Murray made a dash at the black and caught him by the arm, while Tom May
sprang to the other side, for, startled by the sudden movement of the
midshipman, the poor fellow winced and looked as if about to run.
"No, no," cried Murray; "it's all right, Caesar. Show us directly where
Mr Allen is."
"Yes," whispered the man; "but no tell Massa Huggin. Him kill Caesar
for sure. Caesar very frighten."
"You shan't be hurt, boy," cried the middy. "Now then; lead us to where
Mr Allen is. Quick!"
The black nodded his head, gave a sharp glance round, and then with
trembling hand caught hold of Murray's wrist and led him into the hall
again, closely followed by the lieutenant and Tom May, who was as
watchful as if he felt sure that their guide was bent upon making his
escape.
"Shall I follow with some of the men, sir?" said Roberts, who was in a
state of fret from the fear of missing anything that was about to take
place.
"No, it is not necessary," said Mr Anderson.
"I beg pardon, sir," cried Murray; "from what this black fellow has
said, I think you ought to have some of the men with us."
"Oh, very well, then," cried the lieutenant, "bring half-a-dozen of the
lads with you, Mr Roberts;" and the hall had a very business-like
aspect as, to Murray's great disgust, Caesar led him into the study.
"Why, what are you doing, man?" he cried. "Mr Allen is not in here.
I've searched the place three times."
The black looked up at him quickly and showed his teeth; but it was in
no grin of cunning, for the poor fellow's face looked muddy and strange.
"Caesar know," he whispered hoarsely, and the midshipman felt the
fingers which gripped his wrist twitch and jerk as he was pulled towards
the corner of the room just beyond the window.
Here the black stopped short, trembling violently, and pointed downward,
before darting back, loosening Murray's wrist and making for the door.
"Stop him, Roberts," cried Murray; but his words were needless, for the
way of exit was completely blocked by the midshipman and his men.
"What does he mean by all this?" said Mr Anderson angrily.
"I don't quite know, sir," cried Murray; but he followed and caught the
black by the arm. "Come," he continued; "show us where Mr Allen is."
"Caesar berry frighten', massa," whispered the poor fellow, whose teeth
were chattering; but he yielded to Murray's hand and followed him back
towards the corner of the little room, where his eyes assumed a fixed
and staring look as he leaned forward and pointed downward at the thick
rug of fur which covered that part of the floor.
"What does he mean?" cried the lieutenant. "Is the planter buried
there?"
"Show us what you mean," cried Murray, and he tried to draw the black
forward; but the poor fellow dropped upon his knees, resisting with all
his might, and, with eyes starting and rolling and teeth chattering, he
kept on pointing downward, darting his index finger at the floor.
"I beg pardon, sir," said Tom May gruffly. "I think I know what he
means."
"What is it, then?" cried Murray.
"It's snakes, sir, same as I heered up-stairs."
"Perhaps so," said the lieutenant, "so take care; some of these serpents
creep into the houses here, and they are very poisonous. Mind what you
are about, Mr Murray. Let the black pull the rug away. Mr Roberts, a
couple of your men here with cutlasses. Be smart, my lads, and strike
the moment the brute is uncovered."
"Ay, ay, sir!" came in a chorus from the guard; but every Jack stood
fast, waiting for his fellows to volunteer.
"Pull the rug away, Caesar," said Murray, as soon as the men had been
ordered to advance, which they did after making a great show of spitting
in their hands to get a good grip of the cutlasses they drew.
"No, no, no, massa. Caesar 'fraid, sah. Massa Huggin kill poor Caesar
dead, for show."
"Is there a snake there, darkie?" said the lieutenant impatiently.
"No, massa. No, massa," panted the poor fellow. "Caesar brave boy; no
frighten snake. Massa Huggin kill um for show."
"What does he mean? Master Huggin will make a show of him?"
"No, sir," cried Murray. "He's afraid of being murdered for showing the
way. I have it, sir," he said now excitedly. "That explains
everything. There's a way out here;" and stooping down the middy seized
one corner of the rug, gave it a sharp jerk, and laid bare what seemed
to be a trap-door neatly made in the polished floor.