursed smiles and honeyed speech. 
 You have made him forget his sworn duty unto her who 
 is his wife." 
 
 " How interesting you grow," she interrupted, her 
 lips curling, her eyes hardening. " Senor, you grow 
 almost handsome when your eyes flash. So you felt 
 called upon to devote yourself to this poor, misused, 
 neglected wife ? I trust you have not found it an 
 unpleasant service, or entirely without reward ? " 
 
 " I felt called upon to aid her in escaping from your 
 
 grip-" 
 
 "Ah, indeed? Would you kindly, senor, tell me 
 
 how you proposed performing such a miracle ? It 
 remains in my memory some such effort at release has 
 been made before," her eyes hardening like diamonds. 
 " Down yonder stands a blackened post which tells how 
 Naladi deals with those daring to mock her will." 
 
 " You may spare threats," I retorted, gathering cour 
 age from rising anger, " as I care nothing for your good 
 will, nor shall I swerve an inch in the hope of escaping 
 your savage vengeance. Madame de Noyan is so far 
 above you in every attribute of unsullied womanhood 
 that no words of yours can ever besmirch her reputation ; 
 while, as to myself, I remain so certain of my own recti 
 tude in the action of this night, I challenge you to do 
 your worst." 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " No doubt the Chevalier will also feel confidence in 
 all you say/ she added maliciously. " I understand it 
 is the way with the French." 
 
 " With whom your previous acquaintance seems to 
 have rendered you most familiar." 
 
 It was a wild, chance shot, for firing which I had no 
 reason excepting that twice she had openly sneered at 
 that people, and once had spoken of ships in a way 
 strange to an inland savage. It was worth trying, how 
 ever, and I marked her slight start of surprise at my 
 insinuating tone, and the dark shadow sweeping across 
 her face. 
 
 " Think you so, senor ? It is passing strange, then, 
 that I should be ignorant of the tongue." 
 
 <c Yes, were it true," I made quick reply, encouraged 
 by her manner, determined now to press this guessing 
 home, and abide results. " But you had small difficulty 
 comprehending the language a moment back. Permit 
 me to remind you that it chanced to be French I spoke 
 when first kneeling at your bedside." 
 
 She savagely bit her red lips in rage at my words ; yet 
 more, I thought, at her own forgetfulness. 
 
 " Pish ! perhaps so ; " and she stamped her foot 
 angrily on the stone slabs of the floor. cc What does 
 that prove to my discredit for you to harp upon ? " 
 
 Why my accidental words should thus worry her I 
 could not even guess. Yet, clearly enough, there lay 
 hidden some secret here a hideous secret I had harshly 
 probed. Believing this, I felt that I could enhance my 
 power over her by pressing it relentlessly home with 
 whatsoever directness of speech I dared to venture. 
 
SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 With me, at such a crisis, decision meant action, and I 
 advanced a step nearer, looking her directly in the eyes. 
 A single moment she met me with a haughty stare ; 
 then defiance faded away into pleading, and her glance 
 wavered. Whatever the cause, she was clearly afraid. 
 
 " Who who are you ? " she faltered. " Surely we 
 have never met before?" 
 
 " As you know already, I am Geoffrey Benteen. I 
 only regret that your memory is so faulty." 
 
 " What is it you know of me ? " 
 
 " Oh, nothing, nothing, Madame," and I threw into 
 the utterance of these words all the irony possible. "It 
 is not altogether strange Madame should forget acquaint 
 ances of other days, even her native tongue, living so 
 long in the wilderness." 
 
 It was a reckless shot, but somehow it struck the 
 mark. 
 
 "I am a Toltec ! " she cried wildly. " You speak to 
 the Daughter of the Sun." 
 
 " No doubt ; t is a neat superstition with which to 
 overawe savages, yet there was one once across the water 
 greatly resembling you, a bit younger, perhaps, yet 
 who was content then with a title not nearly so high- 
 sounding, until oh, well, what need to tell the rest? 
 Of course, it was not you ? " 
 
 I would never have believed so sudden a change could 
 come over the countenance of a human being, had I not 
 witnessed it with these eyes. She had sunk back against 
 the couch, her hands pressing her breast as if to still 
 the wild throbbing of the heart, her great eyes staring 
 at me in silent horror. Twice her lips moved as if 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 attempting speech, yet no articulated sound issued from 
 between them. 
 
 " Are you a fiend from hell ? " she sobbed at last. 
 "Why have you pursued me here? " 
 
 " You do me far too great an honor." I made her 
 a low bow, thoroughly confident I held the whip hand, 
 provided only I did not overplay my part. " It is the 
 merest accident of fate which has thus thrown me again 
 across your path. Nor have I the slightest desire to 
 cause you trouble, only that through your power may 
 come our safety. " 
 
 " You you have not followed me, then ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 I saw she was diligently studying my face in the dim 
 light, vainly endeavoring to recall where, under what 
 circumstances, we had met before. 
 
 " Who are you ? " 
 
 " Bah ! what difference can a name make ? Surely 
 you are careless enough about your own to be lenient 
 with another choosing to forget." 
 
 "You also are a fugitive? " I caught the sudden ring 
 of hope in her voice, saw a new light flash into her eyes. 
 
 " I have fled the Spaniards," I answered carelessly 
 enough. " What odds is that, so long as what I did has 
 been for France? Still, as I say, I have no desire to 
 play you harm provided you deal justly with us all." 
 
 " Harm ? You ? How could you harm me ? " she 
 questioned, evidently more at ease from the change in my 
 tone of speech. " You presume, senor ; surely you 
 forget you address the Queen of the Nahuacs ; that 
 even in our remnant there remain more than a hundred 
 
 [314] 
 
SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 warriors to do my bidding ! I can laugh at threats, 
 
 ~ 
 senor. 
 
 I stared at her coldly. 
 
 "As you please, Madame la reine Naladi, Daughter of 
 the Sun, formerly woman of ah! so you do not care 
 for me to speak that accursed word ? Well, I thought 
 you might not, so I spare you the shame. T is nothing 
 to me your past, yet I would have you remember there 
 is a people we both know to whom your miserable horde 
 of savages would be but a mouthful. This tribe has 
 already tested the sharpness of the French sword." 
 
 Her troubled eyes fell before mine, the last faint gleam 
 of defiance dying from her face. She glanced about the 
 apartment, evidently meditating retreat from my presence, 
 or the swift summoning of her guards. Whichever it 
 might have been, she as evidently thought better of it, 
 turning toward me once more, no longer a frightened, an 
 gry Amazon, but instead a smiling, pleasant-faced woman. 
 
 "We have surely jested long enough, senor," she 
 exclaimed with apparent lightness of demeanor. " It 
 can never be best for us to be other than good friends. 
 I doubt not you are a bold man, loyal to those trusting 
 you, and 1 honor you for it. Take me, also, into that 
 charmed circle, yet never forget I am a woman capable 
 of doing great harm if I choose, for I have those at my 
 command here who would die gladly at my bidding. 
 The threat of French vengeance moves me little, senor ; 
 France is strong, cruel, relentless; but France is not here." 
 
 " Quite true," I replied, feeling best now to permit 
 her to enjoy her own way. " But France never forgets, 
 never pardons, and France possesses arms which reach 
 
 [315] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 across the seas, even into this wilderness. All she needs 
 is a guide, and I could become that. Yet if you grant 
 my request I pledge that no words of mine shall result 
 in your injury." 
 
 " Your half threat does not greatly trouble me, senor. 
 I am no frail reed fearing a puff of air. I merely seek 
 that duty which seems most fair to all concerned. Pray 
 tell me then what it is you would ask at my hands. 
 Nay, wait ; before we go into this business be seated here, 
 so we may more easily converse together." 
 
 It was a low stool beside the couch she indicated, and 
 I could do no less than silently accept her courtesy, 
 the soft, mysterious charm of the woman blunting my 
 prejudice. 
 
 "Now, senor," an engaging smile rendering more beau 
 tiful the face turned toward me. " I pray you trust me 
 fully, and state frankly your demands upon Naladi." 
 
 If slightest sarcasm lurked in these softly spoken 
 words I acknowledge total oblivion to it. Her fair face 
 was the picture of earnestness, her eyes gazed frankly 
 into mine. 
 
 " Our release, Madame." 
 
 She lifted her white hands in a sudden gesture of 
 expostulation. 
 
 "Why ask that? It is utterly beyond my power, 
 senor at least, at once," in a tone of despair, convincing 
 me she spoke truly. " We have our laws, which must 
 be obeyed. It was the tribe who in battle took you 
 prisoners, not I ; it would cost me my position did I 
 endeavor to give you immediate release." 
 
 " Could it be accomplished later ? " 
 
SPEECH WITH NALADI 
 
 " Possibly it might/ 
 
 " Will you promise me it shall ? " 
 
 She hesitated, her eyes downcast, her bosom rising and 
 falling to tumultuous breathing. 
 
 " Yes," at last slowly, as if she had weighed the prob 
 lem with care. " I will pledge you my utmost help to 
 that end." 
 
 "There is one thing more, Queen Naladi," I con 
 tended earnestly. " It is that Madame de Noyan be 
 permitted meanwhile to abide with her husband." 
 
 The fair face darkened ominously. Instead of imme 
 diately answering she stepped across the room ; returning, 
 she held in her hands a small box in which I perceived 
 papers. 
 
 " One moment, senor ; move your stool here ; yes, a 
 trifle to the left where we may have clearer light shed 
 upon these documents." 
 
 I drew it unsuspectingly to the spot indicated by her 
 gesture, bending forward, wondering what it might be of 
 importance she held in her hands. 
 
 " This, senor," she began calmly, slightly unrolling a 
 written sheet, "is, as you will easily comprehend, the very 
 document causing my unfortunate exile in this wilderness. 
 You will take notice " 
 
 As she spoke, I felt myself falling. She sprang hastily 
 back, barely in time to escape my frenzied clutch upon 
 her draperies ; for one instant I clung to the stone slab 
 of the floor desperately. Then she laughed, her heel 
 crunched on my gripping fingers, and, with one muffled 
 cry of despair, I went plunging down into the blackness. 
 
 [317] 
 
CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 IT is strange I remember so little from that instant 
 when my tortured hands released their frantic grasp 
 on the stone slab of the floor. I recall the sharp pain, as 
 that fair-faced fiend stamped upon my clutching fingers ; 
 I heard the echo of sneering laughter with which she 
 mocked my last upward look of agony, but, with the 
 plunge downward into that black, unknown abyss, all 
 clear recollection ceased I even retain no memory of 
 the severe shock which must have occurred as my fall 
 ended. Whether excess of fear paralyzed the brain, or 
 what may have been the cause for such a phenomenon, 
 I know not. I merely state the fact. 
 
 I awoke how much later God alone knows lying 
 upon the rough stone bottom of an awful well, huddled 
 in its blackness. When I finally made attempt at 
 straightening my cramped limbs it seemed as if each sepa 
 rate muscle had been beaten and bruised, and it required 
 no little manipulation before I even recovered sufficient 
 strength to stand upright and endeavor to ascertain the 
 nature of my grewsome prison-house. My stiffness caused 
 me to believe that I must have lain motionless for several 
 hours in the same cramped position into which I fell, 
 before even regaining consciousness. Another evidence 
 of this was the blood which, having flowed copiously 
 from a severe cut upon the back of my head, had so 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 thoroughly hardened as to stanch the ugly wound, thus, 
 perhaps, preserving my life. 
 
 Slowly I returned to a clear realization of my position, 
 for my eyes opened upon such intense darkness I could 
 scarcely comprehend in my weakened, dazed condition 
 that it was not all a dream from which I was yet to 
 awaken. Little by little the mind began asserting itself, 
 vaguely feeling here and there, putting scrap with scrap, 
 until returning memory poured in upon me like a flood, 
 and I grasped the terrible truth that I was buried alive. 
 The knowledge was a deathlike blow, with which I strug 
 gled desperately, seeking to regain control over my 
 shattered nerves. I recall yet the frenzied laugh burst 
 ing from my lips seemingly the lips of a stranger 
 ringing wild and hollow, not unlike the laughter of the 
 insane ; I remember tearing wide open the front of my 
 doublet, feeling I must surely choke from the suffocating 
 pressure upon my chest ; I retain memory of glaring 
 violently into the darkness ; how I fondled the sharp 
 edge of the hunting knife, crying and shouting impotent 
 curses, which I trust God has long ago forgiven, at that 
 incarnate devil who had hurled me down to such living 
 death. Terror dominated my brain, pulsed like molten 
 fire through my blood, until, as the desperation of my 
 situation became more clearly defined, I tottered upon 
 the very verge of insanity, feeling I should soon become 
 a helpless, gibbering imbecile. 
 
 Yet, as I succeeded in staggering weakly to my feet, the 
 movement and exertion served to quiet my apprehensions, 
 while hope came faintly back, bringing with it, as though 
 newly born, a determination never to yield without one 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 manly struggle. I possessed a knife ; perchance there 
 might be discovered some opportunity for using it. With 
 outspread hands, and groping feet, I attempted to ad 
 vance, but found I had fallen so close to the centre of the 
 well that I had to make several steps before my extended 
 fingers touched the cold wall. This I followed slowly, 
 passing exploring hands with utmost care over each inch, 
 from the floor to as high as I could reach on tiptoe, until 
 confident I had made the complete circuit. It was all the 
 same, vast slabs of flat stone, welded together by some 
 rude yet effective masonry, the mortar between imper 
 vious to the sharp probing of the knife. Again and again 
 I made that circuit, testing each crack, sounding every 
 separate stone in the hope of discovering some slight 
 fault in construction by which I might profit. Every 
 where I was confronted by the same dull, dead wall of 
 cold, hard rock, against which I exerted strength and skill 
 uselessly. Finally I dropped upon my knees, creeping 
 inch by inch across the floor, but with no better result. 
 It likewise was composed of great slabs of stone, one 
 having an irregular crack running through it from corner 
 to corner, but all alike solid and immovable. 
 
 Then the last faint flicker of hope deserted me. Yet 
 the exercise of that fruitless search had restored some 
 measure of manhood ; my brain no longer throbbed with 
 dull agony, nor did my veins burn as with liquid fire. I 
 felt convinced this black vault was destined to become 
 my grave ; here in after years, perhaps, some straying 
 hunter might uncover my mouldering bones, wondering 
 idly at my unknown story, for here I was surely doomed 
 to face all that was mysterious and terrible in death. 
 
 [3*0] 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 Well, that end must come to me some time, as to all 
 men ; I had seen many die, and, although fate faced me 
 in far more horrid guise than any of these others, yet after 
 all it was merely death, and I had no more cause to fear 
 it here in the dark than yonder in the sunshine. Besides, 
 I retained the keen knife-blade ; if worse came to worse 
 that was available for release. I passed it caressingly 
 through my fingers, wondering would God forgive its use 
 if the moment came when I must choose between insanity 
 and death. 
 
 Merciful Heaven ! how time dragged ! What awful 
 conceptions were formed in my fevered brain ! What 
 leering, sardonic faces pictured themselves against the 
 black wall ; what demon voices spoke and laughed in the 
 void above ! At times I stood in a cave thronged with 
 jeering devils, some with the savage countenance of the 
 heathen, some yet more satanic; yet ever in the midst of 
 their maddest orgies, the cruel mockery of the infamous 
 Naladi appeared more hellish than that of the rest. She 
 leered down upon me from every side until I seemed to 
 stare into a thousand faces, each wearing her hateful, 
 sardonic smile. 
 
 I paced the floor with feverish impatience, counting 
 my steps from wall to wall, hoping by this means to 
 retain control of my brain. Experiencing the sharp 
 pangs of hunger, I slashed a bit of leather from my belt, 
 and chewed it savagely as a dog might chew a dry bone. 
 In my despair, I danced, snapping my fingers, and hurl 
 ing bitter taunts at the unseen upper world. Exhausted 
 by such useless frenzy, I would sink prone to the floor, 
 every nerve unstrung, lying there panting in helplessness 
 
 [321] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 until returning strength again sent me back and forth in 
 that awful tramp from wall to wall. I perceived that the 
 strain of that horrible haunted silence was driving me 
 mad. There was no escape, no hope, no peace. Again 
 and again did I break from incoherent ravings to sink 
 upon my knees, beseeching God for mercy. Yet I arose 
 without rest, without peace. At last I sank weakly down 
 against the wall and lay trembling in every limb, staring 
 blindly with wide-open, unseeing eyes. 
 
 I had come to the very end to that moment when 
 my limbs refused longer to support my swaying body, 
 when my tortured brain was picturing scenes of hellish 
 ingenuity. Ah ! look ! see ! yonder comes now another 
 to torment my soul. O God ! Mark that grim, gray 
 face floating against the wall ! Away, you foul fiend ! 
 I am not yet your prey ! But see ! see how the ghastly 
 horror grows ! It is as large as a man ; and mark those 
 long, gaunt arms reaching up until they meet overhead. 
 Suddenly it seemed to shed a strange, unnatural radiance 
 over the cave. I imagined I saw things about me. 
 What, Mother of Mercies, can it be ? Daylight ! Oh, 
 good God ! do my eyes actually look upon the day once 
 more the sweet, sweet, blessed day ? Surely it is but 
 a dream ; yet no ! it must truly be light streaming down 
 from above. 
 
 I staggered to my feet, trembling so that I was com 
 pelled to clutch the wall for support. Swinging and 
 swaying down toward me through the dim light, now in 
 the radiance, anon in the shadow, twisting and turning 
 like a great snake, a grass rope steadily dropped ring by 
 ring until its loosened end coiled on the stone floor. 
 
 [322] 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 I saw it, never believing the testimony of my own eyes, 
 until my trembling hand had actually closed upon it. 
 Then, with the touch in my fingers, the hot tears gushed 
 from my blinded eyes, the tension on my brain gave way, 
 and I was Geoffrey Benteen once more. A cautious 
 whisper pierced the silence. 
 
 "If you remain alive, have you strength to mount the 
 rope quickly ? " 
 
 So parched and swollen were my lips I could not 
 answer, yet managed to take stronger grasp upon the 
 cord, and, finding it firmly held above, made earnest 
 effort to climb. T was a desperate undertaking for one 
 who had passed through the strain which had befallen 
 me ; but now, the trembling having somewhat passed, I 
 found myself not entirely devoid of strength, while an 
 intense desire to escape from that hell made me willing 
 to venture. I was dimly conscious of a face gazing 
 intently down through the small aperture, yet, with the 
 swaying of that loosened rope, the slipperiness of its 
 grassy strands between my fingers, I found little oppor 
 tunity for glancing upward while slowly winning toilsome 
 way toward the light. It was as hard a struggle for life as 
 I ever made, my heart almost ceasing to hope, when I 
 finally felt a hand close firmly upon the collar of my 
 jacket. With that help, I struggled on, until, panting 
 and exhausted, I sank upon the skin-carpeted floor of 
 the apartment from whence I had been hurled into that 
 living tomb. 
 
 Half turning as I fell, I gazed into the face of my 
 rescuer, endeavoring to smile as my glad eyes met those 
 of Eioise de Noyan. 
 
 [323] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Oh, hush ! " she sobbed. " Do not speak of what 
 you have suffered, for I read it all in your eyes. Oh, 
 my poor, poor boy ! I thank the merciful Christ you 
 are still alive. Yet I know not how long that demon in 
 form of woman may be absent; besides, her savage 
 guards are everywhere. The slightest sound might 
 bring one to the door, and it will be better that she 
 believe you her victim, buried forever in that foul 
 grave." 
 
 I could but gaze at her, my breath coming in sobs of 
 pain. 
 
 " How chanced it, Madame, you knew I was thus 
 entombed?" and my hand, yet bleeding from contact 
 with the rope, ventured to touch her own. She looked 
 into my eyes bravely, a red flush in either cheek. 
 
 " I overheard those bold words you spoke to her last 
 night across the partition." 
 
 " Last night ? Rather a week since." 
 
 She smiled, her hand-clasp tightening. 
 
 "Ah, no, Geoffrey. It has seemed that long even to 
 me waiting opportunity for service, yet t is scarcely eight 
 hours since you were hurled into yonder hole. See ; the 
 sun in the sky tells the story truly. But every moment 
 we delay only serves to increase our peril of discovery. 
 Assist me, if you have strength, to relay this stone slab. 
 It tested my muscles sorely to drag it aside. No doubt 
 there is a cunning spring somewhere, by use of which it 
 moves easily, yet I sought after it in vain." 
 
