From this statement of the boy, Flint come to the conclusion that Bill must have been too much frightened at the time to know what was actually taking place.
One thing was certain, and that was the prisoners had escaped, and had been aided in their escape by some persons, to him unknown, in a most strange and mysterious manner.
Over and over again he questioned Black Bill, but every time with the same result.
The boy persisted in the statement, that he saw the whole party pass out through an opening in the walls of the cavern.
That they had not passed out through the usual entrance was evident, for he found everything as he had left it.
Again he examined the walls of the cavern, only to be again baffled and disappointed.
He began to think that may be after all, the cavern was under a spell of enchantment, and that the women had actually been carried off in the manner described by the negro.
The boy was evidently honest in his statement, believing that he was telling nothing that was not true.
But be all this as it might, the mere presence of a human being, even though a poor negro boy, was sufficient to enable him to shake off the feeling of loneliness and fear, with which he was oppressed upon entering the cavern.
He now determined to remain in the cavern for a short time.
Long enough at least to make a thorough examination of the place, before taking his departure.
This determination of Captain Flint's was by no means agreeable to the negro boy.
Bill was anxious to leave the cave, and by that means escape the clutches of the devil, who was in the habit of frequenting it.
He endeavored to induce Flint to change his resolution by assuring him that he had heard the devil say that he was coming after him. But the captain only laughed at the boy, and he was compelled to remain.
CHAPTER XV.
For several days after the departure of Captain Flint, the inmates of the cavern felt no uneasiness at his absence; but when day after day passed, until more than a week had elapsed without his making his appearance they began to be alarmed.
It had uniformly been the practice of Captain Flint on leaving the cave, to give Lightfoot charges to remain there until his return, and not to allow any one to enter, or pass out during his absence.
This charge she had strictly obeyed.
Singularly enough he had said nothing about it the last time. This, however, made no difference with Lightfoot, for if she thought of it at all, she supposed that he had forgotten it. Still she felt no disposition to disobey his commands, although her feelings towards him, since his late brutal treatment had very much changed.
But their provisions were giving out, and to remain in the cavern much longer, they must starve to death. Lightfoot therefore resolved to go in search of the means of preventing such a catastrophe, leaving the others to remain in the cave until her return.
On attempting to pass out, she found to her horror that the way was barred against her from the outside.
In fact, they were buried alive!
In vain she endeavored to force her way out. The entrance had been too well secured.
There seemed to be no alternative but to await patiently the return of the captain.
Failing in that, they must starve to death!
Their supply of provisions was not yet quite exhausted, and they immediately commenced putting themselves on short allowance, hoping by that means to make them last until relief should come.
While the two women were sitting together, talking over the matter, and endeavoring to comfort each other, Hellena noticing the plain gold ring on the finger of Lightfoot, that had been placed there by Captain Flint during her quarrel with the Indian, asked to be allowed to look at it.
On examining the ring, she at once recognized it as the one worn by her lost lover.
Her suspicions in regard to Flint were now fully confirmed. She was satisfied that he was in some way concerned in the sudden disappearance of the missing man.
Could it be possible that he had been put out of the way by this villain, who, for some reason unknown to any but himself, was now desirous of disposing of her also?
The thought filled her with horror.
That night the two women retired to rest as usual. It was a long time before sleep came to their relief. But it came at last.
The clock which the pirates had hung in the cave, struck twelve, when Hellena started from her slumber with a suppressed cry, for the figure she had seen in the vision many nights ago, stood bending over her! But now it looked more like a being of real flesh and blood, than a spectre. And when it spoke to her, saying, "has the little paleface maiden forgotten; no, no!" she recognized in the intruder, her old friend the Indian chief, Fire Cloud.
Hellena, the feelings of childhood returning, sprang up, and throwing her arms around the old chief, exclaimed:
"Save me, no, no, save me!"
Lightfoot was by this time awake also, and on her feet. To her the appearance of the chief seemed a matter of no surprise. Not that she had expected anything of the kind, but she looked upon the cave as a place of enchantment, and she believed that the spirits having it in charge, could cause the walls to open and close again at pleasure. And she recognized Fire Cloud as one of the chiefs of her own tribe. He was also a descendant of one of its priests, and was acquainted with all the mysteries of the cavern.
He told the prisoners that he had come to set them at liberty, and bade them follow.
They had got everything for their departure, when they observed for the first time that Black Bill was missing.
They could not think of going without him, leaving him there to perish, but the cavern was searched for him in vain. His name was called to no better purpose, till they were at last compelled to go without him, the chief promising to return and make another search for him, all of which was heard by the negro from his hiding place under the pile of skins as related in the preceding chapter.
