It was at this juncture that Major Gordon arrived. Mrs. Warren, in dishabille, her hair all dishevelled, no sooner saw him, than she rushed forward, frantically asking if he had brought back Kate. The Major, who had hoped, as we have seen, to find Miss Aylesford at Sweetwater, was not less disappointed than the anxious aunt; but he controlled his feelings better, and considerately forbore informing Mrs. Warren either of the terrible situation of her niece, or of Aylesford’s death. A fit of hysterics almost immediately seized the now heart-broken woman, in which condition, time being precious, the Major was compelled to leave her, in order to reach the rendezvous.
Uncle Lawrence was waiting for him on his return. The little party set forth immediately, the veteran leading the way to the refugee’s hut, almost in a straight line.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE PURSUIT
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Incapable of pity, void and empty
From ev’ry drachm of mercy. —Shakespeare.
Spare not the babe,
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy. —Shakespeare.
The astonishment of Arrison, when he discovered the escape of Kate, was only equaled by his rage. He was not the first, however, to detect her flight. Having resisted the influence of the last night’s potations longer than the rest, he slept sounder than some of the others, and was still lost in a deep stupefying slumber, when one of the gang waking, and looking around, as he sat up on the floor, started to observe the door of the inner chamber open.
“Hello!” he cried, rubbing his eyes, to be sure that he beheld aright. “The bird’s flown.”
With the words, he sprang to his feet, and advancing hastily to the chamber, leaned over Arrison’s recumbent body, and looked in. His suspicions were immediately verified. Their prisoner was gone. The discovery struck him in so ludicrous a light, that he burst into uproarious laughter.
This loud mirth roused all the sleepers, Arrison among the rest.
“What do you mean?” cried the latter, leaping to his feet, and collaring the laugher. “What are you doing here?”