Part 42 (1/2)
”No--no--no--Caonabo much bad. Break Ozema's heart. No Caonabo--no Hayti.”
”Thy dread of the Carib chief, dear Ozema, hath upset thy reason, in part. Thou hast a G.o.d, as well as we Christians, and, like us, must put thy trust in him; he alone can now protect thee.”
”What protect?”
”Care for thee, Ozema. See that thou dost not come to harm. Look to thy safety and welfare.”
”Luis protect Ozema. So promise Mattinao--so promise Ozema--so promise heart.”
”Dear girl, so will I, to the extent of my means. But what can I do against this tempest?”
”What Luis do against Caonabo?--Kill him--cut Indians--make him run away!”
”This was easy to a Christian knight, who carried a good sword and buckler, but it is impossible against a tempest. We have only one hope, and that is to trust in the Spaniard's G.o.d.”
”Spaniards great--have great G.o.d.”
”There is but one G.o.d, Ozema, and he ruleth all, whether in Hayti or in Spain. Thou rememberest what I have told thee of his love, and of the manner of his death, that we might all be saved, and thou didst then promise to wors.h.i.+p him, and to be baptized when we should reach my country.”
”G.o.d!--Ozema do, what Ozema say. Love Luis' G.o.d already.”
”Thou hast seen the holy cross, Ozema, and hast promised me to kiss it, and bless it.”
”Where cross? See no cross--up in heaven?--or where? Show Ozema cross, now--Luis' cross--cross Luis love.”
The young man wore the parting gift of Mercedes near his heart, and raising a hand he withdrew the small jewel, pressed it to his own lips with pious fervor, and then offered it to the Indian girl.
”See”--he said--”this is a cross; we Spaniards revere and bless it. It is our pledge of happiness.”
”That Luis' G.o.d?” enquired Ozema, in a little surprise.
”Not so, my poor benighted girl”--
”What benighted?” interrupted the quick-witted Haytian, eagerly, for no term that the young man could or did apply to her, fell unheeded on her vigilant and attentive ear.
”Benighted means those who have never heard of the cross, or of its endless mercies.”
”Ozema no benighted now,” exclaimed the other, pressing the bauble to her bosom. ”Got cross--keep cross--no benighted again, never. Cross, Mercedes”--for, by one of those mistakes that are not unfrequent in the commencement of all communications between those who speak different tongues, the young Indian had caught the notion, from many of Luis'
involuntary exclamations, that ”Mercedes” meant all that was excellent.
”I would, indeed, that she of whom thou speakest had thee in her gentle care, that she might lead thy pure soul to a just knowledge of thy Creator! That cross cometh of Mercedes, if it be not Mercedes herself, and thou dost well in loving it, and in blessing it. Place the chain around thy neck, Ozema, for the precious emblem may help in preserving thee, should the gale throw us on the coast, ere morning. _That cross is a sign of undying love._”
The girl understood enough of this, especially as the direction was seconded by a little gentle aid, on the part of our hero, to comply, and the chain was soon thrown around her neck, with the holy emblem resting on her bosom. The change in the temperature, as well as a sense of propriety, had induced the admiral to cause ample robes of cotton to be furnished all the females, and Ozema's beautiful form was now closely enveloped in one, and beneath its folds she had hidden the jewel, which she fondly hugged to her heart, as a gift of Luis. Not so did the young man himself view the matter. He had merely meant to lend, in a moment of extreme peril, that which the superst.i.tious feeling of the age seriously induced him to fancy might prove a substantial safeguard. As Ozema was by no means expert in managing the enc.u.mbrance of a dress to which she was unaccustomed, even while native taste had taught her to throw it around her person gracefully, the young man had half unconsciously a.s.sisted in placing the cross in its new position, when a violent roll of the vessel compelled him to sustain the girl by encircling her waist with an arm. Partly yielding to the motion of the caravel, which was constantly jerking even the mariners from their feet, and probably as much seduced by the tenderness of her own heart, Ozema did not rebuke this liberty--the first our hero had ever offered, but stood, in confiding innocence, upheld by the arm that, of all others, it was most grateful to her feelings to believe destined to perform that office for life. In another moment, her head rested on his bosom, and her face was turned upward, with the eyes fastened on the countenance of the young n.o.ble.
”Thou art less alarmed at this terrific storm, Ozema, than I could have hoped. Apprehension for thee has made me more miserable than I could have thought possible, and yet thou seemest not to be disturbed.”
”Ozema no unhappy--no want Hayti--no want Mattinao--no want any thing--Ozema happy now. Got cross.”
”Sweet, guileless innocent, may'st thou never know any other feelings!--confide in thy cross.”