Antigua and the Antiguans Volume I Part 25

ZULMIERA, THE HALF-CARIB GIRL.

A Legend of the Savannah.

The sun was rapidly sinking in the west, but its declining beams only threw upon every object a richer tone of colour, as a party, consisting of three persons, emerged from a small shrubbery, and halted upon the brow of a shelving hill.

The foremost of the party was a man who probably verged upon the mellow age of fifty; but his eagle-eye, and stalwart frame, told that his years sat light upon him. He was what would have been termed a handsome man; but a supercilious curl of his upper lip, and an expression of scornful indifference, which, though apparently suppressed, lingered in his dark hazel eye, added to a brow furrowed by deep lines, and compressed by slumbering pa.s.sions, which only waited the spur of the moment to be called into action, detracted from the otherwise agreeable character of his features, and effectually forbid any approach to familiarity.

A deep and unsightly scar, the effects of a sabre-cut, which, commencing from the right ear, traversed the jaw, injured yet further his good looks. He was habited in a complete suit of black velvet, of the richest texture; the sombreness of which was in some measure relieved by diamond clasps, and small knee-buckles of the same costly stones. A small collar of the finest lawn made its appearance above the doublet; and a black-sheathed "Andrea Ferrara," with basket hilt, dangling from his side, and calf-skin boots, completed his costume. This dress, fitting tight to his shape, shewed to advantage the large but perfect symmetry of his person; while the dark brown hair, sprinkled here and there with the grey badge of declining years, cropt close around his temples; and the steeple-crowned hat peculiar to his sect and times, bespoke him, what he was, the friend of Cromwell-the roundhead governor of Antigua.

The next person that gained the open ground was Bridget, the beautiful daughter of the governor. If ever there was a personification of extreme loveliness, it was known in Bridget.

Scarcely seventeen, her slight but rounded figure, and her sweet, mild face, while it struck the beholder with admiration, and riveted his attention, gave the idea of some embodied sylph. Her complexion was of that ethereal tint of which the poet says-

"Oh, call it fair, not pale."

The lily could scarcely outvie it in purity of colour, although every emanation of her guileless heart called up the latent rose-tint into her delicate cheek; while the small, pouting lip, with all the rich glow of the coral, forbid effectually the supposition of ill health. A slightly aquiline nose, a cla.s.sically-formed and dimpled chin, with a fair and open forehead, in which every azure vein could be traced, were the prominent features; blended with that mingled sweetness, that feminine grace, and that inexpressible _something_, which really and actually const.i.tutes beauty. But her eyes-those soft, lovely eyes-look at them, as she raises the long lashes, and you can fancy, that were her features devoid of any pretensions to comeliness, those liquid orbs would richly compensate for all. Of the clearest hazel, every glance that fell from them spoke the inmost feelings of her soul; and whether they beamed forth in pity, or flashed with animation, they equally bespoke the benevolence of her nature.

Puritan as her father was, he did not deny his daughter, any more than himself, the use of a few ornaments; and a bandeau of pearls fastened around her graceful head vainly endeavoured to restrain the abundant tresses of her soft, glossy, brown hair, which, breaking loose, floated upon her shoulders in natural ringlets.

Her dress of dove-coloured satin flowed in rich and ample folds to her feet, from whence the little slipper peeped forth; and, gathered around her slender waist by a girdle of pearls, shewed the admirable proportions of her figure. The stiff puritan ruff of lawn, in which every plait could be counted, screened her neck; but around her small white throat was fastened a carcanet of her favourite gems, not purer in tint than her own fair skin.

A wimple of the same colour as her dress, and lined with pale rose tiffany, was tied under her little rounded chin, but which, in the joyousness of her nature, she had unfastened, that she might more fully enjoy the beauties of the evening.

