Martin R. Delany - "The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States"

Honore de Balzac - "Analytical Studies"

Jane Addams - "The Spirit of Youth and the City Streets"

Howard R. Garis - "Uncle Wiggily in the Woods"

A Life Split in Two
An astonishing account of the intricate and unexpected swarm intelligence of wasps, bees, ants and termites.

E Pluribus Unum
Two centuries after Gibbon, a historian plots the trajectory of another great empire’s demise.

Little Britain
Carolyn Chute’s new novel is a love song to a voiceless part of America: the rural poor.

Randall Parrish - Prisoners of Chance

R >> Randall Parrish >> Prisoners of Chance




"Senor," I said, in studied courtesy, stopping suddenly and confronting
him, "I have hunted across this wilderness more than one season, and
dislike greatly being estopped now by Spanish decree. Nor do I
comprehend your right in this matter. Have you warrant for opposing
our peaceful passage to the Ohio?"

He stared at me in undisguised amazement at my boldness, a grim smile
on his hard, set face.

"Ay! I have, fellow," he finally retorted angrily, tapping his hilt.
"'Tis in this scabbard at my side."

"Then draw it, Senor," I exclaimed, throwing forward my long rifle
menacingly. "And may God stand with the better man."

I have a conception that at the moment he believed he was being fronted
by a crazed man, yet there was in my face an expression quickly
teaching him otherwise, and, with a swift twist, he flashed his sword
forth into the sunlight, standing on guard.

"_Por Baco_!" he growled savagely, "you must be little better than a
fool to hoist that club. It will give me pleasure to teach you better
manners toward a grandee of Spain."

"Grandee, or not," I retorted, angered at his implied contempt, "I may
teach you a trick, Senor, with that same club, never learned in your
Spanish fencing-schools."

It was swift, intense fighting from the word, he proving past-master of
his weapon, yet my stiff rifle-barrel was no mean defence against his
lighter blade, with a reach preventing his point touching my body, and
sufficient weight to bear down the thin, murderous steel whenever the
two came into contact. It had been long practice with me, having
picked up the pretty trick from a French zouave when I was a boy, so I
swung the iron as if it were a single-stick; and, in truth, I know of
no better fence against the stroke of a straight sword, although
fencing-masters, I have heard, make light of it. Nevertheless it was
new experience to this Spaniard, and it did me good to note how it
angered the fellow to be held back by such a weapon. He made such
stress to press in behind my guard that he began to pant like a man
running a hard race. Nor did I venture to strike a blow in return,
for, in simple truth, this soldier kept me busier with parry and feint
than any swordsman before, while he tried every trick of his trade, not
a few of them strange to me. So I bided my time, confident he must
make an opening for fit return if he kept up such furious attack, and
thus, with retreat and advance, hack and guard, thrust and parry, we
tramped up a wide bit of ground, while there was no sound of the
struggle, except our hard breathing, with now and then a fierce curse
from him as his flashing steel nicked on my gun-barrel, or flew off
into thin air just as he thought to send its deadly point home.

Such fighting is wearing even to seasoned nerves, and the dazzle of the
sun bothered my eyes, yet he had pressed me back scarcely more than a
couple of yards when his dancing blade slipped stealthily up my brown
barrel, suddenly nipping the loose sleeve of my doublet. As it pricked
into the cloth, scraping the skin of my forearm, I let the fellow have
the end of the muzzle full in the side. It was not the best spot for
such a thrust, nor could I give it proper force, yet I think it cracked
a rib, from the way the Spaniard drew back, and the sudden pallor of
his face; indeed, so ghastly white he got, I thought him done for, and
lowered my barrel carelessly. He was more of a man than I had reckoned
on, or else his pride made him averse to accepting defeat, for with one
quick spring, like a wounded tiger, he was inside my guard, his ugly
point rasping into me just beneath the shoulder. Saint Andrew! It was
an awkward touch, especially as the tough steel held, the punctured
flesh burning like fire; but fortunately the fellow was in too great
pain himself to press his advantage, and, as we clinched and went down
together, I chanced to be on top, throttling him with right good-will.

That which followed was but a small matter, yet I left him there,
waiting the discovery of his comrades, in as comfortable a posture as
possible, confident he could give no alarm. That Spaniard was a brave
man, and I have ever had respect for such.




