The Missing Ship Part 26

"Oh, I wish that something could be done for the blacks on this estate!"

said Ellen. "It is dreadful to think that they should be allowed by their so-called Christian masters to remain on in their heathen darkness."

"It is very kind in you to interest yourself in the poor blacks, and I am afraid not many white people trouble their heads about them," said Archie. "But I came, Miss Ferris, to propose an excursion to an interesting place in this neighbourhood which you should see before you go away--and I fear that your stay is not likely to be prolonged;" and Archie looked unutterable things, and heaved a sigh which Ellen did not observe.

"What are its peculiarities, and where is it?" she asked. "I should certainly like to visit any place worth seeing."

"It is a wonderful cave, about twelve or fifteen miles to the eastward of this," answered Archie. "I have never been there myself, as I have not had a whole holiday to enable me to make the trip, nor companions with whom I could enjoy it; but if you could persuade Mr Ferris and Mr and Mrs Twigg to go, I am sure they will be repaid for the fatigue of the journey. By starting early in the morning we can return by nightfall, as there is a carriage road all the way, or what is called one in Jamaica; but perhaps you are a horsewoman, and if so, the whole distance might be performed before the sun has attained an overpowering heat."

Ellen was delighted; her only regret was that, the _Champion_ not having appeared, Lieutenant Foley could not be of the party. Mr Ferris, when she told him of the proposal, expressed his readiness to go; and Mr and Mrs Twigg, though they had lived so long in the island, never having seen the cavern, were also willing to join the expedition.

"We must let the Pembertons know," said Mrs Twigg. "The other day f.a.n.n.y Pemberton told me that she was especially wis.h.i.+ng to visit the cave. She and her brother are sure to come."

"Pray ask them," exclaimed Ellen. "She is a dear, nice girl; and if she is fond of riding, she will be ready to accompany me."

"The sooner, then, we start the better," said Mr Ferris, "or business of some sort may prevent us, and we must not prolong our stay here."

"Then I propose we start to-morrow morning," said Mr Twigg. "There's nothing like fixing an early day, as an ardent lover would say, and we couldn't well choose an earlier. We'll order the buggies and horses to be at the door on the first sound of the slave-driver's born, so that we may enjoy the full freshness of the morning."

Mrs Twigg forthwith despatched a messenger with a note to Walton Hall, Mr Pemberton's estate, which was situated about four miles inland from Bellevue, asking Miss Pemberton and her brother to come over at once, that they might be ready to start at daybreak.

The proposed expedition formed the subject of conversation for the rest of the evening, Archie Sandys being especially pleased that his suggestion had been so readily adopted. He and two other young book-keepers were to form members of the party. The family had collected for an early supper, when horses' hoofs were heard approaching the house; and it being announced that several gentlemen were coming, Mr Twigg, followed by half a dozen blacks, hurried out to meet them.

He speedily returned, accompanied by two strangers in military uniforms, whom he introduced as Major Malcolm and Lieutenant Belt. The officers bowed to the ladies and shook hands with the gentlemen, and at once felt themselves at home.

"Supper will be ready in about ten minutes; in the mean time, will you go to your rooms and make yourselves comfortable after your ride," said Mr Twigg.

"What, did you expect us?" exclaimed the major.

"We always expect guests," answered Mr Twigg, laughing--"at all events, we are always ready for them. Let me show you the way, gentlemen; your valises are already there."

On their return, Major Malcolm, a fine, soldierly looking man who had apparently seen much service, explained that he and Lieutenant Belt were on their way to Montego Bay, having to inspect several small fortresses along the coast. "We pushed on, however," he continued, "rather faster than was prudent, and knocked up our horses so that they require a day's rest before proceeding further; and we must therefore impose ourselves on you as guests, unless you turn us out."

"My dear sir, you and your men and horses are perfectly welcome to remain as long as you please," answered Mr Twigg; "and so you would be if you'd brought your whole regiment, though we might, in that case, have found some difficulty in housing you."