The remaining individual that formed the trio was in every respect far different from those already described; yet, as she stood a few paces behind Bridget-to mark the difference in their rank, although near enough to join in the conversation-her lofty and commanding figure called equally for attention and admiration. The clear olive tinge of her complexion, the large black eye, which sparkled with dazzling light, and the long coal-black hair, braided and twined round and round her head, told that she was not of the same country, or the same people as her mistress. Servant-slave as she was-she looked born to command; and daring must that person be who would encounter for the second time the flash of her offended eye. Formed in a larger mould than Bridget, her figure still bore the utmost symmetrical proportions; and the rounded arm and taper fingers might have served as a model for the G.o.ddess of Beauty: this female was Zulmiera-the half-Carib girl.

The mother of Zulmiera was a very beautiful Carib woman, who, in that disgraceful part.i.tion of them among the English, (after the ma.s.sacre of their male friends at St. Kitts during Sir Thomas Warner's government of that island,) fell to the share of a young Englishman, a follower of Sir Thomas Warner's son, in his after colonization of Antigua. Xamba accompanied her master to his new residence, and there bore him a daughter; but dying soon after, the infant was brought up in the governor's family. After the reduction of Antigua by Sir George Ayscue, and the establishment of a republican governor, in place of the opposer of Cromwell's power, Zulmiera, who was rapidly attaining the full burst of womanhood, was, at the earnest entreaties of Bridget Everard, who was charmed with the untutored graces of the beautiful Indian maiden, promoted to the office of her companion. It must be allowed, that this appointment met not with the full approval of the governor. Violently attached to Cromwell, and bearing bitter hatred to the royalist party, and all malignants, he thought the girl had been too long nurtured in their principles to make a faithful attendant to the daughter of a republican. But Bridget was his only child,-a motherless girl; and stern and unbending as he was to others, his iron mood gave way before her playful caresses.

Still there was another and deep cause of dislike he had against Zulmiera. Upon further acquaintance with this Indian girl, he found her too haughty for his own arrogant spirit to deal with.

Too high-minded and forgetful of her real rank as a servant, and apparently under the impression that, while attending upon her mistress, she was in fact her equal, if not her superior.

Zulmiera was, in truth, fully alive to this sentiment. She looked upon herself as the descendant (on her mother's side) of a long line of chiefs-of those who had once been rulers in the land, and who had received from their swarthy subjects the homage that monarchs of a more civilized nation were wont to receive.

Thinking thus of Zulmiera, no wonder that the governor distrusted her. Nor was the girl ignorant of his opinion of her; and consequently their feelings of dislike were mutual. She knew he hated her; and he felt that in her heart she despised him. Still, she loved Bridget-for who could not love that mild, fair girl?- loved her with an intensity of fervour, unknown to the inhabitants of colder climes-and would have shed for her her heart's best blood; for love and hatred were to Zulmiera all-absorbing pa.s.sions. Yet there was another who held the _first_ place in Zulmiera's heart,-one that was to the half-instructed, half-Indian girl-her "idol G.o.d."

But to return to the movements of the trio. Having left the concealment of the shrubbery, the whole party paused, and with different feelings gazed upon the landscape stretched before them. The slight declivity upon the brow of which they were standing, had been cleared, and was now planted with tobacco, whose broad green leaves, and delicate trumpet flowers, attracted the attention of numerous gorgeous insects. This plantation stretched to the end of a wild copse, where every native shrub and brushwood grew together with the loftier trees, and formed an almost impervious thicket. Beyond this copse, the waters of a beautiful creek, which ran a short way inland, glittered like gold in the beams of the setting sun; while on every side rose undulating hills, begirt with many an infant plantation, belonging to some of the earlier settlers. Further off, the broad ocean stretched its interminable waves, its billows sleeping in calmness; except in one part, where a long ridge of shelving rocks fretted them into motion, and caused them to send forth their angry roar.[89]

