The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

52 THE FROZEN pered the other, “ and the anguish you have suffered will decay like sapless seaweed in a summer’s suD.”’ Thus urged by Vanderdecken, Yeni advanced with upraised poignard to the frozen form before him, : : . The helplessness of Miamas again unnerved his arm. The would-be fratricide dropped his weapon, and with a shriek, reeled back, and fell at the feet of the Flying Dutchman. : As the reader may conjecture, the wily plotter was quite unprepared for this unexpected interrup- tion to his design, and was now at a loss how to proceed. < ‘eu glt : He first endeavoured to restore animation to the suffering Indian. His efforts were useless. Suddenly remembering that Hans Hinckman might aid in restoring the youth, he departed to seek him, but with what success remains to be seen. The Indian for some minutes remained in a state of insensibility, but recovered in a short time con- sciousness. While in this state he became aware of his ter- rible position ; but his faintness continuing, he was unable to extricate himself from it. By degrees, and with great exertion, he at length crawled near the spot on which, inert and death- like, stood his brother Miamas. Muttering a prayer for forgiveness, the charm which disabled Yeni seemed instantly broken, and the leaden weight removed from his limbs. His joints regained their suppleness, and, with a convulsive start, resembling that of a sleeper cast- ing off a hideous dream, he was liberated from his thraldom. ‘<T am once more free and alone,’”’ exclaimed Yeni, finding he was no longer in the presence of the doomed Vanderdecken. “ Brother,” he continued, regarding his icy figure, “ we meet no more with crimson hand and foot; well for us the wound is healed from whence that crimson was derived, and Yeni lives to make atonement for the past ; to release you from the wizard must be his first task. Ha! the lamp.” Yeni recollected the effect the mystic luminary produced, and determined to profit by his know- ledge. Hastily advancing to the pedestal on which the cruse stood, he dislodged it, without the beams of the light falling on his face. He had succeeded, for, removed from its station, the flame expired and gave life to the spell bound captives of the Flying Dutchman, It is unnecessary to detail how Yeni assured Miamas and Sumach of the sincerity of his designs to save them, or how they readily assented to follow him through the intricacies of Wanderdecken’s sub- terranean retreat ; suffice, though their journey was attended with total darkness, it ended in light and liberty. " z No sooner had the fugitives quitted the cave than Vanderdecken entered it. He was now followed, or rather accompanied, by Hans Hinckman. In a few words the former gave the history of the capture of their victims and its consequences. “Tf these madmen be the idiots I take them to be,” said the Flying Dutchman, “ they will easily be taken in the trap set for them.” ““The hawk pairs not with the dove,” dryly remarked the manikin, ‘‘and guilt matches not with innocence.” “ Away with this idle folly,’ said Vanderdecken, CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. “the prize is already in my hand, and the red-man, Yeni, must accomplish that which fate forbids us to perform.” “His strength’ fails him, you say,” said Hans Hinckman, “ our votaries should have strong hands and stouter hearts. “ Your knowledge of medicine will restore the irresolute fool, and my power the fulfilment of the design.” A voice sounded in the sepulchral hollow. Those who listened started, looked around them, then gazed at each other. In an instant Vanderdecken discovered the flight of the spell bound captives. He regarded his companion narrowly, as if a sus- picion had crossed his mind that he had possibly assisted in the mysterious escape. The dwarf, exhibiting no emotion or the slightest appearance of treachery, was then addressed in the following words— “Slave of my will, I command you, without a moment’s loss, to intercept the career of those who have defied the Flying Dutchman. “The destiny which has made me sovereign on the seas, and in the winds, gave me no power to divine the whereabouts of a love-sick damsel and two abject wooels. ‘‘ Their retreating footsteps on the soft path gives a sure token of the route they have taken.” ‘* Vanderdecken rules my thoughts, my words,” said Hans Hinckman, cringing before the party he addressed. “Do you precede these runaways at a distance with a lighted torch,” continued the Flying Dutchman, “and thus conduct them to the basaltic fissure lead- ing tothe dragon’s haunt.” *‘ The ocean tide is now rapidly rising,” rejoined the dwarf, “and the dreaded reptile will soon reach the lair.” ‘So much the better,” exclaimed Vanderdecken, “Tt will prevent their escape from the horrible tomb which they have chosen for themselves. * Away, away,” he continued, “ strictly follow my injunction, or dread the penalty of disobedience.” Hans Hinckman quitted his master to perform the bidding, but left him to meditate on a scheme that could hardly be paralleled for atrocity. b CHAPTER XX. YENI ATTACES THE DRAGON IN ITS OCEAN OAVERN. The fugitives, deprived of light and placed in a very uncertain situation, pursued their way through the pitchy darkness that surrounded them. Huge masses over which they scrambled, blocks which were to be climbed on one side with much labour and pain, for the purpose of an equaly pre- carious descent on the other, were surmounted, to be further interrupted by greater obstacles and deeper obscurity. Perfect gloom, solemn silence, and endless diffi- culty at length gave way to despair, and the light- footed Indians awaited, in horror, the issse of their dangerous enterprise. They were not doomed to a long suspense for the next moment brought to their ears a wild cry. It seemed neither human nor earthly, and not only penetrating the recesses of the cave, but to the in- most hearts of those who heard it. It was followed by a stillness almost as awful as the sound itself. “‘ What is that?’ murmured Sumach, in a tremu- lous whisper.