"You appear to be in great haste, Captain Cubina," said Herbert,
advancing in double-quick time. "May I know what's the matter?
Anything amiss?"
"Amiss, Master Vaughan? Much, indeed. But we shouldn't stand to talk.
We must take the road to Savannah, and at once."
"What! you want me to go to Savannah? I'm with you for any reasonable
adventure; but my time's not exactly my own, and I must first have a
reason for such a journey."
"A good reason, Master Vaughan. Your uncle, the Custos, is in trouble."
"Ah!" exclaimed the young Englishman, with an air of disappointment.
"Not so good a reason as you may think, Captain. Was it he you meant
when you said, just now, one who _should be_ dear to me was in danger?"
"It was," answered Cubina.
"Captain Cubina," said Herbert, speaking with a certain air of
indifference, "this uncle of mine but little deserves my interference."
"But his life's in danger!" urged the Maroon, interrupting Herbert in
his explanation.
"Ah!" ejaculated the nephew, "do you say that? If his life's in danger,
then--"
"Yes," said the Maroon, again interrupting him, "and _others_, too, may
be in peril from the same enemy--yourself, perhaps, Master Vaughan. Ay,
and maybe those that might be dear to you as yourself."
"Ha!" exclaimed Herbert--this time in a very different tone of voice,
"you have some evil tidings, Captain! pray tell me all at once."
"Not now, Master Vaughan, not now! There's not a moment to be wasted in
talk; we must take the route at once. I shall tell you as we go along."
"Agreed, then," cried Herbert. "If it's a life and death matter, I'm
with you--even to Savannah! No _book-keeping_ to-day, Master Jessuron,
and--" (the speaker only mentally pronounced the name) "Judith may well
spare me for one day--especially for such a purpose as the saving of
lives. All right; I'm with you, Captain Cubina."
"_Vamos_!" cried the Maroon, hastily moving off. "For want of horses we
must make our legs do double-quick time. These skulking scoundrels have
sadly got the start of us."
And saying this, he struck into the up-hill path, followed by Herbert--
the taciturn lieutenant, no longer embarrassed by his bundle, keeping
close in the rear.
The path Cubina had chosen appeared to conduct to Mount Welcome.
"You are not going _there_?" inquired Herbert, in a significant way, at
the same time stopping, and appealing to his conductor for an answer.
It had just occurred to the nephew that a visit to his uncle's house
might place him in a position both unpleasant and embarrassing.
"No!" answered the Maroon; "there is no longer any need for us to go to
the house: since the Custos has left it long hours ago. We could learn
nothing there more than I know already. Besides, it's half a mile out
of our way. We should lose time; and that's the most important of all.
We shall presently turn out of this path, into one that leads over the
mountain by the Jumbe Rock. That's the shortest way to the Savannah
road. _Vamos_!"
With this wind-up to his speech, the Maroon again moved on; and Herbert,
his mind now at rest, strode silently after.
Up to this time the young Englishman had received no explanation of the
object of the journey he was in the act of undertaking; nor had he asked
any. The information, though as yet only covertly conveyed--that those
dear to him were in danger--was motive enough for trusting the Maroon.
Before long, however, it occurred to him that he ought to be informed of
the nature of that danger; over whom it impended; and what was the
signification of the step they were now taking to avert it.
These questions he put to his conductor, as they hastened together along
the path.
In hurried phrase the Maroon made known to him much, though not all, of
what he himself knew of the position of affairs--more especially of the
peril in which the Custos appeared to be placed. He gave an account of
his own descent into the Duppy's Hole; of the conversation he had
overheard there; and, though still ignorant of the motives, stated his
suspicions of the murderous plot in which Herbert's own employer was
playing a principal part.
It is needless to say that the young Englishman was astounded by these
revelations.
Perhaps he would have been still more astonished, but that the
development of these wicked dealings was only a confirmation of a whole
series of suspicious circumstances that for some days before had been
constantly coming under his notice, and for which he had been vainly
seeking an explanation.
From that moment all thoughts of returning to dwell under the roof of
Jacob Jessuron vanished from his mind. To partake of the hospitality of
such a man--a murderer, at least by intent--was completely out of the
question. He at once perceived that his fine sinecure situation must be
given up; and, despite the scandal his desertion might bring about, he
could never again make his home in the Happy Valley. Even the
fascinations of the fair Judith would not be strong enough to attract
him thither.
Cubina listened to these resolves, and apparently with great
satisfaction. But the Maroon had not yet made known to Herbert many
other secrets, of which he had become the depository; and some of which
might be to the young Englishman of extremest interest. The
communication of these he reserved to a future opportunity--when time
might not be so pressing.
Herbert Vaughan, now apprised of the peril in which his uncle stood, for
the time forgot all else, and only thought of pressing onward to his
aid. Injuries and insults appeared alike forgotten and forgiven--even
that which had stung him more sharply than all--the cold, chilling bow
at the Smythje ball.
Beyond the Jumbe Rock, and at no great distance from the by-path by
which they were travelling, lay the proper country of the Maroons. By
winding a horn, it might have been heard by some of the band; who at
that hour would, no doubt, be engaged in their usual occupation--hunting
the wild hog.
Cubina knew this; and, on arriving at that point on the path nearest to
his town, he halted, and stood for a moment reflecting.
Then, as if deeming himself sufficiently strong in the companionship of
the robust young Englishman and the redoubtable lieutenant, he gave up
the idea of calling any of them to his assistance; and once more moved
forward along the route towards the Savannah road.
Volume Three, Chapter IX.