 Toiling together we finally succeeded in returning the 
 flat cover to its proper position in the flooring, and 
 spread over it a thick skin. Seeing everything was left 
 
 [324] 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 exactly as when she entered, Madame, who had become 
 a new woman to my eyes, capable and alert, silently led 
 me through a narrow curtained recess to the second apart 
 ment. This had evidently been designed as the Queen s 
 reception room, being fairly gorgeous in coloring, the 
 low walls covered with shields of beaten copper, while 
 burnished bits of the same metal, mingled with duller 
 tones of gold and iron, were scattered everywhere in 
 strange profusion. Varied tinted stones and sea-shells 
 had been built into a raised platform, on which stood a 
 couch hidden beneath rich robes of skin, and draped 
 about with multicolored cloth of rude design and tex 
 ture. Altogether it was an interior of rich barbaric splen 
 dor, savage in its unusual beauty, yet possessing here 
 and there an odd touch of civilization almost startling by 
 contrast. You must understand that I enjoyed little 
 opportunity to gaze about and note such details, for 
 Madame was impatient of delay, hurrying me forward 
 until we entered together a partially concealed passage 
 behind where the couch stood. Here my fair guide 
 paused, thrusting into my hands a quantity of food 
 hastily appropriated from a long shelf, concealed by a 
 curtain of scarlet cloth. 
 
 " Eat heartily," she commanded quickly, " for you 
 seem very weak. Meanwhile I will stand here, keeping 
 watch lest we be taken by surprise. Should I give a 
 signal, lift yonder red curtain at its farther end, and hide 
 there in silence until I come again." 
 
 I partook of the coarse food eagerly enough, yet my 
 eyes were ever upon her, my lips even finding time for 
 speech. 
 
 [325] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cc Have you some plan, Madame ? " I questioned anx 
 iously. " You said but now this house was held under 
 heavy guard." 
 
 " I spoke truly. I may not step forth into the air 
 but some savage is at my side driving me back again. 
 Oftentimes they peer within when the Queen is absent, 
 to assure themselves that I am safely caged." 
 
 " And this Naladi does she treat you well ? " 
 
 The swift color mounted into her clear cheeks. 
 
 " Not ill, so far, at least, as relates to the physical," 
 she responded gravely. " No hand has been angrily laid 
 upon me since I was dragged forth from the altar-house. 
 Yet there are other forms of torture ; and she constantly 
 mocks me with my helplessness, and, I believe, even 
 hates me for no better reason than that I stand between 
 her and the Chevalier." 
 
 " You have seen him ? " 
 
 " No ; but have heard his voice while he held private 
 converse with her, the shameless wanton ; have listened 
 to words ill suited to the ears of a wife. She is a witch, 
 and the slumbering devil in her has made snare for his 
 weakness." 
 
 " I greatly fear there may be truth in this," I returned, 
 scarcely knowing how best to speak at such a time, 
 marking the agitation of her breathing. " Naladi is a 
 fair woman, softly spoken and seductive when it is her 
 purpose to please. There are not many men who could 
 resist her wiles. Yet possibly, Madame, were you to 
 have converse with the Chevalier your plea might break 
 the spell." 
 
 She turned toward me with proud, impetuous gesture, 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 and I was surprised at the sudden indignant light glowing 
 within her dark eyes. 
 
 " No, Geoffrey Benteen, that will never be. I am 
 this man s wife. He has vowed himself to me before 
 the sacred altar of Holy Church. Think you that I, 
 a lady born of France, would abase myself to beseech 
 his loyalty? Not though life or death hung upon the 
 issue! If he can cast me aside for the caresses of this 
 savage harlot, he may forever go his way ; never will 
 my hand halt him, or my voice claim his allegiance. 
 I am his wife before God ; to the end I will be true 
 unto my solemn pledges to Holy Church ; yet I hope 
 never to look again upon the false face of Charles de 
 Noyan." 
 
 " Are you not over-hasty in such decision ? " I ven 
 tured, conscious of a gladness in my own heart at her 
 impulsive speech. " Possibly this is a mere passing 
 whim, an idle fancy ; he may yet emerge from the craze 
 purified by trial." 
 
 She looked hard at me, as if seeking to penetrate the 
 flimsy mask I wore, and I beheld a pride in her uplifted 
 face such as had never been visible there before. 
 
 " Such might be the way with some women," she 
 returned firmly. " I am of a race to whom honor is 
 everything. My father gave his life for no less, and 
 I hold him right in his choice. I may forgive much 
 of wrong ay ! have forgiven yet the stain of dis 
 honor now rests upon the proud name I bear, and 
 that can never be forgiven. Whether in New Orleans, 
 or the heart of this wilderness, I am still Eloise Lafren- 
 iere, the daughter of a gentleman of France. I would 
 
 [327] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 die by the torture of these savages before I would 
 surrender the honor due my race." 
 
 There was that in her proud speech silencing my 
 tongue from further expostulation, even had I believed 
 De Noyan deserved a defender. He had deliberately 
 chosen his path, now let him follow it ; any man who 
 would thus lightly tread on the heart of such a woman 
 was clearly outside the radius of human sympathy, deserv 
 ing to be. Certainly I felt no call to stand between him 
 and his fate. 
 
 " I may not comprehend the claims of family pride, 
 Madame," I responded finally, for want of something bet 
 ter. "Of that I know little. Yet I cannot contend that 
 your decision is wrong. However, let us talk of other 
 things, permitting this disagreement to adjust itself. You 
 have not stated how I am to escape from this present pre 
 dicament. It surely looks a problem not easily solved." 
 
 " Nor is it clear even in my mind," she admitted, 
 evidently relieved by the change of topic, " because I 
 do not know the ending of a certain passage under 
 ground. Yet I have a plan. Behind the curtain, 
 yonder, a concealed opening leads downward into an 
 underground gallery. I have ventured to explore it 
 for only a brief distance, but trust it may end under 
 the open sky. At least our only hope is that you 
 may discover some such ending. If not, you can 
 only return to me, and we will seek other means for 
 escape, if, indeed, there are any." 
 
 " I am to understand you do not flee with me ? " 
 
 She shook her head gravely, her cheeks flushed, her 
 dark eyes lowered. 
 
IN AND OUT THE SHADOW 
 
 " No ; I deem such move not best after those words 
 the Queen spoke to you last night," she answered simply. 
 " Besides, our best efforts at escape would be futile should 
 she suspect you have not perished where she entombed 
 you. I am safe here, for the present at least, while you 
 can accomplish much more for all of us if she believes 
 
 you dead and takes no precautions to guard against 
 
 >i 
 you. 
 
 I could scarcely bear the thought of her remaining in 
 the power of that half-savage creature, who wielded such 
 despotic power over her wild tribesmen. Inspired by 
 fear of the result I begged reconsideration, urging her 
 to accompany me in flight ; but she was firm in refusal. 
 
 " No ; urge it no longer, good friend. I know you 
 speak from the heart, yet it is not best. You cannot 
 know to what depths of peril, or disappointment, this 
 passage may lead, while, by remaining behind, I can help 
 to hide your trail, and possibly open to you some way 
 of retreat. But hush!" She held up her hand. "It 
 is the Queen returning ; neither of us must be discovered 
 here. 
 
 I took a step forward, gaining undisputed possession 
 of the uplifted palm. 
 
 " I depart at your wish, Madame," I said brokenly ; 
 "but may the merciful God bring us to each other 
 again." 
 
 For a breathless instant, even while the sounds with 
 out drew nearer, her eyes looked confidingly into mine. 
 
 "All must be as God wills," she replied gravely. 
 " Here or hereafter, Geoffrey Benteen, I believe it 
 shall be. Until then, continue to prove the same true 
 
 [329] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 man you have ever been, doubting not the trust of her 
 who now bids you speed." 
 
 There were voices lightly conversing at the entrance, 
 and I distinguished clearly the senseless laughter of De 
 Noyan. Lower I bent above the white hand reposing 
 in my rough grasp, until my lips pressed the soft flesh ; 
 nor was it withdrawn from the caress. 
 
 " Good-bye, Eloise," I whispered, and, sweeping aside 
 the heavy folds of curtain, vanished from her sight. 
 
 [330] 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 
 UNDERGROUND 
 
 A SLIGHT radiance found passage through the 
 coarsely woven curtain, proving sufficient, as my 
 eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, to reveal 
 rude steps excavated from the earth, leading down into 
 lower darkness. Pausing merely to assure myself that 
 the meeting between Naladi and Madame was outwardly 
 courteous, while De Noyan seemed shamed into silence 
 by the presence of his wife, I began tl)e descent, quickly 
 finding myself in an apartment, rounded in outline, not 
 greatly dissimilar to that other from which I had been so 
 lately rescued. This, however, was smaller, the floor lit 
 tered with various articles, the nature of which I found it 
 difficult to determine in such dim light. Nor did I pause 
 for close inspection, but, so soon as search revealed an 
 opening into a narrow passageway beyond, I pressed for 
 ward amid dense gloom, feeling my way, fearful lest I 
 meet some pitfall. It was a low, contracted gallery, so 
 extremely irregular in excavation that I sometimes stood 
 erect, unable to reach the roof with extended fingers, yet 
 a moment later was compelled to creep on hands and 
 knees in order to progress at all. Had it led through 
 solid rock I should have accepted this as evidence of 
 natural origin, but sides, floor, and roof were of earth, 
 
 [331] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 while every few feet, rendering progress uncertain and 
 perilous, were huge posts of wood, usually roughly hewn 
 tree trunks, each topped by a flat piece of stone, supporting 
 the sagging roof. 
 
 Altogether it was a surprising excavation, exhibiting 
 some degree of engineering skill on the part of these 
 savages. I wondered whether the conception originated 
 within the brain of their alien Queen, or was another of 
 the unique inheritances of their race. Perhaps I may be 
 permitted to add here some information which reached 
 me later, that abundant evidences of the existence of 
 similar passages have been noted elsewhere in the old 
 homes of this people beside the Mississippi. While at 
 Petite Rocher River, I met lately a Jesuit, who had 
 travelled widely and read many books, and he gravely 
 assured me that in the vast cities of the Aztecs, far to 
 the south in Mexico, their temples and palaces were 
 connected by means of such long, secret, covered ways. 
 Hence I incline to the belief that this excavation was 
 largely the labor of slaves ; for these Nahuacs had many 
 such, some of negro, others of Indian blood, and that the 
 earth thus removed had been utilized in constructing 
 those mounds above, the entire method of building 
 merely a tradition from the past. 
 
 Let that be as it may, here the tunnel extended stretch 
 ing its snake-like course before me. Along it I carefully 
 felt a passage, nervously gripping the knife hilt, and vainly 
 seeking to distinguish definite outlines amid the dark 
 ness. My groping feet encountered numerous obstruc 
 tions along the path here a pile of loosened earth over 
 which I plunged headlong, or a flat stone dropped by 
 
UNDERGRO U ND 
 
 the rotting away of its supporting prop, or some sharp 
 declivity, as though softer earth had yielded to rude 
 implements; yet it became evident from the start that 
 the tunnel level rapidly descended, boring deeper and 
 deeper into the bosom of the earth. Finally, my fingers 
 came into contact with small fragments of rock strewing 
 the side walls, and I comprehended I must already be 
 beneath the base of that rounded mound upon the 
 summit of which the house of Naladi stood. What 
 worried me most was to what end this tunnel was made. 
 Such vast labor had surely never been performed without 
 adequate purpose. Besides, completed, the passage was 
 well cared for. I met frequently in my blind groping 
 with evidences of comparatively recent labor. Yet for 
 what purpose was it designed ? Where did it lead ? To 
 my bewildered judgment the general trend appeared 
 northward; but that would carry it directly across the 
 broadest portion of the upper basin. To have an uncon 
 cealed entrance in the centre of that unprotected, open 
 plain would be foreign to savage nature ; while to imagine 
 that such a tunnel as this, from which a vast amount 
 of earth had been borne upon the backs of workmen, 
 could extend below the full extent of that valley, was 
 beyond conception. Besides, the air was light and pure, 
 as sweet to inhale as if it blew directly upon me from the 
 open sky ; itself proof positive that some opening could 
 not be far distant. 
 
 Thus questioning, I groped slowly forward. To one 
 accustomed to living in the open there is something 
 peculiarly oppressive in being cooped within the confines 
 of such narrow entries, and being compelled to reflect 
 
 [333] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 upon the immense mass of rock and earth resting above, 
 and prevented from crushing him down into everlasting 
 silence only by insignificant props of wood, whose mel 
 ancholy groaning in the darkness bore evidence of the 
 vast weight they upheld. There was nothing for me 
 but to struggle onward, although I do not claim that it 
 was without quaking heart, or many a start at odd noises 
 echoing and re-echoing along that grim gallery. It is 
 comparatively easy to be courageous where the peril is 
 of a nature to which we have long accustomed ourselves, 
 but many a trained nerve gives way before little ventures 
 amid the unknown. I am told that soldiers coming to 
 these colonies veterans who had faced unflinchingly the 
 flames of battle will tremble and shrink like frightened 
 girls at the slightest sign of a storm at sea ; and there 
 was once a famous war-chief of the Shawnees, who had 
 fought fiercely with tomahawk and knife, yet who fell 
 dead at the first crash of a field gun, although the piece 
 was uncharged with ball. So I conceive that physical 
 courage is not so high a virtue after all, and am not greatly 
 ashamed to acknowledge I went timidly forward down 
 that black slope, and with a wild inclination to fly back 
 ward at every sound. Nor do I boast of keeping on, for 
 it was largely because I knew well what reception would 
 await me ; the look of scorn with which Madame would 
 discover that a faint heart had made me afraid of the dark. 
 So it was love, or pride, I scarce know which, that kept 
 my reluctant feet moving ; and, possibly, both of these 
 are the true sponsors for most of the courage in the 
 world, except that engendered by excitement. 
 
 Finally, when, with many a quaking of the heart I 
 
 [334] 
 
UNDERGROUND 
 
 thought there must be above me a full hundred feet of 
 earth, I perceived a flickering ray of light stealing along 
 the floor. It grew more pronounced with each advanc 
 ing step and soon crimsoned the upper walls. I dropped 
 cautiously upon hands and knees, and crept slowly for 
 ward, beside the dancing shadows, taking concealment 
 behind every irregularity. Thus approaching, I discov 
 ered the flaring beacon to be a huge pine knot stuck 
 into the earth wall, blazing right merrily. Lying at full 
 length, with head outstretched from behind the tree 
 trunk that concealed my body, I gazed forward into a 
 small room, possibly a dozen feet in width, the walls 
 concealed by grotesquely pictured bark, its floor covered 
 with a rude matting, dyed in fanciful colors. Somewhat 
 to the left of where I lay uprose a huge, grim figure, 
 roughly shapen from wood, having two uplifted wings 
 pressing the roof, while directly in front reposed numer 
 ous dishes of untasted food. This idol, for such I con 
 ceived it to be, was a most hideous, repulsive object, 
 colored lavishly with strange pigments, the face and head 
 decorated in crimson, while the huge right hand, grasp 
 ing a club, was uplifted as if about to strike down an 
 approaching enemy. The flaring light of the pine knot 
 glittered on great staring eyes which appeared to sparkle 
 as if composed of precious stones ; while about neck, 
 zone, and ankles shone the duller gleam of gold, with 
 the shimmer of some brighter metal. 
 
 It was a grewsome sight to approach in such a place, 
 especially as the peculiar eyes appeared to follow my 
 slightest movement. Yet only for a breathless moment 
 did I experience doubt as to its nature, then laughed 
 
 [335] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 grimly at myself for a superstitious fool. The remaining 
 portion of this dimly revealed underground apartment 
 appeared bare, except for a gayly decorated skin or two, 
 and the figure of a man, garbed in the gloomy attire of 
 a priest, lying fast asleep at the very feet of the statue. 
 Beyond showed a dark opening where the tunnel 
 continued onward into the earth. 
 
 It required brief observation to note these outlines, 
 nor did they greatly serve to delay my advance. I 
 paused merely long enough to become thoroughly con 
 vinced of the reality of the priest s slumber, and then 
 crept silently past, keeping close as possible within the 
 shadow of the eastern wall, until once again safely swal 
 lowed within the blackness of the passage. Oddly 
 enough the mere sight of that fellow lying there uncon 
 scious served to yield me new courage, robbing the cave 
 of its loneliness, and I plunged directly ahead. 
 
 The passage I now followed rose with a sharp pitch, 
 evidently inclining toward the surface, the opening not 
 far distant. It was like mounting a hill, so marked was 
 the incline, yet I covered a distance fully equalling that 
 of my previous descent before becoming aware of a 
 steadily increasing gray tingeing the side walls. Halting 
 in this faint illumination I was suddenly startled by the 
 sound of vigorous English speech. I advanced cau 
 tiously. The words were so confused by the echoes 
 that little could be made of them until I reached a 
 coarsely matted curtain, through which dimly sifted the 
 welcome daylight. Here I paused, listening intently, 
 striving to discover what mystery lay hidden beyond. 
 
 For some moments nothing reached me, excepting a 
 
 [336] 
 
UNDERGROUND 
 
 low, dull murmur, as if voices chanted in muffled mono 
 tone, the sound commingling with a sharp crackling of 
 flames, and an occasional doleful beating upon some 
 surface resembling the taut parchment of a drum. Sud 
 denly a deep voice close at hand roared out hoarsely, 
 and my heart leaped in excitement, although I at once 
 recognized it. 
 
 " You black-faced son of Belial," came a savage snort, 
 " do you give all that food unto a dumb idol, when a 
 Christian man, a ministering servant of the Most High, 
 lies groaning with a stomach which has n t tasted food 
 for four and twenty hours ? Possess you no bowels of 
 compassion for the long sufferings of a fellow-man ? 
 Come now, give me just a bite of the white meat, and 
 yonder grinning wooden image will never miss it. You 
 won t, you spawn of Baal, yet I marked plain enough 
 how you filled your own lean belly with the best there 
 was." 
 
 The straining of cords, together with sound of struggle, 
 bore evidence that the Reverend Mr. Cairnes was mak 
 ing heroic effort to attain unto that food offered before 
 idols. That such strenuous effort was vain was soon 
 proven by the bursting forth of his voice once more. 
 
 " Oh, gracious Lord," he cried, in a tone evidencing 
 more anger than spiritual exaltation, " surely thy ancient 
 servant Job never bowed before greater affliction than 
 this now visited upon me. Verily t is even as the expe 
 riences of the Apostle Paul, yet without his reward in 
 the flesh. I beseech Thee from the depth of humiliation 
 even as did Daniel from the lions den loosen my 
 arms that I may smite as with Thy wrath this profaner 
 
 [337] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of Thy most holy name, thus bringing peace unto the 
 smitten heart of Thy faithful servant. O Lord, what 
 have I done to be deserted in this hour of extremity ? 
 As Elijah called down fire from Heaven, so I call upon 
 Thee to smite with the terror of Thy might the ranks 
 of these foul idolaters. He who hath boldly proclaimed 
 Thy truth in the wilderness, who hath proven a faithful 
 witness unto these savages, through many years of trial 
 and tribulation, doth now call upon Thee in dire dis 
 tress. Shall it be in vain, that he thus uplifts his voice 
 supplicating in the wilderness ? " 
 
 His deep rumbling died away until I could distinguish 
 little except those moans with which he punctuated the 
 conclusion of each sentence. Finally, hearing no other 
 sound to restrain me, I ventured to slightly uplift one 
 corner of the heavy curtain, and peer into the room. 
 The entrance opened upon the back of the rude plat 
 form, my position being within less than three paces 
 from the famine-stricken Puritan, who, with low-bowed 
 head and hidden face, was still wrestling in fervent 
 prayer. I was unable, from where I hid, to distinguish 
 the form of the crouching priest, yet knew he could not 
 be far distant, and therefore I durst not speak above a 
 whisper lest the sound awaken his suspicion. 
 
 " Cairnes," I said softly, " hush that unseemly racket, 
 man, and give heed to my words." 
 
 Three times I was compelled to repeat this warning 
 before I noticed him lift his head, in evidence that the 
 faint sound had finally reached his ears. Unable to 
 turn, he rolled his eyes inquiringly upward. 
 
 " What is it, O Lord ? " he questioned, with such 
 
 [338] 
 
UNDERGROUN D 
 
 unbounded faith in a celestial visitant I found it hard to 
 restrain a laugh. 
 
 " Don t be a fool," I whispered back hastily. " The 
 Almighty may have guided me here, but t is a man in 
 the flesh who speaks." 
 
 The sectary made hard efforts to glance behind, but 
 the cords held too firmly, so I merelv gained a glimpse 
 of the side of his face. 
 
