the dynamiter-第33部分

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if　I　judged　rightly；　not　ill…disposed　by　nature。　　But　the　
sparkle　that　came　into　his　eye　as　he　observed　me　enter；　
warned　me　to　expect　the　worst。

'Is　this　your　late　mistress？'　he　inquired　of　the　slaves；　and　
when　he　had　learnt　it　was　so；　instantly　dismissed　them。　　
'Now；　my　dear；'　said　he；　'I　am　a　plain　man：　　none　of　your　
damned　Spaniards；　but　a　true　blue；　hard…working；　honest　
Englishman。　　My　name　is　Caulder。'

'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　I；　and　curtsied　very　smartly　as　I　had　
seen　the　servants。

'Come；'　said　he；　'this　is　better　than　I　had　expected；　and　if　
you　choose　to　be　dutiful　in　the　station　to　which　it　has　
pleased　God　to　call　you；　you　will　find　me　a　very　kind　old　
fellow。　　I　like　your　looks；'　he　added；　calling　me　by　my　name；　
which　he　scandalously　mispronounced。　　'Is　your　hair　all　your　
own？'　he　then　inquired　with　a　certain　sharpness；　and　coming　
up　to　me；　as　though　I　were　a　horse；　he　grossly　satisfied　his　
doubts。　　I　was　all　one　flame　from　head　to　foot；　but　I　
contained　my　righteous　anger　and　submitted。　　'That　is　very　
well；'　he　continued；　chucking　me　good　humouredly　under　the　
chin。　　'You　will　have　no　cause　to　regret　coming　to　old　
Caulder；　eh？　　But　that　is　by　the　way。　　What　is　more　to　the　
point　is　this：　　your　late　master　was　a　most　dishonest　rogue；　
and　levanted　with　some　valuable　property　that　belonged　of　
rights　to　me。　　Now；　considering　your　relation　to　him；　I　
regard　you　as　the　likeliest　person　to　know　what　has　become　of　
it；　and　I　warn　you；　before　you　answer；　that　my　whole　future　
kindness　will　depend　upon　your　honesty。　　I　am　an　honest　man　
myself；　and　expect　the　same　in　my　servants。'

'Do　you　mean　the　jewels？'　said　I；　sinking　my　voice　into　a　
whisper。

'That　is　just　precisely　what　I　do；'　said　he；　and　chuckled。

'Hush！'　said　I。

'Hush？'　he　repeated。　　'And　why　hush？　　I　am　on　my　own　place；　I　
would　have　you　to　know；　and　surrounded　by　my　own　lawful　
servants。'

'Are　the　officers　gone？'　I　asked；　and　oh！　how　my　hopes　hung　
upon　the　answer！

'They　are；'　said　he；　looking　somewhat　disconcerted。　　'Why　do　
you　ask？'

'I　wish　you　had　kept　them；'　I　answered；　solemnly　enough；　
although　my　heart　at　that　same　moment　leaped　with　exultation。　　
'Master；　I　must　not　conceal　from　you　the　truth。　　The　servants　
on　this　estate　are　in　a　dangerous　condition；　and　mutiny　has　
long　been　brewing。'

'Why；'　he　cried；　'I　never　saw　a　milder…looking　lot　of　niggers　
in　my　life。'　　But　for　all　that　he　turned　somewhat　pale。

'Did　they　tell　you；'　I　continued；　'that　Madam　Mendizabal　is　
on　the　island？　that；　since　her　coming；　they　obey　none　but　
her？　that　if；　this　morning；　they　have　received　you　with　even　
decent　civility；　it　was　only　by　her　orders　…　issued　with　what　
after…thought　I　leave　you　to　consider？'

'Madam　Jezebel？'　said　he。　　'Well；　she　is　a　dangerous　devil；　
the　police　are　after　her；　besides；　for　a　whole　series　of　
murders；　but　after　all；　what　then？　　To　be　sure；　she　has　a　
great　influence　with　you　coloured　folk。　　But　what　in　
fortune's　name　can　be　her　errand　here？'

'The　jewels；'　I　replied。　　'Ah；　sir；　had　you　seen　that　
treasure；　sapphire　and　emerald　and　opal；　and　the　golden　
topaz；　and　rubies　red　as　the　sunset　…　of　what　incalculable　
worth；　of　what　unequalled　beauty　to　the　eye！　…　had　you　seen　
it；　as　I　have；　and　alas！　as　SHE　has　…　you　would　understand　
and　tremble　at　your　danger。'

