CHAPTER THIRTY.
MAKING FRIENDS OF ENEMIES.
The struggle was very fierce but short. Nic fought his best, and, inspite of the excitement, wondered at his strength. He was encouraged,too, by Pete, whom he heard raging and tearing about; and, hard pressedas he was, he yet had a thought for his companion.
"Never mind me, Master Nic," he shouted. "Zwim for it--the boat. Nevermind me."
Then his voice was smothered, and there was the sound of a heavy fall,but the struggle went on.
"Hold on!" came the voice of the overseer, giving his orders; and thenthat of the settler:
"Give in, you scoundrels!" he raged out. Then fiercely, "Hold theirheads under water, boys, if they don't give in."
"All done now, sah," panted Samson, with his lips close to Nic's head,for he was across his prisoner's chest, and a couple of the blacks wereholding his legs.
"Yes, we must give up, Master Nic," cried Pete. "I've got five loads o'black stuff sitting on me."
"Have you your whip with you, Saunders?" cried the settler.
"No, sir; I wish I had. But it is hanging by the door, and we can givethem a better taste by daylight."
"You use it on him," roared Pete fiercely, "and I'll kill you."
"Silence, you scoundrel!" cried the settler, "or I'll have you gagged aswell as ironed. I warned you both of what would happen if you tried toescape."
"Lucky for them I let loose the black dogs instead of the brown," criedthe overseer. "We should not have had the trouble of taking them back.Tie their hands behind their backs, Samson, and have the irons ready assoon as we get to the house."
"Got no rope, sah."
"What!" cried the settler. "Why didn't you bring some, you black fool?"
"No time, sah," said the black humbly. "Soon as dat ugly ruffyum,Humpy, come knock at door and say dey 'scape, Zerk call me quite sharp,an' I come tell you, and dey fetch de boy and have 'em back. Me not'ink 'bout no rope, sah; on'y t'ink dey go swim for de boat and catch'em first."
"Quite right," said the settler more calmly. "There, one of you go infront of each man, and two others take fast hold of a wrist on eachside. Cock your pistols, Saunders."
There was a sharp clicking sound.
"Walk behind that big scoundrel, and if he makes the slightest attemptto escape send a bullet through him. I'll look after this one. Pity wedidn't stop to loose the dogs. Ready?"
"Iss, sah," came from Samson, as Nic felt a strong hand like a livehandcuff upon each wrist.
"Lead on, then."
"You be very careful, please, massa; no make mistake and shoot dis boy."
"Oh yes, I'll take care."
The march back began, and at the second step Nic felt that a cold ringof iron had been pressed between his shoulders--the pistol-muzzleresting upon his skin where the shirt had been torn down from neck towaist.
He could not suppress a shiver, for the heat and passion of the strugglehad passed away, leaving him weary, aching, and depressed.
But in a few minutes the pistol-muzzle was withdrawn, it being awkwardfor the holder to walk over the rough ground and keep it there; and theprisoner marched on between his black warders as patiently as Pete infront, thinking perhaps the same ideas.
For he felt that they had not taken warning by the hints they hadreceived. Humpy Dee had been on the watch, and, in his malignity, letthem get away before giving notice to the sentry, that they might becaught, ironed, and flogged, or perhaps meet their death in thestruggle.
But Nic had yet to find that Humpy Dee's designs were deeper than this.
The walk back was not long enough for a hundredth part of the bitterthoughts that crowded into Nic Revel's brain; neither would they havegot a hearing had the distance been a thousand times the length, onaccount of the one dominant horror which filled his brain: "Will theyflog us?--will they flog us?" That question was always repeatingitself, and, when the prisoner heard Pete utter a low groan, he wasconvinced that the poor fellow was possessed by similar thoughts.
Only so short a time before that they had left their quarters, and nowthey were back in the darkness, their plans crushed, and only thepunishment to look forward to.
"Now, Sam, be sharp with a couple of lanthorns and those irons," criedthe overseer.
"Iss, sah."
"Prisoners been quiet?" whispered the settler to the sentry.
"Iss, sah, berry quiet; all fass asleep;" and the man let his musketfall down upon the ground with an ominous thud as, in obedience to anorder, he unlocked the shed-door and lowered the huge bar before drawingit open.
