by J. B. Jones
CHAPTER XVI.
Balmy spring--Joe's curious dream--He prepares to catch a fish--Glenn--William and Mary--Joe's sudden and strange appearance--La-u-na--Thetrembling fawn--The fishing sport--The ducking frolic--Sneak and thepanther.
It was now the first week in May. Every vestige of winter had longsince disappeared, and the verdure of a rich soil and mild temperaturewas fast enrobing the earth with the freshest and most pleasing ofcolours. Instead of the dreary expanse of ice that had covered theriver, its waters now murmured musically by in the early morn--itscurling eddies running along the sedgy shore, while the rising sunslowly dissipated the floating mists; and the inspiring notes of allthe wild variety of birds, contributed to invest the scene with suchcharms as the God of nature only can impart, and which may only befully enjoyed and justly appreciated by guileless and unsophisticatedmortals.
Glenn rambled forth, and, partaking the harmony that pervaded theearth, air, and waters, his breast swelled with a blissful exultationthat can never be known amid the grating voices of contending men, orexperienced in crowded cities, where many confused sounds vibrateharshly and distracting on the ear. He stood in his little gardenamong the flowers that Mary had planted, and watched the humming-birdspoised among the trembling leaves, their tiny wings still unruffled bythe dew, while their slender beaks inhaled the sweet moisture of thevariegated blossoms. Long he regarded the enchanting scene,unconscious of the flight of time, and alike regardless of the pastand the future in his all-absorbing admiration of the present, whereinhe deemed he was not far remote from that Presence to which time andeternity are obedient--when his phantasm was abruptly andunceremoniously put to flight by his man Joe, who rushed out of thehouse with a long rod in his hand; yawning and rubbing his eyes, as ifhe had been startled from his morning slumber but a moment before.
"What's the matter?" demanded Glenn.
"It was a wapper!" said Joe.
"What was?"
"The fish."
"Where?" asked Glenn.
"I'll tell you. I dreamt I was sitting on a rock, down at the ferry,with this rod in my hand, fishing for perch, when a thundering bigcatfish, as long as I am, took hold. I dreamt he pulled and Ipulled--sometimes he had me in the water up to my knees, and sometimesI got him out on dry land. But he always flounced and kicked backagain. Yet he couldn't escape, because the hook was still in hismouth, and when he jumped into the river I jumped to the rod, and sowe had it over and over--"
"And now have done with it," said Glenn, interrupting him. "What areyou holding the rod now for?"
"I'm going to try to catch him," said Joe, with unaffected simplicity.
"Merely because you had this dream!" continued Glenn, his featuresrelaxing into a smile.
"Yes--I believe in dreams," said Joe. "Once, when we were living inPhiladelphia, I had one of these same dreams. It was just about thesame hour--"
"How do you know what hour it was you dreamt about the fish?" againinterrupted Glenn.
"Why--I--," stammered Joe, "I'm sure it was about daybreak, becausethe sun rose a little while after I got out."
"That might be the case," said Glenn, "if you were to dream about thesame thing from sun-down till sun-up. And I believe the fish wasrunning in your head last night before I went to bed, for you werethen snoring and jerking your arms about."
"Well, I'll tell you my other dream, anyhow. I dreamt I was walkingalong Spruce Street wharf with my head down, when all at once my toestruck against a red morocco pocket-wallet; I stooped down and pickedit up and put it in my pocket, and went home before I looked to seewhat was in it."
"Well, what was in it when you did look?" asked Glenn.
"There was a one thousand dollar note on the Bank of the UnitedStates, with the president's and cashier's names on it, all genuine.Oh, I was so happy! I put it in my vest-pocket and sewed it up."
"But what have you done with it since?" asked Glenn.
"I--Hang it! it was only a dream!"[1] said Joe, unconsciously feelingin his empty pocket.
[1] Thousands have had similar dreams about similar notes since Joe'sdream.--_Printer's Devil_.
"But what has that dream to do with the fish?" pursued Glenn.
"I'll tell you," said Joe. "When I got up in the morning anddiscovered it was a dream, I slipped on my clothes as quickly aspossible and set off for the wharf. When I got there, I walked alongslowly with my head down till at length my toe struck against anoyster-shell. I picked it up, and while I was looking at it, thecaptain of a schooner invited me on board of his vessel to look at hiscargo of oysters, just stolen from Deep Creek, Virginia. He gave me atleast six dozen to eat!"
"And this makes you have faith in such dreams?" asked Glenn, strivingin vain to repress his laughter.
"I got _something_ by the dream," said Joe. "I had a first rateoyster-breakfast."
