CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
TRAVELLING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
They waited and waited. Le Duc kept fiddling away with as muchvehemence as at first. But they could not ascertain whether theirguards were still dancing--the scraping of the fiddle-strings drowningall other sounds.
At length the music became slower and slower, until only a low, moaningwail reached their ears. It was of a remarkably somniferouscharacter,--the cunning Le Duc had evidently some object in playingthus. Presently the music ceased altogether. Not a sound was heard,except the soughing of the wind round the tower. Still their patiencehad to be tried. Something was keeping Le Duc.
At last they saw a figure coming towards the tower. Perhaps it was notLe Duc. If a stranger, they must stop his mouth. Perhaps they mighthave to bind him. They could cut off a sufficient length of rope forthe 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, whenhe said, in a low whisper, "Don't you know me, friends? Follow me, butbend down as low as you can, that if seen from the house you may betaken 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 theopen space at the back of the village. They could see the lightsglimmering 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 acrossit the better. They hurried over, still stooping down, Le Duc walkingerect. At last their backs began to ache from remaining so long in abent position.
They were thankful when they reached the edge of a plantation, and LeDuc, stopping, said, "You have acted admirably, my friends. Come on alittle farther to a spot where we shall find some clothes in which youcan disguise yourselves. We can get over some leagues before daylight,and the inhabitants we shall then meet with are all blacks, and beingvery stupid will not discover that you are English, provided those whodo not speak French hold their tongues."
"A very right precaution," said Rayner. After he had thanked Le Duc forhis exertions, he added, "Remember, Brown and Fletcher, neither of youattempt to open your mouths except to put food into them. If you arespoken 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 aheap of rubbish, covered over with bushes.
"These I brought by the desire of Madame La Roche," he said. "She andher daughters, and their black girls, and old Francois, worked away veryhard to get them finished. They began the very moment you and thegendarmes left the house. It was Mademoiselle Sophie's idea, she's aclever young lady. Directly the dresses were completed, Francois and Istarted off on horseback, as we knew the road you had taken, I dressedas you see me, and carrying my fiddle in a bag hung round my neck. Iwas a strolling player once, and belonged to a circus before I became asailor, so I was at home on horseback, and I was at home also whenplaying my tricks off on the gendarmes. I have keen wits and strongnerves, messieurs. One without the other is of small value. United,wonders can be worked. How I did bamboozle those stupid fellows! Itwas fortunate, however, that none of the black crew of the schooner ormy late shipmates appeared, or I should have been discovered. Now, puton these dresses, they are such as are worn by the planters of thiscountry, and you can pretend you are going to a fair at Goave to buymules, that is what Francois advises, and he has got a good head on hisshoulders. I wish that he could have come with us, but as soon as hehad deposited these clothes he had to ride back as fast as he could toattend to his mistress, and I undertook the rest."
"You have indeed done your part well," said Rayner. "What shall we dowith 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, themen, as they looked at themselves by the light of a lantern Le Duc hadcarried, though he had not until now lit it, indulged in heartylaughter.
"You do look like an overseer, Brown," said Jack, "and I should beprecious sorry to be a black slave when you had your whip lifted abovemy shoulders. You'd hit mighty hard, I've a notion."
As Rayner and Oliver surveyed each other, they expressed strong doubtswhether their disguise was sufficient to enable them to pass undetected,and they agreed that it would be necessary to keep as much as possibleout of the way of the inhabitants. Still, the risk must be run. Theconsequences of being caught would be very serious to them, yet more soto Le Duc, who would almost to a certainty be shot for having assistedin their escape.
Having done up their clothes in the handkerchiefs which had containedthe dresses they now had on, they pushed forward.
Le Duc had never before been in that part of the country, but he hadreceived minute directions from Francois, which helped greatly to guidethem.
At length they came to a dense jungle. Francois had told Le Duc ofthis, and that he would find a path through it. They hunted about forsome time in vain.
