CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE.
That day the embargo was taken off, and one by one the settlers began toreturn to their homes, those whose houses were standing sharing themwith the unfortunates whose places had been burned, so that at night thecamp wore a peculiarly silent and solemn aspect, one which, depressed asI felt by Hannibal's state, seemed strange indeed.
A certain number of men stayed in the enclosure, and there were tenwounded in our temporary hospital; but the doctor set others of thosewho had crowded the place free.
One thing struck me directly, and that was the change in Pomp, who couldhardly be persuaded to leave his father's side, but sat holding hishand, or else nestled down beside him, with his black curly head justtouching the great black's arm, and gently raising it whenever I went tothe tent.
I can recall it all very vividly as I now write these my recollectionsof the early incidents in my life, and how in the days which followed Igradually found that Hannibal fully justified the doctor's words abouthis fine healthy state; for after the first few days, during which hislife seemed to be on the balance, he rapidly began to mend, and hisbeing out of danger was the signal for a change.
My father had been talking about it for quite a month, but our friendsat the settlement persuaded him to stay in the quarters that had beenrigged up for us, and nothing could have been kinder than the treatmentwe received.
It was always pointed out by the settlers that at any time the Indiansmight return, and a fresh expedition be on foot from Florida, thoughthis was looked upon as of little consequence, every one feeling that ifthe block-house were rebuilt, and the enclosure strengthened, we couldlaugh any Spanish attack to scorn.
With this in view, and with an eye to the attack of the Indians, verylittle was done in the way of rebuilding houses and cottages, but thewhole strength of the settlement was devoted to the rebuilding of ourlittle fort, and the strengthening of the stockade; and so much energywas thrown into the work by the little white and black population that astronger building was erected, and left to be finished off afterwards.
I remember well standing with Morgan one day, and seeing thepowder-kegs, which had for safety been buried under a heap of sand,disinterred and borne into the new cellar-magazine prepared for themearly in the making of the block-house.
Nothing was said for some time, but all at once, as our eyesencountered, Morgan exclaimed--
"There, it's of no use for you to keep looking at me like that, MasterGeorge; I know what you are thinking about."
"Do you?"
"Yes, I just do; and I teclare to cootness, I feel as if it would havebeen right. The only thing against it that I can see is, that I wasrather in too great a hurry."
"But it was utter madness," I said, with a shudder.
"Ah, you say so now, sir, because help came, and we were saved; but howwould it have been if the Indians had got the mastery, as they nearlydid? There is nothing that they stop at in the way of torture andmurder, and it would have been a blessing for an end to have been madeof us all at once."
"Well," I said, "don't talk about it. Let's be thankful we were saved."
"Oh, I won't say another word, sir, and I wouldn't have spoken now, onlyyou're always looking at me in an aggravating manner."
"Ah, well, Morgan," I replied; "the powder's being put out of sight now,and I will not think about it any more."
"Yes, sir," he said, as a man lifted a keg; "and if I had my way in theworld, it should never be brought out again."
"And suppose the Indians came?"
"Didn't I say if I could have my own way in the world, sir? If I didthe Indians wouldn't come, nor the Spaniards neither--you said it wasSpaniards didn't you? I always thought it was Spaniels."
"Yes; Spaniards. And suppose they come?"
"Bah! Who cares for them? Why, I'd send them flying with a regiment ofmen armed with spades, and strict orders given only to use the flatside."
I burst out laughing, for somehow everything seemed bright and happyonce more, and in the midst of my mirth a quick, eager voice exclaimed--
"What Mass' George laugh upon? Tell Pomp. Pomp want laugh too."
I told him, and as he could not appreciate the comicality of Morgan'sremark, he looked sulky and full of doubt for a few moments, but showedhis white teeth directly after.
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It did not seem long after that the four largest boats of the settlementwere loaded deep down with timbers and planks, to supplement those whichlay just under the trees by the rattlesnake clearing, and now wellseasoned and dry. Many of them had been carried here and there duringthe flood, but being ready cut down when the clearing was made, theywere hunted up at the first thought of the return to build up our house,and dragged out of spots where they had been overgrown with therapidly-sprung-up verdure.
