"Massa sailor officer, you dah?" came again; and still the midshipman
could not respond.
"You dah?" came in an angry whisper. "You no open your mouf, sah?"
"Yes, yes," whispered Murray, recovering himself. "I could not speak.
It is you, Caesar, isn't it?"
"Caesar. Come. Big black fellow Tullus come along to get plantain; see
young sailor officer. Tell Caesar. Where big sailor?"
"Tom May? I have lost him."
"Not killed, sah, and other young officer?"
"No; he is here, Caesar. Where is Mr Anderson?"
"Gone; had big fight with Huggins's men."
"Any one hurt, Caesar?"
"Caesar no don't know. Nearly get kill. Where Massa young sailor hand,
take hold?"
Murray raised his hand, and it was taken directly between those of the
black speaker; and the midshipman started, for one of these was bandaged
up as if the poor fellow had been wounded.
"Where other young sailor officer?"
"Hurt, and lying down here asleep."
"Very bad hurt?"
"Yes, my man. Where is Mr Allen?"
"Caesar don't know yet awhile. Want to find Massa Allen. Very much
great deal of fighting, sah. Massa Huggins bring many men out of
schooner ship kill much slabe boy. Kill very bad, and poor Caesar can't
find Massa Huggins. Want kill um and save Massa Allen."
"Who wounded you, Caesar?"
"Massa Huggin, sah. Poor slabe fellow too much afraid. Run away.
Caesar t'ink massa sailor officer killed dead."
"Is your wound very bad?" asked Murray.
"Yes, sah; dreffle bad."
"Let me examine it."
"Examine?"
"Yes; let me see how bad it is and tie it up."
"No time. Caesar tie corn-leaf all about and stop bleed. Caesar don't
mind. What massa sailor officer call himself?"
"Murray--Frank," was the reply.
"Murray Frank, sah. Murray Frank, sah, come away dreckerly and bring
your brudder sailor. Caesar couldn't find young massa for big long
time. Now come?"
"Come where?" asked Murray quickly.
"Caesar don't know. Want find Massa Anderson lieutenant. Want find big
Tom May chap. Massa know where?"
"No, Caesar. Can't you show me?"
"No, sah! Everybody run all away. Lot people get killed. Caesar glad
find Massa young sailor 'gain."
"So am I, my lad. But now can you find Tom May and Bill Titely?"
"Caesar try, sah. Come along."
"But I can't leave my wounded friend here."
"No, sah. Take um 'long."
"That's right; but can you find the way in the darkness?"
"Caesar going try," said the black confidently; but he did not inspire
the midshipman with the same amount of confidence. In fact, the little
he felt was a good deal shaken by a great hand darting as it were out of
the darkness and seizing him roughly by the shoulder.
"What does that mean?" he cried.
A deep-toned whispering ensued, and it seemed to Murray that the huge
black who had so much startled him by his appearance before was eagerly
whispering to his recovered friend.
"Big Tullus," whispered Caesar. "Say Massa Huggin men come along.
Murray Frank come along quick."
"Yes, but I tell you I cannot leave my brother midshipman," whispered
Murray.
"No, sah," said the black. "Big Tullus take um 'long on back."
"But you must be careful," whispered Murray. "He is wounded."
"Big Tullus fellow take care," replied the black, and he whispered to
his invisible companion, with the result that, in spite of the darkness,
Murray made out that poor Roberts, who moaned slightly, was easily
lifted up, and the huge black seemed to have no difficulty in throwing
the slightly-made wounded lad over his shoulder as if he had been a
child.
"Now massa, come quick," whispered the black.
"But will your black friend keep up with us in the dark?"
"Yes, massa. Caesar knock um head off if don't. Him Caesar man. Come
and tell young massa um find young sailor. Now carry other one. Come
along quick, 'fore sailor crew find um and catch um. Now Murray Frank
hear?"
"Oh yes, I hear plainly enough," replied Murray. "Now lead on."
It was evidently quite time enough, for from somewhere near at hand the
voices of some of the overseer's crew of followers could be heard, as if
making for the middle of the clearing where the big black had set up his
hut, a spot which was evidently known to Huggins's people, by the way in
which they had come in search of food.
So close were the men that the midshipman seized the big black by the
arm and stopped his progress.
"What massa do?" whispered the black.
"Take care! They will hear you," replied Murray.
"Yes, hear massa if massa talk," whispered the man warningly. "Massa
come along."
"But do you know the way to Mr Allen's cottage?"
"Iss--yes, Caesar know the way. Come along," whispered the man, and
seizing the lad by the arm, he thrust him before his companion, who the
next minute was making his way through the woodland, with the enemy so
close behind that it was plainly evident that they were ignorant of the
proximity of the fugitives, who pressed on steadily, with the huge black
bearing his burden as lightly as if he were in no way troubled by the
weight.
A very real danger, however, now began to show itself, for, becoming
uneasy at being swayed about by Catullus, Roberts began to mutter
impatiently, though in an incoherent way, with the result that the great
black suddenly stopped short and, bending towards Caesar, uttered a few
words in a tone full of protest.
"What does he say, Caesar?" whispered Murray.
"Say massa young sailor no talk so much. Bring Massa Huggin men come
see what's all a bobbery and kill um all."
"I can't stop him, my lad," whispered back Murray. "He is insensible
from his wound and does not know what he is saying."
"Caesar tell big slabe boy walk fast and get along a way;" and Murray
heard a low whispering follow as he was thrust onward, with the canes
and other growth being brushed aside. But, in spite of the extra
pressure brought to bear, it became more and more evident that their
enemies were keeping up with them and following their movements so
exactly that it was hard to believe that they were not aware of their
proximity.
Murray whispered words to this effect, but the black only laughed.
"No, no," he said; "Huggins's men don't know we come along here, or run
fast and kill Massa Murray Frank, kill Roberts, kill Caesar, and big
Tullus. Come along and see if Massa Allen find way back to cottage."