Part 81 (1/2)
”But they seem peaceable?”
”Yes, sir, quite; but I can't help feeling suspicious.”
”Yes, it is suspicious, but they may not mean harm. I believe in that black Caesar all the same. If I did not I should give the order to retreat at once. There, go back to your men, and keep close up. Take special care not to let the blacks get between you and us.”
”There is no need, sir. They hang back to let us all pa.s.s.”
”That may be part of their plan to shut us in. But I will go on believing in the fellow till I have good cause to turn upon him, and then it will be very hard if our lads can't keep any number at bay.
There, stand fast till your men overtake you.”
Murray halted and let the men march by till Tom May and his messmates joined him; and then as he resumed his place he became aware that the blacks in their rear had increased greatly in number. Short as had been his absence, it was now much lighter, so that it was plain to see that they were being followed by a dense ma.s.s of white-cotton-clothed plantation slaves, all bearing arms of some kind or another, and moving in comparative silence, their bare feet making hardly a sound upon the soft earth.
”They seem to be increasing fast, Tom,” whispered Murray, as the sailors tramped steadily on.
”Yes, sir; tidy--tidy,” replied the big fellow.
”But they don't seem to mean mischief, Tom.”
”No, sir, not yet; but if that was their game they could eat our little lot without salt.”
”You don't seem to be a bit alarmed, Tom.”
”No, sir; no, sir, only a bit bothered.”
”What about--the darkness?”
”Nay, sir; that's getting easier. It's twice as light as it was. I meant about what game's up. We seem to be going on some expedition or another, and I've been trying to settle it down in my mind. Don't think it's a c.o.o.n hunt, do you, sir?”
”No, Tom; they are all too grave and serious for that.”
”Yes, sir, but that might be 'cause they don't want to scare the game.”
”No; this is no hunt, Tom.”
”P'raps not, sir, and I only fancied that's what it might be. No, sir, I don't feel much worried about it--oneasy, you may say. Do you, sir?”
”Well, to be honest, Tom, I don't like to be shut up like this among these blacks. Why, they're growing thicker and thicker!”
”That's so, sir. They're hundreds upon hundreds strong. What does the chief officer think of it?”
”He doesn't say, Tom, but I could see that he felt the need of caution by the order he gave me about keeping close together.”
”Oh, he did that, sir, did he? But I say, I wonder what the skipper would say about our being in such a hole.”
Murray looked sharply round at the speaker, who to his surprise began to chuckle softly.
”I don't see anything to laugh at, Tom May,” said the middy sharply.
”No sir,” replied the man; ”I s'pose not. There aren't really nothing.”
”Then why do you laugh?”