Part 28 (1/2)

Dan told her, in as few words as possible, what had happened, and the poor girl nearly fainted when she heard the name of her master.

”Then we are lost!” added she, in tones tremulous with emotion.

”Not yet, Lily. Be of good courage, and don't show yourself on deck.”

The affrighted maiden threw herself upon her knees by her cot, and prayed fervently that G.o.d would interpose his strong arm to save them from the fate which now seemed to be inevitable. While she prayed, Dan and Cyd worked, and made such preparations for the pending encounter as their limited means would allow. There was only a small number of pa.s.sengers on board of the steamer, and the resolute captain of the Isabel hoped that a few shots would intimidate them, and prevent Colonel Raybone from rus.h.i.+ng upon certain death.

But the planter of Redlawn was as resolute as his runaway chattel, and a battery of artillery would not have deprived him of the satisfaction of pouncing upon the fugitives. Though no fear could deter the master from attempting to recover what he regarded as his own by the law of G.o.d and man, it was otherwise with the captain of the Terre Bonne; for he declared that he was in a tremendous hurry to make his trip, having been detained over night at the foot of the lake. He sympathized with Colonel Raybone in his desire to recover his slaves; but he positively refused to put the boat about and capture the runaways.

It is not improbable that the captain of the steamer saw the guns and the preparations made to receive a boarding party, and possibly he reasoned in his own mind that a chance shot was as likely to kill him as any other man on board; at any rate, he was as resolute in his refusal as any of the resolute parties we have already mentioned.

Dan could hardly believe his senses when he saw the Terre Bonne standing out towards the landing-place before the plantation. When her wheels started again, he nerved himself for the encounter; for he supposed she would come about, and bear down upon him. It was incredible that Colonel Raybone should give up the chase without an effort to capture them; and he knew his master too well to think, after more consideration, that he would abandon his slaves without an energetic effort to recover them.

The steamer went in to the landing-place, leaving Dan to wonder and rejoice at the happy turn which had taken place in the affairs of his party. He informed Lily of the altered state of things on deck, and the devout girl was happy in the reflection that her prayers had been so promptly answered.

”But we haven't seen the end of it yet, Lily. O, no,” added Dan, ”Colonel Raybone will never give us up. He would spend more money than we are all worth for the pleasure of flogging me for running away; but he shall never have that satisfaction. I had rather die here like a man than to be scourged to death at the Dead Oak.”

”Can't we get away? Is there no chance to escape?” asked Lily, whose beating heart was full of mortal terrors.

”Gossifus! Wha--wha--what's de reason we can't take de bateau and row ober to de sh.o.r.e, and take to de woods?” suggested Cyd.

”Well, what then?” demanded Dan, calmly.

”Why, den run like a possum up a gum tree.”

”With bloodhounds and slave-hunters on your track. No, Cyd; we should certainly be taken if we did that.”

”What shall we do, Dan?” murmured Lily. ”We shall certainly be taken if we stay here.”

”No; we have beaten off the slave-hunters twice, and we can do it again.

They will come in small boats, and I will shoot them down, one at a time, if they persist,” answered Dan, bringing down the b.u.t.t of the rifle upon the floor of the standing room to emphasize his words.

”But you may be shot, yourself, Dan,” said Lily, with a visible shudder.

”No; I will conceal myself behind the bulwarks when they come within range of my rifle.”

”But can't we get away? Can't we escape without shooting any of them?”

pleaded the poor girl, with a natural horror of bloodshed.

”We cannot unless we have wind.”

”Gossifus! Dar dey come!” exclaimed Cyd, pointing to two boats pulling out from the landing-place of the plantation.

”Heaven protect and defend us!” cried Lily. ”I will pray for wind; I will pray with all my soul for a breeze, Dan, and our Father in heaven, who has so often heard my prayers will hear me again.”

”Stop a minute, Missy Lily; stop a minute,” interposed Cyd, gazing earnestly down the lake; ”needn't pray no more, Missy Lily; dare's a breeze coming up from de souf-east. Hossifus! de breeze am comin like a possum down a cotton tree! Possifus! Hossifus! Gossifus! De breeze am coming!” shouted Cyd, as he danced round the deck like a madman.

”Needn't pray no more, Missy Lily. De breeze am come.”