Part 16 (1/2)

”Hope so, sir,” said the sailor bluntly. ”It's too black to be done by a white. But all the same, sir, if the white skipper didn't want his cargoes, the n.i.g.g.e.r king and his men wouldn't supply 'em; and here's the doctor come ash.o.r.e, sir,” added the man, in a whisper.

For the two parties met just at the edge of a clump of trees, within whose shade the unfortunate creature who had interested the mids.h.i.+pman in her fate was lying with one of the seamen standing by her head, his musket grounded and his crossed arms resting upon the muzzle.

”Ah, gentlemen, you here!” said the doctor, nodding shortly. ”Nice place, this. Humph!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, as with brows contracting he went down on one knee.--”There, don't be frightened, my la.s.s,” he continued softly, for as he drew near, the poor creature, who had been lying in the shade with her eyes half-closed, startled by the footsteps, suddenly raised her lids in a wild stare of horror and shrank away. ”Poor wretch!” continued the doctor. ”The sight of a man can only mean horrors for her.”

”Horrors indeed, doctor,” cried Murray excitedly; ”but pray do something for her!”

”No,” said the doctor gravely. ”Nature is her doctor now.”

”What do you mean?” said the young man, half annoyed by the doctor's inaction.

”That she is in the hands of a kinder doctor than I could be--one who knows what is best for her. Look!”

He shrugged his shoulders and turned away.

”Let your men cut a few of those big leaves, Mr Murray, and lay over her.”

”You are too late?” said Roberts excitedly.

”Yes, my dear boy,” replied the doctor. ”With such hurts as the poor girl had received it was only a matter of time. Ah, I wish to goodness we had caught that schooner! It's time all this was stamped out.

There, come away and bring your men. Oh, here comes Mr Anderson.

Well, what are you going to do?” For the first lieutenant came up, followed by some of his men, glanced at the motionless figure and the action being taken, and turned away.

”What am I going to do?” he replied, frowning angrily. ”Nothing but communicate with the captain for fresh instructions.”

”But aren't we going to pursue the black chief and his people through the forest, sir, and punish them?” asked Murray, who was strangely moved by his first encounter with the horrors of a slave encampment.

”No, Mr Murray, we certainly are not,” replied the lieutenant, ”for the chief and his men will take plenty of care that we do not overtake them.

Here, come away, my lads; this place is pestiferous enough to lay every one down with fever.”

”Yes; I was just going to give you a very broad hint. Fire, eh?” said the doctor.

The lieutenant nodded.

”I must just have a word or two with the captain first,” said the lieutenant, and giving the order, the men began to march to where the boats lay with their keepers, and a sentry or two had been thrown out to guard against surprise.

Murray closed up to the doctor, who was looking sharply about him at the trees which remained standing amongst the almost countless huts.

”Not many cocoanuts, Murray,” he said.

”Oh,” cried the young man, who felt more annoyed by the doctor's indifference than ever, ”I was not thinking about palm-trees!”

”But I was,” said the doctor; ”they'll burn tremendously.”

”Ah,” cried the mids.h.i.+pman, ”that was what I wanted to speak about. Did you mean to suggest that the place should be burned?”

”Certainly, sir,” said the doctor shortly.