Expeditions had been sent out several times toward the Indians' country,but as no signs of the savages were seen, our confidence rapidlyincreased, and some of my happiest hours were passed with Pomp, huntingout these logs and planks, and marking the spots with a blaze from anaxe on the nearest tree.
Then a strong party came over from the settlement on the day the boatswere despatched, travelled across rapidly, knocked up a shed of theplanks and newly-sawn-up boards unloaded at our landing-place from theboats, and I honestly believe the two happiest people there that dayamong the strange party of blacks, who carried the wood along the forestpath, were Pomp and Hannibal, who, though far from strong, insisted uponhis being well enough to help.
So many willing bands were there who came over in a couple of boatsmorning by morning, that with the help of the blacks camped in the roughshed, a fortnight had not passed before the nucleus of our home was up,sufficient for shelter, the finishing and improvements being left tocome by degrees.
I believe that the sight of our home slowly rising from the ruins didmore to give my father back his strength than anything done by thedoctor, but perhaps that is ungrateful. But be that as it may, it was apleasure to see him.
"Only look at the captain," Morgan said to me one morning, two daysafter our friends had gone back. "Don't he look lovely again, sir?"
"Well, I don't know about lovely. I thought that about Sarah."
"Now, don't you make fun," said Morgan, giving a heap of wood ashes atap with his spade, to make it lie close in his rough barrow, whosewheel was a section sawn off the end of a very round-trunked pine, andtired by nailing on the iron hooping from a cask.
"Don't you send that ash flying and smothering me," I cried, as Pomp,who was helping load and wheel the heap to the garden, began to sneezeviolently.
"Then you shouldn't make fun of a woman, sir, because she's plain."
"I didn't," I said, stoutly. "I meant lovely and well. And if you sayyour wife's plain again, I'll go and tell her so. She's the dearest oldmotherly body that ever lived."
Morgan drove his spade down into the earth, took my hand, and shook itsolemnly, Pomp, who had ceased sneezing, looking on wonderingly thewhile.
"Thankye, Master George, thankye, sir; so she is--so she is."
Pomp came forward and held out his hand.
"Well, what now?" growled Morgan.
"Tought Mass' Morgan want shake hand," said the boy.
"Get out with you, sir. Wheel that barrow right on to the bed next tothe last load."
Pomp seized the handles, went off with the barrow, caught the edgeagainst the stump of a tree, one of the many not yet grubbed up, upsetthe ashes, and bounded off into the forest, to stand watching us frombehind a tree, as if in dread of punishment; but seeing me roaring withlaughter, he came cautiously back, grinning as if it was after all anexcellent joke.
"There, shovel it up again, boy," said Morgan, good-temperedly; "it wasan accident."
"Iss, Mass' Morgan, all um axden," cried the boy, working away.
"One can't be very cross with him, Master George; he's such a happyyoung dog, and somehow,
after all the trouble, I feel too happy, and sodoes Sarah; and to see her smile, sir, at getting a bit of a shelf putup in her new kitchen, and to hear her talk about the things the captainsent for from England--Lor', sir, it would do you good."
"Lubbly 'tuff!" cried Pomp, as he scraped up the fallen wood ashes.
"What's lovely stuff?" I said.
"All dat, Mass' George. Mass' Morgan say make um rings grow, and wishdah twenty times as much."
"Ah, that I do," cried Morgan. "Wish I had--"
"Mass' Morgan like Injum come burn down house 'gain make more?"
"No, you stupid little nigger," cried Morgan; "of course not."
_Flop_! Down went the spade, and Pomp began to stalk away sulkily,working his toes about--a way he had of showing his annoyance.
"Hi! Stop!" I cried; "where are you going?"
"Pomp go jump in um ribber, and let de ole 'gator eat um."
"Nonsense! What for?"
"Mass' Morgan call um 'tupid lil nigger. Allus call um 'tupid lilnigger, and hurt Pomp all over."
"No, no; come along. Morgan didn't mean it."
"Eh? You no mean it, Mass' Morgan?" cried the boy, eagerly.
"No, of course not. You're the cleverest boy I ever knew."
