Thus prepared at all points, and ready for his
desperate undertaking, the Teton gave the signal to proceed.
The three advanced in a line with the encampment of the travellers,
until, in the dim light by which they were seen, their dusky forms
were nearly lost to the eyes of the prisoners. Here they paused,
looking around them like men who deliberate and ponder long on the
consequences before they take a desperate leap. Then sinking together,
they became lost in the grass of the prairie.
It is not difficult to imagine the distress and anxiety of the
different spectators of these threatening movements. Whatever might be
the reasons of Ellen for entertaining no strong attachment to the
family in which she has first been seen by the reader, the feelings of
her sex, and, perhaps, some lingering seeds of kindness, predominated.
More than once she felt tempted to brave the awful and instant danger
that awaited such an offence, and to raise her feeble, and, in truth,
impotent voice in warning. So strong, indeed, and so very natural was
the inclination, that she would most probably have put it in
execution, but for the often repeated though whispered remonstrances
of Paul Hover.
Pages:
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108