The Maroon Part 33

He knew that no man would have bid two hundred pounds for a slave--even for Yola--without some wicked motive. The girl's beauty, combined with the extravagant offer, would have suggested the motive to one disinterested in her fate. How much more was it calculated to arouse the suspicions of a lover!

"A white man," continued he, without waiting for the reply to his first question. "I need not ask that. But tell me, Yola, who is he that's so desirous of becoming your owner. You know, I suppose."

"Missa Kate me tell all. He Jew--wicked white man! Same who me take from big ship; and me first sell Ma.s.sa Vaughan."

"Ha!" sharply e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the lover, "that old wretch it is? Wicked white man you may well call him. I know the old villain well.

_Crambo_! what can he want with her?" muttered the Maroon, musingly, but with a troubled mien. "Some vile purpose, to a certainty? Oh, sure!"

Then once more addressing himself to his slave sweetheart--

"You are certain, Yola, the old Jew made this offer?"

"So me say young missa."

"Two hundred pounds! And Mr Vaughan refused it?"

"Missa Kate no allow Ma.s.sa Vaughan me sell. She say 'Never!' Ah! young missa! she good for say so! No matter what money he give, she never let wicked white man buy Yola. She so say many time."

"Miss Kate said this? Then she is good, she is generous! It must have been her doing, else the Custos would never have refused such a tempting offer. Two hundred pounds! It is a large sum. Well, I must begin again. I must work night and day to get it. And then, if they should refuse _me_! Ha! what then?"

The speaker paused, not as if expecting a reply from her who stood by his side, but rather from his own thoughts.

"Never mind!" continued he, his countenance a.s.suming an expression partly hopeful, partly reckless. "Have no fear of the future, Yola.

Worst come worst, you shall yet be mine. Ay, dearest, you shall share my mountain home, though I may have to make it the home of an outlaw!"

"Oh!" exclaimed the young girl, slightly frayed by the wild look and words of her lover, her _eye_ at the same instant falling upon the red pool where the hounds had been slain. "Blood, Cubina?"

"Only that of some animals--a wild boar and two dogs--just killed there.

Don't let that frighten you, pet. You must be brave, my Yola; since you are to be the wife of a Maroon! Ours is a life of many dangers."

"With you Yola no fear. She go any where--far over the mountains--to Jumbe Rock--anywhere you her take, Cubina."

"Thanks, dearest! Maybe, some day, we may be forced to go far over the mountains--in _flight, too_, Yola. But we shall try to avoid that. If your master will only act right, there will be no need. If not, then you will fly with me--will you not?"

"What Cubina do, Yola do same; where he go, she go."

The pa.s.sionate promise was sealed by a kiss, followed by an interval of sacred silence.

"Enough, then!" said the lover, after the pause had pa.s.sed. "As a last resource, we can do that. But we shall hope for the best; and, maybe, some good fortune may befall. My followers are true, and would help me; but, alas! all are poor hunters, like myself. Well, it may take some time before I can call you my own fearlessly, in the face of the world-- longer, maybe, than I expected. Never mind for that; we can meet often.

And now, dear Yola, listen to what I am going to say to you--listen, and keep it in your mind! If ever a white man insults you--you know what I mean?--if you are in danger of such a thing--as you would have been, were old Jessuron to become your master--ay, and who knows how, where, or when?--well, then, fly to this glade, and wait here for me.

If I do not come, some one will. Every day I shall send one of my people to this place. Don't fear to run away. Though I may not care to get into trouble about a common slave, I shall risk all to protect you-- yes, my life, dearest Yola!"

"Oh, Cubina!" exclaimed the girl, in pa.s.sionate admiration. "Oh, brave, beauty Cubina! you not fear danger?"

"There is no great danger in it," returned the Maroon, in a confident tone. "If I had made up my mind to run away with you, I could soon take you beyond the reach of pursuit. In the _Black Grounds_ we could live without fear of the tyranny of white men. But I don't want to be hunted like a wild hog. I would rather you should become mine by honest means--that is, I would rather buy you, as I intend to do; and then we may settle down near the plantations, and live without apprehension.

