"CAESAR DON'T KNOW."
It was a little later on that, during a quiet interval and while in
obedience to his officer Murray had been seeing to the men and taking
care they were well refreshed ready for the next attack that might be
delivered, the lieutenant joined the lad.
"Are the men satisfied?" he said quietly.
"Yes, sir; any one would think that we were out upon an excursion."
"Poor lads!" said the lieutenant. "I'm afraid it is going to be a sad
excursion for them."
"Oh, I don't know, sir," said Murray cheerily. "Who knows, sir, but
what the captain may come and cut us out at any time, and call upon us
to help him rout out the horrible wasps' nest?"
"That's a good, bright, boyish way of looking upon things, my boy," said
the lieutenant, "and we shall see. There, come and let's look at our
wounded ones. Have you had a chat with your messmate lately?"
"I've been to see him three times to-day, but he is very weak yet. You
have been with him too, sir. He told me. I wish you would speak to
Titely, sir. He wants to get up and fight, and he is not fit."
"I've already forbidden it, Mr Murray," said the lieutenant; "and the
poor fellow looked quite cut up, so I promised him a double allowance as
soon as he got well enough."
The lieutenant was silent for a few minutes, and stood as if listening
so intently that Murray grew uneasy.
"Do you hear anything, sir?" he asked.
"No, my lad; I wish I could. I am getting anxious."
"The men are keeping a very sharp lookout, sir."
"Oh yes; I am not afraid of that, my lad. My anxiety is for the
_Seafowl_. It is so long since I have heard her guns, and then they
were apparently a long distance away."
"Yes, sir," said Murray cheerfully; "but then it is a long while since
we heard the slaver's guns, and that seems to mean that the captain has
silenced and perhaps--"
"Perhaps what, Mr Murray?"
"I was going to say sunk the schooner, sir; but I hope he has not done
that, for the men's sake."
"What, on account of prize money?" replied the lieutenant. "Oh, by the
way, Mr Murray, I suppose you still believe in that black fellow,
Caesar?"
"Oh yes, sir, thoroughly. I'm sure he saved my life."
"Humph! Well, I want to have faith in him, but it is hard work to trust
in people sometimes. Then I get thinking a great deal about that Mr
Allen. I suppose he is sincere."
"Oh, I feel sure he is, sir. The thorough reverence the black Caesar
has for him is sufficient to prove that his master is good to his
people."
"Well, after the ill these slave-owners have done the poor creatures
they owe them something in the way of recompense. Humph! How strange!
We begin talking of the black, and here he is. He wants to speak to
you, seemingly. Call him up."
Caesar had come peering in at one of the doors, and as soon as Murray
signed to him he hurried eagerly into the room, when the lieutenant
looked at him searchingly and said--
"What about your master, my man? Where do you think he is now?"