At the bottom of the hill upon which they were standing ran a bridle-path, which, winding in and out, branched off in two directions; one pa.s.sing through the populous town of Falmouth, the other extending to the sh.o.r.es of a beautiful harbour,[90]

where some industrious settlers were cultivating the adjoining country. Along this path a single horseman was seen slowly advancing, in the direction of the harbour. As he gained the skirts of the hill, he reined up for a moment his prancing steed, and, looking towards the party, raised his plumed hat and bent forward in graceful obeisance. The dark eyes of Zulmiera sparkled with delight, and standing, as she did, behind the governor and his daughter, unseen by them, she raised her hand and waved a return, while, at the same instant, the rosiest blush sprang to the cheeks of Bridget, and crimsoned her very throat. The horseman again bent his head, and then, replacing his hat, shook the broidered reins and galloped off in the direction he had chosen for his equestrian amus.e.m.e.nt.

Following with his eye the plumed stranger until he was lost in the intervening copse, the governor turned to his daughter, and fixing a steady, penetrating glance upon her, exclaimed, "Ha!

then the young malignant's designs appear to be more open than they were. But, mark me, daughter Bridget," and his eye became sterner and darker as the pupil dilated with his awakening pa.s.sion, and his haughty lip curled with increased scorn-"mark me, Bridget, sooner than I'd see thee mated with one of his malignant race, mine own hand should stretch thee at my feet a breathless corpse!-yea, as Jephtha slew his daughter, so would I slay thee!" The agitated and frightened girl threw herself upon her father's breast, and, amid tears and sobs, stammered out- "Father-dearest father! think not so. Raphe de Merefield is naught to me; he never spoke to me but with the most studied politeness, and, indeed, he shuns rather than seeks my presence."

-"'Tis well, then, maiden-my suspicions are unfounded; the wolf has not entered the sheepfold to steal the tender lamb; but I have observed him lately wandering about these grounds, and I feared my daughter was the object. But listen!" and again his eye flashed, his lip trembled-"verily, I know that young man well-ay, better than he knows me-for his father was my neighbour and my deadliest foe!-and what was more, the foe of Cromwell! He it was that a.s.sisted that tyrannical man, Charles Stuart, in his escape from Hampton Court, and after aided him in his long struggles to maintain possession of a crown which had long been doomed to destruction. He it was that beggared his brother to obtain money to carry out that well-slain tyrant's nefarious designs! And he it was that, at the battle of Naseby, gave me this ugly sign of recognition," pointing to the scar which disfigured his cheek.

"But was he not discomfited? Yea, as the dry leaf he fell. Lo! as David girded up his strength in the day of battle, so girded I up mine; and as he smote his enemies with the edge of the sword, so my trusty weapon stretched the haughty Philistine upon the ground, never to rise again! Guess, then, if thou canst, how much I love yon cavalier, who hath sucked in with his very milk the taint of papistry-for did not that Babylonish woman whom men call the Queen of England rear him up from his cradle? yea, and taught him all her sorceries. Had my honoured friend and master, the protector, followed my advice, this young traitor to the commonwealth would never have escaped from England to disseminate his malignant poison abroad. Cromwell should have crushed the egg before it was hatched. But verily I wax hot and am impatient, not considering the time approacheth when rebels and arch-rebels shall melt away as the h.o.a.r frost melteth before the sun.

Despatches have reached me that it is Cromwell's intention to send, in the course of a few months, a squadron against St.

Domingo, and my instructions are to see that a proper troop be raised in this island to join the expedition. I am resolved that Master Raphe de Merefield be one of the gallants who shall serve in that affair; a goodly bullet-shot or, albeit, a well-applied stroke from the rapier of a Spaniard, may relieve me from his machinations; or should he refuse to fight under the banner of the commonwealth, verily, I know the malignancy of his father cleaves so closely to him, that it will only be maintaining Cromwell's interest to have him properly secured, or we may see another revolt when we least expect it." Thus saying, the governor walked forward a few paces, and shading his eyes from the lingering sunbeams, scanned for a few moments the scene before him.