"Come this way, messieurs!" exclaimed Le Duc, at length. "This must bethe path Francois told me of." He had gone a short distance to thesouthward, and now led on, feeling the way with his long stick. Theothers followed. The path was narrow, and the trees met overhead, sothat they were in complete darkness. On they went, keeping close behindeach other, for there was no room for two to walk abreast.
Le Duc walked at a good pace. The jungle seemed interminable. Theymust have gone on, they fancied, for two or three miles, when they foundtheir feet splashing in water.
"I am afraid we are getting into a swamp, messieurs," said Le Duc. "Itcannot be helped; we must scramble through it somehow or other. If wehad 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 theywere often up to their knees in mud, so that their progress was greatlydelayed.
"We shall cut but a sorry appearance, messieurs, if we meet any one whenmorning breaks," observed Le Duc. "As soon as we get to dry ground wemust stop and put ourselves to rights."
"Perhaps we shall, and it would be as well if we can wash the mud offour legs," said Rayner. "But go on, my fine fellow; if this path is ingeneral use it cannot be much worse than it is."
Rayner was right. In a short time the water became shallower, and soonafterwards they got on to firm ground. To their very great satisfactionthey at last found themselves out of the jungle. Before them rose ahill, over which they had to climb.
At the foot of the hill they came to a clear, broad stream, passing overa shingly bed. Le Duc, feeling the depth with his staff, walked in. Itwas sufficiently shallow to enable them to ford it without difficulty;and they took the opportunity of washing off the mud which had stuck totheir legs in the swamp.
All this time poor Jack never once complained, but he was suffering nosmall amount of pain. His great fear was that he might have to give inand 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 couldnot tell; still, as they could manage to make their way to the eastwardthey went on.
"We must be near the large village Francois spoke of," said Le Duc. "Headvised that we should go to the southward of it, as the country on thatside is more easily traversed, and we may hope thus to get by withoutbeing discovered if we can pass it before daybreak."
They accordingly took the direction as advised. After going some waythey heard the barking of dogs and saw a light gleaming, they supposed,from the window of a cott
age, 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 takecare 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 alittle farther, until we can find some place to rest in. There's a woodI see ahead, and we must conceal ourselves in it until you are able togo on again. If Mr Crofton likes to lead on the rest and try to getacross the frontier, he may do so, but I'll stick by you, Jack. Don'tbe afraid."
"Thank you, Bill, thank you!" said Jack, pressing his old messmate'shand, scarcely knowing what he was saying, but thinking somehow thatthey 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, butcalling Brown, they helped him along between them, lifting him over therough places as they made their way towards the wood. They reached itjust as daylight burst on the world, as it does in the tropics, the hotsun rushing up immediately afterwards to blaze away with intense heat.
Oliver, with Le Duc and Tom, hurried on ahead to look for some placewhere they might have a chance of effectually concealing themselves. Ina short time Oliver came back.
"We have discovered just the sort of place we want," he said. "Thesooner we can stow ourselves away in it the better. Let me take yourplace 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 asmall stream which would afford them water, they saw before them a hugetree, upturned from the roots, forming beneath it a cavern ofconsiderable size, which Le Duc and Tom were engaged in clearing out.There was a risk of being bitten by snakes, which might have made ittheir abode, but that could not be avoided. Le Duc was running hisstick into every hole he could see to drive out any which might beconcealed. In other respects, no better place could be found.
Rayner and Brown lifted in Jack and placed him on the ground, and Raynergave him some of the food they had brought from the tower. They hadonly enough, unfortunately, for one meal. Meantime it was better thannothing, and resolved to give Jack his share.
The rest of the party had collected some branches and brushwood toconceal 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 suspectthat any one was there. No sooner had they swallowed their food thanthey all fell asleep.
Rayner was the first to awaken. He listened, but could hear no soundexcept the buzz of insects, and he knew, by the light which came in fromthe upper part of the entrance, that the sun was shining brightly.
