Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

122 “I have stationed a man at the river- crossing to bring word the instant he arrives.” “I applaud your thoughtfulness. This continued delay in the ceremony is an- noying. Master Ormerod, your sufferings — are upon your own head.” I looked eagerly for Marjory’s face as we were marched across the yard inside the stockade and through the heavy timber doors of the house. But she was not visible. The house was sturdily built, evidently with an eye to defensibility, and the cellar beneath it, to which we were con- ducted, was floored with clay and walled with immense wooden slabs. Our guards examined our bonds carefully, fastened our legs and then left us, three of them sitting just outside the door at the foot of the stairs which ran down from the kitchen above. We remained there three days, without intercourse with any one except our Indian jailers, who brought us messes of food twice daily. In that time the bump on my head was reduced and Ta-wan-ne-ars’ cuts began to heal. On the third day several Cahnuaga chiefs visited us and removed one of our Senecas with an assurance that he was destined for the torture-stake. The man laughed at their threats, and called back to his brothers that he would set them a good example. I do not doubt that he did. On the fourth day we were eating our meager fare of boiled corn when the door was flung open violently and the gaunt figure of Black Robe entered unannounced. Behind him, obviously unwillingly, walked Murray. “Which is the Englishman Ormerod?” demanded the priest in French. “Here I am, father,” I answered, standing up as well as I could. ‘“‘Mistress Murray tells me that you have won her affections?”’ he asked coldly. My heart leaped with sudden joy. “That is true, father,’ I said. ‘“And you love her?”’ ‘As much as 4 man may, father.” He turned upon Murray with a gesture of decision. “‘There!”’ he exclaimed. “You have it in the face. What do you expect of me? Would you have me violate God’s sacra- ment by wedding a maid against her affections? Some priests might do so, but Adventure I will never! is adultery.” Murray’s discomforture was comical. I was quick to seize the opportunity pre- sented to me. ‘“‘He knows how we stand, father,” I de- clared. ‘“‘He himself asked me concerning it when I was brought here.” Pére Hyacinthe bent upon Murray a glance of deep disdain. “This is not well, monsieur,” he said. “You have told me an untruth.” “You leap to conclusions, my good sir,” returned Murray, who had now regained his poise. ‘“The maid does not know her own mind. She is a conquest for the Church, and her alliance with the Chevalier de Veulle cements the great work we are undertaking together.” '“T will have naught to do with it,” re- sponded the priest with decision. ‘Not even to admit her into the Church would I tolerate -the fastening upon herself, her husband and imyself of a mortal sin. As for the Chevalier de Veulle, I will say nothing at present. But I am not satisfied with everything here at La Vierge du Bois. I shall have more to say on that score later.” _ He went out and up the stairs, and Mur- ray, after a moment’s hesitation, followed him. \ ) next morning an augmented force . of jailers appeared. The thongs on our arms were tightened; our legs were unlashed; and we were marched up into the wintry sunshine again, our eyes blinking at the unwonted light. The village was deserted, and we per- ceived the reason when we reached the Council-Place and saw the long row of stakes which stretched before the back- ground of the green firs of the Evil Wood. Jeers and cries of derision greeted us. The False Faces strung their ill-omened circle around us, and the feather-tufted Keepers and their women and children pressed close tc view the gruesome spec- tacle.e We were bound to the stakes, Ta-wan-ne-ars and I in the middle of the line; and almost at once the torturing began upon the unfortunates at the two extremi- ties. Their songs and shouts of defiance soon gave way to a sinister silence, as they fought with all their will-power to curb the agony which bade them cry for mercy. Marriage without affection BUT our reprieve was brief. The cComiclool< Cc C@