What pa.s.sed in the mind of Bridget during the foregoing conversation it is unnecessary to relate, but the emotions called up in the heart of the Carib girl while hearing her lover thus traduced were violent and various. Hate, scorn, and revenge, fired her eye, and sent a torrent of hot blood through her veins, which, rus.h.i.+ng to her face, turned the clear olive to a fiery crimson. Yet so well was she accustomed to master her feelings, that before her young mistress was sufficiently recovered to commence another dialogue, she stood the same apparently calm being, her hands folded across her breast; and only that her eye was more dilated, and her cheek still slightly tinged, none could tell that aught had moved her.

An exclamation from the governor, who had, for the last few minutes, been intently gazing in one direction, arrested his daughter's attention, and, gliding to his elbow, she inquired if he addressed her. "Look, Bridget," replied her father, in a still stern, but not unmusical voice-"look o'er yonder grove-dost thou see aught moving?"-"Nothing, dearest father," answered the maiden, in her own sweet tones-"nothing but the bland zephyr sporting amid the young green leaves, and playing its fairy music upon them." "Foolish enthusiast! But haste, girl!-fetch me the wondrous instrument the lord-general gave me, and let me give yon grove a sharper look-methinks it contains more inmates than we wot of. I have heard of wild Indians and their deeds."

Roused by his remarks, Zulmiera started forward, and in an agitated voice which she in vain tried to stifle, exclaimed, "Oh, no, your excellency, naught is there, save, as the Lady Bridget saith, the whispering wind or the fly-birds as they seek their leafy bower." "Back, girl!" fiercely retorted the governor-"back to thy place; who taught thee to hazard thy remarks? Methinks thy cavalier masters might have made thee know thy station better."

Again the blood rushed to the cheek and temples of Zulmiera-again the eye flashed fire-but again she mastered her emotions; exclaiming, however, as she did so, but in a voice too subdued to reach her companion's ear, "Rest till to-morrow's night, proud man, then wilt thou learn who governs here!"

At this moment, Bridget placed in her father's hand the lately invented telescope,[91] when, raising it to his eye, he narrowly observed the whole breadth of the copse; the distant creek and the farther ocean; but nothing met his eye-nothing, save the wavy green, or the wing of a weary sea-fowl as it sought its nest.

Slowly dropping the instrument, the governor once more gazed with his naked eye in that direction. The sun had set some minutes before, and as the last of his golden beams faded in the west, he turned upon his heel, and, followed by the females, was once more lost in the verdant shrubbery.

[89] Now called the Memora's.

[90] Now called English Harbour.

[91] Telescopes were said to have been invented during the reign of James I., although some attribute the invention to Roger Bacon, 1292.

CHAPTER XXIV.

CONTINUATION OF THE LEGEND.

It was a calm, delicious, West Indian night. The moon shone in all her glory, bathing lawn and lea, upland and woodland, in her silvery light. The waters of the creek we have already noticed were rife with beauty; and the waves of the far-off ocean, as they dashed in measured cadence on the beach, broke musically upon the listener's ear.

A stately figure, enveloped in a dark mantle, glided from behind a screen of lime and coffee trees; and gaining the open ground, looked cautiously around. As if a.s.sured its movements were un.o.bserved, the figure darted off at a rapid pace in the direction of a magnificent grove; but with steps so light, that it would scarcely have crushed the lowliest flower. Upon reaching the verge of the grove, it stopped; and placing a finger upon a small gittern,[92] carried beneath the ample cloak, struck a single note. The crus.h.i.+ng of the younger twigs and leaves told that the signal was heard; and springing from the covert, a young man bounded forward, exclaiming-"Zulmiera! dearest Zulmiera! how long thou hast stayed to-night!"

