condensed novels-第5部分

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it　had　traversed　his　body　only　to　enter　the　throat　of　the
California　lion；　and　in　like　manner　the　catamount；　until　it　passed
through　into　the　respective　foreheads　of　the　bull　and　the　buffalo；
and　finally　fell　flattened　from　the　rocky　hillside。

Genevra　turned　quickly。　　〃My　preserver！〃　she　shrieked；　and　fell
into　the　arms　of　Natty　Bumpo；　the　celebrated　Pike　Ranger　of　Donner
Lake。


CHAPTER　V。


The　moon　rose　cheerfully　above　Donner　Lake。　　On　its　placid　bosom　a
dug…out　canoe　glided　rapidly；　containing　Natty　Bumpo　and　Genevra
Tompkins。

Both　were　silent。　　The　same　thought　possessed　each；　and　perhaps
there　was　sweet　companionship　even　in　the　unbroken　quiet。　　Genevra
bit　the　handle　of　her　parasol　and　blushed。　　Natty　Bumpo　took　a
fresh　chew　of　tobacco。　　At　length　Genevra　said；　as　if　in　half…
spoken　revery：

〃The　soft　shining　of　the　moon　and　the　peaceful　ripple　of　the　waves
seem　to　say　to　us　various　things　of　an　instructive　and　moral
tendency。〃

〃You　may　bet　yer　pile　on　that；　Miss；〃　said　her　companion；　gravely。
〃It's　all　the　preachin'　and　psalm…singin'　I've　heern　since　I　was　a
boy。〃

〃Noble　being！〃　said　Miss　Tompkins　to　herself；　glancing　at　the
stately　Pike　as　he　bent　over　his　paddle　to　conceal　his　emotion。
〃Reared　in　this　wild　seclusion；　yet　he　has　become　penetrated　with
visible　consciousness　of　a　Great　First　Cause。〃　　Then；　collecting
herself；　she　said　aloud：　〃Methinks　'twere　pleasant　to　glide　ever
thus　down　the　stream　of　life；　hand　in　hand　with　the　one　being　whom
the　soul　claims　as　its　affinity。　　But　what　am　I　saying？〃and　the
delicate…minded　girl　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。

A　long　silence　ensued；　which　was　at　length　broken　by　her　companion。

〃Ef　you　mean　you're　on　the　marry；〃　he　said；　thoughtfully；　〃I　ain't
in　no　wise　partikler！〃

〃My　husband；〃　faltered　the　blushing　girl；　and　she　fell　into　his
arms。

In　ten　minutes　more　the　loving　couple　had　landed　at　Judge
Tompkins's。


CHAPTER　VI。


A　year　has　passed　away。　　Natty　Bumpo　was　returning　from　Gold　Hill；
where　he　had　been　to　purchase　provisions。　　On　his　way　to　Donner
Lake；　rumors　of　an　Indian　uprising　met　his　ears。　　〃Dern　their　pesky
skins；　ef　they　dare　to　touch　my　Jenny；〃　he　muttered　between　his
clenched　teeth。

It　was　dark　when　he　reached　the　borders　of　the　lake。　　Around　a
glittering　fire　he　dimly　discerned　dusky　figures　dancing。　　They
were　in　war　paint。　　Conspicuous　among　them　was　the　renowned　Muck…a…
Muck。　　But　why　did　the　fingers　of　Natty　Bumpo　tighten　convulsively
around　his　rifle？

The　chief　held　in　his　hand　long　tufts　of　raven　hair。　　The　heart　of
the　pioneer　sickened　as　he　recognized　the　clustering　curls　of
Genevra。　　In　a　moment　his　rifle　was　at　his　shoulder；　and　with　a
sharp　〃ping；〃　Muck…a…Muck　leaped　into　the　air　a　corpse。　　To　knock
out　the　brains　of　the　remaining　savages；　tear　the　tresses　from　the
stiffening　hand　of　Muck…a…Muck；　and　dash　rapidly　forward　to　the
cottage　of　Judge　Tompkins；　was　the　work　of　a　moment。

He　burst　open　the　door。　　Why　did　he　stand　transfixed　with　open
mouth　and　distended　eyeballs？　　Was　the　sight　too　horrible　to　be
borne？　　On　the　contrary；　before　him；　in　her　peerless　beauty；　stood
Genevra　Tompkins；　leaning　on　her　father's　arm。

〃Ye'r　not　scalped；　then！〃　gasped　her　lover。

〃No。　　I　have　no　hesitation　in　saying　that　I　am　not；　but　why　this
abruptness？〃　responded　Genevra。

Bumpo　could　not　speak；　but　frantically　produced　the　silken　tresses。
Genevra　turned　her　face　aside。

