Chapter Thirty Five Light after Darkness - Osceola the Seminole by Mayne Reid
I stirred not till they were gone — till long after. In fact, my mind was in a state of bewilderment, that for some moments hindered me either from acting or thinking; and I sat as if glued to the branch. Reflection came at length, and I began to speculate upon what I had just heard and seen.
Was it a farce to frighten me? No, no — they were not the characters of a farce — not one of the four; and the re-appearance of Yellow Jake, partaking as it did of the wild and supernatural, was too dramatic, too serious to form an episode in comedy.
On the contrary, I had just listened to the prologue of an intended tragedy, of which I was myself to be the victim. Beyond doubt, these men had a design upon my life!
Four men, too, not one of whom could charge me with ever having done him a serious injury. I knew that all four disliked me, and ever had — though Spence and Williams could have no other cause of offence than what might spring from boyish grudge — long-forgotten by me; but doubtless their motive was Ringgold’s. As for the mulatto, I could understand his hostility; though mistaken, it was of the deadliest kind.
But what was I to think of Arens Ringgold, the leader in this designed assassination? A man of some education — my equal in social rank — a gentleman!
O Arens Ringgold — Arens Ringgold! How was I to explain it? How account for conduct so atrocious, so fiendish?
I knew that this young man liked me but little — of late less than ever. I knew the cause too. I stood in the way of his relations with my sister — at least so thought he. And he had reason; for, since my father’s death, I had spoken more freely of family affairs. I had openly declared that, with my consent, he should never be my brother; and this declaration had reached him. I could easily believe, therefore, that he was angry with me; but anger that would impel a man to such demoniac purpose, I could not comprehend.
And what meant those half-heard phrases — "one that stands in our way," "mother easily consent," "master of the plantation," coupled with the names of Viola and my sister? What meant they?
I could give them but one, and that a terrible interpretation — too fearful to dwell upon.
I could scarcely credit my senses, scarcely believe that I was not labouring under some horrid hallucination, some confusion of the brain produced by my having been en rapport with the maniac!
But no; the moon had been over them — my eyes open upon them — my ears open, and could not have deceived me. I saw what they did — I heard what they said. They designed to kill me!
"Ho, ho, young mico, you may come down. The honowaw-hulwa (bad men) are gone. Hinklas! Come down, pretty mico — down, down, down!"
I hastened to obey, and stood once more in the presence of the mad queen.
"Now you believe Haj-Ewa? Have an enemy, young mico? Ho — four enemies. Your life in danger? Ho? ho?"
"Ewa, you have saved my life; how am I to thank you for the service you have done me?"
"Be true to her — true — true — true."
"To whom?"
"Great Spirit! he has forgotten her! False young mico! false pale-face! Why did I save him? Why did I not let his blood fall to the ground?"
"Ewa!"
"Hulwak, hulwak! Poor forest-bird! the beauty-bird of all; her heart will sicken and die, her head will go mad."
"Ewa, explain."
"Hulwak! better he should die than desert her. Ho, ho! false pale-face, would that he had died before he broke poor Ewa’s heart; then Ewa would have lost only her heart; but her head — her head, that is worse. Ho, ho, ho!
"Why did I trust in a pale-faced lover?
Ho, ho, ho!
Why did I meet him — "
"Ewa," I exclaimed with an earnestness that caused the woman to leave off her wild song, "tell me! of whom do you speak?"
"Great Spirit, hear what he asks! Of whom? — of whom? there is more than one. Ho, ho! there is more than one, and the true one forgotten. Hulwak, hulwak! what shall Ewa say? What tale can Ewa tell? Poor bird! her heart will bleed, and her brain be crushed. Ho, ho! There will be two Haj-Ewas — two mad queens of the Micosaucs."
"For Heaven’s sake! keep me not in suspense. Tell me, Ewa, good Ewa, of whom are you speaking? Is it — "
The name trembled upon my tongue; I hesitated to pronounce it. Notwithstanding that my heart was full of delightful hope, from the confidence I felt of receiving an affirmative answer, I dreaded to put the question.
Not a great while did I hesitate; I had gone too far to recede. I had long waited to satisfy the wish of a yearning heart; I could wait no longer. Ewa might give me the satisfaction. I pronounced the words:
"Is it — Maümee?"
