The Land of Bondage: A RomanceBloundelle-Burton, John
History
The Land of Bondage: A Romance
Bloundelle-Burton, John
Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
Thus we went forth escorted by the Bear and those of his guards with
him, and so we reached the plantation of pines that grew upon the
mountain slope. Senamee, the chief of all the tribe, was already
seated on a great stone rudely carved into the shape of a chair,
while, by his side, we noticed similar ones made of wood, over all of
which were thrown skins and blankets. He it was, we learnt afterwards,
who had directed the principal attack upon the village, and who had
stormed the homes of the Pringles, Clibornes, and Byrds. These were
standing before him, bound, but looking defiant and gallant as they
cast their eyes round on all the Indian warriors as well as the women
and children, and, even from their servants and some of the rough
backwoodsmen who were also captured, no sign of fear was forthcoming.
Indeed, fierce and dreaded as the Indian was by the colonist and his
dependants, there was always in the minds of the latter a tinge of
contempt mixed with that dread. That contempt was born, perhaps, of
the feeling that, in the end, our race invariably overbore theirs;
that gradually their lands had become ours, even if by just and fair
bargain. Also that, subtle, crafty, and cruel as the savage might be
and dreadful when attacking from his ambush, in all open encounter he
was no match for the men in whose veins ran the good, brave blood of
their old English ancestors.
"You come late, Anuza," exclaimed Senamee as, striding through the
assembled crowd, the Bear made his way to a seat opposite the chief
and motioned to us to follow him, while to Mary and to me he signed
that we should seat ourselves on the fur-covered bench beside him.
"You come late." Then, observing the other's action to us and our
taking the indicated seat, he said, "What means this, and why are the
pale face women honoured in the presence of their conquerors? They are
prisoners here, not guests to sit by our sides."
"At this moment, oh! Senamee, seek to know nothing," replied Anuza,
"nor ask why the pale face women are seated by my side. Later on all
shall be told you." We saw a look of astonishment appear on the face
of all the other captives at this answer, though it but confirmed in
part that which we had told them overnight, and we saw also a dark
scowl come on the painted face of Senamee, while he muttered to
himself, "'Twill not please the Child of the Sun who is on his way
here," but he said no more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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