〃Why；　that's　her　waterfall！〃　said　the　Judge。

Bumpo　sank　fainting　to　the　floor。

The　famous　Pike　chieftain　never　recovered　from　the　deceit；　and
refused　to　marry　Genevra；　who　died；　twenty　years　afterwards；　of　a
broken　heart。　　Judge　Tompkins　lost　his　fortune　in　Wild　Cat。　　The
stage　passes　twice　a　week　the　deserted　cottage　at　Donner　Lake。
Thus　was　the　death　of　Muck…a…Muck　avenged。



TERENCE　DENVILLE。

BY　CHLS　LVR。


CHAPTER　I。

MY　HOME。


The　little　village　of　Pilwiddle　is　one　of　the　smallest　and
obscurest　hamlets　on　the　western　coast　of　Ireland。　　On　a　lofty
crag；　overlooking　the　hoarse　Atlantic；　stands　〃Denville's　Shot
Tower〃a　corruption　by　the　peasantry　of　D'Enville's　Chateau；　so
called　from　my　great…grandfather；　Phelim　St。　Kemy　d'Enville；　who
assumed　the　name　and　title　of　a　French　heiress　with　whom　he　ran
away。　　To　this　fact　my　familiar　knowledge　and　excellent
pronunciation　of　the　French　language　may　be　attributed；　as　well　as
many　of　the　events　which　covered　my　after　life。

The　Denvilles　were　always　passionately　fond　of　field　sports。　　At
the　age　of　four；　I　was　already　the　boldest　rider　and　the　best　shot
in　the　country。　　When　only　eight；　I　won　the　St。　Remy　Cup　at　the
Pilwiddle　races；riding　my　favorite　bloodmare　Hellfire。　　As　I
approached　the　stand　amidst　the　plaudits　of　the　assembled
multitude；　and　cries　of；　〃Thrue　for　ye；　Masther　Terence；〃　and　〃O；
but　it's　a　Dinville！〃　there　was　a　slight　stir　among　the　gentry；　who
surrounded　the　Lord　Lieutenant；　and　other　titled　personages　whom
the　race　had　attracted　thither。　　〃How　young　he　is；a　mere　child；
and　yet　how　noble…looking；〃　said　a　sweet　low　voice；　which　thrilled
my　soul。

I　looked　up　and　met　the　full　liquid　orbs　of　the　Hon。　Blanche
Fitzroy　Sackville；　youngest　daughter　of　the　Lord　Lieutenant。　　She
blushed　deeply。　　I　turned　pale　and　almost　fainted。　　But　the　cold；
sneering　tones　of　a　masculine　voice　sent　the　blood　back　again　into
my　youthful　cheek。

〃Very　likely　the　ragged　scion　of　one　of　these　banditti　Irish
gentry；　who　has　taken　naturally　to　'the　road。'　　He　should　be　at
schoolthough　I　warrant　me　his　knowledge　of　Terence　will　not
extend　beyond　his　own　name；〃　said　Lord　Henry　Somerset；　aid…de…camp
to　the　Lord　Lieutenant。

A　moment　and　I　was　perfectly　calm；　though　cold　as　ice。
Dismounting；　and　stepping　to　the　side　of　the　speaker；　I　said　in　a
low；　firm　voice：

〃Had　your　Lordship　read　Terence　more　carefully；　you　would　have
learned　that　banditti　are　sometimes　proficient　in　other　arts　beside
horsemanship；〃　and　I　touched　his　holster　significantly　with　my
hand。　　I　had　not　read　Terence　myself；　but　with　the　skilful　audacity
of　my　race　I　calculated　that　a　vague　allusion；　coupled　with　a
threat；　would　embarrass　him。　　It　did。

〃Ahwhat　mean　you？〃　he　said；　white　with　rage。

〃Enough；　we　are　observed；〃　I　replied；　〃Father　Tom　will　wait　on　you
this　evening；　and　to…morrow　morning；　my　lord；　in　the　glen　below
Pilwiddle　we　will　meet　again。〃

〃Father　Tomglen！〃　ejaculated　the　Englishman；　with　genuine
surprise。　　〃What？　do　priests　carry　challenges　and　act　as　seconds　in
your　infernal　country？〃

〃Yes！〃　I　answered；　scornfully；　〃why　should　they　not？　　Their
services　are　more　often　necessary　than　those　of　a　surgeon；〃　I　added
significantly；　turning　away。

The　party　slowly　rode　off；　with　the　exception　of　the　Hon。　Blanche
Sackville；　who　lingered　for　a　moment　behind。　　In　an　instant　I　was
at　her　side。　　Bending　her　blushing　face　over　the　neck　of　her　white
filly；　she　said　hurriedly：