The chief, to the surprise of Hellena, instead of going to what might be called the door of the cavern, went to one of the remote corners, and stooping down, laid hold of a projection of rock, and gave it a sudden pressure, when a portion of the wall moved aside, disclosing a passage, till then unknown to all except Fire Cloud himself. It was one of the contrivances of the priests of the olden time, for the purpose of imposing upon the ignorant and superstitious multitude.
On passing through this opening, which the chief carefully closed after him, the party entered a narrow passageway, leading they could not see where, nor how far.
The Indian led the way, carrying his torch, and assisting them over the difficulties of the way, when assistance was required.
Thus he led them on, over rocks, and precipices, sometimes the path widening until it might be called another cavern, and then again becoming so narrow as to only allow one to pass at a time.
Thus they journeyed on for the better part of a mile, when they suddenly came to a full stop. Further progress appeared to be impossible.
It seemed to Hellena that nothing short of an enchanter's wand could open the way for them now, when Fire Cloud, going to the end of the passage, gave a large slab which formed the wall a push on the lower part, causing it to rise as if balanced by pivots at the center, and making an opening through which the party passed, finding themselves in the open air, with the stars shining brightly overhead.
As soon as they had passed out the rock swung back again, and no one unacquainted with the fact, would have supposed that common looking rock to be the door of the passage leading to the mysterious cavern.
The place to which they now came, was a narrow valley between the mountains.
Pursuing their journey up this valley, they came to a collection of Indian wigwams, and here they halted, the chief showing them into his own hut, which was one of the group.
Another time, it would have alarmed Hellena Rosenthrall to find herself in the wilderness surrounded by savages.
But now, although among savages far away from home, without a white face to look upon, she felt a degree of security, she had long been a stranger to.
In fact she felt that the Indians under whose protection she now found herself, were far more human, far less cruel, than the demon calling himself a white man, out of whose hands she had so fortunately escaped.
For once since her capture, her sleep was quiet, and refreshing.
CHAPTER XVI.
Black Bill, on leaving the captain, after having vainly endeavored to persuade him to leave the cave, crawled in to his usual place for passing the night, but not with the hope of forgetting his troubles in sleep.
He was more firmly than ever impressed with the idea that the cavern was the resort of the Devil and his imps, and that they would certainly return for the purpose of carrying off his master. To this he would have no objection, did he not fear that they might nab him also, in order to keep his master company.
So when everything was perfectly still in the cavern excepting the loud breathing of the captain, which gave evidence of his being fast asleep, the negro crept cautiously out of the recess, where he had thrown himself down, and moved noiselessly to the place where the captain was lying.
Having satisfied himself that his master was asleep, he went to the table, and taking the lamp that was burning there, he moved towards the entrance of the cave. This was now fastened only on the inside, and the fastening could be easily removed.
In a few moments Black Bill was at liberty.
As soon as he felt himself free from the cave, he gave vent to a fit of boisterous delight, exclaiming. "Hah! hah! hah! Now de debile may come arter massa Flint as soon as he please, he ain't a goun to ketch dis chile, I reckan. Serb de captain right for trowin my fadder in de sea.
"Hah! hah! hah! he tink I forgit all dat. I guess he fin out now."
Thus he went on until the thought seeming to strike him that he might be overheard, and pursued, he stopped all at once, and crept further into the forest and as he thought further out of the reach of the devil.
The morning had far advanced when captain Flint awoke from his slumber.
He knew this from the few sunbeams that found their way through a crevice in the rocks at one corner of the cave.
With this exception the place was in total darkness, for the lamp as we have said had been carried off by the negro.
"Hello, there, Bill, you black imp," shouted the captain, "bring a light."
But Bill made no answer, although the command was several times repeated.
At last, Flint, in a rage, sprang up, and seizing a raw hide which he always kept handy for such emergencies, he went to the sleeping place of the negro, and struck a violent blow on the place where Bill ought to have been, but where Bill was not.
The captain started. "Has he, too, escaped me?" he exclaimed.
Flint went back, and for a few moments sat down by the table in silence. After awhile the horror at being alone in such a gloomy place, once more came over him.
"Who knows," he thought, "but this black imp may betray me into the hands of my enemies. Even he, should he be so disposed, has it in his power to come at night, and by fastening the entrance of the cavern on the outside, bury me alive!"
So Flint reasoned, and so reasoning, made up his mind to leave the cavern.
Flint had barely passed beyond the entrance of the cave, when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He crouched under the bushes in order to watch and listen.