"But what has all this to do with the fish?" continued Glenn;"perhaps, instead of the fish, you expect to catch a _frog_ this time.You will still be an Irishman, Joe. Go and try your luck."
"St. Patrick forbid that I should be any thing else but an Irishman! Ishould like to know if an Irishman ain't as good as anybody else,particularly when he's born in America, as I was? But the dream inPhiladelphia _did_ have something to do with a fish. Didn't I catch afish? Isn't an oyster a fish? And it had something to do with _this_fish, too. I've been bothering my head ever since I got up about whatkind of _bait_ to catch him with, and I'm sure I never would havethought of the right kind if you hadn't mentioned that _frog_ justnow. I recollect they say that's the very best thing in the world tobait with for a catfish. I'll go straight to the brook and hunt up afrog!" Saying this, Joe set out to execute his purpose, while Glennproceeded to Roughgrove's house to see how William progressed in hisstudies.
The intelligent youth, under the guidance of Roughgrove, Glenn, andhis unwearying and affectionate sister, was now rapidly making amendsfor the long neglect of his education while abiding with theunlettered Indians. He had already gone through the English grammar,and was entering the higher branches of study. The great poets of hisown country, and the most approved novelists were his companionsduring the hours of relaxation; for when the illimitable fields ofintellect were opened to his vision, he would scarce for a momentconsent to withdraw his admiring gaze. Thus, when it was necessary fora season to cease his toil in the path of learning, he delighted torecline in some cool shade with a pleasing book in his hand, andregale his senses with the flowers and refreshing streams ofimaginative authors. And thus sweetly glided his days. Could suchhalcyon moments last, it were worse than madness to seek the wealthand honours of this world! In that secluded retreat, though far fromthe land of his nativity, with no community but the companionship ofhis three or four friends and the joyous myriads of birds--no palacesbut the eternal hills of nature, and no pageantry but the rays of therising and setting sun streaming in prismatic dies upon them, thesmiling youth was far happier than he would have been in the princelyhalls of his fathers, where the sycophant only bent the knee toreceive a load of gold, and the friend that might protect him on thethrone would be the first to stab him on the highway.
A spreading elm stood near the door of Roughgrove's house, and beneathits clustering boughs William and Mary were seated on a rude bench,entirely screened from the glaring light of the sun. A few pacesdistant the brook glided in low murmurs between the green flags andwater violets over its pebbly bed. The morning dew yet rested on thegrass in the shade. The soft sigh of the fresh breeze, as it passedthrough the motionless branches of the towering elm, could scarce beheard, but yet sufficed ever and anon to lift aside the glossyringlets that hung pendent to the maiden's shoulders. The paroquet andthe thrush, the bluebird and goldfinch, fluttered among the thickfoliage and trilled their melodies in sweetest cadence. Both thebrother and sister wore a happy smile. Happy, because the innocence ofangels dwelt in the bosom of the one, and the memory of his guilelessand blissful days of childhood possessed the other. Occasionally theyread some passages
in a book that lay open on Mary's lap, describingthe last days of Charles I., and then the bright smile would be dimmedfor a moment by a shade of sadness.
"Oh! poor man!" exclaimed Mary, when William read of the axe of theexecutioner descending on the neck of the prostrate monarch.
"It is far better to dwell in peace in such a quiet and lonely placeas this, than to be where so many cruel men abide," said William,pondering.
"Ah me! I did not think that Christian men could be so cruel," saidMary, a bright tear dropping from her long eyelash.
"But the book says he was a tyrant and deserved to die," continued theyouth, his lips compressed with firmness.
"He's coming!" exclaimed Mary, suddenly, and the pitying thought ofthe unfortunate Charles vanished from her mind. But as she steadilygazed up the path a crimson flush suffused her smooth brow and cheek,and she rose gracefully, and with a smile of delight, welcomed Glennto the cool and refreshing shade of the majestic elm.
"You have come too late. William has already said his lesson, and I'msure he knew it perfectly," said Mary, half-reproachfully andhalf-playfully.
"Mary don't know, Mr. Glenn; because I am now further advanced thanshe is," said William.
"But what kept you away so long this beautiful morning?" continued theinnocent girl. "Don't you see the dew is almost dried away in the sun,and the morning-glories are nearly all closed?"
"I was lingering in the garden among the delicate flowers you gave meMary; and the green and golden humming-birds charmed me so that Icould not tear myself away," replied our hero, as he sat down betweenthe brother and sister.
"I shall go with brother William on the cliff and get some wild rosesand hare-bells, and then all your humming-birds will leave you andstay here with me," said Mary, smiling archly.
