"NIGGAH, SAH."
A month passed swiftly away, during which the _Seafowl_ sighted and
chased vessel after vessel, each of which had been forced to lie to in
response to a shot fired across her bows, but only with a disappointing
result--one which sent the captain into a temper which made him
dangerous to approach for a full half-hour after the strangers' papers
had been examined, to prove that she had nothing whatever to do with the
slave-trade.
Then the captain would calm down, and something like the following would
take place:
"Did I speak rather sharply to you when the boat returned, Mr
Anderson?"
"Oh! Well, rather hastily, sir," said the chief officer drily. "But
that's nothing, sir. I'm afraid I was not very polite to you. I was
horribly disappointed, sir."
"Naturally," the captain cried excitedly. "Here we are, getting well
within range of the islands where we know this wretched traffic is
carried on, where the plantations are cultivated by the unfortunate
blacks, and we seem bound to encounter a slaver, and yet the days pass
on and we prove to be hunting a will-o'-the-wisp."
"Yes, sir, it is maddening," replied the lieutenant. "Day after day I
have swept the offing, feeling certain that fate would favour us by
letting the sloop come up with that Yankee, or with one of his kidney;
but disappointment is always the result."
"Yes, Mr Anderson," cried the captain; "always the result. Never
mind," he continued, speaking through his closely set teeth; "our turn
will come one of these days." And then with his telescope tightly
nipped beneath his arm he would tramp up and down the quarter-deck,
pausing now and then to focus his glass, take a peep through, close it
again with a snap and renew his march.
"Look at him," said Roberts, one bright morning, as the two lads stood
together well forward, where they fondly hoped that they were quite out
of their chief's way.
"No, thank you, Dick," was the response; "it isn't safe. He's just in
one of his fits, ready to pounce upon any one who gives him a chance.
Every one is getting afraid of him. I wish to goodness we could
overtake something and have a chance of a prize."
"Well, we must find something to do soon, lad. We're right in amongst
the islands, and we shall have to land and hunt out some nigger driver's
nest."
"But we can't do anything if we do. We daren't interfere with any
plantation where the blacks are employed."
"No, I suppose not; but it would be a glorious change if we got orders
to land at one of the islands and could pick up some news or another."
"What sort of news?"
"What sort? Why, information that a slaver was expected to land a
consignment, and then--"
"Oh yes, and then! Well, we shall see."
"Yes, we shall see; but I don't believe any of the planters will give us
a bit of information."
"Don't you? I do," said Murray. "There are good planters as well as
bad planters, and I feel full of hope."
"I don't," said Roberts bitterly. "I think we ought to go back to the
West Coast and watch the rivers again. We shall do no good here."
But Murray proved the more likely to be right, for after touching at the
little port of one island, where the _Seafowl_ was visited by the
English gentleman who acted as consul, and who had a long interview with
the officers in the cabin, it became bruited through the vessel that
something important was on the way, and after boats had been sent ashore
and a plentiful supply of fresh water and vegetables taken in, the sloop
set sail again, piloted by a fishing boat. Under its guidance the
_Seafowl_ lay off the shores of what seemed through the glasses to be an
earthly paradise, a perfect scene of verdant beauty, with waving trees
and cultivated fields, sheltered by a central mountain the configuration
of which suggested that it must at one time have been a volcano, one
side of which had been blown away so that a gigantic crater many miles
across formed a lake-like harbour. Into this deep water, after careful
soundings had been taken, the sloop glided and dropped anchor, the pilot
with his two men hoisting sail directly after receiving pay.
"This is something like," said Roberts, rubbing his hands. "I wonder
how soon we shall go ashore."
"Almost directly, I expect," replied Murray.
"Why? What do you know?"
"Not much; only what Mr Anderson let drop to me."
"Let drop to you!" cried Roberts pettishly. "He never lets things drop
to me."
"Well, what does that matter? I always tell you anything that I hear."
"Never mind that. What did Anderson let drop?"
"That the skipper has learned that there is an English gentleman here
who farms a plantation with a number of slaves."