"Now then," muttered the overseer, "how long is he going to be with thatlanthorn? Here, in with them, boys; but don't loose your hold till Itell you."
Nic and Pete were hurried on; and, as soon as they were inside, thesettler and his lieutenant stood in the doorway, pistol in hand, whileNic's face was involuntarily turned in the direction of the corner whereHumpy Dee's bunk lay, in the full expectation of hearing some banteringsneer.
But the man made no sign, and directly after the _pad_, _pad_ ofSamson's feet was heard, and a faint light threw up the figures of thoseat the doorway. Then Samson's big black face appeared, lit up by thelanthorns he swung, one in each hand.
"I take in de light, sah, and den go fetch de irons?"
"Yes; look sharp," cried Saunders.
He made way for the black to pass, and the man raised one of thelanthorns to hang it upon a hook. He did not do this, but raised theother lanthorn and hurriedly took a few steps in the direction of thebunks, to begin shouting directly:
"Hyah!" he cried, "whar dem oder white fellow? You, Zerk, what you goand done wid de oder man?"
"What!" roared the settler and the overseer in a breath as they rushedforward, pistol in hand.
"All gone, sah," cried Samson, beginning to tremble.
"Bah! you 'most fass 'sleep," cried Xerxes, who had come in at the callof his companion; "dey all tuck under de corn-'talk."
"You black idiot!" roared the overseer, turning upon the sentry sosavagely that the man's knees began to knock together; he let go hishold of his musket, and it fell on the floor with a thud, followed by aflash and an explosion, while the man escaped a knockdown blow byducking.
"Here, quick!" cried the settler, who had seized one of the lanthornsfrom Samson and convinced himself that the other prisoners had takenadvantage of the hole made by Pete, and, as soon as the chase began,climbed quietly out in turn. "All of you follow. Pick up that musketand load it again, you black fool!"
"No 'top clap irons on dese two, sah?" cried Samson.
"No. Here, Saunders, fetch another musket. Samson, you and Nero guardthese two while we're gone; and if you let them escape I'll shoot you."
"No, no," said Saunders quickly; "I'll manage them. We want all ourmen. Here, Sam; go and let loose the dogs."
"But these two?" cried the settler impatiently.
"Well, the dogs will watch them."
"We want them, man, to track the other scoundrels."
"We can do that ourselves. They followed us, for a hundred pounds, andhave taken the boat by now."
The settler uttered a furious oath and stamped his foot.
"Sharper than we are," he roared. "Yes, that is right."
Just then the dogs, newly set at liberty, came bounding up, followed bySamson; and the overseer went up to the two prisoners.
"There, lie down in your kennels," he snarled. "We shall not be long,and it depends upon yourselves whether we find you when we come back. Iwarn you that if you move the hounds will tear you to pieces."
"Saunders!" whispered the settler.
"Their lives will be in their own hands, sir," cried the overseerwarmly. "Let me have my own way, please; it is the only thing to do."
The settler shrugged his shoulders, and the blacks all stood thereround-eyed and staring, while the two unfortunates lay down in theirbunks, and the overseer called up the dogs and bade them couch.
"Watch," he said fiercely, and a deep-toned growl arose. "Stay thereand watch."
"Now, sir," he said coldly, "the sooner we are off the better. Out withyou, boys, and bring the lights."
The blacks ran out, the settler followed, and the overseer went to thedoor last.
"I've warned you," he said fiercely, as he turned to face the prisoners."Make the slightest movement, and those hounds will be at your throatsand rend you limb from limb. Good dogs, then--watch," he shouted; thenhe banged the door, locked and barred it, and just then the settler'svoice was heard at a little distance.
"Here, Saunders," he cried; "two of the loaded muskets have been takenfrom the hooks."
"Hor, hor!" laughed Pete savagely; "just found that out?"
He ceased, for three dogs sprang to their feet, uttering a furiousbarking trio which made his heart seem to leap to his throat.
In the intense desire to save himself, Nic sprang up into a sittingposition and spoke quickly and gently, calling to the dog which hadshown a friendly disposition towards him from the first.
"Don't do that, Master Nic," said Pete hoarsely.
