Chapter 29

           "Theassemblyseated,risingo’ertherest,

           Achillesthusthekingofmenaddressed."

           Pope’sIliad.

           Corastoodforemostamongtheprisoners,entwiningherarmsinthoseofAlice,inthetendernessofsisterlylove.Notwithstandingthefearfulandmenacingarrayofsavagesoneverysideofher,noapprehensiononherownaccountcouldpreventthenoble-mindedmaidenfromkeepinghereyesfastenedonthepaleandanxiousfeaturesofthetremblingAlice.CloseattheirsidestoodHeyward,withaninterestinboth,that,atsuchamomentofintenseuncertainty,scarcelyknewapreponderanceinfavorofherwhomhemostloved.Hawkeyehadplacedhimselfalittleintherear,withadeferencetothesuperiorrankofhiscompanions,thatnosimilarityinthestateoftheirpresentfortunescouldinducehimtoforget.Uncaswasnotthere.

           Whenperfectsilencewasagainrestored,andaftertheusuallong,impressivepause,oneofthetwoagedchiefswhosatatthesideofthepatriarcharose,anddemandedaloud,inveryintelligibleEnglish—

           "WhichofmyprisonersisLaLongueCarabine?"

           NeitherDuncannorthescoutanswered.Theformer,however,glancedhiseyesaroundthedarkandsilentassembly,andrecoiledapace,whentheyfellonthemalignantvisageofMagua.Hesaw,atonce,thatthiswilysavagehadsomesecretagencyintheirpresentarraignmentbeforethenation,anddeterminedtothroweverypossibleimpedimentinthewayoftheexecutionofhissinisterplans.