CHAPTER XIII THE LAW OF THE WHITE MAN "I will go to my tent and lie down in despair; H, Lawrence, lad! when did you arrive? I'd as soon have expected to see Cromwell himself, as to find you here! greeted Lieutenant Kingsland, as he held out a welcoming hand to the grave-looking man who had risen from his seat and taken a step forward to meet his old companion-in-arms. "I came less than an hour since. Crossed from Connecticut Colony in Captain How's vessel, on its voyage to Southampton plantation," returned Colonel Lawrence. "Learning that the Major had taken up his quarters here, I determined to make a stop-I had no idea that you had crossed the big puddle until the Captain told me. Glad to see you! But, man alive, what ails you? You are looking like your own wraith!" broke off Henry Lawrence. "A slight headache, nothing more serious, I assure you, Colonel," returned Kingsland, striving to speak lightly; but the memory of that threatening war-whoop still troubled him, and, notwithstanding he had made light of the matter to Damaris, he could not shake off the impression that there was something sinister and boding to himself in that singular demonstration. "Where have you been, lad? Zounds! that headache must be something tremendous to knock you out after such a fashion!" chimed in Captain Gardiner, who, with Major Gordon, was seated at the table, which was strewn with papers and documents bearing heavy seals, and written in the blackest of ink with the coarsest of quills. "Here, take a sup of brandy, it will set you up-you and my lass been out mooning, eh?" The Lieutenant drained the glass the Captain offered, handed it back to his host, and dropped into a chair beside Lawrence. He was an eminently handsome, distinguishedlooking man, this Lawrence, a soldier who had served under Cromwell, and for gallantry on hardfought fields had risen to the rank of Colonel in the Soldier-Dictator's army. He was perhaps thirty years of age, of magnificent physique, with a face tanned of the bronze peculiar to one who has seen long service under tropic suns. The dark, keen, proud eyes were shadowed by lashes that softened their brilliancy, lending a half-dreamy expression. A clear-cut profile, a handsome, resolute mouth, a square chin, and a noble head crowned by dark, glossy hair made up the portrait of an ex-colonel of the British army, and lord over one of the finest manors Lancashire. in Upon the death of his father, and his consequent accession, he had sold out his commission and retired from the service. Those who knew him best asserted that his principles inclined him to the rule of old "Ironsides," under whom he had served, rather than to a maudlin sympathy with Charles, afterward called the Merrie Monarch," and whom the Royalist party would fain seat upon the throne that was in reality occupied by Oliver Cromwell. But Cromwell was alive, and the time had not come when the weaker son, Richard, would allow the reins of government to slip from his hands, and Charles Stuart to be proclaimed England's king. "Have I interrupted a business meeting?" asked Guy, as he glanced over the array of documents upon the table. "Not interrupted," returned Major Gordon, as he picked up a paper; "I was about to examine these title deeds, just to refresh my memory and enlighten the Colonel." "Tut, tut!" demurred Lawrence, "small need for military titles after a man is fairly out of the service-plain Lawrence will satisfy me." "Ha, lad! has that weapon a double edge? laughed the Major, good-naturedly. "My military title appears to cling, even in the American wilderness among savages and rude colonists, for there is much of the ruder material mixed with the sprinkling of gentlemen who have migrated to the colonies. But we have use for them should there be an uprising of the Indians. Every arm will count. In a few years, however, we shall have removed the last inducement our red brothers have to remain here, and they will migrate westward of their own free will." "How so?" asked the Colonel. "These rightful owners of the soil have retained their right to hunt and fish, which, according to their mode of life, is nearly all that is required, besides the small amount of cultivation. Under such circumstances are they likely to abandon their homes? " "Marry-come-up, good sir; have you lost sight, as they appear to have, of the fact that we have the right to fell these forests, which at present shelter the game they value so highly, especially the bears and wolves. Besides, we have already two gristmills in operation over in Southampton, and shall soon have many others reared along the streams. That will banish the fish from the vicinity. Take away the forests, scatter the fish, and there will soon be an exodus westward," returned Gordon jubilantly. According to my judgment, Englishmen will be compelled to fight for the land they have obtained by-diplomacy," said the Colonel, substituting the more pacific word for the term fraud, that had trembled upon his tongue. "Not so," chimed in Kingsland, "they are certain to become involved in wars between themselves. Now there is Uncas, the Mohican chief, one of the most wily and ambitious savages in America, who is the enemy of the Narragansetts, who, in their turn, have a most violent hatred of the Montauks." "What is the cause of their enmity?" queried Lawrence. "The Captain can explain better than I. He is thoroughly informed on all affairs that pertain to Indians on the islands," answered Kingsland, lighting his pipe. "I can enlighten you, Colonel," agreed Gardiner, "It is the simplest thing in creation. It appears that Ninigret, Sachem of the Narragansetts, some time since made overtures to the Montauk Sachem to join him in a plot to destroy all the white settlersthat is, the English; but instead of uniting with the Narragansetts, Wyandance revealed the plot to us, thus frustrating the design of the Narragansetts, and saving the settlers from extermination; Wyandance, the Long Island Sachem, told me that, as all the plots of the Narragansetts had been discovered, they had now concluded to let the English alone until they had destroyed Uncas, the Mohican chief, and himself; then, with the assistance of the Mohawks and Indians beyond the Dutch, they could easily destroy us, every man and mother's son," concluded Captain Gardiner. "This Wyandance appears to be a staunch friend of yours," remarked Lawrence, turning to Captain Gardiner; "at least I judge as much by reason of his imparting to you the knowledge of the contemplated massacre.' "Yes, true as steel to his white neighbours, and I flatter myself that I have more influence with him than any other white man alive," assented Gardiner, with a smile. "He has dealt munificently with me, and not once have I been disturbed in the quiet possession of my plantation." "Which is extensive a goodly inheritance for your children, judging from the observation I made from the deck of the Blessing," said the Colonel. "What is the extent?" "It contains three thousand, three hundred acres, all told that is including the beaches and ponds; the soil is fine. As yet, it is a separate plantation." "Zounds, man! exclaimed the astonished Colonel," but you are in luck! and this Indian potentate gave you a clear title?" "Most assuredly," smiled Gardiner. "Your ruling planet must have been propitious; it seems that luck has attended you since coming to the colonies. I wouldn't object to getting a goodly slice of these fertile vales and heavily timbered lands; still I must insist that I could not have the conscience to take land at such unheard-of terms. I am |