Hunting the Skipper Part 45

For a quiet, subdued-looking individual in white cotton garments had stepped out of a wide window with green painted open jalousies, to take off his Panama straw hat and stand screening his eyes with his hand.

The next minute the officer had halted his men in front of the place, and May touched his hat.

"Let the prisoner go, sir?"

"Yes: we can find our way back;" and as the sailor slackened his grasp and gave his head a jerk in the direction of the well-tilled fields, the black made a bound and dashed off, turning sharply before reaching the edge of the trees which backed up the house and seemed to shelter a range of buildings, to raise his hoe and shake it threateningly at the sailor.

"That man ought not to behave in this way," said the gentleman who had stepped out. "Has he been insolent to you, sir?"

"More unpleasant than insolent," replied the lieutenant. "I have required him for a guide to find your house, sir."

"Ah!" said the former speaker slowly, as he looked slowly round. "You are an officer from one of the King's s.h.i.+ps?"

"Yes, sir; exactly so," replied the gentleman addressed.

"And I presume that your s.h.i.+p is off the island. Can I be of any service to you?"

"Well, yes," said Mr Anderson, "by giving me the information I am seeking."

"I shall be glad to do so, sir, of course. May I ask what you require?"

"Information about the slaving that is carried on here. I see you employ many slaves."

The stranger winced slightly, and then bowed his head.

"Yes," he said; "I have a large tract of cultivated land here in sugar, cotton and a little coffee, but I have a right to employ slave labour after the fas.h.i.+on of many of my fellow-countrymen."

"No doubt, sir," said the lieutenant firmly, while the two mids.h.i.+pmen and the boat's crew stood listening and looking on--"slaves born upon your estate."

The owner of the plantation winced again, and then in a nervous hesitating way continued--

"I have employed slave labour for many years now, sir, and I hope with humanity and quite in accordance with the law."

"I am sorry to say, sir," said the lieutenant, "that my captain has been otherwise informed. He has been given to understand that at this plantation and in connection herewith a regular trade in the unfortunate blacks is systematically carried on."

"Do I understand, sir," said the planter, in the same low hesitating fas.h.i.+on, "that you are connected with one of the King's s.h.i.+ps whose object is to suppress the slave-trade?"

"Yes, sir; that is quite right."

"Will you step in, sir?" said the planter. "You are heated with your walk in the hot sun, and your men must need refreshment."

The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and said gravely, "I am here, sir, to do my duty."

"Yes, of course, sir," said the planter; "and I beg you will not think that I am trying to bribe you in any way. I am not surprised at this visit. I have expected it for years. I am sorry, sir, but I must own it: I am not my own master."

At this moment another figure appeared upon the scene in the shape of a little thin yellow-complexioned man, dressed like the planter in white cotton, and wearing a similar hat of Panama make. He stepped out of the French window where the late speaker had appeared, but with a quick, eager movement, and as he stood glancing sharply round the lieutenant and the mids.h.i.+pmen simultaneously gave a start which seemed to be communicated to the whole of the party, and with a thrill of excitement running through him Murray whispered sharply--

"Our friend the Yankee, d.i.c.k!"

"Yes," whispered back that individual, "and we're going to hold him tight."

As for the lieutenant, he took a couple of steps forward, and exclaimed in a sarcastic tone of voice--

"How do, sir! I think we have met before."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

THE OVERSEER.

The American turned quickly at the officer's words, and looked at him curiously.

"Met?" he said, without the slightest sign of recognition. "Very like, sirr," he added, in a peculiar drawl; "where was it?"

"You do not seem to remember," said the lieutenant. "Let me refresh your memory: a few weeks back, off the coast of Africa."

The man half-closed his eyes and stared hard at the first lieutenant and then at the two middies in turn.

"Last year, yew mean, squire?" he said. "No: don't seem to know you again."

"Then I shall have to refresh your memory a little more. Mr Murray,"

continued the officer, "who do you say this man is?"

"The indiarubber planter, sir, who played us that trick."

The man turned sharply upon the lad.

"And who do you say he is, Mr Roberts?"

"The skipper of the lugger, sir, who guided us up the African river."

"There," said the lieutenant; "will that do for you?"

"I guess I don't know what you are talking about, mister," said the man sharply. "You said something about a trick. Is this some trick of yours?"

"Why, confound your impudence, sir!" cried the lieutenant hotly. "How dare you speak like this to a King's officer!"

"Don't get in a fuss, mister," said the Yankee coolly. "We don't deal in King's officers here, and don't want to. Here, Mr Allen, you're an Englishman; these people are more in your way. What do they want?"

"It is the lieutenant of a s.h.i.+p that has cast anchor here, Huggins,"

said the gentleman addressed agitatedly. "It is about the slaves."

"Eh? About the slaves? Our slaves--your slaves? Well, what about 'em?"

"Yes; about the slaves we have here. You understand?"

"Not me! Not a bit. He's been talking to you, has he?"