About the guilt of the mulatto, I had no longer any doubt. The mere
destruction of the fish could not have been his design; he would never
have taken such pains to accomplish so trifling a purpose. No; his
intent was far more horrid; it comprehended a deeper scheme of cruelty
and vengeance; its aim was my sister's life!--Viola's!--perhaps both?
Awful as was such a belief, there was no room left to doubt it; every
circumstance confirmed it. Even the young Indian had formed the opinion
that such was the design. At this season, my sister was in the habit of
bathing almost every day; and that this was her custom was known to all
upon the plantation. _I_ had not thought of it when I went in pursuit
of the deer, else I should in all probability have acted in a different
manner. But who could have suspected such dire villainy?
The cunning of the act quite equalled its malice. By the merest
accident, there were witnesses; but had there been none, it is probable
the event would have answered the intention, and my sister's life been
sacrificed.
Who could have told the author of the crime? The reptile would have
been alone responsible. Even suspicion would not have rested upon the
mulatto--how could it? The yellow villain had shown a fiendish craft in
his calculation.
I was burning with indignation. My poor innocent sister! Little did
she know the foul means that had been made use of to put her in such
peril. She was aware that the mulatto liked her not, but never dreamed
she that she was the object of such a demoniac spite as this.
The very thoughts of it fired me as I dwelt upon them. I could restrain
myself no longer. The criminal must be brought to punishment, and at
once. Some severe castigation must be inflicted upon him--something
that would place it beyond his power to repeat such dangerous attempts.
How he would be dealt with, I could not tell--that must be left to my
elders to determine. The lash had proved of no avail; perhaps the
chain-gang would cure him--at all events, he must be banished the
plantation.
In my own mind, I had not doomed him to death, though truly he deserved
it. Indignant as I felt, I did not contemplate this ultimate punishment
of crime; used to my father's mild rule, I did not. The lash--the
county prison--the chain-gang at Saint Marks or San Augustine: some of
these would likely be his reward.
I knew it would not be left to the lenient disposition of my father to
decide. The whole community of planters was interested in a matter of
this kind. An improvised jury would soon assemble. No doubt harsher
judges than his own master would deal with the guilty man.
I stayed not longer to reflect; I was determined his trial should be
immediate. I ran towards the house with the intention of declaring his
guilt.
In my haste, as before, I did not follow the usual path, which was
somewhat circumambient: I made direct through the grove.
I had advanced only a few paces, when I heard a rustling of the leaves
near me. I could see no one, but felt sure that the noise was caused by
some person skulking among the trees. Perhaps one of the field-hands,
taking advantage of the confusion of the hour, and helping himself to a
few oranges.
Compared with my purpose, such slight dereliction was a matter of no
importance, and I did not think worth while to stay and hinder it. I
only shouted out; but no one made answer, and I kept on.
On arriving at the rear of the house, I found my father in the enclosure
by the grand shed--the overseer too. Old Hickman, the alligator-hunter,
was there, and one or two other white men, who had casually come upon
business.
In the presence of all, I made the disclosure; and, with as much
minuteness as the time would permit, described the strange transaction I
had witnessed in the morning.
All were thunderstruck. Hickman at once declared the probability of
such a manoeuvre, though no one doubted my words. The only doubt was as
to the mulatto's intent. Could it have been human lives he designed to
sacrifice? It seemed too great a wickedness to be believed. It was too
horrible even to be imagined!
At that moment all doubts were set at rest. Another testimony was added
to mine, which supplied the link of proof that was wanting. Black Jake
had a tale to tell, and told it.
That morning--but half an hour before--he had seen Yellow Jake climb up
into a live-oak that stood in one corner of the enclosure. The top of
this commanded a view of the pond. It was just at the time that "white
missa" and Viola went to the bath. He was quite sure that about that
time they must have been going into the water, and that Yellow Jake
_must have seen them_.
Indignant at his indecorous conduct, the black had shouted to the
mulatto to come down from the tree, and threatened to complain upon him.
