The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 47: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— — SS THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. 39 ¢—_—-_—“-“__ ue Ke -wum oe ww, _. -—_—_-_ ES-sXC “Zoe, awake!’ she exclaimed, arousing her at- | as black as get, and whose laughing eyes expressed all tendant, exhibiting astonishment mingled with terror. The pirate, regarding her with commiseration, scarcely knew how to proceed in her present state of excitement, but, after a pause, determined to address her in a tone more akin to love than pity. ‘Fair maiden, for whom do you take me >”’ heasked. ‘Iam a friend,” ‘‘T have never seen a form resembling yours,” re- plied Sumach, calmed by the tender strain in which Fergus spoke. + «Probably not.” « Are you a man ?” “True flesh and blood, my charming heathen, I promise you.” ‘‘ What harmony in his voice—what a shape—how fair his skin, too,’’ muttered Sumach, struck by the in- truder’s appearance, who, to speak the truth, was really a well made good-looking fellow. Nipcheese, immediately on sceing the respect with which Fergus Blake was treated, set down the Indian maid’s gazing as a mark of refined breeding, and in- timated to himself— “That she must be some person of quality by her staring— “Say, stranger, whence come you?” said Sumach. “From a far distant land; driven on this coast by distress, and separated from my companions.” “Do you know the danger that surrounds you here? ‘The iceberg and the frozen fields are filled with beasts of prey.” ‘“ T have already encountered them.” “My countrymen, too, if you fell intheir way, might kill you,’ ‘This information threw WNipcheese into a cold sweat, and he considered it high time to begin making interest with the chamber-maid, Zoe, who seemed not at all avrse to his little attentions. ‘“T think Sumach would weep if you came to any harm.” ‘How wild and beautiful,’ said Fergus; ‘‘ there’s magic in her voice. “You tell me my life is in peril,’ he continued, after a pause; ‘‘ where shall I look fcr safety ?” ‘ You must fly. “ But no,’ added Sumach, as if puzzled, “ you must remain, I will try to preserve you; and if you die T must die too. Lalone can save you. Your death is certain without my assistance, and indeed—indeed you shall not want it. ‘‘ What means must be used ?”’ « My cave must conceal you; none enter it, by the order of my father, who is chief of the tribe of the White Beaver. I will bring you food by day, and watch you Ly night, and wake you when there is danger.” ‘* Generous maid, then to youl will owe my life! and whilst it lasts nothing shall part us.” « And shan’t it—shan’t it, indeed ?” «No, my dear Sumach,” replied Fergus, “ for when an opportunity offers forleaving this dzsolate country you shall be my companion.” «* What cross the seas ?” “ Yes; you shall help me to discover my vessel, and shall enjoy wonders. You shall be decked in silks, my brave maid, and have a house drawn with horses to carry you.” ‘You are laughing at Sumach.” ‘«‘ indeed, I do not jest.” “Oh, wonder. I wish my people could see me, But won’t your warriors kill us?” ‘No, our only danger appears to me to be in this terrible place.” While Fergus Blake had found favour with Sumachb, Nipcheese had met with a similar success with respect to her attendant, Zoe, whose skin was “~ — ECOIMmICcbook the drollery of a Picearoon. ! “Why, you speak English,” said Nipcheese, on his first introduction. TA Ce ‘‘ Where did you learn it?” *“Trom strange man,” said Zoe; *‘he tumbled from a big boat many moons ago.” ‘¢ Was he like me?” asked Nipcheese. Zoe shook her head to signify that no resemblance existed. ‘Not so smart a body, mayhap,” continued the speaker, conceitedly stroking his chin. “His face wasn’t so round and comely as mine.” ‘Like dead leaf, brown, shrivel,’ was the ebony damsel's reply. 3 ; “‘(h, ha, I see, an old shipwrecked sailor, with white and grey hair, eh, my pretty beauty spot.’’ *‘ Tss, all white, when night come, he put him in pocket.” “Oh, wore a wig, but the old boy taught you some- thing more than Iinglish, I suspect.” SC LSS ‘‘ The devil he did. What was it?” ‘‘Te teach me put dry grass, red hot, in hollow white stick.” ‘¢ What was that for ?’’ “Put him in my mouth—go poff poff.’’ ‘‘String me up to the yard arm, if he wasn't learning the lass to smoke.” ‘‘Iss,” grinned Zoe, displaying a row of pearl? teeth, which were more than ever displayed to per- fection by the darkness of her complexion. “ And what became of him at last?’ demanded Nipcheese. “ After furnishing the tribe with such accomplishments, they ought to have done some- thing for the poor fellow,” “Our chief kill him.” * And ate him, most likely,” rejoined Nipcheese, lowering his voice as if from apprehension. ‘* What damn stomachs, to swallow a rough old tar. Ah! I suppose my killing comes next.” “White Beavers only kill black warriors.” “ You are not one of the tribe, then?” ‘No; me taken prisoner, and made Jacktotum.” Zoe’s completion of the sentence was interrupted by a suppressed cry, uttered by Sumach, who had till now been engaged in earnest conversation with Fergus Blake. ‘The latter had noticed there was an unusual emotion in the appearance of the Indian maiden as she had given the alarin. ‘You are ill,” he said. “No, it is nothing,” replied Sumach, rivetting her eyes on the covered entrance of the cave. After a pause, in a vain attempt to exhibit self- composure, she continued— ‘Follow me, each of you, instantly; I have something to communicate which must not be spoken here.” A chaos of thoughts intruded themselves on the four fugitives, but of a different character, as they hastily passed the dark way leading to an upper cavern, and situated further on than the one they had quitted. No sooner was the abode of the Indian women empty than its rude skin tapestry shook, and a man, with an enquiring glance, peered from beneath it on every object around. — The intruder was no other than the chief, Miamag, the suitor of Sumach, who had been eavesdropper on the present occasion. ' ‘*The white man’s secret is mine,” he exclaimed, “it will soon be in other keeping.” oY a mF eee eee a . ———————— eee = nS ry (LN