"Well, lots do," said Roberts sharply.
"And on the other side of the island there is a very large sugar
plantation belonging to an American who is suspected of having dealings
with slaving skippers who trade with the West Coast. What do you say to
that?"
"That sounds likely; but what then?"
"Well, according to what Mr Anderson told me, the skipper will, if he
waits for a chance, be able to catch one if not more of the slavers who
come here to land their cargoes, for this American planter to ship off
by degrees to other planters who require slaves."
"Ah, yes, I see," cried Roberts. "This Yankee, then, keeps a sort of
slave store?"
"Something of the kind," replied Murray, "and if we are careful I
suppose that the skipper will have his chance at last; only he says that
he is not going to trust any stranger again."
"Well, never mind that," said Roberts, speaking excitedly now as he
scanned the slopes of the old verdure-clad hollow in which the sloop lay
as if in a lake. "If we are about to lie up here for a time and go
ashore and explore we shall have plenty of fun and adventure, with a bit
of fighting now and then."
"Likely enough," said Murray.
"But I should like for us to have hit upon the place where that West
Coast Yankee brought his cargoes. There's no possibility of this being
the spot?"
"One never knows," said Murray thoughtfully.
"Too much to hope," said his companion.
"Oh, I don't know. We've been horribly unlucky, but the luck is bound
to turn some time. One thing we do know for certain: that Yankee
skipper brings slaves across to the West Indies."
"Yes, we know that."
"Well, this is one of the West Indian Islands."
"A precious small one, though," said Roberts in a depreciatory tone.
"What of that? We know for certain that there is the owner of a
plantation here who trades in slaves, and there is nothing to prevent
his having dealings with the man we want."
"M-m-no; but there must be several such men as he. Well, we must get
some fun," cried Roberts, "and if we don't find all we want--"
"We may get something," said Murray cheerfully. "Now then, which of us
will have the first chance of going ashore?"
"You, of course," replied Roberts bitterly. "Some fellows get all the
luck. No, no; I don't mean that, old chap."
"Look at Anderson," cried Murray; "he's taking orders from the skipper.
Hooray, Dick! See if it isn't for a boat to be sent ashore. Whose turn
is it going to be?"
That question was soon answered, for the captain, who was pacing to and
fro searchingly overlooking the preparations for a boat going ashore,
suddenly caught sight of the two lads.
"Oh, there you are, Mr Murray!" he exclaimed. "Well, has not Mr
Anderson given you your orders to accompany the boat?"
Roberts's face puckered up.
"No, sir," said the lieutenant, taking upon himself to answer. "I
intended to take Mr Roberts with me."
Murray felt disappointed, but all the same he could not refrain from
laughing at the sudden change which came over his fellow middy's face,
to the latter's wonder.
"Oh, I see," said the captain, raising his hat and re-adjusting it in a
fidgety way he had when excited, which was followed by a fresh settling
of the head-covering. "Quite right; quite right; but here's Mr Murray
growing dull and sluggish with doing nothing; you had better take him
too. One will help to keep the other out of mischief."
Roberts winced, and turned sharply to glance at Murray angrily, as the
latter hurried to take his place in the stern sheets.
"What's the matter, Dick?" Murray whispered, as soon as the pair were
in their places.
"Matter? Any one would think I was a child and ought to have some one
to take care of me. Now, look here, young fellow, if you grin at me
before old Anderson there's going to be a quarrel."
"All right," said Murray coolly; "but keep it till we get back."
Roberts looked round sharply, but he had no opportunity to say more, for
the chief officer descended to his place, Murray moved aside to let his
comrade take the tiller ropes, the boatswain gave the cutter a vigorous
thrust off, the men lowered their oars, and then bending low to their
task they made the smooth water of the natural harbour begin to rattle
beneath the bows.
The boat was run across beside the heavily forested shores, where,
before long, but after many disappointments, an opening was found which
seemed to be the entrance to a sluggish river, and as they glided in the
overhanging trees soon shut them off from all sight of the sunny bay
they had crossed. The bright light gave place to a dim twilight which
at times grew almost dark, while the river wound and doubled upon itself
like a serpent, and twice over, after a long pull, the lieutenant bade
the men lie upon their oars, to rest, while he hesitated as to whether
he should go farther.
