Their
number was few, however; and not one half of the fifteen, who commenced
the ascent, ever reached or survived its attainment.
Ralph gained the summit just in time to prevent the completion of the
foul tragedy by its most appropriate climax. As if enough had not yet
been done in the way of crime, the malignant and merciless Rivers, of
whom we have seen little in this affair, but by whose black and devilish
spirit the means of destruction had been hit upon, which had so well
succeeded, now stood over the body of the Georgian, with uplifted hand,
about to complete the deed already begun. There was not a moment for
delay, and the youth sprung forward in time to seize and wrest the
weapon from his grasp. With a feeling of undisguised indignation, he
exclaimed, as the outlaw turned furiously upon him--
"Wretch--what would you? Have you not done enough? would you strike the
unresisting man?"
Rivers, with undisguised effort, now turned his rage upon the intruder.
His words, choked by passion, could scarce find utterance; but he spoke
with furious effort at length, as he directed a wild blow with a
battle-axe at the head of the youth.
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