 " Merciful Jehovah ! t is the voice of Master Benteen," 
 he exclaimed joyfully. " I know not how you could 
 come there unless you descended from the sky." 
 
 " From the opposite quarter, my friend," I replied, 
 awake to the humor. " Pray speak with less noise, and 
 pay heed to what I say. Tell me where the priest 
 stands ; you are so confounded broad of shoulder I can 
 see nothing beyond." 
 
 " He kneels to the right of the altar, the crawling 
 spawn of hell, where he has good chance to fill his 
 lean body with food he makes pretence to feed unto that 
 foul figure of wood. He is a full imp of Satan, the 
 black-faced idolater." 
 
 " I care little as to that. Are there others present ? " 
 
 " None, save the guard, a naked savage. He leans 
 in the doorway, looking without." 
 
 " Then be quiet while I cut your bonds ; afterwards 
 move back toward me. But mark well you tread lightly 
 along the floor, with no sound to attract attention." 
 
 He chuckled grimly. 
 
 "Fathers of Israel! it will astound those fellows to 
 discover this place empty t is likely they will imagine 
 me gone back to the Sun/ 
 
 [339] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 Making no response to this natural conceit, I stretched 
 myself forward the full length of my body, quickly drew 
 the keen knife edge across his bonds, severing them 
 with one stroke, thus setting free his arms. As the sun 
 dered cords dropped noiselessly to the floor I drew back 
 into hiding, leaving him to rid himself of whatever might 
 remain. A moment later he joined me, silently as a 
 great shadow, and I cordially extended my hand to 
 him, 
 
 L340] 
 
CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 "TV yfl"AY the gracious blessing of the Lord rest upon 
 IV-l you, Geoffrey Benteen," exclaimed the old Puritan 
 fervently, as we faced each other in that gloomy passage, 
 and it somehow heartened me to note tears in his gray 
 eyes. There was heart, then, under all his crabbedness. 
 " I have suffered much of late both in spirit and flesh, 
 and the very sight of you is as a gift of mercy unto me. 
 No angel with healing in his wings could prove more 
 welcome, yet I dislike leaving yonder food for the 
 sustenance of that foul idolater." 
 
 " You hunger then ? " I questioned, amused at the 
 regret with which he glanced backward. 
 
 " Is it hungered you call a man who has had but two 
 dry bones to pick since yester-noon ? " he groaned, press 
 ing both hands upon his stomach. " I am lean as the 
 Egyptian kine, and fain would welcome even locusts and 
 wild honey." 
 
 " Well, friend," I insisted firmly, " if you follow, within 
 fifteen minutes you shall partake of a meal equalling 
 that left behind. I myself know well what a long fast 
 means." 
 
 " T is truly a grievous affliction, difficult to sustain in 
 meekness of spirit," he admitted, yet ever keeping me 
 
 [341] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 close company through the increasing darkness of 
 descent ; " yet more am I distressed by the loss of all 
 spiritual nurture amid these wild heathen. Perchance, 
 Master Benteen, you might be led to unite with me in 
 a moment s fervent supplication before the throne of 
 grace ? " 
 
 " Ay ; when the right time comes I will gladly join, 
 yet I warn you now not to send your bull voice roaring 
 through these passages, or you will have small opportunity 
 for another meal." 
 
 " A time to work and a time to pray has ever been my 
 motto, most worthy youth, but my soul is so filled with 
 gratitude at my providential deliverance from pagan 
 bondage even as was Daniel from the lions den I 
 long to pour forth my joy in songs of praise. Patience, 
 but were I out of here, verily would I venture to uplift a 
 psalm of Zion." 
 
 He spoke in such ecstasy I feared lest his zeal might 
 conquer his prudence, although in truth this latter virtue 
 was one never apparent in his composition, and I 
 determined once for all to nip in the bud all such incli 
 nation. So I halted in the darkness, and, as he lumbered 
 past, laid a restraining hand upon his shoulder. 
 
 " Now hark you, Ezekiel Cairnes," I muttered sternly, 
 " I admire your piety, but this is no conventicle of the elect 
 we are in ; rather a place where your life, and those of 
 others, depend on our caution. The echoing of that bull 
 voice along these galleries might cause the blocking of 
 our passage, caging us in here like rats in a hole. So 
 hold quiet, Master Preacher, and let me hear no more 
 about either prayers or psalms." 
 
 [J42] 
 
WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 The grave determination in my voice served to sober 
 him. 
 
 " T is in my blood," he admitted doggedly, " to fight 
 and work better to the holy songs of Israel. It would 
 bring renewed peace to my soul merely to uplift a paean 
 of victory over the discomfiture of my enemies. But I 
 seek no quarrel here, and hence bide in silence until a 
 proper moment to unseal my lips." 
 
 " T will be well you do. Now follow close at my 
 heels, and I 11 promise a swift diversion to your thoughts." 
 
 Thus cautiously we crept toward the distant flickering 
 of the torch, the unsteady light from which already began 
 to yellow the packed earth about us, until we finally 
 emerged into its full glare. I had crawled forth, perhaps 
 half my length beyond the concealment of the wooden 
 pillar, and, knife in hand, was stealthily drawing in toward 
 the motionless form of the still slumbering priest, when 
 the roving eyes of Cairnes encountered the idol, with its 
 flashing gems and widely outspread wings, towering above 
 like an avenging demon. I doubt not the sight was 
 startling to the fellow, terrorized by the underground 
 gloom, and he gave utterance to one gruff cry : 
 
 " T is Beelzebub ! " 
 
 The sleeping priest leaped to his feet, glaring about in 
 bewilderment. Where I lay outstretched it required an 
 instant to gather myself for action, and, before I could 
 place restraining grip upon him, the fellow saw us both, 
 and, with echoing scream of terror, fled frantically up the 
 dark entry to the right. I made desperate effort to halt 
 him, but my swift-flung knife found bloodless sheath 
 within the soft earth of the wall. 
 
 [343] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Zounds ! are you a screeching woman with no control 
 over your tongue ? " I exclaimed angrily, panting for 
 breath. " T is likely that priest will rouse the tribe, and 
 we shall have a run for it. What caused you to make 
 such an uproar ? " 
 
 " Saints of Israel ! " he said, repentantly enough, his 
 glinting eyes still roving over the silent, leering image, 
 " never before did I behold such monster as that. For 
 the moment, I believed it Satan himself. But, for the 
 love of the prophets, what is this ? " He began eagerly 
 sniffing the air with his great nose like a pointer dog. 
 " T is food I scent ; that which will stay a famished 
 stomach. I beg you, friend, pause shortly while I satisfy 
 in some measure the yearnings of the body. Then shall 
 I be better fitted to withstand the temptations of the 
 world." 
 
 " Odds, man, I hope so," I responded gloomily, 
 watching his eager attack upon the supply outspread 
 before the idol. " So far you have acted like a lunk 
 head, and I begin to regret making you comrade in 
 this adventure. If a full stomach inspires to a man s 
 duty, it would be policy always to bear food about with 
 you." 
 
 " Ay, t is strange, indeed," he mumbled, his mouth 
 too full for clear speech, " that one who ever strives to 
 live in spiritual exercise should be so completely the 
 bound slave of mere bodily indulgence. Yet I did 
 inherit all such ungodly tendency from my mother who 
 was of Dutch blood, as round of form as a Holland 
 churn, while my father was spare of build, and throve 
 marvellously upon the water of life." 
 
 [344] 
 
WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 Leaving the engrossed sectary to refresh himself to 
 the full of his capacity, I anxiously set to work searching 
 after some species of cross-tunnel, shrewdly guessing this 
 underground altar masked a junction point, from whence 
 some such branch passageway would lead toward the 
 open air. With diligent care I passed along the walls, 
 testing each separate section, yet discovering nothing to 
 reward my efforts, until, finally creeping between the 
 spreading feet of the effigy, which appeared to sway 
 unsteadily, I lifted the crimson drapery hanging down its 
 back, thus disclosing an opening, barely sufficient to 
 permit the easy passage of a small man while lying flat. 
 
 " Most noble scavenger/* I said, feeling in better 
 humor from this chance discovery of the means of escape, 
 " are the wants of nature finally satisfied ? For if so, I 
 have found a path which will lead us from this hole of 
 iniquity." 
 
 " Nay, call it not so while it offers such excellent bod 
 ily nurture," he replied with fervor, cocking one eye up 
 at me, yet keeping both hands busily employed in 
 crowding his pockets full of eatables. " Say rather the 
 shadow of a great rock in a weary land, or a well of 
 water in desert places. I shall be ready to accompany 
 you upon a journey after I lay in these few necessaries. 
 The Lord hath given me manna in the wilderness 
 even as the ravens fed Elijah so hath He succored me 
 and twould be sin to make mock of His mercy." 
 
 "Very well ; only hurry and follow my lead." 
 
 " Will you not carry the torch to help guide ? " he 
 questioned, peering doubtfully into the yawning black 
 opening. 
 
 [345] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " No ; the light would serve to betray us to any spy 
 ing eyes. Perhaps that frightened priest may deem us 
 spirits, and muster courage to come creeping back. If 
 so, it will be best for him to find things here unchanged, 
 although in faith he will scarcely doubt we possess 
 earthly appetites when he notes your onslaught on the 
 sacred food. Come, man, enough of stuffing; your 
 pockets can hold no more, so press on with me." 
 
 " It grieves me sorely to leave behind so much good 
 pabulum," he explained, eying still the few morsels 
 left. " It would be well, to my judgment, did you pack 
 the rest of this providential supply." 
 
 Never pausing to answer, I crept between the spread 
 ing wooden limbs, and, with the expenditure of no small 
 effort, succeeded in wriggling into the narrow hole 
 beyond. It was a cramped passage for a man of my 
 girth, yet, by digging in firmly with both hands and feet, 
 I managed to advance, until I finally emerged, within 
 space of perhaps a yard, into a much larger excavation, 
 resembling the tunnel we had previously traversed. 
 
 " Now, Master Cairnes," I spoke back encouragingly, 
 "it is only a short distance to good footing; so take 
 fresh breath and come on." 
 
 His massive head completely shut out the faint light 
 of the narrow opening, and I heard heavy breathing as 
 the fellow squeezed his broad shoulders through the hole. 
 There followed sounds of violent struggle during his 
 slow and painful advance. 
 
 " By all the prophets and the patriarchs," he groaned 
 wearily, " t is not in me to make it ! Had I endeavored 
 this before eating I could have slipped through, scarcely 
 
 [346] 
 
WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 touching either side. But now I am scraped like a pig 
 for the feast. Baste me, friend Benteen, but I can move 
 neither forward nor back in this accursed place ; I am 
 full aground in the centre, and can never hope to 
 progress without aid." 
 
 I reached down until I laid firm hold upon his groping 
 fingers. 
 
 " Find some projection to push against with your 
 feet," I advised disgustedly. 
 
 " Fervently will I endeavor to dig in, and thus render 
 all assistance in my power, yet I feel little to encourage 
 me here in good works. Would it not be wise to test 
 the potency of prayer? Verily the prayer of the 
 righteous availeth much." 
 
 " I try earthly power first," I returned testily. " So 
 lay to it, and we will have you out." 
 
 I braced my knees against the firm wall, exerting all the 
 strength I possessed. There followed a series of moans 
 and heated expostulations, then the sound of rending cloth, 
 and the disgruntled Puritan came forth with a suddenness 
 of exit which landed us both in a heap on the floor. 
 
 " May all the spawn of hell be your playmates," he 
 roared in mad anger. " By the bones of Moses ! you 
 have scraped every bit of skin off me, and half my coat 
 is ripped loose and left behind. Thou art an ungodly, 
 blaspheming " 
 
 He gasped wildly for breath as I throttled him, but 
 the grip of my hands stilled his speech. 
 
 " It was only that you gorged like a bear preparing 
 for Winter, or you would have passed through even as I 
 did," I muttered, heedless of his effort to release my 
 
 [347] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 clutch. " Lie still now, or, by all the devils in the pit, 
 I 11 shut down harder on your throat. Ah, so you can 
 keep quiet, friend ? Then I will let you go, for I would 
 be free to explore this passage." 
 
 I could perceive, by means of the faint light streaming 
 through the narrow opening, that he was busily engaged 
 in rubbing his sorely lacerated sides, and I noted his 
 brown jerkin had been fairly wrenched off his shoulders. 
 
 " Where did you leave your coat ? " 
 
 "Yonder in that accursed hole ! It has store of provi 
 sions in its pockets. Lord save me, but was there ever 
 such a time ! " 
 
 He turned, groping anxiously about in the scene of 
 his late adventure until he finally brought forth the miss 
 ing garment. Carefully testing the pockets to see their 
 contents remained intact, a smile lit up his leathern face, 
 and he flung it across his shoulders, like a pair of well- 
 filled saddle-bags. I reached in also, lowered the dra 
 pery, and then led down the dark tunnel as rapidly as 
 the grim uncertainty of the way would permit. 
 
 The passage proved long and tedious ; at least so it 
 seemed to us compelled to grope slowly onward through 
 the darkness. However, it ran straight and upon a level, 
 although the numerous supports of the roof gave us 
 occasional foul blows, and proved so confusing we were 
 considerable time in traversing its distance. All I have 
 already pictured as occurring since I departed from the 
 presence of Madame, and first plunged blindly into the 
 underground labyrinths, had required several hours, and 
 it must have been close upon sunset when we emerged 
 from the gloom of the tunnel into the fresh sweet air. 
 
 [348] 
 
WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 The passage traversed so long terminated abruptly, 
 and with a sheer turn to the left, coming forth between 
 two huge rocks. To all appearances, it ended at the high 
 bank of a noisy stream, and was partly hidden by the 
 overhanging cliff. The latter, devoid of path or chasm, 
 now barred our progress, towering aloft until its ragged 
 summit appeared to press the blue sky. At first view I 
 thought the way ended here, but Cairnes pointed silently 
 toward the right, and then I perceived where a path led 
 upward, along the merest narrow, jagged shelf, skirting 
 the boiling water, yet ever rising higher above it, until, 
 as my eyes followed its serpentine windings from terrace 
 to terrace, I grew dizzy contemplating the possibilities of 
 so mad a climb. 
 
 " I suppose it must be tried/ 1 I admitted soberly, " for 
 there is apparently no other passage. Doubtless it leads 
 straight to the top of the cliff." 
 
 "Ay," with more of indifference than I had expected, 
 " and it will be no easy trick in the night." 
 
 "The night?" 
 
 " Surely, yes ; when else could we expect to compass 
 the path ? Is it not plain, friend, that before we rose 
 fifty feet we should be in full view of every eye in the 
 valley with the sun bright upon us ? I tell you we must 
 foot yonder rocks amid the night shadows, or else it will 
 be safer to lie hidden here." 
 
 I perceived the truth of his words and I confess to a 
 sinking of the heart, as I contemplated the work before 
 us. I was never an adept in clambering, it addles my 
 head ; and, bad as it appeared by day, surely doubly bad 
 would it prove by night. Yet there was little help for 
 
 [349] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 it, and I made shift to win back my oozing courage by 
 more cheerful speech. " Odds, but that is no such trip 
 as I would seek after, yet needs must if the devil drives," 
 I said. " So, now, brother Cairnes, if you will consent 
 to divide your store of food, we shall both front our 
 night s work with stronger bodies." 
 
 " Saints rest ! and if we go over the edge," he replied, 
 cheerfully emptying his bulging pockets on the rock, " it 
 will be a comfort to bear loaded stomachs with us. It 
 was ever against my pleasure to die half rilled." 
 
 We lingered as long as possible over our meal, convers 
 ing in such a way as to encourage each other and indulg 
 ing in frequent draughts from the clear stream. Nothing 
 occurred to disturb us, and, finally, both yielded to the 
 soothing influence of the drowsy evening, and, resting 
 back upon the rocks, dropped asleep. I know not the 
 hour of my awakening, yet it greatly heartened me to be 
 greeted by the sight of a nearly full moon, and to observe 
 how the clear silvery light flooded the rocks, revealing 
 the winding path leading upward. To arouse Cairnes was 
 no easy task, but at last we advanced on our path. The 
 huge rocks overhead appeared to arch us in, while, with 
 utmost caution, we crept along the narrow, irregular 
 ledge, which at times was level, and anon rose abruptly 
 like the steps of a stair ; occasionally it wound about pro 
 jecting rocks and over vast, unknown depths, until my 
 brain whirled, while I hugged the smooth rock wall at my 
 right, and felt cautiously forward for solid foothold. 
 
 I imagine we had progressed thus for upwards of three 
 or four hundred yards, and were elevated so far above 
 the stream that scarcely an echo of its noise assailed our 
 
 [35] 
 
WE MOUNT THE CLIFF 
 
 ears even in the silence of the night, when suddenly we 
 came to the end of our path. The rocky shelf was so 
 narrow the very conception of turning about smote me 
 with terror. Directly in front, extending to the very 
 edge, stretched a solid wall of rock. My eyes sank to 
 the shelf on which I stood. Lying close against the 
 sheer cliff was the root of a tree, its trunk, perhaps a foot 
 or more in diameter, stretching over the abyss, whose 
 depth I durst not guess. I stooped cautiously, my 
 heart throbbing, and ran my fingers along the bark. 
 
 " Oak," I announced soberly, " and feels solid and 
 strong. No doubt those Indians must cross here, but 
 it is a bridge to rack the nerves." 
 
 " Will you adventure the passage? " questioned Cairnes, 
 striving to peer across my shoulder. " As for me I would 
 rather attempt the Red Sea." 
 
 " Odds, man, the choice is not given. T is either 
 turn and go back, or foot the tree ; of the two the 
 attempt at turning would addle me worse." 
 
 I leaned out over the edge as far as I dared, clinging 
 desperately to the root, and gazed down. It was like 
 peering into the mouth of a great well. Then I nerved 
 myself for the ordeal, and the next moment was fairly 
 launched over the abyss, hanging on grimly to the log, 
 my brain reeling as if with drunkenness. Yet I kept 
 moving inch by inch, for there was now no stopping, 
 and soon felt solid rock once more beneath my groping 
 feet. With prayer on lips I crouched, sick and dizzy, 
 close in against the wall, watching Cairnes where he 
 followed along the same perilous path. 
 
 [35 ] 
 
CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 THE rock shelf we followed became gradually some 
 what wider, so I moved forward with greater free 
 dom. The path continued to ascend, winding unevenly 
 along the precipitous face of the cliff, until we must have 
 climbed nearly to the summit of the mighty bluff. But 
 the overhanging crest rendered it impossible for us to do 
 more than guess the situation. We were but ants cling 
 ing to a wall and unable to see more than a few yards 
 ahead. Finally we attained a point where the cliff bulged 
 outward in a wide curve, not unlike the rounded bow of 
 a ship, and were compelled to move with renewed caution 
 along the narrowed shelf, which was seemingly unsup 
 ported. Creeping fearfully forward on hands and knees 
 around the sharp corner I found myself before the yawn 
 ing entrance to a cavern. I realized that here was the 
 ending of our toilsome climb, for I could see nothing 
 beyond, excepting a precipitous wall of stone. If the 
 path had continuation, it must pass through the cave. 
 
 " Yonder yawns a gloomy-looking hole, Master Ben- 
 teen," muttered the Puritan, lying at full length beside 
 me, and staring ahead. " Yet my eyes see no sign of 
 life to alarm us." 
 
 " The front is unguarded surely," I admitted gravelyi 
 
 [352] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 " but do not feel confident that there are no occupants 
 within. If I mistake not, we have stumbled upon the 
 very spot whence the priests signal down to the valley 
 the rising and setting of the sun." 
 
 " I never witnessed such ceremony, yet to my mind it 
 would be far pleasanter going forward than lying here on 
 the hard rock." 
 
 Realizing the truth of his comment, yet muttering 
 over my shoulder a word of caution, I began crawling 
 forward into the interior. No sign of human presence 
 appeared, and I ventured to stand upright. The cavern 
 possessed a wide opening, with a broad platform of rock 
 extending well out beyond the face of the cliff. Along 
 the edge I could observe the rather dim outlines of an 
 immense altar, built of detached stones, rising to a con 
 siderable height, and partially blocking the entrance. 
 From below it might serve to conceal the mouth of the 
 cave. This obstruction shut off much of the moon s 
 light, rendering the interior intensely dark. We were 
 compelled to grope our way forward with hands pressed 
 against the walls. I had not advanced more than thirty 
 feet, my every nerve tingling, when I saw the ruddy 
 reflection of a fire, hitherto completely concealed by a 
 sharp turn in the tunnel. Rounding this abrupt point 
 we found ourselves in a large room capable of containing 
 upwards of three hundred persons. This chamber was 
 partly natural in formation, but, as I discovered later, 
 had been considerably enlarged by artificial means. So 
 high was it that, in the dim light, I could scarcely dis 
 tinguish its vaulted roof, while its length was hidden in 
 the darkness. In the very centre of this apartment arose 
 as [353] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 a great pile of irregular rock, flattened and hollowed 
 along the top, where was burning a vast log, the smoke 
 ascending straight upward, evidently finding outlet above. 
 The light, red and yellow, flared and flickered upon the 
 surrounding bare gray walls, nothing else arresting the 
 eye except a second wide rock platform close to where 
 we crouched. This was partially concealed by a great 
 mat of coarsely woven scarlet cloth, which brought to 
 me a conjecture that here, perhaps, the Queen was 
 throned. 
 
