CHAPTER XVI
WE CHANGE OUR COURSE
My attempt to recross the river proved difficult. I had lost no smallamount of blood from my wound, which, besides weakening me, had sostiffened my right shoulder as to render any strain upon the oars aconstant pain. Yet the excitement nerved me to the effort, and,crushing down weakness by sheer force of will, I drove the heavy boatstraight through the low, overhanging bushes on to the soft mud of thebank. Before I could arise to my feet Madame was standing beside thedripping prow, her great eyes staring at the blood stains discoloringmy doublet.
"You are hurt!" she exclaimed, her lips white with apprehension. "Ibeg you tell me, is it a serious wound?"
"Nay, the merest scratch, Madame," I answered hastily, for it added tomy 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 loadeverything into the boat without delay. I will await you here, as Ifind myself weak from loss of blood."
She stood gazing intently at me, as if she read my most secretthoughts; and no doubt my face was sufficiently white to alarm her, yetI smiled back into her eyes, and she turned away, running lightly upthe bank. Nor was she long away, or noisy in her mission, scarcely aminute having elapsed before the three came trooping down to thewater-side, their hands laden with camp utensils, De Noyan wide awakeenough, and filled with intense interest in my adventures, but thePuritan yet cock-eyed from sleep, stumbling as he walked like a man ina dream.
"Take the oars, both of you," I said quietly, totally ignoring thequestion 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 swiftand quiet about it."
"Hast thou been smitten of the Philistine, friend Benteen?" loudlyquestioned Cairnes, stumbling noisily across the seats.
"Time enough to tell my story when we are beyond danger," I returnedtartly, annoyed by his awkwardness. "If you utter another word beforewe are around yonder headland, I will have De Noyan hoist youoverboard."
I saw him glance askance at the unconscious Chevalier as if mentallycalculating his ability to perform the feat. Then his glinting grayeyes swept the sodden shore as though vaguely wondering what it was wefled from in such unseemly haste. Nor did I long withdraw my ownanxious gaze from that north bank, until we rounded the bend in thestream, and were safely removed from view of any one below. I was ableto mark no sign of life along the ridge, my faith reviving that theSpanish sailors yet slept soundly, while as to their irate commander, Ihad trussed him with a thoroughness which left me confident. Feelingreassured I finally yielded to Eloise's entreaties, laying bare mybreast and permitting Madame to wash away the clotted blood and applysuch bandages as might easily be procured. She was extremely gentleabout it; but I marvelled somewhat at the trembling of her whitefingers and the pallor of her face, for it was not a bad wound, DeNoyan hesitating not to make light of it, although he acknowledged itwas a strong wrist which drove the tuck in. Anyway, what with thereaction and the loss of blood, I lay back quite spent, telling overbriefly those incidents that had occurred to me while they slept.
"And now," I said, addressing the Puritan, who was seated at thebow-oar, where I could see nothing of him except the bobbing of his redcrop, "how do you know this stream makes a circuit and approaches themouth of the Ohio? It beareth a little to the west of north here."
"It was the Spanish captain camping here as I passed down," heanswered, speaking abominably through his nose. "They called himCastellane, a little fellow, with pop-eyes, who pretended to light hispipe from my hair. He pointed it out upon a map some black-frockedpapist had drawn. It was plain enough to the eye, but 'tis likely theylied, for they were all spawns of Satan."
"True or false," I commented coolly, "we seem likely to find out. Ihave also heard somewhere--no doubt in the Illinois country--about anorthern trend to this stream, and one thing is certain, there is nohope for us otherwise; there can be no running those guard-lines backyonder."
"Do you mean we push on up this river?" broke in De Noyan, who hadmanaged to make something out of our conversation, especially as thePuritan illustrated his knowledge by rudely tracing with a stumpedforefinger a map on the board where he sat. "_Sacre_! 'tis thedirtiest red slough ever I navigated. Why not try the other thing? Abrush with those gentlemen below would be more to my taste."
"Ay, Master Benteen," boomed Cairnes with pious emphasis, reading themeaning of the other through his French gestures. "Methinks the Lordof Hosts would assuredly strengthen the hearts of His servants for sucha fray. How many, friend, do you suppose they number, those unwashedsons of Belial?"
"I can only guess. There were twelve oars in the boat passing us onthe 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 beingfighting men at a pinch."
"Faith, merely enough to make the affair of interest," muttered DeNoyan, as I explained my words to him. "Hardly enough even by yourcount, as the officer nurses a cracked rib, while the priest wouldprove of small moment when it came to blows. I am for bearing downupon the knaves in sudden onset; it will require but a crack or two erethe villains let us by."
"May the God of Battles place me within fair stroke of that accursedgray-backed emissary of Rome," snorted the Puritan, his red hair erect."I promise, Master Benteen, to smite as did David at Goliath."
I gazed uneasily about from where I lay at the feet of Madame, only toperceive her eyes resting upon me as if she waited anxiously mydecision.
"Do not suppose," she said quickly as our glances met, "that I shallshrink from the peril of encounter. If it is best, you may trust me todo whatsoever may become a daughter of France."
