Once she had been strolling about on the border of the wood, and had overseen Danforth in close confab with a trio of villainous, desperate-looking men, all armed to the teeth. Then, again, she had seen him exchange significant glances with Cato, whom she cordially suspected of evil.
To use an uncouth but forcible phrase, Hettie was “nobody’s fool.” She linked several suspicious events, and by a little shrewd guessing picked Danforth to pieces.
Though naturally penetrating and keen, she was under the influence of the great sense-sharpener—Cupid, and was thoroughly in love with gay, handsome Captain Downing. She loved him with an ardent, whole-souled love, and could have gainsayed him in nothing. Fortunate for her it was that the unscrupulous robber did not know of her passion for him—very fortunate; for he would have caused her bitter misery. She well knew his impulsive temperament, and avoided him, knowing that to see him were only to give her love another impetus.
Stop and consider what this backwoods girl was doing, and see what a heroine she was. Cognizant of Downing’s ardent love for Katie, conscious he did not love her, knowing Katie was her successful rival, she was deliberately doing all she could to protect and save her—she who had unwillingly outstripped her in the love of the beautiful bandit—to organize a party for the apprehension and punishment of her idolized hero, though it would almost be her death-blow to see him disgraced and punished.
You see she was a very extraordinary girl—this young backwoods maid.
She soon arrived at the cabin of Sol Jacobs, and hurriedly entering told them of the story. Old Sol heard her through, heard her suspicions, conjectures and fears, then turned sharply to his son, a stalwart young fellow of twenty who would have died for Hettie, being devotedly attached to her.
“Arouse the settlement, Eben!” he said, “and make your pins fly too. Tell every man that little Katie has disappeared suddenly! that’ll bring ’em together short meter.”
Eben sprung away while Hettie lingered with the women, who, cackling all at once, plied her with questions. Old Sol took down his gun and rubbed the dust off the barrel.
The news flew like wildfire about the little settlement. Men frowned and quietly took their rifles from their pegs. Young men swore an oath or so, then clenched their teeth, and baring their arms, watched their brawny muscles as they swelled with the arm’s rise and fall. Then they clutched their guns, and uniting together, clamored to start in pursuit.
The elders, though quite as resolved and more worthy and reliable than their juniors, were men of experience, and never moved rashly, always looking before leaping. They assembled the youngers, and all uniting started for Jeffries’ cabin.