CHAPTER XVI

WE CHANGE OUR COURSE

My attempt to recross the river proved difficult. I had lost no small
amount of blood from my wound, which, besides weakening me, had so
stiffened my right shoulder as to render any strain upon the oars a
constant pain. Yet the excitement nerved me to the effort, and,
crushing down weakness by sheer force of will, I drove the heavy boat
straight through the low, overhanging bushes on to the soft mud of the
bank. Before I could arise to my feet Madame was standing beside the
dripping prow, her great eyes staring at the blood stains discoloring
my doublet.

"You are hurt!" she exclaimed, her lips white with apprehension. "I
beg you tell me, is it a serious wound?"

"Nay, the merest scratch, Madame," I answered hastily, for it added to
my 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 load
everything into the boat without delay. I will await you here, as I
find myself weak from loss of blood."

She stood gazing intently at me, as if she read my most secret
thoughts; and no doubt my face was sufficiently white to alarm her, yet
I smiled back into her eyes, and she turned away, running lightly up
the bank. Nor was she long away, or noisy in her mission, scarcely a
minute having elapsed before the three came trooping down to the
water-side, their hands laden with camp utensils, De Noyan wide awake
enough, and filled with intense interest in my adventures, but the
Puritan yet cock-eyed from sleep, stumbling as he walked like a man in
a dream.

"Take the oars, both of you," I said quietly, totally ignoring the
question 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 swift
and quiet about it."

"Hast thou been smitten of the Philistine, friend Benteen?" loudly
questioned Cairnes, stumbling noisily across the seats.

"Time enough to tell my story when we are beyond danger," I returned
tartly, annoyed by his awkwardness. "If you utter another word before
we are around yonder headland, I will have De Noyan hoist you
overboard."

I saw him glance askance at the unconscious Chevalier as if mentally
calculating his ability to perform the feat. Then his glinting gray
eyes swept the sodden shore as though vaguely wondering what it was we
fled from in such unseemly haste. Nor did I long withdraw my own
anxious gaze from that north bank, until we rounded the bend in the
stream, and were safely removed from view of any one below. I was able
to mark no sign of life along the ridge, my faith reviving that the
Spanish sailors yet slept soundly, while as to their irate commander, I
had trussed him with a thoroughness which left me confident. Feeling
reassured I finally yielded to Eloise's entreaties, laying bare my
breast and permitting Madame to wash away the clotted blood and apply
such bandages as might easily be procured. She was extremely gentle
about it; but I marvelled somewhat at the trembling of her white
fingers and the pallor of her face, for it was not a bad wound, De
Noyan hesitating not to make light of it, although he acknowledged it
was a strong wrist which drove the tuck in. Anyway, what with the
reaction and the loss of blood, I lay back quite spent, telling over
briefly those incidents that had occurred to me while they slept.

"And now," I said, addressing the Puritan, who was seated at the
bow-oar, where I could see nothing of him except the bobbing of his red
crop, "how do you know this stream makes a circuit and approaches the
mouth of the Ohio? It beareth a little to the west of north here."

"It was the Spanish captain camping here as I passed down," he
answered, speaking abominably through his nose. "They called him
Castellane, a little fellow, with pop-eyes, who pretended to light his
pipe from my hair. He pointed it out upon a map some black-frocked
papist had drawn. It was plain enough to the eye, but 'tis likely they
lied, for they were all spawns of Satan."

"True or false," I commented coolly, "we seem likely to find out. I
have also heard somewhere--no doubt in the Illinois country--about a
northern trend to this stream, and one thing is certain, there is no
hope for us otherwise; there can be no running those guard-lines back
yonder."

"Do you mean we push on up this river?" broke in De Noyan, who had
managed to make something out of our conversation, especially as the
Puritan illustrated his knowledge by rudely tracing with a stumped
forefinger a map on the board where he sat. "_Sacre_! 'tis the
dirtiest red slough ever I navigated. Why not try the other thing? A
brush with those gentlemen below would be more to my taste."