'She　has　seen　them！'　he　cried；　and　I　could　see　by　his　face；　
that　my　audacity　was　justified　by　its　success。

I　caught　his　hand　in　mine。　　'My　master；'　said　I；　'I　am　now　
yours；　it　is　my　duty；　it　should　be　my　pleasure；　to　defend　
your　interests　and　life。　　Hear　my　advice；　then；　and；　I　
conjure　you；　be　guided　by　my　prudence。　　Follow　me　privily；　
let　none　see　where　we　are　going；　I　will　lead　you　to　the　place　
where　the　treasure　has　been　buried；　that　once　disinterred；　
let　us　make　straight　for　the　boat；　escape　to　the　mainland；　
and　not　return　to　this　dangerous　isle　without　the　countenance　
of　soldiers。'

What　free　man　in　a　free　land　would　have　credited　so　sudden　a　
devotion？　　But　this　oppressor；　through　the　very　arts　and　
sophistries　he　had　abused；　to　quiet　the　rebellion　of　his　
conscience　and　to　convince　himself　that　slavery　was　natural；　
fell　like　a　child　into　the　trap　I　laid　for　him。　　He　praised　
and　thanked　me；　told　me　I　had　all　the　qualities　he　valued　in　
a　servant；　and　when　he　had　questioned　me　further　as　to　the　
nature　and　value　of　the　treasure；　and　I　had　once　more　
artfully　inflamed　his　greed；　bade　me　without　delay　proceed　to　
carry　out　my　plan　of　action。

From　a　shed　in　the　garden；　I　took　a　pick　and　shovel；　and　
thence；　by　devious　paths　among　the　magnolias；　led　my　master　
to　the　entrance　of　the　swamp。　　I　walked　first；　carrying；　as　I　
was　now　in　duty　bound；　the　tools；　and　glancing　continually　
behind　me；　lest　we　should　be　spied　upon　and　followed。　　When　
we　were　come　as　far　as　the　beginning　of　the　path；　it　flashed　
into　my　mind　I　had　forgotten　meat；　and　leaving　Mr。　Caulder　in　
the　shadow　of　a　tree；　I　returned　alone　to　the　house　for　a　
basket　of　provisions。　　Were　they　for　him？　　I　asked　myself。　　
And　a　voice　within　me　answered；　No。　While　we　were　face　to　
face；　while　I　still　saw　before　my　eyes　the　man　to　whom　I　
belonged　as　the　hand　belongs　to　the　body；　my　indignation　held　
me　bravely　up。　　But　now　that　I　was　alone；　I　conceived　a　
sickness　at　myself　and　my　designs　that　I　could　scarce　endure；　
I　longed　to　throw　myself　at　his　feet；　avow　my　intended　
treachery；　and　warn　him　from　that　pestilential　swamp；　to　
which　I　was　decoying　him　to　die；　but　my　vow　to　my　dead　
father；　my　duty　to　my　innocent　youth；　prevailed　upon　these　
scruples；　and　though　my　face　was　pale　and　must　have　reflected　
the　horror　that　oppressed　my　spirits；　it　was　with　a　firm　step　
that　I　returned　to　the　borders　of　the　swamp；　and　with　smiling　
lips　that　I　bade　him　rise　and　follow　me。

The　path　on　which　we　now　entered　was　cut；　like　a　tunnel；　
through　the　living　jungle。　　On　either　hand　and　overhead；　the　
mass　of　foliage　was　continuously　joined；　the　day　sparingly　
filtered　through　the　depth　of　super…impending　wood；　and　the　
air　was　hot　like　steam；　and　heady　with　vegetable　odours；　and　
lay　like　a　load　upon　the　lungs　and　brain。　　Underfoot；　a　great　
depth　of　mould　received　our　silent　footprints；　on　each　side；　
mimosas；　as　tall　as　a　man；　shrank　from　my　passing　skirts　with　
a　continuous　hissing　rustle；　and　but　for　these　sentient　
vegetables；　all　in　that　den　of　pestilence　was　motionless　and　
noiseless。

We　had　gone　but　a　little　way　in；　when　Mr。　Caulder　was　seized　
with　sudden　nausea；　and　must　sit　down　a　moment　on　the　path。　　
My　heart　yearned；　as　I　beheld　him；　and　I　seriously　begged　the　
doomed　mortal　to　return　upon　his　steps。　　What　were　a　few　
jewels　in　the　scales　with　life？　I　asked。　　But　no；　he　said；　
that　witch　Madam　Jezebel　would　find　them　out；　he　was　an　
honest　man；　and　would　not　stand　to　be　defrauded；　and　so　
forth；　panting　the　while；　like　a　sick　dog。　　Presently　he　got　
to　his　feet　again；　protesting　he　had　conquered　his　
uneasiness；　but　as　we　again　began　to　go　forward；　I　saw　in　his　
changed　countenance；　the　first　approaches　of　death。

