A COVERT IN THE CANE
Our boat was securely hidden amid a thick growth of reeds, which
extended their domain far down the shore, even out into the river
shallows. These reeds sprang quickly back into position as we pressed
through, leaving no trail for pursuers to follow. Nevertheless, making
all secure on board, and removing from the locker a quantity of biscuit
and some smoked meat, we took the further precaution of covering the
boat with rushes so as thoroughly to disguise its presence from prying
eyes. Satisfied with the result of these efforts, we clambered up the
slight ridge to where we found a small open space, carpeted with soft
grass, and sufficiently elevated to permit our looking about above the
level of the cane, while remaining concealed ourselves.
Our lodgment was upon a small island, a stream of languidly flowing
water extending between us and the main west shore. This, so far as my
eyes could distinguish, did not differ in appearance from our present
abiding place, being composed of low, swampy land, thickly covered with
a heavy growth of cane, and exhibiting no sign of human habitation.
The sole break to this dull monotony of outline was a narrow fringe of
trees situated farther back, where doubtless firmer soil gave spread to
their roots.
Northward the eye might trace the slight curve of the bank for miles.
It appeared irregular and low, slightly diversified by small, marshy
islands, similar to this we occupied, possibly cloven from the mainland
by some eccentricity of current. Occasionally I distinguished openings
into lagoons, such passages into the low-lying mainland being evidenced
by the deeper green of the vegetation bordering them, as well as by
wind-twisted trees clinging despairingly to the crooked banks. East
and south swept the river, so broad our eyes could barely trace the dim
presence of a distant shore. Below, that majestic yellow flood poured
downward unbroken, although De Noyan imagined he perceived distant
spars of the Spanish fleet outlined against the blue background of the
southern sky. This may have been possible, yet to my eyes all was
blank, although I could mark pretty accurately where they should have
been.
We indulged in little conversation, reclining on the short grass,
partaking of our cold meal. The Chevalier attempted a sorry jest or
two, yet soon subsided, discovering so unresponsive an audience. It
was plain to my mind the reflections of Madame were altogether with her
father--lying dead before this hour--and this sad memory darkened even
the delight of her husband's safety. His affected gayety of manner,
and reckless speech, jarred more harshly upon her in this hour than
perhaps ever before in her life. Yet she made a pathetically brave
effort to appear of good cheer, managing to eat with us, although it
was easy to perceive the food choked her, while her eyes were blurred
with tears resolutely held in restraint. It was plain, I say, yet this
is but my thought, for I question whether De Noyan, in his careless
mood, observed her depression. He was of a nature reflecting slightly
on any save himself; past sorrow being quickly forgotten in any present
gleam of sun. As we thus ended this silent meal it occurred to me they
might require slumber more than I, and I expressed my willingness to
stand guard while they sought rest. Perhaps my face told a tale of
weariness easily read, for this proposal met immediate resistance.
"No, no, Geoffrey Benteen," exclaimed Madame impulsively, "what have I
done except sit quietly in a boat, waiting the passing of the hours?
You have been through strain and labor which wears out life. It is you
who will lie here upon my wrap, trusting me to call should need arise."
"Hush, both of you," impatiently burst in De Noyan, rising to his feet,
and gazing across the sparkling water. "A watch would have small
value. There is no safer spot on all the lower river than this; if the
Dons discover it, no way of escape exists even were we all awake and
ready. To remain quiet is all we can do, and how can we accomplish
that better than by going to sleep? _Sacre_! I am a soldier, and not
apt to make light of a guard, yet," and he stifled a yawn, "I see no
necessity here, nor could I be more completely played after a night of
dancing at a Creole ball."
Thus the matter was agreed upon, not altogether to my liking, but I
yielded owing to too great weariness to argue. At first Madame
protested she could not sleep, yet finally consented to lie down. As
to myself my head had scarcely pressed the soft pillow of grass before
I was lost in slumber.
