HUNTING A FUGITIVE.
When Carlo was gone Harry went on with his lesson; and then, feeling
somewhat weary after his expedition, he prepared his bed, which
preparation consisted merely in fastening up an Indian hammock that
Andreas had made for him. And as he did so he could not help thinking
of his comfortable bed at home, and of the love which had been his from
childhood till the day he was kidnapped. The thought of his parents was
always a very sorrowful one to Harry. Ah, if only he could escape! and
then, once in England, he would hunt up Etta Allison's uncle and make
him send for his niece. But the 'if' was not likely to be fulfilled.
Next, Harry cooked his supper, and this was also a very simple affair;
he lit a tiny fire in a space within the hut between a few bricks, and
allowed the smoke to find its way out by a small hole at the side of the
hut. After baking his maize cake he quickly extinguished his fire, as
smoke was a real element of danger even in this thick forest.
As he now ate his very modest meal, thinking over the plenteous fare in
the home-farm, he could not help dwelling on the thought of bright-eyed
Etta.
'She has the sweetest face I ever clapt eyes on,' he thought, 'and her
hair is like golden light on a thistle-down. How my mother would be
made glad with her sweet speecheries! Nay, but when I get back--if God
wills I ever do get back--then I will e'en come here again and fetch her
away, if so be her uncle will not do it. In truth I will; and then I
will ask her to be my wife, and she will be the comforting of the old
people, for she has such brave, sweet, winning ways, and has far more
courage than the pretty Spanish girl, who could be turned about
whichever way the wind blew, and has, besides, no pretty witcheries.'
Harry, having thus settled his own future, took out his little
prayer-book and read a gospel, thinking as he did so of Mr. Aylett, and
wondering, as he had done many and many a time, what his friend had
thought when he had heard of his disappearance. Now and then he half
feared whether he had fancied that he had gone willingly with the
freebooters; and this idea troubled him; but at other times he put it
away as impossible.
Harry was about to kneel down to say his prayers--which worship seemed
only natural in the midst of this beautiful forest with the spreading
palms, and the Bois Chataigne opening its petals in the darkness and the
many other forest giants--when suddenly he heard Andreas' very faint
whistle, although in the deep silence of solitude he had not noticed his
approach--indeed nothing around him but well-known sounds, such as
distant notes of a few birds.
Harry started up, and would have called out, but remembered caution, so
that he even put out his light before he opened the door. He was glad
enough now that Carlo's lessons helped him to understand Andreas'
meaning, if not quite all his words.
'Quick, Senor, and quiet; this place is no longer safe: they are going
to beat through the forest with the dogs to-night. They fancy you are
the Senorito; but, thank God, he is safe, at least for to-night. Follow
quickly, but first take everything away from the hut.'
With quick dexterity the Indian unswung the hammock and rolled up in it
the few properties that were in the hut; then, placing this on his head,
he led the way forward, plunging yet deeper into the wood. Harry
followed as best he could, enduring patiently many a scratch from sharp
prickles and thorns, and many a bruise and tumble. 'Wait a moment,
Senor,' said Andreas after a time; 'I will put this bundle in this
stream and drag it down some way; the dogs will then lose the scent.
Give me your hand: we must wade up this streamlet. Ah, Senor, it is a
cruel sport, hunting the human being with fierce dogs. In the old days
the Spaniards hunted down the poor Indians--when I was a boy I have seen
them--and now the white men hunt each other.' Then, with a low chuckle,
Andreas added, 'I have made the dogs stupid with my powder; they will be
very slow; but I dared not stupefy them altogether for fear of
discovery. Now, Senor here is your hiding-place; I know you can climb.
This big trunk would shelter many men, but it is a secret few know of.
The Indians made the retreat long ago, and many a poor hunted being has
found safety here.'
Harry did as he was bid, and with a good deal of help, which he would
have despised had it been light, he found himself half-way up a great
trunk, now hollow in parts, and showing that decay had set its hand
there. When they had reached this position Andreas crept through a tiny
aperture, and the two found themselves in a small room in the huge
hollow tree. The hand of man had made a floor and roofed it in, so that
there was a hollow tree above and a hollow tree below. It was so
beautifully contrived that when the door was opened it could be fastened
from within and leave no mark of its being a door on the outside, whilst
a hole in the ceiling would let in air and a small amount of light.
Andreas smiled at Harry's exclamations of surprise and admiration.
'The Senor will be safe here if the dogs do not pick up the scent again;
if they do, see, here is a bow and arrow and some big stones. Don't let
any one climb up, but do not open the door unless you are sure you are
discovered; they will look up the hollow tree but will see nothing.'
Andreas did not wait to be thanked, and, with another warning not to
open the door, he slipped down, and was soon purposely making a false
scent to another hiding-place known to some of the Indians who might be
employed by the pirates to scour the forest for Carlo.
Andreas crept back to the castle an hour later, just as the party
organised by Sieur Simon was about to start, and, pretending he was
awakened by the noise, he crept out of his hut near the compound and
offered to join the party. His services would most likely have been
accepted had not a negro told the Frenchman that Andreas was very fond
of the young Senor and that he would be of no use.
Simon, always on the look-out for treachery, told Andreas to go back to
his compound, and that when Captain Morgan returned it would then be
seen if the Indian knew anything of the runaway Carlo.
It was an awful procession which Andreas watched issuing out of the gate
of Santa Teresa. The dusky forms of the negroes with their black woolly
heads, their thick lips grinning at the idea of an exciting chase,
holding in the fierce baying dogs with long leashes, and accompanying by
blows their unearthly howling, and behind these again some
ruffianly-looking pirates taking their orders from the slight,
crafty-looking Frenchman.
