The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FROZEN CHAPTER XY. THE FIERY ORDEAL. Sumach led his companions along a sort of causeway- til) they came to vast enclosures, within which rose mysterious piles of seemingly petrified substances. ‘hese massive uprights of great height and thick- ness, and supporting horizontal blocks running from one to the other, and rudely carved by Esqimaux hands, only hideous figures containing numerous aper- tures, denoted at once that it was a place of heathen worship. “ Where are you leading us?’’ asked Fergus Blake. ‘“'This scene, surrounded by the rude carving of nature, looks as though it formed the abode of some hideous demon.”’ ‘‘It is the burial place of our tribe,’’ replied Sumach, as she beheld the young pirate whe could not repress an indefinable feeling of superstitious awe. ‘ You will be safe here.” ‘‘T hopeso,” said Nipcheese. ‘ Confound it, running after petticoats is dangerous work.” ‘©You no love Zoe.” “ Yes, my dear, I do, only this place isn’t exactly the one for making tender impressions. “In fact,’ continued Nipcheese, “I begin to suspect I wasn’t cut out for a lover when the waters of affection don’t run smooth.” “ “You have fear.” “Not exactly, still I don’t want to meet any of your countrymen in thisremarkably quiet locality,” ‘¢ You must remain here.” ‘* T suppose so; if I pop out most likely—” “They will kill you,’ interrupted Zoe. «“ And if I stop in they’ll scent me.” ‘¢ No, no.” ‘¢ This comes of woman hunting, but’ there’s no help for it. Id better trust this little piece of black stuff than her father’s, brothers, or relations, who would, no doubt, look upon Nipcheese as a tender morsel.” Attention was now attracted by the low murmuring notes of an Indian conch, and then the piercing whoops of some triumphant savages. Sumach drew back, and her bright eye kindled. Her blood shot like the passing gleam of the sun into her very temples, as she exclaimed, with in- dignity— “ We are betrayed, and byhim ! May the curse of the Great Spirit tall on the subtile Panther ! “But his arrow,’ she continued, ‘shall not frighten the young fawn; his arm shiall wither like the branch of the dying oak, and the snail be swifter in the race.” “You say we are betrayed,” said Fergus quickly, recovering from the surprise the incident had occa- sioned; ‘‘ that can scarcely be possible since no one has seen me enter this secluded retreat.’’ “The eyes of the dying eagle gaze on the sun,” returned the Indian maiden. ‘The hatchet of the red-man sweeps people from the valley that the winds of heaven have spared. ‘In a word,” she continued, “ you have been watched. I saw Miamas, like a poisonous serpent, creep into the wigwam of his bride. ‘* A rival ! is he beloved ?” “Till yesterday I thought so; “ but to day the beautiful Sumach accords to me the preference.”’ “‘ Jealousy,” she replied, *‘ has caused Miamas to act the spy, and do a deed unworthy of his name. This tongue will blast the fame of her for whom he would of late have died !” “T should like to put my grapling irons on him for CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. five minutes,” said Nipcheese, “ and provide him with a little salt eel for supper.’ ‘‘ No,’ exclaimed Sumach, “ while rivers run, mountains stand, and blossoms come and go on the trees, an Indian maiden’s vengeance is leftin her own hands.” “ But how are we to act in our present emergency ?”’ Fergusinquired. “It is evident that the tribe intend to visit this place, and we are powerless to contend with the number that will be against us.” ‘‘T shall overcome them by stratagem,” rejoined Sumach. ‘The back of the White Beaver will be loaded till he staggers under my bounty.” “The warriors are coming,’ she continued; “I hear the trail, though they tread on snow; let the pale-face follow me to the concealment I shall give him.” Sumach and her companions advanced to one of the rough-hewn blocks, the appearance of which resembled one of those gigantic images met with in illustrations of! the heathen mythology. Like the fabled deity, the one in question pos- sessed a hiding-place that might serve its votary, should his safety be jeopardised, and secrete a fugitive in case of need, till danger passed by. It was skilfully fabricated, and no indication of the retreat was perceptible from without, even on careful examination. It was sufficiently large to allow several occu- pants to stand upright, and, though screened from observation themselves, were allowed, by certain loopholes, to see all that passed before them. Ingress to the spot was obtained from within, while egress was formed at the back, by which the open country of the region could be reached, if necessity required such means of flight. ‘‘Enter!” she exclaimed; “this place was re- vealed to me by accident, and, save to myself, is unknown to the rest of the tribe; you will be in ne danger should you keep silent.” “If we are among the breakers, we shan’t be swamped, thanks to the tight little frigate that has taken us in tow.” “Come along, messmate,”’ continued Nipcheese. “ Ain't you going to obey sailing orders >” Fergus Blake had mechanically drawn back as he was about to pass through the entrance of the gloomy chamber Sumach had indicated. “« Why does the Yengese hesitate,” she said, “* when the red-men seek his blood ?”’ “7 cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself for me,” answered Fergus; ‘ unless you accompany me I shall not budge an inch, and you seem intent on facing my pursuers alone.” ““T must remain,” replied the Indian maiden. “‘ You know not the work of Sumach ; disobedience to her mandate is death for all.” ‘*Come bear a hand, the bay is under our bow- sprits, and we can come at it without a damn deal of tripping.” “Depend upon it, the young lady steers by com- pass. Crowd all sail, do ye hear,” continued Nip- cheese, dragging Fergus forcibly through the aper- ture before which he had stopped, and alarmed at the sound of approaching footsteps. ; Sumach was no sooner left alone than she fastened her eyes with earnestness towards the avenue leading to the spot on which she stood. The deep tones of one who spoke as having au- thority, were next heard amid a silence that denoted the respect with which his orders were received. Then the measured tramp of feet, and cracking of broken ice, as if the advandi}g party were about to reconnoitre. The next moment, most of them appeared at the border of the dense area