'Master；'　said　I；　'you　look　pale；　deathly　pale；　your　pallor　
fills　me　with　dread。　　Your　eyes　are　bloodshot；　they　are　red　
like　the　rubies　that　we　seek。'

'Wench；'　he　cried；　'look　before　you；　look　at　your　steps。　　I　
declare　to　Heaven；　if　you　annoy　me　once　again　by　looking　
back；　I　shall　remind　you　of　the　change　in　your　position。'

A　little　after；　I　observed　a　worm　upon　the　ground；　and　told；　
in　a　whisper；　that　its　touch　was　death。　　Presently　a　great　
green　serpent；　vivid　as　the　grass　in　spring；　wound　rapidly　
across　the　path；　and　once　again　I　paused　and　looked　back　at　
my　companion；　with　a　horror　in　my　eyes。　　'The　coffin　snake；'　
said　I；　'the　snake　that　dogs　its　victim　like　a　hound。'

But　he　was　not　to　be　dissuaded。　　'I　am　an　old　traveller；'　
said　he。　　'This　is　a　foul　jungle　indeed；　but　we　shall　soon　be　
at　an　end。'

'Ay；'　said　I；　looking　at　him；　with　a　strange　smile；　'what　
end？'

Thereupon　he　laughed　again　and　again；　but　not　very　heartily；　
and　then；　perceiving　that　the　path　began　to　widen　and　grow　
higher；　'There！'　said　he。　　'What　did　I　tell　you？　　We　are　past　
the　worst。'

Indeed；　we　had　now　come　to　the　bayou；　which　was　in　that　place　
very　narrow　and　bridged　across　by　a　fallen　trunk；　but　on　
either　hand　we　could　see　it　broaden　out；　under　a　cavern　of　
great　arms　of　trees　and　hanging　creepers：　　sluggish；　putrid；　
of　a　horrible　and　sickly　stench；　floated　on　by　the　flat　heads　
of　alligators；　and　its　banks　alive　with　scarlet　crabs。

'If　we　fall　from　that　unsteady　bridge；'　said　I；　'see；　where　
the　caiman　lies　ready　to　devour　us！　　If；　by　the　least　
divergence　from　the　path；　we　should　be　snared　in　a　morass；　
see；　where　those　myriads　of　scarlet　vermin　scour　the　border　
of　the　thicket！　　Once　helpless；　how　they　would　swarm　together　
to　the　assault！　　What　could　man　do　against　a　thousand　of　such　
mailed　assailants？　　And　what　a　death　were　that；　to　perish　
alive　under　their　claws。'

'Are　you　mad；　girl？'　he　cried。　　'I　bid　you　be　silent　and　lead　
on。'

Again　I　looked　upon　him；　half　relenting；　and　at　that　he　
raised　the　stick　that　was　in　his　hand　and　cruelly　struck　me　
on　the　face。　　'Lead　on！'　he　cried　again。　　'Must　I　be　all　day；　
catching　my　death　in　this　vile　slough；　and　all　for　a　prating　
slave…girl？'

I　took　the　blow　in　silence；　I　took　it　smiling；　but　the　blood　
welled　back　upon　my　heart。　　Something；　I　know　not　what；　fell　
at　that　moment　with　a　dull　plunge　in　the　waters　of　the　
lagoon；　and　I　told　myself　it　was　my　pity　that　had　fallen。

On　the　farther　side；　to　which　we　now　hastily　scrambled；　the　
wood　was　not　so　dense；　the　web　of　creepers　not　so　solidly　
convolved。　　It　was　possible；　here　and　there；　to　mark　a　patch　
of　somewhat　brighter　daylight；　or　to　distinguish；　through　the　
lighter　web　of　parasites；　the　proportions　of　some　soaring　
tree。　　The　cypress　on　the　left　stood　very　visibly　forth；　upon　
the　edge　of　such　a　clearing；　the　path　in　that　place　widened　
broadly；　and　there　was　a　patch　of　open　ground；　beset　with　
horrible　ant…heaps；　thick　with　their　artificers。　　I　laid　down　
the　tools　and　basket　by　t