"
Every eye followed his movement with interest; every
heart beat lighter at the certainty of Clara being again
restored, and without other injury than the terror she
must have experienced in such a scene. Each congratulated
himself on the favourable termination of the terrible
adventure, yet were all ready to spring upon and secure
the desperate author of the wrong. Wacousta had now
reached the centre of the flag-staff. Pausing for a
moment, he grappled it with his strong and nervous feet,
on which he apparently rested, to give a momentary relief
to the muscles of his left arm. He then abruptly abandoned
his hold, swinging himself out a few yards from the staff,
and returning again, dashed his feet against it with a
force that caused the weakened mass to vibrate to its
very foundation. Impelled by his weight, and the violence
of his action, the creaking pine gave way; its lofty top
gradually bending over the exterior rampart until it
finally snapped asunder, and fell with a loud crash across
the ditch.
"Open the gate, down with the drawbridge!" exclaimed the
excited governor.
"Down with the drawbridge," repeated Sir Everard to the
men already stationed there ready to let loose at the
first order.
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