 Wherever there was fire burning there must, of neces 
 sity, be attendants to feed the flame, but I could detect 
 no sign of life, no sign of any kind, other than the 
 crackling of the blazing log, and the heavy breathing of 
 my companion. The silence oppressed me. 
 
 " Go to the right," I advised at last, nervous from 
 inaction. " I will try the left, until we meet again. 
 Keep close against the wall, and move with care." 
 
 " T is not wholly unlike a visit to hell," he muttered 
 gloomily, "but I am weary of lying shivering here." 
 
 I watched the fellow creep forward on his knees, his 
 brilliant head-covering revealed in the glare like a flame. 
 Then I took up my own part of this work of explora 
 tion. I had compassed half my distance amid profound 
 stillness, perceiving nothing strange, and constantly feel 
 ing more intensely the solemn loneliness of the place, 
 which by now, to my awakened imagination, appeared 
 peopled with bloodless victims of heathen superstition. 
 I felt no doubt this was a torture chamber ; that many a 
 hapless slave, or shrieking captive, had yielded up life in 
 agony upon the summit of the gloomy pile, and the 
 
 [354] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 haunting spectres seemed to grin at me with distorted 
 faces from every crevice along the walls. I was weakly 
 yielding to such weird dreams, when a wild, shrill scream 
 rang forth from the darkness in front. The cry con 
 tained such note of affright that, for an instant, I con 
 nected it with the fantasies which thronged my brain. I 
 stood still, rooted to the spot, the blood curdling in my 
 veins, my eyes straining in vain effort to pierce the dark 
 ness. Then there arose a roar not unlike that of an 
 angry lion ; the sound of a fierce struggle ; the dull thud 
 of a blow, and Cairnes s deep voice boomed forth. 
 
 "Ye black-faced villain! Tis the strength of the 
 righteous you have felt this day. Blessed be the name 
 of the Lord, who hath given me the victory ! Lie there 
 in your sins, and no longer affront your Maker." 
 
 I sprang eagerly forward, but at my first step came 
 into contact with a fleeing figure, which rou .ded the 
 end of the altar in such blind terror as nearly to hurl 
 me from my feet. I grasped at the floating robe, but 
 missed, and the next instant was rushing blindly after the 
 fellow down the dark passage toward where the moon 
 light silvered the outer rocks. Fright gave him wings, 
 but desperate determination lightened my feet, and I was 
 nearly upon him when the fleeing man rounded the 
 great rock. One instant he paused, glancing behind. 
 What he saw, or imagined he saw, I have no means of 
 knowing ; perchance some shrieking victim of his foul 
 rites risen from the dead. With one wild, echoing cry, 
 which rang in my ears like the scream of a lost soul, he 
 gave a mad leap out into the air, and went plunging down 
 to the jagged rocks at the base. Sick and pulseless I 
 
 [355] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 drew back. Trembling in every limb, even in the silence 
 which followed I could detect no sound of his body as it 
 struck the earth. I crept to the edge, lying prone 
 upon my face, and looked over. The moonlight ended 
 a hundred feet beneath me ; beyond its line there was 
 nothing but a black void. There could be no question 
 as to what had occurred the man was dead. I made 
 my way back into the cave seeking to discover what had 
 befallen the Puritan. I found him at the farther extrem 
 ity of the great altar, calmly enjoying a quantity of cold 
 meat he had discovered. He was squatting upon the 
 floor, in close proximity to the motionless, extended 
 figure of a savage Urrayed in the black garments of 
 the priesthood. They formed a picture so startlingly 
 grotesque I could but stare in amazement. 
 
 "Jerked venison," he explained, glowering up at me, 
 as I came into the firelight. " T is of a peculiar flavor 
 not altogether to my taste, yet not a food to be despised 
 in the wilderness. Did you lay hands upon the heathen 
 who fled?" 
 
 " No, he escaped me, but only to leap over the outer 
 rock. He lies dead below. Have you slain this man ? " 
 
 He turned the huddled up body over contemptuously 
 with his foot, and I perceived the wrinkled countenance 
 of an aged man, the eyes bright, the thick hair on his 
 head long and nearly white. The face, thin and emaciated, 
 was so sinister I involuntarily drew back. 
 
 " A snake is not so easily killed," he answered in 
 indifference. " I struck but once, and not very hard as 
 I rank blows, yet the fellow has not stirred since. T is 
 well for him to remain quiet until I finish this repast, 
 
 [356] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 for I am of a merciful disposition when my carnal require 
 ments are properly ministered unto. Faith, had my 
 eyes not fallen on the food I might have got both the 
 fellows." 
 
 Paying slight heed to his gossip I bent over the priest, 
 rubbing his limbs until the blood began to circulate. 
 Before the testy sectary had ended his munching, the old 
 savage was sitting up, his back propped against a rock, 
 the firelight playing over his wrinkled face, as he gazed 
 at us, yet dazed and frightened. This was one whom I 
 had never before seen ; there was something of distinc 
 tion about him, both as regards face and costume, which 
 instantly convinced me he held high rank in the tribe 
 no doubt the chief priest. His sharp, black, malicious 
 eyes wandered unsteadily from the Puritan to myself, as 
 if he sought to regain his scattered senses. Finally he 
 ventured a single word of inquiry : 
 
 " Franc ais ? " 
 
 " No," I answered shortly, speaking deliberately in 
 French, hopeful he might know something of the tongue. 
 " We are not of that people, yet I speak the language." 
 
 " I glad you not Francais" he said brokenly, yet intel 
 ligibly, his tone gruff, his accent guttural ; " but I talk 
 you some in that tongue." 
 
 " How come you to speak French?" 
 
 His lean face hardened. As he bent forward, his 
 fingers clinched convulsively. At first I thought he 
 would not answer. 
 
 " T was much time since I learn ; when I was young 
 man," he answered slowly, recalling the unfamiliar words. 
 " Then no snow in hair, no lame in leg, and my people 
 
 [357] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 dwell beside the great river toward the sun-rising. We 
 were a great nation, with slaves to work our land, warriors 
 to fight our battles, and priests to make sacrifice. Then 
 we had much of treasure from our fathers." He bowed 
 his head, mumbling indistinctly ; then continued, as if 
 talking to himself, after the fashion of the aged : " Long 
 time before that there came to our village men in canoes, 
 floating down the great river out of the north. They 
 were of white face, and wore shining things on their 
 bodies and heads, and bore in their hands that which 
 spouted fire and death. This was before I was born, yet 
 I was told it often of my fathers. My people believed 
 them children of the Sun, because of their white faces 
 and light hair ; they were made welcome, taken into the 
 house of the altar, fed, warmed, and loved. I know not 
 who they were, or whence they came, yet they spoke this 
 tongue, did point at themselves and say c Francaisj and 
 told of a mighty King away off, and worshipped before a 
 cross-piece of wood. My people knew not what to 
 make of them ; yet they were not afraid, and treated the 
 strangers with kindness, and there was no war between 
 them. He who seemed their leader had one hard hand 
 of metal, and they named him Tonty. Know you 
 such a man of your color ? " 
 
 " No," I answered, already deeply interested in his 
 simple story. " That was all before my time, nor do I 
 even remember hearing the name till now, yet there were 
 Frenchmen upon the great river full a hundred years ago, 
 I have been told. T was most likely they who came to 
 your people. Did they do harm to your fathers ? " 
 
 " They passed away in peace," he continued, using the 
 
 [358] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 language with greater ease as he proceeded, <c for we were 
 then strong, and of courage in battle; the fire bright on 
 our altars. Nor did we look again upon any white face 
 for so long a time that this visit became no more than a 
 tradition among the people. More and more did the 
 fathers believe this Tonty was a visitant from the Sun 
 many there were who worshipped him as a god. When 
 he left he said he would come again, and with every sun 
 rise the eyes of my people were turned in watching up 
 the river. Then, when I was but a child, there came to 
 our village canoes from below, from the way of the salt 
 water. They did land, unmolested of our people, who 
 supposed Tonty had come back ; fair-faced men with 
 yellow hair and beards and dressed in shining metal from 
 head to heel. I was at the shore with the others when 
 they came, and heard them speak in this tongue, and 
 call themselves Francais. Others of that race followed, 
 and we welcomed and fed them all, even as our fathers 
 had done to Tonty. Some were warriors with swords, 
 and fire-sticks, but with these were also some strange, 
 black-robed men, who sought to tell us of another God, 
 greater than the Sun our fathers worshipped. They had 
 pictures, and crosses of wood, and prayed to these as we 
 to the Sun. But we believed not in their God, and tried 
 to drive them away from our village when they put out 
 our fires, for they made much trouble among our people, 
 so that the priests came to hate them the black-robes. 
 Some among them went, but one would not go, and so 
 we made offering of him in sacrifice to the Sun. Then 
 we thought we were rid of the black-robes, and could 
 again live as we had been taught of our fathers." 
 
 [359] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 He stopped speaking, his head bent low on his breast, 
 his eyes on the altar flame. I waited without a word, 
 
 " But they were of strong heart," he went on at last, 
 never looking at me, "and returned again, until finally 
 war arose between my people and these white-faced 
 Fran^ais. Many came up the great river from the salt 
 water in big boats, and drove us forth from our village, 
 the home of our fathers, and gave it up to fire, after kill 
 ing many warriors. We could not fight against their 
 fire-sticks, yet we saved much that we valued, and 
 wandered far toward the sunset, bearing along with us the 
 bodies of our chiefs, and the sacred fire from our altar. 
 The Fran^ais lost us in the wilderness. We came to a 
 little river which flowed down to greet us from out the 
 sunset. Here we stopped once more, built our village, 
 erecting about it a great wall of earth such as our fathers 
 did in those days when we were strong and mighty. We 
 dwelt there in peace for three seasons of sun and cold, 
 having little trouble with those tribes that roamed about 
 us, until one day there came into our new village another 
 Fran^ais, a black-robe. How he got there I know not, 
 but we laid hands upon him, remembering the past, 
 bound him before our altar-house, and made of him a 
 sacrifice unto our god, the Sun. Yet it was not well. 
 Even that very night, while we worshipped before the fire 
 which had consumed him, there came upon us many 
 Fran^ais out from the dark woods, with fire-sticks and 
 sharp knives, so that only few of our people escaped, and 
 got away to the north. I was one, bearing ever with me the 
 sacred fire, which I was sworn to guard. We travelled 
 across many rivers, suffering much from want, until those 
 
 [360] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 who lived wandered to this place, and here set up once 
 more our fathers ancient altars. T was thus I learned 
 the words of the tongue, this accursed Fran^ais, and learned 
 also to hate those with white faces and black hearts who 
 speak it." 
 
 His voice ceased, and his chin sank wearily upon his 
 breast. My ear caught the heavy breathing of Cairnes, 
 and I turned to mark him lying at full length upon the 
 stone floor sound asleep. Admiring his indifference to 
 surroundings, I was yet so deeply engrossed in this tale 
 of the old priest as to be myself insensible of fatigue. 
 
 " You are indeed of an old race," I said, hoping to 
 make him talk further, " if the traditions of your people 
 extend to those first Frenchmen who came floating south 
 along the great river." 
 
 The old eyes, now scanning my face, gleamed with 
 awakened pride. 
 
 " T is no more than a page out of our history I have 
 related," he exclaimed hastily, evidently aroused by my 
 interest. " We are the oldest and greatest people of 
 the earth. Ay, more ; we are children of the Sun, and, 
 ages ago, when our fathers were true to their faith and 
 their God, there were none who could contend against us. 
 We had our great altars on every hilltop, and our villages 
 were in every valley. Our kings ruled from far above 
 the great fresh water down to where the salt sea kisses 
 the white sand ; our slaves toiled in the fields to produce 
 us food, and in the rocks to give us store of metal for the 
 chase and war. It was then the Sun shone warm upon 
 his children, and there were none among men who dared 
 to face our warriors in battle. We were masters of all 
 
 [361] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 the land we trod ; we feared no people, for we were 
 blessed of the Sun." 
 
 " How came the end ? " 
 
 "It was a curse upon us curse because we made 
 mock of the Sun. The sacred fire died out on our altars, 
 while recreant priests slept, and so there came upon the 
 nation a breath of pestilence from the sky which swept 
 away the people as if by fire. It has been told to me that 
 our dead lay everywhere ; that whole villages were 
 destroyed in a single night ; that those who survived 
 wandered in the woods foodless, until only a pitiful rem 
 nant of those who were once so powerful lived in that 
 tainted air, poisoned by decaying bodies. Then the sur 
 viving slaves banded themselves together, fell upon their 
 wandering masters, driving and killing, until the few who 
 were left drew together on the banks of the great river. 
 Here, by lighting the sacred fire again, they made peace 
 and were saved. It was there I was born." 
 
 I fail utterly to picture the true solemnity of the scene, 
 as the aged priest, white-haired and evil-eyed, slowly 
 mumbled it forth in his broken, halting French, leaning 
 with his back against the rough stones of the great altar, 
 on the summit of which flamed the sacred fire he had 
 passed his life in guarding. T was like a voice speaking 
 from a forgotten past, which looked forth from sunken 
 eyes, and became visible in snow-white hair. A grave 
 yawned to give me a glimpse of all which that grave con 
 tained the hopes, the struggles, the death of a once 
 powerful tribe. Yet it all stands forth perfectly clear to 
 my memory as I write the vast black chamber lying in 
 shadow and flame ; the dark figure of the bulky Puritan 
 
 [362] 
 
CHIEF PRIEST OF THE SUN 
 
 outstretched upon the stones at our feet; the ghastly, 
 corpse-like face of the savage old priest, whose eyes 
 gleamed so fiercely, as he dreamed once again of the 
 vanished glories of his race. 
 
 " But the woman who now rules over you ? " I 
 questioned, waiting vainly for him to resume. " Is she 
 not white ? " 
 
 He did not answer; apparently he did not hear. 
 
 " I ask regarding Queen Naladi is she also of your 
 people ? " 
 
 "We are alike children of the Sun," he responded, his 
 tone more sullen. " She is of the Sun and was sent to 
 rule; sent by the Sun to lead us once again unto our 
 
 own." 
 
 " She told you this ? " 
 
 " We know it by signs, by the prophecy of our 
 fathers ; we were long looking for her coming ; she 
 was promised us by the Sun. In the hour of deepest 
 need, a woman fair of face with hair of reddish gold, a 
 goddess in earthly form, was to be sent to guide us. 
 She came out of the mystery, and we wait her will." 
 
 " Then she is not of your race ? " 
 
 " I have answered she came to our people from the 
 Sun." 
 
 I have not often felt too secure while in any position 
 of danger, but this feeble old savage rested so helplessly 
 back against the base of the altar, I lost all thought 
 of him as an enemy against whom I needed to guard. 
 Sunk in contemplation of his story, I sat carelessly, my 
 head somewhat lowered as I mentally viewed the picture 
 drawn. Cairnes moved uneasily in his sleep, muttering 
 
 [363] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 something indistinctly, and I turned partially so that I 
 might look at him. Instantly, with the leap of a tiger, 
 the priest hurled himself upon me. I flung up one arm, 
 barely in time to intercept a jagged stone aimed full at 
 my head. As we clinched and went down, the incarnate 
 fiend buried his yellow teeth in my hand, and, in spite 
 of his weight of years, I found myself hard pressed in a 
 death struggle. A very demon seemed to possess him ; 
 his grip was satanic in its hate. In truth it was Cairnes 
 who seized him by the throat, dragging him off me. 
 He struggled insanely against the two of us, until we 
 bound him so securely that nothing except his eyes 
 could move. 
 
 [364] 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 " "\7"OU treacherous, white-headed old villain," I 
 
 JL exclaimed angrily, " I am half inclined to kill 
 you for so savage a trick. Odds ! but my arm feels 
 as if it were broken." 
 
 The fellow grinned at me, showing his yellow fangs. 
 
 " I care not if you kill," he answered, with true Indian 
 stoicism. " I am old, and have served the Sun long. 
 Kill, but I will not be unavenged of my people ; for, 
 whether I live or die, it matters not there is no escape 
 for you." 
 
 He spoke with such confidence as to stun me. 
 
 "No escape? Why?" 
 
 His lips curled with undisguised contempt. 
 
 " So my words sting. Well, they are true, nor am I 
 unwilling to tell you. You are trapped here. There is 
 no path you can travel, either by night or day, unseen 
 of our people. You have already climbed along the only 
 passage leading here, and you dare not go back. This 
 way you have reached the end. Behind is the village ; 
 here the altar of sacrifice choose either, and you die 
 like the Fran$ais dogs you are." 
 
 c< Who is here to touch us ? " I asked derisively. 
 " There is food in plenty ; we can wait our chance." 
 
 [365] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 cc 
 
 Ay, you have grace of this day in which to make 
 ready," his wrinkled face lighting maliciously. " When 
 yonder moon becomes round it will be the night of sacri 
 fice. Know you what will happen then ? " he licked his 
 thin lips greedily. " I may not be here to see, but it 
 will be the same. Up that path of rocks will swarm all 
 of my race, and what then can save you from the altar ? 
 How they will welcome the victims waiting their pleasure 
 white-faced Francais" 
 
 His old, deeply sunken eyes gleamed so with hatred, 
 I drew involuntarily back, my blood chilled with a 
 conviction that he did not lie. 
 
 " Here ? Do you tell me the tribe comes here ? " 
 
 " Ay, here, Franfais, here to make sacrifice of blood, 
 that they may go forth once more, and conquer the land 
 of their fathers." 
 
 " T is your custom to kill slaves? " 
 
 " When there be none better, but now we have other 
 victims sent us by the Sun, all Fran^ais, and you two 
 cooped up here to be added to the others. T will be a 
 sweet sacrifice, and I should like to live to hear your 
 cries for mercy, and drink of the warm blood." 
 
 I stared at him, unable to deny our helplessness. 
 
 " You would make us believe there is no upper en 
 trance to this accursed hole ! " 
 
 " Seek as you please there is none. You are trapped 
 beyond struggle ; you cannot escape the vengeance of the 
 Sun." 
 
 I pointed,still incredulous, toward the great burning log. 
 
 " Did you grow yonder tree in this cavern? or was it 
 borne here on the back of a slave ? " 
 
 [366] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 "It was lowered from above, over the edge of the cliff, 
 by grass ropes." 
 
 " I believe you lie," I cried, now thoroughly shaken 
 by his surly contempt ; but the fellow only leered at me, 
 and I strode across the great room, where I might reflect 
 beyond sight of his eyes. As I passed to the other side 
 of the altar I observed a little gray daylight flooding the 
 mouth of the cave. The sight recalled to mind another 
 possible danger. 
 
 " Cairnes," I called, " it is about the hour of sunrise. 
 Down in the village I have noticed that whenever the 
 sun touches the crest of these rocks the priests up here 
 go forth, waving a flame into the air from yonder plat 
 form. I fear if it were missed, the savages below would 
 come swarming up to discover the cause. Take a light 
 from the pile, and wave it yonder." 
 
 The stubborn preacher grimly shook his head. 
 
 " Nay," he replied. " I have borne part enough in 
 their heathen orgies already ; it will take a lifetime to 
 purge my soul. I bow down to Baa) no more." 
 
 It was useless to argue with such as he, nor had I 
 spirit to do it. 
 
 " Then keep close guard over the priest," I retorted ; 
 and, grasping a torch from among the burning mass upon 
 the altar, made haste toward the outer stone. 
 
