Part 12 (1/2)
THE STAMPEDE
”You're a long time getting here,” I observed, as Norris took up the oars.
”Yes,” returned Norris. ”And we wouldn't be getting here at all, if those voodoo skunks had had their own way about it.”
”Did they give you trouble?” I asked.
”Oh, I guess--yes, some,” he said. ”But we gave them trouble, eh, Robert?”
Robert acquiesced.
”I reckon they'll some day be telling their voodoo grand-children how a bunch of white devils came to their island and raised particular--”
”Raised particular 'hotel,'” a.s.sisted Ray, who saw that Norris was about to stumble on an impolite word.
We climbed aboard the _Pearl_ and Rufe fed the four while they gave us their tale.
”We got nearly everything loaded onto Carlos' little wagon, and Carlos was going to hitch up the donkey, when those voodoo skunks showed up,”
said Norris. ”They didn't knock on the door or ring the bell, but stood off like the pack of hyenas they are.
”Carlos talked to them. They said we must give up the kids, or they would burn the shack with us in it. I told Carlos: 'Tell them that if they don't clear out right quick some of them will soon be burning in--in--'”
”Where Beelzebub tends the ovens and the climate is equable,” offered Ray, politely.
”I don't know how many voodoo there was in the crowd,” continued Norris.
”The people from the village came round, too,--I suppose, to see the fun. There were some guns; and those fellows began to get their heads together. I got mad, finally, to see those skunks so cheeky; and I forgot English wasn't their talk, and called out: 'Any of you who don't want to get into the battle better crawl into your holes!'
”There must have been some that got that, for pretty quick there was a scattering, and only about a dozen or so stayed on. They were the ones who'd come on business, I guess.
”Pretty soon Melie said there were some of the blacks sneaking up toward the wagon, out by the barn. I got to the back door with my rifle, and I blowed the high peaked hat off the nearest skunk--sorry now I didn't blow his head off. Those fellows didn't stop to pick up that hat.
”Those cusses in front had begun to move up with their guns ready. But Robert had his little twenty-two ready too; and they hadn't come far when he let the leader have one in his off hind foot. He limped off howling, and the others suddenly recollected other appointments.
”'Now we've got to make our start,' I said.”
”While the audience is wondering what'll be the next scene,” prompted Ray.
”Something like that,” admitted Norris. ”So we bundled the black babies up, while Carlos. .h.i.tched up the mule. And when we started for the barn, I saw Melie sprinkling some seeds about the ground and back stoop. 'What are you planting gra.s.s for?' I said. 'You're not coming back.'
”She laughed and said that the voodoo men were barefoot, and the seeds would give them sores that would disable them for weeks. Well, we got started. Carlos drove; Robert went ahead with his rifle, and I followed behind with mine.
”We poked along for about three miles, and no sign of those voodoo cusses. Then Carlos pulled up and waited for me to catch up.
”'Well,' I said, 'do you reckon they've given up the fight?' And Carlos said there was a little steep hill about a mile ahead, that the road pa.s.sed round; and he was some afraid the enemy might be laying for us there, and would roll rocks down on us. He said we might avoid the place by a roundabout way through the woods, but it would be hard going, and we'd lose time.
”I called Robert and told him our troubles. 'Wait ten minutes,' he said, 'and then drive up to a couple of hundred yards of the place, and stop till I whistle for you to come on.' And then he trotted on ahead. In ten minutes we started. Carlos pulled the donkey to a stop at the right place, and we waited.
”In a minute we heard a howl--then another howl--then a howl every second, for about six howls. Then we heard a stampede in the woods, off to our right.--Better let Bob tell what happened.”