The moon still shone with a clear and fervent light, displaying every object in a distinct manner, and shewing the picturesque dress of the impa.s.sioned stranger to the best advantage. His figure was slight but perfectly formed, while his fair skin and glowing cheeks bespoke his Saxon origin. His eyes were of the clearest blue, and his long auburn locks, parted in the middle of his forehead, flowed over his shoulders, in length and profusion equalling a woman's. A slight moustache shaded his upper lip, which, slightly curved, displayed a set of teeth faultless in size and colour. His dress, fas.h.i.+oned in that superb style which the followers of Charles loved to indulge in, consisted of a doublet of three-piled murrey-colour velvet, pinked and slashed with white satin, and ornamented with elaborate embroidery, his falling band, or collar, of the richest point lace, and his nether garments to match with the doublet, were finished at the knees with white satin roses and diamond studs. A small but admirably tempered Toledo, the hilt of solid gold, and sparkling with diamonds, was strapped to his side by an embroidered belt; while a Flemish beaver hat, looped with a diamond b.u.t.ton, and surrounded by a snowy plume, shaded his somewhat boyish features.

A dark short cloak, lined with white tafiety, which he had flung aside when springing to meet Zulmiera, floated from behind his right shoulder, and served to give him still more an air of graceful elegance.

"Dearest Zulmiera," said the young stranger, when seated upon the trunk of a large tree, which, uprooted by a former hurricane, and slightly covered by a little alluvial earth, had shot forth a few sickly branches-"dearest Zulmiera, how long I have waited for you -how much I have to tell you! I have watched each star as it peeped forth from the heavens-heard the shrill pipe of the curlew as it flew to its nest-but listened in vain for your light footstep; say, dearest, what kept you from the trysting-tree?" "I was in attendance upon my mistress until this late hour," replied Zulmiera, speaking in an ironical tone, and laying a strong emphasis upon the word _mistress_, while a slight look of scorn pa.s.sed over her animated features; "or else doubt not I would have met you long before; for where, Raphe, would the bird with weary wing seek for rest but by the side of its own fond mate? or why should yon white flower," pointing to a night-jasmine which was growing in all its wild luxuriance near the spot, and loading the air with sweet and powerful perfume-"why should yon white flower haste to open its pretty leaves, as soon as the day melts away, were it not to seek the fond love of those beautiful stars which are twinkling above us? Raphe, you are my mate, and your eyes are my stars, in which I read my destiny."

To this fond but fanciful rhapsody, Raphe de Merefield made no answer, except by pressing the beautiful hand which rested in his; and the half-Carib continued: "But it was not to tell you this, Raphe, that brought me here so late to-night. Come with me." And suffering himself to be led by her, they quitted the deep recess in which they had been seated, and walked into the open ground already mentioned.

Looking up the ascent above the tops of the trees, which grew in vast profusion, forming a complete barrier around, the moon-beams fell upon the roof of an irregular but commodious building. This was government house, and through an opening in the leafy enclosure, the light of a taper was seen brightly s.h.i.+ning from a small diamond-pane cas.e.m.e.nt, in one of the gable ends of the edifice. "In that room," said the romantic girl, directing Raphe's attention to it, "sleeps one, who, next to yourself, I love most on earth; and scornfully, harshly as her father has treated me, she must and shall be saved! Mark me, Raphe, an' thou lovest me, guard the Lady Bridget as thou wouldst a sister. Wild spirits will be abroad ere the glad sun shall set and rise again, or yon pretty stars be peeping at us; and though I think they will care for mine as they would me, still, Raphe, I would have thee prepared. When all is over-when you and I-but I need say no more, except that Bridget shall not then be ashamed to love the despised, the scorned Zulmiera," and as she spoke, she threw back her graceful head with the air of a Cleopatra, while the bright crimson mantled in her cheeks, and increased the l.u.s.tre of her eyes.

"What mean you, Zulmiera?" inquired the young cavalier, as soon as he could make himself heard; for her utterance during the preceding speech had been so rapid, and her manner so excited, that all his former attempts to interrupt her had been useless.