But even as the man spoke the dog was upon Nic's bunk, whining, pawingat him, and thrusting its great muzzle in his hand, uttering the while alow, eager bark.
The others barked too, and, as if in imitation of their companion, madeat Nic as well, favouring him with their clumsy caresses, and ending bysitting close up to him, panting loudly.
"Have they killed you, Master Nic?" whispered Pete hoarsely, eliciting afierce growl from one of the brutes.
"Quiet," cried Nic loudly, and the growling ceased; while the nextmoment from out of the darkness a great head began to nestle upon hisshoulder. "Good dog, then!" cried Nic, patting and stroking its head."There, I think you may venture to talk, Pete."
"Do you, zir? If I waren't beginning to think they'd done for you.Aren't you hurt, then?"
"No; they are used to us now, and I don't think there's anything tofear. Look here; do you dare to reach out your hand and pat him?"
"No, zir; I'm too great a coward. I was always feared of a dog's bite;not of the dog."
Nic was silent for a few moments, and then he began to pat first one dogand then another heavily, the great brutes submitting to thefamiliarities evidently with satisfaction, one of them beginning tobound about the shed, and returning to be caressed again.
"You order me to come close and pat one of 'em, Master Nic, and I will,"said Pete hoarsely.
"Come on, then."
The man drew a deep breath and made the venture, with so much successattending it that he tried it upon the others.
"Master Nic," he whispered excitedly, "what do you think of that?"
"Of what?"
"Here's one of 'em licking my face. Oh, I zay, it don't mean tasting mefirst to zee whether I'm good, do it?"
"No; the poor brutes believe we are friends, I suppose, from being shutup with us. But, Pete, they've all gone off after the others. Couldn'twe try to escape again?"
"Nay; t'others have got the boat."
"But the high ground yonder, or the woods?"
"Nay; they'd hunt us down with the dogs. The beggars would go at us ifthey hounded 'em on."
Nic was silenced for a few moments, and he sat with a dog on either sideand his arms on their necks.
"But we could get out again; the shingles must be off the roof."
"Yes; that's how Humpy and the others got out, zir. They must ha' knownall our plans."
"Let's creep out, then; the dogs couldn't follow."
"S'pose not, zir; but they'd make howl enough to bring the gaffers backto lay 'em on our scent. I don't think it's any use to try. I'd faceit and the dogs too with my knife; they never took it away from me. Didthey take yourn?"
"I don't know, Pete. No: here it is."
"And it would be too hard on you to have to face 'em. Best not to try.We had our go and missed; p'raps we'd better take what they give us andnot grumble."
"Impossible, Pete. I'd rather face the dogs than the lash. But I don'tbelieve they'd hurt us now."
"P'raps not, zir," said Pete sadly. "This here one's as playful as apuppy. He's 'tending to bite my arm, but he don't hurt a bit."
There was silence again for a few minutes, during which time Nic satwith his heart beating hard, listening to the familiar sounds which camefrom the forest, while the passionate desire to flee grew and grew tillit swept everything before it.
"Pete," he cried at last, "we must escape. Better starve in the woodsthan lead such a life as this. We shall be flogged to-morrow, and itwill kill me, I know."
"The dogs'll hunt us down if we go, lad, and we shall get it worse.Better face what we've got to have."
"I will not; I cannot, Pete. The way is open, man. Let's try for ourliberty before these wretches come back."
"Zay the word, then, Master Nic; but the dogs is friends now, as long aswe're quiet; they won't let us go."
"Ah, I know!" cried Nic wildly. "Why didn't I think of it before?"
"Think of what, zir?"
"This. Perhaps they might attack us if they thought they were going tobe left."
"That's zo."
"And if we got away they'd be laid on our track."
"O' course, zir."
"Then we will not give Saunders the chance."
"I dunno what you mean, zir; but I'm ready for anything you tell me todo. What is it?"
"Take the dogs with us, man. I believe they'll follow us now."
"Take 'em with us?" panted Pete. "Why, o' course! I never thought o'that. But we can't, Master Nic; we're locked in."
"The roof's open. Look here, Pete; I'm going to climb out at once. Thedogs will begin to bay at this, but as soon as I'm on the roof, ready todrop down, you get up, put your hands against the boards, and laya-back. Then I'll call them. They'll scramble up, and I'll help themthrough. You come last."
