Before long they were wending their way down the hill toward the forest, Cato grinning with delight, the only agreeable person in the party. The women stood by the little block-house watching them depart; and though many feminine hearts were sad, none were so heavy and torn as the virgin one of sweet Hettie Dunbar, watching with red, swollen eyes, the departure of cunning, earnest men, to bring to harm her lover.
In a few moments they were out of sight, and the women went back to their cabins sorrowfully. But Hettie mounted the narrow ladder in the block-house and sat drearily alone, sadly waiting, trembling lest at any moment she should see her heart’s idol brought back wounded or dying, and in disgrace and shame.
CHAPTER V.
A FIENDISH DEED.
Downing and Cato hurried away through the forest, toward Shadow Swamp, Katie meanwhile lying unconscious in her abductor’s arms. But, when they arrived at the pool, and stopped and signaled for the canoe, the cessation of the jolting motion aroused her and she opened her eyes.
At first her senses were scattered, and she did not remember the startling occurrence which had just taken place. But by degrees her wandering thoughts collected, and looking at the dark, grim trees, the still, pale light of the moon, the sable form beside her, and at her own villainous captor, she realized all and her heart sunk. The incidents, one by one, with startling distinctness rushed over her; the sudden awakening and fright; the villain’s rude and immodest grasp of her; the gradual fading away into oblivion; all, with the terrible, sickening dread of her fate to come was too much for her, and she swooned again.
When she again opened her eyes she looked upon four log walls and a roof of “brush.” She was in a cabin.
The walls were hung with skins, weapons, utensils and clothing, and last, in one corner, was a looking-glass—the pet of the dandy captain. The cabin was small, very small; but it was clean. Raising herself on her elbow, she looked around. In two corners were two piles of buffalo-skins undressed, and blankets—evidently used as beds. A round, short piece of a log stood on end in the center of the room, evidently a stool. This, with her own couch, completed the scanty furniture of the cabin.
She was lying on a bed which had been prepared for her, and she was delicately covered by skins. Her own clothing lay near.
In a few moments the door opened, and Captain Downing entered. He found her dressed and sitting vacantly on the stool without power to fly and escape. He had evidently taken some pains with his toilet, as his green coat was carefully brushed, his hair was arranged, and his boots were cleansed of all soil which generally adhered to them.