But all seemed so mysterious and tempting that, in the full expectation
of reaching some town or port belonging to the island, the rowing was
again and again resumed till hours had passed, and at last the chief
officer exclaimed--
"It's like chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, gentlemen, but I cannot help
feeling that we are on the highroad to the interior, and, in spite of
the utter loneliness of the place, I don't like to give up."
"Of course you don't, sir," said Murray, as the men rested upon their
oars, and he scanned the heavily wooded banks. "I wonder whether there
are any plantations worked by the slaves: I can see no sign of a house."
"No, I was thinking of that," said Roberts, who was sweeping the
distance with a glass; "but there is a bit of an opening yonder which
looks as if the river branched there, and--Hallo! I didn't see it at
first. There's some sort of a boat lying moored in that nook."
"Where?" cried Murray.
"Yonder among the trees. Take the glass, sir."
Mr Anderson took the telescope.
"To be sure: the river does branch there. Steer for that cove, Mr
Roberts, and let us see what the little vessel is like. At all events
here is some sign of the place being inhabited. Give way, my lads."
The men pulled hard, and as they progressed, instead of obtaining a
better view of the vessel, it seemed only to glide in behind the trees
until they were close in and passed up what proved to be the mouth of a
little creek, when Murray uttered an ejaculation.
"What is it, Mr Murray?" cried the lieutenant.
"The lugger, sir!"
"Well, I see it is, my lad. I dare say its owner's house is close at
hand."
"But don't you see, sir?" cried Murray excitedly.
"Of course I do, but there's no one aboard, apparently."
"Oh, I don't mean that, sir!" cried the lad. "It's the lugger we first
came upon off that African river."
"What!" cried the lieutenant. "Impossible! Run close in, Mr Roberts."
And the men pulled the cutter close alongside the swift-looking boat
with its raking masts and lowered lug sails.
"Humph!" said the lieutenant. "The same build, the same rig, the same
coloured canvas. Well, really, Mr Murray, it is a strange
resemblance."
"I'm almost sure it is the same boat, sir," cried Murray.
"That's as good as saying that the Yankee who tricked us so has sailed
right across the Atlantic with the slaving schooner, and we have had the
luck to follow in her track, and caught up to her."
"Yes, sir; I don't think there's any doubt of it," cried Murray.
"Then, if you are right, Mr Murray, the slaving schooner will be
somewhere close at hand."
"Yes, sir; I hope so," replied Murray. "I am ready to hope so, my lad,
but I say it is impossible. That was a lugger, and this is a lugger,
and of course there is a certain amount of resemblance in the rig; but
you are jumping at conclusions just because this is similar."
"I think not, sir. I took so much notice of the boat; but look here,
sir, Tom May was with me when I went forward to speak to the Yankee, and
he would know.--Here, May, isn't that the lugger the American planter
was on when we brought her to?"
The sailor stared hard at the vessel hanging by a line fastened to what
seemed to be a cocoanut tree.
"Same build, sir; same rig, sir. Might have been built up the same
river, but it arn't the one we saw that day, sir--Wish it was!"
"There, Murray, what do you say now?"
"That I didn't think it possible that I could have been so deceived.
Would it be possible that it could have been built by the same
shipwright, sir?"
"Quite, my lad; and it is quite possible that we may come across a
schooner or two built just like the one we saw escape. There is no
doubt that many slaving schooners are built in these islands especially
for the trade. Look out, my lads, and don't miss anything. There may
be one of them moored safely in a snug creek.--What was that?"
"Nigger, sir," said Tom May. "I just ketched sight of him squinting at
us among the trees. There he is again, sir."
This time Roberts had caught sight of a black figure wearing the very
simple costume of a pair of loose cotton drawers, his round woolly head
covered with a broad-brimmed hat formed of extremely thin strips of thin
cane.
