The look of exultation and brutal triumph which announced
this terrible truth was irresistibly irritating.
Forgetful of everything but the impulses of his hot
blood, Duncan leveled his pistol and fired. The
report of the weapon made the cavern bellow like an
eruption from a volcano; and when the smoke it vomited
had been driven away before the current of air which
issued from the ravine the place so lately occupied
by the features of his treacherous guide was vacant.
Rushing to the outlet, Heyward caught a glimpse of
his dark figure stealing around a low and narrow ledge,
which soon hid him entirely from sight.
Among the savages a frightful stillness succeeded
the explosion, which had just been heard bursting
from the bowels of the rock. But when Le Renard
raised his voice in a long and intelligible whoop,
it was answered by a spontaneous yell from the mouth
of every Indian within hearing of the sound.
The clamorous noises again rushed down the island;
and before Duncan had time to recover from the shock,
his feeble barrier of brush was scattered to the winds,
the cavern was entered at both its extremities, and
he and his companions were dragged from their shelter
and borne into the day, where they stood surrounded
by the whole band of the triumphant Hurons.
“I fear we shall
outsleep the coming morn
As much as we this night
have overwatched!”
—Midsummer
Night’s Dream
The instant the shock of this sudden misfortune had
abated, Duncan began to make his observations on the
appearance and proceedings of their captors.
Contrary to the usages of the natives in the wantonness
of their success they had respected, not only the
persons of the trembling sisters, but his own.
The rich ornaments of his military attire had indeed
been repeatedly handled by different individuals of
the tribes with eyes expressing a savage longing to
possess the baubles; but before the customary violence
could be resorted to, a mandate in the authoritative
voice of the large warrior, already mentioned, stayed
the uplifted hand, and convinced Heyward that they
were to be reserved for some object of particular
moment.
While, however, these manifestations of weakness were
exhibited by the young and vain of the party, the
more experienced warriors continued their search throughout
both caverns, with an activity that denoted they were
far from being satisfied with those fruits of their
conquest which had already been brought to light.
Unable to discover any new victim, these diligent
workers of vengeance soon approached their male prisoners,
pronouncing the name “La Longue Carabine,”
with a fierceness that could not be easily mistaken.
Duncan affected not to comprehend the meaning of their
repeated and violent interrogatories, while his companion
was spared the effort of a similar deception by his
ignorance of French. Wearied at length by their
importunities, and apprehensive of irritating his
captors by too stubborn a silence, the former looked
about him in quest of Magua, who might interpret his
answers to questions which were at each moment becoming
more earnest and threatening.