"Ay, Master Benteen," boomed Cairnes with pious emphasis, reading the
meaning of the other through his French gestures. "Methinks the Lord
of Hosts would assuredly strengthen the hearts of His servants for such
a fray. How many, friend, do you suppose they number, those unwashed
sons of Belial?"

"I can only guess. There were twelve oars in the boat passing us on
the 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 being
fighting men at a pinch."

"Faith, merely enough to make the affair of interest," muttered De
Noyan, as I explained my words to him. "Hardly enough even by your
count, as the officer nurses a cracked rib, while the priest would
prove of small moment when it came to blows. I am for bearing down
upon the knaves in sudden onset; it will require but a crack or two ere
the villains let us by."

"May the God of Battles place me within fair stroke of that accursed
gray-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 to
perceive her eyes resting upon me as if she waited anxiously my
decision.

"Do not suppose," she said quickly as our glances met, "that I shall
shrink from the peril of encounter. If it is best, you may trust me to
do whatsoever may become a daughter of France."

"Nor do we question it, Madame," I returned warmly, noting the
unrestrained flash of pride leaping into the careless eyes of her
husband at these brave words. "But to invite such conflict in our
present condition would be sheer madness. There are only two men among
us, for I am but half a man, the rapier thrust has robbed me of so
large an amount of blood; nor do we possess fit weapons to wage battle
against so well-armed a company as blocks our passage. De Noyan sports
his straight sword, which would be well wielded at close quarters; I
possess my rifle, with small store of powder and ball, all of which are
likely to be needed to save us from starving in this wilderness; while
Cairnes here might indeed prove a strong arm with the tuck I brought
back with me, yet probably knows nothing of the secrets of thrust and
parry. Pish! 'tis not worth thinking about. Pit such an outfit as
this against eighteen well-armed men,--for the Marquis can shoot for
all his cracked rib, nor do I doubt the fighting qualities of the
priest,--and the venture becomes too difficult for parley. Nay,"
warming up as I noted the hot-headed gallant preparing for speech, "nor
is this all we should have to contend with. Above, along the upper
river, 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 cutting
our way out from here, could we hope to distance a twelve-oared boat
racing against the current, or escape a clash with those others? I
know the difference between a bold dash and the utter foolhardiness
such a hopeless venture as this would be."

"_Sacre_! you appear strangely over-cautious all at once," and I
detected a covert sneer in the Chevalier's low, drawling tone. "The
Spaniard's blade must have let out the best of your blood. Were you a
soldier, now, instead of a mere forest rover, the odds you mention
would only serve to stir you into action."

"Pardon, Monsieur," I said quietly, holding my temper, "it may be I
have seen harder service than some who boast loudly their soldiership.
It requires more than a gay dress, with some skill in the
fencing-schools, to make a soldier in my country, nor do I believe you
will ever find me lagging when a proper time comes to strike blows."

"So I supposed until now; yet 'tis evident you would have us continue
toiling for weeks against this foul current rather than strike one
quick blow, and be free from the mess."

"Nay, Monsieur," my voice coming stern in rebuke of his rashness, "you
are wrong. You know perfectly well, De Noyan, I risk my life readily
as any man in a good cause. I have ranged the woods since boyhood,
long accustomed to border broil and battle--there is scarcely an Indian
trail between the Great Lakes and the country of the Creeks I have not
followed either in peace or war. I have faced savage foemen in battle,
and crossed steel with those of your own school, and although I may
wear no glittering gold lace, nor sport a title with which to dazzle
the imagination of a girl, yet the man venturing to sneer at my
courage, either amid the wilderness, or in the town, makes answer for
the speech, whenever I come to my strength again."

"Always at your service, Monsieur," he murmured gently, "with the
greatest pleasure."

"Very well then," I went on, barely noting his words, yet marking the
look of distress on the face of his young wife, and despising him for
it. "Understand this, Monsieur--we make no battle here, whether it
suit your hot-brained desires or not. I dragged you from the jaws of
death at the request of her who sits in silence yonder. I will never
consent that your rashness now draw her into the peril of such a
_melee_ as the attempt to run that gantlet. Cairnes,"--I turned to
face the Puritan, sitting all this time with open mouth listening to
our quarrel, yet scarcely comprehending a word that passed,--"this gay
French cockerel would throw us against those eighteen men below, to
fight our way from here to the Ohio, as if the Spaniards between were
so many buzzing mosquitoes, and you are not greatly averse to trying
that same experiment."

