Chapter 42
"Never mind that. What did Anderson let drop?"
"That the skipper has learned that there is an English gentleman here who farms a plantation with a number of slaves."
"Well, lots do," said Roberts sharply.
"And on the other side of the island there is a very large sugar plantation belonging to an American who is suspected of having dealings with slaving skippers who trade with the West Coast. What do you say to that?"
"That sounds likely; but what then?"
"Well, according to what Mr Anderson told me, the skipper will, if he waits for a chance, be able to catch one if not more of the slavers who come here to land their cargoes, for this American planter to s.h.i.+p off by degrees to other planters who require slaves."
"Ah, yes, I see," cried Roberts. "This Yankee, then, keeps a sort of slave store?"
"Something of the kind," replied Murray, "and if we are careful I suppose that the skipper will have his chance at last; only he says that he is not going to trust any stranger again."
"Well, never mind that," said Roberts, speaking excitedly now as he scanned the slopes of the old verdure-clad hollow in which the sloop lay as if in a lake. "If we are about to lie up here for a time and go ash.o.r.e and explore we shall have plenty of fun and adventure, with a bit of fighting now and then."
"Likely enough," said Murray.
"But I should like for us to have hit upon the place where that West Coast Yankee brought his cargoes. There's no possibility of this being the spot?"
"One never knows," said Murray thoughtfully.
"Too much to hope," said his companion.
"Oh, I don't know. We've been horribly unlucky, but the luck is bound to turn some time. One thing we do know for certain: that Yankee skipper brings slaves across to the West Indies."
"Yes, we know that."
"Well, this is one of the West Indian Islands."
"A precious small one, though," said Roberts in a depreciatory tone.
"What of that? We know for certain that there is the owner of a plantation here who trades in slaves, and there is nothing to prevent his having dealings with the man we want."
"M-m-no; but there must be several such men as he. Well, we must get some fun," cried Roberts, "and if we don't find all we want--"
"We may get something," said Murray cheerfully. "Now then, which of us will have the first chance of going ash.o.r.e?"
"You, of course," replied Roberts bitterly. "Some fellows get all the luck. No, no; I don't mean that, old chap."
"Look at Anderson," cried Murray; "he's taking orders from the skipper.
Hooray, d.i.c.k! See if it isn't for a boat to be sent ash.o.r.e. Whose turn is it going to be?"
That question was soon answered, for the captain, who was pacing
"Oh, there you are, Mr Murray!" he exclaimed. "Well, has not Mr Anderson given you your orders to accompany the boat?"
Roberts's face puckered up.
"No, sir," said the lieutenant, taking upon himself to answer. "I intended to take Mr Roberts with me."
Murray felt disappointed, but all the same he could not refrain from laughing at the sudden change which came over his fellow middy's face, to the latter's wonder.
"Oh, I see," said the captain, raising his hat and re-adjusting it in a fidgety way he had when excited, which was followed by a fresh settling of the head-covering. "Quite right; quite right; but here's Mr Murray growing dull and sluggish with doing nothing; you had better take him too. One will help to keep the other out of mischief."
Roberts winced, and turned sharply to glance at Murray angrily, as the latter hurried to take his place in the stern sheets.
"What's the matter, d.i.c.k?" Murray whispered, as soon as the pair were in their places.
"Matter? Any one would think I was a child and ought to have some one to take care of me. Now, look here, young fellow, if you grin at me before old Anderson there's going to be a quarrel."
"All right," said Murray coolly; "but keep it till we get back."
Roberts looked round sharply, but he had no opportunity to say more, for the chief officer descended to his place, Murray moved aside to let his comrade take the tiller ropes, the boatswain gave the cutter a vigorous thrust off, the men lowered their oars, and then bending low to their task they made the smooth water of the natural harbour begin to rattle beneath the bows.
The boat was run across beside the heavily forested sh.o.r.es, where, before long, but after many disappointments, an opening was found which seemed to be the entrance to a sluggish river, and as they glided in the overhanging trees soon shut them off from all sight of the sunny bay they had crossed. The bright light gave place to a dim twilight which at times grew almost dark, while the river wound and doubled upon itself like a serpent, and twice over, after a long pull, the lieutenant bade the men lie upon their oars, to rest, while he hesitated as to whether he should go farther.
But all seemed so mysterious and tempting that, in the full expectation of reaching some town or port belonging to the island, the rowing was again and again resumed till hours had pa.s.sed, and at last the chief officer exclaimed--
"It's like chasing a will-o'-the-wisp, gentlemen, but I cannot help feeling that we are on the highroad to the interior, and, in spite of the utter loneliness of the place, I don't like to give up."
"Of course you don't, sir," said Murray, as the men rested upon their oars, and he scanned the heavily wooded banks. "I wonder whether there are any plantations worked by the slaves: I can see no sign of a house."
"No, I was thinking of that," said Roberts, who was sweeping the distance with a gla.s.s; "but there is a bit of an opening yonder which looks as if the river branched there, and--Hallo! I didn't see it at first. There's some sort of a boat lying moored in that nook."
"Where?" cried Murray.
"Yonder among the trees. Take the gla.s.s, sir."
Mr Anderson took the telescope.
"To be sure: the river does branch there. Steer for that cove, Mr Roberts, and let us see what the little vessel is like. At all events here is some sign of the place being inhabited. Give way, my lads."
The men pulled hard, and as they progressed, instead of obtaining a better view of the vessel, it seemed only to glide in behind the trees until they were close in and pa.s.sed up what proved to be the mouth of a little creek, when Murray uttered an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.
"What is it, Mr Murray?" cried the lieutenant.
"The lugger, sir!"
"Well, I see it is, my lad. I dare say its owner's house is close at hand."
"But don't you see, sir?" cried Murray excitedly.
"Of course I do, but there's no one aboard, apparently."
"Oh, I don't mean that, sir!" cried the lad. "It's the lugger we first came upon off that African river."
"What!" cried the lieutenant. "Impossible! Run close in, Mr Roberts."