Part 83 (1/2)

There were moments when, as he saw the great negro struggle and free himself partially from the serpent's folds, he foresaw the reptile's end in the glowing fire, which would become man's colleague as well as servant, and he could almost see the monster writhing and curling up in the roaring flames to which it was apparently adding fresh fury.

But the next moment there was another phase of horror, for one fold of the many convolutions seemed to be tightened about the man's arm, and he was evidently about to be dragged into the fire too, and, as he had before imagined, it was to be death for both.

But no; the serpent s.n.a.t.c.hed itself away from the impending danger and tightened itself about the man, who was the next instant bound by the great living thong about and about his heaving body, and the struggle was resumed upon equal terms.

Was it never going to finish?

The end was at hand in a way that the watcher had never for a moment antic.i.p.ated, for all at once, when the silence, save for the humming noise of the fire, was at its greatest depth, there arose the sudden hollow trumpet-like blast of a great conch sh.e.l.l, followed by a savage fiendish yell, and for one brief moment Murray saw the huge black, golden red in the fire's glow, standing wiping, as it were so to speak, the folds of the great serpent from off his arms, then from his neck, and again from his breast, about which it heaved and twined, before it was gone, as it were, twisted up by the great knotted arms of the huge negro, and thrown into the long coffin-shaped chest, whose lid was slammed down with a noise like the report of a gun; and this was followed by a noise as of a great wind pa.s.sing over the amphitheatre, and Murray looked to see the fire swept away and growing extinct before the force of what sounded like a storm.

But the fire blazed still, and dominating the rus.h.i.+ng wind a voice arose from close at hand with the familiar cry of--

”_Seafowls_ ahoy!”

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.

The summons given in hearty English was responded to by a ragged volley of so many muskets, whose flashes came faintly from the edge of the amphitheatre, and wondering what it meant, Murray, as he looked round, was just in time to see the big black giant of a negro spring high in the air, come down with a crash upon the coffin-shaped chest, roll over, and writhe for a few moments before lying perfectly still.

As the big negro was seen to fall, the crowd of blacks who were hurrying here and there as if in dismay, uttered a series of shrieks and yells, and began to run in confusion towards the end of the woody amphitheatre farthest from the fire, but only to encounter another ragged volley of musketry which checked them and drove them back, leaving several of their number to fall struggling upon the ground, while Murray saw two more totter and go down as they ran shrieking, half mad with fear, towards another portion of the lit-up ring of light, for they avoided the little party of armed seamen as if they took them for one of the causes of the sudden attack.

”Stand fast, my lads,” cried the lieutenant. ”Now then, forward!”

He placed himself at the head of his men, who followed him with their muskets shouldered, but at the end of a few yards their commander called--

”Halt--I'm not at all sure of our way, gentlemen,” he said, addressing the two mids.h.i.+pmen, ”but I think we ought to take that end--yonder where the blacks are collecting.”

”No, sir, I don't think that's right,” cried Murray. ”You see, every part of the circus-like place looks like the rest.”

”Yes, I see that, Murray, but surely there is the path yonder by which we came.”

But as he spoke, half-a-dozen more musket flashes came from the very spot to which he had pointed, and what might be called a wave of black figures came, dotting the earth with as many white cotton-clad wounded or dead unfortunates as shots had been fired.

”Bah! I'm wrong,” cried the lieutenant angrily. ”This looks like a planned ma.s.sacre of the poor creatures gathered at this meeting. If we could only find our guide we might have a chance to get out of the horrible confusion. Here, let's try this way.”

”Yes, sir; that is the way, I am sure, for it is just opposite to that chest out of which that poor fellow took the snake.”

”You are right, sir,” cried the lieutenant; ”and we must retreat in that direction, for it is of no use to try and make a stand against a hidden enemy.”

”Why don't those poor wretches show fight, sir?” cried Murray excitedly, as the little party began their march.

”Because they have no one to lead them, my lad.”

”Can't we, sir?”

”We could if they knew us, Murray; but we are strangers, and it would be madness to try and head such a confused mob.”

”I suppose so, sir,” said Murray sadly, as he marched on beside his commander, who now gave an order to the men he led, which was heard plainly above the shouting and yelling of the blacks, who in their fear and confusion had cast away the heavy machetes with which they had armed themselves.

”Make ready, my lads, in case the enemy has taken possession of our line of retreat.”