The Kidnapper's Cove [pp. 740-749]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
would not desert us altogether. But where have you
been? Out of breath, and as pale as a corpse! Have
you been fighting with a wolf, or capsized by the waterfiend?" "You wvill not speak," exclaimed Eva, as he
turned silently away, and fixed his eyes on the dark
cove they were nearing; "can you not tell us whether
the spirit who haunts yon depths wvill be propitious,
for we are going to invade his realms?" "You have
nothing to fear from the water-spirit," replied Arrowfoot, "but why do you not sail up the river as you
have always done before?" "Because Julian wishes to
see the cove," said Eva gaily; "and with you at the
helm we fear nothing." "Trust not to that," replied
he, in a low tone, "I would guard you from danger with
my life, but-I would we were sailing uip the stream,"
hle continued with increased anxiety. "What can you
mean, Arrowfoot?" cried the now alarmed girl, but
immediately recovering her natural buoyancy of spirit,
she rallied him on his superstition. "Have you seen
a raven hovering over us, or does the moon dip her
horn?" she laughingly inquired. "Believe not the omen,
but let us follow these merry waves that go dancing by
us, to'the cave of their slumbers,' and hear the wild
song of the water-spirit soothing them to rest under
yon rude canopyofrock." Fitzgerald now approached.
"I do not like to see my cousin's bright countenance
wearing this shadow? What gloomy forebodings are
these that disturb you, Eva?" "I wish," answered she,
"that we had taken the usual course, for Arrowfoot
thinks we are not quite safe in venturing into the cove
this evening. Night is coming on, and perhaps we
may strike upon some hidden rock."'' "Never fear,"
rejoined he, "I am an old cruiser, who has doubled
Cape Horn and been baptized by Neptune. I want to
show you how we steer through dangers in real nautical style. This young Indian," he continued in a lower
tone, "knows nothing about it." "More perhaps than
you think he does," said Arrowfoot, sternly; for the
almost whispered accents had reached his acute ear.
Julian turned away apparently disconcerted, but in a
few moments was himself again, aid that he might
obliterate every uneasy feeling firom the breasts of the
little party, played off Jack-tar for their entertainment
with so much odd singularity and humor, that all, save
the lone Indian, entered into the spirit of his drollery,
and forgot every thing but the fantastic drama before
them. He stood apart, gazing first on the dark masses
of rock which overhung the river, then down its broad
and deep solitudes of water, on which no skiff or fishing
boat was visible. They were now entering the unfrequented cove. Seldom was it that even the canoe of
the wild Indian disturbed the stillness of this spot.
How strange was it then to see a small boat rise as it
were out of the waters, and emerge from the shadow
of the rocks within a few hundred yards of them. Arrowfoot, whose wary ear had heard the dash of oars
before it was visible, stood with straining eye fixed
upon it as it rapidly approached them. "I'll declare,
the water-spirit you were talking of," said Fitzgerald,
"has taken the form of a fishing boat, and Arrowfoot is
going to answer his demand why we presume to come
into his presence. But let me speak him as we do a
ship at sea, and lo! the charm will dissolve, and the
whole affair turn out to be nothing more than a trader
going down stream." In a moment he took out an in
strument something like a bugle, but of a peculiar tone,
and blew a few notes, which were answered by another
of the same kind, and an attempt on the -part of the
trader to overhaul them. "I told you," said Julian,
"it was no water-witch. See she wishes to give us a
fiiendly salute, and learn where we are bound." Eva's
looks were directed first to her cousin and then to the
Indian, but for whose look of alarm and defiance she
would have enjoyed the adventure. The boat came
nearer, and yet seemed steered by invisible hands, for
no one could be seen beneath the awning which was
raised at one end of it. "What lazy hulks," exclaimed
Fitzgerald, "to let their boat float on with the current,
while they lie dozing there. I'll p)ipe them again, and
if they dont answer more gaily I'll board them straightwvay." He raised his bugle just as they were in the
act of passing, and sounded a note, which was replied
to by two figures masked and muffled in short cloaks,
springing on the side of their little bark. "Good God!
who are you? what is your purpose?" cried he, in a
toneof consternation. "Villains! Murderers!" shouted Arrowfoot, straining the terrified Eldred close to his
bosom. The rulffians rushed upon him, and the cry of
despair he uttered when he found he could not retain
his hold upon the boy, revealed tleir success. The
struggle had been momentary. The Indian was shaken
off into the water, by men wlose nerve had been
strengthened by many a scene of blood and strife; and
the child he had so vainly striven to defend was heaved
into the boat of the strangers. One wild shriek pierced
the silence of the cove and all was still, while the pirates
pushed silently down the stream. Eva sunk lifeless on
the bosom of Caraola, who seemed stunned by the
events which had just occurred, but soon her mournful
wail told her utter hopelessness. Julian Fitzgerald
stood silent and unmoved. Where was his vaunted
courage, which had made no effort to rescue a helpless
boy? "Caraola," he at length said, "I have been think.
ing what course we had best pursue, to overtake these
murderers before they have completed their bloody
purpose. I would follow them immediately, but we
must first get assistance for this fainting girl." "Oh
go," cried she, "I can steer the boat-I can revive Eva."
Her voice, as it dwelt on the emnphatic word "go,"
roused the unconscious sufferer to a sense of her wretchedness. "Go-haste-save him-my brother, my father's darling," she shrieked in agony. "Julian, do
you hesitate?" "No, Eva-I am rowing with all my
strength-I must leave you in safety. My plan is
formed. Your father will approve it. We must raise
forces and scout the country around, for the ruffians
will not dare to execute their design on the river. We
can rescue the boy before they reach a place of concealment." "Oh Julian, speed, speed fast," she said, in a
tone of touching entreaty, "my brother's life depends
upon your arm. Oh Caraola, is Arrowfoot too gone?
I know he clung to him as long as life remained. Did
they kill him?" "They threw him off," replied Caraola, but he lives still. I saw him striving to reach
yonder shore. His heart is strong, and though his
young arm bends like the sapling, I know the Great
Spirt will strengthen it."
The night had fallen dark and gloomy ere they
reached Colonel Carlisle's door. Eva's cry of anguish
, caught her father's ear, and he rushed to meet them.
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