"Nor do we question it, Madame," I returned warmly, noting theunrestrained flash of pride leaping into the careless eyes of herhusband at these brave words. "But to invite such conflict in ourpresent condition would be sheer madness. There are only two men amongus, for I am but half a man, the rapier thrust has robbed me of solarge an amount of blood; nor do we possess fit weapons to wage battleagainst so well-armed a company as blocks our passage. De Noyan sportshis straight sword, which would be well wielded at close quarters; Ipossess my rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which arelikely to be needed to save us from starving in this wilderness; whileCairnes here might indeed prove a strong arm with the tuck I broughtback with me, yet probably knows nothing of the secrets of thrust andparry. Pish! 'tis not worth thinking about. Pit such an outfit asthis against eighteen well-armed men,--for the Marquis can shoot forall his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting qualities of thepriest,--and the venture becomes too difficult for parley. Nay,"warming up as I noted the hot-headed gallant preparing for speech, "noris this all we should have to contend with. Above, along the upperriver, there are at least three other expeditions of Spanish soldiery.They are warned of De Noyan's escape, already guarding every junction.Suppose we succeeded--which in itself would be a miracle--in cuttingour way out from here, could we hope to distance a twelve-oared boatracing against the current, or escape a clash with those others? Iknow the difference between a bold dash and the utter foolhardinesssuch a hopeless venture as this would be."
"_Sacre_! you appear strangely over-cautious all at once," and Idetected a covert sneer in the Chevalier's low, drawling tone. "TheSpaniard's blade must have let out the best of your blood. Were you asoldier, now, instead of a mere forest rover, the odds you mentionwould only serve to stir you into action."
"Pardon, Monsieur," I said quietly, holding my temper, "it may be Ihave seen harder service than some who boast loudly their soldiership.It requires more than a gay dress, with some skill in thefencing-schools, to make a soldier in my country, nor do I believe youwill ever find me lagging when a proper time comes to strike blows."
"So I supposed until now; yet 'tis evident you would have us continuetoiling for weeks aga
inst this foul current rather than strike onequick blow, and be free from the mess."
"Nay, Monsieur," my voice coming stern in rebuke of his rashness, "youare wrong. You know perfectly well, De Noyan, I risk my life readilyas any man in a good cause. I have ranged the woods since boyhood,long accustomed to border broil and battle--there is scarcely an Indiantrail between the Great Lakes and the country of the Creeks I have notfollowed either in peace or war. I have faced savage foemen in battle,and crossed steel with those of your own school, and although I maywear no glittering gold lace, nor sport a title with which to dazzlethe imagination of a girl, yet the man venturing to sneer at mycourage, either amid the wilderness, or in the town, makes answer forthe speech, whenever I come to my strength again."
"Always at your service, Monsieur," he murmured gently, "with thegreatest pleasure."
"Very well then," I went on, barely noting his words, yet marking thelook of distress on the face of his young wife, and despising him forit. "Understand this, Monsieur--we make no battle here, whether itsuit your hot-brained desires or not. I dragged you from the jaws ofdeath at the request of her who sits in silence yonder. I will neverconsent that your rashness now draw her into the peril of such a_melee_ as the attempt to run that gantlet. Cairnes,"--I turned toface the Puritan, sitting all this time with open mouth listening toour quarrel, yet scarcely comprehending a word that passed,--"this gayFrench cockerel would throw us against those eighteen men below, tofight our way from here to the Ohio, as if the Spaniards between wereso many buzzing mosquitoes, and you are not greatly averse to tryingthat same experiment."
"It would be a godly and pious service to smite so black and Papist acrew."
"No doubt of that; yet, Master Cairnes, you are scarcely the sort whowould involve a lady in such broil, when, if we escaped at first, thechances are we should have wounded to care for, or, perchance, beprisoners borne southward under Spanish guard--a contingency notover-pleasant, I imagine, to a preacher of your faith."
I saw him twist his little eyes as if in petition for guidance, whilehe ran his hand nervously through his red hair before venturing a reply.
"It must ever be as the Lord wills, friend Benteen," he returnedsoberly, De Noyan surveying the fellow as he might some strange animalwhose ways he did not understand. "I am not one to draw back my handonce upon the plough. Yet I have found you of a level and cool head inmatters of judgment, and it is meet we exercise due care over this rareflower of womanhood who shares our dangers. I like not the hard pullup 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 feelgifted at the oars, now the provisions bid fair to become somewhatscant."
I waited for no more.
"The Puritan sufficiently agrees with me," I announced to De Noyanfirmly. "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 inplacing 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 ofan overhanging bush. To my surprise the Chevalier, instead of pickingup his oar, grasped a bit of the projecting root, and, sword danglingafter him, coolly stepped forth upon dry land.
"You and your cursed canting preacher can do as you please," heannounced carelessly, staring down at us, "but if you desire to retainme 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, twistinghis moustache between his white fingers, his good humor instantlyrestored.
"Nay, most valiant hunter of game," he returned gayly. "_Le diable_!you appear as horrified as your hellfire friend yonder at sight of acrucifix. _Sacre_! I am not such a fool. I know when the odds aretoo great, even although I wear a uniform. Still, should I chance tomeet obstruction during my ramble, it is not likely I shall run from itwithout a pass or two. I merely return to our camp, and will be backpresently, if naught unpleasant occur."
"Our camp? You deliberately venture your life, and ours as well, frommere bravado?"
"_Bravado_! _Sacre_! you do wrong to use such term. 'T is of fargreater moment than that--I seek the curling iron I have just missedfrom out my toilet-bag. I mind me now I laid it beside the tree whileI slept."
Before I could recover speech to stay him, he vanished into the thickcane. It was a difficult task to make the practical-headed old Puritancomprehend the nature of his quest, and when it slowly dawned upon himfor what trivial matter the Frenchman undertook so desperate a journey,there came across his seamed and withered face so odd a look ofcomplete disgust, I laughed outright in my nervousness, discoveringsome slight response in the amused eyes or Madame. It proved a goodhour before the Chevalier returned, somewhat bedraggled of attire, yetwith his prize dangling at the belt, and dropped wearily upon a seatwithin the boat.
"'Tis time to move," he answered, responding to my look of inquiry."They were at the camp when I left; and appeared in ill humor, fromwhat little I could understand of their Spanish mouthings. They hadjust released the noble Marquis from where you trussed him upon therock, and his language has given me a headache."