 My eyes have seldom gazed upon a grander view 
 of nature than that which greeted me, as I crept around 
 the great rock, and peered over the edge down into that 
 beautiful basin wherein the remnant of the Natchez had 
 established their home. The early sun had not as yet 
 illumined the lower levels, and all beneath my dizzy 
 
 [367] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 perch remained wrapped in the sombre gray of promised 
 dawn ; the slightly rolling valley was dotted with numer 
 ous square-topped huts of yellow straw, surrounded by 
 ponderous walls of gray stone or dun-colored earth, and 
 the irregular green fields were intersected by a silvery 
 ribbon of running water: the whole composed such a 
 fair picture of restful, peaceful beauty, that for the 
 moment it held me at the edge in silent contemplation. 
 It appeared impossible that so sweet, secluded a spot 
 could be the habitation of savages, vengeful and cruel. 
 Yet those black, moving dots down yonder, clustering in 
 front of the various lodges, I knew were naked heathen, 
 blood-thirsty and vindictive. Now that the earliest rays 
 of sunlight were beginning to tinge with gold the crest 
 above me, every expectant face in the tribe would be 
 upturned toward my perch, wondering at the slightest 
 delay in their morning signal. My eyes becoming ac 
 customed to the distance, could even distinguish those 
 faint sparks of light where the priests below gathered 
 before the great altar-house to wave back response. If 
 we would live for even another day there must be no 
 failure now. Nerving myself for the task, I stepped 
 forth on to the narrow shelf no more than the merest 
 black dot to the watching eyes beneath and flung 
 forth the flaming torch in fiery welcome to the Sun. A 
 shrill cry from the throats far below reached my ears in 
 the merest thread of sound, yet before I drew back from 
 the edge, I witnessed a responsive signal of flame from the 
 mound summit, and inferred that no suspicion had been 
 aroused in the minds of the guardians of these heathen 
 rites. Satisfied of our present safety I walked back to 
 
 [368] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 the great chamber, and beheld the old priest and Cairnes 
 glaring angrily at each other, while the latter nursed his 
 leg so tenderly as to make me apprehensive of further 
 trouble having arisen between them. 
 
 "What now, brother Cairnes?" I questioned in some 
 anxiety, noting as I came nearer stains of fresh blood on 
 his hose. 
 
 " Yonder black-faced cannibal buried his teeth in my 
 calf," he growled gloomily. " Saints of Israel ! I did 
 merely lean over seeking another bit of meat, when he 
 fastened on to me in that fashion, and hung there like a 
 bull-dog until I choked him loose. T is my vote we 
 kill the ungodly man-eater, who has already feasted 
 off your hand and my leg." 
 
 The energetic movement of his red head clearly evi 
 denced the sincerity of his feelings, yet it was not in my 
 heart to avenge our wrongs upon a helpless prisoner. 
 
 " No, friend ; we are white, not red. The pain will 
 pass presently, and it would not be a Christian act to 
 dispose thus of one bound in our hands. I will give 
 him other food to chew upon, then make fast his mouth 
 while we go together and search out the secrets of this 
 hole. It will be best to discover early whether this 
 varlet speaks true or false as to the chances of escape. 
 Hand over here the meat and water." 
 
 I endeavored to question the fellow further while he 
 sullenly partook of the food offered, but he gave back 
 merely short, uncivil answers, and those of little value. 
 Finally, despairing of learning more from such a source, 
 we securely bucked the sullen fool, rolled his body close 
 against the wall out of sight of any chance visitant, and 
 
 a * [369] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 then made preparation to explore our prison-house and 
 discover for ourselves the mystery of this gloomy cave. 
 The dense blackness showing directly ahead seemed to 
 promise an extension of passageway into the rock ; so, 
 lighting a pine knot at the altar fire, and bidding Cairnes 
 follow me closely, I led forward down the narrow tunnel. 
 The floor was uneven, while so irregular and rough ap 
 peared roof and walls as to convince me this was a natural 
 excavation, probably the run-way for some ancient water 
 course. Yet, as I tested the nature of the stone with 
 the point of my hunting knife, it proved easily workable 
 with tools, and apparently revealed softer material the 
 deeper we progressed into the hill. Slightly beyond the 
 entrance leading from the main chamber, several rudely 
 fashioned steps led into a sort of gallery. This was 
 of considerable proportions, elevated perhaps ten or more 
 feet above the main floor, its outer parapet formed of 
 loose stones, through the chinks of which one might 
 command unseen a wide view of the cavern and its 
 altar. But, to our rather hasty inspection, this gallery 
 contained nothing except bare rock, and, after a single 
 curious glance about we drew back and moved on cau 
 tiously in exploration of the lower tunnel. This curved 
 gradually toward the left, and held a rather steep pitch 
 downward. It was not above three feet in width until 
 we had traversed fully fifty paces, when it suddenly 
 broadened, and the fitful glare of the torch, which I held 
 over my head, flashed back rays of light from two horri 
 bly gleaming green eyes. For an instant I believed we 
 had invaded the lair of some wild animal, and drew back 
 quickly, my hand on the knife hilt. 
 
 [370] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 " Hell s kitchen ! " I exclaimed nervously, " but the 
 den has an occupant already." 
 
 " Ay, and of a kind common enough in these hills, 
 but nothing fit to affright a servant of the true God," 
 echoed Cairnes, striding past me. " I am not wont to 
 fear heathen idols, Master Benteen, nor will I bear back 
 now before those green eyes." 
 
 As he spoke he laid rough hand on the thing, and I 
 heard a sharp rattle of metal against wood. 
 
 " Come hither friend," he called, with a laugh, " t is no 
 worse than another painted devil we are called to face. 
 Surely it is you who have the faint heart now." 
 
 " The glow of the torch blinded me to all except the 
 green stones," I explained, coming forward and throwing 
 the radiance of the flame full upon the hideous object. 
 " Saint George ! t is of no beauty to my sight even now, 
 and, as you say, of small fear to Christian heart. The 
 saints defend us ! What was that ? As I live, I heard 
 English speech ! " 
 
 He was earnestly engaged in an endeavor to detach 
 a bit of dull metal from the throat of the image, and 
 scarcely deigned to glance around. 
 
 " Nay, there was no sound other than the chattering 
 of your own tongue. This shining thing is gold, I 
 believe." 
 
 " Let it be ; t is of small value here. I tell you I 
 heard a strange voice ; so hold still and listen." 
 
 For a minute or more we waited in almost breathless 
 suspense, no unusual sound greeting our ears. Then 
 the Puritan sniffed disdainfully. 
 
 "You grow childish, Master Benteen," he growled 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 roughly, turning back to his labor. " The dark has 
 overstrained your nerves " 
 
 " I bespeak help of de Englishmen for de sake of 
 God ! " 
 
 There was no mistaking the truth this time a strange 
 voice was speaking broken English almost at our very 
 feet. Cairnes clattered to the floor with a rough ex 
 clamation of surprise, while I stared vainly at the idol, 
 from which the sound apparently came. 
 
 " In Heaven s name, who are you ? " I asked earnestly, 
 " and where are you who make appeal to us ? " 
 
 "I am Andre Lafossier, native of France, for two 
 months past a prisoner to these savages. If you are 
 Christian men I beseech assistance." 
 
 " Nor do you ask vainly. Are you behind the wooden 
 image ? " 
 
 " Ay, in a small room hollowed out from the rock." 
 
 " Except for that are you free to aid us in your 
 escape ? " 
 
 tc No, Monsieur ; I am lamed in limb, and fastened 
 to the stone by a metal band." 
 
 A hoarse growl of rage burst from the throat of the 
 Puritan. " Prophets of God ! " he roared. " Surely we 
 are the selected instruments of the Lord sent hither for 
 the salvation of this worthy man ; we are the soldiers 
 of Gideon, the chosen of the Most High." 
 
 Before I could lift hand or voice in interference he had 
 braced his massive shoulder against the towering figure 
 of wood, and, with a mighty heave sent the monster 
 crashing over upon the rock floor, himself sprawling 
 beside it as it fell. As they came down together in a 
 
 [374] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 cloud of dust, an opening was revealed behind the stone 
 pedestal on which the idol had stood. Torch in hand 
 I instantly crept forward. I found myself in what was 
 little more than the merest cell, yet dimly illumined by a 
 single beam of light streaming downward as if pene 
 trating through some slight crevice in the rock. The 
 narrow hole, for it was hardly more, was bare of all fur 
 nishing ; both walls and floor were damp, but there were 
 remnants of coarse food and a pannikin of water. 
 
 Its sole occupant sat cross-legged on the hard floor, 
 bound about the waist with a band of metal. One end 
 of this was attached to the wall in such a manner that 
 the prisoner could neither rise to his feet nor lie down. 
 Never have these wandering eyes of mine looked upon 
 a figure more pathetic. For an instant I stood there, 
 swaying upon my feet as though from sickness, staring 
 at him incredulously. His thin, pale, effeminate face 
 was rendered wonderfully piteous by the depth of suffer 
 ing so plainly revealed within the great, black, appealing 
 eyes. So peculiarly delicate were the features, so slender 
 the fragile form, about which a frayed and rusty robe 
 clung loosely, that for a moment I actually believed I 
 was looking upon a young girl. So strong was this 
 impression that I drew back, almost abashed. This 
 slight pause enabled Cairnes to regain his feet and press 
 past me. As his eager glance fell upon that slender, 
 crouching figure, I observed how suddenly his eyes 
 hardened, his whole expression changed. 
 
 "You are a priest of Rome !" he exclaimed harshly, 
 staring down. 
 
 The white, girlish face brightened instantly, the two 
 
 [373] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 thin hands plucking forth from some fold in the tattered 
 robe a small silver crucifix. At sight of this the stern- 
 mouthed Puritan drew sharply back, as if he feared 
 contamination from the symbol. 
 
 " Out, Monsieur" answered the soft voice, with an odd 
 note of joy in it. "I am of the Society of Jesus." 
 
 " T is plain to see. What do you here ? " 
 
 The priest smiled gently, his eyes dimming with tears 
 fixed upon the cross. 
 
 " Tis strange question. Surely Monsieur knoweth 
 little of our Order, or he would not need to ask. We 
 are soldiers of Christ, commissioned for war, even to life 
 or death. We ask nothing but the privilege of service, 
 and the command of our superior. I am named mis 
 sionary unto the savage tribes of this river. It has been 
 the will of God that I suffer in order that through me 
 some souls born into heathendom may thus be redeemed 
 from the torments of the damned." 
 
 The sectary s rough, gray face reddened until it was 
 nearly the color of his hair. 
 
 " Tis false!" he growled, smiting one hand hard 
 upon the other in anger. " You only lead the way 
 straight to hell with your false doctrine. Have you 
 made any converts to the Roman harlot in this tribe?" 
 
 " Nay, Monsieur, I cannot lay claim to such reward." 
 His eyes slowly uplifted to the face of his questioner. 
 " Jesu hath not as yet opened before my understanding 
 the way which leadeth to their hearts. I can but work, 
 and pray for guidance. I have only baptised one who 
 was dying of a fever, and sprinkled with holy water an 
 infant, unknown to its mother. It is not much, yet I 
 
 [374] 
 
PERE ANDR LAFOSSIER 
 
 bless the good Mary for the salvation of those precious 
 souls." 
 
 " Saints of Israel ! do you think that mummery saved 
 them ? " 
 
 " Surely yes, Monsieur ; is it not so taught of our 
 Order?" 
 
 I shall never forget the look upon Cairnes s face. At 
 the moment I believed him wrestling with temptation to 
 strike the helpless man, so irritated was he by these con 
 fident words of Romish faith. Determined to prevent 
 discussion, I elbowed him aside, and bent down over the 
 fastenings of the Jesuit. 
 
 u Enough of this," I said sternly, barely glancing at 
 Cairnes. " Keep the rest of your Puritanical sermoniz 
 ing for a conventicle. We have here a fellow-Christian 
 to be rescued from the savages ; this is no time to jangle 
 over creeds." 
 
 " A fellow-Christian ! I hold no fellowship with such ; 
 he is but an emissary of a false religion, a slave to the 
 Evil One." 
 
 " Enough, I say," and I rose to my feet fronting him. 
 " I care little which is right in doctrine, you or he. Here 
 is a man begging aid of us in extremity. Surely the 
 priest has suffered for the sake of Christ, regarding whom 
 you speak so freely. So have done with dogma, and 
 play the man a while press here with your strength on 
 this knife-blade until I bend back the metal and set him 
 free." 
 
 He yielded, ungraciously enough, to my command, 
 giving so good a turn to the steel with his vice-like 
 fingers that in another moment the Jesuit was released 
 
 [375] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 from the wall. Slowly and painfully, clinging fast to my 
 hand for aid, the man arose and stood before us, swaying 
 wearily, his thin lips pressed tightly together as if he 
 would stifle a cry of pain. 
 
 " Are you suffering ? " I asked, greatly moved by the 
 expression of agony imprinted on his pallid face. 
 
 " It will pass, Monsieur," he answered bravely, trying 
 to smile at me. " T is strange the spirit of man is so 
 enslaved to the flesh that one cannot wholly master a bit 
 of physical pain. No doubt I am somewhat cramped 
 from my long imprisonment, and, perchance, my wounds 
 have not rightly healed." 
 
 " Are you wounded ? I beg you permit me to attend 
 to that. I possess some small skill in the bandaging and 
 dressing of cuts." 
 
 His eyes rested upon me with all the tenderness of a 
 woman. 
 
 " I truly thank you, Monsieur, but it is beyond 
 your skill to aid me, even were you of the school of 
 Paris. They be of a savage nature, which God alone 
 may beautify." 
 
 He slightly lifted his long black robe as he spoke, and 
 may the merciful Father forgive the oath which sprang 
 to my lips as I gazed in horror at the disfiguration two 
 fleshless limbs, one without even the semblance of a foot, 
 merely a blackened, charred stump rested on the rock 
 floor. 
 
 " Mother of God ! " I sobbed, " it has been burned 
 off!" 
 
 "Ay," he returned, in all gentleness, covering the awful 
 sight. " Yet were they gladly given for Chrises sake." 
 
 [376] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 " I doubt that not," gazing in wonder at his girlish 
 face. " But tell me, who were guilty of such fiendish 
 cruelty the savages of this tribe ? " 
 
 " Two months ago it was done in the valley below, 
 in the village of the Natchez," his eyes again upon the 
 crucifix. " Yet dwell not upon it, Monsieur, for it is so 
 little I can hope to do for the glory of God. It may be 
 I am not even worthy of martyrdom." 
 
 " So the Natchez did that ! " the breath hissing between 
 my teeth. " Where was their gentle-hearted Queen ? " 
 
 " I know not, Monsieur, if they have a Queen. I 
 saw none exercising authority excepting priests of their 
 strange worship. It was the chief priest who held me in 
 the flame." 
 
 I crushed back the hot, useless words burning on my 
 lips, and turned to look at the Puritan. We had conversed 
 in English, and he must have comprehended every word, 
 yet there was no softening in the glint of his hard, gray 
 eyes. 
 
 " Hear you the priest s story, sirrah ? " I asked, feeling 
 strong inclination to vent my spleen on him for such bull- 
 headedness. " Is he not one to honor rather than pick 
 a quarrel with in such place as this ? " 
 
 " T is no quarrel I seek, nor am I like to question the 
 fanatical courage of a Jesuit. But I tell you his teaching 
 is false, an outrage on the true religion of the saints, and 
 I am of a strain which can never companion with any of 
 that black-robed breed. Call me what ye please, 
 Master Benteen, but I am too old a man, too long in- 
 doctrined in the faith, ever to acknowledge brotherhood 
 with hirelings of the Romish church." 
 
 [377] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Companion with whom you please," I retorted sav 
 agely. " But I tell you this, preacher, and once for all, 
 you 11 bear yourself like a human being to this poor 
 lad while I m with you, or else make answer to me. Is 
 that plain ? I care nothing for your dogma, or your 
 hair-splitting, but I know what fair play is between man 
 and man, ay, and mean to have it here, even if it costs 
 you a split head." 
 
 " I beg you will both be at peace, Messieurs," broke in 
 the soft, caressing voice at my elbow. " There can be 
 no cause for comrades quarrelling over me. I am not 
 worthy a ruptured friendship. Yet I fail to understand 
 any occasion for your seeming trouble ; has the older 
 man some reason to distrust my robe ? " 
 
 " Reason ! Saint George ! t is precious little that ever 
 bothers him. The fellow is a Puritan preacher of the 
 same breed as the Huguenots and possesses a head as 
 hard as an oaken plank." 
 
 I nearly laughed at the unrestrained expression of 
 aversion which swept the girlish face. An instant the 
 black eyes lost their gentleness, the thin fingers clutched 
 the silver cross. 
 
 " Mother of God ! a heretic ! a preacher of that doc 
 trine ! Never before have 1 met his kind, nor do I care 
 now to make close acquaintance. A Puritan ! Sainte 
 Marie, have mercy ! Yet surely in such stress as this 
 we may for the time overlook our differences in faith, 
 and be as men together? Is it not God s will? But I 
 know little of conditions. Is there some path open for 
 escape from here ? Then will I let this Puritan be, save 
 for a prayer to the Virgin." 
 
 [378] 
 
PERE ANDRE LAFOSSIER 
 
 " I fear there is none, unless you know of some back 
 opening to this rock hole." 
 
 He shook his head sadly, his gaze still on Cairnes. 
 
 "None, Monsieur; the passage endeth here." 
 
 "Then the three of us are safely cooped for those 
 savages to work their will upon. No pleasant thought 
 that, yet little good can arise from losing hope. For 
 one, I fight it out, and let others do the praying. Let 
 us retrace our way to the big room, where we can hold 
 council in more comfort; perchance we may find yet 
 some opening to the upper air. Cairnes, lay hold upon 
 the other side, and help to bear back this lamed man to 
 the altar." 
 
 I doubted greatly his compliance with my order, and 
 determined to settle this affair between us without more 
 delay. But he came forward, unwillingly enough and 
 muttering. 
 
 [379] 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 WITH all possible tenderness we bore the slender 
 form of the helpless priest along the dark, 
 crooked passage, until we found a comfortable resting- 
 place for him against the altar. 
 
 " I thank you much, Messieurs," he said simply, the 
 depth of his gratitude apparent in uplifted dark eyes, 
 glistening in the light of the fire. " Members of our 
 Order are more accustomed to blows than kindness, so I 
 have no words with which to express thanks for your 
 care." 
 
 " Think nothing of it," I returned hastily, and then, 
 observing how the Puritan drew back from beside him, 
 added, " Master Cairnes, you might busy yourself hunt 
 ing more food it will be exactly in your line while I 
 attempt to bathe the limbs of the priest, and see what 
 little may be done toward alleviating his pain." 
 
 The mere thought of eating was sufficient to put the 
 Puritan in good humor, and he was soon diligently scour 
 ing nooks and corners with scent for provender as keen 
 as that of a pointer dog. I noticed with curiosity how 
 the motionless Jesuit followed the movements of his hulk 
 ing figure as he passed back and forth amid the shadows, 
 his dark eyes filled with wonder and aversion. 
 
 [380] 
 
THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 " Tis truly a strange thing, Monsieur," the latter 
 remarked soberly, "to meet with one pretending love 
 for Christ, yet who hateth Mother Church, and dares 
 make open mock of Her most holy offices. Thou didst 
 name thy comrade Puritan ? " 
 
 " Ay, of the same breed as the Huguenots of your 
 country, rebels against the Pope." 
 
 He made the sign of the Cross. 
 
 " The curse of Holy Church is upon them all ; they are 
 condemned to hell," he exclaimed with fervor. " A vile 
 pestilence to be stamped out ; yet it would afford me joy 
 beyond words could I save this man s soul from eternal 
 torture, and lead him back into the true faith. Mother 
 of God ! what was it moved yonder ? " 
 
 I glanced quickly about toward where he pointed, see 
 ing the shadowed figure of our forgotten prisoner. 
 
 " T is only one of the savages we have captured and 
 bound. He guarded this altar, ministering to the super 
 stition of the tribe ; an old man, perchance the very 
 chief priest who held you in the flame." 
 
 I anticipated seeing the light of revenge leap into his 
 eyes, but, instead, a rush of pity softened them, and 
 before I could extend my hand to interfere, he crept 
 across the intervening space, and bent over the fellow. 
 
 " A most cruel turn on the rope, Monsieur," he 
 exclaimed, busying himself at the knot. " Surely the 
 man will rest easier, and no less safely, with back 
 propped against the rock. Nay, have no fear ; I will 
 keep him tied fast if that be your wish, yet I seek to 
 relieve his pain so I may profitably converse with him 
 upon the needs of his soul." 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " With him ! Saint George ! he had small enough 
 mercy on you." 
 
 " That is of the past, and abideth not in memory," 
 and the white hands held up the crucifix into the light. 
 " He who died on this Cross prayed, f Father forgive, 
 they know not what they do, and who is Andre 
 Lafossier, to be harsher than his Master?" 
 