"Think they'll do it?" said Pete, panting like one of the hounds.
"I'm sure they will."
"Be worse than the flogging," cried Pete excitedly; "they'll tear allthe skin off my back. But I don't care; I'm ready. They'll leave thebones."
"Ready, then?" cried Nic. "The moment there's room make a back for thedogs."
The eager talking excited the great animals, and they began to sniff atthe speakers and growl; but Nic's blood was up, and he was ready to riskan attack on the chance of his scheme succeeding.
"A dog is a dog, whether it's here or at home, and I know their naturepretty well."
The next moment he was proving it by leaping to his feet.
"Hey, boys, then!" he cried loudly; "the woods--a run in the woods!"
The dogs sprang round him, and began leaping up, barking excitedly.
"Come on, then," he shouted, though his heart leaped with a chokingsensation at his mouth; and, scrambling up to the opening by means ofthe pegs, he was the next minute squeezing himself through, the dogsbounding up at him as he went, and nearly causing him to fall. For onemoment he felt he was being dragged back, and shuddered at the thoughtof what might happen if the excited animals got him down.
But the dread passed away as quickly as it had come. He tore offanother of the shingles to widen the opening, and shouted down into theshed:
"Come on, then. Come on."
Already the hounds were growing savage in their disappointment, andbaying and growling with tremendous clamour, as they kept on leapingover each other and dropping back.
But at the words of encouragement from above one of them awoke to thefact that there was a step all ready in the darkness, and, leaping uponit, the great creature reached up, got its paws on the sides of theopening, scrambled through without help from Nic, as he sat on the roof,and leaped down.
That was enough; the others followed quickly, and the next minute Petewas up, seated by Nic's side, the dogs now leaping at them from below,barking loudly.
"Hurt?" panted Nic.
"Not
a bit. Durst us jump down?"
"We must," cried Nic firmly; and, shouting to the dogs, he loweredhimself down, dropped to the ground, and was followed by Pete.
"Hie on, boys! Forward, then!" cried Nic, as the dogs leaped andbounded around him, and he began to trot away from the river.
"Which way?" said Pete, who was as excited now as his companion.
"Wherever the dogs lead us," replied Nic. "Anywhere away from thisslavery and death. Forward, then, boys! Hie on!"
The dogs ceased barking and began dashing on through the plantationleading to the nearest wood. The hunt was up, and Nic had rightlyweighed their nature. They were off in chase of something; that wasenough, and the two men followed, feeling that at last they were on thehighroad to freedom, with their most dreaded enemies turned to friends.
"Master Nic," said Pete hoarsely as they trotted on, step for stepfollowing the sound made by the heavy dogs, "I aren't never been a'ligious sort of a chap, but would it be any harm if, instead o'kneeling down proper, I was to try and say a prayer as we run?"
"Harm, Pete?" cried Nic, with a wild, hysterical ring in his voice; "itcould not be. Why, I've been praying for help ever since I leaped downamong those savage beasts. I could not have ventured but for that."
Sound travels far during the night, and, though the fugitives were notaware of it, their attempt to escape was known. For, just when the dogswere free of the shed and were baying their loudest, the settler, at thehead of his men, turned to Saunders:
"Hear that?" he said hoarsely.
"Yes. They've risked it, and the dogs are running them down. Well,they have only themselves to thank; I wash my hands of it all."
The settler shuddered, for his companion's words had brought up athought that was full of horror; and for a moment he was about to orderhis blacks to turn back. But just then the overseer whispered:
"Keep up, sir; not a sound, please. We shall have them now."
"No firing," said the settler quickly; "they will be unarmed."
"I don't know that," said the overseer; "but we shall soon know. Hadn'twe better deal with them as they deal with us? Hark! the dogs are quietnow. They've got their prisoners, and, if I'm not wrong, in a fewminutes we shall have taken ours."
"Heah dat, Zerk?" whispered Samson.
There was a grunt.
"You an' me's gwan to have de arm-ache to-morrow morn' wid all dat lotto flog."
"Iss," whispered Xerxes; "and den got to go and bury dem oder onebones."