Part 95 (1/2)
Then he would start awake with a strange suddenness, feeling as if his conscience had p.r.i.c.ked him for his drowsiness and neglect, and he would begin to tremble with anxiety, for he felt that he must have spoken aloud just at a time when they were near their pursuers, and so have betrayed their whereabouts.
Thoroughly wakened then, Murray found that they were motionless with his black companions listening, while Caesar's fingers were pressing his arm very tightly.
”No speak,” he whispered; and the man's breath came hot into his ear.
”Huggins fellow chap everywhere. No catchee.”
Murray's brain was closing up again, so it seemed to him, back into a deep sleep, and he remembered afterwards that during the latter part of that night he woke up from time to time when Caesar pinched his arm for him to stop, but directly the journey was continued he dropped asleep again.
Then it seemed to the middy that he must have been asleep an immensely long time, and he started up awake, staring hard at his guide, who had laid one hand over his lips while the other was offering him a ready-opened cocoanut.
”No speak, ma.s.sa.”
”Why?”
”Huggins man over dah. See sailor officer--see slabe boy--see Caesar-- shoot, kill.”
The man pointed over where Roberts lay half hidden by the undergrowth, while beyond him the big black was seated munching away at some half-ripe bananas, and ready to meet his eyes with a pleasant smile.
”It's morning, then!” whispered Murray, in surprise.
”Yes: to-morrow morning, sah,” said the man, smiling; and it appeared to Murray that he had made a very absurd remark, for it must have been daylight for many hours, the sun being high.
”Whereabout do you think Mr Allen's cottage is?” he whispered now, as his head seemed to clear.
”Over dah,” was the confident declaration. ”Huggins man all round about come to fight.”
”Fight? Who with?”
”Ma.s.sa officer sailor men.”
”Do you think they have got back to the cottage?”
The black nodded.
”Big very much fight. Sailor kill big lot Huggins man.”
”How do you know that?” said Murray sharply, for it seemed to him now that the last dreamy feeling of exhaustion had pa.s.sed away.
”Caesar find free dead men. Him tread on two,” was his ready reply, ”him” being the big black.
”But not white men!” said the mids.h.i.+pman, with his voice sinking to a whisper that was almost inaudible.
”Huggins man, ma.s.sa. Bad fellow. Caesar berry glad.”
”Hah!” sighed Murray, and he crept to where Roberts lay apparently sleeping comfortably now.
”Is it far to Mr Allen's cottage?” asked the lad, after a pause.
”Over dah, sah,” replied the black, pointing.
”Then why not go on at once?”
The black showed his teeth as his face lit-up in a smile.