"Dah, Mass' George, hear dat. Now see Pomp wheel dat barrow, and neberspill lil bit ob ashums, and nex' time he go over oder place, he bringum pockets full for Mass' Morgan garden."
"He's a rum un, sir," said Morgan, "but somehow I like him. Rather liketo paint him white, though. Lor', Master George, what a treat it is tobe getting down the weeds again. Look at old Han, how he is giving itto 'em. I'm 'bliged to check him a bit though, sometimes; he aren'tquite strong yet. Here's the captain."
"Well, Morgan," said my father, as he came up, "how soon do you think wemight plant a few creepers about the house? The finishing and glazingneed not interfere with them."
"Oh, we can't put in any more, sir."
"What? Why not? I particularly want two of those wild vines to be putin."
"Did put 'em in before you come out this morning, sir, and the 'suckleand passion-flowers too. They'll be up a-top of the roof before we knowwhere we are."
My father looked pleased, and turned to examine the young plants thathad been set.
"Does me good, Master George, to see the captain coming round as he is.Quite takes to the garden again. But dear, dear! It's in a melancholystate."
"Nonsense!" I cried; "why, it's wonderful how well it looks."
"Wonderful? Well, sir, I wouldn't have thought you could talk in thatway of such a wilderness. Why, even old Han there, in his brokenEnglish savage way, said he was ashamed of it."
"Oh, well, I'm not," I said. "It's glorious to be able to get back oncemore to the dear old place. I say, though, you don't want Pomp anylonger?"
"Ah, but I do, sir. Why?"
"I want to row up and have a bit of fishing. It does seem so long sinceI've had a turn."
"Eh? Who said go fis?" cried Pomp, sharply. "Mass' George go fish?Catch terrapum, and take de gun?"
"Morgan says he can't spare you."
"Oh!" exclaimed Pomp; but Morgan smiled one of his curious dry smiles,as he took off his hat and pointed with the corner.
"Just you go to the far end of the shed, Pomp, and you'll find in thedamp place an old pot with a lot of bait in it as I put ready. On'ymind this, it's not to be all games."
"What do you mean?" I said, for Pomp had rushed off to get the bait.
"Bring us a bit o' fish. Be quite a treat."
Half an hour after Pomp and I were pulling up the river close in beneaththe over-spreading boughs, ready to shout for joy as the golden sunbeamscame down through the leaves and formed a lace-work of glory on thesmooth deep water. Every now and then there was a familiar rustle and asplash, a flapping of wings, and a harsh cry as a heron or stork rosefrom his fishing-ground; then some great hawk hovered over the stream,or we caught sight of the yellow and orange of the orioles.
Pomp was for rowing on and up to a favourite spot where there was aspecial haunt of the fish, where the stream curved round and formed adeep pool. But I felt as if I must stop again and again to let the boatdrift, and watch humming-birds, or brightly-painted butterflies andbeetles, flitting here and there, so that it was quite a couple of hoursbefore we reached the spot, and suddenly turned the curve of the riverinto the eddy.
As we did so silently I turned to look, and sat there petrified for afew moments, before I softly laid my hand on Pomp's arm. He turnedround sharply and saw what I did--a party of six Indians on the oppositebank.
Before either of us could dip oar again we were seen; there was a deep,low exclamation, and the party turned and plunged into the forest andwere gone.
With one sweep of my oar I sent the boat round into the stream, and werowed back as rapidly as we could, expecting to hear arrows whizzing byus every moment. But we reached the landing-place in safety, securedthe boat, and ran to the newly-erected house to give the alarm. I sawmy father's brow contract with agony, but he was prompt in his measures.
"We will face them here," he said, "if they come." And, summoning inMorgan and Hannibal, the door and windows were barricaded, the weaponsloaded, and we waited for the attack.
But we waited in vain. The severe lesson dealt to the Indians by ourpeople and the Spaniards had had its result, and though I had notunderstood it then, the savages were more frightened of us than we ofthem; and the very next day, while we were still expecting attack,Colonel Preston came over from the settlement in company with thedoctor, who wished to see his three patients once again, while theformer announced a visit from some of the chiefs to make peace with ourpeople, and to ask permission to trade.