He saw a party of six men approaching, all fully armed excepting one, who seemed to be a guide to the rest.
Flint fairly gnashed his teeth with rage as he recognised in this man his old associate—Jones Bradley.
The whole party halted at a little distance from the entrance to the cave, where Bradley desired them to remain while he should go and reconnoitre.
He had reached the entrance, had made a careful examination of everything about it, and was in the act of turning to make his report, when Flint sprang upon him from the bushes, saying, "So it's you, you traitor, who has betrayed me," at the same moment plunging his dagger in the breast of Bradley, who fell dead at his feet.
In the next moment the pirate was flying through the forest. Several shots were fired at him, but without any apparent effect.
The whole party started in pursuit. But the pirate having the advantage of a start and a better knowledge of the ground, was soon hidden from view in the intricacies of the forest.
Still the party continued their pursuit, led now by Henry Billings.
As the pirate did not return the fire of his pursuers, it was evident that his only weapon was the dagger with which he had killed the unfortunate Bradley.
For several hours they continued their search, but all to no purpose, and they were about to give it up for the present, when one of them stumbled, and fell over something buried in the grass, when up sprang Black Bill, who had hidden there on hearing the approach of the party.
"Lookin' arter massa Flint?" asked the boy, as soon as he had discovered that he was among friends.
"Yes; can you tell us which way he has gone?" asked Billings.
"Gone dat way, and a-runnin' as if de debble was arter him, an' I guess he is, too."
The party set off in the direction pointed out, the negro following.
After going about half a mile, they were brought to a full stop by a precipice over which the foremost one of the party was near falling.
As they came to the brink they thought they heard a whine and a low growl, as of a wild animal in distress.
Looking into the ravine, a sight met their gaze, which caused them to shrink back with horror.
At the bottom of the ravine lay the body of the man of whom they were in pursuit, but literally torn to pieces.
Beside the body crouched an enormous she bear, apparently dying from wounds she had received from an encounter with the men.
Could his worst enemy have wished him a severe punishment?
"De debble got him now," said Black Bill, and the whole party took their way back to the cave.
On their way back, Billings learned from the negro that Hellena in company with Lightfoot, had left the cave several days previous to their coming. Where they had gone he could not tell.
He was so possessed with the idea they had been spirited away by the devil, or some one of his imps in the shape of an enormous Indian, that they thought he must have been frightened out of his wits.
Billings was at a loss what course to take, but he had made up his mind not to return to the city, until he had learned something definite in relation to the fate of his intended bride.
In all probability, she was at some one of the Indian villages belonging to some of the tribes occupying that part of the country.
For this purpose he embarked again in the small vessel in which he had come up the river, intending to proceed a short distance further up, for the purpose of consulting an old chief who, with his family, occupied a small island situated there.
He had proceeded but a short distance when he saw a large fleet of canoes approaching.
Supposing them to belong to friendly Indians, Billings made no attempt to avoid them, and his boat was in a few moments surrounded by the savages.
At first the Indians appeared to be perfectly friendly, offering to trade and, seeming particularly anxious to purchase fire-arms.
This aroused the suspicions of the white men, and they commenced endeavoring to get rid of their troublesome visitors, when to their astonishment, they were informed that they were prisoners!
Billings was surprised to find that the Indians, after securing their prisoners, instead of starting up the river again, continued their course down the stream.
But what he learned shortly after from one of the Indians, who spoke English tolerably well, astonished him still more. And that was, that he was taken for the notorious pirate Captain Flint, of whose escape they had heard from some of their friends recently from the city, and they thought that nothing would please their white brethren so much as to bring him back captive.
It was to no purpose that Billings endeavored to convince them of their mistake. They only shook their heads, as much as to say it was of no use, they were not to be so easily imposed upon.
And so Billings saw there was no help for it but to await patiently his arrival at New York, when all would be set right again.
But in the meantime Hellena might be removed far beyond his reach.
CHAPTER XVII.
Great was the mortification in the city upon learning the mistake they had made.
Where they had expected to receive praise and a handsome reward for having performed a meritorious action, they obtained only censure and reproaches for meddling in matters that did not concern them.
It was only a mistake however, and there was no help for it. And Billings, although greatly vexed and disappointed, saw no course left for him but to set off again, although he feared that the chances of success were greatly against him this time, on account of the time that had been lost.
The Indians, whose unfortunate blunder had been the cause of this delay, in order to make some amends for the wrong they had done him, now came forward, and offered to aid him in his search for the missing maiden.
They proffered him the use of their canoes to enable him to ascend the streams, and to furnish guides, and an escort to protect him while traveling through the country.