 Not until after he had prayed long and earnestly, 
 holding the silver cross ever before the wicked eyes of 
 the unrepentant savage, did he permit me to bathe his 
 disfigured limbs, dressing them as best I could with 
 what rude materials I found at hand. Even while I 
 worked he seemingly thought nothing of himself, but, 
 oblivious to pain, his face was ever turned to the pris 
 oner, his lips moving in petition for his soul. I caught 
 but scattered sentences. 
 
 " Oh, Christ, this one unworthy, yet I beseech Thee 
 Be merciful, O Virgin out of the wilderness ariseth 
 the voice of Thy servant purge the soul of all past 
 iniquity yield me this one brand plucked from the 
 burning Thine be the glory forever let my life be 
 given for this soul this one precious reward for my 
 ministry." 
 
 A little later the three of us partook, although largely 
 in silence, of the sustaining food which Cairnes furnished 
 in abundance. Throughout the meal I felt it necessary 
 to be ever watchful to prevent the two zealots, who 
 were now my comrades, from clashing. Again and again 
 the priest sought to lead the sectary to his way of think 
 ing, but the gray face only hardened ominously, his bull 
 voice denouncing bitterly all Romish deeds. 
 
THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 " Come, be at peace, you two," I commanded at last, 
 thoroughly tired and angry. " Hold your tongues over 
 those questions, at least while I am with you. Odds ! I 
 care nothing as to your Catholic or Protestant, your 
 popes or preachers. Be done, and bear yourselves like 
 men. I will no longer have you vexing the air with con 
 troversy while our very lives are hanging by a thread. 
 There are other things to talk about just now. So, 
 Cairnes, if you cannot bide quietly in our company, then 
 stay here alone while I take the Jesuit out into the 
 sunlight, where we can hold sensible counsel together." 
 
 Leaving the fellow growling to himself over the rem 
 nants of the meal, I bore the priest along the short 
 passage, until we discovered a secure, comfortable resting- 
 place outside, where our eyes could sweep the full 
 extent of the wide valley. It was a quietly beautiful 
 scene at this hour, the glow of the sun over all. We 
 could distinguish gangs of slaves toiling in the fields, and 
 a group of warriors, their spears glistening, clustered 
 together before the gloomy altar-house. Yet my eyes 
 barely rested upon either scene, for there, close beside 
 the open door of the Queen s dwelling, my glance, sharp 
 ened by love, perceived the movements of a woman s 
 apparel, and from the faint color of it, distinguishable 
 even at that distance in the sun glare, I knew I looked 
 once more upon Eloise. It would be difficult to express 
 in prosaic English with what intense relief I realized, 
 through the evidence of my own eyes, her continued 
 safety. It seemed years already since our last parting, 
 when she had chosen to remain prisoner in those savage 
 hands. Father of all ! how I loved her then ; how I 
 
 [383] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 yearned to have word with her, to read again the silent 
 message of her pure eyes. 
 
 The priest was gazing silently far away up the valley. 
 Busied with my own thoughts, forger ing him utterly, I 
 kept my eyes eagerly, hungrily upon that single, far-off 
 figure, until, finally, I saw her arise and disappear within 
 the open door. I growled forth a bitter curse, observing 
 the cause for retreat a man and a woman slowly climb 
 ing the mound together. There was no doubt in my 
 mind as to the identity of the Queen and De Noyan. 
 Faith ! but it would have pleased me then to put hand 
 upon the false coxcomb and choke him back to decency 
 and duty. The look of it was in my face, no doubt, as I 
 stared down upon them in helplessness, for the Jesuit 
 rested his fingers gently upon my arm, as though he 
 would restrain my passion. 
 
 " There seemeth something below which angers you, 
 my friend," he said softly. " Tis a battle-light flaming 
 in your eyes." 
 
 " T is the shame of it all which crazes me," I 
 responded, trembling with passion, yet yielding to the 
 influence of his presence. " You have not yet heard the 
 story, so cannot rightly judge our position here." 
 
 As briefly as possible I reviewed the adventures of 
 our little party since leaving New Orleans, and it was 
 good to observe with what growing interest he followed 
 the simple story, interrupting with but few questions 
 until I reached the end. Then his soft hand closed 
 warmly over mine, his eyes upon my face. 
 
 " It is a brave tale," he said kindly, " one not unworthy 
 the days of knighthood. Yet, good friend, it is scarcely 
 
 [384] 
 
THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 well for you to think thus tenderly regarding the wife of 
 another. T is against the laws of Holy Church, and 
 can only lead to harm and suffering. But, Mother of 
 God ! who am I to pass judgment ? I, who am also 
 guilty of this sin. " 
 
 He had uplifted his crucifix, sitting with bowed head 
 before it, with so sad a face I could not forbear 
 questioning. 
 
 " Have you, then, such another tale in your life ? " 
 
 He did not look at me, yet hesitated not in reply. 
 
 " Ay, t is true, yet not so pure a one. I like not to 
 dwell upon it even in thought; but you have trusted 
 me, and we are here together as men of a common race 
 in face of death. Perchance our hearts may better com 
 prehend each other through such confidences. Do you 
 care to hear my tale ? " 
 
 " I listen gladly, for in truth I know of nothing better 
 to do," I returned uneasily. " Pish ! but I feel as if we 
 were locked in a cell awaiting the headsman." 
 
 " Yet God can open the doors even as He did for 
 Peter," he said solemnly, fastening his eyes on the blue 
 sky. For a moment neither spoke ; then the gentle 
 voice took up the story, as if telling it over to himself. 
 
 " I was not always of the black robe ; only six years 
 since I wore the blue and gold of a soldier of France in 
 the dragoon regiment of Auvergne. I came of good 
 family, and was even known and trusted of the King. 
 But let that pass. We were stationed at Saint-Rienes, 
 in the south country, as fair a spot, Monsieur, as this 
 world holds, yet strangely inhabited by those discontented 
 under the faith of Holy Church. But we rode rough 
 
 15 [385] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 shod over all such in those days, for it was the will of 
 the King to crush out heresy. T is a pleasure to see 
 the shrinking of a heretic before the wrath of God. Yet 
 this tale has little to do with this service, however I love 
 to dwell upon it. As I said, we were quartered in garrison 
 at Saint-Rienes, and it was there I first met Marie 
 Fousard, the girl wife of a Captain in His Majesty s Guard. 
 She was a creature of beauty, Monsieur, with clear cheeks, 
 lips of the rose, and great trustful eyes. I was but a boy 
 then, she not much older in years, but with that knowl 
 edge of the world and of men which enabled her to make 
 me poor, blinded fool her helpless slave for evil. 
 Merciful Mary ! how I did worship her ! To me she 
 was as an angel ; divinity lurked in her smile and found 
 utterance upon her lips. I could have died at her word, 
 happy to know it was her pleasure. Yet, as I know now, 
 all the love-making between us was no more than play 
 to her; she merely sought to amuse herself with my 
 passion through a dull season. No, not quite all, for 
 back of her smiles lurked a purpose so dark, so diabolical, 
 twas not strange I failed to fathom it. Tis hard to 
 associate crime with such young womanhood, to feel that 
 evil thoughts lurk behind eyes soft with love and lips 
 breathing tenderness. Yet behind the outer angel of 
 Marie Fousard there was a devil incarnate. I was blind, 
 crazed, helpless to resist an evil I failed to perceive. I 
 loved her ; in that passion all else was lost. She had 
 confessed love for me ; in that was all the heaven I de 
 sired. Little by little she fanned within my heart a hatred 
 for the man whose wife she was, my comrade in arms. I 
 cannot relate the details, the stories of wrong, the lies, the 
 
 [386] 
 
THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 upbraidings which turned my blood to flame, picturing him 
 ever to me as a monster. Ah, it means much, Monsieur, 
 when such things are told with tears, when every sob 
 rings in the ears as though crying for vengeance. I 
 listened, believing it all, until deep in my heart hate was 
 born. Once she showed me her shoulder, the white 
 flesh discolored as if by a blow, swearing that he did it. 
 The sight maddened me to action. I left her to seek 
 him at the inn, cursing in my teeth, and caring not what 
 happened, so I killed him. What boots now the insult 
 offered which forced him to the field ? I can see his face 
 yet, full of wonder at my words, doubting my very sanity ; 
 yet I saw only her and that bruised shoulder. I would 
 kill him, and I did, running my sword through his body, 
 and gazing down remorselessly into his glazing eyes. 
 What cared I for aught but her? It was a duel, fairly 
 fought, and I was safe from censure. God ! in that hour 
 it never came to me that it was foul murder ; that I had 
 stricken down an innocent man at the word of a harlot." 
 
 He stopped, his white face buried in his hands, his 
 slender form trembling. I remained motionless. With 
 an effort he resumed. 
 
 " I went back to her at our trysting-place, intoxicated 
 by my deed, confident she would come to my arms in 
 gratitude. Instead she laughed, tore from her face the 
 mask of innocence, called me fool, boasted that she had 
 merely used me for her own vile purposes. I shrank 
 away horrified by my deed, despising her, my love 
 stricken dead. In that moment my life was changed; I 
 cared for nothing except to get away from my fellows, to 
 expiate my sin in the sight of God. I felt no interest in 
 
 [387] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 what became of her; I neither smiled nor wept, when, 
 three days later, she married the prefect of that village. 
 All was over ; the fire within me had become ashes." 
 
 " But the woman ? this Marie Fousard ? " 
 
 " She went her way, the broad road leading to destruc 
 tion. We met never again, yet I heard, for there were 
 those eager to tell such things. A year, and the prefect 
 was dead of poison, but, before the gendarmes learned 
 the truth, the widow fled by night taking much property. 
 One D Anse was her paramour, a sub-lieutenant of 
 hussars. T is all I know ; they took ship together at 
 Marseilles. Mother of Mercy ! wherever she lives it 
 will be under the spell of the Evil One. To my heart 
 God hath brought peace, but for such as she there can 
 be no peace ; she hath been damned already." 
 
 I know not how long we sat there motionless, our eyes 
 on the sunlit valley, our thoughts on past years. The 
 father ran the beads swiftly through his white fingers, his 
 lips moving noiselessly ; but I found no such help, no 
 such consolation in my struggle. His story was forever 
 ended; mine was not, the very scene beneath bringing 
 home to me anew the desperate burden. Oh, Eloise ! 
 Eloise ! what of fate awaited us in the coming night 
 shadows? What sacrifice of mine could bring to you 
 life and liberty ? It is one thing to rush headlong into 
 danger; a vastly different one to sit awaiting disaster 
 which it is impossible -to avert. The desire to act, to 
 attempt something, became an imperative passion, and 
 I sprang to my feet. 
 
 "Come y pere," I broke forth impatiently, "let us get 
 back inside. Before we are aware it will be night, and 
 
 [388] 
 
THE TALE OF THE PRIEST 
 
 we must learn first if there is any chance for escape. We 
 can dream no longer over the past. Saint George ! the 
 present holds sufficient work for us to do." 
 
 I bore him back in my arms and left him lying beside 
 the savage priest, testing again on him the efficacy of 
 prayer, while Cairnes and I fared forth to explore. We 
 sought long and painfully, trying the walls for some con 
 cealed opening, groping in the corners, and squirming 
 through narrow crevices. The effort was useless, except 
 to convince us that the cavern had but the single entrance. 
 All we discovered was an assortment of odd weapons, 
 war-clubs and stone-tipped spears, collected in one corner 
 of the gallery. Everywhere else were bare walls. Feel 
 ing like rats in a trap we dragged tired limbs back to the 
 altar-room, our sole remaining hope a possible escape 
 down the rocks under the early shadows of the night. 
 This might be accomplished if sufficient time were granted 
 us, and if the good Lord guided. It was a hope, a cheer 
 to the spirits of the others, yet in my own heart I counted 
 little upon it. 
 
 [389] 
 
CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 THE hours of waiting dragged terribly. We con 
 versed little, all alike nervous, irritable under the 
 strain of our desperate situation. The Jesuit was much 
 in prayer ; but Cairnes fell asleep and twisted about 
 uneasily, his head pillowed on his arm. I could only pace 
 the rock floor, harassed by bitter, useless thoughts. 
 What a memory picture it is ! the great bare cavern, 
 with black interior only partially revealed by the gleam 
 of the altar flame ; the old savage huddled in his bonds, 
 his baleful eyes glowing in the firelight as he watched 
 every movement; the slender per e close beside him upon 
 his knees, his frayed black gown rendering more con 
 spicuous the rapt, upraised face, his white fingers clasping 
 the crucifix; beyond, Cairnes outstretched on the hard 
 stone, his bulky figure motionless but for nervous twitch 
 ing, his red hair glaring like a spot of paint. I rejoiced 
 that the fellow slept, for he rasped me with his ceaseless, 
 senseless attacks on the Roman Church. Yet the gentle- 
 voiced priest had tamed his open hatred somewhat; so 
 before he lay down the sectary sat long in moody silence 
 staring at the other with glinting eyes, as though fit speech 
 failed him. 
 
 As the sun sank to the horizon I went forth again 
 upon the platform, waving a blazing signal torch to the 
 
 [390] 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 expectant groups below. The sky overhead was blue, but 
 to the north and east, as far as I could see for overhang 
 ing cliff, great masses of black cloud were showing 
 ominously, their ragged edges emitting lightning flashes, 
 although too distant for me to distinguish the thunder. 
 Below, in the valley, the approaching storm would not 
 yet be visible ; but from my aerie I prayed for a dark 
 night, the swift approach of a battle of the elements. 
 
 Arousing Cairnes, who was already awake but lying 
 glowering at the unconscious priest, I despatched him to 
 the jutting platform, with instructions to keep close watch 
 on all movements in the village. Then I busied myself 
 with final preparations for our desperate sortie. The 
 earliest shades of evening would have to be utilized, for 
 then only could we hope for a clear path. Before those 
 wild fanatics swarmed upward to their monthly sacrifice, 
 we must traverse that narrow cliff path and penetrate the 
 tunnel beyond as far as the underground altar. Nowhere 
 between the cave entrance and that spot could I recall 
 any place of concealment. Inspired by this necessity, so 
 soon as darkness began to blot the mouth of the cave, I 
 bore the priest that way in my arms, although he begged 
 earnestly to be left behind, saying he was a useless burden. 
 The slowly advancing clouds had not yet mounted high 
 enough to obscure the moon, but hung densely massed 
 across half the sky, low thunder echoing among the rocks, 
 and jagged streaks of lightning tearing the gloom asunder. 
 The burly Puritan lay, a black silhouette against the 
 silvered rocks, leaning far over, staring down into the 
 void. As I touched him, he turned his face toward me, 
 pointing below with one hand. 
 
 [391] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " We are securely blocked, Master Benteen," he 
 asserted gruffly. " A fit reward for associating with 
 papists." 
 
 " Blocked ? " failing to comprehend. " How ? Are 
 the savages already astir ? " 
 
 " Look for yourself. See yonder ; lights are on the 
 pathway as high as the tree-bridge." 
 
 I dropped upon my knees, clinging to a bowlder, and 
 peered over. He spoke truth, and my heart rose choking 
 into my throat. Resembling innumerable fireflies tiny 
 flames were gleaming along the entire front of the cliff 
 torches borne by human hands. Breathless the three of us 
 clung there staring down, each realizing the utter futility 
 of our efforts at escape, yet none reckless enough to give 
 the thought utterance. The Puritan first found speech. 
 
 " The spawn of hell ! " he growled savagely, shaking 
 his great fist, remembering the indignities of the altar- 
 house. " Good Lord, deliver us from this iniquity ; lead 
 us through the waters dry-shod, even as Thou didst Thy 
 people of old from the land of Egypt." 
 
 " Come," I said, " we must seek whatever hiding-place 
 is within, and trust God for it." 
 
 The priest looked at me pleadingly, his eyes like stars. 
 
 " I would at such an hour you were of my faith, 
 Monsieur." 
 
 " I might do worse," I admitted, watching intently 
 the lights on the cliff-path, Cf but it was not the teaching 
 of my childhood. There is one below whose prayers are 
 as yours." 
 
 " Madame de Noyan ? " 
 
 I bowed my head in gesture of reverence. 
 
 [392] 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 " Yes, Monsieur, and whatever she loves is not far 
 from my heart. But come, we have scant time for prep 
 aration ; no, do not endeavor to walk ; your weight is 
 nothing to my arms. 
 
 There was no spot within where, even for a short 
 period, we might hope to avoid discovery, except the 
 rock gallery. Here, crouching behind the parapet, we 
 could see without being seen, unless some savage chanced 
 to stray that way. At my order the sullen, psalm- 
 quoting preacher dragged the helpless old chief priest after 
 him, and so we went groping forward through the dark 
 ness of the short passage, until we attained the stone steps. 
 Stumbling blindly upward, our hearts throbbing in reali 
 zation of the peril that was closing us in, we flung our 
 bodies flat behind the concealing rocks, peering fearfully 
 forth into the great deserted chamber. Even amid that 
 lonely silence it was a sight to chill the heart ; and to us, 
 comprehending something of what it would soon reveal 
 of savage orgy, it was like gazing down into the mouth 
 of the Pit. The single touch of color in the drear pic 
 ture came from the crimson drapery hanging over the 
 edge of the raised platform. Seeing all this at one glance 
 my anxious eyes sought the deeper gloom shrouding the 
 tunnel leading toward the entrance. As I stared that 
 way a sudden flash of fierce lightning illumined it. So 
 brilliant it burst forth from the opaque night, I hid my 
 blinded eyes, every nerve of my body quivering. 
 
 " Great God ! " burst forth Cairnes, his voice so close 
 as to startle me. " T is like the end of the world ! " 
 
 " Be still," I commanded hastily, pressing him flat, 
 " there they come." 
 
 [393] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 A dozen flaming torches rounded the rock projection, 
 the lights glistening over the half-naked bodies of the 
 bearers. Saint Andrew ! it was a weird sight, one to 
 strike terror to the soul ! With gritted teeth, my heart 
 pounding, I looked out upon it. The leader was a 
 priest, black from head to heel, his face showing devilish 
 in the torch flare, his coarse hair matted high in horrid 
 resemblance to some wild beast. Behind surged a mob 
 of warriors, women, and children, half- nude bodies striped 
 with red and yellow, a malignant demoniacal crew, yelling 
 and pushing under the flaming lights, rushing tumultu- 
 ously forward to fling themselves prostrate before the 
 altar. It seemed they would never cease pouring forth 
 from the narrow tunnel, a struggling, gesticulating stream. 
 Behind them lightning played in jagged streaks across 
 the little patch of sky, and the black smoke of the torches 
 curled upward to the roof. Their appearance was not 
 human, but that of demons incarnate ; some ran upon 
 all fours like wolves, gnashing their teeth and howling ; 
 many yelped in fiendish chorus; others brandished 
 weapons aloft in the yellow flame, or lay, writhing like 
 glistening snakes on the rock floor. It was a pande 
 monium, a babel, an unspeakable hell. To count was 
 impossible, but the great room was filled with bodies, 
 and rang with guttural, inarticulate cries. The busily 
 flitting priests stirred up the wood until the blaze leaped 
 nearly to the roof, mumbling as they worked, the inces 
 sant moaning of the tribesmen deepening into a weird 
 chant. The frenzied singers leapt into the air, flinging 
 their limbs about in wild contortion, their movements 
 increasing in violence, their grotesquely painted faces 
 
 [394] 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVA 
 
 becoming hellish from awakening passion. They becS 
 brutes } fiends, whose only thought was cruelty. I saw 
 them strike each other with stone knives, slashing the 
 flesh till blood ran. Heartsick and trembling, I glanced 
 aside at my companions. The fere lay clasping the 
 stone, his eyes wide with horror, his countenance death 
 like ; Cairnes was upon his knees, his great hands gripped, 
 staring straight down like some animal crouching for a 
 spring. 
 
 It was when I turned back, loathing the sight yet 
 unable to resist facing it, that I beheld for the first time 
 those I sought Eloise, De Noyan, and the Queen 
 Naladi. An instant I blinded my eyes with uplifted 
 arm, half believing that the horror had turned my brain, 
 that all this was vision. Yet, as I ventured to look 
 again, they were there before me in the flesh Naladi 
 all in red, a wondrous figure amid that spectral glow, 
 tall, straight, with proud, imperious face, crowned by the 
 brilliant hair, radiant and sparkling in the flame. Beside 
 her loitered De Noyan, like one who enjoyed a spectacle 
 arranged for his pleasure, his face darkening somewhat 
 as though the sight were not altogether to his liking, yet 
 debonair and careless, his waxed moustaches standing 
 forth conspicuous, his fingers in his waist-belt. About 
 the two were ranged a fringe of warriors, their flint-headed 
 spears rising an impenetrable wall, while farther behind, 
 separated and alone, the light of the fire barely revealing 
 her presence, stood Eloise, a savage guard on either side 
 of her. I caught the outline of her face, imprinted with 
 horror, the lips moving as if in supplication ; then I per 
 ceived something else her hands were bound! Smothering 
 
 [395] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 A oath, I crept back to the pile of weapons in the 
 f corner, gripped a war-club, and, returning as silently, 
 thrust a second into the unconscious hands of Cairnes. 
 Our eyes met, the sectary nodding grimly, his jaws set 
 like a steel trap. If need should arise we would die 
 fighting like cornered rats. 
 