"But you will be the prettiest bird among them, and flower too, to myeyes," said Glenn, gazing at the clear and brilliant though laughingeyes of the pleased girl.
"If that were the case, why did you linger so long in the garden?"asked the maid, with some seriousness.
"I should not have done so, Mary, but for Joe, who, you know, willalways be heard when he has any thing to say; and this morning he hada ludicrous dream to tell me."
"I like Joe a great deal--he makes me laugh every time I see him. Andyou must tell me what he said, and how he looked and acted, that I mayknow whether you did right to stay away so long," said the thoughtlessand happy girl, eager to listen to the accents of the one whoseapproach had illumined her features with the mystical fires of theheart.
Glenn faithfully repeated every word and gesture of his dialogue withJoe, and the unsophisticated girl's joyous laugh rang merrily up theechoing vale in sweet accompaniment with the carols of the featheredsongsters.
When the narration ended, they both turned with surprise to William,who, instead of partaking their hilarity as usual, sat perfectlymotionless in deep thought, regarding with apparent intensity thestraggling spears of grass that grew at his feet. The book he hadtaken up, which had dropped from Mary's lap when she hastily rose atthe approach of Glenn, now fell unobserved by him from his relaxedhand. His face became unusually pale. His limbs seemed to be strangelyagitated, and the pulsations of his heart were audible.
"What's the matter, dear brother?" cried Mary, in alarm.
"La-u-na--LA-U-NA!" he exclaimed, and, sinking softly down on hisknees, applied his ear close to the ground in a listening attitude.
"Dear brother William! _do_ tell Mary what ails you! What is La-u-na!"said the startled and distressed girl, with affectionate concern.
"_La-u-na_--THE TREMBLING FAWN!" cried William, pantingly.
"Listen" said Glenn, checking Mary when she was about to repeat herinquiry. A plaintive flute-like sound was heard at intervals, floatingon the balmy and almost motionless air down the green-fringed vale. Attimes it resembled the mournful plaint of the lonely dove, and thendied away like the last notes of the expiring swan.
Before many minutes elapsed another sound of quite a differentcharacter saluted their ears. This was a rustling among the bushes,heard indistinctly at first, while the object was far up the valley,but as it approached with fearful rapidity, the rushing noise becametremendous, and a few moments after, when the trembling sumachs partedin view, they beheld Joe! He dashed through the briers interspersedamong the undergrowth, and plunged through the winding brook thatoccasionally crossed his path, as if all surrounding obstacles andobstructions were contemptible in comparison with the danger behind!Leaping over intervening rocks, and flying through dense clusters ofyoung trees that ever and anon threatened to impede his progress, heat length reached the spot where the little group still remainedseated. Without hat or coat, and panting so violently that he wasunable to explain distinctly the cause of his alarm, poor Joe threwhimself down on the earth in the most distressed and pitiablecondition.
"What have you seen? What is the cause of this affright?" asked Glenn.
"I--oh--they--coming!" cried Joe, incoherently.
"What is coming?" continued Glenn.
"I--Indians!" exclaimed he, springing up and rushing into the house.
"They are friendly Indians, then," said Mary; "because the hostileones never come upon us at this season of the year."
"So I have been told," said Glenn; "but even the sight of a friendlyIndian would scare Joe."
"It is La-u-na!" said William, still attentively listening.
"What is _La-u-na_?" interrogated Mary, again.
"The _Trembling Fawn_!" repeated William, with emphasis, in amysterious and abstracted manner. Presently he stood up and intentlyregarded the dim path over-shadowed by the luxuriant foliage that Joehad so recently traversed, and an animated smile played upon his lips,and dark, clear eyes sparkled with a thrill of ecstasy.
A slight female form, emerged from the dark green thicket, and glidedmore like a spirit of the air than a human being towards the wonderinggroup. Her light steps produced no sound. In each hand she held a richbouquet of fresh wild flowers, and leaves and blossoms werefantastically, though tastefully, arranged in her hair and on herbreast. A broad, shining gold band decked her temples, but many of herraven ringlets had escaped from their confinement, and floated out onthe wind as she sped towards her beloved.
"La-u-na! La-u-na!" cried William, darting forward frantically andcatching the girl in his arms. He pressed her closely and fondly tohis heart, and she hid her face on his breast. Thus they clungtogether several minutes in silence, when they were interrupted byRoughgrove, whose attention had been attracted by the sudden affrightof Joe.
"William, my dear boy," said the grieved old man, "you must not haveany thing to do with the Indians--you promised us that you wouldnot--"
"Leave us!" said the youth, sternly, and stamping impatiently.
