Part 6 (2/2)

”But _what_ enemy,” asked Barton, ”can he be pursuing in this direction?

There can be no large body of hostile Indians in these forests; for Guthrie, who is a woodsman, and who would at once have discovered the fact, would have communicated the intelligence to us. I think there can be no ground for apprehension.”

”I don't know about that, Squire,” replied Ichabod, ”but I'm sure something's in the wind; and if you take my advice, you'll prepare for defence. As for Guthrie, as you call him, _you_ know best about _him_; he's got a miserable, hang-dog face, any way.”

Although there was much plausibility in the opinion of Barton and Ichabod's apprehensions did not seem to be well-grounded, yet Ralph, who knew that Ichabod had not given this advice without reflection, also advised Barton at once to take means of defense against any attack which might be made upon the cottage.

Barton yielded to the solicitations of Ralph and Ichabod; and the party having arrived at the cottage, Sambo was at once despatched to drive in the cattle into an enclosure which had been constructed upon the west side of the house. This yard was guarded upon all sides by an enclosure of logs some ten or twelve feet in height, and had been prepared expressly for the purpose for which it was now used. Its construction had been deemed necessary by Barton for the purpose of protecting his cattle in case of an attack by Indians, as well as to protect them from wolves or bears, which were occasionally seen prowling around the premises.

The house itself, as we have before remarked, was adapted for defence against any outward attack from such means of warfare as Indians would be likely to attempt. The outside doors were heavy, and were secured by strong bars, which would resist any ordinary force that might be applied to them. The windows in the lower story were fitted with strong blinds, which it would be impossible to remove from the outside. In the second story, the windows were guarded by long hickory bars which had been morticed into the logs, while loop-holes had been provided, through which an attack might be repelled.

The house was put into a complete state of defense. The rifles were all loaded, and placed in a position where they could be readily obtained, in case they should be needed. Thus prepared, the family at length retired to rest, the negro having been ordered to keep watch during the night.

CHAPTER VII.

”It is not a time for idle grief, Nor a time for tears to flow; The horror that freezes his limbs is brief-- He grasps his war-axe and bow, and a sheaf Of darts made sharp for the foe.”

BRYANT.

As might be inferred from the scenes and excitements of the preceding day, the inmates of the cottage did not seek the night's repose with the accustomed feelings of tranquility and safety. Ruth went over again in memory the events of the day, and she could not conceal from her own mind the fact that Ralph Weston was much more to her than an ordinary stranger. Having known him in youth, she had always esteemed the leading traits of his character; and she now felt that esteem ripening into a pa.s.sion which bears a much more tender name.

As for Ralph, he had not needed to pa.s.s through any such excitements or dangers, as Ruth and he had that day encountered, to adjust any wavering balance of affection. He had seen enough to perfectly satisfy him that Ruth looked upon him with no indifference; and notwithstanding the preparations for defense and the unpleasant ideas which the prospect of an Indian attack would be likely to excite, he sank into a pleasant slumber, and was willingly borne off into the region of fairy dreams.

Ichabod had no such potent specific with which to drown care and reflection. The Tuscarora, and his probable object in visiting the valley--his mysterious manner during their brief conversation--were ever present to his mind; and after tossing about restlessly on his bed until nearly daylight, he arose with the resolution of seeking an explanation of the mystery. His preparations were made in silence, and without disturbing any of the inmates of the house. Throwing his rifle across his arm, and fastening into a belt which he buckled around him a large hunting-knife, he noiselessly descended into the lower part of the building.

In the gloom which pervaded the room into which Ichabod entered, it was some time before he discovered Sambo, who had been stationed there to keep watch during the night. He at length espied him, sitting in a chair before the huge fire-place, with his head bent upon his breast, in a most unmistakable att.i.tude of slumber. Ichabod had not forgotten the grinning of the negro, at his exploits in fis.h.i.+ng the day before, and he was willing to give him a sufficient fright to punish him a little.

Advancing noiselessly towards him, he placed one hand on the top of his woolly head, and with a rapid motion of the other imitated the circular cutting used in the process of scalping, imprinting his thumb-nail with sufficient force into the skin, to give the sleeping negro a distinct impression of that disagreeable operation.

As the whole family for that night had retired to the upper part of the house, Ichabod knew that he should be able to stifle the cries of the negro, so that no one in the building would be alarmed.

The moment Sambo felt the impression of the thumb-nail on his skin, he awoke with a scream of fear; but Ichabod rapidly closed his mouth with one of his heavy hands.

”Oh gor-a-ma.s.sy--ma.s.sa Injin! I'm scalped. O Lor'! O Lor'!” exclaimed the negro; and in his distress he tumbled down upon the floor under the impression that he was about to give up the ghost.

Ichabod, who saw that he had carried the joke as far as safety to the negro would allow, lifted him up into the chair.

”There, you black devil! go to sleep will you, when you're on duty? You do that again, and we'll have you hung by the articles of war.”

The negro, who was perfectly willing to escape a scalping for the present, by a prospect of hanging in the future, speedily recovered from his fright.

”O gor-a-ma.s.sy, 'twas you, was it, Ma.s.sa Jenkins? Know'd it was you, all the while! Needn't think you could come possum over this n.i.g.g.e.r, any how; I jist set down in the chair to listen a little.”

Ichabod, who was amused at the a.s.surance of the negro, advised him not to listen in that manner any more, or he would get scalped in earnest.

Then unbarring the door, and bidding the negro to fasten it after him, and to inform the Squire and Captain when they got up, that he should be back in an hour or two, departed, in the direction of the shanty.

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