Part 46 (1/2)
”Good!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed he. ”Yer kin go now,” he added to the other, whose attention I endeavoured to attract, but dared not call to loud enough, lest the guards should hear me. ”Dash my b.u.t.tons! I don't want yer to go--yer a good 'un arter all. Why can't yer k.u.m along? The cap'n 'll make it all straight agin about the desartion.”
”Mr Lincoln, I cannot go with you. Please suffer me to depart!”
”Wal! yer own likes! but if I can do yer a good turn, you can depend on Bob Linkin--mind that.”
”Thank you! thank you!”
And before I could interfere to prevent it, she was gone. I could hear the voice, sad and sweet in the distance, calling back, ”_Adios_!”
I had no time for reflection, else the mystery that surrounded me would have occupied my thoughts for hours. It was time to act. Again I heard Lincoln's voice at the loophole.
”What is it?” I inquired.
”How are yer ter get out, Cap'n?”
”We are cutting a hole through the wall.”
”If yer can give me the spot, I'll meet yer half-ways.”
I measured the distance from the loophole, and handed the string to Lincoln. We heard no more from the hunter until the moonlight glanced through the wall upon the blade of his knife. Then he uttered a short e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, such as may be heard from the ”mountain men” at peculiar crises; and after that we could hear him exclaiming:
”Look out, Rowl! Hang it, man! ye're a-cuttin' my claws!”
In a few minutes the hole was large enough to pa.s.s our bodies; and one by one we crawled out, and were once more at liberty.
CHAPTER FORTY.
MARIA DE MERCED.
There was a deep ditch under the wall, filled with cactus-plants and dry gra.s.s. We lay in the bottom of this for some minutes, panting with fatigue. Our limbs were stiff and swollen, and we could hardly stand upright. A little delay then was necessary, to bring back the blood and determine our future course.
”We had best ter keep the gully,” whispered Lincoln. ”I k.u.m across the fields myself, but that 'ar kiver's thin, and they may sight us.”
”The best route is the ditch,” a.s.sented Raoul: ”there are some windows, but they are high, and we can crawl under them.”
”Forward, then!” I whispered to Raoul.
We crept down the ditch on all-fours, pa.s.sing several windows that were dark and shut. We reached one, the last in the row, where the light streamed through. Notwithstanding our perilous situation, I resolved to look in. There was an impulse upon me which I could not resist. I was yearning for some clue to the mystery that hung around me.
The window was high up, but it was grated with heavy bars; and, grasping two of these, I swung myself to its level. Meanwhile my comrades had crept into the magueys to wait for me.
I raised my head cautiously and looked in. It was a room somewhat elegantly furnished, but my eye did not dwell long on that. A man sitting by the table engrossed my attention. This man was Dubrosc. The light was full upon his face, and I gazed upon its hated lines until I felt my frame trembling with pa.s.sion.
I can give no idea of the hate this man had inspired me with. Had I possessed firearms, I could not have restrained myself from shooting him; and but for the iron grating, I should have sprung through the sash and grappled him with my hands. I have thought since that some providence held me back from making a demonstration that would have baffled our escape. I am sure at that moment I possessed no restraint within myself.
As I gazed at Dubrosc, the door of the apartment opened, and a young man entered. He was strangely attired, in a costume half-military, half-ranchero. There was a fineness, a silky richness, about the dress and manner of this youth that struck me. His features were dark and beautiful.
He advanced and sat down by the table, placing his hand upon it.
Several rings sparkled upon his fingers. I observed that he was pale, and that his hand trembled.