Part 11 (1/2)
CHAPTER IX
THE BIRTH OF THE DEATH-DAWN
We durst not swi-shi+p we had so uncereht attract the attention of so myself to drift silently beneath the vessel's stern, without the stir of a lireat black shadow Without a word De Noyan followed Yet ti, and at the earliestout boldly for the shore
”We must move rapidly, Chevalier, to , upon the bank
”Are the streets patrolled by the Dons?”
”Ay! although not as thoroughly as when the Spaniards first landed We shall require to exercise caution”
”Where do you takespot in New Orleans?”
”I know none We go to the rear of a long row of tobacco sheds near the North Gate A boat thoroughly stocked, with two oar erly, ”I outfitted there for hunting more than once It is best for rown interested in the play”
He certainly proved his familiarity with that labyrinth of so low beneath the black shadows of walls and fences, he yet set so swift a gait with his confounded long legs it keptno one close enough to interfere with our rapid progress, while no challenge sounded, until we crept, silently as possible, around the dilapidated end of the old tobacco shed, and a black figure, scarcely distinguishable in the glooesture, barring further passage toward the river
”Virginia,” I gasped, breathless from the hard run
”Bless de Lawd, Massa Benteen,” returned a darky voice ”An' Massa Charlie, as I 'ib you both up fo' suah”
”Stop talking just now, Alphonse, and lead along lively,” said De Noyan, with returning authority ”We can converse later, in surroundings enial”
Anotherit clear of the bank, then lightly cla in over the stern
”Benteen,” he exclai heavily, ”I confess I'm about useless fro I am weak as an invalid, yet I can steer the craft if you inforo”
”Up country is our only chance,” I gasped, grasping an oar, vaguely noting a second figure huddled within the bow ”All the loater is patrolled by the fleet, but above there are plenty of hiding places
Lay down to it hard, you black rascals; you are pulling for your lives”
De Noyan extended his hand toward the east
”It will be dawn in about an hour,” he said, a tone of earnestness creeping into his soft voice ”We can never pull against this stiff current so as to get any distance in that tiues I 'ain the west bank within an hour, or even two, the Devil himself would have a hard job to find us”
”Go on,” I rimly to my task ”You know this country better than I When we reach upper waters it will be uide”
As I uttered these words, a bit impatiently, there sounded a quick step on the low bank at our right A sharp voice cleaved the darkness