Roland was looking curiously on. He was wondering what would happen next.
He had not very long to wait, for with his foot the chief turned the dead man on his back, and the blood from his death-stab poured out afresh.
He dipped his palm in the red stream and held it up on high. His men followed his example.
Then all turned to the sun, and in one voice uttered just one word, which, being interpreted by Benee, was understood to mean--REVENGE!
They licked the blood from their hands, and, turning round, marched in silence and in single file out and away from the forest and were seen no more.
CHAPTER IX--THAT TREE IN THE FOREST GLADE
The things, the happenings, I have now to tell you of in this chapter form the turning-point in our story.
Weeks pa.s.sed by after the departure of that mysterious band of savages, and things went on in the same old groove on the plantation.
Whence the savages had come, or whither they had gone, none could tell.
But all were relieved at their exit, dramatic and threatening though it had been.
The hands were all very busy now everywhere, and one day, it being the quarter"s end, after taking stock Roland gave his usual dinner-party, and a ball to his natives. These were all dressed out as gaily as gaily could be. The ladies wore the most tawdry of finery, most of which they had bought, or rather had had brought them by their brothers and lovers from Para, and nothing but the most p.r.o.nounced evening dress did any "lady of colour" deign to wear.
Why should they not ape the quality, and "poh deah Miss Peggy".
Peggy was very happy that evening, and so I need hardly say was d.i.c.k Temple. Though he never had dared to speak of love again, no one could have looked at those dark daring eyes of his and said it was not there.
It must have been about eleven by the clock and a bright moonlight night when d.i.c.k started to ride home. He knew the track well, he said, and could not be prevailed upon to stay all night. Besides, his uncle expected him.
The dinner and ball given to the plantation hands had commenced at sunset, or six o"clock, and after singing hymns--a queer finish to a most hilarious dance--all retired, and by twelve of the clock not a sound was to be heard over all the plantation save now and then the mournful cry of the shriek-owl or a plash in the river, showing that the "gators preferred a moonshiny night to daylight itself.
The night wore on, one o"clock, two o"clock chimed from the turret on Burnley Hall, and soon after this, had anyone been in the vicinity he would have seen a tall figure, wrapped in cloak and hood, steal away from the house adown the walks that led from the flowery lawns. The face was quite hidden, but several times the figure paused, as if to listen and glance around, then hurried on once more, and finally disappeared in the direction of the forest.
Peggy"s bedroom was probably the most tastefully-arranged and daintily-draped in the house, and when she lay down to-night and fell gently asleep, very sweet indeed were the dreams that visited her pillow. The room was on a level with the river lawn, on to which it opened by a French or cas.e.m.e.nt window. Three o"clock!
The moon shone on the bed, and even on the girl"s face, but did not awaken her.
A few minutes after this, and the cas.e.m.e.nt window was quietly opened, and the same cloaked figure, which stole away from the mansion an hour before, softly entered.
It stood for more than half a minute erect and listening, then, bending low beside the bed, listened a moment there.
Did no spectral dream cross the sleeping girl"s vision to warn her of the dreadful fate in store for her?
Had she shrieked even now, a.s.sistance would have been speedily forthcoming, and she might have been saved!
But she quietly slumbered on.
Then the dark figure retreated as it had come, and presently another and more terrible took its place--a burly savage carrying a blanket or rug.
First the girl"s clothing and shoes, her watch and all her trinkets, were gathered up and handed to someone on the lawn.
Then the savage, approaching the bed with stealthy footsteps, at once enveloped poor Peggy in the rug and bore her off.
For a moment she uttered a m.u.f.fled moan or two, like a nightmare scream, then all was still as the grave.
"Missie Peggy! Missie Peggy," cried Beeboo next morning at eight as she entered the room. "What for you sleep so long? Ah!" she added sympathizingly, still holding the door-k.n.o.b in her hand. "Ah! but den the poh chile very tired. Dance plenty mooch las" night, and--"
She stopped suddenly.
Something unusual in the appearance of the bed attire attracted her attention and she speedily rushed towards it.
She gave vent at once to a loud yell, and Roland himself, who was pa.s.sing near, ran in immediately.
He stood like one in a state of catalepsy, with his eyes fixed on the empty bed. But he recovered shortly.
"Oh, this is a fearful day!" he cried, and hastened out to acquaint Jake and Bill, both of whom, as well as Mr. Peter, slept in the east wing of the mansion.
He ran from door to door knocking very loud and shouting: "Awake, awake, Peggy has gone! She has been kidnapped, and the accursed savages have had their revenge!"
In their pyjamas only, Jake and Bill appeared, and after a while Mr.
Peter, fully dressed.
He looked sleepy.
"I had too much wine last night," he said, with a yawn, "and slept very heavily all night. But what is the matter?"
He was quietly and quickly informed.
"This is indeed a fearful blow, but surely we can trace the scoundrels!"
"Boys, hurry through with your breakfast," said Roland. "Jake, I will be back in a few minutes."
He whistled shrilly and Brawn came rushing to his side.
"Follow me, Brawn."
His object was to find out in which direction the savages had gone.
Had Brawn been a blood-hound he could soon have picked up the scent.
As it was, however, his keen eyes discovered the trail on the lawn, and led him to the gate. He howled impatiently to have it opened, then bounded out and away towards the forest in a westerly and southerly direction, which, if pursued far enough, would lead towards Bolivia, along the wild rocky banks of the Madeira River.
It was a whole hour before Brawn returned. He carried something in his mouth. He soon found his master, and laid the something gently down at his feet, stretching himself--grief-stricken--beside it.
It was one of Peggy"s boots, with a white silk stocking in it, drenched in blood.