"Do, father!" cried Mary, who looked on in tears, a few paces apart;"brother won't leave us again--I'm sure he won't--will you, William?"
"No, I will not!" exclaimed the youth. The Indian girl comprehendedthe meaning of his words, and, tearing, away from his embrace, stoodwith folded arms at his side, with her penetrating and reproachfuleyes fixed full upon him, while her lips quivered and her breastheaved in agitation. All now regarded her in silence and admiration.Her form was a perfect model of beauty. Her complexion was but a shadedarker than that of the maidens of Spain. Her brows were mostadmirably arched, and her long silken lashes would have been envied byan Italian beauty. Her forehead and cheeks were smooth, and all herfeatures as regular as those of a Venus. The mould of her face wasstrictly Grecian, and on her delicate lips rested a half-formedexpression of sad regret and firm resolution. Her vestments were rich,and highly ornamented with pearls and diamonds. She wore a light snowymantle made of swan skins, on which a portion of the fleecy downremained. Beneath, the dress was composed of skins of the finestfinish, descending midway between her knees and ankles, where it wasmet by the tops of the buckskin moccasins, that confined her small anddelicately-formed feet. Her arms, which were mostly c
oncealed underher mantle, were bare from the elbows down, and adorned at the wristswith silver bands.
"Why, hang it all! Was there nothing running after me but this squaw?"asked Joe, who had ventured forth again unobserved, and now stoodbeside Glenn and Mary.
"Silence!" said Glenn.
"Oh, don't call _her_ a squaw, Joe--she's more like an angel than asquaw," said Mary, gazing tenderly at the lovers, while tears were yetstanding in her eyes.
"I won't do so again," said Joe, "because she's the prettiest wildthing I ever saw; and if Mr. William don't marry her, I will."
"Keep silent, Joe, or else leave us," again interposed Glenn.
"I'll go catch my fish. I had just found a frog, and was in the act ofcatching it, when I saw the sq--the--_her_--and I thought then that Iwould just run home and let you know she was coming before I took it.But I remember where it was, and I'll have it now in less than notime." Saying this, Joe set off up the valley again, though not verywell pleased with himself for betraying so much alarm when there wasso little danger.
"La-u-na, I am no Indian," said William, at length, in the language ofher tribe, and much affected by her searching stare.
"But you were once the young chief that led our warriors to battle,and caught La-u-na's heart. I heard you were a pale-face after youwere taken away from us; and I thought if you would not fly back toLa-u-na, like the pigeon that escapes from the talons of the eagle andreturns to its mate, then I would lose you--forget you--hate you. Itried, but I could not do it. When the white moon ran up to the top ofthe sky, and shone down through the tall trees in my face, I wouldever meet you in the land of dreams, with the bright smile you used tohave when you were wont to put your arm around me and draw me sogently to your breast. I was happy in those dreams. But they would notstay. The night-hawk flew low and touched my eyes with his wings as heflapped by, and I awoke. Then my breast was cold and my cheeks werewet. The katydids gathered in the sweet rose-bushes about me and sungmournfully. La-u-na was unhappy. La-u-na must see her Young Eagle, orgo to the land of spirits. She called her wild steed to her side, and,plucking these flowers to test his fleetness, sprang upon him and flewhither. He is now grazing in the prairie at the head of the valley;and here are the blossoms, still alive, fresh and sweet." Thetrembling and tearful girl then gently and sadly strewed the flowersover the grass at her feet.
"Sweet La-u-na!" cried William, snatching up the blossoms and pressingthem to his lips, "forgive the young chief; he will still love you andnever leave you again."
"No--no--no!" said the girl, shaking her head in despair; "the paleface youth will not creep through the silent and shady forest withLa-u-na any more. He will gather no more ripe grapes for the TremblingFawn. He will not bathe again in the clear waters with La-u-na. Hewill give her no more rings of roses to put on her breast. TheTrembling Fawn is wounded. She must find a cool shade and lie down.The dove will perch over her and wail. She will sing a low song. Shewill close her eyes and die."
"Oh, no!" cried William, placing his arms around hertenderly; "La-u-na must not die; or, if she does, she shall not diealone. Why will not La-u-na dwell with me, among my friends?" The girlstarted, and exhibited signs of mingled delight and doubt.--P. 232]
"Oh, no!" cried William, placing his arms around her tenderly,"La-u-na must not die, or if she does, she shall not die alone. Whywill not La-u-na dwell with me among my friends?" The girl started andexhibited signs of mingled delight and doubt, and then replied--
"The pale maiden would hate La-u-na, and the gray-head would drive heraway."