"What mean you, dearest Zulmiera? Why this flas.h.i.+ng eye-this agitated mien? Is it because yon king-killing, canting Puritan, called you _servant_, that these wild dreams (for I know not what else to term them) are floating through your brain? Never heed him, dearest; you will soon be my bride, my acknowledged wife; and then let me see who dare call you servant, or taunt you with your birth! Know that I love one tress of this black hair"-and he drew her fondly towards him-"better than all the fair ringlets and fairer skins of England's boasted daughters. But draw your mantle closer round you, and let us to our former seat, where I will relate to you all my plans.-You know," resumed Raphe, as they gained their resting-place upon the old tree, "that after the unfortunate battle of Naseby, upon which b.l.o.o.d.y field my brave father fell, fighting for his lawful sovereign against those long-eared Roundheads, (to which sect our notable governor belongs!) my widowed mother, seized with an irrepressible panic, fled from England, carrying me, then a stripling of about fourteen, along with her. Our first place of refuge was Holland, where the queen, whose G.o.dson I have the honour to be, had sought safety some time before. But my mother, disliking the country, and having received letters from her husband's brother, my revered uncle, whose namesake I am, offering her an asylum in Antigua, she determined to avail herself of his kindness. Thus it was I became a resident in this island; and during my frequent visits at government house, when loyalty ruled there, I met my dearest Zulmiera. You are aware, I believe, that my uncle, who was formerly a merchant of the city of London, was joined with Sir Thomas Warner in a grant of land situated in this island, the grantor of which was the martyr Charles. Upon part of that land the brother of young Phillip Warner is erecting a new dwelling, and cultivating the surrounding country. It will be a fine place when it is finished; and Warner deserves it should be, for he made a gallant defence in 1651, when old Noll sent Sir George Ayscue to reduce this island, because, forsooth, it stood out for its lawful sovereign. But to resume my story, which the brave actions of Mr. Warner drove from my head. To-day, I confided to my mother our mutual engagement ; she has listened to the voice of her only, her beloved son, and is prepared to receive you as a daughter. To-morrow, I will call upon the governor-although I hate the sight of him, from his high-crowned hat down to his ugly looking calf-skins-and make my proposals in form. If he consents with a good grace, well; if not, I feel a.s.sured my dear Zulmiera will not fear to leave his house and protection for the home and hearth of one who loves her as I do. I still hope that our own King Charles (G.o.d bless him!) may overcome his enemies, and be seated upon the throne of his fathers; then will we visit old England, and in my own paternal mansion, I've no doubt I shall get my handsome Zulmiera to forget her native island and all her wild dreams." So saying, with a look of strong affection and with gallant bearing, he raised her hand to his lips.

"Oh, Raphe!" said the agitated girl, as her lover concluded his relation, to which she had listened with breathless attention; "oh, Raphe! had I known this but even ten days agone, how much might I, how much might we all have been spared. But I thought your mother would never have consented that the governor's servant should mate with her n.o.ble son-and my own high spirit, goaded on as it has been by the scornful usage I have met, has led me to do a deed which may, perhaps, dash the cup of happiness from my lips. But, then," she murmured, as if more in communion with herself than in reply to her companion, "but then to be a queen, and Raphe (they promised that, or I would never have consented) to be a king. No, it must be: I have gone too far to turn back;" and she raised her head, and looke steadfastly, but apparently half-unconsciously at the young man, who, surprised at her behaviour and language, was gazing intently upon her. At length, slightly shaking her hand to arrest her attention, he inquired again the cause of her extreme emotion. Receiving no reply from Zulmiera, whose large dark eyes were still fixed upon his face, he became seriously alarmed, and, in an anxious tone, entreated her to quit directly the night air, and seek that repose she appeared to need so much, within the precincts of government house. Allowing herself to be led in that direction, they in silence gained the shrubbery; when, after asking in vain for an explanation, and hearing her again and again express her a.s.surance that she was not seriously indisposed, Raphe de Merefield bade her good even. As he turned to leave the spot, Zulmiera appeared to recover herself, and drawing a long breath, exclaimed "To-morrow, dear Raphe, to-morrow thou shalt know all- till then, farewell!"

