Part 14 (1/2)
The sound of my voice awakened my companions, who fancied that the house was attacked by thieves.
As the blacks, notwithstanding my threats, seemed inclined to be off, I jumped out of the window, which was of no great height from the ground, followed by Sinnet and Tom. The n.i.g.g.e.rs fancied, I believe, that we were spirits of another world, as we appeared in our night-s.h.i.+rts, which were fluttering in the breeze, and came back trembling and humble enough. We made them show us the window of Mr Talboys' room, as we could not get into the house. Shouting loudly, we awoke him, and I then told him what I had heard.
”You have acted judiciously, young gentleman, whether there is anything in it or not; but I'll be dressed directly, and come out to hear what account the black boys have to give. Take care they don't run off in the meantime.”
Presently I heard a bolt withdraw; the door opened, and Mr Talboys made his appearance, a red night-cap on his head and wrapped in a flowered dressing-gown, a candle in one hand, and a thick whip in the other.
”I must examine these fellows,” he said as he came out. ”They're less liable to prevaricate if they see the whip. Come, now, young gentlemen, you may wish to put on your garments, and while you do so I'll hear what my negroes have to say.”
As he was speaking, however, Chaffey came out of our room, bringing our breeches, having first got into his own, lest, as he said, the ladies might inconveniently make their appearance.
”What's this you were talking about, Cato?” asked Mr Talboys, looking sternly at the blacks, who stood trembling before him.
”Caesar c.u.m just now, and say dat Cudjoe, with great number ob n.i.g.g.e.rs, just come down from de mountains, and dey march dis way with muskets, and bayonets, and big swords, and spears, and swear dey kill all de whites dey c.u.m across.”
I saw Mr Talboys start.
”How did you hear this, Caesar?” he asked.
”Please, ma.s.sa, I out last night, to help bury Mammy Quacca, who die in de morning, when my brother Sambo c.u.m in and say he almost caught by Cudjoe's fellows, and hear dem swear dat dey c.u.m to kill all de white people, and before long he tink dey c.u.m dis way to Belmont.” (That was the name of Mr Talboys' place.)
”Cudjoe! Who are you talking about? The fellow has been dead these thirty years or more,” said our host.
”Dey say him Cudjoe. Perhaps him come to life again,” answered Caesar, as if he fully believed such an event probable. ”Or maybe him 'Tree Fingered Jack.'”
”Three Fingered Jack” was a negro leader who about that time made himself notorious.
”Possibly some fellow has a.s.sumed the name of the old Maroon leader,” I observed.
Mr Talboys, after further questioning the blacks, again turned to us, and remarked, ”I'm afraid there's some truth in what these negroes say.
At all events, it would be wise to be prepared.” He spoke in a cool tone, not a bit fl.u.s.tered.
”I'm very sorry to have brought you into a position which may not prove to be very agreeable,” he continued; ”but I know, young gentlemen, that I can rely on your a.s.sistance.”
Of course we could give but one answer.
”The first thing to be done is to barricade the house, and I'll get you to do that, with Caesar to a.s.sist you,” he said. ”Keep an eye on the boy, lest he should run away, while I send off Cato to give notice to my neighbours, who will probably a.s.semble here, as this house can be more easily defended than theirs. I will myself summon my overseer and clerks. I, of course, shall also despatch messengers to Kingston for a.s.sistance, and we may hope to hold out till the troops arrive. The rebels expect to take us by surprise, and to murder us without resistance, as they have the whites in other districts. I must, however, tell my wife and daughters, or they may be alarmed should they suddenly discover what is going on.”
We heard a good deal of talking in Mrs Talboys' room, and then the master of the house came out, with a brace of pistols in his belt, and a sword in his hand.
”The ladies are quite prepared, and will give you all the help they can,” he said. ”They'll show you where the arms and ammunition are kept.”
Having finished dressing, we set to work, under Caesar's directions, to put up shutters, and to strengthen the doors with planks and stout pieces of timber, which we found in a yard, apparently prepared for the purpose. We were soon joined by Mrs Talboys and Miss Lucy, who both appeared equal to the emergency. Having shown us where the arms and ammunition were kept, they a.s.sisted to carry planks and to hold the boards up while we nailed them on. Miss Lucy had a hearty laugh at the grimaces made by Chaffey when he happened to hit his finger instead of the nail he was driving in. We worked away as busily as bees, and before Mr Talboys returned had already secured most of the doors and the lower windows. They were all loopholed, so that on whatever side our enemies might a.s.sault the house, a warm reception would be given them. We were still working away when Mr Talboys appeared.
”Our friends will soon be here,” he said. ”We shall muster nearly a dozen muskets, and I hope that with them we may be able to keep the rebels at bay; though, if they're disposed for mischief, they may ravage our plantations with impunity.”
The overseer and clerks, each armed to the teeth, soon afterwards came in, and our preparations for defence went on still more rapidly. It was now midnight, but as yet none of the neighbours had arrived; and we formed but a small garrison to defend so small a building from the host of foes who might attack it.
”Me go out and see whether n.i.g.g.e.rs come?” said Caesar.
”No, no; you stay in the house, and help fight,” answered his master, who hadn't forgot the black's purpose of running away and leaving us to our fate.
”Cato, you go out towards Silver Springs, and learn, if you can, the whereabouts of the rebels. Call at Edghill on your way, and tell Mr Marchant and his family to hurry on here, and that we'll do our best to protect them.”