Chapter 10

           "Ifearweshalloutsleepthecomingmorn

           Asmuchaswethisnighthaveoverwatched!"

           MidsummerNight’sDream.

           Theinstanttheshockofthissuddenmisfortunehadabated,Duncanbegantomakehisobservationsontheappearanceandproceedingsoftheircaptors.Contrarytotheusagesofthenativesinthewantonnessoftheirsuccess,theyhadrespected,notonlythepersonsofthetremblingsisters,buthisown.Therichornamentsofhismilitaryattirehadindeedbeenrepeatedlyhandledbydifferentindividualsofthetribewitheyesexpressingasavagelongingtopossessthebaubles;butbeforethecustomaryviolencecouldberesortedto,amandateintheauthoritativevoiceofthelargewarrioralreadymentioned,stayedtheupliftedhand,andconvincedHeywardthattheyweretobereservedforsomeobjectofparticularmoment.

           While,however,thesemanifestationsofweaknesswereexhibitedbytheyoungandvainoftheparty,themoreexperiencedwarriorscontinuedtheirsearchthroughoutbothcaverns,withanactivitythatdenotedtheywerefarfrombeingsatisfiedwiththosefruitsoftheirconquestwhichhadalreadybeenbroughttolight.Unabletodiscoveranynewvictim,thesediligentworkersofvengeancesoonapproachedtheirmaleprisoners,pronouncingthenameof"LaLongueCarabine,"withafiercenessthatcouldnoteasilybemistaken.Duncanaffectednottocomprehendthemeaningoftheirrepeatedandviolentinterrogatories,whilehiscompanionwassparedtheeffortofasimilardeceptionbyhisignoranceofFrench.