The lad obeyed, and ere she had half-crossed the court, the
stranger, still holding his savage shield between him and his enemies,
was seen endeavoring to take the same direction. The whoops, the flight
of arrows, and the discharges of musquetry, that succeeded, proclaimed
the whole extent of the danger. But fear had lent unnatural vigor to the
limbs of Ruth, and the gliding arrows themselves scarce sailed more
swiftly through the heated air, than she darted into the open door of the
block. Whittal Ring was less successful. As he crossed the court, bearing
the child intrusted to his care, an arrow pierced his flesh. Stung by the
pain, the witless lad turned, in anger, to chide the hand that had
inflicted the injury.
"On, foolish boy!" cried the stranger, as he passed him, still making a
target of the body of the savage that was writhing in his grasp. "On, for
thy life, and that of the babe!"
The mandate came too late. The hand of an Indian was already on the
innocent victim, and in the next instant the child was sweeping the air,
while with a short yell the keen axe flourished above his head.
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