 Their yells reverberating to the vaulted roof, the 
 smoking torches gyrating wildly above them, the throng 
 of crazed fanatics were now upon their feet, crowding 
 toward the platform, every tongue clamoring in incessant 
 demand. All was confusion, a medley of noise and 
 motion, tossing arms, and painted faces. Finally, I 
 caught a glimpse of Naiades red robe scarcely ten feet 
 away, and behind her the countenance of De Noyan, 
 still contemptuously smiling at that shrieking rabble. 
 God ! my face burned, my grasp tightened on the club. 
 Yet I lay motionless, knowing well the time of sacrifice 
 was not yet. 
 
 The woman stood at the edge of the rock platform, 
 gazing intently down, a silent, motionless statue, her red 
 robe sweeping to her feet, and below her the crimson 
 drapery ; the flaring torches in the hands of her barbaric 
 followers cast their light full upon her. I stared at the 
 strange creature, comprehending something of the power 
 of passion such as she could exercise over De Noyan, 
 causing him to forget all honor in her presence. Saint 
 Andrew ! she was a witch, a hell-cat, whose smile was 
 death. Ay ! and she was smiling then, a smile of cruel, 
 unrelenting triumph, gazing down upon the howling 
 slaves who should do her pleasure. She knew them 
 well, every superstition, every wild impulse, and she 
 
 [396] 
 

 THE WOMAN STOOD GAZING INTENTLY DOWN, HER RED ROBE SWEEPING TO HER 
 FEET; BELOW THE FLARING TORCHES IN THE HANDS OF HER BARBARIC FOLLOWERS CAST 
 THEIR LIGHT FULL UPON HER. 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 played contemptuously on their savagery. Not fear, but 
 command, was stamped upon her features ; she ruled by 
 legerdemain, by lie and trick, and she stood, the supreme 
 she-devil, the master spirit in that raging hell. It seemed 
 to me my heart would burst as I waited, seeing nothing 
 then of Eloise amid the crush, and compelled to gaze on 
 that dominant scarlet figure. 
 
 The cries of the multitude ceased, and a black-draped 
 priest shouted unintelligible words. Naladi listened, 
 extending one hand. Then her thin lips spoke a single 
 sentence in the sharp tone of command. Instantly burst 
 forth a fierce roar of disapproval ; war-clubs pounded the 
 floor, spears rattled as they were brandished overhead, 
 while above the din I caught, again and again, the shriek, 
 " Franfais ! Fran^ais ! " The Queen shook her head, her 
 fair face darkening, and glanced aside into the question 
 ing eyes of De Noyan. Below them the tumult 
 increased, the mass surging forward and staring upward, 
 every voice yelping that one term of hate, " Franfais ! " 
 There was no doubting the dread menace they were 
 demanding French victims for the torture of sacrifice ; 
 they clamored for white blood with which to sprinkle 
 the altar. I could dimly perceive now a dozen crouch 
 ing slaves against the farther wall, the whites of their 
 eyes showing in terror, and oh, God! there, to the 
 right of them, alone, except for her burly guards, kneel 
 ing on the rock floor, with face hidden in her hands, was 
 Eloise. I half rose to my feet, my whole body pulsating 
 with agony. What was to be the ending? What was 
 that mad woman s purpose? Could she control the 
 fierce blood-lust of those savage fanatics ? If she cared 
 
 [397] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 to do so, would she dare test her power in so desperate a 
 game ? If one must be sacrificed which would she spare, 
 De Noyan or his hapless wife ? Looking at her, cold, 
 cynical, lustful, her eyes still turned on his face, I felt 
 no doubt. Let the foul fiend choose ! by all the gods, 
 Cairnes should brain her where she stood, and, Heaven 
 helping me to do the deed, the one I loved should never 
 die by torture ! 
 
 She took her own time for decision, indifferently 
 ignoring the howls of rage, her thin lips curling in con 
 temptuous smile, her glance yet upon the startled Cheva 
 lier. Laying her hand upon his sleeve, she said in 
 French : 
 
 "You hear the wolves howl, Monsieur? They are 
 mad for French blood." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders, staring into her expres 
 sionless face, then down upon the surging mob below. 
 
 " Saint Giles ! give them sufficient of something else," 
 he replied, striving to pretend indifference, yet with a 
 falter in his voice. " You pledged us safety if we would 
 accompany you here." 
 
 " I pledged you safety, Monsieur," she corrected 
 haughtily. " I gave no word of promise as to others. 
 Yet circumstances have changed. I supposed then we 
 had enough of victims to appease even such blood-lust 
 as yelps yonder." 
 
 " You mean the preacher and Benteen ? " 
 
 " Ay ; they would suffice, with plenty of slaves for 
 good measure. But now, only two remain from which 
 to choose. Sacrel there are times when those dogs 
 break away even from my control, and mock me. I 
 
 [398] 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 know not now whether one alone will glut their desire, 
 yet I am of a mind to try the experiment before the 
 wolves drag me to hell also. Heard you ever such 
 yelping of wild beasts ? " 
 
 " You would sacrifice me ? " his face whitening from 
 horror. " You would give me to the knife and fire ? 
 Mon Dieu I is this the end of all your vows ? " 
 
 She smiled, a cold, cruel smile, her eyes burning. 
 
 " I did not say you, tauntingly. " There is another 
 here." 
 
 He drew away from her grasp, lips ashen, eyes 
 unbelieving. 
 
 " Eloise ! Mon Dieu I not Eloise ? " 
 
 " And if not Eloise, what then, Monsieur ? " The low 
 voice hardened, becoming oddly metallic. "The wolves 
 cry for blood French blood. Is it your wish to die 
 together? Pardil if it be between you two, am I to 
 have no choice which one I deliver? Why should you 
 shrink back like a baby at first sight of blood? I 
 thought you a soldier, a man. Did you not tell me 
 you loved her no longer ? did you not swear it with 
 your lips to mine ? " 
 
 He made no response, staring at her with eyes full of 
 unbelief, the hideous uproar clanging about them in 
 ceaseless volume. Naladi s face flushed with rising 
 anger. 
 
 " Yet you do ! Mon Dieu, you do ! " she panted, the 
 tiger within breaking loose. " Your words were a lie ! 
 Here, look at me," extending her arms, the white flesh 
 of her bosom clearly revealed in the parting of her dra 
 pery. " Am I such as she ? will I shrink like a coward, 
 
 [399] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 mumbling prayer and fingering rosary ? Am I afraid to 
 work my will ? Am I not worth being loved ? Am I 
 the kind you think to play with ? God s mercy ! I am 
 minded to throw you both to the beasts. No, no, not 
 that ; you dare not front me ! I make my own choice 
 of who shall die and who live." She laughed mockingly. 
 "Bah! I know your sort, Monsieur tis as the wind 
 blows ; you love to-day, and forget to-morrow. Yet I 
 keep you for a plaything I have no use for her. I 
 care no longer how the wolves tear her dainty limbs. 
 Before this I have tasted vengeance and found it sweet." 
 
 He shrank before her fury, all conceit and audacity 
 fled, and words failed him. Not even yet could he 
 believe it true, but she permitted no recovery. 
 
 " You think I lie. You think I threaten, but dare 
 not act. You think me a soft-hearted fool because I 
 listened to your words of love. By the gods ! you 
 shall learn better. I have heard love words before ; 
 none ever spoke them to my ears without paying the 
 price of deceit. Mon Dieu ! and shall you escape ? I 
 can hate as well as love ; strike as well as caress. So 
 you played with me, Monsieur? used me to pass a dull 
 hour in the wilderness ? Sacre I t is now my chance to 
 sport with you. You forget who I am I, Naladi, 
 Daughter of the Sun, Queen of the Natchez. Look 
 down ! there are hands waiting to rend at my word. 
 I will give them the girl-face for their blood-lust. Seek 
 to stop me if you dare ! " 
 
 Never can I forget the expression on De Noyan s face 
 as he listened. Incredulity changed to loathing, then to 
 despair. As though the woman had snatched a mask 
 
 [400] 
 
NIGHT AND THE SAVAGES 
 
 from off her features he gazed now upon the demon soul 
 revealed in all its hideousness. Instantly all that was 
 physically beautiful became loathsome from the foulness 
 within. He endeavored to speak, to protest, but all his 
 recklessness had deserted him and he trembled like a 
 leaf. Already the gesticulating priests, thinking them 
 selves cheated of their victims, were halfway up the rude 
 steps of stone ; behind them surged the mob, scream 
 ing " Fran$ais" their torches waving madly. Naladi 
 laughed. 
 
 " So your nerve fails, Monsieur/ she sneered coldly. 
 T is well it does, for you need expect no mercy from 
 me. I also hate the French." 
 
 She turned from him, her arms outspread, the crimson 
 drapery extended like wings. The glare of a hundred 
 torches reflected on her face, and her lips spoke one 
 word of stern command. Every voice ceased its howl 
 ing, every form became motionless, the silence so sudden 
 it was painful. The woman stood above them, domi 
 nant ; every eye was fastened upon her ; the priests 
 were prostrate on the stair. I saw De Noyan leaning 
 forward, his teeth clinched, his face death-like. From 
 wall to wall Naladi s gaze wandered ; once she looked 
 into his eyes, then down again upon the mob of savages. 
 Like the sharp hiss of a snake a single sentence leaped 
 from her thin lips. The effect was magical. I scarcely 
 realized the transformation, so rapidly was it accom 
 plished. Confusion filled the chamber, yet out of the 
 tumult I caught sight of Madame being driven toward 
 the altar, her white face full of pleading, her hands, now 
 freed, clasping her rosary. De Noyan must have beheld 
 
 16 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 her at the same instant. With shout of rage he leaped 
 recklessly forward, hurled aside the scarlet figure, and, 
 uttering an oath, sprang on the parapet. 
 
 " By God ! you foul fiend of hell ! " he screamed 
 madly. " I 11 fight for it ; fight like a gentleman of 
 France ! " 
 
 I leaped to my feet, Cairnes beside me. Desperate as 
 the chance was, we would be with him on that floor, with 
 him smiting to the death. Yet even as he poised for the 
 leap downward the woman s scarlet arms struck, and he 
 went over like a stone, crashing into a huddled heap on 
 the rock floor. Naladi laughed, leaning far out to look 
 down, like a gloating devil. 
 
 " Fight, you poor fool ! " she exclaimed in French. 
 " Sacre ! who struck hardest ? " 
 
 Sick, trembling like a frightened child, I dragged 
 the dazed Puritan down again, crouching behind the 
 stones. 
 
 [402] 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 THE INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT 
 
 1 COULD look no longer on that hellish scene. It 
 seemed as if all strength, all manhood, had deserted 
 me before the utter helplessness of our position. There 
 was nothing left except useless sacrifice a moment s 
 hopeless struggle, the sole reward death under the war- 
 club or by torture. God knows it was not myself I 
 considered, but Eloise. It was thought of her which 
 so unnerved me, so paralyzed body and mind. The 
 Puritan dropped his heavy hand on my shoulder. 
 " Great Jehovah," he muttered, " look there ! " 
 How he ever made it I know not ; how he ever crept 
 on tortured stumps down those rude steps, and along the 
 dark, rocky tunnel ; how he ever succeeded in penetrat 
 ing unscathed that howling mob of savages yet there, 
 in the very midst of them, fully revealed in the torch 
 glare, his pallid, girlish face uplifted, but concealed be 
 neath the shadow of his cowl, the silver cross gleaming 
 in the light, beside Eloise, knelt the black-robed Jesuit. 
 Amid the sudden hush of surprise I overheard his voice, 
 fearless, calm, unfaltering, as he gave the weeping woman 
 sacrament of the Church. A great brute struck at him ; 
 the frail figure reeled sideways to the force of the blow, 
 but the words of prayer did not cease, nor his grasp on 
 
 [403] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 her hand relax. Rallying from their astonishment, the 
 warriors crowded in upon them, and a fanatical priest 
 hurled the pere headlong to the floor. I saw a brand 
 ishing of clubs, a glitter of spears, yet the poor fellow 
 came erect once more, his arm resting for support on 
 the woman s shoulder. It was all in a flash of time, 
 like some swift transformation on the stage we could 
 scarcely comprehend. At the instant a voice spoke, ring 
 ing above the babel, which ceased suddenly. I glanced 
 involuntarily toward Naladi. She stood leaning forward, 
 her hands gripping the stone parapet, conflicting emotions 
 playing across her face. 
 
 As the torches, uplifted, gleamed brighter upon the 
 motionless Queen, they revealed a look of perplexity, 
 almost fear, in her cold eyes. What held her speechless ? 
 Was it remembrance of another life, when the stern word 
 of the Church had been law ? or was she merely troubled 
 by so mysterious an appearance, her guilty soul swayed 
 by superstitious terror ? She was all too strange a riddle 
 for my reading, but some occult power held her helpless, 
 silent. The vengeful cries of her savage followers died 
 away into threatening murmurs ; the pere remained 
 motionless, one hand on Eloise s bowed head, his white 
 face shadowed by the hood, calmly fronting her who had 
 commanded quiet. Slowly he lifted one arm, the loose 
 sleeve lending dignity and power to the simple gesture, 
 his white extended hand seeming to have in it the 
 authority of command. A moment, heedless of the 
 scowling, painted faces all about, the slight figure stood 
 erect and firm, the dark eyes bearing witness to his ear 
 nestness, and never wavering from Naladi s scornful face. 
 
 [404] 
 
INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT 
 
 " Woman," he said calmly, even as I imagine Christ 
 may have spoken of old, " release this prisoner, and 
 make thy peace with God." 
 
 She endeavored to laugh mockingly, yet only a hollow 
 semblance came from between her white lips. " Pah ! " 
 she cried nervously, "you speak bravely; pray, who 
 gave you authority to give orders to the Daughter of 
 the Sun ? " 
 
 " One greater than the Sun, woman," he answered. 
 cc I speak to you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and 
 by authority of the Holy Catholic Church." 
 
 She leaned yet farther forward, as though seeking to 
 penetrate the shadow concealing his face, a perceptible 
 tremor apparent in her voice. 
 
 "Who are you ? Answer me ! " 
 
 " I am called Father Ignatius, a priest of the Order of 
 Jesuits." 
 
 " And what do you suppose I care for your Romish 
 orders ? They have no power here ; a single wave of 
 my hand would condemn you to the place of yonder 
 slaves." Her color rose in the wave of passion, sweep 
 ing fear aside. " I have nothing but hatred for your 
 black robe, and your interference only intensifies my 
 purpose. Mark you now what I say ; if it be the will 
 of my people to put this cringing French woman to the 
 torture, I lift not so much as a finger to change her fate. 
 More, because of your insolence I give you also into 
 their hands. We take no orders from the Church of 
 Rome." 
 
 " Your people ! " the words rang forth with such clear 
 ness as almost to bring me to my feet. " You foul fiend 
 
 [405] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 of hell, do you think thus to impose your vile imposture 
 on me? I fear neither your power nor the cruelty of 
 your savage satellites. My life is in the hands of my 
 Master, who will give me strength to mock your torture. 
 Two months ago I was bound to a stake in the valley 
 below. Ask these fiends, who do your bidding, whether 
 I shrank back in terror, or made outcry as the flame ate 
 into my flesh. Gaze on these stumps blackened by fire, 
 and learn how I value your threats. Peace, woman, and 
 no longer mock the faith of your childhood." 
 " My childhood ? You know nothing of that ! " 
 cc Do I not? Look upon my face, and judge." 
 He flung back his cowl, and the light fell full upon his 
 countenance. Upon the silence broke a sharp cry, in 
 which fear and surprise were strangely blended : 
 " Andre Lafossier ! " 
 
 " Right, woman ; you have not forgotten. Sunk* as 
 you are in shame and evil deeds, conscience yet lives and 
 haunts you. What do I know of you ? Enough to 
 justify calling you joint heir with all the fiends of hell, 
 unless, like the thief on the Cross, repentance make 
 white your black soul. Yet, tis in my heart that yours 
 is the sin against the Spirit for which there is no forgive 
 ness. Nothing in your face tells me of an awakening 
 soul. You are a Queen, you say ? Ay, of evil, of devils 
 incarnate. I would rather be this poor woman bound to 
 the stake than you upon a throne. Do your worst with 
 us, but know that Andre Lafossier has nothing for you 
 save disgust ; still, as priest of Holy Church, I hold open 
 the door of salvation through Jesus Christ." 
 
 Evidences of struggle marked Naladi s face, yet by 
 
 [406] 
 
INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT 
 
 now she had outwardly conquered the first shock of 
 recognition, and stood a cold, stately statue, with glittering 
 eyes on the slender figure of the priest. 
 
 " I care as little for your Romish mummery," she 
 said sneeringly, " as I do for the senseless rites of these 
 savages. But I am glad it is you I have in my power. 
 If I am the queen of devils, they serve me well. You 
 are to die, Andre Lafossier. I might have spared you 
 had you kept your tongue, but after those words you die. 
 I shall stand here and mock you to the last breath. 
 You say I have no soul ; to-night you shall know it 
 true while I laugh at your agony." 
 
 She paused as if seeking to mark the effect of her 
 words, but the pere merely stooped slightly, whispering 
 some message of comfort into the ear of Eloise. Then 
 he stood erect again. 
 
 " As you will, woman ; to die for Christ is gain." 
 
 The face of Naladi, which had been pale and drawn, 
 flushed, her eyes fairly blazing. 
 
 " So you dare mock me, you hireling priest ! " she 
 hissed. " T is not for long ; I am no snivelling French 
 girl, afraid of blood. And now I give you a taste of my 
 power." 
 
 As the words fell from her thin lips, she flung up one 
 hand, exhibiting with a peculiar gesture a glittering 
 metallic substance shining in the light. It must have 
 been a signal for unrestrained sacrifice, for it was greeted 
 with fierce howls of delight, the savage herd pressing in 
 upon the prisoners, so that I lost sight of them an 
 instant in the crush. 
 
 " Wait, woman ! " rose the priest s voice above the 
 
 [407] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 uproar. " I admit your power here to take physical 
 life ; I expect no mercy from such as you. But, if you 
 be not lost to all shame, grant me one favor, Marie 
 Fousard." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " A moment of time in which I may give absolution 
 to this child of God before we die." 
 
 " Pish ! is that all ? Go on with your fool mummery. 
 I will hold back the savages till that be done, though 
 the sight of it will but anger them." 
 
 Eloise had sunk down against the altar, with face 
 buried in her hands. The fere dropped upon his knees 
 beside her. About them surged the glistening forms 
 of the savages, maddened with blood-lust, but Naladi 
 clapped her hands, with voice and gesture bidding them 
 wait her further word. An instant they swayed passion 
 ately back and forth, their fanatical priests clamoring in 
 opposition to this halting of vengeance. Then Naladi 
 shook loose her hair, permitting its wealth to fall in a 
 golden-red shower, until it veiled her from head to foot. 
 The silenced crowd stared as if in worship of the super 
 natural. I know not what she said, uplifting her white 
 arms from out that red-gold canopy, yet I can guess. 
 
 " Natchez, I dare you to disobey the Daughter of the 
 Sun ! " 
 
 Swept by a superstition stronger than hate, they flung 
 themselves at her feet, prostrating their faces to the rock, 
 grovelling like worms, heedless of all except her presence 
 and her supremacy. She was a goddess, one whose will 
 was destruction. Gazing down upon them, conscious 
 of her power, her thin lips smiled in contempt. T was 
 
 [408] 
 
INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT 
 
 so I saw her last; so I shall always picture her in 
 memory a motionless, statuesque figure, covered with 
 a veil of red-gold hair, her eyes like diamonds, her bare, 
 white arms gleaming, her lips curved in proud disdain ; 
 a queen of savages, a high priestess of Hell. 
 