"Scared at us," said the sailor, for as the cutter was rowed alongside
of the lugger, the black darted out of sight, but, evidently curious to
know what was going on and the object of the strangers, he peered out
again.
"Ahoy there!" shouted one of the sailors.
That was enough. The black disappeared once more, but only for a few
moments before he was peeping again.
"You hail him this time, Mr Murray," cried the lieutenant.
"Ahoy there!" cried Murray. "What boat's that?"
The black clung to one of the trees on the bank of the river and watched
the speaker eagerly.
"He doesn't understand," said the lieutenant. "I dare say he only
speaks bad Spanish. But try him again."
"Can you speak English?" cried Murray.
"Yes, massa!"
"Come, that's better," said the lieutenant. "Try him again, Mr
Murray." And the lad shouted--
"Whose lugger is that?"
"Massa's, sah."
"Oh!" cried Murray; and then obeying a sudden thought, "Where is the
schooner?"
"Gone sail round um ilum, sah."
"With slaves?" said Murray.
"Gone take big lot black fellow, sah."
"What for?"
"Hoe de cotton, sah; plant de sugar, sah," said the black, showing his
white teeth.
"When will the schooner come back, Sambo?" said Murray.
"Name not Sambo, sah," said the black.
"What is it then?"
"Jupe, sah, Jupiter."
"Ask him where his master lives."
"Yes, sir!--Where does your master live?"
The black rested the heavy hoe he carried among the thick growth of the
trees which rang alongside of the stream, and pointed away into the
dense cover at the back.
"Jupe show massa."
"Is your master away with the schooner?" asked Murray.
"No, sah. Massa never go to sea. Cap' Huggum go in um schooner."
"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Mr Anderson. "Now then, my lad; if we
land you will show us the way to your master's place?"
"Yes, sah. Massa Huggum's 'long with massa now."
"Who is Master Huggums?" said the lieutenant.
"Massa, sah. Make um niggah work, sah;" and as he spoke the black
showed his teeth, raised his hoe, and brought the handle sharply against
the trunk of some kind of palm-tree. "That's de way make um work. Lazy
rascal go to sleep. Massa Huggum wake um up."
"Oh, that's it, is it? Does he wake you up like that?"
The black burst into a hoarse laugh.
"Iyah, iyah, iyah!" he cackled out, and evidently thoroughly enjoying
the questioning, he threw himself down in the thick cane growth, rolled
over and over, and then sprang up again. "No give Jupe de whip, massa.
Find Jupe fas' sleep. _Ck, ck, ck_!"
And he threw out one bare foot as if emulating some one who had heavily
kicked a slave who was lying asleep.
The feeling of fear that had made the black dart back into the cover of
the trees had now passed away in favour of a display of eager curiosity,
and he came close to the boat, where he watched the sailors laying in
their oars and the coxswain hook on to one of the trees, while the
officers prepared to land.
"Now, then," said the lieutenant, "show us a dry place; it is all muddy
here."
"Jupe show landum place, sah," said the man sharply.
"Very well, and then you can lead us up to the house."
"Yes, sah. Take buccra up through plantashum, but Jupe no dare go."
"What do you mean?" said Mr Anderson. "You offered to go just now."
"Yes, sah; but Jupe forget all 'bout Massa Huggum. De overseer go in
great big pashum, sah. Call Jupe ugly black nigger, sah."
"What for?"
"Take buccra officer up to plantashum see de niggers, sah."
"Oh, that's how Mr Huggins or Huggum goes on, is it? Well, never mind
him," said the lieutenant; "lead us up to your master."
The black showed his teeth again and indulged in his cackling laugh.
"Well, what does that mean, sir?"
"Jupe no dah go, sah. Massa Huggum say cut him libbah out."
"Never mind Mr Huggins, my lad. He'd better! Here, what's your real
master's name?"
"Massa Allum, sah."
"Well, take us to him."
The black shook his head.
"Mass' Allum 'fraid Massa Huggum, sah. Massa Huggum call um big name."
"Then this Huggins is the real master; eh, boy?"
"Dat's the trufe, sah. Ebbery boy in plantation 'fraid of Massa
Huggum."
