Hunting the Skipper Part 79

"Indeed? So you were a prince or chief in your own country?"

"Yes, sah," was the reply; and it was given with such calm dignity that colour, the half-nude figure, and the blur of slavery were forgotten by the lookers-on, and the feeling of wonder at the lieutenant's treatment of their guide died out.

"How came you here?" said the lieutenant quietly.

"There was war, sah, and my people were beaten. There were many prisoners, and we were sold to the man--sold."

"Hah! Hard--very hard for you," said the lieutenant, looking at their guide thoughtfully. "How long is that ago?"

"Twenty year, sah."

"And you have been this Mr Huggins's slave ever since?"

"No, sah; not long time. Caesar sold free time before Mr Allen bought me; and he was good ma.s.sa. He call me Caesar, and make me lub him."

"Not for christening you Caesar, of course. Then he treated you well?"

"Yes, sah. Then Ma.s.sa Huggin come and make Ma.s.sa Allen like slave."

"Indeed! Well, I have heard something of this from Mr Allen himself, and you will most likely see that this slave-driving scoundrel's reign is over. Do you understand my English?"

"Yes, ma.s.sa," said the black quietly.

"Then you quite understand that you have been helping me as guide so that we can save Mr Allen from this man, and punish him for all the evil he has done--I mean for this buying and selling of the poor blacks who are brought from Africa here?"

"Yes, ma.s.sa."

"Then why do you refuse to go on guiding us to find Mr Allen?"

"Ma.s.sa no understand," said the black quietly. "Caesar want to save Ma.s.sa Allen. Caesar want to kill Ma.s.sa Huggin."

"Do you?" said the lieutenant, smiling. "Well, we do not ask you to do that. We will manage the punishing; but I want you to go on guiding me and my men to where this slave-dealer is."

"Yes, ma.s.sa. Caesar want too, but ma.s.sa mus' wait."

"What for? Why should we wait?"

"Ma.s.sa no understand."

"I understand from your behaviour that you are afraid," said the lieutenant sternly.

"No, ma.s.sa; not now. Caesar drefful 'fraid lil bit ago. Not now.

Caesar want to save Ma.s.sa Allen, but not time yet, ma.s.sa. Bri'sh officer wait lil while."

"Why?" said the lieutenant sharply.

"Ma.s.sa no understand. Ma.s.sa go now and find Ma.s.sa Huggin. Take one, two--five, ten man Bri'sh sailor; Ma.s.sa Huggin got ten, twenty, forty, fifty men sword gun plenty powder shot. Plenty 'nough to kill officer and Bri'sh sailor. Plenty strong; two ship. Kill everybody; Ma.s.sa Allen too. Ma.s.sa no good."

"But how do I know that my men would not be too many for this scoundrel?"

"No, not many. Not 'nuff, sah," said the black, shaking his head.

"Then you think we had better go back to the ship and fetch more men?"

The black shook his head and smiled sadly.

"Caesar 'fraid ma.s.sa get killed, sailor get killed, Caesar too get killed. Ma.s.sa officer must wait."

The lieutenant gazed at the speaker searchingly, while the black returned his keen examination without flinching.

"Why must I wait?" he said.

"Too soon, ma.s.sa. Time not come."

"Time for what? To give Mr Huggins time to collect his men? He has plenty of black sailors, has he not?"

"Yes, ma.s.sa. Hundred, two hundred, tree hundred."

"So I supposed. Well, I do not feel disposed to wait longer than it will take me to get up some more of my men--as many as the captain can spare--and then I shall attack at once."

"No ma.s.sa can," said the black quietly.

"Oh yes, I can, because you who have served us as guide so well, and who want to save your master, will show us the way."

"No, ma.s.sa. Caesar no show the way."

"Why not?" said the lieutenant angrily.

"Ma.s.sa Bri'sh officer and all men be killed. Ma.s.sa must wait."

"And if I say I will not wait?" cried Mr Anderson.

"Caesar show Ma.s.sa Bri'sh officer why must wait."

"When will you show me?" asked the lieutenant sharply.

The black stood silent for a few moments as if debating within himself sadly and doubtfully. Then turning his eyes upon Murray, his own brightened, and he thrust his hand within the cotton shirt which loosely covered his breast and shoulders. Then quickly drawing out the piece of young notched cane and the marked plantain leaf, he looked at them eagerly, turning them over in his hands and seeming to read the marks that were cut through rind and skin.

As he did this the black's face brightened and he seemed to have found the way out of a difficulty as he held out the tokens of something or another to Murray.

"What have you there, my man?" cried the lieutenant.

"Obeah, ma.s.sa. Fetish. Ma.s.sa officer come with Caesar to-night, Caesar show him why wait."

"Come with you alone?" said the lieutenant.

The black shook his head.