"No, La-u-na," said William; "they would all love you, and we would beso happy! Say you will stay with me here, and you shall be my wife,and I will have no other love. My sister is sweet and mild as La-u-na,and my father will always be kind."
The dark eyes of the girl assumed an unwonted lustre, and she turnedimploringly to Mary, Glenn, and Roughgrove.
"Oh!" cried William, in his native tongue, addressing his whitefriends; "let La-u-na dwell with us! She is as innocent as the lily bythe brook, and as noble as a queen. Father," he continued, steppingforward and taking Roughgrove's hand, "you won't refuse my request!And you, sister Mary, I know you will love her as dearly as you do me.And you, my friend," said he, turning to Glenn, "will soon hear herspeak our own language, and she will cull many beautiful flowers foryou that the white man never yet beheld. Grant this," added the youth,after pausing a few moments, while his friends hung their heads insilence, "and I will remain with you always; but if you refuse, I mustfly to the forest again."
"Stay! Oh, brother, you shall not go!" cried Mary, and rushingforward, she threw her arms round his neck. The Indian girl kissed herpale brow, and smiled joyfully, when the youth told her that Mary washis dear sister.
"He loves her, and her affection for him is imperishable!" said Glenn.
"And why may they not be happy together, if they dwell with us?" askedRoughgrove, pondering.
"There is no reason why they should not be. Let us tell them to remainand be happy," said Glenn.
When fully informed that she might abide with them and still love herYoung Eagle, La-u-na was almost frantic with ecstasy. She lookedgratefully and fondly on her new friends, and pressed their hands inturn. She seemed to be more especially fond of Mary, and repeatedlywound her smooth and soft arms affectionately about her waist andneck.
William led his Indian bride to the seat under the spreading greentree, and signified a desire to commune with her alone. When seatedtogether on the rude bench, the maiden's hand clasped in William's,Mary fondly kissed them both and withdrew in company with Roughgroveand Glenn. Roughgrove prostrated himself in prayer when within thehouse. Mary ran up to the top of the beetling cliff to cull flowers,and Glenn directed his steps down the valley towards the river,whither Joe had preceded him with the frog he had succeeded incapturing.
Glenn was met about midway by Joe, who was returning slowly, withpeculiar marks of agitation on his face. He had neither frog, rod, norfish in his hand.
"I thought you were fishing," remarked Glenn.
"So I am," replied Joe; "and I've had the greatest luck you ever heardof."
"Well, tell me your success."
"I had a bite," continued he, "in less than three minutes after Ithrew in my hook. It was a wapper! When he took hold I let him playabout awhile with a slack line, to be certain and get it well fixed inhis mouth. But when I went to draw up, the monster made a splash ortwo, and then whizzed out into the middle of the river!"
"Where was the hook?" asked Glenn.
"In his mouth, to be sure," replied Joe.
"And the line?"
"Fast to the rod."
"And the rod?"
"Fast to the line!" said Joe, "and following the fish at the rate often knots, while I stood on the bank staring in utter astonishment."
"Then, where was your great success?" demanded Glenn.
"It was a noble _bite_," said Joe.
"But you were the _bitten_ one," remarked Glenn, scanning Joe'svisage, which began to assume a disconsolate cast.
"If I'd only been thinking about such a wapper, and had been on myguard," said Joe, "splash me if he should ever have got my rod away inthat manner--I'd have taken a ducking first!"
"Have you no more lines?" asked Glenn.
"No," replied Joe, "none but your's."
"You are welcome to it--but be quick, and I will look on while youhave your revenge."
Joe sprang nimbly up the hill, and in a few minutes returned withfresh tackle and another frog that he found on his way. They thenrepaired to the margin of the river; but before Joe ventured to castout his line again he made the end of the rod fast to his wrist bymeans of a strong cord he had provided for that purpose. But now hisprecaution seemed to have been unnecessary, for many minutes elapsedwithout any symptoms of success.
Glenn grew impatient and retired a few paces to the base of the cliff,where he reclined in an easy posture on some huge rocks that hadtumbled down from a g
reat height, and lay half-imbedded in the earth.Here he long remained with his eyes fixed abstractedly on the curlingwater, and meditated on the occurrence he had recently witnessed.While his thoughts were dwelling on the singular affection andconstancy of the Indian girl, and the probable future happiness of heryoung lord, his reflections more than once turned upon his _own_condition. The simple pleasantries that had so often occurred betweenMary and himself never failed to produce many unconscious smiles onhis lips, and being reciprocated and repeated day after day withincreased delight, it was no wonder that he found himself heavingtender sighs as he occasionally pictured her happy features in hismind's eye. He now endeavoured to bestow some grave consideration onthe tender subject, and to think seriously about the proper mode ofconducting himself in future, when he heard the innocent maiden'sclear and inspiring voice ringing down the valley and sinking in softmurmuring echoes on the gliding stream. Soon his quick ear caught thewords, which he recognised to be a short ballad of his own composing,that had been written at Mary's request. He then listened in silence,without moving from his recumbent position.
