They waited and waited. Le Duc kept fiddling away with as much
vehemence as at first. But they could not ascertain whether their
guards were still dancing--the scraping of the fiddle-strings drowning
all other sounds.
At length the music became slower and slower, until only a low, moaning
wail reached their ears. It was of a remarkably somniferous
character,--the cunning Le Duc had evidently some object in playing
thus. Presently the music ceased altogether. Not a sound was heard,
except the soughing of the wind round the tower. Still their patience
had to be tried. Something was keeping Le Duc.
At last they saw a figure coming towards the tower. Perhaps it was not
Le Duc. If a stranger, they must stop his mouth. Perhaps they might
have to bind him. They could cut off a sufficient length of rope for
the purpose.
He appeared to be a peasant wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a shirt,
with a long stick or ox-goad in his hand. They were so well concealed,
crouching down against the wall, that he did not perceive them.
Rayner and Brown were on the point of springing out to seize him, when
he said, in a low whisper, "Don't you know me, friends? Follow me, but
bend down as low as you can, that if seen from the house you may be
taken for my dogs or sheep. Pardon me for saying so."
"No necessity for that; lead on, we will follow," said Rayner.
Walking upright, staff in hand, he proceeded at a good rate across the
open space at the back of the village. They could see the lights
glimmering from several houses on its borders.
They soon reached a stream with a long wooden bridge thrown over it.
Here, as they would be exposed to view, the sooner they could get across
it the better. They hurried over, still stooping down, Le Duc walking
erect. At last their backs began to ache from remaining so long in a
bent position.
They were thankful when they reached the edge of a plantation, and Le
Duc, stopping, said, "You have acted admirably, my friends. Come on a
little farther to a spot where we shall find some clothes in which you
can disguise yourselves. We can get over some leagues before daylight,
and the inhabitants we shall then meet with are all blacks, and being
very stupid will not discover that you are English, provided those who
do not speak French hold their tongues."
"A very right precaution," said Rayner. After he had thanked Le Duc for
his exertions, he added, "Remember, Brown and Fletcher, neither of you
attempt to open your mouths except to put food into them. If you are
spoken to, make off, or pretend that you are deaf and dumb."
After proceeding another mile or so, they reached a solitary hut,
partially in ruins. Le Duc here produced five bundles from behind a
heap of rubbish, covered over with bushes.
"These I brought by the desire of Madame La Roche," he said. "She and
her daughters, and their black girls, and old Francois, worked away very
hard to get them finished. They began the very moment you and the
gendarmes left the house. It was Mademoiselle Sophie's idea, she's a
clever young lady. Directly the dresses were completed, Francois and I
started off on horseback, as we knew the road you had taken, I dressed
as you see me, and carrying my fiddle in a bag hung round my neck. I
was a strolling player once, and belonged to a circus before I became a
sailor, so I was at home on horseback, and I was at home also when
playing my tricks off on the gendarmes. I have keen wits and strong
nerves, messieurs. One without the other is of small value. United,
wonders can be worked. How I did bamboozle those stupid fellows! It
was fortunate, however, that none of the black crew of the schooner or
my late shipmates appeared, or I should have been discovered. Now, put
on these dresses, they are such as are worn by the planters of this
country, and you can pretend you are going to a fair at Goave to buy
mules, that is what Francois advises, and he has got a good head on his
shoulders. I wish that he could have come with us, but as soon as he
had deposited these clothes he had to ride back as fast as he could to
attend to his mistress, and I undertook the rest."
"You have indeed done your part well," said Rayner. "What shall we do
with our own clothes?"
"Do your jackets and trousers up in bundles, and carry them with you.
You must take care, however, not to let them out of your hands,"
answered Le Duc.
As they were in a solitary place, with no chance of being overheard, the
men, as they looked at themselves by the light of a lantern Le Duc had
carried, though he had not until now lit it, indulged in hearty
laughter.
"You do look like an overseer, Brown," said Jack, "and I should be
precious sorry to be a black slave when you had your whip lifted above
my shoulders. You'd hit mighty hard, I've a notion."
As Rayner and Oliver surveyed each other, they expressed strong doubts
whether their disguise was sufficient to enable them to pass undetected,
and they agreed that it would be necessary to keep as much as possible
out of the way of the inhabitants. Still, the risk must be run. The
consequences of being caught would be very serious to them, yet more so
to Le Duc, who would almost to a certainty be shot for having assisted
in their escape.
Having done up their clothes in the handkerchiefs which had contained
the dresses they now had on, they pushed forward.
