Part 15 (1/2)
”And I don't care to think what may be happening meanwhile,” said Hal earnestly. ”That brute will be insulting and ill-treating everyone.
Bully is written on his face as well as thief. Do you care to think that Dora may be insulted by such a man?” Hal jumped to his feet, and asked the question hotly.
”Good Heavens, no!” Gerald answered.
”Then don't try to dissuade me. If someone who is armed were not near at hand when shooting commenced, Jose d'Arousta might do something desperate; but with my revolver pointed at him he will be more cautious.
Now, look here. You cut over to the crus.h.i.+ng-shed and bring the negroes across. Take the mules with you in case their whinnying should be heard and give the alarm. I'll stay here and look out for Pedro. Now, hurry up, for I want some help to capture that fellow.”
Promptly grasping the reins, Gerald hurried away, and returned some minutes later with the whole force of natives.
”Now, Jake,” said Hal, selecting the negro who had first brought the alarm, ”send twenty of the hands up this path to the clearing, and let them lie down amongst the trees in sight of the shed. If they hear anyone approaching, they are to slip aside and allow him to pa.s.s, signaling down here to let us know. Let me think. Yes; there is a marsh down in the hollow, so it shall be the croak of a frog. You understand?
We are to be warned whenever anyone approaches; and, by the way, see that rifles are unloaded. Triggers get pulled too easily, and might give the alarm.”
Jake hurriedly carried out the order, and disappeared down the pathway.
”I want two more to cut into the forest and stalk a couple of ruffians who are watching the other path,” said Hal. ”They must be careful how they approach, for the men I speak of are in hiding. When they discover the whereabouts of the sentries they must load and be ready for emergencies, and when they hear the others moving off, must shout at the two they are covering, and order them away. If the rascals show fight, they are to be dropped instantly.
”Now, you others,” he continued, turning to the five who remained, ”one of the leaders of the gang which has attacked the hacienda will come along this path. You will lie in wait for him, and capture him, for I want his clothes. If he is troublesome, you must silence him, for any sound now would ruin our plans.
”That is all arranged, and we will step on one side,” he went on, moving away from the group, and drawing Gerald after him. ”You see, it isn't that I don't like the job of tackling this beggar--I owe him one, and shall be glad to repay it; but the negroes will do it without a sound, whereas we might bungle it, and bring the whole crew down upon us. Ah, down on your knees! I heard the signal. Yes; there it is again.”
They hastily concealed themselves, and, crouching low in the forest, heard first the hoa.r.s.e croaking of a frog, and then the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching.
CHAPTER XI
A BOLD COURSE
Out from the dense maze of bushes and trees came Pedro, the half-breed ally of Jose d'Arousta, picking his way gingerly along the narrow footpath, and evidently listening acutely for any sounds that might betray the position of an enemy, and the unwary approach of the Englishman whom he hoped to kill. A moment before he had been shrouded in gloom, for the sun was already fast setting, and the roof of leaves overhead cast a deep shadow upon everything beneath. Suddenly, however, he came into clear view, and Hal and Gerald, who were crouching within five or six paces of him, saw him distinctly.
Click! An excited negro pulled back his trigger in readiness, and Pedro, hearing the sound, stood suddenly still, rooted to the spot, and listening with all his ears. For more than a minute a death-like silence reigned, while the half-caste peered into the forest, doubtful whether to advance or retire. Prudence told him to hasten back to his friends, for the young fellow he was in search of had already proved that he was capable of looking well after himself. But fierce longing for revenge, the feeling that this was an opportunity not to be missed--one, too, that would enable him to attain his end without much danger to himself, for he hoped for a complete surprise--egged him on, and helped him to conquer his fears. He hesitated, and then, with a muttered ”What a dolt I am! it was only a twig snapping,” he gave a stamp of impatience, and walked on.
Next instant a nimble form sprang, unheard and unseen, upon the path behind him, and, crouching like a tiger collecting its limbs for a spring, crept stealthily after him. Then, measuring the distance with a practiced eye, the negro launched himself through the air, landing upon Pedro's shoulders. A hand closed firmly over his mouth, and a moment later the ruffian who came to destroy the beautiful hacienda, and to exercise a private vengeance, was lying as helpless as a log, bound hand and foot, while a hard and extremely uncomfortable gag was fastened between his jaws by means of a handkerchief. Close beside him crouched a peculiarly sinister-looking negro, prepared to silence him should he attempt to give the alarm, and seeming, too, to hope for such an action, for he brandished his weapon in the prisoner's face in a manner that was sufficiently formidable to upset the equanimity of the boldest man.
”That was well done--very neatly managed, indeed,” said Hal, issuing from his cover. ”Now, Mr. Pedro, or whatever you are called, we are going to turn the tables if we can. Take off his clothes, my lads, and if he attempts to make a sound, or to get rid of his gag, you will know how to act.”
But there was very little need for the caution, for Pedro a captive was a very different individual indeed from the half-caste who sat in the railway car away in Florida, plotting the theft of Mr. Brindle's bag.
His yellow eyes blinked nervously, and as the negroes crowded round him, and hustled him with no gentle hands, he looked at Hal appealingly, as if asking for his help. His limbs trembled, and a thick perspiration broke out upon his forehead.
”Not at all, my fine fellow,” exclaimed Hal, as if he had read his prisoner's thoughts. ”You need not appeal to me, for I told you that I was about to turn the tables. Well, I have commenced with you, and the others have their turn to come. Remember that I bear a mark upon my shoulder which you were good enough to give me. Is it likely that I shall go out of my way now to save you any pain or inconvenience, especially when I know that you came this way with the express intention of killing me--murdering me in cold blood, I should have said? That's right, boys, strip his coat and breeches off. I fancy I shall manage to squeeze into them.”
Tumbling their captive without ceremony, it was not long before the negro hands had dragged his fine clothes from him. Hal picked them up, and carefully inspected them. Then he donned them calmly. Indeed, looking at him there as he struggled into the coat, one would have imagined that he was undertaking some very ordinary duty, one to which he was accustomed every day of his life. He paid particular attention to the set of the breeches, and seemed quite annoyed because the jacket of the half-caste would not b.u.t.ton across his expansive chest.
”You see,” he said, with something approaching a smile, ”I want to be accurate. This fellow usually has his coat fastened, but I'm too big to allow of it. However, the resemblance will be good enough, particularly as it will be quite dark.
”Now, listen,” he continued imperiously, turning to his prisoner. ”I am now going to meet that scoundrel who works with you; but first I want you to answer a question, and be very careful how you do it. I have already warned you against raising an alarm. Tell me an untruth, and I will make it extremely warm for you, for pain is the only thing that appeals to men of your cla.s.s. Now, my men, take the gag from his mouth and bring him to me.”
Delighted to have in their hands one of the gang who had injured some of their comrades, the negroes rushed at the unhappy Pedro, and dragged him to his knees. Then they carried him to Hal, and tearing the gag from his mouth, placed him upon his feet, one of them standing close beside him and holding the cold muzzle of a rifle at his neck.
”Ah, senor, spare me! I will tell the truth,” Pedro cried, his knees knocking together, and his eyes turning in terror to the negroes who held him. ”Take these wolves away from me, and you shall hear all that you wish to know.”
”Silence! Do you wish to let your friends hear you?” asked Hal sternly.