The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

"8 THE FROZEN “T have suffered enough,” faintly. ‘I can no more.” “ Silly girl,” muttered the witch, “has my foolish tale frightened you; think no more of it than a jest. I bring you no evil.”’ « But Paul Jones——’ “Tg safe from any harm at my hands,’’ returned Skulda; “asa proof of which, I am about to obey your wishes, If his intentions are honourable, the Valkyra, at my intercession, will grant you the as- sistance you require.” “Bring them before me,” said Sumach, after a pause, during which she had satisfied her scruples ; “upon the successfulissue of the meeting, I will rest my hopes.” At these words Skulda waved her crutched staff. She muttered various enchantments for the ap- pearance of the three mystic sisters. At their powerful influence a violent tempest arose. The very region itself appeared to recoil as the in- cantation proceeded, Every succeeding instant the storm encreased it’s tearful vehemence. Suddenly a dark cloud appeared in the horizon. It ftoated over the frozen ocean with the greatest rapidity. In another minute, the murky vapour had reached Sumach, A hot sulphureous atmosphere oppressed her, and a film of blood dimmed her sight as she beheld the Valkyras issue from the surrounding gloom. Skulda, having performed her office, retired again to her sombre abode, leaving the eldest of the sisters to advance, : She addressed herself to Sumach to the following effect— “ Daughter of mortality, we, the three Valkyra, attend to learn thy bidding. If thou askest aught that is good of us, we are ready to obey thee. ‘‘ But,” continued the speaker, “if thou would’st haye us aid thee in an unworthy deed, it were better that thou should’st not open thy lips, for vain would be thy entreaties.” ‘¢ Mysterious beings,” answered Sumach, ‘‘1 would crave your services in gaining for me the whereabouts of a poor young damsel who has been torn from her husband, and sent hither to pine in exile and, per- chance, dishonour.”’ ‘Her name is Emona,” said the second sister; ‘Sat least, so Skulda has informed us.”’ “ And she has spoken truly.” ‘mona is too virtuous to yield to any terms that would bring her into ruin or disgrace,’’ remarked the eldest of the Valkyra. ‘* An exalted and noble spirit like hers,’’ she con- tinued, ‘‘will bend to any contumely rather than replied Sumach, b obtain a release from persecution by a life of in-. famy.”’ “ May I count upon your assistance ?” ‘*A short time will prove how far we can aid you,” returned the third of the Valkyra. “ But our lips are forbid to speak further, since the scorner; of our power has dared by his presence to break the charm that would have served you in the extremity.” At the words, the three Valkyra vanished as quickly as the transient flame of a discharged mus- ket from its tube, leaving Sumach in a state of awe and amazement. The prediction of the prophetess was true, with respect to the advent of strangers, for on turning, the bewildered woman observed Fergus Blake and Paul Jones approaching her. ‘“Why have you disobeyed me,” she said, ‘‘and ventured to visit a spot which the Indian, in her belief, congiders holy?” a al! CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP, ’ Fergus smiled scornfully. . ‘Good Sumach,” he cried, ‘‘ reserve such lan- guage for the rude savage who bends to the idol of wood, and implores it to bestow success on under- takings that defy even the powers of reasoning man. “You know my tenets,” he continued. “I have long been inaccessible both to fear and supersti- tion.” “Doubt on, vain sceptic, if you please,” replied Sumach, somewhat angered, “ but revile not those who regard the land of spirits with eyes different to thine own. ‘‘Be not an idle and laughing scoffer,”’ she con- tinued, “who would level art with ignorance, and reduce power to weakness, by disbelieving and turning into ridicule a subject beyond the grasp of shallow intellect.” Fergus was conscience-struck, and remained silent for an instant ere he replied— “ Perhaps I was wrong; let the issue determine.” ‘‘T am one who have no reason to doubt super- natural power,” said Paul Jones, advancing. “ This region, which was sacred to the Gods of old Val- halla, may, for aught I know, maintain at the pre- sent time the mystic influence it is asserted it pos- sessed in the past. I and Fergus have divined your errand hither: say, how have you sped?” In a few words Sumach gave him the history of her meeting with the three Valkyra, and its conse- quences. Paul Jones cast up his eyes and rais2d his hands to heaven. Thankful for the probable escape of Emona from her evil companions, he hastily added— *°T see we shall save her yet. I will place her in security, and endeavour to renounce these shores for ever. ‘No more can Paul Jones!’ he cried, “ carry the Black Flag, and its yet blacker name, and may heaven direct him to a better course than that which his life as yet held.” ‘‘ Your prayer is heard,” replied Sumach, solemnly, “and you will liye to redeem what you have done amiss.’’ At this juncture, Zoe, whose absence had not been observed, suddenly made her appearance among the startled group. This incident for the moment caused considerable uneasiness, as the countenance of the Indian girl betrayed unusual emotion, and all knew that since their enemies were somewhere in the neighbourhood, they might come upon them at any time. It was necessary, therefore, that the utmost caution should be observed, as a surprise by numbers would render the case of the friends of Emona a hopeless one. “Have you seen them?” asked Paul Jones, in hurried accents, ‘‘Iss, massa, that is——’ ‘* Well, well,” continued Fergus, impatiently. “Dey not berry far off,’ continued Zoe, with provoking coolness. “ When dey come to take Missie Sumach, me fight for her, and kill one, two,. four.’ ‘“‘T ask again,’ said Paul Jones, in a frenzy, “have you fell in with the pirates who haye seized Emona ?” ‘‘ Feil in, no me fall out with the nasty rascals.” ‘Where did you meet them ?” “Me no meet ’em at all, they gone long way, over big tract, to wigwam on de ice-fleld.” “She must mean the sno-whut,’ said Paul Jones. ‘‘ How do you know this ?” asked Fergus Blake. “You say you have not encountered our foes.” b]