Le Duc had never before been in that part of the country, but he had
received minute directions from Francois, which helped greatly to guide
them.
At length they came to a dense jungle. Francois had told Le Duc of
this, and that he would find a path through it. They hunted about for
some time in vain.
"Come this way, messieurs!" exclaimed Le Duc, at length. "This must be
the path Francois told me of." He had gone a short distance to the
southward, and now led on, feeling the way with his long stick. The
others followed. The path was narrow, and the trees met overhead, so
that they were in complete darkness. On they went, keeping close behind
each other, for there was no room for two to walk abreast.
Le Duc walked at a good pace. The jungle seemed interminable. They
must have gone on, they fancied, for two or three miles, when they found
their feet splashing in water.
"I am afraid we are getting into a swamp, messieurs," said Le Duc. "It
cannot be helped; we must scramble through it somehow or other. If we
had daylight it would be an advantage. It won't do to stop here,
however."
The water grew deeper. The ground had now become very soft, and they
were often up to their knees in mud, so that their progress was greatly
delayed.
"We shall cut but a sorry appearance, messieurs, if we meet any one when
morning breaks," observed Le Duc. "As soon as we get to dry ground we
must stop and put ourselves to rights."
"Perhaps we shall, and it would be as well if we can wash the mud off
our legs," said Rayner. "But go on, my fine fellow; if this path is in
general use it cannot be much worse than it is."
Rayner was right. In a short time the water became shallower, and soon
afterwards they got on to firm ground. To their very great satisfaction
they at last found themselves out of the jungle. Before them rose a
hill, over which they had to climb.
At the foot of the hill they came to a clear, broad stream, passing over
a shingly bed. Le Duc, feeling the depth with his staff, walked in. It
was sufficiently shallow to enable them to ford it without difficulty;
and they took the opportunity of washing off the mud which had stuck to
their legs in the swamp.
All this time poor Jack never once complained, but he was suffering no
small amount of pain. His great fear was that he might have to give in
and delay the rest.
On the other side of the stream the country showed signs of cultivation.
They passed outside several plantations, but what they were they could
not tell; still, as they could manage to make their way to the eastward
they went on.
"We must be near the large village Francois spoke of," said Le Duc. "He
advised that we should go to the southward of it, as the country on that
side is more easily traversed, and we may hope thus to get by without
being discovered if we can pass it before daybreak."
They accordingly took the direction as advised. After going some way
they heard the barking of dogs and saw a light gleaming, they supposed,
from the window of a cottage, whose inmates were up early, or, perhaps,
where some one lay dying or dead.
At length the bright streaks of early dawn appeared in the sky ahead.
Jack at last had to acknowledge that he could go no farther.
"If we could but reach some hut or other where the blacks would take
care of me, I would be ready to stop sooner than let you be caught,
sir," he said, addressing Rayner.
"No, I will never allow that," was the answer. "We'll get you along a
little farther, until we can find some place to rest in. There's a wood
I see ahead, and we must conceal ourselves in it until you are able to
go on again. If Mr Crofton likes to lead on the rest and try to get
across the frontier, he may do so, but I'll stick by you, Jack. Don't
be afraid."
"Thank you, Bill, thank you!" said Jack, pressing his old messmate's
hand, scarcely knowing what he was saying, but thinking somehow that
they were again boys together. "You were always a brave, generous chap,
and I know you'd never desert a shipmate."
Poor Jack was getting worse every moment. Rayner made no reply, but
calling Brown, they helped him along between them, lifting him over the
rough places as they made their way towards the wood. They reached it
just as daylight burst on the world, as it does in the tropics, the hot
sun rushing up immediately afterwards to blaze away with intense heat.
Oliver, with Le Duc and Tom, hurried on ahead to look for some place
where they might have a chance of effectually concealing themselves. In
a short time Oliver came back.
"We have discovered just the sort of place we want," he said. "The
sooner we can stow ourselves away in it the better. Let me take your
place and help Peek along."
Rayner would not allow this.
"I can support him a mile farther if necessary," he answered.
In a short time, making their way through the jungle, and crossing a
small stream which would afford them water, they saw before them a huge
tree, upturned from the roots, forming beneath it a cavern of
considerable size, which Le Duc and Tom were engaged in clearing out.
There was a risk of being bitten by snakes, which might have made it
their abode, but that could not be avoided. Le Duc was running his
stick into every hole he could see to drive out any which might be
concealed. In other respects, no better place could be found.
Rayner and Brown lifted in Jack and placed him on the ground, and Rayner
gave him some of the food they had brought from the tower. They had
only enough, unfortunately, for one meal. Meantime it was better than
nothing, and resolved to give Jack his share.