A blessing of youth lies in the fact that sleep then truly gives rest.
The tired body responds so thoroughly to the gentle touch of slumber
that the latter becomes a magician capable of restoring every faculty
to complete power. It was thus I rested motionless, and it was nearly
evening before I stirred, although the sun must have been streaming
directly across my upturned face for hours. I awoke to perfect
consciousness of our situation, as naturally as ever in a bed at home.
Dimly impressed that some unusual noise had aroused me, I immediately
sat upright. This change of posture brought my eyes on a level with
the tops of the cane on either side, and, my face being turned
southward, there was outspread before me the full, broad sweep of the
Mississippi, glinting under the westering sun, so that for a moment it
dazzled eyes yet clogged with the heaviness of sleep. Then I perceived
what afforded me so severe a shock that I ducked hastily down into my
covert, every faculty instantly alert. Close in against the reeds, as
though skirting the low line of the shore, loomed the black outline of
a large boat.
Coming bow on toward the place of our concealment, every eye in her
would naturally be scanning the spot where we lay hidden, and I durst
not raise my head again until assured they had passed by. I rolled
partially over to gain view of the others of our own party. Both were
slumbering heavily, Eloise near the western edge of the little grass
plot, wrapped within a great shawl so as to leave not even her head
visible, while De Noyan rested within easy reach of my outstretched
arm, breathing so heavily I felt it safer to arouse him, before that
strange boat should come abreast. It required severe shaking, his
sleep being that of sheer exhaustion, yet he proved sufficiently a
trained soldier to obey instantly my signal for silence. Nor were
words needed to explain the reason, as by this time the sound of oars
was clearly audible. Suddenly some one spoke, apparently at our very
side. Lying as I was I noticed the shawl pushed hastily down from
Madame's face, her brown eyes gazing questioningly across into my own;
yet, with rare self-control, not so much as a limb quivered.
"I tell you, _padre_, there's nothing along this cursed cane-marsh,"
growled a deep rumbling voice in Spanish. "It is a mere bog, in which
a man would sink to his armpits, were he to venture outside the boat."
"Bog it may be," retorted a sharper, petulant voice, the sound of which
was oddly familiar, "but I tell you this, Señor, 'tis on this very
shore French gallants come hunting from New Orleans. There is dry land
in plenty beyond the fringe of reeds."
"_Saprista_! there may be, as there may be water in Hell, but I 'll
never tangle my boat amid that mass of cane to make its discovery. Let
the frog-eaters have it, say I; the saints bless them. Come, pull away
sharply, lads, and we'll see what the shore-line looks like above."
The sound of dipping oars instantly increased in rapidity.
"You are one pig-headed fool of an officer, Señor," snarled the sharp
voice contemptuously.
"Mother of God!" roared the other, enraged. "Speak so again, you dog
of a French priest, and even your gray robe will not save you from
tasting the mud at the bottom. Do you want to know what I think of
you? Well, I 'll tell you, you snivelling, drunken singer of
paternosters--you did more to help that fellow escape than you 'd care
to have known. Now you 're trying to hold us back until he has time to
get safely away up the river. That's my opinion of you, you snarling
gray-back, and if you dare breathe another word, I 'll give orders to
chuck you overboard."
"Where do you purpose going?" ventured the cowed priest, in a subdued
tone.
"Straight up the stream. That's where your cursed Frenchman has
disappeared so swiftly, unless the guard at the North Gate shot him, as
they swear to O'Reilly. So sit there quiet, and hold your tongue--you
may command the Devil, for all I care, but I 'm in charge of this boat."
The sound of angry controversy died away in the distance. Cautiously I
lifted my eyes to the level of the cane, and peered over. The Spanish
boat, a large one propelled by the vigorous sweep of twelve oars, was
already a hundred yards above, swiftly stemming the current. From
their gestures I judged the debate yet raged between the gray-robe
crouched in the stern, and the big, burly fellow, resplendent in gold
lace, standing up and urging his oarsmen to greater exertion. Within
ten minutes they rounded the upper point, and when they again appeared
within vision, the boat was a mere dot floating in the midst of the
golden sunshine, where the setting sun gave a good-night kiss to the
vast, sombre river.