THE CRUEL MAIDEN.
I.
She heard his prayer and sweetly smiled, Then frown'd, and laughing fled away; But the poor youth, e'en thus beguiled, Still would pray.
II.
He'd won her heart, but still she fled, And laugh'd and mock'd from dell and peak While his sad heart, that inward bled, Was fit to break!
III.
Where the bright waters lead adown The moss-green rocks and flags among, He paused--and on his brow a frown Darkly hung!
IV.
A shriek came down the peaceful vale, Full soon the maid was at his side, Her ringlets flowing, and cheeks all pale, A _willing_ bride!
Glenn long remained motionless after the sounds died away, as ifendeavouring to retain the soothing effect of the ringing notes thathad so sweetly reverberated along the jutting peaks of the toweringcliff!
"I've got a bite!" exclaimed Joe, bending over the verge of the bankand stretching his arms as far as possible over the water, while hisline moved about in various directions, indicating truly that a fishhad taken the hook.
"Hold fast to the rod this time, Joe," remarked Glenn, who becameinterested in the scene.
"Won't I? Its tied fast to my wrist."
"Is it not time to pull him up?" asked Glenn, seeing that the fish, sofar from being conscious of peril, inclined towards the shore with theline in quest of more food.
"Here goes!" said Joe, jerking the rod up violently with both hands.No sooner did the fish feel the piercing hook in his mouth than herose to the surface, and splashing the water several feet round inevery direction, darted quickly downwards, in spite of the strenuousefforts of Joe to the contrary.
Nevertheless, Joe entertained no fears about the result; and the fish,as if apprized of the impossibility of capturing the rod, ran alongparallel with the shore, gradually approaching the brink of the water,and seemingly with the intention to surrender himself at the feet ofthe piscator. But this was not his purpose. When Joe made anotherstrong pull, in the endeavour to strand him in the shallow water, thefish again threw up the spray (some of which reached his adversary'sface,) and, turning his head outwards, ran directly away from theshore.
"Pull him back, Joe!" said Glenn.
"I am trying with all my might," replied Joe, "but he's so plaguystrong he won't come, hang him!"
"He'll get away if you don't mind!" continued Glenn, evincing muchanimation in his tones and gestures.
"I'll be drenched if he does!" said Joe, with his arm, to which therod was lashed, stretched out, while he endeavoured to plant his feetfirmly in the sand.
"He'll have you in the water--cut the rod loose from your wrist!"cried Glenn, as Joe's foothold gave way and he was truly drawn intothe water.
"Oh, good gracious! I've got no knife! Give me your hand!" cried Joe,vainly striving to untie the cord. "Help me! Oh, St. Peter!" hecontinued, imploringly, as the fish drew him on in the water, in quickbut reluctant strides. "Oh! I'm gone!" he cried, when the water wasmidway to his chin, and the fish pulling him along with increasingrapidity.
"You are a good swimmer, Joe--be not alarmed, and you will not behurt," said Glenn, half inclined to laugh at his man's indescribablecontortions and grimaces, and apprehending no serious result.
"Ugh!" cried Joe, the water now up to his chin, and the next moment,when in the act of making a hasty and piteous entreaty, his headquickly dipped under the turbid surface and disappeared entirely.Glenn now became alarmed; but, when in the act of divesting himself ofhis clothing for the purpose of plunging in to his rescue, Joe roseagain some forty paces out in the current, and by the exertion of thearm that was free he was enabled to keep his head above the water. Thecurrent was very strong, and the fish, in endeavouring; to run up thestream with his prize in tow, made but little headway, and a very fewminutes sufficed to prove that it was altogether unequal to theattempt. After having progressed about six rods, Joe's head becamequite stationary like a buoy, or a cork at anchor, and then, bydegrees, was carried downward by the strong flow as the fish at lengthbecame quite exhausted.
"Now for it, Joe--swim towards the shore with him!" cried Glenn.
"He's almost got my shoulder out of place!" replied Joe, blowing alarge quantity of water out of his mouth.
"I see his fin above the water," said Glenn; "struggle manfully, Joe,and you will capture him yet!"
