You have seen a proud bird, whose wing has been broken by the fatal
bullet, drop helpless to the earth?
So fell the heart of Judith Jessuron from the high confidence that but
the moment before had been buoying it up.
The sight of Kate Vaughan coming up the mountain path at once robbed it
of exultation--even of contentment.
What errand could the young Creole have up there, unless that of an
assignation? And with whom, but the man who was so mysteriously
missing?
Her surreptitious departure from the dwelling--the time chosen, when
Smythje was out of the way--her quick gait and backward glances as she
stole through the shrubbery: all indicated a fear of being seen and
followed.
And why should she fear either, if bent upon an ordinary errand? Mr
Smythje was not her father, nor, as yet, her husband. Why should she
care to conceal her intentions from him: unless indeed they were
clandestine, and pointing to that very purpose which the jealous Jewess
had conjectured--a rendezvous with Herbert Vaughan?
Judith felt convinced of it--so fully that, as soon as she saw the young
Creole fairly started up the sloping path, she glided to the rear edge
of the platform, and looked down, expecting to see the other party to
the assignation.
True, she saw no one; but this did little to still the agitation now
vibrating through every nerve of her body. _He_ was not in sight, but
that signified not. Perhaps he was at that moment within hearing, and
might be seen, but for the forest screen that covered the _facade_ of
the mountain?
Where was it their design to meet? Where had they named their
appointment?
Judith did not doubt that there was design--jealousy did not stay to ask
the question. She was convinced that an arrangement had been made, and
on that very morning. What else could be the meaning of the double
message? First, to demand a meeting; secondly to appoint the place.
Yes, that would explain the repetition of those footmarks--that had gone
twice to and fro.
What spot had they chosen for the scene of their clandestine encounter?
A sudden apprehension seized upon the spy. She might lose sight of
them; and then they would enjoy their meeting in secret and
uninterrupted. By Heavens, that must not be! Her spirit, now roused to
the extreme pitch of jealousy, cared not for consequences. End as the
scene might, she was resolved on its interruption.
The only chance of discovering the place of assignation would be to keep
Kate Vaughan in sight. Perhaps Herbert was already there waiting for
her? He would be there. The lover is always first upon the ground!
Obedient to this thought, the Jewess rushed back across the platform;
and once more directed her glance down the mountain.
She saw what she looked for: the snow-white snood, easily
distinguishable among the dark-green foliage--now hidden as the wearer
walked under the tall trees--again appearing at the open angles where
the road zigzagged.
Most of the path could be seen from the summit of the rock: for,
although rarely used, it had once been cleared by the axe, and formed an
open tract through the timber, narrow, but perceptible from above.
Judith, still marking the movements of the kerchief, swept the path with
her glance and her glass--up to the point where it reached the base of
the rock and ran round to the rear. Repeatedly she scanned the track,
far in advance of the climber, expecting to see some one appear--Herbert
Vaughan, of course.
If aught showed among the trees--a bird fluttering in the foliage,
frayed by the approach of the gentle intruder--the heart of the jealous
Jewess experienced a fresh spasm of pain. Though certain she was soon
to see it, she dreaded to behold the first blush of that clandestine
encounter. To see them come together, perhaps rush into each other's
arms, their lips meeting in the kiss of mutual love--oh, agony
unendurable!
As she surmised the scene before her fancy, for a moment her proud
spirit shrank, quailed, and cowed within her, and her form of bold,
noble development shook like a fragile reed.
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Up the steep, with springy step, climbed the young Creole, lightly as a
bird upon the wing, unconscious that she was observed, and, of all
others, by the rival she had most reason to dread.
After completing the numerous windings of the path, she at length
arrived within some twenty paces of the rock--where the road turned
round to the rear. She knew the way; and, without pausing, kept on till
she stood within the _embouchure_ of the sloping ravine.
Up to this point the Jewess had marked her every movement, watching her
along the way. Not without some surprise had she perceived her
intention to climb the Jumbe Rock--which by the direction she had taken
was now evident.
The surprise soon passed, however, with a quick reflection. The summit
of the rock--that place already hallowed by a love scene--was the spot
chosen for the meeting!
On discovering Kate's determination to ascend the rock, which she had
now divined by seeing her pass round to the rear, the Jewess stayed no
longer upon the platform. That would have necessarily led to an
encounter between the two. Not that Judith would have shunned it,
however awkward, however _contra-tiempo_.
It was not from any feeling of delicacy that she determined on leaving
the place; on the contrary, the action that followed betrayed a motive
of a very opposite character.
Just where the ravine debouched upward on the platform, a lateral cleft
opened to one side. Its bottom was but a few feet below the summit
level; covered with a thick growth of evergreen bushes, whose tops,
rising to an equal height with the table above, completely filled the
hollow with their dense frondage.
The quick eye of Judith Jessuron at once detected the convenience of
this covert. There concealed, she could see without being seen. From
under the grim shadow of those dark evergreens, she could behold what
was like enough to wring her heart: though she was now reckless of the
result.
Watching her opportunity--when the eyes of the young Creole were turned
downwards--she glided into the lateral ravine, and concealed herself
behind the curtain of leaves. Cowering within the covert, she awaited
the ascent of her rival.
Amidst the tumult of her emotions, there was no chance to reason calmly.
Suspicion of Herbert's perfidy--for it is not to be denied that the
young man had shown her attentions, or, at all events, had passively
permitted her to think so--suspicion of his faithlessness had now become
certainty. There could be no mistake about the intended meeting between
him and his cousin--at least, so Judith, blinded by her passions,
believed.
There was Kate coming upon the ground, and Herbert--he would soon be
after! Strange, he had not arrived first! But that had not much
significance. He could not be far off; and, no doubt, would be there in
good time--perhaps, overtake his sweetheart ere she could reach the
summit of the rock?
Thus ran the reflections of the rival.
She listened for Herbert's voice--expecting every moment to hear him
hailing from below.
She cast listless glances down the ravine, in the belief she should
presently see him following frantically upon the footsteps of his
cousin, and chiding himself for not being foremost at the tryst.
Volume Three, Chapter XIV.