Mass' George Part 64

I thanked him, and left him emptying his pockets of strips of linen, threads, a box of something that made me think about pistols in the case at home, and then of some bottles, all of which he laid about in the most orderly manner, and I left him with a shudder, as I thought of what they were for.

As soon as I got outside I was accosted by Pomp, who came up to me, saying--

"Leg quite well now?"

"No; nor likely to be, Pomp."

"Ma.s.s' George better wear um in fling like Pomp arm. Missie Sarah want Ma.s.s' George."

He took me to where the poor woman lay, very white and exhausted, but she brightened up as soon as she saw me approach, and the black nurse who was attending to her drew back.

"Ah, Sarah," I exclaimed, as I went to her side, "I am sorry to see you like this."

She paid no heed to my words of condolence, but caught me by the wrist.

"Where is that box?" she said eagerly.

"The box? The one Hannibal carried down?"

"Yes; where is it?"

"I don't know," I said.

"What? You don't know? Oh, Master George!"

"It was brought up from the boat, and put in the enclosure somewhere."

"Thank goodness," she said with a sigh.

"And the bundle?" she suddenly exclaimed.

"Ought you to worry about such things now?" I asked. "What does it matter?"

"Matter?" she gasped.

"Yes. Do you know your waiting to get those things made us nearly caught by the Indians?"

"If it did, they saved you all from being shot by them as I was with that dreadful arrow."

"Well--yes, they did keep off the arrows; but if you had been quicker we should not have been shot at. You shouldn't have stopped to worry about your clothes. My father would have paid for more."

"And me so weak and ill, Master George, and you to reproach me like that," she said, with the tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g over on to her cheeks.

"Nonsense!" I said, taking her hand, to feel her cling to mine affectionately. "I was not reproaching you, and we are all safe, and nothing to mind."

"Nothing to mind? Ah, my dear, think of what our poor house will be like when we get back."

"I don't think I will," I said dryly; but she did not heed, and went on--

"It was bad enough after that dreadful flood. What will it be now? And so much pride as I took in it, and such a home as it had become. And then, my dear, for you to go and think that I should keep those two waiting while I got together things of my own."

"Well, you know you did," I said, laughing.

"For shame, Master George! That box has got everything in that I knew you would like to save."

"Oh, Sarah!"

"And in that bundle is all the best of the linen, and right in the middle, your poor dear father's uniform."

I did not know which to do--to laugh at the poor woman for her kindly but mistaken thoughts, or to feel affected, so I did neither, but pressed her hand gently, told her she must sleep, and rose to go; but she clung to my hand.

"You'll take care, and not go into danger," she said. "You have been hurt enough."

"I'll try not," I said, as she still clung to my hand, looking wistfully at me. I seemed to understand what she meant, stooped over and kissed her, and made her cry.

"Poor old nurse!" I said to myself as I limped out, and across the enclosure, where the people were gathered in knots discussing the possibility of an attack. In one part all the blacks were together--the women and the younger boys; in another part the ladies with their children; while on the rough platforms erected at the corners of the great palisade sentries were stationed, keeping a vigilant look-out; and I now saw that to every white man there were two armed blacks, and I could not help thinking that we should all be ma.s.sacred if the blacks sided with the savages against those who had made them their slaves.

At one of these corners I saw that our Hannibal was placed, his great bulk and height making him stand out prominently from his companions; and feebly enough, and with no little pain, I went towards him, thinking very little of my injury in my boyish excitement, though had I been older, and more given to thought, I suppose I should have lain up at once in the temporary hospital.

I signed to Hannibal to come to me, and the gentleman mounting guard with him giving permission, I took him aside.

"Well, Han," I said, as he smiled at me in his quiet, grave way, "you've got a gun, and are going to fight then?"

"Yes, Ma.s.s' George, going to fight."

"And will the other people fight too?"

"Yes; all going to fight," he said. "Capen say must fight for us, Hannibal, and Hannibal going to fight for capen and Ma.s.s' George."

"But--" I checked myself, for it seemed to come to me like a flash that it would be foolish to ask the question I intended about the blacks being faithful. "It would be like putting it into their heads to be false," I said to myself; and then, as the great fellow looked at me inquiringly, I continued aloud--

"Try and protect my father if you can, Han."

He gave me a quick look, and the tears stood in his eyes.

"Han die for capen and Ma.s.s' George," he said.

At that moment there was a bustle and excitement at the gate, and I tried as quickly as my injury would allow to join the group who were hurrying that way.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

It was the scouts coming back from different directions, with the same report that no enemy was in sight, though they had penetrated in one or two instances right to the forest.

"Isn't a false alarm, is it, Captain Bruton?" said one of the newer settlers. "Two of us went right to your little plantation."

"Well?" said my father, eagerly.