"I'll die but I'll have him now--after such a ducking as this!" saidJoe, approaching the shore with the almost inanimate fish, that was nolonger able to contend against his superior strength. When he drewnear enough to touch the bottom, he turned his head and beheld hisprize floating close behind, and obedient to his will.
It required the strength of both Glenn and Joe to drag the immensecatfish (for such it proved to be) from its native element. It wasabout the length and weight of Joe, and had a mouth of sufficientdimensions to have swallowed a man's head. It was given to theferrymen, who had witnessed the immersion, and were attracted thitherto render assistance.
"I suppose you have now had enough of the fish?" remarked Glenn, asthey retraced their steps homeward.
"I'll acknowledge that I'm satisfied for the present; but I wasresolved to have satisfaction!" replied Joe.
"Yes, but you have had it with a vengeance; and I doubt not that yourapparent contentment is but cold comfort," continued Glenn.
"I'm not a bit cold--I shan't change my clothes, and I'm ready for anyother sport you like," said Joe.
"If you really suffer no inconvenience from the wet--and this finewarm day inclines me to believe you--we will take our guns and walkout to the small lakes on the borders of the prairie."
"Splash it"--began Joe.
"No--_duck_ it," interrupted Glenn.
"Well, I should like to know exactly what you mean--whether you are inearnest about going to the ponds, or whether you are joking me forgetting _ducked_--as there's nothing in them now to shoot but _ducks_,and it may have popped into your head just because I had the_ducking_," said Joe.
"I am in earnest," said Glenn; "I do not wish to annoy William, or tomeet Roughgrove and Mary until their domestic arrangements are allcompleted."
"That's strange," said Joe.
"What's strange?" asked Glenn, quickly.
"Why, your not wanting to meet Miss Mary. I say it is mostmysteriously strange," replied Joe.
"Say nothing more about it, and think less," said Glenn, striding inadvance, while a smile played upon his lip.
"But I can't help dreaming about it--and my dreams all come true,"said Joe.
"What have you been dreaming--but never mind--bring out the guns,"said Glenn, pausing at the gate of the inclosure, and not venturing tohear Joe recite the dream about himself and Mary.
When possessed of the necessary implements, they set out towards thegroves that bordered the prairie, among which were several lakes ofclear water,
not more than fifty or sixty paces in diameter, where thevarious wild fowl, as well as the otter and the muskrat, usuallyabounded. Our hero had previously anticipated some sport of thisnature, and constructed blinds on the verge of the lakes, and cutpaths through the clustering bushes to reach them stealthily. The lakethey now approached was bounded on one side by the green meadow-likeprairie, and fringed on the other by hazel thickets, with anoccasional towering elm that had survived the autumnal fires.
The morning breeze had subsided, and a delightful calm prevailed. Athousand wild flowers, comprising every hue, filled the air withdelicious fragrance, while no sound was heard but the melody of happybirds.
"I think I see a duck!" whispered Joe, as they moved slowly along thepath in a stooping posture.
"Where?" asked Glenn, as they crept softly to the blind and cast theireyes over the clear unruffled water.
"I thought I saw one on the muskrat house; but he must have gone tothe other side," responded Joe, now looking in vain for it, andclosely scanning the little hillocks that had been thrown up in thelake by the muskrats.
"You must have been mistaken," said Glenn; "suppose we go to the otherlakes."
"No, I wasn't mistaken--I'd swear to it--be quiet and keep a brightlook-out, and we'll see him again in a minute or two," replied Joe,who stood in an attitude of readiness to fire at an instant's warning.
"What is that?" asked Glenn, just then actually observing a smallbrown object moving behind the hillock.
"Wait till I see a little more of it," said Joe, with his finger onthe trigger.
"Don't fire, Joe! its a man's _cap_!" exclaimed Glenn, detecting underthe dark brim the large staring eyes of a human being, apparentlyevincing a sense of imminent peril; and the next moment the muzzle ofa gun pointing above their heads came in view.
"Dod rot it, look up that tree!"
The smile that began to play on our hero's features on recognizing thevoice of Sneak was quickly dispelled and succeeded by horror when hecast his eyes upward and beheld an enormous panther, stooping, and onthe eve of springing upon him!
"Oh!" exclaimed Joe, letting his gun fall, and falling down himself,bereft alike of the power of escape and the ability to resist.
"Be quiet!" said Glenn, endeavouring to raise his gun, which hadbecome entangled in the bushes; but before he could execute hispurpose Sneak fired, and the ferocious animal came tumbling downthrough the branches and fell at his feet.