The latter made answer that he was only gathering acorns--the acorns of
the live-oak are sweet food, and much sought after by the
plantation-people. Black Jake, however, was positive that this could
not be Yellow Jake's purpose; for the former still continuing to
threaten, the latter at length came down, and Black Jake saw no acorns--
not one!
"Twan't acorn he war arter, Massa Randoff: daat yaller loafa wan't arter
no good--daat he wan't sure sartin."
So concluded the testimony of the groom.
The tale produced conviction in the minds of all. It was no longer
possible to doubt of the mulatto's intention, horrible as it was. He
had ascended the tree to be witness of the foul deed; he had seen them
enter the basin; he knew the danger that was lurking in its waters; and
yet he had made no movement to give the alarm. On the contrary, he was
among the last who had hastened towards the pond, when the screaming of
the girls was summoning all the household to their assistance. This was
shown by the evidence of others. The case was clear against him.
The tale produced a wild excitement. White men and black men, masters
and slaves, were equally indignant at the horrid crime; and the cry went
round the yard for "Yellow Jake!"
Some ran one way, some another, in search of him--black, white, and
yellow ran together--all eager in the pursuit--all desirous that such a
monster should be brought to punishment.
Where was he? His name was called aloud, over and over again, with
commands, with threats; but no answer came back. Where was he?
The stables were searched, the shed, the kitchen, the cabins--even the
corn-crib was ransacked--but to no purpose. Where had he gone?
He had been observed but the moment before--he had assisted in dragging
the alligator. The men had brought it into the enclosure, and thrown it
to the hogs to be devoured. Yellow Jake had been with them, active as
any at the work. It was but the moment before he had gone away; but
where? No one could tell!
At this moment, I remembered the rustling among the orange-trees. It
might have been he! If so, he may have overheard the conversation
between the young Indian and myself--or the last part of it--and if so,
he would now be far away.
I led the pursuit through the orangery: its recesses were searched; he
was not there.
The hommock thickets were next entered, and beaten from one end to the
other; still no signs of the missing mulatto.
It occurred to me to climb up to the rock, my former place of
observation. I ascended at once to its summit, and was rewarded for my
trouble. At the first glance over the fields, I saw the fugitive. He
was down between the rows of the indigo plants, crawling upon hands and
knees, evidently making for the maize.
I did not stay to observe further, but springing back to the ground, I
ran after him. My father, Hickman, and others followed me.
The chase was not conducted in silence--no stratagem was used, and by
our shouts the mulatto soon learned that he was seen and pursued.
Concealment was no longer possible; and rising to his feet, he ran
forward with all his speed. He soon entered the maize-field, with the
hue and cry close upon his heels.
Though still but a boy, I was the fastest runner of the party. I knew
that I could run faster than Yellow Jake, and if I could only keep him
in sight, I should soon overtake him. His hopes were to get into the
swamp, under cover of the palmetto thickets; once there, he might easily
escape by hiding--at all events, he might get off for the time.
To prevent this, I ran at my utmost speed, and with success; for just
upon the edge of the woods, I came up with the runaway, and caught hold
of the loose flap of his jacket.
It was altogether a foolish attempt upon my part. I had not reflected
upon anything beyond getting up with him. I had never thought of
resistance, though I might have expected it from a desperate man.
Accustomed to be obeyed, I was under the hallucination that, as soon as
I should come up, the fellow would yield to me; but I was mistaken.
He at once jerked himself free of my hold, and easily enough. My breath
was gone, my strength exhausted--I could not have held a cat.
I expected him to run on as before; but instead of doing so, he stopped
in his tracks, turned fiercely upon me, and drawing his knife, he
plunged it through my arm. It was my heart he had aimed at; but by
suddenly throwing up my arm, I had warded off the fatal thrust.
A second time his knife was upraised--and I should have had a second
stab from it--but, just then, another face showed itself in the fray;
and before the dangerous blade could descend, the strong arms of Black
Jake were around my antagonist.
The fiend struggled fiercely to free himself; but the muscular grasp of
his old rival never became relaxed until Hickman and others arrived upon
the ground; and then a fast binding of thongs rendered him at once
harmless and secure.