That was the last alarm we had from the Indians, who would often comeafterwards to barter skins, and some of their basket-work, with venisonand fish, for knives and tobacco. And in the course of time my fatherand I had them for guides in many a pleasant hunting expedition, and forallies against the Spaniards, when they resumed their pretensions to thecountry, and carried on a feeble, desultory warfare, which kept thesettlement always on the alert, but never once disturbed us, for ourhome lay quite out of their track and beyond them, when they came up theriver upon one of their expeditions.
At such times my father always answered the call to arms; and as timewent on, in addition to Morgan and the black, he had two great strappingfellows in Pomp and me--both young and loose-jointed, but able handswith a firelock.
Such calls were exciting; but after two or three, so little damage wasdone, that they ceased to cause us much anxiety; and after a boldattempt or two at retaliation, in which the war was carried right intothe Spaniards' own land, and away up to their Floridan fort, mattersgradually settled down.
For our settlement had prospered and increased, the broad savannahs grewyear by year into highly-cultivated cotton land; the sugar-canenourished; coffee was grown; and as the plantations spread, the littlesettlement gradually developed into a town and fort, to which big shipscame with merchandise from the old country, and took back the produce ofour fields. Then as the town increased, and the forest disappeared inthe course of years, we found ourselves in a position to laugh at thepretensions of the Spaniards.
But over all that there seems to hang a mist, and I recall but little ofthe troubles of those later days. It is of the early I write--of thetimes when all was new and fresh; and I have only to close my eyes tosee again our old home surrounded by forest, that was always trying toreclaim the portions my father had won; but the skirmishers of Naturegained nothing, and a pleasant truce ensued. For my father was toowealthy to need to turn his land into plantations and trouble himselfabout the produce; he loved to keep it all as he had made it at first,save that now and again pleasant little additions were made, and thecomforts of civilisation were not forgotten.
But as time went on, and I grew up, my pleasant life there had to cometo an end, and I was obliged to go out into the w
orld as became a man.
It was my great delight though as the years rolled on to get down southfor a month's stay at the old place, and with Hannibal and Pomp forcompanions, and an Indian or two for guides, to penetrate the wilds fordays and days together, boating, fishing, shooting, and studying theglories of the wondrous water-ways of the forest and swamps.
Such trips seemed always fresh, and when I returned there was thedelightful old home in which my father had elected to end his days; andI picture one of those scenes outside the embowered house with its broadveranda, and the pretty cottages a couple of hundred yards away beyondthe noble garden, Morgan's pride. The home was simple still, for myfather did not increase his establishment, save that a couple of youngblack girls elected to come from the settlement to place themselvesunder old Sarah's management.
I should not have mentioned this but for one little incident which tookplace two years after.
I had been in England for a long stay, and at the termination of myvisit I had taken passage, landed at the settlement, made a hasty callon two old friends, and then walked across to my father's, where, aftermy warm welcome from within doors, including a kiss from our Sarah forthe great swarthy man she always would call "My dear boy," I went out tohave my hand crunched by grey-headed old Morgan, and to grasp oldHannibal's broad palm as well.
"Why, where's Pomp?" I said.
"Him heah, Mass' George," was shouted from the direction of one of thecottages. "I come, sah, but she juss like 'tupid lil nigger. Come'long, will you; Mass' George won't eat you."
I opened my eyes a little as I recognised in the smart, pleasant-lookingblack girl by his side, Salome, one of the maids I had seen at thecottage before I sailed for Europe.
"Why, Pomp," I said, laughing, "what does this mean?"
"Dab juss what I tell her, Mass' George," he cried. "I know you bequite please, on'y she all ashame and foolis like."
"But, Pomp, my good fellow, you don't mean--"
"Oh yes, I do, Mass' George; and I know you be dreffle glad--dat mywife."
Yes; I can picture it all--that old plantation life started bybrave-enduring Englishmen, who were ready to face stern dangers, anddetermined to hold their own--picture it all more vividly than perhaps Ihave done for you; but as far as in me lay, I have tried to place beforeyou who read the incidents of a boy's life in those distant days; and ifI have been somewhat prosy at times, and made much of trifles, whichwere serious matters to us, forgive my shortcomings as I lay down mypen.
THE END.
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