Chapter 44

"Let some of the guard be ready there. For me? Must I go like a traitor thither?" _Henry VIII._

The reader need not be told that Hansford, surprised and unarmed, for his remaining pistol was not at hand, and his sword had been laid aside for the night, was no match for the two powerful men who now rushed upon him. To pinion his arms closely behind him, was the work of a moment, and further resistance was impossible. Seeing that all hope of successful defence was gone, Hansford maintained in his bearing the resolute fortitude and firmness which can support a brave man in misfortune, when active courage is no longer of avail.

"I suppose, I need not ask Mr. Bernard," he said, "by what authority he acts--and yet I would be glad to learn for what offence I am arrested."

"The memory of your former acts should teach you," returned Bernard, coarsely, "that your offence is reckoned among the best commentators of the law as high treason."

"A grievous crime, truly," replied Hansford, "but one of which I am happily innocent, unless, indeed, a skirmish with the hostile Indians should be reckoned as such, or Sir William Berkeley should be presumptuous enough to claim to be a king; in which latter case, he himself would be the traitor."

"He is at least the deputy of the king," said Bernard, haughtily, "and in his person the majesty of the king has been assailed."

"Unfortunately, for your reasoning," replied Hansford, "the term for which Berkeley was appointed governor has expired some years since."

"That miserable subterfuge will scarcely avail, since you tacitly acknowledged his authority by acting under his commission. But I have no time to be discussing with you on the nature of your offence, of which, at least, I am not the judge. I will only add, that conscious innocence is not found skulking in dark forests, and obscure hiding places. Call Thompson, with the horses, Holliday. It is time we were off."

"One word, before we leave," said Hansford, sadly. "My pistol ball took effect, I know; who is its victim?"

"A poor Indian girl, who conducted us to your fastness," said Bernard. "I had forgotten her myself, till now. Look, Holliday, does she still live?"

"Dead as a herring, your honour," said the man, as he bent over the body, with deep feeling, for, though accustomed to the flow of blood, he had taken a lively interest in the poor girl, from what he had seen and overheard. "And by God, Cap'n, begging your honour's pardon, a brave girl she was, too, although she was an Injin."

"Poor Mamalis," said Hansford, tenderly, "you have met with an early and a sad fate. I little thought that she would betray me."

"Nay, wrong not the dead," interposed Bernard, "I assure you, she knew nothing of the object of our coming. But all's fair in war, Major, and a little intrigue was necessary to track you to this obscure hold."

"Well, farewell, poor luckless maiden! And so I've killed my friend," said Hansford, sorrowfully. "Alas! Mr. Bernard, my arm has been felt in battle, and has sent death to many a foe. But, God forgive me! this is the first blood I have ever spilt, except in battle, and this, too, flows from a woman."

"Think not of it thus," said Bernard, whose hard nature could not but be touched by this display of unselfish grief on the part of his prisoner. "It was but an accident, and should not rest heavily on your soul. Stay, Holliday, I would not have the poor girl rot here, either. Suppose you take the body to Windsor Hall, where it will be treated with due respect. Thompson and myself can, meantime, attend the prisoner."

"Look ye, Cap'n," said Holliday, with the superstition peculiar to vulgar minds; "'taint that I'm afeard exactly neither, but its a mighty dissolute feeling being alone in a dark night with a corp. I'd rather kill fifty men, than to stay by myself five minutes, with the smallest of the fifty after he was killed."

"Well, then, you foolish fellow, go to the hall to-night and inform them of her death, and excuse me to Colonel Temple for my abrupt departure, and meet me with the rest of the men at Tindal's Point as soon as possible. I will bide there for you. But first help me to take the poor girl's body into the wigwam. I suppose she will rest quietly enough here till morning. Major Hansford," he added, courteously, "our horses are ready I perceive. You can take Holliday's there. He can provide himself with another at the hall. Shall we ride, sir?"

With a sad heart the captive-bound Hansford mounted with difficulty the horse prepared for him, which was led by Thompson, while Bernard rode by his side, and with more of courtesy than could be expected from him, endeavoured to beguile the way with conversation with his prisoner.

Meanwhile Holliday, whistling for company, and ever and anon looking behind him warily, to see whether the disembodied Mamalis was following him, bent his steps towards the hall, to communicate to the unsuspecting Virginia the heavy tidings of her lover's capture. The rough soldier, although his nature had been blunted by long service and familiarity with scenes of distress, was not without some feelings, and showed even in his rude, uncultivated manners, the sympathy and tenderness which was wanting in the more polished but harder heart of Alfred Bernard.