Jack was still asleep. He was breathing easily, and appeared to bebetter; but still it was not probable that he would be able to continuethe journey. It would be necessary, therefore, at all events, to remainin the cavern all the day, but should he be well enough they mightcontinue their journey at nightfall. Their chief difficulty would be toprocure 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 Raynerthat they must remain where they were, but Le Duc was for pushing on.When, however, Rayner reminded him that Jack could not possibly move asfast as necessary, if at all, he consented to remain.
"But should the gendarmes come in this direction to look for us, weshall probably be discovered," he observed.
"We must hope, then, that they will not come in this direction," saidOliver.
"But what about food, monsieur?" asked Le Duc.
"We must try to go without it for a few hours," answered Rayner. "Weshall be well rested, and must tie our handkerchiefs tightly round ourstomachs. I have got enough for the sick man, who requires it more thanwe do; but we must not let him know that we have none, or he willprobably refuse to touch it."
"We can at all events procure some water," said Le Duc. "Give me yourhats, gentlemen; they will hold as much as we want."
Though Rayner and Oliver would have preferred some other means ofobtaining the water, they willingly gave their hats to Le Duc, who creptout with them, and soon returned with both full to the brim.
The thirst of the party being quenched, for a short time they sufferedmuch less than before from the pangs of hunger.
Tom and Brown were ready to do what their officers wished, only Tomgroaned at having nothing to eat.
Jack slept on while the rest again lay down. The light which camethrough the bushes began somewhat to decrease, and Rayner saw that thesun was sinking behind the trees in the west. He was watching Jack, whoat length awoke. The moment he opened his eyes, Rayner offered him thefood he had kept ready in his pocket.
"Come, Jack, stow this away in your inside as fast as you can, that youmay have strength to go on as soon as it is time to start. We don'tintend to spend our lives here, like mice in a hole." Jack did as hewas bid, without asking questions. Just as he had finished, Tom groanedout, "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 feltdesperately 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 learnfrom some person, before I venture to enter, whether the gendarmes arethere, and if they are not, we shall be safe for the present. Theywill, I hope, fancying that you made your way back to the house ofMadame La Roche, have gone off there. We must hope for the best, and Iwill try and invent some reason for wishing to purchase food. The kindlady supplied me with money, so that I shall have no difficulty on thatscore."
Rayner, who in reality suffered more than any one, as he had had less toeat, 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 satin 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 somefood," growled Tom. "I wish that that Frenchman would come back."
"Shut up there, mate, and don't be grumbling. You're not worse than therest of us," said Brown.
Time wore on; it was now perfectly dark. They listened eagerly for thesound of Le Duc's footsteps.
Rayner had made up his mind to go out and try to ascertain what hadbecome of him, or at all events to obtain some food, for he felt thatneither he nor the rest of the party could get through the night whentravelling without it. Later on it would be still more difficult toobtain, as the inhabitants would be in bed. He thought he should beable to find his way back to their place of concealment; so, desiringthe party to keep perfectly silent, he set out. He had not gone far inthe 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 onthe other. It must be Le Duc, thought Rayner. He has lost his way,perhaps that may account for his long absence. Stepping from behind thetree, 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 t
one.