"Well, look here, my sable friend, please understand this: nobody here
is afraid of your Mr Huggins. Show us the way to the plantation, and
if he dares to touch you I'll take him on board, and the boatswain's
mate shall tie him up and give him the cat--flog him; do you
understand?"
"Mass' say give Mass' Huggum whip?"
"Yes, or any one else, boy. Now then, show us the way."
"Massa say quite sewer?"
"Yes, quite sure. Now then, lead on."
The black grinned at everybody in turn, and tramped along by the edge of
the sluggish stream for some hundred yards before stopping short by the
trampled bank which was plainly marked, and the commencement of a rough
path was seen running in amongst the trees.
The lieutenant gave orders for the men to land, a couple of boat-keepers
were left, and the well-armed crew were ready for starting when a black
face suddenly presented itself peering round a good-sized tree-trunk and
gazing curiously at the newcomers.
Murray was the first to catch sight of the fresh comer and draw the
lieutenant's attention to his appearance.
"Is this one of your men, you sir?" cried the chief officer, and he
pointed down the winding path.
The black stared for a moment or two before following the direction of
the officer's pointing hand. Then catching sight of his fellow black he
uttered a yell, raised his hoe in both hands, and sent the heavy iron
implement whirling along the path, to be brought up with a crash against
a good-sized tree. But before it came in contact with the trunk the
black at whom it was aimed sprang in among the bushes and disappeared,
while the guide trotted on to where the hoe had fallen and picked it up,
shouting in through the thick growth--
"You let me catch you 'way from your work, you ugly, lazy, black
rasclum, I crack you cocoanut!" Then striking the haft of the hoe he
had picked up against the tree-trunk to tighten the loosened head, he
turned again to the approaching boat crew. "Lazy black rasclum," cried
the grinning guide, as if for the benefit of all the newcomers. "Jupe
gib um toco catch him again. Massa come along now.--Black dog! Let me
catch um again!"
The lieutenant frowned and glanced at the two midshipmen, who were
exchanging glances which meant a great deal. Then with a shrug of his
shoulders he made a sign to the black guide to go on, a sign which was
grasped at once, and the fellow stepped out with his heavy hoe
shouldered and a grin at the lads.
"Jupe make um run fas'," he said. "Jupe teach um leave um work!"
"Look sharp, sir, and show the way," cried the chief officer angrily.
"Yes, massa; yes, massa," cried the fellow, grinning. "Jupe show massa
de way. Jupe de boy teach de black fella do de work. Lazy rasclum.
Ketchum 'sleep under tree."
"Here, May," cried the lieutenant angrily, "take this black brute
forward a dozen yards and make him show the way and hold his tongue the
while."
"Ay, ay, sir!" growled the sailor, with a grim look, as giving his
musket a hitch and then turning it in his hands he brought the butt
roughly against the guide's chest. "Now then, Ebony," he cried,
"for'ard it is, and drop all that there palaver. Lead on and show the
way."
"Yes, sah; Jupe show de--"
"D'yer hear, you black swab!" cried the sailor. "Show the way to your
master's house, and keep that talking box of yours shut up, or--"
May made an offer at the black as if to bring the butt of the musket he
carried down upon his toes, and accompanied it with so meaning a look
that the guide's eyes opened widely and he was in the act of making a
dash sidewise into the cane brake at the side, but the sailor's free
hand came down upon the fellow's shoulder with a loud clap.
"Ah, would you!" he cried. "None of that! Bullets run faster than
legs, my lad."
"That will do, May," cried the lieutenant; "but mind he does not slip
through your fingers."
"No, sir; right, sir," said the sailor, keeping a firm grip upon the
black's shoulder and seeming to steer him in and out along the windings
of the rough track, while the boat's crew and officers followed behind.
"The black fellow disgusted me, gentlemen," said the lieutenant, turning
a glance at the lads. "Jack in office generally proves to be the worst
tyrant."