Then at last all was ready, and with another long howl of cruel
eagerness both men and dogs rushed down the steep mountain-side.
Faithful Andreas had still some work to do; he knew how anxious Dona
Elena would be, and that in truth even Carlo was in great danger. The
Indian sat by his hut for some time, thinking of some plan of escape,
knowing well that Captain Henry Morgan, once back, would make short work
of any fugitives hidden in the woods. Not arriving at any satisfactory
solution, Andreas climbed up to the balcony, and, unfastening the
window, he stole softly to the door of the ladies' room.
As he had expected, there was still a light burning. The ladies had
been too much afraid of what was going to happen to have the heart to go
to bed; besides, their presence in the chamber guarded Carlo's
hiding-place. Suppose the dogs should trace him to the castle and into
their very presence? The idea made them shudder. Carlo was still
crouching on the top step of the secret staircase, and was not at all
enjoying the situation, when Etta recognised Andreas' whistle and opened
the door carefully to him.
'What news, Andreas?' she said. 'Oh, it was dreadful! We heard the
dogs baying; it made our blood run cold. Make haste and tell us all you
know.'
'But the Senor Carlo is safe?'
'Yes, yes; but Harry Fenn--oh, will they find him?' exclaimed Etta,
almost crying.
'I hope not, Senorita; but there is much danger for all of you. If the
noble Dona Alvarez will allow me, I will take counsel with the Senor for
a few moments at least.'
'Are you sure that dreadful Frenchman will not come back, Andreas? He
made us tremble, for he looked so evil.'
'At all events, not till the dogs return. As for the English Senor, he
is safely hidden, if there can be any place safe from those beasts. Had
he been in the hut, they would have had him in a very short time.'
Carlo had now been let out by Catalina, and he and Andreas were soon
deep in a quick, low-toned conversation. The danger for himself and
Harry was great; most likely the pirates would not spare their lives
after all that had happened; and still no ship was yet in sight.
'I know but one way, Senor Carlo: there is a small desert island which
is out of the track of the ships, and if we could steal a boat I could
take you and the Senor Harry to it. If we could prepare everything we
might start to-morrow at sunset. I will take care to keep back enough
dried meat from the store and take a skin of water.'
'But, Andreas, on your return you would be found out; and how could I
leave my aunt and sister?'
'The ladies will be safe if the ransoms can be paid; and as for myself,
Andreas is cleverer than the Englishmen.' A sweet smile parted the
faithful Indian's lips, and Carlo, who had often experienced this same
boasted cleverness, believed him. 'And when Andreas returns he will
look after the ladies; but for yourself, Senorito, there is great
danger. They are bent upon finding you, and Coca the negro saw you, and
betrayed you to the Frenchman for a sum of money.'
This plan seemed the only one that could suggest itself to the two bold
spirits. Harry Fenn's retreat could not long be kept a secret, as he
must have food taken to him, and every visit to the tree of refuge made
the discovery either by dogs or men more probable. What Andreas did not
reveal, however, to Carlo was that for him this expedition was almost
sure to lead to harm. His absence was certain to be discovered or
betrayed, even though he meant to arrange during his absence for the
well-being of the cattle under his charge; and if discovered Andreas
knew that his life would be taken. He had faced the question, and had
accepted the danger, for his love for Carlo was stronger than any fear
of death.
Carlo explained what had been decided upon, and though Felipa and
Catalina both cried at the idea of the separation, Dona Elena saw that
this plan was the only one which gave her nephew a chance of safety.
'Ah, Andreas, God will reward you,' she said, taking the Indian's hand
in hers; 'for we poor captives can but give you thanks.'
Etta, who had been listening to all this, now added anxiously:
'But, dear Carlo, suppose Andreas does not return, how can we ever find
you or Harry?'
'I will tell you, Senora,' said Andreas. 'You are right to ask, for the
island has no name for the white men, and I never myself knew of a ship
that stopped there. Give me some paper.'
Taking the parchment-like pith, which was all the prisoners could
procure to write on, Andreas roughly marked out with a thorn the
position of the island with regard to its distance from St. Catherine,
making clever indications to show where dangerous rocks were to be
found, and on which side the island could be approached.
'Keep that by you, Senorita, and if you can get away in a big ship, the
Captain will understand where to find the Senor Carlo.' He then made
his Indian salutation and departed, saying he had much to do before the
next sunset, and that if all were well he would come and fetch the Senor
Carlo the next evening; but, till then, he advised great care, for fear
of discovery.
It was, indeed, a very anxious day the family spent, but also a busy
one. Felipa made a little needle-book for her brother; Etta plaited him
a basket; and Catalina did up two blankets in as small a bundle as was
possible: whilst Dona Elena unsewed some gold pieces she had secreted
about her, and made a belt for Carlo, in which she hid this money, in
case they sighted a ship and needed provisions or passage-money. Then,
lastly, when the soldier's visit was over, and they had heard from him
that the dog-hunt had not been successful, for the animals had lost the
scent: but they meant to go again when the moon rose, being sure the
young rascal was hidden somewhere in the woods, for a negro had seen him
with his own eyes--then at last Carlo came out of his dismal
hiding-place, and all together the prisoners earnestly prayed for a safe
journey, and that God would save them out of the hands of their enemies.
Felipa cried much as she kissed her brother, feeling sure she would
never see him again; and Etta sent messages to Harry, saying he was not
to forget her if he went home to England, and to tell her uncle of her;
and, lastly, Catalina invoked every blessing which every saint could
give on her dear foster-child. Then came Andreas' call; he had done
wonders, having procured a boat, which he had hidden in a creek right at
the foot of Santa Teresa, and where Harry now was awaiting them, hardly
daring to move for fear of making the slightest noise and so attracting
the guards. And thus once more, the friends were scattered.