"Ah, monsieur! is it you?" cried Le Duc. "I thought I should never findthe place where I left you. I saw it only in daylight. Things look sodifferent in the dark. I have had a narrow escape, but I have got somefood 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 anold black, who told me there were no strangers in the place, and that Imight easily procure what I wanted. I accordingly went on boldly, untilI reached a cottage just in the outskirts. I entered and found thepeople ready enough to sell me some bread and sausages, charging methree times as much as they were worth. I also procured this straw bagto put them in. While I was there packing them up several persons whohad come in were talking, and I heard them say that a party of soldiershad just arrived, on their way from Leogane to Port Saint Louis in thebay, and that they were ordered to look out for several English spies,and that some blacks, who knew the Englishmen, had accompanied thesoldiers to assist in finding them. As soon as I heard this I hastilyput some of the things into my bag, not waiting for the remainder, andhurried out of the hut. As I did so, what was my dismay to see three ofthe soldiers, accompanied by one of the black fellows who had escapedfrom 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 Isang that night on board the schooner when we were becalmed. The rogueof a black recognised it, for, turning my head, I saw him coming afterme. I was silent directly, and began to walk very fast. Fortunately itwas 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 cameback, and I heard him tell the soldiers, who had followed him, that hemust have been mistaken; so they then proposed going back to thevillage.
"I waited until they were out of hearing, and then set off to try andfind my way to the cave, but I missed it, and have been wandering aboutever since."
No one troubled Le Duc with questions. They were too eager to disposeof 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 hadfinished their meal, being told by Rayner that soldiers were in theneighbourhood, they begged at once to continue their journey; but Raynerwas very doubtful whether Jack could keep up, though he declared that hewas 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 theother two men and Le Duc, and when he has seen you safely into Spanishterritory he will, perhaps, come back and assist me and Jack Peek. Ifhe cannot, we must do our best by ourselves. We have been in a moredifficult position together before now, and managed to escape."
Oliver, however, would not hear of this, and it was finally settled thatthe whole party should remain in their cave another night and day.
Jack was very unhappy at being the cause of their detention; but Raynercheered 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 enablethem to eat breakfast. They, of course, took care not to speak above awhisper, though listening all the time for the sound of footsteps; butas no one came near them, they hoped that their place of concealment wasunknown to any of the villagers, who might otherwise have pointed it outto the soldiers.
The day went by. All the food Le Duc had brought was consumed, except asmall portion kept for Jack. He offered to go for more, but Raynerjudged it imprudent to let him return to the village, where he would berecognised as having come on the previous evening. They accordingly hadto go supperless to sleep, Tom grumbling, as usual, at his hard fate.
When daylight streamed into the cavern, Le Duc declared that he couldhold 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 theblack people in the village can have no object in detaining me. If theydo, I will bribe them to let me off, and they know if they hand me overto 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 onefollowed him.
Rayner felt some misgiving as he disappeared. All they could do in themeantime was to keep close in their hole.
All day they waited, but Le Duc did not return.
Tom muttered, "The Frenchman has deserted us after all."
Even Brown expressed some doubts about his honesty.
"You never can trust those mounseers," he said in reply to Tom's remark.
"Be silent there, men," said Rayner. "Our good friend has probablythought it safer to hide himself, and will manage to get back at night."
Night came, however, and still Le Duc did not appear. Rayner and Oliverbecame more anxious than ever.
"I must not let you fellows starve," said Rayner at last. "I'll go outand try and get provisions of some sort. Le Duc spoke of severalcottages on the outskirts of the village, and I'll call at one of themand try to bribe the inhabitants, or to move their compassion; perhaps Imay get tidings of our friend."
Though either Oliver or Brown would gladly have gone instead, they knewthat Rayner was the best person to undertake the expedition.
"If I do not return before midnight, you must all set out and traveleastward as fast as you can. How do you feel, Peek? Can you manage tomove along."
"Yes, sir," answered Jack. "I could if you were with us, but I amafraid if you were left behind in the grip of soldiers I shouldn't domuch."
"Don't let that idea weigh on your mind. If I am captured and sent toprison, there I must remain until I am exchanged for a French officer,though I don't think there's much chance of my being caught."
Having given his final directions, Rayner set off.
He went on till he saw a light streaming through a cottage window. Thebetter sort of people were alone likely to be sitting up at that hour,as the poorer blacks, he knew, went to bed at sundown and rose atdaybreak.
He went up to the door and knocked.
"May I come in?" he asked in French; and without waiting for an answerhe lifted the latch.
