The Secret Shot; Or, The Rivals Of Misty Mount — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRISIS. by a glance through the key-hole of that door, she could make herself aware of the character and intention of the person about to enter, and immediately, in case of need, beat a mysterious retreat. Wonderfully elated at -her new discovery, the maiden took down the slab from the chasm-opening, and returned through her own lattice with her lamp in her hand. | But, she was not contented until she had made many successive trips from one cave to the other, in order to make herself accus- tomed to the sensation of the deep chasm beneath her feet, and to increase her nim- bleness in making the transit. The Rescue. Upon the third morning which succeeded the battle of King’s Mountain, Judith was standing just within the outer entrance of the great cave, when the lofty figure of the Indian chief appeared before her from with- out. He was frightfully emaciated ; a great fever was burning in his eyes, and he seemed to come from a long journey, his garments were so torn and soiled. “Wandalo is obedient to the Passion- Flower,” he said, humbly, and in strangely hollow tones. “Yes, you are indeed true, my glorious lover!” exclaimed Judith. “But, what do you bring? You were at the battle ?” He pointed to a bloody bandage on his arm by way of answer. “ But Heartstead—where is he ?” “The trampler of the Lily is before the throne of the Great Gardener.” «“ What mean you?” “ He is dead.” A fierce exclamation broke from the lips of the quadroon at this intelligence. Ina few hurried words, Wandalo related the oc- currences of the battle—the fight, the Brit- ish defeat, and the midnight duel, to which had been a witness. 2 Fe The lightning’s kill you! Why didn’t you aid the Tory ?” cried Judith, wrathfully. “ When two braves are equally pitted, breast to breast, the ‘Thunder-Mocker does not cast his power in either scale,” was the rly. +e sahares my anger, Wandalo! Besides, you could not aid, if xe died in the moment of apparent victory.” She leaned her head a moment on her hand, as if lost in thought. “The moment is near—vyery near, Wau- dalo,” at length she said. He looked at her inquiringly. “The moment when we two shall take to the distant mountains,” she added. He sprung forward and embraced hdr with trembling tenderness. “Come, my Passion-Flower, come; let us go at once,” he cried. “Joy shall come upon us from the clouds; we will wither together in the distant dingles. Come, le+ us go. What! and the sweet Lily is to be left in her whiteness ?” “Yea; in her whiteness, but not in her bloom,” was the somber reply. “ Wandale, wait till I return.” “ Stay ; why do you leave me?” he cried, as she turned into the cavern. “To pluck the Lily from her stalk,” said Judith, with a terrible smile, at the same time touching the bright dagger in her belt, with a menacing glance. “You will not slay her? You—” A low laugh, that made him shiver te his heart, was her only answer. The In- dian fell upon his knees in an agony of supplication. “Judith, my Passion-Flower, my wild, fierce Queen!” he moaned, “spare her— spare her !” “Never!” cried the stormy woman, her whole figure quivering in the awful wrath that possessed her. ‘“ Never! One doom she has escaped; but there is always time to kill—to kill!” | “Nay, but why the knife?” exclaimed the savage, hoping to gain delay; “ why the knife, my Passion-Flower? Starvation, poison—”. “Tt shall not be. These hands shall let out the life of her she hates. There is ne time for slower means—our cavern is ne longer a secret. Wandalo, await me here. Be sure you do not follow.” He stood as if rooted to the spot, and she passed within. Taking-a small lamp from a cleft in the wall, she lighted it and passed straight for- ward toward the door of her victim’s cell. But, when she had reached the center of the great chamber, she wheeled suddenly round and confronted Wandalo, who was Stealthily following her. a “ Begone!” she cried, fiercely. — The Indian did not stir; it was evident that her power over him was in danger. chook com (SOL . =