The Maroon Part 94

They will turn Shtate's efidence; and then I should be exshposed-- arreshted--ruined! Oh! why hash I ever trushted theesh clumshy fellish with a bishness of such importance?"

"Dey am clumsy fellas, jess as you say, Ma.s.sr Jake."

"Ach! it ish too late to shpeak of regretsh. It ish necessary to take some shteps to prevent thish terrible mishfortune. You musht go after Adam, and find him thish instant--thish instant, Shakra."

"All right, Ma.s.sr Jake. A do whatebber you bid me, nebba fear. A soon track up Adam; but wha d'ye want me say to de ole n.i.g.g.a when a hab foun'

'im?"

"You needn't shay anything--only bring him back with you to the Shumbe Rock. I shall wait there for you till you come. Don't keep me long in sushpense, Shakra. Make all the shpeed in your power. If you don't get back before sunrishe, all will be losht! I'll be ruined--I will, s'help me!"

"Nebba fear, Ma.s.sr Jake. A woan lose a minnit. A doan tink dat ere ole n.i.g.g.a's got far 'way jess yet. A soon obertake 'im. A go atter him at once. Whugh!"

As Chakra uttered the exclamation, he turned on his heel, and was about to start up the mountain, in the direction of the Jumbe Rock, near which he would have to pa.s.s on his way towards the haunt of the black robbers.

"Shtay!" cried the Jew, "I'she going with you ash far ash the Shumbe Rock. I may ash well wait there ash anywhere elshe. It ish no ushe my going home now. S'help me! I cannot resht till thish thing ish settled. And now, when I thinksh of it, you may ash well let Adam know for what he ish wanted--so ash he may come prepared. Say to him he ish to go shtraight to Mount Welcome--that ish, where it ushed to be. He'sh not to show hishelf there, but prosheed along the road, till he meets the Cushtos' body, and them that ish with it. Then he ish to find some way to rescue the Shpaniards, an' let them eshcape to me. You musht go along with Adam and hish men, elshe they may shpoil all. He musht bring his fellish well armed; you may shtand in need of them all. The messenger said there were some negroes from the eshtate of Content.

Theesh won't signify. They will all run away ash soon as you show yourselves; but the others may be inclined to make fight. There ish Cubina, and the young raschal of an Englishman, besides that giant Quaco, and the messenger hishself. You thinksh you can manage them, Shakra?"

"Sure ob dat."

"You musht take them by an ambushcade."

"P'raps we kill some o' dem."

"Ash many ash you like. Only make shure to get the Shpaniards off."

"Be no great harm to kill dem too--atter de fool dey hab made ob demselves, lettin' dem fellas take um pris'ner dat a way. Whugh!"

"No, no, goot Shakra!--we mushn't kill our friendsh--we may need them again. You may promish Adam goot pay for the shob. I don't care for the cosht, so long as it ish clefferly done."

"All right, Ma.s.sr Jake; leab dat to me an' Adam. We do de ting clebberly 'nuf, I'se be boun'."

And with this a.s.surance Chakra strode off up the mountain, the Jew having set the example by starting forward in advance of him.

Volume Three, Chapter XL.

DEAD, OR ASLEEP?

On beholding what he believed to be the dead body of his cousin, the grief of Herbert Vaughan proclaimed itself in a wild cry--in tones of the bitterest agony. He flung his gun upon the rock--knelt down by the side of the corpse--raised her head upon his arm, and, gazing upon that face, in death beautiful as ever, drew it nearer to his own, kissed the cold, unconscious lips--kissed them again and again, as though he had hopes that the warmth of his love might re-animate the fair form over which he was bending.

For some time his frenzied caresses were continued--their fervour unchecked by the presence of his rude companions who stood around.

Respecting the sanct.i.ty of his grief, all observed a solemn silence.

Nor word nor sound escaped the lips of any one. Sobs alone proceeded from Cubina. The Maroon had also cause to sorrow at that sad spectacle--but these were not heard. They were drowned by a more powerful voice--the melancholy monotone of the cataract--that had been speaking incessantly since the creation of the world.

