I watched the man narrowly till he arrived opposite the gap in the
fence. I expected to see him step over the bars--since through the
maize-field was the nearest way to the house. Certainly he entered the
field; but, to my astonishment, instead of climbing over in the usual
manner, I saw him take out bar after bar, down to the very lowest. I
observed, moreover, that he flung the bars to one side, leaving the gap
quite open!
He then passed through, and entering among the corn, in the same
crouching attitude, disappeared behind the broad blades of the young
maize-plants--
For a while I saw no more of him, or the white object that he "toated"
along with him in such a singular fashion.
I turned my attention to the deer: they had got over their alarm, and
had halted near the middle of the savanna, where they were now quietly
browsing.
But I could not help pondering upon the eccentric manoeuvres I had just
been witness of; and once more I bent my eyes toward the place, where I
had last seen the mulatto.
He was still among the maize-plants. I could see nothing of him; but at
that moment my eyes rested upon an object that filled me with fresh
surprise.
Just at the point where Yellow Jake had emerged from the woods,
something else appeared in motion--also coming out into the open
savanna. It was a dark object, and from its prostrate attitude,
resembled a man crawling forward upon his hands, and dragging his limbs
after him.
For a moment or two, I believed it to be a man--not a white man--but a
negro or an Indian. The tactics were Indian, but we were at peace with
these people, and why should one of them be thus trailing the mulatto?
I say "trailing" for the attitude and motions, of whatever creature I
saw, plainly indicated that it was following upon the track which Yellow
Jake had just passed over.
Was it Black Jake who was after him?
This idea came suddenly into my mind: I remembered the _vendetta_ that
existed between them; I remembered the conflict in which Yellow Jake had
used his knife. True, he had been punished, but not by Black Jake
himself. Was the latter now seeking to revenge himself in person?
This might have appeared the easiest explanation of the scene that was
mystifying me; had it not been for the improbability of the black acting
in such a manner. I could not think that the noble fellow would seek
any mean mode of retaliation, however revengeful he might feel against
one who had so basely attacked him. It was not in keeping with his
character. No. It could not be he who was crawling out of the bushes.
Nor he, nor any one.
At that moment, the golden sun flashed over the savanna. His beams
glanced along the greensward, lighting the trees to their bases. The
dark form emerged from out of the shadow, and turned head towards the
maize-field. The long prostrate body glittered under the sun with a
sheen like scaled armour. It was easily recognised. It was not negro--
not Indian--not human: it was the hideous form of an alligator!