This offer, so much better than he had any reason to expect, was gladly accepted by Billings, and with two friends who had volunteered to accompany him, he once more started up the river, under the protection of his new friends.
War had broken out among the various tribes on the route which he must travel, making it unsafe for him and his two companions, even under such a guide and escort as his Indian friends could furnish them.
Thus he with his two associates were detained so long in the Indian country, that by their friends at home they were given up as lost.
At last peace was restored, and they set out on their return.
The journey home was a long and tedious one, but nothing occurred worth narrating.
Upon reaching the Hudson, they employed an Indian to take them the remainder of the way in a canoe.
Upon reaching Manhattan Island, the first place they stopped at was the residence of Carl Rosenthrall, Billings intending that the father of Hellena should be the first to hear the sad story of his failure and disappointment.
It was evening when he arrived at the house and the lamps were lighted in the parlor.
With heavy heart and trembling hands he rapped at the door.
As the door opened he uttered a faint cry of surprise, which was answered by a similar one by the person who admitted him. It was Hellena herself!
The scene that followed we shall not attempt to describe.
CHAPTER XVIII.
At about the same time that Henry Billings, under the protection of his Indian friends, set out on his last expedition up the river, a single canoe with four persons in it, put out from under the shadow of Old Crow Nest, on its way down the stream.
The individual by whom the canoe was directed was an Indian, a man somewhat advanced in years. The others were a white girl, an Indian woman, and a negro boy.
In short, the party consisted of Fire Cloud, Hellena Rosenthrall, Lightfoot, and Black Bill, on their way to the city.
They had passed the fleet of canoes in which Billings had embarked, but not knowing whether it belonged to a party of friendly Indians or otherwise.
Fire Cloud had avoided coming in contact with it for fear of being delayed, or of the party being made prisoners and carried back again.
Could they have but met, what a world of trouble would it not have saved to all parties interested!
As it was, Hellena arrived in safety, greatly to the delight of her father and friends, who had long mourned for her as for one they never expected to see again in this world.
The sum of Hellena's happiness would now have been complete, had it not been for the dark shadow cast over it by the absence of her lover.
And this shadow grew darker, and darker, as weeks, and months, rolled by without bringing any tidings of the missing one.
What might have been the effects of the melancholy into which she was fast sinking, it is hard to tell, had not the unexpected return of the one for whose loss she was grieving, restored her once more to her wonted health and spirits.
And here we might lay down our pen, and call our story finished, did we not think that justice to the reader, required that we should explain some things connected with the mysterious, cavern not yet accounted for.
How the Indian entered the cave on the night when Hellena fancied she had seen a ghost, and how she made her escape, has been explained, but we have not yet explained how the noises were produced which so alarmed the pirates.
It will be remembered that the sleeping place of Black Bill was a recess in the wall of the cavern.
Now in the wall, near the head of the negro's bed, there was a deep fissure or crevice. It happened that Bill while lying awake one night, to amuse himself, put his month to the crevice and spoke some words, when to his astonishment, what he had said, was repeated over and over, again.
Black Bill in his ignorance and simplicity, supposed that the echo, which came back, was an answer from some one on the other side of the wall.
Having made this discovery, he repeated the experiment a number of times, and always with the same result.
After awhile, he began to ask questions of the spirit, as he supposed it to be, that had spoken to him.
Among other things he asked if the devil was coming after master.
The echo replied, "The debil comin' after master," and repeated it a great many times.
Bill now became convinced that it was the devil himself that he had been talking to.
On the night when the pirates were so frightened by the fearful groan, Bill was lying awake, listening to the captain's story. When he came to the part where he describes the throwing the boy's father overboard, and speaks of the horrible groan, Bill put his mouth to the crevice, and imitated the groan, which had been too deeply fixed in his memory ever to be forgotten, giving full scope to his voice.
The effect astonished and frightened him as well as the pirates.
With the same success he imitated the Indian war-whoop, which he had learned while among the savages.
The next time that the pirates were so terribly frightened, the alarm was caused by Fire Cloud after his visit to the cave on the occasion that he had been taken for the devil by Bill, and an Indian ghost by Hellena.
Fire Cloud had remained in another chamber of the cavern connected with the secret passage already described, and where the echo was even more wonderful than the one pronounced from the opening through which the negro had spoken.
Here he could hear all that was passing in the great chamber occupied by the pirates, and from this chamber the echoes were to those who did not understand their cause, perfectly frightful.
All these peculiarities of the cavern had been known to the ancient Indian priests or medicine men, and by them made use of to impose on their ignorant followers.
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