Young Lion of the Woods eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 145 pages of information about Young Lion of the Woods.

Young Lion of the Woods eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 145 pages of information about Young Lion of the Woods.

Margaret stepped to his side and said, “Paul, do you feel ill?”

He shook his head, and with his hand pointed at the vast waters of the bay.

Margaret proceeded to get dinner, and the red man was left alone.  Paul was asked to the lunch, but replied not.

The sloop ran leisurely along the shore all day, the wind being light and the water quite smooth.  All were compelled to rest on deck during the night, which was bright, and the moon made it almost like day,—­the little cabin was besieged with mosquitoes.  About midnight the Indian, who had not spoken since leaving the St. John, suddenly sprang to his feet and peered over the moon-lit water in the direction of the shore.  Captain Godfrey, who was at the helm, seeing him, thought he was about to make a plunge overboard, and called to his wife who was asleep.  She sprang up, asking what was the matter.  At this moment Paul sang out, “Indians coming.”  Margaret went to the cabin, got the musket and pointed toward the canoes, three in number, and fired.  The canoes soon after disappeared in the direction of the shore.  Paul sank back into his former position, and in a short time all were asleep except the Captain and the Indian.  Nothing unusual occurred during the remainder of the night, and in the morning, the wind growing stronger, the little ship made greater headway.  The day was a beautiful one, and Paul was as quiet as usual.  He ate nothing.  Night again came on, and the breeze holding through the moon-lit hours, the Captain ran the sloop into Passmaquaddy early in the morning.

As the sun was rising in all his splendour, throwing his brightening rays over land and water, the little vessel was headed into her port of destination.  As she was running in, Paul, quick as a flash, jumped up, as though some attendant spirit had suddenly opened to him a vision of the future.  He fixed his eyes intently on the shore.  In an instant he crouched down on the deck with his head and shoulders partly over the rail.  His attitude and manner were those of a wild beast about to spring upon its prey.  The Captain thought Paul saw something strange on the shore.  In a few minutes the Indian sat down again, and for sometime remained perfectly quiet.  The anchor was let go, and the little craft rested in Passmaquaddy harbour.  The Captain ran in for the purpose of getting some one to pilot the sloop to Halifax, but to his great disappointment could find no one willing to go.  He had neither money nor goods to offer in payment for the service of a pilot.

The day following he set sail for Machias, ten leagues distant, in the hope of securing some person at that place willing to assist him in the passage to Halifax.  Paul Guidon had consented to go as far as Machias, and there land and make his way back to the St. John.

After leaving Passmaquaddy, Captain Godfrey concluded to put into Head harbour and try his luck at that place in securing a pilot, but being unacquainted with the locality he ran the sloop on a ledge of rocks.  However, the tide coming in she floated off unharmed.

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Project Gutenberg
Young Lion of the Woods from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.