The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. A3 Each uttered a plaintive and terrific ery, intended to represent the wailings of the dead and the triumph of the living. Yeni approached the scattered faggots, and applied to them the brand he held in his hand, Jn an instant a dozen blazing masses shed their lurid brightness on the place, which now resembled some unhalloWwed or supernatural arena in which malacious demons had assembled to act their bloody and lawless rites. Suddenly, with the swiftness of an arrow, a dark form shot through the pillar of forked flame, which he cleared by a single leap, and was by the side of the stifling Sumach. of A quick and angry stroke of his knife cut the goading thong which bound her, and a thick cloud of emoke enveloped, in its sable mantle, the deliverer and the delivered maiden. A scream that pierced the heart like an ice bolt, then was heard, followed by a silence that invades the sepulchre. Breathless with amazement, the Indians recoiled and seemed to think the captive’s fate was in some supernatural keeping. Labouring under this delusion, not one advanced in the fear of attracting some dangerous attention to himself, After some moments this superstition gave place to stronger reasoning powers, and as if by. mutual intuition the assembly conceived they had dis- covered Fy what means the opportune relief had been afforded. ‘‘He must not escape,” uttered twenty voices. “Let the pale-face perish: The Yengese are not rulers of the earth.” As may be easily understood, no breathing time was permitted, and every precaution taken to capture the supposed enemy of the White Beaver tribe. It was a useless labour, for at this moment the dark vapour which had clouded the region dispersed, and revealed no sign of either the maiden or the person effecting her rescue. . This was no other than Fergus Blake. He had overheard the cunning device of Yeni to draw him | from his hiding piace. His intentions with respect to Sumach, and kis own probable destruction. Thus informed, Fergus determined to profit by his knowledge, allowing the plotter to carry out his plans to a culminating point, then defeating him at the moment of their apparent consummation. > No sooner had the fiery pile been lighted than he dashed from his concealment and dragged Sumach fainting through the aperture. : | Fergus had scarcely passed, when the followers were before it; but so rapidly had he disappeared, and so ingeniously contrived the escape, that not the slightest trace of either fugitive could be detected. t CHAPTER XVI. FERGUS BLAKE AND SUMACH PURSUED BY THE INDIANS. Beneath a jutting iceberg, whose base protruded far over a sheet of water known asthe Salt Lake ,Fergus Blake and Sumach had sought shelter. They were bleeding, thirsty, ‘aint, but their troubled spirits, soothed by a successful flight, and the repose around them, in part resumed serenity, The lover stood aloof in eager curiosity as if awaiting or expecting the arrival of some one. The ruddy hue along his cheek was now livid as lead, and the light brown locks rose like startled vipers on his brow. Some paces further, Sumach leant her head, and — 7 COMMUCOOOKSsEO blood-drops, sprinkled o’er her vestments, showed that faintness came not from despair, but natures ebb. “‘ Moments of such a suspense as this,” cried Fergug, * yend men’s lives into immortalities.” “ They will not be long, Fergus,” replied his com- panion. ‘‘ Zoe is the friend of Sumach. Shewill not lay aside the bow for the lightning of the pale- faces.” ‘ But she may be discoverd in her attempt to reach us.”’ The Great Spirit that made some with skins redder than the sun, while some are blacker than the slug- gish bear, had wise intent—trust in him though we perish. ‘The Yengese and the Huron can die but once. It matters little how one meets death.” When Fergus heard Sumach utter these words, a transitory smile crossed his countenance, as if to intimate an approval of her stern composure. After a pause he inquired into her present state, and demanded if the wound she had received in descend- ing the declivity was slighter than he deemed or feared, and if, when assistance came, she had strength to fly. **Oh, for a sole canoe,” he muttered to himself, “to bear her hence to some spot, where hope and, comfort may dwell.” These words were hardly spoken, when a dark speck dotted the water that washed the refuge. It flew like the shadow of a roused sea mew. Onward it came, a second following in its track— now seen, now hid by the broken precipice and float- ing masses, Nearer and nearer approach the objects, till the well known aspects of Zoe and her companion are presented to view. “Weare saved,” said Fergus, as be glanced at the canoes with their skimining paddles, making for the frozen strand. In a few moments Zoe leaped into the arms of Sumach, who welcomed, with dewy eye, the constant and faithful companion of he girlhood. The heart of the dark, but brilliant skinned attendant, was poured like a torrent on her mistress, now shining with love. She smiled, wept, and nearer and nearer clasped to Sumach, as if to be assured that she was enfolded in the embrace. Ske shuddered to see her yet warm wound, and then again smiled and again wept to find it trivial. The sterner spirit of Fergus Blake was npt unmoved at the meeting, and he who had faced death in many a hard fought contest, droped a tear, as he gazed upon the Indian maid. ““Come, my lasses,’ said Nipcheese, who had pushed his canoe upon the strand ; ‘‘ you had better put off that hugging till we take better soundings. “T’ve a shrewd guess,’ he continued, “that your countrymen will be in our wake if we don’t keep underway, and if they bring to, we may not so easily slip our cable again. : Brief indeed was the time allowed for the fugitives, for in a Iew moments the billows round the neigh- bouring headland brought the splash of hostile oars. Sumach, as she caught the first glimpse of armed canoes crossing the lake, beckoned her companions, embarked them and launched their own on the in- stant. In the one sat Nipcheese and the attendant, Zoe ; in the other, Fergus and herself. The prows of the frail vessels darted along the bay and were soon lost in a group of islets. Though fast the billows are skimmed, the Indian maid soon perceived that fierce pursucrs glided as fast Se a Oy —_— ry ie ee 5} i