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"You will not return to the town?"

"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_!" ejaculated De Noyan in dismay. "I supposed 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 satisfaction 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 approbation, although your Southern cookery has a peculiarly
greasy flavor to one of my taste in food."

"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. 'Tis 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 coats 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 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 quarrelled 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 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
uppermost. 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 could
find spirit to quarrel before the disapproving glance of her dark eyes.
It was thus we toiled forward, until 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 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
suspicious 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?"

"'Tis 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."

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 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 examine 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 succeeded 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.

"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 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 reassurance, 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, 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 forward 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 distance in a desolate sea of cane and drooping
grass. Fortunately 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. Rounding 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 not be noiseless, and surely the
fellow was not alone in this wilderness. How close at hand lurked his
companions 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. Suddenly 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
soldierly 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 chiselled 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 are no ghost; your aspect is altogether too
healthful for one condemned to exist upon air. _Saprista_! 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.

"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 consequences. The Marquis de Serrato
is not one given to speaking twice in such quest. I 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 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 previously 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 discover 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_! 'tis 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."

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 completely 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.

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