Of course Major Malcolm and the lieutenant heard of the proposed expedition. Mr Ferris suggested that it could be put off, but the major begged that that should on no account be done, and that if steeds could be found for him and Lieutenant Belt, they might accompany the party.

"With great pleasure, my dear sir; we can mount you without difficulty,"

said Mr Twigg; and turning round, he gave the order to old Martin, who was standing behind his chair. Supper was still proceeding when Miss Pemberton and her brother Jack arrived and were heartily welcomed. She was a Creole, but with far more life and animation than the generality of her fair countrywomen; still, her cheek, pure as alabaster, was colourless; but her figure was good, and her features remarkably handsome. Altogether, she fully merited the encomiums Ellen had pa.s.sed on her. She had been sent to school in England, and was thoroughly well educated and accomplished. Her brother Jack had had the same advantage, though he spoke, unless when excited, with the usual Creole drawl. From the few remarks he made--for he was not much addicted to talking--he was, however, not dest.i.tute of spirit; and, among his other good qualities, he evidently looked upon his lovely sister with the most devoted admiration. The two young people promised to be a pleasant addition to the party.

The family retired earlier than usual, that they might be ready to start at the hour fixed on. The gallant major and the young subaltern were escorted to their room by Mr Twigg.

"I little expected to find two such houris in this out-of-the-way spot,"

observed the major, as he was throwing off his uniform.

"Nor did I," exclaimed the lieutenant. "It is difficult to decide which of the two is the most charming, but I am most inclined to lose my heart to the young lady with the roses in her cheeks. She hasn't been long in this burning clime, I suspect, or they would have faded ere this."

"We shall not be rivals, then," observed the major, standing up in his s.h.i.+rt and trousers, and striking out with his doubled fists, as was his wont before turning in. "I prefer the last arrival, with the cla.s.sical features and cheeks as pure as the lily--a fit model for Juno. If I were to be long in her society, I should fall desperately in love with her; but I am not likely to commit such a folly, and take care that you don't, Belt. We shall know more about them to-morrow, and perchance we shall discover that their charms are not so overpowering as we fancy. I have often found it to be the case on a second interview."

"I expect to be more enthralled than ever," remarked the lieutenant.

"However, I have seldom found it difficult to break my fetters; so, major, you needn't trouble yourself on my account."

"We shall see by to-morrow evening," said the major. After a few more remarks in a similar strain, the two officers, both old campaigners, threw themselves on their beds, and were soon fast asleep.

They were aroused by a black servant, who, bringing in some large ewers of cold water, lighted their lamps and announced that the horses would soon be at the door. On descending to the hall they found the two young ladies in their riding-habits, whip in hand, ready to mount. Mrs Twigg and her husband and the other gentlemen soon made their appearance, and the servants brought round trays with cups of hot chocolate and bottles of liqueur.

"You must fortify yourselves, gentlemen," said Mr Twigg. "Let me recommend this curacoa; it is a good preventive against any ill effects from the morning air."

While the major was engaged in sipping his chocolate, the young ladies had gone out, and the two officers, greatly to their vexation, found that Archie Sandys had performed the office they had expected to have undertaken, and had a.s.sisted Ellen and f.a.n.n.y to mount. The horses provided for the officers were next brought forward.

"Here is your horse, major," said Mr Twigg, pointing to a fine-looking animal; "and, Lieutenant Belt, I hope you will not find yours inferior."

The two officers mounted, and had every reason to be satisfied with their steeds. Archie Sandys a.s.sumed the leaders.h.i.+p of the party, and as they moved forward he managed to place himself by the side of Ellen.

The carriages started almost immediately afterwards. Major Malcolm very quickly found an opportunity of riding up to Miss Pemberton, a position he seemed in no way disposed to abdicate. The young lieutenant in vain attempted to gain an equally favourable place by the side of Ellen, for Archie kept his post pertinaciously, determined not to be out-manoeuvred, and the road was not of a width to allow of three abreast. The rest of the gentlemen followed, talking and joking merrily.

