From Kingdom to Colony. Devereux Mary

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СКАЧАТЬ into her husband's fond eyes, while the children's small hands clung to him, and tiny brown fingers were poked into the mouths of dead rabbits, or tweaked their whiskers to see if they were really dead, or tried to pull open the beaks and eyes of slain birds.

      "Aye," was his laughing reply, as he gently freed himself from the little clinging hands; "and I have found more in the forest than game alone, in that I have a most ferocious appetite—one I trust thou wilt have a plenty to satisfy."

      "Give the game to David," said Anne, as a younger and smaller edition of Noah approached, "and come thou within and see, for the supper hath been ready this half hour."

      An hour later the children were all safely in Nodland, and husband and wife were sitting either side the fireplace, where the burning wood was pleasant to feel, for a chill had crept into the air. But the outer door was open, and through it came the hoarse notes of the frogs down in the swampy lands, mingled with the roar of the surf along the near-by shore.

      They sat in silence, each content with the other's nearness, as they watched the leaping flames, which made the only light in the room. And this was reflected in a thousand scintillating sparks from the brass fire-dogs that upheld the logs, and in the handles of the shovels and tongs, scrubbed and polished with all the power of arm possessed by Shubar, the Indian wife of old Noah.

      Suddenly a lithe, girlish form slipped through the half-open door, coming with a tread as noiseless as the leaping shadows about the far corners of the room, and Joane, the Squaw Sachem's granddaughter, glided to the hearth and stood between John Devereux and his wife.

      So accustomed were they to such things that neither of them was startled, but kindly bade her welcome.

      Crouching on the hearth, she turned her dusky face and glittering eyes toward John Devereux, and said quietly and in a low voice, "Strange boat—big boat in harbor, English Chief."

      He looked troubled, and Anne glanced at him apprehensively, while Joane continued, now speaking more rapidly, "Gran'mudder sent me tell better keep door shut—better get gun."

      "Thou dost mean that the Squaw Sachem sent thee to tell there be danger?" John Devereux asked, half rising from his chair, and looking toward the door. "She thinks they mean evil?"

      "Don't know how answer. English Chief talk too fast—ask too many questions all same time. Go slow—then Joane hear right—tell him right." And she smiled up into his face while she touched the slender forefinger of her left hand with the fingers of the right, as if waiting to enumerate his questions.

      "Thy grandmother sent thee?"

      The girl nodded, and touched a second finger.

      "She thinks the men on the ship may do us harm?"

      "Say don't like looks—got bad black faces," replied Joane, scowling as though to illustrate her meaning.

      "Have any of them come ashore yet?" he asked anxiously.

      "Yes—so many," holding up seven brown fingers, "come 'shore. Get water to drink—then go back to ship when sun shines. But no go 'way yet—no mean to go. Tell gran'mudder want somethin' eat. Take our corn, and pay no money."

      "Pirates!" John Devereux exclaimed, now starting to his feet, while he looked at his wife, whose face paled.

      He hurried across the room, bolted and barred the stout door, and examined the window fastenings, the Indian girl still crouching by the hearth and watching him placidly, as if a pirate raid were a matter of small moment.

      But her sparkling eyes, and the heaving bosom agitating the many bead necklaces hanging from throat to waist, betrayed her.

      "See thou to the children, sweetheart, and warn the maids," John Devereux said to his wife, as he took down his gun and examined it carefully, "while I go to the men and see that the cattle be safe, and the back of the house made secure."

      "Good!" exclaimed Joane, with quick approval. "English Chief no sleep—heap good. Give Joane gun, too."

      "Had thou not best return to the wigwam, Joane, and to the Squaw Sachem?" inquired Anne, pausing as she was about to leave the room.

      "What go for?" the girl demanded, while her eyes flashed with fierce intensity. "No good go—can fight here—fight good, too. Joane stay and fight by English Chief and his 'Singing Bird,'"—this being the name given by the Naumkegs to Anne, on account of her musical voice.

      Knowing that nothing would turn Joane when once her ideas were fixed, and knowing too that her skill with the bow and gun was equal to that of any warrior, Anne was silent—grateful indeed for any addition to the slender force at hand for defence.

      There were in all but nine men, servants and laborers—two of them white, and the others either Africans or Indians; but they were all, saving old Noah, young, stalwart, and fearless.

      John Devereux posted these men in the outbuildings and sheds, as cattle were generally the spoil sought by the marauders when they visited the coast. And when assigning them their positions, he warned them, should they find themselves in danger of being overpowered, to give a signal and retreat to the house, where a side-door would be opened for their entrance. Then, having left with them a plentiful supply of ammunition, he went within to mount guard over his wife and babies.

      He had five guns wherewith to arm his household, without counting his own piece, and every woman in his service was acquainted with their use. Even Anne herself had, under his own tuition, become no mean markswoman.

      Within doors he found the women greatly excited, and fluttering about aimlessly; but a few quiet words soon brought order amongst them, and with it a return of their courage. Then, having accomplished this, he went once more through the house, from the rooms downstairs to the low-ceilinged sleeping apartments above, and satisfied himself that all was secure.

      In the nursery he found his wife looking at the little boys, who were lying on two great bags of ticking, stuffed with the feathers of wild geese, and placed on the floor, in lieu of bedsteads.

      They were sleeping soundly, oblivious of the alarm about the house; and standing beside his wife, his arm around her waist, John Devereux looked down at them.

      On one of the pallets lay Humphrey, his strong young arms outstretched, and his chest—broad for his years, and finely developed—showing white as alabaster where the simple linen garment was rarely buttoned by his impatient fingers.

      On the other were the two younger boys; and Robert, the gentlest of the three, with his father's own winsome nature, lay with his head half pillowed against his brother John's shoulder.

      "What a blessed thing is childhood, and ignorance of danger!" murmured Anne, looking at her husband.

      "Aye," he said softly, as they turned away. "So may we know no fear of dangers that threaten, sweet wife, while we trust to Him who watcheth us—who 'slumbers not, nor sleeps.'"

      And as she had answered him ten years before, so she said to him now, "So long as we be together, I have no fear."

      A long and shrill sound now broke the silence. It was the blowing of the conch shell suspended in front of the outer door; and it announced a visitor seeking admission.

      Surprised at this, and alarmed as well, husband and wife hurried to the front СКАЧАТЬ