The maniac gazed upon me for some moments without speaking. The expression of her eye I could not read; for the last few minutes, it had been one of reproach and scorn. As I uttered the name, it changed to a look of bewilderment; and then her glance became fixed upon me, as if searching my thoughts.
"If it be Maümee," I continued, without awaiting her reply — for I was now carried away by the ardour of my resuscitated passion — "if it be she, know, Ewa, that her I love — Maümee I love."
"You love Maümee? You still love Maümee?" interrogated the maniac with startling quickness.
"Ay, Ewa — by my life — by my — "
"Cooree, cooree! swear not — his very oath. Hulwak! and he was false. Speak again, young mico? say you love Maümee — say you are true, but do not swear."
"True — true?"
"Hinklas!" cried the woman in a loud and apparently joyful tone — "Hinklas! the mico is true — the pretty pale-faced mico is true, and the haintclitz (the pretty one) will be happy."
Ho, ho!
Now for the love, the sweet young love
Under the tala tree (Palm, Chamaerops palmetto).
Who would not be like yonder dove —
The wild little dove —
The soft little dove —
Sitting close by his mate in the shade of the grove —
Co-cooing to his mate in the shade of the grove,
With none to hear or see?
"Down, chitta mico!" she exclaimed, once more addressing the rattlesnake; "and you, ocola chitta! (Green snake.) Be quiet both. It is not an enemy. Quiet, or I crush your heads!"
"Good Ewa — "
"Ho! you call me good Ewa. Some day, you may call me bad Ewa. Hear me!" she continued, raising her voice, and speaking with increased earnestness — "hear me, George Randolph! If ever you are bad — false like him, like him, then Haj-Ewa will be your enemy; chitta mico will destroy you. You will, my king of serpents? you will? Ho, ho, ho!"
As she spoke the reptile appeared to comprehend her, for its head was suddenly raised aloft, its bright basilisk eyes gleamed as though emitting sparks of fire — its forked, glittering tongue was protruded from its mouth, and the "skirr-rr" of the rattles could be heard for some moments sounding continuously.
"Quiet! now quiet!" said she, with a motion of her fingers, causing the serpent to resume its attitude of repose. "Not he, chitta! not he, thou king of the crawlers! Quiet, I say!"
"Why do you threaten me, Ewa? You have no cause."
"Hinklas! I believe it, fair mico, gallant mico; true, I believe it."
"But, good Ewa, explain to me — tell me of — "
"Cooree, cooree! not now, not to-night. There is no time, chepawnee! See! look yonder to the west! Netle-hasse (the night sun — the moon) is going to bed. You must be gone. You dare not walk in the darkness. You must get back to the topekee before the moon is hid — go, go, go!"
"But I told you, Ewa, I had business here. I dare not leave till it is done."
"Hulwak! there is danger then. What business, mico! Ah! I guess. See! they come for whom you wait?"
"True — it is they, I believe."
I said this, as I perceived the tall shadows of the two chiefs flitting along the further edge of the pond.
"Be quick, then: do what you must, but waste not time. In the darkness you will meet danger. Haj-Ewa must be gone. Good night, young mico: good night."
I returned the salutation; and facing round to await the arrival of the chiefs, lost sight of my strange companion.
The Indians soon came upon the ground, and briefly delivered their report.
Holata Mico had struck his tents, and was moving away from the encampment.
I was too much disgusted with these traitorous men to spend a moment in their company; and, as soon as I had gained the required information, I hurried away from their presence.
Warned by Haj-Ewa, as well as by the words of Arens Ringgold, I lost no time in returning to the fort. The moon was still above the horizon; and I had the advantage of her light to protect me from being surprised by any sudden onset.
I walked hastily, taking the precaution to keep in the open ground, and giving a wide berth to any covert that might shelter an assassin.
I saw no one on the way, nor around the back of the stockade. On arriving opposite the gate of the fort, however, I perceived the figure of a man — not far from the sutler’s store — apparently skulking behind some logs. I fancied I knew the man; I fancied he was the mulatto.
I would have gone after him, and satisfied myself; but I had already hailed the sentinel, and given the countersign; and I did not desire to cause a flurry among the guard — particularly as I had received injunctions to pass in as privately as possible.
Another time, I should likely encounter this Jacob redivivus; when I should be less embarrassed, and perhaps have a better opportunity of calling him and his diabolical associates to an account. With this reflection, I passed through the gate, and carried my report to the quarters of the commander-in-chief.