These
individuals were Captain de Haldimar and Sir Everard
Valletort; and to the former of these the attention of
the savage was more immediately and exultingly directed;
so much so, indeed, that Miss de Haldimar thought she
could read in the ferocious expression of his features
the death-warrant of her cousin. In the wild terror of
the moment she gave a piercing scream that was answered
by a hundred yelling voices, and rushing between her
lover and his enemy, threw herself wildly and supplicatingly
at the feet of the latter. Uttering a savage laugh, the
monster spurned her from him with his foot, when, quick
as thought, a pistol was discharged within a few inches
of his face; but with a rapidity equal to that of his
assailant, he bent aside his head, and the ball passed
harmlessly on. The yell that followed was terrific; and
while it was yet swelling into fulness, Captain de Haldimar
felt an iron hand furiously grappling his throat, and,
ere the grasp was relinquished, he again stood the bound
and passive victim of the warrior of the Fleur de lis.
CHAPTER III.
The interval that succeeded to the last council-scene of
the Indians was passed by the officers of Detroit in a
state of inexpressible anxiety and doubt.
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