 The sudden cessation of noise was awesome, uncanny. 
 It rendered manifest the ceaseless roar of thunder with 
 out. Directly in front of me yawned the cave entrance, 
 plainly illuminated by vivid lightning. Dreadful as was 
 the spectacle, it yielded me a flash of hope here oppor 
 tunity pointed a path of escape. With no pause for 
 thought I whirled to arouse the Puritan, every nerve 
 a-tingle with desperation. His deep-set eyes glowed like 
 two coals, his square jaw projecting like that of a fighting 
 bulldog. 
 
 " Cairnes," I muttered, almost heedless of what I said 
 in the necessity for haste. "If we could attain the tree- 
 bridge, we might hold the devils. See ! the way is clear ! 
 What say you to the trial ? Will you bear the priest ? " 
 
 His grip tightened about the war-club, as he half rose 
 to his feet like a maddened bear. 
 
 " Saints of Israel ! yes," he growled, " the Jesuit is a 
 
 man." 
 
 " Then come ! " 
 
 With one leap I was upon the floor ; almost at the 
 same second he landed beside me. Twice I struck 
 savagely at some obstructing figure, and in five strides 
 was at the side of Eloise. One shrill cry of warning 
 from the lips of Naladi echoed through the chamber, 
 and was answered by the yell of the warriors. I was 
 already clasping Eloise against my breast, and speeding 
 
 [409] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 toward the opening. Not a savage stood between, and 
 now, all hope centred upon the desperate race, I dashed 
 forward down the rocky path, rendered hideous by the 
 lightning. All the fires of hell seemed swirling about 
 us, writhing serpents of flame leaping from the sky, while 
 fierce crashes of thunder echoed from rock to rock. I 
 scarcely heard or saw. Below yawned the abyss, black 
 with night; above stretched solid, overhanging stone, 
 painted by green and yellow flames. I realized nothing 
 except that ribbon of a path, the need of haste, the white, 
 upturned face in my arms. God ! was ever such a race 
 as that run before? Did ever men dash headlong over 
 such a path of death ? No one need ask how it was done ; 
 how speeding feet clung to the narrow rock. I know 
 not ; I never knew. Twice I stumbled, sobbing in des 
 pair, yet ran on like a madman. Under the glare of the 
 lightning I leaped downward where I had crept in climb 
 ing ; protruding splinters of rock tore my clothes, bruised 
 my body ; my forehead dripped with perspiration, my 
 breath came panting, yet I ran still, her form crushed 
 against my breast. I shudder now in the recollection ; 
 then I scarcely knew. Ahead loomed black the tree- 
 bridge ; but I recall no shrinking fear, only exultation, 
 as I bore down recklessly upon it. It must be crossed, 
 upright, swiftly, with no thought of the yawning depth. 
 If death came we should go down together. 
 
 " Eloise, steady me with hand against the cliff," I 
 panted, and stepped forth boldly upon the trunk. My 
 moccasoned feet gripped the rough bark firmly, yet I 
 swayed horribly under my burden, as I footed the treach 
 erous way. Again and again I felt myself swaying wildly, 
 
 [410] 
 
INTERFERENCE OF THE JESUIT 
 
 yet some power held us, until, at last, I stood on solid 
 rock, utterly unable to essay another yard. Panting for 
 breath, my arms yet clasping the motionless figure of 
 Eloise, I glanced backward in apprehension. I could 
 perceive Cairnes footing the log, the head of the priest 
 showing black and distinct above his broad shoulder; 
 beyond, a medley of dark figures appeared to dance diz 
 zily along the cliff face. I staggered to my knees. With 
 a growl of relief the Puritan dropped his burden. The 
 next instant he had one great shoulder under the tree 
 root. Heaving with all his mighty strength he slowly 
 moved the great trunk, and I saw it topple over into the 
 abyss ; I saw his burly figure tottering on the very brink 
 then one awful flash lit up the sky, so blinding me that 
 I sank face downward on the rock. The cliff shook as 
 if riven from crest to valley, a single peal of thunder 
 reverberating like the report of a thousand guns. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 I MAY have lost consciousness ; I do not know. 
 That awful glare, the thunderous report, the speech 
 less terror of feeling myself a mere pygmy in the midst 
 of such tremendous convulsions of nature, shocked me 
 into momentary insensibility. I lay huddled against the 
 rock like a man dead, one arm yet clasping the motion 
 less form of Eloise. Stunned, unable to move a muscle, 
 I believed death had overtaken us all ; that out from the 
 very heavens a bolt had stricken us down. I struggled 
 painfully to arouse myself, every nerve in my body ap 
 pearing paralyzed. At first I could not even see, but 
 light came back gradually to my blinded eyes, and I 
 staggered to my feet, slowly adjusting my mind to the 
 situation. 
 
 I began to understand then what had happened that 
 deadly bolt had smitten the cliff as by the wrath of God, 
 yet I was spared. I still lived, as by a miracle. I stared 
 across the chasm and up the steep ascent beyond, still 
 clearly revealed in the lightning flashes. It was vacant ; 
 not a human form stood where those pursuing savages 
 had been. A cry burst from my lips as I gazed a 
 vast, irregular gash showed clearly in the cliff face, but 
 where the entrance to the cave had yawned was a solid 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 front of rock. I staggered with the shock, reeling on 
 the very edge of the path, and barely saved myself by 
 dropping to my knees. Again I looked, half believing 
 my brain crazed, that I beheld visions. As God guards 
 me, it was true ! Out of the very heavens He had struck, 
 sealing those fiends into a living tomb. Trembling like 
 a frightened child, I bowed my face and sobbed as I 
 prayed for mercy. 
 
 I know not how long I lay unable for either thought 
 or action. But at last I was upon my knees again, creep 
 ing forward to where a black figure lay at the very edge 
 of the chasm, one arm dangling over the brink. I drew 
 the inert body back to safety, peering down into the 
 white face of the priest. My touch seemed to arouse 
 him into consciousness, his dark eyes staring up into my 
 face. I helped him to sit up and lean back against the 
 wall. An instant he gazed about wildly, like one sud 
 denly awakened from sound sleep, then hid his face in 
 his hands. 
 
 " The Puritan " I questioned " the man who 
 bore you here what happened to him ? " 
 
 He shuddered, and pointed into the black abyss. 
 
 " f Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay 
 down his life for his friends/ " he quoted solemnly. 
 
 " He went down ? " 
 
 He bowed his head silently, his fingers searching 
 for his crucifix. I sat staring at him, crushed into 
 helplessness. 
 
 In a few moments I felt the pressure of his fingers. 
 
 "The Lord hath preserved us as by fire, * he said in 
 low, solemn tone, " He hath ridden upon the flaming 
 
 [413] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 skies in his chariot, accompanied by angels and archangels. 
 T is ours to bless His holy name." 
 
 I gazed into the rapt, boyish face, and said : 
 
 "On my knees have I already acknowledged His 
 mercy. I am not ungrateful." 
 
 The troubled countenance brightened with a quick smile. 
 
 " God is most good," he murmured ; " He hath spared 
 us that we may continue to honor Him, and do His work. 
 The woman does she also live ? " 
 
 The question brought me instantly to my feet, wonder 
 ing how I could have neglected her so long. But before 
 I could advance to where she lay, she sat partially up, 
 her face turned toward us. 
 
 " Eloise," I cried, the heart joy apparent in my voice. 
 " Good God ! I had forgotten." 
 
 She held forth her hand, her eyes smiling. 
 
 " I hold that not strange," she answered, the soft voice 
 faltering slightly. a I saw you groping like a blind man, 
 yet could neither move nor speak. I lay helpless as if 
 paralyzed. Tell me what has happened." 
 
 I held her hand, falling upon my knees beside her, my 
 eyes searching her sweet face. 
 
 " A lightning bolt smote the cliff," I explained rapidly, 
 " rending the solid rock. Master Cairnes was hurled head 
 long into the chasm, and our pursuers were swept from 
 the path. The very mouth of the cavern has been 
 forever sealed." 
 
 " The cavern ? " as if stifled, her eyes opening wide. 
 " They they are buried alive ? " 
 
 " I doubt if any lived to know," I answered soberly. 
 " T is likely those within were crushed to death." 
 
 [4H] 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 She dropped her face into her hands, sobbing hysteri 
 cally. Unable to speak, I bowed my head until it touched 
 her shoulder. The crippled priest crept toward us, 
 forgetful of his own pain in the call of duty. 
 
 " Daughter/ he said tenderly, stroking her brown hair 
 with his slender fingers, " to live or die is as Christ wills. 
 The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be 
 the name of the Lord. Be of good comfort, remember 
 ing these words of promise, c Lo ! I am with you alway, 
 even unto the end of the world. 
 
 She looked up through the mist of her tears, first into 
 his face, then into mine. 
 
 " I have passed through much," she confessed simply, 
 "yet tis not the spirit but the body which has become 
 weakened. Forgive me, both of you." 
 
 " Brave heart ! " I echoed, caring nothing for the pres 
 ence of the father. " No woman ever upbore grievous 
 burden better. If we rest first, you will regain courage 
 to go on." 
 
 Both her hands were resting trustfully in my own. 
 
 " With you," she acknowledged softly. " In all con 
 fidence with you." 
 
 We sat there until the coming of dawn, speaking only 
 seldom, our very thoughts holding us silent. Occasion 
 ally I could feel Eloise s hand touch mine as if she 
 sought thus to be reassured of my presence, and I could 
 distinguish an inarticulate murmur from the priest s lips, 
 as if he continually counted his beads in prayer. The 
 glare of lightning gradually ceased, the storm passing away 
 to the westward with distant reverberations. Yet clouds 
 overcast the skies, leaving the early morning hours dark 
 
 [415] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 and cheerless. With the first faint glow of day lighting 
 the pathway, I stood up, dizzy at viewing the awful abyss 
 below our narrow shelf. We could perceive now more 
 plainly the terrific havoc wrought * ove, but our eyes 
 turned away from it in horror. We must linger there no 
 longer, but press forward with whatever of courage 
 remained. 
 
 " t must ask you to attempt to walk alone, Eloise," I 
 said regretfully, " as I must bear the pere, whose limbs 
 are crippled." 
 
 Her startled eyes were filled with womanly sympathy. 
 
 " Crippled? Was it done last night in the storm ? " 
 
 "No, a month ago; he was tortured at the stake in 
 the village below. Ever since then he has been held 
 prisoner for sacrifice/ 
 
 " Do not worry, daughter ; my wounds are not worthy 
 your tears," broke in the soft voice; "they are but a 
 small part of my debt to Him who perished upon the 
 cross. Yet I think I might manage to walk, Monsieur, 
 without assistance. Surely, with God s help, I can master 
 the pain." 
 
 " Make no attempt," I said ; " your slight figure will 
 prove no burden to me. It was of Eloise I thought." 
 
 " Then do so in that way no longer," she burst forth 
 eagerly. " I have been trouble enough to you, Geoffrey. 
 I will not consent to remain helpless. See ! I can stand 
 alone ay, and walk; even this great height does not 
 render my head dizzy." 
 
 We advanced slowly and cautiously down the path, 
 feeling yet the exhaustion of the night. The way proved 
 less difficult than we expected. The tunnel was by far 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 the hardest portion, as we were compelled to grope the 
 entire distance through intense darkness, guiding our 
 selves with hands against the wall. Having little fear that 
 any of the tribe remained to dispute our passage, we con 
 versed freely and cheerfully, avoiding all unnecessary 
 reference to the recent tragedy. We emerged from the 
 dark hole somewhat before noon, making use of the 
 entrance leading through the altar-house. The sight of 
 the deserted platform reminded us of the Puritan, and as 
 I glanced aside at Eloise, her gray eyes were filled with 
 tears. A fire smouldered on the altar, waiting replenish 
 ment from hands that would labor no more ; and we 
 gladly hurried from the gloomy interior to the sunlit 
 slope without. 
 
 The desolate, deserted village presented a scene of 
 loneliness impossible to describe ; not a figure was mov 
 ing among the huts, no sign of life anywhere. We dis 
 covered an abundance of food, and partook of it in the 
 open. Eloise appeared unwilling to accompany me, so I 
 went alone to explore the mystery of Naladi s house, 
 leaving her assiduously ministering to the needs of the 
 priest. My search was rewarded by the discovery of my 
 lost rifle, with what remained of ammunition, together 
 with a variety of feminine garments with which to replace 
 those sadly soiled and tattered ones Madame wore. The 
 desire was in the hearts of us all to get away as soon as 
 possible, to put behind us that desolate spot, those 
 deserted houses, and the haunting cliff. The ptre had 
 constructed, during my absence, a pair of rude crutches 
 for his use ; and, so soon as Eloise had more becomingly 
 clothed herself, we departed, bearing such provisions as 
 
 27 [417] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 we could conveniently carry. With the gun in my pos 
 session, I expected no great shortness in the food supply. 
 Madame carried it at first, however, as we made swifter 
 progress by my taking the father on my shoulder. He 
 was no great burden, his weight scarcely more than that 
 of a child. 
 
 In this manner we tramped steadily forward through 
 the bright sunshine, along canals filled with clear, cool 
 water, and across fields no longer tilled by slaves, un 
 til we discovered the secret path which led forth from 
 this death valley. A moment we paused, glancing back 
 toward the village, and up at the frowning front of rock, 
 the tomb of the Natchez. Then silently, soberly, as 
 befitted those who had witnessed an act of God, we 
 pressed on into the labyrinth, shutting out forever that 
 scene, except as a hideous memory. To me the change 
 was like entering upon a new world ; I was a prisoner 
 released, breathing once again the clear air of hope and 
 manhood. Burdened as we were, the passage through 
 the tangled cedars to where the stream flowed down the 
 canyon proved one of severe exertion. When we finally 
 attained the outer rocks, with the sullen roar of the falls 
 just below, I was breathing heavily from exhaustion, and 
 a flush had come back into Eloise s pale cheeks. Very 
 gladly I deposited the priest in a position of comfort, 
 and the three of us rested in silence, gazing about upon 
 the wilderness scene. We had spoken little to each 
 other regarding the future ; under the depressing influ 
 ence of that dread valley we felt incapable of thought, 
 our minds yet dazed by the tragic events we had experi 
 enced. Even now I constantly saw before me the faces 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 of Cairnes and De Noyan, scarcely able to banish their 
 memory long enough to face intelligently the require 
 ments of the present. Yet now it must be done. The 
 pere sat, with crutches lying across his rusty black robe, 
 his girlish features softened by a look of infinite peace ; 
 Eloise leaned against the rock in a posture of weariness, 
 her bosom rising and falling with tumultuous breathing. 
 I recalled to mind the leagues of desolate wilderness yet 
 to be traversed. Possibly 1 indulged unconsciously in 
 outward expression, for the priest gazed across at me. 
 
 " The sun is still sufficiently high for considerable 
 travel, my son," he remarked quietly, "and you will 
 require daylight for the earlier part of your journey." 
 
 " It was upon my mind, but I scarcely knew how best 
 to proceed." 
 
 " Possibly my experience may guide you. The way 
 should not prove unduly fatiguing after you pass the 
 falls," with a wave of the hand downward, and a slight 
 smile. " I wandered here alone up that valley, seeking 
 the Indian village somewhat blindly, discovering much 
 of interest on the way. Would that my own future path 
 led me through such ease; but tis mine to go whither 
 soever the Lord wills. However, my discoveries will be 
 of value. Slightly below the falls, concealed beneath an 
 outcropping rock, you will find several stanch Indian 
 boats. The lightest one will transport safely the two of 
 you, together with what provisions you require. The 
 current runs swiftly, yet a strong, skilful hand on the 
 steering oar should bring you through without mishap." 
 
 We both stared at him, greatly puzzled by his strange 
 speech. Eloise was first to speak in protest. 
 
 [419] 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " What do you mean by two of us? Do you deem us 
 dastards enough to leave you here alone? " 
 
 He smiled into her face with the tender smile of a 
 woman, and held up his shining silver crucifix. 
 
 " Daughter," he said modestly, " my work is not yet 
 done. Upon this symbol I took solemn oath to live 
 and die in faithful service to the heathen tribes of this 
 river. Would you have me retreat in cowardice ? 
 Would you have me false to the vows of my Order ? to 
 the voice of the Master?" 
 
 " But you are crippled, helpless, in continual pain ! " 
 She crossed hastily to him, dropping upon her knees at 
 his side. " Oh, pere, we cannot leave you ; it would 
 mean death." 
 
 His slender fingers stroked her brown hair, his eyes 
 alight with the fire of enthusiasm. 
 
 " Whether or not I am worthy of martyrdom, God 
 knows. All I see is my plain duty, and the beckoning 
 hand of the bleeding Christ. Daughter, you are a child 
 of the true Church ; your pleading should never retard 
 the labor of the priesthood. My suffering is nothing, my 
 life nothing, if only through such sacrifice souls may be 
 rescued from the consuming flames of hell." 
 
 She could not speak, but sobbed, her face hidden. 
 
 " Where do you go seeking other tribes ? " I asked 
 hoarsely, scarcely believing his words. 
 
 He arose with difficulty to his feet, holding himself 
 erect on the rude crutches. I noticed now, for the first 
 time, a bag of woven grass hanging at his girdle. 
 
 " Yonder, Monsieur, to the westward," a new dignity 
 in his manner as he pointed up the narrow canyon. 
 
 [420] 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 " There are tribes a few days journey away. I have 
 learned of them, without being told their names. To 
 such, under God, I bear rny message of salvation." 
 
 " But you will starve on the journey." 
 
 " I carry food here," touching the bag. " It will 
 suffice ; if not, there are berries and roots in abundance. 
 My Master has always fed me in the wilderness." 
 
 What more could I say or do to change his purpose ? 
 It was a girlish face fronting me, yet the thin lips 
 were pressed tightly together, the dark eyes fearless 
 and resolute. I laid my hand on Eloise s shoulder. 
 
 " It must be as he says," I acknowledged regretfully. 
 " We can but depart." 
 
 She arose slowly to her feet, her eyes still sadly plead 
 ing. The fere gazed questioningly into both our faces, 
 the rigid lines of his mouth softening. 
 
 " My daughter," he said, in calm dignity, cc we of a 
 desert priesthood are ordained unto strange duties, and 
 unusual privileges. Do you love this man ? " 
 
 A wave of color surged into her cheeks, as she gave 
 one rapid glance aside into my face. Then she answered 
 in all simplicity : 
 
 C Yes,/>}r<?, from childhood." 
 
 Resting upon his crutch, he touched her with his 
 hand. 
 
 " Yet he who perished yonder was your husband. How 
 came you thus to marry, with your heart elsewhere? " 
 
 cc It was the desire of my father, and the will of the 
 Church." 
 
 He bowed his head, his lips moving in silent prayer 
 for guidance. 
 
PRISONERS OF CHANCE 
 
 " Then the will of the Church hath been done/ 
 he said humbly. " Here in the wilderness we perform 
 the will of God, untrammelled by the councils of men. 
 T is my dispensation to bury the dead, baptize the living, 
 and join in marriage those of one heart. It is not meet 
 that you two journey together except with the solemn 
 sanction of Holy Church." 
 
 My pulses throbbed, yet I could only look at her, 
 as she stood trembling, her eyes downcast, her cheeks 
 burning. 
 
 " But but, pere y will it be right ? " she faltered 
 faintly. 
 
 " Let the dead past bury its dead," he answered 
 gravely. " I hold it right in the name of Christ, from 
 whom I derive authority. Geoffrey Benteen, take within 
 your own the hand of this woman." 
 
 T is but a dream, our standing there together in the 
 sun ; a dream, those words of the marriage rite spoken 
 by him in the desolation and silence of the desert. We 
 knelt together upon the stones, hand clasping hand, 
 while above our bowed heads were uplifted the priest s 
 thin, white hands in benediction. Whether or not in 
 that hour Andre Lafossier exceeded his authority I 
 cannot tell. In heart we were joined of God ; our 
 union has never been questioned of man. 
 
 We stood there watching, longing to prevent the 
 sacrifice, as he moved away from us slowly upon his 
 crutches. It was a pitiful sight, that slender figure, in 
 frayed, tattered black robe, going forward alone, and in 
 agony, to death or torture. It was in my heart to cry 
 after him, but she understood far better the mighty 
 
 [422] 
 
THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD 
 
 motive of his sacrifice, and restrained me with uplifted 
 hand. Far up the canyon, he paused a moment and 
 glanced back. The distance already veiled his face, 
 but up into the sunlight he lifted the silver crucifix. 
 Then he disappeared to endure his fate in Christ s 
 name. Then, hand in hand and heart to heart, our 
 voices silent, Eloise and I went down into the valley 
 to where the boats lay. The dead past was behind us ; 
 the future was our own. 
 
 THE END 
 
 [423] 
 
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