"Ugh! Goodness!" exclaimed Joe, his hat striken down over his eyes bythe descending panther, and, leaping over the frail barrier of bushesinto the water, he plunged forward and executed a series of divingevolutions, as if still endeavouring to elude the clutches of thecarnivorous beast, which he imagined was after him.
"Dod--come out of the pond! Its dead--didn't you hear _me_ shoot?"said Sneak, who had by this time paddled a little canoe in which hehad been seated to the shore. But Joe continued his exercises, hiscrushed hat not only depriving him of sight, but rendering him deaf tothe laughter that burst from Glenn and Sneak. Sneak ran round to theopposite side of the lake to a point that Joe was approaching, (thoughall unconscious of his destination,) and remained there till the poorfellow pushed his half-submerged head against the grass, when heseized him furiously and bore him a few paces from the water, in spiteof his cries and struggles.
"_I_ ain't the painter!" said Sneak, at length weary of the illusion,and dragging Joe's hat from his head.
"Ha! hang it! ha!" cried Joe, staring at Sneak and Glenn inbewilderment. "Where is it?" he cried, when in some degree recoveredfrom his great perturbation.
"Didn't you hear _me_ shoot? Of course its dead!" replied Sneak.
"Which do you prefer, Joe, _ducking_ or _fishing_?" asked Glenn.
"I never saw a feller _duck_ his head so," said Sneak.
"Ha! ha! ha! you thought I was frightened, and trying to get away fromthe panther! But you were _much_ mistaken. I was chasing a muskrat--Igot wet in the river, and was determined to see--"
"You couldn't see your own nose!" interrupted Sneak.
He plunged forward, and executed a series of divingevolutions.--P. 240]
"If I couldn't see, I suppose I could hear him run!" replied Joe.
"You couldn't 'ave heard thunder!" said Sneak.
"Did you ever try it?" asked Joe.
"No," replied Sneak.
"Then you don't know," replied Joe; "and now I'm ready to kill aduck," he continued, looking up at a number of water-fowl sailinground and awaiting their departure to dip into the water.
"I will leave you here, Joe. When you hear me fire at the other lake,you may expect the ducks that escape me to visit you," observed Glenn,and immediately after disappeared in the bushes.
"And I'll take the painter's hide off," said Sneak, going with Joe tothe blind, where he quietly commenced his labour, that Joe's sportmight not be interrupted.
Several flocks of geese and ducks yet flew round above, and graduallydrew nearer to the earth, but still fearful of danger and cautiouslyreconnoitering the premises.
"Suppose I pink one of them on the wing?" said Joe, looking up.
"I don't believe you _kin_," said Sneak, as he tugged at the panther'shide.
"Wait till they come round the next time, and I'll show you--so lookout," said Joe.
"I'll not look--there's no occasion for my seeing--_I'm_ not after amuskrat," responded Sneak, stripping the skin from the animal, andlaughing at his own remark. When the ducks came round again, Joefired, and sure enough one of them fell--descending in a curve whichbrought it directly on Sneak's cap, knocking it over his eyes.
"Dod rot it! hands off, or I'll walk into you!" exclaimed Sneak,rising up in a hostile attitude.
"Good! that's tit for tat," cried Joe, laughing, as he loaded his gun.
"You didn't do it a purpose," said Sneak, "nor I won't jump into thewater nother."
"Yes I did!" continued Joe, much pleased at the occurrence.
"You didn't do any sich thing--or we'd have to fight; but nobody coulddo sich a thing only by accident. You'd better load your gun, and beready by the time the next comes," added Sneak, again tearing asunderthe panther's skin.
"I thought I _had_ loaded," said Joe, forgetting he had performed thatoperation, and depositing another charge in his old musket.
Presently Glenn's gun was heard, and in a few minutes an immense flockof geese and ducks, mingled together, flew over the bushes and coveredthe face of the lake. Joe very deliberately fired in the midst ofthem, and the rebound of his gun throwing him against Sneak, who wasstill in a stooping posture, they both fell to the ground.
"I did that on purpose, I'll take my oath--I knew you had put in twoloads," said Sneak, rising up.
"Yes, but I ain't hurt--falling over you saved me, or else I'd athrashed you or got a thrashing," replied Joe, his good humourrecovered on beholding some fifteen or twenty dead and wounded ducksand geese on the surface of the water. By the time he had collectedhis birds, by means of Sneak's canoe, Glenn, who had met with the likesuccess, emerged from the bushes on the opposite verge of the lake,bearing with him his game. Being well satisfied with the sport, he andJoe retraced their steps homeward.