Perhaps, after all, the Custos may not be so hard with me as with the old Jew--who knows? Your young mistress is kind, you have told me: she may do something to favour our plans."

"True, Cubina--she me love; she say never me part."

"That is well; she means, she would not part with you against your will.

But if I offer to buy you, it would be a different thing. Perhaps you might let her know all, after a while. But I have something to learn first, and I don't wish you to tell her till then. So keep our secret, dear Yola, for a little longer.

"And now," continued the Maroon, changing his tone, and turning towards the _ceiba_ as he spoke, "I've got something to show you. Did you ever see a runaway?"

"Runaway!" said the girl; "no, Cubina--never."

"Well, my love, there's one not far off; he that I said I had captured this morning--only a little while ago. And I'll tell you why I've kept him here: because I fancied that he was like yourself, Yola."

"Like me?"

"Yes; and that is why I felt for the poor fellow something like pity: since it is to this cruel old Jew he belongs. From what I can make out, he must be one of your people; and I'm curious to know what account he will give of himself."

"He Foolah, you think?" inquired the African maiden, her eyes sparkling with pleasure at the antic.i.p.ation of seeing one of her own race.

"Yes; I am as good as sure of that. In fact, he has called himself a Foolah several times, though I can't make out what he says. If he is one of your tribe, you will be able to talk to him. There he is!"

Cubina had by this time conducted his sweetheart round the tree, to that side on which the runaway was concealed between the two spurs.

The young man was still crouching within the angle, close up to the trunk of the _ceiba_. The moment the two figures came in front of him, and his eyes fell upon the face of the girl, he sprang to his feet, uttering a cry of wild joy. Like an echo, Yola repeated the cry; and then both p.r.o.nouncing some hurried phrases in an unknown tongue, rushed together, and became folded in a mutual embrace!

Cubina stood transfixed to the spot. Surprise--something more--held him speechless. He could only think:--

"She knows him! Perhaps her lover in her own land!"

A keen pang of jealousy accompanied the thought.

Rankling it remained in the breast of the Maroon, till Yola, untwining her arms from the fond embrace, and pointing to him who had received it, p.r.o.nounced the tranquillising words:--

"_My brother_!"

END OF VOLUME ONE.

Volume Two, Chapter I.

SMYTHJE IN SHOOTING COSTUME.

Several days had elapsed since that on which Mr Montagu Smythje became the guest of Mount Welcome; and during the time neither pains nor expense had been spared in his entertainment. Horses were kept for his riding--a carriage for his driving--dinners had been got up--and company invited to meet him. The best society of the Bay and the neighbouring plantations had been already introduced to the rich English exquisite-- the owner of one great sugar estate, and, as society began to hear it whispered, the prospective possessor of another.

The matrimonial projects of the worthy Custos--that had been suspected from the first--soon became the subject of much discussion.

It may be mentioned--though it is scarce necessary--that in his designs upon Smythje, Mr Vaughan was not left all the field to himself. There were other parents in the planter fraternity of the neighbourhood blessed with good-looking daughters; and many of them, both fathers and mothers, had fixed their eyes on the lord of Montagu Castle as a very eligible sample for a son-in-law. Each of these aspiring couples gave a grand dinner; and, in turn, trotted out their innocent lambs in presence of the British "lion."

The exquisite smiled amiably upon all their efforts--adopting his distinguished position as a matter of course.

Thus merrily pa.s.sed the first fortnight of Smythje's sojourn in Jamaica.

On a pleasant morning near the end of this fortnight, in one of the largest bed-chambers of Mount Welcome house--that consecrated to the reception of distinguished strangers--Mr Smythje might have been seen in front of his mirror. He was engaged in the occupation of dressing himself--or, to speak more correctly, permitting himself to be dressed by his _valet de chambre_.

In the extensive wardrobe of the London exquisite there were dresses for all purposes and every occasion: suits for morning, dinner, and evening; one for riding, and one for driving; a shooting dress, and one for the n.o.bler sport of the _cha.s.se au cheval_; a dress for boating, _a la matelot_; and a grand _costume de bal_.