The rest of the party had collected some branches and brushwood to
conceal the entrance. This done, they all crept in.
Le Duc, who had surveyed their place of concealment from the outside,
declared that no person not actually searching for them would suspect
that any one was there. No sooner had they swallowed their food than
they all fell asleep.
Rayner was the first to awaken. He listened, but could hear no sound
except the buzz of insects, and he knew, by the light which came in from
the upper part of the entrance, that the sun was shining brightly.
Jack was still asleep. He was breathing easily, and appeared to be
better; but still it was not probable that he would be able to continue
the journey. It would be necessary, therefore, at all events, to remain
in the cavern all the day, but should he be well enough they might
continue their journey at nightfall. Their chief difficulty would be to
procure food from the neighbouring village without exciting suspicion.
Rayner was unwilling to arouse his companions. At length, however,
Oliver awoke; then Le Duc sat up rubbing his eyes.
They consulted as to what was to be done. Oliver agreed with Rayner
that they must remain where they were, but Le Duc was for pushing on.
When, however, Rayner reminded him that Jack could not possibly move as
fast as necessary, if at all, he consented to remain.
"But should the gendarmes come in this direction to look for us, we
shall probably be discovered," he observed.
"We must hope, then, that they will not come in this direction," said
Oliver.
"But what about food, monsieur?" asked Le Duc.
"We must try to go without it for a few hours," answered Rayner. "We
shall be well rested, and must tie our handkerchiefs tightly round our
stomachs. I have got enough for the sick man, who requires it more than
we do; but we must not let him know that we have none, or he will
probably refuse to touch it."
"We can at all events procure some water," said Le Duc. "Give me your
hats, gentlemen; they will hold as much as we want."
Though Rayner and Oliver would have preferred some other means of
obtaining the water, they willingly gave their hats to Le Duc, who crept
out with them, and soon returned with both full to the brim.
The thirst of the party being quenched, for a short time they suffered
much less than before from the pangs of hunger.
Tom and Brown were ready to do what their officers wished, only Tom
groaned at having nothing to eat.
Jack slept on while the rest again lay down. The light which came
through the bushes began somewhat to decrease, and Rayner saw that the
sun was sinking behind the trees in the west. He was watching Jack, who
at length awoke. The moment he opened his eyes, Rayner offered him the
food he had kept ready in his pocket.
"Come, Jack, stow this away in your inside as fast as you can, that you
may have strength to go on as soon as it is time to start. We don't
intend to spend our lives here, like mice in a hole." Jack did as he
was bid, without asking questions. Just as he had finished, Tom groaned
out, "I shall die soon if I don't get something to eat."
"Nonsense lad; you can hold out for a few hours longer," replied Brown.
"I'm just as bad as you are, for that matter."
Le Duc guessed what they were talking about. He himself felt
desperately hungry.
"I tell you what, messieurs, without food we shall make slow progress.
I'll go into the village and try to procure some. I shall easily learn
from some person, before I venture to enter, whether the gendarmes are
there, and if they are not, we shall be safe for the present. They
will, I hope, fancying that you made your way back to the house of
Madame La Roche, have gone off there. We must hope for the best, and I
will try and invent some reason for wishing to purchase food. The kind
lady supplied me with money, so that I shall have no difficulty on that
score."
Rayner, who in reality suffered more than any one, as he had had less to
eat, at last consented to the proposal of Le Duc, who set off.
As soon as he had gone the bushes were drawn close again. The party sat
in silence, anxiously waiting his return.
They waited and waited. Again it became dark.
Jack declared that he felt strong enough to go on.
"Yes, you may; but I could not budge an inch until I have had some
food," growled Tom. "I wish that that Frenchman would come back."
"Shut up there, mate, and don't be grumbling. You're not worse than the
rest of us," said Brown.
Time wore on; it was now perfectly dark. They listened eagerly for the
sound of Le Duc's footsteps.
Rayner had made up his mind to go out and try to ascertain what had
become of him, or at all events to obtain some food, for he felt that
neither he nor the rest of the party could get through the night when
travelling without it. Later on it would be still more difficult to
obtain, as the inhabitants would be in bed. He thought he should be
able to find his way back to their place of concealment; so, desiring
the party to keep perfectly silent, he set out. He had not gone far in
the wood, when he heard footsteps. He crouched down behind a tree,
when, looking out, he saw a man, with something on his back,
approaching. He hoped that it was Le Duc, but it might be a stranger.
He kept quiet.
