Part 19 (2/2)

”What is it, Cyd?”

”Dar's someting ober dar,” added Cyd, pointing over to leeward, as he walked aft.

”What is it?”

”Cyd tinks it's de boat ob de slabe-hunters.”

”Perhaps it is,” said Dan, musing. ”And our wounded or dying enemies may be clinging to it. Shall we save them?”

”Hossifus! Dey kill us ef we does,” exclaimed Cyd.

”'Lub your enemies,'” said Quin, piously. ”Let us sabe dem if we can. We kin tie dar hands and fotch 'em ober dar.”

”I don't think they are there.”

”We must save their lives,” added the gentle Lily.

”And perhaps lose our own; but I will overhaul the boat, to satisfy myself whether the men were lost or not,” said Dan, as he let out the main sheet, and put up the helm. ”Stand by with the boat-hook, Cyd.”

In a few moments the Isabel had run up to the wreck of the boat, and Cyd grappled it with the boat-hook. There were no men clinging to it, but in the bottom of the boat, covered over with water, lay the body of one of the slave-hunters. It was probably the one who had been shot. He had not been killed at once, for he had spoken after he was. .h.i.t; it looked as though he had been drowned in the bottom of the boat where he lay.

The fugitives were filled with horror at this discovery. Poor Lily had nearly fainted, and if Cyd had been shot himself, he could hardly have made a stronger demonstration. Quin uttered many pious e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns, showing that he had, from his heart, forgiven this man, who, an hour before, had thirsted for his blood. Dan, though not less impressed than his companions, was calm and resolute.

”This body may betray us,” said he. ”We must sink it in the lake.”

”Ugh!” exclaimed Cyd, with a thrill of horror.

”We have no time to spare,” added Dan, briskly. ”Bring up another fifty-six, Quin.”

The weight was brought up and tied to the corpse of the slave-hunter, as it lay in the boat. Dan then ordered his companions to tip the boat over; but Quin, asking for a moment's delay, threw himself upon his knees, and commenced an earnest prayer in behalf of the deceased, supplicating forgiveness for his bloodthirsty enemy. Dan listened reverently to the prayer, while Lily sobbed as though the departed slave-hunter had been her dearest friend, instead of the bitter foe of her race.

The service was ended; the boat was careened till the body rolled out, and disappeared in the depths of the lake.

”May de good Lo'd hab mercy on his poor, sinful soul, for de lub of Jesus' sake!” exclaimed Quin, as the corpse sank to its resting-place.

”Make fast the boat to that cleat on the quarter, Cyd,” said Dan, as he hauled aft the sheets, and put his helm down.

Cyd obeyed, and the Isabel filled away upon her course again. Lily was calmer now, but she was still much impressed by the solemn and awful scene of which she had just been a witness.

”It's all over now, Lily. Don't think any more about it,” said Dan, in soothing tones.

”It is terrible--isn't it, Dan?” replied she, with a shudder.

”It is, Lily; but there was no help for it. All that we have done was in self-defence.”

”But it is awful to think of killing them.”

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