For he felt that they had not taken warning by the hints they had received. Humpy Dee had been on the watch, and, in his malignity, let them get away before giving notice to the sentry, that they might be caught, ironed, and flogged, or perhaps meet their death in the struggle.
But Nic had yet to find that Humpy Dee"s designs were deeper than this.
The walk back was not long enough for a hundredth part of the bitter thoughts that crowded into Nic Revel"s brain; neither would they have got a hearing had the distance been a thousand times the length, on account of the one dominant horror which filled his brain: "Will they flog us?--will they flog us?" That question was always repeating itself, and, when the prisoner heard Pete utter a low groan, he was convinced that the poor fellow was possessed by similar thoughts.
Only so short a time before that they had left their quarters, and now they were back in the darkness, their plans crushed, and only the punishment to look forward to.
"Now, Sam, be sharp with a couple of lanthorns and those irons," cried the overseer.
"Iss, sah."
"Prisoners been quiet?" whispered the settler to the sentry.
"Iss, sah, berry quiet; all fa.s.s asleep;" and the man let his musket fall down upon the ground with an ominous thud as, in obedience to an order, he unlocked the shed-door and lowered the huge bar before drawing it open.
"Now then," muttered the overseer, "how long is he going to be with that lanthorn? Here, in with them, boys; but don"t loose your hold till I tell you."
Nic and Pete were hurried on; and, as soon as they were inside, the settler and his lieutenant stood in the doorway, pistol in hand, while Nic"s face was involuntarily turned in the direction of the corner where Humpy Dee"s bunk lay, in the full expectation of hearing some bantering sneer.
But the man made no sign, and directly after the _pad_, _pad_ of Samson"s feet was heard, and a faint light threw up the figures of those at the doorway. Then Samson"s big black face appeared, lit up by the lanthorns he swung, one in each hand.
"I take in de light, sah, and den go fetch de irons?"
"Yes; look sharp," cried Saunders.
He made way for the black to pa.s.s, and the man raised one of the lanthorns to hang it upon a hook. He did not do this, but raised the other lanthorn and hurriedly took a few steps in the direction of the bunks, to begin shouting directly:
"Hyah!" he cried, "whar dem oder white fellow? You, Zerk, what you go and done wid de oder man?"
"What!" roared the settler and the overseer in a breath as they rushed forward, pistol in hand.
"All gone, sah," cried Samson, beginning to tremble.
"Bah! you "most fa.s.s "sleep," cried Xerxes, who had come in at the call of his companion; "dey all tuck under de corn-"talk."
"You black idiot!" roared the overseer, turning upon the sentry so savagely that the man"s knees began to knock together; he let go his hold of his musket, and it fell on the floor with a thud, followed by a flash and an explosion, while the man escaped a knockdown blow by ducking.
"Here, quick!" cried the settler, who had seized one of the lanthorns from Samson and convinced himself that the other prisoners had taken advantage of the hole made by Pete, and, as soon as the chase began, climbed quietly out in turn. "All of you follow. Pick up that musket and load it again, you black fool!"
"No "top clap irons on dese two, sah?" cried Samson.
"No. Here, Saunders, fetch another musket. Samson, you and Nero guard these two while we"re gone; and if you let them escape I"ll shoot you."
"No, no," said Saunders quickly; "I"ll manage them. We want all our men. Here, Sam; go and let loose the dogs."
"But these two?" cried the settler impatiently.
"Well, the dogs will watch them."
"We want them, man, to track the other scoundrels."
"We can do that ourselves. They followed us, for a hundred pounds, and have taken the boat by now."
The settler uttered a furious oath and stamped his foot.
"Sharper than we are," he roared. "Yes, that is right."
Just then the dogs, newly set at liberty, came bounding up, followed by Samson; and the overseer went up to the two prisoners.
"There, lie down in your kennels," he snarled. "We shall not be long, and it depends upon yourselves whether we find you when we come back. I warn you that if you move the hounds will tear you to pieces."
"Saunders!" whispered the settler.
"Their lives will be in their own hands, sir," cried the overseer warmly. "Let me have my own way, please; it is the only thing to do."
The settler shrugged his shoulders, and the blacks all stood there round-eyed and staring, while the two unfortunates lay down in their bunks, and the overseer called up the dogs and bade them couch.
"Watch," he said fiercely, and a deep-toned growl arose. "Stay there and watch."
"Now, sir," he said coldly, "the sooner we are off the better. Out with you, boys, and bring the lights."
The blacks ran out, the settler followed, and the overseer went to the door last.
"I"ve warned you," he said fiercely, as he turned to face the prisoners.
"Make the slightest movement, and those hounds will be at your throats and rend you limb from limb. Good dogs, then--watch," he shouted; then he banged the door, locked and barred it, and just then the settler"s voice was heard at a little distance.
"Here, Saunders," he cried; "two of the loaded muskets have been taken from the hooks."
"Hor, hor!" laughed Pete savagely; "just found that out?"
He ceased, for three dogs sprang to their feet, uttering a furious barking trio which made his heart seem to leap to his throat.
In the intense desire to save himself, Nic sprang up into a sitting position and spoke quickly and gently, calling to the dog which had shown a friendly disposition towards him from the first.
"Don"t do that, Master Nic," said Pete hoa.r.s.ely.
But even as the man spoke the dog was upon Nic"s bunk, whining, pawing at him, and thrusting its great muzzle in his hand, uttering the while a low, eager bark.
The others barked too, and, as if in imitation of their companion, made at Nic as well, favouring him with their clumsy caresses, and ending by sitting close up to him, panting loudly.
"Have they killed you, Master Nic?" whispered Pete hoa.r.s.ely, eliciting a fierce growl from one of the brutes.
"Quiet," cried Nic loudly, and the growling ceased; while the next moment from out of the darkness a great head began to nestle upon his shoulder. "Good dog, then!" cried Nic, patting and stroking its head.
"There, I think you may venture to talk, Pete."
"Do you, zir? If I waren"t beginning to think they"d done for you.
Aren"t you hurt, then?"