〃Words　have　passed　between　Lord　Somerset　and　yourself。　　You　are
about　to　fight。　　Don't　deny　itbut　hear　me。　　You　will　meet　himI
know　your　skill　of　weapons。　　He　will　be　at　your　mercy。　　I　entreat
you　to　spare　his　life！〃

I　hesitated。　　〃Never！〃　I　cried　passionately；　〃he　has　insulted　a
Denville！〃

〃Terence；〃　she　whispered；　〃TerenceFOR　MY　SAKE？〃

The　blood　rushed　to　my　cheeks；　and　her　eyes　sought　the　ground　in
bashful　confusion。

〃You　love　him　then？〃　I　cried；　bitterly。

〃No；　no；〃　she　said；　agitatedly；　〃no；　you　do　me　wrong。　　IIcannot
explain　myself。　　My　father！the　Lady　Dowager　Sackvillethe　estate
of　Sackvillethe　boroughmy　uncle；　Fitzroy　Somerset。　　Ah！　what　am
I　saying？　　Forgive　me。　　O　Terence；〃　she　said；　as　her　beautiful　head
sank　on　my　shoulder；　〃you　know　not　what　I　suffer！〃

I　seized　her　hand　and　covered　it　with　passionate　kisses。　　But　the
high…bred　English　girl；　recovering　something　of　her　former　hauteur；
said　hastily；　〃Leave　me；　leave　me；　but　promise！〃

〃I　promise；〃　I　replied；　enthusiastically；　〃I　WILL　spare　his　life！〃

〃Thanks；　Terence；thanks！〃　and　disengaging　her　hand　from　my　lips
she　rode　rapidly　away。

The　next　morning；　the　Hon。　Captain　Henry　Somerset　and　myself
exchanged　nineteen　shots　in　the　glen；　and　at　each　fire　I　shot　away
a　button　from　his　uniform。　　As　my　last　bullet　shot　off　the　last
button　from　his　sleeve；　I　remarked　quietly；　〃You　seem　now；　my　lord；
to　be　almost　as　ragged　as　the　gentry　you　sneered　at；〃　and　rode
haughtily　away。


CHAPTER　II。

THE　FIGHTING　FIFTY…SIXTH。


When　I　was　nineteen　years　old　my　father　sold　the　Chateau　d'Enville
and　purchased　my　commission　in　the　〃Fifty…sixth〃　with　the　proceeds。
〃I　say；　Denville；〃　said　young　McSpadden；　a　boy…faced　ensign；　who
had　just　joined；　〃you'll　represent　the　estate　in　the　Army；　if　you
won't　in　the　House。〃　　Poor　fellow；　he　paid　for　his　meaningless　joke
with　his　life；　for　I　shot　him　through　the　heart　the　next　morning。
〃You're　a　good　fellow；　Denville；〃　said　the　poor　boy　faintly；　as　I
knelt　beside　him：　〃good　by！〃　　For　the　first　time　since　my
grandfather's　death　I　wept。　　I　could　not　help　thinking　that　I　would
have　been　a　better　man　if　Blanchebut　why　proceed？　　Was　she　not
now　in　Florencethe　belle　of　the　English　Embassy？

But　Napoleon　had　returned　from　Elba。　　Europe　was　in　a　blaze　of
excitement。　　The　Allies　were　preparing　to　resist　the　Man　of
Destiny。　　We　were　ordered　from　Gibraltar　home；　and　were　soon　again
en　route　for　Brussels。　　I　did　not　regret　that　I　was　to　be　placed　in
active　service。　　I　was　ambitious；　and　longed　for　an　opportunity　to
distinguish　myself。　　My　garrison　life　in　Gibraltar　had　been
monotonous　and　dull。　　I　had　killed　five　men　in　duel；　and　had　an
affair　with　the　colonel　of　my　regiment；　who　handsomely　apologized
before　the　matter　assumed　a　serious　aspect。　　I　had　been　twice　in
love。　　Yet　these　were　but　boyish　freaks　and　follies。　　I　wished　to
be　a　man。

The　time　soon　came；the　morning　of　Waterloo。　　But　why　describe
that　momentous　battle；　on　which　the　fate　of　the　entire　world　was
hanging？　　Twice　were　the　Fifty…sixth　surrounded　by　French
cuirassiers；　and　twice　did　we　mow　them　down　by　our　fire。　　I　had
seven　horses　shot　under　me；　and　was　mounting　the　eighth；　when　an
orderly　rode　up　hastily；　touched　his　cap；　and；　handing　me　a
de