To show ourselves would, we were sensible, be
to ensure the death of the pursued, before we could
possibly come up; and, although it was with difficulty
we repressed the desire to rush forward to the rescue,
our better judgment prevailed. Finally we saw you approach,
followed closely by what appeared to be a mere boy of an
Indian, and, at a considerable distance, by the tall
warrior of the Fleur de lis. We imagined there was time
enough for you to gain the bridge; and finding your more
formidable pursuer was only accompanied by the youth
already alluded to, conceived at that moment the design
of making him our prisoner. Still there were half a dozen
muskets ready to be levelled on him should he approach
too near to his fugitives, or manifest any other design
than that of simply recapturing them. How well our plan
succeeded you are aware; but, alas!" and he glanced
sorrowfully at the corpse, "why was our success to be
embittered by so great a sacrifice?"
"Ah, would to Heaven that he at least had been spared,"
sighed Sir Everard, as he took the wan white hand of his
friend in his own; "and yet I know not: he looks so calm,
so happy in death, it is almost selfish to repine he has
escaped the horrors that still await us in this dreadful
warfare.
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