"It would be a godly and pious service to smite so black and Papist a
crew."

"No doubt of that; yet, Master Cairnes, you are scarcely the sort who
would involve a lady in such broil, when, if we escaped at first, the
chances are we should have wounded to care for, or, perchance, be
prisoners borne southward under Spanish guard--a contingency not
over-pleasant, I imagine, to a preacher of your faith."

I saw him twist his little eyes as if in petition for guidance, while
he ran his hand nervously through his red hair before venturing a reply.

"It must ever be as the Lord wills, friend Benteen," he returned
soberly, De Noyan surveying the fellow as he might some strange animal
whose ways he did not understand. "I am not one to draw back my hand
once upon the plough. Yet I have found you of a level and cool head in
matters of judgment, and it is meet we exercise due care over this rare
flower of womanhood who shares our dangers. I like not the hard pull
up 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 feel
gifted at the oars, now the provisions bid fair to become somewhat
scant."

I waited for no more.

"The Puritan sufficiently agrees with me," I announced to De Noyan
firmly. "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 in
placing 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 of
an overhanging bush. To my surprise the Chevalier, instead of picking
up his oar, grasped a bit of the projecting root, and, sword dangling
after him, coolly stepped forth upon dry land.

"You and your cursed canting preacher can do as you please," he
announced carelessly, staring down at us, "but if you desire to retain
me 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, twisting
his moustache between his white fingers, his good humor instantly
restored.

"Nay, most valiant hunter of game," he returned gayly. "_Le diable_!
you appear as horrified as your hellfire friend yonder at sight of a
crucifix. _Sacre_! I am not such a fool. I know when the odds are
too great, even although I wear a uniform. Still, should I chance to
meet obstruction during my ramble, it is not likely I shall run from it
without a pass or two. I merely return to our camp, and will be back
presently, if naught unpleasant occur."

"Our camp? You deliberately venture your life, and ours as well, from
mere bravado?"

"_Bravado_! _Sacre_! you do wrong to use such term. 'T is of far
greater moment than that--I seek the curling iron I have just missed
from out my toilet-bag. I mind me now I laid it beside the tree while
I slept."

Before I could recover speech to stay him, he vanished into the thick
cane. It was a difficult task to make the practical-headed old Puritan
comprehend the nature of his quest, and when it slowly dawned upon him
for what trivial matter the Frenchman undertook so desperate a journey,
there came across his seamed and withered face so odd a look of
complete disgust, I laughed outright in my nervousness, discovering
some slight response in the amused eyes or Madame. It proved a good
hour before the Chevalier returned, somewhat bedraggled of attire, yet
with his prize dangling at the belt, and dropped wearily upon a seat
within 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, from
what little I could understand of their Spanish mouthings. They had
just released the noble Marquis from where you trussed him upon the
rock, and his language has given me a headache."




CHAPTER XVII

WE MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT

I find it poor work transcribing so much regarding myself in recounting
these small adventures, yet how else may I tell the story rightly?
This all occurred so long ago the young man of whom I write seems
hardly the same old man who puts pen to paper. The impression grows
upon me that I merely narrate incidents which befell a friend I once
knew, but who has long since passed from my vision.

It was wearying work, toiling up the muddy Arkansas, and in the end
disastrous. Occasionally, for miles at a stretch, our hearts were
gladdened by a curve toward the northward, yet we drew westerly so much
we became fearful lest the Jesuit had made false report on the main
course of the stream. Every league plunged us deeper into strange,
desolate country, until we penetrated regions perhaps never before
looked upon by men of our race. The land became more attractive, the
sickly marsh giving place to wide, undulating plains richly decorated
with wild grasses, abloom with flowers, bordered by a thick fringe of
wood. Toward the end of our journeying by boat, after we had passed
two cliffs upreared above the water, the higher rising sheer for two
hundred feet, we perceived to the northward vast chains of hills rising
in dull brown ridges against the sky-line, seemingly crowned with rare
forest growth to their very summits. During all these days and nights
in only two things could we deem ourselves fortunate--we discovered no
signs of roving savages, while wild animals were sufficiently numerous
to supply all our needs.

