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
And there, too, was Mary Mills, her hand in Kinchella's as they sat
side by side, while on both their faces was the same eager look, the
same evident desire for the victory of the younger champion; the same
look of regret when he was forced to draw back. But, more marvellous
even than this, was what we further saw, yet could not comprehend.
_All_ in the crowd of spectators, save one who sat huddled on a great
chair or bench, his face covered with a mantle from which he peeped
furtively, seemed possessed with the same desire as they; all their
sympathy was with him who bore the emblem of the bear. It was so with
the dusky warriors who watched every cat-like footstep that the
antagonists took; so with the humbler Indians round; so with the
richly-bedizened Indian women, whom we deemed the wives or squaws of
the braves, and so with the almost nude Indian girls, servants
probably. And with all the other white people it was equally the
same. Buck and Mr. Pringle, and Mr. Byrd, as well as the other
prisoners--though none seemed like prisoners, being unshackled and
quite free--applauded and shouted in English fashion as the younger
warrior attacked the elder. One would have thought the former was
their dearest friend! They winced when the elder attacked in his turn,
and looked black and anxious if for a moment the fight seemed to go
against the Bear. Strange! all were for him--all; Indians, white
people, even my own dear sweetheart and her friends, Mary and
Kinchella--all, all, excepting that one shrouded, unknown creature who
sat apart by himself. Who could he be? What did it mean? O'Rourke was
able to inform me.
When he had told me that the Indian who was the desired victor of all
who regarded the combat was the one who had been the chief in command
of the attack on my sweet one's house, and had heard Roderick St.
Amande not only exposed by Miss Mills but also by his own tongue, he
said:
"And, my lord, remembering this, 'tis not difficult to draw therefrom
a conclusion that shall, I think, be near the mark. He has denounced
the villain Roderick--see how he cringes in his chair."
"In his chair? Is that creature Roderick?"
"It is, indeed, and I will wager that on this conflict his life
depends. And, look, look! The Bear presses the other hard. See how he
drives him back. Ah, God! he stumbles, he is--no, no! See, see, my
lord, see! Ah, heavens! it is too dreadful!" And he placed his hands
before his eyes. Even he, who had fought so well and risked his life a
score of times three nights ago, could not witness the end of this
fray.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account