Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/250

 rushed forth, and called on each other to run different ways, and the words—"That is he—stop him!" were spoken in a tone of eagerness and rage. My weakness and pain were for a moment forgotten, and my whole attention was bent to discover the meaning of this hubbub. The musket which I had brought with me to this chamber lay across the bed: unknowing of the consequences of this affray with regard to myself, I was prompted, by a kind of self-preserving instinct, to lay hold of the gun, and prepare to repel any attack that might be made upon me.

A few moments elapsed, when I thought I heard light footsteps in the entry leading to this room. I had no time to construe these signals; but watching fearfully the entrance, I grasped my weapon with new force, and raised it so as to be ready at the moment of danger. I did not watch long. A figure cautiously thrust itself forward: the first glance was sufficient to inform me that this intruder was an Indian, and, of consequence, an enemy. He was unarmed. Looking eagerly on all sides, he at last spied me as I lay. My appearance threw him into consternation; and, after the fluctuation of an instant, he darted to the window, threw up the sash, and leaped out upon the ground.

His flight might have been easily arrested by my shot; but surprise, added to my habitual antipathy to bloodshed, unless in cases of absolute necessity, made me hesitate. He was gone, and I was left to mark the progress of the drama. The silence was presently broken by firing at a distance: three shots, in quick succession, were followed by the deepest pause.

That the party recently arrived had brought with them one or more captives, and that by some sudden effort the prisoners had attempted to escape, was the only supposition that I could form: by what motives either of them could be induced to seek concealment in my chamber, could not be imagined.

I now heard a single step on the threshold below. Some one entered the common room: he traversed the floor during a few minutes; and then ascending the staircase, he entered my chamber. It was Sarsefield. Trouble and