Three days' journey beyond the great cliff--for we voyaged now during
the daylight, making camp at nightfall--I became convinced of the utter
futility of further effort. By this time I had recovered sufficiently
from my wound to assume a share of labor at the oars, and was pulling
that afternoon, so my eyes could glance past the fiery red crop of the
Puritan, who held the after-oar, to where the Captain and Madame rested
in the stern. I remarked De Noyan's dissatisfied stare along the
featureless shore we skirted, and the lines of care and trouble
becoming daily more manifest upon Madame's face. Thus studying the
two, I cast about in my own mind for some possible plan of escape.

They had been conversing together in low tones, so low, indeed, no
words reached me, while the preacher knew nothing of the language
employed. Nevertheless I could guess its purport. It was sufficiently
clear to all of us that we merely wasted strength longer breasting the
swift current of this river, and were constantly drawing farther from
our goal. Yet I was of proud spirit in those days, finding it not easy
to swallow my hastily spoken words, so I continued to pull steadily at
the heavy oars, not seeing clearly how best to conquer myself, confess
my former mistake, and advise retreat. Fortunately a stronger
influence than false pride urged me to action. Marking again how sadly
Eloise drooped her sobered face above the water, it put the heart of a
man in me to acknowledge my error, offering such amends as were still
possible.

It seems simple enough, yet it was not so small a struggle, nor did I
fully win the battle over stubbornness until the gray of evening began
wrapping about us hazy folds of cloud, the time coming when we must
seek suitable night camp. It was then I found tongue, even while
glancing across my shoulder, through the shadows, searching for a
landing-place. As if all this were yesterday, I recall the scene.
Everything swam in the gray haze, which, settling across the water,
shut off from view much of the land. We were nearly abreast of where a
smaller stream came leaping down from the right to hurl its clear
current far out into the muddy river. So rapid was this discharge, the
waters about us were thrown into turmoil, tossing our boat like a cork,
causing Madame to grasp the rail nervously. Its narrow mouth was
partially concealed by overhanging shrubbery, so we were well within
the sweep of its invading waters before I could conjecture the force
with which it came. Through the dim light, confusing to the eyes, I
sought to peer ahead. The hills, huddled much closer to the shore,
appeared rough in their rocky outlines, while the heavy underbrush,
clinging tightly to the water-side, offered nothing in the way of a
suitable camping-spot. Beyond the tumultuous sweep of this northern
tributary, however, I discovered a considerable patch of grass,
overshadowed by giant trees, and there I made selection of the spot
which should complete our upward voyage.

"Steer us in toward yonder green bank, Madame," I called to Eloise,
"where you see that group of trees through the fog. God willing, it
shall prove our last camp before we turn east and south once more."

It did my heart good to observe the sudden brightening of her face at
these words of promise, as if they came in direct answer to prayer. I
understood then how weary she was with our toll, how cruel I had been
to hold her so long at it. She had given utterance to no complaint;
even now, it was not her voice which welcomed my decision. It was the
Chevalier, seldom failing in ready speech, whose careless tongue rasped
me with quick retort.

"Ah, so you have really come to your senses, Benteen," he cried
eagerly. "I thought it would not be much longer after you were able to
get grip upon an oar. Our red-headed friend has slow tongue of late,
yet I warrant he has little love for such man-killing work; so a
turn-about will be the vote of us all. Saint Anne! 'tis the happiest
word to ring in my ears since this cursed trip began."

Nothing tests the innate quality of a man like the wilderness. However
bold of heart, if every utterance is a complaint he will prove a
constant hardship. I doubted not both De Noyan and the Puritan would
show themselves true men if emergency confronted us; but in the daily
plodding routine of travel the Chevalier gave way to little worries,
jerking along in the harness of necessity like an ill-broken colt;
while Cairnes, who pulled steadily in sullen discontent, was much the
better comrade of the two.

"Call it what you please," I answered shortly, never removing my gaze
from the pleased face of Madame, thus keeping better control over my
tongue. "I have become convinced the map of the Jesuit priest lied,
and this stream runs not northward. It is useless pushing any farther."

Copyright (c) 2007. topmasterworks.com. All rights reserved.