For some moments after the departure of the young cavalier, Zulmiera remained standing in the same posture; and then, suddenly rousing herself, she gazed once more earnestly around, and finding all still, stepped without the bounds of the shrubbery, and retracing her steps, once more gained the border of the copse. She was about to make use of an arranged signal, when a dark figure came bounding over a natural mound, formed by wild plants and brushwood, and in another instant stood before her.

Near seven feet in height, and of corresponding breadth of shoulder, the stranger looked able to compete with a dozen men of ordinary growth, while his whole appearance was such as to strike terror into the heart of the beholder. Attired in a garment of dark red cloth, which only covered his person from his waist to his knees, the remainder of his body was painted in a most hideous manner. A black leathern belt, pa.s.sing over his brawny shoulders, supported a huge naked broad-sword, doubtless obtained in some predatory exploit, whose edge was blunted and hacked by many a rough encounter, dangled by his side, or struck harmlessly against his naked legs. His face, the features of which were naturally good, was disfigured by grotesque colourings, and horrible scars; while his long black hair, to which was fastened small pieces of copper, bra.s.s b.u.t.tons, and tufts of parrot feathers, floated behind him in matted locks, and gave him the appearance of a wandering gnome. An old regimental coat, from which part of the lace had been cut, and which was another of his war spoils, was tied around his neck by the two sleeves, serving the purpose of a cloak; and upon his breast reposed-a silent but melancholy memento of his habits-a string of human teeth, their dead white contrasting vividly with his dark skin. This stranger was Cuanaboa, the dreaded Carib chief.

Rendering to Zulmiera his simple obeisance, he commenced the conversation by remarking in a barbarous kind of dialect, "the Boyez[93] gave the time to meet when the big star," pointing to the moon, "rose above the hill, and the lady promised to obey; but now it's s.h.i.+ning o'er our heads, and the charm may be broken- the bow may indeed be bent, and the arrow speed on its way, and yet fall to the ground wide of the mark. We meet to-night, 'tis true; but the time the Boyez appointed is long past, and now perhaps our purpose may fail, and our enemies escape." "Oh, no!

Cuanaboa, believe not so," replied Zulmiera; "listen not to the wild words of the old Boyez; thinkest thou _I_ care for what he saith?" "Ay, lady, but thou art fallen from the faith of thy fathers-thou hast lived too long with the Christians; but it matters not now, let us talk of our plans. Myself and comrades have agreed to lead the attack upon yonder house about this time to-morrow night, and we look to you to draw from their weapons those little round stones which kill so many of us, we know not how. Guacanagari has joined me with twice so many men, (holding up his hand, and spreading out his fingers,) and as fine a canoe as ever was paddled along these seas. He landed with his party just as the sun touched the waters; an hour badly chosen by him, for too many eyes are then abroad. I hope, though, none saw them but their red brothers, for they skulked along by the thickest part of the woods; and now their canoe lies high and dry, beneath the shelter of yon high banks, while they repose in safety in the cave,[94] attended by old Quiba. Now, lady, as, when the white men are subdued, and, falling beneath our clubs, or transfixed by our arrows, serve us as sacrifices to Mayboya,[95] we are to look upon you as our Queen--"

"And Raphe as your _king_" interrupted Zulmiera, in hurried accents. "You promised that, or I would never have agreed to what I have; and had I known Cuanaboa as much as I do to-night, even that scheme of grandeur would not have tempted me to turn traitor, to promise, as I have, to open the doors, where I have lived so long, to give entrance to the enemy, and to lull their fears, while the worse than blood-hounds were upon their steps.

Oh, Cuanaboa! I might have been so very happy, had I only waited in patience for a little time-happier as plain Mistress de Merefield, than I shall be, perhaps, as queen of the Caribbees; but it is no use repining now; I have given my word, and, right or wrong, Zulmiera will stand by it."