The person came nearer, now stopping, now turning on one side, now on
the other. It must be Le Duc, thought Rayner. He has lost his way,
perhaps that may account for his long absence. Stepping from behind the
tree, he advanced.
"What are you searching for, my friend?" he asked, in French.
The man stopped, and seemed inclined to run away.
"Le Duc, what's the matter?" asked Rayner, in a suppressed tone.
"Ah, monsieur! is it you?" cried Le Duc. "I thought I should never find
the place where I left you. I saw it only in daylight. Things look so
different in the dark. I have had a narrow escape, but I have got some
food now. If you follow my advice you will eat and set off immediately.
Is the cave near?"
"No; but I can lead you to it," answered Rayner.
As they went along, Le Duc said, "When I got near the village I met an
old black, who told me there were no strangers in the place, and that I
might easily procure what I wanted. I accordingly went on boldly, until
I reached a cottage just in the outskirts. I entered and found the
people ready enough to sell me some bread and sausages, charging me
three times as much as they were worth. I also procured this straw bag
to put them in. While I was there packing them up several persons who
had come in were talking, and I heard them say that a party of soldiers
had just arrived, on their way from Leogane to Port Saint Louis in the
bay, and that they were ordered to look out for several English spies,
and that some blacks, who knew the Englishmen, had accompanied the
soldiers to assist in finding them. As soon as I heard this I hastily
put some of the things into my bag, not waiting for the remainder, and
hurried out of the hut. As I did so, what was my dismay to see three of
the soldiers, accompanied by one of the black fellows who had escaped
from the wreck! Were I to have run away they would have suspected me,
so I walked on whistling, as if I had nothing to fear from them.
"As mischance would have it, they were proceeding in the same direction,
and it is my belief that they were even then going in search of you.
Thoughtless of the consequence, I happened to whistle an air which I
sang that night on board the schooner when we were becalmed. The rogue
of a black recognised it, for, turning my head, I saw him coming after
me. I was silent directly, and began to walk very fast. Fortunately it
was almost dusk, and, reaching some thick bushes, I dodged behind them.
The black passed me and went on. I lay quiet, and after a time he came
back, and I heard him tell the soldiers, who had followed him, that he
must have been mistaken; so they then proposed going back to the
village.
"I waited until they were out of hearing, and then set off to try and
find my way to the cave, but I missed it, and have been wandering about
ever since."
No one troubled Le Duc with questions. They were too eager to dispose
of the contents of his bag. They could not see what they were eating,
but they were not inclined to be particular. As soon as they had
finished their meal, being told by Rayner that soldiers were in the
neighbourhood, they begged at once to continue their journey; but Rayner
was very doubtful whether Jack could keep up, though he declared that he
was ready.
When, however, he crept out of the cave, he was scarcely able to stand,
much less to walk any distance.
"I must remain, then," said Rayner, "and you, Oliver, go on with the
other two men and Le Duc, and when he has seen you safely into Spanish
territory he will, perhaps, come back and assist me and Jack Peek. If
he cannot, we must do our best by ourselves. We have been in a more
difficult position together before now, and managed to escape."
Oliver, however, would not hear of this, and it was finally settled that
the whole party should remain in their cave another night and day.
Jack was very unhappy at being the cause of their detention; but Rayner
cheered him up by reminding him that it was not his fault, and perhaps,
after all, it was the best thing they could do.
They accordingly all crept into the cave and went to sleep.
In the morning light enough found its way through the bushes to enable
them to eat breakfast. They, of course, took care not to speak above a
whisper, though listening all the time for the sound of footsteps; but
as no one came near them, they hoped that their place of concealment was
unknown to any of the villagers, who might otherwise have pointed it out
to the soldiers.
The day went by. All the food Le Duc had brought was consumed, except a
small portion kept for Jack. He offered to go for more, but Rayner
judged it imprudent to let him return to the village, where he would be
recognised as having come on the previous evening. They accordingly had
to go supperless to sleep, Tom grumbling, as usual, at his hard fate.
When daylight streamed into the cavern, Le Duc declared that he could
hold out no longer, and that, both for his own sake and that of others,
he must go and get some food.
"The soldiers will have gone away by this time," he observed, "and the
black people in the village can have no object in detaining me. If they
do, I will bribe them to let me off, and they know if they hand me over
to the soldiers that they will get nothing."
The hunger all were feeling and his arguments prevailed, and he set off,
promising to be back as soon as possible, and to take care that no one
followed him.
Rayner felt some misgiving as he disappeared. All they could do in the
meantime was to keep close in their hole.
All day they waited, but Le Duc did not return.