The road led between hedges of p.r.i.c.kly-pear, eight or ten feet in height, and often of considerable width, the broad leaves so closely overlapping each other that they formed a dense ma.s.s through which the light failed to penetrate, bright scarlet flowers and purple fruit ornamenting the ma.s.sive wall. Here and there cocoa-nut trees sprang up from the inner side like oaks or elms in an English hedgerow, most of them loaded with fruit; while occasionally a cabbage palm or the palmetto royal towered above them, surpa.s.sing its neighbours in graceful beauty, its straight trunk rising without a branch to the height of a hundred feet or more, crowned by a waving plume, in the centre of which appeared a tender green shoot. Through the openings to the right appeared plantations of sugar-cane, and occasionally fields of Indian corn--the magnificent yellow cobs, with long, wavy beards, hanging from their vigorous stalks.

"Did you taste the cabbage palm the other day at dinner?" asked Archie.

"Yes, I thought it very nice," answered the young lady, rather surprised at the question.

"Do you know where it came from?" asked Archie.

"From a cabbage garden, I suppose," answered Ellen, laughing.

"No, from the top of one of those lofty trees," answered Archie. "That is to say, it was at the top, but to obtain it the tree had to be cut down."

"What a cruel sacrifice! I should not have eaten it with any satisfaction had I known that," exclaimed Ellen.

"We soon get indifferent to such matters in this country," said Archie.

"See how many of them there are in all directions."

"I am afraid that you will become indifferent in other matters,"

observed Ellen--"to those slave-whips, for instance, though you say they are only used in cases of necessity. When the drivers are judges as to whether that necessity is lawful, the poor slaves are likely to feel the lash very frequently, I suspect."

"It is found from experience that they cannot otherwise be kept in order," answered Archie. "I confess that at first I shuddered as I saw the whip used."

"Do the blacks never rebel against such treatment?" asked Ellen.

"They have at times," replied Archie. "In the year '37 there was an outbreak, and there have been others at different periods; but they were put down in so rigorous a fas.h.i.+on that the negroes are not likely again, I fancy, to make the attempt."

"I trust not," said Ellen, "for it would be a fearful thing were these tens of thousands of blacks, discovering their strength, to rise on their masters and attempt to revenge the wrongs they have suffered."

The conversation between Ellen and her devoted attendant was, it must be confessed, of a very unsentimental character; indeed, she would very quickly have put a stop to anything that had been otherwise, although the romantic scenery through which they were pa.s.sing might, under other circ.u.mstances, have exercised its influence over her. Not a breath of wind as yet disturbed the calm, pure atmosphere; the ocean appeared like a sheet of gla.s.s; the blue sky overhead was undimmed by a cloud; the mountain-tops seen to the right rose above the ma.s.s of green, their outline distinctly marked, though at a considerable distance. The only sounds which reached them were the lowing of cattle and the signal horns of the drivers summoning the negroes to their work. In a short time the light increased, the sun rose above the ocean, and a gentle breeze waved the topmost boughs of the trees, breaking the sea below on the left into tiny wavelets. Now the road led round a hill, with a steep precipice on the left reaching down to the water, and high cliffs to the right covered with shrubs and creepers of every hue. As it was seen ahead, it appeared as if there was barely room for more than one horse to pa.s.s, and that no carriage could possibly get along without risk of falling over the precipice; but as they proceeded it widened out, and Archie, notwithstanding Ellen's cautions, insisted on still keeping his place, riding between her and the edge of the precipice.

"Pray keep behind me, or ride on in front, Mr Sandys," she exclaimed.

"You would horrify me exceedingly were you to fall over the edge; and to save you from running the risk, I am compelled, you see, to ride so close to the cliff that I run the chance of having my hat torn off by the boughs above, or getting my shoulder struck by a projecting rock."

Still Archie begged to ride on as he was doing. "Were your horse to shy, Miss Ferris," he remarked, "I might be the means of saving you, and I would run every risk for the sake of doing that."