An old mulatto woman was seated spinning. Near her sat a young girl ofmuch lighter complexion, with remarkably pretty features, engaged inworking on some pieces of female finery. She rose as he entered, andthe old woman uttered an exclamation of astonishment.
He at once explained his errand. He wanted food, and was ready to payfor it. They would not be so hard-hearted as to refuse it to starvingmen.
The girl looked at the old woman, who was apparently her grandmother.
"Mon pere will soon be back. Will monsieur object to wait?" she asked.
"I have no time to wait; here, accept this," said Rayner, holding out adollar which he fortunately had in his pocket.
The old woman's eyes glittered.
"Give monsieur what he wants, but keep enough for your father's supperand breakfast to-morrow. It is strange that he should require foodsince he is so rich."
"I want sufficient for several persons--anything you have got," saidRayner.
The girl went to a shelf at the other end of the room and got down acouple of loaves of maize bread, some cakes, salt-fish, and fruit.
"You can take some of these," she said, placing them on the table; "buthow are you to carry them?"
He had a silk handkerchief, which he produced, intending to tie up theprovisions in. The girl looked at it with admiration.
br /> "Perhaps you will accept this, and give me a basket, or a matting baginstead?" he said.
She quickly produced a bag large enough to hold all the things.
"Now can you give me any news of anything happening in the village?"
"Yes, some soldiers have been there, and impudent fellows they were;some of them came to our house, and if my Pierre had been present therewould have been a fight. I am glad that they have gone. It is saidthey were in search of deserters or spies, and that they had caught oneof them, but could not find the rest. If monsieur dislikes the militaryas much as I do, he'll keep out of their way."
The girl said this in a significant manner. Rayner thanked her and theold woman, and advised them to say nothing about his visit.
"If we know nothing we can say nothing, eh, monsieur? Bon voyage, andkeep out of the way of the soldiers," whispered the girl as she let himout.
He could not help thinking, as he hurried back towards the cave, thatshe suspected he was one of the persons the soldiers were in search of.Although she wished to befriend him, her father might be in a differentmood. There was the danger, too, that if poor Le Duc was caught, hemight be tortured to make him confess where his companions were. Raynerconsidered, therefore, that it would be imprudent to remain longer inthe cave, and that it would be safer even to carry Jack, should he beunable to walk, than to delay their journey.
He got back safely, and the food he brought soon restored the spirits ofthe party. Even Jack declared that he was strong enough to walk a dozenmiles if necessary. They were in great hopes, therefore, of gettingacross the border before daybreak. They regretted greatly the loss ofLe Duc, who had served them so faithfully, especially as they fearedthat he himself was in danger of suffering in consequence of theassistance he had given them.
Rayner led the way. The stars being as bright as on the previous night,he had no difficulty in directing his course. The country was much ofthe same character as that they had previously crossed. In some partsthey came to plantations, and could distinguish the residences of theproprietors.
Now they had to make their way by narrow paths through jungles, now towade through marshes.
Jack, helped by Brown and Tom, got on better than might have beenexpected. Rayner intended to halt for a short time at the firstconvenient spot they could reach.
He had for some distance observed no signs of cultivation, when he foundthat they were passing close to a plantation. Then there appeared ahouse on one side, then another and another. Barking dogs came rushingout, and they had some difficulty in keeping them at bay. The brutesfollowed them, however, joined by others. A voice from a gatewayshouted, "Who goes there?"
"Friends!" answered Rayner.
"Advance, friends, and show yourselves, and give the countersign," saida sentry, at the same time calling out the guard.
To run would have been useless, besides which it is not a movementBritish officers and seamen are wont to make, except after an enemy.
Rayner therefore determined to put a bold face upon the matter, advancedwith his companions, and the next instant they found themselvessurrounded by a body of French soldiers, whose looks, as they held up acouple of lanterns, were anything but satisfactory.