De Noyan's boyish face was aglow with unconcealed amusement as I turned
toward him.
"Well, Benteen," he asked, twirling his moustache, and staring after
them, "what was it the Dons said? _Peste_! I could not make out a
word of their lingo, except when the fellows swore."
I repeated to him the conversation, and he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Indeed, a sweet-scented Frenchman, that Capuchin priest," he said
carelessly. "I wonder what has so set the drunken fool against me?"
"It is not you, Chevalier," I acknowledged, feeling a touch of his
spirit; "it is rather that lad who landed so heavily behind his ear
last night, and who ran such a merry masquerade in monk's robe as never
Spanish war-ship saw before. I warrant it is I the holy father seeks
so savagely. Faith, it would be pleasant to know how he got out of the
pickle in which I left him. 'T is odd the Dons did not use him in your
place."
"Ay, that will be the cause, for I did nothing to anger the fellow,
except it was to laugh at his prayers, with a joke at the quality of
his Latin. But Dieu protect you, Monsieur, if ever he gets whip-hand.
A revengeful priest is more to be feared than a rabid dog. I stirred
one of his breed once at the Cathedral by some wild prank, and carry
the scar of it still. But come, it becomes dusk. Let's break our
fast, and while eating consider the best plan for the night. Eloise,
do you awaken refreshed?"
She came quickly forward, a smile for us both, looking dainty and
sweet, although the heavy mass of brown hair appeared somewhat
dishevelled from her unaccustomed pillow.
"I must have been exceedingly tired," she confessed pleasantly, "for I
slept with never a dream, and this is my first experience of lying
without the covering of a roof. It was all strange and solemn at
first, with never a sound except the dismal whispering of wind through
the cane, and the dull murmur of the river. The very, stillness, no
doubt, lulled me to slumber. Nay!" and she sprang hastily forward,
taking from my hands the few provisions I was bearing. "That is to be
my part of the work, Geoffrey Benteen, not yours. You will find hard
enough task before morning, while there remains so little for me that I
refuse to be robbed of any rights."
I realized, watching her prepare our scant meal, that she was bravely
endeavoring to appear gay, while her heart remained heavy from memory
of her father. Whether this assumed levity deceived De Noyan I cannot
say--he was of a volatile nature, easily swayed by either smile or
tear, and instantly joined responsive to her seeming mood. I left them
thus, engaged in pleasant badinage, while seeking some spot where I
might bathe my heated face. It was no small hardship to watch them
thus together.
Seated upon the grass, lingering over the rude repast, we discussed our
situation, seeking to outline vaguely our future plans. De Noyan was
for keeping close against the western bank as we progressed northward.
He had hunted amid the marshes, and remembered sufficiently the
formation of the shore-line to be aware that for several leagues it
remained thickly skirted by small islands, while numerous bayous
offered secure hiding-places. In this choice I acquiesced, urging also
that the downward flow of the current would sweep with greater force
along the opposite shore; besides which the search-boat, just passing
us on the way up-stream, would be more likely to return along the
eastern bank.
"There is no reason," I continued, "why we should delay departure
longer. We can keep the boat beneath the shadows of the bank, and even
if the Dons stop to make camp, they would hardly do so without building
a fire, which would afford ample warning to sheer out into the stream.
If they return along this shore--as is unlikely--we should hear the
heavy strokes of their oars before they caught the sound of our lighter
ones. I am for embarking at once."
This agreed upon, within a half-hour we were pushing slow passage
through the thick cane, soon finding ourselves once again afloat upon
the broad water, the prow of our boat turned up-stream, while here and
there a dim star winked down upon us between scurrying clouds.