The
chiefs grouped themselves immediately around their
prisoner, while the inferior warriors, forming an outer
circle, stood leaning their dark forms upon their rifles,
and following, with keen and watchful eye, every movement
of their captive. Hitherto the unfortunate officer had
been too much engrossed by his despair to pay any immediate
attention to the individual who had first discovered and
seized him. It was sufficient for him to know all hope
of the safety of the garrison had perished with his
captivity: and, with that recklessness of life which
often springs from the very consciousness of inability
to preserve it, he now sullenly awaited the death which
he expected at each moment would be inflicted. Suddenly
his ear was startled by an interrogatory, in English,
from one who stood behind him.
With a movement of surprise, Captain de Haldimar turned
to examine his questioner. It was the dark and ferocious
warrior who had exhibited the scalp of his ill-fated
servant. For a moment the officer fixed his eyes firmly
and unshrinkingly on those of the savage, seeking to
reconcile the contradiction that existed between his
dress and features and the purity of the English he had
just spoken.
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