The distance from the creek proved far greater than the officers
expected, and they threaded the forest for hours before they came upon
cultivated plantations dotted with black figures hard at work, and
evidently superintended by men of the same type as the guide, who moved
forward quietly and quite cowed by the stern-looking seaman who had him
in custody, and who at last stopped short pointing at a long, low,
well-built house half hidden amongst the trees and beautiful enough to
raise an exclamation from Murray.
"Yes, the place looks beautiful enough," said the lieutenant, "but I'm
afraid its beauty depends upon the supply of poor wretches who are
forced to labour beneath the burning sun with the lash as a stimulus
whenever they show signs of slackening. Oh, here we are," continued the
speaker. "Is this the redoubtable Mr Huggins?"
"No, sir; I should say it would be Mr Allen," replied Murray.
"Yes, you must be right, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant. "He looks
more like a sick man than the owner of a slave plantation."
For a quiet, subdued-looking individual in white cotton garments had
stepped out of a wide window with green painted open jalousies, to take
off his Panama straw hat and stand screening his eyes with his hand.
The next minute the officer had halted his men in front of the place,
and May touched his hat.
"Let the prisoner go, sir?"
"Yes: we can find our way back;" and as the sailor slackened his grasp
and gave his head a jerk in the direction of the well-tilled fields, the
black made a bound and dashed off, turning sharply before reaching the
edge of the trees which backed up the house and seemed to shelter a
range of buildings, to raise his hoe and shake it threateningly at the
sailor.
"That man ought not to behave in this way," said the gentleman who had
stepped out. "Has he been insolent to you, sir?"
"More unpleasant than insolent," replied the lieutenant. "I have
required him for a guide to find your house, sir."
"Ah!" said the former speaker slowly, as he looked slowly round. "You
are an officer from one of the King's ships?"
"Yes, sir; exactly so," replied the gentleman addressed.
"And I presume that your ship is off the island. Can I be of any
service to you?"
"Well, yes," said Mr Anderson, "by giving me the information I am
seeking."
"I shall be glad to do so, sir, of course. May I ask what you require?"
"Information about the slaving that is carried on here. I see you
employ many slaves."
The stranger winced slightly, and then bowed his head.
"Yes," he said; "I have a large tract of cultivated land here in sugar,
cotton and a little coffee, but I have a right to employ slave labour
after the fashion of many of my fellow-countrymen."
"No doubt, sir," said the lieutenant firmly, while the two midshipmen
and the boat's crew stood listening and looking on--"slaves born upon
your estate."
The owner of the plantation winced again, and then in a nervous
hesitating way continued--
"I have employed slave labour for many years now, sir, and I hope with
humanity and quite in accordance with the law."
"I am sorry to say, sir," said the lieutenant, "that my captain has been
otherwise informed. He has been given to understand that at this
plantation and in connection herewith a regular trade in the unfortunate
blacks is systematically carried on."
"Do I understand, sir," said the planter, in the same low hesitating
fashion, "that you are connected with one of the King's ships whose
object is to suppress the slave-trade?"
"Yes, sir; that is quite right."
"Will you step in, sir?" said the planter. "You are heated with your
walk in the hot sun, and your men must need refreshment."
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and said gravely, "I am here, sir,
to do my duty."
"Yes, of course, sir," said the planter; "and I beg you will not think
that I am trying to bribe you in any way. I am not surprised at this
visit. I have expected it for years. I am sorry, sir, but I must own
it: I am not my own master."
At this moment another figure appeared upon the scene in the shape of a
little thin yellow-complexioned man, dressed like the planter in white
cotton, and wearing a similar hat of Panama make. He stepped out of the
French window where the late speaker had appeared, but with a quick,
eager movement, and as he stood glancing sharply round the lieutenant
and the midshipmen simultaneously gave a start which seemed to be
communicated to the whole of the party, and with a thrill of excitement
running through him Murray whispered sharply--
"Our friend the Yankee, Dick!"
"Yes," whispered back that individual, "and we're going to hold him
tight."
As for the lieutenant, he took a couple of steps forward, and exclaimed
in a sarcastic tone of voice--
"How do, sir! I think we have met before."