It was a long time before the heart of Herbert consented to his discontinuing those cold but sweet kisses--the first he had ever had; the last he was destined to have--from those pale lips; long before he could withdraw his supporting arm from beneath that beautiful head, whose shining tresses lay dishevelled along the rock.

The torch held in the hands of Cubina was burning to its base. Only when warned by its flickering light, did the chief mourner rise once more to his feet; and then making a feeble signal to those who stood around, he moved in solemn silence towards the entrance of the grotto.

His gesture was understood, and promptly obeyed. By the authority of his greater grief he had become master of the mournful ceremonies now to be observed.

The Maroons, quietly crossing their arms under the inanimate form, raised it from the rock; and, following him who had given them their silent direction, they bore it to the hut--there placing it upon the cane couch. With instinctive delicacy all retired upon the completion of their task, leaving Herbert and Cubina alone with the body.

An interval elapsed before either essayed to speak. Both were under the influence of a profound grief, that almost stifled reflection, Cubina was the first to have other thoughts, and to give expression to them.

"_Santa Virgen_!" said he, in a voice husky with emotion, "I know not how she has died, unless the sight of Chakra has killed her. It was enough to have done it."

The suggestive speech received no other answer than a groan.

"If the monster," continued the Maroon, "has used other violence, I see no trace of it. There is no wound--no appearance of anything that should have produced death. Poor young creature!--there's something dark inside her lips--but it's not blood--"

"O G.o.d!" cried Herbert, interrupting the speaker with a fresh paroxysm of grief. "Two corpses to be carried home to the same house--father and daughter on the same day--in the same hour: both the victims of villainy. O G.o.d!"

"Both victims of the same villain, I have my belief," rejoined Cubina.

"The same hand that has laid low the Custos, if I mistake not, has been at the bottom of this horrible crime. Chakra is but the weapon.

Another has dealt the blow--you know who, Master Vaughan?"

Herbert was hindered from making reply. A dark form appearing in the door, distracted the attention of both from the theme of their conversation.

Quaco had heard the melancholy tidings; and, relieved from his duty by the canoe, had hurried back to the hut. He it was who now appeared in the doorway, filling it from post to post--from step to lintel.

Neither his chief nor Herbert offered any remark. Quaco's presence did not surprise them. It was natural he should come to the hut--if only to satisfy his curiosity. Weighted with their sorrow, neither took any notice of his arrival, nor of his movements after he had entered the hut--which he did without waiting to be invited.

Having stepped inside, the colossus stood for some moments by the couch, gazing down upon the sweet, silent face. Even on his features was depicted an expression of sorrow.

Gradually this became more subdued, or rather appeared to undergo a total change--slowly but surely altering to an expression of cheerfulness.

Slight at first, and imperceptible on account of the large scale upon which Quaco's features were formed, the expression was every moment becoming more p.r.o.nounced; until at length it attracted the notice of the others, notwithstanding the abstraction caused by their poignant grief.

Both observed it at the same instant, and to both it caused a feeling of annoyance--amounting almost to indignation.

"Lieutenant," said Cubina, addressing his subaltern in a tone of reproach, "it is not exactly the time for being gay. May I ask you what is making you smile, while others around you are overwhelmed with sorrow?"

"Why, cappen!" rejoined Quaco, "I can't see what yar all a-grievin'

'bout. Can't be the Custos: since, sartinly, you've got over grievin'

for him long afore this!"

The reply--grotesque in character, and almost jovial in the manner of its delivery--could not fail still further to astonish those to whom it was addressed. Both started on hearing it; and for some moments bent their _eyes_ on the speaker in an expression of wonder, mingled with indignation.

Had Quaco gone mad?

"In the presence of death, sir," said the young Maroon captain, directing a severe glance upon his lieutenant, "you might lay aside that merry mood, too common with you. It ill becomes you--"

"Death, do ye say, cappen?" interrupted Quaco; "who's gone dead here?"

There was no reply to this abrupt interrogatory. Those to whom it was addressed were too much taken by surprise to say a word.

"If you mean the young buckra lady," continued Quaco, "I'd give all the barbecued hog I ever owned nebber to be more dead than she jess now.

Dead, i'deed? nonsense dat: she only sleep!"

Herbert and Cubina started from their seats, each uttering a cry of astonishment, in which might be detected the accents of hope.