Part 16 (1/2)
”Came up with a party.”
”Seen ary runaway n.i.g.g.e.r in the water?”
”No,” shouted Dan, promptly.
The question filled him with hope, for it a.s.sured him the slave-hunters had not been near enough even to hear the report of the fowling-pieces when he fired them; or, at least, not near enough to discover who had fired them.
”Didn't ye see him?” asked the pursuers again.
”No.”
”Gossifus! Wha--wha--wha--what's de matter?” demanded Cyd, rus.h.i.+ng up from the cabin with Quin, both of them having been awakened from their slumbers by the voice of the skipper.
”Silence, Cyd!” said Dan, in a low, decided tone.
”Hush, Cyd!” added Lily, in a whisper. ”Don't speak a word.”
”Wha--wha--wha----”
”Hush, Cyd!” repeated Lily, who seemed, in the moment of danger, to be endowed with a self-possession at variance with her former timidity.
”Where you bound now?” called the slave-hunter.
”Home,” replied Dan.
They asked no further questions for a time, and Dan saw, with a thrill of satisfaction, that they were lying upon their oars. He hoped that his answers had convinced them the runaway was not on board; but in this he was disappointed. He heard the men in the boat talking together, though he could not make out what they said. When the conference was ended, they renewed their efforts to overtake the Isabel.
”Hallo, the schooner!” shouted the spokesman again.
”Hallo, the boat,” replied Dan.
”Heave to, and let us see you a minute.”
”What for?”
”Want to talk with you.”
”Can't stop.”
”Guess ye kin. Heven't ye seen nary n.i.g.g.e.r?”
”No.”
”Well, stop--won't ye?”
”Can't stop; must get home by sunrise.”
”Well, ye must stop!” yelled the speaker, angrily, and with an oath.